Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1905-06-28


The reminiscent stories were very
interesting, in that they told of the
early days of Delaware county
Many Of the pioneers settled here in
1915 and 1850. and their stories OF
the social events consisting of the
spelling schools and attending the
district schools which were held in
log cabins were especially interest
ing. 1t is no easy matter to be a
pioneer, and takes vim, muscle and
push, in fact everything that con-
stitutes aman. Many expressed them
selves as glad they were pioneers
and alive today. A committee
on the election of officers was APP
pointed consisting of E. S. Cow
els, Fred Peet and Newton Green.
The following is paper read by
Mr.. Middleton:
Since Columbus discovered
America, the progress of civilization
has been westward, at first, only
sparce settlements along the Allan
tic and gradually receding from the
coast until it reached the Father
of Waters the Mississippi.
When father and family crossed
the Mississippi, we left railroads,
churches and school houses behind
US, Dubuque at>that time was only
struggling village with log houses
on Main street. We drove into the
timber on Sec. 10, Richland Twpt,
on September 6, 1854, and pitched
our tents not 100 yards from where
the farm buildings now stand. Here
we drove our stakes and they are
sticking there still The Indians
had not left for good, for during
part Of the summer in 1855 there
were more Indians in Richland
township than there were white
settlers. There would have been
no trouble with them if the whites
had not sold them the fire-water, the
thing that has been the bane and
curse of the human race from the
time Of Lot till the present time. l
have great deal OF sympathy for
the Indians for they have been an
abused race Of people from the time
we first knew of them.
Our first log cabin l4xl6 feet
was built with round LOGS as we had
no time to put on fancy touches, we
chopped out doorway and fastened
the casing on with wooden pegs,
next was the roof and there was no
lumber nearer than Dubuque to
build it with. We did not know
how to make shakes SO we put on
the next best thing. a grass roof,
and the shakes came aloug soon
after on their own account, when
the ague held us in its strong en-
brace. Now we have our first Iowa
home ready to move into, let us look
it over. Green logs in the walls,
green thinking and plaster of Iowa
mortar, a green roof, aud a green
baise, Iowa carpet with KNAPP on it
at least a foot long, and a green set
Of foreigners to move into it. We
had no door for our cabin yet, but
finally l got a chance to cut corn for
the saw mill man and get an oak
board of which we made the door.
it was hung on wooden hinges and
a burglar alarm door it was, for
when it was opened and shut you
could hear it forty rods away. Our
furniture consisted of a stove, a few
boxes containing bedding and dish
es, made a double bed stead which
had but one leg which some Of you
probably remember. In a few
weeks we all came down with the
ague and were doctored by DR..
Wiltse who had opened an office at
Forestville. Quinine was the prin-
cipal medicine and it was pretty
fresh, as it was dealt out in the raw
state.
Deer and all kinds of other game
were plentiful, which was a great
help to the early settlers. The
rattlers had possession and we could
not go about star gazing, but often
had to knee-act pretty lively to get
out of their way.
The first school we had was in a
vacant hunters cabin. At first we
had only short term in the sum-
mer Of 1856 and | assure you the
supplies were very meyer. With
the addition Of some children from
Clayton county, the school was
ready to start. The next was some
one to teach, and after going far and
near, we found girl in the south