January 1
1832 — "A Tour on the Prairies." By Washington Irving. It describes a journey to the Indian Territory, south of Kansas, is first published on this day.
1838 — "Journal of an Exploring Tour beyond the Rocky Mountains" by Rev. Samuel Parker. Mr. Parker was sent out by the American Board of Foreign Missions to select sites for missionary posts. He describes the Fort Leavenworth of 1835.
1848 — "The Western Journal, of agriculture, manufactures, mechanic arts, internal improvement, commerce, and general literature." began in St. Louis by M. Tarver and T. F. Risk. It is a magazine largely devoted to Western history. Ten volumes are in the Kansas Historical Library.
January 2
January 3
1855 - The Kansas Free State, a Free State paper, issued its first number on this day in Lawrence, Kansas.
January 4
1854 — Stephen A. Douglas reports Senator Dodge's (Nebraska territory) bill with material amendments.
1858 - Lecompton Constitution rejected in a second vote in which free-staters participate; final rejection comes on August 2, 1858.
January 5
January 6
January 7
January 8
January 9
January 10
January 11
January 12
1857 - Legislature meets in Lecompton; Democratic Party formed in Kansas.
January 13
January 14
1846 - The second treaty with the Kansa Indians was concluded at the Methodist mission in Kansas.
January 15
1838 — The United States agree to set apart to the New York Indians "the following tract of country, situated directly west of the State of Missouri: Beginning on the west line of the State of Missouri, at the northeast corner of the Cherokee tract, and running thence north along the west line of the State of Missouri twenty-seven miles to the southerly line of the Miami lands; thence west so far as shall be necessary, by running a line at right angles, and parallel to the west line aforesaid, to the Osage lands, and thence easterly along the Osage and Cherokee lands to the place of beginning; to include one million eight hundred and twenty-four thousand acres of land, being three hundred and twenty acres for each soul of said Indians, as their numbers are at present computed." This land is also intended as a future home for the Senecas, Onondagas, Cayugas, Tuscaroras, Oneidas, St. Regis, Stockbridge, Munsees, and Brothertowns, residing in the State of New York.
January 16
January 17
January 18
1803 - Jefferson's Secret Message to Congress Regarding the Lewis & Clark Expedition. "In this secret message of January 18, 1803, President Jefferson asked Congress for $2,500 to explore the West – all the way to the Pacific Ocean. At the time, the territory did not belong to the United States. Congress agreed to fund the expedition that would be led by Meriwether Lewis and William Clark."
January 19
January 20
January 21
January 22
January 23
1854 — Senator Douglas reports a substitute for his former bill, providing for the organization of two Territories, Nebraska and Kansas. The important provision of the bill is the following, copied from section 32:
"That the constitution, and all laws of the United States which are not locally inapplicable, shall have the same force and effect within the said Territory of Kansas as elsewhere within the United States, except the eighth section of the act preparatory to the admission of Missouri into the Union, approved March sixth, eighteen hundred and twenty, which, being inconsistent with the principle of non-intervention by Congress with slavery in the States and Territories, as recognized by the legishition of eighteen hundred and fifty, commonly called the Compromise Measures, is hereby declared inoperative and void; it being the true intent and meaning of this act not to legislate slavery into any Territory or State, nor to exclude it therefrom, but to leave the people thereof perfectly free to form and regulate their domestic institutions in their own way, subject only to the Constitution of the United States: Provided, That nothing herein contained shall be construed to revive or put in force any law or regulation which may have existed prior to the act of the sixth of March, eighteen hundred and twenty, either protecting, establishing, prohibiting, or abolishing slavery." Mr. Douglas advocates his revolutionary measure as embodying " the great principle of Squatter Sovereignty, or non-intervention."
January 24
1835 — Birth of Elizabeth Simerwell, afterward Mrs. John S. Carter, at the Shawnee Baptist mission; probably the first white girl born in Kansas.
January 25
1859 - Dr. John Doy and his son Charles were arrested in Kansas with thirteen fugitives (freed slaves) and taken to Weston, Missouri, for trial.
January 26
1925 – Travel Air Manufacturing Company established. Owners Clyde Cessna, Walter Beech, and Lloyd Stearman created the “air capital of the world” in Wichita. The companies they created continue today.
January 27
January 28
January 29
1861 - President James Buchanan signed the Kansas admission bill.
1861 – Kansas becomes the 34th state after three unsuccessful constitutional conventions. Topeka is chosen as the state capital.
January 30
January 31
1854 — Wm. A. Richardson introduced in the House a bill "to organize the Territories of Nebraska and Kansas;" passed the House on May 22, the Senate on May 25, and signed May 30.
1855 - The Wyandots acquired the right to become citizens, and the Kansas lands of the tribe were divided among them, giving to each person about forty acres.
1859 - Battle of the Spurs, near Holton.
1865 - The 13th Amendment was passed by Congress on January 31, 1865, and ratified on December 6, 1865, the 13th Amendment abolished slavery in the United States. "The 13th Amendment, along with the 14th and 15th, is one of the trio of Civil War amendments that greatly expanded the civil rights of Americans."