The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1920-09-08

The days of April and May, 1858,
were sunny and warm, and the occas-
Iional little visitations of delicate flow
iers were of an exceedingly dry char
acter. The farming classes were
idisorganized and lacked confidence.
True, land was easy to secure, and
rates were easy and not very binding.
During 1862 and 1863 one could gaze
lover the great valley of the Des
Moines and Mississippi and behold
Vast bodies of first class farms idle,
Itenantless, silent. 1t was time OF
lextreme uncertainty, as the social and
political alienation held supreme and
the dark shadow of war lowered over
a1l the commonwealth. One summer
lday in 1851 two neighbor men were
lat work in the heavy oak forest along
FOX river, some four miles west OF
alexandra, and while pausing for a
ibrief rest from their strenuous exer-
Icise, the new object of the war came
up, and considering their danger in
such location. they agreed to cease
work and return to their distant
homes. Such is simple event to
show the uneasy spirit of the people
as to impending dangers all around.
were commonly to be observed very
Frequently, and their identity or mis-
sion were not to be read. 1t was a
time which tried all classes, for the
sword of civil strife has two edges,
and flame from the furnace of lost
beings Eliminates the pathway of
death.
In early April, the summer term Of
school at the Greenleaf district start
ed on three months journey with a
list Of twenty scholars of boys and
girls of the rural community. Their
ages were below fifteen years and
their qualifications were quite moder
ate. A few girls and boys attended
! from Alexandria, two miles distant.
The Stark children came from the
prairie lands, some three-fourths of a
mile southwest of the r. E. Hill farm
mansion. This made walk of some
1.-TWO miles for them. They were Mat
lite and Barbary, and Tommie. and
sometimes little VIII. The royal
preceptress was Mrs. P. H. Greenfield,
name quite poetical and very har-
monious to that of Greenleaf. So far
| as the writer's experience is concern
, ed, he has kept in preference woman
| kind as teachers, and Mrs. Greenfield
kept this estimation well sustained.
| AS to the temple of knowledge, the
edifice was of very plain and sim
pie makeup, 20x24 feet, with ample
light. The entrance was at the east,
and on the right, in the northeast
corner, platform with bannisters
used as the throne for her royal
highness, the teacher A long box
stove gave its influence, and during
cool days the furnace was steamed up
little. Boys in pairs were sent as
fuel commissioners, and on one occas-
ion Jesse Pickering and the writer at
tackled a small blackberry tree and
reported the fine adventure to the
commander. A couple days subse-
to the door and had to listen to the
complaint of good widow Tull, who
related how some foragers were tres
passing on her timber land. Promis-
es and comprises were made in true
feminine diplomacy, and the dove of
peace held its place and cooed little
extra sweet.
The school expense was very chart
table, a couple Of dollars and fifty
cents The teacher would visit at
the homes of the patrons, and this
was free The very first day of
school showed that the administration
was to be radical one, and this ten
dency was illustrated next morning
when kind of court military con-
vened. A ten year old girl was pun