WOODKA

Julius Wuthke and Olivia Craft Wuthka were the parents of Julius J. Wuthke born in Zinget, Germany in 1861, died in Norway Township.  He had three sisters, Thresa, Anna and Martha.  Wuthke is the German spelling of his name.  He had been sailor for twelve years, from the age of 18 years until he was 30.  After coming to America, he applied for citizenship.  The Board advised him to change his name to Woodka, since Woodka would be easier to spell and pronounce in English and would have the same meaning.

He married Josie Ainsworth, who was born in Beaver Crossing in Nebraska.  She came to Kansas as a small child.  They came to Norway Township and lived in Sec. 2 in a dugout.  Their children were William Ainsworth and Ida Cass. William and Marsha Roselis Ainsworth's were Josephine A. Woodka, Chester Ainsworth, Bert Ainsworth and Celia Bowling Kinken of Beloit, who is the only one of her family living.  Bert Ainsworth was a teacher who could succeed in a school where other teachers could not.  His mother was a teacher in the pioneer days.

Marsha R. Ainsworth was Ernest Bockoven's mother by a previous marriage.

Ernest Bockoven, Sr. and his wife Harriet were the parents of Eva Ames, Florence Lash, Ruth ames, and Ernest Bockoven, Jr.

Joseph J. and Josephine A. Woodka were the parents of Celia Maud Woodka Young, Anna A. Larimer (deceased), Chester J. Woodka, Lala Mae Thompson (deceased), and Charles G. Woodka.  Charles and Chester Woodka live in West Point, Nebraska.

By Celia Maud Young