Georg Ginnold was a native of Germany and came to America in 1852. Little is known of his early life; he was born in Prussia around 1830 and was an itinerant laborer who worked at many jobs. By the age of 20, Georg met and courted 17 year old Theodoris Schellhase, who came from a well-to-do family from the Duchy of Anhalt. Because her parents objected, Georg and Doris left for America and were married in New York City in October of 1852. They quickly migrated west with the promise of cheap land and open spaces and settled first in Illinois. They migrated next to Iowa, and by 1859 found a permanent home in Topeka, Kansas. By now, Georg was a successful carpenter and a well respected citizen in Topeka. His family had grown with five children and although life was good in Topeka, the threat of war loomed over the area. This threat became reality in August of 1863 with the sacking of nearby lawrence KS and Georg volunteered for the Kansas State Militia rising to the rank of 2nd Sergeant in the Topeka Battery of the 2nd. Regiment. On October 22,1864 this Battery performed with the skill and precision of a veteran Army unit at the Battle of the Big Blue River, checking the advance of the invading Confederate Army long enough for the Union Army to defeat them the next day. Georg was killed on the field of battle along with many of his comrades, fighting to the end. Although Georg Ginnold was not a yet a U.S. citizen, he died so that his descendants would be able to one day thrive in his adopted home.
Georg Ginnold was a native of Germany and came to America in 1852. Little is known of his early life; he was born in Prussia around 1830 and was an itinerant laborer who worked at many jobs. By the age of 20, Georg met and courted 17 year old Theodoris Schellhase, who came from a well-to-do family from the Duchy of Anhalt. Because her parents objected, Georg and Doris left for America and were married in New York City in October of 1852. They quickly migrated west with the promise of cheap land and open spaces and settled first in Illinois. They migrated next to Iowa, and by 1859 found a permanent home in Topeka, Kansas. By now, Georg was a successful carpenter and a well respected citizen in Topeka. His family had grown with five children and although life was good in Topeka, the threat of war loomed over the area. This threat became reality in August of 1863 with the sacking of nearby lawrence KS and Georg volunteered for the Kansas State Militia rising to the rank of 2nd Sergeant in the Topeka Battery of the 2nd. Regiment. On October 22,1864 this Battery performed with the skill and precision of a veteran Army unit at the Battle of the Big Blue River, checking the advance of the invading Confederate Army long enough for the Union Army to defeat them the next day. Georg was killed on the field of battle along with many of his comrades, fighting to the end. Although Georg Ginnold was not a yet a U.S. citizen, he died so that his descendants would be able to one day thrive in his adopted home.
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