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A company consisting of twenty-five men, mostly from Missouri under the command of a Mr. Tucker, followed the Indians, but owing to a snow storm lost the trail and had to return. John Conyers, father of Perry Conyers, now living in Pulaski County, was of the number. Mr. Humphrey was afterward shot in the shoulder, but succeeded in getting to the fort, where he recovered. Upon petition of my father a company of rangers was now sent down from Fort Massac and quartered at our house, which made us feel pretty safe.

Now, Mr. Editor, as to Cairo, allow me to say that it was not there in 1822, but I found it there in 1881. Though I have frequently said that it was impossible to build a town at Cairo, the magnificence of your present city compels me to say that the impossibility has been accomplished. The first and only man that I ever knew to live there was Drakeford Gray. His house was built on posts on stilts, and during a high water period it took fire and burned down. A boat happening to pass at that time took off the people, or they would have perished.

In concluding this already too long letter I will say, but not with egotism hope, that I have lived under the administration of every President of this great nation except that of Washington. The patents which I now hold for my land were signed by President Jackson, I having settled here in 1828. I have seen the population of our country increase from five million to fifty million. I saw the first steamboat that ever  plowed the waters of the Ohio River on its first trip. Railroads, telegraphs and nearly all the machinery now used in agriculture have come into use in my day. I have certainly lived in an auspicious age.

Bartlett Conyers

Newmanville, Illinois

May 31, 1881

SOURCE: Published in the Argus - Journal Newspaper, 1881.