A short sketch of father's family and of his life as far as I am able to trace it from hearing him speak it, and from recollection, also from personal knowledge
(P. H. Burt) April 17, 1927.
Hill City, MinnesotaA trifle more than 100 years ago, there dwelt a householder by the name of Peter Burt in Gorbals of Glasgow, Lanark Shire Scotland, where he hailed from that place or how long he remained there I never learned; but while a resident there he had a son born to him that he named Joseph; the course of nature introduced said Joseph to the family,---a brother had preceded him---7 Nov.1819. The same year, you will note, that their much lauded Queen, Victoria was born. The family grew to consist of 6 sons and 1 daughter, and while the oldest of them were but mere children, I was told by Uncle Peter---the oldest brother---their young feet became familiar with what I suspect were the "burns" of the Cleish Hills; so that the family must have left Glasgow, when as yet there were but two or three youngsters.
NECESSITY COMPELLED BOTH FATHER AND MOTHER TO TOIL IN THE FIELDS AND HENCE THE CHILDREN LEARNED TO CARE FOR THEMSELVES AND ALSO LEARNED MUCH OF THEIR SURROUNDINGS.SMALL FISH IN THE BROOK WERE CHASED TO SHELTER AND SOMETIMES CAPTURED. THE SECLUSION OF THE BIRD WAS INVADED AND ITS SANCTEM OFT
DESECRATED;WHILE THE "BUMBEE'S BYKE"HAD THE RESPECT OF THE RETREATING TARTANS
AND FRENZIED" BONNETS." THE FATHER OF THE FAMILY BEING NO EXCEPTION TO THE RULE OF THOSE WHO TOIL AT MENIAL LABOR FOR THE SUPPORT OF LIFE,HAD LITTLE OR NO TIME TO DEVOTE TO THE SOCIAL AND SPIRITUAL SIDE OF EACH CHILD,THEIR INALIENABLE RIGHT SO HIS "LUIF"BECAME THE SOLE ARBITER OF THEIR MISDEAMERS AND DISPUTES;OFT THEY BORE ONE ANOTHERS"PAIKA"RATHER THAN DIVULGE A GRIEVANCE AMONG THEMSELVES;ALL SUCH I GLEAN FROM AN UNCLE WITH THE SAME GIVEN NAME AS GRANDFATHER.HE RELATED TO ME IN HIS REMENISCENT MOODS,A MANEUVER HE AND HIS BROTHERS HAD RECOURSE TO,TO PURLOIN THE MILK OUT OF THE PANS AND OTHER RECEPTICLES IN THE MILK HOUSE WHEREBY THEY HAD THEIR STOMACHS APPEASED AND STILL LEFT THE CREAM INTACT IN THE PAN.THE PARENTS WERE PERPLEXED TO FIND THE MILK TAKEN FROM THE VESSELS AND THE CREAM STILL UNTOUCHED.BUT LO!ONE DAY WHEN THE OUT POSTS WERE OFF GUARD, THE FATHER STOOD IN THE DOORWAY OF THE MILKHOUSE AND BEHELD HIS OLDEST SON HOLDING A CUP AT THE LOWER END OF A STRAW SIPHON WHILE THE MILK WAS FILLING THE CUP.
THE BOY WIST NOT THAT THE FATHER STOOD THERE AT THE DOORWAY LOOKING AT THE
CLEVER RUSE, TILL THE FATHER GREETED HIS SON WITH"AY SO THAT'S TH WEY YE DO IT IS'T?" I WAS TOLD THAT THE ANGRY "LUIF"WAS NOT APPLIED ON THAT
OCCASION,PROBABLY ON ACCOUNT OF THE INGENIOUS CONTRIVANCE TO SWIPE THE MILK.THE LADS HAD DISREGARDED THAT FOOLISH OLD SAW,"TAKE THEREFOR NO THOT OF THE MORROW"AND HAD ENTERED A FIELD OF GROWING OATS AND HAD BENT THE GROWING STRAW AND WAITED ON NATURE FURNISHING SIPHONS THUS EUINEING THE SHREWD REFLECTIVE CAUTION OF THE LOWLAND SCOT;NO WONDER THAT THE FATHER ONLY CHIDED ON THAT OCCASION.LATER ON IN THEIR JOURNEY OF LIFE WE FIND THEM LIVING AT A PLACE CALLED THE FORREST MILL, WHERE AN UNCLE OF THE CHILDREN DISPLAYED SOME OF HIS SCOTCH FACETIOUSNESS;I TAKE IT THAT HE WAS AN UNCLE ON MOTHERS SIDE OF THE HOUSE WHOSE NAME WAS SPOWERT,HENCE DAVID SPOWERT, HE LIVED SOME DISTANCE FROM HIS BURT RELATIVES AND ONE FINE MORNING DROVE UP TO THEIR DOOR WITH ALL HIS WORLDLY GOODS ON A CART.WHEN QUESTIONED AS TO HOW HE CAME TO BE THERE WITHOUT WARNING HE REMARKED THAT WHEN HE WAS OUT FOR A WALK IN THE EARLY MORNING THE SINGING OFA NAVIS(EUROPEAN SONG THRUSH) BETWEEN SNATCHES OF IT'S SONG, KEPT SAYING;"FLIT DAUVITY,FLIT DAUVITY FLIT" AN'GIN I SPIRE'T WHAUR TILL? IT SAID "THE FORREST MILL" SO I JUST POT MY THINGS ON TH'CART AN'CAM AWA'.THE FAMILY FOLLWED THE OCCUPATION OF COAL MINING,THERE IS SCARCELY A MINING VILLAGE IN EASTERN FIFESHIRE THAT WAS NOT A HOUSEHOLD WORD IN FATHERS FAMILY,THEEMYES,TERRYBURN,CLISH,LETHENS,CROSSGATES,COWDENBAITH,LOCHGELLY,OAKELY AND BERRYLAW WERE AMONG THE NAMES OF PLACES I OFTEN HEARD MY FATHER MENTION WITH MUCH HOME FEELING AND WHEN I THINK OF THEM OR HEAR THEM SPOKEN OF IN THE LANDS OF MY NATIVITY,OFF COMES MY BONNET.INDELIBLE ON THE SCREEN OF MEMORY FROM FATHERS MUCH REPEATED REMINISCENCE IS THE ADVENTURES OF THE POACHER IN THE EARLY DAYS OF HIS MANHOOD.IT IS IRKSOME TO YOUTH OF 18 OR MORE YEARS,BEING HEDGED AND HERDED BY STATUE ON PUBLIC THOROGHFARES;ALSO TO SEE NATURES EPICUEAN TID-BITS, LIKE THE HARE AND THE CAPERCAILZIE, MADE SOLELY THE PILLAGE OF PRIVILEGE AND HIS FLUNKIES;HENCE THEIR LOVE OF ADVENTURE AND TO FURNISH A MOIETY OF NUTRIMENT TO STOMACHS CRAVING VARIETY THAT POVERTY IS MOST ALWAYS UNABLE TO FURNISH;FOR IS NOT " GAME GRIT OR SMA: THE SOLE HERITAGE OF "THOSE TO MANOR BORN?" I REMEMBER HEARING FATHER TELL OF ONCE BEING CAUGHT BY A GAMEKEEPER WHO TRIED TO WREST HIS GUN FROM HIM AND WHEN THE GAME KEEPER WAS ASTRIDE THE GUN BARREL FIRED IT OFF AND ESCAPED WITHOUT LOOKING BACK TO SEE THE RESULT OF THE EXPLOSION,AND AT ANOTHER TIME BEING CHASED AND CLOSELY PURSUED WHEN MAKING FOR A THICK HEDGE,HE CALLED OUT TO HIS PURSUER TO STAY BACK AS THERE WAS NO TELLING WHAT MIGHT HAPPEN WHILE CRAWLING THRU A HEDGE;THE KEEPER HEEDED THE WARNING WHICH TOGETHER WITH THE SURROUNDINGS FAVORED ESCAPE.NOW THAT PERIOD OF THE FAMILYS GROWTH,WHEN SOME OF THE OLDER BOYS WERE ABLE TO PLAY THE ROLE OF POACHER,THOMAS,NO DOUBT,SHALL HAVE BEEN BORN AT LETHENS DEC 16TH 1832,MAKING THE FAMILY COMPLETE; THE CHILDREN WERE PETER,JOSEPH,ALEXANDER,ISABEL,DAVID,ANDREW AND THOMAS; SOME OF THE YOUNGSTERS TOOK KINDLY TO MUSIC AND BEING SOMEWHAT INGENIOUS, MADE THEIR OWN VIOLINS,EVEN A BASS VIOL. I HAVE HEARD FATHER SPEAK OF WALKING FOUR ENGLISH MILES TO TAKE LESSONS FROM THE BLACKETS OF DOLLAR.AND PAY ONE SHILLING AN HOUR FOR THEM,UNCLE PETER AND FATHER MADE THE TRIP;THEY WERE ALWAYS TOGETHER.AT THAT TIME THE FAMILY NO DOUBT WERE LIVING AT TILLICOULTRY,A PLACE WHERE 4 VEINS OF COAL WERE WORKED,AND JUST ABOUT FOUR MILES FROM DOLLAR,IN CLACKAMANNAN SHIRE.THOUGH THE TWO BROTHERS WERE TAUGHT BY THE SAME TEACHERS THE MUSIC MADE BY ONE, WAS SOFT AND ROUNDED WHILE THAT OF THE OTHER WAS INTREPID AND OPEN.ABOUT THIS STAGE OF THEIR MUSICAL LIFE THEY ALSO TOOK A LIKING TO THE BAGPIPES AND THE HEADINGS FOR A TURNING-LATHE WERE SECURED FROM DUMBARTON AND FITTED TO TURN THEIR OWN PIPES.A SET OF FATHERS MAKING ARE AT THIS TIME IN MY POSSESSION. I HAD THE HONOR OF PLAYING THEM FOR THE CALIDONA CLUB OF DES MOINES,IOWA WHEN THAT CLUB WAS CELEBRATING THE 116TH ANNIVERSARY OF ROBERT BURNS.THE SAME LATHE THAT HE TURNED THEM ON IS AT THIS WRITING IN THE POSSESSION OF MY SON JOSEPH D BURT IN THE SPLITLAND PART OF ITASCA COUNTY,MINNESOTA.THE BAR OF IRON CONSTITUTING THE AXEL OF SAID LATHE WAS TAKEN FROM THE RUINS OF AN OLD FUEDAL CASTLE IN FIFESHIRE. AT ONE OF THE MINING TOWNS IN SW FIFE,ALEXANDER MET DEATH;HE HAD SUCCEEDED TO THE POSITION OF MINE BOSS, AND WHEN GOING DOWN THE SHAFT IN THE MORNING TO INSPECT THE WORKINGS THE ROPE BROKE;'TWAS SAID THAT THE ROPE WAS DOCTORED FOR ANOTHER PARTY,AND REAPED THE FATE PREPARED FOR ANOTHER'.WHEN THE FAMILY SETTLED IN THE VICINITY OF KELTY,THEY WERE KNOWN AS'THE BURTS OF BERRYLAW' NO DOUBT TO DISTINGUISH THEM FROM OTHERS OF THE SAME NAME. IT WAS BEFORE THEIR COMING TO KELTY THAT GRANDFATHER BURT DIED.AT KELTY FATHER BECAME PRESENTER IN THE FREE KIRK THAT STOOD ON THE EAST HALF OF GRANDFATHER HUTCHINSONS LOT.IT SEEMS TO HAVE BEEN THE RULE WITH THE OLD TIME PRESBYTERIANS THAT NO SONGS BUT THE PSALMS OF DAVID WERE TO BE SUNG AT THEIR SUNDAY WORSHIPING;THEREFOR ONE OF THEIR NUMBER,CALLED A PRESENTER,PITCHED THE
KEY,AND THE WHOLE CONGREGATION JOINED IN THE SONG.I AM POSSESSED OF A MUSIC
BOOK FATHER USED, WITH IT'S MANY SETTINGS,AND I FIND NO ANALOGY TO ANY OF
DAVIDS CANT. HERE ARE TWO OF THE PIECES;'ELGING C.M. HOW VAIN ARE ALL THINGS
HERE BELOW;HOW FALSE AND YET HOW FAIR;EACH PLEASURE HAS IT'S POISON TOO,AND
EVERY SWEET A SNARE' AND AGAIN; 'ST MARKS C.M. HARK FROM THE TOMBS A DOLEFUL
SOUND MINE EARS ATTEND THE CRY;YE LIVING MEN COME VIEW THE GROUND.WHERE YE MUST SHORTLY LIE' HOW CONDUCIVE TO A BATH IN THE SUNSHINE OF JOY AFTER BEING
PILLEGED BY A CYCLONE,A HURRICANE OR EARTHQUAKE,TO SAY NOTHING OF THE AVARICE OF ONES FELLOW MORTALS.
NOW IN THE COURSE OF HUMAN EVENTS, JOSEPH BURT BECAME ACQUAINTED WITH HELEN
HUTCHISON, THE SUTER ROBERT HUTCHISON'S DAUGHTER WHO WAS BORN APRIL THE
2ND,1821 AND IT FOLLOWED THAT JOSEPH IN HIS 27TH YEAR AND HELEN IN HER 25 WERE DECLARED MAN AND WIFE BY JAMES -ARJUSSON,MINISTER IN THE PARISH OF BEATH,FIFESHIRE SCOTLAND,ON THE 6TH DAY OF FERUARY 1846.ON THE 16TH DAY OF MARCH 1847 WAS BROUGHT TO THEIR NOTICE AND CARE, A YOUNGSTER WHOM THEY NAMED PETER AS HIS GRANDFATHER BEFORE HIM ON HIS FATHERS SIDE OF THE FAMILY HAD BEEN NAMED.THEN CAME INTO THE FAMILY ROBERT H. BURT 19TH OF OCT 1848. ON 12 AUGUST 1850 ISABELL WAS BORN AND JOSEPH BURT JR ON THE 21ST OF FEBRUARY 1852. THE ABOVE MENTIONED FOUR WERE BORN IN KELTY,FIFESHIRE,SCOTLAND WHERE WEE PETER LEARNED HIS ABC'S AT A PUBLIC SCHOOL HELD IN THE FREE KIRK THAT STOOD ON THE EAST HALF OF GRANDFATHER HUTCHINSON'S LOT, THE MASTER BEING A CROUSE YOUNG MAN BY THE NAME OF ADAM SYM,WHO HAD A CHRONIC PERCHANT FOR HANDLING THE"TAES". AT THIS STAGE OF MY EXISTANCE I WAS TAUGHT TO CARRY FATHERS DINNER TO THE ENGINE HOUSE WHERE HE ATTENDED A CONDENSING ENGINE THAT PUMPED WATER FROM AN OLD MINE AND RELIEVED A NEW MINE ON A HIGHER LEVEL;IN DOING MY CHILDISH DARGUE,I FOLLOWED A FOOT PATH THROUGH A YOUNG PINE WOOD FROM WHERE WE LIVED AT KELTY-HEAD,SOUTEAST A TRIFLE BEYOND THE FREE KIRK;ON ONE OF MY TRIPS AN APPRENTICE SUTER WITH HIS APRON CONCEALED HIMSELF BEHIND ONE OF THE PINES AND AT THE PROPER TIME AND WITH A MUFFLED YELL THE MISCHIEF WAS DONE;THUS IN GOING THROUGH THOSE YOUNG EVERGREENS I GOT MY FIRST LESSON IN FEAR;THE BEGINNING OF DISTRUST AND SUSPICION OF ALL MANKIND. WHAT HAPPENED WHEN FATHER REACHED THE YOUNG MAN'S EAR I NEVER LEARNED,BUT ALWAYS FELT THE NEED OF WATCHFULNESS WHILE IN THE PLANTEN,AND TOWARD THAT PARTICULAR TREE EACH TIME THROUGH.I NEVER TIRED OF SEEING THE ENGINE RUN,BECOMING SO ABSORBED IN THE MYSTERY OF IT'S MOVEMENTS,TILL FATHER HAD TO DRIVE ME HOME. IN LATER YEARS,WHEN HE HAPPENED IN A REMINISCENT MOOD I ENJOYED HEARING HIM TELL SOME CRONY THE PRACTICAL TRICKS HE WORKED OFF ON TRAMPS THAT PESTERED HIM WITH THEIR STOLEN STUFF AS THEY MADE RENDEZVOUS OF THE OLD ENGINE HOUSE.
NOW IN THE SPRING AFTER MY 5TH YEAR,THE WHOLE BURT FAMILY MADE PREPARATIONS
TO MIGRATE TO THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.ON THE 1ST APRIL 1852"ALL FOOLS
DAY"YOU WILL OBSERVE, MY MOTHERS SISTER JEANET AND HER SON AND DAUGHTER,DAVID
AND ISABELL BERWICK-- THEIR MOTHER WAS A WIDOW AND KEPT A SMALL SHOP OF SOME
KIND IN KINRESS ABOUT 5 MILES DUE NORTH OF KELTY. THE YOUNG MAN WAS APPRENTICED TO A BLACKSMITH AND THE YOUNG LADY TO A MILLINER. WE WERE BUT A FEW YEARS IN AMERICA WHEN THEY BOTH DIED OF MALIGNANT FEVER. WELL AS I WAS ABOUT TO REMARK THEY CAME DOWN TO KELTY TO SEE US OFF. FATHERS YOUNG FAMILY AND THE BERWICKS STOPPED OVER NIGHT WITH GRANDFATHER HUTCHISON AND AT BEDTIME YOUNG DAVID BERWICK WOULD HAVE ME SLEEP WITH HIM BUT I WOULD HAVE NONE OF THE STRANGER. MY LAST SLEEP ON THE SOIL OF MY NATIVITY WAS WITH MY GRANDPARENTS. AND ON THE MORROW,WHEN MY FATHERS FAMILY AND GRANDFATHER PARTED ON THE QUAY AT GREENECK-2ND APRIL MOTHERS BIRTHDAY, AND WEE JOSEPH JR WAS BUT 6 WEEKS OLD. I BEHELD WHAT TO MY YOUNG EYES WAS A MYSTERY, GROWN-UP PEOPLE WEEPING;AND NOW AT THE ADVANCED YEARS OF 80,TEARS WILL UNBIDDEN START WHEN I THINK OF THE CRUELTY OF SUCH SEPARATIONS. THUS THE LAST SCENE ON MY NATIVE SOIL WAS ONE OF SORROW,SADDNESS AND TEARS WITHOUT THE MENTAL GRASP TO COMPRHEND IT.WHAT IS THERE ABOUT THE PSYCHOLOGY OF THOUGHT THAT EFFECTS THE WHOLE NERVOUS SYSTEM SO THAT WATER GUSHES FROM THE EYES? IS NOT EACH INDIVIDUAL AN ENTITY OF ITSELF? WHAT IS THERE ABOUT THE GREGARIOUSNESS OF THE FAMILY THAT IS SO POWERFUL IN RESISTING THEIR BEING SEPARATED,TORN APART? IS THOUGHT TO THE HUMAN PERSONALITY MORE THAN THE AROMA TO A ROSE? YET THERE I WITNESSED THE PARTING OF A DAUGHTER AND HER FATHER WHO WERE NIGH UNTO PROSTRATION BY THE THOUGHT EXPRESSED IN THREE SMALL WORDS--NEVER,NEVER MORE! THE SEVERING OF TWO MAGNETS FROM THE ADHESING POLARITY WE PARTIALLY CONCEIVE,BUT THE LACREATION,BY RIVING APART OF TWO HUMAN HEARTS
GIVES US PAUSE.WHILE FATHER AND HIS WEE FAMILY STILL LINGERED,GRANDMOTHER BURT AND HER THREE SONS AND ONE DAUGHTER HAD GONE ABOARD TO LOCATE OUR BERTHS AND NURSE THEIR SORROWS.
I HAVE HEARD MY PARENTS SAY,THAT WE WERE SIX WEEKS ON THE WATER.DAY FOLLOWING
DAY,AND IT IS A VERY PRECOCIOUS CHILD THAT MARKS THE FLIGHT OF TIME.HOWEVER
EVENTS WHERE FEAR DEPICTS A THREATENING FROWN OR JOY SINGS PLEASURES SWEET
SONG,WILL MARK THEIR PASSING ON THE BRAIN OF EVEN A DULLARD.FOR HER PROGRESS
OUR SHIP RELIED ON HER CANVAS AND THE WIND,AND THE WIND WAS MORE ADVERSE THAN
OTHER WISE. ON ONE OCCASSION FATHER HAD TO HELP HOLD THE FAMILY INTO THE BERTH.
THE HATCH WAY WAS NAILED DOWN AND THE SEA WHEN SHE CROSSED THE VESSEL'S
DECK,SENT STREAMS OF WATER DOWN THE GANGWAY. A BARREL THAT HAD THE FREEDOM OF
THE FLOOR ROLLED FROM BERTH TO BERTH OBEYING THE WIND AND WAVES,MUCH TO THE
TERROR OF THOSE AT IT'S MERCY,MANY UNCIVIL VOICES WERE HEARD FROM THE STEERAGE FROM WHICH WE WERE SHUT AWAY,SOME WERE SWEARING WHILE OTHERS SCREAMED AND PRAYED TO DEAF UNHEADING ELEMENTS THAT SEEMED AS THOUGH THEY WOULD DASH THE BOAT TO BITS. ONCE WHEN THE SHIP WAS BECALMED MY AUNT ISABEL TOOK ME TO THE UPPER DECK,A SAILOR HAD CAUGHT A LARGE FISH AND AUNT WANTED SOME OF IT TO EKE OUT OUR RATIONS. IT IS NO TRICK FOR MY MIND,EVEN TODAY TO RECALL THE SIZE OF THAT FISH WHICH SEEMED TO BE HALF AS LONG AS THE VESSEL. WE LANDED AT NEW YORK BUT MY MIND UTTERLY FAILED TO MAKE ANY RECORD OF IT;THO WHEN THE FAMILY WERE SENT TO THE FOURTH STORY OF A LODGING HOUSE IN THAT CITY I MARKED THE ACSENT,ASI HAD NEVER BEEN SO FAR ABOVE THE EARTH AND REMEMBER FATHER THROWING SOME MOISTURE OUT OF THE WINDOW JUST OVER THE SIDE WALK ABOUT MIDNIGHT,AND HIS REMARKS ABOUT FOLKS STRAYING ABOUT AT THAT TIME OF NIGHT. ON THE FOLLOWING DAY WE BOARDED A TRAIN FOR TAMAQUA,SCHULKILL COUNTY PA.WHERE UNCLE PETER BURT MET US AT THE TRAIN AND ESCORTED THE WHOLE BEVY OF BURTS TO THE HOUSE WHERE HE LIVED.I KEPT LOOKING UP INTO HIS FACE AS HE PILOTED US ALONG,AND ON HIS OBSERVING ME DOING SO,HE ASKED ME WHAT I WAS LOOKING AT;YOU SEE HE CARRIED QUITE A WART ON HIS RIGHT CHEEK AND I REMEMBERED HAVING SEEN IT IN SCOTLAND.MY UNCLES AND FATHER GOT WORK AT TAMAQUA IN THE ANTHRACITE MINES AND I WAS SENT TO THE PUBLIC SCHOOL WITH MY SCOTCH TOGS ON. THE AMERICAN LADS TOOK UMBRAGE AT MY GEGARY AND IT WAS OFTEN BAPTISED IN THE GUTTER,EVEN THO I HAD TWO BODY GUARDS IN THE PERSONS OF TWO GIRL COUSINS ABOUT 12 OR 14 THAT FELT SORRY FOR ME.MY TEACHER WAS A WOMAN,AND FROM SOME UNACCOUNTABLE QUIRK OF THE MIND I CONCEIVED THAT I WAS NOT OBLIGED TO OBEY A WOMAN AND FOR THAT CONCEIT MY TARTANS WERE OFTEN DUSTED WITH A BIRCH. THE SUMMER FOLLOWING THIS,FATHER GOT A JOB RUNNING A "BREAKER ENGINE"(ONE THAT WITH THE AID OF TWO LARGE METAL ROLLER REDUCED THE ANTHRACITE FOR PRACTICAL PURPOSES)AT BUCKVILLE NOT FAR FROM TAMAQUA, HERE I HAD THE FORTUNE TO BE CARED FOR BY A LAD NAMED ANDERSON WHO DOMINATED THE SCHOOL GROUND AT RECESS AND NOON.AT BUCKVILLE FATHER BECAME ACQUAINTED WITH A POET-BLACKSMITH BY THE NAME OF JOHN PARKER,WHO GAVE HIM A VERY COMMENDABLE PIECE OF METER(PURE FICTION) THAT TOLD THE STORY OF A BEVY OF FAIRIES CHASING A FARMER ON HORSEBACK AND WHO BEING SORELY PRESSED FOR TIME(AS HE THOUGHT) ALLOWED HIS NAG,AT FULL SPEED,TO TAKE THE OPEN DOORWAY TO IT'S STALL AND BRAIN IT'S RIDER ON THE LINTEL. THE PIECE WAS VERY INGENIOUSLY CONTRIVED AND APPEALED TO THE ALLADIN THAT WAS EVEN THEN SPROUTING IN MY NATURE.I SUSPECT PARKERS CLEW
MUST HAVE BEEN TAKEN FROM THE POLICE NEWS OF SOME DAILY PAPER THAT RELATED TO
THE SAD END OF A DRUNKEN CAROUSAL.
TWAS HERE WHEN AUTUMNS PLEASANT WEATHER HAD INSURED US OF RIPE HUCKLEBERRIES
THAT WE SALLIED FORTH ON SUNDAYS,WHEN FATHER COULD GO ALONG TO HELP SCOUR THE
HILL SIDES IT MADE ME THINK OF GATHERING 'BLAE-BERRIES ON THE HILL O'BENARTY'
SAVE THAT HERE IN SCHUYKILL CO PA WE HAD TO BE EVER ALERT FOR THE DANGER OF
RATTLE SNAKES,COPPER HEADS AND THE YOUNGSTERS,OF COURSE WERE CAUTIONED TO BE
WARY OF THE MYSTICAL HOOP SNAKE THAT TOOK ITS TAIL IN ITS MOUTH AND ROLLED INTO A HOOP AND AT THE PROPER DISTANCE LET THE TAIL GO ONLY TO STRIKE THE HOOK ON ITS END INTO WHATEVER IT HAD DIRECTED ITS ENMITY WHEN FORMING THE HOOP.AT BUCKVILLE THE LATHE THAT HAD BEEN BROUGHT FROM SCOTLAND WAS SET UP AND A SET OF BAGPIPES TURNED FROM LAUREL,A LARGE SHRUB THAT IS TO BE FOUND ALL THROUGH THE SCHUYKILL HILLS; THESE PIPES LAY IN THE CHEST AND WERE CARTED ABOUT WITH THE FAMILY FROM PLACE TO PLACE AND WERE FINALLY FITTED UP 30 YEARS AFTER BEING MADE,TO A J R JORDAN OF BANCROFT IOWA. AT BUCKVILLE I ATTENDED SCHOOL UNDER THE PROTECTION OF A LARGE BOY BY THE NAME OF ANDERSON WHO COMMANDED THE RESPECT OF THE WHOLE SCHOOL.I FELT PROUD OF HIS PROTECTION. I REMEMBER OUR FIRST LUNCH,AWAY FROM THE OTHER SCHOLARS,BENEATH THE SHADE OF SOME SMALL TREES, WITH BRIGHT ,WARM SUNSHINE,EVERYTHING SEEMED TO COMBINE FOR HAPPINESS AND I NEVER SINCE REMEMBER ENJOYING THE EATABLES AS I DID ALONG WITH THAT BIG BOY FRIEND;BUT IT WAS ONLY FOR A SEASON,NO CLASS OF THE HUMAN FAMILY ARE MORE NOMADIC THAN THE MINER;THE SUMMER OF 1854 I HAVE HEARD FATHER SAY,WAS SO WARM THAT THE MERCURY RAN UP TO 108 AND 110 IN THE SHADE AND THE WORK THAT HE WAS AT, COMPELLED HIM TO DO HIS OWN FIRING AND STAND BY A HOT CYLINDER ALL DAY LONG TO HOIST COAL FROM THE SLOPE AND FROM 165 LBS.,HE LOST WEIGHT TILL HE WAS LITTLE MORE THAN 120 LBS. TILL HE WAS SCARSE ABLE TO WALK TO AND FROM HIS WORK A HALF MILE AWAY. THE BOILER WAS FAULTY AND UNSAFE;ALSO HE HAD A HEAD STRONG COMRAD WHO CHANGED SHIFTS WITH HIM;AND HIS PEOPLE MOVED FROM TAMAQUA TO LOWELLVILLE,OHIO DURING OUR YEAR AT THE LAST TWO NAMED PLACES;THESE CONDITIONS TOGETHER WITH THE MORAL AND MENTAL STATUS OF THE MINING PEOPLE OF BUCKVILE MADE HIM RESOLVE TO FOLLOW HIS PEOPLE. HERE LET ME RELATE AN INCIDENT AND IT'S SEQUEL TO SHOW THE SOCIAL SURROUNDINGS;I WAS ONE DAY WITH A CHUM OF MY AGE,BEFORE THE HOME OF MY LITTLE PARTNER,NOT FAR FROM THE COMPANY STORE--COMPANIES YOU KNOW MUST HAVE A STORE TO HELP EXPLOIT THEIR WORKMEN-- TWO MEN PASSED US AND STEPPED INTO THE HOUSE, THE TALLEST OF THE TWO PICKED UP A GUN THAT STOOD IN A CORNER AND JESTINGLY SAID"MICKY I'LL SHOOT YOU" THERE WAS A LOUD REPORT AND MICKY WAS NO MORE.THE SUNDAY THAT CAME AFTER THE INCIDENT,FATHER TOOK ME WITH HIM ON HIS WAY TO BUCKVILLE, AND AT ONE POINT IN THE ROAD WHERE THERE WAS A TWIST WE RAN ONTO MICKYS FUNERAL PROCESSION;A HALT HAD BEEN CALLED AND PART OF THE MOURNERS WERE OVER A FENCE INTO AN APPLE ORCHARD CLUBBING THE HALF RIPE APPLES, WHILE TWO WOMEN HOLDING THE DRAWN OUT LIMMETS OF A SHAWL ACROSS THE ROAD ACCOMODATED TWO PUGILISTS,ONE ON EACH SIDE OF THE SHAWL. A DETOUR THROUGH THE BRUSH AND TIMBER BROUGHT FATHER AND I TO THE FARTHER SIDE OF MICKYS FRIENDS WHILE HE ,NO DOUBT,WAS BUSY WADING THROGH THE ASPHOEL OF "FIDDLERS GREEN"
TWAS AT BUCKVILLE WHERE MY SISTER ELLEN(HELEN) WAS BORN ON THE 28TH OF JANUARY 1854,
BEING THE FIRST OF MOTHERS FAMILY BORN IN AMERICA.I HAVE NO RECOLLECTION
OF WHAT TIME OF YEAR WE MOVED TO LOWELLVILLE,OHIO, BUT BEING THERE I FIND
MYSELF WITH GRANDMOTHERS FAMILY IN A GOOD,BIG HOUSE, FENCED IN AND SURROUNDED
BY FRUIT TREES;HERE A SHORT TIME, THEN OVER BY A CANAL IN PART OF THE OLD
WAREHOUSE JUST A FEW RODS FROM THE CANAL-LOCK WHERE ALSO THE WIDOWED MOTHER OF THE MACARTHURS LIVED. THIS MUST HAVE BEEN 1855, AS I FIND MYSELF EATING DINNER WITH UNCLE THOMAS BURT AND HIS NEW WIFE,ONE FINE WARM DAY IN SUMMER, HE HAVING MARRIED THE 16TH OF THE PREVIOUS MARCH; AUNT ISABEL AND UNCLE DAVID WERE MARRIED AT THE SAME TIME. AUNT ISABEL BECAME MRS THOMAS MACARTHUR AND MISS ANN MACATHUR BECAME MRS DAVID BURT. UNCLE THOMAS'WIFE WAS A MISS MARGARET MURRAY.
IN THE FALL OF 1855 WE LIVED IN THE OLD FARM HOUSE OF A RETIRED FARMER,A SHORT
DISTANCE EAST OF LOWELLVILLE,WHERE THERE WAS A SUGAR-MAPLE GROVE BETWEEN THE
PUBLIC HIGHWAY AND THE MAHOONING CANAL TO THE SOUTH OF US AND THE OLD FARM
HOUSE TO THE NORTH OF THE ROAD ON RISING LAND; IT WAS HERE THAT I WAS FIRST
INTRODUCED TO "BLACKHAWS" BY DAVE MACARTHUR, WHEN THE WINTER WHEAT WAS ABOUT 6 INCHES HIGH AND WE HAD A LITTLE SNOW ON THE GROUND.DAVE WAS A LAD IN HIS TEENS AND RODE CANAL HORSES.IN THE SPRING OF 1856 WE MOVED EAST INTO LAWRENCE COUNTY PA,TWO MILES UP THE MHOHONIG CANAL FROM EDINBURG. AT A SMALL COAL MINE OWNED BY JOHN AND ROBERT SHIELDS WHERE FATHER GOT THE JOB OF BEING MANAGER; THE COAL BEING SHIPPED BY CANAL BOATS. IN NOVEMBER OF THAT YEAR WHEN JOHN C FREMONT"THE FIRST REPUBLICAN CANDIDATE FOR PRESIDENCY OF THE UNITED STATES"RAN AGAINST (10 CENTS JIMIE) JAMES BUCHANAN, MANY OF THE NEIGHBORS GOT FATHER TO TAKE HIS BAGPIPES ALONG TO THE POLLS TO HELP BOOST THE POLITICAL FEELING FOR
FREMONT.THIS BUCHANAN HAD AT ONE TIME STATED,THAT THE LABORING CLASS SHOULD BE CONTENTED IF THEY GOT 10 CENTS A DAY, AND THE WORKING PEOPLE CALLED HIM "TEN CENT JIMMIE". JUST BEFORE" JIMMIE'S TIME" TIMES WERE SO HARD FOR LABOR THAT I HEARD FATHER SAY THAT ALL THE MONEY HE HAD IN ONE YEAR WAS A ONE DOLLAR BILL AND A TEN CENT PIECE. THE BILL PROVED TO BE BOGUS AND THE 10 CENT PIECE WAS LEAD. IN THE SUMMER OF 1856 GRANDMOTHER BURT DIED IN THE HOME OF HER DAUGHTER MRS THOMAS MACARTHUR,AT LOWELLVILLE OHIO AND IN THE FALL OF THE SAME YEAR,HER SON UNCLE DAVID BURT WAS TAKEN WITH A BAD COLD. A YOUNG MD WHO HAD JUST "HUN OUT HIS SHINGLE"IN A LITTLE TOWN NORTH OF US WAS CALLED IN AND DROPSY IN THE CAVITY OF THE BOWELS DEVELOPED;FATHER WALKED EAST TO NEW CASTLE AND BROUGHT BACK WITH HIM AN OLD DR.BY THE NAME OF LEZURE,WHO TAPPED THE ABDOMEN AND RELIEVED THE PATIENT OF AN IMMENCE AMOUNT OF WATER; THEN HE EXAMINED THE YOUNG DRS DRUGS AND SAID THAT YOU MIGHT AS WELL SET SUCH MEDICINE BY THE WALL AND EXPECT TO DRIVE WATER UP THERE,AS SUCH STUFF WAS OF NO USE WHATEVER TO THE PATIENT; REMARKING FURTHER THAT HAD UNCLE TAKEN A DOSE OF SALTS AND SENNA HE WOULD HAVE BEEN A WELL MAN TODAY.UNCLE DAVID LEFT A WIDOW AND A LITTLE DAUGHTER;HIS WIDOWS NAME WAS ANN MACARTHUR WHO IN THE COURSE OF TIME MARRIED A MAN BY THE NAME OF MCVEY AND IN AFTER YEARS A FEVER TOOK TWO OR THREE OF HIS FAMILY AND UNCLE DAVIDS CHILD WENT WITH THEM,IN THE FALL OF 1856,NOVEMBER 15TH SISTER JEANNET WAS BORN.IN THE FALL OF 1857 FATHER,INTENDING TO MOVE TO ANOTHER LOCALITY;TOOK BROTHER ROBERT AND MYSELF OVER TO OLD PHILIP MATHUS,WHO LIVED WITH TWO OLD MAID DAUGHTERS IN A LOG HOUSE THAT HAD SEEN BETTER DAYS;FATHER TOOK HIS BAGPIPE ALONG WITH HIM, AND WHEN IT BEGAN TO GROW DUSKY IN THE EVENING HE STARTED ROBERT AND I FOR HOME WITH A SMALL BASKET OF EGGS AND SOME CHERRIES;INSTEAD OF KEEPING THE OLD BLIND ROAD TO THE NORTH,THROUGH THE WOODS AND AROUND BY WAY OF THE FENCE TO THE EAST,WE DIPPED INTO THE WOODS TO OUR LEFT BY WAY OF A FOOTPATH FOR A SHORT CUT HOME;ONCE DEEP INTO THE WOODS WE LOST THE PATH AND TURNED BACK
TO FIND THE MATHUS PLACE AND BEING BALKED IN THAT WE TRAVELED SOUTH TILL WE
WERE DOWN NEAR THE MAHONING CANAL WHERE WE RECOGNIZED THE SUGAR LOAF HILL THAT HAD TWO TREES ON ITS TOP,AND BEING DISCOURAGED AND FEARING TO TACKLE THE WOODS ON THE WAGON ROAD TO THE MINE WE CONCLUDED TO GO UP TO THOSE TREES AND SPEND THE NIGHT AND GO HOME IN THE MORNING, BUT BEFORE WE REACHED THE TWO TREES A LIGHT APPEARED FROM THE SOUTH SIDE OF THE TIMBER AND A STRONG VOICE BROUGHT US TO STAND;'TWAS FATHER AND ONE OR TWO OF THE SHIELS BOYS WHO TOOK US IN TOW AND WHEN WE REACHED HOME MOTHER WAS STANDING IN THE DOORWAY IN HER NIGHT CLOTHES;AS HAD BEEN FEARING WE WOULD GO DOWN THAT WAY AND BE DROWNED IN THE CANAL;WHILE ALL THE WELCOME WE GOT FROM FATHER WAS"I'LL HA TA GET A ROPE AN'TIE YE TA TH'BEDPOST GIN YE CANNA DO BETTER". THE OLD GENTLEMAN THAT WE HAD BEEN VISITING WAS 90 YEARS OF AGE AND ONE OF THE FIRST SETTLERS IN THAT PART OF THE COUNTRY.LATE IN THE FALL OF 1857 OUR FEW BELONGINGS WERE LOADED ON A WAGON AND WE FOLLOWED UNCLE PETER BURT SOUTH IN LAWRENCE CO. PA. TO WHERE A NEW MINE WAS
BEING OPENED ON A SHORT RAILROAD THAT RAN FROM THE MAIN RR EAST AND WEST
THROUGH ENON VALLEY IN PA AND PALESTINE IN OHIO AND SOUTH TO DARLINGTON.
HALFWAY DOWN THIS SHORT RR ON THE SOUTH SIDE,IN THE WOODS WAS A NEW MINE.MOTHER
ALWAYS SPOKE OF IT AS"THE DIGGINGS".THERE WE LIVED ONE WINTER AND MOST OF THE
FOLLOWING SUMMER. IN THE SUMMER THERE WAS A SCORGE OF SCARLET FEVER AMONG THE
SMALL CHILDREN THAT WAS MADE DANGEROUS BY THE FOOL PRACTICE OF A YOUNG M.D. WHO
FORBADE HIS PATIENTS ANY COLD WATER WHILE TAKING HIS MEDICINE.UNCLE PETERS
YOUNGEST CHILD, CATHERINE WAS ONE OF THE VICTIMS, TOWARD THE FALL OF THIS
SUMMER WE MOVED ABOUT A MILE TO THE NORTH-EAST OF WHERE WE WERE, TO ANOTHER
SMALL MINE,WHICH WHEN FATHER GOT THERE HE WAS MADE THE SECOND MAN.SAID MINE
WAS MANAGED BY A MAN CALLED "JIM"KOOK.HERE IT WAS THAT BROTHER JOHN WAS BORN ON
THE 26TH OF OCTOBER 1858.'TWAS AT THIS PLACE THAT FATHER WAS POTWITTED BY A
TRICK PONY BELONGING TO KOOK. HE BORROWED THE PONY AND A LIGHT RIG TO TAKE A
LITTLE CORN AND A LITTLE WHEAT TO A MILL JUST WEST OF THE STATE LINE. HE COULD
HAVE WHEELED IT IN A BARROW BUT FOR THE LOOKS OF IT. AFTER THE GRIST WAS GROUND
AND THE HOME COMING STARTED, THE PONY GOT REAL LAME IN ONE OF HER FRONT FEET,
SO LAME THAT FATHER GOT OUT OF THE RIG AND WALKED, WHEN THEY CAME TO A HILL HE
WOULD GET BEHIND THE RIG AND PUSH. BEFORE THEY GOT TO THE LAST HILL JIM SAW
THEM COMING AND WENT TO MEET THEM."WELL,MR KOOK" SAID FATHER,"I'M AFRAID I HAVE
LAMED YOUR BEAST VERY BADLY" JIM STEPPED OVER TO THE BRUSH AND CUT A HAZLE WAND
ABOUT FOUR FEET LONG,GOT IN THE SEAT AND ASKED FATHER TO CLIMB IN, FATHER
HESITATED ON ACCOUNT OF THE POOR LAME ANIMAL,BUT KOOK INSISTED AS HE HAD
SOMETHING TO SHOW FATHER;ONE SHARP "GIT UP"WITHA SLAP ON THE SIDE AND AWAY WENT
THE PONY ON A TROT;NOT A LIMP TO BE SEEN."I FAILED TO TELL YOU MR BURT THAT THE
PONY USED TO BE IN A CIRCUS AND THAT WAS ONE OF HER TRICKS"
WHILE WE WERE HERE AT BROTHER JOHN'S BIRTHPLACE,"THE BROWN HOUSES"AS MOTHER
NAMED THE PLACE.UNCLE PETER AND FAMILY FLITTED TO A MINING LOCALITY 4 MILES UP
THE LITTLE SAWMILL RUN FROM BIRMINGHAM A TOWN ON THE LEFT BANK OF THE
MONONGAHELA RIVER OPPOSITE PITTSBURGH,PA, TWO OR THREE OF HIS BROTHERS-IN LAW
HAD LOCATED THERE,HENCE HIS GOING; SO THITHER FATHER GRAVITATED AND WE HAD A
HOME
IN THE BASEMENT OF WHAT WAS ONCE THE FARM HOUSE OF ONE NEIL,BY NAME,WHO OWNED
AND WORKED A COAL MINE A FEW RODS NORTH OF SAID OLD FARM STEADING. FATHER GOT
SOME WORK IN THE MINE, AND IN THE SUMMER OF 1860 I WAS TAUGHT TO DRIVE A PONY
TO THE NEIL MINE AND ALSO PICKED UP THE TRICK OF SHARPENING MINERS TOOLS AT THE
OLD SHED-SMIDDY THAT STOOD JUST BACK FROM THE PIT MOUTH A ROD OR TWO."TWAS AT
THIS OLD FARMHOUSE WHERE SISTER MARY WAS BORN NOVEMBER 1ST 1860.SHE WAS VERY
SMALL WHEN BORN AND FATHER MADE SOME UNCOMPLIMENTARY REMARKS AT THE
TIME,WHEREON THE M.D. IN ATTENDANCE WHO WAS A MAN OVER 6 FOOT SAID THAT WHEN HE
WAS BORN THEY COULD PUT HIM IN A QUART MEASURE. HERE IN THE HILLSIDE BASEMENT
WHERE GREAT FLAGSTONES OF THE OLD FASHIONED FIREPLACE SHELTERED THE NOISY
CRICKET THAT SANG FOR US EVENINGS WHEN THE LIGHTS WERE LOW,PIPED ANOTHER VOICE
THAT IN AFTER YEARS HELPED TO IMBITTER THE LIFE OF THE WRITER HEREOF.LATE IN
THE FALL OF 1860 THE FAMILY FOUND THEMSELVES ON THE LEFT BANK OF THE MONOGAHELA
RIVER OPPOSITE MCKEESPORT,PA.A POOR"SPRING RUN" SENT FATHER, UNCLE TOM
MACARTHUR AND MYSELF TOWARDS SHARON IN SEARCH OF WORK, WHERE FATHER HAD A
COUSIN BY THE NAME OF BEVERAGE;AFTER REACHING ROCHESTER ON THE OHIO RIVER, WE
TOOK A CANAL BOAT UP TO NEW CASTLE, REACHING THERE JUST AT DAY BREAK;FATHER
TOOK ACROSS THE COUNTRY AFOOT TOWARD OUR DESTINATION AND MACARTHUR TOOK ME TO A
HOUSE WHERE HE HAD A SISTER IN SERVICE,WHERE WE WERE HELPED TO SOME BREAKFAST
AND THEN TOOK THE TOW PATH OF THE MAHONING CANAL TO A COAL MINE JUST EAST OF
YOUNGSTOWN OHIO,WHERE UNCLE ANDREW BURT LIVED AND WHERE FATHER CAME TO MEET US.
HE WAS THERE BEFORE US AS WE HAD WALKED RATHER LEISURELY,HAVING TO PASS MANY
FAMILAR PLACES THAT WERE STORED WITH MEMORIES. I NOTICED THAT UNCLE HAD LITTLE
TO SAY AS.NO DOUBT,HIS MIND WAS BUSY WITH RETROSPECTION AS WAS MY OWN,THOUGH
LESS MATURE;WAS HE THINKING OF THE INDESCRETION OF LIZZIE AND MARY,HIS
SISTERS,WITH A RUTHLESS"PARIS" WHOSE APHRODITIC WILES HAD LURED THEM BOTH BEYOND
THE BOUNDS OF PRUDENCE AND WERE SIMPLE ENOUGH TO BECOME HOSTILE TO ONE ANOTHER
BECAUSE OF HIM ON THEIR WAY HOME FROM THE LOCAL PHARMACY,THROUGH WHICH THEY
HOPED TO SHEILD THE FAMILY NAME FROM THE UNDECOROUS DRIVEL OF THE CLEARING
HOUSE OF GOSSIP. PERHAPS HIS THOUGHTS WANDERED DOWN TO THE DEATH BED AMONG THE
OOZE OF THIS SAME CANAL,OF HIS BIBACIOUS BROTHER,JIM,WHO WENT DOWN TO DEATH WITH
A JUG OF GOOD WHISKEY WHILE TRYING TO SWIM ACROSS THE BIG STAGNANT DITCH."TWASHERE ALONG THE TOW PATH THAT HIS YOUNG BROTHER "DAVE" GOT HIS FIRST JOB,AFTER
COMING
FROM SCOTLAND, AT DRIVING A TANDEM TEAM OF HORSES, THE THEN MOTIVE POWER OF THE
CANAL BOAT. I SAW HIM ON ONE OF HIS STEEDS IN 1855? WHILE YET HE SMELLED OF SALT
WATER AND BEFORE HE BECAME AMERICANIZED ENOUGH TO LAY ASIDE THE"GLENGARY"
A RELIC OF THE HEATHER HILLS OF HIS NATIVITY. HE WAS THEN IN HIS EARLY TEENS
AND MAKING GOO-GOO EYES AT UNCLE PETER BURT'S SECOND DAUGHTER, ISABEL,WHO IN
AFTER YEARS BECAME HIS WIFE; HIS MOTHER, A TALL GRACEFUL WOMAN, LIVED IN PART
OF THE OLD WARE HOUSE BY THE CANAL SIDE, NEXT DOOR TO MY MOTHER AND JUST ASTONES THROW FROM THE CANAL LOCKS,AT LOWELVILLE,WHERE HE COULD EASILY SPEAK TO
HER FOR A MOMENT OR TWO; BUT TO UNCLE TOM AND MYSELF;OF COURSE, I NOTED THE
PASSING THROGH EDENBURG WHERE BROTHER ROBERT AND I WENT FROM SHEILS' FOR
GROCERIES, AND PASSING THE BRUCE PLACE I COULD NOT FORGET MRS BRUCE AND HER
TREATS OF MAPLE SUGAR. I ALSO TOOK NOTES OF THE WOODS WHERE BROTHER ROBERT AND
I WERE LOST AND CAST MY EYES TOWARD OLD MATHEWS PLACE AND THOUGHT OF THE OLD
MAN AND HIS TWO SPINSTER DAUGHTERS. SOON WE CAME TO THAT PART OF THE CANAL
WHERE THE SHEILS'HAD A WARF AND TWO OF THEM WERE UNLOADING COAL,BUT THE CANAL
WAS BETWEEN US AND TO UNCLE TOM'S QUERY AS TO WHETHER THEY KNEW THIS YOUNG
MAN,OF COURSE THEY DID NOT. A LITTLE FARTHER UP THE CANAL WE CAME TO MAHONING,
THE PLACE WHERE UNCLE TOM AND AUNT ISABEL WERE MARRIED THE 16TH OF MARCH 1855
ON MY 8TH BIRTHDAY. A LITTLE FARTHER ALONG UP THE CANAL AND WE COULD LOOK
ACROSS IT INTO THE WOODS TO WHERE HIS SISTER ANN.MRS MCVEY(ONCE MRS DAVID BURT)
AND HER YOUNG BROOD LIVED.WE PASSED ON AS THE DAY WAS WEARING AWAY AND WE WERE
NEARING LOWELVILLE. LOWELLVILLE! ONCE THE HOME OF THE MURRAYS THE MACARTHURS
AND THE BURTS. ALL FLTTED AWAY TO OTHER PARTS OF THE EARTH; NO WONDER UNCLE WAS
IN A MEDITATIVE MOOD; HERE TOO HIS MOTHER DIED BY THE CANAL SIDE AND HERE TOO
MY GRANDMOTHER BREATHED HER LAST IN PAIN.
LOOKING BACK THROUGH THE FAST RECEDING VISITS OF THE PAST,I WONDER NOT AT
UNCLES RETICENCE;EVENTS IN THE SPRING OF YOUNG MANHOOD HAPPEN FAST AND FURIOUS,
AND THE WISDOM OF CONCLUSIONS ARE,TILL AFTER A CHOICE HAS COME AND GONE.THE
IMPATIENCE OF YOUTH MAKES NO BOSOM CRONY OF MR. WHY, BUT LEAVES HIS PROBING
INQUISITIVENESS TILL THE HAIR BEGINS TO SILVER, AND THE TEARS FURROW DOWN THE
CHEECK. THAT IS,OF COURSE, ASIDE FROM PRECODUS CHARACTERS, WHO ARE EXCEPTIONS
TO THE RULE,WITH MUCH FOR WHICH TO THANK HEREDITY,AND UNCLE WAS NOT ONE OF
THEM;HOWEVER HE HAD RESERVE ENOUGH NOT TO BABBLE TO A CHILD, WHICH WAS MY
MENTAL CALIBER AT THAT TIME.ON REACHING LOWELVILLE WE HAD TRAMPED ABOUT 15
MILES AND STILL HAD ABOUT 5 TO WALK BEFORE REACHING STRUTHERS;THE MINING
VILLAGE WHERE UNCLE ANDREW BURT LIVED. ON GOING INTO HIS YARD I BEHELD A SMALL
COUSIN PLAYING ON THE GRASS AND TRYING HER VOCAL POWERS ON A SILLY SENSELESS
SONG"A LITTLE MORE CIDER TOO" THAT WAS HIS FIRST BORN,DOROTHY,ABOUT 5 YEARS
OLD.NOW A BREATHING SPELL OF A DAY AND WE WERE OFF TO THE "BLOCK COAL MINE"
ABOUT 4 MILES DOWN THE ERIE CANAL FROM SHARON IN MERCER CO. PA. WHERE WE WORKED
FOR ONE MONTH."TWAS IN THAT GLORIOUS TIME OF YEAR THE CHERRY IS RIPE AND
THE MINE-BOYS LED ME TO GRATUITOUS TREATS SUNDAYS ON THE SLY.WE SPENT ONE FINE
SUNDAY IN THE SUBURBS OF SHARON,AT THE FARM HOUSE OF A MR. HILL, FATHER OF DICK
HILL WHO WAS MINE BOSS FOR A MINE 3/4 OF A MILE DOWN STREAM FROM THE SMITH MINE
WHEN WE LIVED ON THE RIVER. DICKS FATHER HAD BEEN A MINER AND HAD LOST THE USE
OF BOTH EYES BY A BLAST THAT HAD HUNG FIRE. HE SEEMED QUITE CHEERFUL AND SPOKE
OF THE IMPROVEMENTS IN THE DITCHING THAT HE HAD HAD DONE AND WAS INTENDING TO
MAKE ON THE PLACE. DICK AND HIS WIFE FROM MCKEESPORT WERE AT THE OLD HOME PLACE
WHICH TOOK US UP THERE TO SEE THEM.THE FIRST "BULL RUN" OF THE CIVIL WAR HAD
BEEN LOST BY THE NORTH AND THE MENTAL ATMOSPHERE WAS IN THE FEVER HEAT OF WAR
FANNED TO FLAME BY COMMERCIAL GRAFTERS ASSISTED BY"SCHNAPS" AND LAGER-BEER.
AFTER DINNER DICK TOOK FATHER AND UNCLE TOM OUT TO LOOK OVER SOME OF THIS
FATHERS FARM AND I MUST LEAD THE OLD BLIND FELLOW OUT WITH THEM AS HE MUST
POINT OUT WHERE SOME OF HIS IMPROVEMENTS LAY. DICK HAD A YOUNG BROTHER ABOUT 18
YEARS OF AGE,WHO TALKED WAR VERY STRONGLY AND BUT FOR MY AGE MIGHT HAVE
PERSUADED ME TO JOIN THE ARMY WITH HIM. HE WENT TO THE FRONT,BUT I BELIEVE
NEVER CAME BACK. THE OUTBREAK OF THE REBELLION CAUSED COMMERCE ALONG ALL LINES
TO BRISTLE UP AND WEAR THE SMILE OF PROSPERITY; SO WE WERE CALLED BACK HOME
WHERE I WAS PUT TO DRIVING A MULE IN THE SMITH MINE,HALF WAY UP THE HILL FROM
WHERE THE OLD SIDE WHEEL FERRY BOAT"THE SALLY MCKEE" LANDED HER LIVING FREIGHT
TO AND FROM MCKEESPORT. THIS MINE EMPLOYED FROM 100 TO 120 MEN AT THE TIME AND
WORKED 1 HORSE AND 7 MULES WHEN THE SPRING OR FALL RUN WAS ON. WHICH MEANT,WHEN
THE FRESHETS OF SPRING OR FALL BROUGHT DOWN WATER FROM THE WEST VIRGINIA AND
MARYLAND MOUNTAINS SUFFICIANT TO SWELL THE MONONGAHELA SO THAT THE COAL BOAT AND
BARGES COULD BE FLOATED WITH SAFETY DOWN THE OHIO. HERE I REMEMBER AN OCCURANCE
OR HAPPENING THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN MENTIONED, BEFORE OUR PILGRIMAGE TO
SHARON;THE STORES OF MCKEESPORT HAD SHUT DOWN ON CREDIT TO THE WORKMEN,FATHER
AND MYSELF TRAMPED OVER TO LITTLE SAWMILL RUN,THE PLACE FROM WHICH WE HAD LAST
MOVED, TO GET WORK TO KEEP THE WOLF OF WANT FROM THE DOOR,AS THE FAMILY WERE
REDUCED TO POTATOES AND SALT BEFORE HE DREW ANY WAGES HE BORROWED 50 CENTS FROM
A FRIEND, A DAY OR TWO AFTER BEING THERE AND SUNDAY SAW ME TRAMPING BACK THE 14
MILES BETWEEN PLACES WITH THAT 50 CENTS TO HELP APPEASE THE FAMILY STOMACHS TILL
PAY DAY WHERE WE WERE WORKING, I WAS FORTUNATE TO GET A BITE AT NOON FROM MRS.
BARNER, AND ACQUAINTANCE WHO LIVED AT A MINING PLACE ABOUT HALF WAY BETWEEN
PLACES; THAT TRAMP WAS DONE IN MY BARE FEET AS I HAD NO SHOES.,
AT THE OUTBREAK OF THE REBELLION IT SEEMED TO BE THE PREVAILING OPINION,THAT A
FEW OLD WOMEN WITH THEIR KITCHEN BROOMS COULD GO DOWN SOUTH AND SWEEP THE
CONFEDERATES OFF THE FACE OF THE EARTH;BUT AFTER THE FIRST "BULL RUN" WHERE THE
"YANKS"WERE MADE TO SHAMEFULLY "SKEDADDLE" THE PSYCHOLOGICAL SURITY OF SUCH A
FEAT BEING POSSIBLE FADED LIKE THE MIST BEFORE THE MORNING SUN.THE BULL-RUNS
QUENCHED THE ARDOR OF RECRUITING AND THE DRAFT WAS RESORTED TO.FATHER WAS
DRAFTED;UNCLE PETER WENT DOWN WITH ME WHEN HE WENT TO BE EXAMINED AND WAITED IN
THE LOBBY OF THE EXAMINATION OFFICE,BUT HE CAME OUT WITH HIS CITIZENS CLOTHES
ON, HE HAD HAD ONE OF HIS FEET HURT IN A HORSE-POWER WHEN HE WAS A BOY.WHEN
WAITING ON HIM WE SAW SEVERAL SPECIMEN OF FINE MANHOOD COME OUT FROM THE ORDEAL
OF EXAMINATION WITH THE REGIMENTALS ON AND A SARGENT TO CONDUCT THEM TO THE
BARRACKS.A NEGRO WAS STANDING BY US AND ONE OF THE DRAFTED COMING OUT OF THE
OFFICE WITH A SARGENT,WHEN HE EYED THE NEGRO BEGAN A VOLLEY OF OATHS ABOUT THE
"DAMNED BLACKS" AS BEING THE CAUSE OF ALL THE TROUBLE,AND HE WAS STILL
EXECRATING THE NEGRO WHILE WITHIN HEARING.
WHILE LIVING ON THE RIVER AS WE CALLED OUR SOJOURN AFTER COMING WEST, WE LIVED
IN AN OLD HOUSE CLOSE BY THE RIVER BANK AND THE OTHERS BEING ALL BUILT UP ON
THE HILLSIDE.SOME OF THE TIMES A HEAVY SPRING FRESHET WOULD LEAVE ITS MARK OF
MUDDY WATER UP ABOVE THE FIRE GRATE WHICH WAS BAD FOR THE ROACHES AND CRICKETS.
HERE IN THIS OLD HOUSE BROTHER ANDREW WAS BORN DECEMBER 25TH 1863. I WAS
CRUSHED
BETWEEN A POST AND A MINE CAR ABOUT THE END OF MY FIRST YEAR AS A MULE DRIVER
ABD FROM THE EFFECTS OF IT WAS A CRIPPLE FOR 6 WEEKS;THE PELVIC BONE BEING
FRACTURED.AFTER BEING ABLE TO WORK AGAIN I TAUGHT BROTHER ROBERT THE TRICK OF
DRIVING AND HOW TO KEEP "TURN" AMONG THE MEN;I FINALLY GOT A" ROOM" AND BROTHER
JOSEPH,5 YEARS YOUNGER THAN I WENT TO WORK WITH ME. WHEN THE RIVER FAVORED THE
MOVING OF COAL, IN THE SPRING AND FALL,AND THE COMPANY FOR WICH WE WORKED GOT
THEIR SHARE OF TRADE, THE FAMILY BANK ACCOUNT FLOURISHED. ONE DOLLAR AND
TWENTY-FIVE CENTS PER TON FOR MINING,WITH LITTLE JO AND MYSELF LOADING 4 TO 5
TON A DAY AND FATHER THE SAME AND ROBERT TWO DOLLARS AND 50 CENTS PER DAY FOR
DRIVING, NO WONDER FATHER THOUGHT THE ENGLISH BROADCLOTH NONE TOO GOOD FOR US.
WE PAID OUR FERRY PASSAGE BY THE YEAR FOR THE FAMILY AND KEPT A SKIFF BY THE
DOOR FOR EMERGENCIES;WITH THE SKIFF FATHER AND I OFTEN WENT UP THE "YOCH"
HUNTING PARTRIDGES OR RABBITS IN THE FALL AND FOR LOOKING OUR "NIGHT LINE"
DURING THE FISHING SEASON;ONCE I TOOK MOTHER 4 MILES UP THE "YOCH"TO A GERMAN
HERB DOCTOR,WITH A FELON ON THE INDEX FINGER OF HER RIGHT HAND, MANY TIMES IN
SUCCESSION BEFORE HE GOT IT MASTERED. AT ANOTHER TIME,AFTER HAVING WORKED IN
THE MINE ALL DAY, I HELPED ROW THE "RUSH" TO PITTSBURG IN THE NIGHT SIMPLY
BECAUSE FATHER MISSED A BBL.OF HERRING THAT FAILED TO COME BY FREIGHT WITH THE
REST OF HIS BILL OF GOODS ORDERED FROM BROWNLEE,THE WHOLESALER FROM WHOM HE
ORDERED MOST OF HIS GOODS. 'TWAS ON A SATURDAY NIGHT AND SUNDAY MORNING ,WHENCOMING AROUND THE BEND BELOW MCKEESPORT UNCLE TOM AND GEO.PENMAN CAME ALONG THE
SHORE TO MEET US AND RELIEVE A TIRED BOY.
THE OLD HOUSE IN WHICH WE LIVED WAS JUST OPPOSITE THE DARK WATERS OF THE
"YOCK"MIX WITH THE MONGAHELA AND MADE THE DISTANCE OVER TO MCKEESPORT FULL HALF
A MILE, TWO MILES BELOW IS A DAM AND A LOCK, THE WATER ABOVE WHICH IS 20 FEET OR
MORE DEEP. THE HOUSES FOR MINERS,SOME OF WHOM OWNED THEIR OWN,MADE A VILLAGE
STRUNG ALONG THE LEFT BANK OF THE RIVER FOR ABOUT 2 MILES. MCKEESPORT AT THAT
TIME WAS A CITY OF 3000 OR MORE;HAVING A FOUNDRY,A ROPE FACTORY,A PLANEING MIL
AND A GRIST MILL;SAY NOTHING OF "OLD VINGARS BOAT HOUSE"WHERE HE OCCASIONLY
CAUGHT A MUSKRAT STEALING HIS APPLES AND WHICH HE"RITVAY DROON IN DE RABER".IN
THE SUMMER WHEN THE WEATHER PERMITTED AND A MOON LIT UP THE RIVER, MANY YOUNG
PEOPLE IN SKIFFS,SOME WITH AN ACCORDIAN,SOME WITH A HARP OR GUITAR PANDERED TO
THE LOVERS OF MELODY AND HARMONY; OR PERHAPS CHARLEY HENDERSON SAT ON HIS PORCH
WHERE THE TWO RIVERS MERGED WITH HIS FLUTE, TO GIVE US "MARY BLANE" OR "OH DEAR
WHAT CAN THE MATTER BE"WHICH OF COURSE,WAS SUGGESTIVE OF THE GENERAL TREND OF
AFFAIRS. WHEN YOUTH WERE THUS PLAYING WITH SUMMER PLEASURES,FATHER TAUGHT ME
THE TRICK OF PLAYING ON THE BAGPIPES AND WHEN HENDERSON'S FLUTE PIPED AT THE
POINT I FILLED THE BAG AND GAVE HIM IN RETURN"JOHNNIE COPE"OR "GLENGARRYS
MARCH" 'TWAS AMONG THE REVEL OF SUCH SURROUNDINGS THAT FATHER TRIED TO TEACH ME
THE VIOLIN;BUT HE WAS TOO IMPATIENT WITH STUPIDITY AND I FELL BACK ON THE "RULE
OF THUMB".
WHEN THERE WAS A FLEET OF COAL BARGES HAPPENED TO LIE BEFORE THE OLD HOUSE IN
MID-SUMMER,IT MEANT THEY WERE TO BE CAULKED AND SAM HUFFMAN WITH HIS MEN WOULD
BE OVER FROM TOWN TO DO THE JOB; FATHER WOULD BE RUNNING HIS LATHE AND I WOULD
BE CALLED UPON TO PERFORM THE HORSE-POWER WORK FIRST WITH ONE FOOT THE ANOTHER
TO REST MY LEGS ALTERNATELY WHEN I WOULD PREFER TO SIT ON THE SHORE AND LOOK AT
THE TWIST OF SAM'S WRIST AS HE HANDLED HIS CALKING IRON GATHERING UP THE CAKUM
AND BUILDING IT UP IN BIGHTS SUFFICIENT TO FILL THE OPENING BETWEEN THE PLANK
OF THE BARGE.
IT IS A MATTER OF COMMENT THAT MINERS IN GENERAL CARE TO WORK AT NOTHING ELSE
THAN THAT OF THEIR VOCATION;FATHER BEING AN EXCEPTION,TOOK WHAT CAME FIRST TO
HAND. IN THE SUMMER OF 1864 HE SUNK A WELL FOR THE ROPE FACTORY OF MCKEESPORT
AND ANOTHER FOR THE PLANEING MILL OF THE SAME PALCE. I DOING THE CIRCULAR WORK
WITH A BIG WOODEN ROLER AND ITS CRANK ON THE TOP OF THE WALL BEING WARY THAT NO
MORSEL ESCAPED FROM THE SMALL BARREL.FATHER BECAME QUITE CHUMMY WITH THE
ENGINEER OF THE FACTORY, AND MANY SUNDAYS THEY SPENT IN THE WOODS WITH THEIR
GUNS AND A SETTER DOG WHILE I FOLLOWED TO CARRY GAME WHEN THEY WERE SO
FORTUNATE TO GET ANY.
IN THAT SUNNER UNCLE PETER MOVED OUT TO PINE CREEK,12 MILES FROM ALLEGHANY
CITY,WHERE 3 OF HIS WIFE'S BROTHERS HAD SMALL HOLDINGS AND RAISED VEGETABLES FOR
THE CITY MARKET--BOB, JIM AND ANDREW BEVEREDGE, THE PREVIOUS SUMMER UNCLE ANDREW
BURT ALSO UNCLE TOM MACARTHUR WENT OUT TO ILL. TO THE MINES AT GARDNER AND
MORRIA AND IN THE FALL OF 1864 THEY FOLLOWED DAVE MACARTHUR TO KOSSUTH CO. IOWA
WHERE THEY TOOK UP HOMESTEADS 7 MILES N.W.OF WHAT IN AFTER YEARS BECAME THE
COUNTY SEAT OF THAT COUNTY. I SHOULD HAVE SAID THE TWO TOMS FOLLOWED DAVE
MACARTHUR, AS UNCLE ANDREW SETTLED DOWN AT GARDNER,ILL FOR LIFE.IN THE SPRING
OF 1865 FATHER AND A SMALL MAN BY THE NAME OF JAMES THOMPSON FOLLOWED MY UNCLES
OUT THERE BUT NOT BEING ABLE TO SECURE MORE THAN 80 ACRES IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD
WHERE MY UNCLES SETTLED,THEY CAME FARTHER UP TO THE GROVE OF TIMBER KNOWN AS
ARMSTONG'S,AN OLD TRAPPER THAT SOLD TO ACY CALL COMMONLY KNOWN AS"JUDGE"."TWAS
EARLY IN THE MONTH OF JUNE AND MR THOMPSON AND FATHER MUST HAVE LANDED LATE
AMONG THE HALF DOZEN HOUSES CALLED ALGONA, AND WERE DIRECTED IN THE DIRECTION
OF WHERE THE TWO TOMS HAD SETTLED;THERE WERE NO ROADS AND THEY HAD 7 MILES OF
WILD SLOUGHY PRAIRIE TO FACE. NIGHT AND DARKNESS WITH RAIN OVERTOOK THEM AND
PRESENTLY THEY FOUND THEMSELVES KNEE DEEP IN WATER;THEY BACKED OUT AND TRIED
ANOTHER DIRECTION TO MEET NO BETTER SUCCESS; BECOMING TIRED OF THAT KIND OF
THING THEY FINALLY CONCLUDED TO REMAIN WHERE THEY WERE TILL MORNING;BUT
STANDING WET AND CHILLY BECAME MONOTENOUS,SO THEY EXPERIMENTED WITH GUESSING OR
CALCULATING THE ABILITY OF EACH BY HAVING ONE REMAIN IN THE SAME SPOT AND THE
OTHER WALKED OFF 200 OR 300 PACES,THEN A CALL TO EACH OTHER AND THE OFF ONE TO
WALK BACK THE 300 OR 300 PACES AND ANOTHER CALL WAS SENT TO ONE ANOTHER; I HAVE
HEARD FATHER SAY IT WAS VERY SURPRISING HOW WIDE OF THEIR CALCUALTIONS THEY
WOULD SOMETIMES COME. WHEN THEY GOT TIRED AT THAT THEY COULD TALK,BUT NO LYING
DOWN AS THE GROUND WAS WET AND THEIR CLOTHES WERE WET,SO MOTION IN SOME FORM OR
ANOTHER WAS THEIR ONLY RELIEF FROM COLD AND SLEEP,TILL THE FIRST GLIMMER OF DAY
OUTLINED THEIR WATERY SURROUNDINGS.
AFTER LOOKING OVER THE SITUATION IN UNCLE TOM'S NEIGHBORHOOD, THEY BOTH CAME UP
TO THE GROVE COUNTRY WHERE FATHER TOOK UP THE N.W.QUARTER SEC.,6TQP.98,RANGE 30
IN KOSSUTH CO IOWA,WHILE THOMPSON SETTLED ON SECTION 1--98--31 IN EMMET CO,
WHERE HE STAYED TO BUILD HIMSELF A HOUSE.FATHER CAME BACK AND WORKED FOR SOME
TIME ON A WELL FOR THE BREWERY 2 MILES DOWNSTREAM FROM MCKEESPORT,AND IN THE
MONTH OF NOVEMBER HE TOOK THE FAMILY OUT TO THEIR FIRST PERMANENT HOME IN THE
U.S. OF AMERICA, THOUGH WE HAD LIVED IN EIGHT DIFFERENT PLACES AND MOVED ELEVEN
TIMES; WHEN FATHER TOOK UP HIS HOMESTEAD HE BOUGHT AN OLD YOKE OF CATTLE FROM A
MAN ABOUT 2 MILES DOWN THE CREEK FROM THE GROVE BY THE COGOMEN OF
"OX"HALLET;THAT TO DISTINGUISH HIM FROM HIS BROTHER "HORSE"HALLET;HE LEFT THEM
WITH MACARTHUR,AND WHEN THE FAMILY LANDED AT BOONE IN BOONE CO. THAT BEING THE
END OF WHAT WAS THEN CALLED THE UNION PACIFIC RR, MACARTHUR WAS THERE TO MEET
US;FATHER BOUGHT A WAGON IN BOONE WITH THE BOWS AND CANVAS COVER ON IT FOR
$110.00 AND OUR FIRST CAMP GROUND WAS BELOW FORT DODGE.OUR SECOND DAY BROUGHT
US TO THE RIVER SOUTH OF BARNEY DIVINES. THE THIRD DAY LANDED US AT "OLD PAPA
BROWNS"WHERE WE RECRUITED A DAY AND FATHER BOUGHT TWO COWS AND SOME CHICKENS
FROM THE OLD MAN.THE 4TH DAY WE STOPPED OVER A DAY AT THE SODHOUSE OF THE TWO
UNCLE TOM'S.
WHEN WE STARTED FOR "THE GROVE" I WAS ASSIGNED TO TH OLD OX-TEAM AND MACARTHUR
TOOK THE FAMILY UP WITH HIS HORSES,BROTHERS ROBERT AND JOSEPH LEADING THE
COWS;THE OLD OXEN HAD NOT BEEN ALLOWED TO GRAZE ENOUGH DURING THE SUMMER AND
THOUGH THEY COULD GRAZE ALONG IN THE MIDDLE OF THE OLD BLIND MILITARY ROAD,
THAT LEAD FROM ALGONA TO THE SOUTH SIDE OF IOWA LAKE,YET THEY GOT NO WATER AND
WERE NOT TO BE PRODDED OFF A VERY SLOW GAIT AND I DID NOT HAVE THE HEART IN ME
TO URGE THE POOR BRUTES;SO WHEN A LITTLE WAYS NORTH OF "THE LONE ROCK" AND WHEN
DARKNESS WAS COMING ON, THEY LAY DOWN,AND THOUGH URGED THEY REFUSED TO TRY
AGAIN AND I LET THEM LAY,LYING DOWN MYSELF ON A MATTRESS THAT WAS IN THE
COVERED WAGON, THERE WAS NO DREAMING FOR ME; THE WILD DUCKS SQUAKED,THE FROGS
CROAKED,AND THE LITTLE BITTERN"PUMPED A SLOGH"ALL STRANGE WIERD SOUNDS TO MY
EAR;AND IF I HAD ONLY KNOWN IT,BUT I DID NOT, ROBERT AND JOSEPH WERE LYING ON
THE GROUND WITH THEIR COWS TIED TO TREES,ON THE RIVER BRINK 5 MILES SW OF THE
GROVE. GREAT HEAVENS! AND THERE WE LAY IN THE MIDST OF PRAIRIE WILDS,THAT HAD
NEVER BEEN AWAY FROM THE SHADOW OF HOUSES.
FATHER HAD PROVIDED A LOW LOG SHED FOR THE OLD OXEN AND COWS NEAR THE N.E.
CORNER OF HIS HOMESTEAD,BUT FOR THE WANT OF A HOUSE TO MOVE THE FAMILY INTO,WE
WERE PRIVILEGED TO LIVE WITH MRS.THOMPSON UNTIL A HABITATION COULD BE PROVIDED.
THOMPSONS WAS A SMALL LOG HOUSE ABOUT 12X14 WITH A LOW LOFT,"JIMMIE"HIMSELF
HAD GONE DOWN TO THE COAL MINES IN BOONE CO.AND LEFT "OLD JEAN"WITH FATHERS
FAMILY CONSISTING OF 9 BESIDE FATHER MOTHER AND MRS.THOMPSON WHICH GAVE THE 12
OF US STANDING ROOM OF A LITTLE OVER 3 FEET SQUARE EACH.WHEN DECEMBER'S FIRST
SNOW HAD FORMED A LIGHT CRUST ON IT'S TOP FATHER WENT DOWN TO MACARTHUR'S WHERE
SOME OF HIS STUFF HAD BEEN LEFT TO HAVE MACARTHUR HAUL IT UP,WHEN THEY HAD
NEARLY REACHED THE GEO.KENNY PLACE ABOUT 5 MILES FROM THE GROVE,A SNOW STORM
FROM THE N.W. CAME ON AND THE WIND TOOK OFF FATHERS HAT,A LOW CROWNED,BROAD
BRIMMED,QUAKER AFFAIR;HE TRIED TO RECOVER IT,BUT THE WIND WOULD TILT IT ON ITS
BRIM AND ROLL IT ON THE SNOW CRUST LIKE A LAD ROLLING A HOOP.IN HIS HASTE TO
RECOVER THE HAT,HE HAD OVER HEATED HIMSELF,AND WHEN HE CONCLUDED THAT THE
WIND"TOO MANY"FOR HIM HE TURNED TO GO BACK,BUT NOT BEING CLAD FOR THE STORM,HE
RESOLVED TO FOLLOW THE HAT COME OF IT WHAT WOULD.THE HAT BECAME LOST TO HIS
SIGHT,BUT HE FOLLOWED ON IN THE DIRECTION IN WHICH IT HAD GONE,TRUSTING TO FIND
HUMAN LIFE SOMEWHERE IN HIS PATH.WHEN HE REACHED WHERE THE RIVER RAN TO THE
SOUTH,HE WAS DOWN NEAR MUD CREEK WHERE THERE WERE SOME SOD-HOUSES ON BOTH
SIDES;ON PUSHING HIS WAY THROUGH THE WILLOWS THAT SKIRTED THE RIVER ON BOTH
SIDES,HE RAN ONTO A YOUNG WOMAN WHO WAS CROSSING THE RIVER FROM A SOD-HOUSE ON
ONE SIDE TO A SOD-HOUSE ON THE OTHER.WHAT FOLLOWED CAN ONLY BE CONJECTURED.
MACARTHUR HAD NOT MISSED HIM FROM BEHIND THE WAGON TILL NEARLY TO THE GROVE, AND
SINCE,HE CAME NOT HOME TO RELIEVE THE ANXIETY THERE,SOME OF THE DEMMON AND
DUNDAS WENT ALONG,SURE THAT THEY WOULD FIND HIS BODY,IF THEY FOUND HIM AT
ALL;INSTEAD THEY FOUND HIM PLODDING BACK NEARLY WHERE HE STARTED AFTER THE
HAT,WITH HIS EARS PROTECTED WITH A LARGE BANDANNA.MOST OF THE FIRST SETTLERS OF
"THE GROVE" SETTLEMENT ON GETTING STARTED HAD A GOOD SIZED COFFEE-MILL
WHEREWITH TO GRIND THEIR CORN FO HOUSE USE, AS "JOHNNY CAKE" FOR SOME YEARS,WAS
THE KITCHEN STAPLE.GEORGE KENNY WHO LIVED BY THE CREEK ABOUT A MILE WEST OF
WHERE FATHER LOST HIS HAT,SENT A BOY WHO WAS ABOUT 13 YEARS OF AGE,DOWN THROUGH
THE PRAIRIE TO A SMITH, WITH HIS MILL THAT NEEDED FIXING. THE SMITH LIVED ABOUT
2 MILES N.W. OF OLD MAN RIEHPAUF'S. THE LAD WAS BUT POORLY CLAD, AND ON ACCOUNT
OF THE BROKEN MILL,HAD HAD BUT LITTLE TO EAT,AND TRUSTING,TO THE CHARITY AND
GOOD SENSE OF THE SMITH,BEGGED NOT BUT GOT HIS MILL FIXED AND STARTED HOME BUT
NEVER REACHED THERE BUT WAS FOUND DEAD A MILE AND A HALF FROM HOME. FOR SEVERAL
YEARS A RAIL-PEN COULD BE SEEN IN THE FIELD NORTH OF THE HOUSE THAT MARKED THE
SPOT WHERE THE POOR LAD WAS BURIED.
SUCH HAPPENINGS PUT THE EARLY SETTLERS WISE TO THE RIGORS OF N.W.IOWA
CLIMATE,BESIDES LEAVING A SCAR ON THE MEMORY OF THE KENNY FAMILY NEVER TO BE
ERASED. IN THE CASE OF MY FATHER,I HAVE OFTEN THOUGHT HE WAS LED TO THAT LITTLE
SOD SETTLEMENT BY THE ASTUE SAGASITY OF SOME WATCH DOG,THOUGH I NEVER HEARD
HIM MENTION SUCH GUIDANCE;AND I SHUDDER,EVEN NOW,WHEN I THINK OF THE FAMILY
SITUATION,HAD HE MISSED THE ONLY SITE OF A SETTLEMENT IN HIS PATH FOR 20
MILES;HE HAVING WALKED 6 OR 7 MILES TO THOSE LITTLE SOD DWELLINGS WITH NO
KNOWLEDGE WHATEVER OF THEM. WHILE IN WITH MRS. THOMPSON,THE FAMILY WENT THRU
THIER FIRST SEIGE IN A "BLIZZARD" BEING HOUSED FOR TWO DAYS IN THAT SMALL LOG
HOUSE WHILE THEIR COWS AND OXEN STOOD IN THE LOW SHED OVER IN KOSSUTH CO 3/4
MILE AWAY,WHERE THEY GOT NO CARE TILL THE THIRD DAY.
EARLY IN 1872 DAVE MACARTHUR LEFT FOR OREGON AND UNCLE PETER BURT FOLLOWED HIM
THERE,IN 1873. MACARTHUR WAS A WELL MEANING "BAG OF WIND" WITHOUT PHILOSOPHIC
OBSERVATION,CONSEQUENTLY HIS LETTERS BACK TO FRIENDS AND OTHERS,WAS TO THE
EFFECT THAT HE HAD FOUND A VERITABLE"GARDEN OF EDEN" WHERE FLOWERS AND FERN
GREW WITHOUT BEING POTTED,AND WHERE THE ATMOSPHEREIS NEVER CHOKED WITH
ICICLES.IN 1874 FATHER PACKED HIS CARPET BAG AND GAVE UNCLE PETER,WHO HAD
SETTLED ALONGSIDE HIS SON-IN LAW NEAR OREGON CITY, A SURPRISE,IN AUGUST, WHEN
THE POTATOES WERE STRUGGLING FOR A FOOT HOLD AMONG THE FERN. AFTER GETTING HIS
EYES ADJUSTED TO THE PITCH OF THE MOUNTAINS AND CLEARING HIS HEAD OF MACARTHUR
WIND-- THAT WAS BREEZY AROUND OREGON CITY- HE TOOK TO THE HAY AND HARVEST
FIELDS UP THE WILLAMETTE RIVER;BUT SOON TIRING OF THAT HE GRAVITATED TO COOS
BAY WHERE HE WORKED IN THE COAL MINES TILL THE FALL OF 1875 THEN COMING BACK AS
FAR AS SMOKEY HOLLOW TO THE CRAIG MINE;FROM WHICH PLACE HE WROTE ME.IT WAS THE
25TH OF JANUARY 1875 THE 125TH ANNIVERSARY OF ROBERT BURNS THAT I HAD THE
PLEASURE OF PLAYING THE BAGPIPES FPOR THE CALEDONIA CLUB OF DES MOINES;IT SURE
GAVE ME A MORE CLEAR,WIDER AND SIGNIFICANT MENTAL VISION OF THE AYRSHIRE
PLOWMAN THAN I HAD BEEN USED TO HOLDING. THE "PIPES"THAT I USED ON THAT
OCCASION WERE MADE BY FATHER IN SCOTLAND;ALL SAVE THE "CHANTER" THAT HE TRADED
FOR WITH A PIPER ON BOARD THE VESSEL IN WHICH WE CROSSED THE ATLANTIC.THE PARTY
FROM WHOM FATHER GOT THE "CHANTER" CLAIMED THAT IT WAS ONE THAT WAS PICKED UP
ON THE BATTLEFIELD AT WATERLOO;BUT THO IT IS OLD LOOKING AND WELL WORN, I HAVE
MY DOUBTS OF ANY PERSON PARTING WITH SUCH A RELIC.FATHERS OBJECT IN WRITING TO
ME AT MOINGONA WAS TO HAVE ME GO UP THE SMOKEY HOLLOW BELOW FORT DODGE AND WORK
WITH HIM AT CRAIG MINE.WE WORKED THERE PART OF THE WINTER BUT TOWARD SPRING WE
WORKED FOR GEO.PENMAN HALFWAY UP THE HOLLOW ON THE DAN HACKENBURDG PLACE, AND
WHILE AT THAT PLACE BROTHER JOSEPH WAS WITH US. THE SUMMER OF 1876 WAS SPENT
HAULING STONE OUT OF THE PRAIRIE FOR A CELLAR AND BUILDING A FRAME HOUSE ON
FATHERS HOMESTEAD, THE LUMBER BEING HAULED FROM ALGONA;BEING LEFT WITH THE
FRAME WORK I GOT SOME OF MY FIRST LESSONS IN BUILDING WOOD-WORK.DAN NEILING
FROM ALGONA PLASTERED THE DOWNSTAIRS AND GAVE ME LESSONS IN HANDLING A
PLASTERERS TROWEL AND I DID THE UP STAIRS.
IN THE EARLY SPRING OF 1877 ON FEB 25TH,MISS ANNIE E DAVIS OF ALGONA AND THIS
HUMBLE SERVANT,WERE UNITED IN WEDLOCK AND LIVED IN FATHERS HOUSE UNTIL THE
SPRING OF 79 WHEN WE WENT TO OUR OWN LITTLE SHANTY IN THE S.E. CORNER OF
EMMET,CO WHERE ALL BUT OUR FIRST CHILD,ETHEL, WERE BORN. THERE WE TOILED AND
SUFFERED,PLOWED AND PLANTED AND BULIT UP A HOME TO BE PROUD OF.
He worked aboard a whaling vessel and then, as he got older, begain working aboard a freighter vesel sailing between China and Port Elizabeth, South Africa. It was aboard this vessel that Charles converted to Mormanisim.
During one of the voyages he was in discussion with the Captain of the freighter and his first mate William Stakes. The Captain was Catholic and Mr Stakes was a Latter Day Saint. Charles and 2 of his shipmates converted to Mormanism and borrowed a Mormon Bible from the first mate. When they docked in Port Elizabeth they contacted the LDS Missionaries and were baptised. They worked at various jobs until they raised enough money for the trip to the USA.
It was this conversion that lead to to his immigration to the USA and specifically to Salt Lake City.
He sailed on 22nd Feb 1860 and landed in Boston Mass. in May of 1860. He travelled west to Salt Lake City (about 2,500 miles) in a covered wagon with a team comprising of an Ox and a Horse. He arrived in Salt Lake City on 6th October 1862 just 15 years after the first Mormon settlers arrived.
He was employed as a plasterer and worked at that trade for some time. He became aquainted with a Mr Jesse Fox and through him became interested in farming.
He met Isabella Burt in Salt Lake City and married her in the Salt Lake endowment house on 12th August 1865
at USA 1880 census at North Jordan, Salt Lake, Utah