This is an attempt to help to know who we are,
and remember where we came from; these are the "Roots" that have
nourished our blossoming trees, allowing us to grow. It is dedicated to
all who have paved the roads for us, and the world we live in.
If any errors are found I would like to correct them, or if you would just like
to tell me about the ancestors you found here, please contact me at: jerrygarrison@yahoo.com
. I do try and reply to all who write. This revision may have
changed a search engine referral page; if so, please
Southwest Kansas Methodist Clergy
KITCH, Charles A. Kiowa 1903-8; Marion 1909-11; Larned 191215; Wichita, Grace 1916-20; El Dorado 1921-25; Great Bend 1926-29; Winfield District 1930. General Conference Delegate 1924; 1928.
Charles and Gertrude Kitch Family
The Kitches of Cowley County are descendants of the Rev. Charles A. and Anna Gertrude (Haun) Kitch. Charles' family traveled by covered wagon in 1886 from Illinois to Pawnee County, Kansas, living initially in a sod house. Gertrude's family. moved by covered wagon in 1878 from Tennessee to Pawnee County, traveling through Cowley County on the way.
Charles graduated from Southwestern College in 1903 and also married Gertrude that year in Larned. Since he was a Methodist minister, they lived in several Kansas Communities before settling in Winfield in 1930 Charles was the Winfield district superintendent and later the minister of First United Methodist Church before retiring in 1944. Their five sons were Donald, Kenneth, Charles, Paul and Robert (Bob). Charles died in 1955, and Gertrude died in 1959; they were buried in Highland Cemetery.
Cowley County Heritage Book Page 221
Bob was born in Wichita in 1916 and was fourteen years old when the Kitches moved to Winfield. After graduating from Winfield High School in 1934 and Kansas State University in 1938, he farmed west of Tunnel Mill Dam on land that included Kickapoo Corral. He often found arrowheads left by the Indians who had camped there in early days. In 1944 he married Ruth Avery, who had moved to Winfield in 1940 to be the home demonstration agent, Ruth was born in 1915 near Concordia to Cecil and Georgia (Cool) Avery. The Averys had moved to Kansas from Michigan, and the Cools came from Illinois. Ruth graduated from Concordia High School in 1933 and Kansas State University in 1939.
Bob later combined farming with construction work and operating the Winfield Building Stone Company. He has built many stone houses and fireplaces and continues that work in his "retirement". After the births of their daughters, Ruth taught home economics in the Winfield school system until retiring in 1978.
Bob and Ruth's daughters graduated from Winfield High School, and Judy and Jane also graduated from Kansas State University and lo Ann from the University of Kansas. Judy is an accountant and lives in Ponca City, Oklahoma, with her husband, John Wohletz, and their children, Justin and Jami. Jo Ann Kitch is a paralegal in Colorado Springs, Colorado.
Jane and her husband, Glen Sandbulte, live at 105 Red Bud Drive, Winfield, with their sons, Matt, fourteen, and Tom, twelve. Glen, the son of the late William and Rebecca (Wesselink) Sandbulte, grew up in northwest Iowa and graduated from Central College in Pella, Iowa. He is an agent for Cowley County Farm Bureau Insurance. Jane is the news editor of The Winfield Daily Courier and teaches an English class for Cowley County Community College.
After living on their farm for forty-one years, Bob and Ruth moved to 1616 E. 20th Avenue, Winfield, in 1985. They are longtime members of the First United Methodist Church.
Submitted by Jane (Kitch) Sandbulte
This page was made possible through the help of many
people.
First, and foremost, I want to thank my ancestors, without whom I wouldn't be
here, and without whom I wouldn't be the same person I am. Second, all of the
people on the Kitch-L list who
have helped and given encouragement, but especially for the major contributions
by Linda (Antram) Smith and Tom Kitch; these two furnished both inspiration and
names and dates, as well as a sounding board for my ideas. In addition I
have had help and support from H. Vernon of California, the Pattersons of Iowa, C.
Farnham of California, and too many others to name here. It is
appreciated, and as long as we keep living, our genealogy will continue growing.
