The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1879-05-03
From Kansas.

| THAYER, Neosho Co.. Kan, April %, 70.
Edttors If the Free TRACER: | should Ink,
to trouble you again with few remarks tol
the benefit of my friends that read your paper
| | have lived IN the above named place the las,
two years, and am satisfied that have betercd
myself in many ways, especially in climate
Land is not as uniform here as it is in La Sale
county; it is also rougher-more variety OF
soil; and good farms can be selected cheap for
cash. as many of the first settlers came here
with small means and suffered much during
those two years of failure by grasshoppers and
drouth, consequently became involved in debt
and would rather sell out and commence anew
than struggle with big interest.
The first season | came here thought many
of the settlers were lazy and shttless; butwith
better acquaintance find that many were disap-
pointed and lost their little means, except the
land they owned and perhaps even that was
owned by friend, and they had nothing ahead
to look for but another grasshopper inunda.
ton; and so were discouraged and made but
| little effort except to live. The second year
could discover more interest, more ambition,
more energy, more get up more determination,
and the result is II satisfaction. All seemed To
move right along and to be contented
This spring opened up with more interest
than ever. 1t seemed to me everybody was
wide awake All have taken the season by
the ioretop and manifest as much go ahead rs
any people of my acquaintance improving
and cultivatng in good earnest faith that If
they SOW they will reap. Wheat looks well
and stands one foot high now, OF corn a large
amount is in the ground, except new breaking,
am satisfied the seasons are one month ahead
OF La Sale county. | am also convinced OF
many other things The early planted corn is
the best IN this place as well as IN ether places.
Timothy and blue grass stands in my dooryard
from four to six inches high this morning, the
red clover mixed with it looking down ON It's
company.
As to our town, it has walked up tins spring
and grown more the last two months than the
last two years The citizens look and act as
though they intended TO stay here Thayer is
rs nice little city as they maKe-healthy and
clean, with an abundance of good water and
easy access 10 it settled by white men and
women, all as good looking rs the city of Otta-
wa aiiords-that Ottawa | always liked so
well Perhaps one would ask how big place
is Thayer? The number of inhabitants can't
give, but it has two public houses, three hard.
ware stores, three dry goods stores, five grocery
stores one harness shop, three blacksmith
shops only one grist mill running now, shoe
makers, doctors and lawyers a plenty, and
minus OF u saloon. Also a good supply of
mechanics of all kinds; Il nice school house
and meeting house, and another meeting house
to be built Immediately, and two drug stores.
The depot building is as good as the Fox Riv-
er r. r. had in Ottawa when left there. Re.
member, think none the less Of Prairie Cen
tre-I lived there from lS47 to 1S,1--but |
know of people there that should take Horace
Greely's advice. JAMES p II BATES