By 1881 Hillsboro had two drug stores, two hotels, four dry goods and
grocery stores, two lumberyards, five hardware stores, three grain
elevators, a bank, two blacksmiths, two livery stables, a tin smith, one
land and loan office, a postmaster, two doctors and four notary publics.
The city was incorporated in 1884. The Mennonite villages that had
surrounded Hillsboro all but disappeared by 1910. Where they were is
now plowed land.
grocery stores, two lumberyards, five hardware stores, three grain
elevators, a bank, two blacksmiths, two livery stables, a tin smith, one
land and loan office, a postmaster, two doctors and four notary publics.
The city was incorporated in 1884. The Mennonite villages that had
surrounded Hillsboro all but disappeared by 1910. Where they were is
now plowed land.
n the early 1870s the Santa Fe railroad
brought homesteaders to Marion County,
looking for land. In 1874 there was a massive
immigration of German speaking Mennonites
from Russia. Mennonites from Poland, and
other German speaking immigrants joined
them. The Russian Mennonites built some
fourteen settlement villages in the central and
southwestern part of the county. Polish
Mennonite settlements were built in the north
central part of the county. The last remaining
Russian Mennonite settlement house in North
America is located at the Mennonite
Settlement Museum at Ash and “D” Street in
Hillsboro.
brought homesteaders to Marion County,
looking for land. In 1874 there was a massive
immigration of German speaking Mennonites
from Russia. Mennonites from Poland, and
other German speaking immigrants joined
them. The Russian Mennonites built some
fourteen settlement villages in the central and
southwestern part of the county. Polish
Mennonite settlements were built in the north
central part of the county. The last remaining
Russian Mennonite settlement house in North
America is located at the Mennonite
Settlement Museum at Ash and “D” Street in
Hillsboro.
Mennonites from Russia popularized Russian
Turkey Red wheat in Kansas. It became the
principal variety of wheat planted in the
Midwest for about a hundred years. The
variety was so successful that the State of
Kansas became the 7th greatest wheat
producing area in the world for a number of
years. The Russian Mennonites and their
descendants turned Marion County in to one
of the most productive agricultural areas of
Kansas.
Turkey Red wheat in Kansas. It became the
principal variety of wheat planted in the
Midwest for about a hundred years. The
variety was so successful that the State of
Kansas became the 7th greatest wheat
producing area in the world for a number of
years. The Russian Mennonites and their
descendants turned Marion County in to one
of the most productive agricultural areas of
Kansas.
The Ebel mill and elevator in Hillsboro c. 1910
The Peter Paul Loewen house built in 1876
Pioneer John G. Hill saw an opportunity to build a town in the midst of
several of the Mennonite villages as a railroad shipping point for
grain. In 1879 he made a deal with the Santa Fe Railroad – he would
donate land and they would build a railroad to his new town. That
same year he platted Hillsboro as a shipping point for the Mennonite
farmers’ wheat. Hillsboro, as planned, was more conveniently located
then other towns in the area and soon had a lively grain business with
three grain elevators and several flouring mills. In addition, the early
railroad carried passengers and mail between the towns of Hillsboro,
Marion and McPherson for the next seventy years .
several of the Mennonite villages as a railroad shipping point for
grain. In 1879 he made a deal with the Santa Fe Railroad – he would
donate land and they would build a railroad to his new town. That
same year he platted Hillsboro as a shipping point for the Mennonite
farmers’ wheat. Hillsboro, as planned, was more conveniently located
then other towns in the area and soon had a lively grain business with
three grain elevators and several flouring mills. In addition, the early
railroad carried passengers and mail between the towns of Hillsboro,
Marion and McPherson for the next seventy years .
The Schaeffler Mercantile Co. in 1912. The Schaefflers
were celebrating their 25th anniversary.
were celebrating their 25th anniversary.
The Schaeffler family's house
was built in 1909.
was built in 1909.
|
Today Hillsboro is the largest city in Marion County. True to the founding vision of John Hill, Hillsboro continues
as an important agricultural center in central Kansas, with agri-business a leading part of the Hillsboro economy.
Most of the industries in Hillsboro relate to either the products or needs of farming and ranching businesses.
Hillsboro is also a quiet retirement and college town. The city has little crime, clean streets and well kept
neighborhoods, a good hospital, excellent schools, fine shopping and other amenities.
More about Hillsboro today.
as an important agricultural center in central Kansas, with agri-business a leading part of the Hillsboro economy.
Most of the industries in Hillsboro relate to either the products or needs of farming and ranching businesses.
Hillsboro is also a quiet retirement and college town. The city has little crime, clean streets and well kept
neighborhoods, a good hospital, excellent schools, fine shopping and other amenities.
More about Hillsboro today.
In the beginning, Hillsboro was almost entirely German speaking. People read German
newspapers published in Hillsboro and spoke German in stores and churches. Even public and
legal documents were written in German. Those entrepreneurs who spoke German did well. In
1887 William F. and Ida Schaeffler, Lutheran immigrants from Germany, founded the Schaeffler
Mercantile Co. at Main Street and Grand Avenue in Hillsboro. Eventually their mercantile store
grew to be the largest business of its kind in the county. In 1909 the Schaefflers built an elegant
Queen Anne style house on the corner of Grand and Jefferson. The house and grounds are
now the William F. Schaeffler House Museum.
newspapers published in Hillsboro and spoke German in stores and churches. Even public and
legal documents were written in German. Those entrepreneurs who spoke German did well. In
1887 William F. and Ida Schaeffler, Lutheran immigrants from Germany, founded the Schaeffler
Mercantile Co. at Main Street and Grand Avenue in Hillsboro. Eventually their mercantile store
grew to be the largest business of its kind in the county. In 1909 the Schaefflers built an elegant
Queen Anne style house on the corner of Grand and Jefferson. The house and grounds are
now the William F. Schaeffler House Museum.
John G. Hill
Seen in Hillsboro's business district, c.1910:
The "Twentieth Century Band" marching down Main
Street, Hillsboro, about 1910. The band paused
for a picture in front of a lodging house that
specialised in "short orders" and "summer drinks."
Street, Hillsboro, about 1910. The band paused
for a picture in front of a lodging house that
specialised in "short orders" and "summer drinks."
A c. 1909 Rapid Motor Vehicle Company open
omnibus / truck stands in front of the Suderman and
Harms general mercantile store on north Main Street.
The bank on the northeast corner of Main and Grand
is at the right. The Rapid Motor Vehicle Co. was
bought by General Motors in 1911 to form GMC
trucks. There are a total of 15 men and boys
standing or sitting in the vehicle.
omnibus / truck stands in front of the Suderman and
Harms general mercantile store on north Main Street.
The bank on the northeast corner of Main and Grand
is at the right. The Rapid Motor Vehicle Co. was
bought by General Motors in 1911 to form GMC
trucks. There are a total of 15 men and boys
standing or sitting in the vehicle.
Seen on farms around Hillsboro, c. 1910:
Hillsboro's Main Street, looking south from First
Street, 1908.
Street, 1908.
Hillsboro's Main Street looking north from about D
Street. The parked verticals indicates that
business was brisk in Hillsboro.
Street. The parked verticals indicates that
business was brisk in Hillsboro.
Main Street being prepared for its first brick paving
in the early 1920s.
in the early 1920s.
This business building, built in 1887, was the most
prominent in Hillsboro and can be seen in each of
the three photos above. It still exists as a
restaurant. It stands near the southeast corner of
Main and First Streets. In the 1890s it was home
to the following businesses: the Farmer's State
Bank; the Janicke Brothers general store which
sold dry goods, clothing, hats, boots, notions and
groceries; and the C. G. Gertz Hardware and
Implements store.
prominent in Hillsboro and can be seen in each of
the three photos above. It still exists as a
restaurant. It stands near the southeast corner of
Main and First Streets. In the 1890s it was home
to the following businesses: the Farmer's State
Bank; the Janicke Brothers general store which
sold dry goods, clothing, hats, boots, notions and
groceries; and the C. G. Gertz Hardware and
Implements store.
Life in the fast lane:
H. H. Klassen in his brand new 1912 Ford model T
Roadster.
Roadster.
Heard on Main Street:
Threshing on a farm near Hillsboro, late 1890s.
Standing to the right of the steam engine are owners,
Gerhard Klaassen (right) and his brother Jacob
Klaassen (left). If you open the picture in a new
browser you will be able to see that there are five
children standing in the straw on the far left.
Standing to the right of the steam engine are owners,
Gerhard Klaassen (right) and his brother Jacob
Klaassen (left). If you open the picture in a new
browser you will be able to see that there are five
children standing in the straw on the far left.
Another threshing scene near Hillsboro.
Hillsboro plays ball:
The Hillsboro Baseball team of 1900: Back row left to
right: Harry Manaham, Al Spacks, John Bauchas, J.
D. Herschler, Chris Regier and Ted Schaeffler. Front
row left to right: Logan Dole, Bob Schaeffler, Fred
Herbel, and B. Herschler.
right: Harry Manaham, Al Spacks, John Bauchas, J.
D. Herschler, Chris Regier and Ted Schaeffler. Front
row left to right: Logan Dole, Bob Schaeffler, Fred
Herbel, and B. Herschler.
Hillsboro plays Moundridge in a home game, 1909. It
is not known who won -- probably Hillsboro!
is not known who won -- probably Hillsboro!
Dozens of new Acme binders have just been
delivered to J. N. Schmidt, implement dealer, in
1911. Parts of the binders are laid out in an empty
lot for assembly. Hillsboro's farm and ranch
machinery economy began with the beginning of
the city and continues today.
delivered to J. N. Schmidt, implement dealer, in
1911. Parts of the binders are laid out in an empty
lot for assembly. Hillsboro's farm and ranch
machinery economy began with the beginning of
the city and continues today.
CLICK ON
THE
PHOTOS.
ALL OF THE
HISTORICAL
PHOTOS ON
THIS PAGE
WILL
ENLARGE IN
YOUR
BROWSER.
THE
PHOTOS.
ALL OF THE
HISTORICAL
PHOTOS ON
THIS PAGE
WILL
ENLARGE IN
YOUR
BROWSER.
A Short History of Hillsboro Kansas
A SCHAEFFLER
STORE ALBUM
COMING SOON
STORE ALBUM
COMING SOON
