The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1871-11-16

NEwsuRcH, UHro,
Nov. 9th 1871

NOV. Sth, 1871.
DEAR COURIER Once more my feet
stand in the old foot paths of my
cnlidhood, audi take by the hand
my brothers Ana sisters, OF whom 1
alone have wandered FROM the Back.
eye State only one other Of the
family having left the native village.
These visits from time to time l am
compelled to make to satiate the
otherwise unsatisfed cravings of my
heart tor the dear old associations of
the past. 1t is a bright sunshiny
crisp November morning, and though
seventeen years absence from this
beautiful spot as home, for me has
wrought most wonderful changes.
yet they cannot efface from my recol-
ieetlon the familiar hills and valleys
ana clear running brooks over and
along which ! wandered as bow
thirty years ago. The old home
stead too in which was reared
from the age of seven years to man.
hood, still stands, having suffered but
little from the busy hand Of improve
ment, and though quite unpretentious
IN appearance compared with many
OF the more modern dwellings sur
rounding it, yet it is a very idol for
me to behold. TO the rear of the old
household in the garden plat is one
OF those immense boulder rocks so
common in this country, thou Oh
usually OF q lesser size than this one
which is about 6x4 feet on the surface
OF the ground and rises some 4 feet
nigh, depth below tho ground not
known. Over this since "my men,
DRY rnnneth not to the contrary has
stood the old familiar grape srbor.
now enlarged somewhat from what
1t used to be, but still touchingly
familiar. This immense boulder has
TO me history upon which my mem.
Dry fondly and yet sadly lingers.-
The story runs in this wise Seventy
years ago my paternal grandfather
with my father, then boy of nine
years, made the journey on horse
back from the western portion OF
Massachusetts, to prepare home for
the family in this then New Connec-
tlcut. From Buffalo, N. Y, the
course Of the journey was indicated
by an Indian trail. They arrived in
safety and staked out their possess.
IONS six miles from the mouth of the
Cuyahoga river, and including the
site OF the present homestead. The
city OF Cleveland then March 1901
comprised all told two families. A
log house was reared by father and
son that season, and in the fall the
grandfather returned for the family
and brought them in the spring of
lSO2 to their far off now home in the
wilderness. In tho spring of 1903
the grandfather found il necessary
TO return again TO Massachusetts to
settle up some business, and having
started the spring woK and instruc.
ted his sons,one Is, and my father IL
years old, bow aud what to do, he
prepared for the journey. The boys
had gone in to the field to SOW and
harrow IN oats, and says my father
IN after years many time as we
stood together around this immense
boulder, ''here saw your grandfath
Ger for the last time. Before start.
ing on his journey he came out here
and gave us some additional in
structions and AS he came up we
Were narrowing around this rock,
and here after few words OF en-
enlargement and good cheer he bid
JUS good bye and passed forever from
our sight. On his journey home
in the spring of 1904 he was acciden.
tally drowned in Buffalo creek in at
tempting to cross il with two spans
OF horses while it was in swollen
condition from recent heavy rains,
and he Was buried in grave which
has since been unknown to the fami.
| ~, Now, the father toe, has passed
away, and as ! stood today looking
upon this old familiar spot these re.
collections come involuntarily to
mind.
| am writing in the Office of my
brother who is Secretary and Treas.
urer Of the Newburgh and Cleveland
street railway company. This rail
way has been now some three years
in successful operation, and affords
convenient and comfortable way to
reach the city of Cleveland distance
OF six miles. Every forty minutes
from 6 o'clock q. m. to 9 o clock n.
M, and on Wednesdays and Satur-
days runs till midnight. When
lett this village seventeen years ago,
such an institution as street rail
way to tho city was not within the
range Of the widest speculation
The village was then about the same
size as Ottumwa, but in the interval
it has grown with even more rapidlty
than our favored city; having q pop.
ulation of about $4,000. This great
change is alone attributable to the
building of manufactures here
These are what Ottumwa must and
| trust will have in the near future.
Our trip here over the B. Il M. and
9. B. Il Q. and Lake Shore and
Southern railroads was rapid, CON-
Portable, and highly enjoyed BY the
entire party. We travelled entirely
by night stopping over during the
day TUESDAY, the 7th inst, at Chi.
oago. A two hours drive over the
burnt district gave us lively and
painful appreciation Of the great
calamity that has befallen that city.
The deep feeling of sadness that sits
enthroned upon the countenances of
the former business men of Chicago
was especially noticeable as they
stood gazing at the workmen every
where engaged in removing the rnins
OF their once fine mansions and
palatial business houses. For more
than mile the lake side OF Michigan
avenue is already covered with frame
business houses in which many of the
old firms are already set up in trade.
Beyond question Michigan avenue is
hereafter TO be one of the most i'm
portant commercial streets of the
new Chicago. But have already
aytandal The lattor ~ e,,Asn:o..