One of the really creditable and most pretentious newspaper enterprises ever undertaken and accomplished in Kansas was E. W. Howe’s Historical Edition of the _Atchison Daily Globe_. It contains much interesting and valuable information written in the unique style which has made Mr. Howe famous. With the consent of Mr. Howe, which he has very kindly granted the author of this history, there will appear in this chapter, almost verbatim, a number of biographical sketches and other interesting matter, which should be printed in book form so that it could be assured of a permanent place in the archives of the State. There are but few copies left, and these are in a bad state of disintegration. The sketch of Gen. D. R. Atchison will first be reproduced herein, and then will follow others, touching upon the lives and characters of early settlers, who contributed their part to the upbuilding of this community. Much has already appeared in this history touching upon the activities of General Atchison, but a sketch of his life is important, inasmuch as he is perhaps the most conspicuous early-day character in the history of Atchison county. GENERAL D. R. ATCHISON. David Rice Atchison, for whom Atchison was named, was born near Lexington, Fayette county, Kentucky, August 11, 1807. The son of William Atchison, a wealthy farmer of that county, he received all the advantages of a liberal education. His mother’s maiden name was Catherine Allen, a native of the State of Georgia. William Atchison, the father, was a Pennsylvanian by birth. David R. Atchison was blessed with six children, four sons and two daughters. In 1825 he graduated with high honor from Transylvania University, then the leading institution of learning in the State, and since incorporated in the new University of Kentucky. Upon receiving his degrees in the arts, Mr. Atchison immediately applied himself to the study of law. In 1829 Mr. Atchison was admitted to practice in his native State, and a few months after, in 1830, removed to the comparatively wild district of Clay county, Missouri. In April of that year he received in St. Louis his license to practice in the supreme court of the State and immediately settled in the village of Liberty, now the county seat of Clay county. About this period, Mr. Atchison was appointed major general of the northern division of the Missouri State militia.