Kansas agitator. [volume] (Garnett, Kan.) 1890-1905, 1904-06-10
SOME PIONEERS
And How They Came to Kansas.
VIM. II. Ambrose, of Greeley, Writes Another
Interesting Chapter of Early History

When Squatter Sovereignty was the political
slogan with which the political traders fooled
the common people, and because it was much
'overworkeu word, thousands made up their
minds that they would be with the Squatel
Soverslgns, and would exercise that sovereign
ty in the then NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. territory of
Kansas.
In western Ohio, near the great Quaker set
tlement in Wayne county, Indiana, large
company concluded they would make a compa
ny to strike for the altars of their sres. 1t
took some time to complete arrangements for
such trip and to settle in this "American
Desert" With some, it was real trial. Old
ties had to be severed and new associations
formed in this new land.
In pursuance of this agreement, forty.seven
adults and about dozen children took up the
line of travel for Kansas. Mos of the compa
ny were of Preble and Darke counties, Ohio;
some from contiguous counties i'll Indiana. The
men, with the freight, took the river at Cincin
natl and the women and children took the
railroad to St. Louis just in time to meet there
to take the boat together, there being no rail
road from that point.
The trip on the Ohio and Mississippi rivers
was all that we could ask, for pleasure, but
when we were churned into the muddy waters
of the Missouri, our troubles began. Have
been on the Missouri twice since-both short
trips, and both down stream. Our trip this
time was up stream, in the month of March.
1t was tedious journey. We had to spar off
saudbars by the dozen, and at various times, all
the men put ashore to tighten the boat.
Sometimes, we would have to walk couple of
miles before the crew would find water deep
enough at shore to land and take us on.
The boat was named New Lucy and it was
loaded to its capalty with motley gathering
as ever gets together. After procuring state
rooms, and before we left pot, the men were
waited upon by the clerk with the inquiry if
they would surrender their rooms to the women,
which all readily did. The ladies' and gents
cabins were practically all one---the women all
slowed away in the staterooms and hunks
spread on either side from end to end of the
cabin We were all fairly settled for long
M souri, river nap when "chug" the boat struck
solidly against something which made it creak
as though it was going to pieces. The impact
was so solid as to throw the women out of their
hunks and slide the hunks spread on the floor
for The men so as to surprise them and cause
them to 1se And then beg All regular war
dauce The women were scared about as badly
as they could be, and waltzed up and down the
cabin, hunting their male travelling companions.
A 6ne-look.ng young woman came up TO me
and accosled me with: "Mister, wish you
would tell my husband to come here. / want
him." | replied: MADAM, / do not know
vour husbands name" "Well his name is
Robinson. Please tell him to come" l went
oct on the forecasle, where great crowd was
gathered The hold was open, and some of the
crew, in stuhing in mattress and rapidly nail
ing tarpaulin over it to keep it tight over the
hole stove into the hull. l called out, inquir-
ing if there was man there by the name of