Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1873-10-04

and wheat stubble. This is n good
wheat country, and it looks little
odd to see grain stacks built upon the
open prairie without any protection
from stock, and yet many of these
same farmers are wealthy, living in
fine two story frame houses painted
white with a little grove about the
house, but not sign of a fence, hard
ly hitching post. The wheat crop
across these prsiries averages from
twelve to twenty bushels this season,
but the oat crop was entirely destroy
ed, the hoppers taking Off every grain,
many of the fields still standing waist
high. This country is entirely out of
sight of timber there being none be-
tween the Lizard river and the big
Sioux on the west line of the State, a
distance of about a hundred and thir-
ty miles, with the exception of u few
patches of timber on the Little Sioax
and still less on the Floyd river.
The principal fuel used in this country
is coal from Fort Dodge, costing from
twelve to fifteen cts. per bushel.
From Beuna Vista County we cross
ed Cherokee about the center from
north to south. This County is rather
more broken than those we have pass
ed but is a good farming country
Cherokee, the County seat of this
County, is a snug built little town of
abont 700 inhabitants, located on the
banks of the Little Sioux. Three
years ago last May there was not a
house on its present town site. In
1861 1 was here on an Indian hunt.
Cherokee at that time was laid out
about one and half miles north of
the present town and contained one
|
house, and that cabin owned by the
man that was then farming the town
sight; he is still farming it. At this
time, 1861, there was not house from
Cherokee to Milburn, on the Floyd
river, distance of forty miles. Now
there are plenty Of farms thus you
can form some idea of how this coun.
try settles up. There are now four
or five nice little towns between Cher.
okee and Floyd river. We had many
lively times on this scout of which
space forbi1s mention. We only kill
ed one Indian while we were here ; that
one was stealing horses in Cherokee
between midnight and daylight; two
minnie balls, one IN the head and one
in the back, brought him TO a sudden
halt. His head was skinned, every
particle that had any hair on, ant
; divided up among the boys. His hal
was about two feet long, hanging
down his back in two braids. HI
was dressed in blue cloth coat, trim
med with velvet cuffs and collar, anC
brass buttons. Around his waist he
wore belt in which he carried two
pairs of moccasins and big ugly
knife with record Of his brave deed
marked along the back. The above
with his breech cloth, constituted hi'
entire outfit. There were two other
that accompanied him, but both go
away, although it was supposed tina
one was wounded, as he was TRACKED
some ways by the blood, and the hors'
returned that evening. Perhaps a
some other time l will tell you Q
the race three Of us had for life on tn
, big prairie between Cherokee an
1 Sioux City, followed by three time
S our number we'll armed. remembe
f the day as though it were but yester
? day.
e From Cherokee County we go int
r Plymouth. The land continues t
t grow rougher and poorer, until be
e tween the Floyd and Sioux rivers
S nearly stands on end. l would n,
: take the whole country as a graciou
G gift. 1t is worse than among the hill
e of Vermont or New Hampshire, an
s yet some have settled here, bui
e sod houses and appear to be maxim
r tolerable living. There is a mario
:. bottom up the Sioux river that
e very fair land, but is held by speculi
n lators who are asking fifteen an
d twenty dollars per acre. We crosse
y the big Sioux river, about two mil,
y above Elk Point, Dakota, which
about 20 miles above Sioux Cit,
e Iowa. We are now about five mile
It below the Point boarding with Ca
r ifornian who bas splendid HON
IS stead, taken about six years ago.
It is very level and yet is dry. He
&c only quarter of mile from goo
timber, and has plenty of it, limb,