Wellsford
Founded by C. P. Wellsford after he moved the Dowell,
Kansas post office to the new site in 1884. Named after Mr. Wellsford,
the town became a frequent stop on the route of the Cannonball
Express stagecoach.
At one time, Wellsford was a thriving community
with livery stables, general stores, a drug store, elevators,
and a bank. It also had both the Rock Island and Santa Fe Railroad
running along parallel tracks. There were as many as seven different
newspapers that set up shop at different times in town, and there
were also seven livery stables during its prime.
As the railroad moved west and other towns were
built along the rail line, Wellsford began to decline. Greensburg
became the trade center. By the 1910, the population was only
100, and in 1955, the post office was closed.
The ethnicity of its settlers is unknown.
Sources
"A History of Kiowa County
1880-1980: A Chronicle of Kiowa County written by Kith, Kin and
Kind Friends". Lubbock,TX: Taylor Publishing Co., 1979.
Fitzgerald, Daniel. "Ghost
Towns of Kansas." Vol. 3. Daniel Fitzgerald, 1982.
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