November 6, 2017
This is “Our Past Is Present” from the Geary County Historical Society.
Today’s
story is about how a few peach stones eventually developed 1,200 trees.
Mr. A. Packard, settled on his land in 1857. The land was on the Smoky Hill River in
Dickinson County about 17 miles west of Junction City. One year after settling there he planted a
half bushel of peach stones, which he had brought from Ohio. Within ten years, he was enjoying what was
said to be the prettiest sight west of Topeka.
There were twelve hundred trees in his orchard. Each branch almost broke from the weight of
the rich, luscious fruit. From the time
the trees were three years old, they blossomed regularly, but never bore fruit
that amounted to much before 1867 or 10 years after he planted them. Mr. Packard sold $600.00 worth of peaches
that year. However, the newness and the
novelty of the crop attracted many visitors and many of the crops were just given
to them. The new 1868 season was
expected to yield over 1200 bushels, although the fickle Kansas weather would
undoubtedly have the final say just as it does today.
We hope you
have made your plans to vote tomorrow.
Polls open at 7:00 AM and will close at 7:00 PM. The election of new City Commissioners,
School Board members and the issue about the “New JCHS” will be on the
ballot. Please vote!!!
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