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sary, in the judgment of the Pro-Slavery party, to prepare for the use of force, to hold the Territory against them.

Meanwhile, public feeling was intensely excited and feverish, and there began to be personal collisions and murders. On the 21st of November, Charles W. Dow, a free-state man residing with Jacob Branson, at Hickory Point, near Lawrence, was killed by Franklin N. Coleman, a pro-slavery man. The next day there was a meeting of the free-state men at the scene of the murder, and that night S. J. Jones, pro-slavery postmaster at Westport, Mo., who had been appointed sheriff of Douglas county, Kansas, arrested Branson for taking part in the meeting. This was the beginning of efforts to enforce the laws against free-state men. On his way to Lecompton, Jones was overhauled by a party of free-state men, and Branson was liberated. Jones sent to Shawnee Mission, where Gov. Shannon was at the time, for aid, and the people of Lawrence, fearing a raid from Missouri, began to gather their forces for the impending struggle. A public meeting was held and the citizens were placed under arms, and neighboring settlements of free-state people were notified and began to arm. On the 27th, Sheriff Jones informed Gov. Shannon that open rebellion existed at Lawrence, and Gov. Shannon directed Maj.-Gen. W. P. Richardson, of the militia, to collect as large a force as he could, and proceed to the assistance of Jones. The next day he notified the President of a fearful state of affairs, saying, "It is vain to conceal the fact; we are standing on a volcano." The same day Lucian J. Easton, Brigadier General, ordered his brigade under arms, affirming that a state of open rebellion existed in Douglas county.

Early in December indictments were found against the leading free-state men by the courts setting at Lecompton. Companies of free-state men gathered at Lawrence from Bloomington, Wakarusa, Palmyra and Topeka, and the proslavery militia began to collect at Franklin, a few miles below, and at Lecompton, a few miles above, while a party of Platte county, Mo., Riflemen appeared on the opposite side of the Kaw River. Gov. Shannon applied to Col. Sumner, commanding at Fort Leavenworth, for United States troops to suppress the Lawrence rebellion, but Col. Sumner would not act without orders from Washington. the 6th of December, one thousand five hundred Missourians had collected at Franklin, and that day Thos. W. Barber was shot and killed by pro-slavery men while returning to Bloomington from Lawrence. On the 7th, Gov. Shannon visited Lawrence, and on the 8th concluded a treaty of peace with Gov. Robinson, Gen. J. H. Lane and other leaders, and on the 9th ordered the militia disbanded.

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Thus ended the first struggle, but it seemed only to intensify the bitterness of the antagonism already existing. Besides the killing of Barber, trains of provis ions from Kansas City to Lawrence had been stopped and robbed by the ProSlavery party, and when peace was concluded, it was no peace, but the turmoil continued, and the country became infested with lawless bands and individuals, and life and property became unsafe. It was soon apparent to both sides that the planting of freedom or slavery in Kansas was to be attended with bloodshed, and both parties began to prepare for that result.

During the winter some of the Southern States appropriated money to send men to Kansas, and parties began to be made up, all of which were armed for the fray and organized into military companies. At the same time the Free-State party sent men to plead their cause in the Northern States, and to ask for aid in men and money, both of which were freely given in various ways. The prospect for the coming spring was anything but peaceful.

THE EFFECT ON KANSAS CITY.

As already stated, Kansas City became the gateway to Kansas with the beginning of the settlement of that Territory. Its relations to the new population were, therefore, so intimate that such a state of affairs as is briefly sketched above

could not exist in the new Territory without being reflected in the affairs of Kansas City. The hopes of trade from the new population were delayed in their realization by the troubled state of affairs; and as it was the place of debarkation for both pro-slavery and anti-slavery immigrants, it became disturbed by the disturbance across the border. Besides this, the Kansas struggle was otherwise exceedingly depressing to Kansas City, though she still prospered and continued to grow. It retarded the Santa Fe trade and nearly cut off the plains trade. It was previously the custom of Indian agents to bring the annuity money due the Indians to Kansas City, and take it thence to the agencies without a guard; but during this trouble a strong guard had to be sent out with it. The local trade with Kansas towns suffered equally, and from the same causes. It was unsafe to ship goods through the Territory because of roving bands, who, upon political pretexts, managed to do so large an amount of robbing that they assumed more the character of banditti.

The towns of Leavenworth, Lawrence and Atchison were rapidly settled, and soon overtook Kansas City in population. Then Leavenworth became a strong competitor for the western trade. And in this contest, with about equal population, she was strengthened materially by the fact that government roads were made from there, by a requirement on the part of the Government that its own freight should be transported from that place, and by a State pride hostile to building up a town in Missouri. During the memorable contest in that young State in 1855 and 1856, this feeling ran .so high that in the disorganized and anarchical condition of affairs, trains leaving Kansas City were frequently guarded. Notwithstanding all these impediments, Kansas City held the trade; it was found after awhile that it was impossible to transfer it to Leavenworth. The roads diverging from thence were rough and the streams unbridged and impassable. After the new route was laid out from Leavenworth by United States authority, and upon the prestige that gave her a few Santa Fe traders were induced to start their trains from there, but when they reached the Kaw River they found it impassable, and had to return to the mouth of the stream and get a ferryboat from Kansas City to cross them, when they took the old accustomed trail.

THE TROUBLES of 1856.

The events of the spring of 1856 fully realized the sad expectations of all parties. Immigration continued to pour in from the east, and as early as March nearly every boat on the Missouri River was searched for articles which the proslavery men had pronounced contraband, and free-state emigrants were robbed and sent back. In April, Maj. Buford arrived in Kansas City with a large body of armed men from Georgia, Alabama and South Carolina In May, Gov. Robinson, Geo. W. Smith, Geo. W. Deitzler and other free-state men were arrested for treason under the stringent laws of the Territory. An attempt was made to arrest Ex-Gov. Reeder, who had remained in Kansas and taken an active part in free-state movements, but he made his escape to Kansas City where he was secreted at the American Hotel (now old Gillis House) by the Eldridges, who then kept it, and from there he made his way in disguise as a laborer and on the deck of a steamboat to Illinois.

The District Court sitting at Lecompton, declared the Free State Hotel, at Lawrence, and the Herald of Freedom and Kansas Free State nuisances, and ordered their distruction. This order was executed May 21st, by a large party of pro-slavery men under direction of Sheriff Jones. These men were mostly southern men, who had come to Kansas in armed companies for the purpose of driving free-state men from the Territory, and were commanded by Col. H. T. Titus, of Virginia. After the distruction of the hotel and newspaper offices, the stores were robbed and much property ruthlessly destroyed. This led to retaliation by the free-state men, and Kansas was soon filled with small armed parties

of all kinds, the most prominent among which was John Brown's Free State party. During all this season, parties of armed men continued to arrive from the south, some of whom remained in Kansas City, but most of whom made their headquarters at Westport and from thence projected incursions into Kansas. One of these parties was led by H. Clay Pate, a citizen of Westport, who at one time captured two of John Brown's sons, and who was himself captured by John Brown's party. Another was led by Gen. J. W. Reid of this city, and another by Col. E. M. McGee, of this city, besides those led by Buford of Georgia, Titus of Virginia, Whitfield, Coleman, Bell, Jenigen and others. Besides John Brown's FreeState party already mentioned, there were others led by Shore, Walker, Crocklin, Abbott, Cook and Hopkins. There was also an occasional infusion of United States troops, under command of Col. Sumner and Maj. Sedgwick, when called upon by Gov. Shannon to suppress violence and restore order; and in August Gen. J. H. Lane added materially to the free-state forces by bringing in a party of emigrants through Iowa and Nebraska, all free state immigration through Missouri having been stopped. Fights and battles and routs between the contesting parties were of frequent occurrence. Thus while Kansas was being filled with people, it was being overrun with armed bands, and industry and trade were depressed. To add to the horrors of the situation, the season was unfavorable for farmers, and before the close of the year the people had to be aided by relief sent to them from the east. In August, Gov. Shannon was removed and Gov, Geary appointed in his place who continued in office until March, 1857, when he was succeeded by Robert J. Walker of Mississippi. This disturbed situation continued until the fall of 1857, when, at the October election, Gov. Walker maintained peace sufficiently to admit of a tolerably free ballot of bona fide votes, which resulted in free-state triumph, after which the contest was abandoned by the Pro-Slavery party so far as armed effort was concerned. While these troubles continued, they were exceedingly dispressing to Kansas City. The people of Kansas City with few exceptions were in sympathy with the Pro Slavery party, but still had little sympathy with the methods employed by it. They wanted the trade of the new population, and were averse to methods that disturbed society and deprived them of it.

COL. KERSEY COATES.

At this time, Col. Kersey Coates was a very important man in Kansas City. He was then, as now, a man of more than ordinary determination of character, cool, courageous, and active, and the leading free state man in Kansas City. He came to Kansas in the fall of 1854 as an agent for a party of Philadelphia capitalists, to buy lands and make investments where, in his judgment, it was most profitable to make them. He first went to Leavenworth and then to Lawrence, looking over the field for investments, and finally came to Kansas City. With that far seeing judgment for which he has since become distinguished, he selected this place for his investments, and in the spring of 1855 purchased large amounts of land adjoining this city, and took up his residence at the American hotel. At the time of which we now write, he was counsel for Gov. Robinson and the prisoners confined with him at Lecompton for treason, and was a bold outspoken free-state man in a community overrun with border ruffians. The people of Kansas City, though perhaps little in sympathy with his political views, regarded him as an important tie between them and the people of Kansas, and looked to him largely for the efforts and measures which were to bring them the trade of the new Territory. He was thus supported by them, and in a measure protected against the pro-slavery men from the south, who soon came to regard him as a most dangerous man for their cause, and who would gladly have kidnapped or killed him if they had felt it safe to do so. Afterward, when the tide turned against them, several of them had to appeal to him for protection,

but, it is needless to say, never got it when inconsistent with the peace and good order of society.

In the fall of 1856, he visited Washington in behalf of the free-state prisoners confined at Lecompton, charged with treason under the laws at that time prevailing in Kansas. During his absence the pro-slavery men had determined upon kidnapping and perhaps killing him on his return. He was met at St. Louis by pro-slavery men from Kansas City and warned of his danger, which shows the esteem in which he was held by men who, though opposed to him in politics, admired his influence in commercial affairs. He spent the winter in Wisconsin where he procured appropriations from the State Legislature for the relief of citizens of Wisconsin living in Kansas, the object being understood to be the strengthening of the free-state forces for the portending struggle of 1857.

Another man who deserves special mention here was J. P. Howe, the city marshal. He was cool and fearless, and when warrants were placed in his hands diected against any of the lawless peace disturbers from the south, never flinched in his duty. Many interesting incidents are told of his affairs with these men, many of which were exciting at the time and are amusing now.

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CHAPTER VIII.

THE GROWTH OF KANSAS CITY PRIOR TO THE WAR.

Improvements of Streets and Roads—Trade and Steamboats—Rival Cities--Rapid Growth of Kansas City-Stages and Mails-The Commerce of the Prairies-The First Banks, Jobbing Houses and Telegraph-The First Commercial Organization-The Panic of 1857—The Enlargement of the City.

Notwithstanding the troubles in Kansas, and the hatred thereby engendered, on the part of free-state people toward all Missourians and Missouri towns, Kansas City gained considerable advantage from the settlement of the Territory while these troubles were pending, and after their close, in 1857, experienced an era of remarkable development and growth.

COUNTY ROADS AND STREET IMPROVEMENTS.

A matter of profound interest to Kansas City, during these years, and until 1861, was wagon roads to the country, and it was much discussed. This being the only means of reaching the trade of the rapidly settling new territory, Leavenworth, Atchison, Lawrence, St. Joseph, Independence, Westport, and even Boonville, attempted to gain a share or a monopoly of it, by improving roads.. Kansas City dared not be behind. But in this contest, Leavenworth and Lawrence were the principal competitors, St. Joseph and Boonville being too far away, while Independence and Westport were so near that her superior landing placed them at a disadvantage. Kansas City had the advantage of a bottom road up the Kaw Valley, and a divide road to southern Kansas, hence her work was mostly to be done near home. The Shawnee road and bridge across Turkey Creek were opened in 1858. A better road to Westport, through which all freight, mails and emigrants went from Kansas City, began to be agitated in February, 1856. The road was improved somewhat, but in July, 1857, a company was formed to macadamize it. The work commenced in September, but was so much delayed that it was not finally completed before the war.

The importance of street improvements began to be agitated in the winter of 1856-7. Colonel M. J. Payne had been elected mayor in the spring of 1855, which position he held until the spring of 1860. In 1855. under his administration, the edge of the bluff was cut away, and the levee widened and paved for about a quarter of a mile, and during the two or three succeeding years, Second, Third, Fourth and Fifth streets were graded, and also Broadway, Wyandotte, Delaware, Main and Market streets (Grand avenue), from the river back to Fifth. In the fall of 1859, an ordinance was passed for macadamizing Main street. The Court House on the square was built in 1856, by J. W. Ammons, contractor, the commencement being made October 30th; but the market house, which was intended to accompany it, was not built until 1860.

TRADE OF 1856-7-THE STEAMBOAT BUSINESS.

The Journal of Commerce, at a later period, estimated that the trade of Kansas City during these two years did not exceed two million of dollars, but with the close of the struggle, in 1857, the country filled up speedily, the trade was enlarged, and the city grew rapidly. The Santa Fe trade prospered, and the plains trade resumed more than its former proportions, while the trade developed by the settlement of southern Kansas all came to Kansas City, and with that and the outfitting of immigrants, her business became very great, so much so that a

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