

District #15 School, 1st Cambridge School - 1881

1923

C H S 1947
Cambridge Grade School

C. H. S. Memorial - 1992

Original Date Stone of 1881 School

OSCAR N. MADDUX Superintendent 1933 - 1939
WAYNE ADAMS CLARK C H S Principal 1948-1953
BIOGRAPHY OF DR. WILL J. GREEN AND FAMILY
ROSTER - C. H. S. HIGH SCHOOL AND GRADE TEACHERS
GEOLOGIC HISTORY OF THE CAMBRIDGE AREA
FRIENDS & HONORARY CLASSMATES FOREVER
Cambridge High School GRADUATE ROSTER
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The earth has spun in its orbit around the sun for countless millennia, its vast ecological areas have evolved and developed. We center our attention on one of these unique areas, a narrow strip of rock hills, tall grasses and special animal life that exists on our maps as the "FLINT HILLS." It is located in eastern Kansas. A creek named Grouse runs through the western edge of this land. We zero in on this area because this is where our history is located...in a town called Cambridge, in a Township named Windsor, in a County named Cowley, in the state of Kansas, U.S.A. The Flint Hills area is famous for its rich bluestem pasture lands. The transitional prairies and the upper high plains which lead into the mountains was home to the buffalo, antelope, deer and the men with the red skin. They all coexisted in a state of tranquility. The Indians moved through this land as easily as the warm, summer breezes, leaving the land as it was, when they were gone. The tranquility of this area was pierced by Western man...by the men from the European countries who came in search of "the shiny metal" and a fountain that spewed forth youthful vigor. Later, the men who came to harvest the skins and the hides of the animals did more than pierce the tranquility of the land. In due time, men arrived who saw the beauty and potential of this "peaceful" Grouse valley...men who wanted to start a new life in a new place. These were the men who had lived through that infamous period of the great Civil War. One of these men, John TuII, had two fingers shot off during this war. He returned to Shelby County, Illinois in July 1865, a man not yet twenty two years old. On May 3, 1866 he married Miss Nancy Simpson who had been born in Indiana. On March 4, 1869, he and his wife moved to Eureka, Kansas, taking some household goods with them. They set up their household and planted crops. He had heard about the Osage Nation from men of his acquaintance, deciding that this is where he wanted to stake a claim. Leaving his wife in Emporia, eventually Mr. Tull and four other men put up hay on Mr. Tull's claim at the mouth of the Walnut River in the fall of 1869. A foundation for a house had been laid at this location, in the vicinity of what is now Arkansas city. The Indians came and burned them out. John Tull left the Walnut River area, going to Grouse Creek. He filed a claim on land two miles north of where Cambridge is now located. Lazette, Kansas, was built on land joining his property to the east. By the early histories, John Tull is credited with building the first house on Grouse Creek. Two sons were born to John and Nancy Tull. Braz D. Tull was born on July 9, 1871, and Bruce Tull was born on March 23, 1879. Mr. Tull possessed a receipt in the amount of $5.00 which promised him one year's protection from Chetopah, Chief of the Osage Indians. All settlers who located prior to July 15, 1870 were expected to pay this head money to Chetopah. Men with names like Sutton, Wilkins, Gardenhire, Todd, Simpson, Dwyer, Jackson, Phenis, Brooks, Clover, Craft, Fall, Booth, Dr. Chapman, Solomon Hisler, Gans, Stapleton, Sherman, Hicks, Sicks, Chapman...and yes, even Smith and Jones are some of the early settlers on Grouse Creek. The early histories state that John Tull built the first house, then almost in the same breath, John Tull taught the first school. It is very evident that education received a high priority with these early settlers. Lazette School District #15 was moved to Cambridge in 1881. This same high regard for education held true for Cambridge. A town company was formed in 1880 with Benjamin H. Clover as president, the site for the town was plotted on May 3, 1880. Mrs. B. H. Clover named the new town, "CAMBRIDGE." We (yet) do not know why Mrs. Clover chose "CAMBRIDGE" as the name. Bonds were voted in the summer of 1880 to erect a stone schoolhouse in Cambridge. The native stone building was completed in the summer of 1881. The first school term in the new building was commenced in October 1881. Everything was happening at once! The Kansas City and Lawrence and Southern Kansas Railroad first service began in February 1880. Joseph P. Craft is credited with completing the first building in Cambridge. It was a hotel located on south (West Main) street just north of the depot. In those days Cambridge had a West Main Street and an East Main Street...matter of fact, it still does! Mr. Craft operated a hotel and livery stable at this location for several years. Most of the residents of Lazette relocated in Cambridge to be near the railroad. Many of the buildings were moved to Cambridge. Some of Lazette's residents relocated in Burden. Cambridge and the area flourished in these early days. Settlers came, and business men, who provided the stores and services for the needs of the people. By 1916, many citizens of the area saw the need for establishing higher education in the area. One of these was Bruce Tull, son of John Tull, Grouse Valley's first settler, and first teacher. Bruce circulated the petition that brought the school proposition to the ballot. On April 9, 1917 the voters of Windsor Township voted to organize a rural high school which was to be situated in Cambridge. On June 17, 1917, the first school board meeting was held. W. F. Moore was director, W. B. Tull was treasurer and Albert Booth was clerk of the new high school board of education. C. C. Clover was director, J. J. Benjamin was treasurer and H. F. Hicks was clerk of district #15 school board. The early native stone building was torn down, and a red brick grade and high school building was erected in its place. Although it was not quite completed, the building was dedicated on Thanksgiving Day in 1917. All the rural schools around Cambridge were invited to help dedicate the new building, each contributed to the program. Leone Adkins Gailey remembers that the Cambridge school gave a pantomime. The flat roof of the furnace room was used as the stage for this dedication ceremony! The first term of the new high school started in September 1918 with one teacher, Mrs. Annie Snow, and five pupils; Leone Adkins, Marie Ryan, Felix Davis, Thelma Davis and Opal Thomas. These five students made the big rock "C" on the hill south of town and painted it white so it could be seen from Main Street! In the second year, 1919-1920, two new teachers were hired. Mr. W. A. McKnight was the Superintendent and Mrs. Crissman taught geometry, home economics and woodworking. The basement southeast and southwest rooms were used for home economics, woodworking and agriculture. Mrs. Annie Laura Snow was Principle and taught English. Hubert Gailey transferred from Arkansas City and was a member of the Sophomore Class. Leone Gailey remembers that plants were growing in the agriculture room and Hubert Gailey was to spray the plants. Remember, World War I was just over and the grade school classes were not aware that Hubert was spraying plants. When the spray fumes penetrated the grade school rooms, the students ran from the school screaming that they were being "bombed!" The Freshman were Paul Clover, Eva Crow, Ray and Jessie Booth, Ralph Hovey, Grace Belden and Eugene Evans. Mrs. Snow married George Faulton of Winfield on Saturday. December 17, 1920. In the third year, 1920-1921, Lita Gailey transferred from Winfield to Cambridge as a senior. Miss Bates was added to the faculty for just the one year. Opal Thomas transferred to Burden High School. Felix Davis transferred to Winfield High School. Thelma Howard and Nettie Kent joined the junior class. Soon Nettie dropped out of class. The Junior play, "THE LITTLE CLODHOPPER" was staged. In addition to the showing in Cambridge, the play was shown in Dexter and other places. with the admission money, the class purchased class rings and the graduation announcements in the senior year. The Freshman were Vera Moyer and Nettie Simmons. Miss Lita Gailey became the first graduate of Cambridge High School. The fourth year, 1921-1922, saw the graduation of the Charter Member Class. Two of the original five had remained and graduated in the class of 1922, Marie Ryan and Leone Gailey. About one month before graduation Thelma Howard died as a result of a mastoid operation. She died before the invention of Penicillin or even Sulpha Drugs either of which could have saved her life. The roll of the sophomore and junior class remained the same. The freshman were Louise Sheets, Louia Utt, Hester Self, Henry Razook, Eula Barger, Francis Kolde, Joe Ross, Ben Crouch, Persey Hunt, Earl Howard, Vivian Utt, Hugh "Jack" Bolack, Ernest Stewart, Lester McCrabb, Owen Ankrom and Ward Booth. In 1923 a junior high school was organized in connection with the high school. The enrollment the first year was fifteen. Mr. Roy Darlington was the first junior high teacher. School enrollments increased steadily and necessitated more classroom space. In 1927 school district #15 sold their interest in the building to the high school district. District #15 school board members in 1927 were; W. M. Harlan, director, J. N. Craft, treasurer and J. J. Benjamin, clerk. Mitchell & Son, Builders, were hired to construct the two room red brick grade school building which was erected on lots secured from the Hammer property on the west side of Main Street. The new building was directly across the street from the high school building and housed the first six grades. Two teachers, Grace Belden and Annabelle Robards, were employed in the new facility. In April 1933, the grade school enrollment was fifty six pupils. In 1933, Cowley County had 138 school districts that employed 186 teachers! Prior to 1936, the high school administration rented Horner's Hall for school activities. The auditorium gymnasium was built in 1936 with Mr. Thomas Larrick as resident inspector for the federal government. Work began on Monday morning, January 13, 1936 at the school location and at the rock quarry on the G. B. Kelly ranch south of Cambridge. The gymnasium was scheduled to be completed in seventy five working days. The work day consisted of two shifts: shift one began at 7:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.; shift two worked from 12:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. Each workman on the project was allowed to work 130 hours per month. The "I" beams for the building were lifted into position by means of a gin pole. The graduating class of 1936 was the first class to use the gymnasium for graduating exercises, even though the building had not been completed. The school bus service was started in 1943. W. A. Bonnell, Earl Fromm, Bill Cullumber, Ralph Sphar, Charles Mueller, Pat Hancock, Everett Howe, Archie Dwyer...were the bus drivers. In 1954, Box school house was purchased by the administration of the Cambridge schools and moved north of the high school building. It was remodeled and made into a modern school lunch room. Jewel Bolack was cook the first year. Mabel Ensley became cook in 1955 and remained until the school was consolidated in 1963. Her helpers were Mary Lou Ashcraft, Flora Booth Susie Brunton and Theresa Keplinger. In January 1963, Mr. Walter Bynum, Cowley County Superintendent, met with the school boards of education of Cambridge and Burden to discuss school problems. Each district held an information meeting to discuss advantages and disadvantages of consolidation. Cambridge's meeting was held on January 31, 1963, Burden's meeting was held on February 2, 1963. Issue voting meetings were held on February 7, 1963. Burden voted to consolidate, 179-5. Cambridge voted to consolidate, 92-15. C7 Eastern Cowley Common School District was the name selected for the name of the new district. Mr. Bynum called an election to name board members for the new district. Thus, Cambridge High School ceased to be. The life of this auspicious institution spanned forty six years. Three-hundred and thirty-six seniors received diplomas from C. H. S. There were this many or more who studied there, but did not remain to graduate. Its students have spread out into many areas of the country and are engaged in varied occupations. Its influence is still alive! The high school building was torn down in the mid eighties. Each year, on the last Saturday in May before Memorial Day, the C. H. S. Alumni Association holds an evening dinner meeting in the Gymnasium. Lewis Pickens Taken from THE WINFIELD DAILY COURIER, Monday, June 26, 1922 WITH THE FOLKS AT CAMBRIDGE - Little Glimpses Of Our Neighboring City and citizens Nestling in a little valley surrounded by gently rising hills is the I little city of Cambridge, with its classic name and enjoying a splendid trade from the agricultural territory around it. No nicer folks can be found than some who reside here and in the rural districts around it and many of them are "well fixed" in temporal affairs. Some of the farms and ranches in this section of Eastern Cowley county range all the way from a hundred to a thousand or more acres and have been in possession of the same families for several generations. The town of Cambridge has a number of business enterprises and an unusually handsome high school building lately completed and well located on a rising swell of ground in the north part of the city. Many of the homes have extensive yards and gardens around them and "home grown" berries and vegetables are found on the markets. The Cambridge State Bank with J. J. Benjamin as cashier, has nice quarters and offers the community such facilities as are consistent with good banking methods. The new postmaster is Mr. Gailey with Messrs. Hammer and Smith as rural carriers. These "boys" are popular on the routes and although they wait for the 9 o'clock mail they make the rounds and the patrons are generally served by noon. The Cambridge hotel is under the management of Mrs. W. E. Dawson and the table is fairly loaded with good "eats". Besides the hotel a splendid restaurant in charge of J. H. Adkins and wife is located on the corner and the genial folks are fast building up a nice trade. W. E. Overman has a garage and is already needing larger accommodations for his fine business. W. M. Harlan is manager of the lumber yard, but enjoys home life out on a farm north of town. L. Lyons is one of the well known pioneers and has farm buildings in the county. Probably the largest general store in eastern Cowley county is the one conducted by F. G. Jabara. He has an extensive trade. Some of the popularity of the store should be credited to Miss Williams, his efficient and good looking sales lady. A young business man of the town is Geo. L. Adkins proprietor of the barber shop. Perhaps no one around Cambridge can entertain you better with stories of early times in Kansas than G. H. Dwyer. He knows Cowley County like a book and remembers Winfield long before she began to put on "airs." Mercantile or other industries conducted by Messrs. Miller, Davis, H. T. Fromm and others make up the business ensemble of this growing town. North of Cambridge is located the gas plant under the Superintendence of Mr. Lyman and adjoining it are the tasty homes of the employees. Another familiar name to Cowley County people is that of Mrs. C. C. Clover who has a nice home in the eastern part of Cambridge. Just out of Cambridge is one of the best appointed poultry farms in the county with hatching sheds, brooder houses and other modern fixtures and the proprietor, C. B. Wiley knows the poultry game and seems to be making a success of it. The egg sales of this farm sometimes run $100 per month. Mention is also due to Mrs. A. T. Knowles who lives north of Cambridge and raises S. C. Leghorns. Mrs. Knowles runs several incubations and the spring hatches totaled about 1300 young chickens. One of the attractions around Cambridge is the fine highways leading from it over to Burden on the west and to Grand Summit on the east, and the scenery along the routes is truly rural. The farms spread before you like a map and, the great free open spaces give you a taste of what the old time Kansas ranches must have been in the days of their prime. |
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First Cambridge High School Teacher 1918 - 1922
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| Gladys Jamison, Cambridge Teacher |
| 1933 - 1934 Taught 1st, 2nd and 3rd Grade |
| 1935, Taught 4th, 5th and 6th Grade |
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Ellen Schul, Intermediate Teacher 1936 |
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CHS English Teacher 1938 - 1941 |

Superintendent C H S 1921-1922

Superintendent 1928 - 1932
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SIMON BLICKENSDERFER MORDY was born in Gnadenhutten, Ohio, on 25 August 1873. ETTA SEREPTA (KETTERING) MORDY was born in Massilon, Ohio, on 03 November 1876. Simon and Etta were married in Lecompton, Kansas on 26 September 1898. This union produced four boys and one girl: Frances Earl Mordy, born 19 November 1900; Loren J. Mordy, born 10 February 1904; Horace Wendell Mordy, born 17 June 1908; Eula Mordy (Kolde), born 06 June 1910; and Lloyd Murle Mordy, born 09 November 1915. Eula Mordy married Francis "Jimmy" Kolde who graduated from Cambridge High School in 1925. Simon B. Mordy received his grade and high school education in Ohio. He earned his B. A. and M. S. degree from Lane University in Lecompton, Kansas. His M. A. degree was dated 27 March 1919. Mr. Mordy was Superintendent of Cambridge High School from 1928 to 1931. When he retired at the age of seventy eight, he had spent fifty three years in the teaching profession. Other schools he taught are: Carbondale, Rexford, Segwick, Wakefield, Madison, Derby, Delia, Moline, Valley Falls, Protection, and Elwood. Mr. Mordy taught Latin, Biology, Botany, Physiology, Algebra II, Science, Physics, and Manual Training. Mr. Mordy was an active speaker at Commencement exercises throughout his career. He was a hunter, and he loved to fish. Woodworking was his hobby. One of his pieces, a buffet, is on display in the home of his son, Lloyd Mordy, in Independence, Kansas. Etta Mordy died 01 March 1959 and Simon B. Mordy died 24 August 1961. Both are buried Independence Memorial cemetery in Independence, Kansas. Information and pictures furnished by Lloyd M. Mordy, 2520 Pennsylvania, Independence, Kansas 67301. |

C H S Principal 1948-1953
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Wayne A. Clark was born 17 November 1919 on a farm near Rosalie, Kansas. His father, Lester Joshua Clark was born 24 May, 1884 at Rosalie, Kansas. His mother, Mabel Chloe Adams was born 02 October 1889 at Morgantown, Indiana. They were married on 22 December 1907 at Moundridge, Kansas. Wayne Clark attended elementary school at Rosalie and graduated from Rosalie High School with the class of 1937. He attended EI Dorado Junior College, 1937-1939. He transferred to Kansas State Teachers College in Pittsburgh, Kansas and received his Bachelor of Science Degree in January 1942. He received his Masters Degree from Pittsburgh in the summer of 1950. Wayne and Martha Jo Coventon both started teaching at Cambridge High School in 1942. Martha Jo was born on 21 January 1922 at Muskogee, Oklahoma. They were married on 23 May 1944 at Wagoner, Oklahoma. Wayne and Martha Jo were shivered by many of their students before they were married. They threw Wayne into Cedar Creek, but just required Martha Jo to wade the shallow waters. This union produced five children: Frances Lee on 21 February 1945; Kenneth Wayne on 24 April 1948; David Eugene on 18 February 1952; Nancy Jo on 05 March 1955; and Robert Lynn on 01 November 1956. Nancy Jo was born at Susan B. Allen Memorial Hospital in EI Dorado, Kansas. She weighed 14 lbs., 3/4 oz. at birth. This weight remains the record as largest baby born at that hospital. After teaching and coaching baseball and basketball at Cambridge, 1942-1944, Wayne was drafted into the U. S. Navy on 01 June 1944. He received six weeks of training at Great Lakes Training Center. He attended Radio School at the University of Wisconsin at Madison, Wisconsin. Upon completion of Radio School he was sent to Jacksonville, Florida Naval Air station to await further assignment. He served on the ship, CVE-103, aircraft carrier escort in the Pacific theater. Wayne received his Honorable Discharge from the Navy in February 1946. Wayne returned as teacher and coach at Cambridge High School, 1946- 1948. He became Cambridge High School Principal, 1948-1953. Wayne served as superintendent of high school, and elementary principal of Rosalia from 1953 to 1963. He became principal of the Leon High School 1963. In the summer of 1959, Wayne received a General Electric Fellowship to attend Stanford University in California for six weeks. In the summers of 1969, 1970, and 1971, he returned to Stanford on a National Science Foundation grant. Wayne left Leon in 1967 and returned to Rosalia as Principal of Flint hills High School. It was comprised of students from Rosalia and Cassoday. He served as Principal of Flint hills High School until 1972. He returned to classroom teaching in 1972. He served in this capacity until his retirement from the Flint hills School District in 1985. Wayne and Martha Jo enjoyed a one week vacation trip to Hawaii in the summer of 1985. Information and picture furnished by Wayne A. Clark, Box 67, Rosalia, Kansas 67132. |
1939-1948
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LENARD LANDON WOODS was born February 27, 1904 near Fair Play, Cedar County, Missouri. He was the son of Oscar and Ida Frances Woods. He attended Collins School in Cedar County and was a Fair Play High School Graduate - 1923. Mr. Woods taught 5 years in the country schools in Missouri. He acquired a B. S. Degree in 1931 and a M. S. Degree in 1933, both from Pittsburgh State University at Pittsburgh, Kansas. He was a member of the National Mathematics Fraternity. He taught 5 years in the Dillworth High School in Oklahoma 1934-1939. He married Mae Louise Wright of Arkansas City, Kansas May 29, 1938. We had met while in college at Pittsburgh. Mr. Woods was hired as principal and teacher at Cambridge High School in 1939. He served there for 9 years. While there 2 children were born into their home. Robert Wayne Woods January 15, 1941 and Dorothy Ann Woods February 15, 1945. Robert lives in Indiana, Pennsylvania and Dorothy lives in Bloomington, Illinois. They are both married and have a family. From Cambridge, we went to Norton, Kansas where Mr. Woods was Superintendent of the city schools which included kindergarten through the eighth grade 1948-1953. A community high school was there. In 1953, we moved to Phillipsburg, Kansas where he was Superintendent of schools until 1959. Robert graduated from Phillipsburg High School in 1959. Mr. Woods was in the Wilson Schools for 2 years as Superintendent. Mr. Woods was hired as Superintendent of Rozel, Kansas Schools in 1961 and served there until 1968. Dorothy graduated from Rozel High School in 1963. I n 1968, Mr. Woods was hired as Superintendent of the Lebanon Schools. He had his first heart attack in February of 1969. He recovered and served 3 more years as superintendent. He had another heart attack in September of 1971 and retired in 1972. Mr. Woods spent 10 years teaching in Missouri and Oklahoma. He was in school administration in Kansas for 33 years. Mr. Woods liked Winfield so when he retired we landed in Winfield. We lived at 2012 Crestline Drive where he had a garden and spent much time fishing. We took a tour to the Holy Land in 1974 and went to Ireland, Wales, and England in 1975. We went on a Mediterranean Cruise in 1977. In August of 1978, Mr. Woods had another heart attack and passed away at William Newton Memorial Hospital September 16, 1978. Mr. Woods is buried in the Parker Cemetery east of Arkansas city. Information for this biography was furnished by Mrs. Lenard L. Woods, 1500 East Tenth Street, Apartment C-1, Winfield, Kansas 67156, Tel: 620-221-0985. |

Superintendent 1933 - 1939
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OSCAR NICHOLS MADDUX was born November 29, 1902 on a farm near Bronson in eastern Kansas. He was the son of Sherman T. and Alma (Billings) Maddux. He attended rural school in eastern Kansas, moving with the family at the age of eight to a farm in western Kansas near Deerfield. He completed his grades there and graduated from the Deerfield High School in May, 1921. He was the first Maddux to graduate from high school. Mr. Maddux attended Southwestern College in Winfield, Kansas, received his degree in 1925. He chose teaching as his profession and taught mathematics and science in the Burden, Kansas High School for the next two years 1925-1926, 1926-1927. In the fall of 1927, Mr. Maddux began teaching in the Cambridge High School. He was principal until 1933, at which time he became Superintendent. He continued in that position until his retirement in 1939. Mr. Maddux and Edith Viola Lowe were united in marriage at the Nazarene church in Wellington, Kansas, by the Rev. G. W. Dudley on August 9, 1928. Mrs. Edith Maddux parents were Mr. and Mrs. Charles Lowe who lived in Grant county south of Caldwell, Kansas. Mrs. Edith Maddux graduated from Burden High School in 1927. She taught school in Medford, Oklahoma 1927-1928. Mr. and Mrs. Maddux were parents of two sons and one daughter, all three were born in Cambridge. Howard Aubrey Maddux, a lawyer in Tulsa, Oklahoma was born September 2, 1929. Maynard Lee Maddux, a retired school teacher living in Pine, Colorado was born November 24, 1930. Marilyn Elaine (Maddux) Holdeman, a school teacher was born August 24, 1936. When ill health forced Mr. Maddux to retire, he and his family returned to the farm in western Kansas where he had grown to manhood. They operated a successful turkey farm until 1950. They built a house in Deerfield in 1950, and moved to town. The house was across the street from the school, where he could watch the kids go to and from school. Mr. and Mrs. Maddux hosted many holiday parties for the school faculty. Oscar Maddux became a tutor and was close to the profession that he loved. winter evenings would find him cruising to the high school in his electric wheel chair to cheer the Deerfield Spartans on to victory! Even though he was confined to a wheel chair the last 20 years of his life, Mr. Maddux led a very active life. He played chess by mail with friends world wide. Mr. and Mrs. Maddux took their expanding family of grandchildren on many trips throughout the united states...from the Pacific to the Atlantic, from Canada to Mexico. Oscar Maddux was diagnosed as having cancer in November 1973. He stated that he would not live until Christmas. He died Christmas EVE, December 24, 1973 at the age of seventy one years. Mrs. Edith Maddux died March 25, 1987 at the age of seventy eight years. Mr. and Mrs. Maddux are buried in the Deerfield, Kansas cemetery. (The information for this biography is furnished to us by Maynard Lee Maddux, 1669 Woodside Drive, Pine, Colorado.) |

Edith, Howard and Maynard Maddux
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Oscar Maddux wrote his creed on October 6, 1972 and later wrote an article entitled, "SHARING WHEELING LIVING." The following is taken from these writings and is being shared by his request. I was born more than seventy years ago on a farm in eastern Kansas. I did not choose the time, the place, the color of my skin or my sex. Yet, I am happy to be living in the most interesting century of our time, the best nation in the world and to be the color and sex that I am. At the age of eight I moved with my parents, two older brothers and a younger sister to a farm in western Kansas. It was necessary to walk two and one half miles to a rural school. Later I attended high school by riding my bicycle sixteen miles a day. My second and third years found me commuting in a horse drawn wagon, and my senior year riding in a Model T. It was during the year when I rode my bicycle and was exposed to all kinds of weather that I experienced my first attack of rheumatoid arthritis. Having unimproved dirt roads in which half the distance was ruts the wheels of wagons and cars had formed as they traveled across open country, made it necessary for me to push my bicycle when it rained or snowed. During my high school years I played football, basketball and baseball even though my feet and hands were swollen and the pain was excruciating and continuous. In 1921, I was graduated and entered college in the fall, and received my degree in 1925. My belief is, if a man empties his pocketbook into his head, no man can take that away from him. Teaching was my chosen profession, which I began in 1925 at high school level. In 1928, at the age of twenty five, I was married. The next twelve years brought two sons and a daughter, with many rewarding and challenging experiences in my work with my students, people of the community, and my family. During this time my disability slowly spread to other parts of my body. The joints of my fingers, elbows and knees became stiff and swollen, and finally have frozen into immovable joints. The year 1939 brought an end to my chosen profession. My 26 years of immobility will cause some to ask, "Are you happy with life?" and I would answer, "I am not dissatisfied." One must be reconciled to the facts of life as they are. We cannot live in the past, and lament the fact that fate may have cut short some of our hopes and goals. We must learn to live and live to learn. Nature quite often provides an outlet for an individual to become superior in another field when his capacity is thwarted in a given field. I would urge my friends to develop any skill they may have reading, writing, crafts, or just plain listening which becomes an education. Chess is my favorite pastime and I also enjoy card games at home and traveling. "I must live," is my creed. First, I must live with my God. Some may say "God the Father," "God the Son," or "God the Holy Spirit." Others may say the Creator, the Maker, the Master Mind or even Nature. "In the beginning God in the midway God and continuing to the end of time it is God." God gives and God takes away, so if God gives you life, he also has the power to take it away. If he takes it away here on earth, he has promised to give a new life to those who do his will. The rules and regulations by which I must live are definitely manifest in the Ten Commandments. Secondly, I must live with my fellow man. I am surrounded by four classes: The loftiest, who live by the Golden Rule, loves his neighbor and would go the second mile. The next man lives by the Silver Rule, live and let live. He says, "you mind your business and I'll mind mine." The third adopts the Brass Rule and lives dangerously by cheating, stealing and defrauding people. The lowest chooses the Iron Rule and becomes a mobster, gangster or terrorist. I have the right of choice or omission in relating to these four classes. Finally, I must live with my fellow man. This task tends to be the hardest of all three. Since I have lived in two worlds, my life patterns have varied from independence to dependence. Under the first phase of my life, my childhood was normal. During my grade school and first two years of high school, we lived in a two room sod house. We had the only sod house for miles around, but I did not feel inferior in relating to my friends and classmates. Out of college I lived an independent life, did the things that normal people do, and played their games. As superintendent of schools, I served as a leader in the community activities, and taught scores of young people in their effort to complete a high school education. I was in command of the boys and girls and worked with their parents, the teachers and the board of education. This task took a lot of patience, confidence and stability. The course of action was not always easy, but I had to live with myself so I kept it cool. When fate took away my independent life, I suddenly realized how the world had changed, and for the past 26 years I have been dependent on others. Now within this state of immobility, the severity of life tends to amplify the third commitment I must live with myself. Because I am dependent on others, I realize that I must act or react to every situation in a way so that I will not be a burden to all. I could become a grouch and lambaste everybody and everything, or I could withdraw and live in a world of my own choosing. I could complain about how I feel, how fate left me immobile, how the world seems to pass me by, how I must live and when I will die. Choosing these negative views of life would make me miserable and everyone around me would suffer. The world I live in would become nothing with no future. I could only hate myself and everyone I had the opportunity of meeting. I think there is a far better way of living here in the present and with the future. I will let the past become memories, the good will give me pleasure. (The 14 years I taught in high school and the subsequent 26 years that I have been privileged to tutor both boys and girls in grade, high school and college level of classroom work,) this was a pleasure then, and now affords me great satisfaction, when these same individuals tell me how they appreciated the time and effort that I took to help and encourage them in choosing a better way of life. It is better to build men than try to reform them after they have gone astray. Too many want to stress the idea of the generation gap. Since I have reached the senior level of life, I must realize that my life is contingent, with the young, the young adults, the middle aged and the senior citizens. It is my responsibility to listen to each of these groups and offer my experience in solving their problems. I must also be willing to share in their ideas and encourage them to work for a bigger and better world to live in. Some of my past memories that show up in the minus column are bad, and I must bury them. I would never be able to change them no matter how much I worry. It will do no good to worry about what happened a thousand years ago or what may happen in the future. Nothing is so bad but what some good may come out of it. It is the present that I am more interested in. I might help to influence the present with an idea or good deed. In life good deeds beget good deeds, a smile brings on a smile, a cheer starts another cheer and life produces life. We live so others may live. I have had a great many pleasant things that have happened to me or for me, and these were promoted or produced by others. My wife has always been ready to help me twenty four hours a day. I have had help from all of my relatives and friends, and without having to make my wants known. Also the general public tends to show understanding in my disability, and will offer assistance and give me opportunities not afforded to normal people. A sequel to the theme I must live will eventually end. And I would like to believe that I have not lived in vain, that I have not forsaken the three main themes of my creed. First, I must live with my God. Second, I must live with my fellow man. Third, I must live with myself. Also I would like to believe that I have fought a good fight, I have run a good race and that my posterity will give me a simple interment. And may there be no mourning at the bar when I put out to sea. (Oscar passed away Dec. 24, 1973. This article was read at his Funeral Service by the Minister on Dec. 27, 1973 and is presented to you in memory of Oscar N. Maddux by his wife, Edith Maddux. February 28, 1974.) (Oscar Maddux son, Maynard Maddux, 1669 Woodside Drive, Pine, Co 80470, Tel: 303-838-4885 has granted us permission to publish this writing in this directory. 16 February 1992) |
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Taken from CAMBRIDGE SCHOOL NEWS, 12 April 1934, BURDEN (Ks) TIMES: A pencil protector was removed from Howard Maddux's esophagus Saturday at Wesley hospital in Wichita by Dr. Seydell, a throat specialist. Howard swallowed this last week and it had been causing him quite a bit of trouble. Saturday Dr. Fall of Winfield advised Superintendent and Mrs. Maddux to take Howard to Wichita immediately and have it removed. They put Howard under anesthetic about seven o'clock Saturday evening and before eight o'clock he had returned to consciousness and was resting quietly. Mr. and Mrs. Maddux remained at the hospital Saturday night and returned home with Howard Sunday afternoon. Howard is feeling much better now but the alimentary tract is still inflamed although most of the danger is past.
From the BURDEN (Ks) TIMES, 04 January 1923. CAUGHT THIEVES The two thieves who broke into the F. G. Jabara store in Cambridge last Tuesday night by breaking the hinges were caught near Grenola and locked up in the county jail in Winfield. The thieves, two of them, were seen by section foreman Woodcock, placing two suit cases under a culvert as he and his crew were going to work. As soon as the suit cases were placed under the culvert the thieves left the hiding place immediately. Foreman Woodcock and the crew examined the loot and notified the Elk county sheriff who found the men hiding in an old house and placed them under arrest, later turning them over to the Cowley county officials. The thieves claimed they were orphans raised near Kansas City and had been working in the oil fields near Tonkawa. It is said they broke into the Sam Davis blacksmith shop and obtained an iron bar with which they broke the hinges on the back door of the Jabara store.
Taken from the BURDEN (Ks) TIMES, 08 January 1925. CAMBRIDGE WON MEET Very seldom a town as small as Cambridge can boast of a state championship High School baseball team but this time Cambridge holds the honors. Last week the team entered the tournament at Lawrence, Kansas, and brought home the "bacon." The final and deciding game was with a team from Kansas City, Kansas, and Cambridge won by a score of 3 to 1. Jack Bolack was on the firing line for Cambridge and let the K C boys down with a lone hit. Cambridge has a perfect right to feel proud of their team as there was seven teams entered in the contest. This team has enjoyed victory in every high school game they have played in the past three years and their only loss was to a college team. A banquet was given the team last Monday to celebrate their victory and a rousing good time was had.
From BURDEN (KS) TIMES, 12 April 1934. CAMBRIDGE SCHOOL NEWS. The juniors enjoyed a party April 9th at the home of Mr. and Mrs. G. o. Watson. Plans were made for the Junior Senior banquet. The evening was spent in playing cards and working jig saw puzzles. Refreshments of fruit salad, cookies and lemonade were served to the following: Misses Nadine Hillier, Audine Miller, Opal McClure, Pauline Logsdon, Ernestine Craft and Thelma Sumner. Messrs.; Frank Brunton, Bill Harlan, and the host and hostess, Mr. and Mrs. G. o. Watson.
From BURDEN (Ks) TIMES, 07 October 1937. CAMBRIDGE SCHOOL NEWS. EGG THROWING CONTEST The freshman initiation took place at the high school building Tuesday, September 14, (1937). Wednesday morning when the freshman boys came to school, they came with their pockets full of eggs. They were planning on getting even with the sophomores, so they began throwing eggs. Emory Dwyer, one of the south paw boys, decided he would "pop" the Miller lad. George was standing near the English room window. Emory got his wind up and let go, and through the window the egg went sailing. He came closer to hitting Miss Levick than he did George, the Miller lad.
From BURDEN (Ks) TIMES, 30 July 1931. CAMBRIDGE NEWS. Mrs. Boji of Columbus, Nebraska, Mr. and Mrs. John Jones and sons Bobby and John and friend, Miss Carol of Milton Junction, Wisconsin visited from Friday until Wednesday in the Glenn Edwards home. Mrs. Boji is Mrs. Edwards' Mother and Mrs. Jones is her sister. Monday, Mrs. Sicks, the Edwards family with their guests visited the Chilicco Schools and the 101 Ranch.
( 01 January 1931 - BURDEN TIMES. ) Cecil Hendrickson and Mamie Bertrand were married on Tuesday evening at the home of V. D. Love in Winfield. Both were reared in Cambridge and both are graduates of Cambridge High School. Mrs. Hendrickson is the youngest daughter of C. P. Bertrand. Mr. Hendrickson is the eldest son of Chas. A. Hendrickson. From the BURDEN (Ks) TIMES, 08 January 1931 CAMBRIDGE NEWS Mrs. J. J. Benjamin recently received word from their son, Felix Davis, that he had passed his final examinations which admits him to practice law in any court in New York.
From BURDEN (KS) TIMES, 15 February 1923. CAMBRIDGE NEWS. HOTEL BURNED The old Cambridge hotel that has stood its ground for many years was totally destroyed by fire early Saturday morning, together with almost the entire contents. According to reports the fire was discovered by some of the basketball boys from Dexter who were returning home from Grenola. The building was a mass of flames in a few minutes after the alarm was sounded. There being no chance to save the building or little of the contents. Willing fire fighters set about to keep the other buildings near from burning and by hard work succeeded, although it looked like a hopeless case at times, so it is said. Mr. C. D. McCord and family owned and operated the hotel, having purchased it about the time the oil boom struck the little city. The burning of this structure does not leave Cambridge without eating and rooming accommodations as there are four restaurants and the Adkins rooming house which was just recently finished and opened to the public. Everything is new throughout and would be a credit to any Town.
From the BURDEN (Ks) TIMES, 25 June 1925, FINED FOR SEINING Deputy State Game Warden U. B. Reed of Wichita had the following Cambridge men in our city Tuesday afternoon to answer a charge of seining: Joe Price, Frank Moore, Levi Pickens, Sam Pickens, A. R. Brown, T. E. Graham, Claud Kingsbury, Floyd Hill and H. E. Dixon. The offenders were tried before Justice of Peace Robert Lake who assessed a fine of $5.00 and costs totaling $17.50 each. The sein was also confiscated.
From the WICHITA (Ks) EAGLE, 19 June 1979, "MISS'N YA" Although he came from Wisconsin, he learned to fight like a Texan and speak with a southern drawl. John Wayne was 6 foot, 4 inches, and in his movies you could see that he was the strongest of all Americans. Some wrote that he "was bigger than life itself." To use the vernacular, Duke, you must have become the "fittingest" legend of them all, and wherever you are restin' these days smile down upon us when we go watchin' one of your movies. We'll be thinkin' about-cha and appreciatin' ya mor'n y'all evah know. But we'll be miss'n ya and a wishin' we could metchoo in pussin and known ya ev'n bettuh wile ya were heah. RICHARD L. JONES, Derby (Ks) From the WICHITA (Ks) EAGLE. 05 August 1986 SAM WALTON SETS EXAMPLE We do want to spur employment and get the wheels of industry rolling once again, don't we? If you run a business or own one, you wouldn't mind building up your volume and the traffic, I'm sure. Take a lesson from Sam Walton, the richest man in the united States. Sam preac |