The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1879-08-07
STAFFORD CITY, KAs.
To the Editor of the Standard:

- AO'C'
To the Editor of the Standards:
1t is a long time since you heard
from me; so | snatch a few minutes
to let you know, and, through you, (if
you please), your many readers, that |
am yet in the land of the living, and
enjoying good health, and SO is all my
family. Since | wrote you last | have
moved from Sterling, Rice county, to
the place above mentioned, and built
me house. Stafford county received
her first settlers about 3 years ago, and
is just being organized, with pOpula-
ton Of about 5000 persons, and 1,200
voters. We have our first election on
the 18th of August, to elect county
and township officers, and a county
seat, over which there is considerable
excitement, some three or four places
claiming it, chances in our favor.
The season has been rather unfavor-
able. Although our wheat crop is
considered failure, | think there is
enough raised in the county to supply
it's citizens, if there are not too many
immigrants coming in, who will have
to be supplied. The dry, cold winter,
spring and summer, spoiled the most
Of the winter wheat. Several pieces
in this section yielded 25 bushels to
the acre, that doing best that was put
in deep and early. We have had plen-
ty Of rain since the last of June, and
the ground is in the finest condition
now for putting in wheat. Corn, late
oats, and millet, never looked finer.
Although we had no rain till the last
of June, the corn did not appear to
suffer for the want Of it. The cam
trast between this year and last seems
great when we reflect that at Sterling
alone there was received half million
bushels of wheat last year, with a sta
ton miles below, and one 10 miles
above, both receiving and shipping
wheat; and yet there is large guam
tity of old wheat in the country now.
The farmers here did look little blue
before the rain, but they are all in
good spirits now, and are tearing up
the ground fearfully. | sent you the
first No. Of the Stafford County Her.
aid, published at our place. The press
arrived last Thursday, and the type
and material to-day, Monday; so you
will see we intend to have the news,
if we are 35 miles from the railroad;
although, by the way, we expect to
have a railroad right by us inside of
year. We are not outside Of clviliza-
ton now; we have regular preaching
by the Baptists, Methodists, Uni
ted Brethren, Campbellites and
Friends; we have a Temperance Re
form Club, an opera troupe, and
brass band, six stores, two hotels, and
two livery stables; but we have not a
single saloon, and only one in the
county. Music, vocal and instrument
tai, are taught here, and more intel
ligent and better educated community,
cannot be found anywhere.
My two youngest boys, Joseph and
John, are running an establishment
here, representing capital Of about
$4,000, consisting of dry goods, gro
ceries, hardware, stoves, tInware, a
lumber yard, and farming implements
The Government land is nearly all ta-
ken up, and as there is very little rail-
road land in the county, it is nearly
all occupied by actual settlers. A few
weeks ago, and before the rain, claims
could have been bought secondhand
very cheap, much cheaper than now.
Politics is at rather low ebb. The
Republicans are largely in the MAORI
ty, land are always quiet. A few Demo-
Gratis, and sprinkling Of Greenback-
ers, but we do not propose to draw the
party lines until after the county seat
question is settled; then they may
look out for breakers.
WIN. S. TYRRELL.