Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1899-02-08
In YE 0LDEN TYNE.
Interesting "reminiscences of DEBORAH
in the Early Days, by a Former
Resident.
Superior. Wis, Feb. 9, lSf

Ids. PUBLIC OPINION
DEBORAH, the beautiful little city
with it's hills and rills, nestled among
the bluffs of the Upper Iowa, brings to
mind so many pleasant memories of
the former days.
How dear to my heart, are the scenes of my
childhood
When fond recollections present them to
view
The home of my youth and school
days and fmy enlistment, during those
stirring times of 1876. The cemetery
containing all that remains of those
still dearly love. Is it strange that a
visit to the place of these associations
should revive the scenes of my boyhood
days? .o-s.4. -
In these days of railroads we would
say it was an isolated town, but in
those days we felt that we were in close
touch with the outside world, for Wau-
ker's line of stages never ceased to de-
part and arrive daily from McGregor
then the hub of the universe, so far as
we were concerned. Though no shrill
whistle of the locomotive echoed
through the valley, the blast of the old
stage horn would give us notice of the
stages approach. AT its sound us boys
would hasten to the platform of the old
DEBORAH House, to be near on its ar
rival, and as old Tom Tokes, the half
breed driver, reigned in his foaming
flour in hand,n our admiration knew
no bounds, and we boys looked upon
him as the personification of all that
was great, and hoped for the time to
come when we as men would be able TO
assume so exhalted position. AS old
Tom alighted from his perch with all
the dignity ola lord, Pap" White
would assume charge, and after the
"boot and shoe" was relieved of It's
baggage and the dusty passengers had
alighted, Pap would crack his whip
and off the team would bound for their
deserved rest and feed. Later in the
day the freighters would arrive with
These were string times to us boys.
The hills remind us Of our wandering,
of our coasting in the winter, and roll
ing of stones down their steep sides,
: erasbinsTsiawn through the foliage to
the valley Oh river below. On yonder
bluff i can see as of old the Ice Cave,
and am reminded OF the tales of ghosts
and robbers abode, and its UNEMPLOYED
regions. The clear, cold, sparkling
spring, issuing far up the bluff, still
runs as of old. and the remains of the
old fiume that carried the water to the
large overshot wheels that propelled
Cummings spring mill, and near by is
our favorite swimming place near
Dunning's hole"
The old school house, now situated in
the rear of Editor Akers' residence,
that formerly stood upon the hill. on
the side of the Lutheran church, is the
greatest reminder of those early days.
The marks-of the jack knife are still
visible upon its stills and castings. We
are reminded of the halle brush that
grew near by and the use to which it
was often applied. to maintain order
and awaken our duh sensibilities, and
il never failed. ra
OF persons, Mother Day is first, the
mother of DEBORAH; Of large proportion
and firm ia character. respected by all;
Kimball, the postmaster, who purchas-
ed the first lot of Mother Day for cal
leo dress; Paine & Logan, the pioneer
hardware men; Cooley, the chief of the
st. Lawrence Go. clique, so termed by
Levi; VIM. Painter, Of large heart,
which brought him poverty. At one
time when there was sore distress for
food among the Minnesota settlers, he
loaded all volunteers teams with flour
from his little wooden mill, without
money and without price, for their re-
lief. The fiat about his mill was COW
cred with large number Of teams
from long distances, both summer and
winter, awaiting their turns at the
mill. Old Judge David Reed, quaint
in dress; his pigeon-tailed coat, his
short pants, showing few inches of
white WOODEN socks; his coarse shoes;
but with all his oddity in dress and
speech, he was honest of heart, and
his decision made DEBORAH the county
seat to the loss of Freeport. All honor
10 Judge Reed.
There was In West DEBORAH, spoken
derisively of as 'Gas town. in those
days, Hank Morse and Bill Taylor; and
seem to hear to this day, the Growing
ofthe earliest riser and the answer, and
between them and Jedediah Miller,
gathering up his breaking team of four
yoke oxen, preparing for the days
work, there was no chance for sleep
after the peep Of day; Geo. Winship
the promoter of the town site, kind
and generous man.
Why linger longer upon the part Of
persons and things. They are so numer-
Gus, time nor space will not permit me
10 write INT the incidenfs of fha