The Tipton advertiser. [volume] (Tipton, Cedar Co., Iowa) 1856-1962, 1871-11-30

versity. No one cared to talk about rail
road, Northeastern or Iowa Southwest
ern, while the old men were describing
the making of the first wagon trail.
Near 80 years ago two of the farmers
united their teams and turned sing le
furrow all the way from Red Oak to
Muscatine, that travel over the unfencei
prairie might be gathered into one path
and the wagon wheels wear smooth
track to the ambitious city that then ex-
pected to he the capital Of the territory
Mr.. w. A. Rigby reminded the com
pany that 1t would he thirty five years
the next day since the first house was
raised in Red Oak.
Mr.. Ferguson spoke Of the inconveni
ence suffered one winter from the lack
of salt when the Mississippi froze up
earlier than usual, and the traders at
the river towns failed to receive their
supplies of that necessary article.
Judge Bissel reminded them Of one
man, no other than the previous speak
er, who thought himself fortunate to Sc
cure for his table the salt from some
pork brine left by party of government
surveyors; aud of another who went to
Burlington for salt with which to pack
his pork and came back without it.,
because the scant supply was held at
six dollars per bushel. He finally
packed his pork in snow, and so kept it
n ri in, hn "a
he could buy salt at reasonable price
While the gentlemen thus reviewed
the past, their wives. with the other la
dies occupied the front parlor, and en- .
listened at the open door. The cheerful
sounds from other rooms gave evidence
that the young people were making for
themselves a lively time.
| There were no set speeches during the
evening, but in an informal CONVERSE
tional style, one and another person, rs
called upon, gave his experience, ex-
pressed his views or told his story
Among those who thus addressed the
company were Messrs. John and James
Safely, w. A. Rigby, Judge Bissel,
Chas. Dallas and others
About half past ten O'Clock number
of the younger people came by invita-
ton to join the old folks in listening to
a story from Mr.. Rigby, and in singing
" Aud Lang Syne.'
At the request of his friends, Mr..
;,,h 1,e hnI Il ; Il =
countered in procuring marriage Ger
,ificate, and a legally qualified official
for the first wedding that occurred in
this part of the state. When Red Oak
was first settled, Upton had not been
laid out, and the territory now included
in Cedar County formed part Of Du-
buque county. Ar attempt of the
groom to 90 by river to Dubuque for q
certificate failed because the steamboats,
could not get over the rapids. The
bride and bridegroom accordingly took
a trip to Muscatihe, in the only spring
wagon the settlement afforded, to find
in another county what they could MO,
get in their on n, without journey OF
hundred miles through an almost I'm
Inhabited country.
The old settlers were evidently famil-
lar with the story, and as Is often the
case with him who att. mpts to tell all
old story, there were those present who
did not fail to remind the speaker Of in
cdent- or names which he forgot, OF
purposely neglected 70 mention. In go
ing to Muscatine their wagon broke
down Reaching there they found The
hotel full to overlooking but in consid
Grafton of their errand some Of thu
guests vacated a room for them, ant
when the wedding came off there wa!
no fear of illegality for lack Of witness
es, for there was general gathering o
the people to see the first wedding il
Musca,ine The sides of the room
doorways, and windows on the outsid,
were filled with witnesses. The journey
home, in which long pole supplied
the place of one of the bind wheels o
the wagon, occupied two days.
After the story and the sony, the flow
! or conversation NGs again ltsuuIch
Many old settlers were present beside
those from Red Oak, and the conviction
was general that an organization of tn
Old Settlers Of Cedar County was de-
sirable. 4 committee was appointed t
consult in reference to such an organiza
ton, and issue call for prcliminar.
meeting.
About eleven O'Clock the compan,
began to disperse to their homes, carry
ing with them the memory of one NOR
} pleasant meeting to add to those of pas
years. That they mas be spared to at
:. tend many like gatherings in years t
come is the wish of one who was witt
them a. A FRIEND.
While expressing sincere regret tina
we were unable to accept the kind in
vitation to be present at this gathering
as appropos to the above report of it
> events we give the following facts an
incidents of the early settlement of Re
Oak, obtained chiefly through the kline
ness of Mr.. w. A. Rigby:
The first dwelling in this part of tn
, county was built by John Jones, on tn
}, VIM. Aldrich place, and was occupie
:, | h,- him .hout the 10Th rf Nov 1S2f