The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1914-09-16
Famous Shawnee County PiO-
neer Victim of Rheumatism.
Settled on Homestead in In.
dianOla in Early Days.
IN THE BATTLE OF BIG BLUE
Kept Diary of His Life Since
IL Years of Age.
Member of John Browns Army
in Kansas Campaign.

Samuel ]. Reader, one of the best
known pioneers Of Shawnee county and
one of the most remarkable characters
in the state, died Tuesday night at his
home at 314 Park street, North Topeka.
MIR. Reader succumbed to a lingering
illness which resulted in general de-
bility after a period Of a number Of
years of suffering from rheumatism.
Z Mr.. Reader had practically q complete
diary of his life since he was II years
old. This diary contains twelve yo:-
umes. He and his sister. Mrs. M. A.
Campdoras, came to Kansas in May,
1855. from La Harpe. Ill.
He was born in Pennsylvania, jan
uary rs, 1886. His mother died when
he was 4 years old. Mr.. Reader. upon
coming to Shawnee county. settled o1 a
homestead near the old town OF In
dianola. The farm is on the north side
of Soldier creek and he retained owner
ship of it as long as he lived.
, While in Illinois, Mr.. Reader read re-
ports of the Lewis and Clarke expedi-
ton and this caused him to decide to
keep a diary of his own life.
In making records of various events
through life. Mr. Reader illustrated the
more important affairs with pencil or
water color paints. In later years he
reproduced a number of these pictures
in oil and retained large collection
Of them as long as he lived.
Mr.. Reader was opposed to slavery.
and upon coming to Kansas he be-
came a free slater. He Joined the In
dianOla guards. and was a sergeant.
In Price Raid.
Mr.. Reader served as a member of
the Second Kansas militia, under Col.
George w. Veale, during the Price
raid and Participated in the battle OF
%, 1854. He was captured by the
rebels, and after three days he es-
capped ID walked back to his home
in Shawnee county. He was held be-
cause he was suspected OF being a
Federal spy.
and later reproduced it in oil. Since
then. he photographed the oil paint
ing and a number of people OF the
city have opies of the photograph.
Mr., Reader was a member of John
Browns army during a part of the
latter's campaign through Kansas.
He met John Brown, masQuerading as
q surveyor, Sunday, Aug. 3, 1856.
John Brown was accompanied by his
son and they were travelling with an
OK team. This meeting occurred near
the old Reader farm at Indianola-
Mr.. Readers diary contains de-
scription and record OF the Battle OF
the Blue, in which he relates the per
Torrance of the Second Kansas mill
tia.
Mr.. Reader was married to Eliza
beth Smith Of La Harpe. Ill, Dec.
II, 1857. Mrs. Reader died in 1898.
He leaves one daughter. Elizabeth.
who has been his constant attendant
during his long illness. =
In recent years, since he has been
forced to live a retired life. Mr.. Reader
has spent much time in revising ana
completing his diary and these twelve
volumes now are probably one OF the
most interesting books of this kind in
existence.
Protested No Creed.
While he professed no creed; sub
scribed to no dogma, he was close
follower in the footsteps Of the Mas
ter. He was Independent in politics
as we'll as religion. So high was he