Oakland In The News 1886 & Beyond Chapter 10

April 23, 1895
Sheriff Found Her

Minnie Mooney Moved to Oakland but Wasn’t Far Enough.
Minnie Mooney has been arrested again on the charge of keeping a disorderly house. She had located her dwelling at the extreme end of the car line in Oakland. Sheriff Burdge and deputies paid a quick visit and found the “ Folks to Home:” also three young men visitors who are often seen on the avenue. Mrs. Mooney gave bond for her appearance at the next term of the district court. The Sheriff says the next time he goes on a similar mission he will arrest every person found on the premises.

June 20, 1895
Boy Drowned At Oakland:
George R. Duncan of North Topeka Goes Beyond His Depth.

The merry picnic of the Sunday schools of the churches of North Topeka at Oakland park yesterday afternoon was brought to a sad close by the drowning in the river of George R. Duncan the 13-year-old son of Mr. and Mrs. George F. Duncan, who live west of the Rock Island round house at Shorey. After the picnic dinner at the park, nine boys, including young Duncan, went to a cut-off in the river to go swimming. Willie Taggart and Charlie Spangier, who were with Duncan, say that he waded out after them to a sudden decline and went down in the water, when he came up he was throwing his arms about but they thought he was just in fun. Soon he called for them to go and help him but they were afraid to go to him as they could not swim well, he sank and rose several times and finally remained down, Some of the boys ran to the park to give the alarm. Tom Ingel arrived and pulled the body out of the water. Other help was quickly at hand and a physician and several of the men at the picnic set about to resuscitate the boy, but it had been at least fifteen minutes since he had sunk in the water and efforts were of no Avail. The drowned boy was taken home in a carriage by William Forbes and Rev. W. B. Hutchinson. A sister of the boy was at the picnic. George was a member of the Baptist Sunday school and was well liked by his acquaintances. The funeral will take place at 2:30 o’clock this afternoon from the North Topeka Baptist church. Rev. W. B. Hutchison officiating.

September 13, 1896
Another Chapter of the Long-drawn-Out School War.

C. H. Nagle secured a restraining order from Judge Hazen yesterday pending a final hearing for permanent injunction preventing Richard Taylor and George L. Stone from hiring Nora Shuart, Katle Ellinger and Florence D. Graft, as teachers and G. H. Stockwell as Janitor, of the Oakland school, and restraining them from taking possession of the school building. In his petition Nagle claims to have contracted in writing to teach in district 36 from September 14, for nine months for $50. per month. The petition recites that Stone and Taylor have since contracted with Nora Shuart to teach this department for $45. per month, and also alleges that they have replaced Effle Powers with Kate Ellinger, and the Janitor first elected, with G. W. Stockwell.

September 13, 1896
Stole L. Biscoe’s Wheel
Jesiter Miller has got himself in deep in trouble.

Allen Miller is like to prove a monument to the idiocy of stealing an insured bicycle. He took unwarranted possession of L. Biscoe’s wheel and though afterwards returning it, will be used as an example. Mr. Biscoe resides in Oakland and has a office at 523 Kansas Ave. Miller is janitor of that building though the recent episode may necessitate the selection of someone else to fill that position. He lives at 1209 Lane street.
Thursday night Mr. Biscoe left his wheel in the hall of the Avenue building while performing some work in his office. Miller, seeing the property unguarded, broke the lock and rode away with the machine. The wheel was insured and carried the tag on the forks. The thief is supposed to have lost nerve after noticing this and tried to negotiate a return. Saturday night he took the bicycle to Oakland and turned it over to Mr. Biscoe hoping to escape punishment. Sunday was passed in an attempt at a compromise but this failed and yesterday morning Miller was arrested by Sheriff Kepley. Miller was taken before Justice Grover and his preliminary hearing set for September 9.

July 25, 1896
Run on the sidewalk.
An exciting runway on Kansas Avenue yesterday.

There was an exciting runway on Kansas Avenue near Eight Street yesterday noon. The horse attached to one of Whitaker Bro’s fruit wagons became frightened. It ran directly across avenue to the sidewalk, then turned south and ran all the way to ninth street on the walk. William Nelson of Oakland who was standing on the walk was struck by a wheel of the wagon and badly bruised. The Whitaker wagon was demolished and the horse was slightly hurt.

The Missing Years
1897-1902

Have you ever tried researching for a book and only have thirty-five minutes a day? that’s all the time I had, I was doing it on my lunch. I would run three blocks to the Historical Society this is when it was on 10th street, go through the index cards find what I was looking for, wait for the information, go through it then write it down, and get back to work before lunch was over, I was always fifteen minutes late. As you can imagine I was a little unorganized, I would jump from one idea to another, and was gathering information here and there I needed a system. I finely work out a index system. The system work so will I found that I was way a head in no time the idea was to get all the information found first then go back and write it down. Then in 1989 my health started to go bad and by 1990 I was out of work, the missing years are on those index’s cards and are in my basement still, I was never to go back and finish those years. Over the years I started to write this book a number of times, but would give up because of those missing years. Then in 2002 a new book on Oakland came out, it was a good book full of Historical information I have recommend it a couple of times in this book. However I found that some of the information was incorrect, this got me all fired up again and I started to look over my information. I came to realize that I had more then enough information, and that no one can put all there is in a book with out leaving out something. I realize that those missing years did not matter and it would leave an opening for some one else to start a new book.

1903

Now that I have told of the missing years we will start again in 1903 it is the year of the flood., there was other news stories but the flood was head line news for three months. Most of the stories will be of those months. The flood took many live and hundreds homes. There were many heroes some were written about and many were not, one of the heroes you will read about is Freeman Sardou and his heroism. Every part of Topeka felt the rage of the flood Little Russia and North Topeka and Oakland. Many businesses were lost and bridges washed away, factories shout down and many lives change forever.

March 17, 1903
Crime & Trouble

Dr. H. H. Keith was yesterday denied a permit to sell liquor by probate Judge Fagan in a drug store which the former has recently started in Oakland. The people of the community showed their dislike of drug stores and distrust of Dr. Keith, by getting up a counter petition as long as a tale of woe. Dr. Keith had more than the required number of signers for his petition for a permit, but the Oaklanders showed that several of these were not residents of the township, while still others were not free holders. This brought the list down to twenty-two male signers and sixteen female. The law requires that before a permit to sell liquor is granted a petition containing the names of twenty-five men and the same number of women, free holders in the ward or township, must be presented. One of the petition presented by the Oaklanders, opposed to granting the permit contained the names of fifteen of men and sixteen of the women who had signed Dr. Keith’s petition.

April 18, 1903
Town Meeting

It has been discovered that the petition filled with the county commissioners by the people of Oakland , who wish to have that village granted a charter as a third class city is faulty. It is so grievously at fault that it places the city down in Mission township, Southwest of Topeka in stead of Northeast as it should be, whether this will wholly vitiate the petition is not known, but it will serve as a mighty argument against the petition when it comes up for hearing next Monday. Even if the fault is remedied those opposed can claim that the signatures are not good. It is probable that the petition will have to be rewritten and the signatures secured again. The petition gives the location of Oakland as range 15 east township 12 south. The proper location would be township 11 and range 16.

May 1903
Flood

The first victim of the flood in the neighborhood of Topeka was reported last night from Oakland. The man’s name is thought to be Ward, he was something of a hermit and lived in a little dugout along the river bank. Late yesterday afternoon the river began cutting across the bottoms below Oakland in several places and it soon was seen that the families living on this land would have to get out. So rapid was the inflow of the water that only a few people could walk out. It was necessary to take the rest out in boats and in several of the houses the people were found standing on tables and chairs to keep out the water. Numerous invitations had been given Ward to come out but as he lived on a slight raise he considered himself safe and refused. When the rescuers were taken the last load out it was suggested that they go and get Ward, using force if necessary, the boat was turned when all of a sudden the old man was hear to cry for help. It was a long way to him and the men in the boat tried valiantly , the old man cried most piteously and his cries could be distinctly heard by his would-be rescuers. The effort to get to him was useless however. His cries became fainter and fainter and seemed to be coming from down the stream. Finale they died away in what seem to the horror stricken listeners a gurgling scream.

May 1903
Flood

One of the heroes which the desperate flood situation has developed is Freeman Sardou of Oakland. Mr. Sardou, up to 10 O’clock has made five trips in his boat across the river to North Topeka, and rescued fourteen people. When he crossed the river to North Topeka he towed the boat up stream through the trees to a point almost opposite the Santa Fe Shops. Then with his precious load, he would start diagonally across the stream, and come out at what was the east approach to the Sardou Ave. bridge Mr. Sardou has worked heroically since daylight this morning and is still at it.

May 1903
Flood

Oakland is threatened, but it was stated at nearly noon that it could stand nearly a three foot raise in the highest places. The water at 11 O’clock was only a foot distant from the Woolen Mill in Oakland. Many householders are moving their families up town, many others say there is no danger yet and they are not quite ready to take that step.

May 1903
Flood

At three O’clock this afternoon the water was running over the floor on the Sardou Ave. bridge across the river near Oakland and the bridge is expected to go out at any moment.

May 1903
Flood

Henry Ludineton, who lives in Oakland was caught in the rise in the lowlands on this side of the river. The last seen of him was about 11 O’clock yesterday morning at which time he was seen in the branches of a tree. It is thought that he was drowned as it was impossible to get to him even with a boat, he was a Santa Fe shop man.

May 1903
Flood

As early as 2 O’clock yesterday afternoon people began leaving Oakland, have been warned by city engineer Mc Cabe. At 4 O’clock the water from the river backed over the street car tracks at the crossing of Seward and Cedar streets in east Topeka just east of the Santa Fe Shops yard fence. There was a stream of people moving up from Oakland to every imaginable place in south Topeka that would offer shelter. Anxiety has been expressed on the part of those who have left homes in Oakland, as it is impossible to lock a house in such a manner that robbers will be kept from entering.

June 1903
Flood

While a man was endeavoring to take a woman and child from the Topeka side to Oakland, the boat capsized the woman and child drown, the man’s name was unknown.

June 1903
Flood

There were 152 people taken from boats at the landing in Oakland near the old crematory up to 6 p. m. yesterday. The greater part of these rescued were taken from the fire station.

June 1903
Flood

Oakland was inhabitable yesterday after the almost complete desertion of the night before. The women and children have not returned as yet and most live stock is kept out on account of the possibilities of overflows on this side that might arise from the action of the North wind. A very slight raise would inundate the entire east part of Topeka below the Santa Fe Shops. Back water has been driven as far south as the fence about the new shops, a block up the street from where the street car tracks turn to the east toward Oakland.

June 1903
Flood

Oakland was not entirely deserted Saturday night as there were a few men who remained in the houses in the east part of the suburb. Close to the river however it was a common sight as late as 4 O’clock yesterday afternoon to see porches piled with a weight of rocks and not a sign of live about the place. The danger is not yet passed if the water should in any manner get to running over the Santa Fe tracks, which it threatens to do all of the lower stretch of land east of the shops would be under water.

June 1903
Flood

The situation in Oakland is worse then was expected. The greatest amount of damage has been to the nurserymen. Oliver brothers have about 130acres of nursery stock under water. This is a complete loss, a mounting to about $20,000, F. W. Watson another nurseryman is damaged to the amount of $15,000, E. L. Copeland is damaged to the amount of $15,000. There are a number of smaller nurseryman who, are almost out of business, they are M. T. Kelsey, Roy Williams and Ira Orner.

June 1903
Flood

One of the nurserymen said yesterday that the water came up into Oakland as far as Belmont Ave. It was all up around the Topeka Woolen Mill, reaching a height of more than 15 feet to the north of the mill. It came over the property of Mrs. Doyle at the foot of Forest Ave. covering the place up to the first story. One house below that was covered to the eaves. Many of the houses have cellars full of water farther up toward the city. Every one in the low lands about the Shunganunga Creek has a garden patch under water.

June 1903
Trouble & Flood

Yesterday Freeman Sardou had trouble with the Commercial Club about his boat. He has had several taken from him and sent up stream to Western Ave. yesterday afternoon he had another taken away from him and this so angered him that he took his oars and said he was going home if he could not work. He told the man who relived him of the boat: “ I know I am small potatoes but I am not like you. You haven’t reached your full growth yet.” Sardou has done the most effective work of any man or half dozen men in Topeka, and should be allowed the use of his own boat, or any number of boats. Where ever he thinks he can do the best work. It looks like jealousy on the part of some of the Committee to take away his boat.

June 1903
Crematory

In a few days the work of getting rid of the dead animals which have been drown will begin. The desiccating works in east Oakland is now out of water, and yesterday a force of men was at work shoveling out the mud and getting it ready to start fires in today. From now on two shifts will be employed in running the plant night and until the dead animals are cleaned up. With this force the daily capacity of the plant will be 150 horses or cows or a larger number of hogs and such smaller beasts. At the plant all animals brought in are burned in three large furnaces. Each furnace will hold twelve horses and more can be dumped in before the first lot is out. An additional furnace is used burn the smoke from the other three, and in this way all the smell is consumed.

August 30, 1903
Flood

The Kansas River is now falling even more rapidly than it rose two or three days ago. All day yesterday the water fell at a rate of over two inches per hour and it is expected it will get down its normal height within a short time. The water has ceased flowing under the north approach of the Melan bridge and over the Oakland road under the south end of the Santa Fe bridge. The Oakland cars which have been unable to go, under the account of the water over the tracks commenced running though as usual about 10 O’clock yesterday morning.

October 28, 1903
Real Estate

Sheriff Lucas will sell Seventy-one lots in Oakland at sheriff sale at the court house today. The lots are part of an estate, the sale is the result of litigation between Mrs. Mary Green and F. A. Brigham. Mrs. Green holds tax deeds to the property and she brought suit to clear the title. She lost the suit, but the court held that she was entitled to the amount of the taxes she had paid and interest to the amount of 6 per cent.

November 3, 1903
Town Meeting

At a meeting which was held in Oakland to discuss the method of getting the Grantvaille bridge rebuilt, it was agreed that the merchants of Oakland would pay the interest on the cost of the bridge at grantville for two years providing the bridge was constructed at once. The merchants also agreed to pay the interest in evince. They did this because they think the bridge is of great vale to them in bringing trade from Jefferson County.
As has been stated in the Capital the bridge is to be built by the commissioners of Jefferson County with the consent of the commissioners of Shawnee County. The Jefferson County commissioners will have the contract. One meeting has been held by the boards of commissioners of the two counties and all of the bids were rejected because they were to high.

November 6, 1903
Crime & Trouble

The police have been notified that Andrew Patzell a market gardener, about 50 years of age who lived in Topeka and ran a truck patch near Oakland has disappeared. The officers have been working on the case, but have been unable as yet to get any clue regarding Patzell’s whereabouts. The man has been missing since Sunday and his sons are afraid that in a fit of despondency he has thrown himself in the river. It is said that Mr. Patzell and his wife did not agree and it is possible that this had a bearing on his disappearance.

December 22, 1903
Town Meeting

A petition was filed with the county commissioners yesterday asking that Oakland be made a city of the third class. A similar petition was filed several weeks ago in which the same request was made. The commissioners did not believe there was enough singers to the petition. It was sent back to the people who presented it on the ground: : There must be more signers.” The territory to be taken in as was stated in the Capital : “ Oakland, Oakland center, Wentworth Place, Wright’s Addition, Norton’s third Addition, Brigham and Rice’s Addition, Morris Addition, Whitmer’s Addition.

Recap

In 1903 we read about the flood we also read how the families of Oakland lost their homes, business and even their lives, but Oakland is here to stay, something’s will change and some will stay the same. Now that Oakland is rebuilding I thought this would be a good time to put in a business directory of Oakland. The years covered will be 1889-1922. I can not tell you what year they were in business, however I can in most cases give a Corner or street address. I will first give the old address then convert it to the address of today. So as you drive through Oakland you can see where they were and maybe help you know more about Oakland.

Oakland’s Business Directory
1889-1923

Name, Address Then & now.

A.

Armory ------ -----

B.

Benjamin P. Williams- Police Judge-Notary 299 Forest Ave 1033
Bliss Native Herbs-Luther Sperry 224 Oakland Ave. 1138
Bradley & Denham’s -------- ------

C.

Carl Clifton- Carpet & Rug Weaving -------- ------
City Barber Shop-R. K. Putman 233 Oakland Ave. 1119
Cole Bardley Meat Market -------- ------
Clingan & Hummel-Groceries Thomas & Wabash ------
Cole & Anderson- Real Estate Agent 231 Oakland Ave. -------
Contractor & Builder-S. M. Stanly 314 Kellam -------
C. M. Rowden-General Merchandise Thomas & Wabash -------
Copper W. M.-Postmaster & Concr. 249 Oakland 1103

D.

Deardoff Stand 233 Oakland Ave. 1119
Don Coffman- Mayor of Oakland 375 Oakland Ave. ------
Dr. F. Mc Farland 385 Green 815
Dr.’s Millard & Heller 385 Green 815
Drugs Store 352 Wabash 900
Dunkard Church 242 Michigan 1110

E.

E. W. Allen-Groceries ------- ------

F.

Finney- Groceries 166 Oakland Ave. -------
Fred A Brigham-Real Estate Dealer 202 Kellam -------
Fred A. Brigham-Mayor of Oakland 195 Winfield Ave 1209

G.

General Merchandise-C. M. Rowden 304 Forest Ave. 948
G. H. Ensign 311 Wabash ------
G. J. Lepper-Grocery’s Thomas & Wabash ------

H.

Hardten William- General Store 300 Wabash ------
Harrison’s Hall ( in Brick Store ) Thomas & Wabash 1100
Hicks Grocery Forest & Indiana -------

I.

Iowa Groceries-E. W. Allen Oakland & Iowa --------

J.

Jacob E. Shaffer- Mayor of Oakland 249 Michigan 1103
Jacob E. Shafer-Real Estate 279 Kellam 1023
J. Dunn- Carpenter & Builder 159 Michigan --------
Jim Oldham-Barber Shop ( Next to Blade Office ) ---------------- --------
J. L. Heller-( Opposite Postoffice ) ---------------- --------

L.

Lingo John C.-Groceies & Meats 251 Oakland 1101

M.

Mc Farland’s-Optical Co. 385 Green 815
Milligan’s- Store Oakland Ave. -------
Mid Continent Woolen Mill---Corner Oakland & Center.

N.

Noel E. Copeland-Mayor of Oakland 203 Michigan 1205

O.

Oakland Bank- S. E. Corner Thomas & Wabash -------
Oakland Blade News Office 310 Wabash 942
Oakland Blade News Office 410 Thomas ------
Oakland Blade News Office 229 Oakland 1123
Oakland Barber Shop ( Next to Blabe News ) ---------------- ------
Oakland Barber Shop ( Next to Post Office ) ---------------- -------
Orner Ira- Nurseryman Chester & Thomas -------

P.

Painter & Paper Hanger-C. M. Reaugh 244 Oakland 1108
Pastor-Reformed Presbyterian Church 176 Winfield 1228
Physician & Surgeon-J. L. Heller 250 Oakland 1102
Physician- Millard Morrisa 302 Green 1002
Post Office- 250 Oakland 1102

R.

Real Estate & Rental-Moore Packer C. ---------------- ------
R. B. Shower-Groceries 352 Wabash 900
Registed Pharmacist-G. H. Ensign Thomas & Wabash -------

S.

Saywell’s Hall 242 Michigan 1110

T.

Taylor John- Nurseryman 246 Forest Ave. ------
Thornburg-Postmaster 289 Kellam -------
Tin Shop- Earl Larimore 333 Winfield -------
Topeka Woolen Mill Center Ave. -------

W.

W. H. Queen-Groceries Oaland & Iowa -------
W. L. Gillmore-Blacksmith & Wagon Maker Thomas & Green -------
Wray Groceries & Meat Market Emmett --------
W. S. Anderson-Auctioner ------------------ --------