A mushy and very romantic postcard sent in 1912 to Miss Bess Blanche Baker in Asherville, Kansas, had me wondering if the sender, going by the initials G.D., was successful in his attempt to court and then perhaps marry the young woman. I decided to investigate. What I found regarding the town of Asherville and Bess Baker was most interesting.
Asherville, Kansas, is now a ghost town, although some 19 residents still live in the area. It is a small, unincorporated community nestled in Mitchell County in the north-central part of the state. Though modest in size, Asherville holds a unique place in the tapestry of Kansas history, serving as a testament to the endurance and adaptability of rural American communities.
Asherville was founded in the late nineteenth century, during a period when settlers were moving westward in search of new opportunities and fertile land. The town was officially platted in 1870, named after one of its early settlers, George Ashe. Like many Kansas communities of the era, Asherville grew up around agriculture, with early residents establishing homesteads, farms, and small businesses to serve the surrounding rural population.
In its early decades, Asherville developed the basic institutions typical of rural towns: a general store, a blacksmith, schools, churches, and a post office. The Asherville post office, which began operation in 1869, served as a critical lifeline for communication and commerce until its discontinuation in 1980. Community gatherings, harvest festivals, and church socials provided opportunities for neighbors to come together, reinforcing the strong sense of local identity.
Asherville’s economy was rooted in agriculture, with wheat, corn, and livestock forming the backbone of local livelihoods. The arrival of the railroad in Mitchell County in the late nineteenth century, though not passing directly through Asherville, helped connect the region to broader markets and facilitated the shipment of goods. Small businesses catered to the needs of farmers, and for a time, Asherville served as an important local hub.
Like many small rural communities, Asherville faced challenges in the twentieth century. The consolidation of farms, advances in transportation, and shifting economic patterns led to population decline. The closing of the post office in 1980 symbolized the waning of Asherville’s role as a commercial center, though the community spirit persisted among those who remained.
Today, Asherville is an unincorporated community with only a handful of residents. Although many of its original businesses and institutions have disappeared, the area is still home to descendants of early settlers and others who value the quiet, rural lifestyle. The history of Asherville is preserved through local records, family stories, and the landscape itself, which continues to bear the mark of those who built and sustained the community over generations.
The story of Asherville, Kansas, is one of perseverance, adaptation, and community. While its population may have dwindled, its legacy endures in the memories of its people and the history of Mitchell County. Asherville remains a symbol of the many small towns that dotted the American Midwest, shaping the character of the region and contributing to the broader narrative of rural America.
When G.D. sent that postcard to Bess in 1912, she was only 17 years old. That had to have opened her mother and father’s eyes when they saw it. A picture on the front of the card shows a wedding ring with a couple getting ready to kiss. The message inside would’ve, or should’ve been, shocking to concerned parents, especially dad.
“April 23, 1912
Dear Bess,
I am so glad that you are coming down to see me. You musn’t work too hard and kill yourself so you won’t get to come. Tell your mama that I often think of her. Is there a rushing business around the depot lately. Confess.
g.d.”
Bess Blanche Baker was born on October 26, 1895, in Peabody, Kansas. Her parents, John and Daisy Baker, relocated to several different Kansas locations throughout the years, searching for work. Mr. Baker was a house painter.
Bess Blanche Baker did not end up marrying the card sender, waiting another three years to wisely wed Melvin Ray McCamon on April 20, 1915. They remained in Kansas for a good while, with Melvin involved in the upstart and prosperous oil business. The McCamons eventually moved to Big Horn, Wyoming.
Bess Blanche Baker-McCamon died there in 1958, at the age of 63, while her husband, Melvin, passed away in 1968. The couple had one child, John Vernon McCamon.
I couldn’t verify the identity of G.D. It appears that the Bakers were keen on G.D.’s plans, and the guy was sent packing, perhaps at the end of a shotgun. One thing that still remains of G.D. is his house at 1608 Highland in Salina, Kansas.
I like to write junk... 