USA > Kansas > Shawnee County > History of Shawnee County, Kansas, and representative citizens > Part 5
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William R. Boggs moved into the township August 14, 1854, and pur- chased the farm which is now the site of the Kansas State Hospital for the Insane. Following him came William Pickerell, October 17; Philip Briggs, October 20; Jolin Parkinson, October 18; William Griffenstein, November 1; John T. Adams, Rev. Michael Hummer and Dr. Noble Barron, about No- vember 15; John Armstrong, November 20; Enoch Chase, Jacob B. Chase, Milton C. Dickey and George Davis, November 29-this party settled on the farm land upon which the city of Topeka is located; Daniel H. Horne, Fry W. Giles, Loring G. Cleveland, S. A. Clark, W. C. Linaker, Thomas G. Thornton, Jonas E. Greenwood, Cyrus K. Holliday and Timothy McIntire, December 4; James F. Merriam. December 7; James A. Hickey, December 12; L. S. Long, December 15; Freeman R. Foster and Robert L. Mitchell, December 20; Dr. S. E. Martin, December 25. S. J. Case, H. F. Root, C. N. Gray and G. F. Crowe also came in December. .
LATER ARRIVALS.
Those who settled in the township in the year 1855, as nearly as can be determined, were the following: John Ritchie, J. C. Miller, W. W. Ross, J. C. Jordan, H. W. Curtis, Charles Farnsworth, L. W. Horne, R. A. Rand- lett. O. C. Nichols, S. D. Conwell, B. F. Dawson, C. A. Sexton, Henry Cowles, John Perrin, Rev. Henry Burgess, Charles Frazier, C. A. Dexter, W. H. Weymouth, Daniel Sayres, Ephraim Herriott. Horatio Fletcher, Samuel Herriott, Daniel Banta, H. Higgins, Johnston Thomas, King Smith, Antoine Bernier, H. Tyrrell, A. H. Barnard, Robert Todd, Dr. M. A. E. J. Campdoras, Henry Griffin, C. Durupt, Isaac Renfrew, J. Willetts, J. W. Jones, C. D. Howard, L. H. Wentworth, Robert Gilbert, D. Sheridan, James Goodrich, E. C. K. Garvey, F. L. Crane, James Chadwick, Dean Chadwick, C. C. Leonard, C. L. Terrill, Moses Dudley, J. Orcutt, William Scales, H. P. Waters, James G. Bunker, James McNamee, J. F. Cummins, Isaac Zimmerman, Loring Farnsworth, E. Seagraves, Abner Doane, A. M. Lewis, Guilford Dudley, John R. Lewis, George F. Boyd, D. Mintum, J. D. Clark- son, James Taggart, L. C. Wilmarth, A. G. Thompson, Gabriel Wright, J. C. Gordon, Asaph Allen, James Disney, Moses Hubbard, P. R. Hubbard, Eugene Dumez, P. O. O'Connor, E. S. Parker, Jesse Stone, O. H. Drink- water, Samuel Hall, Leonard Wendell, A. F. Whiting, W. E. Bowker, S. N. Frasier, M. C. Martin, William P. Thompson, David H. Moore, W. W. Henderson, William Gibbons. M. K. Smith, A. F. Hartwell, David Smith, Charles L. Wilbur, G. B. French, E. Trask, August Roberts, H. C. Young,
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Nelson Young, James Cowles, R. M. Luce, F. T. Tucker, Richard Gustine, Henry P. Waters, Gerard C. Hooft, S. Lyford and W. W. Phillips.
RIVAL TOWNS.
Topeka, the county-seat and capital city, is located in Topeka township. No other city or town has ever been erected in the township, every attempt in that direction having proved a failure, or resulted in adding a suburb to the big city, as in the cases of Oakland, Seabrook, Auburndale and Potwin. Of the towns projected near Topeka at different periods, the following names are given as a matter of record, the places having long since faded from sight-almost from memory: Fremont, Paris, Washington, Council City, Glendale, Carthage, Kenamo and Mairsville.
CHAPTER V.
A Glance at the History of Kansas-Early Expeditions Across the Plains- The Slavery Contest-The Struggle for Statehood-Roster of Gover- nors and United States Senators-Population, Resources and Institu- tions of the State-Business and Educational Statistics.
The preceding chapters have been mainly devoted to the early settlement of Shawnee County. Before attempting a record of the subsequent events relative to the upbuilding of the county, and of the city of Topeka, a brief reference to the contemporary history of the Territory and State of Kansas will serve as a useful link in the local chronicle. Kansas has been making his- tory for 50 years. Many volumes might be written about this comparatively young commonwealth, but the limits of this work permit only a cursory glance at the more important facts connected with the birth and evolution of a State, which George Bancroft characterized as "the miracle of the age."
VARIOUS NAMES FOR THE STATE.
The name Kansas is derived from the Indian word Kanza, having the dual significance of "wind" and "swift." Its popular title is "the Sunflower State," its heroic title "Bleeding Kansas," and its opprobrious title "the Jay- hawker State." Its State motto is: "Ad Astra per Aspera-"through diffi- culties to the stars." Exclusive of Alaska and the islands acquired in 1898, it is the geographical center of the United States, being situated in latitude 37 degrees to 40 degrees north, longitude 94 degrees, 40 minutes to 102 degrees west ; bounded on the north by Nebraska, on the northeast and east by Mis- souri, on the south by Oklahoma and Indian Territories, and on the west by Colorado. It was the 34th State to be admitted into the Union.
EARLY HISTORY.
The territory forming the present State of Kansas was a part of the Louisiana Purchase of 1803, except a fraction in the southwest corner ac- quired from Texas in 1850. It is claimed that Coronado visited the country
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as early as 1541, and there are evidences of French and Spanish expeditions to this terra incognita in later years. The Lewis and Clark expedition, planned by President Jefferson, reached Kansas in June, 1804, and, two years later, in 1806, the expedition commanded by Zebulon Montgomery Pike, who gave his name to "Pike's Peak," crossed the territory from the Missouri River to the Rocky Mountains. The expedition of Maj. Stephen H. Long was made in 1819, and in 1824 was established the "Santa Fe Trail," the fa- mous highway of Kansas, extending 400 miles directly across the territory, and from Independence, Missouri, to Santa Fe, New Mexico, a total distance of 780 miles. Col. John C. Freemont made his first expedition across the plains in the summer of 1842, blazing the way for a heavy overland travel to Oregon, California and Mexico.
DEVELOPMENT AND GROWTH.
This was the beginning of the development and growth of Kansas. The outposts of civilization were being extended Westward from the Mississippi River. The Indians of Missouri and other Mississippi Valley States were concentrated with the tribes already occupying the country west of the Mis- souri River. These included the Osage, Shawnee, Pawnee, Delaware, Kicka- poo, and Kansas tribes, to which were added the Cherokee and other tribes from the States of the South, and the Ottawas, Pottawatomies, Wyandottes and others from Ohio, Michigan and Indiana. Kansas became Indian Terri- tory, and remained such from 1830 to 1854. Occupation of the country by white settlers was fraught with peril and hardship, and only accomplished by marvelous heroism, perseverance and endurance. To aid in the work of civil- ization, missions were established on the frontier, and military posts located at Fort Leavenworth, Fort Scott and Fort Riley.
TERRITORIAL DAYS.
The admission of Kansas as an organized Territory dates from May 30, 1854, when President Pierce signed the "Kansas-Nebraska Act." This brought on what may be termed the political troubles of Kansas, and later, a result of the slavery agitation, precipitated the great armed conflict between the North and the South in 1861-65.
HOSTILE FACTIONS. 1
It was on Kansas soil that the first battle was fought for the freedom of the negro. It was Kansas that developed the commanding figure of John Brown. From the time Congress took the first step for the admission of
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Kansas, with or without slavery, the Territory became the scene of conten- tion, pillage and bloodshed. The Pro-Slavery men of Missouri endeavored to gain control of the Territory in 1854, and established the first city, Leaven- worth. Soon afterwards an Anti-Slavery colony from Massachusetts settled at Lawrence. No more hostile factions ever struggled for supremacy in any part of the continent.
Andrew H. Reeder, of Pennsylvania was appointed to be the first Gov- ernor of the Territory. At the first contest for Territorial delegate to Con- gress, the slavery men of Missouri crossed the river and participated in the election, the candidate of the Pro-Slavery party being successful by reason of these illegal votes. The Free-Soilers protested and held indignation meet- ings at Lawrence and other points. The Missourians repeated the same tactics at the election in the spring of 1855 for Representatives to the Legislature. When the Legislature met at Pawnee, the Pro-Slavery members were in the majority, and controlled the proceedings, even to the extent of driving out the Free-Soil members and changing the seat of government.
CHANGE OF OFFICERS.
The Free-Soil party repudiated the acts of the Legislature, and refused to abide by them. Governor Reeder was removed from office, being succeeded by Wilson Shannon, of Ohio. John W. Whitfield was elected delegate to Congress by the Pro-Slavery party, and ex-Governor Reeder chosen to the same position by the opposition, but Congress refused to give either delegate a seat. A Free-Soil constitution was adopted in December, 1855, under which Charles Robinson was elected Governor, but the election was repudi- ated by President Pierce, who had recognized the "bogus" Legislature. The Free-Soil Legislature ignored the action of President Pierce, and, to meet this and other menacing circumstances, the military forces of the United States government were placed in command of Governor Shannon. Governor-elect Robinson and Congressman-elect Reeder were indicted for high treason. The Pro-Slavery party received large accessions from Georgia, Alabama and South Carolina in the troubles resulting from this conflict of authority, the Emigrant Aid Society Hotel and the Herald of Freedom and Kansas Free State printing offices at Lawrence were destroyed, and the town of Osawa+ tomie-the home of John Brown-was sacked and burned.
THE STRUGGLE FOR STATEHOOD.
A bill for the admission of Kansas as a State was passed by the lower house of Congress in June, 1856, but was defeated in the Senate on account of the recognition it gave to the Free-Soil constitution. A meeting of the
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Free-Soil Legislature in Topeka was dispersed by United States troops acting under orders from President Pierce. By this time the interest in the Kansas struggle became general throughout the United States. The suppression of slavery became a national instead of a State issue. While Congress debated and legislated, the Pro-Slavery and Free-State factions continued to war against each other for possession of the Territory and control of the law-mak- ing machinery. Conflicting constitutions were adopted, rival Legislatures elected, and civil government overthrown. Public meetings were held in all parts of the North to lend encouragement to the movement for making Kansas a Free State. Similar sympathy and help came to the Pro-Slavery party from the States of the South. Horace Greeley and Abraham Lincoln visited the Territory, and made speeches in opposition to the further exten- sion of slavery on American soil. Governor Shannon was removed from office, and the several Governors appointed to succeed him found the duties of the position so onerous that they resigned in rapid succession.
STATE CONSTITUTION ADOPTED.
After numerous battles, elections and vicissitudes, a constitutional con- vention was called to meet at Wyandotte, July 5, 1859. It was composed of 35 Free-State and 17 Pro-Slavery delegates, who were now known as Repub- licans and Democrats, respectively. Under the constitution adopted by this convention, slavery was prohibited and Kansas admitted as a State, January 29, 1861. The seat of government was located at Topeka. At the election held in December, 1859, under the Wyandotte constitution, Charles Robinson was chosen to be the first Governor of the State, and Martin F. Conway the first Representative in Congress. When the first State Legislature assembled at Topeka in March, 1861, James H. Lane and Samuel C. Pomeroy were elected the first two United States Senators from the new State.
In the Civil War which followed the inauguration of President Lincoln in 1861, Kansas showed its loyalty to the Union by furnishing 20,000 trained soldiers out of a total population of but little more than 100,000-a number greatly in excess of her quota, none of them drafted, and in proportion ex- ceeding the enlistments from any other State. A large part of this force was employed in defending the borders of the State from invasion by Southern troops, Indians and guerillas. During one of these border raids a force of 400 men, under the command of the notorious Quantrell, invaded Lawrence, burning and pillaging the town and killing 150 defenseless citizens. The war and the troubles with the Indians, together with a visitation of drought in 1860, greatly retarded the growth of Kansas, but when these obstacles were passed an era of progress and development set in which has never since
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F
THE GOVERNOR'S RESIDENCE
RESIDENCE OF DAVID O. CRANE
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abated. The splendid soil and auspicious climate and the general adaptability of the State to farming and stock-raising purposes have attracted thousands of settlers to Kansas, and the advancement in all lines has been rapid, sub- stantial and permanent.
ROSTER OF GOVERNORS AND UNITED STATES SENATORS.
Governors (Territorial)-Andrew H. Reeder, 1854 to 1855; Wilson Shannon, 1855 to 1856; John W. Geary, 1856 to 1857; Robert J. Walker, 1857; James W. Denver, 1858; Samuel Medary, 1858, to 1860. (State) Charles Robinson, 1861-63; Thomas Carney, 1863-65; Samuel J. Crawford, 1865-68; Nehemiah Green, 1868, to fill the unexpired term of Samuel J. Crawford, resigned; James M. Harvey, 1869-73; Thomas A. Osborn, 1873- 77; George T. Anthony, 1877-79; John P. St. John, 1879-83; George W. Glick, 1883-85; John A. Martin, 1885-89; Lyman U. Humphrey, 1889-93; Lorenzo D. Lewelling, 1893-95; Edmund N. Morrill, 1895-97; John W. Leedy, 1897-99; William R. Stanley, 1899-03; Willis J. Bailey, 1903-05; Edward W. Hoch, 1905 -. During the official interruptions incident to the Territorial period, the following persons served brief terms as acting Gover- nor ; Daniel Woodson, Frederick P. Stanton, James W. Denver, Hugh S. Walsh and George M. Beebe.
United States Senators-James H. Lane, 1861-66; Samuel C. Pomeroy, 1861-73; Edmund G. Ross, 1866-71 ; Alexander Caldwell, 1871-73; Robert Crozier, 1873-74; James M. Harvey, 1874-77; John J. Ingalls, 1873-91 ; Preston B. Plumb, 1877-91 ; William A. Peffer, 1891-97; Bishop \V. Perkins, 1892-93 ; John Martin, 1893-95; Lucien Baker, 1895-01; William A. Harris, 1897-03 ; Joseph R. Burton, 1901, term expires 1907; Chester I. Long, 1903, term expires 1909.
GOVERNMENT.
The Legislature consists of 40 Senators and 125 Representatives. Ses- sions are held biennially, in odd-numbered years. The Legislature of 1905 was divided politically as follows: Senate, 37 Republicans and 3 Democrats ; · House, 109 Republicans, 14 Democrats and 2 Independent ; Republican ma- jority on joint ballot, 127. The elective State officers include Governor, Lieu- tenant Governor, Secretary of State, Auditor, Treasurer, Attorney General, State Superintendent of Public Instruction, State Printer, Commissioner of Insurance, seven justices of the Supreme Court, and three members of the State Board of Railroad Commissioners. Kansas has eight Representatives in the lower house of Congress. Women have the right of suffrage at muni-
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cipal, bond and school elections. In numerous instances women have been elected to municipal and school offices, and in some cases to county offices.
STATISTICS.
Population-The local census of 1855 gave Kansas a population of 8,501; this increased in 1860 to 107,206; in 1870 to 364.399; in 1880 to 396,096; in 1890 to 1,427,096; in 1900 to 1,470,495. The present popula- tion of the State, according to the local census of 1904, is 1,535, 160.
There are 119 cities and towns having a population of 1,000 or more. The 14 largest cities and their population are: Kansas City, 57,710; Topeka, 39,149: Wichita, 31,857 ; Leavenworth, 22,791 ; Atchison, 16,925 ; Pittsburg, 14,368; Fort Scott, 14,081 ; Coffeyville, 12,306; Lawrence, 11,544; Independ- ence, 11,456; Hutchinson, 11, 189; Iola, 11,069; Parsons, 10,789; Chanute, 10,116.
Topography-Although a part of the great plains which form the east- ern slope of the Rocky Mountains, the physical character of the Kansas coun- try is best described as rolling prairie. There are no mountains, and no marshes. The altitude varies from 750 feet in the eastern to 4,000 feet in the western part of the State. The bulk of the land is tillable, but crops are un- certain in the western third of the State on account of deficient rainfall. In this deficient area the vast stretches of prairie are largely used for grazing purposes.
The rivers of Kansas are the Kansas, Arkansas, Republican, Smoky Hill, Solomon, Saline, Neosho and Verdigris-none of them navigable. There are numerous smaller streams, giving abundant water and drainage in the eastern two-thirds of the State. The land area comprises 82,144 square miles (52,572,160 acres), extending 408 miles from east to west, and 208 miles from north to south.
Climate-The climate is mild, the great proportion of the days being fair and sunny. In summer the temperature ranges from 80 to 100 degrees with cool nights, and dry, pure air. In winter it rarely falls below zero. The violent winds of winter and spring, known to the early settlers, have been greatly mitigated by the cultivation of the soil and the planting of trees.
Agriculture and Stock-Raising-Fully 30 per cent. (25,000,000 acres) of the farm land of Kansas is in a high state of cultivation. The cultivated farms have an aggregate value of $600,000,000. The acreage in field crops in the year 1904 was exceeded by only one State in the Union-Iowa. The total value of the farm products of the State for the year 1904 was $208,406,- 365.61, the leading items being wheat ($51,000,000), corn ($50,000,000), and animals sold for slaughter ($52,000,000).
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The numbers and values of live stock for the same year were: Horses, 835,580-$62,668,500; mules and asses, 103,436-$9,050,650; milch cows, 792,712-$19,817,800; other cattle, 2.757,542-$51,014.527 ; sheep, 167.721 -503, 163 ; swine, 2,127,482-$15,956,115. Total value of live stock, $159,- 010,755 ; total value of farm products and live stock, $367,417,120.61.
Horticulture-Kansas ranks well in the production of fruit and is sur- passed by but few States in the growth of nursery stock. The number of apple trees in bearing in 1904 was 7.307,253 ; peach trees, 4,548,642 ; cherry trees, 814,114; plum trees, 641,977 : pear trees, 245,515 ; numbers of acres in nurseries, small fruits and vineyards, 17,269.
Manufactures-The natural material for manufacturing is limited. There are no timber lands of consequence, and no deposits of iron. Manufac- turing, therefore, is confined to the conversion of farm products into market- able commodities, such as flour and meat, and these industries are important and extensive. Including the large plants at Kansas City, Kansas, the slaughtering and meat-packing business of the State for the year 1900 amounted in value to $77,411,883. The flouring and grist mill products for the same year aggregated a value of $21,926,768. Other manufacturing interests for the same year amouted to the following sums: Car construction and railroad-shop work, $6,816,816; zinc smelting and refining, $5,790,144; foundry and machine-shop products, $3,652,530. The total value of the prod- ucts enumerated was $118,402,409, covering the work of 860 establishments and 18,288 employees.
Mineral Resources-These consist principally of coal, zinc, lead, natural gas, petroleum, cement and gypsum. With the exception of the three last- named products, the mining industry is chiefly located in the southeast corner of the State, embracing the counties of Cherokee, Crawford, Labette, Bour- bon, Montgomery, Chautaugua, Neosho and Allen. Cherokee leads in coal, lead and zinc; Crawford is second in coal; Allen is first in natural gas; and Neosha first in petroleum. Extensive mines of coal are also found in Osage and Leavenworth counties. Reno and Kingman counties have the principal salt mines. Building stone of excellent quality is found in various parts of the State. Underlying the surface of Kansas are the three common formations known as the Carboniferous, Triassic and Cretaceous systems, running from north to south, and dividing the State into three belts of nearly equal extent. In the year 1900 the values of the mineral products of Kansas were: Coal, $5,516.534; zinc, $3,000,000; salt, $1,675,000; clay, $975,500; stone $714,- 750; natural gas, $695,000; cement, $669,685; oil, $355,118; lead, $324,- 859; gypsum, $267,500; total, $14,193.946.
Railroads-The total mileage of railway tracks operated in Kansas is 10,483. The prominent lines and systems are: Atchison, Topeka & Santa
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HISTORY OF SHAWNEE COUNTY
Fe; Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific; Union Pacific; Missouri Pacific; Mis- souri, Kansas & Texas; St. Louis & San Francisco. The gross earnings of all Kansas railroads for the year 1902 were $28,000,000.
Banking-There are 502 State and private banks in Kansas, with a total paid capital of $8,156,500, and deposits of $47,690,056.14. The 146 national banks have a paid capital of $9,936,400, and deposits of $50,973,- 729; making a total capital of $18,092,900, and total deposits of $98,663,- 785.14, these figures being for the year 1903. Of the total deposits it is estimated that 68 per cent. is owned by farmers and stockmen.
Education-Kansas spends more than $5,000,000 annually in the support of public schools. The school population is 500,000, the enrollment, 390,000, and the average attendance, 265,000; number of teachers employed, 11,698. The percentage of illiteracy in the State is very low, being less than 3 per cent.
Colleges-Baker University, Baldwin; Bethany, Lindsborg; Campbell University, Holton; Highland University, Highland; Kansas Wesleyan Uni- versity, Salina; McPherson, McPherson; Midland, Atchison; Ottawa Uni- versity, Ottawa; Southwest Kansas, Winfield; St. Benedict's, Atchison; St. John's, Salina; St. Mary's, St. Mary's; State Agricultural, Manhattan; State Normal, Emporia; State University, Lawrence; Sisters of Bethany, Topeka; Washburn, Topeka.
Religion-All of the religious denominations are represented, the Meth- odist being the largest numerically, followed in order by the Roman Catholic, Baptist, Disciples of Christ, Presbyterian, United Brethren, Congregational, Lutheran, Friends, African M. E., and Evangelical Association. The moral standard of the population is very high, Kansas being one of the few States that has adopted an amendment to its constitution prohibiting the manufac- ture and sale of liquor.
Newspapers and Libraries-Kansas has 837 newspapers, including 51 dailies, 634 weeklies, 4 semi-weeklies, 116 monthlies, 14 semi-monthlies, 2 bi-monthlies, II quarterlies, and 5 occasionals. Of public, college and high school libraries, there are 112, with a total of 525.519 volumes.
Charitable and Penal Institutions-The institutions of this class, and the number of inmates of each, are: Insane Asylum, Oswatomie (990) ; Insane Asylum, Topeka (780) ; Insane Asylum, Parsons (430) ; Blind Asy- lum, Kansas City (93) : Imbecile School, Winfield (210) ; Deaf and Dumb School, Olathe (263) ; Soldiers' Orphans' Home, Atchison (150) ; Soldiers' Home, Dodge City (146) ; State Penitentiary, Lansing ( 1,020) ; Industrial Reformatory, Hutchinson (260) ; Industrial School, girls, Beloit (125) ; Reform School, boys, Topeka (209). The Federal government maintains a military prison and a branch of the National Soldiers' Home at Leavenworth.
CHAPTER VI.
Shawnee County in the Border Troubles-John Brown and His Followers- The Siege of Lawrence-Foraging upon the Enemy-Gen. James H. Lane and the Free-State Cause-John Ritchie's Arrest-The Kansas Emigrant Route-Enlistments in the Civil War-Campaigns Against the Indians.
Free-State meetings at Big Springs and Topeka in the fall of 1855 led to a clash of authority in Douglas County which has passed into history as "The Wakarusa War.' It was precipitated by a personal encounter between Charles W. Dow and Franklin M. Coleman over the occupancy of a piece of land at Hickory Point, 10 miles south of Lawrence, Dow being shot and killed by Coleman as he was leaving the latter's house, November 21st. Dow was a Free-State man, and Coleman a Pro-Slavery immigrant from Missouri. The Free-State men threatened to avenge the death of their comrade, and one of the friends of Dow, Jacob Branson, was arrested by Sheriff Samuel J. Jones, of Douglas County, an appointee of the Pro-Slavery Legislature. The Free-State men accomplished the rescue of Branson, and conveyed him to Lawrence, where the early-day troubles seemed to concentrate and the Free- Soilers were in greatest force. Sheriff Jones appealed to the Governor for as- sistance, and Governor Shannon invoked the aid of the militia. Missouri fur- nished most of the Pro-Slavery troops, and the Free-State towns of Kansas rallied to the defense of Lawrence, in the resultant melee.
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