The Oskaloosa herald. (Oskaloosa, Mahaska County, Iowa) 1885-1919, 1900-07-11
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MA0. rnlLLlP0 DUN.
A History Of Mahaska County.
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PA0SC bhC bOOA uCiOTS NuC pCOPlo VI
the town and county in manner in
which it may be more fully appre-
ciated, we viii herewith give brief
review Of the publication. In thus
writing Of the book, we find so many
beautiful word pictures that we feel
justified in quoting one or more.
Early in the work the author says:
II have seen time whenI thought
a person old at forty. I have lived
to See the time when men and women
who are not beyond forty seem hard
~ to have arrived at mature man
hood or womanhood.
Three score and eleven years
seem time late in life to undertake
the task of writing for the perusal of
the present generation my recollec-
tions of the early settling of Mahaska
County, and their ancestors, who
were the early settlers, but that is
what propose to do if the Lord
spares my life and mental faculties.
MANY of my friends and acquaint-
ances seem to think that / have a
clearer recollection of the early days
and events than some others who
have been here quite as long, and
have urged me to write, until l have
finally screwed my courage up to
the sticking place.
$50 many things come looming up
in my mind / can hardly decide on
what to tell first. Away back in the
forties and early fifties / knew nearly
every man, woman and child in and
around Oskalocsa. A few of them
are left here and there, but only a
FEW, and if don't tell the story of
the times when everybody lived in
log cabins, who will?''
The writer begins her narrative in
the State of Indiana, dwelling quite
q little among the Hoosiers, their
quaint ways and manner of living
nearly fifty years ago, and finally
making brave defense of old "Po-
sey County, that much abused sec
ton of the State abused by people
who were ignorant of the beauty of
its scenery, the richness of its soil,
and the grand old hero for whom it
was named.
The author apologies for so fire.
quent use of the pronoun 81" but
in work OF this nature it can hardly
be avoided, and is fully excusable.
Referring to their first glimpse of
Iowa, she says:
What excitement there was among
us young folks when the mighty Mis-
sissippi did at last come into view.
1 wondered what made the water
seem to be higher than the ground
where we were. We were all carried
across in steam ferry-boat, and the
first Iowa soil we touched, was that
river brink at Fort Madison. That
was on the 7th day of November,
1913. I was prepared to be pleased
with everything in Iowa. The first
building which doomed up lin sight
was the penitentiary, the most inn
posing structure in the village of
Fort Madison; twas village then"
Soon after their party had reached
County the Phillips family,
along with many others, staked their
claim, and the history of Mahaska
County here begins. The story is
old in so clear and precise a manner
hat the reader is readily convinced
II the truth of every line in the
Dook. A description of the first fire
n Oskaloosa is vividly portrayed,
cling how the citizens men and
out in the bucket |
brigade and valiantly fought the fire
md saved the town; the killing of a
luge bear near the town, and the
amous bear supper at the tavern"
onducted at that time by a man
AIMED Purvine-the tavern sta nding
vhere the Hotel Downing now isis
old in such way as to almost ena-
10 one to imagine they can see that
oble band of pioneersH gathered
round old bruin, enjoying them
elves to the full.
Aside from the interest of the story
self, much valuable information can
0 gained from the book. The older
eople can read lit for the many
and also many sad memo
les it may bring back to them, and
perusal Of the book by the younger ,
sneration win enable them to more
early understand and Eappre ciate
70 awful trials and hardships that
1r parents grandparents endured
lat they might give to us the SPLEEN
ID homes and many conven fences
e enjoy to-day.
The book was printed at. the HER
Id office, is on fine book paper and
large clear type which can be
lsily read by any one. II is.bound {
two colors, the binding being done I
! the Wilson-Riley Co., OF this city, {
id win make beautiful and valua- {
9 addition to any library. For the
'esent II viii be on sale at the home
Ars. Phillips, si6 South Market
rect, Oskaloosa, Ia. Price, $500.
Blg lob q
The removal OF the biglmaple trees
om the DR.. HENDERSON property on