The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1915-08-26
GRAssHoPpERs IN IOWA RAIDS.
First Came in 1S73-Hardships of
Settlers in Early Days-lOWa
Gave to Sufferers.

not the most destructive, was tudt
which occurred in the summer OF
1876. In fact the territory invaded
comprised nearly all of western Min
nesota, a portion of eastern Dakota,
and western Iowa. strip or coun-
try 400 or 500 miles long and $50
miles wide About the first Of Au-
gust swarms crossed the state line
from Minnesota and Dakota almost
simultaneously, and swept on toward
the east and south AS late as Oc-
tober 2 grasshoppers were still mi
grating eastward The most east
ward point reached was in the mid
die of the state, and the line retreats
westward from Story county both
north and south. With 1876 grass
hopper invasions of Iowa practical
ly ceased.
March and April of the year 1878
were cold, rainy months. The seed
ing was long delayed and when it
was finally accomplished the grain
was slow in sprouting and slower in
coming through the ground. But IN
May the gloomy prospect frightened,
the fields of wheat and oats Waxed
luxuriant, the corn stretched up by
leaps and bounds.
Feasting their eyes on the promls-
ing sight the settlers felt that they
would be justified in building new
rranaries, in purchasing new lmple-
ments. and in procuring for their
families some of the things that had
been long denied. The harvest would
nav for all. Merchants were eager to
sell on credit, while multitude OF
agents for pump, lightning ROD, mar
vester, and insurance companies IN
tested the country. They, TOO, &C
cepted credit with the fields OF gram
as security. Tempting opportunities
for investment in railroad lands were
also afforded and again promlssory
notes were signed. But the day OF
reckoning came too soon.
When the grasshoppers when
swept over that region had finished
their work of destruction verltaDle
desert remained where but prlet
time before there were acres OF WaV-
ing grain. 1t was estimated that not
Is per cent of the oats crop was lett,
the corn fields had suffered equally,
while the wheat in many places was
reported to be an utter failure. 1t
was especially unfortunate that the
raya 3es were most destructive In the
more recently settled country where
the people were largely newcomers
entirely dependent upon their nrst
crop. What in the old communities
was a serious misfortune, to them
was absolute ruin. a..
The following account Of the ac-
tual suffering was given in Novem-
Der, 1873, by man who had just
left the stricken region:
Nearly every man is poor-very
poor, and a great majority are ex-
soldiers of the union, with young
families to support. When the grass
.hoppers took the crops, we did the
best we could for the coming winter.
We sent to the lakes and caught bar
rels of fish, but we did not have the
means to properly care for them, so
they spoiled. Stock was sacrificed to
the sharks that ihfest our section, at
the next to nothing prices and many
of us have thus eaten up and worn
out the horses and work cattle that
had been our mainstay. we could
not buy fuel, and when l left twisted
hay and rank reed grass was the
only fuel nine-tenths of the people
were using. Much sickness prevails,
brought on by a long abstinence
from wholesome and nutritious food.
One family l knew of has the father
down with rheumatism, three out OF
six children were down with the
measles, while the mother was about
worn down herself. Corn meal,
grated from frost bitten nubins, was
the emily food in the house, if the sod
and board shanty may be called such.
The people bear with each other, and
extend aid as much as pos
sible. One young man from Jasper
county, who happens to be a good
shot, has valiantly taken upon him.
self the task of keeping all invalid
families supplied with meat, wild
game and the day left brought
some geese and ducks to the family
I have mentioned. But that will
soon end, with cold weather. You
want to know what they need They
need everything-fuel, clothing and
The women and children
are suffering greatly already, for the
want of clothing. l know of several
women who died soon after giving
birth to children because they could
not have even the common luxury of
a cup of tea, or anything nutritious
to aid them in regaining strength,
coupled with the want of proper bed
covering. The most of the counties
can extend no aid, for the reason
that thieves have been running af-
fairs and have stolen all, just as they
did some years ago in Clay county.
Many families will leave on foot,
having sold their cattle or horses to
keep them alive. Some general way
Of relieving those who must remain
must be put in operation right away,
else the first snow or real cold
weather will send many a good man,
OF woman or child to death-frozen,
because they will be so weak and
eplaciated that they can not stand
the rigors of winter, even in its
weakest appearance.
Spring came at last, but with the
FIRST warm days there came also mill !
lions of young grasshoppers. From !
The first the people saw in despair,
those to whom seed had
been furnished by the state that the ,
crops were again doomed. In vain
they struggled against the pest. The