Editing Marion County, Kansas (section)

===19th century===
In 1802, Spain returned most of the land to France, but keeping title to about 7,500 square miles. In 1803, most of the land for [[History of Kansas|modern day Kansas]] was acquired by the United States from France as part of the 828,000 square mile [[Louisiana Purchase]] for 2.83 [[Penny (United States coin)|cents]] per [[acre]]. In 1848, after the [[Mexican–American War]], the [[Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo]] with [[Spain]] brought into the United States all or part of land for ten future states, including southwest Kansas.

In 1806, [[Zebulon Pike]] led the [[Pike Expedition]] westward from [[St Louis, Missouri]], of which part of their journey followed the [[Cottonwood River (Kansas)|Cottonwood River]] through modern Marion County near the current cities of [[Florence, Kansas|Florence]], [[Marion, Kansas|Marion]], [[Durham, Kansas|Durham]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://zebulonpike.org/maps/kansas/MAINSEKS.pdf |title=1806 Pike Expedition map through Marion County. |access-date=June 1, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120317175019/http://zebulonpike.org/maps/kansas/MAINSEKS.pdf |archive-date=March 17, 2012 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

In 1854, the [[Kansas Territory]] was organized, then in 1861 [[Kansas]] became the 34th [[U.S. state]]. In 1855, '''Marion County''' was established. The first settlers in Marion County located on Doyle Creek, near the present site of [[Florence, Kansas|Florence]]. They were Moses Shane, who came in 1858, and whose death the next year was the first in the county; Patrick Doyle, in 1859, for whom Doyle Creek and Township were named, and a family by the name of Welsh, in which occurred the [[first white child|first birth]] in the county in August 1859. The city of Marion Centre was founded in 1860, became the [[county seat]] in 1865, and later the city name was shortened to [[Marion, Kansas|Marion]].<ref name="Marion-Co-History"/><ref name="MarionCountyBook"/>

[[File:Lost Spring Station Kansas road view.jpg|thumb|left|Lost Spring Station marker along former [[Santa Fe Trail]]]]
From 1821 to 1866, the [[Santa Fe Trail]] was active across Marion County.<ref>[http://www.santafetrail.org/chapters/cottonwood/ History of the Cottonwood Crossing Chapter, Santa Fe Trail Association.]</ref>  In the spring of 1859, a trading post was established at the "Lost Spring" on the Santa Fe Trail, and in the autumn of the same year, the Moore brothers established a ranch near the present site of [[Durham, Kansas|Durham]], and the first post office was established at this place. Later in the same year, a post office was established at "Lost Spring" near the current city of [[Lost Springs, Kansas|Lost Springs]]. Previously the nearest post office was [[Emporia, Kansas|Emporia]].<ref name="History - Early Settlers">[http://www.mykansasgenealogy.com/ks-county-marion.html Kansas: a cyclopedia of state history, embracing events, institutions, industries, counties, cities, towns, prominent persons, etc; Published 1912] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091019231921/http://www.mykansasgenealogy.com/ks-county-marion.html |date=October 19, 2009 }}</ref>

From 1867 to 1871, the [[Chisholm Trail]] was routed along the western edge of Marion County. The trail started in [[Texas]] and ended in [[Abilene, Kansas]], where cattle were shipped eastward by rail. As the railroads were built westward and southward, the trail was truncated from going further north.
[[Image:Saraj in Gnadenau, Kansas.png|thumb|right|[[Burdei]]-type housing in [[Gnadenau, Kansas|Gnadenau]] ([[Frank Leslie's Illustrated Newspaper|Frank Leslie's Illustrated]] March 20, 1875) (located southeast of [[Hillsboro, Kansas|Hillsboro]])]]
Originally, Marion County covered more than a third of the area of Kansas, including all the territory in the state south and west of the present northern and eastern lines of the county. The original location of the county was fixed by legislative act in 1860. It comprised less than the present area. The original boundaries were altered by an increase of territory on the west and a decrease on the south. In 1863, the legislature by special act fixed the boundaries to include all of southwestern Kansas. In June of that year, on petition of the citizens of the county, the governor restored the previous boundaries and ordered a separate organization of the county.<ref name="History - Early Settlers" />  The south-eastern border one mile "notch" with Chase County was established under unusual circumstances. A murder had occurred and Marion County didn't want to have the trial, so a section one mile wide and eighteen miles long was ceded to [[Chase County, Kansas|Chase County]] to ensure the murder had occurred there.<ref>[http://www.kshs.org/kansapedia/marion-county-kansas/15312 Kansas State Historical Society - Marion County]</ref>  The one mile strip of land remains in [[Chase County, Kansas|Chase County]] to this day. The present county boundary lines were decided upon in 1872 and contain twenty-four [[townships]].<ref name="Marion-Co-History">{{Cite web |url=http://www.marioncoks.net/AboutMarionCounty/History/tabid/7634/Default.aspx |title=The History of Marion County and Courthouse |access-date=April 12, 2013 |archive-date=February 27, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180227021903/http://www.marioncoks.net/AboutMarionCounty/History/tabid/7634/Default.aspx |url-status=dead}}</ref>

The first two-story courthouse of stone was built in 1867. The upper floor was used for county court and the first floor was used as a school. A high wall for a place of refuge and defense in the event of an Indian attack surrounded it, but it was never needed for that purpose. An addition was completed in 1879 and part of the original structure was remodeled in 1881. The present three-story native limestone structure was completed in 1907.<ref name="Marion-Co-History"/>

====Santa Fe Railroad====
[[File:Stouffer's Railroad Map of Kansas 1915-1918 Marion County.png|thumb|left|1915-1918 railroad map of Marion County]]

The state of Kansas granted the [[Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway|Atchison and Topeka Railroad]] three million acres (12,000&nbsp;km<sup>2</sup>) of land if it would build a continuous line to the western border of the state within ten years (March 1, 1873). In 1871, the railroad pushed westward from Emporia through [[Florence, Kansas|Florence]], [[Horners, Kansas|Horners]], and [[Peabody, Kansas|Peabody]] towards Newton, and got title to the land in 1873.<ref name="Santa Fe Rail History">[http://kansasheritage.org/research/rr/santafe.html Santa Fe Rail History]</ref>  According to the original [[Public Land Survey System#Railroad land grants|land grant]], the railroad was to receive every odd numbered section for {{convert|10|mi|km|spell=in}} on each side of its track, but in eastern Kansas which was largely settled by then, much of this land was not available. The law therefore gave the railroad what was called "in lieu" lands further west. Eventually this worked out to be half the land on a strip {{convert|20|mi|km|spell=in}} on each side of its track from [[Emporia, Kansas|Emporia]] nearly out to [[Kinsley, Kansas|Kinsley]], which meant that most of Marion County fell within this strip.<ref>[http://www.kansasheritage.org/research/rr/rrhistory.html Kansas Heritage Server - Railroads In Kansas]</ref>

In 1877, the [[Florence, El Dorado, and Walnut Valley Railroad Company]] built a branch line from [[Florence, Kansas|Florence]] to [[El Dorado, Kansas|El Dorado]], in 1881 it was extended to [[Douglass, Kansas|Douglass]], and later to [[Arkansas City, Kansas|Arkansas City]].<ref name="MarionCountyBook" />  The line was leased and operated by the [[Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway]]. The line from [[Florence, Kansas|Florence]] to [[El Dorado, Kansas|El Dorado]] was abandoned in 1942.<ref name="Abandon Railway 1942">[http://www.abandonedrails.com/Florence_to_El_Dorado Railway Abandonment 1942]</ref>  The original branch line connected Florence, [[Burns, Kansas|Burns]], [[De Graff, Kansas|De Graff]], [[El Dorado, Kansas|El Dorado]], [[Augusta, Kansas|Augusta]], [[Douglass, Kansas|Douglass]], [[Rock, Kansas|Rock]], [[Akron, Kansas|Akron]], [[Winfield, Kansas|Winfield]] and [[Arkansas City, Kansas|Arkansas City]].

In 1887, [[Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway]] built a branch line from [[Neva, Kansas|Neva]] (three miles west of [[Strong City, Kansas|Strong City]]) to [[Superior, Nebraska]]. This branch line connected [[Strong City, Kansas|Strong City]], [[Neva, Kansas|Neva]], [[Rockland, Kansas|Rockland]], [[Diamond Springs, Kansas|Diamond Springs]], [[Burdick, Kansas|Burdick]], [[Lost Springs, Kansas|Lost Springs]], [[Jacobs, Kansas|Jacobs]], [[Hope, Kansas|Hope]], [[Navarre, Kansas|Navarre]], [[Enterprise, Kansas|Enterprise]], [[Abilene, Kansas|Abilene]], [[Talmage, Kansas|Talmage]], [[Manchester, Kansas|Manchester]], [[Longford, Kansas|Longford]], [[Oak Hill, Kansas|Oak Hill]], [[Miltonvale, Kansas|Miltonvale]], [[Aurora, Kansas|Aurora]], [[Huscher, Kansas|Huscher]], [[Concordia, Kansas|Concordia]], [[Kackley, Kansas|Kackley]], [[Courtland, Kansas|Courtland]], [[Webber, Kansas|Webber]] and Superior. At some point, the line from Neva to Lost Springs was pulled, but the right of way has not been abandoned. This branch line was originally called "Strong City and Superior line", but later the name was shortened to the "Strong City line". The railway is connected via a switch to allow north-bound "Rock Island" traffic to connect onto the north-west-bound "Santa Fe" tracks. This is the only way for the Santa Fe traffic to travel north-west after removing the tracks to Neva.{{citation needed|date=June 2015}}

As early as 1875, city leaders of [[Marion, Kansas|Marion]] held a meeting to consider a branch railroad from Florence. In 1878, [[Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway]] and parties from Marion County and [[McPherson County, Kansas|McPherson County]] chartered the [[Marion and McPherson Railway Company]].<ref name="MarionCountyBook">''Marion County Kansas : Past and Present''; Sondra Van Meter; MB Publishing House; [[LCCN]] 72-92041; 344 pages; 1972.</ref>  In 1879, a branch line was built from Florence to [[McPherson, Kansas|McPherson]]; in 1880 it was extended to [[Lyons, Kansas|Lyons]], in 1881 it was extended to [[Ellinwood, Kansas|Ellinwood]].<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=ZIwpAAAAYAAJ Fourth Annual Report of the Board of Railroad Commissioners for the Year Ending December 1, 1886 in State of Kansas; Kansas Publishing House; 1886.]</ref>  The line was leased and operated by the [[Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway]]. The line from Florence to Marion was abandoned in 1968.<ref name="Abandon Railway 1968">[http://www.abandonedrails.com/Marion_to_Florence Railway Abandonment 1968]</ref>  In 1992, the line from Marion to McPherson was sold to [[Central Kansas Railway]]. In 1993, after heavy flood damage, the line from Marion to McPherson was abandoned. The original branch line connected Florence, [[Oursler, Kansas|Oursler]], Marion, [[Canada, Kansas|Canada]], [[Hillsboro, Kansas|Hillsboro]], [[Lehigh, Kansas|Lehigh]], [[Canton, Kansas|Canton]], [[Galva, Kansas|Galva]], McPherson, [[Conway, Kansas|Conway]], [[Windom, Kansas|Windom]], [[Little River, Kansas|Little River]], [[Mitchell, Kansas|Mitchell]], Lyons, [[Chase, Kansas|Chase]] and [[Ellinwood, Kansas|Ellinwood]].

In 1996, the [[Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway]] merged with [[Burlington Northern Railroad]] and renamed to the current [[BNSF Railway]]. Most locals still refer to this railroad as the "Santa Fe".{{citation needed|date=June 2015}}

====Rock Island Railroad====
[[Image:Map elk chase kansas.jpg|thumb|left|1893 Railroad Map]]
In 1887, the [[Chicago, Kansas and Nebraska Railway]] extended its main line from [[Herington, Kansas|Herington]] to [[Pratt, Kansas|Pratt]].<ref name="Rock Island Rail History">{{Cite web |url=http://home.covad.net/~scicoatnsew/rihist4.htm |title=Rock Island Rail History |access-date=April 17, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110619230000/http://home.covad.net/~scicoatnsew/rihist4.htm |archive-date=June 19, 2011 |url-status=dead }}</ref>  This main line connected Herington, [[Ramona, Kansas|Ramona]], [[Tampa, Kansas|Tampa]], [[Durham, Kansas|Durham]], [[Waldeck, Kansas|Waldeck]], [[Canton, Kansas|Canton]], [[Galva, Kansas|Galva]], [[McPherson, Kansas|McPherson]], [[Groveland, Kansas|Groveland]], [[Inman, Kansas|Inman]], [[Medora, Kansas|Medora]], [[Hutchinson, Kansas|Hutchinson]], [[Whiteside, Kansas|Whiteside]], [[Partridge, Kansas|Partridge]], [[Arlington, Kansas|Arlington]],  [[Langdon, Kansas|Langdon]], [[Turon, Kansas|Turon]], [[Preston, Kansas|Preston]], [[Natrona, Kansas|Natrona]] and Pratt. In 1888, this main line was extended to [[Liberal, Kansas|Liberal]]. Later, this line was extended to [[Tucumcari, New Mexico]], and [[El Paso, Texas]]. This line is called the "Golden State Limited".

In 1887, the [[Chicago, Kansas and Nebraska Railway]] built a branch line north–south from [[Herington, Kansas|Herington]] to [[Caldwell, Kansas|Caldwell]].<ref name="Rock Island Rail History"/>  This branch line connected Herington, [[Lost Springs, Kansas|Lost Springs]], [[Lincolnville, Kansas|Lincolnville]], [[Antelope, Kansas|Antelope]], [[Marion, Kansas|Marion]], [[Aulne, Kansas|Aulne]], [[Peabody, Kansas|Peabody]], [[Elbing, Kansas|Elbing]], [[Whitewater, Kansas|Whitewater]], [[Furley, Kansas|Furley]], [[Kechi, Kansas|Kechi]], [[Wichita, Kansas|Wichita]], [[Peck, Kansas|Peck]], [[Corbin, Kansas|Corbin]], [[Wellington, Kansas|Wellington]] and Caldwell. By 1893, this branch line was incrementally built to [[Fort Worth, Texas]]. This line is called the "OKT".

The "Rock Island" has switches in Peabody and Lost Springs to allow connections to the crossing "Santa Fe" railroad in each city.

The [[Chicago, Kansas and Nebraska Railway]] was foreclosed in 1891 and was taken over by [[Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railway]], which shut down in 1980 and reorganized as [[Oklahoma, Kansas and Texas Railroad]], merged in 1988 with [[Missouri Pacific Railroad]], and finally merged in 1997 with [[Union Pacific Railroad]]. Most locals still refer to this railroad as the "Rock Island". {{citation needed|date=June 2015}}

====Chingawasa Springs Railroad====
In 1889, the Marion Belt and Chingawasa Springs Railroad built a 4.5 mile railroad from Marion northeast to Chingawasa Springs. A hotel was built near the site of the spa at Chingawasa Springs, along with a depot and eatery. Both Santa Fe and Rock Island offered round trip fares from Chicago and western cities to Chingawasa Springs. An economic panic in [[Panic of 1893|1893]] closed down the health spa and hotel, and quarry business along the tracks never developed sufficiently. In 1893, the railroad ceased operations, and tracks were removed in 1910.<ref>[http://www.rypn.org/articles/single.php?filename=060401002334.txt The Marion Belt and Chingawasa Springs Railroad - 117 Year Old Passenger Car Exists Today]</ref><ref>[http://www.orphantraindepot.com/LegendArticlePart1.html Chingawasa Springs (1 of 2)] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111002014406/http://www.orphantraindepot.com/LegendArticlePart1.html |date=October 2, 2011 }}</ref>