John Deering

This excerpt from John Deering’s diary was written between January 5 and June 7, 1858. Deering, who arrived in Kansas Territory from Maine in March 1857, describes daily life in Douglas County, Kansas. Deering records his purchase of a new claim after his own was “taken by Indians,” and his efforts to build a shop in Prairie City, Kansas. On February 27, Deering writes that he attended an election to nominate delegates for the Leavenworth Constitutional Convention. On April 23, he notes that he heard Jim Lane and others speak about the constitution.

January 5, 1858-June 7, 1858

Bleeding Kansas, Bloodletting Missouri
American Indians
Bogus Legislature
Leavenworth Constitutional Convention

John Deering
James Henry Lane
Abraham Lincoln

Douglas County, Kansas
Lawrence, Kansas

Diary

Baker University

John Deering Diary, 1856-1858

For more information on using this image, contact Baker University at: 518 Eighth Street, Baldwin City KS 66066, Phone: (785)594-8380, E-mail: jen.mccollough@bakerU.edu Publication, commercial use, or reproduction of this image or the accompanying data requires prior written permission from Baker University. Use of this image also requires that credit be given to Baker University.