The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1919-04-16
SIXTY-FIVE YEARS
OF Welded LIFE
Mr.. and Mrs. Lorenzo Kellogg, of Dun.
lap, Welded Sixty-Five Years and
Recount Stirring Events
Came to Dunlap From Iowa City by
Wagon Following the Old Morgan
Trail Across the State

Dunlap, April 15-Special-Brief
mention was made in the Review of
last week concerning the sixtyNfifth
wedding anniversary of Mr.. and Mrs.
Lorenzo Kellogg. This worthy couple
has passed through so many stirring
incidents during their welded life that
a sketch of their lives will prove in
|teresting to their many friends. The
day of their anniversary was spent
exchanging "reminiscences at their
home here, with their children, grand
children and great grandchildren
about them. Two daughters, Mrs.
Taylor, of Grinnell and Mrs. b. J.
Moore, of Dunlap, were present on
this occasion.
The life history of this couple is
filled with romance and stirring epi-
sodes incident to pioneer life In west
ern Iowa. Lorenzo Kellogg was mar
ried on April 4, 1854, to Miss Mary B.
eager in little town in Connecticut.
They lived there three years and then
started for Iowa, coming direct to
Dunlap and have lived here continu-
ously for sixty-two years.
| Iowa City was then the terminus of
| IAC 1dllIO Odu l1AC ctllu tuC JUL IIoAA
there to Dunlap was by wagon over
the old Mormon trail, through tall
Iprairie grass and across bridgeless
streams. Both men and women walk
ed most of the distance to tighten the
loads, for they were taking building
materials, food and other necessities
of life in as large quantities as was
possible to transport. Many of them
even were compelled to leave their
trunks at Iowa City or Des Moines.
First House of Brick
Mr.. Kellogg previously had burned
the brick with which he built small
home for his own and his brothers
| family. This pioneer home even had
the luxury Of a fireplace, but most Of
the furniture was homemade. Except
| for two plates, which were carried in
the lunch basket, they had no dishes
until some time later when trip was
made to Council Bluffs. Mr.. Ohm
stead, another settler, had a kettle and
! this did duty for the three families.
Forks made from wood were aused.nA.
crack in the floor divided the parior
and bedroom from the Kitchen while.
the loft, reached by a LADDER was
uScu DIS d lIlIlh uOuSS. IL ucy 'hHdu
brought COWS and chickens with them
and they were life savers and formed
the nucleus for greater things to toll
low. tE,S.@ RI s2a;t>> 5&atl .gs.r..,s js.
The first year they produced a good
garden and fine crop Of corn, but
the wheat was a failure. Drowned
corn was used in lieu OF coffee and
corn meal for pie crusts and dough-
nuts. Wild strawberries and raspber-
ries were found in abundance and
were real luxuries. Gooseberries,
plums and. walnuts and hazel nuts
(now almost eXtinct) helped to sus-
tain life. Prairie chickens also were
almost as plentiful as sparrows are
now, but the deer had nearly all per-
ished during the previous hard win
ter.
There was already a grist mill at
Woodbine. To go to Council Bluffs
for supplies meant three days trip.
Prairie fires were very common and
fno one went abroad without the means
to start a backfire. Often their
homes were endangered by these fires
but the women and girls used the
mops with good effect to save the
buildings and stacks There was
plenty of grazing land and the girl
members of the families herded the
cattle. @" -pt %
The Pottawattamie and Omaha In
dams often were in evidence, but gen
orally appeared on begging expedi-s
tions, and as expert beggars they are
said to have had no equals. Mary
White Bear, squaw, became quite
we'll known and was regarded by the
women settlers as real friend to
them. The grasshopper plague was
one of the worst things they had to
contend with, as very often they con-
sumed every living green thing.
Mr.. Olmstead's home was the post
office and once week Jim Billings
brought the mail. Important news,
such as the assassination of President
Lincoln, was carried through the set
tlement by horsemen. Such things as
envelopes were unknown and paper
also was scarce and folding letter
was quite an art.
These pioneers retained their New
England customs, meeting at each
others homes until meeting house
was built. Occasionally there we're
ministers, but more generally the
services were read from book of SER
mons which Mr.. Kellogg had brought
from the east. The social side of the
settlement was carefully looked after.
for without recreation life would have
become a tragedy in these wilds.
Freighters were common and they adj
! ded their fund of information and fun
| to that of the settlers.
| In the year 1866 the Northwestern
railroad pushed its line from Boone to
Council Bluffs and the town of Dunlap
was born. 1t was plated in June,
1867. In 1871 Mr.. Kellogg, DR.. Frank
Clark and G. w. Thompson establish
ed the Bank of Dunlap. These pio-
neers did great work in assisting
and encouraging others who came af-
ter them. Contemplation Of the won
derful changes that have been wrought
not only in this section but through
out the world since these people
reared their homes in this wilderness,
forms an inspiring mind picture. or
heroic deeds these people could re-
Hate many 3s5 4