Farmers of Lawrence County, Ohio Series

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COUNTRY JAUNTS OUR PILGRIM'S WALKS AND TALKS

           Passing through Forest Dale, I overtook Robert Simpson on his way to school; says his average is 35. This is Robert's first effort as a teacher, and he is quite successful. O. E. Kinkaid was next interrogated and his answers were as follows: Had 25 tons hay, 2000 bush. Corn, 300 gallons sorghum; had 2 acres in melons which were only a fair crop. This is the James Haskell stock farm, but of late has been cultivated with the plow. Wm. Corn has added quite an improvement to his house by raising it one story higher and building an addition to it; failed to get in his wheat; too dry to plow. J. H. Deering is building a smoke-house; he and his father are farming together; sowed 28 bushels wheat; will have 750 bushels corn; about as good as usual. J. M. Deering received a letter from his daughter, Mrs. Will Falwell, a few days ago, in which she says it has been so dry they couldn't sow wheat and had been hauling water seven miles. They live in southwestern Missouri. Met Jacob Molter, from drift creek, on his way to Ironton with a barrel of sorghum; says he had 212 gallons of it this year; too dry for his corn; had 5 bushels of clover seed; not a half crop, compared with last year. James Melvin has built a grainary and shed combined; a great convenience. James Mays saw the President at St. Louis, but was not favorably impressed with him.

           J. D. Currington, as usual in good humor for a talk; had 268 bushels wheat, sowed 39 bushels; corn crop light; had 12 bushels of clover seed from 12 acres; last year had 10 bushel from 3 acres. J. H. McGee is running his mill night and day. Mess. Dent & Boren are the millers. John Brace's crop this year was 175 bushels of wheat, 150 of oats, 250 of corn, hay good; has not as much stock as common; has 30 sheep, 20 head of cattle, 12 hogs; had re-painted his house and trimmed it red, which makes it quite noticeable. Mr. B. is a neat farmer. Peter Schaffer reports 175 bushels wheat; 400 of corn; has sowed 20 bushels wheat; is kiln-drying lumber for a new dwelling. Mr. S. has a good barn and says next is a new house. Aden Webb wound up his coaling job last week; says good roads and good weather brought it to a close earlier than for five years; he coaled for Hecla. G. B. Lambert, on the King or Walburn farm, had 190 bushels wheat, 300 of corn. Mr. L. is improving this farm considerably since he has owned it. Anthony Clark has weatherboarded his house and lengthened it with a new room. Mr. C. invested his pension where he can see it and be benefited by it as he grows less able to work. Capt. J. J. Matney has bought the larger portion of the McKnight farm, including the house, sampled the Captain's honey, fresh from the hive, and pronounce it No. 1; listened to the music by the family band, and left much refreshed. W. H. Dillon bought the other part of the McKnight farm and is erecting a small tenant house thereon. John Sayre run the division line last Wednesday. Wonder what was the matter with John, that he left his glove and robe that day!

           George Fillinger's house burned down about two weeks ago; was insured. Stephen Schafer butchered a fine lot of hogs last week. Mr. S. had 150 bushels wheat; he sowed 28 bush.; corn only fair crop. Messr. Russell and Lambert report only fair crops. Levi Shively, on Brushy Branch, has a large barn and has erected a new house, in place of one destroyed by tire about a year ago; reports only an average crop this year. John Schaffer, always in a good, sociable humor, is little above an average this time, on account of republican majority this year; had 160 bush. Wheat, 200 of corn. T. O. Wiseman says crop an average this year. John C. Russell has quit teaching and is selling goods at Wilgus. Lunceford, the grocer and huckster, has a fine trade and is no doubt doing well. T. F. Payne is well pleased with the late election returns; his farm is in good trim. Burrel Payne, one of the pioneers of Long creek, is planting out a young orchard, and has been getting quite a large lot of lumber sawed this year; has 12 acres wheat sowed; corn good and is in a comfortable condition for Winter. Miss Dora Payne, his daughter is teaching in the Brammer settlement, and his son is attending the school at Centre Furnace, taught by L. P. Bradshaw. Kitts & Stephens' sawmill has been in the hollow near E. H. Payne's since last August, and has sawed a large amount of lumber. They have a planning mill and shingle machine attached, which have proved both a success and a convenience. E. J. Followell can be seen passing up the hollow on his way to the Venisonham school, and J. P. Lawrence down on his way to Trace school every morning. Mrs. J. P. Lawrence teaches the Ebenezer school.

           One thing noticeable is the long distances traveled by the teachers--poor wages the principal cause. The teacher enters his school tired and not in as good condition as he should be. I know this by experience. Sam Dement's farm shows marks of industry. Mr. D. has planted 800 fruit trees this year; sowed 30 bushels wheat; had 400 bush. wheat, 30 tons of hay; has a fine bull. Sam lost 12 peach trees and 13 cherry trees last Wednesday, while coming out from Ironton. Anyone finding them will be rewarded by returning them. J. S. W. Smith says crops were not very good; had 170 bush. wheat; sowed 20 this year; sold 14 hogs last week, averaged 300 lbs.; has 60 sheep. Jesse Lewis is teaching on Greasy Ridge; known as Roach school; 72 enrolled. T. B. Bucker has been amusing himself with a pet known as a boil; situated between the nose and mouth, for a few days. Still, Thomas tied it up and showed his 46 head fine sheep and two fat steers. They were beauties, too. Says corn not good; had 400 bushels; 260 of wheat from 30 bushels sowed. Abner Rapp planted 400 fruit trees of the J. C. Bingham species. Says his crops amounted to 360 bushels of wheat, 150 bushels of oats, 1000 bushels of corn; has 34 head of cattle. Thinks he would quit farming if he could sell his farm. Mr. R. has no one to share his prosperity with, having lost his wife over a year ago. August Rapp says his large barn is none too big; has 38 cattle, 34 hogs; raised 600 bushels corn. John Snider is always the same, anywhere he may be found. Of course, John expected the election to go against him. Squire McCown, from Millersport, was out on Thursday to see John and talk over the calamity that had befallen their party. The Squire says his official biz is not as brisk as it might be.

           One can readily know when he is nearing the Rucker Brothers, by the green pasture. That blue grass will show up while other fields look dead; and if a person is fond of fine stock of any kind, from a buff Cochin rooster to a fine Hambletonian stallion, here is the place to find it. Their stock consists of 73 head of cattle, at present, having sold 19 head; 64 head of Shorthorn, 20 of which are sucking calves, and beauties they are, too. They have some fine fat steers and a few scrub steers bought last Spring to fatten and pasture. They say that is the last experiment of that kind they want. Their Hambletonian stallions, a 3 and 4-year-old, are beauties. Next comes two sucking colts, a young Hambletonian and a Wilkes, the latter prettier than a picture. The hogs number 31, all sizes and good stock. The sheep-flock consists of 40 fine Cotswolds; will increase their flock next year. They are clearing 40 acres of ground this season, and will break up some old pasture for corn next year; then look out for big corn. They say that their pasture has been good all Summer, and don't expect to feed their stock till first of December.

           J. E. McGirr has a fine goat; will get a flock of sheep to run with it next Spring. Last year, Zeek had the finest apples in Aid, but was a failure this time. I. N. Willis keeps his farm in good order; says his crop were not very good. Frank Howell has a span of nice little mules; bought them from Mr. Winters, of Sheridan. Hecla has their yard and part of the road stocked with charcoal. The church is about completed; the building looks well, but the location is not so good.