Dawn of Day
Henrietta never liked history. But on a late summer day in 1932, she and her sometimes annoying little sister, Irma Jean, hear an exciting true story from their artist friend, Maude Mitchell - a story that takes them back in time 75 years.
In 1856, Maude's father, William Mitchell, came from Connecticut to support the Free State cause in Kansas. William and his sister, Agnes, hid runaway slaves in their cabin, including Jesse and Abby, two slave children who'd been cruelly separated from their mother. Henrietta had learned about the Underground Railroad at school, but she never realized how dangerous it was for everyone involved. But what has slavery got to do with the family secret and Aunt Jo being mad at her parents? As the pieces of the puzzle begin to come together, Henrietta discovers a surprise from the past that nobody dreamed was possible. |
Part One--Henrietta's Story: Bibles, Rifles and a Painting
Chapter 1: The Story of the Old Stone Church
Chapter 2: A Family Secret
Chapter 1: The Story of the Old Stone Church
Chapter 2: A Family Secret
Part Two--Maude's Story: They Call it Bleeding Kansas
Chapter 3: The Connecticut Kansas
Chapter 4: Welcoming Committee at the Free State Hotel
Chapter 5: Arrested!
Chapter 6: "Hang the Abolitionist!"
Chapter 7: An Eye-Witness Account
Chapter 8: The Prairie Guards Join the Fight
Chapter 3: The Connecticut Kansas
Chapter 4: Welcoming Committee at the Free State Hotel
Chapter 5: Arrested!
Chapter 6: "Hang the Abolitionist!"
Chapter 7: An Eye-Witness Account
Chapter 8: The Prairie Guards Join the Fight
Part Three--Henrietta's Story: Maude's Wooden Box
Chapter 9: Letters to Connecticut
Chapter 9: Letters to Connecticut
Part Four--Maude's Story: The Underground Railroad
Chapter 10: Safe at the Station
Chapter 11: The Young Refugees
Chapter 12: Hidden in the Big Wagon
Chapter 13: The Blizzard
Chapter 10: Safe at the Station
Chapter 11: The Young Refugees
Chapter 12: Hidden in the Big Wagon
Chapter 13: The Blizzard
Part Five--Henrietta's Story: History
Chapter 14: Maude's Tale Ends and More Trouble Begins
Chapter 15: A Surprise Visitor Joins the Celebration
Chapter 14: Maude's Tale Ends and More Trouble Begins
Chapter 15: A Surprise Visitor Joins the Celebration
Resources
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Reviews
Set in a time when children still rode horses to school, Dawn of Day is an enchanting story about family history being passed on from one generation to the next. Based on historic events during the turbulent period of our nation’s history known as “Bleeding Kansas,” this is a book that is interesting, entertaining, and educational. It’s not often that one book successfully combines all three.”
Michael Stubbs, Kansas Historian
Dawn of Day is an engaging introduction to a little-known part of Kansas history—the pre-Civil War immigration of abolitionists into the Territory to help “Bleeding Kansas” join the Union as a free state. The book offers a fictional but realistic glimpse into the lives of the Mitchells and other families who settled in Wabaunsee, who were involved in the fight for freedom and the secret activities of the Underground Railroad.
Kathryn Mitchell Buster, great-niece of Maude Mitchell
Featured in the Books Section of the August 2012 edition of Kansas Country Living Magazine. View here.
Michael Stubbs, Kansas Historian
Dawn of Day is an engaging introduction to a little-known part of Kansas history—the pre-Civil War immigration of abolitionists into the Territory to help “Bleeding Kansas” join the Union as a free state. The book offers a fictional but realistic glimpse into the lives of the Mitchells and other families who settled in Wabaunsee, who were involved in the fight for freedom and the secret activities of the Underground Railroad.
Kathryn Mitchell Buster, great-niece of Maude Mitchell
Featured in the Books Section of the August 2012 edition of Kansas Country Living Magazine. View here.
Jeannie says, "This story is close to my heart because it takes place in Wabaunsee County, KS, where my mom grew up, and she's one of the characters - when she was six years old! The story includes a tale of the Underground Railroad, the Mitchell family and other local settlers, and their connection to the historic Beecher Bible Rifle Church, which was actually one of the very first places I ever sang as a child. Part of the proceeds from Dawn of Day are going to Mt. Mitchell Heritage Prarie. You can read all about this wonderful local history preservation project at http://www.mountmitchellprairie.org/."