The organ of the temperance reform. (Cincinnati, O. [Ohio]) 1852-1853, 1852-01-14
From Arthur's Home Gazette.
INCIDENTS OF FRONTIER LIFE.
TIE WAY THEY EMIGRATE.
BY AN OLD PIONEER.

! At the close of the "Black Hawk War; in
/ 1899, and as a partial indemnity for the in
/ iuries sustained, the United States came into
possession of a strip of country on the vest
/ side of ths Mississippi, some fifty miles IN
width from the river back, and extending from
the vicinity of Fort Madison, north to Turkey
river above Dubuque. The Sac and Fox ma
tions of Indians claimed this country by con-
quest of the IOwas, about a century siuce.-
They received valuable consideration for the
exchange, and agreed to take possession OF a
tract of country toward the Missouri river, by
tie lst of June, 1888. The people of llli-
nois called the country the BLACK Hawk Pnr
chase " though that restless Indian had moth
ing to do in the sale or the treaty.
On the first opening Of Spring Cmigrants
from Illinois aud ether Western States crossed
! the 'Great river" at ShOk-o- qHoH, to become
| the founders of new State. ridge OF bluffs
! lay along the river, known to the Americans
! by the name of "Flint Hills" the present
site of Burlington City, where stood solitary
trading house, which had long been the gath
ering place for the Aborigines, under the name
| Shof-0- gU0R.
The country in the rear of Flint Hills was
rich, and duly proportioned into timber aud
prairie; and in that direction the first tide OF
immigration passed. Many families from the
vicinity of the writer disposed of good farms
at small price to move to the New Pur-
chase" The red man had scarcely set his
face towards the setting sun, before many fam
lilies, with their flocks and herds, found a new
home on the plains Of Iowa. On all the prin-
cipal pathways leading across the peninsula,
lying between the Illinois and Mississippi
rivers, wagons, people and their stock might
be seen moving to the "Black Hawk Pur-
chase
Until they could open farms and raise crops,
there was much suffering among these plO-
neers. The influx of immigration TO the ad-
jacent parts of Illinois, required all the sur
plus grain and provisions. Corn for bread
could not be had for the people Of the New
/ Purchase, even at All eXtravagant price, with
in fifty, and to some settlements, one hun
dred miles. And those who had no money to
purchase with, nor team to haul 1t, had no al
tentative but to live without bread until they
could prepare ground, fence it, and put IN and
cultivate a crop. Meat could be obtained by
hunting, but the "staif of life" could not be
had.
In the early part of the summer of 1888,
| the writer was travelling through the Coun-
/ ties on the Military Tract" in Illinois, as
the country was called, that lay between the
| Illinois and Mississippi rivers. lie was en-
gagged in establishing Sunday Schools IN the
/ sparse, lrOullcr settlements.
All the immigration by land to the Iowa
country had to cross this tract. 1t was an
interesting speculation to watch the "moEers
as they wended ther way to the New Pur-
chase. For the amusement of such readers
Of the Home Gazette, as are strangers to the
aspects Of frontier life, We will give an
unvaruished portraiture Of an immlgratlng
| family.
As the last rays Of the setting sun were
/ gliding the tops Of the forest trees, and shed
! ding their mellow tints on the tlohtlne
! clouds, a large road wagon, covered WITH
coarse white cloth with four lOrses, was seen
entering the forest from the border OF large
! prairie, and proceeding slowly down the de-
| scent towards small stream.
An elderly man, with several youngsters o.
both sexes were marching on foot, and driYlnt
the cows and swine lazily along. large
sun. burnt man. with his clething soiled anC
torn, was driving the team. He sat astrld'
the kindmost horse on the left side, and guld
ed the others by rope in one hand, Whlle
with the other, he cracked his heavy whip, u
stimulate his efforts. The old man, VINO ap
peared TO be about fifty, carried his rifle III
sloping position on his shoulder, while tW'
stout lads each had the same deadly. weapon
Their hunting gear was on, and each earrle'
q large hunting knife in his belt. Peering ou
from under the wagon cover could be seen IN
swarthy, wrinkled face of the matron, WITH
younger female, who might be taken tor Tn
''helpmate" os the driver, especially as thfe
white headed, dingy looking children, Wit
soiled faces and black eyes, were too yoaan
to claim cousanguinity to the elderly le
male, uuless in the line Of the second genera
ton.
The weather, for several days, had bee
dry, and the roads dusty, and had We CON
on this family comfortably settled IN Iton
tier log cabin, they might have been patter
for tidiness and thrift, but they were moyla
to new country, and we describe them
their appearance was, which was far from PTS
possessing. Yet we have seen hundreds
families at their homes, on our frontiers "
we're social, intelligent, cleanly and hosp
> table, and whose log cabins would have aoh
!, credit 10 Jersey housewife.
On the bank Of a creek that meandefe
7 through the strip Of forest land, the wage
. stopped, and tine party made preparations
i camp out for the night.
Q On the bottom land, along the creek, pei
4 yiuaa and rich uraaa furuished rich uasturaRl