The Illinois free trader and LaSalle County commercial advertiser. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1841-1843, 1842-04-29

son to see my friend. When | arrived
there, | went TO see my friend, whose
name was Gregg. He and another fellow,
whose name was Shaver, were in irons
He asked me if couldn't aid him in libc-
rating himself. | told him was not then
in situation TO help him, but | thought
could send him man that would. Gregg
told me that our old "bogus COON Lever
edge lived at Moscow, Iowa. left Ste
phcnson and went up to Fulton city,
where crossed the Mssissipps river, and
sent Roswell Vim. one of his gang, to
help out Gregg. VIM came down to
Stephenson and furnished Gregg and Sha-
yer with tools, with which they escaped.
made but short stay with Bigclow,
but left for Moscow, as was anxious to
see the old "hogus coon" On arriving
at Moscow, | found he had moved to Linn
county.
In conversation with people at Moscow
| found that the Stoughtonburgh members
of our clan lived in Cedar county. left
Moscow and went on to Rochester, and
there by signs found out that the groce-
~ keeper was a man of the right stripe
for our business. made some cxchang-
es with him, and he cautioned me to be
very careful in inquiring for the Slough
lcnburghs. That night stayed with the
sheriff Of the county, and | thought he
suspected me of being what ! was, but
was not moIcstcd. The next morningi
went on 10 $toughtcnburgh's | found
their character 50 notorious that | did not
think it prudent TO stay long with them,
hut went on to Wcstport, in Linn county.
There found lcvcrcdgc, the old 'bogus
COON" he was very glad to see me in
yitcd me into the grocery. and spent bo-
Gus half dollar, as he said, for my sake.
He made very good bogus, and has been
long suspected, but they never could head
him. On leaving Lcvcredge went to Mr..
King, whom knew in Michigan. King
was an honest man; he knew what bust
ness | was engaged in, and advised inc to
quit it; told me that he feared if / pur-
sued in my course | should come to some
bad end. | did not heed his advice, but
FASTENED from him and his moral lectures.
Went to Levcrcdge and disposed of what
money had left. When | left there. |
had 500 in good money. At Marion, in
Linn county, fell in with man by the
name of Howard, who was q Campbcllite
preacher and countcrrciter. We left toge-
Their Tor John Caruthcrs' in Nluscatiue co.
There got SEQ in ten dollar bills onrthe
Merchants and Mechanics bank at Alba
ny. From here we started to 90 TO Port
land, on the Dcs Moincs and went within
miles of Mt. Pleasant; there we stopped
DAYS. Howard passed for baptist prCa-
cner, and f6r a methodist. The people
where we stopped were pous, and were
anxious to have divine service while we
stopped with them. We appointed an
evening for preaching; Howard preached
and | closed the meeting with prayer.
Our hearers were so well pleased with the
service that they prevailed on Howard to
stop with them and take school, but |
pushed on to Portland.
At Portland entered upon my list OF
friends a Justice Of the peace whose name
was Ferris, and let him hove 500 Of my
money. After remaining at Portland a
few days, left, in company with John
Fowler, for Rock House Prairie, Platte
Purchase, Missouri, where we arrived in
September 1899. | had not been long
here when heard that my partner, Perry
Curtis, who, it will be recolIeclod, broke
Jail with me in Michigan, was at work ii
= a bogus factory about 70 miles distant.
lost no time in calling on him; found Inn
in fine spirits he said he was full of mo
ney and had met with great success since
we parted at the Jail in Michigan. lspcn
l about year in Missouri, part of the tim
in Platte Purchase, part up the Usage ri