USA > Iowa > Floyd County > History of Floyd County, Iowa : together with sketches of its cities, villages and townships, educational, religious, civil, military, and political history; portraits of prominent persons, and biographies of representative citizens > Part 48
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"Then, again, barns are needed in which to secure grain, and sheds to protect stock. It is no wonder that stock so generally in this country comes out of the winter 'spring poor.' Western farm- ers can never expect to be successful stock raisers until they improve their winter accommodations for their cattle. No animal of the best blood will do well, even if having enough to eat, exposed to the cold sleets of late fall and early spring, and to the fierce 'nor'-
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westers' of midwinter. Necessity requires that farmers more generally should imitate the example of a few who have built and are building large and commodious barns.
" The supply of native fruits is not equal to the demand, and while they afford something of a substitute they do not fully fill the place of the tame varieties. The apple, pear, cherry and plum, can be successfully cultivated here. I am aware that very many are incredulous and will not believe this, yet it is nevertheless true. Of course, greater pains must be taken in planting and caring for trees than in warmer latitudes and less exposed situations. Here are no rocky hillsides to draw the sun's heat and afford protection from the northern gale, but there are southern slopes, and you can plant your trees deep, and compel them to grow low, and thus to a great degree avert the ill effects of their more exposed situation. £ That the apple tree will live and flourish here has been already demonstrated. There are trees north of this place, with a northwest exposure, that survived the severe winter of 1856-'7, and that, too, without the loss of a limb, that have since thrived well. Our Western nursery men are continually experimenting upon the different varieties of fruit, to learn which are most hardy, and we need have no fear of success if we make selection of such varieties as have been found to winter well. What is true of the apple is also true of the other varieties of fruit mentioned. This is an important subject for the considera- tion of all classes. Not the farmer alone can cultivate fruit, but the mechanic and the professional man may add largely to the enjoyment of life by rearing a few trees of different varieties of fruit, which can be done equally as well in the garden, (if not bet- ter) as in the field.
"In the garden-and every family should have a garden-can be successfully cultivated the currant, the gooseberry, the grape, and the strawberry. A little labor and a trifling expense, will enable every one to enjoy those luxuries, and although they are small and almost insignificant they can be early brought to bearing, and will give to the table a change, to the appetite a relish, to the family happiness, and to our Western homes some of the comforts left in the East.
"Again the open prairie calls for the growing of shade and orna- mental trees. Every prairie farmer should spend at least one day every spring transplanting trees and planting seeds from the forest. Locust trees can be rapidly grown, and in cases where the farmer
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is unable to own timber land, or is so far removed from timber as to make its want severely felt, in a few years a forest of locust trees may be grown that will supply the demands of the farm for fuel and fencing. If all prairie farmers would devote a little more time each year to planting trees and seeds, in a few years the open prairies would become far more beautiful and lovely than they now are, besides these cultivated forests would change the monotony of the smooth sea-like expanse of prairie, and break the strong breezes that come sweeping from the hyperborean regions.
· "There is also an existing necessity here, as well as elsewhere, for the improvement of farms by proper and thorough cultivation. Anything that may add strength and fertility to the soil should not be wantonly or willingly destroyed. True, your soil is rich and strong, but years of cultivation and reaping will weaken and de- stroy the best soils, unless they are kept up by the use of fertil- izers. One very bad practice-that of burning straw-is followed by some farmers; let me assure them that the time will come when their folly will be apparent to them as well as to others.
" Living a long distance from market, it becomes the producer to raise such articles for sale as will bring the most ready money in the least bulk. Wheat raising cannot be depended upon to fur- nish surplus funds, for, unless wheat is very high in price in the Eastern market, it will bring but a small price here; in short, its cultivation beyond a mere living will not be remunerative. There is no good reason why wool cannot be grown here as well and as cheaply as on the hillsides of Vermont. A ton of wheat-which is an average load- may possibly bring at McGregor $30, while a ton of wool, while that article is at its very lowest price, will bring $500! Such a load is worth carrying to market. If North Iowa farmers are wise, they will learn to diversify their products, and not confine their attention solely to wheat growing. Pork, beef, but- ter and cheese, are articles that can be produced here, that will bear transportation and bring a fair price per load. I speak to practical men upon a practical subject. 'A word to the wise is sufficient.'
"There are many things at the present time that conspire to ren- der these necessary improvements possible. Labor is becoming cheaper, breadstuffs are more plenty, mills are erected that furnish lumber at less expense, and in quicker time than formerly, while the mass of the people are becoming more industrious and econom- ical than heretofore, and, strange as it may seem, the hard times
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are likely to become the greatest blessing with which we were ever cursed. Three and four years ago the man who had a hundred dollars or could get trusted that amount, bought a fine 'forty ' or 'eighty,' or a corner lot or two in some famous paper town, on the rise in value of which he expected to make an independent fortune! Speculation was the only business worthy the attention of any man with a reasonable share of brains. Old men looked wise and drove sharp bargains, young men smoked their cigars and spent their time in lounging around hotels, sporting ponder- ous chains made to imitate gold, and paid their board bills out of the avails of the next lucky speculation.
" Times are changed-the phantom is gone. The next lucky spec- ulation is not likely soon to be realized. Life and its stern duties, as well as creditors' dues, stare them in the face. ' Work or starve,' is the motto of the present necessity. Now he who has a fine 'forty ' or 'eighty,' is improving it, and he who has a ' cor- ner lot,' has given up all hope of immediate riches from its sale. They who three or four years ago were consumers, are now pro- ducers, adding to the material and substantial wealth of the country. Now, instead of believing in luck and despising labor, our young men are learning ' that it is the hand of the diligent that maketh rich.'
" Notwithstanding the want of the many comforts incidental to a new country and the great distance from markets, there is much to encourage the settler to hope and to labor on. It has been often said that we ' live in an age of improvement,' and permit me to say that such improvement consists largely in the invention and manufacturing of labor-saving implements and machines. Less than a century since the best plow was bunglingly made of wood and pointed with a small piece of iron or steel. Now we have steel plows, light and strong, convenient in size and handy for use. Horses and cattle were the only means used to drive the plow; now we learn that steam, that power which has completely revolution- ized mechanics, has been applied to agriculture, and that the steam plow is a complete success! At the State Fair of Illinois last year an acre of ground was plowed in eleven minutes. This power never tires. What it can perform in one term of eleven minutes, it can con- tinue to perform, all things being equal, as often as that number of minutes recurs. Our Iowa prairies are as well adapted to plow- ing by steam as those of our sister State. Formerly all planting was done by hand, now the ' Planter' comes into use, enabling one to
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perform the labor of many. Down to within the recollection o many of us the 'good old way' of reaping with a sickle was in use. Now the 'reaper' is in universal use, the last improvement of which is a combined reaper, raker and binder. Our grass used to be cut with a scythe, now the ' mower ' performes that duty. From time immemorial our ancestors shelled corn by hand and threshed with a flail, or trod out their grain with oxen. Now, ' corn shellers ' are universal, and thrashing machines not only thrash, but winnow the grain ready for market. The old-fashioned way of milking by hand is even now in general use, but the recent invention of the ‘milk- ing machine' will no doubt soon correct the practice. A short time since, and 'stitch, stitch, stitch ' were the words of the song, and 'stitch, stitch, stitch' was the practice and portion of the fair women of our land. Now the 'Sewing machine ' can be pro- cured for so reasonable a price as to be brought within the reach of all, and will do all the 'stitching' needed in the family. We have heretofore been compelled to send to a Southern market for those helpful luxuries, sugar and molasses, but the successful experiments of the last few years, notwithstanding the late and early frosts, demonstrate the fact that we shall soon supply our own demands, especially for molasses, if, indeed, we are not able to furnish a surplus for export.
"Years ago in sporting circles ' 2.40' was esteemed the perfection of speed; now Flora Temple and Geo. M. Patchen skim the turf at the rate of 2.20, showing that our blooded horses have not dete- riorated in nerve and muscle. Our fathers traveled by means of stage coaches, now we use the steam car, and soon the iron horse will come rushing up the Cedar Valley bringing a market to our doors. We now travel safely only on land and water.
"Prof. Lowe proposes soon to establish a line of air stages that will outstrip the rail-car and steamboat in speed. Three years since it took eighteen days to hold communication with England. Since then Queen Victoria and President Buchanan have had a social chat like two old ladies over their tea, by means of the Atlantic telegraph. The application of steam to the mechanic arts and the numerous improvements in tools and machinery have rendered less irksome and more profitable every branch of mechanical busi- ness.
"Time was, not long since, when the brightest son was sent to col- lege to be spoiled or made something of in the professional line, while the duller sons were kept at home to work the farm or put
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out to trade, with no means, except the district school, of obtaining an education ; knowing how to 'read, write and cipher,' being esteemed sufficient learning for them; but to-day the doctrine that the culivated furmer is better than the cultivated farm obtains, and as a consequence we see agricultural schools and farms estab- lished, where we may send our sons to become scientific and phil- osophical farmers; where they may learn the composition of soils; the best means to preserve and restore them; the connection of the soil with geology; to become familiar with Von Thaer, aud Silli- mou and Liebeg; to study nature and her laws, to return home fit- ted to take charge of the farm and to shine in any walk of life.
"Such, citizens, farmers and mechanics of Floyd County, are a few of the encouragements that incite you on to persevering toil, in the labors of the field and shops. Where you have reared your log cabins may you abide until commodions dwellings arise in their stead. Where you have planted gardens and orchards may you long live to eat the fruit thereof; and as you come up from year to year to this anniversary occasion (your annual county fair) may the evidences of your improvement be seen on all that constitutes you good farmers and skillful mechanics."
At the exhibition of 1860 were many fine specimens of horses and cattle, among which were the Black Hawk Morgan stallions of James W. Morrison and Ira K. Lee, which took the first and second premi- ums in their class; stallions of R. W. Humphrey and L. G. Buck; Devon bull of R. C. Horr, and a two-year-old bull of Mr. Buck, fine milch cows and heifers, oxen, etc.
The lower room of the Masonic Hall was appropriated to the display of household manufactures, ladies' ornamental work, fine articles, etc.
The entries of horses and cattle were more numerous than the year previous, while in the other departments they equaled in qual- ity, if not excelled, although in some not so numerous.
ST. CHARLES FARMERS' CLUB.
Agreeably to notice, a number of gentlemen and ladies assem- bled at the residence of Milo Gilbert in St. Charles City, on the evening of Dec. 1, 1860, for the purpose of organizing what is popularly termed a " farmers' club." A. B. F. Hildreth presented a constitution for a permanent organization, which was adopted. A number of ladies and gentlemen signed the constitution, and a committee selected as a subject for discussion at the next meeting,
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"The Winter Care of Stock." This and other meetings were subse- quently held, at which appropriate subjects were discussed and much useful information elicited. At the second meeting, Dec. 8, the following permanent officers were elected: John Kellogg, President ; M. Ireland, Secretary; A. Anderson, Treasurer; John Muir, S. Harwood and A. W. French, Executive Committee. Ad- mission fee was fixed at ten cents-for men only; ladies exempt.
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The year 1861 was blessed with good crops, and notwithstanding the excitement of war, the Board of Directors determined to hold a fair, fixing the place at Rockford. As the time drew near, they made the usual preparations, appointing officers of the day, com- mittees, etc. The fair was held, with ordinary success, in respect to attendance at least.
During the spring of 1862, over 6,000 pounds of maple sugar were made within two miles of Floyd. More than the usual amount was also made elsewhere in the county. The season following proved a good one for crops in general and corn in particular; and, notwith- standing the excitements of two wars on hand at this time-that of the great Rebellion and that of the Indians in Minnesota, near by- the society went steadily and heroically forward with their business,, and held a successful fair at Floyd. Two thousand people were in attendance one day. There were music, speeches, parade of the Home Guards, etc. In the latter Col. L. L. Huntley and Adj. E. A. Teeling displayed excellent military qualities. The number of entries was 380; total cash premiums, $133; total receipts $199.10 ; total expenses, liabilities, etc, $20 or $30 more than the receipts.
March 14, 1863, the board held a meeting at Charles City, and appointed L. S. Horr, of Union Township, Henry Pettit, of St. Charles, and Hervey Wilbur, of Floyd, a committee to ascertain where and upon what terms ten or twelve acres of land could be obtained for a permanent fair ground, and report at the next meet- ing. During this spring, white willow was extensively introduced for hedges and windbreaks, but it eventually proved almost worth- less in either capacity. Wheat this year was somewhat injured by drouth, and corn, in places, was badly cut off by a frost the last night in August; but other crops did fairly well, especially that of potatoes. Another successful fair was held this year.
In 1864 a large amount of maple sugar was again made. We have no particulars as to the crops this season, but presume from the general rule that they were good. Sept. 14 and 15, a good fair
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was held at Rockford, notwithstanding the drawbacks of war and the thought of many that no fair should be held. For the season of 1865 a successful exhibition was held, Sept. 20 and 21, at Floyd. During this year the Board of Supervisors reduced the bounty on gopher destruction to three cents.
Sept. 20, 1866, a fair was held at Charles City, and on this very day the frost was so severe on the corn, which was very late, as to damage it severely. The fair was rather meager in respect to the exhibition of live-stock, but in other respects it was " fair," and in some things extraordinary.
The season of 1867 was wet and cold; crops ordinary. In 1868 the corn was damaged some by early frosts; otherwise the crops yielded bountifully. The fair grounds were established at Charles City, and a very successful exhibition was held.
The season of 1870 was dry, and there was a poor crop of wheat and oats. For the several years following nothing remarkable oc- curred in connection with the crops or with the annual exhibitions. In the fall of 1871, the Shell Rock Valley Agricultural Society held a successful fair at Rockford. The country continued steadily to grow, with the normal increase of products and extent and char- acter of the fairs. During the winter of 1873-'4, an organization was formed at Charles City, known as the " Farmers' Union Club," which held meetings for mutual instruction in the various branches of industry connected with the farmer's calling. A similar club was organized for the west side of the county, or the Shell Rock Valley.
The season of 1875 was very wet; the corn and wheat suffered considerably on account of it; however, crops generally were pretty good. John W. Webster, of Floyd, harvested and thrashed 1,727 bushels of oats from twenty acres,-an average of over eighty-six bushels to the acre. As the stand was badly "lodged," and much of the crop consequently wasted, it was calculated that the yield was really over one hundred bushels to the acre.
In 1876 the crops were rather poor, mainly on account of too much rain, and partly on account of sudden and unfavorable changes of the weather. The wheat was attacked by the Hessian fly. The Agricultural Society languished, being in debt for the grounds, on which there was a mortgage that was in danger of be- ing foreclosed. Some thought that the location of the grounds at Charles City was a mistake.
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In 1877 Floyd County was blessed with an unusually heavy crop of small grain. Wheat, which for some years had been a light crop,-less than twelve bushels per acre on an average for the whole county,-seemed to attain new vigor, and the yield was from twenty-four to thirty-seven bushels per acre in favorable localities; the general crop of the county was fully fifty per cent. above the usual average crop.
In the winter of 1878-'9, a new association was formed, on a stock basis, to take the place of the old, and to be called the "Floyd County Agricultural and Mechanical Association." March 8 ar- ticles of incorporation were adopted, and the following officers elected: A. W. Cook, President; E. S. Reed, Vice-President; Alex. R. Spriggs, Secretary; Wm. D. Balch, Treasurer. Direct- ors: R. C. Mathews, Horatio Dunning, John Kuck, A. H. Bailey, J. R. Waller, James Coley, E. C. Wilcox, Lucius Lane, Timothy Billings, H. F. Lambert, S. W. Hatch, C. G. Patten, and the first four principal officers. The executive committee to consist of the officers and one director.
The first annual fair held under the auspices of the above asso- ciation, took place at the Charles City fair grounds, Sept. 9-12, 1879.
At the fair of 1881, the association had an unfortunate time, principally on account of heavy rains.
The officers of the association for the present year, 1882, are the following: R. C. Mathews, Rockford, President; Samuel Clay, Cedar, Vice-President; E. J. Gilbert, St. Charles, Treasurer; A. F. Huffman, St. Charles, Secretary. Directors: A. W. Cook, J. M. Miner, R. Lindon, L. Lane, and Jackson Wood, all of St. Charles; Wesley Brownell, Pleasant Grove; J. R. Waller, Scott; John Gates, Union; S. G. Blythe, Rock Grove; James Roberts, Ulster; and H. L. Green, Niles. Executive Committee: R. C. Mathews, Samuel Clay, A. F. Huffman, E. J. Gilbert and L. Lane.
The association had a grand basket pic-nic and races on the Fourth of July, 1882, at the Charles City Fair Grounds. The races were mostly in half-mile heats, two in three, for purses of $5 to $12.50. The free-for-all race, one mile dash, was for $12.50, $7.50 and $5. The society voted an appropriation of $125 for the purpose of securing, on one day of the next fair, a joint discussion of financial, temperance and political questions, by good speakers, $25 to each of five speakers. The advertisement was worded as follows:
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" Joint Discussion .- A cash prize of $25, to be paid to one repre- sentative of each of the five political parties, to-wit: Republi- can, Democrat, Greenback, Prohibition and Anti-Prohibition. Each speaker to be limited to one hour and a half, and to confine his remarks to the Financial and Temperance questions. Speak- ing to commence at 10:30 A. M., Thursday, August 31, 1882. The discussion will be open to any speaker in the United States, but only one from each party will be allowed to participate in the dis- cussion. Should either party not be represented the vacancy will be filled by the Secretary. Parties wishing to participate in this discussion will please notify the Secretary by the first day of August, so they can be properly advertised."
As the time arrived, however, the programme was changed some- what, and the two principal speeches were made by Hon. James F. Wilson, United States Senator elect from Iowa, and General J. B. Weaver, well known as the champion of the National party.
Senator Wilson's address was not political. His main point was that no one of the three great departments of business-agri- cultural, commercial and manufacturing-should be built up at the expense of the others; that whatever injured one injured all; and that their interests were so reciprocal, mutual and involved, they could not be divorced and prosper. Said he: "It is often asserted that the farmer's life is one of independence. This is not true. Nor is any other calling independent. All vocations are mutually dependent; and this is exactly as it should be. A really independent man would be a very lonesome man.
"The contempt which the people of past ages had for labor was the cause of their ruin. The empires of ancient times were built up on the products of labor; and when the ruling classes became wealthy and despised labor, down went their power, and the nation to decay. At the present day a healthy reaction is setting in, and labor is becoming dignified,-not agriculture alone, but labor in all its branches. Every branch of industry should encourage every other branch. Every attempt made by one industry or line of com - merce to aggrandize itself by oppressing others is suicidal. The interests of the respective industries or lines of business engender · public policies;' but these policies are not always equal and sat - isfactory. They are sometimes predatory, sometimes retaliatory. We should not retaliate, but reform things. Subjects of legisla- tion and public action should be elevated out of the rut of person- ality and fixed upon the fundamental principles of public welfare.
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Like individuals, each public policy should observe the golden rule, and do unto others as it would have others do unto itself.
" Farmers should know as much about political economy, gov- ernment and the principles of society as any member of the pro- fessions. All farmers, it is true, cannot reach it; nor does any other class reach it; but farmers can attain such a degree of knowl- edge of these things as to keep up an equilibrium. Farmers can- not combine as those can who are engaged in other industries; but combinations are not promotive of the general welfare. It is out of such things that arbitrary prices, strikes, panics, etc., come.
" Therefore I make my plea for a broader general education. This would hold more boys to the farm than any other one thing. And the education I speak of to-day is not that which comes from colleges and books, but that which comes from observing and thinking. I do not make this plea here to-day primarily or exclu- sivly for agriculture, but for all the legitimate callings of life."
Some of the chief points made by General Weaver were these: The importance of the ballot is generally underestimated. Imagine the evils resulting from its absence. Suppose the ballot was suddenly taken away from you: what would you do? What mode of redress would you have for wrongs? Millitary power would necessarily be the form of government. But the ballot box is no place for a man to vent his spleen or his prejudice; it is merely a depository for the patriotism of the nation. Governments may be good in form but corrupt in administration. If the church, a divinely appointed institution, can have "the form of godliness but be devoid the power threof " how much more a human govern- ment !
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