The Kansas herald of freedom., 1858-12-18
For as Arald oJrs.som.

- 49, ~
Johnson County.
SHAWNEE, JOHNSON Co., Nov. 81, 1858.
MR. EDITOR My profession (surveyor)
frequently calls me from home, which en-
ables me to mix with the citizens Of johnson
county. Tonight am with Mr.. Charles
Bluejacket, Shawnee Indian. For the
benefit of many fysur readers, who think
all Indians are savages and heathens, 1 win
give them description of Mr.. Bluejacket's
farm, dwellings, &c.
He has beautiful farm of several hun
bred acres under Improvement, subdivided
into fields. His dwelling is frame house
20x40, two stories, plastered and painted,
furnished in style that would give credit to
many of our wealthy people in the old
States. Mr.. Bluejacket is quite gentlemen
in his manners. He has quite an interesting
daughter, married to Mr.. Gere, late from
Kentucky. Mr.. Gere is the Commonwealth
Attorney of this county, and has that frank
disposition which is proverbial to Kentucky.
He seems to be perfectly happy with his
Nctiue american wife. The country around
Shawnee is thickly settled by the Shawnee
Indians, and many of them are wealthy farm
ers, and could the better class Of whites be
induced to mix with the Shawnees, it would
improve their condition greatly but many
of the white inhabitants who are in Kansas
are of the most debased kind but not any
more SO than in any other new country
The Shawnees are like most other men, they
soon learn vice and form bad habits
Johnson county must long be kept back
from making that improvement that otheI
counties are making, on account of the large
quantity of land assumed by Indian children,
and those who had rather frolic than work
Could the Government find out some way
by which it could induce the Shawnees and
the other nations or tribes of Indians, to
work, instead ofgiving them so much gold &c
spend in drinking, it would profit the Indian
much by the operation. Many who have
noticed the Indians, are of the opinion tha
the money paid the Shawnees, to the mass
is great evil; it furnishes them the meanl
TO obtain intoxicating drinks. Could they
furnish them with home, where they coult
not get drinks of the frey kind, think WI
would SEQ a great improvement in the In
diam Most of the Shawnees seems to b,
intelligent, and would make valuable Cit
zens if properly mixed with whites of thu
better kind.
Johnson county is high rolling country
bounded on the north by the Kaw rive
whose bottoms are covered with some of tn
finest timber / have ever seen; besides it j
well watered in the interior by numerou
creeks. most of which empty into the Kansa
river. The soil is of that rich lime ston
prairie that is SO peculiar to the Kansas val
ley. The upland of the valley of Kansa
has not that red gravel on its surface lik
the southwestern portion has.
Johnson county is laid off into nine mum
cipal townships, each of which has thriv
} ing village. Olathe is the county seat. 1t
situated in the geographical center, and Ina
population of two to three hundred.-
Shawnee is situated seven and half mile
west of Kansas city, in beautiful farmin
country, and has a population Of three to 81
hundred. Gardner is situated on the Gret
Santa Fe road, about thirty miles south-wel
of Kansas City. McCammish is three mile
farther west than Gardner, on the Souther
road, and is surrounded by beautiful prairi
country-population, from seventy-five
one hundred. Spring Hill is situated in tn
, southern part of the county, and takes i
name from large spring. Aubry is situate
, about three or four miles from the south-ea
corner of the county, and is town on pape
, although it is surrounded by as beautiful
country as the Territory can boast of; b.
most of the land has been pre-empted |
non-residents, or its occupants have pr
empted and left. De Soto is situated {
the Kansas river, in Lexington townshi
and is surrounded by some of the richest lar
in the Territory; it has steam saw-mi
: lath machine, single machine, wagon sho
blacksmith shop, a store, large hotel al
8 about 70 or 100 inhabitants. Moniicel
t is situated about two or three miles sou
3 of the Kansas river, about equal distan
from the eastern and western boundary
the county, and is surrounded by high rol
ing prairie country. Lexington, last but n
least, is the writer home. There are seve
teen or eighteen houses on the town sit
, and is one of the best tavern stands betwe,
Lawrence and Kansas City. We have
daily stage. / know of no place in Kans
g where man of moderate means could
o better in the mercantile business than hel
h A blacksmith shop is badly needed. A sho
IS maker could do good business, and M
i add, if one of the above named mechani
!. will locate in Lexington, share of ten Il
4 will be donated TO him. The town site
q pre-empted, and the company are ready
-, make good warranty deeds to lots. PREF
rations are being made to build fourte
= houses as soon as the winter breaks up, viii
~ will give employment to mechanics, a
D. homes for families. There are several hous
III just finished, which will be rented cheap,
IS rent free to mechanics. A. s.
Marriage of Kindred
A bill passed the House of Represent
lie tives of Georgia, by vote Of fifty-six