Audubon County journal. (Exira, Iowa) 1884-1993, 1909-03-11

The nearest grist mills were on the
Raccoon river in Dallas County or
on the Nodaway river in Northern
Missouri
On one occasion about 1852 the sup
ply of flour and meal were at low ebb,
and Mr.. Jenkins and Ben Hiatt took
a load of corn and grain with an OK
team and started to go to mill in
Missouri. Their route was down the
Botna. On reaching Indian Town,
(near where Lewis is now,) they met
a companyAof Mormons who were suf-
fering for bread stuff, and were told to
set price on their load of grain that
they.must have it.
They sold their load at $3.50 a bu-
shell and returned home, took another
supply of grain and proceeded to the
mill. On arriving there they We're
told thatsthereswas a large amount of
custom work ahead and that their
glist could not he ground for two
week, but they succeeded i'm pursuad-
ing the miller to grind it sooner.
He once told me that the democrats
here during war times prophesied that
the ',GreenbacllS' would become
worthless, as the Continental money
had been i'm Revolutionary times.
That he had a few hundred dollars
and consulted the County Judge, Mr..
4. 3. Houston for advice about a
safe investment for his money, who
recommended him to let the u. 8.
bonds and money alone, and to invest
in Audubon County warrants at Sc
twenty-five cents on the dollar, that
they wouldialso pay six ;per cent in
terest until paid and that he would
assist him in getting them cashed.
He accepted this advice and bought
the warrants. Afterwards Mr.. Hous-
ton was elected County Treasurer
and several times year Mr.. Jenkins
| presented his warrants for payment.
bnt. did notsucceed i'm getting them
cashed While Mr.. Houston was in
office. They were finally redeemed
| during the term of office of Charles
| Van Gorder, who succeeded Mr.. Hous..
ton.!after the County revenue became
increased. Uncle Johnny in speaking
of the matter said: II think app,
pulled the wool over my eyes,
never heard that Mr.. Jenkins ever
made any profession of religion. and
| Judge that he was liberal ON the
subject
| In 1860 Elder Richard c. Meek,
notedi preacher in his day, visited
| Uncle John several weeks and while
there held regular family religious
services, evening and morning. At
bed time good "Aunty" Meek would
bring the large Bible and place it on
the table from which the Elder would
read portion and then offer a
prayer in which he suggested that
I'VE know not that we shall live to see
the light of another morning." and
asked protection through the night,
etc. Next morning he returned thanks
for protection and care thro' the
night and again referred to the UNI
certainty of life and recommended
preparation for the future, etc.
This constant reference at prayer
tlme to The. uncertainty of life went
on with continual monotony for seve-
raj weeks to the annoyance of Uncle
John, until one day Mr.. Jenkins and
the elder took walk together when
the latter made the mistake of again
introducing the unwelcome subject,
and advised the propriety of making
preparation for the hereafter Uncle
John called halt in an abrupt man
ner said he: ''Elder Meek, if you are
going todie, sir, Why don't you die
like man, and not be dying every
day of your life like a - coward.''
He was always a democrat, was elce-
ted County Judge in 1865 and held the
office a year.
We shall have occasion to notice
other events at later periods in his ca
reer. He died July II, 1886. His wife
died March 10, 1882.
Children:
Benjamin Franklin, m. Maria Byrd
and Josephine Gilbert
John Taylor IN. Dorthula Rogers.
Sarah Blauset, m. Lee l.. BARTLETT
Isaac Hughes, IN. Clarissa Chase.
Harriet, m. George Cannon.
George Washington, m. Caroline
| Woody.
CONTINUED Next Week.
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