Greener showed foresight here in urging the Negroes to take up desirable western land before it would be preempted by foreigners.  As the Swedes, Norwegians, Irish, Hebrews and others were organizing societies and raising funds to promote the migration of their needy to these lands, why should the Negroes be debarred?  Greener had no apprehension as to the treatment the Negroes would receive in the West.  He connected the movement too with the general welfare of the blacks, considering it a promising sign that they had learned to run from persecution.  Having passed their first stage, that of appealing to philanthropists, the Negroes were then appealing to themselves.[18]

Feeling very much as Greener did, these Negroes rushed into Kansas and neighboring States in 1879.  So many came that some systematic relief had to be offered.  Mrs. Comstock, a Quaker lady, organized for this purpose the Kansas Freedmen’s Relief Association, to raise funds and secure for them food and clothing.  In this work she had the support of Governor J.P.  Saint John.  There was much suffering upon arriving in Kansas but relief came from various sources.  During this year $40,000 and 500,000 pounds of clothing, bedding and the like were used.  England contributed 50,000 pounds of goods and $8,000.  In 1879, the refugees took up 20,000 acres of land and brought 3,000 under cultivation.  The Relief Association at first furnished them with supplies, teams and seed, which they profitably used in the production of large crops.  Desiring to establish homes, they built 300 cabins and saved $30,000 the first year.  In April, 1,300 refugees had gathered around Wyandotte alone.  Up to that date 60,000 had come to Kansas, nearly 40,000 of whom arrived in destitute condition.  About 30,000 settled in the country, some on rented lands and others on farms as laborers, leaving about 25,000 in cities, where on account of crowded conditions and the hard weather many greatly suffered.  Upon finding employment, however, they all did well, most of them becoming self-supporting within one year after their arrival, and few of them coming back to the Relief Association for aid the second time.[19] This was especially true of those in Topeka, Parsons and Kansas City.

The people of Kansas did not encourage the blacks to come.  They even sent messengers to the South to advise the Negroes not to migrate and, if they did come anyway, to provide themselves with equipment.  When they did arrive, however, they welcomed and assisted them as human beings.  Under such conditions the blacks established five or six important colonies in Kansas alone between 1879 and 1880.  Chief among these were Baxter Springs, Nicodemus, Morton City and Singleton.  Governor Saint John, of Kansas, reported that they seemed to be honest and of good habits, were certainly industrious and anxious to work, and so far as they had been tried had proved to be faithful and excellent laborers.  Giving his observations there, Sir George Campbell bore testimony to the same report.[20] Out of these communities have come some most progressive black citizens.  In consideration of their desirability their white neighbors have given them their cooperation, secured to them the advantages of democratic education, and honored a few of them with some of the most important positions in the State.