The trip across the prairies was a delightful one, and we remained at the post several days.  Father and one or two of the men went on to Fort Riley to view the country, and upon their return my uncle entertained the Pottawattamie Indians with a barbecue similar to the one given by father to the Kickapoos.

During the latter part of the summer father filled a hay contract at Fort Leavenworth.  I passed much of my time among the campers, and spent days and days in riding over the country with Mr. William Russell, who was engaged in the freighting business and who seemed to take a considerable interest in me.  In this way I became acquainted with many wagon-masters, hunters and teamsters, and learned a great deal about the business of handling cattle and mules.

It was an excellent school for me, and I acquired a great deal of practical knowledge, which afterwards I found to be of invaluable service, for it was not long before I became employed by Majors & Russell, remaining with them in different capacities, for several years.

The winter of 1853-54 was spent by father at our little prairie home in cutting house logs and fence rails, which he intended to use on his farm, as soon as the bill for the opening of the territory for settlement should pass.  This bill, which was called the “Enabling act of Kansas territory,” was passed in April, 1854, and father immediately pre-empted the claim on which we were living.

The summer of that year was an exciting period in the history of the new territory.  Thousands and thousands of people, seeking new homes, flocked thither, a large number of the emigrants coming over from adjoining states.  The Missourians, some of them, would come laden with bottles of whisky, and after drinking the liquor would drive the bottles into the ground to mark their land claims, not waiting to put up any buildings.

The Missourians, mostly, were pro-slavery men, and held enthusiastic meetings at which they expressed their desire that Kansas should be a slave state and did not hesitate to declare their determination to make it so.  Rively’s store was the headquarters for these men, and there they held their meetings.

[Illustration:  Staking out lots.]

At first they thought father would coincide with them on account of his brother Elijah being a Missourian, but in this they were greatly mistaken.  At one of their gatherings, when there were about one hundred of the reckless men present, my father, who happened also to be there, was called upon for a speech.  After considerable urging, he mounted the box and began speaking, as nearly as I can recollect, as follows: