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HISTORY
-OF-
CHEROKEE COUNTY, KANSAS
- -AND-
REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS
EDITED AND COMPILED BY NATHANIEL THOMPSON ALLISON, A. M. COLUMBUS, KANSAS
"History is Philosophy teaching by Examples"
PUBLISHED BY BIOGRAPHICAL PUBLISHING COMPANY GEORGE RICHMOND, PRES. ; C. R. ARNOLD, SEC'Y AND TREAS. CHICAGO, ILLINOIS 1904
372015
XAND
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Preface
C HE aim of the publishers of this volume has been to secure for the historic portion thereof full and accurate information respecting all subjects therein treated, and to present the data thus gathered in a clear and impartial manner. If, as is their hope, they have succeeded in this endeavor, the credit is mainly due to the diligent and exhaustive research of the editor of the historical statement, Nathaniel Thompson Allison, of Columbus. In collecting and arranging the material which has entered into this history, it has been his aim to secure facts and to present them in an interesting form. His patient and conscientious labor in the compilation and presentation of the data is shown in the historical portion of this volume. The record gives an elaborate description of the land, the story of its settlement and a comprehensive account of the organization of the county and the leading events in the stages of its development to the present time as set forth in the table of contents. He regrets that certain subjects, through his inability to secure full and satisfactory data, have not been treated as fully as they perhaps deserve, but the topics and occurrences are included which are essential to the usefulness of the history. Although the purpose of the author was to limit the narrative to the close of 1903, he has deemed it proper to touch on some matters overlapping that period. For any possible inaccuracies that may be found in the work, the indulgence of our readers is asked.
In the main the editor has found it a pleasant task to write this history, and this largely for the reason that so many persons have cheerfully aided him in word and in deed; and for the reason, too, that nothing has been done by anyone to hinder the progress of the work. The following persons will be always kindly remem- bered for the aid which they have extended and for favors which they have shown: Mrs. A. Willard and C. W. Daniels, of Baxter Springs; Charles Moll, Joseph Wallace, Dr. J. P. Scoles and C. W. Harvey, of Galena; Charles E. Topping, of Empire City; Henry Mitchell, of Varck; Dr. C. W. Hoag, of Weir City; J. N. McDonald, of Scammon; Mr. and Mrs. Leslie Patterson, of Mineral; Lawrence Conklin, of Pleasant View township; Jerry Luckey, of Stippville; Richard D. Ellis, of Shawnee
4
PREFACE.
township; and A. S. Dennison, W. H. Layne and Charles Stephens, of Columbus. The following newspapers in the county have extended Mr. Allison many favors, and their editors have shown him every courtesy and kindly consideration: The Journal and the Tribune, at Weir City; the News and the Republican, at Baxter Springs; the Republican and the Times, at Galena; the Journal and the Miner, at Scammon; the Modern Light, at Columbus, and the Times, at Mineral.
The reviews of resolute and strenuous lives, which make up the biographical department of the volume, and whose authorship for the most part is entirely inde- pendent of that of the history, are admirably adapted to foster local ties, to inculcate patriotism and to emphasize the rewards of industry, dominated by intelligent pur- pose. They constitute a most appropriate medium of perpetuating personal annals and will be of incalculable value to the descendants of those therein commemorated. They bring into bold relief careers of enterprise and thrift and make manifest valid claims to honorable distinction. If "Biography is the only true History," it is obviously the duty of men of the present time to preserve in this enduring form the story of their lives in order that their posterity may dwell on the successful struggles thus recorded, and profit by their example. These sketches, replete with stirring incidents and intense experiences, will naturally prove to most of the readers of this book its most attractive feature.
In the aggregate of personal memoirs, thus collated, will be found a vivid epit- ome of the growth of Cherokee County, which will fitly supplement the historic statement; for the development of the county is identified with that of the men and women to whom it is attributable. The publishers have endeavored in the prepara- tion of the work to pass over no feature of it slightingly, but to give heed to the minutest details, and thus to invest it with a substantial accuracy which no other treatment would afford. The result has amply justified the care thus exercised, for in our belief no more reliable production, under the circumstances, could be laid before its readers.
We have given special prominence to the portraits of representative citizens, which appear throughout this volume, and believe they will prove a most interesting feature of the work. We have sought to illustrate the different spheres of industrial and professional achievement as conspicuously as possible. To those who have kindly interested themselves in the successful preparation of this work, and who have voluntarily contributed most useful information and data, we herewith tender our grateful acknowledgment.
CHICAGO, ILL., October, 1904.
THE PUBLISHERS.
NOTE
All the biographical sketches published in this volume were submit- ted to their respective subjects or to the subscribers, from whom the facts were primarily obtained, for their approval or correction before going to press; and a reasonable time was allowed in each case for the return of the type-written copies. Most of them were returned to us within the time allotted, or before the work was printed, after being corrected or revised; and these may therefore be regarded as reasonably accurate.
A few, however, were not returned to us; and, as we have no means of knowing whether they contain errors or not, we cannot vouch for their accuracy. In justice to our readers, and to render this work more valuable for reference purposes, we have indicated these uncorrected sketches by a small asterisk (*), placed immediately after the name of the subject. They will all be found on the last pages of the book.
BIOGRAPHICAL PUBLISHING CO.
Table of Contents
CHAPTER I.
A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE STATE OF KANSAS .
... .... 15
CHAPTER II.
GEOGRAPHICAL, TOPOGRAPHICAL AND GEOLOGICAL FEATURES OF CHEROKEE COUNTY 21
CHAPTER III.
THE EARLY SETTLING OF CHEROKEE COUNTY 26 The Passing of the Indian-Removal of the Cherokees from Georgia-The Cherokee Neutral Lands- The First White Settlements-The Cherokee Neutral Lands Sold to the Confederacy-The Joy Pur- chase and the Troubles that Followed-The Land League-Joy Sustained-The Townships, Cities and Towns of the County-The First Settlers-The Old Settlers' Annual Reunion.
CHAPTER IV.
SOME EARLY DOCUMENTS, LETTERS AND OTHER THINGS .. 44
.....
CHAPTER V.
COUNTY ORGANIZATION, POLITICAL HISTORY AND POPULATION STATISTICS
60 The Organization of Cherokee County-The "County Seat War"-List of County Officers-The Po- litical Phases-Memorable Political Rallies-The Increase of Population, and Immigration from Other States.
CHAPTER VI.
EDUCATIONAL, RELIGIOUS AND FRATERNAL .. .. 83 The Public Schools-The Churches, Lodges and Benevolent Societies.
CHAPTER VII.
THE PHYSICIANS AND THE BENCH AND BAR OF CHEROKEE COUNTY. ... 90 The Physicians of the County -The Courts-The Cherokee County Bar.
CHAPTER VIII.
THE NEWSPAFERS OF CHEROKEE COUNTY 100
8
TABLE OF CONTENTS.
CHAPTER IX.
THE AGRICULTURAL INTERESTS
107
. Farm and Live-Stock Products-The Home Market-The Profits in Agricultural Operations-Improve- ment of the Roads-Berry and Fruit Growing-Rural Routes and Telephones.
CHAPTER X.
THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE MINERAL RESOURCES AND THE WATER POWER OF THE COUNTY. 114 The Coal Mines of the County-The First Coal Shaft-The Central Coal & Coke Company-Statis- tics of Coal Production-Gas and Oil-The Lead and Zinc Mines of the County-Big Real Estate Transactions-The Mining of Lead and Zinc-The Discovery of Lead and Zinc-Statistics of Lead and Zinc Production-The Operation of Mines-The Feature of Uncertainty Present-The Water Power of the County-The Spring River Power Company.
CHAPTER XI.
THE RAILROADS OF CHEROKEE COUNTY 134 Railroad Construction-Railroad Property Tax Valuations-Railroad Mileage in the County-The Latest Line to be Built-Bonds in Aid of Railroads-An Early Railroad Time Table-Travel in the Days of the Stage Coach.
CHAPTER XII.
THE HISTORY OF COLUMBUS 140
The First Settlers-Organized as a City-The Schools-The Churches-The Water Supply-The Court House-A Bit of History-Improvement in Material Prosperity-Residences-Business Blocks- The Cherokee County High School-Columbus as a Place for Residence-Early Settlers Who Have Passed Away-The City's Business Interests Expanding-Population Figures-The Post Office.
CHAPTER XIII.
THE HISTORY OF BAXTER SPRINGS .
... 151 The Phases of the City's Past-The First Settlers-Incorporated as a City-The Baxter Springs Mas- sacre-Discovery of Lead and Zinc-Development of the Water Power on Spring River-Residences.
CHAPTER XIV.
THE HISTORY OF GALENA AND EMPIRE CITY ...... 159
CHAPTER XV.
THE HISTORY OF MINERAL CITY, WEIR CITY AND SCAMMON, AND LIST OF THE TOWNS OF THE COUNTY .... 170
CHAPTER XVI.
THE EX-UNION SOLDIERS OF CHEROKEE COUNTY 178
List of the ex-Union Soldiers of the County-The ex-Union Soldiers' Inter-State Reunion.
CHAPTER XVII.
MISCELLANEOUS MATTERS 199
BIOGRAPHICAL 213
Index
PAGE
PAGE
PAGE
Abbott, Benjamin S.
321
Brooks, William E.
241
Cruickshank, George W.
28.4
Allen, -Gilbert .373
Brown, W. H. D. .462
Allen, Joseph 480
Brown, William D.
.343
Cunningham, Samuel
613
Allison, Nathaniel T.
333
Buergin, Jacob
.618
Ankrum, Harrison
463
Bulger, Mrs. Margaret T. 469
Davidson, Ellis 505
Applegate, George F.
.404
Burrows, John R. .622
Davis, Charles E. 428
Dean, Louis L. 581
Dennison, Abiel S. 259
Ashley, Charles D.
510
Bush, W. F.
594
DeVoe, Thomas E.
.476
Dixon, Zimri
266
Baker, C. C.
463
Cadwalader, Reese 283
Dorsey, Thomas W.
.519
Baker, William
425
Caldwell, L. Alexander 617
Douglass, George W.
498
Ball, Frank L.
629
Canfield, George W. .322
.
Barrett, William H.
347
Carver, Jolın T. 523
Callahan, Michael J. 236
Cheshire, Robert M.
223
Dunbar, J. N.
313
Duncan, Thomas R.
280
Ecke, O. C. .232
Edwards, Daniel 291
Eisenhart, John .324
Ellis, Elbert A. 619
Ellis, Richard D. 548
Ellis, Samuel J. 599
Bowman, C. S.
321
Boyd, Andrew
.403
Boyer, William
422
Cooter, Elbert W. 529
Ewers, George
582
Bradshaw, Walter L. .516
Covert, Peter 384
Branson, William W. .254
Cowley, W. R. 311
Ferguson, William T.
339
Braun, George F. 363
Crawford, Elisha C. .609
Finley, Owen 588
Brewster, Lorenzo D. 532
Crawford, Samuel J. 213
Fisher, George M. .293
Brookhart, Harry H. .525
Cross, Thomas H. 381
Fitzgerald, John 390
Brooks, Floyd W.
409
Crowe, David
392
Fleming, Michael
.512
Brooks, James H.
.394
Crowell, Howard R.
218 French, William M.
491
Beltzhoover, John P. 362
Cheyne, M. C.
485
Benham, William M. 605
Clabourn, Grant
429
Bennett, Oscar H.
271
Coe, Charles W. 373
Coles, A.
457
Coltrane, Isaiah M. .400
Blue, R. W.
.229
Boggs, Henry B. 518
Boss, Jacob H.
.329
Coon, H. S. 389
Cooper, John M. 249
Elliott, Franklin 357
Cooper, Joseph H. .472
Evans, William H. 487
Benson, William M.
.273
Betty, Charles H.
.296
Conklin, Lawrence .290
Cool, Commodore F.
.300
Dowd, Charles S. and Francis E. . 627 Dresia, Peter 597
Dugger, Benjamin T. 338
Batten, Joseph
630
Baxter, J. H.
239
Dodson, James N. 309
Armstrong, James H.
576
Burrows, John Riley 499
Burton, George
507
Ashmore, Milton W.
387
Buzard, Jesse
615
Baker, Edmund 397
Cunningham, Andrew J.
378
IO
INDEX.
PAGE
Fribley, James J. ·353
Johnson, John O.
.628
Moore, William R. 481
Fudge, John T. 317
Johnson, W. N. 465
Morrow, James 497
Galpine, Joseph H. .275
Johnston, J. O. .438
Morrow, Thomas J. 379
Mountjoy, Robert F. . 404
Glasse, W. B. .471
Graham, Peter 591
Jones, Jacob K. .272
Myers, John L.
220
Gray, John 347
Junkens, John H. .428
Nash, William R. .616
Haines, Edwin A. 368
Kanatzer, Mrs. Mary J. .509
Newton, Mrs. Mary A. .416
Hale, Newton J. .450
Kennedy, William O. 468
Hamblin, Samuel .603
Kenny, Dennis . 547
474
Hamilton, John H. .232
Kline, S. Peter
625
Hanks, Robert P. 398
Knighton, George J. .333
Norton, W. S.
302
Hannon, Henry .332
Kutz, Thomas 487
Oglesby, John C. 575
Hasson, Samuel 483
Laizure, J. T. .504
O'Malley, James
437
Haynes, Thomas
.255
Lamaster, James W. 308
O'Reagan, Patrick .377
Headley, John R.
286
Lamaster, William A. .312
Heaton, Ira
464
LaRue, H. A.
.300
Hefley, George W.
427
LaRne, T. P.
.304
Henderson, H. B. .251
Lathrop, Hamilton B. .341
Lisle, Slem 256
Paul, Silas L. 626
Hiller, Frederick .334
Long, Robert A. .320
Pender, William C. 417
Hisle, James R. .562
Luckey, Jeremiah .279
Pendergrass, James P. 452
Hoag, Clark W.
.537
Lundin, John 469
Perkins, L. Murray .559
Hoffmire, William 415
Hogg, Benjamin F. .243
Hohnsbeen, Ernst C. 330
Holt, Ephraim E. 531
McCombs, John T. and Robert. .. 550
Pinson, J. F. .361
Pixley, Waldo B. 475
Polster, J. G. .372
Porter, James
. 554
Puttkamer, John B.
493
Hord, Charles M. .344
Mclaughlin, John 246
Rains, Hiram F. 611
Randall, Curtis .606
Householder, M. A. .233
McMickle, Clinton 225
Howard, Samuel C. .331
McNay, John M. .543
Hubbard, John C. .535
McNeill, C. A. 367
Revell, Arthur T. .402
Rhoads, Oscar A. .421
Hughes, Luke 285
Markham, Hon. Robert M. . 593
Meredith, Jonathan B. 411
Hughes, Victor 387
Hull, Emerson 59.3
Metzler, Philip C. 354
Middaugh, Charlton E. 473
Millner, Francis E. 488
Jessup, Daniel A. . 502
Millstead, William H. .235
Robinson, James M. 604
Johnessee, Silas .420
Moll, Charles L.
.455
Rogers, Job A.
449
Johnson, A. C.
466
Moore, James H.
.503
Rohrbough, John W.
392
Perkins, William
.410
Peters, James R.
.520
Pickering, Abijah .501
Holt, Joseph S. .374
Hood, Archibald .282
McDonald, James N. 604
Hood & Sons Implement Co., The
McDowell, Samuel O.
.440
A. .264
McGregor, Frank R. .445
Hornor, William H. .35I
McMahon, Michael 574
Rawlings, John A. 610
Hubbard, Arthur L. .431
Majors, A. L. .352
Richart, Willard M. 364
Rickner, Chris 570
Riker, J. F. 328
Rittenhouse, O. F. 614
Roach, Charles N.
.430
Robinson, George 489
Hurlbut, Samuel L. .447
PAGE
PAGE
Gibbs, Charles A. 337
Jones, Charles M. .451
Jones, D. M. .359
Murphy, Benjamin L.
620
Noble, Edwin St. G. 348
Hamlet, Jotham L. 623
Kline, John
North, William
508
Northrup, Fred D.
285
Page, John
439
Pargen, Francis O. .340
Patterson, Leslie . 567
Pattyson, Elmore R. 318
Herman, Andrew .412
Hess, Claude A. 338
Logan, J. Wilbur .314
Lyerla, Aaron
294
Mc Clellan, George B. .252
McCormick, John S. 536
Hughes, Michael .292
Merrill, Moses F. .553
Newton, Solomon D. .612
Harper, Henry H. 456
II
INDEX.
PAGE
PAGE
PAGE
Ryan, Solomon 458
Sparks, Oliver W. .418
Walker, Arcenith F. 319
Sparlin, Christopher C. 569
Walker, George W. .215
Sadler, Henry R.
.290
Spencer, Elijah W. .40I
Walker, Stephen L. .298
Sapp, Edward E.
461
Spencer, John W. .219
Walker, William W.
484
Savage, Harrison R.
.407
Spiva, Will E. .542
Wallace, Joseph
.479
Sawyer, Charles L.
.382
Stauffer, Hon. John 586
Ward, Woodford A.
.454
Sayer, P. R.
304
Stephens, Charles 405
Watson, David J.
398
Scammon, E. A. .217
Steward, Milton R. .327
Watts, Andrew D.
541
Schermerhorn, E. B.
.289
Stice, W. E. .369
Weaver, Thomas C.
253
Schmell, Louis
592
Stone, John W. 598
Wenzel, Albert E. 587
Seibert, DeWitt C. 298
Stott, Capt. Richard H. .579
West, Elijah T. 390
Shaffer, William H. 276
Stoskopf, George
448
Westervelt, Lewis R. .515
Shearer, Andrew
307
Strother, J. R. .525
Wheeler, Willis H. 226
Shideler, Henry
492
Sweeney, Charles M. .568
Whitmore, William W. .497
Simkin, Frederick W.
350
Wiggins, Basil .526
Skidmore, Andrew H. 216
Taylor, Richard W. .482
Willard, Albert .368
Skinner, O. E.
527
Taylor, William .379
Williams, Al. F.
.295
Slease, L. J.
.301
Topping, Wallace E. .265
Williams, Lane
383
Small, James T.
443
Tracewell, E. M. .327
Williams, Washington
.486
Smith, Marcus L.
433
Trotter, W. H. 556
Wilson, George H. 467
Smith, S. E. .505
Wimmer, Harvy 426
Smith, Samuel H. 585
Winter, Daniel
.263
Smith, Hon. Samuel W. 573
Wiswell, John
.231
Smith, Hon. William 570
Wolfe, Jes. F. .528
Smith, William E. 406
Woods, George W. 361
Smyres, H. F.
517
Wade, Alexander .492
Wright, Jonathan R. 529
Snider, John W. 484
Wagner, John W. .399
Souder, George F. 241
Thomas, Orlando T. . 555
Williams, DeWitt C. 435
Skinner, Thurston J. 490
Vollmar, Rev. Henry R. .269
Von Wedell, Walther 549
Walker, Alexander
.621
Youngman, E. W.
.626
Illustrations
PAGE
PAGE
Ashmore, Milton W.
386
Baker, Edmund
396
Baker, Mrs. Eliza
424
Baker, William
424
Baptist Church, Galena
IIO
Baptist Church, Old, Columbus
32
Hamblin, Samuel
602
Hoffmire, William
414
Hood, Mrs. A., Residence of
144
Hubbard, John C.
534
Kenny, Dennis
546
Carver, John T. and family
.522
Cherokee County High School.
96
Cherokee County Jail
66
Cheshire, Hon. Robert M.
222
Log
Cabin Pioneer
Home
in
Cheshire, Hon. R. M., Residence. 144
Christian Church, Galena
I10
Coke Works at Cokedale
I20
Cooper, Hon. John M.
248
Court House, Columbus
96
Court House, Galena
130
Crawford, Elisha C.
608
Crawford, Hon. Samuel J.
212
Methodist Episcopal Church, Co-
lumbus
66
Dennison, Abiel S.
258
Dresia, Mr. and Mrs. Peter
596
East Galena School
IIO
East Side School, Columbus
66
Elliott, Franklin
356
O'Reagan, Patrick
PAGE
Allison, Nathaniel Thompson
14
Fudge, John T.
316
Patterson, Leslie
564
Patterson, Mrs. Olive C.
566
Gibbs, Charles A.
336
Pattyson, E. R., Residence of
144
Graham, Peter
590
Presbyterian Church, Columbus.
66
Richards, Val., Residence of .... 166 Robertson, Riley F., Residence of. 166
Sapp, Hon. Edward E.
460
Schermerhorn, Hon. E. B.
.288
Shearer, Andrew
306
Small, James T.
442
Smith, Samuel H.
584
Smith, Hon. Samuel W.
572
South Galena School
IIO
Stice, Mrs. W. E., Residence of .. 166
Stott, Capt. Richard H.
578
Tracewell, E. M.
326
Typical Miner's Home in Galena
25 Years Ago
32
Vollmar, Rev. Henry R.
268
Moore, J. C., Residence of
166
Morrow, Mr. and Mrs. James
.496
Murdock Block, Galena
130
Norton, W. S., Residence of
144
Wallace, Joseph
.478
Watts, Mr. and Mrs. Andrew D. . 540
Wright Block, Isaac, Columbus .. 66
Westervelt, Mr. and Mrs. Lewis
R.
.514
. 376 | West Side School, Columbus
.. 66
Perkins, L. Murray
5.58
Gray, Mr. and Mrs. John
346
Hamblin, Mrs. Lucy A.
602
Baxter, J. H., M. D.
238
Blue, Col. R. W.
228
Braun, George F., Residence of. . 166
Lead and Zinc Mining Shafts and
Crushers, Galena
.120
Galena
IIO
Luckey, Jeremiah
278
McNeill, C. A.
366
McNeill, C. A., Residence of
.144
Merrill, Mrs. Mary S.
.552
Merrill, Moses F.
.552
7
history of Cherokee County
CHAPTER I.
A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE STATE OF KANSAS
As early as 1541 a company of Spanish soldiers under the command of Francisco de Coronado, and directed by Indian guides, made their way from the lower valley of the Pecos River to a point on the Missouri River where the city of Atchison, Kansas, now stands. The expedition was made in search of gold; but on reaching the Missouri River, then known as the Teucarea, the company, footsore and discouraged on account of their long, fruitless march over the dreary, sandy desert, besought their commander to lead them back to Mexico, whence they had formerly come. After killing the Indian guides, who had led the Spaniards over the trackless wastes, to get them away from the Pecos Valley, and to wear them out in hunger and thirst, the little com- pany retraced its course toward the South, but not until Coronado had given the name Canses to that part of the country which lies between
the Arkansas and the Missouri rivers. This was 363 years ago. The country was named after the dominant tribe of Indians then inhab- iting it, and through a series of modifications it was later known as Kansas.
In 1762 France, having discovered and claimed what was later known as Louisiana, ceded it to Spain; but on March 21, 1801, it was ceded back to France. On April 30, 1803, the United States purchased it from France, in consideration of the payment of $15,000,000. It included practically all the country drained by the Mississippi River ; but it did not include that part of the present State of Kansas which lies west of the 100th degree of west longi- tude and south of the Arkansas River. This was acquired by the United States from the republic of Texas in the year 1850.
At the time of the Louisiana purchase, in 1803, Kansas was almost entirely unknown,
1
16
HISTORY OF CHEROKEE COUNTY
except among the Indian tribes which wan- dered over what was vaguely known as "The Great American Desert," lying between the Missouri River and the Rocky Mountains. In 1806 the United States fitted out an expedition at St. Louis, and the next year General Pike took command and led it westwardly through Missouri and Southern Kansas. Besides the soldiers of the command, there was a company of geographers. Three years were taken up in the exploration; but even then no well formed idea was obtained of the true character of the country, in respect to its mineral resources and the adaptability of its soils for agricultural purposes. In 1810 General Pike, who had ex- plored as far west as the Great Divide, and as far south as the Rio Grande, reported to the Secretary of War, and, among other things, he said : "These vast plains of the Western Hemisphere may, in time become equally celebrated with the sandy deserts of Africa; for in various places on my route I saw tracts of many leagues where the wind had thrown up the sands in all the fanciful forms of the ocean's rolling waves, and on them not a speck of vegetation existed. Our citizens, so prone to wandering and extending them- selves on the frontier, will, through necessity, be constrained to limit their extent, in the West, to the borders of the Mississippi and Missouri rivers, while they leave the prairies, incapable of cultivation, to the wandering and uncivilized aborigines of the country. It ap- pears to me to be possible to introduce only a limited population, and that even this must be confined to the banks of the Kaw, the Platte and the Arkansas rivers." That was 94 years ago. What a change has been wrought in the intervening time! How "westward the course
of empire" has taken its way! What would General Pike say now, if he could see "The Great American Desert?"
In 1819-20 Major Long was sent West on an exploring expedition ; and his report to the Secretary of War, like that of General Pike, did not seem designed to "induce immigration" into these parts. Speaking of the region now comprised within the boundaries of Nebraska and Kansas, he said : "It is a region destined, by the barrenness of its soil and its inhospitable climate, as well as by other physical disad- vantages, to be the abode of perpetual desola- tion." And the Secretary of War at that time, gloomily commenting on the report of Major Long, said: "From the minute account given in the narrative of the expedition, of the par- ticular features of this region, it will be per- ceived to bear a manifest resemblance to the desert of Sahara."
From the time of which I have last writ- ten, up to about the year 1840, very little progress was made toward bringing this region within the zone of civilization, it being believed to be destined always as the home of savage Indians and the wild animals which roamed its valleys, hills and grassless plains. Here the ground owl, the rattlesnake, the prairie dog, the coyote, the deer, the elk and the buffalo had their haunts, and it was believed that they would always remain, disturbed only now and then by the wandering tribes of Indians, whose fixed habits shut out every thought of perma- nency of habitation. Shortly after this, the Mexican War agitation became so intense as to break out in hostility, and when the war was over, in 1848, bringing to the possession of the United States that territory then including California, the newly discovered gold fields of
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AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS.
the Western slope aroused the people of the Middle and Eastern States, and vast numbers of them went thither by whatever way offered the easiest ingress. Beginning about the year 1849, almost innumerable caravans were fitted out at different points on the Missouri River, to take their course "across the plains," as it was spoken of in those day. This was prac- · tically the beginning of the settlement of Kan- sas ; for some of those who had intended to go on to California, when they saw the goodly land in Eastern Kansas, turned aside in their pur- poses and settled among the Indians along the larger streams, where wood and water could be found. These were joined later by others from the East, and thus the settlements were enlarged little by little, as time went on.
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