The weekly Oskaloosa herald. [volume] (Oskaloosa, Iowa) 1855-1885, 1873-07-31
MADISON TOWNSHIP.

ID. N. PICKERING, A. RUSSELL,
Gen. Supt. Gen. Pass & TktAgt.
MADISON TOWNSHIP.
This township is bounded by Oskaloosa
TIP. on the south, Adsms on the east, Prai-
RE on the north, and Black Oak on the west.
There are several ways of reaching it,
the most direct of which is to 60 north on
the road passing the Friends church. An
other is to go out on the Pella road, and
take any of the roads running north. If
you want to cross the river, the former Is
the better way. In describing my tour of
this township. shall necessarily have &C.
casion for frequent use of the personal
pronoun l, but hope not to Andy John
sonize it, and make it big I and little u.
/ went out on the Pella road to the west
line of the township and turning north,
passed over some rolling country as far as
the widow Hoover's where found John
Mendenhall cutting oats. Upon presenta-
ton OF my business John at once declared
that life was failure without "the best
local paper in Iowa" as his friend and
counselor, and named Leighton Station as
his post office. Proceeding nor Inward 1
met witha
LUDICRoUs INCIDENT
While crossing prairie and ascending
hill l was met at the top by flock Of prob
ably two hundred sheep. The animal I
rode-a three year old colt-became fright
ened, and despite my effoi Is, turned to run,
perceiying which the sheep came rushing
pell mel after, each one of their two hun
dred threats seeming to say, staa-a-a-y,
staa-a-ay; but ne'er stay, for with the
| colts fright, and the laughter that con-
vulsed me as looked at the pursuers, staa-
| a-a-aying was impossible. Finally sue
| ceeded in facing the enemy, and they gath
| ering around the colt, treated US to SER
enade of ram, sheep and lamb music. Oh,
twas rare. | afterwards learned that the
owner of the sheep was in the habit of COM
ing on horseback to that place and sailing
his flock; hence the thusness of their &C.
tions-simply case of mistaken identity.
The farm of Abraham Hoover next re-
ceived attention. Here found a number
OF acquaintance. Ate supper with the
harvesters who were as full of jollity as if
they believed in the strain, "labor's pleas
ure to me-" In this neighborhood there
are several small tracts of wild land be-
longing to 7. Shannon. Squire Dunsmoor
suggested that should spend the night at
his house, aud accordingly together we
went. He lives in Black Oak having
come there ia 1S4S, and being one the old
est settlers,-omitted in my Black Oak cor
respondence. The first thing that struck
me as singular about his place was a fine
representation of the American flag, paint
ed upon the gable end of his barn facing
the road. Mr.. ID. had it put there during
the troublous times of 1862. Since then it
has remained there as a fit emblem of the
answering loyalty of the man whose pa.
trlotism was alike known to friend and foe
MIR. ID. showed me beautiful natural
| grove which in 1853 he tried to burn off,
in order to clear the land-then hazel brush
For some cause it would not burn, and he
let it grow, and today you would hardly
believe in passing it that but twenty years
We're required to grow such forest A
very tall apple tree the Squire suggested
fought to be put in the HERALD" l tho't
so too, so here it is-see it? In District
No. 2. of Black Oak tp., they have erected
new school building 20x25.
On Friday morning retraced my steps
to Madison tp, and proceeded to interview
its south half The Skunk river divides
the township into nearly equal parts, run.
ming from the northwest 10 the southeast
corner. On either side of the river, and
at various points along it, lie some of the
finest bottom lands in the county. Many
OF these bottom tracts are tillable, while
others afford the best of meadow and pas
ture land. About mile east of the west
line of the township, lives Jacob Coffin,
/. G. Shoemake, substantial farmers, Meth
er OF whom were at home. Called on John
Else, who operates 385 acres of farm very
successfully. In this locality there are
udCtS-SOmcWQAL
rolling to be sure, but none too much so.
Passing eastward note that j. @. McCon.
nell has q new barn, and farther on, and
little south of this east and west road,
looms up Hamilton Cruzen's new house,
4x30, one and half stories. The build
ings along this road are generally small,
but neat. Three school houses on this side
of the river furnish opportunity for the
education OF youthful verdancy. Enoch
Shoemske claimed to have the finest house
in the township, and after general survey
| admit it. 1t is 27x28 two stories, and
cost with additions $4,000. Proceeding
southeast pass through belt of timber,
about a. mile and half or two miles wide,
and strike Oskaloosa and Sharon road near
VIM. Freeman's residence Turning north
the lime kilns of VIM. Freeman and Amos
T. Young. both doing good business, are
found in close proximity to each other, and
just beyond, is the old and well known grist
mill OF j. s. Whitmore & Co. Stopping
at the mill found Mr.. Whitmore, assisted
by Mr.. Ripple, busily engaged in making
all needful preparations for the new crop
of wheat, soon to be upon their hands,
at which time the "dear people" may try
thu ir brand-the alpha Mills"-with the
assurance that it will even excel its former
standard OF excellence With Mr.. W. and
his excellent wife took dinner, enjoying
the while the childish prsttle of little three
year old Johnny, who is one of the
prettiest boys in the county. In this cor
ner of township,-the southeast-the indie
pendent ldistrict OF West Center is now
erecting fine brick school building, 28x
80, to have iron door and window sills,
well finished and turn ished. It will be a
credit to the district.
From the mill cross the river and bot
tom to the residence of Thos. w. Dye,
who has just completed a barn worth
81, 100, 34x4O, into which, he tells me with
evident satisfaction, he has just put forty
tons or hay. upon which not q drop of rain
fell. In speaking Of the harvest. Mr.. d.
told me that large per cent of the wheat
crop OF that locality would not be harvest
ed, owing to its having been blown down
and In that condition. the heads could not
oil. Mr.. ID. said he had forty.two acre