Kansapedia

MARSHALL COUNTY

NORTH CENTRAL

The Oregon-California and Mormon trails once passed through Marshall County. Alcove Spring was a popular campsite for immigrants traveling west. The Donner-Reed party camped here for several days as they waited for flooding to recede. The Pony Express made stops in Marshall County. Marysville hosted a way station for horses and riders along the mail route to Sacramento.

Marshall County, Kansas, established in 1855 as one of the original 33 counties, was named after territorial legislature member and ferry boat owner, Francis J. Marshall. In the 1840s the Oregon-California and Mormon trails were established and passed through Marshall County. The Donner Reed party camped in the county for several days due to flooding before heading west. The Pacha Ruts, which is listed in the National Register of Historic Places, was part of the St. Joseph Road, a branch of the Oregon-California Trail. Its traffic was most active between 1849 and 1852. Previously, the route had been part of a network of Native American trails. Major Clifton Wharton was among the military leaders who used the trail when conflicts arose between the Pawnee and Sioux Indian tribes.

Quick Facts

Date Established: August 25, 1855

County Seat: Marysville

Courthouse: 1979

Kansas Region: North Central

Physiographic Region: Glacial Hills

Marysville was the original county seat and despite efforts by freestaters to change the county seat away from the supposedly proslavery town, they failed. An effort was once again made in 1871, but Marysville still claimed the title. During the years of Bleeding Kansas voter fraud was a problem in Marshall County. During an election in 1857 over the Lecompton Constitution, fraudulent voting was rampant. One individual allegedly bragged about voting 25 times and said he would vote even more if he could. During the Civil War numerous Marshall County men fought for the Union.

Timeline

1840s – Oregon-California and Mormon trails begin

1855 – Marshall County is established.

1860-1861 – Pony Express

1879 – Irving Tornado

As white settlers arrived in the area Native Americans were pushed out. New farmers found refuge in Marysville after several violent encounters.

The Pony Express was a short-lived venture, which lasted from 1860 to 1861. The cross country service carried mail from St. Joseph, Missouri, to Sacramento, California, and back. The route passed through Marysville, one of the many stops along the route to provide fresh horses, riders, and lodging.

Cities & Towns

Axtell
Beattie
Blue Rapids
Frankfort
Marysville
Oketo
Summerfield
Waterville

In 1867 and again in 1874 the county suffered fromgrasshoppers, which caused damage to farmers' crops. Farming continues to be important to the county, which is among the state’s leading sorghum and soybean producers.

Irving sustained death, devastation, and renown when two tornadoes struck the area on the same day, May 30, 1879. Most of the town was destroyed and 19 people ultimately died and many more were injured. An account described the destruction the tornadoes wrought through the town and surrounding areas. Newspapers around the country ran descriptions of the terror. The violent storm attracted attention in national newspapers, which some say inspired L. Frank Baum, author of The Wizard of Oz book series.

. . . a dark cloud, funnel-shaped, . . . seemed to divide. . . and the two portions rose in the air. . . The noise was awful. The air was filled with flying fragments. . . . Scattered over the prairie were shapeless heaps that had once been houses.

Weekly Atchison Champion, June 7, 1879

Marshall County resources

Kansas Historical Markers

#25 Marysville
#26 Alcove Spring and the Oregon Trail

National and State Registers

Marysville Depot

Kansas Memory

New Chrysler automobile, Marysville, 1929

BROWSE

Several Marshall County properties are listed in the National Register of Historic Places and the Register of Historic Kansas Places. Alcove Spring was on the Oregon-California Trail campsite. The Donner-Reed Party camped here, as did the Bidwell-Bartleson Party. The route was originally created by native peoples passing through the area, It was also used by frontiersman and the military prior to the Oregon-California Trail. The Marysville Pony Express Barn was a stop on the Pony Express route beginning in April 1860. The Marshall County Courthouse was completed in 1892. The Transue Brothers Blacksmith and Wagon Shop was built in 1898. The Weaver Hotel was built in 1905-1906. The Waterville Opera House, built in 1904, has had a variety of uses including school plays. In 1914 the library was located in the basement.

Kandy Kraemer Shortle received this toy while living in Marysville in 1960. Forrest "Phog" Allen, a basketball coach at the University of Kansas, was a friend of the family. When he visited he autographed Kandy's dog.

LEARN MORE

Kenneth Dam of Marysville was a U.S. deputy secretary of state until his resignation in 1987. Congressmen Guy Helvering helped write the income tax act and was appointed the U. S. collector of Internal Revenue by President Franklin Roosevelt. He was later appointed a federal judge. William Calderhead and James Strong were congressmen.

The Landoll Corporation in Marysvile created the pickup stock rack, an innovative traveling axle trailer that was patented in 1969. The product helped revolutionize the hauling industry. Landoll went on to develop and patent many agricultural, transportation, and material handling products for various industries across the nation and around the globe.