“The Only Colored Boy Ever Graduated From the High School”: Lee O . Frame

Posted on by hchm-curator

by Kristine Schmucker, Archivist/Curator

Note on language:

Unfortunately, in 1905, and for too long after, Black people were referred to as “colored” and “boy.” Today, we find this offensive. For this article, I only used the words when they were in a direct quote. It helps us get an accurate picture of the time period, how different people groups were viewed and how harmful it was.

My hope with this article is to highlight the accomplishments of one man as the first Black man to graduate from Newton High School and what he did later in life. His life gives us a view into the Black community at a time that is hard to get a picture of because so much space is given to white people.  I hope by telling his story we get a glimpse of life in Harvey County that we do not often see. It is not my intention to trigger anyone or be offensive. I am open to dialog about how to use historical language in modern day articles. Reach me at curator@hchm.org. -Kris

The NHS Graduating Class of 1905

In the May 22, 1905 issue of the Evening Kansan Republican, the Newton High graduating class of 1905 was introduced. Among the twenty-one graduates was “Lee Frame, a colored boy, the only colored boy ever graduated from the high school, his studious habits having enabled him to rank well in his scholarship.”  (Evening Kansan Republican, 22 May 1905)

Evening Kansan Republican, 22 May 1905

First Black Male to Graduate from NHS

From this article, it would seem that Lee Ora Frame was the first Black male to graduate from Newton High School. The first Black woman to graduate was Mabel Hillman in 1900.

Lee O. Frame was a life long resident of Harvey County. Born March 26, 1884 to Silas and Tennessee Anderson Frame.  His father Silas Frame, “was a well respected colored citizen,” who ran a dairy for a number of years. The family owned land in Highland Township, Harvey County and in Sedgwick County. In addition to Lee, they had five other children – John, Ida, Nellie, Bessie and Jeff.

“The Swellest Event”

Lee graduated from Newton High in 1905 and worked for a time for the Postal Office. In 1909, the I.R.A. Club held “the swellest event that ever occurred in Newton among the colored people.”  There were sixty-four members present for the banquet held at 505 1/2 Main. Among those involved in the program was Mr. L.O. Frame performing a vocal solo.

“Hosts Most Successfully”

The January 1, 1908 issue of the Evening Kansan Republican listed a number of “Open Houses” on New Years’ Day. Those hosting an open house included Messres S. Frame and L. Frame at their home on E 12th. The point of the event seemed to be that the men acted as host and the women were the ones entertained. The article ended with “the gentlemen had many of the gentler sex to entertain, but did the part of hosts most successfully.  All the names listed were members of the Black community in Harvey County.

“His Preferred Occupation, Farming”

On May 4, 1911, Lee Frame married Eva C. Beckham at the home of his parents. Eva was described as “an orphan … a lady of refinement and culture.” She had previous been living in Wichita with relatives. After marriage, Lee undertook “his preferred occupation, farming.” The newlyweds lived on E 11th Street in Newton.

Marriage License, Lee O. Frame & Eva Beckham, May 4, 1911.

Frame was active in the community as a member of the Newton Negro Business League and member of the Rising Sun Masonic Lodge, Newton, Ks. In 1912, Frame gave a speech at the Negro Business League, “Results of a Good Business.” Throughout his life he worked as a farmer, real estate broker and bondsman.

Frame had six children. Kathyrn J. Price Frame was his second wife. He married a third time April 2, 1932, to Nannie Anderson. His WW2 Draft Registration Card, 1942, gives details of Frame’s physical appearance. He was 6’3″, weighed 246 pounds, black skin and eyes.

Lee Ora Frame died January 2, 1964 at the age of 75 in his home at 301 E. 12th, Newton. He was survived by his wife, Nannie, three sons and two daughters and one step-daughter. He had 18 grandchildren and 14 step grandchildren.

Sources

  • Evening Kansan Republican: 22 May 1905, 3 January 1908, 21 May 1909, 5 May 1911, 1912.
  • Marriage License, Lee O. Frame & Eva Beckham, May 4, 1911, Marriage License Collection, Harvey County Historical Museum & Archives, Newton, Ks.
  • U.S WW II Draft Cards, 1942, Lee Ira Frame, Family Search.org.
  • Lee O. Frame, Find A Grave, includes Obituary.
  • U.S. Census: 1910, 1920, 1930.
  • Kansas Census: 1895.
  • Newton City Directories: 1911 – 1960.

 

John S. Faulkner – A Tombstone and a Question

Posted on by hchm-curator

by Kristine Schmucker, Archivist/Curator

Earlier this week, Wendy Nugent, reporter for the Harvey County Now, sent me a message asking if I knew anything about a man named Scott Owens. His tombstone in Greenwood needed repair and she was doing a story on it with Sylvia Kelly. Turns out, there was an interesting story about a Harvey County family.

Photo Courtesy Wendy Nugent, Harvey County Now.

The first thing to clear up was the mystery of his name. In the Greenwood Cemetery register he is listed under the name of Scott Owen Faulkner. Other Faulkners listed include Laura and Charles. How did these people fit together? Or did they?

One document from 1901 lists a Scott Owens, born in Kentucky living in Newton. The document is a muster roll and he is listed as entering the army May 5, 1864 as a private Co. D 15th U.S, Col Inft, and discharged in August under General Order. The year of discharge is difficult to read. It might be 1865?

Muster Roll ending December 1902. Courtesy Sylvia Kelly

To add to the confusion, his daughter lists his name as Scott Faulkner on the order form for the tombstone and lists the discharge date as December 28, 1891.

Tombstone Application for Headstone or Marker. Courtesy Sylvia Kelly.

The obituary for the man that died on June 6, 1935 is identified as John S. Faulkner or John Scott Faulkner, even though the Greenwood Register lists Scott Owen Faulkner. It seems that Scott Owen Faulkner is the same person as John S. Faulkner. When and why did he change his name? Who was Scott Owen Faulkner?

There is no listing or census record for a Scott Owen Faulkner living in Harvey County, Kansas. There is however, plenty of evidence of a John Scott Faulkner living in Newton.

Pioneer Resident

According to the Newton city directories and the census, a man by the name of John Faulkner had been living in Newton for sure since 1885. The obituary for John S. Faulkner noted that he had been a resident of Harvey County for 55 years, so he likely arrived in 1880. It is possible he came, along with his wife and young daughter, with a larger group that included Katie and Wilson Vance, Willis and Emily Brooks, Frank C. Childs, Madison Thomas and Abe Weston.

J.S. Faulkner was born in 1849 in Virginia very close to the Kentucky boarder. He enlisted in the Civil War in May 1864. He married Laura Yancey February 6, 1872 at Trenton, Todd County, Kentucky.

“Kentucky County Marriages, 1797-1954” Family Search.org

The couple came to Newton around 1880 with 4 year old Mary. Their next child, Charles, was born in Kansas in 1881. Johanna was born in 1884.  In the Newton city directories for 1885 and 1887, John is listed living at 129 S 2nd with the occupation of mason.  By 1911, the Faulkner family is living on W 1st and in 1917 the address of 912 W 1st is given.

“Colored Civil War Veteran”

Further clues come from his and Laura’s obituaries.

John’s obituary noted that with his passing “only five comrades who saw service in the war between the states remain in Newton.” He is likely one of the unidentified Black men in this photograph taken in front of the Harvey County Courthouse.

Faulkner was described as “a stout patriot, devoted churchman,” and seems to have led a quiet life. His name does not appear in the Evening Kansan Republican except for Laura’s obituary and his own.

Laura Yancy Faulkner was born in 1856 in Kentucky, probably Todd County. After her marriage she is a quiet presence. For some reason, her name is not listed as a wife of John’s in the city directories until 1917 although the census’ clearly have her living with him. She died at her home at 912 W 1st on June 25, 1930, from pneumonia. She had been ill for some time.

John died five years later also in the month of June on June 6, 1935. He was survived by his three children Mary Faulkner Garth of the home; Josephine Faulkner Baldwin, Chicago; and Charles Faulkner, Newton; seven grandchildren and two great grandchildren. His services were held at the C.M. E. Church in Newton with Rev. C.V. Williams officiating and the Women’s Relief Corp assisting.

Faulkner Children

Son, Charles, worked as a porter and baggaman for the AT&SF. He and his wife, Georgia, also lived at 912 W 1st until the 1930s when they are listed at 119 Elm. Charles died August 13, 1937, at the age of 57.

In 1941, daughter, Josephine* Baldwin ordered a headstone for her father from the government to be delivered to her sister, Mary Faulkner Garth, who was living at 402 Highland, Newton.  Up to that point his grave may have been unmarked and as a veteran he was entitled to a headstone. This is the headstone that Sylvia Kelly hopes to repair.

*All other sources refer to her as Johanna or Joanna.

Additional Note:

During this same time period, there was a white Faulkner family, J.M. and Laura Faulkner.  They lived at 325 W 8th, Newton and had at least two children, Olin and Fern. J.M. Faulkner worked for a time as an assistant Marshall and their names appear frequently in the Evening Kansan Republican. They left Newton at some point  and are not buried in Greenwood Cemetery.

Thank you

to Sylvia Kelly for calling attention to John Scott Faulkner’s tombstone and to Wendy Nugent for being curious. Nugent’s article, “Kelly Wants To Straighten Out History” is in the Harvey County Now August 21, 2023 issue.

Sources

  • Evening Kansan Republican: 7 June 1935
  • Newton City Directories: 1885, 1887, 1902, 1905,1911, 1913, 1917, 1919, 1931, 1934, 1938.
  • Kansas Census: 1895
  • U.S. Census: 1900, 1910, 1920, 1930
  • Greenwood Cemetery Register of Burials, Harvey County Historical Museum & Archives, 203 N. Main, Newton, Ks.

 

Joe Rickman: Stone Mason, Businessman & Bootlegger

Posted on by hchm-curator
This is an updated article based on a previously published post on Friday, February 8, 2013 at Voices of Harvey County: Stone Mason – Joe Rickman (harveycountyvoices.blogspot.com)
by Kristine Schmucker, Curator
This is the second in our series featuring the Rickman/Anderson/Clark/McWorter families who settled in Harvey County in 1871. For the first installment which features Mary Rickman Anderson Grant see: An Ordinary, Amazing Woman: Mary Rickman Anderson Grant – Harvey County Historical Society (hchm.org)

Eldest Son

Joseph C. Rickman was Mary Rickman Anderson Grant’s oldest son. Joseph was born November 2, 1850 in White County, Tennessee. His mother, Mary, was about 15 years old when he was born.  It is uncertain who his father was; according to family genealogies David Anderson, Mary’s first husband, was not his father and Joseph always used his mother’s maiden name, Rickman. On his death certificate, however, David Anderson is listed as his father.
Joseph C. Rickman
Photo Courtesy Jullian Wall

Joseph Rickman was twenty-one years old when he came to Kansas in 1871 with his mother, Mary Rickman Anderson, to homestead alongside his stepfather, David, sisters; America, Lucy and Tennessee, and brothers; Wayman, Jefferson, and Nathaniel.

Rickman Anderson Brothers
A few years later, Joe returned to Tennessee for a brief time.  On October 26, 1874, he married Lucinda Paige.  The newlyweds returned to Harvey County and Joe farmed.  They had five children, the three girls Linnie, Estelle and Alta died very young and were buried on the Rickman homestead.  Only the two boys, Clarence (b. 1884) and Ocran (b. 1889) lived to adulthood.
Lucinda Paige Rickman
Photo courtesy Jullian Wall
Joe and Lucinda had moved to Newton by 1885. The family was living at 424 w 5th and Joe was working as a laborer.  Two years later, Joe is listed as a stone mason.  According to family tradition, he helped to build the Warkentin Mill (today known as the Old Mill), and the Administration Building on the Bethel College Campus, North Newton. It is not known what other buildings Joe might have worked on over the span of his career.  He also could have been part of the crew, along with nephew Pat Rickman, that laid the bricks for Newton’s streets.
Warkentin Mill & Train Yards at Main & Third,
Newton, Ks, ca. 1915

Constantly Increasing Business

By 1905 the family had moved to 114 W 4th Newton. While in Newton, Joe was also a businessman. In April 1900, he built a two story, seven room house on west 5th street.  Joe also operated a restaurant and rooming house on west 4th street.  In 1908, he needed to enlarge the building. The addition, located on the west side of the existing structure, was two stories high, 12 feet by 40 feet with a brick front. It was noted in the Newton Kansan that “Mr. Rickman finds the addition room needed because of his constantly increasing business.”

Bootlegging and Gambling

In March 1913, Joe was arrested, charged with “bootlegging and running a nuisance.”  On the evening of May 15, 1913, authorities again raided Joe’s place. While he was not arrested this time, two “vagrants” J.E. Hill, white, and Katy Robbins, colored, were charged with vagrancy. They each had a bond of $15.00. Another patron of the establishment, “Big Boy” Taylor, paid the bond for Katie Robbins. Both Hill and Robbins failed to show up the next morning and forfeited the bond. The editor of the Newton Kansan noted that the new county attorney Hart was “going after the rough element” to “put a stop to the all the bootlegging and gambling” in Newton.
This was not the first time Joe Rickman had run afoul of Newton’s law enforcement. The area of W 4th and W 5th was the target of many police raids over the years. Rickman’s place was no exception.
In October 1903, the Newton police raided the “sporty colored population” on W 4th & W 5th. Joe Rickman was one among several brought in. He was “convicted of running an immoral resort and fined $50 and costs amounting in all to $61.50 which was paid.”
The most serious offense took place in 1909, when Rickman was put on trial for stabbing Arthur Childs in Harry Lum’s place. According to the Newton Kansan around 2:00 am “Joe Rickman stuck his stiletto into Arthur Childs” at Harry Lum’s place on W 4th. When witnesses along with Rickman and Childs were questioned, “they shut up like clams.” 
The Kansan suggested that the altercation could have been over some money Rickman owed Childs. After Childs struck Rickman, Rickman “drew a knife and stabbed Childs in the right breast.” The knife hit a rib which resulted in a flesh wound and not a fatality. The reporter express frustration over the lack of cooperation of witness and even the victim Childs who treats the matter lightly and seems not disposed to sign a complaint.” Ultimately, his father, Frank Childs, signed a complaint against Rickman. After a trial at the end of March, Rickman was found guilty and sentenced by Judge Mears a fine of fifty dollars and sixty days in jail. Rickman appealed the case to the district court.
Joseph C. “Joe” Rickman died in May 1918 at the age of 68.  Lucinda lived at 114 W 4th until her death in 1931 at the age of 76.
Clarence, son of Joe C. and Lucinda Rickman, owned and operated a “recreation parlor” locatedat 114 W 4th, Newton for a number of years, possibly from 1911 – 1913.  Clarence was married to Jessie J. Greenboam, a native of London, England, on June 13, 1917. Their other son, Ocran, served in World War I.  At the time of his death in 1955, he was living in Omaha, Nebraska.
During the month of February, in honor of Black History Month, we will be featuring related stories from Harvey County. Much of the information on the Rickman/Anderson/Grant family is based on oral traditions preserved by Marguerite Rickman Huffman & June Rossiter Thaw and research by Karen Wall.  We are grateful for their willingness to share the stories of this Harvey County family. 


Sources: 

  • Newton City Directories, 1885, 1887, 1902, 1905, 1911, 1913, 1918. Harvey county Historical Museum & Archives, Newton, Ks
  • Evening Kansan Republican: 10 January 1900,27 April 1900, 9 August 1900, 1 April 190217 October 1903, 3 June 1910, 15 October 1910, 13 March 1913, 21 March 1913, 7 May 1913, 16 May 1913, 6 May 1914