Author offers life history

100 YEARS AGO

(1912)

During this hot weather we've been having, the milk question was never more serious that at the present. Yesterday, the hottest day of the year, some milkmen were delivering their milk at noon, exposing it to the hot sun in the tin cans that are so commonly used. None of these men who were so late in making their deliveries carried ice and there was nothing to keep the milk sweet, unless "doped." There has been much agitation within the past few days to have the city council pass an ordinance which will require all dairymen to deliver milk in bottles after this.

The annual fair at Fulton will be held Sept. 11, 12, 13. It promises to far eclipse anything of the kind attempted there in previous years. The northern part of the county has for years past been noted for the stock raised there, many of the horses taking the highest honors in the largest stock shows held in the United States.

75 YEARS AGO

(1937)

The new amphitheater at the fairgrounds at Uniontown was started this morning and will be completed in time for the annual fair. The new grandstand will have double the seating capacity of the old stand and will accommodate the large crowd that attends the fair and stock sale each fall. It is expected that thousands will attend.

Dr. Aikman, county health officer, has sent to all clerks of the school districts, notices calling their attention to the fact that it will be necessary to thoroughly cleanse and fumigate all buildings before school opens. Floors must be thoroughly scrubbed, walls and ceilings cleansed of all cobwebs and other accumulations and the rooms fumigated. In the yards the weeds must be cut and removed, wells cleaned and all outbuildings whitewashed. The orders this year are made more stringent than ever on account of prevalence of contagious diseases during the past year and a fear of another epidemic after the schools open and when the children are thrown together daily.

50 YEARS AGO

(1962)

Photo caption: "Paul Gorman and Francis Stone practice going over the ramp in a dual ski jump at Lake Fort Scott. They are preparing for the water carnival Sunday in which events are scheduled." -- Tribune photo

Foodtown -- Lemon drink, 1/2 gallon carton 10 cents; Western Main pure grape jelly, 18-oz. jar 19 cents; Del Monte orange juice, 46-oz. can 30 cents; Musselman applesauce, six 303 cans $1; giant box Tide, 69 cents.

Photo caption: "Eldon Lanham, son of Mr. and Mrs. Charles Lanham of Mound City, poses with his grand champion 4-H baby beef which weighed 1,100 pounds. This animal was also the champion Hereford of the Linn Count Fair."

Mr. and Mrs. Nelson Gorman and their five children and their families had breakfast together Aug. 22 at the Downtowner Hotel following mass at Mary Queen of Angels Church, in celebration of the Gorman's 40th wedding anniversary.

25 YEARS AGO

(1987)

Area native Audra Ann Long Smith spent 10 years tracing her lineage and subsequently put into book form the research she did on her family history. The recently published book, "Thank God ... I Was a Country Kid," is a composite of recollections of Mrs. Smith's childhood in Pawnee Station, 12 miles southwest of Fort Scott, her life history and reflections on her world travels. Mrs. Smith graduated from Fort Scott High School in 1932 and from the Fort Scott Junior College in 1934. She and her husband, Ned, lived in Pittsburg most of their married life.

She writes of her strong curiosity to learn why her forebears left Kentucky and came West. The author's birthplace of Pawnee Station now reveals only remnants, mainly the Methodist church.