The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1921-03-19
ORIGIN OF COUNTY NAMES
Brief Sketches of Kansas County
Names. Compiled by Kansas Of
fetal of Topeka.

Douglas-Organized in 1855; county
seat. Lawrence. United States Sena-
tor stephen A. Douglas was honored
by the naming of this county. 1t was
his leadership that won for Kansas
the popular sovereignty plank in the
organic act of the territory. and his
part in the 1854 congress will forever
be brilliant page in Kansas history
The Illinois senator was candidate
Tor the presidency in 1850. At Lee
compton. in Douglas county, stands
today the territorial capitol used by
the first legislature. and here CEN
tered the forces for and against the
establishment of a new slave state.
Edwards-Organized in 1874; coun-
ty seat. Kinsley. Named in honor of
John H. Edwards. state senator from
Ellis, who in later years moved to
New Mexico.
Elk-Organized in 1875; county
seat, Howard. This county was
formed from the northern portion of
what, was once Howard county. The
name was taken from the river which
traverses the county from northwest
to southeast.
E1lis-Organized in 1867; county
seat, Hays. Friends of First Lieuten-
ant George Ellis. of Company I.
Twelfth Kansas Infantry. who was
Jenkins Ferry, Ark. were instrume en-
tai in having this county named in
his honor
oo1 Ellsw satt E'7,g in 1857:
Ellsworth was established on the
banks of the Smoky Hill river. and
in compliment to the officer who con-
structed the buildings and stockade.
General Curtis called it Fort Ellis
worth This nffjoa-
tenant Allen Ellsworth. of Company
FL, Second Iowa Cavalry The sup
position that the county was being
named for Col. E. E. Ellsworth, of
national fame. is therefore erroneous.
tho many old-time residents will de-
clare to this day that such is the fact.
Finney-organized in 1854: county
seat Garden City. Originally this
county, which embraced vast territory.
was named Sequoyah, from the his
torical Cherokee Indian chief of that
name, the inventor of the Cherokee
alphabet, and remarkable for his
traits of fairness and human sympa-
tiny: In 1888 the name was changed
to Finney, for Lieut.. Gov. Daniel W.
F'inney.
Ford-organized in 1878: county
seat. Dodge City. This county was
christened as a mark of pride in the
military career of Col James H. Ford.
Second Colorado cavalry, and breyet
brigadier general United States yolun-
teers.
Franklin-Organize in 1855: coun-
ty seat, Ottawa. Not all of the coun-
ties formed in the territorial days were
handicapped with names of the more
or less illustrious living or dead ad-
herents of the doctrine of slavery It
is evident that there were admirers
of the Philadelphia statesman-philoso
pher. and justly celebrated exponent
of the "art preservative of all arts
Benjamin Franklin, for whom this
county was named.
Geary-Organized in 1855: county
seat. Junction City. This county was
| organized as Davis county. In honor
of the president of the southern con-
| federacy. BY act of the legislature it
was changed February %. 1889. to
C1earv. in honor of John White Geary,
| the third territorial governor of Kan
sas- There were friends of the name.
, If not the namesake. who protested
vigorously at the dropping of the name
Davis. and an election was held to de-
| eide it. The opposition to Davis won.
| Torpedo Factory Is Shut Down.
Weymouth, Eng. March 1s-It has
been announced that the famous
| Whitehead Torpedo works here will
| close down in March owing to the