The state of Kansas is welcoming several new additions to its officially recognized historic locations, and one of them is right here in Franklin County. The Tauy Baptist Church will be added to the list. The church sits at 4097 Nevada Road, the southwest corner of Nevada and Riley Road, northeast of Ottawa. Known as one of the founders of Ottawa, John Tecumseh “Tauy” Jones was part Chippewa and an educated man who served as an interpreter for the Potawatomie Tribe before joining the Ottawa Tribe. He was a leader, minister, storekeeper, and operated the only hotel in the area. The name “Tauy” derives from a shortened form of the original pronunciation of “Ottawa”—originally Adawe, which was trimmed to toe-way, or tauy.
The church was organized in the late 1800’s but the building itself wasn’t dedicated until 1900. The Tauy Baptist Church served as a center for services, Sunday school classes, lecture courses, ice cream socials, and fundraising drives for community causes. Many ministers from Ottawa University, including students, preached at Tauy Baptist. If you get a chance, go check it out.
