(From Kansas Memory)
Yes, Virginia, there really was a Kanzas.
The map date is shown as 1856. Not sure why the mapmaker is not spelling it Kansas.
And, the mapmaker, one named Max Greene, depicts it as a region, rather than a territory, showing forest, prairie, desert, mountain, dale, and river.
The mapmaker mentions that it is an accurate map drawn from his years of exploring and making 7 miles a day through the entire area by ox drawn wagon.
The Elk River is either not depicted or is badly depicted.
(http://i941.photobucket.com/albums/ad256/waldoegray/kanzas.jpg)