The Kansas herald of freedom., 1858-08-21
the farmers of this section had not been
onfiraIx, idIa

the farmers of this section had not been
entirely idle.
Ottumwa is located on the north bank
of the Neosho. near Hickory creek, in
Cofey county It was first laid out in the
spring of 1857, by the Association who
still own it. There are now about twenty
five buildings on the site, including two
hotels, three stores, blacksmith's shops,
etc. Several new buildings are also in
the course of erection. A good saw mill
is in operation on thesite Good water is
obtained at moderate depth. Timber,
coal and stone are convenient and plenty.
Ottumwa is located at good point for
trade, and is surrounded by heavy settle
msnts. The proprietors and citizens ap-
pear to be energetic men, who will push
things through, and we do not doubt that
it will be town of considerable impor-
tance in the Neosho Valley. The meet
ings held on that day were well attended,
and much interest manifested in the en-
terprise of building railroad from the
Missouri State line to Emporia, by way OF
Ottumwa.
Wednesday, at about O'Clock P NJ,
we started on our return, taking the pre-
caution to come by way of the road lead
ing along the upiands. We found the
road dry but rough. The prairie is settled
about two miles from Ottumwa, leaving
thousands of fine claims yet untaken.-
We know of no better point for emigra-
ton than in this direction.
Before we had travelled far We became
aware, from the appearance of the heav.
ems, that storm was brewing" which
would probably overtake US before we
could arrive home, which we expected
would be about midnight. We therefore
accelerated our speed as much as we
could, which was but little, on account of
the CONSTITUTIONAL failings of our beast.
About 8 O'Clock we found ourselves two
miles from Florence, with "pitch dark
and violent rain storm upon us. To
reach home that night was impossible, so
we stopped with settler who "never
turned body away under sich circum
stances" By the time we had got fairly
into the house, the storm began in all its
fury. The chinked and clap boarded log
house seemed to afford no shelter at all.
So violent was the storm that the rain
blew in torrents into the house, completely
saturating the occupants. In the morning
we found that six inches of water had
fallen during the night. In Kansas, a
rain storm is of little account unless from
six to fifteen inches of water falls during
single storm. OF course the ravines
and small streams were full, and we got
q "ducking" in crossing Branch creek,
about two miles from our stopping place.
Our host was new conner, and had been
taken sick about week previous, with
fever; some of his children were also sick.
This appeared to discourage him very
much. He said he had got into the coun-
try too late to accomplish anything this
season in the way of planting, and then to
be sick was SO much added to his misfor-
tune. On inquiring, we learned that he
had arrived at his present place on the
18th of April last, since which time he
had built him largo two-story hewed log
house, broken, planted and fenced with
an oldsfsshioned rail fence tt0enty- three
acres, hauling his timber mile and half,
and also made two trips to Kansas City,
and cut about twenty tons of hay! All
without hiring any help, and with the
assistance only of one son not yet full
grown. We thought there was very little
cause to grumble, and wondered how many
who had been here year could beat the
improvements of these two months and a
half.
As early as convenient in the morning,
we were off" for home, and taking the
same route which We travelled on going
down, we arrived in Emporia about noon
of Thursday.
We feel that we have not done and can
not do justice to the country through
which we passed. 1t is, in fact, the very
GARDEN OF KANSAS" For health, it i:
equal to any other portion, and in beauty
and fertility, the Neosho Valley excels any
other portion of Kansas.