Emmons County record. [volume] (Williamsport, D.T. [i.e. N.D.]) 1884-current, 1886-03-24
Pioneers of the Past.

Prof. Bent, Of DuPage county, Ill.,,
gives the Prairie Farmer his recollections
OF the time when tue Sucker State was
young. He says:
Forty years ago, to reach Galesburg
from Southeastern Indiana, 800 miles by
land, was lmpracticable in the spring, as
the unfathomable mud on the national
road caused practical s!oppage of the
mails for weeks. took a forty mile Jour.
ney to Cincinnati to reach a steamer, and
then nearly Il week on the Ohio and Mis-
sissippi rivers to reach Oquaka, and then
forty miles more to reach GalcSburg.
That forty miles 1 shall ever remember
The wind was 4 steady, cold, northwest
gale all day, and the region almost with.
out inhabitants, except near Monmouth.
1t was April ~, and the prairics, just
burned off, were black and desolalc; not
a green thing to be seen but few goose
berry leaves in warm nook in Il garden.
Had there been dry snow that would have
style of farming then was to raise corn
and teed it to hogs. Pork paid store
bills at $1.50 per hundred pounds. Cot.
ton goods ranged from II to IS cents pei
yard, and other things in proportion.
Money for produce there was next to
none. Corn would bring-from new set
tiers, who had to buy-6 cents per bushei.
Eggs were 3 cents q dozen. One well-to-do
settler had to wait month to get 25
cents to pay the postage on letter.
stald over night ut the house Of the lieu.
tenant governor of the state. The upper
story, in one room, served as dormitory
for several persons. The pipe hole
through the roof afforded me an 0pportu-
nifty, while lying in bed, to witness the
procession of the stars 10 get floul
or meal we had to take Journey of six
teen miles to Spoon river, and sometimes
had to wait several days for our turn"
Apples were hauled in limited quantity
from other settled regions 100 to 2O0 miles
away. Wheat had to be carried from 81
to 100 miles to lind u market at so cents q
bushel, and was.pah for in rather unreli-
able bank-bills
The sloughs were kept full of water and
the bridges were often washed out, caus-
ing heart-sickening delays aud great dan
ger in fordlng streams. Land remained
unsold in vast quantities. though to I've
was, II would not have the land for the
taxes" What held people thereY The
trouble of getting back. Then the ac-
climating process had to bu gone through
with. Chills and fever would 1age in
harvest time, and many field was un-
harvested. At length the day of pros.
pcrity dawned The railroads came. AS
If by magic the prices Of land and produce
advanced rapidly. The people were on
the highway to case and wealth.
How is it now in the new, far-off West?
The pioneer rides on cushioned seats in a
day Or two to his new home. 1t is i
recreation. Everything needed to eat and
wear are at hand, and at prices about us
low as in the older states. There is a
market at fair to good prices for all he
can raise. Schoolhouses of fine style,
with all modern appliances, are near.
The country fills up in II year or two.
Such Is the superior drainage and lay of
the land, and purer atmosphere, that ma.
larial disorders are almost unknown.
Herd laws prevent the expense and con.
stant irritation of poor fences. A few
years secure a grove and wind break,
and then IN comfoft the song can be,
"Blow. breezes. blow" But, with ali
these advantages, some do not greatly
succeed. Some have not the faculty to
succeed. Some undertake too much.
Some drone too much. Some buy too
much and then, if there is mistake, Il
hail l-storm, short crop, or a prairie fire,
against which they had made no proper
protection, become discouraged. But to
the resolute and really thrifty, even
though poor, success is certain.