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Individual Record for: Edward Ferguson Hotchkiss (male)

Notes:

!Source: 34
!Notes: (Edited from a narative by James A. Hotchkiss) -- Edward F. Hotchkiss was born February 2, 1882 at Osage City, Kansas. About one year following his birth, his parents, Cornelius and Christina Hotchkiss, moved to Burlingame, Osage County , Kansas, where they remained until he was about ten years old. They then moved to Trenton, Missouri in 1892, which was their home for the following six years. In 1898, when he was sixteen years old, he returned with his family to Burlingame, Os age County, Kansas, where he spent the remainder of his life.
!P: Edward inherited most of his characteristics from his mother's side of the family. Edward Hotchkiss was five feet one inch tall and the very most he ever weighed was one hundred twenty-five pounds. Edward was more familiarly known to his fri ends as Little Ned. The Fergusons had several members of their family who were small in stature, but were intelligent, and acrobatic, with a flare for showmanship, and dextrous in the arts of skating, dancing, swimming, and wrestling. Two such w ere William Ferguson (Wee William Ferguson), and one of Margaret and Joseph Sharp's children. (Note that Joseph Sharp's children were doubly related, as he was a cousin to Edward's mother Christina and Joseph Sharp's wife, Margaret, was Edward' s Aunt on his father's side. Other such double relations included Thomas and Mary Washington's children and Clifford and Anna Vandervord's children.)
!P: Since early manhood, Edward was identified with coal industry in Burlingame, first as an employee of his father. Then for many years, he operated the Central Coal Company on behalf of his father. Cornelius Hotchkiss had vested his authorit y for management of the mine to his eldest son, while he was attending to other aspects of his coal business, this being the greater part of his time as he became older. Upon the death of his father in 1931, Edward joined with his three brothers , Neal, Thomas, and Alexander, in a partnership to operate the business. Edward took an active part in this business until 1945, when ill health forced him to cease work at the mines.
!P: Edward met Nellie Washington in 1904. Edward F. Hotchkiss and Nellie Washington were married December 6, 1905 at Burlingame, Osage County, Kansas. To this union were born nine children.
!P: Edward and Nellie rented their first home in Burlingame, which was the first house on the south side of the street, when facing the Burlingame Cemetery from the James and Harriet Washington Home. It has since been incorporated into a nearb y farm owned by Elias Wight's descendants. This house, along with the barn, chicken coops, garden spot, orchard, berry patch, front yard, and flowers that go to making up a home in Kansas have long since disappeared, along with several other home s that stood along this stretch of road. At this home, Edward and Nellie's first three children were born. Neal the oldest was born in July 1906, Harriet in August 1908, and Christine in September 1910.
!P: Sometime during 1911, or the earlier part of 1912, Edward and Nellie moved their family to what they refered to as the Brown place, where they rented one of the two appartment's of a duplex building, in which Neal and Mary Hotchkiss rented th e other. The building is located one block south and one block west of the Burlingame water tower on Rainbow Hill. It still stands, and is referred to as the Lindy Newkirk place. Here their fourth child, Olive, was born in September 1912.
!P: During the period of time from 1913 to early 1914, Edward and Nellie purchased their first home, which was located across the Alma Branch of the Sante Fe Railroad tracks, just North and East from the Black Diamond Coalmine, which was in full o peration at this time. Still further west along the railroad tracks was situated another coalmine in full operation, which was managed by James Washington. Yet further west, was another coalmine adjacent to the railroad tracks which was manage d by "Big Ed" Hotchkiss.
!P: From our home, at this time, you could see the coal minors on cold frosty mornings, attired in their pit clothes and miners caps, with lamps assembled to the caps, their lunch buckets in one hand, and perhaps a pick in the other, walking dow n the railroad tracks to whatever mine they worked at. You could see the railroad locamotives switching empty coal cars into the coalmine's loading docks and returning with their loaded coal cars. You could also see the teams of horses pulling t heir coal wagons loaded with coal for delivery to their local customers in the vicinity of Burlingame. There were no substancial roads for traveling or transportation, such as pavements, oiled roads, or graveled roads, until about 1924 in and aro und Burlingame. Without good highways automobiles are almost useless, especially the type they had in 1914. Even the horses would sink into the mud clear to their stomachs.
!P: Sometime later, Edward and Nellie had all of the buildings from this home moved East to within one block West of the location of the home they eventually finished out their lives in. Here were born their fifth child James on December 6, 191 4 and their seventh child Virgene on June 21, 1917.
!P: During the fall of 1917, when the Black Diamond Coalmine burned down, you could witness the whole affair from where we lived.
!P: During March 1918, our home caught on fire and burned to the extent which left no other alternative except to rebuild. At that time Edward and Nellie purchased the Charles Bush place, located in the south-west corner of the city limits of Bur lingame, in an area called South Park. They moved into the home sometime around the date of March 23, 1918. This was the date that William Washington transported his six children by automobile to the Topeka Children's Home Society to discuss thei r adoption, due to his unsuccessful attempt to care for them after his wife's death. On their way home, they stopped to visit their Aunt Nellie. The children present were Lillian, Ruby, Harriet, and either Thelma or Helen (it seems as though th e older children were calling her Thelma). All the children had either red or blond hair.
!P: Edward and Nellie's last three children were born in this house. The seventh, Maxine was born September 19, 1920. The eighth, Anita, was born September 4, 1922, and Esther, the ninth and youngest, was born September 3, 1924. The house remai ned in the family until the 1980's, when it was finally sold. Edward and Nellie both lived out their lives in this house.
!P: After the house which had burned was rebuilt, they first rented the property, for a short while, to a family who had come to the United States from Russia. Then they sold the property to a couple who had come to the United States from German y in their younger years, the Streeters. They were then retired, and lived next door to Edward and Nellie for many years.
!P: In November 1918 World War I ended and Burlingame celebrated by burning the Kaiser in effigy at the intersection of downtown Mainstreet, where they place the Christmas tree during Christmas season.
!P: During 1918, Edward and Nellie had four children in Burlingame grade schools, Cornelius in seventh grade, through Olive in first grade. By 1920, when James went to first grade, and Cornelius was a Freshman in High School, they had five child ren in school.
!P: In fall of 1920, Cornelius (called Shorty), who was then a Sophomore in High School, went to work in the coalmines to help his father with the Central Coal Company. He never returned to school, but worked with his father until July 1927, whe n he was married to Zona McLeod. Thus, Shorty contributed nearly seven years of his life to helping his father and his family.
!P: The oldest child started school in September of 1912 when Edward was thirty years old. The youngest graduated from high scool in June 1942 when Edward was sixty years old. There were at least four years when they had six children in school a t the same time. There were at least twelve years when they had five children in school at one time.
!P: During the year of 1923, Nellie was in ill-health and remained so until February 1924, at which time the doctor transported her by ambulance to Stormont Hospital in Topeka, where she was hospitalized for about two weeks. At this time Anita, t he youngest child at two years old and Maxine at four years old were not yet of school age. Harriet at fifteen and Christine at thirteen accepted the responsibility of caring for the young children, and the rest of the family, as Edward and Short y had to work long hours in the mines at this time of the year in order to provide winter fuel (and thus the families income). However, nearby relatives, who had families of their own, did manage to help them with cooking, washing, and house clea ning.
!P: Although Nellie returned from the hospital two weeks later, she had not recovered from her ill health. She remained semi-ill until 1930. During this time, Esther, the youngest child, was born, in September 1924. In addition, other members o f the family contracted different types of diseases which required a lot of time and care to recover from. All of this resulted in a large expense in medicine and doctor bills which was a great drain on the family's finances, which were in a ver y low state in those times.
!P: It seems that the years of 1923 through 1930 were the worst for Edward and Nellie. As the children grew older and became capable of providing a living for themselves, they had more time to relax and provide for some of their own needs. O n a few occasions they even had enough money to provide for short vacations, such as a trip to the World Fair in Chicago during the 1930's. By 1937, there were only three of the younger children at home and attending school.
!P: During the early years of the forties, it became increasingly clear that the United States would become involved in the War in Europe, which had started in 1939. There was more work and more jobs available in and around Burlingame. As the fo rties bore on, both labor and materials grew scarce.
!P: During this time, their oldest son, Neal (Shorty), purchased a restaurant in Burlingame. As the proprietor, he was finding it difficult to recruit people capable of performing the work of cooking and cleaning in the restaurant. So, Nellie w orked for a few years in this restaurant as the cook. Also at this time, there was a greater demand for coal, so Edward was busy in the coalmine all the time.
!P: During a city election, Edward F. Hotchkiss was elected to serve as a council-man for the governing body of the city of Burlingame. Edward was interested and took pride and enjoyed being able to serve and help the city of Burlingame in this m anner.
!P: Edward retired from the Central Coal Company in 1945, due to his black-lung condition, which had become increasingly worse each year, until it was no longer feasible for him to work, or even attempt anything that would cause exertion. At th e very last, Edward had to go to the Sanitarium/Hospital at Norton Kansas for care, and there he died on September 10, 1947, at 65 years old. Following funeral rites at the "Presbyterian" Church of Burlingame, he was buried in the Burlingame Ceme tery. At this time Nellie was fifty-eight years old.
!P: Edward F. Hotchkiss was a kind considerate husband and father, who commanded the love and respect of all of his family. As a friend and neighbor, he enjoyed the esteem of all who knew him.
!Obituary: (Burlingame Newspaper, September 1947): -- Long Ilness Ends For Ned Hotchkiss --
!P: Funeral services for Edward Hotchkiss were held at the Methodist church at 2:30 o'clock Sunday afternoon, conducted by Rev. Wm. Zimmerman, and burial was in the Burlingame cemetery.
!P: Edward Hotchkiss, oldest son of Neal and Christina Hotchkiss, was born in Osage City, Kansas on February 2, 1882. Following a long illness, he died in a hospital at Norton, Kansas on September 10, 1947 at the age of 65 years, 7 months and 1 0 days.
!P: About a year after his birth, the family came to Burlingame where they remained until he was 10 years old at which time he moved with his parents to Trenton, Missouri which was his home for the next 6 years. In 1898, he returned with his fami ly to Burlingame where he spent the remainder of his life.
!P: On December 6, 1905, he was united in marriage to Nellie Washington of Burlingame and to this union, 9 children were born, all of whom with his wife, survive him. The children are: Neal S. Hotchkiss and Mrs. Esther Denny of Burlingame, Harrie t and Mrs. Anita Archibald of Wichita; James Hotchkiss of Houston, Texas; Mrs. Christine Arnold of Merriam, Kansas; Mrs. Maxine Anstaett of Kansas City, Missouri, Mrs. Olive Anstaett of Osage City, Kansas; and Mrs. Virgene Gaines of Topeka, Shawne e County, Kansas.
!P: More familiarly known to his friends and associates as Ned, Mr. Hotchkiss since early manhood had been identified with the coal industry here, first as an employee of his father who established and for many, many years operated the Central Coa l Company here. Upon the death of the father in 1931, he joined with three brothers in a partnership which continued to operate the business, a relationship in which he took an active part until about two years ago when ill health forced him to c ease work at the mines. The three brothers, Neal, Thomas and Alexander, with whom he was associated also survive as do four sisters, Mrs. Thomas Jones of Burlingame, Mrs. Walter Hastings of Scranton, Mrs. Leo Connors of New York and Mrs. Anna Hen derson of Topeka. Another brother, William, died several years ago. Numerous other relatives and many friends also mourn his passing.
!P: Kind and considerate, Mr. Hotchkiss was a good husband and father who commanded the love and respect of his family. As a substancial citizen of the community, he served not long ago as a member of the city governing body, and as a friend an d neighbor, he enjoyed the esteem of all who knew him.
!P: (Following article, same newspaper): -- Here For Funeral --
!P: Many relatives and friends from a distance were here Sunday afternoon to attend the funeral of Ned Hotchkiss. They included all the children and their families; two sisters, Mrs Anna Henderson of Topeka and Mrs. Margaret Hastings of Scranton ; a sister of Mrs. Hotchkiss, Mrs. Emma Beeson of Topeka and a brother, Thomas Washington of Denver. Others were Mr. and Mrs. H. C. Perry and daughter, Mr. and Mrs. Forest Lindsey. Mrs. Roy Beeson, Mrs. Rebecca Randell, Mr. and Mrs. John Misurn , Mr. and Mrs. Wm Chalmers, Irving Meggison, Harold Meggison, Mr. and Mrs. Loren Spencer, Mrs. Lula Cole, Mrs. Lucille Raub, Mr. and Mrs A. Archibald, Mr. and Mrs. Paul Moran, Mr. and Mrs John Morrison, Mrs. W. M. Ridgeway, Mr. and Mrs. W. M. Hews tis, Mr. and Mrs. Jacob Melchoir, Mr. and Mrs. Kenneth Anstaett, Mr. and Mrs. Earl Apps, all of Topeka; Mr. and Mrs. Rakes of Emmett, Kansas; Mrs. Annie Curley of Osage City; Mrs. Gus Fritz of St. Louis, Mo.

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