The weekly Oskaloosa herald. [volume] (Oskaloosa, Iowa) 1855-1885, 1871-08-03
WEST OE TOWN.

and the want of few loads Of dirt appar-
ent. The road supervisor should attend
the matter at once, and fix it up. A great
short, being barely wide enough for a
wagon. Don't admire the taste of the
builder. This is one of the best settled
| portions of our county, and we believe
there is not half mile altogether, from
Osk.lOosa to BellefOntaire, bordering on
the road, not under cultivation. In fact,
it is one continuous line of farms on both
sides of the road, from one town TO the
other, and in this direction lie some of the
best farms in the State, and that is saying
in the world. Harvesting was generally
over, and in som: instances We saw the
thrcsher running, turning out about II
bushels per acre of beautiful, plump wheat.
4 drive of about twelve miles brought us,
after fOrding the river, To the thrifty little
town Of
BELLEFONTAINE,
which is located in Scott Up, on the west
side of Des Moines liver Oh bluff over
looking the surrounding country. The
country around is we'll settled with an en-
terprising class of farmers whose farms
are of the richest and their products
among the finest brought to market
Years ago when the river was navigable,
and The daily line Of coaches each way
made this a hating place, it enjoyed bet
ter run of foreign travel than now, and
every other house was hotel, but too ma
ny rapids and the iron horse have done
away with both, and changed the line OF
travel greatly, the principal portion there
now being that of persons travelling with
their own cOnveyances. The local trade
has improved, however, and if the hotel
business is not as prosperous as Of yore,
the mercantile is more So and Bellefon-
tame holds its own. But by the Belle
fontaine Of to-day, We are not TO judge 1t,
for one mile from the river is established
depot on the A X. q d. r. r., and
should that road be extended from Oska-
loosa west as will probably be done, the
depot may be even nearer than that. The
completion OF that road will add new life
and energy to the town, and we think 1t
will make one of the most promising
towns in the county. However, that is IN
the future, and we are dealing with the
present. The mercantile business of this
place is conducted through three stores
f. A. BOYER & Son, Mrs. E. H. THIS
SELL & Co., and HENRY HUNTER. The
former, DR.. Boyer and his son, F. d., have
large stock of general merchandise, con-
sisting of Dry Goods, Groceries, Hard
ware Boots, Shoes, etc. The business IS
attended to by our young friend f. d.,
who thoroughly understands his position,
and has perfect run of The trade. He Is
also Z. NJ. OF the town, and has the office
in the store Mrs. +. Ii. THIssELL & Co.,
are continuing the business conducted by
f. IL. TniSSell before his death. Here we
found our old soldier friend Grin COUNSEL,
who is assisting Mrs. T., (his sister in
conducting the business. Their stock con-
ssts of Dry Goods, Groceries, Notions,
Hardware, etc. HENRY HUNTER has a
good stock of Drugs and Groceries, and is
apparently doing a fair business. We
found him il very gentlemanly young man.
The only hotel in the place is kept by Geo.
Beebe, and Is called the "Beebe House"
The landlord Was absent in Oskaloosa, but
we were Hospitality entertained by Mrs.
Beebc, who thoroughly understands chow
to keep hotel" Bellcfontaine worships
in a beautiful frame church 25x40, just
above town, in pleasant grove The
house belongs to the Methodists. On the
river bank is
BELLFONTAINE MILL,
large three story frame structure 3OX40,
besides the engine house, (Which is 18X40,
two stories high, owned by Mcssrs. GEO.
FOREMAN and d. r. HOoPEs, both former
residents of this city. Mr.. Hopes recent
ly bought the interest of Mr.. Larkin in the
MILL This structure is in fine condition,
has two run of burrs, and is driven by an
engine of 80 horse power. Both proprie-
tors understand their business, and have
E. p. Gilbert employed as miller, one OF
the best in the country, and are turning
out work second to none in quality, and
the gemtlemanly bearing and fair dealing
ofthe prOpretors are gaining them friends
on every hand. That important event to
youngsters,
TIE LAST DAY OF SCHOOL,
was to come off the day following our
visit, and great preparations had been
made for a general good time. Miss ELLA
Ross, formerly of this city was teacher and
prepared to close the term by picnic and
celebration in grove near town, where
every preparation had been made to ena
bic the youth to pass the day pleasantly
Swings had been provided, seats and ia
bles arranged, Il good dinner in readiness
and game of base ball between Bellefon
tame and leighton clubs was expected
Miss Ross Informed us that in imitation
of the match games of ball, her female
scholars had some of them arranged a
rope jumping match, to come off that day,
which we thought something novel. Base
Ball is a II the rage there, and old and
young take part The Bellefontaine boys
beat the Rochester club recently by a
score of 125 to rs. One mile below town
is the site of the
NEW BRIDGE OVER CEDAR.
George Brown of our city had the contract
for the piers, and completed his work last
Thursday, so we presume but a short time
will elapse ere a splendid iron structure
will span that treacherous stream at tue
point above mentioned. This new bridge
is within 100 yards of the site of the old
one, which was two years ago washed
out and floated down to Ottumwa. There
is not much danger of the one about 10 be
put in tt3ating away. After spending sew
eral hours pleasantly here chatting with
old and new friends, we struck oat for
LEIGHTON STATION,
where we arrived after travelling over a
fine country, well settled and smiling with
bountiful harvest. Leighton Station, on
the d. V. r. r., nine miles west Of town,
is place ofabout twenty five houses, and
as a shipping station, is a place OF Consid-
cradle importance. 1t sports number of
new houses the most important being the
new mill and hotel
THE MILL
is owned by N. s STEIN & Co, the for
mer of this city, and is known as Leigh
ton Mill" 1t was built last year, is a very
fine frame structure, about 30x40, (besides
engine room,) three stories high, has three
run of burrs, and is driven by a 40 horse
power engine, the appearance alone of
which would warrant the assertion that a
first class engineer runs it. This mill is q