The Minnesota pioneer. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn. Territory) 1849-1855, 1854-02-23
A Narrative


Of the s,eFerings Of Ms Jane Adeine Wilson, during
her coi ,lrtty among The CamaRckc Indians.
/ was born III Alton, Illinois, the 18th day Of
June, 1887, and an, therefore, in the l7th year OF
my aye. My fathers name Is w Wiam Smith nv
mpther's maiden name was Jane Cox. | had five
brothers aud four sisters. think it was in the year
1916 that we moved 10 Missouri and settled at "A
boat landing or Terry, called jamestown, on The
North Grand River Ny father kept the ferry.
About eight years ago we moved from this place
10 Texas, and settled near Paris, lamar county.
Here my father aud mother died within one day of
each other, leaving six orphan chiidren behind
them. Three of my brothers Lad died before the
death OF my parents My eldest brother, who in
q ranging company, now came home 10 settle my
iaihel affairs and make provision for our support.
He secured homes for with different ncighbors,
but took the youngest sister, pet, with h!m TO
place her with OF Our aints.
One day 5 journey from the place where he left us
he was attacked by the winter tever, and died in
one wceh. have three sisters older than III, s,it
named Elizabeth, Cynthia, and Caroline. NJ
brother James and sister Ellen younger than my
self. Ellen was ioul years old when my paents
died. Caroline is "A dwaii, and the neIshbors
thought that the medicine the doctor gave bcr stop
ped her growth She a dear child and all
loved hen because Of her misfortune. Oie,e Jane
as unable 10 iestain her feelings, and burst into
tcars.) lived With several ighbors until the
hrst of last February, when mari led TO Mr..
James W ilson, young farmer just SlUping HE
with little property, consisting in cattle and horses.
lie WAS but ~ NeaIs Of aye when were married.
We knew but little Of ile, for not yet l6.-
lear We were crazy getting married while we
were young. poor gil, when her thoughts went
back TO this period Of her life ehe wept as il hei
heart would break.)
| We had heard that people became rich very fas.
| IN California, concluded To move and com
mence life III that distant country. We gathered
the little porpery possessed and joined parry OF
emgrants, consisting Of hity-two men, twelve NO.
men aud several chidIen. The father aud brothers
OF my hu band among this number. There
were IN all twenty-five wagons, and TIE whole coIn-
pany placed under the coiulnand OF Mr.. Henry
Hickman. We started from hunt county the
9Th Of April last and took the for FL Paeo.
We arrived at the Guadalupe Mountains about The
Isl OF June. Here Ine Mascaleio Apaches stole
from Us nineteen head of cattle; siX men ted IA
I,,u suit, Dut were driven back by the Indians. We
went thence to III Paso. Ny husband tot being
able travel well with Mr. HIckm,ans train, he de.
ternined to remain at El Paso till the arrival Of an
other party Of California cmigranis. Five OF Dir.
ii : staid with US. While here the Mexican,
stole nearly all the property had, and left "s un-
able TO proceed on our Ju'"ey. We could do moth
Iig now except make our way back 10 Texas.
About the last OF July started return,
with the fragments OF our property which the
thieves had spared. On the FIRST day Of August, my
husband aad ns father lift U.S. fcl INTO the hands
Of the Indians. ! saw them more alter tbs
l VAS told that they had been mu. dered. You may
perhaps be able 10 imag ne my feelings when tound
myself thus bereared and destitute in land ol
s,. ange,s. My mi>iostunes seea.ed greater than
could bear, but knew not that heavier TRIALS were
I In store or
Uuable to conclude my journey, returned TO E
Paso, where | remained mi Sep,eu.bcr Sth when
| started ouce more for Texas with 10y thee BROTH
In-law, IA company with small party COZ sting
Of hive Ames leans and one Mexican. Nj. Hart
who owned and commanded this train having som,
business in Texas which required his immediate
attention, Travelled very rapidly, and ] hoped
few days more 70 be IN the midst of my friends.
As we had seen only Indian The te WI
battered ourselves that should not be saolest ID
by any Of the tribes which inest this route. Wher
the borders Of Texas, u their party sto'