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Excerpt From The Article "Monday, 2.--Posted books all day--walked out. Dr. H. and J. W. called and we spent an hour in chat on various matters; Indian affairs, politics, etc. Tuesday, 3.--Laid the foundation of the smoke house. Wednesday, 4.--Done nothing worthy of note. Thursday, 5.--Raised the smoke house. Friday, 6.-- Went to the City. Wrote this day to W. again for news. Saturday, 7.--Went to Kansas. Saw Maj. Vaughan. What is he "arter" ? While there, bo't a pair of shoes. I expect they are good for nothing. Look at the price, $1.25. Ha, ha, ha. Sunday, 8.--Staid all day at home--read newspapers. Oregon, Oregon. This has become the Alpha and Omega of our mouthing politicians. No one can be a great man unless he can vociferate "all of Oregon or none," and chew and spit out powder and lead. Monday, 9.--Clear, bright, and frosty morning. Wrote to Luther A. Hall (but dated the letter the 10th) on the subject of the tax money sent by him to pay into the Hardin County treasury." |
The Provisional Government of Nebraska Territory and the Journals of William Walker Provisional Governor of Nebraska Territory 152
WILLIAM WALKER, 1833.
THE JOURNALS OF WILLIAM WALKERPROVISIONAL GOVERNOR of NEBRASKA, TERRITORY FIRST BOOK From March 29, 1846, to September 22, 1849 FROM THIS ORIGINAL MANUSCRIPT IN THE COLLECTION OF WILLIAM E. CONNELLEY 153 JOURNAL. FRANCOIS. "Le plus beau morceau d'eloquence qu'il y sit dans aucune langue. Bolmar. TRADUCTION. "The finest piece of eloquence that exists in any language." "time when the memory of man runneth not to the contrary. 154 THE JOURNALS OF WILLIAM WALKER, PROVISIONAL GOVERNOR OF NEBRASKA TERRITORY, FIRST BOOK. From March 29, 1845, to September 22, 1849. 1845. MARCH, 1845. Saturday, 29.--Caught Samuel Medary1 and put him up in a coop to fatten (not on Quassi Quires) to be cooked for dinner on Harriet's birthday. APRIL, 1845. Thursday, 10.--Sam was killed and eat up, though sooner than was at first intended. His day of execution was hastened by his repeatedly escaping from his coop, and when out would invariably fall upon Harry in a deadly fight, but was invariably whipped by the latter. It was thought that under these circumstances Sam could not gain much fat or flesh, and therefore the allotted time was shortened. Alas poor Sam Let his bones slumber in peace! 1) This was evidently a rooster which Governor Walker named Samuel Medary for an Ohio politician of his acquaintance. Medary was afterward appointed Territorial Governor of Kansas Territory. The appointment was made November 19, 1858. 158 MAY, 1845. Friday, 23.--Finished ploughing the field. Saturday, 24.--Harrowed. Set out seventy-five cabbage plants. Monday, 26.--Planted red potatoes and thirty-one hills watermelons. Tuesday, 27.--Set out four dozen beet plants and some sugar beets; fifty cabbage plants. Wednesday, 28.--Planted the corn, part yellow, and part large white. Thursday, 29.--Sowed the Sandwich Island flower seeds. Friday, 30.--Planted muskmelons and the fall potatoes. Saturday, 31.--Planted blue corn1 with beans, and five hills of Santa Fe corn. JUNE, 1845. Sunday, I.--Rested. Rainy day. Wrote to G. N. D. Monday, 2.--Tried an experiment. Set out fifty radishes in the following manner: Made holes in the ground with a sharp stick and held the radish in the hole, then filled up the interstices with sand.* * I will never try this experiment again. Not worth a cent Tuesday, 3.--Set out twelve hills sweet potatoes, and [planted] fifteen [hills] Nantucket corn. Wednesday, 4.--Planted pumpkins and watermelons and muskmelons. Thursday, 5.--Planted some more, ditto. We have enough. Saturday, 7.--Dr. Hewitt and family arrive.2 1) Corn was one of the principal articles of food of the Wyandots, and to this day they raise many varieties of it - a certain kind for each season, some early and some late, one kind for a special variety of hominy, and one kind for another variety of that dish, etc., etc. December, 1845] 159 Tuesday, 10.--Enclosed the woods pasture seven rails high Tuesday, 17.--Rainy season commenced. Wednesday, 18.--Raining-rained all day. Thursday, 19.--Rained all day. Friday, 20.--Rained all the time furiously. Saturday, 21.--Rained all the time furiously. Sunday, 22.--Rained all the time furiously. JULY, 1845. Sunday, 13.--Quarterly meeting-hot day, thermometer 98. OCTOBER, 1845. Saturday, 11.--Devoured our last watermelon. NOVEMBER, 1845. Thursday, 27.--Thermometer at zero at sunrise. Saturday, 29.--Thermometer 22 degrees below zero. DECEMBER, 1845. Tuesday, 23.--Bought 810 pounds [of] pork at $3.00 per cwt. Wednesday, 24.--Cut it up and salted it away. Thursday, 25.--A merry Christmas1 to all! I staid at home all day, for the best of all reasons, being lame and unable to go about. Wrote to some friends in Ohio. Tuesday, 30.--Held Council here and did some wise things. Wednesday, 31.--Wrote a long letter to our delegates at Washington2 1) Governor Walker almost invariably spelled Christmas "Chrismas." I have taken the liberty to correct the spelling. 160 1846. JANUARY, 1846. Thursday, 1.--This is the 45th new year that has passed over my head. In looking through the long vista I have passed through, how few of my contemporaries live to see this day! "Mais ainse va le monde." Friday, 2.--Done nothing--read some--lounged about the house. Attempted to translate a French Song into English, horribly done. The musical Frenchman would never recognize his song in this butchered English dress.1 Saturday, 3.--Doing nothing--read some--intending to read some more in Byron's "Island." Whew! Let joy burst forth among epicurians (but more like envy) I am, (hear it ye gluttons!) going to dine on pork and parsnips! Delectable dish! Felicitatus! Just heard by Mrs Bostwick that Providence was buried on yesterday. Poor fellow! His last days were full of misery, pain and suffering. He truly died in poverty. Sunday, 4.--Staid at home and read. Monday, 5.--Heard of the death of Margaret Nofat.2 She died yesterday. Tuesday, 6.--Council met at George Armstrong's.3 Trans- 1) Governor Walker spoke French well. Many of the Wyandots spoke French better than they did English. The record in the family Bible of Robert Robitaille is written in French. The boy was retained and adopted by the Wyandots. He grew up and married a Wyandot woman. He separated from her and married Sarah Zane, daughter of Isaac Zane, who had himself been captured and adopted by the Wyandots, had grown up and married a Wyandot woman. By the first wife he had one son, George, born in 1801; died in February, 1853. By the second wife he had four children that I have an account 161 acted a variety of business. Adjourned to meet that day a week at some house in town. Wednesday, 7.--Undergoing the most tormenting affliction from biles, ulcers, sores, scabs, etc. My flesh appears to be running into a putrid state, while at the same time my health in general is good. Thursday, 8.--Lay all day in the house. Friday, 9.--Lay all day in the house. Saturday, 10.--Lay all day in the house. Sunday, 11.--Suffering still; spend sleepless nights. Wrote letters to Mr Guthrie, [and] J. Washington. Monday, 12.--No better but worse Psoriasis inveterati. Tuesday, 13.--Sent for Dr. Hewitt; must undergo a course of medicine. Unable to attend Council. Requested Touroomee to preside over the deliberations of the Council and proceed to business. Wednesday, 14.--Slept sound last night, having drawn pretty liberally upon a soporific anodyne y'clept, morphine --feel somewhat stupid, and some foggyness in the upper story; not much appetite. Thursday, 15.--Feel some better--inflamation going down. Friday, 16.--Sleeting this morning, accompanied with snow. Prepared a communication for C. Graham to Purdy M. E. upon the subject of four months pay while moving the of: 1. Hannah, died while attending the Wyandot Mission at Upper Sandusky. (See Finley's History of the Wyandot Mission.) 2. Silas, born June 3, 1810; 3. John McIntyre, born October 7, 1813; 4. Catherine. George Armstrong married the daughter of Mononcue, a Wyandot preacher, famous in the history of the Wyandot Mission at Upper Sandusky. Her name was Skah'-mehn-dah-teh; she belonged to the Porcupine Clan. George Armstrong is buried in the Huron Place Cemetery. The following is copied from his tombstone: George Armstrong This is an error. Governor Walker's Journal says he died November 19, 1851. See his entry of November 20th, 1851. 162 shop and his family to this country. Dull times. Confined to my room--gloomy ennui. Saturday, 17.--Received a letter from Jesse Stern,1 giving information of Capt. Wagstaff's movements--his petition for a partition of the lands in Seneca County, and his wish for the appointment of an administrator on the personal estate of C. W.2 Sunday, 18.--Staid at home all day and read the news--had the company of Mr Austin who staid till nearly night. In the evening was called upon by Mr G. and lady and in a few moments afterwards J. W. was added to the company. Isaiah accepted his improvement money, it is said, for the purpose of buying Mrs Long's improvement to keep a certain Blackstone, Jr. from getting it. Not so bad a move. Monday, 19.--Commenced snowing this morning at 2 o'clock A. M., and now, at 9 o'clock, still snowing and a fair prospect of a regular snow storm. Tuesday, 20.--This is Council day--important matters may come up before that august body. If any Council were held I do not know where it was nor what was done. it stormed all day at a most furious rate and I kept close quarters. Wednesday, 21.--Sun rose clear. We shall have a thaw to-day. Thursday, 22.--Staid all day in close quarters. Friday, 23.--To-day a poor wretch, named Lester, has to expiate his crime on the "gallows tree," according to the sentence of the court before which he was tried and convicted of the crime, murder, cold blooded murder, of his brother-in-law whom he had decoyed off into the prairies on pretence of special business requiring secrecy. The motive prompting 1) It is impossible to tell whether Governor Walker intends this for Stem or Stern. This holds all the way through his Journal. I have written it Stern. 163 to the murder was property. The parents of the murderer appear to have been desperate wretches. By this time, 4 o'clock P. M., he must have passed the dark curtain of death. Saturday, 24.--No news. Dull times. Horribelorum. Blue devils. Sunday, 25.--Sick--had a chill at daylight. My back came near parting twain. Received a letter from A. Guthrie.1 Not very encouraging news from Washington. Our delegates rioting on the fat of the land at a most expensive rate and doing nothing and no prospect of their doing any public or private good. Money spent for nothing. Monday, 26.--Replied to Mr Guthrie in a dolorous letter. Employed Peter Balouger2 and Peter Gray to build a smoke house with a porch six feet wide on one side of the house, the house to be fourteen feet square and ten logs high, price $20.00. Where is the cash to come from. Trust to chances. Tuesday, 27.--Attended Council to-day but done very little important business. Agreed to employ Tall Charles' another year to keep the ferry. Wrote a joint letter to George Garrett upon the subject of R. Wagstaff's application for a partition of the land in Seneca County and the appointment of an administrator on the personal estate of C. W. In our commucation to G. G. we deny that there is any personal property, all having 1) Abelard Guthrie and James Washington were the Delegates at Washington City. Tall Charles 164 been. disposed of during her lifetime. The letter was signed W. W., C. B. G., M. R. W., J. W.1 Wednesday, 28.--Mild, warm morning; smoky and hazy; Mr George Dickson called upon us. 11 o'clock, commenced misting, and shortly after set in a pretty rain, and now, 3 O'clock, raining at a pretty brisk rate and every prospect. of having it all night. Dr. H. advises me to resume the use of the iodine and blue mass in order to correct the great irregularity in my system and quicken the circulation. So to-morrow morning I resume the medicine. Midnight, raining. Thursday, 29.--Raining, and every appearance of raining all day. Rain, rain, oh dull day! "Be still and heart and cease repining Friday, 30.--Sun rose clear; but shortly afterwards it became over-clouded, and rain set in at 8 o'clock. No work to be done on the smoke house to-day. Hurra, the hounds! What music!! In full chase after a wolf over hill and dale, away they go. I am getting better! Saturday, 31.--Received a few old papers from the P. 0. that had been on the road between this and Washington a month or six weeks. No letters. No news from our delegates. What has become of them? But I am informed there [is] a mail behind, which did not reach Independence.2 This may account for the lack of news. FEBRUARY, 1846. Sunday, 1.--This being the day of "rest," I rested, but it was a poor "rest" to me. Equal to the rest enjoyed by the felon in his prison. 1) William Walker, Charles B. Garrett, Matthew R. Walker, and Joel Walker. 165 Monday, 2.--Posted books all day--walked out. Dr. H. and J. W. called and we spent an hour in chat on various matters; Indian affairs, politics, etc. Tuesday, 3.--Laid the foundation of the smoke house. Wednesday, 4.--Done nothing worthy of note. Thursday, 5.--Raised the smoke house. Friday, 6.-- Went to the City. Wrote this day to W. again for news. Saturday, 7.--Went to Kansas. Saw Maj. Vaughan. What is he "arter" ? While there, bo't a pair of shoes. I expect they are good for nothing. Look at the price, $1.25. Ha, ha, ha. Sunday, 8.--Staid all day at home--read newspapers. Oregon, Oregon. This has become the Alpha and Omega of our mouthing politicians. No one can be a great man unless he can vociferate "all of Oregon or none," and chew and spit out powder and lead. Monday, 9.--Clear, bright, and frosty morning. Wrote to Luther A. Hall (but dated the letter the 10th) on the subject of the tax money sent by him to pay into the Hardin County treasury. Tuesday, 10.--Paid to Tall Charles, ferryman, $45.00, leaving a balance due him for 1845 of $55.00. Bo't some baskets from some Muncie women. Received by the hands of Mr Wheeler, the President's message with accompanying documents, sent by Mr Sawyer, M. C. Met in Council, determined upon calling a National Council1 on Thursday to deliberate upon our matters at Washington and other affairs generally. 1) The government of the Wyandots was a pure Democracy. Any matter of importance that affected the tribe had to be sanctioned by a National Council of the whole People. The tribal Council of Chiefs fixed the day for a National Convention and notified the people of the time, place, and purpose of the meeting. This notice was sent by the Sheriffs, of which there were two. Women participated in these National Councils and voted in them if they chose to do so. A majority vote was sufficient to pass a measure 166 Wednesday, 11.--Moved some of our trumpery, such as soap, salt, corn meal, pork, etc., into our new smoke house, and hung up the hams and shoulders to dry, and afterwards to smoke. Heard yesterday my land in H. County, was sold for taxes. Money was furnished to my friends in Ohio to pay the taxes, but they very kindly appropriated the money to their own use. The devil take such friends. Thursday, 12.--Met in general convention at the meeting house at 12 o'clock. I called the convention to order and explained the object of the meeting. A committee was accordingly appointed to act with the Chiefs in drafting a memorial to Congress upon the subject of our claims. The committee consisted of nine men. Friday, 13.--Committee and the Council met at the School House and drew up a strong memorial to be sent to Hon. Tho. H. Benton of the Senate. Saturday, 14.--Staid at home, copied the memorial, scribbled some, read some. I want my mail. News, news! Snow going off very fast. Sunday, 15.--Wrote a long letter to James Washington, apprising him of our sending our memorial to Senator Benton, and apprising him how affairs are going on at his house--loafers eating him up. Monday, 16.--Wrote under date of 14th, to Jesse Stern, upon the subject of Wagstaff's claim, and inquiring what authority he has to represent J. T. W.1 in his petition for a partition of land. Tuesday, 17.--Having received information that our Chiefs had presented, through Senator Allen, a memorial to Congress, we concluded not to send ours to Col. Benton, but forward it to them to be used privately among their friends as an exponent of the wishes of the people. 1) John T. Walker, son of John R. Walker, Governor Walker's oldest brother. 167 Wednesday, 18.--I staid up last night till a late hour expecting a visitor to my corn shocks of the "kine" kind; intended to pay my respects to this "kine" visitor by the discharge of one or two rounds a la mode military, but no visitor. This morning I yoked up my oxen, fearing they might forget the use of the yoke, and hauled some wood. Cattle work well yet. Being washday, carried water. Women all in the suds. Did other chores--Shakespeare says chares. Which is correct? Some will have it that such work should be called "pottering." Well, potter you that potter will, "as the Pelagions vainly do teach." Received the mail from the P. 0., two newspapers, not my own, and a letter from James Washington, giving us all the [news] they have upon the subject of their business at W. Prospects somewhat encouraging.1 Thursday, 19.--Commenced snowing this morning a little before day and it snowed all day at a most furious rate but held up at 3 o'clock P. M. Altogether considered it has been a rather unseemly day. Wrote to John Goodin authorizing him to make an effort to recover my land in Hardin county, sold for taxes. My curses rest on the men I entrusted the tax money with! Friday, 20.--Rose at the dawn of day; frosty morning--made a fire, called my folks up and had everything stirring in due time. Stirring times, "all of Oregon or none." To the 54th degree and 40 minutes and no less. Hurry breakfast, no time to be lost. Yes, and the British are looking towards Cuba--we are in imminent danger.2 The teakettle is boiling over. Take it off the fire. Our young folks enjoying the snow by sleigh riding of evenings. 1) The matter of getting the sanction of the Government to the purchase of their home from the Delawares was at this time engrossing the attention of the Wyandots. 168 Saturday, 21.--Clear, cold, and frosty morning--prospect of a fine day. This is mail day--bring on the news "Now what. news upon the Rialto?" Mail received, but nothing but newspapers, and nothing of special interest in them. Sunday, 22.--Sick this morning, sick all day. Monday, 23.--Ill at ease--pains all over my body with soreness in my breast. Spent a restless night--took no medicine, 'cause my appetite is not affected nor any derangement of stomach or bowels. Tuesday, 24.--Council day, but I am unable to attend the session to-day. Not feeling any better, and withal being a cold, dreary and cloudy day--so contented myself with burying my ills, laying and sitting about the fire. Query, Does the climate of upper Missouri agree with me? I am sometimes induced to think not. My health has not been good since I came to this country, but still this may be properly attributed to other causes. I would fain think so. I like the country and would wish to spend the remainder of my days in it. Wednesday, 25.--Roasted my bones all day before the fire. Mercury down near zero all day. Hard weather for an invalid. Thursday, 26.--This morning mercury two degrees below zero. Whew! good morning Esqr. North Pole, and how fare you, Mr Frigid Zone. Have you both come south to thaw your noses? Hope you will make your visit short. John Providence was found to-day near Turkey Creek by Benjamin, a Frenchman, who, on examining him, found that his legs were frozen above the knees and his arms frozen above the elbows and [he was] nearly dead. He carried him to the Ferry and dragged him over on the ice and [he] was taken to Tall Charles's house. He laid out all night, in a state of intoxication. Dr. H. thinks he cannot live. During last night the mercury stood at zero. 169 Friday, 27.--Cloudy, cold, dark, weather. Winter, winter. "The dark and wintry day Saturday, 28.--Sleeted last night. Everything this morning looking as gray as St. Nicholas's beard, while on his nocturnal holiday visits to his patrons. What sort of weather are we to have next? We have had every variety of cold weather, and I begin to wish [for] the return of warm weather. A dark dreary day the most cheerless and gloomy I have seen lately. Shine forth thou luminary of day and show thy brilliant countenance. Suffer us not to be frightened out of our wits by the horrible dark frowns of the clouds above us. MARCH, 1846. Sunday, 1.--Clear, warm day. Thawed some of the frost out of the ground. Monday, 2.--Went to Kansas on foot. Crossed the river on the ice. Came near giving out before I reached home, the roads being awfully muddy. Sent to the P. 0. a communication to James Washington. Tuesday, 3.--Council to-day. Met at 12 o'clock; read to the Council Jas. Washington's letter, and then stated what I said in answer. Directors employed Mr. Robataille1 to take charge of Mr. Kramer's school. Wednesday, 4.--Charming morning; oh, the clear blue sky and the glorious rising sun! How vivifying to my dormant and nearly dead energies both of body and mind. Thursday, 5.--This being my natal day, I now make my obeisance and enter into my 46th year. I now take my rank among old men. What! Am I an old man? Do I look venerable? Well, if I do, I do not feel like leaving the ranks 1) Robert Robitaille, a Wyandot. Lived near Quindaro, Wyandotte county, Kansas. |
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