The Rugbeian and district reporter. (Rugby, Tenn.) 1882-1883, 1883-02-17
wARTBvRG.
A Retrospective Glance.
Special to the Rltabeinll.

special 10 the Rlg0eldn.
MIR. Editor, In compliance with my
promise of a few weeks ago, | herewith
send you a few particulars of the coming
of the earlier settlers to Wartburg.
can only give them in an abbreviated
form, as | received them from some of
those who first immigrated to this place.
emitting recital Of the details of the
many hardships, trials and disappoint,
ments of their journey, and upon their
arrival. At that time there were no
railroads in Tennessee, and travelling
up and down our steep hills and rough
roads by stage coach, or private con-
veyance, was slow, tedious, and ex-
pensive, fearfully, impoverishing the
full purse. The settlers were from
Germany and Switzerland, and upon
arrival at the end of their long journey
found prepared for them a kind of cattle
pen or log enclosure, partially covered.
Some five or six families at once took
possession of this place, pending the
erection of better accommodation.
Before leaving their homes farming
lands had been promised them at from
twenty cents to forty cents per acre,
but upon arrival in Morgan county they
were asked from So to $40 per acre.
Most of them, however, bought farms
and gardens, varying in size from five
acres to a hundred acres only two lots
were in the village were purchased at
that time by these parties They all
settled within a radius of about three
miles of the village. To supply their
wants there was what was termed the
Company Store" conducted upon the
pay-as you-go principle. This place
afforded to those who had the where
withal to pay, the necessaries of life.
Everything was at a very high price,
though.
Among the settlers were manyartizans
Injured to toll and hardships in their
fatherland, and thus prepared to with
stand any discontorts, and persevere
in their undertaking. Among the ar
rivals were found carpenters and archi-
tects, doctor, timer, a blacksmith,
a wheelwright, a cabinet maker,
stone mason, bookbinder, weaver, a
miller, a cooper, tailor, gunsmith, a
Silversmith, brewer, a butcher, wine
maker, a clergyman and school teacher
combined, and gardeners and farmers.
Verify, enough trades, occupations and
professions to well start a town. They
were sober and Industrious, not habitu-
ated to habits of dissipation, which is
the prey to all success, and long life.
OF the people who came then there
are now living here some five or six
octogenarions, and several who have
passed this period by several years.
Others have passed away at that age.
The healthy air and simple living pro-
longed their lives.
Upon the opening of the colony the
commenced gardening and
farming, raising a sufficiency for their
then present needs, and by economy
and hard labor prospered and accumu-
lated property, and independently, and
at the time of the ''late unpleasantness"
were in condition to take, if not
leading, an assisting and active part in
developing the arts and sciences in
Morgan county, The armies of either
side, however, passing through and re-
passing, broke all up, dismantling and
taking all the property of the hard
working and patient settlers, leaving
them in many instances, destitute.
These had to leave Wartburg for other
sections, and commence life anew.
There are now many farms that at the
time of the war, were almost models in
IL small way, but are now lying waste,
without an owner even. But such is
the effect of war; it Stays, destroys and
lays waste, where otherwise would be
thrift and molument. z.