Shawnee County Directories
1884-1885 Gazetteer and Business Directory
For the section that includes the City of Topeka, go to this page.
SHAWNEE COUNTY. Situated in the northeastern portion of the State, is bounded on the north by Jackson county, on the east by Jefferson and Douglas, on the south by Osage, and on the west by Wabaunsee and Pottawatomie counties. Organized in 1855, it contains 558 square miles, of which about 168,000 are under cultivation. It ranks as the first county in Kansas in population and wealth, and the county seat, Topeka, is also the capital and the largest city in the State, having a population of 22,700. Coal is abundant, and is mined to some extent. A fine quality of limestone, gray, yellow and blue, is found in all parts of the county, and 18 extensively used in building. Fire clay is present under the coal measures, but is not et utilized. The railway facilities comprise the A., T. S. F., which enters the county in the northeast corner, passes through the capital and runs due south to the centre of the southern boundary, the K. C. br. of the same road running due east from Topeka. The K. div. of the U. P. Ry, runs through the county from east to west, following the valley of the Kansas river. The general surface is undulating, some portions adjoining the river being bluffy. Thirty-one per cent is bottom land,and there is about 8 per cent of timbered land. The Kansas river flows east through the county a little north of the centre, and the Wakarusa flows east through the extreme south, nearly parallel with the southern border. The tributaries of the Kansas, Cross, Beaubien, Soldier, Walnut, Day and Muddy creeks, with numerous other smaller branches, give a bountiful water supply. Springs are not numerous, but here are very valuable ones of a mineral character. The assessed valuation of the county is above $8,000,000. Population, June, 1883, 36,733.
AUBURN. Small place on the Wakarusa river, in the southwest part of Shawnee county, 15 miles south of Topeka the county seat, and 9 west of Wakarusa, on the A., T. S. F. R. R., from whence it receives a tri-weekly mail by stage; Anderson H. Padgitt, postmaster.
Brown J W, live stock.
Dycke Alexander, grain dealer.
Dycke J W, General Store.
Engle Frank, constable.
Fox W H H, justice of peace.
Leigh Charles, shoemaker.
Osborn Rev J W (Methodist).
Padgitt Anderson H, Drugs and Groceries.
Padgitt M A, general store.
Price J L, wagonmaker.
Spendlow P C, blacksmith.
Stahl Jerome, live stock.
Travis -, physician.
Tupple -, physician.
DOVER. A village on Mission creek, in Dover township, in the southwestern part of Shawnee county, 20 miles southwest of Topeka, the county seat, its nearest shipping point and bank location; it has Methodist, Baptist and Congregational societies and a public school. Ships live stock. Population, 50. It is on the tri-weekly mail stage route from Topeka to Eskridge. H. J. Loomis, postmaster.
KINGSVILLE. Two miles north of the Kansas river, in Silver Lake township, in the northwestern part of Shawnee county. It is a station on the K. div. of the U. P. Ry, 15 miles from Topeka, the county seat and nearest banking point. A Union church and a district school are here. Cattle, corn and hogs are shipped. Mail, daily.
MENOKEN. A village and station on Soldier creek, on the K. div. of the U. P. Ry, Mencken township, in the central part of Shawnee county, 5 miles northwest of Topeka, the county seat, its nearest banking point, and 71 from Kansas City; grain and live stock are shipped; mail, daily; D. K. Crandell, postmaster and grocer.
PAULINE. A small settlement and station on the A., T. S. F. R. R., in Topeka township, Shawnee county, 6 miles from Topeka, and 73 from Kansas City, Mo. It has a district school, and 25 inhabitants, and ships live stock; Tel, W. U. Exp, Pacific; mail, daily; Wm Stewart, postmaster.
Broadheat Thomas, live stock.
Norris F B, General Store and Railroad Agent.
Paul W D, farmer.
Sproat Samuel, farmer.
Whitlow O M, farmer.
REDPATH. Formerly known as Plowboy, is a country postoffice in Dover township, in the western part of Shawnee county, 14 miles west of Topeka, the county seat, and 5 southwest of Silver Lake, on the K. div. U. P. Ry, its nearest shipping point. Has a Congregational church and public school, and ships grain and live stock. It is on the tri-weekly mail stage route from Topeka to Alma. A. S. Corey, postmaster.
RICHLAND. On the Wakarusa river, and on the C. br. of the U.P. Ry, in Monmouth township, southeast corner of
Shawnee county, 18 miles from Topeka. Has a Methodist Episcopal church and public school. Ships grain and live stock. Nearest bank at Carbondale. Population, 100. Mail, daily. H. B. Ray, postmaster.
Cook J P, physician.
Crockett S M, lumber and grain.
Helton Seybold, wagonmakers.
Howard H M, physician.
Kungle J B, saw-mill.
Meese D, railroad agent.
Minard N W, builder and hotel.
Ray H B, Druggist.
Reynolds T A, general store.
Sonders Bros, stone mason.
Vannice D C, insurance agent.
ROSSVILLE. An incorporated city, lies on Cross creek, 3 miles north of the Kansas river, and is a station on the K. div. of the U.P. Ry, in Rossville township, in the northwestern part of Shawnee county, 16 miles from Topeka, and 83 from Kansas City, Mo. St. Mary�s, 8 miles west, is its nearest banking location. It is a brisk place, with Baptist and Presbyterian churches, Christian and Methodist societies and a graded school. A weekly newspaper, the News, is published. Grain, live stock and flour are shipped from this point. Population, 500. Tel., W. U. Exp., Pacific. Mail, daily. A. C. Sherman, postmaster.
Binns R, contractor.
Cook G, blacksmith.
Elder D P, tailor.
Emerson Bailey, shoemaker.
Freshman Cohen, general store.
Gavoy R S, physician.
L Harzell Tatman, druggists.
Hart Rev 0 E (Presbyterian).
Henderson David, contractor.
Henderson Mrs, dressmaker.
Holman Rev (Methodist).
Kerr Allen, general store.
Lawrence & Son, general store.
McIntyre E R, physician.
Martin Lewis, meat market.
Mason R, blacksmith.
Maxwell S B, propr Maxwell house.
Miller H H, physician.
Oliver S J, justice of peace.
Olmsted -, restaurant.
Overhultz F C, harnessmaker.
Rice H M, Asst Postmaster.
Rossville Mill Co, flour mill.
Rossville News, (Weekly.)
Scharrer Peter, grocer.
Sedgwick 0 Le Roy, real estate.
Sherman Bros, Grain, Hardware and Live Stock.
Sherman W C, lawyer and collection agent.
Smith Gilbert, grocers.
Stoyell John, railroad and express agent.
SILVER LAKE. First settled in 1869, is an incorporated city, on the K. div. of the U. P. Ry, and Kansas river, in the township of the same name, western part of Shawnee county, 12 miles from Topeka, the county seat, the nearest bank location, and 77 from Kansas City. A Baptist church and public school are in operation. Live stock and grain are the products shipped. Population, 500. Tel., W. U. Exp., Pacific. Mail, daily. F. W. Thomas, postmaster.
Batchelor Charles, saloon.
Burns John, barber.
Butler P H, saloon.
Caswell D E, billiard hall.
Cleaveland L C, railroad, express and telegraph agent.
Cooper P H, blacksmith.
Cracraft & Retro, dry goods.
Cross C M, jeweler.
Cuthbert J L, grocer.
Dearborn & Hutchins, Flour Mill.
Deisem J L, dry goods.
Ellinger J, physician.
Hollister A, boots and shoes.
Magill J, physician.
Magill & Cones, druggists.
Mitchell Frank, barber.
Neiewender J O, carpenter.
Oliver J B, Lawyer.
Oliver J J, hotel.
Palmer Frank, shoemaker.
Reilley A A, hotel.
Richards Robert A, justice and notary.
Shull Albert, carpenter.
Smith Mathew, wagonmaker.
Thomas A S, clerk U S circuit court.
Thomas Frederick W, Stock Breeder.
Thomas J, lumber.
Thompson Edward, grocer.
Thompson J E, grocer.
Woolverton A B, physician.
Worden Hardy, hardware and grain.
Wright W E, blacksmith.
TECUMSEH. A small place located on the A., T. S. F. R. R., 4 miles east of Topeka, in Tecumseh township, Shawnee county. It has a Methodist church and a district school. Shipments, corn. Mail, daily. J. H. Murphy, postmaster.
Clock Rev J W (Methodist).
Murphy J H, General Store.
Read J A, physician.
VALENCIA. A village on Mission creek, in Dover township, western central part of Shawnee county, 10 miles west of Topeka. the county seat, and nearest bank location, and 5 from Silver Lake, the nearest station on the K. div. of the U. P. Ry. Grain and live stock are shipped. Has a Methodist church and district school. Population, 50. Stage, tri-weekly,with mail, from Topeka and Alma. George W. Bush, postmaster.
Anderson Byron, constable.
Bush George W, General Store.
Hall J, carpenter.
Hughes J E, farmer.
Miller Henry, carpenter.
Nesbitt R T, justice of peace.
Noel L N, blacksmith.
Young L T, farmer.
WAKARUSA. Platted in 1856, and at that time called Kingston, is a small settlement on the Wakarusa river, and on the A., T. S. S. F. R. R., in Williamsport township, southern part of Shawnee county, 12 miles south of Topeka, the county seat. A Presbyterian society and district school are sustained. Shipments, live stock and grain. Nearest bank at Carbondale. Population, 100. Mail, daily. L. Meriam, postmaster.
Bicknell Thomas, blacksmith.
Franks L T, Railroad Agent.
Mills W H, hotel and groceries.
WAVELAND. A country postoffice in Shawnee county, 15 miles south of Topeka, the county seat, and 4 1/2 west of Wakarusa, its nearest shipping point. Live stock is the principal shipment. Nearest bank at Carbondale. Jeptha D. Vawter, postmaster.
WATSON. A newly establish postoffice in Shawnee county.
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