In the home of William J. Ion, of Grant township, the author found among many other heirlooms a volume of ancient history published in 1670-71. The manuscript was prepared forty years prior to that date by the Reverend Samuel A. Clark, a Welsh historian. This intensely interesting and valuable work was handed down to its present owner from a grand uncle, John Ion, who was a son of Mr. Ion's paternal great grandfather. It was brought to America by Mr. Ion's mother, Mrs. Maria Williams, of Ebbwvale, Merionethshire, South Wales, Great Britain. This priceless work was also the property of Mr. Ion's great grandmother, Maria Gregg, given her by her father, Thomas Gregg.

The following quotation is a fac-simile of an article contained on its pages regarding Quivera that once included the fair state of Kansas within its boundaries. In the copy which follows it will be noticed that the letter f takes the sound of s in most instances, making the literature difficult to read. The Reverend Samuel A. Clark, who compiled the work, evidently believed in the fulfillment of the Scripture, which reads: "The first shall be last and the last shall be first," as this historical volume is published in two editions, the last one being issued first and are bound together in that form.

"Next to Mexico is Quivira, which is feated on the moft weftern part of America, over againft Tartary, from whence probably the Inhabitants firft came into this New World, that fide of the country being moft populous, and the people living much after the manner of the Tartars, following the Seafons of the Year for the Pafturage of their Cattel; that fide of America, being full of Herbage, and enjoying a temperate Air. The People defire Glafs more than Gold: "Their chief Riches are their Kine, which are Meat, Drink, Cloth, Houfes, and Utensils to them: For their Hides yield them Houfes; their Bones, Bodkins; their Hair, Thred; their Sinews, Ropes; their Horns, Maws, and Bladders, Vessels, their Dun-, Fire: their Calves, Skins, Budgets to draw and keep water in; their Blood, Drink; their Flesh Meat, etc.

"In Quivira there are but two Provinces that are known, Cibola and Nova Albion, fo Named by Sir Francis Drake, when he compaffed the World. It abounds with Fruits, pleafant to both the eye and palate: The people are given to Hofpitality, but withall, to Witch-craft, and worfhipping of Devils."