Life on the Prairie: Maddie

Once Upon the Prairie

 The Conductors

Daniel was the runaway’s name.

His life filled with misery and pain.

Maddie and Owen, their families, too,

Knew what they needed to do,

Help Daniel travel that “underground train.”

The two became part of the plan.

Together they spied on the mean old man.

Kansas, bleeding at the time,

Saw good men fight across the line.

Could slavery be stopped with a ban?

Dressed as a girl, Daniel sought to be free.

He was hid in an old, cottonwood tree.

They could not know how effective the train became.

         Each worked in secret, with only conductor as a name.

Risking all so free others might be.

PLEASE NOTE THIS BLOG CHANGES FIRST AND THIRD WEEKS OF THE MONTH.
Be sure to check out The Story Teller's Corner and Up the Family Tree.

 

Maddie

This is ten-year old Maddie again. I live in Kansas Territory in the new town of Lawrence. Popular sovereignty exists in Kansas. The people of Kansas are to vote on whether or not the Territory joins the Union as a free state or as a slave state. Border Ruffians from the adjoining state of Missouri fought with the free-staters. The Eldridge Hotel was ransacked and burned during one fight. My cousin, Own, and I were not downtown that afternoon. That was the day we helped Daniel, a runaway slave, move closer to freedom.

Mama and Papa are proud of me for the sacrifice I made to help Daniel. My determination to stop slavery gave me the courage I needed. I can't tell you about it now, but you can read more about my adventure soon.

  Hello, Spring

My mother used to quote the following phase: Spring is sprung, the grass is rize. I wonder where the flowers is. 

For 30 years my husband and family ran a greenhouse business called The Green Thumb. For us spring did not arrive on March 21. It arrived weeks earlier as we hurriedly got seed into the ground and cuttings transplanted. Days were filled with four-inch pots, cascading baskets and flats of assorted flowers and vegetables. It included sunny days where one could almost see the plants growing and cloudy, cold days as the plants struggled to survive and not develop botrytis. Loading trucks and vans at night to go out first thing in the morning was always part of each day. The job was a 24 hours a day, seven days a week job.

This diversification of our farming operation allowed us to send our boys to college. My older son got a degree in greenhouse management and ran the operation for a dozen years; even he grew weary of the many hours. We sold the business and expanded the farming part.

While I miss the flowers each spring and the beauty of poinsettias at Christmas, spring has become just that-a renewal of life for us. I especially like the opportunity of going out to eat on Mother’s day or Thanksgiving instead of working in the greenhouse filling orders. I didn’t get that option for 30 years.

Up the Family Tree: Spring Cleaning

 

Spring Cleaning

 

I spent the bitter cold days of January sitting by the fire planning my spring cleaning--my head filled with visions of a spotless house. I began my project on another cold, snowy day in February. First, I made a list of needed supplies. Then, I ventured to the supermarket and bought a whisk broom, an angler broom and a heavy duty broom. I bought a nylon dust mop, a cotton dust mop and a scrub mop. I bought paper towels, moth balls, a feather duster and three styles of rubber gloves. 

I bought fragrances to make my house smell like a summer breeze, a summer garden and summer greens. I purchased window cleaners, rug cleaners, tile and bath cleaners, floor wax and furniture polish. I didn't forget the soap pads, steel wool or sponges. All that, and it only cost $178.48. I could hardly squeeze into the car for the return trip.

With cleaning products on hand, I made lists of different tasks I hoped to accomplish. To wash or not to wash the windows, that was the question. Should I wash the kitchen curtains? Did I need to paint the kitchen walls? How about new tile in the bathroom?

Only one decision remained before I began my actual cleaning--the scheduling. When did I want to clean the house? Timing is very important. The weather should be warm enough I will not need to light the fireplace again. I certainly could not clean during the week of spring break. Dust cloths, vacuums, pails of water and mops sometimes frightened my children. Easter was also not a good time for cleaning. Easter means Easter eggs and Easter eggs were a problem with more than one child in the house. My four children together amassed about ten dozen hard-boiled eggs each year. It's hard to clean around eggs. It is wise, too, to remember it rains in the spring. No matter how clean a house is, it will not sparkle in the rain.

When is the best time to clean? Well, I could have cleaned last week. It was warm enough. Spring break and Easter are over, and it hasn't rained recently. I would have done it last week too. But, Monday, I shopped with the girls. Tuesday, I played bridge. Wednesday was so pretty I worked in the garden, and Thursday I went with the second grade to the Crayola factory. Friday, you ask?  Well, I wouldn't start a big project like spring cleaning on a Friday. Would you? 

Today, well, why not? Wait, it's sort of hot today, don’t you think?

 

 

Bleeeding Kansas

Bleeding Kansas

 

During the 1850’s the territory of Kansas was the site of numerous clashes between proslavery factions often call “border ruffians” and supporters of the antislavery movement. The population grew within the future state as the New England Emigrant Aid Society sent antislavery members to homestead. Proslavery factions crossed territorial borders to vote illegally in state elections. The two groups were determined the state would enter the union as a slave or Free State accordingly. Provisional constitutions and temporary governments were established in Lecompton and Topeka with each area claiming their political cause to be the winner.

Events culminated with the sacking of free state Lawrence by proslavery agitators. The abolitionist, John Brown, retaliated with the brutal slaying of proslavery followers in eastern Kansas. The first shots of the Civil War were fired, and the stage was set for the violent confrontation which followed.

Helpful resources for research about “bleeding Kansas” include:

www.history.com/topics/bleeding-kansas

www.pbs.org/wgbh/aia/part4/4p2952.html

www.en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_England_Emigrant_Aid_Company

www.civilwarhome.com/johnbrownbio.htm

 

 

 

Pioneer Meals

 

 

Prairie Meals

Pioneer Pancakes is a recipe nearly 140 years old and contains ingredients Maddie’s family could access in Kansas Territory.

Pioneer Pancakes

1 cup flour                                                  2 eggs

1 cup cornmeal                                           2 cups milk

3 teaspoons baking powder                        ¼ cup fat, melted

1and ½ teaspoons salt



Combine all ingredients; mix well. Fry cakes on hot, lightly greased griddle.

 

The midday meal could easily have been a stew or soup with some cornbread. The following recipe is over 100 years old. My aunt used hard-boiled eggs in a similar manner for gravy.

 

Chicken and Slickers (Noodles)

 

1-3 pound chicken                                      3 cups flour

Salt & 1 teaspoon pepper                            ½ teaspoon baking powder

½ teaspoon poultry seasoning                    ½ shortening or fat

2 tablespoon butter                                     5 hard-boiled eggs, chopped 

Place chicken in large kettle; add water to cover. Add one tablespoon salt, and the pepper and poultry seasoning. Boil for about an hour or until chicken is tender. Remove chicken from broth; set aside. Reserve seven cups of broth, adding water if needed. Sift flour, one teaspoon salt and baking powder into mixing bowl. Cut in shortening or fat. Work in ¾ cup reserved broth or enough broth to make soft dough. Roll out on well-floured board; roll out to 1/8 inch thickness. Cut into ¾ inch strips three to four inches long to make slickers (noodles). Bring broth to a boil in kettle. Drop in 1/3 of the slickers; add 1/3 of the eggs. Repeat layers, using all slickers and eggs. Reduce heat; simmer for about ten minutes or until slickers are done. Chicken may be boned and added in layers or served whole. Serves 6.

Dessert might have been part of the meal, too. Fruit pies and cobblers were favorites. Maddie’s family might have enjoyed this blackberry cake. 



Blackberry Cake

2 cups sugar                                               2 teaspoons cinnamon

¾ cup shortening                                        2 teaspoons nutmeg

3 eggs                                                         2 teaspoons cloves

1 cup unsweetened blackberries                 1 teaspoon soda

          and juice                                            1 cup buttermilk

3 cups flour                                                 2 teaspoons baking powder

Cream shortening and sugar together until light; add eggs. Beat well. Stir in blackberries with juice. Sift flour with baking powder and spices several times. Stir soda into buttermilk; add alternately with flour mixture, mixing well after each addition. Bake in greased and floured ten-inch pan. Bake in preheated oven got one hour and 15 minutes or until cake tests done. Cool; may frost if desired.

Closer Look at Lawrence

Closer Look at Lawrence



I had the good fortune to get help from a former classmate, Amy (Ohlandt) Rork, to visualize the setting for Maddie’s story. Although I knew the Underground Railroad was active in Lawrence, I did not know to what extent. She generously gave of her time to show our group a house and barn used to house runaway slaves, an area where caves were located and utilized for hiding and where Maddie and Owen might have stood on Mt. Oread. I crossed Potawatomie Creek where a battle was fought and had lunch in the renovated Eldridge Hotel.

It brought to mind how much it helps to visit historical places and see where history was made whether local, state or national. Activities such as these make history come alive for students and adults.