The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1874-02-13
worker
A Man Who Went West From Jefer.
son County, Ohio.

Some time ago. in the course Of few
remarks on the subject Of "going West"
we took occasion 10 ask our readers in
West Virginia, in Eastern Ohio, and in
Western Pennsylvania, who were think
ing about emigratiDg to the West, to con.
slider well what they were about 10 do be.
fore they gave up good homes, good soci.
ETY., good schools, and all tho advantages
that this part Of the country affords, and
set out in search Of new homes in the
West, We expressed the opinion that the
same amount Of toll, self denial and close
economy thst so many people had to un.
dergo in the West, in order TO get along,
would enable man and his family to get
along far better in this country. We find
q good illustration and confederation oil
our views in reference to this subject in
Tuesdays issue Of tho Steubenville Nesrs.
A letter from q former citizen OF that
county who went West many years ago
contains the following extract: /.
Arrived in Taylor county, Iowa, in Sep.
TENDER, 1856, with $S737 in my pocket,
one wagon, three horses, a little wearing
appeared, and in debt at the East 5000.
The first winter l lived in cabin 12x14,
constructed OF rails, that cost 81 per 100;
paid $2.26 for corn 10 feed and make
meal, which was made by grating like
nutmegs. The next spring l preempted
aquarter section, or 100 acres, built a
cabin without either floor or window and
with a sod chimney, and this was my
home Tor the following two years. Seven
dollars would have bought more flour,
tea, coffee, sugar and mOlasses than was
used in my house for the first seven
years. The first spring after we came
here saw hungty children cry for corn;
the same spring l was offered $40 in gold
Tor peck OF meal, but / said: mo;
you can't have 1t, Oh how sorrowlui
the look the man gave me. l said
"Go tell my wife 10 give you peck OF
meal, and Iwant you 10 return the same
amount as soon as you can" Had you
seen the tears run down his cheeks you
would have concluded as l did that
mere words are weak when used In ex.
pressing thanks. have been seated at
tho best loaded tables in Pittsburgh,
Cincinnati, ST. Louis, and Chicago, but
the best feast ever had was composed
OF corn meal cake mixed with water, and
baked meat rind boiled tender, and
served with creek water for drink. l
would walk any day 90 miles to get an
other meal so much enjoyed. AS regards
clothing, have seen real want. Time
rolled on, and little by little the country
improved, until today we have neigh
bors, schools, churches, shops, rail-.
roads, towns, and civilization, where
eighteen years ago, deer, wolves, and
Indians had pre'eminence.
The summing up Of all these years Is
I am the owner Of 20 acres of timber, $40
Of prairie, all fenced, and 200 in cultiva-
tion. | have mowers, respers, wagons,
horses, cattle, sheep, hogs, &C., and am
worth $1l 900 or $4,000 after all debts
are paid. So may any young couple,
with health, patience and perseverance,
make home in the West. / advise ali
who have not homes Of their own 10 fol.
low my example; but to those who have
comfortable homes in the East, would
say, appreciate them and do not leave
them, for my observation teaches me that
before you can make homes in the West
you will probably tire, give up the strug-
gle, and return to your old familiar scenes,
which will have put on new charms,
Which aioretime you had no eyes 10 see.
The moral Of 1t all is don't go West"
unless you have some special inducement
further than the gorgeous promises held
out by the flaming circulars Of land
spectators.