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Oursler, Kansas

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Oursler, Kansas
Ghost Town
CountryUnited States
StateKansas
CountyMarion
Platted1877
Elevation
[1]
1,293 ft (394 m)
Population
 • Total
0
Time zoneUTC-6 (CST)
 • Summer (DST)UTC-5 (CST)
Area code620
GNIS feature ID0484817 [1]
W i k i p e d i a

Oursler was an unincorporated community 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]

History

1915 Railroad Map of Marion County

Early history

See also: History of Kansas

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. In 1802, Spain returned most of the land to France, but keeping title to about 7,500 square miles.

19th century

In 1803, most of the land for modern day Kansas was aquired by the United States from France as part of the 828,000 square mile Louisiana Purchase for 2.83 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 was established within the Kansas Territory, which included the land for 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 38°17′23″N 96°58′52″W / 38.28972°N 96.98111°W / 38.28972; -96.98111,[1] 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.[4][7]

See also

Further reading

Marion County

References

  1. ^ a b c d e Geographic Names Information System (GNIS) details for Oursler, Kansas; United States Geological Survey (USGS); October 13, 1978.
  2. ^ Blackmar, Frank Wilson (1912). Kansas: A Cyclopedia of State History, Volume 2. Standard Publishing Company. p. 466.
  3. ^ The History of Marion County and Courthouse
  4. ^ a b c 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.
  6. ^ Railway Abandonment 1968
  7. ^ Atlas of Marion County Kansas - Centre Township (page 43); The Davy Map and Atlas Co; 87 pages; 1885.
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