USA > South Dakota > Faulk County > History of Faulk County, South Dakota, together with biographical sketches of pioneers and prominent citizens > Part 6
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At the regular election in November 1887, the follow- ing officers were elected: county commissioner for district No. 1, J. A. Day, for district No. 6, Chas. Marvin.
The first canvas of votes for county officers that we find recorded was on November 9, 1888. It was at an ad- journed meeting. The full board of commissioners consist-
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ing of Chas. Marvin, J. A. Day, D. S. Smith, J. S. Nevins and O. C. Johnson were present.
J. H. Shirk having received a majority of the votes for register of deeds, was declared elected, as was W. B. Monroe, treasurer; John L. Chain, auditor; H. D. Cham- berlain, sheriff; C. H. Derr, judge of probate; M. Summny, assessor; Frank Turner, district attorney; B. F. Ruhlman, county surveyor; J. P. Rathbun, coroner.
County commissioners for second district, Fred Rey- nolds; third district, O. C. Johnson; fourth district, J. A. Van Valkenberg.
O. C. Johnson, J. A. Day and Fred Reynolds, com- mittee to settle with county treasurer, C. E. Warner re- ported that accounts were correct and balance of $10,804.38 paid to W. B. Monroe, treasurer elect, and receipt for that amount is in the hands of retiring treasurer Warner.
Faulk county sent the following delegates to the Sioux Falls convention, who were elected on May 14, 1889, viz: H. A. Humphrey, J. G. Dayis and Peter Couchman.
The October election of 1887, held on the fifth day of that month, at which time the first officers of the state of South Dakota were elected, was of too much interest and importance not to have a place in this history. At a re- publican state convention held at Huron, the following nominations were made all of whom were elected, viz: for governor, Arthur C. Mellette; lieutenant governor, James H. Fletcher; secretary of state, A. O. Ringsrud; state audi- tor, L. C. Taylor; state treasurer, W. F. Smith; superin- tendent of public instruction, G. L. Pinkham; attorney general, Robert Dollard; commissioner of school and public lands, O. H. Parker; judges of supreme court, Dighton Car-
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son, A. G. Kellum, John E. Bennett; judge of circuit court, H. G. Fuller; members of congress, Oscar S. Gif- ford of Canton, and John A. Pickler of Faulkton. At the county election that fall the following were elected: For state senator 35th district, Frank M. Byrne; representative to the legislature 34th district, E. Clarence Sage; county judge, C. H. Derr; temporary seat of government, Pierre 748; Huron 216; Watertown 142; Sioux Falls 10 and Mit- chell 1 vote.
For the prohibition clause in the constitution, 626 votes in favor and 459 votes against.
At an election hield November 5, 1889, the following were elected county commissioners, viz: For commission- er, district No. 1, Robert Maxwell received 108 votes and was elected; district No. 3, W. G. Faulkner received 69 votes, being a majority cast and was elected; district No. 4 R. G. Morton received 103 votes and was elected and as commissioner in district No. 5 William Buss received a majority of ballots cast and was declared elected.
On October 9th the records show commissioners J. A. Day, Charles Marvin, D. H. VanValkenburg, Fred Rey- nolds and O. C. Johnson present and voting for a clerk of court.
At the same meeting the appointing board accepted the resignation of D. H. Van Valkenburg as a commis- sioner for district No. 4, and appointed Wilber J. Porter to serve in his place and also accepted the resignation of O. C. Johnson. At the next session, the appointment of Wilber J. Porter was reconsidered and an election ordered.
On the 10th the resignation of Chas. Marvin, commis- sioner, was accepted to take effect at the end of this session.
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The appointing board appointed George J. Jarvis a com- missioner to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of Chas. Marvin.
On October 8, 1889, on motion of commissioner J. A. Day, the commissioners proceeded to elect a clerk of the circuit court and county courts to take effect immediately after the President of the United States issues his proclama- tion, admitting South Dakota to statehood.
On the second ballot, H. W. Bailey received three votes, being a majority and was declared elected.
On November 8th, 1889 an adjourned meeting of the county commissioners was held at Faulkton with the fol- lowing elected and appointed commissioners present, viz: J. A. Day, Fred Reynolds, George J. Jarvis, R. G. Morton and W. G. Faulkner.
At this meeting the official bond of Hon. C. H. Derr, .county judge was approved.
On January 6th commissioners met in regular session, all present, viz: Fred Reynolds, W. G. Faulkner, R. G. Morton, Robert Maxwell and William Buss. R. G. Mor- ton was elected chairman of commissioners.
At this meeting a committee on rules was appointed. Committee reported and report accepted.
The following committees were appointed, viz: On justice of the peace reports, Faulkner, Buss and Morton; on revenue, Maxwell, Reynolds and Morton; on fees and salaries, Buss, Maxwell and Morton.
The Seneca Sun and Faulk County Record were made official papers for the year.
On July 16th, 1890, the county commissioners as a board of equalization fixed the value of land per quarter section as follows:
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In Precinct No. 1, $500.00 In Precinct No. 2, $500.00 In Precinct No. 3, $475.00 In Precinct No. 9, $500.00 In Precinct No. 4, $475.00 In Precinct No. 10, $500.00 In Precinct No. 5, $475.00 In Precinct No. 11, $500.00 In Precinct No. 6, $475.00 In Precinct No. 12, $475.00 In Precinct No. 13, $475.00
In Precinct No. 7, $525.00 In Precinct No. 8, $325.00
At the meeting held on October 6, 1890, arrangements were made for the coming November election and judges of election appointed for the several election precincts, and whereas R. W. Maxwell had resigned the office of county commissioner, it was voted to accept the resignation to take effect when his successor was elected and qualified.
State Senators: The counties of Faulk and Potter con- stitute one senatorial district. In 1889, Hon. Frank M. Byrne was elected from Faulk county and in 1890 the Hon. R. W. Maxwell from this county was elected. In 1892 a Potter county man was elected; in 1894, Hon. D. S. Smith of Faulkton was elected senator; in 1896, a Potter county man was again nominated and elected. In 1898, Hon. J. H. Bottum of Faulkton was elected. In 1900 the right of Potter county was recognized; in 1902, Mr. Bottum was again elected; in 1904, Mr. Whitlock of Potter county was again elected and in 1906 Hon. Frank M. Byrne, our present senator, was elected.
The following are the representatives from this county since the state of South Dakota was admitted to the Union:
In 1889, E. C. Sage and Wilbur Elting.
In 1890, Hon. W. S. Belknap and Capt. John Douglas.
In 1892, Hon. Alexander Miller and re-elected in 1894.
In 1896, Hon. James B. Devine, who was re-elected in 1898, Andrew J. Porter in 1900 and re-elected in 1902.
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In 1894, Hon. Frank Turner was elected representative to the legislature and in 1896, ex-representative Alexander Miller was re-elected, and now has the republican nomina- tion for re-election.
The following is the list of county officers since 1890.
ELECTED IN 1890:
For register of deeds, John H. Shirk.
For auditor, John L. Chain.
For clerk of courts, H. W. Bailey.
For sheriff, J. K. Sechler.
For assessor, Henry Joynt.
For county judge, Hon. C. H. Derr.
For county attorney, Hon. J. H. Bottum. For county treasurer, E. H. Thayer. For county surveyor, J. W. Johnston. For coroner, Dr. J. P. Rathbun.
For county superintendent of schools, W. R. Davis.
For county justices of the peace, F. P. Smith, F. A. Pangburn, F. M. Bacon, George Trainor, John Palmeter, Isaac White, Andrew Penning and C. B. Oakes.
For constables, O. M. Moe, C. D. Sutton, A. M. Thompson, J. E. Stevenson, Jesse Nevins, Winfield White, C. A. Warner and Jerome Ross.
ELECTED IN 1892:
Judge, Hon. C. H. Derr. Auditor, C. C. Norton.
County treasurer, E. H. Thayer.
Register of deeds, J. W. Johnston. Sheriff, J. H. Hays.
Clerk of court, H. W. Bailey.
State's attorney, Hon. J. H. Bottum.
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Superintendent of schools, W. R. Davis.
County surveyor, A. M. Bass.
Coroner, Dr. J. P. Rathbun.
Assessor, J. L. Randall.
County commissioners, Jasper Wakefield, F. E. Hat- field, W. G. Faulkner, A. J. Haskins, and William Buss, chairman of the Board.
At the election held November 6, 1894, the following county officers were elected:
County judge, C. H. Derr.
Register of deeds, Lewis Severance.
County treasurer, William H. Smith.
Sheriff, J. H. Hays.
Clerk of Court, H. W. Bailey.
State's attorney, D. H. Latham.
County school superintendent, F. A. Pangburn.
County assessor, William Kellett.
Coroner, Dr. J. P. Rathbun.
Justices of the peace, C. B. Chambers, M. E. Drake, Jerome Ferguson, J. W. Shaver, J. W. Hays, Chas. Griffee, and J. H. Emery.
County commissioner for 2d. district, F. E. Hatfield: 3rd district, S. D. Peck.
The defalcation of W. B. Monroe, county treasurer, presented a inost difficult problem to the county commis- sioners. There were failures of crops, money could not be had on securities. Banks were failing, the money was gone, and just what steps should be taken to obtain it was difficult to decide. Just who was to blame, or in fact, if there was any one that had committed any intentional wrong was an open question. With these financial con-
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ditions existing to enforce the conditions of the treasurer's bond would have ruined some of the bondsmien. It is doubtful if any one knows just what the tax payers lost by the unfortunate affair.
The lesson of the past is only valuable to direct us in a wiser and safer course for the future.
November 5th, 1895, election for county commissioners was held in commissioners district No. 1 and No. 5, and J, B. Devine and William Buss elected respectively.
For 1896, the Republican-Record was made the county official paper.
At the state election of 1896 hield on the 9th day of November A. D., 1896, the following county officers were elected:
County judge, George J. Jarvis.
County auditor, W. G. Faulkner.
Register of deeds, Lewis Severance. County treasurer, William Smith.
County sheriff, O. M. Moe.
Clerk of court, H. W. Bailey,
State's attorney, D. H. Latham.
Superintendent of schools, Frank A. Pangburn.
County assessor, William Kellett.
Coroner, Dr. Samuel Hall.
Surveyor, J. F. Armstrong.
County commissioner, 1st district, J. J. Price. County commissioner, 2d. district, James F. Nestor, County commissioner, 3d. district, Christ Sorenson. County commissioner, 4th district, W. R. Hall.
On the 2d day of November, 1897, J. J. Price was elected county commissioner in the first district, and Wil- liam Buss in the 5th district.
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At the general election held November 8th, 1898, the following county officers were elected:
County judge, George J. Jarvis. County auditor, O. A. Rogers.
Register of Deeds, George H. Stoddard.
County treasurer, Frank M. Byrne. County sheriff, O. M. Moe. Clerk of court, Henry Joynt. State's attorney, Frank Turner.
County superintendent of schools, Belle F. McCoy. County assessor, George S. Stevenson. County coroner, Dr. Wm. M. Edgerton. County surveyor, J. W. Johnston.
County commissioner 2d district, J. F. Nestor. County commissioner 3d district, John D. Smith. County commissioner, 4th district, Ernest Thiede.
County officers elected November 7th, 1899, county commissioners full board, viz: William Buss, J. F. Nestor, John D. Smith, Ernest Thiede and Henry Resseguie.
At the general election, November 6th 1900, the fol- lowing county officers were elected, viz:
County treasurer, Frank M. Byrne. Register of deeds, George H. Stoddard.
County auditor, O. A. Rogers. County sheriff, J. W. Smith. Clerk of Courts, M. S. McDearmon. State's attorney, Frank Turner. County judge, George J. Jarvis. County superintendent of schools, Belle F. McCoy. County assessor, George S. Stevenson.
County surveyor, J. F. Armstrong.
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County coroner, Dr. Win. M. Edgerton.
County commissioners, January 4, 1901, William Buss, chairman; Earnest Thiede, N. Freitag, O. P. Howe and H. Resseguie.
At a meeting of the board of county commissioners on November 12, 1901, present, O. P. Howe, Herman Freitag, and Ernest Thiede. On motion, Ernest Thiede was re- quested to act as chairman. Announcement was made of the death of William Buss, late chairman of the board.
On motion the board adjourned until one o'clock p. m.
At the afternoon session, Ernest Thiede, O. P. Howe, Herman Freitag and Henry Resseguie were present and on motion, the board proceeded to elect by ballot a commis- sioner to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Commis- sioner Buss.
Fred Clark received a majority of votes cast and was declared an elected commissioner for the 5th district, to fill the vacancy caused by the death of William Buss.
At an election held on the 4th day of November 1902, the following county officers were elected, viz:
Treasurer, Albert Gooder.
Register of deeds, Frank M. Ramsdell.
Auditor, W. G. Faulkner.
Sheriff, John W. Smith.
Clerk of court, M. S. McDearmon.
County judge, George J. Jarvis.
Superintendent of schools, S. S. Strachan.
Assessor, N. F. Metz.
Surveyor, J. W. Johnston.
Coroner, Albert J. Jones.
County commissioner, F. E. Clark in district No. 5 and E. W. Ford in district No. 1.
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At a meeting of the board of county commissioners on the 4th day of July, 1904, the proposition was submitted to the legal votes to see if they would vote to build a $50,- 000.00 court house at the county seat, and issue county bonds for that amount to pay the same.
At an election held on the 8th day of November, A. D., 1904, the following county officers were elected, viz:
County judge, George J. Jarvis.
Auditor, W. G. Faulkner.
Register of deeds, Frank M. Ramsdell.
County Treasurer, Albert Gooder.
Sheriff, N. F. Metz.
Clerk of court, Charles Coste.
State's attorney, D. H. Latham.
County school superintendent, S. S. Strachan.
County surveyor, J. F. Armstrong.
Coroner, Dr. Wm. M. Edgerton.
County commissioner, 2d. district, O. P. Howe.
County commissioner, 3d. district, George Lloyd.
County commissioner, 4th district, E. H. Thayer.
At a meeting of county commissioners held on Noven- ber 15th and 16th, 1904, plans were adopted and advertise- ments for bids for a new court house were ordered.
At a commissioners' meeting held on September 5th, 1905, the following estimate as a basis for levying taxes were presented, viz:
County auditor and clerk. · $1200.00
County treasurer, deputy and clerk $2030.00 County judge . $ 499.97
Sheriff and deputy
·$ 507.84
Superintendent of schools ·$ 900.00
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County commissioners · $1271.70
State's attorney $ 600.00 Clerk of court. $ 129.76 Jurors fees . $ 317.20 Witness fees, justices courts $ 115.95
Justice of peace. $ 126.80
Board of health $
15.50
Poor relief funds $ 758.56 Books and stationery $ 815.45
Printing and advertising $1074.16
Election expenses .
$ 574.75
Light, fuel and repair county building $ 593.00
Wolf bounty .
$ 211.00
Postage and express.
$ 187.02
County assessor, $1063.00
Miscellaneous items . $1013.80
Commissioners of insurance $ 30.45
$13976.79
On the sixth day of November, 1906, for the election of congressmen, state and county officers, the following were elected:
Congressmen, Philo Hall and William H. Parker. For governor, Coe I. Crawford.
Secretary of the state, D. D. Wipf. Attorney general, S. W. Clark. Faulk county judge, George J. Jarvis. County auditor, W. H. Race. Register of deeds, John P. Shirk. County treasurer, C. L. Fisk. Sheriff, N. F. Metz.
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Clerk of courts, Chas. E. Coste.
State's attorney, J. H. Bottum.
County superintendent of schools, Mrs. I. M. Alden.
County surveyor, J. F. Armstrong.
County commissioners, Lewis Severance and Wilson Brown, 5th district.
The first session of the county commissioners for the year 1908 met at the auditor's office at the court house on January 7th, 1908. County commissioners all present, viz: Lewis Severance, John Olen, George Lloyd, E. H. Thaver and Wilson Brown. E. H. Thayer was elected chairman.
The first session of the board of county commissioners ever held was on November 5th, 1883, at the law office of J. A. Pickler. Looking back over a period of twenty- five years, we find the foundation laid and a steady growth that has only to be maintained for another quarter of a century to make a record, and place Faulk county in a position to be looked up to, not only approved by her own citizens, but by the united people of the commonwealth.
The first meeting of county commissioners for the year 1908, was held on January 7th. With the following commissioners present, viz: Lewis Severance, John Olen, George Lloyd, E. H. Thayer and Wilson Brown.
E. H. Thayer received a majority of votes cast and was declared elected chairman of the board of county commis- sioners.
At this session, as well as subsequent ones, the board confined itself largely to routine county business.
In the general line of advancements the increasing de- mand for increasing expenditures has been guarded by the board.
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At the September meeting the following itemized ac- count of expenses for 1906 was reported as a basis for levy- ing taxes for the year 1907, viz:
County auditor and clerk · $1200.00
County treasurer $1533.00
County judge . $ 600.00
County sheriff, deputy and bailiff $1170.87
County superintendent of schools $ 937.80
County commissioner
$ 666.75
State's attorney $ 600.00
Clerk of courts $ 420.45
Stenographer . $ 151.50 Justices of the peace $ 801.45 Jurors and witness fees, circuit court .$1135.78
Relief of county poor $ 528.73
Books and stationery ·$1200.90
Printing and advertising $ 515.75
County election .
$ 848.13
Light, fuel and repairs county buildings $1390.59 Janitor $ 641.56
Wolf bounty $ 149.50
Postage and express $ 149 50
Miscellaneous
$3214.65
$17866.60
Judges for the primary election together with the ex- penses of national, state and county election for 1908 con- stitute no small share of county expenses.
The last important event to record from the county record was the canvas of the national, state and county votes as polled in this city and county at the national elec-
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tion on the 3d of November 1908, which proved that every man voted for by the republican electors of this county were duly elected to the office to which they had been nomi- nated. The following republican ticket comprises the entire list:
For President of United States, William H. Taft.
For United States senate, Coe. I. Crawford.
Representatives in congress, Charles H. Burke and Eben W. Martin.
Governor, R. S. Vessey.
Lieutenant governor, H. C. Shober.
State treasurer, George G. Johnson.
Secretary of state, S. C. Polley. State auditor, John Hiring. Attorney general, S. W .. Clark.
Superintendent of public instruction, H. A. Ustrud. Commissioner of school and public lands, O. C. Dokken. Railroad commissioner, 2nd district, F. C. Robinson. State senator, Frank M. Byrne. Representative, Alex Miller.
County auditor, W. H. Race.
Register of deeds, J. P. Shirk. Treasurer, C. L. Fisk.
County judge, George J. Jarvis. Sheriff, George D. Hughes. Clerk of courts, Chas. E. Coste. State's attorney, J. H. Bottum.
County superintendent, Mrs. I. M. Alden. Assessor, Soren Hansen.
County surveyor, J. F. Armstrong.
Coroner, Fred A. Boller.
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County justices, C. C. Norton; A. T. Ericsen, D. S. Smith and A. M. Strachan.
Commissioner 2d district, John Olen.
Commissioner 3d district, Chas. H. Peck.
Commissioner 4th district, Emerson H. Thayer.
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CHAPTER XX. FAULK COUNTY. By D. H. Smith, Esq.
In an article written by one of our oldest and most in- fluential citizens for another publication in 1904, covering much ground that has all ready been occupied, the follow - ing extracts deserves a place and will be of interest and real value for information and historical facts they contain :
"Faulk county is so named after that illustrious citi- zen and stateman, Ex-Governor Faulk, of Yankton. This county was first inhabited by parties from near St. Louis, Mo., in the summer of 1882, among whom was D. S. Smith, A. LaFoon, Thomas McMullen and J. C. Booth, also on the eastern extremity by Lou Reed and Hiram Rose. By some mistake range 66 was unattached to any county. The territorial legislature of 1883 added this range to Faulk county and detached range 73 from Faulk and added it to Potter county. Faulk county is centrally located in what is termed the great artesian basin of South Dakota and within the last two years something over eighty-five flowing artesian wells have been completed and at this time are supplying from eighty to one hundred gallons of water each per minute. Faulk county is to day conserva- tively estimated to contain 6000 inhabitance. Major John A. Pickler from this county has been honored with four elections to the United States house of representatives."
"As is the case in many of the early settled counties comparatively few practical farmers were among the set-
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tlers, and final proof put a good deal of the land of the first settlers of the county into possession of mortgage con- panies and non-residents by mortgage foreclosures. Sincethe lands have been falling. into other hands, marked progress has been noted in the prosperity of the county, wheat rais- ing is successful and profitable and with some of our farin- ers becoming a specialty. Corn is fast becoming and in a large portion of the county is already established as one of the staple crops, stock raising has become an important industry with quite a number of successful ranchinen in our county, the county is by nature well adapted to this pursuit. I attributed the enviable position that Faulk county occupies to day to cohesiveness of the people and the production of the soil; and notwithstanding the slovenly and neglectful manner in which a portion of our agricul- turalist have done their work, nature asserts her superiorty and brings forth abundant crops. Our people are inteli- ligent, happy and prosperous, they are improving the bene- fits of our school system, and the youths of our county are applying themselves in a way that assures us that our county will stand with the foremost in the young, pros- perous and progressive state of South Dakota."
A HEALTH RESORT.
Faulk county lies east of the divide, between the waters of the Missouri and James river. Strictly speaking it may be claimed that only the east half of the county is in the James river valley, yet the rise is so gradual to an eleva- tion of less than fifteen hundred feet at the Potter county line as to be alinost imperceptible to a casual observer.
Snake creek christened by the early settlers of Faulk- ton, Nixon river, takes its rise in the coteaux or hills in
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Potter county, runs in an easterly direction entirely across the county, flowing into the James river in Spink county.
The land is sufficiently rolling to secure the best of drainage, not only for the natural flow of water but for the hundreds of artesian wells that have become an important factor to the wealth and prosperity of the county and I am fully satisfied that they have not in the least interfered with the wonderful, life giving power of remarkable sun- shiny days and powerful bracing atmosphere that our high altitude vouchsafes to us.
Believing as I do, and that opinion based upon careful observation and practical experience, Faulk county is not only a good place to secure abundance of this world's goods, but to secure (at last) good health and the con- tinued use of vital forces.
In 1884 I came to southwest Faulk county, suffering from wounds received in the army, producing contusion of the left breast and paralysis of the left side. With a wife and a family of small children on my hands, there was a desperate struggle for life. After several changes, among them a year upon the gulf coast of Texas, without any permanent improvement, in the spring of 1884 I located in the western range of townships in this county. While my improvement was not rapid, it was marked and steady and in the summer of 1886 I was comparatively free from suffering and able to take up constant employment. These conditions continued until I left Faulk county for Wash- ington, D. C., in 1889.
I had not been absent from here one year before there was a renewal of my trouble, which finally culminated in a complete breakdown in the spring of 1907 at which time
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I could not dress and undress myself without assistance. In August of that year I returned to Faulk county. At first I was unable to see any improvement, in fact, not until the last of April, 1908, had I been able to see much improvement.
At the present writing, December 22, 1908, there is a decided and most happy change for the better. As I look back to A. D., 1825, when I first saw the light of day or even to fifty years ago, when I saw more light, I am admonished by the infirmities of passing years, that old age is approaching and evidently has been hastened by hard- ships, privation, and wounds received in army life, but with uninterrupted sunlight, clear, pure bracing air, water, whether from the surface or brought up from deep down in the depths of mother earth, tinctured with health giving properties, almost the essence of life, I have almost forgot- ten that four score and three years have already passed by.
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