John Sargent Salsbury

John Sargent, my Grandfather, was born during Queen Victoria's rein in England. There is some confusion as to whether his middle name was spelled "Sergeant" or "Sargent". Since his grandmother's maiden name was "Sargent", I believe that we can probably assume that the spelling of "Sargent" is correct.

He was 6 years old at the time Wild Bill Hickock was killed in Deadwood, Dakota Terratory and Custer's last stand occurred on the Little Bighorn River. He was 11 when Billie the Kid was shot by Pat Garrett; and the gunfight at the OK Corral took place in Tombstone, AZ Territory. Jessee James was killed by Bob Ford when he was 12 years old.

John was orphaned at the age of 8. He and his siblings were cared for by his Maternal Grandmother Sargent. When she was no longer able to care for them, a family friend "Auntie" Deborah Timms raised John, Tom, Billy, Harry, Frank and Anna. He was apprenticed to a coal distributing company for 2 years receiving no pay except for room and board while learning to be a book keeper.

Upon completion of his apprenticeship, he went to work in the Port of Liverpool. While there, he decided to join his Uncles John and Billie in America. He immigrated to Canada on a cattle boat and remained there for two years to fulfill his immigration contract. He made a journey to the west coast, but returned to Winnipeg where he was employed in a saw mill where they made wooden barrels. To supplement his income during a lull at the mill, he went to work for a local farmer. Being a city kid, the first time he attempted to harness the horses he put the collars on upside-down and proceded to tell the farmer that the harness would not fit! He had a room and board from an elderly widow, and they became good friends. Upon his departure for the U.S., she told him to go to the company store, pick out a gift, and charge it to her account. He selected a shaving mug that cost 25 cents. Upon showing it to her she exclaimed; "My God John, you'll break me yet!"

He journeyed by train to Kansas via Chicago the day after the Worlds Fair ended in 1892. That was also the year that the Dalton Gang was wiped attempting to rob two banks simultaneously in Coffeyville, KS. He then traveled to Chester, Nebraska where his Uncle John lived just inside the Kansas line about 5 miles Southwest of town. His Uncle Billy said Kansas was too god-forsaken to live in and returned to Bedford, England. He lived with his Uncle John where he learned to farm. Being a good looking young man, and single, it wasn't long before all the young girls in the area were after him. Grandmother Gertrude won out. They were married on February 26, 1896.

I don't recall any remnants of Grandfather's British origin, either in speech or mannerisms. He told me directly that his opinion of bagpipes was that they were "Squacking noisy damn things!". His philosophy was simple; He said what he meant, and he meant what he said. Friends, neighbors and family alike soon learned that when he said something, he didn't change his mind, nor did he need to repeat himself. Grandfather and Grandmother lived with us on several occassions ... and I learned early on that he was a kind and patient man, but he only told you once and you had better pay attention !!!

Darrell L. Salsbury