Did You Know This About Geary County History?”
By Dr. Ferrell Miller
Geary County Historical Society Board Member
“The First White Child Born On The Townsite Of Junction City”
Gaylynn Childs is a retired Executive Director of the Geary County Historical Society. She shared this story in an article previously published about the first white child born on the townsite of Junction City.
“Agnes (or Lizzie as she was commonly known) Henderson was born August 8, 1858. Her parents were Robert and Agnes Elizabeth Henderson. She was the first white child born on the townsite of Junction City and the townsite company deeded to her a lot on East Seventh Street in honor of the event. The townsite company wanted to name her Junctianna, which did not meet with the favor of her parents.
Lizzie was educated in the private schools taught by Mrs. McFarland, Mrs. Harshorn and others and then in the public schools. She was a great reader with a great memory. Lizzie was a charming conversationalist and with her wit and cheerful disposition had a large circle of friends. In her early childhood, she joined the Episcopal Church in Junction City.
Miss Anges Lizzie Henderson died at her home among the stately cedars at Logan Grove, three miles south of Junction City. Her whole life had been spent in Junction City or on the beautiful farm. Lizzie had been in failing health for some time, but clung to life for the sake of her mother, whom she loved so much.
She entered into rest in Highland Cemetery on Sunday, January 28th, 1917. Lizzie was survived by her mother; a sister, Mrs. C.A. Ritter; two brothers, James and Robert and one niece, Miss Helen Ritter.”
“Sheriff Tom Allen Cullinan Laid Down The Law In Early Junction City”
It was right after the Civil War, in 1866, that the Cullinans first arrived in Geary County. At that time, Tom, who had married Missouri-born Mary Jane McClendon at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas in 1863, had a contract to supply beef to the army at Fort Riley. In 1871, Tom became the Marshall of Junction City through a circumstance which was typical of Tom’s way of doing things.
According to an account by George W. Martin, then Editor of the local newspaper, Tom “had been mainly responsible for the election of an easy-going old granny to the office of the Marshall. The Marshall was soon in trouble and Tom volunteered to straighten things up if the Marshall would deputize him. Tom was deputized and his first duty was to subpoena witnesses in impeachment proceedings against the Marshall. He had sacrificed all claims on Tom’s friendship. Tom drove all the witnesses out of town and by night had the Marshall’s resignation. Tom Allen saw no public good for justice sufficient to prevent him from protecting his friend’s family from scandal and humiliation.”
Shortly after this, Tom was appointed Junction City’s Marshall by Mayor Robert O. Rizer. Tom never took a drink after he became Marshall. Among his friends were Junction City’s beautiful and famous Swedish “madam”, Ida Blue. It had been discovered that he assumed title to her “house” in 1887. Whether or not these things were factors Tom and his wife, Mary Jane, separated about this time according to family accounts.”
George W. Martin also wrote that “Tom Cullinan had a fist with which he could split an inch board and he always gave a lick under the left jaw, which never failed to lay a man out. While he always carried a gun, he preferred to use his fists, because he never wanted to kill. Even though Tom Allen was about five feet and weighed about 175 pounds he met all comers for years and never knew defeat.”
He apparently left Junction City for a few years in the 1880s. He spent time on the farm and then in the service of the Metropolitan Street Railway Company in Kansas City. Tom eventually returned and served as Marshall again until his death in 1904.
(See the picture of Sheriff Cullinan at the Horseshoe Inn in Junction City. This picture was used during the opening credits of the television series “Cheers”.)