Letter-1839, January 28

Jan. 28, 1839

   The Shawnees have agreed it is said, to sell a strip 3 miles wide, off the east side of the land bordering on the state line, either to the Gov’t or to the Wyandots, for the settlement of that tribe. You will observe that this 3 miles will include our Shawnee Mission Station, and that it will be necessary to take some steps to secure the occupancy of the station as well as the proper privilege of using firewood etc. I saw Cummins yesterday, who promised to keep me appraised of the progress of this matter so as to enable me to secure our station. The Indians then had reported to him the result of their decisions but were in Council in the yard….

   I somewhat suspect, that advantage will be taken, if our station shall fall into the hands of the Wyandots, they being mostly Methodist….

   There is much excitement among the Shawnees in regard to the new Meth. establishment, and this matter of selling, may in some way or other be the result of it. I have heard that Cornstalk says he will sell a portion of land to the whites so as to exclude this new station from their country.

[Lykins to McCoy, McCoy Correspondence, K.S.H.S.]