The weekly north Iowa times. [volume] (McGregor, Iowa) 1857-1867, 1859-05-04
WHOLE NO. 1873.

they were out Of provisions, and having but
one very poor gun, they suffered with hun
ger. Game was plenty, and at one time,
Mr.. Boardman tells us, he counted forty
elks. He had trials almost equal to those of
Tantalus. There was wild meat in "gun-
shot, of him, and his comrades in hunger,
but they could not secure it. A matronly
coon, with the cares of family upon her,
was killed, but Mr. Boardman pcrferred to
fast two days rather than eat her strong
meat. Mr.. b. was the first man to move
his family to the Turkey river. The second
year after he came here, the Indians stole his
oxen, and he was obliged to send to Missouri
for another pair. Such are the trials OF
frontier life.
Mr.. Boardman lives on the spot where he
pitched his wilderness tent, more than 30
years ago; and he now finds himself in the
midst Of an industrious community num-
bering about 4sO souls. His age is seventy.
eight. One of the townships in this county
is named for him. AT his house this morn
ing we also met Mr.. Browf,,vff, who af.sst
be nearly of the same age They are the
patriarchs of Elkader. Grandathers are
scarce on the Turkey. Elkader, we guess,
can show hands with any of the towns, ION
this score"
Elkader has one of the best water powers
in Clayton county, and one of the best
Towering mills, the property Of Davis 4
Thompson. Mr.. Davis is son of the pres
ent member of Congress from this District
Mr.. Thompson does not reside here Their
mill has four run of burrs, and is huge
stone structure, destined, no doubt, to out
last its enterprising proprietors. The walls
of the lower story arc four and half feet
thick. This mill was built in 1s49, and for
five or six years was the only mill in the
county, with the exception of here and there
an humble corn cracker. 1t being directly
between the producer and the consumer, it
did in its early days an immense amount of
business. 1t can make three hundred bar
rels of flour in a day. 1t has ground many
comforts for the early and poor settlers
in Clayton and Fayette, but their faces
never
Less than one-fourth of the water power
is used, and Elkader presents a fine opening
for persons who wish to Start paper mills or
cloth factories. If any of our readers are
desirous of engaging in such an enterprise,
let them take glance at this point Elka-
der possesses the elements of manly growth.
She has not seen her best days.
We find here five general variety stores,
kept by Carter & Co., S. Ellsworth, D.
Howes, p. Keenan,, and V. Boiler. That of
Carter & Co. is very large, and has great
variety of goods. A. Warner & Co. have
an excellent drug store, in the rear of which
are the rooms of Mr.. W. NJ. Keys, a skill
full daguerreotypist, who seems to be doing
first rate business. The other mechanics
OF the place are, one jeweler, one tinsmith,
coopers, two harness makers, two cabinet
makers, two wagon makers, three black.
| smiths, four shoe makers, and about half a
| dozen boss carpenters. There is one hotel
in Elkader-E. Boardman, .jr, proprietor
first class village inn.
The churches of Elkader are Catholic,
Congregational, United Brethren, and
Methodist. The first two societies mention
ed have houses of worship. The Congre
gational is a neat little octagonal building
unique, and tastily arranged within. We
heard Rev. Mr.. Dennis of Dubuque, preach
an instructive and able discourse in it last
evening. from the text, ''The Sabbath was
made for man. and not man for the Sabbath "
We also hear a temperance lecture, which
he delivered here two evenings since, ycrv
highly praised. He left for DUBUQUE early
this morning.
The physicians of Elkader are A. Warner
and j. a. Blanchard. Lawyers we find
not.
Elkader has two public schools, taught
by Mr.. w. Mussey and his sister, Mrs
Preston. Mr.. NJ. has the larger scholars
and teaches on the east side of the river
Mrs. p, the smaller, and teaches on the west
side. Both schools appear unusually well.
A juvenile Society called the Band OF
Hope,' is doing much both for the mental
and moral Improvement of the young.