The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1882-01-31
From Ottawa County, Kansas.


Ed. SPIRIT: Thinking that few lines
from Ottawa county, Kansas, might in
terest some of your many readers, ]
concluded to write in order to let my
old friends know that am etill alive
and we'll and family all we'll. and well
satisfied with our new home and new
friends. This fine winter evening finds
me at home and thinking of Old Mon
roe and the friends Of my youth.
We landed in Kansas on the second
OF April last and have never met per-
son yet that we were aqrain,e1 with be
fore coming here. so you see our friends
are all new ones. but none the worse for
that. We are having splendid winter,
but very few cold DAYS. The winter so
far has been very different from what
expected. looked for great deal of
wind and buster. but have been agree
ably disappointed. Thus far it has been
the pleasantest winter weather ever
saw.
We had considerable OF rain in the
fall the ground was thoroughly soaked
and we have had some rain and consid-
erahle of snow since winter set in, which
Is splendid on the wheat; there is quite
a breadth Of wheat sown and it looks
splendid. There was good wheat crop
last year and it brought good prices,
from one dollar 10 one twenty per BUSH
el. Corn crop was light for this coun-
try, yet don't feel at all discouraged.
raised 800 bushels and do,e it with
less work than it takes 10 raise 100 bush
els in the hills and hollows
We have no hill sides and stumps and
stones TO contend with. i have suky
cultivator, hitch two horses to it and gel
In the seat and drive on and wonder
how q man feels that has to walk on hill
side, one foot as bigh as his heal AID
hold a single shovel plow, well know
how that eoe }. We have great many
advantages here that the farmers of a
billy country can never have. We dc
nearly all our work with machinery
withstanding our advantages, We
have disadvantages. We have plenty
of building stone, but timber is scarce
and all there is, is along the streams
There are several coal mines npsn in the
adjoining county.
Frui. is very scarce in this immediate
neighborhood. But we will have plenty
of fluit in time. There is plenty OF
fruit "a little distance east of US in this
State where it is older settled. This
country is hard to beat for cattle and
can't well be beat for sheep My near.
est neighbor is sheep man, has between
two and three thousand head; he says
thew keep healthy and don't seem 10 be
subject to foot rot and other diseases
li&e in Ohio He is from Ohio. 81
Oar school law in this State is same
as that OF Olio, with little improve.
ment. We are having seven month
term of school in our district this sea.
son; splendid teacher, fresh from OHIO,
but none the worse for that lam try.
ing to help the schools along as much
as possible. / am sending seven schol.
lars to school and my Oldest daughter is
teaching (she has six months term
Wages Of teachers much same as in old
Monroe.
We are having a terrible siege of Rlil
road fever in this valley at present. As
yet we have no Railroad up this valley
but are going to have one There are
4 companies irving to see which will ge,
the first road huitt They have each
m ada enryovs IN. tho north sido of tLf
river and two south of the river. Two
surveys pass through nv farm and au
satisfied the locomotive will he thunder
ing past in less than IL months. The
railroad wise say that we will get two
roads, one each side of the river. Lee
'em come.
Well / must tell something more
about my farming sowed 45 ucres o
wheat which looks well land about 8 acres
rye which looks well, and am preparing
to plow so acres for corn and consider
able of other crop IN Spring NY farm
is river bottom and the soil can't. h
beat. Ny house is stone 15x24, on,
and a half story, 4 rooms. Stock of al
kinds is high. Hogs, 4 10 &c; cattle
nigh; Spring calves bring from IL te
is dollars end sheep, well, there arr
none for sale. Those who have then
seem to want more. l will close for tht
present. Send your paper; it is yer,
Welcome visitor. Yours,
/ NAT. Fl EDDY.