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- Early settler of Lawrence, Kansas, as part of the Sixth Party.
"The Sixth Party left Boston on April 17, 1855. The journey to Kansas territory was made via the Canadian route. There were in the company at the time of departure 37 men, 13 women and 14 children -- a total of 64 individuals. George W. Hunt f Lowell, Mass., was the conductor. [45]
The trains were crowded and the company suffered numerous inconveniences and delays. In Chicago, where a riot was in progress, some of the party were given a military escort from their hotel to the depot. They all reached St. Louis safely n April 24 took passage on the Kate Swinney. The Missouri river was still very low. [46] The steamboat journey to Kansas City took nine days.
At a meeting of the emigrants while on board the Kate Swinney resolutions of thanks were voted the captain and other officers of the boat. George W. Hunt was chairman of the meeting; Charles R. Newcomb acted as secretary. The committee on rtions were W. K. Vaill, Simeon Putnam and Jonas M. Damon. [47]
S. C. Pomeroy, Aid Company agent in Kansas City, wrote on May 4 of the arrival of the Sixth Party stating: "They are a good set of men -- also some noble women." "All," he wrote, "are in fine spirits -- most of them will stick." In a letterten on the next day he indicated that some of the company had decided to settle on Pottawatomie creek, along with the Fifth Party. [48]
G. W. Hunt, writing later in the month, stated that most of the Sixth Party had gone to the Hampden colony on the Neosho river. [49] From the roster of this company it will be noted that several of the party settled in Lawrence. There is t no information available concerning individual members of the Sixth Party."
Apparently during the Civil War, Abidan came back to Massachusetts and served. After the war returned to Kansas and remarried.
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