Fayette County herald. [volume] (Washington [Washington Court House], Fayette County, O. [Ohio]) 1860-1???, 1879-04-17
Letter from Indiana.
BOURBON. ND. April I, 187!

BOURBON, IND-y AprlI Z, 1913.
EDS. HERALD:
As promised to write to my friends of
Fayette county occasionally, L know of
no better way of addressing them than
through the columns of your valuable
paper; thinking it may be of interest to
some who may chance to read it.
The Spring here has been very back
ward, but has opened up now, and plow-
ing has commenced. Wheat looks we'll,
considering the cold Spring
Sugar-makings season is about over with.
There was a very large amount of molas-
ses made this year
l will give my friends brief descrip-
ton of Marshall county, in which live:
This county is a timbered region, inter
spersed with wet prairies-formerly re-
garded as marsh-lands, and valueless; but
now, regarded as among the most valua-
BILE. The heavy timber lies in the shape
of reversed a, the open part to the west.
The upright body of the letter is repre-
sented by tract 15x2I miles, on the east
side of the county. The cross lines, so to
80 miles wide across the north end, and
from three to six miles across the south
end, with some smaller tracts in the cen
ter of the west side, representing the.
cross in the middle of the letter; the re-
mainder is made UP of prairie and ''bar-
rens''-not barren land, but light timber
and wet prairie. al1
The Government surveyors reported
more acres of good land and good timber,
in proportion to the whole number of
acres, in Marshall than in any other
county in the state. The heavy timber
consists of all the hard and soft timbers,
except resinous, oak, ash, hickory, maple,
beech, elm, walnut, butternut, lynn and
poplar. The barrens are variously tim
bered, consisting of white, burr, yellow
and black oak. and hickory. The heavy
barrens have the heavy timber. scattered,
without underground, while the light
barrens are like large orchards.
Millions of dollars worth of the finest
of timber and lumber have been shipped
away, and large quantities are still being
shipped. Every kind of farm production
is raised in abundance; crops are certain,
and the yield remunerative.s The face of
the land is gently undulating, with no
abrupt declivities. One of the most pc
culiar and pleasant features of the coun-
try is the number of beautiful lakes, the
most prominent of which are Maxeukuc-
kee, Twin Lakes, Pretty Lake and Lake
of the Woods. The first is situated in the
southwest part of the county, and about
twelve miles from the county seat. 1t is
one among, if not the largest, lake in the
State. It is surrounded by a splendid
| farming country. Its banks arebeautiful,
accessible at all points, and the water is
pure and clear; the bottom is solid and
covered with gravel; it is 3 miles long by
~ miles wide. Within the past few years
| it has become quite noted abroad for its
beauty and the fine quality of its fish,
which are caugh annually by visitors,
from all parts of the State, and from other
States. The Twin Lakes is chain of
beautiful lakes, some 215 miles long, lying
81 miles southwest from Plymouth. our
county seat. Pretty Lake is whatits name
indicates. Those who visit it from abroad
pronounce it one of the most beautiful
little lakes they ever saw. It's shores and
surroundings cannot be excelled in the
West for beauty, nor its water for purity.
Lake of the Woods lies nine miles north
east of Plymouth, and is next to Maxeu-
| kuckee in size and importance, abound
ing in large fish, of the species that in
habit all the waters of this part of the
State. All these lakes, and many others,
are under the guardian care of fishing
and gaming associations, who see that the
laws are properly observed, and as a
result the quantityT of fish is yearly in
creasing, Notwithstanding the large num-
ber taken is out of these lakes annually.
A storm passed over our place on Fri
day, the 29th ut, accompanied by thun-
der and lightning. The lightning struck
a valuable brick barn in our town, which
had just been completed, killing four
horses and one COW. Three men were
| stunned, but will recover The barn and
its contents were consumed Loss, about
$4,000. 81 - rse e EEilss aHa#
made visit to our Capital short time
ago, and find it thriving city, in every
respect. The-old State House is torn away
and work is rapidly progressing for the
erection of the new building, which will
cost s., ,O0O, 900. The Legislature is hold
ing forth in rooms in the Courthouse.
had the pleasure of visiting both bodies.
Please excuse this very lengthy letter.
have taken up more space than intend
ed to when L began. sssfz-57 .1esIs#z vfofss
i Respectfully yours, aas io Eh
i -5 GEO. BYBEE. 2