This is “Our Past Is Present” from the Geary County
Historical Society.
Next month
our Museum will be open Tuesdays through Sunday from 1 until 4 in the
afternoon. This will give more of you an
opportunity to visit and learn more about the history in our County. So stop by and spend a few minutes or a few
hours any day except Monday.
Now for
today’s story…..
Will Carlson
made up his mind to come to America and decided on Junction City, Kansas where he
had a friend. Will boarded the boat from
his hometown in Sweden with just 5 cents in his pocket. During the ocean voyage, the food on board
was provided for him, but when he got to Quebec, he had to use his nickel to
buy food. During the four days it took
him to get to Junction City, he had no more food. When he stepped off the train in town, he met
a woman who tried to get him to go over to what was referred to as “the old
German’s house”. He could not understand
her and did not go. The woman then went
herself to the house and explained to some of the men there, who spoke Swedish,
that a man of their nationality had arrived in town. They went to Henry’s aid and got him plenty
of food. That afternoon Will Carlson took his two bags and walked to eastern
Geary County where he worked as a hired hand for the next few years. At first he received only $5.00 per month,
but after several years he got up to $15.00.
He then went into contracting and made enough money to buy a farm in the
eastern part of the county and with credit established Will got all he needed
to stock the place with cattle. He moved
into his new farm home in March of 1913. That is today’s story on “Our Past Is Present”
from the Geary County Historical Society.
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