The Oskaloosa herald. (Oskaloosa, Mahaska County, Iowa) 1885-1919, 1909-08-19

A little rain wouldn't hurt the crops
any just at present. The farmer who
was making noise like he wanted
dry weather has his desire filled to
overlooking and now he wants mt
tie rain to help things out.
A little over thirty years ago Geo
Brewer and son opened up general
merchandise store six miles south and
west of Oskaloosa at the town when
is now known as Givin. The country
round about there was in excellent
shape for farming and as number
of such people lived near there the
men enjoyed good trade. A little
later coal was found on some OF th@
farms and small banks were opened
up here and there. Prospects were
made for more coal and company
known as the Snake Creek Coal Co..
with plenty of capital behiLd them
opened up large mine south and
west of Givin about one mile. Men
We're needed to mine the coal and OF
course this helped to increase the
population of the place, as they came
there to live. Other mines were open
ed up in the immediate vicinity VI
Givin and men with their families
swelled the population to 500. The
town then had two general stores,
drug store, blacksmith shop and post
Office, After the coal was worked
nj hn RI W
and there are now only about one
hundred people living there. One
general merchandise store Is being
operated by John Matustick and son,
| post Office with Mrs. Jennie Jack
son. postmistress. There are two
churches, WEIGH Congregational and
Methodist Episcopal. Services are
held in both churches every Sunday.
Rev. Lloyd Williams, of Oskaloosa,
breaches at the Congregational, and
Elmer Seaman, superintendent of the
Sunday school. Mr.. Osborne, Of Uni
yersity Park, holds services in the
Methodist and Mrs. Frank Whitsel is
| superintendent of the Sunday school.
One mail route is operated from this
place and Elmer Seaman is the car
| rier. He is one of the progressives
and he has just purchased an auto
buggy to carry the mail with. On his
first trip last Monday over the sand
ridge which makes about three miles
| of sandy road and here is where the
| engine refused to work. The other
part of the route was made in ex-
cellent time and with little difficulty,
sand has received rain. The Iowa
Central and Rock Island have a juno
ton point at Givin and both use the
same depot. Clyde Hill is the local
| agent. Only one mine is in operation
near the place, which is in charge OF
Chas. Logue. The works has been
idle for some time, but will be open
| ed up this month some time. The
mine would be in running order now
| but the water has been bothering con-
siderable and will be pumped out be-
fore the miners can work.
q
Chas. Harper has put a new roof
on his barn. Mr.. Harper's mother is
an old settler of Iowa, coming here in
'46. She says when they made the
| trip across the prairie land around
| Fremont it was so wet that they could
hardly drive across it. Tile has done
great things for that country, as 1t
is the highest priced land now.
d .....
c. c. Sheppard has improved the
place. occupied by Mr.. Banner by
| painting the house.
s.
S. B. Rhea has sold his place to u.
T. McFadden and will move to New
Mexico. where the boy has taken up
claim. Their goods will be shipped
the first of September.
q
w. H. Downing has built new barn
on his place l6x20 feet.
s.
A new barn 30 feet square has been
built on the Chas. Halt farm
4
G. r. Colville has done considera-
BILE improving on his place north OF
Givin. Five hundred rods OF woven
wire fencing have been put up, a new
hog house, 20x40 feet has been built
and two hundred head of hogs on his
place and he says that fifty OF them
will be ready for the market before
long
q
A. NJ. Ellis has remodeled his house
all over and three new rooms. The
house alsoireceived paint.
s.
The Herald reporter was talking to