Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1911-06-20

tricable entanglements that were fore
runners OF the modern football. allied
to golf. Skinny on your own side!"
MY, my, can hear that veil plainly
rignt now. Do you folks indulge m that
sort OF sport when the beautiful Des
MONIES has on its frigid panoply!
IN one copy of the Courier saw
the name Of Cal. Manning Cal came
OUT to 'Beloit, Kas., some Years ago
and tried lawyering. Guess it wasn't =
successful venture--anyhow he didn't
stay long. I've forgotten who was with
hlm, but think 1t was an Oskalooaa
young man. They were both brirht
ehousn out they had to buck against
lne prejudice that every newcomer
runs up against-that OF the iealonsv
OF the f1rst corners. know whareoT
amrm. for had like experience when
landed In Beloit. The difference he.
tween Cal and me was that he had
plenty to get away on while I had I'd
stay and root. ~
] note that my boyhood friend Sam
Harper, has been elected MAYOR ~
your city. have not seen him in MANY
years. but he was planted right and
was trained right and was right And
him. w
AT this juncture receive another
letter from Will Daum enclosing one
mat ne had from George DAVIS Of lola
ana which gladly herein send you to
lola, May il, 1911.
i Mr. Will Daum.-I received your
letter OF May 6 and was glad to hear
| rom my old boyhood mates. How
should like to talk old times over. and
II ever you come this way you must
come and see me. am 66 years old.
ana , VIII was six years older than /.
| WIN oled year ago last March. In
regard to your argument with Billie
Caidwell. you are right in every way.
al the FERRIES You mention up and
Gown the river, and 1t seems queer
lhat Billy has forgotten our ferry. Fa-
tner started one In 1860. paid the city
81 OttumWa $25 year for privilege OF
,anulne' ana had state charter.
began and had sold when we left. orr
boat was 65 feet long, Is feet wide. RIM
by cable and lee boards. could make
1t across in two and half minutes
with six loaded teams. several horse
men and foot passengers. we ferried
all the soldiers and their wives free
during the war and never charged for
church socials or ministers, and You
remember the Burlington railroad
came In there we ferried big
droves OF hogs. cattle and sheep and
IN high water, with ice running. Will
and always got the passengers over.
In 1858 we sold to Champion q Eel
lows, az the bridge question was set-
ting pretty strong. Uncle Tom 6inna-
mon had small boat he tried to run
by line OF buoys. but never did any
business. He ran the hotel. II you re-
member. Was glad to hear the names
OF the old boys that are left there and
would be glad to meet them. certainly
should be lost In Ottumwa, It has
grown to be such big place since we
left forty-three years ago.
| We have a nice little town here.
about 10000. Sister Drusia and are
all that are living here now. Patience
Is In California. Sister Eta, the young
est one, Is O. X. l have one child. 4
daughter. She IL married and has two
boys. 80 you see am grandfather. I
am out Of any regular business since
we sold our mill, but keep busy all the
time trying TO take care OF what
have. Let me know II you convince
Billy Caldwell he is in the wrong.
Good bye, with best wishes from
your old time friend.
George s. Davis,
BOB So. State st.. lola, Kas.
Yes. he has convinced me, but much
against my will. knew that the Davis
boys were the best, most expert river
men that ever bucked the rapids. Their
father was known as Capt. Davis, he
having been steamboat man on the
Ohio river. You will recall that in my
first letter ! spoke of him having
built steamboat back in Marietta,
Ohio. with which he navigated the
Des Moines-the name OF that boat
being Ed Manning, in honor OF Cal
Manning's father whom, believe then
lived In Keosauqua. Some way l can.
not get 1t fixed in my mind that the
Davis boys run ferry, but, Of course
lthey did, or George would not claim
SO. George, in his letter, modestly
speaks Of doing nothing but trying to
take care OF what he has. Well. saw
some OF what he has and know that It
does keep him busy, for he is q
wealthy citizen of lola, and I'm glad
of 1t.
/ Perhaps I'd better cork up and quit
/ these "reminiscences, for doubtless
they are getting tiresome to not only
you, but your readers So long
w. H. Caldwell.