Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1914-02-03

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tail with which he relates the Incl
dents in the early life Of the pioneers
in Iowa, the trials they endured and
the experiences they underwent, s. ",
Uncle SAM" Whitaker of Stockport
tells the readers of The Courier many
things that are of more than ordinary
interest. Habits Of life among the
early settlers; historic personages
such as Chief Wapello; storms, both
billiards and cyclones and all of this
in detail that notes even the course
of the wind and the degrees of temper
ature, are told In this letter-story by
the Stockport pioneer.
The letter was sent The Courier by
Mr.. Whitaker after repeated requests
for history Of early days and events
in Iowa with which he lis familiar. Mr..
Whitaker Is the correspondent of The
Courier in his community and his
fitness to tell of the things alluded to
in his letter is best appreciated upon
reading the account of his interesting
life's experiences which follow:
was born in Van Buren, county,
Union township Iowa, on the 10Th day
of May, 1887, and have lived continu-
ously in the county ever since, with
the exception of three years. The win
ter of 1853 was spent in Texas, and
in the spring of 1862 I crossed the
plains to California, reaching the Pa
cific coast the 7th of August at Tom
alas, and returned to Iowa in August,
1865, by way of the Isthmus of Pan
anna.
Well do remember my boyhood
days. Chief Blackhawk was fire.
quent visitor to our primitive home
and many times have l sat on his lap.
He was noble Indian; he had kind
heart when sober, but when under the
influence of fire water was vicious and
ugly.
l have seen the state of Iowa
brought from wilderness to it's pres
ent statehood which is not excelled by
any other state in the union.
AS to the privations that were en-
dured by the pioneers, I have vivid
recollection that the boys and girls
did not have any fine clothes to wear,
but wore home made clothes that
were carded, spun and woven by the
and daughters. They had no
shoes to wear except those that were
made Of deer hide. no gloves, no hats
those knit by mother and would go to
parties and church in this garb as
happy as larks. We lived six weeks
one time on hominy and wild meat
which was abundant at that time.
Father had gone over into Illinois
to mill, driving yoke of oxen and
there came up blizzard during which
the snow drifted in places fifteen feet
deep. For years and years we lived in
a log cabin. Father was one of the
three commissioners who selected the
school land in Iowa. He would be
gone for months, sleeping where night
overlook him. Rivers and streams
we're no hinderance to him. He would
strip off, fasten his clothes to log
and swim across.
Freakish Cyclone Prank.
In 1874 on the night of June 5 was
the first tornado that visited this part
Of the state. 1t was warm, sultry
day, the thermometer registering 100
degrees in the shade with wind blow
ing from the southeast. Clouds gath
cred all day in the northwest, and
about 8 o'clock p. m, the wind chang
I'd to the northwest and the storm
came with all of it's FURY. 1t twisted
,rees out by the roots, blowing down.
rimoth Days house and barn. Level
ng every fence on the farm to the
ground, it then passed on to William
where it seemed to have
ost it's grip. After blowing his house
o pieces 1t carried his boy baby about
wo miles away from home, where he