Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1892-05-20
"CoLE MoxoN.,
NocA Island Coanfy's Former Poet in
the Forests OF Michigan-Fond Re.
collections OF Former DAVIS.

ROCK Island COanry,s Former Poet IN
the Forests OF Michigan-Fond Re.
collections OF Former Days.
COLEMAN. Mich. May 15.--Corres-
pohaence to The ARGUs.-I take this
method OF letting my many friends of
ROCK island county know where I am
ana what am doing. 1t has been quite
q number OF years since I left Rock
Island county, yet in my goings in Illi>
nois' Indiana and Michigan, / find no
place tnat can take the place of nv home
county. Fine homes. wealthy farmers
and regularly laidout fields OF flowing
grain growing on rich soil characterize
ROCK Island and the joining counties
sucn as l have not seen in any of the
tnree named states. Although l can loos
oack at my old home and its rrrroundinps
WIN pleasure, and see how I used to en-
JOY myself on Fourth of July's and pic
MICS playing my old fife in the Union
band, or better known as Gaunt's Martial
band. and how | enjoyed myself at our
social gatherings and with mq manv
friends. yet, all these things have failed
to keep me from launching out among
Five years ago. where now am, there
was nothing OF consequence that indics-
TED farming land. but, today. from 30
acres (my brother and have that much
c!eared) to 40 acres in clearing is be-
coming common thing. Farmers are
beginning to thrive, while the lumber
men are turning their attention to some
otner vocation, or else seeking some other
forest OF undisturbed pine. Many thous.
and train loads Of pine have left this part
OF the Michigan forest and has lost its
identity as log in many saw mills in the
Saginaw valley.
Many times have men searched these
forests over for the refuse of other men,
and now the last of all. but not OF the
least Importance, comes the single ma
chine. The shingle mill takes the last
piece OF an old pine log that is fit for
anything, and, in many instances, leaves
the land free for the farmer to prepare
for the pillow. Fortunately or not so. l
know not which, l have become connect
ed with the shingle business have the
general supervision of a mill.
Our village of Coleman has a popula.
tion OF 6OO; 1t is thriving; several new
stores have opened this year; also quite
number OF private dwellings have been
built. The town has voted $1,000 for
the erection of new school house, and
new bank is to be built and in operation
by the first Of September next. This
spring the farmers are held back from
their work on account of so much rain,
and 1t puts me in mind of spring about
five years ago in Rock Island county
when the farmers ,uld not get on their
land for several weeks. l know fully
how this was, for l was there. IVES
working on farm two and half miles
west of Rey: olds. ar d well do remember
the cold and disagreeahle rains that
spring l can bes; express my exper-
fence on the farm that spring by quoting
poem that l wrote one rainy day while
was crouched down in a woodbox in
the corner trying to keep myself out of
the way. Some will remember the poem
while some will not, and quite likely some
will have forgotten the writer; neverthe,
less, am pleased to let you know am
still among the living. and prospering in
slow way, in the regi ons of the pine
forests of Michigan
The poem that l spoke of runs like
this:
RAINY WEATHER.
IT'S cold rainy day in the middle of MAY,
And were all hudded close round the fire;
Here's the father and SOD, for the chores are all
done,
And, too, here's the man pa did hire.
1t is use ess to grow for the wind will still proul
In the attic and under the floor,
ana IL cause chill as 1t comes with will,
Driving hard the cold rain meath the door.
1t is time to be warm SO the honey bee'd swarm,
But myl such queer weather this is;
And, there's our corn lplanting, can scarce keep
from painting,
To think how my plan always misses.
One day was proud, for the ground was N ost
plowed,
And our planting was then under headway;
But now, il is raining and the plows are remaining
In the field where they :e on last Wednesday
If the women had wood would feel just as good
For, they're all the time to me complaining,
But, the wood is all wet and it's all / can get
Until 1t clears up and quits raining.
Still the rains coming down, but we must 60 to
town.
For, the women will haye that wall paper;
And, there must be change in the site Of that
range,
II it's done by the light OF taper.