Knoxville journal. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1874-1986, 1874-12-24
Tnoxrille aonrual.
KNOXVILLE, DECEMBER "a, 1874
Appeal for Aid.

The citizens Of Prairie township
Jewell county, Kansas, met at Auro
"a. December 4th, 1874, and in con
celebration of the alarming destitu
ton existing among our citizen
organized the " Prairie Township
Aid Society,"" and issued the follow
ing appeal to the humane Of othe
States la behalf of our sufferers from
the ravages Of the grasshoppers:
APPEAL.
DEAR FRIENDS: During the fore
part Of last summer, no people eve
had a brighter prospect than the
settlers Of Prairie township, jew
ell county, Kansas, and no people
appeared to be more thankfai iof
such prospects, when, just as oul
hopes were highest, and our assur'
a,,ces Of abundance were fullest, the
air became filled and the sun Obscur'
ed by myriads Of locusts, or grass
hoppers, which came down upon oul
fields and gardens, so full OF promise,
and in a twinkling every thing upon
which man or beast could subsist
was destroyed by them, and now 9
long cherries winter Is before us
which we must pass without an eai
OF corn, or a vegetable Of any kind
hte destruction was complete.
strong men shed tears when they
saw the suffering that their wives
and little ones must inevitably endure
before another crop could be raised
to relieve their wants, and the pros
pect OF being driven by want from
these beautiful prairies. Then the
earnest inquiry WAS made, what
shall we do?" shall we leave the
country and run the risk of losing
our Iand--our homes, and COVE
know not where, or perhaps become
burden upon our friends, or shall
we remain and appeal to our friends
for aid. Some have left, but most
pr ,ler to remain, confident that they
will not be denied when forced to
call for ffclp.
We are destitute Of food, and with
in six weeks the suffering here will
be terrible, unless aid reaches us from
some source. There are in this town
ship near four hundred people who
will have to depend mainly upon
the charities Of others for subsistence
until another crop Is harvested when
will be eight months.
Friends, in the name Of humanity
help us!
At said meeting JAMES F. Har-
ington and Isaac Clanin were APP
poli,ted agents to solicit aid In more
iavbred states: There will be local
agents appointed In localities where
tie above named agents cannot visit,
who will have authority to receive
and forward to said society all dona-
ti0ns that may be made.
Ct. w. MCLEAN, President,
ROBERT s. PORTER, Recording Sec.
We cheerfully endorse the above !:
VIM. M. Allen, Clerk OF jewell
county; s. II. Scripture, Register
of Deeds. ID. j. Vance, Deputy
Clerk of District Court; John w.
George, Probate Judge Of Jewell
County, Kansas.
Daniel Sampson, ESD, Of Gosport,
has shown us letter written to
himself, under date Of 10th inst, by
Pres't MCLEAN, formerly of this
county, enclosing copies of the above
appeal for circulation here, with GER
tificates showing that Mr.. Sampson
and Larkin Wright have been APP
pointed by the people of Prairie
township, Jewell county, Kansas, as
their soliciting and forwarding
agents for this county. The letter
refers to Messrs. +. M. Eagan and 8.
j. Mclean, of this county, who have
recently returned from Kansas, for
information rs to the restitution OF
people there. 1t requests the publ
cation Of this appeal in the papers of
Marion county, and earnestly solicits
aid from our generous people.
Moneys are to be sent to Jno. N.
King, Treasurer Aid Society, jew
el p. o., Jewell Co., Kansas.
Grain, clothing, or other goods
should be shipped to John N.
King, Waterville, Kansas, for desti.
tute settlers Of Prairie township,
Jewell Co.
Mr.. Sampson suggests that it will
he better to sell grain here and for.
ward the money, as grain can be
purchased almost as cheap in Kansas
by the sufferers as 1t can here.