In The Country: What the AGE Cyclist Sees Near Elvira

(SOURCE: Clinton Morning Age, Sept. 6, 1895)

Large and Productive Farms-a Mishap-Some Good Hogs, Cattle, Etc., Seen.   

             Going up Second street to within a block of the “big tree,” and turning to the left, one will find himself on the Elvira road.

            The first farm of 320 acres is that of HENRY McDERMOTT.  He has a very nice corn crop, but has not yet threshed his oats.  A good share of his place is in pasture.

            JOHN SCHULT is on the next 200.  He had in 40 acres of oats, not yet threshed, and 60 acres of corn.

            The next 200 acres, on the right, belongs to A. M. INGWERSEN.  The house sets back about 100 yards from the road and is approached by a gravel driveway, which leads up to the back of the house and to the stables.  The house is a nice large one and in front of it are found a great many elm trees, with an approach between them from the road to the house.  All things considered, it is the prettiest place in the country that is found in this vicinity.

            “No Inglish undershton,” was the response at the next place.

            The next 80 acres is found to be occupied by C. P. HARTMAN.  Mr. Hartman has but 18 acres of corn, which he says is very good, while the rest is pasture, on which he keeps 20 head of cattle   

            NOBLE VOSBURG is found at Mill creek, the creek passing through his place.  He has 180 hogs, also 60 acres of corn, while 100 acres are left as pasture.

            At the right, on the hill across the creek, is found the house of the late PATRICK DOLAN.  The farm of 180 acres is now run by his son.  His 15 acres of oats went 40 bushels to the acre.  Fifty cows and 14 horses graze in the pasture, while near the barn were 45 sheep.

            Across the road is the home of J. T. SMITH, who has been renting 172 acres.  His crops all promise well, but he will move to Grundy Center. Ia., where he has purchased 160 acres, as soon as he gets through harvesting.

            A little farther on, on the right, is the home of O. M. ANDERSON.  Corn, and orchard and a pasture make up his 40 acres.  His neighbor, JOHN JENSEN, has 43 acres, which he has in corn besides a nice pasture.

            On the right, a short distance farther on, is a lane.  Near the road is what appears to have once been a blacksmith shop.  Going up the land and HENRY GRIMM’S home is reached.  His place of 56 acres is in corn, which is very nice.

            At the next corner, where a road leads to the left, is the home of  CHRIST GLOE.  Mr. Gloe devotes his time to raising Poland China hogs, of which he has 97 young ones and 25 old ones.  Tuesday afternoon he went to Davenport to the fair with 12 of them.  From there he will go to Des Moines.  He will probably have them at the DeWitt fair also.

            The next place on the left is the home of ANDREW RASMUSSEN,.  He has 100 acres, on which he has, at present, 100 cows.  Mr. Rasmussen buys cattle and ships them to Chicago.  He also has 125 hogs and 100 chickens.

            JOHN VOSBURG is now found on the right with 340 acres, 40 of which he had in oats, now partly threshed, and 70 in corn.  He has 125 hogs and a large number of chickens.         

            SWAN JANSEN is now found on 120 acres.  He has 90 chickens and 100 hogs  that are anxious tp get at his corn, of which he had 67 acres.  He had 30 acres in oats.  Swan also has 23 cows.

            One hundred acres are now reached, which is found to be run by HENRY SMITH.  He has 60 hogs, which might possibly help to do away with the 40 acres of corn, which is unusually good.  Five acres of rye, 18 of oats and the rest in pasture and the 100 acres are out of sight.

            PETER ANDERSON is found on the next 100 acres.  He says he has a very nice piece of corn on 55 acres.  He had 22 acres in oats, which he has not yet threshed.

            WM. PEARSON is now found on 120 acres.  He has about 175 chickens, 100 hogs and 18 duck.  Fifty of his acres are in corn and 10 were in oats, which were very good.  Mr. Pearson lately returned from West Side, Ia., where he made a short trip.

            HAAS DIERKS is next visited. With the assistance of his son Henry, who is farther up the road, he runs 280 acres.  They have 135 acres of very nice corn and had 30 of oats, while 150 hogs and as many chickens, with the horses and cattle, help to keep him busy from morning until night.        

            Back of a grove of trees ELMER TRAVER was discovered.  He has 85 hogs and 100 chickens.  The hail damaged his corn to some extent, of which he has in 65 acres, while his oats were only an average crop.

           One hundred and twenty acres are now reached and Chas. COMPTON is found at home.  He says the hail just missed his corn and as a result, reports a good crop.  Twenty hogs and as many cows roam through the pastures, getting a living.

Jens CHRISTIANSEN is not found home, but one of his help said he had 25 acres of oats and has 95 of corn, which he reports at being good.  His hay only averaged about half a ton to the acre.  In a pasture of 80 acres he has 90 hogs.

On the corner, at the cross road, is Henry GROHMAN, who has 160 acres.  He has very nice crops.

Just across the road is an orchard which belongs to Wm. CRAMPTON.  He has 80 acres of corn and had 25 of oats.  One hundred and fifty hogs and 200 chickens help to keep things lively.

Near Elvira is an 80 acre farm which belongs to J. F. RICE.  He had in a little corn and some rye and oats which he reports as being pretty good.

About four miles out of Elvira and the AGE's cyclist came to grief, also to earth, and for the next six miles was very much troubled with a case of walk.