KSGenWeb - The Primary Source for Kansas Genealogy

Chase County Kansas Historical Sketches


1863 - 2003





WELCOME TO COTTONWOOD FALLS OUR COUNTY SEAT

Cottonwood Falls, county seat of Chase County, was incorporated by law, Feb. 6, 1858 by acting Governor J.W. Denver. The incorporators were: Columbus Hornsby, Q.N. Randolph, John Gilmore, S.F. Tappan, Jr., G.W. Deitzler, A.D. Searl and S.N. Wood. In 1865 there were 11 houses. Early pictures show a few scattered houses on the prairie mostly to the southwest of the Courthouse; however, the Courthouse, built in 1871-72 stood at the head of Broadway and each side of the street was lined with business places. Over the years, the places changed hands and the improvements can be noticed, but the names of those early owners still linger in the memory of Chase Countains.

C.A. Coe's Corner Grocery, Smith Bros. - ''Good Things to Eat, Osborn's Grocery, Hank Cahoone's, Dawson's, Morozzo's Market, Miller's, Jim Way's, and today - Gibb's and the I.G.A. - all names that helped to make history.

Some will remember the shoe repair shop and harness shop that Louie Hillert had on the east side, and there was M.M. Kuhl's Harness Shop. We had Tin shops in the earlier days - H.S. Fritz, and later Chas. Remy (all who knew him will recall his cheery whistle.)

Johnson Bros. Abstractors had their office on the east side (Bruce and Elmer Johnson), later selling to John E. Bell and John Frew. Later abstractors were Conner's (Abe and Ruth), John I. McClellan, and, today, we have Robert L. Carrier's. Dry Goods stores many, will remember are: Hildinger's, Martin Dry Goods Company, Henry Long' s, Kieferle's and Kieferle-Busselle now Busselle's.

These were on the west side of Broadway in the first block north of the Courthouse. In the first block down on the east side was E.F. Holmes Furniture, then L.R. Holmes who sold to Ernest McKenzie - McKenzie and Sawtell - now Croy's. E. Brown and Son were on the west side of the street. In this same block, most Chase Countains recall Gregory Brothers Men's Clothing; Jim Bell's on the west side of the street. Today, we have Jim Bell & Son clothes for men on east side.- In this first block down on the west side were jewelry stores - G.E. Finley and Son and Ed. Brandley - later, Brandley's, then Van Dorn's - now Lou's Gift Shop.

In the earlier days, Dr. J.W. Stone operated a Drug Store, selling it to E.D. Replogle (on corner where Exchange National Bank now stands), but later in first block down on west side. Sidney Replogle followed in his father's footsteps, Cecil Kuhl becoming a partner - now Billing Pharmacy. W.B. Hilton operated a drug store on the west side, also, which he sold to Wilcox Bros. - now Fred Wilcox.

Hardware Stores were: Alford's Hardware, J.D. McNee's, Scott Berkshire's, and Waddell's. Chet Woodring's Meat Market on the west side is to be remembered by most of us.

Real Estate dealers have had offices on the street - A.J. Klotz, J.E. Bocook - "Dealer in Dirt," Carl B. Cowley, R.L. Carrier, and Whitt Laughridge.

Most of our attorneys have had offices on the street - Tom Grisham, Grisham & Madden, P.F. Cochran, Dudley Doolittle, S.R. Blackburn, Harry O'Reilly, & Carl Ballweg. (Others were here for a shorter period of time.)

In later years, Variety Stores came into existence: Ed. King, W.B. Simon, Garman's, Park's Store and Bob Giger's Store.

In the one of the first pictures of Broadway, the old Eureka House is there, but not easily distinguished. In 1934, Wayne Keller bought it, tore it down and built a garage and filling station. Location of other hotels is given in individual articles.

Over the Corner Grocery, years ago, Lottie Murphy and Maude Strail had a Dress-making Shop; and, in the room on the northeast was the Dentist office of Dr. Brown. Dr. Harry M. Wilcox had his dentist office above the Exchange National Bank, later building the neat little office just north of the Telephone office.

Many places of business have stood on the corner of Broadway and Friend, the Masonic Temple site - postoffice for a time - a restaurant, etc. This was a gift from Robert Brash (Bobby Brash as he was best known) of near Elmdale.

Off Broadway, on each side of the Courthouse, there are places of business not shown in the Broadway pictures. Geo. F. Capwell had a Photograph Gallery on the west side for years and years. On the east of the Eureka House is a lumber yard (See Article on same.) (Names of owners of lumber yards in Cottonwood Falls include A.M. West and Sons, West-Houghton, McDowell-Harmon, John Short, Burgner-Bowman, and Chase County Lumber Company, operated by Harvey L. Dahlberg.

In the block of the east side of the Courthouse, we find a Filling Station and Garage, operated by Harold Trayer at this time. Fred Riggs was once in this station, and many others. John Short built, and operated the John Short Motor Company, later the Trayer-Jeff, and since Mr. Jeff's death, Trayer- Chevrolet. Just south of this is the Midway Garage, which has been operating since the early 40's. ( None of these are shown in the Broadway picture.) Over the /ears, filling stations have been located on about every corner; today, we have Harold's Mobil Service, Standard Service Center, and the Peach Oil Company on the east side, north of the Telephone office.

For many years, the Calvin Mendenhall's operated a produce house where eggs, cream, poultry, etc. were bought and sold on the east side. Henry Schoap, Jr., was in business there for a long time, later building and operating Valley Foods at a location just west of the Fair Grounds, or Swope Park.

When E.B. Kellam sold his Livery Stable on the corner where the Peach Oil Company is now located, that ended the business in Cottonwood Falls. Many will remember that H.F. Hoel had a Livery Stable business there for several years.

The first Greenhouse in Cottonwood Falls was owned and operated by Arthur Lawrence; it was located just west of town - at the foot of the hill west of the Brown-Bennett Funeral Home. He ran this for 26 years, or as long as he was able. The Anderson Greenhouse was located just at the bend of the road north of the Cottonwood River bridge where the Bates home once was. It was very successful, but the big flood of 1951 caused them to move to a new location on Highway K-177 at the east edge of town. Ochs Flowers is a new business located in the southeast part of town.

The latest and one of the greatest additions to Cottonwood Falls is the Chase County Nursing Center, located at the southeast corner of town, just east of Highway K-177. It was built in 1969.

Chase County Centennial, 1872 - 1972




Chase County Submitted Historical Sketches
compiled and abstracted from the Chase County Courant, Chase County Leader, other sources and newspapers
by Lorna Marvin
Please submit your historical sketches.



Return to Chase County Submitted Historical Sketches


Background and KSGenWeb logo were designed and are copyrighted by
Tom & Carolyn Ward
for the limited use of the KSGenWeb Project.
Permission is granted for use only on an official KSGenWeb page.
The USGenWeb Logo was designed by Linda Cole.

 
   
Check out these links!