Dexter Scrap Book

Captain James McDermott, was the founder of the town of Dexter. He was a member of the firm of B. S. Tyler Co. who operated the first store in Dexter. In September the first post office was established with I. B. Todd as postmaster. J. A. Elliott, Levi Bullinton, William Clay, William Weaver, all from Grouse Creek, were in a party of 24 men who spent some time in hunting buffaloes in Sumner County. In the hunt of three weeks they secured over 100 fine Buffaloes and vast quantities of other game.

The first house erected upon the town site was built by Mr. McDermott in the southeast section of the town at the corner of Grouse Cherry Streets; he moved into the house July 25th.

Dexter school was organized on March 30th.

The first mail arrived by regular carrier from Eureka.

Dexter township was organized April 11th from parts of Cresswell and Winfield townships and the territory that was published as Grouse prior to that.

The first school was built.

Doctor G.P. Wagner become the towns first physician.

The Masonic Hall was built by Dempsey Elliott and the Masonic membership with rough lumber from Grouse Creek trees and finished lumber hauled overland from Thayer, Kansas, by an ox team.

At this time there were two stores, one belonging to Dick Bryan and the other to Dempsey Elliott, Mr. F. Henderson had the drug store.

Several box houses and frame business establishments were erected.

Captain James McDermott was elected to the State Legislature.

Spotted fever or spinal meningitis, made its appearance on Grouse Creek. About a dozen deaths were reported in the Lazette vicinity, north of Cambridge.

During the winter of 1873 1874 there were general prairie fires all over the country, and all the accumulated grass was burned, making fire so hot that the roots of the grass were largely killed out.

Penny post cards were being sold at the Post Office.

This was the year of the grasshoppers which plagued the entire country.

There was hardly any rain from the middle of May to October.

First set of twins born in the area was on August 10th. Mr. Mrs. O. P. Darst were the parents.

The Masonic Lodge was organized in the spring and on October 22nd the Lodge was chartered with 17 members with the greatest number being Union Soldiers.

Lodge A.F. and A.M. November 19th.

Dexter Town Association was formed and the town plotted. Peter G Smith was president and James McDermott secretary.

Carter Bro. saw grist mill was built by Meigs Kinnie one mile north of Dexter on Grouse Creek. It was powered by steam.

At the time the town was layed out there were three or four stores, a blacksmith shop, a hotel, and various other business establishments.

Dexter Township census was 410.

Dave Perry sold a Civil War sword to the Masonic Lodge for $1.50 for use of Tyler.

Dexter Town Association was formed and the town plotted. Peter G Smith was president and James McDermott secretary.

Carter Bro. saw grist mill was built by Meigs Kinnie one mile north of Dexter on Grouse Creek. It was powered by steam.

At the time the town was layed out there were three or four stores, a blacksmith shop, a hotel, and various other business establishments.

Dexter Township census was 410.

Dave Perry sold a Civil War sword to the Masonic Lodge for $1.50 for use of Tyler.

Dr Wagner built a new office, measuring 12 x 16 feet on the east side of main street.

Mr. Stephen Bibler started business with a small quantity of groceries in an 8 x 10 feet building renting for $5.00 per month.

This was a flood year.

H. C. McDorman brought in the first steam thresher pulled by a yoke of cattle.

A. J. Truesdell engaged in the hardware business, later added groceries.

Frank R Wagner operated a livery and sale stable.

J. T. Nicholson ran the Commercial Hotel.

Mr. R. Hite was engaged in the mercantile business.

Wesley Trevitt was the first school teacher to become a member of the Dexter Masonic Lodge, having transferred his membership from Highland, Kansas.

In the fall Captain A. B. Elliott, farmer and miller, with L. B. Bollington built a flour mill on Grouse Creek.

J. V. Hiner was appointed post master. He was also involved in real estate, loan, and insurance business.

There were nine general stores, two restaurants, one drug store, and two millinery stores in town at this time.

The house located on the southeast corner of Central & Maple, now owned and occupied by Mrs. Mollie Woods, was first located on the northeast corner of main central streets, where it was a hotel built and run by O.P. Darst, a well known farmer and cattleman on Grouse Creek.

Dr. Wagner took in a partner, Dr. E. M. Hawkins.

The Dexter census was 146 with the township at 989.

Another dry year, said to be much dryer than 1874.

Publication of the Free Press newspaper began September 14th and was published for ten years.

The first city officials were elected; J. D. Salmon, Mayor; H. D. Cooper, City Clerk; W. E. Merydith, City Treasurer; J. V. Hiner, Police Judge; Sam Nicholson, Marshall; and five councilmen: J. T. Riggs, Rudolph Hite, G. M. Hawkins, S. H. Willis, and James Nicholson.

Prior to this time the cemetery was located west of town on Grouse Creek. Due to flooding it was moved to the hill east of town.

John Radcliff sold his farm.

Charles W. Ridgeway was proprietor of a general store from 1883 to 1888.

The Newspaper The Dexter Eye was established with W. G. Seaver, editor, and J. V. Vines, business manager.

The Dexter Coronet Band was formed with George Shelby conductor.

The Dexter Christian Church was organized. Rev. J.J. Goodwill was minister.

The first bank was organized and opened with A. A. Brown as cashier.

This was another flood year for Kansas.

Lodge I. O. O. F. June 17th.

The first railroad came to town.

The Christian church appointed a committee of J. A. Millian and C. C. Brown for the purpose of obtaining a charter and making plans for building a church and parsonage. J. A. Williams donated two city lots to the church.

Missouri Pacific Railroad was completed through this section.

Interstate Commerce Bill was signed and a commission was appointed.

The Dexter Baptist Church began as the Fairview Baptist Church. It was located 2½ miles south of Dexter with 25 charter members.

Another newspaper appeared, the Dexter Post.

Namesake horse Dexter died at the age of 30.

John Radcliff returned to the Dexter area and begin farming.

Dexter gets telegraph service.

In the winter of 1891/1892 ice was cut from Grouse Creek and stored in the ice house.

The Dexter Bank was robbed by the Dalton Gang. The night before the robbery the gang spent the night with the Ketchum family, seven miles south of town.

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Sept 16th several area men made the Cherokee Strip Run; included were James W. Radcliff, Ross Day, George Laycock, Williamothers.

Knights and Ladies of Security, January 9th.

In April Mrs. J. England opened a millinery shop, the first door south of the Commercial Hotel.

The Omega Society of Dexter High School elected Miss Maude Maurer president and Miss Myrtle Williamson was the new president of Rosetti Society. The Alpha Literary was the Grade School society.

James S. Day traded his farm to J. F. Trusdale for a 40 foot building with a stock of groceries hardware.

The newspaper, the Advocate, was established September 2nd to be printed for nine years.

Dexter Camp M. W. A. March 12th.

Area men who fought in the Spanish-American War were Thomas E. Grimes and Nathaniel T. Foster.

J. H. May ran a livery, sale, and breeding stable.

Several new businesses opened to better serve the needs of the community.

The Fairview Baptist Church voted to move into Dexter, where they reorganized as The First Baptist Church on August 22nd. They held their meetings in Beal's Furniture Store, the School house, and the Bolton Hall.

The Dexter State Bank was organized.

1902Coal was discovered in May.

The Warrensburg train wreck, many local citizens were injured or killed.

Dr. R.D. Williams, physician surgeon, Mrs. Bill Darst and her son were among the casualties.

The Dexter Dispatch was established with W. L. Baldridge as editor.

It was this year that the coldest day on record was recorded at 27 below zero.

Tom Rucker put up ice cut from Grouse Creek.

The grain elevator was constructed.

There were now four churches in Dexter: Baptist, Christian, Methodist Presbyterian.

Dexter received telephone service.

The first cement sidewalk was in front of the Lodge Hall.

Bill Rose caught an 84 pound catfish in Grouse Creek.

J. H. Bray, a derelict, died of smallpox. To protect the community, his tent personal effects were burnt.

Dr. Roy D. Williams opened his office in the Dexter State Bank Building.

Dexter now had daily train service.

First Auto in Dexter was owned by John Riggs. It had buggy wheels a chain drive.

Dexter piped Helium Gas into homes......(wonder what their reaction was when it wouldn't burn?)

Bandstand built over the well before 1907.

Farmers Merchants State Bank was organized in July.

Roy Catlin shipped fifteen cars of walnut logs cut from Grouse Creek Timber.

Twenty Two producing Helium Gas wells had been drilled.

The Coronet Band changed its name to the Concert Band.

Several Stone Bridges were built on Grouse and Plum Creeks.

In May a building committee was elected for the First Baptist Church and in November the building of the church began.

A ford agency was organized with Harry Radcliff the first agent

Population of the town was 512.

Dexter made plans for electrical plant.

Rebeka Lodge, October 12th

Skating rink was opened on Central Street in a tent. Jess Taylor was operator.

The city now had two banks, a post office with two routes express, telegraph, and telephone, a weekly newspaper, The Dispatch, a hotel, many important mercantile and shipping interests.

The first electric light plant was built by Frank Gulick.

The first Chautauqua was held; it was the beginning of a nineteen year tradition.

The school house on Maple street burnt down. The fire was caused by fumigation. Below is the burning structure.

D. W. Brown, a local boy, built a monoplane for a test run.

The Helium plant was built during this era.

The Christian Church was reorganized after being inactive for a couple of years.

The Dexter Commercial club published a booklet on Dexter.

The Masonic Lodge bought the upper floor of the Opera House for $3,000.00.

D.A. Hale Mercantile Company sponsored a popularity contest; first prize was a new Ford car. It was won by Irene (Hoyt) Duncan. Second prize was a bedroom suite and third prize was a Victoria.

The Helium Plant was constructed by a Kentucky corporation this year. Not only was it used for helium production, but it served as a research center for nitrogen uses.

Helium plant in Dexter.
Photo courtesy of Jack Shafer, used by permission.

A Lodge meeting was interrupted to put out a fire for Cass Bolack, five miles outside of town.

D. A. Shadid store opened in March.

The volunteer Fire Dept was created. It consisted of a fire chief, and assistant chief and at least ten volunteers but not more than twenty.

In Feb an ordinance granted to E. E. Fulton, his successors or assigns, the right to construct, operate and maintain a telephone exchange and telephone lines in the city of Dexter.

The Dexter natural gas Helium plant was taken over by the Government.

The first cylinder of helium was shipped this year; there was a big celebration with over 2,000 helium balloons released

The Mayflower Blimp of the Goodyear Rubber Company flew over the city to land on the hill east of town where it was refueled with helium. Several local citizens were given rides in the dirigible.

The city ordinance concerning a water works system was passed. Whereas, at an election held in the City of Dexter, Kansas on the 18th day of November, 1927, the Mayor and councilmen of the said city were authorized to construct and install a system of water works in said city and direct to issue bonds in the amount of twenty six thousand dollars ($26,000) to pay the cost of the construction of said system of water works

City Ordinance concerning gas to homes was passed in August. An ordinance granting to the Western Distribution Company, corporation, its successors and assigns, a franchise to manufacture gas; and to operate a natural or manufactured gas distribution plant and system in the city of Dexter.

It was approved that special improvements consisting of cement curbs and gutters, where necessary, be constructed on both sides of main street.

The Dexter sign on the hill east of town was constructed.

An ordinance providing for the sale of electric transmission line owned by the City of Dexter and extending from said city to the cit limits of the City of Winfield, providing a consideration for said sale and submitting the proposition of such sale, the sum of $16,000 was received by the City of Dexter.

The beginning of the Great Depression.

A skating rink was opened and operated by the Lang family.

Glenwood Happy Circle Club was organized with 13 members with Mrs. Perry Elliot as the first president. This was a social club who members made dish towels and tacked comforters.

The pool hall owned and operated by C. Dixon was destroyed by an explosion.

The Masonic Lodge celebrated its 60th birthday.

The Dexter Township census was 1,036.

The old Lodge Hall, where meetings had been held for 49 years was torn down.

The first Dexter High School Alumni Meeting was held.

Everyone began to sign up for Social Security numbers.

The big cottonwood tree at the bank corner, a local landmark, was cut down.

This was the first year the eighth grade received their diplomas at the local school.

The W. P. A. Water Reservoir was constructed east of town.

The first Rodeo was held on the hill east of town.

The volunteer Fire Dept was reorganized.

The Dexter Home Demonstration Unit was started with ten members

Pearl Harbor, December 7th.

Albert Chambers, the acting post master, was appointed to post master. Dexter was made a 3rd class office.

The helium plant was dismantled.

Bill Chamberlin, a 1939 Dexter graduate, was killed in action overseas.

Gasoline rationing books were issued.

The American forces landed on Attu Island in the Aleutians. It was the first American territory regained from Japan in World War II.

George Ghramn, a 1936 Dexter High School graduate, was killed in action. He was a P-38 pilot.

World War II ended. The Germans signed a treaty with unconditional surrender terms.

The Army Mothers Club had placed the Dexter Honor Roll on the corner of Main Central during World War II.

Adolph Hitler's death was announced and the Nazi concentration camp at Buchenwald was liberated by American Soldiers.

President Franklin D Roosevelt died.

Robert N. (Bob) Brenner bought the first airplane in the Dexterarea.

Dexter purchased two school buses for picking up rural school children.

Dexter rural area was now receiving electricity.

The contract was signed for the construction of Dexter School Auditorium.

Dexter installed dial telephone.

The Masonic Lodge celebrated the Diamond (75) year of continuous operations.

Emery Jones built a locker plant in town.

The Missouri Pacific Rail Road went on strike. All trains were at a standstill. Cattle were driven over land to other rail roads.

C. Joe Duncan and wife, Irene, buys the grain elevator from the Shrader estate.

Hot Lunch Program was started at the Dexter School. Mrs. Vesta Glass and Mrs. Eva Fulton were the first cooks.

The rock quarry was opened east of town. The rock was used in the construction of the present K-15 highway.

The City Council passed a plan of coverage for extending the benefits of the Title II of the Federal Social Security Act to the employees of the City of Dexter.

Merchandise valued at $700-800 and about $30.00 in cash were taken in two burglaries in Dexter. The businesses broken into were the Jo Duncan Hardware and the Maggard Grocery.

Plans and fund raising for the city park was started by the Dexter H. D. U.

1956Henry's Candy Kitchen was started as a part time operation by Pat Henry, Sr.

April 3rd a tornado struck the Maple City and Otto area. Six homes were destroyed and six others were heavily damaged.

The Dexter Lions Club was organized.

There was discussed the possibility of new life for the city in production and marketing of helium through governmental projects to obtain new fuel for satellites and missiles.

The Ike Hoyt Athletic Field monument was erected.

Henry's Candy Kitchen was now operating full time with several employees.

The 1961 census showed a drop of 65 from the 1950 census; Dexter population was now at 289.

Summer swimming program at Winfield local children signed up were Mary Lou George Shadid, Diana Love, Iris Shirley, Marianne Brenner,and Gary Edwards.

The new disposal and sewer plant was constructed and lines laid.

Albert Chambers, the post master, retired after 23 years of service.

A trash and garbage disposal pickup was inaugurated for the city.

The Grain Elevator was purchased by Holt Grain Co. from Bonnie Young.

Motha Jarbo Scholarship was established for an eligible high school senior planning to continue their education.

The Title I Program was started in the Dexter Schools. It was a summer program to help students improve in reading physical education.

The Historical Marker was placed at U.S.166 K-15 highway junction, telling of the Dexter helium discovery.

The Y-Bar Cafe east of town on the highway was built by Ed Hazel Young.

A new modern school building was constructed for the first thru sixth grades.

Delbert L. Daniel recorded a religious album, Peace in the Valley.

The Senior Citizens Club was organized.

R. I. P.'S Club was organized. This is a Reduce Inches Pounds Sensibly Diet Club with 17 members. Hazel Young is the President. There are 11 members who meet every Tuesday evening.

Mark Massey, a local boy, was killed in a tractor accident on May 17th.

In February plans for a nursing home had been approved for Dexter.

The first of the Dexter-Cedar Vale school consolidation hearings began August.

Radcliff Ranch Inc. moved the head office from Wichita to the Merydith Addition on K-15 in the Northeast part of Dexter.

Dexter residents received the convenience of long distance direct dial through the efforts of Southern Kansas Telephone Co, in September.

Mrs. Edna Dale Clark retired after 38 years of teaching in theDexter area.

Lighting was installed at the tennis courts.

The grain elevator was remodeled.

Shadid's Store was sold to Delbert and Eva Kemp. The Farmers and Merchants State Bank honored the Shadid's for 49 years of servi to the community. The reception was Jan 31st.

The Dexter Tennis Association was organized.

The area around the swimming pool was named the Swimming Pool Park.

There were trees planted and playground equipment added.

The second vote for the Dexter-Cedar Vale school merger was defeated in June.

The Grouse Valley Manor Nursing Home was completed and plans are being finalized for operation.