The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1872-03-22
THE INDIAN TERRITORY.
Letter from Thss. H. Stanley.
AMERrcus, Sd mo. 4th, 1875

AMERIcUs, Sd mo. 4th, 1872.
ESTEEMED FRIEND, JACOB SLOT
LER: I have thought that it might
be interesting to some of the read
ers of THE EMPoRIA News for me to
give some account of my trip to the
Indian Territory, sc. 1 left home
on the morning of 18th mo. 22d,
1871. Taking the morning train at
Americas, for New Chicago, and
from there walked out to my sons,
VIM. F. Stanley, five miles east Of
Altoona, Wilson county, Kansas.
This is a good county, and is i'm
proving rapidly, as is, also, Mont
gomery county; but the country
laying west of these counties is
more hilly and broken, with some
good bottom land on the water
courses
On reaching the southern line of
the State of Kansas I learned that
it had been established about mile
farther north than some thought it
would be last fall year, when I
was there. And since the State
line has been established they have
moved Ennesville over into Kansas,
and changed its name to Granville.
On entering the Indian Territory
we learned that many white people
had been into the Territory to make
claims, but most of them had NOV
ed out. The 96th west longitude
had been established three miles
west of where it had been supposed
to be, SO that the Usage Agency,
mill, and other improvements were
thrown into the Cherokee country,
which caused considerable dissatis-
faction among the Osages, and this
gave the emigrants an idea that the
Osages would not take the land
west of the Goth meridian and east
of the Arkansas river, south of
Kansas, so they called it the Usage
outlet. But learned, on my way
home, last week, that it was the ex-
pectation of the Interior Depart
ment to locate the Osages, Kaws,
and Otoes between the Goth west
meridian and the Arkansas river.
It is hoped that all the white settlers
in that Territory will move out at
once. with the exception of few
vallies, which are good, it is a very
rough, billy country. East of the
Big Cana, in the Cherokee country,
there is more nice, rolling prairie
land, but it is not open for settle
ment by white people.
We entered the Indian Territory
little east of the Goth meridian,
travelling nearly south-sometimes
east, at other times west of the
meridian, until we come to the Ar
kansas river, some Is miles south of
Kansas. About 10 miles north of
where we struck the Arkansas river
we noticed rsilroad stakes, from
which it appeared that there is some
prospect Of running a road from
east to the westward. After cross
ing the Arkansas river we travelled
southwest course on the cattle
trail leading to Texas, over q poor
oak-ridge country, with very little
prairie for go miles, to Deep fork,
near where we came to the Sac and
Fox Agency, where we were kindly
received by the agent. who had re-
quested me to bring some carpen-
tiers to build some houses for the In
dams. That night it showed, and
we felt glad that we had got
through. The next day we attend
ed the funeral of young man who
was out with surveying party as
compassman, and had been taken
sick. They were bringing him into
the Agency to recruit up. He died
IN the wagon that himself and COM
rade were lodging in over night,
the latter sleeping by his side when
he died, according to his account.
I think the young maR's name was
Pratt. He was from Wisconsin,
There was no enc of his relations
present to mourn over him.
| At this Agency they have made
some improvements, viz: A good
saw mill, with shingie saws attach.
ed, and also one run OF burrs fol
| grinding corn, and a house fer the
doctor, and several other small
houses for the accommodation Of
employees. These Indians are max
ing q little progress toward civil.
cation. After working near tive
weeks at this place, the agent, Johr
Hadley, from Ohio, wished oul
company, consisting Of Samuel 8
Fawcett, late of Ohio, (my old boss
B. =. Dixon, my son-in-law, JOSEPH
;. Newson, late Kansas Farmer, and
Charles Brfdgers, our cook, to g
over to Shawnee town, near 8
T miles southwest, on the south sid
: Of the North fork Of the CanadiaI
, river, to build q school house for tn
, Absentee Shawnee Indians. W
> soon became very much interests
l IN this people, and wished to lear
3 their history, which we got fFon
/ two of their old men. It is abou
: as follows: While the Shawnee
5 lived in Ohio, near WapOkenetss
D they separated into two parties
Z part remaining and others going Z
4 Tennessee and Georgia. They the