After Fifty Years, by Isaac Moon (Leonardville Monitor, 1926):
A great many changes take place in a community in fifty years. At least that is what William Sircoulomb found when he visited Riley county with which he was familiar fifty years ago, when a young man. Mr. Sircoulomb came to Kansas from Ohio in 1873 and for about three years made his home with his uncle, Elihu Moon, on Fancy Creek. The writer remembers well how Esby Moon and Will Sircoulomb bound wheat on a Marsh Harvester, one of the first machines made by William Deering. The machine elevated the grain to a table at the side and two men rode on a platform by the table and bound the grain as the machine was pulled along. Before that time the grain had been cut by a sweep rake machine, which raked grain for a bundle on the ground and men walked along and bound it; or the grain was cut by a cradle, a still more primitive method. After the Marsh Harvester came the harvester which used wire for binding and in a few years they commenced using twine.
Mr. Sircoulomb left May Day in July, 1876, and has since made his home in Montgomery County, Kansas, and this was the first time he had been in this county for a little over fifty years. Last Saturday in company with Issac Moon and family he visited the Moon homestead on Fancy Creek, now owned by L. A. Carlson, but the place is so changed it did not seem like home even to the editor who lived there for a while over twenty-five years ago. Mr. Sircoulomb did not find more than half dozen persons in the county with whom he was aquainted when he made his home at May Day. He found well developed farms and substantial farm homes all over the prairies where then there was only bare prairies.
A visit to the May Day Cemetery gave evidence of where some he knew had gone. There he could read the names on the stones which mark the last resting place.

Independence Daily Reporter, Fri., Dec. 14, 1928:
A. W. Sircoulomb of Havana, Passes at 74; Funeral Sunday
A. W. Sircoulomb, pioneer resident of Montgomery county, succumbed at his home at Havana last night at seven o’clock after a short illness. He was 74 years old.
He had been suffering with a cold for the past week but yesterday seemed improved. He was out-doors for a short walk in the morning but went to bed at noon. He lapsed into unconsciousness almost immediately. Pneumonia was given as the cause of death.
The funeral will be held at the Methodist church in Havana Sunday afternoon at two o’clock. Burial will be in the cemetery there.
A family reunion had been planned for next Friday, the event being Mr. Sircoulomb’s 75th birthday anniversary. He was born in Ohio in 1853 and came to Kansas in 1872, settling in Montgomery county. He carried mail for many years retiring about six years ago. Mr. Sircoulomb was well known over the county and was a member of the M. W. A.
The widow and seven children survive. They are: Ralph and Lester Sircoulomb and Mrs. Lizzie Owens of Havana; Mrs. Ida Aiken of Chautauqua county; Edwin E. Sircoulomb of Caney; Mrs. Anna Marie Moss of Oklahoma City and Mrs. Thos. E. Wininger of Independence. One sister, Mrs. Millie Wilson of Dayton, Ohio, also remains.

Independence Daily Reporter, Sat., Dec. 15, 1928:
Havana
The community was greatly surprised and shocked last evening at the death of A. W. Sircoulomb who passed away at 7 o’clock. Mr. Sircoulomb had been complaining of the flu but was not serious until a few hours before his death. He leaves his wife, three sons and four daughters. His funeral will be held in the Methodist church Sunday afternoon at 2 o’clock.