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September, 1848.] |
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of the North, a preamble and resolution [were] adopted by which the Nation declared for the South.
Saturday, 2.--Warm and sultry. In the afternoon we had severe and sharp thunder and lightning. Struck a linn tree at our barn. Rained about half an hour. Cleared up in the evening.
Sunday, 3.--Warm and sultry as usual. No preaching at the Church. Staid at home.
Monday, 4.--Received a letter from Major Harvey upon the subject of N. and S., abolitionism, etc. Mrs Chick paid us a visit and staid all night.
Tuesday, 5.--Staid at home all day. Writing an appeal to the Ohio conference. C. G. and I wrote a joint letter to Col. Goodin.
Wednesday, 6.--Quite unwell. Gastritis, Enteritis; taking "Longley's Panacea." Horrid stuff!
Thursday, 7.--To-day the church members were to be assembled at the new brick Church to vote on the question "North or South," but unfortunately the members refused to attend, and so ended the affair. A rather severe rebuke to the agitators.
before the Interior Department, mostly in matters pertaining to Indian affairs. He seems to have been a man of strong convictions, and fearless in his actions. He married Miss Lucy Bigelow (born July 31, 1818), daughter of Rev. Russel Bigelow, the famous Methodist divine of Ohio, February, 20, 1838. Of this marriage were born: 1. Ethan McIntyre, born August 24, 1839; 2. Caroline Amelia Mead, born August 9, 1841, married L. L. Hartman, September 2, 1862; 3. Russel Bigelow, born October 20, 1843, married Rachel M. Brown, May 17, 1868; 4. Henry Jacquis, born May 6, 1846; 5. Ellen Clarrissa Gurley, born August 9, 1848, married James Edwin Howie, August 25, 1871; 6. William Silas, born January 30, died March 26, 1851.
J. M. Armstrong was one of the first to build a house in the "Wyandot Purchase." He taught the first school in the Nation after the removal West. The writings of his widow, Mrs. Lucy B. Armstrong, upon the early settlement and early time of what is now Kansas, are very important, but scattered about through the newspapers and other publications of her time.
J. M. Armstrong died at Mansfield, Ohio, April 11, 1852. He was on his way to Washington. He stopped at Mansfield to see Hon. John Sherman; he was taken sick and died suddenly. He was temporarily buried at Mansfield, but his wife subsequently had his body removed to Bellefontaine, Ohio, and buried beside his mother.
Lucy B. Armstrong died January 1, 1892.
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Friday, 8.--The President, James Washington; Vice President, John Hicks, Sen'r; the committee, S. Armstrong, F. A. Hicks, W. Walker, and Little Chief met and adopted an address to the Ohio Conference to be sent to Cincinnati for publication, by next mail.1
Saturday, 9.--Dry weather. Jesse Stern and a Mr Cromwell of Ohio called upon us and staid awhile. Warm, warm. The Deacon gone to the P. 0. Sent the Document by him to be mailed.
Sunday, 10.--Cool morning. Went to Church and heard a Sermon by Rev. Mr Hurlburt. Large congregation. Warm and dry weather. Half past three o'clock P. M., commenced raining, but did not continue long.
Monday, 11.--Foggy morning and cloudy. 11 o'clock it cleared up and became warm.
This morning David Young lost his little boy--died of a remittent fever. In the afternoon, thunder and lightning, but had no rain.
Tuesday, 12.--Cloudy, misting rain. To-day our people commence their worship in the wilderness, in other words, their camp-meeting. Fears are entertained that they will have bad weather. M. R. Walker, Jesse Stern and company making preparations for a "buffalo hunt." At night, a most furious rain came on; continued all night, till daylight.
Wednesday, 13.--Raining furiously. Cleared up at 10 o'clock. All in a bustle. Packing up preparing to move to the camp meeting. Wrote to Samuel Kerr of Pennsylvania, to go by to-morrow's mail. Loaded up our effects and put out.
Thursday, 14.--Thursday 14th, 15th, 16th, 17th, 18th at camp meeting.
1 This address was published in the Western Christian Advocate and called forth a reply from the opposition, which was published in the same paper. It was all concerning the division in the Church into the North and South.
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Came home at 4 o'clock P. M. During the meeting the weather was cloudy and cold.
Tuesday, 19.--Cloudy morning. Cold and chilly. William Gibson, Joseph White and Peter Buck came to cut up my corn and proceeded to operations. Clear and cold night. We may have frost. . . .
Wednesday, 20.--Sure enough. Jack Frost has paid us his first visit for the season. Farewell summer! . . .
Thursday, 21.--The boys finished cutting up corn. Mrs W. and Harriet went to Kansas.
Friday, 22.--Wrote to Mr A. Guthrie the decision of the Council upon his petition.
Saturday, 23.--The Nation assembled to hear the report of the Revising Committee, after which a legislative committee was elected as follows: W. Walker, J. M. Armstrong Jas. Washington, George Armstrong, and J. W. Gray Eyes. Failure in the mail. A failure in the mail to-day.
Sunday, 24.--Went to Church and heard a Mohawk sermon by Mr Cusick.1
Monday, 25.--Went to town. No mail yet. Writing for Dr. Hewitt. In the evening, commenced raining.
Tuesday, 26.--Went to town. Called upon the Council and submitted a proposition. Came home.
Wednesday, 27.--Hunted [for] my oxen all day, but could not find them. They are not to be found when wanted.
1 This was undoubtedly David Cusick. He was a Tuscarora, and wrote a work on the early history and myths of the Iroquois. In the Bibliography of the Iroquoan Languages issued by the Bureau of Ethnology I find the following sketch: "David Cusick, the Tuscarora historian, was the son of Nicholas Cusick, who died on the Tuscarom Reservation, near Lewiston, N. Y., in 1840, being about 82 years old. David received a fair education and was thought a good doctor by both whites and Indians. He died not long after his father."
Mr. Cusick was on his way to the Senecas at this time. He remained among the Senecas for some time, I think as much as a year, when he returned to Canada, as they supposed. Matthias Splitlog knew him well in Canada, and often spoke of him as one of the wisest Indians that ever lived.
In Beauchamp's Iroquoian Trail, p. 42, it is said that it was James Cusick who became a Baptist minister. If so, he is probably the person who preached to the Wyandots. But many of the old Wyandots were acquainted with David Cusick.
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Thursday, 28.--Hunted again but with like success.
Friday, 29.--Went in company with Mrs H. W.1 to hunt grapes, but found few.
Saturday, 30.--Went to Kansas. Got my mail, not much news. Dined at Mrs Chick's, Came home in the evening. Done up my Saturday's chores.OCTOBER,1848. Sunday, 1.--Sabbath morn. Fine weather. Staid at home all day.
Monday, 2.--Pheobus! What a frost! Thermometer mercury below freezing point, but clear and a fair prospect of a warm day. Attended the meeting of the legislative committee.
Tuesday, 3.--Frosty morning. Cloudy. Foul weather. Peradventure, rain. Attended the legislative committee. It turned out a pleasant day. However, at night we had a slight sprinkling.
Wednesday, 4.--Mrs W. went to K. intending to stay all night. Warm day. My oxen, through the carelessness of that drunken Irishman, got out of J. W's lot and made their escape. Finished reading Senator Benton's speech in opposition to Gen. Kearney's nomination for Brevet Major General for services in California. The speech occupies 11 numbers of the National Intelligencer. Well, K's nomination was confirmed, but be did not deserve it.
Thursday, 5.--Went to attend the meeting of the legislative committee but the Council convening, [it] called upon the committee to sit in joint meeting for the transaction of extraordinary business. Adjourned and came home. Wrote a letter to John T. Walker at Laguna. Indian Summer; warm and pleasant.
Friday, 6.--Warm and smoky weather. Somewhat cloudy.
1 Hannah Walker, his wife.
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Rain perhaps. Got Irish John and the team and hauled some cord-wood, then hauled a barrel of flour to S. Armstrong's, then came home.
Saturday, 7.--Cool and cloudy. M. R. Walker and company returned last night. All well. Had glorious sport. Killed lots of buffaloes. Lived luxuriantly.
We (i. e., three of us, Mrs W. [and] Harriet) went across the Missouri and paid Mr Th. H. Noble a visit. Dined and came home.
Sophia went to Kansas to get our mail if any there be. [She] Returned, but brought but little news. No letters.
Sunday, 8.--Cold and cloudy morning. Prospect of rain. Rev. Mr Hurlburt is to preach to-day. Staid at home.
Monday, 9.--Mr Hurlburt called over and staid some time, during which time an interesting conversation ensued upon the slave question and its concomitants.
Tuesday, 10.--Set out for the grand convocation of Indian tribes near Fort Leavenworth, in company with John Hicks, Sen'r, James Rankin, and F. A. Hicks, and arrived at the general camping ground in the evening. Found the Delawares, Shawnees, Miamis, Peoris, Kanzas, Sacs and Foxes already on the ground, and the Kanzas camp in a bustle, making preparations for a grand dance.1
Wednesday, 11.--In Council.
Thursday, 12.--In Council.
1 This is the great convention at which the emigrant tribes rekindled the Council Fire of the ancient Confederacy. Peter D. Clark, in his "Traditional History of the Wyandots," page 131, says it was in 1846; evidently an error, although a Council was held before this, which was a preliminary meeting.
At this Council the position of the Wyandots as keepers of the Council-fire of the Northwestern Confederacy was confirmed and renewed. It is not meant to intimate anywhere in this work that the Wyandots were made dictators of the Confederacy, and ruled it, or exercised any arbitrary power over it. The other tribes recognized in the Wyandots strong and moderate men that were capable of weighing well any matter and forming a correct judgment. The Indian rendered military service voluntarily. The order of the greatest Chief or highest Council was only a suggestion, and while the Indian usually obeyed, he might obey or not as he chose. The personal liberty of the Indian was complete.
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Friday, 13.--In Council.
Saturday, 14.--In Council.
Sunday, 15.--In Council.
Monday, 16.--In Council.
Tuesday, 17.--In Council.
Wednesday, 18.--Returned from the Great Council after dark.
Thursday, 19.--Went over and spent the day with M. R. W. In the evening a gang of the official members of the Church assembled in our house on ecclesiastical business, and remained till 11 o'clock at night.
Friday, 20.--Went to town and gave to Dr. Hewitt some MSS. and had some chat with him upon Indian affairs, annual report, difficulties in the Nation upon Church matters. Came home.
Saturday, 21.--Wrote an address to the Indian Mission Conference for the official members. In the evening Mr Peery returned from K. but brought us no mail. No news from Ohio about the election. In the evening the notorious Bishop Andrews1 came over. Called upon him at the Deacon's. Found him sociable and affable.--a real burly Georgian.
Sunday, 22.--Attended Church and beard the Bishop preach. In the afternoon he dined with us. Rainy and unpleasant day.
Monday, 23.--Went to town for news. Sent Mich. Frost to the P. 0. Got a lot of newspapers. The fulmination of the dog-skinning committee2 published in the Western Ad-
1 I believe it is not generally known that Bishop Andrews ever visited what is now Kansas. I did not know it until I read it here in Governor Walker's Journal.
2 This was one of the exciting incidents in the troubles between the adherents of the M. E. Church and those of the M. E. Church, South. The supporters of the latter Church printed and distributed notices containing the announcement that the people were requested to meet at a certain time and place "to see a dog skinned." The novelty of the announcement drew many to the meeting. The "skinning" consisted of a discussion of Church matters and the adoption of resolutions condemning the opposing Church. The vote was reached at dusk. The adherents of the M. E. Church published
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vocate. It has created some excitement among the seceders. Chiefs making out the Pay roll. A number of visitors this evening. A preacher, it seems, is appointed by the Ohio Conference, to come in here and sneak about like a night burglar or incendiary to do harm and not good. What is it that religious fanaticism will not do! The seceders have stolen the church records.1
Tuesday, 24.--Staid all day at home. At night a number of our friends came and staid till a late hour discussing various matters. Determined to call in the authority of the Nation and the Indian Agent to protect their rights from the seceders.
Wednesday, 25.--Payment of the annuity commenced. Esau returned. Nothing of interest. Paid out $3,000.
Thursday, 26.--Payment continued. Paid out $2,000.
Friday, 27.--Payment continued and closed. Wrote to Mr Greer. Gave him Yorrick.
the facts in the Western Christian Advocate of Cincinnati, Ohio, and put the opposition upon the defensive. The incident increased the bitterness between the factions, and resulted in an appeal to the Ohio Conference to send a missionary to the M. E. Church, which appeal was complied with. Governor Walker was extremely bitter, intolerant and unjust in his attitude toward the M. E. Church, although he did not belong to the Church, South, and his wife and daughter Martha belonged to the M. E. Church. Mrs. Walker went with the Church, South, at the beginning, but returned to the M. E. Church soon afterwards and remained in it until her death.
1 It cannot be conceded that the adherents to the M. E. Church were the seceders. The division of territory agreed upon between the Churches when they separated threw the Wyandots in that assigned to the Church, South. The Wyandots were not parties to this action of the General Conference that arranged the division. Many of them refused to abide the action, and remained in the old Church. The more wealthy slaveholding class went with the Church, South, but a majority of the people always remained in the M. E. Church, which never for a moment gave up its organization, nor submitted to the Church, South. The Council passed a resolution declaring for the Church, South, but it could have no effect in Church matters by any action it might take, for Church matters were beyond its control and jurisdiction. As to stealing the Church records, Governor Walker must have been misinformed. The late Mrs. Lucy B. Armstrong gave me many of these old records in 1887 and said that they came into her hands by their being in possession of her husband at his death, at which time he was an officer in the M. E. Church, probably Recording Steward, and that they had always been in the bands of the official board of the M. E. Church. The Washington Avenue M. E. Church, of Kansas City, Kansas, is the old Church brought from Ohio by the Wyandots in 1843, and which was established at Upper Sandusky in 1817; the first Indian Mission ever established by the M. E. Church.
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Saturday, 28.--Went to town. The Chiefs commenced paying the public liabilities. By the steamer "Mustang" Adam Hunt and his mother, Mrs Williams, and Mrs Dickson returned from Canada. Came home. Found our young people engaged in a party. Martha went to the P. 0. but got no mail. No news; too bad!
Sunday, 29.--Went to Church and to our astonishment found the Presiding Elder of the Quasi Northern District, a Mr. Still; the Deacon, as a matter of Grace, asked him to preach, which he attempted to do. "Sorter" preached. The Church was then divided, South from the North.1 Meeting appointed by the Northerners for evening.
Monday, 30.--Went to town. The Wyandott Chiefs paid the Delawares the fifth installment of $4,000.
Mrs W. went to K. Came home 3 o'clock, P. M. At candle-light the Wyandott Chiefs met at our domicile and prepared a communication to the Agent, asking the interposition of the Government to keep out of our territory those reverend disturbers of the Nation.2
Tuesday, 31.--Yoked up my oxen. Cut and hauled some wood. Went to town; called at J. Walker's house, and found him and F. A. H. in close consultation upon State affairs. Bought a barrel of flour. Came home.NOVEMBER, 1848. Wednesday, 1.--Cold winter morning. Thermometer 24o! Whew! Went out to hunt my swine, but could not find them. Went to town, thence to the ferry. Sent a letter to John Goodin by J. Squeendehteh3 to the P. O. Came
1 This record "The Church was then divided, South from the North" is conclusive that the M. E. Church always maintained its organization. And it is also conclusive, if we wished to say so, that from a purely technical standpoint the Church, South, was the seceder. But it had a perfect right to separation, and no objection can be urged against its action.
2 This communication was forwarded to the Department of the Interior and nothing came of it; no action was taken.
3 Son of Squeeudechtee who is buried in Huron Place Cemetery, and who died in December 1844, aged 61 years. The name should be written Squehn-deh'-teh.
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home and done up my "' chores." Winter's coming. The forest is dousing her garments and displaying her nudity. For shame!
Thursday, 2.--Mrs W. went to K. for our mail. Received a few papers. Ohio gone democratic.
Friday, 3.--Raining, stormy. Finished copying the Journal of the Indian Congress.1 Went to town and hauled up a barrel of sugar and one of flour.
Saturday, 4.--Clear and cold morning. Wintry weather, Opened a barrel of sugar, (200 pounds). We'll see how long this will last.
Hauled wood enough to do a month if the Thermometer dont run down to ("0") zero.
Wrote a warning epistle to Tsees-quau-zhu-touh (J. W.)2 to go by Monday's mail.
Mr G----- of Independence arrived, and then the Deacon. Both staid all night.
Sunday, 5.--Clear and frosty. Prospect of a fine day. Went to the Synagogue. Heard the Deacon preach. J. W. Gray Eyes made his debut as interpreter for the Church. We have full autumn upon us, and bleak winter near at hand."At last, old autumn rousing, takes
Again his scepter and his throne;
With boisterous hand the trees he shakes
Intent on gathering all his own."Monday, 6.--Clear, cold and frosty morning. Thermometer 38o. The Deacon took leave of us and put out. Went to town. Purchased twelve and a half bushels of winter apples at 40c per bushel.
Tuesday, 7.--Thermometer 30o at sunrise! Must kill a pig. Want fresh Pork. Tired of musty bacon and poor beef. Roast pig, ah! That's it! Fetch in on, Dorcas. Went
1 I have searched unsuccessfully for fifteen years for this Journal. It must be lost; probably among the papers spoken of as having been destroyed by mice. What a pity so valuable a historical document should meet such a fate!
2 Joel Walker. This is his second Indian name.
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to town and found the Council in session. They requested the school directors to report the state of the school funds, which they did and closed their year's accounts for 1848.
Wednesday, 8.--Went to K. and paid my taxes.
Thursday, 9.--Severe morning. Thermometer 10o. Winter weather. Ice floating in the Kansas River.
Friday, 10.--Cloudy weather. Prospect of snow. Thermometer 15o. Hiatus--Blank--neglecting my Journal.
Thursday, 23.--Pretty clearly ascertained that Gen. Zachary Taylor of Louisiana is elected president of the U. S., beating Lewis Cass, and Martin Van Buren. Aye, and Gerrit Smith.
Attended a party at J. Walker's.
Friday, 24.--Mrs W., Sophia and Theodore went to Independence. I cut up and salted away a quarter of beef.
Saturday, 25.--Cut up some wood. Read newspapers,. chatted with Mr Russell, and so whiled the day away. In the evening Theodore and Sophia returned from Independence, but no Mrs W. She had wisely come to the conclusion it was a little too cold a day to travel.
Sunday, 26.--Went to Church. Mr Russell officiated. Came home, ate dinner, and felicitatus. By the way, C. Graham called upon me and informed [me] that Col. Goodin was about to remit me $600. Welcome news. Now, I'll., I'll, Ahem--etc.
Monday, 27.--Went to town. Called at the smithshop. Had a chat with Dr. H. upon the subject of our difficulties. Came home and sent an invitation to Mrs Williams and Mrs Hunt to come and spend to-morrow afternoon. In the evening C. B. G. called and spent the evening.
Tuesday, 28.--Warm and pleasant day. Received a communication from Col. Goodin covering a remittance of one thousand and eighty dollars, the proceeds of my Hardin county lands.© 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001 for the NEGenWeb Project by Pam Rietsch, Ted & Carole Miller