The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1888-08-04
WESTERN pueouTs.
Tho Houses of Early Homestead Claimants
in Kansas and Nebraska.


The Houses OF Esrly Homestead Claimants
In Kansas ana Nebraska.
To begin with, the habitation OF the
homesteader is either a dugout or a
house built OF squares OF sod taken from
the prairie--Nebrasls or Kansas brick,
as they are facetiously termed. The
dugout consists Of hole dug in the
side of n canyon or any sort OF depres-
sion on the prairie which will serve as
wind-break. This hole is rooted
across, about on a level with the
prairie with inch boards, and these are
covered with sod. A foot or so OF
stcve-pipe protruding from the roof Is
the sole indication of a human habita-
tion. One room generally serves all
the purposes Of the homesteader and
his family. II he prospers for u sea-
son, he adds to the front OF his abode
by erecting walls of sod on the sides
hand putting in a new front, the old one
serving as partition between the two
rooms. This is considered u commodi-
GUS dwelling. After riding over the
quarter section looking for an owner,
espying such an abode, and guiding
your team carefully down break-neck
descent to the front door, would it sur
prise you, upon entering this hole in
the ground, to find, for instance, a
very modern organ with an imposing
cathedral back towering high in one
corner of the roomp But this is no
cause for astonishment-very fire.
quently organs and ornate designs in
furniture are to be found in the dug
outs. Or, If the lady Of the house
should invite you to remain for the
meeting OF the literary club there in
the evening, would you stare at thatp
Not at all Literary clubs, which the
members ride all the way from five to
twenty miles to attend, and where they
discuss with great earnestness every
thing from the latest political problem
to the most abstruse point in metaphys.
les. are quite the regular thing with
our homesteaders. But to behold this
<hife so full of paradoxes in the height
OF its incongruousness you should be a
spectator in the dugout when neigh
UOFuOOu uduCc lS Ill lulI Liz
earthen walls have been skilfully
tapestried for the occasion with calico,
and when the fun begins, the clay floor
speedily responds to the capering Of
the many twinkling feet, and there
arises cloud of dust that would stiHe
an Indian. But, bless you! they don't
mind bit of dust. A polished floor
and most perfect system of ventilation
attainable could add nothing to their
enjoyment.
The homesteaders are very honest
You can leave house unlocked at all
times and your stores are perfectly
safe-with the exception of what liquor
you may have on hand for medicinal
urposes. In other words, the home
steader will steal whisky every time.
As class they are neighborly, kind to
one in distress, and exceedingly hos
pitable.
But it must not be supposed that all
homesteaders live in dugouts or sleep
six or seven in a room; such expert
ences attach to the first year or two OF
JNlrontier life more than to any later pc
riod. Many slightly, commodious and
comfortable sod houses have been
built. The walls are usually two feet
in thickness, the roof shingled, doors
and windows set into the walls, and
the house plastered inside, sometimes
outside, altogether making very neat
and desirable residence. These struc-
lures, too, are free from the annoyances
of dugouts, in which are found all
manner of insects and rodents. Occa-
sionally rattlesnake will burrow
through the earthen sides and coil him.
self snugly in the bed-clothes, where
you will find him on a cold morning.
Such intruders are rare, but there are
some people who strenuously object to
even rare visits of this sort; such are
usually energetic enough to get out of
the old house and into new one be.
: fore spending many months in an abode
SO uncomfortably near to natures
heart.-Fraaak III. Spearman, IN Har-
per's Magazine.