The Kansas herald of freedom., 1857-05-16
Fer the Herald Of Freedom.
Life Of Jacob Csntrell.


to truthfulnsss and temperance
Though born in land of tyranny and
oppression, his soul instinc:ively
shrank from keeping his brother man
in bondage. He was married at the
age of 10 to Thirzsy Land, 9 beauti-
full girl, and one every way calculated
to bless his lot through life. They
lived in happiness Sor upwards of sax
years, and were blest with two fine
children. Mrs. G. died Feb. 9Th,
1852. Thus left with two motherless
children, Dir. G. fixed his choice on
Rebecea Staiz, to be their future mo-
ther. Having no land of his own, he
lived by renting that of others. In
1855, he rented q farm belonging to
Mr. o. Hall, jackson County. Mr..
c. had long been hated for his Freesoil
principles, and often went by the in
teresting name of dam'd Abolitionist.
While living on Halls place. ne had
occasion TO get new sheet for his
wagon, and concluded to put on il
what was uppermost in his mind,
which he did in large letters, Kansas
Free State, and on riding to the next
town, encountered Hall. who swore
he should take Il off, or he would have
his life. Mr. G.. took as little notice
of this threat as possible, answering
him mildly that he guessed he had
better not, and Hall finally rode away
Not expecting more trouble, he finish
ed his business and started for home
and hardly passed Halls house. wher
he sprang out of thicket, butcher
knife in hand. stopped his horses. ant
demanded him to take them dame
| A5olition words off lis scagon, or h
wossld butcher him, damn him. at thu
same time making passes at him, will
his knife. but Hall being partially in
toxicated, the sheet was cut in many
places, before Mr.. G, could start hi
horses and clear himself from thi
blood thirsty villain. which he 6nall!
| succeeded in doing without injury II
himself. (The sheet is now in pos
session of his wife. Sometime pre-
vious to this brutal insult, Mr.. G. ha'
made up his mil d to leave Missouri
and shortly after started to look up
claim in the new Territory, leaving hi
family still on Halls place. Durin,
his absence, Mrs. Cantrell was takeI
sick of fever, and while thus sick, ha'
notice from H., that they must leav
his premises by Saturday night. or h
would burn the house down over thei
heads, and purchased whiskey OF
which to treat his friends; but in thi
ne was also disappointed, for she wa
carried in the arms of her friends. to
carriage, and conveyed to her mother
After long and painful illness. MIR
q. arose but to find that q sweet chill
had died during her sickness. A
soon as her health would permit. Nj
lC. moved his family to his claim i
the Territory, near Palmyra. He i'm
mediately broke and planted fort
acres on his claim, and erected on dii
terent lots in Palmyra. two log houses
and rented one as 9 store. Here h
was happy, for he felt like freeman
.ree to speak or act as he thought bes
and anticipated having home of hi
own, and in fact was prospering tinel
| when the troubles broke out betwee
| Missouri and the Territory, The ia
following. his friend Dow was erueli
murdered, and he was one of the fir
who tried to keep the exasperate
neighbors from destroying the murder
ers' property. On the night after tt
murder, Cantrell, Pierceons. JOne
and others, started for those mcr
houses, in order to keep them from b.
ing burned, but on arriving at the sp'
, found them in flames. g. loudly col
demned this act, and it was the
thought that it was done by the FIR
State men. Shortly after this toe
place it was reported that large arm
, ed band from Missouri, were on the
, march to Palmyra. Mr.. q. and othe
went to meet them, and pretended
be hunting cattle. in order to fnd o
} what they wanted. Many of his 0
. enemies were there. They took hi
prisoner, in order to punish him +
burning certain pro-slave' y men hous
4 but on meeting with Mr.. Jones, (w
is pro-slavery, who testified to t
D falsity of the charge against him,
t was set at liberty. On the 9th
= June, 1856, MIR. g. went to Prail
City, purchased lot of butter for
= family, and was returning with t
same, when he was taken by his O
: enemies, about thirty in number, al
d claimed as q prisoner of War.
j.. told them that he had never taken pa
in the troubles. They asked HIM ii
was in favor of making Kansas flt
t He replied that he was DO you ke
d in your possession Sharp's rIhe?
q do. Would you use it il you had
% chance? Ii my neighbors or mys
: were attacked, certainly should.
II His self accusation was sufficient.
II They carried him home, where he 81
e his wife, telling her to be OF go
:. cheer, for he should not be hurt.
She begged hard for her husband, /
received only abusive threats in retuI
They took him away and kept the b.
is ter also, and would not tell whs
e they were going to take HIM. III
i, Cantrell, went in person, to pal
of United States troops. aud entreal
them to interfere in behalf OF her hl
3. band. but gained nothing except
:. plump refusal. All her efforts to Il
l. his whereabouts, proved unayailil
Monday morning found her on
way to Westport, and on feaehi
% there late st night. found many OF
/, citizens in the street, heard drul
% beating, and loud shouts from
). crowd, and on enquiring what vas
cause of 40 much joy, Was told Il
- another Yankee had been disposed
s, She seon earned that he was not the