Oronoque
After the Burlington railroad was built through Norton 1885, and Leota had lost the county seat, the town, what was left of it, moved to what is now known as Oronoque. D. Morrison, who still resides at Oronoque, was town site agent and the town was started with a rush. Lots sold for $150.00. Tom Campbell built the first frame house, in 1886. The town had a steady growth until the big fire on October 1, 1909, which burned nearly all the business part. Today, even after three disastrous fires, Oronoque has more business than ever before. A new bank and lumber yard have been started within the past year.
The Christian church, organized in 1905, the new church building built in 1907, has a membership of 60. The Baptist church, organized in 1906 has a membership of 100.
The Farmers Union Business Association owns the farmers elevator and general store, implement business and a cream station at Oronoque. The association was organized in July 1914 and now has 128 stockholders with a paid up capital of $7,000, and last year through the able management of C. E. Huff and its directors, the sales of the store alone reached a total of $45,000 with every indication of higher figures this year. The officers are: Henry Nedrow, President ;L. O. Mustoe, Vice-President N. E. Mc Mullen, Secretary, John Foley, Treasurer. C. G. Minshall, J. M. Wheeler, H. Hager, M. A. Davis compose the board of directors. In 18 months the association paid a dividend of 240 per cent on the capital stock. This, we believe, one of the strongest, if not the strongest associations in the state, considering the length of time it has been organized.
Mr. Huff, the manager, is the pastor of the Christian church at Oronoque and edited the Oronoque Orient up until the fire when it was discontinued. He was also postmaster, resigning after serving one year and a half. With the able management the association now has it is sure to be a potent factor in the success of Oronoque and the surrounding country.
The Central Grain Elevator is managed by H. H. Gausman, who is an experienced grain man having had charge of an elevator at Hildreth, Nebraska, before coming here, and he is sure to make good with this old elevator.
The Oronoque Hotel and livery stable are conducted by R. S. Palmer, who has lived in the State of Kansas for 43 years. Before coming to Oronoque, he was in the mercantile business at Superior, Nebraska. He serves as good meals as are to be found at any hotel in the country.
L. E. Madden, manager of the Oronoque Lumber Co., is a wide awake business man. He has only been there a short time but has fine business. The yard is well stocked and when alterations are completed, Oronoque will have as fine a lumber yard as there is in the county.
M. A. Morrison was born in Virginia, November 11, 1842. He settled at Leota in the fall of 1873. He was County Treasurer in 1875, and ran the hotel at Leota. His son, D. Morrison, still lives at Oronoque.
Dr. S. L. Green, who was engaged in the drug business at Leota, came to the county in 1874. He was Master of the Masonic Lodge in Leota and was elected to the legislature in 1875.
Carl L. La Rue, big, friendly and genial, is the postmaster and proprietor of the general store at Oronoque, makes you feel at home as soon as you enter the store. Mr. LaRue was born in Illinois. In 1901 he was united in marriage to Miss Fanny Adams, who was born in Iowa. They have five children. Mr. LaRue has been in Norton county for nine years starting in the hardware and implement business and afterward adding a line of groceries and dry goods. He held the office of township treasurer for four years, is a Modern Woodman and one of the leading business men of the county.
James M. Campbell was born in 1848, at Odena, Mo., coming to Norton county where he homesteaded. He was Captain of the State Militia in 1876. Mr. Campbell is the father of four children and still resides in Dellvale.
Carl G. Reedy, general agent for the Bank Savings Life Insurance Co., of Topeka, maintains an office in Oronoque. Mr. Eddy is one of the leading life insurance men of northwest Kansas, and produces a large volume of business in this section of the state. He is in charge of a number of counties and divides his time between them, devoting about on week each month to his Oronoque office.
Isaac Keener was born June 3, 1840, in Indiana county, Pennsylvania. He was a Civil War veteran. In 1878 he moved to Leota township. In 1883, he was elected sheriff of Norton county, and in 1885 and 1893 he was appointed postmaster at Oronoque where he and his son, Jacob were engaged in the mercantile business. Mr. Keener died at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Lew Redd, in this city, in 1914, and was buried at Norcatur.
The State Bank of Oronoque, incorporated in 1915, began business the 9th of October that year with a capital stock of $10,000 and a surplus of $1,000. The officers of this bank have been identified with the banking business in Norton County since 1885. Elmer E. Ames, the president, was one of the organizers of the First National Bank of Norton and is the present head of that institution. Charles L. Campbell, vice-president, a western Kansas banker of long experience. Charles E. Strickland, cashier was formerly connected with the bank at Jennings. The bank conducts a general banking business, makes real estate loans and maintains a strong insurance agency.