Old military crossing, Louisville, Kansas
Date: Between 1890s and 1900s
These four black and white photographs show William Darnell with his cows at the old military crossing of Rock Creek, which was below the dam at Louisville, Kansas.

Women jury, Wamego, Kansas
Date: November 1912
This black and white photograph shows the first all women jury in the state of Kansas from Wamego. The case was the State of Kansas vs. Mina Johnson. The charges were stealing four Wyandotte chickens, two hens and two cockerels valued at $3.50 from Mrs. Geo T. Raines of Louisville, Kansas. The jury of six women listen to the evidence before reaching a verdict of "not guilty". The members are identified as follows: front row: Mrs. Jesse Ferril, Mrs. N.D. Welty, and Mrs. R.C. Hulbard ; back row: Mrs. O.B. Larson, Mrs. Russell Helm; jury foreman, and Mrs. Archer Ferril.

Journey from Massachusetts to Kansas
Creator: Allen, Chestina Bowker, b. 1808
Date: October 17, 1854 to April 22, 1858
Chestina Bowker Allen traveled to Kansas Territory from Roxbury, Massachusetts, with her husband, Asahel Gilbert Allen, and five children--William, Charles, Henrietta, John, and Abbie. Members of the third company sent by the New England Emigrant Aid Company, the Allens began the journey to Kansas Territory in October, 1854. The journal is a record of their journey to the Kansas Territory, and of their first three years there (1854-1858). Mrs. Allen described their journey west with stops in Kansas City and Lawrence before eventually settling near Rock Creek in Pottawatomie County. She wrote about many of her daily activities, including assisting neighbors when ill, a cholera epidemic in the area in 1855, descriptions of Native Americans she saw, and various rumors and encounters with fellow free state supporters and proslavery groups. She provided a great deal of information about living conditions and the price and availability of various goods. She wrote about her husband and older sons going to various communities to work, and also about people who visited their home and/or who boarded with them. [The document appears to be recopied from an original diary, and includes some penciled-in corrections and a few annotations from a later time.]

Standard atlas of Pottawatomie County, Kansas
Creator: Geo. A. Ogle & Co.
Date: 1905
This atlas shows maps of each township with the names of landowners. It has a patrons' directory, portraits of residents, and plats of towns as of the year of publication.

Emigrants' guide to the Kansas Pacific Railway lands
Creator: Kansas Pacific Railway Company
Date: April 1871
A railroad company advertisement to emigrants promising cheap, abundant and good land for agricultural purposes.

The Oregon Trail through Pottawatomie County, Kansas
Date: 1928
This map shows the route of the Oregon Trail through Pottawatomie County, Kansas, and the trail's proximity to the towns of St. Mary's, Belvue, Louisville, and Westmoreland. It also includes water features, such as rivers and creeks, and the sites of two cemeteries.

A new home in an old settlement
Date: May 1, 1876
This paper advertises for sale land formerly owned by the Pottawatomie Nation from 1837 to 1868, and then owned by the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Rail Road Company. On the reverse side of the paper is a sectional map showing the area and identifying those lands that were still for sale by the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railroad company. The text gives brief descriptions of the cities and towns in the area; the railroads available; fuel and lumber that are native to the area; descriptions and prices of the lands.

Handbook of Pottawatomie and Riley Counties, Kansas
Date: Between 1880 and 1889
This handbook was published by the Modern Argo, Kansas City, for potential immigrants to Pottawatomie and Riley counties in Kansas. A short description of Davis County is also included. This pamphlet encouraged agricultural settlement by extolling the virtues of this 'beautiful Kansas (river) valley'. Crops grown in the area included corn, wheat, oats, and rye. A number of stock farms, such as Juniatta Stock Farm and Woodside Stock Farm, are described in the booklet. The booklet contains information about dairying operations and orchards. There are descriptions of the towns of Manhattan (including the State Agricultural College), Wamego, Louisville, Westmoreland, Milford, and Belvue. Some illustrations of farms and businesses are also included.