Timken, nestled on the south bank of the Walnut Creek, owes its name to Henry H. Timken (1831-1909). Timken was a developer of the 1827 French Pecqueur differential system of rear axle gears, and patentee of the Timken Buggy Spring and Timken Roller Bearing. Henry made a fortune and speculated in lands along the future railroad sites, including 4800 acres near Timken, in several patents, including the land where the City of Timken now stands.
Henry Timken sold the section of land where the town is now located, to the Santa Fe Railroad Town Site Company who determined the location of the town and depot. The area was surveyed and the plat was filed on July 11, 1887, the depot was built but no lots were sold. In 1897, a merchant purchased most of the town sites and opened a general store to serve the new settlers from Czechoslovakia, Bohemia, and Moravia, who had lost their special privileges under Francis Joseph I, Austrian Emperor of the Holy Roman Empire when he lost the war with Prussia in 1866.
In 1874 Francis J. Swehla came to Kansas to search an area for a Bohemian settlement. Frank Holopirek was one of the first who emigrated from Bohemia to the Timken area by sailing from the Port of Bremen, Germany, on the North Sea, arriving in Kansas in 1878. In 1880 Jacob N. Pivonka brought his family from Moravia. The Czechs came soon after to settle south of Timken with surnames: Smrcka, Pozalek, Tuzicka, Bucl, Petrik, Horacek, Horyna, Hottovy.
In 1904, a community hall and a Catholic church were built. The first lumber company was established in 1905, and a bank was organized in 1913. Timken was a thriving community and was incorporated as a city of the third class in June 1930.
Father Emil Kapaun, nationally recognized Korean War veteran, POW, and Medal of Honor winner, served as Pastor of the Holy Trinity Catholic Church in 1948, his last assignment prior to leaving for service in Korea. Learn more about Father Kapaun.
Timken is home to the unique, and beautiful, National Bohemian Cemetery, located south of the community.