newsletter - Ross County Historical Society

Winter 2008 - PAGE 8
THE ROSS COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY RECORDER
Officers and Trustees of
the Ross County
Historical Society
Pat Medert ................................. President
Bob Nelson .................. 1st Vice President
Lewis Coppel .............. 2nd Vice President
Karen Hoffman .......................... Secretary
Bob Casari .................................Treasurer
Tom Kuhn .................... Executive Director
Gary Argabright ............................ Trustee
Judy Benson ................................. Trustee
David Carnes................................ Trustee
Vic Cleary ..................................... Trustee
Henry Herrnstein .......................... Trustee
Ed Kunzelman .............................. Trustee
Dana Martinko .............................. Trustee
Robin McKell ................................ Trustee
Stan Planton ................................. Trustee
Bob Sigler ..................................... Trustee
The RCHS Welcomes Junior Member...
Name_____________________________Telephone #____________
Address _________________________________________________
City________________________State______Zip Code ___________
The Ross County
Historical Society
45 WEST FIFTH STREET
CHILLICOTHE, OHIO 45601
(740) 772-1936
E-Mail: [email protected]
Web Site: www.rosscountyhistorical.org
Winter 2008 ISSUE
Birthdate_______________________Grade in School ____________
Parent/Guardian’s Name____________________________________
Parent/Guardian’s Signature_________________________________
What are your hobbies? ____________________________________
Are your parents members of the Historical Society? - Yes
Is this a gift membership? - Yes
- No
- No
From Whom? ____________________________________________
Address _________________________________________________
Ross County Historical
Society
Please send $10 with this form to
The Ross County Historical Society
45 W Fifth Street
Chillicothe, OH 45601-3227
Upcoming Programs & Events
Statehood Day Open House
Saturday, March 1 — The Ross County Heritage Center
will be open from 1:00—5:00 p.m. in commemoration of
Ohio Statehood Day.
All exhibit areas, including
“Chillicothe: Frontier Settlement to State Capital” will be
open to the general public, free of charge. In addition,
Kevin Coleman of the Chillicothe Restoration Foundation
will present “Statehood Era Architecture at 2:00 p.m. in the
McKell Library. (Please see more details in the top righthand column of this page.)
Annual Meeting
Non-Profit Org.,
U.S. Postage
PAID
Monday, April 28 — The Ross County Historical Society’s
112th annual meeting for Society members will be held at
7:00 p.m. Included will be the annual business meeting
with reports from the president, treasurer & director, plus
the election of members to the board of trustees. At the
conclusion of the business meeting Mary Anne Brown, retired manager of Adena State Memorial and past board
member of the Ross County Historical Society, will give a
presentation titled “The Children of Thomas & Eleanor
Worthington.” Refreshments will be served.
Chillicothe, Oh 45601
Permit No. 230
Spring Speakers Series
Wednesday, April 23, 7:30 P.M. John D. Rockefeller
Speaks Out, featuring Damian Bowerman. Co-sponsored
by the Ohio Humanities Council Speakers Bureau.
Wednesday, May 7, 7:30 P.M. Spies, Scoundrels &
Rogues of the Ohio Frontier, featuring Gary Williams.
Wednesday, May 21, 7:30 P.M. Ohio’s Lesser Known Civil
War Generals, featuring Mark Holbrook. Co-sponsored by
the Ohio Historical Society Speakers Bureau.
NEWSLETTER
DATED MATERIAL
•
OPEN AT ONCE
All three programs are open to the general public free of
charge. Refreshments will be served. Please see page 3
for additional information.
2008 Museum Hours
January — March
Friday & Saturday, 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.
April — December
Tuesday — Sunday 12 p.m. to 5 p.m.
Closed Mondays and major holidays.
2008 McKell Library Hours
1 to 5 p.m. Tuesday, Wednesday & Friday .
Closed major holidays
Statehood Day Program Looks at Architecture
Explore the early
architecture of Chillicothe
and Ross County during
the Society’s annual Statehood Day Open House on
Saturday, March 1st. Kevin
Coleman of the Chillicothe
Restoration Foundation will
present his popular program titled "Statehood Era
Architecture" at 2 p.m. in
the McKell Library located
at the Ross County Heritage Center at 45 West Fifth Street.
Many architectural treasures can yet be found
from the era when Chillicothe served as Ohio’s first capital. Some hide behind more recent additions, others wear
masquerading trim from a later era, and some boldly stand
out, proud of their age. Please join us as Coleman reveals
where they hide. Participants will also have an opportunity
to consult with members of the Chillicothe Restoration
Foundation and browse literature on local restoration &
preservation efforts following the presentation.
*****
Nolan Scholarship Deadline is March 1st
Ross County students who wish to apply for scholarships through the Society’s William H. & Elizabeth
Lynch Nolan Scholarship Fund in 2008 may obtain application forms from their school guidance counselors. Completed applications must be returned to guidance counselors by March 1.
Guidance counselors then review and select up to
two applications from their schools and submit them to the
Ross County Historical Society (or have them post
marked) by the second Friday in March. Scholarship recipients will receive notification of their awards by May 1.
Scholarships are awarded each year on a competitive basis to graduates of Ross County high schools.
(Two students were awarded Nolan scholarships in 2007.)
The scholarship fund was created by a bequest to
the Ross County Historical Society from the estate of the
late William H. Nolan — a long time board member and
past Society director. The Society’s Education Committee
serves as the selection committee.
To view the application form, please visit the Scholarship
page on the Society’s website at
www.rosscountyhistorical.org.
*****
Winter 2008 - PAGE 2
THE ROSS COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY RECORDER
THE ROSS COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY RECORDER
President’s Report, by Pat Medert
Director’s Report, by Tom Kuhn
Recent Acquisitions of the Museum and Library
In the last ten months, the Ross County Historical
Society has suffered the loss of two of its members who
were actively involved in the organization. Rex Collins,
who died in April 2007, had a strong interest in local history
and was a regular attendee of the Society’s public events.
When Rex learned that Tom was considering a diorama of
early Chillicothe as part of the “Frontier Settlement to State
Capital” exhibit, he introduced him to Bill Thorpe who is a
master at constructing life-like scenes. That first diorama
led to the development of a second one depicting the heyday of the railroad in Chillicothe.
Rex and his wife, Josephine, were major contributors to the Society’s 2003 Legacy Project — the construction of the Heritage Center. Following Rex’s death, Mrs.
Collins, because of her husband’s interest in and support of
the Society, gave the organization $10,000 in his memory
and recently added to that a donation of $20,000 in stock.
We thank her for her generosity and confidence in the Society’s role in preserving and presenting the history of our
community.
Attorney John S. Street died January 26. John was
a long-time member of the board of trustees, and for many
years served as the Society’s treasurer and legal adviser.
Both of these men will be sadly missed, and we
offer our condolences to their families.
Managing historical collections is at the core of
what the museum profession is all about. It is perhaps the
most important responsibility of any museum, and one that
involves the public trust. All museums have a duty to
properly care for and preserve each of the many artifacts
in their collections to ensure they will be around for future
generations of museum visitors to study and enjoy.
Each year, the Ross County Historical Society
designates a considerable portion of its budget to collections management. These funds are used to purchase
everything from acid-free storage boxes for textiles and
paper documents to the metal shelving used for the storage of such boxes.
Our staff spends the major part of each day dealing with the multitude of collections-related duties including the generation of permanent records for each item donated, assigning and applying accession numbers to
them, and placing them in the proper storage area where
the climate conditions are suitable for each particular type
of material.
Finding enough suitable storage space to properly
house each of the thousands of different types of artifacts
in our collections is one of the biggest challenges we face.
For example, basement storage areas can be used for
items that won’t be harmed by higher levels of humidity
such as pottery, stone artifacts and china. Attics can be
used for the storage of items that are not harmed by excessive summer heat or winter cold including metal and
stone artifacts. Just about everything else must be kept in
areas that have various levels of climate control including
all of our library and archival materials, furniture, clothing
and textiles, leather and rubber goods, and art work.
Needless to say, such optimal storage is always in
short supply, and as our collections continue to grow we
will find it necessary to expand our facilities to properly
care for and store them. While this may not seem as exciting as building a new exhibit facility, it is every bit as
important since each artifact we are given is held in perpetuity in the public trust.
(Listed in order received since the last issue of the Recorder)
*****
From the Museum Store
New! More Stories from Chillicothe’s Past, $14.95 — a
compilation of 108 additional stories on Chillicothe history by Pat
Medert which have appeared in the Chillicothe Gazette since her
first volume Stories from Chillicothe’s Past was published in 1998.
New! Fourth, Fifth, & Caldwell Streets, Chillicothe, Ohio: The
Buildings and the People, $39.95 — the fourth in a series of
publications on the structural history of Chillicothe’s downtown
historic district. This 210 page volume covers both sides of each
street, by Patricia Fife Medert.
Main Street, Chillicothe, Ohio: Its Buildings and Its People,
$39.95 — the third volume in a series covers both sides of Main
Street from Mulberry to Walnut Street, by Patricia Fife Medert.
Second Street, Chillicothe, Ohio: Its Buildings and Its
People, $39.95 — the second volume in a series covers both
sides of Second Street, by Patricia Fife Medert.
The Rise and Fall of Camp Sherman: Ohio’s World War One
Soldier Factory, $4.95 — a brand new reprint of Richard Peck’s
popular pictorial history of Chillicothe’s WWI army training camp.
Buckeye Blood: Ohio at Gettysburg, $30.00 — a pictorial
history of Ohio’s role in the Battle of Gettysburg, including photos
& stories of local soldiers, by Richard A. Baumgartner.
Chillicothe, Ohio: Frontier Settlement to State Capital, $14.95
— An illustrated history of Chillicothe’s founding and role as
Ohio’s first capital, by Patricia Fife Medert & Andrew J. Verhoff.
Little Known Tales of Old Chillicothe and Ross County, Ohio,
$20.00 — a group of fascinating short stories about Chillicothe
and Ross County , by John R. Grabb.
Ohio and Erie Canal Motor Tour: To Circleville from
Chillicothe, $15.00 — an exploration of the remains of this
historic waterway, by Martha Gerber Rittinger.
Society members receive a 10% discount on all purchases.
*****
Welcome New Members
The Society welcomes the following new members since
the last issue of the Recorder:
Nathan & Cari Steinbrook
Martin, Joanne & Kenzie Barlage
Andy Tomlinson
Jonetta Gadson
John, Andrea & Alex Evans
Jason Hughes
A Friendly Reminder
The use of articles, photographs, and other items in the Recorder is
prohibited without the express written consent of the Board of Trustees
of the Ross County Historical Society, 45 W. 5th St. Chillicothe, OH
45601.
91. Book –
The Emperor
and the Kite,
by Jane Yolen,
1988, donated
by Jane Hilty.
92. Tokens –
(3) “American
R e s t a ur a n t” ,
Frankfort,
Ohio, 1900 –
1910, donated
by David Hartline.
93.
Ration
Grange Picnic. Please see number 10 below.
Books – set of
4, WWII; Bottles and other items from Chillicothe Businesses, donated by Dale
Harris.
94. CD Rom – digital photos of the dedication ceremony of Camp Sherman Gate
Posts, 11-11-2007, RCHS Acquisition.
95. Book – Life along the Ohio Canal in the Scioto Valley, 2007, written and donated by David A. Meyer.
96. Book – Chillicothe, Camp Sherman and the Spanish Flu: The Making Of
Blood Alley, 2007, written and donated by Rami L. Yoakum.
97. Travel Iron – c. 1950, donated by Stan Planton.
98. Cellular Phones – (2) 2003 & 2005; T-Shirts & Sweatshirts – (4) Chillicothe
Schools, 1996 – 1999, donated by Tonya Dye.
99. Container – tin, “Pure Rubber Bands”, Stakalta Mfg. Co., Chillicothe, Ohio, c.
1900, donated by Joanne Hamman.
100. Eyeglasses – c. 1930; Autograph Album – 1892-1893; Locket and other
items, donated by Betsy Moore.
101. Art – 7 women’s fashion prints, c. 1880, donated by Martha Rittinger.
102. Hats and Hat Boxes – 20th century, donated by Kathy & Rick Marriott.
103.Quilt – made by Mrs. Jacob Shively, 1860s, donated by Gwili Brunner. (final
accession of 2007)
01. Christmas Ornament – “The White House Christmas 2007”, in original box
with booklet, donated by Julia Pierson. (first accession of 2008)
02. Christmas Ornaments – (12) glass ornaments in original box, “Woolworth
Woolco”, c. 1950, donated by Jane Friedman.
03. Plaque – “Atomic Speedway Mid Season, Old Faithful Award”, awarded to
Thurm Wheeler, donated by Clara Adams.
04. Poster – “Doors of Historic Chillicothe, Ohio, U.S.A.”, 2007; Geological Survey
Maps – (7) Chillicothe and Ross County areas, 1961; Booklet – 1993, donated by
Kevin Coleman.
05. Christmas Ornament – “Ross Co. Easter Seal Society Collector’s Ornament”,
c. 1970; Photographs – (17) local people and places, 1940’s, donated by Jane
Hilty.
06. Kepi Cap – post Civil War; Camera – “Kodak”, c. 1913; First Aid Kit – c. 1924
and other items, donated by Bob Nelson.
07. Puzzle – “United States Map”, c. 1950; Xylophone and wooden hammers – c.
1950; Pinball Game – c. 1950, donated by Gary Argabright.
08. Clothing – children’s 19th century, donated by Jamie Bliven.
09. Booklet – “Southeastern 2007-08 Winter Sports”, donated by Lisa Hess.
10. Photograph – Grange Picnic Convention at the F. H. Seeling Farm, 1918, donated by Carla Wrightsel.
*****
Winter 2008 - PAGE 7
The Ross County Historical
Society Welcomes
__ New Member
__ Renewal
Name________________________
Address______________________
City, State, Zip________________
Phone_______________________
Date_________________________
Are you interested in volunteer work?
Yes__
No__
I have enclosed a check made out to
the Ross County Historical Society
for $___________________.
( ) My employer will match this gift.
Employer’s name:_______________
_____________________________
MEMBERSHIP CATEGORIES
ANNUAL MEMBERSHIP
Junior (12 & under).......... $10.( )
Teacher ........................... 15.( )
Individual ......................... 20.( )
Family.............................. 30.( )
Contributing ..................... 75.( )
Group/Club or
Business.......................... 100.( )
CONTINUING MEMBERSHIP
Life (per person) .............. 500.( )
Patron.............................. 750.( )
Benefactor .......................1,000.( )
Your benefits as a member of the
Ross County Historical Society
include:
♦
♦
♦
♦
♦
Quarterly newsletter
10% discount in museum store
Free admission for museum
visits by member and out-oftown guests
Free admission to many Society
programs
Reduced fees for workshops and
special programs
The Ross County Historical Society
is a non-profit 501(c)(3) institution.
Your gift may be tax deductible
Please make checks payable to:
THE ROSS COUNTY HISTORICAL
SOCIETY
45 West Fifth Street
Chillicothe, Ohio 45601-3227
(740) 772-1936
Winter 2008 - PAGE 6
THE ROSS COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY RECORDER
From the Photo Archives, by Lisa Hess
THE ROSS COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY RECORDER
Winter 2008 - PAGE 3
Spring Speakers Series 2008
A LOOK AT PAINT TOWNSHIP
Ross County Historical Society
at the Ross County Heritage Center
45 West Fifth St., Chillicothe
Free & Open to the Public
John D. Rockefeller Speaks Out
Rapid Forge Covered Bridge over Paint Creek, 1870.
The right abutment was built on a natural stone foundation.
Co-sponsored by the Ohio Humanities Council Speakers Bureau
Featuring Damian Bowerman, Actor, Teacher & Director of Student Productions at High Schools throughout Ohio
Wednesday, April 23, 7:30 p.m.
Ohioan John D. Rockefeller believed it was better to be silent than to dignify a personal
attack with a response, though his family felt he should speak out. He was a complex
man who lived in a complex time. In this program, Rockefeller, played by accomplished
actor Damian Bowerman, finally defends himself against his critics and explores his life-from the creation of Standard Oil to his great love of golf. Bowerman first created his
personification of Rockefeller for the Ohio Humanities Council’s 2000 Summer Chautauqua and has continued his portrayal at venues across the state. Please join us for a
unique look at one of America’s most compelling and enigmatic historical figures
Daniel Pricer house, built in 1816, located about 3.5
miles from South Salem.
Spies, Scoundrels & Rogues of the Ohio Frontier
The Falls of Paint Creek, site of the Rapid Forge Iron
Works Company from c. 1815 – c. 1850.
Featuring Gary Williams, Historian, Author, Librarian & Owner of the
Buckeye Book Press, Caldwell, Ohio
Wednesday, May 7, 7:30 p.m.
The region between the Great Lakes and the states bordering the Ohio River was
once rife with international intrigue. Between 1754 and 1814 several nations and
tribes competed for this resource-rich region, and the interplay between them produced a colorful cast of less than reputable characters. Join us as Gary Williams
presents the fascinating details of his book titled Spies, Scoundrels & Rogues of
the Ohio Frontier. Among the examples profiled will be the accused traitors Robert
Rogers, Aaron Burr, Lewis Wetzel, Simon Girty and other renegade traitors, Tory
spies and legendary cold blooded killers. Willams will also sign copies of his book
which will be available for purchase following his presentation.
John Moomaw, Sr. house on Upper Twin Road. (There
has been some question as to the actual location of this
house. It could possibly be in Twin Township.)
Ohio’s Lesser Known Civil War Generals
Co-sponsored by the Ohio Historical Society Speakers Bureau
Featuring Mark Holbrook, Historian & Associate Marketing Manager, Ohio
Historical Society, Columbus, Ohio
Wednesday, May 21, 7:30 p.m.
Sketch of the Rapid Forge Iron Works Company, by Dr.
Larrimore. The fence in front of the old Ross County Jail
was made at the Rapid Forge Iron Works Company.
Fruitdale One-room School, sketch by Paint Valley High
School student, Chris Lewis, 1991.
These few images are all that we have of Paint Township in our collection. If you have photographs that you
are willing to share, please call me at 772-1936.
It has often been said that the North would not have won the Civil War without the
leadership that came from the State of Ohio. There is no denying that the rise of such
generals as Ulysses S. Grant, William T. Sherman, and Phil Sheridan helped to bring
the war to an end. Three other Ohio generals — Hayes, Garfield and McKinley —
went on to become President of the U.S. after the war ended. But what of the many
others? Who were they and what, if anything, did they contribute to the war effort?
Join us for an intriguing evening as Mark Holbrook shares his knowledge about the
lesser known generals from the Buckeye State whose heroism and bravery matched
their more famous counterparts.
THE ROSS COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY RECORDER
Winter 2008 - PAGE 4
From the Archives, by Pat Medert
Charles M. Sears, in partnership with his son-inlaw, Francis M. Nichols, acquired the former Archer canning factory at the southeast corner of Main and Mulberry
St. in 1884. The Sears & Nichols Canning Co. was a major
industry in Chillicothe for nearly 50 years.
Sears came to Chillicothe from Circleville and was
experienced in the canning business, having established
the first such factory west of the Mississippi River in Kansas in 1874. He was born in New York in 1929. After his
marriage in April 1854, he and his wife Mary moved to
Philadelphia. Two years later he took the advice of Horace
Greeley, whom he had met, to “Go West, young man, and
grow up with the country.” Charles and Mary, who first settled in Iowa, and then moved on to Kansas, were among
the first pioneers to reside in that part of the country.
Mary Sears later wrote of her pioneering experiences and read her paper before the Century Club in Chillicothe in January 1917. About the same time, her son, William H. Sears, read her account to the Kansas State Society in Washington, D.C. A newspaperman in Washington
printed her story in a pamphlet entitled, Pioneering in Kansas. This pamphlet is in the society’s archives, and the
following is abstracted from it.
It was in 1856 that we started for the West. Iowa
was our destination. Early in November, with our 18
months old baby girl, we traveled by rail until we reached
Iowa City.
From there I had my first drive in a prairie schooner
drawn by horses for 40 miles to Shellsburg. Soon after
reaching Shellsburg we moved on a farm near the town,
where we resided for over two years. I made some lovely
friends in Iowa, but formed no attachments for the State. I
think of it today as a land of snakes-—rattlesnakes, hoop
snakes, all kinds of snakes. It was very interesting to watch
the hoop snakes form themselves into hoops and roll along
across the prairie. I once watched a number of them from
my window, half a dozen or more, rolling by. I thought at
first they were real hoops driven by boys, but I looked and
could see no boys, and a friend present told me they were
hoop snakes.
Two and one-half years wound up our career in
Iowa, when we decided to move to California and to travel
all the way with an oxen team. Preparedness at that time
was our watchword. Mr. Sears prepared the wagon in
which we were to live and make our journey, and I made
ready my trousseau—by hand at that. While we were preparing to leave we learned that five other families were
planning to make the same trip. A conference was arranged, and it was decided that all would start together. All
the ladies agreed to make and wear bloomers instead of
skirts. I joined them in this plan and we found them very
comfortable and convenient for climbing in and out of the
wagons and working about our camps. We never regretted
our change in costume.
It was a beautiful, sunny day, June 5, 1850, when
we started on our journey to California with our little 4-yearold daughter, Emma Louise, and our eldest son, William
Henry, 15 months old, from the home of one of our newly
Charles & Mary Sears
made friends, where we had partaken of their kind hospitality and had eaten our last dinner in their cozy home. As we
drove away we beheld their home for the last time and said
the last good-byes with a wave of the hand. We were going in search of a new home, new friends in a new country
and to learn a new profession, as we soon found—that of
cooking out of doors. But for that we were well prepared
with a Dutch oven, in which I baked my bread and a tin reflector which we stood before the fire and before which I
baked my new-made pies and cakes.
We journeyed along traveling about 15 miles a day.
Our team consisted of two yokes of oxen and one yoke of
cows trained to pull with the oxen. We made no mistake in
taking the cows for they supplied us with milk and butter. I
did not have to churn, for we put the milk in an oldfashioned dash churn in the rear end of the wagon and the
jolting over the rough road churned the milk into butter,
which I soon prepared when we stopped to camp.
While traveling through Missouri we passed
through a large negro slave plantation, where stood scores
of cabins formed in a semicircle, a new sight to us. We
could see many of the slaves around the plantation, something I was unaccustomed to in the East. After we settled
continued on page 5...
The Society’s Wish List
Donations of everyday items such as tools and
other types of equipment help our staff and volunteers
complete a multitude of projects. Since the last issue of
the Recorder, the Society received white cotton sheets
from Betty & Herb Friedman and wooden coat hangers
from Steve & Linda Brown. Thank you! If you, or anyone
you know, has the following items to donate to the
Society, please call 772-1936. We would be happy to
make arrangements to pick up your donation.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
Power point projector
Laptop computer
White cotton sheets (we can never have too many).
Cotton towels.
Small canister vacuum cleaner.
Rechargeable flashlight.
Wooden coat hangers
Winter 2008 - PAGE 5
THE ROSS COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY RECORDER
...continued from page 4
worked all day at the polls the day Kansas voted for prohibition, feeding the voters with fine lunches.
Toward the fall of the year that we arrived in Kansas the roads were lined with prairie schooners filled with
families going back home to their “wife’s folks.” Like us,
they had spent their little all to live and buy seed to plant,
and all for naught. However, we were among the few who
remained. We had to leave the farm and move to Lawrence, the county seat, 12 miles northwest of our homestead. Mr. Sears, who could turn his hand to almost anything for a living, cut grass which he found in Bismarck
Grove on the north side of the Kaw River. This grass was
only about 12 inches high, already cured on the ground,
and he cut it with a scythe, loaded it on a hay rack and
hauled it to town with his oxen at the close of the day, selling it for $5 per load. Thus we had something for which to
be thankful.
The first winter in Kansas, Mr. Sears taught the
Hesper School in a little country hamlet, receiving $18 per
month. To get his certificate he walked to Baldwin City, 14
miles away, and back. This meant another 10 miles, for we
rented a small cottage at $6 per month near the school
where he taught. When spring came it brought rain, and
we moved back to the farm.
I must now tell about my first horseback ride. It
was in the spring of 1861. The country around had been
greatly annoyed by horse and cattle thieves. To rid the
country of them, the farmers and best citizens met in council and organized a Vigilance Committee. Then, when an
animal was stolen, a combined effort was made to capture
the thief. In our neighborhood a fine sorrel horse was stolen. By pre-arrangement the Vigilance Committee, consisting of some thirty men, met at night in a deep ravine and
the man who was suspected of harboring the thief was
brought before them. A rope was produced and this man
was frightened into telling the truth. Somebody yelled out:
“Hang him; dead men tell no tales!” They didn’t hang him,
for he told in which direction the thief had gone with the
horse. But this didn’t end the trouble. Mr. Sears was
wrongfully accused of advising that this man be hung, and
a few days after a friend of ours came to our home, had a
secret talk with Mr. Sears and informed him that a mob was
coming that night to hang him. Our nearest neighbors were
a mile apart and it was unsafe for Mr. Sears to leave the log
cabin. I had never ridden horseback in my life, but I volunteered to go if Mr. Sears would put me safely in the saddle—not a lady’s saddle either. He put me on the horse,
while he stayed at the house and took care of our three
little ones. The youngest a baby not a year old. I made the
rounds in two hours, notifying all the neighbors I could find
and urging them to notify others and bring their guns to our
cabin. This they all did, and by dark our little cabin was
packed with armed men. About midnight there was heard a
tramping of men and horses only a few rods away. Some
of the men in the house went out, met the mob and told
them it would not be safe for them to attack the house as it
was full of armed men. This frightened them and they went
away. (To be continued in the next issue of the Recorder)
Sears family homestead in Kansas
in Kansas, however, and the war broke out, the State was
overloaded with them. At one time we had five families of
escaped slaves on our Kansas homestead. I helped to
teach these poor, ignorant Africans to read and write. I
read and answered many of their letters for them.
Just before leaving Iowa we received word from an
old friend in Kansas whom we had informed of our California plan to stop in Kansas on our way, and he named the
place where he would meet us. He said he thought the
journey would be too tedious for us, which we found true. It
did not take much argument to persuade me to stop in Kansas, for I was very weary. As it turned out, we never
reached the Golden State. We had been four weeks on the
road when we reached LeCompton, Kansas, the territorial
capital, on the evening of the Fourth of July. From there we
had to drive one more day ere we met our friend. The first
words he said to me were: “Why, where is your complexion?” I answered, “Oh, I left that on the way.” I could easily
have been taken for an Indian squaw.
Some time elapsed before we were well settled in
our new home. My family was my first interest and care. I
was in Kansas six weeks before I saw a white woman. The
Indians were numerous and quite civilized. Very near us
were the reservations of the Delawares, Shawnees, Kaws,
and Wyandottes, and they frequently passed our log cabin
on the prairie. These Indians were really the aristocracy of
the country. From their allowances and annuities from the
government they were able to live well, dress well, owning
fine horses and wagons and many of them living in fine
homes.
We arrived in Kansas in the midst of a great
drought, which continued for thirteen months, during which
time not a drop of rain fell. We found that Kansas was not
a land of corn and wine or milk and honey; rather, that we
had landed in the great American desert, as it was then
called and as we had seen indicated on our maps in our
school days. Mr. Sears took up a claim on what was
known as the “Absentee Shawnee Reserve” of 160 acres.
With help he got out the rails and fenced in 40 acres;
plowed and put in corn, beans and potatoes. We had no
crops, for without rain crops would not grow. The corn
grew up about 15 inches high and refused to grow any
taller without water. Kansas was surely a Dry State then,
but it became drier later, when the liquor was banished forever. I may remark in passing that, with other ladies, I
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