Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1885-03-12
Old Times.

Old Times.
Ed. Register.-In my last article spoke
of the roads not being very good; such being
the ease, it was of no use to purchase good
carriages and buggies. for we could not use
them. The only way to travel was on horse
back, or with big team, and carry an AK
and other tools to mend up break downs:
most of the travelling was on horseback. A
person could travel for days and weeks for
almost nothing; it did not require a full
purse, as now. If you rode good horse,
dressed neat and clean, looked like gentle
man, and acted like one, and was withal a
good talker, you were welcome. l have
known men to go on journey to Kentucky,
Tennessee, or the Carolinas, to be gone two
or three months, and not cost over five dol
lars; nor did they have TO beg, forpeople did
not spend so much time travelling as now,
and when stranger came he was welcomed.
Newspapers were not SO plenty; while it
is a rare thing now to go in a house without
seeing one or more newspapers and maya
zines, then it was a rare thing to see any pa
per. People did not have the advantages for
knowledge as in these days. Now, every
house, with its bevy of boys and girls, with
bright faces and neat clothing; then there
were few or no school houses. If man
wished to educate lis children, he hired a
teacher in his house, or some one got up a
subscription school and hired a teacher; those
only had the privilege of sending who paid.
So you see why travellers were welcome;
everybody expected to hear about the out
side world, the whole political question was
gone over, religious matters discussed, per-
sonal affairs, trade and traffic-everything of
interest to man was brought up and talked
over. People enjoyed entertaining strangers,
for we are to entertain strangers, for there
by some entertain angels unawares."
In early times when but little was known
of the vast country west of the Mississippi
river, the report had spread throughout the
Eastern states and Europe that sin the state
of Missouri were two mountains of iron, SOL
id iron from toy to bottom" OF course it
brought many learned men to see such Won
derful deposits of mineral wealth; also such
wonderful lodes of lead as at Mine La Motto
and Mine La Berton. The visits of Prof.
Nicoli from Italy, Lord Henry Merry, Prof.
lOl. Sut plltl w anu OtuCls
that do not remember, are impressed upon
my mind. l was always detailed to act as
guide. Three German professors came to
spend few days looking over the country;
| was instructed to go with them wherever
they wished. The first place was Pilot
Knob: we hitched our horses at the foot of
the mountain, and as we started up MOTTO
ed one of them take his addle-bags on his
shoulder; when we reached the top they
We're well warmed and tired. After resting
awhile, they opened the bags and took out a
half dozen bottles of wine; they said they
had brought it all the way from Germany to
drink on the top of Pilot Knob. They arose
to their feet, and stood side by side, each
with bottle of wine in his hand; turning,
their faces to the east, the first said, "Here
is to our beloved country across the sea-
Germany!" each took long drink. The
next SAID, ''And here is to our beloved sister,
the United States of Americau' another
drink. The third looked all around, then
down at his feet, and said, "And now to the
goddess of the wilderness, Pilot Knob !"
then another drink. After singing some
verses which were very fine, they seated
themselves, discussed the scenery, the Won
derful works of nature, the character Of the
ore, the future of this wonderful develop
ment of mineral, and the country in general.
After resting and drinking all the wine bat
one-half bottle, they proposed letting that
stand on the top as an offering to the ''gods
of the hills" Reaching the foot of those top
rocks, one of them said, "No, am going
back to drink that wine;" the others object
ed, and as he climbed back one of them seiz-
ed my rifle and shot at the bottle breaking it
to pieces. After reaching our horses safely,
we visited the other places of interest. AL
though we had no railroads or stage coaches,
we were not cnt off entirely from the outside
world. What delightful horseback rides
the young folks would take, coming from
distance to visit these places. Parties of five
or six couples would come from ST. Louis.
POtosi, Pennington, Fredericktown, and ev-
en- Illinois. twas COMMUNICATING to ride
an hundred miles. Time was nothing; it
might we'll be spent riding horseback as
by rail: The world had not got in such a
hurry as it is now when everything goes by
steam, and people act as if life was too long
and they must get through it as soon as pos
sible. No, we were in no hurry. Every day
brought its own cares, with little thought of
the morrow.
l shall never forget the visit of one COM
pany of ladies and gentlemen from Farm
ington. They had sent word they wished
to visit the Pilot Knob, Iron Mountain and
Granite Quarry. "Will il ldiscommode you
to keep five or six couples two or three
days?" Our answer was, ''No, we will be
glad to see YOU" The day was a bright
warm one in summer; about four O'Clock
they rode up on their beautiful horses-they