The Way West

On the 30th day of May, 1854, President Franklin Pierce signed the Kansas-Nebraska Act into law altering the course of settlement across the western territories.

Missouri Sen. David Atchison immediately telegraphed friends in the border town of Weston, Mo., with the message, “go over and take possession of the good land, it is yours.”

Men on horseback and mules abruptly hurried over the border.

Some loaded wagons dreaming of the new homes they would build.

Others without means, traveled by foot to take possession of “the good land” beyond the Missouri River.

In very short order Kansas lands were settled 40 to 50 miles west of the river. All along Missouri’s western border men were swarming across the rich valleys, uplands and the timber lands of the streams feeding the Missouri and Kansas Rivers. Businessmen in Weston vied for the best locations to build new towns.

The suddenness of settlement seems remarkable today; however, author Henry Miles Moore explained that the people of Missouri had long gazed over the border “with longing eyes and wistful hopes ...”

Tribal reservations held prime land that would hopefully soon be opened to the public for settlement.

Moore related in his “Early History of Leavenworth City and County” that hundreds of frontiersmen had explored the plains all the way to the foothills of the Rocky Mountains. Many had traveled all the way to California in search of gold in 1849 and 1850. Long lines of government freight wagon trains carried immense stores of goods “across the ocean plains” to forts and military camps. Buckskinned entrepreneurs traded with the Indians. Hunters stalked the buffalo, antelope, and wolf. “The whole land was as familiar to these Border Knights, as their own homes and surroundings in Missouri.”

The opening of Kansas was unfortunately done without governmental organization, instead relying on “Squatter Sovereignty.”

To answer the need for some sort of organization, 200 squatters held a meeting in the Salt Creek Valley on June 10, 1854. The meeting was held at Maj. R. P. Riveley’s Store and Inn, a popular gathering place on the way west from Fort Leavenworth. Most of those attending the meeting were from Missouri, notably Platte County and the city of Weston. Many had staked claims south of Fort Leavenworth, thinking that a town would be established near them on lands held by the post.

However, the government was not about to cede any part of the post reservation to town builders.

The Salt Creek assembly organized themselves into the Delaware Squatters Association, recognizing that the land they were claiming was held by the Delaware tribe. A series of resolutions were agreed upon to bring them together in a ‘harmonious manner.” The Salt Creek Resolutions were declared the law of the land and published in Missouri newspapers.

The formers of the resolutions were certainly aware of efforts by antislavery groups in the east. Abolitionist colonists were planning to emigrate to Kansas Territory to guarantee that the future state would not allow slavery. The Salt Creek Resolutions recognized the right of any citizen to acquire Kansas land through the recognition of squatter sovereignty. Members of the Squatter’s Association pledged to protect staked claims and,“if necessary ... expel intruders.” Although, they specifically noted “That we will afford protection to no Abolitionists as settlers in Kansas Territory.”

A “Vigilance Committee” was appointed “to decide upon all disputes in relation to claims, and to protect the rightful party”.

All members of the association were required to subscribe to the resolutions, especially the position that the institution of slavery had always existed in the territory, and that slaveholders should introduce “their property” to the territory as soon as possible. In the coming months, despite their protectionist position, pro-slavery men would be overrun by the tide of abolitionists.

Two days after the meeting at Rively’s, Gen. George Gist directed the survey for the new town. Organizers of the town company met June 13, 1854, at Weston, Mo., to formalize the town company. A three-member committee was formed to produce a constitution and bylaws. Surprisingly, a name for the town was yet to be determined. Thus, the question was addressed by the committee.

Judge L. D. Bird and Oliver Diefendorf favored “Douglas” in honor of Stephen Douglas, the author of the Kansas-Nebraska Bill. Our previously noted author, Henry Miles Moore, promoted “Leavenworth” noting that Fort Leavenworth was famously known across the country. He reasoned that the connection with the celebrated military post would “greatly assist in the sale of lots and invite settlers from all parts of the country.”

The town company later unanimously adopted Moore’s suggestion and Leavenworth City was born. Thirteen months later, July 20, 1855, Leavenworth City was incorporated, becoming Kansas’ “First City” on The Way West.

“The Cowboy,” Jim Gray is author of the book Desperate Seed: Ellsworth Kansas on the Violent Frontier, Ellsworth, KS. Contact Kansas Cowboy, 220 21st Road, Geneseo, Kan. Phone (785) 531-2058 or kansascowboy@kans.com.