Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1881-07-28
A Trip 10 Turkey Creek.
BY THOMAS CALLAHAN.


Having business among the classic
shades of that stream, visit was made 70 it
and it is now proposed to speak Of what was
seen there and on the road in going aud re-
turning. The aphical position of Turkey
Greek is in townships SO and 81, north, range
east, of the fifth principal meridian. TAX
ing the Fredericktown road at Russellville.
the writer was guided into the very heart OF
the region sought He had been told that the
distance was eight miles from Ironton, but
found it twelve by the highway Travelled by
men. A crow could make it In eight miles.
But he did not repent following the road, for
1t lie very interesting. In 1854 division of
Price's army advanced on Ironton on that
road. On the first mile and half east OF
Stout's creek, i've hundred pounds of powder
used in blowing out the road and one hun
dred men working two days erecting breast
works of logs and rocks, wo1ld have enabled
two hundred men, divided into squads Of
twenty men each aud commanded by gritty
officers, TO have made Prices advance cost
him one man per foot. The pass is perfect
Thermopyl2 1t would have taken large
force to have successfully disputed the cross
ing of the St. Francois river; for that can De
pIanked within easy distance. But these are
peaceable times. The road runs through the
llatwoods region, which is in three divisions
the first beng southwest Of Stout's creek,
the second between Stous's creek and the St.
Francois, and the third east OF that river. The
middle division is the highest. The general
traits Of all the divisions are precisely alike.
The surface is comparatively smooth, except
ing in the Immediate neighborhood or the large
streams. The soil is a very strong limstone
clay, and under proper cultivation will yield
all the grains and grasses abundaatly. The
timber is mainly very thrifty white-oak, with
very little black-oak, and less pine. The rocks
are mainly red granite OF a very poor quality,
much of it being SO rotton that IL must in the
near future become soil. There are very few
large masses of porphyry, but they are OF ex-
traordiuary solidity. IL would Seem as # The
mttal,c upheayal which gave us Pilot KNOB
anu Iron Mountain dctacneu a frag from
The granite formation near Its western edge,
giving us the Granite Quarry, whilst tue VAST
bulk OF the form G!on .ynIg east of tno up-
heavat, not only neid it's own against 1t, ouI
also protected tine porphyry against Dfeaha
There Is also u considerable amount Oh oiut-
gray granite o. spleuuid quality, near Lhe
road, with Very little limestone, and less sand
stOnc. Of metals there are some traces OF
blue SpeCulaf liOfi, anu not quite u SueI Oh
lead-in all about nickePs WUrGn-betWeen
StUut's creek aud FrederlcktoWn. And 10
usual in such cases there are men making
more ado over that triaing amount than over
all the really grand resources OF the county. |
There is in many places a scarcity OF SorA
" alter in the ueighborhOOd of the road. wIi..u |
will be most easily remedied 10y resort IL |
cisGerns. In the Turkey Creek neighb Jrno'd
there is 8 vast body of excellent land, touch |
OF which can be obtained at very reasou.loie
rates. SOmQ of the CiE VelV
10 sell, because their faniiies are slckly. An
examination of their PREMISES disclosed iocA
causes amply sufficient to account for their
sickness. Fifteen minutes judcious explain
atlVn and two days work will remedy int
whole difficulty; but as the parties d,d not
Seem to desire assistance in any way from ne
writer, the explanation was not 2iven-and
there will be sacrifices of some splendid
homes. That is naturally very heal,hy re-
gion OF country, and the people are in tue
main living comfortably. The bulk Of the
trade comes to IrontOn. On the whole trip
the writer saw but one schoolhouse; but that
/, Il neat and substantial bu,u NJ, and admir-
ably locat ed in the middle of splendid play
ground. The Young people appear 70 lie
bright and pleasant, but their tcboarship is
baekwaid The people. Gave built good school
houses and paid fair W t..es 10 acheIS, and
81 nc their children 10 school wi h a good de-
gree of regularity, bn5 ei:uCdtton has not
progressed very favGraby OWING mainly TO
two facts. In the fist plice tue teachers
did not link studies so as 10 max. she one aid
the other. All their instruction has been
I, agmeutarv, and SO the more readily forgot
ten. And then teachers do no. seem to have
been chosen the basis of their real qualifi
cations for their work. but on he ground o.
the preferences OF individuals 4 state OF
affairs which is lot confined TO Turkey Creek
10y any means. On his trip iii" writer saw
yer, few sheep end not MANY hogs. and what
be saw were rot OF good quality. The cat
tie we're much better. The original stocks
sem to have been Devonshire AID Durham.
but have been mixed NJ until the peculiar
traits Of both are lost: bur the animals a. e fine
aud in good condition. On his reiurn on Sab !
bath afternoon. the writer was hnr suhj"ct OF
u grand storm OF lightning. thunder. rain. and
hail, about three miles from Ironron. The |
hail was small, but the rain and ii ,htning
were terrific.