Delano Township Sedgwick County Kansas Genealogy Trails

Delano

A. E. and E. Dodge were the first bona fide settlers of this township, having come prior to the year 1870, though Isaac Walker took the claim at the West Wichita end of the bridge some time in 1869, so the honor could easily be disputed; however settlers came rapidly early in 1870, among them, John McCormick, Richard Farmer, R. E. Lawrence, G. E. Kirkpartick and S. W. Richmond, all of whom still reside upon their original claims, saving Mr. Farmer, who we trust has found quite as pleasant a climate whehter he has gone, over the river, but not the Big Arkansas. The township was organized in 1871 by P. McDonald. The soil is rich, most of it is bottom land. It is well watered by the Arkansas and Cowskin. The bottoms are sub-irrigated, and often produce thirty bushels of wheat to the acre, and as high as eighty bushels of corn. It boasts of two church organizations, a Presbyterian and Methodist, also the legendary West Wichita Population, 631; valuation of property, $219,751. (William G. Cutler's History of the State of Kansas, Sedgwick County, Part 2, Township Sketches)