Doniphan County, Kansas Genealogy

United States &gt; Kansas &gt; Doniphan County

History
Named for Col. A. W. Doniphan, of Missouri. He commanded a regiment of cavalry during the Mexican War, marching across the plains, and taking a very prominent part in the conquest of New Mexico. He was a zealous partisan in the effort made to extend slavery into Kansas.

Parent County
1855--Doniphan County was created 30 August 1855 as an original county. County seat: Troy

Extinct Communities
Arizona, Belmont Trading post, Bryan, Buffalo, Charlestown, Cold Spring Pony Express Station, Columbus, Cottonwood Springs, Evansville, Fairview, Green Top, Iola, Lafayette, LaPorte, Lawrence, LeRoy, Lewiston, Mount Vernon, Normanville, Palermo, Petersburgh, Rogersville, Smithton, Syracuse, Walnut Grove.

Kansas Heritage gives details on all these locations.

Neighboring Counties [[Image:Doniphan.jpg|right|364x325px|Doniphan and surrounding counties]]

 * Andrew County, Missouri
 * Atchison
 * Brown
 * Buchanan County, Missouri
 * Holt County, Missouri
 * Richardson County, Nebraska

Note: The wandering Missouri River forms Dohiphan's northern and eastern borders separating it from the Missouri counties of Holt, Andrew, and Buchanan. The main population center for the area is St Joseph, Buchanan, Missouri which, because of the meander of the river, almost surrounds the Doniphan town of Elwood. Doniphan's larger towns; Elwood, Wathena, and Troy; all lay in the vicinity of St Joseph, Missouri. It is important to look for records of residence of Doniphan in these surrounding Nebraska and Missouri counties especially Buchanan, Missouri.

Church
LDS Ward and Branch Records


 * Wathena

Local Histories
Bendena Centennial Committee. Bendena, Kansas, Centennial, 1887-1987. N.p.: 1988. (K978.1/-D71/B432).

Brazelton, Ralph. History of Wathena, Kansas. N.p.: 1978. (K978.1/-D71/ Pam.v.1/no. 4).

Bridges, C.G. A Sketch of Doniphan County, Kansas. Troy, KS: Bulletin Office, 1878. (K978.1/-D71/ Pam.v.1/no. 2).

Caldwell, Martha B., ed. "Records of the Squatter Association of Whitehead District, Doniphan County". Kansas Historical Quarterly 13 (Feb. 1944): 16-35. (SP 906/K13q).

Cutler, William G., "Doniphan County," History of the State of Kansas. Chicago, IL: A. T. Andreas, 1883. Available online.

"Doniphan Village Twice Site of Once-Thriving Community", Atchison Daily Globe (2nd). Dec. 11, 1949. [1 p.]. (Reel: A1859).

Gray, Patrick L. Gray's Doniphan County History: A record of the happenings of half a hundred years. Bendena, KS: Roycroft Press, 1905. (Reel: MF 295, no. 7). See the whole book online; or a complete transcription.

Kansas State Historical Society. Doniphan County Clippings, 1858-1988. (4 vols.). Topeka, KS: KSHS, n.d. (K978.1/-D71/Clipp.).

________. Index to Gray's Doniphan County History. Topeka, KS: KSHS, 1974. (Reel: MF 295, no. 8).

Kercher, Delno. History of Leona, 1885. N.p.: n.d. (K978.1/-D71/Mss/no. 1).

Lynn, C.P. " Makers of Kansas History: A Series of Sketches of Characters &amp; Events ". Ness County News &amp; Ness City Times. May 26-June 30, 1906. [6 pp.]. (Reel: N497).

Montgomery, Walter B. "Illustrated Doniphan County, 1837-1916". [Troy] Weekly Kansas Chief. Apr. 6, 1916. [386 pp.]. (Reel: T2069).

Smith, R.F., ed. Doniphan County, Kansas: History &amp; Directory for 1868-9. N.p.: Smith, Vaughan &amp; Co., 1868. (Reel: LM 475, no. 1).

Societies and Libraries
Doniphan County Library Distict (785) 985-2597

Central Library 105 N. Main / P. O. Box 458 / Troy, KS 66087

Branches:


 * Elwood Branch Library (913) 365-2409; 410 N. 9th / Elwood, Kansas 66024
 * Highland Branch Library (785) 442-3078; 306 W. Main / Highland, Kansas 66035
 * Wathena Branch Library (785) 989-4834; 206 St. Joseph / Wathena, KS 66090

Web Sites

 * USGenWeb project for Doniphan County has maps, histories, and information on local libraries, societies, cemeteries, schools, newspapers, and more.
 * Family History Library Catalog
 * Kansas on the Net Doniphan County contains a variety useful history and location details about Doniphan County including libraries, schools and government agancies.