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Battle of Indianola

Battle of Indianola
Creator: Reader, Samuel James, 1836-1914
Date: 1906
This handwritten section of Samuel J. Reader's autobiography, which was based on Reader's diary from the same period, deals with the "Battle of Indianola," which occurred on August 30, 1856, near Indianola, in Shawnee County, Kansas Territory. Reader describes the day's events, in which no actual fighting occurred, when the local militia gathered to prevent theft and burning by proslavery supporters.


It went against us, the Battle of Mine Creek

It went against us, the Battle of Mine Creek
Creator: Reader, Samuel James, 1836-1914
Date: October 25, 1864
This color illustration from volume three of Samuel Reader's autobiography depicts the Battle of Mine Creek, an engagement between Union and Confederate forces that took place in Kansas on October 25, 1864, during the Civil War. The Battle of Mine Creek was one of the largest cavalry engagements of the Civil War and contributed to a Confederate retreat. After the battle Union forces continued their pursuit of Price's Confederates through Missouri, Arkansas and into Indian Territory (present-day Oklahoma). The Confederates never again threatened Kansas. Following Price's retreat the Confederate effort west of the Mississippi River was minimal. The battle was one of the last significant engagements fought in the west. The Civil War ended in April 1865. The title "It went against us" quotes a Confederate summary of the battle. This original color illustration appears between pages 98-99 of volume three of Samuel Reader's autobiography (unit 206900).


Samuel J. Reader correspondence

Samuel J. Reader correspondence
Date: 1895-1914
These letters from numerous individuals were received by Samuel James Reader. Only two of the letters, dated September 24, 1898, and October 11, 1899, were written by Reader. Many of the letters refer to the Battle of the Blue, which was Reader's only war experience. The battle occurred on October 22, 1864, in Jackson County, Missouri. The authors of some letters wish to thank Reader for sending them photographs relating to the battle, and others are former comrades from the 2nd Kansas Regiment responding to Reader's letters. Reader received letters from Salmon Brown, the surviving son of John Brown, and Jesse R. Grant, son of Ulysses S. Grant. Six of the letters, dated 1908 and 1909, come from Reader's "boyhood acquaintance" Joseph Smith III, who lived in Independence, Missouri. In one letter, Smith reminisces on time spent in La Harpe, Illinois, where Reader once lived. Smith also acknowledges that he was an abolitionist, who "sympathized with Kansas and her Free State men who prevented the accomplishment of the wicked intent of the Missouri Compromise."


Samuel J. Reader's autobiography, volume 1

Samuel J. Reader's autobiography, volume 1
Creator: Reader, Samuel James, 1836-1914
Date: 1901-1908
"Autobiography of an old Jayhawker" gives an early account of Samuel James Reader's childhood and family (1849-1856) written when Reader was in his sixties. This autobiography is of particular interest because the first volume of Reader's diary, which covered a similar time period, was destroyed by a fire. It also includes a number of illustrations drawn by Reader. It describes his life in Virginia and Illinois, before he came to Kansas. In the early pages, Reader writes about a cousin Sydney Rigdon who was a Mormon and lived in Nauvoo, Illinois.


Samuel J. Reader's autobiography, volume 2

Samuel J. Reader's autobiography, volume 2
Creator: Reader, Samuel James, 1836-1914
Date: 1896
This autobiography consists of two sections titled "Border War, Kansas Territory, 1856" and "Hickory Point." Sketches and watercolors by Reader accompany portions of the text. The Border War section describes events in which Reader participated as part of a free state militia. This section provides detail about Reader's militia activities, as well as his contact with John Brown and Aaron Stevens (Captain Whipple). The second section describes the Battle of Hickory Point, which occurred on September 13, 1856. The accounts in the autobiography are based on Reader's diaries.


Samuel J. Reader's autobiography, volume 3

Samuel J. Reader's autobiography, volume 3
Creator: Reader, Samuel James, 1836-1914
Date: October 12-30, 1864
This autobiography is based on entries from Samuel Reader's 1864 diary. The diary entries and personal recollections of the Battle of the Big Blue, Price's Raid, and the Battle of Mine Creek were used to compile the autobiography. The autobiography also includes a number of water color and pen illustrations drawn by Reader.


Samuel Reader's diary, volume 10

Samuel Reader's diary, volume 10
Creator: Reader, Samuel James, 1836-1914
Date: May 1, 1880-June 30, 1885
Volume ten of Samuel J. Reader's diary. During this period, several deaths in his family occurred, including his brother-in-law, his father, who died on April 20, 1884, and his daughter, who died on April 29, 1885. In addition to English, Reader writes the diary in shorthand. Reader also attached newspaper clippings of personal interest to some pages of his diary and doodled illustrations on several pages.


Samuel Reader's diary, volume 11

Samuel Reader's diary, volume 11
Creator: Reader, Samuel James, 1836-1914
Date: July 1, 1885-August 20, 1887
Volume eleven of Samuel James Reader's diary. Inside the front cover is a photograph of Reader at the age of fifty. In addition to English, Reader writes the diary in shorthand. Newspaper clippings, commencement programs, election tickets and illustrations are found in the diary. During the period charted by this volume, Reader's public duties expanded to clerk of the new School District No. 93, his daughter enrolled in the Topeka Business and Normal College, and Reader bought a typewriter.


Samuel Reader's diary, volume 12

Samuel Reader's diary, volume 12
Creator: Reader, Samuel James, 1836-1914
Date: August 21, 1887-June 15, 1891
Volume twelve of Samuel James Reader's diary. Events recorded in this volume include the destruction of his farmhouse resulting from a fire on April 8, 1890. Several illustrations, newspaper clippings, and election tickets are found inside. In addition to English, Reader writes some of the diary in shorthand.


Samuel Reader's diary, volume 13

Samuel Reader's diary, volume 13
Creator: Reader, Samuel James, 1836-1914
Date: June 16, 1891-September 6, 1895
Volume thirteen of Samuel James Reader's diary. In this volume, Reader expresses his enjoyment of reading and photography. After taking pictures, Reader would number the prints in the margins of his diary as he developed them in his home photo lab. In November 1892, Reader voted the People's Party ticket writing in the name of Charles Curtis for Fourth District Congressman. In 1894, he voted for Governor Lorenzo Lewelling on the Prohibition ticket and for the suffrage amendment to the Kansas constitution. In addition to English, some of the diary is written in shorthand.


Samuel Reader's diary, volume 14

Samuel Reader's diary, volume 14
Creator: Reader, Samuel James, 1836-1914
Date: 1895-1903
Volume fourteen of Samuel James Reader's diary. Reader gives a daily account of the weather, activities, and his physical condition. An entry made on March 30, 1898 comments on the death of his wife, Lizzie. Reader also attached newspaper clippings of personal interest to some pages of his diary.


Samuel Reader's diary, volume 15

Samuel Reader's diary, volume 15
Creator: Reader, Samuel James, 1836-1914
Date: March 31, 1903-July 22, 1913
The last volume of Samuel James Reader's diary. Reader gives a daily account of the weather, activities, and his failing health. Reader describes the May 1903 flooding that affected Soldier Creek. Some pages have newspaper clippings of personal interest attached and illustrations drawn by hand. Two cyanotype photographs of Reader are attached to the April 10, 1907 and October 16, 1907 entries.


Samuel Reader's diary, volume 2

Samuel Reader's diary, volume 2
Creator: Reader, Samuel James, 1836-1914
Date: June 1, 1853-December 31, 1853
Volume two of Samuel James Reader's diary written while his family lived in La Harpe, Illinois. Reader was only seventeen years old at the time, and the entries describe the daily life of a teenager. This is the earliest of Samuel Reader's diaries available as volume one was destroyed by a fire in 1890. A complete, searchable transcription is available by clicking on "Text Version" below.


Samuel Reader's diary, volume 3

Samuel Reader's diary, volume 3
Creator: Reader, Samuel James, 1836-1914
Date: Between January 1, 1854 and December 31, 1857
Volume three of Samuel Reader's diary documents his life in La Harpe, Illinois, his travels to Kansas Territory, and his life in Kansas Territory. Reader describes daily activities as well as events related to the territorial struggle. He settled in Shawnee County north of Topeka and participated in a militia group at the battles of Indianola and Hickory Point. Reader was an amateur artist and some of the diary pages contain his sketches and water color paintings. This volume has been scanned and presented in its entirety. All pages and sections are included. A searchable transcription is not yet available.


Samuel Reader's diary, volume 5

Samuel Reader's diary, volume 5
Creator: Reader, Samuel James, 1836-1914
Date: January 25, 1860-May 1, 1864
This volume of Samuel James Reader's diary covers most of 1860-1864. The volume begins with his family history and a description of his land claim and includes many color illustrations. Reader refers to this volume as his "private journal and a kind of autobiography." Reader lived in Indianola, Kansas in Shawnee County (formerly Jackson County). The preceding volume four was destroyed by fire. A searchable, full-text (PDF) transcription is available under "External Links" below.


Samuel Reader's diary, volume 6

Samuel Reader's diary, volume 6
Creator: Reader, Samuel James, 1836-1914
Date: April 30, 1864-July 21, 1869
This volume of Samuel Reader's diary covers April 1864-July 1869. Reader also referred to this work as his private journal and day book. Reader lived in Indianola, Kansas, in Shawnee County. In addition to English, Reader writes the diary in French and in shorthand.


Samuel Reader's diary, volume 7

Samuel Reader's diary, volume 7
Creator: Reader, Samuel James, 1836-1914
Date: July 20, 1869-August 17, 1872
Volume seven of Samuel James Reader's diary. The main event in volume seven was the building of an iron bridge which Reader designed across Soldier Creek near his farm. He sold tickets to his lantern slide show to help raise money to pay for his share of the bridge construction. He also used money raised by his lantern slide show to fulfill his duties as a trustee of Rochester Cemetery, the oldest cemetery in Shawnee County. In addition to English, Reader writes the diary in shorthand.


Samuel Reader's diary, volume 8

Samuel Reader's diary, volume 8
Creator: Reader, Samuel James, 1836-1914
Date: August 16, 1872-October 01, 1874
Volume eight of Samuel James Reader's diary during which time the community of Silver Lake, near Topeka, Kansas, was suffering from an outbreak of smallpox. About a dozen people died in Silver Lake from the disease but none of Reader's relatives were afflicted. However, his family did suffer a death on August 6, 1873 when their infant son died. In addition to English, much of the diary is written in shorthand.


Samuel Reader's diary, volume 9

Samuel Reader's diary, volume 9
Creator: Reader, Samuel James, 1836-1914
Date: October 01, 1874-April 30, 1880
Volume nine of the diary of Samuel James Reader who lived near Topeka, Kansas. Reader attached newspaper clippings of personal interest to some pages of his diary. In addition to English, Reader writes the diary in shorthand.


Society of the Anniversary of the Battle of the Blue minutes and roster of the 2nd Regiment, Kansas militia

Society of the Anniversary of the Battle of the Blue minutes and roster of the 2nd Regiment, Kansas militia
Date: 1895-1905
This notebook contains the roster of the 2nd Regiment of the Kansas Militia during the Battle of the Blue, which occurred on October 22, 1864, in Jackson County, Missouri. Members of the regiment are divided by company and identified by rank. Some individuals are listed as killed, wounded, or taken prisoner, in addition to their place of residence. The notebook also contains the meeting minutes for the Society of the Anniversary of the Battle of the Blue. Surviving members of the 2nd Regiment convened on May 30, 1895, in Topeka, Kansas, and voted for a permanent organization to meet on October 22 of each year. Samuel J. Reader was elected secretary.


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