Victoria, Kansas - History and Information

Victoria, Kansas

Victoria began when a British man named George Grant wished to establish a prosperous colony along the Kansas Pacific Railroad in 1873. Grant purchased more than 69,000 acres of land on the south side of the railroad, with hopes of adopting British agricultural methods and stocking the land with improved imported sheep and cattle. The new town was surveyed and platted in 1873 and named Victoria, after Queen Victoria. Under his leadership, the colony was initially settled by 38 Scottish and English immigrants. A post office was established in Victoria in June, 1873.

The settlement showed much promise as over the next couple of years, several hundred British immigrants, many of them with their families, arrived in Victoria bringing with them large numbers of fine sheep and cattle.

Victoria, Kansas, March, 2009, Kathy Weiser.

Soon, a stone depot, a grain elevator, a general merchandise store, and a stone church known as St. George's Chapel, and about 25 homes were built in the new community.

George Grant Grant, who wanted to bring a more "genteel quality" to America, recruited numerous immigrants who were of nobility. These men, were often sent money from their families, and soon the "Victoria Hunt Club," a cricket club and a race track were built. Free with their spending, there were dances and other social activities, but these men showed little interest in agricultural pursuits. Soon, when their parents realized their sons were not spending their money wisely, they began to reduce their allowances and many became disenchanted and returned to Britain. Other new settlers, who found that land was not suitable for farming also began to return to their home country.

In 1876, George Grant moved into an English Manor style house that he acquired through a foreclosure. The house still stands today, occupied as the private residence of a family whose ancestors were original immigrants in the area. When Grant died on April 28, 1878, he had lost most of his fortune. He was buried in front of the St. George Episcopal Chapel and his grave can still be viewed on East 1st Street. He is best known for the introduction of Aberdeen Angus cattle to the United States.

Though Grant's plans of a British community failed, the town would not die, as just three years after he had established Victoria, and large group of German-Russians settled just north of the Kansas Pacific Railway, about ½ mile from Victoria, in 1876. When these immigrants arrived, they quickly began to make improvements. They soon named their new town Herzog and more and more German-Russians joined them over the next two years.

Because of the large number of people living there, Herzog became the largest and most important of the German colonies in Ellis County. The settlers met for religious services at the home of Alois Dreiling, and they soon built a frame church adjoining the house. Sir Walter C. Maxwell, who was a Catholic Englishman living south of Victoria, started plans to build a stone church. That church building was completed in August 1877, but with the town growing, it became too small.

St. Fidelis Church, March, 2009, Kathy Weiser.

The St. Fidelis Church was founded by Father Anthony Mary and construction began in November, 1881. Built entirely by immigrants, the new church building, that held up to 600 parishioners, was dedicated on October 19, 1884. By the turn of the century the people once again found themselves in need of more room and under the guidance of Father Jerome Mueller, plans were made beginning in 1905 to build a new one. The plans were revised in 1908 and the cornerstone was laid in October, 1909. Two hundred twenty five families of the St. Fidelis Parish helped to build this church which was complete in 1911. The exterior was constructed of native limestone, quarried seven miles south of Victoria. The stone was then loaded on wagons and hauled to the building site. The 50-100 pound stones were then laid by local masons. Called the "Cathedral of the Plains," the church was completed in 1911.

When complete, the church measured 220' long, 110' wide at the transcepts and 75' at the nave. Its ceiling is 44' above the ground and the towers rise 141'. The seating capacity of 1,100 made it, at the time of its dedication, the largest church west of the Mississippi River. Today, the church is considered one of the "Eight Wonders of Kansas," for its architectural grandeur and impressive craftsmanship.

By the turn of the century, Victoria and Herzog, which had virtually merged, boasted two banks, two mills, a grain elevator, a number of retail establishments, a telegraph office, a money order post office, and a population of about 500. Herzog was "officially" merged into Victoria in 1913.

Today, this quaint little town supports about 1,200 people and its rich history can still be seen in its many stone buildings, including the St. Fidelis Church, which continues to serve parishioners today.

A street in old Herzog, March, 2009, Kathy Weiser.

A monument to the Volga-German pioneers of Herzog,

March, 2009, Kathy Weiser.

The St. Fidelis Cemetery, located just north of Victoria, displays a number of beautiful grave markers.

The Volga-Germans of Herzog are honored with a statue.

Just off old US-40, a memorial honors six rail surveyors who were killed by Cheyenne Indians in 1867. The killings led to the Battle of the Saline River.

Victoria is located about eleven miles east of Hays, just a couple of miles south of I-70.

Compiled by Kathy Weiser/Legends of Kansas, updated April, 2010.

The St. Fidelis Cemetery is filled with beautiful markers, March, 2009, Kathy Weiser.

A marker on the south side of Victoria honors six railroad surveyors who were killed by Cheyenne Indians in 1867.

March, 2009, Kathy Weiser.

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