St. Paul, Kansas
| St. Paul, Kansas | |
|---|---|
| City | |
 Location within Neosho County and Kansas |
|
 KDOT map of Neosho County (legend) |
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| Coordinates: 37°31′7″N 95°10′25″W / 37.51861°N 95.17361°WCoordinates: 37°31′7″N 95°10′25″W / 37.51861°N 95.17361°W | |
| Country | United States |
| State | Kansas |
| County | Neosho |
| Area | |
| • Total | 1.22 sq mi (3.16 km2) |
| • Land | 1.22 sq mi (3.16 km2) |
| • Water | 0 sq mi (0 km2) |
| Elevation | 892 ft (272 m) |
| Population (2010) | |
| • Total | 629 |
| • Estimate (2015) | 606 |
| • Density | 520/sq mi (200/km2) |
| Time zone | Central (CST) (UTC-6) |
| • Summer (DST) | CDT (UTC-5) |
| FIPS code | 20-62500 |
| GNIS feature ID | 0475120 |
| Website | StPaulKS.us |
St. Paul is a city in Neosho County, Kansas, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 629.
Father John Schoemakers, S.J. founded Osage Mission on April 28, 1847. Called the "Apostle to the Osage" and the "Father of civilization in Southeast Kansas," he served for 36 years as spiritual director, doctor, steward, lawyer, judge, catechist and preacher to the Osage. He served as an officially appointed U.S. postmaster of Osage Mission from 1851 to 1864. With the relocation of the Osage he ministered to the needs of the newly arrived settlers. He built the present St. Francis Church stone structure. Father Schoemakers is buried in St. Francis Cemetery one quarter mile east of the Church.
The other leading man in the Osage Mission was Kentucky-born John Allan Mathews. He was married to Mary Williams and after her death to her sister Sarah Williams. The Williams sisters were the daughters of William S. Williams and his Osage wife, A-Ci'n-Ga. They first met Mathews while attending school in Kentucky after their mother died. Mathews was a slaveholder and souther-sympathizer. He married Mary in Jackson County, Missouri in 1835 and was appointed blacksmith for the Senaca in 1837 and for the Osage in 1839. In about 1861 he gathered a group of Osage who tried to force Shoemakers to flee the area because they disagreed with Shoemakers abolitionist ideas. Matthews was killed by the 6th Kansas Cavalry under Gen. James G. Blunt in fighting at Chetopa, Kansas on Sep. 18, 1861.
During the Civil War both Union and Confederate troops took an interest in Osage Mission. From about December 1862 to June 1865 Union soldiers intermittently were stationed at or near the Mission. At least a couple times Confederate supporters entered Osage Mission or were in the immediate vicinity. For more see Osage Mission's post.
As early as 1883 there was agitation to change the name of Osage Mission because it suggested it was still an Indian Mission. Neona was suggested to honor the daughter of Chief Little Bear, but local protests favored the name of St. Paul. The reigning judge decided to allow the citizens to vote on the new name and St. Paul was chosen in an election held on April 11, 1895. Some claim the new name was selected to honor the Apostle Paul, but it was most probably selected in honor of St. Paul of the Cross, founder of the Passionists, who had just then established a home in Osage Mission. The name of the post office was officially changed from Osage Mission to Saint Paul in May 1895.
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