Defiance Post Office
Contributed and transcribed by Cousin Don Henkle.
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				DEFIANCE Post Office
 
	 The townsite of Defiance came into existence in 1873 during the 
heated battle for a county seat to be located nearer the center of the 
county than Neosho Falls was. First Chellis and then Kalida was organized 
nearer the center of the county, but another group, especially along Owl 
Creek and Owl Creek township started out to organize a town.
 
	 Survey was started for the town of Defiance on 13 October 1873, 
with the entire 160 acres being surveyed into blocks, lots, streets & 
alleys, being eight blocks north and south and seven blocks east and west 
with all streets being four rods wide except Main & Park which were six rods 
wide.

	 In the county seat election of 25 February 1874, Defiance won 643 
to 491 over Kalida, Kalida being the county seat for about three months. 
Defiance and Kalida were only about three or four miles apart. The town 
boasted two hotels, the courthouse, post office, school house, store, tavern, 
blacksmith shop, ice cream & peanut stand.
 
	 Defiance had been the county seat for about a year when a new 
factor came up in the fight, and another election, the fifth, was called to 
locate the county seat. This election was in August 1875. A three-cornered 
race between Defiance, Neosho Falls and the location then known as Yates. 
Yates received 335 votes, Neosho Falls - 301 and Defiance 235. This was the 
beginning of the end of Defiance. The townsite was vacated in August of 1878. 
The courthouse was removed to the new townsite of Yates Center along with 
most of the houses.