Place:Washington, Doniphan, Kansas, United States

Township of Washington

Washington is a civil township situated in the eastern part of the county of Doniphan, state of Kansas, United States of America. It is bounded on the north by the township of Burr Oak, on the east and south by the state of Missouri (including the county of Buchanan and its township of Washington), on the south by the township of Marion, and on the west by the township of Center. The Missouri river forms its eastern and a part of its southern boundary.

History

Washington was one of the five original civil townships erected at a meeting of the county commissioners on 17 September 1855 after the county was erected the preceding month. It was named after George Washington, the country's first president. The township was first settled in 1852 by James Whitehead who erected a trading post near Bellemont.

Boundaries

Originally the township's boundaries were fixed as follows:

Bounded on the north by Burr Oak Township; on the east by the Missouri River; on the south by the second line, dividing townships 3 and 4, and on the west by the second range line running north and south through Atchison.

On 16 September 1856, a change was made in the township, and its boundary was fixed as follows:

Commencing at the northeast corner of Section 12, Town 2, Range 21; thence south on town line between 21 and 22 to the southeast corner of Section 12, Town 4, Range 21; thence west six miles to the southwest corner of Section 7, Town 4, Range 21; thence north two miles, thence west one and a half miles, thence north to the Missouri River, thence east with said river to place of beginning.

On 20 October 1856, the county board caused one half mile to be taken from the eastern part of Iowa and Wolf River townships and attached to Washington. On the following day, the boundaries of the township were changed and fixed as follows:

Commencing at the southwest corner of Burr Oak Township, as then established; thence south on range line between Ranges 21 and 22 to within one mile of the town line between Towns 3 and 4; thence east to Peter's Creek; thence down Peter's Creek to the Missouri River; thence north with said river to the south line of Burr Oak Township; thence west to place of beginning.

On 21 June 1859, a change was made and the boundaries were fixed as follows:

Commencing at the northwest corner of Section 12, Town 3, Range 21; thence east to the Missouri River; thence with said river to the southwest corner of Section 33, Town 3, Range 22; thence north one mile; thence west to the southwest corner of Section 25, Town 3, Range 21; thence north to the place of beginning.

Research Tips

Bibliography

See the entries for Doniphan County.