D. R. Menke was the first electric light and power plant operator in Garden City. He also started the first telephone system in Garden City and some of the out laying farms around 1900. He was also Garden City's first Postmaster from October 8, 1878, to June 16, 1881. Sunnyland located at 501 N 5th was built in 1909 for the D.R. Menke family, this grand home held modern innovations like central vacuuming, several plush bathrooms and a ballroom on the third floor. Menke and his family came to Garden City on August 20 of 1878 and opened the first general store. At the time of their arrival, there were but two buildings in town. Mr. and Mrs. D. R. Menke and three children, Olivia, Harry and George, arrived from Farmington, Illinois. Garden City was not recognized by the Santa Fe railroad as a station, but the conductor was kind enough to slow the train down and let them off about a half mile up the track, and they walked back to the little village of fifteen people. He was truly a founder of Garden City.
The Hutchinson Kansas News, 12 Apr 1933
EX-GARDEN CITY MAYOR IS DEAD
THE END COMES FOR DAVID MENKE IN LOS ANGELES SOON AFTER THE PASSING OF HIS WIFE.
Garden City, April 12 (the day the newspaper printed this article) – David R. Menke, 85, former mayor and pioneer businessman of Garden City, is dead in Los Angeles, California.
His daughter, Mrs. Benoit R. H. d'Allemand, who had gone to California when word came of his being stricken, will bring the body to Garden City for burial.
Mrs. Menke died in Los Angeles only six weeks ago, at the age of 83. Her body was brought here for burial then. They had been married for 64 years.
Mr. Menke is survived by a son, George G. Menke, of California, and a daughter. Olivia d'Allemand of Garden City.
Mr. Menke came to Garden City in 1878. At that time trains did not stop in Garden City, which was only a flag stop, and only two frame shacks on the townsite marking the town. He became the town's first merchant, opening a general store, which also became the first post office, and he served as the first postmaster, until 1881.
When Finney County was organized in 1884, Mr. Menke was elected one of the first county commissioners, and chairman of the board. He later served four years as county Treasurer, then engaged in the banking business, became head of the First National Bank, later bought the Windsor Hotel and operated it, installed the first telephone exchange here in 1896, and built a gristmill.
He served as mayor of the city for several years, the municipal light plant being established in his administration in 1913.
Mr. Menke also was prominent as a ranchman and cattleman, being widely known as a Hereford breeder, and developed a fine ranch of about 2,000 acres. He was the first one to grow alfalfa in this part of the Arkansas Valley, in 1879. At one time he had 1,000 acres of alfalfa here.
He was a promotor of the first irrigation ditch here, built in 1879, and was largely instrumental in the building of the million-dollar sugar beet factory here.
The Hutchinson Kansas News, 12 Apr 1933
EX-GARDEN CITY MAYOR IS DEAD
THE END COMES FOR DAVID MENKE IN LOS ANGELES SOON AFTER THE PASSING OF HIS WIFE.
Garden City, April 12 (the day the newspaper printed this article) – David R. Menke, 85, former mayor and pioneer businessman of Garden City, is dead in Los Angeles, California.
His daughter, Mrs. Benoit R. H. d'Allemand, who had gone to California when word came of his being stricken, will bring the body to Garden City for burial.
Mrs. Menke died in Los Angeles only six weeks ago, at the age of 83. Her body was brought here for burial then. They had been married for 64 years.
Mr. Menke is survived by a son, George G. Menke, of California, and a daughter. Olivia d'Allemand of Garden City.
Mr. Menke came to Garden City in 1878. At that time trains did not stop in Garden City, which was only a flag stop, and only two frame shacks on the townsite marking the town. He became the town's first merchant, opening a general store, which also became the first post office, and he served as the first postmaster, until 1881.
When Finney County was organized in 1884, Mr. Menke was elected one of the first county commissioners, and chairman of the board. He later served four years as county Treasurer, then engaged in the banking business, became head of the First National Bank, later bought the Windsor Hotel and operated it, installed the first telephone exchange here in 1896, and built a gristmill.
He served as mayor of the city for several years, the municipal light plant being established in his administration in 1913.
Mr. Menke also was prominent as a ranchman and cattleman, being widely known as a Hereford breeder, and developed a fine ranch of about 2,000 acres. He was the first one to grow alfalfa in this part of the Arkansas Valley, in 1879. At one time he had 1,000 acres of alfalfa here.
He was a promotor of the first irrigation ditch here, built in 1879, and was largely instrumental in the building of the million-dollar sugar beet factory here.
D. R. Menke was the first electric light and power plant operator in Garden City. He also started the first telephone system in Garden City and some of the out laying farms around 1900. He was also Garden City's first Postmaster from October 8, 1878, to June 16, 1881. Sunnyland located at 501 N 5th was built in 1909 for the D.R. Menke family, this grand home held modern innovations like central vacuuming, several plush bathrooms and a ballroom on the third floor. Menke and his family came to Garden City on August 20 of 1878 and opened the first general store. At the time of their arrival, there were but two buildings in town. Mr. and Mrs. D. R. Menke and three children, Olivia, Harry and George, arrived from Farmington, Illinois. Garden City was not recognized by the Santa Fe railroad as a station, but the conductor was kind enough to slow the train down and let them off about a half mile up the track, and they walked back to the little village of fifteen people. He was truly a founder of Garden City.
The Hutchinson Kansas News, 12 Apr 1933
EX-GARDEN CITY MAYOR IS DEAD
THE END COMES FOR DAVID MENKE IN LOS ANGELES SOON AFTER THE PASSING OF HIS WIFE.
Garden City, April 12 (the day the newspaper printed this article) – David R. Menke, 85, former mayor and pioneer businessman of Garden City, is dead in Los Angeles, California.
His daughter, Mrs. Benoit R. H. d'Allemand, who had gone to California when word came of his being stricken, will bring the body to Garden City for burial.
Mrs. Menke died in Los Angeles only six weeks ago, at the age of 83. Her body was brought here for burial then. They had been married for 64 years.
Mr. Menke is survived by a son, George G. Menke, of California, and a daughter. Olivia d'Allemand of Garden City.
Mr. Menke came to Garden City in 1878. At that time trains did not stop in Garden City, which was only a flag stop, and only two frame shacks on the townsite marking the town. He became the town's first merchant, opening a general store, which also became the first post office, and he served as the first postmaster, until 1881.
When Finney County was organized in 1884, Mr. Menke was elected one of the first county commissioners, and chairman of the board. He later served four years as county Treasurer, then engaged in the banking business, became head of the First National Bank, later bought the Windsor Hotel and operated it, installed the first telephone exchange here in 1896, and built a gristmill.
He served as mayor of the city for several years, the municipal light plant being established in his administration in 1913.
Mr. Menke also was prominent as a ranchman and cattleman, being widely known as a Hereford breeder, and developed a fine ranch of about 2,000 acres. He was the first one to grow alfalfa in this part of the Arkansas Valley, in 1879. At one time he had 1,000 acres of alfalfa here.
He was a promotor of the first irrigation ditch here, built in 1879, and was largely instrumental in the building of the million-dollar sugar beet factory here.
The Hutchinson Kansas News, 12 Apr 1933
EX-GARDEN CITY MAYOR IS DEAD
THE END COMES FOR DAVID MENKE IN LOS ANGELES SOON AFTER THE PASSING OF HIS WIFE.
Garden City, April 12 (the day the newspaper printed this article) – David R. Menke, 85, former mayor and pioneer businessman of Garden City, is dead in Los Angeles, California.
His daughter, Mrs. Benoit R. H. d'Allemand, who had gone to California when word came of his being stricken, will bring the body to Garden City for burial.
Mrs. Menke died in Los Angeles only six weeks ago, at the age of 83. Her body was brought here for burial then. They had been married for 64 years.
Mr. Menke is survived by a son, George G. Menke, of California, and a daughter. Olivia d'Allemand of Garden City.
Mr. Menke came to Garden City in 1878. At that time trains did not stop in Garden City, which was only a flag stop, and only two frame shacks on the townsite marking the town. He became the town's first merchant, opening a general store, which also became the first post office, and he served as the first postmaster, until 1881.
When Finney County was organized in 1884, Mr. Menke was elected one of the first county commissioners, and chairman of the board. He later served four years as county Treasurer, then engaged in the banking business, became head of the First National Bank, later bought the Windsor Hotel and operated it, installed the first telephone exchange here in 1896, and built a gristmill.
He served as mayor of the city for several years, the municipal light plant being established in his administration in 1913.
Mr. Menke also was prominent as a ranchman and cattleman, being widely known as a Hereford breeder, and developed a fine ranch of about 2,000 acres. He was the first one to grow alfalfa in this part of the Arkansas Valley, in 1879. At one time he had 1,000 acres of alfalfa here.
He was a promotor of the first irrigation ditch here, built in 1879, and was largely instrumental in the building of the million-dollar sugar beet factory here.
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