subject: History Of Louisburg, Kansas [print this page] As a unique part of the Louisiana Purchase, Louisburg, Kansas has a very interesting history. The history of Louisburg began in 1803 when the Louisiana Purchase still belonged to the French.
At this time, the area surrounding Louisburg consisted of forested hills, creeks, and wide prairie fields. The confederated tribes of Wea, Piankishaw, Peoria, and Kaskaskia Indians were living on this land when explorers really began to map the area in 1827.
The Shawnee Reservation was situated to the North, the Pottawatomies to the West, the Miami's to the South, and the State of Missouri was to the East. The first settler in the area was Christmas Dagnette, who was the nephew to the Wea Chief and had an extensive knowledge of the surrounding Indian languages.
Dagnette had also learned English, French, and Spanish early in life. As a result he was a very useful translator for the government, later settlers and travelers.
He died in 1848 and was buried in an Indian cemetery. This Indian cemetery is located a mere two miles to the South of Louisburg.
This honor shows the friendship he had with all of the peoples in the area. Later, traders and missionaries began to frequently visit Lykins County.
Today, Lykins County is known as Miami County. It was not until 1854 that people began to move in and establish themselves in this area.
The first white settler to live in the Wea area is believed to be John W. Chaudoins. After the Wea began to really be established and the immigrant population expanded, Chaudoins moved to the South and initiated the settlement of the Little St. Louis are as well.
As the Wea area became an increasingly popular settlement area the Federal government began to form a treaty with the Confederated Tribes in surrounding the area. In the end, the treaty allowed the government to buy a lot of the Indian Trust Land in the later state of Kansas.
The Indian Trust Land had been given to the Indians as a reserve in 1866. After, the agreement to sell the land was established the selling site became the early foundations of Louisburg.
Soon after the sale homes, neighborhoods, businesses, churches, and a railroad station were all built to accommodate the settlers who were coming in. At this time they decided to called the town New St. Louis and its smaller counterpart to the south, little St. Louis.
However, after several complaints from the railroad about the confusion with St. Louis, Missouri it was decided to change the name to Louisburg around the year 1871 or 1872. Louisburg was considered to be a 'boom-town' because of how quickly it was established.
As a result, Louisburg had to deal with a lot of disorganization and confusion. On top of this disorder, there were many clashes between the Kansas Jayhawkers and the Missouri Raiders.
It was also difficult to create unity in the town because the rail road divided the town into north and south sections. Even though there were many differences and divisions to overcome, business continued to boom.
Millers and dealers in grain came together to develop the Louisburg Mills. The mills were led and operated by Reed and Wright.
Likewise, E.F. Cadwallader's Fruit Farm and Nursery was established to the southwest. By 1882 Louisburg was initiated into the list of third class cities.
At the time, they only had a population of four hundred. By the 1900s Louisburg had a full set of various retail and supply stores, two livery stables, and a hotel.
Even a few automobiles could be seen driving down the streets. James L. Williams opened the first gasoline station in the 1920's.
Today, the city of Louisburg continues to grow and boasts several tourist attractions that draw people from the surrounding areas. Louisburg is well worth a trip to see how history has been written and grown throughout the years.
