Bedford
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Homesteading in Stafford County
Bedford
West Cooper Township was the site of the town of Bedford, which tried to become the county seat of Stafford County. The town was called Center when it was founded in 1879, but the name was changed in 1881 to Bedford. At one time, the town had a population of 60 people, but now all that remains is the cemetery. Claus Feldhut, a German immigrant, owned the land and wanted to use it for the town. He sold lots, but when the town was abandoned, he gave the people their money back. Bedford was vacated in 1899.
Sources
History Book Committee. Stafford County, Kansas, 1870-1990. Stafford, KS: Stafford County Historical and Genealogical Society, 1990.