The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1888-08-18

settlement WAS Lidue IN tnst yenr, suu INC
settlement Of counties up the river began at
about the same time. The Indian wars OF
1927 and 1882 seriously impeded the settle
ment and progress Of the county, and it is
hardly possible to say that genuine progress
set in and civilization entered its borders
until 1888. History has not parallel to
the progress, the growth, the development
Of this great county since that date or the
7S7,28O acres Of land fit for cultivation in
the county, but 10000 were subjected to the
tax in 1883. Mark you, in that year the
lands Of La Sale county were almost Q
wilderness and but 1000 acres we're under
cultivation. Upon this 1900 acres the total
tax levy for county expenses, both for the
running Of the county and local machinery
was but $l38, and the entire state tax levied
and collected in the county, but $5.l4. In
1889, $1,000 and some odd acres had been
added 10 the domain Of the farmer. In
that year the state levy tax was $l,O76, SO
rapid was the growth Of the county in wealth.
So marvellous WAS its Advancement in the
next two years, that 1t stood fourth among
the counties of the state in tax valuation,
while the counties in the state along the
Mississippi river, settled years before, hsd
apparently stood still. At this time, the
entire expenses of running the state Of ILL
nois was less then one half the amount now
required to satisfy the tax levy Of La Sale
county today. By whom was this vast
amount Of improvement brought about!
Who was il that transformed the unfruit.
full prairies and hillsides Of La Sale county
into the fertile fields of waving grain, into
towns, hamlets and homes! BY whom was
this accomplished! Fly you and BY us-no,
for We were not here then, by our forefathers
and BY tho old patriarchs here among US.
The county paid nearly 5000 in state
tax in 1s4l. She has grown in population,
wealth and power, day by day from that day
until now. The foundation Of her greatness
is love Of liberty, love Of morality and love
Of home. With such foundation Of gram
dsur it has progressed until today the last
assessed valuation in 1887, was Sl7, 900 0OO'
which 10 lsss than one third the actual cash
value Of the property Of the county, which
is today over $54,OOO.O0o. From 1888 when
the total acreage under cultivation was II.
600, ws have progressed during these fifty
years under the guidance and direction Of
the old oaks Of La Sale county 50 thai a.
100000 will not cover the value Of the
property Of the county. When l say this /
include the value Of public buildings, Of
bridges, Of churches, schools and roads,
which will swell the total TO over 500, 900, q.
600. have always maintained that Illinois
is the garden spot Of the world, and that La
Sale county is the center Of beauty Of Illi-
nois. We are indeed fortunately situated.
Why in this very valley il we had been liv'
ing two hundred and eight years ago, and
could have stood upon Starved Rock and
looked out over the valley Of the Illinois We
would have seen grand village Of 1000
inhabitants upon that plain and the lodges
of 10000 scattered between the rapids of the
illinois and the city Of La Sale. But we
would have seen a savage race Of people
who had come here because it is place of
SURPRISING beausy, an Eden where the lovers
Of beauty would fain to dwell. This beauti-
full valley has become our home and the
home Of our children, and will be the home
OF their offspring for generations to come.
It has been said that the grandest thing
in nature is an innocent child, but while l
ooncede the grandeur of the child, it is the
old man and the old woman who have taken
on the duties and burdens voluntarily i'm
posed upon themselves, by whose example
We may be ennobled and enriched in purity
and manliness and womanliness that
greater grandeur belongs To him who has
passed through the busy scenes Of life look
up with reverence, and to him who has
spent life of usefulness in the scenes of
activity is due the crown Of honor.
Nh. MIEKLER
one of the oldest settlers Of this part Of the
state, now Of Kendall Co., followed Mr.
Mayo with short address. He spoke of
the hard times endured by the old settlers.
His talk Of few moments was quite inter
esting. He spoke Of prairie fires how the
old pioneers had fought them in the thirties,
and Of blowing around the cultivated lands
|, to turn the flames aside. I" Who were your
forefsthers?'' said MIR. Minkler, They were
the founders Of Illinois; they came first and
looked the ground over, and brought re
ports back to the east. Then men of means
came and built homes and the country be.
came settled. have seen the time when
-four was worth twenty five dollars per bar
rel in Chicago, and silt fifteen dollars per
barrel, and there wasn't fifty dollars in
township after land sale. We made most
Of our own tools and wore our own cloth
You young people Of to-day talk about hard
times; what would you have said to hs,e
seen your mother roll up her sleeves shove