Although I work all of southern Johnson County, Olathe has a part of my heart because I was raised in Olathe. Thanks to the work of the Olathe Historical Society, I have enjoyed reading a rich history of our area. Thought I'd share just interesting bits and pieces of the history of Olathe. This may bring back vivid memories to the actual Olatheans still around here and give some new insights to the new folks that have settled in.
In the beginning, government treaties forced many woodland indian tribes to move into what is now eastern Kansas. Olathe, a Shawnee word understood to mean "beautiful," was incorporated in 1857. The Mahaffie family was among the first to settle near Olathe.
The Johnson County census in 1860 revealed 4,364 enumerated, 52 percent of the population were less than 19 years old; 11 percent were foreign born, mostly from Germany or Ireland; .01 percent was age 60 or older. Olathe's population was 341. The infamous Quantrill raided Olathe on September 6, 1862. More than half the buildings standing in Olathe in 1861 were moved or destroyed long before the end of the Civil War.
The Institute for the Deaf was organized in Olathe in 1866. Olathe's first public school was built of stone in 1868. A subscription library began in 1874. The first history of the city was written that year.
In 1875, 72 percent of the county worked in agriculture, 11 percent in professional and personal service, 8 percent in trade and transportation, and 9 percent in manufacturing and mining. Olathe's population in 1875 was 2,146. The 1880s saw the rise of the Hyer Boot factory, the milling industry, Hodges Brothers and Lanter Lumber companies, Patron's Mutual Insurance Association and the building of Fairview Race Course, Olathe's second horse racing track.
1883 marked the founding of the Ladies Reading Circle, Olathe's first federated women's club and the first high school graduation. In 1892 the automobile could be seen sharing space on Cherry street with farm wagons and teams of horses. The Johnson County Old Settlers Association formed to celebrate the history of the area in 1898. To be continued..............
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