Located at the back of Gallery 1 is a collection of
photographs. They are what remain of a collection of over 400 photographs
gathered in the early 1900’s by Louis Teitzel. He reproduced the photographs of
residents of the county who settled here between 1852 and 1870.
The
collection was originally displayed in the windows of the Rockwell Store,
gathering quite a crowd from newspaper accounts.
This
collection eventually made its way to the county court house where it hung for
many years. While on display at the courthouse people were allowed to take the
photographs of their ancestors and the collection gradually shrunk.
When the
Geary County Historical Society opened its doors at the 7th Street
location they accepted possession of the photographs to preserve them for
future generations. It was brought along with the rest of the collection when
the GCHS moved to our current location at 6th and Adams. This was
the start for our photo collection that has grown considerably over the years.
In the
archives our curator found a letter from Nate Gilbert that accompanied a pair
of photos that were donated to the museum. The letter really made the people in
the photos come alive.
“A glance
at the “HOME COMING PROGRAM” today reminded me of something I intended to do
long ago, but it had been overlooked until today, that was to send pictures of
my father and mother for the collection… the photos are copies of a Daguerre
taken about 1854. One year (about) before Father and Mother arrived where (or
near where) Junction City now stands. The child in the mother’s arms is the
shadow of myself. So you will see I was a very a very early settler.”
“To be more
explicit- we arrived in Pawnee City (near Fort Riley) in November 1855. My
father at once bought the [quick] claim deed to the farm in the bend of the
Smokey Hill [River] nearest town on the south side. Here we spent the winter in
a log cabin 12 by 14 covered with a bark roof, with the curves of the bark
turned downward. So we were obliged to sit under umbrellas when it rained.
After six years spent on the farm my father moved to town and went into the
grocery business.”
“I have
still a good recollection of many of the incidents of [those] early day[s],
among them the visit of the first white woman to our farm home eight months
after moving there. The visitor was Mrs. J.R. McClure who had not seen
[another] white woman for fourteen months, though strangers [she and mother]
met as sisters, and wept in each other’s arms.”
“I also
remember distinctly the Indian scares which were frequent, and sent people
flying either to the Fort or to P.Z. Taylor’s store, which was the city
fortress being then the only stone house in the place.”
“Of the
original old settlers I believe none are left with the possible exception of
A.W. Callen. But there may be a few at the home coming that will remember such
names as Davis Wilson who died recently in Cincinnati [or] Colonel John T.
Price who was located in Ft. Riley in 1855, Capt. McClure who settled on Lyon’s
creek in 1854, the Perry’s and Walter’s families who settled in Whisky Point
about the same time, of Samuel and William Bartlett who came a little later, of
Mr. & Mrs. Mitchell who were a social power in the early days, of Samuel
& Mrs. Orr, Mr. & Mrs. McFarland and many others, all of them a part of
Junction City’s early history…”
Writings and memories like this are important
because they give us interesting accounts of pioneer life. Don’t discount your
memories or the stories your grandparents told you; write them down because one
day those things will be history also.