PALMER

The village of Peach Creek was located in 1870, about two miles south of the present site of Palmer. In the spring of that year, E. Wilson of Sherman township, established a store, and a Methodist Episcopal class was soon after organized. Dr. Geo. Wigg being pastor. Dr. Randall came about the same time, opened a store, and was appointed postmaster. Others came in 1871. In the spring of 1879, however, those who had settled at Peach Creek, moved to the new village of Palmer, which had been laid out and named in honor of J. Palmer, one of the first superintendents of public instruction in the county. The town was platted in November, 1878, R. M. Pomeroy, E. A. Thomas and Eliza A. Currier, proprietors. Frank Nadeau started the first store on the site of Palmer in 1879, and his father, Francis, the present incumbent, was appointed the first postmaster.

Palmer is now a village of about 200 people, containing, besides the Methodist Episcopal Society, referred to, a French Catholic Church, organized in 1879 by Louis ray and others. Father Molier was their pastor. They built a church the same year, and have now a society of some thirty. The present pastor is Father R. A. Hoffman. Rev. J. S. Horner is pastor of the Methodist Episcopal Church. The village has a good district school.

The business of Palmer is represented by five general stores, an elevator, a lumber-yard, an agricultural implement depot, two blacksmith shops, and one hardware store. The traveling public are accommodated by two hotels  the Palmer House and the Central House. The latter was built by W. J. Cook in 1879, and is kept by Francis Nadeau, the postmaster. The Palmer House has just been opened. (Taken from the History of Kansas, by A. T. Andreas, 1883, page 1859, submitted by Peggy Thompson)

HADDAM

This post office is situated about twelve miles west of Washington, off the line of railroad. The town was founded in 1869, when J. W. Taylor built at store upon land donated by geo. Canfil. About this time, A. Whitney opened a store on his claim, just west, and started a rival town of Haddam. The fight waxed hot for five years, Mr. Whitney being appointed postmaster at one time and removing the office to West Haddam. In 1874, however, he sold out his store and removed to the rival and the present town. The post office was removed, and W. H. Taylor built a hotel. Haddam, is quite a trading hamlet, having several stores, a lumber-yard, two blacksmith shops and a wagon shop. It receives daily mails. (Taken from the History of Kansas by A. T. Andreas, 1883, page 1060, submitted by Peggy Thompson)

VINING

This station, situated on the line between Washington and Clay counties, was laid out in the fall of 1877, by W. Haynes and Oliver Cooper, acting for the Junction City & Fort Kearney Railroad, which located a depot here. It was then called West Clifton. In the spring of 1881 the old Riverdale post office was moved to town, and its name changed to Vining in honor of E. P. Vining, general freight agent of the Union Pacific road. Vining contains a general store, a hardware store, a drug store, a hotel, a grain elevator, a lumber-yard, and an agricultural depot. The population, numbering about 200, depend at present upon East Clifton, for educational and religious privileges. (Taken from the History of Kansas by A. T. Andreas, 1883, page 1060, submitted by Peggy Thompson)

KIMEO

Kimeo, a few miles to the southeast in Lincoln Township, is a diminutive hamlet in the midst of a good farming region. (Taken from the History of Kansas by A. T. Andreas, 1883, page 1060, submitted by Peggy Thompson)

CHEPSTOW

Chepstow, a little hamlet of Washington county, with a population of 25 in 1910, is situated in the Coon creek valley, about 16 miles southeast of Washington, the county seat. Mail is received by rural delivery from the Greenleaf postoffice. Barnes, on the Missouri Pacific, is the nearest railroad station. (Taken from Volume 1, Kansas, A Cyclopedia of State History, submitted by Verlin Wichman)

BODAVILLE

Bodaville, Kansas-- Many times Bodieville is used incorrectly with reference to Bodaville, Kansas. From volume I of Kansas: a cyclopedia of state history, Bodaville, a rural hamlet in Riley county, is near the northern line, about 35 miles from Manhattan, the county seat, and about 12 miles from Barnes, Washington county, from which place it receives mail. Lasita, on the Rock Island R. R. 10 miles south is the nearest railway station. The population in 1910 was 50. (submitted by Verlin Wichman)