Source: Newspaper microfilm wedding announcement in the Smith County Pioneer, July 8, 1909:
Hutchison-Bryan
A pretty wedding was solemnized last evening, June 30, 1909, at eight o'clock, at the home of Mr.s and Mrs. Jas. B. Bryan in Lincoln township, the contracting parties being their daughter, Miss Zora May Bryan, and Mr. J. Arthur Hutchinson of Bellaire, Kan. At the appointed hour, to the strains of a wedding march executed by the bride's sister, Miss Susie Bryan, the bridal party entereed the parlor and stood under an arch of roses and evergreens while the ceremony was performed by Rev. Hugh Moore, pastor of the Baptist church, the ring ceremony being used. Miss Dora D. Davis acted as bridesmaid and the bride's brother, Mr. Earl A. Bryan, officiated as groomsman. The little Misses Eva Threlkeld and Lela Bryan stretched the ribbons. The bride wore a dainty gown of white persian lawn, and the bridesmaid was attired in pink. The house was prettily decorated in pink and green. Numerous and beautiful gifts were bestowed upon the happy couple. At the conclusion of the cremony a sumptuous four course dinner was served. Mr. and Mrs. Hutchinson left this morning for a visit in Manhattan, Kan., with his sister, and after July 15 they will be at home to their many friends in Bellaire, Kan., where the groom is engagaed in business.
The bride has resided in this county from childhood and is one of our best and most estimable young ladies. The groom is a young man of excellent character and business ability. That no clouds may every mar their happiness is the wish of their many freinds, the Herald included.--Chariton, Ia., Herald.
The groom in the above mentioned wedding is a son of Charlie Hutchinson, the famous stock raiser of Bellaire. Hundereds of friends, including the PIONEER, take pleasure in wishing hime and his bride abundant happiness and prosperity through life.
***The above wedding announcement is related to the Vinsonhaler family throught Margaret Ann (Bryan) Vinsonhaler, wife of George Vinsonhaler.
***The following obituary of Frances Aldrich goes with her husband, Joseph Dale Aldrich, his mother was Lena Belle Vinsonhaler.
Newspaper obituary from the Smith County Journal, Smith County, Kansas:
Frances Aldrich was news writer for the Pioneer
Frances Pauline Ferguson Aldrich, 90 died October 12, 1998, in Osborne. She was born Sept. 15, 1908, in Newman, Illinois, the third child of John A. and Ollie Williams Ferguson. Her family moved to Smith County when she was an infant, first living at her grandfather Fleming Williams' farm in the Oak Creek community and later in Custer Township; where her father established his farm. She attended Custer School and graduated from Smith Center High School in 1925. Frances attended normal training and became a teacher. Upon the death of her mother, she shared family responsibilities in raising her younger brothers.
In 1933, she married Dale Aldrich. This union lasted 64 years until Dale's death in 1997. For a time they lived in Illinois, then returned to Kansas, first in Bellaire then in Osborne.
For many years, Frances contributed Custer and Bellaire news to the Smith County Pioneer. She was a member of the Custer, Calvary Gospel, and First Christian churches, and participated in the Christian Women's Fellowship.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Dale; an infant son, Vernon; her parents; and a brother, Jay Ferguson.
Surviving are four sons and their wives, Charles and Kristine of Takoma Park, Md.; Frederick Owen and Barbara of Baton Rouge, La., John Alden of Everett, Wash.; and Larry and Patty of Derby, six grandchildren; two brothers, Ted Ferguson and wife Lucille of St. George; and Harold Ferguson and wife Helen of Atlantic, Iowa; and nieces and nephews, Alice Ann Goodwin, Doris Hoffman, Nancy Jacobs, and John and Bob Bock.
The funeral was October 15th at the Christian Church, Osborne, with Rev. Kate Larson officiating Arleta Byrd was the organist and Mark Morrison was the soloist.
Casket bearers were Charles Aldrich, John Aldrich, Ron Kaser, Fred Aldrich, Larry Aldrich and Heath Knolla. Honorary bearers were Bradley Aldrich, Les Kaser, and Russ Phalen. Burial was at Custer Cemetery, Smith County.
***The following obituary is of Opal L. Brien, she was a Wright at birth, Opal's father was Asa William Wright, a brother to Emily Jane (Wright) Vinsonhaler, Emily was married to Flavius Josephus Vinsonhaler who was born on July 05, 1850.
Newspaper Obituary of The Smith County Journal, January 30, 1997,
Opal L. Brien cared about her family, friends
Opal Lerene Brien died January 23, 1997, at Vis Christi Medical Center-St. Joseph Campus, in Wichita. She was born November 14, 1915, the youngest daughter of Asa William and Mary M. (Flowers) Wright near Cora.
Opal lived with her family in several places in northern Smith County. Most of her childhood years were spent on Middle Beaver Creek north of Reamsville. As a young girl, Opal and her younger brothers played in the Old Dutch Mill which now is in Wagner Park at Smith Center. Opal carved her name upon the big timbers.
She completed schooling at Liberty school. She lived at Athol and Smith Center as a young lady, and worded for the National Youth Administration, the Ford family, and Mason's Bakery.
On May 16, 1946, she married John L. Brien and they had two children, Jerome "Jerry" Lawrence and Mary Lou. Opal was a devoted wife and mother, homemaker and was involved in the church and community.
John and Opal's first home was in Kensington. After two years, they moved to the Briedn family farm north of Athol. After John's death, Opal moved to Smith Center. She and John enjoyed traveling during their later years.
Opal was a kind and caring person and expressed much love for her family, friends, and neighbors.
She was a member of the American Legion Auxillary, First St. John Lutheran Church, and the Ladies Guild, all at Kensington.
She was preceded in death by her husband, John; her parents; brothers Lester Wright, Charles Wright and wife Opal, Carl Wright and wife Nina, and Alva Wright; sister, Myrtle Delka and husband Harry; and four infant siblings.
Surviving are her children, Jerome "Jerry" Brien and wife Barbara of Fort Worth, Texas; and Mary Lattin and husband Bill of Hays; four grandchildren, twins Amy P. Brien and Angela P. Brien of Fort Worth; Travis W. Lattin of Alliance, Neb.; and Jacqueline "Jackie" Lattine of Hays; sister, Hazel Shipley of Smith Center, and sisters-in-law, Lena Lundgren and husband Alvin of Smith Center, and Alice Wright of Independence, Mo.
Funeral services were Jan. 27th at First St. John Lutheran Church, Kensington, with Pastor Dave Hutson officiating. Kim Baumann was the organist.
Casket bearers were Bob Stockton, BIll Struckhoff, Ray Faulkenberry, Bob Struckhoff, Sam Rice, Carl Osthoff, and Wendell Bohm. Burial was at Germantown Cemetery, Kensington.
***The following obituary is that of Flavius Joseph Vinsonhaler, son of George and Margaret Ann (Bryan) Vinsonhaler:
Newspaper microfilm obituary in the Smith County Journal, April 2, 1925, page 8:
An Old Settler Gone
Flavis Josephus, fifth child of Geo. W. and Margaret Vinsonhaler was born July 5, 1850 at May Hill, Ohio. When just a small child his parents moved to Illinois and later to Iowa.
On October 5, 1873 at Clarinda, Iowa he was united in marriage to Emily Jane Wright and the following year the young couple came to Kansas and located on a homestead in Blaine Township, Smith County, where they have since resided. Six children were born to them, all of whom are living except Otis Wesley who died in infancy. The remaining children are Minnie Ellen Dayhoff and Mary Ann Lord of Longmont, Colorado; and Owen Tilden of Denver, Colorado; Geo. Homer of Portis and Lena Belle Aldrich of Bellaire. These with the dutiful wife and mother were at this bedside when death came to him on Thursday, at 10:30 a.m., March 26, 1925 following a stroke of paralysis.
At the time of his death Mr. Vinsonhaler was 74 years, 8 months and 21 days old. He is also survived by 3 brothers, 3 sisters, fifteen grandchildren and one great-grand child.
To chronicle the life of a Kansas farmer is to write a history of discouragements and achievements of success and failures, of privations and plenty, of unremitting toil and sacrifice, of droughts and bountiful harvests and running through it all is the golden thread of optimism and high courage, that determination and love for the soil that ultimately leads him to permanent success and prosperity and makes him what he is today, the highest type of American citizen.
That the deceased possessed all these sterling qualities are proven by the fact that he lived for over fifty years in one locality and on one farm. He believed in Kansas. He with his young wife came with the determination to make this their permanent home and they have never cared to leave it. With his own hands he quarried and dressed the stones that composed the walls of their home and those walls are still a part of their dwelling while every tree and shrub, every improvement on the place is the work of the toil-worn hands that have completed their last earthly task. By his side walked his devoted companion the sharer of his joys and sorrows doing her part toward the making and maintaining of the home that he loved so dearly, for to a very marked degree, Mr. Vinsonhaler was a home lover.
Energetic, Perserving, of strong convictions, yet seldom voicing his belief, unostentatious and unasuming he went about his way, his creed that of service to fellowman, his rule the Golden Rule, loving his neighbor as himself, helpful, kindly, considerate, denying himself that his children might have the advantage of education, sending them to church and to Sunday school working untiringly for the best interests of his family and community.
His children and grandchildren idolized him, for to them all, he gave wise counsel and advice and a sympathetic understanding of their problems and to the son-in-law who has never known a father's love he has been a living father indeed. And so after almost three quarters of a century of living and loving , of sowing and reaping, this honored and respected citizen, this beloved husband, father, brother and neighbor, has been called to his reward and the places that knew him for so many years shall know him no more forever. A lonely woman in the twilight of life, muses over the past and looks forward to the glad reunion that is soon to come. Can they who occupy higher stations in life have a finer epitaph than this: "His children rise up and call him blessed".
Funeral services for the deceased was conducted by the Rev. Harry Riley, of Miltonvale, formerly pastor of the M. E. Church at Bellaire, in the Custer Church on Sunday at 2:00 p.m. March 29, and the body was laid to rest in the cemetery near by. The pall bearers were: R. R. Manchester, J. P. Shively of Bellaire; and Forrest Maulsby, Walter Herndon, Wm. Foster and Thomas Cline of Lebanon, all life long friends of the deceased.
Newspaper article in the Smith County Journal, April 9, 1925, page 5, on microfilm:
Crystal Plains--Mr. and Mrs. Homer Vinsonhaler have taken a little eleven month old child to brighten their
home. There are more homes and hearts that should be opened to the orphans and homeless children.
Newspaper microfilm article in the Smith County Journal, March 26, 1925:
Joe Vinsonhaler suffered a severe stroke of Paralysis sunday evening, very little hope is entertained for his recovery. All the children have been summoned to his bedside and will be here on No. 6 Wednesday morning.
Newspaper microfilm article in the Smith County Journal, April 2, 1925, page 5:
Several from here attended, the funeral of Mr. Vinsonhaler's Sunday afternoon at Custer.
Newspaper microfilm article in the Smith County Journal, February 17, 1921:
Mr. Vinsonhaler's visited their daughter Mr. and Mrs Dayhoff's Sunday.
***The following obituary is of Mahala (Vinsonhaler) Gray, daughter of George and Margaret Ann (Bryan) Vinsonhaler.
Newspaper obituary on microfilm, Smith County Pioneer, June 2, 1904:
Mrs. Mahala Vinsonhaler was born in Highland County, Ohio on July 28, 1845 and died May 24, 1904 in Washington County, Kansas. She was married to Joseph Gray December 26, 1867 in Lucas County, Iowa. Nine children were born to this union of whom seven are now living. Four were boys and five were girls. She was a consistent member of the Methodist Church. The body was shipped to Smith County, Kansas and buried in the Custer Cemetery. Rev. G. W. Lane conducted the services. The relatives have the sympathy of all.