Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1917-01-12
Darlington, Ill.
Too On

Doubtless you will be glad to read
a little news from the state OF
Illinois.
Have just arrived from weeks
visit in Mclean county, the second
largest county in the State, and
the second richest in the United
States. 1t is situated in the CELL
trail part of the State, Bloomington
being the county seat, and has
population of So, 900. The Chicago
and Alton R. R shops are located
in this town and is noted for it's
universities. | did not get to see
any of the country between Chica-
90 and Blooming on my way down
there as | rode night train. The
Illinois Central leaving Chicago
terminal at 6 p. m. Saturday Dec.
%, and arriving at Blooming at
midnight. l alighted from the
train and had an auto to take me to
the Hamilton Hotel where | stayed
all night, and on the follow ng day
visited the busy parts of the town
until :25, when 1 left for LIE Roy
on the Knickerbroker, a small town
Is miles south east of Bloomington.
| visited my ,usin, William Colaw
a retired farmer. at first thought
| was one of the Colaws from
Chanute Kansas, but soon c'n-
vinced him | was from the Old
Dominion and the same garden
spot he is from, and that is Crab.
bottom. He told me he off bore
the brick for the house now owned
by D E. Colaw. which was built
| in the fall of 1854, and he also re-
Lated many other things that were
very interesting to listen to. y On
the same evening | went to Downs
where my cousin, D. W. Colaw
resides "a brother to William. He
is still farming and lives little
| over a mile east of the village in a
mcdorn, up to date home, sur
rounded by one of the most beau
tiful plantations that one could
wish to see. That is one of the
spots in Illinois where one can see
as far as the eye will carry, and
wheat fields half as large rs Blue
Grass Valley. On Xmas day,
cousin D. w. Colaws and l ate
dinner with Nit. Roadman, and
if ever sat down to a good meal |
did that day, turkey being the
main dish, besides the many other
good. things that the table was
loaded down with. Mr.. Roadman
is a very wealthy farmer. At
present he is feeding over 80 head
of cattle, 200 head of Palan China
Chester white hogs; 25 head Of
good horses, and many other farm
animals, and'h he also has up to-date
machinery. He has recently in
stalled a Delco electric plant
which ELIMINATES his house and al
out building. I think he has 50
lights in all. With this late improve
ment he has one of the best up to
| date farms in Mclean county.
The most important problem
hat confronts the farmers in the
c ,untry is the road question, but
they are building bord roads tc
some extent and hope to compete
with adjoining caunties in the
course of a few years. This coun-
Ityis tranve-sed by ten rail roac
lines Owing to nearness OF raj
road facilities, good schools anc
churches, this county offers great
inducements to the farmer. Rea
estate has increased so per cent. in
the last 10 years. Due to hot anc
Try weather the crops were not as
good this year as formerly, but
prices have more than doubled.
| Well, to resume the story of my
trip: l had an enjoyable time
| While I was there D. W. Colaw re-
ceived the sad news that Hannah
Smith was dead. Her many rela-
tiyes and friends will be sorry tc
near of her death, but we all know
she has gone to better home a
| above.
| l left Downs Friday, Dec. 80, or
the l2:46 train which was late
causing me to get to b 'omIngtor
lust a few minutes late to catch
the Kansas City Hummer for Chic
,go, so l had to wait till 400 p. m
| for the Chicago and Alton limited
while waiting visited the Chicago
and Alton rail road shops where
Hundreds OF men are employed
On our way to chicago we came
thru and stopped in the town o.
Joliet, that has a population oil
$4,000 The State penitertiary is
located in this town, but | didn't
get to see it as it was dark before
me arrived there. We got in tht
Union depot at Chicago 7:4s and
caught the 9'15 train to Barring
ton arriving here st 1920, feeling
gay and happy over my good trip
| | shall never forget these good PEG
pie, as they were so kind. Bar
Irington is small town 80 miles
north vest of Chicago. on the north