Union County courier. [volume] (Elk Point, Union County, D.T. [S.D.]) 187?-1913, 1907-06-13

Elk Point, s. d.
Dear Sir
After staying two months in Union
county, seeing snow storms and all
kinds Of bad weather during March ana
April, | was glad TO get back to the
land of sunshine and hot winds. /
left Alcester or April 29th aud when
got as lar as Salem the ground WAS
covered With snow and 1T some OF the
stations they had had to shovel snow
TO get through with the trains, When
arrived at Pierre the snow was gone
and the weather was fine. | crossed
the ldMnddy Z O'Clock Tuesday morn
ing. got on board the first and only
combination freight and passenger
train for The west that day and arrived
at Midland 1870 A. NJ. Left Midland
at O'Clock for Philip. and got there
att O'Clock by Stage. the Philip,
post office, where We stopped, Is ~
miles east OF the new ,town Of Philip,
which is said to be the largest town
along the new road and that even be-
fore the train was nearer than twenty
miles of there. 1'he trains run as far
~ Philip now
Wednesday morning, May lst, was
nice warm day. / went with the mail
carrier from Philip to Smith. Got 10
at O'Clock, and as usual found large
crowd waiting for their mail. IT
seemed something like home again TO
be with this band. | got home about
3 o'clock in the afternoon, and my
family was glad to see me back again.
The children were just coming down
with the measles. Tney are all over it
now, so | don't think there will be any
danger in reading this letter, at this
! time and age of the world. Coming
along the De ad wood trail to the Elk
Point colony saw few vacant houses,
but they had no signs out For Rent.
| expect the owners had made proof
and gone away for short vacation,
after staying or months on their
homestead and putting in some crops.
| suppose they will be back in time to
harvest whatever crops the ranchmens
cattle may have overlooked
On May 9th my family and myself
took dinner with Christopher G .osse.
| won't mention the different courses
he had; it was good enough Tor us farm,
ers and the city people as we'll.
Christopher Crosse, Helmer Eleeson
and family, Cyrus Whittiker and
Oliver |. Munson left the Elk Point
colony in broad daylight. OLAF Glenn
entsOn hauled them at far as Midland
and also assisted them In buying tick
cts and getting them on the right
train. They hadn't seen train or
been to town for nearly q year. So
treat them nice for some time until
they kind Of get used to your ways.
don't think they will be hard to get
along with. The last we heard Of
them was when they left Midland.
Oliver Munson, Cyrus Whittiker and
Christopher Crosse got out to push,
being afraid that old Iron Horse had
too much OF load. They we're to
make proof In the Pierre land Office,
May 10Th.
AS they left my place on the Dead
wood trail Munson stood on the load
taking what might be his last look at
his homestead and also that little house
over east where he had 70 60 and help
keep the stove warm. At this time he
WAS wiping tears with his handkerchief
and coat sleeves rs fast as he could.
I'VE may live without poetry, music and art;
| We may live without COINCIDENCE and live
| without heart;
| We may live without friends. we may hire
| without books,
Bur civilized man cannot hive without cooks 2
Next WAS Cyrus Whitaker, who
completely broke down at the thought
Of leaving his homestead, sweet home
steadl As he dove into his pocket and
seized couple Of his last weeks
doug hnuts and started ia 10 eat he
tried TO express his feelings in the
II SwSsS@S ~ <lsu szxsa1