Leonardville -- Yesterday ... "and the rest is history" ...This part of the website contain a variety of historical information about Leonardville. To the right, are links to topics about Leonardville history, including information about general history, the railroad, the schools, the newspaper, biographical sketches, the Centennial book and other Leonardville related information. Researching Leonardville History In
researching the history of Leonardville, there are a number of sources
to find information. Newspapers, books, manuscripts and oral histories
provide the most help. The Leonardville Monitor, the first newspaper to serve the community, (and it’s successors, The Monitor-Regent, and then The Riley Countian,) contain a wealth of information, but are difficult to research. There are over 6,000 issues of the newspaper (123 years x 52 issues a year = 6,396 or in that neighborhood...) and the issues are on microfilm at the Kansas State Historical Society Library in Topeka. Other area newspapers also contain information, often seen in a different perspective. There were newspapers in Randolph, Riley, Clay Center and Manhattan are worth exploring, too, and are available at the Historical Society Library. The Manhattan Public Library also has microfilms of many of the Manhattan newspapers available. The State Library will loan the microfilm rolls to local libraries, providing there is a microfilm reader available. Otherwise you need to go to Topeka to research. Other local sources of information, include the 1910 Leonardville pictorial booklet (mostly pictures); a historical manuscript written in 1931 for the 50th Anniversary celebration; a history written in 1956 for the 75th Anniversary of Leonardville that appeared in the newspaper; and the Leonardville Centennial book, "City of the Plains, A Story of Leonardville" written in 1982 by Phyllis Swanson. We have included many of those sources here. There are also two other books available that contain historical information about Leonardville and Riley County. The book, "Riley County, Kansas: A Story of Early Settlements, Rich Valleys, Azure Skies and Sunflowers" was written by Winifred N.Slagg in 1968. The other book is “Pioneers of the Bluestem Prairie,” compiled and published by the Riley County Genealogical Society in 1976. This book has biographical stories of pioneer families who settled and lived in Clay, Geary, Marshall, Riley, Pottawatomie, Washington, and Wabaunsee counties in the state of Kansas. There are also many privately written personal and family histories that also add to the overall historical account of Leonardville. The Autobiography written by W.H Sikes contains information about his family, other people and history of the Leonardville area. Some of these sources are also available on the Internet. (Webmaster's Note: If you know of or have a website that is related to Leonardville history or area family histories, we would be glad to put a link on this Leonardville website to your website.) As time allows, new historical information will be added as we can discover, collect, digitize, edit, format and put them on this website. If you have something to share that is not on the website, please let us know. Go to the "Contact Us" page and send us an email message. Happy Hunting !!! | Links to the historical information on this website. Click on any of these topics: General Leonardville History
Includes several articles about general Leonardville history. The Leonardville Railroad A brief history of the railroad that put Leonardville on the map! The Leonardville Schools A brief history of Leonardville schools. Riley County High School A brief history of how R.C.H.S. came to be. The Leonardville Newspaper Information about the Monitor, Editor Loofbourrow and interesing stories. The Leonardville Area Churches Several articles about the history of area churches. Noteworthy Leonardvillains Biographical sketches about many interesting Leonardvillains. City of the Plains, A Story of Leonardville The "Centennial Book" published in 1982. Other Leonardville Related Topics Other Leonardville Related Websites
________________ Zeisset Family Genealogy Website A well-organized and well-researched family website with many pages of genealogical and historical information about the Jakob and Margarethe Mueller Zeisset family. Click here to go to their website._________________________________ Kleio Historical Society Organized in 2007 to help document and preserve the rapidly disappearing history of rural communities in northeastern Kansas. The initial impetus behind the creation of this organization was to preserve the history of the communities displaced and/or destroyed by the creation of the Tuttle Creek Dam. Other Topics |