Motor, Kansas

Motor was a small settlement in Paradise Township, Rooks County, Kansas, United States.

Motor, Kansas
Motor Location within the state of Kansas Motor Motor (the United States)
Coordinates: 39°11′37″N 99°09′31″W
Country	United States
State	Kansas
County	Rooks
Elevation	1,955 ft (596 m)
Time zone	UTC-6 (Central (CST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-5 (CDT)
GNIS feature ID	482533[1]

History

Motor was located three-quarters of a mile to the east of Codell. The town had two stores, a hotel and restaurant, a blacksmith shop, a wind driven grist mill and a saw mill. The Floreyville post office was moved to Motor and a school was established in 1879. The first school building was constructed of sod. A frame schoolhouse was built in 1886 and served the community until 1894.

In 1879, Motor failed to negotiate an agreement to establish a depot with Union Pacific Railroad. Union Pacific instead founded the community of Codell as a railroad town. Most of the frame buildings in Motor were moved to the growing community of Codell.[2] In 1889, the Motor post office was moved to Codell and Motor was soon abandoned.[3]

References

1. "US Board on Geographic Names". United States Geological Survey. 1984-07-01. Retrieved 2017-12-23.
2. Darland, H. O. "A History of Paradise Township", Plainville Times, 23 February 1961, p. 8.
3. "Kansas Post Offices, 1828-1961". Kansas Historical Society. Retrieved 2018-02-03.