The Kansas herald of freedom., 1857-03-14

skirted along the north bank of the
Neosho, trying in vain at several
points to ford it, until we arrived with
in eight miles of Council Grove
Night coming OF. we tarried with Mr.
Goddard, sn eastern gentleman of
capital and energy, who has erected
very lovely home, and uith his moth
er. brother and wife. and his own fam
lily. has surrounded himself with many
comforts which We had nowhere seen
in SO great perfection since leaving
Lawrence. he has school for his
own family. and though remote from
the larger settlements is, enjoying life
in very good eastern style. Here was
the first place since leaving home we
were able to get our borses into
stable for the night. We learned from
Mr.. G. many facts in regard to the
Kansas Indians, their lands, &C..
which we shall publish in q future
number.
We visited. during the evening,
Mr. CoLruBlA, who has resided FIVE
years at Council Grove, but who has
| since settled upon claim adjoining
1Ir. Goddard. From him many i'm
portant facts were CLEANED which aill
be Of great service while writing Of
this region.
On the morning of the 18th we
were Joined by the two Goddards and
Mr. Columbia, making eight in our
party, when We Sc. out for a ford, a
short distance below their residences,
with the view of exploring the re-
gion between the Neosho and the Cot
tonwood. The water had fallen for
the night, and We were enabled to pass
over without difficulty. We found
very good road, which we learned
came from Fort Riley, by Council
Grove, and followed down between
the two streams to near their junction,
when it crossed the Cottonwood, and
passed down toward the mouth of the
Neosho on the south side. This we
followed, passing over high rolling
prairies. and occasianly small water
courses, with the timber skirting the
two streams visible on either hand.
The rivers run nearly parallel with
each other for fifteen to twenty miles,
varying from three to fifteen miles
apart. and making very lovely region
for future residences. hardly equaled by
any other portion of Kansas. We pass
ed over the site Of an Indian town
formerly known as Cohola. This
was deserted by the Kaws, some four
years ago, in consequence of the small
pox breaking out among them, and
carrying off large number of their
braves. The town was burned, and
nothing now remains to Indicate the
spot save large number Of graves,
erected in a manner peculiar to the
Indians, and piles of rubbish. The
scenery from this point is very heauti
full. We stopped but few moments
and resumed our journey to the south
east. AS we approached the junction
of the rivers, the country seemed to
improve in beauty and the swells of
the prairie to be very regular, and less
broken /; though still very elevated
Some six miles above the mouth we
came to high elevation, with COM
manding view of the whole region
The slope was gradual to the south,
descending quite to the Cottonwood.
a half mile farther on, we crossed
another of these swells sloping each
way, but its general bearing the same
as the preceding one. We all stop.
ped and gazcd around on the lovely
prospect. Continuing our course for
perhaps another half mile. we came
to a third swell. We learned that this
point was selected last spring. prior
to the breaking out of disturbances
in Kansas, for town site, with the
intention of erecting manual labor
school in the vicinity. This project
was subsequently abandoned because
of the political disturbances in the
Territory. Night approaching very
rapidly, we crossed the Neosho at a |
very good ford. almost directly oppc-
site this point, determined to visit it
again on the morrow. /,
The Goth, we re-crossed the Neosho, |
where we fcrded it the night previous,
and with our horses secured the coun.
try in the vicinity of the Cottonwood,
which we found considerably larger
=
than the Neosho. We learned that it
was clear flowing stream the whole
year. with an abundance of sand for
building purposes in the bed. while
the Neosho was more turbid, and in
dry seasons lost itself In the rich al
luvial soil through which it flows.
At noon we arrived at the same
beautiful elevation we had left the
night previous, which covers nearly
-tweseetieas. The -sun-6roke through
tho eloads and rolled up the curtains
which for several days had obscured