Sand Creek Archives - Harvey County Historical Society

by Kristine Schmucker, Archivist/Curator

Previously posted August 8, 2013, No Place Like Newton, Even if it does have a Sand creek”: The 1904 Flood

“Sand Creek, the despised and ridiculed, spread over its banks and overflowed the north end, for once a raging, destruction dealing current.”

“The Flood-gates Were Opened”

Tuesday evening, May 31, 1904, a large crowd was enjoying a street concert in Newton. Everything came to an abrupt end when rain drops began to fall. The crowd and band quickly scattered, but not everyone reached a place of protection “when the heavy fall of rain came and scores were drenched.” The rain continued steadily the next morning, thoroughly saturating the ground. At about 3 o’clock in the afternoon, “the flood-gates were opened and the rain fell in torrents . . . it was a deluge. . . . For awhile, it was impossible to see the buildings on one side of Main street from the other, so heavy and dense was the falling moisture.” The system of sewers and the gutters was completely overwhelmed. The editors of the Evening Kansan-Republican felt confident to report that although Sand Creek was “way out of its banks” and streets were flooded the main “flood effects as usual were worst at the Third and Fifth street corners.”

Headlines from Evening Kansan-Republican, June 2, 1904

1904 Flood Newton
HCHM Photo Archives

The next edition of the Evening Kansan-Republican headlined with the statement that “Newtonians Have Never Thought Such a Flood as Yesterday’s Possible Here.”

“The unexpected has happened and Newton has had its first experience with flood conditions. During the floods that prevailed last spring in the eastern part of the state, Newtonians found satisfaction in the thought that their own town, of all others, was safe . . . being far from any river and apparently as high and dry as a town could be.” (Evening Kansan-Republican, June 3, 1904, p. 1)

Headlines from Evening Kansan-Republican
June 3, 1904

Devastation was everywhere. From four o’clock in the afternoon until after nine o’clock in the evening on June 2, 1904, “Sand creek, the despised and ridiculed, spread over its banks and overflowed the north end, for once a raging destruction-dealing current.” The worst flooding was roughly an area from the Missouri Pacific Railroad tracks south to Main and Broadway and west to Sand Creek.

1904 Flood Newton
Jno. D. Riesen, photographer
HCHM Photo Archives

Bridges were washed away. The Tenth street bridge washed out and floated downstream striking the Ash street bridge. Both were a total loss. Also heavily damaged were the bridges on Main street and Broadway.

Many were unexpectedly trapped as their homes became islands because “it seemed so improbably that the water could possible reach to such a height.” Rescue workers with “hacks and wagons . . . rescue men on horses” all worked to get everyone to safety. In some places the water was so deep that it reached “almost to the horse’s head” and wagons could not be used.

Rescuers faced not only deep water and a swift current, but the hidden danger of “the barbed wire and the fences which they encountered.” One rescuer, Ben Mears, was in the water for an hour and a half. Another rescuer, Harry Howes later admitted that he was nearly overcome while rescuing a frightened child that had fallen out of a rescue boat. Howes swam to the boy and “held the boy above the water” with one hand until help arrived. The rescuer later noted that “he was not conscious of his actions or his words at that time.”

Those between the Missouri Pacific tracks and the Main street bridge were completely cut off. Most sought refuge at the home of Frank Wedel, which was the highest point in the area. At one point the flood water was almost to this point and people were frantic. Eventually the water receded and danger averted.

June 1904 Flood Bethel College
Graymaroon, Bethel College Yearbook, 1917
HCHM Photo Archives

Train service was also delayed, stranding passengers at Emporia and Strong City. Track washed out in several locations including between Peabody and Florence and a bridge was washed out at Cedar Point.

“Everybody has a story to tell:” Stories from the Flood

A good portion of the June 3, and June 4 Newton Evening Kansan Republican related stories of rescue and damage a few of which are included below.

“Such is the irony of fate that while there were many chickens and pigs drowned, one lot of pigs, which had been especially obnoxious to the neighbors were every one saved.”

“At Rev H.R. Voth’s home, No. 1211, the water was four inches above the lower floor. The carpets are ruined.”

“One of the worst sufferers was James J. Norton at No 1222 Main. Mr Norton had just moved into the house, having installed the last load of his goods at noon . . . yesterday. . . .Mr. Norton got the family out. The water rose nearly two feet in the house. Carpets and most of the furniture were ruined. Many pictures, books and other articles were piled on the floor temporarily which made the loss particularly severe.”

“Mr. and Mrs. Harry Trauber stayed in their house until late getting things out of danger and then waded in water waist high to dry land.”

“Mrs. Jackson staid [in her home] until the water oozed through the boards of the first floor as she walked over them. By that time the water around the house was very deep and the work of rescue was dangerous.”

In a June 6, 1904 editorial, S.R. Peters noted that “There is no place like home. No friends like home friends. No scenes like home scenes. No skies like Kansas skies. No place like Newton, even if it does have a Sand creek.”

Note: According to two “old settlers”, A.B. Gilbert and W. J. Puett, there had only been two other times Sand Creek had flooded to this extent – in 1877 and 1871 – based on their observations.

The flood on June 2, 1904 was the first major flood to occur in Newton. The rainfall, measured at 4.10,” came in a short amount of time. Primarily affecting the north end of town, flood waters got up to 12 feet. From 4 – 9 pm, the rescue efforts were underway and there was no loss of life.

“Worst Flooding in It’s History”

Roughly one month later, Harvey County was hit with another deluge. On July 6-7, the Little Arkansas River overflowed causing major flooding in Halstead and Sedgwick.

Halstead experienced perhaps it’s worst flooding to that date with the entire easter part of the town under water. According to reports it rained for 11 pm until 4 am dropping 3 1/4 inches. From the river past the Presbyterian church had depts of two to four feet. In front of the newspaper office, the water was 3 1/2 feet delaying the printing of the paper until the next day. Despite the trials in town, the farmers along the river were affected the most. It was noted that the river rose at the rate of 2 to 2 1/2 inches an hour from eleven o’clock but had decreased to 1/2 an inch by 2 pm. It was expected that the river could rise another 5-6 inches as a result of all of the rain up stream.

1904 Flood Halstead
HCHM Photo Archives

1904 Flood Alta Mill
HCHM Photo Archives

Sedgwick faired a bit better. By July 7, the flood waters had receded. Train service was greatly impacted with many bridges out. The weather system affected an area from Topeka to Wichita with “nearly every river in state flooding.”

Sedgwick Flood Photos July 6, 1904.

Sources

Evening Kansan-Republican, June 1, 1904.
Evening Kansan-Republican, June 2, 1904.
Evening Kansan-Republican, June 3, 1904.
Evening Kansan-Republican, June 6, 1904.
Evening Kansan-Republican, July 7, 1904.
City Directories: 1902-03; 1905.
HCHM Photo Archives

Kristine Schmucker, HCHM Curator

Originally posted on Thursday, October 4, 2012 on HCHM’s previous blog site.

When I was working on the exhibit Up the Beaten Path: Following the Chisholm Trail I ran across a short remembrance of the cattle trade in Harvey County that became one of my favorite stories.

Cornie R. (Royston) Reese (Mrs. John C.) recorded a brief story she had been told when she was a young girl growing up in Harvey County.

“The cow boys used to drive the cattle to Newton and let them browse along Sand Creek while they would go to the gambling houses and saloons. Mrs.O.B. Hildreth lived upon the hill over looking the cattle crossing of Sand Creek. She said those roving cattle would devour her garden. So, one day, she went out on her porch and yelled as loud as she could waving a red table cloth – she stampeded the herd and they ended up in Abilene.”

Mrs. Hildreth had spunk! I wondered what else I could find out about her.

“She came . . . with her baby . . in her arms.”

In the spring of 1870, twenty-seven year old O. B. Hildreth, a Civil War veteran, arrived in Kansas. He located on a quarter section of land in Darlington township. A year later, he sent for his wife, Mary. According to Mary’s obituary, “she came to Newton in April 1871 with her baby Harriet in her arms, to meet her soldier husband.” Just getting to her new home was an adventure. The Santa Fe Railroad had not yet completed the line to Newton, so Hildreth met his wife at Cottonwood Falls, “and they came the rest of the way in the covered wagon, camping over night at Peabody.”

The Hildreth family settled on the claim near Sand Creek (today 400 W 10th). During these early years, Mary “tasted of the loneliness of the pioneer woman to the depths.” She had her second child, John, in 1873. O.B. was busy with the farm and breeding horses. He was also engaged in the lumber business and laid out additions to the city of Newton. His 1892 obituary noted that “the evidences of his progressiveness are to be found on every hand.”

Mary C. Hildreth, 1880

In the early years, Mary was busy with family. From the 1880 census, it appears that in addition to the two children, O.B.’s parents also lived with them, as well as two boarders. In 1892, O.B. died at the age of 49.

10th Street Bridge over Sand Creek, Newton
Postcard, black & white, ca. 1908
Produced by Western Book & Publishing Co., Newton

Postcards of the 10th Street Bridge located near the Hildreth home.

10th Street Bridge, Newton
Postcard, color tinted, ca. 1910
Produced by Western Book & Publishing Co., Newton

10th Street Bridge, Newton
Postcard, color tinted, 1910

“A Brave Spirit”

Mary was described as “a brave spirit, carrying on thru adversity, courageously and cheerfully, ever being an inspiration to the younger generation.” She was a leader in the community. The first township election was held at their home and Mary made the ballot box. As the community grew, Mary was involved in many activities. “It was in the hospitable home on West Tenth street that many of the finer and better things for the community had their birth and their encouragement” including the organization of Newton’s Free Library and the Newton Flower & Garden Club. She was a charter member of the Ladies Reading Circle established in 1880.

Ladies Reading Circle, 1880
Charter Members
Seated: Margaret McKee, Emeline Ashbaugh, Laura Tripp, Louisa Lehaman, Mary Hildreth, Lovina Gilbert
Standing: Mary Cutler, Eva Patterson, Mary McKee, Mary Lynch, Kittie Goss, May Tarrance

The Last Charter Member

In May 1930, Mary was the last original member of the Ladies Reading Circle. The group honored her at their 50th Annual Meeting. During the presentation of Mary Hildreth’s portrait, Mrs. Oscar Nelson, President of the Ladies Reading Circle, noted;

“For fifty golden years, she served,

In springtime and in bleak December,

A golden crown of love unswerved,

Shall deck our only chartered member.”

O.B. & Mary Hildreth Home
Constructed in 1878
400 W. 10th, Newton
Photo taken 1990

Mary C. Hildreth died October 28, 1930 and is buried in Greenwood Cemetery, Newton, Kansas.

Sources:

The Kansan, 8 Dec. 1892; Evening Kansan-Republican, 9 May 1930; Evening Kansan-Republican, 28 October 1930; 1880 Census; Harvey County Historical Museum & Archives Photo Archives; Harvey County Historical Museum & Archives Vertical File.

DavidOctober 4, 2012 at 8:02 PM

This is a wonderful Story. What a heritage we have of strong, educated and serving women who lived to build a better world, one town at a time. This spirit reminds me of several women who touched our lives growing up in Newton. Mrs Hassenbank at McKinnley Grade School , Mrs Erma Stewart(Mrs Birch), and Mrs Walter Biersbough To name some is to dimminish the work of so many. But it is with a greatful heart we remember Newton and her people.

Sand Creek

The Unexpected Has Happened: Floods of 1904.