Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1908-06-06

~ settled the principal industry
was the hewing of timber from the
forest along the Seneca canal.
At a point known as Log Landing,
midway between Geneva and Water.
loo, the woodchoppers were wont to
gather and tell their stories of early
Indian fights, and here young Hyman
Johnson, farmer boy, first learned of
the impending disaster to the union If
the southern states were allowed to
withdraw from their early affiliation.
1t seemed war was imminent and spec
ulation was rife as to the time when
the actual hostilities would begin.
One day in 1861 Johnson, who was
then 81 years old, was moving a lot
On the farm. A neighbor drove up
bearing the tidings that the call to
arms had been sounded. Without hest
tation the youth walked to the house
and placed his scythe in the crotch of
young Balm of Gilead tree. His
mother asked him what the matter
was, and he said:
Mother, Lincoln needs men. am
going to war
What, Hyman? You, my son. 60
ing to enlist?"
Yes, but do not fear any harm will
|
4 month The southerners cannot face
| the troops from the north for more
than that time. When 1 return 1 will
NOW the rest of the lot. Leave my
| scythe In the tree until I return
His regiment marched to the front
| 20 the stirring martial music, and was
often in the fighting line. The mother,
true to the words of her boy, left the
|
came home a year later on a furlough
and laughed at the almost forgotten in
cident of the implement and its posi-
ton.
/ He inspired hope in the hearts oil
those who thought of nothing else thar
his safe return by saying: 4 will YET
be back to NOW that lot
Soon after returning he was cap
tured in skirmish and became pris
oner in southern pen, from which
escape was impossible Disease lait
hold upon him and he died surrounded
by enemies. He was buried in an un
known grave with hundreds of hi
comrades.
Meanwhile the tree grew apace an.
In the trunk of the tree. The handl
/ |
fixed in the wood.
A general proclamation was issue
!, from the White House declaring on
day should be set apart as a time 70
memory of those who had falle
while defending their country. 1t wa
the first Memorial day. Word of tn
proclamation was carried to Mrs. JohI
, son, but she had no grave to decorat,
L Fa<- a
; upon the spot wherein her boy lay, br
, it's location must ever remain my
terry. Kneeling in the garden, sh
offered a short prayer. Then sh
plucked few lilies from the plot sh
tended daily. and, making q wreatl
she bore 1t to the tree which CAV
such a grim reminder of her sacrific
| to her country. With a caress sh
!, reached up and hung the wreath upo
the scythe point
!, Memorial day has long become a
; established anniversary. Many yeal
r have passed since Mrs johnson wa
laid to rest in the village cemeter
The old home is exactly as it stood i
the day of the civil war, but is occ
pied by another family.
OF the johnson family a brother
: widow and her children are all wi
are left Every year, early in the NOR
: ing of Memorial day, the remnant
Z the family gathers beneath the scytf
: and places thereupon a wreath of eve
green and tiny American nag Wit
In a few feet modern methods ha,
constructed q trolley nne- Hundred
carried by the cars gaze upon II
; tree, the scythe. the wreath and Il
fag and ask t., be told the story of II
brave young soldier.