Barber county organization records
Creator: Kansas. Secretary of State
Date: 1872 to 1873
In order for an unorganized county to be recognized by the state of Kansas, a certain number of householders/legal electors had to petition the governor. The governor would appoint a census taker. Initially, unorganized counties were required to document that they had at least 600 inhabitants in order to be recognized as a county by the state legislature. Over time the number of residents needed to organize a county changed to 1500 and later to 2500 residents. The census was submitted to the governor who then issued a proclamation indicating that the requirements had been met, appointing county commissioners and a county clerk, and naming a county seat. Not all of these documents are available for each county. Included in this file is the memorial to Governor Osborn asking for a census to be taken of Barber County, an affidavit by H.T. McCarty to be the census taker, the completed census, and the proclamation by the governor naming county officials and designating Medicine Lodge as the temporary county.

C. M. Ricker to Charles Morris
Creator: Ricker, C. M.
Date: November 6, 1874
Captain C. R. Ricker of the Kansas State Militia, Medicine Lodge, Kansas, writes to Adjutant General Charles Morris of Topeka concerning a band of Pawnee Indians. Ricker notes that the Indians are just east of Medicine Lodge and believes they intend to fight a band of Osage Indians. Though this band had not disturbed any person or property, they were burning the prairie. Ricker suggests that the burning is an attempt by the Indians to further destroy settler's rangeland already devastated by drought and grasshoppers. Ricker asks for instructions on dealing with this "friendly" band of Pawnee. The threat of an Indian uprising on Kansas' southern boarder in 1873 led Governor Thomas Osborn to employ the state militia and appeal to President Ulysses S. Grant for federal troops and arms.

Captain Lewis Hanback's final report
Creator: Hanback, Lewis
Date: 1875
This document is Captain Lewis Hanback's final report of an 1875 investigation into a conflict between Captain Ricker's company of state militia and a band of Osage Indians that occurred in 1874. The Osage Indians had filed a complaint with the Department of the Interior, claiming that the U. S. military had attacked a peaceful Indian encampment and stolen their horses and other property. Captain Lewis Hanback was ordered to take down testimonies and determine the circumstances surrounding the conflict. This final report summarizes these testimonies and includes a short history of Barbour County where the altercation took place.

Crime and criminals: the bender case
Creator: Kansas. Governor (1873-1877 : Osborn)
Date: 1873 - 1876
This series of letters are pulled from the correspondence files of Kansas Governor Thomas Andrew Osborn. They are about the murder case in Labette County, Kansas involving the Bender Family, sometimes referred to as the Bloody Benders. The family consisted of John Bender; his wife, Elvira Bender; son, John, Jr.; and daughter, Kate.

D. C. Haskell to Governor Thomas Osborne
Creator: Haskell, D. C. (Dudley Chase), 1842-1883
Date: November 11, 1874
A letter written by D. [Dudley] C. [Chase] Haskell introducing Governor Thomas Osborne to Rev. W. M. Wellman. Wellman was appointed to the Kansas Relief Committee and worked on behalf of The Smith County Aid Society to obtain funds to help settlers effected by the grasshopper plague.

Edwards County organization records
Creator: Kansas. Secretary of State
Date: 1874
In order for an unorganized county to be recognized by the state of Kansas, a certain number of householders/legal electors had to petition the governor. The governor would appoint a census taker. Initially, unorganized counties were required to document that they had at least 600 inhabitants in order to be recognized as a county by the state legislature. Over time the number of residents needed to organize a county changed to 1500 and later to 2500 residents. The census was submitted to the governor who then issued a proclamation indicating that the requirements had been met, appointing county commissioners and a county clerk, and naming a county seat. Not all of these documents are available for each county. Included in this file is the memorial to the governor asking that a census be taken, two completed censuses, and the proclamation by the governor appointing county officials and designating Kinsley as the temporary county seat. A complete transcription is available by clicking "Text Version" below.

Ford County organization records
Creator: Kansas. Secretary of State
Date: 1872-1873
In order for an unorganized county to be recognized by the state of Kansas, a certain number of householders/legal electors had to petition the governor. The governor would appoint a census taker. Initially, unorganized counties were required to document that they had at least 600 inhabitants in order to be recognized as a county by the state legislature. Over time the number of residents needed to organize a county changed to 1500 and later to 2500 residents. The census was submitted to the governor who then issued a proclamation indicating that the requirements had been met, appointing county commissioners and a county clerk, and naming a county seat. Not all of these documents are available for each county. Included in this file is the 1873 census of Ford County, the memorial to the governor, miscellaneous letters, and the proclamation appointing county officials and designating Dodge City as the temporary county seat.

Governor's Proclamation
Date: August 22, 1873
This is a Governor's Proclamation issued by Governor Thomas A. Osborn for the arrest of William Thompson who murdered C. B. Whitney, Sheriff of Ellsworth County, Kansas. A $500.00 reward was offered for the arrest and conviction of Thompson.

Governor's proclamation, $2,000 reward
Date: 1873
A photograph of Governor Osborn's proclamation offering a $2,000 reward for the capture of the Bender family.

Governor Thomas Osborn Indian affairs received correspondence
Creator: Kansas. Governor (1873-1877 : Osborn)
Date: 1873-1876
Governor Osborn complied this series of correspondence on Indian Affairs from letters received while in office from 1873-1877.

Governor Thomas Osborn immigration received correspondence
Creator: Kansas. Governor (1873-1877 : Osborn)
Date: 1873-1876
Governor Thomas Osborn compiled this series of correspondence on immigration issues from letters received while in office from 1873-1877. The letters address many aspects of immigration including the appointment of commissioners; immigration promotion; foreign immigration from Scotland, France, Wales, Europe in general, the Scandinavian countries (Sweden, Norway, Denmark), and Germany. Domestic immigration is also addressed concerning immigrants from New England, Louisiana, and Tennessee (early Exodusters); and Indian lands.

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.

Harper County organization records
Creator: Kansas. Secretary of State
Date: 1873
In order for an unorganized county to be recognized by the state of Kansas, a certain number of householders/legal electors had to petition the governor. The governor would appoint a census taker. Initially, unorganized counties were required to document that they had at least 600 inhabitants in order to be recognized as a county by the state legislature. Over time the number of residents needed to organize a county changed to 1500 and later to 2500 residents. The census was submitted to the governor who then issued a proclamation indicating that the requirements had been met, appointing county commissioners and a county clerk, and naming a county seat. Not all of these documents are available for each county. Included in this file is the memorial to the governor asking for a census to be taken, the 1873 Harper County census, an abstract of votes from the county seat election, and the proclamation from the governor naming county officials and designating Bluff City as the temporary county seat.

Kansas Adjutant General general correspondence, 1874
Creator: Kansas. Adjutant General's Office
Date: 1874
This correspondence includes letters received by C. A. Morris, the Kansas Adjutant General, on a variety of topics but most of the letters request arms or troops to protect settlers from feared raids by Indians in the area. Many letters also inform the state of the enrollment of local militias for such protection in absence of assistance by state units. Requests for information on filing claims for damage from Indian raids are also included, as are requests on Price Raid claims. Many of the letters are addressed to Governor Thomas Osborn. Many official or unofficial militia units enrolled by local communities express an urgent desire to receive orders to pursue the Indians on the southern border of Kansas. Indian tribes mentioned include the Cheyenne, Osage and Pawnee.

Kansas Adjutant General general correspondence, 1875
Creator: Kansas. Adjutant General's Office
Date: 1875
This correspondence includes letters received by C. A. Morris, the Kansas Adjutant General, on a variety of topics but most of the letters concern recent fear of Indian raids or their aftermath. Many letters are requests for pay for, or resignations from, militia service, and requests to return or redistribute guns and ammunition. Later in the year communities are again requesting arms and enrolling local militia units for protection against feared raids by Indians. Advertisements and solicitations from arms and ammunition dealers also begin to appear. Railroad companies also make requests for arms and related supplies to help protect their interests. Some letters are addressed to Governor Thomas Osborn. General John Pope, commander of the Department of the Missouri at Leavenworth denies a request for information about Indians recently taken into custody who may be suspected of involvement in raids on white settlers.

Kansas Adjutant General general correspondence, 1876
Creator: Kansas. Adjutant General's Office
Date: 1876
This correspondence includes letters received by the Kansas Adjutant General on a variety of topics. Many of the letters request arms or troops to protect settlers from feared raids by Indians in the area. Many letters also inform the state of the enrollment of local militias for such protection in absence of assistance by state units. Requests for information on filing claims for militia service and damage from Indian raids are also included. The letters are addressed to Governor Thomas Osborn, former Adjutant General C. A. Morris, and acting Adjutant General H. T. Beman. General John Pope, commander of the Department of the Missouri at Fort Leavenworth, sent letters on May 11th and May 15th directing companies of cavalry to be sent to observe the movements of Indian bands and protect settlements.

Kansas Legislature, 1873
Creator: Knight, photo
Date: 1873
This sepia colored legislative panel, designed and drawn by J Lee Knight from the Riverside Gallery, shows members of the Kansas House of Representatives and the Senate. In the center of the panel, portraits of supreme court justices, executive cabinet members, and Governor Thomas Andrew Osborn have been inserted.

Kansas Legislature, 1873
Creator: Knight, photo
Date: 1873
This sepia colored legislative panel shows members of the Kansas Senate. In the center of the panel, portraits of supreme court justices, executive cabinet members and Governor Thomas Andrew Osborn have been inserted.

Kansas Legislature, 1875
Creator: Leonard & Martin
Date: 1875
This black and white photograph shows the Kansas of Representatives and the Senate. Governor Thomas Osborn, Lt. Governor Melville J. Salter and Chief Justice Samuel Austin Kingman are featured on the panel.

Kingman County organization records
Creator: Kansas. Secretary of State
Date: 1873-1874
In order for an unorganized county to be recognized by the state of Kansas, a certain number of householders/legal electors had to petition the governor. The governor would appoint a census taker. Initially, unorganized counties were required to document that they had at least 600 inhabitants in order to be recognized as a county by the state legislature. Over time the number of residents needed to organize a county changed to 1500 and later to 2500 residents. The census was submitted to the governor who then issued a proclamation indicating that the requirements had been met, appointing county commissioners and a county clerk, and naming a county seat. Not all of these documents are available for each county. Included in this file is the memorial to the governor, the 1874 Kingman County census, and the proclamation appointing county officers and designating Kingman as the temporary county seat.

Rush County organization records
Creator: Kansas. Secretary of State
Date: 1874-1877
In order for an unorganized county to be recognized by the state of Kansas, a certain number of householders/legal electors had to petition the governor. The governor would appoint a census taker. Initially, unorganized counties were required to document that they had at least 600 inhabitants in order to be recognized as a county by the state legislature. Over time the number of residents needed to organize a county changed to 1500 and later to 2500 residents. The census was submitted to the governor who then issued a proclamation indicating that the requirements had been met, appointing county commissioners and a county clerk, and naming a county seat. Not all of these documents are available for each county. Included in this file is an 1874 census of Rush County, a memorial to the governor, a certified abstract of the votes cast for the relocation of the county seat, and the proclamation from the governor appointing county officials and designating Rush Center as the temporary county seat.

Thomas Andrew Osborn
Date: between 1873 and 1877
This portrait represents Republican Kansas Governor, Thomas Andrew Osborn while he was in office from 1873 to 1877. After serving as Governor, Osborn worked as the director for the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railway from 1894 to 1898.