There was a splendid awakening at Beattie when the racing meets were organized by W. B. Hawk. W. B. and M. Hawk came from Maryville, Missouri, to Beattie in 1880 and were the first druggists in this city. They also had a farm one-half mile north and one-half mile west of Beattie. They did not operate this farm themselves but had two to four hired men to do the farming. They had 240 acres of land and the Hawk Quarry was located on the west quarter of their land. They had one of the best improved farms in Guittard Township.
They raised purebred hogs and also horses, mules and cattle. They had purebred stallions and jacks and were breeders of high class race horses. They exhibited their horses at all the county fairs over Kansas and Nebraska and the horses were successful in winning several large stakes.
The Hawks were admirers of race horses and became interested in racing while living in Missouri. W. B. was the best judge of horses in Marshall County and always kept and bought the best. He organized the Beattie Racing Association in 1900 and built one of the fastest tracks in Marshall County.
He made a canvass of the county and sold shares of stock to nearly every prominent horse owner that he interviewed. W. B. was president of the association and as an organizer and executive, he had few equals. Much of the success of the new association was due to his untiring efforts and ability as well as his faith in the county to have good racing meets each year.
Bill Harwood was in charge of the races and was a promoter of the track events. He was always in contact with the race horse owners and matched entries and events at the Beattie track to produce the best races possible.
The racing meets were among the great attractions of the year and some of the finest and fastest horses in the country took part in the running of the races.
Marysville was a great help to the Beattie races for there were such horse men as Perry Hutchinson, who owned "Grey Elmont," Doctor Wilson who owned "Betty Ross," Neil Robinson who owned "Zero," and H. E. Wiedemeyer who owned "Slycoon" and "Craps." Also the horse owners of Frankfort always boosted the races at Beattie. Among those from that city who were interested in racing were H. H. Laroy, Molly Knox, J. Gano Hunt Jr., John Maxwell, Mr. Ise, and the Osburn brothers. All these people had good horses and enjoyed running them in good races.
The Beattie Racing Association sponsored a three-day meet at their track each year, and many entries that competed were animals of national renown.
One of the first tracks built was in 1895 and was located just west of the present site of the John O'Neil home. The officials at that time were Dr. W. E. Ham, president; Hory Jones, secretary; and Col. Shields, treasurer. Other stockholders in the association were W. B. and M. Hawk, Wm. Harwood, J. R. Matson, Hub Smith, Monroe Williams, James FitzGerald, Dan Spaugy, Wm. Cassidy, R. S. Pauley and Frank Goldsberry. At that time there were 100 race horses in Beattie and 35 owners.
Some of the best race horses that ever looked through a bridle were entered in these early-day meets.
"White Eye," owned by Mart Thomas, held the track record for the half mile. The running time for the record was 48 seconds flat.
Owners of some of the Beattie race horses were as follows: Col. Shields, "Judy Rice;" Dr. Ham, "San Remo;" Steve Sparks, "Honest John;" Bill Christman, "Diamond Dick;" Tom Julian, "Wine Glass;" Hub Smith, "Little Tom;" Lem Goldsberg, "Nigger Babe;" W. H. Bell, "Beattie Jaker."
Lon Kness, "Little Dolly;" Job Jones, "Black Tom;" Frank Goldsberry, "Little Sue;" Frank Taylor, "Over Again;" Sherm Lord, "Riley Boy;" W. B. and M. Hawk, "Jimmy S. Umatella;" Hory Jones, "Adonis;" Bill Harwood, "Anttaywood;" Jim Worley, "Molly Knox;" Dan Spaugy, "Roxy Ann" and "Little Pearl;" Billy Wolf, "Iva Parker;" Fred Burnside, "Molly Darby;" Clinton Myers, "Skyrocket."In those days every one owned a race horse. J. R. Matson owned the fastest pacing horse, "Paxico," that ever hit a track, but he was very excitable and the drivers all knew it. When they came down the home stretch the other drivers would start yelling and whipping their horses that never would break, and old "Paxico" would get excited and break into a run and would always get penalized for running. He would get set back to third place.
One year Mr. Matson hired a driver, Josh Gunn of Frankfort, to drive a race. In those days you could hire a driver or rider for $10 a mount plus their board bill. The three heats, one-half mile, pacing purse $500 with five entries. Of course, all the drivers were betting two to one they would shut out old "Paxico." The driver of "Paxico" bet all the money he had that he would win.
Before race time "Paxico" was kept down at the livery barn, and all the rest of the horses were kept out at the track. The new driver filled "Paxico's" ears full of cotton so he could not hear a sound, and that day he came in a neck ahead of the rest of the other race horses.
In those days it was not against the law to "hop" a race horse and they all did it. Barnan from Pawnee City, Nebraska, had a fast race horse, "Rubber Neck," and they were to run a mile clash for $500. He had little Tommy Goldsberry on the horse and when they came up to the starting wire, the horse was so "hopped" up that he ran all by himself five times around the track and was so played out that he was unable to come back for the races.
The fastest running horse ever to hit a track was "Limber Jim," owned by Charley McBurney and ridden by Bill O'Neil. Bill is still alive and lives at Winifred, Kansas. "Limber Jim" once ran the one-half mile in 47 seconds. All you could hear the crowd say was, "Here he comes and there he goes-just like a streak of lightning."
Job K. Jones owned running horses and his dad, Hory Jones, owned - harness horses. Hory had one of the fastest pacing horses in Kansas, "Adonis." He was small but mighty. Hory seemed to get more speed out of him than all entered in a 225 pace at Pawnee City, Nebraska, with a $500 purse. It was the fastest pacing race Pawnee ever held at the fair.
There were five of the best pacing horses they could get from far and near. It seemed as if every man and horse tried to pocket old "Adonis" right on the get-away, but he was too fast for them and got away. Coming down the home stretch there were five horses running nose to nose. It was Hory's trick to give "Adonis" his head just as he went under the wire. He let him go just a second too soon and in his excitement, they were all whipping and yelling for dear life. "Adonis" just could not stand the strain of that fast heat and he dropped dead just before he hit the finish line. He went down in history as a nowned race horse.
Taken from the Marshall County News, Marysville, Kansas dated Monday, October 10, 1949. Written by J. D. Stosz.
Beattie's annual picnic for the year 1923 is past history, and it proved to be a most enjoyable event. The two day picnic drew a crowd of 3,000 each day, Wednesday 22 and 23 were very best for farmers. The picnic proper was held at the city park and the street adjoining was taken up with the concessions and the Cudney Bros. Carnival Company.
There were amusements of all kinds to entertain both young and old during each afternoon and evening crowds who came from all over the county.
The program opened Wednesday afternoon with a concert by the Williams Entertainers, a colored troupe of musicians who are certainly artists in their own line. They also furnished the music at the dances. The welcoming address was delivered by T. R O'Neil. Also Congressman James G. Strong talked.
The Williams Entertainers opened the evening program. The picture show was Strongheart, the Wonder Dog, in "Brawn of the North." The free act by the "Flying Goodwins," various other entertainment on the Midway and dancing occupied the balance of the evening.
Thursday afternoon the Williams Entertainers opened the program with an excellent concert. This was followed by two vocal selections by the Misses Gladys Crouse and Edna Cooper, accompanied by the Williams Entertainers.
Henry Farrar, who served as master of ceremonies in the sports events. Following the announcement, Mrs. Henry Farrar sang "A Perfect Day," with Miss Crouse as piano accompanist and also a violin accompaniment.
Then came the address of the day by Hon. C. E. Hatfield.
Beattie played Axtell and Beattie lost 0 to 3. Some of the other events were Ladies Nail Driving, Nail Hunt in Pans of Flour, this game was you hunt nails with mouth and with hands tied behind your back. Rooster chase: Five Ancona roosters turned loose in crowd and those who caught same to have them. They had boys and girls races, sack race, old man's race.
The evening program opened with another good concert by the Williams Entertainers. The movie was "Travelin' On."
I don't know how many years this picnic lasted but it seemed like everyone had a good time, and with Beattie Milo Festival, we can still draw a crowd.
Luke Jones Sr. built the first log cabin with a basement in Guittard Township. He came from England in 1868. It is still standing a few miles north of Beattie in its state of decay in contrast to the fine farm homes of the vicinity. A striking example of the simple life of the early pioneers, the cabin, not much larger than the size of the modem living room, served as the comfortable home of Mr. and Mrs. Luke Jones Sr. The tiny home also boasted a loft for additional room. Shelves lined the north wall adjacent the chimney, and there was a loft window to the south, another small window to the west. In later years the chinked logs which are visible at the lower portion of the cabin were preserved with clap boards now weathered by decay.
France has given the United States some of her best and most impressive citizens and among them who settled in Marshall County was Frank Thoman.
He was born in Alsace March 27, 1847, the son of Jacques and Vactoria (Bishop) Thoman, both natives of France. They came to Kansas in 1857 and as he had decided to become a farmer, he preempted 120 acres of land for a purchase price of $1.25 per acre. He at once built a log cabin in which the family lived for some years. Appointed the first surveyor of Marshall County before it became a state, he died May 10, 1864, and the widow died in 1880.
Three children were born to Mr. Thoman who were Joe, Frank and Emily. The latter was housekeeper many years for her cousin, Xavier Guittard, at the Guittard farm. She is buried with her parents in the old cemetery located on the Guittard homestead. Frank Thoman married Charlotte Wuester, the daughter of another early pioneer family, and they were the parents of four children: James, who died at the age of three from eating toadstools; Wilbur, Lincoln, Nebraska; Frank, the third generation to bear the name is superintendent of schools at Yuma, Colorado. The only local member of the family is M. F. Thomas, painter and decorator, who lives in Marysville. Picture and history of Joe Thoman are not available. He married and was the father of one daughter, Rose, who married J. Chase, the father of J. C. Chase, who lives north of Beattie.