Beachner Grain Company, Harris, Kansas, by Kathy Alexander.
Harris, Kansas, is an extinct town in Reeder Township of Anderson County, Kansas. It is also a census-designated place. As of the 2020 census, its population was 47, and its total area was 0.36 square miles, of which 0.35 square miles is land and 0.01 square miles is water.
Settlement along Elm Creek, south of the present site of Harris, began as early as 1855. One of the first settlers, James Means, built his home northwest of Harris and kept an inn for westward-moving pioneers. However, it would be years before the town was established.
Kansas, Nebraska & Dakota Railroad in Harris, Kansas.
After the Kansas, Nebraska & Dakota Railroad came through the area, a plat for the townsite of Harris was filed on December 13, 1886. The post office moved from Mineral Point to Harris on February 3, 1887. Harris was laid out south of the railroad tracks on land owned by Patrick Reddington and the railroad. The Harris Town Company, with Mike Reddington as president, was formed that summer and lots were sold at a reasonable price.
The first storekeeper of Harris was Walter G. Frazier, who operated a small grocery store. Mr. Sheets, who remained but a short time, was the first blacksmith, and William Stewart succeeded him. Fred Rhodes operated the first lumber yard, Robert McClure was the druggist, and Leland Cochran ran the hardware store, where the post office was kept. Tom Caldwell, a pioneer merchant, had a grocery store, and Will Woehler was the first hotel keeper.
Tom McDonald and Tom Doyle were the pioneer bankers. Dr. Monroe was Harris’ first physician, and John James McEvoy was a cattle buyer and early justice of the peace. Mike Reddington owned an early drugstore. Pat Reddington had a dance hall located south of the business section.
Harris, Kansas Depot.
The Harris News was established in 1894 but was published only briefly.
Harris Sun newspaper was established in 1909, with Bert Fry and Lee Leftwich as its editors. It was published until 1911.
In 1910, Harris was a station on the Missouri Pacific Railroad. At that time, it had a bank, all general lines of business, schools, and churches, express and telegraph offices, a money order post office with one rural route, and a population of 250.
In 1914, the Harris Commercial newspaper was established. It was published until 1918
In March 1929, Harris was incorporated as a city of the third class.
Harris, Kansas Main Street, 1926.
Buildings in Harris, Kansas by Kathy Alexander.
The official census of 1933 gave Harris a population of 112 residents.
However, in the next decades, the town’s population steadily declined, and its post office closed on October 7, 1971.
Today, Harris still has the Beachner Grain Company and numerous homes.
Harris is 13 miles northwest of Garnett, the county seat.
©Kathy Alexander/Legends of Kansas, October 2024.
Also See:
Barn in Harris, Kansas, by Kathy Alexander.
Extinct Towns of Anderson County
Sources:
Anderson County Historical Society
Blackmar, Frank W.; Kansas: A Cyclopedia of State History, Vol I; Standard Publishing Company, Chicago, IL 1912.
Kansas Post Office History
Wikipedia