1854-1929

To the pioneers of Kansas, who in devotion to human freedom came into a wilderness, suffered hardships and great dangers, and death to found this state in righteousness.

These were the first to come under the auspices of the New England Emigrant Aid Company. They founded the city of Lawrence. The first party of 29 men left Massachusetts July 17, 1854, and arrived here August 1, 1854. The second party of 114 left Boston August 29, 1854, and arrived September 15, 1854. These names are as recorded in A.T. Andreas’ History of Kansas:

The pioneer party

E. Davenport, N. Philbrick, Ezra Conant, Benjamin Merriam, B.R. Knapp, Edwin White, G.W. Russell, W.H. Hewes, George Thatcher, John Mailey, J.W. Russell, A. Holman, J.D. Stevens, F. Fuller, J.F. Morgan, A.H. Mallory, S.C. Harrington, Samuel F. Tappan, J.C. Archibald, J.M. Jones, Edwin White, Augustus Hillpath, D.R. Anthony, John Doy, Hugh Cameron, A. Fowler, Oscar Harlow, G.W. Hutchinson, George W. Goss, Arthur Gunther.

The second party

James F. Ayer, Joseph W. Ackley, S.F. Atwood, L.H. Boscom, Ed Bond, Mrs. Bond, F.A. Bailey, Wm. Bruce, Mrs. Bruce, H.N. Bent, Owen T. Bassett, Mrs. S. Bassett, H.L. Crane, Jos. Crachlin, Jared Carter, Mrs. Carter, Willard Colburn, Ed. Dennett, James S. Emery, George F. Earle, Milton Grout, Mrs. Grout, Leo Gates, Mrs. Gates, Geo. Gilbert, Joel Grover, Azro Hazen, H.A. Hancock, O.A. Hanscom, W.A. Hood, Franklin Haskell, Lewis Howell, W.A. Hookey, R.J. Hooted, C. Hobert, S.N. Hartwell, Alfonso Jones, Mrs. Jones, Mary K. Jones, H.W. Fick, Wilder Knight, Mrs. Knight, Ed Knight, Sally Knight, W. Richerman, D.B. Trask, E.D. Ladd, John A. Ladd, L.P. Lincoln, Lewis T. Litchfield, Mrs. Litchfield, Otis H. Lamb, Samuel Merrill, J.S. Mott, John Mack, J.N. Mace, Mrs. Mace, J.H. Muzzy, Caleb S. Pratt, L.J. Pratt, S.C. Pomeroy, A.J. Payne, Charles Robinson, T.F. Reynolds, E.E. Ropes, J. Sawyer, C.W. Smith, Joseph Savage, Forrest Savage, Jacob Strout, Mrs. Strout, M.H. Spittle, A.D. Searle, F.A. Tolles, J.B. Taft, Owen Taylor, Mrs. Taylor, John Waiter, S.J. Willis, Mrs. Willis, Sol Willis, E.W. Winslow, Silas Wayne, Mrs. Wayne, Ira W. Younglove.

Multimedia 6News video: City celebrates birthday with parade, music, festival Photo Gallery: Scenes from Lawrence’s past Photo Gallery: Lawrence’s Sesquicentennial Celebration Photo Gallery: Mayors of Lawrence Audio: Benjamin Seferovich, beard contest participant Audio: Tony Peterson, beard contest judge Audio: Kendall Simmons, beard contest organizer, part 1 | Part 2 Audio: Kerry Altenbernd, beard contest participant, part 1 | Part 2 Journal-World page 1A pdf | jpg ‘From the Ashes’ special section pdf | jpgStories Lawrence celebrates its sesquicentennial Editorial: Storied past, bright future Free cake tops off downtown parade Lawrence cuts a rug at outdoor dance Competition hairy at beard contest Spooked horse gives Japanese mayor taste of old-time Lawrence City’s sesquicentennial makes big impression on stamp collectors Letter: A message to 2054 bicentennial plannersStories from ‘From the Ashes’ From the Ashes Founding based in abolishing slavery Lawrence burned, looted in border hostilities Quantrill’s raid left Lawrence in ruins, killed 143 men Who really were the Quantrill raiders? Boulder, plaque pay homage to pioneers Remembering those fallen in battle City churches trace roots to pioneer days Sesquicentennial Commission seeks to inspire next generation Lawrence’s early days marked by bloody conflict Sesquicentennial briefs Early Days in Lawrence: A timeline Calendar of events More on Lawrence’s Sesquicentennial