#barney norris

[diaryoftruequotes]

Now I am old I wish the young man I used to be had worried less about the past and lived more heedlessly in the present. I suppose I did as much living as I could. But I burn to tell men and women who are still young now how quickly it is going to get behind them, how fiercely they ought to love it while they can. Barney Norris, Five Rivers Met on a Wooded Plain

[yr-obedt-cicero]

Hello, I just wanted to say your blog is a god send for due to my interest on the Hamilton children, thought there isn’t much out there about them, it seems you have to all on your blog ! I just wanted to ask a question about William Stephen Hamilton if that’s okay with you. What was Williams attitude toward the indigenous population out west? As he is the only Hamilton that may have had closer interaction than the rest of his family. Also did he really have a mixed race friend (they used a different word but as I’m black I’m a bit uncomfortable to use said word specifically, sorry!) cause the name Barney Norris keeps coming up but sometimes another mentions of a black slave? Have you seen anything about that and his attitude towards slavery in general? Sorry if this is a bit much, love your blog and have a wonderful day!

William actually had a lot of involvement with indigenous people due to his location in the West, but his relationship with them is a bit complicated. For the most part, he seems to have had a positive relationship with many, up until he chose the settler's side in the Black Hawk war.

In the November of 1826, he defended Nomque, a Pottawatomie Native American, in Peoria's first murder trial. Nomque had been accused of having fatally stabbed Pierre Laundri, a local Frenchman, in a drunken brawl. Nomque was likely innocent, and was being profiled because of the prejudice in those days, a Native American would have been convicted regardless of evidence. And it's theorized William may have helped the man flee into the mountains (Heads up for the racist terminology ahead, the book is quite old);

“‘Billy’ Hamilton made his first public appearance as a lawyer at Peoria, Illinois, during the first term of the circuit court, in November, 1825, with John York Sawyer presiding. Hamilton on this occasion was defending an Indian named No-ma-que, who was being tried for the murder of a Frenchman—the first murder case ever entered in the court records.

The Indian was convicted (as most Indians were, regardless of the evidence) and sentenced to the death penalty. Hamilton, defending the red man without hope of compensation, applied to the supreme court and obtained a writ of supersedeas, ordering a stay of proceedings until the case could be heard on a writ of error in the appellate tribunal, which resulted in remanding the case for a new trial. The case dragged along for several years and a day came when the jailor discovered that No-ma-que had made his escape. Whether sympathetic ‘Bill’ had anything to do with the escape of the Indian is left for us to guess. A writer in an Illinois paper, fifty-five years later (1880), discussing the case of No-ma-que, stated that the Indian fled north, took refuge with his people and was finally killed in the Black Hawk War of 1832.”

(source — Alexander Hamilton's pioneer son; the life and times of Colonel William Stephen Hamilton; 1797-1850, by Sylvan Joseph Muldoon)

William was also often a host to many gatherings of different social statuses. Everyday after work, he would share dinner with his fellow miners. And sometimes he would even have aristocratic guests of the elite. And others, sometimes even the indigenous people that lived nearby;

“Here, it is true, he boarded some of his rough and muddy miners, but here he also entertained most distinguished visitors. Here his fine, aristocratic mother, and his sister, Mrs. Holly, were his guests in 1837. And here would sometimes come crowding in a roomful of the natives bands of whom remained for five or six years after Black Hawk's day. They were beggars and thieves. Hamilton understood them, and had no fear of them. But he had to keep a watchful eye on the visitors to guard against being “robbed out of house and home.””

(source — Dixon Evening Telegraph, Illinois, [March 17, 1932])

The robbing part is actually quite real. As Edgar Augustus Hamilton, William's great nephew, who lived with him during his childhood, wrote of such a case;

“The Indians had a wholesome dread of him (William Stephen), but yet would do him many kindnesses. Black Davie (Hamilton's negro servant), said to my mother that if the Indians were around she would have all the work done at hand. In the living room of uncle's cabin the In- dians frequently gathered. Once the room was full of them and uncle suspected that they were bent upon thieving.

He went for a moment in the other room and no sooner had he done so than he heard the rear window open and knew that his rifle had been taken and thrown outside. Instantly he returned to the room and the Indians were chatting away with the greatest indifference to their act. Without casting his eyes up to the "rifle-rest" he walked boldly into their midst and gave them such a terrible dressing-down in words that some of them went outside and brought the rifle back to him.

This occurred in uncle's cabin at Hamilton's Diggin's where he afterward entertained more civilized guests. My mother's memory is very keen and she vouches for the accuracy of this incident.”

(source — Alexander Hamilton's pioneer son; the life and times of Colonel William Stephen Hamilton; 1797-1850, by Sylvan Joseph Muldoon)

But here is where things go downhill. William was a very restless adventurer, and he loved exploring land and hunting for gold or other minerals more than ever. So, unfortunately, during the Black Hawk War; William was on the side that intended to push the indigenous people farther out of their land, because he saw it as beneficial for more mining and land owning opportunities.

Here's a small history lesson on the Black Hawk war; the war provided an opportunity for American officials such as; Andrew Jackson, Lewis Cass, and John Reynolds, to pressure and compel Indigenous tribes to sell their lands and move west of the Mississippi River to reside. It's entirely impossible to know the exact number of how many indigenous people died; but it's estimated range is between 450-to-600. Some were killed in the fighting, and others were hunted down by other indigenous people fighting on the American side. Typically, many others simply died of starvation. But on the other side, some 70 soldiers and settlers died in the conflict. Additionally, in late September of 1832, Scott and Reynolds met with the Sauk and Fox chiefs and demanded most of eastern Iowa as an indemnity for the war, offering an annual payment of $20,000 for the next thirty years. The Fox and Sauk also received a 400-square-mile reserve. Regardless, as a end result of the Black Hawk War; the friendly Sauk and Fox found themselves stripped of valuable and any landholdings, and they were now dependent, economically and politically, on the US.

In the end, William was quite hospital to the Native Americans, but chose land and power over them. Likely meaning there was a small voice of prejudice in his head to think that their well-beings and land could easily be risked for the desires of landowners and gold-hunters.

-

William did own a slave, but it wasn't Barney Norris. His enslaved black man was called “Black Davie”, and I can't find much about his actual identity outside of that; “The Colonel had also a Negro servant boy, “Black Davie,” of whom Edgar writes kindly.”

Muldoon (Who is controversial source material) claims that Davie didn't do much slave work, and instead stood aside as William himself worked away in the mines. If this is true, it is likely Davie worked more indoors since Edgar's story from before mentions he talked to his mother about housework. As Edgar mentions that Davie was a sort of babysitter when his mother wasn't around;

“Black Davie used to ‘tote’ me around and take entire care of me in my mother's absence.”

(source — Alexander Hamilton's pioneer son; the life and times of Colonel William Stephen Hamilton; 1797-1850, by Sylvan Joseph Muldoon)

Edgar also claims that Davie “worshipped” William, which likely just means Davie was grateful to have a place to stay and food to eat since standards of treatment would have been low (Doesn't make it right, as enslavement is still enslavement. Wether “treated nicely” or not).

-

Barney Norris was a mixed race man who was friends with William. They met after William employed him at California. Muldoon describes Norris as so (Once again, heads up for his racist terminology);

“Barney Norris is a mulatto, but his soul is as white as purest snow. He was footman to John Quincy Adams, president of the United States from 1826 to 1834, and came to Galena as a servant to Captain Thomas C. Legate, U. S. Superintendent of Lead Mines, in 1834. He went to California with Colonel Hamilton, but after a short absence, found his way back to Galena, and became sexton to the First Presbyterian Church.

For full thirty years he has rung the bell that called together a faithful flock anxious to hear their honored shepherd read from Holy Writ, and proclaim the words of everlasting truth. Many whose willing feet hastened to the old church when Barney rang the bell, have gathered in a holier house above. Some who occupied the pulpit have gone to their reward, others to newer fields of labor, but Barney remains faithful to his post, in sunshine and storm, opening the doors of God's house alike to rich and poor, neg- lecting no duty, honored and respected by all.

His head is as white as the soul he bears, and although his years are many, his step is, or was two years ago, as quick and elastic as when he attended President Adams. Who that ever spent a week in Galena, or attended religious services at the First Presbyterian Church in that city has not seen genial, courteous Barney Norris, and who ever saw him will ever forget him? Berry, during the life of Barney Norris, 1880.”

(source — Alexander Hamilton's pioneer son; the life and times of Colonel William Stephen Hamilton; 1797-1850, by Sylvan Joseph Muldoon)

It appears they had a genuine and caring friendship, and they traveled to California for the gold rush together, arriving in 1849;

“Early the spring of ‘49 he [William S. Hamilton] started out with his two prairie schooners, soon to join one of the many long caravans heading across the plains and mountains. Hamilton himself, always a lover of good horses, dorve to the front wagon a span of beautiful blacks. One of the early settlers, a Mr. Engebretson long told of the brave appearance of the Colonel's team, with all its equipment new. The driver of the second wagon was a fine colored fellow named Barney Norris. It is likely that he drove mules. It would have been hard for oxen to keep pace with the Colonel's spirited blacks. Later, Norris returned to Galena, where he spent his days, far into old age, as sexton of the Presbyterian church. He was highly respected, and thought of, to the last, as Col. Hamilton's body servant. The Colonel and Barney got through in early summer.”

(source — Dixon Evening Telegraph, Illinois, [March 17, 1932])

Norris remained loyal to William even after his death. Where William's remains were buried in a unmarked grave - due to the carelessness that cholera victim's remains were usually dealt with - Norris worked hard to have his gravesite identified and the Colonel to be given a proper grave.

As for William's opinion in regards to slavery; there are little of his papers that survive to this day, so we have no clear definition of what his thoughts were. But William was, notably, a Whig. And Whigs opposed slavery, and it's westward expansion. Additionally, William was a strong supporter of Henry Clay, and the two are said to have shared correspondence on political matters. Henry Clay was always opposed to slavery, and even once tried to have it outlawed in his home state of Kentucky. Clay had wished that the institution had never been established, and that if it never was that the nation would have been “cleaner”. He also often wondered how America could preach for ideals of freedom, or Liberty, etc, to the rest of the world while the nation - itself - still held enslaved human beings in bondage. He always worried that the issue might rip the Union apart. But Clay was also hypocritical, and thus why not many people listened to his progressive ideologies; Clay owned about sixty slaves himself at some point — although, before he died, Clay did emancipate most of his slaves. And he did not believe that the slaves would be able to be peaceful in the same country as the white society. So, he had this whole idea of a gradual emancipation; which was to basically whitewash the enslaved people before deporting them. He wanted to have them “trained” well, dressed in “proper” attite, where alas, they would be sent back to Africa. So, we can make the assumption that William may have had the same ideals or opinions, but it's not certain.

Anyway, thank you, and enjoy your day.

[thesweetnessofspring]

A little bit of fun casting for The Blue Castle.

Valancy: Anya Taylor-Joy. There are a few physical things important to me about Valancy's casting: one, that the actress can be styled down so she's believably overlooked romantically, her eyes be the most captivating feature of hers, and that she have Valancy's thin frame. On top of being an incredible actress, Anya Taylor-Joy hits these three physical characteristics. She has a very otherworldly, ethereal look to her which matches Valancy's "elfin" description. Normally a blonde, but a good dye job and she's our Valancy.

Barney: Joseph Quinn. He's currently a tad younger than Barney, but styled right gives off that "gnome" type look that Barney has. He definitely has the charisma and can do a "buck the system" type of character. Only point not in his favor is he's not a redhead in the slightest.

Roaring Abel: Ken Stott. A 68 year-old Scottsman, he's been in a lot of movies (such as The Hobbit and The Dig) and with a beard I think could do Roaring Abel justice, on top of originating from the same country as our favorite carpenter.

Cissy: I think she would be best played by an unknown actress. She has a certain sweetness that is rather old-fashioned, so it's hard for me to picture many of the actresses in the right age group playing her and I think a new face would do well for this role, one not so caught up in Hollywood yet.

Uncle Benjamin: Dean Norris. Best known as Hank in Breaking Bad, he just has such a powerful presence to him, I think he would pull of Uncle Benjamin really well.

[russnightlife]

For those who need it: a full list of every name in Toast of London. Credit here:

Full list of character names from the Toast of London Universe:

Steven Toast

Jane Plough

Ray Purchase

Kenton Schweppes

Ed Hauser Black

Goodhouse

Cliff Promise

Clem Fandango

Kikini Bamalam

Beezuz Fafoon

Susan Random

Jemima Gina

Kika Brite

Acker Herron

Greta Cargo

Royce Coolidge

Mr Fasili

Ellen Toast

Mick Carriage

Howard Bugawitz

Martin Aynuss

Senna Poddington

Ricky Seasack

Derek Sibling

Danny Bear

Portia De Coogan

Thomas Ledger

Strawberry Wrathbone

Lord Fotheringham

Toby Hopkinson-Finch

Blair Toast

Commander Scott Gorham

Russel House

Chris Bread

Roy Highnock

Sookie Houseboat

Brooke Hooberman

Yvonne Wryly

Kate Kahn

Hamilton Meathouse

Poshdong Mingemuncher

Nick Swivney

Wendy Nook

Linda Praise

Warren Organ

Thumper

Lola

Paige

Ruby

Norris Flipjack

Duncan Clench

Bob Fennison

Mr. Cockatip

Ken Suggestion

Penny Traitor

Dennis Thwaits

Betty Pimples

Axel Jacklin

Basil Jet

Parker Pipe

Kerry Hammersnag

Sterling Porridge

Max Gland

Lindy Makehouse

Colin Skittles

Jackie Paper

Honeysuckle

Francis Bacon

Lorna Wynde

Una Length

Rob Continental

Sue Pressure

Peggy Plywood

Scott Chesnut

Penvelope

Rupert Howser Black

Col. Gonville Toast

Clancy Moped

Vic Titball

Pookie Hook

Bob Monkhouse

Larry Muggins

Dennis Fog

Derek Bildings

Shane Fulorgy

Frank Zammer

Ormand Sacker

Varity Map

Bill Purchase

Tony Excalibur

Champion House

Cocker Boo

Michael Prance

Church Weaver

Heathcote Pursuit

Kay Tightneck

Iqbal Achieve

Basil Watchfair

Nan Slack

Peanut Whistle

Dick Weerdly

Sal Commotion

Giuseppe Race

Howard Blackcap

Daz Klondike

Kai

Sola Mirrornek

Sue Pepkins

Neil Doobla-Decca

Des Wigwam

Dr Harold Shitman

Les Tipi

Chris Marquee

Rob Scouthut

Russ Nightlife

Kenny Ethnic

Hercule Razamataz

Ray Sober

Romley Compton

Dwight Difference

Billy Tarzana

Nina Armenian

Edward Fox

Shepherd Jerbîl

Professor Map

Sonny Sam Disco

Weech Beacon

Liberty Jerbil

Ben Egyptian

Jennifyer Madraass

Snorky

Will Willis

Phyllis Willis

Carmen

Richard Chickentoss

Hoop Kaaak

Ms Wisehunt

Mrs Greenflash

Bellender Bojangles

Barney

Hayley

Blondie

Gypsy

Old Timer Bill

Wildcat Lil

Doc Brown

Rusty Halloween

Agent Saucepan

Sorry Johnson

Wallace

Kelsey Perfume

Frank Succession

Tycoon Lancaster

Jesus Bond

August Burdock

Clint Legal

Tony Fabrizio

Hawk Fahrenheit

Mews Frumpty

Frank Forfolk

Chelsea Bladdersby

Oswald Mosley

Kate Lethargy

Fancy Alexander

Dinky Critenbers

Pig Shovely

Billy Stylish

Sir Norman Brocktight

Basil Stillborn

Kimberly Banana

DI Leonard Chaffich

Una Stubbs

Surely Residue

Warren Organ

Hissy Oversight

Ms. Crawshaft

Merrody Ferrybank

Allan Chance

Doug Birka

Martin Shore

Lolly Badcock

Jill Quear

Vigo Typhoon

Danny Laroux

Cool Black

S’en hammerstad

Gerald Selfish

Peter Nose

David Geurring

Haneth khorishi

Baz Ravish

Enty Strepsils

Comma Dora Green

Vaginta Staples

Aalan Aadams

Harvey Motel

Peter Thatchelwaite

Ryslip Tyres Dot Com

Donald Suckling

Stuart Pringle

Susan Bench

Cliff Stalways

Billy Sprayman

Trevor McGuelish

Earnest Gangly

Sydney Shipton

Barry Bouffant

Drayton Curfew

Septum Crowbar

Dick Circus

Liz Pulp

Rob Darby

Vanessa Fence

Vince Kendal

Mac Darby

Sally Joint

Welk Ashby

Maggie Gail

David Hammod

Leo Seer

Kit Blackcheek

Jackie Kak

Howard Tissue

Albert Eichborn

Peter Swaff

Rob Bonnet

Perry Bluehouse

Lee Bacon

Connie Sheik

Cliff Bonanza

Rula Bingo

Oliver Whasson

Watkins Winchester

Warwick Kineer

Ruth Lingum

Adam Haalal

Lionel Harshmaker

Gary the Plumber

Royce

[tvguidancecounselor]

TV Guidance Counselor Episode 602: Greg Johnson

December 26, 1992

This week Ken welcomes old friend, now NYC based comedian Greg Johnson.

Ken and Greg discuss 20 years ago, Comedy Doyles, Kenny Z, Ken's first time doing stand up in Massachusetts, Eugene Mirman, Tim McIntire's Thursday Night Fights at The Comedy Studio, growing up in Wellesley, white suburban towns, being a notable alum from your town's High School, Greg's album Greg Johnson 1, how Mass and NY really aren't all that different, listening to episodes from ten years ago, Danny Tamberelli, The Adventures of Pete and Pete, getting to meet your heroes, Cheers, how Ken books guests, TV stars who should have been movie stars, Angela Lansbury, Madonna: Just a Peeler, clean and dirty covers, The Real World, Barney the Dinosaur, 1992, how football is a stupid fun waste of time, how the love of True Crime isn't new, Amy Fischer the Long Island Lolita, Ryder Strong, favorite VJs, the mystery of John Norris, SNICK, Roundhouse, In Living Color, The Simpsons, Sexy Dana Carvey, Chris Rock, live TV fights, insane Oscar moments, streaking, Father Dowling Mysteries, growing up Catholic, The "dead kid" in Three Men and a Baby, the "dead munchin" in The Wizard of Oz, being in the theater for only one day, 1990s re-releases, Can't Hardly Wait, Jerry O'Connell, the reason we have home taping today, when Greg was actually on TV, THIS VERY WEEK as a kid, Phylicia Rashad hosting a Kids Guide to Parenting, the lost show, Nik Carter, WFXN, Rap Around!, Ready to Go, Tom Bergeron, Home Improvement, We the Jury, Ken's love of Massachusetts businesses, Ken and Greg's plans to visit dead malls, The Square One Mall, Waylu's, Ken finding a nearly dead woman at B. Dalton Books in the Meadow Glen Mall, smoking joksters, local weathermen, The Wonder Years, Sully Erna, New Year's Eve, Evening at the Improv, WSKB's big Stooges New Year, Dana Hersey, House of Blues, Chiz Rider, and the major of trumpet based ministries. 

Check out this episode!

[acacia-artblog]

Inktober 3 : Path (Eavan and Ogun on the pic)

Inktober 4 : Dodge ( on the pic Annabeth and Barney (her lover), and Mrs Norris and Argus)

[self-loathing-angel-of-thursday2]

Beautiful Spouse’s Rewatch Thoughts SPN 09x10 Death’s Door

“Weren’t they driving straight? Was that little drift really necessary?” “Are we on the right episode?” “boobies” “FAKE” “I think that’s kinda the point but ya know” “Cool effect though” “That’s probably not good” “Who the fuck puts milk in a wine glass?” “Rapture” “I don’t even remember Chuck Norris jokes anymore” “Bobby’s got daddy issues too?? Holy shit” “Who the fuck is that? The ghost they’re chasing?” “that’s not good, but he’s just dreaming so it’s fine” “Wouldn’t a smart hunter start a creamatorium and push their products so cremation solves the problem?” “Aren’t they America’s most wanted still?” “Is the kid him?” “is Rufus a reaper in disguise?” “Rufus is the only person who Bobby listens to” “You’re in a coma caught by a reaper, you gotta think bad thoughts, not good thoughts” “He looks the same. That’s probably the joke” “That explains the milk, I guess” “I forgot to make an erect dick joke last episode” “It said incubus” “Yeah, I agree. That shit is terrible” “Gotta have something to feed the oral fixation” Spouse made a slurping noise

“Isn’t that called debriding? Like debriding the wound?” “I feel like if you had a big enough house, you’d draw one of every sigil. That way you can maintain them and use as needed” “Does he know the drill?” “Who the fuck is Barney Miller?” “what a fkn cock” “you fkn shot his ass” “Where’s Rufus?” “OH yeah, of course he shot him in the fkn face” “What’s mom going to say?” “family business” laughter

“Man, what the fuck. Of course that’s his last words”

[themovieblogonline]

Expend4bles cause carnage in the latest, Red-Band Trailer!

Get ready for the new Expend4bles Trailer! The idea behind The Expendable is quite easy: put all of the biggest actors from the 80s era into one movie, have them blow a ton of stuff up, and the result will be a nostalgic action-packed hit at the box office. The trilogy was a huge financial success overall. At the helm of the story is Sylvester Stallone, as he takes on the character of Barney Ross, a mercenary equipped with one of the best teams in the world thanks to Lee Christmas (Jason Statham), Gunner Jensen (Dolph Lundgren), Yin Yang (Jet Li), Hale Caesar (Terry Crews), and well, the list goes on and on and on! It’s their job to do the jobs that the military and Government don’t wish to take on directly. https://youtu.be/Cm3Z1jEjHHc?si=V7NfWQPA6WhkJnu0 Throughout the trilogy, you'll see more legendary actors from the 80s joining in to help Barney, such as Arnold Schwarzenegger, Bruce Willis, and even Chuck Norris! On the opposite side of this, the three movies have seen some really fun “bad guys” that acting-wise, are also from the same era. You've got Jean Vilain (Jean-Claude Van Damme), Stonebanks (Mel Gibson), and James Munroe (Eric Roberts). All of them bring heavy action to the franchise in ludicrous ways. With cheesy action and a bucket load of one-liners, The Expendables captured the attention of its nostalgia-seeking audience right from the start. With its release in 2014, it’s been almost a decade since the release of The Expendables 3, after the third outing didn’t make as much at the box office as predicted, a follow-up didn’t show its face immediately. Finally, Sylvester Stallone found the right moment to return with this Avengers Assemble of action movies under Expend4bles! Alongside familiar faces such as Jason Statham & Dolph Lundgren, we are once again getting new recruits with this latest installment. Megan Fox, Tony Jaa, 50 Cent, Andy Garcia, Iko Uwais, Jacob Scipio, and Levy Tran round out a stacked cast. With a September 22nd release date, the latest Red-Band trailer teases action, so much action, that John Wick himself would be proud. With ‘Can’t Stop�� by the Red Hot Chili Peppers playing in the background, it’s clear that The Expendables ‘Can’t Stop’ causing utter carnage, with seemingly, every weapon ever made? With the trailer focusing on its huge cast and R rating, it looks like fans of the franchise will find a familiar comfort in the final result. Also, we have to applaud the perfect tagline, “They'll die when they're dead”! The film is supposed to be the last Expendables trip with Sylvester Stallone, as he is hoping that Jason Statham will be able to carry the story forward. With Jason achieving a stack of action-packed hits for his own CV over the years, he is a safe bet. So, what do you want to see from The Expend4bles, and is there a certain actor from the 80s that you’d like to see make a cameo in the movie?   Read the full article

[cherylmmbookblog]

#BlogTour Turning for Home by Barney Norris

I am absolutely delighted to be part of the #BlogTour for this incredibly talented author. Believe you me the hype is not only worth it, it is also absolutely accurate. Barney Norris has a knack for storytelling and is a scribe worth watching.

About the Author

Barney Norris was born in Sussex in 1987, and grew up in Salisbury. Upon leaving university he founded the theatre company Up In Arms. He…

[diaryoftruequotes]

Perhaps all adult life was an attempt to keep alight the fires that burned when you were young. Barney Norris, Five Rivers Met on a Wooded Plain

[yr-obedt-cicero]

“The Colonel's nephew, John C. Hamilton, had become estranged from his wife and family, and about this time the former gave her employment as his housekeeper. Her son Edgar, devoted to the memory of his Uncle William, in later years gave some of the most intimate glimpses we possess, into the life at the mines. The Colonel had also a Negro servant boy, “Black Davie,” of whom Edgar writes kindly. The Hamilton cabin became rare meeting-place as time went on. Here, it is true, he boarded some of his rough and muddy miners, but here he also entertained most distinguished visitors. Here his fine, aristocratic mother, and his sister, Mrs. Holly, were his guests in 1837. And here would sometimes come crowding in a roomful of the natives bands of whom remained for five or six years after Black Hawk's day. They were beggars and thieves. Hamilton understood them, and had no fear of them. But he had to keep a watchful eye on the visitors to guard against being “robbed out of house and home.”

Says Muldoon, of the always interesting Colonel: “One day he could eat his ‘grub’ with his heavy-whiskered, ragged and mud-spatered miners; the next he could take his place to preside over a banquet of silk-clad and powder-haired aristocrats. He was an exceptionally clever conversationalist, when he did talk, but as a rule, was one of the silent type, doing far more, thinking than talking.”

From all sources we learn that Hamilton was unusually handsome, and from many that he was the “living image” of his illustratious father. He was of medium height and of medium stoutness. He stood 5 feet 7 inches in height and weighed 160 pounds. He had a light complexion and light brown hair. His eyes were blue and piercing. Strength, intelligence and kindliness all were marked in his fine face. He stood erect, was prompt and positive, and in every relation in life was the gentleman. He never married, nor, so far as is known, had a love affair. One of the finest tributes to the man, one that rings was paid by his friend of many years, Mr. Chas. H. Gratiot: “Col. Hamilton was an intimate friend of my family and a frequent visitor for many years. We esteemed him for his warm social instincts, his affability, his unassuming courteousness, his refinement and culture. He was virtuous, temperate and generous to a fault.”

“Col. Hamilton first opened the mines at Hamilton's Diggins in 1928, and spent most of the next twenty years in mining, meeting with good success until the water put a stop to his operations. Mr. Hamilton lived the life of a miner, a rough life at best, yet in his miner's cabin, the surroundings evinced the fine taste of the occupant. His library was the most valuable in the country, and contained, mostly, the books of classical authors.”

The friend with whom Hamilton first entered Galena, Daniel Parkinson, opened an inn at Mineral Point, thirty miles from Fort Hamilton, and here the Colonel could often be found with congenial friends, such men as General Dodge and the Gratiot brothers, discussing politics and sipping their cider, each taking his turn with some story of adventure in the wilderness. So, too, these men, and others well known in the lead district would meet before Hamilton's broad fireplace, or in his grocery store. Colonel Kellogg, or Captain Gentry was likely to be among them.

After the Indian war a post-office was established at the Diggings, and known as Fort Hamilton. The Colonel was again post-master. Now, more than ever, the store became the social center of the place. In 1833, he built a now needed school-house. Then followed a tavern, a saw-mill and a distillery. Fort Hamilton was growing. One matter is too interesting to omit. It concerns General Henry Dodge and the Colonel. From the time of Black Hawk's War to Colonel Hamilton's death in 1850, these two men were politically the foremost citizens of Wisconsin. Dodge was an ardent Democrat while Hamilton championed the Whig principles of his great father. Hamilton had always a keen tongue, when arcused and shortly before the Black Hawk War had made some statement which Dodge resented. After the fashion of the day. the latter challenged his Whig opponent to a duel. There was no hesitation on the part of the Colonel. We have the story from his nephew. The newphew, Col. Schuyler Hamilton, afterward of much prominence in the Civil War, says, “Uncle William replied that at that moment his country demanded his services; but if he survived until the war was over, he would be happy to oblige Mr. Dodge. Later, the war being over, Uncle William informed General Dodge that he awaited his convenience. But General Dodge replied frankly that he could have no quarrel with so brave a soldier and so true a gentleman as he had found Col. Hamilton to be, and begged to withdraw the challenge, and that they be friends. And they did become friends.” The incident speaks volumes for the mainliness of both men. Col. John Dement, of Dixon, married a sister of General Dodge, and Mrs. Dement spent her days thereafter at Dixon. She is known to have had the same fine openness of character as marked her distinguished brother.

Twice in his life on the frontier, as we are told, Colonel Hamilton visited his mother in the East-once from the Sangamon country and once from the lead mines, after the Black Hawk War. 1000 miles and he made it, like at knight of old, on horseback. But he did not stay long. Life in New York had become tame for him. It was a trip of His movements always had a suddeness and unexpectedness about them. Riding to the door one morning he told his mother, “I can't stand it here: I've got to get back where there is room,” and kissing her goodbye, he mounted his horse again and rode away.

In return, in the summer of 1837, the mother, accompanied by a daughter, Mrs. Sidney Holly, paid him a visit. Mrs. Hamilton was in her eighties, and the trip was a long one. From Pittsburgh on west it was by boat down the Ohio to Cairo and up the Mississippi to Galena. They took boat the middle of March and reached Galena June 1st. The courageous old lady was able, however, to meet every demand on her endurance. But the Colonel's cabin, “Fort Hamilton”, was too lacking in the comforts and refinements of living to be a suitable place to entertain his lady guests, so he shortly arranged for their entertainment in Galena, at the more elegant and comfortable home of his friends, Mr. and Mrs. J. P. B. Gratiot. Their historic old house is standing yet today.

Mrs. Gratiot writes of Mrs. Hamilton: “Pleasant and unaffected, she bore her eighty-four years with graceful dignity.” Not only the Gratiot home, but the entire community, showed her every courtesy and kindly attention. Her hosts took her on a trip to Fort Snelling where the ofifcers paid her distinguished honors, such as due the widow of Alexander Hamilton, She was always a devout church-woman. The Episcopalians of Galena had been kind to the Colonel in an illness, and were very kind to her, and it is told that she presented the church some communion silver. The writer has asked the present rector, the Rev. Mr. Ellsworth in regard to the gift, and he says it is not certain. but that they do have some old silver plate, of which no one now seems to know the origin. The visit lasted from June 1st to September 15th. It was set down by the diarists of the time as “the first great social event of the lead country.” The Colonel accompanied the ladies as far as St. Louis, on their return, and there, too, much was made of the patriotician old lady, of so many fine associations.

In the “Log Cabin and Hard Cider” campaign of 1840, the men of the Diggins, regardless of previous political affiliations, were enthusiastic Whigs. William Henry Harrison, victor over Tecumseh at the battle of Tippecanoe, and father of their fine young Captain at the stockade, was the Whig candidate. Moreover, it was confidently accepted that in the event of his election he would appoint their own beloved Colonel first Governor of the new territory of Wisconsin. The Whigs won the election, and Hamilton had so few plans laid for the governorship. Among them was that his mother and Mrs. Holly should be the ladies of his official household. He was boyishly happy in the prospect of being able so to honor and to gratify his aged mother.

It was no fault of “Old Tippecanoe” that Colonel Hamilton did not achieve this, the greatest political ambition of his lift. President Harrison died after only thirty days in office, and the post of President went to Vice President Tyler, a General appointed Democrat, who Dodge to the new governorship. Wisconsin was then Democratic, and the cards were stacked against the brave Colonel. Politically he enjoyed but one pronounced success, and that with the odds quite against him. His mineral region elected him to the first Territorial Convention of Wisconsin. There he was selected as chairman of the Convention and was recognized as easily the leading man in its deliberations. It was in 1843 that Hamilton changed the name of the Diggings, or Fort Hamilton, to Wiota, by which beautiful name the hamlet is still known. When, in 1847, Iowa County was subdivided, that part in which lay the Diggins was given the name “Lafayette's tribute to his friend, and his father's friend, General Lafayette. He made one more essay into politics. He was candidate, in 1848, for membership in the State Constitutional Convention. The vote was declared to be slightly against him. But there was little doubt the count had been erroneous. They could play politics in that day as well as this. Hamilton took his case before the convention itself. He is said to have made a masterly presentation of his claim, one that would have done credit to a Patrick Henry. But the majority were Democrats and voted solidly against him. He may well have forsworn all politics from that day on.

The California Gold Fields

Almost at the moment, however, arose a matter that would quite naturally crowd political questions from the mind of the adventure-loving Hamilton, anyhow. Word came East of the gold discoveries in California. He decided to join the gold-seekers. With all the zest that characterized the man, he spent the winter in preparing for overland trip the following spring. With the aid of the village black-smith he built two strong moving-wagons, and these he equipped for the journey. His proposed leaving saddened the home of his miners. But he assured his friends that he did not plan to be gone long, not more than a year or two. Then he hoped to return with money enough so that he could install pumps in the lead mines and give them all employment again.

Early the spring of ‘49 he started out with his two prairie schooners, soon to join one of the many long caravans heading across the plains and mountains. Hamilton himself, always a lover of good horses, dorve to the front wagon a span of beautiful blacks. One of the early settlers, a Mr. Engebretson long told of the brave appearance of the Colonel's team, with all its equipment new. The driver of the second wagon was a fine colored fellow named Barney Norris. It is likely that he drove mules. It would have been hard for oxen to keep pace with the Colonel's spirited blacks. Later, Norris returned to Galena, where he spent his days, far into old age, as sexton of the Presbyterian church. He was highly respected, and thought of, to the last, as Col. Hamilton's body servant. The Colonel and Barney got through in early summer.

They lost little time in prospecting, soon staking out their claim at a point about 100 miles north of Sacramento. The claim yielded fairly from the start. Profiting by his experience in the lead mines, Hamilton established a store, also, and sold supplies to the miners. He was $10,000 ahead at the end of twelve months. The stake he had set for the venture, before he should return to the Diggings, was $20,000. At this time a Sacramento firm, dealers in lumber and mining supplies, sold him an interest in their business. July 17, 1850, he was still at this “brush store” at the gold mines. July 30th, he was on his way to Sacramento. About October 1st a friend sought for him there, and was told by a member of the firm that a few weeks after joining them, Col. Hamilton had taken sick and died in the cholera then raging in the city. It was a period of terror, in which few records of any sort were kept.

The Colonel had been fortunate in having with him, in his last hours, fiends who stood by and gave him whatever attention and comfort was possible. His friend, Charles Gratiot and the faithful Barney were two of them. It was impossible to secure a coffin, but they found enough lumber to make at least a box. They accompanied his remains to the trench, where the cholera victims were being laid, and buried him as “No. 50” in the trench. They secured the services of a Baptist minister at the grave. One of the Colonel's brothers, in New York, having been informed of his death, wrote, requesting Mr. Gratiot to ship the remains East, but naturally enough, the navigation company would not carry the body of a cholera victim. It was 27 years later that an effort was made by a Wisconsin friend, the Hon. Cyrus Woodman, to locate the grave of Hamilton, with a view to the erection of a monument at the spot. The markers set up at the time of the burial had been of wood and were now rotted and gone. The faithful Barney, in Galena, over a quarter-century after the burial, now proved to be the one person who could so describe the location of the grave that it could be found. And it was. The remains were taken from the trench to an individual lot, and a good stone was placed at the head, by his old friend, Mr. Woodman. The inscription on it read:

COL. W. S. HAMILTON Born in New York Aug. 4 1797 Came to California in ‘49 Died October 8, 1850

In size and features, in talent and character, he much resembled his illustrious father.

A friend erects this stone.

Ten years later, Col. Hamilton's body found another, no doubt its final resting-place. The city of Sacramento furnished a larger lot, in a new and roomier part of the cemetery, naming it “Hamilton Square.” The Colonel's relatives in the East, at family expense, erected a stone there, dedicated to his memory, and bearing also, on one face, a bronze medallion of his father, Alexander Hamilton. Here may his rest be undisturbed!

Back by the village street in Wiota seems nevertheless, the most fitting spot for a memorial to the brave and lovable Colonel Hamilton. Here his heart was. And here, in his memory, where he was so long known and loved, the ladies of the D. A. R. have set a granite tablet, suitably inscribed. Near it stands a fine but necessarily temporary memorial painting, in bill-board form, showing, above, the Colonel's team and covered wagon, and below, a picture of the stockade. This, then, is what I have, at last, learned about William Stephen Hamilton, frequent visitor at early Dixon, friend of Father John Dixon, and son of great Alexander Hamilton.

THE END”

The “Sometime back” series, by L. B. Neighbour. Dixon Evening Telegraph (Illinois) [March 17, 1932]

[paradise-bi-the-dashboard-lightt]

30 days of Bat -  Day 12: Favourite Raven – Georgia Carling

[whataniceone2]

“I knew more clearly than I have ever done that the world is other people”

from acclaimed book by Barney Norris “Five rivers met on a wooded plain”

[spiderandthesims]

1880s Names

A

Boys

Abel, Abraham, Adam, Addison, Adelbert, Alexander, Alfred, Aloysius, Alphonse, Ambrose, Amos, Anderson, Andrew, Angus, Anthony, Anton, Archibald, Art, Arthur, Aubrey, August, Augustine, Augustus, Avery

Girls

Ada, Adelaide, Adele, Adeline, Agatha, Agnes, Alice, Alma, Almeda, Alta, Anastasia, Angeline, Anna, Annabelle, Anne, Arizona, Augusta, Augustine, Aurelia, Aurora

B

Boys

Barney, Benjamin, Bennett, Bernard, Bishop, Bradford

Girls

Beatrice, Bernadette, Bess, Bessie, Beulah, Birdie

C

Boys

Carlton, Carson, Casper, Cassius, Cecil, Charles, Chauncey, Chester, Christian, Christopher, Clarence, Claude, Clement, Clifford, Coleman, Conrad, Cornelius, Curtis

Girls

Camille, Caroline, Catherine, Cecilia, Celestia, Celestine, Celia, Charity, Charlotte, Christine, Claire, Clara, Clarice, Claudia, Clementine, Conception, Constance, Corda, Cordelia, Cornelia

D

Boys

Dallas, Daniel, Darius, David, Dennis, Dewitt, Dorsey, Douglas, Dudley, Dwight

Girls

Daisy, Delia, Della, Delphia, Docia, Dollie, Dolly, Dolores, Dora, Dorcas, Doris, Dorothy, Dove, Dovie, Drucilla

E

Boys

Early, Edmond, Edward, Edwin, Eldridge, Eli, Elias, Elijah, Elliott, Ellis, Ellsworth, Elmer, Elton, Elwood, Emerson, Emery, Emil, Emmett, Enoch, Ephraim, Erasmus, Erastus ,Eric, Ernest, Ervin, Erwin, Eugene, Everett, Ezra

Girls

Edith, Edmonia, Effie, Elaine, Elda, Eldora, Eleanor, Elise, Eliza, Elizabeth, Ella, Elma, Elnora, Eloise, Elsa, Elsie, Emily, Emma, Emmaline, Era, Erma, Erna, Ernestine, Essie, Esta, Estella, Estelle, Esther, Ethel, Ethelyn, Etta, Eudora, Eugenia, Eula, Eulalia, Eunice, Euphemia

F

Boys

Felix, Ferdinand, Francis, Franklin, Frederick, Fredrick

Girls

Fanny, Fay, Felicia, Fern, Fidelia, Flora, Florence, Florida, Francis

G

Boys

Gabriel, Garrett, General, George, Gideon, Giles, Golden, Gregory

Girls

Geneva, Genevieve, Georgia, Georgie, Goldie, Grace, Gwendolyn

H

Boys

Harmon, Harold, Harris, Harrison, Henry, Hollis, Homer, Horace, Howard, Howard, Howell, Hugo

Girls

Harriett, Hattie, Henrietta, Hester, Honora, Hope, Hortense

I

Boys

Irving

Girls

Imogene, Indiana, Iona, Iris, Isadora

J

Boys

Jack, Jackson, Jacob, James, Jasper, Jeremiah, John, Jonathan, Joseph, Josiah, Judson, Jules, Julian, Junius

Girls

Jane, Josephine, Judith, Julia, Julie, Juliet, June

K

Boys

Kenneth

Girls

Kathleen

L

Boys

Lawrence, Lawson, Leander, Leonard, Lewis, Lionel, Logan, Lucien, Lucius, Luther, Lyman

Girls

Lacy, Lillian, Lilly, Louise, Lucia, Lucille, Lucinda, Lucretia, Lucy

M

Boys

Major, Malcolm, Marcus, Marshall, Martin, Mason, Mathias, Matthew, Maurice, Maxwell, Michael, Miles, Milo, Milton, Monroe, Morgan, Mortimer

Girls

Mabel, Madeline, Magnolia, Marie, Mary, Matilda, Maude, May, Melinda, Mildred, Millicent, Millie, Minerva, Minnie, Miriam, Missouri, Mollie, Mona

N

Boys

Nathan, Nathaniel, Neil, Nelson, Newton, Nicholas, Noah, Noel, Norman, Norris

Girls

Netta, Nettie, Nevada, Nona, Nora, Norah, Norma

O

Boys

Oliver, Oren, Orson, Otis, Otto, Owen

Girls

Odelia, Odessa, Ola, Olive, Ona, Opal, Ophelia, Ora, Orpha, Ottilie

P

Boys

Patrick, Percival, Percy, Peter, Phillip, Pierce, Pleasant

Girls

Pansy, Parthenia, Patience, Pearl, Penelope, Permelia, Philomena, Phoebe, Polly, Priscilla, Prudence

Q

Boys

Quincy

R

Boys

Raymond, Richard, Richmond, Robert, Rodney, Roger, Ross

Girls

Rita, Rosalie, Rose, Rowena, Ruby, Ruth

S

Boys

Samuel, Seymore, Sidney, Silas, Simon, Solomon, Stanley, Stephan, Sterling, Stewart, Sylvester

Girls

Samantha, Sophronia

T

Boys

Thaddeus, Theodore, Thomas, Thorton, Tillman, Timothy, Tobias, Truman

Girls

Tennessee, Thelma, Theodora, Theodosia, Theresa, Tillie

U

Boys

Ulysses

Girls

Una

V

Boys

Valentine, Vernon, Victor, Vincent, Virgil

Girls

Vera, Verona, Vesta, Victoria, Viola, Violet, Virginia, Vivian

W

Boys

Walker, Wallace, Walter, Warren, Watson, Webster, Wesley, Wilber, Wilbert, Wilbur, Wiley, Wilfred, Willam, Willard, William, Wilson, Winfield

Girls

Wilda, Wilhelmina, Wilma, Winifred, Winnifred, Winona

Z

Girls

Zella, Zora

[tvguidancecounselor]

TV Guidance Counselor 602: Greg Johnson

December 26, 1992

This week Ken welcomes old friend, now NYC based comedian Greg Johnson.

Ken and Greg discuss 20 years ago, Comedy Doyles, Kenny Z, Ken's first time doing stand up in Massachusetts, Eugene Mirman, Tim McIntire's Thursday Night Fights at The Comedy Studio, growing up in Wellesley, white suburban towns, being a notable alum from your town's High School, Greg's album Greg Johnson 1, how Mass and NY really aren't all that different, listening to episodes from ten years ago, Danny Tamberelli, The Adventures of Pete and Pete, getting to meet your heroes, Cheers, how Ken books guests, TV stars who should have been movie stars, Angela Lansbury, Madonna: Just a Peeler, clean and dirty covers, The Real World, Barney the Dinosaur, 1992, how football is a stupid fun waste of time, how the love of True Crime isn't new, Amy Fischer the Long Island Lolita, Ryder Strong, favorite VJs, the mystery of John Norris, SNICK, Roundhouse, In Living Color, The Simpsons, Sexy Dana Carvey, Chris Rock, live TV fights, insane Oscar moments, streaking, Father Dowling Mysteries, growing up Catholic, The "dead kid" in Three Men and a Baby, the "dead munchin" in The Wizard of Oz, being in the theater for only one day, 1990s re-releases, Can't Hardly Wait, Jerry O'Connell, the reason we have home taping today, when Greg was actually on TV, THIS VERY WEEK as a kid, Phylicia Rashad hosting a Kids Guide to Parenting, the lost show, Nik Carter, WFXN, Rap Around!, Ready to Go, Tom Bergeron, Home Improvement, We the Jury, Ken's love of Massachusetts businesses, Ken and Greg's plans to visit dead malls, The Square One Mall, Waylu's, Ken finding a nearly dead woman at B. Dalton Books in the Meadow Glen Mall, smoking joksters, local weathermen, The Wonder Years, Sully Erna, New Year's Eve, Evening at the Improv, WSKB's big Stooges New Year, Dana Hersey, House of Blues, Chiz Rider, and the major of trumpet based ministries.

[half-life-prompts]

All the legends and tales painted Gordon as a real tough guy, absolutely infallible, totally invincible, nothing could kill Gordon Freeman. Essentially the Chuck Norris of the apocalypse.

Barney of course knew the truth, and Alyx was very suprised to find that Gordon was actually a big softy, crying at the littlest of things.