Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1904-04-21
Passing Of a Pioneer.

manliness were known OF all. He
went to Solomon from Junction ahead
Of the Union Pacific in the early
months Of 1867 and for several years
bis store was the supply depot for
dealers up the Smoky Hill and Solo
mon valleys. He became wealthy
from this extensive trade and won the
respect Of all. He was the soul OF
kindness, of integrity, Of courage. A
Republican from principle be never
abated particle Of his firm belief in
the party's right motives. He was
one Of the staunchest supporters Of
honest POLITICS and upright govern.
fnent.
Mr.. Field was vermonter by birth
but before the war went into the heart
Of the South and opened a little gro
Gerry store In which he was doing very
we'll when the rebellion begun. He
was postmaster as we'll and kept very
still about bis political belief though
he was loyal to the North. He wanted
the Herald Of Freedom published out
here in Kansas by the intrepid pio-
neers Of that day and which was the
Bible Of the abolitionists. To get 1t !
direct meant to invite o lynching.
The mail was opened at the county
seat and transferred to his office. To
avoid suspicion he subscribed for the
paper in the name Of an old negro
who could neither read nor write and
who lived down in swamp.
When the paper came he waited I'M
til the store was empty at night, then
went into a rear room where he light
ed q candle. Next he made the
rounds Of the house outside to see if
any one was watching. Then locking
himself in he read the precious paper
and finally burned it in the fireplace,
holding shovel over it lest a particle
might float up the chimney.
One night as he was reading he
heard noise and, startled, went to the =
1oor and looked outside. He found
nobody but as he came in he laid the
paper on the counter and forgot it. q
The first caller in the morning was !
ire-eating Southerner and his first :
'ction was to walk over and pick up '
he paper.
"Who gets this internal sheetP"
10 reared. II
81 don't know" was the quaking :, :,
eply. VI
Who ever he is we will hang him il
10 catch him." with a meaning look
the young merchant.
"Yes,-I suppose So" acquiesced Sc
ield. le
The Southerner strobe away. As th
0 went out OF the front door Field II
emit out Of the rear door. The young tn
erchant found a mule and on 1t in
arted North-and he never went re
'ck. He came to Kansas and made
8 fortune. That little incident was tr'
| index Of his character and it shows br
Q kind Of courage 1t took to be q Sol
MON man in the South In those days. err
pr
tic
In letter to the REFLECTOR George e.,
. Martin, secretary Of the state his fir
rical society, and who has host Of M,
ends and admirers in Dickinson 20;
unity, says; ;or
~ noted your tribute to Lyman
I'D and I was panied to learn Of his ths
18th. No.
Field and I boarded with Sam he
'ickler In Junction City, and we wo,
'uPied the same bed. He was o NAT
mber one fellow, and / am very dan
ry to hear Of his death. Field was For
God deal Of q wag. He played q uri,
9 on me on, 30 a will laugh about as tvs
6 as I live. There was an old fel- rae,
In junction City with whom T
Irreled from the day we laid eyes ius,
each other. l had been to Law. arm
90 and had Q number Of card adm
tos Of myself, two prints from the tive
10 negative-one black back has
und, and the other q white back man
und. Just as / returned to juno han.
!, Streeter and Strickler received r.
first photo graph albums ever lsssl
In that region. Field saw my One
toS and asked for one Of each to man
bit the working Of the album. his
ne nrst person 10 call ana see deal.
albums was the wife Of the fe low I'll
whom l was quarreling, After iorei
Getting the thing for some time, was