Memory-1858, May 8

   The next day [May 8^th] I took a walk out to Westport, and proceeded from thence to the plains of Kansas Territory, where the Santa Fe trains were encamped in “corrals”*on the prairies. I went out the Santa Fe road to Westport, and then followed the old California road until I came to where the “corrals” dotted the prairies set apart by the United States Government for the special benefit of the Santa Fe and Oregon trains. It was beautiful view;—the great prairie, over whose rolling swells, covered with waving grass, and variegated with a profusion of beautiful flowers, the herds of a hundred “corrals” were grazing or lying idly on the velvety sward; while on every eminence was the picturesque “corral” of the trader, from which would momentarily dart some Mexican, Indian or half-breed, mounted on pony or mustang, to visit some neighboring encampment. The trains of the Santa Fe encamp on this reservation, while the head-merchants go on to Kansas City or St. Louis, and make their purchases. The cattle, which generally get quite thin from their long journey, have thus an excellent opportunity to rest and pick up flesh before starting back across the plains.

   I have seen a great deal of country—mountain, forest, and prairie—but mine eyes never rested on a finer scene than I beheld that May morning. It is a misnomer to call it a “new country”—for those vast, undulating plains, glowing with the richly-colored flowers indigenous to them, and the beautiful groves of trees that skirt the depressions and relieve the abrupt lines of the horizon, present a landscape more beautiful than the oldest civilization with its cultivated fields, parks, and woodlands. The view at once awakens in imagination the romance of oriental lands, and palm trees, groves of oranges, pomegranate, and fig, and the aroma of spices become at once almost palpable to the senses. Then the vast herds of cattle, feeding far and near over the prairie; the white tents and wagons of the emigrant, and far-travelled Santa Fe trains, with the dusky Mexican teamster, require but a small stretch of the imagination to be transformed into the caravans of Bagdad, and the Moslem merchants of the East, in their traverse of pastoral lands of Palestine and the plains of Arabia.

   I approached one of the “corrals” to have some conversation with those in charge, relative to the peculiar life they were leading. The Spaniards gazed stupidly at me from beneath their broad hats, but the train=master proved to be an American, disposed and able to acquaint me with all I wished to learn. He was apparently about forty years of age, of powerful build, with a clear blue eye, and an honest, open face; a fair sample of that hardy race of pioneers, who, with their axes and their rifles, are opening the way from the Atlantic too the Pacific. He told me that he had led a frontier life from boyhood, and that the last eight or ten of it had been spent in California, to which place he was now returning from a visit to a brother living near Independence, having connected himself with a Santa Fe train for greater safety, and to defray expenses.

   In my return I called at the Shawnee Mission, which was originally established to educate the Shawnee Indians, and which, after flourishing for some time, is now rapidly going to decay. It is the oldest mission in the Territory, and is of the Methodist Church South. The buildings are of brick, and are massive and extensive, but very tasteless in appearance. Connected with the mission are three sections of the finest quality of land, which were donated by the Shawnees at the time of the establishment. It was the residence of Gov. Shannon, while he was in office, and has always figured prominently in Kansas History. I was shown over the school by the obliging teacher, and. a great deal of curious information imparted me concerning the Indian character. The school had then only about twenty pupils; but when it was in a flourishing condition it numbered over sixty. One little Shawnee came up to recite his lesson while I was there, and it was interesting to hear his broken English. Mr. _____, the teacher, states that they learn readily, and as a general thing are quite docile.

   In my route I also called upon Capt. Park, the celebrated chief of the Shawnee nation… He resides about three miles from Westport, in Johnson Co., K. T., on a splendid farm of two thousand acres: the greater part of which is under cultivation. Contrary to my expectation, he recognized me almost immediately and invited me into his house, which is a large, brick structure, furnished in the most comfortable and even elegant manner. He has a large family of children and grand-children around him; two of his grand-children are ladies grown, handsome and accomplished. The old chief is a great talker, and while dinner was preparing, he fought his “past battles o’er again,” in many a wild and thrilling narrative. Some of his narratives were highly interesting, showing as they did, the great injustice practiced by the agents of our government against his people. He speaks good English, having been employed for many years as “interpreter” between the Shawnee nation and the “Great Father” at Washington. A great public misfortune will befall the Shawnee nation when they lose their loved chief, for he has their welfare at heart, and his influence over them is almost unlimited. He takes a great interest in farming and has all the new improvements in the way of implements… He still owns a few slaves, but says he wants Kansas to become a free State. After spending a couple of hours with him and family very pleasantly, I returned to Westport.

* A Mexican term, signifying a number of wagons forming an encampment.

[William P. Tomlinson, Kansas in Eighteen Fifty-Eight, being chiefly a history of the recent troubles in the Territory, pp. 18-22.] Read the book.