Places - Neosho County KSGenWeb genealogy, family history

2011 Neosho County
Kansas Dept. of Transportation

1931 School Districts

District #. Name

BIG CREEK TOWNSHIP

4. Big Creek
10. Grady
50. Rush
59 Cremona
79 Leanna
89 Bowman
95 Garfield
98 Prairie Queen

CANVILLE

44 Rural
54 Austin
66 Union Valley
81 Summit Hill
86 Little Friend
88 Turkey Creek
94 Earlton

CENTERVILLE

15 Ogesse
28 Olive Branch
34 Doane
39 Dodd
52 Excelsior
53 Centerville
67 Maple Park
69 Meeker
78 Galesburg

CHETOPA

12 Urbana
25 Abbott
64 Brewster
65 Long Mound
68 Prairie Queen
73 North Center
84 Thayer
87 Post

ERIE

5 Erie
6 Shaw
7 Seven
8 Beacon Hill
9 Piatt
13 South Valley
24 Barney
83 Star
99 Rollin

GRANT

23 Mt. Zion
49 Clover Dell
70 Stark
76 Kimball
77 Oak Grove
80 Orcutt
90 Midway

LADORE

35 Sand Hill
36 Valley
37 Ladore
60 Danville
63 Catalpa
82 Sunnyside

LINCOLN

11 Jacksonville
19 Valley Center
20 Oak Grove
22 Mentor
30 Lakeview
38 Union
91 Island
92 South Mound

MISSION

14 St. Paul Public
16 Lone Elm
26 O'Dell
29 Liberty
40 Bloomer
41 Moriarity
43 Brogan
93 St. Francis

SHILOH

31 Liberty
32 Plainfield
33 Oak Grove
57 Hazel Dell
61 Fairview
71-72 Morehead
74 South Center
85 Sapp
97 New Hope

TIOGA TOWNSHIP

1. Harmony
2. Chanute
3. Union
45. North Valley
62. Bunker Hill
96. Swede Center
27. Neosho Valley

WALNUT GROVE

17 Science Hill
18 Hylton
21 Bethel
42 Shellenbarger
46 Fairview
47 Prairie View
48 Spring Branch
55 Pleasant ridge
56 Salem (later-Hilton)
58 Valley
75 Cleveland

Populated Places

Austin, a station on the Missouri, Kansas & Texas R. R., in Neosho county, is located in Canville township, 11 miles northwest of Erie, the county seat, and 4 miles from Chanute from whence it receives mail daily by rural delivery. Extracted 2002 by Carolyn Ward from Kansas: A Cyclopedia of State History, volume I, page 120.

Boudinot Mission. This mission was established under the direction of the Presbyterian church among the Osage Indians in 1824, in what is now Neosho county. It was located on the Neosho river, near the mouth of Four Mile creek. After doing good work for over a decade it was abandoned in 1837. Extracted 2002 by Carolyn Ward from Kansas: A Cyclopedia of State History, volume I, page 212.

Chanute, the largest town in Neosho county and one of the most important in southeastern Kansas, is located on the Neosho river in Tioga township at the junction of the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe and the Missouri, Kansas & Texas railroads, 14 miles northwest of Erie, the county seat. It is a gas, oil and manufacturing center, having the largest oil and gas wells in the state located in the immediate vicinity. Some of the industries are car repair shops, of which the monthly pay roll exceeds $40,000, brick and tile works, cement plants, zinc smelter, glass factories, flour mills, oil refinery, planing mill, gas engine works, boiler works, egg case factory, machine shops, broom factories, torpedo manufactory, an ice plant, drilling tool factory and lime plant. Chanute has an electric light plant, city waterworks, good fire and police departments, an opera house, 4 banks, 4 newspapers, fine church buildings and excellent schools. Several oil and gas companies have their headquarters at this point. There are express and telegraph offices and an international money order postoffice with six rural routes. The population in 1910 was 9,272.

In 1870 when the Leavenworth, Lawrence & Galveston R. R. (now the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe) crossed the Missouri, Kansas and Texas line within the limits of Neosho county four rival towns sprang up, in the vicinity of the junction. They were New Chicago, Chicago Junction, Alliance and Tioga. Two years of the most bitter animosity ensued until the four were consolidated in 1872, and the name of Chanute given it in honor of Octavius Chanute, a railroad civil engineer. The business buildings of the other three towns were all moved to New Chicago and this location forms the business section of Chanute at the present time. At the time of the consolidation the combined population was 800. The next year the town was incorporated as a city of the third class New Chicago, which was the largest of the four, had been organized as a town in 1870 and incorporated as a city of the third class in 1871, with C. A. Dunakin as mayor. The New Chicago postoffice was established in 1870 with a Mr. Moore postmaster. The first school house in the vicinity was a large, expensive building located in the south end of New Chicago. A bridge was built over the Neosho about 1871, which the citizens of New Chicago managed to have placed in a position to their own advantage.

In 1883 the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe R. R. extended its line from Chanute to Pittsburg, thus connecting the town with cheap fuel. This was followed by a general growth in business and population. A particular boom was experienced by the discovery of oil and gas. The Standard Oil company in 1897 built a pipe line from Benedict, 17 miles away, at a cost of $37,000, which was afterward purchased by the city of Chanute for $65,000. From this line the city derives considerable revenue.

The first newspaper established in Chanute after the consolidation was the Chanute Democrat which was started in 1879 by Bowen & Rite. There were two papers before the consolidation, the New Chicago Transcript, established in Sept., 1870, by George C. Crowther, and the New Chicago Times, established in 1872 by A. L. Rivers, the name being later changed to Chanute Times. Extracted 2002 by Carolyn Ward from Kansas: A Cyclopedia of State History, volume I, pages 309-310.

Earleton, one of the thriving little towns of Neosho county, is located in Canville township on the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe R. R. 12 miles west of Erie, the county seat. All lines of business are represented, including banking. There is an express office and a money order post office with two rural routes. The population in 1910 was 250. Earleton was founded by J. C. Lantz in 1870, in the interests of the railroad company, which was supposed to own the land. Mr. Lantz was the first postmaster and kept the first store. The growth of the town was retarded by litigation for the title of the land and little was done in the way of building until the matter was settled in 1876. In 1877 several new business enterprises sprang up, a depot was erected and the town started on its career. Extracted 2002 by Carolyn Ward from Kansas: A Cyclopedia of State History, volume I, pages 556-557.

Erie, the judicial seat of Neosho county, is located 3 miles east of the geographical center of the county, a little north of the Neosho river, and at the junction of the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe and the Missouri, Kansas & Texas railroads in Erie township. It is lighted and heated by natural gas, which is found in the vicinity. Among its business enterprises are sawmills, flour mills, grain elevators, a creamery, oil refinery, canning factory, 2 banks, 2 weekly newspapers, and numerous mercantile establishments. It has express and telegraph offices and an international money order post office with five rural routes. The population in 1910 was 1,300.

Erie was founded in 1866 as a compromise between two rival towns in the vicinity—"Old Erie" and Crawfordsville. In November of that year, the two towns having both been abandoned, a new site was selected and a town company formed by D. W. Bray, Luther Packet, Peter Walters and J. F. Hemilwright. A dozen others were admitted to membership later. The first house built was a log cabin by Mrs. Elizabeth E. Spivey. The building was afterward used as a school house and church, for a boarding house, and for various other purposes in the early days. The first store was erected by Dr. C. B. Kennedy, Dr. A. F. Neely and J. C. Carpenter in 1867, and the same year a hotel was erected by J. A. Wells. The first residence was put up by Virgil Stillwell. Carpenter & Porter opened the first law office early in 1868. The postoffice was established in 1866, with A. H. Roe as postmaster, and was moved to the new town in 1867. The first child born was Byron C. Wells, son of J. A. and Matilda Wells. In July, 1868, the county offices were moved to Erie. After a contest lasting several years the county seat was permanently located at Erie by a decision of the supreme court in 1874.

The early growth of Erie was remarkable. It developed from a single log house in 1867 to a town of 800 inhabitants in 1869, and this in spite of the extreme difficulty of obtaining lumber and other building materials. Its growth was checked by a destructive fire in 1872, and by a cyclone which swept the county the next year. The combined financial loss to Erie was $20,000. A depression followed and the town dwindled to 300 inhabitants, due to having no railroad. However, when the Atchison, Topeka & Santa built a line, running east and west in 1863, the town began to show prosperity again. New brick buildings were erected and new enterprises started. In 1887 the Missouri, Kansas & Texas R. R. running north and south was built through Erie. In 1899 the Erie Gas and Mineral company was formed, which drilled and discovered oil and gas. The telephone exchange was added to the conveniences in 1901.

Erie was organized by a decree of the probate court in 1869, and the following men were appointed trustees: J. A. Wells, G. W. Dale, John McCullough, Isaac M. Fletcher and Douglas Putnam. The trustees met on Dec. 30 of that year and declared the place a city of the third class. J. A. Wells was elected mayor and appointed all the other officers. The first newspaper was the Neosho County Record, established in 1876 by George W. McMillin. Extracted 2002 by Carolyn Ward from Kansas: A Cyclopedia of State History, volume I, pages 596-597.

Galesburg, an incorporated city of Neosho county, is located in Centerville township, on the Missouri, Kansas & Texas R. R., 10 miles southwest of Erie, the county seat. It has a bank, telegraph and express offices, and a money order postoffice with two rural routes. The population in 1910 was 183. The land on which the town was located was taken up by a Mr. Tracy for a town company of which the following were the personnel: J. W. Crees, David Bonham, E. Sapp, Levi A. Doan and J. W. Snyder. The first building was erected by William Young. J. W. Snyder built and opened the first store. The postoffice which belongs to this place was at first located at Rose Hill, about a mile south, but when the town was founded in 1871, it was moved to Galesburg. The first school was taught by Miss Parna Whittlesey in the winter of 1871-2, the school being held in the town hall. Extracted 2002 by Carolyn Ward from Kansas: A Cyclopedia of State History, volume I, page 706.

Hertha, a hamlet on the Missouri, Kansas & Texas R. R. in Neosho county, 6 miles south of Erie, the county seat. It has an express office and post office. The population in 1910 was 40. Extracted 2002 by Carolyn Ward from Kansas: A Cyclopedia of State History, volume I, page 840.

Island, an inland hamlet of Neosho county, is located in Lincoln township, about 12 miles southeast of Erie, the county seat, and about 8 from St. Paul, from which place it receives daily mail by rural route. Extracted 2002 by Carolyn Ward from Kansas: A Cyclopedia of State History, volume I, page 944.

Among the extinct towns, Jacksonville, on the corner where Neosho, Labette, Crawford and Cherokee counties join, had the distinction of having the first newspaper and printing office in the county. The paper was called the Neosho County Eagle and was printed in 1868. Later the office was moved to Erie. Extracted 2002 by Carolyn Ward from Kansas: A Cyclopedia of State History, volume II, page 349.

Kimball, one of the thriving little towns of Neosho county, is located in Grant township on the Missouri, Kansas & Texas R. R., about 8 miles northeast of Erie, the county seat. It has express and telegraph offices and a money order postoffice. The population in 1910 was 165. The plat was filed in May, 1888, under the name of Dalton, but the postoffice and station have always been called Kimball. Extracted 2002 by Carolyn Ward from Kansas: A Cyclopedia of State History, volume II, page 71.

Ladore, a station on the Missouri, Kansas & Texas R. R. near the southern boundary of Neosho county, is located in Ladore township 13 miles south of Erie, the county seat, and 5 miles south of Galesburg, whence it receives daily mail by rural route. The population in 1910 was 50. Had the early settlers been willing to part with their lands at a reasonable figure, the company which established the city of Parsons would have located their town at this point instead. The town was first called Fort Roach, in honor of J. N. Roach, its principal promoter. In the early days it was an important little town but gave way to Parsons after the latter was founded. Extracted 2002 by Carolyn Ward from Kansas: A Cyclopedia of State History, volume II, page 71.

Morehead, a village in the southwest corner of Neosho county, is in Shiloh township on the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe R. R. 20 miles southwest of Erie, the county seat. It has telegraph and express offices, several general stores, and a money order postoffice with one rural route. The population in 1910 was 150. One of the main business enterprises is the shop for the manufacture of the Smith detachable plowshare. Extracted 2002 by Carolyn Ward from Kansas: A Cyclopedia of State History, volume II, page 311.

Odense, a discontinued postoffice of Neosho county, is located 9 miles south of Erie, the county seat, whence it receives mail daily by rural delivery. It has about two dozen inhabitants. Extracted 2002 by Carolyn Ward from Kansas: A Cyclopedia of State History, volume II, page 383.

Rollin, a station on the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe R. R. in Neosho county, is located in Erie township, 8 miles northwest of Erie, the county seat, and 5 miles west of Shaw, from which place it receives mail. The population in 1910 was 24. Extracted 2002 by Carolyn Ward from Kansas: A Cyclopedia of State History, volume II, page 601.

Shaw, one of the villages of Neosho county, is located in Erie township on the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe R. R., 4 miles west of Erie, the county seat. It has telegraph and express offices, a good local trade, and a money order postoffice with one rural route. The population in 1910 was 125. Extracted 2002 by Carolyn Ward from Kansas: A Cyclopedia of State History, volume II, page 682.

South Mound, a hamlet of Neosho county, is located in Lincoln township on the Missouri, Kansas & Texas R. R., 11 miles south of Erie, the county seat. It has express and telegraph offices and a money order postoffice, which was established in the '70s with Y. T. Lacy as the first postmaster. The population of the town in 1910 was 62. Extracted 2002 by Carolyn Ward from Kansas: A Cyclopedia of State History, volume II, page 718.

St. Paul (formerly Osage Mission), the third largest town in Neosho county, is located in Mission township on the Missouri, Kansas & Texas R. R., about 6 miles southeast of Erie, the county seat. It is an incorporated city; has 2 weekly papers (the Journal and the A. H. T. A. News, the latter the organ of the Anti-Horse Thief Association), 2 banks, telegraph and express offices, and an international money order postoffice with three rural routes. The population in 1910 was 927.

In 1866, before the town was founded, two buildings were erected, one by L. P. Foster & Co., in which a store was kept by the "Morgan boys," and a frame structure, built by S. A. Williams, of Fort Scott, in which his son kept store. In Dec., 1867, a town company was formed, composed of George A. Crawford, S. A. Williams, C. W. Blair, Benjamin McDonald and John Nandier, and a town called Osage Mission was platted. Another town called "Catholic Mission" was located adjoining it on the west. Both towns put up buildings and started business enterprises, but Osage Mission soon absorbed the other.

The first lawyer to locate in town was C. F. Huchings in 1867, and the first doctor was A. F. Neeley. The early growth of the town was rapid. Within eight months from the time it was platted it had over 20 stores and 900 inhabitants. It was the center of three lines of stages, one to Fort Scott, one to Humboldt, and one to Chetopa. For several years this point was a strong rival of Erie for the county seat. The first bank, known as the Neosho County Savings Bank, was established in 1871, by Pierce & Mitchell. The first newspaper, The Neosho County Republican, was started in 1880 by F. W. Ward. The first school for white children was taught in 1867 by Anson Gridley.

The town was organized in 1869 as a city of the third class, with John O'Grady as mayor, B. P. Ayres, John Ryan, John Moffit, J. P. Morgan and R. D. Coggswell, councilmen. Prior to that time the town had been governed by a board of trustees, consisting of John Ryan, president; John Moffit, clerk; B. P. Ayres, T. C. Cory and R. D. Coggswell. Extracted 2002 by Carolyn Ward from Kansas: A Cyclopedia of State History, volume II, page 633.

Stark, one of the villages of Neosho county, is located in Grant township on the Missouri, Kansas & Texas R. R., 11 miles northeast of Erie. the county seat. It has a bank, several stores, telegraph and express offices, and a money order postoffice with one rural route. The population in 1910 was 191. Extracted 2002 by Carolyn Ward from Kansas: A Cyclopedia of State History, volume II, page 755.

Thayer, an incorporated town of Neosho county, is located in Chetopa township on the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe R. R. 14 miles southwest of Erie, the county seat. It has natural gas wells which yield gas in sufficient quantities for commercial purposes, 2 banks, a weekly newspaper (the News), telegraph and express offices, and an international money order postoffice with four rural routes. The population in 1910 was 542. The town was founded in 1870 by J. M. Walker, president of the railroad company. During the autumn of that year and the next winter hundreds came to the locality to get work on the railroad, which was then under construction. That winter the population reached 1,000, mostly men. The merchants who established stores at that time were H. L. Mills, George Weaver, W. W. Work, Holmes & Hindman, Fonts & Ingersoll, and a little later J. M. Halstead and the firm of Harris & Sax. H. M. Baldwin built a hotel and Thomas Thompson a hotel with a saloon. The first postoffice was at Prairie du Chien, hot it was moved to Thayer when the town was founded and A. I. Sherwood was the first postmaster. The first newspaper was the Thayer Criterion, started in 1871 by Perry & Olney. Extracted 2002 by Carolyn Ward from Kansas: A Cyclopedia of State History, volume II, page 755.

Urbana, a village of Neosho county, is located in Chetopa township on the Missouri, Kansas & Texas R. R., 10 miles west of Erie, the county seat. It has express and telegraph offices and a money order postoffice. The population in 1910 was 85. The town was founded by Dr. Peters, and replatted in 1870 by some parties who believed it had a great future. This little town is credited with more volunteers in the Spanish-American war than any other town of its size in the county. Extracted 2002 by Carolyn Ward from Kansas: A Cyclopedia of State History, volume II, page 839.