Year: 1872

and two from north to south with their


various branches, making in all more


than 25OO miles Of railroad completed


in this State with many more under


process Of construction. Fifteen years


ago it took more labor to market a load


of produce than it did to raise it, and


only one man at that early period ever


sold load of produce out of the coun-


ty. Joseph Schafer is | believe the


first man who sold load of wheat from


this county in the McGregor market.


Now we can mostly market our


produce in our own county and for


prices as large as we could at McGrc-


gor at an average of five days with a


man and team. Men frequently say


to me we ought to be further advanced,


in reply I say the wonder is that we


have advanced 80 far. Fifteen years
ago there was not a school house, save
here and there cabin in the county.


Now there are. more than fifty, and all
made more comfortable for the children
than any we ever attended when we
attended school forty years ago. Fifteen
years ago for worship we met where we
could, now every village has its places
for public worship and the larger villa
ges have churches that are large and
comfortable enough to do credit to old
er communities. Fifteen years ago we
were glad to hear anybody preach;
Now we demand talent, devotion, and
learning, and we are willing to pay for
it. These are among the improvements
of which we arc justly proud and the
rewards Of the merits to which I'VE are
entitled Fifteen years ago we we're
glad to find log cabin in which to live
now we demand the costly mansion.
Fifteen years ago we could ride in an
OK wagon or 60 afoot as best suited us,
now We demand the splendid livery.
Fifteen years ago we waited anxiously
for the weekly mail, now we are impa-
tient for the daily mail, FROM the east
and west and often anxiously wait for
click Of the telegraph. Fifteen years ago
where there was nothing but wild prai-
rie there arc now many beautiful villa
ges, Gae farms and artificial groves.
Where there was nothing but loneliness
now vast herds Of cattle Craze. Where
was nothing but wildness, now the
green fields of grain to be crowned with
the golden harvest to feed the distant
hungry multitudes who are less fortu-
nate than we are. Notwithstanding
the great fertility Of our soil this would
not have been So, but for the character
Of the early settlers Of New England
and the Quakers who settled Pennsyl-
vania, they have given character to this
country for all time to come. They
came here to make homes for them
selves and their children. They were
not afraid to eat bread by the sweat If
their faces. They came not here to
speculate in sweat and toll of others.


They were men enured to honest labor.


Men whose hearts were fragrant with
the principles of right and duty. Men


who respected the rights Of their neigh


bors and avoided contentious. With
these elements amongst US how could


We help but succeed. Success is the
price Of vigilance and integrity, both
Of which have here prevailed to an un-
common extent. Crime has thus far


almost been unknown in our midst. In


the seventeen years of the organization
Of the county only two persons have


been convicted of high crimes, which is
remarkable where there are so many
people and from so many different plac-
es and in so many years. 1t can only
be accounted for by the character Of
the early settlers who have by their ex-
ample given cast to the country. Our
wives and daughters, and sisters too
have contributed their full share to all
this Improvement. They have given
the words Of cheer when We would have
faltered, and urged us on to conquest.
Mothers and wives have given up their
sons, aud husbands when the honor of
demanded their help They contribu-
ted their full share to the religious ell
ement. To them we owe tho beautify-
ing Of our homes and places of public
worship. To them we arc indebted for
the devotional music in our churches.
To them we are indebted for much of
the good there is in us Although we
have accomplished much, much more
yet remains to be done. Fifteen years
ago not one pound Of -four had ever
been made in the county, now there
are FIVE mills in successful operation.
But our work will not be accomplished
in this line until we have made our
selves less dependent. And here let