W.H. Goode, superintendent of the Fort Coffee academy in the Choctaw nation, visited the manual labor school on his way to Indiana. His book, Outpost of Zion, recounts his experiences.
2d. [July 2, 1843] This was the holy Sabbath, a day, in all my frontier labors and travels, sacredly set apart for rest. But we were now within striking distance of our place of destination which, but for disaster, we should have reached ere this. Rest here was impossible. Hunger urged us on; and this, with our desire to enjoy an opportunity of public worship with our brethren, made out a case which we felt to warrant a brief “Sabbath day’s journey.” So having decided, we harnessed up, and a few hours’ drive brought us into the fine, rich country of the Shawnees. My companion, the missionary, turned aside to spend the day among the people of his charge, while I drove on to the Manual Labor School, introduced myself and met a hearty welcome. After partaking of needed refreshments, and a little repose, I joined in the labors and privileges of the day, preaching my first sermon in what is now Kansas Territory.
The Shawnee Indians were placed by the Government in possession of a very valuable body of land, cornering upon Missouri River, below the mouth of Kaw, or Kansas River, extending south along the Missouriline some thirty miles, and reaching as far, or further west, into the interior; a large provision for a tribe numbering only about one thousand men, women, and children. These lands, lying in the vicinity of large streams, afforded considerable bodies of good timber, interspersed with fertile prairies. The cession of these lands to the Government, in 1853-4, with the individual rights to choice lands retained by them, have since made the Shawnee people rich.
The value of these lands was enhanced by their contiguity to Independence, and other towns in Missouri which drive a large business in the commerce of the plains. Independence was, for many years, the great outfitting and starting-point for the plains. Even as early as the time of which I speak, the trade was becoming extensive and important. Since that it is vastly enlarged, and has mostly been transferred to other points. At the time of which I write, emigrants to Oregon and California, Santa Fe expeditions, Government exploring parties, army provision trains, etc., all set out from Independence, and passed through the Shawnee lands. A stirring scene, even then, was presented, contrasted with the country through which I had been traveling. All the bustle and excitement of the commerce of the plains appeared before us—scenes that in later years have become familiar.
I have been somewhat minute in the details and incidents of this last trip, with the view of affording the reader some correct representation of frontier life and travel; more so than I purpose to be in subsequent journeys, though affording equal or greater variety of incident. At that time the scene was novel to myself, and each succeeding adventure made an impression. But as years of this kind of labor have rolled on, these scenes have become familiar. Exposures, risks, and hardships grow common, and adventures come so thick and fast that they degenerate into every-day occurrences, and almost cease to excite attention.
Missionary life upon the frontier, as it is painted to the fancy at a distance, is clothed in romance; and a desire is awakened in imaginative minds to share in the scenes that they have heard so graphically described. But in a little season of actual experience the poetry wear’s off; the stern realities are encountered, and many faint by the way, or sigh for the scenes they have left.
HOMEWARD BOUND-NOTES BY THE WAY. [Chapter XI]
The institution known as the Indian Manual-Labor School, but more commonly called the “Methodist Mission,” is the first missionary experiment upon a large scale of educating Indian youth, not only in common English literature, but in habits of industry and the duties of domestic life, by taking the entire control of them, boarding, lodging, clothing, and instructing them. Experience had shown that little could be accomplished by schools among them while the children remained with their parents, subject to all the caprices and irregularities of Indian life. This suggested the idea of a large establishment of the character referred to. A site was selected, appropriations made by the Missionary Society, aid obtained from the Government, buildings erected, a farm inclosed, and the institution had now been some years in successful operation. At the time of my visit it was under the superintendence of Rev. J.C. Berryman.
The site is about two miles west of the Missouri State line, and about six miles from the point where this line strikes Missouri River. A better selection could scarcely have been found. The prairie lands lie well; timber is contiguous; the farm reaches to the great California thoroughfare; altogether it is one of the finest situations I have seen west of the Mississippi. The main buildings are of brick, large and commodious. Besides these there are mechanics’ shops, in which the boys are instructed in handicraft labor. They are also employed upon the farm, while the girls are taught to sew, spin, weave, and perform all necessary domestic avocations. About one hundred students were in attendance. All were orderly, and some had made a profession of Christianity. The school, though situated on the Shawnee lands, was designed for the benefit of all the contiguous tribes, and most of them shared in its benefits. The institution, so far as I could judge, had, up to that time, been well conducted, and had amply demonstrated the practicability and usefulness of the plan. A few slaves, even then, were, or had been, held by the preachers engaged at the institution; but it was apologized for as a temporary arrangement justified by peculiar circumstances, while the propriety of our General Rule was not questioned. Subsequent changes will appear in another part of this volume.
At this place I was kindly entertained, and spent a few days in recruiting strength for the remainder of my journey and acquainting myself with the plans and operations of the institution, desiring to avail myself of their experience in founding our own, which was intended to be of the same character.
In the immediate vicinity of this institution were two others of similar character, but upon a less extended scale; one under the patronage of the Friends, and known as the “Quaker Mission,” and the other conducted by the Baptists. Both were then doing a good work. The Baptists bad erected a neat church edifice, and had a regular organization. Changes passed upon these also. Each of them had, in after years, “a history” in the struggles and convulsions then undreamed of; these will be noted in their proper place.
In the afternoon previous to the 4th of July, the Superintendent set out with some forty of his pupils, male and female, to attend a Sunday school celebration at Independence. They had been well trained in vocal music by a competent instructor, and their presence was calculated greatly to highten the interest of such an occasion.
[William H. Goode, Outpost of Zion, pp. 95-99; Read the book here.]