On This Day, September 17th, according to Eddie Herrman’s Historical Happenings. Here are a few of the gems from Eddie’s collection:
September 17th is Constitution Day, which commemorates the signing of the document in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1787. Butler celebrated this in 1988 when Mayor John Mills signed a proclamation declaring September 17-23 to be Constitution Week.
1861 – The 5th Kansas Cavalry join the 3rd and 4th Kansas Infantry, at West Point, preparing to march to raid Osceola.
1871 – The Reverend R. J. Derrick is brought to trial for marrying a couple, knowing the girl was a minor. She testified he told her to write the number 18 on a piece of paper and put it on her shoe sole, so when he asked, she could truthfully say she was over 18. The jury was hung and the Reverend went free. Butler.
1885 – The Bates Co Democrat newspaper reports, “There are now 252 outsiders working at the Keith & Perry coal mine near Rich Hill, which the regular miners are on strike.”
1895 – The Krieger-Klumpp beer and ice company ships 150 kegs of beer to Fort Scott, after shipping 200 to them yesterday, getting ready for the Woodsmen’s conclave.
1899 – W. E. Booker, proprietor of the Talmage House hotel in Rich Hill has disappeared, leaving Mrs. Booker with some money, a watch, and a note saying not to expect him back.
1940 – The city of Drexel celebrates their 50th anniversary.
1951 – The continuing heavy rains have caused the Marais des Cygnes River and the Bates Co Drainage Ditch to overflow, covering U.S. 71 with over 4 feet of water. All traffic is being re-routed and many farm families are being rescued by boat.
1974 – J. F. Shelby, grandson of the famous General J.O. Shelby, dies in Butler. A prominent Democrat, he served Bates County as State Representative for two terms. He was 65.
1982 – Butler holds the first annual Hucksters Day on the square.
Editor's note: I clearly remember this first Huckster's Day, while working for KMAM/KMOE-FM, I was asked to release a chicken from a mailbox for a game. However, the chicken chose to stay inside, and even after turning it completely upside down, it would not come out. So much for the game, but it brought lots of laughs.
