Hello Linda,

Since you are doing research in KS I'd suggest that you take a good look at local historical newspapers. I found quite a few "gossip" items about my family members in the local newspapers of the time (not necesssarily black papers either). News items that mentioned relatives who came to visit, the fact that a grandson was sick with the croup - etc.

I even found a bio of the husband of one of my grandfather's cousins - as a local character - saddle maker and bootlegger

The Kansas State Historical Society has a full list of the microfilm available. (see link below)