Turner County herald. (Hurley, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1883-09-13
A DAYS DRIVE.
Dakota Prairie and Towns as Seen Through
the Eyes of an Eastern Visitor.


the Eyes of an Eastern Visitor.
Hurley, D. r., Sept. I'd, 1SS3.-Y Jester
day at p. IN. Mr.. and Mrs. M. U. Hoyt,
of Van, Nebraska, and Miss Anna Hoyt,
of Yankton, Dakota, and Mrs. Jacob
Hudson, SISTER of Mrs. NJ. U. HoyD of
Kalamazoo, Michigan, started from
Y,ankton to visit Mr.. and Mrs. Ledyard,
al Sioux Falls, Dakota. The trip was
delightful, and to one member of the
party novel and picturesque-as beau
tiful as dream of Eden. After cross
ing the James river, travelling north
:sarn and ascending a bluff the scene
that met my eye was a panoramma of
loveliness: undulating prairie
with here and there lovely homes, tall,
waving corn and crops Of wheat, oats
and other cereals gathered and stacked,
and groves of trees planted at intervals.
Many of these homes, which were "pre-
emptions," "homesteads" or "tree-
claims a few years since, are now well
stocked with fine herds of cattle, crops
and implements of farming that would
be a credit to the Empire state" The
flora of this Gland of the Dakotahs
surpasses description. 1t is one grand
, ';.lllosaic of nature" hue, form and per-
Sfume, infinite. "Methlnks one is God."
l involuntarily exclaim as gem after
rom ic 1icrIpcal
Prairie lOOmiles in circumference was
mapped out before me, embryo towns
in the distance. Rolling prairie for
miles, then bluff; no trees except hun
dreds of artificial groves. Old Sol was
shining upon us as the fleet steeds
SKINNED over this inland sea of the
most luxuriant grasses and loveliest
flowers that ever graced the bowers of
paradise; cool, delicious breeze famed
our brows, and not an insect on the
wing to mar the day. Tarrying at the
model farm and home of d. 0. Law
renee, where taste, skill and comfort
combine, as we sank into the easy
parlor and noticed everywhere eviden-
ces of the handiwork of our hostess, I
could scarcely realize that | was nearly
1000 miles away from our own beauti-
full Kalamazoo, with my only sister,
whom ! had not seen in twenty-fOur
years. Here was an open prairie farm
of 800 acres, of five years cultivation;
wheat, corn, oats, potatoes fine melons
and garden. Fine cattle and sheep AZ c
Mr.. LIS fancy, and about 800 Of the lat
ter Craze on the prairie by day and are
corralled at night, as the herd law pre-
walls in Dakota. Our next stop was at
a Danish home. ave are nine," replied
Martina, as l inquired how many broth
ers and sisters there were in that chalk,
stone house. Morning-glorieS, mari
Colds and old fashioned posies were
blooming here, and a lovely grove OF
trees were planted from road to house
Roads everywhere are good. A lake
as they are called in Dakota, Qike ponds
| oll Va dliI l. uiiICJ Ndo paelolilLCu ny
tlocks of ducks and geese. We passet
Swan Lake. The town looked deserted
The swans had taken not only theil
beds and departed, but houses also, ant
are now residents of Hurley, at which
place we arrived at p. M, the distance
from Yanl1ton being about thirty-fv'
miles
Hurley is a charming town, in Tur
ner county, located four miles froli
Swan Lake, the county seat, and nea
the geographical center of the county
In May, 1883, scarce four months since
building operations commenced. Th
site is nearly level prairie. The mail
line of the Northwestern railroad. run
ming between Chicago and Pierre, ha
lately been completed through the towl
and nice and commodious depot built
Among the business places we find ;
large steam elevator and feed mill near
ly completed, coal and lumber yards
dry goods, grocery, hardware, drug ar'
flour and feed stores, with the usua
complement of blacksmiths, carpenters
masons, &c. find Open-dealing whole
hearted gentlemen and ladies in thi
enterprising, live western town tina
will soon, predict, cope with easter
Michigan towns in thrift and wealth
Here willing workers make the bon
and sinew of our beautiful land wher
the stars and stripes wave and the canc
py of heaven is spread wide enough fo
willing hands. No drones are invite
to stop at Hurley, nor tramps or dudes
If they chance to stop, "go west ii
your shadow reaches oblivion, will b
their welcome.
| We were Hospitality entertained owe
night, supped and breakfasted at II. l
Vinton's. Mrs. Vinton is daughter {
Judge Eldridge, of Yankton and grant
daughter of Col. Thomas A. Ii. Et
wards and great-granddaughter {
Major Abram Edwards, of Kalamazoo,
Mrs. Hoyt and Miss Anna Hoyt wei
delightfully."- etertained at Messrs. ALE
and Brauch's.
During an impromtu call at Editc
Browns (Turner County HeralI coz
Office and new home we were introduce
to Mrs. B. and daughter Vera, a lovel
child. of two years, a petit ladie, ey'
azure blue hair of golden hue.
Albert Allen and Clyde Vinton. Il
sons of our friends, real types of n
, ture's noblemen, may they becom
worthy scions of the noble stock the
represent, and grow to be placed amor
the solid men Of our beloved country.
G. NJ. HUDSON.