was 30 May 1854 and President Franklin Pierce had signed the Kansas-Nebraska bill opening the Kansas Territory for settlement. Most of Kansas’ growth started with the passing and enactment of the Homestead Law, which was passed in 1862 and became effective on 1 January 1863. This bill allowed people in Kansas and Nebraska to decide for themselves whether or not to allow slavery within their borders. The act served to repeal the Missouri Compromise of 1820 which prohibited slavery north of latitude 36 degrees and 30 minutes. The Act infuriated many in the North who considered the Compromise to be a long-standing binding agreement. After the Act was passed, pro-slavery supporters rushed in to settle Kansas to affect the outcome of the first election held there after the law went into effect. Pro-slavery settlers carried the election but were charged with fraud by anti-slavery, and the results were not accepted by them. The anti-slavery settlers held another election; however pro-slavery settlers refused to vote. This resulted in the establishment of two opposing legislatures within the Kansas territory. Violence soon erupted, with the anti-slavery forced led by John Brown. The territory became “Bleeding Kansas” as the death toll rose. President Pierce, in support of the pro-slavery settlers, sent in Federal troops to stop the violence and disperse the anti-legislature. Another election was called.

About the book: This book is a compilation of scholarly papers, some of which have been published via ERIC, whose purpose is to inform and educate future doctorate students of what to expect in this program.

It was during the settlement of what was then just Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, mid to late 1800's, before becoming two separate entities, the fort and its town, that my Irish ancestors (Kanelly, Pike, Roache and McMahon) and Spanish (Baskas) ancestors began to take hold and build upon it their own families. They were typical hard working families that moved into and took root in the farming area of Kickapoo, Kansas and eventually moved into and settled in Leavenworth. Margaret Josephine Kanelly, our Irish immigrant, was persuaded into moving to the United States by what would become her first husband, Michael Roache. Michael was serving in the Civil War when he traveled to Ireland to visit his family and would eventually meet and later marry Margaret in the states. Records appear to show that both were from Midleton, Ireland. Michael and Margaret would begin their lives in Leavenworth, Kansas as they would marry there and have a few children. It appears that after having her first child, she returns back to Ireland for about a year and possibly bringing back her sister, Catherine. Once Margaret returns, Michael is stationed at Fort Keogh in Montana. Margaret's sister, Catherine, would soon marry a Barry and continue living in Leavenworth. The Barry family would own and run what was then the Barry Tavern in Leavenworth. Margaret would later join her husband who is already in Montana. They lived on a ranch just outside the fort and have a few more children. Michael would get orders back to Fort Leavenworth where they would again have more children. After Michael retired from the war, we would be ordered to do contracting work in Louisiana and strangely enough, would become ill and die there. Unfortunately, now, no other trace of him can be found, other than a death record. About a year after his death, Margaret would soon meet and marry Daniel Richard Pike [from Queen´s (now Laois) County, Ireland] in Kansas City, Kansas. He worked for the city, laying down the streets for Leavenworth. They would begin their lives in Kansas City having a few children. They would then move and settle in Leavenworth and have four boys and one girl, my grandmother. The four boys would eventually serve during World War I and II and continue having children. Margaret, their last child, would marry twice, John Becker, where she had two girls, and John Baskas, all boys and one girl. Margaret's parents bought 400 Pawnee in Leavenworth where they would raise their family. Her parents would soon sell the house to their daughter and son-in-law, John and Margaret Baskas where they too would raise their family there. John Baskas, the son of Spanish and Irish immigrants, lived in Kickapoo with his parents until they moved into Leavenworth. During John and Margaret's marriage, their home would be served as a bar or tavern for many years. John was famous (or at least quietly known) for making his own liquor. Strangely, he was never caught. They had numerous children who some would later serve in many branches of the military during World War II. Once John died, Margaret would later move into another home which would be her last as she would pass on. Not long after she moved from the Pawnee home, it would be taken by the city and later torn down. The Pike brothers are buried at Fort Leavenworth, one Baskas is at Wadsworth Cemetery, and the rest are intered at Mount Calvary in Lansing. The information that´s been compiled into this book comes from two sources, documents and word of mouth via family. Most of the documents come from years of research I´ve found in Leavenworth and a few out of state. If someone finds a discrepancy in the book, please feel free to contact me and share! The book was still being updated the same day it was submitted into publication! Please email me anytime, [email protected]

With Genealogy as Found in Early Dutch Church Records, State and Government Documents, Together with Sketches of Colonial Times, Old Log Cabin Days, Indian Wars, Pioneer Hardships, Social Customs, Dress and Mode of Living of the Early Forefathers