Enemies become 'loving' as doves

Tales from the trail by A.G. Patrick, New Era editor
(Compiled by Betty Jane Wilson, Valley Falls Historical Society President)

Prior to settling in Grasshopper Falls in 1856 and chalking up a vast amount of history for the town and Jefferson County, A.G. Patrick caught the gold fever and with nine others formed a company of wagons and oxen for a journey to the “Land of Promise” on the Pacific Coast. The company started from Green Castle, Indiana, on March 1, 1849, and reached “Hangtown,” (Placerville, Calif.) on September 3.

Decades later, Mr. Patrick shared recollections of his experiences with F.C. Scott, editor of the Valley Falls New Era (predecessor to the Vindicator).

Relating his many experiences, he recalled the incident of the Odd Fellows. In Patrick’s company was a man named Bob Hankins who belonged to the Fraternal Order of the Odd Fellows. In the same group was another Odd Fellow named Adamson. According to Patrick, “Between the two there was a constant quarrel, never agreeing on anything, and Bob had threatened a thousand times to kill Adamson.”

“To tell the truth, none of the company liked Adamson, and the fervent prayer of all was that Bob might muster up courage enough some day to commit the deed. . . One evening Bob and Adamson had a high old time and Bob came to us swearing vengeance, and that he was determined to kill Adamson the very next morning and wanted us to accompany him and see that the job was done. In agreeing to accompany Bob, it was with no murderous intent upon our part, but for the fun that might come out of it, knowing that when it came to a pinch he would flunk.”

Bob and Patrick, out early the next morning, found a secluded spot from which Bob could attack Adamson who rode his horse ahead of the wagons. Finally, he was seen half a mile off!

In Patrick’s words, “The closer Adamson got, the more Bob trembled. He had his pistol out, cocked and ready, and by the time Adamson got within twenty yards, somehow or other the thundering pistol went off, shooting Bob in the heel.

“He rolled and tumbled on the grass and made a terrible to-do. As Adamson rode up and dismounted, we looked for Bob to shoot, but instead he piteously cried, ‘Oh, Brother Adamson, I have shot myself! What in the world am I to do?’

‘Keep a good cheer, my brother’ said Adamson. ‘You can ride my horse and I will walk.’
“Bob bawled like a calf and with tears running down his cheeks, exclaimed ‘Oh, Brother Adamson, you are so good and kind to me. I don’t see how I will ever be able to repay you!

“While this was all going on, there we stood, a silent listener and spectator, we actually mean and dejected, fully determined never to be again inveigled to accompany one Odd Fellow to kill another. From that time on, the two Odd Fellows were loving as a pair of doves. That little episode fully convinced us ‘never give advice or act as mediator . . . !” A.G. Patrick

Galen Reichart, Glenn Lester, and Engelbert Heuertz will be museum hosts from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 22.