YALE UNIVERSITY LIBRARY < tn© ifii-st Glu'lstmas In Palmyra. ; „ . hi' : 'tiXilam Oolfax MarRhatai. i9is;. i.,* 1 ,- !*4 ,*" ' ?5 '? '' . r,?i^ ft. <¦? '¦¦ ..^x w f'-J -> 'T^LE«¥]Mir¥EI^Sflir¥" 1914 The First Christmas in Palmyra The First Christmas in Palmyra SI Just a Prelude to that stirring Kansas story, "A Wall of Men", by Margaret Hill McCarter. WILLIAM COLFAX MARKHAM Si The Baldwin Ledger Press 1912 !m N eighteen hundred and twenty- two, when the Federal Govern ment conceived the idea of an ov erland route to Santa Fe, New Mexico, to carry coffee and meat, sugar and clothing, to that al most ancient , city of the Aztecs, she did it for those who had the lure of gold. Years before that, Coronado crossed the plains of Kansas for the field of gold that had for many years been the fireside story of the Spaniards of the Mex ican countrj^ But the only gold he found was the gold' en rod and the sunflower, which pushed their heads above the prairie grass as if to see if Civilization were not coming from the far East to meet them;. Civilization did finally come, but it came very slowly, for its only means of transportation was a boat, steam ing slowly up uncertain streams of navigation and a plodding ox team dravai up at the landing, awaiting its arrival. In the Old World, camels laden with spices and myrrh, silks and diamonds, crossed the desert to find a market place, and they still travel the same route. Years afterwards, in the New World, oxen or mules drawing wagons of flour and meat and clothing and tools, crossed the Great American Desert in search of a market, and the path they made over the western plains was for almost a half century a busy mercan tile thoroughfare, but its well-beaten path finally led to that far off Day which eventually brought nation al freedom. The Old Santa Fe Trail did well. It planted hamlets, and villages. It digged wells and (establish ed eating houses. It brought the pioneer farmer and '^ I I ^ s i the circuit rider. It gave to Kansas her first col lege and listened to the first sermon preached tQ whites in the territory. The Old Trail was a John The Baptist, a forerunner of what was to come. Is it any wonder that those who first came to Kansas should be led to believe that the center of commercial life would be along this great highland route? Small wonder it is that men should hope and plan for big things, that "the old men should see visions and the young men should dream dreams. '" ' When our forefathers landed on the bleak shores of New England, they feU on their knees in earnest pr&y- er and devotion. Their hearts were filled with grati tude that they had found a free land; or rather a land they might make free. They did not realize that it would be many years before there would be real freedom in the govemment which they were then establishing, even tuough its foundation rested on Plymouth Rock. Years afterwards, there was to be a "Hole in the Rock," far oat on the Western plains, around whose mysteriously shining pool should gather for a last struggle the antagonistic beliefs of the Puritan and the Cavalier — the union man and the slave hold er. Both wanted stars in the sisterhood of states, but one wanted them not unless also with bars placed against the elevation of some races of men, while the other one hardly realized that there would be no stars without stripes inflicted upon their own persons, in order that these same afflictions might yet redoxmd to the healing of all nations. The sturdy stock that came to Kansas, whether originally from New England or some of the Middle States, was an offspring from those reverential types who rendered thanksgiving and praise to an All Wise mammm^m^m^mmmn Being for giving them a safe landing on a new Con- tineht. These, pioneers of Western life therefore, ear ly sought to give expression to this religious instinct by the establishment of a definite church relationship ; and Palmyra, on the brow of the Big Hill, found a church organized a.s soon as the town had street names and a few cabins to hold down the lots be tween. And this was a strategic location, for the Old Trail had long since found here a natural breathing place on the water shed between the Wakarusa as it runs down to the Kaw, and the Marias des Cygne as it rushes to the southward. But in addition to being a water shed it also became a scene for blood shed of of the most revolting kind. It was early in 1855, but a few months after the territory was open to settlement, that this religious organization was effected. Three months before the class held its first meeting, Henry Barricklaw, a man of rare talent and large means, had taken a claim ad joining the Trail, and immediately his strong char acteristics for leadership were recognized, and to him was given the honor of first signing the class roll. His family had not yet come from Indiana, but there were a dozen pther people who readily joined with him in making Palmyra the religious center — the place of poise — for this territory, for years to come. The year was a busy one for the settler. They came early and late, finding a claim here an 1 another yonder; some built their cabins on the hill beneath the shaggy oaks, while others, thinking the Vinland Valley more fertile, had raised cottages in the tall grass and were making plans for early fall plowing. The out cropping of fuel on Coal Creek induced many to settle there, for they thought that some day fv immense coal mines woidd be found, just as they then flourished so successfully in old Pennsylvania. The summer sunshine mellowed into autumn and winter came on apace. Few families there were without children. People who won't trouble with children, won't pioneer a country. There was little or no manifestation of the nation al trouble that in a half dozen years would center on this spot, and the children of tJie Kansas homes were happy in each other's society whether their parents were squatters from the North or South. The national Thanksgiving day found them with plenty of prairie chicken and wild turkey for the center attraction of the table, and every cabin with in site of the Old Trail passed the day in peace and gratitude, in a country golden and brown with won derful autumnal hues and the bracing breeze of a prairie swept sea, as wholesome and pure as that in mid ocean. Henry Barricklaw dined with the Eldridge family that day for they were, next to him, the first to sign the new roll. While they were in tl^e midst of their meal, planning largely for the coming year, when the Barriclaw family and others should arrive to strengthen the forces of the free state people, the shadow of White Turkey, a Delaware Indian, fell across the threshold. David Eldridge gave him a kind ly greeting and asked him in. He would not be seat ed at the table however ; but, leaning against the fire place ate heartily between grunts of approval. "This is Thanksgiving Day," said Huldah Eld ridge the hostess. White Turkey did not understand but he replied : "Me hungry, now me no hungry. Me glad. As Li I i li }^mmmm^mmmmmm$ long as wind blows and Wakarujsa runs down to Kaw me no forget." And he was gone. For many days previous to Christmas the children had been looking forward with much pleasure to the Christmas eve celebration that was planned by the Sunday School of this new organization. All classes and beliefs joined heartily in the plans. Quaker and Methodist, Presbyterian and Episcopalian, dropped creed differences in their rivalry to worship the" New Born King." The shrewd Yankee and hot blooded South Carolinian, the Indian and refugee negro, were all looking forward to the day. There was no church building, but the Santa Fe Trail Eating House was much larger than any cabin, and here the festivities were to take place. "Come on Mark," said Elliot Darrow, "we must hurry to Palmyra, for you know we promised to help decorate for the Christmas eve exercises." The Darrow cabin was a little over two miles from the town and Elliot and his brother trudg ed through the first snow of the winter, over the Trail, to the new to^vn. As they entered the hotel they were greeted with a merry shout, for there were a dozen young people ahead of them, who were busy at work preparing for the festal occasion. Craig and Lucy Penwin had brought some mistle toe, for they had but recently come from the Southland. Every boy in the crotvd was anxious to hang the mis tletoe and the girls were equally careful not to be found under the branches. "Land of mercy, girls," said Coke Wren, a dim inutive but jolly Yankee settler, who had charge of the decorations, "that stuff won't pisen ye, wait till v. M I i i ^5- ye get a basket full of red ears o' corn like we used to git back in old Boston town, then ye might git fus sy." But his equally diminutive wife, Patty, who had been making a motto for the wall, boxed his ears until they were redder than the ears he was talking about, way back in the old Bay state. In the merriment and good cheer that came with the day, the hotel was dressed in gay attire. The children had brought many branches of oak leaves, sumac and great bunches o? buck berries, which they had gathered in the fall. Candle dips were placed at every window as well as on the table which stood upon the rude, improvised platform, erected at one end of the room. The wall behind the table was beau tifully festooned with bitter sweet and evergreen. In the center of the platform was placed a handsome tree that had been eiit from the Kibbe claim, for it was thought to be very fitting that the first Christ mas tree should come from that claim. In the Kibbe cabin, over a year before, a Meth odist circuit rider preached the first sermon to white settlers in Kansas. All day long the irontiersmen had been bringing their gifts to be plai-ed on the tree and it was quite late when the last of the happy but tired workers scurried . home to put on their best clothes and better smile for the evening's entertainment. It was a clear, moonlight night and the recent snow made the night brighter than ever. They can'o from every direction. The improvised bob-sled, cov ered with tall prairie grass, picked up many a set tler who could not find horseback room for all the family. Nobody stayed at horae and when time came for the exercises, the room was well filled. m is iI sj Henj-y Barriclaw arose to begin the program, when a great commotion and noise outside the hotel caused several of the men to rush out in great fear. ' ' Whoa there, you lazy mule,didn 't I teU ye to hould on the day, ye miserable wretch?" And with a crack of his whip a big, burly Irish man pulled up before the hotel with the last, belated load for that year, from Santa Fe. It was a big, strong wagon, drawn by eight mules, and the frozen mud and snow on its wheels, made the hauling one of un usual difficulty. Two half Spanish, half Mexican helpers from the Aztec land were with the Irishman, and their eyes opened wide in astonishment as they staggered into the wayside inn after their hard day's work. The boss from the Emerald Isle had forgotten that it was Christmas Eve, when, still cursing the helpless mules, he stumbled into the room, expecting to order some grog and sleep by a big wood fire. But Palmyra did not start with a saloon, never had a saloon, and never will have a saloon. The ' ' Old San ta Fe weU." gave forth her strongest beverage and that is why her people have always been so clear- head and strong. "Phat in the divil does this mane?" Air yees cilibratin somethin'?" yelled Mike. Just then he caught sight of a motto, worked in autumn leaves hanging upon the side wall, en titled "Merry Christmas;" and, catching his breath, he had a quick vision of his sweet homeland. RecO|Vering himself he exclaimed : "The saints presarve us." And making the sign of the cross, leaned heavi ly against a post in the rear of the room. h •5X )^ L< \^ '1% JV The program w^ interesting to all, for children's programs always are. Beth Lamond, whose dress V^ showed her loyalty to her Highland ancestry, ^j- recited in tenderest and sweetest tones, the story of "the Christ Child's Birth." Elliot Darrow had no organ to fill the background for his singing, but his strong baritone, rich m quality, inspiring and clear, led the little audience in that wonderful hymn: "Hark the Herald vingels Sing." Nehemiah Green, a young man of promise, who afterward became gov ernor of Kansas, recited, "The Birthday of a King." and the concluding number of the program was a song sung by the children's class which had been named: "Buds of Promise." "Here comes Santa," cried little Joe Darrow. David Lamond, covered up with buffalo robes, and encircled with jmgling sleigh bells, came forth to play the part of the patron Saint. Amidst the joy ous cries of the children, he took from the tree pack ages of pop-corn, candy and ginger bread that had been brought to the little town from Westport. Wh While he called off the presents, the young people '^ were reading the endearing mottoes found wrapped up f^ with their kiss candies or stamped upon the candy hearts. There were red-top boots with copper toes, lamp mats and rag carpet rugs. There were bright ribbons yam wrist bands and gaily dressed dolls. An iron boot jack painted red, and India shawls for the wo men. There were stock ties and woolen socks and mitts as only mothers knew how to make. There was something for everybody and everybody wave something. The teamster, Mike, entered heartily into the fes tivities, and going to his wagon, brought in Aztec ¦ '15^' blankets and earthenware from that far off country. The eyes of White Turkey, the Delaware Indian, who had been a close observer that night, became unusu ally keen when they lighted upon a many colored 'T^ blanket. He becarae a firmer friend than ever of the ^^^ white man. when its bright colors were hung about his shoulders. Coke and Patty Wren were happy snow birds that night and they hopped home in sweet eon- tent; for, though they had no children of their own, they had done so much that day to sweeten the lives of others. The bob sled of the Darrow 's wended its' way C^^ northward, and as they passed beyond the cabin on the Connelly claim, Mark Darrow exclaimed: "Father, why does that big oak tree stand there on the Big Hill all alone without any other trees near it? Why didn't God plant other trees there to make company for it?" "I do not know, my son," replied the Quaker, "unless it is to teach thee, that some day thee may have to stand alone to do thy duty. When the Christ child was born, many came to worship him, but ^i^^ when His trying hour came, He had to meet it alone. ' ' ^S As they glided on over the snow to their happy home, they little knew that they were talking about what is now the celebrated "Signal Oak," which still stands on the Barricklaw farm. This oak, in its is olated location, coiild be seen for miles around, even from the far Vinland Valley beyond. It was by the use of this "Signal Oak "that the pioneers were able, just a few years afterward, to spread the alarra of an invading foe and thus save the town from destruc tion and the first college in Kansas from complete an nihilation. 11