The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1893-11-03
his feed at any time to listen to the

his feed at any time to listen to the
music of the violin.
When the mule died, which he did in
a full and rounded mulehood, his affec-
tionate master conceived the idea of
perpetuating the memory of his mu-
steal pet by turning his bones into the
instrument of whose music the animal
was so fond. The task was an exceed
ingly difficult one and, notwithstand-
it took him a long time to complete it,
but when it was done he felt amply re-
paid for his labor, for the instrument
proved to be much superior to the one
he used to play for the mules benefit.
This remarkable violin the old hunter
plqv.. urun qua. ,ue rav OF his death,
which occurred about five years ago in
his mountain home where he had lived
so long among his warm friends, the
Humboldt Indians, who, in all his
career among them, regarded Seth
Kinman as great and wonderful pale
face whose power was second only to
that of the Great Father" at Wash
ington.
Old Seth was not only n genius him
self. but he came from family of
geniuses. One of his brothers, Jesse
by name, conceived the idea of the
corn planter and constructed the first
machine of the kind ever used for his
OWE use. The invention was copied
before he had perfected and secured a
patent on il; and from that crude ma
chine has been evolved the great sue
cess in farm implements known as the
check-rower. Another brother, John,
invented the first device for packing
-four in barrels that was known in this
country.
The rest of the family were more
studious and steady in their habits
than was Seth. He possessed the true
bohemian spirit, and took greater
pleasures in a romadic life than in the
straight-laced manners and customs of
civilization. At an early age he began
to roam. leaving Williamsport, Pa, his
home and birthplace, in 1880 at the
age of fifteen and taking his way
westward until he came to Tazewell
county. ILL.,, where he remained until
1919. when he broke loose again and
braved the unknown dangers of the
great plains of the far west, arriving
finally, after many blood-curdling adj
ventures, upon the Pacific coast, set
Ting among the few hardy pioneers
who were then located in Humboldt
county. lie tried mining for a time
on the Trinity river but followed hunt
ing mainly for living.
In the winter of 1856 it occurred tn
Seth for the first time that it would be
good thing to do to make an elk-hOrn
chair and send it to the president OF
the United States. He speedily worked
out the idea and went himself with
the chair to Washington and was pres
ent with number of state officials
when the chair was presented by one
Dr. Wozencroft, who was chosen to
make the speech. President Buchanan
was greatly pleased, and in return pre-
scented Seth with the best gun to be
found in the east and brace of fine
pistols. The president also. appointed
the hunter to corral the Indians on the
Humboldt reservation. Upon his re-
turn to California Seth made contract
to supply the government troops and
sawmill hands of Hum boldt with fresh
meat at the rate of twenty-five cents a
pound. which contract kept him very
busy killing bears and elk. 1t is said
that he killed as high as two hundred