About Atchison County, KS

Kansas has an interesting history and this year we celebrate our sesquicentennial of being a state for 150 years so in honor of Kansas we have a new blog post series - Who am I? All these folks are from Kansas, had an influence on Kansas or are historical figures and people coming and going from Kansas. During the sesquicentennial year we will occasionally post a new person with their facts. Happy Kansas 150!

I organized the Atchison, Topeka, and Santa Fe Railroad Company.

In 1854, I was one of the founders of Topeka, Kansas.

I donated the land on which the Kansas State Capitol now stands.

Who am I?

I am...

Cyrus K. Holliday

Cyrus K. Holliday (from Blue Skyways website) was one of the founders of Topeka, he built the first portion of the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railroad; was one of the organizers of the republican party in Kansas, and an all-around promoter of great enterprises. Born at Carlisle, Pennsylvania, April 3, 1826, he was educated for the legal profession, but decided in early manhood in favor of a business life. In 1854 he relocated to Lawrence, Kansas. Mr. Holliday was elected state senator in 1861; served as adjutant-general during the Civil war; was chosen to the lower house of the Legislature in 1866; was nominated for Congress in 1874, but was defeated; was president of the Excelsior Coke and Gas Company and the Merchants National Bank of Topeka; served as president of the State Historical Society, and was a director of the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railroad Company from the time it was organized until his death on March 29, 1900.

Find more archives about Cyrus K. Holliday. Photos taken at Kansas Museum of History and Who am I facts are from the plaques in the museum.