"THE PILGRIM"
"The Pilgrim" articles appeared in the Tekamah Journal in 1900. Some issues are missing. "Pilgrim" seems to be a wandering reporter writing about local news. He often included farm news, bits about "old settlers" & places that "used to be". The identify of "Pilgrim" has not been stated in the paper.The Tekamah Journal - Thursday, Feb. 8, 1900
Note: Arizona Township in Burt County, NESTILL SOJOURNING WITH THE PEOPLE OF ARIZONA AND
Finds Much NEWS of InterestJOURNAL (sic) PLEASES THE PEOPLE
The Pilgrim is again in the bailiwick of Arizona. As he left Tekamah he met Clarence SNYDER who stopped him. Now Clarence traded the Pilgrim a horse once upon a time but no grudge exists, especially on Clarence's part, and the Pilgrim hopes he'll repent and meet him in a "better land." Clarence just sold fifteen head of cows that he had had but a short time, receiving $36 per head for them which netted him a nice profit. He now has a fresh cow with a calf, for sale, and can supply those who want cows with good ones.
Calling on the McKINNIS brother, the Pilgrim found that they had sold their farm, which they purchased of Dan FULLER last spring. Andrew JOHNSON , brother of Joe, is the purchaser. John has not decided where he will go, but his brother has rented the Will (Butch) MARR farm.
Joe JOHNSON was found out feeding his hogs. He has about seventy that will average two hundred apiece and they are all healthy and doing fine. They would bring him a nice bunch of money at the present prices. Joe is one of the farmers that keeps making a little money right along, and he has something to show for it when its gone, too.
John LATTA was found at home, and after he was convinced he was not talking to an agent, the Pilgrim succeeded in pulling him from his shell, and he talked quite freely. John has a pair of yearling coach colts that have the promise of making a fine team. He lost about ninety head of hogs with the cholera this winter, but still has about fifty head left. He has about eighty head of cattle on feed, seventy-five head of stock cows and forty calves. John took the Pilgrim out and showed him three steers of his feeding, that he says will tip the scales at 4600 pounds. The farms on which he lives, one of the best on the Arizona botton, was sold a few weeks ago for $43 per acre to L. K. BEAVER of Illinois. Mr. BEAVER owns considerable Arizona land now, and knows its worth. John will remain on it another year.
G.A.ROCK was out chopping wood as the Pilgrim drove up. The vigor with which he still swings his ax would put many a younger man to shame. He is an old settler in Burt county, coming here and locating on the place where he lives now, in 1858. He and his good wife have seen many of the hardships of pioneer life. They are now hale and hearthy, and have settled down to enjoy the well earned comforts with which they are surrounded.
Mr. and Mrs. PENCE were found on the John GOODWILL farm. Mr. PENCE had just returned from a visit at his old home in Illinois, and it did him good, for he is looking healtier, and in better flesh, that the Pilgrim remembers seeing him before. He said he enjoyed his visit very much, and the rest did him much good. Since coming back he has bought twenty head of Polled Angus cows, of which he is justly proud, If one is going to keep stock it pays to keep the best. The condition of things about the yards and buildings speaks very high of him as a farmer, and, although but a renter, he keeps things as though the farm were his own.
Wilson CORBIN housed the Pilgrim for the night. He is one of the boys that is making farming pay. He has three as good teams as you will find any place, twenty-five good cows, and nine calves that show the white faces of the Hereford. He has seventy Poland China hogs and this year has purchased a thoroughbred Duroc male of MANLEY & Son. He says it is just as easy to raise good stock as it is poor. How much better it would be for all farmer thought so? Wilson, with the aid of one man raised about 7000 bushels of corn, 550 bushels of wheat and some oats.
The Pilgrim found that Will KIMBALL was doing much improving at his place. He built a new barn last fall and will erect a new house in the spring which will be 18x26 with a kitchen 14x20, for which he is now hauling lumber. When he gets the house completed, he will have one of the neatest eighty acre farms in that neighborhood. He is feeding about twenty-five head of steers and a nice bunch of hogs.
Will WALDSCHMIDT who lives in one of KIMBALL'S houses, is also hauling lumber with which to build on a piece of land recently purchased of C.W. CONKLING, four miles west of Tekamah. He will move there in the spring.
J. S. KING lives on one of H. C. LYDICK'S farms, and he like all of Mr. L.s tenants speaks very highly of his landlord. He said he had seen several copies of the Journal and he is well pleased with it, as it gave a great deal of county news and he had to depend almost entirely on his eyes to get the news.
At one of Mr. CORBINS' farms, the Pilgrim found Uncle Beach BENNETT, and learned that he was acquainted with his (the Pilgrim's) father forty-three years ago. Mrs. BENNETT was over to her daughter's Mrs. John COREY's who is very sick.
Geo. CORBIN was found to have been making some improvements at his place.
At the old LASS farm, Mrs. CHOATS was found very sick. Mr. CHOATS says that as soon as his wife is able , they will take a trip east to North Carolina and spend the summer at their old home, and their son will run the farm.
A stop was made at Peter KESSLER's for dinner where the Pilgrim surprised the family with the amount of he could devour. Mr. K. has recently purchased the BURNETT farm of forty acres and will move there in the spring.
As a good neat farmer Dave DEAVER is one of the best. One cannot help but notice how clean he keeps the yards around his buildings. He has just added a new steam feeder for his hogs. Farmers who have tried the claim it is one of the best investments a farmer can make. Mr. DEAVER is a member of the new lodge at Arizona and was one of the committee that met and negotiated with the M. W. A. whereby the use of the Woodman lodge room, was secured at the rental rate of $50 per year. The also secured the use of the lower room for socials or parties, paying for the same $2 per night.
A. R. TAYLOR was not at home. Mrs. TAYLOR informed the Pilgrim that their son who was recently married would work the place this year. A. R. will work another year for the Champion binder people. Their daughter, MAY, who recently married to Mr. GRAVES, of Omaha is home on a visit and will return to Omaha in a few weeks, where she will make her future home. Mrs. TAYLOR will spend the summer and spring visiting at her old home in Iowa.
N. M. HOLLIDAY was at home and the Pilgrim noticed as he drove up, some nice young horses and mules. About two years ago he bought eighty acres of deeded land of John GILL, which added to his tract of accretion land, makes him a good farm.
L. J. POUND, the great water melon man, was at home and the Pilgrim's mouth began to water as soon as he saw him. Mr. POUND keeps two or three teams at work, hauling melons to surrounding towns during the season. He had the misfortune to have his house burned down some months ago, but he has a new one erected.
The Pilgrim called at Charley SHAFER's place and found him away from home. However, he took the liberty to look over his fine bunch of hogs that are almost ready for market. Afterwards he met Charley on the road and it was agreed that the good joke should not be published, not this week at least.
A short stop was made at Randolph GAMBLE's. Randolph is a good, whole-souled fellow and one of the boys that it does a person good to meet. Bert SHAFER was here. He is staying at home working his father's farm. Bert is a good steady young man and should have a housekeeper. With his permission the Pilgrim will insert in his next letter, an advertisement for a good looking housekeeper for him, which certainly will not go long unanswered.
R. S. BRIGGS was called on. He always has been one of the largest stock feeders in Burt County, but this winter he is only feeding about forty-four head of cattle. He has nearly three hundred hogs that promise good returns.
B. R. BANBURY was found clearing a road, through the timber, on his west line, which will make it much handier for the people of the neighborhood.
Mart MAYDEN and D.H. LEWIS were found cutting wood on shares for Mr. BRIGGS. They all want who wish wood delivered, to call them.
N. B. BANNING is painting the M. W. A. hall in an artistic style.
Stop was made with Mr. and Mrs. W. T. JONES for dinner. They have lived in Burt county for twenty-eight years, and they think a person would travel over considerable county before he would find as good a farming county.
W. R. NEWTON was found on his large farm in Arizona. He is one of our farmers who makes his business a study. This winter he is feeding 141 head of steers, and 150 head of hogs. He has purchased a new feed grinder and grinds all his feed, about sixty bushels per day. He says he never got so much out of his grain.
The Pilgrim met, and had a pleasant visit, with Charley BROUGHTON, Al REEL and Jim CART, all rustling farmers of Arizona.
J. F. BUNDY has one of the neatest little farms in Burt county. Here, you do not see machinery setting out of doors, to rust and rot, nor cattle sheltered on the south side of a barbed wire fence, but substantial barns for all. The fences are all in good shape and the land shows a state of high cultivation. May Burt county soon have hundreds of such farmers as Mr. BUNDY.
James BRICKEY was found at home and a pleasant half hour was spent visiting with him. He informed the Pilgrim he was going away as soon as he could sell his one hundred acre farm which he is offering very cheap.
A short visit was made with Mr. BOLING, Mrs. B. had just returned from Kansas, where she was called by the illness of her father. Mr. BOLING has 44 head of cattle on full feed; also some good hogs.
At O. B. LEWIS' ice harvest was in progress. Mr. LEWIS has a building that holds about 15 tons and he finds it very convenient to have ice during the hot days of summer. Mr. LEWIS is living on the Jesse SPIELMAN homestead where he has resides for 13 years, which speaks exceedingly well for him as a tenant. His daughter, Mrs. Will CHAPMAN, is up from Omaha, on a visit but will return home in about a week. One of her sisters will accompany her as she finds it very lonesome, Mr. CHAPMAN being away most of the time, having a job with the Milwaukee Harvesting Co.
The Pilgrim found another model farm at Fred MICHAEL's. Everything here is kept in shape; buildings all painted, fences in good shape and machinery under cover. Everything has the appearance of being in the hands of a neat, tasty farmer. Mr. M. is only feeding about fourteen head of cattle this winter but he has about 125 head of hogs. He also has some very fine horses and fact all his stock is in keeping with the farm.
Art BAKER was caught shelling corn. He will sell about 2,500 bushels of corn this year and have left what he needs to feed. He lives on one of his fathers (sic) farms and has a large, fine residence which was erected for him last fall.
Roy BAKER lives on the old home place. By many, this is considered the best farm on the bottom. With the help of one man he raised 4,500 bushels of corn, 650 bushels of wheat besides several hundred bushels of oats. They have about twenty acres of land that has been cultivated the last forty years and this year he got 55 bushels per acre off it. Burt county soil is hard to beat.
Chris S. JENSEN was found at home. Mrs. J. is not very well although up and around the house. Her grandmother Mrs. SCARLET, has been very ill but all are pleased to learn that she is now able to be up again.
Mr. REMINGTON is a farmer that deserves special mention as a breeder of Poland China hogs. A year ago, he went to Modale, Iowa, and bought several hogs of E. H. WADE. Among the number was a male (Chief Tecumseh 3d jr.21509.) This hog was by the hog that took first prize at the Trans-Missippi Exposition two years ago. Mr. R. was unable to supply the demand he had for stock hogs this year. Stop was made here for dinner and arrangements made with Miss Mary REMINGTON to be the Journal correspondent from that neighborhood. So if you know anything don't keep it to yourself but tell our news gatherers.
Harve DENNY, who lives on one of Chris DENNY's farms, is hauling his corn and selling it to the Nelson Morris ranch. He raised about 5.000 bushels but had bad luck and lost his hogs with cholera and so is obliged to sell his corn.
At CRUTSINGER'S the Pilgrim was glad to find that Mrs. CRUITSINGER to be up and around the house after six week' sickness. Mr. C. took a trip to Missouri this winter with a view of locating there, but says that Burt county is good enough for him.
C. W. REINHART has a very pleasant little home; good lands, good house and plenty of outbuildings to make everything handy and comfortable. He has about two carloads of cattle on full feed and they are nice ones.
At the old HART place the Pilgrim found Mr. McKERCHER who is feeding cattle for OLLIE, who was away. They have 140 head of steers on full feed and they are a fine bunch of cattle too.
At the old DENNY homestead the Pilgrim found August ANDERSON. He is a very strong populist and not afraid to express his ideas but judging from the appearance of the place he does not spend much time talking politics.
Henry COOPER, after the Pilgrim has succedded in convincing him that he was not a book agent, sent his shotgun back to the house and was one of the most sociable fellows on the route. Mr. COOPER served three years in the civil war, and from disability therefrom, draws a neat little pension. He has a nice farm and everything fixed comfortable. Mr. COOPER advances an idea in regard to hog cholera that is new to the Pilgrim. His herd had the cholera three years ago and the progeny from the hogs that has the disease and recovered, Mr. C. claims, are now exempt from the disease. As proof he says his neighbor's hogs has the cholera the past year but his hogs, although getting little sick, recovered with the loss of but two or three.
Peter REINHART was found on his fine homestead, on which he has resided for the past 33 years. Like all other early settlers he has experienced all the pleasure and the disadvantages of early pioneer life. By hard labor and excellent management he has succeeded in securing about 900 acres of Burt county land. He will now quit farming and move to Tekamah having already commenced the erection of a fine residence in this city where he and his estimable wife will enjoy a well earned rest. Frank REINHART, their son will remain on the old home place and see that it gets the attention that his father has given it for more than a quarter century past.
The Tekamah Journal - Thursday, Feb. 15, 1900THE PILGRIM
LATTA FARM The Pilgrim at Geo. Lattas's and Other Fine
Farms of this vicinity.THE JOURNAL AT DECATUR.
And still the Pilgrim journeys. Monday morning he left Tekamah and made his first stop at the home of George LATTA. Here a pleasant hour was spent viewing his commodious and convenient yards and barns. First he showed his fat cattle. He has fifty-four head and they are the fattest seen this year. Next the Pilgrim was shown 136 head of yearlings that he is roughing through the winter and they are good ones. He also has seventy head of two-year-olds that will be fattened for market next year. His stronghold is hogs of which he has 300 head of the Duroc-Jersey that look like money bags around. The best part of Mr. Latta's stock business is that he owns the stock himself and someone else is not going to pocket the profits as fast as they accumulate. Among his fine drove of horses he has a span of black Percheron mares five and six years old that are fine. Mr. Latta is the only one in this part of the country that commenced at the bottom and bred up until he has a pair of mares eligible to registry. Through the courtesy of Mr. and Mrs. Latta the Pilgrim was allowed to take a peep inside their fine new residence and he could not help but call to mind the times he has passed by there and remarked "there is a nice farm house, but never until today did he know how comfortable and handy everything was arranged. On entering the kitchen you find a large kitchen range with hot and cold water attachments supplying the house with hot and cold soft water. Next a fine bath room, then a pleasant large dining room, sitting room and parlor. In going up stairs you enter the library and while they have not got the largest library in the country still they have a good collection of wholesome reading matter that helps to pass away many a pleasant hour. The house is heated by a furnace. Mr. L. has 885 acres of land in the home place and has 512 acres southwest of Tekamah that he uses for pasture. He is also the president of the Plateau Bank of Herman but he says farming is better to his liking and he has built everything handy and comfortable as he intends to spend the balance of his days on the farm. May Mr. and Mrs. Latta live many long years to enjoy the comforts with which they have surrounded themselves.
At the HOPEWELL-STREBLOW farm the latter was found busily engaged with his varied duties. He informed the Pilgrim that he manufac-red 85,085 pounds of milk into cheese and 30,000 pounds into butter the past season. Their receipts from cheese was $700 and $100 from butter besides raising their calves which were sold in November for $20 per head. They have just fixed up a nice curing room for cheese next summer. They also have a flowing well which supplies four tanks with a constant supply of cold water saving the use of ice in summer. Mr. Streblow secured first premium on his cheese at the Trans-Mississippi Exposition in '98. They will add a few more buildings this summer and then they will have one of the best arranged dairy farms in Nebraska. Mrs. Streblow has gone back to her native land, Denmark, on a visit and will return about April first.
On H. L. WEBSTER's Silver Creek farm we found Scott ELLIOTT and Ben KYELGARD. Elliott will go onto the Jacob SNYDER farm this spring and Kyelgard will move to the Webster Farm.
The Pilgrim stopped for dinner at the "County Farm" just to see how he is going to like it. He was not shown the room he will have to occupy but will not worry about his comfort if Mr. and Mrs. LaRUE still have the management. They have had the management for six years. There is now seven males and one female under their charge. One old man by the name of HIGGINS is very sick at present and his recovery is doubtful as he is 88 years of age.
The pilgrim has many more good things to tell of this trip and will relate them next week.
The Tekamah Journal - Thursday, Feb. 22, 1900THE PILGRIM
AN OLDTIMER The Pilgrim Interviews one of the Oldest Res-
idents of Burt CountyNEWS ALONG THE ROUTE
Peter SWANSON was found busy making improvements at his place. He has a large comfortable farm house and is now prepared to enjoy the comforts that he and Mrs. Swanson have earned in the thirty years they have been in Burt County. They have three sons at home who look after the farm duties while on daughter, still at home, looks after the work in the house. Mr. and Mrs. Swanson have a large family of fine children several of whom are married and have good homes of their own in that vicinity.
Albert GILBERT farms his father's place and during the fall is one of the boys that operates the Swanson, Gilbert & Co. steam thresher. This firm has an excellent outfit but before another season they will add a Parson's self feeder thus saving the farmers two extra men.
O. B. PRUSIE who lives in the Charles JOHNSON on the bluff road, informs us that he has leased a piece of land of James ASHLEY and will build a house in the spring.
R. MARROW has 260 acres of the fine land that he bought a few years ago for $30 per acre which he would not now take $45 per acre for. He has a fine home and fully appreciates Burt county soil. Mr. M. is a good farmer, there being few, if any, better and it goes without saying that he is making money
The Pilgrim stopped and chatted a while with Postmaster LANG at Golden. Mr. L. bears his distinction of being the oldest living Burt County pioneer. He came here in May, 1885, and the whole region, found but five men camped on Tekamah creek where the city of the same name now stands, and these men only remained a few weeks. Two or three months later Major HARRINGTON with his family, of which Col. Harrington, of this city, was a member, settled on the townsite of Tekamah. Thus Col. Harrington is the second oldest living settler. Mr. Lang is still hale and hearty; lives by himself; does his own housekeeping; attends to his duties as postmaster besides looking after his large land interest in that vicinity. In the past he has filled public positions of trust and to the past development of the county he has contributed his share of both time and money.
The next stop was with Mr. BLANKENBECKLER on Chris DENNEY's large Riverside ranch. These people have 228 head of cattle on feed and about 100 hogs. They have thirty head of Herefords that are the pride of both Mr. B. and Mr. Denny (sic). Mr. Blankenbeckler has had eight years experience as an auctioneer and guarantees satisfaction to any one that may require his services.
A stop was made at Peter LASS at Lake Quinnebaug (sic). He has been doing well financially since moving up there and has a fine bunch of 24 cows and 30 yearlings which he is offering for sale at reasonable prices.
The BARKs boys were found on the John GILLICK farm. They have decided to quit farming and will sell what farm machinery they have. Ben will move to Tekamah and Will will go and work in the machine shops at Council Bluffs. Mr. LUDWIG will move onto the place and also move his sawmill up there in the spring.
Mr. and Mrs. BRINK will move to Fremont this spring. Mr. Brink was over there when the Pilgrim called, having gone over with a load of goods. The people of Quinnebaug (sic) neighborhood are sorry to lose two such good people as they are.
Call was made on Mr. and Mrs. WILLIAMS on their farm at the east end of the lake. Mr. W. says he will sell his place if he can and move south where the climate is more mild.
Sam PETERSON had a very serious accident some weeks ago. He was opening the gate for his team to pass through when he slipped and fell under the wagon. The wheel passed over his head breaking the jaw in two places and loosening all the teeth on one side. He was also bruised about the chest quite badly. The Pilgrim found him sitting up but unable to eat anything but soup and gruels. He could talk some, but if he tried to laugh it was very painful, especially so, when the kicking horse he once traded to the Pilgrim was alluded to; this was the only time Sam's conscience ever troubled him much so he is forgiven freely and the Pilgrim hopes he may soon recover and be around again.
J. KENDALL is monarch of all he surveys. He owns and leases about 1600 acres of accretion land and has it all fenced. It is too sandy for farming but makes very good pasturage and he expects to pasture about 250 head of cattle this year.
The Pilgrim fed at Camp Omaha, Lake Quinebaugh's popular hotel, which is now under the management of Mr. and Mrs. TWIFORD. These people are the right people in the place. Mr. T. is talking of making a good half mile track and also of fixing up a baseball park to add to the amusements at the lake the coming season.
Frank HOLMAN, proprietor of the Lake Quinnebaug (sic) supply store, has added much to the appearance of that place. In the spring he will add a much larger stock than he now carries. For the accommodation of his customers he has inaugurated a mail service, having a carrier who brings the mail from Golden, on Tuesdays and Fridays. He also has telephone connections with the long distance system, thus giving the lake daily communication with the outside world.
George FLETCHER, the blacksmith and wagon maker, was found busy. In fact he says he is busy most of his time. George is a good workman and merits the patronage of the people of that community.
Howard BARCUS will be the JOURNAL correspondent at Lake Quinnebaug (sic), go tell him your troubles.
The Pilgrim called on M. V. OWENS, and on the start was informed by him that he swore by note and in fact the Pilgrim could not see that he skipped any notes. Mr. Owens says his health is poor; that he is unable to attend to his farm and so has rented it this year. He has a very fine farm house, built last year, and he has it nicely furnished on the inside. He is one of the substantial farmers of Burt county.
Last week an accident happened at the county poor farm that came very near proving serious at least for one person. The doctor had left some medicine for a patient also some carbolic acid. While Mr. LaRUE was in town and Mrs. LaRue was out, one of the inmates, a simple minded fellow, took a dose of carbolic acid. His life was saved by Mrs. LaRue who gave him large quantities of milk and melted lard.
Ed AKINS, on the Seth KELLY Silver Creek farm will have an auction sale, Monday, Feby. 26.
Howard PIPHER the young man that (is) the foreman on J. P. LATTA's ranch is very sick at present with lagrippe.
Updated 16 September 2017 by Dianna G. Curtis