Ocena was the first important stopping place west of Atchison. The old _Squatter Sovereign_, of Atchison, in its issue of December 5, 1857, contained the following advertisement of the town: “The truth plainly told will show that Ocena is already a city. The surface of the earth was so moulded by the plastic hand of the Creator that a few points in the wide expanse of Nature were destined to eclipse all others. Ocena is one of those points. Located as it is, on the northeast bank of Stranger creek, in the county of Atchison, where roads leading from Doniphan and St. Joe to Lecompton are intersected by roads leading from Atchison to Grasshopper Falls and Osawkee; and also being upon the great thoroughfare running up and down the valley of the Stranger, it offers more inducements for a large and prosperous inland town than any other place in Kansas Territory. All persons anxious to thrive and desirous of obtaining a home on reasonable terms will do well to settle in Ocena. For further particulars in reference to the town apply to Isaac S. Hascall, president, or M. C. Finney, secretary.” _Freedom’s Champion_, in its issue of July 3, 1858, says of the town: “Ocena, besides having the most musical name, is one of the most beautiful places in Kansas. A postoffice has been established there and several new buildings are being erected. It is destined to be a thriving little place.” Ocena was killed by Pardee, a town which was started a short distance to the south of it, but neither amounted to much from a municipal and business standpoint. Pardee is now only a country village. It was first platted as a town by James Brewer, in the string of 1857, and was named in honor of Pardee Butler, of border warfare fame. In the winter of 1856 Mr. Butler preached his first sermon in Pardee, the services being held in the school house, which had been completed during the previous fall, and opened by James Brewer in December. Caleb May, the first settler in Center township, was the first president of the Pardee Town Company. Pardee Butler was afterwards president; Milo Carleton, secretary; Wm. J. May, treasurer; S. G. Moore, A. Elliott and W. Wakefield, trustees. Mr. Moore opened the first store in Pardee in 1858, and became the first postmaster as aforestated. Mr. Carleton put a wind gristmill in operation at Pardee at an early day, but it was destroyed by a storm. LANCASTER. Lancaster is one of the oldest towns in the county. In the issue of October 16, 1858, of _Freedom’s Champion_, the following advertisement with reference to Lancaster appears: “LANCASTER.