Lincoln County, Kansas
History, Records, Facts and Genealogy

Lincoln County was created on February 26, 1867 from Unorganized Territory. The County Seat is Lincoln. The County was named for Abraham Lincoln (1809-1865), the martyred sixteenth president of the United States.

Counties adjacent to Lincoln County are Mitchell County (north), Ottawa County (east), Saline County (southeast), Ellsworth County (south), Russell County (west), Osborne County (northwest). Cities and Towns Include Lincoln Center, Sylvan Grove, Beverly, Barnard. See also County History and County Courthouse for more details.

The Lincoln County Official Government Website
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Records at the Lincoln County Courthouse

Lincoln County Tax Records

Lincoln County Vital Records

Lincoln County Census Records

Lincoln County Maps & Atlases

Lincoln County Military Records

Lincoln County Genealogical Addresses

Lincoln County Church & Cemeteries

Family Trees & Genealogy Tidbits

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Lincoln County, Kansas Family Books at Amazon.com

Extended History

Transcribed from Kansas: a cyclopedia of state history, embracing events, institutions, industries, counties, cities, towns, prominent persons, etc. ... Standard Pub. Co. Chicago : 1912.

Lincoln County, in the central part of the state, is in the third tier of counties south of Nebraska, and is bounded on the north by Mitchell county; east by Ottawa and Saline; south by Ellsworth, and west by Osborne and Russell. Its area is 720 square miles. The county was created in 1867 and named in honor of Abraham Lincoln, but remained practically unorganized territory until 1870. During these three years it was attached for all revenue and judicial purposes to Ottawa county as Lincoln township, and later was attached to Saline when that county was organized.

It is believed that the first white men to visit what is now Lincoln county were the French under de Bourgmont in 1724. Pike's expedition in 1806, passed southwest across the county. Hunting parties went up the Saline and Solomon, but their stay was always short and they left no mark upon the wilderness. In 1859 a hunting party, of which James R. Mead was a member, visited the valley of the Saline in what is now Lincoln county, and found the camp of a man who had raised the first civilized corn. In his account of the expedition Mr. Mead says, "We moved to the place and built cabins, stable and a corral for the winter. Having completed comfortable quarters, which became known as Mead's ranch, I set out to explore the country." Michael Stearns, Thomas Boyle, Ade Spahn and a man named Dean also hunted along the Saline in 1858-59, and nearly always camped at the mouth of Beaver creek.

Although the country toward the head of the Saline river was not considered safe from Indian depredations in 1864, Charles, William and Marion Chase, John Moffit and Flavius Moody started to make a settlement on Spillman creek. They located between Beaver creek and the Saline river, where they built a log house and other buildings, but one disaster after another occurred, and in May they abandoned the place because of an Indian outbreak. In July, the Moffits, accompanied by two men named Taylor and Henderson returned to the place, but were attacked by Indians while hunting near Rocky Hill. Two were killed, but the others managed to reach the house and after watching for Indians a day and a night escaped to the settlements.

The first really permanent homes of white men were built near where Beverly now stands by members of the First Colorado cavalry, which had been stationed at Salina in 1865. They came up the Saline and filed on all the desirable river claims from what is now the eastern boundary of the county to the mouth of the Beaver. Six of these men, Richard Clark, James M. Adams, Isaac DeGraff, Edward E. Johnson, William E. Thompson and Darius C. Skinner, who had crossed the plains before the war, returned during the winter of 1865-66, to occupy their claims. The next spring others were added to the population. George Green and his wife came from Massachusetts, and their daughter, Lizzie, born Oct. 18, 1866, was the first white child born in the county. W. T. Wild, of England, and John Dart, of Connecticut, also brought their families. J. J. Peate, William Gaskell, M. D. Green, Michael Ziegler, John S. Strange, Martin Henderson, and a number of others came in 1866, and the next year the population was considerably increased by immigrants from the East, among whom were Louis Farley, Ferdinand Erhardt and M. S. Green.

The first lumber in the county was cut with an old-fashioned whipsaw. By this method the logs were rolled upon a scaffold. On the top of the log stood one man to pull the saw up and one below to pull it down—a "slow but sure" process of making lumber.

In common with other frontier counties, Lincoln suffered from Indian raids during the late '60s and early '70s. In 1868 a detachment of the Seventh United States cavalry, under command of Col. Benteen, was stationed for a time at Schermerhorn's ranch, south of Rocky Hill, for the protection of the settlers. After the Indian campaign of 1874 the white people were allowed to pursue their way without molestation, and the progress of the county was more rapid, as well as more substantial in character.

A petition asking for a separate county organization was sent to Gov. Harvey in 1870, and on Oct. 4 he appointed Isaac DeGraff, John S. Strange and Washington Smith, commissioners, and F. A. Schermerhorn, clerk. The temporary county seat was established on the northwest quarter of section 35, township 11, range 8, a few miles east of where Lincoln now stands. The first meeting of the board was held on Oct. 6 at the house of John Strange. The commissioners divided the county into four civil townships—Colorado, Elkhorn, Salt Creek and Indiana. At the election in November I. C. Buzwick was elected representative; Cornelius Dietz, James Wild and John Strange, commissioners; A. S. Potter, county clerk; Volney Ball, treasurer; D. C. Skinner, probate judge; T. A. Walls, register of deeds; R. B. Clark, sheriff; Myron Green, county attorney; J. A. Cook, district clerk; P. Lowe, surveyor, and Francis Seiber, coroner. The election favored a change of the county seat and in Jan., 1871, the county officers met on the open prairie, decided on a location about 3 miles east of the place designated by the governor, and called it Abram. The Abram town company gave the county a deed to lots for a courthouse. In April the commissioners were petitioned to call an election to change the location of the county seat. The petitions were laid over at that time by the commissioners, but on Feb., 19, 1872, an election was held, Lincoln Center receiving 232 votes and Abram 176. On April 1, 1873, bonds to the amount of $4,000 were voted for a court-house. This building burned in 1898 and the present fine building was dedicated in 1900.

The first school was taught in Martin Henderson's house in 1868 by Marion Ivy. The second was opened in 1869 by David G. Bacon in a dugout near the same place. Mrs. Skinner taught the first public school, at Monroe, in 1870. In March, 1871, the legislature provided for court in Lincoln county and James H. Canfield, of Junction City, presided over the first session, which began Nov. 6, 1871. Lincoln county had no paper until 1873, when F. H. Barnhart started the Lincoln County News. He sold his interest in the paper in 1873 and on July 16, 1874, commenced the publication of the Farmer.

The surface of Lincoln county is gently rolling prairie, with high, rough land breaking into bluffs in the southern and eastern portions. The valley of the Saline averages about a mile and a half in width and with the creek valleys comprises a little less than one-fourth of the area. Native trees along the streams are ash, oak, elm, box-elder, hackberry, walnut and mulberry. The Saline river flows, nearly east and west across the center of the county, and its main tributaries are Wolf, Spiliman, Elkhorn and Prosser creeks. Springs are abundant and good well water is found at a depth of 35 feet. Magnesian limestone, red and white sandstone, mineral paint and potter's clay are all found. Cement rock exists in the west and large salt marshes are found in the northeastern portion, while salt springs abound along the Saline river and Spillman creek. Coal of a fair quality has been found and mined for local use. Stock raising is an important industry. The principal crop are winter wheat, oats, corn and Kafir corn, and in 1907 there were 100,000 bearing fruit trees in the county. Transportation facilities are provided by the Union Pacific railroad, which has a line nearly east and west across the county, following the general course of the Saline river, and a branch of the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe railroad runs to Barnard, in the northeast corner, giving the county nearly 40 miles of main track railroad.

The county is divided into the following civil townships: Battle Creek, Beaver, Cedron, Colorado, Elkhorn, Franklin, Golden Belt, Grant, Hanover, Highland, Indiana, Logan, Madison, Marion, Orange, Pleasant, Salt Creek, Scott, Valley and Vesper. The population in 1910 was 10,142; the assessed value of property, $21,198,950; and the value of all agricultural products, including live stock, $3,653,605.

County Courthouse

A new courthouse was needed after 1873 stone building built by Myron D. Green was completely destroyed by fire on the night of December 7, 1898. County commissioners David Swank, David Shaver, and William Mueller immediately began the process of planning a new building. In January 1899, a bill was introduced in the state legislature to permit the commissioners to proceed with plans and construction. It quickly passed both houses.

Three architects were considered and after examining their plans, in April, C.W. Squires of Emporia was employed. Squires estimated the construction would cost $18,322. His fee was to be four per cent of the contract price less $200. The deduction was made since Squires could not be on the project grounds as much as the commissioners thought necessary and a local superintendent would have to be hired.

Bids were taken in August 1899. The commissioners met three times to open bids before they accepted the bid o W.P. Baker. According to the Lincoln Sentinel, “Our county commissioners displayed good judgment in giving the contract to a home man. The money paid in wages will now be distributed among our Lincoln county mechanics and laborers. Farmers, having stone quarries in this vicinity, will have a chance to sell their rock instead of new quarries being opened up.” The Sentinel also reported that a force of a dozen were a work on the excavation under the direction of B.P. Wicker. A.E. McMichael was the stonemason. Fifteen men were at work on the grounds and in the quarries and Mr. Baker was still advertising for more laborers. The courthouse was made of Lincoln County stone, quarried, hauled, trimmed and put into position by Lincoln County men. W.P. Baker subcontracted all the interior finish materials-door and window frames, stairs, etc. for the courthouse to O.W. Urich, of Atchison, Kansas and the ironwork to William Bergh of Newton.

By mid January 1900, the walls were almost up and as March ended the windows were being installed. The roof was finished in late April and by mid-May the plastering was completed. The commissioners decided that there was not enough time to plan a cornerstone laying ceremony, so none was held. (click here to view picture) The building was ready for occupancy around mid July 1900. The total cost for construction was less than $20,000, and an additional $5,000 covered furnishings, vaults and heating. The building was built completely debt-free by using insurance proceeds and special railroad taxes.

One of the largest crowds in Lincoln history attended the dedication ceremonies held Thursday, September 6, 1900. All the pupils of the local public school, preceded by two town bands, marched to the courthouse to participate in a flag raising ceremony. There was a speech given by E.D. Smith, the county superintendent of schools, to the assembled multitude urging the necessity of patriotism and the highest ideals in life. Bicycle races, foot races, and a baseball game followed singing. A prize consisting of a rocker was awarded to both Mr. Richard Clark, of the Twelve Mile Creek, Colorado Township, as the oldest settler and to Mrs. Thomas M. Strange for having the largest number of children born in Lincoln County, having a total of fourteen Children, with twelve born in Lincoln County.

The courtroom was full in the afternoon to hear T.H. McMichael sing a solo, followed by music with a chorus of fifty voices and speeches by Hon. T.F. Garver, of Topeka and Judge R.F. Thompson. C.B. Daughters, on of Lincoln’s leading attorneys, also gave a speech. Later in the afternoon there was a ball game between Ellsworth and Lincoln county teams. Ellsworth eventually took home the $75 prize. The Lincoln Brass band and the Spillman Band furnished lively music at the opera house.

Architecture

Lincoln County is located in the heart of north central Kansas, and is officially, designated as the “Post Rock capital” of the state. The Lincoln County Courthouse was listed on the National Historical Registry in 1976 for its significance in local politics and government and its architecture.

The courthouse, which is situated on a square just east of the Lincoln district, was designed in the Richardsonian Romanesque style. The principal building material is the local limestone, sometimes called post rock, cut in the cyclopean style. The courthouse is two stories high with a basement and is 87 feet north to south and 67 feet east to west. The building, which is symmetrical on axis, is surmounted by a central clock tower.

A flight of eight steps leads to arched entranceway. An arch under this set of stairs gives outside access to the basement floor. There is double window with a fanlight above the double doors. Smaller arched windows have placed on wither side of the door and the window immediately above it. There are two windows with a coupled lintel that is slightly arched on the story on the wings that slightly project from the main façade. The double window with a fanlight motif is repeated on the second story. These wings are crowned with painted wood pediments.

Both the eastern and western facades have two semi-circular projections, which divide the flat wall surface. These facades are also symmetrical. An entrance down to the basement floor in centered on each façade. The entrance accentuated by a blind arch over the door. The entrance opening on the west side was later enclosed.

The trim on the building is a lighter limestone, which mainly accentuates the openings. Many of the arches have keystones. A Wide limestone string course rums above the lintels of the basement windows. The cornice is wood and ahs a blank frieze and dentils.

The roof is hipped and covered with asphalt shingles. Rising from its center is a tower, which is stylistically different from the building. Using Second Empire motifs, the tower rises in two stages. (click here to view picture)

The first stage has a mansard type roof with a window centered on every face. Below this stage is a painted wood balustrade and a cornice with dentils crowns it. The second stage has flat faces with an Ionic column on each corner. A clock is centered on three sides. From this stage rises a spire, which is topped with a pinnacle.

County offices are located on all three levels of the courthouse. There is a wide staircase to the second level there is another set of stairs that goes up to the attic, which is closed to the public.(click here to view picture)

The courtroom is located in the northwest corner of the second level. The woodwork repeats the details throughout the courthouse. The posts are smaller copies of the staircase posts. The dentils on the judge’s bench are identical to the transoms and doorframes.(click here to view picture)

Remodeling, Repairing,
And Alterations

At some point the courtroom was divided in half. The ceiling was lowered and the back wall paneled, losing much of the original ornamentation.

In 1956 extensive repairs were made inside the courthouse. All the electrical wiring and the outdated fixtures were replaced. The entire interior of the building was repainted.

In 1991 with help from the Kansas Department of Commerce, Small Cities Community Development Block Grant Program work was done to make the courthouse handicapped accessible. Architectural barriers were removed and an elevator added.

In 1993 the Kansas State Historical Society awarded the Lincoln County Courthouse a Heritage Trust Fund Grant to help with restoration. When the original blueprints were brought out to begin remodeling work, the contractor was startled to see no measurements! This project included repairing and replacing exterior ornamental metal and wood work in the clock tower; repairing, and painting fourteen semi-circular transoms above the large windows; repairing and tuck pointing exterior masonry and other extensive work was done. The cost of the project totaled $64,000 with the grant covering 80%.

Lincoln County, Kansas
History, Records, Facts and Genealogy

Records at the Lincoln County Courthouse

See Also Kansas Land Records, Marriage Records, Court & Probate Records

Lincoln County Tax Records

See Also Research In Tax Records

Lincoln County Vital Records

See Also Vital Records in Kansas

Lincoln County Census Records

See Also Research In Census Records & Statewide Records that exist for Kansas

Lincoln County Maps & Atlases

See Also Research In State Map Collections

Lincoln County Military Records

See Also Military Records in Kansas

Lincoln County Genealogical Addresses

See Also Other Kansas Genealogical Addresses

Lincoln County Church & Cemeteries

See Also Church & Cemetery Records in Kansas

Family Trees & Genealogy Tidbits

Extended History

Lincoln County, Kansas History, Records, Facts and Genealogy

Records at the Lincoln County Courthouse

See Also Kansas Land Records, Marriage Records, Court & Probate Records

Lincoln County Tax Records

See Also Research In Tax Records

Lincoln County Vital Records

See Also Vital Records in Kansas

Lincoln County Census Records

See Also Research In Census Records & Statewide Records that exist for Kansas

Lincoln County Maps & Atlases

See Also Research In State Map Collections

Lincoln County Military Records

See Also Military Records in Kansas

Lincoln County Genealogical Addresses

See Also Other Kansas Genealogical Addresses

Lincoln County Church & Cemeteries

See Also Church & Cemetery Records in Kansas

Family Trees & Genealogy Tidbits

Extended History

Lincoln County, Kansas
History, Records, Facts and Genealogy