COUNTIES IN THE the bluffs overlooking the PROPOSED BLEEDING River in 1827. Fort Leavenworth is the oldest continuously occupied military AND THE post west of the Mississippi River. The ENDURING STRUGGLE FOR Fort was actually supposed to be built on FREEDOM NATIONAL the Missouri side of the River but HERITAGE AREA attempts to locate there were flooded out. The military located the Fort Each of the counties considered illegally on Indian land and negotiated for inclusion in the proposed Heritage for the purchase after the fact. Over the Area has had a role in Kansas history years the Fort has continued to expand and development connecting it to the and occupy what was open land or farm theme of the Enduring Struggle for land. This also increased the demand for Freedom. Following is a list of the supplies and provided a good counties currently involved and the opportunity for business. During and themes that connect them to the enduring after the War the presence of the Fort struggle for freedom: was a boon to the town. After the War GLACIATED REGION Fort Leavenworth became the home of LEAVENWORTH: Topographically the “Buffalo Soldiers” as the African part of the Glaciated Region with Americans were known. Their presence Pottawatomie, and Wyandotte is recognized by the Buffalo Soldiers counties. Monument on post and at the Richard Thematically linked with Allen Cultural Center in Leavenworth. Native Americans, African These troops fought for a country which Americans, Proslavery, Free State, was based on liberty, yet denied them Kansas Conflict and Civil War. equality. A fact not lost on them. Even Additional themes include the story of the Monument is an and indication of the Enduring Struggle. Military/Government. Well timbered and While an officer at Fort Leavenworth watered with the Missouri River to the Brigadier General Colin Powell looked th North and the Kansas River on the South for the streets named after the 9 and th Leavenworth was the home for 10 Cavalry. What he found were two the Kansas City Hopewell people in the “streets” that did nothing to honor those prehistoric period and later the Kansa. units. He began a personal crusade The first known European settlers were which led to the creation of the the Coureurs des Bois and garrison Monument that stands today to located at Fort Cavagnial outside the acknowledge the significant role these Large Kansa Village or Town in 1746 troops played in opening the West to on the grounds of present Fort settlement. Leavenworth. The site of the abandoned During the Territorial period fort was visited by Lewis and Clark in many of the officers at Fort Leavenworth 1804. In a demonstration of the premise were from the South and supported the that what makes a location desirable for Proslavery faction. This support and the settlement good for one group generally close proximity to Weston, Missouri led makes it good for any group the US to the creation of the Leavenworth Army established Fort Leavenworth on Town Company which initially was Proslavery. Leavenworth did have a throughout the 1860’s. A government Free Black settler early on who came ferry was established when Fort Riley specifically to assist escaping Freedom was built nearby and increased traffic Seekers. Free State settlers located in the brought opportunities and problems for area seeing the same economic potential the Tribes. Like most Tribes the Nations that led their Proslavery counterparts to brought in as part of the Permanent select the location. A German colony Indian Frontier had mixed feelings and soon moved into the area as did other watched as whites increasingly moved Free State settlers. Gradually through the area. In 1864 a group of Leavenworth changed from a Proslavery Potawatomi and Kickapoo leave the town to a Free State community. The region and settle in the state of Coahuila, African American population began to Mexico. While crossing through Texas grow and swelled during the Civil War this group is attacked by Confederates with Freedom Seekers and the elements resulting in a twenty-year war between which would form part of the First the Saint Marys Band and the Texans in Kansas Colored Infantry and provide their new homes. The fertility of the three Black officers, Captain Matthews, river bottom lands was not lost on many Lieutenant Minor and Lieutenant . One of those going through the region and Abolitionist active in Leavenworth was after the Civil War a number of former Dan Anthony. When Dan was shot in an soldiers settled the county and developed altercation his sister Susan B. Anthony crop land in the valleys and ranches in came to nurse him back to health. While the uplands. The remaining Potawatomi here Susan corresponded with an old split into two groups, the “Citizen friend from the East, Clarina Nichols, as Band” which chose citizenship and they both worked on Women’s Rights personal land holding and the “Prairie and began planning their next moves in Band” which opts for traditional the struggle for Freedom. communal landholding and is removed Leavenworth was a major to Jackson County. Eventually most of commercial and manufacturing center the Citizen Band intermarry with whites for a time. Like other communities the or remove to Oklahoma as they lose floods along the Kansas and Missouri their lands to encroaching white settlers. Rivers affected it. With the promise of the railroad Towns include Leavenworth, more European immigrants arrive from Fort Leavenworth. Sweden, Germany and the Austro- Hungarian Empire. Part of these settlers POTTAWATOMIE: Part of the Flint retained their ethnic customs and Hills Region and Glaciated Region. languages while others chose to join the Thematically tied to Native mainstream culture. Americans. Towns include Wamego and Initially this was Kansa land until Westmoreland. they were removed and replaced by Potawatomi, Chippewa, Sac Fox and SHAWNEE: Part of the Glaciated Kickapoo. Jesuits established the Region. community of St. Marys, which became Thematically linked to Native the town of St. Marys. St. Marys served Americans, African Americans, Free as a mission, school and trading site State, and Kansas Conflict. Additional theme includes Underground Civil Rights, Mexican Immigrants, Railroad. Asian Immigrants and the The Wakarusa and Kansas Rivers Underground Railroad. water Shawnee County with smaller Wyandotte County is largely streams and contained stands of timber located between the Kansas and along the waterways. Initially the Kansa Missouri Rivers. Prairies in the west end occupied this county. After the Kansa of the county merged with the heavy were removed the Shawnee, Delaware woods along the rivers. The Kansas and Pottawatomie settled it. Missions City Hopewell were the first known were established along with a ferry prehistoric residents as they settled on across the Kansas River at the site of bluffs along the Missouri River. Some Topeka. A number of Free Staters and plants were grown but cultivation and elements of the New England Emigrant land modification were minimal. The Aid Company settled in the vicinity of Kansa used the region but their main Big Springs and Topeka. Topeka villages were further up the Missouri. became the seat of the opposition Free Roads crossed the area early after Fort State government. With settlement mills Leavenworth was established and the were constructed and timber harvested, county became home for the Shawnee, crops were put in and creeks dammed or Delaware and later Wyandot Tribes. bridged. After statehood in 1861 Topeka Each of these groups had different became capitol and has been the seat of experiences as they struggled to decide government. The county became a rail whether to adopt the white culture or center with the development of the retain their own religion and customs. Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe railroad. The main settlements of the Shawnee African Americans came as part of the were in Johnson County but individuals Underground Railroad with some intermarried with the other tribes and remaining. Exodusters fleeing the moved onto their reserves. The Delaware oppression in the South later joined these had several towns along the Kansas settlers. Mexicans were brought in to River and its tributaries but were forced work on the railroad and were also to move to a different set of sites after classed as People of Color with similar the 1844 Flood. The Wyandot, who treatment by white culture. In 1954 arrived last had intermarried extensively Topeka would come to national attention with Whites, other tribes and Blacks. as the focus of “Brown vs. Board of This Tribe split over the issue of Education”. This landmark Civil Rights Slavery in 1847 and Proslavery case is commemorated with the National elements established what would Historic Site at Monroe School. become the town of Wyandott while the Towns include Big Springs and Abolitionist members retreated to other Topeka. areas, especially in the Northern part of the county near what would become WYANDOTTE: Part of the Glaciated Quindaro. Region. When the Territory opened in Thematically linked to Native 1854 the town of Wyandott boomed as a Americans, African Americans, river town. By 1856 the New England Women, Free State, Proslavery, and Emigrant Aid Society combined with Civil War. Additional themes include Abolitionist Wyandots to establish the Free State town of Quindaro. Quindaro and Edwardsville. Other communities quickly gained a reputation as both a swallowed up included Argentine with Free State and Abolition center and what was for a time the worlds largest became a stopping point on the silver smelter and the Argentine rail Underground Railroad. A number of yards, Armourdale and the packinghouse sites were used including the cistern at and stockyards districts, and Rosedale Clarina Nichols home. Mrs. Nichols was with the University of Kansas Medical an active Suffragette and is credited Center and School. with getting the Kansas Constitution to Wyandotte County include Women’s Rights. In 1859 a city initially focused on agriculture, election board allowed two Runaway meatpacking and the railroad. It was in Slaves to vote in local elections. This part this agricultural focus that resulted was one of the first instances where in the selection of Bonner Springs as the Blacks were allowed to vote in any home of The Agricultural Hall of election. Quindaro suffered with the Fame and National Farmers economic crash but was seen by Monument. Over the years it developed escaping Slaves as a safe haven. This manufacturing and during World War II became especially important in the was producing both landing craft and winter of 1861 when the Missouri River medium range bombers. During the froze solid enough for horses to cross. Korean War the General Motors plant Many of the Freedom Seekers avoided had two assembly lines going. One on Wyandott due to its earlier reputation. the floor produced automobiles. The By 1862 Quindaro was largely Overhead line produced jet fighter abandoned due to its threatened position aircraft across the river from Confederate held Towns include Kansas City Parkville, Missouri. including former towns of Quindaro and Wyandott rose in prominence as Wyandott. refugees gathered there and Union troops established a military post. Some OSAGE CUESTAS REGION where in the county was located “Camp ALLEN: linked topographically with Jim Lane” where the First Colored Anderson, Bourbon, Coffey, Crawford, Kansas Volunteer Infantry gathered Douglas, Johnson, Labette, Linn, Miami, and began training. By 1863 the railroad Wilson and Woodson counties in the reached Wyandott and began moving Osage Cuestas Region. This area of west. The coming of the railroad helped rolling hills and plains is heavily develop other businesses and later underlain with limestone and results in industries. A series of towns good, fertile soils. consolidated in 1887 and became known Thematically linked with as Kansas City, Kansas. Eventually Native American, African-American, Kansas City would swallow all other Free State themes defined in the main communities and entities in the county body of the Feasibility Study. except Bonner Springs and Additional themes or perspectives Edwardsville. By 2004 all of Wyandotte include European Immigrants and County is part of the Unified Underground Railroad. Government of Kansas City/Wyandotte Originally this was part of the County, Kansas except Bonner Springs Osage hunting area until they were removed by the Treaty of 1825. Later Immigrants, Underground Railroad part of the Reservation. Lands were and John Brown. initially grasses until crops were planted. Originally this was part of the Timbered areas along streams and rivers Osage hunting lands until the Treaty of were used by white settlers although 1825. Later part of the Potawatomi, Sac much construction was made of stone. and Fox Reservations until removal by Humboldt was settled by German the Treaty of. Part of the Permanent immigrants in1857 and was associated Indian Frontier until extinguished with the New England Emigrant Aid through the Opening of the Kansas Society. These settlers were strongly Territory in 1854. Early settlers in the affiliated with the Free Staters and chose vicinity of Garnett and Greeley were Kansas in part because it provided an largely Free State supporters. John opportunity for the Germans to Brown brought a party of Slaves he was control their own fates as a majority, liberating through the area and one gave not minority component of the birth in the Gerth Cabin, now moved settlement. A Vegetarian Colony was into Greeley as a historic site for established six miles Southeast of interpretation. Early European Humboldt in 1856 but was short lived. settlements included Emerald founded During the Civil War over 1000 Loyal by Irish Catholics in the 1850’s and Creeks, their slaves and Scipio founded by Catholics and joined freedmen fought their way out of by residents of Scipio, Indiana from Oklahoma under Opothleyahola. This 1855-1857.These early settlers came in group would become the core of the part to make Kansas free but also to First Volunteer Indian avoid anti-Catholic sentiment in the East Regiment, which formed part of the and acquire land. Tricolor Brigade. Blacks enlisted in this Fertile soils aided the transition Regiment with their former masters and from prairie grasses to agriculture. Small also found work as interpreters for the communities located near water sources white officers. Humboldt served as a and survived drought and flood until time as headquarters for the Creek their economic reasons for existence Agency until Confederate raiders burned caught up with them. Those towns the town. The refugees who formed the located in the best areas for laying rails Home Guard Regiment retreated. They got the railroads. Those without rail were provided with the weapons and traffic found themselves off the beaten training to allow them to retake their path and had to transport their produce homes. and goods farther to market. The Towns include Iola and development of roads along the Section Humboldt lines helped here as throughout the Midwest. With increased personal ANDERSON: linked topographically to transportation and better roads the other counties in the Osage Cuestas conditions improved for the farmers for Region. a time. Better farm machinery allowed Thematically liked to Native more land to be put under cultivation. American, African American, Free With the coming of the Depression and State themes in the main body. the drought of the 1930’s agriculture Additional themes include European suffered. New methods of farming focusing on dry-land methods were for the Wyandot were also largely developed. unsuccessful. By 1853 when the Fort Towns include Garnett, Greeley was being abandoned it was clear the and Scipio area would soon be open for white settlement. Squatters from Missouri BOURBON: linked topographically to illegally settled the land and began the other counties in the Osage Cuestas developing the future town site. The Region. Portions of the county are also same reasons that led the Army to included with , Crawford and establish the Fort on the bluff Labette counties in the Cherokee overlooking the Marmaton River Lowlands Region. The Cherokee contributed to the success of the Lowlands included areas with good settlement. Prairies to the west merged fertile soils combined with underlying with the timber of the Marmaton Valley minerals including natural gas, oil and and the limestone bluffs provided stone, coal. which was easily accessible. Initially the Thematically linked to Native settlers were mostly Proslavery partisans American, African American, Free from Missouri intent on bringing Kansas State, and Proslavery, Kansas Conflict into the Union as a Slave State. As more and Civil War themes. Additional Free State settlers arrived in the region themes include Military/Government violence flared and Fort Scott became role in the Enduring Struggle for both a source of raids from Proslavers Freedom. and a target of raids from Free Staters. Bourbon County was part of the Eventually Kansas settled into the calm Osage lands until they were removed. before the Civil War officially began. Fort Scott was established as an outpost With statehood in 1861 came the War. of the Permanent Indian Frontier in 1843 Fort Scott once again became a military and served as a troop center throughout outpost but the old fort had been sold the Mexican War until it was replaced and many of the structures were by Fort Riley in 1853. One of Fort otherwise occupied. The main military Scott’s main duties was to protect the activity moved outside of town and Emigrant Tribes being relocated into would eventually become one of the Kansas. To do this mounted troops from sites where the First Kansas Colored the post made a number of Volunteer Infantry would be mustered “Demonstrations” onto the prairie to awe into Kansas service in 1862. This unit the Plains Tribes into submission. These was the first African American unit attempts to control the Plains Tribes raised in the North to see combat. One of were successful but attempts to resettle the unit leaders who saw combat on some Emigrant Tribes were not. The October 29, 1862 was Lieutenant Patrick Wyandot of Ohio were supposed to Minor, an African American who would remove to the area adjacent to Fort Scott lose his rank when the unit transferred but refused. Eventually they would be into federal service in 1863. This unit forced to relocate in present Wyandotte would also form part of the Tricolor County but these initial resettlement Brigade with the attempts were successfully resisted. Regiments and elements of Kansas Later efforts to resettle the New York Cavalry units. Fort Scott also is home to Indians to the area originally set aside National Cemetery #1 where a number of Civil War and later soldiers are Humboldt as the headquarters for the interred. Southern Indian Agency after Humboldt After the War the railroads and was burned. Refugee Creek and eventually US Highway 69 would also Cherokee settled the area temporarily go through Fort Scott following the old outside the local military post. military road. The same reasons it was Towns include Burlington and attractive to the early road builders held Leroy true for the later ones, following the path of least resistance. Fort Scott would also CRAWFORD: Topographically linked find notoriety as the setting for Gordon to other counties in the Osage Cuestas Parks autobiographical film “The Region and the Cherokee Lowlands Learning Tree”. Parks, an African Region. American photographer and filmmaker Thematically linked to Native recounted “growing up in a small American, African American, and Southern town”. The film and the Women. Additional themes include ensuing controversy showed that while Mining, Labor and European Kansas had one image as a place where Immigrants. Part of the Osage lands, people fought to end Slavery it also had Crawford county contained timber as another darker image for those African well as mineral wealth. Primarily settled Americans who had experienced the from the 1870’s on. Crawford County Racism present in many towns. In 2004 experienced a variety of variations on there is progress reconciling between the Enduring Struggle. A group of Mr. Parks and the community. The town Exodusters settled in Cherokee and also hosts Fort Scott National Historic soon found themselves surrounded by Site established in 1976 and focusing on miners brought in from Eastern Europe the role of the military on the Frontier, to work in the coalmines. These Italian especially along the Permanent Indian and Bohemian miners would contribute Frontier. Part of the county has retained to the areas nickname as “the Little its grassland heritage as ranching Balkans”. In their struggle for better country while part has become more working conditions and wages several heavily timbered as the woods overtake things would occur. African Americans prairie and unused fields. would be imported from the South as Towns include Fort Scott. strike breakers or “scabs”. When they found out why they were being brought COFFEY: linked topographically with in and kept away from white workers other counties in the Osage Cuestas they promptly joined the Union Region. effectively combining the African Thematically linked to Native American Struggle with the Labor Americans, Free State and Civil War. Struggle. Girard, the would Traditionally part of the Osage country elect a Socialist city council and serve as until removal. During the 1850’s home to Eugene Debs and “Mother” Burlington was settled by Jones. Between 1919 and 1951 Girard Pennsylvanians and members of the was also home to the “Little Blue New England Emigrant Aid Society. Books” printed by Emanuel Haldeman- These settlers were later joined by more Julius, “the Henry Ford of the Printing Free Staters at Leroy, which replaced Press”. In 1920 between 3000-6000 women met to support their striking program with special focus on husbands and staged “the Amazon indigenous peoples. Recently the scene Army March”. These women were of struggles over the South Lawrence marching in protest against the Traffic way which had been planned to Industrial Court Law, which restricted take part of Haskell’s grounds including the right of miners to strike. By taking an area where students secretly met their this action the women were actually parents as late as the 1960’s. marching for the miners struggle for Clinton was adjacent to the old freedom. Pittsburg would provide the Free State town of Bloomington where new labor union, the United Mine one of the incidents of Voter Fraud Workers of America, with its first occurred in the territorial Elections. president, Matt Walters. As the mineral Clinton also became home to an deposits ran out and technology changed integrated farming community of to move to strip pits rather than deep Runaway Slaves from Missouri and Free shaft mining a number of workers found State whites. This community remained themselves looking for work. until descendants were removed for the Towns include Girard and construction of Clinton Reservoir in the Pittsburg. late 1960’s. Currently descendants of these early settlers are relocating near DOUGLAS: linked topographically to the reservoir as they retire. the other counties of the Osage Cuestas Lecompton was Region. established and recognized as the Thematically linked with official capitol of the Kansas Territory. Native Americans, African The Federal Government in Washington Americans, Free State and Proslavery, recognized this Proslavery settlement Kansas Conflict, Civil War. even though it was considered Bogus by Additional themes include the the Free Staters. Located along the Underground Railroad and John Kansas River the area had fertile ground Brown. Originally considered part of the and was largely agricultural after Kansas Kansa hunting region until removal. became a state and the capitol was Included Delaware settlements officially removed to Topeka. Today including a town near what became Lecompton contains both a state historic North Lawrence. During the violence of site (Constitution Hall) and a local the 1850’s both Delaware and Shawnee museum housed in the old Lane Tribal leaders offered warriors to help University building. Residents of the protect the town from Proslavery forces. small town are very aware and proud of The Delaware tried to remain in the area their role in the national controversy that but were later removed to Oklahoma stopped the spread of Slavery. after the Civil War. For a time Lawrence Lawrence, located along was the headquarters of the Bureau of the Kansas River, was considered the Indian Affairs. Later it became home to epitome of a Free State town and Haskell, currently Haskell Indian contained both Westerners from Indiana Nations University. Started as a and members of the New England boarding school for Western tribes Emigrant Aid Society. This town started Haskell grew and changed with the times in 1854 and gained national and to provide a four-year Liberal Arts international recognition as it was sacked and burned by Proslavery remained and intermarried with the Missourians in 1856 and became the whites while retaining elements of their scene of the Lawrence Massacre in culture. This group is not federally 1863. In retaliation for the 1856 attack recognized and receives no direct John Brown butchered Proslavery government support. The other tribes settlers at Dutch Henry’s Crossing in the removed to Oklahoma after 1867. Under Pottawatomie Massacre. Brown and a terms of an agreement with the Baptist number of other conductors on the Church the Ottawa provided land for Underground Railroad brought escaping what is today Ottawa University in slaves through Lawrence and Douglas exchange for free college educations for County. Runaway Slaves were tribal members. In 1980’s a book was welcome in the community and were published and a battle to enforce the emancipated as Kansas troops under Jim terms of the agreement occurred. Ottawa Lane moved into Missouri on military is located along the Marais des Cygnes raids. Lane would also give orders to in an area with hardwood forest along recruit the First Kansas Colored the river and had open prairies beyond. Volunteer Infantry in 1862 in spite of Over the years much of Franklin County official War Department refusals to came under cultivation or was used as enlist African American troops. Later pasture. One practice still followed in Lawrence developed an active and much of the region as of 2004 is the thriving African American community seasonal burning of pastures to kill off including the grandparents of poet and weeds, and prevent the spread of scrub author Langston Hughes. For a time brush and trees. During 1951 Ottawa Langston lived with his grandmother and and other locations downstream were they were the only People of Color on hard hit by the flooding this helped lead the stage when President Teddy to the construction of Melvern Roosevelt dedicated the John Brown Reservoir in Osage County in the Park in Osawatomie. In spite of its role 1960’s as part of the flood control as a Free State center the city maintained program developed. a segregated swimming pool until 1964. The area around Lane included Over the years Lawrence has survived a both the Free State settlement of number of droughts, fires and floods. Brown’s Station (founded by John Towns include Lecompton, Brown’s sons) and the Proslavery Lawrence and Clinton. settlement at “Dutch Henry’s Crossing”. Both settlements were along FRANKLIN: Topographically part of Pottawatomie Creek in a well-timbered the Osage Cuestas. region with good prairie for cultivation Thematically linked with and pasture. In 1856 “Dutch Henry’s” Native Americans, Free State, would become the scene of the Proslavery, and Kansas Conflict. Pottawatomie Massacre. Brown’s Free Other theme includes John Brown. State Abolitionist followers killed Once Osage hunting ground Franklin Proslavery settlers in retaliation for the County became home to the Chippewa, destruction of Lawrence by Proslavery Ottawa, Munsee, Peoria and Kaskaskia Missourians. In this area both parties who were relocated in the Permanent would form military companies and Indian Frontier. Part of the Munsee have engage in hit and run combat as they tried to force out the opposition. Lane also for a time was the home of Clarina LABETTE: Part of the Osage Cuestas Nichols who is credited with persuading Region with parts in the Cherokee the legislators drafting the Wyandotte Lowlands. Constitution to include Women’s Rights Thematically linked with issues. Mrs. Nichols sons also rode with Native Americans and African John Brown at the Battle of Black Jack. Americans. Labette County was part of When presenting talks in Vermont and Neosho County until 1867. Refugees the East on conditions in Kansas she from the Creek and Cherokee made their used the bullet removed from her son, way through Labette on their way to safe A.O. Carpenter to demonstrate what was locations where they would organize the occurring. Much of the area around Lane First Indian Home Guard Regiment. is still owned by small family farmers After the county was established a including a number of descendants of sizable African American population early Free State settlers. moved in as part of the Exoduster Towns include Lane and Ottawa. movement. Many of the members of this group came up from Texas along the JOHNSON: Part of the Osage Cuestas railroad and settled in towns where they Region. worked for wages. Others moved out Thematically linked to Native along the Neosho River Valley where Americans, Proslavery, Kansas they began farming. Conflict, and Civil War. As farmsteads and other towns Johnson County was ceded as grew up wells were dug for water and part of the Osage Treaty of 1825. The tree rows established as windbreaks. Shawnee were relocated into the area Crops were rotated and sorghum grains and tended to settle in small villages and became some of the leading crops in this homesteads. Timber along well-watered area. creeks and the Kansas River provided Towns include Oswego and logs for “Dog Trot” cabins and fence Parsons. rails. The Shawnee already farmed before they got to Kansas and continued LINN: Part of the Osage Cuestas Region raising both traditional foods and Thematically linked to Native developing orchards. The Shawnee were Americans, Free State, Proslavery, considered good farmers and generally Kansas Conflict, Civil War, and produced excess crops, which they sold African Americans. Additional theme along the side of the , includes the Underground Railroad. which passed through the grounds of the Linn County was initially Osage Shawnee Methodist Mission. Rev. land and included a trading post set up Thomas Johnson, a Methodist by the Chouteau family in the early missionary and slave owner became an 1800’s. Well watered and timbered with influential political figure in the high prairie and fertile bottomland the Territorial period. During the Civil War area was highly attractive for farming. he sided with the Union and was When the Osage were removed the murdered by Confederate guerrillas. Potawatomi were initially resettled in Towns include Lenexa, Mission, both Linn and Miami counties. Later the Shawnee and Olathe. Miami were resettled here. When the Territory was opened the Indian lands and Civil War. Other themes include were reduced and the first white settlers Underground Railroad, John Brown. were Proslavery Missourians who were Originally Miami County was quickly replaced by Free Staters from mostly prairie with hardwood forests Indiana, Ohio and the other western along the rivers and streams. Part of the states. Farmsteads were initially the most Osage lands until Shawnee, common form of settlement. Military Potawatomi, Piankishaw, Peoria, companies for both sides quickly Kaskaskia, Wea and Miami Indians developed and the running battles spread were relocated in the Permanent throughout the county. Free State Indian Frontier. With the opening of leaders connected with John Brown and the Territory Indian lands were reduced some Free Staters became Abolitionists until the last Tribes left after the Civil as their own stances hardened. These War. The county was originally named Free Staters wanted to contain the spread Lykins in honor of Reverend David of slavery. After their conversion they Lykins. In 1861 the name was changed began actively assisting Freedom to Miami in honor of the Tribe. Rev. Seekers and raiding into Missouri to Lykins left the area at about the same liberate Slaves. These Freedom Seekers time due to his Proslavery politics. It were routed through the area as part of was in the 1850’s that the River formerly the Underground Railroad on their known as the “Osage”(a name it retains way to safety. Linn County was also the in Missouri) became known as the site of the “Marais des Cygnes ”Marais des Cygnes”. It appears that Massacre” where a group of eleven Free both name changes were attempts to Staters were shot by Proslavery forces. differentiate Kansas from Missouri. This event was commemorated in the The first community was Miami, poem by John Greenleaf Whittier and which no longer exists. It was served to further harden the lines established as a mission and Indian between North and South. Agency. Not far from this old During the Civil War Linn community is the scene of a new County was the site of Kansas only controversy as Oklahoma members of official battle at Mine Creek. Here the the Miami Tribe sued for the return of largest frontal cavalry charge of the war lands illegally taken by whites. The took place on the tenth anniversary of Miami wanted to establish a Bingo the charge of the Light Brigade. Tactics Parlor but have so far been stopped developed in this battle are still taught at through legal action by the State of the Command and General Staff College Kansas. to both American and foreign officers. Osawatomie developed when a Towns include Trading Post, group of Quakers stopped at the town Mound City and Pleasanton. site and gave up their interests to a party from the New England Emigrant Aid MIAMI: Part of the Osage Cuestas Society when assured the settlement Region. would be Free State and Antislavery in Thematically tied to Native political orientation. This settlement American, African American, Free became home to the Reverend Samuel State, Proslavery, Kansas Conflict, Adair and his wife, the sister of John Brown. These graduates of Oberlin College came specifically to see Kansas become a Free State, as did other NEOSHO: Part of the Osage Cuestas Oberlin alumni. One of the things that Region. makes the situation in Kansas unique is Thematically tied to Native the convergence of a number of diverse Americans, Mexican Americans. groups with a specific political agenda, Additional themes include Asians, either seeking to expand or restrict the Land Use Reform. number of Slave states. The East in Neosho County adjoins Allen, particular saw it as both a holy crusade Crawford, Labette, Wilson and Bourbon and a direct tie to their Pilgrim past. An Counties. Home of the Osage Indians example of this is the “Song of the and later the Osage Mission station Kansas Immigrant”…”We cross the established by the Jesuits in 1847. The Prairies as of old our fathers crossed the Osage settled near the rivers and streams sea, to make the West as they the East, and Osage Mission grew into the city of the homestead of the Free…” Another Saint Paul and served as a hub for thing making the situation in Kansas establishing other missions through the unique and volatile was the sense of region. The missionaries were followed desperation both sides felt. In Kansas by farmers who cleared out much of the this desperation turned violent and timber and planted crops. Like the rest of spilled over to become the Civil War. the region Neosho County suffered In answer to Osawatomie the through the grasshoppers, droughts and community of Paola was founded by floods. Over tillage resulted in erosion Proslavery Missourians. Paola became and the loss of soil productivity the county seat and would modify its requiring more intensive use of political views as it became clear Kansas fertilizers. Over the years small family was lost to the Proslavery cause. It also farms have been especially hard hit and became home to the first oil well west of have gradually been replaced by larger the Mississippi in 1860. The corporate farms. Mexican labor was development of this venture initially brought in on a seasonal basis demonstrates how things changed. The but is now staying settled along with primary developer of this project was new refugees from Vietnam. Both of G.W. Brown, the former editor of “The these groups have had to adapt to the Herald of Freedom” a Free State “mainstream” society. Asians have also publication from Lawrence. Most of the come in and purchased some of the financial backers of the venture were remaining small farms with extra capital. Southerners. Brown had visited In 2004 there appears to be a cultural Pennsylvania where an oil boom was exchange going on and both the taking place and remembered hearing mainstream and the newcomers are stories of oil springs in Kansas. Before learning from each other. Some former significant production could take place croplands are diverted to wildlife the Civil War broke out and the preservation and others have become Southern investors returned to the South. involved with the Land Institute During the Civil War Paola served as a focusing on more sustainable farming in headquarters and a garrison site. a prairie ecosystem. Towns include Osawatomie, Towns include Erie and Chanute. Paola, and Louisburg. CHEROKEE LOWLANDS REGION AND OZARK PLATEAU CHEROKEE: linked topographically with other counties in the Cherokee REGION Lowlands Region. Portions of this CLAY: Topographically linked with county are also part of the Ozark Plateau Geary, Pottawatomie, Riley and Region. Local minerals included lead Wabaunsee counties in the Flint Hills and zinc along with mineral springs. Region. This region has tall grass prairie Thematically liked with Native and is mostly used for pasture. American, African American, and Thematically linked to Native Civil War. Additional perspectives or Americans. Additional themes include themes include Mining, European European immigrants. Clay County Immigrants and Labor. Cherokee was initially part of the Kansa hunting County was part of the Osage lands until lands. With the removal of the Kansa to 1826. It became part of the Cherokee their Reservation in Morris County the Neutral Lands and part of the area was occupied by the. Some small Strip. By 1862 Baxter Springs became settlement occurred in the 1850’s but the a center for settlement and an outpost on area received more attention when a the military road between Fort colony of English came in 1869. These Leavenworth and . In 1863 English would concentrate on town this was to be the site of the Baxter building at Wakefield. One of the most Springs Massacre and involve elements interesting groups of English colonists of the Kansas Colored Volunteer was a party of orphan boys between 16 Infantry and the escort for General and 19 years old. This group appeared to James Blunt attacked by elements of be the predecessors of the Orphan Quantrill’s Confederate Guerillas. For Trains that would later bring orphans the men of the Kansas Colored Infantry out to the West for placement. Initially there was no doubt as to their fate if they sod homes were most common in the lost. They had to win or die. Blunt’s county but later construction was often escort was fooled by Quantrill’s use of of stone. Timber was only found along federal uniforms and were soon the rivers and creeks and was often massacred while the Colored Infantry conserved due to its scarcity. New tools did what it could from its defensive encouraged cultivation but the ground positions. Baxter Springs was Kansas was mostly kept in grasses except for first cow town and would later become small areas for local needs. A series of important with the coal and lead mining droughts interspersed with floods and in the region. After the War a number of the grasshopper plague affected farming Exodusters settled in the “Singleton initially. Later lands were put in corn Colony” where they farmed and later and wheat and the communities found work in the towns and coalmines prospered. with immigrants from Eastern Europe. Towns include Clay Center and Eventually the mine tailings and shafts Wakefield produced pollution as the waste leached into groundwater and soils. GEARY: Part of the Flint Hills Region. Towns include Columbus, Baxter Springs and West Mineral. Thematically linked to Native and provided the roots for what would Americans, Free State. Additional become Manhattan when Canton, themes include Military/Government. Poliska and Boston merged. Pawnee Geary County was home to a was established as the county seat and Free State Community of Pawnee. This site of the first territorial . The town is also claimed by Riley County, as town was found to be on the grounds of is the military post at Fort Riley. Fort the Fort and was destroyed by the Riley played a role in the 1850’s as it military in 1855. Troops from Fort shut down the Free State legislature in Riley were important in patrolling the Topeka. Several attempts to form towns Free State and Proslavery communities between 1855 and 1857 failed before to minimize violence. Troops under Junction City was established. At that Colonel E.V. Sumner disbanded the Free time (1857) the county was known as State legislature at Topeka. Towns grew Davis County. Named for Jefferson up along the waterways and roads to the Davis, at that time Secretary of the War Kansas Gold Fields (Colorado) were Department the name proved so established. Floods in 1856 were unpopular that several attempts were followed by the drought of 1859, which made to change the name. In 1889 the severely impacted the region. Bluemont county officially changed its name to College, today’s Kansas State Geary. From the 1850’s through the University, was given to the state in 1880’s Fort Riley provided troops for 1863 and became a Land Grant College. campaigns against the Plains Tribes In 1865 a dam was built which was such as the Cheyenne, Plains Apache, washed out in the Flood of 1866. In Kiowa and Comanche. For a time the 1867 another dam was constructed “Buffalo Soldiers” were stationed at which was destroyed by a flood in the Fort Riley and experienced the same 1880’s. difficulties they had elsewhere. The persistence of Kansans is Towns include Junction City. demonstrated by Bala. In 1870 a Welsh settlement was established at Powys. RILEY: Part of the Flint Hills Region. When insufficient water was available Thematically tied to Native the town moved two miles East and was Americans, African Americans, Free renamed Bala. The new town survived State, Kansas Conflict and the the grasshopper plague of the 1870’s. In Military and Government Role in the 1887 the railroad built a depot at Bala Conflict. City (1 mile South and 1 mile West) and Riley County adjoins the Kansas most of Bala moved to Bala City. River, which proved both a blessing and The Konza Research Prairie a bane as it did further downstream. managed by Kansas State University is Much of the land has remained as prairie an important source researching and and grassland except along the rivers and working with the prairie ecosystem to streams. Traditionally Kansa land until understand the past and present as well their removal. Fort Riley was as look towards the future. established in 1853 and served as the Towns include Manhattan and Horse Cavalry School through 1943. The Fort Riley. post is still in use in 2004. Free State communities were established in 1854 WABAUNSEE: Part of the Flint Hills reforestation project. Until 1868 this Region. was home to the Osage although some Thematically linked to Native whites settled nearby. Americans, African Americans, Free Mainly settled by Civil War State, Underground Railroad and the veterans Wilson County had some Kansas Conflict. agriculture early on in the river bottoms, Historically Wabaunsee County but the uplands thin soil proved better was occupied by the Kansa before their for cattle grazing and livestock removal. Remnants of prehistoric production. Under state and federal villages indicate the area was initially programs a number of trees were planted settled between. Located, like the Tribal from the 1880’s on. Neodesha was the settlements near the river, Alma was site of Norman #1, the first commercial founded as a German and German- oil well west of the Mississippi and has American colony in1857. This colony continued involvement with oil and gas became the county seat and controlled production to the present. In 2004 a local and county politics. It also number of leases have been taken out for provided a springboard for other German new methane gas production along the agricultural settlements over the years. old coal and oil fields. Local farms are Wabaunsee was a Free State settlement still producing crops and livestock but and had a number of sites connected hunting outfitters based in Wichita and with the Underground Railroad. After Kansas City metropolitan areas are now the Civil War a Freedmen’s colony with leasing hunting rights for their customers a unique heritage came to the county. and a new business is developing based This colony was composed of former on commercial recreation. slaves from the plantation belonging to Towns include Fredonia and the family of , former Neodesha. President of the Confederacy. Towns include Wabaunsee and WOODSON: Part of the Chautauqua Alma. Hills Region. Thematically tied to Native CHAUTAUQUA HILLS REGION Americans, Free State. The earliest WILSON: Part of the Chautauqua Hills known occupants of the region were Region with Woodson County. This are Kansas City Hopewell Culture from is heavily underlain with sandstone and 200BC to 500 AD. The Hopewell were is mostly used for pasture. related to the Mound builders of Cahokia Thematically linked with and Ohio. Historically the Osage Native Americans, Free State, and occupied the area but Wichita, Sac and Civil War. Fox and later Pawnee and Seminole Wilson County has some water roved the area but did not have resources with the Verdigris River but permanent settlements. Although the underlying sandstone in the West and officially designated part of the New thin soils in the East do not provide as York Indian Lands they never occupied good a base for crop agriculture. In the the area as they refused to be relocated. 1850’s much of the western part was in In 1855 some Free State settlers began Black Jack Oak, which was cut out. occupying the county. In 1856 and 1857 Recently this area has begun a German colonists arrived to reinforce the Free Staters. In 1861 Opothleyahola’s Refugees came into the area and settled here and in the neighboring areas. In 1863 a unit of Osage Indians was sent to protect the white settlers from Confederate Indians. With the coming of the railroad in 1870 settlement picked up only to have the financial panic of 1873 hit, followed by the grasshoppers in 1874. Some people who could afford to left. Others tightened their belts and held on because they felt they had no other options but to hold on. Cattle ranchers rebuilt along with the farmers. Things got better with oil and gas boom but the drought of the 1930’s affected the farmers who received some help from the Agricultural Adjustment Act in 1933 and with the establishment of the Soil Erosion Service (later known as the Soil Conservation Service). A number of farms were abandoned due to the lack of water and nature reclaimed what had been disturbed by man. Instead of returning to prairie a number of these sites were taken over by scrub brush and trees. Elements of the Civilian Conservation Corps came in and taught local farmers newer techniques for farming while protecting the soil. The Works Progress Administration also played a role as locals were hired to work on community projects, which could assist with conservation. A number of lakes were created by the WPA and remain in service today.