The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1913-07-11


came to know of his compentency as a
printer and his ability as an editor,
proofreader, etc. He ceased publishing
tho Wing. boxed up the type, and with
the Washington hand-press, stored
them away 1t was while my father
was foreman of the American, and at
the close of a spring term OF school,
that Mr.. Clarkson's sons, Richard T.
and James s., and my brother Wesley
and myself, entered the Office and com
menced 10 learn the art preserva-
tive of arts
Mr.. Clarkson took much interest In
''the boys" and made a standing offer
of fifty cents for every galley OF type
set that did not contain an error It
didn't cost him many dollars, but 1t
created some rivalry among "the boys "
and of course stimulated the kids in
the right direction.
My father had no faculty OF accumu-
lating money. but the anticipation OF
his trip 'out west, caused him to lay
by enough money to pay steamboat
fare from Cincinnati on the Ohio river,
and thence over the Mississippi river.
to Keokuk Arriving at the latter
place, he started on foot to go to Char
iton, where the government land office
was located. He arrived in Abba IN
the afternoon, and concluded to re
main over night and attend prayer
meeting at the Methodist church tie
was faithful member of the Metho-
dist church In Versailles and Brook
vile; was licensed as local preacher,
and being a constant and close reader
OF the Bible, he had always a reseryeu
seat in the pulpit or amen corner. He
was invited to give his experience,
and did so. At the close of the meet
ing he was extended a most cordial
welcome. and was urged to remain In
Abba. He walked on out to Charlton,
and was impressed that 1t was bet
ter business point, but it was in the
days OF the stage coach; and thirty
miles further from the chief market
places Burlington, Ft. Madison and
Keokuk. At Charlton he found the
hotels and boarding houses filed to
Overlooking with people who were
there to enter land; but good Metho-
dist brother took care of him during
his brief sojourn there. Such was the
hospitality that then prevailed in the
west.
He returned to Brookville, as he
came, walked to Keokuk, and thence
by boat to Cincinnati, and from Gin
cinnati to Brookville on foot. re-
member the glowing accounts he gave
! of the wonderful country; OF its vast
ness, Of it's rich soil, of the extensive
/ prairies; of the deer and Wild turkeys
and pheasants and prairie chickens
quail, squirrels, rabbits, etc; so plenti
full that man could sand in the door
way of homes in the village and shoot
prairie chickens, quail and rabbits. His
description Of the vast prairie fires he
saw on his trip in Iowa was vivid and
extremely interesting. and many peo-
pie came to our humble home to lis
ten and be entertained at the recital.
He acquired means to buy horse,
! harness and single wagon; the vehicle
large enough to hold bedding, wearing
apparel and cooking utensils, and with
COW and yearling heifer which ne
owned, we started on the long and
tedious journey. My brother and
took turn about in driving the cattle
/ There were many people going west
and in crossing the state of Illinois We
fell in with some most agreeable com
pany. At Springfield. merchant who
owned a small farm at the edge O
town. tried to persuade my father Il
90 on to his farm. have often won
/ dered, If we had stopped there, wheth
:, err we would have come to know thu
i great Lincoln, and IL our lives woult
have been IN more pleasant places.
i At Versailles my father had an ar
Z dent friend named Roberts, who wa
: principal OF the public schools,
Methodist class-leader, and he relin
quished his position at the head OF tn
school to become bookkeeper in
wholesale house at Quincy, Ill. The.
kept up correspondence and whel
: my father wrote him that he was &C
ing to southern Iowa, a reply cam
back urging him to cross the Missis
: sippi river at that poin. and stop an
enjoy visit. The information was a
SO vouchsafed that an Indian trailth
{ Beetrace Divide running from g
5 Louis to Sioux City and through south
e ern iowa. between Abba and Charlton
i would be a good route % traverse. w
J. took this route, enjoyed the visit an
r rest, and the genuine hospitality of th
r old friend.
! On July End, about noon, we reache
|. the little town OF Moravia. ten mile
south Of Alhis, and being ssill und