"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 identify of "Pilgrim" was given 8 March 1900 as A. L. LITEL.
The Tekamah Journal - Thursday, March 1, 1900 issue
THE PILGRIM
1855 TO 1900
STORIES OF SEVERE HARDSHIP The Pilgrim has a kick coming. In his sketch of F. E. LANG in last week's issue the printer made him say that Mr. LANG came to this county in 1885, whereas it should have been 1855.
On one of Ed SHAFER's places Alf RAY was found as happy and jolly as usual. He farms 175 acres of land and when he doesn't raise corn there isn't anyone that does. He has several good horses and several fine cows. The land he farms is some of the best in Nebraska, and if Alf keeps on he will own a form of the same kind one of these days.
Surn SWANSON is one of the boys that makes farming pay. He is feeding 31 head of cattle besides having 58 head of calves and 60 head of hogs. Although he rents the place where he now lives and has rented it for three he owns 116 acres on the bluff road just south of the J. P. LATTA ranch.
Ed AKIN who lives on the Seth KELLY farm in Silyer (sic) Creek says he will go out on the Chris DENNY ranch about 300 miles west on the Loop river and he wants the Journal to follow and tell him the news.
The Pilgrim stopped at the J. P LATTA ranch for dinner and was very sorry to find Howard PIPER very sick. Howard has been in Mr. LATTA's employ the longest of any man on the ranch and he says he misses him very much. This ranch of Mr. LATTA's is one of the best in north-eastern Nebraska and if a person in the county has not seen it is worth his time to go there and see how conveniently a farmer can have things arranged. His feed yards are all watered by springs which also furnish water for a large fish pond. There are large commodious houses, barns, sheds and cribs. Also a fine deer park in which are kept ten deer and three elk. It is of interest to know that his place contains 2320 acres and that last year they raised 15,000 bushels of corn and bought and fed about 25,000 more. Mr. LATTA has at present 550 head of cattle, 70 head of horses and about 470 head of hogs. For a number of years Mr. LATTA has been feeding his yearlings and he says he makes calves of his own raising weigh 1200 pounds by the first of July. He has five teams of horses and three teams of mules that he want to sell this spring; he always finds sale for his surplus horses among his neighbors. Mr. LATTA was at the ranch and he made the Pilgrim's stop of an hour very pleasant.
F. M. HENNIG can tell many interesting experiences of pioneer life in Burt county. He and Mrs. HENNIG, who is a sister of F. E. LANG, came to Burt county in 1856, one year later than Mr. LANG. When he came to Burt county his possessions: a wife one child and 25 cents in money and a debt of $25. The first three years they were here they saw very hard times. The first fall, he went out to the river and chopped seventy cords of wood intending to sell it to the boats as they came up the river, but late in the fall a fire came down the bottom and burned it all. During the winter he chopped thirty cords more and in the spring succeeded in exchanging it to a boat for goods. At that time there was no money in the county so a man could not earn money no matter how hard he might work. For months at a time he and his family had no flour and all they had to live on was hominy, and wild grapes for sauce. Among his many adventures was a trip he and a Mr. NETTLETON made to mill. They left home one Monday morning in February with two wagons and two yokes of cattle for Briggs mill over on the Elkhorn, a distance of forty miles. Two nights of the time they could not reach a house and had to camp on the plains. During the nights they burned their seat boards and endgates to keep their feet and hands from freezing reaching home the following Sunday. After all his exposures and hardships of pioneer life, 72 years of life finds Mr. HENNIG hale and hearty, with his estimable wife who is 68, enjoys a well earned estate. The have a family of twelve fine children all living and all married except one. They own 243 acres of fine land in what is known as Hennig's Hollow but they say could they have gotten away the first years they were here they would have gone and left it all. Today they are glad they could not get away but had to stay and assist in developing one of the best counties on the green earth.
The Pilgrim stopped for a short chat with J. W. TIPPERY, better know as "Wes." He has a lot of good stock around him, among which is a bunch of 25 young black Polled cows that are fine. He also has some good horses, and through his stock interests is sure to make money farming.
C. H. W. BUSSE came to Burt county from Council Bluffs, six years ago and bought the old DARLING farm of 550 acres. He has now become established as one of the solid farmers of this county. He is feeding three cars of cattle and is wintering about 150 stockers and 100 hogs. The Omaha & Northern Railroad survey runs across his farm and a townsite has been located on his land. Next year Mr. BUSSE expects to ship from a station on his own land.
The Pilgrim spent the night with Fred BUSSE and had sweet dreams. Fred lives on the old Burbank place and is a good wholesouled fellow, but he must lay awake nights thinking how he can get a good joke on some one or beat them in a horse trade. As entertainers he and Mrs. BUSSE cannot be beat. At their home the Pilgrim met Miss Ida BONNEAU of Tekamah who is teaching her second term of school in that district.
Albert WHITE came from Wisconsin to Burt county (?) years ago and he too can relate many interesting stories of early pioneer experiences. He says that for the most part he found the Indians, who roamed over this country, peaceful and well disposed toward the whites, but they occassionally (sic) committed many petty depredations, and stealling (sic) anything they could get their hands on and killing the settler's cattle right before their eyes. Mr. and Mrs. WHITE have 220 acres of land and can spend the rest of their life in comfort. Mr. W.'s health has been very poor of late years.
With F. E. SANDIG the Pilgrim spent a very pleasant hour. Mr. S. came to Burt county in 1856. He was a single man and spent his first few years with Mr. Lange. In telling how they lived he said for the first few years they lived mostly on hominy. Some of the time, for a treat, they would grind corn in a coffee mill and make johnniecake (sic). At one time they paid $25 for a sack of flour at the Decatur trading post. He tells a very interesting story of how he and Andrew GILLICK were compelled to go for five days without a mouthful to eat. He was helping Mr. GILLICK on a claim east of what is now Lake Quinnebaug, and what is now the GILLICK estate. The river overflowed and the water surrounded the house cutting off their retreat and their provisions were all over to Mr. LANGS'S. They were for five days without food or a fire and on the fifth day were unable to stand it longer. A few rods from the house, and floating around in the water, was one of Mr. GILLICK'S oxen that had died during the winter. Taking an ax and wading out to where he was, they cut off a large piece of flesh and by hewing away part of the timber of the house they made a fire and cooked their steak. Two days later on Easter Sunday, 1857, they made their escape. Mr. STANDIG is now a well-to-do farmer, and enjoys his declining years with a keen satisfaction. He is a good entertainer and the Pilgrim would have enjoyed spending the entire day with him.
A call on J. T. WOODARD elicited the information that he has just lost a mule that was 45 years of age. This mule had been owned by Mr. WOODARD for 23 years and was 12 years when he got him and his mate, paying $350 for the team. He and his son raised 500 bushels of corn and 1200 bushels of wheat this year. They cannot speak too highly of Burt county at(sic) a crop producer.
The Pilgrim, stopped and chatted with Ben EVANS, youngest son of Mike EVANS, at the north end of the lake. His father is one of Burt's oldest settlers and has a very comfortable home. Bennie, we have always found a good jolly young fellow always ready for a good time.
Newt HOLMAN, monarch of the Island, was found away from home but the Pilgrim stopped with the family for dinner. Mr. H. owns the entire Island consisting of over 1800 acres. He has between three and four hundred acres cleared and in cultivation. He raises large numbers of hogs and tries to ship five or six car loads every year.
Frank BEARD, the crack shot of the Lake, challenges anyone in Burt county to a live bird shoot. Mr. B. has sold his interest in the barge to his partner Geo. HAZELWOOD and is now working for him.
The Pilgrim met his old friend "Shorty" who catches fish, summer and winter. He says he caught five black bass and numerous other fish last week but the Pilgrim was too late to get a taste of them, but has the promise of a mess in the near future.
Mrs. MARKS, the widow lady who lives on H. M. HOPEWELL's lake farm informed the Pilgrim that she has rented the farm vacated by Hiram TWIFORD for the coming year and will move March 1st.
George BUCY was found away from home but the Pilgrim stopped for a short visit with Fred PHILLIPS who works for George and lives in his house on the old WEBSTER place. The Pilgrim also met Josh RAY who boards with Mr. BUCY and works one of his farms. Josh informed the Pilgrim confidentially that this is the last year he will board, and when Josh makes up his mind look out girls.
A brief stop was made at Rev. WIRTH'S and the Pilgrim found both he and his wife very pleasant people and ones whom it is peasant to meet. They are much thought of by the people of their charge and are doing much good. They have a family of five boys who are healthy and robust little fellows, chuck full of mischief. Rev. WIRTH has the Riverside and Silver Creek churches on his charge.
The Pilgrim's next called on W. M. MILLER. He was very busy as his two sons are in Missouri on a visit and it leaves him all the work to do. He has a very nice team of matched horses that he wants to sell and he offers them very reasonable.
Nathan BLACKSTONE has lived on his farm west of the lake, thirty-eight years. He can tell many interesting stories of pioneer life. He was married in 1863. His wife's family, the ARLINGTONs came to this county in 1862 from Pennsylvania and were the first white settlers in the Logan valley, settling where the town of Oakland now stands. Their nearest neighbor was ten mile distant and they were there six months before they saw a white woman. At about this time three men, John NEALY, James CRAWFORD, later Judge CRAWFORD, bought the land and Mr. ATLINGTON (sic) helped them stake out the townsite of West Point. Mrs. BLACKSTONE's mother lives with her and will be 94 years next July and can see to read and write being a remarkable woman for her age.
Wallace WATSON, one of the solid farmers of this county is a native of Ohio. He came to Burt county 32 years ago and is an example of what a man with energy and good judgment can do in Nebraska. When he came here he had very little money and the first few years worked by the month. He had also taken a claim and after working all day would walk home at night and sleep there. Today he owns 900 acres of the best bottom land and his yearly income is something quite handsome. He has everything fixed very comfortable about his place. Among his fine stock he has 33 head of young horses and mules that he wants to sell.
The Pilgrim stopped with Ed BECK for dinner and the way he ate Mrs. BECK did not think he had anything since dinner the day before. Mr. B. is a brother of C. F. BECK. He owns a nice eighty acre farm west of the lake: is feeding this winter 25 head of nice cows. Mr. BECK is a man who does not borrow trouble and thoroughly enjoys life.
The Tekamah Journal - Thursday, March 8, 1900
THE PILGRIM The Pilgrim Bids Adieu to Arizona and River-
side for a Times at Least.HE WILL VISIT SUMMIT NEXT.
The Pilgrim stopped and chatted a few moments with James AKIN, also with Mr. METCALF on the TEETER's farm. The latter has had bad luck the past year, the wet weather and high water drowning out his corn.
Mrs. MAGEE was another victim of the high water and wet weather. Her eighty acre farm was almost submerged.
Phillip NELSON living on the BYRAM place was found to be across the river to Blencoe with grain, in fact the Pilgrim found a great many of the farmers of this vicinity away taking advantage of the ice bridge across the river. Wheat was reported to be 51 cents and corn 25 cents on the Iowa side.
The Pilgrim failed to find Charlie BUCY at home. He is not feeding any cattle this winter but has about 150 head of hogs. Charlie has a good quarter section of land and is making money.
The Pilgrim found Mr. GILLILAND on Scott MAJOR's new farm south of Lafe MOORE's. He has just finished shelling his corn.
For the night the Pilgrim put up at Hiram TWIFORD's, Camp Omaha's popular landlord, and the following morning he called on Charley KRIDER who lives on the corner south of the lake. He has a nice little 80 acre farm and has just finished hauling his wheat to Blencoe. He had about 300 bushels and got 51 cents.
The Pilgrim's next stop was at the home of John GUTCHOW, who moved here from Blair about one year ago and bought the 120 acres where he lives, paying an average of $21 an acre for it. He made a good deal as the place is now worth considerable more.
Calling at the John RAY place the Pilgrim found Mrs. RAY. She said John was at the hospital in Omaha but a recent letter from him brought the information that he was getting along nicely but was still in bed. He thought he could come home in about two weeks.
S. C. BUCY, better known as "Doc," was shelling corn which he had sold to R. B. GAMMEL who is feeding a large number of cattle, and buys all corn he can get, which makes a good handy market for the neighborhood.
Mrs. J. E. HASWELL informed the Pilgrim that her father, Lew GOREY, who went to Montana last spring, has gone into the sheep business quite extensively. but they write that if they do well they will return to Burt county a year from next fall. There is no place like Burt county.
C. S. HASWELL was found moving a house into a grove south of the old home place. The HASWELL estate now being divided he gets eighty acres on the south. Bert MARR will move onto the old home place.
The Pilgrim made a pleasant call on Mr. and Mrs. Eli HURLOCKER. They have a cute little Miss just past two years old. One day recently her mamma had been scolding her for some little offense when she, turning to her dollie (sic) said: "Dolly we mussent(sic) mind mama, she has to work hard and I duess(sic) she toss (sic) to-day."
R. B. GAMMEL had a valuable horse injured in a runaway last week. His son was driving by Emmett ELLIOTT's when a dog ran out and frightened the team and they started to run. In trying to stop them the boy broke one of the lines and seeing that he would be unable to stop them he jumped from the wagon and escaped unhurt. The team ran into a loaded wagon and broke the tongue, running a spinter(sic) into one of the horses legs leaving the animal almost worthless.
Cash BRYANT has the job of lathing and plastering the new school house in district No. 5. Cash is a good workman and guarantees his work.
The Pilgrim's next call was at the home of Chas. HURLOCKER. Mrs. HURLOCKER took pity on the hungry looking traveler and invited him to stay to dinner and it is needless to say that he accepted as he has never been known to refuse an invitation of that kind. Charley has a nice little home. He has bought the old school building in district No. 5 and will move it onto his place for a grainery (sic).
Fred ILLES says he can buy his grain cheaper than he can raise it and he has sold off all his horses and mules but one team. He now devotes all his time and attention to raising and fattening hogs. He has a large windmill that furnishes power to grind all his feed after which he cooks it. At one time Mr. ILLES was the largest corn raiser on the bottom employing from six to eight hired men.
Emmett ELLIOTT has rented the old THOROUGHGOOD place of Mrs. VICKERY for a term of five years. Emmet is a good farmer and does not think it pays to be changing places every year.
Harry FRENCH came very near getting drowned one day recently. He was helping in the ice harvest at the river and in walking over a thin place he broke in and had gone down twice before his brother Claude succeeded in getting hold and pulling him out.
The Pilgrim found Chas. HURLOCKER, Sr., out trying to learn his new son-in-law, John LONG, to saw wood. He is throwing his time away for it's the Pilgrim's opinion that if the LONG family burns wood John won't want to know how its chopped.
The Pilgrim made a call at the pleasant home of H. D. LYDICK in Arizona and was sorry to find Mr. LYDICK away as it was desired to see more of his fine farm. Mr. LYDICK stand high in the community in which he lives and he is too public a man to need any introduction to the readers of the JOURNAL. He has large land interests both on the bottom and in the hills. Just now he is devoting his attention to securing better mail service for his community by the establishment of rural free delivery.
R. B. YOCUM was met and stopped on the road by the Pilgrim. Rube rents one of A. N. CORBIN's best farms and directs his attention largely to hog raising. He has just added a new feed grinder, purchased of Canfield and thinks it will pay to grind his feed.
This will finish the Pilgrim's work on the bottom for a time at least. He wishes to say to the few people that he has been unable to see, do not wait for him but come in at once and subscribe, and he will call on you later, in the meantime he will tell you what your brother farmers are doing west of Tekamah. To the correspondents he makes this request: that they send in a good newsy letter every week and help to keep the JOURNAL the best newspaper in Burt county. To the many friends interested in the Pilgrim's success he wishes to say that he succeeded beyond all expectation; in fact, at one time he thought the two Charlies of this paper had formed such an attachment for him that they might adopt him. It is ordered that the next Pilgrimage shall be in Summit township and where ordered he must go.
I thank you for your kind favors and remain,Yours truly,
A. L. LITEL,
"The Pilgrim."
The Tekamah Journal - Thursday, April 5, 1900 issue
THE PILGRIM
THANK YOU The Pilgrim Thanks the People of South
Summit For Many Favors.A PROSPEROUS COMMUNITY
The Pilgrim wishes to thank the people of Summit for the kind manner in which they receive him and for the good words they speak for the JOURNAL.
This week the Pilgrim's first stop was at the Joe POTTER's, on the Wm. NESBIT farm of eighty acres southwest of town. He has some fine stock and poulty (sic). A two-year-old colt that weighs, 1100 pounds is one of the good things he showed me; it weighed 700 pounds at six months old. He has about 70 head of very fine hogs but his pride is some gilt Duroc Jersey sows. He tops his herd with the Duroc and will from now on raise nothing but the red hog. He keeps thoroughbred Barred Plymouth chickens and has about 25 in a pen by themselves and can thus furnish eggs from pure stock.
Andrew NELSON is a young man just atarting farming and has rented the Wm. TAYLOR quarter section. He has good horses and machinery which with his energy will make money, and some day be one of the substantial farmers of the section in which he lives.
The Pilgrim called on Eric PEARSON at his home. Eric has 125 head of fine hogs and other good stock about him. He is the possessor of eighty acres of land that he purchased two years ago for $25 per acre and the ptst (sic) winter he refused $37.50 per acre. Eric intends building a new barn this summer when he sells his hogs.
Geo. W. CLOSE was found busy sowing wheat. He has a nice little home and has the appearance of a man that enjoys life.
The Pilgrim made it a point to get to Lyman BRUCE's at just 12 o'clock, and of course, it is needless to say that he got his dinner. After the Pilgrim's vain endeavor to clear the table, Lym showed the hogs that are his pride. There are 39 head of them and all except seven are full blood Chester White and eligible to registry. He has three fine male hogs and seven gilts that are for sale. In fact he says he will sell all of his hogs as he and his mother own the hogs, together and she having sold her farm, wants to sell the hogs so as to divide. Among the number he has the hog that he bought of John W. Oliver, Hilltop Farm, Johnson county, Mo.
G. C. WILCOX is another young man whom the Pilgrim met that is just starting to farm on his own hook. He has had a misfortune to start with in having one of his mules lamed by reason of a kick, and unable to work when he needs him the worse.
Arthur MEVER has lived in Burt county for sixteen years and has made farming pay. He has 320 acres of good land, part of which he works himself and the balance is farmed by renters. He does not keep much stock, but what he has is good. His buildings are all large and good and when the Pilgrim was there he was adding a new hen house to his other improvements.
The Pilgrim called at the CURLEY homestead and dedicates the following to the memory of the late John CURLEY. Mr. CURLEY was born in 1841 at Belfast, Ireland, and when a young man of 20 came across the water, first to Canada, where he stayed three years then came to the United States and took a piece of timber land, in the state of Pennsylvania. He did not like it there and emigrated to Colorado but left there in about six months and came to Douglas county, Nebr., where he met Miss Emily FREEMAN and they were married in May, 1869. They bought a piece of land near Herman where they lived for fourteen years. Then they bought the half section in Burt county where the home now is. About one year ago Mr. CURLEY complained of his stomach and a consultation with Omaha physicians developed the fact that he had cancer of the stomach, from which he died February 12th last. In life Mr. CURLEY is spoken of as a good neighbor. In his dealings he was upright and honest to a cent. He leaves a wife and eleven children to mourn his loss. His estate has 720 acres of good land and the personal property was appraised at nearly $7,000. Mrs. CURLEY says that it is her intention to remain on the farm.
The Pilgrim called on John CURLEY, Jr., who is the owner of a quarter section of fine land received from his father's estate. John had bad luck with his hogs last fall and lost nearly all he had with the cholera but he has bought enough to get another start. He has some fine pure blood Minorea chickens that cannot be beaten as layers and they are very hardy and great rustlers. For information concerning these chickens write him at Fletcher, Nebraska, or see his advertisement elsewhere in this paper.
At John OBERST's the Pilgrim stopped all night and had a very pleasant visit. Mr. and Mrs. OBERST have lived in Burt county 19 years and have a very pleasant home of 160 acres with plenty of good comfortable buildings and are fixed so as to enjoy farm life. Mr. OBERST does not keep a large amount of stock but what he has is of the best. He has some two-year-old cattle that are fine. Miss Pearl REDDING is teaching her second term of school in that district and is well liked.
Robt. CURLEY is farming one of his mother's farms this year. He is farming 140 acres of land and is doing his work alone. Rob is a hustler when he gets started,.
Jos. FLANNAGAN has 240 acres of land and it shows that it has the attentions of a good farmer. He fed about 60 head of cattle last winter, has shipped one car load and was lucky enough not to strike the worst market. He will feed the remaining ones until along in the summer. he also has a carload of good hogs.
The Pilgrim found M. S. WILCOX away from home, but noticed 24 head of fine cattle in his feed yard. He has a fine residence, that he built last summer and it is one of the best in Summit. He met Grandma WILCOX, mother of M. S., who is now 85 years of age. She is a native of New York state, but came to Nebraska 31 years ago. She has not been in good health during the winter, but with the return of spring she begins to improve. She is a very entertaining talker and told many interesting incidents of pioneer life in Nebraska. In speaking of churches in the early days and the long, tedious sermons, she took the Pilgrim back to the days when he was dragged to services in the little country school house where he was compelled to listen to that good old man expound religious doctrines from 10 o'clock in the morning until 3 o'clock in the afternoon. Comparing them to the short, crisp sermons of today it is a joy to live in the present age.
The Pilgrim got an invition (sic) to dinner with John BOVEE, but before eating, looked over some of his fine stock. He has a colt that will be a year old the 8th of April and weighs 960 lbs. His cattle, that he has on feed, are of his own raising, and consist of yearlings and two-year-olds mixed. He has one that was a year old in March and will weigh about 1100 pounds. The bunch will average about 1250 and he will continue feeding them until summer. He has a grade Shorthorn yearling bull that he is offering for sale. Mr. BOVEE has a fine farm of 430 acres that he can well feel proud to own.
Bart MAST has a farm of 80 acres of good land which he is farming in connection with a part of Mr. COLEMAN's farm. Last season Mr. MAST was unable to work being troubled with catarrh (sic) and throat affection. He went to Hot Springs, Ark., only weighing 130 pounds and now he tips the beam at 170 and is in good health. He is putting in about forty acres of wheat, fifty acres of oats and sixty acres of corn and is doing his work alone.
B. W. MAYDEN, the Pilgrim found at home, after calling three times. He found there was no use in trying to dodge. Mr. MAYDEN is a man that has travelled (sic) a great deal and has lived in several different states and says Nebraska is good enough for him. He has a nice 80 acre farm, and everything comfortable about him.
Andrew NELSON is a man who, by hard work and by close attention to his business, has made a success of farming and that in a few years. Last week he purchased the Caroline BRUCE farm of 120 acres and will move there next year. He will make a specialty of hog raising. Andrew is a good citizen and the JOURNAL is glad to see him prosper.
The Pilgrim called at Chauncy FLANNAGAN's but not seeing him around went to the house thinking he might get "Mrs. FLANNAGAN"(?) to subscribe but as she could not be found, a search of the farm revealed Chauncy sowing wheat. He is a boy that has a good time during the winter but when work season commences he hides himself for about eight months and when you find him again he has his pockets full of money.
The Tekamah Journal - Thursday, April 12, 1900 issue
THE PILGRIM
NEAR BERTHA The Pilgrim Tells About Some of the Farms
and Farmers Around Bertha.A PROSPEROUS CONDITION
The Pilgrim spent the latter part of last week in Silver Creek and up about Bertha and succeeded in getting John KESSLER, postmaster at Bertha to act as correspondent for the JOURNAL. The first stop was made at the home of Dave RICHARDSON who has an eighty acre farm that he bought seven years ago for $32.50 per acre and would not take less than $45 per acre for it now. It is on Silver Creek and a good share of it in the creek bottom. Dave is one of those prosperous farmers that always makes money. During the past winter he fed two cars of cows and sold them early while the prices were good.
W. J. JOHNSON has 160 acres on Silver Creek. The Pilgrim found him out preparing ground for a young orchard which he is going to set out. He already has quite a large bearing orchard. His plan for keeping rabbits from peeling the trees is simple, effective and quite ingenious. He cuts wire screening into strips about six inches long and rolls it around the tree. It is stiff enough to hold itself in place. He finds it much easier than whitewashing and more effective.
The Pilgrim called at the large farm of C. A. WETHERELL & Son. These gentlemen have 520 acres of land and keep much stock. They have leased their plow land to Mr. LILLY and will turn their entire attention to stock raising. They have plenty of good comfortable buildings and a feed yard that is one of the best in the county. Silver Creek runs through the yard. They have 87 head of good cows, 24 head of spring calves and 150 head of hogs. Their hogs are not as good as they would like and they claim it is the result of crossing Poland-China with Berkshire, which they think is not a success. They expect to get started in red hogs this year. Mr. WETHERELL, Sr., is a native of St. Lawrence county, New York, but has lived in Burt county 21 years and has ever proven himself a good citizen. Last fall he was elected supervisor and it is needless to say he will look out for the interests of his district.
V. H. GRAY who lives on one of Robert ASHLEY's farms had the misfortune last fall to lose 74 head of hogs with cholera. Mr. GRAY moved on this farm two years ago and has about 280 acres of farm land and pasture. He is holding a large amount of wheat which, from the present outlook, is almost certain to advance in price.
Stop was made at Ike REDDING's but the Pilgrim failed to catch him at home. He is one of the JOURNAL family, has a nice home, some good stock about him and of course is happy.
Ezra PRUSSIE was found busy with a bronco which he was endeavoring to tame. He has quite a local reputation as a horse breaker and the way he was handling this one showed that he was onto his job. He has 80 acres of land and is doing well but unfortunately his wife's health has not been good for a year past.
Stop was made for the night at Jonathan PORTER's where the Pilgrim was royally entertained. Mr. Porter has 80 acres of land. He has a car load of two-year-old cattle now on full feed. This year he will not farm as much land as usual. He will devote more attention to stock and raise a better class and make more money with less hard work. There is one thing the Pilgrim could not help but notice that was, that the people of this neighborhood do not take as much pains in breeding good stock as they do in the south part of the county. Of course there is some excellent stock but there are so many that are careless and figure only on quantity and nothing on quality. This is a mistaken idea as it is just as easy to raise a good hog, cow or horse as it is a poor one and the profit is nearly double.
The Pilgrim's next call was on W. H. CULLEN who lives on the HASWELL place and also works a part of H. C. LYDICK's land. He has a good start in hogs and will soon have some ready to put on the market.
Sam HASWELL lives with his mother and works the farm. Sam has some hogs that show good Poland-China breeding and some of them are soon going to be ready to place on the market.
Wess BLUE, with the aid of his two sons, Irvin and Elmer, is farming about 180 acres of land this year. Wess owns 80 acres where he lives and has it well improved. A grey team that he bought last fall is a dandy. He also has some fine cows of Durham milk strain and sold one calf at weaning time for $30. This shows how well it pays to keep good stock. He seeded 15 acres to grass last fall and says it did splendid.
T. E. McKOWN is a young man that has just started farming. He is on one of H. C. LYDICK's farms and has about 100 acres, 45 of which he has in small grain.
S. A. TWING is living on the EATON farm this summer. He will farm the land and take care of Mr. EATON's stock while the latter takes a trip through the west. EATON thinks he was lucky in getting a man like TWING to look after the place.
The Pilgrim called on our old townsman H. H. GATES and found he and Charley putting in oats. Mr. GATES says he has found it quite expensive getting started farming again having had to buy over $400 worth of machinery during the past year. He has 240 acres of good land and has it well improved, among other improvements a fine large orchard is very noticeable.
The Pilgrim drove to Bertha and ate dinner with Grandma KESSLER, (he had eaten there before and knew where to go to get a good dinner.) The Pilgrim always has a good visit when he stops there. After dinner it was a long wait to get to talk with John F. KESSLER, Bertha's hustling merchant. There are three of them in the store and they were all busy and Mr. K. says it keeps them so all the time. A large stock of merchandise and a full line of farm machinery is kept. Mr. K. says he meets competition of any of the surrounding towns and has not paid less than eight cents for eggs this season.