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Today’s collection of pictures involves my grandmother, Pauline Briles. My Heritage’s Colorization tool was used with each of these photos.
My grandfather, Edward Osmund Briles, had a very interesting life story. Since he died when I was four, I never heard him tell his story. Instead, newspaper articles are telling his story. One of those articles referenced him driving a service call for a ‘good fellowship’ tour.
Service Car Along
“Service Car Along,” Iola Register (Iola, Kansas), 21 August 1923, pg 6; Newspapers.com (www.newspapers.com : viewed online January 2017).
Trouble Auto Will Contain Extra
Supply of Gas, Tires, Air
and Mechanic
A service car from the Briles Garage, that will contain an extra supply of gasoline, extra tires, air, oil, and tools will be taken on the Chamber of Commerce, good fellowship tour on next Thursday, when more than twenty-five carloads of boosters will visit eleven different neighboring towns.
The trouble car will be taken along for the convenience of the boosters, in case they should have any tire or engine trouble, or run out of gasoline or oil. This will be a great convenience for those that should have trouble, and it will enable them to be on the road again within a short time.
The trouble car will be driven by E. O. Briles proprietor of the Briles Garage of Iola, and a mechanic will be with Mr. Briles throughout the trip.
Plans for the all-day trip, are being completed by A. L. Meisinger secretary of the chamber of Commerse. The trip is being taken for the purpose of boosting the Allen County Fair, which begins here Monday, and the new Junior College of Iola, which will open here next month.
Mr. Meisinger has arranged for nearly thirty cars to make the trip and there are still a number of merchants and car owners about the city who are planning to go. It has been asked that all those who can possibly make the trip, or those who have promised to go, and have later found it will be impossible to do so, call the Chamber of Commerce at once.
The trippers will line up on the square at 8 o’clock Thursday morning, and the pilot car will leave promptly at 8:30. The boosters are expected to arrive back home shortly after 6 o’clock, after spending a short time for a band concert and speeches in eleven towns.
Curious about what else I could find about this road trip, I did a search of Newspapers.com for entries dated in August 1923 in Kansas with the keyword, Briles. That search helped me find the article, “Briles Was ‘There'” in the 24 Aug 1923 issue of the Iola Register.
Briles Was “There”
A Trouble Man with Real Service
Helped Make the Trippers
Trip a SuccessBriles was there.
That fact may have accounted for a share in the fact that the Iola trippers who were out yesterday boasting the fair and junior college made the trip on time, or with negligible delay.
“I’ll go,” said Briles when the trip was discussed recently and a trouble man was wanted.
Briles went.
When a car “threw” its wheel, Briles fixed it. When a car sustained a puncture, Briles fixed that. When a car wouldn’t start, Briles started it.
He was a real trouble man. The service he rendered was with no thought or request for pay.
Talk about public spirit.
Write the name of Briles into the record of that successful booster trop.
Great Trip Say McCarthyCommenting on the trip Frank McCarthy of the McCarthy Motor Company, the man who spent a day driving the pathfinder and then made a second trip leading the caravan said: “It was a great trip. It was successful in more ways than one. It helped Iolans get acquainted with each other as well as get acquainted with other people. I liked Humboldt especially, though it was a sweet welcom we received in Colony, Moran Savonburg and all the other towns. But we were wondering what Humboldt would say and when we heard our welcome we could only ask Humboldt to come here some time so we could show just how we feel about it.
“Briles Was “There”,” The Iola Register (Iola, Kansas), 24 August 1923, page 8; digital image, Newspapers.com (www.newspapers.com : viewed online 17 February 2021).
McCarthy is another one of those fine young business men who like to do things for the town in which they live.
A search for the term ‘Trippers’ turned up the front page article about the trip.
Trippers Had A
“Trippers Had a Successful Trip,” The Iola Register (Iola, Kansas), 24 August 1923, pages 1 and 8; digital image, Newspapers.com (www.newspapers.com : viewed online 17 February 2021).
Successful Trip
Large Crowds Met the Iola
Boosters
Who Cared for Dust?
Dirt Didn’t Bother Iolans
In the Least
Speakers told of the Allen County
Fair and of the New Iola
Junior College
It was a dusty and dirty, but never-the-less a happy and good natured group of Iola Boosters who arrived in Iola shortly after 6 o’clock last night, after completing nearly one hundred and twenty-five miles of driving and after visiting eleven different towns during the day.
The Goodfellowship tour of the Chamber of Commerce, that was made by seventy-three Iola folks yesterday in the interest of the Allen County Fair and the New Junior College at Iola, was very successful from every standpoint.
The trippers found good crowds waiting in the towns that were visited and they listened with interest at the short band program that was given in each city by the Rotary Boys Band, and to the speeches that were made boosting the Fair and Collège. There was not an accident on the entire route, and there was very little car trouble.
Through Clouds of Dust
The roads throughout the entire distance that was traveled were in excellent condition, but there was not a road that was not dusty. Clouds of dust rolled up after the first cars in the long line passed along the dirt roads, and every one on the trip was covered with dirt as the end of the journey neared.
But who cared for the dust? The Iola trippers did not, and they enjoyed every minute while on the trip, enjoyed the drive, and were more than pleased with the large crowds that were awaiting to receive them at practically every city that was visited.
The schedule that had been arranged for the Boosters, the time for them to arrive in the towns and depart, was carried out throughout the trip, and they were never more than ten minutes late in arriving in the towns.
The Rotary Boys Band, under the direction of their leader, Mr. J. V. Roberts, made a good impression upon their listeners in all the towns where they played a few selections. There were twenty pieces in the Boys band, and they were dressed in their new bright uniforms which were recently furnished by the Iola Rotary Club.
Talks at Each Town
At every town visited, two speeches were given, one in the interest of the new Junior College, and the other to boost for the Allen County Fair, which will open at Riverside park next Monday, and will continue for five days. Mr. A. M. Thoroman, superintendent of the city schools gave the talk on the Junior College, while Frank McCarthy, told the people in the towns visited of the Allen County Fair and gave reasons why it was “Bigger and Better than Ever.” this year.
At Moran, Yates center, and Humboldt, the Iola trippers were met before they arrived in those cities by the mayors and leading business men, who escorted the line of cars to their cities. At Moran, the Boosters found ice cold lemonade awaiting for them, and they were given cigars and chewing gum at Savonburg.
The towns visited yesterday included eleven cities near Iola in all four directions. The trippers drove first to Piqua where a short stop of fifteen minutes was made, and from there they drove to Yates Center. At Yates Center the Iolans were well received and were given a rousing welcome. After leaving Yates Center, the next stop was Neosho Falls, where another good sized crowd had gathered to listen tot he band and hear the speakers. Colony was the next town on the schedule and a stop of more than one hour was made here, for a short program and to allow the visitors to take dinner. Lone Elm was then visited, followed by Mildred and Moran. At Moran many people had gathered on the streets to receive their visitors. Elsmore, Savonburg and Humboldt followed in the order named, with another good sized crowd waiting at Humboldt when Iola arrived.
The Chamber of commerce road committee worked hard to make the Booster trip this year a success; and they have received much praise for their good work and well made plans. The committee desires tot hank all the Iola men who made the trip and for their splendid co-operation.
List of Trippers
The Iola people who went on the Booster Trip yesterday were:
Lloyd Young, L.E. Horville, J. F. Eastwood, Arthur Shannon, I. Q. Marsh, r. Trowbridge, W. F. Alterman, Fred McKenna, L. O. [smeared ink]
continued on page 8
R. Brown, K. P. Baughman, John V. Roberts, B. C. Lamb, J.W. Reynolds, Mayor Smith, W. A. Wheeler, T. H. Bowlus, Will King, Vern Moyer, R. L. Thompson, Frank McCarty, Robert Evans, Arch Wood, W. E. Rundall, Ray Enfield, E. O. Briles, W. A. Tinner, Mr. Russell, A. R. Sleeper, A L. Dygard, Ed Irving, Jos D Cos, Logan Hunsaker, A. W. Beck, Ira D. Kelley, W. B. Kelley, B. A. Sutton, Bernice Higgins, Vernon Dugan, A. Stewart, E. Van Hyning, Charles Greason. L. E. Burgess, A. L. Meisinger, A. M. Thoroman and Rev. E. W. Spencer.
Do you try to find details about an ancestor’s life for the time between their birth and their death, i.e. the dash? Census records help fill in that ‘dash’ since they put a person in a specific place at a specific time. However, I’ve found that gossipy newspapers also help fill in that ‘dash’.
The value of newspapers was brought home when I uploaded images to FamilySearch for my grandfather, Edward Osmund Briles.
It was a ’40 Years Ago’ clipping that my grandmother kept that provided a major clue to my grandfather’s life.
That clipping led me to articles and court records about the time my grandfather defied the law to show movies on Sundays. My grandfather was arrested and convicted for that ‘crime’.
It was while researching newspapers in the communities where my grandfather lived prior to Emporia that I learned that he owned Briles Garage. Not only did he own a garage but he was part of a ‘Grand Tour’ in the early days of the automobile.
All of these findings reinforced my previous experiences with newspapers – pay attention to those local news items. One never knows what they will uncover for the dash.
Today, I am pulling out some ‘cousin’ pictures. These are from grandma Briles’ collection of photos. The colorized version of the photos were created using the tool on My Heritage.
Have you ever wondered whether you are named after someone? Are your siblings named after someone? For me and my brothers, I have not found any evidence that we are named after other family members. Even though we aren’t carrying any family names, my great nieces and nephew were named after family members — and their parents are sharing the family stories with these young children!
As I look at my pedigree, I do see several lines where it appears that names have been passed down. In my Crandall line, Sarah Adell Crandall’s middle names is passed down thru several generations. Thus, this name might (or might not) be a clue to previous generations.
In my Mentzer line, there are two generations of Phillip Mentzers. The name is then passed on to a grandson and a great grandson. Also common in this family line is the middle name, Andrew.
In my Briles line, the given names of John, Frederick, George and Noah are popular. The names, John and Frederick, go back to early Briles families in Randolph County, North Carolina. Investigation of the Noah Briles’ in my files reveals that many with this given name are descendants of Noah Rush. Thus, they may have been named after this grandfather. However, there is at least one Noah Briles who is not a descendant of Noah Rush.
In my Crawford line, there is little evidence that a family name was passed down as I follow the line back to my 2nd great grandfather. My great-grandfather, Judson Foster Crawford, gets his middle name from his mother’s Foster line. However, the given name Judson is unique. Judson’s father, Washington Marion Crawford’s name is also unique. I’m guessing that he may have been named after President George Washington. However, that is just a guest on my part. Washington Marion Crawford did name his youngest son after his father, Nelson G. Crawford. This has caused me to wonder whether there is a Nelson Crawford further back on my Crawford line.
Even though most of my lines do not have a name repeated generation after generation, my Currey line is the exception.
I believe I have four generations of men named Hiram M. Currey. I have to say ‘believe’ because two of the generations just disappear leaving few records connecting them to any children. Thus, I have bits and pieces of evidence that alone do not connect these generations. These pieces of evidence are like a jigsaw puzzle. When put together, these pieces of evidence supports this lineage.
Even though my 5 generation pedigree doesn’t indicate that any naming convention was used, I still refer back to those conventions in hopes that my ancestors followed a convention. For more information on naming conventions, see the following:
Check out your own pedigree to see how names were passed down in your family.
I found these photos of my BRILES grandparents with my cousin, Edward Doolittle.
I’ll admit, I’m a Facebook fan – and at times I can be a Facebook addict. For me, Facebook is not only a means to stay connected with family and friends, but also a source of information, particularly when it comes to genealogy related topics.
In early December, a reconnection with an acquaintance from my youth resulted in a wonderful find about my grandfather, E. O. Briles of Emporia. My Facebook friend shared a picture of Commercial Street in downtown Emporia.
The original poster was wondering whether anyone could date the picture based on the cars parked along the street. This picture caught my attention because of the ‘Lyric’ sign on the left side of the street. My grandfather, E. O. Briles, ran the Lyric Theatre in downtown Emporia. My brother also noted the Lyric marquee and posted a link to a source I hadn’t seen before. The website, Cinema Treasures, has an article about the Lyric Theatre and my grandfathers efforts to open the movie theater on Sundays.
Thank you Facebook for this wonderful find!
Dec [2]4 1919
Mrs. E.O. Briles
St. Joseph Hospital
Linwood & Prospect
Kans City MODear Pauline: rec’d
your card and so glad
to know you are getting
along allright “Mary Ida”
is all right now has
2 teeth now so that she
can bite good and hard
Fannie made $26 at the
pie supper. No we didn’t go
Frank saw Walter Monday
went down to your folks after [c?]
He was just fine Wishing you
Merry Xmas. Love Myra
I received the above post card with some of my grandmother’s things. I don’t remember ever discussing this with her – and wished I had. Unfortunately, I don’t have an answer to my question, ‘Why was she in the hospital in Kansas City when they lived in Woodson county?’ All I have is speculation.
When I first realized that grandma was hospitalized in 1919, I wondered if she was suffering depression after the death of her almost 9 month old son, Kenneth, in June of that year.
However, my perspective has widened to wonder if grandma was in the hospital with influenza. According to the ‘Influenza Encyclopedia’ entry for Kansas City, it appears that the majority of influenza cases were during the winter of 1918 to spring of 1919 and not during December 1919.
In trying to figure out the ‘why’ behind my grandmother’s stay in the hospital, I looked for more information on St. Joseph Hospital. The building where she was a patient has been replaced by the Linwood Shopping Center. Thankfully, the web site KC Rag contains a timeline for the property at Linwood and Prospect on their forum, “All about the Linwood Shopping Center.”
Reading the history of the St. Joseph Hospital just reinforces the idea that my grandmother was seriously ill at the time. I just wish I had been able to ask her about her experience at St. Josephs.
It’s almost the new year and time again for resolutions. Perhaps you’ve attempted Thomas MacEntee’s Genealogy Do-Over or Amy Johnson Crowe’s ’52 Ancestors’ blog prompts or for the super ambitious, the Genealogy Photo a Day challenge? In the past 5 years, I believe I have started all of these — but finished none.
Randy Seaver’s recent blog post, Dear Randy, How Do You Make that Descendant List in Your ’52 Ancestors’ Posts?, prompted me to review my blogging to see how far I got with blogging about my ancestors.
To start, I used RootsMagic to create an Ahnentafel chart showing my ancestors. Then I searched my blog to see what I have written about those ancestors.
I’m happy to admit that I have successfully blogged about my 3rd and 4th generation ancestors. However, this review also shows that I wasn’t successful with my 5th generation, all of whom I have already researched.
Generation 3
4. Leon Russel Crawford: born 6 Feb 1894 in Newton, Harvey, Kansas, United States; married 24 Dec 1919 in Dodge City, Ford, Kansas, United States; died 3 Oct 1976 in Dodge City, Ford, Kansas, United States.
Blogs:
5. Winnie Letha Currey: born 30 Jun 1903 in Lansing, Leavenworth, Kansas, United States; died 11 Feb 1992 in Dodge City, Ford, Kansas, United States.
Blogs
6. Edward Osmond Briles: born 21 Jun 1891 in Burlington, Coffey, Kansas, United States; married 29 Oct 1915 in Yates Center, Woodson, Kansas, United States; died 28 May 1956 in Emporia, Lyon, Kansas, United States.
Blogs
7. Pauline Edith Mentzer: born 28 Mar 1896 in Woodson, Kansas, United States; died 16 Jul 1984 in Emporia, Lyon, Kansas, United States.
Blogs
Generation 4
8. Judson Foster Crawford: born 15 Apr 1866 in Warren, Indiana, United States; married 24 Dec 1890 in Dodge City, Ford, Kansas, United States; died 19 Feb 1949 in Dodge City, Ford, Kansas, United States.
Blogs
9. Josie Winifred Hammond: born 9 Feb 1874 in Knoxville, Knox, Illinois, United States; died 27 Sep 1954 in Dodge City, Ford, Kansas, United States.
Blogs
10. Hiram Miles Currey: born 23 Oct 1866 in Missouri, United States; married 13 May 1891 in Kansas City, Jackson, Missouri, United States; died 15 Sep 1943 in Dodge City, Ford, Kansas, United States.
Blogs
11. Winnie Mae Hutchinson: born 6 May 1871 in Osage, Mitchell, Iowa, United States; died 23 Sep 1913 in Olathe, Johnson, Kansas, United States.
Blogs
12. Edward Grant Briles: born 18 Jul 1869 in Coffey, Kansas, United States; married 19 Feb 1890 in Woodson, Kansas, United States; died 23 Jul 1951 in Emporia, Lyon, Kansas, United States.
Blogs
13. Frances Artlissa “Artie” Ricketts: born 7 Apr 1868 in Clinton, Indiana, United States; died 28 Apr 1947 in Yates Center, Woodson, Kansas, United States.
Blogs
14. Charles Oliver Mentzer: born 1 Jul 1869 in Kewanee, Henry, Illinois, United States; married 18 Oct 1893 in Yates Center, Woodson, Kansas, United States; died 15 Aug 1955 in Emporia, Lyon, Kansas, United States.
Blogs
15. Nettie Adell Wells: born 5 Feb 1873 in Woodson, Kansas, United States; died 9 Feb 1939 in Neosho Falls, Woodson, Kansas, United States.
Blogs
Generation 5
16. Washington Marion Crawford: born 21 Apr 1838 in Warren, Indiana, United States; married 4 Mar 1860 in West Lebanon, Warren, Indiana, United States; died 23 Aug 1889 in Ford, Ford, Kansas, United States.
Blogs
17. Mary Foster: born 28 Aug 1842 in West Lebanon, Warren, Indiana, United States; died 21 Jan 1929 in Dodge City, Ford, Kansas, United States.
Blogs
18. Richmond Fisk Hammond: born 20 Nov 1840 in Licking, Ohio, United States; married 1 Jan 1867 in Knoxville, Knox, Illinois, United States; died 8 Apr 1928 in Sawtelle, Los Angeles, California, United States.
Blogs
19. Sarah Ellen Ralston: born 11 May 1849 in Armstrong, Pennsylvania, United States; died 18 Oct 1892 in Dodge City, Ford, Kansas, United States.
20. Hiram M. Currey: born 13 Aug 1835 in Peoria, Peoria, Illinois, United States; married 3 Aug 1856 in Weston, Platte, Missouri, United States; died 2 Mar 1901 in Lansing, Leavenworth, Kansas, United States.
Blogs
21. Angelina Jane Burke: born 30 Oct 1836 in Kentucky, United States; died 26 Mar 1901 in Lansing, Leavenworth, Kansas, United States.
22. Albert Hutchinson: born abt 1838 in Northhampton, Fulton County, New York; married 14 Sep 1859 in Black Hawk, Iowa, United States; died 22 Jul 1896 in Doniphan, Doniphan, Kansas, United States.
Blogs
23. Julia Harding: born 1840 in New Brunswick, Canada; died 4 Jan 1892 in Doniphan, Doniphan, Kansas, United States.
24. Noah Washington Briles: born 1840 in Randolph County, North Carolina; married 9 Aug 1866 in Ottumwa, Wapello, Iowa, United States; died 14 Jul 1879 in Coffey, Kansas, United States.
Blogs
25. Sarah Jane Thompson: born 7 Aug 1843 in Warrick, Indiana, United States; died 17 Aug 1930 in Neosho Township, Coffey, Kansas, United States.
26. James Marshall Ricketts: born 28 Nov 1847 in Clinton, Indiana, United States; married 12 Jul 1866 in Frankfort, Clinton, Indiana, United States; died 28 Nov 1920 in Liberty Township, Woodson, Kansas, United States.
Blogs
27. Rachel Elmeda Christy: born 28 Apr 1845 in Clinton, Indiana, United States; died 27 Jan 1927 in Iola, Allen, Kansas, United States.
28. George Mentzer: born 12 Jun 1838 in Stow, Middlesex, Massachusetts, United States; married 1 Jan 1868 in Kewanee, Henry, Illinois, United States; died 19 Jan 1912 in Yates Center, Woodson, Kansas, United States.
Blogs
29. Emeline Minnick: born 6 Aug 1848 in Pittsburg, Franklin County, Pennsylvania; died 13 Sep 1927 in Woodson, Kansas, United States.
30. Thurston Kennedy Wells: born 26 Feb 1821 in Sullivan, Madison, New York, United States; married 20 Mar 1861 in Van Buren, Iowa, United States; died 3 Jun 1893 in Woodson, Kansas, United States.
31. Salome Adell Crandall: born 24 Jun 1836 in Ohio, United States; died 30 Aug 1893 in Woodson, Kansas, United States.
In my defense, I have a LOT of blog posts about my research of the various Crawford families in early Lincoln, Madison and Garrard counties, Kentucky. However, I haven’t done as well with my own ancestors. I guess one of my goals for 2021 should be to create blog posts for each of these 5th generation ancestors. Hopefully, that is one goal that I can accomplish!
Anyone who has lived in Emporia, Kansas realizes that Veteran’s Day is a MAJOR holiday. Today, we take time to honor those who have served and who are serving. Thus, I would like to take a walk thru my family tree to honor my veteran ancestors.
Between 15 Feb 1945 and 1 Aug 1946, Eugene served at the Naval Training Center in Gulfport, Mississippi and at the Naval Training Center in Great Lakes, Illinois. He shipped out on the USS Oneida (APA-221) towards the end of the War in the Pacific as seaman 1st class in the U.S. Naval Reserves. He received the Victory Medal and the American Campaign Medal.
Esther served as a Lieutenant in the U.S. Army Nurse Corps in the European Theater between 1942 and 1945.
Hugh Crawford served in the U.S. Navy Seabees
Walter enlisted in March 1942 in Los Angeles, California serving in the U.S. Army. Walter was discharged in 1944 but re-enlisted in 1946 and served until 1958.
LeonCrawford began his military service on 26 April 1917 in Dodge City, Kansas. He was appointed wagoner 2nd class gunner in the 25th AA Battery, 1st AA Sector. Leon was a wagoner at St. Misner 2nd Battle of the Marne from 31 March 1918 to 31 May 1918 in France.
Leon served with others from Dodge City including his brother-in-law Russel Horton and his brother, Marion.
Washington Marion Crawford enlisted in Company H of the 2nd Regiment of the New York Calvary Volunteers on 3 August 1861 serving as a sergeant. W. M. Crawford was captured in September 1863 and was imprisoned in Andersonville and Belle Isle. He was paroled on 7 Dec 1864 in Florence, South Carolina.
Richmond Fisk Hammond enlisted as a private in Company E 177 Illinois Volunteers on 26 May 1861. He also served in the 1st Illinois Calvary Volunteers and in Company D 14th Regiment Illinois Calvary. Richmond Hammond was captured near Atlanta, Georgia on 5 Aug 1864 and was imprisoned at Andersonville.
Richmond Hammond and Washington Marion Crawford both moved to Dodge City, Kansas after the war. Richmond’s daughter, Josie, married Washington’s son Judson in Dodge City.
Hiram M. Currey served as a private in Company B of the 12th Regiment of the Kansas State Militia in 1864.
Albert Hutchi(n)son began his military service on 1 Sept 1862 in Independence, Iowa. He served as a private in Company D of the 1st Regiment of the Iowa Calvary Volunteers. Albert re-enlisted on 1 Jan 1864 in Little Rock, Arkansas.
Noah Washington Briles enlisted on 13 Jun 1861 in Ottumwa, Iowa serving in Company I of the 1st Regiment Iowa Calvary Volunteers. His father, Alexander Briles served in 1864 under Captain John Douglas in Company I of the Kansas State Militia.
James Marshall Ricketts enlisted 11 Sept 1863 in Indianapolis, Indiana serving in Company K of the 7th Indiana Cavalry.
George Mentzer began his military service on 25 Sep 1861 serving in Company C of the 24th Massachusetts Infantry.
Alexander Briles served with the Kansas Militia under Captain John Douglas in Company I.
Nathaniel Hammond served the revolutionary cause by supplying provisions to the soldiers families between 1776 and 1783 in Bolton, Connecticut.
There could easily be other revolutionary war ancestors in my tree. However, I haven’t proven my descent from any of the other known patriots.
