Indianola, Kansas

[3] Prior to the American Civil War, the town was primarily proslavery and its residents were often at odds with Topeka residents who wanted Kansas to be a free state.

The local militia was brought in to prevent fire and theft.

[4] Once the war began, however, many Indianola residents joined the Union Army.

[2] Company F of the Fifteenth Kansas Cavalry was recruited in the town to fight for the Union Army during the war.

[5] Town residents began to move away from Indianola after the Kansas Pacific Railway built their railroad line through Topeka in or after 1865.