Places - Greenwood KSGenWeb genealogy, family history

2011 Kansas Dept. of Transportation

Populated Places

Climax, one of the villages of Greenwood county, is located on the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe R. R. and on Otter creek, 10 miles southeast of Eureka, the county seat. It has good churches and schools, and several of the leading lines of business activity is represented. There are telegraph and express offices and a money order postoffice. The population in 1910 was 100. Extracted 2002 by Carolyn Ward from Kansas: A Cyclopedia of State History, volume I, page 370.

Eureka [county seat], the judicial seat and largest town in Greenwood county, is located south and a little west of the center of the county on Fall river and on the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe and the Missouri Pacific railroads. It is 158 miles southwest of Atchison and 109 miles south of Topeka. Eureka has all the modern improvements expected in a city of its size. It is lighted by electricity, has natural gas for lighting, heating and commercial purposes, a fire department and waterworks. Among the business enterprises are a wagon factory, broom factory, flour mill, 4 banks, good hotels and two weekly newspapers. All the leading denominations of churches are represented and the schools are unsurpassed in the state. This is an important grain, live-stock and produce shipping point. There are telegraph and express offices and an international money order postoffice with five rural routes. The population, according to the census of 1910, was 2,333.

Eureka was located in 1857, and the first building was a school house built of short planks hewn from logs. This was a general purpose house and was used for all public purposes. The town site belonged to David Tucker and Levi N. Prather. Mr. Tucker bought out Prather for $160, and in 1867 sold the whole site to the town company for $50. The postoffice was established in 1858, with Edwin Tucker as postmaster. There was no store until after the war, and all goods had to be brought from Kansas City or Atchison with ox teams. The first store was a community affair. James Kenner agreed to keep the store, with the understanding that if it interfered too much with his occupation of farming, he would turn it over to Edwin Tucker at the end of the year. This he did. The store was opened on April 1, 1866. Among the first business and professional men were: Dr. Reynolds, the first physician; McCartney, blacksmith, 1866; Judge Lillie, the first lawyer, 1868; Hawkins, the first carpenter, 1867, and Mr. Akers, who was the first landlord of the company hotel.

The first newspaper was the Eureka Herald, published by S. C. Mead, the initial number of which appeared in Aug., 1866. The first school was taught by Edwin Tucker in 1858. The first bank, which was also the first bank in the county, opened in the summer of 1870. It closed the first of the next year. The Eureka Bank, opened in Nov., 1870, and continued to do a successful business. In 1867 the town was laid out and lots were sold. It was incorporated first in 1870, with the following trustees I. R. Phenis, A. F. Nicholas, L. H. Pratt, Harley Stoddard and C. A. Wakefield. The next year it became a city of the third class with Ira P. Nye as mayor and George H. Lillie as city clerk. Eureka became the county seat and the first term of court was held in May, 1867, but adjourned without transacting any business. Extracted 2002 by Carolyn Ward from Kansas: A Cyclopedia of State History, volume I, page 599.

Fall River, an incorporated city of the third class in Greenwood county, is a station on the St. Louis & San Francisco R. R. about 22 miles southeast of Eureka, the county seat. As the name indicates it is situated on Fall river. It is a thriving little city. All lines of mercantile enterprise are represented; it has banking facilities, a weekly newspaper (the News), express and telegraph offices, and a money order postoffice with four rural routes. The population according to the census report of 1910 was 383.

The town was laid out in 1879, by the Fall River Town company. The first building was the residence of J. M. Edminston, the second was the store of the Romig Bros., and the third was the Fall River House, built by George Bulkey, the secretary of the town company. A number of buildings were moved from Charleston. Ritz & Putnam established the first general store in 1880; Dr. J. J. Lemon was the first physician; and A. M. Hunter the first attorney. The first number of the Fall River Times was issued in Sept., 1881, by N. Powell. The first school was taught by B. F. McVey in 1881. It was supported by subscription. Extracted 2002 by Carolyn Ward from Kansas: A Cyclopedia of State History, volume I, page 621.

Hamilton, a village of Greenwood county, is a station on the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe R. R. in Janesville township 15 miles northeast of Eureka, the county seat. All lines of mercantile enterprises are represented. There are banking facilities, a weekly newspaper (the Times), telegraph and express offices, and a money order postoffice with one rural route. Hamilton is an important shipping point for the products of a large and productive agricultural country. The population, according to the government report for 1910, was 325. Extracted 2002 by Carolyn Ward from Kansas: A Cyclopedia of State History, volume I, page 803.

Ivanhoe, a hamlet in Haskell county, is located 6 miles north of Santa Fe, the county seat, and 7 miles northwest of Jean, the postoffice from which its mail is distributed by rural route. Extracted 2002 by Carolyn Ward from Kansas: A Cyclopedia of State History, volume I, page 944.

Lamont, a village on the Missouri Pacific R. R. in Greenwood county, is located in Shell Rock township 30 miles northeast of Eureka, the county seat. This is also a receiving and distributing point for the adjoining territory, has express and telegraph offices, a money order postoffice, and in 1910 reported a population of 100. Extracted 2002 by Carolyn Ward from Kansas: A Cyclopedia of State History, volume II, page 94.

Lapland, a discontinued postoffice in Greenwood county, is located in Salem township 16 miles northwest of Eureka, the county seat and the nearest banking and shipping point. The mail for this point is sent to Flintridge. The population, according to the report of 1910, is 20. Extracted 2002 by Carolyn Ward from Kansas: A Cyclopedia of State History, volume II, page 105.

Madison, the second town in importance and size in Greenwood county, is located on the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe and the Missouri Pacific railroads, and on the Verdigris river in Madison township, 27 miles northeast of Eureka, the county seat. It is the only important shipping and receiving station for many miles around and has a number of mercantile establishments. There are 2 banks, a weekly newspaper (the Spirit), express and telegraph offices, and an international money order postoffice with five rural routes. The schools are excellent and all the leading denominations of churches are represented. The population in 1910 was 721.

The first Madison was established in 1872, northwest of the present town. E. Smith opened a general merchandise store, and later four men named Green, Strails, Crinkle and Oglesby erected log buildings and began business. In 1879, when the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe R. R. was built, the town was moved to the present site, which was laid out by a town company with the following officers: President, L. J. Cunkle; secretary, S. J. Wells; treasurer, W. Martindale. The postoffice was also moved, the postmaster, T. A. McClure, still retaining his office. A school house was built at the cost of $1,100, and E. Walters was the first teacher. The first building on the new town site was the residence of W. H. Green. Professional people came in, new business enterprises were established and inside of two years the population had increased to 300. The first church was organized by Rev. H. P. Baker before the founding of the town. The first newspaper (the Madison News) was established in 1879 by W. O. Lundsford. Extracted 2002 by Carolyn Ward from Kansas: A Cyclopedia of State History, volume II, pages 210-211.

Neal, one of the larger villages of Greenwood county, is a station on the Missouri Pacific R. R. in Quincy township, 12 miles east of Eureka, the county seat. All the main lines of business enterprise are represented. There are express and telegraph offices and a money order postoffice with one rural route. The population in 1910 was 150. Extracted 2002 by Carolyn Ward from Kansas: A Cyclopedia of State History, volume II, page 339.

Piedmont, a little town of Greenwood county, is a station on the St. Louis & San Francisco R. R., and is located on Otter creek, 18 miles southwest of Eureka, the county seat. The principal shipping business at this point is done in grain, live stock and agricultural products. There is a bank, express and telegraph offices and a money order postoffice with three rural routes. All the main lines of mercantile business are represented. The population according to the 1910 census report was 250. Extracted 2002 by Carolyn Ward from Kansas: A Cyclopedia of State History, volume II, page 473.

Quincy, a little town of Greenwood county, is a station on the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe R. R., and is located on the Verdigris river in Quincy township, 20 miles northeast of Eureka, the county seat. It has banking facilities, all the main lines of mercantile enterprise, express and telegraph offices, and a money order postoffice with one rural route. All the leading religious denominations are represented and have houses of worship, and the public schools are unexcelled. The population in 1910, according to the census report, was 250. Extracted 2002 by Carolyn Ward from Kansas: A Cyclopedia of State History, volume II, page 528.

Reece, a village of Greenwood county, is a station on the Missouri Pacific R. R. in Spring Creek township, 10 miles west of Eureka, the county seat. There are churches and schools, mercantile establishments, express and telegraph offices, and a money order postoffice with one rural route. The population, according to the 1910 census, was 100. Extracted 2002 by Carolyn Ward from Kansas: A Cyclopedia of State History, volume II, page 555.

Severy, formerly Gould, the third town in point of size and importance in Greenwood county, is located on Salt creek at the crossing of the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe and the St. Louis & San Francisco railroads, 16 miles south of Eureka, the county seat. It has 2 banks, a weekly newspaper (the Severyite), churches and schools. This is an important shipping point for live stock, grain, hay and produce. All lines of mercantile endeavor are represented. There are express and telegraph offices and an international money order postoffice with three rural routes. The population in 1910, according to the census report, was 608.

Severy was founded at the time the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe R. R. was built in 1879. It was the successor to the town of that name which had been started some years before, and lay a short distance to the south. The town was laid out by the Arkansas Valley Town company in January, and by April it had sufficient population to become incorporated. The first mayor was E. Ellingson. The first building on the town site was the combination store and residence of R. Dodds. The next was the blacksmith shop of A. R. Tomlinson. The first general store was built and opened by E. Ellingson. Other early business men were Stewart, liveryman; N. S. McDonald, physician; and H. C. Reece, attorney. The first hotel was opened in 1880 by Weir & Whittenhall. The Severy postoffice was first established about 2 miles west of the present town at the home of R. T. Bullock. Later it was moved to the old location of Severy and in 1879 to the new town. The first postmaster after its final location was R. Dodds.

The first religious organization was a Union Sunday school organized about 1879. The first church building was the Congregational, built in 1880 and 1881. The first school was established in 1882. The first newspaper, the Severy Pioneer, issued its initial number in March, 1880. Extracted 2002 by Carolyn Ward from Kansas: A Cyclopedia of State History, volume II, pages 671-672.

Tonovoy, a post-hamlet in Greenwood county, is located on the Missouri Pacific R. R. and is located in Bachelor township, 8 miles east of Eureka, the county seat. It has an express office and is a trading point for the neighborhood. The population in 1910 was 25. Extracted 2002 by Carolyn Ward from Kansas: A Cyclopedia of State History, volume II, page 811.

Virgil, a village of Greenwood county, is located on the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe R. R. and the Verdigris river in Lane township, about 20 miles northeast of Eureka, the county seat, and about 7 miles from Quincy. The town is supplied with telegraph and express offices and a money order postoffice with one rural route. Several of the leading religious denominations have church buildings, the schools are good, and the main lines of mercantile enterprise are well represented. The population according to the census report of 1910 was 173. Extracted 2002 by Carolyn Ward from Kansas: A Cyclopedia of State History, volume II, page 849.