olathe was created by dr. john t. barton in spring 1857. he came to the center of johnson county, kansas. he later told about his ride to friends: "...the prairie was covered with verbena and other wild flowers. i kept thinking the land was beautiful and that i should name the town beautiful." purportedly, barton asked a shawnee interpreter how to say "beautiful" in his native language. the interpreter responded, "olathe."