Frontier Life on the Prairie: Life and Times of Jim Tyson 1843-1937

By Robert Tyson

Jim Tyson was known as English Jim to the desperados and gunslingers in Oklahoma and Arkansas. He was known as Long-Smokes to the Indians in Oklahoma. But at home in Kansas he was known as Uncle Jim.

English Jim was a quick-thinking, fast-shooting tall cowboy who yearly drove cattle from down near the Red River, up through Arkansas and Oklahoma, to Kansas. He didnt tolerate anyone messing with his gold or his cattle.

Long-Smokes was that tall, cigar-smoking cowboy who, with his sidekick Chippewa Charlie, came to the rescue of Yellowknife in the Indian Territory of Oklahoma.

Uncle Jim was the respected rancher in Linn County, Kansas who was a successful businessman and family man.

This book is the true life story of a small boy from England who grew up to be a 64 cowboy. It tells of his life journey through the interesting times of the 1800s and 1900s. Jim Tyson was dedicated and true to his family and he was a good provider. He loved his family and he was a good provider. He loved his family and he loved adventure. Those were exciting times on his yearly cattle drives and later on his trips to Canada.

The book tells of the history of these years long ago, and gives an account of how Jim Tyson bought his land and how he bought and sold his cattle. These were interesting and trying times. The border war in Kansas, the Civil War, droughts, depressions, pandemics and world wars all happened in Jims life time. A person and his neighbors were on their own, with little help from the law and no help from the government. Like the man said, There is no law west of Kansas City and west of Fort Scott, no God.

• Language: English
• Publisher: AuthorHouse
• Release date: Jan 28, 2011
• ISBN: 9781452096230

Robert Tyson

Robert Tyson grew up listening to the stories told of his great-grandfather, Jim Tyson. Robert and his wife Linda live on Jim Tysons Ranch with its 1800s mystique. Robert is retired from several successful and exciting occupations, but he is not retired from life. He is a retired airline captain, a retired state senator, and a semi-retired rancher. Presently he is a would-be mountain man, spending his summers on horseback in the Wind River Range of the Rockies in Wyoming. The peaceful old stone buildings on the ranch and the majestic mountains of the west have silently beckoned Robert to write. In this encouraging environment, Robert has answered the call with this compelling story of a pioneer on the prairie.

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© 2011 Robert Tyson. All rights reserved.

No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted by any means without the written permission of the author.

First published by AuthorHouse 1/25/2011

ISBN: 978-1-4520-9623-0 (e)

ISBN: 978-1-4520-9622-3 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-4520-9621-6 (hc)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2010918440

Printed in the United States of America

Certain stock imagery © Thinkstock.

Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any Web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

Dedicated To

Dad and Mom

(James and Avis Tyson)

01 Jim Tyson.jpg

Jim Tyson

Rancher, Landowner and Businessman

A sharp mind & strong body, he married a good woman and rode fine horses

Known to desperados as English Jim, to Indians as Long Smokes and to neighbors as Uncle Jimmie

Contents

Preface

Chapter 1–Grasmere

Chapter 2–Liverpool

Chapter 3–The Dreadnought

Chapter 4–Across The Atlantic

Chapter 5–Shelby County Or Bust

Chapter 6–The Illinois Years

Chapter 7–The First Son To Leave

Chapter 8–Learning A New Trade

Chapter 9–The Character Of Linn County

Chapter 10–A New Wife And Ranch

Chapter 11–Building On The Ranch

Chapter 12–Chippewa Charlie And Trail Dust - 1876

Chapter 13–The Cattle Deal

Chapter 14–Coyotes and The Wounded Rabbit

Chapter 15–The Drive of ‘77

Chapter 16–New Land And The ‘80s

Chapter 17–Challenges and Rewards

Chapter 18–The Barn Burns

Chapter 19–Additions To Family and Land

Chapter 20–Jim Renewed

Chapter 21–Not So Roaring Twenties

Chapter 22–The Dirty Thirties

Chapter 23–Anatomy Of A Small Town

Chapter 24–Jim And Joe Are All That’s Left

Appendix

The Joseph Tyson Family

About the Author

End Notes

Preface

Jim and Lizzie Tyson lived in a much different time than we know today. When they were married there were no gasoline engines, no electricity and no telephones. There were no railroads or doctors in the area in which they settled. The saying, No law west of Kansas City and west of Fort Scott, no God, was a common statement the settlers used to describe their surroundings. They had very little government protection. There were no towns in the area and the federal marshals were few and far between. When you settled in Linn County, Kansas, you and your neighbors were on your own, in good times and bad times. To survive you helped each other.

This book is historical for the most part. I did my best to write an accurate description of the Tysons’ home in England, the trip across the Atlantic, the stay in Illinois and their lives in Kansas and Missouri. The cattle drives up from southern Arkansas were partly fictionalized as Jim didn’t talk much about shootouts and outlaws. Concerning gunplay, the grandchildren only knew that some cowboy or cowboys deserted Jim due to life threatening encounters on those drives.

Jim’s grandson (little Jimmie in the book) is my father James Tyson who married Avis Bottrell. Dad and Mom were a great help with early family history. Dad’s memory of his grandfather was very good and Mom had collected the letters and pictures saved by the family. She put them together with the help of her granddaughter, Connie (Tyson) Knop. Also, Dad gave me that precious old rusty tin box that contained Jim’s early legal documents and tax receipts.

Marcia Symanski, Isaac Tyson’s granddaughter, and Phil Close, Jane Tyson’s grandson, were a good help with family history. I am grateful to the accomplished newspaper reporter and free lance writer Sue South for taking the time to edit the book. If you find grammatical errors, it’s not Sue’s fault as there were so many to correct that no one person could possibly catch them all, especially the way I structure my sentences. Thank goodness I didn’t have to be a writer to be a good airline pilot.

Most of all, I thank my wife Linda for her encouragement and help in writing this book.

* * *

It was rough and lawless on the prairie in Kansas, Oklahoma and Arkansas. Jim Tyson worked hard and did his best, and this is his story.

1

Grasmere

The loveliest spot that man hath ever found

William Wordsworth

It was a fine spring day in Westmoreland County, thought young James Tyson. He was walking gingerly through a damp moor in the Lake District of Northern England. The year was 1855. Lately he had been thinking a lot about this homeland in which he lived, especially now that Father and Mother were discussing moving to the new continent. Mother wasn’t giving in to Father too quickly. She wants to be sure that it is the right decision for the family. Father seems to have an urgency about moving and speaks often of owning his own land in the New World. He says he can own land there and be free from the class structure of England.

James was all for adventure, but he wasn’t so sure about leaving the Grasmere area. He was now noticing the natural beauty of the lakes, mountains and moors that surrounded his Brimmer Head home. Old Wordsworth said that this was the garden spot of the world. James, looking at the distant mountains, figured Wordsworth should know, him being famous and all. Mother says that when Wordsworth was making up his poems he would get out in the early morning and walk across these moors till he was wet through, all the time reciting the poems aloud and making gestures till the children thought him crazy. James didn’t know Wordsworth well as he died when James was 7 years old. William Wordsworth is buried in the St. Oswald Churchyard in Grasmere along with James’ ancestors, the Tysons and the Flemings. Wordsworth was almost a relative as his mother’s sister married James’ great-grandfather John Tyson.

Young James, a fast-growing tall, skinny 12-year-old kid, was giving a lot of thought to family history and this beautiful land. His mind wandered to the story of his Tyson ancestors coming to England in 1060 with William the Conqueror. After conquering England, William awarded those who helped in the battle. Tyson supposedly shared in the prize with a land grant in Westmoreland County. James’ mind snapped back to reality when he stumbled over a half-buried stone. He realized it was getting late and he had better get home. Mother was a stern woman and kept close watch over her six sons and two daughters.

James came in the back way. As he passed through the kitchen, Mother directed him to the wash basin. Supper was already on the table. He found his seat between brothers Isaac and John and across from Thomas. The table was big enough to seat the family of ten. Nine were present. After eating and while Mother and Jane were clearing the table, James thought it a good time to ask some questions that had crossed his mind.

Father seemed to be in a good mood so James thought he would test the water. Father, James began, How did we come to live here at Brimmer Head?"

02 Tyson Bremmer Head Farm.jpg

Tyson’s Brimmer Head Farm, Westmoreland Co., England

Near Grasmere in the Lake District of England

Joseph was a little taken back by the question. Young James wasn’t one to inquire about family history.

James, I don’t know what brought on such an inquiry. Joseph answered rubbing his whiskers, Well, let’s see, here is what I remember from my father. Several hundred years ago, Thomas Tyson bought the Brimmer Head property from an Edward Benson. Thomas’ son John built Brimmer Head house here in 1600, and he and his wife Catharine Saurey were the first occupants. John’s son John was next here. He married Jennie Cookson, sister of Mary Cookson, who was William Wordsworth’s mother.

John’s son Thomas, your grandfather, was the next to live here, then us. I was the third of six children. As you know the oldest child inherits the property, and that is why it belongs to Uncle James. I may have left out a generation or two; however, it’s the best I can remember.

Young James seemed to be satisfied with that answer.

Then William, who was youngest at 4 years old, blurted out, How did this farm get its name Brimmer Head?

Mother, coming into the room and setting a dish of freshly baked cookies in the center of the table, exclaimed, I think I have heard that answered a hundred times! Thomas, listen closely, Brimmer Creek begins here so this property, being at the head of the creek, is named Brimmer Head Farm, spelled B-r-e-m-e-r H-e-a-d, in the beginning. Mother turned and left the room.

The oldest son, John, murmured, through a mouth full of cookie, Father, I think you are getting these questions because we are all taking notice of this place, now that we are leaving.

He had hardly gotten the last words out of his mouth before Mother, returning quickly, interrupted, Father, we had better sit down and have a family meeting here and now.

Anne and Joseph had been discussing this move in private. Joseph had even told Isaac Fleming, Anne’s brother, This land was ‘nowt’ but hunger ground. Might be better to try America. The Brimmer Head farm was a beautiful place, but the ground was too poor for cattle or farming purposes. Sheep was their only crop, due to the steep hills and poor shallow soil. Maybe the children had overheard these conversations.

Anne had been so preoccupied with the decisions that were to be made about possibly moving that she had no idea that the children had figured things out. It was time to include the whole family in discussing Joseph’s great adventure.

James was familiar with family meetings. It was usually a meeting where Mother had some instructions for the family. This time was different as Father was in charge. Sitting around the table, according to age, was father Joseph at the head, 50 years old, born in 1805; next, the oldest daughter Jane, now 16 years old; then John, 14; James, 12; Joseph, 9; Isaac, 8; Thomas, 6; and William, 4. Mother Anne, 41 years old, born in 1814, sat by the kitchen door.

Fifteen-year-old sister Mary was not present, as she was a nanny in Canada West. Actually she was in Woodstock, Ontario, Canada. Mary said everyone called Ontario Province, Canada West and Quebec Province, Canada East.

Father began, John is correct. We are packing up and heading for the New World. The destination is the Dawson Farm at Todd’s Point, Shelby County, Illinois. Your mother’s brother, Uncle Isaac Fleming, is in partnership with a man named William Dawson. They are owners of a sugar plantation on the island of St. Thomas in the West Indies. The Dawson family makes their home at Woodstock, Ontario, Canada. That is where your sister Mary is looking after the Dawson’s two little boys and two little girls. The Dawsons paid your sister’s way over to be a nanny. Skelton Birkett was at St. Thomas with Uncle Isaac Fleming. He left for America in 1848 and settled at Todd’s Point. He evidently got his two friends interested in the farm ground around Todd’s Point. Last September, Uncle Isaac and Mr. Dawson bought 920 acres in sections 16, 17 & 21 in Todd’s Point Township, Shelby County, Illinois. They purchased the land from Francis and Anna Warthorst of Stark County, Ohio, for an even $10,000. They now have divided the land so that Mr. Dawson owns 480 acres. Presently he needs someone to work that large farm. Mary has put in a good word for us so we are going to America to live on the Dawson Farm.

Mother, who had been quietly sitting in her chair, interrupted, We are going to make enough money on that farm to buy our own farm, and when you grow up, each of you shall have an opportunity to own land in America.

Anne hoped Mary knew what she was getting the family into. Mary had been absent from home for some time as she spent two years in London visiting Aunt Fleming, Mother’s sister-in-law, just before going to Canada. That is how Mary made her connections to become a nanny. Now she has us all going to America.

James thought he could sense that his brothers had other questions, but they were probably too deep in thought to speak. The younger ones seemed to be happy; however the older ones looked somber. Who knew the outcome of this great adventure? But one thing was for sure; according to Father, the decision had been made.

James’ thoughts were interrupted as Jane asked, How are we going to get enough money to sail across the Atlantic and travel half way across a savage continent?

Mother, in a soft distant voice, When a father dies, the oldest son is supposed to get all the property. Your Grandfather Fleming has done things a little differently. He is so fond of me, his daughter, that he has given me a share of the income from his property. As a result, my older brother, your Uncle James, and I are supposed to both share in the income. I have received 600 pounds. He has made this distribution while he is still living, as he doesn’t really need any more money. He just wants to see us do well. I dearly love my father.

Anne Fleming Tyson was the daughter of James Fleming of Knott Houses. The Flemings had owned Knott Houses for 400 years. Anne’s mother was Mary Ashburner of Rose Cottage. Anne’s parents were married on June 10, 1810. At the time of the marriage, James Fleming was living at Underhow House. The Flemings were people of position and wealth. It was hard for Anne to pick up and leave, her family living close by in fine homes and all. However, she realized that her husband was stuck in England’s class structure and she knew here her children would probably not have much of an opportunity to succeed in life.

Joseph was saying, We will sell everything that we cannot carry with us. We will have enough to make it. After a moments silence he added, We sail in August from Liverpool.

The spring and summer passed quickly. The Tyson family said goodbye to all their friends. James had an urge to climb Mount Helvellyn one more time. It was 950 meters, or 3100 feet high in American measurement. He could see it off in the distance. It was the highest mountain in England. He would like to visit the high lakes once more, but time would not allow it. They were packed and ready to make the 93-mile trip to Liverpool.

2

Liverpool

The day of departure from their beloved Lake District of England finally arrived. Joseph had completed selling everything but the few things that Anne couldn’t part with. The Tyson family wasn’t able to take much, as they would be limited by weight and volume on board the clipper ship. Joseph chose to take some good English wool clothes, a couple of hand tools that had been in the family a long time and some personal necessities.

It was now early morning. Joseph stopped packing long enough to look over the rolling countryside, the short green grass that had been well grazed by his sheep and the rock fences that divided the fields. Those fences looked to be as old as time itself. Joseph was 6 feet tall with broad shoulders and a muscular body. He labored with strength and endurance to provide for his family. His thoughts now focused on the progress he had made here in England, the only place he had ever known. Wood Cutter - that is what he had been classified. After marriage to Anne in 1838, he moved up to Merchant Farmer. Merchant Farmer was about the highest level he could obtain in England’s class structure. In the New World, he could classify himself by whatever his abilities and good fortunes allowed. Across the ocean, he could acquire property, lots of it. Joseph turned and again directed his attention to Jonathan’s cart which would carry his family to the train station. Old Jonathan was getting up in age, but he was a good neighbor and well-liked by the town folks.

Anne was a strict mother who believed in strong discipline. She ruled her children with an iron hand. She was frugal and kept track of every aspect of her home, including budgeting. Anne was a slender, graceful, straight-backed lady about 5’ 7’’ in height. Joseph knew her as a strong-willed woman whom he deeply loved.

This day, Anne had made sure that her family was bathed and dressed in clean clothes. They each had their small bag of clothes and personal items. Anne made one last inspection through the cottage where she had lived for 17 years. She stood for a moment glancing around the kitchen. It looked bigger now that it was empty. The wood stove was still there. Anne lovingly thought that it stood proud and sturdy, ready to work. She considered it a monument to the hours she had spent cooking and caring for her family. This was her work place, the center for her family, the place where her children studied and where family decisions were made.

As she walked into the main room, Anne remembered some of the remarkable times they had here and the good people who came to visit. She had the feeling deep inside that she might not return to Brimmer Head Farm or to the Fleming home where she had grown up. Rose Covered Cottage at Towns End was the name of her mother’s home in Grasmere where she returned to give birth to each of her eight children.

The Flemings were here to see them off. Oh my! Would she ever see her family again? She could only leave with the hope of returning some day. She had packed a few things important to her: dishes, the pretty pitcher her children had been baptized with at St. Oswald Church, a butter dish she loved to use, and silverware. These things would keep Grasmere forever in mind.

Jane was busy trying to keep her younger brothers settled as they fought for the best positions in the wagon. Being sixteen and pretty, she had been given some attention by the young men in the area. In fact, one such boy was standing across the patch, watching the proceedings. She had quickly given him greetings in passing, as she was not interested in a prolonged conversation at this point of departure.

John, James and Joe stood at the back of the wagon with some of their friends who had come to see them off. They talked about the adventures that might lay ahead in America. The younger ones, Isaac, Tom and Will, were in the wagon, fighting for position, as old Jonathan watched, with a smile, from the driver’s seat.

Finally everything and everyone was loaded in the wagon. Hugs and handshakes had been delivered and the food loaded. With a shake of the reins, the family was off for the train station.

The train station at Grasmere was a casual setting with a few people mingling about. The Tyson tickets had been bought well in advance. The wagon was unloaded, and the family and their belongings were loaded on the train. Then they were off with a whistle and a jerk. It seemed to James that it took forever to get to Liverpool and he said so. They stopped along the way at every small town and even once for sheep on the tracks. Joseph chided his son If you don’t have patience for this leg of the trip you will never make it a month on board the clipper ship. Besides, he added, how long do you think it would have taken us to travel these ninety-three miles in old Jonathan’s wagon?

At last, the train slowed for Liverpool station. They unloaded their belongings and headed for the hotel as evening was approaching and it was time to get the family off the streets. They found their rooms and relaxed for the evening.

3

The Dreadnought

The next morning, Joseph and Anne rose early. They were not to leave until the following day so they had time to get their tickets and paperwork and to look things over. As Joseph and Anne discussed the day’s activities, James rousted out and joined in. Since James was up, Joseph volunteered that he and James would check on the ship and, on the way back, they would bring something to eat to the room. They hurried downstairs, out the door and turned toward the docks. The streets were already busy and filled with people. James figured that many of these folks would probably be on board ship tomorrow, as they looked like immigrants to him. It was a short five blocks to the dock area, and after asking a bystander, they found the office of the Red Cross Line of New York.

James was greatly taken back by the large sleek ship