Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1921-09-26

ticnal settlers during the first few
years after our arrival.
'The pioneer privations Of one fam
lily were duplicated by ali the others
for more than decade. and there was
nc social preferment. The few hunting
and trapping exploits recomted herein.
with the members of my own family as
the star actors. are related because l
am more familiar with these parti-
cular ones than with the many others,
which perhaps were quite as pictures
que or as perilous.
| ~ shall not endeavor to follow the
details of the settlement Of Homer and
Fort Dodge. / made only occasional
trips to these hamlets, and during the
intervals of absence there was the usual
shifting of scenes which cannot accur-
ately record.
"The population of the town was not
numerous by its group of residents. but
the families throughout the country
were listed to the different towns. In
referring to Newcastle, now Webster
City: Fort Clark, now Fort Dodge;
Liberty, now Goldfield: or to Homer.
hooks Point. Boonesboro or Batch
Grove, the names simply arc to desig-
rate parts of the country occupied, for
these settlements were not officially
named Until some time after our ar
rival.
! "rhc land Office was opened in Dts
Moines in 1852. Prior to that time it
was necessary to file claims at Wash
ington. My fathers first entry-ac-
cortling to advice from the department
OF the interiOr-was the southwest
quarter of section Z. township IS,
north range %, west of the 9th =. NJ.
Entry number GLIB. July |. 1871. The
carly settlers, however, frequently
staked claims which were sold for
lridiculously small amounts, and these
sauattcrs' names do not appear on the
papers patent.
Many land seekers came west.
located claims. and returned to the
east for one OF two years, perhaps
longer There was very little claim
jumping, however. For long time
many of our ncighbors were from one
to twenty miles apart. They were
more or less dependent on each other.
and many were quite as friendly and
jovially familiar as members of the
same family: hence, | express no dis
courtesy in designating them ais Jack"
bill" Alec" "Rubc." Walt" or
Fob instead of by their longer and
more cuphoneous appellations.
1.-The details of the pioneer days of
Newcastlc-the early corners. and their
habitations. the hardships and priva-
| tions of isolation, the primitive made
quacy of house and farm implements,
the exposure in rigorous weather dur
ing hunting, trapping and travel trips
are almost unbelievable by genera
ton moving along modern lines.
Accounts of the generosity and help
full spirit of pioneers have become pro-
verbal; although one now may doubt
the wisdom of such 0peI-handedness,
especially after the taverns were ready
| for business. FOOdStuffs were scarce
AID difficult to secure, but they were
dispensed freely by us. Whether it be
Il credit to business judgment or not.
! have followed our family. custom
and never have charged cent for
meals or lodging during my lifetime.
| II shall have to admit. after taking
Il retrospective view, that much of our
work could have been made easier
by the practical use Of brains instead
az brute strength. The hardest, most
grucling. grinding toll, the most labor
ious and ,mceasing were always and
everywhere in favor, when viewed from
TIE present outlook. 1t appears to have
been necessary that We receive at first
/ hand an application Of the principle
that: nothing is effective as an edit
Gator except it he sufficiently difficult
to impress itself upon the mind: no
local or large constructive agency. can
lie made available c::ccpt through the
growing pains which expand and make
tie new order of things.
Looking at the past through the
glasses OF the present it may bc some
what difficult to understand the pio-
neers who gaZed undiunted upon the
uncomprising visagc of nature, and
braved the angry, inhospitablc Gle
ncnts. The h,mOriSt may dispose OF
the subject by declaring: They were
possessed of more courage than common
sense; but the path-tinders. the en-
pirc-buildcrs must have lifted the veil
Of future events and viewed the sense
If opulcncc and opportunity which their
privatiOn and lnnury were to make
possible. My only regret is: in leaving