The Grange advance. [volume] (Red Wing, Minn.) 1873-1877, 1877-03-28
From Our Traveller.

VObuS WI ss0V0s0ss
MILTON, Dodge Co.,, Mar. Goth, ~.
Ed. Misunderstanding to prom
Use will we give you q few items from
this section. We arrived hero on the
18th inst, from Pine Island, and in
passing over the country lying between
that point and this was foroibly struck
with the wonderful Improvements that
has been made here within the past
dozen years. 1t seems only yesterday
that the country lying north of this
township was a bowling wilderness,
covered thickly with scrub oak and
brush. Now it is one Of the finest
farming sections in the whole State.
Nearly all Of it is under the plow and
is we'll fenced; and where the traveller
saw rickety tumble down log houses
and stables, a few years or months
since he now sees large brick or frame
residences and barns; and the general
air Of enterprise and prosperity visible
everywhere is u comfort to see.
We noticed very large brick resi-
dence standing on site occupied, when
we last passed through here, by log
shanty and were informed that the
original owner, the property, Mr.. Fahy,
is still in possession. He has worked
hard and prospered, and deserves pros
perity. Arriving at Union Corners, in
Milton, we are in the finest township,
in many respects, there is in the State.
The improvement in this township is
something marvellous almost. On ev-
cry hand we can see large comfortable
farm houses, barns, stables, cribs &C.,
and, yet, it seems but yesterday since
we saw herds Of deer, and gangs of
wolves roaming over this region, and
can we'll remember time when there
was not house or a fence between
Pine Island and Mantorville.
We said that this was one of the
finest townships in the State, and the
reason is this; there is an abundance
of wood and water, distributed in such
manner that almost every farmer has
his supply without going great dis
lance for it. As an example, we will
mention the farm of Mrs. Josephine
Porter, which is decidedly the largest
small farm we ever saw. The place
contains forty acres, 80 acres under the
pillow; five acres of dense grove, in
which stands her dwelling, and five
acres of meadow land, with good water
on the place.
Among other farms in this vicinity,
(though larger than the one mentioned)
possessing similar advantages, may be
mentiond those of Mr.. L. L. Mutchler,
Mr.. A. 0. Cowles, Mr.. Mark Cowles,
Mr.. Foster, and many others. As a
rule the farmers have all become rich
or, at least, comfortably well off. We
found few of the original settlers, but
many of that class have moved west and
We heard of one or two who had been
crazy enough to emf grate to Texas, but,
as we said, the country is we'll settled
and has the appearance of having been
so for seventy five years instead ot
twenty three years.
We called on Mr.. n. Grems and
found him, in his declining years, in a
good comfortable home Oh the lane
taken by him twenty Two years ago
Mr.. Leach we noticed had built a very
large barn. Mr.. Rose we found in :
fine, large residence on what was know,
to old settlers as the Wheelock place
Mr.. Culver has built a large barn, Mr.
James Rowley fine residence, and ii
fact the whole country has changed
greatly within the past few years ant
changed for the better as rapidly as an,
country we ever saw.
We are informed that some Of tn
oranges in this county are prosperin
while in others very little interest
manifested, but the country shows tina
the farmers have prospered and intene
to prosper. just now school exhlb
tions are all the rage, and they are hay
ing some very good ones. We attende
one and can say that it was a success
50 far as numbers are concerned q
least. To say that the house wa
crowded does not express it. 1t was
perfect jam, and although we did nc
sec the exhibition we were told that