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OF

WILLIAM WALKER

 

PROVISIONAL GOVERNOR

OF

NEBRASKA TERRITORY

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SECOND BOOK

From September 22, 1849, to June 25, 1854

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FROM THE ORIGINAL MANUSCRIPT IN THE COLLECTION OF

WILLIAM E. CONNELLEY

 

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     Diary--Hiatus from September 22, 1849, till
     Friday, 30.--This day I received the book on which I am now writing, which was kindly sent to me by Brother Joel from St. Louis. Rev. Thomas A. Green from Ohio arrived here on the 20th inst., who is traveling for his health. DECEMBER, 1849.

     Saturday, 1.--M^r Green set out with Rev. B. H. Russel to Platte.
     Sunday, 2.--Went to Kansas. A "Bogus" manufacturer [was] arrested having $78. of the coin in his possession. He was acquitted as such characters generally are, and escaped unwhipt.
     Wednesday, 12.--Rented my Store House to a M^r French of Independence, at $12. pr month. Possession to be given when certain repairs are made.
     Thursday, 13.--Made arrangements for the repairs and

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     ¹ On account of lack of space in this volume, it was necessary to omit very much from the second book of Governor Walker's Journals.

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came home. But the infamous villain and his more infamous tool, Ross, swindled me out of the rent.
     Thursday, 20.--Went to attend a special session of the Council.
     Sunday 23.--Went to church. Sermon by Mr. Stateler. He and his lady with M^r Scarritt came home with us and dined.
     Monday, 24.--Employed John Big-Sinew and his cousin to cut wood. Issued License for the marriage of Samuel Big-Sinew to a Miss Clarrissa Carpenter.¹ JANUARY, 1850.

     Wednesday, 23.--Hauled wood all day and at night went to Capt. Bullhead's.² Came home in the rain.
     Monday, 28.--Attended a night session of the Council

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     ¹ The following is a copy of the license, together with the return of the minister endorsed thereon. I obtained the original in the Indian Territory:

"WYANDOTT TERRITORY Dec 24, 1849.

     "Permission is hereby granted to any clergyman, magistrate or any person duly authorized to solemnize the rites of matrimony, to unite by marriage Sanuel [sic] Bigsinew to Clarissa Carpenter and due return make of the same to this office within thirty days. Given under my baud and seal day and date above written.

(Signed) WM. WALKER,     
"Clerk to the Council, pro tem.

     This is to Certify that I joined together in matrimony Mr. Samuel Bigsinew and Miss Clarissa Carpenter at the home of Isaac Zane on the 25th of Dec 1849

(Signed) B. H. RUSSELL
Minister of the Gospel

"Returned for Record Dec 26 1849"

     ² Captain Bull-Head belonged to the Porcupine Clan of the Wyandots. He had two Wyandot names. The first was Ohn-dooh'-tooh, the meaning of which is lost. The second was Stih-yeh'-stah, and means "carrying bark," that is, as the porcupine carries in his mouth the bark which he strips from the northern hemlock for his food. Captain Bull-Head was spoken of as the only full-blood Wyandot that came West with the tribe, but he was not a full-blood. He was of the purest blood of any of the tribe, but he was part French. There was not a single full-blood in the Wyandot Nation in the West. The last full-blood Wyandot died in Canada about the year 1820. His name was Yah-nyah'-meh-deh.
     Captain Bull-Head was a taciturn, morose man. He served in the British army in the war of 1812. He carried with him always a peculiar knife with a blade about four inches wide and twelve or fifteen inches long. This knife he carried in a brass scabbard which was swung over his right shoulder and under his left arm by a brass chain. He was a man of great intelligence and well informed in the history and traditions of his people. Governor Walker often consulted him on these subjects. He died in Wyandotte County, Kansas.

and made the necessary preparation for the National Convention which was to meet the next day.
     Tuesday, 29.--The National Convention met and I was requested to act as Chairman. The Laws enacted by the Legislative Committtee were proclaimed--the appropriation bill for this year was reported. The question of our emigration to Min[n]esota¹ was submitted and after a warm discussion the vote was taken and resulted, for emigration 5 votes. Against, 72. The question of dissolving the fund from which we draw our annuity was next submitted and warmly debated till sun set, when, on motion of Esq. Gray Eyes it was postponed till next Tuesday. The convention adj'd. FEBRUARY, 1850.

     Friday, 8.--Clear and frosty morning. A warm spring day. Wrote to J. Walker. Attended the special session of the Council. Discharged Geo. Coke from Jail, [he] having served out his twelve months imprisonment. The Council addressed a comⁿ to the Deputation at Washington. After doing up sundry things, adjourned. I came home "an hungered" and dined.
     Friday, 22.--Clear and cold morning. M^rs W. went to K. M^r H. M. Northrup² called to-day. He reports that

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     ¹ The Wyandots had an extensive and intimate acquaintance with the Northern tribes and this made some of the tribe wish to go North. The discussion of the possibility of their going to Minnesota did not cease until after Tauromee secured the present Reservation from the Senecas in the Indian Territory.
     ² Hiram Milton Northrup, only son of Andrus Bishop and Martha (McHenry) Northrup, was born in Olean, Cattaraugus County, New York, June 4, 1818. He was a man of energy and enterprise. His first work towards self-support was as a clerk in a store then he taught a district school. He went to Cincinnati, Ohio, and engaged in boat; [sic] building. From there he went to some point in Alabama and engaged in the mercantile business, and failed. From Alabama he came to Westport, Mo., and engaged in the Santa Fe trade, and was successful. Here he became acquainted with the Wyandots. He paid court "with matrimonial intentions" to one of their best looking girls, Margaret Clark, daughter of Thomas Clark, who was the brother of George I. Clark, and a grandson of Chief Adam Brown. Miss Clark could speak but little English and the courtship had to be carried on by aid of interpreters, and old Wyandots relate many amusing incidents connected with it. They were married at the Methodist Church on the banks of Jersey Creek, November 27, 1845. Mr. Northrup's business increased. He,

great preparations are making at the "Dutch Reformed Church,"--i. e., the "Union Hotel" to celebrate the advent of the father of his country, by a Birth night Ball. "Vive la Bagatelle!"
     Saturday, 23.--Ah! pauvre moi! I am again visited with that pest of this country, sore eyes. It is nearly a year ago since I was first attacked, and [I] was blind for three months and recovered, and now here I have it again in full fruition.
     Monday, 25.--Beautiful spring morning. Went to town and staid till evening. Transacted some public business. Proved that the United States stole James Big-Tree's horse.
     Tuesday, 26.--We have heard of the finale of the great Birth-night Ball at the "Dutch Reformed Church." It appears to have been a failure. The Ladies having taken umbrage at the ungallant conduct of the Managers, refused to honor them with their presence. Thereupon, the Landlord and Managers got drunk--most royally so, in order to be avenged on the refractory ladies. The Landlord to show his indignation, made a perfect mash of the supper table and all the good things that were placed thereon. Even the "Saur Kraut" was not spared. It is supposed the dapper Land-

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had a partner and the firm was Northrup & Chick. Joel Walker was associated with Northrup & Chick for some time, and the firm was Walker, Northrup & Chick. Northrup & Chick went to New York and established a banking house, which was prosperous until the panic of 1873, when it failed. Mr. Northrup returned to Wyandotte, Kansas, and established the banking house of Northrup & Son. The large tract of land allotted to Mr. Northrup by the Wyandots was in the heart of what is now Kansas City, Kansas, and its increase in value caused by the growth of Kansas City, made him more than a millionaire. He died March 22, 1893. The panic of that year caused the failure of his bank and this involved his estate, and much litigation followed which almost consumed the great estate he left. He was a kind-hearted and charitable man and gave away thousands of dollars to help the poor, especially poor Wyandots. He was utterly incapable of resisting any reasonable appeal of a charity that had merit. He was one of the founders of Kansas City, Mo., and her great commerce has its foundations in his efforts. He was a pioneer, merchant, trader, and banker. His history is the history of the success of Kansas City, which, as a great mark includes all the cities about the mouth of the Kansas River.
     Of his marriage to Margaret Clark (who was born August 28, 1828, and died June 28, 1887) were born: 1. Milton, born October 5, 1846; 2. Andrus Bishop, born April 27, 1849, died January 7, 1892; 3. Thomas Clark, born December 27, 1851, died October 10, 1876; 4. McHenry, born November 5, 1854, died December 1, 1857.

MATTHEW R. WALKER.

lady, was "brimful of wrath and cabbage" at the conduct of her hopeful husband, boxed his ears and sent him to bed. MARCH, 1850.

     Thursday, 7.--Clear, frosty morning. Warm day.
     I am anxious to get my mail; but what good will it do me when I am so nearly blind as to be unable to read?¹
     Tuesday, 12.--We had a fair specimen of a Missouri squall last night.

"The wind blew as 'twad blawn her last;
 The rattling show'rs rose on the blast;
 The speedy gleams the darkness swallow'd.
 Loud, deep and long the thunder bellow'd;
 That night, a child might understand,
 The de'il had business on his hand."

     Cloudy, but pleasant. To-day the Council meets to attend to the important affairs of State.
     Came home from the Council after dark, hungry and fatigued, after having disposed of various important State affairs, and sent a fellow to the Calaboose for 24 hours for disturbing a religious meeting.
     Wednesday, 13.--High winds all night. Bright and clear morning.
     Went to town to bring home a runaway Cow; but Oh! the trouble and vexation I encountered! After much tribulation I succeeded in getting her home. She was so poor and squalid that, "the lowing of the kine" was not heard by the neighbors living on the road. This is the cow Dr. Hewitt rated at $25. She is hardly worth as many cents.
     Warm and pleasant day, but windy.
     Rec'd no mail from the East. A great dearth of news. We know no more of the doings of our wise and patriotic

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     ¹ Many of the Wyandots suffered from inflammation of the eyes when they came West. Old Wyandots often speak of it. They attributed the disease to the sandy soil and the high winds--sandstorms. Many of them lost their sight entirely. The Council gave pensions to the old people that became blind.

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Congress than if they were in session in the palace of Chang Chaufoo, in China.¹
     Friday, 15.--Last night Miss Maria Monk came in glad possession of an interesting little Monk. The event had been looked for with much interest. It is a beautiful specimen of the horned breed, having upon its body all the varied colors of the Rainbow. Who the favored father of this young kine may be, it is hard to conjecture; and Maria pertinaciously refuses to tell. Albeit, she, like her great namesake of Hotel Dieu memory, was never considered as chaste as a vestal.
     Enlarged my meadow and hauled some more wood.
     Sunday, 17.--"St. Patrick's day in the morning." Cloudy and cold. Went to Church and heard a sermon from Rev. M^r Jameison. A good performance. Went to church in the evening and interpreted a sermon for M^r Stateler.
     Monday, 18.--Clear, cold and frosty morning. Prospect of a warm and pleasant day.
     Went to Kansas. Learned that our Missouri boys were doing well in "Refining" the dust; but at the same time discouraged their friends from the "Experiment" of "digging."² APRIL, 1850.

     Monday, 8.--M^rs W. gone to Kawzas.³ Cholera at St. Joseph. So, it seems we are to be visited with that scourge of the human race, again this season.
     Thursday, 11.--Finished my experiment in Budding fruit

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     ¹ One of the inconveniences of the country in those days was the lack of mail facilities. Governor Walker wished to know what was transpiring, and complains bitterly of the inefficient services rendered by the mail contractors. And now the uniformed mail deliverer passes the site of his home two or three times each day and brings the mail to the door!
     ² In the gold fields of California.
     ³ One of the ways of writing Kansas; it more nearly represents the pronunciation of the name as used by the Kaw Indians than the spelling of the present, but it is no longer used.

trees, having set 40 buds, all of the apple. Ploughed my potato patch. One of the Standingstones burned to death last night near Kansas, in a drunken frolic. Major Moseley returned from St. Louis to-day.
     Saturday, 13.--Cold windy morning: wind from the North.
     Went to Kansas to attend to some business, meantime the Steamer "Pride of the West" landed well laden with California emigrants; all intent upon their pursuit of "filthy lucre"--strange as it may appear, yet it is nevertheless true that, notwithstanding the admonition of the pious Apostle to beware of this "Root of all evil," yet "Saint and sinner" are eagerly and "hot foot" in pursuit of it. Alas! for the degeneracy of the times!
     Sunday, 14.--Cold and windy morning. Saddled up Cato and rode out a half mile and back.
     I have been so often perplexed, when speaking of the "Southampton insurrection," to recall the name of the leader, that I now record his name, NAT TURNER. He was a preacher. A superstitious enthusiast. MAY, 1850.

     Tuesday, 14.--This is the day the Wyandott Convention adjourned to. At 12 o'clock, meridian, the president called the Convention to order and the discussion was resumed and continued with much animation till five o'clock when the vote was called for loudly. M. R. Walker and Silas Armstrong¹ were appointed tellers. The vote stood,

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     ^I Silas Armstrong, the eldest son of Robert and Sarah (Zane) Armstrong, was born June 3, 1810. He was a man of enterprise and capable of managing large affairs. He was the energetic manager of the removal of the Wyandots to the West. He was a merchant, saw-mill owner and operator, land speculator and farmer; and successful in all these pursuits. His home was near the intersection of Fifth Street and Minnesota avenue, Kansas City, Kan.
     Of his marriage, October 8, 1832, with Sarah Preston (who was born in 1811), were born: 1. Tabitha, born February 6, 1834, married E. T. Vedder, August 5, 1856; Vedder died in January, 1867; married Seymour Thorn a (who was born in New York in 1840),

for the treaty, 63. Against it 20. Seven or eight not voting. Carried.
     Wednesday, 15.--This day M^r Abelard Guthrie and Company set [out] for California. Health and success attend them.
     Tuesday, 21.--Attended the session of the Council, made out the pay roll. Confirmed the right of H. M. Northrup to citizenship. M^rs Hannah Zane,¹ late of Ohio, and M^rs Nancy Garrett² were also admitted. George Wright³

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in 1870; 2. Robert, born August 19, 1835, drowned in the Kansas River, July 15, 1858; 3. Caroline, born in December, 1837; 4. Winfield Scott, born December 1, 1840; 5. Silas, born February 1, 1842. Sarah (Preston) Armstrong died February 9, 1842.
     Silas Armstrong and Zelinda M. Hunter (who was born December 3, 1820), were married -- (have not been able to learn the date). Of this marriage were born: 1. Catherine, born June 15, 1843, married -- --- Shaffenberg; 2. Duncin, born January 23, 1849, died February 22, 1850; 3. Minarrh C., born July 12, 1846; 4. McIntyre, born July 15, 1852; 5. Elizabeth U., born November 27, 1854; 6. Antoinette, born February 15, 1858, married T. B. Barnes, died October 2, 1882; 7. Naomi, born August 10, 1861. Zelinda M. Armstrong died February 10, 1883. Silas Armstrong died December 14, 1865. He is buried in Huron Place Cemetery. The granite monument over his grave is the best in that historic burial ground. The following is copied from its northeast face:

  (Figure of Ark and Anchor.)
    Silas Armstrong
  Died December 14, 1865.
  Aged 55 ys 11 Mos 11 Ds.
The Pioneer of the Wyandott
Indians To The Kansas Valley
In 1842. The Leading Man and
Constant Friend of The Indians
A Devout Christian and Good Mason
He Leaves The Craft on Earth and
Goes With Joy to the Great Architect.

     I once asked S. S. Sharp to describe the funeral of Silas Armstrong. He replied: I never saw before nor since such a funeral as that. Many white people were present and a thousand Indians were there, all crying at the same time."
     ¹ She was the widow of Isaac Zane. Born in Virginia. She is buried in Huron Place Cemetery. Died November 14, 1886, aged 92 years.
     ² Widow of George Garrett; Governor Walker's sister.
     ³ A most remarkable man of great intelligence. He lives on Sycamore Creek in the Wyandot Reserve, near Seneca, Mo., where he settled in 1856. His grandmother was captured by the French in Guinea, Africa. She and other children were playing about the outskirts of a negro village. Suddenly the cry was raised that denoted an attack. The children fled, but this little girl was unable to hold way with the larger ones. She was but six years old, and very small for that age. She was captured by the pursuers, who proved to be a party of French slavers. They carried her to the Martinique Islands, where they kept her for sometime. Here there were many other negroes. After some time she was placed on board a ship which was loaded with her people. Sails were set and the vessel stood out to sea. None of the negroes had any idea of their ul-

and Lewis Clark's names were placed upon the pay roll, but with the understanding that they are not, by this act, acknowledged as having equal rights with the others. Their relative position to be defined when the treaty goes into effect.
     Saturday, 25.--Excessively warm. Closed the Annuity payment to-day. Glad of it. Vexatious and perplexing. This may be the last semi-Annuity we will receive from the United States, for, if the President and Senate should confirm our treaty it will certainly be the last. As after that event we Wyandotts will become citizens of Uncle Sam's States. A truly new era in the history of the Wyandott Nation.
     Sunday, 26.--Cloudy and at short intervals, scattering drops of rain. The air pure and bracing. Wrote a letter to Governor King upon the subject of a scamp of an alien holding the office of Justice of the Peace in C----- County.

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timate destination. When the ship had been at sea a few days it was attacked by the English and captured. The English ship was a slave cruiser and her crew put the French to the sword. Then they carried the negroes to America. At Philadelphia they sold Wright's grandmother to a Delaware Indian.
     She was both slave and wife to the Delaware. Wright's mother was born to her while she was the wife and chattel of the Indian. Sometime during the War of the Revolution this Delaware sold his slave and her daughter to a Wyandot Chief named Rontondee or Warpole. (Rohn'-tohn-deh signifies round in form like a tree trunk.) In the year 1800 they were adopted by the Wyandots. Soon after the adoption the daughter was married to a St. Regis Seneca, Wright's father.
     Wright remembers his grandmother well. He heard her often tell the foregoing account of her life. He was born at Upper Sandusky, March 20, 1812. His hair is long and straight, and somewhat gray; he has a long straight beard. In feature he resembles a Hindoo. His health is good but he is almost blind. He has the negro's love for music and plays on a violin which he has owned for fifty years.
     Wright came to Wyandotte County, Kansas, from Upper Sandusky, in 1850. In 1856 he went to the Senecas in the Indian Territory and settled on Sycamore Creek, where he now lives. This part of the Seneca land was afterwards sold to the Wyandots. Wright was then readopted by the Wyandots and given an allotment of 160 acres of land, which includes his home. He was the official interpreter of the United States for the Senecas, and also for the Shawnees, for sixteen years. He speaks perfect Wyandot, Shawnee, and Seneca, His English is good, much better than is generally spoken by men in his station. His mind is vigorous and his ideas clear and orderly. His discourse is logical, and well arranged. He is a ready speaker and does not hesitate for words.

JUNE, 1850

     Sunday, 2.--Just heard of the death of Robert Lattimore in California. "ALAS! POOR YORRICK!" thou art done with, thy games of chance. It is no longer thy "deal": thou hast turned up thy last trump, and it is greatly to be feared thou hast been euchered at last. Oh Hoyle! one of thy devotees has "shuffled off this mortal coil."
     Tuesday, 4.--Just heard of an onslaught by the Pawnees upon the Pottowattomies in which the latter repulsed their assailants with the death of their leader. It will end here--there will be no more of it hereafter.
     No mail! the usual excuse, "the Blue is up." Yes, and so is Turkey Creek; but horsemen and pedestrians can pass and repass "without let or hindrance." But "the Blue is up" and the mail contractor on dry land. He is terribly diseased with the Hydrophobia, and has a great dread of the waters of "the Blue." I wish he were blue himself and in the midst of his blueness thrown into the Blue.
     Pretty fair prospect of some more rain. Let it come and welcome. 'Twill be a blessing, not in disguise, but in its proper guise. Attended the session of the Council. A beautiful shower came on. Came home drenched. All right. A little more of the same kind.
     Friday, 7.--Just learned that Capt. Ketchum, the Chief of the Delawares, had informed our Chief that a band of Pawnees had attacked the Pottowattomies and were repulsed and that one had been captured and six scalps had been found in his possession, supposed to have been taken from some California emigrants.¹
     Tuesday, 11.--Attended Council. A committee appointed by a meeting of the people called upon the Council re-

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     ¹ The Pawnees hung upon the trail of the caravans bound for California. Any weak party was almost sure to be attacked.

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