Emporia News, November 25, 1870.



LETTER FROM THOMAS H. STANLEY.



A Trip in Hunt of a Home for the Kaw Indians.

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Submitted by Linda Simpson greyoaks@brightok.net

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AMERICUS, 11 mo., 15th, 1870.



ESTEEMED FRIENDS, STOTLER & WILLIAMS: On the 26th of last month I

joined the company that were going to look out a new home in the Indian

Territory for the Kaw Indians, consisting of their agent and farmer, 

six of theprominent Indians (four of them that are part French), one 

Frenchman whohad married a half-breed, and Carlos Bridges, our cook. 

  

Two of the party acted as interpreters when occassion required it.

The first night most of the party camped near Sodens Mill.

The night was quite wet. The next day, being still wet, we got a late

start,and when we reached Eagle Creek, near Elmendaro, it had risen so

that we couldnot cross with safety for near two days. Then by going up

the creek near twomiles, we crossed it and went over to the Verdigris, 

and followed it on theeast side to near the Falls, where we camped for

the night. The day followingwe pursued our journey down the Verdigris, 

passing near Virgil and Sheridan, which are very small towns. At the 

latter there is a steam saw mill and a littlegrocery. The next town we

came to was Toronto, which had about fifteen or twenty

new houses on it. It is situated on a nice elevated prairie, about 

seventy feetabove the bottom land, and near one mile and a half from the

river, and ten milesnorthwest from Coyville. Several of the settlers are

from Canada, and our Indiansappeared to be rather a curiosity to some of

them. Some of the party were notpleased with being looked at so much.

A little beyond this town we camped forthe night in a little grove of

timber. 



Early in the next day our company divided, as the river was too high to

be forded.

We left the wagons and all of the party but Mahlon Stubbs and myself, 

to wait untilthey could cross the river, and then go nearly south to 

the south line of the State,where we would meet.



And Mahlon and I followed the road down the river, passing Guilford, 

near thecenter of Wilson County. Our friend, Akin, formerly of Council

grove, has a millat this place.

About six miles further down the river, near the mouth of Cedar Creek, 

is the new town of Altoona, with about thirty houses in it. It is handsomely 

located near the river. Our son, William F. Stanley, lives about five miles

nearly east of this place. We were much pleased with the appearance of this

county. It appeared to be settled with an enterprising class of people.



After a short visit with my son and family, we went on south near twenty 

miles, to Morgan City, and then four miles east, and called on our friend,

Isaac T. Gibson,the agent for the Osages, whom I was well acquainted with

in Iowa. We called on himin order to ascertain where he had located the 

Osages, so that we might know how toproceed with our business. We had an 

interesting conversation on Indian matters, incomparing views, etc. Our 

dear friend has formerly bee a devoted laborer among thefreedmen, and we

heard some speak of him in our travels in high terms. I felt a 

sympathy with him in his arduous field of labor. He appears to be doing 

all he can to improve the condition of the Osages, and has a general 

interest in the welfare of mankind, particularly those that need 

encouragementto improve theircondition.



After this interesting visit with this devoted Friend, we proceeded on 

our journeythrough Independence, the county seat of Montgomery County. 

It is handsomely situatedon the west side of the Verdigris, and contains

nearly 200 houses. There is said tobe twelve towns and about 15,000 

inhabitants in this county. The land is handsomelyrolling, and mostly 

good soil.



From Independence we went nearly west about ten miles, to a small settlement

of Friends,and from there struck across to Little Cana, near the west side 

of Montgomery County.Here we came up to the rest of our party, and proceeded

on down the Cana to St. Paul,a town of about six houses, near the southeast

corner of Howard County; and aboutthree miles further on is Euniceville, very

near the south line of the State, on the east bank of Little Cana. Nearly one

mile west of this little town the 96 w. l. and 37 n. l. cross each other. 



The agent had been instructed to look out a home for the Kaws west of 96 w.

l., andsouth of Kansas, which is said to be 37 n. l. We then proceeded at once

to examine the country, by taking a western course, as near the south line of

Kansas as we could come at from all the information we could obtain.



After traveling about five miles over a handsome, rolling prairie, we ascended

a stonyhill about 100 feet high, timbered with scrubby oaks. We then had a hilly

and rockycountry, with but little valley land for about ten miles; when we came 

to the Big Cana,which is nearly as large as Cottonwood. 



We then followed this creek, examining the country. There were several deers 

seen by our party, but none of us succeeded in killing any, though there was 

considerable anxiety manifested to have some deer meat to eat. We met several

Osages out hunting, and some of them had been more successful than we had, 

as we saw the venison dangling by the side of the ponies. They had set fire 

to the prairie in many places, which swept over the hills in a terrific manner,

roaring very much like distant thunder. At times our Indians were kindly treated

by the Osages, and some of them eat with our party. They had no difficulty in

talking with each other, as their language is very near alike. 



We followed the Big Cana bottom around to the Little Cana, which brought us back

to about eight miles south of the place where we struck west. The Kaws like the

country as well as we could, except the rocky hills. We then struck south, on a

plain road, to Shotoe=s store, nearly twenty-three miles south of Kansas, and

one mile west of 96 w. l. The Osage agent met us at this place to counsel with

his Indians about their choice of a home. We also met with two of our Eastern

friends, Wm. Nicholson, from North Carolina, and Edward Earl, from New England,

who are on a visit to the Indians, agents, etc., in the Central Superintendency.

We saw some Delawares and Cherokees while here, and a part of them appear to be

doing quite well, and others poorly. Our Indians did not wish to go any farther,

and informed us that if they could not get their reserve next to Kansas and on 

the Cana, they didn=t wish any. So we could not prevail on them to go any farther,

and after visiting there about two days the agent thought best for us to come home,

and he would endeavor to get the land for them that they had chosen. But

there are some doubts about his success, as it was said that the Osages had 

included that in their choice of a reserve; and there is also some other 

difficulty to be adjusted before they can get it. If they succeed in getting

the promise of this land, then they will likely sell their land to their great

father at Washington, as they do not wish to trade with any other person.



The land west of the Cana and east of the Arkansas, from what we saw and heard,

is very rough and broken, with hills nearly 200 feet high. The good land is 

confined to the valleys, but from the Cana to the Verdigris is mostly nice, 

rolling land.



On our way home we passed through St. Paul and Elk City. This last town, 

situated on Elk River, is quite a thriving place, and has a good country 

around it. From thence to Fredonia (near Fall River), the county seat of 

Wilson County, is handsomely located near a mound on nice, rolling prairie.

From thence to Coyville, on the Verdigris, which has been quite a trading 

post. We then followed up the Verdigris, passing through Greenwood, Sheradin,

Madison, Emporia, and Americus.



We had a very satisfactory trip with but little exception. We had several 

very interesting talks with our Indians relative to their future course 

and best welfare. They behaved themselves throughout the trip quite well,

and at times were very lively. Some of us had considerable conversation 

relative to the best plan to be adopted to promote the improvement of the

Indians. This is a subject that has long been much on my mind, and of late

I find many others that are feeling much interested in their improvement,

and I feel encouraged, believing that there will be a gradual improvement

in most of the tribes.



During the rebellion there was many things calculated to make the Indians

worse. They were also neglected by the better class of the community, as

the freedmen seemed to claim nearly all the energies of the Philanthropist 

until recently; but of late they are becoming wakened up in regard to our

duties towards the aborigines of our country. It is my desire that we may

not overlook any class in our country, but labor earnestly and prayerfully

for the advancement and improvement especially of the most neglected classes.



I was considerably interested in the Geology of the country over which we 

passed. The stones or rocks in Lyon County are mostly of limestone formation.



But over on Verdigris we soon came to sandstone, which continues until we 

come about Fall River, and from there to Elk River we see limestone, and 

from that southward sandstone until we get about 20 miles south of the 

State of Kansas, where we come to limestone again. In Wilson County I 

heard that they had a thin vein of coal cropping out, and I think likely

that coal will be found in other places in the southern part of the State.



The timber appeared to be rather thicker and more of it as we went southward.

In many places there was considerable timber on the hills. Last summer in 

my visit to the northeastern part of our State, I observed many new 

improvements going on, but not to the same extent that there is south.

Respectfully, T. H. STANLEY.