colonel cyrus april march founders township kansas mid 19th century american civil war title colonel honorary president railroad directors nearly years number railway locomotives named education early career born april david mary kennedy pennsylvania near younger received public school education graduating pennsylvania studied law moved kansas alumni records receiving master degree asked prepare legal documentation new railroad connect city proposed railroad likely pittsburgh railroad known line connect larger nearby system atlantic meant route larger railroad saw potential line instead asking standard fee create documents asked granted partnership new railroad railroad purchased larger system earned sale sale completed married soon followed making migration settle land west mississippi_river mary stayed pennsylvania reunited later kansas children founding military service moved kansas leaving wife pennsylvania follow later settled lawrence october december helping find location new wrote letter wife saying thirty miles lawrence kansas river assisting starting new town central portion settled territory best landing eligible site city entire country think years civilization magic influence shall transformed glorious country brilliant destiny awaiting sun course visit land truly lovely desirable mary god kind permission home reason believe home truly received honorary title colonel supervising regiment war served adjutant general kansas civil war march colonel title honorary continued use long military service served ran congress defeated election republican broad interests developing natural resources kansas 1890s mistakenly convinced counties central kansas contained mineral deposits tin gold son founded kansas near supposed mineral deposits founded needed transportation connect rest country legal skills called create new railroad wrote charter railroad company connect cities rail following route governor approved charter february named director president new railroad september renamed tenure president secured land grants federal government soon railroad western portion kansas order build customer base railroad stepped presidency end remained board directors july rejoined board september time serving death march legacy buried kansas contributions kansas vintage locomotive displayed 1960s portrayed movie santa trail promoter commerce development time world war united_states liberty ship cyrus named honor locomotive railroad bore park opening named honor
Cyrus K. Holliday