The Highland weekly news. [volume] (Hillsborough [Hillsboro], Highland County, Ohio) 1853-1886, 1867-01-24
OsKALoosA. low. Jnn. ls67.


Mn. EDITOR thinking It possible that
some Of your readers might be interested
in letter from the Hawk Eye State, 1
have concluded to pen a few items for their
perusal.
Nlahaska Co. is one Of the most thriving
and healthy di-'-iGts of the West, and is
beautifully interspersed with rich prairie
and woodland. Fine farms, with comfort
able dwellings and good fences, are found
thickly studding the whole country. Build
ing material is abundant on the banks Of
the river. Limestone abound3 among the
hills in the Southwestern part of tho
county Iron ore in small quanti-
ties has also been found; coal is abundant
and cheap,
Oskaloosa, the county soat, is a young
and thriving city, noted alike for the en-
terprise, intelligence and morality of hor
citizens. 1t is situated upon high prairie,
which undulatcs gracefully for miles around
was named after a chief of the Sac and
FoNIndians, and contains near five thous-
and inhabitants. Schools are numerous and
well sustained. The number Of pupils be-
longing to the District School is between
eight and nine hundred. Several Select
Schools are also in successful operation, be-
sides College, which is in a most pros
porous condition. It has been but four
years in existence, and at the close of tho
last fall session had three hundred and sew
en- pupils. In connection with othor
branches taught, Commercial and Tele-
graphical department has lately been es-
tablished, which in point Of numbers and
general advantages will compare favorablv
with other similar institutions of much
longer standing. The College building is
large and handsome, and pleasantly situu-
ted in the suburbs of the city.
Churches of nearly every denomination
have societies in this place, and as a mat
ter Of course, preachers and church edihces
are numerous, as are also Sabbath Schools,
which are well attended. A s. School
Convention for this county was held here
in Nov. last, which was considered the
most interesting of anything of the kind
ever held in this place Nineteen schools
were represented, reporting one thousand
six hundred and seventy scholars. Nine
of the schools are located in this city, and
claim eleven hundred of the scholars re-
ported Rev. Chidlaw Of Cincinnati. Rev.
Strong and d. L. Moody of Chicago, and
other prominent Sunday School men wero
present, and in able and instructive ad-
dresses gave many valuable hints and sug-
gestions for the benefit of S. S. Superin-
terdonts and Teachers.
. le NJ. Z. Church, capable Of seating
eight hundred persons, was generally well
filed and the Children's Mass Meeting was
crowded to its utmost capacity. It was
beautiful sight to see so many bright and
happy faces assembled on such an occa-
sion. A collection was taken up to defrav
the expenses of the Convention, amounting
to tifty-two dollars.
And here let me say that the citizens OF
this place, in philanthropic point of view.
can challenge competition with those OF
any other part of the country. If money
is wanted for any public enterprise or
charitable purpose, they give freely and
abundantly. To illustrate: This station
Of the NJ. E. church in one week raised
subscription of near two thousand dollars
Centenary money, besides other contribu-
tions; and during the past year paid four
hundred and siXty-one dollars to the Mis-
sionary cause.
Festivals and Donations for benevolent
purposes are frequent and well patronized
The Masons gave a Festival on the evening
of the goth ult., the nett proceeds of which
amounted to near dre hundred dollars.
would ask if the "NIodel Town" of High
land can beat that a?
But I must not forget to mention the
! Friends Yearly Meeting House, situated
about one-fourth Of mile from this place.
1t was just finished last fall, is a large and
commodious building, in beautiful siua-
ton, commanding a fine view of the sur
rounding country. They also have n
church in town, ard judging from the
numbers of that denomination settled i'm
| this town and vicinity it bids fair to be the
"Quaker Metropolis" of Iowa.
The winter, so far, has been compara-.
! lively pleasant. No snow of anv copse-
quence until in the night of the 10th ult.-
Enough fell to keep the sleigh-belIs ing
ling for near a week, but as the weather
moderated of course the sleighing had to
be spended-enough snow was left how
ever to justify us in calling it "White
Christmas" To-day is calm and pleasant.
The atmosphere being drier and more
/ braciug and less subject TO changes than
i'm Southern o. the same degree of cold ia
not as sensibly felt here as there. The
gro md is hard and frozen and roads smooth
and solid, and are said to continue so until
spring. Very little rain falls here during
the winter, and as the ground is not alter
nately freezing and thawing, uhd is a
scarce article at this season of the YEAR.
! Christmas passed Off pleasantly, with the
general accompaniment of Turkey roasts
and few weddings; also Sabbath School
I Donation in the evening.
/ ! have received the News regularly since
some time in Nov, for which 1 am quite
thankful. Coming as it does, like an old
friend from home, IL is to me preferable to
any other paper; for let me go where /
may; though / should get TO the center Of
the universe, my Highland Home viii ever
be to mo the dearest spot on earth Bs with
its memory are associated the remembrance