May 4, 2018
This is “Our Past Is Present” from the Geary County Historical Society.
Junction
City began as a trading post for the sparsely settled farmers and soldiers in
this part of the country. It was a
farming section rather than an industrial center. For some unknown reason many Germans settled
here. Perhaps one friend told another
about the opportunities in what was then called Davis County. Regardless the reason, those of German
ancestry were in the majority.
One of those
pioneers was Fred M. Volkman. He came to
Junction City in 1858, when it was nothing but a small spot in an unbroken
prairie. Two small stores were present
and there were no trees to supply shade for the weary home-seekers. The Volkman’s
were encouraged to come here from Wisconsin by the Staatz and Oesterich
families. The Volkman’s plodded on a point three miles south of where Woodbine
is now and built their home.
Another
early German settler was J.J. Muenzenmayer. He came to America at the age of
19, lived in St. Louis for a few years and then he and his wife moved west to
Lyons Creek, seventeen miles south of Junction City. They lived on their farm for 11 years before
moving to Junction City.
Christina Volkman, who was the daughter of J.J. Muenzenmayer,
married L. Volkman, who was the son of Fred Volkman. Christina and her husband lived at 311 West Eighth
Street. Many other families of German
descent have remained in this area even until now. Some of them include the Altwegg’s,
Amthauer’s, Lichtenhan’s, Eisenhower’s, Dietrick’s, Wuethrich’s, Ehms,
Zimmerman’s, Baresel’s and many others.
Just as a
note to our listeners that – our Research Center has information about families
who have lived in our county that might be of interest. Give them a call at (785) 238-1666 or stop by our
Museum at the corner of Sixth and Adams Streets to learn more.
And… thanks
for reading “Our Past Is Present” from the Geary
County Historical Society.
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