Jewell County is located in the northernmost tier of counties, 150 miles from the Missouri River. The county is thirty miles square, divided into twenty-five Congressional townships, and contains 900 square miles, or 576,000 acres of land. The county is among the first in the State in agricultural resources. Its … Read more

The Assessors of Jewell County, in their returns for 1882, give the following statistics, which fairly exhibit its wealth and prosperity: Acres of taxable land under cultivation 123,379; not under cultivation, 225,147; total, 348,526 acres. Of the total valuation of all real estate and personal property ($2,048,452), $1,146,206 is in … Read more

In July 1870, Col. E. Barker and Orville L. McClung presented a petition to Governor Harvey, asking for the organization of the county. On the 14th of that month, C. L. Seeley, F. T. Gandy and A. J. Davis were appointed the first Commissioners, James A. Scarbrough, County Clerk, and … Read more

County Officials of Jewell County, 1870 First County Commissioners (appointed in 1870) – A. J. Davis, C. L. Seeley and F. T. Gandy Present County Commissioners – J. B. Davis, M, D. Ross and M. Daily County Clerks – James Scarbrough, William Allen, W. M. Stephens Treasurers – H. B. … Read more

In 1871 Guy Whitmore and Jake Hanes, noted horse-thieves, were arrested at Grand Island, Neb., by William Stone, the Sheriff of Jewell County. When taken, they had eleven stolen horses in their possession. When the Sheriff reached his home near Salem, in Jewell County, he remained over night with the … Read more

Population By Federal Census (Organized in 1870.) 1880 Census Township Population Allen Township 653 Athens Township 746 Brown’s Creek Township 666 Buffalo Township, including Jewell City 1,050 Burr Oak Township, incl. Burr Oak City 1,237 Calvin Township 503 Center Township, including Mankato City 1,017 Erving Township 565 Esbon Township 557 … Read more

The following 82 biographies were extracted from the History of the State of Kansas, 1883 and pertain specifically to Jewell County. Baggott, J.C. Baggott, J. E. Barker, E., Col. Barnett, William Baughman, F. A. Beeler, Fred Bishop, George S. Bowles, S. C. Breed, H. G. Breed, Leslie A. Burns, John … Read more

Jewell Lodge, No. 11, A. F. & A. M., was instituted October 22, 1874. J. C. Postlethwaite, W. M.; M. F. Knappenberger, S. W.: A. M. Hogan, J. W.; N. Kreamer; F. Felker, Sec’y. Jewell Lodge, No. 116, I. O. O. F. – This society was instituted October 14, 1874. … Read more

The early history of Jewell City can be found at length in the County history. The origin of this city, which is situated ten miles east of south of Mankato, was the building of a fort, in 1870, for the protection of the settlers in its vicinity. It was called … Read more

The schools from the first have been good. Since 1873 to the present time they have been kept in a building constructed principally from the ruins of the one destroyed at that time. In October 1882, a $6,000 stone school building was completed and occupied. It is the finest school … Read more