"An Interesting Early History of Decatur County"

by Mrs. O.N. Kellogg
 
Chapter Twenty-Six

CONCERNING SETTLERS IN SOUTHERN PART OF COUNTY –
ORGANIZATION OF FIRST TEMPERANCE SOCIETY AT GARDEN GROVE
 
In 1874 I visited families in the south part of the county and stopped at Mr. William Loving's, where I was hospitably entertained. I learned that Daniel Bartelow was the first settler there on the prairie, having preceded Wm. Snooks by six weeks. The log house built by Mr. Bartelow was still standing on the premises of William Loving. Mrs. Snook says her house was never clear of comers and goers for single night for several years, as this was the direct route to Princeton, Mo. And her floor was always spread with blankets and generally covered with tired men who, in those days, had something to do in battling for a foothold upon the soil and the blessings of civilization. Drinking and gambling were not then thought of but came all too soon as the town became more populous. She was living with her daughter, Mrs. Macy, her husband having died in '7a. William Ekton and William Hamilton were living a mile and a half from there several years before Mr. Snook came and settled on the prairie. The first settlers universally clung to the timbered lands and had great fireplaces consuming an immense amount of wood. Mrs. Snook had two stoves and no fireplace and lived out on the prairie. Mrs. Eckton told her she expected to find her frozen to death some day but, on the contrary, she was warm and comfortable in the coldest weather.

In 1857 a log school house was built and a log house for a store, in which John R. Davis sold goods and afterward Mr. Snook. They went to Princeton to mill and there were not enough mills of even the inferior kind called horse mills, to accommodate the first settlers. Mrs. Eckton said she was loath to go back and fix her mind upon any particular recital of early hardships. Her face was Zionward and her conversation in Heaven but, since her husband had spoken of the kettle of corn kept constantly before the fire in the old fireplace to make it soft enough to grate (or grit) day after day and month after month, she would say that when her little children were all around her and she was gritting corn to make their bread, so far as earthly things were concerned, those were the happiest days of her life.

There stood the old spinning wheel before the same old fireplace, as of yore, the warm rolls ready for the willing fingers to stretch and twist and wind upon the spindle and reel and scour and weave into cloth and make into garments for her family and all the while this Daughter of a King is rejoicing in anticipation of her house not made with hands, eternal in the Heavens, and the Society of “the just, made perfect.”

On March 6, 1881, Mr. and Mrs. Loving, familiarly called Uncle Billy and Aunt Betty, celebrated their golden wedding. The event was celebrate with great pomp and circumstance and many guests were present and costly and elegant presents bestowed.

Mr. S. W. Hurst, after a mercantile experience of over twenty years in Leon, retired from active business in 1883.

In the Winter of 1869 one Saturday evening a stranger, rather below the medium size, dark haired, dark eyed, with a faultless mustache, entered a little village of Garden Grove. He attended church the following day and, after the sermon, announced that he wished to speak to the people of that place the next evening. The world moved on and Monday evening came. The night was dark and very muddy, notwithstanding which a few of the villagers assembled to hear the stranger's message. He was not a fluent orator but he spoke with great earnestness to induce the people to unite in Love to Labor together for the advancement of truth and temperance. Twenty-two of is hearers pledged themselves to work. This is the beginning of the Chapter of Temperance in Garden Grove. Immediately after their organization this band of workers procured a hall for their meetings and opened their campaign. Without waiting for an onslaught the one beer saloon pulled up stakes and left for parts unknown.

The number rallying under the banner of temperance was constantly and gradually recruited from the neighborhood and their comings together grew more and more interesting. The Brothers discussed the weighty questions of the day with the greatest familiarity and ease and it was said, by way of pleasantry, that the government awaited with the utmost anxiety the decisions of this body upon some questions of finance. The Sisters read words of counsel and entertainment and wrote essays upon subjects of general interest and all united in singing songs of cheer. The young men, always finding good society and pleasant relaxation at the temperance hall, had no inclination to seek the society of that arch-deceiver, rum.
 
 
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