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978.2 

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V.8 

Ser.2,v.3 

1237388 

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3  1833  025950525 


Gc    973.2    N27p    v. S, Ser. 2, v. 3 
Nebraska    State    Histcdrical. 
j    Society. 

ipubl-icationb   of   the   nebraska 
State    Historical.    Society 


WILLIAM  WALKER, 

l^rovisioiial  Governor  of  Nebraska  Territory. 


THE 

PROVISIONAL  GOVERNMENT 

OF 

Nebraska  Territory 


THE  JOURNALS  OF  WILLIAM  WALKEE 

Provisional  Govkrxor  of  Nebraska  Tkrritory 


EDITED   BY 


WILLIAM  E.  CONNELLEY, 

Member  Nebraska  State  Historical  Society;  Corresponding  Member  Kansas  State  Hi 

torical  Society;  Chairman  Committee  on  American  Ethnology,  Western 

Historical  Society,  Kansas  City,  Missouri 


A  SPECIAL   PUBLICATION 

OF 

THE  NEBRASKA  STATE  HISTORICAJL  SOCIETY 
LINCOLN,  NEB.: 

iNl  ^    l*4<J  STATE   JOUEXAI.   COMPANY,   PRINTERS 

J     ^  1899 


NEBRASKA  STATE  HISTORICAL  SOCIETY. 


OFFICERS:   CONSTITUTING  BOARD  OF  MANAGERS. 
J.  Sterling  Morton,  President,        .         .         .         Nebraska  City 
Robert  W.  Furnas,  First  Vice-President,        .  Brown ville. 

G.  M.  Lambertson,  Second  Vice-President,  .         Lincoln. 

Charles  H.  Gere.  Treasurer,         .         .         .  Lincoln. 

Howard  W.  Caldwell,  Secretarij,     .         .         .         Lincoln. 

COMMITTEES. 

Publication — The  Secretary,  S.  L.  Geisthakdt,  S.  I).  Cox. 
Obituaries — E,.  W.  Furnas,  Geo.  L.  Miller,  W.  H.  Eller. 
Program — The  Secretary,  J.  L.  Webster,  J.  M.  Woolv.orth. 
Library — Jay  Amos  Barrett,  Mrs.  S.  B.  Pound,  Prof.  F.  M.  FlIxVG 

Jay  Amos  Barrett,  Assistant  Secretary  and  Librarian. 


CONTENTS. 


i'AGE 

Preface v 

The  Wyandots 1 

The  Walker  Family 5 

The  Provisional  Government  of  Nebraska  Ter- 
ritory       17 

Documents  Kelating  to  the  Provisional  Govern- 
ment OF  Nebraska  Territory 43 

A  Brief  Sketch  of  Abelard  Guthrie 101 

The  Journals  of  William  Walker — First  Book.  . .  153 
The  Journals  of  William  Walker — Second  Book.  299 
Index 407 


ILLUSTRATIONS. 

FACING 


PAGE 


Governor  William  Walker  {Frontispiece). 

Map  of  the  Wyandott  Purchase 1 

Joel  Walker 8 

Russell  Garrett  16 

William  Cecil  Price 32 

Joel  Walker  Garrett 48 

Abelard  Guthrie 96 

QuiNDARO  Nancy  Guthrie 112 

William  Walker 153 

John  W.  Gray-Eyes 256 

Isaiah  Walker , 288 

Matthew  R.  Walker 304 


PREFACE. 


It  is  now  almost  twenty  years  since  I  commenced  the  col- 
lection of  orig-inal  documents  relating  to  the  early  history  of 
Nebraska  Territory.  Those  published  in  this  work  are  a 
portion  of  the  collection  which  I  have  made.  They  were 
obtained  principally  from  the  Wyandots,  now  either  dead  or 
living  in  the  Indian  Territory;  for  few  of  them  remain  yet 
at  the  old  home  at  the  contluence  of  the  Missouri  and  Kansas 
Kivers.  I  found  them  anxious  to  have  these  papers  preserved ; 
for  this  purpose  they  gave  them  to  me.  I  have  been  given 
all  the  assistance  that  the  Wyandots  could  render  as  well  in 
this  as  in  all  matters  pertaining  to  their  history,  manners, 
customs,  and  ancient  religious  beliefs.  It  was  my  good  for- 
tune to  have  the  confidence  of  Matthias  Splitlog,  IT.  M. 
Northrup,  Mrs.  Lucy  B.  Armstrong,  the  Walkers,  the  Zanes, 
the  Longs,  and  other  prominent  Wyandot  families,  for  the 
whole  time  of  my  residence  in  the  Wyandot  Purchase  at  the 
mouth  of  the  Kansas  Kiver. 

When  there  was  nothing  remaining  to  be  learned  on  these 
subjects  from  one  person  or  family  I  took  up  the  work  with 
another,  and  this  led  me  to  visit  the  Indian  Territory  to 
see  and  talk  with  the  Wyandots  on  the  Reservation  at  the 
Quapaw  Agency.  I  was  kindly  received  by  the  Wyandots 
there,  and  they  assisted  me  to  the  full  extent  of  their  ability. 
I  wish  to  mention  particularly  the  services  and  aid  that  Mr. 
Alfred  Mudeater  and  his  excellent  wife  gave  to  this  work. 
In  addition  to  the  generous  hospitality  which  I  enjoyed  in 
their  home,  Mr.  Mudeater  was  always  ready  to  take  me  to 

(V) 


VI  PREFACE. 

any  part  of  the  Wyandot  Reserve  that  I  desired  to  visit,  or 
to  send  for  and  bring  any  Wyandot  to  his  house  that  I  de- 
sired to  see  and  converse  with.  In  the  matter  of  recollec- 
tions of  the  customs,  manners,  and  history  of  the  Wyandots, 
I  am  more  indebted  to  Mrs.  Sarah  Dagnett  than  to  any  one 
else  there;  but  Hon.  Silas  Armstrong  was  of  great  assistance 
to  me.  I  have  never  asked  a  single  Wyandot  for  informa- 
tion that  was  not  freely  given  to  the  extent  of  his  knowledge 
and  ability. 

In  addition  to  those  mentioned  above  and  in  another  part 
of  this  work,  I  desire  to  mention  the  following  persons 
that  have  aided  me  in  this  work :  William  Walker  McMul- 
lan,  of  Kansas  City,  Kansas,  grandson  of  Governor  Walker; 
Miss  Jessie  S.  McAlpine,  granddaughter  of  Joel  Walker; 
Miss  Carrie  Hamlin,  granddaughter  of  Isaiah  Walker; 
Jacob  Guthrie,  of  Coffey vi lie,  Kansas,  and  James  Guthrie, 
of  Chetopa,  Kansas,  and  their  wives;  Mr.  Russel  B.  Arm- 
strong^ and  wife;  Miss  Mina  Lane^;  Mrs.  Frank  H.  Betton^- 
M.  T.  Betton^;  Miss  Florence  Betton^;  Rev.  C.W.  Backus\- 
Mrs.  A.  B.  Northrup^;  Kenneth  L.  Browne^;  John  A.  Hale^; 
James  S.  Gibson^ ;  J.  B.  Garrett^  (married  Governor  Walker's 
daughter  Martha);  John  S.  Stockton^;  Mrs.  Carrie  Lof- 
land-;  John  R.  Matney^;  the  Robitaille  brothers,  Wyandotte, 
Indian  Territory;  and  William  Bearskin.  Eldredge  H. 
Brown  and  his  family  were  very  obliging  and  gave  me  valu- 
able assistance.  The  Cotters,  Zanes,  and  many  other  Wyan- 
dot families  aided  me. 

Hon.  F.  G.  Adams,  Secretary  of  the  Kansas  State  Histori- 
cal Society,  has  been  particularly  helpful  to  me ;  and  I  am 
indebted  for  aid  to  Hon.  John  Speer,  President  of  the  Society. 

Mordecai  Oliver,  one  of  the  members  of  the  Congressional 
Committee  to  investigate  the  Border  Ruffian  troubles,  gave 

'  Kansas  City,  Kan. 

*  Seneca,  Mo. 

'  Argentine,  Kan. 


PREFACE.  VI 1 

me  much  valuable  information  of  those  incidents  and  trans- 
actions on  tlie  border  that  so  aroused  the  whole  country. 

Judge  William  Cecil  Price,  of  Springfield,  Mo.,  gave  me 
much  very  valuable  information  concerning  the  political  con- 
ditions existing  in  Missouri  during  the  period  covered  in 
this  work. 

As  to  the  historical  value  of  the  documents  published 
herein  I  prefer  to  let  them  speak  for  themselves.  That  they 
supply  a  want  in  the  history  of  Nebraska  and  Kansas  which 
has  been  felt  by  all  writers  on  the  subject,  will,  I  believe, 
be  readily  admitted.  For  some  of  them  I  searched  unsuc- 
cessfully for  fifteen  years  both  in  Wyandotte  county,  Kansas, 
and  the  Indian  Territory. 

As  a  large  part  of  this  work  is  devoted  to  the  Journals  of 
Governor  William  Walker  a  few  words  here  in  relation  to 
them  may  not  be  amiss. 

Governor  Walker  did  not  write  his  Journals  for  publica- 
tion. While  he  would  never  have  objected  to  having  them 
made  public  he  never  once  thought  of  their  becoming  valu- 
able historical  documents  and  records.  If  he  had,  the  record 
would  have  been  written  much  more  full  and  complete  than 
it  was.  On  the  subject  of  preparing  papers  of  this  character 
for  the  press  a  very  eminent  authority  says: 

"It  would  seem  to  be  an  editor's  privilege  (if,  indeed,  it  is  not  his 
duty)  to  correct  verbal  and  grammatical  mistakes  or  inaccuracies,  in 
brinjiing  forth  the  letters  of  a  person  after  death,  written  without  any 
design  of  publication  ;  but,  in  doing  this,  great  caution  should  be 
observed  that  the  writer's  meaning  and  purpose  are  not  changed  or 
affected." — C.  W.  Butterfield,  in  Preface  to  Washington- Irvine  Letters. 

In  preparing  Governor  Walker's  Journals  for  the  press  I 
have  made  few  corrections,  by  no  means  going  to  the  limit 
allowed  by  the  above  conservative  rule.     I  have: 

1.  Corrected  any  errors  that  haste  or  inattention  caused 


VI 11  PREFACE. 

in  orthography.     These  were  rare.     Governor  Walker  was 
a  remarkably  accurate  writer  in  this  respect. 

2.  Supplied  punctuation  marks  where  they  were  omitted, 
if,  in  so  doing,  Governor  Walker's  full  meaning  could  be 
preserved. 

3.  In  some  instances  separated  an  entry  into  paragraphs 
other  than  those  made  by  the  writer. 

4.  Occasionally  supplied  capital  letters,  but  in  no  instance 
have  I  substituted  small  letters  lor  superiluous  capitals  used 
by  the  writer.  In  Governor  Walker's  day  more  capital 
letters  were  found  in  MSS.  than  at  the  present  time. 

5.  Enclosed  in  brackets  words  supplied  to  complete  the 
evident  meaning. 

6.  Written  the  names  of  the  days  of  the  week  in  full. 
Sometimes  Governor  Walker  abbreviated  them. 

This  is  a  special  publication  of  the  Nebraska  State  His- 
torical Society. 

At  the  request  of  H.  W.  Caldwell,  Secretary,  and  Jay 
Amos  Barrett,  Assistant  Secretary  and  Librarian,  I  attended 
the  Annual  Meeting  of  the  State  Historical  Society,  at  Lin- 
coln, January  12,  1898.  I  laid  the  papers  published  herein 
before  the  Society's  meeting  held  in  the  evening  of  that  day. 
The  President  of  the  Society,  Hon.  J.  Sterling  Morton,  and 
all  members  who  had  opportunity  to  examine  them  recog- 
nized their  historical  value.  The  Society  believed  that  in 
the  interest  of  the  history  of  the  State  the  papers  should  be 
published.  A  committee  was  appointed  to  arrange  for  their 
publication.     The  committee  is  as  follows: 

Ex-Governor  Robert  W.  Furnas,  Vice-President  of  the 
Society. 

Prof.  H.  W.  Caldwell,  Secretary. 

Mr.  Jay  Amos  Barrett,  Assistant  Secretary  and  Librarian. 

Hon.  C.  H.  Gere,  Treasurer. 

Hon.  A.  J.  Sawyer. 


PREFACE.  ix 

An  agreement  to  publish  the  papers  was  reached.  The 
committee  have  stood  ready,  willing,  and  anxious  at  all  times 
to  do  anything  possible  to  help  me  make  the  work  all  that 
it  should  be,  and  I  have  availed  myself  freely  of  their  assist- 
ance. For  their  generous  aid,  their  kindness  and  courtesy, 
I  here  tender  my  grateful  acknowledgment. 

It  is  fitting,  too,  that  I  mention  the  labor  performed  and 
the  attention  bestowed  upon  this  work  by  my  wife.  8be  en- 
couraged me  to  persevere  in  the  collection  of  the  material 
for  this  volume.  She  aiso,  with  ])ainstaking  care,  deci})hcred 
many  a  page  of  difficult  manuscript  and  prepared  it  for  the 
press. 

William  E.  Connelley. 

Beatrice,  Nebkaska,  May  7,  1698. 


THE  WYANDOTS. 


The  Wyandots^  belong  to  the  Iroquoian  Family  of  North 
American  Indians.  They  are  the  descendants  of  the  Tion- 
nontates  or  Tobacco  Nation  of  the  Huron  Confederacy. 
Their  legends  and  folk-lore  indicate  that  they  are  of  extreme 
Northern  origin  as  a  tribe,  and  their  history  confirms  this. 
The  Hurons  were  visited  by  the  Jesuits  early  in  the  seven- 
teenth century.  They  lived  then  between  Lake  Simcoe  and 
the  Georgian  Bay  of  Lake  Huron,  in  what  is  now  the  prov- 
ince of  Ontario,  Canada.  The  Tionnontates  lived  a  little 
more  to  the  south  and  east,  in  the  Blue  Mountains,  about  the 
southern  shores  of  the  Bay  of  Nottawassaga.  They  were 
called  Petuns,  or  the  Tobacco  Nation,  by  the  French,  because 
they  cuhivated  tobacco  in  sufficient  amount  to  form  a  con- 
siderable commerce  in  its  barter  and  exchange  with  other 
tribes. 

In  1649  the  Iroquois  destroyed  the  Huron  Confederacy. 
Of  all  the  Huron  Nations,  the  Tionnontates  alone  retained 
a  tribal  organization  after  this  catastrophe.  The  fragments 
of  the  broken  tribes  fled  northward  along  the  Great  Lakes, 
and  were  for  years  wanderers  in  those  dreary  wastes.  As 
they  increased  in  strength  and  became  blended  into  a  single 
tribe  or  people  with  the  name  Wyandot,  they  gathered  about 
Mackinaw,  and  from  thence  began  slowly  to  descend  the 
Great  Lakes,  and  stopped  at  Detroit.  Here  they  were  Pon- 
tiac's  best  and  bravest  warriors.     In  the  wars  between  the 

'  Eead  Parkman's  "  The  Jesuits  in  North  America,"  for  the  early  history  of  the  Wy- 
andots  and  the  Hurons. 

2  (1) 


2  THE  WYANDOTS. 

British  and  Americans  they  were  on  the  side  of  the  English 
until  the  war  of  1812,  when  about  half  the  tribe  sided  with 
the  Americans.  At  the  close  of  the  war  that  portion  of  the 
tribe  that  had  adhered  to  Great  Britain  settled  permanently 
in  Canada,  and  those  who  had  espoused  the  cause  of  the 
United  States  remained  about  the  western  end  of  Lake  Erie, 
in  what  is  now  Ohio  and  Michigan.  Their  Ohio  lands  were 
in  what  is  now  Wyandot  County.  Here  Methodism  was  in- 
troduced among  them  and  a  Mission  established.^  On  March 
17,  1842,  they  ceded  their  Ohio  lands  to  the  United  States.^ 
They  were  the  last  of  the  tribes  to  relinquish  their  lands  in 
Ohio. 

In  July,  1843,  the  Wyandots  followed  in  the  steps  of  the 
other  tribes  and  moved  beyond  the  Mississippi.^  Here  in 
the  "Indian  Territory"  they  purchased  the  laud  in  the  fork 
of  the  Missouri  and  Kansas  Bivers  from  the  Delawares.* 
They  brought  with  them  from  Ohio  a  well  organized  Meth- 

'  John  Stewart  arrived  in  the  Wyandot  country  in  November,  1816.  He  was  a 
Methodist,  but  had  not  been  authorized  by  his  Church  to  preach.  He  preached,  how- 
ever, to  the  Wyandots  with  success  through  the  winter  of  1816-17.  He  went  to  Mari- 
etta, Ohio,  in  the  following  spring  but  returned,  later.  On  Au2;ust  7,  1819,  Rev.  J.  B. 
Finley  was  appointed  to  an  oversight  of  the  work  begun  by  Stewart,  and  the  Mission 
was  taken  in  charge  by  the  Ohio  Conference. 

Bead  Finley's  "History  of  the  Wyandot  Mission"  (Cincinnati,  1840);  and  "History 
of  American  Missions"  (Worcester,  1840),  540. 

"  Revision  of  Indian  Treaties,  1017. 

'  "  The  Wyandots  left  for  the  far  West  in  July,  1843,  and  numbered  at  that  time  about 
700  souls." — Howe's  Historical  Collections  of  Ohio  (Cincinnati,  1847),   549. 

*  Among  the  many  authorities  confirming  this,  see  "  Laws  of  the  United  States  of  a 
Local  or  Temporary  Character"  (Washington,  1884),  849.  The  agreement  between 
the  Delawares  and  Wyandots  is  there  set  out.  The  Delawares  donated  to  the  Wyan- 
dots three  sections  of  land  and  sold  them  thirty-six  sections.  For  this  land  the 
Wyandots  paid  the  Delawares  $46,080.00.  This  agreement  was  sanctioned  by  Congress, 
July  25,  1848.  The  Wyandots  had  made  a  treaty  with  the  Shawnees  while  yet  in  Ohio 
whereby  they  were  to  have  a  strip  of  land  adjoining  the  State  of  Missouri  running 
south  from  the  mouth  of  the  Kansas  River  in  the  Shawnee  Reserve,  but  the  Shawnees 
finally  repudiated  this  treaty.  The  Wyandots  complained  that  when  the  Shawnees 
and  Delawares  were  homeless  they  had  "spread  a  deer  skin  for  them  to  sit  down  upon" 
and  given  them  each  a  large  tract  of  land — to  the  two  tribes  the  greater  portion  of 
Ohio,  in  fact;  and  now  that  the  Wyandots  were  without  a  home,  the  Shawnees  would 
not  even  sell  them  one,  and  the  Delawares  exacted  from  them  more  than  the  true 
value  of  the  land  sold.  I  have  the  copy  of  the  treaty  retained  by  the  Shawnees,  but  it  is 
unsigned.     It  was  given  me  by  Charles  Blue-Jacket,  Head  Chief  of  the  Shawnees. 


THE  WYANDOTS.  6 

odist  Church,  a  Free  Mason's  Lodge,  a  civil  government,  and 
a  code  of  written  laws  which  provided  for  an  elective  Coun- 
cil of  Chiefs,  the  punishment  of  crime  and  the  maintenance 
of  social  and  public  order. 

In  1855  the  Wyandots  accepted  the  allotment  of  their 
lands  in  severalty,  and  dissolved  their  tribal  relations.^  A 
part  of  the  tribe  was  dissatisfied  with  this  action,  and  re- 
sumed their  tribal  relations.^  They  purchased  a  tract  of 
land  in  the  Indian  Territory  from  the  "Cowskin  Senacas," 
and  there  re-established  their  own  government.^  Those 
living  on  this  reservation  number  about  300.  As  a  tribe 
they  are  poor,  but  many  individuals  are  quite  well  to  do. 
They  are  intelligent  and  industrious  and  are  all  self-support- 
ing. The  Government  maintains  a  good  school  for  them 
and  it  is  well  attended. 

The  Wyandots  were  always  brave  and  humane  warriors.^ 
They  adopted  persons  captured  in  war;^  no  instance  is 
known  of  their  burning  and  torturing  a  prisoner.  The 
Wyandot  tribe  stood  at  the  head  of  the  Confederacy  of  the 
Northwestern  tribes  formed  to  oppose  the  settlement  by 
white  people  of  the  Territory  Northwest  of  the  Ohio  Hiver. 
The  tribes  composing  this  Confederacy  were  all  removed 

>  Revision  of  Indian  Treaties,  1020. 

"  Id.,  844. 

» Id.,  839. 

♦Howe's  Historical  Collections  of  Ohio  (Cincinnati,  1847),  549:  "The  Wyandots 
were  the  bravest  of  Indian  tribes,  and  had  among  their  chiefs  some  men  of  high  moral 
character.  With  all  other  tribes  but  the  Wyandots,  flight  in  battle,  when  meeting  with 
unexpected  resistance  or  obstacle,  brought  with  it  no  disgrace.  .  .  .  With  them,  it 
was  otherwise.  Their  youth  were  taught  to  consider  anything  that  had  the  appear- 
ance of  an  acknowledgement  of  the  superiority  of  the  enemy  as  disgraceful.  In  the 
battle  of  the  Miami  Eapids,  of  thirteen  chiefs  of  that  tribe  who  were  present,  one  only 
survived,  and  he  badly  wounded.  Some  time  before  this  action.  Gen.  Wayne  sent  for 
Capt.  Wells,  and  requested  him  to  go  to  Sandusky  and  take  a  prisoner,  for  the  purpose 
of  obtaining  information.  Wells — who  had  been  bred  with  the  Indians,  and  was  per- 
fectly acquainted  with  their  character — answered  that  he  could  take  a  prisoner,  but 
not  from  Sandusky,  because  Wyandots  would  not  be  taken  alive." 

»  The  Walker,  Hicks,  Brown,  Zane  Armstrong,  Driver,  Mudeater,  and  other  Wyan- 
dot families  were  all  founded  by  captives  who  were  adopted  into  the  tribe. 


THE  WYANDOTS. 


west  of  the  Mississippi  River.  In  October,  1848,  a  great 
Congress  of  these  tribes  was  held  near  Fort  Leavenworth. 
The  ancient  Council-fire  was  re-kindled  and  the  Wyandot 
tribe  confirmed  in  the  honorable  position  so  long  held  by  it.-^ 


Governor  Walker's  Journal,  Oct.,  1848. 


THE  WALKER  FAMILY. 


WILLIAM  WALKER,  SENIOR. 

"The  subject  of  this  brief  sketch  was  born  in  1770,  in  or  near 
Green  Brier,  some  of  his  relatives  say,  Rockbridge  County,  Va.  He 
was  captured  by  a  war  party  of  the  Delawares  in  the  early  part  of  the 
summer  of  1781,  being  then  eleven  years  of  age.  Tliere  was  in  the 
neighborhood  a  small  stockade  or  temporary  fort,  to  which  the  in- 
habitants fled  for  safety  whenever  an  alarm  was  raised.  The  settlers, 
at  the  time  this  attack  was  made,  were  entirely  off  their  guard  ;  noth- 
ing calculated  to  excite  their  alarm  had  occurred  for  a  long  time,  and 
all,  old  and  young,  male  and  female,  were  busily  engaged  in  their 
fields.  Young  Walker  and  (I  think)  his  Uncle  were  ploughing  corn, 
the  former  riding  the  horse  and  the  other  holding  the  plough.  When 
coming  out  at  the  ends  of  the  rows  and  in  the  act  of  turning  they  were 
fired  upon  from  behind  the  fence,  wounding  the  man  in  both  arms. 
The  lad  sprang  from  the  horse  and  both  fled  towards  the  fort.  He 
was  captured  before  getting  out  of  the  field  and  the  wounded  man 
overtaken  and  killed  within  a  few  yards  of  the  Fort.  No  attack  was 
made  upon  the  Fort,  tho'  there  were  only  a  few  women  and  children 
in  it.  The  invading  party  commenced  a  rapid  retreat  and  after  travel- 
ing four  or  five  miles  halted  in  a  thick  wood,  from  which  a  reconnoi- 
tering  party  returned  to  the  invaded  district.  In  the  afternoon  the 
party  returned  to  the  place  of  rendezvous  laden  with  plunder  and 
accompanied  by  another  party  of  Delawares  which  the  prisoner  had 
not  seen  before,  and  to  their  mutual  astonishment  Aunt  and  nephew 
here  met.  Mrs.  Cowan  was  captured  in  another  ])art  of  the  neigh- 
borhood by  this  second  party.  This  was  a  distinct  party,  tho'  they 
moved  and  travelled  together.  These  two  were  the  only  prisoners 
they  took. 

"Then  commenced  the  return  march,  which  was  attended  with  much 
fatigue  and  sufl^ering,  and  to  add  to  their  distress,  notwithstanding  the 
country  abounded  with  game,  yet  the  warriors  were  singularly  unfor- 

(6) 


6  THE  WALKER  FAMILY. 

tunate  in  their  bye  hunts.  They  travelled  several  days  on  a  very  small 
allowance  of  dried  meat,  still  urging  their  way  as  fast  as  they  could 
consistently  with  the  power  of  endurance  of  the  prisoners;  still  fearing 
a  pursuit  and  rescue.  To  their  great  joy  the  warriors  l<illed  a  fat 
Buffalo  just  as  they  were  camping. 

"During  their  march  to  the  Ohio  River  he  availed  himself  of  the 
opportunity  of  breaking  to  his  aunt  his  intended  attempt  at  an  escape; 
but  she  promptly  interposed  her  objections  to  so  rasii  an  act,  which 
could  not  be  otherwise  than  a  failure,  and  which  would,  in  all  proba- 
bility, bring  upon  them  fatal  consequences ;  pointing  out  to  him  the  im- 
possibility of  successfully  eluding  pursuit  and  recapture,  and  the  cer- 
tainty of  his  perishing  from  hunger,  even  if  he  eluded  recapture. 
Crossing  the  Ohio  all  hope  of  a  rescue  died  within  them.  They 
ejaculated  a  long  farewell  to  home,  family,  and  dear  friends;  their 
hearts  sickened  and  sank  within  them;  but  their  cup  of  anguish  was 
not  yet  full,  for  here  the  two  parties  separated.  The  Aunt  and  nephew 
bade  adieu  to  each  other.  It  was  the  last  sad  adieu — they  never  met 
again. 

"The  party  having  the  young  captive  proceeded  direct  to  the  Indian 
settlements  on  the  Sciota,  where,  resting  a  few  days,  proceeded  to  their 
villages  on  the  Whetstone,  now  Delaware,  Ohio,  where  he  underwent 
the  discipline  of  running  the  gauntlet;  out  of  which,  as  he  frequently 
stated,  became  with  very  little  bodily  injury.  He  was  then  adopted 
into,  as  he  said,  'a  very  good  family  and  treated  with  kindness.'  The 
clan  to  which  he  belongeil  seemed  more  inclined  to  the  chase  and  other 
peaceful  pursuits  than  '  following  the  war  path.'  How  long  he  re- 
mained with  his  adopted  relatives  I  am  unable  to  determine, — four 
or  five  years,  at  least.  While  his  party  attended  a  council  at  Detroit, 
the  subject  under  consideratioa  being  the  treaty  concluded  at  Fort 
Mcintosh  the  winter  before,  these  Delawares  there  met  with  a  large 
body  of  Wyandotts,  among  which  was  an  adojited  white  man  named 
Adam  Brown,  who,  when  a  man  grown,  had  been  captured  by  the 
Wyandotts  in  Dunmore's  war  in  Greenbrier  County,  adopted  and  was 
married,  was  influential  and  respected  by  the  tribe.  The  youth  at- 
tracted his  attention  and  a  conversation  in  English  ensued,  the  latter 
not  having  entirely  forgotten  his  native  language.  Brown,  finding 
out  where  he  was  from,  and  knowing  his  family,  determined  upon 
ransoming  him.     Negotiations  for  this  purpose  were  opened,  but  here 


THE  WALKER  FAMILY.  7 

an  almost  insurmountable  obstacle  presented  itself.  It  was  contrary 
to  Indian  customs  and  usages  to  sell  an  adopted  person  on  account  of 
the  reputed  ties  of  relationship.  This,  with  the  unwillingness  of  the 
family  into  which  he  was  adopted  to  part  with  him,  rendered  the 
project  a  hopeless  one.  The  influence  of  the  Wyaudott  Chiefs  and 
that  of  the  Military  Commandant  were  invoked.  An  official  speech  to 
be  delivered  to  the  Delawares  by  Skan-ho-nint  (One  bark  canoe),  was 
agreed  upon.  If  this  proved  unavailing,  the  attempt  was  to  be  aban- 
doned as  fruitless.  The  points  taken  may  be  thus  briefly  stated  :  *  We 
Wyandotts  are  your  uncles  and  you  Delawares  are  our  nephews. 
This  you  admit.  Where,  then,  would  be  the  violation  of  our  law 
and  custom  if,  all  parties  being  agreed,  an  adopted  nephew  should 
choose  to  reside  in  the  family  of  his  uncle?  This  would  be  only  an 
interchange  of  those  social  amenities  which  are  proper  among  relations; 
there  would  be  no  purchase  in  the  case;  your  uncle  would  be  loath,  in- 
deed, to  insult  his  nephews  by  an  ofier  to  purchase  their  adopted  son. 
Our  father,  the  Commander,  who  joins  with  us,  promises,  as  an  earnest 
of  his  good  will  towards  his  Delaware  children  for  their  compliance 
with  his  and  your  uncle's  wishes,  to  make  your  hearts  glad  (with  Rum) 
and  bestow  upon  you,  and  especially  upon  the  immediate  family  of  the 
youth,  valuable  presents  out  of  the  King's  Store  house,  such  as 
Blankets,  Cloths,  guns,  ammunition,  &c.'  (Here  the  Com'dt  con- 
firmed the  promise.)  After  the  delivery  of  the  speech,  time  for  de- 
liberation was  asked  for  and  granted.  Whether  the  argument  was 
deemed  conclusive  against  the  objections,  or  the  promised  presents  acted 
as  a  salve  to  their  consciences,  it  is  sufficient  to  state  that  the  Delawares 
acceded  to  the  proposition  and  next  day  the  transfer  was  duly  made. 
The  subject  of  these  negotiations  knew  but  little  about  the  details  of 
these  doings  beyond  the  transfer,  and  being  content  to  remain  with 
his  newly  formed  acquaintances,  gave  himself  but  little  concern  about 
them." ' 

THE  EANKIN  FAMILY. 

James  Rankin  was  born  in  Tyrone,  Ireland.  At  an  early 
age  he  engaged  in  the  service  of  the  Hudson's  Bay  Company, 

'  This  sketcli  is  taken  from  Governor  Walker's  account  of  Ms  father,  in  the  William 
Walker  Correspondence  in  the  Draper  Manuscript  Collection  in  the  Library  of  the 
Wisconsin  State  Historical  Society. 


8  THE  WALKER  FAMILY. 

and  was  for  many  years  high  in  position  with  that  great 
corporation.  He  bad  charge  of  many  important  branches  of 
their  extensive  business  in  the  fur  trade  of  the  North.  Hav- 
ing mastered  the  intricate  details  of  the  Indian  trade,  and 
acquired  a  sufficient  sum  to  enable  him  to  do  so,  he  embarked 
in  the  business  for  himself.  He  was  very  successful  in  this 
venture,  and  in  the  course  of  time  accumulated  a  laige  for- 
tune. For  many  years  Detroit  was  the  point  from  which  he 
directed  his  business.^ 


THE  MONTOUR  FAMILY. 

"About  the  year  1667  a  French  gentleman  named  Montour  settled 
in  Canada.  By  a  Huron  Indian  woman  he  had  three  children — one 
son  and  two  daughters.  The  son,  Montour,  lived  with  the  Indians, 
and  was  wounded  in  the  French  service,  in  a  fight  with  some  Mo- 
hawks, near  Fort  La  Motte,  on  Lake  Champlain,  in  1694.  He  de- 
serted from  the  French,  and  lived  with  'the  farr  Indians' — the 
Twightwees  (Miamis)  and  Diondadies  (Petuns  or  Wyandots).  By 
his  assistance  Lord  Cornbury  prevailed  on  some  of  these  tribes  to  visit 
and  trade  with  the  people  of  Albany  in  1708.  For  his  endeavors  to 
alienate  the  'upper  nations'  from  the  French,  he  was  killed  in  1709 
by  the  troops  under  Lieutenant  le  Sieur  de  Joncaire,  by  orders  of  the 
Marquis  de  Vandreuil,  Governor  of  Canada,  who  wrote  that  he  would 
have  had  him  hanged,  had  it  been  possible  to  capture  him  alive. 

"  Of  the  two  daughters  of  the  Frenchman  Montour,  one  became 
conspicuously  known  as  Madame  Montour.  She  was  born  in  Canada 
about  the  year  1684,  captured  by  some  warriors  of  the  Five  Nations 
when  she  was  but  ten  years  old,  taken  to  their  country  and  brought 
up  by  them.  It  is  probable  that  she  lived  with  the  Oneidas,  a?,  on 
arriving  at  maturity,  she  was  married  to  Carondawana,  or  the  "  Big 
Tree,"  otherwise  Robert  Hunter,  a  famous  war-chief  of  that  nation. 

'  This  is  the  best  account  I  have  been  able  to  make  up  from  documents  in  possession 
of  Mrs.  Lillian  Walker  Hale  of  Kansas  City,  Kansas,  and  some  letters  written  to  the 
"Wyandotte  Gazette"  in  1870.  I  feel  that  more  should  be  said,  but  I  have  been  un- 
able, so  far,  to  obtain  the  information  necessary  to  make  a  more  detailed  stp.tement. 
Mr.  Eankin  was  a  remarkable  man  in  many  respects,  and  was  held  in  high  esteem  by 
the  Wyandots. 


JOEL  WALKEK. 


THE  WALKER  FAMILY.  9 

He  was  killed  in  the  wars  between  the  Iroquois  and  Catawbas,  in  the 
Carolinas,  about  the  year  1729.'^ 

So  great  became  the  influence  of  Madame  Montour  with 
the  Indian  tribes,  and  so  proficient  was  she  in  their  various 
languages,  that  she  was  for  many  years  in  the  pay  of  the 
Colony  of  New  York,  and  her  influence  was  ardently  sought 
by  the  Government  of  Canada.  No  important  Council  be- 
tween the  colonies  and  the  Indian  tribes  was  held  without 
her  being  present.  She  lived  at  various  places  in  the  West, 
from  the  country  of  the  Iroquois  to  that  of  the  Miamis  at  the 
western  extremity  of  Lake  Erie.  She  had  a  sister,  married 
to  a  Miami.  Count  Zinzendorf  was  the  Bishop  and  head  of 
the  Moravian  Church.  In  the  fall  of  1742  he  visited  the 
village  of  Madame  Montour.  "He  preached  there  in  French 
to  large  gatherings."  It  is  said  that  she  was  deeply  affected 
when  she  saw  Zinzendorf  and  learned  the  object  of  his  visit. 
"She  had  entirely  forgotten  the  truths  of  the  Gospel,  and, 
in  common  with  the  French  Indians,  believed  the  story  orig- 
inated with  the  Jesuits,  that  the  Saviour's  birth-place  was 
in  France,  and  His  crucifiers  Englishmen." 

Many  strange  things  are  told  of  this  remarkable  woman. 
It  was  persistently  maintained  that  she  was  the  daughter  of 
a  former  governor  of  Canada.  There  was  never  any  governor 
of  Canada  named  Montour,  and  her  ancestry  is  well  estab- 
lished. It  is  not  certainly  known  how  many  children  she 
had.  We  have  definite  accounts  of  three.  Her  daughter 
was  known  as  "  French  Margaret."  It  is  reasonably  certain 
that  she  had  another  daughter,  who  was  "  one  of  the  converts 
of  the  Moravian  Mission,  at  New  Salem,  Ohio,  *  *  * 
and  that  she  was  a  living  polyglot  of  the  tongues  of  the  West, 
speaking  English,  French  and  six  Indian  languages."  Her 
two  sons  were  Andrew,  alias  Henry,  and  Louis.  Andrew 
Montour's  work  is  a  part  of  the  history  of  the  exploration 
and  settlement  of  the  Ohio  Valley  and  the  Great  West,  and 


10  THE  WALKER  FAMILY. 

SO  important  and  extensive  were  his  services  that  no  account 
of  them  can  be  attempted  here.^ 

I  have  been,  as  yet,  unable  to  trace  definitely  the  ancestry 
of  Gov.  William  Walker  to  any  particular  descendant  of  the 
French  gentleman,  Montour.  But  that  he  is  descended  from 
this  French  gentleman  there  can  scarcely  be  a  question. 
This  original  Montour  married  a  Huron  woman,  and  his  son 
lived  with  the  "Diondadies"  (Petuns  or  Wyandots).  The 
Wyandots  of  history  are  the  descendants  of  the  Petuns,  or 
"  Tobacco  Nation  "  of  the  Huron  Confederacy.  When  the 
Wyandots  lived  in  Wyandotte  County,  Kansas,  there  were 
still  Montours  belonging  to  and  living  with  the  tribe,  and 
they  were  allotted  their  proportion  of  the  land  belonging  to 
the  Nation  when  the  holdings  were  assigned  in  severalty. 
The  name  was  erroneously  written  "  Monture  "  by  the  allot- 
ting agent. 

James  Rankin  married  Mary  Montour.  She  belonged  to 
the  Big  Turtle  Clan  of  the  Wyandot  tribe.  They  were  mar- 
ried at  Detroit.  There  is  reason  to  believe  that  Mary  Mon- 
tour was  the  descendant  of  Catherine,  a  granddaughter  of 
Madame  Montour.  This  accords  with  the  best  information 
I  have  been  able  to  obtain  from  the  old  people  of  the  Wy- 
andot tribe.  By  Indian  law  the  child  always  belongs  to  the 
clan  of  the  mother,  and  in  the  instance  of  so  noted  a  name, 
it  is  more  than  probable  that  the  name  Montour  was  always 
retained  by  her  children. 

Mary  Montour  was  born  in  1756.  After  their  marriage 
James  Rankin  became  a  Wyandot  by  adoption,  and  he  spent 
most  of  his  life  from  that  time,  with  the  Indians ;  but  at  the 
same  time  pushed  forward  his  business  of  trader.  He  gave 
his  children  a  good  education,  and  for  this  purpose  removed 
to  Pennsylvania,  in  his  last  days,  and  there  died. 

'  The  foregoing  account  of  the  Montours  is  taken  and  compiled  from  "  Christopher 
Gist's  Journals,"  by  William  M.  Darlington. 


THE  WALKER  FAMILY.  11 

Mary  Montour  Kankin,  like  her  ancestors,  had  great  influ- 
ence in  the  Councils  of  her  people.  Many  interesting  ac- 
counts and  traditions  of  her  hospitality  and  influence  in  the 
tribes  about  Detroit  are  remembered  to  this  day  by  her  de- 
scendants. 

Of  the  children  of  James  and  Mary  Montour  Kankin  I 
know  of  but  two,  James  and  Catherine.  James  came  west 
with  the  Wyandots,  and  died  in  what  is  now  Wyandotte 
County,  Kansas.     Catherine  married  William  Walker,  Sr. 

Catherine  Rankin  was  born  June  4,  1771.  I  have  not 
been  able  to  determine  the  date  of  the  marriage  of  William 
Walker  and  Catherine  Kankin,  but  their  first  child  was  born 
October  14,  1789.  Walker  had  lived  with  Adam  Brown 
until  his  marriage.  He  took  the  side  of  the  Americans  in 
the  Avar  of  1812,  and  rendered  valuable  service  to  his  coun- 
try. Many  of  the  Wyandots  espoused  the  cause  of  Great 
Britain,  and  Walker  was  in  constant  danger  of  death.  He 
was  afterward  Indian  sub-agent  for  the  Ohio  tribes,  and  it 
was  under  his  administration  that  Methodism  was  introduced 
into  the  Wyandot  Nation.  For  an  account  of  his  valuable 
services  in  this  work  see  the  "  History  of  American  Missions; 
Worcester,  1840  ";  and  Finley's  "  History  of  the  Wyandot 
Mission."  He  died  at  Upper  Sandusky,  Ohio,  January  22, 
1824.-^     His  wife  died  at  the  same  place,  in  December,  1844. 

WILLIAM  WALKEK. 

William  Walker  was  the  son  of  William  and  Catherine 
(Kankin)  Walker.  He  was  born  in  what  is  now  Wayne 
County,  Michigan,  March  5,  1800.^     He  belonged  to  the 

1  Manuscript  letter  from  Governor  Walker  to  his  mother.     Now  in  my  possession. 

^  There  are  two  dates  given.  In  the  old  family  Bible  of  William  Walker,  Sr.,  now 
owned  by  Mrs.  Mary  HafF,  the  date  is  put  down  as  March  5,  1799.  This  date  is  used 
by  Mr.  Lane  in  his  obituary  notice  of  Governor  Walker's  death.  Governor  Walker 
always  says  when  writing  of  the  matter  that  he  was  bom  March  5,  1800.    In  his  Jour- 


12  THE  WALKER  FAMILY. 

Big  Turtle  Clan  of  the  Wyandot  tribe.^  He  had  two  In- 
dian names.  The  first  was  Hiih-shah'-rehs,  meaning  "  the 
stream  over  full";  the  second  was  Sehs'-tah-roh,  meaning 
"  bright,"  and  is  taken  from  the  brightness  of  the  turtle's 
eye  as  seen  in  clear  water.^ 

As  much  of  his  life  will  develop  in  this  work,  little  need 
be  said  here.  He  was  given  a  good  education  at  a  Metho- 
dist school  at  Worthington,  Ohio.  Besides  the  English,  he 
read  and  spoke  Greek,  Latin  and  French.  He  spoke  the 
Wyandot,  Delaware,  Shawnee,  Miami,  and  Pottawatomie 
Indian  languages.  He  was  Head  Chief  of  the  Wyandot 
tribe  while  it  was  yet  in  Ohio,^  and  was  Postmaster  of  the 
town  of  Upper  Sandusky,  Ohio.^  He  was  for  a  time  a 
teacher  in  the  Mission  school  there.^  He  was  twice  mar- 
ried.^ His  first  marriage  was  to  Miss  Hannah  Barrett,  at 
Upper  Sandusky ;  she  was  at  the  time  a  student  in  the  Mis- 
sion school.  The  date  of  this  marriage  is  April  8, 1824.  Of 
this  marriage  were  born  five  children,  two  sons  and  three 
daughters.     Hannah  Walker  died  December  7,  1863. 

April  6, 1865,  he  was  married  at  Dudley,  Hardin  County, 
Ohio,  to  Mrs.  Evelina  J.  Barrett.     She  was  the  widow  of  a 

nals  he  mentions  this  date  as  his  birthday.  He  was  certainly  correctly  informed  in 
the  matter  of  the  date  of  his  birth.  The  entries  iu  the  family  Bible  of  William  Walker, 
Sr.,  have  the  appearance  of  having  been  made  all  at  the  same  time.  If  they  were  it  is 
possible  that  an  error  was  made  in  recording  the  date  of  Governor  Walker's  birth. 

'  His  mother  belonged  to  the  Big  Turtle  Clan.  By  Wyandot  law  the  children  be- 
long to  the  clan  of  the  mother.  Two  persons  belonging  to  the  same  clan  are  not  per- 
mitted to  marry. 

'  I  have  not  been  able  to  find  any  record  left  by  Governor  Walker  in  which  he  had 
written  his  Indian  names.  But  that  they  are  correctly  written  here  a  hundred  Wyan- 
dots  or  more  have  assured  me. 

'  Governor  Walker  was  a  modest  and  retiring  man.  He  left  little  of  record  that 
concerned  himself,  except  as  to  his  health.  That  he  was  Head  Chief  of  the  Wyandota 
in  1835-6  is  established  by  Howe's  Historical  Collections  of  Ohio  (Cincinnati,  1847),  445. 

*  Manuscript  letters  of  the  late  John  Johnston,  of  Piqua,  Ohio,  for  many  years  In- 
dian Agent  for  the  Ohio  Indians.     These  Icttei-s  are  now  in  my  possession. 

»  History  of  the  Wyandot  Mission  —  Finloy. 

•  His  family  Bible  so  states.  It  is  owned  hy  his  grandson,  William  :McMul]an,  Kan- 
sas City,  Kansas. 


THE  WALKER  FAMILY.  13 

brother  of  his  first  wife.  She  died  August  28,  1868.  No 
children  by  this  marriage.^ 

After  the  death  of  his  father,  William  Walker  was  the 
most  influential  man  in  the  Wyandot  Nation.  Intellectually 
he  was  one  of  the  greatest  men  of  that  tribe  of  Indians,  a 
tribe  acknowledged  strong  in  Council. 

He  was  an  eloquent  speaker,  and  as  a  forceful  writer  on 
political  subjects  he  has  been  surpassed  by  few  men.  He 
wrote  many  valuable  papers  on  passing  events  from  the 
time  of  his  removal  West  to  the  beginning  of  the  war  ;  these 
were  published  in  the  newspapers  in  Ohio  and  Missouri,  and 
few  of  them  can  be  found  now.  He  wrote  some  excellent 
papers  for  literary  publications. 

He  was  an  ardent  Democrat,  and  a  slave  holder.  He 
hated  abolitionism  and  contended  for  the  rights  of  slavery 
as  he  understood  those  rights,  to  the  commencement  of  the 
war.  But  he  was  never  in  favor,  so  far  as  I  have  been  able 
to  learn,  of  secession.  I  have  a  speech  wliich  he  delivered 
on  the  4th  of  July,  1864,  in  which  he  says  that  the  war  was 
uncalled  for  and  without  any  justification.  He  was  loyal  to 
his  country.  He  was  elected  a  member  of  the  Lecompton 
Constitutional  Convention,  and  was  present  and  participated 
in  the  proceedings.^ 

Governor  Walker  was  kind  and  gentle  in  his  demeanor 
and  bearing  towards  others.  He  was  a  lover  of  his  home 
and  was  devoted  to  his  family.  He  had  the  French  love 
for  company  and  conversation  and  all  social  enjoyments. 

Of  his  selection  as  Provisional  Governor  of  Nebraska 
Territory  it  is  unnecessary  to  speak  here.  The  facts  are  set 
forth  in  another  part  of  this  work. 

'  All  these  facts  were  taken  from  his  family  Bible,  except  the  statement :  "  She  was 
the  widow  of  a  brother  of  his  first  wife."  This  I  ascertained,  by  inquiry,  from  his  and 
ier  relatives. 

*  Wilder's  Annals  of  Kansas,  127.  He  says  so  in  his  correspondence  now  in  the 
Library  of  the  State  Historical  Society  of  Wisconsin. 


14  THE  WALKER  FAMILY. 

The  last  years  of  life  were  sad  and  sorrowful  ones  for 
Governor  Walker.  He  had  lost  both  his  wives  and  all  his 
children  by  death.  There  is  little  doubt  that  he  welcomed 
death  as  a  friend.  He  was  heart-broken  by  the  loss  of  his 
family.  He  speaks  of  himself  as  being  "stricken  with 
grief,"  and  says,  "  and  now  I  stand  like  a  blasted  oak  in  a 
desert,  its  top  shivered  by  a  bolt  hurled  from  the  armory  of 
Jove." 

The  poem  "Oft  in  the  Stilly  Night"  was  a  favorite  one 
with  all  the  Wyandots.^  One  of  the  last  entries  ever  made 
in  his  journal  is  a  quotation  from  this  poem,  and  is  as  follows : 

"  Oft  in  the  stilly  night, 

E'er  slumber's  chain  has  bound  me, 
Fond  mem'ry  brings  the  light 
Of  other  days  aionnd  me  : 

'  The  late  Mrs.  Lucy  B.  Armstrong's  favorite  stanza  is  as  follows : 
3.   Yet  when  I  look  above 

This  mansion  thus  forsaken 
To  that  where  God  in  love 
My  friends  so  dear  has  taken, 
My  doubts  are  quelled, 
My  fears  dispelled  ; 
For  faith's  sweet  pledge  is  given 
That  those  so  dear 
Are  hovering  near 
To  welcome  me  to  Heaven. 
Chokus. — Thus  oft  in  the  stilly  night 

E'er  slumber's  chain  hath  bound  me 
Eeligion  pours  her  light 
Of  heavenly  joys  around  me. 

Below  is  the  same  stanza  in  the  Wyandot  language : 
3.   Yah-rohn-yah'-yeh  eh-mah-tih 

Noh-mah'-deh  sah-yah-kah-quah, 
Hah-tsah-yooh-hooh-tah-dih 

Nohn-dih-yah  yah-teh'-yeh-ah-hah. 
Dooh  shah-tooh-rah't  tah-yah-rah-nyeh-ohs, 

Dih-yah  zhooh-tih  dab  nyeh-ehn-tah-rih 
Dab  kah'-tooh  ah't  ah-roh-mah-nyeh-oh, 
Nehn  dih  tah-kih-oh-yah-gyeh-ah'-tehs. 
Chorus. — Dooh-neh  tah-wah'-rah-tah 

Tooh-reh-zhah-ih  mehn-tsah'-yeh 
Yah-reh-weh-zhooh-stih  neb 
Kweh-oh-yeh-ohs  wah-tih  ah-stih-eh-quahs. 


THE  WALKER  FAMILY.  15 

The  smiles  and  tears 

Of  boyhood's  years, 
The  words  of  love  then  spoken, 

The  eye  that  shone, 

Now  dimmed  and  gone, 
The  cheerful  heart  now  broken. 

When  I  remember  all 

The  friends  so  link'd  together, 
I've  seen  around  me  fall 

Like  leaves  in  wintry  weather, 

I  feel  like  one 

Who  treads  alone 
Some  banquet-hall  deserted, 

Whose  lights  are  fled, 

Whose  garlands  dead, 
And  all  but  he  departed. 

Thus  oft  in  the  stilly  night." 

Again  he  says : 

"  It  costs  me  a  pang  to  break  up  housekeeping,  having  kept  house 

for  forty-five  years  with  so  many  pleasing  associations 

Whatever  fortune  may  betide  me  in  the  future,  I  will  say — 

"  'Sweet  vale  of  Wyandott,  how  calm  could  I  rest 
In  thy  bosom  of  shade  with  the  friends  I  love  best. 
When  the  storms  which  we  feel  in  this  cold  world  shall  cease, 
Our  hearts  like  thy  waters  shall  mingle  in  peace.'  "  ^ 

The  following  is  copied  from  the  Wyandott  Herald^  of 
February  19,1874: 

OBITUARY. 
Governor  William  Walker. 

The  distinguished  gentleman  whose  name  heads  this  article  was  for 
many  years  as  well  known  in  Kansas  as  any  citizen  in  the  State. 

He  was  born  at  Gibralter,  Michigan,  March  5th,  1799,  and  died  at 
the  residence  of  Mr.  H.  H.  Smalley  in  Kansas  City,  Mo.,  on  Friday, 
the  13th  inst.,  having  accomplished  seventy-five  years  of  useful  and 
eventful  life. 

Governor  Walker  received  a  thorough  education  at  Worthington, 
Ohio,  under  the  immediate  instruction  of  the  venerable  Bishop  Chase. 

'  From  his  Journal. 

»  Hon.  Vincent  J.  Lane  established  the  Herald  in  1872.  He  is  still  its  editor  and 
proprietor. 


16  THE  WALKER  FAMILY. 

After  acquiring  his  education,  William  Walker  entered  almost  at 
once  upon  an  active  life  in  behalf  of  the  North  American  Indians  in 
general,  and  of  the  Wyandott  Nation  in  particular,  among  whom  he 
became  leader  and  counselor,  devoting  the  best  years  of  his  life  to 
their  interests. 

As  early  as  1831  he  visited  the  "Platte  Purchase"  as  agent  of  the 
Wyandott  Nation  with  a  view  to  purchasing  a  hew  location  for  it. 
He  was  at  the  treaty  of  St.  Marys  and  rendered  efficient  services  to  all 
contracting  parties. 

He  was  for  some  years  the  private  Secretary  and  friend  of  Gen. 
Lewis  Cass,  his  secretaryship  beginning  after  the  close  of  the  war  of 
1812,  and  the  friendship  continuing  until  the  death  of  the  General. 

In  1843  William  Walker  came  to  Kansas  with  his  tribe,  where  he 
has  remained  ever  since,  except  when  he  was  called  away  on  business 
or  for  his  health  which  for  some  years  has  been  feeble. 

He  acquired  his  title  of  Governor  in  1853,  when  he  was  appointed 
Provisional  Governor  of  Kansas  Territory, 

With  him  died  more  Indian  archaeological  knowledge  than  has  been 
preserved  by  any  writer  on  the  subject.  Indian  antiquity  and  history 
were  his  special  study,  and  being  an  Indian  himself,  highly  educated 
and  with  a  natural  taste  in  that  direction,  his  success  was  not  surprising. 

He  furnished  Scho<jlcraft  with  a  large  amount  of  information  con- 
tained in  his  works  on  the  Indians  of  North  America,  and  also  gave 
General  Butterfield  many  incidents  contained  in  his  new  work  on 
Crawford's  campaign  against  Sandusky. 

Governor  Walker  wrote  much  himself  for  newspapers  and  periodi- 
cals but  unfortunately  has  left  none  of  the  results  of  his  deep  research 
in  a  form  to  be  used  by  the  historian  or  antiquary. 

He  was  buried  on  Saturday  last  in  Oak  Grove  Cemetery,  with  Ma- 
sonic honors,  having  been  one  of  the  Charter  Meml)ers  of  Wyandott 
Lodge  No.  3,  and  for  many  years  an  iionorary  member  thereof. 

So  has  passed  away  one  of  our  oldest  and  most  valued  citizens. 

He  who  first  bore  the  title  of  Governor  of  that  territory- 
embraced  within  the  present  bounds  of  Kansas  and  Nebraska 
sleeps  upon  the  banks  of  the  Missouri  River,  at  the  mouth  of 
the  Kansas.  To  the  shame  of  both  States,  be  it  said,  no 
monument  of  any  kind  marks  his  last  resting  place. 


RUSSELL  GARRETT. 


THE 

PROVISIONAL  GOVERNMENT 

OF 

NEBRASKA  TEERITORT. 


I. 

I  commenced  the  collection  of  facts  concerning  this  period  of 
the  history  of  Kansas  and  Nebraska  more  than  fourteen 
years  ago.  Some  of  the  persons  from  whom  I  obtained 
statements  and  with  whom  I  consulted  are  named  here: 
H.  M.  Northrup,  Nicholas  McAlpine  (son-in-law  of  Joel 
Walker), Lucy  B.  Annstrong,  R.  W.  Clark,  H.  T.  Har- 
ris,  H.  C.  Long,  Matthias  Splitlog,  Michael  Hummer, 
Mrs.  Lillian  Walker  Hale,  William  McMullan,  Hon. 
Frank  H.  Eetton,^  Sanford  HaflP,  Mrs.  Mary  Haff,  E. 
F.  Heisler,  Hon.  W.  J.  Enchan,  S.  S.  Sharp,  M.  B. 
Newman,  Stephen  Perkins,  W.  H.  H.  Grinter,  Hiram 
Malott,  John  G.  Pratt,  John  C.  Grinter,  Geo.  U.  S. 

'  Frank  Holyoke  Betton  was  born  in  Derry,  Eockingliam  County,  New  Hampshire, 
August  1,  1835.  He  came  to  Kansas  in  1856.  He  has  been  an  active  man,  connected 
with  various  enterprises,  the  principal  of  which  are  the  milling,  lumber,  and  insurance 
business.  He  has  been  successful  and  has  an  elegant  and  commodious  home  at  the  little 
town  of  Pomeroy  in  Wyandotte  County.  He  was  appointed  Commissioner  of  Labor  for 
Kansas,  which  office  he  held  many  years,  and  was  a  faithful  and  capable  official.  He 
was  married  to  Susanah  Mudeater,  daughter  of  Matthew  Mudeater,  March  8,  1860.  Of 
this  marriage  were  bom :  1.  Silas,  born  January,  1861,  died  September  13,  1873;  2. 
Florence,  bom  September  8,  1862;  3.  Frank  Holyoke,  Jr.,  born  November  17,  1865;  4. 
Cora  Estelle,  born  August  18, 1868;  5.  Matthew  Thornton,  born  July  12,1870;  6.  Susannah 
W.  J.,  born  December  5,  1871;  7.  Ernest  L.,  born  July  13,  1881.  All  bom  in  Wyandotte 
County,  Kansas. 

3  (17) 


18  THE  PROVISIONAL  GOVERNMENT 

Hovey,  R.  M.  Gray,  Ebeiiezer  Zaiie,  Rezin  Wilcoxen, 
and  V.  J.  Lane,  Editor  of  the  Wyandott  Herald,  and 
for  many  years  the  personal  and  political  friend  of  Gov- 
ernor Walker.  George  W.  Martin,  Editor  of  the  Kansas 
City,  Kansas,  Gazette,  furnished  me  valuable  aid.  In 
addition  to  these,  and  many  others  of  Wyandotte  County, 
Kansas,  I  have  consulted  Mrs.  Sarah  Daguett,  Alfred 
Mudeater,  Mrs.  Julia  Mudeater,  Eldredge  H.  Brown, 
Silas  Armstrong,  Smith  Nichols,  Mrs.  W.  H.  Stannard, 
Henry  Hicks,  B.  F.  Johnson,  Mrs.  Mary  Walker,  Mrs. 
Margaret  Pipe,  John  W.  Gray-Eyes,  Mrs.  Carrie  Lof- 
land,  James  Long,  Benj.  Mudeater,  Allen  Johnson, 
Allen  Johnson,  Jr.,  Head  Chief  of  the  Wyandots,  John 
Barnett,  George  Wright,  David  DeShane,  Mrs.  Jack- 
son (supposed  to  be  more  than  100  years  old),  Charles 
Blue-Jacket,^  and  many  other  intelligent  and  reliable 
Wyandots   and    Shawnees  in   the    Indian    Territory. 

1  Charles  Blue-Jaoket  was  tlie  son  of  a  Shawnee  Chief  of  the  same  name.  He  was 
born  in  what  is  now  the  State  of  Michigan,  on  the  banks  of  the  Eiver  Huron,  in  1816. 
His  grandfather  was  Weh-yah-pih-ehr-sehn-wah'  the  famous  Shawnee  Chief  who  waa 
associated  with  Mih'-shih-kihu'-ah-kwah,  or  Little  Turtle,  the  Chief  of  the  Miamis,  in 
the  battle  in  which  General  Harmer  was  defeated  by  the  Northwestern  Confederacy  of 
Indians,  in  1790.  In  the  battle  in  which  Wayne  defeated  the  Confederacy,  Weh-yah-pih- 
ehr-sehn-wah' ,  or  Blue-Jacket,  or  Captain  Blue-Jacket,  as  he  was  called,  commanded 
the  allied  Indian  forces.  The  ancestors  of  the  Blue-Jackets  were  war  chiefs,  but  never 
village  or  civil  chiefs  until  after  the  removal  of  the  tribe  to  the  West. 

When  Charles  Blue-Jacket  was  a  child  his  parents  moved  to  the  Piqua  Plains  in  Ohio. 
In  1832  they  removed  to  that  part  of  the  Shawnee  Reservation  in  the  West  now  in  Wy- 
andotte County,  Kansas.  Here  Charles  Blue-Jacket  lived  with  his  tribe.  He  moved 
to  the  Indian  Territory  in  1871.  His  home  was  at  the  town  of  Blue-Jacket,  named  for 
him  by  the  M.,  K.  &  T.  Railroad  Co.  He  was  a  Chief  always  after  coming  to  Kansas. 
He  was  an  honest  man  and  much  loved  by  the  Shawnees,  and  greatly  respected  by  the 
white  people.  He  died  in  December,  1897,  at  his  home,  from  the  effects  of  a  cold  con- 
tracted while  searching  for  the  Shawnee  Prophet's  grave  in  Wyandotte  County,  Kansas, 
the  previous  summer.  Mr.  Blue-Jacket  was  well  acquainted  with  Lah-uh'-leh-wah'-sih- 
kah'  called  after  he  became  the  Prophet,  Tehn-skwah'-tah-wah,  and  sometimes  Ehl- 
skwah'-tah-wah,  and  was  present  at  his  burial  in  1836  in  Shawnee  Township,  Wyandotte 
County,  Kansas.  Mr.  Blue-Jacket  was  a  Free  Mason.  He  was  married  three  times, 
and  twenty-three  children  were  born  to  him.     His  youngest  child  was  born  in  1889. 


OF  NEBEASKA  TERRITORY.  19 

Some  of  the  statements  were  contradictory,  and  few  of 
them  agreed  exactly  in  all  details;  but  in  all  material 
matters  there  was  substantial  agreement.  I  have  not 
relied  entirely  upon  oral  evidence  in  any  case  where 
there  was  a  record.  C.  W.  Butterfield,  the  well  known 
author,  rendered  me  valuable  assistance. 


The  territory  embraced  in  Nebraska  as  bounded  in  the 
bills  introduced  in  Congress  (which  uniformly  failed  of  pas- 
sage), was  obtained  from  France  in  the  purchase  from  that 
country  of  the  province  of  Louisiana.  The  treaty  between 
France  and  the  United  States  by  which  Louisiana  was  ceded 
to  the  latter  was  signed  in  Paris  on  the  30th  day  of  April, 
1803.^ 

France  delivered  possession  of  Louisiana  to  the  United 
States  on  the  20th  day  of  December,  1803,  at  the  City  of  New 
Orleans.  Mr.  Claiborne,  Governor  of  the  Territory  of  Mis- 
sissippi, represented  the  American  Government  upon  this 
occasion,  and  M.  Laussat  represented  the  Government  of 
France.^ 

But  the  authority  of  the  United  States  Government  in,  and 
the  exercise  of  power  over  that  part  of  the  "Louisiana  Pur- 
chase" of  which  the  original  Nebraska  was  a  part,  dates  from 
March  10th,  1804,  when  Amos  Stoddard  assumed  the  duties 
of  Governor  of  Upper  Louisiana.^ 

On  March  26th,  1804,  Congress  divided  the  territory  ac- 
quired by  the  purchase  of  Louisiana  into  two  parts.  One  of 
these  was  called  the  Territory  of  Orleans,  and  comprised  that 
part  of  the  country  south  of  the  north  line  of  the  present 
State  of  Louisiana.     The  other  contained  all  the  remainder 

>  Andreas's  History  of  Nebraska,  46. 
'  Annals  of  the  West  (1S50),  534. 
•  Andreas's  History  of  Nebraska,  46. 


20  THE  PROVISIONAL  GOVERNMEN^T 

of  the  vast  province,  and  was  named  the  District  of  Louis- 
iana. This  District  was  attached  to  the  Territory  of  Indiana 
for  the  purposes  of  government.^ 

On  March  3d,  1805,  Congress  changed  the  name  of  the 
*'  District  of  Louisiana  "  to  that  of  the  "  Territory  of  Lou- 
isiana," and  detached  it  from  the  Territory  of  Indiana.  It 
was  erected  into  a  Territory  of  the  "  second  class,"  and 
James  Wilkinson  was  appointed  its  Governor  by  President 
Jefferson.^ 

On  June  4th,  1812,  Congress  changed  the  name  of  the 
"Territory  of  Louisiana"  to  that  of  the  "Territory  of  Mis- 
souri," and  provided  a  system  of  government  for  the  new 
Territory.  On  January  19th,  1816,  the  Legislature  made 
the  common  law  of  England  the  law  of  the  Territory.^ 

The  Territory  of  Arkansas  had  been  created  from  terri- 
tory taken  from  the  Territory  of  Missouri,  in  1819.  Mis- 
souri was  admitted  as  a  State  in  1820-21.  The  "Platte 
Purchase"  was  added  to  Missouri  by  the  adroit  statesman- 
ship of  Colonel  Benton,  in  1836.  The  territory  compris- 
ing the  States  of  Arkansas  and  Missouri  as  now  consti- 
tuted was  taken  from  the  Territory  of  Missouri.  All  that 
area  of  Missouri  Territory,  except  that  portion  taken  for 
the  States  of  Arkansas  and  Missouri,  remained  de  facto  as 
well  as  de  jure  Missouri  Territory.  It  had  no  capital  —  no 
seat  of  government,  it  had  very  few  white  residents.  It 
extended  north  to  British  America,  and  on  the  west  it  was 
bounded  by  the  extreme  limits  of  the  "  Louisiana  Purchase." 

On  June  30th,  1834,  the  old  Territory  of  Missouri  was 
divided.  For  the  purposes  of  the  Act,  it  was  declared  to  be 
"  Indian  Country  " — what  it  had  always  been,  in  fact,  and 

'  Andreas's  History  of  Nebraska,  46. 

"^  Andreas's  History  of  Nebraska,  46.  St.  Louis  was  made  the  capital.  Frederick 
Bates  was  appointed  Secretary.  Eeturn  J.  Meigs  and  John  B.  C.  Lucas  were  appointed 
Judges.     The  Governor  and  Judges  constituted  the  Legislature. 

3  Andreas's  History  of  Nebraska,  46. 


OF  NEBRASKA  TERRITORY.  21 

came  to  be  called  and  spoken  of  as  the  "  Indian  Territory.'^ 
The  criminal  laws  of  the  United  States  were  declared  to  be 
in  force  in  any  part  of  it  within  the  exclusive  jurisdiction  of 
the  United  States.^  The  crimes  committed  by  one  Indian 
against  the  person  or  property  of  another  Indian  were  ex- 
cepted. The  South  division,  including  all  that  part  of  the 
"  Indian  Country "  west  of  the  Mississippi  River  that  is 
bounded  north  by  the  line  of  lands  assigned  to  the  Osages 
produced  east  to  the  State  of  Missouri,  west  by  the  Mexican 
possessions,  south  by  the  Red  River,  and  east  by  the  west 
line  of  the  State  of  Arkansas,  was  annexed  to  the  State  of 
Arkansas.  The  jurisdiction  of  the  United  States  District 
Court  of  Missouri  was  extended  over  the  remainder  of  the 
"Territory  of  Missouri."^  The  "Annual  Register  of  In- 
dian Affairs"  for  the  year  1835  defined  the  boundaries  of 
the  "Indian  Territory"  as  follows:  "Beginning  on  Red 
River,  east  of  the  Mexican  boundary  and  as  far  west  of 
Arkansas  Territory  as  the  country  is  habitable,  thence  down 
Red  River  eastwardly  to  Arkansas  Territory ;  thence  north- 
wardly along  the  line  of  the  Arkansas  Territory  to  the 
State  of  Missouri,  thence  up  Missouri  River  to  Pimcah 
River;  thence  westwardly  as  flir  as  the  country  is  habitable, 
and  thence  southwardly  to  the  beginning."^ 

In  1834  a  considerable  portion  of  the  Territory  of  Mis- 
souri, on  the  North,  was  set  off  to  the  Territory  of  Michigan. 
What  remained  was  still  the  Territory  of  Missouri,  and  so 
remained  until  the  passage  of  the  Kansas-Nebraska  Act  of 
May  30,  1854.  Then  the  Territory  of  Missouri  was  extin- 
guished—  wiped  out  —  but  not  till  then.     Whether  in  its 

'  The  term  "Exclusive  jurisdiction  of  the  United  States"  was  probably  used  on  ac- 
count of  the  contention  over  the  line  or  boundary  between  Louisiana  and  Texas,  then 
a  part  of  Mexico.  A  neutral  ground  between  the  two  countries  had  been  agreed  upon 
— a  beautiful  arrangement  for  the  pirates  and  free-booters  then  in  the  Gulf  of  Mexico 
in  great  numbers. 

2  Annals  of  the  West  (1850),  542. 

'  History  of  American  Missions  (Worcester,  1840),  540. 


22  THE  PROVISIONAL  GOVERNMENT 

"pristine  glory,"  or  shorn  of  much  of  its  extent,  it  had, 
through  all  this  time  (1820-1854),  a  government  —  one  in 
fact  and  one  in  law ;  but  it  was  an  exceedingly  limited  one 
in  its  powers.  It  came  very  near  being  no  government  at 
all.  Its  functions  were  all  condensed  into  the  dicta  of  the 
United  States  District  Court  of  Missouri.  There  was  no 
ordinary  Territorial  Government  for  what  was  then  the 
"Indian  Country"  during  all  these  years,  except  what  was 
decreed  by  that  Court;  for  what  was  left  of  Missouri  Terri- 
tory was  "attached"  by  the  act  of  Congress  of  1834  to  that 
tribunal  "  to  be  looked  after." 

As  much  as  ten  years  before  the  passage  of  the  Kansas- 
Nebraska  bill  the  want  of  a  more  effective  government  for  the 
"Indian  Territory  "  was  recognized.  In  1844,  the  Secre- 
tary of  War  recommended  the  organization  of  a  Territorial 
Government;  and,  acting  on  this  recommendation,  Mr. 
Douglas,  of  the  House  Committee  on  Territories,  introduced 
a  bill  to  establish  the  Territory  of  Nebraska,  on  the  17th  of 
December,  1844.  This  bill  was  referred  to  the  Committee 
on  Territories ;  an  amendatory  bill  was  reported  on  January 
7,  1845,  which  was  referred  to  the  Committee  of  the  Whole 
on  the  State  of  the  Union,  and  no  further  action  was  had 
thereon. 

The  next  effort  for  the  organization  of  Nebraska  Territory 
was  made  in  1848.  Mr.  Douglas  had,  in  the  meantime,  been 
elected  to  the  Senate.  Here  he  introduced  a  bill,  which,  on 
the  24th  of  April,  1848,  was  made  the  order  of  the  day  for 
Monday,  the  24th  of  the  same  month,  but  nothing  further 
was  done  with  the  bill. 

On  December  4th,  1848,  Mr.  Douglas  gave  notice  that  he 
would  introduce  anotlier  Nebraska  bill.  This  bill  was  in- 
troduced and  was  referred  to  the  Committee  on  Territories, 
December  20, 1848,  and  no  further  action  was  had  thereon.^ 

'  See  the  Statement  of  Abelard  Guthrie,  in  thia  work,  for  an  account  of  these  bills. 


OF  NEBRASKA  TERRITORY.  23 

This  was  the  last  effort  of  Congress  to  organize  the  Territory 
of  Nebraska  prior  to  the  movement  of  the  people  of  the 
Territory  themselves  for  the  establishment  of  a  Territorial 
Government. 

In  the  years  1849  and  1850  thousands  of  people  passed 
through  "Nebraska  Territory,"  as  the  country  was  beginning 
to  be  called,  on  their  way  to  California.  The  emigrant  tribes 
of  Indians  residing  in  the  Territory  had  been  removed  from 
the  country  further  east  where  they  had  lived  near  and  had 
much  intercourse  with  white  people,  and  they  possessed  and 
enjoyed  many  of  the  institutions  of  civilization.  These  tribes 
were  located  on  the  borders  of  Missouri,  with  the  inhabitants 
of  which  State  they  traded  and  bartered  many  commodities. 
The  leading  tribes  were  the  Wyandots,  the  Delawares,  the 
Shawnees,  the  Miamis  and  Kickapoos.  In  all  these  tribes 
were  men  of  education  and  influence.  They  comprehended 
their  condition  and  could  plainly  discern  the  tendencies  of 
the  times.  It  was  obvious  to  them  that  they  were  occupy- 
ing the  country  through  which  the  great  highway  to  the 
Pacific  Ocean  must  be  built  in  the  near  future.  Along  this 
line  of  road  must  be  settlers,  and  these  settlers  must  live  on 
land  then  belonging  to  the  Indians.  The  Indian  had  had 
enough  experience  to  know  that  the  word  "forever"  written 
in  his  title  to  the  soil  was  intended  to  mean  "until  the  white 
man  wants  it."  The  pressure  along  the  western  line  of 
Missouri  was  increasing,  and  white  men  looked  across  an 
arbitrary  line  and  saw  the  Indian  country  "and  behold  it 
was  very  good,"  and  they  wanted  it;  and  the  Indian  knew 
they  wanted  it.  It  was  plain  to  the  intelligent  Indians  that 
the  tribes  would  soon  be  compelled  to  move.  If  they  must 
sell  their  lands,  they  wanted  as  good  a  price  as  could  be  ob- 
tained. To  enhance  the  value  of  their  lands  it  was  necessary 
that  white  men  should  have  liberty  to  settle  in  their  vicinity 
in  numbers,  and  for  the  purpose  of  allowing  them  to  do  so 


24  THE  PROVISIONAL  GOVERNMENT 

the  Indian  tribes  themselves  moved  for  the  organization  of 
Nebraska  Territory.  Foremost  in  the  movement  was  the 
Wyandot  Nation,  which  occupied  the  land  between  the 
Kansas  and  Missouri  Rivers,  at  the  mouth  of  the  Kansas. 
The  emigrant  tribes,  adhering  to  their  ancient  customs, 
looked  to  the  Wyandots  to  take  the  initiative.  The  Wyan- 
dots  were  the  keepers  of  the  Council  fire  of  the  Northwest- 
ern Confederacy  of  Indian  tribes  which  opposed  so  long  and 
so  successfully  the  settlement  of  the  Territory  Northwest  of 
the  Ohio  Hiver.  The  great  Council  fire  had  been  re-kindled 
in  the  West,  at  a  Congress  of  the  tribes  held  near  Fort 
Leavenworth  in  October,  1848,  and  the  position  of  the  Wy- 
andot Nation,  as  the  head  of  the  Confederacy,  confirmed  and 
renewed.  It  was  necessary  that  any  movement  among  the 
Indians  that  would  affect  the  interests  of  the  tribes  of  the 
ancient  Confederacy  should  originate  with  the  Wyandot 
Nation,  if  it  expected  to  receive  consideration. 

During  the  first  session  of  the  Thirty-second  Congress  in 
the  winter  of  1 851-2  and  the  spring  of  1852  these  people 
petitioned  Congress  to  establish  a  Territorial  Government  in 
the  Territory  of  Nebraska.  Little  or  no  attention  being 
given  their  petitions,  they  concluded  to  adopt  a  more  efi*ect- 
ive  course — one  which  Congress  could  not  so  easily  ignore. 
They  decided  to  elect  a  delegate  to  the  Thirty-second  Con- 
gress and  send  him  to  attend  the  last  session  of  that  body, 
to  be  held  in  the  winter  of  1852-8.  Those  most  active  in 
this  course  were,  William  Walker,  Matthew   R.  Walker,^ 

'  Matthew  R.  Walker  was  a  brother  of  Governor  Walker.  He  was  born  June  17,  1810. 
He  belonged  to  the  Big  Turtle  Clan.  His  Indian  name  was  Eah'-hahn-tah'-seh.  It 
means  "twisting  the  forest,"  i.  e.,  as  the  wind  twists  the  forest,  and  it  refers  to  the 
willows  and  reeds  along  the  streams  as  they  are  swayed  by  the  breeze.  He  was  one 
of  the  leading  business  men  of  the  Wyandot  Nation.  Before  the  Wyandots  removed 
from  their  home  at  Upper  Sandusky  he  made  a  trip  from  Ohio  to  the  Senecas,  and  to 
the  Delawares  and  Shawneos,  for  the  purpose  of  selecting  a  home  in  the  West  for  his 
tribe.  This  was  in  1841.  Governor  Walker  had  visited  the  country  about  the  mouth 
of  the  Kansas  River  in  1833.  Ou  the  reports  of  these  and  some  others  of  the  tribe,  the 
Wyandots  came  to  what  is  now  Wyaudottc  ("uunty.  Kansas,  when  they  removed  West. 
Matthew  E.  Walker  lived  on  the  banks  of  the  Missouri  where  the  mansion  of  George 


OF  NEBRASKA  TERRITORY.  25 

Joel  Walker/  Isaiah  Walker,  Abelard  Guthrie,  Francis  A. 
Hicks,  George  I.  Clark,  Charles  B.  Garrett,  Russell  Garrett, 
Joel  W.  Garrett,  Matthew  Mudeater,  Silas  Armstroug  and 
John  W.  Gray-Eyes. 

Fowler  now  stands,  in  Kansas  City,  Kansas.  He  married  Lydia  B.  Ladd.  One  of  their 
daughters  is  Mrs.  Lillian  Walker  Hale,  the  well  known  writer. 

The  first  communication  of  a  Masonic  Lodge  in  what  is  now  Kansas,  was  held  in 
Matthew  E.  Walker's  home,  and  Mrs.  Walker  acted  as  Tyler,  there  not  being  enough 
Masons  present  to  fill  all  the  official  places.  The  Masons  met  informally  at  his  house 
up  to  July,  1854,  when  a  warrant  was  obtained  from  the  Grand  Lodge  of  Missouri  au- 
thorizing J.  M.  Chivington,  W.  M.,  M.  E.  Walker,  S.  W.,  and  Cyrus  Garrett,  J.  W.  to 
meet  and  work  U.  D.  V.  J.  Lane  says  the  first  meeting  under  this  dispensation  was 
held  August  11th,  A.  L.  5354,  and  a  Lodge  of  Masons  U.  D.  was  duly  organized.  The 
officers  of  the  Lodge  were  installed  by  Bro.  Piper,  D.  G.  M.  of  Missouri. 

In  May,  A.  L.  5855,  a  charter  was  granted  from  the  G.  L.  of  Missouri  to  M.  E.  Walker, 
W.  M.,  Eussell  Garrett,  S.  W.,  and  Cyrus  Garrett,  J.  W.,  authorizing  them  to  meet  and 
work,  under  the  name  of  Kansas  Lodge  No.  153,  A.  F.  &  A.  M.  The  first  meeting 
under  this  charter  was  held  July  27,  A.  L.  5855.  On  the  27th  of  December,  A.  L.  5855, 
a  meeting  of  the  Lodges  of  the  Territory  of  Kansas  was  held  in  Leavenworth  City,  at 
which  Wyandotte,  Smithton,  and  Leavenworth  Lodges  were  represented.  At  this 
meeting  the  G.  L.  of  Kansas  was  organized.  Matthew  E.  Walker  was  an  officer  of  the 
Grand  Lodge.  In  the  by-laws  of  Wyandotte  Lodge  No.  3,  A.  F.  &  A.  M.,  of  Kansas 
City,  Kansas  (the  oldest  Lodge  in  the  State),  is  the  following: 

Wyandotte  Lodge,  No.  3. 

In  Memoriam. 

Matthew  R.  Walker,  P.  M.  &  P.  S.  G.  W., 

Oct.  15th,  I860. 

Matthew  E.  Walker  was  Probate  Judge  of  Leavenworth  County,  Kansas,  when  it 
included  what  is  now  Wyandotte  County.  He  is  buried  in  the  old  Huron  Place  Ceme- 
tery in  Kansas  City,  Kansas.  On  the  monument  over  his  grave  is  the  following  inscrip- 
tion: 

M.  R.  Walker 

Born 
Jan  17  1810 

Died 
Oct  1  4  1  860 

'  Joel  Walker  was  also  a  brother  of  Governor  Walker.  He  was  born  in  Canada  West. 
The  three  dates  of  his  birth  that  I  have  found  are  all  difierent.  In  the  family  Bible  of 
his  father  the  date  is  July  17, 1813.  In  Governor  Walker's  Journal  the  date  is  February 
18,  1813.  On  his  monument  it  is  February  17,  1813.  His  Indian  name  was  Wah'-wahs 
(Way-wahs)  and  means  "lost  turtle"  or  "turtle  in  a  lost  place"  and  was  given  to  com- 
memorate his  birth  which  was  on  this  wise :  His  mother,  Catherine  Walker,  like  all  her 
maternal  ancestors,  was  familiar  with  the  languages  of  many  of  the  tribes  of  the  North- 
west, and  she  had  great  influence  with  them.  Her  presence  was  required  at  many  of 
the  Councils  of  consequence.  At  one  time  she  was  sent  for  to  act  as  interpreter  in  an 
important  meeting  that  would  determine  some  question  for  some  tribe,  relating  to  the 
war  of  1812.  Her  period  of  maternity  was  fulfilled,  or  nearly  so,  and  she  desired  not  to 
go.  But  as  the  Council  could  not  proceed  without  her  the  warriors  procured  a  wagon 
and  team  and  having  bundled  her  into  this  rough  conveyance  started  away  in  the  dark- 
ness, over  rough  roads.    In  the  black  darkness  of  the  cloudy  night  the  horses  left  the 


26  THE  PROVISIONAL  GOVERNMENT 

On  the  12th  day  of  October,  1852,  the  election  for  a  Dele- 
gate to  Congress  was  held  in  the  Council  House  of  the  Wy- 
andot Nation.  The  entry  in  Governor  Walker's  Journal  on 
that  date  says:  "Attended  the  election  for  Delegate  for  Con- 
gress from  Nebraska  Territory.  A.  Guthrie  received  the 
entire  vote  polled." 

The  officers  of  this  election  were:  Judges,  George  I.  Clark, 
Samuel  Priestley  and  Matthew  R.  Walker;  Clerks,  William 
Walker  and  Benjamin  N.  C.  Anderson.  The  names  of  the 
persons  who  voted  at  the  election  are  as  follows :  Charles  B. 
Garrett,  Isaac  Baker,  Jose  Antonio  Pieto,  Henry  C.  Norton, 
Abelard  Guthrie,  Henry  C.  Long,  Cyrus  Garrett,  Francis 
Cotter,  Edward  B.  Hand,  Francis  A.  Hicks,  Russell  Garrett, 
Samuel  Bankin,  Nicholas  Cotter,  Joel  W.  Garrett,  Isaac 
Long,  Thomas  Coon-Hawk,  Jacob  Charloe,  Wm.  Walker, 
George  I.  Clark,  Benjamin  N.  C.  Anderson,  Matthew  B. 
Walker,  Samuel  Priestley,  Henry  Garrett,  Wm.  Gibson, 
Presley  Muir,  Joel  Walker,  Isaac  Brown,  Jas.  Long,  Jno. 

way  and  they  were  soon  driving  aimlessly  about  through  the  dark  woods.  The  result 
was  as  she  had  feared.  She  was  seized  with  parturient  pains  and  a  son  was  born  to  her 
while  she  was  lost  in  the  forest.    His  name  was  to  keep  this  event  in  memory. 

When  Wyandott  City  (now  Kansas  City,  Kansas)  was  laid  out  a  street  was  named 
Wawas,  for  Joel  Walker.  Strangers  called  it  "  Wah'-wahs"  street,  but  the  proper  pro- 
nunciation is  "Wa'-wahs"  (Way'-wahs).  Some  years  ago  a  City  Council,  wholly  ig- 
norant of  the  City's  history  and  the  history  of  its  founders,  changed  the  name  of  the 
street  to  "Freeman  Avenue,'  because  one  Freeman  built  a  fine  residence  on  it.  The 
old  name  shoi^ld  be  restored. 

Joel  Walker  was  married  to  Mary  Ann  Ladd  (born  July  1, 1819,  died  January  8, 1886) 
in  Franklin  County,  Ohio,  May  19,  1844.  Their  children  were :  1.  Florence,  born 
March  20,  1845,  died  Oct.  6,  1845;  2.  Maria  W.,  born  June  17,  1847,  died  Feb'y  26,  1891; 
3.  Justin,  born  April  6,  1849;  4.  Ida  E.,  born  Feb'y  22,  1851,  died  Feb'y  16,  1866;  5. 
Everett,  born  August  27,  1853,  died  March  30,  1888.  Only  Maria  W.  was  married;  she 
was  married  to  Nicholas  McAlpine  (born  in  County  Down,  Ireland,  April  5,  1835)  June 
21,  1866.  Their  children  are:  1.  Eobert  L.,  born  May  8,  1867;  2.  Jessie  S.,  born  July 
19,  1874;  3.  Mary  A.,  born  Januaiy  24,  1882;  4.  John  W.,  born  June  30,  1887. 
On  the  monument  over  his  grave  in  the  old  Huron  Place  Cemetery  is  the  following: 

In 

Memoriam 

Joe!    Walker 

Born    in   Canada  West 

Feb  17  1813 

Died   in  Wyandott   Kansas 

Sept   8  1857. 


OF  NEBRASKA  TEERITORY.  27 

Lynch,^  "William  Trowbridge,  John  W.  Ladd,^  Daniel  Mc- 
Neal,^  Edward  Fifer,  Peter  D.  Clark  and  Henry  W.  Porter.'* 
The  purpose  to  hold  an  election  to  elect  a  Delegate  to  Con- 
gress from  Nebraska  Territory  met  with  much  opposition  from 
the  representatives  of  the  Government  of  the  United  States 
then  in  the  "  Indian  Territory."  Governor  Walker  says  that 
even  the  discussion  of  the  settlement  of  the  country  "attracted 
the  attention  of  the  Interior  Department  and  drew  forth  of- 
ficial intimation  that  the  government  could  not  allow  any 
portion  of  that  Territory  to  be  occupied  by  white  people;  and 
that  the  President  was  authorized  to  employ,  if  necessary, 
the  military  force  of  the  United  States  in  removing  from  the 
Indian  Country  all  persons  found  there  contrary  to  law." 
Mr.  Guthrie  says  that  "one  Colonel  Fauntleroy,  Command- 
ing Officer  at  Fort  Leavenworth  (and  now  I  believe  of  the 
rebel  army),  threatened  to  arrest  me  if  I  should  attempt  to 
hold  the  election."  And  in  another  communication  (to  the 
New  York  Tribune  August  9,  1856),  "I  met  with  many 
difficulties,  and  on  one  occasion  was  threatened  with  impris- 
onment by  the  commanding  officer  of  one  of  the  military 
posts  in  the  Territory,  for  my  attempt  at  'revolution,'  as  he 
called  it."  Notwithstanding  the  fact  that  the  military  au- 
thorities forbade  the  holding  of  the  election,  the  people  went 
forward  with  their  purpose.  Seeing  both  their  threats  and 
their  commands  disobeyed,  the  election  held,  and  Mr.  Guth- 
rie chosen,  the  opposition  changed  tactics,  and  called  an 
election  for  Delegate  at  Fort  Leavenworth.  At  this  election 
a  Mr.  Banow  was  selected  to  oppose  Mr.  Guthrie.  The  in- 
tention was  to  choose  Banow  and  defeat  Guthrie  at  the  sub- 

'  Often  spoken  of  in  Governor  Walker's  Journals,  and  sometimes  called  "  Jonny  O' 
Bludgeon." 

=  John  Wanton  Ladd,  born  in  Warrick,  E.  I.,  August  10,  1793,  died  in  Wyandotte, 
Kansas,  Sept.  25,  1865.  Buried  in  Huron  Place  Cemetery.  He  was  the  father-in-law 
of  Matthew  R.,  and  Joel  Walker. 

3  Was  a  "  hired  man  "  in  the  "  Nation."     Worked  for  Governor  Walker. 

*  He  is  the  "  Old  Connecticut "  mentioned  iu  Governor  Walker's  Journal. 


28  THE  PROVISIONAL  GOVERNMENT 

sequent  election,  and  send  Banow  forward  for  the  purpose  of 
preventing  Mr.  Guthrie  from  obtaining  his  seat,  or  to  contest 
the  seat  if  the  Territory  was  organized  and  Mr.  Guthrie  ad- 
mitted as  Delegate.  This  action  of  the  military  was  inspired 
by  Senator  Atchison  of  Missouri. 

The  people  however,  wanted  the  Territory  organized,  and 
refused  to  become  a  party  to  this  movement  for  delay,  polit- 
ical advantage,  and  confusion.  Mr.  Guthrie  defeated  Banow 
at  this  subsequent  election  by  a  vote  of  54  to  16. 

The  opposition  to  Territorial  organization  was  next  felt  in 
Washington.  At  that  time  there  were  two  opiDOsing  and 
bitterly  hostile  factions  in  the  Democratic  party  in  the  State 
of  Missouri.  One  faction  stood  for  moderation  and  the  rights 
of  slavery  under  existing  laws  without  effort  to  extend  it  by 
the  repeal  of  the  Missouri  Compromise,  and  was  in  favor  of 
the  organization  of  Nebraska  Territory.  This  faction  was 
led  by  Colonel  Thomas  H.  Benton,  Willard  P.  Hall,  Frank 
P.  Blair,  Jr.,  and  to  some  extent  by  the  St.  Louis  Republi- 
can, the  principal  Democratic  newspaper  of  the  State.  The 
other  faction  was  radical,  aggressive  and  extreme  in  favor  of 
all  matters  and  measures  put  forward  by  the  slave  power  of 
the  South.  The  real  leader  and  the  inspiring  genius  of  this 
faction  was  William  Cecil  Price,^  of  Springfield.     Senator 

'  William  Cecil  Price  was  born  in  Tazewell  County,  Virginia,  and  is  a  direct  descend- 
ant of  Lord  Baltimore,  who  settled  Maiyland.  He  came  with  his  parents  to  Green 
County,  Missouri,  in  1828.  Was  prominent  in  politics  of  the  State  until  the  war.  Was 
an  able  lawyer,  and  was  elected  Probate  Judge,  Circuit  Judge,  District  Attorney,  Mem- 
ber of  the  Legislature,  State  Senator,  Member  of  Congress,  and  held  other  positions  of 
honor  and  trust.  Organized  and  carried  to  a  successful  issue  the  fight  on  Colonel 
Thomas  H.  Benton,  but  in  doing  so  divided  the  Democratic  party  of  Missouri.  Was 
Treasurer  of  the  United  States  under  President  Buchanan.  Was  an  advocate  of  seces- 
sion, and  selected  Claiborn  Jackson  to  be  the  candidate  of  the  Democratic  party  of  Mis- 
souri for  Governor.  Joined  the  Confederate  army.  Was  captured  at  Wilson's  Creek 
and  for  a  long  time  confined  in  the  military  prison  at  Alton,  Ills.  He  is  one  of  the  old 
school  Southern  gentlemen.  He  had  a  keen  sense  of  humor.  A  friend  once  intro- 
duced him  to  a  stranger,  and  remarked  "  Judge  Price  was  in  the  United  States  Treasury 
under  President  Buchanan."  "  Yes,"  said  the  Judge,  "and  in  the  penitentiary  under 
President  Lincoln." 
Judge  Price  was  the  leader  in  Missouri  of  the  extreme  and  radical  element  of  th© 


OF  NEBKASKA  TEERITOEY.  29 

Atchison,  Sterling  Price  and  others  were  his  able  Lieuten- 
ants. All  the  outrages  of  the  Border  Ruffians  were  com- 
mitted at  the  dictation  of  this  faction,  which  was  bitterly 
opposed  to  the  organization  of  Nebraska  Territory  unless 
slavery  could  be  expressly  made  one  of  its  fundamental  in- 
stitutions. Mr.  Guthrie  set  out  for  Washington,  November 
20th.  On  December  1st  he  wrote  to  Governor  Walker,  from 
Cincinnati,  that  he  had  traveled  from  St.  Louis  to  Cincin- 
nati with  the  Missouri  Senators,  Atchison  and  Geyer,  and 
that  no  assistance  from  them  could  be  expected.^ 

When  Mr.  Guthrie  arrived  in  Washington  he  set  to  work 
with  great  energy  to  accomplish  the  purpose  for  which  he 
had  been  sent.  On  December  9th  he  wrote  Governor  Walker 
that  Willard  P.  Hall,  member  of  the  House,  had  prepared  a 
bill  and  would  introduce  it  the  following  week.^  The  bill 
provided  for  the  organization  of  the  Territory  of  the  Platte 
with  the  following  boundaries :  On  the  south,  the  thirty-sixth 
degree  and  thirty  minutes;  on  the  north,  the  forty-third 
degree;  on  the  west,  the  summit  of  the  Pocky  Mountains; 
on  the  east,  by  Missouri.  So  effective  were  Mr.  Guthrie's 
efforts  that  the  Chairman  of  the  Committee  on  Territories 
assured  him  that  if  Mr.  Hall  did  not  introduce  his  bill,  the 
Committee  would  introduce  one  for  the  same  purpose.  Mr. 
Hall  introduced  his  bill  on  the  loth  of  December,  and  it  was 
referred  to  the  Committee  on  Territories.  Hall's  bill  was 
never  reported  by  the  Committee,  but  in  lieu  thereof  William 
A.  Pichardson,  of  Illinois,  from  the  Committee,  reported  a 
bill  on  February  2,  1853,  providing  for  the  organization  of 
Nebraska  Territory,  with  boundaries  identical  with  those  in 
Hall's  bill.     In  the  Committee  of  the  Whole  the  bill  met 

Democracy  until  the  war,  but  since  then  has  not  been  active  in  politics.  He  insists  yet 
that  slavery  is  right,  and  that  it  was  a  blessing  to  the  negro.  Sterling  Price  was  his 
cousin. 

*  See  letter  published  in  this  work,  page  76. 

'  This  letter  is  published  herein,  page  78. 


30  THE  PROVISIONAL  GOVERNMENT 

with  strong  opposition  from  Southern  members  and  was 
reported  back  to  the  House  with  a  recommendation  for  its 
rejection,  but  on  February  10,  1853,  it  passed  the  House  by 
a  vote  of  98  to  43.  On  the  following  day  it  was  sent  to  tlie 
Senate  where  it  was  referred  to  the  Committee  on  Territories, 
of  which  Stephen  A.  Douglas  was  Chairman.  On  February 
17th,  Mr.  Douglas  reported  the  bill  without  amendment. 
Several  unsuccessful  efforts  were  made  to  have  it  taken  up. 
The  Congressional  term  would  expire  by  limitation  March 
4,  and  Mr.  Guthrie  was  anxious  to  have  it  taken  up  as  long 
before  that  date  as  possible.  In  the  expiring  hours  of  the 
session  (March  3)  it  was  taken  up  and  by  a  vote  of  23  to  17, 
laid  on  the  table.  Mr.  Guthrie  believed  he  had  a  majority 
for  it  in  the  Senate,  and  could  it  have  been  brought  to  a  vote 
at  an  earlier  date  it  is  probable  that  it  would  have  passed  the 
Senate.  Mr.  Guthrie  says  in  his  letter  to  the  New  York 
Tribune  that  the  bill  was  not  brought  to  vote,  but  in  this 
he  is  in  error. 

Although  he  failed  in  securing  the  passage  of  his  bill,  Mr. 
Guthrie  virtually  accomplished  the  object  sought  in  his  elec- 
tion. He  forced  a  consideration  of  the  question  of  the  organ- 
ization of  Nebraska  Territory.  The  passage  of  the  bill  for 
that  purpose  tlirough  the  House  and  the  close  vote  upon  it  in 
the  Senate  convinced  the  slave  power  that  the  question  would 
have  to  be  settled  at  the  coming  session  of  Congress. 

II. 

It  was  determined  by  the  Wyandots  that  a  Territorial 
Convention  for  the  purpose  of  organizing  a  Provisional  Gov- 
ernment for  Nebraska  Territory  should  be  held  on  the  day 
appointed  for  their  national  festival,  the  Green  Corn  Feast. 
Their  annual  National  election  was  often  held  on  this  ancient 
anniversary.  In  the  year  1853  it  was  fixed  to  fall  upon 
Tuesday,  August  9th.     The  other  emigrant  tribes  were  noti- 


OF  NEBRASKA  TERRITORY.  81 

fied  of  this  intention,  and  asked  to  send  delegates;  and  all 
white  men  then  resident  in  the  Territory  among  the  emigrant 
tribes  were  requested  to  be  present  and  participate  in  the 
work.  Russell  Garrett  says  these  notices  were  written. 
Only  such  white  persons  as  were  then  in  the  service  of  the 
Government  in  the  capacity  of  Agents,  Missionaries,  Agency- 
farmers,  Agency-blacksmiths,  and  Agency-carpenters,  and 
the  licensed  Indian  traders  were  permitted  to  live  in  the 
"Indian  Territory."  Colonel  Benton  was  advised  of  this 
conclusion  of  the  Wyandots,  and  he  approved  it,  if,  indeed, 
he  had  not  urged  it. 

Another  factor  was  entering  into  the  movement  for  Terri- 
torial Government  for  Nebraska.  This  was  the  fixing  of 
the  location  of  the  line  of  the  railroad  soon  to  be  built  be- 
tween the  Pacific  Ocean  and  the  Missouri  River.  Iowa 
wanted  the  initial  point  of  this  road  on  her  western  border, 
and  Missouri  contended  that  the  valley  of  the  Kansas  River 
was  the  logical,  most  central,  and  most  practicable  route. 
Ever  since  the  enormous  and  phenomenal  emigration  to 
California,  the  initial  point  of  this  "  great  national  highway," 
as  it  had  been  called  by  Colonel  Benton,  had  been  a  matter 
of  contention  between  the  people  of  Iowa  and  Missouri,  and, 
to  a  certain  extent,  of  the  country  at  large.  The  North, 
generally,  favored  Council  Bluffs  as  the  starting  point,  and 
insisted  that  the  valley  of  the  Platte  was  the  route  of  greatest 
utility,  from  a  national  standpoint.  The  South  contended 
that  the  mouth  of  the  Kansas  River  was  the  better  location 
from  which  to  start.^  The  controversy  followed  the  old  line 
drawn  between  the  North  and  the  South  by  the  question  of 
the  extension  of  slavery,  and  was  the  one  matter  upon  which 
the  factions  of  the  Missouri  Democracy  could  unite. 

In  1850,  Colonel  Benton  had  introduced  in  the  Senate 

'  A  fair  statement  of  the  contention  in  this  matter  is  given  in  the  paper  of  Hadley 
D.  Johnson,  a  portion  of  which  is  printed  in  this  work,  page  83. 


32  THE  PROVISIONAL  GOVERNMENT 

his  bill  for  the  location  and  construction  of  this  "  great  na- 
tional highway,"  and  explained  its  leading  features.  ^  From 
that  time  the  matter  was  one  of  general  discussion,  and  op- 
posing forces  were  seeking  to  fix  the  line  of  the  road  where 
it  would  best  subserve  their  interests.  A  meeting  in  the  in- 
terest of  the  Missouri  or  central  route  was  appointed  for 
July  26,  1853,  in  that  part  of  the  "Indian  Country"  or 
"  Nebraska  Territory  "  immediately  west  of  Missouri.  The 
Benton  Democracy,  for  some  reason  unknown  as  yet,  de- 
termined upon  the  organization  of  the  Provisional  Govern- 
ment of  Nebraska  Territory  at  this  meeting.^  It  is  known 
that  Colonel  Benton  believed  that  the  point  at  the  mouth  of 
the  Kansas  E-iver  would  at  some  time  in  the  near  future  be- 
come a  great  commercial  center.  He  had  been  defeated  for 
Senator  in  1850-1  in  the  Missouri  Legislature.  Senator 
Atchison  denounced  his  attempt  to  organize  Nebraska  Ter- 
ritory and  charged  him  with  the  intention  of  removing  his 
residence  to  the  mouth  of  the  Kansas  River  for  the  purpose 
of  being  elected  United  States  Senator  for  Nebraska  when 
it  should  be  admitted  as  a  State.^  William  Cecil  Price  has 
often  asserted  to  me  that  this  ambition  was  the  cause  of  Col. 
Benton's  efforts  to  organize  Nebraska  Territory  at  this  time. 
The  determination  to  organize  the  Provisional  Govern- 
ment of  Nebraska  at  the  Convention  in  the  interest  of  the 
"Central  Route  "  made  it  necessary  that  this  meeting  should 
be  held  in  the  Council  House^  of  the  Wyandot  Nation. 

>  See  bis  remarks  on  the  bill,  made  when  he  introduced  it,  published  in  this  work, 
page  88.  • 

'  I  have  been  unable  to  determine  the  cause  of  this.  Judge  Price  does  not  think  it 
could  have  been  because  the  opposing  faction  of  the  Democratic  party  was  intending  to 
attempt  to  organize  a  Provisional  Government  in  Nebraska  Territory.  To  the  best  of 
his  recollection,  no  such  intention  was  ever  enti  rtained.  But  he  admitted  that  Colonel 
Benton  may  have  believed  this,  and  that  his  belief  may  have  hastened  his  actions. 

3  Many  of  the  old  time  Democrats  of  Missouri  have  told  me  this,  among  them  Judge 
Price,  General  Shelby,  and  Judge  Oliver. 

*  The  Council  House  stood  in  the  center  of  what  is  now  Fourth  Street  in  Kansas 
City,  Kansas,  at  the  point  where  it  is  crossed  by  Nebraska  Avenue.  It  is  thus  de- 
Bcribed  by  Mrs.  Sarah  Dagnett :  "  I  can't  tell  the  size.    It  had  three  windows  on  each 


JUDGE  WILLIAM  C.  PRICE 


OF  NEBEASKA  TERRITORY.  33 

Abelard  Guthrie  was,  perhaps,  the  only  Wyandot  notified 
in  advance,  of  this  change  in  the  programme.  Governor 
Walker  in  his  "  Notes  "  says :  "  In  the  summer  of  1853,  a 
Territorial  Convention  was  held  pursuant  to  previous  notice 
to  be  held  in  Wyandot.  The  Convention  met  on  the  26th 
of  July ."  This  statement  does  not  say  that  the  no- 
tice was  that  the  Convention  should  meet  on  the  26th  of 
July.  In  Governor  Walker's  entry  in  his  Journal,  describ- 
ing the  Convention  and  its  proceedings,  he  states  that  he 
did  not  attend  this  meeting  until  noon  and  then  only  after 
he  had,  Cincinnatus-like,  been  sent  for.  It  is  more  than 
probable  that  he  did  not  know  of  the  change  in  the  order  of 
events  until  he  arrived  at  the  Council  House.  The  series  of 
Kesolutions  adopted  by  the  Convention  and  which  served 
the  Provisional  Government  as  a  Constitution  bears  only 
one  resolution  in  his  hand-writing.  And  it  was  not  his  in- 
tention to  accept  the  position  of  Provisional  Governor. 
Public  office  had  no  attractions  for  him.  He  intended  that 
one  of  his  brothers,  Matthew  R.  Walker  or  Joel  Walker, 
splendid  business  men  of  great  energy,  and  both  possessing 
fine  executive  ability,  and  several  years  younger  than  him- 
self, should  be  selected  as  the  Provisional  Governor  of  Ne- 
braska Territory. 

Among  the  delegates  to  the  Convention  were  the  follow- 
ing   persons :     William    Walker,    Russell    Garrett,^    Silas 

side  and  two  in  the  east  end  and  two  in  the  west  end — with  the  door  between  those  in 
the  west  end.  I  remember  it  stood  that  way — east  and  west.  It  was  a  frame  building 
and  plastered.  Always  had  a  large  box  stove,  as  we  had  only  wood  to  burn  those  days. 
The  furnishings  were  of  the  most  common  kind — benches  and  common  chairs,  with 
one  large  square  table.  I  can  remember  the  table  well,  because  they  used  to  keep  the 
money — gold  and  silver — stacked  up  on  it  during  a  payment  time.  The  bulk  of  the 
money  was  kept  at  the  Agency  building  across  the  street.  Once  during  a  payment  a 
box  containing  $1,000.00  was  stolen,  they  supposed — never  was  found — so  we  were  short 
that  much." 

1  Eussell  Garrett  lives  at  the  present  time  in  Ventura,  California.  He  is  the  only 
Delegate  to  the  Convention  known  to  be  now  living.  He  wrote  his  recollections  of  this 
Convention  for  me.     The  following  is  taken  from  his  letters  : 

"  The  building  in  which  the  Convention  was  held  was  a  little,  one-story,  frame  build- 

4 


34  THE  PROVISIONAL  GOVERNMENT 

Armstrong,  W.  F.  Dyer/  Isaac  Muuday,^  James  Findley,' 

Grover,*  William  Gilpin^  (afterwards  Governor  of 

Colorado),  Thomas  Johnson,  George  I.  Clark,  Joel  Walker, 
Joel  W.  Garrett,   Charles   B.  Garrett,   Matthias   Splitlog,^ 

ing,  built  and  used  for  a  school  house  and  Council  House.  It  stood  on  what  is  now  the 
center  of  Nebraska  Avenue  and  Fourth  Street.  It  was  a  clear  and  pleasant  day.  You 
ask  how  delegates  were  chosen.  By  sending  invitations  to  those  who  were  interested 
in  the  formation  of  a  Territorial  Government  to  come  and  meet  with  us.  There  v/ere 
about  forty  met  with  us.  I  think  they  all  voted  in  the  Convention." 
The  forty  were  exclusive  of  the  Wyandots. 

'  W.  F.  Dyer  "  lived  and  kept  a  store  on  Grasshopper  Eiver  at  the  Military  Crossing 
on  the  road  leading  from  Fort  Leavenworth  to  Fort  Eiley,"  Eussell  Garrett  writes  me. 
He  was  afterwards  County  Treasurer  of  Jefferson  County,  Kansas.  See  Kansas  His- 
torical Collections,  Vol.  3,  305. 

=  Isaac  Munday  was  a  blacksmith  for  the  Delawares  and  lived  at  the  "Delaware 
Crossing."  This  was  the  point  where  the  Military  Eoad  from  Fort  Leavenworth  to 
Fort  Scott  crossed  the  Kansas  Eiver.  This  was  only  a  very  short  distance  above  the 
point  where  the  S.  W.  Corner  of  the  "Wyandot  Purchase"  was  fixed  on  the  Kansas 
Eiver.  His  house  is  marked  on  one  of  the  old  maps  of  the  "  Wyandot  Purchase,"  al- 
though it  was  on  Delaware  land.  Eussell  Garrett  says:  "I  remember  Isaac  Munday 
very  well.  He  was  a  blacksmith  for  the  Delawares.  He  had  a  shop  and  lived  at  what 
was  called  at  tnat  time  the  Military  Ferry.  It  crossed  the  Kansas  Eiver  on  the  Mili- 
tary Eoad  leading  from  Fort  Leavenworth  to  Fort  Scott.  He  lived  at  Westpoi-t,  Mo., 
before  he  was  appointed  blacksmith  for  the  Delaware  Indians.  I  now  remember  that 
he  was  a  Delegate  to  the  Convention.  I  do  not  remember  where  he  went  to  when  the 
Delawares  got  through  with  him,  if  I  ever  heard." 

'  James  Findley  was  an  Indian  Trader  at  that  time  and  lived  at  the  "Delaware 
Crossing."  He  traded  with  the  Delawares  and  Shawnees.  I  have  this  information 
from  many  persons  yet  living  in  the  Indian  Territory,  and  from  Major  John  G.  Pratt. 
Eussell  Garrett  says:  "James  Findley  lived  at  the  Military  Ferry.  He  was  an  Indian 
Trader.  He  kept  a  variety  store  and  traded  with  the  Delawares.  He  Uved  there 
with  his  family,  as  did  Munday  the  blacksmith." 

* Grover  w:is  the  son  of  a  Missionary  to  the  Delawares.     I   have  not  been 

able  to  learn  his  given  name.  He  was  either  D.  A.  N.  Grover  or  Charles  H.  Grover. 
These  were  brothers,  sons  of  a  Missionary  from  some  Church  in  Kentucky,  to  the  Dela- 
wares. They  were  both  in  the  Council  of  the  Legislature  of  1855,  D.  A.  N.  as  a  member 
and  Charles  H.  as  Assistant  Clerk.  From  the  quotations  from  their  speeches  given  by 
Wilder,  I  should  think  that  Charles  H.  was  with  the  Delawares  at  the  time,  and  if  he 
was,  he  is  the  one  that  attended  this  Convention.  They  were  lawyers.  I  find  this  in 
Eussell  Garrett's  letters  to  me  :  "I  knew  a  Mr.  Grover  and  he  was  there,  but  I  do  not 
know  where  he  lived  or  what  he  did.  But  his  father  was  a  Missionary  among  the  In- 
dians and  was  shifted  around  from  pillar  to  post,  so  I  cannot  tell  where  he  lived  at  that 
time.  It  may  be  that  his  son  lived  with  him.    I  do  not  remember  where  they  went  to." 

*  William  Gilpin  was  at  that  time  editor  of  some  newspaper  published  at  Independ- 
ence, Mo.;  or  if  not  editor,  in  some  way  connected  with  it.  He  addressed  the  Conven- 
tion.    So  says  Mr.  Garrett. 

«  Matthias  Splitlog  was  a  Cayuga-Seneca  by  descent,  his  ancestors  having  been  from 
each  of  those  tribes.  His  immediate  ancestors  married  into  the  Wyandots  and  furn- 
ished them  some  of  their  bravest  warriors  and  chiefs.  He  was  bom  in  Canada  in  1816, 
he  has  often  told  me.     He  married  Eliza  Charloe,  a  Wyandot,  and  came  West  with  the 


OF  NEBRASKA  TEERITORY.  35 

Tauromee,  Abelard  Guthrie,  Matthew  R.  Walker,  Francis 

A.  Hicks,  John  W.  Gray-Eyes,  Irvin  P.  Long,  H.  C.  Long, 
Captain  Bull-Head,  Baptiste  Peoria,  the  Blue-Jackets  and 
other  Shawnees. 

The  only  written  account  of  the  Convention  and  the  pro- 
ceedings that  I  have  been  able  to  find  is  that  in  Governor 
Walker's  Journal,  and  which  is  as  follows : 

"Monday,  July  25,  1853. — Cool  and  cloudy  morning.  Resumed 
cutting  my  grass.  Warm  thro'  the  day.  Sent  Harriet  to  Kansas 
for  some  medicines  for  Mr.  C  who  has  every  other  day  a  chill.  In 
the  evening  three  gentlemen  rode  up  and  enquired  if  W.  W.  resided 
here.  Upon  being  assured  in  the  affirmative  they  staled  they  wished 
to  stay  all  night.  I  sent  them  to  C.  B.  G's.  They  said  they  were 
delegates  to  the  Hail  Eoad  meeting  in  Nebraska  on  the  26th  inst.  I 
would  gladly  have  entertained  them,  but  owing  to  family  sickness  I 
was  compelled  to  send  them  where  I  did. 

"Tuesday,  July  26,  1853. — Very  cool  and  clear.    Went  over  to  C. 

B.  G's  and  got  my  scythe  ground.     Warm  day. 

"On  yesterday  morning  ^ One- Hundred- Snakes'  Standingstone  died 
of  Mania  a  potu. 

"At  noon  a  messenger  was  sent  for  me  to  attend  the  Rail  Road 
Convention.  I  saddled  my  horse  and  rode  up  to  the  Wyandott  Council 
House,  where  I  found  a  large  collection  of  the  habitans  of  Nebraska. 

"The  meeting  was  called  to  order  and  organized  by  the  appoint- 
ment of  Wm.  P.  Birney'  of  Delaware,  President,  and  Wm.  Walker, 

Wyandot  Nation.  His  home  was  in  what  is  now  Connelley's  Addition  to  Kansas  City, 
Kansas.  Here,  at  an  early  day,  he  built  a  horse-mill  for  grinding  corn,  but  was  of  so 
eccentric  a  disposition  that  he  often  refused  to  "grind."  He  had  a  large  family  of 
children  and  much  land  was  allotted  to  him  for  them  when  the  Wyandots  accepted  their 
lands  in  severalty.  These  lands  increased  enormously  in  value  and  made  him  the  fam- 
ous "Millionaire  Indian."  Unprincipled  white  men  swindled  him  out  of  much  of  his 
money.  He  built  and  equipped  a  railroad  from  Neosho,  Mo.,  to  the  Arkansas  State  line. 
This  road  is  now  a  part  of  the  Pittsburg  &  Gulf  main  line.  He  was  an  ingenious  man 
and  could  copy  and  construct  almost  any  piece  of  machinery  that  he  had  opportunity  to 
examine  thoroughly.  It  was  by  taking  advantage  of  his  love  for  machinei-y  that  scoun- 
drels interested  him  in  schemes  for  the  purpose  of  robbing  him.  He  made  his  home  in 
the  Seneca  country  when  the  Wyandots  moved  to  the  Indian  Territory.  Here  he 
erected  a  fine  house  and  a  fine  church-building.    He  died  there  late  in  1896. 

*  William  P.  Bimey  was  an  Indian  Trader  at  Delaware  in  the  Delaware  Eeserve, 
near  the  present  villase  of  White  Church,  Wyandotte  County,  Kansas.  I  have  been 
able  to  learn  but  little  of  him.     He  remained  in  Wyandotte  County,  Kansas,  at  least 


36  THE  PEOVISIONAL  GOVERNMENT 

Secy.  A  Committee  was  then  apj)ointed  to  prepare  resolutions  ex- 
pressive of  the  sense  of  the  meeting.     James  Findley, Dyer  and 

Silas  Armstrong  were  appointed. 

^*  In  accordance  with  the  resolutions  adopted,  the  following  officers 
were  elected  as  a  provisional  government  for  the  Territory  :  For  pro- 
visional Governor,  Wm.  Walker;  Sec'y  of  the  Territory,  G.  I.  Clark; 
Councilmen,  R.  C.  Miller,  Isaac  Mundy,  and  M.  R.  Walker. 

"Resolutions  were  adopted  expressive  of  the  Convention's  prefer- 
ence of  the  07'eat  Central  Mail  Road  Rout. 

A.  Guthrie,  late  delegate  was  nominated  as  the  Candidate  for  re- 
election.    Adjourned." 

While  no  boundaries  were  fixed  for  the  Territory  for 
which  the  Provisional  Government  was  organized  it  was 
taken  as  a  matter  granted  that  the  Territory  included  the 
same  area  as  defined  in  the  Hall  and  Kichardson  bills. 

The  organization  of  the  Provisional  Government  of  Ne- 
braska Territory  gave  general  satisfaction  to  the  people  of 
Missouri.  Each  faction  of  the  Missouri  Democracy  became 
now  intent  on  securing  the  Delegate  to  Congress  to  be  elected 
in  the  following  October.  In  this  contest  the  Price- Atchi- 
son faction  had  a  tremendous  advantage  as  they  controlled 
the  patronage  of  the  Indian  Bureau  of  the  Department  of 
the  Interior,  while  Mr.  Guthrie,  Benton's  representative, 
could  only  depend  upon  his  own  personal  efforts  and  the 
personal  efforts  of  his  friends. 

Hand-bills  were  printed  containing  the  record  of  the  pro- 
ceedings of  the  Convention.  These  were  distributed,  and 
were  copied  into  the  newspapers  of  Missouri.  In  Governor 
Walker's  Journal  mention  is  made  of  this  fact: 


"Thursday,  July  28,  1853.— 

"A.  Guthrie  called  upon  and  dined  with  us  to-day. 

"  Rec'd  the  printed  proceedings  of  the  Nebraska  Territorial  Con- 

until  the  commencement  of  the  war.  He  is  frequently  mentioned  in  Abelard  Guth- 
rie's Journals,  and  on  the  13th  of  January,  1860,  Guthrie's  Journal  speaks  of  him  as 
living  at  that  time  in  Quindaro  City,  or  of  his  owning  houses  there. 


OF  NEBRASKA  TERRITORY.  37 

vention.  Great  credit  is  due  the  Proprietors  of  the  "  Industrial  Lu- 
minary" in  Parkville  for  their  promptitude  in  publishing  the  pro- 
ceedings in  hand-bills  in  so  short  a  time." 

III. 

The  first  duty  of  the  new  Government  was  to  call  the 
election  for  Delegate,  as  directed  by  the  resolutions  of  the 
Convention.  Governor  Walker's  mention  of  this  event  is 
as  follows : 

"Saturday,  July  30,  1853.— 

"  Well,  by  action  of  the  Convention  of  Tuesday  last  I  was  elected 
Provisional  Governor  of  this  Territory.  The  first  executive  act  de- 
volving on  me  is,  to  issue  a  Proclamation  ordering  an  election  to  be 
held  in  the  different  precincts  of  one  delegate  to  the  33rd  Congress. 

"  Monday,  August  1,  1853. — Issued  my  proclamation  for  holding 
an  election  in  the  different  precincts  in  the  territory  on  the  second 
Tuesday  in  October,  for  one  delegate  to  the  33rd  Congress." 

This  proclamation  was  printed  and  distributed  throughout 
the  Territory;  and  in  all  probability  it  was  printed  in  most 
of  the  newspapers  of  Missouri.^  Their  preparation  for  dis- 
tribution is  mentioned  by  Governor  Walker: 

"Monday,  August  8, 1853.— Geo.  I.  Clark,  Sec'y  of  the  Territory, 
called  this  morning  and  delivered  the  printed  Proclamation  i^OO 
copies)  for  circulation." 

It  had  been  the  hope  of  Colonel  Benton  and  Mr.  Guthrie 
that  no  candidate  would  be  put  forward  to  stand  for  election 
against  the  regular  nominee  of  the  Territorial  Convention. 
While  the  leaders  of  the  Price- Atchison  Democracy  of  Mis- 
souri had  opposed  the  organization  of  a  Provisional  Govern- 
ment and  believed  that  the  slave  power  could  prevent  the 
admission  of  Nebraska  Territory  and  the  recognition  of  its 
Provisional  Government,  it  still  believed  it  best  to  partici- 
pate in  the  election  for  Delegate  to  Congress.     A  strong  man 

*  See  Hadley  D.  Johnson's  statement,  page  83. 


38  THE  PROVISIONAL  GOVERNMENT 

in  thorough  syi:t.pathy  with  the  extremists  of  the  slave  power 
of  the  South  was  sought  for  and  found  in  the  person  of  E-ev. 
Thomas  Johnson,  Missionary  of  the  M.  E.  Church,  South, 
to  the  Shawnees.  Mr.  Johnson  resided  near  Westport,  Mis- 
souri, in  the  Shawnee  country.  The  Shawnee  and  Kickapoo 
tribes  are  closely  related  by  blood,  and  Mr.  Johnson's  nomi- 
nation was  made  in  the  country  of  the  latter  tribe.  Governor 
Walker  says:  "A  few  days  after  the  adjournment  of  this 
Convention  another  rather  informally  was  called  at  Kicka- 
poo, at  which  Mr.  Johnson  was  nominated  as  Candidate  for 
Delegate.  The  latter  then  yielded  to  the  wishes  of  his  friends 
and  became  a  candidate  in  opposition  to  the  regular  nomi- 
nee." 

Having  secured  a  strong  candidate  the  Price-Atchison 
Democracy  brought  to  bear  every  influence  at  their  com- 
mand to  secure  his  election.  The  Commissioner  of  Indian 
affairs  came  to  the  Territory  where  he  remained  more  than 
a  month  to  influence  personally  the  emigrant  tribes  (and 
perhaps  the  other  tribes)  to  vote  for  Mr.  Johnson.  Governor 
Walker  leaves  us  enough  evidence  to  confirm  this. 

"Tuesday,  September  6,  1853. — Mr.  Commissioner  Manypenny 
came  over  in  company  with  Rev.  Tbos.  Johnson  to  pay  the  Wyan- 
dotts  a  visit.  The  Council  being  in  session  I  introduced  him  to  the 
Council.     To  which  body  he  made  a  short  address." 

"Thursday,  October  6,  1853.— 

"Received  a  letter  from  Maj.  Robinson  informing  me  that  Com. 
Manypenny  wished  to  have  an  interview  with  the  Council  to-morrow." 

"Friday,  October  7,  1853.— 

"Attended  a  Council  called  by  the  Com.  of  Indian  Affairs. 
Speeches  were  passed  between  the  parties  on  the  subject  of  the  Terri- 
torial organization,  [and]  selling  out  to  the  gov't." 

"  Tuesday,  October  11,  1853. — Attended  the  election  for  delegate 
to  Congress,  for  Wyandott  precinct.     Fifty-one  votes  only  were  polled. 
A.  Guthrie  33. 

Tom  Johnson  18. 


OF  NEBRASKA  TEERITORY.  39 

"The  priesthood  of  the  M.  E.  Church  made  unusual  exertions  to 
obtain  a  majority  for  their  holy  brother.  Amidst  the  exertions  of  theif 
obsequious  tools  it  was  apparent  it  was  an  up-hill  piece  of  business  in 
Wyaudott. 

"  Executed  a  commission  to  J.  B.  Nones  as  Commissioner  and  No- 
tary Public  for  Nebraska  Territory." 

"Monday,  October  31,  1853.— 

"  I  suppose  we  may  safely  set  down  Thomas  Johnston's  election  for 
delegate  as  certain.  It  is  not  at  all  surprising,  when  we  look  at  the 
fearful  odds  between  the  opposing  Candidates.  Mr.  Guthrie  had  only 
his  personal  friends  to  support  him  with  their  votes  and  influence, 
while  the  former  had  the  whole  power  of  the  Federal  government, 
the  presence  and  active  support  of  the  Commissioner  of  Indian  Affairs, 
the  military,  the  Indian  Agents,  Missionaries,  Indian  Traders,  &c. 
A  combined  power  that  is  irresistible." 

The  Territorial  Council  canvassed  the  returns  of  the  elec- 
tion at  the  Wyandot  Council  House  Nov.  7, 1853,  and  issued 
a  Certificate  of  election  to  Mr.  Johnson  on  Nov.  8th.  Gov- 
ernor Walker  notes  these  transactions  in  his  Journal : 

"  Monday,  November  7,  1853. — Attended  at  the  Council  House  at 
an  early  hour,  tho'  in  poor  health.  ...... 

"The  Territorial  Council,  Sec'y  and  Governor,  then  proceeded  to 
open  the  returns  of  the  Territorial  Election.  After  canvassing  the 
Returns  it  appeared  that  Thomas  Johnson'  had  received  the  highest 
number  of  votes  and  was  declared  elected  delegate  to  the  33rd  Con- 
gress. 

'  Eev.  Thomas  Johnson  was  born  in  Virginia,  July  11,  1802.  He  was  assassinated  in 
his  own  home  in  Kansas,  near  Westport,  Mo.,  January  2,  1865. 

He  was  sent  by  the  M.  E.  Church  to  preach  to  the  Shawnees  in  the  "  Indian  Terri- 
tory," in  1829.  After  laboring  here  for  some  time,  he  was  compelled  to  abandon  his 
work  on  account  of  poor  health,  and  he  then  moved  to  Fayette,  Mo.  In  1847  he  was 
prevailed  upon  to  resume  his  work  in  the  Shawnee  Mission  Schools.  From  this  time 
until  his  death  he  was  prominent  in  the  councils  of  the  Price- Atchison  Democracy  of 
Missouri  in  their  eflbrts  to  introduce  slavery  into  Nebraska  and  Kansas.  He  was  elected 
President  of  the  first  Territorial  Council  of  Kansas  Territoiy,  in  1855.  This  was  tho 
"Upper  House"  of  the  Legislature  that  enacted  the  "Bogus  Laws."  The  laws  fill  a 
large  volume.    Many  of  them  are  infamous. 

Mr.  Johnson  was  a  good  man.  The  cause  which  he  believed  a  holy  one  was  in  fact 
a  bad  one  and  was  hastened  to  destruction  by  the  madness  of  its  advocates.  His  firm 
belief  in  its  righteousness  is  not  surprising,  for  it  had  been  instilled  into  his  mind  from 


40  THE  PEOVISIOKAL  GOVERNMENT 

"Tuesday,  November  8,  1853. — J.  W.  Garrett'  deputy  Secretary, 
attended  at  my  House  and  we  issued  the  certificate  of  election  to 
Thomas  Johnston  delegate  elect  to  the  33rd  Congress." 

The  Wyandots  felt  outraged  by  the  action  of  the  Commis- 
sioner of  Indian  Affairs  but  as  their  interests  were  so  largely 
in  his  hands  they  could  do  nothing  else  than  submit  without 
protest,  and  this  they  all  did,  except  Mr.  Guthrie.  He  filed 
a  contest  for  the  seat  of  Delegate  and  vigorously  attacked 
the  Commissioner  of  Indian  affairs  in  the  public  prints.  He 
spent  a  portion  of  the  winter  in  Washington  and  labored 
for  the  Territorial  Government  of  Nebraska  until  he  was 
convinced  that  the  slave  power  would  organize  two  Territo- 
ries, and  endeavor  to  make  one  slave,  and  permit  the  other 
to  come  into  the  Union,  free.  In  relation  to  Mr.  Guthrie's 
attacks  on  the  Commissioner  of  Indian  Affairs  Governor 
Walker  says: 

"Saturday,  November  12,  1853.— 

"Mr.  Guthrie  called  and  examined  the  election  returns  for  dele- 
gate, and  intends  taking  copies  of  them. 

"Thursday  November  24,  1853.— 

"Wrote  a  communication  to  Col.  Manypenny,  Commissioner  of 
Indian  Affairs,  correcting  an  error  in  a  communication  published  in 
the  Missouri  Democrat  by  Mr.  A.  Guthrie  in  relation  to  a  speech 
delivered  by  the  former  to  the  Wyandott  Council. 

"Thursday,  January  12,  1854.— 

"Rec.  two  letters  from  A.  Guthrie.     In  trouble  again.    Wants  cer- 

infancy.  He  did  wliat  lie  believed  to  be  right.  He  was  a  true  and  humble  Christian 
and  an  eloquent  and  earnest  minister  of  the  Gospel.  There  is  an  excellent  biogi"aphy 
of  Mr.  Johnson  in  Andreas's  History  of  Kansas,  page  300.  It  was  prepared  by  his 
friend,  Eev.  Nathan  Scarritt,  of  Kansas  City,  Mo. 

'  Joel  Walker  Gan-ett  was  the  son  of  George  Garrett,  who  died  February  17,  1846, 
aged  46  years.  George  Garrett  was  the  brother  of  Charles  B.  Garrett.  He  married 
Nancy  Walker,  sister  of  Governor  Walker.  Joel  Walker  Garrett  was  their  oldest  child. 
He  was  born  June  18,  1826.  He  married  Jennie  Ayers.  Their  daughter  Nina  lives  yet 
in  Kansas  City,  Kansas. 

Joel  Walker  Giarrett  was  appointed  Deputy  Secretary  of  State  for  Nebraska  Territory, 
and  he  seems  to  have  performed  most  of  the  labor  attached  to  the  Secretary's  Office. 
He  died  August  25,  1862. 


OF  NEBRASKA  TERRITOEY.  41 

tificates  to  prove  his  charges  against  Commissioner  Manypennj.  I 
can't  help  him  much. 

"Saturday,  January  28,  1854.— 

"Rec'd  an  "Ohio  State  Journal."  This  is  the  amount  of  my  mail. 
Guthrie  out  on  Col.  Manypenny  again.  The  former,  I  fear,  will  come 
off  second  best.     He  is  imprudent  and  rash." 

But  bitter  as  the  fight  became  between  Johnson  and 
Guthrie,  they  were  not  the  only  candidates  voted  for  at  this 
election.     Governor  Walker  says: 

"Upon  canvassing  the  returns  it  was  found  that  a  third  candidate 
was  voted  for  in  the  Bellevue  precinct,  in  the  person  of  Hadley  D. 
Johnston,  Esq.,  who  rec'd  358  votes. 

"From  information  derived  from  that  precinct  it  appeared  that  Mr. 
Johnston  was  an  actual  resident  of  Iowa,  and  at  that  time  a  member 
of  the  Legislature  of  that  State ;  and  an  additional  circumstance 
tending  to  vitiate  the  election  in  this  precinct,  was  that  a  large  ma- 
jority of  the  voters  were  actual  residents  of  that  State.  The  oflBcers 
were  compelled  to  reject  these  returns." 

Mr.  Johnson's  statement  will  be  found  in  another  part  of 
this  work.  His  credentials  consisted  only  of  the  Certificate 
of  the  judges  and  clerks  of  the  election  stating  the  fact  that 
he  received  a  certain  number  of  votes  in  the  election  held 
in  the  Bellevue  precinct.  The  poll-books  must  have  been 
sent  to  the  Provisional  Government  as  the  returns  were  can- 
vassed there;  and  it  is  more  than  probable  that  Mr.  John- 
son's certificate  was  not  written  until  after  it  was  known 
that  the  votes  of  the  Bellevue  precinct  had  been  rejected  by 
the  Territorial  Council. 

Governor  Walker's  Journal  says  on  March  27,  1854, 
"Heard  that  Hon.  Thomas  Johnson,  Delegate  elect  from 
this  Territory,  returned  from  Washington  yesterday." 


42  THE  PEOVISIONAL  GOVERNMENT 

IV. 

The  cause  of  the  failure  of  the  Provisional  Government 
of  Nebraska  Territory  to  secure  recognition  from  the  Gov- 
ernment of  the  United  States  was  the  division  of  the  Terri- 
tory it  represented  into  two  separate  Territories  by  the 
Kansas-Nebraska  bill.  Governor  Walker  says  in  his  Notes 
that  "the  provisional  government  of  Nebraska  continued  in 
existence  till  after  the  organization  by  Congress  of  the  two 
Territories  and  the  arrival  of  A.  H.  Keeder,  the  first  Gov- 
ernor of  Kansas." 

V. 

What  did  this  movement  for  the  organization  of  Ne- 
braska Territory  accomplish?  It  forced  the  Thirty-third 
Congress  to  action.  This  action  and  its  consequences  are 
matters  of  history.  The  results  which  Mr.  Guthrie  claims 
for  himself  in  his  statement  to  Congress  are  justly  the  re- 
sults of  this  whole  movement.  The  claim  that  these  results 
were  due  to  the  organization  and  efforts  of  the  Provisional 
Government  of  Nebraska  Territory  is  certainly  entitled  to 
consideration,  at  least. 


OF  NEBRASKA  TERRITORY.  43 


DOOUMEJSTTS   EELATIT^G 

TO 

THE  PROVISIONAL  GOVERNMENT 

OF 

I^^EBEASKA  TEERITOET. 


PREAMBLE  AND  RESOLUTIONS.' 

Adopted  July  26,  1853,  in  the  Council  House  of  the 
Wyandot  Nation,  in  what  is  now  Wyandotte  County,  Kan- 
sas, but  at  that  time  in  what  was  known  and  spoken  of  as 
Nebraska  Territory;  said  Convention  being  held  for  the  pur- 
pose of  selecting  provisional  officers  and  organizing  a  Pro- 
visional Government  for  Nebraska  Territory.  This  is  the 
Constitution  of  the  Provisional  Government  of  Nebraska 
Territory — the  first  State  Paper  of  Nebraska  and  Kansas. 

'  These  resolutions  are  copied  from  the  original  now  in  my  possession.  It  was  given 
to  me  by  Mrs.  Margaret  Pipe,  a  Wyandot,  now  living  in  the  Wyandot  Eeserve  in  the 
Indian  Territory.  Governor  Walker  spent  much  time,  when  in  the  Indian  Territory, 
at  the  home  of  Irvin  P.  Long,  and  as  he  had  no  home  at  that  time,  he  carried  all  his 
important  papers  to  the  Wyandot  Eeserve  with  him.  He  gave  Mr.  Long  this  and  other 
papers.  Mrs.  Pipe  cared  for  Mr.  Long's  household  during  the  last  years  of  his  life  and 
her  daughter  was  adopted  by  Mr.  Long  and  made  his  heir  by  will.  She  did  not  know 
the  historical  value  of  these  papers,  and  in  house  cleaning  burned  large  quantities  of 
them,  as  useless  rubbish,  so  she  said.  Some  of  his  papers  he  carried  to  Ohio  with  him 
a  short  time  before  his  death,  and  he  gave  some  of  his  Journals  and  many  of  his  papers 
to  some  one  in  Columbus  to  keep  long  enough  to  copy  cei-tain  portions  of  them.  I  am 
confident  this  was  a  Mr.  Geo.  W.  Hill.  None  of  them  were  ever  returned  to  him. 
Covemor  Walker  died  at  the  house  of  Mr.  Henry  Smalley,  now  of  Springfield,  Mo. 
Mrs.  Smalley  says  that  after  his  death  some  one  representing  a  Historical  Society  came 
and  got  some  of  his  books  and  papers.  So,  to  date,  these  invaluable  papers  are  scattered 
abroad.  Mr.  H.  M.  Northrup  and  Nicholas  McAlpine  both  told  me  that  the  mice  de- 
stroyed many  of  his  papers,  including  his  History  of  the  Wyandots. 

I  searched  for  this  paper  for  many  years.  I  looked  through  hundreds  of  receptacles 
for  old  papers  in  the  public  offices  of  Wyandotte  County,  Kansas,  with  the  hope  of 
finding  it. 


44  THE  PROVISIONAL  GOVERNMENT 

Whereas  it  appears  to  be  the  will  of  the  people  of  the  United 
States  that  the  Mississippi  Valley  and  Pacific  Ocean  shall  be  con- 
nected by  railroad  to  be  built  at  the  national  expense  and  for  the  na- 
tional benefit;  it  becomes  the  duty  of  the  people  to  make  known  their 
will  in  relation  to  the  location  of  said  road  and  the  means  to  be  em- 
ployed in  its  construction.  In  selecting  a  route  "the  greatest  good  to 
the  greatest  number"  should  be  the  first  consideration  and  economy 
in  the  construction  and  in  protecting  the  road  should  be  the  second 

In  estimating  the  '  greatest  good  to  the  greatest  number/  present 
population  alone  should  not  govern,  but  the  capability  of  the  regions 
to  be  traversed  by  the  road,  for  sustaining  population  should  be  con- 
sidered 

Economy  in  the  coustruction  will  be  best  secured  by  the  cultivation 
of  a  productive  soil,  where  materials  for  the  road  exist,  along  and 
contiguous  to  the  line  of  road  whereby  provisions,  labor  and  materials 
can  be  obtained  at  low  rates.  Then  the  farmers  with  their  teeming 
fields  will  ever  be  in  advance  of  the  railroad  laborer  to  furnish  him 
with  abundance  of  wholesome  food  at  prices  which  free  competition 
always  reduces  to  a  reasonable  standard.  At  the  same  time  they  will 
be  a  defense  to  the  work  and  the  workman  against  savage  malice 
without  the  expense  of  keeping  up  armies  and  military  posts.  These 
too  will  be  the  surest  and  safest  protectors  of  the  road  when  finished 
and  without  expense  to  the  Government.  But  should  the  road  be 
constructed  through  barren  wastes  and  arid  mountains  and  upon  the 
frontier  of  a  foreign  and  jealous  and  hostile  people  an  immense  and 
expensive  military  power  must  be  erected  to  protect  it — a  power  ever 
dangerous  to  freedom  and  desirable  only  to  despots.  In  view  of  these 
facts  therefore  be  it 

Resolved  That  from  personal  knowledge  of  the  country  and  from 
reliable  information  derived  from  those  who  have  traveled  over  it  we 
feel  entire  confidence  in  the  eligibility  of  the  Central  Eoute  as  em- 
bracing within  itself  all  the  advantages  and  affording  all  the  facilities 
necessary  to  the  successful  prosecution  of  this  great  enterprise. 

Resolved  That  grants  of  large  bodies  of  the  public  lands  to  corpo- 
rate companies  for  the  purpose  of  building  railroads,  telegraph  lines 
or  for  any  purpose  whatever  are  detrimental  to  the  public  interests, 
that  they  prevent  settlement,  are  oppressive  and  unjust  to  the  pioneer 
settler  and  retard  the  growth  and  prosperity  of  the  country  in  which 
they  lie. 


OF  NEBRASKA  TERRITORY.  45 

Resolved  That  we  cordially  approve  of  the  plan  for  the  construction 
of  a  railroad  to  connect  the  Mississippi  valley  and  Pacific  Ocean  re- 
cently submitted  to  the  public  by  the  Hon.  Thomas  H.  Benton  whereby 
the  settlement  and  prosperity  of  the  vast  country  between  Missouri 
and  California  will  be  promoted  and  the  construction  of  that  great  work 
be  rendered  much  cheaper,  more  expeditious,  and  more  universally 
useful.' 

Resolved  That  it  was  with  profound  regret  that  we  heard  of  the  fail- 
ure of  the  bill  to  organize  a  government  for  Nebraska  Territory;  that 
justice  and  sound  policy  alike  demand  the  consummation  of  this  meas- 
ure and  we  therefore  respectfully  but  earnestly  recommend  it  to  the 
favorable  consideration  of  Congress  and  ask  for  it  the  earliest  possible 
passage.'' 

Resolved  That  the  people  of  Nebraska  cherish  a  profound  sense  of 
obligation  to  the  Hon.  Thomas  H.  Benton  and  to  the  Hon.  Willard 
P.  Hall  of  Missouri  for  their  generous  and  patriotic  exertions  in  sup- 
port of  the  rights  and  interests  of  our  territory  and  that  we  hereby 
express  to  them  our  grateful  acknowledgements.' 

Whereas  it  is  a  fundamental  principle  in  the  theory  and  practice  of 
our  government  that  there  shall  be  no  taxation  without  representation 
and  the  citizens  of  Nebraska  being  subject  to  the  same  laws  for  the 
collection  of  revenue  for  the  support  of  government  as  other  citizens 
of  the  United  States  it  is  but  right  that  they  shall  be  represented  in 
Congress,  therefore  be  it* 

Resolved  That  the  citizens  of  Nebraska  Territory  will  meet  in  their 
respective  precincts  on  the  second  Tuesday  of  October  next  and  elect 
one  delegate  to  represent  them  in  the  thirty  third  Congress. 

Resolved  That  this  Convention  do  appoint  a  provisional  Governor, 
a  provisional  Secretary  of  State  and  a  Council  of  three  persons,  and 
that  all  election  returns  shall  be  made  to  the  Secretary  of  State  and 
be  by  him  opened  and  the  votes  counted  in  the  presence  of  the  Gov- 
ernor and  Council  on  the  second  Tuesday  of  November  next  and  that 

'  See  in  another  part  of  this  work  this  plan,  and  Colonel  Benton's  remarks  to  the 
United  States  Senate  when  he  brought  in  his  bill,  page  88. 

»  The  Hall-Eichardson  bill. 

'  If  there  remained  any  question  as  to  who  inspired  the  movement  to  action  at  this 
particular  time,  this  Eesolution  would  settle  it. 

*  This  preamble  is  crossed  out,  in  the  original  document,  by  drawing  the  pen  diago- 
nally through  it  each  way. 


46  THE  PROVISIONAL  GOVERNMENT 

a  certificate  of  election  shall  be  issued  by  them  to  the  person  having 
the  largest  number  of  votes.' 

Resolved  that  while  we  earnestly  desire  to  see  this  territory  organ- 
ized, and  become  the  home  of  the  white  man,  we  as  earnestly  disclaim 
all  intention  or  desire  to  infringe  upon  the  rights  of  the  Indians  hold- 
ing lands  within  the  boundaries  of  said  territory" 

Resolved  that  the  people  of  Nebraska  territory  are  not  unmindful  of 
the  services  rendered  by  our  late  Delegate  in  Congress  the  Hon  Abel- 
ard  Guthrie,  and  we  hereby  tender  him  our  sincere  thanks  and  pro- 
found gratitude  for  the  same 

Resolved  that  this  Convention  nominate  a  suitable  person  to  repre- 
sent Nebraska  territory  in  the  33rd  Congress 

Kesolved  that  Editors  of  Newspapers  throughout  the  country  fav- 
orable to  the  Organization  of  Nebraska  Territory  and  to  the  Central 
Route,  to  the  Pacific  Ocean  are  requested  to  publish  the  proceedings 
of  this  Convention^ 

Resolved  That  the  Editors  of  newspapers  throughout  the  country 
who  are  favorable  to  the  organization  of  Nebraska  Territory  and  to 
the  Central  Route  to  the  Pacific  Ocean  are  requested  to  publish  the 
proceedings  of  this  Convention* 

Endorsed  on  the  back  are  these  words : 

Preamble  and  resolutions  to  be  submitted  to  the  Nebraska  Conven- 
tion to  meet  on  the  26th  July  1853' 

»  To  this  point  the  Eesolutions  are  in  the  same  handwriting,  a  small,  rather  heavy, 
running  hand,  having  some  appearance  of  having  heen  -written  with  a  quill  pen.  The 
ink  is  a  deep  hlack.  I  feel  confident  that  they  were  written  hy  Mr.  Dyer,  as  he  was 
the  Chairman,  of  the  Committee  on  Eesolutions,  appointed  by  the  Convention. 

^  This  Resolution  is  in  the  handwriting  of  Governor  Walker.  The  ink  used  was  of  a 
poorer  quality  than  that  used  by  Mr.  Dyer. 

'  This  and  the  two  preceding  Resolutions  are  in  the  handwriting  of  Abelard  Guthrie. 
The  ink  used  was  a  dark  blue.  Mr.  Guthrie  must  have  carried  a  bottle  of  this  ink  with 
him.    He  seems  to  have  used  no  other  kind  for  some  years. 

*  This  Resolution  is  in  Mr.  Dyer's  handwriting,  aud  must  have  been  written  before 
the  meeting  of  the  Convention,  at  the  same  time  the  other  Resolutions  in  Dyer's  hand- 
writing were  prepared,  probably  some  days  before  the  Convention.  Guthrie  evidently 
overlooked  the  fact  that  this  Resolution  was  already  vrritten,  as  his  last  one  is  almost 
exactly  like  it. 

*  This  indicates  that  the  Resolutions  were  drawn  up  some  considerable  time  before 
the  Convention  met. 


OF  NEBRASKA  TEEEITORY.  47 

PROCLAMATION.' 

In  pursuance  of  the  sixth  Resolution  adopted  in  the  general  Con- 
vention of  the  citizens  of  Nebraska  Territory  to  organize  a  provisional 
govt  and  other  purposes  held  in  Wyandott  City  on  the  26th  ultimo, 
embraced  in  the  following  words,  viz:  '* Resolved:  That  the  citizens 
of  Nebraska  Territory  will  meet  in  their  respective  precincts  on  the 
second  Tuesday  of  October  next,  and  elect  one  delegate  to  represent 
them  in  the  thirty  third  Congress  of  the  United  States  ": 

I,  William  Walker,  by  virtue  of  authority  in  me  vested  as  Pro- 
visional Governor  of  Nebraska  Territory,  do  issue  this  my  Proclama- 
tion, notifying  the  legal  voters  in  the  said  Territory  to  meet  in  their 
respective  precincts  on  the  second  Tuesday  in  October  next  ensuing, 
then  and  there  to  elect  one  delegate  to  represent  this  Territory  in  the 
33rd  Congress  of  the  United  States,  under  such  rules  and  regulations 
as  the  Territorial  Council  may  prescribe. 

Given  under  my  hand  [and]  seal  at  Wyandott  City,  Ne- 
braska Territory,  this  the  1st  day  of  Aug,  Anno  Domini 
1853  and  of  the  Independence  of  the  United  States  the  sev- 
enty seventh  year  W^  Walker 

Provisional  Governor  of  the  Territory  of  Nebraska 
G.  I.  Clark" 

Secy  of  the  Territory 

Endorsed  on  back : 
"The  Industrial  Luminary  " 


Nebraska 


>  This  Proclamation  is  a  model  in  brevity,  strength  of  language,  and  the  absence  of 
unnecessary,  otlicial  tautology. 

^  George  I.  Clark  was  the  son  of Clark  who  married  Brown,  daughter  of 

Adam  Brown,  the  adopted  white  man  who  was  Chief  of  the  Wyandots,  and  who  pur- 
chased William  Walker,  Sr.,  from  the  Delawares.  See  sketch  of  the  Walker  fam- 
ily, in  this  work.  George  I.  Clark  was  bom  June  10,  1802.  He  was  a  man  of  influence 
in  the  Wyandot  Nation,  and  was  elected  Head  Chief.  He  was  a  good  man.  Abelard 
Guthrie  says  in  his  Journal :  "  I  mourn  his  loss  with  tears — the  first  that  have  moist- 
ened my  eyes  for  years."  He  belonged  to  that  faction  of  his  people  that  favored  the 
old  Church  and  opposf  d  slavery.  He  and  J.  M.  Armsti-ong  maintained  that  slavery  was 
wholly  foreign  to  ancient  Wyandot  customs  and  usage.  They  said,  with  entire  truth, 
that  any  member  of  the  tribe  must  nece.ssarily  be  as  free  as  any  other  member  of  it. 
That  the  tribe  in  ancient  times  either  killed  or  adopted  all  prisoners  of  war.  If  adopted, 


48  THE  PEOVISIONAL  GOVERNMENT 

RULES  FOR  CONDUCTING  THE  ELECTION. 

Rules  adopted  by  the  Territorial  Council  of  Nebraska,  prescribing 
the  manner  of  conducting  the  election  of  Delegate  to  the  33rd  Con- 
gress of  the  United  States  : 

First.  On  the  11th  day  of  Oct  next  ensuing,  the  voters  in  each 
precinct  will  assemble  at  the  hour  of  10  o'clock  A.  M.  and  shall  pro- 
ceed to  appoint  three  Judges  of  election  and  one  Clerk ;  who  shall, 
previously  to  entering  upon  their  respective  duties,  be  sworn  to  act 
faithfully,  fairly  and  impartially  in  conducting  the  election.  The 
oath  to  be  administered  by  the  Seignior  Judge,  then  by  a  Junior 
Judge  to  him. 

Second.  The  seignior  Judge  shall  then  proclaim  publicly  the  open- 
ing of  the  polls  and  add,  "  Votei^s  prepare  your  ballots.'' 

Third.  The  voters  shall  vote  by  ballot  printed  or  written,  and  the 
seignior  Judge  shall  receive  the  ballots  and  announce  the  names  of 
the  voters,  the  Clerk  recording  the  names  of  such  voters  in  the  appro- 
priate column  of  the  Poll  book ;  the  Judge  then  depositing  the  bal- 
lots in  a  Box  or  some  other  suitable  receptacle. 

Fourth.  The  Polls  shall  be  kept  open  from  11  o'clock  A.  M.  till 
the  hour  of  4  o'clock  P.  M.,  when  the  Judge  shall  publicly  proclaim 
"  the  Polls  closed  ". 

Fifth.  To  insure  a  full  vote  from  all  the  voters  present,  at  ^  past 
3  P.  M.  the  Seignior  Judge  shall  publicly  proclaim  that  in  "  one  half 
hour  more,  the  Polls  xcill  he  closed  ". 

Sixth.  The  Judges  and  Clerk  shall  then  proceed  to  canvass  the 
votes  and  as  each  ballot  is  read  aloud,  the  clerk  shall  enter  in  the 
column  under  the  name  of  each  candidate  the  ballot  so  cast  for  each 

they  were  entitled  to  all  the  privileges  of  those  born  into  the  tribe.     He  and  the  wife 
of  Abelard  Guthrie  were  cousins,  and  he  seems  uniformly  to  h;ivo  supported  Guthrie. 

He  married  Catherine .     They  had  three  children  :  1.  Richard  W. ;  2.  Harriet  W. ; 

and  3.  Mary  J.    They  are  buried  in  Huron  Place  Cemetery.     The  following  is  copied 
from  the  stone  at  the  head  of  George  I.  Clark's  grave: 

(Square  and  Compass.) 

George  I.  Clark 

Head  Chief  of  the 

Wyandott  Nation 

Born 

June  10  1802 

Died 

June  25   1858 

Aged  56  Yrs 

7  IVIo  8  Ds. 


JOEL  WALKER  GARRETT. 


OF  NEBRASKA  TERRITORY. 


49 


respectively.  The  Clerk  shall  then  under  supervision  of  the  J[udges] 
add  up  the  votes  cast  for  each  Candidate  and  enter  the  aggregate  at 
the  foot  of  each  column.  The  Seignior  Judge  shall  then  publicly  an- 
nounce the  result. 

Seventh.  The  Judges  shall  then  append  a  certificate  at  the  bottom 
of  the  Poll  book  officially  signed  by  them  and  countersigned  by  the 
Clerk — Fold  up  and  seal  and  forward  the  same  by  some  safe  convey- 
ance to  the  address  of — 

"George  I.  Clark 

Secretary  of  the  Territory  of  Nebraska 

Wyandott  City". — 
Endorsed,  Poll  Book 

for Precinct 

Nebraska  Territory 
Si[x]th  Unnaturalized    citizens   or  foreigners  are  excluded   from 
participating  in  the  election  the  same  as  in  the  States. 
Adopted  Sept  10,  1853. 
Geo  I.  Clark 

Secretary  of  the  Territory 

Approved : 

W^  Walker 

Provis^  Governor. 


FORM. 
Return  of  the  election  held  in  the  precinct  of 

Nebraska  Territory  for  Delegate  to  the  33d  Congress  of  the  United 
States  on  the  second  Teusday  in  Oct  1853 : 


Voters  Names 

Candidates'  Names. 

A.  B. 

C.  D. 

E.  F. 

V.  D.  Male 

J.  L.  H 

1 

1 
1 

1 
1 

1 
1 

J.  L.  S 

1 

ThoO.  S 

D.  A.  L 

W.  M.  O 

P.S 

1 

T.  P 

L.  G 

50  THE  PROVISIONAL  GOVERNMENT 

Precinct  Nebraska  Territory  Oct 1853, 

We  the  undersigned  Judges  of  the  election  for  this  precinct,  certify 
that  the  above  is  a  correct  account  of  the  votes  polled  in  this  precinct 
for  delegate  to  the  33rd  Congress  of  the  U.  S.  and  that  C.  D.  reed  a 
majority  (or  plurality  as  the  case  may  be)  of  all  the  votes  cast 


POLL  BOOK  OF  THE  PRECINCT  OF  OLD  FORT  KEAR- 
NEY, NEBRASKA  TERRITORY.' 

I  Certify  that  pursuant  to  a  Call  for  an  election  to  be  held  on  the 
2d  Mondey  of  Oct  1853  at  Old  fort  Kea[r]ney  Commencing  at  12  M. 
and  closing  at  4  O.Clock  P.  M.  for  a  Del[e]gate  to  Congres[s]  for 
Nebra[s]k[a]  Ter[r]it[or]y 

No.  1     H.  P.  Downs 

2  Thomas  Helvey 

3  John.  B.  Boulwane 

4  Wm.  C.  Folkes 
6     Joel.  Helvey 

6     Ishara  Holland 
I  Certify  this  is  a  Correct  Statement  of  an  elettion  held  this  the 
10th  day  of  October  1853     given  unde[r]  my  hand  as  above  Stated 

Joel  Helvey 
H.  P.  Downs'  Judg[e]  of  an  electian 

Clerk  of  an  election 

»  This  poll  book  is,  I  believe,  entitled  to  the  distinction  of  complete  originality.  I 
have  studied  it  deeply  and  have  failed  to  find  even  an  intimation  or  suggestion  in  it  as 
to  whom  the  six  votes  it  records  as  having  participated  in  the  election  were  cast  for. 

*  The  following  is  from  Eev.  William  H.  Good's  "Outposts  of  Zion  (Cincinnati,  1864), 
page  264.  Mr.  Good  was  at  Old  Fort  Kearney  in  August,  1854,  reaching  the  house  of 
Major  Downs  on  the  first : 

"  Eeturning  to  Oregon,  I  again  took  stage  early  on  the  morning  of  August  1st,  and 
aboat  midnight,  crossing  the  State  line,  reached  Sidney,  Iowa.  Here  I  again  left  the 
stage,  obtained  a  horse,  and  set  off  with  a  guide  for  the  Territory,  about  fifteen  miles 
distant.  Eeaching  the  Missouri  Eiver  opposite  Old  Fort  Kearney,  I  was  surprised  to 
find  a  fine  steam  ferry-boat.  The  enterprising  proprietors  of  the  two  young  cities  just 
laid  out  at  the  site  of  the  old  fort,  determining  to  'take  time  by  the  forelock,'  had 
made  provision  for  an  anticipated  amount  of  travel  and  emigration,  and  consequent 
ferry  patronage,  which  has  never  been  realized.  My  first  crossing  at  this  point  was 
under  pleasant  auspices.  But  this  was  of  short  duration,  and  many  weary  hours  have 
I  since  lingered  and  shivered,  or  sweated  upon  the  shore,  waiting  the  slow  movements 
of  one  of  the  most  dilatory  flat-boat  transits  upon  the  river.  Many  of  the  early  im- 
provements in  this  country,  especially  in  the  vicinity  of  contemplated  cities,  were 


OF  NEBRASKA  TERRITORY.  61 


POLL  BOOK  OF  THE  PRECINCT  OF  MIAMI,  NEBRASKA 
TERRITORY. 

At  an  Election  held  at  Miami,  in  the  Osage  River  Aoency,  on 
Tuesday,  the  11th  day  of  October  1853  for  the  purpose  of  Electing 

ahead  of  the  times,  and  were  compelled  to  take  a  step  back  till  the  actual  wauts  of  the 
country  should  call  for  their  reappearance. 

"  Old  Fort  Kearney  was  an  evacuated  military  post,  the  name  and  the  troops  having 
been  ti-ansferred  to  a  new  post  about  two  hundred  miles  up  the  Platte  Eiver.  A  sub- 
stantial block-house,  one  old  log  dwelling,  and  the  remains  of  a  set  of  rude,  temporaiy 
barracks,  were  all  that  was  there  to  be  seen  of  the  old  fort.  Squatters  had  taken  pos- 
session of  the  lands,  and  the  two  rivals,  Nebraska  City  and  Kearney  City,  had  been 
laid  off,  the  one  above  and  the  other  below  the  mouth  of  South  Table  Creek.  The  site 
of  the  old  fort,  now  of  Nebraska  City,  is  bold  and  fine.  I  found  a  single  frame  shanty 
erected,  in  which  were  a  few  goods,  and  a  single  settler  in  the  old  fort  cabin  in  the 
person  of  Major  Downs.  The  Major  had  served  through  the  Mexican  war,  accompanied 
by  his  heroic  wife;  afterward  was  a  sergeant  among  the  ti-oops  at  the  garrison,  and,  on 
its  evacuation,  had  beeu  left  in  charge  of  the  government  property.  Being  on  the  ground 
aaid  in  actual  possession  at  the  passage  of  the  organizing  act,  he  laid  his  '  claim '  upon 
the  land  on  which  the  fort  stood,  and  became  the  original  proprietor  of  Nebraska  City. 
I  found  him  to  be  a  frank,  generous  hearted  soldier,  possessing  some  noble  traits  of 
character,  with  some  unfortunate  remains  of  anny  habits.  He  took  me  to  his  house, 
treated  me  kindly  and  generously,  exhibited  quite  an  interest  in  my  mission,  took 
down  his  city  plat,  and,  in  my  presence,  marked  off  certain  lots,  since  risen  to  a  value 
equal  to  five  times  the  outlay  and  expenses  of  my  whole  trip,  which  he  then  and  there 
donated  to  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church.  Major  D.  has  since  served  one  term  in 
the  Nebraska  Legislature,  and  has  been  appointed  Major-General  of  the  militia  of  the 
Territory.  Others  became  interested  with  him  in  the  proprietorship  of  the  city,  and 
in  the  result  he  reaped  but  little  pecuniary  benefit  from  his  early  occupancy.  But  in 
my  reminiscences  of  Nebraska  pioneers  I  shall  never  forget  Major  Downs  and  his  ami- 
able lady.  Their  house  has  always  been  open  for  personal  accommodation  or  for  public 
religious  service,  and  his  large  heart  has  always  stood  out  in  generous  actions.  They 
have  both  for  some  time  been  seeking  for  a  higher  life.    I  hope  to  meet  them  above."* 

Early  in  the  following  winter  Mr.  Good  again  visited  Old  Fort  Kearney  and  he  leaves 
us  this  record  of  the  event  (see  page  319): 

"After  a  laborious  week's  travel,  I  succeeded,  on  Saturday  afternoon,  in  reaching  the 
ferry  opposite  Old  Fort  Kearney,  alias  Nebraska  City.  But  the  steam  ferry-boat  was 
gone,  and  slender  substitutes  were  left.  The  ice  was  running  in  large  quantities,  and 
the  prospect  gloomy  of  reaching  my  intended  point  for  the  Sabbath,  though  now  in 
sight.  Ordinary  ferrying  was  suspended.  Finding,  however,  a  bold,  skillful  man — 
whose  kind  services  I  have  repeatedly  since  had  in  time  of  need — about  to  cross,  we 
tied  ourselves  on  to  his  fortunes,  entered  the  skifiT,  and  made  our  way  through  the  vast 
field  of  floating  ice  to  the  opposite  shore. 

"Again  in  Nebraska  City,  I  called  on  my  friend  Major  Downs,  who,  meantime,  had 
erected  a  large  frame  hotel.  His  house  was  crowded  to  its  utmost  capacity,  and  the 
weather  severe.  He  oflFered  to  take  me  in,  but  the  prospect  was  forbidding.  I 
inquired  for  the  preacher,  whom  I  understood  to  be  on  the  ground,  and  was  pointed 
to  a  cabin  on  the  opposite  side  of   Table  Creek,  at  quite  a  distance,  where  he  was 

*  Major  D.  has  since  served  honorably  in  his  country's  cause  as  Lieutenant-Colonel  of 
Nebraska  Volunteers. — 1863. 


52 


THE  PROVISIONAL  GOVERNMENT 


a  Delegate  to  represent  Nebraska  Territory  in  the  next  Congress  of 
the  United  States  the  following  is  the  result 


Voters  Names. 

S  1 

Jl 

03 

< 

James  Chenault 

1 
2 
3 
4 
5 
6 
7 
8 
9 

10 
1 
2 

3 

David  Lvkins 

Joseph  Jebo    

William  A.  Heiskell 

Luther  Paschal 

John  Paschal 

Thomas  I.  Hedges 

Baptiste  Peoria* 

Andrew  Kaskaskia 

Mitchell 

Peter  Cloud , 

Kah.  a.  sha 

supposed  to  be  boarding.  Dark  was  about  setting  in,  when,  leaving  my  young  com- 
panion to  the  chances  of  the  hotel,  and  taking  my  course,  I  set  out  on  foot  for  the 
place.  The  creek  intervened,  with  a  thicket  of  timber  and  brushwood,  and  the 
cabin  was  lost  from  my  view.  It  grew  darker  and  darker  as  I  crossed  the  creek  and 
ascended  the  opposite  hill,  till  I  found  myself  entangled  in  the  brushwood,  and 
bewildered  in  my  course.  For  a  time  I  wandered  and  called,  but  met  no  response. 
The  lights  in  the  city  were  yet  to  be  seen.  Wishing  to  take  an  observation  while  I 
could,  I  drew  out  my  pocket-compass,  lighted  a  match,  and  took  the  course;  then 
started  again,  traveling  as  I  could,  and  calling  aloud.  At  length,  through  an  opening 
cabin-door,  I  espied  a  light,  and  heard  a  female  voice  in  response.  Seldom  has  a  gentle 
voice  fallen  more  gratefully  upon  my  ear.  I  made  way  to  the  place,  and  was  invited 
in.  The  preacher  was  not  there,  the  husband  was  absent,  and  the  lady  was  alone  with 
her  little  children.  I  told  her  who  and  what  I  was.  Late  and  dark  as  it  was,  I  ac- 
cepted her  kind  invitation  for  the  night,  was  well  entertained,  and  formed  an  ac- 
quaintance with  a  worthy  Christian  lady.  The  husband  returned  soon,  and  I  made 
the  brushwood  cabin  my  home  during  my  stay. 

"  On  the  day  following,  being  the  Sabbath,  Major  D.  tendered  a  room  of  his  hotel  for 
public  service,  and  I  occupied  it  for  preaching.  The  day  was  cold;  men  kept  within 
doors;  some  rudely  running  up  and  down  stairs;  a  group  of  shivering  Indians  stood 
and  looked  curiously  on;  but  there  was  a  goodly  number  of  attentive  and  solemn  hear- 
ers, and  I  trust  the  seed  was  not  sown  in  vain.  The  Major  would  have  me  dine  vdth 
him,  but,  to  secure  the  object,  had  to  take  me  in  privately  and  seat  me  before  the  rush 
of  hungry  men  in  waiting  was  let  in,  for  frontier's-men  are  proverbial  for  appetite,  and 
not  always  very  deferential  to  the  appetites  or  the  positions  of  others. 

"  This  was  all  of  the  first  quarterly  meeting  for  Old  Fort  Kearney  mission." 
'  Baptiste  Peoria  was  the  leading  man  of  the  Peoria  tribe.     I  have  been  unable  to 
obtain  material  for  even  a  brief  sketch  of  his  life. 


OF  NEBRASKA  TERRITORY. 


53 


Voters  Names. 


Pe.  si.  ah 

Joe  Peoria 

Battiste  Basure 

Glial.  U.  lie 

Ken.  ge  tali  no  sali 

Jack  Boys 

Go.  to.  kah.  poo.  ah. 

Se  pah.  ka.  ah 

Pah.  kon.  ge.  ah.. 

Kish.  e.  wan.  e.  sah 

Tah.  wah.  kwah.  ke.  naw.  gah 
Pe.  tah.  nah.  ke.  kah.  poo.  ah. 

O.  zar.  ah.  ke.  yow.  gah 

Mah.  kon.  sah 

Kah.  ke.  Ian.  gwaii.  gali  

Wah.  pah.  koo.  se.  ah 

Chah.  pen.  doo.  ce.  ah 

Bazie  Boye 

Lewis  Deqnine 

Capt.  Big  Legs 

Sam  Delaware...  

Little  Doctor , 

Kil.  son.  sah 

Wan.  sah.  pe.  ah. 

Wah.  pan.  e.  kah.  poo.  ah 

Nap.  shin,  gah , 

Nah.  wan.  ge.  ah 

Kil.  son.  sah 

Ke.  no.  zan.  yah 

Go.  to.  kahs.  poo.  ah... 

Wap.  shin,  gah 

Lewis  Peckhanj 

Elie  Geboe 

Old  Beaver 

Yellow  Beaver 

Wilson 

Kish  e  kon.  sah 


a 
o 

00    tn 
CS    a 

2-5 

^^ 


4 
5 
6 

7 
8 
9 
20 
1 
2 
3 
4 
5 


9 
30 
1 
2 
3 
4 
5 
6 
7 
8 
9 
40 
1 
2 
3 
4 
5 
6 
7 
8 
9 
50 


60' 


^     3 


00 


'  There  is  a  certain  uniformity  and  a  noticeable  sameness  in  the  vote  of  this  precinct 
that  must  have  struck  Mr.  Guthrie  as  being  remarkable,  at  least. 


64  THE  PKOVISIOISrAL  GOVERNMENT 

Endorsed  on  back : 

Messrs.  Munday,  Miller  &  Grover 
Delaware 

Miami  Polls.  ^-  ^' 


CERTIFICATE  OF   ELECTION. 

Whereas  at  the  late  general  Convention  of  delegates  which  assem- 
bled in  Wyandott  City,  Nebraska  Territory,  on  the  26th  day  of  July, 
1853,  among  the  Acts  of  the  said  Convention,  was  the  adoption  of  the 
two  following  Resolutions,  viz:  "6  Resolved.  That  the  citizens  of 
**  Nebraska  Territory  will  meet  in  their  respective  precincts  on  the 
"  second  Tuesday  in  October  next,  and  elect  one  delegate  to  the  33rd 
"  Congress. 

"7.  Resolved.  That  this  Convention  do  appoint  a  provisional  Gov- 
*'  ernor,  a  provisional  Secretary  of  the  Territory  and  a  Council  of  three 
"  persons,  and  that  all  election  returns  shall  be  made  to  the  Secretary 
"  of  the  Territory  and  be  by  him  opened  and  counted  in  the  presence 
"  of  the  Governor  and  Council  on  the  second  Tuesday  in  November 
"  next,  and  that  a  certificate  shall  be  issued  by  them  to  the  person  having 
"  the  highest  number  of  votes" — 4nd  Whereas  in  pursuance  of  the 
above  Resolutions,  elections  were  hela,  .^turns  were  made  to  the  Secre- 
tary and  by  his  deputy  "opened  and  counted  in  the  presence  of  the 
Governor  and  Council,"  and  it  appearing  that  Thomas  Johnston  having 
received  the  highest  number  of  votes  is,  by  virtue  of  authority  in  me 
vested,  declared  duly  elected  delegate  to  represent  Nebraska  Territory 
in  the  33rd  Congress  of  the  United  States.* 

Given  under  my  [hand]  at  Wyandott  City  this  the  8th 
day  of  November  A.  D.  one  thousand  eight  hundred  and 
fifty  three  and  of  the  Independence  of  the  United  States  the 
seventy  seventh  year^ 

Wm  Walker 
JoKL.  W.  Garrett  Provisional  Governor 

Deputi/  provisional  Secretary  of  the  Tey'ritory — 

'  Thomas  Johnson  must  have  carried  the  original  certificate  of  election  to  Washing- 
ton with  him.  But  the  original  from  which  this  is  copied  is  in  my  possession,  and  while 
it  may  have  heen  intended  for  the  first  draft  of  the  certificate  it  is  well  executed  and  is 
in  Governor  Walker's  handwriting.  It  is  most  prohable  that  the  certificate  was  issued 
in  duplicate,  one  copy  being  retained  by  the  Provisional  Goverment;  the  other  given 
to  Mr.  Johnson. 


OF  NEBRASKA  TERRITORY.  55 

APPLICATION  FOR  APPOINTMENT  AS  COMMISSIONER 
OF  DEEDS. 

Richmond  Va  Feby  25th  1854. 
Dear  Sir: 

I  will  be  much  obliged  to  you,  if  you  will  confer  upon  me  the 
appointment  of  Commissioner  of  Deeds,  &c  for  the  territory  of  Ne- 
braska.    Below  are  the  signatures  of  members  of  Congress  to  whom  I 
beg  leave  to  refer  you  as  to  my  character  and  qualifications* 
Very  Respectfully, 

Your  Ob*  Sevt- 

Abel  Upshur  Mayo. 
2o  His  Excellency 

The  Governor  of  Nebraska. 

J.  M.  Mason     1  ^r     tt  q  c 
M.T.  Hunter  [^  Va.  U.  S.  Senators. 

J.  S.  Caskie 
J.  Letcher. 


>  Va.  Representatives 


P.  S.  I  am  authorized  to  refer  also  to  Senators  Thomas  J.  Rusk 
and  Samuel  Houston  of  Texas. 

Respy. 

A.  U.  Mayo. 


LETTER  FROM  O.  H.  BROWNE  TO  GOVERNOR 
WALKER. 

MiLLERSVILLE 

Anne  Arundel  Co., 
Maryland 

Oct.  17th  1853 
His  Excellency 

William  Walker 

Pro  v..  Governor  &c. 
Sir 

I  have  taken  the  liberty  of  enclosing  the 
Maryland  State  Capitol  Gazette,  a  leading  Democratic  paper,  contain- 
ing a  notice  of  Nebraska,  which  I  hope  will  meet  your  approbation. 

'  The  signatures  are  genuine  autographs  and  not  a  list  of  names  furnished  by  Mr. 
Mayo  for  Governor  Walker  to  write  to  if  he  so  desired. 


56  THE  PEOVISIONAL  GOVERNMENT 

If  I  can  be  of  service  to  you  personally,  or  to  the  Territory,  let  me 
know  in  what  manner,  and  your  wishes  shall  be  imperative  with  me 

Allow  me  to  subscribe  myself  personally  and   politically  and  sin- 
cerely^ 

Your  Friend 

O.  H.  Browne 


LETTER  FROM  GOVERNOR  WALKER  TO  O.  H. 
BROWNE. 

[The  following  letter,  it  is  believed,  is  a  letter  to  O.  H. 
Browne,  Esq.,  the  writer  of  the  foregoing  letter.  It  is  evi- 
dently not  an  answer  to  the  foregoing,  but  one  of  a  corre- 
spondence of  which  it  was  the  commencement.  This 
correspondence  resulted  in  Mr.  Browne's  coming  to  Kansas 
to  live,  as  suggested  in  the  following  letter.  He  settled  in 
Osage  County  and  engaged  in  farming,  and  was  elected  to 
the  Legislature  in  1865;  he  was  then  45  years  old  ;  his  Post- 
office  was  Bidgeway.  He  died  in  Bice  County,  July  22, 
1874,  aged  59  ye:iis.] 


My  dear  Sir — 

Your  favor  of  the reached   me  while   confined  to  ray    bed 

with  a  violent  attack  of  Pneumonia,  from  which  I  am  now  slowly  re- 
covering. I  am  not  sure  that  "gin  horse  prudence"  would,  as  the 
Scottish  poet  would  say  if  consulted,  sanction  this  attempt  at  clerical 
labor,  while  so  enfeebled  in  body  and  depressed  with  mental  embecil- 
ity  and  weakness: — certain  I  am,  my  worthy  physician  would  inter- 
pose his  earnest  remonstrance  against  any  such  premature  labors. 

But  it  is  my  desire,  if  I  can  do  nothing  more,  to  tender  to  you  my 
warm  thanks  for  your  favor  and   the  slip  enclosed  containing  your 

letter  addressed   to  the  p .     Accuse  me   not,  my  dear  sir,  with 

fulsome  flattery  when  I  say  that  I  listened  to  its  reading  with  ad- 
miration and  delight,  and  mentally  exclaimed,  This  is  just  what  is 
so  much  needed  at  the  present  juncture — -facts  and  figures  that  are  in- 
controvertible. 


In  his  Journal  Governor  Walker  mentions  writing  to  Mr.  Browne. 


OF  NEBRASKA  TERRITORY.  57 

I  must  be  brief.  I  wish  here  to  state  a  fact  that  you  may  not  be 
aware  of,  that  slavery  has  existed  in  what  is  now  called  "  Kansas  Ter- 
ritory," and  still  exists,  both  among  Indians  and  whites  regardless  of 
the  exploded  Mo  Com.  Some  of  the  slaves  are  held  by  the  former  by 
virtue  of  their  own  laws  and  usages,  and  some  by  regular  bills  of  sale 
from  citizens  of  Mo.  How  will  this  description  of  Indian  "  prop- 
erty "  be  protected  if  the  chattge  in  D's  bill,  so  clamorously  called  for, 
be  made?  Will  that  clause  in  the  First  section  which  provides  "  That 
nothing  in  this  act  contained  shall  be  construed  to  impair  the  rights 
of  person  or  property  now  pertaining  to  the  Indians  in  the  said  Terri- 
tory "  protect  them  in  their  right  to  this  kind  of  property  ?  To  my 
mind  this  is  not  so  clear. 

Be  ])!eased  to  accept  of  the  thanks  of  the  Officers  of  the  Prov  gov't 
for  your  able  defence  of  them. 

For  your  information,  which  you  may  use  hereafter  should  occasion 
arise,  I  will  state  that  there  is  not  one  of  these  men  intermarried  with 
the  Indians.  Of  the  members  of  the  Territorial  Council  [torn  away 
here]  R.  C.  M.  [R.  C.  Miller]  a  native,  I  believe  of  the  Ancient  Do- 
minion is  a  licensed  trader  among  the  Pot[tawatomie]  Indians.  M'^  I. 
M.  [Isaac  Mundy]  a  native  of  Ky  is  the  Gov't  B  S  [blacksmith] 
among  the  Dr  [Delaware]  Indians.  M.  R.  Walker  a  Quadroon 
Wy and  G.  I.  Clark  Secy  is  a  native  of  Canada,  and  your  hum- 
ble servt  another  Quadroon  and  a  native  of  Michigan.  My  colleagues, 
as  you  say,  justly  "are  all  the  right  kind  of  men,  and  eminently 
worthy  of  the  distinguished  positions  assigned  them  by  their  fellow 
citizens  " 

In  your  application  for  an  appointment  in  the  judiciary  by  all  means 

choose  one  in  this  Territory.     It  is  in  every  respect  sujierior  to  N 

in  climate  soil  and  indeed  all  the  elements  promotive  of  general  thrift 
and  prosperity.  The  other  will,  in  climate  prove,  I  am  sure,  too 
Labradorian  for  you.  It  is  a  sterile,  cold  and  uninviting  region  when 
compared  to  this.  Lying  between  the  parellels  of  40  &  49°.  This 
Territory  will  be  the  Cynosure  of  the  enterprising  emigrant  and  will 
fill  up  more  rapidly  than  the  other. 

[No  signature.] 


58  THE  PROVISIONAL  GOVERNMENT 

GOVERNOR  WALKER'S  NOTES  ON  THE  EARLY  HIS- 
TORY OF  NEBRASKA. 

NOTES   ON   THE   EARLY    HISTORY   OP   NEBRASKA..* 

[In]  The  year  1852,  public  attention,  especially  in  the  West,  was 
drawn  to  the  occupation  of  those  large  tracts  of  land  held  by  the 
United  States  for  the  use  of  such  Indians  as  may  still  emigrate  from 
the  States  East  of  the  Mississippi,  at  that  time  vacant.  And  consid- 
ering also  the  fact  that,  except  the  Six  Nations  of  N.  Y.  there  were 
no  more  Indian  tribes  to  be  removed  to  these  parts;  and  considering 
also  that  these  large  bodies  of  surplus  land  must,  if  the  Govt  policy 
be  adhered  to,  remain  unoccupied  in  all  time  to  come.  Independently 
of  this,  another  grave  quesLiou  presented  itself  furnishing  matter  for 
serious  and  sober  reflection.  A  guarrantee  was  made  to  all  the  Emi- 
grating tribes  that  in  the  Country  assigned  them  West,  no  territorial 
government  shall  ever  be  formed  over  them,  nor  become  subject  to  any 
State  authority. 

These  questions  were  discussed  at  public  meetings,  in  private  circles 
and  in  the  public  Journals  with  considerable  earnestness.  These  dis- 
c  issions  attracted  the  attention  of  the  Interior  Department  and  drew 
forth  official  intimations  that  the  government  could  not  allow  any  por- 
tion of  that  territory  to  be  occupied  or  settled  by  white  people;  and 
tiiat  the  president  was  authorized  to  employ,  if  necessary,  the  military 
force  of  the  U.  S.  in  nimoving  from  the  Indian  Country  all  persons 
found  therein  contrary  to  law. 

But  unfortunately  for  the  government,  it  turned  out  that  it  was  the 
Indians,  not  the  indigenous,  but  the  Emigrant  Indians  themselves 
especially  the  Wyandotts  that  warmly  favored  the  occupation  by  white 
people  of  the  vacant  lands  and  ultimate  organization  of  the  territory. 
They  foresaw  that  the  pressure  Westward  and  from  the  Pacific  slope 
Eastward  of  emigration  would  ere  long  force  the  government  to  aban- 
don its  restrictive  policy.  The  Wyandotts  and  such  whites  as  were 
within  their  [tribe]  took  the  initiatory  step,  by  holding  an  election  for 
a  Delegate  to  Congress  in  the  fall  of  1852,  and  elected  M^A.  G."  a 
gentleman  every  way  qualified  to  represent  this  [Territory  in  Con- 
gress] . 

>  This  MS.  is  unsigned,  but  it  is  in  Governor  Walker's  handwriting.    I  obtained  it 
with  the  resolutions  or  "  Constitution  "  of  the  Provisional  Government. 
=  Abelard  Guthrie. 


OF  NEBRASKA  TERRITORY.  59 

The  Missouri  delegation  in  Congress  were,  with  the  exception  of  Col. 
Benton  an;!  Hon  W.  P.  Hall,  opposed  to  the  measure,  and  nothing 
was  ace oiDiilished,  but  an  increased  interest  excited  and  public  atten- 
tion aroused  to  the  im})ortance  of  this  novel  measure  inaugurated 
by  two  parties,  in  which  the  Indians  and  the  ever  restless  and 
erratic  whites  coalesced  and  opposed  the  very  policy  intended  for  the 
projection  of  the  former. 

In  the  summer  of  1853,  a  Territorial  Convention  was  held  pursu- 
ant to  previous  notice  to  be  held  at  Wyandott.  The  Convention  met 
on  the  26th  of  July  when  the  following  proceedings  took  place: 
(See  "Industrial  Luminary"  herewith  sent)* 

A  proclamation  was  issued  in  pursuance  of  the  10th  Resolution 
ordering  an  election  for  a  Delegate  to  the  33rd  Congress  on  the  2ud 
Tuesday  in  Oct.  and  designating  the  precincts  at  which  the  polls 
should  be  opened. 

A  few  days  after  the  adjournment  of  this  Convention  another 
rather  informally  was  called  at  Kickapoo,  at  which  M^  Thomas  John- 
son was  nominated  as  Candidate  for  Delegate.  The  latter  then 
yielded  to  the  wishes  of  his  friends  and  became  a  Candidate  in  oppo- 
sition to  the  regular  nominee.  The  election  was  held  accordingly. 
Upon  canvassing  the  returns  it  was  found  that  a  third  candidate  was 
voted  for  in  the  Bellevue  precinct,  in  the  person  of  Hadley  D.  John- 
ston Esq  who  reed  358  votes.' 

From  information  derived  from  that  precinct  it  appeared  that  M' 
Johnston  was  an  actual  resident  of  Iowa,  and  at  that  time  a  member 
of  the  Legislature  of  that  State;  and  an  addititional  circumstance 
tending  to  vitiate  the  election  in  this  precinct,  was  that  a  large  ma- 
jority of  the  voters  were  actual  residents  of  that  State.  The  officers 
were  compelled  to  reject  these  returns.'  Upon  canvassing  the  returns 
it  was  found  that  Thomas  Johnson  of  Shawnee  had  received  a  ma- 
jority of  all  the  votes  cast  and  was  declared  duly  elected.  Many 
politicians  and  E<litors  of  public  Journals  whose  standard  of  political 
morals  was  of  the  straitest  kind  viewed  these  proceedings  with  de- 
cided aversion  and  regarded  them  as  revolutionary  &c  mobocratic  law 

'  These  "Notes"  were  evidently  intended  for  publication  in  some  newspaper,  most 
probably  the  Ohio  State  Journal.  This  is  the  rough  draft  of  what  the  communcation 
w  IS  when  rewritten. 

*  This  is  the  same  number  of  votes  given  in  Mr.  Johnson's  certificate  of  election. 

'  See  Mr.  Johnson's  statement  in  another  part  of  this  work. 


60  THE  PROVISIONAL  GOVERNMENT 

defying,  unprecedented,  illegal;    forgetting   the   several    provisional 
govts  of  California,  Oregon,  New  Mexico  &c.* 

It  is  here  worthy  of  remark  that  in  each  of  the  emigrant  tribes  of 
Indians  elections  were  held  and  they  voluntarily  and  freely  participated 
in  them;  showing  clearly  that  they  anticipated  and  were  prepared  for 
the  change  in  their  political  condition  which  they  saw  would  soon  be 
wrought  out.  As  was  the  case  with  M''  G  who  was  elected  Delegate 
the  year  previous.  Congress  being  averse  to  a  departure  from  "the 
line  of  sav[f]e  precedent",  by  admitting  delegates  from  unorganized 
territories,  refused  to  admit  ]\P  Johnson  to  a  seat  in  that  body.  The 
provisional  government  of  Nebraska  continued  in  existence  till  after 
the  organization  by  Congress  of  the  two  Territories  and  the  arrival  of 
A,  H.  Reeder  the  first  Governor  of  Kansas.  Of  all  the  remarkable 
events  that  transpired  subsequently,  "are  they  not  written  in  the 
book  of  Chronicles  "  of  Kansas  Territory  ? 


NEBRASKA  TERRITORY. 

[The  document  of  which  the  following  is  a  copy  is  in  the 
handwriting  of  Governor  Walker.  The  paper  is  not  com- 
plete, it  being  only  a  portion  of  the  first  draft  of  an  article 
for  some  periodical.     It  has  no  date.] 


NEBRASKA    TERRITORY. 

The  first  movement  looking  to  an  organization  of  this  Territory 
was  made  in  1845.  Senator  Douglas  then  Chairman  on  Territories 
reported  a  Bill  for  that  purpose;  but  the  measure  not  meeting  with 
much  favor  with  the  Senate,  was  laid  aside  and  but  little  more  said 
about  the  measure  till  the  summer  of  1852,  when  a  few  daring  and 
resolute  spirits  in  the  Wyandott  nation  determined  upon  making  a 
demonstration  in  favor  of  its  organization,  by  concerting  measures 
for  holding  an  election  for  a  delegate  to  Congress.  But  a  serious 
question  at  hand  had  to  be  solved :  Who  would  go,  if  elected,  and  run 
the  risk  of  having  to  pay  his  own  expenses  to,  at  and  from  Washington, 
as  it  was  extremly  doubtful  whether  the  delegate  so  elected  would  be 

'  Especially  the  papers  of  the  South,  and  many  of  the  Democratic  papers  of  the 
North. 


OF  NEBRASKA  TERRITORY.  61 

admitted  to  a  seat.  M'^  A.  G.  a  man  of  talents  and  some  experience 
in  public  life,  having  "done  the  State  some  service"  in  other  responsi- 
ble positions,  offered  his  services  &  was  duly  elected  amidst  the  oppo- 
sition of  Government  officials,  the  military  especially. 

There  being  no  existing  provisional  government  in  the  Territory 
to  give  official  evidence  to  M^  G.  of  his  election,  he  took  with  him 
the  Poll  Books  as  prima  facia  evidence  of  his  election. 

As  was  feared,  he  was  not  admitted  to  a  seat  in  the  House,  tho'  his 
election  was  admitted,  yet  he  did  good  service  "on  his  own  charges" 
in  the  character  of  a  "  Lobby  member."  As  evidence  of  this  it  will 
be  recollected  that  the  Committee  on  Territories  in  the  House  reported 
a  Bill  for  the  organization,  which  finally  passed  the  House  by  a  vote 
of  98  to  43 ! 

Upon  the  Senate,  especially  the  Chairman  of  the  Com.  on  Territo- 
ries (IvP  D.)  rests  the  responsibility  of  its  failure  in  that  body.  The 
metes  and  bounds  of  the  Territory  as  fixed  in  the  bill,  are  as  follows: 
The  43  degree  of  North  latitude  on  the  Missouri  river,  thence  run- 
ning West  to  the  base  of  the  Rocky  Mountains — thence  South  fol- 
lowing the  meanderings  of  said  base  to  latitude  36°  30  minutes, 
thence  East  till  it  intersects  the  N.  W.  corner  of  Arkansas,  thence 
following  the  Missouri  State  line  North  to  the  place  of  beginning. 

The  bill  was  so  framed  as  not  to  violate  any  of  the  political  or 
property  rights  secured  to  the  Indians  holding  lands  in  the  territory, 
secured  to  them  by  treaty  stipulations.  A  clause  in  the  first  section 
of  the  Bill  provides  "that  nothing  in  this  Act  contained  shall  be  con- 
strued to  impair  the  rights  of  person  or  property  now  pertaining  to 
the  Indians  in  said  territory,  or  to  include  any  territory  which,  by 
treaty  with  any  Indian  tribe,  is  not,  without  the  consent  of  said 
tribe,  to  be  included  within  the  territorial  limits  or  jurisdiction  of  any 
State  or  Territory" — The  above  clause  was  supposed  to  be  amply 
sufficient  to  guard  all  the  rights  of  the  Indians  and  to  preclude  the 
possibility  ot  any  violation  of  treaty  stipulations  with  the  latter. — 


STATEMENT  OF  THE  LEGISLATIVE  COMMITTEE. 

[The  document  of  which  the  following  is  a  copy  is  in  the 
handwriting  of  Governor  Walker.     It  is  from  the  archives 


62  THE  PKO VISIONAL  GOVEENMENT 

of  the  Wyandot  Nation,  and  is  a  record  of  the  official  views 
of  the  Legislative  Committee,  the  highest  tribunal  of  the 
government.  It  is  a  legal  document,  and  was  probably- 
handed  to  the  Council  of  Chiefs  during  a  joint  session  of  the 
two  bodies.  As  all  parties  were  present  it  is  possible  that  it 
was  not  considered  necessary  to  have  the  paper  signed  by 
the  members  of  the  Legislative  Committee.  While  it  is  not 
dated,  it  is  evident  that  it  was  written  during  the  time  when 
the  Wyandots  were  working  for  the  organization  of  a  Terri- 
torial Government  for  Nebraska.  And  it  would  seem  that 
this  document  conclusively  shows  that  the  Government  of 
the  Wyandot  Nation  was  then  taking  part  in  this  move- 
ment. 

The  paper  was  given  to  me  by  Hon.  Allen  Johnson,  Jr., 
Head  Chief  of  the  Wyandot  Nation  in  the  Indian  Terri- 
tory.] 


The  Legislative  Committee  previous  to  adjournment  deemed  it 
necessary  to  make  some  formal  and  official  expression  of  its  views  upon 
our  Indian  relations  as  they  now  exist,  and  upon  our  relation  with  the 
United  States  in  the  present  aspect  of  affairs. 

First,  then,  it  is  well  known  that  for  the  last  hundred  years  a  league 
has  existed  between  the  following  tribes,  viz:  Wyandott,  Delaware, 
Chippewa,  Ottawa,  Pottawottomie,  Shawnee  and  Miami.  This  League 
unanimously  elected  the  Wyandott  the  Keeper  of  the  Council  fire, 
where  all  diplomatic  and  other  important  matters  involving  the  in- 
terests of  the  several  tribes  composing  this  league  were  to  be  discussed. 
Whether  in  peace  or  War  this  league  maintained  a  unity  of  mind  and 
action  in  all  important  measures.  On  the  happening  of  any  impor- 
tant event  interesting  to  thtm,  it  appears  from  past  history,  that  the 
Keeper  of  the  Council  fire  was  the  member  whose  duty  it  was  to  ap- 
prise the  members  by  a  confidential  runner  bearing  the  official  wampum, 
of  the  nature  of  the  information  received. 

In  pursuance  of  this  understanding  mutually  entered  into,  the  tribes 
composing  this  Confederacy  naturally  looked  to  the  Wyandott  for  all 
official  information  of  importance  to  them.     Thus  the  principles  of 


OF  NEBEASKA  TEREITOKY.  63 

this  compact  were  kept  up  till  By  the  action  of  the  U.  S.  Gov't 
the  tribes  composing  this  Confederacy  removed  from  the  North  and 
East  to  the  west  of  the  Mississippi.  This  caused  some  derangement 
in  our  intercourse  with  each  other — caused  an  interruption  of  the  usual 
interchange  of  friendly  messages.  Thus  matters  continued  till  the 
autumn  (Oct)  of  1848,  when  the  members  of  the  league  assembled 
for  the  first  time  in  the  West  and  demanded  "  Where  is  the  Council 
fire"?  The  Keeper  promptly  responded  :  "  When  I  rose  from  my  seat 
in  the  East  with  my  face  to  the  West,  I  snatched  the  only  fire  brand 
yet  burning  in  the  Council  fire  and  bro't  it  with  me;  and  here  my 
brethren  I  rekindle  it  in  the  West.  Light  the  pipe  and  scour  up  my 
dish  and  Camp  kettle  again."  At  this  first  session  West,  all  the 
former  arrangements  of  the  league  were  solemnly  renewed  and  two 
other  tribes  joined  us  and  agreed  to  incur  the  responsibilities  and  abide 
by  the  regulations  and  joint  acts  of  the  league,  viz :  the  Kickapoos 
and  Kansas.  It  is  well  known  the  Sacs  and  Foxes  played  an  un- 
manly part  on  this  occasion  and  we  have  had  no  explanation.'  The 
Wyandott  being  thus  formally  re-appointed  the  Keeper  of  the  Council 
fire  in  the  West,  the  obligation  still  rests  upon  him  to  discharge  faith- 
fully those  obligations  he  incurred  when  originally  invested  with  this 
mark  of  distinction. 

Second.  Our  relations  with  the  U.  S.  Gov't.  It  would  seem  from 
present  indications  that  the  present  Indian  policy  is  about  to  undergo 
an  important,  and  to  us  emigrant  tribes,  vital  change.  Heretofore 
the  general  policy  has  been  to  purchase  the  domain  of  the  Red  men 
little  by  little  and  confining  him  to  narrower  limits  with  the  view,  as 
the  Gov't  said,  of  compelling  him  by  the  extinction  of  game,  to  re- 
sort to  agricultural  and  civilized  pursuits.  This  not  working  well, 
or  rather  it  was  the  excuse,  the  injurious  and  demoralizing  ei^'ects  of 

'This  incident  is  mentioned  by  Clarke  in  his  "Traditional  History  of  the  Wyan- 
dotts,"  page  132. 

"A  group  of  Fox  Indians  were  noticed  to  be  rather  reserved  and  distant  at  this  gen- 
eral Council,  and  who  knew  of  a  certain  dark  bead  belt  then  in  the  hands  of  the  Wy- 
andotts  with  the  shape  of  a  tomahawk  of  a  red  colour  on  it,  indicating  some  contem- 
plated warfare  whenever  it  was  exhibited  in  a  general  Council.  They  knew,  too,  of 
the  hostile  incursions  their  forefathers  used  to  make  against  the  Wyandotts  aiul  other 
tribes  about  Detroit,  over  a  century  ago ;  how  they  were  chastised  by  them  at  dillierent 
times,  and  that  they  never  made  peace  with  each  other. 

"The  group  of  Fox  Indians  watched  the  Wyandotts  witt  an  eagle  eye,  and  no  sooner 
than  they  observed  the  crimson  tomahawk  exhibited  than  they  were  off  to  their  homes 
on  their  ponies,  followed  by  wolfish-looking  dogs." 


64  THE  PROVISIONAL  GOVERNMENT 

being  surrounded  by  a  dense  white  population  being  so  palpable,  in- 
duced the  ccovernnipnt  again  to  change  the  whole  policy  to  that  of 
colonizing  thti  lied  race  in  a  new  country  Wtst,  to  be  assigned  them 
by  the  Gov't  and  to  be  theirs  "  as  long  as  grass  grows  and  water 
runs."  Where  they  could  have  their  choice  of  pursuits,  either  the 
chase  or  agricultural  and  where  they  and  their  descendants  would  be 
free  from  the  trammels  of  State  or  territorial  laws,  and  be  governed 
by  their  own  laws,  usages  and  customs.  And  in  order  to  this  the 
government  threw  around  the  emigrant  tribes  its  strong  protecting 
arm.  This  change  in  its  policy  took  place  about  twenty  two  years 
ago.  The  next  and  present  apprehended  change  is  that  of  purchas- 
ing of  us  emigrant  tribes  the  lands  assigned,  or  rather  sold  to  us  to 
be  our  perpetual  home.  This  presents  to  us  a  new  question.  If  we 
submissively  fall  into  this  new  line  of  policy,  what  is  to  become  of 
us?  further  west  we  can  not  go — nor  indeed  to  any  other  point  of  the 
compass,  as  the  Gov't  has  no  more  rich-soiled,  timbered  and  watered 
territory  on  this  continent  to  bestow  upon  the  Red  man.  What  are 
the  emigrant  tribes  to  do?  In  this  exigency  the  Committee  would 
respectfully  suggest  to  the  Executive  Council  the  propriety  of  send- 
ing the  messenger  with  the  Wampum  to  the  tribes  composing  the  Con- 
federacy and  such  other  tribes  as  emigrated  from  the  East  as  we  may 
be  upon  friendly  terms  with,  apprising  them  of  this  apprehended 
change  with  a  view  to  a  consultation  upon  the  propriety  of  uncover- 
ing the  great  Council  fire,  and  devising  the  measures  necessary  to  be 
adopted  in  this  new  case. 


LETTER   FROM   GOVERNOR  WALKER   TO  SOME  UN- 
KNOWN PERSON  IN  OHIO. 

West  Jersey,'  Nebraska,  Jan  19,  '54. 
Dear  Sir — 

Your  letter  dated  the  4th  inst  was  rec'd  yesterday,  and  although 
pretty  well  over  run  with  similar  letters,  some  yet  unanswered,  yet  I 

*  Governor  Walker  bestowed  the  name  "  Jei-sey"  upon  the  creek  running  through 
Kansas  City,  Kansas,  into  the  Missouri  River.  He  named  his  homestead  "  West  Jersey," 
why,  I  do  not  know;  his  home  in  Ohio  may  have  been  "  Jersey."  Governor  Walker's 
house  stood  on  what  are  now  h)ts  4.  5,  6  and  7,  in  block  4,  Sunnyside  Addition  to  Kansas 
City,  Kansas.  Tlie  grounds  and  garden  enclosed  with  the  house  included  the  remain- 
der of  block  4,  the  south  half  of  block  3,  the  north  half  of  block  6,  lots  1  to  25  inclusive 
in  block  5,  and  all  streets  and  alleys  included  in  these  bounds.     His  house  had  been  the 


OF  NEBRASKA  TERRITORY.  65 

feel  bound  to  give  precedence  to  enquiries  from  the  "Buckeye  State." 
I  will  endeavor  to  give  you  such  information  in  regard  to  the  charac- 
ter of  this  frontier  and  this  Territory  as  I  can  command.  My  travels 
in  the  Territory  have  been  chiefly  through  the  Southern  portion ; 
therefore,  cannot  give  you  much  from  personal  observation  in  regard 
to  other  parts  but  must  rely  upon  information  derived  from  other 
sources  for  a  general  description. 

Then  fancy  me  Chief  Magistrate  of  this  wild  and  untamed  terri- 
tory, seated  upon  a  bleak  boundless  prairie,  with  a  furious  wind  from 
the  mountains  whirling  snow,  leaves,  grass  &e  in  circling  eddies 
round  my  head,  with  an  icicle  pendant  from  my  proboscis,  as  long  as 
a  lO*^  nail,  with  my  saddle  on  my  lap  for  a  writing  desk,  pouring  my 
warm  breath  into  my  pen  to  thaw  the  congealing  ink — anon  thrash- 
ing my  arms  round  my  bod}'  to  quicken  circulation  in  my  chilled  fin- 
gers, while  my  company,  composed  of  AVyandotts  Shawnees  Dela- 
wares  and  a  quadroon  Frenchman  as  Fort  man,  are  attending  to  our 
animals.  The  devil  and  Phoenix  bitters!  how  can  I  write  in  this 
fix  ?  O  here's  a  mitigant.  Antoine  appor  [part  of  this  sentence  torn 
away  at  this  point]  ici  voire  Boutielle  de  eau  de  vie  et  um  cruche  aus- 
sitot.  Your  good  health,  Sir.  Ahem,  Tres  bien.  Taut  mieux.  But 
stop.  I  forget  myself.  I  am  not  on  an  exploring  tour,  taking  notes 
of  observation.  Sure  enough  Fm  in  my  own  domicile,  at  my  own 
comfortable  fire  side.  Yes,  I  faix,  there's  M""^  W.  seated  cosily  in  her 
arm  chair  and  the  girls  one  reading  the  latest  Novel  (sorry  to  sav  it, 
but  'tis  true)  and  the  other  gleaning  political  news  from  the  National 
Intelligencer  and  your  humble  servant  at  the  writing  table.  My 
negro  domestic  enters  and  announces  "the  Thermomaker  10°  below 
Nero."  But  Fm  wandering  from  the  matter  on  hand — no  more  di- 
gressions episodes  &c,  but  to  the  point.  Nebraska  Ter  extends  to 
the  43rd  parallel  of  N.  lattitude  and  running  S.  to  the  parallel  of  36° 

old  Delaware  pay-house,  where  the  Delawares  came  to  receive  their  annuities  from  the 
agents.  Governor  Walker  improved  it  and  built  additions  to  it  until  it  was  two  stories 
high  and  contained  ten  or  twelve  larsre  rooms.  The  building  and  most  of  the  additions 
were  of  logs,  but  it  was  weather-boarded,  and  was  a  comfortable,  roomy,  deliglitful  old 
home.  Nothing  remains  of  it  now  except  a  few  stones  of  one  corner  of  the  foundation. 
The  heavy  door  which  had  a  square  hole  cut  in  it,  through  which  the  agent  passed  out 
the  money  to  the  Delawares,  was  always  retained  in  use  by  Governor  Walker.  It  was 
a  rough,  rude  piece  of  workmanship,  and  Mrs.  Walker  wished  to  replace  it  with  a  more 
respectable  looking  one,  but  the  Governor  would  not  suffer  this  to  be  done. 

6 


66  THE  PROVISIONAL  GOVERNMENT 

30'^,  bounded  on  the  E.  by  Mo  &  Iowa  and  on  the  west  by  the  spurs 
of  tl)e  Rocky  Mountains. 

It  is  a  rich  champaign  country:  beautifully  undulating  and  well 
watered  &  generally  well  supplied  with  stone  and  I  have  no  doubt 
but  time  will  develop  large  and  rich  pits  of  coal.  The  chief  deficiency 
is  the  want  of  good  building  timber.  The  timbered  lands  are  confined 
to  the  streams.  These  wending  their  ways  to  their  points  of  debouch- 
ment are  fringed  with  timber.  There  are  exceptions  to  this  rule. 
There  are  some  high  rolling  ridges  timbered  with  a  somewhat  stunted 
growth  of  Bur  Oak  &  Hickory,  but  these  are  valueless  except  for 
fuel.  These  immense  praries  are  doubtless  produced  by  the  annual 
conflao;rations  of  the  tall  grasses,  weeds  and  undergrowth  of  wild 
shrubbery,  rendering  it  impossible  for  a  young  growth  of  timber  to 
survive  these  fearful  ravages  produced  by  the  brand  of  the  wild  and 
tame  incendiary;  as  often  by  the  latter  as  the  former.  This  scarcity 
of  timber  will  always  be  a  drawback — indeed  an  insurmountable  ob- 
stacle to  a  compact  settlement.  But  there  are  to  be  found,  as  will  be 
more  abundantly  proved,  whenever  a  geological  survey  shall  be  made, 
all  the  elements  provided  by  the  god  of  nature,  to  supply  these  defici- 
ences,  such  as  an  abundance  of  stone  for  building  houses  and  fences, 
added  for  the  latter  purpose  Osage  thorn.  Stone  coal  for  fuel.  There 
is  every  variety  of  soil.  The  high  rolling  lands  after  a  crop  or  two 
of  corn  yield  fine  wheat.  Rye  and  Oats  crops.  The  lower  lands  for 
corn,  Hemp,  Tobacco  &g  and  the  soil  [is]  inexhaustible.  There  is  one 
important  item  that  I  cannot  omit  mentioning  wliich  operates  seriously 
against  the  dnr;ibility  of  the  soil,  especially  in  hilly  or  broken  lands. 
There  being  the  want  of  substantial  clay  or  marl  basis  and  the  upper 
soil  being  [of]  a  light  loamy  character,  the  heavy  rains  peculiar  to 
this  country,  sweep  away,  when  tilled,  the  soil  to  the  bottoms,  rivers 
or  ravines,  presenting  in  a  few  years  an  unseemly  sight  of  sterile 
knobs,  fissures  &  gutters.  This  obj  does  not  apply  to  the  slightly  un- 
dulating or  level  lands. 


OF  NEBEASKA  TERRITOKY.  67 


ABELARD  GUTHRIE. 
[To  accompany  bill  H.  R.  No.  381] 


Mr.  Loomis,  from  the  Committee  of  Elections,  made  the  following 
REPORT. 


April  3,  1862.— Ordered  to  be  printed. 


The  Committee  of  Elections,  to  whom  was  referred  the  memorial  of  Abe- 
lard  Guthrie,  praying  to  be  allowed  mileage  and  per  diem  as  dele- 
gate from  Nebi-aska  to  the  thirty-second  Congress,  have  had.  the 
same  under  consideration  and  respectfully  report : 

On  the  second  Tuesday  of  October,  A.  D.  1852,  the  people  of  Ne- 
braska, (then  an  unorganized  Territory,)  desiring  to  secure  a  territorial 
government,  elected  the  memorialist  as  their  delegate  to  the  thirty- 
second  Congress. 

In  pursuance  of  this  election  he  came  to  Washington,  and  on  the 
17th  day  of  December,  1852,  presented  his  memorial  to  the  House  of 
Representatives,  asking  to  be  admitted  as  a  delegate.  This  memorial 
was  duly  referred,  and  a  report  was  made  thereon  and  ordered  to  be 
printed,  but  no  further  action  was  had  npon  it.  But  a  bill  was  im- 
mediately introduced  for  the  organization  of  a  government  for  that 
Territory,  which  passed  the  House  of  Representatives  on  the  18th  day 
of  February,  1853,  by  a  vote  98  yeas  to  43  nays.  The  bill  was  sent 
to  the  Senate,  and  there  received  the  approval  of  the  Committee  on 
Territories,  but  as  the  session  terminated  on  the  4th  of  March  follow- 
ing it  failed  to  become  a  law,  and  the  memorialist  was  never  admitted 
as  a  delegate,  nor  was  any  compensation  ever  allowed  him  for  coming 
and  remaining  here  for  the  purposes  aforesaid. 

The  memorial  now  under  consideration  asks  for  the  usual  per  diem 
and  mileage,  as  before  allowed  in  similar  cases.  This  claim  has  long 
been  pending  before  Congress. 

On  the  19th  of  July,  1856,  the  Hon.  Israel  Washburn,  as  chair- 
man of  the  Committee  of  Elections,  made  a  report  in  favor  of  the 
claim,  accompanied  with  a  bill  granting  the  memorialist  mileage  not 


68  THE  PROVISIONAL  GOVERNMENT 

to  exceed  two  thousand  dollars,  and  his  per  diem  of  five  dollars  per 
day  from  the  time  of  presenting  his  memorial  at  the  2d  session,  32d 
Congress,  to  the  close  thereof,  but  no  further  action  was  had  thereon. 

Your  committee  find  that  sev^eral  claims  similar  to  the  one  now 
under  consideration  have  received  the  sanction  of  both  houses  of 
Congress. 

In  1850  Hugh  N.  Smith  petitioned  the  House  to  admit  him  as 
delegate  from  New  Mexico,  and  A.  W.  Babbitt  made  application  to 
be  admitted  as  delegate  from  Utah.  To  these  applications  it  was  ob- 
jected, among  other  things,  that  the  Territories  which  they  claimed  to 
represent  were  unorganized,  and  that  their  boundaries  had  never  been 
defined  ;  and,  further,  that  these  gentlemen  were  appointed  by  dele- 
gates to  territorial  conventions  or  assemblies,  and  not  chosen  by  the 
people  in  their  primary  meetings.  The  decision  of  the  House  was 
adverse  to  the  claimants,  but  Congress  passed  an  act  to  pay  them 
mileage  and  per  diem. 

These  cases  are  similar  in  principle  to  that  of  the  memorialist,  or, 
if  there  be  any  difference,  it  is  in  favor  of  the  latter,  as  he  was  desig- 
nated or  elected  by  the  people  themselves  in  their  j)rimary  assemblies. 

Your  committee  believe  that  it  was  important  to  have  an  organ- 
ized government  for  Nebraska  at  the  time  the  people  of  that  Terri- 
tory sent  the  memorialist  here  as  their  delegate. 

In  the  years  1849  and  1850  it  is  estimated  that  more  than  one  hun- 
dred thousand  emigrants  passed  through  that  Territory  on  their  way 
to  California,  Utah,  New  Mexico,  and  Oregon. 

The  memorialist  came  here  in  good  faith  and  with  good  reason  to 
believe  that  the  Territory  would  be  organized,  and  he  admitted  as  a 
delegate.  The  vote  of  the  House  before  mentioned  recognized  in  a 
most  emphatic  manner  the  propriety  of  its  organization,  and  must 
have  made  the  memoralist  feel  confident  that  he  would  be  admitted 
to  his  seat  as  a  delegate  before  the  close  of  the  session. 

Your  committee,  therefore,  recommend  the  passage  of  the  accom- 
panying bill. 


To  the  House  of  Representatives  of  the  United  States  noio  in  session: 

Gentlemen  :  Your  memoralist  begs  leave  to  represent  to  your  hon- 
orable body  that  he  was  elected  by  the  people  of  Nebraska  Territory 


OF  NEBRASKA  TERRITORY.  69 

as  their  delegate  to  the  second  session  of  the  32d  Congress;  that  he  ac- 
cepted the  trust,  came  to  Washington,  presented  his  credentials  and 
exerted  his  best  abilities  to  serve  his  constituents,  but  was  not  ad- 
mitted to  a  seat  in  the  House,  for  the  reason  that  there  had  been  no 
Territorial  government  for  Nel)r:iska  established,  and  therefore  the 
election  was  unauthorized  by  law.  A  bill,  however,  was  immediately 
introduced  into  the  House  for  the  organization  of  a  government  for 
Nebraska,  and  passed  the  House  of  Representatives,  but  was  lost  in 
the  Senate. 

It  was  confidently  believed  by  the  friends  of  the  measure  that  the 
bill  would  pass  the  Senate,  and  that  I  would  then  be  immediately  ad- 
mitted to  a  seat  in  the  House  as  delegate,  and  this  confidence  continued 
up  to  the  last  day  of  the  session,  when  it  was  too  late,  amidst  the  gen- 
eral press  of  business,  to  take  the  necessary  steps  to  obtain  an  appro- 
priation for  my  per  diem  and  mileage;  and  since  that  time  a  long 
and  painful  illness  has  made  it  impossible  for  me  to  bring  the  matter 
to  your  notice.  I  am  fully  aware  that  there  is  no  law  authorizing 
payment  in  such  caset!',  and  therefore  I  throw  myself  upon  the  gener- 
osity of  Congress,  as  did  the  delegates  irom  Utah  and  New  Mexico, 
who  came  here  under  similar  circumstances,  before  governments  were 
organized  for  those  Territories,  and  were  paid.  And  I  respectfully 
ask  to  be  treated  with  the  same  liberality. 

Very  respectfully, 

Abelard  Guthrie. 

Washington  City,  D.  C,  June  14,  1856. 


B. 

Personally  appeared  before  me,  Thomas  J.  Williams,  a  justice  of 
the  peace  for  the  District  of  Columbia  and  county  of  Washington, 
Abelard  Guthrie,  who,  being  duly  sworn,  deposeth  and  saith  that,  in 
pursuance  of  public  notice,  an  election  was  held  in  the  Territory  of 
Nebraska  on  the  second  Tuesday  of  October,  1852,  for  a  delegate  to 
represent  the  said  Territory  in  the  Congress  of  the  United  States,  and 
that  at  the  said  election  he  received  a  majority  of  all  the  votes  given, 
and  was  declared  duly  elected.  That  the  evidences  of  his  election, 
consisting  of  the  poll-books  and  tally- lists  of  each  precinct,  or  certified 
copies  thereof,  were  handed,  together  with  a  memorial  setting  forth  the 


70  THE  PROVISIONAL  GOVERNMENT 

facts  of  said  election  and  praying  to  be  allowed  a  seat  in  Congress,  to 
the  Hon.  M'  Phelps,  of  Missouri,  to  be  presented  to  the  House ;  and 
that  M^  Phelps  afterwards  told  him  that  he  had  presented  them, 
which  he  believes  to  be  the  fact,  for  in  subsequent  conversations  with 
the  Hon.  ]VP  Ashe,  then  chairman  of  the  Committee  of  Elections,  he 
alluded  to  them  as  being  before  his  committee.  The  deponent  further 
states  that  he  has  caused  search  to  be  made  for  these  papers  in  the 
office  of  the  Clerk  of  the  House  of  Representatives,  and  they  cannot 
be  found. 

Given  under  my  hand  and  seal  this  2nd  day  of  July,  1856. 

Thos.  J.  Williams,     [L.  S.] 

Justice  of  the  Peace. 

C. 
Washington  City,  D.  C,  June  30,  1856. 
Sir:  I  called  upon  Mr.  Buck,  who  made  a  search  for  my  papers, 
but  they  cau  nowhere  be  found.     The  following  is  an  extract  from  the 
journal  of  the  House  of  Representatives,  second  session  of  the  thirty- 
second  Congress: 

"Friday,  December  17,  1852. 

"By  M""  Phelps:  The  petition  of  Abolard  Guthrie,  praying  to  be 
admitted  to  a  seat  in  this  House  as  a  delegate  from  the  Territory  of 
Nebraska;  which  was  referred  to  the  Committee  of  Elections." 

This  record  does  not  state,  as  it  should  have  done,  that  my  creden- 
tials were  with  the  memorial.  The  committee  to  whom  they  were  re- 
ferred did  not,  I  believe,  make  a  report,  for  the  reason,  as  I  stated  in 
my  former  letter,  that  I  desired  it  kept  back  until  the  bill  organizing 
the  Territory  should  have  passed  both  houses. 

I  was  in  Washington  a  short  time  during  the  latter  part  of  the  winter 
of  1854,  when  I  memorialized  Congress  for  my  pay  and  per  diem,  but 
left  soon  after,  and  no  action  was  had  upon  ray  application.  In  the 
journal  of  the  House  of  Representatives,  first  session  thirty-third 
Congress,  is  the  following  entry  : 

"  Thursday,  February  23,  1854. 

"By  M^  Edgerton:  The  memorial  of  Abelard  Guthrie,  to  be  al- 
lowed mileage  and   per  diem  as  delegate  Irom  Nebraska  Territory. 


OF  NEBRASKA  TERRITORY.  71 

Ordered  that  said   petitions,  letters  and  memorial   be  referred  to  the 
Committee  on  the  Judiciary." 

I  think  it  quite  probable  that  among  these  "  said  petitions,  letter, 
and  memorial"  were  the  original  evidences  of  my  election  presented 
by  M'  Phelps  on  the  17th  December,  1852.  They  were,  however, 
referred  to  the  wrong  committee.  I  was  told  when  I  started  home 
that  they  would,  if  opportunity  offered,  be  reported  back  to  the  House 
and  be  referred  to  the  Committee  of  Elections.  This  was  probably 
never  done,  and  yet  they  are  not  on  file  with  the  papers  of  the  Judi- 
ciary Committee. 

There  was  evidently  culpable  neglect  in  some  quarter,  but  I  do  not 
know  who  was  to  blame.  But  I  do  not  think  it  reasonable  or  right 
that  I  should  lose  my  claim  from  this  cause.  The  records  of  the 
House  present  facts  enough,  I  think,  to  justify  the  hope  that  you  will 
grant  the  relief  I  ask. 

My  credentials  consisted  of  one  of  the  poll-books  and  tally-list 
from  each  precinct,  or  certified  copies  thereof;  I  am  not  certain  now 
which.  These,  under  the  circumstances,  were  thought  to  be  the  best 
evidences  of  election  that  I  could  present.  They,  and  my  memorial 
accompanying  them,  were,  I  believe,  all  the  papers  submitted  to  the 
House  on  the  occasion  of  my  asking  a  seat  as  a  delegate  from  Ne- 
braska. 

I  am,  sir,  very  respectfully,  yours, 

Abelard  Guthrie. 

Hon  Israel  Washburn, 

Chairman  Committee  of  Elections. 

P.  S. — Enclosed  herewith  is  an  affidavit  setting  forth  the  facts  of 
my  election. 

D. 

Washington  City,  D.  C,  June  26,  1856. 
Sir  :  I  desire  to  say  a  few  words  explanatory  of  the  circumstances 
connected  with  my  application  for  mileage  and  per  diem  as  delegate 
to  Congress  from  Nebraska  Territory,  showing  the  necessity  of  send- 
ing a  delegate  to  Congress  at  the  time  I  was  elected,  in  doing  which  I 
will  quote  from  a  speech  delivered  in  the  House  of  Representatives 
on  the  16th  May,  1854,  (see  Appendix  to  Congressional  Globe,  p. 
715,)  by  the  Hon.  S.  Mayall,  of  Maine.     M'  Mayall  says: 


72  THE  PROVISIONAL  GOVERNMENT 

"In  accordance  with  the  recommendations  of  the  Secretary  of  War, 
M^  Douglas,  of  the  House  Committee  on  Territories,  gave  notice  on 
the  11th  December,  1844,  of  a  bill,  and  the  17th  of  the  same  month 
introduced  the  same,  (H.  R.  444,)  to  establish  the  Territory  of  Ne- 
braska, and  it  was  referred  to  the  Committee  on  Territories.  M"" 
Aaron  V.  Brown,  on  the  7th  of  January,  1845,  reported  back  an 
amendatory  bill,  and  it  was  referred  to  the  Committee  of  the  Whole 
on  the  state  of  the  Union,  and  no  further  action  was  had  thereon. 

"The  next  movement  in  favor  of  Nebraska  was  made  by  M""  Doug- 
las, in  the  Senate,  by  the  introduction  of  a  bill,  (No.  170,)  which,  on 
the  20th  April,  1848,  was  made  the  order  of  the  day  for  Monday, 
the  24th  of  the  same  month,  but  no  further  action  was  had  thereon. 

"In  the  Senate,  December  4,  1848,  M'^  Douglas  gave  notice  of 
another  Nebraska  bill,  and  also  a  bill  for  Minnesota  and  New  Mexico ; 
and  on  the  20th  of  the  same  month  the  Minnesota  and  Nebraska  bills 
were  referred  to  the  Committee  on  Territories  of  that  body,  when 
another  opiate  was  administered  to  Nebraska.  Four  years  of  dead 
silence  on  the  part  of  Congress  in  relation  to  Nebraska  now  ensued. 

"In  October,  1852,  the  people  of  Nebraska  elected  a  delegate, 
(M''  Guthrie,)  who  came  to  this  capital,  and,  as  all  know  who  were 
members  of  the  last  Congress,  urged  with  great  zeal  the  organization 
of  a  government  for  that  Territory.  A  bill  was  reported,  and  on  the 
18th  of  February,  1853,  it  passed  the  House  of  Representatives,  by  a 
vote  of  98  to  43.  It  went  to  the  Senate,  received  the  sanction  of  the 
Committee  on  Territories,  but  was  never  brought  to  vote,  but  on  the 
morning  of  the  4th  of  March  was  consigned  to  its  grave." 

Thus  it  will  be  seen  that  four  years  had  elapsed  since  the  last  abor- 
tive attempt  to  organize  a  government  for  Nebraska,  and  the  people  of 
that  Territory  had  but  little  reason  to  believe  their  interests  would  i  e 
attended  to  until  they  sent  a  delegate  to  urge  them  upon  the  consid- 
eration of  Congress.  They  had  observed  that  this  course  had  been 
pursued  by  the  people  of  Oregon,  of  Utah,  of  New  Mexico,  and  of 
Minnesota,  with  success. 

Under  these  circumstances,  and  with  these  examples  before  them, 
the  people  of  Nebraska  held  an  election,  and  I  was  chosen  delegate. 
At  Fort  Leavenworth,  however,  (where  the  largest  body  of  citizens 
resided,)  the  officer  in  command  of  the  post  forbade  an  election.    Sub- 


OF  NEBRASKA  TERRITORY.  73 

sequently  however,  certain  persons  proposed  holding  another  election, 
to  overturn  the  first.  This  election  was  held  at  Fort  Leavenworth, 
(the  commanding  officer  having  abandoned  his  opposition,)  and  re- 
sulted in  a  large  majority  for  me — I  think  54  to  16. 

This  second  election  I  gave  no  attention  to,  knowing  that  it  was 
contrary  to  all  law  and  usage  regulating  popular  elections;  but  my 
friends  at  the  fort,  (not  soldiers,)  having  been  prevented  from  voting 
at  the  first  election,  determined  to  remove  all  shadow  of  a  right  of  my 
opponent  to  contest  my  claim  to  a  seat  in  Congress,  by  giving  me  a 
very  decided  majority  at  this  election  also.  But  the  judges  never  sent 
me  the  returns;  nor  would  I  have  presented  them  had  they  done  so, 
for  the  reason  already  given.  I  was  now  universally  admitted  to  be 
the  rightfully  elected  delegate,  and  met  with  no  further  opposition. 

The  number  of  votes  given  at  my  election  was  not  large,  for  the 
reason  I  have  already  stated.  Besides,  the  citizen  population  of  the 
Territory  was  very  small,  and  could  not  increase  under  the  restrictions 
of  the  law  of  1834,  "regulating  trade  and  intercourse  among  the  In- 
dians," which,  you  will  remember,  formed  the  ground  of  opposition 
to  the  passage  of  the  Nebraska  bill,  on  the  18th  of  Fel}ri!ary,  1853, 
but  which  was  satisfactorily  answered  by  the  friends  of  the  bill  on  that 
occasion. 

In  addition  to  what  I  stated  in  my  memorial,  I  will  add,  that, 
anxious  to  get  my  mileage  and  per  diem,  I  went  to  Judge  Douglas  on 
the  last  night  of  the  session,  when  the  "civil  and  diplomatic  bill  "  was 
before  that  body,  and  asked  him  if  the  appropriation  could  not  be  put 
on  the  bill.  To  which  he  replied,  that  if  the  House  Territorial  com- 
mittee would  recommend  it,  he  would  try  to  get  it  on,  adding  some 
reasons  why  it  should  come  from  the  House.  I  immediately  went  to 
the  chairman  of  that  committee.  Colonel  Richardson,  and  stated  the 
facts  to  him,  and  he  and  all  the  other  members  of  the  committee  then 
in  the  House,  (a  majority  of  the  whole,)  signed  the  recommendation, 
and  I  took  it  to  Judge  Douglas,  who  showed  it  to  the  members  of  the 
Senate  committee;  but  some  of  these  objecting,  on  the  ground  that  the 
appropriation  should  be  made  in  the  House,  the  judge  thought  it  bet- 
ter to  let  it  drop  for  the  present;  and  nothing  more  was  said  about  it. 

I  have  spent  much  money  in  obtaining  a  government  for  Nebraska, 
and  that,  too,  from  the  best  motives,  and  though  evil  has  grown  out 
of  it,  both  for  myself  and  the  country,  it  was  not  my  desire  it  should 


74  THE  PROVISIONAL  GOVERNMEI^T 

be  so;  and  I  think  I  am  entitled  to  the  same  remuneration  that  other 
informal  delegates  received,  and  I  ask  nothiag  more,  but  would  re- 
spectfully urge  that,  should  your  committee  favor  ray  application,  the 
most  speedy  course  will  be  pursued  to  enable  me  to  get  the  money. 
I  am,  sir,  with  great  respect,  yours, 

Abelard  Guthrie. 
Hon.  Israel  Washburn, 

Chairman  Committee  of  Elections. 


E. 

Washington  City,  D.  C,  July  20,  1861. 
Mr.  Chairman:  Understanding  your  committee  have  doubts  of 
the  propriety  and  necessity  of  a  government  for  Nebraska,  (now  Kan- 
sas,) at  the  time  I  came  here  as  its  delegate,  I  desire  to  say  a  few  words 
on  the  subject.  I  need  not  remind  you  that  this  Territory  lies  im- 
mediately west  and  south  of  the  State  of  Missouri,  but  it  may  be  well 
to  call  your  attention  to  the  fact  that  the  vast  emigration  to  California, 
Oregon,  Utah,  and  New  Mexico  had  to  pass  through  its  whole  length. 
At  that  time  the  usual  landing  for  emigrants  starting  from  the  states 
by  water  was  at  Kansas  City,  about  one  mile  from  the  northeast 
corner  of  Nebraska,  (Kansas,)  and,  although  many  went  across  the 
States  by  land,  they  all  directed  their  course  to  this  point  or  neighbor- 
hood. Here  the  overland  journey  commenced,  and  the  sudden  change 
from  the  comforts  of  civilized  life  to  the  exposures  of  such  a  journey 
produced  much  sickness  which,  from  the  fatigues  of  travel  and 
the  want  of  care,  generally  ended  in  death,  for  the  country  was  unin- 
habited, except  very  sparsely,  by  Indians,  and  the  journey  of  more 
than  two  thousand  miles,  to  be  performed  by  ox  teams  before  the  fall 
of  the  early  mountain  snows,  admonished  the  emigrants  of  the  dangers 
of  delays,  even  to  nurse  their  sick.  This  great  thoroughfare  was 
strewn  with  their  graves.  Only  those  familiar  with  the  hardships 
and  dangers  of  such  a  journey  can  form  a  just  conception  of  the  em- 
barrassments and  fatal  consequences  of  this  condition  of  things.  By 
the  organization  of  this  Territory  it  was  opened  to  settlement,  and 
soon  the  hospitable  door  of  the  pioneer  was  opened  along  the  route  for 
a  distance  of  two  hundred  miles,  where  the  invalid  could  enter  and  be 
cared  for.     Had  the  Territory  been  organized  several  years  earlier,  as 


OF  NEBRASKA  TERRITORY.  75 

it  should  have  been,  I  think  I  may  safely  say  thousands  of  human 
lives  would  have  been  saved  and  a  vast  amount  of  human  suffering 
prevented.  For  you  will  remember  that  during  the  years  1849  and 
1850  more  than  one  hundred  thousand  emigrants  crossed  this  Terri- 
tory on  their  way  to  California,  Utah,  Oregon,  and  New  Mexico,  and 
yet  not  one  word  was  said  in  Congress  about  establishing  a  govern- 
ment for  it  or  even  opening  it  to  settlement.  Was  not  this  silence 
significant?  Under  such  circumstances,  is  it  reasonable  to  urge  that 
it  was  not  time  to  move  in  this  matter?  Has  there,  in  the  history  of 
this  country,  been  a  more  urgent  case  of  the  kind  ?  Congress  was  evi- 
dently impressed  with  its  importance;  for  in  the  House  the  bill  for 
the  organization,  after  a  violent  but  brief  struggle,  passed  by  a  vote  of 
nearly  two  to  one,  and  even  in  the  Senate  there  was  an  ascertained 
majority  in  its  favor.  It  may  not  be  improper  here  to  state,  that  of 
the  southern  members  who  voted  for  the  measure,  I  think  less  than 
half  a  dozen  were  returned  to  Congress. 

Allow  me  also,  if  you  please,  to  submit  the  following  propositions: 

If  your  committee  have  any  sufficient  evidence,  or  can  obtain  any, 
that  it  was  the  intention  of  the  party  then  in  power,  or  any  other 
party,  to  organize  this  Territory  within  any  reasonable  or  definite 
period,  I  will  abandon  my  claim. 

If  the  committee  have  any  sufficient  evidence,  or  can  procure  any, 
that  there  was  any  other  course  as  likely  to  succeed  in  securing  an 
organization  as  that  of  sending  to  Congress  a  man  acquainted  with 
the  condition,  wants,  soil,  climate,  and  resources  of  the  Territory,  I 
will  give  up  my  claim. 

If  the  committee  have  any  sufficient  evidence,  or  can  get  any,  that 
it  was  not  the  design  of  the  slave  power  to  secure  this  Territory,  by 
quiet  and  stealthy  legislation  and  colonization,  for  the  benefit  of  its 
favorite  institution,  I  will  abandon  my  claim.  But  here  I  wish  you 
to  examine  the  law  of  30th  June,  1834,  annexing  this  Territory  to 
the  State  of  Missouri  for  judicial  purposes;  and  the  law  of  1836,  an- 
nexing to  the  same  State  forever  and  for  all  purposes  the  very  large 
and  fertile  portion  of  this  Territory  lying  between  the  Iowa  State 
line  and  the  Missouri  river,  cutting  us  off  entirely  from  contiguous 
free  Territory,  the  effects  of  which  were  disastrously  felt  during  our 
civil  troubles,  and  to  the  present  day;  and  also  to  the  several  abortive 
attempts  of  the  late  M"^  Douglas  to  organize  this  Territory. 


76  THE  PROVISIONAL  GOVERNMENT 

If  the  committee  have  any  sufficient  evidence,  or  can  obtain  any, 
that  this  Tei  ritory  would  not  eventually  have  been  received  into  the 
Union  as  a  tlave  State  under  the  skillful  management  and  well  ma- 
tured plans  of  southern  statesmen  and  their  northern  friends,  I  will 
abandon  my  claim. 

If  the  committee  have  any  evidence,  or  can  get  any,  that  my  move- 
ment for  a  government  for  Nebraska  did  not  frustrate  this  design,  I 
will  abandon  my  claim. 

If  your  committee  have  any  sufficient  evidence,  or  can  obtain  any, 
that  the  republican  party  would  have  been  in  existence  but  for  this  very 
act  of  mine  in  forcing  upon  the  consideration  of  Congress  the  policy  of 
erecting  a  territorial  government  over  this  magnificent  region,  (which 
the  slave  power  had  already  practically  grasped,  and  was  guarding 
with  jealous  care,)  I  will  abandon  all  claim  to  per  diem  and  mileage. 

In  this  connection  it  is  proper  I  should  state  that  I  am  not  a  can- 
didate for  any  office  whatever,  as  my  senators  and  representatives  wiil 
bear  me  witness.  But  when  I  get  the  money  I  ask  at  your  h;uul.«, 
and  to  which  I  think  myself  justly,  though  not  legally,  entitled,  I 
will  return  to  the  cultivation  of  my  grapes  and  gooseberries. 

I  will  only  add  that  I  am  fully  aware  of  the  apparent  extravagance 
of  the  pretensions  I  have  here  put  forth,  but  I  am  also  fully  pursuaded 
of  their  entire  justice,  and  that  the  humbleness  of  the  instrument  em- 
ployed is  the  weightiest  objection  that  can  be  urged  against  them. 

Abelard  Guthrie. 

Hon.  Henry  L.  Dawes, 

Chairman  Committee  of  Elections^  U.  S.  House  of  Representatives. 


LETTER   FROM  ABELARD   GUTHRIE  TO   GOVERNOR 
WALKER. 

Cincinnati,  Ohio,  December  let  1852. 
William  Walker,  Esq. 
Dear  Sir, 

Having  a  little  leisure  I  drop  you  a  line  to  tell  you  how  I  am 
getting  along.  Thus  far  I  have  traveled  faster  than  I  expected  and 
if  I  had  felt  well  enough  I  could  have  taken  the  cars  this  morning 
and  have  arrived  in  Washington  City  tomorrow  night — suet  are  the 
wonderful  facilities  for  travelling  fiom  this  point  eastward.  From  St. 
Louis  I  travelled  in  company  with  Senators  Geyer  and  Atchison  of 


OF  NEBRASKA  TERRITORY.  77 

Mo.  and  Representatives  Richardson  and  Bissil  of  Ills.  I  am  sorry 
to  say  our  Missouri  Senators  are  by  no  means  favorable  to  our  Terri- 
torial projects.  The  slavery  question  is  the  cause  of  this  opposition. 
I  reirret  that  it  should  interfere — it  ought  not.  Mr.  Atchison  thinks 
the  slaves  in  Nebraska*  are  already  free  by  the  operation  of  the  Mis- 
souri Compromise  Act,  and  asks  a  repeal  of  that  act  before  any  thing 
shall  be  done  for  Nebraska;  this  would  put  us  back  till  doomsday 
for  no  Congress  as  our  Government  now  stands  will  ever  repeal  that 
act.'  But  for  myself  I  do  not  consider  it  binding  upon  the  people  in 
moulding  their  State  institutions.  However  since  the  South  take  a 
different  view  of  it  we  must  fight  it  out.  I  foresee  the  struggle  will 
be  a  fierce  one  but  it  will  be  short  and  therefore  not  dangerous.  I 
did  not  expect  to  accomplish  this  object  without  trouble;  and  I  feel 
prepared  for  it.  One  incentive  to  determined  perseverance  is  the  fact 
that  I  beat  Banow  at  his  own  election,  so  Mr.  Atchison  informs  me. 
I  shall  certainly  endeavor  to  merit  the  good  opinion  my  friends  have 
formed  of  me.  I  am  full  of  hope  and  confidence  as  I  have  been  from 
the  start.  I  called  to  see  Col.  Benton  but  he  had  gone  to  Washing- 
ton, this  is  fortunate  for  he  is  our  friend  and  can  do  us  great  service. 
The  measure  will  succeed!  short  as  the  time  is,  and  with  an  opposition 
where  we  ought  to  have  support.  I  think  you,  Garret,  Matthew  and 
Isaiah  Walker  should  locate  your  sections  very  soon,'  for  after  the 
Territorial  organization  I  apprehend  they  will  not  be  recognized — 
there  will  be  no  land  set  apart  for  Indian  purposes  as  now.  I  will 
tell  you  in  confidence  that  no  treaty  with  the  Wyandots  can  be  con- 
firmed until  the  Territory  be  organized.  You  need  not  tell  this  to 
any  one  because  the  folks  in  that  country  are  so  jealous  of  me  that 
they  would  attribute  the  declaration  to  unfriendly  feeling  when  God 
knows  that  I  have  been  but  too  warmly  their  friend  and  still  am.  I 
want  you  to  write  to  me  soon  and  often.  I  shall  be  in  Washington 
about  Sunday.  My  respects  to  Mrs.  Walker. 
Very  respectfully 

Your  Obedient  Servant. 
Abelard  Guthrie 

>  Governor  Walker,  Matthew  E.  Walker,  Francis  A.  Hicks,  the  Garretts,  and  other 
Wyandots  owned  slaves.  There  may  have  been  slaves  held  in  other  emigrant  tribes, 
but  I  do  not  know  whether  there  were  or  not. 

^  How  he  was  mistaken!  In  less  than  three  years  from  that  time  Congress  repealed 
the  Missouri  Compromise. 

3  This  refers  to  land  guaranteed  to  many  individuals  of  the  Wyandot  Nation  by  the 
treaty  by  which  they  ceded  their  lands  in  Ohio. 


78  THE  PROVISIONAL  GOVERNMENT 

LETTER  FROM  ABELARD   GUTHRIE   TO   GOVERNOR 
WALKER. 

Washington  City  9th  Dec.  1852. 
Wm.  Walker,  Esq. 

My  Dear  Sir,  Although  I  have  but  little  to  comumnicate  I  feel 
very  much  like  trying  to  say  something  if  only  to  drive  away  the  blues. 
There  is  no  business  that  tries  a  man's  patience  and  good  nature  so 
much  as  trying  to  do  business  with  men  who  feel  that  their  self  inter- 
ests are  not  intimately  connected  with  your  projects.  I  have  ascer- 
tained almost  to  a  certainty  that  I  shall  not  get  my  seat.  But  that  is 
a  small  matter.  I  never  expected  it  and  am  not  disappointed,  but  my 
faith  is  still  strong  that  much  will  be  effected.  M'  Hall  has  proposed 
a  Bill  organizing  one'  Territory,  he  has  given  it  the  name  of  Flatte 
which  I  don't  like  but  don't  care  much  about  tiie  name  though  I 
shall  try  to  have  the  old  name  retained.  His  bill  has  not  yet  been 
introduced  but  it  is  already  and  I  think  will  be  presented  next  week; 
if  not  another  will  be  introduced  by  the  Committee  on  Territories. 
The  Chairman  of  that  Committee  has  given  me  assurances  to  that 
effect.  M''  Hall's  bill  says  nothing  about  slavery  but  leaves  un- 
touched the  Missouri  Con^promise.  The  Territory  it  is  pretty  confi- 
dently believed  will  be  free.  Another  measure  highly  beneficial  to 
our  interests  will  be  the  appropriation  of  one  hundred  thousand  dol- 
lars to  enable  the  President  to  negotiate  with  the  different  tribes  for 
their  surplus  lands  and  other  purposes.  You  will  therefore  have 
Commissioners  authorized  to  treat  early  in  the  spring.  This  is  im- 
portant and  you  may  regard  it  as  a  "fixed  fact."  I  forgot  to  state  to 
you  the  boundaries  prescribed  for  our  Territory  by  M'  Hall's  bill; 
they  are  these:  On  the  South  thirty  sixth  degree  and  thirty  minutes 
on  the  north  the  forty  third  degree  on  the  west  by  the  summit  of  the 
rocky  mountains  east  by  Missouri  these  are  ample  boundaries  and 
just  what  we  want. 

I  have  paid  so  little  attention  to  politics  since  I  came  here  that  I 
am  entirely  in  the  dark  about  the  distribution   of  offices  after  the 

fourth  of  March  and  indeed  it  is  [a]  thing  I  care  d d  little  about. 

Nebraska  and  its  interests  are  the  all  absorbing  topics  with  me.     I  am 
already  housed.     I   wish   you  would  write  to   me  very  soon  and   I 

'  There  had  been  discussion  at  this  early  date  of  organizing  two  or  more  Territoriea 
from  the  "Indian  Country"  or  "Indian  Territory," 


OF  NEBRASKA  TERRITORY.  79 

would   be  glad  if  you  would  take  a  little  pains  to  let  [me]  hear  how 
my  family  are  and  how  they  are  getting  along.' 

I  shall  write  to  you  presently  again  and  may  then  try  to  entertain 
you  with  a  little  gossip. 

My  best  respects  to  M"  Walker 

Believe  me 

I  am  truly  your  friend 

Abelakd  Guthrie. 
I  arrived   here  the  day  before  the  opening  of  the  session  being 
eleven  days  after  leaving    home."     The  weather  is   mild   as  June. 
How  is  it  in  Wyandot? 

A.  G. 


ABELARD  GUTHRIE'S  ADDRESS. 

(Wyandotte  Gazette,  Oct.  4,  18G2.) 

The  following  is  an  extract  from  an  Address  to  the  voters 
of  the  Congressional  District.  He  was  at  that  time  an  In- 
dependent candidate  for  Congress.  The  whole  address  is 
printed  in  the  Gazette;  the  following  is  the  only  portion  of 
it  which  has  any  reference  to  historical  matters: 

"Eighteen  years  ago  I  became  a  resident  of  what  is  now  the  State 
of  Kansas.  Ten  years  ago  'solitary  and  alone'  I  proposed  to  the 
people  of  the  then  Territory  to  make  an  eflPort  to  secure  a  Territorial 
Government.^  Tliis  was  the  first  act  in  that  great  national  drama  in 
which  the  whole  American  people  are  now  actors,  and  the  whole  civ- 
ilized world  intensely  interested  spectators. 

"  The  Republican  party  owes  its  existence  to  this  movement.  My 
proposition  met  with  much  opposition  from  Government  officials  and 
others.  One  of  them,  Col.  Fauntleroy,^  commanding  officer  at  Fort 
Leavenworth  (and  now  I  believe  of  the  rebel  array)  threatened  to  ar- 
rest me  if  I  should  attempt  to  hold  the  election.     However  an  eleo- 

*  Mr.  Guthrie  seems  always  to  have  been  devoted  to  his  family.  His  wife  was  a  very 
intelligent  and  spirited  woman. 

*  Eapid  traveling  for  those  times. 

'  This  statement  was  framed  to  influence  votes  at  the  time.  I  think  the  expression 
"solitary  and  alone  "  can  scarcely  be  accepted  as  describing  the  inception  of  the  move- 
ment. 

*  T.  T.  Fauntleroy,  Colonel  of  First  Dragoons.     Wildcr's  Annals  of  Kansas,  30. 


80  THE  PEOVISIONAL  GOVERNMENT 

tion  for  Delegate  to  represent  the  Territory  in  Congress  was  held  on 
the  2nd  Tuesday  of  October,  1852,  and  I  was  chosen  Delegate.  We 
christened  our  new  Territory  ''Nebraska,"  for  as  yet  it  had  no  legal 
name.'  I  proceeded  to  Washington  and  had  ray  petition  and  evi- 
dence of  the  election  presented  to  Congress,  and  virtually  succeeded 
in  my  mission  by  getti:)g  a  bill  for  organization  ])assed  by  the  House 
of  Representatives,  and  a  favorable  report  from  the  Committee  on 
Territories  of  the  Senate."  But  the  opposition  to  the  measure  had 
been  very  violent  and  obstinate  throughout,  and  the  organization  was 
not  perfected  until  the  next  session  of  Congress. 

"The  South  had  already  taken  possession  of  this  territory,  had 
planted  its  f^ivorite  institution  within  it,  and  believed  itself  secure  in 
its  stolen  acquisition.  Kansas  (then  Nebraska)  was  the  arbiter  of  the 
destinies  of  the  Republic.  This  was  well  understood  by  the  South. 
Hence  the  desperate  struggle  so  familiar  to  us  all  to  secure  it.  Had 
she  succeeded,  the  slave  power  would  have  been  omnipotent,  for  the 
Pacific  States  were  already  strongly  imbued  with  the  Southern  senti- 
ment, and  Kansas  was  the  only  link  needed  to  perfect  the  chain  which 
would  unite  those  regions  to  a  common  destiny.  I  am  assuming  nothing 
more  than  the  facts  will  warrant,  when  I  say  that  my  agency  in  call- 
ing public  attention  to  this  Territory,  and  impressing  the  claims  U|X)n 
the  consideration  of  Congress,  defeated  the  crafty  and  ambitious  de- 
signs of  the  slave  power,  and  opened  this  beautiful  and  fertile  country 
to  free  men  and  free  labor.'  Kansas  owes  her  civil  existence  to  my 
efforts  in  her  behalf.  I  have  never  before  apj)ealed  to  her  people  for 
any  acknowledgment  of  the  services  I  have  rendered.  But  the  pres- 
ent seems  a  fitting -opjiortunity  to  do  so.     .     .     . 

"Abelard  Guthrie. 

"Quindaro,  Kansas  8;h  Sept.  1862." 


THE   ORGANIZATION   OF    KANSAS   AND   NEBRASKA. 

(Copied  from  N.  Y.  Tribune,  Aug.  9,  1856.) 

To  the  editor  of  the  New  York  Tribune. 

Sir:   In  your  remarks  on  the  vote  on  Governor  Reeder's  claims  to 

a  seat  in  the  House  of  Representatives  as  delegate  irom   Kansas,  you 

1  "Nebraska"  had  been  proposed  as  the  name,  in  the  Douglas  bills  for  organizing 
the  Territory.     It  is  from  the  Pawnee  word  Ne-b rath -ka— shallow  river. 
'  It  was  defeated  in  the  Senate,  March  3,  1853. 
•  This  is  a  good  statement  of  the  facts. 


OF  NEBRASELA.  TEERITORY.  81 

say,  "Cases  are  frequent  of  the  election  of  such  delegates  in  the  most 
informal  and  unauthorized  manner.  We  are  confident  the  first  dele- 
gate from  Kansas,  (then  called  Nebraska),  the  Rev.  Thomas  Johnson, 
was  so  elected."  This  is  a  mistake,  but  one  I  should  pass  unnoticed, 
wore  it  not  for  the  injustice  it  does  myself. 

I  was  the  first  delegate  elected  to  Congress  "  from  Kansas  (then 
called  Nebraska)."  I  was  elected  by  a  spontaneous  movement  of  the 
people,'  and  I  came  to  Washington  in  accordance  with  their  expressed 
will,  presented  my  evidences  of  election,  and,  though  not  admitted 
to  a  seat  in  the  House,  I  pressed  the  interests  of  my  Territory  upon 
the  consideration  of  Congress  with  such  success  that  a  bill  for  its 
organization  passed  the  House  of  Representatives  by  a  large  majority, 
and  would  have  passed  the  Senate  had  it  been  brought  to  a  vote  at 
that  session  ;  but  unfortunately  for  the  country  and  myself,  this  was 
not  done." 

1  was  elected  for  the  second  session  of  the  32nd  Congress.  [Met 
Dec.  6,  1852]  In  the  autumn  of  the  succeeding  year,  1853,  a  con- 
vention of  the  people  of  the  Territory  assembled  at  Wyandotte,  and 
established  a  provisional  government — a  measure  first  suggested  and 
the  plan  proposed  by  myself.  At  this  convention  I  was  nominated 
for  re-election.  But  a  portion  of  the  convention  voted  and  another 
convention  was  called  at  which  M""  Thomas  Johnson  was  nominated 
as  my  competitor.  The  Chief  of  the  Indian  Bureau  at  Washington 
sided,  both  by  money  and  personal  influence,  with  my  opponent. 
This  I  can  prove.  The  repeal  of  the  Missouri  compromise  was  now 
first  agitated,  and  it  was  thought  important  to  success  that  the  Terri- 
tory should  be  represented  by  one  favorable  to  that  measure.  Hence 
the  interference.  And  as  all  the  Indian  agents  were  under  the  control 
of  the  Government,  they  obtained  a  very  large  Indian  vote — persons 
who  were  not  citizens  of  the  United  States,  nor  willing  to  become  such, 
and  who  voted  agaitist  me,  because  these  agents  told  them  "if  they 
did  not  do  so  I  would  be  elected  and  bring  them  under  the  white  man's 
laws."  But  a  majority  of  actual  citizens  voted  for  me,  yet  the  certifi- 
cate of  election  was  given  to  my  competitor  by  the  provisional  gov- 
ernor.    I  contested   the  election,  but  the  committee  on  elections,  to 

'This  is  more  in  accordance  with  the  facts  than  his  expression  "solitary  and 
alone." 

2  Mr.  Guthrie  seems  to  have  forgotten,  or  never  to  have  known,  that  the  Senate 
voted  on  his  bill. 

7 


82  THE  PROVISIONAL  GOVERNMENT 

whom  the  subject  was  referred,  never  came  to  any  decision  thereon. 
M^  Johnson  obtained  lucrative  employment  in  the  Indian  Department 
and  through  the  instrumentality  of  Indian  treaties  made  himself  rich, 
and  I  was  taken  sick  and  have  been  on  the  verge  of  the  grave  most 
of  the  time  since. 

It  was  not  the  policy  of  the  pro-slavery  party  to  have  the  country 
north  of  36°,  30  minutes,  known  as  Nebraska,  opened  for  settlement 
at  all ;  and  for  that  reason  it  was  set  apart  for  Indian  colonization, 
and  its  settlement  by  white  men  was  forbidden  by  law  under  heavy 
penalties.  The  few  whites  there  were  there  by  sufferance  and  by  li- 
cense. But  circumstances,  which  it  is  not  necessary  for  me  here  to 
relate,  impelled  me  to  urge  upon  the  people  of  the  Territory  the  neces- 
sity of  a  territorial  organization.  I  met  with  many  difficulties,  and 
on  one  occasion  was  threatened  with  imprisonment  by  the  command- 
ing officer  of  one  of  the  military  posts  in  the  Territory,  for  my  attempt 
at  "revolution,"  as  he  called  it. 

But  to  give  a  history  of  my  early  struggles  in  behalf  of  Nebraska, 
then  including  Kansas,  would  take  more  time  than  I  have  inclination 
to  spare.  Yet  I  can  say,  without  fear  of  refutation,  that  but  for  my 
efforts  there  would  not  be  either  Kansas  or  Nebraska  open  to  the 
settlement  of  the  white  man.  I  have  sacrificed  much  money  and  more 
time  than  any  other  living  man  in  the  cause  of  Kansas,  and  have  never 
received  one  cent  in  return — not  even  the  usual  mileage  and  per  diem 
hitherto  paid  to  informal  delegates.  Then  do  not,  I  beg  of  you,  de- 
prive me  of  the  honor  to  which  I  am  entitled.  I  have  paid  dearly 
enough  for  it,  and  think  I  should  have  full  credit  for  what  I  have 
done.  In  your  almanac  of  the  current  year  you  have  done  me  similar 
injustice,  and  I  trust  you  will  make  the  correction  in  both  cases. 

In  regard  to  Gov.  Reader,  I  entirely  agree  with  you.  He  ought  to 
have  been  admitted,  and  I  so  urged  whenever  I  had  a  Congressman's 
ear,  without  reference  to  the  man,  I  mean  Reeder,  who  to  tell  the 
truth,  is  very  far  from  beiug  without  sin,  although,  had  he  even  done 
his  duty  as  Governor  of  Kansas,  the  present  condition  of  affairs  could 
hardly  have  been  averted — it  was  a  foregone  conclusion. 
Yours  respectfully, 

(Signed)  Abelard  Guthrie. 

Washington,  D.  C.,  Aug.  6,  1856. 


OF  NEBEASKA  TERRITORY.  83 

ABELARD  GUTHRIE— THOMAS  JOHNSON  — DELE- 
GATE TO  CONGRESS— KANSAS  TERRITORY. 

(From  Wilder's  Annals,  under  date  of  Jaly  28,  1853.) 

In  1855,  a  correspondent  to  the  Chicago  Press,  made  the  statement 
that  a  convention  was  held  at  Wyandotte  July  28,  1853,  a  territorial 
government  organized,  and  a  delegate  to  Congress  nominated.  Abe- 
lard  Guthrie  was  put  forward  by  a  friend  of  Thomas  H.  Benton,  and 
Rev.  Thomas  Johnson  by  the  friends  of  D.  R.  Atchison.  Guthrie 
received  the  nomination.  Late  in  the  fall,  Thomas  Johnson  was 
brought  out  as  a  candidate,  and  was  elected  by  Indian  votes.  He 
went  to  Washington,  but  the  Territory  was  not  organized,  and  he 
was  not  received  as  a  delegate.  The  Washington  Union  spoke  of 
him  as  "The  Rev.  Thomas  Johnson,  a  noble  specimen  of  a  western 
man."  In  the  New  York  Tribune  of  August  9,  1856,  M'^  Guthrie 
gives  his  account  of  this  "provisional  government." 


HADLEY  D.  JOHNSON'S  STATEMENT. 

(Excerpt  from  a  paper  read  before  the  meeting  of  the  Nebraska  State  Historical 
Society,  January  11,  1887,  by  Hon.  Hadley  D.  Johnson.  Taken  from  the 
Transactions  and  Eeports  of  the  Nebraska  State  Historical  Society,  Vol.  2, 
page  85  and  following.) 

"As  early  as  1848,  the  subject  of  the  organization  of  a  new  territory 
west  of  the  Missouri  river  was  mentioned,  and  in  congress  I  think  a 
bill  was  introduced  in  that  year,  but  did  not  become  a  law,  and  in 
1852  the  subject  having  been  long  discussed,  a  bill  was  introduced,  but 
again  without  result.  In  1852,  however,  the  railroad  question  hav- 
ing been  agitated  more  generally  during  the  preceding  year,  duriug 
the  session  of  1852-3,  a  bill  was  reported  to  congress  providing  for 
the  organization  of  the  Territory  of  Nebraska,  within  the  boundaries, 
substantially  I  believe,  now  embraced  in  the  states  of  Kansas  and 
Nebraska.  Prior  to  this,  however,  some  of  the  citizens  of  western 
Missouri,  and  a  few  persons  residing  or  staying  temporarily  in  the 
Indian  country  west  of  the  Missouri  river,  took  steps  to  hold  an  in- 
formal election  of  a  delegate  who  should  attend  the  coming  session  of 
congress  and  urge  the  passage  of  the  territorial  bill.  This  election, 
though  not  sanctioned  by  any  law,  and  informal,  was  ordered  to  be 


84  THE  PROVISIONAL  GOVERNMENT 

held  by  a  meeting  of  a  number  of  persons  held  in  the  Indian  country 
south  of  the  Platte  river,  who  fixed  a  day  on  which  the  election  was 
to  be  held,  and  designated  certain  places  at  which  votes  would  be  re- 
ceived. Among  the  places  named,  appeared  Bellevue  or  Traders' 
Point.  A  newspaper  printed  somewhere  in  Missouri,  containing  a 
notice  of  this  election,  accidentally  came  into  my  possession  a  few  days 
prior  to  the  date  fixed  for  the  election.  On  reading  this  announce- 
ment, I  immediately  communicated  the  news  to  prominent  citizens  of 
Council  Bluffs,  and  it  was  at  once  decided  that  Iowa  should  compete 
for  the  empty  honors  connected  with  the  delegateship.  An  election 
at  Sarpy's  was  determined  on ;  arrangements  made  with  the  owners 
of  the  ferry-boat  at  that  point  to  transport  the  impromptu  emigrants 
to  their  new  homes,  and  they  were  accordingly  landed  on  the  west 
shore  of  the  Missouri  river  a  few  hundred  yards  above  Sarpy's  trad- 
ing house,  where,  on  the  day  appointed,  an  election  was  held,  the  re- 
sult of  which  may  be  learned  from  the  original  certificate  hereto  an- 
nexed, a  copy  of  which  was  sent  to  the  Honorable  Bernhart  Henn, 
the  member  of  the  house  of  representatives  from  Iowa,  by  him  sub- 
mitted to  the  house,  and  referred  to  the  committee  on  elections,  but 
for  reasons  obvious  to  the  reader  of  the  proceedings  of  congress  imme- 
diately following,  no  report  was  ever  made  by  that  committee  in  the 
case.' 

"  I  may  remark  here  that  I  consented  with  much  reluctance  to  the 
use  of  my  name  in  this  connection,  and  for  several  reasons:  I  was 
poor  and  could  not  well  afford  to  neglect  my  business  and  spend  a 
winter  at  Washington;  the  expenses  of  the  trip  I  knew  would  be  a 
heavy  drain  upon  my  limited  exchequer;  besides  I  had  so  lately  neg- 
lected my  private  affairs  by  my  service  at  Iowa  City.     However,  I 

'  Belview,  Nebraska  Territory,  Oct.  11,  1853. 
Be  it  known  that  at  in  pursuance  of  Resolutions  heretofore  adopted  an  election  was 
held  at  this  place  on  this  the  Eleventh  day  of  October  1853  being  the  second  Tuesday 
in  aaid  month  for  delegate  to  Congress  for  the  Territory  of  Nebraska  at  which  the  un- 
dersigned were  duly  appointed  Judges  and  Clerks. 

And  we  do  hereby  certify  that  the  number  of  votes  cast  at  said  election  was  three 
Hundred  fifty-eight  Votes  of  which  Hadley  D.  Johnson  received  Three  Hundred  fifty- 
eight  votes. 

Marshall  Finley 

E.  P.  Snow 

MuNSON  H.  Clark  Judges 

Franklin  Hall 

Jefferson  P.  Cassady    Clerks 


OF  NEBRASKA  TERRITORY.  85 

finally  yielded  to  the  earnest  request  of  a  number  of  my  personal 
friends,  who  were  also  ardent  friends  of  the  new  scheme,  and  con- 
sented to  the  use  of  my  name,  at  the  same  time  pledging  my  word 
that  I  would  proceed  to  Washington  if  chosen  and  do  the  best  I  could 
to  advance  the  cause  we  had  in  hand.  In  addition  to  the  ballots  cast 
for  me  for  delegate  at  this  election,  the  Rev.  William  Hamilton  re- 
ceived 304  votes  for  provisional  Governor;  Dr.  Mouson  H.  Clark  re- 
ceived 295  for  Secretary,  and  H.  P.  Downs  283  for  Treasurer. 

"These  proceedings  at  Sarpy's  landing  were  followed  by  various 
public  meetings  in  Iowa,  (and  also  in  Missouri)  at  which  resolu- 
tions were  adopted,  urging  the  organization  of  Nebraska  territory. 
Amongst  others,  meetings  were  held  at  Council  Bluffs,  St.  Mary's, 
Glenwood,  and  Sidney,  at  which  the  actions  at  Sarpy's  were  endorsed. 
Earnest  and  eloquent  s})eeches  were  made  by  such  leading  citizens  as 
Hon.  W.  C.  Means  and  Judge  Snyder  of  Page  county.  Judge  Green- 
wood, Hiram  P.  Bennett,  Wm.  McEwen,  Col.  J.  L.  Sharp,  Hon.  A. 
A.   Bradford,  L.  Lingenfelter,    C.   W.   McKissick,    Hon.  Benjamin 

Rector,  Charles  W.  Pierce,  Dan.  H.  Solomon,  Downs,  I.  M, 

Dews,  George  Hepner,  Wm.  G.  English,  Geo.  P.  Stiles,  Marshal 
Turley,  Dr.  M.  H.  Clark,  and  others. 

"In  the  month  of  November,  Council  Bluffs  was  visited  by  Hon. 
Augustus  C.  Dodge,  Col.  Samuel  H.  Curtis,  and  other  distinguished 
citizens  of  other  states,  who  attended  and  addressed  meetings  of  the 
people  of  the  town,  warmly  advocating  the  construction  of  our  con- 
templated railroads,  and  the  organization  of  Nebraska  territory.  In 
its  issue  of  December  14,  1853,  the  Council  Bluffs  Bugle  announced 
that  '  H.  D.  Johnson,  delegate  elect  from  Nebraska,  passed  through 
our  place  on  his  way  to  Washington  last  week.' 

"In  compliance  with  my  agreement,  I  set  about  making  arrange- 
ments to  visit  the  national  capital,  which,  as  you  may  suppose,  was 
not  easily  accomplished.  Before  starting,  however,  a  number  of  our 
citizens  who  took  such  a  deep  interest  in  the  organization  of  a  terri- 
tory west  of  Iowa,  had  on  due  thought  and  consultation  agreed  upon 
a  plan  which  I  had  formed,  which  was  the  organization  of  two  terri- 
tories west  of  the  Missouri  river,  instead  of  one  as  had  heretofore  been 
contemplated,  and  I  had  traced  on  a  map  hanging  in  the  office  of 
Johnson  &  Cassady  a  line  which  I  hoped  would  be  the  southern 
boundary  of  Nebraska,  which  it  finally  did  become,  and  so  continues 
to  the  present  time. 


86  THE  PEOVISIONAL  GOVERNMENT 

"  In  starting  out  upon  this  second  pilgrimage,  I  again  faced  the 
dreaiy  desolate  prairies  of  the  then  sparsely  settled  Iowa,  but  not  as  a 
year  before,  solitary  and  alone.  B.  R.  Pegram,  then  a  young  and 
enterprising  merchant  of  Council  Bluffs,  being  about  to  visit  St.  Louis, 
it  was  agreed  that  we  should  travel  in  company  to  Keokuk,  he  with  a 
horse  and  buggy,  I  with  a  horse  and  saddle.  The  trip  was  accom- 
plished in  safety,  and  on  arriving  at  Keokuk,  we  took  a  steamer  for 
St.  Louis,  shipping  the  horses  and  buggy. 

"  On  arriving  at  St.  Louis,  I  tried  in  vain  to  sell  my  horse  for  a 
satisfactory  price,  and  leaving  him  with  a  friend  to  be  sold  afterwards, 
I  took  a  steamer  bound  for  Cincinnati,  whence  I  boarded  a  railroad 
train  for  Washington.  (I  remark  in  parenthesis  that  my  horse  was 
not  sold,  but  subsequently  died,  to  my  great  grief  and  considerable 
loss.) 

"On  my  arrival  at  Washington  (early  in  January,  1854,)  I  found 
that  a  bill  had  already  been  introduced  in  the  senate,  and  I  think  re- 
ferred to  the  committee  on  territories,  of  which  the  Hon.  Stephen  A. 
Douglas  was  chairman.  This  bill  provided  for  the  organization  of 
the  territory  of  Nebraska,  including  what  is  now  Kansas  and  Ne- 
braska, or  substantially  so.  I  also  found,  seated  at  a  desk,  in  the  House 
of  Representatives,  a  portly,  dignified,  elderly  gentleman,  who  was 
introduced  to  me  as  the  Reverend  Thomas  Johnson.  He  was  an  old 
Virginian ;  a  slave  holder,  and  a  Methodist  preacher.  This  gentle- 
man had  also  been  a  candidate  for  delegate  at  the  informal  election, 
and  was  credited  with  having  received  337  votes.  He  had  preceded 
me  to  Washington,  and  together  with  his  friends,  ignoring  our  Sarpy 
election,  had,  through  some  influence  sub  rosa,  been  installed  in  a  seat 
at  a  desk  aforesaid,  where  being  duly  served  with  stationery,  etc.,  he 
seemed  to  be  a  member  of  the  house. 

"Previous  to  this  time,  in  one  or  two  instances,  persons  visiting 
Washington,  as  representatives  of  the  settlers  in  unorganized  territory, 
and  seeking  admission  as  legal  territories,  had  been  recognized  un- 
officially, and  after  admission  had  been  paid  the  usual  per  diem  allow- 
ance as  well  as  mileage,  and  in  the  present  case  I  think  my  namesake 
had  looked  for  such  a  result  in  his  own  case,  but  for  my  part  I  had 
no  such  expectation. 

"On  being  introduced  to  M' Johnson,  who  seemed  somewhat  stiff 
and  reserved,  I  alluded  to  the  manner  of  my  appointment  to  the  pres- 


OF  NEBRASKA  TERRITORY.  87 

€nt  mission,  which,  like  his  own,  was  without  legal  sanction,  but  was 
for  a  purpose ;  told  him  there  was  no  occasion  for  a  contest  between 
us  for  a  seat  to  which  neither  of  us  had  a  claim;  that  I  came  there  to 
suggest  and  work  for  the  organization  of  two  territories  instead  of 
one;  that  if  he  saw  proper  to  second  my  efforts,  I  believed  that  w« 
could  succeed  in  the  objects  for  which  we  each  had  come. 

"After  this  explanation  the  old  gentleman  thawed  out  a  little,  and 
we  consulted  together  upon  the  common  subject. 

"Hon.  A.  C.  Dodge,  senator  from  Iowa,  who  had  from  the  first 
been  an  ardent  friend  and  advocate  of  my  plan,  introduced  me  to  Judge 
Douglas,  to  whom  I  unfolded  my  plan,  and  asked  him  to  adopt  it,  which, 
after  mature  consideration,  he  decided  to  do,  and  he  agreed  that,  as 
chairman  of  the  committee  on  territories,  he  would  report  a  substitute 
for  the  pending  bill,  which  he  afterwards  did  do,  and  this  substitute 
became  the  celebrated  '  Nebraska  Bill,'  and  provided,  as  you  know, 
for  the  organization  of  the  territories  of  Kansas  and  Nebraska. 

"  The  Hon.  Bernhart  Henn,  at  that  time  the  only  member  of  the 
house  from  Iowa,  who  also  was  my  friend  and  warmly  advocated  our 
territorial  scheme,  finding  that  the  Rev.  Thomas  Johnson  was  seated 
in  the  house  and  posing  as  a  member  and  not  wishing  to  see  him 
more  honorably  seated  than  myself,  interceded,  I  presume  with  one  of 
the  doorkeepers,  who  admitted  me  into  the  house  and  seated  me  at  a 
desk  beside  my  friend,  the  minister,  who  it  afterwards  appeared  was, 
like  myself,  surreptitiously  admitted  to  the  seat  occupied  by  him,  un- 
known to  the  speaker,  or  perhaps  to  the  chief  doorkeeper. 

"  The  fates  decreed,  however,  that  we  were  not  to  hold  our  seats  a 
great  while,  for  one  day  the  principal  doorkeeper  approached  me  as  I 
sat  in  my  seat,  and  politely  inquired  who  I  was,  and  by  what  right  I 
occupied  the  seat;  and  being  by  me  answered  according  to  the  facts, 
he  informed  me  that  as  complaint  had  been  made  to  the  speaker,  he 
was  under  the  necessity  of  respectfully  asking  me  to  vacate  the  seat, 
as  such  was  the  order  of  the  speaker.  I  replied  to  him,  that  of  course 
I  would  do  so,  but,  I  added,  as  my  neighbor  on  the  left  occupied  his 
seat  by  a  right  similar  to  my  own,  I  felt  it  to  be  my  privilege  to  en- 
quire why  I  should  be  ousted  while  he  was  permitted  to  remain.  On 
this  the  doorkeeper  turned  to  M"^  Johnson,  who  corroborated  my  state- 
ment, whereupon  the  'two  Johnsons,'  as  we  were  called,  were  incon- 
tinently bounced  and  relegated  to  the  galleries. 


88  THE  PROVISIONAL  GOVERNMENT 

"I  never  learned,  nor  did  I  care  to  know,  whether  I  was  removed 
at  the  instance  of  the  friends  of  M"^  Johnson,  or  whether  a  M'  Guthrie, 
who  had  also  been  a  candidate  for  delegate,  had  fired  a  shot  at  his 
adversary,  the  Rev.  Thomas.  If  the  latter  was  the  case,  in  firing  he 
hit  two  birds.  I  did  not  feel  hurt  by  this  event,  but  believe  tiiat  the 
dignity  of  the  other  Johnson  was  seriously  touched,  and  himself 
mortified. 

"I  ought  perhaps  to  mention  the  fact,  that  in  our  negotiations  as  to 
the  dividing  line  between  Kansas  and  Nebraska,  a  good  deal  of  trouble 
was  encountered,  M'  Johnson  and  his  Missouri  friends  being  very 
anxious  that  the  Platte  river  should  constitute  the  line,  which  obvi- 
ously would  not  suit  the  people  of  Iowa,  especially  as  I  believe  it  was 
a  plan  of  the  American  Fur  Company  to  colonize  the  Indians  north 
of  the  Platte  river.  As  this  plan  did  not  meet  with  the  approbation 
of  ray  friends  or  myself,  I  firmly  resolved  that  this  line  should  not  be 
adopted.  Judge  Douglas  was  kind  enough  to  leave  that  question  to 
me,  and  I  offered  to  M"^  Johnson  the  choice  of  two  lines,  first,  the 
present  line,  or  second,  an  imaginary  line  traversing  that  divide  be- 
tween the  Platte  and  the  Kaw.  After  considerable  parleying  and 
M'  Johnson  not  being  willing  to  accept  either  line,  I  finally  offered 
the  two  alternatives — the  fortieth  degree  of  north  latitude,  or  the  de- 
feat of  the  whole  bill,  for  that  session  at  least.  After  consulting  with 
his  friends,  I  presume,  M""  Johnson  very  reluctantly  consented  to  the 
fortieth  degree  as  the  dividing  line  between  the  two  territories,  where- 
upon Judge  Douglas  prepared  and  introduced  the  substitute  in  a  re- 
port as  chairman  of  the  committee  on  territories,  and  immediately, 
probably  the  hardest  war  of  words  known  in  American  history  com- 
menced." 


HIGHWAY  TO  THE  PACIFIC  OCEAN. 

In  the  Senate  of  the  United   States,  December  16,  1850. 

Agreeably  to  notice,  Mr.  BENTON  asked  leave  to  bring  in  a  bill 
for  the  location  and  construction  of  a  great  central  national  highway 
from  St.  Louis,  on  the  Mississippi,  to  the  Bay  of  San  Francisco,  on 
the  Pacific  ocean;  and  said  that,  not  being  of  the  committee  to  which 
the  consideration  of  the  bill  might  be  referred,  he  took  occasion  to  ex- 
plain its  leading  features  before  it  was  referred,  so  that  its  object 


OF  NEBRASKA  TERRITORY.  89 

might  the  better  be  understood  in  the  committee.  It  conforms,  he 
said,  to  all  the  ideas  of  a  national  highway. 

First  centrality.  I  deem  this  a  cardinal  idea  in  every  conception  of 
a  national  road;  and  my  bill  conforms  to  it.  It  is  ceutral  under  all 
aspects.  It  is  to  begin  and  to  end  between  the  parallels  38°  and  39° 
of  north  latitude,  and,  with  slight  deflections,  to  follow  these  latitudes 
from  the  Mississippi  to  the  Pacific.  These  are  the  middle  latitudes 
of  the  United  States  from  the  Atlantic  to  the  Pacific.  They  cover 
the  central  parts  of  the  Atlantic  States,  the  centre  of  the  valley  of  the 
Mississippi,  cut  the  centre  of  all  the  territory  west  of  the  Mississippi, 
and  strike  the  Pacific  coast  both  at  the  central  point  of  our  posses- 
sions, and  that  of  the  whole  North  American  coast.  Beginning  and 
ending  between  these  latitudes,  and  following,  with  little  variation, 
the  route  which  the  bill  proposes  fulfills  with  rigorous  exactitude  the 
essential  condition  to  every  national  highway — that  of  centrality. 

Secondly.  It  is  to  be  national  in  its  form  and  use,  consisting  not 
of  a  single  road  adapted  to  a  single  kind  of  transportation,  but  of  a 
system  of  roads  adapted  to  all  kinds  of  traveling,  and  of  all  kinds  of 
carrying,  free  from  monopoly  and  private  interests,  and  free  from 
tolls.  It  proposes  a  railroad  and  a  common  road,  to  be  begun  at 
once,  and  the  common  road  finished  next  summer;  with  such  other 
roads,  either  macadamized,  plank,  or  additional  tracks  of  railroad; 
and  a  margin  for  lines  of  magnetic  telegraphs,  all  running  parallel  to 
each  other,  and  at  sufficient  distances  apart  to  avoid  interference,  and 
yet  near  enough  together  to  admit  of  easy  transition  from  one  to  the 
other.  This  fulfills  another  requisite  of  nationality;  for  a  nation 
must  contain  people  of  all  conditions,  rich  and  poor;  and  of  all  tastes 
and  tempers,  and  addicted  to  all  the  modes  of  traveling.  Some,  to 
whom  time  is  everything  and  money  nothing,  and  who  demand  rapid- 
ity, without  regard  to  cost.  Others,  to  whom  money  is  an  object, 
and  time  a  subordinate  consideration,  and  who  want  a  cheap  convey- 
ance, no  matter  how  slow.  Others,  again,  who  may  choose  to  carry 
themselves,  going  on  a  horse,  or  in  a  vehicle,  or  on  foot.  All  these 
will  be  accommodated,  and  without  crowding  or  jostling;  a  mile  wide 
for  the  whole,  and  an  ample  track  for  each,  gives  room  for  all. 

Thirdly.  Accommodation  to  the  different  parts  of  a  nation  is  an- 
other requisite  of  nationality.  This  projected  highway  fulfills  that 
condition.     It  accommodates  all  the  populations  west  of  the  Missis- 


90  THE  PROVISIONAL  GOVERNMENT 

sippi.  Its  straight  line  would  accommodate  California  and  Utah,  and 
the  Territories  hereafter  to  be  formed  on  the  Kansas  and  Arkansas. 
A  short  branch  at  or  near  Bent's  Fort  would  lead  to  Santa  Fe ;  an- 
other branch  would  lead  to  the  Mormon  settlements  on  the  Great  Salt 
Lake,  if  the  main  way  does  not  pass  it;  and  a  branch,  still  lower 
down  in  the  Great  Basin,  would  lead  to  Oregon.  Thus,  a  straight 
line,  and  two  or  three  branches,  will  accommodate  all  our  populations 
west  of  the  Mississippi — California,  Oregon,  New  Mexico,  and 
Utah — and  also  the  valuable  Territories  which  may  soon  be  formed 
on  the  Kansas  and  Arkansas. 

Fourthly.  Nationality  requires  the  work  to  be  done  by  the  Na- 
tional Government,  and  owned  by  it  when  it  is  done:  and  so  the  bill 
provides.  The  construction  and  the  jurisdiction  of  the  highway  are 
both  to  be  in  the  hands  of  the  General  Government;  and  these  are 
the  hands  in  which  every  public  and  national  consideration  would  re- 
quire them  to  be.  The  means  are  to  come  from  the  public  resources ; 
and,  what  amounts  to  a  particular  propriety  in  this  case,  they  are  to 
come  from  the  places  where  the  roads  are  to  go;  they  are  to  come 
from  beyond  the  Mississippi — from  beyond  the  frontier  of  Missouri — 
so  as  to  leave  untouched  all  the  present  sources  of  revenue,  now 
needed  for  the  payment  of  the  principal  and  interest  of  the  new  na- 
tional debt.  The  means  proposed  in  ray  bill  are:  1.  A  strip  of  land 
from  the  frontiers  of  Missouri  to  the  Bay  of  San  Francisco,  one  hun- 
dred miles  wide  and  sixteen  hundred  long,  for  the  main  highway. 
2.  A  strip  fifty  miles  wide  and  about  two  hundred  long,  from  a  point 
on  the  main  road,  on  the  upper  Arkansas,  to  Santa  Fe,  for  the  New 
Mexican  branch.  3.  A  strip  fifty  miles  wide  and  abont  five  hundred 
long  from  some  point  on  the  main  highway  in  the  great  basin  to  the 
mouth  of  the  Columbia,  for  the  Oregon  branch.  4.  The  income 
from  the  customs  and  the  sales  of  the  public  lands  in  California,  Ore- 
gon, New  Mexico,  and  Utah,  over  and  above  the  expenditures  in 
those  places.  5.  Loans  in  anticipation  of  these  resources,  founded 
upon  their  hypothecation. 

In  these  strij  s,  a  breadth  of  one  mile  wide  is  to  be  reserved  for  the 
main,  leading  highway  in  the  reservation  of  one  hundred  miles  wide; 
and  one  thousand  feet  each  is  to  be  reserved  for  the  branch  roads  in 
the  reservations  of  fifty  miles  wide. 

These  are  the  resources  for  constructing  this  great  national  highway 


OF  NEBRASKA  TERRITORY.  91 

— all  of  them  national — all  to  be  derived  from  the  new  countries  to 
which  the  highways  are  to  go — and  amply  sufficient  in  my  opinion 
for  the  speedy  accomplishment  of  the  work.  The  lands  set  apart  in 
the  three  slips  will  be  about  one  hundred  and  fifty  millions  of  acres, 
or  the  one  tenth  part  of  the  public  lands  belonging  to  the  Federal 
Government;  in  which,  after  deducting  for  the  tracts  of  the  highways, 
and  for  donations  to  first  settlers,  and  for  private  claims,  and  gold 
mines,  and  for  that  which  may  be  unfit  for  sale,  it  is  probable  that  one 
third,  or  fifty  millions  of  acres,  may  be  made  available  at  the  present 
minimum  price  for  constructing  the  roads.  That  would  be  about 
sixty  millions  of  dollars.  The  income  from  the  customs  would  be 
considerable  and  immediate.  San  Francisco  alone  would  probably 
yield  $2,000,000  the  ensuing  fiscal  year;  and  increase  forever.  The 
public  lands  to  be  sold  in  California  and  the  three  Territories,  after 
all  deductions  for  liberal  donations  to  first  settlers,  will  still  be  large, 
amounting  in  a  few  years  to  some  millions  of  dollars  per  annum.  The 
proceeds  of  the  whole — the  reserved  slips,  the  custom-house  revenue, 
and  the  income  from  the  land  sales — will  soon  be  eight  or  ten  millions 
per  annum;  which,  with  loans  in  anticipation  of  these  avails,  will 
yield  enough  to  have  the  system  of  roads  commenced  at  all  points — 
both  ends  and  the  middle,  and  all  along — at  the  same  time;  and  with 
men  enough  at  work  upon  every  section  to  finish  the  whole  in  as  short 
a  time  as  any  one  section  of  it  could  be  finished. 

These  are  the  leading  features  of  the  bill,  every  one  fulfilling  the 
condition  of  nationality,  and  preserving  to  this  highway  the  exalted, 
beneficent,  and  disinterested  character  of  a  public  work.  No  tolls,  or 
local  jurisdictions,  or  private  interests  to  debase  or  injure  it;  none  such 
should  ever  be  allowed  to  degrade  the  character,  impede  the  use,  or 
diminish  the  utility  of  such  a  work. 

Practicability,  and  upon  the  parallels  indicated,  is  the  only  ques- 
tion ;  and  that  the  concurrent  voice  of  experienced  men  enables  me  to 
answer.  The  men  of  the  mountains — the  men  who  have  spent  their 
fifteen,  twenty,  or  thirty  years  in  the  region  of  the  Rocky  Mountains, 
and  in  the  regions  beyond — they  answer  the  question,  and  say  that 
the  loaded  wagon  can  now  go  upon  that  route,  with  a  little  assistance 
at  a  few  points — some  axes  and  pickaxes — to  remove  some  obstruc- 
tions. These  men  say  there  is  a  way  for  a  straight  road  across  the 
continent;  and  they  can  show  it,  and  mark  it  out,  and  that  about  as 


92  THE  PROVISIONAL  GOVERNMENT 

fast  as  a  horse  can  trot.  There  is  an  idea  become  current  of  late — a 
new-born  idea — that  none  but  a  man  of  science,  bred  in  a  school,  can 
lay  oflPa  road.  That  is  a  mistake.  There  is  a  class  of  topographical 
engineers  older  than  the  schools,  and  more  unerring  than  the  mathe- 
matics. They  are  the  wild  animals  —  buifalo,  elk,  deer,  antelope, 
bears,  which  traverse  the  forest,  not  by  compass,  but  by  an  instinct 
which  leads  them  always  the  right  way — to  the  lowest  passes  in  the 
mountains,  the  shallowest  fords  in  the  rivers,  the  richest  pastures  in 
the  forests,  the  best  salt  springs,  and  the  shortest  practicable  lines  be- 
tween remote  points.  They  travel  thousands  of  miles,  have  their 
annual  migrations  backwards  and  forwards,  and  never  miss  the  best 
and  shortest  route.  These  are  the  first  engineers  to  lay  out  a  road  in 
anew  country;  the  Indians  follow  them,  and  hence  a  buffalo  road 
becomes  a  war-path.  The  first  white  hunters  follow  the  same  trails 
in  pursuing  their  game;  and  after  that  the  buffalo  road  becomes  the 
wagon  road  of  the  white  man,  and  finally  the  macadamized  or  railroad 
of  the  scientific  man.  It  all  resolves  itself  into  the  same  thing — into 
the  same  buffalo  road;  and  thence  the  buffalo  becomes  the  first  and 
safest  engineer.  Thus  it  has  been  here,  in  the  countries  which  we 
inhabit,  and  the  history  of  which  is  so  familiar.  The  present  na- 
tional road  from  Cumberland  over  the  Alleghanies  was  the  military 
road  of  General  Bradduck,  which  had  been  the  buffalo  path  of  the 
wild  animals.  So  of  the  two  roads  from  Western  Virginia  to  Ken- 
tucky— one  through  the  gap  in  the  Cumberland  Mountains,  the  other 
down  the  valley  of  the  Kenhawa.  They  were  both  the  war-path  of 
the  Indians  and  the  traveling  route  of  the  buffalo,  and  their  first  white 
acquaintances  the  early  hunters.  Buffaloes  made  them  in  going  from 
the  salt  springs  on  the  Holston  to  the  rich  pastures  and  salt  springs  of 
Kentucky;  Indians  followed  them  first,  white  hunters  afterwards — 
and  that  is  the  way  Kentucky  was  discovered.  In  more  than  an 
hundred  years  no  nearer  or  better  routes  have  been  found  ;  and  science 
now  makes  her  improved  roads  exactly  where  the  buffalo's  foot  first 
marked  the  way,  and  the  hunter's  foot  afterwards  followed  him.  So 
all  over  Kentucky  and  the  West;  and  so  in  the  Rocky  Mountains. 
The  famous  South  Pass  was  no  scientific  discovery.  Some  people 
think  Fremont  discovered  it.  It  had  been  discovered  forty  years  be- 
fore—long before  he  was  born.  He  only  described  it,  and  confirmed 
what  the  hunters  and   traders  had  reported,  and  what  they  showed 


OF  NEBRASKA  TEERITORY.  93 

him.  It  was  discovered — or  rather  first  seen  by  white  people — in 
1808,  two  years  after  the  return  of  Lewis  and  Clark,  and  by  the  first 
company  of  hunters  and  traders  that  went  out  after  their  report  laid 
open  the  prospect  of  the  fur  trade  in  the  Rocky  Mountains. 

An  enterprising  Spaniard  of  St.  Louis,  Manuel  Lisa,  sent  out  the 
party;  an  acquaiutance,  and  old  friend  of  the  Senator  from  Wiscon- 
sin, who  sits  on  my  left,  [Gtneral  Henry  Dodge,]  led  the  party — his 
name  Andrew  Henry.  He  was  the  first  white  man  that  saw  that 
pass;  and  he  found  it  in  the  prosecution  of  his  business,  that  of  a 
hunter  and  trader,  and  by  following  the  game,  and  the  road  which 
they  had  made.  And  that  is  the  way  all  passes  are  found.  But 
these  traders  do  not  write  books  and  make  maps,  but  they  enable 
other  people  to  do  it.  There  are  plenty  of  these  men  in  the  Great 
West  at  present — men  who  know  every  pass  in  the  mountains,  every 
ford  in  the  rivers,  every  spot  fit  for  cultivation,  and  the  best  and 
shortest  way  from  any  one  point  to  another — who  know  every  buffalo 
road  and  every  Indian  war  trail,  between  the  Mississippi  and  the  Pa- 
cific ocean — and  these  men  can  go  and  mark  out  a  road  from  the  fron- 
tier of  Missouri  to  the  bay  of  San  Francisco,  as  fast  as  a  horse  can  trot. 
And  they  can  cut  out  a  common  road,  passable  for  wagons  and  car- 
riages, with  the  aid  of  some  axemen  and  some  pickaxes,  in  the  course 
of  next  summer,  and  upon  the  parallels  which  I  have  mentioned,  with 
occasional  slight  deflections.  There  is  a  good  route  for  the  system  of 
roads  which  should  constitute  the  national  central  liigluvay  from  the 
Mississippi  to  the  Bay  of  San  Francisco — a  good  way  and  central — a 
better  way  than  any  one  not  central  that  can  be  found  in  the  United 
States.  It  is  up  the  main  branch  of  the  Kansas,  along  the  Upper 
Arkansas,  along  the  Huerfano  river,  the  Utah  Pass,  out  at  the  head  of 
the  Del  Norte,  through  Roubidoux's  Pass,  and  thence  across  the  valley 
of  the  Upper  Colorado,  and  through  the  Great  Basin,  crossing  the 
Sierra  Nevada  near  its  middle,  or  turning  it  on  the  south;  the  whole 
Tvay  nearly  free  from  obstructions,  a  great  part  of  it  fertile,  with  wood 
and  water  fit  for  inhabitation,  and  brushing  the  present  settlements  of 
New  Mexico  and  Utah.  I  have  the  map,  and  the  description  of  the 
country,  but  cannot  use  it  because  the  author  is  not  here.  I  know 
what  I  say,  and  stake  myself  upon  it.  It  will  cross  the  Rocky 
Mountains  between  three  and  four  degrees  south  of  the  South  Pass, 
(now  a  misnomer,  so  called  at  the  time  because  it  was  south  of  Lewis  & 


94  THE  PROVISIONAL  GOVERNMENT 

Clark's  route,)  and  can  be  traveled  earlier  in  the  Spring,  and  later  in 
the  Fall,  on  account  of  grass,  and  easier  all  the  Winter.  This  route, 
besides  fulfilling  all  the  requisites  of  a  national  highway,  fulfills  an- 
other condition  of  high  and  national  treaty  obligation.  It  traverses 
the  ground  which  the  protection  and  defence  of  the  country  requires 
to  be  occupied — to  be  garrisoned — that  country  which  lies  about  the 
heads  of  the  Arkansas  and  Del  Norte — the  hunting  ground  and  war 
ground  of  the  Utahs,  Arapahoes,  Navahoes,  and  other  tribes  which 
make  war  upon  New  Mexico  and  upon  us.  Wexare  bound  by  treaty 
stipulations  to  protect  Mexico  against  these  Indians,  and  are  bound 
by  duty  to  protect  our  own  people  against  them.  A  line  of  military 
posts  is  necessary  through  their  country  to  give  that  protection  :  and 
this  bill  provides  for  it  as  a  part  of  the  road  system,  and  also  provides 
for  the  settlements  which  are  to  support  the  posts. 

I  have  demonstrated  the  nationality  of  this  work — its  practicabil- 
ity— and  the  means  in  our  hands  for  making  it;  I  do  not  expatiate 
upon  its  importance.  When  finished  it  will  be  the  American  road  to 
Asia,  and  will  turn  the  Asiatic  commerce  of  Europe  through  the 
heart  of  our  America.  It  will  make  us  the  mistress  of  that  trade — rich 
at  home  and  powerful  abroad — and  reviving  a  line  of  oriental  and 
almost  fabulous  cities  to  stretch  across  our  continent — Tyres,  Sidons, 
Palmyras,  Balbecs.  Do  we  need  any  stimulus  for  the  undertaking? 
Any  other  nation,  upon  half  a  pretext,  would  go  to  war  for  the  right 
of  making  it,  and  tax  unborn  generations  for  its  completion.  We 
have  it  without  war,  without  tax,  without  treaty  with  any  power; 
and  when  we  make  it  all  nations  must  travel  it — with  our  permis- 
sion— and  behave  themselves  to  receive  permission.  Besides  riches 
and  power,  it  will  give  us  a  hold  upon  the  good  behavior  of  nations 
by  the  possession  which  it  will  give  us  of  the  short,  safe,  and  cheap 
road  to  India. 

The  work  is  great,  but  nothing  compared  to  our  means,  and  to  the 
magnitude  of  the  object,  or  to  what  was  done  by  the  Incas  of  Peru 
before  the  New  World  was  discovered.  Their  two  roads  from  Quito 
to  Cuzco  (to  say  nothing  of  many  shorter  ones)  were  each  nearly  as 
long,  both  over  more  difficult  ground,  equal  in  amount  of  labor  re- 
quired, and  more  commodious  than  the  proposed  system  of  roads  from 
the  Mississippi  to  the  Pacific  ocean.  One  of  our  classic  historians 
(Prescott)  thus  describes  them : 


OF  NEBEASKA  TERRITORY.  95 

"There  were  many  of  these  roads  traversing  different  parts  of  the 
kingdom;  but  the  most  considerable  were  the  two  which  extended 
from  Quito  to  Cuzco,  and,  again  diverging  from  the  capital,  continued 
in  a  soutliern  direction  towards  Chili.  One  of  these  roads  passed  over 
the  grand  plateau,  and  the  other  along  the  lowlands  on  the  borders  of 
the  ocean.  The  former  was  much  the  most  difiBcult  achievement, 
from  the  character  of  the  country.  It  was  conducted  over  pathless 
sierras  buried  in  suow;  galleries  were  cut  for  leagues  through  the 
living  rock ;  rivers  were  crossed  by  means  of  bridges  that  swung  sus- 
pended in  the  air;  precipices  were  scaled  by  stair- ways  hewn  out  of 
the  native  bed;  ravines  of  hideous  depth  were  filled  up  with  solid 
masonry ;  in  short,  all  the  difficulties  that  beset  a  wild  and  mountain- 
ous region,  and  which  might  appal  the  most  courageous  engineers  of 
modern  times,  were  encountered  and  successfully  overcome.  The 
length  of  the  road,  of  which  scattered  fragments  only  remain,  is  vari- 
ously estimated,  from  fifteen  hundred  to  two  thousand  miles;  and 
some  pillars,  in  the  manner  of  European  milestones,  were  erected  at 
stated  intervals  of  somewhat  more  than  a  league,  all  along  the  route. 
Its  breadth  scarcely  exceeded  twenty  feet.  It  was  built  of  heavy  flags 
of  freestone,  and,  in  some  parts  at  least,  covered  with  a  bituminous 
cement,  which  time  has  made  harder  than  the  stone  itself.  In  some 
places  where  the  ravines  had  been  filled  up  with  masonry,  the  moun- 
tain torrents,  wearing  it  for  ages,  have  gradually  eaten  a  way  through 
the  base,  and  left  the  superincumbent  mass — such  is  the  cohesion  of 
the  materials — still  spanning  the  valley  like  an  arch.  Over  some  of 
the  boldest  streams  it  was  necessary  to  construct  suspension  bridges, 
as  they  are  termed,  made  of  the  tough  fibers  of  the  maguey,  or  of  the 
osier  of  the  country,  which  has  an  extraordinary  degree  of  tenacity 
and  strength.  These  osiers  were  woven  into  cables  of  the  thickness  of 
a  man's  body.  The  huge  ropes,  then  stretched  across  the  water,  were 
conducted  through  rings  or  holes  cut  in  immense  buttresses  of  atone 
raised  on  the  opposite  banks  of  the  river,  and  there  secured  to  heavy 
pieces  of  timber.  Several  of  these  enormous  cables,  bound  together, 
formed  a  bridge,  which,  covered  with  planks,  well  secured  and  de- 
fended by  a  railing  of  the  same  osier  materials  on  the  sides,  afforded  a 
safe  passage  for  the  traveler. 

"The  other  road  of  the  Incas  lay  through  the  level  country  between 
the  Andes  and  the  ocean.     It  was  constructed  in  a  different  manner, 


96  THE  PEOVISIONAL  GOVERNMENT 

as  demanded  by  the  nature  of  the  ground,  which  was  for  the  most 
part  low,  and  much  of  it  sandy.  The  causeway  was  raised  on  a  high 
embankment  of  earth,  and  defended  on  either  side  by  a  parapet,  or 
wall  of  clay ;  and  trees  and  odoriferous  shrubs  were  planted  along  the 
margin,  regaling  the  sense  of  the  traveler  with  their  perfumes,  and 
refreshing  him  by  their  shades,  so  grateful  under  the  burning  sky  of 
the  tropics.  All  along  these  highwajs,  caravansaries  were  erected  at 
the  distance  of  ten  or  twelve  miles  for  the  accommodation  of  travelers, 
militarily  constructed  for  security,  and  supplied  with  water  brought  in 
aqueducts  when  not  found  at  the  place.  Couriers,  in  relieves,  and 
running  swiftly,  carried  dispatches  the  whole  extent  of  these  long 
routes  at  the  rate  of  one  hundred  and  fifty  miles  a  day ;  and,  besides 
dispatches,  often  carried  fish  from  the  distant  ocean,  and  fruits  and 
game  from  the  hot  regions  on  the  coast,  to  be  served  up  fresh  at  the 
Inca's  table  in  the  imperial  capitals." 

The  Baron  Humboldt,  "the  Nestor  of  ScienttjiG  Travelers,''  thus 
speaks  of  the  remains  of  the  same  roads  from  his  own  personal  ob- 
servation : 

"As  we  were  leading  our  heavily-laden  mules  with  great  difficulty 
through  the  marshy  ground  on  the  elevated  plain  del  Pullal,  our  eyes 
meanwhile  were  continually  dwelling  on  the  grand  remains  of  the 
Inca's  road,  which,  with  a  breadth  of  twenty-one  English  feet,  was 
there  remaining  by  our  side.  It  had  a  deep  understructure,  and  was 
paved  with  well  cut  blocks  of  blackish  trap-porphyry.  Nothing  that 
I  had  seen  of  the  remains  of  Roman  roads  in  Italy,  in  the  South  of 
France,  and  in  Spain,  was  more  imposing  than  those  works  of  the 
ancient  Peruvians,  which  are  situated,  according  to  my  barometric 
measurements,  13,258  English  feet  above  the  level  of  the  sea — or 
more  than  a  thousand  feet  higher  than  the  summit  of  the  Peak  of 
Tenerifie.  There  are  two  great  artificial  paved  roads,  or  systems  of 
roads,  covered  with  flat  stones,  or  sometimes  even  with  cemented 
gravel;  one  passes  through  the  wide  and  arid  plain,  between  the  Pa- 
cific ocean  and  the  chain  of  the  Andes,  and  the  other  over  the  ridges 
of  the  Cordilleras.  Milestones,  or  stones  marking  the  distances,  are 
often  placed  at  equal  intervals.  The  road  was  conducted  across  rivers 
and  deep  ravines  by  three  kinds  of  bridges — stone,  wood,  and  rope 
bridges;  and  there  were  also  aqueducts  for  bringing  water  to  the  rest- 
ing places  (caravansaries)  and  to  the  fortresses.     Both  systems  of  roads 


ABELARD  GUTHRIE. 


OF  NEBEASKA  TERKITORY.  97 

were  directed  to  the  central  point,  Cuzco,  the  seat  of  government  of 
the  great  empire,  in  13°  31'  south  latitude,  and  which  is  placed,  ac- 
cording to  Pentland's  map  of  Bolivia,  13,378  English  feet  above  the 
level  of  the  sea.  The  two  important  capitals  of  the  empire,  Cuzco  and 
Quito,  thus  connected  by  two  different  systems  of  roads,  are  1,000 
English  geographical  miles  apart,  in  a  straight  line — (S.  S.  E.  N.  N. 
W.) — without  reckoning  the  many  windings  of  the  way;  and,  includ- 
ing the  windings,  the  distance  is  estimated  by  Garcilasso  de  la  Vega 
and  other  conquistadores  at  500  leagues." 

Such  were  the  roads  constructed  on  our  own  continent  before  the 
discovery  of  the  New  World,  and  by  a  people  whom  we  consider  un- 
civilized, and  who  certainly  had  but  few  of  the  helps  of  civilization — 
DO  knowledge  of  iron — no  mechanical  powers — no  beast  of  burden 
but  a  sort  of  sheep — the  lama — too  light  for  the  draught,  and  too 
weak  for  the  burden — only  carrying  an  hundred  pounds  ten  miles  in  a 
day;  and  yet  a  people  who  constructed  two  such  roads,  each  near  about 
as  long  as  from  the  Missouri  to  the  Pacific — one  at  a  mountainous 
elevation  only  about  a  thousand  feet  lower  than  the  summit  of  Mont 
Blanc,  and  the  other  in  the  arid  sands  of  the  lowlands,  under  a  tropi- 
cal heat,  and  both  in  a  direction  to  cross  successive  mountains  or  riv- 
ers, and  both  executed  in  a  style  of  accommodation  that  we  do  not 
pretend  to  rival :  military  protection,  safe  lodging,  water,  shade, 
baths,  the  perfume  of  odoriferous  shrubs!  and  mails,  messages,  and 
small  burdens  transported  upon  them  at  the  rate  of  one  hundred  and 
fifty  miles  a  day,  without  horses  and  without  steam,  by  men  running 
on  foot  alone.  After  seeing  such  a  system  of  roads  on  our  own  conti- 
nent, devised  and  established  by  such  a  people,  what  is  there  to  pre- 
vent us,  the  vanguard  of  the  Anglo-Saxon  race,  and  the  descendants 
of  the  elite  of  Europe,  to  open  the  system  of  roads  which  my  bill  pro- 
poses— a  common  road,  on  which  the  mail  stage  is  to  run  one  hun- 
dred miles  in  twenty-four  hours,  and  a  letter  horse  mail  two  hundred 
miles  in  the  same  time — a  railway  on  which  the  cars  are  to  fly,  like 
the  express  trains  in  England,  forty-two  miles  to  the  hour — an  elec- 
tric line  along  which,  and  across  the  continent,  people  are  to  commu- 
nicate as  they  would  hold  converse  across  a  room? 

Mr.  President,  if  there  ever  was  a  time  when  nationality  and  cen- 
trality  should  pre-eminently  govern  the  action  of  Congress  in  great 
8 


98  THE  PKOVISIONAL  GOVERNMENT 

measures,  this  is  that  time ;  aud  the  system  of  roads  I  propose  is  one 
of  those  measures. 

I  now  ask  leave  to  bring  in  the  bill. 

Leave  was  granted,  and  the  bill  was  read. 

A  BILL  to  provide  for  the  location  and  construction  of  a  central  na- 
tional highway  from  the  Mississippi  river,  at  St.  Louis,  to  the 
Bay  of  San  Francisco,  on  the  Pacific  ocean. 

Be  it  enacted  by  the  Senate  and  House  of  Representatives  of  the 
United  States  of  America  in  Congress  assembled, 

That  a  district  of  territory  one  hundred  miles  wide,  and  extending 
irom  the  western  frontier  of  Missouri  to  the  Pacific  ocean,  and  corre- 
sponding as  nearly  as  may  be  to  the  central  latitudes  of  the  United 
States,  together  with  the  revenue  from  lands  and  customs  in  Cali- 
fornia, Oregon,  New  Mexico,  and  Utah,  so  far  as  not  required  for  ex- 
penditures therein,  shall  be  set  apart  and  reserved  for  opening  com- 
munications with  California,  Oregon,  New  Mexico,  and  Utah,  by 
means  of  a  central  national  highway  from  St.  Louis  to  the  Bay  of  San 
Francisco,  to  connect  with  ocean  navigation  in  that  bay;  with  a 
branch  of  said  highway  to  Santa  Fe,  in  New  Mexico;  and  a  branch 
to  the  tide-water  region  of  the  Columbia  river,  so  as  to  connect  with 
ocean  navigation  at  that  point;  and  also  a  branch  to  the  city  of  the 
Great  Salt  Lake,  if  said  central  highway  should  not  in  its  proper 
course  pass  that  city ;  and  a  breadth  of  fifty  miles  shall  be  set  apart 
and  reserved  for  the  location  and  construction  of  said  branch  roads 
respectively. 

Sec.  2.  And  be  it  further  enacted,  That  the  said  central  national 
highway  shall  consist  of  a  system  of  parallel  roads  adapted  to  differ- 
ent modes  of  travel  and  transportation,  and  a  margin  for  lines  of 
electro-telegraphic  wires,  whereof  one  common  road  and  one  iron  rail- 
road shall  be  immediately  opened  and  constructed;  and  such  other 
roads  shall  be  hereafter  opened  and  constructed  as  Congress  from 
time  to  time  may  authorize;  and  in  order  that  the  said  national  cen- 
tral highway  may  be  constructed  on  a  scale  commensurate  to  its  im- 
portance, and  adapted  to  the  wants  of  present  and  future  time,  and 
in  order  to  allow  convenient  space  for  all  the  parallel  lines  of  road 
which  commerce  and  travel  may  require  thereon,  a  breadth  of  one 
mile  shall  be  allowed  through  the  reserve  of  one  hundred  miles ;  and 
the  said  branch  roads  shall  equally  consist  of  a  common  road  and  a 
railway,  and  such  other  roads  as  Congress  may  from  time  to  time  au- 
thorize and  direct,  with  a  margin  for  a  line  of  electro-telegraph  wires, 
and  a  breadth  of  one  thousand  feet  shall  be  allowed  through  the  re- 
serve of  fifty  miles  for  such  branch  roads  each,  respectively ;  and  each 
track  for  a  road  shall  be  entitled  to  a  space  of  one  hundred  feet  wide, 


OF  NEBRASKA  TEBKITORY.  99 

and  when  finished  the  said  iron  railway,  or  ways,  shall  never  be  sub- 
ject to  any  toll  or  tax  beyond  that  which  may  be  necessary  to  provide 
repairs;  and  the  said  common  roads  shall  be  forever  free  irom  any  toll 
or  tax,  and  shall  be  kept  in  traveling  order  by  the  care  and  expense 
of  the  Federal  Government. 

Sec.  3.  And  be  it  further  enacted,  That  the  President  be  author- 
ized and  requested  to  cause  all  the  authentic  information  in  possession 
of  the  Government,  or  in  its  power  to  procure,  necessary  to  show  the 
practicability  of  a  route  for  said  central  highway,  to  be  collected  and 
digested  into  brief  memoirs,  illustrated  by  topographical  and  profile 
maps,  to  be  laid  before  Congress  as  soon  as  possible;  also,  that  he  be 
authorized  and  requested  to  cause  further  surveys  and  examinations 
to  be  made,  and  the  results  to  be  laid  before  Congiess  as  soon  as  pos- 
sible; and  for  that  purpose  to  employ  as  many  citizen  civil  engineers 
as  may  be  necessary. 

Sec.  4.  And  be  it  further  enacted,  That  as  soon  as  Congress  shall 
fix  upon  the  routes  of  said  central  highway  and  branches,  the  Presi- 
dent shall  be  and  hereby  is  authorized  and  requested  to  cause  the  In- 
dian title  to  be  extinguished  upon  a  breadth  of  one  hundred  miles,  to 
cover  the  route  of  said  central  highway;  and  also  to  extinguish  the 
Indian  title  upon  suitable  breadths  of  fifty  miles  each,  covering  the 
said  branch  roads ;  and  the  location  and  construction  of  the  central 
highway  shall  immediately  be  commenced,  both  for  the  common  road 
and  the  railway,  and  with  a  force  calculated  to  finish  the  common 
road  in  one  year,  so  as  to  be  passable  for  wagons  and  carriages,  and 
the  railway  in  ten  years. 

Sec.  5.  And  be  it  further  enacted,  That  as  soon  as  the  said  common 
road  is  finished,  the  same  shall  be  a  post  road,  and  a  daily  mail  car- 
ried thereon  in  wagons,  or  coaches,  or  sleighs,  when  necessary,  at  the 
rate  of  at  least  one  hundred  miles  in  twenty-four  hours;  and  a  daily 
horse  mail  for  light  letters  and  printed  slips,  at  the  rate  of  at  least 
two  hundred  miles  in  twenty-four  hours. 

Sec.  6.  And  be  it  further  enacted,  That  as  soon  as  said  railway,  or 
any  sufficient  part  thereof,  shall  be  completed  and  fit  for  use,  the  use 
thereof  shall  be  granted,  for  a  limited  time,  to  such  individuals  or 
companies  as  shall,  by  contract  with  the  Government,  agree  to  trans- 
port persons,  mails,  munitions  of  war,  and  freight  of  all  kinds,  pub- 
lic and  private,  in  vehicles  furnished  by  themRelves,  over  the  same,  at 
such  reasonable  rates  as  shall  be  agreed  upon  :  Provided,  That  if  other 
roads  shall  hereafter  be  constructed  on  the  ground  reserved  for  roads 
by  this  act,  the  same  company  or  persons  shall  not  be  allowed  to  have 
the  contract  for  transportation,  or  any  interest  in  more  than  one  road 
at  the  same  time. 

Sec.  7.  And  be  it  further  enacted,  That  military  stations  shall  be 
established  on  the  line  of  the  central  highway  and  its  branches,  at 
such  places  as  the  President  shall  direct. 


100  THE  PROVISIONAL  GOVERNMENT. 

Sec.  8.  And  be  it  further-  enacted,  That  donations  of  land,  to  the 
extent  of  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres,  shall  be  made  to  each  head  of 
a  family,  widow,  or  single  man  over  eighteen  years  of  age,  who  shall 
be  settled  on  the  line  of  said  central  highway  and  branches,  and 
within  the  bounds  of  the  extinguished  Indian  claim,  within  twelve 
months  after  the  time  of  such  extinction  of  title;  and  pre-emption 
rights,  to  the  same  extent,  shall  be  allowed  to  all  similar  settlers  after 
twelve  months;  and  the  residue  of  said  reserved  districts,  except  gold 
mines  and  placers,  and  private  claims,  or  donations  or  pre-emption 
rights,  shall  be  sold,  and  the  proceeds  applied  to  the  construction  of 
the  roads. 

Sec.  9.  And  be  it  further  enacted,  That  the  sum  of  three  hundred 
thousand  dollars,  out  of  any  money  in  the  Treasury  not  otherwise  ap- 
propriated, shall  be  and  the  same  hereby  is  appropriated,  and  placed 
at  the  disposition  of  the  President,  to  defray  the  expenses  of  carrying 
into  effect  the  third  and  fourth  sections  of  this  act,  for  the  collection 
and  preparation  of  information  and  the  extinction  of  Indian  titles 
necessary  to  the  selection  and  location  of  the  route  for  said  central  na- 
tional highway  and  branches. 

Sec.  10.  And  be  it  further  enacted,  That  it  shall  and  may  be  law- 
ful for  the  President  of  the  United  States  to  contract  with  the  Mis- 
sissippi and  Pacific  railroad  Company  for  their  interest  in  so  much 
of  said  road  as  shall  be  within  the  State  of  Missouri,  and  to  purchase 
the  same  at  a  price  not  exceeding  their  actual  expenditures,  the  said 
purchase  to  be  subject  to  the  ratification  of  Congress. 

The  bill  was  read  a  first  and  second  time  by  its  title,  and  referred 
to  the  Committee  on  Roads  and  Canals,  and  ordered  to  be  printed. 

[From  the  Congressional  Globe,  2d  Session,  31st  Congress,  1851, 
page  56.] 


A  BEIEF  SKETCH 

OF 

ABELAED   GUTHRIE, 

THE  rmST  DELEGATE  TO  CONGRESS  FROM  NE- 
BRASKA TERRITORY. 


I. 

Abelard  Guthrie  was  born  five  miles  north  of  Dayton, 
Montgomery  County,  Ohio,  March  9,  1814.  He  was  of 
Scotch-Irish  extraction,  and  was  possessed  of  all  the  persist- 
ency and  tenacity  of  purpose  of  that  hardy  people.  His 
parents  were  born  in  Pennsylvania,  and  were  among  the 
early  emigrants  to  Ohio.  They  were  closely  related  to  the 
progenitors  of  the  present  Todd  (or  Tod)  family  of  Ohio  and 
Kentucky. 

The  following  genealogical  information  concerning  Mr. 
Guthrie's  family  was  kindly  furnished  me  by  my  friend,  J. 
V.  Andrews,  Esq.,  the  wealthy  banker,  of  Kansas  City, 
Kansas.  It  is  taken  principally  from  "  Pennsylvania  Gen- 
ealogies," chiefly  of  the  "Scotch-Irish,  and  German,"  by 
William  Henry  Egle,  M.  D.,  M.  A.;  Harrisburg,  Pa.,  1896. 

John  Andrews  came  from  Londonderry,  North  Ireland, 
to  Pennsylvania,  in  1737.  He  located  on  the  Manada,  Han- 
over Township,  Lancaster  County.  His  name  appears  on 
the  first  Assessment,  for  the  "  East  End  of  Hanover."  He 
married  Miss  Jane  Strain  of  Dauphin  County,  Pennsylvania. 
Among  his  children  were  Hugh,  Robert,  John,  and  James. 
John  was  a  physician  ;  he  had  charge  of  the  Philadelphia 
Hospital ;  died  unmarried. 

(101) 


102  A  BEIEF  SKETCH  OF 

Captain  Hugh  Andrews  was  born  August  31,  1764.  He 
married  Ann  Speer,  who  was  born  October  2, 1764,  and  died 
June  25,  1797.  Their  children  were  four  in  number — 1. 
Isabella;  2.  James;  3.  John;  4.  Margaret. 

Captain  Hugh  Andrews  was  married  a  second  time,  to 
Miss  Elizabeth  Ainsworth,  who  was  born  August  31,  1780. 
They  were  married  September  10, 1799,  and  moved  to  Day- 
ton, Ohio,  where  he  bought  property.  He  bought,  also,  two 
thousand  acres  of  land  on  Mad  River,  live  miles  north  of 
Dayton.  He  improved  this  tract  of  land  and  built  a  house 
on  it  in  which  he  lived,  and  where  he  died  May  17,  1811. 

Elizabeth  Ainsworth  was  the  daughter  of  John  Ainsworth, 
and  the  granddaughter  of  Samuel  Ainsworth — all  born  in 
Lancaster  County,  Pennsylvania.  The  children  of  Hugh 
and  Elizabeth  (Ainsworth)  Andrews  were:  1.  Nancy  Speer, 
who  married  David  Shaw;  2.  Samuel  Ainsworth,  who  mar- 
ried Miss  Margaret  Ramsey ;  3.  James,  who  married  Mary 
Cornelia  Van  Cleve;  4.  Eliza,  who  married  Alexander 
Stephens;  5.  Hugh,  who  married  Phoebe  Cook. 

James  Andrews  and  Mary  Cornelia  (Van  Cleve)  Andrews 
had  eleven  children,  six  of  whom  grew  to  manhood  and 
womanhood,  among  whom  were  John  Van  Cleve  Andrews 
of  Kansas  City,  Kansas,  the  banker  above  mentioned,  and 
who  married  Miss  Mary  E.  Hill  of  Lincoln,  Nebraska.  He 
lived  ten  years  in  Pueblo,  Colorado ;  four  years  in  Topeka, 
Kansas;  then  moved  to  Kansas  City,  Kansas. 

Mrs.  Elizabeth  (Ainsworth)  Andrews  married  James 
Guthrie,  April  22,  1813. 

James  Guthrie  was  born  in  Lancaster  County,  Pennsyl- 
vania, August  19,  1784.  His  ancestors  were  Scotch-Irish 
Presbyterians  who  came  early  to  Pennsylvania  from  the 
North  of  Ireland.  He  came  to  Ohio  in  1809,  and  engaged 
in  teaching  school  in  and  about  Dayton.  He  was  an  ener- 
getic man  of  somewhul  eccentric  character,  but  held  in  high 


ABELARD  GUTHRIE.  103 

esteem  for  his  industry,  public  spirit,  and  genuine  worth. 
His  wife  Elizabeth  (Ainsworth)  died  September  1,  1850. 
He  was  married  a  second  time ;  this  second  marriage  caused 
him  and  his  children  much  trouble.  He  died  August  3, 
1860.  He  and  his  first  wife  are  buried  in  Woodland  Ceme- 
tery, Dayton,  Ohio,  with  other  kindred. 

The  children  of  James  Guthrie  and  his  wife  Elizabeth 
(Ainsworth)  were:  1.  Abelard,  born  March  9,  1814;  2. 
Eloisa,  born  June  19,  1817;  married  Jacob  Light;  3.  Mar- 
garet, born  May  19,  1819;  married  Isaac  Strohm. 

Abelard  Guthrie  was  married  early  in  the  year  1844,  in 
what  is  now  Kansas  City,  Kansas,  to  Miss  Quindaro  Nancy 
Brown,  a  Wyandot-Shawnee  girl,  of  the  Big  Turtle  Clan  of 
the  Wyandot  Tribe  and  the  Turtle  Clan  of  the  Shawnee 
Tribe.  Miss  Brown  was  born  in  Canada  West,  and  was  the 
daughter  of  Adam  Brown,  who  was  the  son  of  Chief  Adam 
Brown,  who  bought  Governor  Walker's  father  from  the 
Delawares.  Miss  Brown's  mother  was  a  Shawnee.  Mrs. 
Guthrie  was,  at  the  time  of  her  marriage,  said  to  be  the 
most  beautiful  girl  in  the  Wyandot  Nation.  She  was  tall 
and  of  faultless  form.  Intellectually  she  was  a  superior 
woman.  She  was  a  faithful  wife,  a  devoted,  Christian 
mother.  She  died  at  her  home  on  Russell's  Creek  in  the 
Cherokee  Country,  Indian  Territory,  April  13,  1886,  and 
is  buried  in  the  cemetery  at  Chetopa,  Kansas. 

Four  of  the  children  of  Abelard  Guthrie  and  his  wife 
Quindaro  Nancy  (Brown)  lived  to  maturity,  two  sons  and 

two   daughters:     1.  James;    married    Grace  ;    they 

have  four  children :  1.  Lucy;  2.  Percy;  3.  Hugh;  4.  Ray; 
Lucy  is  Matron  of  the  Government  School  at  Wyandotte, 
Indian  Territory. 

2.  Abalura;  married  Charles  Graves;  died,  leaving  one 
son,  Clarence  Graves. 

3.  Norsona;  married  Edward  S.  Lane,  brother  of  Hon. 


104  A  BEIEF  SKETCH  OF 

V.  J.  Lane,  the  veteran  editor  of  the  Herald,  of  Kansas 
City,  Kansas.     They  have  two  sons;  1.  Marsh;  2.  Vernon. 

4.  Jacob;  married  Dora ;  they  have  two  children ; 

1.  Wade  Abelard ;  2.  Eobert. 

When  Abelard  Guthrie  married  Miss  Brown  he  was 
adopted  into  the  Bear  Clan  of  the  Wyandots,  and  given  the 
name  Tah-keh'-yoh-shrah'-tseh,  which  means  the  twin  brain, 
or  the  man  with  two  brains.  The  name  was  given  to  denote 
his  recognized  ability.  He  was  supposed,  by  the  Indian 
system  of  name-giving  in  this  particular  instance,  to  possess, 
after  bis  adoption,  the  brain  of  the  white  man  and  the  brain 
of  the  Bear  (i.  e.,  the  Indian). 

He  died  suddenly  in  Washington  City,  of  heart  failure, 
January  18,  1873.  He  was  there  at  the  time  urging  upon 
Congress  the  justice  of  some  long  neglected  claims  of  the 
Wyandots  and  himself,  and  the  Shawnee  claim  of  his  wife 
and  family. 

II. 

Abelard  Guthrie  was  not  a  large  man.  In  his  Journal, 
February  28, 1862,  he  gives  his  height  as  five  feet,  nine  and 
three-fourths  inches,  and  his  weight  as  one  hundred  and 
fifty-seven  pounds.  His  eyes  were  blue,  his  complexion 
fair,  his  hair  auburn.  His  features  of  face  were  rugged  and 
strong;  mouth  large,  mobile,  firm.  Until  the  very  last 
years  of  his  life  he  wore  his  hair  like  the  Indians  formerly 
wore  theh's — long,  and  falling  over  his  shoulders.  He  was 
a  man  of  strong  religious  nature  and  convictions.  Ail 
through  his  Journals  he  speaks  of  his  faith  and  his  trust  in 
God.  He  even  writes  some  of  his  prayers.  Had  it  not  been 
for  his  strong  belief  in  the  justice  of  the  overruling  provi- 
dence of  God,  he  says  often  in  his  Journals,  he  could  not 
have  survived  many  of  his  trials  and  troubles. 

In  his  writings  little  is  revealed  concerning  his  early  life. 


ABELARD  GUTHRIE.  105 

He  speaks  of  having  attended  school.  He  was  a  man  of  wide 
experience  and  extensive  information.  His  mind  was  rugged 
and  retentive.  He  was  quick  to  decide  and  fearless  to  exe- 
cute. He  was  daring,  and  perseverance  was  the  strongest 
trait  of  his  character.  He  was  nervously  restless  and  ener- 
getic. Compulsory  inaction  was  to  him  what  the  cage  is  to 
the  lion.  He  was  honest,  honorable,  and  direct  in  business 
transactions  himself,  so  much  so  that  he  was  credulous  and 
somewhat  lax  in  binding  others  to  strict  performance  of  their 
stipulations.  This  trait  caused  him  to  trust  unworthy  and 
dishonest  men,  and  the  result  was  financial  ruin,  and  life  cut 
short  by  disease  superinduced  by  worry. 

For  some  years  he  was  chief  clerk  in  the  office  of  John 
Johnston,  Esq.,  Agent  at  Piqua,  Ohio,  for  all  the  Ohio  In- 
dians. In  this  capacity  he  had  much  business  to  transact 
with  the  Chiefs  and  principal  men  of  the  Wyandots  and  thus 
became  acquainted  with  them.  He  seems  to  have  taken 
much  interest  in  the  welfare  of  the  Wyandots  from  the  first, 
and  to  have  rendered  them  important  service  in  the  negotia- 
tion of  the  treaty  by  which  they  ceded  their  Ohio  lands  to 
the  Government. 

In  the  summer  of  1842  President  Tyler  appointed  Guthrie 
Register  of  the  United  States  Land  Office  at  Upper  Sandusky. 
He  took  charge  of  the  office  and  administered  its  affiiirs  for 
a  time.  No  action  was  had  on  his  nomination  until  near  the 
close  of  the  year  1843,  when  it  was  rejected.  His  rejection 
was  the  result  of  the  political  conditions  existing  at  the  time, 
and  not  of  any  charge  of  incompetency  or  unfitness  to  admin- 
ister the  office.  This  was  in  the  unsettled  times  caused  by 
the  death  of  President  Harrison  and  the  demoralization  of 
the  Whig  party  by  the  action  of  President  Tyler.  The  Wy- 
andots had  already  left  Upper  Sandusky  when  he  was  noti- 
fied of  his  rejection  by  the  Senate,  they  having  departed  in 
the  previous  July.     His  disappointment  was  keen,  and  he 


106  A  BRIEF  SKETCH  OF 

was  so  mortified  for  the  moment  that  he  determined  to  follow 
the  Wyandots  West.  He  arrived  at  the  mouth  of  the  Kan- 
sas River  in  January,  1844. 

Many  years  afterward  he  made  the  following  entry  in  his 
Journal : 

«13th  February  1858 

"To-day  I  have  been  overhauling  a  large  number  of  old  letters  and 
papers.  How  much  I  could  say  on  the  subject!  These  silent  memen- 
toes of  the  past,  how  many  reminiscences  and  associations  do  they  call 
up!  and  what  a  picture  of  the  meanness,  the  treachery  and  the  false- 
hood of  man  do  they  present !  Not  one  of  these  correspondents  now 
even  writes  to  me  and  how  full  are  all  these  letters  of  the  warmest 
professions  [of]  friendship.  And  it  is  not  the  most  agreeable  circum- 
stance that  these  friends  were  the  most  numerous  and  the  most  punc- 
tual when  any  good  fortune  sprang  up  in  the  way.  For  instance 
when  I  was  appointed  Register  of  the  Land  office  at  Upper  Sandusky 
by  the  President  of  the  United  States  many  old  friends  who  had  been 
oppressed  with  cares  to  such  a  degree  that  they  had  ceased  to  write 
any  but  business  letters,  now  found  leisure  to  renew  their  correspond- 
ence with  me;  but  after  my  rejection  by  the  Senate  and  my  exit  to  the 
Indian  Country,  their  cares  and  embarrassments  again  compelled  them 
to  drop  me  until  I  was  sent  to  Congress  by  the  people  of  Nebraska, 
when  again  I  found  the  affections  of  my  friends  as  fresh  and  strong  as 
ever,  if  not  much  improved  by  the  few  years  of  oblivion.  This 
momentary  gleam  of  prosperity  however  soon  passed  away  and  disease 
and  poverty  compelled  me  to  retire  from  the  field  of  political  strife 
and  my  friends  in  their  excess  of  delicacy  were  unwilling  to  obtrude 
upon  my  solitude  [and]  entirely  deserted  me.  Now  for  two  or  three 
years  I  have  been  struggling  with  disease  and  poverty  and  I  have  not 
in  that  time  rec'd  one  letter  from  any  of  my  former  friends;  but  mis- 
iortune  may  also  have  fallen  upon  them.  And  it  would  be  another 
strange  coincidence,  should  my  present  enterprise  be  successful,  and 
be  lollowed  by  a  revival  of  old  and  withdrawn  or  latent  friendships? 
Yet  I  doubt  not  most  if  not  all  of  these  young  men  were  sincere  in 
their  professions  of  friendship  and  could  not  foresee  what  effect  ad- 
versity would  have  upon  the  growth  of  this  delicate  plant.  But  I 
believe  I  can  conscientiously  say  before  God  that  I  never  dropped  or 


ABELARD  GUTHRIE.  107 

neglected  a  friend  on  account  of  his  misfortunes  or  want  of  success. 
In  God  I  trust  and  he  will  sustain  me  only  as  I  am  just." 

When  Mr.  Guthrie  left  Upper  Sandusky  he  did  not  in- 
tend to  remain  for  any  great  length  of  time  in  the  West. 
He  expected  to  look  over  the  great  prairies  and  return  to 
Ohio  after  a  visit  with  his  friends,  the  Wyandots.  But 
how  little  does  any  man  control  his  own  destiny,  or  even 
the  actions  or  events  of  a  brief  day  of  his  existence!  The 
vast  extent,  the  beauty,  the  fertility  of  the  country  west  of 
the  Mississippi  River  was  a  revelation  to  him.  He  was  im- 
pressed with  the  immense  possibilities  of  the  virgin  country, 
the  extent  of  which  he  now  only  began  to  comprehend.  His 
astute  mind  grasped  at  once  the  possibility  and  to  some  de- 
gree the  extent  of  the  development  which  the  resources  of 
this  vast  domain  would  reach  in  the  quick-coming  future. 
Like  all  men  of  great  mind,  he  was  charmed  with  the 
thought  that  he  might  become  a  factor  in  the  transformation 
which  he  foresaw. 

He  had  met  Miss  Brown  in  Ohio,  and,  it  is  said,  desired 
very  much  to  marry  her  before  she  came  West,  but  this  was 
opposed  by  her  father,  who  always  bore  a  strong  aversion 
and  dislike  to  Mr.  Guthrie.  There  is  little  doubt  that  he 
hoped  to  return  with  her  as  his  bride  to  Ohio.  In  the  early 
summer  of  1844  Abelard  Guthrie  and  Quindaro  Nancy 
Brown  were  married,  in  what  is  now  Kansas  City,  Kansas. 
This  was  one  of  the  first  weddings,  if  not  the  very  first,  in 
what  is  now  Wyandotte  County,  Kansas. 

III. 

I  cannot  state  positively  that  Abelard  Guthrie  was  in  the 
Mexican  War,  although  there  is  every  probability  that  he 
was.  Many  Wyandots  went  into  the  American  Army  in 
this  war  and  fought  w^ell   for    their  country.     A   man   of 


108  A  BRIEF  SKETCH  OF 

Guthrie's  disposition  could  hardly  resist  the  temptation  to 
go  into  the  army,  under  the  circumstances  then  existing. 

Whether  he  was  a  soldier  or  not,  he  was,  in  some  way  and 
in  some  capacity,  in  Mexico  in  the  year  1848.  In  a  manu- 
script letter,  now  in  my  possession,  from  John  Johnston, 
Esq.,  Indian  Agent  at  Piqua,  Ohio,  to  Governor  Walker, 
Mr.  Johnston  speaks  of  the  death  of  his  son  in  Mexico.  He 
says  he  had  the  body  brought  home  and  buried  by  his  wife. 
Mr.  Guthrie  may  have  performed  this  service  for  his  old- 
time  friend  and  employer.  If  so  it  is  possible  that  the  fol- 
lowing Journal  refers  to  this.  It  is  to  be  regretted  that  the 
Journal  ends  so  abruptly.  Why  it  was  interrupted  and  not 
resumed  cannot  now  be  ascertained : 

A  FRAGMENT   OF  ABELARD  GUTHRIE'S  JOURNAL. 

Left  Cincinnati  Sunday  morning  at  J  past  10  o'clock  the  20th 
Feby  1848,  for  New  Orleans  on  board  the  steamboat  United  States 
Capt  Caldwell  and  arrived  at  New  Orleans  on  Monday  morning  the 
28th  February. 

Left  New  Orleans  10  o'clock  P.  M.  Sunday  the  5th  March  1848  on 
board  the  steam  ship  Edith  and  passed  over  the  bar  of  the  Balize  at 
11  o'clock  A.  M.  the  11th  March. 

Left  Vera  Cruz  at  8  o'clock  A.  M.  Wednesday  15th  March  under 
escort  of  350  infantry  &  80  horse  and  a  train  of  40  waggons,  the  escort 
being  under  the  command  of  Col.  Williams  of  the  Michigan  Volun- 
teers and  encauiped  the  first  night  about  five  miles  from  Vera  Cruz 
the  road  lies  over  a  succession  of  barren  sand  hills;  the  next  2  miles  are 
over  or  rather  through  a  constant  succession  of  hills  of  sandy  earth 
covered  with  many  varieties  of  acacia  and  cactus.  The  road  through 
these  hills  is  perfectly  level  but  narrow  and  crooked  and  must  either 
have  been  once  the  bed  of  a  stream  of  water  or  excavated  by  im- 
mense labor.  In  any  part  of  this  narrow  defile  twenty  rcoolute  well 
armed  men  could  have  driven  us  back  and  no  more  secure  hiding 
place  for  an  ambuscade  could  be  wished  It  would  have  been  impos- 
sible for  our  men  to  have  fought  with  any  eflPect  in  a  pass  so  narrow 
nor  could  they  have  pursued  a  foe  through  the  chaperal  so  armed  is 


ABELARD  GUTHRIE.  109 

every  thiug  of  the  vegetable  kind  with  thorns  or  spikes  that  no  one 
can  penetrate  them  without  sharing  to  a  certainty  the  fate  of  the  man 
who  "picked  up  a  briar  bush  and  scratched  out  both  his  eyes"  The 
next  mile  is  a  rich  black  sandy  soil  and  indeed  all  save  the  first  2 
miles  is  well  suited  to  cultivation.  This  day  the  weather  was  cool 
and  pleasant.  I  wore  woolen  clothes  and  was  neither  too  cold  nor 
too  warm. 

16th  March.  Resumed  our  march  this  morning  at  6  o'clock.  After 
a  march  of  about  ten  miles  over  a  most  beautiful  prairie  country  of 
rich  yellow  soil  we  halted  at  a  spot  where  54  Georgia  volunteers  &  30 
Louisiana  volunteers  attacked  a  band  of  guerrillas  about  two  hund. 
strong  and  lost  in  killed  6  Georgians  &  1  Louisianian.  The  body  of 
the  latter  was  carried  away  and  the  others  left  on  the  field.  It  was 
to  collect  and  bury  their  bones  that  we  here  halted.  While  searching 
for  the  bones  two  shots  were  fired  at  us  from  a  distant  hill  by  guer- 
rillas. One  of  those  killed  in  this  encounter  was  a  waggoner.  After 
the  guerrillas  were  routed  Col.  Briscoe  of  the  Louisiana  volunteers 
the  commander  of  the  escort  ordered  a  retreat  directing  the  waggon- 
ers to  take  each  a  mule  from  his  wagon  and  save  himself,  the  mur- 
dered man's  mule  became  stubborn  and  his  companions  deserted  him. 
So  soon  as  the  guerrillas  saw  the  waggons  and  driver  abandoned  they 
returned  and  took  possession  of  the  abandoned  property  and  killed 
the  driver — his  body  was  not  recovered.  We  found  the  bones  of  the 
Georgians  and  carried  them  to  Cordova  for  interment.  This  night  we 
encamped  on  the  west  bank  of  the  Solidad  a  beautiful  little  river 
about  twenty  miles  from  Vera  Cruz  at  a  ranch  (farm)  called  San 
Diego,  owned  by  a  guerrilla  Chief  named  Zauobia;  it  was  deserted 
as  indeeil  were  all  the  ranches  (farms)  thus  far.  This  day  was  warm 
with  alternate  cloud  and  sunshine,  but  the  heat  was  not  oppressive. 
The  Solidad  afforded  the  finest  bathing  which  our  men  engaged  in 
with  a  hearty  good  will.  The  attack  above  alluded  to  under  Briscoe 
was  on  Saturday  the  19th  Feb.  1848. 

I7th  March.  About  a  mile  from  last  night's  encampment  we  found 
the  bones  of  a  wagon  master  who  had  been  killed  by  guerrillas  about 
a  month  before  when  out  upon  a  scouting  party.  He  was  drawn  into 
the  danger  by  mistaking  the  Mexicans  for  Americans  nor  did  he  dis- 
cover the  error  until  in  the  very  midst  of  his  foes.  He  was  buried 
the  next  day  by  his  companions  but  his  body  was  torn  from  its  grave 


110  A  BRIEF  SKETCH  OF 

and  the  grave  filled  up.  This  day's  march  was  about  15  miles  over  a 
hilly  prairie  of  rich  black  sandy  soil  but  not  tillable  with  the  plow  be- 
cause of  the  great  quantities  of  fragments  of  stone  that  lie  upon  it. 
In  this  day's  march  we  saw  the  remains  of  ancient  walls  which  in  all 
probability  once  composed  an  immense  city.  Nothing  now  is  to  be 
seen  but  the  innumerable  straight  lines  of  stones  composing  squares  of 
all  sizes  and  frequently  so  large  as  to  have  many  partitions  marking 
off  rooms  of  various  sizes  and  forms.  This  night  we  encamped  at  a 
ranch  called  Palo  Verda  (green  tree)  where  we  had  to  carry  water  1^ 
miles  and  bad  at  that  though  we  had  not  seen  a  drop  since  morning. 
Here  the  beef  contractor  for  the  Army  killed  a  cow  and  calf  which  I 
was  told  belonged  to  the  old  lady  who  kept  the  ranch  but  though  she 
demanded  pay  for  it  I  could  not  learn  that  she  received  anything. 
This  was  the  more  outrageous  from  the  fact  that  we  had  been  treated 
with  great  kindness  by  this  woman  and  her  family;  she  having  given 
us  freely  a  barrel  of  excellent  water  which  had  been  brought  a  distance 
of  two  miles  and  kept  in  large  earthen  vessels  until  it  was  cold — a 
most  delicious  treat  after  a  whole  day's  thirst.  I  now  learned  that 
our  beef  killer  had  contracted  with  our  government  to  furnish  beef  to 
the  army  at  nine  cents  a  pound ;  a  good  business  certainly  on  the  part 
of  the  contractor  for  as  he  paid  nothing  for  the  beef  and  paid  nothing 
for  the  services  of  the  soldiers  who  were  required  to  assist  him  in 
bringing  it  into  camp  the  profits  were  very  handsome.  These  con- 
tractors are  attached  to  every  division  of  the  army  whether  in  quarters 
or  station  or  on  the  march.  And  though  I  have  heard  of  private 
soldiers  being  ^'bucked  and  gagged''  for  taking  beef  in  the  same  way, 
indeed  I  have  heard  of  no  instance  of  private  soldiers  killing  animals 
for  food  but  were  punished  for  it.  I  cannot  believe  our  government 
has  sanctioned  knowingly  a  contract  for  paying  a  man  9  cents  a  pound 
for  stealing  beef.  In  the  morning  the  water  keg  of  our  kind  hostess 
was  missing  and  she  sent  a  complaint  to  that  effect  to  Col.  Williams 
but  as  the  train  was  then  in  motion  he  said  he  could  not  think  of  los- 
ing the  time  it  would  require  to  search  all  the  wagons  but  had  rather 
pay  for  the  keg.  But  I  am  not  aware  that  he  did.  This  day  was 
warm  but  for  the  most  part  cloudy  and  in  the  evening  we  had  a  slight 
shower  of  rain  though  in  the  mountains  we  could  see  it  pouring  down 
in  cataracts  and  the  constant  flashes  of  lightning  and  peals  of  thunder 
showed  that  a  violent  storm  was  raging  there.     These  mountains  have 


ABELARD  GUTHRIE.  Ill 

been  in  view  for  two  days  though  we  have  been  marching  directly 
toward  them, 

18th  March.  This  morning  the  sun  rose  from  a  dark  cloud  but  for 
half  an  hour  before  it  was  visable  we  could  see  its  reflection  on  the 
snowy  top  of  the  Orizaba  still  about  sixty  miles  distant.  The  other 
mountains  the  Chickawuta  seemed  only  al)Out  two  or  three  miles  off 
yet  they  were  really  nearly  twenty.  This  deception  is  produced  by 
the  extraordinary  transparancy  of  the  atmosphere  To-day  for  many 
miles  the  road  on  either  side  as  far  as  the  eye  could  see  were  the  re- 
mains of  stone  habitations  which  must  have  been  a  sort  of  rural  city 
the  spaces  between  the  ruins  being  sufficiently  large  for  extensive  gar- 
dens. We  saw  a  stone  wall  of  excellent  workmanship  thrown  across 
the  bed  of  a  dry  stream,  designed  to  form  a  reservoir  for  the  purpose 
of  supplying  the  cattle  and  farmers  with  water  during  the  dry  season. 
The  dam  was  broken  down  in  one  place  no  doubt  with  a  view  of  de- 
priving the  Americans  of  water  in  this  dry  region.  The  labor  ex- 
pended on  this  wall  would  doubtless  have  been  sufficient  to  have  made 
half  a  dozen  wells  and  certainly  the  water  would  have  been  much  bet- 
ter yet  there  is  not  a  single  well  of  water  between  Vera  Cruz  and 
Cordova  save  the  miserable  apology  for  one  five  miles  from  the  former 
place. 

IV. 

Abelard  Guthrie  was  an  Argonaut — a  pioneer  in  Cali- 
fornia. So  restless  a  spirit  could  not  behold  thousands  of 
gold  hunters  sweep  by  his  very  door  without  himself  con- 
tracting the  feverish  desire  to  be  a  partaker  in  their  adven- 
tures, their  dangers  and  in  the  golden  harvest.  It  is  sup- 
posed a  hundred  thousand  men  crossed  the  plains  in  1849 
and  1850.  A  great  number  of  these  started  from  Westport, 
Mo.,  and  many  from  Fort  Leavenworth. 

A  number  of  Wyandots  organized  themselves  into  a  min- 
ing company  early  in  1850.  Their  purpose  was  to  dig  gold 
from  the  mines  and  wash  it  from  the  beds  of  streams  in 
California.  For  the  names  of  these  Wyandots  see  Governor 
Walker's  Journal,  under  date  May  15,  1850.     On  that  date 


112  A  BRIEF  SKETCH  OF 

the  party  set  out  upon  the  long  and  painful  journey  to  the 
gold  fields  beyond  the  Sierras.  They  were  six  months 
on  the  road  across  the  boundless  prairies,  the  frightful  moun- 
tains of  barren  rock,  the  parched  and  dreary  wastes  of 
burning  sands.  They  worked  along  the  Feather  E-iver,  and 
Russell  Garrett  says  they  found  an  abundance  of  gold. 

We  are  not  informed  when  Mr.  Guthrie  returned  from 
California,  but  it  was  some  time  before  the  summer  or  fall 
of  1852. 

V. 

Mr.  Guthrie,  in  the  summer  of  1852,  directed  his  efforts 
toward  securing  a  Territorial  organization  for  the  Territory 
of  Nebraska,  with  bounds  practically  those  of  the  present 
States  of  Kansas  and  Nebraska.  In  this,  all  the  evidence  I 
have  been  able  to  obtain  and  examine  shows  that  he  was 
acting  with,  and  largely  for.  Senator  Thomas  H.  Benton 
of  Missouri,  although  he  says  the  idea  was  his  own,  and 
that  "solitary  and  alone"  he  undertook  this  work.  His 
Journals  are  full  of  references  to  his  work  as  a  Delegate  to 
Congress  from  Nebraska  Territory,  but  they  contain  no  ex- 
tensive statement  of  the  movement  which  sent  him  there.  I 
have  not  been  so  fortunate  as  to  find  those  covering  the 
years  of  the  movement  for  a  Territorial  Government  for 
Nebraska  Territory.  My  account  of  his  services,  so  far  as 
they  relate  to  this  movement,  is  written  in  another  part  of 
this  work. 

VI. 

In  1862  Mr.  Guthrie  made  some  effort  to  have  all  the  In- 
dian Country  between  the  States  of  Kansas  and  Texas 
erected  into  the  Territory  of  Lanniwa,  and  provided  with  a 
Territorial  Government.  He  prepared  a  bill  for  this  pur- 
pose and  advocated  its  passage.  The  bill  was  introduced  by 
Senator  Pomeroy  of  Kansas.     The  merits  of  the  bill  and 


QIINDAKO  NANCY  GUTHRIE 


ABELARD  GUTHRIE.  113 

the  policy  which  it  outlined  were  discussed  in  the  columns 
of  the  New  York  Tribune. 

VII. 

During  the  troublous  times  in  Kansas  Territory  immedi- 
ately succeeding  the  passage  of  the  Kansas-Nebraska  bill 
there  was  no  point  within  her  borders  where  Free-State  peo- 
ple from  the  East  could  land  unmolested  to  enter  the  con- 
flict for  liberty  and  freedom  then  raging  there.  The  Mis- 
souri River  towns  of  the  Territory  were  little  more  than 
camps  for  border  rufiians,  and  it  was  often  necessary  for  set- 
tlers from  the  Northern  States  to  enter  Kansas  by  the  way 
of  Iowa  and  Nebraska.  The  necessity  for  a  Missouri  River 
town  where  the  Free-State  sentiment  prevailed  was  recog- 
nized, and  the  building  of  such  a  town  urged  by  Free-State 
men  and  Free-State  interests. 

Guthrie  was  identified  with  the  Free-State  movement  in 
Kansas  Territory  from  its  inception.  He  was  a  Delegate  to 
the  Big  Springs  convention.  But  he  did  not  aspire  to  lead- 
ership in  the  movement.  Like  John  Brown  and  other 
great  men  of  the  day,  he  believed  it  was  to  be  only  a  tem- 
porary expedient  which  would  carry  the  struggle  for  free- 
dom in  Kansas  through  a  preliminary  stage,  then  be  suc- 
ceeded by  something  broader — a  National  party.  Others 
of  Kansas,  some  of  the  so-called  great  men,  never  got  be- 
yond this  point  in  Kansas  politics.  When  the  Free-State 
party  was  absorbed  by  the  Republican  party  they  were  left 
floundering  about  without  rudder,  chart,  or  compass,  and 
could  never  make  up  their  minds  about  the  relative  merit 
of  existing  political  parties,  but  were  found  first  in  one  and 
then  in  another,  as  the  opportunity  for  ofiice  or  gain  seemed 
to  them  best  for  the  time  being. 

At  this  time  steamboats  on  the  Missouri  River  furnished 
the  only  means  of  communication  with  the  East,  aside  from 
9 


114  A  BRIEF  SKETCH  OF 

the  overland  freighter's  wagon  and  ox-team,  consequently  a 
good  landing  for  steamboats  was  of  the  first  importance  in 
selecting  a  town  site.  Ascending  the  Missouri  after  it  be- 
comes the  State  line,  the  first  good  landing  on  the  Kansas 
side  is  some  six  miles  above  the  mouth  of  the  Kaw.  Here 
the  yellow  waves  of  the  mud-laden  Missouri  surge  against  a 
limestone  ledge,  and  deep  water  is  as  reasonably  certain  as 
the  capriciousness  of  this  erratic  river  will  allow  at  any  point. 
The  land  along  this  broken  shore  was  owned  by  the  Wyan- 
dot Indians,  but  by  a  recent  treaty  they  were  permitted  to 
sell  it.  Guthrie,  being  a  Wyandot  by  adoption  and  a  prom- 
inent Free-State  man,  was  invited  to  take  an  interest  in  the 
new  town.  To  this  he  was  not  averse.  But  there  were  pro- 
slavery  and  anti-slavery  factions  in  the  Wyandot  Nation, 
and  it  was  necessary  that  both  be  represented  in  the  Town 
Company,  for  otherwise  it  might  be  difficult,  if  not  impossi- 
ble, to  purchase  the  required  Indian  land.  For  this  reason 
Joel  Walker,  a  brother  of  Governor  Walker,  and  a  splendid 
business  man,  was  solicited  to  take  an  interest,  which  he  did, 
and  became  one  of  the  founders  of  the  Free-State  town. 

The  Free-State  city  was  named  Quindaro,  in  honor  of 
Mrs.  Guthrie.  The  plat  was  filed  in  1860,  but  the  survey 
had  been  made  in  1857,  and  lots  were  sold  in  that  j^ear.  A 
city  was  rapidly  built.  Stone  and  brick  blocks  rose  along 
the  broken  blufis  and  serpentine  gullies  and  ravines.  Here 
was  to  be  the  crossing  of  the  Missouri  River  and  Rocky 
Mountain  Railroad,  and  lands  for  terminal  facilities  for  this 
road  were  provided. 

After  two  years  of  unparalleled  prosperity  the  town  be- 
gan to  decline.  Nature  and  not  man  selects  sites  for  great 
marts.  It  was  soon  seen  that  the  great  city  of  Kansas,  and 
the  Valley  of  the  Missouri,  was  to  be  built  on  the  site  indi- 
cated by  Senator  Benton,  at  the  mouth  of  the  Kansas,  and 
principally  on  the  Missouri  side  of  the  State  line.     Honest 


ABELARD  GUTHRIE.  115 

management  would  have  made  Quindaro  a  thriving  village, 
but  not  having  that,  it  fell  almost  as  rapidly  as  it  rose.  The 
business  blocks  were  deserted  and  became  the  habitations  of 
bats  and  owls.  To-day  one  may  see  these  ruins  in  the  frag- 
ments of  old  walls  remaining  scattered  over  the  town  site. 
After  the  civil  war  many  negroes  from  Missouri  took  up 
their  residence  in  these  ruins,  and  they  own  most  of  the  old 
town  site  yet. 

This  venture  was  the  financial  ruin  of  Guthrie.  He  put 
into  it  all  he  possessed,  and  endorsed  for  the  Quindaro  City 
Company  and  different  members  of  the  corporation  to  such 
an  extent  that  he  was  overwhelmed  with  debts.  For  fifteen 
years  he  struggled  with  these  debts,  and  finally  sank  into 
the  grave  beneath  their  weight. 

VIII. 

I  give  here  a  few  quotations  from  Mr.  Guthrie's  Journals. 
Some  of  these  excerpts  indicate  a  spirit  of  bitterness  in  the 
writer.  He  may,  perhaps,  be  justly  charged  with  a  denun- 
ciation too  severe.  But  when  one  has  read  all  the  circum- 
stances under  which  he  wrote,  as  they  are  recorded  in  his 
Journals,  he  will,  I  believe,  be  constrained  to  admit  that  the 
provocation  was  great — often  exasperating.  His  arraignment 
of  Governor  Robinson  is  severe  in  the  extreme,  but  I  believe 
no  more  so  in  his  Journals  than  in  a  pamphlet  which  he 
published,  a  copy  of  which  can  be  seen  in  the  Library  of  the 
Kansas  State  Historical  Society.  These  Journals  are  of  in- 
terest at  this  time  as  showing  how  many  of  the  patriotic  men 
of  his  time  misjudged  President  Lincoln.  I  have  taken  the 
following  extracts  at  random  and  as  representative  of  the 
whole  Journal,  and  not  for  the  sentiment  expressed,  in  a 
single  instance. 


116  A  BRIEF  SKETCH  OF 

March  9,  1858. 

To-day  I  am  forty  four  years  old.  Alas,  what  have  I  done  with 
these  44  years !  More  good  than  I  have  credit  for,  less  evil  than  I 
am  charged  with.  And  yet  how  much  more  good  I  might  have  done! 
and  how  much  evil  I  might  have  avoided !  But  oh !  how  much  have 
I  suffered  and  how  little  have  I  enjoyed!  Yet  in  every  vicissitude 
of  life  my  hopes  and  my  faith  in  the  future  were  never  diminished 
for  I  know  that  God  sets  all  things  right.     .     . 

Went  to  Quindaro  and  voted  for  Walden,  Ed.  of  the  "Chindowan" 
for  Delegate  to  frame  a  Constitution  the  other  gentlemen  on  the  ticket 
I  know  nothing  favorable  of  and  therefore  I  did  not  vote  for  any  of 
them. 

14th  March,  1858. 

In  the  evening  I  went  over  to  Alfred  Gray's  and  we  talked  prosily 
enough  upon  general  topics  for  a  short  time  I  returned  home.  Why 
are  men  in  good  health  sometimes  so  much  duller  than  at  others?  I 
sometimes  think  I  can  coin  ideas  as  fast  as  other  men  but  at  other 
times  it  is  a  labor  to  think  or  to  talk  upon  the  most  commonplace 
subject,  and  what  is  straugest  this  stupidity  is  most  oppressive  just 
after  reading  an  interesting  book. 

9th  April,  1858 

I  was  shown  a  letter  to-day  from  Gov.  Robinson  speaking  in  the 
most  confident  language  of  his  success  in  getting  a  grant  of  laud  for  our 
railroad.  Should  this  enterprise  succeed  Quindaro  will  be  the  great 
city  of  the  West,  and  it  is  believed  that  with  my  present  property  I 
will  be  a  rich  man,  so  people  tell  me  and  so  I  would  like  to  believe. 
What  immeasurable  felicity  must  be  that  of  the  rich  man  who  feels 
and  knows  that  God  has  bestowed  upon  him  this  much  of  his  favor 
for  wise  and  useful  purposes. 

12th  April  1858 

Gov.  Robinson  is  much  to  blame  for  these  embarrassments.  The 
debts  I  have  been  paying  are  his  and  now  I  am  obliged  to  disappoint 
and  injure  my  own  creditors.  Robinson  may  turn  out  an  honest  man 
but  he  is  certainly  a  very  callous  one — and  such  an  one  as  I  hope 
never  again  to  do  business  with. 


ABELAED  GUTHRIE.  117 

Tuesday  13th  April  1868 

Went  to  Kansas  City  intending  to  go  to  Shawnee  to  see  Capt. 
Parks  but  meeting  him  in  Kansas  City  I  did  my  business,  .  .  . 
and  to  try  to  get  the  Captain  to  get  the  Shawnees  and  Delawares  to 
build  a  bridge  over  the  Kansas  river  at  the  point  nearest  to  Chilli- 
cothe  in  the  success  of  which  he  is  largely  interested.  The  measure 
I  propose  would  make  it  a  place  of  considerable  importance  whereas 
without  it  there  will  be  no  town.  The  Captain  I  believe  thinks  well 
of  my  project  and  said  he  would  bring  it  up  in  Council.  A  bridge 
at  this  point  will  be  as  advantageous  to  Quiudaro  as  at  any  other 
hence  my  interest  in  it. 

Thursday  15th  April  1858 

I  have  never  suffered  more  anguish  of  mind  than  I  have  suffered 
within  the  last  month  on  account  of  pecuniary  embarrassments.  I 
have  aimed  at  a  fortune  but  it  would  be  dearly  earned  were  this  state 
of  things  to  last  long.  After  all  the  old  Indian  life,  with  all  its  pov- 
erty and  hardship  is  the  happiest. 

Wednesday  15th  [September,  1858.] 

Went  to  Wyandot  city  to  attend  the  "Free  State"  County  Conven- 
tion as  a  delegate  from  Quindaro.  The  convention  was  conducted 
with  harmony  and  goodfeeling;  but  it  made  no  declaration  of  princi- 
ples on  which  to  act  as  a  permanent  party,  the  chief  desire  appearing 
to  be  to  unite  as  far  as  practicable  the  anti  slavery  element  in  the 
county,  and  the  control  of  the  territorial  legislature  but  without  refer- 
ence to  any  line  of  policy  designed  for  the  public  good.  I  was  put  on 
the  "Coramittee["]  to  draft  a  platform  and  resolutions  expressive  of 
the  views  and  designs  of  the  convention  and  endeavored  to  have  prin- 
ciples enunciated  in  support  of  which  we  could  labor  permanently,  but 
it  was  contended  that  if  we  took  decisive  grounds  upon  the  great  ques- 
tions of  the  day  we  would  drive  off  the  moderate  men  of  the  demo- 
cratic party  who  would  otherwise  support  nominations  made  solely  on 
the  question  of  free  or  slave  State.  How  hard  is  it  to  conquer  preju- 
dice after  reason  has  yielded  everything !  And  how  often  does  temp- 
orary expediency  triumph  over  and  trample  down  truth  justice  and 


118  A  BRIEF  SKETCH  OF 

wise  policy  !  This  convention  was  composed  of  as  intelligent  and  fine 
looking  men  as  I  ever  saw  assembled  on  a  like  occasion,  yet  I  never 
before  saw  so  little  display  of  independence  and  outspoken  truth  and 
such  studied  cowardice  and  timidity,  and  all  appeared  felicitated  with 
the  manner  in  which  they  had  hid  their  heads  in  the  sand.  Poor 
ostrich  we  langh  at  thy  simplicity  and  imitate  thy  example  with 
gravity  and  diligence? 

This  is  tiie  first  nominating  convention  I  have  attended  in  the  Ter- 
ritory, and  after  spending  a  thousand  dollars  in  obtaining  a  govern- 
ment for  the  Territory  (and  without  my  efforts  there  would  have  been 
no  territorial  organization)  and  opening  the  country  to  white  settle- 
ment, I  had  not  money  enough  to  buy  myself  a  dinner  and  so  fasted 
from  morning  till  my  return  home  at  night.  The  humiliation  of  such 
poverty  was  more  painful  than  the  want  of  food  and  more  painful 
still  it  has  been  brought  upon  me  by  the  ingratitude  and  dishonesty 
of  men  who  owe  to  me  all  they  are  worth. 

Monday  4th  October  1858. 
Attended  the  election,  but  was  too  weak  to  stay  long  on  the  ground. 
This  election  presented  scenes  which  cannot  but  lessen  one's  confidence 
in  the  popular  will;  the  catholics  voted  in  a  body  at  the  dictation  of 
their  priest,  and  the  Indians  sold  their  votes  for  a  dinner,  whisky, 
and  some  of  them  probably  received  small  sums  of  money.  Yet  with 
all  this  competition  on  the  part  of  the  democracy,  the  free  State  party 
received  99  votes  out  of  the  157  cast.  Alas,  the  poor  Indian  despised 
by  those  who  use  him  and  spurned  by  those  he  opposes  and  who  have 
been  his  only  friends!  Ungrateful,  ignorant  and  unprincipled  how 
soon  will  thy  sad  fate  be  sealed. 

Friday  15th  October  1858 

This  trouble  and  all  others  I  have  suffered  the  past  year  [comes] 
from  overconfidence  in  C.  Robinson  who  authorized  me  to  buy  lands 
but  leaves  me  to  pay  for  them  not  even  coining  near  me  but  avoiding 
me  as  if  he  was  afraid  of  hearing  the  truth.  I  have  never  known 
such  cold  blooded  ingratitude  before.  I  have  placed  unbounded  con- 
fidence in  him  and  he  has  shown  as  boundless  a  disregard  of  honor, 
gratitude  and  honesty. 


ABELAED  GUTHRIE.  119 

Monday  8th  November  1858 

Health  improving,  but  am  confined  to  my  room.  Last  night  I 
slept  sweetly  and  without  sweat — a  providential  blessing  for  I  had 
prayed  to  God  that  he  would  grant  me  a  sweet  and  refreshing  nighta 
sleep — and  that  prayer  was  answered.  I  was  amazed  and  transported 
with  agreeable  emotions  at  this  unexpected  change. 

Thursday  18th  November  1858 

Attended  a  meeting  of  the  citizens  of  Quindaro  which  I  under- 
stand was  called  with  a  view  to  consider  projects  for  the  future  wel- 
fare of  the  town,  but  I  was  satisfied  from  the  composition  of  the 
meeting  that  no  good  could  result  from  its  action  an<l  therefore  left 
it  at  an  early  hour.  The  meeting  was  held  at  Alfred  Gray's  office. 
Charles  Robinson  who  was  to  have  been  there  skulked  off  as  he  al- 
ways does  when  any  responsibility  may  be  thrust  upon  him. 

Saturday  20th  November  1858 

M'  Alfred  Gray  was  here  wanting  me  to  agree  as  a  member  of  the 
Quindaro  Co.  to  release  M"  Nichols  from  the  payment  of  five  hundred 
dollars  wiiich  she  owes  the  Co.  on  the  condition  that  she  will  edit  and 
conduct  "The  Chindowan"  for  one  year,  which  it  is  proposed  to  re- 
vive. Tiie  agreement  with  M'^  Nichols  is  to  terminate  at  the  end  of 
any  quarter;  provided  other  arrangements  shall  be  made  for  the  publi- 
cation of  the  paper,  in  which  case  we  are  only  to  release  her  in  pro- 
portion to  the  time  she  acts  as  Editor. 


Wednsday  9th  March  1859 


Today  am  I  forty  five  years  old — long  eventful  years,  fruitful  of 
troubles  to  myself — of  benefits  to  others!  My  acts  misunderstood, 
my  words  distorted,  my  motives  impugned.  Others  claim  the  re- 
wards of  my  labors  and  history  seems  disposed  to  favor  the  fraud, 
but  I  have  an  abiding  confidence  in  the  justice  of  that  overruling 
Power  who  shapes  the  destinies  of  man. 

Tuesday  15th  March  1859 
Started  to  hunt  my  grey  pony,  Fanny,  and  called  at  Frank  Cotter's 


120  A  BRIEF  SKETCH  OF 

to  get  Thomas  Crooks  to  go  with  me  as  he  wants  to  buy  the  pony  but 
he  was  not  there  and  I  rode  out  to  "Young  America"  a  grog  shop 
a  mile  further  on  where  it  was  supposed  I  could  find  him,  but  he  had 
left.  Such  a  scene  as  this  "grocery"  exhibited  I  never  before  beheld — 
Indian  women  and  men  were  lying  about  as  if  a  battle  had  been  fought 
and  these  were  the  slain,  some  yet  stood,  others  leaned  against  what- 
ever they  could  sieze«upon  and  others  were  reeling  about,  all  the  vic- 
tims of  whiskey.  This  "hell"  is  kept  by  a  white  man  who  it  is 
reported  steals  from  and  robs  these  wretched  votaries  of  Bacchus. 
This  sink  of  iniquity  is  on  one  of  the  public  highways,  and  yet  no 
effort  is  made  to  abate  it.  Our  laws  are  said  to  be  defective  in  this 
respect  which  may  account  for  this  shameful  neglect  of  a  vital  moral 
duty.     .     .     . 

Monday  4th  April,  1859. 

Capt.  Parks  died  about  6  O'  clock  last  night.  He  was  tho't  to  be 
about  66  years  old.  He  has  been  for  several  years,  Head  Chief  of 
the  Shawnees  but  General  Cass,  who  employed  him  as  interpreter 
when  in  the  Indian  service,  stated  in  a  speech  in  the  U.  S.  Senate  in 
1853  while  a  Shawnee  claim  was  under  discussion  that  Parks,  then 
in  Washington  was  a  pure  white  man  and  had  been  captured  by  the 
Indians  when  very  young.  But  among  the  Shawnees  he  claimed  to 
be  of  Shawnee  extraction  and  the  claim  was  universally  acknowl- 
edged. He  was  plausable,  shrewd,  unscrupulous  and  avaricious  and 
had  accumulated  a  fortune  of  sixty  or  seventy  thousand  dollars.     .     . 

Saturday,  9th  April,  1859. 

I  remarked  that  the  debt  was  not  mine  and  I  would  not  pay  it.  He 
said  he  would  sue  me  immediately  and  I  told  him  to  do  so.  This 
note  was  given  for  lands  bo't  for  C.  Robinson  &  others  and  Robinson 
was  to  give  his  note,  on  which  I  was  to  go  as  security,  and  my  note 
was  to  be  returned  to  me.  After  I  had  given  the  note  however  Rob- 
inson avoided  the  fulfillment  of  his  promise  and  thus  I  am  held  re- 
sponsible for  his  debt.  I  told  Smith,  Robinson's  confidential  tool  that 
I  wished  to  settle  this  and  other  matters  amicably  but  settled  they 
must  be,  and  I  am  led  to  believe  from  Smith's  remarks  that  Robinson 
will  not  pay  unless  compelled,  showing  that  he  is  a  swindler  of  the 
worst  stamp. 


ABELARD  GUTHRIE.  121 

Monday  23r(l  May,  1859. 

Went  to  Quindaro  where  I  met  Charles  Robinson.  The  cool  vil- 
lainy of  this  man  would  be  incredible  did  I  not  witness  such  repeated 
evidences  of  it.  About  thirty  months  ago  he  left  with  me  $700  to 
buy  a  piece  of  land  for  him  and  I  gave  him  a  receipt  for  the  money. 
The  land  belonged  to  Isaac  W.  Zane  and  lies  in  Missouri  opposite 
Quindaro;  the  price  was  $1400  and  he  required  $800  in  hand  ;  this 
I  paid  him  advancing  $100  of  my  own  money  and  gave  my  note  for 
the  remaining  $600  payable  in  one  year,  Robinson  being  absent.  I 
had  therefore  to  secure  myself  by  taking  the  Bond  for  a  deed  in  my 
own  name.  To-day  when  I  saw  him  in  the  Q.  Go's  office  his  man 
Chapin  presented  the  bond  to  me  with  an  assignment  written  on  the 
back  of  it  which  he  requested  me  to  sign — this  assignment  conveyed 
all  my  right  to  Robinson  and  authorized  Zane  to  make  him  a  deed, 
Robinson  remarking  at  the  same  time  that  he  would  take  up  my  note 
and  close  up  the  whole  business,  but  said  nothing  of  the  $700  receipt 
or  the  $100  advanced!  When  I  mentioned  these  things  he  said  he  had 
given  me  credit  on  the  books  and  probably  destroyed  my  receipt ! 
but  the  books  were  examined  and  no  credit  [had  been]  given!  His 
design  was  evidently  to  get  the  title  to  the  land  perfected  to  have  me 
pay  the  note  of  $600  and  when  time  should  favor,  present  my  receipt 
and  compel  me  or  my  estate  to  pay  it  also !  The  $100  he  seemed  to 
consider  already  safe  in  his  pocket  I 

After  the  repeated  acts  of  treachery  and  ingratitude  of  which  he  is 
guilty  this  proposition  would  seem  more  like  a  premeditated  insult 
than  the  trap  of  a  cunning  scoundrel  Yet  this  is  his  peculiar  plan  of 
operations — he  assumes  that  people  will  regard  him  as  above  suspi- 
cion; pretends  great  ignorance  and  simplicity  in  business;  to  entrust 
the  care  of  his  affairs  to  others  who  have  no  character  to  sustain  nor 
reputation  to  lose;  he  is  in  fact  a  periect  confidence  man  with  a  more 
than  ordinary  amount  of  cunning. 

Tuesday  7th  June,  1859 

Attended  the  Election  for  two  Delegates  to  the  convention  to  frame 
a  State  constitution.  I  voted  for  one  free  State  man  and  one  Demo- 
crat because  I  knew  the  other  -professedly  free  State  man  W.  Y.  Rob- 
erts was  dishonest  and  has  heretofore  abused  and  betrayed  the  confidence 


122  A  BRIEF  SKETCH  OF 

reposed  in  him.  I  believe  a  government  is  safer  in  the  hands  of  a 
good  man  professing  bad  principles  than  in  the  hands  of  a  bad  man 
professing  good  principles,  because  the  former  will  endeavor  to  have 
good  results  flowing  from  his  administration  while  the  latter  expects 
his  name  and  profession  to  paliate  and  cover  up  his  corrupt  and  tyran- 
ical  government.  Besides  I  would  prefer  at  this  moment,  the  Demo- 
crats should  form  the  Constitution  in  which  they  will  be  compelled  to 
yield  much  to  the  proslavery  party  which  will  make  their  constitution 
so  objectionable  that  the  people  will  vote  it  down,  and  then  we  will 
remain  in  our  Territorial  condition  a  year  or  two  longer  which  I  most 
devoutly  desire  for  we  are  not  only  not  able  to  support  a  State  govern- 
ment, but  the  demagogues  who  now  lead  the  Republican  party,  would 
doubtless  get  all  the  offices  of  trust  and  profit,  which  would  involve 
us  in  debts  and  difficulties  for  years  to  come.  In  two  or  three  years 
more  these  men  will  sink  to  their  proper  level  and  honest  men  may 
be  found  to  manage  our  public  affiiirs. 

Sunday  12th  June,  1859. 

A  pleasant  Sabbath  day,  family  at  church,  I  at  home  until  near 
evening  I  rode  down  to  William  Walker's  but  he  was  not  at  home. 
Saw  a  strange  assemblage  of  Germans  from  the  neighboring  towns, 

near  M'" Stewart's  (the  gardener)  men,  women  and  children 

making  merry  they  had  a  drum,  a  brass  band,  a  bar  for  the  sale  of 
lager  beer,  and  sang  and  danced  till  night.  They  said  they  were  cele- 
brating in  the  old  Country  style,  this  particular  Sunday  probably  in 
honor  of  some  good  old  Saint.     .     .     . 

Friday  17th  June,  1859 

M"  Guthrie  and  her  sister  Margaret  rode  to  the  payment  and  I 
walked,  a  distance  of  3|  miles.  Apparently  but  few  Wyandots  were 
present,  as  they  were  lost  in  the  multitude  of  whites  most  of  whom 
had  claims  on  Indians  Some  honest  and  many  I  believe  utterly  dis- 
honest. It  is  alleged  by  the  Indians  themselves  that  they  have  paid 
the  same  debts  several  times  but  have  received  no  credits  nor  took  re- 
ceipts Some  of  them  however  having  learned  the  value  of  receipts 
demanded  them  on  making  full  payments  and  in  a  few  instances  have 
disconcerted  and  disappointed  their  creditors  by  exhibiting  their  re- 


ABELARD  GUTHRIE.  123 

«eipts  when  dunned ;  others  have  unfortunately  lost  them,  and  these 
and  those  having  none  were  threatened  with  a  lawsuit  (of  which  thej 
are  much  afraid)  unless  they  should  satisfy  the  demands  against  them. 
If  the  Indians  are  to  be  believed,  thousands  of  dollars  are  thus  fraudu- 
lently obtained.  Will  a  just  retribution  overtake  these  dishonest 
creditors? 

Wednesday  29th  June,  1859. 

Met  C.  Eobinson  with  whom  I  had  some  plain  talk  about  the  man- 
agement of  the  Quindaro  Go's  affairs  and  about  his  own  acts.  He  is 
a  thorough  villain,  cool,  calculating,  heartless,  ungrateful  and  auda- 
cious. 

Thursday  25th  August,  1859. 

Went  to  Quindaro  in  the  evening  and  received  two  letters,  one 
from  Isaac  Strohm  my  brotherinlaw ;  the  other  from  Chas.  W. 
Wingard  of  Lockhaven  Chester  County,  Pennsylvania;  the  former 
enclosing  one  from  M"  Anna  Guthrie,  my  stepmother  announcing 
the  illness  of  my  father  who  it  seems  attained  his  seventy-fifth  year 
on  the  19th  day  of  this  month.  Strange  that  I  should  never  have 
heard  his  age  before!  These  letters  are  coldly  formal  and  convey  no 
intimation  that  my  revered  father  has  mentioned  my  name  on  his  sick 
bed,  or  in  any  way  evinced  a  desire  to  see  me.  Yet  I  know  he  can  not 
dislike  me,  nor  can  I  think  otherwise  than  that  my  presence  would  be 
agreeable  to  him.  I  ought  to  be  there  and  I  do  most  earnestly  desire 
to  attend  him  in  his  last  sickness,  but  I  have  not  the  money  to  carry 
me  thither.  I  know  the  worst  construction  would  be  placed  upon  my 
hasty  visit  by  the  expectant  friends  who  surround  him,  and  this  would 
be  a  sad  drawback  upon  the  satisfaction  I  would  otherwise  feel  in  a 
faithful  discharge  of  my  filial  duties.  My  father  is  one  of  the  best 
men  I  ever  knew — I  should  say  the  best;  strictly  honest  in  all  his 
dealings,  and  honorable  in  all  his  feelings.  The  uppermost  traits  in 
his  character  are  properly  alluded  to  by  M''  Strohm,  who  says  "His 
ruling  traits  for  kindnesses,  desire  for  the  hospitable  treatment  of  the 
visitors  at  his  house,  and  reluctance  to  appear  troublesome,  are  strongly 
shown  in  his  deportment  now."  I  do  pray  to  God  that  he  may  live 
many  years  in  perfect  health  of  body  and  mind  not  only  on  his  own 


124  A  BRIEF  SKETCH  OF 

account  but  on  mine  for  I  wish  to  have  it  in  my  power  to  smooth 
and  gladden  his  future  years  with  the  means  of  a  free  exercise  of  his 
benevolence  and  munificence.  No  man  ever  enjoyed  the  performance 
of  a  good  act  more  than  he. 

Monday  12th  September,  1869. 
Started  early  and  entered  the  Mississippi  river  10  O'clock  A.  M. 
passing  St.  Charles  at  ^  past  8  O'clock  A.  M.  I  never  pass  St. 
Charles  without  looking  at  the  'Convent  of  the  Sacred  Heart"  with 
mingled  feelings  of  interest  and  indignation  for  it  was  the  home  for 
two  years  of  my  little  girls  Abalura  and  Norsona.  As  their  educa- 
tion had  been  almost  entirely  neglected  T  was  anxious  that  their 
studies  should  be  confined  to  the  common  branches  of  a  good  English 
education.  But  the  ladies  wished  to  give  them  lessons  in  music  and 
drawing  and  I  was  surprised  [to]  find  charges  for  these  studies.  I 
again  forbade  it  but  the  ladies  were  very  importunate  and  had  the 
children  write  letters  urging  me  to  give  my  consent  to  have  them  take 
lessons  in  music  and  drawing.  And  when  M""^  Gutlirie  visited  her 
children  they  obtained  her  consent  and  thus  the  useful  branches  of 
their  education  were  much  neglected  and  they  returned  home  very 
little  improved  in  intellectual  culture.  Their  bills  for  clothing  were 
also  enormous,  and  I  afterwards  learned  that  the  nuns  induced  them 
to  give  up  their  clothing  when  the  least  sullied  and  sometimes  on  the 
pretext  that  it  had  become  too  small  for  thera.  This  clothing  was 
either  sold  or  given  to  the  poor  so  that  these  nuns  enjoy  a  fine  repu- 
tation in  St.  Charles  for  their  large  charities.  People  little  know  and 
indeed  as  little  care,  that  they  rob  their  pupils  or  rather  their  wards 
that  they  may  indulge  their  display  of  liberality.  Strange  that  these 
people  having  abjured  the  vanities  of  the  world  should  be  so  avari- 
cious and  so  ambitious  of  securing  the  approbation  of  the  outside 
world.  They  knew  that  they  were  deceiving  me  in  relation  to  my 
children's  studies  and  best  interests  and  in  regard  to  the  expense  in- 
curred for  clothing. 

Tuesday  13th  September,  1859. 

Left  Dayton  at  |  past  10  O'clock  A.  M.  and  arrived  at  my  father's 
at  11  A.  M.  finding  my  father  improved  in  health  for  which  I  thank 
God  with  devout  gratitude.     But  my  father  did  not  know  me  and 


ABELARD  GUTHRIE.  125 

when  told  who  I  was  he  said  "  Why  Abelard  you  look  old  !  "  Alas 
he  little  knew  what  agony  of  mind  the  Kansas  swindlers  had  given 
me !  and  how  cares  and  troubles  multiply  the  tracks  of  time ! 

Friday  16th  September  1859. 

Pa  seemed  very  restless  last  night  and  I  overheard  him  from  my 
room  complaining  that  he  was  very  unhappy  ending  with  the  words 
"I  fear,  I  fear,  I  fear."  "Grandmother"  his  second  wife,  replied 
very  calmly  "  I  did  not  know  it,  my  dear.  I  thought  you  were  very 
happy."  He  was  silent.  What  was  the  cause  of  his  uneasiness  I 
could  not  imagine  as  he  talks  to  me  very  little — never  about  his  con- 
dition either  of  body  or  mind. 

Jim  [his  brother,  or  half  brother,  James  Andrews]  told  me  some 
strange  things  about  this  "Grandma"  who  it  seems  is  a  very  shrewd 
selfish  woman.  Shortly  after  her  marriage  with  Pa  he  went  to  Day- 
ton at  a  time  when  the  waters  were  very  much  swollen  by  recent  rains 
and  he  was  not  able  to  return  the  same  night,  a  very  unusual  thing 
with  him ;  she  was  very  much  alarmed  at  his  absence  and  feared  he 
had  been  drowned  and  had  left  no  will;  and  immediately  on  his  re- 
turn she  insisted  on  his  making  a  will  in  view  of  the  uncertainity  of 
life.  He  yielded  to  her  wishes,  and  it  was  supposed  all  was  satisfac- 
tory. But  in  his  recent  illness  when  his  life  was  dispaired  of  she  pre- 
vailed on  him  to  make  another  will  by  which  she  is  made  his  sole 
heir !  So  far  as  I  am  concerned  I  care  not  a  cent ;  but  there  are  others 
who  are  entitled  to  kindly  remembrances,  they  have  loved  and  served 
him  well ;  but  God  who  orders  all  things  right  will  not  permit  the 
consummation  of  this  wrong. 

Saturday  17th  September,  1859. 

Heard  the  distinguished  Abraham  Lincoln  of  Illinois  make  a  speech 
on  the  slavery  question.  He  is  an  able  clear  headed  man,  but  not  an 
agreeable  speaker.  His  speeches  appear  to  better  advantage  in  print 
than  in  their  delivery.     •     •     • 

Monday  19th  September,  1859. 

I  stay  to-night  at  the  "  City  Hotel "  kept  by  W°^  Atkinson  When 
I  wanted  to  go  to  my  room  he  looked  at  his  register  for  my  name  and 


126  A  BKIEF  SKETCH  OF 

then  said  "There  had  been  a  person  of  that  name  in  Dayton  a  few 
years  ago  he  was  a  dark  looking  fellow  a  lawyer,  had  gone  North 
married  a  Squaw  emigrated  to  Nebraska  was  a  member  of  Congress 
<fec.  He  seemed  never  to  suspect  that  he  might  be  talking  to  and 
about  the  same  individual  and  he  was  rattling  along  with  my  history 
at  a  rate  and  with  such  a  mixture  of  truth  and  falsehood  I  was  con- 
strained to  make  my  bow  in  the  midst  of  his  interesting  revelations. 

Saturday  14th  January,  1860. 

This  morning  I  discovered  that  George  had  taken  the  bark  off 
from  one  of  the  finest  linden  trees  in  my  park,  to  bottom  an  old 
chair  with.  I  have  not  lately  been  so  hurt  and  irritated  and  I  told 
him  I  had  rather  he  had  burnt  all  the  chairs  I  had  than  have  killed 
that  fine  tree.  The  thing  has  oppressed  my  mind  all  day  even  when 
I  was  not  thinking  about  it,  I  felt  that  there  was  something  that 
distressed  me  without  being  able  at  the  moment  to  remember  it.  I 
had,  too,  repeatedly  told  him  not  to  touch  a  tree  in  that  grove.  How 
little  above  the  brute  is  a  man  who  will  wantonly  disfigure  any  of 
God's  glorious  handiwork ! 

Friday  16th  February,  1860. 

Rec'd  a  letter  from  my  sister  Eloisa  informing  me  of  the  death  of 
our  sister  Eliza  Stevens.  This  news  most  painful  and  unexpected 
fills  my  whole  soul  with  the  saddest  thoughts.  I  saw  her  but  a  few 
months  ago  in  excellent  health  and  spirits  looking  forward  to  years 
of  serene  enjoyment  and  these  alas!  had  but  commenced  when  the 
dread  summons  came  and  life  with  all  its  promised  joys  was  ex- 
changed for  the  silence  and  gloom  of  the  grave.  Ah  what  an  exchange  I 
The  gloom  of  the  grave  extends  even  to  me  and  my  heart  is  heavy 
and  my  soul  is  sick  with  its  dampness  and  darkness  and  the  powers 
of  the  mind  are  subject  to  the  emotions  of  the  heart.  I  am  without 
thought  and  my  wliole  being  seems  lost  in  a  vague,  indefinite  and  in- 
explicable feeling  of  profound  sadness,  not  only  embracing  the  death 
of  my  dear  sister,  but  her  whole  life,  for  alas!  that  life  brings  up  its 
mournful  history  and  strews  its  joyless  memories  around  her  gravel 
Adieu  my  sister  always  beloved  and  as  long  to  be  mourned. 


ABELARD  GUTHRIE.  127 

Monday  January  6th  1862. 
[Mr.  Guthrie  was  in  Washington  City  at  that  time.] 

Had  some  conversation  with  F.  P.  Stanton  who  is  contesting  Genl. 
Lane's  right  to  a  seat  in  the  Senate.  M""  Stanton  assures  me  he  has 
[an]  understanding  with  Gov.  Robinson  whereby  his  action  as  Sena- 
tor would  be  governed,  and  will  feel  himself  at  full  liberty  to  take 
care  of  the  interests  of  other  sections  of  the  State  than  those  in  which 
Robinson  is  especially  interested,  and  to  persons  opposed  to  Robinson. 
Should  Lane  leave  the  Senate  I  would  certainly  prefer  Stanton  to 
any  of  those  now  spoken  of  for  the  succession.     .     .     . 

Wednesday  January  8th,  1862. 

Listened  awhile  to  a  debate  in  the  Senate  on  the  contested  case  be- 
tween Lane  and  Stanton.  It  is  one  in  which  an  honest  difference 
of  opinion  may  be  entertained,  but  with  the  facts  as  I  understand 
them  I  should  vote  for  the  admission  of  Stanton  to  the  seat,  other- 
wise the  provision  of  the  Constitution  designed  to  guard  against  exec- 
utive influence  with  members  of  Congress  by  making  the  acceptance  of 
oflBce  under  the  Executive  a  disqualification  for  a  Seat  in  the  Senate 

[ ]  .     True  General  Lane's  appointment  was  not  authorized 

by  law,  but  that  instead  of  favoring  his  cause  should  weaken  it,  be- 
cause the  president  might  find  frequent  occasion  for  gratifying  the 
ambition  of  Senators  by  these  marks  of  favor 

Called  to  see  M'"  Dawes,  chairman  of  the  Committee  of  Elections 
to  which  my  claim  for  mileage  and  per  diem  as  delegate  from  Nebraska 
was  refered  and  he  encouraged  me  to  hope  for  success  saying  the  Com- 
mittee thought  favorably  of  the  claim  but  wanted  to  be  prepared  to 
defend  it  before  the  house.     .     .     . 

Thursday  9th  [January  1862] 

Spent  2  or  3  hours  with  Col.  Sims  formerly  of  Missouri  but  now 
of  Kansas.  I  urged  upon  him  (he  has  much  influence  with  Missouri 
members  of  Congress)  to  get  the  members  of  Congress  from  Missouri 
&  Kentucky  to  meet  and  devise  some  means  whereby  we  may  be  able 
to  restore  peace  to  the  country.  Kentucky  and  Missouri  at  this  time 
control  the  administration;  and  if  their  delegations  in  Congress  should 


128  A  BRIEF  SKETCH  OF 

agree  upon  some  practicable  decisive  plan  of  action,  I  have  no  doubt  it 
would  be  successful.  But  I  am  convinced  that  any  scheme  to  receive 
the  necessary  support  of  the  people  at  large  must  look  to  the  ultimate 
extinction  of  slavery.     .     .     . 

Friday  10th  January,  1862. 

M'^  Poraeroy  told  me  M'"  Dawes  of  the  House  had  expressed  an 
opinion  to  him  adverse  to  ray  claim  for  mileage  and  per  diem.  This 
is  very  different  from  what  he  led  me  to  believe  when  I  called  to  see 
him  two  or  three  evenings  back.  There  is  a  want  of  manliness,  of 
honor  and  justice  in  eastern  men  that  will  always  run  counter  to  the 
better  qualities  of  the  western  heart.  And  even  the  Republican  party 
as  such  are  constrained  by  the  same  narrowuess  of  views  which  tran- 
scends its  action  defeats  its  objects,  and  disappoints  the  country.  I 
have  performed  an  important  service  for  my  country  and  now  the 
very  men  who  are  reaping  the  rich  fruits  of  that  service  hesitate  to 
pay  me  the  usual  wages  for  it! 

Heard  Dr.  Cheever,  of  New  York,  deliver  a  lecture  in  the  Smith- 
sonian Institution  on  the  subject  of  slavery  and  our  duties  and  rela- 
tions to  it.  It  was  a  terrible  denunciation  of  the  policy  of  the  ad- 
ministration and  military  men;  yet  its  truthfulness  could  hardly  be 
controverted.  His  views  of  our  duty  under  the  constitution  were  in 
some  respects  new  to  me  but  were  maintained  with  much  ingenuity 
if  not  ability.  He  advocated  the  immediate  abolition  of  slavery 
and  the  conquest  of  the  rebellious  States.  I  would  have  prefered 
the  gradual  emancipation  of  the  slaves  but  the  terrible  alternative 
forced  upon  us  by  the  rebellion  of  either  losing  the  Territory  alto- 
gether or  of  liberating  the  slaves  and  thereby  undoing  that  worthless 

and  even  dangerous  [ ]  which  has  at  the  same  time  been  the 

cause  and  the  sinews  of  the  war.  The  French  assembly  in  their  first 
declaration,  to  intimidate  the  German  princes  said,  "That  it  was  not 
with  fire  and  sword  they  meant  to  attack  their  territories  but  by  what 
would  be  more  dreadful  to  them  the  introduction  of  liberty."  See 
Edmund  Burke's  works  vol.  4,  page  52.  This  would  to  some  extent 
overturn  the  social  order,  but  I  do  not  think  this  evil  could  be  of 
long  duration.  The  amalgamation  of  the  races;  the  absorption  of  the 
African  by  the  Anglo-Saxon  or  rather  the  white  race  would  probably 
be  more  rapid  than  now  as  a  much  larger  white  population  would 


ABELARD  GUTHRIE.  129 

soon  fill  those  States;  whites  from  all  the  States  and  all  countries 
who  now  and  for  many  years  were  afraid  to  seek  homes  in  the  South 
because  of  the  savage  de-potism  that  everywhere  prevailed  there. 

This  morning  I  handed  Senator  Pomeroy  of  Kansas  a  resolution 
which  I  wished  him  to  introduce  into  the  Senate,  but  which  he  proba- 
bly will  not  do;  it  is  this: 

Resolved,  that  the  Committee  on  the  Judiciary  be  directed  to  enquire 
into  the  expediency  of  making  provision  by  law  for  the  payment 
annually  for  a  period  of  twenty  years  an  amount  of  money  equal  to 
ten  dollars  per  capita  of  the  slave  population  as  shown  by  the  census 
of  1860,  to  such  of  the  so  called  slave  States  in  proportion  to  the 
number  of  slaves  contained  in  each,  as  shall  establish  a  system  of 
emancipation  whereby  slavery  shall  cease  to  exist  within  twenty  years. 

But  on  further  reflection  I  think  this  bounty  should  only  be  given 
to  the  loyal  States  even  though  but  nominally  so.  As  for  the  others 
I  now  think  the  abolition  of  the  system  should  be  immediate  and  un- 
conditional, both  as  a  means  of  stopping  the  war  and  as  a  punish- 
ment for  the  rebellion.  And  I  think  the  slaves  should  be  armed  and 
permitted  to  take  apart  in  the  conflict.  If  we  do  not  use  more  vigorous 
means  to  put  down  the  rebellion  the  new  government  it  has  set  up 
will  be  recognized  by  the  European  powers,  which  they  are  a^/ anxious 
to  do  because  the  principles  of  our  government  like  those  of  the 
French  revolution  are  penetrating  into  every  nation  of  Europe  and 
undermining  the  thrones  of  their  rulers.  The  continuance  of  our 
present  form  of  government  with  its  territorial  integrity,  will  finally 
overthrow  the  monarchies  of  Europe.  We  should  not  deceive  our- 
selves by  their  pretended  sympathy  or  friendship.  They  will  attack 
us  as  soon  as  they  have  prepared  the  public  mind  of  Europe  for  it 
and  are  fully  apprised  of  our  own  impotency,  which  is  not  yet  fully 
demonstrated. 

Saturday  11th  January  1862 

In  the  Library  of  Congress  I  examined  a  volume  of  the  Washing- 
ton Union  and  discovered  my  old  circular  when  first  sent  as  dele- 
gate from  Nebraska  (now  Kansas)  It  is  in  the  Union  of  18th  Jan- 
uary 1853  part  1st 

Sunday  12th  January  1862 
In  my  room  all  day  reading  and  writing  a  pamphlet  on  the  subject 
10 


130  A  BRIEF  SKETCH  OF 

of  our  present  troubles  and  dangers;  ...  I  feel  well  pleased 
with  it  so  far,  and  think  it  contains  at  least  as  much  good  sense  as  I 
find  in  most  of  the  speeches  in  Congress. 

Monday  13th  January  1862 

Discovered  that  all  my  papers  refered  by  Genl.  Lane  to  the  Com. 
on  Indian  Affairs  had  been  refered  to  sub  committees.  Lane  had 
assured  me  he  would  have  thetn  refered  to  himself  and  fairly  ex- 
amined but  he  deceived  me  in  this  as  in  everything  else.  He  has 
treated  me  with  the  grossest  ingratitude  and  injustice.  His  duplicity 
has  greatly  endangered  the  loss  of  my  claims.  Yet  people  are  crazy 
with  adulation  of  this  insincere,  egotistical,  ungrateful  demagogue  for 
that  is  his  true  character. 

Thursday  16th  January  1862 

Genl.  Lane  advised  me  to  get  M"^  Samuel  Y.  Niles  an  Attorney 
to  attend  to  my  business.  This  would  not  have  been  necessary  had 
he  attended  to  his  business  as  Senator  or  redeemed  his  promises  as 
friend.  M'  Niles,  I  believe  was  his  Attorney  in  the  Jenkins  con- 
tested land  claim,  and  he  probably  pays  him  by  giving  him  other 
business.  I  went  to  see  M"^  Niles  and  left  my  papers  with  him  and 
he  is  to  have  them  examined  by  morning  and  give  his  opinion  of  the 
case. 

Saturday  18th  January  1862 

Went  with  Genl.  Lane,  Maj.  Abbot  &  M"^  Niles  to  the  Indian  Office 
and  heard  M'"  Niles  read  the  statements  of  Abbott  and  Matthew  King 
in  explanation  of  the  part  they  took  in  the  Clark  &  Hall  swindle  among 
the  Shawnees;  also  the  argument  of  M''  Niles  in  defence  of  Maj. 
Abbott.  The  papers  were  prepared  with  skill  and  ability  and  may 
save  Maj.  Abbott  from  removal,  but  I  fear  the  case  will  not  stop 
there  and  that  Maj.  Abbott  will  be  ruined  in  the  end.  The  Shawnees 
were  evidently  swindled  out  of  about  $18,000  by  Clark  &  Hall, 
which  Maj.  Abbott  as  Indian  Agent  should  have  prevented.  I 
have  hitherto  regarded  Maj.  Abbott  as  an  honest  man  and  I  have 
no  doubt  he  was  imposed  on  by  this  Clark  who  is  represented  as  a 
great  rogue.     I  sincerely  hope  Maj.  Abbott  will  be  able  to  escape 


ABELARD  GUTHRIE,  131 

from  this  difficulty  and  yet  I  dont  see  how  he  can  unless  Clark  & 
Hall  will  refund  the  money  which  now  seems  improbable. 

I  have  been  to  see  M""  Niles  and  finally  agreed  to  give  him  twenty 
per  cent  of  all  he  can  obtain  on  My  Wife's  claim,  except  the  land  on 
which  he  is  to  charge  nothing.  This  is  rather  a  bad  bargain,  but  I 
believe  members  of  Congress  form  partnerships  here  with  claims 
agents  and  will  give  no  attention  to  the  business  of  a  constituent  un- 
less it  first  goes  through  one  of  these  mills.  Whether  the  toll  is  then 
divided  or  not  it  is  impassible  to  say,  but  I  have  no  doubt  it  is.  They 
would  probably  not  enter  into  such  an  arrangement  with  a  constit- 
uent because  the  danger  of  exposure  would  be  much  greater.  People  in 
Washington  City  who  never  saw  Kansas  and  care  nothing  for  her 
interests  monopolize  more  of  time,  are  treated  with  more  consideration 
and  have  more  influence  with  our  Senators  than  I  have,  and  it  is  not 
improbable  other  constituents  are  treated  in  the  same  manner  but  to 
me  it  [is]  peculiarly  ungrateful  for  these  men  all  owe  to  me  their 
elevation.     .     ,     . 

Sunday  January  19th  1862. 

Called  to  see  Col.  Sims  of  Kansas  formerly  of  Missouri.     He  told 

me  [he]  had  overheard  a  conversation  between  a  M"" reporter 

of  the  Philadelphia  Press  and  a  M"  Winslow  who  claims  to  be  the 
wife  of  Col.  Winslow  now  in  the  service  of  the  United  States  on  the 
Potomac,  in  which  were  discussed  the  prospects  of  the  rebellion,  both 
are  earnest  secessionists  and  expressed  their  confidence  that  Genl.  Mc- 
Clellan  is  with  them  and  other  officers  were  also  named  as  ready  to 
betray  the  cause  of  the  Union  at  the  first  favorable  moment !  The 
very  walls  of  this  accursed  city  breathe  treason  !  Yet  our  stupidly 
credulous  President  is  pouring  out  the  treasure  of  the  country  in  the  full 
belief  that  he  is  re-establishing  the  authority  of  the  Government 
while  the  rebels  actually  command  both  armies!  My  God!  can  human 
wickedness  go  farther!  Has  God  abandoned  this  country  to  the  pow- 
ers of  hell!  What  enormous  unpardonable  sin  has  brought  upon  us 
this  degradation,  this  utter  depravity !  I  shall  again  see  Col.  Sims  to 
learn  if  any  thing  can  be  done  to  meet  and  defeat  this  foul  plot  to 
utterly  ruin  the  best  government  ever  established  by  the  wisdom  and 
courage  of  man. 

Genl.  Lane  and  family  started  to  Kansas     The  Genl.  is  a  great 


132  A  BRIEF  SKETCH  OF 

lion  here  and  his  room  is  always  filled  with  visitors,  at  this  moment 
there  is  not  a  man  in  Wasliiugtou  more  sought  after.  The  Genl. 
aims  at  the  Presidency  although  some  hints  are  thrown  out  that  hia 
Southern  expedition  is  designed  to  establish  his  power  permanently 
in  the  Indian  Country  or  Texas.  It  would  not  surprise  me  if  ambi- 
tious military  men  would  endeavor  to  break  up  the  Union  to  secure 
each  a  fragment  wherein  to  fix  himself  in  power.  Yet  I  hardly  think 
the  scheme  can  succeed.  The  people  at  large  nor  the  soldiers  are  not 
prepared  for  such  gigantic  treachery  and  ingratitude.  I  think  there 
is  good  reason  to  believe  that  many  of  them  dream  of  "Kingdoms, 
crowns  and  regal  sway."  I  can  not  understand  on  what  other  prin- 
ciple our  armies  are  so  large  and  inefficient.  May  a  terribly  just 
retribution  speedly  overwhelm  the  conspirators  I 

Wednesday  January  22d  1862 

Have  been  in  my  room  most  of  the  day  reading  speeches  on  the 
charge  of  treason  against  Senator  Bright.  It  seems  to  me  very  clear 
even  from  M'"  B's  own  answers  to  questions  addressed  to  him  that  he 
is  more  the  enemy  than  the  friend  of  his  country  and  is  an  unsafe 
man  to  be  in  the  councils  of  the  nation.  Just  such  men  have  brought 
upon  us  our  present  calamities.  And  love  of  country  and  fidelity  to 
its  government  should  be  an  indispensable  qualification  of  a  public 
officer  and  even  the  private  citizen  who  is  deficient  in  these  virtues 
should  be  regarded  with  suspicion  and  aversion. 

Col.  Sims  spent  an  hour  or  so  with  me  this  evening.  He  says  M" 
Winslow  refered  to  Sunday  last  is  the  Sister  of  Roger  A.  Prior  late  a 
Member  of  Congress  from  Virginia.     .     .     , 

Thursday  January  23rd  1862. 

Went  to  see  M"^  Niles,  (who  it  seems  is  a  grandson  of  Hezekiah 
Niles  who  published  "Niles'  Rtgister"  which  I  believe  was  the  first 
newspaper  I  ever  saw,)  to  hand  him  some  memoranda  of  precedents 
in  favor  of  M"^^  Guthrie's  claim.  M""  Niles  thinks  the  prospect  of 
success  favorable. 

Thursday  30th  January,  1862. 

Called  to  see  Hon.  M.  F.  Conway.     M'  Wilson  of  the  Senate's 


ABELARD  GUTHRIE.  133 

Committee  on  Military  Aifairs  moved  in  the  Senate  to  have  the  Chair 
appoint  a  member  to  fill  the  place  of  M"*  Lane  of  Kansas  and  the 
motion  was  agreed  to.  I  inferred  from  this  that  Lane  would  not  re- 
turn to  the  Senate  and  went  to  see  M'  Conway  to  have  him  go  to 
M""  Doolittle  Chairman  of  the  Committee  on  ludiau  Affairs  and  re- 
quest him  to  make  the  same  motion  in  reference  to  Geul.  Lane's  place 
in  the  Com  on  Indian  Aifairs,  and  to  ask  the  appointment  of  Genl. 
Pomeroy  to  succeed  Lane.  Conway  objected  to  having  it  done  imme- 
diately as  it  was  uncertain  about  Lane's  going  into  the  army,  and 
would  be  displeased  with  this  premature  removal.  My  object  was  to 
anticipate  the  movement  by  some  one  else  and  to  secure  the  place  for 
Pomeroy  in  whom  as  a  Senator  I  have  great  confidence.  He  is  in- 
dustrious and  faithful  and  we  greatly  need  such  a  man  on  that  Com- 
mittee; although  Lane  would  suit  me  very  well  and  may  perhaps 
have  more  influence  but  Pomeroy  is  more  reliable  and  attentive  to 
business.  However  Conway  said  he  would  see  M'"  Doolittle  in  the 
morning  and  have  him  keep  the  Committee  as  it  is  until  Lane  is 
heard  from  and  in  the  event  of  Lane's  resigning  to  have  Pomeroy 
appointed.  Lane  is  certainly  acting  very  strangely  if  not  insanely. 
Constantly  beset  by  an  army  of  sycophants  who  pander  to  his  vanity 
and  obey  his  behests  he  turns  a  cold  shoulder  to  old  and  real  friends. 
No  man  that  does  this  can  long  enjoy  the  confidence  and  respect  of 
any  class  of  men  for  the  sycophant  loves  new  idols,  and  the  earnest 
man  will  not  long  be  trifled  with  and  then  the  ungrateful  man  is  de- 
serted and  prostrated.  Pomeroy  made  a  good  remark  last  night;  he 
said  *'  I  will  take  care  of  my  friends  and  they  and  I  can  take  care  of 
my  enemies." 

Saturday  1st  February,  1862. 

In  my  room  most  of  the  day  writing  my  pamphlet  on  the  condi- 
tion and  prospects  of  the  country.  If  I  can  get  it  jiublished  soon  I 
think  it  will  be  conceded  to  have  some  merit.  I  have  not  yet  fixed 
on  a  title.     .     .     . 

Sunday  2nd  February,  1862. 
Finished  my  pamphlet  on  the  condition  and  dangers  of  our  gov- 
ernment but  will  yet  have  to  make  corrections  and  a  more  methodical 
arrangement  of  the  topics. 


134  A  BRIEF  SKETCH  OF 

Monday  3rd  February,  1862. 

Received  my  Indian  Territory  bill  which  I  had  forgotten  at  home 
and  for  which  I  wrote  to  M""  Newman.  He  sent  it  with  a  few  lines 
to  Genl.  Pomeroy. 

Dropped  a  note  in  the  Post  Office  for  M"^  Wattles  requesting  him 
to  come  and  see  me.  He  also  is  tryiug  to  have  the  Indian  Country 
covered  by  a  territorial  Government  and  we  agreed  to  compare  our 
respective  plans  and  prepare  a  bill  from  the  better  features  of  each. 

At  home  most  of  the  day  reading  and  writing  my  pamphlet  which 
I  have  entitled  "On  the  difficulties  and  dangers  that  beset  the  Nation" 
or  rather  I  have  spent  a  part  of  the  day  in  correcting  it. 

Tuesday  4th  February  1862. 

Mailed  a  letter  I  wrote  yesterday  to  James  H.  Lane  urging  him  to 
return  to  the  Senate.  Genl.  Lane  has  a  thirst  for  military  fame  because 
it  is  the  kind  that  administers  most  extravagantly  to  his  insatiable 
love  of  honors.  I  have  great  doubt  of  his  real  desire  to  command 
the  expedition  to  Texas.  But  by  not  having  his  wishes  complied 
with  he  enjoys  the  eclat  of  attempting  to  make  a  great  sacrifice 
to  save  the  country;  and  of  increasing  public  confidence  in  his  mili- 
tary talents,  which  are  indeed  of  a  very  low  order,  except  in  these  very 
essential  qualities  of  vigilance  and  discretion.  Lane  wishes  to  keep 
himself  perpetually  in  the  public  eye,  and  he  is  undecided  how  to 
accomplish  it.     .     . 

Wednesday  5th  February,  1862. 

M'  Augustus  Wattles  of  Kansas  called  to  see  me  and  I  read  to  him 
my  bill  for  the  establishment  of  a  Territorial  government  for  the 
Indian  Country  south  of  Kansas.  He  appeared  to  be  satisfied  with 
its  provisions  but  took  it  to  examine  it  more  at  his  leisure.  He  also 
has  a  bill  prepared  for  the  same  purpose  and  will  bring  it  tomorrow 
and  we  are  to  compare  the  two  together  and  determine  which  shall  be 
presented  to  the  committee. 

M^  Willis  Gaylord  called  to  see  me  in  relation  to  my  claims  for 
pay  and  mileage  as  delegate,  and  I  agreed  to  give  him  twenty  per 
cent  to  attend  to  the  business  for  me  rather  than  suffer  the  delay 
which  I  see  is  purposely  occasioned  to  get  a  fee  for  somebody.     M''  G. 


ABELAED  GUTHRIE.  135 

is  a  brother  to  M"^^  Pomeroy  and  it  seems  is  in  partnership  with  a 
M"^  Edward  Clark  a  fact  I  did  not  know  before;  nor  was  I  at 
all  aware  that  he  was  engaged  in  tlie  business  of  presenting  claims. 

Saturday  8th  February,  1862. 

To-day  I  learn  that  the  war  is  hereafter  to  be  under  the  immediate 
direction  of  the  President  through  his  Secretary  of  war  without  the 
intervention  of  the  highest  officer  in  the  army,  (now  McCIellan)  as 
has  hitherto  been  the  practice.  Of  this  course  I  heartily  approve  for  I 
have  long  doubted  the  loyalty  and  ability  of  McCIellan,  besides  too 
much  deference  has  been  paid  to  these  professional  military  men,  who 
generally  lack  sound  judgment  so  all  important  to  success  in  all  the 
pursuits  of  life,  and  perhaps  most  of  any  in  military  life. 

The  foreign  news  this  evening  is  that  the  French  Emperor  would 
declare  his  intention  to  interfere  in  our  civil  war,  to  his  Legislative 
Council  on  the  27th  ultimo.  This  I  have  long  looked  for  but  it  is 
not  only  the  French  Monarch  but  he  will  be  backed  by  England  and 
all  the  European  governments  for  there  is  evidently  a  combination 
among  them  which  has  for  its  object  the  overthrow  of  this  govern- 
ment because  of  its  republican  form  and  institutions.  It  will  be  a 
war  of  political  systems  as  indeed  it  already  is.  The  South  seeking 
to  consolidate  its  power  in  the  hands  of  the  few  and  to  assimilate  its 
form  of  government  to  those  of  Europe  will  naturally  enlist  their 
sympathies,  as  it  already  has  done,  and  very  soon  secure  their  alli- 
ances oSPensive  and  defensive.  If  we  are  true  to  ourselves,  however 
and  exert  but  a  moity  of  the  courage  and  self  denial  of  our  revolu- 
tionary ancestors  we  will  come  forth  from  the  terrible  struggle  a  better 
wiser  and  more  powerful  nation  than  before.  God  grant  us  these 
high  virtues  in  such  perfection  as  the  emergency  demands! 

Sunday  9th  February,  1862 

Called  to  see  Hon.  M.  F.  Conway  and  talked  with  him  nearly  an 
hour  about  our  National  troubles.  M""  C.  voted  against  the  passage  of 
the  l)ill  making  U.  S.  ntites  a  legal  tender  and  I  cordially  approve 
of  this  vote.  But  M"^  C.  has  some  views  in  regard  to  our  future  pol- 
icy that  I  cannot  endorse.  He  thinks  if  France,  (as  she  now  threat- 
ens) breaks  our  blockade  which  I  would  regard  as  a  declaration  of 


136  A  BEIEF  SKETCH  OF 

war  and  acknowledges  the  independence  of  the  "  Southern  Confeder- 
acy ["]  as  it  is  called  that  we  should  acquiesce.  I  diiFer  from  him 
entirely  in  this  regard  for  I  believe  if  we  should  have  to  raise  an  army 
of  a  million  of  men  it  is  our  duty,  and  indeed  our  only  hope  of  salva- 
tion, to  do  it  and  fight  combined  Europe  as  I  have  no  doubt  we  shall 
have  to  do,  on  our  own  soil,  and  I  have  no  doubt  we  can  do  it 
successfully  and  crush  the  rebelion  besides.     .     .     . 

Monday  10th  February,  1862 

M'  Wattles  spent  the  evening  with  me  in  comparing  our  respective 
plans  ior  the  organization  of  the  Indian  Country  south  of  Kansas  for 
the  especial  use  of  the  Indians.  I  think  his  plan  is  crude  and  not 
equal  to  the  necessities  of  the  object.  Last  summer  at  the  extra  ses- 
sion of  Congress  I  prepared  a  bill  for  this  purpose,  but  Genl,  Lane 
whom  I  wanted  to  present  it  to  the  Senate  was  opposed  to  organize  a 
government  over  any  territory  for  Indian  settlement  exclusively. 
His  wish  was  to  destroy  the  Indian  not  to  civilize  him.  I  think 
under  a  mild  and  simple  government  with  laws  executed  by  them- 
selves the  Indians  might  under  the  fostering  care  of  the  United  States, 
become  a  united  and  homogeneous  people,  and  in  time  form  a  valu- 
able State  of  the  Union.  Without  a  measure  of  this  kind  they  must 
soon  become  extinct.  I  am  well  pleased  with  the  attention  M"^ 
Wattles  gives  the  matter,  but  his  plans  seem  ill-digested  and  ill- 
judged. 

Tuesday,  11  February,  1862 

M""  Wattles  has  been  here  much  of  the  day  perfecting  his  territorial 
bill.  But  withal  I  think  it  a  bungling  piece  of  work  and  have  no 
idea  Congress  will  pass  it  in  the  form  lie  has  now  got  it.  I  have 
made  a  good  many  suggestions  which  he  adopted  but  still  it  does  not 
please  me.     .     .     . 

Thursday  13th  February,  1862 

M'"  Wattles  left  on  My  table  a  copy  of  the  N.  Y.  Tribune  contain- 
ing an  article  against  erecting  an  exclusively  Indian  State  south  of 
Kansas.  The  article  was  probably  written  by  M"  Lucy  B.  Arm- 
strong. M*"  Wattles  wanted  me  to  answer  it  and  I  accordingly  wrote 
the  greater  part  of  a  reply,  but  feel  to  dull  too  finish  it. 


ABELARD  GUTHRTE.  137 

Thursday  20th  February,  1862. 


Handed  M'  Augustus  Wattles  my  reply  to  "  Yarahkonehta"  in  the 
N.  Y.  Tribune.  The  writer  is  supposed  to  be  M^  Lucy  B.  Arm- 
strong and  urges  some  plausible  but  erroneous  reasons  against  the 
organization  of  the  Indian  Territory  south  of  Kansas.  I  have  en- 
deavored to  answer  these  objections.  The  article  is  not  well  written 
and  should  have  been  carefully  corrected.     .     .     . 

Saturday  22nd  February,  1862. 

Today  was  to  have  been  a  gala  day  for  the  double  purpose  of  cele- 
brating the  birth  of  Washington  and  our  recent  victories  over  the  rebels. 
The  former  is  entitled  to  all  the  honors  which  a  grateful  nation  can 
bestow,  but  the  rejoicing  over  the  latter  is  premature.  Celebrations 
should  only  be  accorded  to  those  events  great  or  small  in  themselves 
•which  have  an  important  agency  in  producing  a  desired  consumation, 
and  should  tlierefore  be  reserved  until  the  crowning  act  is  performed. 
We  can  all  feel  the  inspiration  and  confidence  these  victories  should 
produce  but  our  open  manifestations  of  joy  should  be  restrained  until 
the  possibility  of  defeat  and  disaster  shall  entirely  disappear.  We 
have  now  arrived  at  the  critical  point  when  a  little  treachery  may 
overturn  the  whole  fabric  of  our  hopes  founded  on  the  brilliant  events 
of  the  last  few  days.  And  I  greatly  fear  that  treachery  is  even  now 
doing  its  accursed  work.  Else  why  should  the  immense  army  of  the 
Potomac  lie  idle  and  permit  the  rebels  to  withdraw  their  forces  and 
use  them  against  our  little  armies  in  North  Carolina  and  Tennessee? 
These  armies  are  performing  the  most  signal  service  and  if  backed  by 
our  army  on  the  Potomac  would  soon  end  the  war.  This  deliberate 
treachery,  (as  I  believe  it  to  be)  is  exciting  public  criticism  and  sus- 
picion, and  there  seems  to  be  a  general  inclination  to  demand  a  forward 
movement  of  the  armies  of  the  Potomac;  but  may  not  treachery  be  as 
successful  in  moving  forward  as  in  lying  still?  and  may  it  not  be 
even  more  fatal  to  the  interests  of  the  country?  I  confess  I  see  no 
hope  of  safety  but  in  the  removal  of  McClellan  from  the  chief  com- 
mand of  the  array,  and  the  appointment  of  a  true  man  in  his  place. 
Who  this  "true  man^'  should  be  is  a  question  of  most  difficult  solu- 
tion, but  any  truly  loyal  man  would  be  preferable  to  this  doubtful 
one.     .     •    . 


138  A  BEIEF  SKETCH  OF 

Thursday,  27th  February,  1862. 

Hearing  Genl.  Lane  had  again  telegraphed  to  his  friends  here  to 
make  another  effort  to  secure  to  him  the  command  of  the  army 
supposed  to  be  destined  for  Texas.  These  persistent  efforts  to  secure 
a  position  never  promised  him  and  in  violation  of  army  regulations 
without  any  good  reason  has  very  much  lessened  the  confidence  and 
respect  he  had  hitherto  enjoyed  both  here  and  in  Kansas.  There 
eeems  to  me  a  species  of  insanity  in  some  of  this  man's  eccentricities. 
He  has  treated  me  both  discourteously  and  ungratefully  But  I  have 
borne  these  things  in  silence  but  I  feel  that  his  protracted  absence 
from  his  duties  as  Senator  is  a  serious  wrong  to  Kansas.  •  •  •  I 
shall  now  try  to  have  his  place  on  the  Com.  of  Indian  Affairs  filled 
by  the  appointment  of  Genl.  Pomeroy.     •     •     • 

Sunday  2nd  March,  1862. 
Snow  fell  to  the  depth  of  2  or  3  inches,  and  I  have  remained  in  the 
house  all  day  reading  very  little  and  talking  less.  In  the  evening 
however,  I  had  quite  an  animated  conversation  with  M^  Thompson  a 
boarder,  and  the  sister-in-law  of  Genl.  Waddy  Thompson  of  South 
Carolina.  She  professes  strong  Union  sentiments  and  has  some  em- 
ployment from  the  Government,  but  defends  the  intolerence,  virulence, 
and  despotism  of  the  South.  The  views  she  entertains  or  expresses  in 
regard  to  the  rights  of  northern  men  who  become  citizens  of  the  South 
accord  with  the  true  spirit  of  slavery  every  where  and  are  clearly  in 
conflict  with  the  guaranties  of  the  Constitution.  She  insists  that  no 
anti-slavery  man  has  a  right  to  express  opinions  unfriendly  to  the 
institution  of  slavery;  that  if  any  one  entertains  such  opinions  he 
must  suppress  them  or  leave  the  slave  States.  This  is  the  evil  spirit 
with  which  we  are  now  at  war  and  against  which  we  are  sending  our 
immense  armies. 

Thursday  6th  March  1862. 

Spent  an  hour  with  Genl.  Pomeroy.  He  signed  a  recommendation 
for  Moses  B.  Newman's  appointment  to  an  Indian  Agency  in  Kansas 
expecting  to  get  for  him  the  Delaware  Agency.  Genl.  Pomeroy 
also  agreed  to  have  the  Pacific  Railroad  bill  altered  so  as  to  make 
Quindaro  a  point.     He  agreed  to  introduce  and  have  passed  the  bill 


ABELARD  GUTHRIE.  139 

M'  Wattles  and  myself  have  been  preparing  to  establish  a  Territorial 
Government  exclusively  for  Indians  over  the  present  Indian  Country 
South  of  Kansas.     .     .     . 

Friday  7th  March  1862 

In  the  proceedings  of  Congress  as  published  in  the  Daily  Globe  is 
a  short  message  from  the  President  conveying  a  resolution  which  he 
recommends  Congress  in  substance  to  pass.  It  is  v.'orth  remembering 
thnt  ou  the  10th  of  January  of  this  year  I  handed  to  Senator  Pom- 
eroy  a  Resolution  which  I  wished  him  to  present  to  the  Senate  having 
in  view  the  same  object  now  recommended  by  the  President  and  my 
resolution  differs  only  from  his  in  being  more  specific, 

Saturday  8th  March  1862 

Bo't  two  copies  N.  Y.  Tribune  containing  my  article  on  the  subject 
of  the  organization  of  a  new  Indian  Territory  South  of  Kansas. 

Sunday  9th  March  1862 

Today  I  complete  my  forty  eighth  year  and  enter  upon  my  forty 
ninth.  ...  It  seems  strange  that  a  man  should  live  so  long  and 
accomplish  so  little.  Yet  my  course  has  not  been  a  barren  one.  Few 
men  have  performed  acts  out  of  which  more  important  events  have 
grown.  The  successful  effort  to  establish  a  government  for  Nebraska 
(now  Kansas)  originated  with  me  and  under  most  discouraging  cir- 
cumstances, and  out  of  this  act  sprung  the  republican  party  and  the 
wonderful  events  that  have  followed  in  such  quick  succession.  And 
though  I  get  but  little  credit  for  this  now,  history  must  and  will  do  me 
justice. 

I  start  upon  the  new  year  with  bright  hopes  and  much  confidence 
dashed  only  by  the  lowering  clouds  that  overhang  the  political  horizon. 
I  have  painful  forebodings  of  disaster  near  at  hand.  It  is  generally 
understood  that  our  great  armies  of  the  Potomac  march  against  the 
traitors  tomorrow  although  a  general  battle  may  not  take  place  for  a 
day  or  two  after.  I  Lave  all  confidence  in  the  courage  of  our  men,  in 
their  numbers  and  equipments,  but  I  have  no  confidence  in  their  princi- 
pal officers,  such  as  McClellan,  McDowell  nor  indeed  in  any  man  from 
the  military  school  at  West  Point.  Far  better  would  it  be  for  this 
country  had  that  institution  never  existed.     It  is  the  nucleus  around 


140  A  BRIEF  SKETCH  OF 

which  will  gather  the  enemies  of  free  government  and  it  has  and 
always  will  instil  into  the  minds  of  its  pupils  sentiments  favorable  to 
the  establishment  of  independent  hereditary  orders  in  the  State.  I 
regard  this  institution  as  more  dangerous  to  the  liberties  of  this  coun- 
try than  African  slavery  itself,  and  henceforth  I  shall  devote  what 
time  I  can  to  its  abolition. 

To  day  I  have  prayed  again  and  again  most  earnestly  for  the  suc- 
cess of  our  armies  in  the  coming  battles.  In  God  I  trust  and  He 
alone  can  defeat  the  treachery  which  I  fear  is  meditated  against  us. 
He  alone  knows  the  hearts  of  all  men  and  can  disappoint  their  wicked 
schemes.     May  He  remember  us  in  this  our  day  of  terrible  trial ! 

M^^  Thompson  sisferinlaw  of  Genl.  Waddy  Thompson  of  South 
Carolina  told  me  to-day  that  a  Secession  female  friend  of  hers  told 
her  yesterday  that  the  "Confederates"  (rebels)  would  be  victorious  in 
the  great  battles  so  soon  to  be  fought;  that  all  Richmond  is  full  of 
confidence  in  the  result.  It  seems  this  "Secession  friend"  gets  letters 
regularly  from  her  sister  in  Richmond  Virginia  communicating  im- 
portant information  and  no  doubt  receiving  the  same  in  return.  How 
this  correspondence  is  kept  up  is  a  mystery  although  this  Secession 
friend  said  she  received  them  through  Fortress  Monroe.  M"  Thomp- 
son professes  to  be  a  Unionist. 

Called  to  see  Genl.  James  H.  Lane  who  has  just  returned  with  his 
family  from  Kansas. 

Borrowed  "Principles  and  Acts  of  the  Revolution"  by  Hezekiah 
Niles  from  his  grandf^on  Samuel  V.  Niles.  This  book  I  have  been 
long  wanting  to  get  and  this  is  the  first  copy  I  have  seen. 

Monday  10  March,  1862. 

It  is  now  stated  upon  apparently  good  authority  that  the  rebels 
have  abandoned  and  retrealed  from  all  their  strong  holds  about  Wasli- 
ington  while  for  the  last  two  or  three  days  our  hopes  and  fears  have 
been  excited  to  the  highest  pitch  by  mighty  preparations  for  a  great 
battle  and  while  this  very  farce  is  being  enacted  the  prompters  in  it 
must  have  well  known  there  would  be  no  enemy  to  fight. 

Tuesday  11th  March,  1862. 
It  is  now  ascertained  that  the  rebels  have  abandoned  their  reputed 


ABELARD  GUTHEIE.  141 

strong  holds  at  Manassas.  That  they  should  thus  have  been  per- 
mitted to  escape  will  be  a  wonder  to  the  world  but  it  confirms  what  I 
have  long  believed  that  our  array  of  the  Potomac  is  controlled  by 
traitors  who  have  an  understanding  with  the  rebels.  These  men  may 
have  found  it  impracticable  for  many  reasons  to  yield  a  victory  to  the 
rebels  and  rather  than  capture  their  force  or  meet  them  in  battle,  it  was 
understood  that  that  the  cause  of  the  Union  could  be  more  seriously 
damaged  by  the  rebels  withdrawing  and  striking  a  blow  when  supe- 
rior numbers  might  give  them  a  victory.  The  whole  management  of 
the  war  on  the  Potomac  is  without  a  parallel  in  all  history  for  imbe- 
cility, treachery,  cowardice  and  extravagance.  Should  the  retreating 
rebels  not  attack  Genl,  Banks  or  Genl.  Burnside,  the  probabilities  I 
think  are  that  the  war  is  in  a  great  degree  ended,  and  the  retreat  waa 
probably  prompted  by  a  consciousness  of  a  sinking  cause. 

Saturday  15th  March  1862. 

Called  upon  Genl.  Lane  to  talk  with  him  about  Indian  claims  I 
had  entrusted  to  his  management,  but  he  was  very  taciturn,  only 
saying  he  would  now  attend  to  my  business.  This  is  indeed  all  as  a 
business  man  I  could  ask,  but  his  whole  manner  was  cold  and  desti- 
tute of  cordiality.  I  felt  indignant  at  this  manifestation  of  indiffer- 
ence and  perhaps  should  have  expressed  it;  but  Lane  either  is  or  affects 
to  be  deeply  wounded  by  the  explosion  of  his  military  projects  he 
doubtless  c?0(?s  feel  the  apparent  and  comparative  neglect  of  the  swarms  of 
sycophants  who  clustered  around  him  when  he  had  offices  to  bestow  and 
glory  in  prospect.  I  have  more  than  once  cautioned  him  against  the 
selfishness  and  hypocracy  of  these  flatterers  and  I  trust  his  comparative 
solitude  will  now  lead  him  to  a  juster  estimate  of  his  real  friends. 

Sunday  16th  March  1862. 

Prepared  the  following  amendment  to  be  placed  on  the  Indian  ap- 
propriation bill,  and  handed  it  to  Augustus  Wattles  with  the  request 
that  he  would  get  some  mtmber  of  the  Senate's  committee  on  Indian 
Affairs  to  have  it  put  in  that  bill.  I  should  have  done  it  myself  but  I 
have  so  much  business  before  that  committee  that  lam  afraid  of  appear- 
ing too  troublesome.  This  law  I  urged  as  essential  to  the  protection  of 
those  poor  creatures  it  is  designed  to  benefit;  for  I  have  seen  them 


142  A  BRIEF  SKETCH  OF 

shamefully  robbed  among  the  Wyandots  and  among  the   Shawnee=j 
and  I  have  no  doubt  it  is  done  among  all  the  tribes: 

And  be  it  further  enacted,  That  the  Secretary  of  the  Interior  be  and 
he  is  hereby  directed  to  cause  settlements  to  be  made  with  all  persons 
appointed  by  Indian  Councils  to  receive  moneys  due  to  incompetent  or 
orphan  Indians,  and  to  require  all  moneys  found  to  be  due  to  said 
incompetent  or  orphan  Indians  to  be  returned  to  the  Treasury  of  the 
United  States,  and  moneys  so  returned  shall  bear  six  per  cent  interest 
nntil  paid  by  order  of  said  Secretary  to  those  entitled  to  the  same; 
and  no  moneys  shall  hereafter  be  paid  to  persons  appointed  by  any 
Indian  Council  to  receive  moneys  due  to  incompetent  or  orphan 
Indians,  but  the  same  shall  remain  in  the  Treasury  of  the  United 
States  until  ordered  to  be  paid  by  the  said  Secretary  to  those  entitled 
to  receive  them,  and  shall  bear  six  per  cent  interest  until  so  paid. 

Thursday  20th  March,  1862 

Called  upon  Genl.  Lane  who  told  me  he  would  have  the  papers 
in  the  Wyandot  cases  refered  to  himself  for  examination  and  report 
tomorrow.  Genl.  Lane  may  act  faithfully  in  his  attention  to  my  busi- 
ness but  I  have  serious  fears.  Personally  he  treats  me  badly  I  have 
not  seen  one  of  his  old  enemies  approach  him  who  has  not  been  treated 
with  more  cordiality.  I  have  certainly  done  him  some  service  when 
he  needed  it  and  did  not  expect  such  an  exhibition  of  ingratitude.  .  . 

Monday  24th  March,  1862. 

This  evening  I  called  to  get  Lane  [to]  assist  me  in  getting  the  Wy- 
andot papers  into  his  hands  so  as  to  be  able  to  report  by  Wednesday 
but  he  did  not  seem  disposed  to  take  any  interest  in  the  matter  and 
treated  me  with  marked  neglect  I  shall  not  again  go  to  his  room. 
Both  before  his  election  and  since  he  repeatedly  assured  me  he  would 
attend  to  any  business  I  should  have  before  Congress. 

Wednesday  26th  March,  1862. 

In  my  room  most  of  the  day  under  the  influence  of  medicine. 

M'"  Wattles  spent  an  hour  with  me  and  informs  me  that  there  is  a 
combination  of  men  in  power  here  to  force  the  Indians  in  Kansas  into 
treaties  whereby  their  lands  shall  be  secured  to  this  association  of  Gov- 


ABELARD  GUTHRIE.  143 

ernment  oflfioials.  Senator  James  H.  Lane  of  Kansas  Commissioner 
Wra.  P.  Dole  and  Secretary  Caleb  B.  Smith  are  said  to  be  concerned 
in  this  cruel  and  gigantic  system  of  fraud. 

M""  Niles  called  to  tell  me  that  Genl.  Lane  assured  him  he  would  do 
all  he  could  for  M"  Guthrie's  claim  and  would  see  him  this  week 
again  to  look  over  the  evidence.  M""  N.  insists  that  I  must  see  Lane 
tomorrow  and  let  him  (Niles)  know  when  Lane  will  see  him.  I  dis- 
like very  much  to  call  upon  Lane  his  personal  ill  treatment  of  me 
has  created  a  repugnance  to  visiting  him  which  I  shall  feel  it  difficult 
to  overcome. 

M'^  Blake  &  Eev.  M'"  Richmond  called  to  see  me.  M"^  Richmond  is 
now  Chaplain  to  one  of  the  Wisconsin  regiments,  and  a  few  years  ago 
made  some  noise  in  the  world  by  being  imprisoned  by  the  Austrian 
authorities  in  Hungary  for,  as  he  says,  nothing  more  than  some 
thoughtless  expressions  of  sympathy  for  nations  struggling  for  free- 
dom. How  long,  at  the  present  rate  of  travelling  toward  despotism, 
will  it  be  till  men  shall  be  imprisoned  in  this  country  for  like  ofienses? 
The  imbecility  of  this  administration  is  only  equaled  by  its  cruelty, 
its  tyrany,  and  total  disregard  of  law  and  e\ery  principle  of  justice. 
Are  we  really  to  have  three  years  more  of  this  execrable  reign  ?  This 
disgraceful  rebellion  might  have  been  suppressed  long  ago  and  at  half 
the  expense  already  incurred,  had  it  but  suited  the  interests  of  tliose 
at  the  head  of  affairs  to  have  done  so. 

Thursday  27th  March,  1862. 

Called  to  tell  Mr.  Niles  that  Genl.  Lane  would  be  at  leisure  this 
evening  to  examine  the  papers  in  M'"^  G's  case. 

M'  Niles  after  seeing  Genl.  Lane  called  to  see  me  and  I  agreed  to 
give  him  five  hundred  dollars  if  he  would  get  my  Wyandot  claims 
through  at  the  same  time  as  M"  Guthrie's,  to  which  he  agreed.  I 
have  done  this  because  I  am  not  well  enough  to  bear  Lane's  stupid 
indifference  without  retaliating  which  would  probably  get  up  ill  blood 
and  possibly  cause  him  to  oppose  me,  for  he  is  sometimes  governed 
by  the  merest  trifles,  and  never  by  reason  and  justice  except  as  he  is 
importuned  into  it. 

Friday  28th  March,  1862. 

Had  a  good  deal  of  conversation  with  young  Doolittle,  clerk  of  the 


144  A  BRIEF  SKETCH  OF 

Senate's  Com.  on  Indian  Affairs  from  which  I  learn  Geul.  Lane  has 
never  given  the  least  attention  to  my  business  notwithstanding  all  his 
promises.  The  cool  ingratitude  and  heartless  stolidity  of  this  man 
astounds  me !  And  yet  I  must  not  tell  him  what  I  think  of  his  con- 
duct! 

Monday  31st  March,  1862. 

Went  with  Judge  Helfenstein  to  see  M"^  Campbell  Chairman  of  the 
House  Committee  on  the  Pacific  rail  road.  My  object  was  to  get 
Quinardo  and  Atchison  named  as  points  in  the  bill,  but  M*"  C.  says 
his  Committee  are  unwilling  to  name  any  other  point  than  the  one 
now  named  Kansas  City ;  this  of  course  gives  that  town  an  immense 
advantage  over  all  others  and  particularly  in  Kansas.  Thus  we  see 
the  revolting  spectacle  of  men  whom  Kansas  has  made,  for  Kansas 
gave  the  Republican  party  to  the  world,  enriching  the  enemies  of  the 
Government  and  the  very  men  who  resorted  to  every  means  fair  and  foul 
to  drive  the  anti-slavery  population  of  Kansas  from  their  new  homes, 
and  I  who  made  Kansas  civilly  and  more  remotely  the  Republican 
party  am  >vithout  influence  among  or  benefit  from  the  very  men  who 
owe  all  they  are  to  the  almost  immediate  results  of  my  labors. 

I  read  with  feelings  of  the  deepest  grief  and  alarm  an  editorial  in 
the  Daily  Globe  of  this  city  of  this  date  advocating  the  establishment 
of  a  large  standing  army  in  this  country.  If  this  is  to  be  the  result 
of  the  subjugation  of  the  rebels  I  have  no  hesitation  in  saying  that  it 
would  have  been  better  to  yield  their  success  without  a  struggle  if 
that  alternative  would  have  exempted  us  from  the  curse  of  a  stand- 
ing army  ;  but  it  would  not.  I  only  measure  evils  on  the  supposition 
that  the  acceptance  of  one  would  secure  us  against  the  other.  I  am 
satisfied  (he  war  was  necessary  to  preserve  (he  simplicity  of  our  form 
of  government;  and  if  managed  with  but  ordinary  wisdom  this  would 
speedily  have  been  attained.  But  with  an  imbecile  head  it  is  not 
strange  that  the  same  incompetency  should  pervade  every  branch  of 
the  public  service. 

April  1st  Tuesday  1862 
M"^  Augustus  Wattles  came  to  see  me  and  says  some  radical  meas- 
ure will  be  adopted  in  regard  to  the  Indian  tribes.     At  the  extra  Ses- 
sion of  Congress  in  July  last  I  prepared  a  bill  setting  apart  the  Indian 
country  south  of  Kansas  for  the  colonization  and  permanent  home  of 


ABELARD  GUTHRIE.  145 

all  the  Indian  tribes  East  of  the  Rocky  Mountains  but  Senator  Lane 
of  Kansas  (of  whom  I  expected  better  things)  opposed  the  measure — 
opposed  any  measure  designed  for  their  melioration;  and  would  not 
present  my  bill  except  to  oppose  the  policy.  At  this  session  M'  Wat- 
tles has  also  undertaken  a  similar  project  in  behalf  of  the  Indians, 
but  we  concluded  it  was  better  to  wait  until  the  next  session  of  Con- 
gress. But  it  seems  both  friends  and  foes  of  the  Indian  are  impatient 
to  have  something  done  for  or  with  the  Indians.  I  have  therefore 
undertaken  to  prepare  another  bill  with  which  I  shall  take  more 
pains  and  much  subsequent  reflection  will  enable  me  to  make  it  more 
perfect. 

Sunday  6th  March  [April]  1862 

This  evening  I  have  written  a  letter  to  Horace  Greeley  about  the 
dangers  and  troubles  of  the  country.  The  hasty  and  inconsiderate 
legislation  of  Congress,  the  arbitrary  acts  of  the  Executive,  the  dila- 
tory if  not  treacherous  conduct  of  the  military,  the  vast  proportion 
of  the  Negro  question  all  fill  ray  mind  with  the  saddest  forebodings. 
And  I  believe  our  only  means  of  avoiding  total  ruin  is  to  unite  while 
we  may  the  councils  of  true  men  and  elect  to  oflBce  men  who  will 
carry  out  a  policy  dictated  by  calm  and  earnest  patriotism.  We  must 
reorganize  party  with  a  wide  and  more  comprehensive  basis  of  princi- 
ples. 

Wednesday,  9th  April,  1862 


Have  learned  that  Lane  has  totally  neglected  my  business  although 
he  has  several  times  assured  me  he  would  have  it  all  done  just  as  I 
wished  Why  he  should  so  persistently  lie  to  me  and  deceive  me  I 
can  not  imagine  for  he  is  certainly  under  some  obligations  to  me  and 
even  if  he  were  not  I  am  entitled  to  fair  and  open  dealing.  He  is  an 
enigma  to  me.  I  often  think  he  is  insane,  or  his  extraordinary  moral 
obliquity  at  least  often  produces  effects  so  nearly  like  it  that  one  is  in 
doubt  as  to  the  true  origin  of  his  aberation  of  mind.  Pomeroy  on 
the  contrary  has  greatly  exceeded  my  expectations  in  ability,  industry, 
fidelity  and  reliableness,  and  makes  himself  respected  by  friends  and 
foes. 

11 


146  A  BEIEF  SKETCH  OF 

Thursday  I7th  April,  1862 

Called  at  the  Senate  document  room  and  got  a  copy  of  the  bill  in- 
troduced into  the  Senate  yesterday  by  Genl.  Pomeroy  for  the  organ- 
ization of  the  Territory  of  Lanniway.  This  bill  I  prepared  myself 
with  the  view  of  securing  a  permanent  home  for  the  Indians.  On 
reading  it  as  printed,  I  find  some  errors  which  may  have  been  in  the 
manuscript;  and  some  omissions  I  did  not  detect  before.  Having  the 
whole  thing  before  me  now  in  a  printed  form  I  think  I  can  make 
such  corrections  and  alterations  as  will  effect  the  object  I  have  in  view 
— A  suitable  government  for  the  Indians  under  which  they  may  live 
in  peace  and  security. 

Thursday  24th  April,  1862. 

I  found  among  the  papers  a  private  letter  to  Lane  in  reference  ta 
this  and  other  business  which  could  not  but  have  prejudiced  my  in- 
terests. Lane  may  have  put  this  letter  in  inadvertantly  but  a  man 
who  would  thus  by  negligence  do  an  act  so  injurious  to  one  trusting 
in  him  is  unworthy  of  confidence  and  official  position  of  any  kind. 
Lane  is  really  one  of  the  most  unprincipled  men  I  ever  knew  without 
a  particle  of  honor,  gratitude,  or  honesty.  No  wonder  the  country- 
goes  to  ruin  when  such  men  rule  it, 

Friday  25th  April,  1862. 

Called  to  see  Genl.  Lane  twice  to  get  him  to  recommend  Col.  Chas 
Sims  to  the  President  as  a  suitable  person  for  the  office  of  Superin- 
tendent of  the  new  mint  (to  be)  at  Denver  City.  Lane  signed  it  with 
apparent  cheerfulness,  saying  he  would  do  anything  he  could  for  Col. 
Sims.  All  this  looked  most  encouraging,  but  when  I  called  on  Genl. 
Pomeroy  he  said  both  he  and  Lane  had  signed  a  recommendation  for 
another  person  !  and  of  course  [could  not]  consistently  sign  this.  He 
said  besides  Genl.  Lane's  brother  in  Indiana  was  a  candidate  for 
the  same  office  and  he  thought  Genl.  Lane  had  a  promise  in  favor  of 
his  brother.  Now  if  these  things  are  so  how  much  more  honest  and 
satisfactory  would  it  have  been  if  Genl.  Lane  had  frankly  stated  all 
the  facts!     What  is  there  to  be  gained  by  such  double  dealing? 


ABELARD  GUTHRIE.  147 

Thursday  8th  May  1862. 

Called  to  see  Genl.  Pomeroy  who  informs  me  that  Lane  did  not 
attend  the  meeting  of  the  Indian  Committee  on  Wednesday  although 
he  told  me  the  night  previous  he  would  do  so.  Was  ever  man  more 
destitute  of  gratitude  and  truthfulness?  Lane's  treachery  and  false- 
hood give  me  much  trouble  and  anxiety.  He  occupies  a  place  in 
which  he  obstructs  my  business;  if  he  were  away  I  should  get  along 
much  better.  His  conduct  is  entirely  inexplicable.  Nothing  but  a 
heart  as  black  as  hell  could  impel  a  man  to  so  much  baseness  as  this 
man  is  guilty  [of] ,  meantime  I  am  the  victim.  My  whole  soul  is 
filled  with  anguish  from  the  discouragements,  ill  treatment,  and  embar- 
rassments that  overwhelm  [me] ;  and  but  for  my  poor  family  I  had 
far  rather  be  in  my  grave  than  thus  submit  to  these  oppressions,  and 
humiliations.  I  cannot  withdraw  my  mind  from  the  wretched  con- 
dition to  which  I  am  reduced. 

Wednesday  21st  May,  1862. 

A  day  of  disappointment  and  mortification.  As  the  Senate  Com- 
mittee on  Indian  Affairs  were  to  meet,  I  went  to  see  Genl.  Lane  to 
urge  him  to  attend  the  meeting  as  he  has  all  my  business  under  his 
management  and  professes  to  feel  a  deep  interest  in  it.  But  he  told 
me  he  could  not  attend.  I  then  went  to  M"^  Niles  my  Attorney  and 
recommended  by  Lane  and  requested  him  to  see  Lane  and  urge  upon 
him  the  necessity  of  his  attendance.  Tiiis  he  promised  to  do  and  at 
once  wrote  a  letter  to  Lane  upon  the  subject.  This  letter  I  sent  into 
Lane  by  his  son.  Lane  attended  the  meeting  and  the  Committee 
agreed  to  report  favorably  on  M''^  Guthrie's  claim.  I  afterward 
visited  the  Committee  room  myself  and  M'"  Doolittle,  Jr,  the  clerk 
told  me  he  was  then  making  out  the  law  the  Committee  proposed 
to  pass.  I  then  went  into  the  Senate  gallery  and  soon  after  saw 
M""  Doolittle  Jr  take  some  papers  to  M""  Harlan  who  after  examining 
them  took  them  to  Lane  who  on  looking  over  them  hastily  took  his 
pen  and  erased  several  lines.  I  afterwards  learned  these  were  the  law 
for  the  relief  of  M^  Guthrie  and  that  Lane  had  struck  out  all  that  was 
essential  in  the  case.  The  law  or  joint  resolution  as  it  now  remains  is 
worth  just  nothing  at  all  and  I  could  months  ago  have  had  it  settled 
more  to  my  satisfaction  without  any  trouble.    The  Committee  has  twice 


148  A  BRIEF  SKETCH  OF 

agreed  to  this  claim  and  why  Lane  should  thus  defeat  it  after  pretend- 
ing to  be  its  principal  champion  is  really  a  mystery.  But  the  mystery 
might  be  solved  if  we  could  understand  the  business  of  M'  Legate, 
Abbott's  (the  Shawnee  Agent)  Agent  here.  Lane  has  evidently  be- 
trayed me  and  th.  t  treachery  has  been  brought  about  by  some  under- 
derstanding  between  Lane,  Abbott,  and  Legate.  I  have  no  words  to 
express  my  indignation  at,  and  detestation  of  this  baseness.  Lane's 
treachery  and  iDgratitude  are  the  most  gross  it  has  been  my  misfortune 
to  experience.     But  he  shall  yet  pay  the  full  penalty  of  his  villainy. 

This  evening  I  called  to  see  Genl.  Lane  and  met  M""  Niles  there 
Lane  pretends  to  have  done  all  he  could  to  secure  a  more  favorable 
issue.     The  audacity  of  the  scoundrel  is  most  consumate. 

Sunday  25th  May,  1862. 

Called  to  see  Genl.  Pomeroy  to  show  him  the  law  introduced  by 
Senator  Harlan  for  the  relief  of  M'"^  Guthrie  and  proposed  to  him  to 
have  it  amended,  he  was  willing  to  sustain  it,  but  told  me  that  my 
interviews  with  Senators  Harlan  and  Wilkinson  in  reference  to  this 
claim  had  predjudiced  them  against  the  claim  because  in  conversation 
I  claimed  that  the  republican  party  originated  in  my  efforts  for  a  gov- 
ernment for  Nebraska  (now  Kansas)  As  no  intelligent  truthful  man 
can  controvert  this  fact  I  presume  the  feeling  excited  against  me  was 
that  it  was  presumption  in  me  to  claim  a  merit  which  they  all  think 
themselves  to  some  extent  entitled  to.  So  it  seems  that  it  matters  not 
what  a  man's  merits  are  if  not  supported  by  successful  ambition,  they 
are  to  be  ignored  even  by  those  who  reap  the  beneficial  fruits  of  them. 
After  Nebraska  (Kansas)  was  organized  I  determined  to  live  a  quiet 
simple  life  on  my  little  farm  and  so  far  as  I  could,  I  have  adhered  to 
that  resoliiticn.  And  because  I  have  not  kept  myself  in  the  public 
eye,  these  great  men  think  it  preposterous  that  I  should  lay  any  claim 
to  the  important  service  I  have  performed  !  I  will  yet  be  the  pen  of 
these  political  ingrates  and  make  them  feel  the  injustice  of  their  dast- 
ardly conduct. 

Called  to  see  Genl.  Lane  who  told  me  the  same  as  Genl.  Pomeroy 
and  Senator  Doolittle  has  also  conceived  a  prejudice  against  me.  I  do 
not  happen  to  have  the  graces  of  a  courtier  and  talk  to  these  men  as  I 
would  talk  to  other  men ;  but  they  seem  to  expect  a  deference  that 
I  cannot  conceive  them  entitled  to.     The  jealousy  of  power  always 


ABELARD  GUTHRIE.  149 

makes  it  anxious  to  forget  all  to  whom  it  is  indebted.  I  would  cer- 
tainly not  have  gone  to  see  one  of  these  Senators  had  Lane  given  any 
attention  to  my  business.  I  have  now  been  here  five  months  and  the 
business  I  have  entrusted  to  Lane  is  no  further  advanced  than  when  I 
came;  indeed  it  is  in  a  much  worse  condition,  and  it  was  not  until 
I  was  forced  by  his  neglect  and  repeated  falsehoods  that  I  called 
upon  other  Senators  and  for  the  first  time  on  the  tenth  of  this  month 
and  then  only  on  those  I  heard  were  hostile  to  M"  G's  claim  so  that 
my  interviews  with  them  could  not  have  produced  their  opposition 
but  I  am  satisfied  that  Lane's  negative  support  did.  His  treachery 
and  ingratitude  are  most  wanton  and  inexplicable.  I  shall  find  it  im- 
possible to  forget  it. 

Friday  6th  June,  1862. 

Made  some  corrections  in  the  bill  to  organize  the  Territory  of  Len- 
niwa,  for  the  benefit  of  the  Indians.  This  bill  I  prepared  myself  but 
find  much  to  correct  in  it.  Senator  Pomeroy  introduced  it  into  the 
Senate. 

Saturday  7th  June  1862. 

Wrote  a  letter  to  Senator  J.  R.  Doolittle  enclosing  a  slip  from  the 
New  York  Tribune  of  the  7th  March  of  this  year,  containing  an  arti- 
cle written  by  myself  in  support  of  the  organization  of  the  Territory 
South  of  Kansas  for  the  exclusive  benefit  of  the  Indians,  and  also  a 
copy  of  the  bill  introduced  into  the  Senate  by  Genl.  Pomeroy  for  that 
purpose,  with  such  amendments  as  I  thought  necessary  to  render  the 
organization  effective.  This  bill  as  originally  prepared  by  me  cov- 
ered a  large  amount  of  manuscript  and  as  it  was  prepared  at  different 
times,  some  confusion  and  omissions  occurred  which  I  have  endeav- 
ored to  arrange  and  correct.  I  have  great  confidence  in  the  success  of 
the  plan  if  controlled  by  good  men,  but  under  any  circumstances  the 
Indians  can  be  no  worse  off  than  they  are  now. 

Thursday  12th  June,  1862 

Sent  a  letter  written,  written  three  or  four  days  ago,  to  Horace 
Greely  with  a  copy  of  the  Report  of  the  House  Committee  on  Elec- 
tions on  my  claim  for  mileage  and  per  diem  as  delegate  from  Nebraska. 


150  A  BRIEF  SKETCH  OF 

M'  Greeley  or  some  one  for  him,  in  an  article  on  Nebraska,  Kansas, 
in  the  Tribune  Almanac  of  1856,  stated  that  Thomas  Johnson  was 
the  first  delegate  from  Kansas  (Nebraska.)     This  does  me  the  greatest 
injustice  as  Johnson  was  not  heard  of  until  after  I  had  represented 
the  Territory  one  session  of  Congress  and  had  obtained  the  passage 
of  the  bill  for  the  organization  of  the  Territory  through  the  House, 
but  the  session  being  a  short  one  it  failed  in  the  Senate  for  want  of 
time. 

Friday  27th  June,  1862. 
•  ••••••••••  • 

Today  it  is  said  Genl.  Pope  has  been  put  in  command  of  the  armies 

under  Genis,  Banks,  Fremont,  McDowell,  &  Shields  [ ]  except 

McDowell  whom  I  regard  as  a  traitor  or  wholly  destitute  of  military 
talents.  I  have  no  doubt  these  Generals  are  individually  as  compe- 
tent as  Pope,  but  as  they  are  volunteers,  and  have  never  been  through 
West  Point,  it  is  the  design  of  the  graduates  of  that  institution,  to 
deprive  them  of  all  means  and  opportunities  of  distinguishing  them- 
selves, and  for  this  reason  their  forces  have  been  kept  so  small  that 
they  have  been  able  to  do  really  nothing  and  besides  have  been  crip- 
pled by  the  arbitary  orders  of  their  superiors;  the  result  too  of  West 
Point  jealousy.  Such  reflections  and  conclusions  at  least  seem  justi- 
fied by  the  result;  while  the  public  are  not  permited  to  know  what 
takes  place  behind  the  curtains.  West  Point  through  its  graduates  now 
rules  the  destinies  of  this  country  and  are  as  rapidly  revolutionizing 
the  government  as  the  rebels,  and  are  more  dangerous  to  the  liberties 
of  the  country;  for  they  are  overthrowing  its  institutions  under  the 
guise  and  pretense  of  loyalty  and  therefore  excite  no  suspicions  of  their 
infamous  designs,  while  [the]  country  sees  only  the  open  efforts  of 
the  rebels. 

Tuesday,  July  1,  1862. 

To-day  I  got  a  Wyandot  newspaper  in  which  I  find  all  my  land 
advertised  for  sale  to  satisfy  claims  against  the  Quindaro  Company. 
Of  this  debt  I  never  received  one  cent  and  am  now  entirely  ruined  by 
the  villainy  of  Charles  Robinson  who  has  grown  rich  by  plundering 
me.  The  appraisement  is  so  low  too  as  if  for  the  very  purpose  of 
making  my  ruin  the  more  certain.     I  am  a  good  deal  indebted  too, 


ABELARD  GUTHRIE.  151 

for  this  misfortune  to  my  kindness  to  these  creditors  whom  I  favored 
as  far  as  in  my  power  allowing  judgments  to  go  by  default  when  I 
could  have  made  a  defense  and  thus  have  kept  back  judgment  a 
long  time,  I  have  no  language  that  could  even  remotely  express  the 
anguish  these  things  occasion  me;  were  it  not  for  the  hope  that  my 
poor  family  will  be  saved  from  starvation  by  the  success  of  M"  Guth- 
rie's Shawnee  claim,  I  should  sink  into  the  grave  from  utter  despair. 
God  aloue  can  sustain  and  guide  me  under  such  distressing  circum- 
stances. Has  God  no  punishment  for  such  villains?  Why  should 
they  be  allowed  to  rob  the  innocent  and  unwary?  This  infamous 
wretch  never  experienced  any  thing  but  kindness  and  boundless  gen- 
erosity from  myself  and  my  poor  family  until  his  true  character  was 
developed  and  even  then  I  long  bore  in  silence  the  crushing  wrong  in 
the  vain  hope  that  shame  or  contrition  would  bring  him  to  some 
sense  of  justice.  I  have  found  the  laws  unequal  to  a  remedy;  he  has 
had  them  so  made  as  to  suit  himself  and  thus  with  his  own  perjuries 
and  those  of  his  confederates  I  am  entirely  powerless  and  utterly  ruined 
without  the  hope  of  legal  redress. 

Friday  July  4th  1862 


I  have  made  up  my  mind  to  be  an  independent  candidate  for  Con- 
gress in  Kansas,  and  commenced  writing  an  address  to  the  people  of 
the  State  some  days  ago,  but  have  been  too  unwell  to  finish  it ;  if  I  can 
get  money  enough  to  pay  the  expense  of  the  contest  I  think  I  shall 
succeed — otherwise  doubtful.  It  would  appear  strange  that  so  hum- 
ble and  now  so  obscure  an  individual  should  succeed  in  so  important 
an  election.  But  I  feel  impelled  to  make  the  trial  because  there  are 
many  public  measures  I  would  like  to  bring  forward  in  Congress; 
because  I  think  more  independent  men  are  wanted  in  Congress;  be- 
cause I  have  done  more  for  Kansas  than  any  other  citizen. 

Tuesday  22nd  July,  1862. 

Talked  with  Genl.  Lane  about  getting  some  military  appointment 
for  M"^  Cobb.  He  said  M"  Dole  had  spoken  to  him  on  the  same  sub- 
ject; that  he  was  authorized  by  the  president  to  organize  and  equip 
an  army  of  fifty  thousand  Negroes,  and  would  start  for  Kansas  for 


152       A  BRIEF  SKETCH  OF  ABELARD  GUTHRIE. 

that  purpose  in  a  day  or  two  and  if  M'^  Cobb  would  call  and  see  him 
he  thought  he  could  give  him  as  good  a  place  as  he  had  wished.  I 
have  not  much  faith  in  the  promises  of  Lane,  but  think  with  M" 
Dole's  solicitation  and  his  own  interest  M'  Cobb  will  be  offered  a 
place  on  Lane's  staff.  Although  I  look  upon  the  whole  scheme  as 
chimerical  and  expensive,  and  frought  with  more  danger  than  bene- 
fits.    Wrote  to  S.  A.  Cobb. 

Monday  28th  July,  1862. 

Finished  an  address  to  the  people  of  Kansas  proposing  to  run  as  a 
candidate  for  Congress.  I  feel  this  office  is  due  me  for  past  services 
and  if  I  had  only  the  gift  of  gab  I  believe  I  should  as  an  independ- 
ent candidate  be  elected.  Still  I  feel  it  a  kind  of  duty  to  offer  and 
trust  to  the  justice  of  the  people. 


WILLIAM   WALKER,  1833. 


THE  JOURNALS 


WILLIAM    WALKER 


PROVISIONAL  GOVERNOR 


NEBRASKA  TERRITORY 


FIRST  BOOK 

From  March  29,  1845,  to  September  22,  1849 


PEOM  THE  ORIGINAL  MANUSCRIPT  IN  THE  COLLECTION  OP 

WILLIAM  E.  OOI^ISIELLEY 


(153) 


JOURNAL. 


Le  plus  beaa  morceau  d'eloquence  qu'il  y  ait  dans  aucune  langue." 

BolTnar, 


TRADUCTION. 
"The  finest  piece  of  eloquence  that  exists  in  any  language." 

"time  when  the  memory  of  man  runneth  not  to  the  contrary.' 


(155) 


THE 
JOURNALS  OF  WILLIAM  WALKER, 

Provisional  Governor  of  Nebraska  Territory. 


FIRST  BOOK. 
From  March  29,  1845,  to  September  22,  1849. 


1845. 
March,  1845. 


Saturday,  29. — Caught  Samuel  Medary^  and  put  him  up 
in  a  coop  to  fatten  (not  on  Quassi  Quires)  to  be  cooked  for 
dinner  on  Harriet's  birthday. 

April,  1845. 

Thursday,  10. — Sam  was  killed  and  eat  up,  though  sooner 
than  was  at  first  intended.  His  day  of  execution  was  has- 
tened by  his  repeatedly  escaping  from  his  coop,  and  when 
out  would  invariably  fall  upon  Harry  in  a  deadly  fight,  but 
was  invariably  whipped  by  the  latter.  It  was  thought  that 
under  these  circumstances  Sam  could  not  gain  much  fat  or 
flesh,  and  therefore  the  allotted  time  was  shortened. 

Alas  poor  Sam 

Let  his  bones  slumber  in  peace  ! 

'  This  was  evidently  a  rooster  which  Governor  Walker  named  Samuel  Medary  for 
an  Ohio  politician  of  his  acquaintance.  Medary  was  afterward  appointed  Territorial 
Governor  of  Kansas  Territory.     The  appointment  was  made  Novemher  19,  1858. 

(167) 


168  THE    JOURNALS   OF  [May,1845. 

May,  1845. 

Friday,  23. — Finished  ploughing  the  field. 

Saturday,  24. — Harrowed.  Set  out  seventy-five  cabbage 
plants. 

Monday,  26. — Planted  red  potatoes  and  thirty-one  hills 
watermelons. 

Tuesday,  27. — Set  out  four  dozen  beet  plants  and  some 
sugar  beets ;  fifty  cabbage  plants. 

Wednesday,  28. — Planted  the  corn,  part  yellow,  and  part 
large  white. 

Thursday,  29. — Sowed  the  Sandwich  Island  flower  seeds. 

Friday,  30. — Planted  muskmelons  and  the  fall  potatoes. 

Saturday,  31. — Planted  blue  corn^  with  beans,  and  five 
hills  of  Santa  Fe  corn. 

June,  1845. 

Sunday,  1. — Rested.     Rainy  day.     Wrote  to  G.  N.  D. 

Monday,  2. — Tried  an  experiment.  Set  out  fifty  radishes 
in  the  following  manner:  Made  holes  in  the  ground  with  a 
sharp  stick  and  held  the  radish  in  the  hole,  then  filled  up  the 
interstices  with  sand.* 

•  I  will  never  try  this  experiment  again.    Not  worth  a  cent. 

Tuesday,  3. — Set  out  twelve  hills  sweet  potatoes,  and 
[planted]  fifteen  [hills]  Nantucket  corn. 

Wednesday,  4. — Planted  pumpkins  and  watermelons  and 
muskmelons. 

Thursday,  5. — Planted  some  more,  ditto.  We  have 
enough. 

Saturday,  7. — Dr.  Hewitt  and  family  arrive.* 

>  Com  was  one  of  the  principal  articles  of  food  of  the  Wyandots,  and  to  this  day 
they  raise  many  varieties  of  it — a  certain  kind  for  each  season,  some  early  and  some 
late,  one  kind  for  a  special  variety  of  hominy,  and  one  kind  for  another  variety  of  that 
dish,  etc.,  etc. 

•  Dr.  Hewitt  was  the  Indian  Agent.  His  descendants  live  near  Turner  Station  on 
the  A.  T.  &  S.  F.  R.  E.,  in  Shawnee  Township,  Wyandotte  County,  Kansas.  They  are 
farmers.    One  of  his  sons  lives  in  Los  Angeles,  Cal. 


December,  1845.]  GOVERNOR   WALKER.  159 

Tuesday,  10. — Enclosed  the  woods  pasture  seven  rails  high. 

Tuesday,  17. — Rainy  season  commenced. 

Wednesday,  18. — Kaining — rained  all  day. 

Thursday,  19. — Rained  all  day. 

Friday,  20. — Rained  all  the  time  furiously. 

Saturday,  21. — Rained  all  the  time  furiously. 

Sunday,  22. — Rained  all  the  time  furiously. 

July,  1845. 

Sunday,  13. — Quarterly  meeting — hot  day,  thermometer 
98. 

October,  1845. 

Saturday,  11. — Devoured  our  last  watermelon. 

November,  1845. 

Thursday,  27. — Thermometer  at  zero  at  sunrise. 
Saturday,  29. — Thermometer  22  degrees  below  zero. 

December,  1845. 

Tuesday,  23.— Bought  810  pounds  [of]  pork  at  $3.00  per 
cwt. 

Wednesday,  24. — Cut  it  up  and  salted  it  away. 

Thursday,  25. — A  merry  ChristmasHo  all!  I  staid  at 
home  all  day,  for  the  best  of  all  reasons,  being  lame  and 
unable  to  go  about.     Wrote  to  some  friends  in  Ohio. 

Tuesday,  30. — Held  Council  here  and  did  some  wise 
things. 

Wednesday,  31. — Wrote  a  long  letter  to  our  delegates  at 
Washington.^ 

'  Governor  Walker  almost  invariably  spelled  Christmas  "Chrismas."  I  have  taken 
the  liberty  to  correct  the  spelling. 

»  The  Wyandots  kept  delegates  in  Washington  most  of  the  time  to  look  after  their 
interests. 


160  THE   JOURNALS   OF  [January,  1846. 

1846. 
January,  1846. 

Thursday,  1. — This  is  the  45th  new  year  that  has  passed 
over  my  head.  In  looking  through  the  long  vista  I  have 
passed  through,  how  few  of  my  contemporaries  live  to  see 
this  day  !     ^'3Iais  ainse  va  le  monde." 

Friday,  2. — Done  nothing — read  some — lounged  about 
the  house. 

Attempted  to  translate  a  French  Song  into  English,  hor- 
ribly done.  The  musical  Frenchman  would  never  recognize 
his  song  in  this  butchered  English  dress.^ 

Saturday,  3. — Doing  nothing — read  some — intending  to 
read  some  more  in  Byron's  "Island."  Whew!  Let  joy 
burst  forth  among  epicurians  (but  more  like  envy)  I  am, 
(hear  it  ye  gluttons !)  going  to  dine  on  pork  and  parsnips ! 
Delectable  dish!     Felicitatus! 

Just  heard  by  M^^  Bostwick  that  Providence  was  buried 
on  yesterday.  Poor  fellow!  His  last  days  were  full  of 
misery,  pain  and  suffering.     He  truly  died  in  poverty. 

Sunday,  4. — Staid  at  home  and  read. 

Monday,  5. — Heard  of  the  death  of  Margaret  Nofat.^  She 
died  yesterday, 

Tuesday,  6. — Council  met  at  George  Armstrong's.'    Trans- 

>  Governor  Walker  spoke  Frencli  well.  Many  of  the  Wyandots  spoke  French  bet- 
ter than  they  did  English.  The  record  in  the  family  Bible  of  Eobert  Robitaille  is 
written  in  French. 

»  There  are  Wyandots  yet  living  that  belong  to  the  family. 

=  The  founder  of  the  Armstrong  family  in  the  Wyandot  Nation  was  Robert  Arm- 
strong. He  was  captured  on  the  west  side  of  the  Alleghany  Eiver  a  few  miles  above 
Pittsburgh  about  the  year  1783,  by  a  party  of  Wyandots  and  Senecas.  He  was  in  com- 
pany with  another  white  person  when  captured.  The  other  was  a  man  grown,  and  was 
killed.  There  are  two  accounts  of  the  capture.  See  Finley's  Life  Among  the  Indians, 
page  453,  and  Howe's  Historical  Collections  of  Ohio  (Cincinnati,  O.,  1847),  pages  166, 
167. 

The  boy  was  retained  and  adopted  by  the  Wyandots.  He  grew  up  and  married  a 
Wyandot  woman.  He  separated  from  her  and  married  Sarah  Zane,  daughter  of  Isaac 
Zane,  who  had  himself  been  captured  and  adopted  by  the  Wyandots,  had  grown  up  and 
married  a  Wyandot  woman.  By  the  first  wife  he  had  one  son,  George,  born  in  1801; 
died  in  February,  1853.     By  the  second  wife  he  had  four  children  that  I  have  an  account 


January,  1846.]  GOVERNOR   WALKER.  161 

acted  a  variety  of  business.  Adjourned  to  meet  that  day  a 
week  at  some  house  in  town. 

Wednesday,  7. — Undergoing  the  most  tormenting  afflic- 
tion from  biles,  ulcers,  sores,  scabs,  etc.  My  flesh  appears 
to  be  running  into  a  putrid  state,  while  at  the  same  time 
my  health  in  general  is  good. 

Thursday,  8. — Lay  all  day  in  the  house. 

Friday,  9. — Lay  all  day  in  the  house. 

Saturday,  10. — Lay  all  day  in  the  house. 

Sunday,  11. — Suffering  still;  spend  sleepless  nights. 
Wrote  letters  to  M'"  Guthrie,  [and]  J.  Washington. 

Monday,  12. — No  better  but  worse — Psoriasis  inveterati. 

Tuesday,  13. — Sent  for  Dr.  Hewitt;  must  undergo  a  course 
of  medicine.  Unable  to  attend  Council.  Kequested  Tour- 
oomee  to  preside  over  the  deliberations  of  the  Council  and 
proceed  to  business. 

Wednesday,  14. — Slept  sound  last  night,  having  drawn 
pretty  liberally  upon  a  soporific  anodyne  y'clept,  morphine 
— feel  somewhat  stupid,  and  some  foggyness  in  the  upper 
story;  not  much  appetite. 

Thursday,  15. — Feel  some  better — inflamation  going  down. 

Friday,  16. — Sleeting  this  morning,  accompanied  with 
snow. 

Prepared  a  communication  for  C.  Graham  to  Purdy  M. 
E.  upon  the  subject  of  four  months  pay  while  moving  the 

of:  1.  Hannah,  died  while  attending  the  Wyandot  Mission  at  Upper  Sandusky.  (See 
Finley's  History  of  the  Wyandot  Mission.)  2.  Silas,  born  June  3,  1810;  3.  John  Mc- 
Intyre,  bom  October  7,  1813  ;  4.  Catherine. 

George  Armstrong  married  the  daughter  of  Mononcue,  a  Wyandot  preacher,  famous 
in  the  history  of  the  Wyandot  Mission  at  Upper  Sandusky.  Her  name  was  Skah'- 
mehn-dah  -teh ;  she  belonged  to  the  Porcupine  Clan.  George  Armstrong  is  buried  in 
the  Huron  Place  Cemetery.     The  following  is  copied  from  his  tombstone : 

George  Armstrong 
Died 

Feb. 1853 

Aged  52  Years. 

This  is  an  error.  Governor  Walker's  Journal  says  he  died  NoTember  19,  1851.  See 
his  entry  of  November  20th,  1851. 

12 


162  THE   JOURNALS   OF  [January.  1846. 

shop  and  his  family  to  this  country.     Dull  times.     Confined 
to  my  room — gloomy  ennui. 

Saturday,  17. — Received  a  letter  from  Jesse  Stern/  giv- 
ing information  of  Capt.  Wagstaff's  movements — his  peti- 
tion for  a  partition  of  the  lands  in  Seneca  County,  and  his 
wish  for  the  appointment  of  an  administrator  on  the  per- 
sonal estate  of  C.  W.^ 

Sunday,  18. — Staid  at  home  all  day  and  read  the  news — 
had  the  company  of  M"  Austin  who  staid  till  nearly  night. 
In  the  evening  was  called  upon  by  M""  G.  and  lady  and  in  a 
few  moments  afterwards  J.  W.  was  added  to  the  company. 
Isaiah  accepted  his  improvement  money,  it  is  said,  for  the 
purpose  of  buying  M""^  Long's  improvement  to  keep  a  cer- 
tain Blackstone,  Jr.  from  getting  it.     Not  so  bad  a  move. 

Monday,  19. — Commenced  snowing  this  morning  at  2 
o'clock  A.  M.,  and  now,  at  9  o'clock,  still  snowing  and  a 
fair  prospect  of  a  regular  snow  storm. 

Tuesday,  20. — This  is  Council  day — important  matters 
may  come  up  before  that  august  body.  If  any  Council  were 
held  I  do  not  know  where  it  was  nor  what  was  done.  It 
stormed  all  day  at  a  most  furious  rate  and  I  kept  close 
quarters. 

Wednesday,  21. — Sun  rose  clear.  We  shall  have  a  thaw 
to-day. 

Thursday,  22. — Staid  all  day  in  close  quarters. 

Friday,  23. — To-day  a  poor  wretch,  named  Lester,  has  to 
expiate  his  crime  on  the  "gallows  tree,"  according  to  the  sen- 
tence of  the  court  before  which  he  was  tried  and  convicted 
of  the  crime,  murder,  cold  blooded  murder,  of  his  brother- 
in-law  whom  he  had  decoyed  off  into  the  prairies  on  pretence 
of  special  business  requiring  secrecy.    The  motive  prompting 

'  It  is  impossible  to  tell  whether  Goveruor  Walker  intends  this  for  Stem  or  Stern. 
This  holds  all  the  way  through  his  Journal.     I  have  written  it  Stem. 
^  Catharine  Walker,  Governor  Walker's  mother. 


January,  1846.]  GOVERNOR   WALKER.  163 

to  the  murder  was  property.  The  parents  of  the  murderer 
appear  to  have  been  desperate  wretches. 

By  this  time,  4  o'clock  P.  M.,  he  must  have  passed  the 
dark  curtain  of  death. 

Saturday,  24. — No  news.  Dull  times.  Horribelorum. 
Blue  devils. 

Sunday,  25. — Sick — had  a  chill  at  daylight.  My  back 
came  near  parting  twain.  Received  a  letter  from  A.  Guth- 
rie.^ Not  very  encouraging  news  from  Washington.  Our 
delegates  rioting  on  the  fat  of  the  land  at  a  most  expensive 
rate  and  doing  nothing  and  no  prospect  of  their  doing  any 
public  or  private  good.     Money  spent  for  nothing. 

Monday,  26. — Eeplied  to  M""  Guthrie  in  a  dolorous  letter. 

Employed  Peter  Balouger^  and  Peter  Gray  to  build  a 
smoke  house  with  a  porch  six  feet  wide  on  one  side  of  the 
house,  the  house  to  be  fourteen  feet  square  and  ten  logs  high, 
price  $20.00.  Where  is  the  cash  to  come  from.  Trust  to 
chances. 

Tuesday,  27. — Attended  Council  to-day  but  done  very 
little  important  business.  Agreed  to  employ  Tall  Charles* 
another  year  to  keep  the  ferry. 

Wrote  a  joint  letter  to  George  Garrett  upon  the  subject 
of  R.  Wagstaff's  application  for  a  partition  of  the  land  in 
Seneca  County  and  the  appointment  of  an  administrator  on 
the  personal  estate  of  C.  W.  In  our  comraucation  to  G.  G. 
we  deny  that  there  is  any  personal  property,  all  having 

•  Abelard  Guthrie  and  James  Washington  were  the  Delegates  at  Washington  City. 

*  Governor  Walker  writes  this  name  in  a  variety  of  ways.  It  should  be  written 
Bolanger.  He  was  a  Frenchman — one  of  a  settlement  of  French  and  half-breed  French 
and  Indians  living  then  in  the  "bottom,"  between  the  Missouri  and  Kansas  Elvers, 
along  the  banks  of  Turkey  Creek,  which  at  that  time  flowed  into  the  Missouri. 

'  Tall  Charles  was  sometimes  called  John  Tall-Charles.  He  was  an  industrious  man 
and  good  citizen.  He  is  buried  in  Huron  Place  Cemetery.  On  his  tombstone  is  the  fol- 
lowing : 

Tall  Charles 

Died 
May  —  1856 
Aged  53  Yrs. 


164  THE   JOURNALS   OF  [January.  1»46. 

been  disposed  of  during  her  lifetime.  The  letter  was  signed 
W.  W.,  C.  B.  G.,  M.  R  W.,  J.  W.^ 

Wednesday,  28. — Mild,  warm  morning;  smoky  and  hazy; 
M'  George  Dickson  called  upon  us.  11  o'clock,  commenced 
misting,  and  shortly  after  set  in  a  pretty  rain,  and  now,  3 
o'clock,  raining  at  a  pretty  brisk  rate  and  every  prospect  of 
having  it  all  night.  Dr.  H.  advises  me  to  resume  the  use 
of  the  iodine  and  blue  mass  in  order  to  correct  the  great 
irregularity  in  my  system  and  quicken  the  circulation.  So 
to-morrow  morning  I  resume  the  medicine.  Midnight,  rain- 
ing- 

Thursday,  29. — Raining,  and  every  appearance  of  raining 
all  day.     Kain,  rain,  oh  dull  day! 

"  Be  still  sad  heart  and  cease  repining 
Behind  the  clouds  is  the  sun  still  shining." 

Friday,  30. — Sun  rose  clear;  but  shortly  afterwards  it 
became  over-clouded,  and  rain  set  in  at  8  o'clock.  No  work 
to  be  done  on  the  smoke  house  to-day. 

Hurra,  the  hounds!  What  music ! !  In  full  chase  after 
a  wolf  over  hill  and  dale,  away  they  go.  I  am  getting 
better ! 

Saturday,  31. — Received  a  few  old  papers  from  the  P.  O. 
that  had  been  on  the  road  between  this  and  Washington  a 
month  or  six  weeks.  No  letters.  No  news  from  our  dele- 
gates.    What  has  become  of  them  ? 

But  I  am  informed  there  [is]  a  mail  behind,  which  did 
not  reach  Independence.^  This  may  account  for  the  lack  of 
news. 

February,  1846. 

Sunday,  1. — This  being  the  day  of  "rest,"  I  rested,  but  it 
was  a  poor  "rest"  to  me.  Equal  to  the  rest  enjoyed  by  the 
felon  in  his  prison. 

»  William  Walker,  Charles  B.  Garrett,  Matthew  R.  Walker,  and  Joel  Walker. 
»  Independence  was  the  nearest  post  office. 


February,  1846]  GOVERNOR   WALKER.  165 

Monday,  2. — Posted  books  all  day — walked  out.  Dr.  H. 
and  J.  W.  called  and  we  spent  an  hour  in  chat  on  various 
matters;  Indian  affairs,  politics,  etc. 

Tuesday,  3. — Laid  the  foundation  of  the  smoke  house. 

Wednesdav,  4. — Done  nothing  worthy  of  note. 

Thursday,  5.  —Raised  the  smoke  house. 

Friday,  6. —  Went  to  the  City.  Wrote  this  day  to  W. 
again  for  news. 

Saturday,  7. — Went  to  Kansas.  Saw  Maj.  Vaughan. 
What  is  he  "  arter"  ?  While  there,  bo't  a  pair  of  shoes.  I 
expect  they  are  good  for  nothing.  Look  at  the  price,  $1.25. 
Ha,  ha,  ha. 

Sunday,  8. — Staid  all  day  at  home — read  newspapers. 
Oregon,  Oregon.  This  has  become  the  Alpha  and  Omega 
of  our  mouthing  politicians.  No  one  can  be  a  great  man 
unless  he  can  vociferate  "all  of  Oregon  or  none,"  and  chew 
and  spit  out  powder  and  lead. 

Monday,  9. — Clear,  bright,  and  frosty  morning.  Wrote 
to  Luther  A.  Hall  (but  dated  the  letter  the  10th)  on  the 
subject  of  the  tax  money  sent  by  him  to  pay  into  the  Har- 
din County  treasury. 

Tuesday,  10.— Paid  to  Tall  Charles,  ferryman,  $45.00, 
leaving  a  balance  due  him  for  1845  of  $55.00.  Bo't  some 
baskets  from  some  Muncie  women.  Received  by  the  hands 
of  M""  Wheeler,  the  President's  message  with  accompanying 
documents,  sent  by  M'"  Sawyer,  M.  C.  Met  in  Council,  de- 
termined upon  calling  a  National  CounciP  on  Thursday  to 
deliberate  upon  our  matters  at  Washington  and  other  affairs 
generally. 

'  The  government  of  the  Wyandots  was  a  pure  Democracy.  Any  matter  of  impor- 
tance that  affected  the  tribe  had  to  be  sanctioned  by  a  National  Conncil  of  the  whole 
people.  The  tribal  Council  of  Chiefs  fixed  the  day  for  a  National  Convention  and  noti- 
fied the  people  of  the  time,  place,  and  purpose  of  the  meeting.  This  notice  was  sent  by 
the  Sheriffs,  of  which  there  were  two.  Women  participated  in  these  National  Councils 
and  voted  in  them  if  they  chose  to  do  so.  A  majority  vote  was  sufficient  to  pass  a 
measure 


166  THE   JOURNALS   OF  [February,  1846. 

Wednesday,  11. — Moved  some  of  our  trumpery j  such  as 
soap,  salt,  corn  meal,  pork,  etc.,  into  our  new  smoke  house, 
and  hung  up  the  hams  and  shoulders  to  dry,  and  afterwards 
to  smoke. 

Heard  yesterday  my  land  in  H.  County,  was  sold  for 
taxes.  Money  was  furnished  to  my  friends  in  Ohio  to  pay 
the  taxes,  but  they  very  kindly  appropriated  the  money  to 
their  own  use.     The  devil  take  such  friends. 

Thursday,  12. — Met  in  general  convention  at  the  meeting 
house  at  12  o'clock.  I  called  the  convention  to  order  and 
explained  the  object  of  the  meeting.  A  committee  was  ac- 
cordingly appointed  to  act  with  the  Chiefs  in  drafting  a 
memorial  to  Congress  upon  the  subject  of  our  claims.  The 
committee  consisted  of  nine  men. 

Friday,  13. — Committee  and  the  Council  met  at  the  School 
House  and  drew  up  a  strong  memorial  to  be  sent  to  Hon. 
Tho.  H.  Benton  of  the  Senate. 

Saturday,  14. — Staid  at  home,  copied  the  memorial,  scrib- 
bled some,  read  some.  I  want  my  mail.  News,  news  !  Snow 
going  off  very  fast. 

Sunday,  15. — Wrote  a  long  letter  to  James  Washington, 
apprising  him  of  our  sending  our  memorial  to  Senator  Ben- 
ton, and  a})prising  him  how  affairs  are  going  on  at  his  house 
— loafers  eating  him  up. 

Monday,  16. — Wrote  under  date  of  14th,  to  Jesse  Stern, 
upon  the  subject  of  Wagstaff 's  claim,  and  inquiring  what 
authority  he  has  to  represent  J.  T.  W.^  in  his  petition  for  a 
partition  of  land. 

Tuesday,  17. — Having  received  information  that  our 
Chiefs  had  presented,  through  Senator  Allen,  a  memorial  to 
Congress,  we  concluded  not  to  send  ours  to  Col.  Benton,  but 
forward  it  to  them  to  be  used  privately  among  their  friends 
as  an  exponent  of  the  wishes  of  the  people. 

'  John  T.  Walker,  son  of  John  E.  Walker,  Governor  Walker's  oldest  brother. 


February,  1846]  GOVERNOR   WALKER.  167 

Wednesday,  18. — I  staid  up  last  night  till  a  late  hour  ex- 
pecting a  visitor  to  my  corn  shocks  of  the  "  kine  "  kind  ;  in- 
tended to  pay  my  respects  to  this  "  kine  "  visitor  by  the  dis- 
charge of  one  or  two  rounds  a  la  mode  military,  but  no 
visitor. 

This  morning  I  yoked  up  my  oxen,  fearing  they  might 
forget  the  use  of  the  yoke,  and  hauled  some  wood.  Cattle 
work  well  yet.  Being  washday,  carried  water.  AVonien  all 
in  the  suds.  Did  other  chores — Shakespeare  says  chares. 
Which  is  correct?  Some  will  have  it  that  such  work  should 
be  called  "pottering."  Well,  potter  you  that  potter  will, 
*^as  the  Pelagions  vainly  do  teach^ 

Received  the  mail  from  the  P.  O.,  two  newspapers,  not  my 
own,  and  a  letter  from  James  Washington,  giving  us  all  the 
[news]  they  have  upon  the  subject  of  their  business  at  W. 
Prospects  somewhat  encouraging.^ 

Thursday,  19. — Commenced  snowing  this  morning  a  little 
before  day  and  it  snowed  all  day  at  a  most  furious  rate  but 
held  up  at  3  o'clock  P.  M.  Altogether  considered  it  has 
been  a  rather  unseemly  day.  Wrote  to  John  Goodin  authoriz- 
ing him  to  make  an  effort  to  recover  my  land  in  Hardin 
county,  sold  for  taxes.  My  curses  rest  on  the  men  I  en- 
trusted the  tax  money  with! 

Friday,  20. — Rose  at  the  dawn  of  day;  frosty  morning — 
made  a  fire,  called  my  folks  up  and  had  everything  stirring  in 
due  time.  Stirring  times,  ^^all  of  Oregon  or  none^  To  the 
54th  degree  and  40  minutes  and  no  less.  Hurry  breakfast, 
no  time  to  be  lost.  Yes,  and  the  British  are  looking  towards 
Cuba — we  are  in  imminent  danger.^  The  teakettle  is  boil- 
ing over.     Take  it  off  the  fire. 

Our  young  folks  enjoying  the  snow  by  sleigh  riding  of 
evenings. 

'  The  matter  of  getting  the  sanction  of  the  Government  to  the  purchase  of  their 
home  from  the  Delawares  was  at  this  time  engrossing  the  attention  of  the  Wyandots. 

'  Governor  Walker  had  a  supreme  contempt  for  the  demagoguery  of  the  average  so- 
called  statesman. 


168  THE   JOURNALS   OF  [February,  1846. 

Saturday,  21. — Clear,  cold,  and  frosty  morning — prospect 
of  a  fine  day.  This  is  mail  day — bring  on  the  news  "  Now 
what  news  upon  the  Rialto?"  Mail  received,  but  nothing 
but  newspapers,  and  nothing  of  special  interest  in  them. 

Sunday,  22. — Sick  this  morning,  sick  all  day. 

Monday,  23. — III  at  ease — pains  all  over  my  body  with 
soreness  in  my  breast.  Spent  a  restless  night — took  no  med- 
icine, 'cause  my  appetite  is  not  affected  nor  any  derangement 
of  stomach  or  bowels. 

Tuesday,  24. — Council  day,  but  I  am  unable  to  attend  the 
session  to-day.  Not  feeling  any  better,  and  withal  being  a 
cold,  dreary  and  cloudy  day — so  contented  myself  with 
burying  my  ills,  laying  and  sitting  about  the  fire.  Query, 
Does  the  climate  of  upper  Missouri  agree  with  me?  I  am 
sometimes  induced  to  think  not.  My  health  has  not  been 
good  since  I  came  to  this  country,  but  still  this  may  be  prop- 
erly attributed  to  other  causes.  I  would  fain  think  so.  I 
like  the  country  and  would  wish  to  spend  the  remainder  of 
my  days  in  it. 

Wednesday,  25. — Roasted  my  bones  all  day  before  the 
fire.  Mercury  down  near  zero  all  day.  Hard  weather  for 
an  invalid. 

Thursday,  26. — This  morning  mercury  two  degrees  below 
zero.  Whew!  good  morning  Esqr.  North  Pole,  and  how 
fare  you,  M*"  Frigid  Zone.  Have  you  both  come  south  to 
thaw  your  noses?     Hope  you  will  make  your  visit  short. 

John  Providence  was  found  to-day  near  Turkey  Creek  by 
Benjamin,  a  Frenchman,  who,  on  examining  him,  found  that 
his  legs  were  frozen  above  the  knees  and  his  arms  frozen 
above  the  elbows  and  [he  was]  nearly  dead.  He  carried  him 
to  the  Ferry  and  dragged  him  over  on  the  ice  and  [he]  was 
taken  to  Tall  Charles's  house.  He  laid  out  all  night,  in  a 
state  of  intoxication.  Dr.  H.  thinks  he  cannot  live.  Dur- 
ing last  night  the  mercury  stood  at  zero. 


March,  1846.]  GOVEKNOR  WALKER.  169 

Friday,  27. — Cloudy,  cold,  dark,  weather.  Winter,  win- 
ter. 

"The  dark  and  wintry  day 
Is  deepening  into  night — 
The  weary  woodman  seeks  his  cottage  door." 

Saturday,  28. — Sleeted  last  night.  Everything  this  morn- 
ing looking  as  gray  as  St.  Nicholas's  beard,  while  on  his 
nocturnal  holiday  visits  to  his  patrons.  What  sort  of 
weather  are  we  to  have  next?  We  have  had  every  variety 
of  cold  weather,  and  I  begin  to  wish  [for]  the  return  of 
warm  weather.  A  dark  dreary  day  the  most  cheerless 
and  gloomy  I  have  seen  lately.  Shine  forth  thou  luminary 
of  day  and  show  thy  brilliant  countenance.  Suffer  us  not 
to  be  friglitened  out  of  our  wits  by  the  horrible  dark  frowns 
of  the  clouds  above  us. 

March,  1846. 

Sunday,  1. — Clear,  warm  day.  Thawed  some  of  the  frost 
out  of  the  ground. 

Monday,  2. — Went  to  Kansas  on  foot.  Crossed  the  river 
on  the  ice.  Came  near  giving  out  before  I  reached  home, 
the  roads  being  awfully  muddy.  Sent  to  the  P.  O.  a  com- 
munication to  James  Washington. 

Tuesday,  3. — Council  to-day.  Met  at  12  o'clock  ;  read  to 
the  Council  Jas.  Washington's  letter,  and  then  stated  what  I 
said  in  answer.  Directors  employed  Mr.  Robataille^  to  take 
charge  of  Mr.  Kramer's  school. 

Wednesday,  4. — Charming  morning;  oh,  the  clear  blue 
sky  and  the  glorious  rising  sun!  How  vivifying  to  my  dor- 
mant and  nearly  dead  energies  both  of  body  and  mind. 

Thursday,  5. — This  being  my  natal  day,  I  now  make  my 
obeisance  and  enter  into  my  46th  year,  I  now  take  my  rank 
among  old  men.  What!  Am  I  an  old  man?  Do  I  look 
venerable?    Well,  if  I  do,  I  do  not  feel  like  leaving  the  ranks 

•  Robert  Robltaille,  a  Wyandot.     Lived  near  Quindaro,  Wyandotte  county,  Kansaa. 


170  THE   JOURNALS   OF  [March,  1846. 

of  the  young  and  middle  aged  yet,  at  any  rate.  On  serious 
reflection  upon  ray  past  life,  checkered  tho'  it  has  been,  it 
seems  to  me  that  I  have  lived  to  but  little  purpose.  I  do 
not  recollect  of  having  founded  any  charitable  institution, 
church,  or  synagogue,  yet  I  have  not  been  unmindful  of  the 
poor.     I  have  a  warm  feeling  for  the  poor  and  distressed. 

Friday,  6. — Set  out  four  apple  trees  (grafts)  [that]  I  got 
from  M.  K  W.  They  were  procured  in  Granville,  Ohio, 
and  [are]  reputed  to  be  of  a  superior  quality. 

Saturday,  7. — Dr.  H.  made  preparation  and  proceeded  to 
Kansas  to  take  the  boat  on  her  return,  destined  for  Wash- 
ington. The  John-Go-Long-Up  being  the  first  boat  up  this 
season.  The  river  unusually  low;  in  many  places,  there  is 
scarcely  two  feet  of  water  in  the  channel. 

Sunday,  8. — Down  sick  with  a  high  fever.  Our  mail 
brought  in.  We  were  shocked  at  the  intelligence  of  the 
death  of  Geo.  Garrett,^  communicated  by  Kirby,  McE.,  and 
J.Walker;  disease,  mania  a  potu.  Favorable  intelligence 
from  Washington  about  our  claims.     Got  20  apple  trees. 

Monday,  9. — Raining.     Gloomy  day.     Continue  sick. 

Tuesday,  10. — Council  day.  Could  not  attend,  of  course. 
Staid  at  home  and  nursed  myself.  Commenced  taking  that 
panacea  for  ills,  blue  mass. 

Wednesday,  11. — Had  a  high  fever  all  day;  pains  in  my 
back. 

Thursday,  12. — Some  better ;  sat  up  all  day. 

Friday,  13. — Comfortable ;  read  all  day  and  amused  my- 
self in  various  ways  to  drive  dull  care  and  ennui  away.  At 
night,  luxuriated  on  a  dish  of  oyster  soup. 

Saturday,  14. — Walked  over  this  morning  to  the  Deacon's, 
on  a  visit.  Chatted  about  half  an  hour  and  came  away. 
Can't  walk  very  fast.  In  the  evening,  Isaiah  [Walker] 
brought  me  two  Nat.  Intelligencers,  but  [they]  containing 

'  Governor  Walker's  brother-in-law;  he  lived  in  Ohio. 


March,  1846.]  GOVERNOR  WALKER.  171 

no  news  of  importance.  Wrote,  through  the  day,  by  spells, 
a  long  letter  to  Robert  Wagstaff,  giving  him,  in  plain  and 
unequivocal  language,  my  opinion  of  his  course. 

Sunday,  15. — Attended  this  morning  at  the  Deacon's. 
William  Garrett  and  Mary  Ann  Long  were  there  united  in 
marriage  at  10  o'clock  A.  M.,  and  proceeded  with  a  party  of 
their  friends  to  Westport.    Peace  and  prosperity  attend  them. 

Monday,  16. — Getting  some  better.  Sat  up  all  day;  read 
some  in  the  evening.  The  wedding  party  returned  from 
Westport,  highly  delighted  with  their  trip. 

Tuesday,  17. — Wrote  D.  W.  Deshler  for  a  certificate  or 
receipt. 

Wednesday,  18. — Sick  last  night ;  pains  last  night  in  my 
stomach,  which  terminated  in  a  copious  evacuation  from  the 
bowels.  This  morning  paid  the  Deacon  for  my  blooded  hog 
stock  ($400.)  so  my  pigs  are  secured,  unless  they  are  stolen, 
which  Heaven  forefend! 

Thursday,  19. — Received  two  letters  from  our  deputies  at 
Washington.  No  news  of  interest.  Considering  Friday  an 
ill  omened  or  unlucky  day,  and  having  twenty  choice  apple 
trees  to  set  out,  I  concluded  I  would  at  all  events,  weak  as  I 
am,  make  a  commencement  to-day,  so  I  set  out  four.^ 

Friday,  20. — Isaiah  kindly  came  over  and  helped  me  to 
finish  setting  out  20,  the  remainder  of  the  trees.  This  was 
done  in  the  dark  of  the  moon.  Will  it  make  any  difference  in 
the  thrift  or  bearing  of  the  trees.  Wrote  a  long  letter  to  J. 
Washington  in  reply  to  his,  and  one  to  John  Walker.  My 
health  slowly  improving.  Too  great  an  appetite  for  my  di- 
gestion. Still  luxuriating  on  blue  mass — "  by  the  mass." 
But  it  is  becoming  very  nauseating  to  my  stomach  and  pal- 
ate ;  but  it  must  be  taken  although  it  may  cost  some  wry 
faces  and  unseemly  gyrations. 

'  Almost  all  men  have  this  feeling  that  Friday  is  an  unlucky  day,  but  few  of  them 
will  admit  it  as  frankly  as  Governor  Walker  does  here. 


172  THE   JOURNALS   OF  [March,  1840. 

Saturday,  21. — Staid  about  home.  Done  pottering  chores 
about  the  house.  Walked  over  to  M.  R.  W.'s  and  spent 
the  afternoon.  Commenced  raining  in  the  evening  and  con- 
tinued, with  short  intermissions,  raining  all  night. 

Sunday,  22. — Raining  this  morning.  Kept  close  quar- 
ters. Read  much  miscellaneous  matter.  Wrote  for  the 
Expositor.     Rained  all  night. 

Monday,  23. — Rainy  morning.  Found  the  glands  in  my 
neck  considerably  swollen  caused  by  my  taking  the  mer- 
curial pills,  and  the  damp  weather.  I  must  suspend  my 
pill  taking  till  the  weather  changes.  Bought  some  young 
peach  trees  from  C.  B.  G.  If  I  am  favored  with  good  luck 
I  shall  in  three  years  have  lots  of  fine  fruit.     So  mote  it  be. 

Tuesday,  24. — This  morning  found  myself  ptyalyzed.  The 
glands  under  my  jaws,  sore.  A  regular  New  England  snow 
storm  all  day.  Could  not  attend  Council  to-day — the  weather 
too  inclement  to  go  out. 

Wednesday,  25. — Clear,  but  a  cold  windy  morning.  Some 
rain  through  the  day.     Nothing  of  interest  occurred. 

Thursday,  26. — Raw,  disugreeable  day.  Staid  at  home. 
Read  over  my  latest  papers  the  second  time  for  the  want  of 
later  ones. 

Friday,  27. — Cold,  cloudy  day — dreary  as  the  shores  of 
the  Island  of  Spitzbergen,  spitting  snow  all  day. 

Saturday,  28. — Cool  morning.  Set  out  about  10  o'clock  for 
Kansas  to  mail  some  letters  and  get  our  mail.  Not  getting 
anything  I  sent  Eldridge  H.^  to  Westport  and  got  our  mail, 
one  letter  from  J.  W.  G.,  and  one  from  L.  A.  Hall. 
"  Quarterly  meeting  time." 

Sunday,  29. — Clear  cold  morning.  Frosty.  Read  news- 
papers. Lectured  my  children  on  morals  and  good  breed- 
ing,  warning  them  against  various  immoralities.^     People 

'  Eldredge  H.  Brown,  now  living  in  Wyandotte,  Indian  Territory. 

*  An  old-fashioned  practice,  now  almost  obsolete,  which  might  well  be  revived. 


March,  1846]  GOVERNOR  WALKER.  173 

going  to  church.     I  wish  I  could  go,  but  I  cannot  walk  that 
far  and  back  without  too  much  fatigue. 

Monday,  30. — Cloudy  morning  and  cold.  M'  (Stateler^ 
called  upon  us  and  had  a  long  confab.  Tauroomee^  called 
and  had  a  ditto.     Oh,  genial  and  vivifying  spring,  hasten 

>  The  minister  of  the  M.  E.  Church. 
•  Wyandotte  Gazette,  January  20,  1870 : 

"Tauromee,  Chief  of  the  Wyandotte  Nation,  died  on  Saturday  morning  last,  and 
Tvas  buried  Sunday,  at  2  o'clock  P.  M.  The.  faneral  exercises  were  held  at  the  M.  E. 
Church,  South,  and  owing  to  the  state  of  the  weather  and  roads,  was  not  numerously 
attended.  They  consisted  of  a  brief  eulogy  on  the  life  and  character  of  the  deceased, 
delivered  in  the  language  of  the  Wyandottes  and  the  committing  to  the  earth  of  his  re- 
mains. Governor  Walker  pronounced  the  eulogy,  and  afterwards  gave  a  short  synopsis 
of  it  in  English,  from  which  we  gather  the  following  facts : 

"  Tauromee,  in  his  early  life,  was  a  man  of  the  chase,  a  hunter.  But  his  tribe,  hav- 
ing noticed  that  he  had  a  good  degree  of  ability,  he  was  in  1838,  chosen  into  the  Council 
Board  of  the  nation,  and  upon  the  death  of  John  Long,  a  number  of  years  afterwards, 
he  became  Head  Chief.  From  this  time  the  good  of  the  nation  seemed  to  lie  nearest 
his  heart.  His  administration  was  morally  a  wise  and  just  one.  He  was  a  man  of 
great  endurance  and  an  indomitable  will,  and  when  he  undertook  a  measure,  no  obstacle 
would  turn  him  from  it  until  it  was  accomplished.  He  was  not  of  very  quick  percep- 
tions, and  often  expressed  his  regret  that  he  could  not  grasp  a  subject  and  cope  with  it 
and  form  his  conclusions  more  readily.  But  when  he  had  taken  time  to  examine  a  sub- 
ject in  all  of  its  bearings,  his  conclusions  were  sure  to  be  correct. 

"  Soon  after  his  tribe  came  to  the  West,  a  proposition  was  made  by  the  government 
(if  we  understood  the  speaker  correctly )  to  have  the  lands  divided  among  the  people, 
and  have  them  come  into  full  citizenship.  This  Tauromee  strenuously  opposed,  he 
claiming  that  they  were  not  prepared  for  such  a  step,  and  that  the  result  would  be  that 
in  short  time  many  of  them  would  be  homeless.  The  matter  was  submitted  to  the  na- 
tion, and  a  large  majority  voting  for  it,  it  was  adopted.  Tauromee,  obeying  the  voice 
of  his  people,  signed  the  treaty,  but  under  protest.  The  results  he  had  foreseen,  soon 
manifested  themselves.  Many  of  the  tribe,  through  their  improvidenee,  were  soon 
suffering  for  the  necessaries  of  life.  They  had  squandered  their  lands,  and  were  with- 
out homes.  Then  their  fallen  Chief  began  to  look  about  for  a  home  for  them.  He 
finally  bethought  him  of  their  old  neighbors,  the  Senecas,  who  now  live  some  two 
hundred  miles  south  of  here.  Many  obstacles  were  thrown  ia  his  way,  but  he  over- 
came them  all  and  succeeded  in  securing  among  the  Senecas,  twenty  thousand  acres  of 
land.  Many  of  his  people  are  already  settled  there,  and  at  the  time  of  his  death,  he 
was  awaiting  some  action  of  Congress  to  enable  him  to  complete  their  removal.  Now  he 
is  gone,  and  John  W.  Gray-Eyes  becomes  Chief  by  birthright.  Tenderly  and  feelingly 
the  speaker  counseled  Gray-Eyes  to  shake  off  his  besetting  sin,  and  be  strong  under  this 
new  responsibility.  The  speaker  referred  to  the  subdivision  of  the  nation  into  three 
divisions  called  the  Big  Turtles,  Little  Turtles  and  Wolf  tribe.  He  stated  that  when  a 
Chief  of  the  first  two  died  his  eulogy  should  be  spoken  by  some  member  of  the  latter. 
But  in  this  case,  there  being  no  one  of  that  division  to  do  it,  he  was  there  to  do  it,  though 
himself  one  of  the  first.  Governor  Walker's  remarks  were  listened  to  with  deep  in- 
terest by  all  who  were  present.  At  their  conclusion  the  cofiin  was  taken  to  the  grave, 
where  it  was  opened  and  the  members  of  the  Wyandotte  Nation  who  were  present 
took  a  last  look  at  the  features  of  him  who  had  so  long  been  their  Chief." 


174  THE    JOURNALS   OF  [March,  1846. 

thy  advent  to  these  frigid  regions  and  suffer  not  that  frosty- 
headed  old  tyrant,  winter,  to  hold  eternal  dominion  over  us. 
Tuesday,  31.— Council  day.  Bead  J.  W.  G.'s  letter  to 
the  Council.  Negro  question  came  up;  the  C[hief]  denied 
that  any  law  prohibiting  our  negroes  from  emigrating  to 
this  country  was  passed.^  Issued  Council  orders  to  a  large 
amount  for  Bacon. 

April,  1846. 

Wednesday,  1. — How  I  was  myself  "fooled."  I  had  en- 
tirely forgotten  that  this  was  the  first,  i.  e.  All  Fools  Day,  or 
how  much  real  fun  I  might  have  had  in  my  family.  In 
fact  they  forgot  it  themselves,  or  they  might  have  had  some 
sport  out  of  me. 

Met  with  W  G.  for  the  first  time  since  his  return  from 
Washington.  Had  a  long  confab  on  our  claims,  on  Gov't, 
politics,  etc. 

Weather  cleared  warm.  High  winds,  drying  weather. 
Encouraging  for  gardening  operations. 

Thursday,  2. — Cloudy  morning,  but  cleared  off  in  the 
afternoon  and  became  warm  and  pleasant.  Disinterred  my 
potatoes ;  found  I  had  five  bushels  left.  Better  than  I  ex- 
pected. 

Friday,  3. — Commenced  ploughing  my  garden,  having 
forgot  that  it  was  Friday  an  unlucky  day.  Well,  it  rained, 
and  [I]  had  to  quit.  Such  and  similar  are  the  results  of 
commencing  a  piece  of  work  on  that  day. 

At  2  o'clock  it  cleared  up  a  little,  and  as  Bev.  W.,  M"" 
W.  and  M"  H.  W.  had  made  their  arrangements  to  take  a 
pleasure  ride  to  Independence,  they  saddled  up  their  nags 
and  put  out.  May  they  enjoy  much  pleasure.  I  am  now 
quite  a  promising  convalescent. 

'  There  was  much  opposition  in  the  tribe  to  slave-holding  by  any  member  or  citizen 
of  it.  Some  of  the  most  influential  men  contended  that  slavery  and  slave-holding 
were  entirely  foreign  to  every  Wyandot  custom,  and  repugnant  to  the  Wyandot  mind. 


April,  1846.]  GOVERNOR  WALKER.  175 

Saturday,  4. — Rainy  morning;  dreary  appearance  out  of 
doors.  2  o'clock,  raining  yet.  Thermometer  between  "tem- 
perate" and  "freezing."  Well  I  will  stay  in  the  house  and 
patiently  reconcile  myself  to  my  lot.  Bring  on  the  mail 
and  let  me  have  the  news,  if  there  be  any  going. 

Sunday,  5. — Got  up  this  morning;  the  mercury  in  the 
thermometer  down  to  freezing  point,  and  on  examination 
found  it  had  frozen  the  puddles  of  rainwater.  At  8  o'clock 
the  small  hazy  clouds  began  to  disperse  and  the  thrice-wel- 
come smiles  of  "Old  Sol"  beamed  upon  the  face  of  nature 
— making  glad  all  animated  nature.  Wrote  a  long  letter  to 
H.  Barrett,  giving  him  what  news  we  have  of  interest.  Just 
heard  of  the  arrival  of  our  delegates. 

Monday,  6. — Raining  like  fury.  Horrid!  Wrote  to 
J.  Y.,  Cin.  Read  and  yawned  and  complained  of  the 
weather,  but  where  is  the  use?     None;  so  I  will  be  content. 

"No  man  ere  found  a  happy  life  by  chanca 
Or  yawned  it  into  being  with  a  wish." 

Tuesday,  7. — Cold  morning.  Mercury  below  "  freezing 
point."  Clear,  but  how  long  will  it  last.  Our  folks  did 
not  get  home  last  night  from  Independence.  Council  day. 
Met  at  the  Company's  store.  Transacted  some  business,  and 
adjourned  to  meet  here  to  hear  the  report  of  the  delegates. 
Adjourned  to  meet  here  to-morrow  and  finish  the  report. 
Our  folks  not  home  yet.     What's  the  matter? 

Wednesday,  8. — Council  met  here  pursuant  to  adjourn- 
ment, and  the  delegates  finished  their  report.  If  Congress 
should  allow  the  first  appraisement,  T.  W.  Bartley  is  to  be 
allowed  three  thousand  dollars  for  his  services,  if  not,  nothing 
but  his  expenses  in  Washington.     Report  accepted. 

To  report  to  the  nation  in  general  Council  to-morrow  at 
the  church. 

Thursday,  9. — Rain.  I  cannot  attend  the  general  Coun- 
cil owing  to  the  inclemency  of  the  weather ;  dare  not  get 


176  THE  JOURNALS  OF  [April,  1846. 

wet  yet.  Every  appearance  of  a  rainy  day.  Set  out  eigh- 
teen peach  trees.  It  is  now  four  o'clock  in  the  evening,  an  d 
it  has  rained  all  day  incessantly  and  likely  to  continue  so 
all  night.  Poor  chance  for  gardening  without  a  change  of 
weather. 

Friday,  10. — Rose  early,  and  my  ears  were  saluted  with 
the  "old  song"  rain,  rain  ;  dull  music. 

Rain,  rain  !  Mud,  mud  !  Misery,  disappointment,  confu- 
sion, and  disorder.     Chaotic. 

Saturday,  11. — Wrote  to  J.  M.  A.^  a  letter  of  instruction 
upon  vai'ious  matters.  Cold,  dreary  weather.  Going  to 
hunt  my  cow;  fearing  she  may  have  calved  and  her  udder 
might  spoil  owing  to  the  temperance  of  the  calf. 

12  o'clock. — Just  got  back  from  hunting  my  cow,  but  can- 
not find  her.     Where  she  has  gone  to  I  cannot  tell. 

Sunday,  12. — Nothing  of  interest  occurred.  Hiatus  of 
some  days.     Nothing  worth  noting. 

Saturday,  18. — Attended  Council.  Executed  our  agree- 
ment with  T.  W.  B.,^  our  attorney  at  Washington. 

Sunday,  19. — Staid  at  home  all  day — read,  chatted  with 
such  company  as  called. 

Monday,  20. — Worked  in  the  garden;  sowed  some  lettuce. 
Planted  some  seed  onions  and  red  potatoes. 

Tuesday,  21. — Attended  Council.  Divorced  Greorge  Arm- 
strong from  his  wife.^  H.  Jacquis  goes  back  to  Washington 
to  see  to  public  affairs. 

Wednesday,  22, — Wednesday's  history  may  be  sum'd  up 
in  doing  various  sorts  of  work:  Gardening,  assisting  in  mak- 
ing soap,  carrying  water,  etc. 

Thursday,  23. — Fenced  in  the  yard.     Received  a  mail  to- 

>  John  M.  Armstrong. 

«  Thos.  W.  Bartley;  he  was  acting  Governor  of  Ohio  in  1844. 

*  He  was  divorced  at  this  time  from  Skah-mehn-dah-teh,  daughter  of  Mononcue. 
She  is  said  to  have  been  a  virago. 


April,  1846.]  GOVERNOR  WALKER.  177 

day  in  which  was  a  letter  from  Dr.  H.  written  from  Wash- 
ington.    Made  garden ;  sowed  some  seeds. 

Friday,  24. — Husked  out  the  remains  of  my  corn  crop. 
Warm  and  beautiful  day.  Soap  making  closed.  Wash-day. 
Soap  suds  and  wash  tubs. 

Saturday,  25. — Here  I  find  I  am  in  error  in  regard  to  my 
dates.  To-day  is  the  25  instead  of  Yesterday.  Engaged  in 
clearing  up  the  yard,  removing  rubbish  and  stuff,  leveling 
the  ground — digging  up  the  grubs  and  stumps.  We  had  no 
eclipse,  tho'.  Wrote  to  Col.  J.  Goodin^  to  sell  my  land  at 
a  good  price  if  he  can. 

Sunday,  26. — Staid  at  home  all  day,  being  unable  to  travel 
about,  owing  to  my  lameness.  Read  newspapers.  Proceed- 
ings of  Congress;  Oregon,  Oregon.  I  wish  the  whole  terri- 
tory, except  the  inhabitants,  was  sunk  in  the  lowest  depth 
of  tophit.     At  night,  raining. 

Monday,  27. — Dreary  morning — raining.  In  my  wrath,  I 
slaughtered  a  hen  for  breaking  my  window — she  came  into 
the  house  and  I  could  not  drive  her  out,  but  through  the 
window  she  must  go,  so  I  slew  her ! 

Tuesday,  28. — Pottered  about  the  house.  Wrote  some 
letters,  and  read  some.     Made  a  summer  house. 

Wednesday,  29. — Worked  in  the  garden ;  sowed  some  peas ; 
wrote  letters  to  be  sent  by  the  Deacon  to  Ohio.  In  the 
evening,  had  a  visit  from  M"^  Graham. 

Thursday,  30. — The  day  of  sale  of  lots  in  Kansas.^  Could 
not  go  on  account  of  lameness.  Cold,  raw,  cloudy  day. 
Backward  season. 

'  I  have  been  anable  to  ascertain  whether  or  not  this  gentleman  was  in  any  way  re- 
lated to  John  E.  Goodin,  afterward  judge,  and  member  of  Congress  from  Kansas. 

*  Governor  Walker  always  speaks  of  Kansas  City,  Mo.,  as  "  Kansas."  It  was  some- 
times called  "Kansas  Landing"  and  "  Westport  Landing."  This  is  the  first  sale  of 
lots;  the  town-site  was  first  platted  about  that  time.  Only  lots  along  the  levee  were 
laid  out.  It  was  then  supposed  that  what  is  now  the  best  part  of  Kansas  City  would 
always  remain  farm  land. 

13 


178  THE   JOURNALS   OF  [May,  1846. 

May,  1846. 

Friday,  1. — May-day.  In  some  countries  this  is  a  gala  day 
— crowning  with  flowers  the  successful  candidate  for  regal 
honors.  I  worked  in  the  garden ;  sowed  some  parsley  seed 
and  also  some  early  cabbage.  Tried  an  experiment  by 
thrusting  apple  sprouts  into  Potatoes,  and  planting  them. 
It  is  said  they  [the  apple  sprouts]  will  take  root. 

Saturday,  2. — Worked  in  the  garden.  Went  to  town. 
Staid  nearly  all  day.  Got  our  news  in  the  evening,  and 
read  on  till  late  in  the  night. 

Sunday,  3. — Staid  at  home — [it]  rained.  Cold,  damp 
weather. 

Monday,  4. — The  Deacon  packing  up  his  efiects  for  a  move 
to  Ohio.  Planted  some  choice  watermelons,  [which  I]  got 
from  M"  Twyman.  [In  the]  evening  [the]  Deacon  moved 
his  family  over  to  our  house  to  remain  till  he  sets  out  on  his 
journey.  He  seems  depressed  in  spirit  and  melancholy. 
He  evidently  leaves  with  great  reluctance. 

Tuesday,  5. — The  Council  met.  C.  B.  G.  required  to  alter 
his  fence  so  as  to  leave  room  for  a  road  sixty  feet  wide  and 
throw  his  farm  in  [to]  a  more  square  form,  he  fencing  in 
other  land  in  lieu  thereof.  Granted  a  divorce  to  William 
Clark  from  his  wife  Harriet  At  11  o'clock  the  Deacon  and 
his  family  bade  adieu  to  the  Wyandotts,^  and  embarked  on 
board  the  Radnor  with  sorrowful  hearts.^  May  they  have  a 
pleasant  and  prosperous  voyage. 

Wednesday,  6. — Warm,  but  cloudy  weather;  unsettled. 
About  the  middle  of  the  afternoon  the  western  horizon  be- 
came overcast  with  black  and  angry  looking  clouds,  which 
was  followed  by  a  most  furious  rain,  and  in  a  short  time 
a  violent  hail  storm  set  in,  which  lasted  two  hours.     The 

'  Governor  Walker  always  writes  Wyandot  "  Wyandott." 

^  This  "  Deacon"  was  the  Methodist  minister,  but  what  his  name  was  I  have  not 
ascertained;  possibly  James  Wheeler. 


May,  1846.]  GOVERNOR  WALKER.  179 

cattle  became  frantic,  running  to  and  fro,  smarting  under 
the  severe  peltings  of  the  hail.  Tlie  hail  continued  till 
night,  and  all  night  with  occasional  intermissions.  Every- 
thing deluged. 

Thursday,  7. — Clear  this  morning,  but  how  long  it  will 
last  no  one  can  tell.  Hark,  I  hear  the  song  of  the  cuckoo. 
Truly,  I  can  from  my  heart  address  that  sweet  bird  in  the 
words  of  Logan ! 

"Sweet  bird!  thy  bower  is  ever  green, 

Thy  sky  is  ever  clear; 
Thou  hast  no  sorrow  in  thy  note, 

No  winter  in  thy  year. 
Oh!  conld  I  fly,  I'd  fly  with  thee; 

We'd  make  a  joyful  wing, 
Our  annual  visit  round  the  globe, 

Companions  of  the  spring." 

Just  heard  of  the  arrival  of  Noah  E.  Zane^  with  his  family 

»  The  Zanx  Family.— Wither's  Chronicles  of  Border  Warfare,  edition  of  1895,  i>age 
124,  says: 

"In  1769,  Col.  Ebenezer  Zane,  his  brothers  Silas  and  Jonathan,  with  some  others 
from  the  South  Branch,  visited  the  Ohio  River  for  the  purpose  of  commencing  improve- 
ments; and  severally  proceeded  to  select  positions  for  their  future  residence.  Col.  Zane 
chose  for  his,  an  eminence  above  the  mouth  of  Wheeling  Creek,  near  to  the  Ohio,  and 
opposite  a  beautiful  and  considerable  island  in  that  river.  The  spot  thus  selected  by 
him,  is  now  occupied  by  his  son  Noah  Zane,  Esq.,  and  is  nearly  the  center  of  the  pres- 
ent flourishing  town  of  Wheeling.  Silas  Zane  commenced  improving  on  Wheeling 
Creek  where  Col.  Moses  Shepard  now  lives,  and  Jonathan  resided  with  his  brother 
Ebenezer.  Several  of  those  who  accompained  the  adventurers  likewise  remained  with 
Col.  Zane,  in  the  capacity  of  laborers." 

In  a  note  to  the  above,  Ljnnan  C.  Draper  says:  "These  Gentlemen  were  descendants 
of  a  Mr.  Zane,  who  accompanied  William  Penn,  to  his  province  of  Pennsylvania,  and 
from  whom,  one  of  the  principal  streets  in  Philadelphia,  derived  its  name.  Their 
father  was  possessed  of  a  bold  and  daring  spirit  of  adventure,  which  was  displayed  on 
many  occasions,  in  the  earlier  part  of  his  life.  Having  rendered  himself  obnoxious  to 
the  Society  of  Friends  (of  which  he  was  a  member,)  by  marrying  without  the  pale  of 
that  society,  he  moved  to  Virginia,  and  settled  on  the  South  Branch,  where  the  town 
of  Moorfield  has  been  since  erected.  One  of  his  sons  (Isaac)  was  taken  by  the  Indians, 
when  he  was  only  nine  years  old,  and  carried  in  captivity,  to  Mad  River,  in  Ohio. 
Here  he  continued  till  habit  reconciled  him  to  his  situation,  when  he  married  a  squaw, 
became  a  chief  and  spent  the  remainder  of  his  life  with  them.  He  was  never  known 
to  wage  war  against  the  whites;  but  was  on  several  occasions,  of  infinite  service,  by 
apprising  them  of  meditated  attacks  of  the  Indians.  His  descendants  still  reside  in 
Ohio." 

Isaac  Zane  was  a  humane  man.  Withers  says  of  him,  on  pages  417  and  418,  that  a 
war-party  of  whites  once  went  to  attack  the  Wyandots.  One  man  was  placed  near  the 
camp  with  orders  to  fire  upon  the  first  Indian  he  saw.    Afterward  his  company 


180  THE  JOURNALS  OF  [May,  i846. 

and  also  E.  A.  Long.  It  is  said  the  former  intends  residing 
here,  having  moved  bag  and  baggage.     What  will  the  poor 

retreated  but  did  not  notify  him  and  he  was  left.  He  kept  his  place  and  when  he  saw 
a  squaw  came  out  of  the  woods  he  shot  at  her  and  wounded  her  slightly  in  the  wrist. 
He  rushed  up  to  attack  the  camp,  and  expected  the  others  of  his  company  to  support 
him.  It  was  the  hunting  camp  of  Isaac  Zane  that  he  had  attacked  and  the  girl  that  he 
had  wounded  was  Isaac  Zane's  daughter  Sarah.  Zane  showed  the  man,  that  had  thus 
tried  to  murder  his  daughter,  the  way  to  overtake  his  companions  and  even  went  with 
him  a  considerable  distance.  It  is  here  said  also  that  Zane  was  only  nine  years  old 
when  captured  by  the  Indians. 

It  was  this  Isaac  Zane's  sister  Elizabeth  that  performed  the  perilous  mission  of  obtain- 
ing powder  for  the  fort  at  Wheeling,  and  by  so  doing  made  her  name  immortal.  For 
a  good  account  of  this  see  Wither's  Chronicles  of  Border  Warfare,  pages  358  and  359. 

Howe's  Historical  Collections  of  Ohio  says  of  Isaac  Zane:  "  Isaac  Zane  was  bom 
about  the  year  1753,  on  the  South  Branch  of  the  Potomac,  in  Virginia,  and  at  the  age 
of  about  nine  years,  was  taken  prisoner  by  the  Wyandots  and  carried  to  Detroit.  He 
remained  with  his  captors  until  the  age  of  manhood,  when  like  most  prisoners  taken  in 
youth,  he  refused  to  return  to  his  home  and  friends.  He  married  a  Wyandot  woman, 
from  Canada,  of  half  French  blood  and  took  no  part  in  the  War  of  the  Revolution. 
After  the  treaty  of  Greenville,  in  1795,  he  bought  a  tract  of  1800  acres,  on  the  site  of 
Zanesfield,  where  he  lived  until  his  death,  in  1816." — Edition  of  1849,  page  304. 

Zanesville,  Ohio,  was  founded  by  the  Ebenezer  Zane  hereinbefore  mentioned,  and 
who  was  a  brother  of  Isaac  Zane,  who  was  captured.  For  a  full  account  of  the  founding 
of  Zanesville.  see  "Howe's  Historical  Collections  of  Ohio,  Muskingum  County." 

The  following  table  was  given  to  me  by  Ebenezer  O.  Zane,  now  living  on  Eighth 
Street  between  Everett  and  Oakland  Avenues,  Kansas  City,  Kansas : 

Isaac  Zane,  above  referred  to  and  identified,  married  a  half  Wyandot  and  half 
French  woman  about  the  beginning  of  the  War  of  the  Revolution.  Her  name  and  clan 
Mr.  Zane  did  not  know.  Their  children  were:  1.  Ebenezer;  2.  Nancy;  3.  Sarah;  4  Eliz- 
abeth; 5.  William;  6.  Isaac;  7.  Catharine. 

William  and  Ebenezer  married  Wyandot  women.  I  was  unable  to  learn  their 
names,  or  anything  of  their  descendants. 

Nancy  Zane  married  Samuel  McCulloch.  None  of  their  descendants  ever  removed 
West.  In  the  treaty  of  September  29,  1817,  made  at  the  foot  of  the  Miami  Eapids  there 
was  a  cession  of  one  section  of  land  "To  the  children  of  William  McCulloch  who  was 
killed  in  August,  1812,  near  Maugaugon,  and  who  are  quarter  blood  Wyandot  Indians, 
one  section,  to  contain  640  acres  of  land,  on  the  west  side  of  the  Sandusky  River,  ad- 
joining the  lower  line  of  the  tract  hereby  granted  to  Robert  Armstrong,  and  extending 
in  the  same  manner  with  and  from  the  said  river." 

I  am  inclined  to  believe  that  it  was  William  McCulloch,  and  not  Samuel  McCulloch, 
that  married  Nancy  Zane.  Sarah  Zane  married  Robert  Armstrong;  Elizabeth  Zane 
married  1st Robitaille,  and  2d, Reed.  Isaac  Zane  married  Hannah  Dickin- 
son. Catharine  Zane  married  Alexander  Long.  Children  of  Robert  and  Sarah  (Zane) 
Armstrong:  1.  Silas;  2.  John  Mclntyre;  3.  Catharine;  4.  One,  Hannah,  that  died  at  the 

Wyandot  mission.     Children  of Robitaille  and  Elizabeth  (Zane)  Robitaille:    1. 

James;  2.  Robert;  Robitaille  died  in year.  Children  of Reed  and  Eliza- 
beth (Zane-Robitaille)  Reed:  1.  Ebenezer;  2  Eliza.  Children  of  Alexander  and  Cath- 
arine (Zane)  Long:  1.  Irvin  P.;  2.  Jane;  3.  Ethan;  4.  Henry  Clay;  5.  Mary;  6.  Isaac; 
7.  James;  8.  William.  Children  of  Isaac  and  Hannah  (Dickinson)  Zane:  1.  Noah; 
2.  Hester;  3.  Ebenezer  O.;  4.  Sarah;  5.  Catharine;  6.  Hannah;  7.  Eliza;  8.  John  Wes- 
ley; 9.  William;  10.  Isaac. 


May,  1846]  GOVERNOR  WALKER.  181 

nincompoop  do  here?  He  tried  it  once  before,  got  fright- 
ened, quarreled  with  his  mother-in-law,  then  sloped  back 
to  daddy's  house ! 

Friday,  8. — Clear  and  pleasant  morning,  but  cold.  The 
feathered  songsters  are  engaged  in  one  general  anthem  with 
their  mellow  throats,  rhyming  their  "  Great  Creator's  praise." 
Enchanting  music ! 

Received  a  visit  from  F.  A.  Hicks;  [we]  chatted  upon 
Church  matters,  abolitionism,  politics,  &c.  With  all  his  in- 
stabilities, tergiversations,  and  inconsistencies,  I  cannot  but 
admire  the  man.     He  has  good  sense  and  sound  judgment. 

Saturday,  9. — Clear  and  beautiful  morning.  Noon,  clear 
and  warm — looks  now  like  settled  weather. 

Rev.  E.  T.  Peerey's  family,  successors  of  J.  W.,  moved 
over  to-day.  So,  we  have  new  neighbors.  May  we  live  as 
peaceably  and  as  happily  with  them  as  with  their  predeces- 
sors. 

Planted  three  hills  of  prickly  cucumbers  for  pickles,  and 
also  planted  25  hills  of  Lima  beans,  said  to  be  of  a  superior 
quality. 

Sunday,  10. — Clear  and  beautiful  morning — prospect  of  a 
beautiful  day.  Real  Missouri  summer  day.  Read,  lounged 
and  played  the  loafer. 

Monday,    11. — Commenced    ploughing    my   field ;     W. 

Bowers  and Benton  employed.     Planted  some  yellow 

beans.  Got  a  barrel  of  flour.  Made  a  table.  C.  B.  G. 
wrathy  at  the  Council  for  altering  his  fence  for  a  road.  My 
advice  to  him  was  to  obey  the  order,  as  it  was  not  likely  any 
further  alterations  in  his  fences  would  be  required  for  roads 
very  soon.     Theremometer  85° — warm,  growing  weather, 

Tuesday,  12. — Rose  early,  fine  morning.  Our  oxen  had 
broke  out  of  the  pasture  and  decamped  but  were  shortly 
afterwards  found  and  put  "on  Duty."  Planted  fourteen 
hills  of  C.  B.  G.'s  mammoth  watermelons;  this  being  about 
the  full  of  the  moon,  I  want  to  see  what  the  product  will 


182  THE   JOURNALS  OF  [May,  1846. 

be,  and  what  real  influence  the  moon  has  on  the  vegetable 
kingdom.^ 

Wednesday,  13. — Cloudy  morning;  afraid  we  shall  have 
rain  today.  Heaven  forefend!  Bestow  upon  us  clear  and 
dry  weather  till  planting  is  over,  that  our  crops  may  be 
abundant  and  we  enabled  to  reap  with  joy  and  gladness. 
This  is  "  wash-day,"  soap-suds,  wash-tubs,  and  dirty  clothes. 

At  3  o'clock  P.  M.,  it  rained  a  clever  shower  and  it  re- 
mains cloudy  and  may  rain  again  to-night.  Just  finished 
reading  ''Nick  of  the  Woods.'"  The  author  betrays  most 
unpardonable  ignorance  of  Indians,  their  manners  and  cus- 
toms, rendering  some  of  his  vivid  descriptions  of  wild  ad- 
ventures, truly  ridiculous. 

Thursday,  14. — Eainy  morning — the  old  song,  rain,  rain, 
rain.  Everything  looks  cheerless  and  dreary.  When  will 
the  murky  clouds  cease  their  lachrymose  effusions?  Surely 
they  are  not  needed  now.  This  morning  Dr.  Hewitt  re- 
turned from  Washington.  Not  much  news.  Business  could 
not  be  made  to  swim  as  rapidly  at  Washington  as  he  sup- 
posed, notwithstanding  his  professed  influence  over  the  new 
Commissioner  of  Indian  Affairs.  He  has  called  a  Council 
for  to-morrow  when,  I  suppose,  he  will  make  a  full  develop- 
ment of  the  result  of  his  mission. 

Cleared  off,  and  pleasant  at  12  o'clock. 

Friday,  15. — Council  convened  and  the  Doctor  submitted 
the  advice  of  the  War  Department  to  the  Chiefs  to  with- 
draw their  memorial  from  Congress  praying  the  confirmation 
of  the  Delaware  purchase,  and  let  the  matter  be  thrown  into 
a  tri-party  treaty.  Question  postponed  until  Thursday  next, 
the  regular  Council  day. 

Saturday,  16. — Went  to  Kansas.  Received  a  letter  from 
J.  M.  A.,  in  which  he  manifests  a  considerable  of  confidence 

>  Formerly  the  people  had  a  "time  in  the  moon"  for  doing  each  kind  of  work  on 
the  farm,  such  as  planting  the  various  crops,  plowing  the  land,  killing  animals  for 
food,  etc. 


May,  1846.]  GOVERNOR  WALKER.  183 

in  the  passage  of  our  improvement  appropriation  thro*  the 
House  of  Eepresentatives  if  it  can  be  called  up  and  a  vote 
taken  on  the  question  ;  but  here  appears  to  be  the  difficulty. 
He  further  states  that  the  two  payments  due  on  the  school 
fund  will  be  appropriated.  News  in  an  authentic  shape  has 
reached  here  of  the  declaration  of  war  by  Mexico  against 
the  U.  S.  and  already  a  part  of  Gen.  Taylor's  army  is  cap- 
tured by  the  Mexicans.     Shame! 

Sunday,  17. — Warm  day.  1  o'clock  P.  M.,  thermometer 
in  the  shade  88°.  What  will  it  be  in  July  and  August. 
At  3  o'clock  it  mounted  up  to  90°.  Received  D.  W.  Desh- 
ler's  answer. 

Monday,  18. — Cloudy,  prospect  of  more  rain.  It  has 
been  thundering  all  the  forenoon,  but  not  any  rain  as  yet. 
Hope  we  may  have  none  all  this  week.  I  want  to  plant  my 
corn  and  sweet  potatoes. 

Tuesday,  19. — Council  met  to-day.  The  delegates  in- 
structed to  withdraw  the  memorial  praying  Congress  to 
confirm  the  Delaware  purchase  upon  certain  contingencies 
mentioned.  Sent  them  a  draft  on  the  Commissioner  of  In- 
dian Affairs  for  $200  out  of  the  annuity  for  this  year  for 
their  expenses.     Adjourned  till  Tuesday  week. 

Wednesday,  20. — Cloudy  morning,  I  opine  we  shall  have 
rain  to-day.  At  1  o'clock  a  thunder  storm  and  shower.  Got 
my  seed  corn  from  W.  Hunter.  The  real  Simon  pure  gourd 
seed — the  grains  as  long  and  nearly  as  large  as  horse  teeth. 
I  think  it  a  better  kind  than  the  large  white  Tennessee  corn. 
I  next  want  some  real  Wyandott  hominy  corn  to  plant  for 
roasting  ears,  this  with  me  being  a  great  luxury. 

Thursday,  21. — Showery  all  day.  Done  nothing — a 
blank.     J.  Walker  set  out  for  Ohio. 

Friday,  22.  —  Weather  unsettled.  Rained  last  night. 
Cleared  off  and  became  warm  and  pleasant.  At  2  o'clock 
commenced  planting  corn,  and  finished  at  5  o'clock  P.  M. 


184  THE   JOURNALS   OF  [May,  1846. 

Unlucky  day  though  it  be,  yet  I  am  in  hopes  it  will  have 
no  evil  effect  upon  the  growth  of  the  corn. 

Saturday,  23. — Weather  unsettled.  Prospect  of  rain — 
but  it  turned  out  a  clear  and  warm  day. 

Sunday,  24. — Warm  and  sultry  day.  Received  our  mail, 
but  had  but  little  interesting  news.  Read  all  day.  In  the 
evening  went  to  Church  and  heard  a  sermon  from  Rev.  M'' 
Duncan,  a  Cherokee. 

Monday,  25. — A  clear  and  warm  day.  Nothing  special 
of  interest  occurred.     Went  to  town  on  a  visit  to  C.  G.'s. 

Tuesday,  26. — Council  day.  Met  at  11  o'clock  A.  M. 
Elected  M.  R.  W.  school  director,  in  the  place  of  John 
Gibson. 

Wednesday,  27. — Rained  last  night;  clear  to-day  and 
sultry — think  we  shall  have  more  rain  this  afternoon.  Well, 
so  we  did.     Sowed  radishes  and  beets. 

Thursday,  28. — Rained  last  night.  Clear  to-day  and 
sultry.  Stuck  my  peas.  Hark!  there  is  a  new  feathered 
songster  singing  melodious  music! 

Tbat  song,  sweet  bird,  once  more,  oh  once  again! 

Let  tliat  rich  warble  from  thy  bosom  gnsh; 
Delightful  memories  waken  with  thy  strain, 

And  o'tr  my  soul  with  trembling  rapture  rush. 

Friday,  29. — Rained  last  night  as  usual.  Clear  this  morn- 
ing. I  opine  our  rainy  season  is  about  setting  in  and  we 
may  shortly  expect  the  annual  rise  of  our  rivers.  But  it  is 
thought  by  the  old  inhabitants  that  the  rise  this  season  will 
not  be  as  great  as  the  two  last  seasons.  If  it  should  prove 
true,  it  will  be  a  happy  circumstance  to  that  numerous  class 
of  residents  upon  the  rich  river  bottoms. 

Saturday,  30. — Clear,  cool  and  bracing  morning.  We 
escaped  our  usual  night  rains,  having  passed  through  the  last 
night  without  any  "droppings"  from  the  clouds;  but  in  lieu 
thereof  we  were  visited  by  a  certain  quadruped  gentleman. 


June,  1846.]  GOVERNOR  WALKER.  185 

whose  proximity  is  always  knowQ  by  a  peculiar,  nauseating 
scent  he  carries  about  his  person,  y'clept  polecat. 

I  have  adopted  a  few  days  ago  the  Turkish  custom  of 
morning  ablutions  as  soon  as  I  get  out  of  bed.  I  strip  my- 
self and  proceed  to  the  operation  with  a  sponge  and  cold 
water,  and  close  with  a  vigorous  and  hearty  application  of  a 
coarse  linen  towel  and  cease  not  the  rubbing  till  my  cuticle  is 
excited  to  a  red  glow.  Then  like  a  good  mussulman  exclaim 
^^  Allah  ach  har^''  and  proceed  to  my  toilette.  What  effect  this 
may  have  upon  my  health  and  morals,  all  trying  time  alone 
can  determine.  It  may  increase  the  activity  of  the  circula- 
tion of  the  fluids,  and  cause  a  more  regular  determination  to 
the  surface  and  thereby  prevent  those  ulcers,  biles,  and  sores, 
I  have  been  so  long  afflicted  with.     Mahomet  was  a  prophet. 

The  Missouri  is  rising  rapidly.  Just  heard  that  M""  Har- 
per, Col.  S.  Owen's  son-in-law,  shot  a  man  in  Independence 
while  they  were  sitting  gambling  in  a  room;  no  one  being 
present,  the  particulars  of  the  fatal  quarrel  cannot  be  given. 
Presume  they  [were]  intoxicated,  and  one  was  perhaps  los- 
ing money  faster  than  he  liked. 

Sunday,  31. — Clear  morning.  Continued  warm  through 
the  day,  but  in  the  evening  it  became  cloudy,  and  we  had  a 
brisk  shower.  During  the  day  I  called  upon  Dr.  H.  and 
spent  two  or  three  hours  at  his  house.  He  was  truly  sopo- 
rific, and  I  had  the  exquisite  pleasure  of  enjoying  my  own 
company. 

June,  1846. 

Monday,  1. — Farewell,  blossom  decorated  May!  Thou 
hast  truly  had  a  tear  shedding  time  of  it  during  your  short 
sojourn  with  us.  It  has  been  shower  after  shower.  Truly 
thou  hast  been  "in  the  melting  mood,"  though  so  often 
pressed  to  dry  up  thy  tears  and  put  on  a  smiling  face.  But 
nay.     She  left  us  last  night  in  a  violent  passion  and  in  the 


186 


THE   JOUENALS  OF  [June,  184«. 


midst  of  a  torrent  of  grief,  and  verily,  we  are  not  sorry  she 
is  gone.  And  now,  smooth-faced  June,  we  bid  thee  welcome, 
and  trust  thou  wilt  act  more  seemly  than  thy  predecessor. 
Wear  thy  best  smiles  and  let  buoyant  joy  be  enthroned  upon 
thy  brow. 

6  o'clock  P.  M.  It  has  been  cool  all  day,  temperature, 
65°.     Sun  going  down  clear.     No  rain  to-night  I  hope. 

Tuesday,  2. — Clear  and  pleasant.  At  sunrise  temperature 
60°.  Council  convened.  Transacted  various  matters,  local 
affairs,  etc.  Authorized  a  call  of  a  National  Convention  to 
remodel  the  government,  and  appointed  Thursday  next  to 
communicate  to  the  nation,  through  a  committee,  the  con- 
templated call.  Adjourned.  Took  tea  at  S.  A.*s,  then 
came  home  via  Pharoah's  Lodge.^ 

Wednesday,  3. — Dark  and  cloudy.  More  rain.  Oh! 
June,  June!  truly,  thou  art  going  to  follow  the  example  of 
thy  elder  sister,  May,  whining,  crying,  weeping,  sniveling, 
and  nothing  but  showers  of  tears,  tears.     Shame,  shame. 

Thursday,  4. — Cloudy  and  cool,  temperature  60°.  Fire 
feels  comfortable.     Felicitatus. 

Friday,  5. — Clear  and  cold.  Temperature  60°.  Remained 
cool  all  night.  At  4  o'clock  a  heavy  shower  of  rain  fell. 
Planted  in  the  field  watermelons,  muskmelons,  cucumbers, 
and  pumpkins.  In  the  night  it  rain[ed]  again.  So  we 
have  it. 

Saturday,  6. — Cloudy,  dreary,  and  cold.  Temperature 
50°.  The  Mexican  quasi  war.  Our  frontier  is  all  in  com- 
motion. Volunteers  preparing  and  organizing,  drilling  and 
equipping  themselves  to  "march  over  the  hills  and  far 
away"  to  the  Mexican  frontier  to  reap  laurels  of  renown. 
The  worst  of  all  is  our  government  is  in  fault.     We  are  ac- 

'  The  Masonic  Lodge  of  the  Wyandot  Nation.  This  name  seems  not  to  have  been 
the  real  name  of  the  Lodge.  It  had  its  meetings  at  the  home  of  Matthew  E.  Walker. 
The  meetings  were  informal  and  not  regular  communications.  No  Masonic  labor  was 
attempted. 


Jnne.  1846.]  GOVEENOR  WALKER.  187 

tually  the  aggressors.  This  I  deeply  deplore.  Received  a 
letter  from  H.  Barrett — all  well. 

Sunday,  7. — Clear  and  cool.  Temperature  60°.  Pleas- 
ant all  day.  Being  unable  to  walk  to  meeting,  went  to  town 
and  spent  part  of  the  day  with  C.  Graham.  The  city  ice 
house  empty  already,  even  before  real  warm  weather  has  set 
in.  It  melted  away,  not  being  put  up  in  the  right  way. 
What's  to  be  done  now?     Drink  Kaw  water. 

Monday,  8. — Clear  and  cool.  Temperature  55°.  A  gen- 
eral "  turnout"  of  the  Wyandotts  to-day  on  the  roads,  cut- 
ting down  timber  and  clearing  out  as  well  as  widening  the 
road. 

Wrote  to-day  in  the  agent's  oflSce.  Came  home.  Taking 
the  blue  mass  again.  Sweet  and  delectable  morsel  I  How 
pleasant  art  thou  to  the  palate. 

Tuesday,  9. — Clear  and  cool;  temperature,  55°.  Council 
to-day.  Various,  grave,  and  weighty  matters  to  attend  to 
to-day.  210  Senecas^  landed  to-day  from  Cattaraugus,  Ton- 
awanda  and  Buffalo,  destined  to  the  great  Osage  River. 
Indicted  C.  B.  G.  for  committing  a  burglary  upon  the  ferry. 

Wednesday,  10. — Clear;  temperature,  55°.  Pleasant  to- 
day. Went  to  town.  Saw  M""  Guthrie  on  his  way  to  Ohio, 
waiting  for  a  boat.  Wrote  by  him  to  Col.  Goodin  again. 
Visitors  to-day ;  M"  G.  and  H.     Glad  to  see  company. 

Thursday,  11. — Nothing  worth  recording. 

Friday,  12. — Cloudy  and  lowering.  Prospect  of  rain. 
Held  a  diplomatic  interview  with  the  emigrants,  Senecas, 
from  N.  Y.  Tauroome  and  Sarrahas  being  the  orators  on 
the  occasion  [on  the  part  of  the  Wyandotts].  An  eloquent 
response  from  an  old  Seneca  Chief 

Saturday,  13. — Staid  at  Kansas  waiting  for  the  mail. 
News  from  the  Mexican  frontier.  The  American  arms 
victorious. 

'  These  Senecas  were  on  their  way  to  the  Cowskin  Biver  country,  in  the  Indian  Ter- 
ritory. 


188  THE  JOURNALS  OF  [Jii»e,  184«. 

Sunday,  14. — Hiatus. 

Saturday,  20. — A  violent  attack  of  the  pleurisy  confines 
me  to  the  house  for  four  days. 

Sunday,  21. — Eead  all  day  and  played  the  idle  man. 

Monday,  22. — Attended  Council.  No  business  of  impor- 
tance. 

Tuesday,  23. — Worked  in  the  garden  and  did  some  "  pot- 
tering" about  the  house. 

Wednesday,  24. — Staid  at  home;  read  all  day;  and  worked 
some. 

Thursday,  25. — Ditto;  nothing  strange. 

Friday,  26. — Got  our  mail ;  but  no  interesting  news  from 
Washington. 

Hiatus. 

July,  1846. 

Saturday,  4. — News  that  our  bill  had  passed  the  Lower 
House. 

Hiatus. 

Tuesday,  7. — C.  B.  G.  and  Peter  Buck  arraigned  for 
violently  taking  the  ferry  boat  from  her  moorings  in  the 
absence  of  the  ferryman;  the  former  fined  $5.00  and  the 
latter  |2.50. 

Wednesday,  8. — Committee  and  Council  met  again. 

Thursday,  9. — General  Convention  of  the  Nation  at  the 
Church,  on  the  subject  of  the  new  government. 

Friday,  10. — Staid  at  home.     Did  various  sorts  of  work. 

Saturday,  11. — Warm  and  sultry. 

Sunday,  12. — Read  and  lounged.     Warm  day. 

Monday,  13. — Did  various  sorts  of  work.  Got  some  cash 
from  Dr.  Hewitt  on  the  improvement  bill,  for  present  use. 

Tuesday,  14. — Myself,  wife,  and  Harriet  went  to  Westport, 
and  returned  the  next  day. 

Wednesday,  15. — Came  home  and  found  all  well. 

Thursday,  16. — Hoed  my  potatoes,  and  [did]  other  gar- 


July,  1846.]  GOVERNOR  WALKER.  189 

dening  work.    Heard  to-day  of  yesterday's  operations  in  the 
nominating  Convention,  thus: 

James  Washington  vs.  F.  A.  Hicks.^ 
Tauroomee  vs.  G.  I.  Clark. 
William  Walker  vs.  J.  Walker. 
H.  Jacquis  vs.  Sarrahess. 
J.  W.  Gray-Eyes  vs.  George  Armstrong. 
Making  the  Council,  after  the  election,  to  consist  of  only 
four  Councillors  and  a  Presiding  Chief. 

Friday,  17. — Went  to  Westport  and  bought  a  horse  at 
^5.00.     How  he  may  turn  out  I  am  unable  to  tell.     He 
has  some  good   marks  about   him — has   a  good  walk  and 
travels  well ;  seven  years  old ;  chestnut  sorrel. 
Saturday,  18. — Came  home  with  my  horse. 
Sunday,  19. — Girls  went  to  the  Delaware  camp  meeting.^ 
Monday,  20. — Went  to  the  Delaware  camp  meeting  and 
returned  in  the  evening.     Had  a  pleasant  ride. 

Tuesday,  21. — Council  met;  transacted  a  variety  of  busi- 
ness, and  adjourned  till  next  Tuesday. 

Wednesday,  22. — Afflicted  with  the  diarrhea  caused  by 
too  vegetable  a  diet.     Commenced  raining  at  7  o'clock  and 
continued  a  steady  rain  till  11  o'clock  at  night. 
Thursday,  23. — Clear  and  beautiful  morning. 

'  Francis  A.  Hicks  was  tlie  son  of  John  Hicks,  wlio  was  the  last  of  the  hereditary 
Chiefs  of  the  Wyandots.  I  have  heen  unahle  to  learn  the  Clan  to  which  Francis  A. 
Hicks  belonged.  His  name  was  Tooh'-noh-shah'-teh,  the  meaning  of  which  is  lost.  He 
was  bom  in  1800.  He  became  Head  Chief  of  the  Wyandots.  He  belonged  to  the  M.  E. 
Church  and  opposed  the  division  of  the  Church.  He  was  married  to  Mrs.  Matilda 
Driver,  widow  of  Francis  Driver,  and  one  of  the  many  Wyandot  women  famous  in  the 
tribe  for  intelligence,  goodness  of  heart,  and  a  consistent  Christian  life.  She  was  a 
Wyandot  only  by  adoption.  Francis  A.  Hicks  was  buried  in  Huron  Place  Cemetery. 
The  following  is  copied  from  the  stone  over  his  grave: 

Francis  A.  Hicks 

Died 

Sept  1855 

Aged  55  Yrs. 

He  was  Head  Chief  at  the  time  the  Wyandots  removed  from  Ohio. 

*  The  Delaware  Camp-meeting  ground  was  near  the  present  village  of  White  Church, 
Wyandotte  County,  Kansas. 


190  THE  JOURNALS  OF  tJuiy,  im6. 

Friday,  24. — M'and  M"  Peerey/  myself  and  wife  went 
to  M""  Graham's  and  spent  the  "arternoon,"  and  supped 
heartily  on  a  roast  turkey,  and  came  home  well  pleased  and 
satisfied  with  our  visit. 

Saturday,  25. — Received  a  letter  from  Col.  J.  Goodin. 
My  land  cannot,  as  he  says,  command  more  than  $5.50  or 
$6.00  per  acre.  Good  time  to  sow  turnips  but  [we]  have  no 
seed.     Alas  !  alas ! 

Sunday,  26. — Fine,  warm,  pleasant  day.  Thermometer 
92°.  W.  Bowers  called  and  spent  a  part  of  the  day.  Af- 
flicted with  something  like  the  gastritis,  from  which  I  suffer 
much  pain.     At  night,  quite  unwell. 

Monday,  27. — Warm  day.  Feel  but  little  better.  Read 
and  lounged. 

Tuesday,  28. — Attended  Council.  Transacted  various 
[matters  of]  business.  Judgment  against  Joseph  Big-Tree 
and  Theo.  Standinwater  for  $6.00  in  favor  of  John  La- 
Serge,^  for  a  canoe.  Took  supper  at  Hunter's.  A  pleasant 
party. 

Wednesday,  29. — Warm ;  mercury  96°.  Dissolved  the 
W.  I.  S.  C.  and  proceeded  to  wind  up  the  institution  by  col- 
lecting the  debts  and  settling  off  and  paying  the  stock- 
holders.   Present:  S. A.,G.  A.,  W.  W.— 3.    Absent:  C.  B.  G. 

Thursday,  30. — Hot  enough  to  turn  an  icicle  into  a  red- 
hot  spike.     Hunted  [for]  my  horse,  but  could  not  find  [it]. 

Friday,  31. — We  had  an  awful  windstorm  or  tornado; 
trees  were  thrown  "  belter  skelter  "  in  every  direction,  but 
no  material  damage  was  done. 

August,  1846. 
Saturday,  1. — Cloudy  morning;  prospect  of  rain.     At  1 
o'clock  it  cleared  off  and  was  warm  all  the  afternoon.    Spent 

>  Governor  Walker  often  writes  this  name  Peery  and  sometimes  Peerey,  He  was  a 
Methodist  minister. 

^  One  of  the  Frenchmen  who  lived  in  the  "  bottoms." 


Augnst.  1848.]  GOVERNOR  WALKER.  191 

the  afternoon  in  company  with  the  E,ev.  M'"  Jordan,  Dr. 
Hand  ;  and  W.  Twyman^  called  and  stayed  some  time. 

Sunday,  2. — Clear  and  warm  day.  Went  up  to  see  Dr. 
H.,  then  called  upon  M^  Graham,^  thence  home.  Got  no 
mail,  so  no  news;  too  had,  too  bad ! 

Monday,  3. — Warm  weather;  95°. 

Tuesday,  4. — Attended  Council;  divorced  Margaret  Hill 
from  her  husband,  Russell  B.  Hill.  Appointed  Sarrahess, 
Tauroomee,  and  George  Armstrong  a  deputation  to  the  Sen- 
ecas,  South.  But  their  departure  was  postponed  in  conse- 
quence of  hearing  that  a  messenger  was  expected  from  the 
Senecas,  inviting  the  Wyandotts  to  be  present  at  the  instal- 
lation of  the  new  Head  Chief.^ 

Wednesday,  5. — Nothing  of  interest.  Warm,  dry  weather. 

Thursday,  6. — Ditto.     Meme  chose. 

Friday,  7. — Sowed  some  turnip  seed  in  the  garden.  M' 
and  M"  Peery  and  Martha  went  to  the  Shawnee  Institution* 
to  hear  Mr.  Patton's  Fuueral  Sermon  on  the  death  of  M" 
Beryman.     H.  Jacquis  and  J.  M.  A.  returned. 

Saturday,  8. — Five  of  us  assembled  at  the  school  house  to 
clear  off  the  ground  by  grubbing  the  hazel  and  alder  brush, 
hauling  away  rotten  logs  and  clearing  away  tree-tops  thrown 
down  by  the  tornado,  and  fixing  seats  for  our  approaching 
"green  corn  feast,"  and  "barbecue." 

In  the  evening  I  was  attacked  suddenly  with  a  pleurisy. 

Sunday,  9. — Took  medicine.  Nauseating  doses. — Sick, 
— ^sick. 

'  Lived  at  Independence,  Mo. 

'  Charles  Graham,  the  Agency  blacksmith ;  was  from  Ohio.  Often  spoken  of  in 
these  Journals  as  C.  G. 

'  These  Senecas  lived  in  the  present  Seneca  Reserve  in  the  Indian  Territory,  and 
were  sometimes  spoken  of  locally  as  the  "Cowskin  Senecas,"  because  the  Cowskin 
Eiver  is  the  principal  river  in  the  Reservation.  They  had  lived  on  land  adjoining  that 
of  the  Wyandots  in  Ohio,  which  the  Wyandots  gave  them.  They  belonged  to  the  same 
gnaX  Indian  family  as  the  Wyandots  and  a  close  friendship  existed  between  the  two 
tribes  at  that  time. 

*  The  Shawnee  Mission  near  Westport,  Mo.,  but  in  the  "  Indian  Territory";  mission 
of  the  M.  £.  Church,  South. 


192  THE   JOURNALS  OF  [August,  1846. 

Monday,  10. — Feel  better ;  and  continued  so  all  day. 

Tuesday,  11. — [I  have]  taken  a  cold  by  going  out  in  the 
night,  without  putting  on  my  clothes,  for  the  purpose  of 
killing  a  polecat.  I  am  much  worse,  suffering  a  great 
deal.  Sent  for  Dr.  Hand.  In  the  evening  he  came;  took 
a  quart  or  more  [of]  blood.  My  respiration  much  im- 
proved.    Passed  a  somewhat  comfortable  night. 

Wednesday,  12. — Resumed  my  nauseating  doses;  the  vio- 
lence of  the  symptoms  in  some  degree  abating — feel  weak 
and  debilitated — no  appetite.  Afraid  I  shall  not  be  able 
to  attend  the  "Green  Corn  Feast"  and  "Barbecue"  next 
Saturday. 

Worse.     .     .     . 

Five  days,  insensible. 

Wednesday,  19. — Recovering  slowly.  A  complete  skel- 
eton. 

^^  Viola  le  commencement  dufin.^' 

I  move  about  my  room, 

"  Like  some  town  hack  that,  spavin'd,  old  and  blind, 
Moves  to  the  wheezing  of  his  broken  wind." 

Hiatus. 

September,  1846. 

"  Let  me  think  how  time  is  gliding; 

Soon  the  longest  life  departs, 
Nothing  human  is  abiding, 

Save  the  love  of  humble  hearts. 
Love  to  God  and  to  our  neighbor, 

Makes  our  present  happiness; 
Vain  the  wish,  the  care,  the  labor, 

Earth's  poor  trifles  to  possess." 

November,  1846. 

Tuesday,  10. — Received  a  letter  from  Geo.  Dickson,  in- 
forming me  that  he  had  succeeded  in  purchasing  from  John 
Edmonson,  his  farm  in  Van  Buren  County,  at  six  hundred 
dollars. 

Hiatus. 


December,  1846.]  GOVEENOR   WALKER.  193 

Thursday,  12.— Sent  $600.  by  M.  R.  Walker  to  pay  Ed- 
monson for  his  farm,  and  [to]  get  the  deed  recorded. 

Hiatus. 

Saturday,  28. — Inclosed  to  J.  R.  Rowand,  Druggist  in 
Philadelphia,  $25.00,  two  ten  dollar  bills  and  one  $5.00. 
The  two  tens  on  the  State  Bank  of  Missouri,  and  the  five 
on  the  State  Bank  of  Indiana. 

Hiatus. 

December,  1846. 

Wednesday,  16. — Pursuant  to  previous  arrangements,  the 
Delaware  Chiefs  assembled  at  the  school  house  to  Memo- 
rialize the  President  for  the  appointment  of  a  Commissioner 
to  shape  the  agreement  between  the  Wyandotts  and  Dela- 
wares  into  the  form  of  a  Treaty  so  as  [to]  enable  the  Presi- 
dent and  Senate  to  ratify  the  same, — but  in  consequence  of 
Major  Cummins  not  arriving,  it  was  postponed  till  Monday, 
21st  instant.^ 

Monday,  21. — Sarrahas  took  sick  on  Wednesday  night, 
and  [on]  the  Saturday  following,  at  7  o'clock  P.  M.,  he  died 
of  a  hemorrhage  from  the  lungs.^ 

Thursday,  24. — Had  a  wedding  at  our  house.  George 
Armstrong  was  married  to  the  widow  Barnett.  Company 
are  Rev.  E.  T.  Peery,  James  Washington,  H.  Jacquis,  Silas 
Armstrong,  J.  M.  Armstrong,  Widow  Charloe,^  M^^  Wash- 
ington, and  W.  Bowen. 

'  The  agreement  concerning  the  "Wyandot  Purchase." 

'  He  died  on  the  18th.  He  was  a  good  man,  with  a  strong  grasp  of  public  questions; 
he  was  a  fine  orator.  He  is  buried  in  Huron  Place  Cemetery.  The  inscription  on  tiie 
stone  over  his  grave  reads : 

Matthew  Sarrahess 

died 

Dec  18    1846 

Aged  60  Yrs. 

»  Margaret  Charloe  was  the  sister  of  Henry  Jacquis.     She  married Charloe. 

Their  children  were :  1.  John;  2.  Hannah;  3.  James  T.;  4.  Robert;  5.  Nancy.    Robert 
and  Nancy  died  unmarried.     James  T.  Charloe  married  Amelia  Peacock.     They  had 
only  one  child,  Lucy.    She  married  John  Winney,  a  Seneca,  and  she  now  lives  in  the 
14 


]  94  THE   JOURNALS  OF  [December,  1846. 

Friday,  25. — Spent  my  Christmas  in  Kansas  and  West- 
port. 

Sunday,  27. — Set  out  for  Harrison ville  in  company  with 
M'  Munday  to  attend  a  negro  sale. 

1847. 
January,  1847. 

Friday,  1. — In  Harrisonvillle  I  this  day  bought  at  public 
sale  a  female  slave  about  32  years  of  age,  named  "Dorcas." 
If  I  have  erred  in  this  act,  may  God  in  his  infinite  mercy 
forgive  me,  though  I  feel  no  condemnation  for  the  act.  I 
shall  endeavor  to  come  up  fully  to  what  was  said  by  the 
auctioneer  who  sold  her,  who  said,  when  it  was  announced 
that  I  was  the  purchaser,  "Now  Dorcas,  you  have  a  good 
and  kind  master."^ 

Hiatus. 

Seneca  Nation.  John  Charloe  married .  Their  children  :  1.  JaneC;  2.  Mar- 
garet. Jane  Charloe  married  John  Pipe.  Margaret  Charloe  married  Thomas  Pipe. 
After  the  death  of  John  Pipe,  his  widow  married  John  Sarrahas.  Hannah  Charloe 
married  John  Barnett.  Children:  1.  James;  2.  Eliza;  3.  John  Russel;  4.  Louis;  5. 
William.  John  E.,  Louis,  and  William  died  unmarried.  Eliza  Barnett  married  Mat- 
thias Splitlog.  James  Barnett  married  Jane  TuUis.  Children:  1.  Serena;  2.  Martha  M.; 
3.  Henry  J.;  4.  Silas  A.;  5.  Izetta.  Silas  A.  died  unmarried.  Serena  Barnett  married 
Alfred  Welsh.  Martha  M.  Barnett  married  William  Priestly.  Henry  J.  Barnett  mar- 
ried Mary  C.  Passmore.  Izette  Barnett  married  Oliver  P.  De  Honde.  Henry  J.  Bar- 
nett and  Mary  C.  Passmore  had  one  son,  William  C.  Barnett.  Mrs.  De  Honde  has 
adopted  him. 

'  The  following  is  a  copy  of  the  Bill  of  Sale  given  him: 

"Know  all  men  hy  these  Presents  that  we  John  W.  Briscoe  and  Greenbury  Parker 
administrators  of  the  estate  of  John  Gipson  deceased  have  this  day  as  such  administra- 
tors for  and  in  consideration  of  the  sum  of  three  hundred  and  eighty  dollars  the  receipt 
whereof  is  hereby  acknowledged  bargained  sold  and  delivered  unto  William  Walker 
one  certain  negro  woman  slave  for  life  aged  about  thirty  five  years  of  moderately  dark 
complexion  called  and  named  Dorc;us  of  the  property  of  said  estate— to  have  and  to 
hold  said  slave  unto  said  William  Walker  his  executors  admrs.  and  assigns  forever. 

'And  we  said  administrators  as  the  legal  Representatives  of  said  decedent  do  hereby 
Warrant  the  title  of  said  negro  and  that  she  is  of  sound  mind  and  body  and  slave  for 
life — in  testimony  Whereof  we  have  hereunto  set  our  hands  and  seals  (as  such  adminis- 
trators) this  Ist  day  of  January  A  D  1847. 

(Signed)        "John  W.  Beiscoe  [seal] 

"Geeenberey  Parkee         [seal] 
"Adm7-s." 


March,  1847.]  GOVERNOR  WALKER.  195 

February,  1847. 

Thursday,  4. — Wrote  to  [The]  General  Land  Office  in- 
quiring what  the  "Cherokee  Boy's  "^  three- fourths  of  a  section 
amounted  to,  and  what  amount  would  be  deducted  for  ex- 
penses. 

Hiatus. 

Saturday,  20. — Having  received  J.  C.  Berry  man's  deed 
to-day,  I  paid  E.  T.  Perry  the  balance  due  on  the  land, 
$497.45. 

Hiatus. 

Thursday,  25. — Wrote  to  James  Dunwoodie,  making  him 
an  offer  for  his  slave  "  Ben."     R.  Gray  Eyes  was  buried. 

Miss  Peach  Blossom  gave  birth  to  a  fine  bull  calf,  [which 
I]  named  "  Brutus." 

Friday,  26. — Snowing,  cloudy,  and  dark.  Snowed  all  day; 
prospects  of  a  cold  night.  Surely  there  has  been  a  revolu- 
tion on  our  terraqueous  globe;  the  frigid  zone  is  taking  the 
place  of  the  temperate. 

Saturday,  27. — Weather  about  ditto.  The  "Amelia" 
steamboat  came  up;  the  first  boat  up  this  season. 

Hiatus. 

March,  1847. 

Tuesday,  2. — Held  a  session  of  the  Council. 
[Wednesday,  3.] — Council  met  again.     Steamboat  "John 

'  The  Cherokee  Boy  was  Chief  of  the  Wolf  Clan  of  the  Wyandots.  His  Wyandot 
name  was  Hah-rohn'-yooh.  He  signed  the  Treaty  of  September  17,  1818,  by  his  mark, 
and  his  name  is  written  "Horonu,  or  Cherokee  Boy."  On  September  20,  1818,  he 
signed  another  Treaty,  and  his  name  is  there  written  "Aronne,  or  Cherokee  Boy."  In 
the  treaty  of  September  29,  1817,  is  the  following  grant: 

"  To  Horonu,  or  the  Cherokee  Boy,  a  Wyandot  chief,  a  section  of  land  to  contain 
640  acres,  on  the  Sandusky  river,  to  be  laid  off  in  a  square  form,  and  to  include  1  i« 
improvements." 

It  was  concerning  a  part  of  the  proceeds  of  the  sale  of  this  land  that  Governor 
Walker  was  writing  to  the  Government. 

The  wife  of  the  Cherokee  Boy  was  a  Delaware,  but  she  had  been  adopted  by  the 
Wyandots,  and  into  the  Wolf  Clan.  Her  Wyandot  name  was  Yahn-yooh'-mehn'-tah. 
Their  marriage  was  permitted  because  she  was  of  foreign  blood — a  stranger.  What 
their  names  signify  I  have  not  been  able  to  learn. 


196  THE   JOURNALS   OF  [March,  1847. 

J.  Hardin"  came  up.  Sent  to  the  P.  O.  a  letter  to  Gales 
&  Seaton  requesting  the  "  Nat.  Int."  to  be  sent  to  Wcstport. 
On  the  same  day  [  I  wrote]  to  W.  B.  Thrall  of  the  O.  S. 
Journal  to  the  same  effect. 

Thursday,  4. — This  day  Congress,  the  29th  Congress, 
scattered  to  the  four  winds  of  the  earth.  The  members 
thereof  [are]  never  to  meet  again. 

Mrs.  W.  went  to  Randolph  a  shopping. 

Friday,  5. — This  day  I  am  46  years  of  age. 

"Time,  like  an  ever  rolling  stream, 
Bears  all  its  sons  away; 
They  fly  forgotten,  as  a  dream 
Dies  at  the  opening  day."  * 

Saturday,  6. — Paid  Dr.  Harlan  his  bill,  at  Kansas. 

Sunday,  7. — Four  inches  [of]  snow  on  the  ground. 

Monday,  8. — Cold  all  day.  In  the  morning  the  ther- 
mometer stood  10°  above  zero.     Boisterous  weather. 

Tuesday,  9. — Snowed  last  night.  12°  above  zero.  Stock 
suffering.     Steamboats  stopped. 

Wednesday,  10. — Cold,  dreary  weather;  at  night,  snow- 
ing.    Thermometer  20°. 

Thursday,  11. — Weather  moderated  a  little,  but  [still] 
cloudy  and  cheerless.  Attended  National  Council  at  the 
Church.  New  laws  enacted.  Boundary  Commissioners,^ 
S.  A.  and  M.  B.  W.,  appointed;  and  John  Gibson  and  J. 
W.  Gray  Eyes  [appointed]  Supervisors.  Came  home  [at] 
4  o'clock  P.  M. 

Snowing — "storms  after  storms"  succeed  storms  and  snow 
storms,  and  storm  all  the  time. 

Friday,  12. — Snow  storm,  as  usual.  So  we  go,  storm  after 
storm. 

1  Ohio  State  Journal. 

2  His  birthday  almost  always  caused  some  such  sentiment  as  this  to  be  written  in 
his  Journal.  There  seems  to  have  been  ever  present  with  him  a  full  realization  of  the 
fleetness  of  time  and  the  utter  worthlessness  of  all  worldly  possessions  in  the  hour  of 
death. 

'  To  fix  the  western  boundary  of  the  "  Purchase." 


March,  1847.]  GOVERNOE  WALKER.  197 

Oh,  you  hoary  headed  old  scamp!  hie  you  back  to  your 
frigid  regions.  What  do  you  here  in  the  Sunny  South  at 
this  season  of  the  year?  Away  with  you,  with  your  frosty 
beard  and  jingling  icicles,  no  more  to  be  seen  till  your  al- 
lotted season. 

Saturday,  13. — Clear  for  once,  and  prospect  for  a  warm 
day.  Adm's.  sale  of  the  chattels  of  the  late  Kobert  Gray 
Eyes,^  deceased.  J.  Walker  bought  the  place  at  the  appraise- 
ment. I  bought  nothing!  Came  home  and  read  newspapers 
just  got  out  of  the  P.  O.  The  papers,  however,  a  "  dog's 
age  "  old. 

Sunday,  14. — Received  a  letter  from  my  old  friend  and 
neighbor,  A.  Trager.  Snowing,  snowing,  though  not  cold. 
Staid  at  home  all  day.     Dull,  dull. 

Monday,  15. — At  daylight,  2°  below  zero!  Sunrise, 
clear.  Afternoon,  cloudy  and  snowy.  Sunset,  snowing. 
Wind  from  the  South. 

Tuesday,  16. — Sunrise,  10°  above  zero.  Clear.  About  to 
set  out  for  Independence  to  attend  a  sale  of  Cohn  &  Black's 
house  and  lot,  and  to  attend  Court,  and  various  other  matters. 

Wednesday,  17. — At  Independence.  Bought  Cohn  & 
Black's  house  and  lot,  $705. 

Hiatus. 

Friday,  26. — Came  home  with  the  mumps. 

Saturday,  27. — Some  better.  Read  all  day.  Took  medi- 
cines. 

Sunday,  28. — Read,  wrote,  etc. 

Monday,  29.— Sent  |705.00  to  the  Sheriff  by  C.  Graham, 
being  the  price  of  my  late  purchase. 

Tuesday,  30. — Mild  and  warm.  Suffering  from  a  severe 
cough.  Amused  with  the  company  of  Mr.  Murfee  from  In- 
dependence, who  staid  all  night. 

Wednesday,  31. — Beautiful  day,  warm  and  pleasant. 

>  Brother  of  John  W.  Gray-Eyes. 


198  THE  JOURNALS  OF  [April,  1847. 

April,  1847. 

Thursday,  1. — All  Fool's  day,  but  a  very  pleasant  one. 
Warm  and  mild.  Wrote  to  J.  R.  Kowand  informing  him 
when  I  made  the  remittance  of  $25.00. 

Friday,  2. — At  9  o'clock  the  girls  made  their  appearance 
after  an  absence  of  over  six  mouths.  They  came  home  to 
spend  their  vacation. 

Saturday,  3. — We  both  went  to  Kansas  in  company  with 
Henry  Jacquis  and  his  team,  and  brought  away  our  effects 
stored  away  in  the  warehouse,  and  at  the  same  time  ac- 
knowledged the  execution  of  a  deed  before  Justice  Kaufman, 
and  came  home  quite  fatigued. 

Nancy  Washington  died  this  morning. 

Sunday,  4. — Fine,  warm  day.  The  funeral  of  Nancy 
Washington  takes  place  to-day. 

Monday,  5. — Beautiful  weather. 

Tuesday,  6. — Attended  Council  at  J.  Washington's. 
Transacted  various  [matters  of]  business,  and  adjourned  to 
the  first  Tuesday  in  May  next. 

Wednesday,  7. — Rolled  the  logs  in  the  woods  pasture. 
In  the  evening  our  old  and  esteemed  friend,  Col.  W.  M. 
Chick,^  departed  this  life.  Disease,  Gastritis,  Enteritis,  and 
Pneumonia. 

Thursday,  8. — We  attended  the  funeral.  There  was  a 
vast  concourse  of  people  at  the  burial. 

Friday,  9. — Settled  with  Thomas  Bowers  for  his  work  in 
the  woods  pasture.  Paid  him  $23.40.  Log-rolled  all  day 
for  M.  E,.  Walker.     A  hard  day's  work!  ! 

Saturday,  10. — Working  in  the  garden.  Planted  early 
potatoes,  top  onions ;  and  sowed  onion  seed.     Planted  peas. 

Sunday,  11. — Quarterly  Meeting.  Went  to  Church  and 
heard  a  sermon  from  Mr.  Stateler. 

■  I  do  not  know  certainly  whether  he  lived  in  the  "Wyandot  Purchase  "  or  in  the 
City  of  "Kansas";  probably  in  the  latter. 


April,  1847.]  GOVERNOR  WALKER.  199 

Monday,  12. — Wrote  to  Col.  Goodin,  authorizing  him  to 
accept  of  M''  Saylor's  offer  for  my  land,  one-third  down  and 
the  remainder  in  two  annual  payments,  without  interest. 
Wrote  to  Col.  Kirby  on  the  Burlingame  case.  Hauled  rails 
all  day. 

"  Je  suis  fatigue  cum  une  chevalle." 

Mrs.  Walker  went  to  Westport  to  send  by  D.  W.  Simp- 
son to  New  York  for  some  silver  plate.^  J.  Walker  returned 
to-day  from  St.  Louis. 

Hiatus. 

Saturday,  17. — Planted  our  corn. 

Sunday,  18. — Read  all  day ;  kept  close  quarters. 

Monday,  19. — Attending  to  hauling  rails  and  stakes. 

Tuesday,  20. — Employed  D.  Edgington  and  hand  to  build 
a  garden  and  yard  fence  of  paling,  at  40c  per  panel. 

Wednesday,  21. — Done  and  performed  various  [kinds  of] 
work,  such  as  fencing  and  the  like. 

Thursday,  22. — Done  nothing,  [it]  being  rather  an  un- 
pleasant day.      Opened  a  fresh  barrel  of  sugar. 

Friday,  23. — Rolled  the  logs  in  the  new  field. 

Saturday,  24, — Frost  this  morning.  Fine  pleasant  day. 
Hands  split  rails  and  stakes.     Received  a  letter  from  Martha. 

Sunday,  25. — Answered  it  [Martha's  letter.]  Read — staid 
at  home.  Had  the  Hermit's  company  a  half  an  hour.  In- 
teresting colloquy. 

Monday,  26. — Beautiful  morning.  Miss  Monk  gave  birth 
to  a  fine  heir.  They  are  comfortably  quartered  in  the 
Woods  pasture.  One  more  calf.  Stock  increasing.  What 
shall  I  do  ?  I  will  tear  down  my  old  pasture  and  build  a  new 
one.  Tut,  tut,  that  won't  do.  I  will  enlarge  it — yes,  that 
will  do.  Wrote  to  J.  C.  Jackson  concerning  a  receipt  given 
me  by  Col.  Chick. 

Hiatus. 

'  Tlio  Wyandots  always  have  their  silver  plate  marked  with  a  figure  of  the  animal 
for  which  the  Clan  to  which  they  belonged  was  named. 


200  THE   JOURNALS   OF  [May,1847. 

May,  1847. 

Saturday,  1. — Received  a  letter  from  M""  Jackson  in- 
forming me  that  he  had  received  neither  deed  nor  Col. 
Chick's  receipt  by  M''  Wilson. 

Hiatus. 

Tuesday,  4. — Paid  by  M.  E..  Walker,  the  Kansas  proprie- 
tors, $50.00^  for  a  lot  in  said  town.  Coancil  met;  trans- 
acted various  business.     Sesssion  lasted  two  days. 

Hiatus. 

Friday,  7. — Rained.     Hunted  a  stone  quarry. 

Saturday,  8. — Attended  the  sale  at  the  Council  room,  of 
the  goods,  chattels,  and  effects  of  Nofat,  deceased.  Bought 
nothing. 

The  company  then  proceeded  to  the  ferry,  hauled  out  and 
turned  upside  down  the  old  flat  boat,  for  repairs.  G.  A.  and 
myself  assorted  our  lumber. 

Sunday,  9. — Read,  wrote,  etc.,  till  3  o'clock  P.  M.  Then 
went  to  church  and  heard  a  sermon  from  M""  Parrott. 

Monday,  10. — Tore  down  Piert's  infamous  chimney  in- 
tending to  put  up  a  new  and  better  one  in  place.  Hired  F. 
Wilson  and  R.  Richardson  for  a  month,  each  at  $12.00. 
Rained  in  the  evening. 

Tuesday,  11. — Rainy  morning.  Rained  until  2  o'clock. 
Wrote  to  Major  Harvey  a  letter  of  enquiry  about  the  re- 
ported removal  of  C.  Graham.  Received  a  letter  from  John 
Wheeler. 

Wednesday,  12. — Sunrise.  Thermometer  at  "freezing 
point."  A  severe  white  frost!  Summoned  to  attend  a 
Council  at  the  Delaware  meeting  house  to  meet  a  deputation 
of  Pawnees  and  other  wild  tribes,  on  to-morrow.  Business 
unknown  as  yet. 

Thursday,  13. — Attended  the  Council.  The  following 
tribes  were  represented,  viz.:  Wyandotts,  Delawares,  Shaw- 

•  Some  idea  of  the  yalue  of  town  lots  in  the  City  of  Kansas  in  those  days. 


M»y,  1847.]  GOVERNOR  WALKER.  201 

nees,  Kickapoos,  and  Pawnees.  Entered  into  a  treaty  of 
peace  and  amity.  This  is  the  first  time  in  my  life  that  I 
heard  the  Pawnee  language  spoken.^ 

Friday,  14. — Rained.  Edgington  and  hands  making 
shingles  for  the  kitchen  and  smoke  house.  Hauling  the 
hewed  timber.  To-day  our  Wyandott  volunteers  set  out  on 
board  the  "Amelia"  for  the  seat  of  war.^ 

Saturday,  15. — Rained  nearly  all  day.  Hauled  timber. 
At  noon  Edgington  and  hands  left  for  home.  M"  W.  went 
to  Kansas.  Got  no  mail.  Evening,  went  out  gunning  for 
sq«.irrels, — killed  none.  Wounded  some  and  scared  some 
terribly!  ! 

Sunday,  16. — Raining,  cloudy,  and  tempestuous.  Wrote 
to  Col.  Goodin  under  date  [of]  the  15th,  inclosing  him  our 
deed  to  Mr.  Saylor.  Wrote  to  Dr.  Boggs  enclosing  his  note 
given  to  the  proprietors  of  Kansas  for  a  lot.  Cloudy  and  a 
drizzling  rain.     Unsettled  weather. 

Monday,  17. — Cloudy  and  cold  morning.  F.  Wilson  went 
to  Independence.  Sent  to  the  Clerk's  office  a  deed  for  the 
certificate  and  County  seal. 

Castrated  and  marked  eight  pigs.  A  swallow  fork  in  the 
right  ear. 

Tuesday,  18. — Warm  and  pleasant.  Hauling  our  build- 
ing timber.  Broke  our  small  wagon  by  Dick's  carelessness. 
Stopped  hauling.  Waiting  for  Esau  to  return  my  big 
wagon.     Bad  luck.     Brimstone,  Sour  Krout  and  Assafietida. 

Wednesday,  19. — Prepared  the  new  field  for  the  plough. 
Esau  came  with  an  apology  for  keeping  my  wagon,  and  prom- 
ised to  send  it  home  to-morrow. 

Thursday,  20. — Rained  last  night  furiously.  Set  out  fifty 
cabbage  plants.     Esau  called  and  informed  me  that  he  had 

'  It  was  determined  at  this  meeting  to  convoke  the  tribes  of  the  Northwestern  Con- 
federacy and  rekindle  the  Council  Fire  in  the  West,  so  John  W.  Gray-Eyes  t<^  me. 
The  Council  was  held  in  October  of  the  following  year. 

'  The  Mexican  War. 


202  THE   JOURNALS   OF  [May,  1847. 

broken  my  big  wagon.  Well,  if  this  is  not  enough  to  pro- 
voke the  soul  of  a  saint,  I  do  not  know  what  will.  Worked 
in  the  woods  pasture.  Rained  all  day.  The  rainy  season 
coming  on,  and  the  annual  freshet.     The  Missouri  rising. 

Friday,  21. — M'  Thompson  commenced  walling  the  cellar. 
Unlucky  day  for  a  commencement.  Cloudy  and  lowry ; 
"looks  mighty  like  rain."     Hauled  logs  for  my  building. 

Saturday,  22. — Cold  and  clear  morning,  but  [we]  escaped 
Jack  Frost's  clutches. 

Hauled  a  load  of  stone,  and  resumed  hauling  our  building 
timber.  Sent  by  M'  Parrott  to  the  P.  O.  at  Westport  to 
have  letters  mailed  for  Hanson,  B.,  J.  Wheeler,  and  A.  P. 
Curry.  Received  a  letter  from  Deacon  Wheeler  full  of 
abolitionism. 

Sunday,  23. — Staid  at  home.  Read  newspapers,  and  com- 
menced a  reply  to  the  Deacon's  abolition  letter.  In  the  even- 
ing went  to  Church  and  had  a  sermon  from  M^  Parrott. 

Monday,  24. — Rainy  morning.  Started  with  the  team  to 
the  stone  quarry,  but  it  rained  so  desperately  and  [with]  no 
probability  of  its  holding  up,  [that]  we  gave  up  the  idea  of 
quarrying  rock,  and  came  home.  To-day  F.  A.  Hicks  and 
Matilda  Driver^  were  married.  Joy  be  with  them.  Cold 
night. 

'  The  Driver  Family  was  an  important  one  in  the  Wyandot  Nation.  From  what  I 
have  been  able  to  learn  I  conclude  that  Francis  Driver  was  a  Wyandot  Indian  of  not 
more  than  one-fourth  blood,  if  even  that  much.  He  was  the  son  of  a  Wyandot  Chief 
named  Driver,  who  is  often  spoken  of  by  Finley  in  his  Book  "Among  the  Indians." 
This  Chief  was  one  of  Finley's  principal  supporters  when  he  established  Methodism  in 
the  Wyandot  Nation.  He  signed  the  Treaty  of  January  19,  1832.  His  Wyandot  name 
was  Sah-yooh'-tooh'-zhah,  the  meaning  of  which  is  lost.  One  of  Driver's  speeches  is 
given  in  Finley's  book  at  page  436. 

In  1823  Jacob  Hooper  was  appointed  to  the  Wyandot  Mission  by  the  Ohio  Conference 
of  the  M.  E.  Church,  held  in  Urbana.  His  wife  was  also  appointed  to  a  position  (that 
of  teacher)  in  the  Mission.  Hooper  was  from  Lancaster,  Pennsylvania,  and  he  brought 
with  him  to  the  work  among  the  Indians  his  niece,  Miss  Matilda  Stephenson,  who  had 
been  brought  up  at  Lancaster.  She  was  scarcely  grown  up  when  she  arrived  at  Upper 
Sandusky.  She  attended  the  Mission  school  awhile  after  she  arrived.  Her  aunt,  Mrs. 
Hooper,  was  a  teacher  in  her  department  and  Matilda  often  assisted  her. 

Francis  Driver  was  a  student  at  the  Mission  school;  he  often  saw  Miss  Stephenson. 
He  was  very  desirous  of  marrying  her  and  became  an  ardent  suitor.     And  in  due  time 


May,  1847.]  GOVERNOK  WALKER.  203 

Tuesday,  25. — Clear,  cold  and  chilly  morning.  Set  out 
with  our  team  and  hands  for  Clark's  stone  quarry  and  found 
excellent  building  stone.  At  10  o'clock  M'  Dennis,  our  car- 
penter, arrived  with  his  tools.     Clear  and  beautiful  day. 

Wednesday,  26. — Clear  and  cool  morning.  Prospect  of  a 
fine  day.  Hauling  stone.  Keceived  a  letter  from  Major 
Harvey  announcing  the  removal  of  Charles  Graham  from 
the  public  smithshop. 

Thursday,  27. — My  hands,  R.  Richardson  and  F.  Wilson 
left  me  this  morning  to  go  to  the  Mexican  wars.      Now  my 

Francis  Driver  and  Matilda  Stephenson  were  married.     Before  their  marriage  Miss 
Stephenson  was  adopted  by  an  old  Wyandot  woman  who  belonged  to  the  Snake  Clan. 
She  thus  became  a  Wyandot  of  that  Clan.     Children  were  born  to  them  that  grew  up, 
as  follows:  1.  Sarah;  2.  William;  3.  Caroline.     Francis  Driver  and  wife  came  to  Wyan- 
dotte County  from  Ohio  with  the  Wyandot  Nation.     He  died  here  January  24,  1847, 
and  lies  buried  in  the  old  Indian  burying  ground  in  Huron  Place.     He  was  45  years 
old  at  his  death.     His  Wyandot  name  was  Teh'-hah-rohn'-yooh-reh',  and  means  "split- 
ting the  sky."     He  belonged  to  the  Big  Turtle  Clan.     After  his  death   Mrs.  Driver 
married  Francis  A.  Hicks.     They  had  no  children.     Hicks  died  in  September,  1855. 
He  was  Head  Chief  of  the  Wyandots  in  1850.     Mrs.  Matilda  (Driver)  Hicks  died  June 
29.  1866,  aged  61  years.     She  lies  buried  in  the  Indian  burying  ground  in  Huron  Place, 
also.     I  find  the  following  in  my  notes  on  Huron  Place  Burying  Ground: 
Francis  Driver 
Died 
Jan.  24,  1847    Aged  45  Yrs. 
Matilda  Hicks 
Died 
June  29  1866    Aged  6 1   Yrs. 

Mary  A.   Driver 

Died 

Aug  3  I    1844    Aged   14  Yrs. 

Martha  Driver 

Died 

Sept.   13    1844    Aged    I  I   Yrs 

8  Mos,  4  Days. 

Sarah  Driver  married,  1st,  Dr.  W.  A.  Payne,  of  Louisville,  Ky.,  and  2d,  Lncian 
Dagnett,  a  quarter-blood  Peoria  Indian.  No  children  by  either  marriage.  William 
Driver  was  in  the  Union  Army  and  died  unmarried.  Caroline  married,  1st,  Edward 
Kirkbride.  They  had  two  children,  Eugene  and  Frank.  Frank  had  hip-joint  disease 
and  is  now  a  cripple.  He  is  the  adopted  son  of  Mrs.  Dagnett.  She  married,  2d,  Lewis 
Lofland.  Children :  1.  Mary  Josephine,  now  the  adopted  daughter  of  Mrs.  Dagnett ; 
2.  Charle? ;  3.  Kuth— Died  ;  4.  Annie— called  Kittie. 

Lewis  Lofland  lives  on  his  allotment,  in  the  Wyandot  Reservation,  near  Seneca,  Mo. 
Mrs.  Sarah  Dagnett  lives  in  Seneca.  Mo.  Her  allotment  is  near  the  town  of  Wyandotte, 
Indian  Territory. 


204  THE   JOURNALS   OF  [May.  1847. 

work  must  stop  until  I  can  employ  some  more.  Trouble 
and  disappointment. 

Friday,  28. — Went  to  Kansas  and  employed  C.  Jondron 
and  Peter  Ballanger  to  work  by  the  day  to  haul  stone. 

Saturday,  29. — Bought  of  Dr.  Hand  300  feet  of  sheeting 
plank. 

Sunday,  30. — Hiatus. 

Monday,  31. — Got  my  mail.  Little  or  no  news.  Hands 
returned  to  work  with  Peter  Balanger  and  C.  Jondron,  and 
a  M"^  Smiley,  carpenter. 

June,  1847. 

Tuesday,  1. — Rained.  "  Monsieur  Tonson"  the  mason  not 
"come  again"  to  resume  his  work.  Council  day;  did  not 
attend  owing  to  illness.     J.  Walker  took  my  place.^ 

Wednesday,  2. — Pleasant  and  cool.  A  perfect  clatter 
among  the  hands,  carpenters,  teamsters,  stonemasons,  and 
other  hands  employed  upon  my  premises — a  perfect  Babel. 

Thursday,  3. — Rainy  day.  Work  suspended.  Cleared 
up,  and  operations  resumed.  Went  to  Washington's  on  busi- 
ness, in  company  with  H.  Jacquis. 

Friday,  4. — Showery  all  day,  but  continued  our  operations 
all  day. 

Saturday,  5. — Rained  all  day  till  evening.  C.  Jondron, 
Ballanger,  M'  Dennis  and  M'  Smiley  went  home.  During  the 
day  we  were  called  upon  by  a  M""  Smith,  President  of  the 
Masonic  College  at  Lexington,  who  brought  a  letter  of  intro- 
duction from  the  girls.  Had  an  interesting  colloquy  with 
him  upon  Indian  affairs,  customs,  and  polity,  with  various 
other  matters. 

Sunday,  6. — Went  to  Church  like  a  good  and  true  Chris- 
tian.    Heard  M""  Parrott.     Sound  and  wholesome  doctrine. 

'  The  Wyandot  Constitution  required  the  Council  to  be  full  when  business  was 
transacted.  If  a  Councilor  could  not  attend  he  might  send  a  substitute  who  would 
represent  his  views  in  the  deliberations.  If  lie  did  not  send  a  substitute  the  Council 
might  designate  some  one  to  take  his  place  for  that  session. 


June.  1847.]  GOVERNOR  WALKER.  205 

Monday,  7. — Splendid  morning.  Resumed  operations  in 
walling  the  cellar.  M""  Smiley  returned.  My  Francois 
hands  did  not  return.  Sorry  for  it.  Edgington  and  hands 
returned.  Sorry  for  that,  for  I  am  not  ready  for  them.  So 
it  is  sorrow  upon  sorrow.  Ahem!  12  o'clock.  Heard  that 
Dr.  Hewitt  had  just  landed,  on  his  return  from  the  East.  I 
care  not  a  bauble  about  seeing  him.  His  conduct  in  remov- 
ing C.  G.  meets  with  my  most  utter  detestation.  The  motive 
which  prompted  him  to  the  step  was  pure  and  unadulterated 
malice.  Who  is  there  to  rejoice  at  his  removal?  None  but 
himself  and  two  A's,  that  is,  Asses,  besides  himself. 

Tuesday,  8. — Went  to  town,  chatted  with  various  persons. 
People  much  excited  against  Dr.  H.  for  his  conduct.  The 
A's  sycophantically  paying  their  apotheosis  to  him  in  the 
most  obsequious  manner, — they  can  truly 

"  Crook  the  pregnant  hinges  of  the  knee 
That  thrift  may  follow  fawning." 

I  went  not  nigh  the  detestable  moving  mass  of  corruption. 

Wednesday,  9. — About  3  o'clock  this  morning  we  were 
visited  by  a  perfect  tornado,  with  vivid  lightning.  It 
seemed  as  though  creation  were  ripening  for  its  dissolution — 
earth  rocked  to  its  center,  and  amidst  its  oscillations,  the  roar 
of  falling  trees  and  the  descent  of  the  cataract  of  the  heavens, 
rendered  the  scene,  amidst  the  gloom  of  night,  grand  and 
terrific.  Morning  disclosed  the  extent  of  the  destruction, 
sundry  trees  blown  down,  two  hats  blown  away,  and  a  crock 
of  milk  submerged ! ! 

M'  C.  Columbus  McClelland  [called]  upon  us  this  morn- 
ing on  his  way  to  Fort  Leavenworth.  The  whole  country 
appears  to  be  agog  about  selling  oxen,  wagons,  provisions, 
etc.,  to  the  commissary  and  quartermaster,  all  for  the  army. 
Swimming  times  for  speculators,  but  a  "beggarly  account 
of  empty  boxes"  for  our  National  treasury. 

My  execrations  upon  the  Captain  of  the  steamboat  "  Ma- 


206  THE   JOUKNALS   OF  [June,  1S47. 

nona"  for  landing  my  lumber  on  the  point  opposite  Wyan- 
dott  City,  instead  of  our  usual  landing  place.  I'll  mark  that 
chap — he  may  fall  in  my  way  some  of  these  days,  then  I'll, 

rii . 

Thursday,  10. — Commenced  raising  my  kitchen  and  smoke 
house — hands  scarce.  Finished  raising  the  latter  at  1  o'clock 
P.  M.,  then  commenced  the  kitchen.  Succeeded  in  getting 
the  joist  plates  and  porch  plates  up  before  adjourning  for  the 
night.  Thompson,  the  stone  mason,  grumbling  and  com- 
plaining all  the  while.  The  churlish,  selfish,  and  contrary 
being  has  given  me  much  trouble,  since  the  carpenters  have 
commenced  operations,  owing  to  his  being  so  over  captious. 

Friday,  11. — Resumed  our  raising — pleasant  day.  No 
hands  came.  Well,  we  will  do  it  ourselves  and  apply  the 
more  strength,  and  what  we  lack  in  numbers  we  will  make  up 
in  "bone  and  sinew." 

At  11  o'clock  completed  the  raising  of  our  buildings  and 
after  dinner  "the  ghost  of  unforgiven  crimes"  (M'  T.)  took 
his  departure,  and  not  sorry  to  be  relieved  of  his  company 
for  a  season — his  incessant  cry  of  "more  rock''''  I  had  become 
weary  of  hearing.  When  there  was  an  abundance  of  "rock" 
then  something  else  was  wanting,  and  when  that  was  sup- 
plied, his  inventive  genius  would  conjure  up  something  else 
— so  on  ad  infinitum. 

James  Washington  called  upon  me  to  inform  [me]  that  a 
special  session  of  the  Council  will  be  held  to-morrow  morn- 
ing upon  the  subject  of  the  public  blacksmith. 

Commenced  giving  Nero  sulphur  in  his  food,  poor  fellow, 
being  afflicted  severely  with  the  mange,  and  dis[tem]per — 
all  caused  by  impurity  of  his  blood. 

Saturday,  12. — Rained  last  night,  but  bright  and  clear  this 
morning — Beautiful  summer  morn  !  How  bland  and  balmy 
is  the  air!  How  green  and  vivifying  is  the  surrounding 
forest! 


June,  1847.]  GOVERNOR  WALKER.  207 

"  Oar  fortress  is  the  good  green  wood, 
Our  tents  the  cypress  tree; 
We  know  the  forest  round  us, 
As  seamen  know  the  sea." 

Went  to  the  National  Council.  Made  a  desperate  speech 
upon  the  public  blacksmith  question.  The  people,  by  unani- 
mous vote,  placed  the  stamp  of  disapprobation  upon  the  sub- 
agent's  conduct  in  removing  the  present  blacksmith.  The 
Council  addressed  a  communication  to  Major  Harvey  upon 
the  subject,  remonstrating  against  the  removal.  At  the  same 
Council  we  decided  not  to  take  up  the  Wa?'  Tomahawh  tend- 
ered to  us  by  the  Winnebagoes  and  Pottawatamies  against 
the  Sioux.     Hands  all  went  home. 

Sunday,  1 3. — Sabbath  morning.  Sun  rose  most  brilliantly; 
the  large  dew-drops  falling  from  the  green  foliage  like  span- 
gles from  a  rainbow,  the  crystal  drops  still  clinging  to  the 
green  leaves,  reminding  one  of  the  garniture  of  a  splendid 
candelabrum — the  sweet  and  wild  warbling  of  the  feathered 
songsters  rendered  our  forest  home  altogether  lovely  and 
enchanting.  Finished  my  long  epistle  to  Deacon  Wheeler 
on  politics,  domestic  news,  abolitionism — a  sort  of  Salma- 
gundi omnium  gatherum  communication. 

Monday,  14. — Cloudy  and  cool.  Fireside  quite  agreeable. 
Our  hands  returning  to  their  work. 

Tuesday,  15. — Took  our  team  to  town  for  a  load  of  lime 
and  a  keg  of  nails,  but  owing  to  the  storm  returned  without 
either.  We  two  went  to  M"^  Graham's  to  a  dinner  party. 
Meantime  Bombastes  Furioso  (Dr.  H.)  called  upon  M""  Gra- 
ham to  inform  him  of  his  dismissal  from  service.  Where- 
upon M'  G.  gave  him  a  very  plain  statement  of  his  opinion 
of  his  conduct — some  severe  home  thrusts;  "alas!  poor 
Yorick!"  Hauled  our  lime  and  nails  in  the  afternoon. 
"Monsieur  Touson"  out  of  humor! 

"Always  complainin' 
Fra  mornin'  till  even." 


208  THE   JOURNALS   OF  [June,  1847. 

Wednesday,  16. — Cold  morning.  Thermometer  62°.  Com- 
fortable sitting  by  the  fire,  but  no  time  to  do  that,  motion, 
motion,  locomotion.  Edgington  completed  his  contract  and 
away  they  went  "te  hum."  In  the  evening  called  to  attend 
the  Council.  Attended.  Adjourned  in  the  night  and  had 
a  dark  walk  of  it  home.     Rained  furiously  last  night. 

Thursday,  17. — Clear  this  morning,  though  the  weather 
is  unsettled.  To-day  the  sale  of  lots  in  the  addition  to  the 
town  plat  of  Kansas,  Speculators  in  "corner  lots"  will 
doubtless  be  in  attendance.  Went  to  Kansas  and  bought 
two  lots;  one  at  $30  and  the  other  at  |29. 

Friday,  18. — Rained  most  furiously.  Came  home  in  the 
midst  of  a  pelting  storm. 

Saturday,  19. — Commenced  ploughing,  and  while  thus 
engaged  was  summoned  to  attend  a  special  Council,  called  by 
Dr.  H.,  he  wanting  an  opportunity  of  explaining  his  conduct 
in  relation  to  his  removing  M^  Graham,  and  a  poor  excuse 
he  made  of  it. 

Sunday,  20. — Clear  and  cool.  Must  attend  the  funeral  of 
the  Seneca  Chief  Learned  that  the  Chief  died  with  the 
small-pox. 

Monday,  21. — Employed  M''  Wood  to  assist  Elijah  in 
ploughing  the  new  field.  Judge  McC,  M""  J.  Walker,  M" 
Leonard,  called  and  paid  us  a  visit — staid  an  hour  or  two, 
and  proceeded  to  pay  their  respects  to  C.  B.  Garrett's  family. 
Had  a  visit  from  M^®  Graham,  and  in  the  evening  M.  R.  W. 
brought  us  our  mail — welcome ! 

Tuesday,  22. — Continued  ploughing,  making  pretty  good 
headway,  the  weather  being  cool  and  pleasant.  In  the  even- 
ing M""  Graham  made  us  a  visit.  Judge  McC.  and  party 
returned  this  morning  to  Fort  Osage.  Adam  Brown  called 
upon  me  to  write  for  him — I  put  him  off  to  a  "more  con- 
venient season." 

Wednesday,  23. — Finished  ploughing  at  10  o'clock  A.  M., 


Jnne.  1847.]  GOVERNOR  WALKER.  209 

and  at  12  commenced  harrowing.  Expecting  a  mail  from 
Westport  to-day,  disappointed — too  bad  !  Oh,  Cave  John- 
ston, thou  art  a  pink  of  a  P.  M.  G.^ 

Thursday,  24. — Cool  and  pleasant  Roused  from  my 
slumbers  by  the  arrival  of  the  Deacon  from  his  trip  down 
the  river.  Hauled  up  his  and  my  effects,  such  as  household 
goods ;  harrowed  our  new  field.  Planted  it  in  corn  this  24th 
day  of  June.     Whether  it  will  get  ripe,  time  will  determine. 

Friday,  25. — Clear  and  cool.  "Ding,  dong  bell"  goes 
the  steam  boat  bell.  A  boat  coming  up,  puffing,  blowing, 
snorting  and  roaring  from  the  action  of  her  wheels. 

Planted  my  fall  potatoes;  planted  cucumbers  and  water- 
melons. 'Tis  now  11  o'clock  A.  M.  Having  disposed  of  my 
agricultural  operations,  I  can  now  devote  my  undivided  at- 
tention to  my  "  betterments  "  as  the  Yankee  would  say,  and 
get  them  completed  as  soon  as  may  be;  arter  this  I  will  do 
myself  the  distinguished  honor  of  resting  from  hard  labor  for 
a  season  at  least. 

Saturday,  26. — Beautiful  morning.  Commenced  plowing 
through  my  corn  the  second  time.  Discharged  M""  Woods, 
his  per  diem  being  exorbitantly  high. 

Just  received  a  letter  from  Major  Harvey  announcing  the 
restoration  of  C.  Graham  to  his  post.  Now  Doctor — "By 
St.  Paul  the  work  goes  bravely  on."  What  step  will  you 
next  take  to  add  to  your  list  of  already  accumulated  acts  of 
disinterested  patriotism. 

My  hands  are  all  gone ;  now  we  are  alone.  How  lonely, 
everything  still. 

Sunday,  27. — Cloudy  morning.  Prospect  of  rain.  M' 
Graham  brought  me  a  letter  from  Col.  Goodin.  M''  Saylor 
pronounces  my  deed  good  for  nothing,  informal,  sundry, 
frivolous  objections  raised  to  it.  Well,  be  it  so.  I  will  keep 
the  land  and  he  may  keep  his  "  filthy  lucre." 

*  Postmaster  Gteneral. 
15 


210  THE  JOURNALS  OF  [J«ne,  i847. 

Monday,  28. — Cloudy  morning.  At  8  o'clock  it  com- 
menced a  moderate  rain  and  rained  steadily  until  half  past 
3  P.M. 

Spent  the  day  with  Pharoah  and  family.  On  the  19th 
the  present  month,  N.  E.  Zane  and  family  retreated  from 
Missouri  the  second  time  for  daddy's  house.  Ha,  ha,  ha, 
ha-a-a.  Starved  out.  His  wife  no  longer  needed  by  certain 
libertines — run  down  to  infamy — to  the  lowest  depths — glad 
you  are  gone. 

Tuesday,  29. — Clear,  beautiful  morning.  Special  session 
of  the  Council  to-day. 

Council  assembled  at  12  o'clock.  Divorced  Moses  Pea- 
cock from  his  wife  Mary.  So  Moses  is  now  a  single  man. 
Blessed  are  the  single,  for  they  shall  be  double  (if  they  de- 
sire it).  If  the  countenance  be  any  index  to  the  state  of  the 
"inner  man,"  Moses  left  the  Council  room  a  happy  man. 

Addressed  a  communication  to  Major  Harvey  in  reply  to 
his,  announcing  the  restoration  of  M""  Graham.  Dr.  H.  very 
sullen.     Would  not  come  near  the  Council. 

Wednesday,  30. — Staid  at  home  all  day  after  my  return 
from  the  ferry.  Wrote  a  long  letter  for  Adam  Brown  to 
Col.  John  Prince  of  Sandwich.  To-night  feel  quite  unwell. 
I  fear  it  is  a  precursor  of  an  attack  of  the  billious  fever. 

July,  1847. 

Thursday,  1. — Fine  morning.  Clear  and  cool  atmosphere. 
This  has  been  a  remarkably  cool  summer  this  far,  the  mer- 
cury in  the  thermometer  seldom  getting  higher  than  75°,  and 
often  below  that.  It  is  said  that  by  some  late  observations 
made  through  Lord  Ross's  great  telescope  that  there  are  large 
spots  on  the  sun's  disc  by  which  the  power  of  the  sun  is  di- 
minished, hence  our  cool  summer.  What  has  come  over  old 
Father  Sol,  that  he  should  now,  in  his  old  days,  become  so 
silly  and  vain  as  to  resort  to  daubing  his  face  with  paint! 


July,  1847.]  GO VERNOE  WALKER.  211 

Wife  rode  out  to  visit  the  sick.  Sickly  time  in  Wyandott 
City.  Tlie  complaint  appears  to  be  a  typhoid  fever.  Just 
heard  that  M""^  Palmer  is  dead. 

Friday,  2. — M'  Hightower  commenced  going  through  my 
corn,  the  garrulous  old  Turk!  I  am  sick  of  him.  Why  his 
tongue  is  [in]  perpetual  motion.  It  is  nothing  but  one 
eternal  clatter. 

Saturday,  3. — Got  an  Ohio  Statesman.  Not  much  news. 
Hightower  finished  his  job  at  noon  and  put  out. 

Sunday,  4. — Quite  unwell.  Kheumatic  affliction  in  the 
head,  which  is  so  painful,  especially  in  the  afternoon,  as  al- 
most to  set  me  distracted. 

M^^  Graham  very  sick.  News  announced  in  the  States- 
man, that  in  consequence  of  the  defalcation  of  Col.  Huber, 
a  loco  foco,  Receiver  of  Public  Monies  in  the  Land  Office  at 
Upper  Sandusky,  Col.  Purdy  McElvain,  another  loco  foco  of 
course,  has  succeeded  him  in  wearing  "  the  blushing  honors," 
and  fingering  Uncle  Sam's  cash.  This  is  truly  a  streak  of 
good  luck  for  Purdy. 

Monday,  5. — Sick,  loss  of  appetite.  Nerves  unstrung. 
My  head  disordered.  All  sick.  I  would  sell  myself  for  a 
sixpence.  M""  Dennis  returned  to-day  in  company  with  a 
M""  Smith,  a  journeyman  carpenter. 

Just  heard  of  the  return  of  Isaiah  and  Irvin.  Our  sick 
neighbors  no  better,  particularly  M""^  Graham  and  William 
Garrett. 

Tuesday,  6. — Had  a  sick  and  restless  night.  Cloudy 
morning,  prospect  of  rain.  To-day  is  our  regular  Council 
or  Court  day,  and  I  ought  to  attend  its  session,  but  how  can 
I?     William  G.  no  better.     I  fear  for  him. 

3  o'clock  P.  M.  William  is  dead!  alas!  alas!  our  worst 
fears  are  realized.  Finished  a  letter  to  Martha.  Upon  going 
to  bed  I  had  placed  upon  the  nape  of  my  neck  a  large  blister 
plaster,  for  a  neuralgic  affliction  in  my  head. 


212  THE  JOURNALS  OF  [July,  i847. 

Wednesday,  7. — Ah,  misericordie  !  Dress  my  blister!  I 
am  a  complete  scald.  Got  the  poll  evil  in  full  fruition. 
Dr.  Hand  called  to  see  me  in  the  evening.  Gave  me  some 
advice  and  left  some  medicines.  Slept  comfortably  through 
the  night.     M'  Davis  staid  all  night  with  us. 

Thursday,  8. — Took  a  Seidlitz  drink,  feeling  somewhat 
feverish  and  thirsty.  Had  a  most  refreshing  shower.  Oh, 
what  a  change  in  the  atmosphere.  How  balmy  and  fragrant 
is  the  air! 

Aye,  strike  up  your  music  ye  little  feathered  songsters. 

Friday,  9. — M"*  Davis  arrived  at  about  daylight  and 
informed  us  that  our  esteemed  friend,  M'^  Graham, 
died  this  morning,  within  ten  minutes  of  3  o'clock. 
Here  I  will  say  that  if  I  had  a  female  friend  on  earth, 
one  that  was  no  kin  to  me,  whose  friendship  was  solid 
and  enduring,  earnest  and  sincere,  it  was  the  lamented 
W^  Mary  Graham.  I  lament  deeply  that  in  the  order 
of  Providence  I  was  denied  the  pleasure  of  seeing  her 
during  her  illness,  being  confined  by  sickness.  Peace 
to  her  remains,  and  my  blessing  on  her  memory. 

Wrote  a  long  letter  to  Col.  Goodin  upon  the  subject  of  the 
failure  of  his  sale  of  land  made  for  me. 

Saturday,  10. — I've  got  the  poll  evil.  The  blister  on  the 
back  of  my  neck  raises  such  a  stench  that 

Wife  gone  to  Kansas  for  our  mail,  finding  everybody  else 
too  lazy  to  go.  Warm  day,  thermometer  86°.  On  retiring 
to  bed,  "/  tuck  a  dose  of  calomy,'^  as  M''^  Hodge  would  say. 

Sunday,  11. — Weak  and  debilitated,  no  appetite.  Warm 
day,  sultry  and  oppressive.  No  circulating  air.  Thermometer 
85°. 

Monday,  12. — Passed  a  most  dismal  night.  Was  racked 
with  pain  to  a  degree  sufficient  to  send  me  distracted.  O, 
neuralgia!     Thou  art  the  very  prince  of  all  complaints. 


July,  1847.]  GOVERNOR  WALKER.  213 

"  When  fevers  burn  or  ague  freezes, 
Eheumatics  gnaw  or  colic  squeezes, 
Our  neighbor's  sympathy  may  ease  ua, 

Wi'  pitying  moan; 
But  thee,  thou  hell  o'  a'  diseases, 

Aye  mocks  our  groan." 

Tuesday,  13. — Rested  tolerably  well  last  night,  after  try- 
ing a  new  nostrum,  viz:  bathing  my  head  in  the  water  in 
which  potatoes  had  been  boiled.  Whether  there  be  any 
efficacy  in  it  or  not,  time  alone  will  determine. 

Wrote  to  A.  R.  Curry  again  upon  the  subject  of  the  $30.00 
loan.  I  expect  the  villain  intends  to  swindle  me  out  of  it. 
'Tis  said  he  is  a  most  accomplished  villain,  that  while  study- 
ing theology  and  preparing  himself  for  the  ministry,  he  was 
at  the  same  time  studying  with  commendable  industry  the 
fine  arts  of  villainy.  Well,  he  has  made  great  proficiency 
in  the  latter  science,  as  C.  B.  Garrett  can  testify  to  his  sorrow. 

His  epitaph  should  be  thus: 

ox   A  CELEBRATED   PRESBYTEBIAN  FBEACHEB. 

"  Here  Mr.  Curry  in  death  doth  sleep ; 
To  h — 1  if  he's  gane  thither, 
Satan  gi'e  him  thy  gear  to  keep, 

He'll  hold  it  well  thegither." — Burns. 

Warm  day,  thermometer  88°,  no  wind  stirring,  rendering 
the  atmosphere  oppressively  sultry.  M"  Russell  left  the 
Deacon's  in  a  flurry.     Something  wrong  here. 

Wednesday,  14. — Rested  well  last  night.  My  complaint 
is  leaving  me.  I  have  now  been  free  from  it  for  thirty-six 
hours.  Potato  soup  has  been  the  catholicon  in  this  case. 
What  a  discovery.  Hear  it  ye  sufierers  with  rheumatics, 
sciatica,  neuralgia,  etc.  Boil  a  dozen  or  more  potatoes  till 
they  are  thoroughly  cooked;  bathe  the  afllicted  parts  three 
or  four  times  a  day  while  the  water  is  warm. 

By  to-day's  mail  I  received  a  letter  from  Col.  Goodin  in- 
forming me  that  he  had  made  another  sale  of  my  Hardin 
County  lands  to  a  M^  Greer  of  Knox  County,  and  at  the  same 


214  THE  JOURiS-ALS  OF  [July.  1847. 

time  inclosing  a  blank  deed,  and  what  is  still  better,  the  pay 
is  d'argent  comptant.  So  M'"  Saylor  may  hunt  for  lands 
elsewhere. 

Thursday,  15. — To-day  the  assembled  nation  nominates 
candidates  to  run  against  the  chiefs  at  the  August  election. 
I  concluded  it  would  not  be  safe  for  me  to  venture  out  to 
encounter  solstitial  sun  in  my  present  weak  condition.  So  I 
staid  at  home.  Had  to  dine  with  us  that  man  of  affliction 
and  many  troubles,  M'  Graham.  He  is  recovering  from  his 
illness. 

Friday,  16. — Finished  the  "Mountain  Siege"  for  John 
Shunk's  paper,  occupying  ten  closely  written  pages.  Wrote 
an  obituary  notice  of  M"  G.  for  the  "Expositor."^ 

Saturday,  17. — Wife  started  early  this  morning  for  West- 
port  on  business  and  to  get  our  mail  if  any.  Strolled  over 
to  Deacon  Peerey's  and  spent  an  hour  in  social  chat  to  drive 
away  ennui.  Tried  to  invoke  the  muses,  but  'tis  no  use. 
Parnassus  Hill,  to  me,  is  an  unknown  Eldorado.  I  am  as 
ignorant  of  its  locality,  its  hills,  its  rivers,  bays,  springs,  etc., 
as  I  am  of  "Symme's  hole"  where  Reynolds  says  "all  the 
game  in  the  arctic  regions  retreat  to  for  refuge  in  the  winter."^ 

Received  a  batch  of  newspapers,  new  and  old,  so  I  have 
new  neivs  and  old  news.  Sultry  evening.  At  night  our  rest 
was  disturbed  by  a  troop  of  dogs,  which  did  us  the  honor  of 
a  most  unmusical  serenade.  To  show  them  how  much  I 
appreciate  their  civilities,  I  went  out  with  my  double  bar- 
reled gun,  and  fired  a  salute,  leaving  one  of  their  party  dead 

'  Published  in  Cincinnati,  Ohio. 

"  Captain  John  Clevea  Symmes,  for  six  years  from  1818,  a  resident  of  Newport,  Ken- 
tucky. He  was  an  eccentric  man  and  evolved  a  New  Theory  of  the  Earth  called  "The 
Theory  of  Concentric  spheres."  He  maintained  that  the  globe  is  composed  of  a  num- 
ber of  hollow  spheres,  having  spaces  between  them  occupied  by  atmospheres,  and  that 
these  shells  were  widely  open  at  both  poles,  and  that  the  concave  surface  of  the  outer 
shell,  and  probably  of  them  all,  is  inhabited  by  various  kinds  of  inferior  animals,  and 
by  intelligent  beings  resembling  ourselves.  Captain  Symmes's  drawings  illustrating 
his  theory  were  reproduced  a  few  years  since  in  the  Southern  Bivouac,  a  magazine  pub- 
lished at  Louisville,  Ky. 


July  1847]  GOVERNOR  WALKER.  215 

on  the  spot.  Whereupon  they  stopped  their  music  and  dis- 
persed. 

Sunday,  18. — Cloudy;  some  prospect  of  rain.  Com- 
menced raining  in  the  afternoon  and  rained  a  most  refresh- 
ing shower  till  niglit.  What  a  change  hath  this  much  needed 
and  much  prayed  for  rain  wrought  in  the  face  of  nature  I 
How  pure  and  balmy  is  the  air. 

Monday,  19. — Clear  and  beautiful  morning.  Set  out  to 
pay  a  visit  to  J.  Walker,  who  is  still  sick.  Found  him  la- 
boring under  a  great  nervous  irritability.  Staid  till  after 
dinner.  Then  called  upon  C.  Graham.  They  are  all  get- 
ting better.  Hunter  still  sick.  Old  complaint.  Warm  and 
sultry. 

Tuesday,  20. — Wrote  to  the  girls.  Heard  from  J.  W. 
through  Uncle  James.  Symptoms  some  better,  less  nervous. 
Deacon  Peery  gone  to  the  institution.  "More  lumber"  is 
the  cry  of  my  carpenter.  My  curse  upon  the  wasteful  ras- 
cals, it  would  keep  a  steam  saw  mill  going  to  keep  them  sup- 
plied with  lumber.  Thundering,  perhaps  more  rain.  "  So 
mote  it  be." 

Wednesday,  21. — No  rain,  nor  sign  nor  indication  of  any, 
— sultry. 

Wrote  to  J.  R.  Rowand.  Went  to  gather  blackberries. 
Too  warm  to  gather  many  so  I  sounded  a  retreat  home,  con- 
tenting myself  with  a  couple  of  quarts  of  the  fruit. 

Thursday,  22. — Went  to  the  village.  Paid  a  visit  to  J.  W. 
He  seems  to  be  getting  better.  Peceived  an  invitation  to 
attend  the  great  barbecue  at  Independence.  I  may  go,  can't 
tell  yet,  depending  upon  my  colleagues  the  Chiefs,  as  the  in- 
vitation is  to  the  Council. 

No  news  by  yesterday's  mail. 

Friday,  23. — Beautiful  morning,  but  a  prospect  for  a 
warm  day.  On  my  way  to  Weston,  hired  M""  Hightower 
to  clear  out  my  new  corn  field  and  hoe  my  potatoes. 


216  THE  JOURNALS  OF  [Jniy.  is*?. 

Saturday,  24. — In  Weston.     Can  purchase  no  lumber. 
Hiatus. 

August,  1847. 

Monday,  9. — Bought  of  a  Shawnee  Indian  a  pony  in 
Kansas  for  $8.00  and  I  have  called  him  "Ca^o."  He  is  a 
pretty  little  fellow. 

Engaged  a  M""  Bowring  to  do  the  lathing  and  plastering, 
14c  per  square. 

Friday,  13. — Engaged  a  Mr.  Shaw  to  build  my  chimneys. 

Saturday,  14. — John  Lynch  commenced  work  at  $14.00 
per  month.     A  real  son  of  the  "  Emerald  Isle." 

Hiatus. 

National  election  and  barbecue.  The  old  Council  re- 
elected. 

September,  1847. 

Saturday,  11. — M""  Keyser   and   M'  Taylor   commenced 
boarding. 
Hiatus. 

October,  1847. 

Monday,  4. — Hannah  Walker  went  down  to  Kansas  to 
take  the  boat  for  Ohio  to-morrow  morning;  be  gone  perhaps 
seven  weeks.     A  pleasant  and  prosperous  trip  to  her. 

Tuesday,  5. — Dr.  Hewitt  commenced  paying  the  annuity 
to  the  Wyandotts  and  they,  after  receipting,  paying  their 
respective  dividends  over  to  the  Chiefs  in  order  to  rebuke 
and  defeat  the  officious  interference  of  the  Government  in 
the  distribution  of  the  annuity.^ 

Wednesday,  6. — Continued  the  same. 

Thursday,  7. — Same, 

Friday,  8. — Same. 

Saturday,  9. — The  Chiefs  commenced  paying  out. 

'  It  seems  that  heretofore  the  annuity  had  been  paid  to  the  Chiefs,  and  by  them 
to  the  people. 


October,  1847.]  GOVEKNOR  WALKER.  217 

Sunday,  10. — Wrote  to  M"  W.  for  Wednesday's  mail. 

Monday,  11. — Commenced  paying  again. 

Tuesday,  12. — M""  Bowring  finished  his  work. 

Wednesday,  13. — Paid  him  off,  so  I  am  done  with  him 
and  his  loafers  and  his  carrion  horses. 

Thursday,  14. — Severe  frost  last  night.  Resumed  the 
payment  of  the  annuity.     M""  Fish  and  Hetty  were  married. 

Friday,  15. — Wrote  to  M"  W.  to  go  by  Saturday's  mail. 

Saturday,  16. — Continued  the  payment. 

Sunday,  17. — Staid  at  home,  read  the  news,  etc. 

Monday,  18. — Resumed  operations;  busy  times.  Every- 
one in  motion  to  gain  '^multum  pecunia"  if  he  can,  and  if 
he  cannot  he  must  go  minus. 

Tuesday,  19. — Closed  the  payment!     Felicitatus. 

Wednesday,  20. — John  Walker  left  in  no  very  good  humor, 
not  meeting  with  as  good  success  in  his  collections  as  he  ex- 
pected. 

Thursday,  21. — Sick,  took  medicine.     Staid  at  home. 

Friday,  22. — Went  to  Kansas.  Made  some  purchases; 
came  back  by  dinner  time. 

Saturday,  23. — Commenced  a  letter  to  Harriet.  At  night 
attended  a  meeting  of  the  directors  of  a  joint  stock  company. 
Came  home  after  midnight. 

Sunday,  24. — Read  all  day.     Lonesome,  melancholy. 

Monday,  25. — Done  nothing,  but  "pottered"  about  the 
house. 

Tuesday,  26. — Finished  Harriet's  letter  and  one  to  M" 
Walker  for  to-morrow's  mail. 

A  Council  held  to-day  to  investigate  a  case  between  F.  A. 
Hicks  and  Adam  Hunt — a  paltry  affair,  truly  to  cause  the 
Council  to  convene  in  a  special  session. 

John  Lynch  hauling  stone  to-day. 

Wednesday,  27.— Ditto. 

Hiatus. 


218  THE   JOURNALS   OF  [October,  1847. 

Thursday,  28. — Staid  at  home  and  thought  of  Hannah 
and  longed  for  her  return.^ 

Friday,  29. — Went  to  town  to  purchase  marketing. 
Saturday,  30. — Went  to  the  P.  O.  for  my  mail. 
Sunday,  31. — Hiatus. 

November,  1847. 

Thursday,  11. — Received  a  letter  from  J.  W.  Garrett  an- 
nouncing the  safe  arrival  of  M"  W.  at  Upper  Sandusky  on 
the  26th  ultimo,  making  the  trip  from  this  place  to  Upper 
Sandusky  via  Wheeling  in  twenty-one  days,  at  the  same  time 
visiting  her  friend  in  Belmont  County  on  her  route.  This 
is  rapid  traveling. 

Friday,  12. — My  Irishman  left  me  without  leave  or  license 
and  that  at  a  time  when  I  most  needed  his  services.  My 
curses  on  the  ungrateful  wretch;  I  understand  he  is  at  Kan- 
sas paying  his  devotions  to  that  most  potent  of  all  deities  to 
us  poor  sinners  Bacchus. 

Saturday,  13. — A  most  Labradorian  day.  It  rained,  hailed, 
and  snowed,  in  an  horrible  tempest  all  day. 

Sunday,  14. — Read  newspaper  for  news,  but  found  none 
of  interest.     Betook  myself  to  a  "  broion  study. ''^ 

Monday,  15. — Staid  at  home  and  attended  to  my  domestic 
affairs. 

Tuesday,  16. — Attended  Council.  Transacted  a  variety  of 
business.  Wrote  to  the  Superintendent  of  Indian  Affairs 
upon  the  subject  of  the  blacksmith  shop. 

Wednesday,  17. — Staid  at  home  as  usual. 

Thursday,  18. — Went  to  Kansas  and  attended  to  securing 
my  two  lots,  and  attended  Dr.  Hand's  wedding.  Joy  at- 
tend him  and  his  bride. 

Friday,  19. — Came  home. 

Saturday,  20.— M'^  W.  and  Martha  returned. 

»  No  man  was  ever  more  devoted  to  his  family  than  was  Governor  Walker  to  his. 


November,  1847.]  GOVERNOR    WALKER.  219 

Sunday,  21. — Staid  at  home. 

Monday,  22. — Went  to  Kansas  to  purchase  marketing. 

Tuesday,  23. — Attended  Council.  Revised  our  National 
Code. 

Wednesday,  24. — Rose  early  and  found  ourselves  enjoy- 
ing a  most  delectable  snowstorm,  the  first  we  have  had  this 
fall. 

Thursday,  25. — Cold  and  severe  morning.  Dreary  morn- 
ing.   Winter  on  hand.    Went  to  town  for  news,  but  got  none. 

Friday,  26. — This  morning  the  thermometer  stood  3° 
above  zero.  Whew!  Cold  morning,  blustery  day.  Bought 
393  pounds  of  pork  of  M'  Roberts  of  Clay  County.  Hauled 
it  from  the  "sand  bar"  home. 

Commenced  reading  the 

Saturday,  27. — Clear  and  pleasant  morning.  Cut  up  my 
pork  and  salted  it  away.  This  I  always  do  myself  if  able. 
Warm  and  pleasant. 

Sunday,  28. — Cloudy  and  cold  morning.  Commenced  a 
letter  to  J.  W.  Garrett.  My  mind  is  foggy  this  morning, 
and  cannot  write  anything  worth  reading,  so  I  will  lay  my 
letter  aside  till  I  conjure  up  a  little  common  sense. 

Monday,  29. — Clear  and  pleasant  Finished  a  long  letter 
to  J.  W.  Garrett  to  go  by  Wednesday's  mail. 

Heard  that  James  Washington  was  ill  of  a  violent  attack 
of  the  pleurisy ;  saddled  my  horse  and  went  to  see  him ;  found 
him  dangerously  ill.  While  there  sold  my  horse  Juniper  to 
the  widow  Russia  Hicks.  In  the  evening  had  a  visit  from 
C.  Graham  who  staid  till  bed  time. 

Tuesday,  30. — A  stormy  morning,  snowing  and  sleetinji". 
Bella  horrida.  Received  a  letter  from  John  Goodin  upon 
business.     The  Council  meets  to-day. 

Adjourned  at  4  o'clock  P.  M.  to  meet  the  National  assem- 
bly at  the  old  Church. 


220  THE   JOURNALS   OF  [December,  1847. 

December,  1847. 

Wednesday,  1. — The  first  day  of  winter.  Autumn  went 
off  in  a  rather  gruffy  mood,  leaving  behind  an  horrible  rain 
storm.  This  morning  the  sun  rose  clear  and  smiling. 
Pleasant  morning.  Cold  and  cloudy  in  the  afternoon. 
Rained  at  night. 

Thursday,  2. — Cold  and  cloudy.  Fair  prospect  for  a 
snow  storm.  Winter  has  now  fairly  set  in.  Cold  raw  and 
blustery  day.  In  the  evening  M'"  Asbury  King  of  Kansas 
came  and  made  application  for  the  school.  Postponed  for 
the  consideration.     Staid  all  night. 

Friday,  3. — Clear  and  cold  morning.  Thermometer  10° 
below  zero.  Prospect  of  a  fine  day.  M'  Phips,  a  pianist, 
called  upon  us  and  spent  the  day  in  tuning  Sophia's  piano. 
Staid  all  night.     Mild  and  pleasant  night. 

Saturday,  4. — Pleasant  morning.  Fine  day  for  business. 
I  must  be  up  and  doing. 

Harlan  Riggs  and  William  McDowell  finished  their  job  of 
cutting  cord-wood.     Paid  them  off  and  they  put  out. 

Sunday,  5. — Visited  S.  Armstrong;  passed  a  half  hour  in 
chit  chat.  Came  home  and  staid  "  te  hum  "  all  day.  Read, 
wrote  and  loafed. 

Monday,  6. — Went  to  town.  Came  back  and  hauled 
wood.  M'^  Washington  called  upon  us  and  inform  [ed] 
[us]  that  the  Chief  is  recovering  from  his  illness. 

Tuesday,  7. — Went  to  town.  Sophia  taken  sick  from  a 
violent  cold. 

Engaged  M""  Noble  to  build  a  corn  crib  and  shed  eighteen 
feet  square.  In  the  evening  the  sky  became  black  and  dis- 
tant thunder  was  heard.  At  sunset  we  had  a  heavy  rain- 
storm, which  lasted  till  8  o'clock.  Then  turned  cold  during 
[the]  night.     ^^  It  snew,  then  it  friz.'" 

Wednesday,  8. — Keen,  frosty  morning.  Replied  to  Leon- 
ard Smalley's  letter  upon  business.     To-day  being  the  day 


December,  1847.]  GOVERNOR   WALKER.  221 

appointed  for  the  National  Convention  to  hear  the  new  code 
of  laws  read  and  proclaimed,  I  beg  leave  to  stay  at  home  if 
you  please,  gentlemen. 

Thursday,  9. — [This]  morning  at  daylight,  snow  on  the 
ground.  Employed  M""  Bowring  to  underpin  my  porch. 
He  went  to  work.  M""  Estes,  the  hog  in  principle,  put  out 
instead  of  staying  to  help  M""  Bowring  as  he  promised;  but 
having  secured  his  supper,  lodgings,  and  breakfast  "put 
out."  Out  upon  such  imposing  churh!  John  Lynch  called 
upon  me  and  begged  me  to  take  him  into  my  employment 
again.  I  told  him  nay,  verily,  I  will  have  nothing  to  do 
with  him  nor  any  other  man  in  whom  no  dependence  can  be 
placed.     So  he  gathered  up  his  duds  and  put  out. 

C.  Graham  called  and  spent  the  evening. 

Friday,  10. — Keen  sharp  morning.  Dr.  Hewitt  called  to 
see  Sophia.  Pronounced  her  mending.  M'"  Bowring  finished 
underpinning  the  kitchen  porch.  M'  Peery  came  over  and 
spent  the  evening.     Clear  night. 

Saturday,  11. — Saddled  up  Dragon  to  go  to  town,  but  went 
no  farther  than  H.  Jacquis's;  lent  him  my  horse  and  came 
home.  The  payment  of  the  Cherokee  Boy's  money  post- 
poned until  Monday.  James  Washington  getting  well.  Cold 
nights  and  warm  days. 

Sunday,  12. — Staid  at  home,  read  and  wrote.  M'"  Kezor 
and  ]\P  Taylor  left  for  Kansas,  having  completed  their  work 
on  the  new  Church. 

Monday,  13. — Went  to  town.  Transacted  some  business. 
Came  home  and  staid  there  for  that  day. 

Tuesday,  14. — Dr.  Hewitt  paid  to  the  legatees  of  Cherokee 
Boy  the  amount  due  them,  being  $1,833.00.  A  general  pay- 
ment of  debts  then  took  place. 

Wednesday,  15. — Went  to  Kansas  to  make  oath  to  my 
statement  in  regard  to  some  matters  pending  between  the 
Isaac  Zane's  family  and  John  Walker. 


222  THE   JOURNALS   OF  [December,  1*17. 

Thursday,  16. — Got  my  mail  out  of  the  P.  O.  No  news. 
One  letter  from  Harriet. 

Friday,  17. — Staid  in  Kansas  and  rambled  over  the  town 
viewing  its  advantages  and  disadvantages  in  a  commercial 
point  of  view.  The  long  promised  steam  saw-mill,  not  yet 
in  operation.     Why  this  delay  ?     Echo  answers  why. 

Saturday,  18. — After  the  mail  came  in,  took  French  leave 
and  came  home. 

Sunday,  19. — Having  a  violent  cold,  staid  at  home,  in- 
stead of  going  to  hear  the  Deacon's  dedication  sermon  in  the 
new  Church. 

Monday,  20. — Cold  morning.  Mercury  within  eight  de- 
grees of  zero.  Cold  all  day.  Made  out  an  old  unsettled 
account  against  S.  Armstrong  and  sent  it  down  by  H.  to 
Kansas  for  settlement  and  allowance,  and  got  a  bill  of  family 
goods  thereon.     M""  Dennis  returned. 

Tuesday,  21. — Meicury  nearly  at  zero.  At  daylight  5°. 
To-day  is  Council  day,  and  to-night  the  directors  of  the  J.  S. 
Company  meet.  Owing  to  the  continued  illness  of  the  Prin- 
cipal Chief,  the  Co[uncil]  adjourned  till  next  Tuesday.  No 
meeting  of  the  J.  S.  Co. 

Wednesday,  22. — Went  to  town.  Came  home  and  staid 
at  home.     Reading  the  "  W^andering  Jew." 

Thursday,  23. — M''  Dennis  presented  his  bill.  Jupiter 
Stator,  thou  ancient  preserver  of  Home,  what  a  bill.  Well, 
presenting  a  bill  is  one  thing,  and  getting  it  paid  is  another. 

Friday,  24. — Bought  in  company  with  E.  T.  Peery,  a  po- 
tato hole  of  James  Rankin,  the  contents  of  which  we  hauled 
home.    Received  an  application  from  D.  Young  for  the  ferry. 

Saturday,  25. — A  merry  Christmas  to  you  all! 

Went  to  Church.  The  annual  Christmas  sermon  was 
preached  by  Rev.  L.  B.  Stateler.  Came  home  and  found 
M'  C.  Graham  domiciliated  by  my  fireside.  Took  a  (Christ- 
mas toddy  and)  social  chat.    He  put  out,  and  I  to  my  chores. 


December,  1847.]  GOVERNOR   WALKER.  223 

Sunday,  26. — Mercury  6°  above  zero.  Cloudy  morning. 
"  Keen  blows  the  wind  and  piercing  is  the  air."  But  we 
will  repair  to  the  sanctuary,  lest  we  become  infidels  and  deny 
the  faith.  Kev.  L.  B.  Stateler  preached.  Then  a  subscrip- 
tion was  opened  for  the  finishing  [of]  the  church.  Sub- 
scriptions were  liberal. 

Attended  church  at  candle-light.  Esqr.  Gray  Eyes  as 
usual  gave  us  some  of  [his]  ravings  and  rantings  in  the  way 
of  exhortation.     Came  home  at  9  o'clock  and 

Monday,  27. — Meeting  continued.  Went  to  H.  Jacquis's 
and  spent  a  part  of  the  day,  the  election  of  a  ferryman  being 
the  topic  of  conversation,  the  candidates  are  D.  Young,  Tall 
Charles,  Charles  Split-The-Logs. 

Tuesday,  28. — Council  met  at  James  Washington's.  Pro- 
ceeded to  the  election  of  a  ferryman,  and  resulted  in  the 
election  of  D.  Young.  Received  a  message  from  the  Dela- 
wares,  informing  us  that  they  had  received  information  of 
the  appointment  of  two  commissioners  on  the  part  of  the 
Government  to  enter  into  a  tri-party  treaty  upon  the  matter 
of  the  cession  of  land  by  the  Delawares  to  the  Wyandotts — 
whether  this  be  true  or  not  seems  somewhat  problematical. 

Wednesday,  29. — Feel  unwell.  Weather  unusually  warm. 
"Summer  heat."  Staid  at  home.  H.  Jacquis  called  upon 
me;  chatted  upon  politics.     Went  to  town  in  the  evening. 

Thursday,  30.— Warm.  M'  Noble  called.  Went  to  M' 
Cotter's,  bought  some  tallow.  Called  at  H.  Jacquis's  and 
found  him  sick  with  the  pleurisy.  Returned  to  him  in  the 
night  and  gave  him  some  medicine.     Left  him  at  8  o'clock. 

Friday,  31. — Called  upon  H.  J.  Found  him  some  better. 
Came  home.  12  o'clock,  "Summer  heat."  Unhealthy 
weather. 

Dorcas  returned  from  her  visit  to  Kansas. 

Something  suspicious  going  on  at  the  Deacon's.  More 
women  there  than  is  common.     Well,  my  suspicions  are  con- 


224  THE   JOURNALS   OF  [January,  1848. 

firmed.  The  Deacon  has  had  the  good  fortune  to  have  a 
son  born  to  him  on  the  last  day  of  the  year,  1847.  Watch 
night  at  the  Church. 

January,  1848. 

Saturday,  1. — A  happy  new  year  to  ye  all!  I  attended 
in  company  with  the  Deacon  and  J.  M.  Armstrong,  on  the 
other  side  of  the  Missouri  River,  to  purchase  marketing. 
Bought  eight  bushels  of  apples  and  a  bag  of  corn  meal.  Got 
my  effects  home.  The  family  attended  the  party  at  J.  M. 
Armstrong's.  Came  home  at  9  o'clock.  No  mail.  Heard 
the  report  of  fire  arms  all  day  at  Kansas.  These  are  doubt- 
less salutes.     Silly  fellows.     This  looks  too  puerile  for  men. 

Sunday,  2. — Sabbath.  Our  folks  being  desirous  of  going 
to  Church,  I  staid  at  home  to  keep  house.  C.  B.  G.  called 
upon  me  and  showed  me  a  letter  from  John  Walker,  con- 
taining some  menacing  threats  to  the  Wyandotts.  Poor  vin- 
dictive creature,  spare  thy  malice,  thy  impotent  rage.  You 
can  not  browbeat  the  Wyandotts  into  anything  wrong. 

Monday,  3. — Mrs.  W.  went  to  Kansas  and  I  worked  upon 
my  smokehouse.  Signed  a  recommendation  in  favor  of  F. 
Cotter,  who  is  an  applicant  for  the  Shawnee  ferry. 

Tuesday,  4. — This  being  Council  day,  I  must  attend.  H. 
Jacquis  being  sick,  his  place  must  be  supplied  by  a  substi- 
tute as  the  law  provides.  The  girls  are  going  to  Kansas  on 
a  visit  to  the  Chick  family. 

Wrote  to  Col.  Goodin  upon  the  subject  of  the  patents  sent 
to  him  in  October  last. 

Wednesday,  5. — Cold  morning,  thermometer  15°  above 
zero.  Called  upon  H.  Jacquis  and  found  him  much  worse. — 
I  entertain  serious  fears — he  is  laboring  under  a  severe  con- 
gestion of  the  lungs. 

Hauled  wood.  Went  over  to  see  Jacquis,  found  him  worse. 
Symptoms  alarming — bathed  him  in  hot  spirits.  Came  away 
in  the  evening. 


January,  1848.]  GOVERNOR   WALKER.  225 

Thursday,  6. — Went  over  early  to  see  Jacquis.  Alas!  my 
fears  were  realized.  He  departed  this  life  at  12  o'clock  at 
night.  The  Council  assembled  at  my  house  to  make  arrange- 
ments for  the  funeral,  when  the  following  program  was  agreed 
upon:  the  funeral  to  take  place  to-morrow  at  11  o'clock,  the 
procession  to  march  under  the  direction  of  the  marshal,  to 
the  Church,  where  an  oration  will  be  delivered  on  the  life 
and  character  of  the  fallen  Chief  Then  to  close  with  re- 
ligious services.  Thence  to  proceed  to  the  burying  ground. 
After  the  funeral  service  is  read,  then  the  burial  and  bene- 
diction. 

Orator  of  the  day,  W.  W. 

Chaplain,  Rev.  E.  T.  Peery. 

Marshal,  S.  Armstrong. 

Friday,  7. — Beautiful  day.  The  solemn  ceremony  of  the 
burial  took  place  in  accordance  with  the  above  arrangements. 
Never  have  I  seen  so  large  a  concourse  of  Wyandotts  on  a 
similar  occasion.^ 

Saturday,    8. — Kose   at   5   o'clock.     Fury,    how    it    [is] 

>  Henry  Jacquis  belonged  to  that  part  of  the  Wyandot  Nation  composed  of  the  Bar- 
nett  and  Charloe  families.  Margaret  Charloe  was  a  sister  of  Henry  Jacquis.  He  was 
a  good  man  and  highly  esteemed  by  the  Wyandots.  J.  M.  Armstrong  named  a  son  for 
him.  He  was  more  French  than  Indian.  The  Wyandots  pronounced  the  name 
"Jocko."  I  find  the  following  in  the  "History  of  American  Missions"  (  Worcester, 
1840),  page  722:  "The  Ect.  William  D.  Smith,  having  been  appointed  missionary  to 
the  Western  Indians,  was  set  apart  for  that  work  by  special  prayer  in  the  Presbyterian 
church  at  Cross  Roads,  Washington  County,  Pa.,  on  the  12th  of  May,  1833.  He  immedi- 
ately commenced  his  journey  to  the  west,  on  an  exploring  tour.  On  the  19th  of  June, 
he  arrived  at  the  house  of  Mr.  Joseph  Barnett,  near  the  mouth  of  the  Kansas  river, 
about  350  miles  from  St.  Louis.  Mr.  Barnett's  grandfather  was  a  white  man,  who  had 
been  made  prisoner  by  the  Indians  almost  in  infancy.  Always  residing  among  them,  he 
knew  nothing  of  his  parentage,  and  was  a  complete  Indian  in  all  his  habits  of  thought, 
feeling,  and  action.  His  son,  the  father  of  Joseph,  resided  at  Lower  Sandusky,  in  the 
northern  part  of  Ohio.  Here  he  first  heard  the  gospel  in  1801,  from  the  Eev.  Mr. 
Hughs,  who  had  been  sent  as  a  missionary  explorer  among  the  Indians  by  the  Presby- 
tery of  Ohio.  His  meditations  on  what  he  had  heard,  and  the  labors  of  the  Eev.  George 
Scott  among  his  people  the  next  summer,  led  to  his  conversion.  He  was  the  '  Wyandot 
Chief  whose  history  has  been  published  by  the  Massachusetts  Sabbath  School  Society." 
Joseph  Barnett  had  married  a  Shawnee  girl,  who  had  been  educated  at  the  Maumee 
Mission,  and  in  1832  removed  with  the  Shawnees  to  their  Reservation  near  the  Mis- 
souri. (See  my  note  on  the  Charloe  Family  for  further  information  about  Jacquis.) 
He  waa  buried  in  Huron  Place  Cemetery,  but  no  stone  remains  to  point  out  his  grave. 
16 


226  THE   JOURNALS   OF  [January,  1848. 

snowing.  Increasing  in  violence — a  regular  "  nor'  easter." 
Kept  close  quarters.  At  one  half  past  one  o'clock,  snowing 
furiously,  rivaling  the  snow  storms  of  Nova  Scotia. 

Sunday,  9. — Coldest  morning  we  have  had  this  winter. 
At  sunrise  the  thermometer  stood  20°  below  zero.  Last 
night  at  8  o'clock  it  was  5°  above.     Here  is  a  fall  of  25°. 

Monday,  10. — Cloudy.  At  sunrise  the  temperature  at  zero. 
Kept  close  quarters  all  day.  Kead,  wrote,  and  pondered 
over  matters  in  futurity.  M.  R.  W.  hauled  me  a  load  of 
fodder. 

Tuesday,  11. — Weather  cloudy  and  moderate.  Sent  two 
letters  to  the  office,  one  to  Harriet  and  one  to  M'^  Barrett, 
Senr.  Called  upon  the  widow  Jacquis.  In  the  evening,  cut 
her  some  wood.  M'®  W.  went  on  a  visit  to  C.  B.  G.'s.  M"" 
Barstow  came  and  spent  the  evening  with  us. 

Wednesday,  12. — M"^  Peery  brought  our  mail,  but  not 
having  time  to  read  now,  I  will  lay  my  papers  aside  "  till  a 
more  convenient  season." 

M""  Dennis  brought  M""  Waldron  to  examine  the  carpenter 
work  done  by  him  on  my  house  and  fix  upon  the  price. 

Thursday,  13. — Dark  foggy  and  misty  morning.  Sent 
to  the  P.  O.  an  obituary  notice  of  the  death  of  Henry  Jac- 
quis to  the  editor  of  the  Ohio  State  Journal.  Went  to  town. 
No  crossing  the  Kansas  river  in  consequence  of  the  thawing 
of  the  "ice  bridge." 

Friday,  14. — The  weather  continues  the  same  as  yesterday, 
damp,  foggy  and  cloudy.  I  hear  of  our  people  being  sick. 
Unhealthy  weather.     Thermometer  temperate. 

Saturday,  15. — Some  colder  this  morning,  having  frozen 
some  last  night.  Went  to  M.  E,.  W.'s  and  got  the  oxen. 
Cut  and  hauled  some  wood  for  the  coming  week.  This  thing 
of  chopping  is  not  quite  so  agreeable  to  ^^ flesh  and  blood" 
though  I  do  not  think  it,  as  an  employment,  very  injurious 
to  the  flesh,  blood,  or  bones. 


January,  1848.]  GOVEENOK   WALKER.  227 

In  the  evening  Uncle  James  Rankin  came  and  spent  the 
evening  with  us.     Clear  and  beautiful  moonlight  night. 

Sunday,  16. — ^Wrote  a  letter  to  Jesse  Stern  upon  land 
business  and  wrote  also  to  Hugh  Barrett  a  friendly  commu- 
nication. 

Our  folks  returned  from  meeting  and  informed  [us]  that 
Esq.  Gray  Eyes  handed  a  letter  from  Rev.  J.  B.  Finley  to 
be  read  to  the  congregation.  It  being  read  in  Wyandott  its 
contents  were  not  fairly  understood. 

Monday,  17. — Clear  and  beautiful  morning. 

Called  upon  M.  R.  W.,  he  being  sick  with  a  violent  cold, 
and  found  him  improving.  Went  to  town.  No  ferrying, 
the  river  being  frozen  over. 

M'  Dennis  brought  over  M'' Waldron's  award.  Jupitator 
what  a  bill.  At  the  prices  fixed  in  the  award,  a  carpenter 
will  make  in  a  year  $1,700,  and  be  boarded  besides.  Car- 
penters ought  to  become  rich  at  these  rates,  but  M"^  Dennis 
and  I  settled  without  any  reference  to  the  award.  In  the 
evening  visited  the  Deacon. 

Tuesday,  18. — Council  met  and  after  some  small  matters 
were  disposed  of  proceeded  to  the  election  of  a  councilor  to 
supply  the  vacancy  caused  by  the  death  of  H.  J.  After  sev- 
eral ballotings  George  I.  Clark  was  elected  to  serve  till  the 
15th  of  August  ensuing. 

Wednesday,  19. — Staid  at  home  and  did  but  little. 

Thursday,  20.— Hiatus. 

Friday,  21. — Went  to  Kansas  and  got  mail. 

Saturday,  22. — M''  Thos.  Dennis  called  for  his  pay.  Paid 
him,  not  wishing  to  be  in  debt  to  such  a  whining,  simpering, 
and  over  honest  man. 

Sale  of  H.  J.'s  property  took  place  under  the  management 
of  G.  I.  Clark  and  James  T.  Charloe,  administrators.  Prop- 
erty sold  enormously  high.  Bought  nothing  "  as  is  my  wont " 
in  such  cases. 


228  THE   JOURNALS   OF  [January,  1848. 

Sunday,  23. — Sick.     Staid  at  home  of  course. 

Monday,  24. — Employed  M'  Noble  to  assist  me  to  haul 
some  wood  and  fodder. 

Tuesday,  25. — Council  met.  Transacted  sundry  business. 
Appointed  G.  I.  C.  and  J.  M.  A.  a  committee  to  call  upon 
Major  Cummings,  Indian  agent,  and  make  certain  inquiries 
about  the  appointment  of  commissioner  to  conclude  a  tri- 
party  treaty  between  the  Wyandotts,  Delawares,  and  the  U.  S. 

Wednesday,  26. — Went  out  gunning,  but  killed  nothing. 
Went  to  town — Found  the  Kansas  river  rising. 

Thursday,  27. — Tore  down  my  shed  and  did  sundry  other 
nasty  jobs.  In  the  evening  a  M'  Waldo  of  Independence 
called  and  staid  all  night.  Had  a  long  and  interesting  con- 
fab with  him.  A  democrat  "dyed  in  the  wool."  Deacon 
Peery  called  and  chatted  about  the  on  dits  of  the  day. 

Friday,  28. — Beautiful  morning.  The  weather  looks  like 
spring.  At  1  o'clock  the  thermometer  "temperate."  Called 
over  to  M.  R.  W.'s,  not  at  home.  F.  A.  H.'s  negro  ran 
away.     He  and  John  Lynch  gone  in  pursuit  of  him. 

"  Niggur  Sambo  run  away. 
Didn't  come  back  till  Saturday." 

No  news.     Ennui! 

Saturday,  29. — Cold  and  cloudy.  Went  out  this  morn- 
ing in  the  hopes  of  killing  some  game,  but  killed  nothing 
but  a  squirrel.  Poor  reward  for  my  toils.  Fll  have  it  for 
dinrier.  Sent  to  the  P.  O.  At  2  o'clock  P.  M.  it  com- 
menced raining.  Reading  Albert  H.  Gallatin's  article  on 
the  Mexican  war.  So  far  I  regard  it  unanswerable.  Dark, 
rainy,  and  gloomy  night. 

Sunday,  30. — Rainy  morning.  M"^  Graham  called  for  a 
day's  visit.  Just  heard  of  the  death  [of]  Tauroomee's  wife 
Theresa.  She  was  an  amiable  woman,  affectionate,  sociable, 
and  agreeable.  3  o'clock  P.  M.,  snowing.  Phoebus !  What 
weather  I 


February,  1848.]  GOVERNOR   WALKER.  229 

Monday,  31. — At  sunrise  the  thermometer  stood  15° 
above  zero.  Prospect  of  a  warm  day,  this  last  day  of  Jan- 
uary, 1848. 

Waiting  for  Sophia's  return  from  Kansas.  She  returned 
about  12  o'clock.  In  the  evening  Captain  Waldo  called 
upon  us  on  his  return  from  the  fort,  and  staid  all  night. 
He  informs  [us]  that  General  Scott  has  been  arrested  on 
charges  preferred  by  Generals  Worth  and  Pillow,  and  a 
court  martial  ordered  to  convene  at  Vera  Cruz. 

February,  1848. 

Tuesday,  1. — Beautiful  morning.  Captain  Waldo  set  out 
on  his  journey  home.  Council  day.  I  must  attend.  A 
letter  was  read  in  Council  from  Major  Cummins  in  relation 
to  the  tri-party  treaty.  Nothing  satisfactory  upon  the  sub- 
ject. All  equivocal.  The  Government  is  determined  upon 
"foul  play"  upon  us  poor  Wyandotts. 

Wednesday,  2. — Went  to  Kansas  and  put  in  the  P.  O.  a 
Santa  Fe  newspaper  and  a  map  of  Mexico  and  California 
addressed  to  John  Shrunk,  Editor  of  the  "Lower  Sandusky 
Telegraph."  Received  a  letter  from  Harriet.  Settled  with 
S.  Armstrong  and  McCoy  and  Martin  in  our  house-rent 
concern,  the  latter  up  to  the  31st  of  December,  1847. 
Amount  due  up  to  this  date  from  S.  Armstrong  $17.43. 
Amount  due  from  McCoy  and  Martin  up  to  December  31st, 
1847,  $31.05. 

Thursday,  3. — Attended  M.  R.  W.'s  raising.  Labored 
hard  all  day.  A  windy,  cloudy  and  unpleasant  day.  Did 
not  finish  the  raising.     Postponed  till  Saturday  next. 

Friday,  4. — At  daylight  commenced  snowing.  Cold  and 
stormy.  About  noon  it  partially  cleared  up.  Hauled  wood 
and  some  corn  out  of  Henry  Jacquis  field.  In  the  evening 
J.  M.  A.  and  his  two  little  girls  came  over  to  spend  the 
evening.     Had  a  concert. 


230  THE   JOURNALS  OF  [February,  1848. 

Saturday,  5. — Cloudy  morning. 
Sunday,  6. — Hiatus. 
Monday,  7. — In  Westport. 

Tuesday,  8. "How  beautlfnl  fails 

From  bnman  lips, 

That  'blessed  Vford  forgive.'  " 

Wednesday,  9. — Came  home.  T.  H.  Noble  staid  all 
night. 

Thursday,  10. — Martha  and  Dorcas  went  to  Independence 
intending  to  stay  till  Saturday. 

Friday,  11. — Employed  Mr.  Noble  to  cut  and  haul  some 
wood.  In  the  evening  C.  G.  came  on  a  visit  and  staid  till 
bed  time.     A  long  and  pleasant  colloquy. 

Saturday,  12. — Devoted  my  time  to  burning  old  logs  and 
dry  trees.  Spring  weather  truly.  In  the  evening  Adam 
Brown  called  and  delivered  my  mail  from  Kansas  with 
President's  Message  and  accompanying  documents.  A  truly 
mammoth  document! 

Martha  and  Dorcas  not  returned  yet.  We  are  uneasy 
about  them. 

Sunday,  13. — Cloudy  morning.  Head  the  news  and  wrote 
a  letter  to  A.  Guthrie,^  a  sort  of  salmagundi  affair,  upon  all 
sorts  of  subjects.  Warm  day.  At  4  o'clock  P.  M.  it  com- 
menced raining  and  rained  till  8  o'clock. 

Monday,  14. — Cloudy  as  usual.  James  White -Wing 
came  as  per  agreement  to  work  for  me.  Martha  not  re- 
turned yet.     What  in  the  name  of  Moses  can  keep  her? 

Tuesday,  15. — Returned  from  their  journey. 

Wednesday,  16. — Went  with  the  girls  to  Kansas,  they  be- 
ing invited  to  attend  Isaac  McCoy's  "infair." 

Thursday,  17. — Pemained  in  waiting  the  arrival  of  the 
Haiden,  expecting  to  find  Harriet  on  board  coming  home 
to  spend  her  vacation,  but  was  disappointed. 

'  Mr.  Guthrie  was  kept  in  Washington  most  of  his  time  by  the  Wyandot  Nation  to 
look  after  their  aflairs.    He  was  in  Washington  at  this  time. 


March,  1848.]  GOVERNOR  WALKER.  231 

Friday,  18. — Waiting  the  arrival  of  the  Tamerlane.  She 
landed,  but  still  no  Harriet. 

Saturday,  19. — Hiatus. 

Sunday,  20. — Hiatus. 

Monday,  21. — Hiatus. 

Tuesday,  22. — Celebrated  the  birthday  of  the  Father  of  his 
Country,  by  having  a  social  select  convivial  party  in  M'  Tibb's 
counting  room.  Quite  a  pleasant  and  agreeable  time.  Our 
wit  and  the  chief  author  of  our  merriment  was  a  M""  Dyke. 

Wednesday,  23. — Done  nothing.     Read  the  news. 

Thursday,  24. — Clearing  up  the  yard,  assisted  by  John 
Lynch. 

Friday,  25. — Engaged  in  the  same. 

Saturday,  26. — Same.     Got  our  mail.     Not  much  news. 

Sunday,  27. — Read  Fremont's  defense. 

Monday,  28. — Hauled  wood  all  day.  Brought  my  big 
wagon  home  and  lent  it  again  to  John  Van  Meter.^  Some- 
what fatigued  at  night.  M""  and  M'^  Davis,  with  C.  G.  came 
on  a  visit  and  staid  all  night. 

Tuesday,  29. — Attended  Council.  Made  out  our  appro- 
priation bill  for  1848.  Tried  and  convicted  Thomas  Stand- 
In-The- Water  of  burglary  and  theft.  Transacted  various 
minor  matters  of  business.  A  person  named  Quinby  called, 
enquiring  for  a  fugitive  slave  who  absconded  from  his  mas- 
ter in  Platte  City. 

March,  1848. 

Wednesday,  1. — Resumed  our  operations  in  clearing  up, 
and  as  Major  J.  Downing  says,  "Sitting  things  to  rights." 
Miss  Blossom  was  last  night  delivered  of  an  heir.  A  fine 
calf. 

Thursday,  2. — Snowing  at  a  most  furious  rate.  Kept 
housed  up  all  day.  The  sky  black  as  a  raven's  wing,  and 
the  air  white  as  the  crest  of  'lie  foaming  billow. 

'  The  Van  Meters  were  Mohawks ;  they  were  adopted  Wyandote. 


232  THE   JOURNALS   OF  [March,  1848. 

Friday,  3. — At  daylight,  thermometer  10°  below  zero. 
Hauled  corn  and  fodder.    Widow  Driver  was  buried  to-day.^ 

Saturday,  4. — At  daylight,  thermometer  at  zero.  Matthew 
Peacock  was  buried  to-day.^ 

'^Insatiate  archer,  could  not  one  suffice  V 

Pleasant  in  the  afternoon,  but  towards  sunset  the  wind 
blew  from  the  north  and  turned  very  cold.  Received  a  let- 
ter from  Jesse  Stern,  Esq.,  upon  land  matters.  Also  some 
public  documents  from  A.  Guthrie.  C.  Graham  staid  all 
night  and  bespoke  boarding  for  himself  and  assistant,  Orange 
"Wilcox. 

Sunday,  5. — Thermometer  "0"  (zero).  Bright  and  clear. 
This  day  I  complete  my  forty-seventy  year.  Can  this  be 
possible?  Verily  I  cannot  realize  [it]  .  I  can  hardly  per- 
suade myself  that  I  have  already  lived  so  long  and  ambled 
upon  this  bustling  stage  47  years ;  yet  such  is  the  fact.  The 
record  shows  it.  I  was  born  in  the  County  of  Wayne,  Ter- 
ritory (now  State)  of  Michigan  on  the  5th  of  March  A.  D., 
1800.'  Methinks  it  was  but  last  week  I  was  a  crazy-headed, 
reckless,  fun-loving  and  unstudious  school  boy.  How  swift 
is  the  flight  of  time. 

Monday,  6. — Assisted  by  John  Lynch,  I  overhauled  our 
spring,  which  had  been  failing.  Put  in  a  new  trough,  but 
Alas!  we  toiled  for  naught;  we  gained  but  little  water. 

Tuesday,  7. — Went  to  town.  John  Lynch  chopped  in  the 
woods  pasture.     Joel  set  out  for  N.  Y. 

*  The  mother  of  Francis  Driver. 

•  He  yraa  buried  in  Huron  Place  Cemetery.     On  the  stone  above  his  grave  is  this: 

Matthew  Peacock 

Died 

Oct    1843 

Aged  68  Yrs. 

The  date  is  wrong.     There  being  no  day  of  the  month  given  indicates  that  there 

was  uncertainty  as  to  the  date  by  those  having  the  stone  put  up.     It  was  probably  not 

erected  until  many  years  after  his  death. 

'  See  biographical  sketch  of  Governor  Walker  for  different  dates  given  for  his  birth. 
This  is  undoubtedly  the  correct  date. 


March,  1848.]  GOVEENOK  WALKEE.  233 

Wednesday,  8. — Overhauled  my  pork.  Lent  the  Deacon 
one  of  my  barrels  and  repacked  his  pork.  Worked  on  my 
smoke  house  and  in  the  garden.  Overhauled  the  roots  of 
my  fruit  trees.  Manured  them  with  spall-stones  and  com- 
post.    Paid  John  Lynch  four  dollars. 

Thursday,  9. — Clear  and  beautiful  morning.  Got  up  my 
work  cattle,  intending  to  haul  out  the  waste  timber  out  of 
my  Woods  pasture;  but  my  Frenchman  not  coming,  did  but 
little  in  the  way  of  hauling.  Summon'd  to  attend  a  special 
session  of  the  Council.  Heard  of  the  death  of  John  Quincy 
Adams. 

Friday,  10. — Wrote  to  J.  Stern  upon  land  matters.  Bought 
three  bushels  of  corn  meal.  Sent  for  Pharoah  for  consul- 
tation. Came  in  the  evening.  Mr.  Graham  brought  our 
Westport  mail. 

Saturday,  11. — Beautiful  morning.  M"  W.  went  to  Kan- 
sas to  purchase  supplies,  and  brought  our  mail.  A  letter 
from  Harriet.  Chopped  my  Sunday's  wood.  Did  various 
other  "chores"  about  the  house.  Read  my  newspapers. 
To-day  the  thermometer  stood  nearly  at  ^^ summer  heat" 
This  seems  like  the  commencement  of  spring.  Hannah 
Hicks  came  on  a  visit  and  drummed  on  the  piano.  Consid- 
ering her  opportunities  she  plays  a  few  tunes  very  well. 

Sunday,  12. — Rained  a  little  last  night,  and  this  morning 
the  thermometer  stood  2°  below  freezing  point.  Prospect  of 
a  fine  day. 

In  the  evening  C.  Graham  and  Orange  returned.  Read 
and  wrote  all  day. 

Monday,  13. — Cold,  frosty  morning.  Wrote  to  Harriet 
to  come  home  with  S.  Armstrong  on  his  return  from  St. 
Louis.     Pottered  about  the  house. 

Tuesday,  14. — Bright  and  clear  morning.  Hauled  some 
wood  out  of  the  woods  pasture.  Went  to  the  Council.  Came 
home  and  set  out  some  peach  trees. 


234  THE   JOURNALS  OF  [March,  1848. 

Wednesday,  15. — Frosty  morning.  Went  to  town  to  haul 
some  flour  and  a  sack  of  salt,  but  owing  to  the  villainous  and 
balky  character  of  Sam's  team,  broke  the  wagon  tongue,  so 
we  left  the  wagon  in  town  and  came  home  for  dinner,  and 
at  the  same  time  to  devise  other  means  of  getting  our  load 
home.  I  have  it.  We  will  take  the  ox  team,  Brin  and 
Brown.     Never  stall,  so  now  for  the  bull  team. 

Just  returned  with  my  flour  and  salt.  No  accidents  this 
time.     Spent  this  day  to  but  little  purpose. 

Thursday,  16. — Beautiful  morning.  Looks  like  Indian 
summer.  Called  upon  the  Grammar  school.  Went  to  M. 
Mudeater^  and  engaged  ten  bushels  of  potatoes. 

'  The  name  Mudeateris  an  honored  one  in  the  Wyandot  Nation.  There  are  different 
accounts  of  the  manner  in  which  it  became  fixed  as  a  family  name.  Alfred  J.  Mudeater, 
Esq.,  of  Wyandotte,  Indian  Territory,  gave  me  substantially  the  following: 

A  war  pai'ty  of  Wyandotswent  up  the  Big  Sandy  River  about  the  time  of  the  Revo- 
lutionary War,  for  the  purpose,  as  he  said,  of  falling  upon  the  Cherokees,  but  much 
more  probably  for  the  purpose  of  raiding  the  settlements  west  of  New  Eiver  in  Vir- 
ginia, or  along  the  Watauga  in  what  is  now  East  Tennessee.  This  party  went  down  a 
valley  after  passing  the  head  waters  of  the  Big  Sandy  Eiver.  This  valley  was  inhab- 
ited by  white  settlers  who  fled  at  the  approach  of  the  Indians,  who  passed  on  and  went 
far  beyond  it.  They  were  gone  for  about  two  weeks,  when  they  returned  up  this  same 
valley  to  again  reach  the  waters  of  the  Big  Sandy,  which  they  would  descend  on  their 
way  home. 

As  they  were  marching  up  this  little  valley  they  saw  a  small  boy  run  down  to  the 
creek  some  distance  ahead  of  them  and  disappear  in  the  bushes  that  fringed  the  stream. 
Some  of  the  warriors  hastened  to  the  point  where  the  boy  was  last  seen  but  he  was  no- 
where to  be  found.  The  other  warriors  of  the  party  came  up  and  a  close  and  systematic 
search  was  instituted  for  the  fugitive.  One  of  them  noticed  that  the  creek  had  cut  in 
under  the  roots  of  some  trees,  leaving  a  mass  of  roots  and  earth  overhanging  the  water. 
He  plunged  into  the  stream  and  looked  under  this  overhanging  mass.  He  saw  a  boy's 
legs  at  the  farthest  corner  of  the  cavity  thus  found,  and,  seizing  him  by  the  feet,  drew 
him  forth. 

The  child,  for  he  was  nothing  more,  being  only  about  six  or  seven  years  old,  was 
famished  and  emaciated.  So  extreme  had  been  his  sufferings  from  hunger  that  he  had 
been  eating  the  soapstone  found  along  the  bed  of  the  creek.  This  soapstone  and  clay 
were  smeared  about  his  mouth  and  over  his  face.  The  Indians,  with  that  aptness  for 
which  they  are  famous  in  the  bestowal  of  names,  called  him  Mud  Eater,  a  name  which 
he  retained  ever  after. 

The  warriors  gave  him  food,  and  carried  him  with  them  to  their  town  on  the  San- 
dusky. He  said  that  his  people  had  either  abandoned  liim  or  forgotten  him  in  their 
hasty  flight  from  the  Indians,  and  he  had  been  left  to  starve,  or  to  whatever  fate  might 
befall  him. 

The  Indians  adopted  him  and  he  grew  up  among  them  and  married  a  Wyandot 
woman. 

The    Hon.  Frank   H.  Betton,  of  Wyandotte  county,  Kansas,  who  married  Miss 


March,  1848.]  GOVERNOR  WALKER.  235 

Friday,  17. — "St.  Patrick's  day  in  the  morning." 
Wrought  in  my  garden  digging  up  stumps,  and  laying  off 
walks,  etc.  Sent  by  Mr.  Graham  my  letter  to  John  Greer, 
written  yesterday.  I  very  civilly  gave  my  opinion  of  his 
conduct  in  regard  to  my  sale  of  a  tract  of  land  to  him. 

Mr.  Mudeater  brought  the  potatoes  I  contracted  for  yes- 
terday. Warm  day,  pleasant  evening.  Dr.  H.  (God  bless 
his  memory)  forgot  to  bring  our  mail  from  the  P.  O. 

Saturday,  18. — Yonder  comes  the  powerful  king  of  day 
rejoicing  in  the  east.  10  and  a  half  o'clock.  Thermometer 
nearly  "summer  heat."  Working  with  my  fruit  trees,  cov- 
ering their  roots  with  broken  stone  and  compost  of  leached 
lime  and  sand.  The  little  leisure  I  have  I  devote  to  reading 
the  memoirs  of  Aaron  Burr  by  M.  L.  Davis.  What  a  man! 
A  strange  medley  of  opposite  qualities,  great  and  good  in 
some  things  and  treacherous  and  heartless  in  others. 

Sunday,  19. — Staid  at  home,  read  and  wrote.     M'  Gil- 

Susanah  Mudeater,  the  sister  of  Alfred  J.  Mudeater,  Esq.,  who  gave  me  the  foregoing 
account,  believes  it  possible  that  the  name  may  have  been  bestowed  from  the  habits  of 
the  turtle  which  burrows  in  the  mud,  and  which  might  be  said  to  be  a  mud  eater.  This 
is  a  plausible  and  tenable  theory,  and  it  is  quite  possible  that  it  is  correct,  if  the  boy 
was  adopted  by  the  Big  Turtle  Clan,  or  the  Mud  Turtle  Clan. 

He  related  to  me  another  tradition.  A  party  of  Wyandots  went  to  visit  another 
tribe,  perhaps  the  Shawnees,  or  the  Delawares.  Arrived  at  the  spring  at  which  the 
village  supply  of  water  was  obtained  they  beheld  an  emaciated  white  boy  eating  clay 
from  its  banks.  He  was  a  captive  and  had  been  adopted  and  had  almost  starved.  The 
Wyandots  from  compassion  bought  him  and  adopted  him  into  their  tribe,  and  gave  him 
the  name  of  Mud  Eater,  from  the  circumstance  which  caused  his  purchase  and  adoption 
into  the  Wyandot  Nation. 

The  improbable  part  of  this  version  of  the  matter  lies  in  the  assertion  that  he  had 
been  starved  after  adoption.  This  could  not  have  been,  unless  the  whole  tribe  was 
starving.  It  was  contrary  to  all  Indian  customs  to  withhold  food  from  any  one.  While 
oue  had  food  all  had  it. 

This  man  Mud  Eater  had  a  son  named  Eussia  Mudeater,  who  married  a  daughter  of 
Chief  Adam  Brown.  One  of  their  children  was  Matthew  Mudeater.  He  married 
Nancy  Pipe,  a  direct  descendant  of  Hopocan,  or  Captain  Pipe,  Chief  of  the  Wolf  Clan, 
and  afterwards  Head  Chief  of  all  the  Delawares,  and  who  burned  Colonel  Crawford  at 
the  stake  in  what  is  now  Crawford  County,  Ohio.  Of  this  marriage  were  born:  1.  Silas, 
died  in  infancy;  2.  Snsanah,  bom  in  Ohio,  March  5,  1841;  3.  Thomas  Dawson,  bom 
February  — ,  1843;  4.  Zelinda,  bom  in  1845;  5.  Mary,  born  in  1847;  6.  Irvin,  born  in 
1849;  7.  Benjamin,  born  in  1851;  8.  Infant  that  died;  9.  Alfred  J.,  born  in  1855;  10. 
Matthew,  born  in  1857;  11.  Ida,  born  iu  1859. 

Matthew  Mudeater  died  in  the  Wyandot  Reserve  in  the  Indian  Territory. 


236  THE   JOURNALS   OF  [March,  1848. 

more  of  Independence  came  and  staid  all  night.  Went  to 
see  Isaiah  who  was  seriously  hurt  by  the  falling  of  his  horse 
while  going  at  full  speed  on  Saturday.     Badly  hurt. 

Monday,  20. — Rained  last  night.  Clear  this  morning. 
Went  to  town  after  writing  to  M'  Keese  concerning  the 
Chick  lots  in  Westport. 

Sowed  two  beds  of  a  mixture  of  salad  and  radishes  and 
other  work  in  de  jardin. 

C.  Graham  received  a  letter  from  Esau,  written  from  New 
Orleans,  which  I  perused.  He  is  on  his  way  to  Mexico, 
wishing  like  many  others  to  revel  in  the  "halls  of  Monte- 
zuma." 

Tuesday,  21. — Cold  and  cloudy  morning.  Reading  Burr's 
memoirs.  Truly  he  was  an  unfortunate  man.  In  the  me- 
ridian of  life  his  star  began  to  wane  and  through  the  bitter- 
ness and  rancorous  hostility  with  which  he  was  pursued,  day 
and  night,  he  fell  from  his  lofty  position  like  a  boulder  from 
the  clouds.  How  true  the  saying  and  truly  its  application 
in  Col.  Burr's  case  is  just.  A  French  criminal  judge  says 
"  Give  me  four  lines  in  writing  of  the  most  honest  man  in 
the  world,  and  I  will  undertake  to  have  him  hung." 

Continued  cold  windy  and  cloudy.    Worked  in  my  garden. 

Wednesday,  22. — Cold  and  dark  morning.  My  execra- 
tions upon  that  sacre  menteur  coquiii  of  a  Frenchman,  Pierre 
Ballenger,  for  not  coming  to  work  for  me  as  he  promised. 
Continued  my  gardening  operations.  Planted  early  pota- 
toes, but  in  consequence  of  my  crippled  back  I  was  com- 
pelled to  lay  aside  my  spade,  shovel  and  rake  and  stop  oper- 
ations. Mild  and  pleasant  this  arternoon.  Je  suis  fatigue 
aujour  d^hui. 

Just  heard  of  the  ratification  of  the  treaty  of  peace  be- 
tween the  U.  S.  and  Mexico. 

Thursday,  23. — Clear  cold  and  frosty  morning.  M"  W. 
gone  to  Westport.     Writing  a  letter  to  Esau  in  Mexico.     Le 


March,  1848.]  GOVERNOR  WALKER.  237 

menie  terns  Je  ecrite  une  o  pour  Madame  Guthrie.  Planted 
some  more  early  potatoes.  M"  W.  returned  from  Westport 
and  brought  my  mail. 

Friday,  24. — Hauled  some  hay.  Then  hauled  some  wood 
from  the  woods  pasture.  Planted  a  Balm  of  Gilead.^  Done 
various  other  things.  M""  Barstow's  school  closed  to-day. 
Called  upon  by  James  Washington  on  public  business. 
Agreed  to  meet  to-morrow. 

Saturday,  25. — Sprinkled  a  little  rain  last  night.  Cloudy 
and  threatening  rain.  Let  it  come  and  welcome.  Dis- 
patched my  letter  addressed  to  Esau  by  C.  G.  to  the  P.  O. 
Settled  with  B.  F.  Barstow  for  tuition  in  District  No.  3, 
amount,  $58.33. 

Planted  a  fine  lot  of  top  onions.  M.  R.  W.  set  out  to-day 
for  Wolftown  in  company  with  M'  Boyd.  Requested  him 
to  attend  to  some  business  for  me.  Went  to  town  to  meet 
the  sub-agent  on  public  business,  but  [he]  was  not  at  home; 
gone  to  Fort  Leavenworth. 

Sunday,  26. — Cold,  cold  morning.  1°  below  freezing 
point.  Went  to  see  the  Widow  Mudeater,  who  is  said  to  be 
dangerously  sick.  "Nigh  unto  death."  Some  prospect  of 
her  recovery  yet. 

Monday,  27. — Wrote  two  deeds  for  the  Deacon.  Resumed 
my  gardening  operations.  Worked  hard  all  day  with  spade 
and  rake  in  hand.  C.  G.  sick.  Did  not  come  home  but 
staid  all  night  at  his  cheerless  and  lonely  house.  Dr.  H. 
received  orders  to  come  to  St.  Louis  for  the  semi-annual 
annuity. 

Tuesday,  28. — Clear  and  frosty  morning.  Must  attend 
Council  to-day.  Business  of  importance.  Just  returned 
from  Council.  Transacted  a  variety  of  business.  Ap- 
pointed a  National  Council  for  this  day  a  week  at  the  school 
house  in   town,  to  meet    the    disorganizers.     To-day  at  12 

'  Formerly  a  favorite  tree  to  plant  about  the  house  for  shade  and  ornament. 


238  THE   JOURNALS   OF  [March,  1848. 

o'clock  the  widow  Mudeater  departed  this  life,  a  worthy  and 
good  woman  gathered  to  her  fathers. 

Wednesday,  29. — Clear  and  frosty  morning.  4°  below 
"freezing."  Attended  the  funeral  of  the  widow  Mudeater. 
]V[rs  Yl  went  to  Kansas  and  returned.  Wrote  to  Andrew 
McElvain  in  reply  to  his  letter  of  the  10th  inst.,  upon  the 
subject  of  his  wishing,  or  rather  application  for  [the]  Wyan- 
dott  agency. 

Thursday,  30. — Blustery,  windy,  and  such  a  whirling  of 
dust,  leaves,  and  trash !     Whew ! 

Cloudy,  prospect  of  rain.  Oh!  Boreas  send  us  a  refresh- 
ing shower!  Dry,  dry.  Watered  our  fruit  trees,  for  truly 
they  are  suffering.  Planted  a  sugar  sprout  in  the  yard. 
Dr.  Hewitt  set  out  for  St.  Louis.  At  5  o'clock,  planted 
some  May  peas  and  some  beets.  In  the  evening  the  sky 
became  cloudy  with  very  strong  indications  of  rain.  At 
nightfall  it  commenced  raining  and  rained  till  midnight. 

Friday,  31. — Cold  morning.  Thermometer,  freezing 
point.  Repaired  my  meadow  fence.  Packed  rails  on  my 
shoulder.  Wrote  a  long  letter  to  Tho.  A.  Grun.  Winding 
up  the  day  by  burning  up  logs  in  my  field.  Continued  cold 
all  day.  Probably  frost  to-night.  Planted  two  more  sugar 
sprouts. 

April,  1848. 

All  fool's  day.  Cold  frosty  morning.  I  fear  for  the 
fruit.  Quarterly  meeting  commenced  to-day.  The  presid- 
ing elder  Mr.  Stateler  on  the  ground.  Hauled  some  wood. 
Hauled  rails  and  went  to  town.  Came  home  and  positively 
determined  to  work  no  more  to-day,  lest  I  should  be  made 
[a]  "fool"  of  before  the  day  closes.  Bring  on  my  mail! 
The  mail  came  and  all  I  got  was  two  Independence  papers. 
The  treaty  with  Mexico  confirmed  by  the  Senate.  37  Ayes 
and  15  Nays !  Revolution  in  France.  Abdication  of  Louis 
Phillip  and  departure  from  Paris.     The  chamber  of  depu- 


April,  1848.]  GOVERNOR  WALKER.  239 

ties  refuse  to  settle  the  crown  upon  any  of  the  royal  family, 
all  in  a  hub  bub.     France  must  undergo  another  depletion. 

Commenced  a  letter  to  the  Arch  Bishop  of  the  Ohio  State 
Prison,  J.  B.  F.^ 

Sunday,  2. — Went  to  church.  Heard  a  sermon  from  Kev. 
M'  Stateler. 

Monday,  3. — Orange  D.  Wilcox  left  for  Independence. 
M""  Stateler  called  upon  us  and  spent  the  morning.  Chunked 
up  my  log  heap.  Finished  my  letter  to  the  Arch  Bishop. 
Prospect  of  a  rainy  day. 

Must  attend  a  special  session  of  the  chiefs  to-day  at  1 
o'clock  P.  M.  to  prepare  for  the  convocation  of  the  nation 
to-morrow. 

Tuesday,  4. — Cold  morning.  Employed  T.  H.  Noble  to 
clear  an  addition  to  my  field. 

Attended  the  grand  convocation  of  the  nation  at  the  school 
house.  A  warm  discussion  took  place  upon  our  national 
politics.     Came  home  at  5  o'clock. 

Wednesday,  5. — Frost.  Planted  our  garden  peas.  Made 
a  summer  house  of  my  wild  rose. 

Thursday,  6.  —  Cold  morning.  Santissimus  virgo  ora 
pronobisf  Hired  James  Jackson  to  work  for  M"^  C.  G.  and 
myself  jointly.  Went  to  town,  bought  102  pounds  of  bacon 
from  C.  G.,  and  brought  my  seed  oats  home.  Ira  Hunter  com- 
menced work  in  the  shop.  Hauled  rails  and  fenced  in  the 
orchard.     Je  suis  fatigue  aujour  d'hui  comme  un  cheval. 

Friday,  7. — Frosty  morning  as  usual.  Le  meme  chase. 
Sowed  my  orchard  with  oats.  Looking  every  moment  for 
Harriet. 

'  James  B.  Finley,  the  Methodist  Missionary  to  the  Wyandots;  he  founded  the  Mis- 
sion at  Upper  Sandusky,  Ohio.  He  was  adopted  into  the  Wyandot  Nation  by  the  Bear 
Clan  and  named  Eeh'-wah-wih'-ih,  meaning  "  he  has  hold  of  the  Law."  He  was  given 
a  nickname,  Hah-gyeh'-reh-wah'-neh,  meaning  "big  neck."  He  wrote  the  "History 
of  the  Wyandot  Mission"  and  "Western  Methodism."  His  History  of  the  Wyandot 
MiBsion  was  afterwards  published  almost  entire  as  "  Life  Among  the  Indians." 


240  THE  JOURNALS  OF  [April,  i848. 

She  came  about  two  o'clock,  having  come  in  a  carriage 
with  S.  Armstrong  and  H.  M.  Northrup. 

Planted  some  more  onions.  Sowed  parsnips  and  beets, 
also  cabbage  seeds.  My  hand,  Jimmie  Jackson,  getting 
sick  of  work  and  wants  to  quit  and  go  home.  So  he  may- 
go.      Cloudy  night,  looks  like  rain,  send  it,  do,  oh  do! 

Saturday,  8. — No  rain,  but  cloudy.  No  frost.  M"  W. 
went  to  Kansas,  but  brought  no  mail.  Set  out  the  shrub- 
bery brought  by  Harriet  from  Lexington,  viz:  a  variety  of 
roses,  honeysuckle,  and  flowering  almond.  Sowed  some  tim- 
othy and  clover.  Planted  some  watermelons.  Blocking  out 
a  memorial  to  the  general  conference  about  to  convene  at 
Pittsburg  praying  that  body  to  refund  the  proceeds  of  the 
Mission  farm  in  Ohio,  to  be  applied,  if  refunded,  to  finishing 
the  new  Church. 

Sunday,  9. — No  rain ;  ground  dry  and  parched.  C.  G. 
and  myself  went  to  the  Holy  Catholic  Church  near  Kansas, 
and  heard  a  sermon  from  Father  Donnelly,  an  Irish  priest; 
was  introduced  to  him;  a  quite  pleasant  and  agreeable  man. 
Got  home  at  1  o'clock  P.  M.  Received  a  letter  from  John 
Wheeler.  Answered  it  forthwith ;  a  sort  of  a  salmagundi 
communication.  Several  of  our  neighbors  called  upon  us 
this  evening. 

Monday,  10. — Cloudy ;  some  signs  of  rain.  Oh  let  re- 
freshing showers  descend  upon  the  parched  earth.  Cloudy 
and  cold  all  day,  but  no  rain.  M""  T.  H.  Noble  making 
rails,  and  I  doing  a  little  of  everything. 

Tuesday,  11. — Cold ;  thermometer  "freezing"  point !  Clear 
and  all  hopes  of  our  rain  dissipated.  Sad  disappointment! 
Steamboat  making  a  rambunctious  noise  upon  the  river. 
Beautiful  and  enchanting  morning.  Of  all  the  green  groves 
of  the  \vide  spreading  forest,  there  are  none  so  fair  or  so 
charming  as  where  the  beautiful  Kansas  doth  glide. 


April,  1848.]  GOVERNOR  WALKER.  241 

'Tis  the  home  of  content, 

'Tis  the  wild  Indian's  homo, 
In  his  rude  pitched  tent 
Is  his  time  honor'd  throne. 
See  him  reclining  beneath  his  shade  tree, 

His  eye  wandering  through  the  dark  green  wood, 
He  thinks  of  his  foe,  the  lurking  Pawnee, 
Vows  vengeance  upon  him  by  Keesis  his  God. 

12  o'clock.  Just  finislied  extirpating  all  the  stool  grubs 
out  of  my  orchard.     Watered  my  shubbery  in  the  garden. 

Wednesday,  12. — Awoke  at  the  dawn  of  day,  but  alas!  no 
rain!  dry,  dry.  Wrote  Joseph  Ridgeway  upon  the  sub- 
ject of  the  Burlingame  claim.  11  o'clock,  "summer  heat" 
weather,  well  calculated  to  give  the  lazy  and  indolent  the 
spring  fever.  Made  a  hot  bed  for  sweet  potatoes.  Mr. 
Noble  commenced  relaying  the  fence. 

Thursday,  13. — Cloudy,  but  no  rain  yet.  Dry,  dry,  every- 
thing parched  up,  yet  'tis  a  beautiful  day. 

"  The  spring  is  coming,  delightful  spring, 
When  the  bright  waves  dance  and  the  sweet  birds  sing. 
Ten  thousand  notes  from  the  forest  trees, 
Are  wafted  along  in  the  gentle  breeze, 
And  glittering  insects  here  and  there 
Are  humming  their  notes  in  the  soft  spring  air." 

I  am  tired,  I  will  quit  work  for  to-day. 

Friday,  14. — Severe  hoar  frost.  I  fear  for  the  fruit.  Re- 
ceived a  letter  from  J.  W.  Garrett  dated  March  28,  in  reply 
to  mine  of  the  28th  of  November.  Further  news  from  the 
French  revolution.  Mob  reigns  in  Paris.  It  is  utter  nonsense 
for  France  to  talk  about  a  republican  government.  Nothing 
short  of  the  iron  rule  of  a  Bonaparte  will  keep  the  French 
quiet  and  in  subjection.  They  cannot  appreciate  a  whole- 
some government.  To-day  Thom.  H.  Noble  finished  his 
job  of  clearing  and  fencing.  Sold  him  my  small  wagon  at 
140.00  in  work,  trade,  etc.  Cold  and  cloudy.  Wind  from 
the  north.     Answered  J.  W.  Garrett's  letter. 

Saturday,  15. — Severe  morning,  heavy  frost,  cold,  cold. 
17 


242  THE  JOURNALS  OF  [April,  i848. 

Went  out  to  hunt  for  my  oxen.  Hunted  till  one  half  past 
11,  but  could  find  nothing  of  them.  The  rascals  knew  there 
was  work  on  hand,  and  have  concealed  themselves.  M'^^  W. 
and  Harriet  gone  to  Kansas.  Everything  in  the  vegetable 
line  drying  and  wilting  up.  No  prospect  of  rain.  Looking 
for  further  news  of  the  French  revolution.  Anxious  to 
know  what  it  will  end  in,  what  will  be  the  finale  of  this 
uproar.  Received  the  "Nat.  Int."  and  Ohio  "State  Jour- 
nal "  but  no  news  of  importance.  Received  two  letters  from 
George  Dickson  of  Wolftown.  My  curse  upon  those  AVol- 
verines  who  set  the  prairies  on  fire  and  burnt  a  part  of  my 
fence. 

Sunday,  16. — Frost  again!  Oh  when  are  we  to  have  warm 
-weather?     Missouri  rising.     Went  to  Church. 

Monday,  17. — No  frost  this  morning  (please  fortune)  but 
warm  and  pleasant.  Went  in  j3ursuit  of  my  work  cattle. 
Found  them.  Commenced  plowing  my  old  ground.  Mis- 
souri booming  up,  rising,  rising.  Where  does  this  water 
come  from?  Cloudy;  pros})ect  of  rain.  Send  down  the 
reireshing  showers.  At  one  half  past  7  P.  M.  commenced 
raining. 

Tuesday,  18. — Stormy  night.  Froze.  Cold.  Wind  from 
the  north.  Everything  vegetable  frozen  stiff.  The  Coun- 
cil meets  to-day,  and  I  must  lay  my  implements  of  husbandry 
aside,  and  attend  to  affairs  of  state.  Proceeded  to  town. 
Convened  the  Council.  Signed  a  memorial  to  the  general 
conference  praying  that  Rev.  Body  restore  to  the  Wyandott 
Church  the  proceeds  of  the  Wyandott  Mission  farm  in  Ohio, 
to  aid  in  building  our  Church.  Disposed  of  a  multiplicity 
of  business,  and  adjourned  sine  die.  Came  home  and  found 
Dr.  L.  Twyman^  at  our  house.     He  staid  all  night. 

Wednesday,  19. — Frosty  morning.  3°  below  "freezing." 
Hauled    in  from  the  clearing  the  fire  wood.     Commenced 

'  Of  Independence.  Mo. 


April,  1848]  GOVEKNOR  WALKER.  243 

breaking  up  my  new  ground.  Failing  to  get  a  hired  hand, 
I  resolved  to  do  it  myself.  Got  M'"  Peery's  black  boy  Elijah 
to  drive,  and  I  held  the  plough,  and  a  mammoth  one  at  that ; 
plowed  till  sunset.     Tired  enough. 

Thursday,  20. — Kesumed  the  plough  and  finished  at  2 
o'clock  P.  M.  "Went  to  M.  P.  W.'s  for  a  load  of  corn. 
Weary  as  a  hound  after  a  long  fox  chase.  Beautiful  even- 
ing, but  rather  cool  and  chilly. 

Friday,  21. — Beautiful  morning,  no  frost,  glad  of  it. 
Harrowing  my  field  preparatory  to  planting  corn.  Fine  day 
for  work.  Moderately  cool.  Planted  some  beans,  cucum- 
bers, and  beets.  Elijah  furrowing  out  the  corn  ground. 
Weather  getting  warm.     Thermometer  85°. 

Saturday,  22. — Ready  to  plant  my  corn.  Dry  weather. 
Repaired  some  fence. .  12  o'clock.  This  being  Saturday,  I 
have  after  mature  consideration,  come  to  the  conclusion  I 
would  work  no  more  to-day.  For  verily  the  outward  man 
begins  to  feel  the  effects  of  earning  my  bread  "  by  the  sweat 
of  my  brow."  Blistered  hands  and  crippled  back,  aching 
bones  and  a  sunburned  face.  Ah  me!  Martha  and  Sophia 
gone  to  Kansas  on  a  visit.  Got  no  mail.  Snakes  and  Scor- 
pions !     This  is  too  bad.     Miss  Lucy  Jane  returned  home. 

Sunday,  23. — Cool  morning,  but  no  frost.  Dry,  dry 
weather.  Went  to  Church  ;  heard  a  sermon  from  the  Dea- 
con. This  evening  it  is  reported  the  Doctor  has  returned 
home,  bringing  with  him  the  semi-annuity. 

Monday,  24. — Phoebus !  but  it  is  cold !  Cloudy,  looks  like 
a  snow  storm  was  approaching.  And  yet  I  am  ready  to 
plant  corn;  but  here  I  am,  roasting  my  corporeality  before 
a  blazing  fire.  Plant  corn  indeed.  JSTo  I  will  wait  till 
summer.  From  the  National  Intelligencer  it  appears  that 
Senator  Atchison  has  reported  a  bill  confirming  the  land 
purchased  by  the  Wyandotts  from  the  Delawares.^     Went 

'  This  bill  was  passed  and  became  a  law. 


244  THE  JOURNALS  OF  [April.  1848. 

to  town.  Called  upon  Dr.  H.  Had  a  conversation  upon 
the  approaching  payment.  Council  to  convene  to-morrow. 
Cold  all  day.  Cloudy,  dark  and  lowering.  Occasionally  a 
few  drops  of  snow  falling.  In  the  evening  commenced  plant- 
ing corn. 

Tuesday,  25. — As  usual  cold  and  dreary.  Commenced 
operations  upon  my  pigs.  Planted  more  corn.  At  last  the 
sun  has  made  its  appearance.  Attended  Council.  Ap- 
pointed next  Monday  for  the  payment  of  the  semi-annuity. 

Wednesday,  26. — Cloudy,  dark  and  uninviting.  Planted 
more  corn.  Harriet  set  out  for  Lexington.  [She  has]  gone 
back  to  school  again.  Sent  some  shrubbery  to  the  seminary. 
Sent  the  memorial  to  general  conference  to  the  care  of  Rev. 
J.  B.  Finley  to  be  presented  by  him. 

Thursday,  27. — Fine  morning.  Sent  my  oxen  to  Guth- 
rie's to  plow  his  field,  by  M""  Hightower.  Continued  plant- 
ing corn.  Council  met  and  proceeded  to  make  out  the 
pay-roll  for  payment  of  the  semi-annuity  and  finished  [it]. 
Adjourned  till  Monday.  Joel  Walker  returned  from  New 
York.     Strong  signs  of  rain. 

Friday,  28. — Raining ;  welcome,  welcome,  a  hearty  wel- 
come to  these  refreshing  showers.  Finished  planting  corn 
in  the  evening. 

Saturday,  29. — Went  to  Kansas.  Got  no  news  by  mail. 
Came  home  at  1  o'clock.  After  dark  three  weary  travelers 
from  Fort  Leavenworth,  having  got  lost,  called  for  lodgings, 
which  we  afforded  them.  They  were  a  M""  Childs,  a  Doctor 
from  Dover  and  an  Indian  trader. 

Sunday,  30. — Our  guests  left  after  breakfast.  Cloudy; 
staid  at  home.     Wrote  to  A.  Trager;  J.  Walker  called. 

May,  1848. 

Monday,  1. — May-day,  and  such  a  day!  Cloudy,  dark, 
and  cold,  threatening  rain.     The  rain  would  truly  be  accept- 


May,  1848.]  GOVERNOR  WALKER.  245 

able,  but  weather  so  cold  should  give  way  to  the  more  genial 
warmth  of  summer.  The  semi-annual  payment  commenced 
to-day.  Paid  out  two  boxes,  $2,000.  At  8  o'clock  at  night 
it  rained  for  a  half  or  three-fourths  of  an  hour,  and  stopped. 

Tuesday,  2. — Beautiful  morning!  Everything  glittering 
like  silver  spangles  in  the  sun.  Last  evening's  shower  has 
caused  nature  to  put  on  her  most  pleasing  smiles.  Resumed 
the  anuuity  payment  and  closed  in  the  evening.  Adjourned 
to  meet  on  Thursday. 

Wednesday,  3. — Clear  and  warm  morning.  Planted  some 
Indian  corn,  watermelons  and  cucumbers.  Settled  with  M'" 
Goodyear  for  lumber  got  for  the  use  of  the  ferry  by  the 
Council,  127.50.  Thermometer  86°.  Cloudy  all  day.  In 
the  evening  strong  threats  of  rain.  At  8  o'clock  rain  set  in 
accompanied  with  a  hard  wind.  Occasional  showers  through 
the  night. 

Thursday,  4. — Bright  and  clear.  Windy.  Blowing  a  con- 
tinual gale.  This  day  two  years  ago  war  broke  out  between 
the  U.  S.  and  Mexico  and  the  finale  "is  not  yet."  Council 
met  and  proceeded  to  pay  off  the  public  liabilities.  Paid 
our  own  noble  selves,  and  our  clerks,  sheriffs,  and  ferry tnaii. 
Transacted  a  variety  of  business  and  adjourned  till  Tuesday 
next.     M"  W.  went  to  Kansas  and  returned. 

Friday,  5. — This  day  21  years  ago  Napoleon  Bonaparte 
breathed  his  last  in  the  Isle  of  St.  Helena.  Went  to  Kan- 
sas and  paid  off"  B.  F.  Barstow,  schoolmaster.  Came  home 
at  3  o'clock  P.  M.  Found  one  of  my  young  sows  with  six 
young  pigs. 

Saturday,  6. — Cool,  but  beautiful  morning.  Heavy  dew. 
Growing  time.  Have  a  severe  nervous  headache.  Staid  in 
the  house  all  day.  Wrote  a  letter  to  Harriet.  Got  no  mail. 
I  am  in  want  of  news  in  these  exciting  times  when  Europe 
is  all  in  convulsions  and  spasms.  Thrones  crumbling  and 
falling.     Kings  abdicating  and  becoming  suppliants  to  their 


246  THE    JOURNALS   OF  [May,  1848. 

subjects,  some  ingloriously  retreating  from  their  excited  and 
infuriated  subjects  and  seeking  asylums  in  foreign  countries. 

Sunday,  7. — M""  Hightower  brought  my  oxen  back  having 
finished  ploughing  Esau's  field.  Went  to  Church.  A  Tus- 
carora  preached. 

Monday,  8. — Went  into  the  upper  settlement.  Saw  John 
Cotter,  who  had  been  assaulted  by  Milton  Karraho  and  John 
Williams,  and  severely  beat.  Got  the  particulars  of  the 
scrape.  Came  home.  In  the  evening  M'"  G.  brought  our 
mail.     Ira  Hunter  moved  to-day. 

Tuesday,  9. — Cold  and  cloudy.  Went  to  Council.  Tried 
a  case.  Widow  Charloe  vs.  Estate  of  H.  Jacquis;  claim  of 
plaintiff"  rejected.  At  2  o'clock  P.  M.  a  cold  rain  set  in. 
Adjourned,  4  o'clock.     Came  home. 

Wednesday,  10. — Rose  at  daylight,  and  Phoebus!  what 
a  frost.  Sophia  commenced  her  school  to-day  in  the  base- 
ment story  of  the  Church.  In  the  afternoon  a  stranger 
called  upon  us  who  proved  to  be  an  American  German  from 
Philadelphia,  a  professor  of  music,  a  pianist.  Tuned  our 
piano.  Gave  the  girls  a  few  lessons  on  music.  Staid  all 
night,  and  in  the  morning  "put  out." 

Thursday,  11. — Cold  morning  but  no  frost.  Our  German 
set  out  for  the  fort.     Chilly  and  cold  all  day. 

Friday,  12. — Some  frost.  Fine  day.  Staid  at  home,  did 
small  work  about  the  house.  Wrote  to  H.  Barrett.  Warm 
and  pleasant  day. 

Saturday,  13. — Clear  and  beautiful  morning.  Went  to 
Kansas  in  company  with  M.  R.  AValker,  Joel  Walker,  Dr. 
Hewitt,  C.  Graham.  Staid  till  the  mail  came  in.  Received 
a  letter  from  H.  Barrett.  J.  Walker  opening  a  large  stock 
of  goods  in  Kansas.  Came  home  in  the  evening,  8  o'clock 
at  night.  Beautiful  moonlight  night!  "Oh,  'tis  my  delight 
of  a  shiny  night,  to  ramble  o'er  the  grassy  lea." 

Sunday,  14. — Fine  morning.     Went  to  church.     M.  R. 


May,  1848]  GOVERNOR  WALKER.  247 

Walker  and  Adam  Hunt  set  out  for  the  Pottawatomie  pay- 
ment. Sometime  after  midnight  it  rained  a  heavy  shower. 
What  could  have  come  more  opportunely?  9  o'clock, 
showery.  All  nature  seems  to  have  put  on  her  best  array, 
her  "best  bib  and  tucker."  How  beautiful  is  the  forest!  M. 
E,.  W.  and  Adam  Hunt  did  not  go  further  than  Westport, 
learning  [there]  that  the  payment  did  not  take  place  till 
next  week. 

Monday,  15. — 2  o'clock  in  the  afternoon,  another  rain  and 
{it]  continued  till  night. 

Tuesday,  16. — Clear  and  beautiful  morning.  I  must  at- 
tend the  Council  to-day.  An  assault  and  battery  case  must 
be  tried.  John  Cotter  vs.  Milton  Karahoo  and  John  Wil- 
liams. The  parties  not  appearing,  the  case  was  postponed. 
Declared  Smith  Nichols  of  age  and  released  him  from  his 
guardian. 

Wednesday,  17. — Wrote  to  Miss  Jane  E..  Long  and  in- 
closed $40.00  in  Missouri  paper,  viz.:  one  twenty  dollar  bill 
and  two  tens,  to  go  by  to-morrow's  mail.  Gave  a  turkey 
roast  to  our  neighbors.  Dined  at  half  past  three.  Had 
a  pleasant  party. 

Thursday,  18. — Dark,  foggy  morning.  Prospects  of  rain 
to-day.  Staid  about  home  all  day,  not  feeling  very  well. 
Worked  some  in  my  garden.  Shut  up  Barnabas  Barebones 
to  fatten  for  a  particular  occasion,  for  a  select  dinner  party. 

Friday,  19. — A  small  shower  at  9  o'clock  A.  M.  M'  No- 
ble called,  chatted  awhile.  Engaged  him  to  do  some  more 
work.     Worked  in  my  garden. 

Saturday,  20. — Warm  morning.  M^  Hunter  called  and 
brought  a  letter  from  Jesse  Stern  which  informs  me  that  he 
has  had  an  offer  of  ten  dollars  an  acre  for  the  whole  tract. 

Sunday,  21. — Staid  at  home  all  day.  Warm  day.  Dr. 
Hewitt  called  to  see  Dorcas.  Bled  her.  In  the  evening  C. 
Graham  called. 


248  THE   JOURNALS    OF  [May,  1848. 

Monday,  22. — Daylight,  raiuing  furiously.  Rained  till 
one  o'clock  and  held  up.  Set  out  some  sweet  potatoes,  [and] 
some  cabbages.  About  9  o'clock  at  night  it  resumed  raining 
most  furiously,  and  stopped  about  10  or  11  [o'clock]. 

Tuesday,  23. — Answered  J.  Stern's  letter.  Sophia  unable 
to  get  to  school  owing  to  high  water.  Got  her  "dander  up'' 
and  returned  determined  to  cross  the  Jarsey  at  all  hazards. 
Deacon  gone  to  Kansas.  Showery.  Set  out  some  more 
cabbage. 

Wednesday,  24. — Rain,  rain,  the  rainy  season  set  in. 
Sticking  peas  to-day.     Dull  times,  no  company. 

Thursday,  25. — Dreary,  cold,  and  cloudy  morning.  If  it 
does  not  rain  I  shall  go  to  Kansas  to  mail  some  letters  and 
get  some  if  any  come,  and  learn  the  news.  Returned  from 
K.  Our  mail  was  a  complete  "  water-haul."  Nothing  for 
our  place.  John  Garrett  from  Ohio  landed  last  evening. 
Warm  and  sultry.     Look  out  for  more  rain. 

Friday,  26. — Clear  and  beautiful  morning,  but  oh  'twill 
be  a  warm  day.  Wrote  a  communication  to  J.  Shrunk  for 
publication.  John  and  C.  B.  Garrett  came  over  and  spent 
the  evening. 

Saturday,  27. — M'^^  W.  went  to  Kansas.  Received  a  let- 
ter from  M""'  Nancy  Garrett.  Warm  and  sultry  day. 
Pruned  my  trees. 

Sunday,  28. — Cloudy.  Warm.  M.  R.  W.  returned  from 
Pottawattomie  last  evening.  In  the  afternoon  a  violent  rain 
set  in  which  lasted  two  hours.  Curly  Head  and  John  Solo- 
mon called  and  staid  for  dinner.  M''  G.  from  Independence 
staid  all  night. 

Monday,  29. — Clear  and  fine,  though  cool.  At  10  o'clock 
went  to  Kansas.  Got  my  mail.  Received  a  letter  from  J. 
Ridgeway,  jr.  Jesse  Stern  and  his  father  arrived  at  Joel's. 
Dined  with  them.  George  Dickson  from  Wolftown  arrived. 
Set  out  some  more  sweet  potatoes. 


June,  1848]  GOVERNOR  WALKER.  249 

Tuesday,  30. — Prep.ared  for  the  session  of  the  Council. 
John  Cotter  vs.  Milton  Kayrahoo,  postponed.  Adjourned 
to  two  weeks  from  to-day. 

Wednesday,  31. — Mr.  Stern  called  upon  us,  and  staid  till 
evening.     Went  to  J.  M.  A.'s, 

June,  1848. 

Thursday,  1. — Went  to  Kansas.  Bought  two  bushels  of 
corn  meal,  one-half  ream  of  letter  paper,  and  some  rat  poison. 
Sent  another  communication  to  the  telegraph. 

Friday,  2. — Cloudy  morning.  Prospect  of  rain.  Weeded 
my  garden.  Went  for  a  bag  of  corn.  M'  Noble  ploughing 
my  corn.  It  looks  fine  and  thrifty.  Sent  Dorcas  to  Kan- 
sas.    In  the  evening  a  heavy  rain  fell. 

Saturday,  3. — Clear,  cool  and  pleasant  morning.  Caught 
a  tartar!  Stept  into  the  garden  and  found  that  that  most 
troublesome  of  all  "warmints"  had  been  ploughing  up  my 
beds  again,  and  thanks  to  my  lucky  stars  I  caught  M"" 
ground-mole  upheaving  the  earth.  By  the  dextrous  use  of 
the  hoe  I  brought  the  digger  out  of  his  tunnel.  M"  W. 
took  him  in  her  hand  and  held  him  till  he  died  for  the  pur- 
pose of  testing  the  truth  of  the  saying  that  it  will  cure  the 
rheumatism.  She  held  him  about  an  hour  before  he  died. 
Set  out  fifty  cabbage  plants.  Went  to  Kansas  in  company 
with  Jesse  Stern.  Called  at  the  P.  O.,  got  my  papers  and  a 
letter  from  John  T.  Walker.  J.  Stern  returned  home  on 
board  the  steamer  "Kansas."  I  came  home.  In  the  even- 
ing rained  furiously. 

Sunday,  4. — Clear  and  beautiful  morning.  M"  W.  and 
Sophia  went  to  Kansas  to  Church.  I  staid  "te  hum." 
Warm  day.  M"  W.  and  Sophia  state  that  on  tlieir  return 
from  K.  they  found  at  the  ferry  a  dozen  or  more  people 
waiting  to  cross,  and  among  them  was  John  Charloe,  very 
drunk,  and  had  been  severely  beat.     His  face  appeared  to 


250  THE   JOURNALS   OF  [June,  1848. 

be  very  much  bruised  and  mangled  up.  Perhaps  his  upper 
jaw  broke. 

Monday,  5. — Moses  Peacock  commenced  working  in  our 
corn.     M""  Noble  commenced  staking  and  ridering  the  fence. 

Hauled    the   stakes    and    riders.     Finished    the    f bah! 

mistake. 

Tuesday,  6. — M"^  Noble  finished  the  fence.  Now  I  will 
bid  defiance  to  breachy  stock.  If  they  should  break  through 
this  fence,  they  then  ought  to  be  killed.  Finished  planting 
our  sweet  potatoes. 

Wednesday,  7. — Clear  and  fine  weather,  cool  and  pleas- 
ant. Finished  another  No.  for  the  Telegraph.  Moses  fin- 
ished dressing  out  my  corn  field.  "0/c?  White^^  commenced 
the  process  of  incubation  of  thirteen  eggs.  So  we  may  have 
one  and  one-twelfth  dozen  of  chicks  if  old  white  has  good 
luck. 

Thursday,  8. — Rainy  day.  Went  to  Kansas.  Got  a  soak- 
ing. Called  at  the  P.  O.  No  newspapers.  No  news.  "It's 
a  botheration."  Hunted  for  my  dog  Carlo.  Some  rascally 
dog  thief  has  decoyed  him  off".  I  shall  deplore  my  loss  if 
I  never  get  him  again.  Came  home  at  5  o'clock  P.  M. 
Rained  again.     C'est  egal. 

Friday,  9. — Pleasant  day.  Staid  at  home,  mowing  in  my 
fence  corners. 

Saturday,  10.— Went  to  K.  on  a  mule.  Called  at  P.  O. 
No  letters.  Came  home.  Read  my  newspapers.  Nothing 
special  from  Europe. 

Sunday,  11. — Charming  morning.  Clear  and  bright.  A 
very  heavy  dew.  Went  to  church  in  the  evening.  Messrs. 
Tebbs  and  Donahoe  called  upon  us  and  staid  an  hour. 

Monday,  12. — Warm  day.  J.  Walker  afflicted  with  sore 
eyes.  In  the  afternoon  an  unexpected  visitor  called  upon 
us  in  the  person  of  John  S.  Young  of  Perry  county,  Ohio, 
he  being  an  old  acquaintance  of  M"  W,,  the  latter  was  de- 


June,  1848]  GOVERNOR  WALKER.  251 

lighted  to  see  him,  uot  having  seen  him  for  upwards  of 
twenty  years. 

Tuesday,  13. — Council  day.  No  business  of  importance. 
M'  Peery  and  M*"  Young  called  in,  and  the  latter  introduced 
to  the  Council.  Adjourned.  M"^  Peery  gave  a  party  for 
M'  Y.     Spent  an  agreeable  evening. 

Wednesday,  14. — Presented  M"^  Y.  "Gregg's  Commerce 
of  the  Prairies."  Set  out  this  morning  in  company  with 
M^  Peery  for  the  "Shawnee  Institution."  From  thence 
home.  Called  upon  J.  Walker.  Found  him  considerably 
improved. 

Thursday,  15. — Wrote  another  communication  for  the 
Telegraph.  Went  to  Kansas.  Called  at  the  P.  O.,  but  as 
usual  "Nothing  for  you." 

The  Whig  national  convention  have  nominated  Gen,  Tay- 
lor for  President  and  Millard  Filmore  for  Vice  President. 
So  the  Whigs  are  doomed  to  another  defeat. 

Friday,  16. — Planted  my  fall  potatoes,  being  the  old  of 
the  moon.  Warm  day.  M""  George  Dickson  called.  Went 
to  the  church  to  help  Lynch  put  up  steps  in  the  basement. 
Martha  taught  Sophia's  school,  she  being  sick  to-day. 

Saturday,  17. — Went  to  Kansas  to  sign  with  my  brothers 
and  others  interested  a  power  of  attorney  for  Jesse  Stern  to 
dispose  of  our  Seneca  county  lands;  "signed  sealed  and  de- 
livered" in  the  presence  of  Lot  Coffman,  J.  P. 

Paid  the  proprietors  of  Kansas  for  two  lots  in  the  new 
addition,  |59.00  and  got  my  deed.  Received  two  letters  from 
Esau,  written  from  the  "Halls  of  the  Montezumas."  Came 
home  late  in  the  evening. 

Sunday,  18. — Quarterly  meeting.  Present  L.  B.  Stateler, 
presiding  elder,  Thomas  Johnson,  E.  T.  Peery.  I  must  go 
to  Church,  as  a  good  orderly  Christian  man  should  do.  In 
the  "  arternoon"  a  heavy  shower  of  rain  came  up,  which 
lasted  two  hours.     M-^  and  M"  Northrup,  M'  Stateler,  and 


252  THE   JOURNALS   OF  [June,  1848. 

E.  T.  p.  dined  with  us  to-day.  The  clergy  put  out  for 
Church. 

Monday,  19. — Clear  morning.  Our  dejeuner  a  la  four- 
chette  was  the  last  of  Barnabas  Barebones.  M"  W.  went  to 
Kansas.  Received  a  letter  from  John  Goodin  inclosing  one 
from  Greer.     The  latter  must  be  an  infamous  scoundrel. 

Tuesday,  20. — Council  in  session.  Had  a  variety  of  busi- 
ness. Some  matters  were  postponed.  Read  a  letter  to  the 
Council  from  Dr.  Frost  upon  the  subject  of  intemperance 
among  the  Wyandotts.  Appointed  a  committee  to  investi- 
gate the  causes  of  the  drowning  of  a  Muncie  woman  at 
Kansas.  Fined  that  prince  of  all  loafers,  Thos.  Standin- 
water,  $500. 

Wednesday,  21. — Went  to  town.  J.  Walker  making 
preparations  to  leave  for  the  east.  Waiting  for  a  boat. 
Wrote  to  M.  H.  Kirby  on  business  and  also  to  John  Goodin 
and  L.  Smalley. 

Thursday,  22. — Went  to  Kansas.  On  my  way  and  passing 
by  Joel's  house  I  found  they  had  not  gone  East  yet.  The 
steamboat  "Cora"  not  having  come  down  yet.  Got  no  news. 
Dined  with  M""  Smart,  M'  Moses  arraigned  for  an  assault 
and  battery  on  his  brother  Shoemaker,  James  Wilson. 

This  afternoon  an  awful  storm  came  up  and  lasted  about 
two  hours. 

Friday,  23. — Cool  and  pleasant,  but  alas!  My  corn  is 
flattened  by  yesterday's  storm.  My  oats  considerably  dam- 
aged by  the  storm. 

Saturday,  24. — Went  to  Kansas  to  settle  a  matter  pending 
between  Henry  Sager,  John  Sarrahess  and  William  S.  Chick, 
Adm.  of  estate  of  W.  M.  Chick  postponed.  Got  no  mail, 
no  news. 

Sunday,  25. — Charles  G. and  I  at  an  early  hour  crossed 

the  Kansas  river  and  called  at  the  residence  of  Rev.  James 
Porter;  pressed  him  into  service,  and  we  galloped  over  the 


July,  1^18.]  GOVERNOR  WALKER.  253 

prairies  about  five  hours,  and  arrived  at  the  house  of  M" 
Mary  Bartleson,  a  widow,  where  we  found  a  large  company 
of  people  assembled.  Whereupon  we  in  our  wisdom,  caused 
the  aforesaid  C.  G.  and  M""'  M.  B.  to  be  united  "  in  the  holy 
state  of  matrimony,"  Thence  returned  in  company  with  a 
M''  Abston  and  family  and  staid  all  night  with  them. 

Monday,  26. — After  breakfast  we  set  [out]  for  home.  I 
reached  home  about  2  o'clock  P.  M.  and  found  our  folks, 
with  the  invited  guests,  waiting  for  the  bride  and  groom, 
and  dinner  waiting.  But  we  sat  down  and  did  ample  justice 
to  what  was  before  us  without  them.     Rain  rain. 

Tuesday,  27. — Dark  and  dreary  morning.  More  rain. 
Cleared  off  at  ten  o'clock.     Wrote  to  Harriet  to  be  sent  by 

Thursday's  mail.     Put  in  a  Q 1.     Now  I  must  husband 

my  stock  of  patience. 

Wednesday,  28. — Broke  my  ax  handle.  Joel  Walker  and 
family  set  out  from  Kansas  for  [the]  East.  J.  S.  Co.  met 
at  the  school  house  and  adjourned  to  meet  again  some  time 
hence. 

Thursday,  29. — Went  to  K.  Got  my  news.  Came  home 
in  the  evening. 

Friday,  30. — Nothing  worthy  of  note.  M''  W.  went  to 
K.  Sent  by  a  Mr.  McLean  a  dress  and  a  letter  to  Harriet. 
At  2  o'clock  P.  M.  the  thermometer  stood  at  96°  in  the 
shade. 

July,  1848. 

Saturday,  1. — Went  to  K.  Paid  my  postage  bill.  Re- 
ceived a  joint  letter  from  Harriet  and  Miss  Jane  R.  Long. 
M.  R.  W.,  his  family,  and  M"^  Maria  Garrett  went  to  Sib- 
ley. Returned  in  the  evening.  At  night  it  commenced 
raining,  and  rained  all  night  most  furiously. 

Sunday,  2. — Clear  and  beautiful  morning.  The  Deacon 
being  absent,  consequently  no  sermon.  I  staid  at  home, 
reading  Stone's  Life  of  Thayendenagea  or  Joseph  Brant. 


254  THE  JOURNALS  OF  [July,  1848. 

Isaiali  called  and  dined  with  us.  Heard  of  the  death  of  a 
man  named  Irvin  in  Kansas  by  a  night's  debauch  which 
took  place  last  night  during  the  storm. 

Monday,  3. — Staid  at  home  and  pottered  about,  doing  all 
sorts  of  things  such  as  cutting  down  weeds,  repairing  fences. 
M""  Noble  called ;  chatted  awhile.  Uncle  Joseph  R.  called 
and  did  the  same.  Heard  of  the  death  of  J.  W.  Gray  Eyes's 
wife  in  the  evening.     C.  G.  called  and  staid  till  night, 

Tuesday,  4. — " Independence  Day."  Mexico  free.  "Glory 
enough  for  one  day!"     Council  meets  to-day. 

Wednesday,  5. — Made  a  hog-pen.  C.  G.  and  lady  visited 
us  to-day.     Thermometer  95°. 

Thursday,  6. — Went  to  K.  While  there  heard  of  the 
illness  of  W.  M.  Big-Kiver.     (hiatus)  Found  him  dead. 

Friday,  7. — He  was  buried. 

Saturday,  15. — The  nation  met  at  the  school  house  to  make 
the  national  nominations  as  follows:  Against  James  Wash- 
ington, F.  A.  Hicks.  Against  Tauroouiee,  M.  Mudeater; 
against  Geo.  Armstrong,  J.  D.  Brown ;  against  W.  Walker, 
J.  Bankin;  against  G.  I.  Clark,  J.  W.  Grayeyes.^ 

'  John  W.  Gray-Eyes  was  tlie  son  of  Squire  Gray-Eyes,  who  was  the  son  of  Doctor 
"  Greyeyes,"  who  was  the  son  of  a  British  Army  officer  that  married  a  Wyandot  girl  at 
Detroit  during  the  War  of  the  Eevolution.  Doctor  Greyeyes  is  buried  in  Huron  Place 
Cemetery.  In  my  search  there  for  information  concerning  the  Wyandots  I  dug  into  a 
sunken  grave,  and  about  three  inches  below  the  surface  found  the  fragment  of  a  broken 
headstone  upon  which  is  the  following: 

Doctor  Greyeyes 

Died 

Aug  1845 

Aged  50  Yrs. 

According  to  this  he  was  born  in  1795.  Squire  Gray-Eyes  was  a  Methodist  preacher 
and  was  one  of  Finley's  best  men  in  the  Methodist  Mission  at  Upper  Sandusky.  He 
had  several  children.  He  sent  his  son  John  W.  to  school  at  the  Mission,  and  afterward 
to  Kcnyon  College  at  Gambler,  Ohio,  where  he  graduated  with  high  honors.  Hon. 
John  S.  Stockton,  of  Kansas  City,  Kansas,  was  present  on  the  occasion  of  his  gradua- 
tion and  .says  that  the  address  he  delivered  was  of  a  high  order  and  well  spoken. 

John  W.  Gray-Eyes  studied  law  and  was  for  a  time  .successful  in  its  practice,  but  he 
ruined  a  promising  future  by  the  excessive  use  of  strong  drink.  When  Tauromee  died 
he  became  Head  Cliief  by  inheritance  pursuant  to  a  rule  adopted  by  the  Wyandots 
when  they  resumed  their  tribal  relations.  During  the  last  five  years  of  his  life  he  did 
not  taste  liquor.  He  died  in  the  Indian  Territory  some  six  years  ago.  He  belonged  to 
the  Little  Turtle  clan  and  his  name  was  Hehu'-toh,  the  meaning  of  which  is  lost. 


July,  1848.]  GOVERNOR  WALKER.  255- 

Sunday,  16. — Staid  at  home.     Had  company,  W.  G. 

Monday,  17. — John  Nofat  and  S.  Rankin  commenced 
harvesting  my  oats.     Interrupted  by  being  called  away. 

Tuesday,  18. — Staid  at  home  and  pottered  about. 

Wednesday,  19. — Finished  harvesting  the  oats. 

Thursday,  20. — Excessively  warm.  Thermometer  96°. 
In  the  evening  a  very  severe  storm  came  on  from  the  north. 
Rain  and  hail  in  an  horrible  tempest,  which  lasted  till  night. 
After  9  o'clock  it  commenced  raining  again  and  continued 
till  midnight. 

Friday,  21. — Went  to  town.  C.  G.  gone  to  his  farm. 
Came  home.  A  M""  Smith  and  IVP  Givens  of  Lexington 
called  and  spent  the  afternoon. 

Saturday,  22 — M"  W.  went  to  K.  and  got  our  papers, 
also  a  letter  from  M'^  McE.  of  Upper  Sandusky. 

Sunday,  23. — Both  staid  at  home,  it  looking  too  much 
like  rain.  Neither  of  us  enjoying  the  best  [of]  health, 
deemed  it  most  prudent  not  to  expose  ourselves.  Cloudy 
evening;  prospect  of  rain.     Sunset,  no  rain. 

Monday,  24. — Fine  morning;  went  to  town.  Got  a  sack 
of  corn,  but  no  news.  Sultry  but  still  no  rain.  One  half 
past  two  P.  M.,  thermometer  100° !  Warm  truly.  At  4 
o'clock  P.  M.  Harriet  reached  home  from  Lexington. 

Tuesday,  25. — Wrote  a  friendly  epistle  to  H.  Barrett. 
Finished  hoeing  my  potatoes.  My  spring  run  dry,  the 
water  having  undermined  the  trough.  Must  give  it  an  over- 
hauling to-morrow.  To  be  without  water,  "sweet,  cold 
water"  this  warm  weather!  The  thought  is  insufferable. 
No,  no.     'Twon't  do.     Sowed  my  turnip  seed. 

Wednesday,  26. — Cloudy  morning.  Showers  of  rain. 
Went  to  town  and  employed  John  Lynch  to  assist  in  repair- 
ing the  spring.  Assisted  by  M""  Peery,  after  three  or  four 
hours'  work  we  succeeded  in  confining  the  water  in  the 
spout,  and  set  it  to  running.     Now  we  have  water. 


256  THE  JOURNALS  OF  [Jniy,  i848. 

Thursday,  27. — M"  W.  went  to  K.  and  I  mowed  my  yard 
and  meadow.  Got  some  newspapers.  Another  bloody  in- 
surrection in  France  which  lasted  from  Friday,  23d  of 
June,  till  Tuesday  the  27th.  The  insurrection  was  put  down 
with  a  loss  of  from  twelve  to  fifteen  thousand  killed  and 
wounded  on  both  sides.  Ill-fated  France!  When  will  you 
enjoy  peace  and  tranquility?  Never  will  you  be  content 
till  brought  under  the  scepter  of  some  powerful  despot.  An- 
swered Hugh  Barrett's  letter. 

Friday,  28. — Cloudy  and  raining  occasionally.  Staid  at 
home  all  day.     Did  little  or  nothing. 

Saturday,  29. — M"  W.  went  to  K.  to  sign  a  Power  of  At- 
torney. Hauled  in  my  oats.  Keceived  some  newspapers. 
The  French  insurrection  completely  subdued.  Gen.  Cav- 
aignac,  the  hero  of  the  National  Guards  will  most  probably 
be  the  President  of  the  NouveUe  Republique. 

Sunday,  30. — Staid  at  home  and  read  all  day.  Though 
somewhat  cloudy,  still  a  pleasant  day. 

Monday,  31. — Went  to  town.  Called  at  the  Doctor's,  who 
was  not  at  home.  Called  at  the  blacksmith  shop.  Came 
home.     Pottered  about  the  house.     Fine  weather. 

August,  1848. 

Tuesday,  1. — M''  W.,  M''  Peery,  and  M''  Graham  went 
to  Independence.  I  went  and  attended  Council.  Decreed 
to  sell  the  National  Arms.  I  bought  one,  $8.00.  Came 
home  at  5  o'clock.  M""®  W.  and  company  returned  after 
dark,  accompanied  by  M^  Gilmore. 

Wednesday,  2. — At  dawn  of  day,  raining  furiously.  At 
4  o'clock  P.  M.,  pouring  down  in  torrents,  having  rained  all 
day.  Cleared  off  in  the  evening.  While  some  of  S.  Arm- 
strong's hands  were  swimming  in  the  Kansas  River  one  of 
them  was  drowned. 

Thursday,  3. — Clear,  cool,  and  pleasant   day.     Staid   at 


r 

»"fe 

% 

..^ 

C  ! 

J 

t 

^A 

k. 

^frO^ 

JOHN  W.   GRAY-EYES. 


August,  1848]  GOVERNOR  WALKER.  257 

home.  Mowed  in  my  woods  pasture.  Having  fatigued  my- 
self, rested  myself  the  remaining  part  of  the  day  by  reading. 

Friday,  4. — The  girls  went  to  take  their  music  lessons. 
Got  no  mail.     Sent  the  Power  of  Attorney  to  Col.  Goodin. 

Saturday,  5. — Went  to  town.  Came  home  and  resumed 
mowing  my  woods  pasture.  Folks  going  to  the  Delaware 
camp  meeting.     We  spent  the  evening  at  C.  B.  G's. 

Sunday,  6. — Harriet  and  Sophia  went  to  the  camp  meet- 
ing. Wrote  a  long  letter  to  Major  Harvey  upon  the  subject  of 
our  difficulties  of  "  N.  and  S."     The  girls  returned  at  sunset. 

Monday,  7. — Staid  at  home  and  worked  at  my  pasture. 
The  Deacon  returned  from  camp  meeting. 

Tuesday,  8. — Attended  the  Council.  Transacted  a  variety 
of  business,  making  the  necessary  arrangements  for  the  elec- 
tion and  barbecue. 

Wednesday,  9. — Mowed  in  my  pasture.  M"  W.  and  Har- 
riet went  to  K.  Joel  Walker  and  our  Mexican  warriors 
landed  off  the  Wyandott  steamer.  "Sweet  Lucy  Pinks" 
got  a  young  'un.    'Ah  ha,  a  hae. 

Thursday,  10. — Warm,  warm  and  sultry.  Hauled  some 
wood. 

Friday,  11. — Warm  and  sultry. 

Miss  Jane  R..  Long,  Miss  Blackwell,  and  Miss  Lykins 
here  on  a  visit.  E-eturned  this  morning.  A  small  sprinkle 
of  rain. 

Saturday,  12. — Went  to  town  to  clear  off  the  ground  for 
the  barbecue. 

Sunday,  13. — Clear  and  beautiful  morning.  Intended  to 
go  to  Church,  but  having  a  headache  gave  it  up.  2  o'clock 
P.  M.,  Thermometer  100°. 

Monday,  14. — Worked  all  day  in  my  pasture.  In  the 
evening  Rev.  M^  Johnston^  and  family  came  over  to  attend 
the  Green  Corn  Feast. 

'  EcT.  Thomas  Johnson,  of  the  Shawnee  Mission. 
18 


258  THE   JOURNALS   OF  [August,  1848. 

Tuesday,  15. — The  glorious  feast — the  election  in  the 
midst  of  a  most  furious  rain,  which  continued  all  day ;  un- 
favorable as  the  day  was  a  large  number  of  white  people 
attended,  both  ladies  and  gentlemen,  and  enjoyed  the  feast 
in  real  gusto.  The  following  persons  compose  the  present 
Council,  as  decided  by  the  annual  election : 

Francis  A.  Hicks,  Principal  Chief. 

John  D.  Brown.        ^ 

Matthew  Mudeater.   !  ^         -i 
-r  -D     1  •  r  Oouncilors. 

James  JKankin. 

George  I.  Clark.        J 

Wednesday,  16. — John  Nofat  came  to  chop  cord- wood.  I 
mowed  in  my  pasture.     Cloudy  day. 

Thursday,  17. — Killed  a  shoat  for  table  use.  David 
Young  called.     We  had  a  long  chat  on  politics. 

Friday,  18. — Cloudy  morning.  The  sun  has  not  been 
seen  for  a  week.  Dr.  Hewitt  captured  a  ventriloquist  last 
night  just  as  he  was  commencing  his  performance  at  J.  W. 
Gray  Eyes'  house.  He  was,  however,  released  and  sent  out 
of  the  Territory. 

Saturday,  19. — Mowed  in  my  pasture.  In  the  evening 
Martha  returned  in  company  with  M""  Charles  Pore,  M'  G. 
being  sick.  Harriet  brought  our  mail,  but  no  interesting 
news. 

Sunday,  20. — Warm  and  sultry  day.  In  the  afternoon 
several  gentlemen  called  upon  us,  two  from  N.  Y.  At  night 
we  had  a  heavy  rain,  accompanied  with  uproarish  thunder, 
and  lightning. 

Monday,  21. — Worked  about  the  place  all  day,  cutting 
down  weeds  in  my  fence  corners.  John  Nofat  chopping 
cord-wood. 

Tuesday,  22. — M^  W.  and  Harriet  went  to  K.  Prospect 
of  a  warm  day. 

The  Presidential  race  is  all  the  talk  now.     Taylor  and 


August,  1848.] 


GOVERNOR  WALKER. 


259- 


Cass.  "  Go  it  ye  cripples  ! "  M""  Van  Buren  of  tlie  barn- 
burning  party  seems  to  be  gaining  strength  among  the  abo- 
litionists. Free  territory  men;  among  the  latter  are  some 
prominent  Whigs. 


ELECTORAL   VOTES. 


Maine 9 

New  Hampshire 6 

Vermont  6 

Massacbusetts  12 

Rhode  Island 4 

Connecticut 6 

New  York 36 

New  Jersey 7 

Pennsylvania 26 

Delaware 3 

Maryland 8 

Virginia 17 

North  Carolina 11 

South    Carolina 9 

Georgia 10 


Alabama 9 

Mississippi 6 

Ohio 23 

Louisiana  6 

Kentucky 12 

Tennessee 13 

Indiana 12 

Illinois 9 

Missouri  7 

Arkansas 3 

Michigan 5 

Florida 3 

Texas 4 

Iowa 4 

Wisconsin 4 


290  votes,. 

Wednesday,  23. — Feel  unwell.  Try  and  work  it  off.  In 
the  evening,  getting  worse.  Bloody  flux.  At  night  worse. 
Sent  for  Dr.  Hewitt,  C.  B.  G.  and  M'  Peery.  Became  in- 
sensible. Took  blood.  Blistered.  Took  calomel,  blue  mass, 
and  all  sorts  of  things.     Inflammation  of  the  bowels. 

Thursday,  24. — Inflammation  somewhat  reduced.  Weak 
and  feeble. 

Friday,  25. — Improving  a  little.  Less  fever.  Taking 
oil,  Dover's  powders,  etc.     Blisters  sore. 

Saturday,  26. — Taking  charcoal,  morphine,  etc.  Improv- 
ing.    Got  my  newspapers.     But  not  much  news. 


260  THE   JOURNALS   OF  [August,  1848. 

Sunday,  27. — Improving  on  charcoal  and  morphine.  M. 
R  W.  and  lady,  J.  W.,  C.  G.  and  M^  Hunter  called  to  see 
me.  Beautiful  day.  In  the  evening  T.  H.  Noble  called  and 
spent  an  hour. 

Monday,  28. — Feel  feeble;  no  appetite.  Fever  down. 
Weak  pulse. 

Tuesday,  29.— Attended  the  sheriffs'^  election.  The  re- 
sult was  Irvin  P.  Long  vice  John  Hicks,  Jr.;  Michael  Frost 
re-elected.  A  committee  of  thirteen  constitution  tinkers 
appointed. 

Wednesday,  30. — Quite  unwell.  Sent  for  S.  Armstrong 
for  consultation  about  the  schism  [and  the]  cantankerous 
capers  of  the  abolitionists.  Appointed  Friday,  September 
1,  for  a  National  Convention  at  the  camp  grounds  for  the 
discussion  of  the  question,  North  and  South.  A  little  rain 
in  the  evening.  Took  a  blue  pill  on  going  to  bed.  Heard 
of  the  death  of  W.  Bowers'  wife. 

Thursday,  31. — Quite  unwell.  Bode  up  to  F.  A.  Hicks's 
and  spent  the  evening.     Warm  and  sultry. 

September,  1848. 
Friday,  1. — Pursuant  to  notice  the  Nation  assembled  at 
the  camp  ground  and  at  12  o'clock  proceeded  to  organize  by 
the  appointment  of  James  Washington,  President,  and  John 
Hicks,  Sen'r,  Vice  President;  and  W.  Walker,  Secretary. 
The  object  [of  the  Convention]  being  to  determine  whether 
the  Nation  will  declare  for  the  Southern  division  of  the  M. 

E.  Church,  or  the  Northern.     After  an  animated  discussion 
by  S.  Armstrong,  W.  Walker,  M.  R.  Walker,  J.  D.  Brown, 

F.  A.  Hicks,  David  Young  and  others  in  favor  of  the  South, 
and  J.  M.  Armstrong,^  G.  I.  Clark,  Esqr.  Gray-Eyes,  in  favor 

•  There  were  two  sheriffs. 

'  John  Mclntyre  Armstrong,  son  of  Robert  and  Sarah  (Zane)  Armstrong,  was  bom 
October,  7,  1813.  He  was  the  leader  of  those  Wyandots  that  refused  to  go  to  the  M.  E. 
Church,  South,  in  the  division.  He  was  by  profession  an  Attorney-at-Law,  and  was 
associated  for  some  time  with  Hon.  John  Sherman  of  Mansfield,  Ohio.    He  practiced 


September,  1848]  GOVERNOR   WALKER,  261 

of  the  North,  a  preamble  and  resokition  [were]  adopted  by 
which  the  Nation  declared  for  the  South. 

Saturday,  2. — Warm  and  sultry.  In  the  afternoon  we  had 
severe  and  sharp  thunder  and  lightning.  Struck  a  linn  tree 
at  our  barn.  Rained  about  half  an  hour.  Cleared  up  in 
the  evening. 

Sunday,  3. — Warm  and  sultry  as  usual.  No  preaching 
at  the  Church.    Staid  at  home. 

Monday,  4. — Received  a  letter  from  Major  Harvey  upon 
the  subject  of  N.  and  S.,  abolitionism,  etc.  M'^  Chick  paid 
us  a  visit  and  staid  all  night. 

Tuesday,  5. — Staid  at  home  all  day.  Writing  an  appeal 
to  the  Ohio  conference.  C.  G.  and  I  wrote  a  joint  letter  to 
Col.  Goodin. 

Wednesday,  6. — Quite  unwell.  Gastritis,  Enteritis;  tak- 
ing "Longley's  Panacea."     Horrid  stuff! 

Thursday,  7. — To-day  the  church  members  were  to  be  as- 
sembled at  the  new  brick  Church  to  vote  on  the  question 
"North  or  South,"  but  unfortunately  the  members  refused 
to  attend,  and  so  ended  the  affair.  A  rather  severe  rebuke 
to  the  agitators. 

before  the  Interior  Department,  mostly  in  matters  pertaining  to  Indian  affairs.  He 
seems  to  have  been  a  man  of  strong  convictions,  and  fearless  in  his  actions.  He 
married  Miss  Lucy  Bigelow  (born  July  31,  1818),  daughter  of  Eev.  Eussel  Bigelow, 
the  famous  Methodist  divine  of  Ohio,  February,  20,  1838.  Of  this  marriage  were  born: 
1.  Ethan  Mclntyre,  born  August  24,  1839;  2.  Caroline  Amelia  Mead,  born  August  9, 
1841,  married  L.  L.  Hartman,  September  2, 1862;  3.  Eussel  Bigelow,  born  October  20, 
1843,  married  Eachel  M.  Brown,  May  17,  1868;  4.  Henry  Jacquis,  born  May  6,  1846;  5. 
Ellen  Clarrissa  Gurley,  born  August  9,  1848,  married  James  Edwin  Howie,  August  25, 
1871;  6.  William  Silas,  born  January  30,  died  March  26,  1851. 

J.  M.  Armstrong  was  one  of  the  first  to  build  a  house  in  the  "  Wyandot  Purchase." 
He  taught  the  first  school  in  the  Nation  after  the  removal  W'cst.  The  writings  of  his 
widow,  Mrs.  Lucy  B.  Armstrong,  upon  the  early  settlement  and  early  time  of  what  is 
now  Kansas,  are  very  important,  but  scattered  about  through  the  newspapers  axid 
other  publications  of  her  time. 

J.  M.  Armstrong  died  at  Mansfield,  Ohio,  April  11,  1852.  He  was  on  his  way  to 
Washington.  He  stopped  at  Mansfield  to  see  Hon.  John  Sherman;  he  was  taken  sick 
and  died  suddenly.  He  was  temporarily  buried  at  Mansfield,  but  his  wife  subsequently 
had  his  body  removed  to  Bellefontaine,  Ohio,  and  buried  beside  his  mother. 

Lucy  B.  Armstrong  died  January  1,  1892. 


-262  THE   JOURNALS   OF  [September,  1848. 

Friday,  8. — The  President,  James  Washington ;  Vice 
President,  John  Hicks,  Sen'r ;  the  committee,  S.  Armstrong, 
F.  A.  Hicks,  W.  Walker,  and  Little  Chief  met  and  adopted 
an  address  to  the  Ohio  Conference  to  be  sent  to  Cincinnati 
for  publication,  by  next  mail.^ 

Saturday,  9. — Dry  weather.  Jesse  Stern  and  a  M'"  Crom- 
well of  Ohio  called  upon  us  and  staid  awhile.  Warm,  warm. 
The  Deacon  gone  to  the  P.  O.  Sent  the  Document  by  him 
to  be  mailed. 

Sunday,  10. — Cool  morning.  Went  to  Church  and  heard 
a  sermon  by  E,ev.  M'  Hurlburt.  Large  congregation. 
Warm  and  dry  weather.  Half  past  three  o'clock  P.  M., 
commenced  raining,  but  did  not  continue  long. 

Monday,  11. — Foggy  morning  and  cloudy.  11  o'clock  it 
cleared  up  and  became  warm. 

This  morning  David  Young  lost  his  little  boy — died  of  a 
remittent  fever.  In  the  afternoon,  thunder  and  lightning, 
but  had  no  rain. 

Tuesday,  12. — Cloudy,  misting  rain.  To-day  our  people 
commence  their  worship  in  the  wilderness,  in  other  words, 
their  camp-meeting.  Fears  are  entertained  that  they  will 
have  bad  weather.  M.  E..  Walker,  Jesse  Stern  and  company 
making  preparations  for  a  "  buffalo  hunt."  At  night,  a  most 
furious  rain  came  on;  continued  all  night,  till  daylight. 

Wednesday,  13. — Kaining  furiously.  Cleared  up  at  10 
o'clock.  All  in  a  bustle.  Packing  up  preparing  to  move 
to  the  camp  meeting.  Wrote  to  Samuel  Kerr  of  Pennsyl- 
vania, to  go  by  to-morrow's  mail.  Loaded  up  our  effects  and 
put  out. 

Thursday,  14.— Thursday  14th,  15th,  16th,  17th,  18th  at 
camp  meeting. 

'  This  address  was  published  in  the  Weatern  Christian  Advocate  and  called  forth  a 
reply  from  the  opposition,  which  was  published  in  the  same  paper.  It  was  all  concern- 
ing the  division  in  the  Church  into  the  North  and  South. 


September,  1848.]  GOVERNOR   WALKER.  263 

Came  home  at  4  o'clock  P.  M.  During  the  meeting  the 
weather  was  cloudy  and  cold. 

Tuesday,  19. — Cloudy  morning.  Cold  and  chilly.  Will- 
iam Gibson,  Joseph  White  and  Peter  Buck  came  to  cut  up 
my  corn  and  proceeded  to  operations.  Clear  and  cold  night. 
We  may  have  frost.     .     .     . 

Wednesday,  20. — Sure  enough.  Jack  Frost  has  paid  us 
his  first  visit  for  the  season.     Farewell  summer!     .     .     . 

Thursday,  21. — The  boys  finished  cutting  up  corn.  M" 
W.  and  Harriet  went  to  Kansas. 

Friday,  22. — Wrote  to  M'"  A.  Guthrie  the  decision  of  the 
Council  upon  his  petition. 

Saturday,  23. — The  Nation  assembled  to  hear  the  report 
of  the  Revising  Committee,  after  which  a  legislative  com- 
mittee was  elected  as  follows:  W.  Walker,  J.  M.  Armstrong, 
Jas.  Washington,  George  Armstrong,  and  J.  W.  Gray  Eyes. 
Failure  in  the  mail.     A  failure  in  the  mail  to-day. 

Sunday,  24. — Went  to  Church  and  heard  a  Mohawk  ser- 
mon by  M""  Cusick.^ 

Monday,  25. — Went  to  town.  No  mail  yet.  Writing 
for  Dr.  Hewitt.     In  the  evening,  commenced  raining. 

Tuesday,  26. — Went  to  town.  Called  upon  the  Council 
and  submitted  a  proposition.     Came  home. 

Wednesday,  27. — Hunted  [for]  my  oxen  all  day,  but 
could  not  find  them.     They  are  not  to  be  found  when  wanted. 

'  This  was  undoubtedly  David  Cusick.  He  was  a  Tuscarora,  and  wrote  a  work  on 
the  early  history  and  myths  of  the  Iroquois.  In  the  Bibliography  of  the  Iroquoan 
Languages  issued  by  the  Bureau  of  Ethnology  I  find  the  following  sketch:  "  David 
Cusick,  the  Tuscarora  historian,  was  the  son  of  Nicholas  Cusick,  who  died  on  the  Tus- 
carora Eeservation,  near  Lewiston,  N.  Y.,  in  1840,  being  about  82  years  old.  David 
received  a  fair  education  and  was  thought  a  good  doctor  by  both  whites  and  Indians. 
He  died  not  long  after  his  father." 

Mr.  Cusick  was  on  his  way  to  the  Senecas  at  this  time.  He  remained  among  the 
Senecas  for  some  time,  I  think  as  much  as  a  year,  when  he  returned  to  Canada,  as  they 
supposed.  Matthias  Splitlog  knew  him  well  in  Canada,  and  often  spoke  of  him  as  one 
of  the  wisest  Indians  that  ever  lived. 

In  Bcauchamp's  Troquoian  Trail,  p.  42,  it  is  said  that  it  was  James  Cusick  who  be- 
came a  Baptist  minister.  If  so,  he  is  probably  the  person  who  preached  to  the  Wyan- 
dots.     But  many  of  the  old  Wyandots  were  acquainted  with  David  Cusick. 


264  THE   JOURNALS   OF  [September,  1848. 

Thursday,  28. — Hunted  again  but  with  like  success. 

Friday,  29. — Went  in  company  with  M"  H.  W.^  to  hunt 
grapes,  but  found  few. 

Saturday,  30. — Went  to  Kansas.  Got  my  mail,  not  much 
news.  Dined  at  M^^  Chick's.  Came  home  in  the  evening. 
Done  up  my  Saturday's  chores. 

October,  1848. 

Sunday,  1. — Sabbath  morn.  Fine  weather.  Staid  at 
home  all  day. 

Monday,  2. — Phoebus!  What  a  frost!  Thermometer 
mercury  below  freezing  point,  but  clear  and  a  fair  prospect 
of  a  warm  day.  Attended  the  meeting  of  the  legislative 
committee. 

Tuesday,  3. — Frosty  morning.  Cloudy.  Foul  weather. 
Peradventure,  rain.  Attended  the  legislative  committee.  It 
turned  out  a  pleasant  day.  However,  at  night  we  had  a  slight 
sprinkling. 

Wednesday,  4. — M"  W.  went  to  K.  intending  to  stay  all 
night.  Warm  day.  My  oxen,  through  the  carelessness  of 
that  drunken  Irishman,  got  out  of  J.  W's  lot  and  made  their 
escape.  Finished  reading  Senator  Benton's  speech  in  oppo- 
sition to  Gen.  Kearney's  nomination  for  Brevet  Major  Gen- 
eral for  services  in  California.  The  speech  occupies  11 
numbers  of  the  National  Intelligencer.  Well,  K's  nomina- 
tion was  confirmed,  but  he  did  not  deserve  it. 

Thursday,  5. — Went  to  attend  the  meeting  of  the  legisla- 
tive committee  but  the  Council  convening,  [it]  called  upon 
the  committee  to  sit  in  joint  meeting  for  the  transaction  of 
extraordinary  business.  Adjourned  and  came  home.  Wrote 
a  letter  to  John  T.  Walker  at  Laguna.  Indian  Summer ; 
warm  nnd  pleasant. 

Friday,  6. — Warm  and  smoky  weather.    Somewhat  cloudy. 

•  Hannab  Walker,  his  wife. 


October,  1848.]  GOVERNOR  WALKER.  265 

Rain  perhaps.  Got  Irish  Joha  and  the  team  and  hauled 
some  cord-wood,  then  hauled  a  barrel  of  flour  to  S.  Arm- 
strong's, then  came  home. 

Saturday,  7. — Cool  and  cloudy.  M.  R.  Walker  and  com- 
pany returned  last  night.  All  well.  Had  glorious  sport. 
Killed  lots  of  buffaloes.     Lived  luxuriantly. 

We  (i.  e.,  three  of  us,  M"  W.  [and]  Harriet)  went  across 
the  Missouri  and  paid  M'  Th.  H.  Noble  a  visit.  Dined  and 
came  home. 

Sophia  went  to  Kansas  to  get  our  mail  if  any  there  be. 
[She]  Returned,  but  brought  but  little  news.     No  letters. 

Sunday,  8. — Cold  and  cloudy  morning.  Prospect  of  rain. 
Rev.  M'"  Hurlburt  is  to  preach  to-day.     Staid  at  home. 

Monday,  9. — M'  Hurlburt  called  over  and  staid  some  time, 
during  which  time  an  interesting  conversation  ensued  upon 
the  slave  question  and  its  concomitants. 

Tuesday,  10. — Set  out  for  the  grand  convocation  of  Indian 
tribes  near  Fort  Leavenworth,  in  company  with  John  Hicks, 
Sen'r,  James  Rankin,  and  F.  A.  Hicks,  and  ar;:ived  at  the 
general  camping  ground  in  the  evening.  Found  the  Dela- 
wares,  Shawnees,  Miamis,  Peoris,  Kanzas,  Sacs  and  Foxes 
already  on  the  ground,  and  the  Kanzas  camp  in  a  bustle, 
making  preparations  for  a  grand  dance.^ 

Wednesday,  11. — In  Council. 

Thursday,  12. — In  Council. 

'  This  is  the  great  convention  at  which  the  emigrant  tribes  rekindled  the  Council 
Fire  of  the  ancient  Confederacy.  Peter  D.  Clark,  in  his  "Traditional  History  of  the 
Wyandots,"  page  131,  says  it  was  in  1846;  evidently  an  error,  although  a  Council  was 
held  before  this,  which  was  a  preliminary  meeting. 

At  this  Council  the  position  of  the  Wyandots  as  keepers  of  the  Council-fire  of  the 
Northwestern  Confederacy  was  confirmed  and  renewed.  It  is  not  meant  to  intimate 
anywhere  in  this  work  that  the  Wyandots  were  made  dictators  of  the  Confederacy, 
and  ruled  it,  or  exercised  any  arbitrary  power  over  it.  The  other  tribes  recognized  in 
the  Wyandots  strong  and  moderate  men  that  were  capable  of  weighing  well  any  matter 
and  forming  a  correct  judgment.  The  Indian  rendered  military  service  voluntarily. 
The  order  of  the  greatest  Chief  or  highest  Council  was  only  a  suggestion,  and  while 
the  Indian  usually  obeyed,  he  might  obey  or  not  as  he  chose.  The  personal  liberty  of 
the  Indian  was  complete. 


266  THE   JOUKNALS  OF  [October,  1848. 

Friday,  13. — In  Council. 

Saturday,  14. — In  Council. 

Sunday,  15. — In  Council. 

Monday,  16. — In  Council. 

Tuesday,  17. — In  Council. 

Wednesday,  18. — Returned  from  the  Great  Council  after 
dark. 

Thursday,  19. — Went  over  and  spent  the  day  with  M.  R. 
W.  In  the  evening  a  gang  of  the  official  members  of  the 
Church  assembled  in  our  house  on  ecclesiastical  business, 
and  remained  till  11  o'clock  at  night. 

Friday,  20. — Went  to  town  and  gave  to  Dr.  Hewitt  some 
MSS.  and  had  some  chat  with  him  upon  Indian  affairs,  an- 
nual report,  difficulties  in  the  Nation  upon  Church  matters. 
Came  home. 

Saturday,  21. — Wrote  an  address  to  the  Indian  Mission 
Conference  for  the  official  members.  In  the  evening  M' 
Peery  returned  from  K.  but  brought  us  no  mail.  No  news 
from  Ohio  about  the  election.  In  the  evening  the  notorious 
Bishop  Andrews^  came  over.  Called  upon  him  at  the  Dea- 
con's. Found  him  sociable  and  affable. — a  real  burly 
Georgian. 

Sunday,  22. — Attended  Church  and  heard  the  Bishop 
preach.  In  the  afternoon  he  dined  with  us.  Rainy  and 
unpleasant  day. 

Monday,  23. — Went  to  town  for  news.  Sent  Mich.  Frost 
to  the  P.  O.  Got  a  lot  of  newspapers.  The  fulmination  of 
the  dog-skinning  committee^  published  in  the  Western  Ad- 

'  I  believe  it  is  not  generally  known  that  Bishop  Andrews  ever  visited  what  is  now 
Kansas.     I  did  not  know  it  until  I  read  it  here  in  Governor  Walker's  Journal. 

'^  This  was  one  of  the  exciting  incidents  in  the  troubles  between  the  adherents  of 
the  M.  E.  Church  and  those  of  the  i\I.  E.  Church,  South.  The  supporter.s  of  the  latter 
Church  printed  and  distributed  notices  containing  the  announcement  that  the  people 
were  requested  to  meet  at  a  certain  time  and  place  "to  see  a  dog  skinned."  The  nov- 
elty of  the  announcement  drew  many  to  the  meeting.  The  "  skinning  "  consisted  of  a 
discu.ssion  of  Church  matters  and  the  adoption  of  resolutions  condemning  the  opposing 
€hurch.    The  vote  was  reached  at  dusk.    The  adherents  of  the  M.  E.  Church  published 


October,  1848.]  GOVERNOR  WALKER.  267 

vocate.  It  has  created  some  excitement  among  the  seceders. 
Chiefs  making  out  the  Pay  roll.  A  number  of  visitors  this 
evening.  A  preacher,  it  seems,  is  appointed  by  the  Ohio 
Conference,  to  come  in  here  and  sneak  about  like  a  night 
burglar  or  incendiary  to  do  harm  and  not  good.  What  is  it 
that  religious  fanaticism  will  not  do !  The  seceders  have 
stolen  the  church  records.^ 

Tuesday,  24. — Staid  all  day  at  home.  At  night  a  num- 
ber of  our  friends  came  and  staid  till  a  late  hour  discussing 
various  matters.  Determined  to  call  in  the  authority  of  the 
Nation  and  the  Indian  Agent  to  protect  their  rights  from 
the  seceders. 

Wednesday,  25. — Payment  of  the  annuity  commenced. 
Esau  returned.     Nothing  of  interest.     Paid  out  $3,000. 

Thursday,  26.— Payment  continued.     Paid  out  $2,000. 

Friday,  27. — Payment  continued  and  closed.  Wrote  to 
]\P  Greer.     Gave  him  Yorrick. 

the  facts  in  the  Western  Christian  Advocate  of  Cincinnati,  Ohio,  and  put  the  opposition 
upon  the  defensive.  The  incident  increased  the  bitterness  between  the  factions,  and 
resulted  in  an  appeal  to  the  Ohio  Conference  to  send  a  missionary  to  the  M.  E.  Church, 
which  appeal  was  complied  with.  Governor  Walker  was  extremely  bitter,  intolerant 
and  unjust  in  his  attitude  toward  the  M.  E.  Church,  although  he  did  not  belong  to  the 
Church,  South,  and  his  wife  and  daughter  Martha  belonged  to  the  M.  E.  Church. 
Mrs.  Walker  went  with  the  Church,  South,  at  the  beginning,  but  returned  to  the  M.  E. 
Church  soon  afterwards  and  remained  in  it  until  her  death. 

'  It  cannot  be  conceded  that  the  adherents  to  the  M.  E.  Church  were  the  seceders. 
The  division  of  territory  agreed  upon  between  the  Churches  when  they  sepaiated  threw 
the  Wyandots  in  that  assigned  to  the  Church,  South.  The  Wyandots  were  not  parties 
to  this  action  of  the  General  Conference  that  arranged  the  division.  Many  of  them 
refused  to  abide  the  action,  and  remained  in  the  old  Church.  The  more  wealthy  slave- 
holding  class  went  with  the  Church,  South,  but  a  majority  of  the  people  always  re- 
mained in  the  M.  E.  Church,  which  never  for  a  moment  gave  up  its  organization,  nor 
submitted  to  the  Church,  South.  The  Council  passed  a  resolution  declaring  for  the 
Church,  South,  but  it  could  have  no  effect  in  Church  matters  by  any  action  it  might 
take,  for  Church  matters  were  beyond  its  control  and  jurisdiction.  As  to  stealing  the 
Church  records.  Governor  Walker  must  have  been  misinformed.  The  late  Mrs.  Lucy  B. 
Armstrong  gave  me  many  of  these  old  records  in  1887  and  said  that  they  came  into  her 
hands  by  their  being  in  possession  of  her  husband  at  his  death,  at  which  time  he  was 
an  officer  iu  the  M.  E.  Church,  probably  Eecording  Steward,  and  that  they  had  always 
been  in  the  hands  of  the  official  board  of  the  M.  E.  Church.  The  Washington  Avenue 
M.  E.  Church,  of  Kansas  City,  Kansas,  is  the  old  Church  brought  from  Ohio  by  the 
Wyandots  in  1843,  and  which  was  established  at  Upper  Sandusky  in  1817;  the  first  In- 
dian Mission  ever  established  by  the  M.  E.  Church. 


268  THE   JOURNALS  OF  [October,  184S. 

Saturday,  28. — Went  to  town.  The  Chiefs  commenced 
paying  the  public  liabilities.  By  the  steamer  "  Mustang" 
Adam  Hunt  and  his  mother,  M""^  Williams,  and  M"  Dick- 
son returned  from  Canada.  Came  home.  Found  our  young 
people  engaged  in  a  party.  Martha  went  to  the  P.  O.  but 
got  no  mail.     No  news ;  too  bad  ! 

Sunday,  29. — Went  to  Church  and  to  our  astonishment 
found  the  Presiding  Elder  of  the  Quasi  Northern  District, 
a  Mr.  Still;  the  Deacon,  as  a  matter  of  Grace,  asked  him  to 
preach,  which  he  attempted  to  do.  "  Sorter "  preached. 
The  Church  was  then  divided,  South  from  the  North. ^ 
Meeting  appointed  by  the  Northerners  for  evening. 

Monday,  30. — Went  to  town.  The  Wyandott  Chiefs  paid 
the  Delawares  the  fifth  installment  of  $4,000. 

M'^  W.  went  to  K.  Came  home  3  o'clock,  P.  M.  At 
candle-light  the  Wyandott  Chiefs  met  at  our  domicile  and 
prepared  a  communication  to  the  Agent,  asking  the  inter- 
position of  the  Government  to  keep  out  of  our  territory 
those  reverend  disturbers  of  the  Nation.^ 

Tuesday,  31. — Yoked  up  my  oxen.  Cut  and  hauled 
some  wood.  Went  to  town ;  called  at  J.  Walker's  house, 
and  found  him  and  F.  A.  H.  in  close  consultation  upon 
State  affairs.     Bought  a  barrel  of  flour.     Came  home. 

November,  1848. 
Wednesday,    1. — Cold    winter    morning.      Thermometer 
24°!     Whew!     Went  out  to  hunt  my  swine,  but  could  not 
find  them.     Went  to  town,  thence  to  the  ferry.      Sent  a  let- 
ter to  John  Goodin  by  J.  Squeendehteh^  to  the  P.  O.    Came 

'  This  record  "The  Church  was  then  divided,  South  from  the  North"  is  conclusive 
that  the  M.  E.  Church  always  maintained  its  organization.  And  it  is  also  conclusive, 
if  we  wished  to  say  so,  that  from  a  purely  technical  standpoint  the  Church,  South,  was 
the  seceder.  But  it  had  a  perfect  right  to  separation,  and  no  objection  can  be  urged 
against  its  action. 

^  This  communication  was  forwarded  to  the  Department  of  the  Interior  and  nothing 
came  of  it;  no  action  was  taken. 

'  Son  of  Squeendechtee  who  is  buried  in  Huron  Place  Cemetery,  and  who  died  in 
December  1844,  aged  61  years.    The  name  should  be  written  Squehn-deh'-teh. 


November,  1848]  GOVERNOR    WALKER.  269 

home  and  done  up  my  "chores."  Winter's  coming.  The 
forest  is  dousing  her  garments  and  displaying  her  nudity. 
For  shame ! 

Thursday,  2. — M"  W.  went  to  K.  for  our  mail.  Keceived 
a  few  papers.     Ohio  gone  democratic. 

Friday,  3. — Raining,  stormy.  Finished  copying  the 
Journal  of  the  Indian  Congress.^  Went  to  town  and  hauled 
up  a  barrel  of  sugar  and  one  of  flour. 

Saturday,  4. — Clear  and  cold  morning.  Wintry  weather, 
Opened  a  barrel  of  sugar,  (200  pounds).  We'll  see  how 
long  this  will  last. 

Hauled  wood  enough  to  do  a  month  if  the  Thermometer 
dont  run  down  to  ("0")  zero. 

Wrote  a  warning  epistle  to  Tsees-quau-zhu-touh  (J.  W.)^ 
to  go  by  Monday's  mail. 

M^  G of  Independence  arrived,  and  then  the  Deacon. 

Both  staid  all  night. 

Sunday,  5. — Clear  and  frosty.  Prospect  of  a  fine  day. 
Went  to  the  Synagogue.  Heard  the  Deacon  preach.  J.  W- 
Gray  Eyes  made  his  debut  as  interpreter  for  the  Church. 
We  have  full  autumn  upon  us,  and  bleak  winter  near  at  hand. 

"At  last,  old  autumn  rousing,  takes 
Again  his  scepter  and  his  throne; 
With  boisterous  hand  the  trees  he  shakes 
Intent  on  gathering  all  his  own." 

Monday,  6. — Clear,  cold  and  frosty  morning.  Thermom- 
eter 38°,  The  Deacon  took  leave  of  us  and  put  out.  Went 
to  town.  Purchased  twelve  and  a  half  bushels  of  winter 
apples  at  40c  per  bushel. 

Tuesday,  7. — Thermometer  30°  at  sunrise!  Must  kill  a 
pig.  Want  fresh  Pork.  Tired  of  musty  bacon  and  poor 
beef.    Koast  pig,  ah!    That's  it!    Fetch  in  on,  Dorcas.    Went 

*  I  have  searched  unsuccessfully  for  fifteen  years  for  this  Journal.  It  must  be  lost; 
probably  among  the  papers  spoken  of  as  having  been  destroyed  by  .mice.  What  a  pity 
60  valuable  a  historical  document  should  meet  such  a  fate! 

'  Joel  Walker.     This  is  his  second  Indian  name. 


270  THE   JOURNALS   OF  [November,  1848. 

to  town  and  found  the  Council  in  session.  They  requested 
the  school  directors  to  report  the  state  of  the  school  funds, 
which  they  did  and  closed  their  year's  accounts  for  1848. 

Wednesday,  8. — Went  to  K.  and  paid  my  taxes. 

Thursday,  9. — Severe  morning.  Thermometer  10°.  Win- 
ter weather.     Ice  floating  in  the  Kansas  Kiver. 

Friday,  10. — Cloudy  weather.  Prospect  of  snow.  Ther- 
mometer 15°.     Hiatus — Blank — neglecting  my  Journal. 

Thursday,  23. — Pretty  clearly  ascertained  that  Gen. 
Zachary  Taylor  of  Louisiana  is  elected  president  of  the  U. 
S.,  beating  Lewis  Cass,  and  Martin  Van  Buren.  Aye,  and 
Gerrit  Smith. 

Attended  a  party  at  J.  Walker's. 

Friday,  24. — M''  W.,  Sophia  and  Theodore  went  to  Inde- 
pendence.    I  cut  up  and  salted  away  a  quarter  of  beef. 

Saturday,  25. — Cut  up  some  wood.  Read  newspapers, 
chatted  with  M'"  Russell,  and  so  whiled  the  day  away.  In 
the  evening  Theodore  and  Sophia  returned  from  Independ- 
ence, but  no  M"  W.  She  had  wisely  come  to  the  conclusion 
it  was  a  little  too  cold  a  day  to  travel. 

Sunday,  26. — Went  to  Church.  M'  Russell  officiated. 
Came  home,  ate  dinner,  and  felicitatus.  By  the  way,  C. 
Graham  called  upon  me  and  informed  [me]  that  Col.  Goodin 
was  about  to  remit  me  $600.  Welcome  news.  Now,  I'll, 
I'll,  Ahem — etc. 

Monday,  27. — Went  to  town.  Called  at  the  smithshop. 
Had  a  chat  with  Dr.  H.  upon  the  subject  of  our  difficulties. 
Came  home  and  sent  an  invitation  to  M"  Williams  and  M^ 
Hunt  to  come  and  spend  to-morrow  afternoon.  In  the  even- 
ing C.  B.  G.  called  and  spent  the  evening. 

Tuesday,  28. — Warm  and  pleasant  day.  Received  a  com- 
munication from  Col.  Goodin  covering  a  remittance  of  one 
thousand  and  eighty  dollars,  the  proceeds  of  my  Hardin 
county  lands. 


December,  1848.]  GOVERNOR  WALKER.  271 

Rev.  J.  Thompson  Peerey,  our  newly  appointed  missionary, 
moved  into  the  parsonage.  In  the  evening  by  invitation 
M^  Williams  and  M'^  Hunt  spent  the  evening  with  us. 

Wednesday,  29. — Fury  and  daggers !  Snowing  at  Jehu's 
gait.  Storm  and  tempest.  Attended  the  session  of  the  leg- 
islative committee.     Adjourned  at  four  o'clock,  came  home. 

Thursday,  30. — Clear  and  cold  morning.  Attended  the 
session  of  the  legislative  committee.  M""^  W.  and  Harriet 
went  on  a  friendly  visit  to  the  E.  T.  P's  and  staid  all  night. 
To-night  will  be  held  the  first  official  meeting  of  the  Church 
South  under  the  administration  of  Rev.  J.  T.  Peerey. 

December,  1848. 

Friday,  1. — Called  upon  M'"  Peerey  and  presiding  elder 
Stateler.  Cut  and  hauled  wood.  M"  W.  and  Harriet  re- 
turned from  their  visit. 

M'  James  Gurley,  the  preacher  sent  by  the  Ohio  annual 
conference  to  preach  abolitionism  to  the  Wyandotts,  has  just 
arrived.  So  I  suppose  we  are  to  have  religious  dissensions 
in  full  fruition. 

Saturday,  2. — M''  Gurley  called  upon  us  and  defended 
his  position.  If  he  follows  the  instructions  received  from 
Bishop  Morris  we  shall  not  have  much  trouble,  for  he  will 
"gather  up  his  awls  "  and  pull  out. 

IVP  Graham  and  Joel  came  and  staid  till  bed  time. 

Sunday,  3. — Cloudy  morning,  prospect  of  snow.  Must  go 
to  the  synagogue  and  hear  M'  Gurley  "hold  forth."  He 
held  forth.  Went  to  Church  at  early  candle-lighting  and 
heard  the  preacher  in  charge,  J.  T.  Peerey. 

Monday,  4. — At  daylight,  Great  Caesar !  What  a  snow 
storm.  The  elements  in  the  wildest  commotion.  Flakes  of 
snow  whirling  as  large  as  leather  aprons.  Stormed  all  day 
and  snow  and  sleet.     Kept  close  quarters  all  day. 

Tuesday,  5. — Sleet,  sleet.     Cloudy   and   dreary.     Surely 


272  THE   JOURNALS   OF  [December,  1848. 

winter  is  now  upon  us.  At  1  o'clock  the  misty  sleet  contin- 
ues.   No  mail.    My  maledictions  upon  the  mail  contractors. 

Wednesday,  6. — Cold,  cloudy  morning.  Attended  the 
session  of  the  legislative  committee.  Sleet  all  day.  Came 
home  after  nightfall. 

Thursday,  7. — Fury  and  snakes!  At  daylight,  snow, 
sleet  and  rain!  When  is  this  Jiorrihle  tempest  to  come  to  an 
end.  The  sun  has  fled,  and  blackness,  darkness,  and  storms 
are  running  their  wild  career  to  the  utter  dismay  of  all  upper 
Missouri.  Attended  the  session  of  the  legislative  committee. 
In  the  evening  the  weather  cleared  up  and  at  night  the 
moon  shone  with  unusual  brilliancy.     Clear  and  very  cold. 

Friday,  8. — At  daylight  the  thermometer  stood  5°  below 
zero.  Cut  and  hauled  wood  all  day,  being  clear  and  pleas- 
ant, though  cold. 

Saturday,  9. — Storm,  storm  again.  Snow  and  sleet.  Went 
to  town,  and  called  upon  Dr.  H.  Came  home.  Chopped 
wood  for  Sunday.     Sleet  again. 

Sunday,  10. — Staid  at  home.  Wrote  for  Dr.  H.  a  reply 
to  Dr.  Simpson's  editorial.  Went  down  in  the  evening. 
Came  home  at  10  o'clock  at  night.  A  severe  night.  Every 
creek  or  spring  run  frozen  up. 

Monday,  11. — At  daylight  thermometer  18°  below  "0" 
zero.  Sophia  set  out  for  Independence.  A  cold  ride.  Staid 
at  home  all  day  and  made  fires.  That  and  chopping  kept  me 
constantly  employed. 

Tuesday,  12. — At  daylight  thermometer  10°  below  zero. 
Went  to  F.  A.  Hicks  and  had  a  chat.  Selected  Little  Chief 
as  my  adjunct  voter,  this  being  the  day  appointed  by  law  for 
the  election  of  ferryman.  At  2  o'clock  the  joint  meeting 
proceeded  to  ballot  for  a  ferryman.  After  several  ballots  all 
the  candidates  were  dropj)ed  except  D.  Young  and  Tall 
Charles  and  the  final  ballot  on  these  two  stood  thus:  D. 
Young,  16;  Tall  Charles,  7.    Majority  9  votes.    Adjourned. 


December,  1848.]  GOVERNOR  WALKER.  273 

Wednesday,  13. — Weather  moderated.  M'^  W.  and  Har- 
riet gone  to  Kansas  on  loot.  Little  Thunder  chopping  wood 
for  me.  C.  B.  G.  slaughtering  hogs  to-day.  Bought  a  hog 
from  him,  and  at  candle-lighting  I  cut  it  up  and  salted  it  away. 

Thursday,  14. — At  daylight  thermometer  10°  above  "0" 
zero.  Staid  at  home.  Wrote  a  long  letter  for  Adam  Brown 
to  Col.  Prince,  M.  P.,  Canada. 

Friday,  15. — At  daylight  thermometer  10°  above  '0." 
Prospect  of  a  pleasant  day.  This  evening  quarterly  meeting 
commences  in  Wyandott.     Staid  at  home  all  day. 

Saturday,  16. — Weather  moderating.  Went  to  Church 
and  heard  M'  Stateler  preach.    Attended  Church  at  night. 

Sunday,  17. — Went  to  Church  again.  At  night  E.  T.  P. 
and  M""  Russell  came  home  [with  me]  and  staid  all  night. 

Monday,  18. — Settled  with  E.  T.  P.  and  gave  him  an 
order  on  J.  W.  and  Co.  Warm  day  and  a  general  thaw. 
Attended  Church  after  night. 

Tuesday,  19. — Cut  and  hauled  wood.  Went  to  the  Coun- 
cil. Dr.  H.  recommended  to  the  President  for  an  appoint- 
ment in  California.  Came  home.  The  trustees  of  the  Church 
meet  to-night  in  the  basement  story. 

Wednesday,  20.— Thermometer  10°  above  "0."  Cloudy 
and  prospect  of  more  snow.  Cold,  cold  winter.  At  3  o'clock 
P.  M.  it  commenced  sleeting  and  continued  all  night  mixed 
with  snow. 

Thursday,  21. — Horrible !  Sleet  and  snow  in  all  its  fury. 
Thermometer  2°  below  "0."  8  o'clock  snowing  with  an  hor- 
rible tempest.  During  the  whole  of  this  day  the  snowstorm 
continued  in  all  its  fury  without  abatement.  Legislative 
committee  in  session. 

Friday,  22. — At  daylight  thermometer  20°  below  zero. 
Clear,  cold  all  day.     Staid  at  home. 

Saturday,  23. — At  daylight  thermometer  stood  29°  below 
zero ! 

19 


274  THE   JOURNALS   OF  [December,  1848 

Sunday,  24. — Cold  and  freezing  weather. 

Monday,  25. — A  merry  Christmas !     Off  in  a  tangent. 

Hiatus.  Holiday  week,  close  of  the  year.  Mean  time, 
horrible  weather. 

January,  1849. 

Monday,  1. — A  happy  new  year  to  ye  all! 

Tuesday,  2. — Stormy  weather,  horrible! 

Wednesday,  3. — Cold.  Put  up  hogs  to  fatten.  Then 
went  over  the  Missouri  to  buy  some  pork,  but  found  [it] 
frozen,  [and]  took  none. 

Thursday,  4. — Staid  at  home  all  day.     Made  fires,  etc. 

Friday,  5. — Thermometer  8°  below  "  0."  Clear  but  cold 
all  day.  Staid  at  home  all  day  and  attended  to  my  stock. 
My  horse  Dragon  gave  me  the  slip  and  ran  off. 

Saturday,  6. — Thermometer  6°  below  "0."  Cloudy  all 
day.  At  1  o'clock  [the]  mercury  rose  to  15°.  At  four 
commenced  snowing  and  continued  till  10  at  night. 

Sunday,  7. — Snowing  still.  Mercury  25°.  11  o'clock, 
growing  warm,  rain  perhaps.  Went  to  Church  and  heard 
a  sermon  from  Rev.  M""  Hurlburt.  A  good  one.  M^  Pcerey 
then  by  request  announced  an  appointment  for  Rev.  M" 
Gurley  for  3  o'clock.  Well,  he  preached  about  Moses  in  the 
bulrushes. 

Monday,  8. — Thermometer  "  0."  Cloudy.  Such  a  win- 
ter for  Missouri!  In  north  latitude  39°,  and  west  longitude 
17°.  Snow  and  sleet  for  a  month.  The  snow  now  on  the 
ground  though  solid  and  compact,  is  two  feet  deep.  At  3 
o'clock  P.  M.  snow  again  and  continued  till  9  o'clock. 

Tuesday,  9. — Clear,  thermometer  "0."  The  sun  has 
shown  his  face  once  more.  Attended  the  National  meeting. 
Read  and  proclaimed  the  new  code  of  laws.  Then  pro- 
ceeded to  the  election  of  a  sheriff,  in  the  place  of  I.  P.  Long,^ 
resigned.     Thomas  Pipe  elected. 

'  Irvin  P.  Long  was  the  son  of  Alexander  Long,  wlio  was  an  American  officer  in  the 


January,  1849.]  GOVEENOE   WALKER.  275 

Wednesday,  10. — At  daylight  thermometer  22°  below 
"0"!  Hauled  wood  and  pottered  about  the  house.  Clear 
and  cold  all  day.     Thermometer  standing  all  day  at  zero. 

Thursday,  11. — Thermometer  10°  below  "0."  At  sun- 
rise the  wind  from  S.  E.  At  12  o'clock  the  weather  began 
to  moderate,  and  continued  warm  all  the  afternoon  and 
thawed  during  the  night. 

Friday,  12. — Thermometer  38°.  Cloudy.  A  thaw.  In 
the  afternoon  rain.  Rained  till  late  in  the  night.  Went  to 
Kansas  and  mailed  one  letter  to  Col.  M.  H.  Kirby  and  one 
to  the  P.  M.  at  Branch. 

Saturday,  13. — Thermometer  "0"  and  snowing.  Well, 
well.  This  is  wild  winter.  Cloudy  all  day  and  thermom- 
eter "0."  To-day  Mr.  Jackson  of  Kansas,  who  died  yes- 
terday, was  buried  with  masonic  honors.  In  the  evening 
M'  G.  of  Independence  came.  A  meeting  of  the  officiary 
of  the  Church  South  met  at  M'  P's  after  candle-light.    This 

war  of  1812,  and  who  married  Catherine  Zane.  There  is  an  amusing  account  of 
Alexander  Long's  conversion,  at  a  camp  meeting,  in  Finley's  "Western  Methodism." 
I  have  not  been  able  to  procure  material  for  even  a  short  sketch  of  Irvin  P.  Long.  For 
his  maternal  ancestry  see  note  on  the  Zane  family.  He  was  a  soldier  in  the  Mexican 
War  and  his  commanding  officer,  the  late  Major  W.  P.  Overtou,  has  often  said  to  me 
that  Irvin  P.  Long  was  the  bravest  soldier  he  ever  saw.  He  said  that  he  had  seen  Long 
charge  with  others  upon  a  battery;  every  other  man  was  either  killed  or  forced  back, 
but  Long  made  his  horse  leap  in  amongst  the  gunners,  and  he  cut  down  the  last  man 
with  his  sword.  "  This,"  said  he,  "I  have  seen  him  do  more  than  once;  and  in  battle 
he  constantly  yelled  the  Wyandot  war-whoop,  a  peculiar  sound  that  almost  curdled  my 
blood  and  made  my  flesh  creep."  Hon.  Silas  Armstrong,  of  the  Indian  Territory,  has 
described  to  me  Mr.  Long's  death.  He  knew  he  must  soon  die,  but  he  faced  death 
with  the  bravery  of  an  Indian.  He  refused  to  lie  down,  even  when  he  was  assured  he 
would  live  but  a  few  minutes.  He  maintained  his  position  in  his  easy  chair  and 
gave  directions  about  his  affairs,  and  conversed  on  other  matters  in  a  manner  that 
convinced  all  present  that  he  was  entirely  devoid  of  any  fear  of  death.  When  the 
fatal  moment  came  he  rested  his  head  on  the  back  of  his  chair  and  died  without  a  gasp 
or  struggle.  How  vastly  superior  to  that  of  the  white  man  is  the  view  of  death  held 
by  the  Indian!  He  is  educat«d  to  have  no  fear  of  death;  to  face  it  bravely;  and  to 
glory  in  triumphing  over  it  even  at  the  stake. 

Irvin  P.  Long  was  one  of  the  company  made  up  by  Charles  B.  Garrett  and  other 
Wyandots  to  go  to  California  in  1849.  This  company  crossed  the  plains  and  mined  on 
the  North  Fork  of  the  Feather  River.  See  Governor  Walker's  Journal  and  the  sketch 
of  Charles  B.  Garrett. 

He  was  a  member  of  Wyandotte  Lodge  No.  3,  A.  F.^&  A.  M.,  and  Wyandotte  Chap- 
ter No.  6,  E.  A.  M. 


276  THE    JOURNALS    OF  [Jauiuiry,  1849. 

morning  Dan  Punch  was  found  frozen  to  death  near  the 
grave  yard. 

Sunday,  14. — Thermometer  10°  below  "0."  Cloudy. 
Thermometer  stood  at  zero  all  day.  Harriet  and  M""  G. 
went  to  church.  I  staid  at  home.  At  one  o'clock  sleet, 
horrid.  This  weather  will  kill  our  live  stock.  Thermom- 
eter at  "  0  "  still. 

There  will  he  an  eclipse  of  the  moon  on  the  8th  of  March 
and  an  eclipse  of  the  sun  on  the  11th  of  August. 

At  3  o'clock  P.  M.  sleet  again  and  continued  till  late  in 
the  night. 

Monday,  15. — Thermometer  5°  below  "0."  Clear.  Cut 
and  hauled  some  wood.  Clear  all  day,  but  cold.  M"  W. 
went  to  Kansas.     M^  Ross  came  and  spent  the  evening. 

Tuesday,  16.— Thermometer  10°  below  "0."  Cloudy. 
Have  a  severe  pain  under  my  left  shoulder.  Something 
like  pleurisy.  Attended  the  National  meeting.  Gave  no- 
tice of  a  meeting  next  Friday  ;  of  a  meeting  of  such  Wyan- 
dotts  as  are  not  members  of  the  Church.  Hired  John 
Big-Sinew  and  came  home. 

Wednesday,  17.  —  Thermometer  5°  below  "0."  Clear. 
Pleasant  and  clear  but  rather  cold  all  day.  John  Big- 
Sinew  and  I  cut  and  hauled  wood  and  [hauled]  corn  fodder. 

Thursday,  18.— At  daylight,  11°  below  "0."  Clear. 
Went  to  Kansas  and  got  a  pile  of  newspapers.  Came  home 
and  perused  them. 

Friday,  19. — At  daylight,  thermometer  7°  below  "0." 

Saturday,  20. — Went  to  Kansas.  Came  home  at  1  o'clock 
P.  M.  A  general  thaw.  M'^  Porter  and  Sophia  called  at 
our  house.     She  staid,  and  he  went  "te  hum." 

Sunday,  21. — Thermometer  5°  below  "0."  Clear.  Some 
prospect  of  a  warm  day,  but  [it]  proved  rather  cold.  In  the 
afternoon  Sophia  returned  with  M""  J.  Porter  to  Inde- 
jiendence. 


January,  1849.]  GOVERNOR   WALKER.  277 

Monday,  22. — Thermometer  5°  below  "  0."  Have  taken 
a  most  villainous  cold.  Sick,  sick !  Rev.  John  T.  Peery  and 
lady  dined  with  us  to-day. 

Tuesday,  23.— Thermometer  "0."  Cloudy.  In  regard 
to  the  weather  "we  know  not  what  a  day  may  bring  forth." 
Dreary  winter  continues  to  sway  his  frigid  and  chilling 
scepter  over  us  poor  Missourians.  Council  meets  to-day, 
but  thank  my  stars  I  have  nothing  to  do  with  it.  They 
may  hold  a  court  of  inquiry  over  George  Coke  and  wife, 
charged  with  the  murder  of  the  late  Daniel  Punch.  In  the 
afternoon  John  Big-Sinew,  and  John  Coon-Cripple  came  to 
work.     In  the  evening,  rain — rained  all  night. 

Wednesday,  24. — Kain;  a  general  thaw.  I  am  sick.  Sent 
for  Matthew  R  W.  to  ascertain  whether  he  had  any  medi- 
cines, having  none  myself.  He  went  home  and  sent  me 
some  croup  syrup. 

Thursday,  ^5. — Snow  nearly  gone.  Foggy  and  warm. 
Rested  better  last  night.  [I]  Begin  to  expectorate.  My 
boys  left  this  morning.  At  11  o'clock  the  wind  from  the 
N.  W.,  and  getting  colder  and  spitting  snow  again.  Well, 
well,  what  weather. 

"Arriere  ceux  dont  la  bonche 
Souffle  le  froid  et  le  chaud  !  " 

Sent  Theodore  to  Kansas  for  our  mail.  No  mail  came  to 
Kansas,  because  as  usual  the  "Blue  is  up."  The  contractor 
ought  to  be  drowned  in  the  Blue !     Turning  cold. 

Friday,  26.— Thermometer  8°.  Clear.  M^'  W.  gone  to 
S.  A.'s.  His  wife  being  very  sick.  Wrote  a  long  epistle  to 
Esau  at  Cincinnati  and  dated  it  the  25th  through  mistake. 
Moderately  warm  through  the  day. 

Saturday,  27.— Thermometer  10°.  Cloudy.  Sent  Esau's 
letter.  Went  over  to  C.  B.  Garrett's  and  got  my  pup 
"Carlo,"  Junior,  and  brought  him  home.  Cloudy  and  warm. 
I  want  my  mail.  I  hope  "the  Blue"  is  not  "up  again." 
M"*  Armstrong,  it  is  said,  is  still  very  sick. 


278  THE   JOURNALS   OF  [January,  1849. 

Thawed  all  night.  Warm  this  morning  and  cloudy. 
Looks  very  much  like  rain.     Cloudy  and  wet  all  day. 

Sunday,  28. — Went  to  Church.  Came  home  and  found 
Dr.  Hewitt  in  possession  of  the  house,  waiting  our  return. 
We  chatted  about  various  matters.  Dined  and  he  went 
home.     Cloudy  and  misting  all  day. 

Monday,  29.  — Cloudy  and  wet.  Sleet,  sleet,  is  there  to 
be  no  end  to  sleet.  Went  over  to  M.  K.  W.'s  and  spent  the 
afternoon.     At  night  it  snowed. 

Tuesday,  30. — Thermometer  10°  above  zero.  Snow  on 
the  ground.  Sleet  again.  Went  to  attend  the  session  of 
the  Council  in  order  to  report  the  result  of  the  meeting  on 
the  19th  of  the  non-professing  members,  who  decided  that 
both  missionaries  should  be  expelled  from  the  nation.  Made 
my  report,  and  closed  with  a  speech,  defining  our  position, 
and  closed  with  a  solemn  warning  to  the  northern  faction.^ 
Came  home.  Found  John  Big-Sinew  and  Smith  Nichols 
had  returned  to  go  to  work. 

Wednesday,  31. — Sleet,  sleet!!  Oh,  glorious  weather! 
Maria  Monk  had  a  calf  last  night,  but  it  was  frozen  to  death. 
Nine  o'clock,  sleet,  sleet,  sleet.  Go  it.  Ten  o'clock.  Get- 
ting warmer.  Raining,  raining.  At  7  o'clock  at  night  it 
cleared  up  and  the  moon  and  stars  shone  as  brilliant  as 
gems. 

February,  1849. 

Thursday,  1. — Clear  and  cold.  Thermometer  10°  above 
"0."  Prospect  of  a  pleasant  day,  but  how  long.  Went  to 
Kansas.  The  mail  came  in  but  the  papers  were  all  "a  dog's 
age  old."  Done  some  shopping  and  came  home.  Dis- 
charged my  hands. 

Friday,  2.— Clear.  Thermometer  10°  above  "0."  At  8 
o'clock  cloudy.     M  ^  W.  and  Martha  went  to  Kansas  to  stay 

'  This  action  resulted  in  the  expulsion  of  the  Missionary  of  the  M.  E.  Church.  The 
Missionary  of  the  M.  E.  Church,  South,  was  not  molested. 


February,  1849.]  GOVERNOR   WALKER.  279 

all  night.  Went  to  town  and  found  it  deserted.  All  gone 
to  K.  Heard  that  James  Monture  had  murdered  his  wife. 
Pleasant  day. 

Saturday,  3. — Thermometer  "0."  Clear  and  beautiful 
morning.  Finished  a  document  for  Deacon  E.  T.  P.  Warm 
and  pleasant  day.     M"  W.  and  Martha  returned. 

Sunday,  4. — Cloudy  morning.  Thermometer  20°  above 
"  0."  More  snow  or  sleet  perhaps.  Went  to  Church.  More 
depredations  committed  upon  it  by  the  disciples  of  the  North- 
ern Church.     Warm  and  pleasant  all  day. 

Monday,  5. — At  sunrise  thermometer  5°  below  "0." 
Clear.  Pleasant  day.  Went  to  Kansas  and  settled  up  vari- 
ous accounts.     Paid  off  some  of  my  bills. 

Tuesday,  6. — Came  home.  At  night  guarded  the  "  syna- 
gogue" till  midnight  from  the  incendiaries's  brand.  After 
we  came  away  the  work  of  destruction  was  renewed. 

Wednesday,  7. — Thermometer  5°  below  "  0."  Warm  and 
pleasant. 

Thursday,  8.— Thermometer  10°  above  "0." 

Friday,  9. — Wrote  a  com.  from  M"  N.  G.  to  A.  G.  and 
after  that,  glad  to  get  rid  of  her. 

Saturday,  10. — Warm  and  pleasant  day,  a  general  thaw. 
In  the  evening,  Pev.  M*"  Pussell  called  and  staid  till  bed- 
time. To-day  is  the  time  appointed  for  the  Northern  Q.  M. 
But  will  it  be  held? 

Sunday,  11. — Thermometer  8°  above  "0."  Went  to 
Church  and  heard  M'"  Pussell  preach.  Came  home,  then 
went  to  Dr.  Hewitt's  and  staid  an  hour.  Then  called  on 
M'  Cotter. 

Monday,  12. — Thermoneter  "0."  At  daylight  cloudy. 
Went  to  town.  Little  or  no  news.  Got  my  iron  kettle  home 
and  prepared  for  butchering  my  swine.  Employed  John 
Big-Sinew  and  John  Coon,  jr. 


280  THE   JOURNALS   OF  [February,  1849. 

Tuesday,  13. — Thermometer  10°  above  "0."  Commenced 
operations  on  my  swine.     Eaw  and  cold  all  day. 

Wednesday,  14. — Thermometer  3°  below  "0."  Cloudy. 
Cut  up  and  salted  away  my  pork,  then  rested  the  remainder 
of  the  day.  Cloudy  and  cold  all  day.  Killed  a  crow  with 
my  "double  barrel,"  by  way  of  variety. 

Thursday,  15.— Thermometer  5°  below  "0."  Clear. 
Clear,  but  cold  all  day.  Sent  by  J.  T.  Peerey  for  my  mail. 
Peter  Warpole^  died  last  night. 

Friday,  16. — Thermometer  "0."  Went  in  company  with 
Dr.  Hewitt  and  paid  a  visit  to  Deacon  Peerey.  Came  home 
in  the  evening. 

Saturday,  17. — Phoebus!  Wind  blowing  and  snow  fly- 
ing! Thermometer  at  "0."  At  sunrise  a  large  luminary 
appeared  near  the  sun,  called  a  sun-dog.  Cold,  cloudy,  and 
windy  all  day.     Severe  weather. 

Sunday,  18.— Thermometer  10°  below  "0."  Clear.  Went 
to  Church  and  heard  a  sermon  from  J.  T.  Peerey.  Came 
home  and  took  my  seat  by  a  comfortable  family  fire.  Feli- 
citatus!  Cold,  cold,  horrid  cold.  But  look  out  to-night. 
Whew! 

Monday,  19.— Thermometer  10°  below  "  0."  Clear.  Sky 
red  at  sunrise.  Prospect  of  a  warm  and  pleasant  day. 
Went  to  town.  J.  W.  removing  his  goods  to  Kansas.  Dr. 
H.  absent.     Came  home.     Wind  from  the  south,  warm. 

Tuesday,  20. — Thermometer  "freezing  point."  Cloudy. 
Two  o'clock  P.  M.,  a  general  thaw.     Came  home  from  town. 

Wednesday,  21. — Paining  at  daylight.  It  is  probable  we 
shall  have  a  general  break  up  and  a  deluge.  3  o'clock. 
Cloudy,  hazy,  and  misting.  Our  sleighing  is  now  over,  and 
I  am  not  sorry. 

Thursday,  22. — Cloudy  and  still  thawing.     This  is  Wash- 

'  Son  of  Eohn'-tohn-deh,  generally  written  Eontondce,  who  died  November  17, 1843 
aged  68  years,  and  was  buried  in  Huron  Place  Cemetary.  Eohn'-tohn-deh  signifies 
"Warpole."     He  was  known  as  Warpole. 


February,  1S49.]  GOVERNOE   WALKER.  281 

ingtoa's  birthday.  A  ball  to  come  off  in  Kansas.  Hauled 
some  wood  in  the  mud.  L.  CofFman,  Esq.,  called  and  I 
rented  him  my  lot  in  Kansas  till  the  1st  of  September  next 
for  $10.00.  My  execrations  upon  John  Big-Sinew  for  not 
coming  according  to  promise  to  chop  for  me. 

Friday,  23. — Weather  ditto.  Thawing.  Foggy,  etc. 
Cloudy,  sometimes  clear,  warm.  All  the  little  ravines  in  a 
roar.  The  river  must  rise  and  no  doubt  but  the  "  Blue  is 
up,"  as  the  mail  carrier  says.  Smith  Nichols  and  John 
Monture  chopping. 

Saturday,  24. — Clear  morning.  "  Freezing  Point."  Last 
night  Miss  Peach  Blossom  gave  me  the  slip.  This  morning 
I  hunted  for  her  and  after  a  long  search  found  her,  she  hav- 
ing given  birth  to  a  splendid  young  bull. 

Wrote  again  to  Dr.  Latta  for  his  paper,  but  when  it  will 
go  is  hard  to  tell,  as  we  get  no  mail  these  days. 

Sunday,  25. — Thermometer  5°  below  "  Freezing  point." 
Cloudy.  The  ice  breaking  up  in  the  Missouri  and  Kansas 
Rivers.  Went  to  Church.  Came  home  and  after  dinner 
returned  and  heard  another  sermon  without  an  interpreter. 
Came  home  at  sunset.  J.  M.  A.  set  out  yesterday  to  Kick- 
apoo  to  regulate  the  Northern  Church  matters.  '^  He  is 
some."  A  second  Martin  Luther.  A  real  reformer.  Stul- 
tum  Stultorum. 

Monday,  26. — Thermometer  45°.  Cloudy.  Thawed  all 
night.  Warm  and  thawing.  Snow  nearly  all  gone.  Miss 
Huffacre  called  and  spent  the  day. 

Tuesday,  27.— Thermometer  45°.  Cloudy.  Warm  all 
day.  To-day  the  [ice  in  the]  Missouri  and  Kansas  [Rivers] 
broke  up  with  a  crash.  Attended  the  meeting  of  the  legis- 
lative committee.  Passed  the  general  appiopriation  bill. 
Came  home  in  company  with  James  Washington  and  George 
Armstrong. 

Wednesday,  28. — Sleet  again.    Thermometer  19°.  Cloudy; 


282 


THE  JOURNALS  OF 


[March,  1849. 


Went  to  town.     Got  my  cane  re- 


cold  and  cloudy  all  day 
paired  and  came  home. 

March,  1849. 

Thursday,   1. — Thermometer    18°    above 
Looks  like  snow. 

Presidential  Election  in  184-8. 

Cass.  Taylor. 

Arkansas 3 

Alabama 9 

Indiana 12 

Illinois 9 

Missouri 7 

Michigan 5 

Virginia 17 

Maine 9 

New  Hampshire 6 

Ohio 23 

South  Carolina 9 

Texas 4 

Mississippi 6 

Iowa 4 

Wisconsin 4 


'0."     Cloudy. 


Connecticut 6 

Delaware 3 

Kentucky 12 

Maryland 8 

New  York 36 

North  Carolina 11 

New  Jersey 7 

Pennsylvania 26 

Rhode  Island 4 

Tennessee 13 

Vermont 6 

Louisiana 6 

Florida 3 

Massachusetts 12 

Georgia 10 


127 


At  2  o'clock  P.  M.  we  have  sleet  again. 


163 
Oh,  sleet,  when 


are  we  to  get  rid  of  thee. 


Friday,  2. — At  daylight  snow  on  the  ground.  Cloudy. 
Thermometer  20°.  In  the  afternoon  M.  R.  W.  and  I  went 
up  to  see  G.  I.  C,  who  has  a  violent  attack  of  the  pneu- 
monia.    Cloudy  night. 

Saturday,  3. — Cloudy.  Thermometer  22°.  Sleet,  sleet. 
No  end  to  it.  To-day  closes  the  administration  of  James 
K.  Polk.     ''Sic  transit  gloria  mundi.''^ 


March,  1849.]  GOVERNOR  WALKER.  283 

1  o'clock,  rain  and  sleet.  Verily  March  has  "come  in 
like  a  lion  and  will  probably  go  out  like  the  devil" 

Went  to  town  and  called  upon  Dr.  H.  Staid  an  hour  and 
came  home. 

Sunday,  4. — Rain,  rain.  Bella  horrida!  This  day  the 
United  States  Republic  is  without  a  President.  But  what 
is  the  use  of  a  President  such  weather  as  this?  1  o'clock  P. 
M.  Rain.  Staid  at  home  all  day,  the  weather  being  too  in- 
clement to  venture  out  of  the  house.  8  o'clock  at  night. 
Raining.     So  we  go. 

Monday,  5. — My  birthday.  This  day  I  complete  my  48th 
year,  and  nimbly  step  into  my  forty-ninth.  To-day  Gen.  Z. 
Taylor  steps  nimbly  into  the  Presidential  chair.  "Glory 
enough  for  one  day." 

Tuesday,  6. — Thermometer  freezing  point.  At  9  o'clock 
the  day  cleared  up  and  the  sun  appeared.  Wrote  a  long 
letter  to  John  T.  Walker.  Went  to  town.  Sent  by  Theo- 
dore to  the  P.  O.  Came  home  at  half  past  2  P.  M.  At 
night  Theodore  returned  and  brought  my  mail,  a  real  pile 
of  newspapers,  with  a  letter  from  Hugh  Barrett.  Read  till 
a  late  hour  in  the  night.     Clear  and  moonlight  night. 

Wednesday,  7. — Frosty  morning.  Clear.  Warm  day. 
Perused  my  newspapers  and  staid  at  home  all  day.  Beau- 
tiful night.     The  moon  nearly  full. 

Thursday,  8. — Thermometer  "  freezing  "  point.  Cloudy. 
M"  W.  gone  to  see  G.  I.  C.  Raining.  M"  W.  returned. 
G.  I.  C.  not  getting  any  better.  M"  Robataille  died  this 
morning. 

Friday,  9. — Foggy  morning,  cloudy  and  warm.  Fin- 
ished a  letter  to  H.  Barrett  to  go  by  tomorrow's  mail. 
Went  to  town  and  learned  that  the  steamer  St.  Joseph  came 
up  yesterday,  but  owing  to  the  ice  not  being  broken  up 
above  here,  returned.  The  first  steamboat  up.  While  in 
town  the  "Amelia"  came  up.  To-day  M™  Robataille  was 
buried. 


284  THE   JOURNALS   OF  [March,  184&. 

Saturday,  10. — Cloudy,  warm,  and  foggy.  Prospect  of 
more  rain.  Went  to  town  and  staid  all  day.  The  Kansas 
River  still  rising.  The  Turkey  Creek  bridge  gone.^  Got 
no  mail.  The  "Maudan"  went  up  to-day.  Cloudy  all  day, 
but  no  rain.     The  California  fever  rages  on  the  Rialto. 

Sunday,  11. — Foggy  and  cloudy.  Warm,  prospect  of 
rain.  Went  to  Church.  The  northern  fanatics  have  stolen 
our  church  bible.^  I  hope  the  thieves  will  make  good  use 
of  it.  This  is,  I  suppose,  a  "  pious  fraud."  Wrote  to  Jesse 
Stern,  directing  him  to  take  the  necessary  steps  for  a  legal 
partition  of  the  Seneca  county  lands.  M'  Caloway  and  W. 
H.  Chick  called  on  us  to-day.  Sunset  clear.  At  night 
clear  and  starlight. 

Monday,  12. — Thermometer  3°  below  freezing  point. 
Clear  and  pleasant.  Beautiful  day.  Sent  to  the  P.  O.  by 
G.  D.  Williams,  but  got  nothing  but  a  Weekly  Dollar.  My 
execrations  upon  Cave  Johnston's  mail  contractors.  They 
have  ceased  carrying  the  mail  between  this  and  St.  Louis 
entirely. 

Tuesday,  13. — Cloudy  and  warm.  Prospect  of  rain  to- 
day. Went  to  work  and  hung  my  old  gate  which  had  bro- 
ken down.  The  noise  of  steamers  on  the  river.  One  half 
past  ten  o'clock  A.  M.,  rain.  Cleared  up  in  the  evening, 
but  in  a  little  while  distant  thunder  was  heard  and  it  be- 
came cloudy  again.  At  dark  rain  and  loud  thunder. 
Cleared  up  in  the  night. 

Wednesday,  14. — Clear  and  frosty  morning.  Prospect 
of  a  fine  day.     9  o'clock,  beautiful  day.     Clear  and  warm. 

'  Turkey  Creek,  a  stream  running  northeast  through  Shawnee  Township,  Wyandotte 
County,  Kansas,  now  empties  into  the  Kansas  Eiver  just  ahove  the  Stock  Yards.  It 
formerly  flowed  into  the  Missouri  River  just  below  Dold's  Packing  House.  The  road 
crossed  it  on  a  bridge  for  a  time,  and  afterwards  a  ferry-boat  was  used.  The  crossing 
was  at  the  mouth  of  the  creek,  as  the  road  ran  along  the  bank  of  the  Missouri  Eiver. 

"^  I  doubt  if  it  was  ever  known  who  stole  the  Bible.  These  troubles  continued  untU 
both  Churches  were  burned.  I  have  investigated  this  matter  until  I  know  absolutely 
who  burned  each  Church  building,  but  no  good  could  come  of  making  it  a  matter  of 
record  here. 


March,  1849]  GOVERNOR  WALKER.  285 

Spring  is  upon  us  in  all  its  beauties.  Felicitatus.  Went  to 
town.  Called  at  the  smithshop.  Dined  at  C.  G.'s.  Called 
at  J.  W.'s  and  got  some  turnips,  then  came  home.  Warm 
and  beautiful  day.     Clear  night,  chilly  and  cold. 

Thursday,  15. — Thermometer  "freezing"  point.  Some- 
what cloudy.  Warm  and  pleasant  day.  Hunted  for  my 
oxen  but  could  not  find  them.  The  old  rascals,  they  knew 
there  was  work  on  hands  and  "sloped." 

Upon  comparing  my  cranium  with  Dr.  Comb's  system  of 
phrenology,  I  cannot  find  a  single  valuable  "bump"  or  de- 
velopment, except  that  of  "benevolence."  Barring  this, 
my  cranium  is  no  better  than  a  Baboon's.  So  that  phre- 
nology has  laid  "  all  my  greatness  "  on  the  shelf,  and  now  I 
am  no  longer  "  some  in  a  bear  fight."  A  long  farewell  to 
all  my  greatness.  But  then  I  may  have  some  important 
bumps  elsewhere  that  might  boost  me  up  and  put  me  in  con- 
ceit of  myself  again.  Sent  to  the  P.  O.  for  my  mail  and  as 
usual  got  nothing. 

Friday,  16. — Light  frost.  Clear.  Hauled  some  wood  out 
of  the  corn  field.  Warm  day.  Nothing  strange  occurred. 
A  dull  monotonous  day.  Afflicted  with  ennui.  I  want  my 
mail! 

Saturday,  17. — Thermometer  "freezing"  point.  Cloudy 
and  windy.  M"  W.  went  to  Kansas.  I  went  to  town. 
Warm  pleasant  day.  Received  some  papers  from  M'  Gil- 
more.  M"  W.  returned  and  brought  me  a  bundle  of  news- 
papers, but  of  old  dates.  My  old  chum,  S.  P.  Chase,^ 
elected  to  the  U.  S.  Senate.  So  much  for  riding  the  aboli- 
tion "hobby." 

Sunday,  18. — Clear  frosty  morning.  Went  to  Church. 
A  fine  congregation.  An  appointment  for  worship  at  the 
school  house  at  3  o'clock  P.  M.  Pleasant,  clear,  and  beau- 
tiful day.     To-day  John  Porcupine  died,  but  of  what  cora- 

'  They  were  schoolmates. 


286  THE   JOURNALS   OF  [March,  1849. 

plaint  I  have  not  yet  learned.  He  was  sick  but  a  short 
time.  Attended  Church  in  the  afternoon.  A  good  congre- 
gation. 

Monday,  19. — Clear  and  warm  morning. 

Tuesday,  20.— Cloudy. 

Hiatus. 

Friday,  23. — Thomas  H.  Noble  raised  my  crib  and  shed. 
Warm  and  pleasant  day. 

Saturday,  24. — Put  on  the  roof  and  quit  for  the  day. 

Sunday,  25. — Frosty  morning.  Staid  at  home  all  day  and 
read.     Wind  from  the  north  all  day.     Chilly. 

Monday,  26. — Frosty  morning  but  clear.  Beautiful  day. 
Hung  up  my  bacon  to  dry  and  smoke.  Hauled  some  slabs 
and  firewood.  M"^  Bowman  commenced  boarding  [with  us] 
this  evening. 

Tuesday,  27. — Clear  and  pleasant  morning.  Worked  all 
day.  Moved  our  hen  house.  Repaired  our  spring,  and 
rested  thereon.     In  the  evening  a  moderate  rain. 

Wednesday,  28. — Cloudy  and  foggy.  Showery.  Went 
to  town  and  got  my  gun  repaired.  Planned  a  spring  house, 
that  is,  done  the  wind  work, 

Thursday,  29. — Cloudy  weather.  M""  Bowyer  working  the 
garden  and  I  doing  chores.  Just  heard  that  that  dreadful 
scourge,  the  Asiatic  cholera,  has  reached  Kansas.  Well,  hee-p 
cool,  hold  a  steady  hand.  Commenced  gardening  to-day. 
Planted  our  top  onions. 

Friday,  30. — Cloudy  morning,  but  no  rain.  Went  to 
town,  got  my  mail,  and  a  "public  document."  Warm  day. 
Cool  in  the  evening.  At  5  o'clock  P.  M.  Sophia  made  her 
appearance  in  company  with  M'  Stone  of  Independence. 

Saturday,  31. — Beautiful  morning.  Worked  in  the  gar- 
den. Planted  some  more  top  onions.  To-day  quarterly  meet- 
ting  commences.  I  went  to  Church  and  heard  a  sermon 
from  M'^  Stateler.     Warm  day. 


April,  1849.]  GOVERNOR  WALKER.  287 

April,  1849. 

Sunday,  1. — Sabbath  morn.  Fine  warm  day.  Went  to 
Church. 

Monday,  2. — Cloudy;  prospect  of  rain.  M'"  Stateler,  M' 
Flint,  a  Shawnee  preacher,  and  F.  A.  Hicks  called  and  staid 
awhile  in  social  chat.     Planted  some  more  onions.     Showery. 

Tuesday,  3. — Dark,  dark  and  rainy  morning.  Must  stay 
in  close  quarters.  But  it  is  all  for  the  best.  Vegetation 
needs  rain.  This  is  a  most  fertilizing  shower.  12  o'clock 
M.  Gloomy  day.  Ennui.  Blue  devils.  Rain,  clouds,  fog. 
I  want  my  mail.  Steamers  roaring  and  snorting  up  the 
river.  Nightfall.  Still  raining  and  the  wind  from  the 
north. 

Wednesday,  4. — Sun  obscured  by  clouds.  But  the  rain 
has  ceased.  8  o'clock,  cleared  up,  but  cool.  Prospect  of  a 
fair  and  pleasant  day.  Hauled  corn  and  in  the  evening 
hauled  some  wood  and  took  up  some  grapevines.  Clear 
night.     J.  Walker  returned  home. 

Thursday,  5. — Frosty  morning.  Resumed  hauling  corn, 
and  finished  at  12  o'clock.  Wrote  to  Jesse  Stern  again  upon 
the  subject  of  the  land  sale.  M"  W.  gone  to  Kansas. 
Cloudy.     Looks  like  rain.     Finished  hauling  corn. 

Friday,  6. — Cloudy  morning.  Went  to  town  and  called 
upon  J.  Walker  and  C.  Graham.  Came  home  and  went  to 
work.     M"  Chick  moved  over  to  the  parsonage. 

Saturday,  7. — Cloudy  and  cold,  but  no  frost.  Cut  some 
timber  for  a  trellis  work  for  grape  vines  in  the  garden. 
Cleared  up  my  little  meadow.  In  the  evening  it  rained  and 
continued  through  the  night. 

Sunday,  8. — This  day,  25  years  ago,  I  and  M"^  W.  were 
married.  A  quarter  of  a  century  has  rolled  around,  and 
still  it  seems  but  as  yesterday !  Wrote  a  letter  for  M"  Gra- 
ham to  her  brother  in  Kentucky.  Went  to  Church  as  all 
good  Christians  should  do. 


288  THE  JOURNALS  OF  [April,  i849. 

Monday,  9. — Raining.  At  11  o'clock,  cleared  up,  but 
windy.  Ground  drying  up.  Worked  at  the  trellis  frame. 
At  half  after  5,  a  beautiful  rainbow. 

Tuesday,  10. — After  a  windy  night,  we  have  a  cold  morn- 
ing, the  wind  from  the  north.  Thermometer,  "  freezing 
point."  Council  meets  to-day,  but  as  I  have  no  business 
there  I  will  stay  where  I  have  business — at  home.  Dr. 
Hewitt  returned  to-day  from  St.  Louis. 

Wednesday,  11. — Clear,  frosty  morning.  Having  what 
is  called  a  hoar  frost,  we  shall  have  a  beautiful  day.  Kan- 
sas full  of  California  adventurers.  Finished  our  lattice 
frame  and  raised  it.  Went  to  town.  Got  my  gardening 
implements  repaired.  The  flat  boat  going  to  Kansas  to- 
morrow.    Well,  I  must  go  too. 

Thursday,  12 — The  boat  cast  off  from  her  moorings  and 
away  we  went.  Landed  in  Kansas  amidst  a  drenching  rain. 
The  rain  continuing,  we  did  not  put  our  cargo  on  board. 
After  a  consultation,  we  concluded  to  defer  loading  till  the 
morrow.     Secured  our  boat. 

Friday,  13. — Loaded  up  and  commenced  cordelling  the 
boat  up  stream  against  a  heavy  current.  In  the  bustle  I 
was  tipped  "overboard"  and  after  a  desperate  struggle,  by 
the  aid  of  my  friends,  I  got  on  terra  firma  again,  and  re- 
turned to  town  and  doused  my  diluted  garments  and  put  on 
others  which  accorded  more  to  the  feelings  of  "flesh  and 
blood." 

Saturday,  14. — Remained  in  town,  feeling  unwell. 

Hiatii  . 

Thursday,  19. — Planted  some  early  potatoes  and  did  va- 
rious other  matters  about  my  premises. 

Friday,  20. — Warm  and  pleasant  day.  Our  "  Wyandott 
Mining  Company"  in  a  stir  making  preparation  for  their 
long  journey  to  California. 


jsAiAii  walkp:k. 


i 


May,  1849.]  GOVERNOR  WALKER.  289 

Saturday,  21. — Wrote  all  day  in  the  Agent's  office  and  at 
night  attended  a  California  meeting. 

Sunday,  22. — Cloudy  morning.  Prospect  of  rain.  Went 
to  Church.  One  half  the  congregation  being  Californians 
from  over  the  river. 

Monday,  23. — At  daylight,  raining.  Eained  till  11 
o'clock.  Then  cleared  off.  Hauled  some  wood.  At  night 
a  gang  of  our  neighbors,  bound  for  California,  called  upon 
us  and  spent  tUe  evening. 

Tuesday,  24. — Went  to  town  to  write  in  the  Agent's 
office,  but  the  Agent  was  absent.  Met  Usau.  Had  a  chat 
with  him.  He  is  destined  for  Santa  Fe.  Appointed  Wil- 
liam Linnville  my  substitute  to  represent  me  in  the  "  Wyan- 
dott  3Iining  Compaiiyy     Came  home  in  the  evening,  etc. 

Wednesday,  25. — Went  to  town  to  write  in  the  Agent's 
Office,  but  the  incumbent  had  other  business.  So  I  attended 
to  my  own.     Went — 

Thursday,  26. — Asiatic  cholera  broke  out  in  K.  Isaac 
McCoy ^  departed  this  life  to-day. 

Friday,  27. — Alarm  pervades  the  country.  Came  home 
to  enjoy  the  rural  atmosphere  and  keep  out  of  the  haunts  of 
this  horrid  disease. 

Saturday,  28. — Inflammation  in  my  left  eye. 

Sunday,  29. — My  eye  painful.     Kept  my  bed  all  day. 

Monday,  30. — No  better.     Michael  Frost  came  to  work. 

May,  1849. 

Tuesday,  1. — Cold  and  cloudy  day.  In  the  evening, 
rained,  with  thunder  and  lightning. 

Wednesday,  2 — Clear  and  windy.  Heard  of  the  death  of 
M*"  Bigerstaff,  druggist. 

'  He  was  a  surveyor  and  had  been  a  missionary  to  the  Indians.  He  built  the  first 
house  erected  for  a  permanent  residence  in  what  is  now  Wyandotte  County,  Kansas.  It 
was  built  near  Edwardsville.  Mr.  McCoy,  it  is  said,  was  the  first  to  propose  moving 
Eastern  Indians  to  what  is  now  Kansas.  He  laid  off  and  surveyed  the  lands  assigned 
to  most  of  the  tribes.  He  died  in  Kansas  City,  Mo.,  where  his  descendants  still  live. 
20 


290  THE  JOURNALS  OF  [May,  184&. 

Thursday,  3. — Eain  all  day.  Cholera  abating  in  Kansas. 
Judge  Chaffee  of  Upper  Sandusky  landed,  on  his  way  to  the 
"Digging."     I  am  suffering  the  horrors  of  blindness. 

Friday,  4. — Kain  last  night,  and  raining  this  morning. 
Sent  T.  F.  Garrett  to  K.  for  our  mail,  but  got  none.  J. 
Chaffee  called  upon  us. 

Hiatus. 

Thursday,  31. — This  day  the  "Wyandott  Mining  Com- 
pany" set  out  for  California.  The  following  are  the  names 
of  those  that  set  out:  I.  P.  Walker,^  Capt.  Theo.  F.  Gar- 
rett, William  Bowers,  William  Lynville,  Ira  Hunter,  Matt- 
hew Brown,  C.  B.  Garrett,  Philip  Brown,  Adam  Hunt,  E,.. 
Palmer,  Bussell  Garrett;  E.  B.  Hand,  physician. 

June,  1849. 

Friday,  1. — Showery,  unsettled  weather.  Mike  finished 
ploughing. 

Saturday,  2. — Clear  and  pleasant.  Had  custard  for  din- 
ner, which  was  very  ^^  delicious  to  our  taster 

Sunday,  3. — Clear  and  excessively  warm.  About  noon 
the  mercury  stood  at  91.  In  the  evening  heard  of  the  death 
of  Miss  Huffaker.  The  Missouri  is  very  high  and  is  still  on 
the  rise.  Fair  prospect  for  another  overflow,  so  the  poor 
French  will  have  to  desert  their  homes  in  the  bottom.'"^ 

Monday,  4, — Very  warm.  The  flat-boat  went  down  to 
Kansas  to-day  and  we  sent  for  some  bacon. 

Tuesday,  5. — Warm,  cloudy,  and  raining. 

Wednesday,  6. — Warm  and  rainy  day.  Heard  of  two 
cases  of  cholera  on  this  side.  Nothing  of  importance 
transpiring.     Dull  times,  very  dull. 

Thursday,  7. — In  the  morning  clear  and  warm.  In  the 
evening  clouded  up;  prospect  of  another  shower.     Mail  day,, 

'  Governor  Walker  made  a  mistake  here;  he  omitted  to  write  I.  P.  Long. 
*  Along  Turkey  Creek,  on  the  banks  of  the  Missouri  Eiver. 


June,  1849.]  GOVERNOE  WALKER.  291 

but  as  usual,  had  no  chance  of  sending  for  our  share  in  the 
mail  bags. 

Friday,  8. — Showery  all  day.     No  mail  as  yet. 

Saturday,  9. — Clear  and  warm. 

Sunday,  10. — Showery  and  warm.  In  the  evening,  had 
company.  M""  Gilraore,  Miss  Twyman,  M''  Stone  and  M"" 
Porter. 

Monday,  11. — In  the  morning,  had  quite  a  shower  with 
quite  a  high  wind.  In  the  evening  cleared  off.  Got  our 
mail.     Dr.  Waldo  called  and  staid  all  night. 

Tuesday,  12. — Clear  all  day,  for  a  wonder. 

Wednesday,  13. — Showery.     Got  one  quilt  out. 

Hiatus. 

Monday,  18. — Planted  our  corn. 

Tuesday,  19. — Planted  the  fall  potatoes. 

Wednesday,  20. — Warm.  Dr.  H.  called  and  staid  an 
hour. 

Thursday,  21. — Hiatus. 

Friday,  22. — Major  Cummins  arrived  with  the  Wyandott 
annuity  and  staid  all  night  with  us! 

Saturday,  23. — Cloudy,  prospect  of  rain.  Major  Cummins 
paid  the  annuity. 

Sunday,  24 — Rained  in  the  forenoon. 

Heard  of  the  death  of  Joseph  Chaffee,  who  died  on  the 
23rd  of  May  last. 

Monday,  25. — Staid  at  home  all  day.     Rain. 

Tuesday,  26. — Went  to  town;  rain.  Heard  of  the  death 
of  J.  K.  Polk. 

Wednesday,  27. — Staid  at  home.     Warm.     Rain  as  usual. 

Thursday,  28.— M'^  W.  went  to  K.  The  P.  M.  said  there 
was  no  mail.     He  lied,  the  rascal. 

Friday,  29. — Foggy  morning.  Cloudy;  more  rain  to-day. 
Wrote  to  the  "Wyandott  Tribune,"  announcing  J.  Chaffee's 
death.     Thunder  and  lightning.    More  rain. 


292  THE   JOURNALS   OF  [June,  1849. 

Saturday,  30. — Saddled  up  my  horse  and  went  to  town, 
intending  to  go  to  Major  Cummins',  but  gave  it  up  and  re- 
turned home.  Warm  day.  M""  Gilmore  came  and  staid  all 
night. 

July,  1849. 

Sunday,  1. — Staid  at  home  and  read  and  wrote.  Foggy 
morning. 

Monday,  2. — Went  to  town.  Came  home.  Then  went  to 
John  Lewis's. 

Tuesday,  3. — Cloudy;  prospect  of  rain.  Rained  from  7 
to  10  o'clock. 

Wednesday,  4. — Rained  all  night.  At  daylight,  raining 
furiously.  What  a  day  for  a  celebration!  Rain,  rain. 
Cholera  broke  out  afresh  this  week  in  Kansas.  Eight  deaths 
within  this  week  and  it  is  reported  to  be  raging  with  violence 
in  St.  Louis.     Rain,  rain. 

Thursday,  5. — Cloudy  and  foggy.  Feel  quite  unwell. 
Rain,  rain. 

Friday,  6. — Clear  and  beautiful  morning.  Bathed  and 
took  my  morning  walk. 

Saturday,  7. — Tho.  Moseley,  lately  appointed  Wyandott 
sub-agent,  arrived  last  evening.  I  went  down  to  see  him 
and  spent  the  day  with  him.  Rain  again.  Rain,  rain. 
Came  home. 

Sunday,  8. — At  daylight,  rain,  rain.  At  6  o'clock,  an 
horrible  tempest  with  wind  and  rain.  This  being  Quarterly 
Meeting,  I  went  to  Church  and  heard  a  sermon  by  L.  B.  S. 

Monday,  9. — At  11  o'clock,  the  rain  held  up.  Oh  for 
clear  weather  once  more!  Zachariah  Long-House  died  last 
Friday  night  of  Cholera. 

Tuesday,  10. — Went  in  company  with  Major  Moseley  to 
pay  a  visit  to  Major  Cummins.     Staid  all  night. 

Wednesday,  11. — Came  home.  Warm,  warm.  Attended 
Council.     M""  Moseley  reported  himself  to  the  Council. 


July,  1849.]  GOVERNOE  WALKER.  293 

Thursday,  12. — ]Made  the  transfer  of  the  effects  of  the 
sub-agency. 

Friday,  13. — Went  to  town.  A  thunder  storm.  Came 
home  and  attended  a  caucus  at  the  Church,  at  night. 

Saturday,  14. — Cloudy  all  day.  Have  caught  a  violent 
cold.  Am  sick!  Dr.  Still  holding  his  fanatical  Quarterly 
Meeting. 

Sunday,  15. — The  sun  rose  hot  and  sultry.  I  am  sick. 
Taking  medicine.  Dr.  Hewitt  moved  to-day  from  the 
Wyandott  Territory  to  give  place  to  his  successor.  Sic 
transit  gloria  mundi. 

Monday,  16 — Cloudy  and  cool.  Staid  at  home.  Major 
Moseley,  the  new  Sub-Agent  spent  the  day  with  us  and 
staid  all  night. 

Tuesday,  17. — Went  to  the  National  Convention  to  nomi- 
nate candidates  for  the  Council,  and  [it]  resulted  thus: 
J.  Washington,  majority,  5. 
J.  T.  Charloe,  "         2,  Abolitionist. 

D.  Young,  "         3, 

J.  Van  Meter,  "         1, 

Adjourned.     Came  home. 

Wednesday,  18. — Jacob  Charloe  commenced  ploughing 
my  corn.     Went  to  town.     Rain,  rain. 

Thursday,  19. — Cloudy.  Jacob  resumed  his  work.  Kain, 
rain.     Oh !  when  is  our  rainy  season  to  end. 

Friday,  20. — Cloudy  as  usual.  Went  to  town.  Wrote  to 
L.  Smalley.  Dr.  Ridge  called  and  spent  the  afternoon. 
Rain  rather  light  to-day. 

Saturday,  21 — Cloudy.  I  fear  we  shall  have  the  old  song 
"  Rain,  rain."     Clear  all  day  for  a  wonder. 

Clear  and  prospect  of  a  warm  day.  For  the  first  time  for 
nearly  three  months  we  had  one  clear  day. 

Sunday,  22. — Rain,  rain.     Remained  cloudy  all  day. 


294  THE  JOURNALS  OF  [July,  1849. 

Monday,  23. — At  daylight  raining.  At  sunrise  cloudy. 
Wrote  to  the  W.  Mining  Co.     E-ain,  rain. 

Tuesday,  24. — Rain,  rain.  Wrote  the  Collard  Letter.  At 
2  o'clock,  weather  cleared  up.     The  sun  set  clear. 

Wednesday,  25. — Cloudy,  and  probably  more  rain.  No 
rain  to-day  for  a  wonder.     Warm. 

Thursday,  26. — Went  to  Kansas.  Rain,  rain.  Came 
home  in  the  evening. 

Friday,  27. — Rain,  rain.  Finished  J.  W.'s  Communica- 
tion to  the  Secretary  of  the  Interior.  At  noon  the  weather 
cleared  up. 

Saturday,  28. — Clear  for  a  wonder.  Attended  a  special 
election  of  ferryman,  vice  D.  Young,  resigned ;  and  George 
Steel  was  elected. 

Sunday,  29. — Warm,  dry,  and  clear  till  the  middle  of  the 
day,  then  rain,  rain.     So  we  go. 

Monday,  30. — Foggy  and  chilly.  At  9  o'clock  it  cleared 
up,  and  [there  is]  a  fair  prospect  of  a  clear  day.  M"  W. 
and  Sophia  went  to  K. 

The  difference.  A  passionate  and  hasty  person  is  gener- 
ally honest.  It  is  your  cool,  dissembling  hypocrite  of  whom 
you  should  beware.  There  is  no  deceit  about  a  bulldog.  It's 
the  sneaking  cur  that  bites  you  when  your  back  is  turned. 
Beware  I  say  of  him  who  has  cant  in  his  Phiz.  He's  the 
rascal. 

Jacob  Charloe  resumed  working  in  the  corn  field.  Clear 
all  day. 

Tuesday,  31. — Foggy  morning  at  sunrise.  Wrote  to  D. 
D.  Mitchell,  Superintendent  of  Indian  Affairs,  upon  the 
subject  of  J.  T.  Walker's  money.  Cleuned  out  and  pruned 
my  fruit  trees  in  my  garden.  Went  to  town.  Met  with 
Dr.  Hewitt.     Clear  and  pleasant  all  day. 


August,  1849.]  GOVERNOR  WALKER.  295 

August,  1849. 

Wednesday,  1. — Cloudy  at  sunrise  and  quite  cold.  It 
was  clear  all  day.  Went  to  town  to  attend  a  meeting  of  a 
political  character,  but  not  many  attending,  it  was  ad- 
journed. 

Thursday,  2. — Clear  and  cool.  Heavy  dew.  10  o'clock, 
roasting  hot.  Mail  day  but  [I]  can't  go  for  ray  share  of  it. 
Kode  up  in  the  country  and  bought  a  cow  of  Geo.  D.  Will- 
iams at  $13.00. 

Friday,  3. — This  day  the  President  of  the  U.  S.  has 
recommended  to  be  observed  as  a  day  of  fasting,  humilia- 
tion and  prayer,  in  view  of  the  destructive  ravages  of  the 
Cholera^  in  our  land.  Came  home  and  dined.  In  the  even- 
ing, Kev.  E.  T.  Peerey  called  and  spent  the  evening.  Glad 
to  see  him. 

Saturday,  4. — Mailed  a  letter  for  Branch,  Michigan. 
Warm.  Thermometer  94°.  Delaware  camp  meeting  go- 
ing on. 

Sunday,  5. — Rain,  rain.  No  meeting  to-day.  Cleared 
up,  and  warm. 

Monday,  6. — At  daylight,  rain,  rain.  Finished  a  letter 
to  M""  McKnight.  Cloudy  all  day,  but  sultry.  My  hands 
did  not  come.     Just  as  I  expected.     My  curses  upon  them. 

Tuesday,  7  — Cloudy  and  cool.  Pleasant  day.  Went  to 
town.     Dined  with  M""^  H.     Eain  at  night. 

Wednesday,  8. — Fine  day.  Attended  a  political  meeting 
at  the  schoolhouse.  Polled  the  voters  of  the  Nation.  We 
shall  re-elect  the  old  Board  of  Chiefs.  Wrote  a  Com.  for 
the  "Wyandott  Tribune." 

Thursday,  9. — Clear  and  fine  morning.  Went  to  Kansas. 
Got  my  mail.     Hired  Noah  Zane  to  work  a  few  days. 

Friday,    10. — J.    Coon,   Jr.,    killed    by    Bob   Cherokee. 

>  It  swept  over  the  country  about  the  mouth  of  the  Kansas  River  every  year. 


296  THE   JOURNALS    OF  [August,  1849. 

Noah  and  I  sowed  our  Turnips.    Hot  day.     Bargained  with 
Peter  Ballanger  for  a  job  of  clearing,  $18.00. 

Saturday,  11. — Cloudy.  Clearing  up.  Warm  day  again. 
Warm  and  sultry  day,  too  warm  to  work  were  I  even  in- 
clined.    So  "  I  laid  by." 

Sunday,  12. — Clear  and  warm.  The  dog  star  rages. 
Went  to  Church.  J.  T.  Peerey  held  forth.  Thermometer 
100°!  At  six  o'clock  P.  M.  it  became  very  cloudy.  At  7, 
rain,  and  rained  all  night.     6  A.  M.,  raining  still. 

Monday,  13. — Cleared  up  at  12.  Warm  and  sultry.  At- 
tended the  Council. 

Tuesday,    14. — Pleasant    day.      Election    to-day.      The 
struggle  is  over  and  resulted  in  the  election  of 
James  Washington,  Southern. 
J.  D.  Brown, 
G.  I.  Clark,  Abolitionist. 
M.  Mudeater. 

So  we  have  beaten  the  Abolition  Party.  So  they  may 
rest  easy  now. 

Wednesday,  15. — Rain,  rain.  So  we  go,  no  end  to  rain. 
So  we  have  no  ^^  Green  Corn  FeasV^  this  year  on  account  of 
the  alarm  created  by  the  ravages  of  the  Cholera.  But  per- 
haps it's  best.  Cloudy  all  day.  Unsettled  weather.  Sun 
set  clear. 

Thursday,  16. — Damp  and  foggy  morning.  Went  to 
Kansas ;  bought  some  provisions  for  my  work  hands.  Pe- 
ter Ballanger  and  Francois  Tremble  came  to  work  on  their 
job  of  clearing.     Noah  Zane  commenced  cutting  the  grass. 

Friday,  17. — Cut  and  wind-rowed  the  hay.  Hot  day. 
Thermometer  100°.  Tremble  and  Ballanger  working  at 
their  job.     Laid  off  my  flannel  to-night. 

Saturday,  18. — N.  Zane  and  I  hauled  in  my  hay  and  put 
it  up  in  the  stable  loft.  Thermometer  98°.  Tho.  H.  Noble 
called  and  took  dinner. 


September,  1849.]  GOVERNOR   WALKER.  297 

Sunday,  19. — Rain,  rain.  Cool.  8  o'clock,  clearing  up. 
Cloudy  all  day,  slightly,  and  occasionally  a  sprinkle  of 
rain. 

Monday,  20. — Cold,  damp  and  foggy  morning.  If  a 
clear  and  pleasant  day,  I  must  go  to  Kansas. 

Hiatus. 

Friday,  31. — J.  T.  Peerey  moved  away,  and  Rev.  IVr  Rus- 
sell took  his  place. 

September,  1849. 

Saturday,  1. — Staid  about  home  and  read  all  day. 

Sunday,  2. — Warm  but  pleasant.  Had  M""  Norton  and 
M""  Mullikan  to  dinner.     Went  to  Church  in  the  evening. 

Monday,  3. — Cloudy  day.     Staid  at  home  all  day. 

Tuesday,  4. — Ditto,  ditto. 

Wednesday,  5. — Cloudy  and  a  little  rain.  M"  W.  and 
Sophia  went  to  K.,  notwithstanding. 

Thursday,  6. — To-day  the  Wyandott  camp  meeting  com- 
mences under  favorable  auspices,  the  weather  being  clear 
and  cool. 

Friday,  7.— Went  in  company  with  M"  W.  to  Kansas 
and  called  upon  Dr.  Hewitt  and  dined.  Bo't  various  neces- 
sary family  articles  and  came  home  in  the  evening. 

Saturday,  8. — Cold  morning,  but  no  frost.  Went  to  the 
camp  ground  and  heard  a  sermon  from  Rev.  Thomas  John- 
son, decidedly  the  best  Indian  preacher  I  ever  heard. 
Rainy  night. 

Sunday,  9. — Raining,  pouring  down  in  torrents.  At  9 
o'clock  it  cleared  up.  Warm.  Went  to  camp  meeting. 
Heard  a  sermon  from  M""  Johnston,  then  one  from  J.  T. 
Peerey  and  another  from  M""  Scarritt.     M'^  W.  sick. 

Monday,  10. — Clear  and  beautiful  morning.  Pleasant  all 
day.     M"  W.  continues  sick.     Taking  medicines. 


298  JOURNALS  OF  GOVERNOR  WALKER.     [Sept.,  i849. 

Tuesday,  11. — Clear  and  beautiful  morning.  M""^  W. 
better.  Went  to  K.  to  get  some  stoves.  M""  G.  arrived  to 
pay  a  visit. 

Wednesday,  12. — Beautiful  morning.  Fall  weather.  Miss 
Matilda  Chick  arrived. 

Thursday,  13. — Warm  day.     Went  to  K.  for  my  mail. 

Friday,  14. — Warm.     Thermometer  95°. 

Saturday,  15. — Cut  my  knee  with  an  axe. 

Sunday,  16. — Staid  at  home.     Warm  day. 

Monday,  17. — Preparing  for  a  party.     Busy  all  day. 

Tuesday,  18.— At  half  past  3  o'clock  P.  M.,  William  Gil- 
more  of  Independence  and  Martha  R.  Walker  were  married. 

Wednesday,  19. — The  wedding  party  set  out  for  Inde- 
pendence.    Went  to  Kansas.     Come  home  in  the  evening. 

Thursday,  20. — Cloudy  all  day.  Bode  out  to  town  and 
country.     Came  home  and  staid  at  home. 

Friday,  21. — Cloudy.  W.  C.  Graham  paid  us  a  visit. 
Warm  afternoon.  Thermometer  95°.  A  shower  in  the 
night. 

Saturday,  22. — Clear  and  beautiful  morning. 

So  ends  my  poor  Journal,  this  the  22d  day  of  September, 
A.  D.,  1849.  It  is  a  brief  record  of  my  unimportant  do- 
ings, showing  dimly  how  I  have  spent  my  time. 

W.  Walker. 


THE  JOURNALS 


WILLIAM    WALKER 


PROVISIONAL  GOVERNOR 


NEBRASKA  TERRITORY 


SECOND  BOOK 

From  September  ^S,  1849,  to  June  25,  1854 


FROM  THE  ORIGINAL  MANUSCRIPT  IN  THE  COLLECTION  OP 

WILLIAM  E.  0ONE"ELLEY 


(299) 


THE 

JOURNALS  OF  WILLIAM  WALKER 

Provisional  Governor  of  Nebraska  Territory. 


SECOND  BOOK.i 

From  September  22,  1849,  to  June  25,  1854. 


November,  1849. 
Diary — Hiatus  from  September  22,  1849,  till 
Friday,  30. — This  day  I  received  the  book  on  which  I  am 
now  writing,  which  was  kindly  sent  to  me  by  Brother  Joel 
from  St.  Louis.     Rev.  Thomas  A.  Green  from  Ohio  arrived 
here  on  the  20th  inst.,  who  is  traveling  for  his  health. 

December,  1849. 

Saturday,  1. — M""  Green  set  out  with  Rev.  B.  H.  Russel 
to  Platte. 

Sunday,  2. — Went  to  Kansas.  A  "Bogus"  manufacturer 
[was]  arrested  having  |78.  of  the  coin  in  his  possession. 
He  was  acquitted  as  such  characters  generally  are,  and  es- 
caped unwhipt. 

Wednesday,  12. — Rented  my  Store  House  to  a  M""  French 
of  Independence,  at  fl2.  pr  month.  Possession  to  be  given 
when  certain  repairs  are  made. 

Thursday,  13. — Made  arrangements  for  the  repairs  and 

'  On  account  of  lack  of  space  in  this  volume,  it  was  necessary  to  omit  very  much 
from  the  second  book  of  Governor  Walker's  Journals. 

(301) 


302  THE   JOURNALS   OF  [December,  1849. 

came  home.  But  the  infamous  villain  and  his  more  infa- 
mous tool,  Ross,  swindled  me  out  of  the  rent. 

Thursday,  20. — Went  to  attend  a  special  session  of  the 
Council. 

Sunday  23. — Went  to  church.  Sermon  by  Mr.  Stateler. 
He  and  his  lady  with  M"^  Scarritt  came  home  with  us  and 
dined. 

Monday,  24. — Employed  John  Big-Sinew  and  his  cousin 
to  cut  wood.  Issued  License  for  the  marriage  of  Samuel 
Big-Sinew  to  a  Miss  Clarrissa  Carpenter.^ 

January,  1850. 

Wednesday,  23. — Hauled  wood  all  day  and  at  night  went 
to  Capt.  Bullhead's.^     Came  home  in  the  rain. 

Monday,  28. — Attended  a  night  session  of  the  Council 

'  The  following  is  a  copy  of  the  license,  together  with  the  return  of  the  minister 
endorsed  thereon.     I  obtained  the  original  in  the  Indian  Territory : 

"Wyandott  Teeeitory  Dec  24,  1849. 
"Permission  is  hereby  granted  to  any  clergyman,  magistrate  or  any  person  duly 
authorized  to  solemnize  the  rites  of  matrimony,  to  unite  by  marriage  Sanuel  Bigsinew 
to  Clarissa  Carpenter  and  due  return  make  of  the  same  to  this  oflSce  within  thirty  days- 
Given  under  my  hand  and  seal  day  and  date  above  written. 

(Signed)  "Wm.  Walkee, 

"Clerk  to  the  Council,  pro  tern. 
"This  is  to  Certify  that  I  joined  together  in  matrimony  Mr.  Samuel  Bigsinew  and 
Miss  Clarissa  Carpenter  at  the  home  of  Isaac  Zane  on  the  25th  of  Dec  1849 

(Signed)  "B.  H.  Eussell 

"Minister  of  the  Gospel 
"Eeturned  for  Eecord  Dec  26  1849" 

*  Captain  Bull-Head  belonged  to  the  Porcupine  Clan  of  the  Wyandots.  He  had  two 
Wyandot  names.  The  first  was  Ohn-dooh'-tooh,  the  meaning  of  which  is  lost.  The 
second  was  Stih-yeh'-stah,  and  means  "  carrying  bark,"  that  is,  as  the  porcupine  carries 
in  his  mouth  the  bark  which  he  strips  from  the  northern  hemlock  for  his  food.  Cap- 
tain Bull-Head  was  spoken  of  as  the  only  full-blood  Wyandot  that  came  West  with  the 
tribe,  but  he  was  not  a  full-blood.  He  was  of  the  purest  blood  of  any  of  the  tribe,  but 
he  was  part  French.  There  was  not  a  single  full-blood  in  the  Wyandot  Nation  in  the 
West.  The  last  full-blood  Wyandot  died  in  Canada  about  the  year  1820.  His  name  was 
Yah-nyah'  -meh-deh. 

Captain  Bull-Head  was  a  taciturn,  morose  man.  He  served  in  the  British  army  in 
the  war  of  1812.  He  carried  with  him  always  a  peculiar  knife  with  a  blade  about  four 
inches  wide  and  twelve  or  fifteen  inches  long.  This  knife  he  carried  in  a  brass  scabbard 
which  was  swung  over  his  right  shoulder  and  under  his  left  arm  by  a  brass  chain.  H© 
was  a  man  of  great  intelligence  and  well  informed  in  the  history  and  traditions  of  his 
people.  Governor  Walker  often  consulted  him  on  these  subjects.  He  died  in  Wyan- 
dotte County,  Kansas. 


February,  1850.]  GOVERNOR   WALKER.  30B 

and  made  the  necessary  preparation  for  the  National  Conven- 
tion which  was  to  meet  the  next  day. 

Tuesday,  29. — ^The  National  Convention  met  and  I  was 
requested  to  act  as  Chairman.  The  Laws  enacted  by  the 
Legislative  Committtee  were  proclaimed — the  appropriation 
bill  for  this  year  was  reported.  The  question  of  our  emigra- 
tion to  Min[n]esota^  was  submitted  and  after  a  warm  discus- 
sion the  vote  was  taken  and  resulted,  for  emigration  5  votes. 
Against,  72.  The  question  of  dissolving  the  fund  from 
which  we  draw  our  annuity  was  next  submitted  and  warmly 
debated  till  sun  set,  when,  on  motion  of  Esq.  Gray  Eyes  it 
was  postponed  till  next  Tuesday.     The  convention  adj'd. 

February,  1850. 

Friday,  8. — Clear  and  frosty  morning.  A  warm  spring 
day.  Wrote  to  J.  Walker.  Attended  the  special  session  of 
the  Council.  Discharged  Geo.  Coke  from  Jail,  [he]  having 
served  out  his  twelve  months  imprisonment.  The  Council 
addressed  a  com°  to  the  Deputation  at  Washington.  After 
doing  up  sundry  things,  adjourned.  I  came  home  "  an  hun- 
gered "  and  dined. 

Friday,  22. — Clear  and  cold  morning.  M"  W.  went  to 
K.     M'  H.  M.  Northrup^  called  to-day.      He  reports  that 

*  The  Wyandots  had  an  extensive  and  intimate  acquaintance  with  the  Northern 
tribes  and  this  made  some  of  the  tribe  wish  to  go  North.  The  discussion  of  the  pos- 
sibility of  their  going  to  Minnesota  did  not  cease  until  after  Tauromee  secured  the 
present  Eeservation  from  the  Senecas  in  the  Indian  Territory. 

^  Hiram  Milton  Northrup,  only  son  of  Andrus  Bishop  and  Martha  (McHenry)  North- 
rup,  was  born  in  Olean,  Cattaraugus  County,  New  York,  June  4,  1818.  He  was  a  man 
of  energy  and  enterprise.  His  first  work  towards  self-support  was  as  a  clerk  in  a  store- 
then  he  taught  a  district  school.  He  went  to  Cincinnati,  Ohio,  and  engaged  in  boat; 
building.  From  there  he  went  to  some  point  in  Alabama  and  engaged  in  the  mercan- 
tile business,  and  failed.  From  Alabama  he  came  to  Westport,  Mo.,  and  engaged  in  the 
Santa  Fe  trade,  and  was  successful.  Here  he  became  acquainted  with  the  Wyandots. 
He  paid  court  "with  matrimonial  intentions"  to  one  of  their  best  looking  girls,  Mar- 
garet Clark,  daughter  of  Thomas  Clark,  who  was  the  brother  of  George  I.  Clark,  and  a 
grandson  of  Chief  Adam  Brown.  Miss  Clark  could  speak  but  little  English  and  the 
courtship  had  to  be  carried  on  by  aid  of  interpreters,  and  old  Wyandots  relate  many 
amusing  incidents  connected  with  it.  Tliey  were  married  at  the  Methodist  Church  on 
the  banks  of  Jersey  Creek,  November  27,  1845.    Mr.  Northrup's  business  increased.    He 


304  THE   JOURNALS   OF  [February,  1850. 

great  preparations  are  making  at  the  "  Dutch  E-eformed 
Church," — i.  e.,  the  "Union  Hotel  "  to  celebrate  the  advent 
of  the  father  of  his  country,  by  a  *  Birth  night  Ball.'  "  Vive 
la  Bagatelle/" 

Saturday,  23, — Ah!  pauv7'e  mol !  I  am  again  visited  with 
that  pest  of  this  country,  sore  eyes.  It  is  nearly  a  year  ago 
since  I  was  first  attacked,  and  [I]  was  blind  for  three  months 
and  recovered,  and  now  here  I  have  it  again  in  full  fruition. 

Monday,  25. — Beautiful  spring  morning.  Went  to  town 
and  staid  till  evening.  Transacted  some  public  business. 
Proved  that  the  United  States  stole  James  Big-Tree's  horse. 

Tuesday,  26. — We  have  heard  of  the  finale  of  the  great 
Birth-night  Ball  at  the  "  Dutch  Eeformed  Church."  It  ap- 
pears to  have  been  a  failure.  The  Ladies  having  taken  um- 
brage at  the  ungallant  conduct  of  the  Managers,  refused  to 
honor  them  with  their  presence.  Thereupon,  the  Landlord 
and  Managers  got  drunk — most  royally  so,  in  order  to  be 
avenged  on  the  refractory  ladies.  The  Landlord  to  show  his 
indignation,  made  a  perfect  mash  of  the  supper  table  and  all 
the  good  things  that  were  placed  thereon.  YjWQh  ihQ  ^'Saur 
Kraut^'  was  not  spared.     It  is  supposed  the  dapper  Land- 

had  a  partner  and  the  firm  was  Northrup  &  Chick.  Joel  Walker  was  associated  with 
Northrup  &  Chick  for  some  time,  and  the  firm  was  Walker,  Northrup  &  Chick.  Northrup 
&  Chick  went  to  New  York  and  established  a  banking  house,  which  was  prosperous 
until  the  panic  of  1873,  when  it  failed.  Mr.  Northrup  returned  to  Wyandotte,  Kansas,  and 
established  the  banking  house  of  Northrup  &  Son.  The  large  tract  of  land  allotted  to 
Mr.  Northrup  by  the  Wyandots  was  in  the  heart  of  what  is  now  Kansas  City,  Kansas, 
and  its  increase  in  value  caused  by  the  growth  of  Kansas  City,  made  him  more  than  a 
millionaire.  He  died  Slarch  22,  1893.  The  panic  of  that  year  caused  the  failure  of  his 
bank  and  this  involved  his  estate,  and  much  litigation  followed  which  almost  con- 
sumed the  great  estate  he  left.  He  was  a  kind-hearted  and  charitable  man  and  gave 
away  thousands  of  dollars  to  help  the  poor,  especially  poor  Wyandots.  He  was  utterly 
incapable  of  resisting  any  reasonable  appeal  of  a  charity  that  had  merit.  He  was  one  of 
the  founders  of  Kansas  City,  Mo.,  and  her  great  commerce  has  its  foundations  in  his 
efforts.  He  was  a  pioueer,  merchant,  trader,  and  banker.  His  history  is  the  history 
of  the  success  of  Kansas  City,  which,  as  a  great  mart,  includes  all  the  cities  about  the 
mouth  of  the  Kansas  Eiver. 

Of  his  marriage  to  Margaret  Clark  (who  was  born  August  28,  1828,  and  died  June 
28,  18S7)  were  born:  1.  Milton,  born  October  5, 1846;  2.  Andrus  Bishop,  born  April  27, 
1849,  died  January  7,  1892;  3.  Thomas  Clark,  born  December  27,  1851,  died  October  10, 
1876;  4.  McHenry,  born  November  5,  1854,  died  December  1,  1857. 


MATTHEW  R.   WALKEK. 


March,  1850.]  GOVERNOR  WALKER.  305 

lady,  was  "  brimful  of  wrath  and  cabbage  "  at  the  conduct 
of  her  hopeful  husband,  boxed  his  ears  and  sent  him  to  bed. 

March,  1850. 

Thursday,  7. — Clear,  frosty  morning.     "Warm  day. 

I  am  anxious  to  get  my  mail;  but  what  good  will  it  do  me 
when  I  am  so  nearly  blind  as  to  be  unable  to  read?^ 

Tuesday,  12. — We  had  a  fair  specimen  of  a  Missouri 
squall  last  night. 

"The  wind  blew  as  'twad  blawn  her  last; 
The  rattling  show'rs  rose  on  the  blast  ; 
The  speedy  gleams  the  darkness  swallow'd. 
Load,  deep  and  long  the  thunder  bellow'd; 
That  night,  a  child  might  understand, 
The  de'il  bad  business  on  his  hand." 

Cloudy,  but  pleasant.  To-day  the  Council  meets  to  at- 
tend to  the  important  affairs  of  State. 

Came  home  from  the  Council  after  dark,  hungry  and  fa- 
tigued, after  having  disposed  of  various  important  State 
affairs,  and  sent  a  fellow  to  the  Calaboose  for  24  hours  for 
disturbing  a  religious  meeting. 

Wednesday,  13. — High  winds  all  night.  Bright  and 
clear  morning. 

Went  to  town  to  bring  home  a  runaway  Cow ;  but  Oh ! 
the  trouble  and  vexation  I  encountered !  After  much  trib- 
ulation I  succeeded  in  getting  her  home.  She  was  so  poor 
and  squalid  that,  "  the  lowing  of  the  kine  "  was  not  heard  by 
the  neighbors  living  on  the  road.  This  is  the  cow  Dr.  Hew- 
itt rated  at  $25.     She  is  hardly  worth  as  many  cents. 

Warm  and  pleasant  day,  but  windy. 

Rec'd  no  mail  from  the  East.  A  great  dearth  of  news. 
We  know  no  more  of  the  doings  of  our  wise  and  patriotic 

'  Many  of  the  Wyandots  sufl'ered  from  inflammation  of  the  eyes  when  they  came 
West.  Old  Wyandots  often  speak  of  it.  They  attributed  the  disease  to  the  sandy  soil 
and  the  high  winds — sandstorms.  Many  of  them  lost  their  sight  entirely.  The  Coun- 
cil gave  pensions  to  the  old  people  that  became  blind. 

21 


306  THE  JOURNALS  OF  [April,  isso. 

Congress  than  if  they  were  in  session  in  the  palace  of  Chang 
Chaufoo,  in  China.^ 

Friday,  15. — Last  night  Miss  Maria  Monk  came  in  glad 
possession  of  an  interesting  little  Monk.  The  event  had 
been  looked  for  with  much  interest.  It  is  a  beautiful 
specimen  of  the  horned  breed,  having  upon  its  body  all  the 
varied  colors  of  the  Rainbow.  Who  the  favored  father  of 
this  young  kine  may  be,  it  is  hard  to  conjecture;  and  Maria 
pertinaciously  refuses  to  tell.  Albeit,  she,  like  her  great 
namesake  of  Hotel  Dieu  memory,  was  never  considered  as 
chaste  as  a  vestal. 

Enlarged  my  meadow  and  hauled  some  more  wood. 

Sunday,  17. — ^^St.  Patrick's  day  in  the  morning.'"  Cloudy 
and  cold.  Went  to  Church  and  heard  a  sermon  from  Rev. 
M'  Jameison.  A  good  performance.  Went  to  church  in 
the  evening  and  interpreted  a  sermon  for  M"^  Stateler. 

Monday,  18. — Clear,  cold  and  frosty  morning.  Prospect 
of  a  warm  and  pleasant  day. 

Went  to  Kansas.  Learned  that  our  Missouri  boys  were 
doing  well  in  "Refining"  the  dust;  but  at  the  same  time 
discouraged  their  friends  from  the  "  Experiment "  of 
"digging."  2 

April,  1850. 

Monday,  8. — M"  W.  gone  to  Kawzas.^  Cholera  at  St. 
Joseph.  So,  it  seems  we  are  to  be  visited  with  that  scourge 
of  the  human  race,  again  this  season. 

Thursday,  11. — Finished  my  experiment  in  Budding  fruit 

•  One  of  the  inconveniences  of  the  country  in  those  days  was  the  lack  of  mail  facil- 
ities. Governor  Walker  wished  to  know  what  was  transpiring,  and  complains  hitterly 
of  the  inefficient  services  rendered  by  the  mail  contractors.  And  now  the  uniformed 
mail  deliverer  passes  the  site  of  his  home  two  or  three  times  each  day  and  brings  the 
mail  to  the  door! 

■•'  In  the  gold  fields  of  California. 

^  One  of  the  ways  of  writing  Kansas;  it  more  nearly  represents  the  pronunciation  of 
the  name  as  used  by  the  Kaw  Indians  than  the  spelling  of  the  present,  but  it  is  no 
longer  used. 


May,  ia50.]  GOVERNOR  WALKER.  307 

trees,  having  set  40  buds,  all  of  the  apple.  Ploughed  my 
potato  patch.  One  of  the  Standingstones  burned  to  death 
last  night  near  Kansas,  in  a  drunken  frolic.  Major  Moseley 
returned  from  St.  Louis  to-day. 

Saturday,  13. — Cold  windy  morning:  wind  from  the 
North. 

Went  to  Kansas  to  attend  to  some  business,  meantime  the 
Steamer  "  Pride  of  the  West  "  landed  well  laden  with  Cali- 
fornia emigrants ;  all  intent  upon  their  pursuit  of  "  filthy 
lucre " — ^strange  as  it  may  appear,  yet  it  is  neverthe- 
less true  that,  notwithstanding  the  admonition  of  the  pious 
Apostle  to  beware  of  this  "  Root  of  all  evil,"  yet  "  Saint  and 
sinner  "  are  eagerly  and  "  hot  foot  "  in  pursuit  of  it.  Alas! 
for  the  degeneracy  of  the  times ! 

Sunday,  14. — Cold  and  windy  morning.  Saddled  up 
Cato  and  rode  out  a  half  mile  and  back. 

I  have  been  so  often  perplexed,  when  speaking  of  the 
"  Southampton  insurrection,"  to  recall  the  name  of  the  leader, 
that  I  now  record  his  name,  Nat  Turner.  He  was  a 
preacher.     A  superstitious  enthusiast. 

May,  1850. 

Tuesday,  14. — This  is  the  day  the  Wyandott  Conven- 
tion adjourned  to.  At  12  o'clock,  meridian,  the  president 
called  the  Convention  to  order  and  the  discussion  was  re- 
sumed and  continued  with  much  animation  till  five  o'clock 
when  the  vote  was  called  for  loudly.  M.  R.  Walker  and 
Silas  Armstrong^  were  appointed   tellers.     The  vote  stood, 

*  Silas  Armstrong,  the  eldest  son  of  Robert  and  Sarah  (Zane)  Armstrong,  was  born 
June  3,  1810.  He  was  a  man  of  enterprise  and  capable  of  managing  large  affairs.  He 
was  the  energetic  manager  of  the  removal  of  the  Wyandots  to  the  West.  He  was  a  mer- 
chant, saw-mill  owner  and  operator,  land  speculator  and  farmer  ;  and  successful  in  all 
these  pursuits.  His  home  was  near  the  intersection  of  Fifth  Street  and  Minnesota  ave- 
nue, Kansas  City,  Kan. 

Of  his  marriage,  October  8,  1832,  with  Sarah  Preston  (who  was  bom  in  1811),  were 
bom :  1.  Tabitha,  bom  February  6, 1834,  married  E.  T.  Vedder,  August  5, 1856;  Vedder 
died  in  January,  1867  ;  married  Seymour  Thomas  (who  was  born  in  New  York  in  1840), 


308  THE  JOURNALS  OF  [May,  1850. 

for  the  treaty,  63.  Against  it  20.  Seven  or  eight  not  vot- 
ing.    Carried. 

Wednesday,  15. — This  day  M^  Abelard  Guthrie  and  Com- 
pany set  [out]  for  California.  Health  and  success  attend 
them. 

Tuesday,  21. — Attended  the  session  of  the  Council,  made 
out  the  pay  roll.  Confirmed  the  right  of  H.  M.  North- 
rup  to  citizenship.  M"  Hannah  Zane,^  late  of  Ohio,  and 
M""^  Nancy  Garrett^  were  also  admitted.     George  Wright^ 

in  1870 ;  2.  Eobert,  born  August  19,  1835,  drowned  in  the  Kansas  River,  July  15,  1858 ; 
3.  Caroline,  born  in  December,  1837;  4.  Winficld  Scott,  bom  December  1, 1840  ;  5.  Silas, 
bom  February  1,  1842.     Sarah  (Preston)  Armstrong  died  February  9,  1842. 

Silas  Armstrong  and  Zelinda  M.  Hunter  (who  was  born  December  3,  1820),  were 
married — (have  not  been  able  to  learn  the  date).  Of  this  marriage  were  born  •  1.  Cath- 
erine, bom  June  15,  1843,  married Shaffenberg  ;  2.  Duncin,  born  January  23,  1849, 

died  February  22,  1850 ;  3.  Minarrh  C,  bom  July  12,  1846  ;  4.  Mclntyre,  bora  July  15, 
1852;  5.  Elizabeth  U.,  bom  November  27,  1854;  6.  Antoinette,  born  February  15,  1858, 
married  T.  B.  Barnes,  died  October  2,  1882 ;  7.  Naomi,  born  August  10,  1861.     Zelinda 
M.  Armstrong  died  February  10,  1883.     Silas  Armstrong  died  December  14, 1865.     He  is 
buried  in  Huron  Place  Cemetery.     The  granite  monument  over  his  grave  is  the  best  in 
that  historic  burial  ground.     The  following  is  copied  from  its  northeast  face  : 
(Figure  of  Ark  and  Anchor.) 
Silas  Armstrong 
Died    December  14,  1865. 
Aged  55  ys  II   ^os  I  I   Ds. 
The  Pioneer  of  the  Wyandott 
Indians  To  The   Kansas  Valley 
In  1842.    The  Leading  Man  and 
Constant  Friend  of  The  Indians 
A  Devout  Christian  and  Good  Mason 
He  Leaves  The  Craft  on  Earth  and 
Goes  With  Joy  to  the  Great  Architect. 
I  once  asked  S.  S.  Sharp  to  describe  the  funeral  of  Silas  Armstrong.     He  replied:  "  I 
never  saw  before  nor  since  such  a  funeral  as  that.     Many  white  people  were  present 
and  a  thousand  Indians  were  there,  all  crying  at  the  same  time." 

>  She  was  the  widow  of   Isaac  Zane.     Born  in  Virginia.     She  is  buried  in  Huron 
Place  Cemetery.     Died  November  14,  1886,  aged  92  years. 
'  Widow  of  George  Garrett ;  Governor  Walker's  sister. 

^  A  most  remarkable  man  of  great  intelligence.  He  lives  on'Sycamore  Creek  in  the 
Wyandot  Eeserve,  near  Seneca,  Mo.,  where  he  settled  in  1856.  His  grandmother  was 
captured  by  the  French  in  Guinea,  Africa.  She  and  other  children  were  playing  about 
the  outskirts  of  a  negro  village.  Suddenly  the  cry  was  raised  that  denoted  an  attack. 
The  children  fled,  but  this  little  girl  was  unable  to  hold  way  with  the  larger  ones.  She 
was  but  six  years  old,  and  very  small  for  that  age.  She  was  captured  by  the  pursuers, 
who  proved  to  be  a  party  of  French  slavers.  They  carried  her  to  the  Martinique  Is- 
lands, where  they  kept  her  for  some  time.  Here  there  were  many  other  negroes.  After 
some  time  she  was  placed  on  board  a  ship  which  was  loaded  with  her  people.  Sails 
were  set  and  the  vessel  stood  out  to  sea.     None  of  the  negroes  had  any  idea  of  their  ul- 


May,  1850]  GOVERNOR  WALKER.  309 

and  Lewis  Clark's  names  were  placed  upon  the  pay  roll,  but 
with  the  understanding  that  they  are  not,  by  this  act,  ac- 
knowledged as  having  equal  rights  with  the  others.  Their 
relative  position  to  be  defined  when  the  treaty  goes  into 
effect. 

Saturday,  25. — Excessively  warm.  Closed  the  Annuity 
payment  to-day.  Glad  of  it.  Vexatious  and  perplexing. 
This  may  be  the  last  semi- Annuity  we  will  receive  from  the 
United  States,  for,  if  the  President  and  Senate  should 
confirm  our  treaty  it  will  certainly  be  the  last.  As  after 
that  event  we  Wyandotts  will  become  citizens  of  Uncle 
Sam's  States.  A  truly  7iew  era  in  the  history  of  the  Wyan- 
dott  Nation. 

Sunday,  26. — Cloudy  and  at  short  intervals,  scattering 
drops  of  rain.  The  air  pure  and  bracing.  Wrote  a  letter 
to  Governor   King  upon   the  subject    of   a   scamp   of  an 

alien  holding  the  office  of  Justice  of  the  Peace  in  C 

County. 

timate  destination.  When  the  ship  had  been  at  sea  a  few  days  it  was  attacked  by  the 
English  and  captured.  The  English  ship  was  a  slave  cruiser  and  her  crew  put  the 
French  to  the  sword.  Then  they  carried  the  negroes  to  America.  At  Philadelphia 
they  sold  Wright's  grandmother  to  a  Delaware  Indian. 

She  was  both  slave  and  wife  to  the  Delaware.  Wright's  mother  was  bom  to  her  while 
she  was  the  wife  and  chattel  of  the  Indian.  Some  time  during  the  W^ar  of  the  Revolu- 
tion this  Delaware  sold  his  slave  and  her  daughter  to  a  Wyandot  Chief  named  Ron- 
tondee  or  Warpole.  (Rohn'-tohn-deh  signifies  round  in  form  like  a  tree  trunk.)  In  the 
year  1800  they  were  adopted  by  the  Wyandots.  Soon  after  the  adoption  the  daughter 
was  married  to  a  St.  Regis  Seneca,  Wright's  father. 

Wright  remembers  his  grandmother  well.  He  heard  her  often  tell  the  foregoing 
account  of  her  life.  He  was  born  at  Upper  Sandusky,  March  20,  1812.  His  hair  is  long 
and  straight,  and  somewhat  gray;  he  has  a  long  straight  beard.  In  feature  he  resem- 
bles a  Hindoo.  His  health  is  good  but  he  is  almost  blind.  He  has  the  negro's  love  for 
music  and  plays  on  a  violin  which  he  has  owned  for  fifty  years. 

Wright  came  to  Wyandotte  County,  Kansas,  from  Upper  Sandusky,  in  1850.  In  1856 
he  went  to  the  Senecas  in  the  Indian  Territory  and  settled  on  Sycamore  Creek,  where 
he  now  lives.  This  part  of  the  Seneca  land  was  afterwards  sold  to  the  Wyandots. 
Wright  was  then  readopted  by  the  Wyandots  and  given  an  allotment  of  160  acres  of 
land,  which  includes  his  home.  He  was  the  oificial  interpreter  of  the  United  States  for 
the  Senecas,  and  also  for  the  Shawnees,  for  sixteen  years.  He  speaks  perfect  Wyandot, 
Shawnee,  and  Seneca.  His  English  is  good,  much  better  than  is  generally  spoken  by 
men  in  his  station.  His  mind  is  vigorous  and  his  ideas  clear  and  orderly.  His  dis- 
course is  logical,  and  well  arranged.  He  is  a  ready  speaker  and  does  not  hesitate  for 
words. 


310  THE   JOURNALS   OF  [June,  1850. 

June,  1850. 

Sunday,  2. — Just  heard  of  the  death  of  Kobert  Latti- 
more  in  California.  "Alas!  poor  Yorrick  ! "  thou  art 
done  with  thy  games  of  chance.  It  is  no  longer  thy  "  deal " : 
thou  hast  turned  up  thy  last  trump,  and  it  is  greatly  to  be 
feared  thou  hast  been  euchered  at  last.  Oh  Hoyle !  one  of 
thy  devotees  has  "  shuffled  off  this  mortal  coil." 

Tuesday,  4. — Just  heard  of  an  onslaught  by  the  Pawnees 
upon  the  Pottowattomies  in  which  the  latter  repulsed  their 
assailants  with  the  death  of  their  leader.  It  will  end  here — 
there  will  be  no  more  of  it  hereafter. 

No  mail!  the  usual  excuse,  "  the  Blue  is  up.^'  Yes,  and 
so  is  Turkey  Creek ;  but  horsemen  and  pedestrians  can 
pass  and  repass  "  without  let  or  hindrance."  But  "  the 
Blue  is  up  "  and  the  mail  contractor  on  dry  land.  He  is 
terribly  diseased  with  the  Hydrophobia,  and  has  a  great 
dread  of  the  waters  of  "  the  Blue."  I  wish  he  were  blue 
himself  and  in  the  midst  of  his  blueness  thrown  into  the 
Blue. 

Pretty  fair  prospect  of  some  more  rain.  Let  it  come 
and  welcome.  'Twill  be  a  blessing,  not  in  disguise,  but 
in  its  proper  guise.  Attended  the  session  of  the  Council. 
A  beautiful  shower  came  on.  Came  home  drenched.  All 
right.     A  little  more  of  the  same  kind. 

Friday,  7. — Just  learned  that  Capt.  Ketchum,  the  Chief 
of  the  Deluwares,  had  informed  our  Chief  that  a  band  of 
Pawnees  had  attacked  the  Pottowattomies  and  were  repulsed 
and  that  one  had  been  captured  and  six  scalps  had  been 
found  in  his  possession,  supposed  to  have  been  taken  from 
some  California  emigrants.^ 

Tuesday,  11. — Attended  Council.  A  committee  appointed 
by  a  meetuig  of   the    people    called  upon  the  Council  re- 

'  The  Pawnees  hung  upon  the  trail  of  the  caravans  bound  for  California.  Any  weak 
party  was  almost  sure  to  be  attacked. 


Jane,  1850.]  GOVERNOR  WALKER.  311 

questing  a  convention  to  consider  whether  the  Wyandotts 
coming  from  Ohio  are  to  be  received  as  equal  participants 
in  the  provisions  of  the  late  treaty/  The  Council  agreed  to 
the  request  and  fixed  upon  next  Tuesday  as  the  day  of 
meeting. 

Saturday,  15. — Attended  a  National  Council  called  by 
the  Chief  upon  the  claim  of  several  Ohio  Wyandotts.  Af- 
ter an  exciting  discussion  the  whole  matter  was  adjourned 
till  after  the  ratification  of  the  treaty.  M'  Z.  McColloch, 
one  of  the  claimants,  being  much  chagrined  at  the  result. 
He  called  in  the  evening  at  my  house  and  asked  the  loan  of 
the  treaty  in  order  to  copy  some  portions  of  it,  but  I  re- 
fer'd  him  to  the  Council.  The  principal  Chief  and  J. 
Walker  refused  it,  on  the  ground  that  it  would  be  a  violation 
of  the  injunction  of  secrecy,  the  President  and  Senate  not 
having  acted  upon  it  yet.  So  M'  McColloch  left— disap- 
pointed and  mortified. 

Sunday,  23. — Called  upon  the  Major's  family.  Read  his 
newspapers.  In  the  St.  Louis  Republican  an  article  ap- 
peared over  the  signature  of  *  Soo-no-ree-zhue  "  attacking 
the  Bishops  of  the  M.  E.  Church,  South,  and  the  Church 
generally. — A  scurrilous  thing.  I  instantly  responded, 
over  the  signature  of  '  Catholic.'^ 

Friday,  28. — Went  to  Kansas  with  the  team  for  some  pro- 
visions. Had  much  difficulty  in  crossing  Turkey  Creek.' 
One  death  in  Kansas  from  Cholera — M'  Walrond's  black 
boy.  Arch.     Got  home  safe  with  my  freight. 

July,  1850. 
Friday,  5. — M""  Tacket  came  over  after  M""  Russel  to  at- 

'  A  considerable  number  of  Wyandots  remained  in  Ohio,  and  never  removed  West. 
'  Only  another  incident  in  the  Church  division  and  the  strife  and  bitterness  en- 
gendered by  it. 

2  See  former  notes  stating  that  Turkey  Creek  emptied  into  the  Missouri  River  at  that 


812  THE  JOURNALS  OF  [July,  isoo. 

tend  the  dying  moments  of  Dr.  Fulton,  who  was  taken  with 
that  fell  destroyer,  Cholera  [at]  3  o'clock  this  morning. 

M""  R.  returned  and  reported  the  Dr.  dying.     Therm.  96°. 

[Dr.  F.]  Died  at  12  M.  and  was  buried  at  5  P.  M. 

Saturday,  6. — Prospect  of  another  warm  day.  Clear. 
The  sun  looks  angry  and  lurid.  Called  upon  Major  Mose- 
ley's  family  and  found  M"  M.  sick — prepared  some  med- 
icines. 

The  Cholera  has  caused  some  of  the  citizens  of  Kansas  to 
flee.     This  is  folly. 

Monday,  15. — Just  heard  of  the  death  of  President  Tay- 
lor, [he]  having  died  of  Cholera  on  the  11th  inst  Can  this 
be  true  ? 

To-day  the  Annual  nominations  for  principal  Chief  and 
members  of  the  Council  took  place : 

James  Washington  [against]  Tauroomee,        was  nominated. 

G.  I.  Clark  "        J.  T.  Charloe,       " 

J.  D.  Brown  "        J.  W.  Gray  Eyes,  '' 

M.  Mudeater  "        D.  Young,  "  " 

G.  I.  Clark  was  then  nominated  for  Principal  Chief  to 
run  against  F.  A.  Hicks.  James  Rankin  was  then  nomi- 
nated to  oppose  J.  T.  Charloe. 

The  nominations  having  been  completed,  the  Convention 
adjourned. 

Thursday,  18. — Rose  at  daylight,  had  an  early  break- 
fest,  geared  up  the  team,  loaded  up  the  wagon  with  all  the 
necessary  "outfit,"  such  as  provisions,  bedding,  marquee, 
etc.,  and  at  7  o'clock  our  folks  set  out  for  the  Eutau  Springs, 
under  the  conduct  of  Samuel  Rankin.  I  accompanied  them 
as  far  as  Kansas.     A  pleasant  journey  to  them. 

Friday,  19. — Cut  out  a  nearer  road  to  town.  2  o'clock 
P.  M.  92°. 

Much  speculation  as  to  the  author  of  "  Catholic  "  in  the 
Missouri  Republican. 


August,  1850.]  GOVEENOE  WALKER.  313 

Bad  news.  Just  heard  that  Geo.  Armstrong,  Tall  Charles 
and  several  others  had  returned  from  the  Eutau  Springs, 
and  they  report  that  the  springs  were  dried  up — that  coun- 
try having  suffered  the  parching  influence  of  a  rigorous 
drought.     So  our  folks  will  have  their  journey  for  naught. 

Saturday,  20. — Clear  and  warm.  Went  to  Kansas,  and 
on  my  way  found  the  ferry  boat  at  Turkey  Creek  sunk. 
After  hard  labor  (and  I  bearing  the  principal  part)  we  suc- 
ceeded in  getting  her  afloat :  then  commenced  the  process  of 
bailing  with  an  old  tin  Kittle  with  as  many  holes  as  it  had 
seen  years  and  their  name  was  "Legion." 

Tuesday,  23. — Therm.  98°.  In  the  evening  a  part  of  our 
folks  returned  from  the  Eutau  Springs,  (as  already  stated, 
they  were  dried  up,)  leaving  M'  Gilmore  and  Martha  with 
M'  Dickson  to  ruralize  in  the  cold  water  Grove. 

August,  1850. 

Tuesday,  13. — To-day  the  Wyandott  National  election 
comes  off. 

The  result  of  the  National  election : 

James  Washington's  majority 21 

James  Rankin's                "       4 

J.  W.  Gray  Eyes'             "       5 

M.  Mudeater's                   "       21 

For  Principal  Chief,  G.  I.  Clark's  majority...  31 

The  Legislative  Committee  for  this  year  stands  thus  : 

J.  M.  Armstrong,  John  Arms,  M.  R  Walker,  H.  M. 
Northrup  and  William  Walker.     Therm.  108°. 

To-day  Jacob  Warpole  was  found  near  F.  Tremble's  hav- 
ing severe  cuts  and  bruises  on  his  head,  in  an  insensible 
state.     So  much  for  the  sports  of  the  Circus. 

Wednesday,  14. — Jacob  Warpole^  died  of  his  wounds  this 

>  Son  of  Eontondee  or  Warpole,  known  as  Henry  Warpole.  Eontondee  is  buried  in 
Huron  Place  Cemetery.    He  died  November  17,  1843,  aged  68  years.     He  was  the  son 


314  THE   JOURNALS  OF  [August,  1850. 

morning.  Peter  Vieu,  being  suspected  as  the  murderer,  a 
warrant  was  issued,  on  the  affidavit  of  J.  W.  Gray  Eyes  and 
he  was  arrested  and  the  examining  trial  set  for  Friday. 

Tliursday,  15. — Went  to  Kansas  to  hunt  up  testimony  in 
the  murder  case.     Came  home  somewhat  indisposed. 

Friday,  16. — Went  to  Kansas  again  in  company  with 
Major  Moseley  and  the  Council  to  attend  the  trial  of  Peter 
Vieu.  He  had  employed  Col.  R.  C.  Smart  to  defend  him 
and  the  Council  employed  M""  Hereford  to  prosecute.  Af- 
ter the  examination  of  a  large  number  of  witnesses,  the  de- 
fendant was  discharged.     Came  home  late  in  the  evening. 

Sunday,  25. — Went  to  church.  M'  Shaler  having  no  in- 
terpreter, Deacon  Hicks  held  forth  in  an  impressive  address. 

Tuesday,  27. — Cloudy  and  cool.  Ground  the  scythe  and 
set  the  old  truant  to  work.  Went  to  the  Council  and  heard 
the  inaugural  address  of  Geo  I.  Clark,  the  Principal  Chief. 
The  address  was  appropriate  and  marked  with  sound  polit- 
ical principles ;  but  there  was  a  barrenness  and  jejuneness 
in  his  language,  unsuited  to  the  occasion. 

October,  1850. 

Tuesday,  22. — Went  to  town.  M*"^  W.  went  to  Kansas 
and  got  my  mail. 

The  Wyandott  Treaty  ratified  with  various  amendments 
and  alterations,  but  the  main  and  vital  part  is  there.  All 
we  wanted.^ 

The  Sheriff   arrested    Boyd  Peacock  for  stealing  goods 

of  the  famous  Chief  Eontondee.  When  Wyandott  City  was  first  platted  a  street  was 
named  Warpole  street  in  his  honor,  but  the  City  Council,  composed  of  men  ignorant  of 
the  City's  history,  changed  it  into  something  else.    The  old  name  should  be  restored. 

'  See  Revision  of  Indian  Treaties,  1021.  It  cost  the  Wyandots  almost  $40,000  for  an 
attorney  to  make  the  treaty.  The  money  was  paid  to  one  Reed.  There  was  bad  man- 
ascment  somewhere,  for  the  Government  owed  the  money  obtained  by  the  treaty,  and 
would  have  paid  it  without  cost  to  the  Wyandots.  There  was  much  dissatisfaction  in 
the  tribe  about  the  amount  of  this  fee,  and  some  talk  about  it  in  Congress,  but  the 
scroundrel  got  safely  away  with  his  money. 


November,  1850]  GOVERNOR   WALKER.  315 

from  G.  B.  Dameron,  and  committed  to  Jail,  to  be  surren- 
dered to  the  officers  of  the  State. 

November,  1850. 

Saturday,  2. — Went  to  Kansas  to  attend  a  Law  suit,  but 
had  no  trial  owing  to  informality  in  my  papers.  "  I'll  pick 
my  flint  and  try  again."  ^ 

Friday,  8. — Our  Wyandotts  are  traveling  off  to  New 
Madrid  to  hunt.     "  The  ruling  passion  strong  in  death," 

Saturday,  23. — Clear  frosty  morning.  Engaged  in  mak- 
ing out  the  Wyandott  Pay  Roll,  preparatory  to  the  annuity 
payment. 

M""  James  H.  Forsythe  of  Maumee,  Ohio,  accompanied 
by  Joel  Walker,  called  upon  me.  He  is  direct  from  Wash- 
ington. He  made  explanation  in  regard  to  the  ratification 
of  only  a  part  of  our  treaty  with  the  Gov't.  The  officers 
of  the  Indian  Department,  and  especially  the  Indian  Agents 
and  Sub- Agents  in  the  West,  made  a  general  but  covert  and 
insidious  attack  upon  it.  It  was  "gall  and  wormwood  "  to 
them.  "  Cause  why  ?  "  Their  bread  and  butter  was  in  im- 
minent peril.  For  their  own  special  benefit  the  Indians 
must  be  kept  in  statu  quo.^ 

Sunday,  8. — Had  nothing  from  the  Post  office  since  last 
Monday — a  dearth  of  news.  This  afternoon  P.  D.  Clark' 
came  and  dined  with  us — all  the  company  we  have  had 
to-day. 

Tuesday,  10. — At  night   I   received  a  note   from  J.  M. 

'  An  expression  of  the  old-time  hunters  when  the  flints  in  their  gun-locks  failed  to 
strike  fire. 

^  The  same  thing  holds  to  this  time.  In  treaty  making  the  interests  of  the  agents 
and  other  hangers-on  are  often  better  guarded  than  those  of  the  Indians. 

3  Author  of  the  "  The  Traditional  History  of  the  Wyandots."  He  was  a  brother  to 
George  I.  Clark,  and  a  grandson  of  Chief  Adam  Brown.  His  name  was  Peter  Dooyen- 
tate  Clarke.  The  final  e  was  always  used  in  writing  Clarke  by  most  members  of  this 
family.  His  book  was  published  at  Toronto,  Canada,  in  1870.  It  is  unreliable  in  its 
historical  statements  and  conclusions,  but  on  habits,  customs,  and  usages  of  the  Wyan- 
dots, and  their  traditions,  it  is  generally  authentic.  "Toronto"  is  derived  from  the 
Wyandot  word  "Toh-roohn'-tooh,"  meaning  "plenty"  or  "abundance." 


316  THE   JOURNALS   OF  [November,  1850. 

Armstrong  informing  me  that  the  Legislative  Committee 
was  required  to  meet  on  to-morrow,  Wednesday,  the  11th. 

Wednesday,  11. — The  Committee  met  and  was  organized 
and  rec'd  a  Message  from  the  Principal  Chief.  Proceeded  to 
business,  and  adjourned  at  4  o'clock  P.  M. 

Thursday,  12. — Went  to  attend  the  session  of  the  Legis- 
lative Committee.  Passed  an  Act  regulating  the  National 
ferry  for  the  year  '51.  Several  bills  were  introduced,  read 
the  first  time  and  laid  upon  the  table. 

Windy  and  tempestuous.  This  day  the  Wyandott  Chiefs 
paid  the  Delawares  their  instalment  due  this  year. 

Tuesday,  17. — To-day  the  Council  and  Legislative  Com- 
mittee meet  in  joint  session  to  elect  a  Ferryman  for  the  year 
1851.  Lame  and  decrepit  as  I  am,  I  am  compelled  to  do 
my  own  work — cut  wood,  make  fires,  and  feed  my  stock.  I 
cannot  get  one  of  our  vagabonds  to  work  for  me,  no  differ- 
ence how  extravagant  may  be  the  wages  I  offer. 

Judge  Ewing  and  son  called  upon  us,  and  [we]  had  a  long 
chat  upon  public  business. 

Went  to  town.  The  Legislative  Committee  and  Council 
met  in  joint  meeting  and  proceeded  to  the  election  of  a 
Ferryman,  when  Isaac  Brown  was  declared  duly  elected. 
Came  home  much  pained  with  my  Kheumatism  in  my  ankle. 

Thursday,  19. — Harriet  went  to  Major  Moseley's  and  bro't 
me  some  medicines.  Expecting  M""  Northrup  to  send  me  a 
sack  of  Flour  to-day  according  to  arrangements.  M.  E,.  W. 
informs  me  that  he  sent  over  a  quantity  to  divers  persons  on 
this  side  but  none  for  me.  My  curses  and  execrations  upon 
the  little  Polliwog!  There  is  no  dependence  to  be  placed  in 
him.     He  well  knows  that  I  am  crippled  and  helpless. 

Friday,  20. — Clear  frosty  morning.  Prospect  of  a  fair 
and  pleasant  [day] .  Heard  of  a  sack  of  Flour  lying  in  the 
Ferry  Boat.  Sent  for  it  by  Jacob  Cliarloe,  whether  it  was 
mine  or  not.  He  and  Isaac  Muskrat  cut  and  hauled  in  a 
quantity  of  wood. 


February,  1851.]  GOVERNOR    WALKER.  317 

Saturday,  21. — Clear,,  but  warm.  Jacob  Charloe  and 
[Isaac]  Muskrat  came  and  butchered  a  hog. 

February,  1851. 

From  this  day  [Sat.,  Dec.  28th,  1850]  till  now  I  have  been 
sorely  afflicted  with  Rheumatism  and  Neuralgia.  The  Com- 
plaint in  my  head  affecting  my  eyes  to  such  a  degree  as  to 
cause  almost  total  blindness.  This  will  account  for  the  long 
hiatus  in  my  Journal. 

During  all  this  time,  I  was  unable  to  read  or  write,  in  con- 
sequence of  the  Neuralgia  affecting  my  sight.  This  was 
hard  on  me — depending  upon  others  to  read  for  my  amuse- 
ment.    But  I  have  now  in  some  degree  recovered  my  sight. 

Saturday,  8. — The  Nation  convened  to-day  upon  the  sub- 
ject of  sending  a  deputation  to  Washington  City  on  business 
connected  with  our  late  treaty  with  the  Gov't :  Geo.  I.  Clark 
and  Joel  Walker  are  the  delegates,  John  W.  Gray  Eyes 
having  been  dropped. 

Monday,  17. — An  incident.  Just  learned  that  John  Big- 
Sinew  and  his  half  brother,  Smith  Nichols,  while  riding  at 
full  speed,  returning  from  the  Northern  meeting,  both  on 
one  horse,  were  thrown  against  a  tree  and  seriously  injured. 

Tuesday,  18. — The  Kansas  river  has  about  run  dry;  there 
not  being  water  enough  to  float  the  ferry  boat,  and  conse- 
quently no  ferrying. — In  the  evening  learned  that  the  ferry 
was  now  passable. 

Saturday,  22. — Rev.  B.  H.  Russell  and  M'  Dofflemeyer^ 
called  and  staid  an  half  an  hour. 

'  Daniel  Dofflemeyer.  Governor  Walker  wrote  the  name  in  different  ways — often 
Dufflemeyer.  His  descendauts  live  in  Kansas  City,  Mo.,  "to  this  day."  I  find  the  fol- 
lowing in  the  History  of  Jackson  County,  Missouri,  page  762  : 

"Eev.  Daniel  Dofflemeyer  was  born  in  Eockingham  county,  Virginia,  August  21, 
1813,  and  resided  there  until  the  age  of  nineteen  years.  Then  removed  to  Morgan 
county,  Illinois,  arriving  April  1st,  and  there  lived  until  the  autumn  of  1836.  From 
this  place  he  went  to  Van  Buren  county,  then  a  territory,  locating  on  a  point  near  Ben- 
tonsport,  where  he  remained  until  1846.  During  this  time,  in  1842,  his  wife  died,  leav- 
ing four  children,  two  of  whom  ai"e  living.    In  the  spring  of  1846  took  up  his  residence 


318  THE    JOURNALS    OF  [February,  1351. 

There  is  to  be  a  celebration  to-day  in  Kansas  by  the 
Masons,  Odd  Fellows  and  Sons  of  Temperance. 

Tuesday,  25. — Cloudy  and  windy.  Went  to  James  Big- 
Tree's  and  appointed  him  a  member  of  the  Legislative  Com. 
to  supply  the  vacancy  caused  by  the  absence  of  J.  M.  Arm- 
strong. 

Thursday,  27. — Wrote  a  Communication  (dated  24th)  to 
Cist,  for  the  Advertiser,  upon  Reminiscences  of  Olden  times. 

Friday,  28. — The  Legislative  Committee,  by  appointment, 
is  to  meet  to-day.  Went  to  meet  the  Committee,  but  Alas! 
not  one  [other]  member  appeared.  Saw,  for  the  first  time, 
W.  Linville,  since  his  return  from  California. 

March,  1851. 
Monday,  3. — To-night  at  12  o'clock  Congress  has  to  ad- 
journ sine  die.  I  do  not  think  wisdom  and  patriotism  will 
die  with  this,  31st  Congress.  Tho'  it  numbers  among  its 
members  some  valuable  men,  still  there  is  a  great  deal  of 
offal,  of  fungi.  Such  men  as  Root  and  Giddings  of  Ohio, 
Wilmot  of  Penna.  and  such  ilk.  But  they  have  had  their 
'day,'  and  having  had  the  one  which  providence  and  the 
current  of  public  affairs  have  allotted  them,  they  must  now 
sink  down  to  the  level  their  deeds,  good,  or  bad,  has  assigned 
them.     "Ainse  valle  monde." 

in  Fayette,  Howard  county,  Mo.,  remaining  until  the  fall  of  1848,  when  he  came  to 
Kansas  City.  From  here  went  to  Shawnee  Mission,  at  the  same  time  receiving  instruc- 
tion from  Rev.  Nathan  Scarritt,  of  the  High  School.  This  he  continued  until  May  17th 
following,  in  the  meantime,  being  employed  as  a  carpenter,  to  oversee  and  do  the  general 
repairing  about  the  institution.  His  next  move  was  to  California,  engaged  in  mining, 
there  remaining  until  June,  1850,  when  he  returned  to  the  mission.  In  1851  was 
licensed  to  preach,  and  was  sent  to  Wyandott  Mission,  where  he  served  in  connection 
with  Eev.  Scarritt,  three  nations,  Wyandotts,  Delawares  and  Shawnees,  for  a  period  of 
one  year.  After  this,  was  given  exclusive  control  of  the  Wyandott  Mission  but  left 
Wyandott,  and  went  to  Scaine,  Mississippi,  being  interested  to  have  settlements  begin 
in  Kansas.  In  1856  went  to  survey  a  claim,  when  he  came  in  contact  with  Jim  Lane, 
who  set  up  the  right  to  the  claim.  After  this  Mr.  D.  returned  to  Scaine,  Mississippi, 
with  his  family,  and  in  1857  settled  permanently  in  Kansas  City.  His  second  marriage 
occurred  June  8,  1851,  to  Miss  Virginia  T.,  daughter  of  P.  Ellington,  a  native  of  Vir- 
ginia. He  was  among  the  first  settlers  of  Platte  county.  Mo.  By  this  union  the  family 
consists  of  six  children  :  John  T.,  Alice,  Thomas  J.,  Louis  E.,  Virginia  L.,  and  Charlie." 


I 


March,  1851.]  GOVERNOR  WALKER.  319 

Tuesday,  4. — Last  evening  a  party  from  the  Institution, 
Messrs.  Dofflemeyer  and  Huffaker,  and  Miss  Hester  Russel, 
came  and  staid  all  night.  The  latter  gentleman  by  some 
mishap  got  into  the  Kansas  Kiver  and  had  the  benefit  of  a 
cold  bath. 

Went  to  town  to  attend  the  session  of  the  Council,  but  to 
my  astonishment  no  one  [was]  there  except  the  Sheriff  who 
informed  me  that  they  imitated  the  31st  Congress  adjourn- 
ing sine  die. — So,  I  adjourned  also. 

Wednesday,  5. — This  day  I  complete  my  half  century. — 
Fifty  years  old  to-day;  and  I  now  enter  upon  my  fifty  first 
year.  Dull  day  at  [any]  rate — depressed  in  spirit.  Wrote 
to  Joel  Walker  at  Washington.  The  Highland  Mary  went 
up  the  river  to-day. 

Friday,  7. — Sent  up  a  note  to  F.  Cotter  demanding  the 
town  Plat  of  Wyandott  City,^  by  Thos.  Coon-Hawk.  M""^  W. 
and  Sophia  gone  on  a  visit  to  M"  Moseley's.  Warm  and 
pleasant  day.     Therm,  at  Temperate,  at  2  P.  M. 

A  Wyandott  social  Levee  held  at  the  Council  house  to- 
night. 

Saturday,  8. — Yesterday  Johnny  O'Bludgeon  unfortu- 
nately received  a  severe  bruise  or  contusion  upon  his  foot. 
"Och!"  said  he,  "but  I  am  murther'd  entirely."  Screwing 
his  face  up  most  ruefully,  [he]  exclaimed,  "Be  me  troth 
and  I'm  ruined, — sure  and  it's  I  that  am  hurted." 

Friday,  14. — Writing  an  Indian  story  for  Cist's  Adver- 
tiser. 

Sunday,  16. — I  learn  that  our  California  men  intend  to 
swindle  us  out  of  our  shares. 

Monday,  17. — St.  Patrick's  day. 

At  daylight  M'  Graham  set  out  to  invite  my  California 
substitute,  W.  Lynville,  and  his  own,  Ira  Hunter,  to  come 

'  This  is  another  paper  that  I  have  searched  for  unsuccessfully  for  many  years.  The 
lots  were  about  an  acre  in  extent. 


320  THE   JOURNALS   OF  [March,  1851. 

over  to  my  house  for  a  settlement.  At  1  o'clock  they  ar- 
rived. 

After  some  Conversation  with  them,  we  discovered  that  it 
was  their  determination  to  play  the  villian.  Though  the 
understanding  and  bargain  was,  when  they  were  outfitted, 
that  on  their  return  they  were  to  divide  with  us  equally,  yet 
they  would  not  so  much  as  pay  for  their  outfit ;  and  though 
they  came  back  with  upwards  of  two  thousand  dollars  each, 
yet  they,  in  rendering  an  account  of  their  gains,  were  guilty 
of  moral  perjury.  They  were  not  smitten  down  by  the  ven- 
geance of  Heaven  as  were  Ananias  and  Sapphira  before  the 
Apostle  Peter,  but  verily  they  will  have  their  reward. 

Thursday,  20. — Finished  my  communication  to  Cist's 
Advertiser. 

Saturday,  22. — M.  R.  W.  starts  to-day  for  Cass  County. 
Sent  by  him  to  the  Post  Office  a  Com.  for  Cist's  Adver- 
tiser. 

This  afternoon  IVP  Dofflemeyer  and  M''  Griffin  of  the  In- 
stitution came  and  put  up  with  us  intending  to  attend  Quar- 
terly Meeting.     At  night,  clear  and  cold, 

Sunday,  23. — Clear  and  cold !  A  real  hoar  frost  Pros- 
pects of  a  beautiful  day.  My  family  and  guests  going  to 
Church. 

Major  Moseley  called  upon  me  on  his  way  to  Church 
and  gave  me  the  current  news,  and  among  these  .... 
"Hung  be  the  Heavens  in  black!"  The  bill  granting  to 
the  Pacific  Rail  Road  Company  the  right  of  way  and  each 
alternate  section,  which  passed  the  Senate,  was  killed  in  the 
house.  So  goes  Democracy.  This  may  be  retrograde  pro- 
gressive Democracy. 

Our  folks  returned  from  Church  bringing  with  them  M"" 
Knight,  Sr.,  from  Kansas,  who  dined  with  us. 

From  him  I  learn  that  Kennedy  of  the  Commonwealth 
has  moved  his  Press  from  Independence  to  Kansas,  intend- 


April.  1851.]  GOVEENOR  WALKER.  321 

ing  to  publish  a  neutral  paper.  Well,  Democracy  is  on  the 
wane  in  Jackson  County. 

Monday,  24. — Clear  and  beautiful  morning  with  a  clear 
silver  frost,  with  every  indication  of  a  beautiful  day. 

Went  over  to  Kansas  for  the  first  time  for  nearly  five 
months.  Spent  some  time  quite  agreeably  with  my  friends, 
Dined  with  M""  Knight.  Called  at  the  Post  Office ;  sub- 
scribed for  the  St.  Louis  Republican  at  $1.45,  in  a  Club. 
Cheap  enough  in  all  Conscience.     Came  home. 

Tuesday,  25. — Went  to  attend  the  session  of  the  Council. 

John  C.  McCoy  commenced  to-day  surveying  the  Wyan- 
dott  purchase.^     Commenced  at  the  mouth  of  the  Kansas. 

Wednesday,  26. — Finished  Schoolcraft's  enquiries  into 
the  In  do- American  language,  i.  e.,  Wyandott. 

Sunday,  30. — Russel  Garrett  bro't  my  mail.  News  from 
Ohio! 

On  the  15th  inst.,  on  the  28th  Ballot,  Benjamin  F.  Wade, 
of  Ashtabula  County,  was  elected  U.  S.  Senator,  having 
ree'd  44  votes  out  of  81.     Good  ! 

April,  1851. 

Sunday,  6. — 0  temporal  0  mores!  Oh  what  a  biting  and 
killing  frost !  This  frost  has  done  the  deed  for  the  fruit  for 
this  year  of  1851. 

At  12  o'clock  I  set  out  for  Independence.  Went  to  John 
C.  McCoy's  and  staid  all  night. 

Monday,  7. — Cloudy  and  misting.  Rain.  Went  in  com- 
pany with  J.  M.  McCoy  to  Independence  to  attend  the  session 
of  the  County  Court  Arrived  midst  rain  "  noise  and  con- 
fusion "  about  the  Court  House.  Selling  at  auction  negroes, 
horses,  mules,  etc. 

Here  I  must  be  allowed  to  make  a  remark  upon  the  char- 
acteristics of  the  citizens  of  Independence.     They  are  the  most 

»  McCoy  surveyed  most  of  the  Indian  Eeservations  in  what  is  now  Kansas.     He  laid 
out  and  was  the  proprietor  of  the  town  of  Westport,  Mo. 
22 


322  THE  JOURNALS  OF  [April,  issi. 

selfish,  exacting,  grinding,  mercenary  people  I  ever  saw  iu  any 
Country,  barbarian  or  Christian.  Hospitality  is  an  utter 
stranger  and  foreigner  to  them.  A  stranger  might  arrive 
and  stay  six  months  or  a  year  and  may  form  many  acquaint- 
ances and  be  a  stranger  still.  He  will  never  see  the  inside 
of  their  dwellings  unless  forced  there  by  urgent  business. 
And  it  really  seems  that  the  citizens  have  completely  im- 
bibed the  notion  that  tliey  have  an  indefeasible  claim  to  the 
money  a  stranger  may  bring  with  him — that  he  ought  not 
to  be  suffered  to  carry  away  from  town  any  money, — that  it 
is  their  prescriptive  right.    Independence  is  a  spoiled  child ! 

Tuesday,  8. — Attended  the  Council.  A  joint  meeting  of 
the  Legislative  Committee  and  Council  was  held.  Commit- 
tee adjourned  sine  die. 

Wednesday,  9. — Staid  at  home  all  day  feeling  quite  un- 
well. 

Hired  Russia  Chop-The-Logs.^     Cloudy  day. 

Monday,  21. — A  most  severe  and  biting  frost!  Farewell 
fruit.  My  Curse  upon  this  Missouri  Climate.  Upper  Mis- 
souri will  always  be  subject  to  the  drawbacks  of  an  unstable 
and  irregular  Climate.  From  one  extreme  to  another. 
Some  winters  rivaling  Lapland  and  others  mild  as  Louisi- 
ana, and  spring  varying  from  summer  heat  to  zero.  All 
this  is  attributed,  by  wise  men,  to  the  elevation  or  altitude 
and  proximity  to  the  snowy  mountains.  Well,  there  is  no 
help  for  it. 

'  Russia  Chop-Tlie-LoKS  was  afterward  a  soldier  in  the  Union  Army.  While  he  was 
away  in  the  war  the  late  M.  B.  Newman,  one  Cooper,  and-  others  of  Wyandotte  County, 
supposing,  or  hoping,  that  he  was  dead,  had  an  administrator  appointed  for  his  estate 
and  sold  his  allotment  of  land.  When  "Chop,"  as  he  was  called,  came  home  sound 
and  well  Newman  &  Co.  hid  themselves,  for  he  was  a  dangerous  man,  especially  when 
under  the  influeuce  of  intoxicating  liquors.  He  was  furious  when  he  found  that  his 
land  had  been  sold,  and  that,  too,  on  the  representation  that  he  was  dead.  He  chased 
Newman  up  a  stairway  one  day  and  said  to  him,  "  Oh,  you  scoundrel!  I  am  mad  now! 
I  go  fight  while  you  cowardly  devils  hide  at  home !  Then  you  swear  I  am  dead  and 
steal  my  land.  Oh,  I  am  mad  now!  /  wish  I  fight  on  the  other  side!  >"  They  pre- 
vented him  from  injuring  Newman,  but  those  concerned  had  to  pay  "Chop"  for  his 
land,  and  pay  him  well,  too,  to  avoid  serious  trouble. 


May,  1851.]  GOVERNOR  WALKER.  323 

Just  heard  that  Geo.  I.  Clark  had  arrived  from  Wash- 
ington. 

Monday,  28. — Wrote  to  G.  W.  Boyd,  by  Russia  Chop- 
The-Logs  to  let  Hamilton  have  the  Store  House  for  $8.  per 
month  for  5  months,  to  keep  a  Grocery.^ 

Wednesday,  30. — A  most  severe,  biting  frost.  Farewell 
fruit! 

C.  B.  Garrett,  M.  R.  Walker  and  myself  having  been  ap- 
pointed by  the  Hon.  Executive  Council,  School  Examiners, 
we  examined  one  applicant,  M"^^  B.  Garrett,  and  pronounced 
her  competent. 

May,  1851. 

Thursday,  1. — Croesus!  Jupiter! !  What  a  Frost!  The 
fruit  totally  destroyed. 

To-day  Henry  Norton  and  Hannah  Hicks  were  partially 
united  in  the  state  of  Matrimony  by  Rev.  M""  Shaler.  They 
were  married  without  the  license  required  by  law.  The 
marriage  is  clearly  illegal. 

Friday,  2. — Just  received  a  line  from  Maj.  Moseley  an- 
nouncing his  arrival  last  evening — and  forthwith  the  An- 
nuity must  be  paid,  ready  or  not  ready — softly.  Major. 

Special  session  of  the  Council  appointed  for  to-morrow. 

Saturday,  3. — Clear  and  beautiful  morning.  Must  attend 
the  Council. 

The  Council  fixed  on  Wednesday,  the  7th  inst.,  as  the  day 
for  the  Commencement  of  the  Semi-Annuity  payment. 

Got  my  family  stores  from  Kauses  this  evening. 

Sunday,  4. — Wrote  letters,  one  to  M.  Butler,  St.  Louis^ 
and  one  to  F.  H.  Hereford,  Independence. 

Monday,  5. — Went  to  town — dined  with  Maj.  Moseley^ 
Met  with  C.  Graham.  Came  home  and  found  a  M''  Lunsford, 
who  is  an  applicant  for  the  Post  of  Pedagogue.     He  seems 

'  A  grocery  in  those  days  is  a  "saloon "  in  our  day,  and  in  the  Kansas  vernacular  a 
"j'int." 


324  THE  JOURNALS  OF  [May,  I85i. 

to  have  some  knowledge  of  the  Art  of  teaching  the  young 
"idea  how  to  shoot."  Kefer'd  him  to  F.  A.  Hicks,  School 
Director. 

Wednesday,  7. — Examined  Russell  Garrett,  a  Candidate 
for  School  Teacher. 

Commenced  paying  out  the  Annuity  and  paid  out  till  2 
o'clock  P.  M.  and  adjourned  for  the  day. 

Thursday,  8. — Beautiful,  clear  morning.  All  nature  has 
put  on  her  gayest  attire  of  "Kendal  green." 

Closed  the  Annuity  payment  at  3  o'clock  P.  M. 

Friday,  9. — ^The  Council  in  session:  Gov.  M.  Bartley  from 
Ohio,  had  an  interview  with  the  Council  upon  the  subject  of 
T.  W.  Bartley's  claim  upon  the  nation  for  Attorney's  fees. 

June,  1851. 

Monday,  2. — Finished  a  written  report  and  argument 
against  the  claim  of  T.  W.  Bartley  against  the  Wyandott 
nation.  Went  to  attend  the  Council  and  there  learned  that 
Isaiah  Zane  was  in  confinement  in  the  Jail  for  having  stabbed 
James  Barnett  on  Saturday  evening.  Went  to  see  the 
wounded  man  and  my  prediction  is,  he  will  die,  as  I  regard 
the  wound  mortal. 

Made  out  the  pay  roll  for  the  distribution  of  the  Commu- 
tation money.     Whole  number  entitled  to  receive,  609. 

Tuesday,  3. — Attended  a  called  session  of  the  Legislative 
Committee. 

M"  H.  Walker  and  Harriet  set  out  for  St.  Charles.  They 
went  'board  the  Yawl  in  company  with  H.  M.  Northrup,  J. 
Walker  and  Sam'l  Drummond  to  Kansas,  intending  from 
thence  to  take  the  Steamer,  St.  Paul. 

The  Council  and  Committee  both  adjourned  at  5  o'clock. 

Saturday,  7. — Special  session  of  the  Council  to-day  and 
also  of  the  Legislative  Committee. 

Reported  to  the  Council  their  answer  to  the  claim  of  T. 


Jane,  1851.]  GOVERNOR  WALKER.  325 

W.  Bartley  as  presented  by  Gov.  M.  Bartley. — It  was  read 
and  with  some  slight  amendments,  adopted. 

Sunday,  8. — In  the  evening  M.  R.  W.,  J.  W.  Gray  Eyes 
and  M'"  S.  Drumraond  called  and  staid  a  couple  of  hours. 

I  have  heard  that  there  are  some  cases  of  Cholera  in  Kan- 
sas.    May  a  kind  providence  deliver  us  from  this  scourge. 

Monday,  9. — To-day  it  is  intended  by  the  Council  to  bring 
over  the  National  money  from  Kansas  and  I  will  avail  myself 
of  the  opportunity  of  getting  some  provisions  bro't  over. 

Tuesday,  17. — Cloudy  morning.  So  by  order  of  the 
Council  there  is  to  be  [a]  convention  of  the  Wyandott  na- 
tion, convened  for  the  purpose  of  determining  by  vote  the 
admission  or  rejection  of  certain  persons  from  Ohio  claiming 
the  rights  of  Wyandotts. 

By  John  Solomon,  I  have  just  learned  that  John  Stand- 
ingstone  died  last  evening  with  cholera.  This,  if  true,  is  the 
first  cholera  case  in  the  nation  this  season. 

This  day  the  Wyandott  nation  extinguished  the  [balance 
of  the]  Delaware  debt,  $16,000.00.  Our  domain  is,  therefore, 
paid  for. 

Thursday,  19. — Cloudy  weather.  Just  heard  of  the  death 
of  Charley  Elliott.^    He  died,  as  I  learn,  at  Bigtown's  House. 

'  The  following  facetious  biographical  sketch  was  written  by  Governor  Walker : 
"  '  His  life  was  gentle,  and  the  elements 

So  mixed  in  him,  that  nature  might  stand  up, 
And  say  to  the  world,  this  was  a  man.' 

— Shakespeare. 
"  Died  at  the  residence  of  Big  Town,  in  Wyandott  Territory,  on  Friday  morning 
last,  Charles  Elliott,  in  the  41st  year  of  his  age.  He  died  suddenly:— and  it  is  supposed 
from  apoplexy.  Charley,  as  he  was  familiarly  called  by  all  who  knew  him,  was  com- 
pletely identified  with  Kansas.  When  he  left  town  for  a  season  to  enjoy  rural  life, 
there  was  certain  to  be  something  wrong,  or  out  of  joint  about  town — things  did  not 
move  on  as  smoothly  as  usual — something  out  of  fix — a  screw  loose  here  and  a  screw 
out  of  repair  there.  Business  did  not  seem  to  move  on  with  that  celerity  and  briskness 
that  was  always  noticed  when  he  was  present.  It  has  been  even  said  that  the  Captains 
of  the  Steamers  have  noticed  the  diflerence  when  landing  at  our  port. 

"The  Counters  and  floors  of  the  Cofiee  Houses  and  Groceries  have  remained  un- 
dusted  and  unswept  and  decanters  and  glasses  uncleaned  till  Charlie's  return,  and  his 
smiling  face  once  more  beamed  upon  the  hitherto,  dull  town.  His  return  wa^s  certain  to 
revive  business,  if  a  degree  of  stagnation  happened  to  occur,  as  is  frequently  the  case 


326  THE  JOURNALS  OF  [June,  issi. 

He  was  apparently  well  when  he  came  there.  He  died  in 
the  night,  supposed  from  Apoplexy.  Kansas  has  truly 
sustained  a  loss  in  the  death  of  Charley.  Some  public  dem- 
onstration ought  to  be  made  by  the  corporate  authorities  of 
that  city. 

Friday,  20. — At  night  rain  pouring,  not  upwards,  but 
downwards  "orfully." 

Saturday,  21. — A  certain  apology  for  a  man  named  M 

recently  from  Cincinnati,  and  still  more  recently  from  New 
Madrid,  called  and  sat — and — a — ah — ha  and — a  spoke  and 
said — ye — es;  bright  boy,  that  chap.  "  Where  little  is  given, 
little  is  required"  saith  a  wise  man. 

Dr.  Wright  called  this  evening:— thinks  our  sick  out  of 
danger.     Ah  Grand  Dieu  !  des  marauguan  !    C'est  terrible, 

Sunday,  22. — Clear  and  beautiful  morning.  Wind  from 
the  east.  Atmosphere  in  a  more  sanitary  condition  than 
yesterday.  Cool  and  pleasant  all  day.  The  sick  folks  get- 
ting some  better.  M"  Garrett  staid  all  night.  Sophia  gone 
to  Kansas. 

M'  Miguel  Otero  from  Mexico  bro't  Harriet  home  in  his 
carriage  from  Kansas,  on  her  return  from  Lexington,  where 
she  has  been  paying  a  visit  to  her  friends. 

Thursday,  26, — By  M""  John  Moseley,  we  just  heard  of  the 

in  all  the  River  towns.  His  facetious  and  dry  humor,  his  ready  wit  was  enough  to  dis- 
pel ennui  from  the  most  confirmed  Hypochondriac. 

"  The  town  Constable  will  not  soon  forget  the  good  services  rendered  him  in  the  way 
of  advice  in  all  doubtful  questions  of  public  duty.  Charley's  advice  was  as  good  as  that 
derived  from  the  Law  Book.  He  was  familiar  with  the  Ordinances  of  the  town;  hence 
the  value  of  his  advice  in  all  questions  in  Municipal  law.  As  a  faithful  biographer  I 
am  bound  to  say  that  some  transient  person  rather  indiscreetly  called  Charley  a  Loafer. 
This  was  a  calumny.  Albeit,  he  was,  in  his  habits,  a  little  Loaferish;  but  he  was  invested 
by  dame  nature  with  a  dignity  that  caused  him  to  tower  '  a  head  and  shoulders '  above 
a  wilderness  of  Loafers. 

'  Charley  was  a  Widower  and  has  left  an  only  child — an  interesting  daughter,  Mary 
Elliott,  who  succeeds  to  his  estate  and  honors  according  to  the  laws  of  the  Wyandott 
nation.  It  is  but  just  and  a  due  regard  to  truth  requires  that,  it  should  be  stated  that, 
Mary  is  not  as  discreet,  prudent  and  well  behaved  as  she  would  have  been  had  she  been 
more  mindful  of  the  precepts  and  admonitions  of  her  lamented  sire. 

"Stranger,  tread  lightly  upon  the  sod  which  covers  the  remains  of  poor  Charley. 

(Signed)  "GuizoT." 


July,  1851.]  GOVERNOR  WALKER.  327 

death  of  John  Nofat.     He  is  said  to  have  died  this  morning 
of  cholera. 

Sunday,  29. — John  Williams,  son  of  Geo.  D.  Williams,  was 
committed  to  prison  yesterday  for  an  assault  on  one  of  the 
twin  boys,  who  died  from  his  wounds.  A  sad  fix  for  John. 
Went  down  to  make  a  call  upon  Major  Moseley.  Spent  a 
couple  of  hours  with  him  in  general  chit  chat. 

July,  1851. 

Tuesday,  1. — Went  to  town  to  see  what  the  Hon.  Execu- 
tive Council  was  doing.  Two  members  being  missing  and 
they  being  the  oldest,  James  Kankin  and  James  Washing- 
ton, the  Council  adjourned  till  Thursday. 

Friday,  4. — The  glorious  4th  spent  in  Kansas  amongst 
very  good  company. 

Saturday,  12. — Cholera  still  raging  in  Independence. 

Tuesday,  15. — To-day  John  Williams  will  have  his  trial, 
if  a  Jury  can  be  raised  and  the  witnesses  be  had. 

Went  to  town  and  called  on  Major  Moseley  who  had  just 
returned  from  a  Delaware  Council. 

From  reports  from  Independence  the  scourge  is  performing 
deadly  work  in  that  place.     Six  more  deaths  on  Saturday. 

Went  up  to  the  Council  House  to  witness  the  trial  of  John 
Williams  and  Tyson  Big-Snake.  I  was  unexpectedly  forced 
upon  the  Jury.  For  the  want  of  evidence  they  were  ac- 
quitted. 

Wednesday,  16. — Adam  Brown  and  Peter  Bearskin  called 
upon  me  to  do  some  writing  for  them.  By  them  I  learned 
that  Charles  Graham  had  died  of  Cholera,  probably  the  14th 
inst.  Just  as  I  predicted  and  repeatedly  told  him.  Poor 
Charley!  he  fell  as  an — a  victim  to  the  god  mammon.  The 
particulars  of  his  death  have  not  transpired. 

I  have  since  learned  that  he  was  attacked  in  the  forenoon 
and  died  that  evening.    M""  Guthrie  went  to  see  him  on  busi- 


328  THE  JOURNALS  OF  [July,  I85i. 

ness,  but  when  he  reached  there,  found  him  in  the  agonies 
of  death  and  [he]  died  a  short  time  afterwards. 

I  have  also  heard  of  the  death  of  Tondee.  He  died  yes- 
terday of  the  flux. 

Saturday,  26. — Went  over  to  see  Uncle  James  Rankin 
who  has  been  sick  for  several  days.  Found  him  quite  a 
promising  convalescent.  M^  J.  Walker  and  a  M""  H.  A. 
Walter  called  upon  us  and  spent  some  time. 

Several  cases  of  cholera  in  Kansas. 

Sunday,  27. — Clear,  but  warm — the  sun  rises  with  a  fiery 
and  lurid  glare. 

Went  up  to  see  Uncle  James  and  staid  till  1  o'clock  P.  M. 
Found  him  apparently  free  from  disease  but  much  weaker 
than  he  was  on  yesterday. 

Rev.  M""  Scarritt  preached  to-day.  After  meeting,  he  and 
his  lady  came  and  dined  with  us.  I  then  called  on  M'"  Shaler 
and  found  him  improving.     Therm.  98°. 

Monday,  28. — I  went  over  to  see  Uncle  James  and  found 
him  much  better. 

Major  Moseley  and  Joel  Walker  went  up  to  attend  a 
Council  of  the  Delawares. 

Thursday,  31. — Clear  and  cool  morning.  This  is  the  last 
day  of  July  and  with  this  month  may  terminate  our  exces- 
sive warm  weather. 

This  has  truly  been  a  dull,  monotonous  day;  not  a  soul 
has  come  near  us  up  to  this  hour,  5  o'clock  P.  M.  Half  of 
the  Wyandott  nation  might  be  dead  and  we  unconscious  of 
the  calamity.     Well,  well,  ignorance  is  bliss. 

Within  20  minutes  of  8  o'clock  P.  M.  while  I  was  sitting 
in  the  passage  looking  out  upon  the  green,  all  of  a  sudden 
the  yard  in  front  became  illuminated,  [I]  supposing  upon 
the  instant  that  a  lighted  candle  was  beiog  bro't  in  from  the 
kitchen,  but  upon  looking  up,  a  vast,  brilliant  illumination 
of  a  mixture  of  purple,  crimson  and  yellow   was   looming 


August,  1851.]  GOVERNOR  WALKER.  329 

most  magnificently  in  the  South  at,  as  near  as  I  can  recollect, 
about  45°  above  the  horizon.  The  illumination  lasted  about 
5  seconds  and  suddenly  disappeared.  Whether  this  was  an 
Aereolite  or  not,  I  am  unable  to  tell.  About  a  minute  after, 
a  distant  rumbling  like  thunder  was  heard  in  the  same  direc- 
tion, which  lasted  a  half  minute,  and  gradually  died  away. 
I  am  certain  it  was  not  thunder,  as  at  the  time,  the  sky  was 
clear  and  the  stars  twinkling  all  over  the  heavens — not  a 
cloud  was  to  be  seen.^ 

August,  1851. 

Sunday,  3. — In  the  evening  Rev.  M'  Dofflemeyer  called 
upon  me  and  spent  an  hour  in  quite  agreeable  chat. 

Monday,  4. — Finished  reading  Dickens'  latest  production, 
"David  Copperfield,  the  Younger." 

Major  Moseley  called  to-day  and  staid  an  hour,  [which 
we  spent]  in  social  chat.  Learned  by  him  that  M"  Cheau- 
teau's  negro.  Waller,  died  of  cholera  yesterday — a  truly 
great  loss  to  that  family. 

Friday,  8.— Went  to  Kansas.  Settled  with  M'  Coffman, 
a  debt  due  the  Estate  of  Leonard  Benvist,  $26.70.  Came 
home  in  the  evening. 

This  evening  our  folks  took  the  Steamer  'Clara'  for  St. 
Charles. 

Saturday,  9. — Staid  at  home  all  day.  John  Johnston  lost 
his  entire  family — his  wife  and  two  children,  by  Cholera. 

Our  neighbors  all  gone  to  the  Camp  Meeting  at  Delaware. 

Sunday,  10. — Warm.  In  the  evening  Major  Moseley 
called  and  staid  some  time.  Rain,  rain.  John  Van  Metre 
and  William  Taylor,  clerks  to  Walker  Boyd  &  Chick,  died 
of  cholera. 

•  From  the  year  1850  to  that  of  1860  such  phenomena  as  is  described  here,  and 
comets,  and  other  strange  appearances  in  the  sky  were  often  seen  in  Eastern  Kentucky. 
People  believed  they  were  signs  of  approaching  war.  When  the  war  commenced  they 
were  convinced  that  they  had  judged  the  signs  aright. 


330  THE   JOURNALS   OF  [August,  1851. 

Monday,  11. — Cloudy,  and  thro'  the  day  more  rain. 
What  is  this  country  going  to  come  to?  We  shall  have  a 
pestilence.  The  Cholera  is  still  carrying  off  its  victims  and 
other  diseases  will  soon  follow,  especially  those  autumnal  epi- 
demics so  common  in  this  country. 

Tuesday,  12. — Went  to  town  to  attend  the  National  Elec- 
tion. Before  going  into  the  election  a  proposition  was  sub- 
mitted by  John  Kayrohoo,  one  of  the  Candidates  for  the 
Council,  to  enquire  into  the  expediency  of  so  Amending  the 
Constitution  as  to  do  away  with  the  Legislative  Committee. 

It  was,  after  some  discussion,  finally  agreed  to  proceed 
with  the  election  of  members  of  the  Council,  and  afterwards 
to  elect  members  of  a  Convention  to  revise  the  Constitution. 

Present  Incumbenta.  Nominees. 

James  Washington,  62  Votes.  John  Kayrohoo,  28  Maj.  34 

James  Kankin 58     "  Towareh  37  "     21 

MatMudeater 52     "  John  Arms 45  "       7 

J.  W.  Gray  Eyes  . . .38     "  J.  S.  Bearskin . . .67  "     29 

It  was  then  proposed  to  proceed  to  the  election  of  the 
members  of  the  Legislative  Committee.  Agreed  to.  When 
the  following  men  were  elected : 

John  Sarrahess,  Esq.  Gray  Eyes,  White- Grow,  J.  Kayro- 
hoo and  J.  D.  Brown. 

This  election  being  disposed  of,  the  Convention  proceeded 
to  the  election  of  thirteen  delegates  to  revise  the  Constitution. 

John  D.  BrowTL,  Esq.  Gray  Eyes,  M.  R.  Walker,  White- 
Oroio,  John  Sarrahess,  John  Kayrohoo,  Towareh,  Silas  Arm- 
strong, J.  M.  Armstrong,  Michael  Frost,  Matt  Barnett,  Thomas 
Coon-Hawk  and  Isaac  Brown.     13. 

James  T.  Charloe  declining  to  be  a  candidate  Louis  Lumpey 
was  elected  Sheriff  in  his  place.  John  Pipe  was  re-elected 
Sheriff 

Thursday,  14. — Deacon   Shaler  packing  up  his   things. 


September,  1851.]  GOVERNOR   WALKER.  331 

Moved  away  in  the  afternoon.  He  left  the  Wyandott  Ter- 
ritory under  a  shade. 

Friday,  15. — The  Anniversary  of  the  Green  Corn  feast. 
"  Time  honored  day,"  in  the  annals  of  Wyandott  history. 

Tuesday,  19. — Clear  and  pleasant.  Major  Moseley  sent 
a  dispatch  to  me,  requiring  my  attendance  at  the  Councih 
and  in  a  few  minutes  Uncle  James  Rankin  sent  for  me  to 
come  over  and  see  his  sick  family,  his  daughter  being  con- 
sidered dangerous.  I  yielded  to  the  call  of  humanity  in 
preferment  to  unimportant  official  calls. 

Sunday,  31. — To-day  a  number  of  our  folks  set  out,  some 
for  Ohio  &  some  for  Canada,  viz.: — R.  Garrett,  M'^^  M.  Gar- 
rett, Rebecca  Garrett,  M.  Mudeater  and  several  others. 

September,  1851. 

Monday,  1. — Went  round  to  visit  the  sick.  Uncle  James 
Rankin  sinking  very  fast  with  the  consumption. 

Tuesday,  2. — Beautiful  morning.  Rode  out  to  F.  A. 
Hicks's.  Then  visited  the  sick.  Rode  up  to  John  Hicks's, 
Senr.  [and]  bo't  some  Beef  and  a  Bushel  of  fine  Peaches. 

Scarcely  a  family  to  be  found  in  the  Nation  without  some 
one  sick. 

Wednesday,  3. — Issued  marriage  license  to  authorize  the 
marriage  of  John  B.  Curley-Head  to  M'^^  Matilda  Clark. 

Friday,  5. — Clear  and  warm.  Went  over  to  see  Uncle 
James.  He  appears  to  maintain  his  strength  and  vigor  in  a 
remarkable  degree. 

In  the  evening  I  was  called  upon  to  visit  Sam'l  Rankin 
who  is  also  taken  down.  I  went  over  and  found  him  in  a 
high  fever.  Staid  with  him  till  after  midnight.  Unusually 
warm  night. 

Saturday,  6. — Went  over  in  the  evening  to  see  Uncle 
James  and  family.     Found  Sam'l  some  better. 


332  THE   JOURNALS   OF  [September,  185L 

M.  E,.  Walker  had  a  son  born  to  him  to-day;  over  which 
he  doubtless  rejoices  greatly. 

Sunday,  7. — Martha  passed  thro'  a  bad  night,  having  a 
high  fever  all  night. 

In  the  evening  went  to  pay  a  visit  to  Major  Moseley. 
Found  Dr.  Ridge  &  W  Northrup  &  lady  there.  Staid  till 
sunset  and  came  home. 

Sunday,  14. — Cloudy  and  misting  rain.  Went  to  Camp 
meeting.  Heard  a  sermon  from  L.  B.  Stateler  and  one  from 
M'  Scarritt.  Turned  out  to  be  a  pleasant  day.  Dined  with 
M'  Doffiemeyer.     Came  home  in  the  evening. 

Monday,  15. — Clear  and  pleasant.    Went  to  Meeting  again. 

Silas  Armstrong  not  appearing,  I  interpreted  for  M""  Sciir- 
ritt  his  11  o'clock  sermon. 

Tuesday,  16. — Warm  day.  Visited  M.  R.  W.  and  family; 
found  them  improving.  Then  visited  Uncle  James,  found 
him  still  declining. 

Nothing  interesting  transpired  to-day,  except  the  call  of 
Doctor  Doyle  who  wishes  to  be  employed  as  Physician  for 
the  Nation,  and  also  a  call  by  a  M""  Rucker,  who  wishes  to 
open  a  Female  Seminary  in  Kansas.  Subscribed  one  session 
for  Harriet. 

Wednesday,  17. — Heard  yesterday  that  that  Buccaneer 
Patriot  Lopez  has  been  captured  by  the  Cubans  and  executed. 
It  is  to  be  hoped  that  the  signal  failure  of  this  lawless  and 
uncalled  for  interference  with  the  aflfairs  of  foreign  govern- 
ments, will  teach  Americans  to  stay  at  home  and  attend  to 
their  own  business.  It  has  been  seen  but  too  clearly,  and 
severely  too,  that  the  oppressed  Cubans  do  not  thank  Amer- 
icans for  their  sympathy,  least  of  all  for  their  invasion  of 
their  soil  for  the  ostensible  purpose  of  delivering  them  from 
oppression.  Verily,  the  Americans  that  have  been  caught 
upon  their  soil  have  had  "their  reward"! 

Major  Moseley  returned  from  Potawotamie. 


September,  1851]  GOVERNOR   WALKER.  333 

Thursday,  18. — Clear  and  beautiful  morning  tho'  some- 
what coo 

Went  to  pay  a  visit  to  Maj.  Moseley.  Found  him  much 
fatigued  and  indisposed.  Saw  a  late  No.  of  the  Republican 
which  confirms  the  reported  capture  and  execution  of  Lopez, 
the  Brigand. 

Went  up  to  F.  A.  Hicks's  and  found  Rev.  L.  B.  Stateler 
and  Lady  there.  Had  a  long  conversation  with  him  on  the 
prospects  of  the  Aboriginal  race,  connected  with  the  policy 
of  the  Government  towards  them. 

Learned  that  the  Circuit  Court  will  adjourn  next  Saturday. 

Friday,  19. — Clear  and  pleasant  morning,  with  the  pros- 
pect of  a  warm  day.  Went  to  Independence  to  attend  the 
session  of  the  Circuit  Court.  Had  my  case  continued  till 
next  term. 

Saturday,  20. — Spent  my  time  in  looking  about  town  and 
chatting  with  acquaintances,  and  spending  Some  time  in 
Court  witnessing  its  proceedings. 

Sunday,  21. — Spent  the  day  in  town.  Heard  of  the  death 
of  Judge  McClelland  of  Sibley. 

Monday,  22. — Came  home  and  found  M''  Gilmore  had 
returned  from  Cincinnati. 

Sunday,  28.— Went  to  Church.  While  there  M"  Kelley 
and  M"  Lusk,  the  former  from  Wayne  City,  and  the  latter 
from  Jefiferson  City,  came  in.  They  came  on  a  visit.  They 
dined  with  us  and  were  compelled  to  return  the  same  even- 
ing. Uncle  James  sent  for  me;  I  found  him  insensible  and 
about  winding  up  his  earthly  career.  I,  with  C.  B.  Garrett 
and  Henry  Garrett,  staid  with  him  till  he  expired,  at  h  past 
5  A.  M.  I  and  Henry  closed  his  eyes.  Thus  terminated 
the  career  of  James  Rankin  in  the  76th  year  of  his  age. 

Monday,  29. — Arrangements  made  for  the  funeral,  to  take 
place  to-morrow  under  the  directions  of  the  Council. 

At  a  special  session  of  the  Council  it  was  agreed  that  &t 


334  THE   JOURNALS   OF  [September,  1851. 

11  o'clock  A.  M.,  the  corpse  be  taken  to  the  Church  where 
an  oration  is  to  be  delivered  by  John  Hicks,  Sen.;  from 
thence  to  the  burying  ground,  and  after  the  burial,  the 
company  to  disperse. 

Tuesday,  30. — Beautiful  day.  The  funeral  solemnities 
were  performed  in  accordance  with  the  above  programme. 

Came  home  fatigued  and  worn  out. 

October,  1851. 

Wednesday,  1. — Went  over  in  the  evening  to  see  my  Wid- 
owed Aunt's  family.     Found  them  improving. 

Thursday,  2. — Joel  Walker  called  and  informed  me  that 
the  Council  would  meet  to-day.  After  some  time  we  went 
down.  I  called  upon  Major  Moseley  who  had  been  sick,  and 
I  received  a  severe  cursing  from  him  for  not  paying  more 
attention  to  him. 

The  Council  rejected  Dr.  Doyle's  application. 

Friday,  3. — M'^  W.  and  I  signed  the  deed  conveying  our 
Seneca  County  land.  We  both  went  to  pay  a  visit  to  Major 
Moseley.  Found  him  improving;  but  a  more  obstinate,  ill 
tempered,  fretful  and  troublesome  sick  man  I  never  saw. 

Saturday,  4. — Bro't  over  some  cows  from  Aunt  Rankin's 
to  keep  a  few  weeks,  while  the  family  was  sick  and  unable 
to  attend  to  them. 

Cut  some  wood  and  packed  it  on  my  shoulder  to  the 
House.  This  is  outrageous  for  me  to  become  a  pack  mule  I 
— Harriet  came  home. 

Monday,  6. — Wrote  out  a  Biographical  Sketch  of  Uncle 
James  R.  for  publication. 

I  learn  by  M.  R.  Walker  that  Major  Moseley  is  worse. 
When  is  our  sickness  to  terminate? 

In  the  evening  my  fever  came  on;  lasted  nearly  all  night. 
M"  W.  confined  to  her  bed. 

Louis  Lumpey,  one  of  the  Sheriffs,  called  and  notified  me 


October,  1851.]  GOVERNOE  WALKER.  335 

to  attend  a  National  Convention,  for  what  purpose,  he  did  not 
inform  me.  It  is  rather  problematical  whether  I  shall  at- 
tend or  not. 

Tuesday,  7. — Clear  and  cool  morning  with  an  unusually 
heavy  dew. 

I  feel  better  this  morning.  I  must  avail  myself  of  my 
good  condition  by  going  to  Kansas  to  procure  some  family 
stores,  medicines,  &c. 

This  morning  a  Boat  in  passing  up  grounded  upon  the  bar, 
and  there  she  lays. 

Went  to  Kansas  and  purchased  some  medicines.  Came 
home,  and  as  usual,  had  a  chill,  which  prevented  me  from 
attending  the  National  Convention. 

Wednesday,  8. — In  the  afternoon  M"  Z.  Armstrong  called 
to  see  us;  and  shortly  after,  M"  M.  Hicks  called.  From  her 
we  learned  that  our  son  of  the  Emerald  Isle  of  potato  smash- 
ing memory,  John  Lynch,  was  married  in  Cass  County  to  a 
M  ^^  Susan  Tull.  Verily  M'^^  Susan  must  have  wanted  a 
husband  distressingly! 

Saturday,  11. — I  went  to  Kansas  and  got  my  mail.  There 
I  learned  that  Col.  Chenault  had  bro't  on  Major  Moseley's 
Annuity.  Dined  with  M""  Boyd  at  the  "  Union,"  reopened. 
The  dinner  nothing  to  boast  of 

Sunday,  12. — In  the  afternoon  I  paid  a  visit  to  Major 
Moseley  and  found  him  recovering;  but  Oh!  what  an  ill 
tempered,  wicked  old  sinner.  Having  a  very  sore  mouth 
and  unable  to  talk  only  by  signs,  but  when  in  a  gust  of  pas- 
sion he  will  swear  like  a  pirate.  His  son  John  arrived  on 
Saturday.     Just  heard  that  M"^  Long  is  not  expected  to  live. 

Wrote  a  communication  for  the  Ledger. 

Monday,  13.— Wrote  to  M'  Thomas  Shipley  of  Cass 
County.  M""  John  Moseley  called  this  morning  and  spent 
an  hour  with  us. 

Addressed  a  note  to  M'  Telegraph  man  demanding  resti- 


336  THE   JOURNALS   OF  [October,  185L 

tution  of  moneys  paid  for  dispatches  sent  when  their  wires 
were  broken. 

Just  heard  of  the  death  of  M"  Long. 

Tuesday,  14. — Wrote  to  Sophia,  enclosing  $32.  to  her  at 
Harrodsburg.  Wrote  also  to  O.  Andrews  at  St.  Charles, 
enclosing  |6.00.  [Wrote]  also  to  Dr.  Rodgers,  enclosing 
$10.00. 

Mr.  Long  died  last  evening. 

Saturday,  18. — A  deputation  of  Sioux,  Cheyennes,  Arap- 
ahoes.  Crows  and  Snake  Indians  headed  by  Major  Fitz 
Patrick  were  at  the  "  Union  Hotel "  waiting  for  a  Boat.  They 
are  on  a  visit  by  special  invitation  to  Washington. 

While  [I  was]  there  the  Clara  came  down  and  they  took 
passage  on  her. 

Sunday,  19. — M'  Dofflemeyer  went  to  preach  to  the  Del- 
awares. 

Monday,  20. — I  must  pay  my  respects  to  Major  Moseley 
this  morning. 

Went  at  10  o'clock  and  wrote  in  the  Agent's  office.  The 
Major  paying  off  the  employees  in  his  Agency. 

Then  went  to  the  Council.  The  new  Constitution  was 
adopted  and  a  poor  thing — a  piece  of  folly,  the  product  of  a 
set  of  sap  heads,  and  a  sappy  concern  it  is. 

Just  heard  of  the  death  of  David  Young.  Died  of  con- 
sumption. 

James  T.  Charloe  elected  to  supply  the  vacancy  in  the 
Council  caused  by  the  decease  of  James  Rankin. 

Wednesday,  22. — Heard  yesterday  that  the  Steamer  Her- 
man was  sunk  and  her  cargo,  part  belonging  to  Walker 
Boyd  &  Chick,  lost  and  damaged. 

M""  Gilmore  and  Martha  gone  up  to  F.  A.  Hicks's  to  see 
Dr.  Fish  the  Oculist. 

Saturday,  25. — We  had  a  tempestuous  and  windy  night. 
Cloudy  this  morning.  Dry  weather.  The  grass  is  parched 
up. 


October,  1851.]  GOVERNOR  WALKER.  337 

So  it  is  in  this  Country.  Everything  on  extremes.  When 
we  have  rain  it  is  a  general  deluge,  and  that  over,  then  a 
drouth  follows  and  the  face  of  the  earth  is  as  dry  as  the 
deserts  of  Zaharra.  The  more  I  see  and  feel  of  this  climate, 
the  more  I  am  dissatisfied  with  it.  I  have  taken  a  severe 
cold.  The  wind  is  now  blowing  from  the  North  and  very 
cold.  I  have  a  severe  pain  in  my  breast,  with  some  diffi- 
culty of  breathing. 

Sunday,  26. — M'  Scarritt  preaches  to-day  but  I  am  too 
much  indisposed  to  attend  Church. 

Went  down  in  the  Afternoon  to  visit  Major  Moseley.  He 
is  evidently  getting  well  and  intends  making  the  Annuity 
payment  this  week. 

So  has  this  Sabbath  day  been  spent. 

Tuesday,  28. — I  suppose  the  Council  will  meet  to-day  and 
make  out  the  Pay  E-oll.  Preparatory  to  the  payment  of  the 
Semi-Annuity.  I  must  go  down  and  aid  them,  and  make 
out  triplicates. 

At  10  o'clock  I  went  to  the  Council.  Found  the  Prin- 
cipal Chief  &  the  two  Sheriffs  in  attendance,  but  no  Council- 
lors. I  will  wait  no  longer ;  having  waited  two  hours,  I 
came  home,  and  they  may  get  along  the  best  they  can,  the 
lazy  scamps. 

Wednesday,  29. — Went  down  to  see  Major  Moseley.  But 
he  had  flown  from  his  "  Rookery  "  and  taken  passage  in  M*" 
Dofflemeyer's  carriage  for  Kansas.  Johnny  O'Bludgeon 
passed  on  his  way  to  Cass  County.  Came  home.  Then 
went  to  M.  R.  Walker's  and  bo't  some  fine  Beef.  Cloudy 
and  threatening  more  rain.  Russia  hauling  wood,  and  I 
doing  nothing.     M"  W.  bo't  of  M"  Dofflemeyer  a  horse. 

I  have  been  suffering  for  a  week  past  with  a  severe  Heart- 
burn. I  have  resorted  to  the  usual  remedies  in  such  cases, 
such  as  Rodix  Rhei  Soda,  weak  ley  &c.,  abstinence  from 
oleaginous  food,  but  all  to  no  purpose — no  relief  afforded. 
What  shall  I  do  next?  Yes,  what? 
23 


338  THE   JOURNALS   OF  [October,  1851. 

Friday,  31. — Commenced  making  out  triplicate  Pay  Eolls 
for  the  Annuity.     Feel  very  unwell.     Feeble  and  weak. 

November,  1851. 

Saturday,  1. — Pennsylvania  and  Ohio  gone  for  the  De- 
mocracy. 

Rec'd  a  letter  from  Dr.  Kogers  of  St.  Charles  acknowledg- 
ing the  Receipt  of  $10.     Working  at  the  Pay  Rolls. 

Sunday,  2. — Went  in  company  with  Martha  to  the  North- 
ern Quarterly  Meeting.  Heard  a  poor  sermon  from  the 
Presiding  Elder.  Rev.  L.  B.  Stateler  preached  at  the  Brick 
Church. 

In  the  evening  M""  Henry  Twyman  called,  and  staid  all 
night. 

Monday,  3. — Rec'd  an  invitation  to  a  wedding  at  M"  Ran- 
kin's. The  happy  couple  was  John  Pipe  and  Miss  Nancy 
Rankin.  They  were  [married]  by  Rev.  M^  Dofflemeyer. 
There  [was]  a  bountiful  supper.  Came  home  at  h  past  7  in 
the  evening. 

Friday,  7. — Splendid  morning!  This  is  emphatically 
"Indian  Summer."  We  have  had  no  rain  for  four  weeks 
and  the  earth  is  parched  up,  and  the  grass  as  dry  as  flax. 

Went  to  Kansas  and  found  Esquire  Ladd  &  family  had 
lauded  the  evening  before,  and  I  suppose  calculate  upon  be- 
coming residents  of  Missouri. 

Saturday,  8. — To-day  Maj.  Moseley  makes  the  Annuity 
payment. 

Closed  the  Semi-Annuity  [payment]  to-day  at  3  o'clock 
P.  M.,  at  $13.00  per  capita.  James  Findlay,  Esq.,  assisted 
in  the  payment. 

Sunday,  9. — Went  over  to  Pharaoh's  and  spent  some  time 
in  social  chat.  Heard  of  the  death  of  Rev.  James  Porter. 
Also  heard  that  Albert  G.  Boon  was  married  to  some  East- 
ern Lady. 


December,  1851.]  GOVERNOR  WALKER.  339 

Wet  and  "  mucky  weather."  In  the  evening  the  weather 
cleared  up  and  the  moon  rose  in  crimson  majesty,  and  the 
Heavens  were  covered  with  brilliant  stars.     Felicitatus. 

Wednesday,  12. — We  have  had  no  one  to  call  upon  us  to- 
day.    Something  unusual. 

Just  at  this  moment  Russel  Garrett  called  in ;  having  been 
forced  out,  notwithstanding  the  inclemency  of  the  weather, 
to  hunt  for  some  chewing  tobacco.  I  furnished  him  with  a 
slice  of  the  weed. 

Sunday,  16. — Must  go  [to]  the  Synagogue  to  hear  M'" 
Scarritt  preach,  this  being  his  day  to  preach  at  the  Brick 
Church.  Came  home  at  J  past  2  o'clock  P.  M.  A  rather 
thin  Congregation. 

At  7  o'clock  at  night  cosily  seated  by  the  fire  we  eat  our 
last  Water  Melon. 

Our  family  is  now  reduced  to  our  two  selves  and  the  do- 
mestic, and  we  "are  a  mighty  civil  family. ^^ 

Tuesday,  18. — Clear  cold  and  frosty  morning.  To-day 
the  Council  meets  and  I  must  present,  in  M""  Gilmore's  name, 
the  Calumet  to  the  Wolf  tribe,  thro'  James  Washington. 

Went  to  town  and  got  our  horse,  John,  shod.  Learned 
that  a  murder  had  been  perpetrated  near  Westport  by  one 
Shawnee  upon  another,  and  another  had  been  severely  toma- 
hawked.    Major  Moseley  returned  in  the  afternoon. 

During  the  session  of  the  Council  I  presented  M'  Gil- 
more's Pipe,  with  a  suitable  speech. 

December,  1851. 

Thursday,  4. — A  National  Convention  of  the  Wyandotts 
is  to  be  held  to-day,  but  for  what  purpose,  I  am  not  advised. 

I  went  down  and  called  upon  Major  M.  Found  him  still 
quite  indisposed.  Attended  the  Meeting  at  the  Council 
House.  A  little  over  thirty  persons  attended,  not  a  quorum; 
but  they  recommited  the  new  Constitution  to  the  framers  for 
certain    amendments.     I   entertain    for   these   Constitution 


o40  THE    JOURNALS   OF  [December.  1851. 

makers  and  reformers  but  little  respect  either  for  their  abili- 
ties or  their  professed  love  for  the  ^'dea7'  people.''  They  are 
a  set  of  noisy  demagogues — having  no  fixed,  or  established 
principles,  either  poiiticiil,  moral  or  religious. 

While  there,  I  was  taken  with  a  chill  and  I  took  French 
leave. 

Friday,  5. — C.  B.  Garrett  was  thrown  from  his  Wagon 
and  badly  hurt  in  his  side. 

Saturday,  6. — Being  a  witness  in  the  Case  of  McNees  vs 
Hudson  and  the  trial  being  set  for  to-day  I  went  to  K.  The 
Plaintiff,  however,  had  withdrawn  the  suit 

Sunday,  7. — Visited  C.  B.  Garrett.^     Found  him  some- 

'  Charles  B.  Garrett  was  born  in  Greenbrier  County,  (now)  West  Virginia,  October 
28,  1794.  He  was  the  son  of  William  and  Winnaford  (Bolt)  Garrett.  His  father  was  a 
farmer  and  he  worked  on  the  farm  until  he  was  17,  when  he  formed  a  little  company 
of  his  companions  and  went  to  Viucennes,  where  they  joined  the  army  of  Generai 
Harrison.  He  served  through  the  war  of  1812,  being  in  the  battle  of  Tippecanoe,  and 
that  of  the  Thames.  At  the  close  of  the  war  he  returned  home,  but  he  remembered  th« 
beautiful  country  of  Ohio,  and  returned  to  Boss  County,  that  State,  in  1816.  Here  he 
married  Miss  Kittie  Ann  White,  August  29,  1818.  Miss  White's  father  came  from 
Greenbrier  County,  West  Va.  He  had  been  a  Captain  in  the  EcYolutionary  army. 
His  wife  was  the  sister  of  President  Monroe.  Mr.  Garrett  moved  from  Eoss  County 
to  Crawford  County  sometime  before  1823.  His  wife  died  there  in  that  year.  He  mar- 
ried Miss  Maria  Walker,  the  youngest  sister  of  Governor  Walker,  at  Upper  Sandusky, 
Ohio,  October  31,  1826,  and  was  soon  afterwards  adopted  into  the  Wyandot  tribe  with 
much  ceremony  and  pomp.  He  engaged  in  the  wool-carding  business  aud  had  mills  at 
v/hat  was  known  as  "  Little  Wyandot "  in  what  is  now  Wyandot  County,  Ohio.  In 
1843  he  came  West  with  the  Wyandots.  He  built  his  house  on  what  is  now  North  7th 
Street,  Kansas  City,  Kansas.  In  1849,  he  and  other  Wyandots  formed  a  company  to  go 
to  California  to  dig  gold.  They  were  six  months  on  the  way  across  the  plains  and 
mountains.  They  were  on  the  North  Fork  of  Feather  Eiver  and  were  successful. 
He  was  attacked  by  the  mountain  fever  and  his  son  Eussell  brought  him  home,  by 
way  of  Panama  and  New  Orleans,  in  the  Spring  of  1852.  He  died  December  2,  1867,  of 
dropsy,  at  the  home  of  his  son,  Eussell,  in  the  old  Brevidore  House  at  the  comer  of 
Fourth  Street  and  Nebraska  Avenue,  Kansas  City,  Kansas.  He  is  buried  in  the  old 
Huron  Place  Cemetery,  in  that  city.  His  family  burying  ground  is  immediately  on 
the  lines  of  Minnesota  Avenue  and  some  private  property.  In  grading  the  street  and 
this  property  the  burial  lot  is  left  high  above  the  street  and  the  fine  stone  wall  about 
it  is  tumbling  down.    On  the  marble  shaft  in  the  lot  is  the  following: 

In 

Memory  of 

Charles  B.  Garrett 

Died 

Dec.  2   1867 

Aged 

73  Yrs  I    Mo  &,  4  Ds. 

His  wife  is  buried  in  the  same  lot.     She  died  May  30, 1866.     The  children  of  Charks 


December,  1851.]  GOVERNOR   WALKER.  341 

what  comfortable  but  he  is  badly  hurt.  The  weather  being 
rather  Labradorian  I  kept  close  quarters. 

Monday,  8. — M""^  W.  and  I  went  over  to  see  the  invalid. 
Found  him  in  considerable  of  misery.  Dr.  Doyle,  his  Physi- 
cian was  with  him.  Staid  a  couple  of  hours,  and  came  home, 
leaving  M""^  W.  there.     Had  a  sick  afternoon. 

Tuesday,  23.— M'  and  M"  Dofflemeyer  set  out  for  Platte 
County.     I  envy  not  their  ride  on  such  a  day  as  this. 

Went  to  town  and  called  upon  Major  Moseley.  While 
there  the  Council  sent  for  me  and  notified  me  of  my  election 
to  [the]  ofiice  of  Clerk  of  the  Council.  I  informed  that 
Honorable  body  that  I  duly  appreciated  the  honor  done  me 
by  the  voters  of  the  Wyandott  nation,  but  unfortunately  I 
was  ineligible.  I  held  an  appointment  under  the  U.  S.  in 
the  Indian  department,  that  of  U.  S.  Interpreter  for  the 
Wyandott  nation,  and  had  been  sworn  into  office  and  also 
to  support  the  Constitution  of  the  U.  S.;  and  the  law  of  the 
Wyandott  nation  required  the  Clerk,  before  entering  upon 
his  duties,  to  take  an  oath  of  fealty  to  the  Wyandott  nation, 
thus  requiring  the  same  individual  to  serve  two  governments. 
But  I  would  cheerfully  serve  them  as  Clerk  provided  they 
would  dispense  with  the  qualifying  oath.  The  question  was 
postponed. 

Wednesday,  24. — Having  employed  Jacob  Charloe  to  ac- 
company me  to  Kansas,  we  set  out  at  12  o'clock  on  foot. 
Thawing  and  slavish  walking. 

B.  Garrett  and  Kittie  Ann  (White)  Garrett  were  :  1.  Amanda,  born  June  15, 1819,  mar- 
ried   Roscberry,  died  at  Bucyrus  in  1845  ;  2.  William  W.,  born  December  29,  1821, 

married  Mary  Ann  Long,  at  Wyandotte,  Kan.,  died  July  5,  1867,  of  typhoid  fever;  3. 
Wesley  bom  September  26,  1823,  married  Sarah  Spurlock,  died  at  Lecompton,  Kan., 
January  6,  1894,  of  la  grippe. 

Children  of  Charles  B.  Garrett  and  Maria  (Walker)  Garrett  were:  1.  Harriet  P., 
bom  December  16,  1827,  died  August  1,  1830;  2.  Russell,  born  September  29,  1829,  mar- 
ried Miss  Elizabeth  J.  Lane,  May  18,  1860,  lives  in  Ventura,  Cal.;  3.  Cyrus,  born  May  1, 
1831,  never  married,  died  February  20,  1859,  at  St.  Louis,  of  consumption;  4.  Henry, 
born  March  16,  1833,  never  married,  died  April  14,  1857,  at  Cincinnati,  of  scarlet 
fever;  5.  Byron,  bom  September  25,  1835,  died  September  1,  1842;  6.  Jane,  born 
April  26,  1S38,  died  October  20,  1841 ;  7.  Charles,  born  September  26,  1842,  died  Septem- 
ber a.  1843. 


342  THE   JOURNALS   OF  [December,  1851. 

Settled  up  some  business.  Paid  up  my  postage  for  the 
year.     Came  home  at  dark  tired  and  fatigued. 

Thursday,  25. — A  merry  Christmas  to  ye  all!  Cloudy 
and  damp  morning.  12  o'clock  M""  Geo.  Armstrong  called 
and  had  a  long  conversation  upon  the  subject  of  the  appoint- 
ment of  Administrators  on  the  Estate  of  Geo.  Armstrong, 
dec. 

Christmas  closed  without  any  thing  strange  or  interesting 
occurring  about  our  domicil. 

January,  1852. 

Thursday,  1. — A  happy  new  year  to  all  my  friends — and 
enemies  if  any  I  have.  To  each  of  the  former  I  send  my 
kind  greetings  &  "the  compliments  of  the  season." 

Spent  a  few  days  in  Kansas  partly  on  business  and  partly 
in  social  intercourse  with  my  acquaintances  and  friends. 

Thursday,  15. — In  the  afternoon  who  should  appear,  but 
a  strange  apparition  of  the  Weeping  Philosopher  in  the 
person  of  the  Widow  Graham  in  her  weeds  and  tears  and 
refusing  to  be  comforted.  It  was  enough  to  elongate  the 
countenance  of  a  Zany,  to  look  upon  her  and  hear  her 
whinings  and  wailings. 

Friday,  23. — A   strange   incident   in   our   neighborhood. 

Samuel  Drummond  formerly  from  Belmont  County,  Ohio, 
Assistant  Blacksmith  in  the  Public  Shop,  some  time  during 
the  last  week  in  December  manifested  some  symptoms  of 
aberration  of  the  mind  by  his  strange  moodiness  and  taci- 
turnity and  a  singular  waywardness  of  conduct  unusual  for 
him;  during  which  he  suddenly  disappeared.  He  was  after- 
wards heard  of  in  Parkville.  From  thence  he  went  in  the 
direction  of  Platte  City.  The  next  intelligence  was,  his 
calling:  at  a  House  and  offerinsf  all  the  monev  he  had  for 
lodging;  but  the  man  noticing  his  singular  conduct,  refused. 
He  stated  that  "He  was  pursued  by  a  gang  of  fellows  from 


January,  1852.]  GOVERNOR   WALKER.  343 

Kansas  and  he  was  tryiiig  to  escape  from  them.^^  Samuel 
Rankin  and  perhaps  some  others  went  in  pursuit  of  him. 
They  traced  him  as  far  as  Barrey,  where  he  was  last  seen. 
From  thence  he  launched  out  into  an  immense  broad  prairie, 
where  they  lost  track  of  him.  Poor  fellow!  we  fear  his 
stiffened  corse  is  stretched  upon  some  bleak  prairie.  It  is 
now  three  weeks  since  he  has  been  wandering  about  "  know- 
ing not  whither  he  goeth"  amidst  bitter  Labradorian 
weather. 

Tuesday,  27. — To-day  the  Council  meets  and  I  must  at- 
tend, as  some  important  matters  come  before  that  Honorable 
body. 

Called  upon  Major  Moseley  on  my  way  to  the  Council 
and  found  him  still  quite  sick  and  unable  to  do  business. 

Last  night  the  Widow  Warpole  departed  this  life.  Heard 
at  the  same  time  that  Captain  Peter  Buck  and  Miss  Catha- 
rine Johnston  died  in  the  Seneca  Country. 

Another  strange  incident  in  our  neighborhood. 

On  Thursday  last  Nicholas  Williams  was  seen  in  Kansas 
and  remained  till  late  in  the  evening,  when  he  set  out  for 
home.  Thomas  Coon-Hawk  overtook  him  at  Turkey  Creek 
and  finding  him  somewhat  intoxicated  kept  with  him  till 
they  came  to  the  crossing  of  the  Kansas  when  Williams  ob- 
jected to  crossing  on  the  ice  where  Thomas  intended  to  cross, 
and  started  off,  as  he  said,  to  cross  below.  It  was  then  dark 
and  [he]  has  never  been  seen  nor  heard  of  since.^ 

Wednesday,  28. — Harriet  was  taken  sick  on  Monday. 
Sick  all  day  and  much  worse  at  night. 

Thursday,  29. — Sent  M'  Nichols  to  Kansas  for  a  Doctor  to 
attend  on  Harriet,  tho'  she  seems  a  little  better  this  morning. 
At  1  o'clock  P.  M.  Dr.  Ridge  arrived  and  prepared  medi- 
cine for  Harriet. 

'  The  father  of  Mrs.  Mary  Walker,  widow  of  Isaiah  Walker.  It  was  supposed  that 
the  ice  broke  with  him,  and  that  he  was  drowned  in  the  Kansas  Eiver. 


344  THE   JOURNALS   OF  [January,  1853. 

No  intelligence  of  Nicholas  Williams.  His  fate  remains 
a  mystery. 

Friday,  30. — Poor  old  Nicholas  AVilliams  is  given  [up] 
for  gone,  as  no  trace  can  be  found  of  him. 

February,  1852. 

Monday,  2. — Heard  of  the  death  of  M""  Wilson  of  Kansas. 

Tuesday,  3. — M""  Nichols  returned,  and  by  him  we  learn 
that  a  M*^  Jackson  of  Kansas  died  of  Pneumonia  on  Satur- 
day last.     Got  no  mail  ''cause  the  Bluets  up." 

To-day  the  Council  meets  and  I  must  attend. 

Reported  the  written  Statement  on  the  Walker  claim, 
which  was  adopted  and  signed,  and  placed  in  the  hands  of 
Major  Moseley. 

The  following  deaths  have  occurred  in  the  Wyandott 
nation  since  the  first  day  of  January.  Towara,  Widow 
Warpole,  Peter  Buck,  Catharine  Johnston,  Jacob  Charloe's 
child,  James  Brown,  Margaret  Young's  daughter,  Sarah 
Hill,  N.  Williams  [missing],  Henry  Warpole's  wife. 

Thursday,  5. — In  the  evening  heard  of  the  death  of  Black- 
Sheep's  wife,  who  died  on  Tuesday  evening.  And  also  of 
the  death  of  Curley-Head's  wife.  This  turns  out  a  mistake. 
She  is  not  dead. 

Friday,  6. — Mud.  Such  as  I  never  saw  in  Missouri 
before.  Heard  by  Jacob  Charloe  that  it  is  a  mistake  about 
Curley-Head's  wife  being  dead.  She  is  in  the  Seneca 
country. 

Learned  from  Major  Moseley  that  the  remains  of  Samuel 
Drummond  were  found  within  two  miles  of  Liberty,  a  few 
days  ago: — and  that  out  of  $155.00,  he  had  still  on  his  per- 
son $100.00  in  gold.     Just  heard  of  the  death  of  M'  Arms. 

Thursday,  12. — Isaiah  Walker^  called  upon  us  and  spent 

•  Isaiah  Walker  was  the  son  of  Governor  Walker's  brother  Isaac.  He  married  Mary 
Williams.  The  wedding  was  at  the  house  of  Silas  Armstrong.  For  an  account  of  it 
see  Governor  Walker's  Journal,  under  date  of  February  13,  1853.    He  moved  to  the 


March,  1852.]  GOVERNOR  WALKER.  345 

the  day  with  us.  Hauling  stone.  I  greatly  fear  we  shall 
have  some  rain. — "Heaven  forfend"!  Clear  night,  but 
very  cold. 

Friday,  13. — The  Sheriff  called  to-day  to  summons  me  to 
attend  a  called  session  of  the  Council  to  quell  a  bloody 
quarrel  between  Adam  Brown  and  Abelard  Guthrie.  I 
went  down  and  found  the  two  under  arrest  by  the  Sheriff. 

Saturday,  14. — Jemmy  and  his  hand  having  completed 
their  job,  [I]  went  to  Kansas  to  pay  them  off, — $7. 

[I]  remained  there  [at  Kansas]  several  days. 

Meantime  a  most  murderous  affiiir  came  off.*  The  mur- 
derer was  Isaiah  Zane  and  the  murdered  was  John  Kayro- 
hoo.  The  offence  having  been  committed  over  the  line,  i.  e. 
in  Jackson  County,  the  former  was  committed  to  prison  to 
stand  his  trial  at  the  next  session  of  the  Circuit  Court. 

*  Monday,  16. — The  murder  refer'd  to  took  place  on  the  afternoon  of  this  date  and 
the  Court  of  Enquiry  with  the  Inquest  took  place  the  next  day,  Tuesday. 

The  Missouri  river  on  the  rise  and  full  of  thick  ice  float- 
ing down  like  an  avalanche. 

Saturday,  28. — Went  with  James  Washington  to  the 
Agent's  office  on  public  business.  Capt.  Joseph  Parks 
arrived  on  public  business,  also. 

Henry  Norton  selling  his  effects  at  public  Auction  and 
going  to  St.  Louis  to  keep  a  Drug  Store. 

March,  1852. 
Monday,  15. — A  most  desperate  rencounter  took  place  in 
Kansas  between  Charles  Hooker  and  a  young  man  named 
Hilton,  a  discharged  clerk  who  had  been  in  the  employ  of 
the  former.  It  appears  that  the  Store  of  M""-  H.  had  been 
robbed  in  the  early  part  of  the  winter,  of  some[thing]  near 
$400.00,  in  his  absence,  and  M'^  Hilton  having  charge  of  the 

Indian  Territory  with  the  Wyandots.  His  home  was  near  Seneca,  Mo.  He  was  draw- 
ing some  water  from  a  well  in  his  stable  yard  when  the  board  across  the  mouth  of  the 
well,  on  which  he  was  standing,  broke,  letting  him  fall  intuthe  well.  The  injuries  sus- 
tained in  the  fall  caused  his  death. 


346  THE   JOURNALS  OF  [March,  1852. 

Store  at  the  time.  Upon  the  return  of  M'"  H[ooker]  he 
dismissed  M"^  H[ilton]  and  at  the  same  time  charged  him 
with  the  robbery,  or  [with]  being  accessory  to  it.  M''  Hilton, 
smarting  under  the  disgraceful  imputation,  sought  satisfac- 
tion in  various  ways,  but  in  vain.  He  then  challenged  M' 
H[ook:er]  thro'  D""  Gemundt,  but  [his  challenge  was]  not 
accepted.  He  then  determined  upon  summary  chastisement. 
Armed  with  two  Pistols,  he  sallied  out  into  the  street,  and 
met  M'"  H[ooker].  Two  shots  were  fired  but  without  effect 
upon  his  opponent,  while  he  received  two  horrid  gashes  in 
his  abdomen,  penetrating  the  viscera.  The  wounds  are 
pronounced  mortal. 

Tuesday,  16.— M'  Hilton  still  alive. 

Apeil,  1852. 

Saturday,  10. — In  the  evening  Eev.  M""  Barker,  M'  Scar- 
ritt's  successor,  called  upon  us  and  spent  some  time  with  us. 

Sunday,  11. — Frosty  morning.  Went  to  Church  and 
heard  a  good  sermon  from  M""  B. 

Wednesday,  14. — We  planted  a  large  quantity  of  top 
Onions :  nearly  enough  to  supply  all  Holland  if  they  do 
well. 

My  execration  upon  our  new  public  Black  Smith  for  a 
triffling  lyirig  scamp.  I  cannot  get  him  to  do  any  work  for 
me.  This  is  the  first  time  in  35  years  that  I  have  had  oc- 
casion to  complain  seriously  of  our  public  smiths;  but  this 
fellow.  Priestly,  is  enough  to  provoke  the  soul  of  a  saint. 
Received  a  letter  from  Maj.  Moseley  on  Public  affairs. 

Sunday,  18. — A  clear  frosty  morning.  I  fear  for  the  fruit. 
It  would  seem  that  I  am  doomed  never  to  raise  any  peaches, 
— notwithstanding  the  great  care  and  pains  I  have  taken  in 
their  culture.  My  labor,  care  and  pains  must  go  unre- 
warded. 

Just  heard  of  the  death  of  John  M.  Armstrong,  who  died 


I 


May,  1852.]  GOVEENOE  WALKEE.  347 

in  Mansfield,  Ohio,  while  on  his  way  to  Washington  City. 
Poor  fellow!  he  was  intent  on  no  good  in  his  journey  to  that 
City.  His  business  was  with  the  Commissioner  of  Indian 
Affairs.  He  was  an  agitator  among  the  Indians  and  has 
heretofore  created  much  trouble  among  his  own  people,  and 
the  surrounding  tribes.  Buried  be  his  faults  with  him.  He 
died  on  the  15th  instant  and  was  taken  to  Bellfontaine  and 
buried  by  the  side  of  his  Mother. 

Also,  died  last  evening,  at  the  residence  of  her  mother, 
M"  Hester  Fish,  of  Wakalusa.  She  was  first  cousin  to  the 
above,  J.  M.  Armstrong. 

Went  to  Church  and  heard  a  sermon  from  M'  Dofflemeyer. 
]y[ra  ^;^  went  over  to  visit  the  distressed  widow. 

Tuesday,  20. — To-day  the  Council  meets  and  as  Major  M. 
is  to  be  over  I  must  attend. 

Attended  the  Council.  Major  Moseley  came  round  by 
Muncie  town  and  bro't  down  with  him  all  the  leading  men 
of  the  Muncie  tribe  to  answer  to  the  Wyandott  Chiefs  for 
depradations  committed  by  their  people  upon  the  property 
of  the  Wyandotts.  They  agreed  to  surrender  the  stolen 
property,  or,  if  unable  to  do  that,  then  surrender  the  thieves 
to  the  Wyandott  Chiefs  to  be  dealt  with  according  to  their 
laws.^ 

May,  1852. 

Thursday,  6. — This  morning  my  horse  Draggon  made  his 
escape  from  the  pasture.  I  pursued  and  recaptured  him. 
Took  my  hand,  M'  Oliver,  and  made  some  additional  repairs 
to  my  pasture  fence. 

This  day  the  Oregon  Company,  Consisting  of  M""  Mc- 
Cowen  and  family,  M""  Hunter  and  family,  M'  Lynville  and 

'  The  Muncies  lived  on  the  Delaware  lands,  and  most  of  them  lived  in  the  vicinity 
of  the  present  PostoflBce  of  Muncie,  in  Wyandotte  County.  Kansas.  They  are  a  sub- 
tribe  of  the  Delawares;  the  Delawares  only  permitted  them  to  reside  on  their  lands 
temporarily.  They  came  West  with  the  Stockbridges.  Some  Muncies  and  Stock. 
bridges  lived  on  the  banks  of  the  Missouri  Eiver,  just  below  where  Leavenworth  City 
now  is,  and  on  the  sites  of  the  Soldiers'  Home,  and  Mount  Muncie  Cemetery. 


348  THE   JOUKNALS   OF  [May,  1852. 

family,  with  various  others,  names  unknown,  set  out  on  their 
long  and  lonesome  journey.  About  bed  time  the  sky  clear 
and  the  Heavens  bespangled  with  stars. 

Friday,  7. — Notified  of  the  meeting  of  the  National  Con- 
vention on  to-morrow. 

Saturday,  8. — Attended  the  Convention  above  alluded  to. 
The  Principal  Chief  presided.  The  object  of  the  meeting 
having  been  stated:  that  of  authorizing  the  Council  to  take 
measures  for  the  ratification  of  that  part  of  the  Treaty  of 
April,  1850,  which  was  suspended  by  the  President  and 
Senate.  After  an  animated  discussion  of  some  four  hours,  a 
vote  was  taken  and  the  measure  was  carried  by  two  thirds 
majority.  The  next  question  was  voting  money  to  defray 
the  expenses  of  a  delegation  to  go  to  Washington.  Carried. 
Convention  adjourned. 

Thursday,  13. — Burning  our  log  heaps  to-day.  High 
winds. 

Heard  yesterday  that  there  were  cases  of  Cholera  in 
Westport,  and  one  death.  John  Lynch  called  here  to-day. 
He  complained  of  bad  health:  *'Be  me  troth  and  its  meself 
that's  had  the  chill  every  day  and  och !  but  I'm  after  getting 
very  wake  intirely,  so  I  is." — 

Friday,  14. — A  young  Doctor  Rice,  brother  of  Dr.  Rice 
of  Kansas,  called  to-day  and  spent  the  day  with  us. 

The  Cholera  is  in  our  land — several  deaths  near  and  in 
Westport.  It  is  awfully  destructive  among  the  Mormon  em- 
igrants. The  Shawnee  Chief,  Jackson,  died  yesterday  of 
this  complaint. 

Saturday,  15. — M.  Mudeater  called  to-day  for  despatches 
for  Major  Moseley,  composed  of  tiiplicate  receipts  for  M"" 
Isaac  Baker  and  myself  for  our  quarter's  pay.     The  former 

as  Assistant   Blacksmith,  and  myself  as so  and  so. 

Also  for  the  school  fund  for  the  first  half  year  of  1852. 

At  about  4  o'clock  P.  M.  we  had  an  awful    rain    accom- 


May,  1852.]  GOVERNOR  WALKER.  349 

panied  with  hail,  which  lasted  about  two  hours  and  a  half. 
For  the  first  time  my  cellar  was  inundated  with  water  five 
inches  deep. 

Dr.  Gemundt  fled  from  the  storm  and  took  up  quarters 
with  us  for  the  night. 

Sunday,  16. — M""  Garrett  found  a  horse  with  a  woman's 
saddle  on,  which  was  recognized  as  belonging  to  the  Widow 
[of]  Robert  Coon,  and  shortly  afterwards  a  child  was  found 
in  Jersey  Creek,  drowned.  Immediate  search  was  made  for 
the  mother  and  [she  was]  found  some  distance  below  in  the 
creek,  her  clothing  having  become  entangled  in  a  snag.  The 
child  was  bro't  to  our  house  and  our  women  dressed  it  and 
laid  [it]  out.  When  the  mother  was  found,  the  corpse  was 
taken  to  the  Council  house.  There  is  no  doubt  but  she  at- 
tempted to  cross  Jersey  Creek  on  Saturday  evening  after 
the  storm,  when  it  was  at  its  highest;  for  it  rose  in  a  short 
time  10  or  11  feet. 

Monday,  17. — John  Bigsinew  died  yesterday  of  Cholera 
or,  what  is  more  probable,  [of  ]  Delirium  Tremans. 

Tuesday,  18. — This  being  a  Council  day,  I  must  attend, 
as  Major  Moseley  has  sent  word  over  that  he  would  be  here. 
There  is  every  appearance  of  a  clear  day,  but  whether  it  will 
be  a  warm  day  is  somewhat  doubtful. 

Went  to  the  Council  to  meet  Major  Moseley.  Done  up 
some  public  business.  Wrote  out  the  instructions  for  the 
deputation  going  to  Washington.  Major  M.  returned  home, 
and  I  did  the  same. 

Previous  to  leaving,  a  gang  of  Muncies  were  arraigned 
for  Horse  stealing  from  some  of  our  Wyandotts.  They  are 
a  great  set  of  Scamps. 

Tuesday,  25. — 11  o'clock  A.  M.,  still  raining.  No  more 
ploughing  to-day. 

"  So  lay  by  the  shovel  and  the  hoe 
JLnd  hang  np  the  fiddle  and  bow — " 


350  THE   JOURNALS   OF  [May,  1852. 

We  are  doomed  to  be  without  fruit  this  year. 

12  o'clock  M.,  Raining  still.   Shall  the  rains  forever  devour? 

I  wish  Thompson,  the  Scotch  Poet,  and  author  of  "the 
Seasons"  had  flourished  in  this  day  and  resided  in  this 
country, — I  mean  Upper  Missouri,  and  was  now  writing  his 
Seasons.  I  think  it  would  afford  some  amusement  to  read 
his  descriptions  of  Missouri  Seasons.  I  fancy  he  would,  in 
a  short  time,  hie  back  to  his  Caledonian  Hills  and  bid  an 
eternal  adieu  to  this  Humid,  murky,  rainy,  stormy,  incon- 
stant, dismal,  Lahradorian  climate. 

Wednesday,  26. — About  8  o'clock  A.  M.  the  shining  face 
of  Old  Sol  was  seen  thro'  the  misty  clouds,  but  a  repulsive 
frown  from  old  Boreas  soon  caused  him  to  withdraw  behind 
a  dark  cloud.     Raining. 

Wm.  Mulkey  called  and  spent  an  hour,  and  returned. 

Doctor  Gemundt  called  to  see  M""*  W.  for  whom  he  is  pre- 
scribing. 

Yesterday  the  Wyandott  delegation  for  Washington  set 
out,  on  board  the  Elvira. 

Thursday,  27. — M''  Muir  is  to  be  united  to  Miss  Mary 
Rankin  this  evening. 

Rec'd  a  letter  from  my  Attorney,  F.  Hereford,  informing 
me  that  my  A|c  against  the  Estate  of  C.  Graham,  ^ec,  was 
allowed  by  the  County  Court,  minus  f  2.50  for  "  Wintering 
a  Steer." 

Friday,  28. — In  the  afternoon  the  girls  came  home  from 
the  party  at  the  Union  Hotel,  accompanied  by  W.  Mulkey 
and  a  M'"  King  from  Georgia. 

Sunday,  30. — Went  to  Church  and  heard  a  sermon  by 
M''  Dofflemeyer.  Heard  of  the  death  of  M'  Preston  Knight, 
late  P.  M.  in  Kansas. 

June,  1852. 

Tuesday,  8. — My  execration  upon  my  neighbors'  swine. 
They  commenced  taking  up  my  Corn.     I  will  have  one  of 


June,  1852.]  GOVERNOR  WALKER.  351 

two  things  to  do, — either  Kill  the  young  ones  or  lose  my 
crop.     I  will  do  the  former,  "  that's  flat." 

Attended  the  session  of  the  Council. 

Came  home  in  the  evening  and  found  the  dolorovs  and 
weeping  and  inconsolable  and  never  to  be  consoled  {till  mar- 
ried again)  Widow  Graham.  And  like  the  weeping  Phi- 
losopher her  tears  still  flow  like  the  tail  race  of  a  mill,  as 
tho'  never  did  woman  lose  a  husband  before  but  herself. 
FAUGH!!! 

Wednesda}'-,  9. — Replanted  our  field  which  has  been  taken 
by  M"  A's  Pigs.     While  doing  so,  we  Killed  three  of  them. 

Thursday,  10. — Nearly  the  whole  Nine  acres  were  de- 
stroyed by  the  accursed  swine.  During  this  forenoon  we 
Killed  two  more. 

Friday,  11. — Messrs.  Elwell  and  Watkins,  (the  former  a 
Daguerreotypist  and  the  latter  a  Telegraph  Operator)  called 
upon  us  this  afternoon.  The  latter  Gentleman  furnished 
me  with  a  late  Daily  St.  Louis  Republican  in  which  are 
given  briefly  the  ballotings  of  the  National  Democratic 
Convention.  On  the  49th  ballot  Gen.  Pierce  of  N.  H., 
never  named  as  a  candidate  for  the  Presidency,  heretofore, 
was  declared  the  nominee,  to  the  great  dismay  and  conster- 
nation of  the  old  Fogies,  the  young  Americas,  the  young 
Africas,  &c.  The  same  paper  contains  information  of  the 
passage  thro'  Congress  of  the  Bill  granting  the  right  of  way 
and  the  adjacent  public  lands  to  the  Pacific  and  Hannibal 
and  St.  Joseph  Rail  Roads. 

Visited  my  Corn  field  and  found  three  pigs  in  it  taking 
up  the  Corn  just  replanted.  I  killed  two  of  them  with  a 
Club  and  the  third  made  his  escape.     Too  bad,  too  bad ! 

Sunday,  13. — Clear  and  beautiful  morning.  To-day  the 
Funeral  Sermon  of  the  late  John  M.  Armstrong  is  to  be 
preached  by  the  Northern  Preacher,  M""  Whitten,  at  the 
Brick  Church. 


352  THE   JOUENALS   OF  [June,  1852. 

One  death  in  K.  by  Cholera  last  night — a  stranger. 

All  went  to  Church  and  M'  W preached  from  Psalms. 

'^Precious  in  the  sight  of  the  Lord  is  the  death  of  His 
Saints."  A  large  congregation  attended,  and  many  Citizens 
of  Kansas  were  in  attendance. 

Just  heard  of  the  death  of  Aaeon  Coon.  M'  and  M" 
Dofflemeyer  dined  with  us  to-day. 

Tuesday,  15. — I  have  resting  on  me  to-day,  to  my  great 
annoyance,  not  the  spirit  of  heaviness  "  nor "  the  spirit  of 
prophesy,"  (except  that  I  prophesy  we  shall  have  no  rain 
to-day),  but  the  genuine  spirit  of  indolence.  So  inveterate 
is  it,  that  not  even  the  Odic  force  of  the  Spiritual  rappers 
can  move  me,  or  set  my  symmetrical  frame  into  motion.  I 
feel  much  inclined  to  the  twin  brother  of  my  complaint, 
Somnolency.     Wake  up !     Wake  up !  ! 

Addressed  a  communication  to  Major  Moseley  on  et  cet- 
eras. 

Thursday,  17. — Wrote  a  communication  for  Cist's  Adver- 
tiser on  St.  Clair's  defeat. 

Friday,  18. — M'"  N .   replanting  corn  and  Killing 

pigs.  I  am  resolved  to  extirpate  every  infant  or  minor 
swine  that  I  may  detect  destroying  my  Corn ;  no  matter  to 
whom  they  belong ;  my  own  shall  share  the  same  inexorable 
sentence. 

Saturday,  19. — William  Clark  and  Lady  from  Canada 
arrived  to-day.  Also,  Adam  Brown,  who  went  to  that 
country  as  refugee  from  justice.^ 

The  Quarterly  Meeting  of  the  M.  E.  Church,  South,  com- 
mences to-day. 

'  It  was  hardly  so  bad  as  that.  This  trouble  was  the  quarrel  spoken  of  by  GoTcrnor 
Walker  between  Abelard  Guthrie  and  Adam  Brown.  Guthrie  was  on  the  defensive  at 
all  times,  and  wished  to  b«  on  good  terms  with  his  father-in-law.  He  brought  the  mat- 
ter to  the  attention  of  Major  Moseley,  who  submitted  it  to  the  Council  with  a  recom- 
mendation to  that  body  to  intercede.  I  have  Major  Moseley's  letter  on  the  subject. 
Brown  had  shot  at  Guthrie.  Brown's  friends  urged  him  to  go  to  the  Wyandots  in  Can- 
ada and  remain  awhile,  which  he  did.  It  is  more  than  probable  that  he  r-ont  with  the 
knowledge  and  consent  of  Guthrie  and  the  Council.  When  he  returned  all  parties  to 
the  quarrel  became  friends. 


July,  1852.]  GOVERNOR  WALKER.  353 

John  S.  Bearskin,  one  of  the  chiefs,  called  here  to-day. 

We  got  no  mail.     "The  Blue's  up." 

Sunday,  20. — Had  a  visit  from  the  Clergy,  Revs.  John  F. 
Peerey,  Dofflemeyer  and  Wallace.  We  went  to  Church. 
M'  Wallace  preached.  Dr.  Beady  and  M'  Funk  come  home 
with  us  to  dinner. 

Beceived  a  letter  from  Maj.  Moseley. 

Monday,  21. — Waiting  for  news  by  Telegraph  from  the 
Whig  National  Convention. 

Went  to  Kansas  and  learned  that  Gen.  W.  Scott  was  the 
nominee  of  the  Whig  National  Convention,  and  Wm.  A. 
Graham  of  N.  C,  Vice  P. 

July,  1852. 

Friday,  2. — The  corpse  of  Gov.  Calhoun,  who  died  on  the 
road  from  Santa  Fe  to  Kansas  was  bro't  in  for  burial.  He 
is  to  be  buried  with  Masonic  Honors.  What  train  bro't  the 
remains  in  is  yet  unknown. 

Saturday,  3. — Wrote  a  letter  to  Scott  and  Bascom  of  the 
"  Ohio  State  Journal." 

M'  N gone  to  Kansas  to  bring  our  Mail,  should  we 

be  so  fortunate  as  to  get  one  from  the  East;  and  provided 
always,  "The  Blue"  is  not  up. 

Tuesday,  13. — Went  to  attend  the  National  Convention  to 
nominate  candidates  for  the  ensuing  election. 


For  Principal  Chief. 

George  I.  Clark. 

John  D.  Brown. 

Council. 

James  Washington 

vs 

F.  A.  Hicks. 

Mat  Mudeater 

vs 

John  Arms. 

Tauromee 

vs 

John  Sarrahess. 

John  S.  Bearskin 

vs 

John  Hicks,  Jr. 

24 

354  THE  JOURNALS  OF  [July,  i852. 

Legislative  Committee. 
J.  W.  Grey  Eyes  vs  Silas  Armstrong. 

Isaac  Brown  vs  Thomas  Coon-Hawk. 

W.  Walker  vs  J.  T.  Charloe. 

Sam'l  Rankin  vs  Louis  Lumpy. 

John  Gibson  vs  White-Crow. 

Saturday,  17. — Sent  my  letters  to  the  P.  O.  by  H.  C. 
Long.^     Rec'd  a  letter  from  Major  Moseley. 

Friday,  30.— The  day  set  for  the  trial  of  Killbuck  Stand- 
ingstone,  charged  with  the  murder  of  Isaac  Peacock,  who 
came  to  his  end  in  a  drunken  brawl,  but  by  what  means  is 
not  yet  known.  The  Council  sent  for  me  to  attend  the  trial, 
but  the  family  being  quite  ill,  I  begged  off. 

M""  Barker  spent  the  day  with  me  in  social  chat. 
Saturday,  31. — Heard  that  the  Court  failing  to  get  a  Jury, 
the  trial  of  the  accused  was  postponed. 

August,  1852. 

Tuesday,  8. — The  council  in  session;  sent  me  a  written 
request  to  prosecute  Killbuck  Standingstone  at  the  ensuing 
trial.     Keplied  that  I  would  attend. 

Wednesday,  4. — Attended  the  trial  and  entered  upon  my 
duties  as  Prosecutor.  After  empannelling  the  Jury,  pro- 
ceeded to  examine  a  large  number  of  witnesses;  opened  my 
Case  and  concluded  my  argument,  and  was  followed  by  J. 
W.  Gray  Eyes  for  the  defence.  The  case  was  then  submit- 
ted to  the  Jury  [at]  5  o'clock  P.  M.,  then  [I]  came  home. 

Thursday,  5. — Daniel  McNeal  came  to  go  to  work  for  me. 

■  Henry  Clay  Long  was  a  son  of  Alexander  Long,  and  a  brother  of  Irving  , 

and  Isaac  Long.  Alexander  Long  was  born  in  October,  1793,  came  West  with  the  Wy- 
andots  and  died  in  the  "  Wyandot  Purchase,"  October  13,  1851.  H.  C.  Long  married  a 
Miss  Hunter,  sister  to  Zelinda  M.  Hunter,  the  second  wife  of  Silas  Armstrong.  He  did 
not  remove  to  the  Indian  Territory  with  the  Wyandots  when  they  resumed  their 
tribal  relations,  but  remained  in  Wyandotte  County,  Kansas.  His  property  increased 
in  value  and  made  him  wealthy.  He  died  in  California  about  1886,  and  was  hronght 
home  and  buried  in  Huron  Place  Cemetery,  but  afterwards  removed  to  the  Wyandot 
Cemetery,  near  Quindaro.    He  was  a  member  of  Wyandotte  Lodge  No.  3,  A,  F,  &  A.  M. 


Angnst,  1852.]  GOVERNOR  WALKER.  355 

Learned  that  the  Jury  in  Killbuck  Standingstone's  ease 
remained  cooped  up  all  night  without  agreeing. 

The  Jury  rendered  their  verdict  to-day,  Mandaughter. 

Sunday,  8. — M'  Watkins  called  this  evening  and  spent  an 
hour.     "Old  Bullion  is  elected  to  Congress. 

Tuesday,  10. — This  being  the  second  Tuesday  in  August, 
our  National  election  comes  off  to-day,  with  a  Barbecue. 

Attended  the  election  and  Barbecue.  The  following  is 
the  result  of  the  election: 

John  D.  Brown,  Principal  Chief. 

James  Washington.         "j 

M.  Mudeater.  ^         -n 

T  u      XT  .   rT*  1    y  Councillors. 

John  Hat   [iauromeej. 

John  S.  Bearskin.  J 

[Legislative]  Committee. 
S.  Armstrong.  W.  Walker. 

Isaac  Brown.  White-Crow. 

Louis  Lumpy .^ 
Sheriffs, 
Wm.  Gibson      and      John  Sarrahess. 
Magistrate. 
J.  W.  Gray  Eyes. 
Wednesday,  11. — Went  to  Kansas  for  a  Doctor  and  some 
family  stores. 

Arrived  at  Kansas,  Agent  Chenault,  with  a  large  deputa- 
tion of  Sacs  and  Foxes  on  their  way  to  Washington. 

Learned  that  Clark  and  Mudeater  landed  yesterday  even- 
ing at  the  upper  landing.  What  has  become  of  their  col- 
league and  conductor? 

Saturday,  14. — M""  A.  Guthrie  called  upon  us  to-day. 
Isaiah  Walker  called  in  the  evening  and  delivered  our 
mail. 

*  The  name  Lumpy  was  formerly  written  Lump-On-The-Read,  and  is  a  name  belong- 
ing to  the  Deer  Clan  aud  refers  to  the  horns  on  the  head  of  the  deer  when  they  first 
begin  to  grow;  they  are  then  two  laxge  lumps. 


356  THE    JOUENALS   OF  [August,  1852. 

Sometime  about  midnight  he  returned  and  informed  us 
that  M"  Garrett  was  attacked  with  a  bleeding  at  the  nose 
which  could  not  be  arrested.  Harriet  got  up,  dressed  and 
went  over  and  he  went  after  Dr.  Wright,  but  failed  in  find- 
ing him. 

Sunday,  15. — At  the  dawn  of  day  I  went  over;  but  she 
had  succeeded  in  stopping  it. 

Dr.  Gemundt  called  upon  us  to-day,  having  recovered 
from  his  illness. 

Wednesday,  18. — My  Ox  "Brin"  Committed  a  breach 
upon  my  corn  field  last  night.  After  having  gorged  him- 
self suflSciently,  he  quietly  gave  himself  up  to  repose.  I 
awakened  him  with  a  heavy  charge  of  Coarse  Salt  in  his 
flank,  which  had  somewhat  of  a  stimulating  effect  upon  his 
Cuticle;  and  while  smarting,  snorting  rearing  and  pitching, 
I  gave  him  a  second,  which  instead  of  quieting  him  only 
made  him  worse.  I  have  now  got  the  Maurauder  chained 
up  to  the  Bar  post,  where  he  can  quietly  digest  his  Corn. 

Friday,  20. — The  Girls  went  over  to  Kansas  for  some 
medicines  and  other  supplies ;  but  as  usual  got  no  mail.  My 
execrations  upon  these  infamous  Mail  Contractors ! 

M*"  and  M'*  DoflSiemeyer  gone  to  the  Shawnee  Camp 
Meeting. 

Three  Gentlemen,  travelers,  called  this  evening  and  wished 
to  stay  all  night,  but  owing  to  our  illness  we  advised  them 
to  stay  at  M"  Garrett's.     They  accordingly  went  there. 

Saturday,  21. — They  called  over  this  morning  and  proved 
to  be  M""  McDaniel  of  St.  Louis  and  two  Brothers  by  the 
name  of  Thompson. 

Monday,  23. — Heard  of  the  death  of  B.  A.  Moseley,  who 
died  at  sea,  on  his  return  from  California. 

Thursday,  24. — Major  Moseley  called  and  stayed  all 
night.  There  is  some  mistake  about  the  death  of  Beverly 
A.  Moseley. 


September,  1852.]  GOVERNOR  WALKER.  357 

Learned  that  Joel  W.  Garrett  had  arrived. 

Saturday,  28. — M^^  W.  and  I  made  preparation  to  go  to 
Kansas.  We  set  out  about  9  o'clock  and  returned  at  2  p. 
m.  somewhat  fatigued.  Learned  while  gone  that  the  widow 
G.  D.  Williams  died  this  morning  at  4  o'clock.  The  Dela- 
ware Camp  Meeting  going  on. 

Sunday,  29. — There  being  no  Clergyman  to  officiate  at 
the  Church,  we  all  staid  at  home.  In  the  evening  M"  Han- 
nah Norton  called  and  spent  an  hour  with  us. 

Monday,  30. — Joel  W.  Garrett  and  Isaiah  [Walker] 
called  over  and  spent  an  hour  with  us. 

Night — And  no  doctor.  Well,  let  them  take  my  execra- 
tions and  maledictions  instead  of  a  fee. 

Tuesday,  31. — 12  o'clock  M.,  M""  Dofflemeyer  returned 
from  the  Delaware  Camp  Meeting. 

M'  Muir  and  McNeal  working  at  the  Camp  ground, 
building  us  a  shantee. 

The  weather  is  now  remarkably  dry  and  the  face  of  na- 
ture now  begins  to  assume  the  livery  of  autumn.  Autumn 
leaves  around  me  falling  remind  me  .that  I  am  nearing 
"the  sear  and  yellow  leaf"  of  life. 

Evening — No  Doctor  to  visit  M^  Gilmore.  Fears  are  en- 
tertained that  his  Fever  will  assume  the  Typhoid  form,  and 
if  it  sliould,  he  being  so  very  weak,  it  will  run  him  hard. 

September,  1852. 

Thursday,  2. — Nature  has  this  morning  put  on  her  gay 
green  livery.  The  Sun  rising  in  Golden  Splendor.  Cool 
and  pleasant  day. 

M""  Gilmore  continues  sick.  His  fever  seems  to  have 
assumed,  as  I  feared,  the  Typhoid  form,  and  growing 
weaker  every  day.     My  own  health  is  poor. 

Friday,  3. — M'"  G.  some  better  this  morning,  but  this  is 
all  delusive,  nothing  permanent. 


358  THE   JOURNALS   OF  [September,  1852. 

Our  folks  all  in  a  bustle,  house  up  side  down,  moving  to 
the  Camp  ground,  Cooking  utensils,  provisions,  Bed 
clothes,  &c. 

In  the  evening  I  went  to  the  consecrated  ground  and 
found  a  very  comfortable  shantee  erected.     Staid  all  night. 

Saturday,  4. — Splendid  morning.  Interesting  religious 
exercises,  with  short  intermissions,  during  the  day. 

Splendid  weather : — clear  blue  sky,  pure  air,  good  for  in- 
valids and  the  infirm. 

Sunday,  5. — At  the  Camp  ground.  The  great  Conch^ 
shell  was  Sounded  as  the  Signal  to  rise  from  our  beds  and 
prepare  for  morning  devotions  and  breakfast. 

At  11  o'clock  A.  M.  a  large  Congregation  assembled 
under  the  Arbor  prepared  for  the  occasion  and  was  ad- 
dressed by  a  Rev.  M''  Love  of  St.  Louis  in  a  sermon  of  great 
eloquence  and  ability.  The  weather  continued  beautiful 
thro'  the  day.  Devotional  exercises  were  continued  thro' 
the  day,  and  till  a  late  hour  in  the  night.  Several  new 
members  were  received  into  the  Church. 

Monday,  6. — Weather  fine.     Meeting  continued. 

Some  [time]  in  the  night  our  negro  boy,  Henry,  left  his 
bed  and  mysteriously  disappeared.  He  had  been  complain- 
ing of  illness.  When  daylight  appeared  a  general  alarm 
was  raised  and  search  instituted.  His  track  was  at  length 
found,  [and  indicated  that  he  was]  making  his  way  West. 
About  8  o'clock  A.  M.  John  Sarrahess  bro't  him  in.  He 
had  wandered  off  three  miles.  He  could  give  no  rational 
account  of  himself  He  must  have  been  deranged  at  the 
time  he  went  out. 

Meetings  were  kept  up  thro'  the  day. 

M''  Garrett  of  Ohio,  and  family,  arrived  this  evening. 

Tuesday,   7. — After   the    Morning    Meeting,   the   Camp 

'  This  shell  is  now  in  my  possession.  It  was  in  the  possession  of  the  Wyandots  for 
centuries.  It  is  much  worn  and  decayed,  so  much  so  that  it  can  be  sounded  only  with 
much  difficulty. 


September,  1852.]  GOVEENOR  WALKEE.  359 

Meeting  was  adjourned  sine  die.  The  tents  were  struck  and 
[soon]  all  [were]  homeward  bound.  L>r.  Gemundt  paid  us 
a  visit. 

Saturday,  11. — Just  learned  that  poor  Jacob  Charloe  was 
dead.     Alas!  we  could  easier  have  spared  a  better  man. 

Sunday,  12. — Wrote  to  Rev.  John  F.  Peerey  on  Church 
matters. 

Reading  Schoolcraft's  "Thirty  Yeaes  among  the  In- 
dian Tribes."  I  am  disappointed  in  the  character  of  the 
work.  It  is  made  up  from  extracts  from  his  journals  and 
his  correspondence.  Conversations  with  distinguished  men, 
literary  men,  on  Indian  philology,  etc — nothing  Historical — 
nothing  new  on  Aboriginal  History. 

M"  Nancy  Garrett  called  over  this  evening  and  took  tea. 

Jacob  Charloe  was  buried  to-day  at  11  o'clock. 

Tuesday,  14. — We  have  had  no  rain  to-day,  tho'  it  has  been 
cloudy  all  day. 

Rec'd  a  dispatch  from  Maj.  Moseley,  informing  me  of  the 
death  of  M"^  Perkins,  the  Shawnee  Blacksmith. 

Thursday,  16. — M"  W.  set  out  for  a  little  town  down  the 
river,  called  by  some  Richfield,  and  by  others  St.  Bernard,  to 
visit  a  Dr.  Carter  who  has  the  reputation  of  being  skillful  in 
all  sorts  of  Cutaneous  diseases,  for  the  purpose  of  being 
treated  for  a  fiery  and  angry  irritation  [that  is]  breaking 
out  upon  her  face. 

M.  R.  Walker  returned  this  morning  [from]  the  Circuit 
Court  and  reports  that  Isaiah  Zane,  indicted  for  the  murder 
of  John  Kayrohoo,  was  sentenced  to  ten  years  imprisonment 
in  the  Penitentiary.     He  deserved  no  less  than  this. 

Sunday,  19. — Engaged  in  writing  a  long  epistle  to  the 
Northern  Bishop  who  is  to  preside  at  the  Northern  Confer- 
ence in  St.  Louis,  upon  their  Missionary  operations  among 
the  Indians. 


360  THE   JOURNALS   OF  [September,  1852. 

Monday,  20. — In  the  evening  F.  A.  Hicks  and  John  D. 
Brown  called  and  spent  the  evening  in  interesting  chat. 

Tuesday,  21. — Kec'd  a  communication  from  Major  Mose- 
ley  enclosing  some  blank  receipts  to  be  signed  by  the  assist- 
ant Smith  and  the  Ferryman. 

No  money  to  pay  M""  Interpreter. 

Thursday,  23. — Dofflemeyer  [is]  running  round  the  country 
like  an  insane  man.  No  one  can  understand  his  movements. 
To-morrow  he  and  his  spleeny  .  .  .  areoff  for  Platte.  What 
takes  them  there,  is  beyond  my  power  of  divination.  Nor 
am  I  much  concerned,  whether  he  be  sane  or  insane.  His 
conduct,  to  say  the  least  of  it,  is  quite  strange.  Could  he 
have  had  an  over  gorge  of  Saur-Kraut  ? 

He  came  over  to  pay  me  a  visit  at  candle-light  and  staid 
till  a  late  hour.     I  think  he  is  sane. 

Friday,  24. — Cloudy  and  raining.  My  Rheumatism  a 
little  better. 

Learned  that  George  Punch,  of  Ohio  Penitentiary  mem- 
ory, has  the  small  pox.  Finished  my  letter  to  the  Bishop, 
making  sixteen  pages,  in  which  I  have  attempted  to  show  up 
these  canting  Methodist  Abolitionists  in  their  true  colors. 
The  preachers  of  the  Northern  Methodist  Church  prowling 
round  on  this  frontier  are  the  most  contemptible,  hypocriti- 
cal, canting  set  of  fellows  that  ever  disgraced  Christianity. 

Saturday,  25.— M"  and  M'^  Dofflemeyer  started  for  Platte 
this  morning. 

Sunday,  26. — McNeal  came  home  from  Kansas.  In  the 
dumps.  Went  off  in  the  evening;  where  he  went,  I  know 
not.     But  suppose  he  is  "on  a  burst." 

Monday,  27. — McNeal  came  home  this  morning,  bearing 
all  the  appearances  [of]  a  night's  debauch.  Informed  me 
he  was  going  to  quit.  I  told  him  I  was  very  well  satisfied. 
His  clothes  were  packed  up  and  he  put  out.  Poor  fellow ! 
he  is  one  of  the  most  indolent,  trifling,  worthless  young  men 
I  have  ever  seen. 


October,  1852.J  GOVERNOR  WALKER.  361 

Presley  Muir  called  over  this  evening  in  company  with 
his  Father,  who  has  come  out  on  a  visit.  "A  fine  old  Gen- 
tleman, all  of  the  olden  time." 

Tuesday,  28. — Rec'd  a  dispatch  from  Maj.  Moseley,  by  P. 
D.  Clark,  informing  me  that  he  had  received  orders  from  the 
Superintendent  to  repair  to  St.  Louis  for  the  Annuity  due 
his  Agency. 

Wednesday,  29. — M"  W.  and  I  went  to  Kansas,  made 
some  purchases  of  family  stores,  medicines,  etc. 

Dined  at  M""  Geer's.  F.  Cotter  died  this  forenoon.  Came 
home  in  the  evening  somewhat  fatigued. 

October,  1852. 

Friday,  1. — Wrote  to  I.  C. on  a  mystery.    4th  Street, 

St.  Louis. 

Went  to  Kansas  and  assisted  M""  Geer  P.  M.  in  making 
out  the  Account  for  his  P.  O.  Did  not  get  done.  Came 
home  in  the  evening.     Cloudy  and  damp  all  day. 

M''  Porter  commenced  work  to-day. 

Saturday,  2. — Learned  yesterday  that  my  worthy  neigh- 
bor and  present  Pastor,  D.  Dofflemeyer  was  reappointed  to 
this  charge,  and  Rev.  M*"  Barker  to  the  Delaware  Mission 
and  Rev.  John  F.  Peerey,  Presiding  Elder. 

At  4  P.  M.  F.  A.  Hicks  called  for  Sophia,  who  owing  to 
ill  health,  intends  spending  the  winter  with  her  relations  in 
Hardin  County,  Ohio.  Altho'  it  was  raining,  yet  she  and 
Miss  Huldah  &  Harriet  boarded  his  carriage  and  put  out. 
Miss  Huldah  is  going  to  Harrisonville  to  spend  her  winter. 
Sophia  will  go  in  company  with  M""  J.  S.  Dawson  who  is 
going  into  that  County.  She  will  reside  with  her  Uncle 
and  Aunt,  M'  and  M"^^  Smalley. 

Sunday,  3. — Raining.  After  breakfast  the  sky  became 
clear.  I  then  concluded  I  would  go  to  Kansas  and  attend 
the  dedication  of  the   new  Methodist    Church    by    Bishop 


362  THE  JOUENALS  OF  [October,  lasa. 

Payne.  We  rigg'd  up  and  set  out,  Martha  accompanying 
me.  The  Bishop  did  not  arrive,  but  a  sermon,  and  an  able 
one  was  preached  by  M""  McAnelly,  Editor  of  the  St.  Louis 
Christian  Advocate.  Turned  out  to  be  quite  a  pleasant 
day. 

Monday,  4. — Went  to  Kansas  and  learned  that  M'  Dawson 
and  Sophia  got  off  this  morning  at  4  o'clock  on  board  the 
"Brunette". 

Came  home  in  the  evening.     John  Brown  still  very  sick. 

Tuesday,  5. — Cloudy  morning  and  red  in  the  East. 

Went  up  in  company  with  M.  B.  Walker  to  the  Council 
held  at  Matthew  Mudeater's  to  make  out  the  Annuity  Pay 
Boll.  Adjourned  at  sunset  without  completing  our  Roll. 
Came  home  sick;  had  a  high  Fever. 

Wednesday,  6. — Went  again  to  M.  M.'s  to  resume  the  Pay 
roll,  and  completed  it  in  the  afternoon.  J.  D.  Brown  getting 
better. 

Thursday,  7. — Commenced  copying  the  triplicate  Pay 
rolls.     F.  A.  Hicks  bro't  home  our  Parlor  Stove. 

Friday,  8. — Resumed  Copying  the  Pay  Boll.  Sent  Por- 
ter to  Kansas  for  some  family  stores.     He  came  home  sick. 

In  the  evening  I  had  a  severe  chill  which  was  succeeded 
by  a  burning  fever,  which  lasted  nearly  all  night.  Oh  I 
such  a  night !  no  poor  devil  suffered  more  than  I  did.  Con- 
tinued copying  the  Pay  Boll. 

Saturday,  9. — M''^  W.  and  Harriet  went  down  to  Kansas. 
On  their  return,  gave  us  information  of  an  atrocious  and 
bloody  recontre  between  M'"  Alfred  Dale  and  a  man,  name 
unknown,  a  stranger,  which  took  place  this  forenoon.  M' 
Dale  received  a  horrible  gash  in  the  lower  part  of  the  ab- 
dominal region,  letting  out  his  intestines.  His  wound  is 
regarded  by  tiie  physicians  as  mortal.  Finished  my  Pay 
Bolls. 

Sunday,  10. — M'  Gilmore  set  out  this  morning  for  Kansas, 


October.  1852.]  GOVEKNOE  WALKEE.  363 

in  company  with  P.  Muir,  intending  to  take  the  Stage  for 
Independence;  there  to  remain  under  the  medical  treatment 
of  Doctor  Twyman  for  the  Intermittent  Fever. 

Heard,  on  the  return  of  M""  Muir,  that  M'  Dale  was  alive 
yet. 

This  evening  I  escaped  my  chill  and  passed  a  quiet  and 
comfortable  night. 

Monday,  11. — Cloudy  and  threatening  rain.  1  o'clock  P. 
M.,  our  folks  came  home  in  the  midst  of  a  shower.  They 
report  that  M'  Dale  is  still  alive  and  getting  better. 

Tuesday,  12. — M'  Porter  tore  up  our  hearth,  refilled,  reset 
and  contracted  the  width  of  the  fire  place  to  cure  it  of  its 
smoking  propensity.  It  has  in  some  degree  obviated  the 
difiiculty. 

Attended  the  election  for  delegate  to  Congress  from 
Nebraska  Territory.  A.  Guthrie  received  the  entire  vote 
polled. 

Came  home  chilled  and  fatigued ;  took  my  last  dose  of  qui- 
nine and  spirits. 

The  Doffles  got  home.     Now,  stay  at  home. 

Wednesday,  13. — Wrote  to  Wm.  Flemming  on  busi- 
ness, and  to  Lyman  C.  Draper  of  Philadelphia  on  Indian 
History.     M""  Porter  set  up  our  Stove  in  the  parlor. 

Dofl[ie  off  again.     What  a  fellow ! 

Thursday,  14. — Expecting  Major  Moseley  to  land  at  Kan- 
sas to-day,  I  went  down  and  waited  till  evening,  but  no 
Boat.  While  there,  I  called  upon  Mr.  Dale  and  found  him 
in  a  fair  way  of  recovering.     Came  home  after  dark. 

Friday,  15. — S.  Armstrong  called  this  morning  and  in- 
formed me  that  he  had  seen  Major  Moseley  since  his  arrival 
and  [that  he  had]  sent  word  requesting  me  to  send  the  Pay 
Rolls  over  to  his  House.  I  accordingly  employed  Samuel 
Rankin  to  go  as  Messenger.  Shortly  after  Samuel  left, 
Peter  D.  Clark  arrived  bearing  a  dispatch  from  him  to  the 


364  THE   JOURNALS   OF  [October,  1852. 

same  effect  as  that  sent  verbally  by  S.  Armstrong.  He  must 
be  in  earnest,  and  in  a  hurry. 

Saturday,  16. — Went  down  to  attend,  by  invitation,  the 
Council.  The  subject  up  was  the  Annuity  payment.  Came 
home  in  the  evening. 

Sunday,  17. — Sent  a  dispatch  to  Major  Moseley  by  Sheiiff 
Gibson. 

Martha  and  [I]  rode  down  to  Kansas  to  hear  Bishop 
Payne  preach  the  dedication  sermon  lor  the  new  Church. 
A  very  large  Congregation.  The  Church  being  in  debt,  a 
subscription  was  raised,  payable  the  first  day  of  January 
next,  and  upwards  of  One  thousand  dollars  was  subscribed. 
We  came  home. 

At  8  o'clock  p.  M.  the  Sheriff  returned  with  a  dispatch 
from  Maj.  Moseley,  fixing  upon  Tuesday  for  the  payment. 

Monday,  18. — M.  R.  Walker  returned  last  night  from 
Cass  County. 

I  went  to  the  Council  House,  and  finding  nobody  there, 
came  home  again. 

Tuesday,  19. — To-day  Major  Moseley  pays  out  the  Wyan- 
dott  Annuity.  Creditors  and  debtors  have  much  to  do — 
business  on  hand. 

Went  down  to  the  Council  House  and  found  Major  Mose- 
ley on  the  ground  ready  with  his  dust.  Commenced  12  M. 
paying  out,  and  without  finishing,  adjourned  at  sunset.  Sent 
Henry  Warpole  to  the  Calaboose  for  drunkenness  and  disor- 
derly conduct. 

Wednesday,  20. — Resumed  the  payment  of  the  Annuity 
and  closed  the  Pay  Roll  at  2  p.  m.,  and  Major  Moseley  de- 
livered a  short  valedictory  to  the  Council  and  the  nation — 
not  expecting  to  pay  another  Annuity. 

M"  W.  went  to  take  a  Boat  for  Richfield  to  see  her  Phy- 
sician. 

The  Council  proceeded  to  settle  up  their  public  liabilities. 
Adjourned  till  next  Tuesday. 


October.  1853.]  GOVERNOR  WALKER.  365 

Thursday,  21. — I  am  tortured  with  the  Eheumatism  in 
my  left  hip.  M"  Dofflemeyer  spent  the  day  with  us.  Writ- 
ing a  long  letter  to  Sophia. 

Friday,  22. — Rode  out  to  M"  Rankin's  to  settle  up  some 
money  matters.  Came  home  and  found  the  Widow  Squeen- 
dehtee.  I  settled  up  my  money  agency  with  her  also,  to 
her  great  satisfaction. 

Old  Connecticut  sick  again  this  evening  with  what  he 
calls  the  dumb  ague. 

Saturday,  23. — On  going  out  I  found  that  my  old  ox, 
Brindle,  had  broken  into  my  Garden  and  committed  divers 
mischievous  acts  upon  my  fruit  trees  and  shrubbery. 

Sunday,  24. — M""^  W.  came  home,  escorted  by  James  Pat- 
ton. 

Tuesday,  26. — Went  to  attend  the  settling  off  [of]  the 
public  national  accounts.  Were  engaged  all  day  without 
finishing.     Adjourned  till  to-morrow. 

Wednesday,  27. — Went  down  to  resume  the  auditing  of 
the  public  accounts.     Closed  about  sunset. 

Friday,  29. — We,  that  is,  I  and  M""^  W.,  have  in  contem- 
plation a  visit  to  our  Estates  in  Cass  County;  but  the 
weather  being  so  forbidding  that  we  must  wait  for  a  change, 
as  we  are  both  invalids. 

A  gloomy  day,  well  calculated  to  generate  ennui  in  a 
Frenchman.     Blue  devils,  green  devils. 

Sunday,  31. — Our  folks  gone  to  Church.  M"  Hannah 
Norton  called  in  and  handed  me  a  letter  sent  over  from  the 
P.  O.  It  proved  to  be  one  from  my  Agent,  Col.  Goodin, 
enclosing  a  draft  for  $133.64. 

M'  Guthrie  called  and  dined  with  us.  We  discussed 
politics,  especially  the  election  of  delegate  for  Nebraska 
Territory. 


366  THE   JOURNALS   OF  [November,  186iL 

November,  1852. 

Monday,  1. — M™  W.  and  I  rigged  up  our  horses  and  set 
out  for  Cass  County  to  see  to  our  Estates.  Went  as  far  as 
Westport  and  staid  all  night  at  Wesley  Garrett's. 

The  Shawnee  payment  going  on. 

Tuesday,  2. — Eesuined  our  journey — a  cold  morning. 
Reached  M""  Kichard  Berry's,  18  miles,  [and]  being  fatigued, 
staid  all  night.  In  the  morning,  the  3rd,*  raining ;  wind 
from  the  N.  E.  Notwithstanding  the  weather  looked  so  un- 
promising, we  set  out  on  the  boundless  prairie.  In  the  after- 
noon the  sky  became  clear  and  the  wind  fell,  and  it  became 
a  pleasant  afternoon.  Reached  the  Farm  about  sunset, — 
distance,  23  miles. 


*  Here  I  have  committed  a  Faux  pas. 

Wednesday,  3. —  Rained  and  stormed  the  whole  day. 
I  had  no  chance  of  riding  out  and  visiting  the  neighbors. 
We  kept  close  quarters  all  day.  Our  tenant  has  raised  a 
fine  crop  of  Corn  and  plenty  of  vegetables.  I  am  better 
pleased  now  than  before,  with  my  farm. 

Thursday,  4. — The  storm  continues  furiously.  I  was  de- 
sirous of  visiting  my  Grand  River  land,  but  to  ride  out  on 
such  a  day  would  be  martyrdom.  Kept  housed  up  all  day. 
Entered  into  another  bargain  with  M"^  Shipley  for  two  year's 
farming  at  |40.  per  annum,  he  keeping  the  land  clear  of 
taxes. 

Friday,  5. — Started  for  home.  A  cold,  raw,  windy  morn- 
ing. Suffering  with  Rheumatism.  Came  to  Berry's  and 
Btaid  all  night. 

Our  Host  is  a  Case — quisical,  jocular,  garrulous  and 
humorous :  a  man  well  fitted  for  a  frontier  life. 

Here  I  have  committed  an  egregious  blunder.  Thursday 
and  Friday  we  staid  at  the  Farm,  and,  as  already  stated,  it 
stormed  all  the  time.  We  did  not  start  home  on  Friday,  as 
stated  above,  but  on — 


December,  1852.]  GOVEENOR   WALKER.  367 

Saturday,  6. — And  [we]  came  to  M*"  Berry's. 

Sunday,  7. — Reached  home  at  4  P.  M.  Found  all  well. 
Truly  glad  to  get  home. 

Friday,  19. — I  learned  on  yesterday  that  Doctor  Clipper, 
the  Northern  Preacher,  and  his  lady  arrived  on  Tuesday 
last.  He  succeeds  Rev.  James  Witten  as  preacher  in  charge 
of  i\iQ  pitiful  faction  here.  I  hope  the  Doctor  will  demean 
himself,  as  a  preacher  of  the  Gospel,  better  than  his  degraded 
"  predecessor,"  who  rendered  himself  notorious  as  wanting 
the  jewel,  veracity.  Poor  degraded  man  he  is  sent  to  an- 
other field  of  labor.  He  could  not  be  tolerated  here  any 
longer.  He  became  known,  hence  he  was  shipped  to  an- 
other field, — whence  he  could,  at  least,  for  twelve  months 
impose  upon  the  ignorant,  his  "  base  coin."  ^ 

Saturday,  20. — Went  to  Kansas  in  company  with  A. 
Guthrie.  Rain,  snow,  sleet.  In  the  evening  the  storm  in- 
creased in  violence,  and  I  came  home  in  the  midst  of  a  per- 
fect "pour  down"  after  dark. 

December,  1852. 

Wednesday,  1. — This  day  at  2  o'clock  P.  M.,  my  old  and 
tried  friend,  James  Washington,-  departed  this  life — aged  65. 

'  This  is  an  injustice  to  Mr.  Witten.  He  was  a  good  man  of  more  than  average  abil- 
ity. He  was  a  Virginian  (born  in  Tazewell  County),  and  his  family  was  closely  related 
by  blood  to  that  of  Lord  Baltimore.  He  was  a  close  kinsman  to  William  Cecil  Price  of 
Springfield,  Mo.;  his  mother  was  a  Cecil.  He  remained  in  the  M.  E.  Church,  after  the 
division,  and  this  caused  many  of  his  relatives,  who  were  slave-holders,  to  condemn 
him.    His  brother  Thomas  was  one  of  the  founders  of  Portland,  Oregon. 

'  The  following  biographical  sketch  was  written  by  Governor  Walker.  The  friend 
that  gave  him  the  information  was  John  Hicks,  who  died  a  little  latter.  (See  note  1, 
page  373).  Governor  Walker  was  mistaken  in  his  statement  that  Washington  was  a 
fall-blood.  He  was  a  descendant  of  the  famous  Chief,  Half  King,  and  was  not  more 
than  a  half-blood: 

"  Died  of  pneumonia  at  his  residence  in  Wyandott,  December  1,  at  the  hour  of  2  P. 
M.,  James  Washington,  one  of  the  oldest  Councilors  of  the  Wyandott  Nation,  in  the  65th 
year  of  his  age.  The  subject  of  this  brief  sketch  was  a  full-blooded  Wyandott  belong, 
ing  to  that  subdivision  of  the  nation  into  tribes  or  clans  known  as  the  '  Beaver  tribe.' 
From  my  first  acquaintance  with  him  as  an  official  member  of  the  Church  I  found  him 
a  firm,  inflexible  and  consistent  Christian.  Rarely  if  ever,  cast  down  with  discourage- 
ment and  as  rarely  carried  away  with  any  excess  of  excitement — not  on  the  hill  top 


368  THE   JOURNALS   OF  [December,  1852. 

Tuesday,  7. — Rec'd  a  summons  from  the  Principal  Chief, 
ordering  a  meeting  of  the  Legislative  Committee. 

The  Committee  convened  and  organized  by  the  appoint- 
ment of  Jacob  White-Crow  as  Chairman,  and  then  pro- 
ceeded to  the  usual  preliminary  business. 

Saturday,  11. — Went  to  attend  the  Council,  and  there 
learned  that  a  murder  had  been  perpetrated  the  night 
before,  in  a  drunken  brawl,  by  John  Coon,  Jr.  and  Martin 
Big-Arms,  upon  the  person  of  Curtis  Punch.  Both  [were] 
committed  for  trial.  John  Hicks,  Jr.  was  elected  to  supply 
the  vacancy  in  the  Council  caused  by  the  death  of  James 
Washington.     Wrote  to  A.  Guthrie. 

one  day  and  in  '  the  slough  of  desjwnd '  the  next.     In  his  religious  profession  he  was 
truly  like  an  eyen  spun  thread. 

"I  have  been  kindly  furnished  by  an  intimate  friend  of  the  deceased  with  a 
Biographical  sketch;  from  which  I  will  make  [excerpts] .  '  I  became  acquainted  with 
my  friend  in  the  summer  of  1814.  He  did  not  manifest  a  disposition  to  take  part  in 
the  councils  of  the  nation,  but  on  the  contrary  shun'd  public  notice,  prefering  his 
former  pursuit,  the  chase,  to  that  of  listening  to  the  eloquence  of  chiefs  and  councilors 
or  making  any  attempts  at  public  speaking  himself— prefering  the  quite  camp  fire  with 
a  few  of  his  friends  in  the  deep  dark  forest  to  the  noise  and  bustle  of  the  council  fire. 
He  was,  however  frequently  elected  by  the  chiefs  of  that  day  as  confidential  messenger 
or  bearer  of  important  speeches  in  their  diplomatic  intercourse.  The  old  chiefs  looked 
upon  him  as,  (to  use  their  own  peculiar  expression, )  he  was  a  discreet  and  prudent  young 
tfum.  Sometime  in  the  winter  of  1822  &  23,  he  was  bro't  under  serious  awakenings 
thro'  the  ministry  of  Rev.  J.  B.  F.  and  sometime  after  was  rec'd  into  the  Church.  At 
what  time  he  experienced  a  change  of  heart  and  obtained  the  evidence  of  his  accep- 
tance I  know  not.  As  the  first  I  knew  of  the  change  that  had  taken  place  in  my 
friends  life  was  at  a  prayer  meeting  at  a  private  house.  As  I  approached  the  house  I 
was  astonished  and  amazed  at  recognizing  my  friend's  Lion  like  voice  employed  in  the 
delivery  of  an  animated  and  stirring  exhortation.  He  gave  indisputable  evidences  of 
genuine  piety  and  was  at  the  proper  time  placed  in  charge  of  a  class,  and  continued 
[in]  that  position  the  remainder  of  his  life.  In  1833  he  was  elected  a  councilor  and 
served  one  term  as  principal  Chief  of  the  nation.  Afterwards  continued  as  Councilor 
of  the  nation  till  his  death.  I  have  been  associated  with  him  in  public  life  for  twenty 
years  and  can  say  wit]\  truth,  he  was  a  man  you  could  with  safety  confide  in.  I  hav« 
seen  him  often  placed  in  situations  the  most  trying  to  a  man's  integrity  and  veracity — 
Bituations  which  would  determine  the  stuflaud  material  he  is  made  of,  but  Washington 
invariably  came  out  triumphant  and  at  the  same  time  came  unscathed.  He  was  one  of 
nature's  noblemen,  hallowed  and  purified  by  the  Christian  religion.'  Such  briefly  is  the 
account  given  by  his  friend  of  his  early  history.  Washington  died  as  he  lived  enjoying 
the  confidence  in  peace  with  God  and  his  fellow  men.  He  exhorted  all  who  visited 
him  to  perseverance  and  faithfulness  especially  Brother  J.  D.  Brown,  the  present  prin- 
cipal Chief,  who  called  to  see  him  when  very  low.  He  committed  his  poor  blind  wife 
and  his  fanodly  to  the  God  of  the  fatherless  and  widow,  gathered  up  his  feet  and  departed 
from  among  men  to  enter  upon  his  reward." 


December,  1852.]  GOVERNOR  WALKER.  369 

Monday,  13. — Old  Connecticut  sick  again.  Attended  a 
night  session  of  the  Legislative  Committee.  Came  home 
at  11  o'clock. 

Tuesday,  14. — By  my  nocturnal  labors  and  exposures  I 
have  bro't  my  old  complaint  back  again.  I  have  a  most 
acute  Rheumatism  in  my  right  shoulder.  Attended  the 
joint  meeting  of  the  Council  and  Legislative  Committee  and 
elected  Nicholas  Cotter  Ferryman  for  1853.  I  notified 
Bryan  Shehea,  a  roving,  vagabond  Irishman  to  leave  the 
Territory. 

Wednesday,  15. — Went  over  and  notified  Jonny  O'Blud- 
geon  to  leave  the  territory  within  fifteen  days. 

M""'  Mary  Ann  Garrett  and  Miss  Sarah  Zane  spent  the 
afternoon  with  us. 

Friday,  17. — Went  to  attend  the  trial  of  John  Coon.  Was 
appointed  by  the  Council  public  prosecutor,  and  S.  Arm- 
strong was  retained  as  counsel  for  the  defence.  The  case 
was  submitted  to  the  Jury  about  dusk,  and  I  came  away. 

Saturday,  18. — Staid  at  home  all  day.  Quarterly  Meet- 
ing commenced  to-day. 

Sunday,  19. — The  old  widow  Mo7ioncue^  died  last  night 

Went  to  Church.  There  learned  that  the  verdict  of  the 
Jury  was,  "murder  in  the  first  degree."  This  was  wrong, 
It  is  not  in  accordance  with  the  evidence.  He  could  not  be 
convicted  of  anything  more  than  "Manslaughter."  But 
such  is  the  verdict. 

Monday,  20. — M""  Duffle [meyer],  M''  Barker  &  Son,  Jonny 
O'Bludgeon,  John  Pipe  and  M"  Guthrie  called  upon  us  this 
morning.  Company  enough  for  one  morning.  Sent  my 
letters  by  Jonny  to  the  Westport  P.  O.  Went  down  in  the 
evening  to  attend  the  session  of  the  Legislative  Committee. 
No  quorum  appearing,  we  adjourned  at  9  o'clock. 

-  The  wife  of  the  Mononcue  spoken  of  so  often  by  Finley  in  his  "History  of  tii« 
Wyandot  Misaon." 

25 


370  THE   JOURNALS   OF  [December,  1352. 

Sunday,  26. — Old  Connecticut  was  found  by  our  niggers 
lying  in  the  mud  about  fifty  rods  from  the  House  stiff  and 
nearly  dead.  M""  Garrett  and  M""  Cox  yoked  up  the  Oxen 
and  hauled  him  down  to  the  House.  He  was  then  placed 
before  the  fire  and  thawed  out.  It  took  the  whole  night  to 
bring  him  to  consciousness.  And  then  the  impudent  beast 
denied  being  drunk — said  he  had  a  fit.  I  being  absent  at 
the  time,  M"  W.  ordered  him  to  leave  the  house — he  re- 
fused to  go;  she  thereupon  made  complaint  to  the  Principal 
Chief,  who  ordere[d]  the  Sheriffs  to  take  him  and  set  him 
across  the  line,  which  was  accordingly  done.  So  ended  our 
connection  with  Old  Connecticut.^  He  is  without  exception 
the  greatest  glutton — beast,  and  the  most  uncivilized  white 
man  I  ever  saw. 

Monday,  27. — Attacked  violently  with  the  winter  fever. 
Dr.  Wright  attending  on  me — blisters,  nauseating  doses. 

JANUARY,  1853. 

Sunday,  9. — Went  to  Church  to  hear  M.  Scarritt's  funeral 
sermon  on  James  Washington. 

Monday,  10. — Went  up  to  write  John  Hicks'  will.  He  is 
fast  sinking  and  cannot  survive  much  longer. 

Tuesday,  11. — Drew  up  a  petition  to  the  Council  praying 
that  body  to  restrain  Dr.  Clipper  from  opening  a  Missionary 
Establishment  in  our  territory  as  unnecessary  and  useless. 

Thursday,  13. — When  shall  we  behold  the  sun  again? 

Friday,  14. — Cloudy  as  usual.  Well,  I  incline  to  the  opin- 
ion that  the  sun  has  taken  his  departure  and  located  himself 
on  the  other  side  of  the  Sierra  Nevada,  in  the  region  of  Cal- 
ifornia, attracted  thither  no  doubt  by  the  Gold  that  abounds 
in  that  country.  We  had  a  new  moon  on  last  Sunday,  but 
it  has  not  been  seen.     What  has  become  of  it?  gone  too? 

AVent  and  spent  the  evening  with  M.  R.  W.  Clear  night 
and  for  the  first  time,  got  a  sight  of  Old  Luna. 

'  A  Mr.  Porter. 


January,  1853.]  GOVERNOR   WALKER.  371 

Saturday,  15. — Presley  Muir  came  and  cut  and  hauled 
some  wood.  I  went  to  attend  a  night  session  of  the  Council, 
where  the  arrangements  were  made  for  the  public  execution 
of  John  Coon,  Jr.,  on  Tuesday,  the  18th  instant.  Came 
home  at  11  o'clock  at  night. 

Sunday,  16. — All  feeling  unwell,  none  went  to  Church 
but  Harriet. 

Monday,  17. — Went  in  company  with  M.  E,.  W.  to  select 
the  ground  for  the  public  execution  of  the  criminal. 

P.  Muir  butchered  our  hogs — Aggregate  weight  698  lbs, 
Attended  an  extra  night  session  of  the  Council. 

Tuesday,  18. — Clear  and  cold  morning.  Attended  at  the 
Council  House. 

At  1  o'clock  the  procession  was  formed  at  the  Jail,  the 
prisoner  bro't  and  placed  in  a  Wagon  and  proceeded  to 
the  place  of  execution.  At  2  past  3  o'clock  P.  M.,  the  exe- 
cutioners, James  Barnet,  Tho.  Pipe,  Isaac  Zane,  H.  C.  Long, 
Louis  Lumpey  and  Joseph    White,  under  the  command  of 

M.  R.  Walker  and  Philip  Brown,  took  their  position 

the  signal  was  given  and  [the  executioners]  iired — the  pris- 
oner fell  and  was  buried.  Such  was  the  fate  and  end  of 
John  Coon,  Jr.,  a  badly  raised  boy.  He  may  be  justly  said 
to  be  the  victim  of  a  wicked  and  ungodly  mother. 

Wednesday,  19. — Wrote  to  ]\Iajor  Moseley  at  Sarcoxie, 
upon  matters  appertaining  to  the  Agency,  especially  about 
the  movements  of  the  Northern  Missionary. 

Thursday,  20. — John  Lynch  come  and  made  some  altera- 
tions in  our  chimney  to  prevent  its  smoking.  He  succeeded 
to  admiration  in  Curing  the  evil. 

Friday,  21. — Wrote  to  A.  Guthrie. 

Monday,  24. — Commenced  yesterday  a  communication  for 
Cist's  Advertiser.  Finished  it  to-day.  Attended  the  night 
session  of  the  Legislative  Committee.  Adjourned  at  12 
o'clock.     Clear  and  moonlight. 


372  THE    JOURNALS    OF  [January,  1353. 

Tuesday,  25. — At  1  P.  M.  went  to  attend  the  session  of 
the  Committee. 

Wednesday,  26. — Sent  by  Jonny  O'Bludgeon  for  our  mail. 
But  he  had  not  returned  last  evening  at  dark.  We  greatly 
fear  he  has  got  into  a  sprey. 

Thursday,  27. — Clear  and  cold  morning.  No  Jonny 
O'Bludgeon  yet.  The  rascal  has  got  into  a  drunken  frolic, 
and  has  probably  lost  our  mail. 

M"  Z.  Armstrong,  Miss  Hunter,  and  the  Misses  Garret 
[came]  on  a  visit  to  spend  the  afternoon  with  us. 

Friday,  28.— Paid  M.  R.  W.  a  visit.  Heard  of  the  death 
of  Fighter.  P.  Muir  called.  No  news  of  "  Mister  O'Blud- 
geon." 

Monday,  31. — Wrote  to  A.  Guthrie.  Attended  the  night 
session  of  the  Legislative  Committee.  W.  Mulkey  supposed 
to  be  married  to-day  to  Miss  D. 

February,  1853. 

Tuesday,  1. — M""'  W.  gone  to  K.  and  Harriet  and  Mary 
Garrett  to  M'  Mulkey's  infair  at  Esquire  W.  M.  McGee's 
Mansion. 

Wednesday,  2. — Harriet  returned  from  the  party  at  Mc- 
Gee's. 

Thursday,  3. — At  2  P.  M.  went  to  attend  the  session  of 
the  Committee,  but  found  no  quorum.     Came  home. 

Sunday,  6. — Paid  a  visit  to  M.  R..  W.  Found  his  maimed 
foot  getting  well.  The  Kansas  River  frozen  over  above  the 
Ferry.  M""  Dofflemeyer  called  this  evening  in  company  with 
John  D.  Brown,  for  the  purpose  of  having  written  what  was 
seen  by  the  latter  while  in  "a  trance"  last  fall  during  his 
illness.     I  accordingly  wrote  what  was  seen. 

It  smacks  very  much  of  transcendentalism  and  wild  insan- 
ity.    But  enthusiasts  will  and  must  have  their  whims. 

Tuesday,  8. — Rec'd  a  letter  from  Nimrod  McKnight,  an- 


February,  1853.]  GOVERNOR    WALKER.  373 

Dounciirg  the  death  of  M""^  Hannah  Barrett,  aged  79.  Heard 
that  Edmund  F.  Chouteau  died  on  Monday  at  2  A.  M. 

TJiursday,  10. — Went  to  attend  the  session  of  the  Legis- 
lative Committee.  Came  home  with  a  severe  nervon.-i  head- 
ache. Wrote  to  N.  McKnight  and  Thomas  Moseley,  Indian 
Agents. 

Sunday,  13. — In  the  evening  went  with  [the]  family  to 
witness  the  nuptials  between  Isaiah  P.  Walker  and  Miss 
Mary  Williams,  at  4  o'clock,  at  the  house  of  Silas  Arm- 
strong. A  very  respectable  company  was  assembled  and 
everything  passed  off  very  agreeably. 

Monday,  14. — At  12  o'clock  Meridian  the  venerable  John 
Hicks^  departed  this  life  [aged]  upwards  of  80  years.     He 

'  The  following  biographical  sketch  was  written  by  Governor  Walker: 
"Died  at  his  residence  in  Wyandott  Territory,  on  the  14th  inst.,  at  12  o'clock  M., 
John  Hicks,  aged  iipwards  of  SO  years.  The  subject  of  this  brief  sketch  was  a  half 
blood.  His  father  wiis  a  German,  captured  during  the  old  Indian  wars  in  some  part  of 
Maryland,  it  is  supposed,  and  was  in  due  time  regularly  adopted  into  the  Wyandott 
Nation,  where  ha  remained  all  his  life.  His  son  John  Hicks,  was  in  his  youth,  acci- 
dentally wounded  very  severely  in  the  right  thigh,  which,  owing  to  mismanagement, 
rendered  him  a  cripple  for  life. 

"In  the  year  1810,  he  with  Between-the-logs,  Mononcue, Matthew  Peacock  and  George 
Punch,  was  called  to  the  Council  Fire  by  Tarhee,  the  then  ruling  Sachem  of  the  nation. 
In  this  important  post  he  soon  distinguished  himself  for  wisdom,  firmness  and  decision. 
He  often  detected  and  exposed  the  intrigues  and  machinations  of  Tecumseh  and  the 
Prophet,  previous  to  the  late  war,  in  their  operations  with  the  Northwestern  tribes. 
He  continued  in  this  important  post  with  increased  usefulness  till  the  death  of  Tarhee, 
when  by  hereditary  right.  Da  on  quot  succeeded  him  as  the  ruling  Chief.  Hicks  con- 
tinued in  the  same  relation  to  the  new  Chief  until  the  death  of  the  latter  in  the  summer 
of  1825.  It  was  during  his  administration  that  Methodism  was  first  preached  among 
the  Wyandotts.  Being  strongly  imbued  with  the  superstitions  incident  to  heathenism, 
it  was  sometime  before  he  could  be  convinced  of  the  truth  and  reality  of  this  '  New 
doctrine,'  for  it  was  indeed  '  New '  to  him  ;  as  all  his  preconceived  notions  of  the  Chris- 
tian religion  were  derived  from  the  Romish  Church,  and  not  a  very  promising  believer 
at  that.  Possessing  an  inquiring  mind  and  a  thirst  for  knowledge  and  a  disposition  to 
'Prove  all  things  and  hold  fast  that  which  is  good,'  he  availed  himself  of  all  opportu- 
nities when  he  could  get  the  aid  of  a  good  Interpreter,  of  conversin;^  with  well  informed 
Protestants  upon  religious  subjects.  In  the  year  1819  he,  with  his  colleagues  above- 
named  (except  Da  on  quot  who  opposed  this  new  religion  bitterly),  was  received  into 
the  Church  under  the  ministry  of  Rev.  James  Montgomery.  From  this  period  until 
the  close  of  his  pilgrimage  he  has  continued  unwavering  and  steadfast  in  his  religious 
integrity,  showing  by  his  daily  walk  that  the  salvation  of  his  own,  and  the  souls  of  all 
within  his  reach  was  the  chief  business  of  his  life.  His  conversation  upon  religious 
subjects  showed  unmistakably  that  he  was  in  earnest— ih-Sit  he  meant  and  felt  what  he 
said.    He  was  exact  and  punctual  in  his  attendance  upon  all  the  means  of  grace  and  a 


374  THE   JOURNALS   OF  [February,  1853. 

was  the  last  of  the  hereditary  Chiefs  of  the  Wyaodott  na- 
tion. He  has  been  for  thirty-five  years  a  member  of  the  M. 
E.  Church. 

Tuesday,  15. — M"  W.  and  Harriet  rode  over  to  pay  a  visit 
to  our  old  friend  and  neighbor  E.  T.  Peerey,  who  is  laying 
very  low  with  the  Winter  Fever.  Attended  the  joint  ses- 
sion of  the  C'Ommittee  and  Council.  Both  bodies  adjourned 
to  attend  the  Funeral  of  the  late  John  Hicks. 

In  the  evening  snowing,  and  continued  till  late  in  the 
night. 

Wednesday,  16. — Went  to  attend  the  session  of  the  Com- 
mittee. Presented  to  the  Council  the  last  Will  and  testa- 
ment of  John  Hicks  for  probate. 

cardinal  maxim  with  him  was  to  "Have  no  communion  with  the  unfruitful  works  of 
darkness  but  rather  to  reprove  them  ;"  and  in  reproof  he  was  proverbially  .severe  ;  yet 
none  acquainted  with  him  could  take  offence.  The  ungodly,  the  per.secutor  aud  scoffer 
have  often  been  made  to  writhe  under  the  lacerating  reproof  administered  by  him.  As 
an  Exhorter  he  was  fluent,  eloquent  and  impressive.  His  mind  maintained  its  vigor 
till  within  two  or  three  years  ago.  Last  fall  a  year,  he  was  selected  by  the  Chiefs  to 
deliver,  at  the  Church,  an  address  on  the  life  and  character  of  a  deceased  Chief  with 
whom  he  had  been  intimate  many  years.  It  was  in  this  effort,  discovered  that  his 
mental  faculties  were  indeed  lulling  into  'the  sere  and  yellow  leaf,'— and  the  gigantic 
Oak  was  dying  at  the  top.  Mentally  and  physically,  it  was  evident,  he  was  sinking 
under  the  pressure  of  the  hand  of  time. 

"Father  Hicks  was  ill  about  seven  weeks  before  he  died.  I  visited  him  about  ten 
days  previous  to  our  last  Quarterly  meeting,  when  he  expressed  a  desire  to  have  admin- 
istered to  him  for  the  last  time,  the  sacrament  of  the  Lord's  Supper  at  that  time.  His 
wife  remarked  that  she  did  not  think  he  would  live  that  long.  He  seemed  to  be  sud- 
denly roused  and  said,  '  I  feel  confident  that  the  Lord  will  spare  me  till  then — yes,  I 
shall  live  that  long.'  Upon  our  arrival  at  the  time  appointed  for  that  purpose,  we 
found  him  drowsy  and  stupid;  but  upon  hearing  our  voices,  he  woke  up  and  recognized 
us  both — Knew  our  business  aud  was  inclined  to  converse  with  us,  but  was  too  weak. 
Brother  Fecrey  administered  to  him  the  sacred  emblems. 

"Suffering  much  and  long,  he  evinced  great  patience  and  resignation.  In  his  con- 
versation with  all  who  visited  him  he  invariably  stated  he  was  ready  to  obey  the  sum- 
mons at  any  moment — exhorted  his  friends  to  faithfulness  in  the  cause.  Thus  departed 
this  veteran  from  his  post  on  the  watch  tower.  The  last  of  the  hereditary  Chiefs  under 
the  old  regime  of  the  Wyandott  Nation. 

"His  age  and  feebleness  extreme, 

Who  shall  a  helpless  worm  redeem! 

Jesus,  my  only  hope  thou  art: — 

Strength  of  my  failing  flesh  and  heart, 

O,  could  I  catch  a  smile  from  thee, 

Aud  drop  into  eternity!  " 


March,  1851]  GOVERNOR  WALKER.  375 

Friday,  18. — Went  over  to  C.  B.  G.'s  and  spent  some 
time  in  social  cliat  with  Major  Kirby. 

Monday,  '21. — Went  up  to  appraise  White-Wing's  farm. 
Came  home.      Raining. 

Tuesday,  22. — Went  and  attended  the  last  session  of  the 
Committee.  Passed  the  Annual  Appropriation  Bill  and  ad- 
journed sine  die.  Hired  Monsieur  Brouseau  to  work  a 
while. 

Wednesday,  23. — Attended  the  sale  of  John  Hicks  Es- 
tate.    Came  home  in  the  evening. 

Friday,  25. — Major  Moseley  set  out  for  Delaware. 

Went  at  candle-light  to  attend  a  Temperance  meeting  at 
the  Council  House.     Pretty  fair  turn  out. 

Saturday,  26. — M"^  Brouseau  and  Dudley  commenced  haul- 
ing in  our  corn  from  the  brickyard  Field.  Wrote  an  obit- 
uary of  John  Hicks,  Sen.^ 

March,  1853. 

Thursday,  3. — The  worthless  Congress  will  be  disbanded 
to-night  at  12  o'clock.  I  pray  Heaven  this  Republic  will 
never  be  again  cursed  with  such  another  Congress.  Re- 
ceived two  letters  from  Sophia  informing  us  that  her  health 
was  poor,  and  [that  she]  wanted  to  come  home.  Rec'd  one 
from  A.  Guthrie  upon  the  subject  of  our  territorial  organi- 
zation. 

Friday,  4. — This  day  Gen.  F.  Pierce  is  inaugurated  Pres- 
ident of  the  U.  S.     Friday  is  an  ill  day,  a  day  of  bad  omen. 

Saturday,  5. — My  birthday!  Fifty-three  years  old!  that 
cannot  be.  I  daily  see  men  who  are  fourteen  and  fifteen 
years  my  juniors,  who  look  as  though  they  were  as  many 
years  my  seigniours.  I  am  not  yet,  I  trust,  "  in  the  sere  and 
yellow  leaf;"  but  how  natural  for  men,  when  somewhat  ad- 
vanced in  life,  to  vainly  imagine  they  are  still  in  "the  deiv  of 
their  youth.'^ 

1  The  biographical  sketch  given  in  note  1,  p.  373. 


376  THE    JOURNALS   OF  [March.  1853 

Monday,  7. — Attended,  at  night,  a  temperance  Meeting  at 
the  Church.     Came  home  at  11  o'clock. 

Tuesday,  8. — M""  Broseau  went  home  after  dinner;  being 
too  stormy  to  work.     Sent  by  him  my  letters  to  the  P.  O.; 

one  to  Judge  C,  Ph a;   one  to  Rev.  B.  H.  Paissel, 

California. 

Wednesday,  9. — Sent  Dudley  to  K.,  who  shortly  afterw  ards 
returned  and  reported  that  the  ice  above  the  ferry  had 
broken  loose  and  stove  in  the  ferry  boat  and  carried  her 
off  down  the  river,  with  a  negro  on  board. 

Thursday,  10. — Sent  Dudley  again  to  K.  He  bro't  our 
mail,  with  a  Telegraphic  dispatch  announcing  Gen.  Pierce's 
Cabinet:  Secretary  of  State,  Marcy,  of  N.  Y.;  Treasury, 
Guthrie,  Ky.;  Interior,  McClelland,  Mich.;  War,  Davis, 
Miss.;  Navy,  Dobbin,  N.  C;  P.  M.  G.,  Campbell,  Penn.; 
Att'y  Gen'l,  Gushing,  Mass. 

Friday,  11. — Sent  Dudley  after  my  Frenchman  to  come 
to  work.  Found  the  rascally  Bullfrogeater  in  Kansas  chop- 
ping wood  in  the  Street.  Went  over  to  sit  up  with  Cyrus 
Garrett,  who  is  very  sick  with  the  Erysipelas.  Staid  all 
night.  Heard  of  the  death  of  Henry  Warpole  and  Ann 
White- Wing.  The  former  died  in  the  woods  while  hunt- 
ing. 

Saturday,  12. — Sent  Sophia's  letter  to  J.  Walker  for  him 
to  enclose  $40  to  her.  Dudley  returned  from  K.  bringing 
our  mail.  One  letter  from  Sophia.  Her  health  improving. 
Rec'd  Senate  bill  organizing  Nebraska  Territory.^ 

Sunday,  13. — Went  over  to  see  Cyrus;  found  him  im- 
proving.    Staid  till  quite  late. 

Monday,  14. — Cold  and  cloudy  morning.  Therm.  18°. 
I  am  apprehensive  [that]  cold  weather  is  likely  to  continue 
thro'  this  New  Moon. 

•  I  have  been  unable  to  learn  anything  of  this  bill.  This  entry  would  indii  ate  that 
it  was  not  the  Hall-Richardson  bill.  But  I  can  come  to  no  other  conclusion  than  that 
it  was. 


March.  1853]  GOVERNOR  WALKER.  377 

Answered  M.  Edwards'  letter.  Just  heard  that  Tom  Coke 
had  inflicted  a  mortal  wound  upon  Solomon  Kayroboo,  with 
an  Iron  poker. 

Tuesday,  15. — Clear  and  cold.  Therm.  10°.  Attended  a 
special  session  of  the  Committee.  Unpleasant  day.  Heard 
of  the  death  of  Dr.  Gemundt. 

Wednesday,  16. — Commenced  the  copying  [of]  the  Wy- 
andott  laws.  Warm  wind  from  the  south.  Cyrus  Garrett 
is  still  very  sick.     Typhoid  Fever.     Therm.  22°. 

Thursday,  17. — Went  over  to  see  Cyrus  Garrett  Found 
him  improving. 

Engaged  in  copying  the  laws.  A  perplexing  job !  Amend- 
ments upon  amendments  come  up  like  "spirits  from  the 
vasty  deep ";  incoherent,  incongriuyus,  and  iiiconmstent  with 
the  original  laws.  Such  are  the  fruits  of  having  Nin-Kum- 
poops  to  make  laws. 

Attended  a  Temperance  Meeting  at  the  Church.  Deliv- 
ered a  speech  at  the  request  of  the  Society.  Came  home  at 
11  o'clock  at  night. 

Tuesday,  22. — Attended  the  session  of  the  Council.  Not 
much  done. 

Wednesday,  23. — M'  Dofflemeyer  commenced  witewash- 
ing  our  House.  C.  B.  Garrett  returned  home.  Also,  Hon. 
A.  Guthrie  from  Washington.  Our  house  upside  down  and 
tofsey  tiirvey. 

Thursday,  24. —  M'^  D.  still  whitewashing  and  painting. 
At  2  P.  M.  got  through,  and  [I  am]  heartily  glad  of  it. 

Friday,  25. — Cloudy  morning;  threatening  rain.  That 
Mthy,  greasy,  loafing,  poverty  stricken,  lying  Frenchman,  Bro- 
seau,  has  not  returned  to  work.  My  execrations  upon  his 
pate! 

Saturday,  26. — Sick.  I  am  unable  to  tell  my  complaint. 
Something  like  dyspepsia.     Feel  wretched.     Took  a  dose  of 


378  THE    JOURNALS    OF  [March,  1853. 

Cook's  Pills  last  night.     Derived  no  advantage  from  them. 
Sick  all  day.     Resumed  recording  the  Laws — gave  it  up. 

Sunday,  27. — I  feel  some  better  this  morning ;  but  my 
complaint  is  not  done  with  yet.  "The  snake  is  scotched  but 
not  killed." 

April,  1853. 

Thursday,  14. — While  in  Kansas  strong  suspicions  were 
excited  that  a  gang  of  desperadoes  was  lurking  about  intent 
upon  robbery  and  plunder ;  a  person  was  detailed  by  the 
citizens  to  keep  a  look  out.  He  associated  himself  with  ev- 
ery suspicious  person — to  chat  with  each  quite  familiarly, 
and  [he]  finally  succeeded  in  discovering  who  they  were, 
their  plans  of  operation,  and  that  they  had  already  commit- 
ted a  burglarious  robbery  upon  a  store  in  Parkville.  He 
also  ascertained  where  the  goods  were  concealed,  and  [that] 
it  was  their  intention  to  fire  the  town  of  Kansas  that  night. 
Prompt  measures  were  then  adopted  for  their  arrest.  Arrest 
succeeded  arrest  till  nine  were  secured.  They  were  sent  to 
Platte  City  Jail  to  await  their  trial.  They  were  a  hard  look- 
ing set  of  scamps. 

Saturday,  23. — Commenced  writing  a  review  of  an  edito- 
rial which  appeared  in  the  "  Sandusky  Register."  It  is  a 
most  scandalous  calumny  on  the  Wyandotts.  This  is  the 
first  instance  of  any  of  [the]  Corps  Editorial  in  Ohio  at- 
tacking the  Wyandotts. 

Sunday,  24. — Finished  my  fulmination.  Visited  by  E. 
Garret  and  Henry  Garrett,  who  staid  [a]  couple  of  hours. 
In  the  evening  the  Rev.  M""  Jones  called  upon  us. 

Wednesday,  27. — M.  R.  Walker  bro't  us  our  mail,  among 
which  was  a  letter  from  Sophia,  announcing  to  us  the  aston- 
ishing news  of  her  marriage  with  M'"  D.  V.  Clements,  of 
Hardin  County,  Ohio,  on  the  5th  instant.  WeD, perhaps  its 
for  the  best. 


May.  ia53.]  GOVERNOR  WALKER.  379 

Thursday,  28. — Just  heard  that  Tom  Coke  was  killed  by 
Tom  Mononcue,  while  returning  from  Parkville.  Learned, 
a.s  yet,  no  particulars. 

Saturday,  30. — Sent  by  Adam  Brown  for  our  mail,  but 
this  was  the  last  we  have  seen  of  him.  I  fear  he  got  on  a 
hurst,  and  perhaps  lost  our  mail  and  himself,  too. 

May,  1853. 

Monday,  2. — Finished  copying  the  Wyandott  Laws.^  Fe- 
licitatus ! 

A  great  temperance  meeting  at  the  Church  to-night. 
These  Temperance  promises  and  pledges  may,  peradventure, 
last  till  "Dog  days,"  but  I  very  much  doubt  it.  They  are 
seldom  productive  of  any  permanent  good. 

Tuesday,  10. — Attended  the  session  of  the  Council.  Fri- 
day, 13th,  appointed  for  the  trial  of  Thomas  Mononcue. 

Heard  of  the  removal  of  Thomas  Moseley  from  the  In- 
dian Agency  and  the  appointment  of  a  M'"  Robinson  from 
the  South  West  part  of  the  State. 

Wednesday,  11. — Wrote  a  long  letter  to  the  California 
Wyandotts.  Wm.  Priddee,  Presley  Muir  &  Company  set 
out  from  Wyandott  Territory  for  California,  with  nearly  two 
hundred  head  of  Cattle. 

Friday,  13. — This  is  the  day  set  for  the  trial  of  the  crim- 
inal. 

3  o'clock  P.  M. — Some  of  the  jury  and  some  of  the  wit- 
nesses foiling  to  appear,  the  trial  was  postponed  till  Tuesday 
the  17th. 

M''  George  Twyman  called  this  evening. 

Monday,  16. — In  the  evening  attended  a  Temperance 
meeting  at  the  Church.  The  person  chosen  for  speaker  at  a 
previous   meeting   not   appearing,  M''  D ^  who    always 

1  I  have  searched  for  this  copy  of  the  Wyandot  Laws,  but  have  not  found  them. 
Tlify  are  not  among  the  papers  belonging  to  the  Council  in  the  Indian  Territory. 
-  Dofflemeyer. 


380  THE  JOURNALS  OF  [May.  is.53. 

likes  to  hear  himself  talk,  took  the  floor,  and  with  his  usual 
wild  and  uncouth  ranting  and  horrid  screams  soon  came  near 
driving  his  audience  out  of  the  House,  when  S.  Armstrong 
interposed  and  took  the  floor  from  him  and  delivered  a  short 
address  in  AVyandott,  after  which  I  followed  in  English. 

Tuesday,  17. — At  12  M.  went  down  to  attend  the  trial  of 
Thomas  Mononcue.  The  jury  empanelled  and  sworn.  J. 
W.  Gray  Eyes,  Prosecutor.  M.  R.  W.  and  myself  for  the 
defence.  The  case  was  submitted  to  the  jury  at  6  o'clock, 
and  I  came  home. 

Wednesday,  18. — Just  learned  that  the  Jury  bro't  in  a 
verdict  of  ^'Man  /Slaughter  in  the  Second  Degreed  The 
Court  unjustly  and  tyrannically  sentenced  him  [to]  iour 
years  solitary  confinement.  ' 

Sunday,  22. — Went  to  Church  and  heard  a  very  good  ser- 
mon preached  by  Rev.  Thos.  Asliby.  Invited  him  and  his 
lady  to  dine  with  us. 

Tuesday,  24. — Major  Moseley  and  lady  came  and  staid  all 
night,  by  way  of  a  farewell  visit;  he  having  been  superseded 
in  the  Kansas  Agency  by  a  M'  Robinson,  of  Polk  County, 
Mo 

Thursday,  26. — Diable:  Those  drunken  vagabondish  fer- 
rymen have  the  lost  Ferry  Boat.  They  say  some  one  or  two 
broke  the  lock  last  night  and  took  the  Boat,  no  one  knows 
where.  This  is  too  provoking.  The  rascals  have  been  drunk 
and  lost  the  Boat  themselves.  Now  we  have  another  Em- 
bargo. 

Sunday,  29. — To-day  a  Union  Sunday  School  celebration 
comes  off"  in  Kansas. 

Our  Ferry  Boat  was  found  and  recovered  near  Randolph. 

Monday,  30. — Major  Moseley  came  over  in  company  with 
Major  Robinson,  his  successor  in  ofliee,  and  introduced  him 
to  us  employees  and  such  others  as  were  present.  Beautiful 
evening,  tho'  cool. 


June.  1853]  GOVERNOR  WALKER.  381 

Tuesday,  31. — Sent  a  copy  of  the  Ohio  State  Journal  con- 
taining my  vindication  of  the  Wyandotts,  for  republication 
in  the  "Missouri  Democrat."  M"  Priestley  &  M"  Doffle- 
meyer  [came]  on  a  visit  [to  us]  and  dined.  Wrote  to 
David  Preston  &  Co.,  of  Detroit,  on  the  subject  of  Bounty 
lands. 

.lu.M.,  1853. 

Monday,  6. — M"  W.  and  I  went  to  Kansas  to  attend  to 
some  indispensable  business.  While  in  Kansas  we  found 
that  "the  Campbells"  were  not  only  "coming,"  but  had  act- 
ually come.     We  had  a  regular  family  interview. 

Saturday,  11. — Dressed  out  my  Hominy  Corn. 

Harriet,  Miss  Armstrong,  Miss  Hunter  &  Miss  JNinnie 
went  up  to  Muncie  town  and  staid  all  night. 

Sunday,  12. — Our  Clergyman  being  absent,  there  were  no 
religious  services  at  the  Church.  And  as  a  consequence  we 
all  staid  at  home. 

A  strange  sort  of  Genius  called  upon  me  to-day,  an  eccen- 
tric, wild  and  impulsive  German.  He  was  making  researches 
into  the  various  Aboriginal  dialects.  I  exhibited  to  him 
such  works  as  I  had  on  hand,  from  which  he  made  extracts, 
His  English  was  bad  and,  if  possible,  his  French  was  worse, 
He  was  in  the  outward  man,  rough  and  filthy. 

Friday,  17. — In  the  evening  Harriet  found  two  swarms 
of  bees  hanging  [to]  a  walnut  tree.  We  turned  to  and  pre- 
pared a  couple  of  Gums  and  secured  them.  In  the  night 
we  removed  them  to  the  Garden  where  they  may  accumu- 
late as  much  honey  as  they  please. 

Sunday,  19. — M""  Dofflemeyer  and  Lady  returned  last 
evening  from  Platte  County.  The  Northern  Quarterly 
Meeting  going  on. 

Wednesday,  22. — M*^  Nancy  Pipe  is  very  sick.  Having 
had  a  paralytic  stroke  on  her  left  side,  rendering  her  in- 
sensible. 


382  THE  JOURNALS  OF  [J»ne  issa. 

Thursday,  23. — M'^  Nancy  Pipe  continues  insensible. 

Friday,  24. — Harriet  just  returned  from  sitting  up  with 
the  sick.     Nancy  no  better. 

Riddlesbarger  Charivari'd  last  night. 

Saturday,  25. — At  dark  news  came  that  Nancy  Pipe  was 
dying.  Harriet  and  I  went  over.  She  died  at  20  minutes 
past  10  o'clock  P.  M.     We  sat  up  all  night. 

Sunday,  26. — After  breakfast  we  returned  to  the  afflicted 
family.  A  laige  concourse  of  our  people  assembled,  and 
Rev.  M""  Dofflemeyer  delivered  an  address.  Funeral  to 
take  place  at  10  o'clock  to-morrow. 

Monday,  27. — Attended  the  funeral.  The  burial  took 
place  at  12  M. 

Thursday,  30. — M""  &  M^^  Clement  arrived.  A  happy 
meeting  among  the  folks. 

July,  1853. 

Tuesday,  12. — Attended  the  nominating  Convention.  The 
following  is  the  result: 


John  D.  Brown 

vs 

Tauromee. 

Matthew  Mudeater 

vs 

John  Arms. 

John  Sarrahess 

vs 

Geo.  I.  Clark. 

John  S.  Bearskin 

vs 

John  Hicks. 

John  Gibson 

vs 

Thos.  Pipe. 

Wednesday,  13. — Capt.  Black-Sheep  called  upon  us  to- 
day. 

Friday,  22. — Martha  gone  to  Kansas  and  Harriet  to  Mun- 
cie  town.^ 

Monday,  25. — Cool  and  cloudy  morning.  Resumed  cut- 
ting my  grass.  Warm  thro'  the  day.  Sent  Harriet  to  Kan- 
sas for  some  medicines  for  M'  C.  who  has  every  other  day  a 
chill. 

In  the  evening  three  Gentlemen  rode  up  and  enquired  if 

'  Now  Muncie  P.  O..  Wyandotte  County,  Kansas. 


July,  1853.]  GOVERNOE  WALKER.  383 

W.  W.  resided  here.  Upon  being  an^-wered  in  the  affiima- 
tive  they  stated  they  wished  to  stay  all  ni^ht.  I  sent  them 
to  M^  C.  B.  G.'s. 

They  said  they  were  delegates  to  the  Rail  Road  Meeting, 
in  Nebraska,  on  the  26th  inst.  I  would  gladly  have  enter- 
tained them,  but  owing  to  family  sickness  I  was  compelled 
to  send  them  Avhere  I  did. 

Tuesday,  26. — Very  cool  and  clear. 

Went  over  to  C.  B.  G.'s  and  got  my  scythe  ground. 

Warm  and  sultry. 

On  yesterday  morning  One  Hundred  Snakes  Standing- 
stone  died  of  Mania  a  potu. 

At  noon  a  messenger  was  sent  for  me  to  attend  the  Rail 
Road  Convention.  I  saddled  my  horse  and  rode  up  to  the 
Wyandott  Council  House,  where  I  found  a  large  collection 
of  the  habitans  of  Nebi'aska. 

The  meeting  was  called  to  order  and  organized  by  the  ap- 
pointment of  Wm.  P.  Birney,  of  Delaware,  President,  and 
Wm.  Walker,  Sec'y. 

A  Committee  was  then  appointed  to  prepare  Resolutions 
expressive  of   the  sense  of   the  meeting.     James  Findiey, 

Dyer,  and  Silas  Armstrong  were  appointed. 

In  accordance  with  the  Resolutions  adopted  the  foUow- 
officers  were  elected  as  a  provisional  government  for  the 
Territory: 

For  Provisional  Governor,  Wm.  W^alker;  Sec'y  of  the 
Territory,  G.  I.  Clark;  Councilmen,  R.  C.  Miller,  Isaac 
Mnndy,  and  M.  R.  Walker. 

Resolutions  were  adopted  expressive  of  the  Convention's 
preference  of  the  Great  Central  Rail  Road  Route. 

A.  Guthrie,  late  delegate,  was  nominated  as  the  Candidate 
for  re-election.     Adjourned. 

Thursday,  28. — Clear  and  cool  morning. 

M.  R.  AValker  very  kindly  come  to  my  aid  with  his  hand 


384  THE  JOURNALS  OF  [July,  isss. 

and  team  and  hauled  and  stacked  my  hay  in  excellent  or- 
der. 

A.  Guthrie  called  upon  and  dined  with  us  to-day.  E-ec'd 
the  printed  proceedings  of  the  Nebraska  territorial  Conven- 
tion. 

Great  credit  is  due  to  the  Proprietors  of  the  "Industrial 
Luminary  "  in  Parkville  for  their  promptitude  in  publishina; 
the  proceedings  in  hand  bills  in  so  short  a  time. 

Friday,  29. — Staid  at  home  all  day  and  rested  by  reading 
and  writing. 

Saturday,  30. — Clear  and  warm.  Prospect  of  a  warm  day. 
AVell,  by  action  of  the  Convention  of  Tuesday  last  I  was 
elected  Provisional  Governor  of  this  Territory.  The  first 
executive  act  devolving  on  me,  is  to  issue  a  Proclamation 
ordering  an  election  to  be  held  in  the  different  precincts, 
[for]  one  delegate  to  the  33rd  Congress. 

At  10  o'clock  A.  M.,  a  smart  shower.  This  will  in  some 
degree,  cool  the  ardor  of  the  spectators  of  the  exhibition  of 
the  Managerie  of  living  animals  in  Kansas  to-day. 

August,  1853. 

Monday,  1. — Issued  my  proclamation  for  holding  an  elec- 
tion in  the  different  precincts  in  the  Territory  on  the  second 
Tuesday  in  October,  for  one  Delegate  to  the  33rd  Congress. 

Attended  at  a  Council  of  Wyandotts,  Delawares,  Shawnees, 
and  Potto^votomies,  in  Delaware.  Came  home  at  midnight. 
Then  [we]  had  a  heavy  rain. 

Wednesday,  3. — At  the  request  of  a  friend,  I  wrote  my 
own  brief  Biography.  While  doing  so,  I  was  visited  again 
by  the  crazy  German  mentioned  under  the  date  "  Sunday, 
June  12,"  While  engaged  in  making  extracts  from  my 
books,  he  w^as  taken  with  a  chill.  He  is  evidently  partially 
insane.  During  the  paroxysm  of  the  chill,  we  discovered 
that  the  poor  fellow  was  sa7is  schme.     He  left  in  the  eveniiig. 


August,  1853.]  GOVERNOR  WALKER.  385 

Saturday,  6.— To-^lay  Senator  Atchi.on  holds  forth  in 
Farkvdle,  but  I  cannot  go. 

Monday,  8.-Geo.  I.  Clark,  Sec'y  of  the  Territory,  called 
this  morning  and  delivered  the  printed  Proclamation  (200 
copies)  for  circulation. 

Tuesday,  9.— Yoked  up  my  oxen  to  see  how  "Old  Brin" 
would  work  with  his  new  jiartner.  Darby.  Well,  they  work 
cliarmingly.     I  am  pleased  with  my  team. 

This  is  the  day  appointed  for  the  Wyandott  National  elec- 
tion and  Green  Corn  feast. 

Wednesday  10.— "The  Dog  Star  rages."     Therm.  95°. 
Hauled  a  part  of  our  effects  to  the  Camp  Ground.     I  am 
almost  sorry  I  consented  to  Camp,  the  weather  being  so  op- 
pressively hot. 

Thursday,  11.— I  have  lost  a  day.  My  reckonino-  is 
wrong,  but  let  it  pass.  Hauled  a  part  of  our  effects  to'the 
Camp  Ground  to-day,  not  yesterday. 

Friday,  12.— Located  among  "the  tents  of  Israel,"  but  in 
order  to  accomplish  this,  I  suffered  in  the  flesh. 

Satui-day,  13.~Public  preaching  by  Kev.  F.  Ashby.  In 
the  evening  we  had  a  shower  with  a  heavy  wind  creatino-  a 
considerable  clatter  among  the  clap  boards  of  our  Shantee. 

Sunday,  14.— At  11  o'clock  a  very  large  congregation 
assembled  in  the  Brick  Church,  filling  it  to  its  utmost 
capacity. 

Rev.  F.  Ashby  preached  an  able  sermon  from  the  1st 
Psalm. 

In  the  evening  a  very  warm  and  interesting  meeting.  The 
Church  members  seemed  to  enjoy  the  exercises  with  great 
gusto. 

Monday,  15.— Religious  services  at  short  intervals,  con- 
tinued. 

The  ordinance  of   Baptism  administered  to  M"^  and   M^^ 
Priestly,  and  a  large  number  of  children. 
26 


386  THE  JOURNALS  OF  [August  1853. 

At  night  a  warm  and  devotional  prayer  meeting. 

Tuesday,   16. — Broke  up  and  all  moved  home. 

Tliur.'^day,  18. —  Commenced  a  long  letter  to  Presley 
Muir  [who  is]  in  California.  Got  my  Kansas  mail.  Two 
Whigs  elected  from  Missouri,  Lindsey  and  Caruthers. 

Sunday,  21, — I  am  vexed  and  tormented  by  my  neigh- 
bor's hogs.  A  more  devilish  and  unruly  set  of  swine  I 
never  saw.  Preacher's  children  and  live  stock,  from  such, 
"  Libera  nos,  0  Domine  Deo  ".^ 

Thursday,  25. — Rec'd  a  letter  from  Major  Pobinson  on 
official  business. 

Saturday,  27. — I  must  to-day  collect  some  school  statis- 
tics for  Major  Robinson. 

Sunday,  28. — There  being  no  services  at  the  Church,  all 
having  gone  to  the  Delaware  Camp  Meeting,  we  staid  at 
home. 

Monday,  29. — W^  W.,  M""  Clement  and  myself  went  to 
Kansas. 

Getting  sickly  in  this  place.     Many  pale  faces. 

Wednesday,  31. — M"^  Guthrie  called  upon  us  to-day.  All 
sick. 

September,  1853. 

Friday,  2. — M""^  W.  very  sick.  Our  physician  is  very  at- 
tentive to  us  in  our  afflictions,  but  our  uncouth  and  cloirnish 
preacher  attaches  but  little  value  to  our  spiritual  interests, 
as  he  has  never  called  to  see  us. 

Tuesday,  6. — M""  Commissioner  Manypenny  came  over  in 
company  with  Rev.  Thos.  Johnston  to  pay  the  W^yandotts  a 
visit.  The  Council  being  in  session,  I  introduced  him  to  the 
Council,  to  wdiicli  body  he  made  a  short  address. 

Thursday,  8. — Harriet  gone  to  Lexington  and  our  eyni- 
nerit  divine  to  the  Conference  in  St.  Louis.  Dr.  AYright 
called  to  see  us. 


October,  1853]  GOVERNOR  WALKER.  387 

Saturday,  10.— The  Territorial  Council  met  and  adopted 
rules  and  regulations  for  the  election  of  delegate  to  Couoiess 
from  this  Territory. 

Sunday,  11. — A  shower  in  the  morning. 
^  It  turned  out  a  pleasnnt  day,  but  a  dull  and  lonesome  day. 
Not  a  soul  called  upon  us  thro'  the  day.     Wrote  the  Indian's 
experience  in  Spiritual  Rappings. 

Tuesday,  13.— Attended  the  session  of  the  Council.  There 
met  with  Major  Robinson,  Indian  Agent.  Came  home  in 
the  evening. 

Friday,  16.— Tauroomee,  N.  Cotter  and  Philip  Brown 
called  to  get  some  writing  done.  The  two  latter  [are]  go- 
ing to  California. 

^  Tuesday,  27.— D.  Dofflemeyer  returned  from    St.  Louis 
Conference,  that's  all  about  him. 

October,  1853. 

_  Tuesday,  4.— Attended  the  session  of  the  Counci].     Har- 
riet returned  home  irom  Lexington,  jMo. 

A.  L.  Gilstrap,  Bloomington,  Mo. 

The  above  is  the  address  of  a  Gentleman  who  called  upon 
me  and  spent  the  evening.  He  has  been  exploring  Nebraska 
Territory  with  a  view^  of  settling. 

Thursday,  6.— Rec'd  a  letter  fi'om  Maj.  Robinson,  inform- 
ing me  that  Com.  Manypenny  wished  to  have  an  interview 
with  the  Council  to-morrow. 

Friday,  7.— Attended  a  Council  called  by  the  Com.  of 
Indian  Affairs.  Speeches  were  passed  between  the  parties 
on  the  subject  of  the  Territorial  organization,  selling  out  to 
the  Gov't. 

Saturday,  8.— Completed  my  second  Epistle  to  the  Ohio 
State  Jou]-nal  on  TeiTJtoi-ial  Affairs.  Then  hunted  up  my 
villainous  horses.  Harriet  gone  to  Kansas  for  our  mail. 
Attended  a  called  National  Council. 


388  THE    JOURISTALS    OF  [October.  1833. 

Sunday,  9.— Harriet  went  to  Sabbath  School.  M.  R.  W., 
M'"'  M.  Garrett,  and  M''  Sarah  Garrett  called  upon  us  and 
spent  an  hour  in  social  chat. 

Monday,  10. — Went  to  attend  a  special  session  of  the 
Council. 

Tuesday,  11. — Attended  the  election  for  delegate  to  Con- 
gress, for  Wyandott  precinct.  Fifty-cne  votes  only  were 
polled. 

A.  Guthrie,  33 

Tom  Johnston,  18 

The  p)riestliood  of  the  M.  E.  Church  made  unusual  exer- 
tions to  obtain  a  majority  for  the'iv  holy  brother.  Amidst  the 
exertions  of  their  obsequious  tools,  it  was  apparent  [that]  it 
was  an  up-hill  piece  of  business  in  Wyandott. 

Executed  a  Commission  to  J.  B.  Nones  as  Commissioner 
and  Notary  Public  for  Nebraska  Territory. 

Thursday,  13. — Went  down  to  Kansas  to  see  M'  and  M" 
Clement  on  board  a  Steamer  on  tlieir  relurn  to  Ohio.  A 
pleasant  trip  to  ye.     Farewell. 

Thursday,  27. — Just  getting  over  a  most  wanton  and  un- 
provoked attack  of  the  Bilious  Diarrhea  which  bro't  me 
close  to  death's  door. 

Friday,  28. — Hired  Isaac  Big-Tree  and  James  Armstrong 
to  chop  wood.     In  the  evening  they  went  liome. 

In  the  evening  the  M'^  Garretts  and  Miss  Garrett  called 
and  staid  till  bed-time. 

Monday,  31. — I  suppose  we  may  safely  set  down  Thomas 
Johnston's  election  for  delegate  as  certain.  It  is  not  at  all 
surprising,  when  we  look  at  the  fearful  odds  between  the 
opposing  candidates.  M'  Guthrie  had  only  his  personal 
friends  to  support  him  with  their  votes  and  influence,  while 
the  former  had  the  whole  power  of  the  Federal  Government, 
the  presence  and  active  support  of  the  Commissioner  of  In- 


NoTember.  1853.]  GOVERNOR   WALKER.  389 

dian  Affairs,  the  Military,  the  Indian  Agents,  Missionaries, 
Indian  Traders,  &c,     A  combined  power  that  is  irresistible. 

November,  1853. 

Saturday,  5. — Rec'd  a  line  from  J.  Walker  informing  me 
that  Mai.  Robinson,  Indian  Agent,  had  landed  with  the  An- 
nuity, and  intended  paying  out  on  Monday. 

Sunday,  6. — Wrote  all  day  in  copying  the  Pay  Roll,  hav- 
ing to  make  triplicates. 

Monday,  7. — Attended  at  the  Council  House  at  an  early 
hour,  tho'  in  poor  health.  The  Agent  having  been  fur- 
nished with  only  $17,500.00,  leaving  out  $5,000.00  due  under 
the  Treaty  of  1850,  the  Council  refused  to  receive  it.  So 
ended  the  payment.  The  wliole  [matter]  was  adjourned  in- 
definitely. 

The  Territorial  Council,  Sec'y  and  Governor  then  pro- 
ceeded to  open  the  returns  of  the  Territorial  Election.  After 
canvassing  the  Returns  it  appeared  that  Thomas  Johnston 
had  received  the  highest  number  of  votes,  and  was  declared 
duly  elected  delegate  to  the  3od  Congress. 

Came  home  having  P.  D.  Clark  as  a  guest. 

Tuesday,  8. — J.  W.  Garrett,  Deputy  Secretary,  attended  at 
my  House,  and  we  issued  the  Certificate  of  election  to  Thomas 
Johnston,  delegate  elect  to  the  3ord  Congress. 

Friday,  11. — Beautiful,  warm  morning.  This  is  "Indian 
summer." 

Yoked  up  my  Oxen  and  hauled  home  the  Cabbage  we 
bought  from  M""*  Rankin  ;  then  all  hands  went  to  work  and 
we  made  a  h  Barrel  of  Saw  Kraut,  as  good  as  ever  was 
stowed  away  in  the  stomach  of  Governor  Von  Twillerer,  or 
Peter  the  Headstrong. 

Saturday,  12. — M'"  Guthrie  called  and  examined  the  elec- 
tion returns  for  delegate,  and  intends  taking  copies  of  them. 

Sunday,    13. — Finished    two   letters.     One  to  M'  O.  H. 


390  THE    JOURNALS    OF  [November,  1853. 

Browne,  of  Maryland,  and  the  other  to  M'  Gilstrap,  Editor 
of  the  "  Bloomington  Kepublican,  both  on  Territorial  Affairs. 

Monday,  14. — Went  out  to  hunt  my  villainous  horses,  l)ut 
could  tind  nothing  of  them  and  gave  up  the  chase.  M'''  W. 
then  went  out  for  the  same  purpose,  but  returned  fatigued 
and  equally  unsuccessful.    C.  B.  Garrett  returned  from  Ohio. 

Thursday,  17. —  Bode  out  to  hunt  for  my  ox,  but  could 
not  find  him.  Harriet  gone  to  Kansas  to  see  a  sick  friend, 
Miss  Martha  Smart. 

Friday,  IS. — Went  out  again  to  hunt  my  runaway  ox. 
Travelled  over  "hill  and  dale,"  through  jungles  and  thick- 
ets, swamps  and  morasses,  but  could  find  nothing  of  the  old 
Scamp. 

Sunday,  20. — Yesterday  and  to-day  appointed  for  Quar- 
terly Meeting;  the  weather  being  so  unfavorable,  there  will 
not  be  much  of  a  "turn  out." 

The  rainy  appearance  of  the  sky  prevented  us  from  going 
to  Church. 

Monday,  21. — Went  down  to  attend  the  Annuity  pay- 
ment. After  much  parleying  and  delay,  the  payment  com- 
menced. By  omitting,  for  the  present,  ten  deceased  persons, 
the  $17,500  netted  $30  per  capita  to  585  persons.  Not  get- 
ting through,  it  was  adjourned  till  to-morrow  morning,  10 
o'clock. 

Tuesday,  22. —  Besumed  the  payment  of  the  Annuity, 
and  closed  at  candle-light.  A  tedious  job  we  have  had 
of  it. 

Wednesday,  23. — M^'  W.  and  Martha  set  out  this  morn- 
ing for  Parkville,  this  [being]  their  first  visit  to  that  plate. 

Went  to  meet  the  Council  and  Maj.  Bobinson.  Bo't  of  P. 
D.  Clai-k  an  Osage  Pony  for  |28.00. 

Came  home  wearied  of  the  bustle  and  turmoil  of  an  In- 
dian payment.  Our  folks  returned  from  Parkville  about 
sunset. 


]>.ei«be.,  1853]  GOVERNOR  WALKER.  391 

Tlmisday,  24. — Wrote  a  communication  to  Col.  Many- 
penny,  Commissioner  of  Indian  Affairs,  correcting  an  error 
in  a  communication  published  in  the  Missouri  Democrat  by 
M''  A.  Guthrie  in  relation  to  a  speech  delivered  by  the  for- 
mer to  the  Wyandott  Council. 

Friday,  25. — M'  P.  D.  Clark  sent  my  Osage  Pony  by  his 
man  "Friday." 

Saturday,  20.— Rode  out  to  Matthew  Barnett's  to  recover 
my  runaway  ox,  but  could  not  find  him.     Returned  home. 

In  the  evening  the  Ladies  from  C.  B.  G.'s,  accompanied 
i>y  M""  Edgar  Garret,  came  over  and  spent  the  evening  with 
us. 

Monday,  28. — Went  the  second  time  in  pursuit  of  my  ox. 
Found  him  at  the  Widow  Kayroohoo's  and  had  much  trouble 
and  difficulty  in  getting  him  home. 

Went  to  attend  the  session  of  the  Wyandott  Council. 
Met  Maj.  Robinson  there.  Learned  that  the  Widow  Ronu- 
cay  died  yestei'day.     Came  home  in  the  evening. 

J.  Walker  purchased  the  Agency  buildings  and  other  im- 
provements at  1500.00. 

Wednesday,  oO. — Turned  out  my  Osage  Pony,  and  my 
two  horses  took  turns  in  chasing  her  round  the  pasture.  I 
then  expelled  one  of  them,  supposing  the  other  would  then 
become  more  friendly  and  sociable  with  her ;  but  no.  He 
continued  racing  her  round  the  pasture.  I  was  compelled 
to  put  her  in  the  stable  for  protection. 

December,  185o. 

Thursday,  1. — Went  to  Church  to  hear  Professor  South- 
Avick  of  Chapel  Hill  Academy,  a  Cumberland  Presbyterian 
preacher.  That  portion  of  the  sermon  I  heard  was  very 
good. 

Saturday,  3. — Just    heard    that   a  deputation  of  Seneca 


392  THE    JOURNALS   OF  [DecemlK-r,  1853. 

Chiefs  had  arrived,  on  public  business  with  the  Wyandott 
Council. 

Attended  the  Council.  Found  seven  Senecas,  a  deputa- 
tion of  Shawnees,  and  one  of  Delawares. 

John  Hatt,  the  Wyandott  Principal  Chief,  opened  the 
usual  ceremonies,  when  the  Senecas  delivered  a  speech  em- 
bracing the  object  of  their  Embassy. 

The  amount  was  to  remind  the  Wyandotts  that  they  were 
once  appointed  the  keepers  of  the  Council  fire,  and  it  was 
the  wish  of  the  Six  Nations  that  they  should  re-kindle  the 
fire  in  the  West. 

They  were  replied  to  thro'  the  Shawnees,  that  the  Council 
fire  had  been  rekindled  in  the  West  five  years  ago  last  Oc- 
tober, and  the  reason  why  they  (the  six  nations)  were  not 
invited  to  attend  and  assist  in  the  ceremonies  must  be  plain 
and  obvious  to  them,  viz:  they  did  not  belong  to  the  An- 
cient Confederacy  of  N.  W.  Indians,  but  to  the  Iroquoi-e 
Confederacy;  therefore  could  claim  no  rights,  nor  have  any 
voice  in  it. 

Sunday,  4. — To-day  the  members  of  Congress,  instead  of 
going  to  Church  and  say[ing]  their  prayers,  are  busily  en- 
gaged in  canvassing  and  intriguing  about  the  Speakership 
and  Clerkship  of  the  House. 

Monday,  5. — Rec'd  a  proposition  to  purchase  our  Piano, 
from  Rev.  Scarritt  for  his  Select  School  in  Westport.  Low- 
est figure,  $200.00.     The  matter  consitlered. 

Beautiful  day.     Indian  summer.     To-day  Congress  meets. 

To-day  a  fearful  struggle  takes  ])lace  in  the  House  of  Rep- 
resentatives among  the  Candidates  for  Speaker  and  for  Clerk. 
If  the  House  gets  organized  to-day,  the  President's  message 
will  be  delivered. 

Sold  our  Piano  Forte  to  Rev.  N.  Scarritt,  Principal  of  the 
Westport  High  Scliool,  at  |200.00,  5)  months  credit. 

Tuesday,  G. — M""  Dofflemeyer  came  with    his  Wagon  to 


Decen.ter,  1853.]  GOVERNOR    WALKER.  393 

take  the  Piano  to  West  port.  We  packed  it  up  and  shipped 
it  off.     Farewell,  dispenser  of  sweet,  concordant  sounds ! 

The  Council  sent  the  Sheriff  after  me  to  attend  their  ses- 
sion. Well,  I  promptly  and  very  decidedly  refused.  I 
thought  it  was  time  to  have  a  short  cessation  of  these  public 
gatherings,  and  time  to  attend  to  my  long  neglected  domes- 
tic affairs. 

Friday,  9.— Finished  reading  "The  Tenant  of  Wildfeld 
Hall."  I  consider  it  one  of  the  best  written  things  of  the 
Kind  I  have  ever  read.  1  like  its  terse  and  vigorous  style 
of  the  pui-e  old  Anglo-Saxon  dialect. 

Wednesday,  14. — This  evening  a  Cotillion  party  is  to 
come  off  at  the  "Modie  House"  in  Westport,  but  I  cannot 
go,  tho'  invited,  owing  to  my  crippled  condition. 

Thursday,  15. — Major  Robinson  sent  for  me  to  attend  at 
the  Council  House.  I  went.  He  had  received  a  communi- 
cation from  the  Com.  of  Indian  Affairs  upon  the  subject  of 
the  |5,000 — explaining  the  cause  of  its  non-payment. 

P.  D.  Chirk's  Protest  was  read  to  the  Council. 

Tuesday,  20. — Harriet  and  Baptiste  set  out  for  Kansas, 
but  on  ari'iving  at  the  Ferry  found  the  floating  ice  so  thick 
and  running  so  rapidly  the  Ferry  Boat  could  not  cross.  St) 
they  gave  it  up  and  come  home.  M""  Dofflemeyer  then  pro- 
posed to  Harriet  that  if  she  would  go  back  with  him,  as  he 
wanted  to  go  over,  he  would  venture  with  the  Fei-ry  Boat, 
and  make  the  attempt  to  cross.  They  went  and  succeeded 
in  crossing. 

Friday,  23. — F.  A.  Hicks  and  Adam  Brovsii  called  upon 
me  to-day. 

Finished  a  long  letter  in  answer  to  one  of  enquiry  about 
the  general  character  of  Nebraska,  from  some  Ohio  Yan- 
kees. 

Saturday,  24. — To-day  the  "Sons  of  Temperance"  have 
a  celebration  at  the  Church.     In  the  evenino-  the  Division 


394  THE   JOURNALS   OF  [December,  1853. 

was  dismissed  after  its  return  to  the  Lodge  Koom.  They 
made  quite  an  imposing  appearance  when  marching  to,  and 
from  the  Church.  The  repast,  prepared  for  the  Division 
and  all  who  attended,  was  rich  and  bountiful.  A  social  party 
at  Isaac  Brown's. 

Monday,  26.— M^^'  Hicks,  M"^^  Williams,  and  W  Charloe, 
all  aged  and  venerable  Widows,  called  upon  us  to-day  to  pay 
us  the  compliments  of  the  season.  They  dined  with  us  and 
took  their  leave.  Shall  we  ever  eat  another  Christmas  Din- 
ner together? 

Wednesday,  28. — Harriet  and  our  garcon,  Ba})tiste  gal- 
loping over  the  country  for  marketing.  I,  engaged  in  issu- 
ing cards  of  invitation.     Thus  the  day  passed  away. 

Thursday,  29. — I,  and  my  garcon  hauled  a  load  of  chi[)S 
from  the  woods,  amounting  to  nearly  a  cord  of  solid  wood. 

Russell  Garrett,  in  company  with  Harriet  and  some  other 
company,  gone  to  the  Fair  at  Westport. 

Friday,  30. — M'  Dofflemeyer  called  this  morning,  and  as 
usual,  in  a  hurry.  Our  folks  who  went  to  attend  the  West- 
port  Fair,  returned  at  2  P.  M.  amidst  the  storm. 

Our  w^omen  up  to  their  "Eyebrows"  in  culinary  oper- 
ations for  to-morrow's  "Dinner  party." 

Saturday,  81. — The  last  and  surviving  day  of  Anno  Dom- 
ini 1853.  At  10  o'clock  A.  M.,  snowing.  A  most  uproar- 
ish  and  squally  day:  rain,  snow,  hail  and  dust  circling  in 
clouds  in  the  wildest  confusion  and  disorder. 

At  12  M.  our  guests  began  to  assemble.  At  i  past  2  P. 
M.,  they  were  seated  and  the  Dinner  w^ent  off  with  a  fine 
relish,  and  enjoyment.  At  7  in  the  evening  the  young  peo- 
ple assembled  for  a  "Social  party."  The  party  went  off 
with  much  hilarity  and  good  feeling.  Dispersed  at  11 
o'clock. 


Ja.niary,  1854]  GOVERNOR    WALKER.  395 

January,  1854. 

Sunday,  1. — A  happy  New  Year! 

Clear  and  pleasant  mornin_<>;  for  the  first  day  of  the  year. 

The  house  is  silent,  our  Company  dispersed.  A  good  time 
for  serious  reflection  upon  the  fleeting  and  unsubstantial  en- 
joyments of  this  world.  The  old  year,  '53,  passed  out  la^;t 
nii^lit  amid  the  moanings  and  wild  and  unearthly  shrieks  or 
a  fiirious  N.  W.  wind. 

Pleasant  day.     Lonesome — no  one  called  upon  us  to-day. 

Wednesday,  4. — Invited  to  a  dinner  party  at  F.  A.  Hicks's 
to-day. 

Attended  and  ibund  a  goodly  company.  Plad  a  splendid 
dinner.     At  night  the  young  people  had  a  party. 

Thursday,  5. — Went  down  to  attend  the  session  of  the 
Treaty  Committee,  and  in  the  absence  of  J.  Walker,  was 
appointed  Clerk.  Proje[c]ts  of  Treaties  were  submitted  to 
the  consideration  of  the  Committee  by  Clark  and  myself. 
These  were  discussed  till  sunset,  then  adjourned.  An  aw- 
ful [ly]  cold  and  windy  day.  Came  home,  and  glad  to  reach 
my  own  fireside. 

Sunday,  8. — Wrote  a  long  letter  to  A.  Guthrie. 

Monday,  9. — Attended  the  session  of  the  Committee, 
Came  home  in  the  evening.  M.  R.  &  J.  Walker  came  over, 
and  staid  till  bed-time,  discussing  treaty  making  matters. 

Tuesday,  10. — Harriet  gone  to  Kansas  on  a  visit  to  the 
Campbells. 

Sun  set  clear.  Writing  a  long  letter  to  Joseph  Howard 
Washington. 

Wednesday,  11. — Got  up  too  early.  We  were  deceived 
by  our  silly  Chanticleers  tuning  up  their  pipes  at  an  unsea- 
sonable hour. 

Succeeded  in  extracting  a  troublesome  tooth  from  my  Jaw, 
with  my  fingers,  instead  of  Forceps  and  Turnkeys.  Fare- 
well, o,!c?  yr/«c/er.'  Well,  I  am  getting  dismembered.     lam 


396  THE    JOURNALS    OF  [January.  185i. 

<;etting  "small  by  degrees"  and  unlitindsomely  "less."  I 
am  in  the  beginning  of  '54,  one  tooth  less  than  in  '53. 

Thursday,  12. — Attended  the  session  of  the  Treaty  Com- 
mittee.    Came  home  in  the  evening. 

Received  two  letters  from  A.  Guthrie.  In  trouble  again. 
Wants  certificates  to  prove  his  charges  against  Commissioner 
Many  penny.     I  can't  help  him  much. 

Friday,  13. — Wrote  a  long  letter  to  A.  Guthrie.  Cold  ail 
day. 

Saturday,  14. — Harriet  returned  from  her  visit  to  the 
"Campbells." 

Monday,  16. — Commenced  reading  "Guy  Manneiiiig"  by 
W.  Scott. 

Wrote  a  memorial  to  the  Department  of  the  Interior  on 
the  subject  of  some  grants  of  land  by  the  Treaty  of  Upper 
Sandusky,  O. 

Wednesday,  18.— Got  our  mail.  Rec'd  thro'  M.  R.  W. 
some  letters.  One  liom  A.  Guthrie,  and  [one]  from  J.  T. 
Jones,  of  Circle ville,  O. 

Finished  reading  Guy  Mannering. 

Thursday,  19. — Attended  the  session  of  the  Treaty  Com- 
mittee.    Come  home  in  the  evening. 

Friday,  20. — The  ground  is  white  with  snow  and  sleet. 

This  day  (it  is  now  2  P.  M.)  may  well  be  compared  to  one 
of  Iceland's  brng  days.  Done  nothing  but  carry  wood  and 
keep  a  burning  log  hea/p  in  my  fire-place.  Everything  out 
doors  bears  a  dreary  and  chilling  aspect,  at  once  depressing, 
and  cheerless.     Whew!  but  this  will  bo  a  stinging  night! 

Monday,  23. — Attended  the  session  of  the  Treaty  Commit- 
tee.    Came  home  in  the  evening. 

Thursday,  26. — Attended  the  session  of  the  Committee. 
In  the  evening,  wind  from  the  North. 

Saturday,  28. — Sent  Baptiste  to  Kansas.  Rec'd  an  "Ohio 
State  Journal."     This  is  the  amount  of  my  mail.     Guthrie 


February.  18.54]  GOVERNOR   WALKER.  397 

out  on   Col.  Manypenny   again.     The   former,  I  fear,  will 
couie  off  second  best.     He  is  imprudent  and  rysli. 

^pss  jVrmstrong  and  M'^'  Hunter  called  to-day. 

Sunday,  29. — Attended  the  session  of  the  Committee. 
Warm  afternoon. 

Tuesday,  31. — Went  to  town,  expecting  Maj.  Robinson 
over.  Staid  till  12  o'clock.  Came  home.  The  Sheriff 
called  upon  me  and  informed  me  that  he  had  arrived  and 
de-^ired  my  attendance.  He  p.nid  over  to  the  Chiefs  the 
amount  of  the  appropriation,  |2,28'3.00.  Then  gave  notice 
that  he  [would]  pay  over  to  the  heads  of  families  the  $5,- 
(K)0.00  of  which  he  was  minus  at  the  Payment  of  the  An- 
nuity last  fall. 

February,  1854. 

Wednesday,  1. — To-day  the  Chiefs  are  to  pay  out  the 
public  liabilities.  Attended  to  the  disbursement  of  the  pub- 
lic liabilities. 

Friday,  3.— Sick. 

Saturday,  4 — Engaged,  sick  as  I  am,  in  making  out  the 
Pay  Rolls.     Heck  repaired  the  Clock. 

Sunday,  5 — Confined  to  bed  part  of  the  time,  and  a  part 
[oi'  the  time]  employed  on  the  Pay  Rolls. 

J.  W.  Garrett  and  Lady  spent  the  evening  with  us. 

Tuesday,  7.— Finished  the  Pay  Rolls. 

/  was  visited  to-daij  by  a  creature  made  after  the  manner 
of  men,  but  whose  actions,  talk,  and  every  movement  went  to 
prove  what  I  had  ever  before  doubted,  that  it  is  possible  for 
alt  the  evils — all  that  is  depraved- — all  that  is  devilish — all 
that  is  abominable — all  that  is  brutal,  and,  in  short,  all  that 
disgraces  human  nature,  can  be  concentrated  in  one  individ- 
ual. I  have  known  this  creature  about  30  yeais.  I  place 
on  record  that,  from  and  after  Tuesday,  Feb.  7,  '54,  I  know 
him  no  more  as  a  Man. 

Wednesday,  8. — Bed-fast.    Doctor  Wright  attending  on 


898  THE    JOURNALS    OF  [March,  13.54. 

me.     My  complaint,  inflammation  of  the  lungs.     Symtoms 
alarming. 

March,  1854. 

Saturday,  4. — I  am  now  able  to  set  up  a  few  minutes  at  a 
time,  being  wearied  with  the  recumbent  position  I  liave  so 
long  been  compelled  to  submit  to. 

Kev.  E.  T.  Peery  and  Lady  called  over  and  spent  the 
day. 

Sunday,  5. — Our  folks  went  to  Chui-ch,  and  I  kept  my 
bed.     M.  R.  W.  and  J.  Walker  called  upon  me. 

Monday,  6. — Mending  slowly.  The  Treaty  Committee 
meet  to-day. 

Tuesday,  7. — Regaining  my  strength  slowly. 

Thursday,  9. — Cold  and  blustering  day. 

Ennui — Vaporish — Low  spirits — . 

Friday,  10. — Clear  and  pleasant.  Planiet  and  Baptiste 
went  to  Kansas.  Got  three  newspapers — read  everything  in 
them. 

Saturday,  11. — Clear,  frosty  morning.  Sent  Bjiptlste  to 
the  Post  Oiiico,  and  got  one  paper. 

Sunday,  12. — In  tiie  evening  Mr.  Searcy  and  a  Doctor 
Bacon  from  Liberty  called  upon  us. 

Monday,  II). — Heard  tiiat  J.  S.  Coon  was  killed  in  a 
drunken  brawl,  by  [a]  Negro,  near  Memphis. 

Thursday,  16. — Isaac  P.  Driver  engaged  in  repairing  the 
yard  and  Garden  fences. 

J.  D.  BrowMi  called  and  spent  the  evening  with  us. 

Friday,  17. — Cold  and  blustering  all  day.  It  is  said  there 
are  cases  of  Canine  madness  among  the  dogs  in  the  neigh- 
borhood.    Exterminate  them! 

Saturday,  18. — My  boy  Baptiste,  having  completed  his 
thi'ee  months  service,  the  length  of  time  for  which  I  engaged 
hini,  went  home  to-day. 


March,  1S54.]  GOVERNOR  WALKER.  399 

Sunday,  19. — Cold  morning.  Having  but  little  else  to 
write  I  will  record  the  vote  in  the  Senate  on  the  passage  of 
the  Nebraska  and  Kansas  Territorial  Bill. 

Yeas.  Adams,  Atchison,  Badger,  Bayard,  Benjamin, 
Broadhead,  Brown,  Butler,  Cass,  Clay,  Dawson,  Dixon, 
Dodge,  Douglas,  Evans,  Fitzpatrick,  Geyer,  Given,  Hunter, 
Johnston,  Jones,  Masterson,  Morris,  Petit,  Pratt,  Rusk,  Se- 
bastian, Shields,  Slidell,  Stewart,  Thompson  of  Ky.,  Thomp- 
son of  N.  J.,  Toucey,  Weller,  &  Williams  35. 

Nays.  Belle,  Chase,  Dodge  of  W.,  Fessenden,  Fish,  Foot, 
Hamlin,  Jones,  Smith,  Sumner,  Wade,  Bright. 

Monday,  20. — Raining.  James  Bearskin  came  to  work. 
J.  W.  Garrett  called  and  staid  a  while. 

In  the  evening  J.  D.  Brown  called  and  staid  till  niglit. 
It  has  been  a  damp  misty  day. 

Tuesday,  21. — The  heavens  hung  with  a  black  drapery. 

About  1  o'clock  P.  M.  the  sky  cleared  up  and  the  after- 
noon was  warm  and  pleasant. 

Thursday,  23. — Clear,  frosty  morning.  I  have  my  old 
difficulties  in  hiring  hands.  I  hired  James  Bearskin  for 
half  a  month.  He  went  off  last  evening  to  get  his  Boot  re- 
paired, but  I  suspect  [he]  has  gone  to  Kansas  and  is  on  a 
sprey.     This  is  the  last  of  the  vagabond. 

Went  to  Kansas,  waited  four  or  five  hours  for  Major  Rob- 
inson, who  had  requested  me  to  meet  him  there,  but  [he]  did 
not  make  his  appearance. 

Sunday,  26. — Cold  and  cloudy  morning.  Fui-nished  a 
Passport  to  Susannah  Williams. 

Tuesday,  28. — Whew!  snow  on  the  ground.  Therm,  be- 
low Freezing  point.  Storm,  Rain,  Snow,  Sleet,  "in  an  hor- 
lible  tempest."  March  came  in  like  a  Lamb  and  is  going 
out  like  the  Devil. 

Wednesday,  29. — Everything  out  of  doors  covered  with 


400  THE  JOURNALS  OF  [April,  i854. 

ice.  Rainins;,  sleet  and  snow.  12  o'clock  A.  M.,  raining. 
Horrible  weather  truly. 

Heard  that  Hon.  Thomas  Johnston,  Delegate  elect  from 
this  Territory  I'eturned  from  Washington  yesterday. 

"Turn  a  new  leaf"  for  April. 

April,  1854. 

Saturday,  1. — "All  fools  day,"  Clear  and  frosty.  Therm. 
25°.     The  fruit,  I  apprehend,  is  as  dead  as  a  mackerel. 

Sent  a  letter  for  M''  Green  and  one  for  D"^  Carter  to  the 
P.O. 

Some  "warmint"  has  taken  up  his  Quarters  in  either  the 
corn-crib,  Stable,  or  Hen-house  and  commits  continual  noc- 
turnal depreditions  upon  the  poultry  and  Eggs.  It  is  either 
a  mink,  Weasel,  or  Polecat. 

Sunday,  2. — Well  this  will  do  very  w^ell  for  the  2nd  day 
of  April. 

As  soon  as  I  got  up  I  peeped  out  and  lo!  a  white  glitter- 
ing frost.  I  next  peeped  at  the  Tlieiniometer  and  guess 
what?  15°!!  yes,  within  15°  of  zero.  This  temperature  we 
ought  to  have  had  in  January. 

Farewell  Fruit! 

"Sic  transit  gloria  mundi. 
Fifteen  degrees  for  this  Sunday. 

Machine  poetry. 

Wind  shifted  "right  about  ftice,"  after  having  done  all 
the  harm  by  its  cold  Northern  blasts  and  frost  on  the  fruit. 

Monday,  3. — ^PBrainson  ploughing  our  Garden.  Ground 
too  wet,  but  go  ahead. 

Went  to  attend  a  meeting  of  the  Committee  when  the  pro- 
ject of  the  Treaty  was  read  and  received,  amended  and 
adopted. 

Tuesday,  4. — To-day  the  Council  meets  and  I  really  do 
not  see  how  I  am  to  attend,  unless  it  calls  a  halt.  I  attended 
after  the  rain  held  up. 


April,  1854.]  GOVERNOR  WALKER.  401 

Thursday,  6.— Went  up  to  Westport  to  meet  Major  Rob- 
inson.    Got  my  Quarter's  pay.     Came  home. 

Saturday,  8. — Tins  day  30  years  ago  I  was  made  double 
by  being  spliced  with  a  rib. 

Sunday,  9. — In  the  evening  tho'  kept  a  profound  secret,  a 
wedding  came  off  at  the  Parsonage.  But  it  was  not  as  much 
of  a  secret  as  the  getters-up  supposed,  for  at  night  a  real  or- 
iginal Charivari  wound  up  the  evenings  entertainment.  The 
Bride  was  i\P'  Catharine  Ann  Dofflemeyer  and  the  Groom, 
G.  W.  King,  alias  G.  W.  Thompson. 

"The  sweet  concordant  sounds"  produced  by  a  union  of 
Drums,  Tin  Pans,  Tin  Plorns,  Sleigh  Bells  and  everything 
capable  of  producing  a  racket,  were  faithfully  used  till 
11  o'clock  to  the  no  small  annoyance  of  the  Parson. 

Monday,  10. — My  execrations  upon  mail  contractors! 
Twice  have  I  sent  to  the  P.  O.  and  the  cry  is  "Nothing  for 
you" :  when  I  ouglit  to  have  a  half  Bushel  of  papers. 

Tuesday,  11. — Attended  the  session  of  the  Council.  Mar- 
tha's application  for  a  divorce  from  William  Gilmore  was 
taken  up  and  considered.  A  decree  made  dissolving  the 
marriage  tie. 

The  Delaware  and  Shawnee  delegation  left  Kansas  to-day 
for  Washington,  on  board  the  "Polar  Star." 

Saturday,  15. — Clear  and  cold  morning,  but  thanks  to  a 
Kind  Providence  no  frost.     The  fruit  has  thus  far  escaped. 

Sunday,  16 — A  few  days  ago  I  received  a  letter  from 
Lyman  C.  Draper,  Esq.,  notifying  me  of  my  election  to  an 
Honorary  Membership  of  the  Historical  Society  of  Wiscou- 
>'m.  So,  1  must  prepare  a  paper  for  a  contribution.  W^hat 
can  I  do?  Well,  I  will  hatch  up  something. 

Monday,  17. — Therm,  at  daylight,  22° !  A  hard  freeze. 
I'liis  may  truly  be  called  "a  nipping  frost."  It  has  effecl- 
jally  nipp'd  the  fruit,  the  peaches  and  ]>lums  especiallv. 

Tuesday,  18. — And  sure  enough,  another  severe  frost.    So 


402  THE  JOURNALS  OF  [m  .y.  is54. 

we  have  it.     Keep  it  up  till  August.    "Storm  after  storm" 
and  frost  after  frost. 

Went  to  attend  the  session  of  the  Council. 

M"  W.  went  to  Kansas  to  purchase  family  supplies. 

Another  Boat-load  of  Danish  Mormans  landed  at  the  Pond. 

May,  1854. 

Sunday,  14. — Wrote  a  long  letter  to  John  H.  Cotter,  in 
California. 

Monday,  15. — Went  in  pursuit  of  my  horses.  Found 
them,  secured  one,  but  could  not  drive  the  other,  nor  would 
he  follow.  I  came  home,  saddled  up  and  went  in  pursuit. 
I  soon  found  him ;  then  we  had  a  regular  steeple  chase.  I 
ran  him  all  over  the  country  with  a  long  Goad  in  my  hand 
and  whenever  I  got  near  enough,  I  plied  him  with  it.  Get- 
ting weary  of  the  sport,  he  turned  his  head  homeward.  By 
way  of  punishment  for  his  perverse  conduct,  I  fastened  a. 
heavy  toggle  to  his  fore  leg  to  regulate  his  powers  of  loco- 
motion. 

Tuesday,  16. — In  the  evening  we  were  favored  with  the 
company  of  some  young  Ladies  who  staid  all  night. 

Thursday,  18. — Beautiful  and  calm  morning.  At  10 
o'clock  the  "Sons  of  Temperance"  assembled  at  the  Lodge 
and  marched  in  procession  to  a  grove  near  Silas  Armstrong's 
to  celebrate  the  Anniversary  of  the  formation  of  the  Division. 
The  exercises  commenced  by  the  presentation  to  the  Divis- 
ion of  the  Bible  by  M''*  Tabitha  Armstrong,  accompanied 
with  a  suitable  address  which  was  received  and  responded  to 
by  Cyrus  Garrett.  An  ode  was  then  sung.  Then  the  presen- 
tation of  a  Banner  by  the  Ladies  of  Wyandott,  thro'  M"** 
Harriet  Walker,  accompanied  with  a  thrilling  speech  pre- 
pared for  the  occasion.  Then  another  Temperance  Ode  wns 
sung.     An  eloquent  speech  was  then  delivered  by  a  M'  Mil- 


May,  18.54]  GOVERNOR  WALKER.  403 

ler  of  Parkville.     Several  [other]  speeelies  were    delivered 
when  the  Division  mai'clied  back  to  their  Lodoe. 

o 

Of  the  banner  I  would  say  the  Upholster  imposed  upon 
the  Ladies  most  scandalously.  It  is  entirely  too  small,  and 
the  Artistic  work  bunglingly  done;  and  [he]  charged  them 
119.00  [for  it]. 

Friday,  19. — In  the  afternoon  [I]  employed  myself  in 
writing  letters,  or  rather  answering  a  pile  I  have  on  my  table. 

Saturday,  20.— Cloudy  and  an  occasional  spi'inkling  of  rain. 
But  it  turned  out  [a]  pleasant  and  cool  day.  Wrote  nearly 
all  day. 

Sunday,  21. — Clear  morning  and  it  turned  out  a  pleasant 
day. 

Wrote  to  C.  Carpenter  and  P.  Muir.  Took  a  stroll  and 
called  upon  Matthew  [R.  Walker]  spent  some  time  in  social 
chat  with  him  and  family. 

Monday,  22. — Cool  morning.  Worked  in  my  Garden. 
Pleasant  day.  The  Kansas  River  rising.  Cool  and  pleas- 
ant evening.     The  Delaware  and  Shawnee  Chiefs  returned. 

Tuesday,  2o. — Harriet  gave  a  party  to  the  young  Ladies 
and  Gentlemen  of  the  neighborhood.  They  were  a  real  set 
of  romps,  and  enjoyed  themselves  to  the  life,  and  the  party 
broke  up  about  11  o'clock  at  night,  all  in  the  best  possible 
humor. 

Thursday,  25. — Rec'd  two  letters;  one  I'rom  Col.  Browne 
»[■  JNIaryland,  and  another  from  a  G.  W.  Brown  of  Coneaut- 
ville,  Peniia.,  an  Abolition  Editor. 

It  is  supposed  the  Nebraska- Kansas  bill  has  passed  the 
House.     So  mote  it  be. 

Friday,  26. — Raining.  This  is  the  day  for  the  Solar 
Eclipse.  Showery  and  cloudy.  Looking  out  for  the  a})pear- 
ance  of  the  Eclipse. 

Well,  the  Eclipse  came  off,  but  if  we  had  not  been  pre- 
viously informed  by  the  Almanac,  we  never  would  have  been 


404  THE  JOURNALS  OF  [May,  i854. 

favored  with  the  phenomena.  By  the  use  of  a  piece  of 
smoked  glass  we  could  perceive  the  new  moon  which  had 
just  changed,  passing  over  the  Northern  limb;  but  the  ob- 
scuration was  scarcely  perceptible.  This  partial  Eclipse 
lasted  a  little  over  two  hours.  The  drifting  clouds  and 
occasional  showers  frequently  hid  the  two  luminaries  from 
our  view. 

Saturday,  27. — It  is  supposed  the  Nebraska-Kansas  Bill 
has  passed  the  House. 

The  brethern  of  the  "Mystic  tie"  are  about  forming  a 
Lodge  in  Wyandott. 

Monday,  29. — To-day  the  great  Bail  Boad  meeting  comes 
off  at  Parkville.  It  was  my  intention  to  have  attended, 
but  such  is  the  inclemency  of  the  weather  that  I  am  deter'd 
from  venturing  out. 

Went  in  search  of  M'^^  Topsey  who  was  supposed  to  be 
the  happy  mother  of  a  young  one.  I  searched  all  day,  glen 
and  thicket,  hill  and  dale,  without  success.  In  the  evening 
she  came  up  with  the  beautiful  little  one. 

Tuesday,  30. — Harriet  and  several  of  her  cronies  have 
<i-one  up  to  the  Prairies  on  a  Sti-awberry  frolic. 

Wrote  to  Col.  O.  H.  Browne.  Martha  returned  from 
Kansas,  and  all  I  got  was  an  obscure  Ohio  Newsj^iper  and 
M'  Senator  Norris's  speech  on  the  Nebraska  and  Kansas 
Bill.  Well,  this  was  truly  a  sad  disappointment!  When  in 
fact  I  expected  to  hear  from  the  great  Busso-Turco-Anglo- 
Gaulo  War,  and  [to]  hear  of  the  Territorial  Bill  being 
passed,  a  few  duels  in  Congre;«s,  tlie  annexation  of  Cuba  and 
the  Polynesian  Isles,  the  chaining  of  the  Devil  a  thousand 
years.     But  I  have  heard  nothing ! 

Wednesday,  ol. — Engaged  in  answering  a  letter  i  re- 
ceived from  an  Abolition  Editor  in  Pennsylvania. 


June,  1854.]  GOVERNOR  WALKER.  405 

JuxE,  1854. 

Thursday,  1. — Resumed  my  letter  to  the  Penna.  Editor 
and  finished  [it]  ,  making  eleven  pages  of  manuscript.  Wrote 
also  to  M'^  E.  J.  Barrett,  now  at  Morristown,  Ohio. 

Friday,  2. — Clear  and  beautiful  morning.  Settled  with 
Dan'l  Dofflemeyer  for  putting  in  my  Oats  crop  and  hauling 
cord  wood.     Sent  the  Domestic  to  Kansas  for  our  mail. 

The  Charter  granted  by  King  Charles  the  Second,  to  the 
Hudson  Bay  Company,  is  dated  1670. 

Saturday,  3.— M^^  W.  [and  I]  and  M^  and  M"^^  Priestley 
went  over  to  Esquire  McGee's  to  execute  deeds,  but  unfortu- 
nately he  was  away  from  home.  We  came  home  without 
accomplishing  our  business.  So  we  have  another  trip  to 
make. 

Sunday,  4. — Painy.  M''  J.  K.  Goodin  and  family  came 
over  from  Kansas  to  stay  a  few  days.  They  are  from  Hardin 
County,  Ohio. 

Monday,  5. — Clear  morning.  M''  G.  set  out  for  Fort  Piley 
on  an  exploring  tour. 

Lost  our  Ferry  Boat  again. 

Tuesday,  6. — Attended  the  session  of  the  Council. 

Tuesday,  13. — Attended  the  session  of  the  Council.  Ma- 
jor Robinson  present,  and  paid  to  the  Council  the  half  year's 
School  fund. 

A  certain  infamous  Doctor  landed,  from  Franklin  County, 
Ohio,  having  his  equally  inlamous  family  with  him. 

Wednesday,  14. — M''^  Goodin  lei't,  intending  to  go  to 
Weston  to  rejoin  her  husband. 

Thursday,  15. — J.  Walker,  and  the X called  upon 

us  to-day.  Impudence  brazen  faced,  on  the  part  of  the  lat- 
ter. 

Saturday,  17. — Clear  and  pleasant  morning.  Went  to 
mill  for  the  first  time  in  Wyandott,  and  got  my  grist  ground. 


40G  JOUENALS  OF  GOVERNOR  WALKER.      [June,  1854. 

Heard  of  the  recovery  of  the  Ferry  Boat.  M''  McQuiddy 
and  a  iNP  Allen  called  and  spent  the  al'tenioon. 

Sunday,  18. — Staid  at  home  all  day.  Wrote  a  communi- 
cation for  the  "  Cadiz  Sentinel." 

Monday,  19. — Clear  and  beautiful  morning.  M"  W.  and 
I  took  a  ride  on  the  banks  of  the  Rio.  Missouri. 

Tuesday,  20. — The  Council  held  a  session  to-day,  but  I 
did  not  attend. 

Wednesday,  21. — Clear  and  bright  morning.  I  do  earn- 
estly [hope]  these  everlasting  drenching  rains  will  cease  for 
awhile,  that  those  sluices  in  the  Clouds  will  be  for  a  season 
closed  up  and  if  need  be,  sent  to  some  drouthy  part  of  the 
globe. 

W^e  have  had  no  mail  for  near  two  weeks  for  the  want  of 
a  Boat  to  cross  the  river.  Altho'  the  Boat  was  caught  at 
Richfield,  about  forty  miles  from  here,  yet  our  worthless 
Council  and  still  more  worthless  Ferryman  take  no  steps 
towards  getting  it  bro't  up  again.  A  pretty  set  of  fellows  to 
want  to  maintain  a  separate  government. 

Splendid  evening.  The  bright  Luminary  of  day  receded 
sluwly  behind  the  W'estern  Hills  with  a  most  smiling  and 
agreeable  iace. 

Thursday,  22. — Beautiful  morning,  promising  a  beautiful 
tho'  warm  day. 

Went  to  the  city  of  Wyandott,  and  found  the  City  de- 
serted; all  gone  out  into  the  country. 

Saturday,  24. — Bright  and  warm  morning.  Harriet  and 
Sarah  Driver  set  out  for  Kansas,  riding  to  the  river  and 
footing  it  the  rest  of  the  road.  A  warm  time  they've  had  of 
it. 

At  night  we  were  alarmed  by  Harriets  illness.  Nervous 
headache  and  vertigo. 

I  have  thus  closed  my  scrap  and  fragmentary  Diary.  This 
the  25  day  [of]  June  A.  D.  1854. 


INDEX. 


A. 

Abbott,  Major,  trouble  about  Pawnee 
Indian  frauds,  130.  Samuel  V.  Niles 
attorney  ibr,  loO.  Sends  James  F. 
Legate  to  Washington,  148. 

Al'oiitionists,  Methodist,  360. 

Abston,  253. 

Albany,  8. 

Adams,  Hon.  F.  G.,  vi. 

Adams,  John  Quinoy,  death  of,  233. 

Ainsworth,  Miss  Elizabeth,  birth  and 
marriages,  102. 

Allen,  Senator,  ads  ior  Wyandot  Chiefs, 
166. 

Anderson,  Benjamin  N.  C,  26. 

Andrews,  Bishop,  visits  tlie  "Wyandot 
Purchase,'"  266. 

Andrews,  Captain  Hugh,  born  August 
31,  1764;  married  Ann  Speer;  his 
children-,  married  lo  Miss  Elizabeth 
Ainsworth:  moved  to  Dayton,  0.; 
children  by  second  marriage.  102. 

Andrews,  James,  married  Mary  Corne- 
lia Van  Cleve,  102.  Informs  Abelard 
Guthrie  about  their  sten-mother,  125. 

Aridrews,  John  Van  Cleve,  married 
Mary  E.  Hill.  102.  Banker  in  Kan- 
sas City,  Kansas,  uncle  of  Abelard 
Guthrie,  101. 

Andrews,  John,  from  Londonderry, 
North  Ireland,  to  Pennsylvania,  1737; 
married  Miss  Jane  Strain;  his  children, 
101. 

Andrews,  0.,  336. 

Annals  of  Kansas,  Wilder" s,  13,  83. 

Arapahoes,  336. 

Arkansas,  Territory,  created  from  ter- 
ritory taken  from  the  Territory  of  Mis- 
souri", 20.  State,  part  of  Indian  Ter- 
ritory annexed  to,  21. 

Arms,  John,  313,  330,  344,  353. 

Armstrong,  Antoinette,  born  February 
15,  1858;  married  T.  B.  Barnes;  d.ed 
October  2,  1882,  308. 

Armstrong,  Caroline,  born  December, 
1^37,  308. 

.\rm.?trong,  Catherine,  daughter  of  Rob- 
ert Armstrong,  161.  Born  July  15, 
1843;  married  Shaff'enberg,  308. 

.\rmstrong.  Duncin,  born  January  23, 
1840:  died  February  22,  1850,  308. 

Armstrong,  Elizabeth  U.,  born  Nov. 
27,  1854,  308. 


Armstrong,  George.  2-54,  263,  281,  313, 
342.  Biographical  sketch  of,  161. 
Divorced,  176.  Married  the  widow 
Bariiett,  193.  Appointed  ou  the  dep- 
utation to  the  Seiiecas,  191. 

Armstrong,  Hannah,  daughter  of  Rob- 
ert Armstrong,  died  at  Wyandot  Mis- 
.sion,  161. 

Armstrong,  John  Mclntyre,  son  of 
Kobert  Armstrong,  161,  176, 193,  224, 
263,  281,  313,  318,  330,  346,  351. 
Biographical  sketch  of;  children  of. 
261.  Maintains  that  slavery  is  for- 
eign to  Wyandot  institutions,  47.  Ap- 
pointed a  commission,  228. 

Armstrong,  Mrs.  Lucy  B.,  v,  14,  17,267. 
Writes  a  letter  to  N.  Y.  Tribune,  op- 
posing organization  of  Indian  Terr., 
1 36  Replied  to  by  Abelard  Guthrie, 
137 

Armstrong.  Mclntvre.  born  Julv  15, 
1852,  308. 

Armstrong,  Minarrh  C,  bora  July  12, 
1846  308. 

Armstrong,  Naomi,  born  August  10, 
1861,  308. 

Armstrong,  Robert,  founder  of  the  Arm- 
strong family  in  the  Wyandot  Nation: 
captured  by  Wyandots  and  Senecas 
on  the  Alleghany  River  in  1783;  ac- 
count of  in  Finley's  Life  Amo)ig 
the  JixUans,  and  Howe's  Historical 
Colled  ions  of  Ohio:  a' 'opted  by  the 
Wyandots,  marriitge  and  divorce,  160 
Children  of,  161,  180.  Slurried 
Sarah  Zane;  children  of,  160,  180. 
Born  Aitgust  19,  1835:  drowned  in 
the  Kansas  River,  Julv  15.  1858,  308. 

Armstrong,  Mr.  Russel  B.,  vi. 

Armstrong,  Sarah  (Zane),  307. 

Armstrong,  Silas,  son  of  Robert  Arm- 
strong, vi,  18,  25,  34,  161,  193,  220, 
229,  240,  256,  260,  262,  265,  277,  330, 
3-14  n.l,  351  n.l,  35-5,  363.  Biograph- 
ical sketch  of,  307.  Appointed  bound- 
ary commis.sioner,  196.  Merchant  in 
AVvinidot  City,  222.  Marshal  at  fu- 
neral of  H.  Jacqnis,225. 

Armstrong,  Silas  W.,  275,  308.  ^ 

Armstrong,  MissTabitha,  born  February 
6,  1834;  married  E.  T.  Vedder,  Aug- 
ust 5,  1856;  married  Seymour  Thomas 
in  187(>.  307. 


(407) 


408 


INDEX. 


Armstrong,  Winlield  Scott,  born  Decem- 
ber 1,  1840,  308. 

Armstrong,  Mrs.  Z.,  335,  372. 

Ashby,  Thomas,  380. 

Atchison,  Senator  David  R.,  29,  32.  Rev. 
Thomas  Johnson  put  forward  in  the 
interest  of,  83.  Introduced  bill  to 
confirm  "Wyandot  Purchase,"  243. 
Opinion  on  slavery  in  Nebraska  Ter- 
ritory; opposed  to  organization  of  Ne- 
braska Territory,  77. 

Atkinson,  William  (Dayton,  O.),  126. 

Ayres,  Jennie,  married  Joel  Walker 
Garrett;  daughter  Nina  lives  in  Kan- 
sas City,  Kansas,  40. 

B. 

Babbitt,  A.  W.,  delesrate  from  Utah,  68. 

Backus,  Rev.  C.  W.,>i. 

Bay,  Georgian,  1. 

Baker,  Isaac.  2<:').  348. 

Ballanger,  Peter,  163,  204,  236,  296. 

Banks,  General,  150. 

Barker,  Rev.,  346,  354,  361. 

Burr,  Aaron,  235. 

Barrey,  343. 

Baruett,  Eliza,  married  Matthias  Split- 
log,  194. 

Barnett,  Henry  J.,  married  Mary  C. 
Passmore;  son  of,  194. 

Barnett,  Izette,  married  Oliver  P.  De 
Honde,  194. 

Barnett,  James,  324,  371.  Married  Jane 
Tullis;  children  of,  194. 

Barnett,  John,  18.  Married  Hannah 
Cbarloe;  children  of,  194. 

Barnett,  Joseph,  man-ied  a  Shawnee; 
lived  near  mouth  of  Kansas  Rivor,  225. 

Barnett,  Martha  M.,  married  William 
Priestlv.  194. 

Barnett,  Matthew,  330. 

Barnett,  Serena,  married  Alfred  Welsh, 
194. 

Barnett.  Mrs.,  married  George  Arm- 
strong, 193. 

Barrett,  Mrs.  Evelina  J.,  widow  of  Hugh 
Barrett;  married  Governor  Walker, 
April  6,  1865.  12,  22(i,  405. 

Barrett,  Miss  Hannah,  a  student  at  the 
Mi.ssion  School  at  Upper  Sandusky, 
Ohio;  married  William  Walker;  died 
Dec.  7.  1863,  12,  373. 

Barrett,  H.,  175,  227,  246,  255,  256, 
283. 

Barrow,  candidate  against  Culhrie  at 
election.  Ft.  Leavenworth,  27,  28. 

Barstow,  B.  F.,  23  7,  24-5. 

Bartleson,  Mrs.  Jilary,  married  C.  Gra- 
ham, 253. 


Bartley.  Gov.  T.  W.,  824,  325.  Fee  of. 
for  services  to  Wvandots.  175.  Gov- 
ernor of  Ohio  in  1844,  176. 

Basure,  Battiste,  53. 

Bates,  Frederick,  20. 

Bearskin,  John  S.,  330,  353,  3-35. 

Bearskin,  Peter,  327. 

Bearskin,  William,  vi. 

Bellevue,  or  Traders'  Point,  precinct, 
election  in  1853.  84. 

Bellmont  County.  Ohio,  342. 

Bennett,  Hiram  P.,  85. 

Benton,  Senator  Thomas  H..  political 
relations  with  AbelardGutlirie,  36.  37. 
77,  83, 112.  Had  "Platte  Purchase  " 
anne.xed  to  Missouri  in  1836,  20.  Re- 
lation to  Pacific  R.  R.  idea.  31,  45.^ SS. 
Predicted  the  future  greatness  of  Kan- 
sas City,  32,  114.  In  iavor  of  organ- 
ization of  Nebraska  Territory,  28,  32. 
45,  59.  Memorialized  by  the  AVyaii- 
dots,  166.  ii'ight  upon,  in  Missouri, 
by  William  Cecil  Price,  of  Sprina,- 
iield.  28. 

Benvist,  Leonard,  .329. 

Berry,  Richard,  366. 

Berryman,  J.  C.  195. 

Beryman,  Mrs.,  funeral  sermon  of,  191. 

Betton,  Cora  Estelle,  born  Aug.  18, 
1868,  17. 

Betton,  Ernest  L.,  born  Julv  13.  1881. 
17. 

Betton,  Florence,  born  Sept.  8,  1862.  vi. 
17. 

Betton,  Hon.  Frank  H.,  234.  Biograph- 
ical sketch  of,  17. 

Betton,  F'rank  Holvoke.  Jr..  lioru  Nov. 
17,  186.5,  17. 

Betton,  Mrs.  Frank  H.,  vi. 

Betton,  Matthew  Thornton,  vi.  Born 
July  12,  1870,  17. 

Betton,  Silas,  1801-1873,  17. 

Betton,  Susanah  W.  J.,  born  Dec.  ■'>. 
1871,  17. 

Between-the-Logs,  373  n.l. 

Big-Arms.  Martin,  368. 

Biselow,  Miss  Lucy,  daughter  of  Rev. 
Russel  Bigelow;  sketch  of;  childrei! 
of;  married  John  Mclntyre  Arm- 
strong, 261. 

Bigelow,  Rev.  Russel,  261. 

Big-Lesrs,  Capt.,  Miami  precinct.  53. 

Big-River,  W.  M.,  death  and  buria!  ol. 
254. 

Big  Sandy  River,  Wvandots  ascended  in 
an  excursion  South,  234. 

Big-Sinew,  John,  276,  278,  302,  317,  349. 

Big-Sinew,  Samuel,  302. 

Big-Snake,  Tyson,  327. 

Bigtown,  325. 


IIv^DEX. 


409 


Big-Tree,  James,  318;  United  States 
stole  the  horse  of.  304. 

Big-Tree,  Joseph,  judgment  against,  190. 

Bill,  Senate,  organizing  Nebr.  Ter.,  376. 

Birney,  William  P.,  of  Delaware,  35, 
383. 

Blackwell,  Miss,  257. 

Blair,  Frank  P.,  Jr.,  one  of  leaders  of 
Benton  Democracy  of  Missouri,  28. 

Blake,  143. 

Blue-Jacket,  Charles,  Head  Chief  of  the 
Shawnees,  2.  Biographical  sketch  of, 
18. 

Blue- Jackets,  Delegates,  35. 

"Bogus  Laws,"  89. 

Bolt,  Winnifred,  340. 

Boon,  Albert  Cx.,  338. 

Boulwane,  John  B.,  Old  Fort  Kearney, 
50. 

Bowen,  193. 

Bowman,  28G. 

Bowring,  216,  217,  221. 

Bowers,  William,  181,  100,  260,  290. 

Bowyer,  286 

Boyd,  237,  385. 

Boyd,  G.  W.    323. 

Boye,  Bazie,  Miami  precinct,  53. 

Boys,  Jack,  Miami  precinct,  53. 

Bradford,  Hon.  A.  A.,  speaks  in  favor 
of  Nebraska,  85. 

Brant,  Joseph,  253. 

Brevidore  House,  340. 

Briscoe,  John  W..  sells  Dorcas,  a  slave, 
to  Governor  Walker,  194. 

Briscoe,  Colonel,  Louisiana  Volunteers, 
109. 

Brown,  family  among  the  Wyandotts, 
founded  by  an  adopted  white,  3. 

Brown,  Adam,  11,  47,  210,  230,  235, 
273,  803,  815,  327,  345,  352.  852  n.l. 
Chief  of  Wyandots,  at  Detroit,  6. 
Captured  in  Greenbrier  Co.,  Virginia, 
in  Dunmore's  war,  6.  Meets  William 
Walker,  Sr.,  and  ransoms  him  from 
Delawares,  6,  7. 

Brown,  Eldredge  H.,  vi,  18,  172. 

Brown,  Isaac,  26,  3.16,  380,  854,  355. 

Brown,  John,  believed  the  Free-State 
movement  in  Kansas  temporary,  113. 

Brown.  J.  D.,  -Jod,  258,  260,  296,  312, 
880,  344,  353,  355,  360,  862,  368,  372. 

Brown,  Matthew,  290. 

Brown,  Miss  Quindaro  Nancy,  a  Wyan- 
dot-Shawnee girl;  born  in  Canada;  of 
the  Big  Turtle  clan  of  Wyandots;  of 
Turtle  clan  of  Shawnees;  granddaugh- 
ter of  Chief  Adam  Brown;  married 
Abelard  Guthrie;  their  children;  aied 
in  the  Cherokee  country,  April  18, 
1886;  buried  at  Chetopa,  Kansas,  103. 


Brown,  Philip,  290,  871,  387. 

Browne,  O.  H.,  389-90.  Letterto  Gov- 
ernor Walker,  55.  Letter  from  Gov- 
ernor Walker;  came  to  Kansas,  56. 

Browne,  Kenneth  L.,  vi. 

Brunette,  steamboat,  362 

Buchan,  Hon.  W.  ,1.,  17. 

Buck.  Peter,  268,  843.  Fined.  88. 
Death,  344. 

Bull-Head,  Captain,  delegate,  35.  Bi- 
ographical sketch  of,  802. 

Burke,  Edmund,  works  of,  referred  to, 
128. 

Burr,  Aaron,  character  of,  286,  237. 

Butler,  M.,  323. 

Butterfield,  C.  W.,  vii,  19. 

ButterHeld,  General,  16. 

C. 

Caldwell,  Prof.  H.  W.,  viii. 

Caldwell,  Captain  olsteamboat,  '"  United 
States,"  108. 

Calhoun,  Gov.,  853. 

California,  emigration,  etc.,  81,  68,  111. 

Caloway,  284. 

Calume't,  339. 

Campbell,  Chairman  Ho.  Com.  on  K.R.. 
144. 

Camp-meetings,  189,  357. 

Cavaignac,  Gen.,  256. 

Caroudawana,  "Big  Tree,"  married 
Madame  Montour,  8. 

Carpenter,  Miss  Clarissa,  married  to 
Samuel  Big-Sinew.  802. 

Carter,  Dr..  359. 

Caskie,  J.  S.,  Virginia  Congre.ssman.  -'lo. 

Cass,  Gen.  Lewis,  16,  120.  259,  270. 

Cassady,  Jefferson  P.,  84. 

Catholics,  the,  voted  in  a  body  at  Quin- 
daro, 118. 

Cecil,  367,  n.l. 

Cemetery,  Oak  Grove,  16. 

Certificate  of  election  of  Hadley  D. 
Johnson,  84. 

Chaffee,  Joseph,  291. 

Chaffee,  Judge,  290. 

Champlain,  Lake,  8. 

Chapin, ,  of  the  Quindaro  Co.,  121. 

Charloe,  Eliza,  mairied  Mathias  Split- 
log,  84. 

Charloe,  Lucy,  daughter  of  James  T. 
Charloe:    married  John  Winuey,  193. 

Charloe,  Hannah,  married  John  Bar- 
nett;  children  of,  194. 

Charloe,  Jacob,  26,  293,  294,  816,  317, 
341,  344.     De;ith  of.  359. 

Churloe,  J.  T.,  227.  293,  312.  .336,  354. 
Married  Amelia  Peacock,  198. 

Charloe,  Jane,  married  John  Pipe,  194. 


410 


INDEX. 


Charloe,  Johu,  249.     Children,  194. 

Charloe,  Margaret,  sister  of  H.  Jacqnis; 

married  Charloe:  their  children, 

193.  Married.  1st,  Thomas  Pipe,  2d, 
John  Sarrahas,  194.  Sister  of  H. 
Jacquis,  225. 

Charloe,  widow,  193.  Sues  the  estate 
of  H.  Jacquis.  246. 

Chase,  Bishop,  15. 

Cheauteau,  Mrs.,  829. 

Chenault,  Col.,  33.J. 

Chenault.  James.  Miami  precinct,  52. 

Cherokee,  Bob.,  295. 

Cherokee  Boy,  221,  234.  Biographical 
sketch  of,  i9'v 

Cherokees,  warfare  against,  by  VVyan- 
dots,  234. 

Chevennes,  336. 

Chick,  Col.,  199-200. 

Chick,  Miss  Matilda,  298. 

Chick,  Mrs.,  287. 

Cbick,  W.  H.,  2S4. 

Chick,  W.  M.,  252.  Died  April  7,  1847, 
198. 

Chick.  William  S.,  252. 

Chi<^r,  Principal,  353. 

Childs,  Mr.,  lost  in  the  "Wyandot  Pur- 
chase," 244. 

Chiiidoican,  the  newspaper  edited  at 
Quindaro  by  Walden,  116. 

Chippewa,  one  of  the  tribes  of  the  North- 
western Confederac}',  62. 

Chivington,  J.  M.,  25. 

Cholera,  the  Asiatic,  in  Kansas  City,  286, 
289,  292.  295,  311,  312,  325,  328,  348. 
352.  In  St.  Joseph,  1850,  306.  Day 
of  fasting  and  prayer  on  account  of, 
1849,  295. 

Chop-the-!.ogs,  Russia,  321,  323. 

Chouteau,  EdmondF.,  373. 

Church,  M.  E.,  division  of,  260,  269, 
278. 

Chronicles  of  Border  Warfare,  With- 
ers's,  179. 

Cincinnati,  29. 

Cist's  Advertiser,  352,  371. 

Civil  Government,  brought  to  Nebraska 
by  Wyandots,  3. 

Claiborne,  Mr.,  Governor  of  Mississippi 
T}'. ;  represented  the  Government  of 
the  U.  S.  in  receiving  Louisiana  from 
France,  Dec  20,  1863,  19. 

Clark  &  Hall,  swindled  Shawnees,  130. 

Clark,  Georae  I.,  25,  26,  254,  258,  260, 
29fi.  303.  312,  313,  315,  317,  323,  353, 
383,  385.  Biographical  sketch  of,  47. 
Elected  to  fillll.  Jacquis'  place;  one 
of  the  Admrs.  of,  227.  Native  of 
Canada,  57.  Delegate  to  Convention, 
34.     Elected   Secretary  of    Nebraska 


Territory,  36.  Poll-books  to  be  ad- 
dressed to,  49.  Nominated  for  the 
Council,  189.  Appointed  a  commis- 
sioner, 228.  Illness.  282.  Address  of, 
as  Principal  Chief,  314. 

Clark,  Harriett  W.,  daughter  of  George 
T.  Clark,  48. 

Clark,  Lewis,  309. 

Clark,  Miss  Margaret,  married  H.  M. 
Northrup,  303. 

Clark,  Mary  J.,  daughter  of  George  I. 
Clark.  48. 

Clark,  Miss  Matilda,  331. 

Clark,  Munson  H.,  Judge  of  election,  84. 
Received  250  votes  for  provisional 
Secretary,  85. 

Clark,  Peter  D.,  27,  265,  315,  361.  363, 
389. 

Clark,  Thomas,  father  of  Mrs.  H.  M. 
Northrup,  303. 

Clark,  R.  W.,  17.  Son  of  George  I. 
Clark,  48. 

Claik,  William,  178.  352. 

Clark,  Mrs.  William,  352. 

Clement,  388. 

Clements,  D.  V.,  378. 

Clipper,  Dr.,  367. 

Cloud,  Peter,  voted  at   Miami  precinct, 

Cobb.  S.  A.,  an  applicant  for  a  position 
in  the  army;  Mrs.  Dole  in  favor  of; 
Lane  to  give  him  a  place  in  his  army 
of  50,000'Negroes,  152. 

Coffman,  Mr.,  329. 

Coffman,  L.,  281. 

Coff'raan,  Lot,  Justice  of  the  Peace,  251. 

Coke,  George,  303.  Accu.-;ed  of  the 
murder  of  Dan  Punch,  277. 

Coke.  Tom,  379. 

Commissioner  of  Indians,  347. 

Committee,  Legislative,  of  the  Wyandot 
Nation,  Statement  of,  62. 

Confederacy,  the  Northwestern,  of  In- 
dian tribes;  opposed  settlement  of  the 
territory  northwest  of  the  Ohio  River 
by  white  people,  24.  Its  age;  tribes 
composing:  Wyandot  tribe  the  head 
of  and  keeper  of  the  Council  fire,  62. 
Council  fire  of,  how  brought  West:  re- 
kindled in  1848;  Wyandots  confirmed 
in  their  position.  63. 

Confederacy,  the  Huron,  1. 

Congress  of  Indian  Tribes,  held  near 
Fort  Leavenworth,  in  Oct.,  1848,  4. 

"  Connecticutt,  Old,"  27. 

Connelley's  Addition  to  Kansas  City, 
Kansas,  formerly  the  home  of  Mat- 
thias Splitlog,  35. 

Constitution,  339. 

''Convent   of   the    Sacred   Heart,  "    at 


J 


INDEX. 


411 


St.  Charles,  Mo.;  the  manner  in  which 
children  were  educated  at,  ]i!4. 
■CoRvenrion,  the,  which  formed  the  Pro- 
visional Government  ot'  Nebraska 
Territory,  69.  Described  by  Russell 
Garrett,  33.  Number  of  Delegates; 
how  Delegates  were  summoned;  kind 
of  day  on  which  held,  34.  Only 
written  account  ol,  contained  in  Gov- 
ernor Walker's  Journal,  3-5.  Hand- 
biils  containing  a  record  ol  the  pro- 
ceedings of,  printed  and  d!.<tiibuted 
and  copied  into  newspapers,  36. 
Convention,  National  Democratic,  1852, 

351. 
Convention,     National,    of    Wvandots, 
1851,  339. 

Couvention,  Railroad,  383. 

Convention  Whig,   National,  1852,  353. 

Conway,  M.  F.,  called  upon  by  Abelard 
Guthrie,  132.  Action  on  Lane's  ab- 
sence from  the  Senate,  133  A'oted 
against  law  to  make  U.  S.  notes  legal 
tender,  135. 

Corn,  one  of  the  principal  articles  of 
food  of  the  Wyandots,  158. 

Coon.  Aaron,  352. 

Coon^  John,  369,  371. 

Coon,  John,  Jr.,  279,  368.  Killed  by 
Bob  Cherokee,  295. 

Coon,  J.  S.,  398. 

Coon,  Robert,  349. 

("oon,  Mrs.  R.,  death  of,  349. 

Coon-Cripple.  John,  277. 

Coon-Hawk,  Thomas,  26,  319,  330,  343, 
354. 

Copperfield,  David,  the  younger,  329. 

Cornbury,  Lord,  8. 

Cotter.  Mr.,  sold  tallow,  223. 

Cotter,  Francis,  26. 

Cotter,  F.,  861.  Had  possession  of  the 
plat  of  Wyandott  City,  319. 

Cotter,  John,  246.  249. 

Cotter,  Nicholas,  26,  369. 

Cotters,  the,  vi. 

CouncI;,  358. 

Council,  Territorial,  387.  Composition 
of,  57. 

Council  Bluffs,  urged  as  the  initial  point 
of  the  Pacific  Railroad,  31. 

Council  Bluffs,  eiiizons  of,  invade  Ne- 
braska Territory  for  purpose  of  hold- 
ing a  fraudulent  election,  84. 

Council  fire,  392. 

Council  fire,  the  great,  of  the  North- 
western Confederacy  of  Indians,  re- 
kindled at  Fort  Leavenworth  in  Oct., 
1848,  24. 

L'ouncil  House,  tiie  Wyandot,  its  exact 
location.  32. 


Council  House,  the  Wyandot,  Terri- 
torial Council  met  in  to  canvass  th 
votes,  39. 

Councilors,  355. 

Cuwan,  Mrs.,  aunt  of  William  Walker 
Sr.,  captured  by  the  Delawares  at  th' 
same  time,  5.  Final  separation  fron 
her  nephew,  William  Walker,  Sr.,   6 

Crawford  County,  Ohio,  340. 

Cromwell,  262. 

Crows  (Indians),  336. 

Cubans,  do  not  ihank  America  for  their 
interference,  :'.32. 

Cummins,  Major,  Indian  Agent,  193,  291, 
292.  Addresses  the  Wyandot  Coun- 
cil, 229. 

Curley-Head,  John  B.,  331,  344. 

Curry,  A.  P.,  202. 

Curry,  A.  R.,  213. 

Curtis,  Col.  Samuel  H.,  speaks  in  favor 
of  Nebraska,  85. 

Cusick,  David,  263, 

Cusick,  James,  263. 

Cusick,  Nicholas,  263. 


Daraeron,  G.  B..  315. 

Da  on  quot,  373  n.l. 

Da<rnett,  Luciau,  married  Sarah  (Driver) 
Payne,  203. 

Dagnett,  Mrs  Sarah,  vi,  18.  Descrip- 
tion of  the  Wyandot  Council  House, 
82. 

Dale,  Alfred,  362. 

Darlington,  \Viliiam  M.,  10. 

Davis,  212,  231. 

Davis,  M.  L.,  author  of  Memoirs  ot 
Aaron  Burr,  235. 

Daws,  Mr.,  of  the  House,  opposed  to 
Guthrie's  claim  for  mileage  and  per 
diem  as  delegate  from  Nebraska,  128. 

Dawson,  J.  S.,  361. 

De  Honde,  Oliver  P.,  married  Izette 
Barnett,  194. 

Delegate,  384,  389. 

Delegate  to  congress  from  Nebraska 
Territory,  363,  365,  387.  Proclama- 
tion for  election  of,  issued  by  Gov- 
ernor Walker  Aug.  1,  1853;  Price- 
Atchison  Democracy  determine  to 
partu;ipate  in  election  of;  Benton  and 
Guthrie  hoped  no  opp-.is  tiou  to  the 
re'.;tilar  nonunee  would  develop,  37. 
Flection,  388.  Proclamation  for  elec- 
tion of,  issued,  59. 

Delegation,  Wyandot,  in  Washington, 
350. 

Delaware  Chiefs,  meet  the  Wyandot 
Chiefs,  193. 


412 


INDEX. 


'■  Delaware  CrosRing,''  location  of,  84. 

Delaware,  Sam,  Miami  precinct,  53.  Tri- 
party  treaty  between  Government  and 
Wyandots,"  228.  At  the  Great  Indian 
Congress  of  1848,  265.  Installmeat 
due  from  the  Wyandots  for  1850,  316. 
Annuity,  325. 

Democratic  National  Convention,  1852, 
351. 

Democratic  party  of  Missouri,  divided 
into  two  factions,  one  in  favor  of  or- 
ganizing Nebraska  Territory — the 
other  opposed  to  that  measure.  28. 
Divided  liy  the  fight  upon  .Senator 
Benton.  28. 

])ela«-:iTP^.  cine  of  the  triljes  of  the 
Nor!lnv(-~tern  Conf  ■i|ei-;i'-y,  23,  34,02, 
3.47.  Sold  ilie  land  in  the  fork  of  the 
Missouri  and  Kansas  Rivers  to  the 
Wyandots  for  §46,080.00;  William 
Walker,  Sr  ,  purchased  from,  47.  The 
pay-house  of,  used  by  Governor 
Walker  as  a  home,  66.  Efforts  to 
have  them  assist  in  building  a  bridge 
over  the  Kansas  River  at  Chillicothe, 
117.  Enter  into  treaty  with  other 
tribes,  200.  Commissioners  appointed 
to  treat  with,  223.  Factions  of,  deter- 
mined to  secure  delegate  to  Congress 
to  be  elected  in  Neimisk.i,  Tei'ritory, 
36.  Price-Atchison  faction  of.  be- 
lieved they  could  prevenr  n'uognition 
of  the  Provisional  Government  of 
Nebraska  Territory:  determine,  nev- 
ertheless, to  ]«irticipate  iu  the  election 
for  Delegate  to  Congress,  37. 

Dennis,  204,  211,  222,^2  J6,  227. 

Dequine,  Lewis.  Miami  precinct,  53. 

Detroit,  1. 

De  Shane.  David,  IS. 

Deshler,  D.  W.,  written  to  for  certifi- 
cate, 171. 

Dews,  I.  M. ,  speaks  iu  favor  of  Nebraska, 
85. 

Dickinson,  Hannah,  married  Isaac  Lane; 
children  of,  180. 

Dickson,  313. 

Dickson,  George,  242,  248,  251.  Called 
upon  Governor  Walker,  164.  Writes 
to  Governor  Walker.  192. 

Dickson,  Mrs.,  268. 

Diondadies(Petuns,  or  Wyandots),  8,  10. 

District  Court,  U.  S.,  of  Mi.ssouri,  2L 

Dodge.  Hon.  A.  C,  introduces  Hadley 
D.  Johnson  to  Senator  Douglas,  87. 
Speaks  in  favor  of  Nebraska,  85. 

Dodge, General  Henry,  led  Manuel  Lisa's 
e.xploring  party,  93. 

Dofflemeyer,  Catharine  Ann,  401. 

DofHemeyer,  Rev.  Daniel,  3 19,  320,  329, 


332,  336,  337,  338.  347,  350.  352.  353. 
356,  357,  360,  361.  Biographical 
sketch  of,  317. 

Dofflemeyer,  Mrs.,  337,  341. 

Dog-Skinning,  incident  of.  267. 

Dole,  Wm.  P.,  of  Kansas,  143. 

Dole,  Mrs.,  solicits  a  position  from  Lane 
for  S.  A.  Cobb,  152. 

Donnelly,  Father,  a  priest  in  Kansas 
City,  240. 

Doolittle,  Senator,  Chairman  Committee 
on  Indian  Affairs;  asked  to  have 
Pomeroy  of  Kansas  pirt  on  the  Com- 
mitiee  in  place  of  Lane,  absent.  133. 
Conceives  a  prejudice  again.st  Guthrie, 
148. 

Dorcas,  the  slave  of  Governor  Walker: 
bill  of  sale  of.  194. 

Douglas,  Senator,  introduces  bills  pro- 
viding for  Territorial  Government  for 
Nebraska  Territory,  22.  Chairman 
Senate  Committee  on  Territories:  re- 
ported the  bill  for  the  organization  of 
Nebraska  Territory  Feb.  17,  1853,  30. 
Bill  for  organizing  Nebraska  Terriiory. 
60.  To  blame  for  failure  of  the  bill 
1853,  61.  Efforts  to  organize  Ne- 
braska Territory,  72.  Chairman  Com- 
mittee on  Territories.  86.  Rejjre- 
sented  by  Hadley  D.  Johnson  as  leav- 
ing the  locatiiMi  of  the  line  between. 
Nebraska  and  K:ins-)s  ti)  him,  8S. 

Dover,  Doctor,  lost  in  she  "Wyandot 
Purchase,'"  244. 

Downs,  H.  P.,  Clerk  of  Election  held  in 
Old  Fort  Kenrney;  notice  of,  from 
"Outposts  of  Zion,"  50.  Receive i 
283  votes  fur  Treasurer,  85. 

Downs,  ,  speaks  in  favor  of  Ne- 
braska, 85. 

Downing,  Major  J.,  quoted  bv  Governor 
Walker.  231 

Doyle,  Dr.,  332,  334,  341. 

Draper,  Lymnn  C,  363.  Editor  of 
Withers" s  Chronicler  of  Border  War- 
fare, 179. 

Driver  Family,  general  sketch  of.  202. 

Driver,  Caroline,  married,  1st,  Edward 
Kirkbride:  2d,  Louis  Lofland:  child- 
ren of,  203. 

Driver,  Francis,  sketch  of,  202. 

Driver,  Mrs.  Matilda,  character  of:  mar- 
ried Francis  A.  Hicks,  189.  202. 

Driver,  Sarah,  mariied,  1st,  Dr.  ^^'.  A. 
Payne;  2d  Lucian  Dagnett:  lives  at 
Seneca,  Mo..  203. 

Driver,  Mrs.,  buried  March  3,  1848.  232. 

Driver,  William,  died  unmarried.  2i):'>. 

Duncan,  Rev.  Mr  ,  a  Cherokee,  p:  cached 
in  Wyandot  Nation,  184. 


IIs^DEX. 


413 


Dunwoodie,  Jiiines,  had  a  slave  Gover- 
nor Walker  wished  to  buy,  195. 

D.ver.  W.  F.,  Delegate  to  Convention, 
remarks  concerning,  34. 

Dvke.  Mr.,  the  wit  at  celebration  of 
Washington's  birthday.  1848,  281. 

Drummond,  Samuel,  824,  325,  342,  344. 


MJgerton,  Mr.,  presents  memorial  of 
Abelard  Guthrie  for  mileage  and  per 
iliem,  70. 

Edgington,  D.,  emploved  bv  Governor 
Walker,  199. 

Edmonson,  John,  jellsafarm  for  $600.00 
TO  Governor  Walker,  192. 

Egle.  William  Henry,  M.  D.,  A.  M., 
author  of  "Pennsylvania  Genealo- 
gies," 101. 

Election,  Certificate  of,  to  Thomas 
Johnson,  54. 

Elections  Committee.  Report  of,  on  ap- 
plication of  Abelard  Guthrie  for  mile- 
age and  per  diem.  67. 

Election  of  Delegate  to  Congress,  rules 
^  for.  48.     Form  of  Poil-book  for,  49. 

Election,  the  Presidential,  in  1848;  vote 
of  the  States  in,  282. 

Ellington,  P.,  318. 

Eliinsiton,  Miss  Virginia  T.,  married 
Piev.  Daniel  Dofflemeyer,  318. 

Elliott,  Charles,  biographical  sketch  of, 
325. 

Eiwell,  351. 

Elvira,  steamboat,  350. 

Emigrants,  more  than  one  hundred 
thousand  passed  through  Nebraska  in 
^  1849  and  1850,  68. 

English,  Wm.  G.,  speaks  in  favor  of  Ne- 
braska, So. 

Erie,  Lake,  2,  9. 

Estes,  221. 

Eutau  Springs,  ihe,  312. 

Ewing,  Judge,  316. 

F. 

i„;ntleroy,  Colonel,  27.  Commanding 
ofricer  of  Fort  Leavenworth;  threatens 
<irrest  of  Guthrie,  79. 

Ferries,  380. 

Fillmore,  Millard,  231. 

Fifer,  Edward,  27. 

Finances,  397. 

Findlay,  James,  338,  383.  Delegate  to 
Convention;    biographical   sketch  of, 

^34. 

Finley,  Rev.  J.  B.,  sent  a  communica- 
tion to  the  Wyandots,  227.  Called 
the  Arch  Bishop  of  the   Ohio  State 


Prison;  sketch  of  and  Indian  name  of, 

239;  memorial  sent  to,  244. 
Finley,  Marshall,  Judge  of  Election,  84. 
Fire,   Council,  392. 
Fish,  Dr.,  33t;. 

Fish,  Mr.,  married  Hettv ,  217. 

Fish,  Mrs.  Hester,  347.  " 

Fitz-Patrick.  Major,  336. 

Flemming,  William,  363. 

Flint,  Mr.,  a  Shawnee  preacher,  287. 

Folkes,    Wm.  C.    voted    at    Old  Fort 

Kearney,  50. 
Forsyth,  Jaraos  H.,  315. 
Fort'La  Motte,  8. 
Fort  Leavenworth,   second  election  for 

Delegate  to  Nebraska  held  there,  27. 
Foxes,  the  tribe,  63,  265. 
France,  to  interfere  in  our  civil  war,  135. 
Free  Masonry,  introduction  of,  into  Kan- 
sas, 25. 
Fremont,  Gen.,  one  of  the  Generals  of 

the  Army  of  the  Potomac,  150. 
French  half-breeds,  had  a  settlement  in 

the  bottoms  between  the  Missouri  and 

Kansas  Rivers,  163,  290. 
French,  Mr.,  301. 
Frost,  Dr.,  252. 

Frost,  Michael,  260,  266,  289,  330. 
Funk,  353. 
Fulton,  Dr.,  312. 
Furnas,  Ex-Governor  Robert  W.,  viii. 


Garrett,  Amanda,  341. 

Garrett,  Byron,  341. 

Garrett,  Charles  B..  25,  26,  34.  181,213 
248,  323,  383,  340,  341,  377,  390.  Del- 
egate to  Convention,  34.  Indicted  for 
forcible  use  ol' ferry  boat.  187.  Fined 
$5.00  for  taking  ferryboat,  188.  Mem- 
ber of  the  Wyandot  Mining  Company, 
2!)0.     Biographv,  340. 

Garrett,  Cyrus,  2.5",  26,  341,  376. 

Garrett,  E.,  378. 

Garrett,  George,  brother  of  Charles  B. 
Garrett:  married  Nancy  Walker,  sis- 
ter to  Gov.  Walker,  40.  Letter  to, 
163.  Death  of,  Feb.  17,  1846,  aged 
46,  170. 

Garrett,  Harriet  P.,  341. 

Garrett,  Henry,  26,  333,  341,  378. 

Garrett,  Jane,  341. 

Garrett,  J.  B.,  vi. 

Garrett,  Joel  W.,  25,  2tJ,  241.  357,  389. 
Delegate  to  Convention.  34.  Deputy 
Secretary  of  State:  biographical 
sketch  of,  40.  Signature  to  certificate 
of  election,  54.  Written  to  by  Gov- 
ernor Walker,  219.     Portrait,  48. 


414 


INDEX. 


Garrett,  Mrs.  Maria,  25o,  331. 

Garrett,  Mrs.  Mary  Ann,  360. 

Garrett,  Marv,  372. 

Garrett,  Mrs.' Nancy,  248,  308,  359. 

Garrett,  Mrs.,  356. 

Garrett,  Rebecca,  331. 

Garrett,  Russell,  16,  -..5.  28,  31,  321,  324, 
331,  339,  340,  341.  Recollections  of 
the  Convention  that  formed  the  Pro- 
visional Government;  lives  in  Ven- 
tura, California;  the  only  Delegate  to 
the  Convention  known  to  be  living  at 
this  time  (Dec,  1898),  33,  34.  Mined 
in  California,  112.  Member  of  the 
Wvandnt  JNIming  Company,  290. 

Garrett,  MIssR  .^:;23. 

Garrett,  Theo.  F.,  member  of  the  Wy- 
andot Mining  Company,  290. 

Garrett,  William.  340,  341.  Married 
Mary  Ann  Long,  171.     Death  of,  211. 

Garrett,  Weslej^,  341,  366. 

Garretts,  the,  slave  owners,  77. 

Gallatin,  Albert,  article  of,  upon  the 
Mexican  w;;r,  22.^. 

Gazette,  Wyandotte,  Guthrie's  address, 
taken  from,  79. 

Geboe,  Eli^^,  Miami  precinct,  53. 

Gemundt,  Dr.,  346,  349,  350,  356,  359. 
Death  of,  377. 

Georgians,  engaged  in  a  battle  in  the 
Mexican  war,  109. 

Geyer,  Senator  Henry  S.  (Missouri),  29. 
Opposed  to  Nebraska  Ter.,  77. 

Gibson,  James  S.,  vi. 

Gibson,  John,  354.  Appointed  Super- 
visor, 196. 

Gib-son,  Wm.,  26,  263,  355. 

Gilmore,  Mr.,  235,  '^91.  292,  313,  333, 
339.  357,  362.  Married  Martha  R. 
Walker,  298. 

Gilmore,  Mrs.,  256. 

Gilpin,  Wm.,  Delegate  to  Convention; 
remarks  concerning;  afterwards  Gov- 
ernor of  Colorailo,  34. 

Gilstrap,  A.  L.,  387. 

Gipson,  John,  deceased;  administrators 
of,  sell  Dorcas,  a  slave,  to  Governor 
Walker,  194. 

Gist,  Christopher,   10. 

Givens,  Mr.,  255. 

Gere,  Hon.   C.  H.,  viii. 

Goodin,  John,  employed  as  attorney  by 
Governor  Walker,  167.  Writes  to 
Governor  Walker,  190.  Transacted 
business  for  Wyandots,  219. 

Goodin,  John  R.,  Judge  and  Member  of 
Congress  from  Kansas,  177. 

Goodin,  John.  252.  257,  365. 

Government,  Provisional,  383. 

Graham.  C,  161,  190,207,  214,219,222, 


228,  233,  235,  236,  237,  246,  289,  319, 
323,  350.  Agencv  blacksmith  for  the 
Wyandots,  191.  Delivers  $7(>5.00  to 
sheriff'  to  pay  for  house  bought  by 
Governor  Walker,197.  Removed  from 
position  of  Agency-blacksmith;  Wyan- 
dots resent  it,  207.  Council  convened 
to  consider  his  removal.  208.  Rt'- 
stored  to  his  position  of  Agency-black- 
smith, 209.  Very  sick,  215.  Married 
Mrs.  Mary  Bartleson.  253.  Died  of 
cholera,  327. 

Graham,  Mrs.  Mary,  very  sick,  211. 
Death  of,  212.  Obituary  notice  of, 
written  by  Governer  Walker  for  the 
Expositor,  214. 

Graham,  Mrs.,  342. 

Graham,  William  A.,  353. 

Graham,  W.  C.  298 

Grasshopper  River,  Militarv  Crossing  of, 
34. 

Graves,  Charles,  married  Abalura  Guth- 
rie, 103. 

Gray,  Alfred,  meeting  in  interest  of 
Quindaro  at  othce  of.  119. 

Gray,  Peter,  employed  to  build  ^moke 
house  for  Governor  Walker.  163. 

Gray,  R.  M  .  b"^ 

Grav-Eves,  Doctor,  254. 

Gray-Eyes,  Squin-,  227.  254.  2G0,  303, 
330.     His  preaching,  223. 

Grav-Eyes,  John  W^,  18,  25.  258,  263, 
3i2,  313,  314,  317,  325,  330,  354,  355. 
Delegate  to  Convention,  35.  Chief  by 
inheritance,  173.  Appointed  Super- 
visor, 196.  Information  cop.cerning 
Indian  Congress,  201.  Death  of  his 
wife;  biographical  sketch  of,  254.  Por- 
trait. 256. 

Gray-Eyes,  Robert,  buried  Fe'Tuary  25, 
1*^47,  195.  Administrator's  sale  of 
effects  of.  197. 

Greer,  John,  235. 

Greer, .  Knox  Countv.O.,  purchased 

Gov.  Walker's  lands,  213. 

Green  Corn  Feast  of  the  Wvandots,  385. 
Aug.  9,  185;;,  30. 

Green,  Rev.  Thomas  A..  238,  301. 

Greenbrier  Co.,  W.  V.,  340. 

Greeley,  Horace,  written  to  bv  Guthrie 
about  the  first  delegate  from  Nebraska, 
149. 

Greenwood,  Judge,  speaks  in  favor  of 
Nebraska,  85. 

Griffin,  ,  320. 

Grinter,  John  C.  17. 

Grinter.  W.  H.  H.,  17. 

Grist  mills,  405. 

Giover,  ,  Delegate   to   Convention; 

biographical  sketch  of,  34. 


INDEX. 


415 


Grover,  Charles  H.,  34. 

Giover,  D.  A.  N.,  34. 

Gurley, ,  274. 

Gurlev,  Rev.  James,  271. 

Guthrie,  Abelard,  22,  25,  26,  30,  37,  47, 
53.  61,  76,  88,  116,  122,  125,  126,  129, 
130,  131,  134,  135,  136,  137,  163,  230, 
232,  251,  327,  345,  352  n.l,  355,  363, 
365,  368,  371,  372,  377,  383,  388,  391, 
396.  A  brief  sketch  of,  101.  Dele- 
gate to  Congres!^,  27,  28.  Benton's 
representative,  36,  83.  Set  out  for 
Washington,  Nov.  20,  1852,  29.  Del- 
egate to  Convention,  35.  Received 
33  to  Johnson's  18  in  Wyandot  pre- 
cinct, 38.  Election,  39.  Contests  the 
election  for  Delegate  to  Congress; 
visited  Washington;  attacks  Commis- 
sioner of  Indian  Affairs,  40.  Attacks 
Col.Manypenny  in  Ohio  Hi  ate  Journal; 
feeling  between  him  and  Rev.  J  homas 
Johnson,  41.  Claims,  42,  67.  Official 
action  endorsed  by  the  Convention,  46. 
Election,  58,  61,  67.  Efforts  to  secure 
a  Territorial  Government  for  Nebraska 
Territory,  75.  78,  112.  Travels  from 
St.  Louis  to  Cincinnati,  77,  277.  Ad- 
dress to  voters  of  Kansas,  79.  Op- 
position of  Commissioner  of  Indian 
Affairs,  81.  Mairied  Miss  Quindaro 
Nancy  Brown;  children  of,  103,  1U7. 
Adopted  into  the  Bear  Clan  of  Wyan- 
dots;  his  Indian  name;  his  death; 
character   and    personal   appearance; 

104.  Chief  clerk  in  office  o;  John 
Johnston,  Indian  Agent  at  Piqua,Ohio; 
took  much  interest  in  the  Wyando  s 
and  was  of  service  to  them;  appointed 
Register  of  the  U.  S.  Land  Office  at 
Upper  Sandusky,  Ohio;  his  nomiua 
tion  rejected;  departure  for  the  West, 

105.  Arrival  at  the  mouth  of  the  Kan- 
sas River  early  in  1844.  106.  Frag- 
ment of  Journal  written  whiie  in  Mex- 
ico, 108.  A  pioneer  in  California, 
1850,  111,  308.  Efforts  to  establish 
an  Indian  State,  112.  Identified  with 
the  Free-State  movement  in  Kansas; 
a  Delegate  to  the  Big  Springs  Conven- 
tion, 113.  Ruined  by  the  Quindaro 
City  venture;  nature  of  his  Journals, 
115.  Delegate  to  the  "Free-State" 
County  Convention,  117.  Description 
of  the  election  held  in  Quindaro,  118. 
Arrangement  with  Mrs.  Nichols  to 
edit  the  Chindoican,  119.  Illness  of 
his  father,  123.  Visit  to  his  ftither, 
Sept.  13,  1859,  124.  In  Washington 
Citv,  1862,  127,  128.  Dealings  with 
Gen.  Lane,  130, 132,  133,  134,  138,142, 


143,  146,  147.  Transactions  with 
Charles  Robinson,  120,  121,  123,  151. 
Letters  to  New  York  Tribune,  81.  139, 
150.  Independent  candidate  for  Con 
gress,  152.  Delegate  from  the  Wyan- 
dot Nation  in  Washington,  161.  Re- 
turned from  Washington,  174.  On 
his  way  to  Ohio,  187.  Called  '  ■  Esau ' ' 
by  Governor  Walker,  236,  246,  251. 
On  his  way  to  Santa  Fe,  May  24.  1849. 
289. 

Guthrie,  Abalura,  daughter  of  Abelard 
Guthrie;  married  Charles  Graves; 
died  leaving  a  son,  Clarence  Graves. 
103.  Attended  the  ''Convent  of  the 
Sacred  Heart,"  124. 

Guthrie,  Mrs.  Anna,  .stepmother  of  Abe- 
lard Guthrie.  123,  125. 

Guthrie,    Jacob,    vi.     Son   of    Abelard 

Guthrie;    married     Dora  ;   their 

children,  104. 

Guthrie,  James,  vi,  103. 

Guthrie,  James,  son  of  Abelard  Guthrie, 

married  Grace   ;  their   children, 

103. 

Guthrie,  James,  brief  sketch  of;  mar- 
ried Mrs.  Elizabeth  (Ainsworth)  An- 
drews, 102. 

Guthrie,  Miss  Lucy,  daughter  of  James 
Guthrie,  matron  of  the  Government 
School  at  Wyandotte,  Indian  Terri- 
torv,  103. 

Guthrie,  Mrs.,  237,  369. 

Guthrie,  Norsona,  married  Edward  S. 
Lane,  103;  their  children,  104. 

Guthrie,  Mrs.  Quindaro,  122,  124.  At- 
tended the  "Convent  of  the  Sacred 
Heart,"  124.     Portrait,  112. 


H. 

Hafif,  Mrs.  Marv,  11,  17. 

Hafif,  Sanford,  17. 

Hale,  John  A.,  vi. 

Hale,  Mrs.  Lillian  Walker,  8,  17,  25. 

Half-King,  Chief,  367  n.2. 

Hall,  Franklin,  84. 

Hall,  Luther  A.,  165. 

Hall,  Willard  P.,  a  leader  of  the  Ben- 
ton Democracy  of  Mis-ouri,  28.  Bill 
for  organization  of  Nebraska  Terri- 
tory, Dec.  13,  1852;  bill  never  re- 
ported, 29,  59,  78.  Endorsed  by  Con- 
vention, 45. 

Hamilton,  Rev.  William,  candidate  for 
Provisional  Governor,  85. 

Hand,  E.  B.,  member  and  physician  of 
Wyandot  Mining  Companv,  26,  191, 
192,  204,  212,  290.     Marriage,  218. 

Hanson,  ,  202. 


410 


INDEX. 


Havlaii,  Dr.,  196. 

Harlan,  Seuator,  147,  148. 

Harmer,  General,  18. 

Harris.  H.  T.,  17. 

Harrison,  Gen.  W.  H.,  105,  340. 

Hamlin,  Miss  Carrie,  vi. 

Harry,  Major,  200,  207,  209,  210. 2-57, 261 . 

Hat,  John,  3.55,  392. 

Hedges,  Thomas  I.,  52. 

Heiskell.  Wiliiam  A.,  52. 

Heisler,E.  F.,  17. 

Herald,  Wyandot,  15. 

Hereford, ,  314. 

Hereford,  F.  H.,  323,  :!50. 
Helfenstein,  Judge,  144 
Helvey,  Joel,  Old  Fort  Kearney,  50. 
Helvey,  Thomas,  Old  Fort  Kearney,  50. 
Henn,  Honorable  Bernhart,  84,  87. 
Hepner.  George,  85. 
Hewitt,  Dr.,  161, 181,  182,  205,  207,  208, 
216,  221.  237,  23S,  246,  247,  258,  259, 
279,  280,  288,  293,  294,  297,  305.    At- 
tends Governor  Walker,  161.    Arrives 
in  Wyandot  Reserve,  June  7, 1845, 158. 
Hicks,    family  founded    by  an  adopted 

white,  3. 
Hicks,  Francis  A.,  25,  26,  217,  228,  254, 
258,  260,  262,  265,  272,  287,  312,  324, 
331.  333,  336,  360,  361,362.  Delegate 
to  Convention,  35.  Slave-owner,  77. 
Biographical  sketch  of,  189.  Married 
to  Matilda  Driver,  May  24,  1847,  202. 
iiicks,  John,  Sr.,  260,  2^2.  265,  331,  334, 

367  n.2.  370.  373  n.l,  375. 
Hicks,  John,  Jr.,  260,  353,  368. 
Hicks,  Hannah.  223,  233. 
Hicks,  Henrv,  18. 
Hicks.  Russia,  219. 
Hightower,  Mr.,  211,  215,  244,  246. 
Hill,  Geo.  W.,  43. 
Hill,  Margaret,  divorce,  191. 
Hill,  Miss  Marv  E  ,  married  John  Van 

Cleve  Andrews,  102. 
Hill.  Rus-^ell  B.,  divorce,  191. 
Hili;  Sarah,  death  of,  344. 
Hilton,  345,  346. 
Historical  Collections  of  Ohio,  Howe's, 

12. 
Historical  Society  of  Wisconsin,  Library 

of,  13. 
Holland,  Isham,  Old  Port  Kearnev,  50. 
Hooker,  Charles,    345,   346       Hooper, 
Jacob,  appointed  to  Wyandot  Mission; 
came  from  Lancaster,  Pa.,  202. 
Hojiocan,  or  Captain  Pipe,  235. 
Houston.  Samuel,  Senator,  55. 
Hovev,  Geo.  U.  S.,  17. 
Hul.er,  Col.,  211. 
Hudson  Bay  Company.  7. 
Huffaker,  Miss,  death  of,  290. 


Hufifaker,  Mr.,  319. 

Hummer,  Michael,  17. 

Hunter,  247,  347. 

Hunt,  Adam,  217,  247,  268,  290. 

Hunter,  Ira,  239,  290,  319. 

Hunter  (Mrs.  H.  C.  Long),  354  n.l. 

Hunter,  M.  T.,  Senator,  55. 

Hunter,  Robert,  war  chief  of  Oneidas,  8. 

Hunter,  W.,  183. 

Hunter,  Zelinda  M.,  born  December  3, 
1820;  married  Silas  Armstrong:  died 
February  10,  1883,  308,  354  n.l. 

Hurlburt,  Rev.  Mr.,  262,  265,  274. 

Huron  Confederacy.  10. 

Huron  Place  Cemetery,  48. 

L 

Independence,  Mo.,  321. 

Indian  Bureau,  influence  of,  36. 

Indian  Congress,  at  Fort  Leavenworth, 
1848,  63,  265. 

Indian  Territory,  bounds  of,  in  1835,  21. 
Bills  for  establishing  Territorial  Gov- 
ernment in,  134,  136.  In  1834,  21. 
Recommendation  of  Secretary  of  War, 
22. 

Indiana,  Territory  of,  20. 

Indians,  the,  118,"  120. 

Industrial  lAuninary  of  Parkville.  37, 
384. 

J. 

Jackson,  J.  C,  letter  to,  199-200. 

Jackson,  James,  239,  240. 

Jackson, ,  of  Kansas  City,  275. 

Jackson,  Shawnee  Chief,  348. 

Jacquis,  H.,  176,  189,  193,  198,  204,  221, 
223.  Sickness,  224.  Death  of;  fu- 
neral ceremonies  of;  biographical 
sketch  of,  225.  Widow  of;  obituary 
notice  of,  written  by  Governor  Walker 
for  the  Ohio  State  Journal,  226.  Sale 
of  the  property  of,  227.  Estate  of, 
sued,  246. 

Jameison,  Rev.,  306. 

Jebo,  Joseph,  52. 

Jersey,  ^^  est,  name  of  Governor 
Walker's  homestead  in  the  Wyandot 
Purchase,  64. 

Jersey  Creek,  64. 

Jesuits,  the,  1,  9. 

John-Go-Long-Up,  steamboat,  170. 

Johnson,  Hon.  Allen,  Jr.,  Head  Chief 
Wyandot  Nation,  18,  62. 

Johnson,  B.  F.,  18. 

Johnson,  Cave,  209. 

Johnson,  Hadley  D.,  31,  37,41,  59,  83, 
84,  87,  88.  Statement  of,  concerning 
election  of  Delegate  for  Nebraska 
Territory,  83. 


INDEX. 


4i: 


Johnson,  Rev.  Thouuis,  ;!4,  oO.  41,  54, 
59.  60,  81,  88.  251,  257.  297,  386,  388, 
889,400.  Missionary  of  M.  E.  Church, 
South,  to  the  Shawnees,  resided  in  the 
Shawnee  country,  near  Westport,  Mo., 
nominated  for  Delegate  to  Congress 
by  the  Kickapoos,  38.  Nomination, 
81.  In  Indian  Departiuent,  82.  Put 
forward  in  the  inten  st  of  D.  R.  Atch- 
ison, 83.     At  Washington,  60,  86,  87. 

John.ston,  Catharine,  death  of,  343,  344, 

Johnston',  John,  Agt.  0.  Indians,  12,  108. 
329. 

Joncaire,  Lieut,  le  Sieur.  8. 

Jondron.  C,  204. 

Jordan,  Rev.,  191. 

K. 

Kansas  City,  Kansas,  8,  340. 

Kansas  Territory,  struggle  for  freedom 

in.  113. 
Kansas,   north  line  of,  88. 
Kansas-Nebraska   Act,  passed  May  30, 

1854,  21,  42. 
Kansas  River,  for  Pacific  Railroad,  31. 

"Delav,-are  Crossing"  on,  34. 
Kanzas.   Indian  Congress  of,  1848,  265. 
Kaufman. ,  a  J.  P.,  Jackson  County, 

Mo.,  198. 
Karrahoo,  Milton,  246,  249. 
Kayrohoo,  John,  330,  345,  359. 
Kayrohoo.  Solomon,  377. 
Kaskaskia,  Andrew,  52. 
Kearney,  Gen..  264. 
Kelle}'.  Mrs.,  333. 
Kerr,  Samuel,  262. 
Ketcham.  Captain,  310. 

Kevser. .  216.  221. 

King.  Asburv.  220. 

King.  G.  W.  (Thompson>.  401. 

King,  Governor,  309. 

King,  Matthew,  130. 

Kirby,  M.  H.,  352,  375. 

Kirkbride,    Edward,    married    Caroline 

Driver,  1:03. 
Kickapoo.  town,  59. 
Kickapoos.  23.  38,  230. 
Knight,  Mr..  Sr.,  320,  321. 
Knight,  Preston.  350. 
Kramer,  Mr.,  169. 


Ladd,  John  Wanton,  born  in    Warrick 

R.    I.,  Aug.  10,  1793:  died    in  Wyan-  ' 

dotte,  Kansas,  Sept.  25,  1865,  27.  i 

Ladd,  Lydia    B.,    married    Matthew  R. 

Walker:    one    of  her   daughters  Mrs.  ; 

Lillian  Walker  Hale,  25.  I 


Ladd,  John  Wanton,  27,  338. 

Ladd,  Mary  Ann,  married  Joel  Walker, 
26. 

Lane,  Edward  S.,  married  Norsona 
Guthrie,  103.     Children,  104. 

Lane,  Elizabeth  J.,  341. 

Lane,  James  H.,  130,  132, 136,  140,  141, 
145,  146,  147,  148,  149.  152,  318. 
Seat  contested,  127.  Absence  from 
Washington,  133.  Military  talents; 
Texas  scheme,  134.  Treatment  of 
Guthrie,  138,  143. 

Lane,  Miss  Mina,  vi. 

Lane,  Hon.  V.  J.,  editor  of  the  Herald, 
18,  25.  104. 

Lanniwa,  Territory  of,  112,  146,  149. 

La  Serge,  John,  190. 

Latta,  Dr.,  281. 

Lattiniore,  Robert,  310. 

Laussat,  M.,  represented  France  in  \\v.i 
delivery  of  the  possession  of  Louisi- 
ana to  the  U.  S.,  Dec.  20,  1803,  19. 

Laws,  Wyandott,  3,  379. 

Legate,  James  F.,  148. 

Legislative  Committee,  the,  of  the  Wy- 
andot Nation,  its  powers  and  impor- 
tance; statement  of,  62. 

Leonard,  Mrs.,  208. 

Lester, ,  hanged,  162. 

Letcher,  J.,  Virginia,  55. 

Lewis  and  Clark,  93. 

Light,  Jacob,  married  Eloisa  Guthrie, 
103. 

Lincoln,  Abraham,  misjudged  bv  the  men 
of  his  time,  28,  115,  125,  135." 

Line,  north  boundary,  of  Kansas,  88. 

Lingenfelter,  L.,  85. 

Linnville,  William,  289,  290,  31S. 

Lisa.  Manuel,  93. 

Little  Chief,  262,  272. 

LoHand,  Mrs.  Carolina,  vi,  18. 

Lofland,  Louis,married  Carolina  (Driver) 
Kirkbride,  203. 

Long,  Alexander,  married  Catharine 
Lane,  275,  354  n.  1.     Children  of,  180. 

Long.  H.  C.  17,  26,  35,  371,  354  n.l. 

Long,  Irvin  P.,  35,  43,  260,  290,  354  n.l. 
Biographical  sketch,  275. 

Long,  Isaac,  26,  354  n.l. 

Long,  James.  18,  26,  .•'54  n.l. 

Long,  Miss  Jane  R.,  247,  253,  257. 

Long,  Jolin.  Chief  of  the  Wj'andots,  173. 

Long,  Marv  Ann,  married  to  William 
Garrett,  171,  341. 

Long,  Mrs.,  335.     Death  of.  336. 

Longs,  the,  v. 

Loomis,  Hon.  Mr.,  report  on  Guthrie's 
claims,  67. 

Lopez,  Bucciineer  Patriot,  332,  333. 

Love,  Rev.,  358. 


418 


INDEX. 


Louisana,    province,    19.     Di.^trict   and 

territory,  20. 
Louisianians  in  Mexican  W;ir,  100. 
Lumpey,  Louis,   330,  834,  354.  3-')5  n.l, 

371. 

Lunsfovd. ,  323. 

Lusk,  Mrs.,  333. 

Lucas,  John  B.  C,  20. 

Lykins,  David,  voted  in  Miami  precinct, 

52. 
Lykins,  Miss,  257. 
Lynch,  John,  27,  216,  217.  218,  221,  228, 

231,  232,  233,  2-55,  P.-)-:.  :148,  371. 
Lvnville,  347. 


McAlpine,  Miss  Jessie  S.,  vi,  26. 

McAlpine,  John  W.,  26 

McAlpine,  Mary  A.,  26. 

McAlpine,  Nicholas,  17,  43.     Marriage, 

26. 
McAlpine,  Robert  L. ,  26. 
McAnelly,  362. 

McClellan,  Gen.,  13!,  1.35,  137,  205,  333. 
McColloch,  Z.,  311. 
McCowen,  347. 

McCoy,  Isaac,  229,  230.     Death.  289. 
McCoy,  John  C,  321. 
McCuUoch,  Samuel.  180. 
McCulloch,  William.  180. 
McDaniel,  356. 
McDowell,  William,  220. 
McDowell,  General,  1-50. 
McElvain,  Andrev.-,  238. 
McElvain,  Col.  Purdy,  211. 
McEwen,  Wm.,  85. 
McGee,  W.  M.,  372. 
McKissick,  C.  W.,85. 

McKnight, ,  205 

McKnight   Nimrod,  372. 

McLean,  ,  253. 

McNeal,  Daniel,  27,  354. 

McMuUen,  William  Walker,  vi.  12,  17. 

Mackinaw,  1. 

Malott,  Hiram,  17. 

Manypenny,  Col.,  40.  41,  386. 

''Margaret,  French,"  9. 

Martin,  George  W  ,  Kansas  City,  18. 

Mason,  J.  M.,  U.  S.  Senator,  55. 

Masonry,  first  in  Kansas,  25. 

Matney,  John  R  ,  vi. 

Mayo,  Abel  Upshur,  55. 

Means,  Hon.  W.  C.^  85. 

Meigs,  R.  J.,  20. 

Methodism    among   the  Wyandols,  2,  3, 

11,  352,  369. 
Mexican  War,  109. 
Miami  Rapids,  battle  of,  3. 
Miami  Precinct,  poll-book.  51. 
Miamis,  23,  205. 


Michigan  Territory,  21. 
Mih-shih-kihn-ah-kwah,  or  Little  Turtle, 

Chief  of  the  Miamis,  18. 
Miller,  R.  C,  36,  57,  383. 
Mills,  Grist,  405. 

Mining  Company,  the  Wyandot,  288.  200. 
Missouri  Compromise,  repeal,  81. 
Missouri  River,  31. 
Missouri  Territory,  20,  21,  22. 
Mitchell,  D.  D.,  Supt.  Ind.  Aff.,  294. 
Mouoncue,  Rev.,  161,  373  n.l. 
Mononcue,  Mrs.,  369  n.l. 
Montgomery,  James,  373  n.l. 
Montour,  Andrew,  alias  Henry,  10. 
Montour,  Catherine,  10. 
Montour,  Louis,  10. 
Montour,  Mary,  married  James  Rankin: 

born  in  1756,  10. 
Montour,    Madame,    born     in    Canada 

about  1684,  8.     Influence,  9. 
Montour  Family,  foundei',  8,  10. 
Monture,  James,  279. 
Morman  Emigrants,  348. 
Morris,  Bishop,  271. 
Morton,  Mrs.  Hanna,  357. 
Morton,  Hon.  J.  Sterling,  viii. 
Moseley,  Beverly  A.,  356. 
Moseley,  John,  335. 
Moseley,  Major,  293,  312,  314,  316,  320, 

323,  326,  327,  328,  329,  330,  332,  333. 

334,  335,  336,  337,  338,  341,  343,  344. 

346,  347  n.l,  348,  349,  352,  356,  36U. 

363,  364,  371,  373,  379. 
Moseley,  Thomas,  292. 
Moses,  Mr.,  252. 

Mudeater,  name  and  familv,  3,  234. 
Mudeater,  Alfred  J.,  v,  18^  234,  235 
Mudeater,  Benjamin,  18,  235. 
Mudeater,  Ida,  235. 
Mudeater,  Irvin,  born  1849,  235. 
Mudeater,  Marv,  born  1847,  235. 
Mudeater.  Matthew,  17,  25.  234,  254,  258, 

296,  312,  313,  330,  331,  348,  353,  35-'. 

362.     Married  Nancv  Pipe;    childro;; 

of,  235. 
Mudeater,  Matthew,  Jr.,  235. 
Mudeater,  Mrs.  Jnlifi,  18. 
Mudeater,  Mrs.,  237. 
Mudeater,  Russia,  235. 
Mudeater,  Silas,  235. 
Mudeater,  Susanah,  17,  235. 
Mudeater,  Thomas  Dawson,  235. 
Mudeater,  Zelinda,  born  1815,  235. 
Muir,  Preslev,  26,  36,  361,  363,  371. 
Mulkev,  William,  350,  372. 
Muncie  Tribe,  252,  347. 
Mundav,  Isaac,  36,  57,  383.    Biograjdiv. 

34. 

Mullikan, ,  297. 

Muskrat,  Isaac,  316.  317. 


INDEX. 


419 


N. 

Nebraska  City,  site,  ol. 

Nebraska  Territory,  2A,  31,  67,  83,  88, 
37t).  Description.  65.  Movement  to 
organize,  24,  28,  33,  36,  42,  72.  Bill 
ot  1844,  22.  Bill  of  1848,  22.  Bills 
of  1853,  29,  30;  86,  399,404.  Bout.ds, 
36,  61.  Delegate,  26,  27,  80.  Elec- 
tion of  Delegate  to  Congress  for,  80. 
Attitude  of  pro-slavery  partv,  82. 
Notes  of  Gov.  Walker,  58. 

Negroes,  at  Quindaro.  115. 

Newman,  Moses  B.,  17,  134,  138.  321. 

New  Mexico,  68. 

New  River,  234. 

Nichols,  Mrs.,  edits  Chindowan,  119. 

Nichols.  Smith,  18,  247,  278,  317. 

Niles,  Hezekiah,  Register.  132.  •'  Princi- 
ples and  Acts  of  the  Revolution,"  140. 

Niles,  Samuel  V.,  130,  140,  143. 

Noble,  Tho.  H.,  220,  223.  228,  230,  239, 
240,  241,  247,  249,  250,'  265,  286,  296. 

Nofat,  Administrators  sale  of  effects  of, 
200,  255.  258,  327. 

Nofat,  Margaret,  death  of,  100. 

Nominations,  Wyandott,  382. 

Nones,  J.  B.,  39;  388. 

Northrup,  Audrus  Bishop,  304. 

Northrup,  Mrs.  A.  B.,  vi. 

Northrup,  H.  M.,  v,  17,  43,  240,  251, 
313,  316,  324,  332.  Biographical 
sketch,  303. 

Northrup.  Mrs.  H.  M.,  251. 

Northrup.  McHenry,  304. 

Northrup,  Milton,  304. 

Northrup,  Thomas  Clark,  304. 

Northrup  &  Chick,  304. 

Northwestern  Confederacy,renewal,  265. 

Norton,  Mrs.  Hanna,  365. 

Norton,  Henry  C,  26,  297,  323,  345. 

Nottawassasa  Bay,  1. 


••O'Bludgeon,    Jonuv.""    27,    319,    337, 

369,  372. 
"  Oft  in  the  Stilly   Night,"'  in   English 

and  Wyandot,  14. 
Ohio  State  Journal,  41,  353. 
'•Old  Bullion,"  355. 
"Old  Connecticut, ■■  27,  305,  369,  370. 
Old  Fort  Kearney,  50,  51. 
Oliver,  Judge,  32. 
Oliver,  Mordecai,  vi. 
Oregon,  68. 
Oregon  Companj',  347. 
Orleans,  Territorv  of,  19. 
Overton,  Major  W.  P.,  275. 
Otero,  Miguel,  326. 


Ottawa  Indians,  62. 
Oweu,  Col.  S.,  185. 


Pacific  &  Hannibal  R.  R.,  351. 
Pacific  Railroad,  1853,  32,  88. 
Pacific  states,  the;  Southern   .sentiment 

in,  80. 
Palmer,  R.,  290. 
Palmer,  Mrs.,  death  of,  211. 
Parker,  Greenberry,  194. 
Parks,    Captain   Joseph,     Chief  of  the 

Shawnees,  117,  120,  345.     Sketch  of, 

120. 
ParkviUe,  342. 
Parrott,  Rev.,  200,  202,  204. 
Paschal,  John,  52. 
Paschal,  Luther,  52. 
Passmore,  Mary  C,  194. 

Pattou, ,  191. 

Patton,  James,  365. 

Payne,  Bishop,  361. 

Payne,  Dr.  W.  A.,  203. 

Pay-House,  the  Delaware,  66. 

Pawnees,  the,  200,  310. 

Peacock,  Amelia,  193. 

Peacock,  Boyd,  314. 

Peacock,  Isaac,  354. 

Peacock,  Matthew,  373  n.l.     Sketch  of, 

232. 
Peacock,  Moses,  210,  250. 
Peerey,  Mr.,  274. 
Peerev,  Mrs.,  190,  191, 
Peerev,  Rev.  E.  T.,  181,  190,   193,   194. 

214,"  221,  222,  225,  228,  243,  251,  255. 

295,  374. 
Peerey,  Rev.  John  Thompson,  271,  277, 

280,  296,  297. 
Peerey,  Rev.  John  F.,  353,  359,  361. 
Petuns,  the  Tobacco  Nation,  1,  10. 
Perkins  (Shawnee  blacksmith),  359. 
Perkins,  Stephen,  17. 
Peoria,  Baptiste,  35,  52. 
Peoria,  Joe,  53. 
Peorias,  Indians,  265. 
Pierce,  Charles  W.,  85. 
Pieto,  Jose  Antonio.  26. 
Pillow,  Gen.,  229. 
Pigram,  B.  R.,  86. 
Pipe,  Captain,  or  Hopocau,  235. 
Pip.\  John,  194,  330,  338,  369. 
Pipe,  Mrs.  Margaret,  18,  4!. 
Pipe.  Nancy  (Mrs.  Matthew  Mudeater), 

2  ^5,  ■  81,  382. 
Pipe,  Thomas,  194,  274,  371. 
Pittsbr.rg&  Gulf  Railroad,  35. 
Pharoah,  210,  233. 

Phelps,  Hon.,  U.  S.  Ho.  of  Wer^?.,  70. 
Phips,  ,  220. 


420 


IXDEX. 


Platte  County,  341. 

"Platte  Purchase,"  1<5,  20. 

Platte,  valley  of,  as  a  route  for  railroads, 
81. 

Polk,  James  K.,  282.     Death  of,  291. 

Poll-book,  49.  Miami  precinct,  51.  Old 
Fort  Kearney  precinct,  aO. 

Pomeroy,  Senator,  128,  129,  13?.,  135, 
138;  requested  by  Abelarii  Guthrie  to 
present  his  Resolution,  129. 

Poutiac,  1. 

Pore,  Mr.  Charles,  258. 

Porter,  Henry  W.,  27. 

Porter,  Rev.  James,  252,  338. 

Pottawattoraies,  62,  207,  310. 

Pratt,  Major  John  G.,  17,  34. 

Preston,  Miss  Sarah,  307. 

Preston,  Sarah  (Mrs.  S.  Armstrong-), 307. 

Price,  Sterling.  2'J. 

Price,  Judge  William  Cecil,  vii,  32,  3G7 
n.l.  Biographical  sketch  of,  28.  Por- 
trait, 32. 

Priestly,  Samuel.  26. 

Priestly,  William,  194. 

Prince,  Col.  John,  210,  273. 

Prior,  Roger  A.,  132. 

Proceedings,  Nebr.  Terr.,  381. 

Proclamaiious,  Territorial,  385. 

Proclamation,  election  of  Delegate,  47. 

Prophet,  the  Shawnee,  18. 

Providence,  John.  168. 

Provisional  Government  of  Nebraska 
Territory,  31,  82,  36,  37,  42,  57.  81, 
383.  Organization,  32,  HI.  Ollicers, 
36.     Duration,  60.     Termination,  42. 

Punch,  Curtis,  368. 

Punch,  Dan,  frozen  to  death,  ■-;7G. 

Punch,  George,  ••'.60,  373  n.l. 

Purchase,  Wyandott,  map.  x. 


Quindaro  City, 


R. 


Railroad,  35,  383.     See  Paci/i.'  R.  R. 

Rankin  Family,  7. 

Rankin,  Catheriui%  dau.  James,  11, 

Rankin,  James,  7,  8,  10,  222,  227,  254, 
258,  265,  312,  313,  327,  328,  830,  331, 
336.     Death,  333.     Marriage,  10. 

Kaukin,  James,  Jr.,  11. 

Rankin,  Mary  Montour,  10,  350. 

Rankin,  Miss  Nancy,  338. 

Rankin.  Samuel,  26,  255,  312,  3-54,  363. 

Ready,  Dr.,  353. 

Rector,  Hon.  Benjamin.  85. 

Reed,  ,   married   Elizabeth    \  Zaue) 

Robitailie;  children  of,  180. 


Reed,  ,  314. 

Reeder,  A.  H.,  Gov.,  42,  60,  80.  82. 
Mepublican,  the  St.  Louis,  28. 
Republican  party,    made    bv    etVorls    of 

Abelard  Guthrie,  76,  79,  144. 

Reese, ,  236. 

Resolutions  of  Convention  whi^'h  fornjed 

Provisional  Government  of  Nebraska, 

43. 

Reynolds.  ,  214. 

Rice,  Dr.,  348. 

Richardson,  R.,  200 

Richardson,  William  A.  llou.,  29. 

Richardson  Bill,  29. 

Richfield,  town,  359. 

Ridge,  Dr.,  2  3,  332,  343. 

Rid.ewav,  Joseph,  •J41. 

Rid-eway,  J.,  Jr..248. 

Riggs,  Harhiti,  220. 

Rilev,  Fort,  3.4. 

Roberts,  W.  Y.,  121. 

Robin.son,   Charles,  115,   110.  120,   121. 

123,  150. 
Robitailie  brothers,  vi. 
Robitailie,  Mrs.,  death  and  bu:ial  of,  283. 
Robitailie,    Robert,   euiplove  i  to   tfaeh 

school,  160,  169. 
Robitailie,    ,      ma  lied     Elizabeth 

Zane;  children  of,  180. 

Roberts, ,  219. 

Rodgers,  Dr.,  336,  338. 

Ronucay,  Mrs.,  death  of.  391. 

Roseberry,  341. 

Ross  County,  Ohio.  310. 

Route,  Railroad.  3S3. 

Rowand,  J.  R.,  Phila.,  193,  198,  215. 

Rucker,  Mr  ,  332. 

Rusk,  Thomas  J..  Hon.,  55 

Russell,  Rev.  B.  H.,  301.  317. 

Russell,  Rev.  ,  279,  297. 

Russell,  Mrs.,  213 
Russell,  Miss  Hester,  3,19. 


S. 


St.  Mary's,  treaty  of,  16. 

Sacs,  Indian  Congress,  1848.  63. 

Sager,  Henry,  252. 

Sandusky,  3. 

Sandushf  Register,  378. 

Sarpv's  trading  house,  84. 

Sarrahess,  Jolin,  187.  189.  191,  252.  330. 
353,  355,  358.  Skelcb  of,  193.  Mar- 
riage, 194. 

Sawyer,  Hon.  A.  J.,  viii. 

Sawyer,  ,  Hon..  165. 

Saylor,  ,  209,  214. 

Scarritt,  Rev.  Nathan,  40,  297.  302.  31 S, 
328,  332,  337,  339. 

Schoolcraft,  Works  on  Indians,  321.  :;59. 


INDEX. 


421 


School  Fund,  1852,  348.  405. 
Scott,  Fort,  34. 
Scott,  Gen.  W.,  229.  3.53. 
Seneca  Chief,  187,  191.  208,  392.     Ar- 
rival at  mouth  of  Kansas,  187. 

Shaler,  ,  314,  323,  328,  330. 

Shawnee  Indians,  2,  23,  34,  35,  38,  e;2, 

117,  120,  130,  200.  265. 
Sharp,  Col.  J.  L..  85. 
Sharp,  S.  S.,  17.  308. 
Shehea,  Bryan,  369. 
Shelly,  General,  32. 
Shepard,  Col.  Moses,  of  Va.,  179. 
Sherman.  John,  1;61. 
Shipley,  Thomas,  335. 

Shipley,  ,  366. 

Shrunk,    J.,    of  the   Loioer     Samhisky 

Telegraph,  214,  229,  248. 
Simpson,  D.  W..  19:). 
Simpson,  Dr.,  272. 
Sims,  Col.,  127,  131,  132.  146. 
Sioux,  336. 

Skah-mehn-dah^-teh,  daughter   of   Me- 
nomonee   and   wile    of  George  Arm- 
strong, 161,  176. 
Skan-ho-nint,  or  One  Bark-Canoe.  Wy- 
andot Chief.  7. 

Smalley,  H.  H.,  15. 

Smalley.  Leonard,  220,  262,  203. 

Smart,  Col.  R.  C  ,  314. 

Smith,  Caleb  B.,  143. 

Smith,  Gerritt,  270. 

Smith,  Hugh  N.,  68. 

Smith,  ,   President  of  the   Masonic 

College  at  Lexintjtou,  Mo.,  204. 

Smith,  Rev.  William  D.,  225. 

Snake  Indians,  the.  336. 

Snow,  R.  P.,  84. 

Snyder,  Judge,  85. 

Solomon,  Dan  H  ,  85. 

Solomon,  John,  325. 

South  Pa.ss,  92. 

South  Table  Creek,  51. 

Speer,  Hon.  John,  vi. 

Split-the-Logs,  Charles,  223. 

SpliUog,  Matthias,  v,  17,  194,  263.  Biog- 
raphy, 34. 

Spurlock,  Saiah,  341. 

Squeendehtee,  Mrs.,  365. 

Squeendehteh,  268. 

Standingstone,  Killbuck,  354. 

Standingstone,  One-Hundred-Snakes,  35. 

Stanton,  F.  P.,  127. 

Stand-In-The-Water,  Thomas,  231,  252. 

Standinwater,  Theo.,  190 

State  Line,  Nebraska  and  Kansas,  88. 

Stateler,  Rev.  L.  B.,  173,  198,  222,  223, 
257,  273,  286,  287,  302,  306,  332,  3:^3, 
338. 

Stannard,  Mrs.  W.  H..  18. 


I  Slavery,  in  Kansas  Territory,  57.  Atti- 
tude of  W\andots,  174. 

Steel,  George,  294. 

Stephenson,  Miss  Matilda,  203. 

Stern,  Jesse.  162,  166,  227,  232,  233, 
247,  248,  249,  251,  262,  287. 

Stevens,  Eliza,  126. 

Stewart,  John,  2. 

Stewart,  Martin,  122. 

Stiles,  Geo.  P.,  85. 

Still, ,  268,  293. 

Slockbridge  Indians,  347  n.l. 

Stockton,  John  S.,  vi,  254. 

Stoddard,  Amos,  Gov..  19. 

Strohm,  Isaac,  103,  123. 

Sunday  Schools,  380. 

Symmes,  Capt.  John  Cleves,  214. 


Tacket,  Mr..  311. 

Tall    Charles,   163,   165,  223.  272.   313. 

Sketch,  163. 
Tarhee,  373  n.l. 
Taylor,  216,  221. 
Taylor,  William,  329. 
Tavlor.  Zacharv,  251,  258,  270,  283,  312. 
Tanromee,  35,  161,  173,   187,  189,  191, 

228,    312,    353,    355.      Biographical 

sketch  of,  173. 
Tazewell  County,  Va.,  3ri7  n.l. 
Temperance,  377. 
Territorial  Council,  canvass  the  election 

returns,  39,  40,  48. 
Territory,  Nebraska.     See  Xebraska. 
Territory  of  Lanniwa,  112. 
Thayendenagea,  or  Joseph  Brant,  253. 
Thieving,  by  Wyandott  Chiefs,  347. 
Thompson, ,  202,  206.    Stonemason, 

worked  for  Governor  Walker,  202. 
Thompson,  Mrs.,  188,  140. 
Thrall,  W.  B.,  196. 

Tibb,  ,  231. 

Tobacco  Nation,  the,  1,  10. 
Tondee,  328. 

Tou.son, ,  204.  207. 

Toranto,  word,  315. 

Towareh,  330,  344 

Traders'  Point,  or  Belleviie,  84. 

Trager,  A.,  197,  244. 

Treaty  of  April,  1850,  34S. 

Treaty  Committee,  395. 

Tremble,  Francois,  296,  313. 

Tribe,  Muncie,  347  n.l. 

Tribe,  Wolt.  339, 

mbune,  N.  Y..  80. 

Trowbridge,  William,  27. 

Tullis.    Jane,    married   James   Baruett, 

194. 
Turkey  Creek,  284,  310,  311,  313. 


422 


INDEX. 


Turley,  Marshal,  85. 
Turner,  Nat,  oOT. 
Twightwees  (Miamis),  8. 
Twyuian,  Dr.  L.,  242,  803. 
Twvman,  Henry,  338. 
Twyman,  Miss,  291. 
Twyman,  W.,  191. 
Tyler,  President,  105. 


Union,  the  Washington,  129. 
Van  Bnren,  Martin,  259,  270. 
Van     Cleve,     Mary    Cornelia,    married 

Jiimes  Andrews,  102. 
Vandreuil,  Marquis  de,  8. 
Van  Metre,  John,  231,  293,  329. 
Vaughan,  Major,  165. 
Vedder,  E.  T.,  307. 
Vien,  Peter,  314. 
Vincennes,  340. 

W. 

Wade.  Beniamin  F.  Hon.,  321. 

Wagstaft;  Capt.  Rohert,  162,  163,  171. 

Walden,  Editor  of  Chindoican,  116. 

Waldo,  Captain,  229. 

Waldo,  228,  291. 

Walker,  Catherine,  25,  162. 

Walker,  Everett,  1853-1888,  26. 

Walker,  Florence,  26. 

Walker,  Mrs.  Hannah,  216,  218,  324. 

Walker,  Harriet,  343. 

Walker,  Ida  E.,  1851-1866,  26. 

Walker,  Isaiah,  vi,  25.  343  n.l,  344,  344 
n.l,  355,  357,  373.     Portrait,  288. 

Walker,  I.  P.,  290. 

Walker,  Joel,  vi,  17,  25,  26,  33,  34,  114, 
183,  189,  197,  204,  208,  244  246,  250, 
251,  252,  253,  257,  269,  287.  303,  317, 
319,  328,  334,  391.  Sicknps.<^,  215. 
Portrait,  8. 

Walker,  John  T.,  166,  171,  217,  221,  224, 
249,  264,  283,  294. 

Walker,  Justin,  "^6. 

Walker,  Martha  C,  married  William 
Gilmore,  298. 

Walker,  Maria,  1847-1891;  married  Nich- 
olas McAlpine,  26,  340,  .341. 

Walker,  Mrs.  Mary,  18,  343  n.l. 

Walker,  Matthew  R.,  i:6,33,  35,  36,  57,77, 
186,  193,  196,  198,  226,  227,  229,  237, 
246,  260,  265,  304,  307,  813,  316,  320, 
323,  325,  330,  332,  334,  337,  359,  362, 
364,  371,  372,  383.  Biographical  sketch 
of,  24.     Portrait,  304. 

Walker,  William,  Senior,  5,  11. 

Walker,  Governor  William,  vii,  viii,  5- 
14,  16,  24,  26,  27,   29,  33,  35,  36,  43, 


55,  58,  60,  61,  64,  76,  77,  78,  108,  122, 
285.  Son  of  William  and  Catherine; 
born  in  Wayne  County,  Mich.,  March 
5,  1800,  11,  232.  Clan,  12.  Marriage, 
12.  Character,  13.  Death,  15,  43. 
As  Governor,  37,  42,  47,  49.  54,  65. 
As  funeral  orator,  173,  225.  Por- 
traits, frontispiece  and  153.  Journals, 
first,  153-288;  second,  289-403. 

Walker,  Mrs  William,  347. 

Walker,  the  family,  v,  3,  5. 

Walker,  Boyd  &  Chick,  329,  336. 

Walker,  Northrup  &  Chick,  304. 

Wallace,  353. 

Walter.  H.  A..  328. 

Warpole,  Henry,  313,  344,  364,  376. 

Warpole,  Jacob,  313. 

Warpole,  Mrs.,  death  of,  343,  344. 

Warpole,  Peter,  280. 

Washburn,  Hon.  Israel,  67. 

Washington,  James,  161,  166,  167,  169. 
171,  189,  193,  198,  219,  221,  223,  237, 
254,  260,  262,  263,  281,  293,  312,  313, 
330,  339,  345,  353,  355,  367  n.2,  370. 

Washington,  Mrs.  James.  193,  220. 

Watauga  River,  234. 

Watkins,  351,  355. 

Wattles,  Augustus,  134, 136, 141, 143, 144. 

Wayne,  Gen.,  3. 

Welsh,  Alfred,  194. 

Weh-yah-pih-ehr-sehn-wah,  grandfather 
of  Charles  Blue-Jacket;  Shawnee 
Chief,  18. 

Wells,  Capt.,  3. 

Westport,  Mo.,  34. 

Wheeler.  James,  Rev.,  178,  207. 

Wheeler.  John,  200,  202,  240. 

Whig  party,  105. 

Whig  National  Convention,  1852,  353. 

White.  Joseph,  263,  371. 

White,  Kittie  Ann,  340. 

White  Church,  Kansas,  35. 

White-Crow,  330,  354,  355,  368. 

White- Wing,  Ann,  376. 

White-Wing,  James,  230. 

Wilcox,  Orange  D.,  239. 

Wilcoxen,  Rezin,  18. 

William,  Col.,  Mexican  War,  108. 

Williams,  Geo.  D.,  284,  295,  327,  357. 

Williams,  John,  246,  327. 

Williams,  Mary,  344  n.l,  373. 

Williams,  Nicholas,  343,  344. 

Williams,  Thomas  J.,  69. 

Williams,  Mrs.,  268. 

Wilkinson,  James,  Gov.,  20. 

Wilkinson,  Senator,  148. 

Wilson,  F.,  200. 

Wilson,  James.  252. 

Wilson,  ,  Hon.,  133. 

Wilson,  53.  200. 


INDEX. 


423 


Wingard,  Chas.  W.,  1-28. 

Winnebagoes  and  Pottawatomies,  207. 

Winslow,  Mrs.,  13],  V.i  >. 

Witten,  Rev.  James,  367,  367  n.l. 

Witten,  Thomas,  367  n.l. 

Wolf  tribe,  339. 

Woods,  ,  208,  209. 

Wriglit,  George,  18.     Sketch  of,  308. 

Wright,  Dr..  356. 

Wyandots,  the,  1-4,  10,  11,  23,  24,  26, 
30,  58,  60,  193,  200,  207,  223,  303, 
315,  385.  Allotment  of  their  lands 
in  severalty,  3.  Cession  of  lands,  2. 
Council  tire,  68.  Delegates  of,  in 
Washington,  159.  Food,  158.  Gen- 
ealogy, 1.  Government,  165.  Laws, 
379."  Mining  Company,  111  Num- 
ber, 3.  Eemoval,  2.  Slavery,  114. 
Treaties,  200,  228. 

AVyandott  City,  the  plat  of,  819. 

Wvandot  County  (Ohio),  2. 

Wvandotte  Gazette,  8. 

Wvandot  Purchase,  34,  321.     Map,  x. 


Yah-nvah'-neh-.leh,  302. 


Young,  David,   222,  223,  258,  260,  262, 

272,  293,  294,  312.     Death,  336. 
Young,  John  S.,  250. 
Y^oung,  Margaret,  344. 


Zane,    Catherine,    married    Alexander 

Long,  180,  273. 
Zane,  Col.  Ebenezer,  18,  179,  180. 
Zane,    Elizabeth,     married,    first,    

Robitaille,   and   second,   Reed : 

children  of,  180. 
Zane,  Hannah,  308. 
Zane,    Isaac   W.,   121,   161,    221,    371. 

Marriage  and  children,  180. 
Zane,  Isaiah,  324,  345,  3.39. 
Zane,  Jonathan,  179. 
Zane,  Nancv,  married  Samuel   McCu!- 

loch,  180.' 
Zane,  Noah,  179,  210,  29-5,  296. 
Zane,  Sarah,  married  Rol;ert  Armstrong, 

160,  180,  369. 
Zane,  Silas,  179. 
Zane  Family,  v,  3,  179.  180. 
Zanobia,  109. 
Zinzendorf,  Count.  '.).