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Kansas State Board of Agriculture
First Biennial Report

Graham County

1878


Map of Graham County - 1878

This county was named in honor of Capt. John L. Graham, of Company D, 8th Kansas, who was killed at the battle of Chickamauga.

Population. -- The county is estimated to contain a population of 1,500, 600 of whom are colored, the latter being a colony from Kentucky. There are four towns in the county - Hill City, Graham, Huston and Nicodemus, the latter being settled by the colored people.

Timber. -- There is a fair amount of timber on the streams, the yellow cottonwood predominating.

Principal Streams. -- The streams are the South Fork of the Solomon, Bull, Brush, Coon, Ash, Sand, Spring, Bow and Register Rock creeks.

Building Stone. -- Building stone is plenty, consisting of white magnesian limestone.

Agricultural Statistics. -- There are 576,000 acres in the county. There was estimated to be raised in 1878, 1,200 acres of winter wheat; 200 acres of rye; 2,500 acres of corn; 50 acres of oats; 25 acres of Irish potatoes; 3 acres of sweet potatoes; 10 acres of sorghum; 150 acres of millet and Hungarian, and a large quantity of garden produce. The soil is rather sandy, but very good.

Farm Animals. -- Horses and mules, 200; milch cows, 770; other cattle, 5,610, inclusive of those belonging to herders or ranchmen; swine, 200.

Water Power. -- There is said to be good water power on Bow and Ash creeks.

Schools. -- There are six schools in the Nicodemus Colony, all kept in dug-outs; two on Bow Creek, one at Huston, and one in Township 21, Range 6, all in log houses, making ten altogether.

Churches. -- There are four church organizations - two Presbyterian, one Methodist and one Baptist.