The Superior Express -

A nonfictional book, Sod and Stubble, written more than 90 years ago about a local family's pioneer history in Osborne County, Kansas, is being brought to life in a new film. The book was first published in the 1930s by Professor John Ise, telling the true story of his parents, Henry and Rosa Ise, pioneer settlers, on their homestead two miles west and a mile north of the present town of Downs. The Ises would raise their 12 children on their farm.

Professor John Ise, taught at Kansas University, and wanted to write the book so younger students could learn about the early Kansas settlers. The book became popular and it has been reprinted through the years.

More recently another professor, Ken Spurgeon, current history teacher at Friends University, wanted to teach his classes about pioneer stories in Kansas and would often bring his students to Osborne County, to visit the site of the Ise Homestead and learn about it's history, as well as other such historical locations in Kansas. Spurgeon saw there was a need to bring the Ise book to life and began plans to make a film from the book, like he had previously done in the films The Road to Valhalla and Home on the Range that he had written and directed. Surgeon began writing the film. On one of his visits to Downs, it was learned he was planning a movie but the filming locations had not been established.

When the Downs area residents heard about the future filming of the Sod and Stubble movie, they made the decision to see that the filming would be done where the story in the book had taken place. Meetings were held to seek out local interests and several came forward in helping finance and volunteer themselves to make it happen in Osborne County.

Spurgeon agreed with plans and with the help of Von Rothenberger, as an advisor and the executive producer, the wheels began to turn. The former Ise Homestead is now privately owned, so an alternative filming site was planned to create and build a replica of the Ise farmstead as it looked in the early 1900s. The site would include a Victorian style, two story Ise farmhouse, using the original floor plan. Film promoters Don and Linda Miller, owners of the hardware store in Downs, donated the use of their land and the building materials for the house. Local volunteers came together and the building of the house began in March. It was completed in July. Furnishings for the house were borrowed from museums in Mitchell and Osborne counties, and also from area residents. The replica house is located along Highway 24, between Cawker City and Downs. Filming was done inside the replica farmhouse, at Cowtown in Wichita, and in Lawrence, Kansas. The cast for the film includes many well known actors, including Bailey Chase as Henry Ise. Chase is known for his role in the television show Longmire. Dodie Brown plays the part of Rosa Ise. Buck Taylor, has a role in the film and he is known for his role in Gunsmoke as Newly, and for a part in the film Home on the Range. Barry Corbin has a role and is known for his acting on the television hit Yellowstone and the movie Lonesome Dove. Ruby Ramus another actor from Yellowstone is in the film. Mary McDonough of the popular television show, The Waltons, Darby Hinton of Daniel Boone, Nikki Tomlinson, Dona Lancaster, are some of the other actors in the Sod and Stubble film. Spurgeon is the writer and director.

During the local filming, the actors resided locally and volunteers made and served meals for the actors and film crew. 19th century clothing was worn by the actors and local extras in the filming. The movie is being produced by Fall River Productions and will be a two hour film when completed.

It was planned the filming take place in 2023 as this would mark the 150th wedding anniversary of Henry and Rosa Ise, who were 31 years old and 17 years old when they married on May 16, 1873, in a church in Holton, Kansas. Henry was a German immigrate and came to the plains of Kansas from North Carolina in the early 1871, and homesteaded in Osborne County. The newly wedded Ises arrived at the homestead on June 3, 1873, and endeared the hardships, struggles and rewards of the pioneer life, that is told in the book and will be told in the film. The latest reprint of the book is available at the Miller Hardware, Downs.

The film is still in the works, with editing and some critiquing being done. The sound-tracks are yet to be made. It is not certain who will purchase the film and how it will be shown. It could be shown as an INSP or a Hallmark movie on television, or it could come out as an on screen movie. Plans are to hold the film's premier in Mitchell and Osborne counties.