Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1899-08-31
PIONEERS OF THE EARLY DAYS.
An Interesting Renaissance by Rev. j. M.
McElroy, and a List of the Old Settlers
Who Have Died During the Past Year.

=
The Courier takes pleasure in pre-
senting below to its readers an inter-
esting little sketch by Rev. j. NJ. Nc
Elroy, of events which transpired in
this part of the country long ago:
Over on Soap Creek.
BY Rev. j. NJ. McElroy.
1t was not uncommon in early days
TO hear disparaging remarks about the
Soap Creekers. with smiling reference
to .Posey county" and Moth Cali
n.y." True. u good many of those peo-
ple were illiterate, but they had many
good qualities. Our, public schools
have been Il great benefit to them.
They have given Wapello countya SEN
ator, two sheriffs. county clerk, and
county recorder. with lot of school
teachers, and many good citizens, and
have plenty of timber still growing.
One of the prominent men in that
region was Michael Heckart, lately de-
ceased. knew him we'll These lines
are written to note some items in his
history. He was typical pioneer. re-
tanning the simplicity of character and
,ure OF the old-timers attractive.
He had large family. sixteen sons
and daughters. The multiplication la
BILE With The old settlers had larger
numbers than are in vogue among
modern, up-to-date society people.
His home was one of wide hospitali-
ty. Friend, neighbor. stranger, trav-
eler, tramp, sat at his table. sPreach-
ers were always welcomed, and the
school teacher found place to board.
= INhrna r,af tod int Sc
family and grew up as his children.
The widowed mothers of himself and
wife lived an aggregate of forty-four
wears under his roof. No .'mother-in-
law nonsense was there INDUCED in.
Each passed away at the age of 81.
They repose side by side in the country
graveyard, and as Mike, with moist
eye, looked upon their graves, he
said to friend, "They are twins, and
their presence with lis has been great
blessing to me and my family"
The Heckart House was place of
better fare than falls to the. lot of Or
binary mortals, especially in these de-
generate days. There are people who
know nothing better to keep soul and
body together than frog legs, tripe,
terrapin, mushrooms. and Holsters. 1t
was not SO out on Soap. Neither cook
nor appetite affected the French, and
they were content with wild turkey.
venison, and smaller game, with milk
and honey, nuts and grapes, and with
the common out-givings of farm and
orchard. garden and oven.
Mr. Eeckart was fond, like moshold
people, of recalling incidents of the
long-ago. One of his female forebears
living in the Susquehana, Germany, a
hundred years ago, could stand in the
half-Eushel and shoulder three-bush-
Ell sack of wheat-an exercise that
might bear trial by our lady athletes
at the Ottumwa gymnasium. Our
friend had a way of looking at the
bright lside of things, and quick per-
ception @uf the ludicrous. The good
German who's paid his respects and his
stipends to t,heS minister in "Schnits''
or dried apples wasshis eNemplar; and
SO when he brought US a present of
game or fruit, or a couple of hams, it
4 would be carefully tied up and labelled
Schnits." When he came to engage
our services for his second marriage he
stated the situation IN sentence,
ssRuth has got into my field and |
can't get her out"
Mike could furnish entertainment as
we'll as grub to his visitors. Dr. A.
/ 9. Wilson and myself, duly armed and
equipped, took part in deer hunt un-
der his generalship. The deer proved
to be a wolf and got away from us, bu,
we captured the men, and the next day
we had larger audience and more
hearty respect than we might other.
wise have had.
> At a later time, after day of public
service and a nights rest, we were
ready for a hunt. King and Queen.
the loud voiced runners, We're eager
and were soon on the trail. cts a
COON" little Joe said to us. "now dc
You know" by the way they bark,
Joe was right. and half hour later we
were at the coon tree. The Gladston,
can axe did its work promptly. and
then ensued a lniN-up of two men, two
boys. two dogs, three clubs and three
coons, with vigorous racing and trem
endous yelling.
Our friend was thoughtful. Years
ago he had selected some nice walnut
b lumber and put it up in the dry unit
1t would be needed. At the same tim,
brother carpenter was engaged ant
instructed what to do when the time
came. And SO when the end came his
body was carried to the grave in ;
plain walnut coffin. He had made ;
hundred of them in his time and what
was good enough for fathers and neigh
bors was good enough for him.
His latest views were of the bright
kind. His sunset was glorious. upor
his sick bed he had rapturous eNper
fences. There was a Presence in his
room unseen by the eye of SENSE
which filled him with joy. He insisted
that it was not a notion or dream
but fact, "unspeakable and full o.
glory"
List of Departed.
Historian Richard Warden OF The
Old Settlers association, at the reunion