The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-05-04
NORTH SIDE NEWS
Samuel j. Reader and His
Old Diary.
Has JOtted Down Life's Events
Since 13 Years Old.
EARLY KANSAS DAYS
Story of Free State War and
Prices Raid.
Book illustrated by Pictures
Drawn by Writer.
EARLY KANSAS DAYS

Samuel ]. Reader is preparing to
move from 316 Park street to his
farm near West Indianola This re-
calls the fact that he settled on this
place in 1855. This event is recorded
In one Of the twelve volumes which
constitute a diary of his life which
he has kept since he was 10 years
old. He is now 70 years. and is still
keeping record of each days hap
penings. The diary is illustrated
throughout by himself. 1t has been
recopied as the ink had begun TO
fade.
In his book is told of how he and
his sister, Eliza Reader, afterwards
Mrs. NJ. A. Campdoras, came to
Kansas from La Harpe, Ill, in May,
1855, with his aunt and her hus-
band, Mr.. and Mrs. George Cole.
-Four wagons comprised the outfit. In
one of them was George ". Eskridge,
afterwards lieutenant governor of
Kansas.
The diary also describes the writer's
meeting with John Brown of Ossa-
watomie, when Mr.. Reader was a
mem Der of the Free State forces in
1856. One of the most thrilling &C
counts in the book is the story of the
writer's experience in the battle of
the Big Blue which occurred during
the Price raid in Jackson county. no.
about ten miles southeast of Kansas
City, October %, 1864. Mr.. Reader
was then serving in the Second Kan
sas militia under Col. George Veale,
afterwards prominent in Kansas
politics. The narrative also tells of
Mr. Reader being captured by the
Rebels, his escape three days after
wards his recapture by the FederalS
upon suspicion Of being a Confederate.
his release and his walking back to
his home at West Indianola. Since
then he has lived mainly on his farm
the summer and fall and in North To-
peka in the winter.
Part of his leisure THE he has spent
in illustrating the events of his life in
oil paintings which are remarkably
well executed. Among them is a large
picture of the battle of the Big
Blue. also of his meeting with John
Brown. Many of these pictures he
has photographed himself and the re-
productions are placed between the
pages of his diary opposite the events
which the picture illustrates. Another
phase of his Photographic work is
his study of these so-called spirit
ject and experimental until he can
produce just as good "spook" pic
lures as any pretended medium" and
IS willing to explain how he does it.
Besides his talent in art. he has ac-
quired knowledge of French and
shorthand. Ins this language and also
I'm shorthand are made many of the
entries in his diary. However, in tell
ing of occurrences he seldom has
need to refer to the entries, as his
memory is remarkably good. This
versatility is all the more remarkable
since he had comparatively little
education or opportunities in his early
life.
Born in Pennsylvania.
He was born in Washington county
Pa, January %, 1886. When he was
four years old his mother died. A lit
tie later he and his one sister, Eliza
moved to La Harpe. I'LL This is 20
miles east of Nauvoo, where Joseph
Smith, the founder of Mormonism
once established himself. Mr.. Smith s
son, Joe, played humble peg with the
Reader boy. At that time Fred, the
other son of Smith, had broken a leg
by falling from a wagon near
Readers home and was cared for
there until he could be moved. Then
Young Reader was eight years old.
When ne was about 8 he happened
to read Gosser's Journal of the Lewis
and Clark expedition through the
west. This gave him desire to keep
a private Journal of his own He
began to jot down the little events of
q boys life in a country town-and
TO draw pictures of them and of his