Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1910-09-15
IN THE GOOD OLD DAYS"

:erty changed hands in Keosauqua and
the new owner found stored away in
the barn on the premises q number OF
relics that had been the property OF
NJ. M. Myers, the pioneer owner, who
died about twenty-five years ago. One
of the relics found in the old Myers
barn was an account book, which has
since been secured by Curator Harlan,
for a place in the archives Of the state
historical department. This account
book is shown by the Keosauqua Re
publican to be of historical interest
for the reason that it contains a pretty
complete list Of the prices Of COM
modities current at that time, such as
labor. farm products, and other items.
The records cover the period from
1843 to 1851, during which time Mr..
Myers supplied the needs of the early
settlers by hauling with his team and
furnishing wood and feed. The Re
publican picked out the following
debts and credits of Mr.. Myers Gus
toners from the account book:
James Howell is credited with 20
his. Of beef at ~ cents .65; l ID. but
ter .0s;; 16A lbs. pork at IN cents
al; 1 bu potatoes 81 VI; ~ bu oats
LIP; 6 bu corn 1.50
Il q. G. Wright is credited by As It
pine lumber at cents per It 1.38;; by
order to Marlow's store for wife 1000;
by 8.48 paid to Jonathan Thatcher
S.4S; by 80 lbs. Of beef at 21a cents a
10. of Jackson 223. Debtor to cord OF
wood LOO. !,
The Republican then goes on to
comment on these figures and to cite
another case in which the wages paid
to labor is shown. It says:
In this year Of 1910 when we are en-
joying (?) the high cost Of living, the
contrast between now and then will be
kec-ly observed by the reader and no
doubt many on taking glance back
ward will long for the good old time
of our daddies," when fresh pork and
beef could be had in abundance at 21a
cents a pound, and cured pork or
"baycon,n could be bought at cents q
pound. But there is another side to
the question. The fact is that these
sturdy pioneers of ours had at least as
much trouble to make ends meet as We
do in this twentieth century of high
priced necessities. 1t is certain that
these old timers were not rolling in
wealth and luxury nor did the ma
jority of them ever get beyond easy
street" even in their old age. True,
most of the necessities Of life, at least
the products of the virgin sell, were
cheap, but what makes the difference
if you have no money with which TO
buy? They were compelled, for the
most part, to buy with barter or labor,
and in the end had only exchanged
commodities, and their surplus was
not readily turned into cash. They
scarcely knew what a bank account
was. Their living was very simple
and their small homes or cabins We're
meagerly furnished. The fact is that
the average, person of today spends
more money for pleasure and amuse-
ments yearly than the head of the
family Of these early settlers had IN
his possession in any twelve months IN
that period. Then the question arises,
were these much prated good OLD
times" really what they are said to
be, or is it a case Of distance lending
enchantment? From social and nos
pitable standpoint the pioneer. in the
nature of his environment, was no
doubt ahead of US, but not as to the
matter of getting along in the world, :
even If the cost of living now has IN
creased many fold.
There are those of pessimistic turn
who profess to think that the young
man has no chance in these degenerate
days. whereas in the good old days
opportunities were so favorably 1nvit-
ing to the young man that he could
scarcely escape them. Without dis
cussing the egregious fallacy OF this
proposition we will refer again to the
pages of Mr.. Myers old account book,
to the case Of Henry Shepley, for the
purpose of observing what q young
mans chances were in the year 1850.
Henry was young man. but a man OF
family, we gather from the items with
which he is charged. In this old &C
count book we find the following
entry: Aug. 10, 1850. Henry Shepley
set in to work at the rats Of nine dol
lars per month for six months, and II
we like each other at the end of said
time he is to continue on for twelve
months from the time Of beginning at
the same rats. He lost three days at