Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1883-10-03
SALllE'S CLAIM.
Securing a Homestead and a
Husband.
Hundreds Of Admiring Gaants 0eIu,e
Her With Letters Of Love, but
frisco Editor Takes the
Charming Prize.

NEVADA, a., October 2.-The wedding OF
Miss Belle Clinton 10 Mr.. Robert Jardeu
completes the chain OF q wonderful life
romance. The fame of the young lady,
who is known to the people Of this village
as Sallie Hambleton, has touched two
oceans. She is the grave. gentle maiden
who, since she came here, little sunny.
haired girl, with her parents years ago, has
Just glided into another home. In the
summer OF 1850 Shs determined TO make
her own way in tn world. An expedition
Inspired hy He1 Zeal
and consisting OF herself, her mother,
as chapsron and commissary OF the
party, her sister May, and two
young friends OF the male per.
suasion," set out in a prairie schooner for
the Great Northwest. Hurry and worry
left behind, sppropriating the vitalEng in.
tluences Of days in the open air and sun
shine, Of nights Of sound sleep (tle ladies'
beyond the reach OF tOads and snakes In
the close covered wagon, their faithful
warders on the tent sheltered TURF. two
weeks OF journeying over circuitous
route brought them to the home OF her
college classmate, near station which was
ringing for the FIRST time with the shrek OF
q locomotive.
This four months old huddle OF tents and
shanties was the nucleus Of
The Now booming City
of Mitchell, the mart OF Southeastern Da.
kots. Near the residence OF her frieni
Miss Hambleion selected her homestead
and timber lot, and in the land office OF
Davidson county entered her claim. After
a week 8 stay the pioneer party returned,
brown, vigorous and enthusiastic. The
spring took our homesteader again TO
Mitchell, and she supervised the building
Of her shanty, the breaking stipulated by
law, and the planting OF her timber. Her
cabin was supplied with such commodities
bs circumstances allowed, and the aid OF
the horal tribe invoked for its establish
ment. The place became known TO passers
by as "the school ma'am's claim where
the flowers grow" Her nights were passed
alternately at the home Of her friend and
in her cabin, with her friend for compAn-
ion-never alone the days under her own
roof seldom Jagged with
books and BIossom. for Compantons.
Just before Than .sIINiuR OF that year she
rolled the stone against the door OF her cot
and turned for winter shelter ioSaId the
old rooftree.
To reporter who me. h'r in a rail way
car she related the M ain oints of her eK.
perience. A b-ief story was published in
little country weekly. She WAS immediate
" 7, gsrded as heroine.
In Decem mber letters began to arrive ad-
dressed 10 Belle Clinton, and thew were I'd.
hssifatingly assigned 10 Miss Ham Die ton.
They hailed from all points from Miine 70
California, a single mail often bringing
ha ( a dozen. Before winter was over the
number received had swelled 10 several
hundred They were from old men, young
men, widows and maids, and, with rare ex-
ceptions, were honest inquiries for infOr-
m alton by persons desiring 10 become
homesteaisn. OF course they were honest
" and faithfully answered. The kind re-
ply not seldom prompted response, and
Many y Business Qaery
was the seed Of friendly correspon dence.
Occasionally one brought the offer OF
broad acres for the enterprise on daugh.
ter-in.law to supplement the supineneSs oil
an heir at law.
With the opening of the spring OF 1882
many OF Bales correspondents became
Dakota settlers. The influence OF emigra-
ton eIerted by the press report o! her
enterprise is indicated by the fact that on
the strength OF ii one Greene county stur-
dy old German alone started oil sixty
Young men; for, said he, What girl can
do Of course they can In recognition oil
her service the officers OF the Milwaukee
railroad readily passed her over their line,
and the second six months, shortened by q
long Writ from her mother, was spent on
her clam. In April last the third half
year Of occupation was begun. The right
OF a brave. gentle woman TO strive boBofs-
bly, for independence had
Made Her Cabin . Castle
impregnable TO either open invader or se-
cret foe; but destiny no noat or fortress
la an editorial room in San Francisco .
native Of the City Of Brotherly Love, whose
kindred were still beside the Schuylkill,
prepared copy. His home, the firesids OF .
friend, was one day broken up BY death.
Belle Clinton, the Iowa maiden, pursuing
ser. had been named In numberless eI.
changes, and, In an hour Of Loneliness, he
sent her Q word Of encouragement The
kindly message drew o courteous respo ase,
and ,he moving shuttle was unhindered
till IL had woven fast two livss- In June,
after Mrs. HambletsD had Joined her
daughter in Belle Clinton's rustic shanty,
The Prince frst behtld bis Princes. His
visit in Mitchell Was followed by one 70
her parental home,
The Eagasenest RIng GiIttere1
On her finger, the Dakota eiaim was proved
M. and in the George HApbieton eottAee
in Nevada rsjOieed reunited household.
A few xesks OF busy preparation followed,
and then the nupdsls we're celebrated
CoIoEIEss Asp CoLb.-A young kirl deep.
IL regretted that she was 80 coioslesa and
o1Id. Her face vn too Whit. and hei
hands and feet felt ss though the blood did
not circulate. After one bottle OF Hor