Uptown Neighborhood Association History, 1870-1887

The following information comes from the abstract for the property at 125 N. Volutsia. This Abstract has proven a wealth of knowledge regarding the early development of the UNA land plat. The Wichita Public Library's historical department has been extremely helpful in deciphering the details contained in the Abstract and would recommend a visit there if you have any interest in Wichita and the surrounding area histories.

December 19, 1870 - The government of the United States sells to Edward Rhoades for $200 the land described by NE4, Sec22, Twp27, Rng1E (meaning the north-east quarter of section 22, township 27, range 1East) and noted as being 160 acres. For anybody who does not have an old city map handy that would be the modern equivalent of the land bounded by Grove to Hillside, Douglas to Central. I guess that would make Mr. Rhoades our UNA charter member. Noted in the abstract is the following: 'Signed: By the President U.S. Grant by S.D. Williamson' and 'Osage Indian trust Land in the district of lands formerly subject to sale at now Wichita Kansas'.

April 05, 1881 - Edward Rhoades (now married to Louisa) sells the same 160 acres of land to Isaac N. Miller (wife Matilda) for the sum of $4,500 (not a bad return on investment).

January 26, 1882 - Nine months after purchasing the 160 acres I. Miller sells the land to Horace G. Bloom (wife Ella L.) for $5,000.

July 23, 1883 - H. Bloom sells to Joseph Stover (wife Catharine) the south half (S2) of the NE4/Sec22, 80 acres total, for $4,000. This S2 of NE4/Sec22 is today bounded by Douglas to 2nd, Grove to Hillside. It is noted that Catherine Stover signed the purchase agreement with 'X - her mark'.

July 11, 1884 - One year later the Stovers sold the same S2 of NE4/Sec22 to three men for $8,000. The three men are noted as 'James C. Jones (a widower), Wilber B. Jones (wife Achsah M.) and Warren Parker (a bachelor)'.

October 31, 1884 - Jones/Jones/Parker dedicate the land of the S2 of NE4/Sec22 to the public as the Chautauqua Addition (the north half of NE4/Sec22, 2nd to Central, Grove to Hillside, is called the Maple Grove Addition). The document is noted 'dedicated for the use of the public all our right, title and interest in and to the streets and avenues in said addition'. Note that this statement allowed the City of Wichita to construct streets and avenues on this property.

April 01, 1885: Jones/Jones/Parker sell the land noted as Lot4, Block6 to John S. Garrison (wife Mary A.) for $800. Today this land is the south half of the area bound by Douglas to 1st, Estelle to Volutsia.

April 17, 1886: J. Garrison sells to Alpheus Henley (wife Louise) the east half (E2) of Lot4, Block 6 for $1,250. This would be the Volutsia side of Lot4, Block6 described above.

June 12, 1886 - Two months later A. Henley sells to J.N. Stone (wife Fannie) the same E2 of Lot4, Block6 for $2,600.

February 23, 1887 - J.N. Stone dedicates this land to the public and is noted as follows: 'The alley is hereby dedicated to and for the use of the public'. It is also noted that this land is 'to be known as the Stone's Subdivision of the East half of Lot4, Block6, Chautauqua Addition to Wichita, Kansas'. I did some research on J.N. Stone and found that he was the Wichita City Street Commissioner until 1888.