The Texas County Genealogical and Historical Society met June 14 with 13 members and guests. The speaker was Dr. Rick Mansfield of Ellington on Henry Rowe Schoolcraft’s Journey. Mansfield was dressed in costume and provided an information sheet about his re-enactment tours.
Schoolcraft and Levi Pettibone left Potosi, Mo., Nov. 6, 1818, and traveled more than 900 miles and 90 days in search of rumored lead deposits near the James River near what would become Springfield, Mo. At the time, Missouri was a territory and would not become a state for a few more years. Much of what is known of these areas during this time is because of Schoolcraft’s writings, and much of the knowledge of the early 19th century Ozarks came from his journal and subsequent books. His early writings from this journey got him on other expeditions and he served as Indian agent for many decades.
Schoolcraft became America’s earliest and perhaps best recorder of Indian culture and folklore. He returned to Potosi on Feb. 4, 1819.
Being a lover of history, Mansfield hoped to bring Schoolcraft’s illuminating trek to life for modern-day Missourians by hiking the entire route. Beginning Nov. 6, 2018, he recreated the historic journey of Henry Schoolcraft on its bicentennial, returning to Potosi nearly a 1,000 miles and three months later on Jan. 4, 2019. Mansfield is writing a book about his experiences.
The next meeting is July 12.