SHORTHOB-NS IN KANSAS 1857— 18S() 



Kansas developed its early Sliortlioni interests 

 slowly. Tliis fact is not surprising when con- 

 ditions existing at the time are considered. A 

 few herds had been established west of the Miss- 

 issippi, principally in Cooper county, Missouri, 

 before the Civil War, but interest in the bi-eed 

 had assumed no proportions west of the river. 

 It was hundreds of miles from tlie Shorthijrn 

 country to the Kansas border and transportation 

 facilities were limited to the slow •^teai!i]H>ats 

 plying on the ri^'ei's. 



The Civil War, ])i-(M-c(led In- the border sti'ug- 

 gle, which in turn gave way to the raids of the 

 bushwhackers, dis<'oui'aged any attempt to de- 

 velop the new industry; yet it was under tliese 

 trying conditions that the first Shortliorn herd 

 was brought to the comitj-y known as "The Great 

 American Desert. ' ' 



The First Herd — The American herd book, 

 vol. 6, contains the pedigrees of fifteen cows and 

 three bulls owned in Kansas and they are ci-ed- 

 ited to S. S. Ti])tou, Miiieral Point, Anderson 

 county. Teu of the fifteen females were l>rc(l 

 by the Shakers of Union Village, Ohio, two by 1 1 . 

 C. Alkire of Sterling, Ohio, and the other three 

 by Mr. Tipton himself. The bulls were all bred 



