After crossing the Missouri River I visited some of the principal settlements in the Territory, such as Atchison, Leaven worth, Lawrence and Topeka.

Lawrence, Topeka and Manhattan were settlements made by men from free States, and with an eye single to making Kansas a free State.
There was no town located on the Missouri River, and no settlement made in the counties bordering on the Missouri River, that were properly free State settlements.

I thought this was a mistake.

These counties had by far the largest population, and as these counties would go, the Territory would go; and I thought that no considerations of personal danger ought to hinder, that these counties should have respectable settlements of avowed Free State men among them.
What is now the city of Atchison was then a small village that was being built among--the cottonwood trees on the banks of the Missouri River, about twenty miles below St.Joseph, and the same distance above Fort Leavenworth.

It had been named after the notable David R.Atchison, who had been a Senator from Missouri, and acting Vice-President of the United States.