"Beautiful and bountiful, the land was the great lure of Kansas. Some settlers sought freedom, some yearned for prosperity, some craved adventure, but in the end it was the promise of the land that drew them halfway across a continent. Here they could build their own homes, cultivate their own fields and develop their own communities. Undoubtedly, it took a special kind of fortitude to adjust to this harsh terrain. Yet with hard work, imagination and tenacity, the future was theirs to mold. In this new land, God's own country, they reached to the stars through the wilderness." (45)

"In locating a prime homestead site, the family sought to find good soil for farming, timber for housing, and water. But the soil and vegetation conditions varied considerably from one part of Kansas to the next. The eastern regions had fertile soil, ample streams and moderate rainfall. With sufficient timber...