Editing Claflin, Kansas (section)

==History==
Prior to American expansion and occupation, the region was controlled by [[Cheyenne]], [[Pawnee people|Pawnee]], and [[Kiowa]] tribes. The [[Santa Fe Trail]] contributed to American settlement in Barton County, as it did throughout [[Kansas]] and much of the southern [[Great Plains]].

The first settlement claim recorded in the area of Claflin was made by George Platt in 1870.<ref name="Simons">{{cite web |last1=Simons |first1=John |title=A History of Early Day Barton County, Kansas |url=https://esirc.emporia.edu/bitstream/handle/123456789/2732/Simons%201971.pdf |publisher=Thesis: Kansas State Teachers College of Emporia |format=PDF |date=August 1971}}</ref> This claim was divided and re-entered, eventually being sold to J. H. Williamson in 1875,<ref name="Simons" /> and becoming the town of Claflin.

The community was officially organized in response to [[Missouri Pacific Railroad]] plans for a branch line to come through the area.
<ref>{{cite book|url=https://archive.org/details/biographicalhist00unse_4|title=Biographical History of Barton County, Kansas|publisher=Great Bend Tribune|year=1912|page=[https://archive.org/details/biographicalhist00unse_4/page/312 312]}}</ref><ref name="Cyclopedia">{{cite book
|url=https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_o8X5krq3fP8C|title=Kansas: A Cyclopedia of State History, Embracing Events, Institutions, Industries, Counties, Cities, Towns, Prominent Persons, Etc.|publisher=Standard Publishing Company|author=Blackmar, Frank Wilson|year=1912|page=[https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_o8X5krq3fP8C/page/n348 352]}}</ref> Tracks were laid by 1887.<ref name="Cyclopedia" /><ref name="Claflin-History">{{cite web|url=http://www.claflinkansas.com/page13.php|title=History|publisher=City of Claflin, KS|access-date=5 April 2014|url-status=usurped|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141010134705/http://claflinkansas.com/page13.php|archive-date=10 October 2014}}</ref>

The station, on the south side of the tracks, was originally named '''Giles City''' after landowner Stelle Giles.<ref name="Simons" /> Farmer and landowner William Albro Giles,<ref>[https://www.familysearch.org/tree/person/details/9K6T-8XS Family Search] {{user generated source|date=November 2023}}</ref> son of Stella Giles,<ref>[https://www.familysearch.org/tree/person/details/LVG8-WVY Family Search] {{user generated source|date=November 2023}}</ref> did not sell the 40 acres desired by the town company for building a town on the south side of the tracks.<ref name="Simons" /> The land for the town was purchased on the north side of the tracks from J. H. Williamson.<ref name="Simons" /> Judge Oliver Perry Hamilton surveyed the land<ref name="Simons" /> and named the town '''Claflin,''' after his wife, Adelia Maria Claflin.<ref>[https://www.familysearch.org/tree/person/details/LCCW-8TR Family Search] {{user generated source|date=November 2023}}</ref> The Claflin Town Company, with Stelle Giles as President, filed the townsite with the Barton County Register of Deeds on March 31, 1887.<ref name="Simons" />

The first official resident of Claflin was Robert Leslie Hamilton,<ref>[https://www.familysearch.org/tree/person/details/KL59-NKH Family Search] {{user generated source|date=November 2023}}</ref> who built and operated the S. S. Chatten Lumber Company.<ref name="Simons" /> Other early residents include: Mel Cummings, railroad agent; George Norris; J. H. Cannon, store owner, banker, undertaker; M. C. Elmore, hardware store owner; Cas Dermitt, cafe owner; A. A. German, elevator operator; Charles Bucker, blacksmith; Charles Vert, publisher of the Claflin Clarion.<ref name="Simons" />

The city was incorporated<ref name="Simons" /> by order of the Barton County Commissioners on July 18, 1901, and the first election was held on August 2, 1901.