At the age of 89, Mrs. Effa Thinnes of Greenleaf, has the distinction of being our pioneer lady artist. She does her share of the housework at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Anna Holden, enjoys watching television and reading. She also retained an interest in the Thinnes Hardware Store in town until the business was dissolved in 1942.

Mrs. Thinnes began her painting career in the year of 1887, doing canvas work in both oils and pastels. Adding to her artistic abilities was dressmaking, an art which was passed down to her from her mother, who was a dressmaker by profession.

She says, "The first winter I was married, I took my first painting lessons. A lady from Waterville or Blue Rapids, I don't recall for sure, organized classes and gave lessons here."

Many of her paintings have been given as gifts to her friends and a number are artistically arranged in her daughter's home. There was a lapse of thirty years in her painting career, the last picture being made as a wedding gift for Mrs. Christine Vicory. It wasn't until eight years ago that Mrs. Thinnes started working again in pastels. "I told my grandson, if I could find a pastel board and the materials I believed I would paint again. Bill was living in Topeka at the time and he found the board for me. I went to Topeka to choose my materials and have enjoyed doing pastels until I became ill in January of this year."

She has done many beautiful pastels of arrangements of African violets, roses, asters and many other garden flowers. She was completing a painting of nasturtiums when she became ill.

Mrs. Thinnes was born on January 18, 1868 at Marseilles, Ohio and at the age of two years made her debut on the vast Kansas prairie that was later to be known as the Greenleaf community.

She was descended from the respectable family of Mr. and Mrs. William Frank, whose prime interest in leaving their home in Ohio was to acquire land in the booming new state of Kansas. Although her father had never been a farmer and knew nothing of the hardships and heartaches of the pioneer family the land business was attractive and he and his wife and daughter set out for the west in 1870.

In the fall of 1870 they arrived in Waterville, Kansas, then the end of the railroad line in this new state. That winter was spent in Waterville. When springtime came the Frank family moved to their homestead three miles north of Greenleaf, now known as the Arthur Gilliam farm home.

Mrs. Thinnes recalls, "Our first home was a 'lean-to' built from cottonwood boards. After a time they warped so badly, that I remember Aunt Bird sat on the edge of the bed to keep the rain off my mother, when my brother William was born."

Her memories of the thriving little community include her education in the Logan Center school and taking the teachers examination to get a certificate, which she never used. She said, "I remember very well when the Logan Center school was built in 1872, for the carpenters stayed at our house."

After spending several years on the farm, the Frank family moved to Whiterock, Kansas, described as a splendid little town near Scandia. Here Mr. Frank opened a drug store and also practiced his profession of watchmaking. Mrs Thinnes said, "We lived in Whiterock for three years, but my father's health failed and we moved back to the farm. Later on he opened a drug store in Washington and walked seven miles night and morning to conduct his business there."

Because life on the farm presented many obstacles in operating a business, the family moved to Washington. Of her life in Washington one of the most memorable trips was when she was about ten years old. She says, "It was when the Missouri-Pacific railroad came as far as Greenleaf and there was a grand celebration. We made an excursion to Greenleaf to attend the festivities which included a big barbecue." At this time there was no railroad in Washington; however a spur was built to the town from Greenleaf and schedule of three trains a day was run over the line. After the railroad came, houses were built, businesses moved in and everyone was doing a wonderful business in the new railroad town of Greenleaf.

On September 1, 1887, Mrs. Thinnes was married to Matt Thinnes at the farm home north of town. She remembers, "We had about ? guests at the wedding, mostly relatives and we went to St. Joseph on our honeymoon, traveling by train. When we moved into our first home, the one where Leo Wern_ now lives, Mr. Thinnes had it completely furnished, even the dishes."

Mrs. Thinnes told that her husband, in partnership with his brother Pete, opened a hardware store in Greenleaf in January, 1887, which was a continuous business until it was closed in 1942. At the time the hardware store was opened, Greenleaf was a flourishing town of 120 population with both the railroad and the Great division here. There was no doubt in the minds of the people that Greenleaf would be chosen as the county seat as it was nearly the center of the county and located on the rail line. Mrs. Thinnes rather sorrowfully stated, "I guess there was no one here to push hard enough and Washington was named the county seat."

Fourth of July celebrations held in the big grove that covered the southwest part of the town, horse races on the races tracks, the leather bound picture album, her first Christmas gift from Mr. Thinnes, the picture of her father and mother on the faded blue tin-types, these and many more are endearing memories that overshadow the hardships of pioneer life in Kansas.

Mrs. Thinnes was the mother of one daughter, Anna, with whom she has made her home since Mr. Thinnes' death in 1943. She has two grandsons, Bill of Topeka and Bob of Taipeh(sic), Formosa and 4 great granddaughters.

In seeking for an inspiring pioneer lady upon whom the eyes of the community have drawn in admiration, one who has watched the prairies in its boom years and later subside like the winds of a Kansas tornado, we salute our proud pioneer lady, Mrs. Thinnes.

Back to Effa Frank

CAPT. WILLIAM FRANK. There are few individuals sojourning any length of time in Logan Township, Washington County, who are unacquainted with this name which has been familiar to all within its precincts for twenty years. Capt. Frank is one of those substantial characters who make their mark at once in the community and who are popular with all classes of citizens. He has followed farming mainly as an occupation, and may be usually found at a comfortable homestead comprising 160 acres of land on section 21, Logan Township. He came to Washington County, this State, as early as 1869, and has since made his home within its limits.

The early home of Capt. Frank was in what was then known as the Kingdom of Wurtemburg, Germany, where he was born Nov. 8, 1836. He comes of pure German stock, being the son of Leonard and Margaret Frank, whose family consisted of five boys. Andrew, the second eldest of these continues a resident of his native Germany. The others all emigrated to America. George lives in New Jersey; Leonard is a resident of Indiana; George M. died when about forty years old; William, of this sketch, was the youngest born.

Capt. Frank, in accordance with the laws and customs of his native land, was placed in school at an early age and pursued his studies until a lad of fourteen. For four years thereafter he employed himself at watchmaking until 1854, and then, a youth of eighteen years, set out for America. After a safe voyage he landed in New York City on the 25th of December following, and soon afterward went to New Jersey, joining his two brothers there. He lived in that State nine months, then, emigrating to Ohio, settled in Marseilles, and occupied himself at whatever he could find to do. He had learned watchmaking in Germany, but there was little call for his services in this line.

At Marseilles, Ohio, young Frank made the acquaintance of one William Phillips, a shoemaker, and from him learned the trade and engaged in business with him until October, 1861. The Civil War now being in progress he enlisted in the service as a musician, and later was detailed as chief bugler of the non-commissioned staff of the 15th Ohio Infantry, and served until the general order of the War Department, discharging all musicians. Returning then to Ohio he raised a company of men which was mustered in as Company G, 144th Ohio Infantry, of which he was elected Captain, May 2, 1864. He served until November following, and then received his honorable discharge.

Returning now once more to Ohio, Capt. Frnak resumed business with his shoemaker friend, Mr. Phillips, adding a tanyard to the establishment and giving employment to a number of men. The Captain, however, was ambitious of becoming a citizen of the West, and accordingly, in 1869, coming to Washington County, Kas., took up a homestead, and in the meantime learned the drug business in Washington. He also improved his leisure time at his old trade of watch-making and repairing.

In 1872 Capt. Frank, going to Republic County, this State, established a drug business at White Rock, sojourning there until 1876, then returning to Washington he re-engaged in the drug business, which he prosecuted until 1882. Then on account of failing health he was obliged to retire, and he took up his abode on the old homestead. A business life, however, still had its attractions for him and in 1887 he passed a successful examination before the Board of Pharmacy, and once more entered the channels of trade, as a clerk in the drug business at Greenleaf. Afterward he was variously occupied until 1889.

While a resident of Marseilles, Ohio, Capt. Frank was united in marriage with Miss Mary, daughter of William Phillips, the wedding taking place at the bride's home Aug. 2, 1863. Mrs. Frank was born in Marseilles, Ohio, in 1845, and spent her childhood and youth uneventfully under the paternal roof until her marriage. The Captain and his excellent lady are the parents of four children, one of whom, a little daughter, Minnie, was taken from the home circle by death at the age of two years and four months; Effa is the wife of M. Thinnes; Willie is at home with his parents; Lettie married George Stein and lives in Greenleaf, Kan. Capt. Frank cast his first Presidential vote for Abraham Lincoln, and is a stanch supporter of the Republican party. While a resident of the Buckeye State, he officiated as Mayor of Marseilles for three years. Besides his farm property he is the owner of a good house and lot in Greenleaf.

Back to Wm Frank

SAMUEL PHILLIPS, blacksmith, was born in Salt Rock Township, Marion County, Ohio, June 18, 1834; son of Jacob and Comfort (Martin) Phillips, natives of Massachusetts and Ohio respectively. His father came to Ohio in an early day, and was a shoemaker by trade. He was married in 1830, and was the father of ten children, six still living-William and Edna (by his first wife), Samuel, David, John and Jacob (by his second wife). He died in Michigan when our subject was but four years of age. His wife departed this life about 1870, aged sixty years. Samuel Phillips attended the very ordinary schools of Michigan, giving up entirely his studies at the age of eighteen, coming to Marseilles and beginning his trade as an apprentice, serving three years with James R. Eaton at 10 cents per day. At the end of three years he bad accumulated $16. In 1854, he purchased a half interest in his employer's shop, where he has since pounded the anvil, building up an extensive business. This partnership existed twenty-one years, at the expiration of which time Mr. Eaton retired, Mr, Phillips continuing the business at the present time as sole proprietor. His marriage to Miss Mary A. Ellis, daughter of Richard and Mary P. (Stover) Ellis, occurred in October, 1857. Mr. and Mrs, Phillips have reared ten children, seven living-John, Eva (wife of J. L. Hastings), James, Charles, Jennie, Frank and Anna. The deceased are Mary, Harlan and Stover. Mr. Phillips owns his shop and lot; also his house and lot. His wife's mother resides with him, in the seventyfourth year of her age, in feeble health. He was in the "hundred-day service," Company G, One Hundred and Forty- fourth Ohio National Guards, but sickness debarred him from active duty. He is a mem. ber of the G. A. R., of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and a stanch Republican. His wife is a member of the Presbyterian Church.

Back to Samuel Phillips