If It's Grain, We'll Bid: The History Of Sullivan Grain

Across Kansas, grain elevators stand as towering landmarks in both small towns and large cities. Among these, the Ulysses Sullivan elevator is a prominent reminder of one family's enduring influence in the grain industry of Southwest Kansas.

The Sullivan family's story began with their migration from Ireland. In the late 1860s, the family settled in Pennsylvania before brothers Jerry and Dan C. Sullivan ventured west. Jerry moved to Colorado, followed by Dan, who arrived in what is now Grant County in 1881. Alongside John O'Loughlin, Dan ran cattle across the region. The family initially lived in a dugout southwest of Ulysses, gradually expanding their ranch to nearly 4,000 acres. Dan married Mary R. Sullivan, and they had two sons: Dan and Jerry, along with a daughter who tragically passed away young. Dan C. also became a prominent merchant in Old Ulysses and invested in the early Grant County Bank. His ventures extended beyond Kansas, as he owned land near San Luis Potosi, Mexico, where he spent winters.

During World War I, Mary Sullivan persuaded her son, Dan, to plant wheat, a decision that ultimately proved more successful in their ranching efforts. When Jerry returned from the war, it became clear that the era of open-range cattle ranching was ending, with the railroad and farmers arriving in the area. Facing a choice between moving or adapting, the Sullivan family chose to stay and embrace the changes. After consulting with a grain elevator operator in Moscow, Kans., the brothers decided to enter the grain business. They shipped their first load of wheat in 1922, founding what was initially called the Ulysses Grain Company.

The family quickly built a wooden elevator, and after an outside party sold its interest, the company became entirely family-owned. The Sullivans faced a steep learning curve in grain storage, but in 1926, they added a second wooden elevator on the Hickok Switch. A year later, the company was renamed Sullivan Brothers, and a 22,000-bushel elevator was constructed at Mile Post. With the business flourishing, they embarked on building a 200,000-bushel concrete elevator in Ulysses. This new structure was completed during the same period as the Ulysses Methodist Church and Courthouse, though the Great Depression and Dust Bowl soon brought economic hardships.

The Depression strained farmers and left many grain elevators unused due to the severe drought that devastated the Midwest. Despite these challenges, the Sullivans managed to purchase a location in Coolidge, Kans., in 1934. As the nation recovered from the Depression and entered World War II, the company added a Ryus location in 1943. After the war, grain prices surged, and a bountiful 1946 harvest prompted the Sullivans to expand their Ulysses elevator to a 600,000-bushel capacity. That same year, the company was reorganized as Sullivan, Inc., with stockholders from both Jerry and Dan's families.

In the post-war years, the company continued to grow. The Coolidge location was modernized with a concrete elevator in 1948, followed by a significant addition in 1950.

Throughout the 1950s, several of their locations were expanded, and in 1958, the Sullivans added their first metal flat storage facilities. The family also diversified, founding Sullivan Investments in 1951, and Sullivan Realty, which owned the San Man Hotel in Ulysses. In 1959, they completed a new corporate office in Ulysses. A few years later, 1963, the Sullivans purchased a wooden elevator from Bunge Corporation, followed by another acquisition a few years later.

Dan Sullivan passed away in 1964, and Jerry Sullivan followed in 1973. Despite their passing, the family legacy continued as Sullivan, Inc. remained a thriving business. By 1982, the company had a terminal capacity of 741,000 bushels at Hickok, 201,000 at Mile Post, and 1,805,000 at Coolidge. Altogether, their storage capacity across Grant County and Coolidge reached 5,829,000 bushels. The company also boasted a successful feed department. In 1994, Sullivan, Inc., purchased additional concrete elevators in Lakin, Kendall, and Hickok from Bunge Corporation. Although a storm destroyed their corporate office in 1996, it was quickly rebuilt. The company celebrated its 75th anniversary in 1997, and the following year, they leased the X-Y Grain Facility in Granada, Colo.

In 2005, the Sullivans sold their Coolidge location to Scoular Grain, and in 2006, the remaining locations were sold to Garden City Coop, Inc. Sullivan Inc., was officially dissolved in 2008, marking the end of the family's long-standing presence in the grain business of Grant County.

The story of the Sullivan family and their grain elevators is a testament to the resilience, adaptability, and entrepreneurial spirit that defined the pioneers of Southwest Kansas. For nearly a century, they helped shaped the economic landscape of Grant County, providing jobs, infrastructure, and a vital service to local farmers. Although the company has since dissolved, the towering grain elevators they built remain as enduring symbols of the region's agricultural heritage and the Sullivan family's significant role in its development. Their legacy serves as a reminder of how individual endeavors can leave a lasting imprint on a community and contribute to the progress of an entire region.

This article was made possible by information from Lynn Teeter, who keeps the history of Sullivan, Inc., alive.