Pretty Prairie Steak House

Prairie fires swept the country side in early autumn in 1872 leaving little forage for livestock. A general supposition was that Indians were responsible for the fires since this was a tactic frequently used by them to rout timid newcomers from the East. Plowed strips through the prairie grass and backfires saved many home sites. Mary Collingwood came to Kansas in November of 1872 from Crawford County, Indiana. Two horse drawn prairie schooners het the possessions of this intrepid widow, her six sons, and three daughters. Attracted by the "Free Lands," this family came to make a home, little dreaming how prominent would be the role they and their descendants were to play here in the following 1 decades.