My trip to California in '49,

My Trip to California in
'49

J. E. CARSTARPHEN

DEDICATION

The memory of three sweet names; Hallie,
Maggie and Daisy, once the joy of a fond
father's heart, now adopted in the language
of the angels, this little sketch of my trip to
California in '49 is affectionately dedicated.
J. E. CARSTARPHEN.
March 14, 1914.

JAMES E. PABSTARPHEIT.

One of Louisiana's Best Known Citi-
zens—A Brief Sketch of His
Life.

During a period olr thirty years —
from 1853 until 1883, the city of Lou-
isiana was blessed with many repre-
sentative citizens who contributed to
her growth and development, but
none were more truly representative
of the time, than the subject of this
sketch, James E. Carstarphen.

He was one of the best known citi-
zens within her border — known as a
friend of every man and of every
worthy enterprise.

Beginning his career in this city as
merchant, then as bank cashier for
over twenty-five years, he came to be
known by everybody, and was inter-
ested in almost every movement that
had for its object the advancement of
the city, whether commercially, edu-
cationally, socially or religiously. His
friends relied upon him as the sup-
porter of every good cause. As Major
Wm. Warner would say: "He stood
up for Louisiana," on all occasions

and in every assembly. As cashier
of the only bank in the city at that
time, he was personally known to
everybody, and was counted on for a
contribution to every cause that had
for its object the uDlifting of human-
ity and the advancement of knowl-
edge among the people. His contri-
butions were cheerfully and liberally
made to all. When the poor and un-
fortunate appealed to him for aid like
Goldsmith's Village Pastor, "his pity
gave 'ere charity began".

He was a man of remarkably cheer-
ful disposition at home and elsewhere,
and at the same time strictly business
in his habits. To such an extent did
this cheerful, pleasant manner with
everyone prevail, that scores perhaps
hundreds addressed him familiarly as
"Mr. Cass". He was kknown among
the younger class, as a friend of
every young man who was trying to
make a success of life. The writer
remembers him in this regard more
than forty years ago, with a feeling
that is akin to affection. His cheer-
fulness is illustrated by his reply to
his wife one day as he was leaving
home for the bank: "Mr. Carstarphen"
said she, "straighten up, keep that
left shoulder up with the other".

"Now Bee, don't you know that was
caused by my carrying a hod when I
was a young man?" That was the
end of the argument, and they parted
with a smile.

A Bit of Autobiography.

James E. Carstarphen was born
January 22, 1828, in Rails county,
Missouri, near New London. When he
was six years old his father, Chapell
Carstarphen, was elected sheriff of
Rails county and moved to New Lon-
don, the county seat, where James E.
made his first start in school under
the guidance and instruction of Sam'l.
K. CaldweU, as his first teacher.
(Mention of this name recalls the fact
that in 1818, Samuel K. Caldwell as-
sisted by Joel K. Shaw, had laid out
the town of Louisiana.) At the end
of three years, or in 1837, his father
moved back to his farm, one mile east
of Trabue's Lick, where James E. was
reared on the farm — accustomed to all
kinds of farm work — till he was fif-
teen years old, and where he attend-
ed the district school near Judge Pore-

man's, three months in each winter
during that time. In 1843, his father
sold that farm and bought the Wil-
son farm, three miles west of New
London and moved to it. Here James
E. lived with his parents until he was
twenty-one years of age. Part of the
time was spent in teaching a district
school, three months of each winter,
and in working on the farm during
cropping season, until the spring of

1848, when he went to Galena, 111., and
spent the summer of that year pros-
pecting in that region for lead mines.
In the fall of that year he returned
to his father's home in Rails county,
Missouri, and taught a three months'
winter school.

About this time, great excitement
broke out all over the country, over
the news of the discovery of gold at
Gutter's Mill in California. People
from almost everywhere in the middle
and western states were making great
preparations to start in the spring of
1849 to the rich gold fields of Cali-
fornia. They were outfitting all kinds
of conveyances, and going in almost
every conceivable vay imaginable.
Hundreds, yea, thousands went with
ox teams, and quite as many with mule
teams, and horse teams, and on pack
mules and horses.

James E. Carstarphen being twenty-
one years old on the 22d of January,

1849, thought he was a fit subject and
of proper age to make the trip. And
he fell into line early in the excite-
ment.

He at once communicated with his
older brother, Robert Carstarphen,
who was then in Wisconsin, who had
already made his arrangements to go
west from that state, but on learning
that it was the intention of James E.
and his cousin, John M. Kelley, then
of Rails county, Mo., to start early,
he came at once, and joined them in
fitting -out for the trip, with, a splen-
did ox team, and the trio started on
the llth day of April, 1849, in company
with twelve others, with their four
wagons and ox teams, from New Lon-
don via St. Joseph, Mo., to the Sutter
Gold Fields; •

The train, with five wagons, con-
sisted in part of James E. Carstar-
phen, his brother, Robert B. Carstar-
phen, and his cousin, John M. Kelley;

Thomas, John and Humphrey Hil-
dreth; Felix and Russell Smith; Wil-
liam Jackson, James Henry Hawkins,
Richard Johnson and others, fifteen
in all. (They were known as the Salt
River Tigers, said a friend.) They
drove across the state — following the
old trail — to St. Joseph, Mo. where
they loaded their wagons with pro-
visions, such as flour, coffee, sugar,
bacon, tobacco, etc., and other neces-
sary articles for the long trip.

They crossed the Missouri river on
May 1, at St. Joseph, Mo., and drove
out to the Bluffs and Waited one week
for a sufficiency of grass to sustain
their teams. On the 7th day of Majr
they broke camp and started on their
long and perilous journey, a distance
of over two thousand miles, to Sac-
ramento City, California, which they
reached on the 5th day of September,
never stopping more than one night
on the same camping ground. This
they found to be a long and tiresome
trip; seldom finding anything more
than a trail for a road; and never
passing a house, or any sign of civi-
lized habitation, except two forts, viz:
Fort Laramie and Fort Hall, where
U. S. government soldiers were kept
to regulate and keep the Indians in
subjection.

"Our train took the northern route
via Fort Hall, hence we passed away
north of Salt Lake City, where a small
settlement of Mormons resided at that
time. We met large herds of wild buf-
faloes on the western prairie and we
encountered much difficulty in cross-
ing large streams. We overcame
these difficulties in part by dismant-
ling our wagons, takinig them entire-
ly apart, and making boats of the
wagon beds into which we put some
of our stock and all our provisions
and rowed them across the rivers.
The rest of our teams were made to
swim .across, or driven up the river
and crossed where the water was
shallower.

"I may relate a little experience our
men had when passing over a very
steep mountain. We had reached the
top of the mountain and were looking
down into the valley b^vond. How to
descend that steep western slope was
the question. We ddcided to unhook
all but one yoke of oxen from each
wagon and to tie the biggest rope we

had to the hind axle and wrap the
rope around a tree, and with sev-
eral men holding the rope, let the
wagon down gradually. Ah, but we
were glad when we all got safely down
that mountain.

We went to mining at Deer Creek,
now in the state of Nevada, using
crude cradles for separating the gold
from th« dirt — such as were used in
the placer mines. This netted us a
3rield of about sixty dollars a day on
an average, in gold nuggets. We un-
covered one gravel pit which for a
short time yielded a return of about
one thousand dollars of gold a da>.
Our party worked at the mines for
about one year, and netted about five
thousand dollars each. We then de-
cided to return home. We arrived at
San Francisco in October, 1851, and
purchased steamship tickets to return
by way of Panama."

In the previous chapter Mr. Car-
starphen has briefly told the story of
his trip across the plains to Califor-
nia in 1849, and now he will give his
account of his return home. Thus,
we get the facts, without embellish-
ment or exaggeration, and we also
hear the story at first hand.

"Having been successful in the fif-
teen months we spent in the mines in
the mountains, five of us decided to
leave the 'diggings,' and return home,
not by the long, hard and monotonous
route we had come, but by steamship
from San Francisco. All kinds of
people were flocking in from every-
where and we were unwilling to risk
losing what we had gained, by re-
maining longer away from civilization.
Besides, provisions, tools and every-
thing we used could be had only for
fabulous prices. Potatoes were a dol-
lar a pound; eggs, 50 cents each; a
pair of boots, $100; a Colt's revolver,
regarded as a very necessary article
by a majority of miners, sold for
$150; lumber was $500 per thousand
feet. etc.

"We arrived in San Francisco in
November, 1850, and all bought tickets
to Panama City, on the morning we
arrived. The ship was to sail in three
days. The first night we spent in San
Francisco, awaiting the sailing of the
ship, three out of our party of five,
took the cholera (we had run into that
disease on our way from the mines).
My brother, Robert, died before morn-

ing. Richard Davis died within two
days afterward, and James E. Car-
starphen lingered for five days between
life and death, and recovered. He was
very stout and rugged and simply
wore the disease out, with the aid of
homeopathic treatment. The three
survivors, viz: J. M. Kelley, John H.
Davis and James E. Carstarphen, ex-
changed tickets and a week later, took
the next steamer for the City of Pan-
ama, and on our arrival there packed
up our bedding and gold of which each
man had from three to five thousand
dollars, hired, a man with a pack-
horse to assist us, and set out on foot
to cross the Isthmus for Colon, fol-
lowing the trail which is now the site
of the Panama canal, making the last
part of it, however, in skiffs down the
Chagres river, where we took ship-
ing for New Orleans by way of Ha-
vana, Cuba, bancroft Libnfff

We were compelled to carry crar
gold in the form of nuggets and dust
in buckskin sacks until we could ex-
change it for coin or currency at eith-
er New Orleans or St. 'Louis. From
New Orleans we took the old steamer
City of Alexandria to St. Louis, arriv-
ing there eight days later. At St.
Louis we sold our gold at the old
banking house of Page and Bacon, at
sixteen dollars an ounce and took
steamer for Hannibal and the next
day by stage coach to New London,
arriving home just before Christmas,
1851, having been absent about twen-
ty-one months.

"At this date, December 1, 1913, Jas.
E. Carstarphen is the only member
of that party of fifteen who started
April 11, 1849, from New London on
that trip, who is still living."

From that date, Dec. 25, 1851, Mr.
Carstarphen has led a very active life.
In the spring of 1851, he bought a
farm in Rails county, adjoining the
Helm's farm, four miles southwest of
New London, on which he made im-
provements and sold it at a nice profit.
He then, in company with his uncle,
Mr. Briggs, bought 200 head of cat-
tle, took them to Sangamon county,
111., grazed and wintered them there,
and sold them. He then bought cheap
Illinois land and did well with it. He
came back to Missouri and settled at
Louisiana, in 1853, and embarked in
several enterprises. He was first in
the dry goods business with John S.

Melon for one year. He sold that and
went into the stove, tin and iron busi-
ness with Rufus B. Saffarans. They
purchased vacant ground on the north-
west corner of Third and Georgia
streets and built four two-story brick
store houses for rent. He then sold
his interest in the stove and iron store
and took a position as clerk in the
newly organized branch of the Bank
of the State of Missouri, located at
Louisiana, Mo. This position he held
for three years, at which time he was
elected cashier and held that position
until 1882. During these years Mr.
Carstari'hen was active in many en-
terprises of the city of Louisiana. He
was a member of the firm of Rule &
Co. in the flouring mill, which they
purchased of S. W. Farber and com-
pany. He was engaged with Judge
Win. C. Orr and Conrad Smith in the
contract of building the court house
in Bowling Green in 1867. He was
one of the incorporators and first di-
rectors of the Louisiana and Missouri
River R. R. company, and one of the
directors of the Louisiana and Mis-
souri R. R. Bridge company at Lou-
isiana, also a director in the board
of education for several years.

On February 1, 1854, he was mar-
ried to Miss Bellina Jackson, young-
est daughter of Julius C. and Harriet
M. Jackson, at Louisiana, Mo. Six
children blessed their happy union.
These were Hattie, George B., Mar-
garet, Fannie, Daisy and James E., all
of whom except James, lived to be
grown and married.

Hallie married Mr. W. G. Tinsley,
a well-known Louisiana banker; Mar-
garet married Hon. Richard B. Speed
of Nevada, Mo., an editor and news-
paper publisher, and a noble good
man; Fannie married Mr. William
Brady of Denver, Colo.; Daisy, the
youngest, married Mr. James E. At-
kinson of Nevada, Mo. George is well
known in Missouri, having held many
positions of trust in the state admin-
istration. He was bank examiner for
four years. Was assistant coal oil
inspector, under Governor Stephens.
About six years ago he went to Del
Rio, Texas, where he is prospering
in the general dry goods business. He
also owns a ranch of good propor-
tions in that county. Mrs. Fannie
Brady is a successful Christian Sci-
ence practitioner in Kansas City, Mo.

She accompanied her father to Los
Angeles in the early summer of this
year (1913) and tried to induce him
to settle down there and grow up with
the country.

In 1880, Mr. Carstarphen's wife died
in Denver, Colo., and was buried in
the Jackson family cemetery, near
Louisiana, in the autumn of that year.
They were very much devoted to each
other during their married life and
he has rarely, if ever, failed to make
a special trip once or twice a year
to look after her grave and to place
fresh flowers upon it and upon the
graves of his deceased children.

In 1882, Mr. Carstarphen married a
sister of Judge D. P. Dyer of the St.
Louis federal court. Of this happj
union no children were1 born.

It was soon after this, in 1883, thai
he entered the customs service in St.
Louis, as inspector of customs. The
custom house was then at Third and
Olive streets, but in September of that
year it moved into the new building
at Ninth and Olive streets. He has
since served continuously in that de-
partment for over thirty years, being
most of the time in charge of the
cigar department, one of the most im-
portant in the customs service.

Hon. John J. O'Conner, chief in-
spector of customs, at the port of St.
Louis, says: "Mr. Carstarphen was
at all times, during the period of his
service in this office, a thoroughly
reliable and faithful official. He never
tried to shirk anything, and was al-
ways ready to assist others in their
work." Continuing be says: "He was
a man of most exemplary habits; al-
ways the thorough, polished gentle-
man. He never smoked nor chewed
tobacco, cursed or used vulgar lan-
guage. He was not known to be af-
filiated with any particular church
organization in the city, but he never
failed to attend religious services at
some church on Sundays.

"In recent years he usually attended
the Christian Science churches in St.
Louis.

He was a tall, handsome man of
graceful carriage and he never lost
that personal charm of character
which endeared him to all who knew
hirr. He was a special favorite at
the custom house, where his pleasant
and genial manner endeared him to
his fellow-employes.

On occasions he would hum old re-
ligious songs of his childhood days:
and the music of his voice was as
sweet and clear as the sound of a sil-
ver bell. He was never known to be
angry; and none had the temerity
to be profane in his presence. On his
birthday, the 22nd of January last, he
was remembered by his associates
presenting him 'with their greeting
and a huge bouquet of flowers, and
on his leaving for California in June,
on his vacation, he was presented with
a handsome "grip" with the best
wishes of his companions. He is now
in Del Rio, Texas, with his son,
George, but his desk at the custom
house still awaits him, and it is con-
sidered a favor to be permitted to use
his desk and chair. It is the earnest
wish of his fellow employes that he
may be able to return to his office and
that they may enjoy many more years
of his association."

Early in May, 1880, Mr. Carstarpheri
left his home in this city in company
with his wife, Mrs. Bellina J. Carstar-
phen for Colorado to try the invigor-
ating air of that climate in the hope
of restoring her health, then rapidly
failing. The change proved unavail-
ing and in one short month she passed
away, in the noontide of life in her
forty-eighth year. She had sustained
and honored the relations of daugh-
ter, wife, mother, sister, neighbor and
friend. She had filled well her sphere
in life as a sincere and consistent
Christian. For thirty years she filled
her seat in church and Sunday school
and encouraged her Christian friends
by her example of piety, humility and
practical benevolence. Her hand was
ever open to the cry of distress, her
heart to the wants of all the poor.
She delighted in the study of the
Bible. One could not listen to her
pure and heavenly conversation with-
out feeling deeply impressed with the
obligations of Christianity. Her death
was a severe affliction to this con-
gregation. She was greatly useful in
the church, nor was any more beloved.
This was attested by the long proces-
sion that followed her remains to
their last resting place — the longest
funeral procession in the history of
Louisiana. All mourned her as a
friend. Bro. E. D. Pearson, who con-
ducted the services, said: "As an ac-
tive, earnest faithful worker in the

cause of religian, we shall not, per-
haps, see her like again, in this gen-
eration."

A beautiful pen picture of the life
and character of our subject is given
by Hon. John J. O'Conner in the pre-
vious chapter. The writer would call
attention to two or three traits of
character that deserve special men-
tion. These shone out in the days
of his greatest usefulness and activi-
ty in this city. He proved himself
to be a many sided man, capable of
filling many positions at the same
time.

As a public-spirited man — a leader
in this respect, he led out in almost
every enterprise that helped to de-
velop and adorn Pike county. And
yet he looked well to the interest of
his own family. Many public spirit-
ed men forget their families in their
eagerness to serve the public.

The Carstarphen mansion erected in
1868 and '69, in this city, like Zion of
old, was beautiful for situation. Built
on a high and beautiful tract of ten
or fifteen acres, surrounded by ter-
races, shaded by native forest trees,
it was easily the most attractive
building in this city. It was known
as the "Carstarphen Castle."

Not the mere love of display
prompted the outlay of almost $25,000
in its erection, but a dejire for tbe
comfort, convenience and happiness of
his family. Here were the very latest
city improvements — hot-air furnaces,
stationary washstands, private water
power and sewerage, advantages en-
joyed by people who live in the city,
and such as were rarely found out-
side the metropolis. It stood for sev-
en years as a monument of his genius
and ambition. A fire broke out in the
middle of the night, late in September,
' 1875, and before assistance could
reach the spot, the building was a
wreck; the tottering walls were all
that remained on the morrow, of that
splendid edifice. This was a great
loss, not only to the owner, but to
the city of Louisiana, and caused a
feeling of universal regret through-
out this community.

He was an active promoter of the
public school system, in this city.

In the summer of 1869 he often vis-
ited the site of the "J. Sam< Brown
School", while that building was un-

der construction. His presence en-
couraged the builders; he was treas-
urer of the board and ex-officio super-
visor of construction.

His eminent fitness for the position
of school director was shown in 1875,
when a new principal was to be chos-
en. Mr. O. C. Bryson and a friend
introduced to him a former college-
mate from Kentucky, stating that the
young Kentuckian was an applicant
for that position. On the next day
Mr. Carstarphen called to one of the
gentlemen, saying "Your friend stands
a good show of being elected princi-
pal. I think he would make a capital
teacher. Did you notice how close his
hair grows to his head? That's a
sign of a good school teacher. He'd
flog the tallest boy In school if he
didn't toe the mark and obey the rules.
He's as ambitious as Julius Caesar,
and I don't think it would be six
weeks before he'd have every boy in
his room striving for the highest
mark in his classes." The young man
was employed, taught the session
through and on the closing day of the
session addressed the school, conclud-
ing with these words: "Whether you
take Horace Greeley's advice to go
west, or stay at home, I hope you will
all use the knowledge you have gained
here and make your mark in the
world as useful and honorable citi-
zens, and finally, that we may all
meet up yonder — in Congress Hall."

"He taught them," said Judge W. C.
Orr, "to aspire to a seat in congress
above all other earthly vocations. To
be ambitious to serve the people and
their country." Mr. Carstarphen's
prediction proved literally true. The
ambitious teacher had inoculated the
entire class. "Our" Champ's ambi-
tion was contagious.

Mr. Carstarphen was known as
an active worker in the church of his
choice. He was accustomed to say
to the deacons, "Put me down for one-
tenth of the entire expense of the
church annually." The result of his
proposition and his example of con-
tributing weekly was that others fell
into line and soon the whole congre-
gation was working in harmony.

As an illustration of his many du-
ties, and the successful manner in
which he met all of them. T mention
one day's work of his in 1869, with

the details of which this writer was
familiar. He met the directors of his
bank at 9 o'clock; later, the directors
of the gravel road company, and still
later some of the directors of the Lou-
isiana & Missouri River R. R. ; and
after supper the school board and
went home and played blind man's
buff with his children till bed time.
When his name was announced in
connection with the office of treasurer
of the State of Missouri in 1878, an
enthusiastic delegation was sent from
Pike county to the convention favoring
his nomination.

Wise in Counsel.

An instance illustrating Mr. Car-
saarphen's foresight and business cau-
men. It was in the summer of 1869.
This city, to use a modern phrase,
was on a boom ; two railroads were
being put through connecting us with
the east and west, and the north and
south; the Mississippi was being
spanned by a steel bridge. There
was great commercial activity as well
as educational. The J. Sam Brown
school building was about finished;
Baptist college was flourishing with
J. T. Williams as president with a
full corps of teachers. William
Christian, president of Troy Institute
conceived the idea of making Louisi-
ana an education center of Northeast
Missouri With a view of locating in-
this city he came here in July, 1869,
and made a survsy of the field. After
looking at Jackson grove as a suitable
site he had about decided to purchase
the two story frame building on Sev-
enth street, one block north of Geor-
gia street, in which Prof. Parker, at
one time state superintendent of
schools, had formerly taught. Now,
said his friend, O. C. Bryson, let us
go to Mr. Carstarphen and hear his
advice on the subject. They went and
Mr. Carstarphen heard Prof. Wm.
Christian through as he stated his
reasons for his contemplated change.
Then turning to him in a friendly
manner, but in words that Christian
never forgot, said: I will be very
glad to welcome you to our city as a
citizen, and will do all I can to help
you. But if you expect to make a
financial success of this enterprise—
your private institution of learning —
I can tell you in advance that you

will be doomed to disappointment, be-
cause our public schools are going to
swallow up every private enterprise.
It is only a question of a few years
when they will put Baptist college
out of commission, because they are
the "People's College". The best
teachers that the country affords will
be installed in our public school, and
every equipment necessary to the
teaching of all the branches in high
schools. The people support the pub-
lic schools and they will patronize
them in preference to nrivate schools.

Come on and become a citizen with
us and perhaps you may be chosen
as one of our teachers."

This interview settled the question
with Prof. Wm. Christian and he left
that afternoon for his hoir.e at New
London. He had been encouraged by
his friends in this city and at home to
locate here and had received a flat-
tering invitation to do so. In Mr.
Carstarphen he recognized a saga-
cious, f&rseeing business man and ac-
cepted bis advice as against all oth-
ers. Meeting him a few years after-
ward in St. Louis, he remarked, Car-
starphen is a long-headed man. He
saved ire from financial loss. His
prediction in regard to the public
school proved true to the letter.

Mr. Carstarphen was instrumental
in securing for the Louisiana public
schools such men as Prof. G. L. Os-
borne, Prof. H. M. Hamil, Prof. J. M.
White, and Prof. J. I. Nelson, all of
whom stood in the front rank of pub-
lic school work.

His Genealogy.

"I am the son of Chappel Evans Car-
starphen, who was born in December,
1798, in the northern part of South
Carolina, and died in June, 1876, at
Hannibal, Mo. He was married in 1825
to Miss Margaret Brings, who was
born in 1803, near Frankfort,
Kentucky, and died in 1871, at Han-
nibal, Mo. She was tbe daughter of
Robert Briggs. Chappell Carstarphen
was a farmer by occupation, a whig
in politics, and a Baptist in religion.
He resided near New London most of
his life, and in Hannibal for a few
years previous to his death, at the
home of his son, William P. Carstar-
pben, a druggist in Hannibal.

Children of Chappel E. Carstarphen.

1. Robert Briggs, born in 1826;
died in California.

2. Jam.es Eula, born January 22,
1828.

3. John C., born in 1830, married
Juliet Owens.

4. Wljlliam Price, born in 1832,
married Sarah Brown.

5. Richard C., born in 1834, died in
youth.

6. Benjamin Franklin, born in 1836,
died in youth.

7. Sarah Jane, born in 1838, mar-
ried Wm. Wellman.

8. Elizabeth, born in 1845, mar-
ried Dr. John Lanius.

9. Oney, born in 1847, married
Muggy Kem, of Louisiana.

John C. died a few years ago and
is buried at Frankford. Mo. William
P. and his wife, nee Sarah Brown,
daughter of J. B. (Buck) Brown of
Hannibal, Mo., both died in Denver,
Colorado, in 1911. A son of Wm. P.
Carstarphen lives in Denver, Colo.,
and is at the head of the Carstarphen
electrical works of that city. He has
made his mark in the world as an
electrician, says the venerable "Buck"
Brown of Hannibal, his grandfather,
known as a pioneer druggist of north-
east Missouri.

Mrs. Jennie Wellman, my sister, is
living at New" London, Mo., at the age
of 72 years. Oney, my youngest
brother, studied law, and after serv-
ing a term as prosecuting attorney
for Marion county, Mo., removed to
Denver, Colo. For the past twenty
years he has held a government posi-
tion in the General Land office at
Washington, D. C.

George Barnard Carstarphen, my
oldest son married Miss Bertha Hamil-
ton of Fulton, Mo. They have a fam-
ily of four daughters — Bertha, Hallie,
Fthel and Helen, all splendid girls,
they take after their mother arid her
side of the house! I can go no fur-
ther back than my parents. My
grandfather and mother both died
when Chaippel E. Carstarphen, my
father was an infant, and he an only
child."

. In a letter dated March 7, 1913,
written as his desk in the U. S. .cus-
tom house, St. Louis, he says:

"Your's to hand and read. Though

I had to hunt up Willie and have him
read it to me, I am so short of sight
I couldn't read it, — but he, a splendid,
good fellow, soon made it plain to me.
He and I went to work — he writing
and. I answering your inquiries until
we came to my father's ancestors, then
I broke down, as all the knowledge
I have ever had of his history is that
his parents both died when he was a
baby, and he an only child. Hence 1
could go no further back on our lin-
eage. My own personal history and
that of my wife and children I think
you will find O. K. I have some notes
of my early life that I shall send to
you that you may write up a brief
sketch for the Press-Journal, Newt
Bryson's paper, in Louisiana, where I
was best known and where the happi-
est portion of my life has been spent.
I feel that I would love to settle
down there, to finish it up. I have
more love for Louisiana than any
place on earth. My old home, where
I first located permanently in life,
and where my first wife and four of
my children are buried, out there un-
der that great old oak, a beautiful
monarch of the forest, where I too,
when time with me shall be no more,
hope to be laid. Adieu, my dear sir
and friend.

"J. E. CARSTARPHEN."

Mr. Carstarphen's feel-ings at the
time of writing this letter, are so
well expressed by a lady, a descend-
ant of this family, living in the far
west, who visited the Jackson home-
stead a few years ago, and in her he-
turn to the west wrote a very beauti-
ful and tender tribute to her child-
hood's home that I give her language
as a fitting close to this sketch.

It seems that her memory and his
were filled with the same beautiful
pictures which the mind had wrought.

"Dear old home! I greet you with
all my heart! I love you: the oreek,
the branch, the rocky hills, with the
green cedars standing as sentinels;
your woodland with wild flowers and
tall trees; your maple grove, where
as a child I used to dring out of sugar
troughs the sweet water as it flowed
from the trees; I sipped from trough
to trough as the birds flew from limb
to limb, with not a thought or care of
days and years to come that could
bring sorrow. I can see the kind
black faces, big and little, so busy
with buckets carrying the sweet water
to the big boiling kettle. Those wood-
land scenes.

"And you dear old soil! I love that
too, because the most sacred dust to
me of mortal bodies rests beneath
the myrtle beds and the great spread-
ing oak, awaiting the final resurrec-
tion.

"Tn my far-away home, I long for
your woody pastures and rocky hills.
If I never see you or meet your dear
people again, these pictures of my
childhood home will ever linger in
my memory."

And with Goldsmith, he can say:
"In all iry griefs — and God has given

my share —
I still had hoJDes, my latest hours to

crown,

Amidst these humble bowers to lay
me down".

And, as a hare when hounds and horns

pursue,
Pants to the place from whence at

first she flew,
I still had hopes, my long vexatious

past,
Here to return, and die, at home, at

last.

CLAYTON KEITH.
Louisiana, Mo.. Feb. 13, 1914.