Litchfield enquirer., 1856-03-27
From correspondence q aAx Bapax ~ Y.J- -Eaamiasr.

From corrsvondenocf cf az Bcptx ~. Yy ESamiar.
 CBusrzsw CassHszATroN is in Pow. esheik county, Iewa, sxty-fve miles west of Iewa City, 8 settlement numbering several hun |drcd souls. Inits character and history, 1t is probably uniqhe. Without entering into much detail | beg to call attention to this pioneer colony of Chfistians--not without the faint hope Of seeing similar movement on the part of some enterprising church of our own denom- inaton.
 The toxnof GrinneH, to which Inow refers was located, and several thousand acres adja- cent purchased at government price, year and half since, by Rev. J. B. Grinnell then the pastor of the Fourth street Congregational Church. of your city, Furnished with unusual facilities for the selection of suitable site, the
 leader of this enterprise chose spot at onco healthful beautiful, and yaluable-upon sum- nit level, and on the line of the railroad proiec- ted through Central Iowa. Many individuals and families of intelligence, influence and piety, from Mir. Grinnelrs own congregation, and from among personal friends, lent their sympathy and cooperation to this scheme of Christian coloni. ration, and have from time to time removed hther, forming themselves into community. congenal in tastes and united in action.
 No town of any importance is within miles of them, but they possess within themselves the elements of rational enjoyment, and in less than two years have built up town to suit them. selves, and upon liberal democratic basis-- They have aourishing Congregational church "a School-house worth five thousand dollars. and have recently organized University upon the plan of Eastern collegeS-adding an Agri. cultural Department. One of the conditions of the transfer of town property is, that not grog- gery shall be established within the towship. A violation of this condition causes the rever- sion of such property to the previous proprietor. It is quite superauouS to add that the origi. nal investment has proved marvelously lucrative, and that the township and adjacent country have become attractive points of settlement AS an instance-for the truth of which can personally vouch-there have been acres of comparatively inferior land sold near Grinnell. at one hundred dollars per acre. Possessing such resources among themselves, and thus able to hold their land, and select their companions,
 IS 1t any wonder that Grinnel promises to be come home circle, where all associations are calculated to charm, and which the spirit of Christian fraternity cannot fail to pervade s9- We spent night at GR1NNE1L last Fall. and remember it as one of the plcasantest, most ehterpfishg and promising villages passed on our travels. We had the pleasure of conyers- ing with Rev. MT. Grinnel, and found him ful- ly imbued with that independence and indomit- able enterprise which characterizes the West ern man. and it was gratifying to witness what his spirit was accomplishing, infused as it was
 into every resident of the place. Mir. c. pur- chased whole township, (36 square miles, 23o4O acres, and disposes of the land only to such men as are wanted in an honest society. An impoverished pocket is no objection to newcomer, but poverty of character forms an insurmountable bar to settlement in the place. In this way community is growing, alive to every interest which conduces to the general wefare--and we saw no village in Iowa whose
 location and soil, business thrift and future pros poets pleased us better than Grnncll.