I (Doris Williams) have long had a keen interest in the history and genealogy of
Cane Hill and Washington County, AR. My ancestors were among the early
settlers of Cane Hill and Washington County. They contributed much to the
settlement. Those names included Edmiston, Buchanan, Crawford and Divin. My
great-grandmother was Mary Jane (Edmiston) Divin. She married Matthew A.
Divin, who was killed while serving in the First Arkansas Cavalry (Confederate)
during the Civil War. Following his death, she and her two children, James Clayton
and Nancy Hannah Anna lived in the home of John Edmiston, Mary Jane's
brother, in Cane Hill until about 1900, when she and her children moved to Benton
County for unknown reasons.
Christine Carte, of Lincoln, AR, has compiled much genealogical information
regarding our mutual ancestors (her ancestor, Robert Crawford and my
great-great-grandmother, Hannah Crawford, were brother and sister. She has been
kind enough to share her information with me. Following is the beginning story of
the "Gold Rush of 1849" in which my great-grandfather, Matthew A. Divin, his
brother James Crawford Divin, along with their Crawford and Edmiston relatives
participated along with numerous other Cane Hill residents:
(The Journal of this expedition will follow)
THE WASHINGTON COUNTY EMIGRATING CO.
Members of the Washington County Company who mustered at Grand Saline (
Salina ), Cherokee Nation, in April 1849. Six names have been added from the
Crawford Diary and letters to the lists already compiled by the Cherokee Advocate
of May 7, 1849 and Scott Foreman's fine book, "Marcy and the Gold Seekers",
Univ. of Okla. Press, Other sources are the Oakly list and the Goodspeed list from
Goodspeed's history of Arkansas. This is the only complete list that has been
compiled. The word "mess" as used in these papers denotes a group of men who
travel together.
Bean, John Fayettville
Bean, Oscar Fayettville
The Bean family moved from Virginia to the Cherokee lands in 1768 and later to
Arkansas .
Billings , Washington County
Blackburn , Bur Cherokee Nation, moved from Tennessee
Blake, Joseph Washington County
Carter, John Calhoun Cane Hill
Carter, James Cane Hill
Carnahan, James Cane Hill
Carnahan, John Cane Hill
James Carnahan was the father of John. Their roots are in Scotland . In America ,
they fought for the revolution. Col. John Carnahan (the elder) was present at
Braddocks defeat. His son, John, was an early circuit rider for the
Cumberland Presbyterian Church, settling his family in Arkansas and establishing
his circuit along the Arkansas River . Reports are that James died in California on
Oct, 3, 1850 . He was alive on Sept 18th and recovering from "Bilious fever" as
reported in the letter. James S. Crawford was in California until Nov. 17, 1850 . It is
strange that he does not mention the death of his friend in either his letters or diary.
Calahan, George Benton County
Chew, Joseph Fayettville
Cline, John R. Fayettville
Crawford, A. B. Cane Hill
Crawford, Andrew A. Cane Hill
Andrew Alexander Crawford was the son of Revolutionary soldier, John Crawford
and wife, Margaret Buchanan
Crawford, and a cousin of James Sawyer Crawford immediately below.
Crawford, James Sawyer Cane Hill
Wagon Master of the Company's second division and keeper of this diary.
Crawford, William Cane Hill
Brother of James S.
Cartwright, James L. Fayettville
Cunningham, Dr. W. R. Fayettville
Company surgeon and Cane Hill's first doctor
Crumley, George Cane Hill
Crumley, Kidrick Cane Hill
Cosby, Wiley Washington County
Colwell, James Benton County
Colwell, Andrew Benton County
Brothers
Coleman, R. L. Cherokee Nation
Dickinson , Joseph Porter Washington County
Son in Law of J. H. Van Hoose
Davis, Hiram Anderson Fayettville
Divin, Mathew A. Washington County
Divin, James Washington County
James Divin married Elizabeth Edmiston, sister of the Edmiston brothers listed
below.
Edmiston, J. T.(Thomps) Washington County
Edmiston, Andrew E. Washington County
Edmiston, Erwin Washington County
Erwin Edmiston did not leave with the Company in mid April, but with a single
mess some time later. which consisted of Wm. Mann, George Crum, Levi West and
himself. He became ill on the desert ( Nevada ) And was cared for by West near
Carson 's River.
Eperson, John Cane Hill
Traveled with the J. S. Crawford mess.
Eperson, Robert Cane Hill
Evans, Lewis Washington County
Evans was elected Captain of the first division and served the Company well. "The
Cherokee Trail", which was opened by the Washington County Company, was
known for many years as the " Evans Route ". He was the first sheriff of
Washington County and the town of Evansville is named in honor of his family.
Evans, Alonzo Washington County
Son of above
Evard, E. H. (Old Man) Washington County
Erwin, James Washington County
Erwin, William Washington county
Brothers
Freyschlagg, Edward Fayettville
Freyschlagg, Christian Fayettville
Freyschlagg, Herman Fayettville
Freyschlagg, Hermina Fayettville
Freyschlagg, Barbara Fayettville
Edward was the father of the Freyschlagg family. The two daughters,
Hermina and Barbara, are said to have walked the entire distance. Hermina
returned and taught instrumental and vocal music at Sophia Sawyer's Fayettville
Female Seminary. Herman taught art at the same college around 1860.
Garvin, James H. Benton County
Garvin drowned in an accident crossing the Green river in Wyoming , from which
Aaron Tyner and Hiram Shores narrowly escaped. All their baggage and money
were lost.
Gunter, Daniel M. Cherokee Nation
Gunter , Cherokee Nation
Gunter and other Cherokees began to form a company in early 1849. See text.
Goddard, William Washington County
Gray, Will Washington County
Hale Isaac Washington County
Hale, Caroline Washington County
Isaac's wife, Caroline, and the Freyschlagg girls were the only female members of
the Company.
Harlin, R. N. Cherokee Nation
Hastings, J. W. Benton County
Hand, Boly Washington County
Hand, John Washington County, Father and son.
Holmes, H. P. Benton County
Holmes, Cuthbert Benton County
Hustin , Washington County
Holmes, Calvin H. Fayetteville
Ingraham, James Cane Hill
Ingram, John Washington County
Hoge, Judge James M Benton County
District Judge of Bentonville
Hoge, Wm. Benton County
Relation not known
Jackson, David C. Cherokee Nation
Also migrated from Tennessee
James, T. (Home not known)
Kellum, J. P. Cane Hill
Keys, Richard Cherokee Nation
Richard was the fifth son of the nine children of Samuel Houston Keys and
Cherokee Melton Keys.
Keys, George W. Cherokee Nation
Cousin of above, sons of Eliza and Riley Keys
Kimbrel, T. J. Madison County
Latta, Samuel Washington County
Lewis, George Washington County
This name does not appear on all lists. The Cherokee Advocate has, George
Nathan and Nathan Lewis. The confusion arises in the way the names are
presented, i.e., George, Nathan Lewis, instead of George and Nathan Lewis.
Lewis , Nathan Washington County
Nathan died enroute
Lewis, John Washington County
Lipe, Oliver W. Cherokee Nation
Mankins, Peter Washington County
Born in 1770, Peter Mankins began this trip at an age considered to be advanced
by men of less stamina, and returned to serve in the War Between the States. He
survived the war and didn't die until 1881 at the age of 111.
Mallet, William Fatetteville
Mathews, J. M. Cane Hill
Marrs, Squire B. Cane Hill
Marrs sister, Rebecca, married William Carnahan.
Maxwell, Thomas Washington County
McKey, George Cane Hill
McKey, W. P. Cherokee Nation
Relation not known.
McRoy, H.J."Jack" Fayetteville
McClure, George Cane Hill
McCullock, Dr. Samuel Cane Hill
Company Surgeon
McCullock, James L. Cane Hill
Murphey, Isaac Washington County
Murphey returned from California to become active in the political affairs of the
time. He was a delegate to the Arkansas converntion to consider the question of
seccession, and was elected governor of the state in 1864. Born Oct. 16, 1799 ,
died Sept. 8, 1882 .
Morrow, James Cane Hill Born April 7, 1826
Morrow, Hugh Cane Hill Born May 6, 1828
Morrow, William Cane Hill Born April 7, 1824
Morrow, John Cane Hill Born Sept. 21, 1821
Murion, John Cane Hill
McKinney , James Madison County
McKinney , Job Cane Hill
McMaster, J. C. Cherokee Nation
Myers, James Cane Hill
North, George C. Fayettville
Potter, Sam Cherokee Nation
Pierce, James Cane Hill
Pyeatt, Andrew Cane Hill
Pyeatt, Henry Porter Cane Hill
Pyeatt, John Rankin Cane Hill
Of the Pyeatts, only John Rankin returned. Porter Drowned in the American River
, and Andrew died aboard ship on the return trip.
Powers, John Washington County
Rattlingourd, Josiah Cherokee Nation
Rattlingourd returned and established a public school in the Illinois District of the
Cherokee Nation.
Sanders, Benjamin Fayettville
Sanders, John Fayettville
Shores, William Washington County
Shores, Hiram Washington County
Summers, Hiram Madison County
Summers, John A. Madison County
Slover, Enos Washington County
Strickland, Jacob Washington County
Schuler, Squire Evansville
Schuler, Gus Evansville
Schuler, Leonard Evansville
Simms, Fred P. Fayetteville
Stokes, Address unknown, name appears on all
lists.
Sturdivant, Joseph Cherokee Nation
Smith, Walt J.B. Cherokee Nation
Schrimsher, Martin M. Cherokee Nation
Elected commissary of the Company. Schrimsher's daughter, Mary, married Clem
Rogers, and they became the parents of humorist, Will Rogers. Schrimsher was
one of the principal organizers of the Cherokees for the gold rush.
Tyner, Aaron Washington County
Tyner, Thomas Washington County
Tommy Tyner returned from Pueblo and Aaron continued to California . Some
sources show that he was killed by Indians on the return trip, however Crawford's
letter of September 18, 1850 was sent by Tyner and apparently delivered. It
appears in this collection.
Thomas, James A. Benton County
Tharpe, Nathan Washington County
A son in law of J. H. Van Hoose
Waite, Joe Washington County
Wham, John M. Cane Hill
Wham came to Washington County in 1842 from Lincoln County Tennessee. He
traveled with the Crawford mess. He was a brother in law to James Sawyer
Crawford, having married Crawford's sister, Hannah.
Williamson, Robert Cane Hill
Williams, Rev. Wm."Horse" Washington County
Whitley, B. Washington County
Williams, Robert Cherokee Nation
Van Hoose, John H. Washington County
Later he was mayor of Fayetteville . He was a grandson of Peter Mankins.
Woodruff, Wyatt Washington County
Vann, James S. Cherokee Nation
Vann was editor of the Cherokee Advocate and another of the organizers of the
Company. While gone, he turned over the editorship of the paper to David Carter,
his assistant. Another man of exceptional ability, he was elected secretary of the
Company.
Slave Cherokee Nation
Slave Cherokee Nation
Slave Cherokee Nation
Slave Cherokee Nation
Slave Cherokee Nation
The names of these men are not available.
These names formed the Company roster as it was when the Company left Grand
Saline. Two men from Missouri joined the Company as it left. Two messes joined
later, one at Salt Lake City , consisting of Jonathan Mulkey, his son James, and
Rescue Foreman, an ancestor of Oklahoma historian Scott Foreman, all from the
Cherokee Nation. The other from Washington County was a four man mess
consisting of John Gibson, Isaac Spencer, Madison English and Harrison Coulter.
Another late mess joining in California listed Erwin Edmiston, William Mann,
George Crumm, and Levi West. Edmiston became very ill on the Nevada desert
near Carson 's River. Levi West made camp and cared for him while Mann and
Crumm continued across the mountains to join the Crawford and Carnahan
messes on the Cosumas River in California .
GENEALOGY INFORMATION OF EARLY CANE HILL FAMILIES
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These pages will provide what we hope will be interesting stories and information regarding
the early families of Cane Hill and Washington County, Arkansas. The College Museum will
be open during both days of the Cane Hill Harvest Festival and has available much more
information including many artifacts and pictures. For further genealogical information
contact doris@ozarkmountainmemories.com
Following is a transcript of Crawford's diary, and all but two of his letters which were written while
he was away.
Memories diary of the distance from Fayettville Arkansas to California as traveled by the
Washington County Immigrating Company.
From Fayetteville to rendezvous 6 miles west of Saline on Grand River .
April 21[1] Grand Saline 85
miles
Tuesday 24 Priors Creek 15
Wednesday 25 Corall 5
Thursday 26 Divide 15
Friday 27 Verdigris 10
Saturday 28 Red Bud Creek 6
Sunday 29[2]
Monday 30 7th Camp 20
Tuesday 1 8th Camp 20
Wednesday 2 Pon Camp 20
Thursday 3 Fish Camp 20
Friday 4 Rabbit Camp 7
Saturday Olm (Elm?) Branch 12
Sunday 6[3] Perseverance
Monday 7 Spring Creek 12
Tuesday 8 Arkansas Creek 20
Wednesday 9 California Fork, Arkansas 20
Thursday 10 Wild Cat Creek 20
Friday 11[4] Bois de Vache 18
Saturday 12 Wolf Camp 20
Sunday 13 Little Turkey Creek Fork
of the road 15
Dear Harriet,
We have all met, six miles west of Grand River . We have had good luck, we have not lost
anything yet, but I wish you would send me my shovel by the first mail, for we need it very bad.
We have this day for the first time had a good mess of dock sallet. If you could see how well we
cook, it would please you very well. We have camped in a prairie that reaches to the Rocky
Mountains . We have a pretty view, and plenty of grass. We have two or three times today seen
wolves in plain view of our camp. Tell Emily that I would send her some prairie hen eggs if I
could. John Wham has rode my horse three days and he is becoming quite gentle. John Haston
is a very good cook, a very careful driver, and I think a very good fellow. Epperson and Haston
are out cooks. I cut the meat, for my share, and Kimbrel washed the dishes some times, and
Andy drives up the oxen. This is Monday morning, and we have not elected our officers yet,
though Macklin might tell you who is elected when he comes. I walked about 30 miles the day I
left home and was very tired that night. It rained a very hard rain last night and looks very much
like rain this morning.
I do not think the trip will be very tiresome if we have good luck. Harriet, I wish you to make
yourself as contented as possible, for I believe that providence will permit us to meet once more
with all our children, and ourselves in good health. I have but little news of importance to write. I
hope through kind providence to meet you and all my children 18 months from this time.
The election is now over and L. Evans is our captain. It is now raining and it is late and I must
bid you a short farewell. No more, but remains
Your husband until death
Harriet Crawford April the 23rd 1849
(flourish) J. S. Crawford
Cherokee Nation, Grand Prairie
Six miles west of Verdigris River
April 29th, 1849
Dear Wife and Children,
We are all well and have had a very good luck since I wrote to you on last Sunday or Monday.
We have encamped in a beautiful part of the prairie perhaps about 105 miles from home. We
got to the Verdigris last night, and it took us all this day till late this evening to dig the banks and
cross over, and get six miles this side of the river. We have 129 persons in our company the
prairies are very good and dry, and we have but little difficulty in getting along as yet except that
we are some troubled in finding our oxen. Our team gets on as well as well or better than any
other team. I have been appointed to the honorable office of wagon master of the 2nd division of
the company. The Company is laid off into four divisions, and I have all of the Cherokees in my
division, they are all very smart men. The Osage Indians are coming to our camp every night,
they are quite filthy, but very civil. They made a big dance last night for the amusement of our
Company. I know you would laugh to see them dance and hear them sing. I think they could
have been heard sing last night three miles, but I could not note the tune. I think we will have a
good route through to the mountains. Our team has mended since we left home. Our sleeping
is first rate, our bed is plenty soft. This is Saturday after sundown. If I live I will write some more
in the morning.
This is Sunday morning, and we are yet well and hearty. Some of our oxen have not been
seen this morning. There appears to be a good deal of grumbling in camp this morning, some
want to go on, and others want to not travel on the Sabbath. I am one of the last number. There
has not been any game killed on our route yet except some turkeys, and one wolf by Samuel
Latta. We are in a world of prairie. You may see here as far as your eyes will let you look. The
Osages tell us that we will have to fight the Pawnees and Comanches before we get through the
mountains, but I think it is uncertain. We may have to fight them, but I hardly think so. It will be
two weeks Tuesday since we left home and we have not eaten but one ham and two thirds of one
midling of our bacon. That is, one ham of ours and part of a midling of Epperson's. I have worn
one hole in my pants, and I must get some buckskin and patch them. I do not think that it is likely
that I will have a chance to write to you soon again. We received a flag from the ladies of
Fatetteville on the day of our rendezvous, which was accepted with a great deal of enthusiasm.
John Wham and Thompson Edmiston are gone back to the river this morning for an ox that they
left there last night. John Wham's wagon overset on Priors Creek two days ago, but sustained
no injury from the accident. I have nothing to write of importance. We have in our Company,
128 persons, 40 wagons, 304 oxen, 41 mules, 65 horses, and 31 cows, making in all the stock
441 head. This day we have been visited by the Widow Coody and six of her girls.[5] The wind
has risen so high today that we cannot keep our tent up and I have to write in our wagon,, and it
shakes so bad that I can hardly write. Tell Rachel[6] that Andrew is well and would be glad to
write to her but the wind blows so hard that it is almost impossible to write. Tell her to be easy if
she can, for he intends to take good care of himself and bring some gold from California if he
has good luck.
P.S. When I think of you and children, I want to see you all so bat that there is no sense in it.
Kiss Emily and Wilson once a week for me. Tell them all if God spares us all that we will see
each other once more. The wind is so high that I must quit writing. Be sure to write to me in
good time. Be satisfied that I will write to you every chance. My dear wife and children, may
God bless you and protect you all So farewell.
Mrs. Harriet Crawford James S. Crawford
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