Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1873-01-18
VOL. [.
A Clerk who Went West,

| am unfortunately one of that class
whose services in all the labor markets
of the world are at discount, clerk,
married, with four children, two boys
and two girls, in ages graduated from
three to fifteen. But with position
permanent, as such usually are, and re-
ceiving a fair salary, I could, in looking
out for future years, see no provision
for age, no resource when untitled by
sickness or accident for the performance
of customary duties, and with increas-
ing expenses and stationary income I
chafed at the prospect to which distance
seemed to lend no enchantment, and
having in time past improved some va
cations on the farm, acquired taste for
its Independence, its physical exercise,
vigorous appetite, and generous board
L seemed to gravitate toward it.
In the winter of 1869 and 1870 my
health failed. Ibecame from sedentary
habits, broken down, worn out. My
physician recommended change. AS |
had some money in saving bank, early
in the spring of 1870 pulled up stakes
and started for the West; left my family
with some farmer friends in Wisconsin,
and moved out to Kansas, where / ex-
pected to buy land at from $3 to $5 per
acre. But lands in the Kansas River
valley [ found held at an average of 800
per acre---this was near Manhattan
still [ thought | had travelled too far to
pay so much, and inquired for the Gov
ernment alternates with q view of pre-
empting or homesteading; but none
considered desirable were to be had un-
less at the extreme limits of the railroad
grant then engaged seat in stage
for Fort Sibly, lying North, near the
Nebraska line, but even at this distance
eighty miles from railroad, preemptions
were held at 81 per acre, and these COW
cred every water claim---water in this
case means wood also-timber lands
proper being out of the question, few
scattered cotton woods being by them
designated as timber.
The only alternative was to pre-empt
quarter section, on the open prairie,
with no wood, no water, no schools, no
churches, no society, in q land of ex-
treme heat and cold, subject to foods,
high winds, grasshoppers, and other
annoyances. My courage failed me, and
L acknowled the absence of that grit or
nerve, call it what you will, necessary
to the successful development of farm
on the frontier. In community it
might do but single-handed, and that
hand unused to the plow---no, sir,
never But farm, and cheap ene,
seemed a necessity. $50 [ turned
backward and influenced by some
little circumstance or current for which
It's difficult to account, [ found myself
soon again prospecting in northwestern
Iowa.
Supplied with plots from the Land
Office, at Sioux City, [ began the hunt:
and while [ live I shall never forget it.
Tired, hungry, foot-sore, sleeping in all
kinds of places, At last not suited,
but despairing of doing better, I
bought out pre-emption claim for
$3.50. The whole country is covered
with squatters, who with no disposition
to farm, but holding the lands under
homestead or pre-emptien claims,
qualify the action of the Government in
giving and selling lands to the actual
settlers only, by seeking out every de-
slrable spot, building their cabins, turn
ing two or three acres of sod, or moving
little hay-just enough to comply with
the law. and then wait for a chance to
sell out. This is legitimate, without
doubt, but it is state of things which
few are familiar with, and is not recog-
nlzed by the new conner without q feel
ing OF disappointment However, the
owner of an average piece of rolling
Pralr1e, shanty, and a hay stack, I
took possession, fitted it up with stove,
groceries, and other necessaries, sup
pied doors and windows, which the
former owner viewed as among the lux
urles of life, and just as ] settled down
1t began to blow great guns. Such o
blow never felt before. and the me-
mory OF 1t is sufficient for the future,
Although the middle of April, it was
cold, very cold indeed, and wood was
scarce; not stick on the newly accquir-
ed possession, and none in sight.
A few railroad ties, borrowed from
the kallroad on my journey from the
depot to the shanty, in anticipation of
such contingency, was the extent of
my wood pile; but I was looking anxi-
ousl y and expectantly for change of
Weather---these extreme blows not ems
ttomarlly lasting more than forty-eight
hours, so [ was told. But seven davs
passed away, the wind still howled, the
railroad ties We're exhausted, and the
ratters to the shanty were fast disap-
pearlng, and [ decided to make tracks.
In my solitary watch,at the shanty [
was one morning reused by human
voice. "Auh woh yo?" I started.
matted the team, enquired where from
and where to. A hired man of DR.
Somebody few miles back, on his wav
to the Floyd river in search of wood
MY eyes sparkled, for had not yet pro-
cured team. [ explained my situation.
new conner, no wood, extreme cold.
badly protected from the weather &c,
would pay any price for part of a load :
but 1t was no use; that was q faithful
servant IN the most extreme sense he
could not be bribed or swerved from
what he thought to be his duty. The
CLAIMS OF the emigrant, the calls of hui
man1ty, the weight of dollars and cents.
were alike unavailing, as looking back
he said eff you are badly in want of
wood, trim off the sheathing boards of
your shanty. Git up" and saw him
no more.
abandoned the shanty that night,
arrived at the site of what is now town,
put up at the residence of Frenchman. n.
the only apology for hotel, and Che
uext morning the wind ceased, the sun
shone out cheerfully, and I looked about
with view of making some purchases,
such as tear, COWS, hogs, poultry, &C.,
but in every instance the price was
double what I expected to pay, and ]
determined to take trip to Wisconsin,