Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1881-06-30
meeting Mr.. George Sumpter and his
two sons. and
QUITE A NUMBER


of the scholars that attended the writ
er's school in that district, and received
at their hands genial, Overlooking kind
ness.
After attending to the business that
took him into that region, he started
on his return, keeping on the water
shed between between the waters of
Black river and those of the Maumee,
and striking the State road from Iron
Mountain to Springfield, about four
miles ives of Kaolin, and was that ev-
ening very,kindly received and enter
tanned in the pleasant family of his old
friend, Mr.. John Webb, of Bellview.
From this point he reached home the
next day, bringing with him none but
pleasant memories.
But whilst thankfully acknowledging
kindnesses received, one benefactress
must not be forgotten. The journey on
the watershed between Black river
and the Maumee was, for eight miles,
without any water fit to be drunk, SO
that although the writer guarded
against thirst by keeping his mouth
carefully closed, and breathing only
through his nostrils, yet when he
emerged on Big river he was almost
famished from thirst. He called at
house and asked for drink of water.
A VERY MODEST AND PRETTY GIRL
~ Of ,fF. - Ir;, 80 ha
water already in the house, threw that
out and brou2 ht from as good spring
as there is in Iron county, pailfull,
and putting a dipper into it, sat it
down beside the writer i'm the doorway,
and then, like the genuine lady that
she is, stood kindly by and pleasantly
talked with him as he drank and rest
ed himself. May her heart be always
as pure and kind and her face as sweet
ly pretty as they now are.
But the journey took eight days, and
what did the writer see on Brickey's
Leg?
He saw a large amount of excellent
land, concerning the character and
resources of which every available fact
was carefully collected, and being en-
bodied in a detailed written report, was
on his return promptly laid before the
proper authority.
THE BEST AGRICULTURAL REGION
of Iron county. Township "a, range l
west had standing on the ground about
1000 bushels Of prime wheat. In pro-
ducing this crop Charles X. Henderson
led, followed very closely by George
Sumpter. Then came Nelson Hawk
with twenty-five acres which, if careful
ly harvested and threshed, will give
him at least 275 bushels. Then came
Joseph Stricklin and Henry Hender-
sou side by side in regard to quality,
but the former exceeding largely in
acres. A crowd of others followed as
they could, some close up and some a
long ways behing.
In corn, George Sumpter led off far
ahead His best field of corn was near
ly shoulder high, a splendid stand, and
the ground as clean as a neat garden.
Then came Nelson Hawk with large
field of corn about two feet high. Then
Reuben Sumpter on Thos. Henderson's
land. Then Joseph Stricklin, Charles
X. Henderson, and George Sumpter's
second sized crop, being later plants.
Then came host following along as
they best could, being generally late
plants, but on new ground.
ALL THE CORN LOOKED THRIFTY,
and all the ground was cleaned nicely.
The writer saw a great improvement
in lands. OLD lands that had become
foul were comepletely cleaned up, a
large acreage of new land brought un-
der cultivation, and quite number of
neat new houses erected. He was
greatly pleased to notice the absence
of the irresponsible population, and
their places taken by much better
class. He saw good springs almost be-
yond enumeration; but the one that is
without an equal in his knowledge, is
on the southwest quarter of section g.,
township "a, north, range west. The
spring is strong and the water clear
and very cold, and over the spring is a
cave in the rock making three sides
and roof for very substantial milk
house.
On the west side of the same town.
ship there is fine site for a water saw
mill, where an overshot would be well
run, and a tourbine still better; and
this location is closely surrounded by
several millions of feet of
AS GOOD PINE AS EVER STOOD
on stumps, and no end of white oak.
just right for railroad ties and bridge
timber. He did not see five acres of
black oak on his whole trip.
Speaking of timber, there is need 10
correct popular impression, in which
the State Agricultural Society seems to
that the small siZe of