Anderson County, Kansas: History
In 1854, the Kansas Territory was organized, and in 1855, Anderson County was established as one of the original 33 counties of the Kansas Territory, named for territorial legislator Joseph C. Anderson. The initial settlement began in 1854 with individuals such as Valentine Gerth and Francis Meyer staking claims near what would become Greeley. The settlers discovered fields previously worked by the Potawatomi, who had been relocated there in 1833. The early years were fraught with conflict during "Bleeding Kansas," with Anderson County men engaging in battles such as that at Osawatomie, where the clash over slavery was intense.
The county's administrative center was initially established at Shannon, but disputes over the location of the county seat resulted in its move to Garnett in 1859, where it has remained. The agrarian economy suffered from natural disasters, including the severe drought of 1860, which left the county in distress. Subsequent years brought the infamous grasshopper plagues of 1874–1875, which devastated crops, yet the resolve of the settlers saw them through these hardships. The introduction of wheat farming helped stabilize the region.
In 1861 Kansas became the 34th U.S. state. The Civil War period saw Anderson County's men volunteer for Union forces, with the war also temporarily halting the cattle drives from Texas that had introduced Spanish fever to the local cattle. Post-war, the county experienced a resurgence in agricultural development, with the arrival of the railroad playing a crucial role in economic growth by opening up markets. As Anderson County moved towards the 20th century, its economy was based on farming, with some coal mining activities due to local deposits. The onset of World War I saw the community rallying to support the war effort, with many local men enlisting for service overseas. This era marked the beginning of a transition period, where traditional farming practices would soon give way to technological advancements in agriculture.
In 1884, the first photograph of a tornado was taken in Anderson County.