Gnadenau, Kansas

Gnadenau, Kansas
Ghost Town

Burdei-type housing in Gnadenau
(Frank Leslie's Illustrated March 20, 1875)

KDOT map of Marion County (legend)
Gnadenau

Location within the state of Kansas

Coordinates: 38°19′34.413″N 97°10′49.882″W / 38.32622583°N 97.18052278°W / 38.32622583; -97.18052278Coordinates: 38°19′34.413″N 97°10′49.882″W / 38.32622583°N 97.18052278°W / 38.32622583; -97.18052278[1]
Country United States
State Kansas
County Marion
Township Liberty
Elevation[1] 1,378 ft (420 m)
Population
 • Total 0
Time zone CST (UTC-6)
 • Summer (DST) CDT (UTC-5)
Area code 620
GNIS feature ID 0477356 [1]
W i k i p e d i a

Gnadenau was a communal village of German-speaking Mennonite immigrants from Russia in Marion County, Kansas, United States.[1] It is currently a ghost town that was located approximately 2 miles southeast of Hillsboro. No buildings remain at this former community. The Gnadenau Cemetery still exists.

History

Early history

For many millennia, the Great Plains of North America was inhabited by nomadic Native Americans. From the 16th century to 18th century, the Kingdom of France claimed ownership of large parts of North America. In 1762, after the French and Indian War, France secretly ceded New France to Spain, per the Treaty of Fontainebleau.

19th century

In 1802, Spain returned most of the land to France. In 1803, most of the land for modern day Kansas was acquired by the United States from France as part of the 828,000 square mile Louisiana Purchase for 2.83 cents per acre.

In 1854, the Kansas Territory was organized, then in 1861 Kansas became the 34th U.S. state. In 1855, Marion County was established within the Kansas Territory, which included the land for modern day Gnadenau.[2]

In 1874, the German-speaking Mennonites of the Krimmer Mennonite Brethren of Annefeld near Simferopol, Crimea, Russia decided to relocate in the United States because Russia removed their exemption from military service. In August, the group arrived at the site and named it Gnadenau, meaning Meadow of Grace or Grace Meadow.[3] Unlike the majority of Mennonites, this body adopted trine forward immersion as the mode of baptism.[4][5]

In 1879, the beginning of the demise of the village occurred when the Marion and McPherson Railway Company built a railway north of village and established the nearby town of Hillsboro.

21st century

Currently no buildings exist in Gnadenau, thus it's considered a Ghost Town. A Gnadenau Village Memorial monument still exists.

Geography

Gnadenau was located at 38°19′34.413″N 97°10′49.882″W / 38.32622583°N 97.18052278°W / 38.32622583; -97.18052278 (38.326226, -97.180523),[1] along 175th Street between Jade Road and Kanza Road in Marion County, Kansas. Most residents lived on the north side of 175th Street. A descriptive monument for the Gnadenau Village currently stands on the south side of 175th Street,[6] and the Gnadenau Cemetery is immediately south of it.[1]

Area attractions

See also

Further reading

References

External links

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