Produced by Julia Miller, Marcia Brooks and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This file was produced from images generously made available by The Internet Archive/American Libraries.) [Illustration: THE PEDDLER.] [Illustration: WESTERN CHARACTERS Redfield.] WESTERN CHARACTERS OR TYPES OF BORDER LIFE IN THE WESTERN STATES BY J. L. McCONNEL AUTHOR OF "TALBOT AND VERNON,"--"THE GLENNS," ETC. WITH ILLUSTRATIONS BY DARLEY [Illustration] REDFIELD, 110 AND 112 NASSAU STREET, NEW YORK. 1853. Entered, according to Act of Congress, in the year 1853, BY J. S. REDFIELD, in the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the United States, in and for the Southern District of New York. STEREOTYPED BY C. C. SAVAGE, 13 Chambers Street, N. Y. PREFATORY NOTE. Attempts to delineate local character are always liable to misconstruction; for, the more truthful the sketch, the greater is the number of persons, to whom resemblance may be discovered; and thus, while in fact only describing the characteristics of a class, authors are frequently subjected, very unjustly, to the imputation of having invaded the privacy of individuals. Particularly is this so, when the class is idealized, and an imaginary type is taken, as the representative of the species. I deem it proper, therefore, to say in advance, that no attempt has been made in the following pages, to portray any individual; and that--although I hope I have not been so unsuccessful, as to paint pictures which have no originals--if there be a portrait in any sketch, it consists, not in the likeness of the picture to the person, but of both to the type. As originally projected, the book would have borne this explanation upon its face; but the circumstances which have reduced its dimensions, and changed its plan, have also rendered necessary a disclaimer, which would, otherwise, have been superfluous. * * * * * One or two of the sketches might have been made more complete had I been fortunate enough to meet with certain late publications, in time to use them. Such is the elaborate work of Mr. Schoolcraft upon Indian History and Character; and such, also, is that of Mr. Shea, upon the voyages and labors of Marquette--a book whose careful accuracy, clear style, and lucid statement, might have been of much service in writing the sketch entitled "_The Voyageur_." Unfortunately, however, I saw neither of these admirable publications, until my work had assumed its present shape--a fact which I regret as much for my reader's sake as my own. J. L. McC. _July 15, 1853._ CONTENTS. PAGE. INTRODUCTORY 7 I. THE INDIAN 19 II. THE VOYAGEUR 62 III. THE PIONEER 106 IV. THE RANGER 157 V. THE REGULATOR 171 VI. THE JUSTICE OF THE PEACE 246