JAMES SAMUEL SMISER

This true story was told by James Samuel Smiser to his grandson, Milton B. 
Smiser. At the time Milton was around six years of age. When  eighty years of 
age, Milton recounted it to his niece, Grace James Hannah, who has hereby 
recorded it for posterity.
The year was 1838. Missouri farmland was rapidly being settled. John Milton 
Smiser was among those early pioneers who had come from Kentucky or Virginia. 
His family was growing. Today, July 6, a third son, hearty and beautiful was 
born. He and his wife, Julia, named the new arrival James Samuel. 
Already the tight log cabin seemed full. But the little home near Paris in 
Northeast Missouri was soon to be the abode for a family consisting of eleven 
children, their parents and also Negro slaves. Julia had been an Edwards. Her 
family was descended from the well-known New England preacher, Johathan Edwards. 
When she married, she was given the choice of one thousand dollars or two slaves 
as a wedding gift from her parents. She chose the slaves, a man called John, and 
a maid servant dubbed "Black Mammie".
Little is known of James Samuel's early years, but during the Civil War he 
fought on the side of the confederacy. He was in the battle of Wilson's Creek 
near Springfield Missouri. For the state, this was the major battle of the war 
with a total missing, wounded and killed of 1,317 for the Union and 1,230 for 
the confederacy, who sent the Federal forces in wild retreat. It was August 10, 
1861, scarcely four months since the war began. The countryside was rolling hill 
country covered with scrub oaks and dense undergrowth. The heat was oppressive. 
Clouds of dust from the horses hoofs mingled with the smoke belched forth from 
the cannon and other firearms. Not everyone wore a uniform. Many owned only part 
of a uniform. At least one officer refused to wear one. He went into battle clad 
in a business suit. Soon entire units were confused as to who was fighting whom.
It was not surprising that James became separated from his fellow soldiers. 
Unable to establish any contact with the confederate army and surrounded by the 
enemy, James decided it would be a point of discretion to make himself scarce. 
With great care, he secretly made his way to his home near Paris.
Since Missouri was a state of divided localities, she was plagued by numerous 
incidents all during the war. One history lists Missouri as ranking third among 
all the states in having the highest number of military-actions which included 
battles, skirmishes, engagements, operations, etc. Palmyra, a little town, not 
far from Paris had her troubles. On August 12, 1862 a Confederate Colonel named 
Joseph E. Porter, led a raid on the Palmyra jail, seeking to free Southern 
prisoners housed there. Owing to the jail's thick unyielding walls Porter was 
not successful, but he was able to Lake some prisoners,  among them one Andrew 
Allsman, a spy-informant and advisor for the  Federal Officers of that vicinity.
Union Officials were furious. They demanded Allsman's return. Meanwhile old 
Allsman disappeared. It was generally thought that he was killed by Southern 
soldiers who hated him because he had reported their sympathies to the Federal 
officers. What actually happened was never known except to those involved. 
Allsman's body was never found. On October 18, 1862 Union officers took ten 
Confederate prisoners out of jail, set them on coffins, and executed them by a 
firing squad in retaliation.
After this incident rumor spread like wildfire. It was said ten men would be 
executed every Saturday until old Allsman was returned to his home. These would 
not only include prisoners, but free men as well. Even those who criticized such 
justice would also be shot, the rumors said. Terror reigned.
Shortly after this, James went on business to Shelbina, a neighboring town. Here 
an acquaintance saw and recognized him. "You better get out of this area", he 
warned. "Your name was brought up in connection to that trouble in Palmyra."  
Fleeing for his life, James headed west. Soon he arrived in St. Joseph Missouri. 
While there he found a wagon train preparing to leave for California. Upon 
inquiring, James found to his pleasure, a cook was needed, and as this was a 
line of work at which he excelled, he quickly signed on, and was soon on his way 
to a new chapter in his life. This wagon line was owned by Glenn and Wilson, who 
regularly ran wagon trains west to California. The wagon master on this 
particular trip proved to be a man with the bad habit of overindulgence in the 
use of alcohol. Quite early in the journey one evening, somewhere in Western 
Kansas, he got roaring drunk and began to abuse and berate those under his 
authority. He became so obnoxious that in desperation, James picked up a wooden 
neck yoke, a piece used to hitch a team together, and struck the ranting roaring 
drunk a blow to the head. He fell to the ground unconscious.
While the wagon master lay on the ground in this condition, who should appear on 
the scene, but the owners of the wagon train. They began to question everyone. 
James readily admitted to his part in the state of affairs. He was then backed 
up by those who had observed the commotion. The owners were soon convinced that 
their employee was unfit for his position, and began to seek someone to replace 
him. Turning to James, they asked him if he would consider leading the 
exposition to its destination. This was something he had never done, nor had he 
had any experience in this line. Nevertheless, James liked the idea and was 
willing to make an attempt. He was hired on the spot.
 In good time the wagon train arrived in Sacramento, California. Then James 
decided this would be a good place to wait out the war, since he was not anxious 
to return home for the present. To make a living, he soon began a wagon line of 
his own. He ran freight wagons pulled by oxen between Sacramento and Salt Lake 
City. The latter being at that time not a city, just an outpost. It was on this 
route that he made friends with an old Indian Chief called Winnemucca, through 
whose territory he traveled.  The chief's son became the official guide for the 
line. Old Winnemucca  renamed a son 'Big Jim, which is what he called James.
Old Chief Winnemucca valued their friendship highly. On one trip as the wagon 
line came near his village, Winnemucca met him as an honored guest and offered 
his daughter to James for a bride. James was already engaged to a childhood 
sweetheart back home. But he valued the old chief's friendship and had no desire 
to offend him. He assured Winnemucca that he was flattered and appreciated his 
confidence. He told Winnemucca that he could not offend his father's friend back 
home and had already promised him to marry his daughter. The old chief was 
respectful of James' previous commitment without loss of pride or resentment. 
They continued to be friends.
 The freight line prospered and James changed from oxen to mules. He took on a 
young partner whose name he did not disclose even in later years. Then on a 
subsequent trip somewhere between Sacramento and Salt Lake City tragedy struck. 
James contracted Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever. It was a disease carried by wood 
ticks and in those days almost always meant certain death. His fever raged 
fiercely and finally James lapsed into a coma, His companions gave him up for 
dead. Not wanting to wait for his final hours, they left him beside the trail 
and continued on their way. But Providence and fate have a way of fooling the 
wisest of men. James did not die. It was while he lay in this low state between 
the living and the dead, that his Indian friends found him and took him to the 
village of Old Winnemucca. How he was able to survive only God knows. The 
Indians gave him their best. They administered their native herbs and medicines 
and watched over him. His convalescent period lasted many months.  When he was 
able to realize what had happened to him, James was overwhelmed -by a wave of 
homesickness. Oh, how he longed to leave this place of disease and return to his 
loved ones and familiar countryside. His strength returned irritatingly slowly. 
Weak though he was, when a wagon train came by going East, he eagerly joined it. 
Once home, he  married the sweetheart of his earlier days, and settled down to 
farming  and raising a family.  There is a mystery to this story because of some 
unanswered questions.  What became of James' wagon train business? What became 
of his young  partner? James was left beside the trail minus his gold watch, 
billfold and  all identification papers. Why? If his business was of great 
value, why did he never return to claim it? Was his illness so great that it 
took him years          to regain his former strength? Perhaps the rigors of 
traveling that hazardous  route was beyond his endurance until the effects of 
time on his business  were irrevocable. This part of the story we can only 
surmise.
Years later James' grandson, Milton Smiser visited his own grown son now living 
in Southern California. While there he saw a huge traitor truck with the name 
''Smiser'' printed on the side. He was assured this was a well-established 
business of the area.
Sometime in the 1950's a woman from California telephoned Milton at his home in 
Marceline, Missouri. She was inquiring into the history of the Smiser family. 
She said her father was James S. Smiser and had started a wagon freight line 
drawn by mules. Her call came at a time when Milton was quite ill and in much 
pain. It was not until later that he realized the significance of her call. 
Because he had not kept her name or address, he could not reestablish contact.
Milton remembered that in recounting his experience, James Samuel did not 
mention the name of his young partner, and although he seemed to believe this 
man had taken over his business, he never showed any animosity towards him in 
any respect.  
After contemplating the facts for some time, Milton came to this  conclusion.  
James' partner believed him dead. He took James' watch, wallet  and papers, but 
that was not all he took. He also took James' name and  continued to operate his 
business as his own. Milton believes he never told  anyone, not even the family 
he later acquired, that the true name he was  given at birth was not James S. 
Smiser. He also believes that the large  trucking firm that exists today was 
started by his grandfather.  You may  draw your own conclusions, but if what 
Milton thinks is true, then an  entire family now lives today under a name not 
rightfully theirs.  JAMES SAMUEL  was a pioneer farmer in  Monroe CO.  He was 
active in getting a road built from Paris  to his neighborhood.  Although a 
member of the Christian Church, he worked to get and  endowment fund for the 
cemetery at Salem Baptist Church.  He was a member of the  school board for 30 
years.  He also taught there.  He was a member of the First Chritian  Church  in 
Paris but was active in the affairs of Salem Baptist Church.      He was known 
as a kind, patient man, just and honorable in all his relations and a man  whose 
daily walk was in itself, an inspiration and an example.  To his invalid wife  
he was husband, lover, protector and nurse.