The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1879-10-02
From Nebraska.
SHERIDAN, NEMEHA COUNTY,
September 18th, 1879.


SHERIDAN, NEMEHA COUNTY,
September 18th, 1879.
To the Editor of the Standard:
A word for the West. / left Jack
son on June 9TH, 1879, 1OB A. M.
Arrived at Hiawatha, Kansas, 7th,
III A. NJ, SO hours. Five Of our
children live in Kansas, in the coun-
ties of Brown, Cloud and Osbourn;
two live in Nebraska, in the counties of
Richardson and Nemeha, one in Ohio,
jackson county, one in Denver City,
Col, and our youngest son, Noah, in
Wyoming Territory. Nov, '76, no
word from him since that date. We
do not know whether he is living or
dead. We are truly very anxious in
his behalf.
When | say Kansas is beautiful, l
only name Que of six prominent char
acteristics of the country: In addi-
ton to its beauty, it is unusually pro-
ductive, very healthy, intelligent, en-
terprising, and religious. Editors are
a speciality in the West. Some small
towns, half the size of Jackson, Ohio,
have from two to four live weekly
newspapers, besides many dailies in
larger towns and cities, and what is
quite remarkable, as a rule, they are
close adherents to truth, giving events
accurately as they transpire, even
cyclones, which are fortunately of rare
occurrence, are truthfully portrayed,
giving the number Of killed and
wounded, and every house blown
down, both small and great.
The different professions are quite
well represented, especially law and
medicine; also goodly number of
faithful ministers of the Gospel.
Since August 18th we have put up for
winter quarters, with our son-in-law,
Lewis C. French. He lives in Nemeha
county. Nebraska. He has rented a
farm of 600 acres, for which he pays
S120 rent, cultivates part of it, and
on the balance he herds some $50 head
Of cattle, small part of them his
own, the balance his neighbors. 1t is
entirely unnecessary for me to say any
thing in praise Of Kansas. 1t is only
necessary for any fair minded person
to see it for themselves. Kansas is
very capacious in dimensions, almost
as large as New York and Indiana put
together, and contains over 100000
acres of land. Only about 100000
acres are under cultivation. The north
line of the State is ON parallel with
Springfield, ILL.,, Columbus, Ohio, and
Philadelphia, while the Southern
boundary is on a line east and west
with Norfolk, Va. The State is 400
miles east and west, and about 200
miles in width. Practically, there are
no navigable rivers in Kansas. The
Kaw has been tried, but has proved
failure. This young State produces a
heavier yield Of grain per acre than
Illinois or Iowa. Fruits of all kinds
are raised in abundance. No State in
The Union receives so much of the
as does Kansas. Her
glory is not only in her free soil or
genial climate, or in her beautiful and
1ourishing cities. Such as Leaven-
worth, Atchison, Lawrence and To-
oeka. Thought is free in Kansas.
She fouht for it, and won it fairly,
IN many bloody field. 1t is some
lines a good thing to vow you will
lave peace, if it takes war to get it.
< ansas, under the lead of John Brown,
Jim Lane, and other noble patriots,
lid that, and stuck to it. No State in
;he Union has better common school
system than she, and none in proper
lon to its population is doing more for
higher education, and for the spread
IF Christian truth than Kansas. Of
ler history in the dark days when
freedom trembled in the balance, |
cannot speak particularly. The first
battles were fought in Kansas when
slavery, with its attendant crimes, at
tempted to spread its dark wing over
ibis Territory under cover of the Ne
Oraska bill, in 1854. The border ruff
fans, with bowie knife and pistol in
hand, would often appear irresistible
in their attacks, so much so that the
inhabitants would
cover. and be ready to hide themselves,
and then rally again The following
incident, | get from DR.. Cordley, of
Emporia. Two ruffians were drink
ing in a saloon in Leavenworth. One
Of them bet the other pair of boots
that he could bring in the scalp of an
in two hours. He went
out on the Lawrence road, and meet
ing a gentleman riding toward the
city in a carriage, shot him deliber-
ately, and scalped him in open day
light. He brought the scalp into
town, paraded the streets with it on a
pole, claimed the boots, and was al
lowed to escape unmolested.
But the old proverb is still true,
Justice walks with leaden shoes, but
strikes at last with an iron hand. The
sad thing is that the innocent often
suffer with the guilty, and many inof-
fensive families in Missouri fled from
burning houses from being associated
with bad company. But Kansas is
free, and Missouri smiles now, and
shakes hands with her young sister.
j. S. REAsoNER.