. The romance of a western boy; the story of Corse Payton. THE PRAIRIES. 7 Colonel in the Sixth Iowa Infantry, but later roseto the rank of Brigadier General. General Corse and Joseph Payton were veryclose friends. Both were wounded at the battle ofMissionary Ridge. And, when some three yearslater, Joseph Paytons black eyed baby boy beganhis battle of life, he was named Corse in memoryof the dear soldier friend. Evidently he liked the name,for he was a jolly happy littlechap, and grew in mischief asall normal babies do. Thestage where he played his firstscene was Centerville, he gave
. The romance of a western boy; the story of Corse Payton. THE PRAIRIES. 7 Colonel in the Sixth Iowa Infantry, but later roseto the rank of Brigadier General. General Corse and Joseph Payton were veryclose friends. Both were wounded at the battle ofMissionary Ridge. And, when some three yearslater, Joseph Paytons black eyed baby boy beganhis battle of life, he was named Corse in memoryof the dear soldier friend. Evidently he liked the name,for he was a jolly happy littlechap, and grew in mischief asall normal babies do. Thestage where he played his firstscene was Centerville, he gave vent to his first dramatic wail, andhere he spoke his first line. But I must tell you something about his fatherand mother. Away back there in the year 1844, when thegreat prairies still lay in a drowsy trance, andbefore the California gold seekers had begun theirexultant chorus of Westward, Ho! Joseph Payton—being then only ten years old—was taken intothe wilderness of Iowa. Here he entered upon thewild, free and lonely existence of a pioneer. But. 8 THE STORY OF CORSE PAYTON. those were experiences which produced a type offearless, strong men-^men imbued with a love ofcountry; for had not the power of their musclegone into the framework of that country ? Withan undaunted courage and with persevering toilthey developed the embryotic wealth of a newland. It certainly is not strange then that theyloved it. Such strong love of country is alwayscharacteristic of the pioneer. It was the inspira-tion of those staunch old Pilgrim Fathers, and inthat fight for a land of liberty, they were everconscious of their own suffering toil which hadmade a home of the wilderness. For five years after young Joseph Payton wentwith his parents into Appanoose County, Iowa,they had no neighbors save the Sac and Foxtribes of Indians. At thattime famous old Keokukwas chief of the Sac tribe,Josephs only playmates werethe Indian lads. With themhe matched his prowess,and grew in strength. Withthem he
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