Pioche daily record. [volume] (Pioche, Nev.) 1872-1876, 1874-03-03
GEORGE WILKINS KENDALL.
By LEoS OLIVER.

;nit,al. will speak OF the late George
wilkins Kendall, tue well known journal
;st and author, aud on7 Of the first to in
a1purate systematic sheep husbandry in
IeAas.
Thirty years ago, when boy in Ver-
mont, | was intensely interested in read
inc the Santa Fe Expedition, work of
tbrllhug interest, d scriptive Of an expe.
dition from San Antonio de Baker, Tex.
+, the ancl, mt city Of Santa te, in what
IL now called New Mexico; which expe.
d,tion was captur,d by the Mexcans,
and by the,n subjected to the most cruel
hardsuips and in,iiguities.
Probably no man entered into the
Mexican war "a few years later with a
kpeuer relish than Mr. Kcnd Ill, or Ell.
loved with h-a,tier zest the punishment |
anl humiliation OF the crnel aud viudic- |
tive MeAicans. feeling, no doubt, that b. |
was thereby receiving compensation Tor |
the sutferings Inflicted upon himself aud |
his comrades ia the ill-starred expedi. |
ton.
Mr.. kendall was best known to the |
world through his connection with the
New Orleans PIcaynne, OF which he was
for many years one OF the editors and
proprietors, A. u journalist, he certain.
" had no superior III the South; and his
war correspondence, during the Mexican
war, was the most graphic and thrilling
OF any published ia tue country. After
the close Of the war he went to PARIS,
where he married aud remained several
years: while there, he wrote and pub
Iished the history OF the Mexican war.
1t was an elaborate history, splendidly
lus,rated by French artists; but it wns
not financial success, being too expen-
slvs for general circulation. But for his
interest In the Picayune, which was
prosperous and remunerative Journal, his
book wonld have swamped him financial
". Soou after his return from Paris.
(.bout 1856, he settled IN Texas as a
sueepraiser and wool-grower, hav-
ing some years previously located ramon
OF several thousand acres, and the
wool-srouers OF Texas to-day are more
indebted to him than to any or all other
men ior the development OF this Import
ant branch OF husbandry in that fine
grazing region. He demonstrated that
wool.growing in Texas could be made
vastly more profitable than the culture
of the cotton or sugar.
In April, 1860, was at San Antonio,
Texas, (Which, by the way. is one OF the
oldest aud quaintest towns on the contl-
nent), and one afternoon, in company
with relative, at that time II resident OF
San Antonio, | started to make visit to
Mr.. Kendall, who was living near New
Braunfei, II German colony some thirty
miles FROM San Antonio. we arrived az
the village IN the evening. aud put up at
hotel for the night. In the morning
We drove out four miles to Nj. Kendall 5
residence. The house was neat stone
cottage with yerandas on three sides ana
situated on kind of knoll. As we
drove up / noticed a sturdy man OF me-
dium height standing on the lawn smok-
ing cob pipe; his dress was very SIM
pie, b-iug only linen pants. hickory
SHIRT, and II broad-brlmmrd straw hat
1t never occurred to me that this could
be the brilliant writer aud editor; but, as
we halted and he recognized my compan'
ion, his gentlemanly, ytt hearty, gre. tihg
told me that he was none other than Mt.
Kendall himself An introduction soon
followed, and most cordial welcome
was extended to me-. which rendered the
presentation of my letters OF introduction
almost superhuous, amt we were maa'
at once to feel "at home and al ease
which j. the essence OF true hospitality
After b-ing presented to his "ccomp
lshed wife aud family, We repaired t'
the library, aud l, for one, Was quit
content 20 be II listner. There are som
very entertaining writers, who are poo
takers, but Mr.. Kendall Was not one q
that class, II had been charmed VIII
his writings, was doubly so with hi
conversation. | have met many enter
tanning couversationalis,s. but never on
more charmingly entertaining than he
HIS life had been one oil great ao'tl
ture, and being close observer VII
rare descriptive powers, 1t was TIC
treat to sit and listen to him. lie La
all the off hand freedom Of the frontltr'
man, combined with the polish OF III
true gentleman, who had mingled ID u
most refined society, both ut nome ai
abroad. He gave ME concise OUT CIT
history OF his experience as sheel
breeder and woolgrower, IN whieh !,
had been remarkably successful. 4
also related many incidents OF his ear
life and struggles, his Santa re .Hpeo
ton, his experiences IN the Mexican Wa
and his residence in Paris.
At the time Of my visit to h,,n'
residence was at Rochester, N. L., al
he related an incident Of his being the
in his early manhood, when he was
journeyman printer on tramp. ne IL
come from the East (Rochester then "
in the West) expecting to get worK
the Messenger, a paper published at va
andaigua, but was disappointt d; so
tramppd to Rochester. and applied
the late Luther Tucker, at that time pu
Usher of the Advertiser, but LOT una
years prior to his recent death puoiisu
Of the Country Gentleman. but there "
no work to be had. What 10 90
hardly knew-he was ont OF money, d
a stranger. Strolling along the sure
he was attracted by an auction SAFE, u
went into the store, and stood Win
crowd listening to the auctioneer., fr'
emily he was sccosted by large, iarm
like man, who said: "Young man.
you want job2" OF course he did;
must do something, so he hired ou
for eight dollars month. and went no
with his employer, and worked II
months, part Of the time on farm. a
part Of the time in saw mill, uh,i'
was taken down with the ague, ana
to quit. had the pleasure on ny
turn north Of being the bearer OF q XII
ly message to his old EMPLOYER, VINO
still living-Judge Sibley. OF hush "
whom was well acquainted. oh ,e
ing Rush be tramped to Buffalo, ana
finding q "sit" there, he took pass
In schooner for Cleveland; out
wrecked near Sandusky, and oare'y
capped with his life; he found himseh
land. with the clothes he had on
back. and fifty cents the sum total o'
available means, and so he srampea
walking the entire distance 10 oin'
natl, where he found work at ms IRA
and. as he remarked, had never Deen
OF a job since.
About noon two more guests ar'i'
gentlemen from Boston. MT. N. :
begged to be excused for short u
and when he reappeared was srrayeu e,
nice dress-suit, in which ne seer