Uncle Ted Would Still Have a Landline

December 13, 1966

The concept of a fraternal order of something is probably lost on the general youth of today. My generation barely knows about it from The Flintstones and their Loyal Order of Water Buffalo. Most people, even of my generation, were not aware of common place fraternal organizations like Kiwanis and Shriners or Odd Fellows. Yet it's 1966 and these men don't know this is a lodge outfit? He's dressed exactly like how I imagine a Grand Poobah would be dressed.

Hey, it's the first appearance of Apex Doob.

How did those kids get your phone number? Were they just calling people listed in the phone book? How'd those kids get a phone book?

M.W. Janes

M.W. Janes was born July 22, 1841 in Crawford County, Pennsylvania but spent most of his early life in Erie, Pennsylvania. He entered Alleghany College at 14 and graduated with a math degree. He served as a bookkeeper until 1861 when he was drafted into the Civil War. He was mustered out in 1863 and left for the oil fields. Around 1870, he came to Kansas and after a few years living in Topeka, settled on 1,400 acres overlooking the Kansas River in Wabaunsee County between Maple Hill and Willard. While some of Janes' land was used for farming, most of it was a ranch for raising Hereford cattle and horses, which he was proud to show off at local fairs. In February 1872, Janes and some neighbors established a ferry. It lasted about a year. In January 1877, he established the Rocky Ford post office with him as postmaster. It closed in April 1878.

Eliza Clark was from Mankato, Minnesota. They had three children. Around 1902, Eliza underwent surgery for cancer but unfortunately never recovered. She became an invalid and passed away January 22, 1905 of erysipelas, a skin infection. M.W. passed away in the early morning hours of May 27, 1907 after a lamp on his desk exploded.

The Janes Ranch was sold about two years later and today, much of the ranch is Miller Farms. Janes' massive house overlooking the river, no longer stands but the current house was built around 1942 and the large Janes barn remains.

Information and pictures of Mr. Janes, the house, and barn, from Early History of Wabaunsee County, Kansas, 1907.