Reeds chronicle history of Soldier community

Jerry and Nina Reed of Soldier have self-published a 300-page collection of stories and photographs to help preserve the history of Soldier and the surrounding communities.

Since February, the couple has been gathering information for the book by “just talking” to neighbors and community members.

“I call it a book of the people by the people,” Nina said. “Because there’s a lot of families that either lived in Soldier or had family memories of Soldier that submitted pictures and information.”

Jerry grew up in Soldier and the couple raised their three children there. They lived in Holton for a brief time before moving back to the small town located in northwest Jackson County.

“I thought it was time to do a book on the history of the town,” Jerry said.

Besides a history of the community, a portion of the book includes articles of memories about the town and its people from residents and their family members.

“We thought we’d start out by compiling 100 pages and it grew to 300,” Nina said. “We just started by putting the word out that we wanted some photos, and I couldn’t believe the numbers of pictures we received. It’s astronomical. People really wanted to preserve the history of our town.”

The book includes more than 600 pictures of buildings, families and newspaper clippings relating to the town and its residents.

“It’s not a moneymaker,” Nina said. “It’s purely a community service project.”

Originally called Smithland, the town’s name was changed to Soldier in 1878 due to its close proximity to Soldier Creek.

The city’s first mayor was J.H. Holston and F.M. Wilson was appointed city clerk on April 18,1896.

“Back in the 1800s, it was a thriving little town,” said Nina, who noted that the Leavenworth, Kansas and Westerly Railroad came through the town.

During its formative years, the town had a variety of establishments, including general stores, hardware stores, banks, hotels, meat markets, livery stables, blacksmith shops, jewelry houses, millinery stores, grain buyers, stock buyers, two doctors, restaurants, painters and barbershops.

“It was a settlement of people who were really dedicated to building a town and becoming prosperous in the community,” Nina said.

Like many young communities, Soldier had its share of disasters, the Reeds said.

A tornado ripped through the town at 10 p.m. on July 10, 1883 and destroyed several properties.

On May 31, 1934, a fire swept over five blocks of the town, destroying many businesses, homes and city hall. A year later, the grain elevator was destroyed in a fire.

The town’s grade school was struck by lightning and destroyed in 1942. It was rebuilt the following year.

“Things dwindled during the depression, but the town thrived on its country schools,” Nina said.

The bulk of the book is made up of personal stories and photos compiled from the many different families that lived, and continue to live, in the area.

“People in the community were so enthused about saving the history of the town,” Nina said. “We’re so thankful for all the information they provided us.”

The cover of the book includes a photo of the city’s Main Street blanketed with snow on Thanksgiving morning from 1929. The photo was taken by Jerry’s father, the late Irvin Reed.

A lifelong resident of Soldier, Jerry said the town was a good place for him and Nina to raise their children.

The couple has three adult children, six grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

In October, the couple published 310 copies of the book through First Impressions Printing in Topeka.

If there’s enough interest, a second printing of the book will be ordered. For more information about buying a second edition of the book, call Jerry at 834-2035.

“This town has a lot of history,” Jerry said. “I wanted to put this together for Soldier because one of these days, all the history is going to be gone.”