An Elk County, Kansas, What is It?

[frawin]

Diane, no Alcoholics that I know of, if there was they sure did without Alcohol there. Destitute yes, but that is not anything to be ashamed of, lots of People were poor, I grew up poor, the youngest of 15 Children, we did not know we were poor, because lots of people were poor in those days. In the early days Roy and Bess Frank ran it. Later the Harry Hawleys ran it. Myrna and I just can't remember when it was shut down. As I have posted on here before,this getting old sure ain't for Sissies. Everyone in Howard and Elk County have a GREAT DAY. It is a beautiful day here in Prosper Texas, it is supposed to be 90 Degrees.

[W. Gray]

Poor Farm, indeed.

The one and only criteria for admission was a person who was "unable to support themselves because of age, lack of family help, physical disability, or illness." Someone who was indigent but found "disinclined to help themselves" was not admitted.

According to the Kansas State Historical Society, the two photos are the farm houses for the poor farms in Douglas and Allen counties. Neither of these buildings exist today The Douglas County building outside Lawrence cost $23,000 to erect in 1911. A 1944 fire totally destroyed the facility killing eight of 26 inmates. The Allen County building was six miles north of Iola.

Poor farms in Kansas were run by a superintendent and were income producing efforts that were not always successful. Many times outside help was needed to ensure farm work was completed. One county commissioner received the job of being the "overseer" and approved each admittance to the farm.

Elk County placed eligible people individually with local farmers until 1887. The county provided $1.60 per person per week for their care. Physician care was provided at 75 cents per visit plus mileage to the patient but no mileage back.

After the ill-fated second courthouse was constructed in 1886, the Elk County sheriff gave his 180-acre farm to the county in exchange for the first courthouse on Wabash Street. He opened a hardware business at that location, which was across the street from a hardware he previously operated. His farm became the Elk County Poor Farm.

A portion of the Elk County contract with the superintendent to operate the poor farm and provide for the inmates read:

"The party of the first part agrees to pay to the party of the second part the sum of $40 per month for and in consideration of the party of the second party giving all his time and attention to caring for the inmates of the county poor farm. First party agrees to furnish to the party of the second part such as groceries, provisions, medicines and other necessary supplies as may be needed for the purpose of conducting said poor-farm, and to furnish medical attendance for such of the inmates as need the care of a physician. The said party of the second part is to care for and look after, in a painstaking and careful manner, all inmates that now are, or hereafter may be, placed on said farm, doing the cooking and such servicing as is usually done in homes in the county of Elk, and to care for and nurse any of the inmates that may be disabled by reason of physical weakness or suffering from other sickness."

In 1899 an Elk County report that covered the period back to 1887 stated, "The females were employed in the necessary work about the house and grounds, but those of them not sick were imbecilic, and so could be employed only under supervision. The males, with the exception of a boy 10 years old, were confined there only by sickness."

Also in 1899 the value of the Elk County poor farm was listed at $3,125 for land, buildings, livestock, and implements. The superintendent's salary was listed at $540 annually. The amount paid out for general expenditures and maintenance of the poor farm that year was listed at $938, while revenue was listed at $424.

In 1910, the Elk County poor farm held five people, four men and one woman. Four of these individuals were listed as native white and one was listed as foreign born.

There is not much mid-20th century information available concerning Elk County. The last state report available was for 1934 and Elk County was grouped into a class with fourteen other counties having less than ten inmates and was not otherwise identified. The information reported referred only to county 1, county 2, etc.

That 1935 report was critical and stated there were no minimum standards applied to poor farms, slight emphasis was placed on the qualifications of people in charge, there was little local supervision, and no state supervision.

The Elk County history book says the poor farm was located two [three is close enough] miles north of Howard off K-99. The book also says that the poor farm was in operation for seventy-five years. That length of time would make its closing in 1962. Chautauqua County closed poor farm operations in 1966. Wilson County closed in 1968. The last poor farm, in Shawnee County, closed in 1974.

I can only recall an always closed horizontally slatted wood or metal gate on the west side of K-99. There was an old barn rather close to the gate. I do not have any recollection of a house but I never was on the property. I have heard rumors of an accidental death at the farm that maybe was not so accidental.

The Kansas State Historical Society says that the Social Security Act of 1935 was one of the biggest reasons for the eventual closing of poor farms.

An item of note. If one were an indigent Confederate veteran, he could be placed on the county Poor Farm. A Union veteran, his wife or widow, or their children under 14, could not be placed there. Beginning in 1901, Spanish-American War veterans were included with Union veterans. The county was required to provide these people with "outdoor relief," that is, the county had to "furnish them, at their home or place of residence, such necessities of life."

[Diane Amberg]

Thanks. I always enjoy learning something new.