Editing Potwin, Kansas (section)

===19th century===
In 1802, Spain returned most of the land to France.  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 1854, the [[Kansas Territory]] was organized, then in 1861 [[Kansas]] became the 34th [[U.S. state]].  In 1855, [[Butler County, Kansas|Butler County]] was established within the [[Kansas Territory]], which included the land for modern day Potwin.

Potwin was incorporated as a town on April 8, 1885.  This land, owned by Charles Potwin, whereby the town received its name, became a station for the [[Missouri Pacific Railroad]], instigated by William I. Joseph, known as the Father of Potwin.<ref name="History1">{{cite web|url=http://www.skyways.org/towns/Potwin/History.html|title=The History of Potwin, Kansas|website=www.skyways.org|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030526012155/http://www.skyways.org/towns/Potwin/History.html|archive-date=May 26, 2003}}</ref>

Joseph came from [[West Virginia]] and, as more settlers arrived, became interested in a railroad to serve the area.  After much diligent pursuit, the station was built and Joseph, a land agent for Charles Potwin, began development of a town site around the Potwin station.  He opened a land office where the Potwin grocery now stands.<ref name="History1" />

A post office was established in '''Ayr''' (an extinct town) on July 12, 1875, but it was moved to Potwin on September 22, 1885.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.kshs.org/geog/geog_postoffices/search/county:BU |title=Kansas Post Offices, 1828-1961 (archived) |publisher=Kansas Historical Society |access-date=5 June 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131009125851/http://www.kshs.org/geog/geog_postoffices/search/county:BU |archive-date=October 9, 2013 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.kshs.org/geog/geog_postoffices/search/page:2/county:BU |title=Kansas Post Offices, 1828-1961, page 2 (archived) |publisher=Kansas Historical Society |access-date=5 June 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131009184935/http://www.kshs.org/geog/geog_postoffices/search/page:2/county:BU |archive-date=October 9, 2013 }}</ref>

It quickly grew, including some businesses and houses from nearby community of [[Plum Grove, Kansas|Plum Grove]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://peabody.advantage-preservation.com/Viewer/?fn=the_peabody_gazette_usa_kansas_peabody_18850611_english_4|title=New town of Brainerd and Potwin|work=The Peabody Gazette|page= 4|date=June 11, 1885|via=peabody.advantage-preservation.com}}</ref>