The Burlington weekly hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington, Iowa) 1857-1858, 1857-08-12
n vrn, = - q 60

Il ! - i L.
/ Las than Aalf hundrsd nilss IRON s. Louis
q travelled sAtoegh Missouri, could but ~
asrk the sanse and quiet aspect Of the country
people 10 thas particular neiehboeh0od; fences
almost concealed in the thick brush. grown W
inside % well - outside Of the 6elds, houses ol
most somhse appearance, wanting even In the
clcanly show . peck Of lime and an hours
wurk would impart Looking ct the rich
sril aud pondering the unthrifty appearances
OF the country, rode along in the stiffness Of
! the morning, no sound disturbing the quie,
| save the occasional report Of the gun Of some
hunter Of petty game far up or down the val
ley; in the sounds themselves thought Hound
to some extent solution Of the question oil
| why it was that land 30 fertile was 30 badly
tiled; farmers were out squirrel hunting, while
the spring time was upon them and the fences
not. yet repaired. While was mcdtating on
the change . few years will produce in that
region Of country, sudden turn in the road
brought me to one Of those beautiful streams
OF water found curved among the hills every
few mi!es along my route, and tho sound Of
waterfall, mingled with the rattle, clatter, and
huzzlng sounds of . mill, saluted my ears,
while a scene presented itself SO highly con-
trasting with everything in the surrounding
country. that the very contrast seemed to in
vest It with new beauties. There stood fine
fourishing saw.mill, with numerous wagons
being loaded and unloaded, horses receiving
and being relieved OF their burdens, numerous
small boys perched on the top Of bags Of meal
or hour, turning their horses heads homcwari,
bringing to my mind wood cut At the head OF
a campaign paper in 1874; dozens Of men
were pilinc and handling lumber; the whole
scene, IN fact, wearing an unmissakable look Of
business, As though the energy of a whole
neighborhood had been centsred in that par
ticalar spot.
A little further on, browning the summit Vi
an eminence overlooking the scene have at
tempted to describe, was . handsome residence
built in modern style, neat and tasteful in every
part, while up aud down the stream large fields
OF wheat and green meadows were spread out
so pictaresqaely that with my admiration there
arose desire to know the possessor OF such
fine property. He was pointed out to me by
one Of the laborers; on approaching him, was
received with an aiiablc and courteous manner,
aud was soon in possession Of all the intorma-
ton desired. lie was native Of Massachu-
sets, had not yet reached middle age, came TO
Missouri six years ago, went to work to start a
manufacturing establishment in the neighbor-
hood where he now lives, found no cncourag.
ment but met with every opposition, was dc.
nounced ~ \ Yankee and Aboltionis,, threats
were made to drive him from the country, in.
fiacntial men deliberately went TO work to or.
ganixe system to foment opposition to him;
he soon found himself without dollar, but
within there was that which 10 worth more than
was a WILL, determined encr.
gy which laughs at poverty. Friends, for he
hal some friends even there, came to his as.
sistsnce with few hundred dollars, and on three
acres OF land, there in tho undisturbed forest,
he began the erection Of his mill, soon had 1t
up aud going, paid of all his liabilities, now
ow ned eight husdrsd acres Of tho fine land
around him, he has bccu offered $4,000 for
his property, thought 1t not half its worth, was
improving II all the time, hired all his labor.
la answer TO a question as to his political
opinions, he answered freely, ~ am Free
Sotler, sir" and pointing round him over his |
fields he added, "hcre is eight hundred acres
OF free soil In Missouri, and it shalt grow TO be
eight thousand acres