Wheaton, Kansas – Extinct in Pottawatomie County

Wheaton, Kansas, is a tiny town in Greene Township of Pottawatomie County. It is also an extinct town, as its post office closed years ago. As of the 2020 census, its population was 98, and the city had a total area of 0.15 square miles, all of it land.

Initially called Leghorn, this settlement was founded in 1867 on Rock Creek in the north-central part of the county. A post office was established on July 27, 1870.

In 1878, Leghorn had Church of God and Baptist congregations, four general stores, three blacksmiths, two wagonmakers, a milliner, and a population of 45. Butter and eggs were its principal exports, and mail was delivered four times weekly to Claiborne Stone, the postmaster.

In 1881, several people of German heritage lived in Wheaton

The town’s name changed from Leghorn to Wheaton on October 17, 1883.

In 1885, it was a station on the Central Branch Union Pacific Railroad. At that time, it had Baptist and Christian Churches, a general store, a blacksmith, a grocery store, a grain and livestock dealer, and a population of 20. Grain, hay, livestock, and produce were shipped, and mail was delivered daily to the postmaster. Onago, nine miles to the west, was the nearest bank location.

In 1896, the Kufahl Hardware Store was established at 318 Front Street. Over the next century, the business provided everything from funeral services to furniture to heating and plumbing, installing windmills and water pumps, light construction services, and a wide array of products. This place also served as a gathering place for the community, with people stopping for conversation and company to buy a sandwich, fill their tank with gas, or play cards.

Initially, a mortuary operated in this location on the store’s upper level. It remained there for nearly 50 years until it was moved to a separate building. The Kufahls also owned other local businesses, including the Kufahl Funeral Home.

In 1899-1899, Wheaton had two newspapers — the Wheaton Monitor and the Wheaton Advance. The following year, the newspapers were gone, and the short-lived Wheaton Tribune was issued.

Wheaton was a growing town in the early 20th century. In 1903, telephone poles were installed, and a gasoline-powered engine was used as the town’s generator. At that time, the individual deposits of the Wheaton State Bank totaled around $50,000.

In 1909, Wheaton opened its first school in the vacated Baptist Church building.

By 1910, Wheaton was described as one of the most prosperous villages of Pottawatomie County. At that time, it was still on the Union Pacific Railroad. It had a bank, telegraph and express offices, a money order post office, all general lines of business, and a population of 225.

In late 1947, it was decided that the old church needed to be moved to the city of Wheaton to serve the needs of families living in the Wheaton area, including 38 members of St. Paul in Duluth.

In 1949, the old St. Luke Lutheran Church in Duluth was dismantled, and parts were moved to the new building site at Wheaton. In the meantime, services were held at the Wheaton Mercantile. The church was dedicated on October 2, 1949.

After consolidating with the Onaga School District in 1966, the Wheaton School closed, but the building still stands today. Wheaton students participated on men’s and women’s basketball teams, a football team, and a baseball team.

Wheaton’s post office closed on October 17, 1992.

Unfortunately, after 113 years, the family-owned Kufahl Hardware Store closed in 2009.

Today, this tiny town has many homes and several old business buildings. St. Luke Lutheran Church at 129 Railroad Street still provides services.