This study explores what the town of Menoken, Menoken Township, Shawnee County, Kansas was like, and what happened to it. Menoken was eventually overtaken by bigger sister towns Topeka and Silver Lake. Methods include interviews, maps of the county…
Moonlight, located in Hayes Township, Dickinson County, Kansas, was founded by members of the Brethren in Christ Church migrating from Pennsylvania. It thrived temporarily, for about forty years, but dried up as business moved to larger towns and…
This study analyzes the early development of Perry, Jefferson County, Kansas. Early on, Perry faced leadership problems as the principal town of Kentucky Township, but it was propelled to prosperity by the Kansas Pacific/Union Pacific Railroad it…
The author uses historic newspaper reports, census records, city directories, and historic advertising to recreate the Chinese community found in Wichita, Kansas around the turn of the century.
The author creates a vivid picture of turn of the century rural life as often impoverished, harsh, and filled with economic loss. He examines the unusually high suicide rate among young farmers who lost their land in the Panic of 1893. This study…
Analyzing contagious disease records kept by physicians in two contiguous Kansas counties, this study reaches interesting conclusions about the role of the railroads in early twentieth century Kansas. Rail lines are suspected disease vectors. The…
This study examines the role of the Kansas Central Railway in promoting small towns in northeast Kansas. Although ultimately failing in its charter, the KCR was critically important for tiny settlements. Research is based on legal sources, railway…
