Publisher's Synopsis
This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1912 edition. Excerpt: ... PERSONAL RECOLLECTIONS SISTER HARRIET'S WEDDING 1814 It was at this time, October 26, 1814, that my sister Harriet, aged sixteen years, was married to Mr. Thomas Brady of the firm of "McKnight & Brady," the leading dry-goods firm in St. Louis. The groom-elect, coming to claim his bride, rode on horseback, as did his servant, who followed with his master's large portmanteau, and leading a horse for the bride. Many friends came to the wedding-feast. The following day the guests, including bride and groom, repaired to Potosi, about two and a half miles distant, to attend the wedding of Mr. Thomas McKnight (brother of Mr. Brady's partner) to Miss Fanny Scott, sister of Hons. Andrew and John Scott; and after that the two bridal parties departed, a gay cavalcade, to St. Louis, their future home. MY FIRST MINING EFFORT: AGED ELEVEN YEARS In the fall or winter of 1815 I was crying on the stile at New Diggings, Missouri, when old Uncle Jake asked me: "What's the matter, Master George?" "I don't know why Pa moved out here, where there are no boys to play with me, or any fun.' The good old negro said: "Come with me and I'll show you where you can get some mineral and buy yourself some marbles, tops, etc., to amuse you." He got me a "pick-a-wee" and a small wooden shovel, then took me out into an old deserted mineral hole and showed me how to get out of the drift little float mineral. That day or the next, I got out 300 or 400 lbs. of mineral and took my brother Myers out to show it to him. He gave me 25 or 50 cts., went into partnership with me, and we got upwards of $1,000 worth of mineral, bought ponies, etc., for ourselves, and were thus made very happy. I was then a little over eleven years of age. The next year I built a complete saw mill on a...