Centropolis, Kansas – Tiny Town in Franklin County

 

Centropolis, Kansas, is an unincorporated community in Franklin County and is officially designated as an extinct town as its post office closed decades ago. As of the 2020 census, the community’s population and that of nearby areas was 100.

The area was included in a 1808 treaty ceding land to the Osage Nation, but was returned to the federal government in 1825. Afterward, several treaties were made with other Indian nations, which set off parts of what was later to become Franklin County for their use

The Town Company had big plans, wanting to make Centropolis the county seat, the Territorial capital, and the future capital of the State of Kansas. The Town Company began selling lots, and, with buyers’ high hopes, they sold for exorbitant prices, up to $500 per lot. Soon, several businesses and dwellings were erected. Dr. Hall opened a dry goods and grocery store, and Jacob Long built a trading house and, among other commodities, sold liquor to the Indians. In order to break up this traffic, Messrs. Fuller & Moore purchased Long’s stock of liquor and, knocking in the heads of the barrels, let it flow out onto the prairie. The Indian women, however, sorry to see so much valuable “fire water” wasted, gathered up as much of it as possible with buckets as it flowed away.

The Methodist Church was organized that year, with Reverend Kilpatrick serving as the first minister. The community also boasted a number of residences and businesses, including a grocery store, hotels and boarding houses, a restaurant, livery stables, harness shops, four saloons, and a prosperous gambling house. Franklin County’s first newspaper, the Kansas Leader, started the same year.

George Powers started a boarding house and, in 1857, erected a building for a restaurant. That year, the Town Company built a large steam sawmill, which was operated the first year by J.A. Marcell and the second year by J. M. Loos. That year was the most prosperous for Centropolis, which had about 30 buildings, including four saloons and a prosperous gambling house. The Kansas Leader was established and published by W.H. Austin. It was the first commercial newspaper in the county. However, the newspaper did not last long; it was sold to the Minneola Town Company, moved to Minneola, and renamed the Minneola Statesman by General James Lane. When it was decided that Minneola was not to be the Capital, the Statesman was suspended.

In 1858, Dr. Hall sold the dry goods and grocery store to H.H. Bliss. By this time, three church denominations were listed as having been organized: the Methodist, Christian, and Union Baptist. A post office was established on August 4, 1858. However, it closed on November 21, 1859.

The town’s population was 175 in 1860. However, that year, a severe drought affected farmers in this area. Many packed their belongings and moved away. By that time, it was apparent that none of the Founding Fathers’ dreams would come to pass. Ottawa was named the county seat; the townsite of Minneola had beaten out Centropolis as the capital of the Kansas Territory, even though that proved to be a “one-day wonder,” and the railroad bypassed the new town in favor of Norwood, Le Loup, and Baldwin City. From that time on, the small town found growth almost impossible to achieve. However, even in the face of adversity, the townspeople continued to hold the faith.

A religious group known as the Dunkards was organized in 1865. In this county and the adjoining counties of Douglas and Osage, there were approximately 60 members in the organization. Similar to the Amish, they were very devout, industrious, and reasonably prosperous. In dress, they were plain but neat. They were also clannish and exclusive, seldom marrying outside the church.

The post office relocated from Minneola to Centropolis for the final time on December 8, 1865.

In 1877, a neat one-story frame schoolhouse was built for about $1,200. It seated 80 students.

The school closed in the 1960s, and the students attended Appanoose Grade School, which was part of the USD 287 in Pomona, Kansas.

The other mainstay of the town was the Farmers Union Mercantile, fondly called “Olga’s” after Miss Olga Simmons, who came to work there in 1924. She continued to work, first as a clerk and then as proprietor, for 57 years—until illness forced her retirement in 1981. The old store was auctioned off in 1983 and purchased by Leland & Mabel Gilliland, owners of the garage and tire shop across the street. For a time, new life was breathed into the old store when Gilliand’s daughter, Robyn Bownam, reopened it. She operated the store until the fall of 1988, when difficulties with supplier delivery services and a lack of assistance forced her to close again. Since then, the building has stood empty, giving mute testimony to the echoes of a boisterous past and an almost forgotten dream.