Audubon County journal. (Exira, Iowa) 1884-1993, 1909-06-10
SAMUEL sMlTH-continued

\
My father entered land north of
Highland Grove, near the mouth of
Blue Grass Creek, and our most cher
ished hopes to be able some day to
build home of our own was anticipa-
ted. But man proposes and God dis
poses. Mother had a cancer and the
doctor could not help her, and after
months of dreadful misery, God took
pity on her and ended her suffering in
the spring of 1861. We laid her to
rest in Dr.. Billiards. grave yard. But
a few years ago our family had the
remains of father and mother moved
and buried at Harlan, Iowa.
About this period the wife and fam
lily of DIR. Ballard came out from Iowa
City to the farm in Audubon County.
After my mothers death, the fami-
ly moved to the Hiram Perkins place,
then owned by Boynton and John
Dodge. My sisters kept house and
we boys worked out for the farmers
and father worked for DR.. Ballard.
In the spring of 1878, we built a
cabin and moved on our land, broke
out and farmed some of it, and We're
making some Roadway, when one day
the cabin took fire and was soon a
heap of ashes. The family relics
brought from England, most OF them
had been in my mothers family for
ages, and were not to have been used
until we had home suitable to pro-
perly display them, were destroyed.
This broke up the home and we chill
dren were sent out into the world to
make our living. | was hired out to
DR.. Ballard by my father, for whom
he also worked.
That fall had racket with the
doctor, quit him, and went to live
with A. B. Houston and attended
school at Extra that winter.
My father sold his farm to Josephus
Lewis in 1868. Married the widow
Bailey and he died in the winter of
1869.
Three of the sons were Union sol
dierS: John II. served in Co. |, 2 III.
Cavalry: James in Co. l. % Iowa In
fantry, and William f. in Co. L, Ia.
Cavalry.
] was but a boy of nine years of age
when l first landed in Iowa on June
26, 1854. have since been a pioneer
in Colorado and Wyoming. / crossed
the plains in the spring of 1866 with
Charles Van Gorder, Benjamin f. Jen-
kins and David e. Soar, and drove
three yoke of oxen for jenkins. Mr.
Soar was cook for the outfit. The wild
ow of Tom Ballard, son of DIR. Bal
lard lives in Sundance, Wyo. Barzil
lai Sylvester and his wife Beulah are
, buried there. They formerly lived at
Extra.
, She was sister to John r. Thackel
1856 with the families of Thacker
Frank Burnham and Howard j. Green
She taught school many years in Ext
IA. Charles Van Gorder and mysel
we came out of the army (lS65-6.)
shall always have tender feeling fol
the old home in Audubon County an(
should like once more to visit The
home of my boyhood days. There would
be but few of the old friends to greet
me, but there is where my loved par
ents were laid to rest, and many o.
my nearest and dearest friends. l cal
r never forget the families of jenkins
. Herrick, Houston and many others
= They were indeed kind, warm friend!
to the writer If can in any way hell
you in the grand work you have under
taken and SO ably carried on, | shal
. be very happy to do so. We eagerl.
look for the Extra paper each week
q The people of Audubon County ow
/ you much gratitude for your gran,
' work.
+ Children:
= Betsy, remained in England and d. il
1861.
Sarah, d. in Ohio about 1856.
MARY Il :, IN. James DaluOn, Oh Harlan
o iowa.
s John F., unmarried, of Los Angeles
e Cal.
t Eliza, M. John w, Dodge.
a William f., married Cimantha Ham
, lin.
q q James, m, Elizabeth O'Connell. Har-
Ian, Iowa.
E Samuel, unmarried, of Leadville, Col
A son, died at sea, buried at NeS
a Orleans.
p Lizzie e., m. James Peaslee and =
Mcdonald
BENJAMIN NJ. HYATT
, ntfnr from Gnnrno w uuntt n