Cedar Falls gazette. [volume] (Cedar Falls, Iowa) 1860-1895, 1865-07-14

eu. Dufing TINS time and since the first
settlement, otherannoyances were com-
mon. Without much watching the
striped prairie squirrel dug up the seed
corn, the pouched gopher ate the pota-
toes, and wild birds were Troublesome
both at seed-timc and harvest, helping
not n little to tighten the crops and de-
press the spirit and dishearten the pio-
neer. Nearly all lived on pre-cmptions
or "claims I" and had made no invest
ment in real estate. The cost of pro-
visions and clothing consuming their
means, the long distances necessarily
travelled to obtain them drawing heavi-
ly upon their time retarded improve
ments.
Under such an accumulation of trou-
hles and Affections what do you pre-
sumo would have been Jobs course p
The patience of many had become ex-
hausted, they could see but little to stay
Tor and moved away, the most of whom
nave never returned. However much
they have missed 1t, am not one of
those who will arraign them--I shall
not throw the first stone.n The old
proverb, the darkest hour is just be-
fore day-break,N was most aptly illus
trated. Since then the birds and sGuir-
rels have bothered but little, the seasons
have been propitious and good crops
have been raised, satisfactory to the cul-
tlNator, and so abundant as to reduce
the price of products to an extremely
low figure, proving conclusively that
this Is truly an agricultural region, and
establishing a confidence not easily Ia be
shaken. But the unfavorable impress
sion caused by this Indian panic in re-
lation to safety, and the stories told
amid such disoouragements and failures
had hardly been corrected i'm distant
parts when the fearful and extensive
Minnesota Indian massacre of 1862 sent
n thrill OF horror through the country
aud gave an air of uncertainty TO safe
", even here, aud the war of the rebel
hon, too, calling of SO many to guard
our nationality and battle for our coun-
Try, have all tended TO retard emigra-
tion To the thinly settled NORTH West.
Were we otherwise constituted, did
We estimate making money only, we
might wish emigration TO cease now,
anu say our population is dense enough,
let stock-range remain unobstructcd, let
us continue to have the wild meadow
iand Tor our mowers, the open prairie
ana unsoiled watering places of nature
Tree for our f'ocks and herds. Bat we
are social beings, we pine for society
When deprived of it and consequently
do better i'll communities. No one sue
ceeds in business under long contin-
ucd feeling of loneliness but with none
to rival, with none to compare notes,
the spirit becomes depressed. the ener-
gics wither and enterprise and improve
mcnts lag. Therefore we welcome en-
lgration and are glad to see the honest,
industrious and worthy new settler.
SPECULATION.
At the time OF the great land mania
OF lS54-'55 and SO there was but iiul
land in market, located in the south
east part, which was entered with avid
ify-timbar and prairie good and in
different and very often unseen and
unknown, except by entry numbers. -
During this excitement LARGE numbers
OF persons visited our county and mndc
claims on government lands, some with
honest intentions to secure themselves
future homes, while perhaps many, on
~ for speculation. Some of the former
and probably the entire list of the latter
were either subjects of the Indian fright
OF 1907, and LETT, or were pressed away
by the financial crisis, so deeply felt
here in lS5T-'5s and $50. Those of the
latter having choice claims selling out
at very low rates, and those having on
~ secondary ones abandoning them
entirely. By these accumulated troubles
! and difficulties and expenses, the abili.
ty of many of the former was so ex.
hausted, that when, finally, the land
was brought into market, they were un.
able to enter their claims, and having
made but few improvements, were dis
couraged and anxious to dispose OF
them. But the land excitement was at
an end, during which high prices had
been paid for claims, and opportunities
70 sell or trliIic them, even much below
tleir actual cost, were eagerly sought
FOR, but luckily for the owner generally
without success, until the Homestead
Act OF 1S62-thc poor mans friend
and better times relieved many of them
of such cmharTassments and secured
their chosen homes. But the land hav-
ing been broughtinto market before the
Homestead Act was passed, some were
entered OUT and much of the land
not claimed, was entered by non-resi.
dents, few sections only being left up.
on which settlers are now making home,
steads. But there has not been thai
peculiar land strife or anxiety manifest.
cd AZ heiure, and real estate seldom
changed private hands till within two
years. Bat there has been n gradual
change: there are now more buyers than
sellers of choice lots at good prices
nope rs revived - the Inhabitants arc
satisfied and vigorously making perma.
nent improvements, not for sale but fu-
ture Use and enjoyment.
POPULATION.
by the L. s. census for 1850, it con-
tanned three hundred and thirty-two
inhabitants, and by the State census oI
1853, IL contained three hundred and
ninety-iour--an increase of only sixty.
two in the three years. Injured to hard.
ships and familiar with priyations, we
have taught ourselves to look on the
fair side, and estimate properly the adj
vantagcs we share and the conveniences
time and Improvement are fast bring
lilg To us. To smooth down discomfort
IN times OF discouragement, we have
learned to reason with ourselves that
being sparsely settled is not without its
consequent allurements and advantages
IN some respects. Necessity has made
iis selt-reliant people. Looking around
us we behold the modest charms of na-
lure, without the show, without the
spleildor and covering of art. We find
stock range for pasture, and stock water
open and free. Wild hay i'm ample
quantities may bc made within conve-
nient distances, and obtained for only
the labor Of getting and securing. The
cost OF fencing and cultivating the tame
grasses for hay and pasture are iinpor-
talt considerations to offset the many
tonveniences OF dense settlements. -
With small stock II is not MS apparent.
but with large one IL becomes pronli
nent and marked, IN time, tnese dif-
icrences mcdify the characteristic hab-
It's and tastes OF communities and have
done much 10 make the people Of tho
West ahd East differ In what they do.
ts ORGANIZATION.
On the lst Monday OF March, 1857,
pursuant to AN Act of the General As.
senlbly Of the State, Approved Jauuary
2sth, 1901, the Commissioners appoint
Cd by said Act located the county-seat
at Dakota, q few miles south of the cen
ter OF the county. The first election for
county officers was held on the first
Monday OF the next following April
but the officers elected thercat, NOT quail
flying, another quorum was elected at
the general election held on the lst Moa-
day of August, 1867, and the officer,
chosen, qualifying, fully organized the
county, and ever since IL has been do