Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1904-06-29

Der one year wheat was so badly
grown | believe you could take a
biscuit and throw it against tile
house, it would stick there. But it
was pie by the side of johnny cake
Now about the social part of those
early days. Every man was a hail
fellow well met, and invited to all
the public gatherings; no one slight
ed; there was not two or three classes
they were more common. There
was a great deal of gratuitous work
to be done in early days, such as
raising houses and barns, but helr
was plenty and to spare, all were
willing to help.
If you wanted lumber, you would
have to go to Dubuque for it. j. p
Roe and myself made two trips with
two yoke of oxen each, it took four
days to make the trip. When il
came night, we unyoked the oxen
put a bell on one and turned then
loose; then got out our lunch box
ate our supper and went to bed un.
der the ' agon.
About the parties we had in early
days, which were numerous especi
ally in the winter time, the houses
were small but by taking down the
beds, there would be room to dance
one set. The orchestra was com.
posed of one piece and could play
about 3 tunes, such as Old Zip Coor
Arkansas Traveller, and the Wild
Irishman. Tickets to dance were
from 10 to 20 cents, supper includ-
ed, unless upon extra occasions. |
have been where you had to cut and
split 80 rails in order to get a
through ticket. | was called upon
once to be floor manager at a party
given by man named I. Clark and
| think it was my first attempt.
was right in the swim, or at least
was before l got there. When |
got to Lindsay Greek, it was up very
high, but | thought | could ford it
all right so never stopped. When |
got to the channel, the horse dropped
down so the water ran over the sad
die. The horse swan out and | got
off, emptied the water out of my
boots, wrung out my socks and went
on. | was the first one there and
when | told my experience, Mrs.
Clark said, Stub, put on pair of
TaclS's pants" / said. all right.
She got me pair Of home made
blue jeans, not made after the pat
tern they make them now, and | put
them on, and suffice it to say we had
a good time. sent the pants home
the next day.
In the spring of 80 a friend of
ours wanted me to take him to Vol
ga City, would give me SO Tor the
trip. We had but one horse so |
borrowed one of Mr.. Watson Roe.
The day we came through Strawber-
ny Point, we counted 81 covered
wagons on Mission street, most of
them had stopped and the drivers
had gone into Mr.. Woods store
after repairs, which most Of them
carried out jugs: We got to Vol
ga City that evening. lie next day
on my way home some where neat
the Harrington farm, | met a.young-
ish man on horseback, passed the
time Of day and stopped and talked
a few minutes when he said "Bub,
you have nice horse on the off side,
looks as if it might run some" /
answered that it was borrowed
horse and | didn't know whether it
could run Or not, but that the near
one was mine and that it could run.
He said 81 will bet you So that my
horse can beat yours, so rods"
But" said I, I'VE have no judges"
"lll tell you," said he, what we
will do. We will put the money on
the wagon seat and the first one to
the wagon takes the money. |
agreed and he helped me unhitch
the one and tie the other to the
wagon. We put the money in the
seat and he stepped off the so rods,
l bringing up the rear. While he
was making a mark across the road
| mounted. We started, l had no
trouble in keeping ahead and when
l got opposite the wagon pulled
my horse jumped off and let him go.
| rolled over a few times, then got
the money. My horse came back to
the other, and the stranger helped
me hitch up and babe me a good by.
And | never knew who he was until
his death. 1t was none other than
Judge Murdoch Of Clayton county.
The Judge told my friend, Cyrus
Hines about the horse race with the
boy, and | was the boy.
Impromptu speeches-"Volun
teer Remarks" we believe Secretary
Bailey called them-by Judge
Blair and Attorney e. G. Perkins of
Delhi were apt and met with keen
attention. "Till We Meet Again
was sung and Rev. Bushnell dis
missed the gathering with the bene-
diction.
There must always be a sadness
in these gatherings Of the fathers
and mothers of our county-the
shadow Of empty seats once filled
with this father or that mother
whom God has called home since a
former meeting. This y ar the roll
call of those whom the angel Of
Death has summoned from among
us seemed to have taken so many
loved ones, and though the friendly
hand clasp of friend with friend,
the cheer Of sumptuous dinner,
the pleasure of hearing a literary
program Of merit, though all this
will linger ever in pleasant
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