Rocky Ford enterprise., 1894-01-04
PROMINENT PIONEER PERSONALS

l.
Brief Sketches Of Otero County Peo-
pie. Where They Came From
and What They Think Of Their
New Home.
MILTON BADGER moved to Otero county
first three years farming here were par
tial failure, since which, however, he has
had good crops and is well satisfied with
irrigation farming. Mr.. Badger says:
s'lhe general advantages here compare
quite iavorably with Indiana as whole
The country / came from has been set
tied for seventy years, and Of course its
improvements are far ahead OF US, but
our climate, health, pure air and blue sky
so outrank the old home country that I
would not g. back to live under my con-
sideration."
@. M. ROBINS has resided in Otero
county since 1879, and been engaged as
bookkeeper and Justice OF the Peace.
He did not come here wealthy and has
held his own nicely. He says: "No bet
tor state in the Union than 1owa-that is
my opinion-but the winters nre too long
and cold. I consider the climate and
healthfulness Of Colorado superior to any
state that have lived in. The farmer,
if he once gets good start, has no one
to blame but himself if he does not make
q success. Altogether like Colorado
much better than any other state where l
have resided"
l.. B. NORTON came to Otero county in
1891 from Pueblo county. Has had only
fair success farming on account of hail
and false promises of some Of the people
that he has done business with. He says:
II came to Colorado from North Carolina
in 1872, and have lived more or less in
the following counties: Weld before it
was divided) Larimer, Custer, La Plata,
San Juan, San Miguel, Huerfano and
Pueblo. I am we'll satisfied that Otero
is ahead of any. Of the above, taking every
thing into consideration. There Is more
good land adjacent to Rocky Ford than
any other town ever lived in or saw,
and better facilities for irrigation"
MILTON REYNOLDS, carpenter, came here
from Missouri in 1892 and has been fairly
successful. He says that the Missouri
climate can not compare with that Of Col
orado. Last Sunday Mr.. and Mrs. Rey-
of their marriage. He and Miss Nancy
Bogue were married at Newcastle, Ind,
at midnight, forty years ago last Sunday.
It was a runaway match and the parents
OF both the contracting parties were kept
in ignorance of the wedding for some
days, the bride not being taken to her
new home for two weeks.
DAVID BEST came to Otero county in
1879, emigrating from Davies county,
Mo. He is farmer and stock raiser
and has no cause to grumble at the suo-
cess he has had. He says: ~ think my
new home has more advantages than the
old one in the way of health, and MAX
ing money, but yet we have to learn to
save as well as make money. came to
this country for my health, and I would
not hesitate to say that I would not ex-
change this climate for any other that I
have tried"
A. B. WEBSTER moved here from Mon
to Vista in 1888, and is keeping q general
notion store with fair success, considering
the times. He says: "I came to Colora-
do in 1888 as remedy for asthma, which
I had very badly. I landed at Canon
City and went from there to Salida, and
then removed to Monte Vista. I came to
Rocky Ford from Monte Vista in 1888
in any other place. I believe this good
place for asthma trouble. We are blessed
with q fine climate, nice town and as
good farming and gardening country as
one could wish"
Texas in 1873 and has been farming and
raising cattle. He says: "If could OBJ
tain a deed to the state of Texas would
not give Otero county for it. My health
has been good; have never been sick a
day since have been here except broken
legs, etc. II any man comes to Colorado
and does not prosper it is his own fault. /"
W. 81. McCAsK11, of Catlin, removed to
Colorado from Christian county, ILL.,, in
1881. He has been engaged in farming
and stock-raising and has had excellent
success. He says that Colorado is hard
ness or for health. He visits the old nli-
nois home every three or four years and
is always glad to get out Of the rain and
mud and continuous cloudy days, back
to land of constant sunshine. And he
is particularly grateful for a residence in
Colorado at this season Of the year, enjoy
ing the mild temperature and the good
roads. Here, for $50 days in the year, he
drives over roads as smooth and hard as
asphaltum, while in Illinois his old neigh
bors are, for from four to six months an
the front wheels Of the wagon, and carry
ing an az along to knock the frozen mud
from between the spokes. No Illinois
for McCaslil except to visit the friends
for few weeks.
IRA d. Hale, the genial and efficient
general road overseer, came to Otero
county from Missouri in 1882. He has
been q farmer part Of the time. but most
Of his energies have been expended on ir-
rigating canals and county roads. He
superintended the construction Of part Of
the Catlin canal, also the enlargement Of
the Rocky Ford canal, and was foreman
in construction Of the High Line canal
He says: II think much Of Colorado in
comparison with my former home. I was
subject to fever every year before came
here, but since in Colorado have been
comparatively strong and never have lost
any time to speak Of on account Of sick
ness. I think the climate is almost per-
feet. The advantages in Colorado for
young men to make money-men who
want to work-are very much greater
than in the east"
J. 8. WILSON came to Otero county in
1892 from Arvada, Jefferson county, Col
orado, is a farmer, but owing to his crop
being damaged by hail his success has
been only moderate. He says: II be-
lava tho rkapcuc val1ov in UaDCra1 and