Jacob B. Stucky Family
Jacob B. Stucky was born Aug. 17, 1875, not quite a year after the Stucky family arrived in Kansas. The first Kansas-born son of Benjamin C. and Veronika Stucky, he well knew what pioneering meant, as he was age 25 at the turn of the 20th century. The single photo shows him some time in his twenties.
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Jacob B. Stucky in his twenties. Jake and Mary wedding, 1906
By 1905, Jake and his brother John helped form the Alta Milling Co. By 1906, he met and was married to Maria Friesen on October 21. This was believed to be one of the first marriages between a "Swiss Volhynian" and a "Low German" Mennonite in central Kansas. She did not stray far from home, as she was born 1 mile east and 1 1/2 south of the Alta Mill. Jake became president of the Alta Milling Co. Such meant dealing with the day-to-day operation of the mill, and overseeing many important functions to keep it going.
He was known as the neighborhood "doctor" and naturalist. His many fruit trees and honeybees kept the family busy. But stories of his rubdowns and "doctoring" treatments are almost legendary. (see footnote on Grandma Grease) He also participated in the Stucky Orchestra, and played the violin.
Jake also served as a Deacon in the First Mennonite Church of Christian in Moundridge. Mary, being an excellent baker, was responsible for baking the unleavened communion bread.
After discontinuing the operation of the mill, Jake and Mary retired in Moundridge, living in a home about 1 block east of the First Mennonite Church. Following an illness, Mary died on Aug 28, 1865. Jake joined her above on Mar. 23, 1966, at the age of 91. They rest in the cemetery of the First Mennonite Church of Christian, Moundridge. The headstone is engraved with a beautiful picture of the Alta Mill.
Jake also served as a Deacon in the First Mennonite Church of Christian in Moundridge. Mary, being an excellent baker, was responsible for baking the unleavened communion bread.
After discontinuing the operation of the mill, Jake and Mary retired in Moundridge, living in a home about 1 block east of the First Mennonite Church. Following an illness, Mary died on Aug 28, 1865. Jake joined her above on Mar. 23, 1966, at the age of 91. They rest in the cemetery of the First Mennonite Church of Christian, Moundridge. The headstone is engraved with a beautiful picture of the Alta Mill.
Below: Children of Jacob B. and Mary Stucky
dates of the photos, not birthdates
dates of the photos, not birthdates
Harold B. Stucky
1933 |
Eldo C. Stucky
1932 |
Nahida (Stucky) Miller
1959 |
Freida (Stucky) Pauls
1938 |
Richard J. Stucky
1949 |
Amanda (Stucky) Nightingale
1944 |
Linda (Stucky) Evans
1957 |
Esther (Stucky) Wagner
1950 |
Albert “Al” Stucky
c. 1947 |
"GRANDMA GREASE"
Those of the family who grew up in the central Kansas area may remember an odd-smelling, miraculously healing brown salve used by their parents on any kind of an open wound or infection, called "Grandma Grease." The recipe is said to have been acquired by Veronika in either Russia or Germany on the 1874 voyage. The stories of the curative powers of Grandma Grease could fill a book in themselves. Jake Stucky supposedly saved the life of a youngster using Grandma grease and other treatments after the legendary Halstead Doctor Hertzler had given up the fellow to die of infection. The recipe, however, has remained closely guarded for 130 years. Jacob B. Stucky, as a neighborhood "family doctor" made extensive use of it. He passed the recipe down to daughter Frieda Pauls who continued to make it. A few members of the family have various versions of the recipe today, but have had limited success reproducing Frieda’s blend. Said to contain rosin, pine tar, lard, butter and other things, this is something no self-doctoring family could be without.
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