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Born January 1, 1861 in Piddington, Northampton, England; Died October 3, 19147 in Junction City, Kansas;

Married March 1, 1881 in Junction City, Kansas to Mary Pearson who was born October 14, 1864 in Sweden. She died January 20, 1936 in Junction City and is buried in Highland Cemetery at Junction City, Kansas. Her father was Andrew Pearson who located on Davis Creek.

William worked as a butcher all his life. They resided at 611 West Fifth Street in Junction City, Kansas.

Below is copied an article of newsprint from the J. C. Union, undated, that was among Nellie York’s papers. This was told by William York, I believe around 1942.

A. C. Pierce’s Sign Board in New York City Brought York Family Here

A sign-board decided the future home of Will York, 611 West Fifth Street. Mr. York was born in Northampton, England, but in his early youth his parents decided to take him end his five brothers and sisters to America. They landed from the “China” in New York in May 1870, after they had encountered many storms in crossing the Atlantic Ocean in nine days. Mr. York can remember a large sign-board located in Castle Garden, New York, advertising Junction City. Among other things it read “Go to Junction City, Kas.,” and was signed “A. C. Pierce.” The family, having no definite destination in mind, decided to come to Junction City and locate. They arrived here the latter part of May in 1870.

They rented a shanty back of the present site of the Elks Club while they built a “lean-to” on a lot at Second and Webster, which they bought from Mr. Pierce. Two weeks later the family of nine moved into the new home. No batten had been put in the house to seal the cracks, according to Mr. York, and their house warming of a big storm.

Young Will's father, Thomas York, was in the carpenter and stone business and the six boys helped him in his trade. Mr. York says that he and his brothers helped in the construction of a house for a man named “Stickney where the P. G. Volz house is now located.”

In 1878, this business was abandoned, and a butcher shop was started in the present library building. After two years a new shop was opened in the present Penney building. Mr. York said that this store was closed in 1880, although it was doing a fine business.

When asked what he did after closing the butcher shop Mr. York said he decided to get married. The bride, Mary Pearson, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Andrew Pearson, a young Swedish family located on Davis Creek. When she arrived in her new home she was wearing wooden shoes and a shawl. She and Mr. York were married here on March 1, 1882.

Mr. York worked for 0. A. Rockwell in his mercantile store for four or five years and then was employed in several butcher shops. For the next 28 years he was with Stephen Boon at Fort Riley.

Mr. York went to school in a building on the present location of the Charles Ziegler home. A Mrs. Collins was principal at the time. The Thurston sisters were among his first teachers.

He can remember many interesting things about early-day Junction City. Mr. York says that the city park had a picket fence around it when he came here. He also tells many anecdotes about “Wild” Bill Hickock and Tom Allen. “Wild Bill” was the idol of the boys. One of his stunts was picking up a handkerchief from the ground while riding horseback at a full gallop.

Among the first homes here were the Stuart home, on West Sixth, the Tom Allen home, 106 North Webster, where J. H. Corner now lives, end the Ed Laurenson home on West Second, now occupied by M. M. Powell.

The baseball team organized here between the 70’s and the 80’s was composed mainly of the Humphreys, Greens, Yorks, Allens and a Hale boy. The boys played on the Third Street school grounds, after being chased away from the

Humphrey home because they broke too many window panes. The old Humphrey house was located where the 0. W. Anderson home now stands.

Mr. York can remember when big bands of Indians passed through the streets. They often camped for months in the summer between Junction City and Fort Riley and sometimes made their camp near Highland Cemetery. Like the birds, they migrated south in the winter and went north in the summer. Among the first town marshals here were men named Woodward, Dan McClary and Tom Allen. The old timers will remember Tom’s “roar”, which could be heard for blocks when he became angry.

At that time there were several livery stables here, the largest one being operated by O’Reilly, Young and Foss. It stood where the Dickinson Theater is now situated. It was destroyed by fire in the 80’s. No horses were lost in the fire. The Fort Riley fire department was called over to help fight the blaze. The water then was pumped from cisterns, which were located at various places throughout the town. These were all pumped dry the night of the fire.

The Yorks have lived at their present home on West Fifth Street for thirty-five years. The old York home, a stone structure, is located at 609 West Second.

Mr. York has spent his entire life in Junction City. Although he is retired from active business, he occasionally works in various meat markets in town when he is needed.

Another article that rather explains why there was a sign placed in New York by A. C. Pierce follows.

Death of Will York

Junction City Union: Thursday, Oct. 9, 1917.

William York, 86, pioneer resident of this community, passed away at his home 611 West Fifth Street, early this morning. Mr. York had been in failing health for the past two years, but had been able to be up and around the house until four weeks ago, when he became bedfast.

Born in Piddington, North Hampton, England, January 1, 1861, he came direct to Junction City where they settled, and Mr. York grew to manhood. His father, the late Thomas York, operated a meat market in the early days, in a location where the George Smith Public Library now stands. Here it was that Will learned the trade of meet cutting, which he followed the rest of his life time.

He was married to Mary Pearson on March 1, 1881. Two daughters, Oma and Myrtle, died in infancy; and Mrs. York preceded him in death January 20, 1936.

Surviving relatives include two daughters, Mrs. Cora Johnson, of the home, and Mrs. Ella Taylor, of Chapman; four grandchildren, one brother, Harry York, of Colorado Springs; one half-sister, Miss Nellie York; and four half-brothers, Clarence, George, Frank, and Ed York, all of this community.

One of the few remaining pioneers of this community, Mr. York could tell many interesting incidents of early day life, and of experiences with Indians, droughts, and grasshopper plagues. He issued meat for 40 years at the Fort Riley Commissary, and was well known among the older Army personnel at the Post.

Mr. York was a member of the Modern Woodmen of America.

Funeral services for Will York, 611 West Fifth, pioneer resident of this community, were held at 3:30 Sunday afternoon from the Johnson Funeral Home with Rev. Harry R. Weed in charge. Burial was in Highland Cemetery.

Pallbearers were five nephews: Tom, James, Marvin, George, Jr., and Raymond York, and one grandson, York Taylor.