Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1885-07-09

Incidents Of Life In Illinois Yearly Hair
Century Ago.

@'S'" suo NeWuuiypoft kMAsh Herald
Henry @. Little and wife of Grlnnell,
To-, lately paid short visit to theorig-
inal home of his family in Newbury.
They are well-preserved couple Of
bree-score and ten years, whose lives
ye not been essentially different from
SfAy OF their age of New England
birth and parentage who have lived IN
the great West. Mr.. Little was born
in New Hampshire, and, being one Of
large family on farm, was early
thrown for support on his own resources.
Managing one way or another to
get sufficient education, he drifted to
Connecticut to teach school, and there
found his wife, and they were married
in 1886, and joined company most of
whom were from Connecticut, and emf.
grated to Illinois. They settled In
Henry County and formed township,
and remembering from whence they
came, gave it the name OF Wethersfield
No other settlement was within fifteen
miles. The rich, virgin soil of the
prairie brought forth luxuriant crops.
Game was abundant. In short, nrture
poured into their laps all her treasures
in rich abundance; yet in the greatest
plenty there was also great want, fot
there was practically no market for
their crops, and hence no money for
other wants. The postage OF 25 cents
on every letter from home was serious
tax to meet Some of the company
were lovers of the weed, but dollar or
two year was more than could be af-
forded for this qualification. Tobacco
could be raised in plenty, but they
could devise no pressure to give it body
and flavor, till one day kentuckian
came along and told them to take the
toughest log that could be found, and
with wedges split open one end an inch
or so wide, put in their tobacco, and then
knock OUT the wedges, and they thus
had press that met all their wants. 1t
may we'll be doubted whether the
late William w. Huse, of Hawkswood
fame, with all his mechanical ability
and knowledge of tobacco, could devise
anything better suited to the end de.
sired. Afterward some of the settlers
kept cleft log, with tobacco free to all
corners, in their front yards for years.
A market for their pork was one of the
first obtained, and by teaming it about
forty miles they obtained the great price
Of 81 80 per hundred weight.
Mr. II ttfla fnll a % nry ~
his efforts to get himself pair Of trou-
sers and coat. He first shot deer,
and then undertook to tan its hide and
finally succeeded, and himself made the
trousers. For the coat he was more
fortunate, for an Indian came along
with an extra deer skin, and they soon
made trade, and the coat changed
owners. Thus they lived gradually,
but steadily lettering their condition,
as settlers increased in numbers, and
after while, county organization
was formed, and all the paraphernalia
of courts, officers, ETC., was maintained.
For two of these years, Mr.. Little was
chosen TO the Office of sheriff. and this
included the collection of the state and
county taxes, amounting to about $780,
600 all paid in coin. For the perform
ance of these duties his accommoda-
tons would hardly satisfy Mr..
Sheriff Herrick or Collector Jenkins
of Essex. There was not a bank or
any other place of deposit, not even
safe, in the whole country, and he was
compelled TO keep the portion due the
State until the close of the year. How
then could he safely care for so large
an amount of money? In his own graph.
nc language, there were always in the
West men that he could ''tie to-" He
would take bag of gold or silver, OF
81 900 or more, and go to one of these
m en- and ask him to take care of it for
him, not daring 10 take receipt lest it
should be stolen and his.friends there
by get into trouble; and in no case was
there ever a failure TO deliver the mon
ey when it was called for. One time
he asked friend to take charge of .
lag of gold The friend was somewhat
nervous about taking such trust, and
said his wife could hide things better
than he could. He turnd to the wife,
and she took IL aud said she would keep
il as safely rs possible. After some
months he called for it, and she led the
way to the tito of her log cabin, and,
taking down the family rag bag, said:
81 put vour money in this bag" and
put,ing in her hand took cut the mon
ey safe. The farmers workmen had
slept every night IN tho room, with no
idea of tho value in the room.