Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1904-04-20
PIONEER INDEPENDENCE.
Observation-Disclosures:


Country i4Ie aIu cry are to-day are
fences and luxuries of which the
grandfathers of the present generation
did not dream. These conveniences
are nevertheless, purchased at the
price of more or less of that sturdy
Independence which distinguished the
pioneers, and of which George Cary
EggleStoR has given an attractive pie
ture in The First of the Hoosiers,"
which is in a sense the story OF the
life of his brother. Edward Eggleston.
In the days of Edward Egglestons
boYh0od the foremost citizen of Nevay,
lnd., was Captain William Lowry He
had conquered his worst enemy when
he had cleared the forest from such
lands as he wished to till, and from
the fist he relied upon himself for the
satisfaction of his needs and the needs
of his family.
The family grew rapidly as families
usually did in that time and country:
but under the primitive way of living
the multiplication of children was Il
help rather than = hindrance 10 pros
perity. To the end of his days Cap
tain Lowry and his boys and girls pro
duced for themselves everything they
needed to eat. drink and wear, with
the exception of salt, coffee, tea, and,
as prosperity increased. a calico gown
now and then as 1t bit of finery for the
women folks.
On the farm itself the cotton and
81, III
earded, spun, woven and fashioned
into garments. The blankets on the
beds. as well as the quilts, and the
sheets and the pillow-cases. which
were made of homegrown linen, We're
produced in like manner
The sngar-camp, a vast grove of
sugarmaple trees, yielded all the sugar
and molasses used on the place From
the orchards came, besides great
store of apples. an abundance of cider
and vinegar, apple butter, peach but
ter dried fruits and cider molasses.
1he dairy yielded milk. cream, cheese
and butter in lavish abundance.
The poultry-yards produced more
than the home demand called for, but
the surplus was never sold. Much of
Vt was gwen away TO :ess fortunate
folk. Beef, pork, bacon and mutton
were all products of the farm. The
grain was ground in nearly water
mills. and the miller was paid his
toll" not in coin, but in IA portion of
the grain.
In all his life this sturdy pioneer
never had servant or hired helper of
any kind in his house All the work
of the household was done by the
members of the family working to-
gether in willing cooperation. making
something OF a frolic out of much of
the work; and not one of them ever
had work enough to bring more than
Il healthy and pleasant WEAKNESS.
The house was a generously hospit-
able one. Rarely came time when
there were not some of the numerous
relatives staying there. as all of them
loved to do. The place was kind of
Mecca to them all Strangers were
entertained. too, whenever their paths
led into that region; but no presence,
whether of visiting kinsfolk or of pass
ing strangers. was ever suffered to
fithtNt Nbt clLlaAlcSl hinEIentH III the
family life
Whether there We're many guests ar
none in the house. there was always
an abundantly laden table and there
were beds in plenty There was sing.
ing in the evening. and If the weatbe,
was cold there was always a catherine
of children. and often of young mon
and maidens. round the great wood
fires. where nuts were cracked and
apples roasted, while one Or more of
the girls played a merriiy humming ac-
compartment on her spinning wheel
Some of the girls liked spinning
some did not. Those who liked it did
it; those who did not let it alone. That
was the spirit in which all these things
Were done in the house and on the
farm