Fort Leavenworth Kansas

Fort Leavenworth

The narrator recounts a visit to Fort Leavenworth, where they met Colonel Kearny. The fort lacked defensive structures and was peaceful, populated by soldiers. The surrounding scenery presented a contrast between lush prairie and rugged woods, leading to a Kickapoo trading establishment. There, they observed the dismal state of the local indigenous people and their living conditions. After a warm reception from the trader and his family, the narrator returned to the fort, preparing to depart for the camp the following day.

Biography of Rev. John G. Pratt

Rev. John G. Pratt, born in 1814 in Massachusetts, became a prominent Protestant missionary in Kansas after graduating from Andover Seminary in 1836. He initially worked with the Shawnee for seven years before relocating near Fort Leavenworth to assist the Green Bay Indians, although the mission never materialized. He later established a boarding school for the Delaware Indians, advocating for their education. Pratt served as a U.S. Indian agent from 1864 to 1867, later transitioning to farming until his death in 1895, while still engaging in occasional preaching.

Biography of John Clare

John Clare, born in 1836 in Queens County, Ireland, emigrated to America with his family around 1840. After initially settling in Boston and returning to Ireland, he moved to Leavenworth, Kansas, in 1854, where he played a pivotal role in the local community, notably establishing the first public school in Mount Pleasant. Clare contributed to Kansas’s development as a free state and served as a wagon master during the government freighting service. He married Margaret D’Arcy, with whom he had nine children, and spent his later years farming in Jefferson County until his accidental death in 1910.

Biography of John Young

John Young, born in 1845 at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, has witnessed and contributed to the development of Indian Territory since his arrival fifty-four years ago. A member of the Delaware tribe, he established a farm near Copan after facing challenges with flooding. At seventy-six, he enjoys retirement while supervising his son, Nathan, in agricultural pursuits. A former hunter and avid traveler, Young cherishes his heritage, preserving tribal songs and legends. His life reflects decades of change and personal achievement in Oklahoma’s history.

Biography of Albert Irven Decker

Albert Irven Decker, born September 4, 1876, in Burnside, Illinois, dedicated his life to education, serving as the superintendent of schools in Fredonia for six years. With a strong familial background, he pursued a career in teaching after graduating from Kansas Normal College. Decker’s exemplary character blended knowledge and personal influence, impacting the lives of over 1,000 students under his supervision. A respected member of educational and fraternal organizations, he actively contributed to the development of his community and embodied the ideals of dedicated education.

Biography of John Brown, Sr.

John Brown, Sr. was born in Massachusetts in 1817 and moved to St. Louis as a child. He had a diverse and adventurous life as a fur trapper in the Rocky Mountains and a participant in the California Gold Rush. After settling in San Bernardino, he played a key role in local governance and infrastructure development, advocating for the division of Los Angeles County and establishing vital routes. An active Republican, he contributed significantly to his community while raising a family and later lived in relative seclusion.

Biographical Sketch of Clark Ferguson

Clark Ferguson, born on October 13, 1835, in Putnam County, New York, traveled to California in 1855 with his brother Yates via Nicaragua. After spending two years there, he returned east but ventured west again within a year. He settled in Fort Leavenworth during the Mormon troubles, then moved to Pikes Peak for mining, and later worked as a wagon-master for three years. Eventually, he joined his brother E.C. Ferguson in Snohomish, Washington Territory, where he amassed considerable real estate.