Our Past Is Present December 5, 2018

December 5, 2018

            This is “Our Past Is Present” from the Geary County Historical Society.

            The Altwegg family emigrated to Kansas in 1874 from Switzerland.  Under the Homestead Act of 1862, any head of a family, on condition of his agreement to occupy and cultivate a claim continuously for at least five years, could be granted 160 acres of land.

 The first home of Konrad and Rosetta Altwegg was a dugout – typical of most early settlers’ homes in this area.  Baby Konrad was not a strong child and died soon after their arrival in America.  The baby was buried on the homestead. 

            The Altweggs found many other problems as they set up their homestead, but stayed and worked the land and added to and raised their family.  Four children were born between 1875 and 1880.  Records show that a land patent was granted to Konrad Altwegg in 1881 for  160 acres in the Smoky Hill township of Davis County one and a half miles north of present highway K-18. 

            Five more children joined the family after the Altwegg’s moved to the “home place” as it was called.  Additions at the back and front were made to the house to make room for the enlarged family. 

            During the early years in America, Konrad cultivated the soil and planted crops, then found other work during the rest of the year.  For a time he worked making cheese at P.H. Gfeller’s store.  Later he walked twenty miles to work for a mill in Industry, Kansas.  His pay was 50 cents a day, but he could also have his own grain ground into flour and meal there.  Some days we may think we are having a tough time, but imagine the sacrifices of early pioneers in our county.  Well… that’s our time together today on “Our Past Is Present” from the Geary County Historical Society.