Cofachique, Kansas facts for kids

Cofachique (pronounced ko-fa-chee) is a ghost town located near the Neosho River in Allen County, Kansas, close to the city of Iola. It was the very first town started in Allen County back in 1855, and it even became the original county seat, which is like the main town for the county's government. However, within just five years, most of the town moved to the new spot where Iola is today, and the old Cofachique site became farmland. The town was named after an Osage chief named Cofachique. People say he was very helpful to the early settlers, bringing aid to those who were struggling or didn't have homes. The name "Cofachique" might have come from the Cofachiqui tribe in South Carolina, who spoke a language similar to the Osage people.

How Cofachique Began

In the spring of 1855, a group of men from Fort Scott decided to create a new town. They chose a spot on high ground east of the Neosho River. In July 1855, the first government group for the Kansas Territory officially approved the Cofachique Town Association. This group was allowed to claim up to 900 acres of land for the town. They also made Cofachique the official county seat for Allen County.

The main people who started the town were Daniel Woodson, Charles Passmore, James S. Barbee, Samuel A. Williams, and Joseph C. Anderson. Mr. Barbee was chosen as the first president of the company. He was also the first person to settle in the new town. In May 1856, he became the County Clerk at the first meeting of the county leaders.

Early Days and Growth

For about two years, Cofachique was the only town in Allen County. It started out quite successfully. Several stores opened, and Cofachique became well-known. There was a lot of trade with the nearby Native American tribes, and for a while, the town seemed to have a bright future.

The first store was opened by James Galbreath. Soon after, H.D. Parsons and Mr. Lynn opened another store. Then, Johnson & Owens opened a third. In the summer of 1856, Joseph Ledlie brought a sawmill from Westport, Missouri (which is now part of Kansas City). He set it up near the town. This mill was powered by horses and was the first manufacturing business in the county. During its most successful years, James Faulkner and Aaron Case were the main business owners.

Government and Mail Service

The first time the United States District Court met in Allen County was in Cofachique in 1856. Judge Sterling G. Cato was in charge. J.S. Barbee was the Clerk, and James Johnson was the Sheriff. Not much was recorded from this first court session. The court met again in Cofachique in October 1858, with Judge Williams presiding.

Until the summer of 1857, the closest post office was in Fort Scott. Citizens had to hire someone to bring their mail to Cofachique. Regular mail service finally began on July 1, 1857, with a route from Fort Scott to Cofachique. The town got its own post office in the spring of 1857, and Aaron Case was appointed as the Postmaster.

Why the Town Disappeared

In 1857, other towns started to appear, and Cofachique began to decline. Some influential people who founded Humboldt managed to get the county seat moved to Humboldt in 1858. The next year, most of Cofachique was moved about two miles (3 km) north to Iola, which was a brand new town.

There were a few main reasons why Cofachique failed. First, it was in a hilly area, which made it hard to get to. Also, it was very difficult to find good well water there. Another reason was that the town was settled mostly by people with certain political views. During the early political disagreements, an armed group was stationed there, which caused tension and made people feel unfriendly towards the town. Once Iola and Humboldt started nearby, it wasn't long before Cofachique became completely empty.