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THE MYSTERY OF MISS MAUDE - The Pawnee Republican, Nov 2, 1995
Submitted by Ruth Anna Hicks, Lincoln, NE
Article written by Staff Reporter, Sput Tumbull
The mystery of Miss Maude came about quite innocently. One July day as Tammy STEPHENS and I were diligently working at The Pawnee Republican, we heard the jingle of the front door. Tammy went to the front counter and the mystery began.
Vickie DE KONING, a Burchard resident, had come in with an old autograph book she found in her attic. Tammy called me to the front to look.
Wow! What a book, you know, the kind children used to take to school and have all their classmates sign? I remember the little poems and messages everyone used to write...like Roses are red, violets are blue, sugar is sweet, and so are you. Seems like some of the neatest traditions have faded.
My first thoughts were "Who could this book belong to?" and "wouldn't some family member just love to have this?" Fortunately for me, Vickie offered to leave the book. She thought perhaps I could find the owner.
I tucked the autograph book into my bag for safe keeping until I could take a closer look at it and went about my work.
That evening, I pulled the book from my bag and began reading. The first page was very difficult to read and I had to look at it several times bifore (sic) I could make out the words... "Within this book, so pure and white, I wish for none but friends to write. Mamma." Definitely no clue on that page, but what a sweet sentiment.
The only thing written on page two was, "Dec. 2nd, 1899, Ralph KELLEY." Still nothing to go on. However, I now knew that the book I held in my hands was nearly a hundred years old.
I continued to turn the fragil pages of the autograph book and read the short writings of the friends of Miss Maude. "Miss Maude, there are two kinds of love, True love and false love, Your loving teacher, Lena WARD, Pawnee City, Nebr. Jan 15, 1894." This entry dated the book back another five years. Had it been in De KONING'S attic for over a hundred years?
"Pawnee City, January 6, 1898, Miss Maude, Compliments of John F. KELLEY. Age 19." This page still gave no clue as to who Miss Maude was or how the book ended up in the attic.
I continued to turn the yellowed pages and look for a clue, "Pawnee City, Nebr. Dec 7, 1898. Dear Miss Maude, May golden gleams of sunshine, in radiance brightly beam, On the calm and peaceful waters, That guide you down life's stream. Yours truly, Albert W. KELLEY." 1 don't have any idea who Albert KELLEY is, but what a nice thing to write in Miss Maude's autograph book. The man also had beautiful handwriting.
I read on... "Friendship is a silken tie that binds two hearts together, and if you never break this tie, we will be friends forever. Lola Count that day lost, whose low descending sun, views from thy hand, no worthy action done. Your cousin, W.D. KELLEY" ..."Passing through life's field of action, lest we part before its end, take within
(Miss Maude - continued)
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your modert volume, this momento from a friend. Your friend and school mate, Bessie TUCKER, Age 15 ,,, When you get old and can not see, put on your specks and think of me. Your friend and school mate, Frank TUCKER, Age 12."
Still no clues and no familiar names. Am I ever going to find out who Miss Maude was?
"Dear Miss Maude, Remember the cat, remember the kitten, Remember the fellow, who gave you the mitten. Your class mate James McNAIR. Age 12"... "When far away, and friends are few, just think of me, and I will you. Your friend and schoolmate, Rosa OSLER"..."In leisure moments cast a look, upon the pages of this book, when absent friends your thought engage, remember the one who filled this page. Your friend and schoolmate, Grace TUCKER. Age 18." Perhaps Miss Maude is supposed to remain a mystery.
I continued to read on. It was as if I couldn't put the book down. I was obsessed. I needed to know the identity of Miss Maude. There was Myrtle SIMS, Mable HALL, Claude PERDEW, Flora IRWIN, and Hallie BUTLER. Finally, and a couple of names that I recognized. I could talk to George FLETCHER about the BUTLERS and Judy BAUSCH about the PERDEWS, but first I would read on.
"Dear Maude, Remember me dear Maude, When on this page you look, Remember it was Lillie who wrote this in your book. Your friend and schoolmate, Lillie LOCKWOOD. Age 15" The name was not familiar. The next few pages were signed by Wilmer SIMS, Ethel ADAMS, Clara ADAMS, and Wilma WILSON.
Wilma WILSON'S autograph gave me another clue. "Dear Maude, Your album is a golden spot, In which to write forget me nots. Your friend and schoolmate, WiIma WILSON, Remember our school days at Rosinweed." All I had to do was find out where Rosinweed school was.
I continued to turn pages of Miss Maude's autograph book. I was begining to get discouraged. Was I ever going to find out who Miss Maude was and how the book found its way the the DE KONING'S attic?
Another thought, if I could find out who owned the DE KONING'S house in the early 1900's maybe then I would know the idenity (sic) of Miss Maude or at least someone to contact. With the help of Jill SUNNEBERG and Kathy STEHLIK I found that in 1888 the house belonged to Oliver LOCH, in 1893 it belonged to John THOMAS and in 1920 it belonged to William MILLER. Not one of those names meant a thing to me. Plus, I realized this information didn't do me a whole lot of good. Who knows if Miss Maude or her parents ever owned the house. Everyone I talked to said that a lot of people rented homes back then and moved frequently.
I returned to the pages of the tattered book looking for another clue. I read through autographs by May HOLSCLAW, Bertha WOODS, William J STONE, James HOLSCLAW, Lillie LEWIS, Elma SIMS, Ira HOLSCLAW, and Eflie STONE. Why couldn't I come up with something?
"Tis sweet to be remembered, tis sad to be forgot, and all I ask of you my friend, is to 'forget me not' Your friend, Maggie SHIPPEN"... "Dec 30, 1897 Dear Miss Maude, High up in the cherry tree, Riper grows the cherry, the more the boys kiss the girls, the more they want to marry. Your schoolmate, Roy HUMRICH. Age 16 Dear Friend
(Miss Maude - continued)
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Maude, Remember the cat, remember the kitten, remember the fellow who gave you the mitten, Lieu HUMRICH. Age 18 years"
Wallace IRWIN, Lila WILSON, Stella DEWEBER Georgia SHIPPEN, Georgia FISHER, Lottie LIMING, I thought I knew everyone in Pawnee County. This book sure proved me wrong. I found it very difficult to comprehend the fact I was trying to go back a hundred years. There was no one around to ask.
But I kept on reading. "Dec. 29, 1897, Dear friend, When you pull the tabel apart, think of me with all your hart. Your school mate, William Roberd Lee PERDEW." (yes, the spelling errors were there) ..."Dear Maude, the older the tree, the older the bark, the older the feller, the harder the spark. From your school mate Frank DUFF."
Perhaps if I could find the school records I could find who Miss Maude was. I called Howard HANSEN, county superintendent. But, guess what? The school records go by number and not by name.
I next made a trip to the library and with the help of Mary FRIEDLY, 1 found Rosinweed school was district two. It had been located just south of Kenny and Laura MORT'S house when they lived in the country. I learned Kenny MORT and his sister attended school at Rosinweed as did Kenney's children, Russell and Peggy.
It was soon time for the Pawnee County Fair and life got too busy for me to continue reading the pages of the book. 1 did however get the opportunity to visit with Judy BAUSCH at the fair and learned William Robert Lee PERDEW was her grandfather. Finally, one name that someone recognized.
I also ran into George and Gertrude FLETCHER at the Fair. I asked George about the BUTLERS and the STORYS, as I knew some of them were his relation. He wasn't able to help me with the project.
Knowing that Elsie BARTRAM was once a HUMRICH, I gave her a call. I mean, after all, what did I have to lose? I felt as if I had struck a gold mine. One of the signatures was Lillie LOCKWOOD. She just happens to be Elsie's mother. Another signer of the book, Lieu HUMRICH, was Elsie's father. Imagine! The book was also signed by Lieu's brothers, Earl, Henry, Wilmer, and Roy. Elsie told me Wilmer was killed while loading walnut logs. One of the logs rolled back and over him.
Elsie also remembered her parents telling a story about Mabel HALL. One day as Mabel and a friend were playing on the teeter-totter, Mable's end was up in the air, and the friend jumped off, as many children do. When Mabel's end of the teeter-totter hit the ground, her leg was crushed under it. They amputated her leg.
As for the school teacher, Lena WARD, Elsie told me, Lena had also taught at Chattawa. When Elsie was a young girl, Lena lived with them.
Elsie was able to tell me the school is now located north of Burchard on the Floyd FORKE property. Elsie suggested that I call Elmer VRTISKA, as he is related to the LEWIS'. I called Elmer, he wasn't able to shed any light on the mystery of Miss Maude.
I returned to reading the pages of the book. "Down in the valley there lies a flat rock and on it is written forget me not. Your schoolmate, Wilmer HUMRICH." ... Maggie WILSON, Hazel PERDEW, Mary STORY, Henry HUMRICH, Frank BUTLER "May your path be strewn with roses, thorniess to the end, is the wish of your friend and school
(Miss Maude - continued)
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mate, Edna R. HALL."... "To be good is to do good. Mamie CALHOUN, March 14, 1898"... Mabel DEWEBER, Earl HUMRICH, Clara GATLIN, and Nettie CLARK... I have reached the end of this beautiful, old autograph album. I haven't another clue.
I have called Mildred BROWN, Maxine WILSON SHERWIN, Nellie WARNKE, Frances SPITSER and a few others. I talked to Dave and Rta KENT. I have pretty well exhausted every lead that I was given.
According to Mildred BROWN who worked in the county superintendent's office for a number of years, the school records do not go back as far as I need.
Perhaps you can help to solve the mystery of Miss Maude or maybe she is to remain a mystery. I will be looking forward to hearing from you if you have any clues.
NOVEMBER 30, 1995
MISS MAUDE REMAINS A MYSTERY
by: Staff Reporter, Sput Turnbull
The Pawnee Republican has received several letters and phone calls concerning the identity of Miss Maude. Her one-hundred-year-old autograph book, which was found in the attic of the Lynn and Vickie DE KONING home, Burchard, still has no owner.
One very kind gentleman stopped in the paper office with a list of Maudes that he could recall, including Maude SCOTT EDGERTON and Maude COPE. He also gave me a couple of new leads to follow.
A letter from Myrtle EDDY reads, "In regard to the article 'Mystery of Miss Maude', I have no idea whether my information on this subject will help you or not but I decided to send it along. "My husband's family came to Pawnee County in the 1850's and one ancestor was William J. AIKENS, he had a daughter Maude born 27 March 1882. I don't know the location of their homes in the time frame of your research. I lived in Pawnee City from the time we were married in 1933 until 1950. I knew Maude at that time and they lived on a farm northwest of Pawnee about five or six miles. Maude married a Mr. HARPER late in life and resided in California until she died."
Mary McNAIR REED called the office. She said she loved the story and recognized her uncle's name, James McNAIR. She said by his age when he wrote in the book, it may have been 1898.
Keith RICHARDSON called. He thought perhaps it was Maude RICHARDSON, an aunt to Dora WISSLER.
I received calls from Marguerite ROBISON RUSS, Elmer VRTISKA, Elsie BARTRAM and many others.
There have been many suggestions of where to look next and possible last names for Miss Maude.
However, the real clue came when my dad read through the autograph book and noticed one of the autographs was written to Miss Maude KELLEY. Which means we now know her name is Maude KELLEY.
I called Sharon KELLEY SCHILLING. She suggested I call Gertrude MORRISEY, a relative of the KELLEY'S. Unfortunately, Gertrude does not remember any Maude KELLEY. So there is yet a mystery. Who is Maude KELLEY?
(Miss Maude--continued)
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MARCH 7, 1996
MYSTERY OF MISS MAUDE SOLVED?
by: Staff Reporter, Sput Turnbull
Many of you are still wondering about the Mystery of Miss Maude. Thanks to Dedra SNYDER of Burchard, part of the mystery has been solved.
A woman by the name of Phanetta COOPER LORENTZ recently moved to Good Shepherd Village in Summerfield. With her, she brought some answers to the question "Who is Miss Maude Kelley?"
Phanetta had a collection of memorabilia and news articles which led Dedra to believe that Phanetta may know who Miss Maude was. Dedra was right. When she asked Phanetta about Maude, Phanetta told her "Maude was my mother."
As I read through the articles, I was able to put together a few pieces of the puzzle. Many things are still unanswered.
A BRIDE AT TWENTY
Reading the first bit of information, I learned a little about Maude herself. A small news clipping read 'Miss Maude KELLEY and John W. COOPER, both of Lebanon, Kansas were married on Tuesday, March 20, 1906 at the home of Mr, and Mrs. G. W. SAGE in Smith Center. Mr. COOPER and bride were formerly from Illinois but farmed near Lebanon at the time of their marriage. Rev. G.W.SAGE officiated."
A handwritten entry in a small notebook said that at the time of the marriage, John was 40 years old, Maude was 20. The couple was married on John's birthday.
Another entry in that same notebook told of the birth of Maude's daughter. "To this union, a daughter was born. Phanetta Irene COOPER was born on Saturday, October 5th, 1906 at the farm one mile north and l/2 mile east of Lebanon, Kansas. She weighed eight pounds.
DEATH AT A YOUNG AGE
That same notebook told of the death of Maude. "Maude B COOPER passed away at 20 minutes to 12 on Saturday, August 26, 1911 at the age of 26 years, three months and 27 days. She was buried at Price Cemetery, southwest of Lebanon, Kansas, beside her mother."
FAMILY FROM INDIANA
According to an obituary taken from a Lebanon newspaper which Phanetta had saved, Maude's father, William M KELLEY, was born in Terre Haute. Ind. He was brought up as the normal Hoosier, until the age of nine when the family moved to Pawnee County, Nebraska.
As I continue to search through articles saved by Phanetta COOPER LORENTZ, I found the obituary of Maude's grandmother. William KELLEY'S mother, Mrs Jane KELLEY, passed away in Lebanon, Kansas on April 1, 1917. She had moved to Pawnee, Nebraska in 1865, later moving to Lebanon, Kansas. Mrs KELLEY'S husband died forty six years prior. Mrs Jane KELLEY was buried in Pawnee, Nebraska beside her husband.
In 1875 William, Maude's father was united in marriage to Della MANNING. To them were born two children, John and Frances. Frances died in infancy. Della MANNING KELLEY passed away in 1884. William KELLEY married Amanda PARTRIDGE. Three children were born, Albert, Ralph, and Maude. In 1899 the family moved to Lebanon. William's second wife also passed away.
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THIRD WIFE
Susie PARTRIDGE, Axtell, Kansas became William's third wife. They were married on Thursday, September 26, 1929. He was 73 years old.
At the time of William's death, Miss Phanetta COOPER was living in Calif. where she worked for the United Telephone Company. She came home for the funeral.
Another obituary taken from the Lebanon newspaper told of the death of Maude's brother. Albert W KELLEY, son of William and Amanda KELLEY, was born December 29, 1890 in Pawnee City, Nebr. He died at age of 75 on Tuesday, Nov. 8, 1966 at the Sherman County Boothroy Memorial Hospital where he had been a patient for almost a month and a half.
Albert KELLEY and Emily G SHEETZ were married on August 6, 1914 in Topeka, Kansas. The couple lived for many years at Colony, Kansas before moving to Goodland in 1944. Mr KELLEY was a retired barber. He was employed by the Leo SCHISLER Barber Shop for 19 years, until his retirement in 1963. His wife Emily and brother R L KELLEY of Goodland survived him.
SOME THINGS STILL A MYSTERY
The move to Lebanon, Kans. when Maude was yet a girl, explains why the autograph book had signatures from Rosin Weed School in Pawnee County and Lebanon, Kans. The thing it doesn't explain is how the book got back to Pawncc County.
I would still like to know why Miss Maude passed away at such an early age. I was not able to speak to Phanetta, and Dedra told me Phanetta has no children. Perhaps this article will spark a memory for someone. Who knows, maybe these mysteries will also be solved by one of the faithful readers of The Puwnee Republican.
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