The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1882-02-09
Minnesota,

BIG WOODS, Feb /, 1852.
This portion of Minnesota is called big Woods
from the extensive forest lands with which it
abounds. One of these fields of timber is about
800 miles long and 90 miles wide. Here the fox, the
wolf and the wild deer make their home and mock,
it the incessant efforts of the huntsman with
his dogs and his 16 and 26 shooters.
Bordering upon these forests are beautiful prairie
lands, extensive rich in soil and just such the
farmer wants TO raise his crops. and close by the
Minnesota River, is the beautiful city of LeSueur
with her excellent railroad capacity, her elegant
store and her tall spacions elevators, aording
unparallel grain market for the farmer Not
than 10 miles up the river is the city of St. Peter,
fully equal and perhaps superior to LeSueur, mas
much 1t has railroads. Between these two
cities, the farmers ofBig Woods have ready market
for all they can produce upon their farms.
Most of these men. who are emigrants from jackson
county, Ohio cultivate the land on large basis
ing 100 and upward in wheat, (any body sowing
less is hardly considered worthy of the fraternity
about 20 acres in and planting 40 and up
ward In corn annually. One man can tend 40 acres of
corn When he plows it he mounts his snlky plow
of four shovels, places horse and two shoves
each side of and drives till then changing
his horses and drives till night, when he finds that
he has plowed about 10 acres,
When the wheat is ripe, little boy who Is able to
drive team takes the Self Binder into the field and
by night he finds to his surprise that he has from II
to l5 cut and bound. Then after harvest comes
the thresihing season, which will occupy several
|
of December before the last job threshed.
Prominent among these agrculturists is David
Hughes Esq, brother of Thos j. Hughes, who lives
near Jefferson Furnace. Mrs. d. Hughes is daugh-
ter of Mr. Evan Grhiths, formerly of Gallia Switch.
Mr.. and Mrs. Hughes live about midway between St.
Peter and LeSueur and the parents of eight chill
dren, five of whom living. Mr.. Hughes is out
buying hogs these days, his stock having run down
| to forty.
Another of these heroic farmers who will be read-
Evan T. Jones, who % years lived somewhere
miles from LeSueur. Tom and Ellis married.
They live in LeSueur, and doing well. The latter
contemplates visiting his native State before Spring.
Again, here is David Morgan and his wife. who is a
sister William and John Jenkins. (Caemelyn) and
owen Davis, who married the Oldest daughter of
John Hughes deceased, and William E. Jones and
think most of these lived somewhere Gallia
Furnace. All these people looking stout and
hearty, in neghborly love and kindness, they are
second in the u S. In attention and hospital
| ity to strangers. they unsurpassed.
The winter far has been exceedingly mild, zero.
II degrees below marking the termini of the
| curv. The roads hard and smooth. covered with
little but hardly enough for good sleighing
yet make the best of it. So, if there be debate
literary meeting thing of the kind within five
miles, put Fur caps, our buffalo coats, and
robes to protect from the weather, and then off we
go at full speed, joval party full of gee amused
| with the merry chimes of the sleigh bells.
| Thanks to friend j. W. johnson for gleam of his
Wild fanciful Imagination. Yours truly,
T.JAY MORGAN.