The Kansas herald of freedom., 1857-01-10

potism to which he was subject there,
emigrated to Ohio" He says: he
has resided in a free state ever since,
excepting short stay in Missouri,
while eazoute to Kansas. ''I Iloeateda
claim on Potoaattomie, on the 14th
day of March 1855. Ny family at
that time consisted of q son and
daughter, the former l6, the latter %
years of age. Ny wife and one
daughter having died the previoss
summer.
81 had, when / first settled in the
Territory, one yoke of oxen and
wagon and one horse. We had con-
siderable amount of household furni-
ture, and about $3.50. in money. We
worked through the year 1855 and
prospered.' ] built a house, raised
field of corn, made good garden, and
had-aithough in a new country
everything l desired. Myself and son
in the spring of 1855, prepared piece
of ground for planting but had
scarcely planted half an acre. when we,
with some twelve or fourteen other
men, were surprised, and carried off as
prisoners, by a gang of prowling
rufians, near the Missouri line. Most
of the party were detained about 3 or
! weeks, and meanwhile were insulted
by sham trial and finally acquitted.
They released myself and son, after a
detention of only f days. When we
returned my daughter was still in pos
session of the house, had been supplied
by friendly neighbor with reyol-
yer, with which she determined to
defend herself at all hazards. We as
certaincd, subsequently, from a pro-
slavery man, that there were no
charges against us but that they
thought by this means to terrify the
Free State settlers causing them to
leave the territory but instead of
accomplishing their ends, they only
made us the more determined to re-
main, let the consequences be what
they might, and defend our rights, at
the risk of our lives. a company
was organized under Captain Ander-
son, to which company. and my son
belonged, although we did not muster
upon all occasions, yet we held our
selves in readiness, to rally at any
moment our services were required.
We were not able to resume our labors,
even after our release from the COM
pany but were compelled to occupy
our time in scouting, and in fortifying
our houses, during the summer, to
save ourselves from threatened assas-
sination. / had no heart to work, as
/ did not know what hour they might
execute their threat. About the mid
die of August, while returning from
store, kept by Mr.. Grant, few
miles from my house, l was met by
two Georgians, who had run some dis
tanee in order to head me off, before /
could reach my house. [ held my
gun in an attitude indicative of my in
tention to defend myself, and when
they had approached within about Is
steps of me, they stopped and enquired
my business, to which ! Rplied, i
have been to Mr.. Grants and am now
returning home.' They made no
farther reply to this, and I continued,
i suppose you have come to kill me,
but if you have. two Of us will go over
Jordan together They denied hav-
ing any such intent, and after one of
them who looked to be mean ruffian-
" fellow had cursed until he had
nearly exhausted his breath. both
turned and went in the direction from
which they came. I watched them
until they got good distance from
me. when pursued my journey with
out further molestation."
Mr. Baldwin's experience during the
summer is interspersed with similar
incidents. During the whole sum-
mer he has been prevented, from pre-
pairing for the winter. His whole
property has been confscated and
destroyed, { will not enumerate it, J
and he is now obliged to work at split
ting rails at ten shillings per hundred,
to get support for his family, and
keeping for his oxen. a1r. Baldwinis
an intelligent and interesting old man.
Is a Minister and officiates in his
neighborhood in that capacity. His
family are industrious and do all that
they can to assist under the circum-
stances. They have received some aid
for which they feel grateful.
The above accounts are but single
illustrations ofsimilar experience in the
same neighborhood. found some cases
much worse. One family of four had
nothing to eat but frost bitten corn,
that they were obliged to grind in
small hand mill. Their excuse for
these distressing circumstances, was
sickness, troubles during the war. dc.
l had designed giving more full ac-
count of this family, also, of others in
the same neighborhood, but fearful
that I have already trespassed upon
your patience viii relieve you.
Yours Truly. S. P. HAND.
st may not be out Of place TO state here
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