The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1901-09-06
Came To Kansas in 1856.

TER reporter worried one into that
condition recently.
Mrs. v. p. Minor. who conducts a
boarding house on East street, came
to Kansas in 1856, and aside from five
years spent at her home in Ohio while
her husband was in the army, she has
made kansas her home ever since.
1856 was forty-fve years ago, back in
the days when Kansas was the seat of
the distur Dances which eliminated in
the Civil War. Bands of Missouri
ans raided the settlements and out
RACES were frequent while the battle
between Freedom and Slavery went
on.
1t was during that interesting time
that Mr.. and Mrs. Minor left their
home in Huron county, Iowa, and
Joined band of $50 Free Staters at
Mount Pleasant. The party was led
by Captain Eldridge and Jim Pome-
roy and travelled like detachment of
soldiers during the six weeks of the
trip to Lawrence.
The purpose of the party was to set
tie in Kansas and help make it free
state and aid was furnished by the
Massachusetts Aid Society which gave
$50 to every young man who moved
here and as to every husband and
every wife. Supplies we're furnished
them by the people of Iowa and Ne
braska as they Travelled along. The
party carried considerable store of
rifles, revolvers and ammunition be-
sides brass cannon, and it was the
presence ofthis forbidden merchandise
that made the trip interesting, for the
government had taken steps to head
OIL the entrance of armed bands into
the territory and the Missouri raiders
we're equally active.
While the party was camped on the
Omaha river boy stole some money
and deserted. He fell in with a COM
panion and in some way they set fire
to the prairie which resulted in the
burning of part of the outfit of a regi-
. ment of u. S. soldiers guarding the
frontier TO catch Jim Lane and prevent
armed parties entering the state, The
deserving boy escaped the whipping
which his companion caught by telling
the soldiers that Jim Lane was with
the party in which Mr.. and Mrs. Mi
nor were travelling, and the regiment
Immediately set out to catch the party.
Lane had been with the party a
days before for short few time, but
had left. He was fleeing forhls lite
: and wore different wig or mask
, every day, changing horses as he
5 could.
D.. News of the rePiment's proximity
t had reached the party and the night
before the meeting the old cannon was
a buried. 1t was done secretly, at
d night, in a tent, hole being dug, the
o cannon being wrapped and buried, the
y loose earth carried away and the sod
l. replaced. Only few trusty ones
d knew Of this fact. The cannon had
i been named Jim Lane" by the party
le and in this way the boy had gotten the
@ lued JnaJ ne was Il ueluUci.
ID Upon it's arrival the regiment cap
tured the whole party of emigrants
a and proceeded to search for Jim Lane
lie AS they passed from wagon to Wagon
K they got some round abuse, but they
al dumped everything out into the rail-
in which was falling at the time. Th'
III woman in the wagon next to the MIno
re wagon raised all kinds of rumpu
y and gained nothing, so willy Mrs
ne Minor placated the commanding Off
r. GER with the gift OF large chunk o
h. gingerbread when he reached he
ut wagon. He ordered the wagon lief
es alone. There is lady in there
A don't bother that wagon" In th
ed wagon was case OF rifles and tw
ed boxes OF new Colts revolvers. Neithe
id Jim Lane, nor Jim Lane" was found
Oh but the whole party was kept in sur
at veillance and escorted to Topeka
ed There Governor Geary met them
'et roundly cussed the commanding Office
o. for exceeding his duty and welcome
W Jle lIuNSltIS, bluuluS thSlu MAKE uuSli
selves at home wherever they saw. fl
Ike Mr.. and Mrs. Minor went to LawrenC
es and remained there during the eXcitin
a years which followed. The followin
ire winter trip vas made back to IL
en- camping place and the cannon dug u
he and takento Lawrence where it serve
id its purpose in after times.
he Among the members of the part
'la was Richard Reali, the English jour
is. alist and poet, who afterwards We
er, fame. Mrs. Minor remembers him (
TVS u funny individual with little promi
ma of genius.
lit Such incidents are now "A matter
ancient history, few of the participant
IN now living. The daring and endu
~ ance of those early settlers saw,
ny KanSos IN Frep1pm a1thouUh the who