NICODEMUS

1. only remain western community establish → African Americans → Civil War→ having important rol → American Hist

2. Town symbolize pionneer spirit → ex-slaves → led → Secession War

3. At end → 1870's , → southern black populat° → extremely restless + reconstruct° → Secession War fail 2 bring → long await freedom, prospety + equality

4. Nicodemus → fonded → 1877. It became one → most famous black communities → country forme → freed people migrat west. Nicodemus → located → the plains → the northwest corner→ the state along → Salomon River → Kansas

5. 6 Fonders : William Henry Smith, Benjamin Carr,Jerry Allsap,Simon Roundtree, Jeff Lenze and William Edmond all came → Lexington → Kentucky. Town → named like that → legendary : African slave prince → had purchased his freedom.

6. 1886 : Nicodemus → hd → become → properous community → surround→ black own farms.Town had 2 newspapers : -The Nicodemus Entreprise + -Nicodemus Western Cyclone.There →also : drugstore, bank, schoolhouse, 3 churches + general store.

7. Nicodemu's most prominent citizen → Edmin P.McCabe, → arrive 1878.McCabe serv community as attorney , land agent + county clerk.1882: became the highest rank African American elect official outside the South.

8. 1 of the town's early settlers→ Zachary Fletcher → became 1st postmaster + entrepreneur.He creat St.Francis Hotel + Livery stable.His wife Jenny Smith Fletcher → the town's first schoolteacher.Post office , school + hotel → all → the same buildin.The building still stands → Nicodemus today.

9. 1880: Nicodemus fell into decline.1885: Winter blizzards →destroy → 40% of the township's wheat crop.2 years lat 1887: town leaders → invest → 16 000 $ → 3 different railroads → hope → tha 1 would extend → lines. However → all 3 R.R bypasse Nicodemus. By 1886 town → began → campaign promotion.It's populat° declin , although → few 100 people →reside 2day.

10. Historic site contains → 5 buildings: -Township Hall -African Methodist Episcopal Church -First Baptist Church -St. Francis Hotel -Nicodemus School District #1 Schoolhouse. 1996: Nicodemus → designat National Historical Site