Many books about Franklin County and Ottawa are in the Local History collection, but others can be found throughout the library that are by Ottawans, about Ottawa, or in some other way have an Ottawa or Franklin County connection. The following is a gathering of books of special interest, compiled with the assistance of Franklin County Historical Society Director Deborah Barker.
"Like His Teacher" by Ottawa physician Dr. Bud Gollier
chronicles his life and the evolution of health care.
"Barns of Kansas: a pictorial history" by retired
architect Bob Marsh.
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"Baloney Slice Theology: Sandwiching the Baloney of
Everyday Existence Between Thick Slices of the Bread of Life" A
humorous compilation of anecdotes and poetry with gentle humor and
honest faith by Gayle Norris. |
“Mrs. Pennington” by Katharine Carson is set in Onawanna, Kansas. Onawanna is located on the Marias des Cygnes river, and famous Chautauqua gatherings are held in Forest Park. (Fiction)
“Those Miller Girls” by Alberta Wilson
Constant deals with Chautauqua in Gloriosa, KS (YA)
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"Climbing Kansas Mountains" by George Shannon is a children's picture book with pages including a picture of downtown Ottawa. |
The opening page of "Elmer Gantry" by
Sinclair Lewis is a depiction of Ottawa. (Paper-F)
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“Stories from the Old Squire’s Farm” by C.A. Stephens is about the adventures of six orphaned cousins being raised on a farm by their grandparents. The characters are based on Stephen’s real-life cousins, among them Theodora Robinson, who lived in Ottawa. (974.1 Ste) |
“On Grandma’s Porch” by Ottawa teacher Kerry Mendell includes stories of times past. (Fiction)
“A Window Over the Sink” by Peg Bracken includes a chapter of memories about visiting grandparents in Ottawa. (Bio)
“The Devil Comes to Franklin County” is a story of the Underground Railroad by Florence B. Smith (Fiction)
Etta Semple (1855-1914), was a socialist, atheist & feminist who founded the Kansas Freethought Association and published the Free Thought Vindicator. See chapters in “Free Thought on the American Frontier” (211.40973 Fre) and “Women Without Superstition”(211.4 Wom)
“Color Blind Constitution” by Andrew Kull (342.73 Kul) contains the history of desegregation in Ottawa.
“Larger Than Life” by Morgan Williams (son of former Ottawan Mary Lou Williams) includes many “Dad” Martin photographs. He was an Ottawan famous for “tall-tale” exaggerated postcards. (741.6 Rub) see The American Museum of Photography
"John Brown and the Legend of '56" by John Malin (973.68 Mal) contains a chapter called "Dutch Henry's Crossing" (Chapter 31, pp.714-759, v.2) that is about Franklin County.
"The Enduring Indians of Kansas" by Joseph Herring (978.1 Her) has a chapter on the Munsees and Chippewas.
"The Real People and the Children of Thunder" by Ann Fienup-Riordan (266.46) is about John Henry Kilbuck, a Munsee Indian and Moravian missionary from Franklin County who worked in Alaska and has a mountain range named for him.
"Son of the Morning Star" by Evan S. Connell (973.82 Con) quotes a letter from Indian captive Clara Blinn to her father in Franklin County (pp. 181-182) She and her 3-year-old son were later killed during the Battle of the Washita.
“UFO Contact: the Four” by Donna Butts &
Dr. Scott Corder (001.942 But)
Dr. Corder’s license was revoked and then
restored amid much media attention surrounding his beliefs. He is
currently practicing medicine in Ottawa.
“Life and Art of Elizabeth ‘Grandma’ Layton” by Don Lambert (759.13 Lam) Elizabeth Layton (1909-1993) learned contour drawing at the age of 68 as a means of dealing with depression, & attained acclaim.
William Howe’s detailed butterfly illustrations are available in two books. His paintings have been exhibited in museums world-wide.
Cookbooks by Ottawans:
“Let’s Cook” by Dottie Wellington (641.591 Wel)
“Country Kettle Microwave Cookbook” by Beverly
Bourque (641.5882 Bou)
“Through the Years” by Dorothy Anderson (641.5
And)
“Building Learning Communities in Cyberspace” by Rena M. Palloff and Ottawa University professor Keith Pratt. (378.175 Pal)
“Your Sheep: a Kid’s Guide to Raising and Showing” by Paula Simmons & Franklin County veterinarian Darrell L. Salsbury (636.3 Sim)
“Your Future in the Nursery Industry” by John J. Pinney, part owner and manager of Willis Nursery Company. (635.9023 Pin)
“I’ll Never Ever Be in Retail Again!” about
Wellsville author Bob Kleier’s experiences in the grocery store
business. (658.8701 Kle)
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“Kansas Business Law” by Ottawa
attorney Sam Sheldon, a 1975 OHS graduate. (346.78107 She) Sam also published the Crucifixtion Trilogy in 2001. (Fiction) |
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Gary Hart, an Ottawa Native who was an U.S. Senator for 12 years, has written several fiction and non-fiction books. |
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“Fortunate Son” by Lewis Puller is a biography of the struggles of a man wheel-chair bound by the Vietnam War and the efforts of his physical therapist and Ottawan, Commander Kay Shaughnesy. The book won a Pulitzer Prize in 1992; the author tragically committed suicide in 1994. |
“Susan: a Child With Spina Bifida” by Eugene/Field teacher Becky Saueressig (618.927 Sau)
“Miracles of Grace & Judgement” by Gerhard P. Schroeder. (947.71 Sch) Ottawan Margaret Schroeder Sinclair (Mrs. Donald Sinclair) is the daughter of the author, who relates a story of Russian revolution.
“The Church That Refused to Die” by Roger L. Frederickson, father of Ottawa teacher Miriam Lemp (286 Fre)
“Eating Life Cereal With a Bigger Spoon Than Most” by Spenser J. Somers, who attended Ottawa schools. Spenser died of cancer at age 18 in 1990. (808.8 Som)
“He Uses My Hands” poetry by Chris A. Bird, a 1978 OHS graduate and brother of Ottawa City Clerk Scott Bird. (808.8 Bir)
Famous
Kansans from Franklin County:
Wayne Angell —Economist who served on the Federal Reserve Board.
Steve Grogan —Quarterback of the New England Patriots, 1975-1990.
Steve
Hawley —Astronaut on the first flight of the space shuttle
Discovery
in 1984.
William Howe’s butterfly paintings have been exhibited in museums world-wide.
Elizabeth "Grandma" Layton-She is well known for her contour drawings. She began painting after taking an art class at the age of 68 while fighting a 35 year depression.
Brian Lewis —Concert violinist who has performed at Carnegie Hall. An OHS graduate in 1986, he then attended Julliard.
George Washburn —Architect who designed many Kansas public buildings, including thirteen Kansas courthouses.
Chely Wright —Wellsville native making a mark in country music.