The Provisional Government of Nebraska Territory and the Journals of William Walker Provisional Governor of Nebraska Territory

The Journals of William Walker - First Book: March 29, 1846 to September 22, 1849

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of the young and middle aged yet, at any rate. On serious reflection upon my past life, checkered tho' it has been, it seems to me that I have lived to but little purpose. I do not recollect of having founded any charitable institution, church, or synagogue, yet I have not been unmindful of the poor. I have a warm feeling for the poor and distressed.

Friday, 6.--Set out four apple trees (grafts) [that] I got from M. R. W. They were procured in Granville, Ohio, and [are] reputed to be of a superior quality.

Saturday, 7.--Dr. H. made preparation and proceeded to Kansas to take the boat on her return, destined for Washington. The John-Go-Long-Up being the first boat up this season. The river unusually low; in many places, there is scarcely two feet of water in the channel.

Sunday, 8.--Down sick with a high fever. Our mail brought in. We were shocked at the intelligence of the death of Geo. Garrett,1 communicated by Kirby, McE., and J. Walker; disease, mania a potu. Favorable intelligence from Washington about our claims. Got 20 apple trees.

Monday, 9.--Raining. Gloomy day. Continue sick.

Tuesday, 10.--Council day. Could not attend, of course. Staid at home and nursed myself. Commenced taking that panacea for ills, blue mass.

Wednesday, 11.--Had a high fever all day; pains in my back.

Thursday, 12.--Some better; sat up all day.

Friday, 13.--Comfortable; read all day and amused myself in various ways to drive dull care and ennui away. At night, luxuriated on a dish of oyster soup.

Saturday, 14.--Walked over this morning to the Deacon's, on a visit. Chatted about half an hour and came away. Can't walk very fast. In the evening, Isaiah [Walker] brought me two Nat. Intelligencers, but [they] containing

1) Governor Walker's brother-in-law; he lived in Ohio.

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no news of importance. Wrote, through the day, by spells, a long letter to Robert Wagstaff, giving him, in plain and unequivocal language, my opinion of his course.

Sunday, 15.--Attended this morning at the Deacon's. William Garrett and Mary Ann Long were there united in marriage at 10 o'clock A. M., and proceeded with a party of their friends to Westport. Peace and prosperity attend them.

Monday, 16.--Getting some better. Sat up all day; read some in the evening. The wedding party returned from Westport, highly delighted with their trip.

Tuesday, 17.--Wrote D. W. Deshler for a certificate or receipt.

Wednesday, 18.--Sick last night; pains last night in my stomach, which terminated in a copious evacuation from the bowels. This morning paid the Deacon for my blooded hog stock ($400.) so my pigs are secured, unless they are stolen, which Heaven forefend!

Thursday, 19.--Received two letters from our deputies at Washington. No news of interest. Considering Friday an ill omened or unlucky day, and having twenty choice apple trees to set out, I concluded I would at all events, weak as I am, make a commencement to-day, so I set out four.1

Friday, 20.--Isaiah kindly came over and helped me to finish setting out 20, the remainder of the trees. This was done in the dark of the moon. Will it make any difference in the thrift or bearing of the trees. Wrote a long letter to J. Washington in reply to his, and one to John Walker. My health slowly improving. Too great an appetite for my digestion. Still luxuriating on blue mass--"by the mass." But it is becoming very nauseating to my stomach and palate; but it must be taken although it may cost some wry faces and unseemly gyrations.

1) Almost all men have this feeling that Friday is an unlucky day, but few of them will admit it as frankly as Governor Walker does here.

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Saturday, 21.--Staid about home. Done pottering chores about the house. Walked over to M. R. W.'s and spent the afternoon. Commenced raining in the evening land continued, with short intermissions, raining all night.

Sunday, 22.--Raining this morning. Kept close quarters. Read much miscellaneous matter. Wrote for the Expositor. Rained all night.

Monday, 23.--Rainy morning. Found the glands in my neck considerably swollen caused by my taking the mercurial pills, and the damp weather. I must suspend my pill taking till the weather changes. Bought some young peach trees from C. B. G. If I am favored with good luck I shall in three years have lots of fine fruit. So mote it be.

Tuesday, 24.--This morning found myself ptyalyzed The glands under my jaws, sore. A regular New England snow storm all day. Could not attend Council to-day--the weather too inclement to go out.

Wednesday, 25.--Clear, but a cold windy morning. Some rain through the day. Nothing of interest occurred.

Thursday, 26.--Raw, disagreeable day. Staid at home. Read over my latest papers the second time for the want of later ones.

Friday, 27.--Cold, cloudy day--dreary as the shores of the Island of Spitzbergen, spitting snow all day.

Saturday, 28.--Cool morning. Set out about 10 o'clock for Kansas to mail some letters and get our mail. Not getting anything I sent Eldridge H.1 to Westport and got our mail, one letter from J. W. G., and one from L. A. Hall. "Quarterly meeting time."

Sunday, 29.--Clear cold morning. Frosty. Read newspapers. Lectured my children on morals and good breeding, warning them against various immoralities.2 People

1) Eldredge H. Brown, now living in Wyandotte, Indian Territory.
2) An old-fashioned practice, now almost obsolete, which might well be revived.

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going to church. I wish I could go, but I cannot walk that far and back without too much fatigue.

Monday, 30.--Cloudy morning and cold. Mr Stateler1 called upon us and had a long confab. Tauroome2 called and had a ditto. Oh, genial and vivifying spring, hasten

1) The minister of the M. E. Church.
2) Wyandotte Gazette, January 20, 1870:

"Tauromee, Chief of the Wyandotte Nation, died on Saturday morning last, and was buried Sunday, at 2 o'clock P. M. The funeral exercises were held at the M. E. Church, South, and owing to the state of the weather and roads, was not numerously attended. They consisted of a brief eulogy on the life and character of the deceased, delivered in the language of the Wyandottes and the committing to the earth of his remains. Governor Walker pronounced the eulogy, and afterwards gave a short synopsis of it in English, from which we gather the following facts:

"Tauromee, in his early life, was a man of the chase, a hunter. But his tribe, having noticed that he had a good degree of ability, he was in 1838, chosen into the Council Board of the nation, and upon the death of John Long, a number of years afterwards, he became Head Chief. From this time the good of the nation seemed to lie nearest his heart. His administration was morally a wise and just one. He was a man of great endurance and an indomitable will, and when he undertook a measure, no obstacle would turn him from it until it was accomplished. He was not of very quick perceptions, and often expressed his regret that he could not grasp a subject and cope with it and form his conclusions more readily. But when he had taken time to examine a subject in all of its bearings, his conclusions were sure to be correct.

"Soon after his tribe came to the West, a proposition was made by the government (if we understood the speaker correctly) to have the lands divided among the people, and have them come into full citizenship. This Tauromee strenuously opposed, he claiming that they were not prepared for such a step, and that the result would be that in short time many of them would be homeless. The matter was submitted to the nation, and a large majority voting for it, it was adopted. Tauromee, obeying the voice of his people, signed the treaty, but under protest. The results he had foreseen, soon manifested themselves. Many of the tribe, through their improvidence, were soon suffering for the necessaries of life. They had squandered their lands, and were with out homes. Then their fallen Chief began to look about for a home for them. He finally bethought him of their old neighbors, the Senecas, who now live some two hundred miles south of here. Many obstacles were thrown in his way, but he overcame them all and succeeded in securing among the Senecas, twenty thousand acres of land. Many of his people are already settled there, and at the time of his death, he was awaiting some action of Congress to enable him to complete their removal. Now he is gone, and John W. Gray-Eyes becomes Chief by birthright. Tenderly and feelingly the speaker counseled Gray-Eyes to shake off his besetting sin, and be strong under this new responsibility. The speaker referred to the subdivision of the nation into three divisions called the Big Turtles, Little Turtles and Wolf tribe. He stated that when a Chief of the first two died his eulogy should be spoken by some member of the latter. But in this case, there being no one of that division to do it, he was there to do it, though himself one of the first. Governor Walker's remarks were listened to with deep interest by all who were present. At their conclusion the coffin was taken to the grave, where it was opened and the members of the Wyandotte Nation who were present took a last look at the features of him who had so long been their Chief."

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thy advent to these frigid regions and suffer not that frosty-headed old tyrant, winter, to hold eternal dominion over us.

Tuesday, 31.--Council day. Read J. W. G.'s letter to the Council. Negro question came up; the C[hief] denied that any law prohibiting our negroes from emigrating to this country was passed.1 Issued Council orders to a large amount for Bacon.

APRIL, 1846.

Wednesday, 1.--How I was myself "fooled." I had entirely forgotten that this was the first, i. e. All Fools Day, or how much real fun I might have had in my family. In fact they forgot it themselves, or they might have had some sport out of me.

Met with Mr G. for the first time since his return from Washington. Had a long confab on our claims, on Gov't, politics, etc.

Weather cleared warm. High winds, drying weather. Encouraging for gardening operations.

Thursday, 2.--Cloudy morning, but cleared off in the afternoon and became warm and pleasant. Disinterred my potatoes; found I had five bushels left. Better than I expected.

Friday, 3.--Commenced ploughing my garden, having forgot that it was Friday an unlucky day. Well, it rained, and [I] had to quit. Such and similar are the results of commencing a piece of work on that day.

At 2 o'clock it cleared up a little, and as Rev. W., Mr W. and Mrs H. W. had made their arrangements to take a pleasure ride to Independence, they saddled up their nags and put out. May they enjoy much pleasure. I am now quite a promising convalescent.

1) There was much opposition in the tribe to slave-holding by any member or citizen of it. Some of the most influential men contended that slavery and slave-holding were entirely foreign to every Wyandot custom, and repugnant to the Wyandot mind.

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Saturday, 4.--Rainy morning; dreary appearance out of doors. 2 o'clock, raining yet. Thermometer between "temperate 19 and "freezing." Well I will stay in the house and patiently reconcile myself to my lot. Bring on the mail and let me have the news, if there be any going.

Sunday, 5.--Got up this morning; the mercury in the thermometer down to freezing point, and on examination found it had frozen the puddles of rainwater. At 8 o'clock the small hazy clouds began to disperse and the thrice-welcome smiles of "Old Sol" beamed upon the face of nature--making glad all animated nature. Wrote a long letter to H. Barrett, giving him what news we have of interest. Just heard of the arrival of our delegates.

Monday, 6.--Raining like fury. Horrid! Wrote to J. Y., Cin. Read and yawned and complained of the weather, but where is the use? None; so I will be content.

"No man ore found a happy life by chance
Or yawned it into being with a wish."

Tuesday, 7.--Cold morning. Mercury below "freezing point." Clear, but how long will it last. Our folks did not get home last night from Independence. Council day. Met at the Company's store. Transacted some business, and adjourned to meet here to hear the report of the delegates. Adjourned to meet here to-morrow and finish the report. Our folks not home yet. What's the matter?

Wednesday, 8.--Council met here pursuant to adjournment, and the delegates finished their report. If Congress should allow the first appraisement, T. W. Bartley is to be allowed three thousand dollars for his services, if not, nothing but his expenses in Washington. Report accepted.

To report to the nation in general Council to-morrow at the church.

Thursday, 9.--Rain. I cannot attend the general Council owing to the inclemency of the weather; dare not get

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wet yet. Every appearance of a rainy day. Set out eighteen peach trees. It is now four o'clock in the evening, and it has rained all day incessantly and likely to continue so all night. Poor chance for gardening without a change of weather.

Friday, 10.--Rose early, and my ears were saluted with the "old song" rain, rain; dull music.

Rain, rain! Mud, mud! Misery, disappointment, confusion, and disorder. Chaotic.

Saturday, 11.--Wrote to J. M. A.1 a letter of instruction upon various matters. Cold, dreary weather. Going to hunt my cow; fearing she may have calved and her udder might spoil owing to the temperance of the calf

12 o'clock.--Just got back from hunting my cow, but cannot find her. Where she has gone to I cannot tell.

Sunday, 12.--Nothing of interest occurred. Hiatus of some days. Nothing worth noting.

Saturday, 18.--Attended Council. Executed our agreement with T. W. B.,2 our attorney at Washington.

Sunday, 19.--Staid at home all day--read, chatted with such company as called.

Monday, 20.--Worked in the garden; sowed some lettuce. Planted some seed onions and red potatoes.

Tuesday, 21.--Attended Council. Divorced George Armstrong from his wife.3 H. Jacquis goes back to Washington to see to public affairs.

Wednesday, 22.--Wednesday's history may be sum'd up in doing various sorts of work: Gardening, assisting in making soap, carrying water, etc.

Thursday, 23.--Fenced in the yard. Received a mail to

1) John M. Armstrong.
2) Thos. W. Bartley; he was acting Governor of Ohio in 1844.
3) He was divorced at this time from Skah-mehn-dah-teh, daughter of Mononcue. She is said to have been a virago.

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day in which was a letter from Dr. H. written from Washington. Made garden; sowed some seeds.

Friday, 24.--Husked out the remains of my corn crop. Warm and beautiful day. Soap making closed. Wash-day. Soap suds and wash tubs.

Saturday, 25.--Here I find I am in error in regard to my dates. To-day is the 25 instead of Yesterday. Engaged in clearing up the yard, removing rubbish and stuff, leveling the ground--digging up the grubs and stumps. We had no eclipse, tho'. Wrote to Col. J. Goodin1 to sell my land at a good price if he can.

Sunday, 26.--Staid at home all day, being unable to travel about, owing to my lameness. Read newspapers. Proceedings of Congress; Oregon, Oregon. I wish the whole territory, except the inhabitants, was sunk in the lowest depth of tophit. At night, raining.

Monday, 27.--Dreary morning-raining, In my wrath, I slaughtered a hen for breaking my window-- she came into the house and I could not drive her out, but through the window she must go, so I slew her!

Tuesday, 28.--Pottered about the house. Wrote some letters, and read some. Made a summer house.

Wednesday, 29.--Worked in the garden; sowed some peas; wrote letters to be sent by the Deacon to Ohio. In the evening, had a visit from Mr Graham.

Thursday, 30.--The day of sale of lots in Kansas.2 Could not go on account of lameness. Cold, raw, cloudy day. Backward season.

1) I have been unable to ascertain whether or not this gentleman was in any way related to John R. Goodin, afterward judge, and member of Congress from Kansas.
2) Governor Walker always speaks of Kansas City, Mo., as "Kansas." It was sometimes called "Kansas Landing" and "Westport Landing." This is the first sale of lots; the town-site was first platted about that time. Only lots along the levee were laid out. It was then supposed that what is now the beat part of Kansas City would always remain farm land.

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MAY, 1846.

Friday, 1.--May-day. In some countries this is a gala day --crowning with flowers the successful candidate for regal honors. I worked in the garden; sowed some parsley seed and also some early cabbage. Tried an experiment by thrusting apple sprouts into Potatoes, and planting them. It is said they [the apple sprouts] will take root.

Saturday, 2.--Worked in the garden. Went to town. Staid nearly all day. Got our news in the evening, and read on till late in the night.

Sunday, 3.--Staid at home--[it] rained. Cold, damp weather.

Monday, 4.--The Deacon packing up his effects for a move to Ohio. Planted some choice watermelons, [which I] got from Mrs Twyman. [In the] evening [the] Deacon moved, his family over to our house to remain till he sets out on his journey. He seems depressed in spirit and melancholy. He evidently leaves with great reluctance.

Tuesday, 5.--The Council met. C. B. G. required to alter his fence so as to leave room for a road sixty feet wide and throw his farm in[to] a more square form; he fencing in other land in lieu thereof. Granted a divorce to William. Clark from his wife Harriet. At 11 o'clock the Deacon and his family bade adieu to the Wyandotts,1 and embarked on board the Radnor with sorrowful hearts.2 May they have a pleasant and prosperous voyage.

Wednesday, 6.--Warm, but cloudy weather; unsettled. About the middle of the afternoon the western horizon became overcast with black and angry looking clouds, which, was followed by a most furious rain, and in a short time a violent hail storm set in, which lasted two hours. The

1) Governor Walker always writes Wyandot "Wyandott."
2) This "Deacon" was the Methodist minister, but what his name was I have not ascertained; possibly James Wheeler.

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cattle became frantic, running to and fro, smarting under the severe peltings of the hail. The hail continued till night, and all night with occasional intermissions. Everything deluged.

Thursday, 7.--Clear this morning, but how long it will last no one can tell. Hark, I hear the song of the cuckoo. Truly, I can from my heart address that sweet bird in the words of Logan!

Sweet bird! thy bower is ever green,
Thy sky is ever clear;
Thou bast no sorrow in thy no*
No winter in thy year.
Oh! could I fly, I'd fly with thee;
We'd make a joyful wing,
Our annual visit round the globe,
Companions of the spring."

Just heard of the arrival of Noah E. Zane1 with his family

1) THE ZANE FAMILY.--Wither's Chronicles of Border Warfare, edition of 1895, page 124, says.

"In 1769, Col. Ebenezer Zane, his brothers Silas and Jonathan, with some others from the South Branch, visited the Ohio River for the purpose of commencing improvements; and severally proceeded to select positions for their future residence. Col. Zane chose for his, an eminence above the mouth of Wheeling Creek, near to the Ohio, and opposite a beautiful and considerable island in that river. The spot thus selected by him, is now occupied by his son Noah Zane, Esq., and is nearly the center of the present flourishing town of Wheeling. Silas Zane commenced improving on Wheeling Creek where Col. Moses Shepard now lives, and Jonathan resided with his brother Ebenezer. Several of those who accompained [sic] the adventurers likewise remained with Col. Zane, in the capacity of laborers."

In a note to the above, Lyman C. Draper says: "These Gentlemen were descendants, of a Mr. Zane, who accompanied William Penn, to his province of Pennsylvania, and from whom, one of the principal streets in Philadelphia, derived its name. Their father was possessed of a bold and daring spirit of adventure, which was displayed on many occasions, in the earlier part of his life. Having rendered himself obnoxious to the Society of Friends (of which he was a member,) by marrying without the pale of' that society, he moved to Virginia, and settled on the South Branch, where the town of Moorfield has been since erected. One of his sons (Isaac) was taken by the Indians, when he was only nine years old, and carried in captivity, to Mad River, in Ohio. Here he continued till habit reconciled him to his situation, when he married a squaw, became a chief and spent the remainder of his life with them. He was never known to wage war against the whites; but was on several occasions, of infinite service, by apprising them of meditated attacks of the Indians. His descendents still reside in Ohio."

Isaac Zane was a humane man. Withers says of him, on pages 417 and 418, that a war-party of whites once went to attack the Wyandots. One man was placed near the Indian camp with orders to fire upon the first Indian he saw. Afterward his company.

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and also E. A. Long. It is said the former intends residing here, having moved bag and baggage. What will the poor

retreated but did not notify him and he was left. He kept his place and when he saw a squaw came out of the woods he shot at her and wounded her slightly in the wrist. He rushed up to attack the camp, and expected the others of his company to support him. It was the hunting camp of Isaac Zane that he had attacked and the girl that he had wounded was Isaac Zane's daughter Sarah. Zane showed the man, that had thus tried to murder his daughter, the way to overtake his companions and even went with him a considerable distance. It is here said also that Zane was only nine years old when captured by the Indians.

It was this Isaac Zane's sister Elizabeth that performed the perilous mission of obtaining powder for the fort at Wheeling, and by so doing made her name immortal. For a good account of this see Wither's Chronicles of Border Warfare, pages 358 and 359.

Howe's Historical Collections of Ohio says of Isaac Zane: "Isaac Zane was born about the year 1753, on the South Branch of the Potomac, in Virginia, and at the age of about nine years, was taken prisoner by the Wyandots and carried to Detroit. He remained with his captors until the age of manhood, when like most prisoners taken in youth, he refused to return to his home and friends. He married a Wyandot woman, from Canada, of half French blood and took no part in the War of the Revolution. After the treaty of Greenville, in 1795, he bought a tract of 1800 acres, on the site of Zanesfield, where he lived until his death, in 1816. " - Edition of 1849, page 304.

Zanesville, Ohio, was founded by the Ebenezer Zane hereinbefore mentioned, and who was a brother of Isaac Zane, who was captured. For a full account of the founding of Zanesville. see "Howe's Historical Collections of Ohio, Muskingum County."

The following table was given to me by Ebenezer 0. Zane, now living on Eighth Street between Everett and Oakland Avenues, Kansas City, Kansas:

Isaac Zane, above referred to and identified, married a half Wyandot and half French woman about the beginning of the War of the Revolution. Her name and clan Mr. Zane did not know. Their children were: 1. Ebenezer; 2. Nancy; 3. Sarah; 4 Elizabeth; 5. William; 6. Isaac; 7. Catharine.

William and Ebenezer married Wyandot women. I was unable to learn their names, or anything of their descendants.

Nancy Zane married Samuel McCulloch. None of their descendants ever removed West. In the treaty of September 29, 1817, made at the foot of the Miami Rapids there was a cession of one section of land "To the children of William McCulloch who was killed in August, 1812, near Maugaugon, and who are quarter blood Wyandot Indians, one section, to contain 640 acres of land, on the west side of the Sandusky River, adjoining the lower line of the tract hereby granted to Robert Armstrong, and extending in the same manner with and from the said river."

I am inclined to believe that it was William McCulloch, and not Samuel McCulloch, that married Nancy Zane. Sarah Zane married Robert Armstrong; Elizabeth Zone married 1st ----- Robitaille, and 2d, --- -- Reed. Isaac Zane married Hannah Dickinson. Catharine Zane married Alexander Long. Children of Robert and Sarah (Zane) Armstrong: 1. Silas; 2. John McIntyre; 3. Catharine; 4. One, Hannah, that died at the Wyandot mission. Children of ----- Robitaille and Elizabeth (Zane) Robitaille: 1. James; 2. Robert; ----- RobitaiIle died in ----- year. Children of ----- Reed and Elizabeth (Zane- Robitaille) Reed: 1. Ebenezer; 2 Eliza. Children of Alexander and Catharine (Zane) Long: 1. Irvin P.; 2. Jane; 3. Ethan; 4. Henry Clay; 5. Mary; 6. Isaac; 7. Janus; 8. William. Children of Isaac and Hannah (Dickinson) Zane: 1. Noah; 2. Hester; 3. Ebenezer 0.; 4. Sarah; 5. Catharine; S. Hannah; 7. Eliza; S. John Wesley; 9. William; 10. Isaac.

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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 85o--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

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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.

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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 88o. What will it be in July and August. At 3 o'clock it mounted up to 90o. 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.

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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. Mr 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,

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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 Mr 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

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