Connecticut western news., 1898-08-11
A Letter From Iowa.

Dear News:
 You who are among my half dozen weeklies, gleaming happenings, cannot imagine the consolation of a long time reader in devouring its conten :, though saddened by obituaries of those 1 knew so we'll, and not there to pay respect and tribute to as in former years.
 We have had lovely long summer without those severe storms and cyclones, The deep rich soil is burden ed with the heaviest crops ever known in the west. The eye can gaze upon broad fields of 40, 50 and 80 acres of corn 8. 10 and 12 feet high, which will yield 50 bushels to the acre. Two boys like myself, 20 feet apart are lost to view. The golden wheat is harvested, it's shocks nearly ss thick as eastern bundles. Reapers with four to six horses, cutting six feet swarth-cut- ting. binding aud carrying the bundles together for man and boy to shook. would be luxury for the east. While corn and wheat predominate. barley and oats are close competitors. The steam thresher is in close pursuit. two pitchers for self fee z, with a blow pipe elevating straw % or 30 feet. No drone can run with western machinery. Wheat 65 cents (S1 00 of from Joe Lieter's days Corn and oats 20 cents with an out look for new at eight to ten cents per bushel.
 There are several section farmers (640 acres) having homesteaded it 30 or 40 years ago who are now rated at $50, 900 $75, ,000, to S100.0O0. Lieter WIS a great blessing to the west, s5 many farmers could cancel a mortgage, snd still have a fat farm and surplus.
 The second township above was homesteaded by Germans who are liv- ing in the village, in nice houses with three or four acres while their farms are rented for cs sh from two to four dollars an acre, not a waste foot of land of gar den production. They make the best and most trustworthy citizens, jolly and good natured with rating of $50. 900 to S80. 900. If eight or ten eastern men would invest Sl0.0O0 for each like number of boys, (workers not drones) doubtless both pr rites could reap a rich reward.
 Let me give the hi tory of Salis- bury boy. On Oct. 30. 1921 WITS born at the end of Sugar Hill road from Amesville one Henry Landon, upon the homestead occupied by his brother George (who WEI standing under the old wood shed waiting for som ething to turn up. the last time I saw him). Henry wss the son of 4 Hen and Sally Sedgwick Landon who were of English ancestors. He fsrmed it until 19 years old, attending school in Amesville win ters. He was puddler for years, work ing for Horatio Ames and was manip ulator at the steam hammer. In 1845 he married Almeds, daughter of Char les and Betsy Dean, then lis lg on the Barrack near the Jaquay place, South Canaan. In 1857 he came to Iowa. stopping ten years at Decora when he took homestead in sec. near Pear son, Ia., where the family now resides. They resided here 32 years before returning to the east, some nine years ago. They have two of the farms. 160 acres each, burdened with a luxuriant growth of cereals. Mir Landon died some eight years ago, having lost two children. The oldest daughter, Ellen, married Dean who came west with them. James and a maiden daughter lives at home; a daughter near by, while the third lives 50 mics away. Last week I visited Mrs Landon and found her at the age of Fl healthy and hearty. She gave me 6 good dinner; scarcely finding time to eat, so absorbed in living over the history, sceneries and people of the psst, none of which escap- ed us. I asked her if she would like to | go ess st to liya, mo she replied. "I would not trade my farm for the whole township of South Canaan. While she ht 8 a si CT living in Kent, Conn.,, they are not related to the present Laudons and Deans there.
 Give me the west for the younger ones to grow up with it's growth; the east for tue retired and aged.
 While you are reading this I shall view the exposition at Omaha, Neb. | A. J. SPURR, | Ho,xaok;ony;tIa To-o TnIv Qn 1QQQ