The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1900-11-29
HE WAS A PIONEER
Rev. Johnson Ate First Thanks
giving Dinner in Kansas.
TURKEY WAS THE DISH
That Was Fifty-Five Years
Ago at Shawnee Mission.
TURKEY WAS The DISH

Fifty-ive years ago today the frs
Thanksgiving dinner was spread in Kan
sas. It was thirteen or fourteen year,
later that the first proclamation fol
Thanksgiving observance was issued by
Jim Lane, who was the visible head Of al
invisible territorial government. A mar
who ate. or rather. helped in disposing
Of, thu first Thanksgiving dinner in kan
sas win eat Thanksgiving dinner today
IN this city, at the wellington European
hotel. The gentleman's name Is John
son-Rev. A johnson. Of Richmond, Ind
Mr.. Johnson is a Quaker preacher He
is also travelling mana rather queer
combination. He is the Oldest travelling
man in Kansas drummerdom. He viii be
IS next October, but for all that he walked
as lightly as a youth of % over the rich
Wilton carpets Of the Wellington yester-
day. His hair IS gray and curly. His
! face IS smooth, pleasant aud youthful.
Rev. Johnson, at the age Of %, came to
the Quaker Mission, at Shawnee, John
son county, in 1S45. On the 26th day Of
November Rev. Mr.. Barker. a Massachu-
sets man, invited him to dinner. you
see" said Mr.. Barker, 1--WE New England
ers have a thanksgiving day, and its OBJ
servance being good custom, have
started it ia Kansas" That was the first
time Rev Mr. Johnson had heard Of the
New England Thanksgiving custom.
1--WE had a turkey dinner that day II
was a good dinner. Good, pious people
sat ground the table and you may he
sure that it was a real thanksgiving.
Rev. Johnson ran the first threshing
machine in the state The negroes then
around the Quaker Mission didn't know
anything about it-in fact, were a little
scared Of it, Mr. Johnson had to Dor
row a white man from the Methodist
Mission to run his machine.
Forty years before Mr.. Johnson came
to Kansas the Quakers in Ohio began do
ing missionary work among the Dela-
ware and Shawnee Indians. In all that
time they made only one convert-a man
named John Wolf Wolf came to Kansas
with Mr.. Johnson and became the nu-
cleus Of the community Of Indian Quak-
ers now living IN the Indian Territory.
There were but two houses in the pres
ent city Of Kansas City when Mr. John
son arrived there on a side wheel steam
er
when I came west" said Mr.. Johnson.
there were Indians living on the out
skirts Of the present Kansas City and il
was not uncommon to see great herds Of
buffalo roaming over what is now the
principal portion Of the big town"
Mr.. Johnson was 20 years old when he
arrived at the Kaw's mouth He came
from Cincinnati and was sent by the
Quaker church. which later established a
mission about six miles south of West
port Mr. Johnson did missionary work
among the Shawnee and Wyandotte Indi-
ans for the two years following his ar
rival Then he returned east and eleven
years later came back and located in
what was then the real Kansas City. It
was a small town, however. and there
we're few residence houses. while the
Union hotel on Bluff street was the only
metropolitan tavern" in the town Ker-
sey Coates was running a shoe store on
West Fifth street and upon the present
site Of the Coates hotel Mr.. Coates had
builded a foundation for big hotel.
This foundation was laid mostly by bis
own hands and at times when he was not
needed IN the shoe store. Vast acres of
prairie was on all sides Of the Coates no
tel site and It was not thought at that
time that the city at the Kaw's mouth
was destined to become a great CONNER
cial center
Being a Quaker and q sympathizer with
the Union army NIr Johnson had all
kinds Of trouble at the beginning Of the
civil war. He was frequently accused OF
aiding negroes in escaping from the Mis-
souri, slave holders and more than once
was arrested for the offense "I was al
WAYS innocent" said Mr. Johnson yes
terday. IT never stole a Niger"
Mr.. Johnson tells an amusing incident
regarding real estate values I'm the down
town district Of Kansas City in the early
DAYS I'm 1851 - said he, there was a be-
lief general among northern people that
the war movement was only a bubble
and that it would soon de cut Not
thinking chat the war would last long. 7
moved TO Olathe. after storing nv house
hold goods intending to return In a few
months When the war became 2 GER
tainty and after IL was shown that 81
would last three or four years. 7 was
anxious 10 get back TO Indiana. my old
home returned 10 Kansas City and
offered everything 7 possessed az a great
sacrifice. managed to sell everything
bat a sorrel horse. Money was scarce.
SO 7 tried 70 get a trade but failed
net a man finally who said he wanted
horse. 7 offered rhe animal 70 him for IS
He couldn't spare the money. but he told
me he had a 25-foot lot in EcCee's addi-
ton 10 Kansas CITY.
sTH give sou good title 10 the prop
ertv Tor the horse" said the nan. 7 ac-
cented his proposition and took tire deed
IN exchange for the horse 7 went east
and a57ut five years later 7 was riding
on a train. going from E-k1m1 20 Rich
mend. happened 70 st down beside
man and in the course ~ The icuruev
sSked him where he hailed from kan
sas CITY. was the reply Then th9uEht
Of my real estate. I told him rv name.
The size of the lot ana the location ~ IL
as best could He looks5 interested.
'rWhy bought chat property f1r taxes.
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