The Salina Journal from Salina, Kansas • Page 27

The Great Plains Tbe Salina Journal FOR LOVE AND MONEY Gilbert and Faye Simpson have raised appaloosa horses on their ranch near Alton since 1960. They also have a herd of registered Angus cattle. Simpson says he is re- Journal Photos tired, but, the couple still puts in a good day's work, even though neither Simpson or his wife ride horses any longer. HORSES Alton couple raises choice appaloosas By LINDA MOWERY District Editor ALTON Each spring since 1960 has been Christmas for Gilbert Simpson. That is when his appaloosa colts are born.

Simpson and his wife, Faye, raise horses. Their 650- acre farm, set against the rolling hill country of Central Kansas, is about one mile off US-24 near Alton. They are lifetime residents of Osborne County. "I've never known him when he didn't have a horse," Mrs. Simpson said.

"My husband isn't a horse trader; he's a horse lover. There's a big difference." A shelf near the door of the trailer home holds several trophies won by Simpson horses. At one time, the two, who recently celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary, were a familiar couple on the horse-show circuit. No more, although they occasionally attend a show "to meet the horses and friends we've made over the years." At 72, Simpson claims he is retired. "He does what he wants when he wants I call that retired," Mrs.

Simpson said. And, indeed, her husband seldom rides a horse these days because of arthritis. "I just play with them," he said with a smile. The appaloosa is a likable breed with a disposition similar to that of a friendly, family dog. "They're calm and easy to break and easy to handle," Simpson said.

"The appaloosa is one of the gentlest horses there is," added his wife. Simpson has nicknamed one of.hls two. stallions "John Boy" in honor of television's Walton family. "He comes when I call him." Another horse often finds its way onto the porch. "They are Jealous of each other," Simpson said.

"You can't pet one without petting the others." The appaloosa breed dates back to the Indians of the American West. Once the Indians lost their struggle with the pioneers, however, the hardy appaloosa was crossed with draft horses. "It almost ruined the breed," Simpson explained. "Most of the show horses of today are almost half quarter horse." Simpson purchased his first mare in Colorado. She was the granddaughter of "Red Dog," a famous quarter horse.

The mare died last summer at the ripe old age of 28. "That was a sad day for my husband," Mrs. Sim- Appaloosas, with their mottled hide, come in various colors and designs. Sometimes a horse will be born with spots on its rump. By the time it's full grown, however, the spots may cover its body.

"You get plain-colored colts once in a while," Simpson said. "As long as they look like an appaloosa you can show them. You can register a plain-colored horse for breeding, but you can't show them." Mrs. Simpson Is a working partner in the ranch. When they were first married, she rode a tractor along side her husband.

Simpson also praised his wife for being "a pratty good horse Judge." "This is like the used car business; you can get whipped pretty easily," she said. "When you go to a horse sale, you pretty well know who la pulling your leg and who isn't. You don't always want to believe everything you hear." Mrs. Simpson can recall only one time her husband became involved In a horse swap. "He got skinned," she said.

There have been some wild goose chases, however. One time the Simpsons drove 400 miles to Fulton, to buy a horse. When they finally arrived there and saw their intended purchase, they made an Instant decision to return home. "That horse had to stand twice to cast a shadow," Mrs. Simpson said.

The Simpsons say they have built their horse business on a reputation for honesty. "We hardly ever advertise," Simpson said. "It's moptly word-of-mouth. If a horse has some hidden blemish, we tell people. They're going to know about it sooner or later, anyway." The Simpson horses have gone across the United States.

One customer (torn Indiana, who later moved to Hawaii with her husband, ah Army colonel, sent the Alton couple a photograph of her colt playing In the surf. Over the years, Simpson's real money maker has been his herd of registered Angus. "I won't say the horses haven't-paid for themselves, but we haven't made a lot of money. We've always had a herd of good, black cows and they paid the bills." Their cattle herd now numbers about 24, a decrease of some 56 head over earlier times. "We'll keep doing this while we can and then we'll reduce our operation," Simpson said.

The couple also has milked cows and raised hogs. Working with livestock for so many years has contributed to their love for Wild life. "No hunting" signs are posted on the Simpson land and the telephone number of the area game warden is handy in case they catch someone poaching on their property. "I feed the birds and I love it," Mrs. Simpson said.

"We won't let anyone hunt on our land. Quail and pheas- anj trail across our yard," also grow wheat, grain sorghum, feed their acreage. In their trailfejiome which replaces the house that was leveled by a ttrnado in 1067 is a row of children's pictures. The closesrthe Simpsons have come to having children of their own nephew they helped rear and the many neighbor children they have befriended over the years. "We've firm believers that- quit, you die.

And, you know he's not going to tolS said Mrs. Simpson, giving her husband an affectlonai Sunflower Seeds BIRD CITY Residents here will observe the 120th birthday of Kansas by staging their own Kansas Day celebration on Jan. 29. "Bird City's annual Kansas Day festival is one of the very few towns in the state to observe the entrance of Kansas into the Union," said Ann Maring, publicity chairman. "The annual celebration was organized by Mrs.

C.W. Trickett 51 years ago on Jan. 29,1930, for the purpose of preserving pioneer history." Activities will be at the American Legion Hall here. "The Good Old Days" will be the theme centered around the year 1921 halfway between 1861 and 1981. Recognition will be given to the oldest, most historical and most unusual artifacts; also to the youngest and oldest citizens present and to all residents 75 years and older.

As a special feature this year, celebration officers will exhibit wedding fashions, documents and photographs. Registration opens at 10 a.m. with each guest giving his or her date of birth and wed-' ding anniversary. The program begins at 11 a.m. with entertainment will be provided by the Samaritan Entertainers and Mary Dorsch, who will talk about the "Good Old Days" in 1921.

A pot luck dinner is planned at noon. Music will be offered by John Krien, Ward Harvey and Ruby Hollaman. The program will continue at 1 p.m. with Wallace 0. Moore, St.

Francis, grand master of the IOOF Lodge of Kansas, featured er. A skit will be presented by third graders at Cheylin School under the direction of Terri Brassier. A church and school review also is on the program. It will be presented by Amy Eggers and Winn Cassens. The traditional "In Memoriam" for Cheyenne County residents who died in 1980 will follow.

Kansas Day officers are Ward Harvey, president; Mae Clark, vice president; Sylvia Daniels, secretary; Betty Beeson, treasurer, and Lee Beeson, finance. iV -tr Norton County's oldest resident Edna Guthrie recently celebrated her 105th birthday. "I guess I get along as well as anybody would expect to," Mrs. Guthrie said. "I can't walk as well as I used to, but there are a lot of nice people at the Andbe Home (where she lives) and they treat me well.

"I haven't had much to worry about; I guess I never have worried much. Maybe that's one reason I'm still around." Mrs. Guthrie was born in Coshocton, Ohio, on Jan. 2,1876. She has lived in Norton County for more than 100 years, however.

After her family arrived here in a covered wagon in 1878, members lived in a dugout sod house next to the creek at the east edge of Norton. In 1882, her parents built a frame house which is still standing. Mrs. Guthrie was married on her birthday in 1901 to Gadi G. Guthrie, who was in the cattle and loan business.

He died in 1916 and Mrs. Guthrie became Norton city clerk, a position she held until her retirement in 1941. She still is a strong believer in the right to vote. "They always bring me a ballot," Mrs. Guthrie said.

"I voted for Ronald Reagan. I've gotten to like him; I think he's a pretty good guy. I try to vote every time. I think it's so important that we all do. Don't you think so?" iJr -tr -fr RUSSELL SPRINGS- An autograph party is planned Feb.

1 at the Russell Springs school for Western author Wayne C. Lee, Lamar, Neb. Lee wrote "Trails of the Smoky Hill," which records the dramatic history of the Smoky Hill River region and its link with the Butterfield Overland Dispatch. The book, published by Caxton, lists the late Howard Raynesford, Ellis, as co-author. Lee, a retired mall carrier, has written some 200 short stories and books.

He will start signing copies of his latest effort at 2 p.m. -tr CLIFTON Mary Price of Clifton has held President Ronald Reagan in her arms not on the silver screen or as a childhood sweetheart. Mrs. Price was Reagan's babysitter. Mrs.

Price told the Washington County News it's still difficult for her to believe the Infant she once held when she lived in Tampico, 111., grew up to become president of the United States. "He was a very small baby and his mother used to take him everywhere with her," Mrs. Price recalled. "She directed hometown plays and this particular time she was doing pantomime. Everyone was there and someone said the kids were making too much noise, so they told me to take the baby and the other kids down the road to our house.

"If I recall, he was a good baby." Mrs. Price said her parents were good friends of the elder Reagans. The President's father, she said, "worked as a salesman in a general store. When the owner of the general store opened a new store in Dixon, 111., he took the Reagans with him because Jack (the President's father) was such a good salesman. "Because Ron graduated in Dixon, he is most often quoted as being from there instead of Tampico." Mrs.

Price, A Republican, said she voted for 'f Reagan and "believes he is more capable than people give him credit for." She also knew and liked his family: "I knew his mother. She was a good person. She was a strong person." -h OSBORNE Approximately 800 signatures were collected on petitions which will go to the Kansas Board of Healing Arts to show this community's support for Dr. John Comely. The board revoked Dr.

Cornely's license, an action which was recently upheld by a district court decision. Comely has taken the lower court decision to the Kansas Court of Appeals. -to tr SMITH CENTER Laymen's Fund workers at Smith Center spent the better part of the Christmas holiday In a giving mood. From $2,137.20 in donations, workers took 51 persons shopping. They offered each guest $20 to buy presents for his or her family.

Then, closer to the holiday, they presented 22 local families with food baskets, each containing $38 worth of food. The Laymen operate year-round, offering physicial and spiritual strength to those in need. Persons who wish to make a donation can call Jim Kirchner. 6 tr TAMPA For the past 33 years, W.E. "Woody" Steinert has cared for the hair of most males in town.

Last week, however, he closed his Main Street Tampa barbershop. Steinert, 55, was graduated from the Oklahoma City Barber College In 1948 after having served in World War II. Customers were plentiful the first 27 years. Then, about 10 years after the decline of the crew cut, Steinert decided to reduce his hours and find an additional job. For the next three years, he served as custodian at Centre High School and, finally, this past June he started carrying mail at Tampa.

Despite his work load, though, Steinert managed to keep hla barber shop open on Wednesdays and Saturdays until last week. The building where his business has been located was sold to Dave Weibert, who offered to let Steinert use another bulding for his bar- bar shop. Steinert declined the offer, however, saying he had decided to hang up his clippers and concentrate on his mail route. -to CUBA One of Cuba's best friends has fallen to old age. "Nixon," the half bird dog, half coon dog that adopted Wes Kllma and his Cuba Service Station 14 years ago, was put to sleep by a veterinarian this month.

"Nixon," who often performed tricks for the right treat, sometimes roamed the streets of Cuba, viatlng homes and businesses. "That dog got up with me every morning for 14 years and went to the station," Kllma said. "Now only one of us makes the trip. "A fellow called him that once and the name stuck. I guess it's Just because he always wandered around and never did much." "Nixon" was buried on Kllma's homeplace.

fi to BELLEVILLE The Job of Belleville fire chief will stay In the family. Harry Ferguson, fire chief for more than 45 years, has turned over the job to his nephew, Mickey Ferguson. The elder Ferguson will continue as honorary fire chief and advisor to the department. Ferguson became a member of the Belleville volunteer fire department about 60 years ago. "I've seen quite a few fires and gotten wet quite a few times," he observed..