Beside him lay a vacant timber claim, and he invited a young man named Dow to take it, Dow boarded with Branson.

When the Missourians came into Kansas the preceding March, many of them staked out a claim which they pretended to hold.

One William White, of Westport, Mo., pretended, in his way, to hold this claim.

There was not a particle of legality in his proceeding.
Notwithstanding, certain pro-slavery men, among whom were Coleman, Hargis and Buckley, determined to drive off Branson and Dow.

They sent threatening letters to Branson, and cut timber on Dow's claim; and this made bad blood.