Mexico weekly ledger., 1903-11-12
RURAL ROUTE -FOUR.
TRAvERsEs AN IDEAL SECTION
OF AUDRAIN COUNTY.
COVERS TVENFY-BIGHF NILES.
Well Improved and Prosperous Look
ing Farm Homes-The Rural
Carrier Receives Customary
Welcome Service APP
preciated.
BY RUFUS JACKSON.

BY RUFUS JACKSON.
A striking example Of the prosperity
and wealth of the agricultural and
stock raising industry Of Audrain
county is illustrated by a ride over
Rural Route Number Four with the
popular carrier G. o. MCGEE. Twenty
eight miles OF as fine a country as lays
under the sun is ~traversed and the
many whole souled patrons along the
route seem contented and happy.
Leaving the city by way OF North
Jefferson street the route is north
from the Schopp home, crossing the
south branch of Salt River, the first
farm home is that of Hayes Bros. |
formerly owned by j. NJ. Beatty. This
In q short time will be one OF the best
improved farms in this vicinity. To
the right and east is the magnificent
home Of Earl Cunningham and the
next home is that OF Elmer Cunning
ham, where a modern new residence
graces the scene. Still east, the next
place is that OF Tom Null and the next
the substantial home Of Phillip Shire.
Jim Morris now resides on the place
formerly owned by G. W. Adams and
as the route turns north the homes of
D B. Kellerhals and G. r. Rice are
passed.
The elegant country home OF Howard
Basket is now in view, situated about
a quarter Of a mile from the road, from |
which an excellent driveway to the
spacious house is in course OF con-
struction. The farm Of Mrs John A. |
Sullivan. managed by her son, Leo
Sullivan, is next passed while to the
east is the home OF the late j. T..
Stewards family. The substantial
and well improved farms Of C. E. |
Shoup and Edgar Stewart are passed
and next is the attractive and neat
farm of Tom Hook, Of this city, and
resided Oh by w. G. Duty.
]. B. Weaver lives to the south as
the route turns north and the home Of
d. L. Rodgers is the next passed. The
we'll maintained farms Of J.. r Shook, |
to the east and W. H. Ray to the west
are the next In order, while the at
tractive farm houses Of VIM. Renkin
and J.. +. Ruse are on the route.
The next point Of interest is the
broad acres of the Norris place, owned
by E. Il. Norris, OF this city, and
managed by his son Fred S. Norris.
The blue grass pastures are grazed by
highbred cattle and border each side
of the road for some distance. The
home Of +. NJ. Shoup is next on the
route and then the home place Of
Peter Alderman is passed. The route
leads east and as 1t again turns north
the box of V. Erdel, who lives to the
south, is passed. AS the route again
points east the farm of II, and j..
Seiger, extensive breeders of fine hogs,
Is noticed while the next farm home
is that of Frank Erdel. The neat ap-
pearing home of N. Z. Hodge is passed
and traversing some rough roads we
pass Rock Hill church. The residences
and farms Of Herman Wilmhorst and
L. Tuepke are next In order. A sub
stantial and nice appearing home is
that of Mrs. M. A. Smith, improved by |
Eph Hughes, of this city, and the next
home is that of e. M. Crooks. W. L.
Kent's farm is the next on the route
and the substantial and well kept
farms Of p. s. Underwood and s. S.
johnson are noticed as Worcester post
office is neared. Worcester is sur
rounded by an excellent farming re-
gion, the post office is in the general
merchandise store Of Barnes & Scherer,
an enterprising and up.to-date firm,
from whom one always receives a
cordial welcome. Many substantial
farmers, who are not on the rural route
receive their mail here, and there is
always a pleasant crowd awaiting Mr.. :
MCGEE, who carries a mail pouch from
the Mexico office to Worcester.
The route leads west after leaving
Worcester and the farm Of DR., W. e.
Cornett is the first on the way. DR..
Cornett now resides at Rush Hill, yet
he gives his personal attention to this
place which it denotes. The homes Of
II. W. Azdell, to the right and W. @.
Azdell to the left are the next In
order. The Littleby Baptist church
is passed and rs the route turns to the
north G. e. Worsham's saw mill is
heard In the distance. NJ. o. Clutter
and 0. f. Hafner operate a coal bank
to the west on the farm Of the former,
and the neat residence Of J. T. Cau-
thorn Is passed.
The farms and homes OF w. II.
Morris and B. Morthland are passed.
AS the route turns west it passes tothe
rear of the home Of D. o. Wilkerson.
Hid from view by a woodland Is the
home of r. W. Goodell. d. J. Atkins
Is improving in a substantial manner
a neat farm as Littleby creek Is sight
ed. This beautiful stream is forded
and passes the mail box OF James
Slaughton, who lives to the north.
The route now heads west for a stretch
of three miles, sklrted on either side
by the productive land that will pro-
duce anything s~easonable to this
climate.
To the south lives A. J. Clement,
and further west is the home Of Theo.
Stock. At a cross road are four boxes;
J. Fl. Bolts, one quarter mile north,
Frank Vedder to the south, r. P.