According to "Seventy Years in Norton County, Kansas" by D. N. Bowers, "Dellvale was platted as South Oronoque by John K. Gray and Pheobe E. Gray, his wife, on September 18, 1888 and filed for record on September 18. The Rock Island Railroad went through here in 1888, and as trading centers were being established about ten miles apart, John M. Gray gave ten acres on the west side of the road, and Jim Huff the same amount on the east side, since this spot was approximately 10 miles west of Norton. Frank Gilder moved a building here from Lenora and put in a stock of general merchandise. Emereth Wray, who came here in 1879, was the next in line. He was followed by Andy Maxwell, who served the community until his retirement in 1919. He lives with a son in Cheyenne, Wyoming at the present time. M. A. Davis, whose father came here in 1878, took over from Mr. Maxwell and continued until he moved his interests to Rexford. In 1926, James McMullen established a business, which he continued until his death in 1937. M. A. Davis is again in business here in the store and elevator, and his son, Dale is the present postmaster. Sam Paxton operated the first and only hotel in Dellvale, which was regularly patronized by Rock Island train crews for more than twenty years." ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ According to Kansas Post Offices by Robert W. Baughman, Dellvale post office was established in 1890 and the first postmaster was Frank E. Gilder. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ "The History of the Early Settlement of Norton County, Kansas" by F. M. Lockard says that Emereth Wray was appointed postmaster at Dellvale by President Harrison. Benjamin Harrison was elected in 1888, so Wray's appointment must have been between 1889 and 1893. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The 1916 Historical Edition of the Norton County News says, "Dellvale, a village in Leota township, is on the Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific R. R., eight miles southwest of Norton. It has a money order post office with two rural routes, a telegraph and express office and a grain elevator; according to the last census it had a population of 31. Mr. Maxwell runs the general store."

According to Kansas Post Offices by Robert W. Baughman, Dallas existed from 04 Sep 1879 to 04 Nov 1885. The first postmaster was Ira S. Hall and the name was changed to Oronoque. Oronoque existed until 1934. (more info on Oronoque later, as I'm attempting to research these places in alphabetical order) I don't have any information on where Dallas was located, or why it was named Dallas. But it must have been somewhere near Oronoque, 8 miles west of Norton. "Seventy Years in Norton County" by D. N. Bowers also makes a reference to a Slater PostOffice in this area. "There was an attempt to establish a postoffice, known as the Slater PostOffice, one and one-half miles east of Oronoque. This was discontinued when the town of Oronoque was established." "The History of the Early Settlement of Norton County, Kansas" by F. M. Lockard says there was a Church of God, or Winebrennerians organized at Dallas in the early 80's by Elder Forncrook, but since 1890 had been without a regular minister. [Winebrennerians are members of a German sect which was founded by John Winebrenner of Pennsylvania. See http://www.mun.ca/rels/restmov/texts/believers/gossardjwfrb/JWFRB.HTM for more information about him personally and his doctrine. There are some similarities with the Dunkard faith. If anyone has information about Dallas, please let us all know. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ According to Kansas Post Offices by Robert W. Baughman, David existed from 16 May 1887 and was discontinued 15 May 1889. The first postmaster was David N. Reed. This one really baffles me - I find no references whatsoever to David (location) or David N. Reed. ANY clues would be welcome!

Hi everyone I just added a couple of photos to my web page. In the Norton County history section, see photos of the old courthouse and a Norton city school. If anyone knows anything more about this school, I would appreciate hearing about it. It doesn't look like the same building as the Norton County High School shown in the Bowers book, unless this was before the addition of four rooms and a gym in 1907. http://www.incolor.inetnebr.com/agrimes/

As nearly as I can tell from the information I currently have, Devizes was located in northwestern corner of Rock Branch township. The Devizes cemetery is in the E 1/2 of the NE 1/4 Sec 7 Township 1 South, Range 24 West. Devizes Post Office was established 04 March 1874 and discontinued 15 April 1926. The first postmaster was Reuben Bisbee, Sr. Devizes townsite was platted August 7, 1889 and the plat was filed 04 Jan 1890 by Reuben and Lucinda Marvin. "The name Devizes is associated with the early history of the county. The first settlement near this point was made in December 1872, when Henry Zimmerman and Herbert Shaw, coming from the east, settled on claims one mile west of where Devizes is now located." p. 6 & 7, Seventy Years in Norton County by D. N. Bowers. "John Dermott (Demott in other sources) settled on the land where the store stands in December 1872. The second mercantile business established in the community was operated in a log shanty near where the mill was built by Bates and Lindsey in 1877. The postoffice was moved here after the little village was started. Devizes was a community center for years and became a lively trading center during the 1890's. The mill was patronized by farmers living in distant parts of northwest Kansas and southern Nebraska. It burned down later and was never rebuilt." p. 164, Seventy Years in Norton County, Kansas by D. N. Bowers Devizes School was School District #17. The first school was taught by J. C. Pettyjohn during the fall and winter of 1878-79. The school house was built of sod and was located some distance west of where the present school house stands. Families mentioned by name in the Bowers book as settlers include: Marvin, Nelson, Railsback, Lindsey, Reuben Bisbee, G. W. Wray, R. F. Hudsonpillar (who came from Jewell County, KS - Ardie's note), I. P. Burke, Archie Hewett, Joseph Collins, Fred Foote, H. B. Hannum, George A. Hannum, Mary H. Deal, George C. Post, Michael O'Toole, father of John J. O'Toole who now resides in Norton, Peter Applegate, Ira Applegate, father of T. E. Applegate who now lives in Crystal township, and Homer Applegate, who lives in Rock Branch township. Patrons of Dist. 17 school during 1933-34 were McCall, Skiles, Beaty, Nelson, Magers and Gregory.

Ardie & Greg Love your work on old Kansas towns. Do you have anything on Devizes, Kansas. I have some pictures that are recent but I would like to find out about the area including the cemetary where some of my Shaw ancestors are burried. Ken -----Original Message----- From: Ardie & Greg Grimes <agrimes@inetnebr.com> To: KSNORTON-L@rootsweb.com <KSNORTON-L@rootsweb.com> Date: Sunday, April 23, 2000 8:27 PM Subject: [KSNORTON] Defunct Norton County towns - Croco >Croco Post Office was established 05 Sept 1881 and discontinued 08 June >1883. The first postmaster was James Blue. > >Croco is shown on the map included in William G. Cutler's History of the >State of Kansas, first published in 1883 by A. T. Andreas, Chicago, IL. >It is located in Rock Branch township in the northwestern part of the >county. See the map at >http://history.cc.ukans.edu/carrie/kancoll/graphics/maps/norton.htm > >I speculate that Croco was named for William H. Croco came to Norton >County in 1878 and was Sheriff from 1897 - 1899. He was under-sheriff at >the time F. M. Lockard's book "The History of the Early Settlement of >Norton County, Kansas" was published in 1894. > >If you have any further information on Croco, please share it with us >all. Thanks, Ardie > > >==== KSNORTON Mailing List ==== >To subscribe to the list, send a NEW e-mail >message to: KSNORTON-L-request@rootsweb.com or >KSNORTON-D-request@rootsweb.com (for digest mode) >with only one word in the body: subscribe > >============================== >Free Web space. ANY amount. ANY subject. >RootsWeb's Freepages put you in touch with millions. >http://cgi.rootsweb.com/cgi-bin/acctform.cgi >

Croco Post Office was established 05 Sept 1881 and discontinued 08 June 1883. The first postmaster was James Blue. Croco is shown on the map included in William G. Cutler's History of the State of Kansas, first published in 1883 by A. T. Andreas, Chicago, IL. It is located in Rock Branch township in the northwestern part of the county. See the map at http://history.cc.ukans.edu/carrie/kancoll/graphics/maps/norton.htm I speculate that Croco was named for William H. Croco came to Norton County in 1878 and was Sheriff from 1897 - 1899. He was under-sheriff at the time F. M. Lockard's book "The History of the Early Settlement of Norton County, Kansas" was published in 1894. If you have any further information on Croco, please share it with us all. Thanks, Ardie

Colony is simply another name for Rockwell City. It was called Colony because there was a Dunkard colony there.

http://www.twsu.edu/library/specialcollections/kp-over-Norton.html

Do you have any marriage info for the Simmons family members? I'm looking for a connection of the Simmons family in Norton with the Fleshman family of Portage Co., OHIO in the early 1900's. My father's uncle talked about visiting the cousins in Kansas. There could possibly be a Brohammer in the mix, too. They seemed to be located in Overbrook, KS. (Willow Springs Twp.) I found them in the 1880 Kansas Census. Thanks a lot, Barbara, Punta Gorda, FL Ardie & Greg Grimes wrote: > > I have an index to marriage records for 1873 - 1890, but nothing for > this time period. Does anyone else out there have access to marriage > records? Ardie > > ARNOLD ELLIS wrote: > > > > I am looking for help on finding some information on John Warren Ellis and > > the marriage to Winnie Estella Holeman Sinclair, They had three sons. Ray > > Holman Ellis, born 13 July 1908 Leo James Ellis born 27 July 1910 and Vale > > Owen Ellis born 23 February 1916. > > > > > > ==== KSNORTON Mailing List ==== > To subscribe to the list, send a NEW e-mail > message to: KSNORTON-L-request@rootsweb.com or > KSNORTON-D-request@rootsweb.com (for digest mode) > with only one word in the body: subscribe > > ============================== > Join the RootsWeb WorldConnect Project: > Linking the world, one GEDCOM at a time. > http://worldconnect.genealogy.rootsweb.com/

I have an index to marriage records for 1873 - 1890, but nothing for this time period. Does anyone else out there have access to marriage records? Ardie ARNOLD ELLIS wrote: > > I am looking for help on finding some information on John Warren Ellis and > the marriage to Winnie Estella Holeman Sinclair, They had three sons. Ray > Holman Ellis, born 13 July 1908 Leo James Ellis born 27 July 1910 and Vale > Owen Ellis born 23 February 1916. > >

I am looking for help on finding some information on John Warren Ellis and the marriage to Winnie Estella Holeman Sinclair, They had three sons. Ray Holman Ellis, born 13 July 1908 Leo James Ellis born 27 July 1910 and Vale Owen Ellis born 23 February 1916. ----- Original Message ----- From: <KSNORTON-D-request@rootsweb.com> To: <KSNORTON-D@rootsweb.com> Sent: Sunday, 16 April, 2000 8:37 PM Subject: KSNORTON-D Digest V00 #13

Old Clayton was established about 1877 by John Cameron and sons 1 mile north of the present site of Clayton. It consisted of the Cameron Store, a post office, and the Seymour Salisbury Hotel. A sod house used for church services was erected in 1879. A Presybterian minister from Oberlin was the first pastor to preach in the sod church. The first school was held in this same sod church. During 1881- 1884 several frame houses were built. E. L. Pease built a store room used as a variety store and later as the Post Office. A well was dug in the center of the main street intersection. During the summer of 1888 the Rock Island Railroad completed the railroad west to Colby. It followed along the south side of the Prairie Dog Creek. It was considered advantageous to move Old Clayton south to the railroad in the Prairie Dog valley. The plat for the new town of Clayton was filed on March 7, 1888 by the Kansas Town and Land Company, M. A. Low, president, on land purchased from John Pathamor. The first residence was built by John Diemer, Sr., a section foreman. The second house was built by Frank and Robert Vessey and used for a time as a boarding house and hotel. Seymour Salisbury built a large square hotel which was a popular hostelry for several years. The first store building was erected by Frank Castle and Dr. John W. Thomas. One side was used for hardware and the other side for drugs. Hebrew and Hebrew operated the first general store and Mr. McKee the first bank. L. B. Hixon opened a blacksmith shop. E. L. Pease moved the post office from Old Clayton. A United Brethren Church and also the first school building in New Clayton was erected in 1889. Businesses in Clayton in 1916 included G. W. Bressler Real Estate and Insurance; Clayton Co-Operative association, N. G. Kelley Mercantile; Dr. Don Smith, physician & druggist, oculist and aurist; B. Rowh, harness shop; Perry Norris, photographer; J. O. Murry, hotel and livery; Harley Greenlee, barber; F. A. Rice, restaurant; J.E. Rule, grain & coal; W. C. Bracken, grain & livestock; Chicago Lumber & Coal, managed by Vern Yount; The State Bank of Clayton, Jake Brooks, president; and Eakin Brothers, Pioneer Store (general mdse). Clayton was incorporated as a city of the Third Class on February 4, 1907. Clayton's population in 1941 was 124.

Cheeseman Post Office was established 05 Dec 1879 and discontinued 23 March 1882. First postmaster was John Wallace. I speculate that this was located somewhere near Sec. 17 Twp 5 S, Range 23 W (near Lenora) where G. N. Cheeseman settled.

The first settlement made here was called Neighborville. The Neighborville Post Office was established in 15 Feb 1875 and Abraham Bieber was appointed the first postmaster, but died before his commission arrived. Charles D. Bieber was appointed postmaster to fill the vacancy. Neighborville Post Office was discontinued 10 Apr 1882. Calvert Post Office was established 01 September 1885 and discontinued 31 October 1953. Calvert is located in Sec 25, Twp 2 S, Range 22 W. The plat for Calvert townsite was filed 16 Jan 1888 at the time the Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Railroad was built through. The plat has the names of: The Kansas Town and Land Company, James VanNotric, Drazilla VanNotric his wife, Charles D. Bieber and Eliza B. Bieber his wife. The Seth townsite plat was filed 13 Sept 1887 and signed by David F. and Ida H. McFarland. There is no evidence to suggest that Seth had a post office. There was a railway depot and stockyards, and perhaps a few businesses. At one time Calvert had a newspaper, The Calvert Gazette published by Messrs. Rhanny and Felt. The Gazette for May 9, 1889 - Feb. 5, 1890 is available on microfilm from the Kansas State Historical Society. It is Reel # A 1341. Check their web site for further information on how to order this film. http://www.kshs.org/resource/illpoli.htm An article in the Norton County News Historical Edition of 1916 states, "The town of Calvert was known as Neighborville until the Burlington built through (1885), and because the name was too long, they wished to change it, and without consulting anyone, they named it Seth. This caused dissatisfaction, and the residents suggested the name 'Calvert' after an official of the Burlington, but this the Burlington refused to accept. At the time A. K. Mills was register of deeds and when the Rock Island was built through, Mr. Dotta, general right of way agent, came into Mr. Mills office and showed him a plat of the road and wished to record it. The plat gave the name 'Seth' and Mr. Mills told him that the name was unsatisfactory and that the people wished it called Calvert and offered to record it free if Mr. Dotta would change it. This he did and while for years the Burlington still called it Seth on their time tables, they were finally forced to change it to Calvert." (Yes, Calvert was served by both the Burlington and Rock Island railroads!) In this same article, in 1916 Calvert had a Presbyterian church, a Methodist Church, a lumber yard owned by M. August Pache and a general mercantile store owned by H. S. Bryant, who also was postmaster and in the real estate business. According to "The WPA Guide to 1930's Kansas", "Calvert...lies in the center of extensive deposits of volcanic ash, or powdered lava, used in the manufacture of glass, scouring powders, and in glazing china and porcelain. Calvert ships 500 carloads of pulverized silica annually. Steam shovels scoop up the pure white sileceous material occurring in layers some 18 feet thick just under the surface of the hills that rise rather abruptly south of the village." In 1942, according to D.N. Bowers book, "Seventy Years in Norton County" Calvert boasted a church, a two-room school, lumber yard, store and facilities for mining and shipping silica. Does anyone know if silica is still shipped from Calvert?

If anyone is interested this item is offered for sale on ebay http://cgi.ebay.com/aw-cgi/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=303443854 Norton Lodge, No. 199, A.F. & A. M.; organized in August, 1880. First W. M., Albert Graves. Present officers: Albert Graves, W. M.; W. R. Cannon, S. W.; John Randolph, J. W.; J. King, Treasurer; Samuel Means, Secretary; Frank Lockard, Senior Deacon; J. W. Vining, Junior Deacon; Samuel Will, Tiler. Regular meetings on the first Wednesday of each month, in Masonic Hall. There are thirty-five members attached to the lodge. (from Cutler's History of Kansas, 1883) I'm sorry, I don't know what the initials stand for.

These are from the Special Collections at Wichita State University: http://www.twsu.edu/~scwww/kp-Norton.html http://www.twsu.edu/library/specialcollections/sh-Norton.html http://www.twsu.edu/~scwww/kp-Almena.html http://www.twsu.edu/~scwww/kp-Clayton.html I have been posting some Densmore history at my personal web page http://www.incolor.inetnebr.com/agrimes/ Hope you enjoy! Ardie

Cactus was established as a Post Office on 22 June 1874 and discontinued on 22 Sept 1887; re-established on 28 Nov 1898 and discontinued 14 Oct 1903. The first postmaster was William Grant. Cactus was located at SE 1/4 NW 1/4 Sec 25, Twp 3 S, Range 21 W4. D. N. Bowers book, "Seventy Years in Norton County, Kansas" says: "The Cactus Valley. Cactus Creek is a tributary to the North Fork of the Solomon River and traverses the eastern part of the county through parts of Grant and Lincoln Townships. The stream gets its name from the numerous wild cactus growing throughout the valley. The Star Cactus with its rose pink flowers, and the Prickly Pear with great clusters of wax like flowers are numberous on the pasture land in teh valley. The soil is fertile and has been devoted to agriculture and stock raising since the 1870's. The Cactus Post Office was established in 1874. William Grant came to Norton County in 1873 and he was the first postmaster. Cactus Free Methodist Church. Rev. Cyrus Archer of Densmore, Kansas and Rev. G. Delimont of Stamford, Nebraska, conducted a revival meeting at the Cactus School House in about the year 1900. As a result of this meeting a class was organized and regular preaching services established in the school house. On January 17, 1917, Dana N. Hewitt and Eva Hewitt, his wife, deeded a tract of land, which is a part of the SW 1/4 of Sec 2, Twp 4 S, Range 21 West, to the church for a site for the church. The church was erected at a cost of approximately $3,000 and dedicated in 1917. Trustees at the time the church was built were: Rev. Sherman Archer, C. W. Minor, W. H. Sides, Dana Hewitt and John Karnopp." The Cactus Church is still standing today. It is being used as a farm storage building.

is currently being offered on ebay. Anyone have an ancestor who attended this convention or was elected? Take a look at http://cgi.ebay.com/aw-cgi/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&tc=ps&item=303454314 ********************************************************************************* 1892 county officers from Seventy Years in Norton County, Kansas by D. N. Bowers Representative - W. L. Kerr, 1892 Commissioner, Dist 1 - J. H. Ireland, 1890 - 1893 , Dist 2 - C. E. Hatcher, 1891 - 1894 , Dist 3 - W. H. Hendricks, 1892 - 1895 County Clerk - Jesse S. Wright, 1889 - 1891 - D. W. Grant, 1893 - 1895 County Treasurer - N. L. Johnson, 1889 - 1891 - W. H. Hollenshead, 1893 - 1895 Supt. of Schools - F. H. Baker, 1892 - 1894 Register of Deeds - J. C. Newell, 1889 - 1891 Probate Judge - W. S. Gray, 1890 - 1892 Clerk of Dist. Court - Dan Hart, 1890-1892 County Attorney - Charles D. Jones, 1890 - 1892 Sheriff - Henry Joint, 1887 - 1891 - George B. Betterton, 1893 - 1895 Coroner - E. M. Turner, 1882 - 1904 Surveyor - C. H. Starrett, 1891 - J. C. Newell, 1893 - 1908

Bower was established as a Post Office on 22 Jan 1885 and discontinued on 20 Feb 1889. The first postmaster was John R. Smith. I have no further information on location, etc. Brett was established as a Post Office on 07 June 1880, discontinued 10 April 1882, re-established 18 Feb 1884 and discontinued again on 18 Oct 1887. The first postmaster was John T. Pool. I have no further facts, but speculate that this office may have been located in the SW part of the county; a J. S. Pool settled there about 1878.

Birkville Post Office was established 19 May 1897 and discontinued 20 Jan 1904. The first postmaster was William A. Birkholz. William A. Birkholz was the son of Grant township pioneers, John F. and Wilhelmina Roeder Birkholz. He was married to Martha Suhr and they had one son, Ezra. Both William and Ezra were both blacksmiths. Ezra rented his blacksmith shop in Edmond, and left for Colorado about August 1920. I would like to contact descendants of this family, if there are any out there. According to the D.N. Bowers book, Seventy Years in Norton County, Kansas: "The Birkville M.E. Church was located on the southwest quarter of Sec 9, Tpw 3 S, Range 21 W, two miles south of the junction of K-60 with US 36. J. R. Thompson and M. B. Thompson, his wife, deeded to: A. Altman, C. W. Bisbee, S. Work, G. L. Barr, D. A. Morgan, J. R. Thompson and M. B. Thompson, trustees of the Mt. Olive M. E. Church, the land where the church was built. The church was destroyed by fire in the Spring of 1918. The Birkville Townsite was located across the section line south on Sec 16, Twp 3 S, Range 21 West. At one time Birkville consisted of a store, post office, feed mill, blacksmith shop, church and parsonage. The church and parsonage burned and the other buildings have been moved away. The church burned in 1918 and the store closed about 1920."