Henry Leighty was my great grand father on my fathers side. I quote from a letter he wrote when He was 90 years old.
In the spring of 1850 I was stricken with the California fever as I wanted to see some of the world while I was in the prime of life, and if I failed to get much gold would get experience enough and see enough of the world to pay me for the trip and hardships I would have to undergo, which is no small matter. But I will say here that I am more than satisfied as it was a great lesson to me to see that western country in its wild state. So man by the name of Craigo, a married man; Jake Mickey, a single man; and George Barnhart, single; and myself fitted up a prairie schooner and four yoke of oxen and on the last day of March 1850, struck out for the then wild and woolly west. We made arrangements to meet another wagon with three men at Hannibal, Mo. Had the worst weather I think I ever experienced while crossing Missouri. Such cold rain it looked like our cattle would perish as the had no shelter at night. Struck the Missouri river at Weston. Fort Leavenworth is right across the the river from Weston. We were a little ahead of the grass, and lay there ten days waiting for it as we had no money to buy feed to carry with us. Our cattle managed to live on very little feed, and ranged through the hills. Once we had got quite a scare as our cattle got so far away we had quite a hunt for them. While on the hunt we ran across a fortune teller and we all got our fortunes told. Some of the boy's fortunes were so bad they almost turned back. Mine didn't look very good. She told me that I would not have much luck in California, but after leaving there would eventually accumulate quite a fortune. I did not feel like turning back as I had started with the determination to see California or die on the way. So according to my best recollection, we crossed the river in May and pulled out for the plains. At that time there had not been a furrow plowed in Kansas, Nebraska or any of those western states. There were Indians, buffalo, elk, prairie dogs, rattle snakes & coyotes. The only trouble we had with the Indians was their eternal begging. The squaws wanted sugar and coffee. The bucks wanted whiskey and tobacco. But we declined as they would soon have starved us out. But I will have to give them credit for their good behavior in not molesting us in any way. They were so numerous they could have taken full possession of everything we had. But we could hear of emigrants having trouble, but the thing is it was mostly the emigrant's fault.
MORE LATER Now we ready to cross the Platte River.
Tuesday, January 1, 2013
Monday, October 15, 2012
St Vincent 3/10/87
Up at 4 AM. To the airport in vans. Customs, Immigration. Barbados. Customs, Immigration.
Port au Prince, Haiti, Gasoline for our DC 8. Miami, Customs. Just caught the Atlanta flight.
Had to leave Jim behind with all the luggage.
I had a meeting in Atlanta with the Federal Communication Commission and South Central Bell to set deprecations rates for the Telco. The Bell Representative met me at the airport with a new set of luggage from home for the week of meeting. Good planning say what? Caught a plane home with the Bell folks and here I am.
That's all folks.
Port au Prince, Haiti, Gasoline for our DC 8. Miami, Customs. Just caught the Atlanta flight.
Had to leave Jim behind with all the luggage.
I had a meeting in Atlanta with the Federal Communication Commission and South Central Bell to set deprecations rates for the Telco. The Bell Representative met me at the airport with a new set of luggage from home for the week of meeting. Good planning say what? Caught a plane home with the Bell folks and here I am.
Sunday, October 14, 2012
St. Vincent 3/9/87
Up at 4:30 AM. Brush, pack, finish loading , walk to the bus.stop. Bus leaves at 5:30 am.The bus is an open bed truck with wood benches and backs and a wooden canopy built to hold 30 people. There were 40 on board. The choice to use a local bus was a good experience but a bad choice. Very fortunately we did not deprive anyone of their needed seat. We were packed in so tight that I know the local girls on both sides of me intimately. We reach the Heron Hotel at 7:30 am (Two hours for 15 miles) One lane road straight up or down, hair pin turns, straight on one side , straight down on the other. Jungle or farms all the way (coconut, banana, bread fruit, orange, grape fruit12 inches in diameter. Got the bags to the room, wet down to write (wrongs). Will shop this PM.
Stella was there to see us off. Mr Williams came with us.
As I set here writing the wrongs, I was left in charge of the keys to the car which needed a tire changed. Can't go shopping until 11:00 am . others felt comfortable with leaving the key with the hotel clerk to get it to Jim. How would Jim know to ask at the desk for the keys.
Jim showed up and took the keys and I went shopping. Guess what! Three T shirts ! Wet shirt contest when I get home. Second trip out --Ear Rings.
Went to Kentucky Fried Chicken for lunch. Strictly American. Back to the hotel, shower shot of rum, took a nap. Going out to a French Restaurant for dinner this evening. Dolphin for dinner. Bordeaux Blanc Wine.
Stella was there to see us off. Mr Williams came with us.
As I set here writing the wrongs, I was left in charge of the keys to the car which needed a tire changed. Can't go shopping until 11:00 am . others felt comfortable with leaving the key with the hotel clerk to get it to Jim. How would Jim know to ask at the desk for the keys.
Jim showed up and took the keys and I went shopping. Guess what! Three T shirts ! Wet shirt contest when I get home. Second trip out --Ear Rings.
Went to Kentucky Fried Chicken for lunch. Strictly American. Back to the hotel, shower shot of rum, took a nap. Going out to a French Restaurant for dinner this evening. Dolphin for dinner. Bordeaux Blanc Wine.
Saturday, October 13, 2012
St. Vincent 3/8/87
Must remember or send Stella some pictures and a tape of my thank you. Had breakfast and will be getting ready for church soon.
Stella was here at 6:30 preparing our noon meal. Small gas stove, small old sink, 2 small cupboards, no counter space, 1 small refrigerator and meal for 14.
Church sermon by Lay Minister, Mr Providence.
Cleared of haze enough to see St. Lucia 21 miles away.
Lunch was big with desert, beef, macaroni and onions etc, beans , peas, bread fruit pudding, lettuce leaves, drink and cake, baked by Mrs. Providence.
Some are off to another project this PM. Others playing guitars, sleeping, talking. Will finish packing before bed tonight. Catch the bus at 5:30 tomorrow.
Just saw a white boy for the second time. Left her by a Swedish family in Rose Bank.
Those who left today for the meeting have returned. The entire group, without me, set down upstairs to go over the two weeks. I sat down with our hosts.The meeting went on for two or three hours while they ignored our host. They finally got tired of waiting and left. I feel it was the rudest thing we have done this week.
I would come again but not with the Brentwood team under Jim's leadership.
Stella was here at 6:30 preparing our noon meal. Small gas stove, small old sink, 2 small cupboards, no counter space, 1 small refrigerator and meal for 14.
Church sermon by Lay Minister, Mr Providence.
Cleared of haze enough to see St. Lucia 21 miles away.
Lunch was big with desert, beef, macaroni and onions etc, beans , peas, bread fruit pudding, lettuce leaves, drink and cake, baked by Mrs. Providence.
Some are off to another project this PM. Others playing guitars, sleeping, talking. Will finish packing before bed tonight. Catch the bus at 5:30 tomorrow.
Those who left today for the meeting have returned. The entire group, without me, set down upstairs to go over the two weeks. I sat down with our hosts.The meeting went on for two or three hours while they ignored our host. They finally got tired of waiting and left. I feel it was the rudest thing we have done this week.
I would come again but not with the Brentwood team under Jim's leadership.
Friday, October 12, 2012
St. Vincent 3/7/87
Up at 6:30. Breakfast. I had clean up with Gerald and Nancy.
We are off on a boat trip up the edge of the island and up a river to the Baleine Falls. Swim suit on under our clothes. I understand that the boat can't get close to the beach, so we wade ashore. The trip was beautiful. Up the west coast to the north side. Docked waded ashore, off to the fresh water stream out of the mountains. Had a sandwich and drink on the beach.
Here we begin our climb up the narrow ledges, lava rock boulders and across in waist deep water.
It wasn't very for to the falls.When we reached it , it was beautiful. We swam across the clear pool to the falling water, got underneath it and behind it. The boat captain climbed up behind the falls and dove in.
Back to the boat and home. Went to church this evening for an informal good bye. Lots of song, prayer. Anyone who wanted to stand up an say a few words was welcome to do so.
The people here are friendly and very open and full of love and so poor in material things. Lizards and dogs in the church during service.
We are off on a boat trip up the edge of the island and up a river to the Baleine Falls. Swim suit on under our clothes. I understand that the boat can't get close to the beach, so we wade ashore. The trip was beautiful. Up the west coast to the north side. Docked waded ashore, off to the fresh water stream out of the mountains. Had a sandwich and drink on the beach.
Here we begin our climb up the narrow ledges, lava rock boulders and across in waist deep water.
It wasn't very for to the falls.When we reached it , it was beautiful. We swam across the clear pool to the falling water, got underneath it and behind it. The boat captain climbed up behind the falls and dove in.
Back to the boat and home. Went to church this evening for an informal good bye. Lots of song, prayer. Anyone who wanted to stand up an say a few words was welcome to do so.
The people here are friendly and very open and full of love and so poor in material things. Lizards and dogs in the church during service.
Thursday, October 11, 2012
St Vincent 3/6/87
Why am I here? The universe, millions of years ago the world created as a tiny speck in the universe. this island raised our of a mighty ocean as a tiny speck in the world. A mountain that supports this tiny island of St Vincent, this small church group in the village of Traumaka, this small project of the total needs of the total world. Many years ago the island was populate by slaves. Later, initiated by someone years before, they were lifted out of slavery. A small start for a major event. Here we are in this small place, doing this small job, feeling so overwhelmed by needs to be done. Maybe this small step will grow.
Joel, Jim and Farris are cooking a breakfast of eggs, potatoes, and bacon. This is our last day of work before we depart. My experience here was primarily construction and relating toe local folks. The teaching team dealt with a great number of children. The dental team dealt with a great number of people. Maybe it would be better if we sent smaller construction teams and hired local people to help build.. Help the economy,help the family of the workers, and give an opportunity to develop a relationship inside the church and outside.
Finished the North side of the roof today. Cut tin for the other side..
Joel, Jim and Farris are cooking a breakfast of eggs, potatoes, and bacon. This is our last day of work before we depart. My experience here was primarily construction and relating toe local folks. The teaching team dealt with a great number of children. The dental team dealt with a great number of people. Maybe it would be better if we sent smaller construction teams and hired local people to help build.. Help the economy,help the family of the workers, and give an opportunity to develop a relationship inside the church and outside.
Finished the North side of the roof today. Cut tin for the other side..
Wednesday, October 10, 2012
St Vincent 3/5/87
Had breakfast. Had water.
They needed someone to deliver the dental team, set up the dental chair, hook up the suction system, the compressor and the air system. Someone with electrical knowledge. Jim pointed at me. So I did it . No sweat The power saw I repaired for Mr Williams ran ok for a while but then quit. I reset the brushes again. I will show him what to buy to replace them. Jim went to town today and got some new blades. They wouldn't fit so I cut an adapter from an old blade. Completed cutting the tin roofing after lunch. So it will be back up on the roof this pm.
Finished all of the North side except for the two end pieces. Will finish these tomorrow. Don't have enough blades to complete the other side of the roof.
The dentist and his three helpers are over to the neighbors for supper tonight. He put nine stitches in her arm. She received her injury in a fight.
Jim is missing travelers checks. Gerald is missing a bill fold. Joel is missing a dental kit. First thought was local thievery but each time they had misplaced them.
They needed someone to deliver the dental team, set up the dental chair, hook up the suction system, the compressor and the air system. Someone with electrical knowledge. Jim pointed at me. So I did it . No sweat The power saw I repaired for Mr Williams ran ok for a while but then quit. I reset the brushes again. I will show him what to buy to replace them. Jim went to town today and got some new blades. They wouldn't fit so I cut an adapter from an old blade. Completed cutting the tin roofing after lunch. So it will be back up on the roof this pm.
Finished all of the North side except for the two end pieces. Will finish these tomorrow. Don't have enough blades to complete the other side of the roof.
The dentist and his three helpers are over to the neighbors for supper tonight. He put nine stitches in her arm. She received her injury in a fight.
Jim is missing travelers checks. Gerald is missing a bill fold. Joel is missing a dental kit. First thought was local thievery but each time they had misplaced them.
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