Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1906-08-14

that have carriages or automobiles
may vaunt their better fortune to those
that have not.
Winding paths will lead through
the groves of native trees and beds of
native flowers and here the genera
tons that are to come may study not
only the kind of houses in which
these pioneers to whom they owe the
retaining of this beautiful land from
the wilderness lived, but also the veg
citation with which the Almighty fur
nished that wilderness and made it
letter, calls "A Veritable Eden
Though every other piece of
ground in the entire United States
may be given over to the sordid MAX
ing of dollars. here will be one spot
where the original peace, humility
quiet and lowliness which marked the
life of the early pioneers will reign
supreme.
Educational institution.
This park will become an educs.
tional institution in itself, where our
descendants may learn not only that
which is good for the mind but also
they will be able OF obtain an accurate
picture in miniature of what the terri
tory of Iowa was when Rhodham
Bonnifleld and the others began their
struggle to open up new country"
But even when one INDUCES in what
may seem the widest flights of fancy
he is often far beneath the pinnacle
that may become an accomplished
fact. When the association official
gave out the above interview, it Is
hardly probable that he believed in
the complete accomplishment of all
that he predicted. Yet, how fast may
not an idea or a business grow if it
fills long felt want?
Since the above interview was Civ.
en- a few prominent members of the
association met one afternoon with a
visitor and outlined the proposition in
much the same language as that used
above. The visitor was greatly i'm
pressed and said so.
Gentlemen" said he, 81 don't know
how your idea will strike Others but
to me 1t seems that this park will be
a credit not only to Jefferson county
and southern Iowa but to the entire
state. 1t is original. AS far as know
there is nothing like it in this state
or in any other. Have you thought of
state support and state control for
your park"
State Support for Park.
State support! State control! How
| the committees eyes bulged at these
words. 1t was a new thought and it
opened up before them fields of which
they had never dreamed Five acres
was no longer to be thought Of. ''Twen
ty acres" forty acres" the words
came with an effort but with ever in.
creasing confidence. They believed in
! their idea, their park, and they be
lieved in their ability to make others
politicians, statesmen, governors
see it in the same light.
Here the matter, as far as the park
itself is concerned, stands today
4 Whether there is ever an Iowa state
park, constructed on the plan above
! its central feature, or not, it is Ger
tain that the home built by Rhodham
Bonnifleld and his family in 1888 will
be kept in its original form by the
4 Old Settlers association of Jefferson
! county, as a monument to the vigor
hardihood, perseverance, endurance
and bravery Of those pioneers who in
! the early thirties laid the foundations
for this, the fairest state in the union
Chimney of Sticks.
At the Old Settlers reunion which
4 is to be held at Fairfield September 3
and the Bonnifeld home will be on
\ exhibition in it's original state of con
j struction. with its chimney Of sticks