Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1877-05-04
Correspondence Of the PHGxrx.
Notes from the west.
ELLINGTON, Hancock Co., Iowa,
Anril Of 1877

NOTES from the west
ELLINGTON, Hancock Co., Iowa,
April, 81, 1877.
To The Editor of The Vermont PhGnir;
For years the PHGNIx has been week.
ly visitor to our home, and now that we
have left New England and sought home
In the far West, II comes to us like the
pleasant face of some dear friend. Some
times it seems TO bring with 1t breath of
Green mountain air or beam of New
England sunshine. Almost weekly we
read letters from some of Vermonrs wan
derlng children who have sought for homes
or health in the far West or sunny South.
1 do not remember of having seen any
communications from this section, so l
venture TO write hoping TO interest some of
your readers.
We are located in the midst of wide
and fertile rolling prairie near the head OF
the east fork of the Iowa river. Our settle
ment is yet in its infancy. The oldest set
tiers came here only eight years ago. Hun
dreds of acres of unoccupied land are
around us. Many acres would have been
taken up last fall, but the arrival Of the
grasshoppers in September brought the
tide of immigration to a standstill. Land
is now very cheap and any one who wishes
to get good farm, if he is willing TO run
the risk, can now get it in this county at a
low price. We have had long, but re-
markably pleasant winter. Spring is now
here for a surety. The lark and the robin
and many other spring birds came two
weeks or more ago, and the wild fowls are
congregating in great numbers. Wild
geese and ducks and prairie chickens hatch
here. This county is great resort for
chicken hunters, aud a great many from
eastern cities spend the hunting season
here.
Spring has opened encouragingly. Far
mers report tue ground 10 be in an excel
lent condition for seeding and seeding is
already far advanced. Hundreds of acres
of grain have been sown in the past two
weeks, nearly two weeks earlier than last
year. Every thing indicates good season
and an abundant harvest If the grasshop-
pers do not destroy the crops. Even the
hopper scare seems to have in measure
abated. Millions OF eggs were deposited
here, but many of them seem to have
spoiled or been destroyed during the win
ter. For the past two years the crop OF
wheat has been almost failure, and as
that is the sole dependence of the farmers
| here, IL has caused very hard times. Many
of the farmers learning that it is not best 10
depend upon one crop, are gradually work.
ing into stock raising, for which the coun-
try is particularly adapted.
| Thia 10 q varv plpaaani sapiion nf cnnni ~
and as healthy a locality as one need 10 ask
for. The American portion of the popula-
ton, nearly all of them, are natives oil
Vermont, New Hampshire and New York.
| They are for the most part well educated
refined class of people. The advantages
for school and church are very good. The
| principal religious societies are Methodist
and Congregationalist. Church buildings
are few and far between, but the commo-
dious school buildings are made TO answer
a double purpose. Our nearest market il
seven miles distant. 1t supports two large
elevators and Is the wheat market for 6
large extent of country. 1t has four oil
five hundred inhabitants and as good 8
business circle as can be found in any town
Of its size in the country. Seven years age
where the town now stands was an un'
broken swamp. OF course there are many
bardsdips and disadvantages TO meet with
in new country, yet can but feel that i
is the best place for young people who
wish TO make for themselves a home.
often wish that some of the many who
are struggling in our eastern villages for &
bare subsistence might avail themselves o
some of the opportunities this county af
fords and make tn emselves a good home
Hard times has been the only cry for The
past year, but there seems TO be rift IL
the clouds, aud we hope for brighter days
Truly yours, ENG.