Wichita eagle., 1890-03-01

west 10 the mouth of the Little Arkansas,
TO suDslst on the countless buffalo and
plant gardens in the rich bends of the river
ana during the summer many of the men
went south to gather up the horses left by
themselves and others on the Washita at
Inc time OF their northward flight. In the
Tall they all moved into the densely TIM
bered land of the river near its mouth,
now known as Riverside park. the writer
visited their camp in the winter and was
told by the women that they had buffalo
| meat and corn, beans aud dried pumpkins,
raised in their gardens, and that the men
were all down IN Texas after horses.
In the early spring of 1865 Mr.. John
Stevens, OF Leaven worth, loaded a mum Der
OF teams with goods destined for the town
OF the Wlchitas and placed them in charge
or JESSE Chisholm, in whose veins coursed
the mingled blood of the Scotch high
lander and the Cherokee Indian, Il man of
extensive acquaintance and great influence
with the Indians. As easily as 1855 he
guided party of white men up the Ar
Kansas to the Junction of the Little river,
hunting legendary gold mine, so he in
formed the writer. Locating at the ford
OF the Arkansas river, where Mr.. John
Wiikin later made his farm, he sent the
Wichitas Caddoes and other Indians
south to their old homes in
the territory to drive up cattle,
which, though oontraband during the war,
were extensively Struggled into Kansas
In the course OF the summer Mr.. Chisholm
collected a herd of 1900 head, which
grazed over the present site OF West Wich-
liza, and In the fall were driven to the Sac
and Fox agency and thence to fill govern
ment contracts in New Mexico. Some of
these cattle were driven out OF the terri
tory over the route which afterwards be-
came the great Chisholm trail Mr.. CHS
holm remaining, built some comfortable
cabins for his family in fine grove of
blackberry timber, just below the forks of
the creek which flows through our city,
bearing MS name. He also built a trading
post between the TWO rivers, where Mr. j.
Z. Davis now resides. la December, 1865,
Mr. Chisholm, purchasing goods from the
writer, loaded number of teams and in
January, 1866, started south across the
country TO MS former trading post, at the
Council Grove, on the North Fork of
the Canadian river; with him went
Henry Dounell, with several four
mule teams, who stopped at the
Red Fork to trade with the Osages
On this trip Mr.. Chisholm naturally Sc
iected the most direct and practicable
route. This was the first wagon train to
pass over the great trail which by common
consent was given the name of CHS
holm" from the man who located it.
In April, 1866. Mr.. Chisholm returned
over the same route, bringing with him
teams loaded with furs and robes and $50
head of cattle. Now that the trail was
open it became the most convenient route
OF traders and others having business in
the territory. Among these We're William
Ma:hewson, William Greiffeusteiu and
the writer.
In the winter of 1865 the writer built
trading post in a bend of the Neneskaw
river, near the trail aud near the present
< la.lr ,tny Il h., II
1866 established trading station at
Round Pond creek on the trail, in
charge of Jack Lawton, who was after
wards killed on the Little river.
Early IN July, 1867, Mr.. Mathewson went
down over the trail, taking two boys he
had rescued from the Comanches to the
at Fort Arbuckle, TO be re-
turned to their parents in Texas. There
he met Colonel Dougherty, of Texas on
his way north with a herd of Texas cattle.
Mr.. Mathewson directed him oyer the new
trail and guided him as far as the North
Canadian. This was the first herd of
through Texas cattle TO pass over the trail
and was followed in succeeding years by
hundreds of thousands.
In the latter part of August, 1867, Mr.
returning from the treaty of
Medicine Lodge, crossed at the mouth of
the Little river Il tram of fourteen loaded
teams for the new agency to be established
AT Eureka valley on the Washita river.
With him We're his wife, Mrs. Lizzie
Mathewson and her friend, Miss Fanny
Cox, of st. Joseph. They were the first
white women to go over the trail. On ar
irving at Rel Fork Mr.. Mathewson left
the trail passing west of kingfsher creek,
making new trail through 10 the Wash
it'd.
On the 9Th day OF December, '67, Mr..
J" m. Grelffenstein crossed the river with
4 wagon train and went on down the trail, |
followed little later by the writer with
teams loaded with goods for Mr.. |
Chisholm, who was trading with the H. |
iians on the north fork of the Canadian, |
near the great salt spring. Returning |
vice for supplies of goods during the |
winter aud early spring, on the last trip |
We arrived at Mr.. Chisholm's March :, |
where we had lett less than three weeks |
before great encampment, and found it /
utterly deserted Not IA living thing to be |
een but flock of wild geese occupying |
he deserted camp. and the trails indicated |
lasty departure in all directions. from |
some sudden and exciting cause.
turning we drove down the river few |
niles TO IL hill called by the Indians little |
Just in front of this hill,
\ here the river bends to the south, / no
iced newly built enclosure made Of logs
vhlch@ proved to contain new made /
vas cut the words:
JESSIE CHISHOLM.
March ith 1865"
The next day we drove on down to CHS
oln's ranch, at the Council Grove, where
found Mr.. William Greiffenstein with
rs men and teams, also Judge Greenway
With his trading outfit, and it was deemed
appropriate by all to hold wake" in
lemory of our departed friend.
From the center of barrel Of sugar was
Xhumed small keg containing Ken
ucky's best, and with Mr.. Grieffeustein
5 master of ceremonies We spent the day
] eulogiZing the many virtues of our
riend, the founder of the Chisholm trail,
finding up the day with salutes from our
uis
The Chisholm trail was the scene of
lany tragic events. In the fall OF 'G7 the
,chitas started south, returning to their
primer homes. The cholera went with
lem, aud many died along the road. At
keleton creek so many died that they I
ere left unburied, and their bleaching
ones gave its name to the creek. In the
end of the river, just below Clearwater,
hlle III camp, a prairie fire swept down
pom them killing eighty head of their
st horses.
On July IS, 1873, Jack Hennessey.
With Ed Cook, Tom Galloway
nj George Fam, were waylaid and cru
ly murdered by Cheyennes and Arapa-
Oes, three quarters OF IA mile north of
ull Foot springs. Hennessey was buried .
! the side of the trail where lie died, the
hers at Buffalo Springs, seven miles
orth. The town of Henuessey. built on
re site of this massacre, is a fitting monu-
ent TO his memory.
On December Il, 1877, Mike Meagher. |
rmerly city marshal Of Wichita. Z
Id one Of our old settlers, was shot ,
a desperate, az Caldwell, on the trail. ;
The limited time allowed this article
rbds the mention of many incidents Of
,TsOnal adventure with warlike Indians.
lth Storm and cold and s1yi "a u, M, u yars