Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1857-06-19
THE VERMONT COLONY N KANSAS

MAPLEroN. Bourbon Co. May 20, 81.
10 He Editor of The Boston JJarad:
At Quindaro. where landed, fell ia with
Rev. B. B. Newton of St. Albans, VT,
member of the National Kansas Committee.
He has given his time for year 20 the cause
of Freedom in Kansas. Early this spring he
came on with a Vermont company of sixty
persons, who designed making settlement
in some desirable location in the Territory.
At Kansas City they stopped to make prepa-
ration, and purchased sixteen yoke of oxen.
five large wagons, five prairie plows, flour,
meal and bacon. and tents. SO that they could
90 forward on their journey, keep their own
tavern, and supply all their necessities from
their own storehouse. In this company there
were twenty women and children They
started early in the spring, so that they were
obliged to wait in camp at Leavenworth near
" a month for weather warm enough to war
rant moving into the interior. While there
one of their number, Mr. Blake, died loav-
ing to Mr. Newton's care his family, consist
ing of his wife and six children Soon after
his death Mrs Blake gave birth to their sew
enth child. She with her children remained
behind at Parksyillc No. while the rest of
the party moved on Co find location.
At Quindaro / met Mr.. Newton, who had
Just left Mrs. Blake ia good health at Parks
Vile. to ioin his company. ! concluded to
make the Journey with HIM We took the
stage to Lawrence. 1t was impossible to hire
team there, but Governor Robinson kindly
furnished us with his family carriage and span
/ of horses, with which we started on Friday
/ MAY 5th, for the littlo Usage River, where
the company from Vermont had made their
( location. We arrived here safely about four
o'clock p NJ. on Monday, May 18th. The
company is located on the Little Usage Riy-
er, on the 38th parallel, north latitude, in
range %, east township % south, some oigh-
ty miles east Of south from Lawrence, and a
bout fourteen miles west of Missouri. They
have preemptod township site of three hun
drod and twenty acres which they intend to
call Mapleton, and they have taken some ff-
ty claims around the town lot running back
on all sides two or three miles.
like the appearance Of things so well that
| think of taking a claim and joining this
company. So far as | have seen them they
are the right kind of mon-stalwart, hardy,
earnest. fearless, and resolved to plant here
the ideas of New England. They arc now
busy turning over the prairie and putting in
the seed Already they are attracting a de-
sirable class of emigration. The soil here,
all Of Il, is as rich any one could wish
have travelled nearly two hundred miles in
Kansas, and have not yet seen a swamp. No
country is better drained. Good water is ev-
rywhere found by digging from twenty-five
to forty feet, The heavens are bright, and
the air comes laden with vigor and health
The little Usage country is well timbered with
black walnut hickory oak and maple. Il
some capitalist would come here and put uT
steam saw and grist mill ofabout l25 horse
power, he would make money by the opera
ton. and confer great blessing upon rap
idly increasing community, If any one who
reads this should wish to emigrate or settle
{ in this neighborhood, Kansas city would b'
his best point of leaving the boat
Let me say few words in conclusion OF
points of Importance to eastern men not al
ways well understood. |. There is grea