Sherman County, Kansas
Sherman County was organized on September 20, 1886, by J. H. Tate; L. J. Gandy; O. D. Dickey; R. R. Edwards; John Bray; Barney McCluskey; J. F. Collier; A. P. Melstrom; W. T. Clayton; James Forbes; Wilson Turner; and W. W. Scott. It includes the cities of Goodland and Kanorado, and was named for General William T. Sherman.
On July 1, 1867, Lieutenant Lyman Kidder of the 7th United States Cavalry was on route from Fort Sedgwick, Colorado, to deliver messages to General George A. Custer who was on campaign. Near Beaver Creek Kidder and ten men were killed. Custer found their remains on about July 11.
After the county's organization, the question of the county seat came about. The county had quite the debate over the county seat. Court battles, and even a situation involving armed men occurred. Goodland ended up the winner of the county seat, and its main contender, Eustis, eventually moved to Goodland.
The Chicago, Kansas and Nebraska Railroad, later part of the Rock Island, arrived in the county on July 3, 1888. The Bethel Church was organized in 1886 with services being held in a sod structure. The first fair, which was not officially a county affair, was held in September 1886. The first county fair was held north of Goodland in 1888. The first school district was formed in Gandy in 1885.
Sherman is home to two interesting Kansas, Julius H. Stewart was a Civil War veteran and minister who traveled on an established circuit from Cheyenne County to Sherman County to deliver religious services. In 1887 he was appointed the Methodist minister in the county. He later became editor of one of the county's newspapers. Also Charles Speaks served in Congress from the county from 1929 to 1933.
Sherman contains the sites of the T. P. Leonard Building in Goodland, the Centennial Building in Goodland and the Goodland Town Company Building.
- See our Kansas Counties database for statistics in the county.
- Search our Register database for historic sites in the county.
- Search Kansas Memory for historic items from the county.
For more information see the Sherman County website. The Sherman County newspapers are on film at the Goodland Public Library. The Sherman County Historical Society has some sources and a three-volume history Sherman County and Family History available.
Entry: Sherman County, Kansas
Author: Kansas Historical Society
Author information: The Kansas Historical Society is a state agency charged with actively safeguarding and sharing the state's history.
Date Created: February 2010
Date Modified: April 2020
The author of this article is solely responsible for its content.
