Missouri, Kansas & Texas Railway depot in Kimball, Kansas by H. Killam, 1959.
Kimball, Kansas, was located in Grant Township of Neosho County on the Missouri, Kansas & Texas Railway. The town is gone today.
This place was initially called Dalton when a town company was organized on April 14, 1888, by Valentine Ley, Jacob Adolph, T.M. Hewitt, Joseph Spohr, and G.W. Morgan. The land was purchased from Jacob and Mary Adolph on May 8, 1888, and a plat was filed.
However, the post office and railroad station were called Kimbal in honor of C.H. Kimball, president of the town’s only railroad. The Kimbal post office opened on May 29, 1888, with Peter Reischman as postmaster. The first building in Dalton was erected by the town company and served as a business house. The first general store was opened shortly thereafter by B. Lowe. Oliver Shanklin and William Bull opened a hardware store in June 1888. Benedict & Co., of Osage Mission, erected an elevator there that year. The only store building at Vietsburg was moved to Dalton that year and reopened. A two-story school building was erected and also used for church services.
The grain elevator was blown down by a storm in 1892. Another elevator was erected soon after. Mr. Drake bought the Benedict business and later sold it to Thomas Wells, who continued it until his death.
In June 1895, E.B. Rail & Sons relocated from Yates Center to Kimball, erected a commodious store building, and a large warehouse. They ran a general merchandise business and also bought grain and hay. At that time, R.E. Morgan operated a hardware and implement establishment, a good hotel, and a livery and feed stable. D.A. Haines supplied the local bicycle trade and operated a grocery and tinware business. S. Brown operated the barbershop and confectionery. Dr. George Morgan was a physician, and V.S. Kelsey ran another store.
Missouri, Kansas & Texas Railway.
The Christian Church, dedicated on November 28, 1897, was the first place of worship erected in Kimball. It was planned for a community church, but soon came into the hands of Christians. However, the Christians had no resident pastor, the membership lost interest, and the building sat vacant for several years. The United Brethren also had a church organization for several years, with their meetings held in the schoolhouse.
In 1906, Kimball had a Hardware and Furniture Store, a physician, and a general store.
In 1910, it was described as a thriving little town with express and telegraph offices, a money order post office, and a population of 165. The name was changed from Kimbal to Kimball on September 1, 1950. Its post office closed in 1956.
The Kimball State Bank was established in March 1911 by W.S. Marks, James A. Lowe, Christian Johnson, H.E. Acton, and Dennis Simmons, who served as directors. W.S. Marks was the president and cashier. At that time, Kimball had the distinction of being the smallest town in Kansas with a bank.
The business houses in Kimball in February 1913 were Kelsey & Anderson, hardware; Dr. G.W. Morgan, druggist; Kimball Mercantile Co., general store; Kimball State Bank; Dan Ferguson, restaurant; R. A. Braik, grain dealer; E. E. Simmons, barber; J.E. Comer, blacksmith. Thomas D. Hubbard had a hardware store in the early days.
Mr. Leech opened a lumber yard in 1917.
The United Brethren Church was dedicated on June 5, 1917. It was a lovely one-story frame building with a large basement, equipped for all church affairs. It was the only church building in use in Kimbal. The church also served as a public forum for holding elections.
In January 1919, Joseph Spohr, Ansel Sample, Frank Malson, Jas. Ross, N. Thomas, S. B. Potts, Frank Nelson, and J.W. Daggett initiated efforts to organize a Farmers Union elevator. They erected an elevator that year.
The Farmers Union Mercantile Company was organized in July 1920, but remained independent of the elevator.
The town’s first building stood until 1920, when it burned while occupied by Martin Riggles’ restaurant.
A new grade school was erected in 1921. It was a one-story building with a basement, furnace-heated and electrically lighted. High school students attend the Grant Township High School.
The Kimball State Bank closed in June 1925.
On October 18, 1929, the lumber yard and hardware of Porterfield & Weatherby burned, and a garage and blacksmith shop were severely damaged.
On September 14, 1937, a fire destroyed Ed Smith’s grocery and warehouse, Cowan’s barbershop, and Ben Ferguson’s pool hall.
A fire destroyed the telephone exchange, which was rebuilt soon thereafter. The exchange was privately owned and provided the small town with excellent service.
The spelling of the town’s name was changed from Kimbal to Kimball on September 1, 1950.
Kimball’s post office closed on January 31, 1956.
Kimball was about eight miles northeast of Erie.
Neosho County, Kansas map by L.H. Everts & Co., 1887.
©Kathy Alexander/Legends of Kansas, December 2025.
Also See:
Extinct Towns of Neosho County
Sources:
Blackmar, Frank W.; Kansas: A Cyclopedia of State History, Vol I; Standard Publishing Company, Chicago, IL 1912.
Duncan, Lew Wallace; History of Neosho and Wilson Counties, Kansas; Monitor Printing, University of Wisconsin, 1902.
Graves, W.W.; History of Neosho County, Volume I was published in 1949 and Volume II in 1951, Journal Press, St. Paul, Kansas.
Wikipedia