Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1913-09-20
Donald Hemm's Story o
His Grandparent

have heard my mamma and Grand
ma Carter tell about my great grand
parents, known later 40 Uncle Billy
Lynch and Aunt Lila. So thought ]
would write story about them.
They started from Virginia to this
county; mamma doesn't know the ex-
act date. They travelled in q covered
wagon. The flrst place they settled,
thinking of taking their claim. was
where tho big city Of Chicago stand:
today. OF course it was then dull
prospect for one to Try living there, 20
they decided to travel on until they
reached Jefferson county and settled
whore the town Of Fairfield stands to-
day.
Not liking the place, they did not re-
main long. They moved on until they
landed down the river on what 10 now
known as old Iowaville.
There they lived for some time.
Then they decided to locate for good
and take q homestead. About three
miles west Of there they found a dense
timber and not q living person TO be
seen or heard.
But there were traces that the Ind
ians occupied this county. There were
Indian darts and Indian beads and
plain road that was called later on the
Indian trail.
They looked over tho land for several
days and decided to take q homestead
near creek 80 that they would have
plenty Of water.
Then they began to prepare to bufld
little log house, for they were yet
sleeping in the covered wagon.
My great grandmother woke early
one morning and she said to her hus-
band, William! william! I heard a
rooster crow far away"
,n<
ing"
Later in the morning she heard It
again. "Now," she said, William, am
going to where that rooster is Growing.
You come and go with mo 30 that
won't get lost If there is anybody av-
ing in this lonely timber am going to
know Them"
So they started the way they heard
the growing Of the rooster. They would
would break hazel brush as they went
to mark the road so they would md
the way back.
They came to a clear spot where the
timber had been cut off. There they
saw little log house. A woman came
to the door. She seemed 80 frightened
when she saw them coming. Yet she
was so pleased to seem them that she
ran with outstretched arms to meet
them.
It was a happy meeting for them all.
Then this lady had to go home with
them, SO she would know where they
lived. Then they took an axe and clear
ed path for them so they had no more
trouble in finding the way.
My great grandparents thought they
were the hrst to settle here but they
were second. Tho first ones that set
tied here wero named vesser. Of whom
2 All ANts A.&
near tho creek also And they named
the creek after them, and 1t ID still cal
ed Vesser. Bees and honey were found
In every hollow tree and every hollow
log was full Of honey.
They would take q hollow log, nail
boards across the ends and fill 1t with
honey. Nicer honey than we get today
because there were more wild flowers
and things than now.
They cut down trees and built them
little log house, hewed one side of the
looked like corn crib. They did not
build it very high. Then they let 1t
stand a while to dry out and shrink and
settle all it would before they dobbed
1t up
Then they dobbed the cracks in the
wall and floor with mud. The windows
were made Of boards hung on leather
hinges.
They had several children, who
came here with them.
But Harrison Lynch. their youngest
son, was the first white child born in
Iowa.
There were some Indians here yet
Gee! If had been here would have
been afraid, but like to play Indian.
Their claim was 100 acres. They
built a different house later on where
they lived until Mr.. Lynch's death at
the age Of 70 years.
My great grandmother was asked one
time If she could tell all about her life
and she said Bless God, book would
not hold It." She died at the age Of 80
years.
Donald Hemm age 9,