March 7, 2018
This is “Our Past Is Present” from the Geary County Historical Society.
Today’s
story is about Mr. and Mrs. Thomas G. McKinley’s celebration of their fiftieth
anniversary. Thomas McKinley and
Virginia G. Ross were married on March 3, 1929 with relatives and friends as
witnesses for the joyous event. Virginia
was dressed in black satin and wore the brooch an earrings that were a gift of
her bridegroom on that wedding day. The
McKinley’s were both pioneer Kansans.
Mr. McKinley had come with his parents from Illinois in 1858. The trip was made with a train of wagons with
one drawn by horses, one by a yoke of oxen and one by a yoke of cows. The cows also furnished milk for the family
while on the journey. The cows also
became the means of starting a herd of cattle on the farm, which they
homesteaded.
Thomas
McKinley’s parents and family arrived at Fort Riley when it consisted of only a
few barracks and temporary officers’ quarters.
Soon after, they selected a section of farmland near the mouth of the
Humbolt Creek. Thomas, who was the
oldest son, endured the hardships and difficulties of pioneer life. The opportunities for an education on the
frontier were meager and he always felt his lack of schooling was a handicap.
However, he exhibited natural ability and strong determination. The people of the area had confidence in him
to serve the community and county in public office. For 34 years he served on a rural school
board and in the state legislature. He
was also a justice of the peace and constable.
Mrs. McKinley was the youngest daughter of the Ross family who came to
Kansas from the state of Virginia in 1873. Mr. and Mrs. McKinley spent most of their
married life on the farm, but enjoyed their retirement years in the home in
Alta Vista, where they were celebrated on their Golden Wedding Day.
We have
pictures of early pioneers on display in the lobby of our Museum. Stop by and take a look at them any day
Tuesday through Saturday from 1 until 4 in the afternoon.
And… that is
today’s story on “Our Past Is Present” from the Geary County Historical
Society.
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