Edwardsville - 1860s

Edwardsville was established about 14 miles west of the old town of Wyandotte, on the Union Pacific Railroad along the Kaw River. Cutler's work includes the history of Edwardsville and Wyandotte County.

1867: Edwardsville Post Office established

Early residents:

• G. W. BETTS, farmer, lawyer, Police Judge. G. W.'s wife was R. J. Timmins Betts and they had two children, Charles and Blanche Betts. Source: Cutler (1883)
  
• Junius GROVES, Edwardsville, "Potato King of the World"
• HALF-MOON, a Delaware Chief, was the original owner of the land where downtown Edwardsville now stands.
• William KOUNS, mentioned in Cutler's history of Edwardsville, has a descendant, his great-great grandson, William Kouns, who would like to learn more about his ancestor.
• John Gill PRATT, a Baptist missionary at the Delaware Baptist Mission, on the future site of Edwardsville, KS.

Four Houses to Tiblow - 1860s - 1870s

When the Kansas Pacific Railroad was built in 1865 from Wyandotte (town at the mouth of the Kansas "Kaw" River) to Lawrence, the station at Four Houses was renamed Tiblow, in honor of local Delaware resident Henry Tiblow. The railroad ended the steamboat traffic on the Kaw River.

"Tiblow, the station on the Union Pacific next west of Edwardsville, shows signs of prosperity in a good brick schoolhouse, and several flourishing business houses. It was platted in November, 1870, John McDanield being proprietor of the town site." (Cutler's)

More history from Cutler's: Delaware Township, location of Tiblow, KS and more towns

Eventually, the annual late August fair
in Bonner was called "Tiblow Days".
In 1998, these descendants of Henry
Tiblow attended the centennial parade.

* Tiblow 1880s to Bonner Springs - 1890s

Early Residents:
In 1877, Agusta (HEATH) DUNHAM came from back east to join her parents, the HEATHs, after her husband had died 10 years before. (per Wanda Phleger's letter to the Chieftain, Sept 17, 1987, p 2). Etta Dunham (b about 1858) and Will Dunham (b about 1856) and another son (b in 1867) came to Tiblow with their mother. Etta was a baker and a tailor. Will was a carpenter.

1877: Martin Smith EVERETT (1843 - 1938) was a central figure in Bonner Springs history. He came to KS in 1866. He came to Bonner Springs in 1877, and became the 2nd Mayor of Bonner Springs in 1899. As a carpenter, Martin built many of the early buildings in Bonner Springs. He died in Bonner in 1938 at the age of 94, (one of the oldest living Civil War Veterans).

1888 - 1972:
James F. GOBLE lived in Bonner Springs and Tongonoxie, KS. Also see the Goble Family Genealogy

1896:
Martin Smith Everett's son, Charles L. Everett (1875 - 1925), had an interesting role in the early days of Bonner Springs. On Oct. 26, 1896, Charles at 21 years old, had the distinction of starting from Bonner Springs, the first Rural Mail Route in the United States. I have a copy of the 3-column newspaper article which commemorated his retirement from the RFD system, some 15 years later. (Source: Tom Everett, [email protected], Nixa, MO) [But West Virginia and Nebraska claim they were first with RFD. (Beatrice Daily Sun, Tecumseh NE, 17 Aug 2007)]

Bonner Springs Cemetery has a list of names, plus a search for names at FindAGrave.com

A Short History of Bonner Springs, Kansas N. Sween, 2000

There were big doings in eastern Kansas in the summer of 1886.

The June 25, 1886 issue of "The Topeka Daily Capital" had an article on "The new Kansas Watering Place and Health Resort: Bonner Springs". A developer had bought 900 acres of ground on the rolling land by the bluffs to the north of the Kansas (Kaw) River, and built a 50 room hotel by a 15 acre man-made lake. The article was announcing an auction to be held soon for buying lots to live right there in Bonner.

Why there? Up until that time, Bonner had been no more than a railway station called "Tiblow" on the Kansas Pacific Road (by the current highway 32?). But the developers saw profits of many kinds in the several mineral springs of the area. There was a Blue Spring, a Red Spring, Relief Spring, and several sulphur springs. What a great place for a summer health resort!

That was then, and this is now.

Bonner Springs today still celebrates Tiblow Days in late August just after school starts. Spring Creek flows through Lions Park where, by August, the summer heat has almost dried up both creek and baseball players for another season. The high school band marches on the streets some evenings, anticipating the Tiblow Days parade. Area garage sales remain popular throughout the summer. Residents have the choice of many churches. Bonner Springs is home town to a lot of people who like living in a small town in Wyandotte County near Kansas City. Some were born here and stayed, but many have come from somewhere else, and have never seen the springs of Bonner.

In 1996, there were no hotels and no motels, but by 1999 Holiday Inn Express had joined our local Bed and Breakfasts and Cottonwood Campground. North of town, Sandstone Ampitheater gets occasional streams of cars off Interstate 70 and K7 Highway, lining up for weekend concerts. In 2001 the NASCAR track is scheduled to open at 110th and I-70.

Meanwhile, Bonner is occasionally mentioned in the KC Star , the "Chieftain" publishes the weekly news, and businesses open daily throughout the older downtown and the newer second commercial area north along K-7 around Walmart and Bonner Springs (Frey) Ford. In February 2000, Brewers closed their Country Mart grocery store, and moved a bit north to open Brewers' Thriftway. In June, 2000, the Kansas Department of Transportation revealed plans to cut off direct access to the K-7 business strip, from the First Pentacostal Church to the current I-70 exchange, almost to Sandstone, including the entrance to the Holiday Inn Express, a bank branch, and several new restaurants. Two churches may have to relocate, as well as Bonner Springs Ford. (And what about the Kerry Roberts Memorial Park?) What appeared to be a great beginning for revitalized business along K-7 is now being challenged.

"State plans for Kansas 7/Interstate 70 interchange worry Bonner Springs officials" (KC Star, 6/8/0)

Who knows what will happen next?

Harold "Gene" CLARK, 1944-1991
grew up in Bonner Springs before becoming a singer and songwriter with the New Christy Minstrals and the Byrds

(from Atlanta, GA - March 23, 2001 )
"There is truly no place like home... to borrow a line from Dorothy. I try to visit Bonner Springs about twice a year. It holds so many precious memories for me. I even keep a photo of the city limits sign next to my computer.

"It helps that 3 other Kansans work with me. Being away from home has turned me into a big Wizard of Oz fan and collector. My dog, a Great Dane is even named Toto. Besides Toto, I also have a dalmatian puppy named Walt. I do a lot of horsebackriding and own a Palomino named Phantom.

"I'm proud to say I grew up in Bonner Springs, Kansas. I worked at KCMO 81 News Talk Radio as a reporter and co-anchor for the evening news. At the same time, I was a freelance reporter and co-host for a weekly community show on KCTV 5. Before that I worked a short stint in Beaumont, Texas. It was my first move away from home. I got homesick and came back to work in Kansas City after 4 months! After KCTV 5, I worked as a Weekend Anchor/Reporter for WTOL (Toledo, OH) and am currently a reporter/anchor for WAGA TV in Atlanta, GA.

"I've been nominated for an emmy twice for half hour specials on Black History in 1998 and 1999. However, I feel my greatest accomplishment is to ask Jesus Christ to be my friend, God and Savior in my life. I cringe when people try to label a Christian as "religious". I listen to a lot of Christian Comtemporary and Christian Rock in addition to other musical styles. So, I'm not someone you'd really paint as a traditionalist. "

Lena T. Laws, age 89, of Bonner Springs, KS, passed away Sunday, October 6, 2002, at the Providence Place Nursing Home in Kansas City, KS.

Funeral services will be 2 p.m. Thursday, October 10, 2002, at the Alden Harrington Funeral Home in Bonner Springs; burial to follow in Edwardsville Cemetery, Edwardsville, KS. Friends may call one hour prior to the service at the funeral home.

Lena was born March 22, 1913, in Mound Valley, KS, to Charles and Grace Gerdes. She graduated from Labette County High School in Altamont, KS, in 1931. She married Claude Miller in 1934 and together they owned and operated Bonner Oaks Grocery from 1948 until he passed away in 1964. She continued to operate the grocery until 1970, then later transformed it into an antique store. Lena was a kind and generous woman who unselfishly helped those in need. She will be remembered forever as a spunky woman with a good sense of humor and a loving heart. She will be missed by family and loved ones.

Lena was preceded in death by a son, David Miller in November 2000 and by a grandson, Brent Miller in 1986. She is survived by her husband of 37 years, Edgar Lavern Laws of the home; son, Claude Miller Jr. of Tonganoxie, KS; daughter, Rose Townsend of Shawnee, KS; sister, Mary Rundell of Boise, ID; nine grandchildren; 12 greatgrandchildren; and one great-greatgranddaughter. (Arrangements: AldenHarrington Funeral Home, 913-422-4074) Published in the Kansas City Star from 10/8/2002 - 10/9/2002.

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