The Oskaloosa herald., 1904-05-12
ALONG RURAL ROUTES|
Mahaska County as Observed by a
Pencil Pusher.

Barnes City, in the extreme north
east part Of the county, in Pleasant
Grove township, is a lively little burg,
and considerable business Is trans
acted there. The greater part OF the
city is in Mahaska county, but the
depot is in Poweshiek county. They
have a number Of general stores, ele-
vator, lumber yards. &C, and all en-
joy a good trade. A good country lies
north and east Of Barnes City. Al
large portion Of the land in Pleasant
Grove township is rough and hilly
and a number of the roads are in bad
| shape, being washed by the recent
heavy rains, and bridges and culFerts
are impossible.
Union Mills, in Union township, is
one Of the old landmarks and was a
town before Oskaloosa was thought
of. Some Of tine 'sold inhabitants"
take delight in relating early remin-
~iscences. Union Mills has a nice,
wellkept general store, a blacksmith
shop, a fine church and a number Of
good dwellings. The mill is idle at
present, but it is hoped that it may
be started up again in the near fu-
ture. The country around Union
Mills is hilIy but the farms are good
and the farmers in comfortable cir
cunlstances.
l.. NJ. Smith settled in Union town
ship in 1855, and has lived in that
vicinity j since. He has ITO
acres OF land, we'll improved. In
dams were numerous when he first
settled there, and he can tell some
interesting stories of early days. Mr..
Smith has seen great changes in Ma
hasaka county. From a vast un-
broken, u~ninhabited prairie, he has
seen it bloom as a garden and become
inhabited with an intelligent, pros,
porous people.
M. l.. Kisor also settled in Union
in 1855, and has raised a family OF
children, all good citizens of that
township. He has q fine farm and
is enjoying the fruits of his labor.
Geo. Gable is farming the old Gable
farm in Union. Mr.. Gable has lived
on the same farm for Il years. He
deals in real estate as a side issue.
Chas. Hull is farming ESQ acres in
Adams township this year. He will
plant i20 acres in corn. He is a
good farmer and expects to raise a
fine crop.
). f. Everett has 275 acres of land
in Madison, all well improved and In
excellent order. Mr.. Everett has
read the Herald for over forty years,
and don't see how any farmer can gel
along without it.
VIM. Vermilyea has 1,112 acres 0.
fine land in abody in Adams town
ship. This is perhaps the largest and
best farm in the county. He has zoe
head Of cattle on the place at pres.
emit. He has resided on this farm for
twenty years. His dwelling house
and barns are large and fine, and the
stock is well sheltered and cared for.
Aaron Philips, of Adams, has 100
acres Of good land and has resided
there for years past. Mr.. Phillips is
a good citizen and an admirer of the
Herald. Mrs. Phillips became para.
lyzed some months ago and is in a
very p~recarious condition, with little
hope of recovery.
The following new friends have
been added to the Herald's rapidly
growing list; r. w Orr, Ed Troy,
Chas. Hull, J.. w. Crispin, J. d. Sam
uels, Mrs. Jane Hollingsworth, Dan'l
Whalen, B. w. Dewitt, w. III. Hull,
G. e. Reynolds. Fred Groves, Horace
Riggs, E. L.. Gable, H. w McSpad.
den, Chas. Mahan, C. M. Graham, Geo.
H. Toller, ]. w. Broyles, J.. L. Gordon,
Calvin Walker, Fred Trexler, J. A.
Wymore, Saml Walker, L. ". How,
ard, A. V. McIntire, H. Smith, F. M.
Belzer, Jno. Sage.
N ~