In the early time frame of 1859-1862 people were coming to Kansas for several reason. Land was a major one. Kansas Territory was just opening up so that people could acquire land beginning in the mid-1850's. Also, there was a great influx of people who came prior to Kansas statehood in 1861 because Kansas was the state that was going to 'unbalance' the number of states north and south of the Mason-Dixon line. Both the north and the south wanted Kansas to go with their side of the slavery issue. This was the time that Kansas gained it's name as Bloody Kansas. I live in Lyon County (it was Breckinridge County at the time your family was there). There were definitely believers both way, that resulted in killings within the county. Also, my husbands family came into that same area in the late 1850's. They were Quakers and they were moving to Kansas for the war issue, but also to operate missions for the Indians, and for land. I hope this will help explain the reasons for people going to Kansas. g2

I forgot one other reason people might have been going to Hartford, Kansas. In the 1850's the Methodist Conference started a college at Hartford. The first building and the house that was to be for the President of school were completed, when there was a financial decline in the area. The school closed. Both buildings are still standing. The College Building is still used as a community center. Gayle in Kansas