St. Charles City Republican intelligencer. [volume] (St. Charles City [Charles City], Iowa) 1857-1861, 1860-05-17
Letter from Mr.. Crawford.

We have received letter from Da-
vid Crawford, Esq, late of this coun-
ty, and now on his way across the
plains to California. Our citizens
will rccollect that Mr.. Crawford, hav-
ing sold ont his property, started last
month with his family for California
travelling with covered wagon
drawn by three or four yoke of oxen,
and among them pair of new mich
cows. Arriving at Council Bluffs, he
writes the following account Of his
journey:
April 18th we started from our
house and went as far as st. Charles
City, in Floyd county, and pitched our
tent there for the night, for the first
time. This tent is to be our house and
home, we know not how long.
The next day, April 18th, we tray
clled from thence eighteen miles, to
Clarksville, in Butler county, where
.. we again campcd for the night. The
!; wind blew all day from the northwest,
and filled our eyes so full OF dust that
, it made it almost impossible to see
The night was very chilly-iroze some.
j. The next day, April 10th, we only
i. progressed fourteen miles, on the ac-
count of losing our way. Weather
|. fair-wind in the north. Campcd by
# the side of hay stack on the " West
n Fork" of the Cedar, in Butler county,
e where we got plenty of wood and
n water.
Il Saturday, April l4th, we trav-
q. ellcd from the "Wcst Fork" over
r. nice rolling prairie, and crossed the
:, Beaver Creek" After travelling
\. about eighteen miles on the west side
of this stream, we found nice rolling
q. prairie, intcrspersed with here and
= there grove of timber This creek
r. is beautifully skirted with timber,
mr. also. After we had gone two or three
10 miles father we found the country
more broken for few miles, and then
of it became more regular. We travelled
an in all, including to-day, seventy miles.
- Tonight we pitched our tent at a
To- place called "Acley" There is a
10. post-onicc here, and that is about all
10. / was informed that the people of this
m. place are trying to build up a town
NV or ritloge on the prospect of a rail
NE road. The wind has been in the
ho northwest all day, and it bids fair to
m freeze some tonight. My wife calls
If to supper and | must quit.
&c. The 18th, we travelled from Acley
in the northeast corner of Hardin
~ county, twcnty-onc miles, to the soutl
an- fork Of the Iowa River, where W,
Inc found a beautiful place to camp Abou
he nine miles from "Aclcy" we came t
mp Hardin City, in Hardin county, plac
an beautifully located on the Iowa River
and surrounded by heavy growth .
timber, which will so some ways i
building up the town, with the hclr
80 also, of the nice rolling prairie whic
, surrounds it. From thence we cam
HIS seven miles, through some timber an
APP over some prairie, and came to Eldor;
'ge a town on the prairie, and prescntin
to- Il fine appearance. 1t is the count
md seat of Hardin county. Thence W
~" came five miles over nice rolling pra
rie to our camping place. The win
o a has been in the south all day, and no.
t is it is dry and dusty with some appca
how anccs of rain.
April l6th.--Wc travelled sixtee
'e'' miles today and campcd i'll Stol
the county, on what is called Miner,
ripe Creek, which is skrtcd by heav
,wu growth of timber, and runs rapid
We passed through some nice timbt
's' on what is called Honey Creek
IRE Story County y the rest of the wa
is was mostly all prairie, and goo
farming country. This morning
looked more like rain than it did la
the night, and the wind was in the south
c. but it soon changed into the mort
WV west and blew the dust so that
'a'd made it very uncomfortable travelling
jon- 1t froze hard last night and bids ia
and to do the same Tonight.
did April l7th.-Wc left our campin
-, place, and nearly the first thing "
inc did was to lose our way, which mac
pen us two or three miles extra travt
We came few miles over a rollir
prairie to another prospective tow
,oss by the name Of "New Albany of
the west of which is heavy body
timber. We passed through this al
vote campcd about two miles and ha
ncrs from what is called Indian Creek,
ell" Story county. 1t has been warm
lot to-day than any previous day we ha'
been on the road wind all day in Il
northwest.
hon | sat down, Mr.. liildreth, with I
intention of giving you detailed 6
as count of our trip, but my time W
lies, not allow it therefore, | will wind
,nse by saying that we got along fine
GOV. and in good health and spirits til
we killed prairie chickens on the ro
and made spot pics" and chick
=. soups, as our inclinations dictated
cur and arrived ut Council Bluffs on t
Cen morning of the 3Oth of April, and sh
ring probably cross the Missouri River
be. morrow if an opportunity preseI
b.r itself. Yours NC,
DAVID CRAWFORD
!. Council Bluffs, Iowa, May Sd, lS'
va Gore or .S,celied Neck Cured, after Physicians