A History of Kansas (Prentis 1899)

by Noble Lovely Prentis

A History of Kansas.

by
Noble L. Prentis,
of the “Kansas City Star.”

Published by E. P. Greer,
Winfield, Kan.
1899.

Preface

The attempt has been made, in preparing this volume, to give, within a convenient compass, the most interesting and material occurrences and events in the history of the rise of a great Free State from a wilderness. Harrowing details and discreditable happenings have been purposely omitted.

The story has been told as a record of courage and steadfastness, and increasing devotion to the principles of human freedom and national union.

Events have been arranged, as nearly as possible, in the order of the years, with an occasional arrangement of the years in periods or groups, with no further classification or subdivision.

No attempt has been made to “write down” to the supposed intellectual capacity of children. Students old enough to enter upon the study of the history of an American State, it is believed, will find all the statements and conclusions comprehensible.

It is to be hoped that the reader or student will consider this small and necessarily limited history of one State, as a help and introduction to the study of the history of the American Union, which should be the pride and privilege of every American citizen in youth and age.

Noble L. Prentis.

Contents

• Chapters:
  1. Natural Kansas
  2. French and Spanish Kansas
  3. The Discovered Country
  4. The Great Highway
  5. The Indian Territory
  6. The Kansas-Nebraska Act
  7. The Beginning of Government
  8. War and Rumors of War
  9. A Glimpse of Light
  10. The Lecompton and Leavenworth Constitutional Conventions
  11. Events of 1858
  12. The Wyandotte Constitutional Convention
  13. The Tragedy of John Brown
  14. Last of Territory and First of State
  15. The First Legislature
  16. Cradled in War
  17. Quantrell's Raid
  18. The Closing Scene
  19. Peace and Honor
  20. Building the State
  21. The Indian Wars
  22. Immigration
  23. The Centennial Year
  24. Events of the Decade
  25. After Twenty-Five Years
  26. The Happenings of 1887
  27. A Prosperous Year
  28. 1889.—The Developing Resources
  29. Kansas and Oklahoma
  30. New Political Forces
  31. The Legislature and Chronicles of 1891
  32. Annals of 1892
  33. Legislation and Other Events of 1893
  34. Passing of the Pioneers
  35. The Story of 1895–96
  36. The Years 1897 and 1898
  37. Kansas in the War
  38. Events of 1899
  39. A Chapter on Capitols
  40. Man and Nature
  41. Kansas Literature
• Appendix:
  • Description of Counties
  • Organic Act
  • Admission Into the Union
  • Constitution
  • Kansas Territorial Officers—1854–1861
  • State Officers of Kansas—1861–1899
  • Kansas in the Spanish War