A. W. Johnson and Isabella Johnson to Robert S. Wickizer
Creator: Johnson, A. W.
Date: March 24, 1875
In this letter to his cousin, A. W. Johnson relates news from his homestead near Osage Mission, Neosho County. Johnson describes the grasshopper plague in vivid terms, and also mentions how the recent hard times in Kansas should not discourage emigration into the state. In fact, he goes so far as to state that now is the time to come, since land is cheap and the spring weather is "deliteful[sic]." Johnson also states, however, that the price of corn is high, and that high prices on goods make it difficult for him to support his family.

Clearing a field of grasshoppers
Creator: Harpers Weekly
Date: 1875
An illustration showing people clearing a field of grasshoppers, copied from Harper's Weekly, July 3, 1875.

Grangers versus hoppers
Creator: Henry Worrall, 1825-1902
Date: 1874-1875
This is a carte-de-visite published by the Downing Gallery in Topeka, Kansas. It depicts a cartoon by Kansas artist Henry Worrall showing Kansas farmers (Grangers) battling grasshoppers. The National Grange of the Patrons of Husbandry was originally founded with the idea of educating and connecting farmers within America. The first Grange was set up in Fredonia, New York. From there granges spread across the U.S., providing classes and social events to farmers. The first Kansas Grange was organized in 1872 at Hiawatha. Within a few years, more than 1,000 Granges claiming more than 30,000 members had been established across the state. Read more about the Grange in Kansapedia.

Grasshopper invasion, Omaha conference on
Creator: Kansas. Governor (1873-1877 : Osborn)
Date: 1876
A letter on October 5, 1876, from W. H. Wood, asks Governor Osborn the names of the Governors who he will meet at Omaha, Nebraska, and the time of the meeting. A letter from C. O. Riley, November 4, 1876, requests the Governor to write to Professor F. V. Hayden of Washington. In the letter, Riley also asks that the Governor of Omaha adopt Professor Hayden's plan for destroying grasshoppers. A letter on November 18, 1876, from C. O. Riley, states the pamphlet embodying the proceedings of the conference of the Governors at Omaha, Nebraska, is prepared and will be ready for distribution in about two weeks. In mid-1874, millions of grasshoppers, or Rocky Mountain locusts, appeared on the prairies from the Dakotas to Texas. Kansas Governor Osborn called a special meeting of the legislature, which assembled on September 15, 1874, to think of ways to help Kansans survive the destruction and relieve the hardship left by the grasshoppers.

Grasshopper Relief proclamation
Creator: Osborn, Thomas Andrew, 1836-1898
Date: 1874
This proclamation was issued by Governor Thomas Osborn in response to the grasshopper plague that hit the state of Kansas in 1874. The grasshoppers had destroyed most of the farmers' crops, thus "threatening great suffering among the people." Osborn called for the state legislature to convene on September 15, 1874 to discuss the best plan of action.

Grasshoppers
Creator: Kansas. Governor (1877-1879: Anthony)
Date: 1877
The following documents in this file pertain to matters related to Grasshoppers in Kansas. This description does not cover all the documents, only a few of them. A letter on March 13, 1877, from David D. Hoag, encloses a letter from two Reverends asking Governor Anthony to set aside a day of fasting in prayer because of the grasshopper disaster. A letter on March 4, 1877, from C. V. Riley, states that the locust or grasshopper commission needs to be made up of men that are practical and have scientific knowledge. A copy of a Joint Resolution from the State Department of Nebraska to appoint a commission to investigate the locality, origin, and habits, and natural history of the Grasshopper. A letter on January 6, 1877, from VanTronk of Philadelphia, sends a vial containing insect fluid that claims to destroy insects. The invasion of grasshoppers or Rocky Mountain locusts began in 1874 and 1877 an Act entitled, "An act to provide for the destruction of grasshoppers, etc.".

Grasshoppers
Date: 1875
Grasshoppers arranged to spell the words "Kansas Jayhawkers".

Grasshopper sweep, Finney County, Kansas
Creator: Wolf, Henry L. 1850-1924
Date: Between 1890 and 1900
This photograph shows a man sweeping a field crop for grasshoppers on a farm in Finney County, Kansas. This appears to be an alfalfa field. Metal teeth went through the crop making the grasshoppers jump up, hit the back wall and drop into a container of some type.

Grasshopper sweep, Finney County, Kansas
Creator: Wolf, Henry L. 1850-1924
Date: Between 1890 and 1900
This photograph shows a man sweeping a field crop for grasshoppers on a farm in Finney County, Kansas. This appears to be an alfalfa field. Metal teeth went through the crop making the grasshoppers jump up, hit the back wall and drop into a container of some type.

Ho! For the new Kansas! The Upper Arkansas Valley
Creator: Atchison, Topeka, and Santa Fe Railroad Company
Date: July 1875
This brochure from the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railroad Company is in the form of a newspaper. It advertises three million acres of land for sale in southwestern Kansas. The brochure explains the prices and terms of sale, and provides quotes from successful farmers in the area as to their ability to raise abundant crops. It lists where to get information about land sales in states east of Kansas, the local agents in specific Kansas communities, and the stations and the distances between stops on the AT&SF eastern division and the Arkansas Valley route

Home Life in Early Days
Creator: Valentine, Martha
Date: February 23, 1908
In this reminiscence, Martha Valentine relates her experiences as a Kansas housewife during the early years of white settlement in Kansas. Valentine and her husband Daniel first came to Kansas in 1859 and eventually settled permanently in Peoria, Franklin County, in 1860. She describes how, in that same year, a severe drought hit Kansas and eleven months passed without rain. Her family suffered from the drought, having to subsist mostly on stored corn, small game animals, and wild vegetables. Many people in her neighborhood suffered during this time, sometimes requiring aid sent by Easterners. Copied from the Topeka Capitol, February 23, 1908.

John William Gardiner diary
Creator: Gardiner, John William, 1851-1917
Date: January 1 - December 23, 1875
John William Gardiner was born in or near Platte City, Missouri, in 1851. In March 1855, Gardiner and his family moved to the future site of Winchester, Jefferson County, in the newly opened Kansas Territory. During 1875, he taught school and simultaneously took classes in Leavenworth to obtain his teaching certificate. Many of the diary entries describe his teaching, weather, the grasshopper plague, and extracurricular activities such as singing and visiting friends. A transcription prepared by the diary donor, Allen Gardiner, follows the diary images and includes a one page introduction. An uncorrected, searchable OCR file is available as "Text Version" below.

John William Gardiner diary
Creator: Gardiner, John William, 1851-1917
Date: Between May 6, 1875 and June 25, 1875
John William Gardiner was born in or near Platte City, Missouri, in 1851. In March 1855, Gardiner and his family moved to the future site of Winchester, Jefferson County, in the newly opened Kansas Territory. During 1875, he taught school and simultaneously took classes in Leavenworth to obtain his teaching certificate. Many of the diary entries describe his teaching, weather, the grasshopper plague, and extracurricular activities such as singing and visiting friends.

Life Sketch of Mrs. Pauline (Floeder) Wickham
Creator: Wickham, Pauline Floeder
Date: January 6, 1926
Pauline Wickham wrote this reminiscence about her family's immigration to Nebraska and later Kansas from Germany. She writes that she was born in Frankfort, Nebraska. The Floeders moved from Nebraska to Leavenworth and later Wichita. Pauline describes the trip from Leavenworth to Wichita in approximately 1870. She includes a graphic description of the damage done by grasshoppers in 1873. The reminiscence describes some interaction with cowboys since they lived near the routes of the cattle trails. This story was written as part of the efforts of Lilla Day Monroe to collect reminiscences concerning the women's perspective in settling Kansas. Mrs. H. H. Motter, Wichita, contributed the story to the project though it was written by Mrs. Wickham.

"Mr. G. Hopper, Kansas"
Creator: Vance, F. T.
Date: 1875
This humorous cartoon illustration depicts a grasshopper standing upright with a crutch, eye patch, and a sling holding his left arm. By his side is a small suitcase. The countryside in the background has been completely stripped of all greenery, with only tree trunks and twigs surviving. In 1874, Kansas was hit with a grasshopper plague that destroyed most of the farmers' crops.

Results of operating a hopperdoser in Chase County, Kansas
Creator: Chase County Extension Office
Date: 1937
A photograph showing the results after one hour's work with a hopperdoser on A. J. McCabe's five acre farm in Chase County, Kansas. The pile contained nearly two bushels of grasshoppers. The photograph was copied from the Chase County Extension's annual report.

Sketch map of Kansas. The land flowing with men and money
Creator: Mitchell, William Izott
Date: 1920s
William Izott Mitchell created this map while living in New York City. Mitchell apparently created the map for the amusement of his fellow members of the Kansas Society of New York City. The cartoon map pokes fun of Kansas history and culture (often through word play) and draws humorous parallels between Kansas and New York City. Prominent themes include Missouri-Kansas animosity, the underground railroad, temperance and prohibition, the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railroad, Quivera and early Kansas explorers, farmers and farming, tornadoes, women's suffrage, drought and grasshoppers, and miners and mining. The back of the map includes a partially obscured inscription that reads "W. Mitchell, Zoological Park, New York City." Mitchell was the Cashier (accountant) at the New York Zoological Park (now the Bronx Zoo). He was at one time the President of the Kansas Society of New York. The undated map appears to be a fragment of a larger work but the whereabouts or existence of an additional fragment representing western Kansas is unknown.

The drouth
Creator: Junction City Union
Date: August 1, 1874
This brief, unsigned article published in the Junction City Union presents the hardships Kansans faced during times of drought. Settlers looked to the skies for rain but were disappointed. According to the author, there had been storms that seemed likely to bring rain, but only a few scattered drops fell. Settlers' crops also suffered from the plague of grasshoppers that were eating what few crops had survived the drought.

The grasshoppers 1874
Creator: Mail and Breeze (Topeka)
Date: September 22, 1899
In this brief article, A. Bailey of Mankato, Jewell County, reminisces about the grasshoppers invasion of 1874. Although that year proved to be a trying one for Kansas farmers, Bailey still rates 1874 as "the good old days."