Copyright USGenNet Inc., 2014 All Rights Reserved USGenNet Data Repository Please read USGenNet Copyright Statement on this page: Transcribed and submitted by Linda Talbott for the USGenNet Data Repository http://www.us-data.org/ =========================================================================== Formatted by USGenNet Data Repository Chief Archivist, Linda Talbott All of the above information must remain when copied or downloaded. =========================================================================== A New Centennial History of the State of Kansas by Prof. Charles R. Tuttle Interstate Book Company - 1876 -632- MITCHELL COUNTY was organized in 1870, and named for Capt. Mitchell killed at Monroe Cross Roads, N.C., in 1865, just before the close of the war. The area of the county is 720 square miles, and the population in 1875 was 5,370, in which number females preponderated to the number of 46. Farming occupies 84 per cent, and mines and manufactures 7 per cent of the settlers. Beloit is the county seat, 134 miles northwest from Topeka, on the south bank of the Solomon river. There is a paper published in the county seat, the Beloit Gazette, and an active trade is transacted here. An iron bridge over the Solomon is one of the architectural features of Beloit, and there are important mills and manufactures actively supported by the sur- rounding country. The manufactures of the county are, in Glen Elder township, a water power grist and saw mill; in Cawker township, a steam saw mill; in Beloit township, two water power grist and saw mills; in Asherville township, a water power grist and saw mill, and a feed mill, also water power; two breweries in Waconda and Beloit; a water power flouring mill at Turkey Creek, and two grist mills in other locations. There are many fine powers unimproved on the Solomon. There is only one bank, and that is at Beloit; there are three papers, one in Beloit, and two at Cawker City, all weekly. Bottom lands form 20 per cent of the surface, and there is about 2 per cent of forest, the principal streams are the Salt creek, Solomon river with its tributaries, Oak, Granite, Limestone, Brown's, Mulberry, Plum, Asher, Car, Walnut, Turkey, Laben and Third creeks. Springs are scarce, but good well water is found at from 10 to 20 feet deep. Lignite worth $2 per ton has been found from 15 to 30 inches in thickness, but the supply is limited. White magnesian limestone is quite plentiful. There are good salt springs. The county has no railroads yet. There are 73 school districts, 50 of which have schools valued at $39,357. Church edifices number only 4, valued at $5,300. Mitchell suffered much in the locust visitation.