Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1885-08-20
A Trip Through the Southeast.

Ed. Regis ter-May I through the columns
of your good paper give brief sketch of our
trip through portion of Southeast Missouri?
party of four, with our team and camping
outfit, left Russellvile.
AS most Of you are acquainted with the
road from Ironton to Fredericktown l will
not say much about it, except that the corn
looks very well, and parts of the road rather
rough. We reached Fredericktown at four
O'Clock P. NJ. The town was rather dull
Met several friends and acquaintances; after
looking around awhile, we moved on three
or four miles eastward, and camped in a
grove near large spring. Our Nimrod shot
three rabbits, which the cook prepared, with
other things, for supper, which we enjoyed
immensely. It's strange how hungry one
will get! After supper awhile, we turned
into our hunks, three Of the boys sleeping in
the wagon, the other under it. In the wee,
sma' hours, when spirits are said to be
abroad, an evil one entered the heart OF the
sleeper on the ground, causing him to throw
a bucket of cold water into the wagon, there
by stirring up a turmoil among the sleepers.
After a time, peace and quiet was restored.
Morning came, and our cook made corn
dodger for breakfast. will refer you to the
boys as to its quality.
Seven O'Clock A. NJ. we broke camp and
moved on to Patton; reached there about
three p. NJ. Our friends seemed glad to see
US. Found business lively. The large mill
at that place, recently burned, has been re-
built, larger than ever.
Laid over till noon next day, when we
started down the Little White Water river
towards Jackson. We crossed the stream
nine times. 1t is very pretty stream in low
water, but from the looks Of the drift wood,
it must be very dangerous in high water.
Some very large trees grow in the bottoms.
We passed by the old Bollinger farm. 1t
is the most business like farm l ever saw. 1t
is enclosed with fences sixteen rails high,
and the fence rows are clean. There are
four or five large barns, all painted, and
many head of cattle, hogs, sheep, horses and
mules.
That night we camped on Big White Water,
near Millersville. We caught three nice cat
fish. Millersyille is pretty little town; the
houses are mostly brick, especially churches
and school houses. These are scattered all
along the road. Reached Jackson at eleven
O'Clock, and took in the town. The people
here complain of better times than the neigh
boring towns; they have q nice courthouse,
but not so nice grounds as Ironton. Left
Jackson and reached the Cape Saturday ev-
ening at five O'Clock. Camped half mile
north of the city in grove on the bank OF
the Mississippi. Staid over till Monday
morning. Some of the boys went to church;
the others wandered over the town.
Memorial services were held Saturday, and
the town was full of people when we reached
there. Most of the business houses were
open all day Sunday. Germans and colored
people are we'll represented; in fact, Cape
and Perry counties are largely German.
Monday morning started for Perry county.
Saw some very fine corn crops and good
many peaches. One of the boys started
home with two very fine peaches-for his
father and mother ~ Of course-but they
would not keep. Reached Appleton at six
P. M, and camped for the night. Bought
seven dozen eggs, fresh, for forty cents, and
the clerk wanted to 'set us up" to beer and
cigars beside.
Appleton is on the line between Cape and
Perry, the population German, and the bus
mess selling beer. Next morning we broke
camp, passed through Uniontown, Dog-trot
Longtown, near Tanglefoot, and arrived al
Farrarville at eleven A. NJ, and staid all night
till P. NJ. next day. Had splendid time
there, visited steam thresher which thresh.
es one thousand bushels of wheat day; the
farmers complain that the wheat crop il
very poor this year; nearly every farmer we
| saw in Madison, Bollinger, Cape and Perry
| counties was turning under clover for wheat
Perry county Is full of lakes; / guess we saw
| fifty as large as Sylvan Lake, and larger, OF
| our route from Appleton to Ste. Genevievs
| county. Some of these are stocked will
| carp and other fish. We reached Perryvillt
| Wednesday evening, and camped in the cit,
park. The town is about the size of 1ronton
and has some very fine houses, but other
wise is sway off,"
! Perryville, like too many other towns II