Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1856-08-30
Correspondents of the spv.
LEXINGTON CITY, KANzAs,
August 14th 1056

the ennlgrant parties who have pioneered the way
through Iowa and Nebraska Territory to this
beautiful land have thought description of our
journey might be acceptable. The party of which
am member, left Worcester. Mass. on the
25th of June last, and consisted of thirty two per
sons, under the direction of Mr. NJ Stowell of
Lawrence City, formerly of Worcester. II arrived
safely by the usual modes of travel to Iowa City,
from which place we re- ommenced our tourney
on the Sd of July. The next fifteen DAYS was
spent in journeying over the fertile praires of
that beautiful State, and on the 18th of July we
efossed the Missouri River to Nebraska City, and
found ourselves the first party in that Territory
After waiting several days in the neighborhood Of
this thriving city, were Joined by number of
other parties, amounting to two hundred and ff-
ty, who had crossed Iowa, under the direction of
Col. Lane.
Besides the party raised at Chicago, under the
immediate direction of Lane, known as the ERE.
mont Company" and numbering eighty men,
there were over dozen small parties from various
parts OF the West under various conductors and
party of twelve families from Milwaukee. Their
wagons and appointments were of the best kind
and IN the best condition, and their appearance
was such as to reflect credit upon the noble
cause in which all alike were engaged After a
delay OF two weeks, caused by waiting for the ar.
IiNdl VI the tnlee companies VINO mad been DIS
armed by the Missourians the river and who
then returned to Iowa City and took the northern
route, we started for the line. The Massa.
chusetts and Ottawa companies, under the direc-
ton of DR.. Calvin Cutter were first on the ground
and were speedily Joined by the Chicago COMPANY
and party of ten families from Northern Iowa,
and on Monday, August 4th, the whole train got
in motion.
AS we moved slowly across the praries of South
ern Nebraska, the large number of men, wagons,
and teams presented remarkable appearance and
struck the observing mind with a sense of sub.
Unity when the glorious object for which all these
individuals were collected together was taken into
consideration. The train consisted of fifty three
wagons three hundred and twenty four men,
thirty eight women, twenty two children, about
seventy oxen, six mule teams, forty horses, fifteen
cows, and thirty mounted men, part of whom
came from Lawrence and Topeka tor the purpose
of welcoming us. We extended across the prai-
ries for the distance of three quarters of a mile
from each end Of the train, and any one who
might have been watching our progress from
distance would readily have supposed us to have
numbered over thousand.
Our progress was necessarily slow, and we did
not reach the line until Thursday morning The
part of Nebraska through which this route pro-
ceeds Is one constant panorama of the loveliest
scenery upon which my eyes ever locked fine,
fertile, rolling prairies blooming all over with the
brightest wild flowers that Dame Nature ever
scattered from her store house, and verdant with
the richest grass; high bluffs, well timbered and
well watered ravines it has every requisite to
make it the home of happy and industrious peo-
ple-and had it not been for the cause which urg-
ed me on, could have stayed contented there
Southern Nebraska has within itself all that is
required to make it one of the finest States that
out of these broad Territories shall yet deck the
bosom of freedom loving, Republican America.
We crossed the line on Thursday, August 9th,
at about 10 A. NJ, and as carriage after carriage
entered the long sought land, the welkin rung
with stentorian cheers, from four hundred earnest
voices, For Free Kanzas " and for her champi-
on. John Charles Fremont.
The feeling on crossing the line was one of
Disappointment at the appearance of the coun-
try. We all had heard such glowing descriptions
OF kanzas, that the comparatively uninterestng
scenery rather subdued our ardor-this however,
was Only temporary, for the farther into the heart
otEthe land we penetrate, the more picturesque
and fertile 1t becomes, and l have never heard
speaker paint the land in reality it is
I We camped for the night at the head of Poney
Creek, about five miles from the line, and here
1t was deemed advisable to found town. Accord
lngy some forty-seven persons volunteered to
stay, and oeoociation formed tor the pur.
pose of eS establishing plymouth City," The
site we located for the purpose, commanding
fine prospect The land in the vicinity, though
not the most fertile have seen, is still very
rich timber sufficient for all building purposes
can be had, while coal bed discovered in the
Creek, will supply all the fuel needed An mex
haustable supply of limestone can be readily OBJ.
tanned near the city site, and altogether this will
certainly be one of the most important settle
ments in Northern Kanzas Living on the di
rect route, through which must pour constant
stream of emigration, to swell its numbers and
increase its wealth, and distant only twelve miles
from Iowa Point, a steamboat landing on the
Missouri, this must be the Gateway of Upper
Kanzas.
The remainder of the train proceeded on their
journey on Friday morning, and camped at night
at the head OF GrasShopper Creek, Here our
party, tn the exception of two, determined
to stay for the purpose of selecting city location
end were Joined by part of the Fremont CO.,
and party from Moline, Ill., so that in the whole
we numbered ffty-s persons.
We organized under the name of the Licking.
on City Association and proceeded to elect our
officers. This was our first exercise of citizen
ship in Kanzas, and our next step was to adopt
Constitution and By Laws for our government,
and TO choose city site. We named our settle
ment Lexington, that we might show our Border
Rutfian namesake, how New England men could
make honorable the name so dear to the heart of
every republican.
The site which we have chosen for settlement,
is fine, fertile table prairie, of great elevation
and commanding magnificent view Of the sur
rounding country for distance of seyenty-hve
miles, and lying contiguous to the direct Cali
fornia route from st. Josephs, Mo. The country
surrounding Lexington city, is by far the most
fertile and best adapted to grain growing and
grazing, in fact for all agricultural purposes, that
I have ever seen. The soil is of the richest loom
and its average depth is near six feet.
For miles every hand the prairies waving
with verdure and spangled with beautiful flowers
stretch away in gently undulating swell, while
the fine timber, lining the sides of the innumera.
bic creeks that ntersect the country in every di-
reeton, afford with their dark foliage and waving
branches agreeable contrast to the prairie's
verdure. Every beauty that nature can lavish is
here to be found, and it waits only the hand of
industry and toll to make them smile with Guilt
walton and refinement; where now nature has
showered her choicest blessings so fully it needs
but intelligence and culture to make them we'll
spring of Independence and Happiness to all who
seek a home there.
We not only have our abundant supply of the
finest timber, but a splendid quarry. of limestone
and clay for brick making, is situated within
short distance of our principal street, and this
settlement both from the fertility of the soil and
the ready communication with Missouri, distant
about twenty five miles, thus ahordng a ready
market for all surplus produce and the ultimate
Importance it must assume, from the certainty
that the projected Pacific railroad Of one of its
branches, must pass through, or very near this
township, renders it one of the most desirable To-
calites in Northern Kanzas.
The Hannibal and st Joseph's road is already
under contract to be finished in two years, and
when the present difficulties are over this road
must be continued westward through Kanzas,
and must pass directly by Lexington city.
AS soon as the township is conveyed, and cab
ms erected for the accommodation of the party
blacksmith shop and saw mill will be got under
way, and store and hotel will shortly be opened
and by Spring We hope to have press under way.
This is the mode by which the North is securing
Kanzas to Freedom, by the establishing of COM
munities of thriving people, who are alive with
the instincts and impulses Of freedom BE as.
sured that every dollar expended thus will return