Whenever my mother, Geraldine May Walch, recounted old stories of her father's days in Kansas, she would mention the “Walch Addition.” She knew it was a place name, but didn't know its location. She only knew that it was a place her father had gone to meet other family members. I have since learned that the Walch addition is the title for a parcel of property west of Winfield in Cowley County Kansas. I suspect that James Walch owned it and that was the site for many family reunions. Recently, I e-mailed the Register of Deeds in Cowley County offering to pay for their assistance to do a land search. They replied that they will research the property when they have down time. I'll let you know when or if I ever hear from them again. I had planned to go to Winfield and Arkansas City this or early next year and do the research on my own. But with my multiple sclerosis symptoms flaring these days, I may never have the chance to visit there.
In any case, Cait (Hendron) Sullivan sent me several photos of Walch reunions that most likely took place at the Walch Addition. They are from a collection of photos in the possession of her mother Mary Louise Mackensen, a great-granddaughter of James Walch. They have only been able to identify a few people in the pictures. In the top picture: The small man in front is James Walch. Cait believes that his wife Mary is in the center, in a black skirt. Behind her to the left is her daughter Grace. The little girl with the X is Grace’s daughter, Dorothy Benkendorf. The girl next to her is her best friend Louise. Cait doesn't know who the others are. I've misplaced my notes on the other two photos but Dorothy and Grace are evident in both.
Double-click on the photographs to enlarge.
If you can identify any of the other Walch clan members, please e-mail me. My address can be found in my profile on this site.
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