History of Kansas

From the First Exploration

Of the Mississippi Valley

To Its Admission to the Union

EMBRACING

 A CONCISE SKETCH OF LOUISIANA: AMERICAN SLAVERY. AND ITS

ONWARD MARCH ; THE CONFLICT OF FREE AND SLAVE LABOR

IN THE SETTLEMENT OF KANSAS. AND THE OVERTHROW

OF THE LATTER, WITH ALL OTHER ITEMS OF GEN-

ERAL INTEREST : COMPLETE. CONSECUTIVE

AND RELIABLE.

By J. N. Holloway 1868

584 pages

-      BONUS -

Kansas

Its Interior and Exterior Life

Including

A Full View of Its Settlement, Political History,

Social Life, Climate, Soil, Production,

Scenery, ETC.

By Sara T. L. Robinson 1856

364 pages

-      BONUS -

Pioneer Narratives

Of the First 25 Years

Of Kansas History

Early Days In Kansas

In Keokuk’s Time On

The Kansas Reservation

By Charles R. Greene 1913

124 pages

 


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Located on the eastern edge of the Great Plains, the U.S. state of Kansas was the home of nomadic Native American tribes who hunted the vast herds of bison. The region first appears in western history in the 16th century at the time of the Spanish conquest of Mexico, when Spanish conquistadores explored the unknown land now known as Kansas. It was later explored by French fur trappers who traded with the Native Americans. Most of Kansas became permanently part of the United States in the Louisiana Purchase of 1803. The southwest portion had a different history, in which the Louisiana Purchase played a role. In the 19th century, the first American explorers designated the area as the "Great American Desert."

When the area was opened to Euro-American settlement in the 1850s, Kansas immediately became the first battlefield in what a few years later became the American Civil War. After the war, Kansas was home to Wild West towns servicing the cattle trade. With the railroads came heavy immigration from the East, from Europe, and from Freedmen called "Exodusters". For much of its history, Kansas has had a rural economy based on wheat and other crops, supplemented by oil and railroads. Since 1945 the farm population has sharply declined and manufacturing has become more important, typified by the aircraft industry of Wichita.

CONTENTS - Kansas

Its Interior and Exterior Life

CHAPTER I.  INTRODUCTION.

Great American Desert — Opening of California — Colonel Fremont's Route —

Kansas — Scenery — Soil — Climate — Extent of the Missouri Compromise

— Its Repeal — Blue Lodge — Meetings in Missouri, 1

CHAPTER II. THE PIRST ELECTION AND FIRST INVASION.

New England Aid Company — First Parties — Lawrence — First Election —

Census — First Winter — Second Invasion — Protests — Meeting at Leaven-

worth, 10

CHAPTER III. EASTERN EMIGRATION BORDER MEN.

Kansas City, Mo. — Westport — Baptist Mission — Election-day — Threats

Against Gov. Reeder — Members Elect of Legislature — Mission Church —

Ride to Lawrence — Scenery, 34

CHAPTER IV. LAWRENCE.

Drives in the Country — Calls on Pioneers — First Attendance at Church, . 36

CHAPTER V. KANSAS HOMES.

Death of Mrs. T. — Scarcity of Provisions — Arrival of a Friend — A Gentle-

man from Massachusetts — Silver Mist — City People in Kansas — Spider-

wort — Company — Sabbath-School — Heavy Showers — Homes — Steamer —

Election — Tour in the Country — Emigration — Visit to a Friend — Hard-

ships of Settlers— Preaching on Capitol Hill — Death of Dr. Clark, . . 43

 CHAPTER VI. ILLS OF PIONEER LIFE.

Cold Weather — Communion — Cholera — Rattlesnakes — Sickness — Oppres-

sion — A Night in an open House and heavy Shower — Morning Ride —

Fourth of July — Pro-Slavery Rage — Visit at Dr. B.'s — Rumors of War —

Assault upon Mr. C. — " Fish's "Company, 62

CHAPTER VII. KANSAS LAWS GOV. SHANNON.

Rains — Laws — Government Officials — Convention at Lawrence — Street

Broils — Leavenworth Herald— Camp Meeting— Gov. Shannon — Hunga-

rian Doctor — Gov. Shannon at Westport — Western Emigrants - Free

Negro — Gov. Shannon Visits Lecompton — Delegate Convention at Topeka

— Convention at Lawrence — Rumors of Invasion, 79

CHAPTER VIII. GENERAL DISCOMFORTS MURDER OF DOW.

Prairie Fires — Cold — Constitutional Convention — Military Supper — Mr. C.

ill — General Sickness — Returned Emigrants — Death of Dow — Branson

Rescue — Meeting at Lawrence, 95

CHAPTER IX. WAKARUSA WAR PREPARATIONS.

Judge Lecompte at November Court — Grand Mass Convention at Leavenworth

— News from the Border — Woodson's Despatch — Reinforcements at Law-

rence—Enemy's Camp — Missouri Despatches — Meeting at Lawrence —

Gen. Clark shoots his Friend — Strong Defences will save Bloodshed — Mc-

Crea's Escape, 222

CHAPTER X. WAKARUSA WAR INCIDENTS.

Gov. Shannon's Proclamation— " Sheriff Jones" at Lawrence — A Vermonter

— Pro-Slavery Men leave Town — Our Men drilling — Guard fired upon

— The Messrs. P. escape from Missourians — Western Neighbors — Messen-

gers to Gov. Shannon — A Dream, 128

CHAPTER XI. DEATH OF BARBER THE TREATY.

Guard fired upon — Messengers taken Prisoners — Rescuers — Howitzer —

Barber shot — Gov. Shannon's Pass — The Governor at Lawrence — Depreda-

tions Terrible Night — Generals R. and L. visit Franklin — Dissatisfaction

of the Invading Army — The Treaty — Dinner — Meeting at Council-Room

Rumor from the Camp — Commission of Generals R. and L. — Peace

Party — Released Prisoners — Present Lull, 141

CHAPTER XII. FUNERAL OF BARBER DEATH OF R. P. BROWN.

Election for State Constitution — Affray at Leavenworth — Funeral of Barber

S. and T. taken to Lecompton — Convention at Lawrence — Severe

Weather — Destitution — Outrage at Leavenworth — Kickapoo Pioneer —

Little Boy — Clear Morning — Odd Sleighs — Attack at Easton — R. P.

Brown killed — Men driven from their Homes — Death of Major Robinson

— Ride after a Mule — New Plans of the Enemy — Kickapoo Pioneer — The

Interposition of God — Provisions — A Winter to be remembered, . .160

CHAPTER XIII. THE WINTER IN THE TERRITORY — STATE LEGISLATURE.

Cabins in the Forts — Firing — Our People — Atchison's Letter — Settlers'

Endurance — The Probability of Attack — Indians — A Wedding — Eastern

Newspapers — Correspondence of Gov. Shannon and Maj. Clark — Presi-

dent's Message— The Twenty-second of February — River open — Legisla-

ture — Rumors of Arrest — Religious Societies — Osawattomie — Hampden

— Topeka — Wabousa — Manhattan — Council City — State Officers — Sharpens

Rifles taken at Lexington — Corner-stone of Unitarian Church laid — Our

House finished — Calls on Settlers — Receptions, 177

CHAPTER XIV. COMMITTEE OF INVESTIGATION — " SHERIFF JONES " SHOT.

April — Quiet — Emigration — Arrests — Committee of Investigation — Re-

hearsal — *' Sheriff Jones " shot — Meeting at Lawrence — Fugitive from

Arrest — Incidents — The People indignant — Attempt to excite the Mis-

CHAPTER XV. REDOUBLED EFFORTS FOR A NEW INVASION.

May -party at Hotel — New Outrages — The Committee of Investigation at

Tecumseh— Visit at Topeka — Big Springs — Washington — Incidents —

Tecumseh — A Friend's Cabin — Boarding House — Buford's Men — Judge

Lecompte's Charge to Grand Jury — A Writ of Attachment for Gov. Reeder —

The Marshal's Proclamation — Pro-Slavery Letters — Continual Outrages

upon Free-State Men in the Territory and in Missouri, 209

CHAPTER XVI. THE ATTACK UPON LAWRENCE.

Rumors of the threatened Attack — Letters to the Governor and Marshal, with

their replies — Miller arrested — Gov. Shannon's Reply to the Messrs.

Eldridge —Jones and Stewart killed — The Sacking of Lawrence, . . . 229

CHAPTER XVII. THE "REIGN OF TERROR" IN KANSAS.

Robberies between Lawrence and Kansas City — The U. S. Mail Searched —

"Reign of Terror" at Leavenworth — Dr. R. and Mr. M. taken Prisoners —

Marshal Donaldson's Pass — Officers in the Invaders' Camp — Gov. Shannon

— Outrages, 249

CHAPTER XVIII. AKREST OF G. JENKINS AND G. W. BROWN -— ARREST OF GOVERNOR

ROBINSON.

CHAPTER XIX. EXCITEMENT IN MISSOURI OUTRAGES IN THE TERRITORY.

Trip up the River — Excitement at Kansas City — Battle at Prairie City —

Missourians driven out — Sack of Osawattomie — Judge C. and Mr. C.

ordered away from Lecompton — Attempted Arrest of Judge C. —Murder

of Cantrell — Outrage upon Messrs. Bailey, Hill, Barlow, Rev. Mr. Webster

and others, 273

CHAPTER XX. TWO WEEKS IN JUNE ON THE MISSOURI BORDER.

Pro-Slavery Men -Gov. Robinson's Guard - Gov. Shannon and CoL Sumner

— The Investigating Committee — Westport and Kansas City — W. Donelson

-Missouri Women -A furious Man - Leavenworth - Conversation of

Western Women — Lawrence — Hopkins killed, 290

CHAPTER XXI. THE U. S. CAMP DISPERSION OF LEGISLATURE.

Visit the Camp - Legate and Hoy t arrested - New Orders of Cramer - Emi-

grants disarmed and sent back -Gay, the Indian Agent, killed -Bu-

chanan Ratification Meeting _ More Prisoners - Lecompton alarmed -

Camp moved to protect it - Log Prison - Cheerfulness - " Law-and-order "

Men — Barricades — Dispersion of Legislature, 300

CHAPTER XXII. " LAW-AND-ORDER " MEN — FREE-STATE MEN AROUSED.

Discomforts — More Emigrants turned back — The President dumb — Moved

Camp again — Gen. Smith — Gov. and Mrs. Shannon — Col. Titus — W. P.

Fain — Heavy Showers — Eflforts to diminish the Comfort of the Prisoners

— Perkins assaulted — Mr. Wilson — Concert — Preaching — " Law-and-

order" Men in Conclave — Gov. Shannon removed — Southerners build

Forts — Destruction of Fort on Douglas Creek — Free-State Emigrants

arrived — Battle at Franklin — Murder of Hoyt — Destruction of Fort on

Washington Creek, and of Titus' Stronghold — Panic at Lecompton —

Treaty, . . 316

CHAPTER XXIII. NEW INTASION RELEASE OF STATE PRISONERS.

Murder of Ross — Outrage upon Free-State Lady — Woodson calls out Militia

— New Intention to destroy Lawrence — Committee from Lawrence calls upon

the Governor — More Troops from the Fort — Wagons taken near Leaven-

worth — Mr. Nute and others taken Prisoners — Messrs. H. and S. retained

at Lecompton — Eighty Troops go to Lawrence — Osawattomie destroyed —

Missourians driven out — Houses burned — U. S. Marshal visits Lawrence

— Men murdered — Free-State Ai-my goes to Lecompton — Mob-law at

Leavenworth — Release of Prisoners at Leavenworth — Gov. Geary arrived

— Release of State Prisoners — Jubilee at Lawrence, 328

CHAPTER XXIV. AN APPEAL TO THE AMERICAN PEOPLE.

APPENDIX 349