65 Years Ago
September 1954
Ralph D. Horville, a member of one of Allen County’s original pioneer families, died this morning. He was 81. He was the last surviving son of Daniel Horville, who was born in France, migrated to the United States and settled in Allen County in 1856. A few years later he purchased the land northwest of Iola which has long been known as the Horville Ranch. Ralph Horville was born in Iola and has lived in this vicinity all of his life. He was a member of the First Presbyterian Church. He is survived by his wife and three sisters, Mrs. Ed Smith, Mrs. J. V. Roberts and Mrs. John Foust, all of Iola.
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Approximately 600 applications for drought relief aid have been filed with the Farmers Home Administration and the Stabilization and Conservation office by Allen County farmers under a program which went into effect Sept. 1. Joseph J. Rosacker, FHA area supervisor, reports that 100 farmers have applied for feed aid. Officials of the Stabilization and Conservation office here reported that 500 farmers have applied for seeding aid to protect the land from erosion this winter.
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Ralph Smith of Iola, was named to succeed Orville Kretzmeier of the Allen County Fair Board. Kretzmeier, who actually resigned a year ago, had agreed to work through the 1954 Fair. One of his last duties was to submit the annual report on the Fair to the Board. The report showed that this year’s fair operated at a loss of about $3.
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A pre-dawn blaze killed six patients, hospitalized a seventh and leveled the Kincaid Nursing Home. The home was owned by Mr. and Mrs. I. H. Statham who were not at the home when the fire broke out. The cause of the fire is listed as unknown.
For the second consecutive year, all the employees of the Iola Lehigh Portland Cement Company will receive a free pair of safety shoes as a reward for completing a year without a lost-time accident. Robert E. Jones, plant manager, this morning presented shoes to the five sub-chairmen of the safety committee. The plant has now completed 760 consecutive accident-free work days.
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Elmer Powell, Iola real estate and insurance agent, was elected president of the Kansas Highway 54 Association. Seven Kansas towns were represented at the meeting.
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The members of First Christian Church rejoiced last night as they burned the last note given to finance the construction of their $123,000 edifice which was completed a few years ago. The final payment was made three years before the note matured.
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Dr. Cora S. Crews announced today that she is entering the practice of medicine as an associate of Dr. Russell Nevitt, who has offices in the Portland Hotel Building. Mrs. Crews practiced in Iola from 1937 to 1944 when her husband, Pat Crews, was working in the Iola Soil Conservation Service office. They have been in Hiawatha the past 10 years. Mr. Crews has returned as area conservationist in charge of the SCS office here.
