Kendall, A. W. (born 1857)

KENDALL, KEHN

Posted By: Ken Wright (email)
Date: 3/7/2008 at 16:03:05

Jackson Sentinel
Centennial Edition, 1938

A. W. Kendall

The damage wrought each year by prairie fires and his own excitement and amazement when he first saw an oxen-drawn plow are among the memories recounted by A. W. Kendall of Maquoketa when he tells of early days in Jackson county.

Born in Maquoketa in 1857, at the house on Otto street now occupied by Mr. and Mrs. Charles Kozak, Mr. Kendall is 81 years old. While he was still very small his family moved four miles east of town where his father operated the Kendall Stone Quarry, and it was there that his boyhood days were spent. In those days when the wild prairie grass grew to a height of four feet the hot late summer days brought constant danger of prairie fires. Almost uncontrollable, these fires would burn over acres of ground before they could be stopped.

At one time such a blaze came within a rod of a neighbor’s home before the “bucket brigade” which had gathered could get it under control. To prevent these dangerous fires, groups of neighbors would often work together early in the summer and choosing a time when there was little wind, would burn off the grass, watching the blaze carefully so that it would not get beyond their control. The fires could be seen for long distances over the prairie and always brought excitement and anxiety.

The first plowing which Mr. Kendall ever watched was done by Oliver Stoughton. Mr. Stoughton plowed with an ox team, Dick and Dime. Most amazing of all to the small boy who watched the process was the fact that no lines were used, but the driver directed the oxen by calling to them the familiar signals of “Whoa,” “Gee,” and “Haw.”

Mr. Kendall was married to Miss Anna Margaret Kehn of near Delmar, on January 25, 1882, and they purchased an 80-acre farm two miles north of Delmar. Later they purchased more land until their farm reached the incorporated limits of Delmar. They lived there until March, 1917, when they came to Maquoketa. Mr. Kendall still oversees the work done on his farm land, and in addition he sells insurance. He was a member of the state legislature during the Thirty-second and Thirty-third General Assemblies.

One thing about the early days which Mr. Kendall cannot remember is the time when he first read the Sentinel. “We’ve had the Sentinel as long as I can remember,” he said. “We always had it at home when I was a boy.” One of the first things Mr. and Mrs. Kendall did when they were married was to subscribe to this paper, and they have been taking it ever since, for 56 years.

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