Without the cooperation of the descendants of so many of the Jewish
families who once lived in Fort Scott and other towns in Southeast
Kansas, our research would have been limited to David’s family tree
and Kate’s cemetery index. Thanks to the descendants’ willingness to
entrust us with their family stories, we now have a more complete
picture of Southeast Kansas Jewry after the Civil War and well into
the 20th Century. “Thank you” seems inadequate. We are honored to have
earned their trust and friendship.
We are especially grateful to David Marblestone (a descendant of the
Cohen and Bamberger families). Dave has contributed many photos and
extensive family histories, and his counsel has been invaluable.
Jane Litwin Lyss, Dorothy Schroeter Prager, and Gary Emenitove deserve
our gratitude as well for having provided us with family photos.
Also deserving thanks (in no particular order) are…
Connie Banwart, Don Miller, Fred Campbell, Arnold Schofield, and Don
Banwart, all experts in local history who have helped in small but
significant ways.
Fort Scott National Historic Site Superintendent Betty Boyko for
allowing access to the Fort’s photo archives and Allen Chilton for his
patient assistance.
Ann Gillmore-Hoffman, formerly of Fort Scott, for providing us with a
copy of a transcription of the Haas diary and her research. Anne was
responsible for the placement of a government headstone at the
previously-unmarked grave of Marx Horn, more than a century after his
death.
Norm Conard and the Lowell Milken Center, for providing a local venue
to share photos with Fort Scott residents and visitors.
Greg Brown, Fort Scott Cemetery Association caretaker, for access to
plot maps, and Mid-Continental Restoration for copying them.
The Fort Scott Cemetery Association board, for their cooperation and
their good stewardship as owners of Pine Lawn for the past 40 years.
And especially the late Bud Penniman, FSCA Secretary for manyyears,
for his friendship and assistance.
Ella Buzz, who volunteers at both the Cherokee and Crawford County
Genealogical Libraries, for taking a genuine interest in our research
and providing much long-distance help.
Randy Roberts, curator of the Special Collections PSU’s Axe Library,
for help with Pittsburg’s Jewish history.
Ken Lyon and the Old Fort Genealogical Society’s library staff. Their
collection of city directories, yearbooks and newspapers enriches our
community.
Bourbon County Register of Deeds Sharon Elder and her staff, for
always being willing to look up “just one more address.”
Janet Cohen Robertson and her late husband, Dr James Robertson — both
Emmett family friends for over half a century — whose book All Our
Yesterdays inspires and teaches readers to “find our own roots in
[others] … and to understand that other people’s pasts can be all
our yesterdays.”
Eliezer Nowodworski, friend and colleague, for help with Hebrew.
Rabbi Jacques Cukierkorn, for his college research paper on Pine Lawn
and Fort Scott’s Jewish Community.
Dr Paul Teverow of MSSU (Joplin, MO) and long-time Emmett family
friend Dr Stephen Teller of PSU (Pittsburg, KS) for information about
the congregation in Joplin.
Dr David Katzman of KU (Lawrence, KS), for his insight and advice and
for information on the I.R.O. in Kansas.
Dr David Gradwohl of Iowa State U (Ames, IA), for so generously
sharing his knowledge of Midwestern Jewish cemeteries.
Dr Lee Shai Weissbach of the Univ of Louisville (Louisville, KY) whose
book Jewish Life in Small-Town America: A History is an example of
what we hope our research will be: a thoughtful analysis of a small
town’s Jewish history.
The staff at the American Jewish Archives, for promptly and
courteously replying to our requests.
Jeff Sweetser for photographing 180+ headstones in Pine Lawn.
While all these people have contributed information of one type or
another, the compilation, organization and interpretation of that
information has been our responsibility and we alone are responsible
for any errors or omissions.
Kate Emmett-Sweetser and David Meyer
