The Wild West
All states west of the Mississippi River were considered "The West". Sumner County, along with all of Kansas, had it's share of the "Wild West" days.
It all started when Jesse Chisholm started a trail for driving longhorn cattle from Texas to Abilene, Kansas where the nearest railroad was located. That trail, "The Chisholm Trail", went directly through Sumner County. The cow towns along the way were full of rough and tough cowboys who would stop to spend their pay. Caldwell had the liveliest history in the county.
It all started when Jesse Chisholm started a trail for driving longhorn cattle from Texas to Abilene, Kansas where the nearest railroad was located. That trail, "The Chisholm Trail", went directly through Sumner County. The cow towns along the way were full of rough and tough cowboys who would stop to spend their pay. Caldwell had the liveliest history in the county.