G. W. Brown experienced the terrors of Bleeding Kansas firsthand. His newspaper, The Kansas Herald of Freedom, was the first free state newspaper in Kansas Territory. He was arrested and his newspaper office was burned by pro-slavery forces on May 21, 1856. Brown later published several histories of territorial Kansas. In particular, he passionately recalled those uncertain days in the book, “Reminiscences of Governor R. J. Walker” with the true story of The Rescue of Kansas From Slavery. The book was dedicated to Mrs. Sara T. D. Robinson.

Brown recognized her association “with all the early settlers who came from the free North and located in and around Lawrence, to whom your hospitality was always cordially extended... You witnessed the aggregations of the slave power, shared in all the hardships and dangers which environed us. Your home was often the council chamber of the Free State leaders.”

Supporting those leaders were many unsung wives who kept home fires burning just as the flame of freedom burned in the hearts of all who came to Kansas in answer to freedom’s call. Those leaders included Sara’s husband, Dr. Charles Robinson, Kansas’ first governor. It is an undeniable fact that Sara Robinson was serving as the first lady of Kansas long before her husband assumed gubernatorial duties.

Sara Tappan Doolittle Lawrence was born at Belchertown, Mass., July 12, 1827, to Myron and Clarissa Lawrence. Dr. Charles Robinson came into her life when he was brought in to treat an injury suffered in a severe fall. Following the death of Robinson’s first wife in 1847, he and Sara Lawrence were married on Oct. 30, 1851.

Being ardent abolitionists, the Robinsons joined the Massachusetts Emigrant Aid Company in the effort to oppose slavery by populating Kansas Territory with abolitionists. Robinson went to Kansas early in 1854 to help locate town sites. He guided the company’s second party of emigrants to Kansas, arriving at the fledgling town of Lawrence on Sept. 11, 1854. The coordinated system of settlement became the nucleus of the Free State movement. In that context, Robinson became a recognized leader throughout the territory.

Sara joined her husband in the spring of 1855. From that time, the Robinsons’ home played a central role in hosting the leading men and women dedicated to rescuing Kansas from slavery. In opposition to the pro-slavery government established in Lecompton, abolitionist leaders called for a constitutional convention to form a free state territorial government. At the resulting Topeka Constitutional Convention of Jan. 15, 1856, Robinson was elected territorial governor, even though he was not recognized by the federal government.

Members of the new government soon learned that they were about to be indicted for high treason. Realizing they would need all the support they could garner from the Northern states, Robinson was dispatched to the east to consult with state governors and other sympathizers. The Robinsons left Kansas aboard the riverboat Star of the West on May 9.

Meantime, Sheriff Samuel Jones was dispatched to Lawrence to make arrests. Charles and Sara Robinson were traveling to eastern states to plead the free state cause, but were detained on May 10, 1856, aboard the riverboat Star of the West at Lexington, Mo.

Robinson was held at Westport, Mo., until after the raid on Lawrence was carried out May 21. He was later delivered to federal authorities at Leavenworth before delivery to Camp Sackett. As G.W. Brown wrote in his dedication to Sara Robinson, several leaders of the free state government were arrested and held by U. S. forces at Camp Sackett near Lecompton, Kansas Territory. Charles Robinson arrived at the prison camp on June 1. Camp Sackett was described as a tent city, a soldier encampment.

For a time, it was unsafe for Sara to travel. In Kansas City, Sara attended a hotel dinner on June 3. A pro-slavery man related a rumor to Sara that 2,000 men were coming from Chicago in support of the free state cause. Sara’s reply was, “...there is intense feeling throughout the North, and they will not be backward in sending many times that number if emergencies require it.” And that was that!

The morning of June 17, Sara finally reached Camp Sackett, a place she called “Uncle Sam’s Bastille.” She remained in the encampment, first in a tent and later sharing a log cabin with seven prisoners and Mrs. Jenkins, the wife of Gaius Jenkins. During her time in the camp Sara penned an account of the troubles in the young territory — “Kansas; Its Interior and Exterior Life,” was published later that year. At the time, her book was recognized as second only to “Uncle Tom’s Cabin” in its contribution to the abolitionist cause.

During her husband’s imprisonment she lived with the dread that her husband and the foremost proponents of freedom could “swing from the gallows.” However, political winds began to shift. In September 1856, Robinson and the others were released, and even though blood continued to be shed, the Robinsons prevailed. When statehood was won in 1861, Dr. Robinson was elected governor of the state of Kansas and Sara the first lady of the state.

Though they had no children, one might say that as Kansans, we are their children. Charles, the father, and Sara, the mother of Kansas, founded in freedom on The Way West.