Brief
History from Kansas State Historical
Society:
Jefferson county was
one of the original 33 counties created by
the Territorial Legislature. It was
organized on March 27,
1856, by Daniel Morgan Boone (son of
Daniel Boone); William and George Dyer;
Henry Zen; Henry Chubb; William B.
Wade; Sidney Stewart; Aaron Cook; R.
P. Beebe; Jefferson Riddle; and J. T.
Wilson. It contains the cities of Valley
Falls,
Winchester, Perry, Nortonville,
Oskaloosa, Ozawkie, Meriden, and McLouth.
The county was named for Thomas Jefferson.
Jefferson County was
part of the long struggle during the
free-state controversies because of its
location. After a series of
raids, and "squatter" settlements,
Missouri pro slave supporters drove voters
from the polls during the first county
elections.
During 1856 the trouble culminated
in the Battle of Hickory Point and a raid
on Grasshopper Falls (now Valley Falls).
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