Editing Victoria, Kansas (section)

==History==
[[File:No._47._General_view_of_Victoria_Railway_Bridge_over_North_Fork_of_Victoria_River._(6862286050).jpg|thumb|left|
Victoria Station, 1873.<br/>[[Robert Benecke]]<br/> In the distance just to the right of the bridge over [[Big Creek (Kansas)|North Fork of Big Creek]] is the station, '''Victoria Manor'''. In 1867, this was the location of '''Campbell's Camp'''.]] 
The town site originated in the 1867 construction of the [[Kansas Pacific Railway]] into western Kansas to connect [[St. Louis]] to [[Denver]] and to open the land to settlement. The railroad's sudden rerouting and construction west of [[Junction City, Kansas|Junction City]] was opposed by a [[Dog Soldiers|Cheyenne military society]] who attacked the Campbell camp who were establishing a bridge grade across the [[Big Creek (Kansas)|North Fork of Big Creek]] at this location (pictured).<ref>{{cite book |author= Collins |title= Kansas Pacific |page= 13 |quote= [After Fort Hays, it] would then enter the country of three nomadic Indian tribes: the Cheyenne, Arapahoe and Kiowa. ... mile and a half per day. ... Then the Indian raids began. }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title= Cheyenne Indian Raid Gravesite |website= Visit Hays (Things To Do) |publisher= Hays Convention & Visitors Bureau |url= http://www.visithays.com/199/Cheyenne-Indian-Raid-Gravesite |access-date = 2018-11-30}}</ref> Commanded by [[George Augustus Armes|Captain George Armes]],<ref name= up >{{cite book |author= [[George Augustus Armes]] |title=Ups & Downs of an Army Officer |year=1900 |chapter= Chapter VI. 1867 |location= Washington, D.C. |publisher=Library of Congress |chapter-url= https://archive.org/stream/upsanddownsofana00armerich/upsanddownsofana00armerich_djvu.txt |access-date = 2024-03-31 |page= 237, 253 }}</ref> the immediate U.S. military response resulted in the [[Battle of the Saline River]], which was followed by two years of open conflict.

=== Victoria Colony ===
George Grant was a Scottish entrepreneur who had established wealth and a clientele that counted the British nobility.<ref name=RaishChI>{{cite thesis |last= Raish |first= Marjorie |date= Spring 1937 |title= Victoria, The Story of Western Kansas Town  |url= https://scholars.fhsu.edu/theses/262/ |degree= Masters |chapter= Chapter I Purchase Of The Land |publisher= Fort Hays State University |docket= |oclc= |access-date= 2024-04-07 }}</ref> In 1873, George Grant arrived in Kansas leading a party of 30 young adults and youth of Scottish and English nobility, including some [[Remittance man|remittance men]] sent away by their families to live on stipends. Founding the first of several organized transatlantic settlements in Ellis County, Grant intended to create a [[ranch]]ing community, some lesser nobles of the party hoping to establish large estates in the frontier.<ref name= NRHP1873 >{{Cite web |date=1972 |title= George Grant Villa — National Register of Historic Places Inventory — National Register of Historic Places Inventory — Nomination Form |url=https://npgallery.nps.gov/GetAsset/27adc615-b9d0-4681-8498-07b025f63378 |access-date=2 February 2024 |website=United States Department of the Interior |quote= Grant and his first group of 30 colonists arrived at Victoria station on May 18, 1873. Most were of English or Scottish nobility; some were remittance men, younger sons of English nobility, sent off to America to live on a monthly allowance from the family. Some were the so-called "small farmers" of England who were attracted by the possibilities of huge estates. }}</ref> Notably, this group brought a herd of thoroughbred [[Aberdeen Angus]] cattle, some from [[Victoria of the United Kingdom|Queen Victoria's]] own stock. Including four bulls, this herd is credited with establishing the [[American Angus]] breed.<ref>{{cite book |author1= Valerie Porter |author2=Lawrence Alderson |author3=Stephen J.G. Hall |author4=D. Phillip Sponenberg |year= 2016 |url= https://books.google.com/books?id=2UEJDAAAQBAJ |title= Mason's World Encyclopedia of Livestock Breeds and Breeding |edition= sixth |isbn= 9781780647944 |page= 105 |quote= ... Grant brought  [[Aberdeen Angus]] bulls .... }}</ref><ref name= Hewitson>{{cite book |author= Jim Hewitson |year= 1995 |url= https://archive.org/details/tamblakecostoryo0000hewi/page/55/mode/1up |title= Tam Blake & Co.: the story of the Scots in America |location= Edinburgh |publisher= Canongate Books |isbn= 0862415594 |quote= ... all thoroughbreds and some from the Queen's own herd at Windsor. ... The Kansas Pacific Railroad constructed an impressive hotel-depot out on the plains, which became known as The Victoria Manor and served as the headquarters for the colony. |pages= 55–56 }}</ref>

The colony occupied a roughly 10 mile-wide swath land sections from the tracks south to the Smoky Hill River.
With the settlement named Victoria to honor the Queen,<ref>{{cite book | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ODXKhgH3e6AC&pg=PA32 | title=Exploring Kansas Highways | author=Heim, Michael | year=2007 | pages=32| publisher=Exploring America's Highway | isbn=9780974435886 }}</ref> the Kansas Pacific Railroad immediately constructed a relatively elaborate stone station-hotel for the colony.<ref name= Hewitson/><ref>{{cite web |website= Kansas Memory |url=https://www.kansasmemory.org/item/97353 |title= Victoria, Kansas depot |date= 1880 |quote= This photograph shows the Kansas Pacific Railway depot at Victoria, Kansas. The two-story stone structure was originally built by the railroad company as a hotel to accommodate the settlers until they could complete their homes. }}</ref> At Grant's specification, the '''Victoria Manor''' had accommodations befitting gentry waiting for completion of their new homes. The ground floor held a ballroom intended for community gathering. Over 200 Britons arrived in the following years.

Grant brought British architect [[Robert William Edis]] to the colony to design his manor house and to lay out his dream town. Grant's Villa became a historic landmark, but the ultimate Victoria plat was an unprepossessing 3 by 3 grid of square blocks.<ref>{{Cite web |date=1972 |title= George Grant Villa — National Register of Historic Places Inventory — Nomination Form |url=https://npgallery.nps.gov/GetAsset/27adc615-b9d0-4681-8498-07b025f63378 |access-date=2 February 2024 |website=United States Department of the Interior |quote= An important London architect, R. W. Edis, was brought to lay out plans for a city worthy of the name Victoria. He also designed various buildings, including Grant's own home. }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title= Standard Atlas of Ellis County, Kansas |page= 26 |year= 1905 |publisher= Geo. A. Ogle & Co. |url= https://www.kansasmemory.org/item/209418/page/29 |access-date= 2024-02-05 }}</ref><ref name= VictOrgPlt /> Grant also directed the construction of the St. George Episcopal church, a stone building. Completed in 1877, this was the first church built in the county.<ref name=StGeorgeFirstChurch>{{cite book |url=http://www.kancoll.org/books/cutler/ellis/ellis-co-p5.html#VICTORIA  |title= William G. Cutler's History of the State of Kansas | publisher= A. T. Andreas, Chicago, Illinois |author=Cutler, William G. | year=1883 | pages=Ellis County, part 5, Victoria |quote= The first church in the county was built by this colony in 1877. It was intended for Episcopal services, nearly all of the colony holding the faith of the established church of England. }}</ref><ref name=GrantBurial/>

Many of the colonists, however, were reputed for being more interested in sports and dancing than in raising livestock, hiring overseers to manage some estates.<ref>George Grant Villa. "Hired overseers managed most of the estates, ..."</ref> The home families of the remittance men learned of this and reduced the stipends, driving these colonists to leave. Having lost his fortune, Grant's sudden death in 1878<ref name= Hewitson/> accelerated the departure of others of the colony. Some returned to [[United Kingdom|Britain]]; others left for [[South America]].<ref name=Victoria1>{{cite web | title = Homesteading in Ellis County - Victoria | work = Kansas Heritage Project | publisher = [[Fort Hays State University]] | url = http://www.fhsu.edu/library/ksheritage/Victoria/ | access-date = 2010-01-31}}</ref><ref name=Pfeifer>{{cite web | last = Pfeifer | first = Mary | title = History of Victoria | publisher = City of Victoria | date = 2000-08-02 | url = http://www.skyways.org/towns/Victoria/history.html | access-date = 2010-01-31}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | title = Victoria | publisher = [[Kansas Historical Society]] | url = http://www.skyways.org/history/victoria.html | access-date = 2010-01-31}}</ref> Grant was buried before the steps of the St. George Church, which would never be [[Dedications in the Church of England|consecrated]]. After Grant's death, the Victoria townsite was platted in 1880 by remaining colonists, particularly Margarat Grant Dunan, niece, caretaker, and executor of the George Grant estate.<ref name= VictOrgPlt >{{cite web |title= Victoria Original Plat |date= 1880 |publisher = City of Hays / Ellis County / GIS Division |website= Geospatial Data Portal |url= https://www.geodataportal.net/plats/VictoriaOriginal.pdf |access-date= 2024-02-08 }}</ref><ref name=GrantBurial>{{cite book |url=http://www.kancoll.org/books/cutler/ellis/ellis-co-p2.html#GENERAL_HISTORY  |title= William G. Cutler's History of the State of Kansas | publisher= A. T. Andreas, Chicago, Illinois |author=Cutler, William G. | year=1883 | pages=Ellis County, part 2, General History |quote=  ... a handsome stone church ... In 1879, the originator of the scheme, George Grant, died, and his remains are interred in front of St. George's Chapel at Victoria, ... }}</ref><ref name=StGeorgeFirstChurch/>

Today, the platted church grounds are a largely unoccupied cemetery with a monument to Grant's contribution to American Angus breeds.<!-- Next trip I'll photograph the monument installed by Pete Felten, Jr. -->

While most of the English left, certain Scottish families remained, notably the descendants of Grant as well as the Philips, four of whom served as Mayor of Hays.

[[File:VictoriaKanasaVolgaGermanStatue.jpg|thumb|left|Commemorative statue of a Volga German pioneer family in Victoria (1997)]]

=== Herzog ===
:''This section covers the [[Volga Germans|Volga German]] settlement of Herzog. For the broader history of Russian-German immigrants in Ellis County, see Ellis County History,  [[Ellis County, Kansas#English and Russian-German immigrants|English and Russian-German immigrants]].''

In 1875, a party of [[Volga Germans]] from villages near [[Saratov]], [[Russian Empire|Russia]], seeking a place to establish traditional farming villages, were shown locations in Ellis County. The first location, the [[Yocemento, Kansas|clay-soiled Ellis County "Hogback"]] was so disappointing that some in the party resolved to return to Russia. But after being shown locations in the eastern half of the county (the future [[Catharine, Kansas|Catherine]] and [[Schoenchen, Kansas|Schoenchen]]/[[Pfeifer, Kansas|Pfeifer]] sites), the party established the first Volga-German village in the county one-half mile north of the tracks from the Victoria Station.<ref>{{cite book|title= German-Russian settlements in Ellis County, Kansas |author= Francis S. Laing |publisher= [[Kansas Historical Society|Kansas State Historical Society]] |date= 1910 |access-date= 2018-11-04 |url= https://books.google.com/books?id=sPFYAAAAMAAJ |quote= [1875] The first land shown was near Hog Back, but this pleased so little that the men determined to return to Russia. [they eventually settled in Herzog/Victoria] |pages= 5–6 }}</ref><ref name="GNIS"/> The original plat registered for the town is named "'''Herzog''' or '''North Victoria'''".<ref name= HerzOrgPlt >{{cite web |title= Herzog Original Plat |date= |publisher = City of Hays / Ellis County / GIS Division |website= Geospatial Data Portal |url= https://www.geodataportal.net/plats/VictoriaOriginal.pdf |access-date= 2024-02-08 }}</ref> As the other Volga German villages were formed, Herzog's [[Roman Catholicism|Roman Catholic]] settlers built a series of churches which culminated in the construction of [[St. Fidelis Catholic Church]], known as "The Cathedral of the Plains," in 1911. When the German's first arrived at the station, Rev. Laing relates, there was only the station-hotel and one other building in Victoria.<ref>Laing, p. 37. "The first who came to Victoria found as the only buildings the present depot and one other house."</ref> Herzog grew rapidly and later adopted the station's name. Herzog and the smaller Victoria merged to incorporate under the name Victoria in 1913.<ref name=Herzog>{{cite web | title = Homesteading in Ellis County - Herzog | work = Kansas Heritage Project | publisher = [[Fort Hays State University]] | url = http://www.fhsu.edu/library/ksheritage/Herzog-%28Victoria%29/ | access-date = 2010-01-31}}</ref>

Such were the numbers of German-Russian settlers in Ellis County and adjoining [[Rush County, Kansas|Rush County]], such was their adoption of western Russian farming practice and community structure, and such was their adoption of Russian dress and elements of Russian language, Kansans referred to these settlements as "Little Russia". And such was the importance of Herzog that was soon referred to a "Russia Minor".<ref name=CutlerMinor >Cutler, William G., [http://www.kancoll.org/books/cutler/ellis/ellis-co-p2.html#GENERAL_HISTORY General History], (1883). "Herzog is regarded at the capital of this Russia Minor, and there is established the chief patriarch and priests. "</ref> 

A traditional religious community, Herzog's Catholic services were first held in the open around an erected cross, then in the home of Alois Dreiling after it was constructed. A typical two-story, four-room I-frame prairie farmhouse, attendance soon was too much for the flooring to withstand and a wood framed addition was built onto the home to hold church services. This addition is marked as the second church, first Catholic church, built in the county. The growing community soon overwhelmed this facility.<ref>{{cite book |title= The Golden Jubilee of German-Russian Settlements of Ellis and Rush Counties, Kansas |url= https://www.ksgenweb.org/archives/statewide/ethnic/german-russian/jubilee/herzog.shtml |page= HERZOG (Victoria) |year= 1926 |quote= They built their humble sod houses, erected a large cross about which they gathered for services, ... Divine services were first held at Herzog in the dwelling of A. Dreiling, but the floor proving unequal to the weight, a frame church was built adjoining the house, the south wall of the dwelling serving as north wall of the church. This structure was about 40x24 feet, and could accommodate but part of the congregation. }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |website= The Volga Germans |title= First Church in Herzog (The Lean-to) |url= https://www.volgagermans.org/sites/default/files/2020-01/victoria_st_fidelis_c.jpg |access-date= 2024-04-06 }}</ref>

The only Catholic in the Victoria Colony, Sir Walter C. Maxwell had high interest in Herzog and completed a stone church for the town in 1877. This church was overcrowded almost as soon as it was finished.<ref name=Maxwell >Cutler, William G., [http://www.kancoll.org/books/cutler/ellis/ellis-co-p2.html#GENERAL_HISTORY General History], (1883). "The place has a very fine stone Catholic Church, which was erected by Sir Walter Maxwell, ..."</ref><ref>{{cite book |title= The Golden Jubilee of German-Russian Settlements of Ellis and Rush Counties, Kansas |url= https://www.ksgenweb.org/archives/statewide/ethnic/german-russian/jubilee/herzog.shtml |page= HERZOG (Victoria) |year= 1926 |quote=  Hon. Walter C. Maxwell, a Catholic Englishman then living south of Victoria, undertook to build a stone church for the settlers on Section 1, north of the present dwellings. In June, 1877, he had collected $700, the total sum subscribed was $1,500, and the only condition attached was that the settlers haul the necessary stone. In August, 1877, plans and specifications had been completed by Henry Bergsland who also received the contract. This church, which measured 60x30x16 feet, soon proving to be too small, ... }}</ref>

The Kansas Pacific Railroad donated 10 acres of land for the community's religious use in 1879. Father Anthony Mary, who had previous led the construction of many churches, arrived and in November, 1881, and began construction on the original St. Fidelis Church at Herzog. Seating 600 parishioners, construction began in 1880 and the church was consecrated 1884.<ref>{{cite book |title= The Golden Jubilee of German-Russian Settlements of Ellis and Rush Counties, Kansas |url= https://www.ksgenweb.org/archives/statewide/ethnic/german-russian/jubilee/herzog.shtml |page= HERZOG (Victoria) |year= 1926 |quote= ... the Kansas Pacific Railroad Company, ... donated ten acres in the northwest quarter of Section 7 for a church and school, ... which measured 168x46x35, and had a seating capacity of 600. The cornerstone was laid on June 1, 1880; consecration by Rt. Rev. L. M. Fink took place on October 19, 1884.}}</ref><ref name=AnthonyMary>{{cite book |url=http://www.kancoll.org/books/cutler/ellis/ellis-co-p5.html#VICTORIA  |title= William G. Cutler's History of the State of Kansas | publisher= A. T. Andreas, Chicago, Illinois |author=Cutler, William G. | year=1883 | pages=Ellis County, part 5, Victoria |quote= St. Fidelis Church, of Victoria, Ellis County, Kan., was founded by Rev. Father Anthony Mary, and the erection began November 1, 1881, and will be completed in the fall of 1883. The size of the church building is 50x123 feet; including sacristy, it is 169 feet long. ...  He has built many churches, monasteries and schoolhouses in his ife-time (sic) ... }}</ref>

Even as this was soon insufficient for the town and the Catholic villages at large, the [[Basilica of St. Fidelis]], "The Cathedral of the Plains," was constructed over 1908-1911.<ref>{{cite book |title= The Golden Jubilee of German-Russian Settlements of Ellis and Rush Counties, Kansas |url= https://www.ksgenweb.org/archives/statewide/ethnic/german-russian/jubilee/herzog.shtml |page= HERZOG (Victoria) |year= 1926 |quote= The plans for the present church were completed as early as December, 1905, by John T. Comes, of Pittsburgh, Pa. In 1908, these were revised and modified by Jos. Marshall, of Topeka. Building operations began November, 1908, the cornerstone was laid October 4, 1909, by Rt. Rev. J. F. Cunningham, and the structure was completed in 1911. The total length of the building is 220 feet, the breadth 73 feet, in the transept 107 feet.}}</ref>

=== Victoria Auxiliary Field ===
In 1942, the [[United States Army|U.S. Army]] built [[Walker Army Airfield (Kansas)|Walker Army Airfield]] three miles northeast of Victoria. During [[World War II]], thousands were stationed at the airfield, most for training in operation of the [[Boeing B-29 Superfortress]] bomber aircraft. The military closed the base in 1946.<ref>{{cite journal | date = Spring 1959 | title = U.S. Army and Air Force Wings Over Kansas | url = https://archive.org/stream/kansashistorical25kansrich/kansashistorical25kansrich_djvu.txt | journal = Kansas Historical Quarterly | publisher = [[Kansas Historical Society|Kansas State Historical Society]] | volume = 25 | issue = 1 | pages = 334–360}}</ref> In 1949, after the formation of the [[United States Air Force]], that service designated the base "Victoria Auxiliary Field", but never operated the facility.

=== Bypassed by the Interstate ===
Originally, the Golden Belt Road followed by [[U.S. Route 40 in Kansas|U.S. Highway 40]] passed through Victoria. In 1966, construction of [[Interstate 70 in Kansas|Interstate 70]] was completed through Ellis County, bypassing the state highway designation and routing its traffic to the north of the town.<ref name=Pfeifer/> While the Interstate increased traffic through the general corridor, regional centers such as Hays and Salina found greater expansion in commerce than Victoria.