The following listing is from the books, "Kansas: A Cyclopedia of History," Vols. I & II, by Frank Wilson Blackmar.


RICE COUNTY, in the central part of the state, is in the second tier of counties west of the 6th principal meridian, and in the fourth tier north of the Oklahoma line. It is bounded on the north by Ellsworth county; on the east by McPherson; on the south by Reno, and on the west by Stafford and Barton. It is crossed a little to the west of the center by the 1st guide meridian west. It was named in honor of Brig. Gen. Samuel A. Rice, of the United States volunteers, who was killed at Jenkins' Ferry, Ark., April 30, 1864.

Although Rice county was created and its boundary lines fixed by the legislature of 1867, it was not until 1870 that it was settled The first homesteader was John A. Carlson, who came in February of that year. He was followed by Andrew J. Johnson, C. S. Lindell, August Johnson, John Enrick Johnson, John P. Johnson, O. W. Peterson, John Ouincy Adams of Mass., and Leonard Russell. In Aug., 1870, R. M. Hutchinson, A. J. Howard and J. E. Perdue, of the firm of Hutchinson & Co., stopped upon the Little Arkansas with 4,000 head of cattle. Howard and Perdue returned the next January and located claims. A great many settlers came in 1871. A colony from Ohio located at Union City, 3 miles from the present city of Lyons. Buffalo was still plentiful in the vicinity, and was a great help to the homesteaders as a source of food and cash income. The first frame houses were built in this year, the lumber being hauled from Salina, a distance of 60 miles.

The county horticultural society was organized with Rev. J. B. Schlicter, president. The first murder among the settlers was committed on Aug. 27, 1871, when Edward Swanson shot and killed P. B. Shannon. The first natural death occurred the next day, and was that of John Chitty. The first birth was that of twins, George and Angie McKinnis, in September of that year. The Santa Fe trail ran through Rice county and there are a number of records of disasters to travelers prior to the coming of the settlers.

The county was organized on Aug. 18, 1871, the temporary county seat being fixed at Atlanta (Lyons). The officers appointed were: Commissioners, Daniel M. Bell, Theodore A. Davis and Evan C. Jones; clerk, Edward H. Dunham. The first election was held in September, when the following officers were chosen: County commissioners, Moses Burch, William Lowery and S. H. Thompson; county clerk, T. W. Nicholas; treasurer, T. C. Magoffin; coroner, J. W. Holmes; register of deeds, G. W. Poole; surveyor, T. S. Jackson; probate judge, Levi Jay; county attorney, H. Decker; clerk of the district court, William H. Van Osmun. Atlanta received 64 votes for county seat and Union City 48 votes. In the general election of Nov., 1871, Henry Fones was elected coroner; W. P. Brown, county attorney; Evan C. Jones, county surveyor and superintendent of public instruction; and J. M. Leidigh commissioner in place of S. H. Thompson. In March, 1872, the south tier of Congressional townships was detached and added to Reno county, in order that Peace (now Sterling) would thus be too far from the center ever to become the county seat. In 1876 an election for relocation of the county seat was held. Peace received 336 votes against 457 for Lyons, which up to this time had been called Atlanta. Rice county was at first in the 8th judicial district and attached to Ellsworth for judicial purposes. It was later changed to the 9th district.

The first newspaper was the Rice County Herald, started at Atlanta in 1872 by a Mr. Frazier. The first marriage was performed on Jan. 1 of that year, the contracting parties being James A. Moore and Ada Cartwright. The first train passed through the southwest corner of the county on the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe R. R. in July, 1872. The Salina, Atlanta & Raymond railway company was organized in 1872, but later became defunct without building any track. The first business establishment was Salady's grocery store at Atlanta in 1871. The first postoffice was at the same place, Earl Joslin, postmaster.

Soon after its organization the county was divided into three commissioner's districts, and these districts were later divided into townships as follows: 1st district. Farmer, Eureka, Lincoln, Pioneer, Raymond, Center and Valley; 2nd district, Sterling, Atlanta and Victoria; 3d district, Union and Washington. Five more have been organized since — Gait, Harrison, Mitchell, Rockville and Wilson. The towns in the county having postoffices are Lyons, Alden, Bushton, Chase, Crawford, Frederick, Gait, Geneseo, Little River, Mitchell, Pollard, Raymond, Saxman, Silicia, Sterling and Wherry.

In 1871 there were 130 persons of school age in the county. The next year there were 293, and there were 9 organized districts. The total expenditures for school purposes in that year was $118. The county normal institute was established in 1877. In 1882 the number of persons of school age had increased to 3,488. In 1907 the number of persons of school age was 4,456, and the organized districts numbered 94.

Three railroads pass through the county. The Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe enters in the east and crosses west through Lyons into Barton county. A branch road diverges at Little River, in the eastern part and runs northwest into Ellsworth county. Another line of the same road from Hutchinson, Reno county, to Ellinwood in Barton, crosses the southwest corner through Sterhng. A line of the St. Louis & San Francisco enters in the southeast and crosses northwest through Lyons into Ellsworth county. A line of the Missouri Pacific railroad enters on the southern boundary and crosses north through Sterling and Lyons into Ellsworth county. Another line of this road crosses the extreme northern portion east and west. There are 151 miles of track in the county.

The surface in the western portion is nearly level, in the central and eastern parts somewhat rolling. Extending many miles along the Little Arkansas are sand hills which have been thrown up by the winds throughout a long period of time. Limestone is found in the northeast and the southeast; sandstone in the northeast and near Raymond in the southwest; red ochre is in the northeast; there are beds of gypsum in Washington township in the southeast; immense beds of salt underlie the county, and the finished product is manufactured at Lyons and Sterling. "Bottom" lands average from one to two miles in width and comprise about 15 per cent, of the area. Timber belts along the streams average from 50 feet to one-third of a mile wide and contain cottonwood, elm, hackberry and oak.

The principal stream is the Arkansas river which flows across the southwest corner. Cow creek, which drains the western and central parts, is an important tributary. The Little Arkansas has its source in the northeastern part of this county and flows south and southeast into McPherson county.

Rice is one of the best agricultural counties in the state, the annual farm production running between four and five millions of dollars in value. In 1910 the corn raised in this county was worth $1,500,000; wheat, $500,000; live stock sold for slaughter, $1,250,000; poultry and eggs, $124,000, and dairy products, $114,000. The crops for the year before were better in many respects, the corn alone bringing nearly $3,000,000, and the wheat and oats together netting considerable over a million.

The population in 1910 was 15,106, and the assessed valuation of property in that year was $34,000,000, which makes the wealth per capita about $2,240, or about $700 above the average per capita wealth of the state.


Alden, one of the thriving towns of Rice county, is located in Valley township, on the main line of the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe R. R., about 10 miles southwest of Lyons, the county seat. It has telegraph and express offices, a money order postoffice with one rural delivery route, a bank, telephone connection with the surrounding towns, a good graded public school, and is a trading and shipping point of considerable importance. The population in 1910 was 275.


Allegan, a little hamlet of Rice county, is located on Cow creek, about 10 miles northwest of Lyons, the county seat, from which place mail is supplied by rural free delivery. Chase is the nearest railroad station.


Bushton, a town in Farmer township, Rice county, is a station on the Missouri Pacific R. R. 15 miles northwest of Lyons, the county seat. It has a bank, a money order postoffice with two rural routes, a weekly newspaper — the News — a flour mill, a grain elevator, telegraph and express offices, telephone connections, a good public school, and is the center of a large retail trade. Bushton was incorporated in 1907 and in 1910 reported a population of 222.


Chase, one of the principal towns of Rice county, is a station on the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe R. R. 8 miles west of Lyons, the county seat. It has a bank, a money order postoffice with one rural route, express and telegraph offices, telephone connections, a weekly newspaper (the Register), a hotel, some good mercantile establishments, churches of the leading denominations, and a graded public school. Chase was incorporated in 1902, and in 1910 reported a population of 263.


Crawford, a money order postoffice of Rice county, is situated in Gait township, near the northeast corner of the county, 16 miles from Lyons, the county seat. It is a station on the Missouri Pacific R. R., and in 1910 reported a population of 35.


Frederick, one of the smaller towns of Rice county, is located in Eureka township, at the junction of the Missouri Pacific and the St. Louis & San Francisco railroads, 12 miles northwest of Lyons, the county seat. It is a shipping and trading point for a wealthy agricultural district; has banking facilities, telegraph and telephone offices, a number of churches, good schools, and a money order postoffice with one rural route. The town was incorporated as a city of the third class in 1909. The population according to the government census of 1910 was 151.


Gait, a country postoffice in Rice county, is a station on the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe R. R., 11 miles northeast of Lyons, the county seat. It is also a trading point, having one general store. The population according to the census of 1910 was 15.


Genesee, the fourth largest town in Rice county, is located at the junction of three lines of railroad. One line of the Missouri Pacific passes through it running east and west, another line of the same road runs north and south, and a branch of the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe passes this point. Geneseo is 14 miles north of Lyons, the county seat. Its railroad facilities make it an important shipping point for grain, live stock and other farm products, as well as an important transfer point for travelers. It has 3 hotels, a weekly newspaper (the Journal), a creamery, 2 banks, telegraphic communications, an express office and an international money order postoffice with three rural routes. The population according to the census of 1910 was 566.


Little River, the third largest town in Rice county, and an incorporated city of the third class, is located in Union township, on the Little Arkansas river and at the junction of two lines of the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe R. R. It is 13 miles northeast of Lyons, the, county seat, with which it is connected by rail. It is the business center for Union township, has 2 banks, a grain elevator, a weekly newspaper, known, as the Monitor, telegraph and express offices, and an international money order postoffice with two rural routes. The population, according to the census of 1910, was 661. The town was founded in 1880. The first store was built by Walker & Russ of McPherson. The first newspaper was published soon after the founding of the town and was called the Little River News. Valuable stone quarries exist in the vicinity.


Lyons (formerly Atlanta), the county seat of Rice county, is located in the central part of the county at the crossing of three lines of railroad — the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe, the Missouri Pacific and the St. Louis & San Francisco. It is situated about midway between the Arkansas river and the Little Arkansas, at an elevation of 1,696 feet. It has an electric light plant, 3 banks, 2 good hotels, 1 daily and 2 weekly newspapers, 2 flour mills, a large salt works, gas engine works, machine shops and cement building block works. It is beautifully laid out with the court-house square in the center. Around this are handsome, modern retail establishments. The city is equipped with telegraph and express offices and has an international money order postoffice with six rural routes. It is divided into four wards and according to the census of 1910 had a population of 2,071. The original town of Atlanta was founded in 1870. It was absorbed by Lyons, which was laid out adjoining it in 1876, and the same year was made the county seat. The first postoffice was established at this palace in 1871 and was called Brookdale. It was also the first one in the county and Earl Joslin was postmaster. The town was incorporated in 1880 with T. W. Nichols as the first mayor. In the same year the Marion & McPherson branch of the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe was extended to Lyons. Two years later it was a thriving town of 900 inhabitants.


Mitchell, a village of Rice county, is a station on the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe R. R. 8 miles northeast of Lyons, the county seat. It is a trading and shipping point, is supplied with telegraph and express offices, and has a money order postoffice. The population according to the census of 1910 was 100.


Noble, a hamlet in Rice county, is a station on the Missouri Pacific R. R. 7 miles north of Lyons, the county seat, from which postoffice its mail is distributed by rural routes.


Pollard, a hamlet in Rice county, is a station on the St. Louis & San Francisco R. R. in Victoria township, 7 miles north of Lyons, the county seat. It is a grain shipping point and has an elevator. It has an express office and a postoffice. The population, according to the census of 1910, was 21.


Raymond, one of the old towns of Rice county, is located on the Arkansas river and the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe R. R., 12 miles southwest of Lyons, the county seat. It is a shipping point for grain, live stock and other farm produce, and also a trading point for a large agricultural area. It has a bank, all lines of retail establishments, telegraph and express offices, and a money order postoffice with one rural route. The population, according to the census of 1910, was 250. The town was named for Emmaus Raymond, an official of the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe R. R.


Saxman, one of the thriving villages of Rice county, is a station on the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe R. R., 9 miles southeast of Lyons, the county seat. It is a trading and shipping point, has a mill, an elevator, a bank, and a number of well stocked retail stores. It is supplied with telegraph and express offices, and has a money order postoffice. The population according to the census of 1910 was 150.


Silica, a rural postoffice in Rice county, is located in Pioneer township on the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe R. R. near the west line of the county. 14 miles from Lyons, the county seat. The population according to the census of 1910 was 20.


Sterling, the largest town in Rice county, is located in the southern portion of the county on the Arkansas river and the Missouri Pacific and the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe railroads, 10 miles south of Lyons, the county seat. It is beautifully laid out with broad streets and has an abundance of delightful shade trees. It is the seat of Cooper College, and has a number of profitable factories which work on the various raw materials yielded by the surrounding country. Among these are two broom factories, a salt works, machine shops, washing machine factory, flour mill, marble works, feed mill and a seed cleaner factory. The city has an efficient sewer system, waterworks, fire department, electric light plant, library, an opera house, 3 banks, and numerous churches and lodges. There arc two weekly newspapers (the Bulletin and the Journal), telegraph and express offices, an international money order postoffice with six rural routes. The population, according lo the census of 1910, was 2,133. The old town of Peace, Sterling's predecessor, was established in 1871, and was incorporated in 1876 by an official order of Judge Samuel Peters, of Marion, as the "City of Sterling." He ordered an election for city officers to be held on May 10, when the officers chosen were as follows: Mayor, J. S. Chapin; councilmen, W. H. Lape, E. B. Cowgill, A. G. Landis, W. H. Page and Patten Nimrod; police judge, W. M. Lamb. The name of the town was changed in honor of Sterling Rosan, one of the early settlers.


Wherry, a hamlet of Rice county, is located in Washington township on the St. Louis & San Francisco R. R. 13 miles southeast of Lyons, the county seat. It has express and telegraph offices, a money order postoffice, and some retail trade.