Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1891-11-19
A Trip to FredericktOWn.

Ed. ReIiSter-A few weeks ago received
an invitation to visit the old homes of oui
ancestors at Fredericktown and see the
changes that have taken place in the last hall
century. AS had been invited to come with
my old friend, Mr.. Blanton, we had agreed
that should on Monday come as far as his
house with my horse and buggy and spend
the night with him and next morning go to
town. As you are aware, Monday was avery
rainy day, but as was not made of sugar or
salt. thought this was no worse than many
day had hunted in the mountains, and
then L had a good umbrella and plenty OF
wraps. | started about two O'Clock, reached
Mr.. Blanton's after long drive over perhaps
some as bad road as any roadoverseer can
make. Stones? The road was full of them b,
and where nature had not putsany the road
boss had. l saw one long stretch of road in
old Madison that could not be beat. The
ground was clay and the rains had at some
time washed deep gullies where the wagon
wheels had.made a mark, and, to repair the
road, rocks had been put in to fill up the
washouts. and now@the travel and wear of
the road has left the rocks up high and dry
like stone wall. Oh, such rocks! And in
other places the deep gulleys had just been
filled with clay and the rains had made it a
perfect mortar, but my horse went plunging
and slipping in every direction, but the
sight. Oh, such roads!
Tuesday morning 1t had stopped storming,
and, after good nights rest and the inner
man had been refreshed, we started for
Fredericktowu. | saw but little changes in
the appearance Of the country until we had
crossed the St. Francois River, which was
very low. AS we crossed the Sto:er ford
saw the road boss had put up the water
guage, but l think he must have made mis-
take in his measuring. / think when the
water reaches the foot of his gauge it wonld
be unsafe to cross. As we reached the high
lands between the river and Turkey Greek l
place since passed that way about quar-
ter of century ago. Then it was all woods
and brush and / used to think an awfuly
poor part of the world. l often went over
that country in my hunts, but found that
cleared up, with nice houses, large
barns, cribs. orchards and large wheat fields.
I he wheat looked green and nice. AS we
drove over that high rolling country we
could see way eff to the east and south a
beautiful country. had never thought that
it could be such a looking country. The only
drawback was the road. l could not take
the time to look off over all this beautiful
world and keep my horse from wrecking Us
against some of these big stone walls or
some stump. 1t requires a good driver to
drive over such a road. About one O'Clock
we came in sight of the town. Where, il my
former visits, it was more forestthan cleared
and, found the woods had all been clear
ed away and new and handsome houses. As
we entered the town 1 saw but one or two of
Catholic church looked natural. but on each
side of the street beautiful houses of all
shapes and sizes, with all the modern styles.
DIazzas, verandas, porches, porticos, bay
octagons, hexagons, squares, cir
,les and all painted with all the colors that
an artist could desire. AT last we reached
he center of town; there stood the old court
house just as it did when l first saw it over
1 half century ago. l could hardly pass
without taking off my hat in respect for the
Did temple of justice, where old men sat in
with time.
| saw but very few of those that had taken |
ne by the hand in the long ago, and as saw
most of the places filled with faces all strange
% me, it gave me q feeling of sadness that
10 few of the old landmarks remain. As L |
ooked over the town and all the surround !
ng country l could not but think of old Rip |
Van Wrinkle as he awoke from his twenty |
'ears, sleep on the side of the mountain, |
low he rubbed his eyes and gazed and Won
Tered where he was. | don't wonder he felt |
ike picking up his gun and calling his old
log and marching off. But there.was one
hing that as.onished me; the absence of
children. saw no little tots on the streets.
saw no young ladies promenading the
ii eets. When asked, "Have YOU no young |
adies?" The answer was, VERY few"
aw, as | passed the schoolhouses, but few |
children. At one schoolhouSe l had passed (
wenty- five years ago, the yard was fui OF
Ioys and girls. This time | saw, and it w~s
ecess, six or eight small boys sitting ON the
ence, watching some eight or ten girls play.
ng base ball. At the schoolhouse at town
aw, as they came out at the close OF school,
tut few boys and girls. The thought struck |