Union Township Sedgwick County Kansas Genealogy Trails

Union

Union was first settled by Henry Pate and his four sons, in 1869. Early in 1870, the Rhodes, Rutledges, Smiths, Hohns and Burr, settled. Shortly after, the Browns, Packards, Imblees, Minturn and Manamee. The settlements were so rapid that in 1872 all the land in the township had been pre-empted. The township was organized in 1872, by E. A. Dorsey. It is a magnificent body of land, unlimited is to its crop producing qualities, as is abundantly testified by the magnificent farms of the Germans, who settled in the eastern portion of the township. In field crops and fruit, it has no superior in Southern Kansas. It is watered by the Arkansas River, the "Big Slough" and the Cowskin. Eldridge and Ferris are the postoffices. It has fine educational facilities, and is the largest in area of any township in the county. Population, 1,015; value of property, $318,335. (William G. Cutler's History of the State of Kansas, Sedgwick County, Part 2, Township Sketches)