Extinct Towns of Marion County, Kansas

Santa Fe Trail Ruts near Lost Spring, Kansas by Kathy Alexander.

Santa Fe Trail Ruts near Lost Spring, Kansas, by Kathy Alexander.

Aulne, Kansas – Dead in Marion County

Bichet & Its One-Room School

Chingawasa Springs Resort

Cottonwood Crossing/Moore’s Ranch

Lost Spring Station

Waldeck/Cottonwood Holes

More Extinct Towns:

Town Post Office Dates Additional Information
Alvin 1901-1905
Avilda 1878-1879
Aulne 1887-1954 Located in Wilson Township, it was a station on the Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Railroad six miles south of Marion. In 1910, it had a money order post office, a good local trade, did considerable shipping and had a population of 150. Today, the town still has a few buildings and an active church.

Aulne, Kansas, 1880s.

Aulne, Kansas, 1880s.

Aulne Church today.

Aulne Church today.

Bethel 1870-1883
Canada 1884-1954 An unincorporated community, it was named for many Canadian immigrants coming to the area. It is located between Hillsboro and Marion. There are just a few buildings left today.
Clear Creek 1867
Creswel 1873-1901
Doyle 1866-1871
Fair Play 1877-1878 It was located five miles south of Peabody.
Fred 1883-1901 Fred was between Peabody and Hillsboro.
Gale 1883-1887
Gnadenau None Gnadenau was a communal village of German-speaking Mennonite immigrants from Russia who arrived in August 1874. Its name means Meadow of Grace or Grace Meadow. In 1879, the village dramatically declined when the Marion and McPherson Railway Company built a railway north of the village and established the nearby town of Hillsboro. No buildings remain at this former community site. But the Gnadenau Cemetery still exists. It was located about two miles southeast of Hillsboro.
Horner 1898-1904 Horner had a railroad station, cattle pens, and the Oscar Horner Quarry, which yielded magnesium limestone. It was located approximately three miles northeast of Peabody.
Kuhnbrook 1887-1898
Menno 1881-1886
Milton 1872-1877
Moore 1897-1899
Mud Creek 1873-1886
Oursler 1886-1889 Oursler was named for W.E.M. Oursler, who came to Kansas in 1870 and kept a post office on his place for several years. After the Marion and McPherson Railway Company was built from Florence to Marion on the southwest side of Oursler, a depot was built, and mail was brought to the station early each day. In addition to the post office, there was a brick kiln and a small grocery store. On October 17, 1877, W.E.M. Oursler and his wife filed a plot for a small town named Oursler with a size of two blocks. But the town didn’t make it. Today no buildings remain. It was located about 3.5 miles southeast of Marion.
Quarry 1888-1897 Quarry had a railroad station and a limestone rock quarry. It was approximately 5.5 miles north of Marion.
Risley 1873-1879 The post office moved to Hillsboro.
Sampson 1881-1883
Watchorn None  Watchorn was a former oil boom community during the 1910s and 1920s. It is located at the corner of Timber Rd and 60th St.
Youngton 1872-1873
1875-1901
Located northeast of Marion.
Cottonwood Crossing in Marion County, west of Durham by Kathy Alexander.

Cottonwood Crossing in Marion County, west of Durham, by Kathy Alexander.

© Kathy Alexander/Legends of Kansas, updated May 2024.

Also See:

Marion County, Kansas

Marion County Photo Gallery

Santa Fe Trail in Marion County

Santa Fe Trail – Highway to the Southwest