Oursler, Kansas: Difference between revisions

Oursler, Kansas
Oursler, Kansas
Ghost town
	KDOT map of Marion County (legend)
	Oursler Oursler
	Coordinates: 38°17′23″N 96°58′52″W / 38.28972°N 96.98111°W
Country	United States
State	Kansas
County	Marion
Township	Fairplay
Founded	1877
Platted	1877
Named for	W.E.M. Oursler
Elevation	1,293 ft (394 m)
Population
• Total	0
Time zone	UTC-6 (CST)
• Summer (DST)	UTC-5 (CDT)
Area code	620
FIPS code	20-53710
GNIS ID	484817

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Oursler is a ghost town in Marion County, Kansas, United States.^[1] It is currently a ghost town that was located approximately 3.5 miles southeast of Marion next to a former railroad.^[2] No buildings remain of this former community.

History

Early history

For many millennia, the Great Plains of North America was inhabited by nomadic Native Americans. From the 16th century to 18th century, the Kingdom of France claimed ownership of large parts of North America. In 1762, after the French and Indian War, France secretly ceded New France to Spain, per the Treaty of Fontainebleau.

19th century

In 1802, Spain returned most of the land to France. In 1803, most of the land for modern day Kansas was acquired by the United States from France as part of the 828,000 square mile Louisiana Purchase for 2.83 cents per acre.

In 1854, the Kansas Territory was organized, then in 1861 Kansas became the 34th U.S. state. In 1855, Marion County was established within the Kansas Territory, which included the land for modern day Oursler.^[3]

As early as 1875, city leaders of Marion held a meeting to consider a branch railroad from Florence. In 1878, Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway and parties from Marion County and McPherson County chartered the Marion and McPherson Railway Company.^[4] In 1879, a branch line was built from Florence through Oursler to Marion then west to McPherson, in 1880 it was extended to Lyons, in 1881 it was extended to Ellinwood.^[5] The line was leased and operated by the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway.

Oursler was named for W.E.M. Oursler, who came to Kansas in 1870 and kept a post office on his place for several years. After the railroad was built from Florence to Marion on the southwest side of Oursler, a depot was built and mail was brought to the station early each day. In addition to the post office, there was a brick kiln and a small grocery store. On October 17, 1877, W.E.M. Oursler and his wife filed a plot for a small town named Oursler with a size of two blocks.^[4]

20th century

The railroad from Florence to Oursler to Marion, was abandoned in 1968.^[6]

21st century

Currently no buildings or landmarks exist in Oursler, thus it's considered a Ghost Town.

Geography

Oursler was located at coordinates 38°17′23″N, 96°58′52″W in the scenic Flint Hills and Great Plains of the state of Kansas.^[1] It was on a triangular plot, located at the southwest corner of 150th Street and Union Road in Marion County, Kansas. It was bordered by the two roads and the railroad southwest of the corner. Its platted location was the NE 1/4 of the NW 1/4 of Section 27, Township 20, Range 4.^[4]^[7]

References

^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f "Oursler, Kansas", Geographic Names Information System, United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior
^ Blackmar, Frank Wilson (1912). Kansas: A Cyclopedia of State History, Volume 2. Standard Publishing Company. pp. 466.
^ The History of Marion County and Courthouse
^ ^a ^b ^c Marion County Kansas : Past and Present; Sondra Van Meter; MB Publishing House; LCCN 72-92041; 344 pages; 1972.
^ Fourth Annual Report of the Board of Railroad Commissioners for the Year Ending December 1, 1886 in State of Kansas; Kansas Publishing House; 1886.
^ Railway Abandonment 1968
^ Atlas of Marion County Kansas - Centre Township (page 43); The Davy Map and Atlas Co; 87 pages; 1885.

External links

Historical

Marion County cemetery list, archive of KsGenWeb
Marion County history bibliography, Marion County school bibliography, Kansas Historical Society

Maps

Marion County maps: Current, Historic, KDOT
Topo Map of Marion to Florence area, USGS

[GNIS-1] ^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f "Oursler, Kansas", Geographic Names Information System, United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior

[2] Blackmar, Frank Wilson (1912). Kansas: A Cyclopedia of State History, Volume 2. Standard Publishing Company. pp. 466.

[Marion-Co-History-3] The History of Marion County and Courthouse

[MarionCountyBook-4] Marion County Kansas : Past and Present; Sondra Van Meter; MB Publishing House; LCCN 72-92041; 344 pages; 1972.

[5] Fourth Annual Report of the Board of Railroad Commissioners for the Year Ending December 1, 1886 in State of Kansas; Kansas Publishing House; 1886.

[Abandon_Railway_1968-6] Railway Abandonment 1968

[7] Atlas of Marion County Kansas - Centre Township (page 43); The Davy Map and Atlas Co; 87 pages; 1885.

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

[5]

[6]

[7]

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
+{{Short description|Ghost town in Marion County, Kansas}}
+{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2023}}
 {{Infobox settlement
 |name                     = Oursler, Kansas
-|settlement_type          = [[Ghost Town]]
+|settlement_type          = [[List of ghost towns in Kansas|Ghost town]]
-|nickname                 =
-|motto                    =
 <!-- Images -->
 |image_skyline            =
 |image_caption            =
-|image_flag               =
-|image_seal               =
 <!-- Maps -->
-|pushpin_map              = Kansas
+|image_map                =
+|map_caption              =
+|image_map1               = Map of Marion Co, Ks, USA.png
+|map_caption1             = [[Kansas Department of Transportation|KDOT]] map of [[Marion County, Kansas|Marion County]] ([[:File:Kansas official transportation map legend.png|legend]])
+|pushpin_map              = Kansas#USA
 |pushpin_label            = Oursler
 |pushpin_label_position   = right <!-- the position of the pushpin label: left, right, top, bottom, none -->
-|pushpin_map_caption      = Location within the [[U.S. state|state]] of [[Kansas]]
+|pushpin_map_caption      =
-|image_map                =
-|mapsize                  =
-|map_caption              =
-|image_map1               =
-|mapsize1                 =
-|map_caption1             =
 <!-- Location -->
+|coordinates_footnotes    = <ref name="GNIS"/>
-|latd  = 38 |latm  = 17 |lats  = 23 |latNS  = N
+|coordinates              = {{nowrap|{{coord|38|17|23|N|96|58|52|W|region:US-KS_type:city_source:GNIS|display=inline,title}}}}
-|longd = 96 |longm = 58 |longs = 52 |longEW = W
+|subdivision_type         = [[List of sovereign states|Country]]
-|coordinates_footnotes    = <ref name="GNIS">[http://geonames.usgs.gov/pls/gnispublic/f?p=gnispq:3:::NO::P3_FID:484817 Geographic Names Information System (GNIS) details for Oursler, Kansas; United States Geological Survey (USGS); October 13, 1978.]</ref>
-|coordinates_display      = inline,title
+|subdivision_name         = United States
+|subdivision_type1        = [[U.S. state|State]]
-|coordinates_type         = region:US-KS_type:city_source:GNIS
-|subdivision_type         = [[List of countries|Country]]
-|subdivision_name         = [[United States]]
-|subdivision_type1        = [[Political divisions of the United States|State]]
 |subdivision_name1        = [[Kansas]]
 |subdivision_type2        = [[List of counties in Kansas|County]]
 |subdivision_name2        = [[Marion County, Kansas|Marion]]
+|subdivision_type3        = [[List of townships in Kansas|Township]]
+|subdivision_name3        = [[Fairplay Township, Marion County, Kansas|Fairplay]]
-<!-- Government -->
+<!-- Established -->
-|government_footnotes     =
+|established_title        = Founded
-|government_type          =
-|leader_title             =
-|leader_name              =
-|leader_title1            =
-|leader_name1             =
-|established_title        = [[Platted]]
 |established_date         = 1877
+|established_title1       = [[Platted]]
+|established_date1        = 1877
+|named_for                = W.E.M. Oursler
 <!-- Area -->
 |area_footnotes           =
 |area_total_sq_mi         =
 |area_land_sq_mi          =
 |area_water_sq_mi         =
 |unit_pref                = Imperial
@@ Line 56: / Line 48: @@
 |elevation_footnotes      = <ref name="GNIS"/>
 |elevation_ft             = 1293
-|elevation_m              = 394
 <!-- Population -->
 |population_footnotes     =
 |population_as_of         =
 |population_total         = 0
-|pop_est_as_of            =
-|population_est           =
 <!-- General information -->
 |timezone                 = [[Central Time Zone|CST]]
 |utc_offset               = -6
-|timezone_DST             = [[Central Time Zone|CDT]]
+|timezone_DST             = CDT
 |utc_offset_DST           = -5
 |postal_code_type         = [[ZIP code]]
@@ Line 74: / Line 63: @@
 |area_code_type           = [[North American Numbering Plan|Area code]]
 |area_code                = [[Area code 620|620]]
-|blank_name               = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID
+|blank_name               = [[Federal Information Processing Standards|FIPS code]]
-|blank_info               = 0484817 <ref name="GNIS"/>
+|blank_info               = {{FIPS|20|53710}} <ref name="GNIS"/>
-|website                  =
+|blank1_name              = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS ID]]
-|footnotes                = <center>'''W i k i p e d i a'''</center>
+|blank1_info              = 484817 <ref name="GNIS">{{cite gnis2|484817|Oursler, Kansas}}</ref>
+|website                  =
 }}
-'''Oursler''' was an [[unincorporated community]] in [[Marion County, Kansas|Marion County]], [[Kansas]], [[United States]].<ref name="GNIS"/>  It is currently a [[ghost town]] that was located approximately 3.5 miles southeast of [[Marion, Kansas|Marion]] next to a former railroad.<ref>{{cite book | url=http://books.google.com/books?id=Qi9cXyTWt9EC&pg=PA430#v=onepage&q&f=true | title=Kansas: A Cyclopedia of State History, Volume 2 | publisher=Standard Publishing Company | author=Blackmar, Frank Wilson | year=1912 | pages=466}}</ref>  No buildings remain of this former community.
+'''Oursler''' is a [[ghost town]] in [[Marion County, Kansas]], United States.<ref name="GNIS"/>  It is currently a [[ghost town]] that was located approximately 3.5 miles southeast of [[Marion, Kansas|Marion]] next to a former railroad.<ref>{{cite book | url=https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_Qi9cXyTWt9EC | title=Kansas: A Cyclopedia of State History, Volume 2 | publisher=Standard Publishing Company | author=Blackmar, Frank Wilson | year=1912 | pages=[https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_Qi9cXyTWt9EC/page/n456 466]}}</ref>  No buildings remain of this former community.
+{{TOC limit|limit=2}}
 ==History==
 [[File:Stouffer's Railroad Map of Kansas 1915-1918 Marion County.png|thumb|left|1915 Railroad Map of [[Marion County, Kansas|Marion County]]]]
+[[Image:Map elk chase kansas.jpg|thumb|right|1893 Railroad Map]]
 ===Early history===
 {{See also|History of Kansas}}
-For many [[millennia]], the [[Great Plains]] of [[North America]] was inhabited by [[nomadic]] [[Native Americans in the United States|Native Americans]].  From the 16th century to 18th century, the [[Kingdom of France]] claimed ownership of large parts of [[North America]].  In 1762, after the [[French and Indian War]], France secretly ceded [[New France]] to [[Spain]], per the [[Treaty of Fontainebleau (1762)|Treaty of Fontainebleau]].  In 1802, Spain returned most of the land to France, but keeping title to about 7,500 square miles.
+For many [[millennia]], the [[Great Plains]] of [[North America]] was inhabited by [[nomadic]] [[Native Americans in the United States|Native Americans]].  From the 16th century to 18th century, the [[Kingdom of France]] claimed ownership of large parts of [[North America]].  In 1762, after the [[French and Indian War]], France secretly ceded [[New France]] to [[Spain]], per the [[Treaty of Fontainebleau (1762)|Treaty of Fontainebleau]].
 ===19th century===
-In 1803, most of the land for [[History of Kansas|modern day Kansas]] was acquired by the United States from France as part of the 828,000 square mile [[Louisiana Purchase]] for 2.83 [[Penny (United States coin)|cents]] per [[acre]].  In 1848, after the [[Mexican-American War]], the [[Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo]] with [[Spain]] brought into the United States all or part of land for ten future states, including southwest Kansas.  In 1854, the [[Kansas Territory]] was organized, then in 1861 [[Kansas]] became the 34th [[U.S. state]].  In 1855, [[Marion County, Kansas|Marion County]] was established within the [[Kansas Territory]], which included the land for Oursler.<ref name="Marion-Co-History">[http://www.marioncoks.net/AboutMarionCounty/History/tabid/7634/Default.aspx The History of Marion County and Courthouse]</ref>
+In 1802, Spain returned most of the land to France.  In 1803, most of the land for [[History of Kansas|modern day Kansas]] was acquired by the United States from France as part of the 828,000 square mile [[Louisiana Purchase]] for 2.83 [[Penny (United States coin)|cents]] per [[acre]].
-As early as 1875, city leaders of [[Marion, Kansas|Marion]] held a meeting to consider a branch railroad from [[Florence, Kansas|Florence]]. In 1878, [[Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway]] and parties from [[Marion County, Kansas|Marion County]] and [[McPherson County, Kansas|McPherson County]] chartered the [[Marion and McPherson Railway Company]].<ref name="MarionCountyBook">''Marion County Kansas : Past and Present''; Sondra Van Meter; MB Publishing House; [[LCCN]] 72-92041; 344 pages; 1972.</ref>  In 1879, a branch line was built from [[Florence, Kansas|Florence]] through Oursler to [[Marion, Kansas|Marion]] then west to [[McPherson, Kansas|McPherson]], in 1880 it was extended to [[Lyons, Kansas|Lyons]], in 1881 it was extended to [[Ellinwood, Kansas|Ellinwood]].<ref>[http://books.google.com/books?id=ZIwpAAAAYAAJ Fourth Annual Report of the Board of Railroad Commissioners for the Year Ending December 1, 1886 in State of Kansas; Kansas Publishing House; 1886.]</ref> The line was leased and operated by the [[Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway]].
+In 1854, the [[Kansas Territory]] was organized, then in 1861 [[Kansas]] became the 34th [[U.S. state]].  In 1855, [[Marion County, Kansas|Marion County]] was established within the [[Kansas Territory]], which included the land for modern day Oursler.<ref name="Marion-Co-History">[http://www.marioncoks.net/AboutMarionCounty/History/tabid/7634/Default.aspx The History of Marion County and Courthouse]</ref>
+As early as 1875, city leaders of [[Marion, Kansas|Marion]] held a meeting to consider a branch railroad from [[Florence, Kansas|Florence]]. In 1878, [[Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway]] and parties from [[Marion County, Kansas|Marion County]] and [[McPherson County, Kansas|McPherson County]] chartered the [[Marion and McPherson Railway Company]].<ref name="MarionCountyBook">''Marion County Kansas : Past and Present''; Sondra Van Meter; MB Publishing House; [[LCCN]] 72-92041; 344 pages; 1972.</ref>  In 1879, a branch line was built from [[Florence, Kansas|Florence]] through Oursler to [[Marion, Kansas|Marion]] then west to [[McPherson, Kansas|McPherson]], in 1880 it was extended to [[Lyons, Kansas|Lyons]], in 1881 it was extended to [[Ellinwood, Kansas|Ellinwood]].<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=ZIwpAAAAYAAJ Fourth Annual Report of the Board of Railroad Commissioners for the Year Ending December 1, 1886 in State of Kansas; Kansas Publishing House; 1886.]</ref> The line was leased and operated by the [[Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway]].
 Oursler was named for W.E.M. Oursler, who came to Kansas in 1870 and kept a post office on his place for several years.  After the railroad was built from Florence to Marion on the southwest side of Oursler, a depot was built and mail was brought to the station early each day.  In addition to the post office, there was a brick kiln and a small grocery store.  On October 17, 1877, W.E.M. Oursler and his wife filed a plot for a small town named '''Oursler''' with a size of two blocks.<ref name="MarionCountyBook"/>
@@ Line 103: / Line 98: @@
 ==Geography==
-Oursler was located at {{coord|38|17|23|N|96|58|52|W|type:city}},<ref name="GNIS"/> on triangular plot, located at the southwest corner of 150th Street and Union Road in [[Marion County, Kansas]].  It was bordered by the two roads and the railroad southwest of the corner.  Its platted location was the NE 1/4 of the NW 1/4 of Section 27, Township 20, Range 4.<ref name="MarionCountyBook"/><ref>[http://www.kansasmemory.org/item/224032/page/23 ''Atlas of Marion County Kansas'' - Centre Township (page 43); The Davy Map and Atlas Co; 87 pages; 1885.]</ref>
+Oursler was located at [[Geographic coordinate system|coordinates]] 38°17′23″N, 96°58′52″W in the scenic [[Flint Hills]] and [[Great Plains]] of the state of [[Kansas]].<ref name="GNIS"/>  It was on a triangular plot, located at the southwest corner of 150th Street and Union Road in [[Marion County, Kansas]].  It was bordered by the two roads and the railroad southwest of the corner.  Its platted location was the NE 1/4 of the NW 1/4 of Section 27, Township 20, Range 4.<ref name="MarionCountyBook"/><ref>[http://www.kansasmemory.org/item/224032/page/23 ''Atlas of Marion County Kansas'' - Centre Township (page 43); The Davy Map and Atlas Co; 87 pages; 1885.]</ref>
-==See also==
+==References==
-{{Portal|Kansas}}
+{{Reflist}}
-* [[Fairplay Township, Marion County, Kansas]] (location of Oursler)
-* [[Marion County, Kansas#Historical maps|Historical Maps of Marion County, Kansas]]
 ==Further reading==
 {{See also|Marion County, Kansas#Further reading|l1=List of books about Marion County, Kansas}}
-==References==
+==External links==
+;Historical
-{{Reflist}}
+* [https://web.archive.org/web/20130509035324/http://skyways.lib.ks.us/genweb/marion/library/cemetery/CemList.html Marion County cemetery list], archive of KsGenWeb
+* [https://www.kshs.org/p/marion-county-history-bibliography/13487 Marion County history bibliography],  [https://www.kshs.org/p/marion-county-schools-bibliography/13662 Marion County school bibliography], Kansas Historical Society
+;Maps
+* Marion County maps: [https://www.ksdot.org/Assets/wwwksdotorg/bureaus/burTransPlan/maps/county-pdf/marion.PDF Current], [https://www.ksdot.org/bureaus/burtransplan/maps/PastPublishedCounty.asp Historic], KDOT
+* [https://archive.org/download/usgs_drg_ks_38096_c8/o38096c8.tif Topo Map of Marion to Florence area], USGS
-==External links==
-* Marion County Maps: [http://www.ksdot.org/Assets/wwwksdotorg/bureaus/burTransPlan/maps/county-pdf/marion.PDF Current], [http://www.ksdot.org/bureaus/burtransplan/maps/PastPublishedCounty.asp Historic], KDOT
-{{-}}
 {{Marion County, Kansas}}

v t e Municipalities and communities of Marion County, Kansas, United States
County seat: Marion
Cities	Burns Durham Florence Goessel Hillsboro Lehigh Lincolnville Lost Springs Marion Peabody Ramona Tampa	Map of Kansas highlighting Marion County
CDPs	Eastshore Pilsen
Unincorporated communities	Antelope Aulne Canada Marion County Lake
Ghost towns	Elk‡ Gnadenau Hampson Oursler Waldeck Watchorn
Townships	Blaine Catlin Centre Clark Clear Creek Colfax Doyle Durham Park East Branch Fairplay Gale Grant Lehigh Liberty Logan Lost Springs Menno Milton Moore Peabody Risley Summit West Branch Wilson
Footnotes	‡This community also has portions in an adjacent county or counties.
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