IN THE FIELD

Palo Alto Reporter
Emmetsburg, Palo Alto, Iowa
October 25, 1895

     The pleasant sunshine and balmy October air of the first of the week coaxed us again into the field. Leaving Emmetsburg we drove along the old lake road and for four or five miles followed the shore line of the once beautiful Medium lake. Now its waters have left its bed and flags and rushes flourish where once the boats of pleasure seekers or hunters floated on a broad sheet of shimmering water. Here and there we saw a stranded boat upon the old time beach, and amid the dead brown flats one catches only a rare glimpse of water in some spring or solitary pool. We drove to the hospitable home of J.B. Guerdett, in Vernon township. Mr. Guerdett was one of the pioneer settlers of the county. He came here in 1869 and homesteaded a place near where he now lives. then the nearest neighbor was three miles away, and a trip to the mill or market town of Algona was an undertaking of some importance. Mr. G. was one of the organizers of Vernon township and could furnish many interesting stories of early time. His present home is snugly ensconced in a large grove and its hospitable welcome was appreciated by ye hungry scribe. From Mr. G.'s we turned east, and after passing the greetings of the day with Judge Hickey, came to the new home of W.H. Ferguson, who came here from Indiana this spring, and at once moved to his prairie home. Unlike many other new settlers who, investing largely in land are content to put up with small, poorly constructed buildings until prosperous times permit them to build better, he at once proceeded to erect large barns and sheds. His house is a model country home, large roomy and well built. No prettier lying farm land can be found than the section owned by Mr. F. This, with its location upon two of the principal roads leading to the city, and the unusually attractive farm buildings, make the place noticeable to the casual passerby. We would wish to especially encourage the well-to-do, thoroughly competent and experienced farmers of the east, who are cultivating high priced land, to emigrate to this land of greater opportunities. To this class Mr. F. belongs.
     Thos. Jule is a young German farmer living east of Mr. F. He owns an eighty and is working hard for an independence.
     P.C. Duer has for five years been a resident of Vernon township. He has a farm of 200 acres, the entire product of which is fed upon the place. Mr. D. usually feeds a considerable number of steers, but has not purchased many yet for this winter.
     We called upon Jas. Hummel, and found him dustily engaged threshing some flax. He is a new comer, coming from eastern Iowa. he owns an eighty and rents other lands each year.
    R.B. Waggoner, about a year ago, concluded that it was not well for man to live alone. The prospect of turning his own "flapjacks" or "biting" his own "murphies" by the dim light of a greasy lamp was not alluring, so he acted wisely and wooed, won and wed a Miss Carrie Drew, and now they have a neat and happy home near the older Mr. W.
    Z. Waggoner is a large grain farmer. He tills 320 acres of the productive soil of Independence township. He is making some repairs and additions to his house and superintending a large force of corn huskers. He came from Cass county six years ago. He has a large crop this year and if anyone can make grain farming pay well he will.
    H. Rindy is one of the most successful farmers of Independence township. He came from the Badger state five years ago. He now owns 240 acres with excellent improvements. A comfortable home, large, well arranged stables and good herds and flocks in his pastures should make him contented. Even more; his boys own farms adjoining, and their homes are within a short distance of the parental roof. H.O. Lives upon his brother Oscar's place. He has tried merchandising in a Wisconsin town, but this year returns to the farm again, largely on account of the poor health of his wife. John lives on his own farm, just across the road from his brother. He has been on the place but a short time.
     Henry Hanson owns an eighty east of the Rindy's. We were interested in how he was going to straighten out and put up again a steel wind mill that had blown down and yet lay where it fell.
     Andrew Nelson has three forties of good land just across the road from Mr. H.'s. They came from Hardin county four years ago.
    A.L. Watland owns eighty acres of land, as yet unadorned by house or barn. He makes his home with Sam Oleson who owns the adjoining 120 and is as yet untrammeled by matrimonial ties.
    A. A. Hollenschow (Holly for short) who is now on the Hans Ordel place, is rushing his husking preparatory to leaving the country and taking up his residence in Humboldt county. Hans Mattison will farm his place next year.
    We spent an hour or more in Forsythe. This is a small village in Denmark township, Emmet county, just upon the county line. The Forsythe creamery was built in 1894 by the Forsythe Creamery Co. The officers are H.A. Gordie, Pres.; H. Rindy, Sec.; H.J. Huskamp, Treas.; Douglas Beck and Hans Bunickson, directors. The plant cost $3,000 and is finished with good equipments. The daily receipts of milk now is about 4000 pounds. Sever Gordon is in charge. E.T. Sorum established a country store December 1, 1894 and enjoys a large and remunerative trade. He is also the postmaster of the village. He has a good farm near the corners which is now occupied by a tenant.
    Jans. Peterson has a small blacksmith shop here and picks up a good livelihood at his forge and anvil.
     A wagonmaker, from Armstrong, is erecting a new building which he will occupy as a wagon shop.
    H. Sorum, a bother of the village storekeeper, owns a farm adjoining the village. We noticed that he has a good string of handsome, heavy draft horses and that they were most carefully cared for. His large herd of hogs are evidently well bred and cared for.
    J.H. Townsand and family came in from Linn county this spring and have a new farm a mile from the creamery. They are the only American family in the neighborhood. Mrs. Maggie Cummings, of Red Cloud, Neb., Mrs. T.'s mother, is visiting with them for a couple of weeks.
    O.S. Houg is one of the prosperous farmers of Emmet county who keeps abreast of the times by reading the REPORTER. He has one of the beat farms of the neighborhood.
    T.H. Matheny lives upon a farm of 120 acres. He is an American and came from Marion county in 1894. Under his care the farm is being rapidly brought under a good state of cultivation. His crop of flax this year was large and paid him well.
    We visited the grain ranch of C.I. Haynes, in Emmet county. Mr. Haynes has 1120 acres in his own farm and controls the lands of several of his Illinois friends who have invested in Iowa real estate lately. Altogether there are several thousand acres. This year Mr. Haynes harvested 700 acres of flax, several hundred acres of wheat and corn and oats in proportion. Some forty head of horses are kept on the farm, and a small army of men  are employed. We found Mr. H. finishing up the cutting of his flax crop. He uses a Craver header, the only machine of its kind in use in the county. He keeps his own threshing machine and uses his own men to run it. He came from Grundy county, Ill., three years ago, but we are afraid will not find grain raising here as profitable as in Illinois.
    Away back yonder, when Father Time was only a kid, Burner Bradly settled in his present home in Vernon township. Back so far the the memory of the oldest inhabitant runneth not to the contrary, the little frame house of Barney Bradly has stood upon the hill, and its thickening grove has been a landmark for the emigrant or land seeker. The trials that led away over the prairies were made with Burney's place as a landmark. Time has passed since then and  has touched with frosty fingers the locks of the pioneer of Vernon township. As the seeds he planted long ago have grown into sturdy trees, interlacing their branches to shield him from the winter blasts, so around him have grown up a family of sturdy, husky lads and blooming Irish girls, and amid the comforts of a pleasant home and his children, he cares not how the world wags on in the busy whirl of life without. He has just finished the construction of a kitchen addition to his house. Of course it was dedicated by a dance. By the way somebody who didn't know and he surmised to the somebody who thought he knew, who said he was about sure to the somebody who knew all about it, who told us he knew that there would be a wedding in the neighborhood soon.
    S.J. Speer, who with his wife left five weeks ago on a visit to Mrs. S.'s. parents in Oelwien, Iowa, has been quite sick with typhoid fever. Latest news from Mr. S. are to the effect that he is slowly recovering. We called at the Speer home and found only the children at home.
    We stopped and had a short talk with C. Sickles. He informs us that he expects to move his family to northwest Missouri this fall, if possible, to either sell or rent his place.
    P. P. Schmidt was busy drawing water from a neighboring well for his house use, but not too busy to subscribe for the only good paper in Palo Alto county. He has had two deep wells sunk but has had bad luck in striking a permanent flow. We noticed the lumber for a new house upon the property near Mr. Schmidt's, but did not learn the name of the newcomer.

     Edward McClellan is an old time supporter of the REPORTER. We did not stop at his home but noticed from the road that he has arranged to carry on a large dairy business easily and profitably. He has large investments in live stock and has been very successful in this line.
    A. Todd is a shrewd Scotchman, who came to this country at an early day and purchased land of the Scottish-American Land Company. Proverbial Scotch thrift and a careful study of his business has led Mr. Todd to be one of the most successful and wealthy farmers in the county. His 640 acres of farm land are occupied by his herds and flocks. He believes in having only the best and one cannot but more than admire the four-footed beauties that surround him. His sheep are worthy of special mention. There are over 200 in the flock, all high grade Leisters. One, recently sold, weighed 116 pounds,and the next one, 114 pounds. His cattle are also well bred up, and were scattered in different pastures about the place. His horses, we understand, are beauties, and indeed they must be to be up to the rest of his stock. Mr. Todd, it is necessary to add, has surrounded himself with all the domestic comforts of home, not forgetting his dumb animals' shelters. The place is known as the Rowen Lea farm, and we hope to visit it again when we have more time to see more of it.
    We made a short stop at the comfortable home of C.T. Ellis, who has a 160 acre farm and good improvements. He came here from near Storm Lake one year ago. Like every one else he prefers the REPORTER for reliability and news.
    R.H. Ober will shortly remove to his home in Somerset county, Pa., has had but a short residence here but prefers his old associates and neighbors of the east. A Mr. Elliot has rented his place. The REPORTER will follow him.
    J.A. Schmeltzer was found at work preparing his cribs for the bounteous crop he has yet to gather. He is a hard worker but will find time to read the REPORTER this winter.
    W.I. and E.J. Boxi are two young men who came into the neighborhood last spring and settled upon the W.H. Stepp farm. They have 360 acres to care for and run three teams during the summer. They came from Mr. S.'s farm near State Center in Marshall county.
    C.N. Davis was found at work digging and sorting potatoes. Mr. D. has raised 1300 bushels of potatoes this year. Part of them he has contracted for 25 cents per bushel. He proposes to plant forty acres of potatoes next year. He also has given considerable attention to poultry raising and has several hundred chicks, some of them but a week or so old, on hand. He hatches them with an incubator and has a warm house for raising them. He says they pay better than farming.
    The Nolan Bros. are this year farming the 360 acre farm opposite Mr. Blair's. That they are good farmers, we do not doubt as we found upon their place the largest and best samples of corn we noticed in Independence or Vernon townships. Messrs. Nolan will cultivate the Blair farm next year.
    We understand that Mr. Elliot will move upon the Ober place next spring.
    I.W. Nessa came from the pine belt of Wisconsin five years ago and bought him a quarter section among his compatriots. His home is neat and cozy and the large amount of stock that surrounds him is evidence of his prosperity.
    Thos. Oleson, who farmed the Gorder place this year, has about determined to return to the Sunflower state. He will start next week by the Rock Island to investigate the prospects there, and if favorable, will emigrate there this fall. Andres Finnstien, of Livingston county, Ill, has rented the place for next year.
    Ole B. Saboe, who had the misfortune to lose his home by fire last spring, has a larger and better one now completed on the old site. We found him busy completing the cellar. He has a good farm and is making money on it too.
    Close beside Mr. Saboe's home we passed the elegant new church building of the Cylinder Creek congregation of the Norwegian Lutheran church. This house of worship is built upon the modern city plans and would be a credit to any city. It is 40x34 and is surmounted by a steeple and belfry. It was built on 1893 but is not quite complete on the interior furnishings. Pastor Vardie of Lost Island is in charge of the congregation.
    Sequart Nelson is a prosperous young Norwegian farmer who moved upon his prairie home three years ago. Now he has it under cultivation and nicely improved.
    B.H. Benson is one of four brothers who came here from Wisconsin seven years ago. He has a pretty home and many buildings for the shelter and care of his stock, of which he has considerable. We found him busy erecting a commodious house for his hogs to winter in.
    One of the largest barns and small but neatest of houses, with large sheds and yards, all warmly nestled in a large grove, that we saw in Little Norway, was upon the farm of Sever Rustebeck. He has tilled its fertile acres for sixteen years, being among the earlier of the Norwegian settlers.
    Eight years before Mr. Rustebeck run his section lines, Paul Haugsteen broke ground in the adjoining section. His present farm of 120 acres is in a high state of cultivation, and his large grove is yet one of the landmarks of the neighborhood. Andrew Anderson now occupies his house and carries on his place. Mr. and Mrs. H. make their home among their children.
    Close behind the elder Mr. H. his son Thomas has his pretty home and his farm of 120 acres.
    The handsome St. James Norwegian Union Lutheran church, of Fairfield township, is nearing completion and will be dedicated Sunday, November 17th, with appropriate and imposing ceremonies. Rev. Hymer, Formand of the Norwegian Union Lutheran church of America and a number of other prominent divines of the church will be present. The meetings will be held on three days and services will be held in both the Norwegian and English languages.

Palo Alto Reporter
Emmetsburg, Palo Alto, Iowa
Friday, November 1, 1895

    Last week we visited the Norwegian settlement in the eastern part of the county. Little Norway is about ten miles long and from two to five miles wide, occupying parts of Independence, Fairfield and Fern Valley townships. The first settlers came here from Wisconsin twenty-five and six years ago. Among them were Julius Mathieson, Raackstein, H. Rustebache. Later came the Andersons, Bensons, Johnsons and Nesse. They have two Norwegian and Lutheran churches and during vacation time conduct Norwegian schools at the Depew and Cragil school houses. They are an industrious class of people and the older settlers are well fixed financially. The country postoffices of Depew and Fairville are in their territory.
    Depew we have already noticed. Fairville is a country postoffice, situated in Fairfield township. The Fairville creamery is one of the largest in the county and is a paying institution, for both patron and stockholder. It had its beginning years ago when a Mr. Wallace, of Algona, built a cheese factory in the neighborhood. This not proving satisfactory to the farmers, they formed a mutual company and six years ago built the present butter factory. The machinery is of the best. They operate two Danish Western cream separators, and during the past summer handled at times 13,000 pounds of milk. They are now receiving about 9000 pounds each day. Our attention was called to a new Fargo butter worker in operation by Mr. Kresin, the accommodating butter maker, who took time to show us over the building. Mr. K. has had charge of the plant for three years and his butter brings top prices. Fred Gremmels has a small store near the creamery and is the postmaster of the village. Wm. Gohr has a blacksmith and wagon shop here and looks carefully after the iron and wood repairing of the neighborhood.
    A short distance from the creamery the German Lutherans have erected and recently dedicated a pretty little chapel. They have a strong congregation mostly being to the east of the church.
    We spent a pleasant evening at the hospitable home of Julius Mathieson about a half mile from Fairville. He was one of the first settlers here and has in years gone by carefully improved his large farm, until now he owns one of the best improved and most valuable places in the township. We were especially pleased with his fine herd of dairy cattle. Mr. M. believes that the best is the cheapest in live stock as well as anything else. Several years ago he procured at considerable expense a number of pure Holstein Fresien cattle of B. Brown, the famous Iowa breeder of this strain of cattle. Today he has seven full blood cows and a number of young cattle of this breed, while the balance of his heard is well graded up. The herd is headed by the magnificent Netherland Prince No. 1, of New Minnesota, Herd Book. Mr. M's neighbors now recognize the wisdom of his course and have purchased many breeding animals from him. Mr. M. realized from the sale of his milk last year an average of $36 per head.
    Alfred Mathieson owns an adjoining farm, and like his brother, is largely engaged in dairy interests. He will keep informed of the news now as he reads THE REPORTER.
    J Hengle has a good quarter section of land and comfortable farm buildings. We found him busy harvesting a fifty-bushel-per-acre corn crop.
    
     John Anderson, "my Jo. John" is a successful farmer of the same neighborhood. He pins his faith to the present Democratic administration, so we left him a REPORTER tract and hope for his conversion.
     O. Ostrus has a farm in an adjoining section and is now just completing a new house which considerably improves the appearance of his place.
     A.N.W.Palmer came here from Kansas, four years ago, and is farming for awhile as a change of business. He is an engineer by trade and during the threshing season yet follows the business.
     G.W. Tutt recently came from Madison county and purchased a raw quarter section from Mart Coonan. He is building his house and stables and expects to soon move his family here. The house is 16x28with an ell 16 feet long, all one and one-half stories high. The barn is 48x48 and capable of stabling a large number of horses or cattle.
     W.T. Palmer has the Randa place rented, and we found him busy making improvements, preparatory for winter.
     Mr. P. is talking of removing to Missouri.
     N.M. Martin has a fine farm of 320 acres with excellent buildings. He is an old resident, having come to this place twenty-five years ago. The farm is well stocked and Mr. M. is a liberal patron of the creamery. He has three boys who work upon the farm, beside the hired help.
     Peter P. Adamson has a farm of 240 acres. He has been here but one year. It was recently sold to Canute Iverson of Ill., for $21.25 per acre. Mr. A. regrets much the loss of 60 head of hogs this fall by cholera.
     O.P. Randa is living upon his father's place south of the Jenswold school house. The farm is new and Mr. R. has built this year and broken much of the land. He feels lonesome without the news, so subscribed for the REPORTER.
     Wm. Wright commenced breaking sod on this place seventeen years ago. As a farmer and stock raiser he has been very successful. He has about thirty head of milch cows and is well prepared to attend to the dairy part of his work. He has a splendid herd of young hogs and has recently purchased a cooker to cook feed for them. The work of the farm is largely carried on by his sons. Like the celebrated Darius Green, who invented a flying machine, these boys are Yankees, and specimens of their handiwork are to be seen upon the place, among these a horse power rigged up from an old binder. Mr. W. has raised some very good potatoes this year and showed us a bin of large, smooth tubers.
     G.J. Wright commenced his farming here with his brother. We did not meet Mr. W. but went though his new house, just being finished. It is 16x24 with an ell 16x20, all one and one-half stories high, all nicely furnished.
     A short distance east of Emmetsburg we stopped at the home of A. Comstock, who is farming the Harrison place. We noted the new barn and the large additions and remodeling being made to the house.
     A. Treadgold owns nearly a section of land, part of it being along the Whittemore road. His beautiful home is suggestive of homely comforts. He has large barns and sheds for the shelter of his stock and a large wind mill tank and pipings furnish water to all parts of the barn lots. We noted a fine bunch of thirty-three steers Mr. F. has now on feed for an early market. We had the pleasure of meeting Mrs. Chas. Treadgold, of Eagle Grove, who is visiting at the home for a few weeks.
     R. Birkland, one of the REPORTER's new readers, came from Illinois three years ago. He is at present upon the Chas. Seigle place which he has leased for a term of years.
     J.L. Butler and Martin Knutson are farming a large quantity of land just east of Mr. Treadgold. They came west from Illinois about a year ago and are succeeding quite well in their efforts here.
     U. Baldwin is one of the new settlers and a good Republican of Fairfield township. He removed from Story county to his farm here last spring. He owns 160 acres of land much of it already broken.

     We had the pleasure of eating dinner with R. Salven, one of the best and most favorably known men of the neighborhood. After enjoying an abundant repast, we pushed back our plates and chairs and talked over the crops and crop prospects. Speaking of the low prices of oats, Mr. S. said: The trouble with oats is that they are not an export cereal. The ocean freight rate being calculated by the cubic yard of space occupied, and not by the weight, shippers prefer to fill this space with heavier and more valuable grains, so our market is limited to the home consumption. This market, on account of the less number of horses in use in cities is lessening each year. The production, however, as the great northwest becomes more favorably developed, is being increased. Therefore, he argues, oats will not raise much in price, although maintaining that the Chicago board of trade operators are aware of these facts and the necessity that compels some farmers to market their grain as soon as threshed without regard to price. We do not understand the logic of the last assertion. If any of our farmer readers differ from Mr. S. let them say so through the REPORTER.
     Near Cylinder we stopped at the home of W.E. Crampton. Mr. C. is a native of the Sucker state and has been a resident of our county but two years. He has a small farm well improved and is very comfortably situated.
     Theo. Demouth is farming the Gockley place this year. Mr. D. has a nice stock around him and is largely interested in the dairy business. He was one of the readers of the first issue of the REPORTER.
     Near Mr. Crampton's we passed a field of 320 acres of flax stubble. Men were at work plowing it, making lands one mile long. The land belongs to Mr. Buck, we understand.
     Near Whittemore we made a short stop at the Lawler homestead. Mr. L. has just sold his farm to a Mr. Francis Albert, of Illinois, for $40 per acre. Mr. L. contemplates removing to Texas on account of his wife's health.
     Wm. Kelly is one of the wealthy farmers of the Cylinder neighborhood. His fine farm east of that village is one of the best in the county. The improvements are of the best. His large two story house and handsome yard is especially worthy of notice. The long barns give shelter to his horses and herd of fine dairy cattle, and his yards are filled with two car loads of nice smooth steers he is feeding for the early market and a fine bunch of hogs. Mr. K. has a family of three sons and one daughter. The sons are interested in the merchant firm of Kelly Bros. at Cylinder, two of them attending to the business in the village and the third superintending the work upon the home place, also upon the farm owned by the brothers, which adjoins that of their father.
     Jerry Miller is one of the many farmers who have come here from central Iowa to find cheaper land and an equally good quality of land. Mr. M. has a farm of 320 acres. This year is his second season upon the place and he has not only added considerably to the amount of plow land upon his place but has placed several thousand dollars in improvements, which gives the farm an appearance of comfort and prosperity. We only wish that more such farmers would settle among us.
     Geo. Kelly has a good 160 near Cylinder. His house is near the old one having been carried away by the cyclone of a year ago.
     John Weise is a successful German farmer living west of Cylinder. We passed his place and noted the good improvements he has placed upon it but did not have the pleasure of meeting its proprietor.
     Our visit to the home of John Peters was equally fruitless as far as meeting the man of the place was concerned, but he will not forget to read the REPORTER and thereby keep track of the doings and misdoings of his neighbor.

    L.H. Taylor is a true blood Yankee, a rares humo in this part of the country. He has been three years upon Iowa soil and is making said soil yield him a good profit for his labor. He owns a full section of land and runs a force of men summer and winter. He showed us his dairy barn with stalls for forty head of cows. It is kept warm and comfortable during severe weather and if necessary a full supply of water may be turned on in the stable. He has a small bunch of very nice shoats. He believes that with proper care in feeding new corn and in keeping a supply of fresh water before the pigs much of the dangers of the swine plague would be avoided.
    Messrs. Spoorer and Campbell are farming the Gallagher Bros. place. They have out a large acreage of corn and have harvested and threshed a fine crop of oats.
    F. Illingworth lives about three miles south of Emmetsburg. The place is noticeable from the fine large farm buildings upon the place. Mr. I. was away from home when we called but we see he has a nice lot of stock upon his farm.
    Founded upon a rock upon a high hill stand the house that John built. A jovial old gentleman by the name of McCormick lives upon the rock upon the hill in the house that John built. Every week the REPORTER is read by the man who lives upon the rock upon the hill and in the house that John built, and this is all we know about him.
    One of the homesteaders of the county is C.N. Sprout who is a well known resident of Nevada township. He came here twenty-five years ago and is yet living in the neighborhood in which he first settled. He has a family of four boys, two of whom are yet at home and two are married and farming places of their own adjoining the old homestead.
    A.L. Sprout has a farm of 240 acres, the produce of which is fed upon the place. He rejoices in the comforts of a handsome new house of the regulation country pattern. He showed us a large bunch of very fine Chester White hogs.
   
Palo Alto Reporter
Emmetsburg, Palo Alto, Iowa
Friday, November 15, 1895

   We omitted mention of several parties in Independence township last week. Among these was J.W. Uncle, a newcomer from Des Moines. He has a neat little farm near the Kossuth county line. He is a first-class auctioneer and has his card in another column of this paper.
    Henry Becker is a well-to-do German farmer who came here from Bremer county. He has materially added to the good appearance of his place this last spring by the erection of a large horse and cattle barn. The building is 70x34 feet and built in the most substantial manner. Mr. B. has a fine herd of dairy cows, which have comfortable quarters in this stable.
    Phillip Weisbrode has a finely improved section of land near the county line. His large grove, handsome house and many warm and roomy farm buildings are noticeable even in a neighborhood of fine farms. In such a home, with fresh air, free range and pastoral quiet, one could never wish to change for even the more palatial residence of the city denizen with his smoky, disease laden atmosphere, narrow streets, and closely builded houses and all of the din, hurry and bustle of city life.
    C.T. Ellison is one of the old settlers of the county. he now owns a good farm of 160 acres.
    W.H. Jones, we understand, will farm the Boardman place in Vernon township next year.
    A.L. Houck is another old resident. He has a well improved farm of 280 acres. We found him very busy threshing.
    H. Malarkey is one of the REPORTER's new reader. He has a fine farm of 200 acres and very fair improvements. He is a large patron of the creamery.
    Chris Widdle has been here but one year, formerly farming in Blackhawk county He lives upon the Geo. Beaver place and has a large crop this year.
    We did not have the pleasure of meeting Mr. Mendke, who farms an adjoining place, but his good lady recognized the merits of the best newspaper in the county and ordered the REPORTER for a year.
    We partook of an excellent country dinner at the hospitable home of Fred Stigman, one of the most prosperous and influential farmers of the German settlement. he has been upon this place for fourteen years and has the land, some 320 acres in all, under excellent cultivation. He takes pride in his beautiful home and everything as neat and tidy as the most scrupulous would desire. Mr. S. is a careful student of times and his business, and is abreast of the times in the best methods of successful farming. He is especially favorable to legislation in the farmer's interest and is an agitator in that direction.
    Louis Wagner owns a highly improved farm of 240 acres. He has large, well arranged stables for his horses and a large herd of fine dairy cattle.
    Geo. Yager owns an adjoining farm of 320 acres, a part of which lies in Kossuth county. We spent but a few moments with Mr. Y, during which he informed us that he had lost 130 hogs this fall from the swine flu plague. This is the most we have heard of this dreaded disease.
    We were not fortunate in finding Mr. Fred Wagner at home, but will give our readers a description of his well-known farm at some future time.
    Chas. Blackman has a fine farm of 240 acres just south of Fairville. Since he came upon the place three years ago he has made a number of valuable improvements. Among these is a large hay barn and horse and cattle stable. Besides the stable and grain room, 175 tons of hay can be stored away in its capacious mows. He has the largest and best herd of Chester White hogs that we have seen. The head of the herds are imported from the best strains in the state. The sine plague was in his neighborhood when we saw them and Mr. B. was worried over a possible contagion.
    Sever Genswold is one of the REPORTER's old time reader. He has a pretty little home and is surrounded by a nice lot of live stock with comfortable quarters for them. He has evidently prospered in his farming operations.
    W.A. Korleski has been upon his present place two years. He has a nice lot of young stock especially hogs.
    Carl and Chas. Christian owns adjoining farms east of the Norwegian church. They have been here but a few years but are doing nicely. The swine plague has commenced its ravages in their herds.
    O.J. Cleveland is a successful farmer in the Norwegian settlement. He has a pretty home and good farm.
    J.N. Norland has a farm of 160 acres. He is a prominent member of the Norwegian Union Lutheran church and it was upon his place that the ground was selected to build the St. James Lutheran church that now stands two miles further north. The Norwegian cemetery marks the old site.

    Adam Domek is one of the brave boys who faced death upon many a southern battlefield to keep intact the greatest republic of the world. Shortly after returning from the war Mr. D. left his old Wisconsin home and sought a new residence and better prospects in this part of Iowa. He has raised a small family of thirteen children and is not a poor man either. He has an old fashioned pleasant home and among his children he is as happy and contented as can be.
    Theo. Blackman has a large farm just east of Fairville. He is a thorough and successful farmer. He uses the best of machinery and raises only the best of farm animals. He has a very nice heard of dairy cattle.
    K. Iverson came here but a short time ago. He has been renting but will next year move upon his own place in Independence township. He will keep informed of the current news by the REPORTER.
    The Cody Bros. we found quite busy endeavouring to make erth room enough for their big crop of corn. The farmers of their neighborhood are claiming 60 bushels of corn per acre as an average yield.
    Mr. Seely, who lives near the county line, claims to have elected the first house in Fairfield township. He is quite an old man now and his place is carried on by his son. We did not have the opportunity to have much conversation with the old gentleman at the time of our visit in his neighborhood.
    Messrs. Stewart and Engles have recently purchased and put into operation a new corn sheller and are doing some work in their neighborhood.
    Mr. Newman has a farm of 280 acres. He is considerably interested in the stock business. He has twenty-four head of steers feeding in his yards and a considerable number of young stock. Mrs. Frank Newman was very sick with typhoid fever when we called but hear that she is recovering now.
    S.T. Massey is an American who is living on the edge of the Norwegian settlement. He has a good sized farm and is prospering in his work.
    G.J. Dryland we found very busy indeed taking care of his oat crop. He is an intelligent and industrious young man and will doubtless do well.
    Mr. Tremble, a recent arrival from Illinois, has purchased a quarter of a section opposite Mr. Brown's in Vernon township. We noticed that he has the lumber on the ground for his house.
    J.H. Roberts informs us that he has sold his farm in Freedom township to B.E. Buball of Illinois consideration $34.00 per acre. Mr. Duball will remove to his new farm in the spring. Mr. R. is as yet undecided as to his future movements, but may conclude to take up a residence in the Burg. [Note: surname Buball/Duball not a typo. Typed as in article]
    Wm. Harrison, a candidate for the office of county supervisor, does not neglect the interest of his farm to attend to his political leading strings. He has a beautiful farm and is surrounded by all of the conveniences and comforts of a well-to-do country gentleman. He showed us a fine herd of Galloway cattle. These cattle, Mr. H. claims, are the best beef cattle we can raise here. They are easily kept, of quick growth, and make a superior quality of beef. They are very hardy and if given proper care will make the most profitable beef cattle we can produce. Mr. H. has 20 yearlings that are as even and as smooth a lot as we have seen for some time. The spring calves, 21 in number, are equally good and well graded up. The head of the herd is a beautiful animal purchased from B. Vale, Bonaparte, Ia.
    The old Dodder place is occupied by Alex Dickerson. Mr. D. is a young man of considerable energy and good sense and we trust may make his agricultural work profitable.
    Lewis Hern has recently moved into the Johnson place and will farm that land next year. He comes from the Blairgouri neighborhood.

Palo Alto Reporter
Emmetsburg, Palo Alto, Iowa
Friday, November 29, 1895

   After visiting the bustling town of Mallard we stopped at Mr. H.P. Apkir. Mr. A. has a small farm and new buildings. He came from Wisconsin in 1894 to settle among a number of his relatives. In building his house he departed from the plan of the conventional farm house and has a neat little cottage with a square mansard roof.
    J.A. Hughes, a brother-in-law and near neighbor of Mr. A., has been upon his place about fifteen years. He has concluded that a new house would look well in his snug little grove so when we called he was just completing an attractive little cottage 26 feet square.
    Geo. Schaap has a farm of 160 acres, but works a full half section. He is of Holland parentages, but American birth. He has a brother, J.H. Schaap, living on an adjoining farm.
    We also met Mr. Fleish and R.C. Sarsfield, farmers of the same neighborhood.
    C. Lybert is a native of Belgium and has breathed the free air of the brave, etc., for nearly nine years. He has been a resident of northwestern Iowa for the most of that time. He is industrious and prosperous. He reads the REPORTER.
    Max Voight is farming a quarter section near Mallard. He is fair minded and believes in reading both sides.
    Andy Myers has a very pretty home and a well cultivated and well stocked farm. He was not at home when we called.
    A.J. Jolliffe is an industrious and careful young man who is farming a good place in this neighborhood. The farm reminds us of old homesteads in eastern Iowa. The barn is set into the hillside, the house is perhaps an old log affair, covered with shingles, and the whole is surrounded by large groves and plum thickets.
    E.G. Ridenour has been upon his farm near the county line but two years, but has made many improvements. Perhaps the amount of money expended was not so much but everything about the house and stable yards seems so neat and clean that one cannot help contrasting his small holdings with the larger, more costly, more neglected and dilapidated buildings on other farms.
    E. Miller is one of the staunch Republicans of his township. He has a good home and is surrounded by considerable live stock that shows evidence of good breeding and extra care. We were particularly pleased with a fine four-year-old team of heavy draft horses we saw in his stables.
    East and south of Mallard we found J.J. Bone, who was just laying the last planks on a new granary. It was a two story affair with a driveway in the center. Mr. B. owns a quarter section of land here.
    G.W. Draman was not at home but we drove through his fields to reach his house and passed some very good corn. The place is too near the old lake or swamp bed to suit us. We noticed that several miles of deep ditching is being done on the old bottoms and suppose the owners hope to drain and cultivate it.
    The Quick farm east of Mallard is occupied by J.W. Price who has had it for several years. Mr. P. seems to be making money on his lease.
    We passed a number of homes of the Germans of Rush Lake township but was unfortunate in choosing the time of our visit as most of the men were away from home. They were the Millers, Schuelers and Leuer.
    Jim Spore, the well known auctioneer, was also away crying a sale a few miles distant.
    John Truog is one of the wealthiest farmers and strongest Republicans among his German neighbors. He has a large farm and excellent improvements. He lives in a large, handsome, two story house fully occupied by a large family. Mr. T. was busy and had been for several days, threshing.
    C.D. Carnahan has possession of a farm upon the bottoms a few miles west of Rodman. Mr. C's brother has been assisting him but will depart for other fields in a short time.
    The Chas. Meyers place has been cultivated this year by P.B.Brodigan and from all appearances Mr. B.'s season's work has been rewarded by a bountiful crop.
    The Johnson farm is also occupied by a lessee. Joseph Wollner who came here last spring from Wisconsin, and secured a favorable long time lease upon this farm. We were especially pleased to see the large sheds prepared for the care and storing of the machinery used upon the farm. One cannot wonder at the cry of hard times raised by some of our farmer friends when we see the costly farm machinery rusting and rotting away under summer storm and winter snows. We believe that the binder that cost its owner $125 should be as well housed and cared for when not in use as the horse that is not worth one-half that amount. How many farmers have shed rooms for their wagons?
    The Crook farm was under the management of Mrs. Iva Cook and her son George this year. It is an old place and very warm and comfortable, but away from the traveler's roads and in as lonesome a situation as one could well imagine. The farm consists of 340 acres.
    M.T. Booth has a small but carefully cultivated farm of eighty acres. Mr. B. has a first class cane mill, and this year has made 790 gallons of molasses for himself and neighbors. He put up a large converting house for his use. Mr. Booth has been here four years.
    Geo. Sturgis has recently moved into the W.H. Mellon property, vacated by Mr. M. moving to Emmetsburg. Mr. S. will farm the place next year.
    V.F. Graham has charge of the Harrison place this year. He has cultivated 200 acres this year.
    W.D. Fenn has a farm of 160 acres just west of Rodman. We did not get to see his place.
    Among our new subscribers is J.H. Shultz, well known about Rodman. Mr. S's another one of the "brave boys in blue" and is a pensioner of Uncle Sam.

Palo Alto Reporter
Emmetsburg, Palo Alto, Iowa
December 6, 1895

    W.A. Cristy is one of the wealthy farmers of Palo Alto county. He came here from Des Moines thirteen years ago. His first purchase of real estate was a half section in Silver Lake township. He has always been interested in the hay business and has accumulated from time to time a considerable property. About seven years ago he purchased a section of land lying just southwest of Curlew and has been adding to his farm buildings ever since. Besides his handsome farm cottage he has a hay and stock barn 44x116 with hay bays for 600 tons of baled hay, stock room for 150 head of cattle and grain bins for 5000 bushels of grain. There is a geared 16-foot Monitor windmill which does shelling, omiting grinding machinery. Besides Hereford stock he has a small herd of short horn cattle, and has now in the feeding yards four car loads of stock, and has upon his other farms 200 head of stock cattle. His horse stable is 26x78 feet and stables some 24 head of work and driving horses. There are large granaries in connection. Besides this farm Mr. C. owns a little over three sections of land in the southern part of Palo Alto county.
    S.W. Tressler is one of the early pioneer settlers here. Twenty-five, nearly twenty-six years ago, he and his wife pulled up their jaded team, and dismounting, cooked, and ate their first meal upon the quarter section of Uncle Sam's domain which after ward, by the right of a homesteader, became theirs. Mr. T. has not been an idler during his life time and he made his presence felt in the political world about him as well as at home. For a few years past, however, he has been compelled to lead a more retired life on account of the failing of his eyesight, resulting at present in total blindness. Mr. T. has two sons, J.W. is the proprietor of a restaurant in Curlew, and a younger son is just completing his law studies at the University in Des Moines.
    Mrs. A.V. Lacy jocularly claims to be the pioneer woman for miles around. Late in the fall of 1869 she and her husband packed their household belongings into an emigrant wagon, and leaving their pleasant Howard county home, turned their horses heads to the open lands of northwestern Iowa. Their first experience with a "mild" blizzard was not, we imagine, exhilarating. The icy norther sweeping over miles of unbroken prairie, swooped down upon the little unprotected cabin with a force that drove the snow through the cracks and challenged the brightest of fires to a combat upon its very hearth. Mr. Lacy, looking over the snow covered hills, wondered if there were other human habitations anywhere about, or if, indeed, they had settled at the ends of the earth. Time came and went, so new settlers came and many changes were made on the old homestead. The railroad broke through the "back forty" and a thriving little village was started but a few rods away. Mr. L. died in 1885. Mr. L yet remains on the old homestead and a son, F.D. Lacy, is tilling the fertile acres his father broke out a quarter of a century ago.
      H.D. Bennett came from Marshalltown last spring and purchased the Carter place near Curlew. He expresses himself as being well satisfied with his change of base.
    H.S. Williams owns a highly improved farm of 200 acres adjoining Mr. B. on the north. Mr. W. is quite an old resident of the neighborhood but has been upon his present farm but two years. He has a large house and other good improvements.
    Aug. Youngreen recently concluded to try again the pleasures of farm life. Accordingly he traded his store and stock of merchandise in Laurens, Ia., for the Crowder place near Curlew. He purchased the crop from its lessee, Sam Ayrs and moved upon his farm in July.
    D.G. Grier is another one of the homesteaders. He is of Scotch-Irish parentage, but was born in Canada. Coming here as he did at an early day, he has seen the privations of pioneer life and now can enjoy the comforts of near neighbors and railroads.
    Christ Breckler came here from Wisconsin two years ago. He is living upon the Stebbins place which he leased for five years.

    Wm. Coakley is also a native of the Badger state. With others of his family he emigrated to the open prairie of Great Oak township nine years ago and purchased a quarter section chunk of the "wild and woolly west." He has prospered and now owns a pretty home and is surrounded by a pleasant family. He has given much study to veterinary surgery and has had considerable practice in that line. He has a well selected herd of dairy cattle and is making his interest in the neighboring creamery pay him well. He obtained from his cows and average of five pounds of butter fat per day for the month of October. Who can make a better showing for that month? Mrs. C. is equally enthusiastic over her flock of pure Plymouth Rock chickens, of which she raises about 200 each year. Mr. C. is a stalwart Republican and as Republican chairman of the much Democratic township of Great Oak has done loyal and successful work for his party.
    We met Chas. Simmons at his home near Curlew and found him busy in his cornfield. He is a true blue Republican and of course reads the REPORTER.
    A.L. Henderson and Isaac Kinney were both absent from their houses when we called.
    Abbott Batch came from Cherokee county recently. He owns a good farm and has it well improved and supplied with good farm buildings.
    Chris Berdin is one of Denmark's sturdy sons who has sought for himself an Iowa home. He has a good farm and is, like many of his countrymen, prosperous.
    E. Edwards is largely interested in the live stock business. He is not feeding very much stock this winter, having only one car load in his yards. He was very anxious about the welfare of one of his sons, when we called, he was last heard of in Koit county, Mo., dangerously sick. For several weeks his friends here had been unable to gat any news from him or his condition.
    An Englishman by the name of Edmund Ford, born in county Kent, years ago shipped from a neighboring port and for eight years sailed before the mast, on English and American vessels. He wanted to see the world and he did. He plowed the waters of every sea, saw many sights in many foreign lands, and met with many an adventure. We promise to some day spin a fo'cas'le yarn from his own dictation. In 1869 this young seaman resolved to follow the sea no more, but to settle in this land of the free, and swing a mason's hammer for a livelihood. As a journeyman mason he drifted westward into Iowa, and finally came to this county in 1870 to enter a homestead. Mr. F. now has a good farm of 200 acres. He is interested in the Curlew creamery and is one of its heaviest patrons, sending 260 pounds of milk per day.
    We found Mr. A. Frier busy with his corn husking, but paused long enough to tell us that he has the best paying herd of dairy cattle in the county. They are only "scrub" cattle but for this year will make him from the sale of milk alone an average of $38 per cow. Who can beat it? Mr. F is a successful all-'round farmer and one passing by his yards, or through his fields will be struck by the appearance of thrift everywhere present.
    J.C. McGinnis was busy putting up stores. We hears various kinds of strange sounds proceeding from the kitchen as we drove up and Mr. M. appeared in the doorway with a scowl and a quantity of soot upon his face, but we will not state that he did any swearing over the "dumb-founded" stove. He brightened up visibly when we said REPORTER and informed us that he was feeding three car loads of steers and about 150 head of hogs. We looked over the yards and found a nice lot of smooth, well-conditioned cattle.
    Near Mr. M's we stopped at the handsome new home of our friend and old-time subscriber, D.D. Johnson. Mr. J. has built a new house this fall and the painters were yet at work upon it when we called. It is 26x28 with 16x26 foot kitchen, all two stories high. It is a really beautiful country house and the best of its kind in the neighborhood. We congratulate Mr. J. on his success and trust that his future labors on his farm may be as profitable as in the past. We noticed that the large feed yards were full and in reply to our inquiry, Mr. J. informed us that he was feeding 100 head of cattle and 200 head of hogs this winter.
    I. Vedder lives upon the old Williams homestead. We did not meet Mr. V. but discussed neighborhood gossip with his estimable lady.

Palo Alto Reporter
Emmetsburg, Palo Alto, Iowa
December 13, 1895

 IN THE FIELD.
     Less than a decade ago the C.M. & St. P. R'y Co. put in a wide track on their line some eight miles east of Emmetsburg. Then the long buffalo grass grew beside the rails and the brown prairie stretched away for miles beyond. The coyote howled in undisturbed possession and perhaps some prairie dogs sunned themselves upon their burrows. The broad flats along Cylinder creek furnished an unlimited quantity of hay, and M. Brown & sons, of Whittemore, for several seasons operated a hay press here. In 1891 the company put up a neat little depot and named the town that they laid off Cylinder. R.B. Hopkins was put in charge of the ticker. A small country store owned by John Goeders, was opened and Mr. G. became the postmaster of the village. The old store building was destroyed by fire and rebuilt and is now occupied by Thompson & Olesen, general merchants. Meanwhile a strong competition had sprung up and a hotel, blacksmith shop, hardware store and lumber yard were opened and bidding for patronage. The creamery and two large elevators were built and now Cylinder is the trading point for a large farming community.
     The firm of Kelly Bros. purchased a general merchandise stock of Mr. Terwilliger in 1892, and later moved into a larger building they had erected for their use. The firm consists of E.G., W.C., and H.W. Kelly, and they do a large business in their line. Their store is always neat and orderly though their stock consists of almost everything one would want about the house or barn. Messrs. Kelly are courteous and accommodating and have a large paying trade.
     The Cylinder Butter and Cheese Association is a co-operative plant established six years ago at a cost of $3,500. The association has always done a paying business, but this winter has experienced some difficulty with its machinery which is much worn. They run two separators and are handling 7,000 pounds every other day. J.M. Gyler is president; B. Towle, secretary, and E.G. Kelly, treasurer.
     One of the neatest of hotels is the Hughes House, which was built by E.E. Hughes three years ago. The house is large enough to accommodate the trade and is kept up in first class manner. Mr. Hughes has a livery in connection, and at odd times looks after the insurance business of the village.
     John Johnson started a general store here in 1894. After a few months business he sold out to Messrs. Thompson & Oleson, who have largely increased the stock, and by their gentlemanly conduct and strict attention to business, they are winning a considerable part of the trade.
     M.J. Mosness, the accommodating postmaster of the village, is a son of C. Mosness, and has charge of his father's hardware store into which he moved the postoffice when he received his commission as postmaster a year ago. Mr. M. seems to give good satisfaction as a postal agent of Uncle Sam and is well spoken of by his neighbors.
     M.N. Olson, the irrepressible Mart, sells implements and farm machinery, good ones and lots of 'em too. He has been in business three years and has a good sized implement wigwam. He has had a great run on Cooper wagons this year and has disposed of a great many. He is no small potatoes when it comes to talking and selling binders, as witness his sale of 21 Osborn binders the past season.
     J.W. Woodbridge, M.D. came from Marshall county, August last, and opened a drug store with his medical shingle out in front. He has a good stock of drugs, books and stationery. He has the sole agency and stock of the school books used in the county. Dr. W. is a graduate of the college of physicians and surgeons at Keokuk, Ia., one of the best schools of its kind in the west. His success since he has been here is sufficient for us to recommend him as a competent physician and surgeon.
     Ralph Richardson has recently placed a stock of jewelry in Dr. W.'s store and is now a full fledged watch repairer. Give him a call.
     John Gazley has been pounding iron into horseshoes and repairs for the people of Cylinder and vicinity for five years ,and those shoes never come off, either.
     John Henz has started the second blacksmith shop and is asking for a share of the trade.
     Lane & Consigney have a large elevator and warehouse here, which was built six years ago. It has a capacity of 20,000 bushels. It is leased by O'Halloran & Co. who are doing a good business with it.
     The L.T. Ashworth elevator is now under lease by H. Darrow, of Emmetsburg. A. Satter is in charge, who by fair tests and honest dealing has won a large number of patrons and friends.
     Meltved & Johnson are doing more to build up the town than any other two men. They are kept busy building, and from what we have seen of their carpentry work, we would say that they are good workmen.
     The good people of Cylinder like to attend church service, and point with pride to the pretty little chapel they have just completed and dedicated. Rev. Gardner, of Whittemore, supplies the pulpit now. The building belongs to the M.E. conference.

Palo Alto Reporter
Emmetsburg, Palo Alto, Iowa
Friday, January 17, 1896

More Field Notes.

    Some time ago we had the pleasure of looking over the best bred herd of Holestein-Freesian cattle in this county on the Valley Day farm, managed by M.H. law. Mr. Law brought the herd here a year or more ago from Story county, the home of the famous Mercedes herd, the best dairy stock of these deservedly popular cattle. There were forty head in all in the bunch, all except eight being young cattle whose milking records are yet to be established and are as even, smooth and pretty a herd as one could wish to see. Clayburn, No. 78, a magnificent animal of exceptional breeding but unfortunately crippled by a recent accident, stands at the head. Mr. Law has been unable to give his stock the pasturage and care this year that he desired to, yet for a young herd the following figures speak for themselves. His creamery, checks for the several months read as follows:
LBS. MILK          TEST        NO. COWS.          MOS.
10,533                  3.51          15                          May
12,316                  3.91          15                          June
 9,637                   3.47          15                          July
 6,911                   3.60          15                          Aug
 7,334                   3.70          15                          Sept.
    Mr. Law is a patron of the Rodman Creamery.
    One of the largest and most admired of the country houses in Fern Valley township is the handsome residence of Mr. Thompson, east of Cylinder. Mr. T. is a successful and prosperous farmer, and of course reads the REPORTER.
    Fred Herd is a young man occupying a good 160 acres farm near Rodman. He has been upon the place but one year and has made a number of good improvements.
    E.H. Worden lives in a large house in a large grove, and is one of the oldest and best known farmers of the neighborhood. Mr. W. contemplated leaving the state at one time and sold his place, but now concludes to remain in Iowa a while longer. He is one of the wheel-horses of the Republican party in the eastern part of the county.
    Sam McClelland's hair is white with the frost of many winters, and his form is bent with the labor and hardships of pioneer life. When the brown prairie grass waved in uninterrupted billows over the whole of Palo Alto county Sam McClelland has his log hut upon the banks of the upper Des Moines and enjoyed the free life of the trapper and occasional farmer. His neighbors consisted of others like himself, who had built their own little rude huts along the river, and an occasional band of roving Indians. Ink-pa-du-ta, whose band of vengeful Sioux massacred the settlers of Spirit Lake came past McC.'s house with friendly words but murder in their hearts. Later he joined the expedition of relief that followed too late in the track of the bloody Sioux. Mr. McC. has never been a wealth-coveting man, but as  his wants are simple and easily satisfied, he has been content with his lot while others amassed riches.
    R.J. Grover has a farm of 120 acres in the same neighborhood. They are also new comers and we trust may find Palo Alto county farming profitable and remain with us.
    J.R. Bell and sons own two farms in the same neighborhood. They are also new comers and we trust may find Palo Alto county farming profitable and remain with us.
    Mrs. McKinzie, a widow lady, yet remains on the old homestead, and by renting a part and with the aid of a small son in farming a part, keeps the family together. A daughter, Miss Lizzie McKenzie, is the teacher in the local school district.
    F.M. Foley is a shrewd young farmer and stock man who is rapidly surrounding himself with evident tokens of prosperity.
    J.C. Elliott and family were all quite sick with typhoid fever when were were in the neighborhood. We understand that they are now completely recovered.
    Wm. Ferguson is a successful farmer in the same neighborhood. He is thoroughly alive to the best methods of agriculture and we believe will be quite generally successful.