Timeline
1823 First known settlement into Pleasant Hill Area by Frederick and Abraham Boyer
1837 The first school house built, Inclose School. Prior to this, school was held in log cabins where they could serve the pupils
1850 Terre Haute and Alton Railroad (Penn Central) built
1850 Harmony United Methodist Society formed
1853 Lovel Wilhoit laid out the orginal plat of our town, first called Midway
1855 First Post Office Established (William F. Boyer, postmaster)
1858 When Midway applied for a post office, it was found that a Midway, Illinois already existed in Fulton County so the name was changed to Kansas, named for the township organized the earlier year
1858 Kansas Lodge No. 289 AF & AM Instituted
1858 Kansas Presbyterians organized
1868 The first newspaper was the Kansas Citizen — it lasted four years and was soon followed by the Kansas News (1873) and the Republican Sun (1878) — by 1889, the names of these two papers had been changed to the Kansas Herald and the Kansas Journal
1869 Danville and Ohio River (later the C.H.&D. — “DOTY” for short) railroad was built
1872 Eight Kansas men applied for permission to establish the first bank, First National Bank of Kansas
1875 The park was laid out and trees planted. It was fenced at one time with a plank fence with gates at each corner
1878 The Republican Sun Newspaper begins publication
1888 Staff Brothers build large canning factory
1889 Kansas narrowly misses out on being selected as home of what is now Eastern Illinois University (Charleston)
1890 Village Board approves construction of Village Hall at cost not to exceed $1,500
1892 Harmony United Methodist Church constructs new building south of Warrington Curve, north of Kansas, for $6,000
1894 The Eton Academy was established by Edward Willasey and his wife, who were natives of England — it operated until 1904
1895 Entre Nous club organized
1907 Kansas United Methodist Church building dedicated
1908 The Farmers National Bank was organized by a group of businessmen
1909 Kansas Christian Church building dedicated
1909 Kansas Presbyterian Church building dedicated
1914 First water tower was constructed and a system of water mains were laid
1920 New building constructed to hold Inclose School
1926 First National Bank of Kansas and The Farmers National Bank consolidated forming Kansas National Bank
1930 Preston & Cleve Shade purchase building for Shade & Son Garage
1932 The Kansas Library was started by the forming of a committee, consisting of one member from each of five organizations in town — memberships were sold for a $1
1933 Coral Hall Post #539 American Legion organized
1936 Kansas Community High School built
1938 Kansas Township Fire Protection District formed
1938 The Kansas and Sidell Railroad Company removes the rail line running between Kansas and Brocton (“DOTY” line)
1938 Inclose School building burned
1940 Kansas Fire Department established
1943 Kansas State Bank opened for business
1944 Kansas Lions Club organized
1953 Kansas celebrates 100 year centennial
1960 New Kansas Post Office building opened
1960 Concrete park stage constructed
1961 Village Board approves building of Kansas Park Pavilion
1965 Kansas Business & Professional Women (BPW) Club Organized
1969 New gymnasium and classrooms for 4th – 8th grades added to High School
1972 Kansas Community Memorial Library joins Lincoln Trail Library System
1975 New Kansas Township garage constructed
1975 Mini-park & parking lot across from Kansas Post Office constructed
1976 Kansas Building & Loan becomes part of First Financial Savings & Loan
1976 New firehouse constructed at west end of Washington Street
1977 Starky’s Midway Market completely destroyed by fire
1978 Kansas’s 125th Anniversary Celebrated with theme “Movin’ On”
1983 (August) Kansas’s legacy as a railroad community ends as Conrail removes the east-west rail through town (old New York Central line)
1985 Harmony United Methodist Church closes its doors
1993 Kansas State Bank celebrates 50th year of service to Kansas community
1999 Kansas State Bank is sold to Edgar County Bank & Trust Company of Paris
2002 (August) Harmony United Methodist Church building north of town is raized
2003 Kansas’s 150th Anniversary Celebrated
2004 Final year for athletic teams to be known as “Kansas Bulldogs” – sports consolidation with Oakland starting in 2004-05 yields “Tri-County Titans” mascot
