Onaga, Kansas History and Genealogy
Onaga, Kansas
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Buffalo on the prairie clip

A HOME WHERE THE BUFFALO ROAMED

 

Onaga, Kansas, is located in the beautiful grassy Flinthills of eastern Kansas. Not so long ago, this area was wild and untamed, containing only buffalo herds, Native Americans and tall prairie grasses. This was Kansas for a thousand years before the arrival of the Europeans.

Unfortunately, the buffalo are gone, killed off by the thousands in the late 1800's for their hides and many times destroyed just for the fun of it. "Buffalo Bill" Cody had a hand in this, along with many others, who discovered a lucrative business by selling buffalo hides to easterners. Many buffalo were also killed to feed the men who were building the trans-continental railroad.

Native Americans from eastern states, in addition to those who were already here, were moved to what was later called the Kansasbuffalo clip Territory, and occupied new lands the government had provided for them in the 1820's and 1830's. These lands, at that time, were considered the far outback of the United States and was considered to be a good place to move the tribes, as there were few whites on the plains then. Christian Missions were established to assist the Indians. Three of the missions were to become institutions of higher learning - Highland Community College, Otawa University, and St. Mary's College, now closed, which served as both a liberal arts college and Jesuit seminary.

Among those moved here were the Shawnee, Delaware, Wyandot, Ottawa, Potawatomi, Kickapoo, Chippewa, Peioria, Kaskaskia, Wea, Piankashaw, Quapaw, Iowa, Sac, Foxe, and indians from the state of New York. The New York Indians included remnants of the Iroquois, Munsee and Stockbridge and had already been moved once. The tribes were assured by the federal government that they would not be moved again and could live in peace indefinately, west of the Missouri River. Those promises all disappeared during the next 30 years.

Shortly before the Kansas territory was opened for settlement and during the first two years of the territory's existance, lands held by the indians were reduced significantly. How this was done was very complex, but hundreds of thousands of acres were taken from the tribes by the government. In some cases it was purchased from the indians and other tribal lands were held in trust until they were sold. Some lands were undoubtedly taken or purchased for a very small price.

A great number of settlers from Europe, and other parts of the United States, arrived in Kansas after the civil war and the Indian removal was expedited. By the 1870's nearly all of the Indians were gone from Eastern Kansas. Some Kickapoo, Sac, and Foxe of the Missouri, and members of the Prairie band of the Potawatomi stayed in Kansas and have retained a small amount of their original reserves. In recent years they have made an effort to revitalize and preserve their native culture.

buffalo clipMuch of the Flint Hills has remained nearly as it was hundreds of years ago, mainly because it was not feasable to farm. The hills generally have very thin topsoil and are not suitable to plow in most cases. Although most of the native grasses have been replaced by other grasses used to graze cattle, the hills remain very beautiful. One can look out to the horizon and see nothing but waving grass and blue sky and, just for a moment, feel as though time has turned back and over the next hill there might be buffalo herds or Native Americans riding their horses out of camp for a hunt.

Kansas recently acquired its first national park which is located in these wonderful hills. This park is one of the few places where the native grasses still exist.

The Santa Fe and Oregon Trails both pass through Eastern Kansas -- the latter passing near Onaga -- with historic stops along the way. Please stop by and visit.

 

indians on horseback clip

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