The First House in Topeka.
Other Towns. Lawrence was not the only place in the Territory that was settled before the close of the first winter. People were coming in from north, east, and south, settling on claims and starting other towns. The principal proslavery towns were Leavenworth, Atchison, and Lecompton. Free-state towns were Lawrence, Topeka, Osawatomie, and Manhattan. Leavenworth and Atchison were both founded by people from Missouri, and, since they were on the Missouri River, came to be outfitting points for travelers over the California and Salt Lake Trails. Lecompton, on the Kansas River, not far from Lawrence, soon became the headquarters of the proslavery people, and for several years was the Territorial capital. Topeka was founded with the hope of its becoming the capital of Kansas. Osawatomie soon became an important free-state center. Manhattan, on the Kansas River at the mouth of the Big Blue, was for the first few months called Boston. On the arrival of a party of seventy-five people from Cincinnati, Ohio, the name was changed to Manhattan. This party made the entire trip from Cincinnati to Manhattan by boat.
SUMMARY
When Kansas Territory was organized little was known of it, but, because it was wanted by both the North and the South, knowledge of Kansas spread rapidly. The South had the support of every branch of the National Government and the added advantage that the only State touching Kansas was proslavery. The advantage of the North lay in the fact that it had a much larger number of people who were free to move to a new country. The proslavery Missourians came in at once and took claims. A few free-state people came within a month, and in two months the emigrant aid parties began to arrive. The fact that many Missourians had staked out claims and gone back home led to numerous claim disputes and caused the organization of the Actual Settlers’ Association. By the time winter had come four emigrant aid parties had arrived at Lawrence, many settlers were living on their claims, and several towns had been started by each side.
REFERENCES
- Spring, Kansas, pp. 29-40.
- Brooks, The Boy Settlers.
- Prentis, History of Kansas, pp. 71-78.
- Thayer, The Kansas Crusade.
- Robinson, The Kansas Conflict, chaps. II-IV.
- Mrs. Robinson, Kansas—Its Interior and Exterior Life.
- Gihon, Geary and Kansas, chap. IV.
- Historical Collections, vol. VI, p. 90; vol. IX, p. 144.
QUESTIONS
1. When was Kansas organized as a territory? In what ways had the people gained any knowledge of Kansas up to this time? Why did Kansas soon become well known?
2. What advantages did the South have in the effort to win Kansas? The North?
3. Contrast the manner of life in the North and the South in those days. What do you know of the conditions to-day?