Hello,
It's time for another "blogging." Sorry, that one was to hard to resist. Today is March 9, 2014, and I am so looking forward to Spring and warmer temperatures coming to this lovely sunflower state of Kansas.
Tonight's blog will be short; due to the fact that I haven't anything concrete to write about on the subject of my essay. That being said, however, I have located some wonderful resource books at my local public library, The Derby Library. I paid said library a visit on Saturday afternoon, actually it was late afternoon and just about the time I located the books that will be useful in my essay, the voice on the intercom announced that the library was closing. I have plans to go back and feast on a couple of neat old books. One is of old newspaper articles and the other one is about Kansas history. As I quickly looked them over on Saturday, I found a biography on James R. Mead. I am so excited and can hardly wait to get back to the library and read it from the beginning to the last period.
Another new development is that my Prof. mentioned to me that it might be helpful to create a timeline of the people and places that I've been researching. I think that was a capital idea and will be starting on that right away. I know I've said it before, but I do enjoy researching history about the frontier days and the pioneers. I've always had a fascination about who these people were and what their lives were like. I know they were hard times; very hard times, but it was also a less cluttered time. A time when people had time to talk to each other without a cell phone going off. It's so irritating to have dinner with someone who is more interested in what's being posted on Facebook than what the person right next to them is saying. The children, for the most part, obeyed their parents and Biblical morality was the code that was excepted as proper. Nothing was wasted and all that one had came from working hard and saving the money to buy it. Not to much credit went on then, although having a tab at the local mercantile wasn't unheard of, not to mention the local saloon.
Horses got pretty good M.P.G., until they decided to put them under the hood of a motorized buggy and then the M.P.G. took a dive. People weren't obese and you probably didn't have to worry much about what you were going to have for supper, because you had the same thing every night, if you had anything for supper that is.
I think about my grandparents on my mom's side, they had a bowl of oatmeal and pancakes for breakfast every single day, year after year. No sausage or ham, no bacon and no eggs, just oatmeal and pancakes and easy on the syrup. I can remember my mom's uncle say that if you had butter on your bread, you didn't need jelly; and if you had jelly, you didn't need butter. To put both on the same piece of bread was considered wasteful.
Well, so much for my recollections for one night, I think I will consider this post finished. Today was the first day of daylight savings time and everyone is tired, of course we're always tired, but even more so today when we've had to move one whole hour of beautiful sleep to the end of the "time-line" until we grab it back next fall. Good night; Good night, until it be marrow, or something like that!
Cheri
Sunday, March 9, 2014
Monday, March 3, 2014
Hey there bloggers,
It's been a while since I've posted on my blog. So much happened in February; first I fell and hit the right side of my face on a very hard floor and was bruised, swelled up and had my back all out of wack. It's always out of wack, but the fall made it worse than usual. Then I had a car wreck on the 15th. and my sweet car that I really liked a lot was totaled. My brother who lives in Oklahoma came up to save the day, and helped me get a new car. It's a pretty pearl white 2012 Ford Focus. Never in a million years would I have thought I'd have a white car. It's so white, pearly white; (which means it has a luster to it rather than a dull, flat white), that I'm tickled pink!. Then the granddaughter on one of my best friends took her own life. Only 33 years old and had just graduated from nursing school last Spring. My friend is so broken hearted, it just breaks my heart too; I feel so bad for her. Then with all of the stress and turmoil going on, I started having second thoughts about doing this blog, even though I have loved digging for information and writing to you about the things I've seen and read. I questioned if I should be doing this assignment option at all, but with a few words of encouragement from my professor, I'm back on track, at least I think I am.
Well, that's my story, and not having blogged for several day's may have messed up the requirements for the extra credit that I was hoping to get just in case I really bomb the essay. So regardless of what happens at the end of the semester, I want to continue blogging and probably boring you with my findings.
Speaking of findings, I found something that I can't wait to share tonight. It's a poem titled,"The Kansas Emigrants," written by John Greenleaf Whittier. It was turned into a song by singing it to the lyrics of, "Auld Lang Syne." This is so neat, love it when I find music from the 1800's! Give it a try, I did!!
We cross the prairie as of old
The Pilgrims crossed the sea,
To make the West, as they the East,
The homestead of the free!
We go to rear a wall of men
On Freedom's Southern line,
And plant beside the cotton-tree
The rugged Northern Pine!
Upbearing, like the Ark of old,
The Bible in our van,
We go to test the truth of God
Against the fraud of man.
We'll tread the prairie as of old
Our Fathers sailed the sea,
And make the West, as they the East,
The homestead of the free!
This little tune was sang in the days preceding the Civil war, around the time that the Kansas-Nebraska Act was made law. Nebraska was supposed to be a free-state where slavery was not allowed and Kansas was to be a slave state. Someone in the legislature got a bill passed that would allow the settlers to decide if their state would be free or slave; I will go back tomorrow and get the names and dates that I have left out tonight, I get so excited reading, I forget to take notes. Well anyway, It came down to the fact that who ever could populate the state of Kansas with the most people would win in the election that was to be held. Well...the folks from Missouri felt that because they planned on moving into Kansas, and because they were so close to the Missouri-Kansas line, that they could cross over and vote. So the first election in Kansas was held in 1855, but the number of actual settlers living in Kansas and the number of ballots cast was vastly different, the election was considered a fraud and the name "Bogus Legislature," was coined.
The first big influx of settlers into Kansas wasn't so much because of the rich farm land, as it was political.
I read some about John Brown; of course I'd heard about him, but I needed to have my memory refreshed a bit. He was more than a little overboard in his anti-slavery stance. I can understand why they called it "Bleeding Kansas," it was hemorrhaging with the blood of pioneers. I read a piece that said the Civil War actually started in Kansas. I will go back and get the name of the town that was mentioned, I've never heard of it and the article said than not many have heard of it. What an awful time in our state and in our country. Well guess that's a wrap for tonight, I'm glad to be back.
Cheri
PS: I was reading this information on the Kansas Library web sight under the heading of Kansas History, Territory.
It's been a while since I've posted on my blog. So much happened in February; first I fell and hit the right side of my face on a very hard floor and was bruised, swelled up and had my back all out of wack. It's always out of wack, but the fall made it worse than usual. Then I had a car wreck on the 15th. and my sweet car that I really liked a lot was totaled. My brother who lives in Oklahoma came up to save the day, and helped me get a new car. It's a pretty pearl white 2012 Ford Focus. Never in a million years would I have thought I'd have a white car. It's so white, pearly white; (which means it has a luster to it rather than a dull, flat white), that I'm tickled pink!. Then the granddaughter on one of my best friends took her own life. Only 33 years old and had just graduated from nursing school last Spring. My friend is so broken hearted, it just breaks my heart too; I feel so bad for her. Then with all of the stress and turmoil going on, I started having second thoughts about doing this blog, even though I have loved digging for information and writing to you about the things I've seen and read. I questioned if I should be doing this assignment option at all, but with a few words of encouragement from my professor, I'm back on track, at least I think I am.
Well, that's my story, and not having blogged for several day's may have messed up the requirements for the extra credit that I was hoping to get just in case I really bomb the essay. So regardless of what happens at the end of the semester, I want to continue blogging and probably boring you with my findings.
Speaking of findings, I found something that I can't wait to share tonight. It's a poem titled,"The Kansas Emigrants," written by John Greenleaf Whittier. It was turned into a song by singing it to the lyrics of, "Auld Lang Syne." This is so neat, love it when I find music from the 1800's! Give it a try, I did!!
We cross the prairie as of old
The Pilgrims crossed the sea,
To make the West, as they the East,
The homestead of the free!
We go to rear a wall of men
On Freedom's Southern line,
And plant beside the cotton-tree
The rugged Northern Pine!
Upbearing, like the Ark of old,
The Bible in our van,
We go to test the truth of God
Against the fraud of man.
We'll tread the prairie as of old
Our Fathers sailed the sea,
And make the West, as they the East,
The homestead of the free!
This little tune was sang in the days preceding the Civil war, around the time that the Kansas-Nebraska Act was made law. Nebraska was supposed to be a free-state where slavery was not allowed and Kansas was to be a slave state. Someone in the legislature got a bill passed that would allow the settlers to decide if their state would be free or slave; I will go back tomorrow and get the names and dates that I have left out tonight, I get so excited reading, I forget to take notes. Well anyway, It came down to the fact that who ever could populate the state of Kansas with the most people would win in the election that was to be held. Well...the folks from Missouri felt that because they planned on moving into Kansas, and because they were so close to the Missouri-Kansas line, that they could cross over and vote. So the first election in Kansas was held in 1855, but the number of actual settlers living in Kansas and the number of ballots cast was vastly different, the election was considered a fraud and the name "Bogus Legislature," was coined.
The first big influx of settlers into Kansas wasn't so much because of the rich farm land, as it was political.
I read some about John Brown; of course I'd heard about him, but I needed to have my memory refreshed a bit. He was more than a little overboard in his anti-slavery stance. I can understand why they called it "Bleeding Kansas," it was hemorrhaging with the blood of pioneers. I read a piece that said the Civil War actually started in Kansas. I will go back and get the name of the town that was mentioned, I've never heard of it and the article said than not many have heard of it. What an awful time in our state and in our country. Well guess that's a wrap for tonight, I'm glad to be back.
Cheri
PS: I was reading this information on the Kansas Library web sight under the heading of Kansas History, Territory.
Tuesday, February 25, 2014
Hi there; Blogger Friends,
It's a cold and windy night on the plains of Kansas, and I complain with a warm house and everything a body needs for comfort. It's hard for us to imagine what the pioneers went through when they first came here and tried to survive on almost nothing. We are so blessed.
I've been doing a lot of thinking about my research paper lately. I think I need to narrow my quest down to some main issues. I have an idea about what my topics main question should be, roughly speaking, something like," Did the Wichita Indians Really Give Wichita It's Name, Or Was It Simply Named Wichita Because The Wichita Indians Once Lived Here"? Something like that maybe, or what about, " Marker Commemorating The Wichita Indians Is Incorrect." Well whatever the thesis statement turns out to be, I still have a long way to go before I'm anywhere ready to start writing my essay.
One thing that I think I need to change is the scope of my searching. I really like to dig up old stories about the people and places of the old west and the pioneer days. I've been fascinated with that subject since I was in grade school. Having had the opportunity to have lived for weeks at a time on a farm without any modern conveniences such as electricity, running water, indoor and sometimes outdoor facilities, cooking on a coal-oil stove and doing homework by oil lamp light has given me a small taste of the of early life on the open prairie, but I knew I'd be coming back to home; to this home, when the work at the farm was done for a while.
I've been focusing my research on the men who came to Kansas and started trading with the Indians and opening trading posts. Some of the men who had a vision of a town at the confluence of the Big and Little Arkansas Rivers. For a while I think I will begin to look at that marker; the one that is about the Wichita Indians that is in Wichita, somewhere around Riverside Park; I think that's where it is. Guess I just might need to learn some things about it; like when was it erected and who wrote the words that were placed on it. You know, little things like that.
History is a big place to visit, you can get lost in it if you're not careful. But it's always a fun and interesting place to hang-out.
I know this post is somewhat short, but it was either short, or not at all, so I chose short.
Have a pleasant evening,
Cheri
It's a cold and windy night on the plains of Kansas, and I complain with a warm house and everything a body needs for comfort. It's hard for us to imagine what the pioneers went through when they first came here and tried to survive on almost nothing. We are so blessed.
I've been doing a lot of thinking about my research paper lately. I think I need to narrow my quest down to some main issues. I have an idea about what my topics main question should be, roughly speaking, something like," Did the Wichita Indians Really Give Wichita It's Name, Or Was It Simply Named Wichita Because The Wichita Indians Once Lived Here"? Something like that maybe, or what about, " Marker Commemorating The Wichita Indians Is Incorrect." Well whatever the thesis statement turns out to be, I still have a long way to go before I'm anywhere ready to start writing my essay.
One thing that I think I need to change is the scope of my searching. I really like to dig up old stories about the people and places of the old west and the pioneer days. I've been fascinated with that subject since I was in grade school. Having had the opportunity to have lived for weeks at a time on a farm without any modern conveniences such as electricity, running water, indoor and sometimes outdoor facilities, cooking on a coal-oil stove and doing homework by oil lamp light has given me a small taste of the of early life on the open prairie, but I knew I'd be coming back to home; to this home, when the work at the farm was done for a while.
I've been focusing my research on the men who came to Kansas and started trading with the Indians and opening trading posts. Some of the men who had a vision of a town at the confluence of the Big and Little Arkansas Rivers. For a while I think I will begin to look at that marker; the one that is about the Wichita Indians that is in Wichita, somewhere around Riverside Park; I think that's where it is. Guess I just might need to learn some things about it; like when was it erected and who wrote the words that were placed on it. You know, little things like that.
History is a big place to visit, you can get lost in it if you're not careful. But it's always a fun and interesting place to hang-out.
I know this post is somewhat short, but it was either short, or not at all, so I chose short.
Have a pleasant evening,
Cheri
Saturday, February 22, 2014
Good Evening Fellow Bloggers Everywhere'
Today is the 22 day of February, 2014. Today has been a long day and if you have been car shopping before you totally understand. I got a beautiful 2012 Ford Focus, pearl white and I love it. I will certainly try to take very good care of it and drive it with my full attention on my driving.
For my blog tonight I want to share a few facts about William Greiffenstein. I'm so glad that's not my name!
He's an interesting person and one of the founding fathers of Wichita, Ks.
Mr. Greiffenstein was born in Germany in 1829 where he lived with his family who were prominent members of the Lutheran Church, and very well educated and refined. He lived with his family in the suburbs of Frankfort-on-the-Main. When William was 14 years of age, he was sent to a Darmstadt College for three years, where he received his education. After school, he worked in a commission house, but when the Revolution broke out in Germany, William moved to the Western World, he was only 19 years old at the time. He located in Hermann, Mo. and worked as a clerk for a while until he moved to St. Louis, Mo. and worked in a store as a clerk. William wasn't content working for other men and wanted very much to open his own store. In 1850 he left Missouri for the Shawnee Reservation, close to Lawrence Ks.. Here he partnered with a "halfbreed" and opened a mercantile and traded with the Indians.
To transport his wares around the country, he had to use pack animals, because there were no roads to use.
After a while he left his trading business and went to New Mexico and on the way back, bought some land near Topeka, Ks.. Col. Levenworth had heard about some white children that were being held by the Indians. Mr. Greiffenstein was able to get them released and returned them to their families. On another occasion there was word of a white women and her child who were being held captive by Indians and again Mr. Greiffenstein went to rescue them from the Cheyenne. During the battle with General Custer on the Washita river, the women and her child were killed by an Indian women as revenge for a her family member that was killed. So Mr. Greiffenstein went back to his home.
At one point Mr. G. went to Texas to buy breaking plows, twenty of them, so he could break-up the ground at the Kiowa reservation. He was on his way home when he happened to camp for the night at White Beat Hill. General Sheridan was also camping there and the General has been told some bad things about Mr. Greiffenstein and a ruckus broke out between General Sheridan and Mr. Greiffenstein. General Sheridan ordered Greiffenstein out of the country. Mr Greiffenstein went to Washington to try to get some help, but none was forthcoming. A few years later General Sheridan found out that the things he'd been told about Mr. Greiffenstein were untrue and he made amends with Mr. Greiffenstein and they became good friends.
In 1869, William moved back to Topeka where he had done a trading business, and married Miss Catherine Burnett. The were blessed with three children.
In 1870 the first land that was platted in the Wichita area by Mr. Greiffenstein. It was eighty acres of land and some of the plats he gave to people who would improve them. Mr. G. had a large ranch with a lot of horses, cattle and pigs. This ranch was near or perhaps on the Pottawatomie Reservation. He acquired 680 acres of land in what is now Wichita, and build a huge, beautiful house on part of the land.
It is reported that "the costing with improvements cost a cool $75,000." Mr. G. was a stockholder in the street railway, (I wonder if that was Wichita's trolley system) and a watch factory. He also did a lot of
work on Douglas street.
Mr. Greiffenstein was the mayor of Wichita for eight years and in 1877-1878 he represented his district in the State Legislature. That's a wrap for tonight's news, my friends,
Until next we meet,
Cheri
The KSGenWeb Project and Home Page for the Kansas State Library.
Today is the 22 day of February, 2014. Today has been a long day and if you have been car shopping before you totally understand. I got a beautiful 2012 Ford Focus, pearl white and I love it. I will certainly try to take very good care of it and drive it with my full attention on my driving.
For my blog tonight I want to share a few facts about William Greiffenstein. I'm so glad that's not my name!
He's an interesting person and one of the founding fathers of Wichita, Ks.
Mr. Greiffenstein was born in Germany in 1829 where he lived with his family who were prominent members of the Lutheran Church, and very well educated and refined. He lived with his family in the suburbs of Frankfort-on-the-Main. When William was 14 years of age, he was sent to a Darmstadt College for three years, where he received his education. After school, he worked in a commission house, but when the Revolution broke out in Germany, William moved to the Western World, he was only 19 years old at the time. He located in Hermann, Mo. and worked as a clerk for a while until he moved to St. Louis, Mo. and worked in a store as a clerk. William wasn't content working for other men and wanted very much to open his own store. In 1850 he left Missouri for the Shawnee Reservation, close to Lawrence Ks.. Here he partnered with a "halfbreed" and opened a mercantile and traded with the Indians.
To transport his wares around the country, he had to use pack animals, because there were no roads to use.
After a while he left his trading business and went to New Mexico and on the way back, bought some land near Topeka, Ks.. Col. Levenworth had heard about some white children that were being held by the Indians. Mr. Greiffenstein was able to get them released and returned them to their families. On another occasion there was word of a white women and her child who were being held captive by Indians and again Mr. Greiffenstein went to rescue them from the Cheyenne. During the battle with General Custer on the Washita river, the women and her child were killed by an Indian women as revenge for a her family member that was killed. So Mr. Greiffenstein went back to his home.
At one point Mr. G. went to Texas to buy breaking plows, twenty of them, so he could break-up the ground at the Kiowa reservation. He was on his way home when he happened to camp for the night at White Beat Hill. General Sheridan was also camping there and the General has been told some bad things about Mr. Greiffenstein and a ruckus broke out between General Sheridan and Mr. Greiffenstein. General Sheridan ordered Greiffenstein out of the country. Mr Greiffenstein went to Washington to try to get some help, but none was forthcoming. A few years later General Sheridan found out that the things he'd been told about Mr. Greiffenstein were untrue and he made amends with Mr. Greiffenstein and they became good friends.
In 1869, William moved back to Topeka where he had done a trading business, and married Miss Catherine Burnett. The were blessed with three children.
In 1870 the first land that was platted in the Wichita area by Mr. Greiffenstein. It was eighty acres of land and some of the plats he gave to people who would improve them. Mr. G. had a large ranch with a lot of horses, cattle and pigs. This ranch was near or perhaps on the Pottawatomie Reservation. He acquired 680 acres of land in what is now Wichita, and build a huge, beautiful house on part of the land.
It is reported that "the costing with improvements cost a cool $75,000." Mr. G. was a stockholder in the street railway, (I wonder if that was Wichita's trolley system) and a watch factory. He also did a lot of
work on Douglas street.
Mr. Greiffenstein was the mayor of Wichita for eight years and in 1877-1878 he represented his district in the State Legislature. That's a wrap for tonight's news, my friends,
Until next we meet,
Cheri
The KSGenWeb Project and Home Page for the Kansas State Library.
Wednesday, February 19, 2014
Hi there,
Today is February 19, 2014. It's been an adventure maneuvering through the hoops after being in a car accident. No fun my friends, but at least I'm only hurt a little and will mend with time. I got some news last night about a dear friend of mine who's 34 year old granddaughter killed herself. She just graduated from nursing school last Spring. I'm heart sick for my friend and her family. Makes my problems come into perspective and I'm so blessed to only have a car wreck to deal with.
On with my blog for today, and there's not much time to get-er-done before leaving for English class.
I reread Prof. Buua's syllabus again; I've read it several times before, but it never hurts to read it again from time to time. I had printed off the explanation for the writing option that I've chosen and reread it as well.
Then I had an epiphany, It became clear to me what I'm supposed to do with all the information that I've been gathering. I found the argument, the rhetoric, the ethos, logos and pathos. What a relief, before I was asking myself how was I to turn the research work into what the actual assignment is.
After this epiphany, I looked on-line of course, for the plaque commemorating the Wichita Indians that is in Riverside park. Also looked at some of the other historical markers in Wichita. I'm liking this assignment more and more, as I plan and do detective work about the Wichita Indians and the founding fathers of Wichita.
I don't know yet who made the plaque in Riverside park, but I think I can do better, making it a more historically accurate plaque.
I'm actually excited about the prospect. I still have much research to do and several people to learn about. What fun; I'm so blessed. I know that this blog is a bit short today, but I wanted to get in my third one for this week and with my accident and all, it's been hard to find the time to write three times this week.
Look for some more reports as I dig deeper into Wichita's very interesting past.
Cheri
Today is February 19, 2014. It's been an adventure maneuvering through the hoops after being in a car accident. No fun my friends, but at least I'm only hurt a little and will mend with time. I got some news last night about a dear friend of mine who's 34 year old granddaughter killed herself. She just graduated from nursing school last Spring. I'm heart sick for my friend and her family. Makes my problems come into perspective and I'm so blessed to only have a car wreck to deal with.
On with my blog for today, and there's not much time to get-er-done before leaving for English class.
I reread Prof. Buua's syllabus again; I've read it several times before, but it never hurts to read it again from time to time. I had printed off the explanation for the writing option that I've chosen and reread it as well.
Then I had an epiphany, It became clear to me what I'm supposed to do with all the information that I've been gathering. I found the argument, the rhetoric, the ethos, logos and pathos. What a relief, before I was asking myself how was I to turn the research work into what the actual assignment is.
After this epiphany, I looked on-line of course, for the plaque commemorating the Wichita Indians that is in Riverside park. Also looked at some of the other historical markers in Wichita. I'm liking this assignment more and more, as I plan and do detective work about the Wichita Indians and the founding fathers of Wichita.
I don't know yet who made the plaque in Riverside park, but I think I can do better, making it a more historically accurate plaque.
I'm actually excited about the prospect. I still have much research to do and several people to learn about. What fun; I'm so blessed. I know that this blog is a bit short today, but I wanted to get in my third one for this week and with my accident and all, it's been hard to find the time to write three times this week.
Look for some more reports as I dig deeper into Wichita's very interesting past.
Cheri
Monday, February 17, 2014
Good Evening Blogger Friends,
There are two more letters that James R. Mead wrote that were in trusted to the Kansas Historical Society, they are the subject of tonight's blog. This is the third of four letters that I found at Kansas Memory, a branch of the Kansas Historical Society. It's a wonderful web site if you like history; there's so much to tantalize your imagination. OOP'S, got side tracked there, so back to the letters. This one is titled First Trading Post In Kansas, and is dated December 25, 1859, as were the first two letters. It is signed "Your son, James R. Mead", so it must have been written to his parents, one would think. He begins by telling his readers that he is prepared to spend the winter on the prairie and that that probably doesn't set to well with the folks, but never-the-less, that's the plan. He says that he has plenty of food and grocery's on hand and thinks "it will be a pleasant and profitable time." He plans on trading with the Indians and assures his family that he is in a safe location, away from "the wild Indians." There was a Kaw tribe camped not far away and he says that "they are friendly and fond of trading". He has two companions and a hired man. The companions whom he doesn't name are fellow hunters, while the hired man is the one in charge of processing the buffalo.
In the second paragraph Mr. Mead is commenting on what they get from the buffalo beyond their hides. He says, and I quote, " I have on hand about 100 tongues which are worth $1 apiece in market. We also have a barrel of tallow and next summer can get it by the thousand weight. It is worth .10 each or .121/2 per pound. It makes beautiful candles."
Going on, Mr. Mead talks about times being hard in Kansas because much of the money was being spent buying land. He says that new comers tell that it's harder in the States than in Kansas. A man by the name of Col. Titus has become a friend of Mr. Mead and is a very influential man in town. The Col. opens his home to Mr. Mead whenever he is in town and Mr. Mead is pleased with this friendship.
In the fourth paragraph he speaks to his father, I believe, do to the tone of the words. It has something to do with Mr. Mead Sr. having some trouble and anxiety over something that we as readers have no point of reference. His advice to his dad is to banish the past from his mind and be happy and content. Mr. Mead Jr. says that he is happy and doesn't envy those who have more than he.
In the fifth and last paragraph of this letter, his dad asks the sons advise about an old mare that I suppose the old man is somewhat fond of for it's having been around for so long. It's time to let the old girl go and the son says to his dad, in all caps; "BY ALL MEANS SHOOT HER! She is an eye sore and disgrace to any man." His finial words of wisdom on the subject is; "A man is always judged by the stock he keeps." Isn't there something like that concerning the company one keeps too? Http://www.kansasmemory.org/item/90618.
The last letter is of a different flavor and is titled; " RAMBLES OF DIS-UNION ADVICE TO FATHER RELIEF, and dated February 14, 1861 from Saline Ranch. It begin with this phrase;" Disunion news is terrible indeed." Mr. Mead is concerned about the influence this news will cause on his business come winter. He says that the price he get for furs has gone down, but he still had plenty to eat.
This part is interesting and I will quote it so you can hear every word. "The awful facts you hear of suffering in Kansas are half of them bare-faced lies. Tell the folks to take care of your own poor and let us alone. The Territory would be vastly better off today if not one dollar of relief had been sent to us." I don't quite understand what he's so upset about. If any of you bloggers know, by all means enlighten me. He also, in the same paragraph tells his dad to keep out of the way of his enemies and avoid publicity. To live within his means and forget about the past. That remark about the past surfaces again here. This letter is more like a note, as it only takes up a half sheet of paper. Another short note is printed at the bottom of this page titled; "War: Fire: Decision to Marry. Written from Leavenworth, Ks. on May 1, 1861. This portion has to do with the effect of war on the economy in Kansas, which was having a rough time in the early days of 1861.
He says that the river towns are doing a good business outfitting people going to Pikes Peak, but other than that, there wasn't much going on there.
He tells about a big fire that was in the town the night before he wrote this note. The losses from the fire were $70,000, but insured. He didn't say what burned or how the fire started, just that there had been a fire. He also mentions that the people were getting ready for the possibility of war should it come that way. He says, "I hope Old Abe gives them fits before long!" This guy, Mr. Mead, sure had a way with words. Here's what he has to say about the women he's planning on marrying. "I am going to get married this Fall to a poor girl and not very good looking but she likes me and I like her and I guess we could make a living." He says he could have anyone he wanted, but he didn't care that much about looks. Poor girl indeed!
These letters are copies of the type written ones by Mr. Mead and were donated to the Kansas State Historical Society by Mr. Mead's family in 1940 when the originals were still owned by the family. The originals are now held by Wichita State University. (Item Number:90618; Call Number: James Mead Coll. #438; Box 1 Volume 1;
KSHS Identifier: DaRT ID: 90618.)
That's a wrap for tonight, sweet dreams,
Cheri
There are two more letters that James R. Mead wrote that were in trusted to the Kansas Historical Society, they are the subject of tonight's blog. This is the third of four letters that I found at Kansas Memory, a branch of the Kansas Historical Society. It's a wonderful web site if you like history; there's so much to tantalize your imagination. OOP'S, got side tracked there, so back to the letters. This one is titled First Trading Post In Kansas, and is dated December 25, 1859, as were the first two letters. It is signed "Your son, James R. Mead", so it must have been written to his parents, one would think. He begins by telling his readers that he is prepared to spend the winter on the prairie and that that probably doesn't set to well with the folks, but never-the-less, that's the plan. He says that he has plenty of food and grocery's on hand and thinks "it will be a pleasant and profitable time." He plans on trading with the Indians and assures his family that he is in a safe location, away from "the wild Indians." There was a Kaw tribe camped not far away and he says that "they are friendly and fond of trading". He has two companions and a hired man. The companions whom he doesn't name are fellow hunters, while the hired man is the one in charge of processing the buffalo.
In the second paragraph Mr. Mead is commenting on what they get from the buffalo beyond their hides. He says, and I quote, " I have on hand about 100 tongues which are worth $1 apiece in market. We also have a barrel of tallow and next summer can get it by the thousand weight. It is worth .10 each or .121/2 per pound. It makes beautiful candles."
Going on, Mr. Mead talks about times being hard in Kansas because much of the money was being spent buying land. He says that new comers tell that it's harder in the States than in Kansas. A man by the name of Col. Titus has become a friend of Mr. Mead and is a very influential man in town. The Col. opens his home to Mr. Mead whenever he is in town and Mr. Mead is pleased with this friendship.
In the fourth paragraph he speaks to his father, I believe, do to the tone of the words. It has something to do with Mr. Mead Sr. having some trouble and anxiety over something that we as readers have no point of reference. His advice to his dad is to banish the past from his mind and be happy and content. Mr. Mead Jr. says that he is happy and doesn't envy those who have more than he.
In the fifth and last paragraph of this letter, his dad asks the sons advise about an old mare that I suppose the old man is somewhat fond of for it's having been around for so long. It's time to let the old girl go and the son says to his dad, in all caps; "BY ALL MEANS SHOOT HER! She is an eye sore and disgrace to any man." His finial words of wisdom on the subject is; "A man is always judged by the stock he keeps." Isn't there something like that concerning the company one keeps too? Http://www.kansasmemory.org/item/90618.
The last letter is of a different flavor and is titled; " RAMBLES OF DIS-UNION ADVICE TO FATHER RELIEF, and dated February 14, 1861 from Saline Ranch. It begin with this phrase;" Disunion news is terrible indeed." Mr. Mead is concerned about the influence this news will cause on his business come winter. He says that the price he get for furs has gone down, but he still had plenty to eat.
This part is interesting and I will quote it so you can hear every word. "The awful facts you hear of suffering in Kansas are half of them bare-faced lies. Tell the folks to take care of your own poor and let us alone. The Territory would be vastly better off today if not one dollar of relief had been sent to us." I don't quite understand what he's so upset about. If any of you bloggers know, by all means enlighten me. He also, in the same paragraph tells his dad to keep out of the way of his enemies and avoid publicity. To live within his means and forget about the past. That remark about the past surfaces again here. This letter is more like a note, as it only takes up a half sheet of paper. Another short note is printed at the bottom of this page titled; "War: Fire: Decision to Marry. Written from Leavenworth, Ks. on May 1, 1861. This portion has to do with the effect of war on the economy in Kansas, which was having a rough time in the early days of 1861.
He says that the river towns are doing a good business outfitting people going to Pikes Peak, but other than that, there wasn't much going on there.
He tells about a big fire that was in the town the night before he wrote this note. The losses from the fire were $70,000, but insured. He didn't say what burned or how the fire started, just that there had been a fire. He also mentions that the people were getting ready for the possibility of war should it come that way. He says, "I hope Old Abe gives them fits before long!" This guy, Mr. Mead, sure had a way with words. Here's what he has to say about the women he's planning on marrying. "I am going to get married this Fall to a poor girl and not very good looking but she likes me and I like her and I guess we could make a living." He says he could have anyone he wanted, but he didn't care that much about looks. Poor girl indeed!
These letters are copies of the type written ones by Mr. Mead and were donated to the Kansas State Historical Society by Mr. Mead's family in 1940 when the originals were still owned by the family. The originals are now held by Wichita State University. (Item Number:90618; Call Number: James Mead Coll. #438; Box 1 Volume 1;
KSHS Identifier: DaRT ID: 90618.)
That's a wrap for tonight, sweet dreams,
Cheri
Sunday, February 16, 2014
Good Sunday Evening Dear Bloggers,
This has been a very unusual weekend for me. One of frustration and upset, to say the least. Yesterday around eleven A.M. I had my first and hopefully last auto accident. My car's front end is in pieces and I don't know yet if it's a total loss or not. I fared better than the car, with a few bruises and a hurting neck and back. I don't want to get into the details of the accident, but the fact that I'm somewhat preoccupied with all the implication of being in an accident may keep this post from being my usual bubbly best.
This evening it is my goal to tell you some of the information that is in the personal letters that James R. Mead written to his father, mother and sister. I love to read other peoples mail, but only when it's over a hundred years old! The first letter of Mr. Mead was written at Burlingame,(Berlingame Ks. is a city in Osage Co. Ks., and is part of present day Topeka, according to Wikipedia). dated Nov.7, 1859. The letter is headed, Dear Father and Folks at home:. In this narrative he says and I quote, "I have been very successful as a hunter, having beaten the rest of the company so bad that they actually got mad at me." He goes on to say that he shot 30 buffalo. In the third paragraph of this letter he tries to describe what a buffalo looked like. He said that they looked much different than what he had imagined. He describes his method of stocking buffalo when out on a hunt. He would hid in the tall grasses and shot them as they came by. He said that the sound of the guns didn't seem to scare or startle the other buffalo which made shooting them easy. Some of the other hunters like to use horses and ride into the herd, but no so for Mr. Mead. He bragged to his family that he could usually kill a buffalo with a single shot. (paragraph 3).
In this letter he has some; not so nice things, to say about the Indians. Mr. Mead says, " You never saw the hide of a full sized buffalo; the Indians are too lazy to tan them. They only save the cows and calves". He later changes his mind about the character of the Native American Indians.(paragraph 3). He speaking about the prairie dogs, telling his family of a village of approximately 300 praire dogs that live close to their camp. He says that the prairie dogs eat the green grass and are as fat as butter, and are pretty good eating. This ends this letter to his family back home in Iowa. (http://www.kansasmemory.org/item/90617 - Copyright 2007-2014- Kansas Historical Society).
The next letter was written to his sister. the date is Dec. 25, 1859, Christmas Eve, Somewhere in the West.
He begin with, "My Dear Sister;. In the first paragraph, he tells his sister; whom he doesn't mention by name, how to locate his location on a map. Quoting his words," Look west of Ft. Riley and you will see the Saline River. Then with the scale of miles, measure off 20 on the north side of the river and you have our place exactly." (paragraph 1.) He tells her about shooting four turkeys, he calls them gobblers and weighed them at 14 pounds each. He talks about some of the other wildlife like rabbits and prairie chickens and squirrels.
He also lists for her the general grocery's he has on hand; flour, meal, tea, coffee, sugar, molasses. (second paragraph). In the third paragraph, he give his reason for being on the Kansas prairie. He says, and I quote; "I hope to make a reasonably sized pile before I return to civilized life. There is a better show for it here than anywhere in the settlements as far as my acquaintance extends. We trade considerably with the Kaw Indians who hunt here in the winters. I could have traded $1000 with them this winter if I had been prepared for it. As it is, we have already got $200 worth of furs from them and may get a good many more before Spring."
He talks about having a lot of buffalo robes that he said," I got a number of them for a peck of corn meal, each." He tells his sister about four copperheads that came down in the summers. At first I thought he was talking about the copperhead snakes, but that didn't make much sense. They were four Indian's who were very fierce, and the hunters were afraid of them, so they built a bullet-proof "shack" to go into so the Copperhead Indians couldn't get to them. They were planning on giving them a "warm reception, should they trouble us."( Paragraph 3).
In paragraph 4, Mr. Mead talks about the Kaw Indians calling them" lazy, lousy, lying set of thieving rascals, without a grain of manliness about them." As I said before, he changes his mind later on and a notation on this page says that Mr. Mead had only been on the prairie one month when he wrote this letter to his sister.
In the last paragraph, he speaks of the Copperhead Indians again saying that he'd had several good offers from them, but declined. I'm assuming he's referring to trading, since that was what he did. No further mention was made of the four unfriendly Copperhead Indians. He tells his sister that his partner had gone into Burlingame to buy a pound of strychine that had been sent to Mr. Mead and he was also picking up a load of meal. He tells his sister how much he would like to be with the family for the holidays and then tells her about the warm weather they were having in Kansas. It was very dry as they hadn't had rain in six months, but that wasn't a problem for Mr. Mead who didn't want mud, as opposed to anyone who might be trying to farm. He closes his letter with the words," I must close my Christmas Eve letter and bid you goodnite and pleasant dreams and excuse my rambling style as I write just as thots happen to come into my mind. Your affectionate Brother, James." Mr. Mead and I have the same sort of writing style!
(http://www.kansasmemory.org/item/90619/page/2, copyright 2007-2014-Kansas Historical Society.
There a a couple more letters to tell you about, but I believe I will save them for tomorrow night.
As I'm righting this blog, I keep wondering how I will pull all of the information that I'm gathering into an essay. An essay that has the components that are required for the intended criteria. Any "thots" on this would be appreciated. Well fellow bloggers, have a good night and sweet dreams.
Until next time,
Cheri
This has been a very unusual weekend for me. One of frustration and upset, to say the least. Yesterday around eleven A.M. I had my first and hopefully last auto accident. My car's front end is in pieces and I don't know yet if it's a total loss or not. I fared better than the car, with a few bruises and a hurting neck and back. I don't want to get into the details of the accident, but the fact that I'm somewhat preoccupied with all the implication of being in an accident may keep this post from being my usual bubbly best.
This evening it is my goal to tell you some of the information that is in the personal letters that James R. Mead written to his father, mother and sister. I love to read other peoples mail, but only when it's over a hundred years old! The first letter of Mr. Mead was written at Burlingame,(Berlingame Ks. is a city in Osage Co. Ks., and is part of present day Topeka, according to Wikipedia). dated Nov.7, 1859. The letter is headed, Dear Father and Folks at home:. In this narrative he says and I quote, "I have been very successful as a hunter, having beaten the rest of the company so bad that they actually got mad at me." He goes on to say that he shot 30 buffalo. In the third paragraph of this letter he tries to describe what a buffalo looked like. He said that they looked much different than what he had imagined. He describes his method of stocking buffalo when out on a hunt. He would hid in the tall grasses and shot them as they came by. He said that the sound of the guns didn't seem to scare or startle the other buffalo which made shooting them easy. Some of the other hunters like to use horses and ride into the herd, but no so for Mr. Mead. He bragged to his family that he could usually kill a buffalo with a single shot. (paragraph 3).
In this letter he has some; not so nice things, to say about the Indians. Mr. Mead says, " You never saw the hide of a full sized buffalo; the Indians are too lazy to tan them. They only save the cows and calves". He later changes his mind about the character of the Native American Indians.(paragraph 3). He speaking about the prairie dogs, telling his family of a village of approximately 300 praire dogs that live close to their camp. He says that the prairie dogs eat the green grass and are as fat as butter, and are pretty good eating. This ends this letter to his family back home in Iowa. (http://www.kansasmemory.org/item/90617 - Copyright 2007-2014- Kansas Historical Society).
The next letter was written to his sister. the date is Dec. 25, 1859, Christmas Eve, Somewhere in the West.
He begin with, "My Dear Sister;. In the first paragraph, he tells his sister; whom he doesn't mention by name, how to locate his location on a map. Quoting his words," Look west of Ft. Riley and you will see the Saline River. Then with the scale of miles, measure off 20 on the north side of the river and you have our place exactly." (paragraph 1.) He tells her about shooting four turkeys, he calls them gobblers and weighed them at 14 pounds each. He talks about some of the other wildlife like rabbits and prairie chickens and squirrels.
He also lists for her the general grocery's he has on hand; flour, meal, tea, coffee, sugar, molasses. (second paragraph). In the third paragraph, he give his reason for being on the Kansas prairie. He says, and I quote; "I hope to make a reasonably sized pile before I return to civilized life. There is a better show for it here than anywhere in the settlements as far as my acquaintance extends. We trade considerably with the Kaw Indians who hunt here in the winters. I could have traded $1000 with them this winter if I had been prepared for it. As it is, we have already got $200 worth of furs from them and may get a good many more before Spring."
He talks about having a lot of buffalo robes that he said," I got a number of them for a peck of corn meal, each." He tells his sister about four copperheads that came down in the summers. At first I thought he was talking about the copperhead snakes, but that didn't make much sense. They were four Indian's who were very fierce, and the hunters were afraid of them, so they built a bullet-proof "shack" to go into so the Copperhead Indians couldn't get to them. They were planning on giving them a "warm reception, should they trouble us."( Paragraph 3).
In paragraph 4, Mr. Mead talks about the Kaw Indians calling them" lazy, lousy, lying set of thieving rascals, without a grain of manliness about them." As I said before, he changes his mind later on and a notation on this page says that Mr. Mead had only been on the prairie one month when he wrote this letter to his sister.
In the last paragraph, he speaks of the Copperhead Indians again saying that he'd had several good offers from them, but declined. I'm assuming he's referring to trading, since that was what he did. No further mention was made of the four unfriendly Copperhead Indians. He tells his sister that his partner had gone into Burlingame to buy a pound of strychine that had been sent to Mr. Mead and he was also picking up a load of meal. He tells his sister how much he would like to be with the family for the holidays and then tells her about the warm weather they were having in Kansas. It was very dry as they hadn't had rain in six months, but that wasn't a problem for Mr. Mead who didn't want mud, as opposed to anyone who might be trying to farm. He closes his letter with the words," I must close my Christmas Eve letter and bid you goodnite and pleasant dreams and excuse my rambling style as I write just as thots happen to come into my mind. Your affectionate Brother, James." Mr. Mead and I have the same sort of writing style!
(http://www.kansasmemory.org/item/90619/page/2, copyright 2007-2014-Kansas Historical Society.
There a a couple more letters to tell you about, but I believe I will save them for tomorrow night.
As I'm righting this blog, I keep wondering how I will pull all of the information that I'm gathering into an essay. An essay that has the components that are required for the intended criteria. Any "thots" on this would be appreciated. Well fellow bloggers, have a good night and sweet dreams.
Until next time,
Cheri
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