Grenola, an incorporated city of Elk county, is located on the Caney river and the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe R. R. in Greenfield township, about 14 miles southwest of Howard, the county seat. It has banking facilities, a weekly newspaper, hotels, an opera house, good public schools and churches; is a shipping point for stock and agricultural products; is supplied with telegraph and express offices, and an international money order postoffice with three rural routes. The population in 1910 was 532.

Grenola was the result of the consolidation of two rival towns, Canola and Greenfield, which lay about 3 miles apart. When the railroad came through in 1879 and passed half way between them, a new town was laid out to which both towns were moved. The Grenola postoffice was established in that year. Business houses and residences were put up in rapid succession, and the town soon had a population of 700. Due to the construction work on the railroad, things were prosperous but the town was not as orderly as it might have been. There were several well patronized saloons, and quarrels and shooting scrapes were frequent. This condition subsided with the removal of the construction hands to another division of the road.

The first school was taught in 1879 by John D. Simpson. The first newspaper, the Grenola Argus, was launched on its career in December of that year by John D. Stinson. The first religions services were held in the residences of the people, and in the school houses in the vicinity, by Rev. Mr. Vickers. He founded the first church in Grenola, which was of the Methodist faith. The first child born on the townsite was named Grenola Lee. She was given one of the best town lots.

Grenola became a city of the third class in the fall of 1880, such action being hastened by the differences arising between the temperance and saloon elements. The first officers were: Mayor, J. C. W. Crider; treasurer, J. L. Barnes; clerk, M. W. Williams; police judge, C. A. Kelso; marshal, W. Hatchett; councilmen, William Dory, J. N. Aubushon, J. A. Weston, L. H. Smith and A. S. Browden.