A History of Kansas (Prentis 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.



Contents

 * Chapters:
 * Natural Kansas
 * French and Spanish Kansas
 * The Discovered Country
 * The Great Highway
 * The Indian Territory
 * The Kansas-Nebraska Act
 * The Beginning of Government
 * War and Rumors of War
 * A Glimpse of Light
 * The Lecompton and Leavenworth Constitutional Conventions
 * Events of 1858
 * The Wyandotte Constitutional Convention
 * The Tragedy of John Brown
 * Last of Territory and First of State
 * The First Legislature
 * Cradled in War
 * Quantrell's Raid
 * The Closing Scene
 * Peace and Honor
 * Building the State
 * The Indian Wars
 * Immigration
 * The Centennial Year
 * Events of the Decade
 * After Twenty-Five Years
 * The Happenings of 1887
 * A Prosperous Year
 * 1889.—The Developing Resources
 * Kansas and Oklahoma
 * New Political Forces
 * The Legislature and Chronicles of 1891
 * Annals of 1892
 * Legislation and Other Events of 1893
 * Passing of the Pioneers
 * The Story of 1895–96
 * The Years 1897 and 1898
 * Kansas in the War
 * Events of 1899
 * A Chapter on Capitols
 * Man and Nature
 * 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