You’ll find the ghost town of Kendall in Hamilton County, Kansas, along the historic Santa Fe Trail where it was established as a trading post in 1879. After rapid growth spurred by the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railroad in the 1870s, it became embroiled in fierce county seat wars with Syracuse and Coolidge. Though it briefly served as temporary county seat in 1886, Kendall’s decline began after losing that status in 1888. The town’s untold stories of political intrigue and railroad commerce still echo across the prairie.
Key Takeaways
- Kendall began as a promising railroad town in 1879 along the Santa Fe Trail but declined into a ghost town by the early 1900s.
- Loss of county seat status to Syracuse in 1888 and relocation of railroad division headquarters triggered Kendall’s economic downfall.
- The town rapidly grew from 10 to 200 houses in 1885 but couldn’t sustain growth after losing key transportation and political functions.
- Once-bustling saloons, railroad facilities, and the Harvey House ceased operations as population and commerce declined.
- Today, Kendall exists as an unincorporated community with fewer than 100 residents, symbolizing frontier boom-and-bust development.
The Birth and Early Settlement Years
Five pioneering settlers established a trading post in 1879, marking the humble beginnings of what would become Kendall, Kansas.
You’ll find the roots of this settlement along the historic Santa Fe Trail, where these early frontiersmen first set up shop. Initially known as Zamora, the community centered around a post office that opened on September 2, 1879.
The area’s first name, Aubrey, came from the nearby Fort Aubrey, a short-lived military outpost that had protected the region.
Like the Montana town that shared its name, Kendall’s early development included several busy saloons to serve the growing population.
Trading post activities flourished as the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railroad arrived, having laid tracks through Hamilton County in 1871-72.
In 1885, the Arkansas Valley Land Company officially platted the town, giving structure to the growing settlement.
These settler stories reflect the determined spirit of those who saw opportunity in this strategic location, transforming a simple trading post into a promising frontier town.
Railroad Glory Days and Economic Peak
The arrival of the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railroad in 1871-72 transformed Kendall from a modest trading post into a bustling frontier hub.
You’d have witnessed remarkable railroad expansion as crews laid track through Hamilton County, following the Arkansas River valley and old Santa Fe Trail route.
The Homestead Act of 1862 brought waves of settlers looking to claim cheap land in the area.
Under the leadership of Basil M. McCue, railway development continued to expand in the region through construction of additional lines and stations in the early 1900s.
County Seat Rivalry and Political Struggles
Political turmoil erupted in Hamilton County during April 1886 when Syracuse’s claimed victory in the county seat election was exposed as fraudulent, having used fake voter names from as far away as Shawnee County and Mills County, Iowa.
After Syracuse’s victory was invalidated, Kendall became the temporary county seat, but the power struggle was far from over.
You’ll find that legal disputes dominated the next two years, with multiple elections pitting Kendall against Coolidge and Syracuse.
While Coolidge won elections in May 1887 and June 1888 with Kendall’s support, rival administrations maintained competing offices and divided county records.
The town of Kendall had grown rapidly from ten to 200 houses in just four months during 1885 before the county seat battles began.
The disambiguation process helped clarify the complex history of Hamilton County’s multiple county seat changes over the years.
The conflict finally ended in July 1888 when the U.S. Land Office declared Syracuse the permanent county seat, leaving Kendall to gradually fade into obscurity.
Decline of a Frontier Trading Post
Originally established as a trading post near Fort Aubrey in 1879, Kendall rose from humble beginnings to become a bustling frontier commerce center along the Santa Fe Trail.
Much like other early trading communities, Kendall operated using crude log structures for its commercial activities.
You’d have witnessed its rapid growth from 10 to 200 houses after the Arkansas Valley and Land Company’s platting in 1885.
Yet Kendall’s economic vulnerabilities became apparent as transportation shifts reshaped the region. The town’s dependence on railroad commerce proved fatal when the division headquarters moved to Syracuse in 1902.
Much like the Marais des Cygnes Massacre site, Kendall held historical significance before its decline.
With limited road infrastructure and fierce competition from neighboring towns, Kendall couldn’t adapt to changing times. The roundhouse facility and Harvey House operations dwindled, while the loss of county seat status further diminished the town’s importance.
Without economic diversification beyond its trading post roots, Kendall’s once-promising frontier dream faded into history.
Legacy in Hamilton County History
During Hamilton County’s tumultuous formation years, Kendall emerged as an essential political battleground when it served as the temporary county seat following disputed elections in the mid-1880s.
After Syracuse’s claim was invalidated due to fraudulent voting, Kendall’s role as county seat exemplified the fierce competition for political power in frontier Kansas.
Today, Kendall’s cultural significance extends beyond its brief political prominence.
During its peak years, J.H. Leeman served as one of the first appointed county commissioners while the town competed for prominence.
You’ll find its legacy woven into the fabric of Hamilton County’s community dynamics, from its origins as a bustling railroad trading post to its connection with notable frontiersmen like Charles “Buffalo” Jones.
While the town has faded into an unincorporated community with less than 100 residents, its story illuminates the challenges of establishing governance, justice, and commerce in the American frontier, preserving vital insights into western Kansas’s settlement patterns.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are There Any Remaining Original Buildings From Kendall Still Standing Today?
You’ll find no fully intact original buildings today, though you can explore remaining structures like the T.R. Matlock Store, bank vault, and First Presbyterian Church ruins—remnants of historical preservation efforts.
What Happened to the Kendall Brothers After the Town’s Decline?
You won’t find conclusive records of the Kendall brothers’ legacy after 1921. Like many mining families, they likely dispersed to other areas, though specific details about Kendall family descendants remain historically uncertain.
Did Any Notable Outlaws or Gunfighters Ever Pass Through Kendall?
While a million tales swirl around outlaw legends and gunfighter tales in Western Kansas, you won’t find any documented evidence of famous outlaws or gunfighters specifically passing through Kendall’s streets.
Where Exactly Was Fort Aubrey Located in Relation to Kendall?
You’ll find Fort Aubrey about two and a half miles north of the Arkansas River, between Kendall and Syracuse. The fort’s location, northeast of Kendall, shaped both towns’ early development as frontier outposts.
What Native American Tribes Inhabited the Kendall Area Before Settlement?
You’d find the Three Fires Confederacy tribes (Potawatomi, Ottawa, and Chippewa) dominated the area around 1750, after replacing the Illinois Confederacy, whose population declined due to disease and colonial interactions.
References
- https://www.raisedinthewest.com/archives/kendall-ghost-town-in-the-north-moccasin-mountains
- https://legendsofkansas.com/kendall-kansas/
- https://fhsuguides.fhsu.edu/kansasheritage/hamiltoncounty
- https://centralmontana.com/blog/visiting-the-ghost-town-of-kendall-in-central-montana/
- https://krex.k-state.edu/server/api/core/bitstreams/9c40dc16-3f86-4121-926c-5c1ce8215be4/content
- https://www.kspatriot.org/index.php/articles/34-kansas-commerce/557-the-railroads-that-developed-southwestern-kansas.html
- https://ulyssesnews.com/stories/the-tale-of-two-rails
- https://historyonthefox.wordpress.com/2017/06/28/when-folks-thought-kendall-county-was-a-good-place-to-be-from/
- https://legendsofkansas.com/hamilton-county-kansas/
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hamilton_County
