“A lively and well-researched study.”—Kansas History “Olson has penned a lively history of Manhattan’s founding that illuminates the divisive forces that had to be overcome amidst the turbulence of the Civil War era and the drama of building a town from scratch on the Great Plains frontier.”—Topeka Capital-Journal “Kevin Olson has fashioned an exceptionally thorough account ... Read moreof the first decades of Manhattan, Kansas—the Little Apple. In a significant way, Olson chronicles the development of the city through the lives of Isaac and Ellen. With excellent research and clear writing, Olson gives a fascinating, detailed picture of life in Manhattan from its founding as an anti-slavery stronghold called Boston to its social and economic transformation into a quiet Midwestern college town, one governed by political moderates.”—Manhattan Mercury “Much of the town’s early history was indirectly affected by the broader violence of Bleeding Kansas, which pitted proslavery and antislavery factions against each other. After the Civil War, the town grew rapidly as it tapped into the state’s farming and ranching economies, western transportation industry, nearby Fort Riley’s lucrative military contracts, and the jobs and prestige associated with what ultimately became Kansas State University. This well-written study utilizes a wealth of primary documentation to authenticate the transformation of a small community into a thriving city that still pays homage to its Yankee roots.”—Choice. Show Less