NEGenWeb Project
Resource Center
OLLibrary  

nincompoop do here? He tried it once before, got frightened, quarreled with his mother-in-law, then sloped back to daddy's house!
     Friday, 8.--Clear and pleasant morning, but cold. The feathered songsters are engaged in one general anthem with their mellow throats, rhyming their "Great Creator's praise." Enchanting music!
     Received a visit from F. A. Hicks; [we] chatted upon Church matters, abolitionism, politics, &c. With all his in stabilities, tergiversations, and inconsistencies, I cannot but admire the man. He has good sense and sound judgment.
     Saturday, 9.--Clear and beautiful morning. Noon, clear and warm--looks now like settled weather.
     Rev. E. T. Peerey's family, successors of J. W., moved over to-day. So, we have new neighbors. May we live as peaceably and as happily with them as with their predecessors.
     Planted three hills of prickly cucumbers for pickles, and also planted 25 hills of Lima beans, said to be of a superior quality.
     Sunday, 10.--Clear and beautiful morning-prospect of a beautiful day. Real Missouri summer day. Read, lounged and played the loafer.
     Monday, 11.--Commenced ploughing my field; W. Bowers and ----- Benton employed. Planted some yellow beans. Got a barrel of flour. Made a table. C. B. G. wrathy at the Council for altering his fence for a road. My advice to him was to obey the order, as it was not likely any further alterations in his fences would be required for roads very soon. Theremometer 85^o--warm, growing weather.
     Tuesday, 12.--Rose early, fine morning. Our oxen had broke out of the pasture and decamped but were shortly afterwards found and put "on Duty." Planted fourteen hills of C. B. G.'s mammoth watermelons; this being about the full of the moon, I want to see what the product will

be, and what real influence the moon has on the vegetable kingdom.¹
     Wednesday, 13.--Cloudy morning; afraid we shall have rain today. Heaven forefend! Bestow upon us clear and dry weather till planting is over, that our crops may be abundant and we enabled to reap with joy and gladness. This is "wash-day," soap-suds, wash-tubs, and dirty clothes.
     At 3 o'clock P. M., it rained a clever shower and it remains cloudy and may rain again to-night. Just finished reading "Nick of the Woods." The author betrays most unpardonable ignorance of Indians, their manners and customs, rendering some of his vivid descriptions of wild adventures, truly ridiculous.
     Thursday, 14.--Rainy morning-the old song, rain, rain, rain. Everything looks cheerless and dreary. When will the murky clouds cease their lachrymose effusions? Surely they are not needed now. This morning Dr. Hewitt returned from Washington. Not much news. Business could not be made to swim as rapidly at Washington as he supposed, notwithstanding his professed influence over the new Commissioner of Indian Affairs. He has called a Council for to-morrow when, I suppose, he will make a full development of the result of his mission.
     Cleared off, and pleasant at 12 o'clock.
     Friday, 15.--Council convened and the Doctor submitted the advice of the War Department to the Chiefs to withdraw their memorial from Congress praying the confirmation of the Delaware purchase, and let the matter be thrown into a tri-party treaty. Question postponed until Thursday next, the regular Council day.
     Saturday, 16.--Went to Kansas. Received a letter from J. M. A., in which he manifests a considerable of confidence

---

     ¹ Formerly the people had a "time in the moon" for doing each kind of work on the farm, such as planting the various crops, plowing the land, killing animals for food, etc.

in the passage of our improvement appropriation thro' the House of Representatives if it can be called up and a vote taken on the question; but here appears to be the difficulty. He further states that the two payments due on the school fund will be appropriated. News in an authentic shape has reached here of the declaration of war by Mexico against the U. S. and already a part of Gen. Taylor's army is captured by the Mexicans. Shame!
     Sunday, 17.--Warm day. 1 o'clock P. M., thermometer in the shade 88^o. What will it be in July and August. At 3 o'clock it mounted up to 90^o. Received D. W. Deshler's answer.
     Monday, 18.--Cloudy, prospect of more rain. It has been thundering all the forenoon, but not any rain as yet. Hope we may have none all this week. I want to plant my corn and sweet potatoes.
     Tuesday, 19.--Council met to-day. The delegates instructed to withdraw the memorial praying Congress to confirm the Delaware purchase upon certain contingencies mentioned. Sent them a draft on the Commissioner of Indian Affairs for $200 out of the annuity for this year for their expenses. Adjourned till Tuesday week.
     Wednesday, 20.--Cloudy morning, I opine we shall have rain to-day. At 1 o'clock a thunder storm and shower. Got my seed corn from W. Hunter. The real Simon pure gourd seed--the grains as long and nearly as large as horse teeth. I think it a better kind than the large white Tennessee corn. I next want some real Wyandott hominy corn to plant for roasting ears, this with me being a great luxury.
     Thursday, 21.--Showery all day. Done nothing--a blank. J. Walker set out for Ohio.
     Friday, 22.--Weather unsettled. Rained last night.
     Cleared off and became warm and pleasant. At 2 o'clock commenced planting corn, and finished at 5 o'clock P. M.

Unlucky day though it be, yet I am in hopes it will have no evil, effect upon the growth of the corn.
     Saturday, 23.--Weather unsettled. Prospect of rain--but it turned out a clear and warm day
     Sunday, 24.--Warm and sultry day. Received our mail, but had but little interesting news. Read all day. In the evening went to Church and heard a sermon from Rev. M^r Duncan, a Cherokee.
     Monday, 25.--A clear and warm day. Nothing special of interest occurred. Went to town on a visit to C. G.'s.
     Tuesday, 26.--Council day. Met at 11 o'clock A. M. Elected M. R. W. school director, in the place of John Gibson.
     Wednesday, 27.--Rained last night; clear to-day and sultry--think we shall have more rain this afternoon. Well, so we did. Sowed radishes and beets.
     Thursday, 28.--Rained last night. Clear to-day and sultry. Stuck my peas. Hark! there is a new feathered songster singing melodious music!

That song, sweet bird, once more, oh once again!
  Let that rich warble from thy bosom gush;
Delightful memories waken with thy strain,
  And o'er my soul with trembling rapture rush.

     Friday, 29.--Rained last night as usual. Clear this morning. I opine our rainy season is about setting in and we may shortly expect the annual rise of our rivers. But it is thought by the old inhabitants that the rise this season will not be as great as the two last seasons. If it should prove true, it will be a happy circumstance to that numerous class of residents upon the rich river bottoms.
     Saturday, 30.--Clear, cool and bracing morning. We escaped our usual night rains, having passed through the last night without any "droppings" from the clouds; but in lieu thereof we were visited by a certain quadruped gentleman,

whose proximity is always known by a peculiar, nauseating scent he carries about his person, y'clept polecat.
     I have adopted a few days ago the Turkish custom of morning ablutions as soon as I get out of bed. I strip myself and proceed to the operation with a sponge and cold water, and close with a vigorous and hearty application of a coarse linen towel and cease not the rubbing till my cuticle is excited to a red glow. Then like a good mussulman exclaim "Allah ach bar," and proceed to my toilette. What effect this may have upon my health and morals, all trying time alone can determine. It may increase the activity of the circulation of the fluids, and cause a more regular determination to the surface and thereby prevent those ulcers, biles, and sores, I have been so long afflicted with. Mahomet was a prophet.
     The Missouri is rising rapidly. Just heard that M^r Harper, Col. S. Owen's son-in-law, shot a man in Independence while they were sitting gambling in a room; no one being present, the particulars of the fatal quarrel cannot be given. Presume they [were] intoxicated, and one was perhaps losing money faster than he liked.
     Sunday, 31.--Clear morning. Continued warm through the day, but in the evening it became cloudy, and we had a brisk shower. During the day I called upon Dr. H. and spent two or three hours at his house. He was truly soporific, and I had the exquisite pleasure of enjoying my own company. JUNE, 1846.

     Monday, 1.--Farewell, blossom decorated May! Thou hast truly had a tear shedding time of it during your short sojourn with us. It has been shower after shower. Truly thou hast been "in the melting mood," though so often pressed to dry up thy tears and put on a smiling face. But nay. She left us last night in a violent passion and in the

midst of a torrent of grief, and verily, we are not sorry she is gone. And now, smooth-faced June, we bid thee welcome, and trust thou wilt act more seemly than thy predecessor. Wear thy best smiles and let buoyant joy be enthroned upon thy brow.
     6 o'clock P. M. It has been cool all day, temperature, 65^o. Sun going down clear. No rain to-night I hope.
     Tuesday, 2.--Clear and pleasant. At sunrise temperature 60^o. Council convened. Transacted various matters, local affairs, etc. Authorized a call of a National Convention to remodel the government, and appointed Thursday next to communicate to the nation, through a committee, the contemplated call. Adjourned. Took tea at S. A.'s, then came home via Pharoah's Lodge.¹
     Wednesday, 3.--Dark and cloudy. More rain. Oh! June, June! truly, thou art going to follow the example of thy elder sister, May, whining, crying, weeping, sniveling, and nothing but showers of tears, tears. Shame, shame.
     Thursday, 4.--Cloudy and cool, temperature 60^o. Fire feels comfortable. Felicitatus.
     Friday, 5.--Clear and cold. Temperature 60^o. Remained cool all night. At 4 o'clock a heavy shower of rain fell. Planted in the field watermelons, muskmelons, cucumbers, and pumpkins. In the night it rain[ed] again. So we have it.
     Saturday, 6.--Cloudy, dreary, and cold. Temperature 50^o. The Mexican quasi war. Our frontier is all in commotion. Volunteers preparing and organizing, drilling and equipping themselves to "march over the hills and far away" to the Mexican frontier to reap laurels of renown. The worst of all is our government is in fault. We are ac-

---

     ¹ The Masonic Lodge of the Wyandot Nation. This name seems not to have been real name of the Lodge. It had its meetings at the home of Matthew R. Walker. The meetings were informal and not regular communications. No Masonic labor was attempted.

tually the aggressors. This I deeply deplore. Received a letter from H. Barrett--all well.
     Sunday, 7.--Clear and cool. Temperature 60^o. Pleasant all day. Being unable to walk to meeting, went to town and spent part of the day with C. Graham. The city ice house empty, already, even before real warm weather has set in. It melted away, not being put up in the right way. What's to be done now? Drink Kaw water.
     Monday, 8.--Clear and cool. Temperature 55^o. A general "turnout" of the Wyandotts to-day on the roads, cutting down timber and clearing out as well as widening the road.
     Wrote to-day in the agent's office. Came home. Taking the blue mass again. Sweet and delectable morsel! How pleasant art thou to the palate.
     Tuesday, 9.--Clear and cool; temperature, 55^o. Council to-day. Various, grave, and weighty matters to attend to to-day. 210 Senecas¹ landed to-day from Cattaraugus, Tonawanda and Buffalo, destined to the great Osage River. Indicted C. B. G. for committing a burglary upon the ferry.
     Wednesday, 10.--Clear; temperature, 55^o. Pleasant today. Went to town. Saw M^r Guthrie on his way to Ohio, waiting for a boat. Wrote by him to Col. Goodin again. Visitors to-day; M^rs G. and H. Glad to see company.
     Thursday, 11.--Nothing worth recording.
     Friday, 12.--Cloudy and lowering. Prospect of rain.
     Held a diplomatic interview with the emigrants, Senecas, from N. Y. Tauroome and Sarrahas being the orators on the occasion [on the part of the Wyandotts]. An eloquent response from an old Seneca Chief.
     Saturday, 13.--Staid at Kansas waiting for the mail. News from the Mexican frontier. The American arms victorious.

---

     ¹ These Senecas were on their way to the Cowskin River country, in the Indian Territory.

     Sunday, 14.--Hiatus.
     Saturday, 20.--A violent attack of the pleurisy confines me to the house for four days.
     Sunday, 21.--Read all day and played the idle man.
     Monday, 22.--Attended Council. No business of importance.
     Tuesday, 23.--Worked in the garden and did some "pottering" about the house.
     Wednesday, 24.--Staid at home; read all day; and worked some.
     Thursday, 25.--Ditto; nothing strange.
     Friday, 26.--Got our mail; but no interesting news from Washington.
     Hiatus. JULY, 1846.

     Saturday, 4.--News that our bill had passed the Lower House.
     Hiatus.
     Tuesday, 7.--C. B. G. and Peter Buck arraigned for violently taking the ferry boat from her moorings in the absence of the ferryman; the former fined $5.00 and the latter $2.50.
     Wednesday, 8.--Committee and Council met again.
     Thursday, 9.--General Convention of the Nation at the Church, on the subject of the new government.
     Friday, 10.--Staid at home. Did various sorts of work.
     Saturday, 11.--Warm and sultry.
     Sunday, 12.--Read and lounged. Warm day.
     Monday, 13.--Did various sorts of work. Got some cash from Dr. Hewitt on the improvement bill, for present use.
     Tuesday, 14.--Myself, wife, and Harriet went to Westport, and returned the next day.
     Wednesday, 15.--Came home and found all well.
     Thursday, 16.--Hoed my potatoes, and [did] other gar-

dening work. Heard to-day of yesterday's operations in the nominating Convention, thus:

James Washington vs. F. A. Hicks.¹
Tauroomee vs. G. I. Clark.
William Walker vs. J. Walker.
H. Jacquis vs. Sarrahess.
J. W. Gray-Eyes vs. George Armstrong.

     Making the Council, after the election, to consist of only four Councillors and a Presiding Chief.
     Friday, 17.--Went to Westport and bought a horse at $45.00. How he may turn out I am unable to tell. He has some good marks about him--has a good walk and travels well; seven years old; chestnut sorrel.
     Saturday, 18.--Came home with my horse.
     Sunday, 19.--Girls went to the Delaware camp meeting.²
     Monday, 20.--Went to the Delaware camp meeting and returned in the evening. Had a pleasant ride.
     Tuesday, 21.--Council met; transacted a variety of business, and adjourned till next Tuesday.
     Wednesday, 22.--Afflicted with the diarrhea caused by too vegetable a diet. Commenced raining at 7 o'clock and continued a steady rain till 11 o'clock at night.
     Thursday, 23.--Clear and beautiful morning.

---

     ¹ Francis A. Hicks was the son of John Hicks, who was the last of the hereditary Chiefs of the Wyandots. I have been unable to learn the Clan to which Francis A. Hicks belonged. His name was Tooh!-uoh-shah'- teh, the meaning of which is lost. He was born in 1800. He became Head Chief of the Wyandots. He belonged to the M. E. Church and opposed the division of the Church. He was married to Mrs. Matilda Driver, widow of Francis Driver, and one of the many Wyandot women famous in the tribe for intelligence, goodness of heart, and a consistent Christian life. She was a Wyandot only by adoption. Francis A. Hicks was buried in Huron Place Cemetery. The following is copied from the stone over his grave:

Francis A. Hicks
Died
Sept 1855
Aged 55 Yrs.

He was Head Chief at the time the Wyandots removed from Ohio.
     ² The Delaware Camp-meeting ground was near the present village of White Church, Wyandotte County, Kansas.

     Friday, 24.--Mr and Mrs Peerey,¹ myself and wife went to M^r Graham's and spent the "arternoon," and supped heartily on a roast turkey, and came home well pleased and satisfied with our visit.
     Saturday, 25.--Received a letter from Col. J. Goodin. My land cannot, as he says, command more than $5.50 or $6.00 per acre. Good time to sow turnips but [we] have no, seed. Alas! alas!
     Sunday, 26.--Fine, warm, pleasant day. Thermometer 92^o. W. Bowers called and spent a part of the day. Afflicted with something like the gastritis, from which I suffer much pain. At night, quite unwell.
     Monday, 27.--Warm day. Feel but little better. Read and lounged.
     Tuesday, 28.--Attended Council. Transacted various [matters of] business. Judgment against Joseph Big-Tree and Theo. Standinwater for $6.00 in favor of John LaSerge,² for a canoe. Took supper at Hunter's. A pleasant party.
     Wednesday, 29.--Warm; mercury 96^o. Dissolved the W. I. S. C. and proceeded to wind up the institution by collecting the debts and settling off and paying the stockholders. Present: S. A., G. A., W. W.--3. Absent: C. B. G.
     Thursday, 30.--Hot enough to turn an icicle into a redhot spike. Hunted [for] my horse, but could not find [it].
     Friday, 31.--We had an awful windstorm or tornado; trees were thrown "helter skelter" in every direction, but no material damage was done. AUGUST, 1846.
     Saturday, 1.--Cloudy morning; prospect of rain. At 1 o'clock it cleared off and was warm all the afternoon. Spent

---

     ¹ Governor Walker often writes this name Peery and sometimes Peerey. He was Methodist minister.
     ² One of the Frenchmen who lived in the "bottoms."

© 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001 for the NEGenWeb Project by Pam Rietsch, Ted & Carole Miller