Past and Present

Alton, Illinois, is a historic river town with a fascinating history. It was the home of multiple Native American tribes and later served as a busy river port. It played an important role in the Civil War and became a major industrial town. The end of the 20th century marked great changes as Alton lost much of its industrial base and population, although it was rejuvenated by new industry and commerce.

Michael Barr Mossman, a graduate of Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville, grew up in Alton. The main sources for this book are Robert K. Graul (longtime photographer for the Alton Telegraph) and the Hayner Public Library District.

Journalist and Ark City native Foss Farrar has written extensively about the history of his hometown. He shares a photo collection to illustrate its history.

Arkansas City grew quickly from a dusty frontier town in 1870 into a thriving commercial center in south-central Kansas. Nestled between two rivers, the town's location on the border with Indian Territory (now Oklahoma) provided trade advantages that brought in railroads, merchants, and seekers of free land at the time of the Oklahoma land rushes.