PREFACE.
 

rpHE publisher presents this volume  to the citizens of Kan.

sas without misgivings as to its favorable reception. It is
the most complete and exhaustive history of a single State ever
published, and has involved the investment of more capital, and
the expenditure of more intellectual and literary labor, than has
ever before been employed on any work of its kind in this country.

Kansas is richer in historic lore than any other region of
the Great West. Its traditions go back to the time of the Mon-
tezumas and the Spanish conquest of Mexico. In the Sixteenth
Century the Spanish conquerors of that country extended their
explorations through the hitherto unknown land now known as
Kansas; then, the mythical kingdom of Quivera, and claimed it
by right of conquest and discovery as a part of the domain of
the Spanish crown. Nearly two centuries passed when the
PVench, coming by way of the Mississippi and Missouri rivers,
again visited the mysterious land. A century later, American
explorers traversed the country and designated it as the Great
American Desert. From time immemorial it had been the home
of nomadic tribes and the vast pastures of countless herds of
.buffalo; then, the place of sojourn of half-civilized and half-dis-^
heartened tribes from east of the Great River, retiring or retreat¬
ing before the ceaseless flow of the mysterious tide of civiliza¬
tion. They, in time, were swept from the field, to clear it for a
momentous conflict between the two opposing sj'stems of Amer¬
ican civilization, then struggling for mastery and supremacy
over the Republic. In Kansas the war was begun; and there
the first victories, presaging the full triumph of Liberty, were
won. The era of peace which followed witnessed within its
borders a progress in the peaceful arts such as the world had
never seen before in any State or country.

It is the task of the Kansas historians to tell the wonderful
story. It is not assumed that in this single volume the history
is complete. Absolute accuracy in every detail is not claimed.
It is not within the scope of human endeavor to avoid error. It
is only possible to seek truth, and, perchance, to find it in greater
or less measure

The plan of the work, as set forth in its prospectus, and as
has been fully carried out, embraced: (1) A general history of
the territory now included within the limits of the State, from
early traditionary times to now, covering a period of nearly three
hundred and fifty years; {'i) elaborate historical sketches of all
counties organized up to the time of going to press; (3) biogra¬
phies of the leading citizens of Kansas still living, or deceased.

In the compilation of the general history, the editors were
not embarrassed from lack of material so much as overwhelmed
by a super-abundance of conflicting and often untruthful accounts
of deeds done and events transpired. More especially was this
apparent during the territorial period of Kansas' history. Dur¬
ing those exciting times it is doubtful whether a single unpreju¬
diced person told the story. Although the press of the whole
country teemed with accounts of what transpired, each tale, as
now read through the persjiectire of retreating time, shows mosr
plainly the tinge of that subtle yet mischievous form ot   false¬
 

hood which comes from an unconscious perversion of facts on
the part of the earnest vvriters. In addition to this, unscrupu¬
lous newspaper correspondents, instructed to write only for the
northern or southern political markets, sent broadcast over the
country, contradictory or false reports of every new phase of
the exciting contest as it developed. Many books on Kansas
affairs were published during the territorial troubles, some of
great merit and of rare historic value, as furnishing corrobora¬
tive testimony; but of the whole, it is not believed that a single
volume is now acknowledged as iiuthoritative, or even approxi¬
mately accurate, in a historic sense.

As an offset to the peculiar difficulties which beset the Kan¬
sas historian, the advantages were not inconsiderable. A most
exhaustive and thorough chronological index of events, embrac¬
ing the history of Kansas from 1854 to IS^.'i, had been published
by Hon. D. W. M'ilder—AVilder's Annals of Kansas—which
will ever prove the inseparable and indispensable help of the
student of Kansas history. Lacking its kindly and trustworthy
directions, the labor on this work would have been increased in
great measure.

The Kansas State Historical Society has gathered a more
varied and more complete collection of rare books, newspa])ers,
manuscripts, private correspondence, and other historic material
pertaining to the history of the West and of Kansas, than ""u
be found in the repository of any like society in the Great West.
To this valuable collection the editors were grante(l free access
by the Board of Directors. The coliperative assistance rendered
by the Secretary Hon. F. G. Adams, is here gratefully acknowl¬
edged.

The Kansas State Library also contains many valuable and
rare historic works, which through the uniform courtesy of H. .1.
Di'iniis, Esq., State Librarian, were placed at the disposal of the
editors.

Kansas has adopted tne most efficient and thorough methods
of gathering and disseminating statistical information known in
the country, and the Biennial Reports of the Kansas Board of
Ao'riculture, and the State Superintendent of Schools, are tlie best
issued from any of the State bureaus in the Union. As an (■xain-
ple of their efficiency and value, it may be stated that the State
census of population, and agricultural and s<hool statistics for
188"^, were jiublished and distributed f)efore the Fecleial census
of 18811, containing like statistics, had been  given to the jiulilic.

The publishers hereby acknowledge the many favors re¬
ceived at the hands of William Sims, Secretarv of the "<tate
Board of Agriculture, ami his assistant, J. McFarland. To them
tliev are indebtnl for ciits, n^vised maps, and other favors,
erantcd at all times when as|<e<l, since  the work was beijun.

The Military History was compiled laiirely from matter fur¬
nished by the State Adjutant-(jeneral from the archives of his
department, who gave free assistanci- in the work.

.•-uch defects as may be apparent in tin- work as pres..|itcd,
can in no wise be attributeil to a lack of in:iteri;il, nor to anv
want of courtesy  on  the  part of tile   maii\   public  c>llicials  and