Coyville, Kansas – Extinct in Wilson County

Coyville, Kansas, the oldest town in Wilson County, is a small community on the Verdigris River in Verdigris Township. It is also an “extinct town,” as its post office closed decades ago. As of the 2020 census, the city’s population was 60, and its total area was 0.28 square miles, all land.

The first store was opened in 1859 by Albert Hagen, a Polish Jew, whose principal customers were Osage Indians. This was the first store in the county, and did a flourishing business. The first church was organized at Rachel Conner’s home by T.B. Woodward.

In 1864, Oscar Coy and P. P. Steele bought out Hagen’s store.

On May 2, 1866, the post office was established and named after Oscar Coy, who served as postmaster.

A Masonic Lodge, No. 57, was organized in 1867, and the place seemed on the high road to prosperity. In August 1867, R.S. Futhey located a sawmill a mile below the town, the first in the county. The next year, he was grinding corn and making flour in the same mill. The mill was later moved to Coyville.

Elder C.J. Wright organized the first Christian Church in 1872.

A wire suspension bridge was built over the Verdigris River in 1873. at a cost of $7,500 in township bonds.

In 1881, William Brimhall was a merchant and the postmaster, Peter Durham was an attorney who also worked in real estate, insurance, and was a loan agent; Doddridge Cartwright was also an attorney, Thomas W. Large was the blacksmith, Allen Blackman dealt in general merchandise, harness and saddlery, and real estate, and was a druggist; two physician/surgeons served the community including Dr. John Y. Simpson and Dr. R B. Whetmore

The Methodist Episcopal Church was built in 1884.

Coyville was laid out in 1886 when the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railroad was extended to that point. It soon became a shipping point for stock and grain.

There was a substantial stone schoolhouse in the southern part of town.

By the early 1900s, the town had telephone connections with all surrounding towns and a local system.

In 1910, Coyville was an incorporated city and remained on the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railroad. At that time, it had all the main lines of business, including the Coyville State Bank; telegraph and express offices; a money order post office; one rural route; and a population of 227.

Coyville’s post office closed in about 1991.

Today, the community still has several homes, a community hall, a church, and a cemetery.

Coyville is 12 miles north of Fredonia, the county seat.