It was good that Chleo Jarvis lived in her mother’s household. They got along well. Anna had a daughter and grandchild at home, and Chleo had help raising Melvin.
In 1922, Ralph was age 28 and Chleo was 22.
Continue readingThe vision was a huge loop of transmission lines from Hutchinson to Larned to Kinsley to Turon and back to Hutchinson. It was the most ambitious plan for electrical distribution in Kansas.
Ralph and Chleo made their home with Chleo’s mother, Anna Webb. They lived in the Rock House.
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1919 had been a successful year for The Pawnee Power and Water Company.
Nathan Jones had founded his fourth startup company, and was beginning to realize his vision. Ralph Jarvis had risen quickly to the superintendent of construction.
Both men would marry. And 1920 promised to be a busy year for the power company.
Continue readingWhile Ralph and the linemen crews were building transmission lines, Nathan Jones opened the Electrical Development and Supply Company store in Larned. It sold all manner of electrical appliances, from irons to ranges to fans.
After returning from military duty in the summer of 1919, Ralph Jarvis went to work as a lineman for the Pawnee Power and Water Company.
During the fall and winter of 1918, Nathan Jones tirelessly promoted this vision of providing electricity to small towns in the Pawnee and Arkansas valleys and connecting farms for irrigation by electric pump. He held dinners for local farmers where he promoted his plan.
In September 1917, Garfield, Kansas engaged Nathan Jones to provide electricity. Electricity would be purchased from the electric plant at Kinsley, about 15 miles away.
Argonia, Milan, and Mayfield, Kansas lit up their electric lights in May 1916. Now, in September 1916, Conway Springs and Milton and Norwich want Nathan Jones to provide electricity to their towns.
With contracts signed in summer 1915 to deliver electricity to Argonia, Milan, and Mayfield, Nathan Jones set about organizing a company to finance and build the lines.
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Family Nibbles 