Places - Osage KSGenWeb

2007 Kansas Dept. of Transportation

Populated Places

Arvonia, a little hamlet of Osage county, is in the township of same name, on the Marais des Cygnes river and about 12 miles southwest of Lyndon, the county seat. The people of Arvonia receive their mail by rural free delivery from Reading, which is the most convenient railroad station. Extracted 2002 by Carolyn Ward from Kansas: A Cyclopedia of State History, volume I, page 106.

Barclay, a village of Osage county, is a station on the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe R. R. 11 miles southwest of Lyndon, the county seat. It is supplied with express and telegraph offices and a money order postoffice with one rural route. The population in 1910 was 100. Extracted 2002 by Carolyn Ward from Kansas: A Cyclopedia of State History, volume I, page 151.

Burlingame, formerly the judicial seat of Osage county, is located northwest of the central part of the county, 16 miles from Lyndon and 26 miles south of Topeka, and is one of the important towns in that section of the state. The Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe R. R. from Topeka diverges at this point, one branch going to Emporia and the other to Alma. Potter's clay and coal are found in the vicinity and these, with live stock, grain and produce, form the chief shipments. There are three weekly papers, ample banking facilities, planing mill, electric lighting plant, churches, graded and high schools, an opera house and public halls. All the leading fraternities are represented. The town is well supplied with express and telegraph facilities and has an international money order postoffice with six rural routes. The population in 1910 was 1,422.

Burlingame is the oldest town in Osage county having been built up from the nucleus started under the name of Council City in 1855. In 1857 the site was surveyed which took in a larger area and the name was changed to Burlingame in honor of Anson Burlingame afterward minister to China. The name of the postoffice was not changed until Jan. 30, 1858, and later in the year the town company was organized. Being at the crossing of Switzler creek, Burlingame was the most important stop on the Santa Fe trail with the exception of Council Grove.

The trail formed the principal street of the town. Improvement was rapid from 1857 until the breaking out of the war. A bridge was put across the Switzler, saw mills and grist mills were built, and durable buildings, some of them of stone, were put up. In 1860 it was incorporated as a city by act of the legislature and became a city of the third class in 1870. Three years afterward the city hall with the records were burned. The first officers elected were: Mayor, Phillip C. Schuyler; councilmen, S. R. Caniff, George Bratton, F. P. Sheldon and Joseph McDonald. The next year the county seat was located here, and remained until 1875 when it was taken to Lyndon.

During the war growth was suspended. A large round fort was built in 1862 and a number of armed men stationed within to protect the town from destruction threatened by Bill Anderson, one of Quantrill's guerrilla band. As soon as peace was restored again business activity was renewed. A large three-story grist mill was built in 1866. The Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe R. R. reached Burlingame in 1869, and the event was duly celebrated by an excursion from Topeka on Oct. 4. Two destructive fires have occurred, one in 1873 and the other in 1883 the latter causing a property loss of $10,000. Extracted 2002 by Carolyn Ward from Kansas: A Cyclopedia of State History, volume I, pages 255-256.

Carbondale, one of the principal towns of Osage county, is located in Ridgeway township on the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe R. R. 16 miles north of Lyndon, the county seat. It has churches, public schools, banking facilities, and all the main lines of mercantile activity. A good quality of coal is mined in the vicinity. The town is supplied with express and telegraph offices and a money order postoffice with four rural routes. The population in 1910 was 461.

The town was founded in 1869 by a company composed of T. J. Peter, J. F. Dodds, C. P. Dodds and L. R. Adams. The first buildings were erected by the Carbon Coal company and consisted of houses for the miners and a store for provisions. The Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe R. R. had reached this point before the town was started, and mining was begun at once on the Dodds farm half a mile from the railroad. A postoffice was established and C. P. Dodds, the railroad agent, was made postmaster. He opened a store the next year and did a flourishing business. The growth of the town was very rapid for a time, several mines being in operation. In 1881 a tragedy occurred in connection with the burning of the shaft in W. L. Green's mine in which nine men lost their lives from suffocation and fire damp. Three of those who were killed belonged to the rescue party.

Carbondale was incorporated as a city of the third class on Oct. 15, 1872. The first mayor was C. C. Moore; clerk, A. V. Sparhawk; treasurer, J. R. Cowen; police judge, J. S. Conwell; marshall, E. Platt; councilmen, M. T. Perrine, E. W. Teft, George Mullan, S. S. Stackhouse and G. W. Luman. Extracted 2002 by Carolyn Ward from Kansas: A Cyclopedia of State History, volume I, pages 287-288.

Ellen is a little inland hamlet in Osage county, about 3 miles south of Lyndon, the county seat, whence it receives mail by rural route, and which is the nearest shipping point and railroad station. Extracted 2002 by Carolyn Ward from Kansas: A Cyclopedia of State History, volume I, page 576.

Lomax, a station at the junction of two lines of the Missouri Pacific R. R. in Osage county, is located 2 miles north of Quenemo, from which place it receives mail by rural delivery, and 10 miles east of Lyndon, the county seat. The population in 1910 was 25. Extracted 2002 by Carolyn Ward from Kansas: A Cyclopedia of State History, volume II, page 183.

Lyndon, the judicial seat of Osage county, is located in the central part of the county on Salt creek, and is a station on the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe and the Missouri Pacific railroads. It has 2 banks, 2 newspapers (the People's Herald and the Osage County Democrat), an opera house, flour mill, good public schools and churches. The chief shipments from this point are live stock, grain and produce. There are telegraph and express offices, and an international money order postoffice with four rural routes. The population in 1910 was 763.

The town was founded in 1869, immediately after the Sac and Fox Indian tribes gave up their possessions and the district was opened for settlement. M. M. Snow started a store, and when the postoffice was established in the fall of 1869 he was made postmaster. The next year a town company was formed, with Judge Lawrence D. Baily as president. The new town started off with a boom, but a depression followed when it experienced so much trouble in securing the county seat. Before the first year was out there were 20 business houses and over 500 population. The county seat election was held in October and Lyndon declared the victor. A long series of quarrels and legal battles followed until the people lost faith in Lyndon's prospects and withdrew their interests. Although the records were moved in 1875 it was not until 1878 that the matter was finally settled, and by this time other towns had such a start that Lyndon never regained its prestige. It was incorporated as a city of the third class in 1871, when the following officers were elected: Mayor, S. C. Gilliland; councilmen, W. H. Jenness, John S. Edie, William Haas, M. M. Snow and J. W. Hammond.

The first school was taught in 1870 by J. W. Watkins. The first sermon was preached the same year by a Baptist minister named Barker. The first birth occurred during that summer and the child was named Lyndon Smith. On Jan. 3, 1871, the first marriage took place, the contracting parties being L. D. Gardiner and Sarah E. Thomas. Extracted 2002 by Carolyn Ward from Kansas: A Cyclopedia of State History, volume II, pages 195-196.

Maxson, a discontinued postoffice in Agency township, Osage county, is located on the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe R. R. 10 miles southeast of Lyndon, the county seat, and about 6 miles northeast of Melvern, whence it receives mail by rural route. The population according to the census of 1910 was 40. Extracted 2002 by Carolyn Ward from Kansas: A Cyclopedia of State History, volume II, page 248.

Melvern, one of the incorporated towns of Osage county, is located in Melvern township on the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe R. R. and the Marais des Cygnes river, 10 miles south of Lyndon, the county seat. It has ample banking facilities, a weekly newspaper (the Review), good schools and churches, telegraph and express offices, and a money order postoffice with three rural routes. The population in 1910 was 505.

The town was laid out in 1870 by a town company consisting of S. B. Enderton, Charles Cochran, J. P. Ball, L. E. Warner, J. W. Beck, J. F. Want, J. M. Woods and Alexander Blake, and was named for Malvern Hills, Scotland. The prospects of a railroad made the immediate growth of the town very rapid. This was followed by a depression when the road failed to materialize within a reasonable time. In 1881 a terrific cyclone swept down the north side of the Marais des Cygnes river. It was a half mile in width and leveled everything in its path. Two men were killed and a great deal of property was destroyed. The first school was taught in 1870 by Miss Anna Want; the first birth occurred the same year and was that of Thomas M. Beck, son of Mr. and Mrs. J. W. Beck. The first marriage was between O. B. Hastings and Cecelia Wallace. The first death was that of Mary A. Huffman. The first store was opened about the time the town was founded, by Cochran & Warner, and the postoffice was established soon afterward with J. W. Beck postmaster. A flour mill was built the next year on the river by Asher Smith. Extracted 2002 by Carolyn Ward from Kansas: A Cyclopedia of State History, volume II, pages 264-265.

Michigan Valley, one of the villages of Osage county, is a station on the Missouri Pacific R. R. 10 miles northeast of Lyndon, the county seat. It has a number of mercantile establishments, a bank, good schools and churches, telegraph and express facilities, and a money order postoffice with one rural route. The population according to the government report of 1910 was 200. Extracted 2002 by Carolyn Ward from Kansas: A Cyclopedia of State History, volume II, page 277.

Olivet, one of the small towns of Osage county, is a station on the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe R. R., 12 miles south of Lyndon, the county seat. It has banking facilities and is a shipping point for a prosperous farming community. There are telegraph and express offices and a money order postoffice with one rural route. The population according to the census of 1910 was 200.

The town was located in 1869 by Rev. A. J. Bartels, a minister of the Swedenborgian church, who with J. R. Elder and C. P. Loricke were representing a stock company with a capital of $10,000 raised for the purpose of founding a town in Kansas. The first year saw considerable growth. William Haslam opened a store for general merchandise and drugs, H. J. Davis opened a hotel, Bartels & Munger started a sawmill and wagon and blacksmith shops were opened. The town was incorporated as a city of the third class, and a postoffice was established in 1870. Extracted 2002 by Carolyn Ward from Kansas: A Cyclopedia of State History, volume II, page 388.

Osage City, the largest town in Osage county, is located at the junction of the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe and the Missouri Pacific railroads, 8 miles west of Lyndon, the judicial seat. It has two weekly newspapers, banking facilities, an opera house, electric light plant, creamery, hotels, and all lines of mercantile enterprises are represented. There are a number of churches and good schools. The town is supplied with express and telegraph facilities, and being the railroad center of the county has superior shipping advantages. It is the most important coal mining town in this section of the state, and produces flagstone and ochre in commercial quantities. The population of Osage City, according to the census report of 1910, was 2,432.

The town was platted in Dec., 1869, after the route of the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe R. R. had been fixed. T. J. Peter, superintendent of that road, and John N. Witherell, who owned a part of the site, were the principal promoters. The first buildings were erected at once and the year 1870 saw a large growth in the new town. The first store was opened by Bothel & Ryus in January, and a hotel was built by John F. Dodds about the same time. In March the second store was opened by Drew & Playford and John A. Martin started a hardware store. A large two-story brick school house was built, but it was afterward blown down. The postoffice, which had been established at Onion creek in 1868, was moved to Osage City and the name changed in March. John F. Dodds was the first postmaster. The first coal mines were put into operation in the summer by the Osage Carbon and Coal Mining company. The town was incorporated as a city of the third class on April 1, 1872, and the first officers were: Mayor, John A. Martin; clerk and marshal, A. C. Sine; attorney, S. M. Barry; police judge, J. C. Williams; treasurer, T. J. Mathews; assessor, Samuel Reed; street commissioner, Samuel Slusser; councilmen, Samuel Slusser, W. H. Hobbs, Thomas Jenkins, T. J. Mathews and O. J. Sweadman. A severe windstorm swept the town in June, 1874, blowing down two churches, the school house and a number of barns and damaging several business houses and residences. In 1882 a general conflagration occurred which resulted in the destruction of business property to the extent of $35,000. Extracted 2002 by Carolyn Ward from Kansas: A Cyclopedia of State History, volume II, pages 395-396.

Overbrook, one of the thriving towns of Osage county, is located in Elk township on the Missouri Pacific R. R. 15 miles northeast of Lyndon, the county seat. It has a weekly newspaper (the Citizen), a bank, telegraph and express offices, an international money order postoffice with four rural routes, good schools and churches. It is one of the newer towns, having been founded in 1888. The population in 1910 was 575. Extracted 2002 by Carolyn Ward from Kansas: A Cyclopedia of State History, volume II, page 430.

Quenemo — According to a tradition of the Sauk Indians, some of the northern tribes, at some period far back in the past, raided their country and carried seven Sauk women into captivity. After carrying the prisoners far to the northward they liberated them to find their way back as best they could through the trackless forests and inhospitable snows. One by one they perished, the survivors subsisting upon the flesh of their dead sisters, until but one woman was left. That one gave birth to a male child, and in her anguish exclaimed, "Quen-e-mo!" the nearest English equivalent of which is, "Oh, my God!" Other translations are "Something hoped for," and "I am lonely."

The expression was adopted by the tribe as a name for one of the leading chiefs. The first to bear this name was born at Milan, Ohio. Altogether there have been six chiefs of this name, two of whom lived in Osage county, Kan., but there has never been but one Quenemo at a time. A town in Osage county bears this name.

Quenemo, one of the incorporated towns of Osage county, is located near the eastern line at the junction of the Missouri Pacific and the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe railroads. The latter diverges at this point, one branch going to Osage City and the other to Emporia. Quenemo is also on the Marais des Cygnes river, in Agency township, 11 miles east of Lyndon, the county seat. It has a weekly newspaper (the News), 2 banks, all lines of mercantile enterprise, good schools and churches, telegraph and express offices, and an international money order postoffice with four rural routes. Quenemo is an important shipping point for live stock, grain and farm produce. The population, according to the census of 1910, was 556.

For more than ten years before the founding of the town the Sac and Fox Indian agency was at this place, and the name Quenemo was the name of a celebrated Indian chief of those times. George Logan, the first white man at the agency, came in 1858. He was followed by William Whistler. The first building was erected by the government in 1860. It was located on what is now Third street and was used as a trading post, in which Perry Fuller did a profitable business. The next two buildings, which were residences, were built the same year and are still standing. In 1862 some 4,000 Indians, belonging to the Chickasaws, Choctaws, Creeks, Cherokees and Kickapoos, who were driven out of the Indian territory on account of their loyalty to the government, joined the Sacs and Foxes at the agency. This made trade brisk for the few merchants there. E. Olcott was at that time bookkeeper; Gov. Anderson, gunsmith; H. Huggins, government blacksmith; E. B. Fenn, physician; N. S. Brian, superintendent of the boarding house; Mrs. Craig was school teacher, and Rev. R. P. Duvall the missionary. In 1869 the lands were opened for settlement and a large number of claims were taken. New stores were opened by John Whistler, John C. and Alexander Rankin. Rev. Jesse Watkins organized a Methodist church. The next year the agency lands were laid off into lots and a town started. Among the promoters were Dr. Alfred Wiley, Warner Craig, John C. Rankin and William Whistler. They tried to secure a railroad, but the project fell through and the town was without shipping facilities until 1884, when train service was begun on the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe between Kansas City and Emporia. A depression followed the failure to secure a railroad, many people moved away and business houses failed. In 1878 a fire swept away nearly all that remained. Growth began again with the establishment of railroad connections and today Quenemo is a prosperous little town. The first newspaper, the "Quenemo Observer," was started in 1883 by George Rodgers. The first school was opened in 1871 in a fine brick school house and was taught by Miss Saylor. Extracted 2002 by Carolyn Ward from Kansas: A Cyclopedia of State History, volume II, pages 527-528.

Ridgeton, a station on the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe R. R. near the southern line of Osage county, is about 16 miles southwest of Lyndon, the county seat, and 4 miles from Olivet, from which place it receives mail by rural route. Extracted 2002 by Carolyn Ward from Kansas: A Cyclopedia of State History, volume II, page 583.

Ridgeway, a discontinued postoffice in the northern part of Osage county, receives its mail from Carbondale. It is one of the historic early day towns, but upon being missed by the railroads has dwindled to a mere hamlet. Extracted 2002 by Carolyn Ward from Kansas: A Cyclopedia of State History, volume II, page 583.

Rosemont, a station on the Missouri Pacific R. R. in Osage county, is located 19 miles southeast of Lyndon, the county seat. It has telegraph and express offices and a postoffice. The population in 1910 was 22. Extracted 2002 by Carolyn Ward from Kansas: A Cyclopedia of State History, volume II, page 608.

Scranton, one of the important towns of Osage county, is located in Scranton township on the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe R. R., 14 miles northwest of Lyndon, the county seat. It has a weekly newspaper (the Gazette), banking facilities, all lines of mercantile enterprise, good schools and churches. The chief occupations of the people are coal mining and agriculture. Coal, live stock, grain and produce are shipped. There are telegraph and express offices, and a money order postoffice with four rural routes. The population according to the census of 1910 was 770.

Scranton was started as a mining camp in 1871, when Alexander Thomas and O. H. Sheldon sank a shaft. The next year the Burlingame and Scranton Coal company was formed and until 1875 the interests of this company were the principal business of the town. The coal interests then began to be developed and several other shafts were sunk by companies and private individuals. Things went slowly until 1879 when there was a rush of capital to develop the coal industry, and in consequence the town grew very rapidly. By June, 1880, the population was 930 and the next year had reached 1,700. Scranton was incorporated as a city of the third class on Aug. 4, 1880. The first officers were: Mayor, J. M. Giddings; clerk and police judge, John R. Poe; treasurer, H. A. Sheldon; marshal, W. S. Challis; councilmen, Joseph Tomlinson, William Scott, James Ingram, Joseph Drake and Thomas Kelley.

The first birth and the first death was that of Madison Evans, son of Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Evans, who was born in Aug., 1872, and died in Dec., 1873. The first marriage was between Davis Williams and Mrs. Rebecca Stull in 1873. The first sermon was preached in the boarding house in 1872 by Rev. J. W. Stogdill. The school house was built in the same year and the first teacher was H. D. Porter. Extracted 2002 by Carolyn Ward from Kansas: A Cyclopedia of State History, volume II, pages 656-657.

Swissvale, a settlement of Swiss people in the northeastern part of Osage county, is located on the Missouri Pacific R. R. 17 miles from Lyndon, the county seat, and about 5 miles north of Overbrook, from which place it receives mail by rural route. Extracted 2002 by Carolyn Ward from Kansas: A Cyclopedia of State History, volume II, page 793.

Vassar, a small town in the central part of Osage county, is located in Junction township on the Missouri Pacific R. R., 7 miles northeast of Lyndon, the county seat. It has telegraph and express offices and a money order postoffice with one rural route. The population in 1910 was 75. Extracted 2002 by Carolyn Ward from Kansas: A Cyclopedia of State History, volume II, page 841.