The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1917-04-09
Harper Concludes Series on Days
OF Early Lite in Wayne County
BY eEoReE.W. HARPER

BY GEORGE W. HARPER
Soon after the passage Of the Kan.
sas- Nebraska bill 1t became evident
that there was to be battle royal
over the question Of slavery or free
dom for the rich fertile soil Of Kan.
SIS. There were emigrants from the
Southland who proposed bringing In
their slave chattels, and this was e.
pecially 50 with the border State OF
Missouri.
TO Offset this there were induce.
ments held out in the Eastern States,
and In some Of the nearer Western
States for emigrants who were oppos-
ed to slavery. Impedimsnts In the
way Of the eastern emigration were
put on foot by Missourians along the
dividing line between their State and
the Territory. especially along the
route Of travel. at tho lords. ferries.
bridges and other crossings Of the
Missouri river. These impediments,
which at frst we're not Of mild char.
acter, resulted in assaults and the
destruction Of property, when there
WAS q demonstration Of resistance.
A story was told and found it,
way into print as to how the charac'
ter Of emigrsnts was obtained at a
certain crossing Of the river A COW
was tied up, and the emigrant was
quizzed In . suggestive manner. as
to the kind Of animal. and II he said
"keow," he was made to turn back as
it was evident he was Yankee.
When read about It its full force
and application did not appeal to me,
end like the dull Bridsher it was Z
few years before 1t did SO.
Gain Name Of Border Ruffians.
The course Of the Missourians soon
gained for them the classification OF
Border Ruffians, and the friends OF
freedom determined to fight the devil
with fire"
Meetings were held in many places
especially in the Easter States, and
money was raised to aid emigrants,
and to raise and equip companies who
were willing to volunteer for the pro.
lection Of these emigrants. their prop.
erty and their "squatter claims from
these Border Ruffians who were en-.
deavoring to drive them out.
There were number Of emigrants
from Wayne county, some Of whom
had suffered assaults on person and
property from these ruffian slavery
propagandists and steps were taken to
raise and equip few young men to go
to their aid. Henry J. Shombre, who
was a man of somewhat military char.
acter. and of known bravery, in every
way suited for commander, was chos-
en- to lead an expedition. He raised a
little company Of a dozen or fifteen,
and with them went to a point near
Lawrence where there had been trou-
BILE between the two elements, and
more Of 1t was anticipated.
Squatter Driven From Home.
A short time after the arrival Of
Shombre and his squad one Of the
Border Ruffians named Titus. with a
little squad Of kindred spirits had driv-
en- ''squatter" from his home, and he
and his party had fortified themselves
in the home Of the man driven out. An
election was near at hand for members
of the Territorial legislature. and the
men with Titus expected to be ere
peaters" and assist in keeping Free
State men from the polls. while they
stuffed the candle boxes used for the
ballots. An effort was to be made to
dislodge Titus and his squad, and
Shombre was placed in command. He
was on horseback in the charge, a
plain mark, and in the advance he was
shot dead.
John l.. Robinson of Rushville was
the U. S. Marshal for Indiana. He was
noted for his indulgence in booze, and
1t is told that when the prohibitory
liquor law was in force he had bar.
rel OF the "contraband" shipped him
as lard OIL" He was thereafter dub
bed John Lard Oil Robinson Just
at the time the news came of the kill
ing Of Shonbre, which was during the
campaign in 1856, Robinson was to
speak in Richmond.
Sister Lived in Richmond.
In his talk he mentioned the killing
of Shombre, saying he had met de-
served fate. one which should be noted
out to all who went to Kansas to aid
in making it free territory. Shom.
bre had sister living in Richmond,
whose husband, Alfred Tulledge. was
a grocer. Hearing of what Robinson
had said relative to the killing of his
brother-in.law, and that he would soon
pass his place Of business on the way
to take the train for home. Tulledge
picked up an Ak handle and went out
on the walk to await his coming.
When Robinson came he attacked him
with the AK helve. giving him most
unmerciful beating. While Robinson
was in the care OF friends Tulledge
went before justice, plead guilty to
an assault, and friends who would not
allow him to pay a fine paid for him
an assessment of three dollars, no
costs being charged.
In those DAYS the M ners in dealing