Monday, August 3, 2015

Timothy Hersey and the beginning of Abilene, Kansas.



Good morning everybody!  I am so excited to be a part of  Sweet Americana Sweethearts!

I have written three clean, sweet stories all centered around Abilene, Kansas.  Why Kansas? 

One night my hubby and I were watching a special on the making of The Chisholm Trail.  Texans needed to get their longhorns to market and Joseph McCoy saw a vision for that when he came to the sleepy little town of Abilene.  Hence, The Chisholm Trail was named when over the years 1.5 million cattle traveled from Texas to Kansas.

This is a small part of the story of Abilene.  I have learned so much!  




Timothy Hersey

Today, I want to tell you about Timothy Hersey.  He was the founder of Abilene – but he had itchy feet and didn’t stay in one place too long.

Hersey, traveling by horseback, stopped to camp on the banks of The Mud River.  That was the starting point of Abilene.

Hersey built a log cabin, the first house in town.  In the spring of 1858 he went to Illinois to get his wife, Elizabeth, and the first of nine children.  As time went on he added a store and additions to his cabin.  (Point of Interest…..Today, where Hersey’s cabin stood, stands a mansion owned by Lebold-Vahsholtz)

The only other occupants were a few Indians and the “biggest prairie dog town I ever saw” just across the creek.

In 1860 there was The Overland Stage Line that ran from Leavenworth to Denver.  Hersey furnished the stage line with hay and feed for the horses and Mrs. Hersey fed weary travelers at her own table.

As Abilene began to grow Hersey got the “itch” for more action.  The neighbors were .closing in on him!  He moved on to discover other Kansas town, Beloit and Cawker City

After feeling closed in again, he stopped in Denver where he got mining fever and did quite well.  He became ill and moved to Castle Rock, Washington, where his wife and children had moved.  He died there in 1905

Joseph McCoy was a huge part of the Abilene story and I talk about that on my next visit – September 7.  See ya’ll then!




Jesse’s Find, Book One of the Jesse Series

Blurb
Jesse Mason is bone tired and just miles from home when a strange sound drifting with a Kansas wind catches his ear. 

He spies something hiding in the tall grass.  His temper sizzles at the sight of a horse, dead from exertion, and is ready to string up the cowboy that has done this. What Jesse finds is no cowboy at all, but a woman who has been shot and an infant, both, he fears will not make it to his home alive.

Jesse didn’t ask for this, but he knew he couldn’t turn his back on them.  What he didn’t know was somebody wanted that woman dead and didn’t care who else had to die to get that job done.


A little teaser.....

What are you doing out here, little one?  I surely don’t know what to do with the likes of you.  A tiny hand came up to grasp his finger, dredging up painful memories that Jesse quickly shook away.




Bio
Penny Estelle is a best selling writer for all ages, from the early reader to adults.  Her books range from pictures books for the little ones, to fantasy and time-travel adventures for ages 9 to 13. She also, under P. A. Estelle, has written adult stories including a family drama and contemporary, paranormal and historical westerns romances.
Penny was a school secretary for 21 years.  She and her husband moved to their retirement home in Kingman, AZ, on very rural 54 acres, living on solar and wind only. 
Penny and her books can be found in the following links:



4 comments:

  1. Great post! Thanks for sharing great information about this wild west city.

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  2. Of course, Zina. I'm excited to be part of this. The other posts have been so interesting!

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  3. Penny,
    I'm fascinated with Kansas history and the great cattle drives. Thanks for sharing your research. Your related title looks very interesting!
    Kristin

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  4. Interesting reading...

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