Ionia, Kansas – Extinct in Jewell County

Ionia, Kansas, is a ghost town near the middle forks of Limestone Creek in the southern part of Ionia Township of Jewell County, Kansas. It is also an “extinct town” as it no longer has a post office. However, Ionia is a census-designated place; as of the 2020 census, its population was 17.

A.N. Cole homesteaded the first claim in Ionia Township in September 1869. Adam Riemenschnider and his wife came in with Cole and settled nearby.

The first settlers in Ionia Township were O.S. Baxter, Thomas Grimes, Erving Wooster, O.M.P. Cook, M.V. Smith, E.S. Wright, B.M. Curtis, L.E. Ransom, and James W. Moses. All of them took claims in August and September 1870. Frank L. Pound came in November 1870.

The area’s land was rich, productive, well-watered, and timbered. Ash Creek and the four main branches of Limestone Creek traversed from north to south.

On April 13, 1871, a post office was established in Ionia.

Ionia Township, the county’s largest township, was organized on August 10, 1872. Officers were soon elected, including Wiliam Roney, trustee; S.O. Carman, clerk; and J. Webster, justice of the peace.

By 1878, Ionia had two general stores, a boot and shoe shop and a blacksmith shop, and was doing a considerable trade. At that time, the Ionia Township Officers were James V. Davis, trustee; E.H. Colson, clerk; George Barnett, treasurer; H.C. Davis and Stephen Hoffhines, justices of the peace; and F.F. Finch and C. Rindom, constables.

In 1880, it had a public school, Methodist, Dunkard, and Universalist congregations, and a tri-weekly stagecoach service to Jewell and Smith Center. It also boasted two blacksmiths, a physician, a general store, a boot and shoemaker, a hotel, marble works, a dry goods store, a nurseryman, a justice of the peace, a constable, and a population of 50. Mail was delivered tri-weekly to Herman Colson, the postmaster. It did its shipping from Cawker City.

Ionia’s population was 514 in 1882

F.L. Pound, a merchant originally from New York, arrived in Jewell County in 1870 and took a homestead nine miles from Mankato. In 1882, he constructed a 34×50 foot two-story building for a store.

In the 1906-1907 school year, Principal W.D. McClure taught ninth-grade classes, making it the city’s first high school. A class of six graduated on April 19, 1907.

In 1910, the community was located on the Smith Center and Jewell City Road, had banking facilities, a post office and telegraph, and a population of 250.

The high school remained a one-year program until the 1912-1913 school year, when students were offered two years of high school. Mr. J.W. Langley taught the eighth, ninth, and tenth grades. Two years were again taught in 1913-1914.

Ionia’s post office closed on August 6, 1982.

The community continues to display several buildings, including its old high school, business buildings, and a number of homes. Its Community Church is still active.

Ionia is 12 miles southwest of Mankato, the county seat, and nine miles west of Jewell City.

Today, the Rock Hills USD 107 public school district in Mankato serves the community.