Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1903-07-08

AL woe and sorrow: lite inflicts Its worst
NJ w SOU ana 1ody.-b9t we cannot die.
worn,- ~
10. all things can be borne
e. A, Akers.
REUNION OF OUR FIRST
SETTLERS.
G. A. Pierce read IN Delaware
County's Early Days" which was
written from the experience of Mrs.
r. B. Griffin.
In Delaware county's Early Days.
s Mrs. Ray B. Grimm.
tits a pleasure to the friends who
are privileged to meet at the Old
Settlers reunion to talk over old
times and recall memories of early
days, when we lived in the new
country and participated inits pleas
ures and privations, endured some
hardships and witnessed it's trans
formation from primitive wilder
ness to a rich and populous cani-
munity.
Time has wrought many changes
IN this part of Delaware county since
its early settlement, covering a per-
iod of more than half a century.
The settlers who located here in
early days recognized the future pos
sibilities of this county. They saw;
the advantages Of It's location, in its
being not far distant from the Mis-
sissippi river, and being on line with
what they believed would be in the
future the direct route to the vast
lands lying westward. They noted
the richness and depthofthe soil and
the rolling prairies so handsomely
spread out for farming purposes, and
saw they were we'll watered by riv-
ers, creeks and springs: A sufficient
supply Of timber conld be ehteineel
from the many beautiful groves.
There were broad pasture lands for
stock, and ample hay could be Sc
cured for winter feeding. Swine
could live and keepin good condi-
tion on roots on the prairie and mast
in the woods. Game was plentiful.
Prairie chickens were here by the
thousands, and in their season water
fowl Of many kinds were equally
numerous. A few elk still ranged
along the river bottom; deer, bears,
wolves and smaller animals were
numberless Delicious wild berries
grew in profusion along the edge OF
the prairie, and in the timber wild
fruits of good but limited varieties
were abundant. The groves were
alive with beautiful birds, filling the
air with the sweetest of songs. Some
of their species are entirely extinct
here. From spring to fall the prai-
ries were covered with great patches
of beautiful wild flowers; several
kinds of them are no longer found
here. In the autumn the richest
hues Of every color were blended in
the foliage Of the woods. 1t seemed
that nature had amply provided foa
man and beast.
Considering all things, to the early
settlers this seemed very nearly ;
portion of what Iowa has been term
ed-the garden of Eden. They Sc
lected their lands, staked out theil
claims, built their log cabins, enclos
ed their fields with a zigzag or stalk.
and rider fence, and broke up til,
sod with a three or six-yoke team o
oxen hitched to a Moline or Gran.
diture plow, with a rolling colter,
late and much talked Of improve
ment, that would turn the long blacl
furrow the whole length of the fele
without a break in it. They sowet
spring wheat and planted sod corr
and potatoes, then bountiful crol
at harvest time The spring whea
made the best of -four, and the corr
and potatoes were exceptionally fine
1 The first year but little more wa
raised than was needed for HON
consumption, but the second yea
there was a little surplus; a fe,
loads could be spared. The choic
Of market lay between Dubuque an
the Indian mission or agency, wher
the Fayette University now stand.
j In some respects the former plac
was the more desirable marke
consequently the spare product
we're generally carried there.
l840, going from:.here to Dubuqu
. the pioneer could travel all day lon
without meeting a human being, u,
. less it might be a wandering Indial
| or seeing the smoke Of but two lc
cabins and those in the distanc
i The pioneer always went prepare
to camp where night overlook hir
!. if need be on the broad prairie;
possible, he made shelter. Abo,
, five days were consumed in makir
; the trip out and back again with 0
: en-, this allowing one day to dispo
v of the load, it being paid for in pa
Y or two-thirds in trade. But lit
i money was given in payment, viii,
g was brought home, and the buc
9 skin purse was never empty.
l The first ten years of it's existen
8 this part of the county was settl
J. but slowly. consequently the genel
aspect Of the country changed b
: little. During that time sever
e towns sprung into existence west
!, Dubuque. One Of them, Delhi,
some years the cdunty seat in Is