Nortonville, 1882

From the Oskaloosa Independent, October 7, 1882

There is probably greater lack of information among the citizens of this county about Nortonville than about any other town in the county. It has grown so rapidly that it has outstripped all calculation, and now stands third, probably, in point of population among the county towns. We confess we were much surprised a few days since when, after an absence of some three years, we again looked in upon our neighbors. They have grown in that time from a score or so of straggling houses to a well built town of, it is claimed, 700 inhabitants; and the new clean look of its buildings, its four spires of churches and school house, and the life and energy of its business men, all strike a visitor very favorably indeed. A town ought to grow, though, when it is surrounded by such a magnificent country and so many solid, well-to-do farmers as is Nortonville.

Santa Fe depot, Nortonville, Kansas

To get an idea of the size of the place, we asked a few questions of our friend John Taggart, who knows everybody and whom everybody knows in that region. John began there when, if we remember aright, there was not another building to keep his company, and he has remained to see three church buildings, a commodious school house, two hotels, a livery stable, mill, steam elevator, two lumber yards, two general stores, a drug store, a drug and grocery store, two milliners, two butchers, as many tinners, harness makers, blacksmiths and shoe-makers — all those and never a saloon.

The M.E., the Presbyterian and the United Presbyterians have churches and the Christians, or Campbellites, are talking of building. There are four Sunday Schools. The Odd Fellows is the only secret order, and they have a hall.

In the school there were 120 scholars enrolled and more coming in, with M.J. Foster as principal and Miss Lillie as class assistant.

This comparatively new town that is doing such a lively grain and lumber trade on our northern border, is 17 miles from Atchison, on the A.T. & S.F., 10 miles from the Falls, the same from Winchester and 16 from the hub — Oskaloosa.

Rev. A.S. Embree is pastor of the M.E. Church, and during our visit was in Indiana, whither he had gone to be united in marriage to Miss Mary Cooper, of Stockwell — and may their lot be a happy one. Rev. F.E. Sheldon is pastor of the Presbyterian and Rev. Jos. Alter of the U.P., while Elder Brown of Emporia preaches for the Campbellites.

We took occasion while there to visit the mill of Hart & Worswick, the latter being our former well-known citizen, Ed. L. Worswick. Under Mr. W.’s management this mill is rapidly growing in popular favor and its flour finding a ready market in the surrounding towns. The mill cost, all told, about $7,000, has two wheat burrs and one for corn, and is running day and night to fill orders.  The flour is made by the patent process and no poor wheat is used. Increased facilities are to be added to the mill to meet its growing business.

Altogether, with its mills, its lumber yards, grain buyers, and active business men, we came to the conclusion that Norton is a good town and bound to grow.

This story appeared in “Yesteryears” in April 1992.