What happened to these Kansas counties and why do they no longer exist?

TOPEKA (KSNT) – Some Kansas counties haven’t stood the test of time, so what happened to them?

The Kansas State Historical Society (KSHS) names more than 20 counties on its website which no longer exist in the present day. These counties were all dissolved over the years with their land included among the 105 counties we know and recognize as making up the state of Kansas.

While the reasons vary as to why each county was renamed or dissolved, many were taken down due to ties to the pro-slavery movement or the Confederacy.

Buffalo County: March 20, 1873 – March 13, 1881

Takes its name from the American bison and state animal of Kansas. In 1881, townships located in the northern part of the county were removed and added to Lane County with the rest going to Gray and Finney Counties.

Irving County: Feb. 27, 1860 – Feb. 24, 1864

Named after the author and poet Washington Irving who is best known for penning “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow” and “Rip Van Winkle.” The county was annexed into Butler County in 1864 with other pieces of land being incorporated into Cowley, Greenwood and Elk Counties.

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Shirley County: Feb. 27, 1860 – Sept. 6, 1866

Differing historical accounts exist on how this county got its name. The KSHS says the first account lists the name as coming from William Shirley, the governor of the Massachusetts Colony in the mid-1700’s, while another asserts the name comes from “a lady of questionable character” named Jane Welch of the Leavenworth area. Shirley County was changed to Cloud County in 1867.

Dorn County: August 25, 1855 – June 3, 1861

Accounts of how this county got its name aren’t clear as the KSHS points to either Earl Van Dorn or Andrew Jackson Dorn as being the source. Both men joined the Confederate Army during the Civil War. The county was later renamed Neosho County.

Howard County: Feb. 26, 1867 – March 25, 1875

The county draws its name from General Oliver Otis Howard, a Union army officer who commanded troops during the first and second battles of Bull Run, Gettysburg and other battles. Howard County was first established as Godfrey County which was later renamed Seward County in 1861. Howard County ceased to exist in 1875 as a result of disputes over the location of the county seat which led to the county’s land being divided between Elk and Chautauqua Counties.

Foote County: March 20, 1873 – March 13, 1881

Most likely draws its name from Andrew Hull Foote, an American naval officer, who commanded a group of ‘ironclad’ gunships during the Civil War. Foote County was attached to Ford and Finney Counties in 1881 for judicial purposes with a later act changing its name to Gray County.

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Wise County: Aug. 25, 1855 – Feb. 11, 1859

Named after Virginian Governor Henry A. Wise, a supporter of slavery and brigadier general in the Confederate Army, who is also recognized for signing John Brown’s death warrant. Wise County lost land to Chase County in 1859 and was later turned into Morris County.

Weller County: Aug. 30, 1855 – N/A

Named after California Senator John B. Weller who also served as the U.S. Minister to Mexico. A map of this county’s territory places it where modern-day Osage County sits.

Hunter County: N/A – Feb. 24, 1864

This county was most likely named after Robert Mercer Taliaferro Hunter, a Virginia congressman and senator, who was a supporter of slavery and later joined the Confederate Senate. Now, Hunter County’s land makes up parts of Sedgwick, Sumner, Butler, Elk, Chautauqua and Greenwood Counties.

Davis County: Aug. 25, 1855 – March 7, 1889

This county was named after U.S. Secretary of War Jefferson Davis who later became the president of the Confederacy. Davis County lost land to Dickinson County in 1857 then to Wabaunsee County in 1860. While it gained territory from Dickinson County in 1860 and Riley County in 1873, it would have its name changed in 1889 to Geary County.

Calhoun County: Aug. 25, 1855 – Feb. 11, 1859

The KSHS says the county was likely named in honor of John C. Calhoun, a senator from South Carolina who later served as vice-president. The county may also have been named after John Calhoun, the first surveyor-general of Kansas and Nebraska. The name for the county was changed in 1859 to Jackson County.

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Breckenridge County: Aug. 25, 1855 – Feb. 5, 1862

Named in honor of John C. Breckinridge, a Kentucky congressman and later vice-president, who later served as a major-general in the Confederate Army. The county was renamed to Lyon County due to Breckenridge’s political beliefs.

Washington County: Aug. 30, 1855 – Feb. 20, 1857

This county was named in honor of the first president of the U.S.. George Washington. The county was initially very large, comprising a huge swath of territory in southwestern Kansas. Old Washington County’s land now makes up all or parts of Barber, Barton, Clark, Comanche, Edwards, Ford, Grant, Gray and more than a dozen other counties. The name was later passed on to present-day Washington County along the Nebraska border.

Madison County: Aug. 25, 1855 – Jan. 31, 1861

Records with KSHS show the county’s name most likely came from the fourth president of the U.S., James Madison. The county was divided in 1861 with the northern parts eventually becoming part of Lyon County while the southern half was absorbed by Greenwood County.

Garfield County: March 23, 1887 – March 18, 1893

Named in honor of James Abram Garfield, 20th president of the U.S., this county mostly made up land from Buffalo County. Bat Masterson and other deputies were hired to keep the peace in this county due to a bitter rivalry between the towns of Ravanna and Eminence in 1887. The Kansas Supreme Court later decided in 1892 the county was illegally organized and was annexed into Finney County in 1893.

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St. John County: March 13, 1881 – Feb. 25, 1887

This county takes its name from John P. St. John who served as governor of Kansas from 1879 to 1883. A KSHS map shows this county’s land now makes up Logan County.

Billings County: March 20, 1873 – Feb. 25, 1874

The 1873 Kansas Legislature changed the name of Norton County to Billings County either as a joke or to appease the vanity of state Representative N. H. Billings. The name was changed in 1874 when Representative Billings’ time in the legislature ended.

Richardson County: Aug. 25, 1855 – Feb. 11, 1859

The county was named after William P. Richardson, a pro-slavery member of the territorial council of Kansas. Richardson County was later absorbed by Wabaunsee County.

McGee County: Aug. 25, 1855 – Feb. 18, 1860

Named after Mabillon W. McGee, a member of the Kansas House of Representatives and supporter of slavery. The name of the county was later changed due to McGee’s political leanings in 1860 to Cherokee County.

Lykins County: Aug. 25, 1855 – June 3, 1861

This county draws its name from the pro-slavery Baptist missionary David Lykins. Lykins County was later changed to Miami County.

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Godfrey County: Aug. 30, 1855 – June 3, 1861

Bill Godfrey, a trader with Osage tribe members in the 1850’s, or Gabriel Godfrey, who worked with the Pottawatomie tribe in the 1820’s, could be the inspiration for this county’s name. The name was later changed in 1861 to Seward County which later became Howard County. Godfrey County’s land now makes up parts of Elk and Chautauqua Counties.

Sequoyah County: March 20, 1873 – Feb. 22, 1883

This county was named after a leader of the Cherokee tribe named Sequoyah who is credited with inventing the Cherokee alphabet. The county was later absorbed into Finney County in 1883.

Peketon County: Feb. 21, 1860 – Feb. 26, 1867

Initially, this county comprised more than one-quarter of the state’s land. The name for the county has yet to be properly identified but the KSHS says it may be connected to a Native American term for ‘flat land.’ Peketon County later became part of Marion County in 1867.

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Kansas County: N/A – Feb. 22, 1883

The county named after the state drew inspiration from the Kansa or Kaw Native American tribes. Kansas County disappeared in 1883 as Seward County expanded to include parts of its land which was later reestablished into Morton County.

Otoe County: Feb. 17, 1860 – Feb. 24 – 1864

Named after the Otoe (Oto) Native American tribe of Nebraska, this county was never officially organized. Much of Otoe County is now included in modern-day Butler County with other pieces of land going to Harvey and Sedgwick Counties.

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