Transcribed from volume I of Kansas: a cyclopedia of state history, embracing events, institutions, industries, counties, cities, towns, prominent persons, etc. ... / with a supplementary volume devoted to selected personal history and reminiscence. Standard Pub. Co. Chicago : 1912. 3 v. in 4. : front., ill., ports.; 28 cm. Vols. I-II edited by Frank W. Blackmar.

Canton, one of the important towns of McPherson county, is located in the township of Canton on the Marion & McPherson branch of the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe R. R., and the Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific, 14 miles east of McPherson, the county seat. It has 2 banks, a weekly newspaper (the Pilot), a flour mill, 2 grain elevators and a creamery. It is an important grain shipping point for a large and wealthy farming district. The town is supplied with express and telegraph offices and has an international money order postoffice with 3 rural routes. The population according to the census of 1910 was 648. Canton was founded in 1879 when the railroad was built from Marion to McPherson. A postoffice was established the same year. In less than 3 years it was a village of 250 inhabitants, with a bank, several mercantile establishments, a good district school and two churches.

Page 280 from volume I of Kansas: a cyclopedia of state history, embracing events, institutions, industries, counties, cities, towns, prominent persons, etc. ... / with a supplementary volume devoted to selected personal history and reminiscence. Standard Pub. Co. Chicago : 1912. 3 v. in 4. : front., ill., ports.; 28 cm. Vols. I-II edited by Frank W. Blackmar. Transcribed May 2002 by Carolyn Ward.