How's everything out there on the prairie? Till now I guess you've mostly been visited by Indians, fur trappers, and explorers. But that will change in a few years. In the meantime I though I'd catch you up on the news back here in the east, all of which will have an effect on you later. There have been quite a few births so I'll tell you about them this time.
A fellow was born in 1800 who you'll hear a lot more about. His folks, Mr. and Mrs. Owen Brown, named him John. He's going to cause a stir out your way, in a place that'll be called Kansas, so keep a look out for him. Also that year William McGuffey was born. He'll stir things up in a different way when he publishes some schoolbooks. Strange as it seems, about 122 million of those little volumes will be sold.
One interesting man you are sure to meet was born in 1804. He goes by the name of Jim Bridger. He'll become a mountain man. Another fellow, born in 1800, who is really going to get his digs in over in your territory is called John Deere. And speaking of mountain men, I guess you'll meet Kit Carson, too. He was born in Kentucky in 1809.
A boy you're really going to hear a lot about was born the same year as Carson. Out your way, in what is going to be called Nebraska, a whole town gets named after him. Lincoln is what that town will be called, but this fellow will be called a lot of other things before he's through. His first name is Abraham. Just like Carson, though the two never meet, Abe was born in a log cabin in Kentucky.
Oh, you are going to have a lot of visitors in a few years. There's a kid, just seven years old now, who will become a big New York newspaperman. He'll be telling young men, and a lot of other folks, to go west. And they will, by the wagonloads. His handle is Horace Greeley. He'll even come on out for a visit sometime later.
Let me tell you about this man you're really going to like who goes by the name of John. Seems there are a lot of Johns cropping up lately. Anyway, this fellow is John Charles Fremont. He's a southern boy. Hales from Savannah, Georgia where he was born January 21, 1813. People are going to call him "Pathfinder" after he does some exploring around your area and the Far West. He'll influence a lot of people who are considering making a move out your way.
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