The Oskaloosa herald., 1905-06-22


lived unlt 4 few miles Awmy aay that
The noise was IKE the fuaf II a cat
nfacs oF an approaching hurricane.
Branches 10 The trees were constant.
~ swnylng and breaking unaef tho
weIahi ~ The settling myflAas that
we're constantly citcllng M the alf III
lighting ON the tree tops. They
came IN such numbers AZ 10 datken
the sun, randemonlum rpiRned at
the foost day and nlRht. out Of
sucf an aggregation If focks.
amounting 10 millions az indlwiuai
birds, the air was constantly flIed
with the scrnamE and s,utteflsg OF
the wounded, the greetings Of the
incoming flocks and the departure OF
others. The constant fatalities OF
the living and the falling OF broken
branches kept up constant roar and
confusion Those who visited the
roost killed pigeons and young squads
by wagon loads with clubs and porps.
They were sold In the villages and
towns about the country until there
was no market for them. Naturalists
tell us that these swift-winged little
creatures will iy mile in two aud a
half minutes and will keep II up for
hundreds of miles. They assemble at
these roosts for the annual Matching
and rearing Of their young which
grow into maturity In q few months
and swell the vast migratory throng.
The following year there were several
hundred come back to the old roost
for time, but the gathering describ-
ed above was the only genuine pigeon
roost that ever occurred in the his.
tory Of Mahaska county since the
coming Of the white man.
Spring Creek township now has ten
modern school houses and number
of rich coal mines. The north half
has been covered with timber aud Is
somewhat broken, while the south por-
ton Is rolling prairie. The town
ship has 324 farms whose value is
$3.50 AIS, and personal property to the
value Of sG9,9o6. Its population rs
1900. rr
White Oak Township.
abundant timber Of that name pre-.
dominating along the South Skunk
river, which runs dlagonally across
the township. Among the first set
| tiers In the township were Alexander
Troy NJ, Kinsman Henry Bond, VIM
Bridges. james Stanford, John and
VIM. Butler, John N. Kinsman ana
others. On each side Of the river
channel for several miles the land iss
quite broken and has been pretty
| heavily timbered. There are seven
or eight hundred acres OF low lands
which are not tlllable, but valuable
for their timber and pasture.
Rose Eill "a located on sections .
and 10 and was laid out on the COM
| pletlOn Of the Oskaloosa branch OF
the G., II. ]. & p. TO Oskaloosa In
| 1875. II IL located about ten miles
east Of Oskaloosa. The first busi-
ness house was built In that year by
Baily e. Stubs. II Drospered for a
time and was Incorporated In 1877.
The postolIice was established In
| 1876, with II. l.. Orr as first postmas-
ter. It has several good general
stores, n bank, three churches,
good school and Is good market for
the rich farming country Of which IL
forms the center. There are num-
Der Of well kept homes, but the pop
uIatiOn IL not more than about two
hundred and fifty.
Where White Oak postofIice now
stands VIM. Bond built o crude saw
mill In the beginning years, 10 help
the settlers make a better use OF
some Of the fine timber IN It's then
quite extcnSivG forests. The power
was produced by the treadIng Of a
team Of oxen. Because Of the pres.
3nce Of these faithful creatures 10
took the name Of oxford Then for a
charge II was called Shutdown for a
time. II is said that in the early
years several acres Of ground were
laid out in town lots and number OF
| buildings were created. Later
steam engine was used. A pair o.
corn crackers were added TO the mill
and II did grinding for the commun.
ity.' o. II. Gaskill ran a blacksmith
shop, to which he added few gro
cerIes TO accommodate mis- trade. His
stock began gradually TO grow Until II
developed into good general store
In which he continued TO serve his
neighbors AZ postmaster and store
keeper for some twenty-five years.
The fret school in the township was
taught by James Robinson. II is the
persons who do the unusual things
that find a place in history. s. M.
Peddichord came from Virginia In
1854, lie was wheelwright by
trade and constructed lathe run by
foot power by tine use Of which he
made chairs and the old.fashIoned
spinning wheels for the spinning OF
fax and wool for the nelghborhood.
Some OF the chairs Of his manufacture
are still In use in the township. Cur