Columbus, Kansas, in 1915

Columbus, the county seat of Cherokee County, Kansas, sits in the southeast corner of the state, roughly twenty-seven miles west of Joplin, Missouri. In 1915, Ned’s city boasted a growing population of 3,100 citizens, two newspapers, a new Carnegie library, a soda pop company, a brick factory, a highly successful lumber yard (Long-Bell), sundry clothing, grocery, general merchandise, book, music, jewelry, drug, shoe, hardware, and dry-goods stores, plus automotive dealers, garages, a livery stable, several hotels, banks, churches, restaurants and cafes, as well as dentists, doctors, photographers, undertakers/furniture makers, theaters, billiard halls, lodge halls, law offices, real estate companies and other amenities expected of a vibrant community.

Most residents walked about town, but for intercity and middle-distance trips there was the novelty of a family car, the Joplin and Pittsburg Trolley, or, for a longer journey such as the one Ned took to Kansas City, the town had two train depots: the Frisco and the Missouri, Kansas and Texas (the Katy).

Electricity had become more common. At night, the courthouse square glowed under a string of electrified streetlamps and many homes had electric lights. An even larger number contained bathrooms and kitchens with running water.

Ned attended the largest high school in the county located in Columbus and, had he graduated, he would have joined the other fifty-four members of the class of 1915.

Social activities included gatherings at private homes for dinners or parties, ball games, dances, picnics, stage shows performed by traveling circuit companies, silent movies, parades, celebrations such as the Old Settlers Reunion, civic and church events, a visiting circus, the annual Chautauqua, talks by lecturers from the Redpath Lyceum Bureau, drop-in chats over sodas at a drugstore, and Saturday night concerts by a local band on the courthouse square.