William Kirtley

William Kirtley, age 90, on his homestead

William Belleau

Quick Facts

Significance:

Homesteader in Nicodemus, Kansas

Place of Birth:

New Castle, Kentucky

Date of Birth:

October 20, 1852

Place of Death:

Nicodemus, Kansas

Date of Death:

1943

Place of Burial:

Bogue, Kansas

Cemetery Name:

Mount Olive Cemetery

William Kirtley understood how important land and education were to being free and living as a full and equal citizen.

Kirtley arrived in Nicodemus, Kansas in November 1878. Like many of his fellow settlers, he was born into slavery. He believed that owning land encouraged self-sufficiency.

Kirtley secured a preemption claim three miles southwest of Nicodemus. Six months after arriving, he filed for a homestead claim of 160 acres. While living on the land, he built three sod houses and a frame building. He went to great lengths to get his patent, securing it in 1888.

His passion was education. As a child, he was denied the chance to learn to read and write. When he arrived in Nicodemus, he was carrying books—two Bibles, an elementary speller, and an unabridged dictionary.

Albert Kirtley was one of the champions in Nicodemus in educating the community’s children. He believed that education led to self-sufficiency and freedom and worked with other community members to formally organize the community and Graham County's first school, School District No. 1, in 1879. He permitted the students to use the books that he had brought with him. School was sometimes held for four to six months during the year. Kirtley ensured that students always had books at their disposal even when school was not in session.

William Kirtley supported the community’s values of land ownership, education, and freedom to the very end of his life. He remained on his land for sixty years. 

Learn more about Black Homesteading in America.