Histories

In 1855, Richardson County was formed adjoining and west of Shawnee county in Eastern Kansas. Four years and marginal boundary changes later, Richardson was changed to Wabaunsee in honor of Wah-bahn-se, the Warrior Chief of the Potawatomi Tribe. (You can read about his life on the Kansas Collection website.) At the time, the northern quarter of the county included the southern portion of the Potawatomi Reserve.

In 1869, the Reserve was officially open for settlement, although their were already several thriving villages. The early years saw the typical county seat wars with Alma winning out over Eskridge, Newbury and Wabaunsee in 1871.

Like many counties in Kansas, the population of Wabaunsee county has risen and fallen. Today, the county has a population just under 7,000 (5,000 less than in 1900) with Alma having the largest population of about 800. There are a total of seven incorporated towns and about a half dozen unincorporated villages in 13 townships.

Early History of Wabaunsee County with Stories of Pioneer Days and Glimpses of our Western Border by Matt Thomson

Alma Salt Works, 1874 - this article appears on page 314

The News, of February 12, 1873, speaking of the Alma oil well said that it was yielding over one hundred barrels per day of oil and water. As Fred Link had poured but a pint of oil in the well be was digging at the Winkler hotel there is no risk in stating that it was mostly water.

But what was intended as a hoax resulted in the organization of the Alma Oil & Mining Company. A hole was drilled 585 feet in depth and a flowof strong brine reached. Analysis of this brine showed fifty pounds of salt to fifty-three and one-half gallons of water. The result was the Alma Salt Works. John Gibson went East and purchased a number of large kettles; two evaporating vats 16x112 feet were constructed; a brick smoke stack sixty feet in height was built and from thirty to fifty barrels of pure, white salt was the daily output. But mismanagement or an undue interest in outside matters resulted in closing down the plant. It was afterwards leased to S. T. Wright, but the lack of funds prevented the proper development of an industry that may yet prove a bonanza at some time In the near future, That the brine is sufficient in quantity and strength to justify a judicious investment seems apparent.

Residences

Early History of Wabaunsee County with Stories of Pioneer Days and Glimpses of our Western Border by Matt Thomson

	section	leaflet
Arndt, Herman	16	8

Barnes, J. B	13	10
Bisbey, J. M	14	3
Barlow, J N	16	6
Blanc, Frank	17	4
Bell, Andrew .	18	3

Cornell, G. G	16	9
Carroll, C. E	14	9
Cassidy, J. B	15	3
Clayton, D. P	16	8

Davis, C. L	15	9
Dierking, Fred	10	1
Drebing, Wm	17	3
Droege, Gus	17	5
Dieball, Albert	15	10
Dieball, Wm	16	3

Fix, J. R.	15	10
Fix, Michael (First)	18	2
Fairfield, S. H	16	1

Grimin, Henry	16	7
Gillis, G. W.	16	15

	section	leaflet
Horne, Wm., Jr .	9	4
Horne, Wm., Sr	17	10
Holman, Pete	10	6
Henderson, J. C	15	6
Henderson, J. R	15	7
Hund, Moritz.	15	6
Hess, Otto	17	3
Hanson, August	17	2

Janes, M. W	16	14

Kinne, C. 0	15	2
Kuenzli, C	17	6

Mitchell, J. J.	5	8
Mainey, Thomas	7	7
Melrose, W. H	10	6
Meinhardt, August	10	1
Meseke, A. H ..	14	7
Meyer, Mrs. E	15	5
Meyer's, (Mrs., E.) Store	5	10
Maas, William	16	7
McMahan, J. H	15	9
Mears, Andrew	16	9
Michaelis, J. H.	16	1
Muckenthaler, Joseph	16	1

Naylor, J. W	18	3

Ronnau, Henry	12	8
Reuter, Fred	15	3
Rickershauser, Wm	15	8
Rickershauser, Frank	17	6

	section	leaflet
Stuewe, P. and A	9	1
Stuewe, John	15	8
Schmidt, Frank	10	5
Schwalm. John	17	8
Stratton, C	10	1
Spielman, T. S	14	9
Sutherland, George	15	5
Sturdy, E	15	7
Schroeder, Gus	15	8
Strowig, Robert	15	8
Strowig, A R	16	10
Shaw, S. D.	16	2
Sanford, E. H	17	7
Schewe, Anton	17	1
Steinmeyer, Carl	18	7

True, A. E	10	2