From the City -- The AGE Bicyclist Gets Lost

(SOURCE: Clinton Morning Age, Sept. 4, 1895)

Some Splendid Farms and Fine Crops-Cross Dogs-Hills and Dales. 

            Monday morning was quite cool, but after riding a wheel for about ten minutes the cold was not noticed, at least it so appeared to the AGES’S cyclist as he left the office at 8 o’clock.  Going up Second street at and easy gait, except for a short race with the street car, Main street was soon reached.  The wheel, as if it knew whither it was bound, turned to the left and about a mile farther, to the right.  After taking its rider three quarters of a mile north, he learned that he was on a road that would take him right back to Lyons.  Retracing his footsteps or rather taking charge of the wheel and managing it himself, instead of allowing it to go where it chose, he soon found himself going west on Main street again.  At the next turn he found HERMANN SUEHL.  Mr. Suehl informed him that he had 145 acres.  He deals mostly in cattle, selling the dressed beef in the city.  He has 45 head of cattle at present.  Here the unlucky wheelman learned that he must again go back to Main street, and very much doubting the reality of a road a mile north, he made his way back and then west to the Four Mile house.  Thinking that this must be the road, he again started north, and inquired at the home of GEORGE NELSON if he was on the right tracking.  With pleasure he learned that he was, so immediately began to sing his “Tale of Woe” to Mr. Nelson, whom he learned had 32 acres.  He reported his corn as splendid, of which he had ten acres, the rest of his land being mostly in pasture.  He also had a few grapes which were very good.  A quarter of a mile north and then a crooked road, seeming to lead northwest, on which is found D. WARNECKE with 200 acres.  He said his hay crop was pretty fair.  The rest of his crops were very good.

            Leaving Mr. Warnecke’s place a very pretty hedge is seen on the left until the corner is reached when it ceases, and another begins on the right and continues to the bottom of the hills.  Arriving at the top of the next hill and turning to the left.  OWEN HAND is interviewed. Mrs. Hand is an old gentlemen, over 70 years of age and lives alone, his wife having died March 7, 1895. Although so old, Mr. Hand has in 10 acres of corn and 5 of oats.  He also has about 6 tons of hay, in his barn, which he recently cut.     

            PETER EHLERS is next interviewed.  He has 190 acres, 65 of which is in corn, 36 in oats and 18 in barley.  Mr. Ehlers had 100 hogs but unluckly for him, lost half of them by cholera.  He has just sold a three-year-colt for $110.00.

            Over a corn field on the right, the top of the wind mill is seen and coming to the end of the field and finding a gate, the AGE’S wheelman dismounted, opened the gate and led his horse through.  After locking the gate the horse was mounted and in less than an hour a house was discovered near the wind mill.  Upon inquiry it was found to be the home of J. C. HAND, who owns 274 acres.  Mrs. Hand has in corn, rye, barley and oats, all of which are fairly good.  He has 92 hogs, 200 chickens, and 35 turkeys strut around the barn yard.

            JAMES HOWLEY was the next to be visited.  He has 75 hogs, 50 acres of corn and 50 of small grain, go to make up his crops.

            HENRY SCHROEDER was next greeted at his home where he makes a living from 160 acres.  He has 35 head of cattle and 100 hogs.  He has but 100 chickens nov, thirty having been stolen about two weeks ago.  His oats average 22 bushels to the acre and his 60 acres of corn promises a good yield.

            CLAUS PECK was found threshing.  He has 160 acres, 56 in corn, which is good.  His oats were averaging forty bushels to the acre, and 60 hogs grunted around in a pen near the threshers.  Here the hungry wheelman satisfied his hunger and crossing the road was soon engaged in conversation with A. B. HAMMOND.  He has 48 hogs and a number of chickens.  His oats average 30 bushels to the acre.  Mr. Peck and Mr. Hammond are on the cross road, so the rider returned to the main line.

            M. J. HAND is called upon. He has 170 acres and says his crops are good.  A number of chickens and geese, as well as hogs, are seen in the barn yard.  Just over the next hill the wheelman was surprised to find a large hole in the road.  It had evidently been fixed as a sort of culvert, at one time, but had now caved in and any one driving over the road after dark would be in danger of being thrown out of the buggy into the hole., let alone having a horse to shoot.  A road in this condition should not be allowed and anything of the kind should be attended to at once, as there is danger in delay.  Up the next hill was a school house.  A glance inside showed the children had again returned to their study.

            ROBERT SCHWARTZ on 240 acres, was the next to receive a call. His crops are all good and he has quite a number of hogs.

            The top of a hill is now used as a lookout place.  About a mile of low land is seen with a very large field of corn on the right, while across the road is a pasture in which many cattle and a few horses are grazing.  Going down the hill and AUGUST SEAMAN is found to be the owner of the corn seen from the hill top.  The field contains 120 acres.  He also had 35 acres of oats which went 25 bushels to the acre.  Sixty-four head of cattle, which Mr. Seaman said he had, accounted for a large herd seen a little farther on.  Mr. Seaman was using his time to good advantage by reshingling his barn.

            On leaving the low land, two vicious dogs greeted the wheelman when he again stopped.  Concluding that business at the next house might be more profitable, the wheelman rolled on, but reaching the cross road and turning to the left a lonesome road very little traveled and with the worst hill imaginable, was finally passed over.  Then going back diagonally toward Elvira the home of J. W. DOLAN was visited.  He has 320 acres.  By the use of a windmill he pumps water into a tank across the road and then runs pipes underground so that he has five hydrants on his place.  A stream of living water helps to increase the value of the place.  Mr. Dolan has 140 acres of corn, and 30 of rye.  He also has 15 acres of timber in which his 150 hogs hunt for acorns.  Leaving here, Elvira is soon reached, then away for Clinton.