Johnston Lykins

Johnston Lykins (April 15, 1800-August 15, 1876) was the first legal Kansas City, Missouri Mayor.

Lykins was born in Franklin County, Virginia.

In 1828 he married Delilah daughter of one of Kansas City's earliest settlers Isaac McCoy in 1828 working with Indians in Michigan and Indiana. Following the Indian Removal Act which moved Indians west of Kansas City he moved to the Kansas City to continue his missionary work.

In 1831 he bought 16 acres in what would become the initial plat for Kansas City (his property extended south from the Missouri River to Fifth and Broadway. He would also expand his holdings to 12th and Pennsylvania on Quality Hill. He was president of Mechanics Bank and a self taught doctor.

He married again in 1851.

Kansas City after being incorporated in 1853 first elected William Samuel Gregory. Gregory served only 10 months when it was discovered that he was not eligible to be mayor because he did not live within the city limits. Lykins who was first president of the city council became mayor. After completing two months of Gregory's term he was elected to another one-year term. [A CONDENSED HISTORY OF THE KANSAS CITY AREA. ITS MAYORS AND SOME V.I.P.S - Author: Green, George Fuller Publisher: The Lowell Press. 1968, Kansas City, MO]

During the American Civil War he maintained loyal Union ties while his new wife had to move to Clay County, Missouri as a result of General Order No. 11 which required loyalty oaths for those living near the Kansas border south of the Missouri River.

He is buried in Union Cemetery, Kansas City, Missouri.

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