Dr. Albert Reynolds, who first settled in Bowling Green, built an office in Kappa in 1854 and became the first doctor here. W. R. Willis opened the first hotel about the same time. Both men later moved to El Paso.
A shoe factory was located in Kappa from about 1855 to 1861. Christian Schafer, who had emigrated from Germany in 1851, married Phoebe Boeshar in Peoria, and they settled in the new village in October 1854. For a time the factory employed 16 men. Schafer also moved to El Paso where he was a merchant for many years.
A Baptist congregation was organized in Kappa in the 1850's, several years before the Jan. 21, 1858 organization of a similar group in El Paso. In December, 1858, some of the members of the Kappa group were received as members in El Paso, "the Kappa church having disbanded," according to church records.
Ten persons organized a Methodist Episcopal class in 1855 and held meetings in the depot for some time. Members of the Evangelical Church in the area also worshipped with the Methodists and the two groups combined forces to build a church -- "the building to be used by itinerant ministers of both conferences on alternate Sundays."
A new building and furnishings which cost $2,400 was dedicated in 1874, though it was ten years before payment was completed. The church never has a resident minister, being served by pastors located in Gridley, El Paso or Hudson. The Evangelicals withdrew in 1922 and the Methodists continued services, (though irregularly) until the church burned July 4, 1941. Sparks from a firecracker probably set off by some celebrating youngster were believed to have caused the fire.
J. B. Drake purchased a general store from Fielder & Wheaton in 1907, and was succeeded in 1914 by his son Eugene, who maintained the store until 1965. This was the last store in Kappa.
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