Oak Valley, a little town in Elk county, is on the Elk river and the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe R. R. in Oak Valley township, about 16 miles southeast of Howard, the county seat. All the main lines of trade are represented. The town is supplied with express and telegraph offices and a money order postoffice. The population according to the census of 1910 was 149. This town was founded in 1879 by John Johnson, who built the first structure and used it as a residence. The first store was opened by M. Donovan. The next building was a drug store. The depot was built the first year. A postoffice had existed at that point since 1876, under the same name. It was kept in the residence of John Johnson until 1880, when it was moved "up town." A flour mill with a capacity of 25 barrels per day was built in 1876. The first religious services were held in 1882 by Rev. Mr. Collison in the school house, which was built in that year. The first birth was that of Wilson Shoemaker, son of H. Shoemaker, and the first death that of an infant child of C. H. Jones.