Chapter 2 - Kansas Summary and Analysis

The voyage through Kansas lasts about two weeks and textually is the longest segment of the journal running to about twenty pages. Wilder finds Marysville, Kansas, a beautiful town with impressive structures; the book includes a photograph of the town. The roads in Kansas are good and they travel 27 miles one day. The drive through Kansas is initially pleasant as the party travels through elm, oak, ash, hickory, butternut, and walnut trees. Wild fruit is plentiful and welcome. They pass over the Blue River a few times, once on a 300' long bridge. Land in the area sells for $15 to $15 per acre. Soon, however, the roads return to hills and through Pottawatomie County land drops to $4 per acre. Near Louisville they travel through the driest land yet encountered. They pass so many emigrant wagons that they don't...