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

We're coming and going. l Immediate
~ made bee line for the upper
landing, where / arrived safe and de-
termined to find Lincoln. Here met
Henderson who Informed me that Lin
coin, Lane, father and others were in
room ON business. SO l concluded
that l had business there also l
started for the room indicated by
Henderson, but was stopped by big
man with a white shirt who spoke 20
me kindly and after a few inquiries
he said he would step in and ascer-
tain of my father what to do. He ac-
cordingly opened the door to speak
to father and that was the chance of
my life. | immediately ducked under
his arm and was inside before he was.
There were about twenty-five men in
the room, one was on the floor max
ing a suggestion of some kind.
strained every neSve and sinew trying
to pick out Lincoln. The doorkeeper
was puzzled as to what course to pur-
sue. / soon found myself seated be-
tween father and Lane l asked father
which man was Lincoln, but he in
sisted on me having patience and my
time would come In the sweet by and
by
The minutes seemed hours to me
but the door soon opened and in short
order every one but Blair, Lane and
father and myself had disappeared
from the room. 1t was then that faith
er informed me that would be given
an opportunity to shake hands with
Lincoln in the office below. We all
went down stairs, father leading me
by the hand. Here we met Allen who
smiled and asked me where had
BEEN
Father answered for me and immed-
lately led me through the dense
crowd to the side of the great enamel
pator. Here he introduced me to Lin
coin, who after shaking hands with
me picked me up as If were straw
and standing me on the table asked
me my age, place Of birth, etc. At
this juncture Captain Allen elbowed
his way through the mass of men car
ry1ng my buckskin sack and in few
brief words informed Lincoln that the
bag contained token of the young
ster's respect for him. Through the ef
forts of Blair and others the crowd
kept back while / united the sack
which was made of the finest Ca
manche tanned buck skin. l pulled
there, from beautiful bow made from
the best of iron wood from West Tex
as. A fine beaded trimmed CULVER
containing twelve of the finest arrows,
a pair of elaborate beaded moccasins,
and fine three year old buffalo robe
painted in the most artistic style
known to the Camanche squaws. Lin
coin made nice little speech OF
thanks and invited me to come and
see him at some future time, and in
accordance with instructions from
father invited Lincoln, to visit faith
er's rancho during his trip If possible
The height of my ambition had been
reached. | had listened to father talk
about Fremont and Lincoln. had
] toiled for and laid awake nights to
see Lincoln. The goal of my youth
had been reached. I had met the
great man and had shaken the hand
that was destined to guide a great
republic through great civil war,
4 and l was the happiest boy on the
free soil of bleeding Kansas territory
Lincoln spoke In the M e. church
which was constructed on an incline
near the edge OF the timbers over.
looking the village of Atchison.
i Some Early Kansas History.
This little church has a history
made by Rev. Milton Mahin, an early
M. E. minister in charge. He was
the first minister to display the stars
end stripes from church on Kansas
sell. A band of ruffians crossed the
river and made their way to the little
house of God, with the intention OF
tearing down the flag. AS they came
near the building the patriotic minis.
i ter opened the door and with belt
1 filled with glittering pistols he placed
two trusty muskets close at hand and
throwing well filed double barreled
shotgun to his shoulders and with a
keen fearless eye glancing along the
barrel he demanded an immediate
halt. which was Immediately granted
by the ruffians.
The minister demanded the cause of
the visit in the same breath saying
IL you came to insult the flag | will
give you one minute to get down the
slope and over the river. And the
would be despoilers took to their
heels and were soon back in the un.
der brush of the Missouri. Lincoln
went to West Maryville, where he
made another speech and if he made
more speeches in the territory at that
the present time. went back home
the same way came, picking up old
Buck and Bright at Kilpatrick's, and
father who had gone to Kansas City
arrived home two days later. About
a week after returning from this
eyentful trip, one of the men at the
rancho said that there was a wagon
coming down the Kickapoo trail. II
soon appeared coming at gallon
around the bluff and father trained
his field glass on the outfit and with
an exclamation said it is Lincoln and
Lane handed me the glass, and i'm.
mediately informed mother, who with
us children stood with open mouth
watching the approach of the stage
coach drawn by four foaming black
horses on a full run
When Lincoln Was Hungry
My first impression was that the
thing was running away, but instead
as the driver reached the proper
1 place to stop he applied the huge
brake with his foot, with whoa" the
fOur fine h1aplyc cappa fo n holt yHT;tl,