Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1850-1854, 1850-12-13
For the Kenosha Telegraph.
WAYSIDE GLEANINGS.

WAYSIDE GLEANINGS.
Mr.. EDITOR Shall we 90 to Millersburgh
Mercer CO.. some 40 or SO miles west of Tou-
Ion? We must do So But by what route p
That is a question of some interest to us lust
now. "The bee line" leads over an immense
praire--or rather over an immense part of the
one prairie of Northern ILL.,, and if we travel on
that line. although it will be much nearer than
any other route, we may thread our way through
the rank prairie grass with no road for 40 miles.
and perhaps not pass house or cultivated field
in the whole distance. Should night overtake
US on the way we should very likely have to
spend it in the solitude of prairie-without sup
per or bed or shelter. We do not fancy such
travelling, and prefer TO go out of the way, if, by
SO doing, we may be in juxtaposition to human
beings, or the results of their labors.
| But the route is not yet decided Wema go
by the way of Galesburgh, Knox CO., and thus
have view of Knox College, &c. Drive may
pass through La Fayette, another village in Stark
county, about the size of Toulon, and so on TO
Bishops Hill, the Swedes village n Henry CO.
thus have an opportunity of visiting some colo
MES of eastern people, and looking upon the
county seat of Henry county. We take the last
named route, and after a ride of 10 miles from
Toulon find ourselves in Weathersfied so called
from the place of that name in Connecticut, and
settled by a colony from that state. As might
be expected from their origin, the inhabitants
here are distinguished for their industry, moral
ity and good order, and altogether the place is
rather desirable one for residence. The ball
alley, the billiard saloon and the grog shop are
things unknown, while the neat village church
occupies prominent position.
Sixteen miles northwest of here is Cambridge,
the county seat of Henry county--a new place,
and, as yet rather lilliputan in its dimensions
1t has respectable looking wooden courthouse,
but no jail--the one in Stark county being used
when need requires The murderer of the Swe-
dish Prophet Jansen is now confined there
Five miles west of Cambridge is Andover-
not village but a collection of fine farms with
the usual buildings. This place was also origin
ally settled by families from New England and
New York, but recently the Swedes seem to be
taking possession, and have already become
about as numerous as the Americans. The
main settlement of Swedes in this county, is,
however, at Bishops Hill, 10 miles distant
After leaving Andover we soon found our
selves in wild and sparsely settled district, and
for the first time in Illinois noticed deer but a
few rods distant. He soon espied us, and, as if
his life was in danger, bounded away as only a
deer can bound. We enjoyed more pleasure
in seeing him thus bound away, free as the air
around him, than we should have done in laying
him lifeless with the deadly bullet.
A ride of 25 or 80 miles from Andover brought
US to Millersburgh, once the county seat of Mer-
Ger county. And such county seat. While
looking at its few dilapidated and implanted bull
dings, we were reminded of the profane prayer
of Littlejohn, viz: "that shower of paint
might descend upon that dirty village" And
such a courthouse. The long narrow shed-like
structure which was once dignifed with that cog
! nomen looked perfectly ,co-begone. And such a
ail too. One might mistake it for smoke house.
And indeed that soubriquet is sometimes in deri-
sion applied to it. Ifthere is any thing that will
make a place look forsaken, it is to have the
county seat once established there, and then re-
moved Millersburg ought to be the capital Of
Mercer co. now, as it is near the centre, while
Keithsburg, the present county seat is at one
corner. The removal was effected by some chi
canery, as is common in such cases.
After travelling 60 miles, we found our object
would not be accomplished without going IL
miles farther, to New Boston. We were the
less reluctant to do this as we should thereby
have an opportunity of viewing one of the Mis-
sissippi ports, and gazing upon the Father OF
waters. The river at New Boston is something
more than half mile wide and flows placidly
by in nearly straight course. At another point
farther I'D where we have viewed it its course
is extremely tortuous, and its current interrupt
| ed by numerous islands. These islands will
have to be wed out before the Mississippi will be
a beautiful stream, and the trees and bushes
which line its banks will have to be cleared away
before the steamboat traveller will have view, as
he passes up or down, of the beautiful country
which lies on either side.
Much as we had heard of the ''mighty Missis-
sipi' we found nothing about it very peculiar
and nothing to awaken any indescribable emo
TONS 1t was impossible as we stood upon its
bank, with all these glowing descriptions before
us, to work ourselves up into ecstasies. Perhaps
the faul. was in us--in our phlegmatic tempera-
uent. One needs to be upon the bosom of this
mighty river as we were few days afterwards
to feel emotions swelling within him.
New Boston is small village located on the
shore of this river with site as sandy as that OF