The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1869-07-08
From Kansas.
Mansfield, Linn Co., Kansas, !
June 10. 1850. (

Mansfield, Linn Co., Kansas, J
June 10, 1869. I
GEN. J. NJ. HEDRICK-
Ottumwa, Iowa:
We are at this place, near the CEN
ter of Linn county, where the farm.
ers are in the midst of harvesting
Wheatis very good, corn looks well
and oats unusually heavy.
We left Guilford, Wilson Co., and
travelled twelve miles northwest, on
the west side of the Verdigsis, to
Cassville, which is q town consisting
of some twenty buildings; fine
farming and grazing country, and
is being rapidly settled with enter
prising and industrious people.
From Cassville, we went south
west to Fredonia, the seat of Wilson
county, which is small town in the
southwest corner OF said county,
We found ourselves in storm Of ex-
element here: A law suit was 60
ing on caused by a man, named Nor
rison, having shot and killed another
in Montgomery county, and the au.
thorities of Wilson county had him
arrested, as Montgomery is attached
to Wilson for judicial purposes.
The case was prosecuted on the part
Of the State by Prosecuting Attor.
qey Ping, and defended by jude
Mitchell and Milley Il Babbett.
Montgomery county lies south of
Wilson, and west of 1abett, and six
miles of the south side of Wilson is
in the Usage purchase, which treaty
has not been ratified by government.
Such scenes as these in this new coun-
try, on the trust lands, reminds us of
the carly days Of Wapello county,
Iowa; for / recollect that on the 4th
Of May, 1843, the fist settlers meet
ing was held where now stands the
proud city of Ottumwa, and WAS pre-
sided over by Judge Biggs.
We pushed on our winding way,
but on Wednesday, night the clouds
opened and let down upon mother
earth all the water that there was
any room for in these parts, for all
the rivers and creeks were bank full,
80 we had to travel on dividing prai-
ries, and on Friday, the 18th, we
came to Owl Greek, a good sized
stream that we could not head. We
swan our horses over, taking our
guy ropes, tied our wagon beds on
tight, tied ropes to the tongues of
the wagons and foatsd them over in
double quick time.
Twenty Eve miles farther on we
came to Humboldt, q fine town in
Allen county, with some full stores
and good buildings, for they have
solid foundations-on the solid lime
stone, and Humboldt is one of the
best situations for town: 1t is on
the northeast bank of the Neosho
River, and the junction Of the Leav-
enworth, Lawrence 4 Galveston RR.,
and tho Missouri, Fl. Scott & Gulf
RR. will be located there. The U.
s. Land Office is located here-be.
sides lawyers, doctors, land specula-
tors, and it seemed the town was full
and room for no more.
We came about forty-five miles
northeast, to Mound City, the coun-
ty scat of Linn county, which is a
nice little town. The railroad passes
six miles east, and there will be a
now town on the railroad, aud the
county seat will 60 there soon.--
Messrs. Williams and Hammond, of
your city, will be at the new town in
Q few days, with all the machinery
for q mill.
Farlinsville is six miles from Mound
City, which is place of some i'm
portance, with saw mill and good
Touring mill, and some twenty or
more houses, with good prospect
for a railroad there soon. Mansfield
is four miles from Mound City, Gen.
Mitchel's former residence. Hero
we found a full file of the COURIER,
whose contents we devoured, and
found that all was we'll in Wapello
county. p