Cyrus K. Holliday, president of the Atchison and Topeka Rail Road Company, visited Washington, D. C., in February, 1861, for the purpose of obtaining a land grant from Congress. Cyrus wrote to his wife, Mary Holliday, who remained in Topeka, Kansas (Kansas Territory became a state shortly after he left, on January 29) with their two children, Lillie and Charlie. He described the weather, and mentioned hearing Maryland congressman Henry Winter Davis speak. He expressed concern about financial difficulties, famine, and harsh weather in Kansas.