Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1899-06-28
Continued From First Page.
OLD SETTLERS REUNION
VIM. Mclntosh's Paper.

2 years previous on the Londonderry, a
ship sailing between GLASGOW and New
York. AT that time the cars only came
as far west as Warren, Illinois, so
staged it from there to Delhi, then quite
town doing considerable business, and
the county seat at that time. l got q
ride with a farmer and stepped in and
took them all by surprise, but pleased to
see me. The country | thought, was
very wild and thinly settled, there being
no bridges over the Maquoketa or over
any OF the dry runs. and no town nearer
than Delhi, no churches, and the near
est school house at that time was near
the present Quaker Mill. The water
power at that time was owned by DIR.
Acres, who ran small sawmill and |
think mill for grinding feed.
in that school house we used to have
preaching about once or twice month
and a Sunday School was organized.
Week nights we used to go there occa-
siQnally to hear debate from of the
local talent, but what fixed that partic-
ular building in my mind was my ex-
perience when going to engage the
minister to marry me to the girl |
loved. That's what brought me west,
not Horace Greeley's go west young
man. Well this Sunday morning /
started out to walk to the meeting to in
teryiew the preacher. got there all
right but the preacher was late, and |
felt chill coming on, for ] had the
ague all spring, so l concluded to start
for home while | was able to walk. 1
got as far as the old Paddleford field
and lay down under big oak tree and
shook and made the acquaintance of all
the bugs in that neighborhood, and
might have enjoyed their company if
they could have given me drink Of
water. Anyway | lay there until Up.
M. when o neighbor who lived near
Spring Branch passed by, but not on
the other side, he gave me ride home
My intended brother-in-law Allan Love,
then boy of Is, always declared that
Macs courage failed him when he went
to engage the preacher, so he went to
Delhi and interviewed Charley Harding
the merchant. He asked if there were
any ministers in Delhi, and he said
there was a Methodist and some other
denomination, but did not mention any
Presbyterian, so he asked if there was
any other kind, and Mr.. Harding turned
around quick with the question, .sany
of your folks sick?' There was no Pres
byterian so he engaged Methodist
minister Daniel Smith. The suspicious
day arrived, the sun shone and the birds
sang, and the neighbors for miles
around who had been invited, came to
witness the ceremony and help eat the
bountiful dinner prepared by Mother
Love. Mrs. Henry Acres and Mrs. o. P.
Reeve and others had arrived and was
in my seventh heaven of bliss, ] Thought
my troubles were all over, when lust as
we stood before the minister, a woman
whispered in his ear, "the girl is under
1 age" He looked at the license and
sure enough 1t had not her parents sig
natures, SO he said II can't marry YOU
until you get your parents signatures
and the signature of the County Judge
Benson He lived at Flemings Mill
SO Vernon burlington who was among
the guests, volunteered to take me tc
the home OF the Judge He was absent
so we drove up to Delhi and found hin
there, got his signature and got back
about shutdown. The guests had dis
posed of the dinner and were having 9
good social time. So the knot was tiet
and with a sigh of relief and feeling
"all's we'll that ends well, we sat dow1
to late dinner. This was one of my frs
experiences in the new country
In the spring of 1866 Mr.. Dyers, O.
IDyersville, bought 100 acres from A
Love, including the water power. to la,
out town. The first buildings bull
were the longstore, now Allen CLOTHING
store, and the Clarence Hotel. The,
built a bridge and saw mill, cut dowi
the heavy growth of white oal
timber on the west side of the river OF
the land bought from Mr.. Allan Love
Mr.. G. p. Reeves owned three fortie
north of Main street and and east Il
Sheldon's farm and Mr.. Burrinpto,
owned north of his, SO they laid ou
town lots, half acre and acre lots ane
sold town lots for 1926 each and one fol-
nothing on condition that the party
build house worth $400 or more. DR.
Acres had laid out some town lots anC
named the town Delaware Center
West of the river near the Quaker Mills
several had settled A. Il. LOOMS and
P. C. Edison had general stores, Merrill
e. Doolittle blacksmith and wager
shop, but as soon as Manchester was
located they moved down there. A
schoolhouse was built where the central
school building now stands and all
church denominations then represented
viz: the Congregational, Baptists and
Baptist church was organized in the
| upper room of the Joel Bailey house
with eight members, then the Congre
gational church was built and after that
the Methodist, and later the Baptist
church was built.
The brick building, corner Franklin
n o1ps ito
burlington for hall and it was the
place for lectures, debates, revival meet
ings and Dogget's school until Adams
Brothers built their store with hal
over it on the west side of Franklin
| street.
The first school exhibition was given
| by Doggett's select school and they
created as much interest as the gradual
ing exercises of today. Meanwhile the
town grew and the people kept coming.
After while the railroad was built and
the cars ran through our beautiful town
and better buildings were put up
Money was scarce but there was good
deal OF barter in business-there were
goods given for work and work given
for anything family could eat, drink
or wear-and although we did not have
all ullo ucllCiClcS Ol luc season ana WaS
not dressed in the height of fasion, we
were as happy as people are today, and
always received the chance stranger OF
visitor with hearty welcome.
1t is hardly fair to tell the people OF
the growth of the town and the cultiva-
ton of the country; they know all about
that, suffice it to say, the beautiful
buildings, shade trees, we'll kept lawns
and fine, broad streets of the town. as
well as the beautiful farm buildings,
well stocked and finely cultivated farms
tell OF the character and stamina of the
early settlers of Delaware county, Iowa.
So | will tell You how brought home a
yoke of steers. Father Love bought a
yoke in Delhi in 1866 and sent me after
them. They had the yoke on and
wanted rope to lead them. The man
told me to take hold of the horn of the
nigh OK. l was just green enough to
take his advice and they and / ran ev-
cry step of the way from Delhi to the
Love farm then / let go and they
jumped the fence to the hay stack.
remember coming home from Delhi
when there were no bridges over the
rayineS: il WAS quite good sleiphinp