The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1896-05-28
T. A. MCKEKNAN,
United Presbyterian Parsonage.
Pastor United Presbyterian Church.
STARKv1LLE, MISS, 5 Ill, '96.

A. c.. HEDBERG, .....s, 4a,
Worthington, Mimi. ## =
Dear sir and Bro. Your favor of
7th inst. % hand; very glad to hear
from you. Sorry that you had not
time to visit this section of the coun-
try. I enjoyed your acquaintance
very much on the R. R. on your trip
S down to Ala. and was looking for
ward with pleasure to have a short
visit from you andeto have had an op-
portunity Of showing a little of this
region. I think you would have lik
ed it very much, and probably would
have sent down some of your friends
to locate here.
leone down here at the first of
January, last, and have charge as
pastor of the churches of Starkville
and Osborn; the latter is seven miles
from the former. Ipreach at Stark
vile in the morning and at Osborn in
the afternoon each Sabbath. :.
Since my location here, twenty
members have been added to our
church, sixteen of these were received
by certificate from the northern
states; some from Iowa, Nebraska,
Indiana and Kansas. At the dedica-
ton of our new church at Starkville,
in December last, two weeks before I
came here, sixteen were added toaou
church, most of whom come from the
northwestern ststes. Thus you will
see there is quite tide of immigra
ton to this country. On last week
two additional farms have been sold
at Osborn to two families from
Tingley, Iowa, and they are to be
with us in the fall. There are several
prospectors with us almost every
, week, surveying the district with a
view of locating here, and. from the
number of letters of inquiry that l
am receiving almost daily, there are
a great many people thinking of COM
ing south in the near future. s22&&*"s'~.:
The climate here is very mild, and
so far as being healthful see, moth
ing to prevent people living to good
old age. In fact in Judging from the
appearance OF the people, they -. seem
to be in, the enjoyment of good
health. One of our northern friends
who was troubled with rheumatism to
to such an extent that he could not
work in Southern ILL.,, came down
here about two years ago and has not
been troubled with rheumatism since;
this he told me few days ago, and
he is now actively engaged in busi-
ness, and feels contented and happy
in having made the change. In fact
I may say that all the northern fami-
lies that have come here seem to be
much pleased with their change.
One told me, few days ago, that he
was placed under a heavy debt on
the farm that he had in the north
and had no hope Of getting relieved
from in, so he sold it, paid his debt:
and with the balance he purchased a
farm here and is doing well, and has
good prospect now within reach of
him. The, land here is so much
cheaper than in the north that man
with small capital can securea home
for himself and family at small cost.
There is no prejudice against
northern men coming down here
. peace and harmony prevail in our
: church. One of our ruling elders was
confederate soldier and was a
prisoner at Rock Island for everal
months. One of our trustees was
Union soldier. These two areboth ac-
tive members in our church and work
most harmoniously together. From
my experience Of this section Of coun-
try am very we'll pleased with it in
many respects; of course the land has
not been cultivated as it should have
been, but, the northern men that
have come down here are improving
things considerable, and with the
necessary amount of enterprise,
capital and skill, L believe there is .
bright prospect in the near future for
the south. I shall be glad to hear
from you at any time. I enclose
circular, showing you the price of
land around here.
Very sincerely yours,
T. A. MoKEakAN.
$ E2l5sS F@ = = ~ = z s.s - @Fs