Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1908-06-02

Lincoln and with his recollections of
1t was some time in the latter part
of November, 1859, that in accord
ance with my fathers instructions
put the yoke on old Buck and
Bright at my fathers Indian trading
post 21s miles southwest of Fort
Leavenworth and started for Leaven-
worth city via Lecompton 200 miles
distant. Buck" and Bright" were
the same team of oxen that drove
in an emigrant train from Dayton.
Wis, to the wild and woolly" from.
tier of the now great Sunflower state
of Kansas in 1857 The vehicle con-
sisted of the same old wooden wagon
with puncheons laid across on the
side for seats. The entire outfit was
covered with a heavy waterproof
ducking strung on stout hickory
boughs. Swinging to the rear end Of
the wagon was small bucket and
lubricating materials and inside was
huge bundle of buffalo and wolf
robes to be used as bedding and in
two buckskin straps fastened to the
boughs on the inside hung a double
barrelled shot gun, while stored away
49, I'LL Oiu iStohtolCu UethC oNSH was q
pair of old Dragon revolvers, $500 in
gold and also letter to be delivered
to friend of fathers in Lecompton,
the old capital of Kansas
| stopped and had my MONDAY meal
at village of Indians on Rock Creek.
The bucks were out on hunt. They
always took their pelts to fathers
ranch for barter. | had often met
them at the ranch and as many Of
them knew the outfit, was we'll
treated. After dinner | yoked up old
Buck" and Bright" and with COM
plimentary detail of bucks as token
of respect for father / took the trail
(there were no roads, everything be-
ing trails) for the home of man
named Henderson on Eagle creek,
where | arrived about 10 p. M, that
night. Mr.. Henderson was a rank
free state man and had joined our en-
igrant train for the west at Dubuque,
Iowa, in 81. Henderson was sworn
enemy of slavery and as true as the
steel knife carried at his girdle.
Note to Henderson.
had note to Henderson from
father advising him that Lincoln was
to speak in Atchison and that father
desired him to rally some of the old
timers and meet him at Leavenworth
l left Henderson bright and early next
morning over Walnut trail for Pilot
Knob, where lived another old aboli.
ZIONIST by the name of Fitzpatrick, who
owned a ranch and large tract Of
land on a tributary of the Cottonwood
river. Fitzpatrick took me and my
mt in, oJoJ
too slow. He turned old Buck and
Bright" out to forage for themselves
and report at the ranch every night
and hitched up a fine team of Kicka-
poo horses to the wagon, and putting
trusty5 man in charge we started for
Lecampton.
We soon began to see signs Of set.
Elements. My new acquaintance had
been an old stage driver on the South.
ern or Arbuckle route and also on
the old Santa Fe trail, and he spared
no horse flesh.
Good Speed.
We travelled at breakneck speed and
crossing the famous Neoska below
Council Grove, we soon struck the old
Santa Fe road. We reached Williams
1Siu6O SIdIlOlf WucTS tle jlO1lIl
and south road crossed the Santa Fee
going northeast to Lecompton. We
arrived in Lecompton in due time and
found the man Lapham for whom
had letter from father.
He operated an extensive stage
barn. He read the letter and without
saying a word to me went direct to
my wagon and soon found the old
bake oven and taking the revolvels
and the $500 he took me by the arm
and led me down the street and up
into a finely furnished Office where
he complimented me on the success
of my trip, and the safe delivery of
the goods. | afterward ascertained
that the pistols were pair that had
been freely used in the campaign of
1858, when Jim Lane, Tom Ewing,
Capt. Allen, Colonel Basset, w. P.
King and others stumped the terri.
tory in favor of the repeal of the Lee
compton constitution under which the
slave element was endeavoring to
have the territory admitted to the
union. Lapham informed my compan
ion that the team had done its full
duty and that relay from his barn
with the same driver and with four
additional men as passengers would
leave for Leavenworth at an early
hour the following morning.
was accordingly aroused from a
quiet slumber early next morning and
in coming out into Lapham's Office
with my friend, the teamster, we were
made acquainted with a man of giant
proportions, but wearing a broad and
genial smile. | was informed by Lap
ham that this big man was to accom-.
pany me in company with three other
men on my trip to Leavenworth
This man whose name was Allen talk
ed to me necessarily about father
Soon two stalwart men came in and
soon two more and it was not long un,
til the Office was filed to its full Cd.
pacity.
Allen the Leader.
1t was not long until the noise OF
wagon sounded outside and soon q
man. whip in hand, came In and an.
nounced that all was ready. Captain
Allen made few remarks about the
phases of the times on Kansas soil