Western Trails Project Home | Special Collections Home

James R. Mead is best known for his role in founding the city of Wichita; however, he was also an early settler in the Kansas Territory. He established several important trading posts and actively traded with Native Americans as well as pioneers like William "Dutch Bill" Greiffenstein, Jesse Chisholm and William "Buffalo Bill" Mathewson. Three of his trading post account journals are presented digitally below. Learn more about James R. Mead in an online exhibit.

Manuscript: James R. Mead Account Journal (1863-1867).

Accounts include Comanche Outfit (p. 36-38, 69, 73, 89, 115, 132), the Wichita Agency, William Greiffenstein (p.44, 46, 48, 50, 66, 74, 82, 85, 88, 96, 105, 106, 111, 137, 147-53, 162-5), Major Shanklin (p. 97, 99-107, 113. 121-5), Jesse Chisholm (p. 99, 109, 123, 129, 141), Col. Leavenworth (p. 135-140, 143), and Mathewson (p. 138). Contains recipe for cholera medicine (p. 165).


Click to go to
digitized manuscript
Manuscript: James R. Mead Account Journal for the White Water Trading Post (1864-1865).

Contains accounts with Cowskin Ranch (p. 12), Greiffenstein (p. 45, 64-8, 92, 95-7, 103, 105-6, 108), Jesse Chisholm (p. 68, 93). Includes frequent mentions of Hagen and Kelly.

Manuscript: James R. Mead Account Journal (1867-1867, 1870-1876).

Notes that Jesse Chisholm died on March 4, 1868 (p. 2). Contains accounts with Timothy Peet, Joe Indian (p.4), Mathewson (p. 10, 53, 57, 69, 75-6, 78-80, 84-5, 90-1, 98-9), Greiffenstein and Kellogg (p. 11), Greiffenstein (p. 15, 29-32, 37, 48-51, 54 [signature]), E. Mead (p. 70), Mrs. Mathewson (p. 71, 73); also includes entries concerning land claims (p. 10, 101) and clothes for Bunnie [son of Mead] (p. 52). 1870 accounts begin on page 100. Includes list of notes held by JRM (p.124), D. S. Munger's lots sold by Mead (p. 128-9), lots sold in East Wichita (p. 132-3, 135), and a list of the lot owners in Wichita, Kansas, March 1876.

Western Trails Project Home | Special Collections Home