The Community


Soon after the departure of the Sauk and Fox Indians, log cabins, frame houses and barns made of native walnut lumber dotted the country side. Gardens and orchards were planted, wells dug and ground was broken for corn and wheat farming. The fertile soil produced bumper crops. Cattle and horses thrived on the native grass pastures. Stone masons were in demand to lay up wall fences and wagon loads of hedge trees were imported from Iowa to be planted for permanent fences. The country, in a few short years, had changed from an Indian Reserve made up of virgin prairies and timber to a thriving White Man's settlement.


One room schools were built every few miles, some were no more than small log shanties. Mr. Daniel Dean, a prosperous land owner and merchant who was prominent in community affairs, became the first postmaster of Appanoose Post Office in 1857. He also sold 1 and 1/2 acre of land for the Dean School which was built of native limestone. The Dean School was the 75th school in Franklin County therefore it was District #75. At that time records show there were 3,997 school age children (ages 4 to 20) in the county, 25 of them lived within the Dean District. I believe the Dean School was also used for church services for a time. The first burial in the Appanoose (now called the Dean Cemetery) just east of the building, was in 1866. These buildings were on land that had once been the Shawnee Indian Reserve. The Shawnee relinquished their land in 1857, 3 years earlier than the Sauk and Fox.


More pioneers came and by 1878 the Baptist congregation constructed the Appanoose Baptist Church, again using native lime-stone, 1/2 mile east of the Dean School on the south side of the road. The land that had earlier belonged to the Sauk and Fox. The church stands on the edge of the lush prairie, probably where Chief Appanoose stood on his arrival here. Later, Dean Grade School was replaced with a frame building just west of the Appanoose Church and the original stone school was remodeled into a home. The Garlington Post Office served that area from 1886-1898.


Roads cut across the prairie, bridges were built across the Appanoose Creeks and the Appanoose Township was officially organized just 10 years after Kansas was admitted as the 34th State of the Union. The Township is in the north west corner of Franklin County. It starts at the Osage County line and extends east for 5 miles. The north line is the Douglas County road and then goes south 6 miles.


The population of Appanoose Township was made up of hardy people from many different countries and cultures, coming here for a multitude of reasons. Most were farmers but there were various occupations represented. Honesty and hard work were the way of life. Neighbors helped each other and joined in barn raising and quilting bees as well as other times of need. Social activities included barn dances, community picnics and pot lucks, school programs and church activities.


Education was important to these hard working pioneers. The little one-room schools offered a good basic education, however, to earn a high school diploma the students were required to leave the farm, get room and board in town and pay tuition. This was a financial hardship, making higher education impossible for many.


As the legislators convened in 1914 at the state capital in Topeka one of the big concerns was the provision of higher education for the rural students. Teachers pleaded before the Senate for fair and equal education privileges. Before congress adjourned in 1915 a law was passed making it possible for each township or district to build a Rural High School, tuition free and accessible to every one.


On a frosty April morning in 1918, the sun was bright, meadow larks were singing and there was excitement and anxiety in the Appanoose community. Members of the election board, Mr. Bowman, Mr. Montgomery, Mr. Patton, Mrs. Steele and Miss Kratz were busy setting up the election booths in the Dean school building. Today would decide whether or not the residents of Appanoose Township were willing to pass a school bond in the amount of $12,500.00 for a Rural High School. This was only 6 years after women had been given voting rights in Kansas. There were 249 eligible voters registered in Appanoose Township and 187 of them exercised their privileges. The official count at the end of the day was 138 votes cast in favor of the new building, 45 against and 4 spoiled ballots. It was a happy time and plans were now being made for the third high school in Franklin County. Rantoul and Peoria district had already voted to build high schools. Williamsburg, Centropolis and Lane voted "no" on the proposition.


Because there was no city in Appanoose Township it was agreed to place the new school in the center of the district. The sight of the new school to be 1/2 mile south and 1/4 mile east of the Appanoose Baptist Church and Dean School. Unique because it was the only High School at that time to be built on the prairie away from any town. Mr. B. J. McCoy sold 5 acres to the district for $75.00 per acre and a well was to be drilled. At last the pupils of Appanoose Township could receive a high school education and the community was proud and supportive. Mr. George Washburn of Ottawa, now famous for designing the Franklin County Court House and many other historic buildings, was the architect and W. A. Dunn of Lawrence was the builder. Appanoose High School was organized as Rural High School District #3. Construction of the building was started but would not be completed in time for the beginning of school in 1919.


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