YATES CENTER Post Office Contributed and transcribed by cousin Don Henkle. ------------------------------------------------------------------- KSGENWEB INTERNET GENEALOGICAL SOCIETY COPYRIGHT NOTICE: In keeping with the KSGenWeb policy of providing free information on the Internet, this data may be used by non-commercial entities, as long as this message remains on all copied material. These electronic pages cannot be reproduced in any format for profit or other gain. Copying of the files within by non-commercial individuals and libraries is encouraged. Any other use, including publication, storage in a retrieval system, or transmission by electronic, mechanical, or other means requires the written approval of the file's author. -------------------------------------------------------------- YATES CENTER Post Office On 18 August 1875 the Location later known as Yates Center was plotted out for a town, but it was not until 12 June 1876 that the first postoffice was established as Yates Center with the first postmaster as Thomas W. Wilson. Wilson was also the second postmaster at Kalida and opened the first store in Yates Center. Wilson was postmaster until 30 January 1877. The following postmasters held the position as the postoffice shifted to different places around the square. Leonard J. Wells ..........30 January 1877 Isaac N. Holloway ..........24 May 1882 Eugene V. Wharton ..........31 July 1885 At this time mail was delivered daily by stage to Humboldt, Neosho Falls and Toronto. Isaac N. Holloway ........05 August 1889 Harrison C. Rollins ........27 Fevruary 1894 Wm. E. Hogueland ........27 May 1897 Wm. Reedy ........19 March 1914 John F. Allen ........08 August 1923 Francis M. Stocker ........24 April 1936 Clarence L. Mathews ........28 February 1957 Lloyd E. Herder ........22 August 1958 In 1964 a new postoffice building was built on the northeast corner of the square and was dedicated 19 September 1964. (No attempt has been made to add on the postmasters that have been in the postoffice since 1958. Bill Linde said that Bob Klick, who went to the service in W.W.II was postmaster between 1936 and 1957.) Yates Center, the County Seat of Woodson County, is located upon sections 10, 11, 14 and 15, range 15, and includes, with its additions, something over a section of land. The fact that this location is in the geographical center of the county, and that its original owner's name was Yates, led to the christening of the town as "Yates Center'.' When the election had decreed that this spot was to be the seat of government of the county, Mr. Yates purchased a two story building and moved it to the townsite --- the first building in the town. This building was for a long time used not only for a county building but for holding religious services and for other public gatherings. George Wille was the first general merchant. T.W. Wilson opened the second store and J.M. Wolfer came with the first stock of drugs. E.V. Wharton was the first physician and was followed by Dr. J.W. Turner. Jesse Pickett was the first lawyer in the town, but Judge W. H. Thurber and Alexander Stewart were on the ground almost as early. The first hotel, moved from Kalida, was run by C.W. Wilson, who was also the first liveryman. J.B. Fry was the first blacksmith. In 1878 the court house was moved from Defiance to the new County Seat and was located at the northeast corner of the public square. In 1884 the town was incorporated and became a city of the third class. The town is supported almost entirely by an agricultural district and has maintained a steady and continuous growth. The population has increased from year to year, the census showing a population of 500 in 1880; of 1,370 in 1890 and of 1,638 in 1900. (taken from the History of Allen and Woodson Counties, Ks.) 1901 The Yates Center News was founded at the County seat by Ret Baker in May, 1877. It had several owners and publishers up to July, 1886, when the business management came into the hands of R.H. Trueblood, who had the paper for many years. The Argus, The Sun, The Tribune, The Woodson Democrat, The Alliance, The Advocate, The Woodson Republican and the Toronto Republican, have all been absorbed into the Yates Center News at one time or another.