The Osceola times., 1884-01-19
SPRINGDALE, WAsuINGroN, Co


EDITOR TINES: DEAR SrR-In or
der to comply with my promise to
my numerous friends in Mississippi
County; it being almost an impossi-
billty to write them Individually, ]
have concluded to drop short com
munication through your valuable
paper; knowing it to be almost uni
versally read by the good people Of
my old County. doubt that shal,
be able to interest them, or that my
communication will be considered
worthy of space in your paper; but
if not, you can commit it the scrap
basket, and no harm will be done.
We started on our move from
Dead Timber, Mississippi Co, Aug,
llth, 1888, and did not arrive here
until about the 25th. Of October, ow-
ing to sickness in my family. My
wife was taken sick in Stone County,
near Mountain View, and ! wa, com
PEELED to lie over about seven weeks.
She recovered so as to be able to
travel, and we then proceeded to this
place. have not space nor time to
give full account Of our journey,
suffice to say, that do think We
travelled over the most mountainous
and rocky route through the State.
We travelled through Poinsett, Jack
son, Independence, Stone, Searcy,
Perry and Boon, also part of Mad
ison and Benton counties a distance
of about 400 miles. ! never had the
least idea that there were so many
rocks and hills, brooks and wales in
Arkansas, until my experience IN
this move, but through the guidance
and blessing of an allwisc providence
we arrived safely at our destination
My family are all regaining their
health, and are well satisfied with the
country. We have located at Spring
dale, a nice little town on the Frisco
railroad, which is a branch of the ST.
Louis & San Francisco II. r., run
ming to Van Buren on the Arkansas
river. This is busy and thriving
little town, beautifully situated in a
pice level country, ten miles south
of Fayetteville, and ten or twelve
miles north of Rogers, in Benton
county, in the northeast corner Of
Washington county, about twenty
five miles from the Nation line.
This is the best watered country
| have ever seen, it is not So rich as
Mississippi county, but the soil is
sufficient to make a good living on.
They raise nc Cotton here, Wheat,
Cas-, Corn, Potatoc Rye and all
kinds Of Vegetables grow well here,
but it is, and will be more valuable
as fruit growing country than any
other one product, the farmers are
turning their attention universally
to fruit growing. We have 6ne
schools here, and peopla 'a.e great
interest in schools and school facil-
tiles, we have large brick College
in this place, sufficient to accommo-
date about 800 pupils, the Free
School is being taught at it now, with
250 pupils in attendance; this is a
place of about 900 or 1000 inhabit-
ants; and a more sociablc, courteous
and generous-hearted people | never
saw; plain and unassuming, no aris-
tocracy, the people are not s.uck-up
and aristocractic as great many are
there, you cannot tell anything about
Il mans financial condition by the
clothes he wears; but every one who
conducts himself well, and is consid.
cred honorable and honest is respect
ed alike. Several of the religious
Denominations are well represented
here, and majority Of the business
men and adult citizens are church
members. The Old Baptist, Mis-
sionary Baptist, Presbyterians, Meth
odist, Episcopalians, and Cambell-
ties, all have organized Churches
here, there are three fine Churches
in town, one brick and two framed.
About twenty-five or thirty business
houses, one large Touring Mill, one
large Wool and Cloth Factory, five
Blacksmith Shops, wagon and buggy