Stark Mad Abolitionists: Lawrence, Kansas, and the Battle over Slavery in the Civil War Era

by Robert K. Sutton

In May, 1854, Massachusetts was in an uproar. A judge, bound by the Fugitive Slave Law of 1850, had just ordered a young African American man who had escaped from slavery in Virginia and settled in Boston to be returned to bondage in the South. An estimated 50,000 citizen rioted in protest. Observing the scene was Amos Adams Lawrence, a wealthy Bostonian, who “waked up a stark mad Abolitionist.” As quickly as Lawrence waked up, he combined his fortune and his energy with others to create the New England Emigrant Aid Company to encourage abolitionists to emigrate to Kansas to ensure that it would be a free state.

The town that came to bear Lawrence’s name became the battleground for the soul of America, with abolitionists battling pro-slavery Missourians who were determined to make Kansas a slave state. The onset of the Civil War only escalated the violence, leading to the infamous raid of William Clarke Quantrill when he led a band of vicious Confederates (including Frank James, whose brother Jesse would soon join them) into town and killed two hundred men and boys.

Stark Mad Abolitionists shows how John Brown, Rev. Henry Ward Beecher, Sam Houston, and Abraham Lincoln all figure into the story of Lawrence and “Bleeding Kansas.” The story of Amos Lawrence’s eponymous town is part of a bigger story of people who were willing to risk their lives and their fortunes in the ongoing struggle for freedom and equality.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Civil War, American History, Historical, War, Politics

304 pages, Hardcover

First published August 1, 2017

About the author

Robert K. Sutton retired as Chief Historian of the National Park Service in 2016, after having served in the position for nearly nine years. He came to this position following his tenure as the Superintendent of Manassas National Battlefield Park for the previous 12 ½ years. From 1986 to 1990, he directed the Historic Preservation and Historical Administration public history programs at Arizona State University. He has published a number of books, articles and reviews on various public history topics. One of his primary interests as Chief Historian and as Superintendent at Manassas Battlefield was leading the emphasis on expanding the interpretation of the Civil War for the Sesquicentennial. As part of that effort, he encouraged Civil War battlefields to expand their interpretive programs to focus more attention to the social, economic, and political issues during the Civil War Era.

Dr. Sutton is currently serving as a consultant to the American Battle Monuments Commission, assisting commission staff in developing interpretive programs to commemorate the Centennial of World War I. In that program, he is editing a collection of essays by leading World War I historians that will be available in April 2017.

Dr. Sutton also has written a book on the Civil War Era in Kansas, that will be published by Skyhorse Publishing in August 2017. The book will explore the efforts of abolitionists to ensure that the Territory of Kansas would become a free state, focusing on the support of Amos Lawrence, a wealthy businessman in Boston, to the town that bore his name in Lawrence, Kansas. Dr. Sutton tells the story from the perspective of the major players. The book is titled: Stark Mad Abolitionists: Lawrence, Kansas and the Battle Over Slavery in the Civil War Era.

A blurb for the book is attached here: http://skyhorsepublishing.com/titles/....

Reviews

[Clif Hostetler · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a history of Lawrence, Kansas, and since that city's origin was very much part of the battle between pro and anti slavery politics during the bleeding Kansas era leading up to the American Civil war it is also a history of events that made the war inevitable.

The United States managed to remain united during the first half of the 19th century by making sure that whenever states were added to the union that the balance between the number of slave and free states was maintained. The following excerpt helps explain why that was important to the South.

...the slaveholding South was fearful that closing the territories to slavery was the first step toward abolishing slavery throughout the country. They saw this action as a threat to their current and future livelihoods, and for good reason, In 1860, there were nearly four million slaves in the United States. About 385,000 white families, roughly 30 percent, in slave states owned slaves and of that number, 12 percent owned twenty or more slaves. About 30 percent of the nation's population lived in the South, but 60 percent of the wealthiest individuals were concentrated in the south. Further, the per capita income in the South was nearly double that in the North. The value of slave in the United States—again in 1860—was more than three billiion dollars, which was greater than the combined value of railroads, factories, and banks in the entire country, or on another scale, greater than all land, cotton, buildings, and goods in the South.

Among the numerous laws and compromises made in order to maintain political peace included the 1850 Fugitive Slave Act which had the effect making northerners criminals if they provided aid to fugitive slaves. This turned some moderates in the north into "stark mad abolitionists." One such individual was Amos Adams Lawrence, a wealthy Massachusetts business man. When the Kansas-Nebraska Act was passed he together with some friends formed the New England Emigrant Aid Company to help bankroll a new settlement in Kansas to encourage anti slavery people to populate the territory and help make it a free state. In gratitude the settlers decided the name the town they formed after him.

Since Kansas was located immediately to the west of Missouri, there were plenty of pro slavery voters available to cross the border and vote, even though they didn't live in Kansas. From there on the story gets complicated with numerous constitutional conventions and petitions for statehood. Rivalries increases and became more bloody with time. When things finally broke out into full scale war—the American Civil War—the residents of Kansas had already had several years of experience fighting. Before the story was over Lawrence got sacked twice, the second time was in 1863 with approximately 200 (160 civilian) fatalities. Of course the Missourians have their own complaints, General Order No. 11 in particular. The rural areas of four counties in Missouri were forced to be evacuated and buildings burned in order to deprive the "border ruffians" material support. In general, it was not a good time in which to live.

This book provides a thorough description of the Kansas/Missouri border history in approximate chronological order. Thirty percent of the book is bibliography, index, and notes.

[Kate Lawrence · Rating 4 out of 5]

Having lived in Lawrence KS for four years while attending the university there, and having grown up in nearby Topeka, I knew something of the early history of the area, but Sutton's book filled in quite a few fascinating details about events and personalities. (Sutton is a former chief historian for the National Park Service.) I was particularly interested in the life of Amos Lawrence, a New Englander with deep pockets for whom the town was named. Through his New England Emigrant Aid Society, he funded settlers to go to Kansas in the mid-1850s in hopes that would assure its entry into the Union as a free state. He continued to send financial help through the years, including making it possible for the University of Kansas to be located in Lawrence. He finally visited the town in 1884, two years before his death. Although indefatigable in his antislavery efforts, he had actually made his fortune indirectly on slave labor: slaves grew and processed the cotton on which his textile business was based.
I also learned more about Charles & Sara Robinson, James Lane, the territorial governors, and the vicious Quantrill's Raid on Lawrence in August, 1863. The author includes a helpful appendix "What Happened to the Players in this Story?" to follow the key figures to the end of their lives. I recommend this to anyone interested in the "Bleeding Kansas" period or Civil War history in general.

[Carol Chapin · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was pure history, but written in a reader-friendly style. I knew that the Kansas/Missouri conflict during the Civil War was violent, but I’d never read or put together all the details. This tells the whole story of how Kansas came to be admitted as a free state. The anti-slavery Kansas JayHawkers were ruthless, but I think that the Missouri guerrillas were worse. Before this, I had not heard of the Lawrence Massacre, where Quantrill’s Raiders sacked the town, burning it down and killing many of the men. These were the stomping grounds of John Brown. The James and Younger brothers were among the pro-slavery raiders. Quite the story, but the lawlessness was truly frightening.

[Diana · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sutton wrote an extremely accessible book that successfully connects players in the abolitionist movement and events leading up to the Civil War into a readable tome that is both broad and humanizing. Even the end notes were worth reading.

[Kusaimamekirai · Rating 4 out of 5]

America's Civil War saw brutal fighting all over the country where civilians as well as soldiers suffered terrible losses. What is perhaps less known is the bloody warfare that engulfed Kansas and Missouri both before and during the war.
As early as 1856, with Kansas on the brink of statehood, it was very much up in the air whether it would enter the Union as a free or slave state. With both pro and antislavery partisans determined to have their side win out, Kansas would be flooded with outsiders from Missouri as well as from as far as Boston. These men would go on to establish towns, rig elections, steal, loot, burn and murder those who disagreed with them. While the pro slavery forces were by and large the most vicious (The attack on Lawrence, Kansas saw hundreds of innocent civilians gunned down in cold blood in a little over four hours) the anti slavery forces were no angels either (John Brown and a small band of partisans took broadswords to the homes of some prominent pro slavery me. And hacked them to pieces).
This book does an excellent job in detailing why Kansas was such a pivotal turning point in the road to Civil War and presents a wide range of characters who would later to go on to fame, or infamy. If you want to know more about this period, this book is an excellent place to begin.

[Rick Goff · Rating 3 out of 5]

As the subtitle suggests, this book is a history of Lawrence, Kansas, which was founded for the purpose of populating the territory with abolitionists. The Nebraska-Kansas Act of 1854 had reversed precedent and allowed territories to enter the union as either a free state or a slave state. Missourians considered it critical that their western neighbor be a slave state, to such an extent that they would murder and torture, as well as flood Kansas with voters. Lawrence was sacked 3 times, the last being Quantrill’s Raid in 1863. The city’s founding and survival were supported, financially and otherwise, by Amos Lawrence, a Bostonian philanthropist.

Bleeding Kansas is an interesting and important chapter in US history. This narrative is told from the perspective of a proud Kansan.

[Zach · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book on how Kansas became a free state on the eve of the Civil War. Spoiler alert: It wasn't easy for the Kansan pioneers, who had to deal with land issues, harsh winters, and the proslavery Missourians who invaded the territory to intimidate voters, catch fugitive slaves, and kill free staters. A masterful story told by Dr. Sutton.

[Meghan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is fascinating! I knew nothing about Kansas except it was "home" for Dorothy, and...flat...I think? The book chronicles Kansas as it tries to enter as a "free state" (vs. slave state) into the Union.

Amos Lawrence, the "stark mad abolitionist" of the title, pours his fortune into this territory - building infrastructure, sponsoring New England "pilgrims" who want to move there, and even arming them against the Missourian "border ruffians." The whole time I found myself cheering the pioneers on...go Kansas, become a state! Now make it as a "free" state! Work together to reunite the Union!

During a time when we seem so divided politically it's a good reminder that political differences are nothing new...and, so far, we're not taking up arms against each other. The story of Kansas is one of much bloodshed and hard work all around.

And I'll now cheer for the Jayhawk(er)s...b/c I now know what that means. :)

Highly recommended.

[B. Rule · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a nice little history of Lawrence KS specifically and Bleeding Kansas generally. It's definitely got some "Local Interest" section energy, but Sutton has clearly done significant archival research to present a rich sense of the period's personalities. I don't have any particularly deep ties to Lawrence, but I enjoyed this one as a labor of love. Sutton provides helpful political context, and the stories of the violence seizing the area are heartbreaking. I especially appreciated the afterword tracing the later paths of many of the leading figures. Probably not for everyone, but this hyperlocal history can open out to a broader perspective on American history and our struggles with slavery, racism, political extremism and unrest.

[Steve · Rating 5 out of 5]

An exceptional book about the life in Lawrence, Kansas from 1854 to 1865. It was remarkable how the role of education was so important throughout the narrative of "Bleeding Kansas." The author would articulate there wasn't that much blood until the Civil War began. John Brown only has a cameo in this text, which is always sad. I think John Brown was an incredibly interesting individual. I highly recommend reading this text. As we look about our modern world with all that divides us, this book is the story of standing for the right thing, in this case not only abolition, but the education and equality for all is one worth reading.

[Clair Keizer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fascinating read exploring the violent lead-up to Kansas statehood. The focus is on the border incursions by both anti-slavery and pro-slavery mobs and the lead-up to Quantrill's raid on my hometown of Lawrence. Sutton may sometimes get bogged down on facts and the occasional side-bar, but I didn't mind as he provided more detail to the bloody war-before-the-war than I was ever aware. For those intrigued by the colorful, violent, horrible, brutal, dramatic place our northeast Kansas neck of the woods plays in American history as well as the Civil War, I highly recommend putting "Stark Mad Abolitionists" on your list of must reads.

[Mrs. Hassig · Rating 5 out of 5]

I checked this tome out at the Wamego, Kansas library and enjoyed every line! I learned new things even though I felt qualified on this subject. I loved getting to know Amos Adam Lawrence. I was born and raised in his namesake and graduated from the University of Kansas started by him. I vary on a few of Sutton's facts but I know that he got a lot of his information from the same primary sources that I used for my book "The Abduction of Jacob of Rote." Worth your time if you love Kansas history!

[Katie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Stark Mad Abolitionists is a fascinating tome focusing specifically on the major players and events that shaped "Bleeding Kansas" on the eve of statehood through the end of the Civil War. Though heavy on names, dates, and places, this account is extremely readable, in addition to being thorough. So much so that I also enojyed reading the epilogue and the notes in the appendix. I learned a lot about the state that I call home. I would highly recommend this book to anyone interested in learning about the events that shaped our country, but I especially would recommend it to fellow Kansans.

[Mike DiFilippo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fine history of the most disruptive time in American society as judged by the violence per capita. As with finely detailed descriptions of human conflict this work informs the view of our times as just another in the unending culture wars of conservative, "no trust, protect our status/property/sanctity at any cost" versus the liberal, "find a better way/we're all in this together/there must be justice!?".

[David Blankenship · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fascinating, thorough account of the 'bleeding Kansas' period of history that centers on the city of Lawrence up to the time of the Quantril raid during the Civil War. It shows that the various raids and skirmishes were often the result of previous attacks, that neither side was completely innocent in the events that led up the sacking of Lawrence.

[Chris Wristen · Rating 4 out of 5]

A well-researched, easy-to-read look at the founding of Lawrence and its early history before and through the Civil War. As a Kansas native and KU grad, it was a thoroughly enjoyable and insightful book that included both things I've long known and information I'd never previously learned. I looked forward to reading this book for quite a while, and it did not disappoint.

[Tim Shepard · Rating 5 out of 5]

Important history

There is a lot of information here. The author has done a fine job of researching and putting together a narrative history of the city of Lawrence. Anyone interested in early Kansas history needs to read this.

[Michel Sabbagh · Rating 4 out of 5]

Subject Appeal: 4/5.
Research Depth: 4/5.
Research Breadth: 4/5.
Narrative Flow: 4/5.

Verdict: 4/5. Leave it to Sutton to pen a cohesive and just narrative about one of America's most chaotic eras of strife.

[Sandy Parker · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lawrence, Kansas, has an incredible history, of which I was completely unaware. Amazing, and I love how the author chose to end the story, because I was wondering if the closing event occurred. Well, hoping it did.

[Adam Gallagher · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was alright. A decent enough historical account for sure. What I didn’t enjoy was an undertone of disdain for certain elements of the modern political arena which eventually came out near the end the book. Totally unnecessary and didn’t lend to the account at all.

[Lana · Rating 3 out of 5]

Somewhat dry, but a well researched history of Bleeding Kansas and the burning of Lawrence.

[Ryan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I didn't think it was possible to hate Missouri more than I already did, but this book damn sure did the job.

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

The chapters about Quantrill's raid were the fastest read. So, don't give up until you've read those.
Also, this book makes me even prouder to a Jay Hawk.

[Jeff · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a really fascinating read about the town of Lawrence, Kansas during the Bleeding Kansas and Civil War era. It didn't realize how much happened in this area.

[Mhd · Rating 5 out of 5]

Must finish this! Great book ... I had no idea there were multiple groups involved in moving voters to KS to vote for being a free state. [found in Cottonwood Falls KS]

[Jen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I finally found out what a Jayhawk was!

[JE. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Did not know that Kansas was founded on the ideas of being a free State and the its founders wanted to see slavey abolished.

[Dan Seitz · Rating 3 out of 5]

A pretty good meat and potatoes history of Lawrence, KS that could stand to be more critical of some of the pretty vile people involved.