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ington's birthday. A ball to come off in Kansas. Hauled some wood in the mud. L. Coffman, Esq., called and I rented him my lot in Kansas till the 1st of September next for $10.00. My execrations upon John Big-Sinew for not coming according to promise to chop for me.
     Friday, 23.--Weather ditto. Thawing. Foggy, etc. Cloudy, sometimes clear, warm. All the little ravines in a roar. The river must rise and no doubt but the "Blue is up," as the mail carrier says. Smith Nichols and John Monture chopping.
     Saturday, 24.--Clear morning. "Freezing Point." Last night Miss Peach Blossom gave me the slip. This morning I hunted for her and after a long search found her, she having given birth to a splendid young bull.
     Wrote again to Dr. Latta for his paper, but when it will go is hard to tell, as we get no mail these days.
     Sunday, 25.--Thermometer 5^o below "Freezing point." Cloudy. The ice breaking up in the Missouri and Kansas Rivers. Went to Church. Came home and after dinner returned and heard another sermon without an interpreter. Came home at sunset. J. M. A. set out yesterday to Kickapoo to regulate the Northern Church matters. "He is some." A second Martin Luther. A real reformer. Stultum. Stultorum.
     Monday, 26.--Thermometer 45^o. Cloudy. Thawed all night. Warm and thawing. Snow nearly all gone. Miss Huffacre called and spent the day.
     Tuesday, 27.--Thermometer 45^o. Cloudy. Warm all day. To-day the [ice in the] Missouri and Kansas [Rivers] broke up with a crash. Attended the meeting of the legislative committee. Passed the general appropriation bill. Came home in company with James Washington and George Armstrong.
     Wednesday, 28.--Sleet again. Thermometer 19^o. Cloudy;

cold and cloudy all day. Went to town. Got my cane repaired and came home. MARCH, 1849.

     Thursday, 1.--Thermometer 18^o above "0." Cloudy. Looks like snow.

Presidential Election in 1848.

Cass.			Taylor.
Arkansas	3		Connecticut	6
Alabama	9		Delaware	3
Indiana	12		Kentucky	12
Illinois	9		Maryland	8
Missouri	7		New York	36
Michigan	5		North Carolina	11
Virginia	17		New Jersey	7
Maine	9		Pennsylvania	26
New Hampshire	6		Rhode Island	4
Ohio	23		Tennessee	13
South Carolina	9		Vermont	6
Texas	4		Louisiana	6
Mississippi	6		Florida	3
Iowa	4		Massachusetts	12
Wisconsin	4		Georgia	10
	----			----
	127			163

     At 2 o'clock P. M. we have sleet again. Oh, sleet, when are we to get rid of thee.
     Friday, 2.--At daylight snow on the ground. Cloudy. Thermometer 20^o. In the afternoon M. R. W. and I went up to see G. I. C., who has a violent attack of the pneumonia. Cloudy night.
     Saturday, 3.--Cloudy. Thermometer 22^o. Sleet, sleet. No end to it. To-day closes the administration of James K. Polk. "Sic transit gloria mundi."

     1 o'clock, rain and sleet. Verily March has "come in like a lion and will probably go out like the devil."
     Went to town and called upon Dr. H. Staid an hour and came home.

     Sunday, 4.--Rain, rain. Bella horrida! This day the United States Republic is without a President. But what is the use of a President such weather as this? 1 o'clock P. M. Rain. Staid at home all day, the weather being too inclement to venture out of the house. 8 o'clock at night. Raining. So we go.
     Monday, 5.--My birthday. This day I complete my 48th year, and nimbly step into my forty-ninth. To-day Gen. Z. Taylor steps nimbly into the Presidential chair. "Glory enough for one day."
     Tuesday, 6.--Thermometer freezing point. At 9 o'clock the day cleared up and the sun appeared. Wrote a long letter to John T. Walker. Went to town. Sent by Theodore to the P. 0. Came home at half past 2 P. M. At night Theodore returned and brought my mail, a real pile of newspapers, with a letter from Hugh Barrett. Read till a late hour in the night. Clear and moonlight night.
     Wednesday, 7.--Frosty morning. Clear. Warm day. Perused my newspapers and staid at home all day. Beautiful night. The moon nearly full.
     Thursday, 8.--Thermometer "freezing" point. Cloudy. M^rs W. gone to see G. I. C. Raining. M^rs W. returned. G. I. C. not getting any better. M^rs Robataille died this morning.
     Friday, 9.--Foggy morning, cloudy and warm. Finished a letter to H. Barrett to go by tomorrow's mail. Went to town and learned that the steamer St. Joseph came up yesterday, but owing to the ice not being broken up above here, returned. The first steamboat up. While in town the "Amelia" came up. To-day M^rs Robataille was buried.

     Saturday, 10.--Cloudy, warm, and foggy. Prospect of more rain. Went to town and staid all day. The Kansas River still rising. The Turkey Creek bridge gone.¹ Got no mail. The "Mandan" went up to-day. Cloudy all day, but no rain. The California: fever rages on the Rialto.
     Sunday, 11.--Foggy and cloud. Warm, prospect of rain. Went to Church. The northern fanatics have stolen our church bible.² I hope the thieves will make good use of it. This is, I suppose, a "pious fraud." Wrote to Jesse Stern, directing him to take the necessary steps for a legal partition of the Seneca county lands. M^r Caloway and W. H. Chick called on us to-day. Sunset clear. At night clear and starlight.
     Monday, 12.--Thermometer 3^o below freezing point. Clear and pleasant. Beautiful day. Sent to the P. 0. by G. D. Williams, but got nothing but a Weekly Dollar. My execrations upon Cave Johnston's mail contractors. They have ceased carrying the mail between this and St. Louis entirely.
     Tuesday, 13.--Cloudy and warm. Prospect of rain today. Went to work and hung my old gate which had broken down. The noise of steamers on the river. One half past ten o'clock A. M., rain. Cleared up in the evening, but in a little while distant thunder was heard and it became cloudy again. At dark rain and loud thunder. Cleared up in the night.
     Wednesday, 14.--Clear and frosty morning. Prospect of a fine day. 9 o'clock, beautiful day. Clear and warm.

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     ¹ Turkey Creek, a stream running northeast through Shawnee Township, Wyandotte County, Kansas, now empties into the Kansas River just above the Stock Yards. It formerly flowed into the Missouri River just below Dold's Packing House. The road crossed it on a bridge for a time, and afterwards a ferry-boat was used. The crossing was at the mouth of the creek, as the road ran along the bank of the Missouri River.
     ² I doubt if it was ever known who stole the Bible. These troubles continued until both Churches were burned. I have investigated this matter until I know absolutely who burned each Church building, but no good could come of making it a matter of record here.

Spring is upon us in all its beauties. Felicitatus. Went to town. Called at the smithshop. Dined at C. G.'s. Called at J. W.'s and got some turnips, then came home. Warm and beautiful day. Clear night, chilly and cold.
     Thursday, 15.--Thermometer "freezing" point. Somewhat cloudy. Warm and pleasant day. Hunted for my oxen but could not find them. The old rascals, they knew there was work on hands and "sloped."
     Upon comparing my cranium with Dr. Comb's system of phrenology, I cannot find a single valuable "bump" or development, except that of "benevolence." Barring this, my cranium is no better than a Baboon's. So that phrenology has laid "all my greatness" on the shelf, and now I am no longer "some in a bear fight." A long farewell to all my greatness. But then I may have some important bumps elsewhere that might boost me up and put me in conceit of myself again. Sent to the P. O. for my mail and as usual got nothing.
     Friday, 16.--Light frost. Clear. Hauled some wood out of the corn field. Warm day. Nothing strange occurred. A dull monotonous day. Afflicted with ennui. I want my mail!
     Saturday, 17.--Thermometer "freezing" point. Cloudy and windy. M^rs W. went to Kansas. I went to town. Warm pleasant day. Received some papers from M^r Gilmore. M^rs W. returned and brought me a bundle of newspapers, but of old dates. My old chum, S. P. Chase,¹ elected to the U. S. Senate. So much for riding the abolition "hobby."
     Sunday, 18.--Clear frosty morning. Went to Church. A fine congregation. An appointment for worship at the school house at 3 o'clock P. M. Pleasant, clear, and beautiful day. To-day John Porcupine died, but of what com-

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     ¹ They were schoolmates.

plaint I have not yet learned. He was sick but a short time. Attended Church in the afternoon. A good congregation.
     Monday, 19.--Clear and warm morning.
     Tuesday, 20.--Cloudy.
     Hiatus.
     Friday, 23.--Thomas H. Noble raised my crib and shed. Warm and pleasant day.
     Saturday, 24.--Put on the roof and quit for the day.
     Sunday, 25.--Frosty morning. Staid at home all day and read. Wind from the north all day. Chilly.
     Monday, 26.--Frosty morning but clear. Beautiful day. Hung up my bacon to dry and smoke. Hauled some slabs and firewood. M^r Bowman commenced boarding [with us] this evening.
     Tuesday, 27.--Clear and pleasant morning. Worked all day. Moved our hen house. Repaired our spring, and rested thereon. In the evening a moderate rain.
     Wednesday, 28.--Cloudy and foggy. Showery. Went to town and got my gun repaired. Planned a spring house, that is, done the wind work.
     Thursday, 29.--Cloudy weather. M^r Bowyer working the garden and I doing chores. Just heard that that dreadful scourge, the Asiatic cholera, has reached Kansas. Well, keep cool, hold a steady hand. Commenced gardening to-day. Planted our top onions.
     Friday, 30.--Cloudy morning, but no rain. Went to town, got my mail, and a "public document." Warm day. Cool in the evening. At 5 o'clock P. M. Sophia made her appearance in company with M^r Stone of Independence.
     Saturday, 31.--Beautiful morning. Worked in the garden. Planted some more top onions. To-day quarterly meeting commences. I went to Church and heard a sermon from M^r Stateler. Warm day.

APRIL, 1849.

     Sunday, 1.--Sabbath morn. Fine warm day. Went to Church.
     Monday, 2.--Cloudy; prospect of rain. M^r Stateler, M^r Flint, a Shawnee preacher, and F. A. Hicks called and staid awhile in social chat. Planted some more onions. Showery.
     Tuesday, 3.--Dark, dark and rainy morning. Must stay in close quarters. But it is all for the best. Vegetation needs rain. This is a most fertilizing shower. 12 o'clock M. Gloomy day. Ennui. Blue devils. Rain, clouds, fog. I want my mail. Steamers roaring and snorting up the river. Nightfall. Still raining and the wind from the north.
     Wednesday, 4.--Sun obscured by clouds. But the rain has ceased. 8 o'clock, cleared up, but cool. Prospect of a fair and pleasant day. Hauled corn and in the evening hauled some wood and took up some grapevines. Clear night. J. Walker returned home.
     Thursday, 5.--Frosty morning. Resumed hauling corn, and finished at 12 o'clock. Wrote to Jesse Stern again upon the subject of the land sale. M^rs W. gone to Kansas. Cloudy. Looks like rain. Finished hauling corn.
     Friday, 6.--Cloudy morning. Went to town and called upon J. Walker and C. Graham. Came home and went to work. M^rs Chick moved over to the parsonage.
     Saturday, 7.--Cloudy and cold, but no frost. Cut some timber for a trellis work for grape vines in the garden. Cleared up my little meadow. In the evening it rained and continued through the night.
     Sunday, 8.--This day, 25 years ago, I and M^rs W. were married. A quarter of a century has rolled around, and still it seems but as yesterday! Wrote a letter for M^rs Graham to her brother in Kentucky. Went to Church as all good Christians should do.

     Monday, 9.--Raining. At 11 o'clock, cleared up, but windy. Ground drying up. Worked at the trellis frame. At half after 5, a beautiful rainbow.
     Tuesday, 10.--After a windy night, we have a cold morning, the wind from the north. Thermometer, "freezing point." Council meets to-day, but as I have no business there I will stay where I have business--at home. Dr. Hewitt returned to-day from St. Louis.
     Wednesday, 11.--Clear, frosty morning. Having what is called a hoar frost, we shall have a beautiful day. Kansas full of California adventurers. Finished our lattice frame and raised it. Went to town. Got my gardening implements repaired. The flat boat going to Kansas tomorrow. Well, I must go too.
     Thursday, 12.--The boat cast off from her moorings and away we went. Landed in Kansas amidst a drenching rain. The rain continuing, we did not put our cargo on board. After a consultation, we concluded to defer loading till the morrow. Secured our boat.
     Friday, 13.--Loaded up and commenced cordelling the boat up stream against a heavy current. In the bustle I was tipped "overboard" and after a desperate struggle, by the aid of my friends, I got on terra firma again, and returned to town and doused my diluted garments and put on others which accorded more to the feelings of "flesh and blood."
     Saturday, 14.--Remained in town, feeling unwell.
     Hiatus.
     Thursday, 19.--Planted some early potatoes and did various other matters about my premises.
     Friday, 20.--Warm and pleasant day. Our "Wyandott Mining Company" in a stir making preparation for their long journey to California.

ISAIAH WALKER.

     Saturday, 21.--Wrote all day in the Agent's office and at night attended a California meeting.
     Sunday, 22.--Cloudy morning. Prospect of rain. Went to Church. One half the congregation being Californians from over the river.
     Monday, 23.--At daylight, raining. Rained till 11 o'clock. Then cleared off. Hauled some wood, At night a gang of our neighbors, bound for California, called upon us and spent the evening.
     Tuesday, 24.--Went to town to write in the Agent's office, but the Agent was absent. Met Esau. Had a chat with him. He is destined for Santa Fe. Appointed William Linnville my substitute to represent me in the "Wyandott Mining Company." Came home in the evening, etc.
     Wednesday, 25.--Went to town to write in the Agent's Office, but the incumbent had other business. So I attended to my own. Went ---
     Thursday, 26.--Asiatic cholera broke out in K. Isaac McCoy¹ departed this life to-day.
     Friday, 27.--Alarm pervades the country. Came home to enjoy the rural atmosphere and keep out of the haunts of this horrid disease.
     Saturday, 28.--Inflammation in my left eye.
     Sunday, 29.--My eye painful. Kept my bed all day.
     Monday, 30.--No better. Michael Frost came to work. MAY, 1849.

     Tuesday, 1.--Cold and cloudy day. In the evening, rained, with thunder and lightning.
     Wednesday, 2.--Clear and windy. Heard of the death of M^r Bigerstaff, druggist.

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     ¹ He was a surveyor and had been a missionary to the Indians. He built the first house erected for a permanent residence in what is now Wyandotte County, Kansas. It was built near Edwardsville. Mr. McCoy, it is said, was the first to propose moving Eastern Indians to what is now Kansas. He laid off and surveyed the lands assigned to most of the tribes. He died in Kansas City, Mo., where his descendants still live.

20

     Thursday, 3.--Rain all day. Cholera abating in Kansas. Judge Chaffee of Upper Sandusky landed, on his way to the "Diggins." I am suffering the horrors of blindness.
     Friday, 4.--Rain last night, and raining this morning. Sent T. F. Garrett to K. for our mail, but got none. J. Chaffee called upon us.
     Hiatus.
     Thursday, 31.--This day the "Wyandott Mining Company" set out for California. The following are the names of those that set out: I. P. Walker,¹ Capt. Theo. F. Garrett, William Bowers, William Lynville, Ira Hunter, Matthew Brown, C. B. Garrett, Philip Brown, Adam Hunt, R. Palmer, Russell Garrett; E. B. Hand, physician. JUNE, 1849.

     Friday, 1.--Showery, unsettled weather. Mike finished ploughing.
     Saturday, 2.--Clear and pleasant. Had custard for dinner, which was very "delicious to our taste."
     Sunday, 3.--Clear and excessively warm. About noon the mercury stood at 91. In the evening heard of the death of Miss Huffaker. The Missouri is very high and is still on the rise. Fair prospect for another overflow, so the poor French will have to desert their homes in the bottom.²
     Monday, 4.--Very warm. The flat-boat went down to Kansas to-day and we sent for some bacon.
     Tuesday, 5.--Warm, cloudy, and raining.
     Wednesday, 6.--Warm and rainy day. Heard of two cases of cholera on this side. Nothing of importance transpiring. Dull times, very dull.
     Thursday, 7.--In the morning clear and warm. In the evening clouded up; prospect of another shower. Mail day,

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     ¹ Governor Walker made a mistake here; he omitted to write I. P. Long.
     ² Along Turkey Creek, on the banks of the Missouri River.

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