THE QUAKERS OF IOWA IN 1858

Two English Friends, Benjamin Seebohm and Robert Lindsey, made a visit among the Quaker communities in Iowa during the early months of the year 1850, as a part of a five-years' tour in North America. Scarcely had they returned to their native land, however, when Lindsey again felt what he believed to be a new call to "service in a fardistant land"; and he recorded his conviction that "the time draws on apace when resignation on my part must be yielded to the Divine requiring, if peace be my portion".1

Permission in the form of a "release for service" was granted by the Brighouse Monthly Meeting, and in July, 1852, Robert Lindsey, accompanied by Frederic Mackie, set sail for Australia. Before he returned to England after an absence of a year and a half he had traveled over the greater part of that continent, as well as in Tasmania, New Zealand, and the southern part of Africa.2

After about eighteen months spent at home, in the summer of 1857 Lindsey once more set out on a religious journey which extended around the world. This time he was accompanied by his wife, Sarah, who bravely shared with him all of the hardships of the journey, and a portion of whose journal is printed below. Landing at Boston about the last of August, 1857, by the following April the two travelers were visiting among the scattered Quaker settlements in Kansas, then the scene of crime and bloodshed. From this point the story of their wanderings can

1 Travels of Robert and Sarah Lindsey, p. 53.

2 Travels of Robert and Sarah Lindsey, pp. 54-133.

3 Travels of Robert and Sarah Lindsey, pp. 134–185.

4 Friends' Review, Vol. X (1856-1857), p. 825.

best be told in the words of the journal written from day to day by Sarah Lindsey.

This journal should be read in connection with the portion of the diary of Robert Lindsey (1850) which was printed in THE IOWA JOURNAL OF HISTORY AND POLITICS for April, 1914, pp. 262-286. A comparison of these two journals reveals the growth and spread of Quaker communities in Iowa during the eight years from 1850 to 1858.5 Moreover, in the journal printed below there will be found many interesting glimpses of the difficulties and hardships of travel in the trans-Mississippi region during the late fifties and of social and economic conditions in different parts of the State of Iowa. The journal has been printed verbatim except that the method of indicating the dates of the daily entries has been changed for the sake of securing uniformity.

THE STATE HISTORICAL SOCIETY OF IOWA

IOWA CITY IOWA

LOUIS T. JONES

THE JOURNAL OF SARAH LINDSEY

16th, 4 mo., 1858.- Kansas. Jonathan Wheeler's house was scantily furnished; round the sides of the house several trunks of trees enclosed loose hay, which with cross timber, without bed stocks, formed several sleeping places for the night. A large box was used as a table, two or three chairs, & smaller boxes served for seats; a few open shelves held the crockery ware, and a small cupboard contained their stock of books. But in the midst of this humble abode contentment seemed to dwell, and a smile played upon many of the happy faces around us. This family have taken up 160

5 See the writer's volume on The Quakers of Iowa, Ch. VII.

6 A portion of the journal describing events before the travelers reached Iowa is included, partly because of its interest and partly for the purpose of making the account more complete.

acres of land & seem likely to do well. We had a meeting with them to satisfaction: many of us would think their lot a hard one, but we had cause to believe that the Son of Peace had taken up His abode in some of their hearts.

Dined with our young friends A. Henshaw & wife, then had a cold windy ride to Duck Creek where we lodged. Next morning the ground was covered with snow, and we had a stormy drive over the open prairie, 15 miles of our route being through the Sac & Fox Indian reservation where we did not see a single house, & only crossed two creeks. Dined at Burlingham, and lodged at Henry Hyatt's, at Twin Mounds, the place taking its name from two oblong natural elevations which are seen from a distance & appear as if they had been cast in a mold. H. Hyatt was once a member of our society. Here we met with a person named William Denton who is a noted infidel, and the individual who attended the meeting which my R Ls had at Bloomington. He removed to this country from Darlington about nine years ago; he was acquainted with the Pease's family. We could agree with a remark he made: that this country suited persons holding views similar to his own better than England.

On leaving the house H. Hyatt refused to take money for our accommodations. Rode to Lawrence next morning where we parted from our truly kind friend Benajah Hyatt, who has been our driver & faithful companion for nearly 3 weeks, during which time he has given us much information upon subjects relating to the recent disturbances in Kansas, some of which were of a most tragical nature, being cold blooded murders & atrocities, such as are seldom heard of in this age of the world amongst civilized nations. We were intending to proceed to the Friends Mission by public

7 On this reservation there were doubtless living many Indians whose home had formerly been in Iowa.

8 These initials, of course, are those of Robert Lindsey.

stage but all the seats were engaged. A note had been sent to the hotel for my R L from L. W. Wood, an entire stranger to us, but a descendant of friends, who having heard of our arrival invited us to his house to remain either a day, or a month, as suited our convenience; so we spent the afternoon & lodged there, and his wife, a well educated & sensible woman, treated us kindly. L. N. Wood is a lawyer by profession & seems to be in easy circumstances. The family are living in a temporary house, but a little snug bed was prepared for us in the loft, the ascent of which was by irregular boards some of which bent as we trod upon them. Took leave of our kind friends the following morning and went to the Mission, a distance of 35 miles by a public stage. For nearly two weeks there has been a cloudy atmosphere but now the sun shines in the clear blue sky.

Within the last week we have seen abundance of wild plum & gooseberry trees in full blossom. The prairie chickens are like a little speckled pullet, and very numerous; if we come near they take wing & fly a short distance. The larks build their nests upon the ground, & sing a short sweet plaintive note; but in other respects are unlike our English birds bearing that name. Spent fifth day with our friends at the Mission: the mid-week meeting was an interesting season wherein my dear Husband had some service. A friend named James Stanley who had just arrived in the State along with wife & 3 children called in the evening. J. S. is a joiner by trade and has come here with the prospects of stationing himself among one of the Indian tribes to instruct them in manual labor & to endeavour to raise their condition in other respects. The poor Indians have been driven from one place to another, until some of the Shawnese & other civilized tribes are intending to become citizens of the United States. Some of the natives have

married white persons. In riding along we do not see many Indians & but seldom pass their habitations. They are generally shy & retiring; we saw two squaws in Lawrence, one of whom was clad in a scarlet, & the other in a yellow dress, & blankets were thrown over their shoulders like a cloak.

This morning the 16th, 4 mo., we arose very early and taking a final leave of our friends at the Mission, were accompanied by C. Harvey who drove us to Kansas City in a waggon. The road was thronged with emigrants who were just entering the State: some in covered wagons had been camping for the night, and having kindled a fire were preparing breakfast. Others were walking with their bags & bundles. On approaching the river we had the mortification to see the steam boat by which we expected to proceed, start from the shore & sail without us; not knowing when another of that class might be passing, we went to an Inn where I spent some hours in posting up my journal, but being on the tiptoe of expectation we had an uncomfortable day. We retired to rest and got a few hours sleep; and at an early hour the following morning we heard the steam whistle, & before 6 a. m. were on board the "Meteor". Much rain fell during the night accompanied by thunder & lightning. Our boat is rather small but a fast sailer: we have not many fellow passengers. On first day morning we held our meeting in our cabin, rather a dull heavy season to myself: wherein I felt my own weakness & inability to help myself. It is not usual for the boats on the Missouri to run thro' the dark nights, but our Captain being desirous of reaching Jefferson City, ran until morning 8 a. m. when we struck upon a sand bank, and notwithstanding all the skill & ingenuity which this accident called forth we were not afloat until daylight next morning. Reached Jefferson City about 7 a. m. just in time to take the train to St. Louis where we arrived in 6 hours.