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As they approached Homer that day, Diana had listened in rapt attention as Asa reminisced about his boyhood. One Fourth of July stood out in his memory. He was sixteen when July 4,
1826 was heralded in by shotgun blasts, marching bands and fireworks followed by a program of oratory for the occasion of the fiftieth anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. At the Academy, Asa Kinney had
memorized many passages from the writings of Jefferson and had often referred to him in debate. To his sorrow, he learned that not only his idol, Thomas Jefferson, had died this day, but John Adams as well.
Passing the Homer church, Colonel Kinney had paused long enough to show his wife the quill pen entry in the baptismal record which read…"1810, May 21, Kinney, Asa. Son of Abel and Freelove Randall Kinney."
Abel Kinney had nine children, eight sons and one daughter, Asa being the fourth son.
Diana and Asa had not remained at Homer long but had followed the tide of migration to western New York with other young
people, vigorous, imaginative and foreword looking. Tales of the rich soil, the fine game and the free life with acres of fertile land to be claimed, led the two from Homer to Connewango in Chattaragus County. Asa
had taken the packet at Syracuse, twenty-eight miles from Homer and had come by the Erie Canal to the northern part of Chattaragus County and then turned south to Connewango township. Diana had loved the small towns
and interior farms scattered along the winding Mohawk. However, she was glad to be settled again.
In Connewango, Colonel Kinney established a home in the rich valley of the Allegheny and settled down to
farming. Until Diana's death a month ago, the two had worked together especially after the loss of two year old Asa Tyler last year. The two little girls had been born here. Diana had been a good wife, Asa Kinney
reflected. She had given him three children, kept house well, made candles, soap and clothing. He knew he would never stop missing her but she had given him two children whom he loved very much. His outdoor
ruddiness accentuated by his homespun, tall well built man with a neatly trimmed beard, turned to his penetrating eyes on his sister and quietly stated "other men marry again. The little girls should have a
mother. I plan to marry the school teacher at Rutledge who is an intelligent and charming young woman." With that, he carefully laid the baby he had been holding in the crib.
Colonel Kinney courted the
beautiful school teacher and on January 15, 1835 the two were married. Asa was now twenty-five and Lucretia Grinnell, his second wife, twenty-three. Lucretia was dressed warmly with her merino and woolen stockings
for the January day was very cold. A kind friend advised her " act up to the Gospel rules, strive to be kind and affectionate to all about you."
Writing from Connewango a few weeks later, Lucretia
commented " I received a warm welcome and am to be congratulated on kind neighbors. We are settled and my good husband works hard and long. Asa is of determined character. He is a pious man. The respect people
for him is shown by the fact that he holds a public office." She folded the letter, dripping red sealing wax in the center of the joined sheets to seal them and as she wrote the address, she wondered what
amount of postage Asa would have to pay before posting. It would she knew, take a month before the letter could reach her uncle, Moses Grinnell, who was planning to outfit another Arctic expedition.
The
Colonel was getting restless. As the west receded, it held the promise of cheap land and great freedom. New York's state population was increasing and families became dissatisfied wishing to seek worthy adventure at
some other spot. In 1836, the Wisconsin territory was created. Asa Kinney, like his neighbors, began to talk of emigration to Wisconsin. After much reflection, he was convinced he should move to this new territory.
A large number of families came to Olean, New York on the Allegheny in 1836 and stayed until they could get a boat down the river to the Ohio for the journey west. Olean was built a short distance from Connewango
and easy for the Colonel to reach to join the groups planning to settle in Wisconsin.
Baby Freelove arrived in the midst of the Wisconsin preparations on February 24, 1836. With Rachel to help, Lucretia and
Asa started on the long journey from Olean with the tiny baby and her two half sisters. Their boat was no different from the others the Colonel and Rachel's husband had watched leave prior to their departure being
forty feet long, twelve feet wide and eight deep. They planned only to take what was needed for the journey with the Bible being ready for daily use.
The first day on board, Colonel Kinney explained from a
map…"you will find there is quite a long
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