Connecticut western news., 1872-03-08
Solon, Iowa, Feb. 25th, 1872.

MT. EQlLOr.-1u nave tuIOuSu Guc hAuuuCoS of friends received several copies of the WESTERN NEws, some of them containing letters that seem to carry me back, not to ''Old Virginia" but to Old Connecticut where the rocks, mountains, and friends, as it were appear before me once more. From May 2Oth 1928 to May 18th 1870, nearly all of my days were spent from Sails bury. The first public gathering Irecol- lect attending was in the summer of 1872
 was then going to school in the old gam brel roofed school house in Furnace Vil- lage, now Lakeville Miss Birch being teacher. She soon after became the wife Chulchel Coffing Esq. Some time in the course of that summer, the Salisbury ma litia were called out and were drawn up in line. little south of, the ''old red store" of Holly & Coff1ng, then in the iron busi- ness at that place. I Irecollect seeing two men step forward from the ranks as volun- teers for the army. One was Michael French but the name of the other have forgotten. Both went to the army and both returned. l often saw them after ward. French was wrought nail maker. Many tEfat attended school at that time with mo have long since paid the debt of nature, (perhaps some maoy at this time yet live in Salisbury) others are in the Western states. Have met with several of them in nay travels. If my memory is correct there were but two or three smelling furnaces east of the Hudson river up to 1872. For several years after, the price of pig iron ranged from 25 to 30 dollars per tun. Sails bury pig is now quoted in Chicago at 70 dollars. 1 left Salisbury in the spring of 2s; was in Rockland Co. N. Y., at the time of Jackson's first election. His sec and election in '32 was in Duchess CON. Y.; VanBuron's election '36, in Trumball Co.,
 Ohio; Folks election in A, Trumbull Go. Ohio; Taylor's in AS, Dodge Co.,, Wiscon- sin; Pierce's in '52 Trumbull Co.,, Ohio :; Buchanan's in '56, Solon Johnson Go, Iowa, where I now reside and expect to until Grants second election in Nov. Have travelled quite extensively in the west. Have been in most of the western towns and cities and have seen their growth from one roofed shanties to four story brick blocks. The soil of northern Illinois, southern Wisconsin and Iowa are quite similar, being generally very good. But in some sections there are some backbone and sand ridges that are not very desirable for tilling. Very many of the prairies oi Iowa are quite rolling or hilly. The sur face in many parts resembling yours from Lakeville to Salisbury Centre. The climate in winter being dry and cold, summers very much like those of N. Y. or Conn.,, 70 ant Fl were very dry. Corn and oats the pas season being the best since have lived il the state. Corn is now selling for 2l cts oats the same. Our railroads are crowded with freights at their own prices, being . $G6, car from here to Chicago, distance of 23O miles. If the producer and consu , mer could get lower freights, both would be benefited thereby. The farmers arr throwing ou: corn by the wagon load daily There are now six cast and west railroad nearly completed across the state, ant about the same number running north ant south or nearly so, switching off freight as they cross the east and west roads. Gu population is somewhat mixed, being mostl, American born, with quite heavy sprink ling of those of foreign birth, principal, 7 from Germany, Bohemia and Norway Most of the foreigners are we'll calculated to get along in new country. Thos
 that settle in the country are prosperou farmers and very good citizens. Far too many incline to settle in towns and sel Lager Bier," and they appear to be doin: very well at the business; at any rate the, become quite corpulent in person and in cline to the democratic side of the fence il
 politics, being unable at times to get ove if they were so disposed. will close b.
 giving the sirnames of few Bohemian living in our township, that end wit Shack, Emeshack, Vetoshack, Bulshack Rushack and Beshack. Yours Truly
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