Pratt county, KS was not even organized until 1879. When it was it almost exploded with development. First of all, it was manna from heaven for farmers, especially Quakers. Next, the railroads came, interlinked in Pratt and thus, a boom. Many families, often from northern areas, such as Ohio and Indiana, wanted to pioneer westward. Older, established members wanted to make homes and farm good land, the younger family members wanted a "better life," jobs, not farming, or both, get married and live in towns. Pratt cty, KS served both purposes and so entire families, several generations, came to settle.