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City of McPherson company history timeline

1867

Larson who had visited the Smoky Hill River Valley in 1867, the company at last decided to send out a committee of three men to investigate the quality of the land in the valley.

1868

In September of 1868 this company, whose president was John Rodell, purchased 14,640 acres of land, mostly in Township 17, range five.

1869

The number of Swedish Kansas Pioneers was swelled in the spring of 1869 when John Nelson, with about 100 emigrants from Wermland, Sweden arrived in April of that year.

Olson reached Salina, during early July in 1869, the original party of 400 had been reduced to a group comprised of only a few families.

1870

1870 – March 1, McPherson County formally organized at Swedal.

The history of the courthouse started on March 1, 1870, when Gov.

George W. Shields of Lindsborg came to the rescue and on July 6, 1870, rented the County the second floor of his general merchandise store for four dollars per month for the County offices.

1871

The first county seat was Sweadal (3 miles southwest of Lindsborg) and moved to Lindsborg in 1871.

1872

He presented his plan to a few friends in the Salina and on June 4, 1872, they came to what they called “McPherson Center” to search for the surveyor stone.

The MPL Historical Business Database is a fully searchable resource of business and professional entities in the City of McPherson from its start in 1872 to the present.

Wolf Creek and Little Valley Township was named in 1872 when four men from Iowa in covered wagons saw three prairie wolves jumped out of the cover.

The town hall was built in the winter of 1872 – 73 but it too was ill-fated.

During the year 1872 another group of Swedish settlers took homesteads in the New Gottland settlement.

1873

The next three years Lindsborg continue to be the County seat, but on April 20, 1873, a petition carrying 483 names were submitted to the county commissioners for an election to change the county seat.

1874

The first election was held 12 days later, March 16, 1874, and Solomon Stevens was elected the first mayor.

1874 – Superior, Spring Valley and Canton Townships organized.

1878

The first school in New Gottland was established in 1878.

1879

Harper Township was named in 1879 for Jeff and Milt Harper, two of the first permanent settlers there.

1882

The County installed its first fireproof vault on February 4, 1882, at the cost of $1500 plus the old vault.

1883

Perhaps the County commissioners had a sixth sense or were just lucky, but on February 27, 1883, they decided it was time to move to larger offices. It was just as well, for on the night of March 3, 1883 McPherson’s first big fire wiped out the entire West side of Main Street, from Marlin to Euclid, taking the courthouse with it.

During the week of August 6, 1883, the Clark building was completed and accounting moved in.

J. C. Hamilton is the first fire chief; uniforms purchased in August; fire engine and horse-drawn hose cart added September 1883

1884

10 years later, June 3, 1884, the city was reorganized as a city of the second class.

H. Bowker erected the first building, a store, on the townsite, according to the 1884 Edwards Atlas of McPherson County, Kansas.

1886

The boiling point was reached on January 12, 1886 when J. M. Van Norstrand and 260 others presented a petition for an election to subscribe $75,000 in bonds for a new courthouse and jail.

1887

For one reason or another, the name of Inman was preferred by the railroad when it came through in 1887, and that was the name of the largest lake in the area.

1888

Quarantine ordinance adopted; Doctor Logan in charge of facility located at the McPherson County Poor Farm; at least 32 people infected with small pox in February and March, 1888; several deaths.

First academic semester starts 5 September 1888

1889

Grand opening held on 28 January 1889.

1890

Pest house sold for $75 in 1890.

1893

On March 9, 1893 N. W. Bridgens and 57 others presented a petition calling for another bond election.

The bones squeaked by on May 23, 1893 with 1152 voting for the courthouse and 1013 against, and 1112 for the jail and 981 against.

J. H. Haskell and J. F. Stanton, Topeka, prepared the plans for the new building and October 5, 1893, the sealed bids were opened.

1894

Cornerstone laid 1 May, 1894; a 2-story jail was built at the same time located just north of the courthouse with matching limestone.

1907

YMCA organization had been started in McPherson in 1907.

1908

The city purchased the company in 1908.

1914

In 1914 an election carried 506 to 309 in favor of a Mayor–commission form of government, the same type of government McPherson has today.

Built at a cost of $35,000 as a Swedish Mission College; sold to the Free Methodists in 1914 to become Central Academy & College

1915

First park employee was hired in December, 1915 after many years of relying solely on volunteer help from local women's clubs.

1922

Located at 1130 E Euclid in the former Vaniman home, built in 1922 and owned by McPherson College.

1936

Building expanded in 1936

1939

Located on 300 block of W Kansas; became a grade school February 9, 1939 when the high school was built on Elizabeth Street

1948

A new depot was built in 1948 at 1610 E Kansas.

1951

Prior national service started in 1951.

2005

Located at 2210 E Kansas; expanded and relocated to 205 S Centennial in 2005.

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