The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1922-07-22
LIVED in Topeka
William T. Sherman Resided
for Year Near North Topeka.
Cabin on Peter Meyer Farm
Was His Home.
PRACTEED LAW IN KANSAS
Was Well Pleased With View in
KaW Valley.
General Made Friends of Men
Who Worked for Him.
BY ELEANOR K1MBALL.


That William Tecumseh Sherman
once lived for year in the vicinity of
| North Topeka perhaps is not general
| ly known. A cabin built by him on
the farm of Peter Meyer, route 4, now
used as a smoke house. was his home
during 1859. He had been engaged
by the owner of a large tract of land
in that vicinity to oversee its clearing
and fencing. He also practtced law
while in Kansas.
The story is told that while standing
on the Calhoun bluffs northeast of
Topeka, Sherman looked out over the
Kaw river and declared that the view
was equal to any he had seen on the
Hudson, renowned for its beautiful
scenery. OF the beauty of the view
from Calhoun bluffs there can be no
having been admired by 50 able a
critic. This was one of Sherman's
favorite walks.
Indian Wouldn't Tank.
During General Sherman's resi-
dence in Kansas. Louis Ogee, a mem
Der of the Pottawatomie tribe of In
dams, operated a sawnnill at Indian
ola. Sherman had business at the mill
and on his arrival found Ogee sitting
on a log, apparently absorbed in
thought. He addressed the mill owner
in a friendly way but received no re-
ply. He repeated the attempt to start
conversation but was met by the same
stolid Indian indifference. The gen.
eral gave it up and walked away in
disgust, remarking to a companions:
There's man over there too id
lazy to talk
A Pleasant Nature.
Sherman was OF a pleasant, COM
panionable nature, and made friends
Of the men and boys who worked for
him, and when, during the seventies.
as General Sherman, he passed thru
North Topeka over the Union Pacific
in his private car, and a crowd of peo-
pie gathered at the station to see the
famous soldier, a number of his old
friends were among them.
For each he had a kindly word, but
one, "old man Stamp" came in for
special notice. Col. Robert A. Fred
erick, afterward well known over the
splendid in a gold-braided uniform,
anxious to be noticed and to do the
honors for the noted general. His at
tentions were received courteously,
but indifferently, by General Sher-
man, who continued to devote him
self to "old man Stamp" Stamp was
stoop shouldered and roughly dressed,
but he and the general were mutual
asking, and he in answering, ques-
tons
"How's your wife?" was the first
one asked, and upon being told the
Olo "OHldu was WE'LL ne remarked,
"She used to do my washing and
mending for me. She was a good
cook, too. Remember how we boys
used to steal the prairie chickens out
of your traps when We got tired of
bacon?'
Inquired About Many Men.
Then he inquired. after the different
boys who had worked for him, asking, |
whats become of so-and-so?" Often |
the reply was, HE went to war and
was never heard of AFTER YES"
said the general sadly, there were |
many like that
But others whom ne recalled, |
among them Ben and Cy Kistler, were |
there, and they lived to be old men |
and to see the land they helped to !
clear become the finest farming land |
in the county. "Old man Stamp" lived !
for number of years after this mem
orable visit, and died at his home near
Menoken.
After a stop of perhaps half an
hour, during which General Sherman
had eaten dinner at the Union Pacific
hotel, the conductor came in and
asked If he was ready TO go. The
general deliberated, then said slowly,
Yes, I'm ready" He continued to
talk to "old man Stamp" thru the
window, and as the conductor called |
'all aboardi" and the train started,
he reached out and grasped the old
mans hand in a hearty handshake.