Ward Memory Notes

WARD

Posted By: Anne Hermann (email)
Date: 6/3/2008 at 15:42:00

Maquoketa Excelsior
January 13, 1893

An Eye on Jackson County.

PRAIRIESBURG, Iowa, January 9, 1893.

EDITOR EXCELSIOR: -Though the writer hereof never set foot on Jackson county soil, yet I previously to coming west and since have quite closely kept my “mind’s eye” on said county as to its local and general history-making and more particularly, why? Well, it is because so many of my personal friends – relatives and otherwise – came to Jackson county in early days from my native, Warren county, N. Y., especially from the towns of Hague and Bolton in said county, while I well remember of hearing of the varied trials and struggles of some of these, which difficulties are, of course, naturally incident to people as pioneers in a newly opening country.

And now as I look back forty years and over, the names of these come to mind as “going to Jackson county, Iowa,” while I mention but a few of the many families that went” Decker, Mason, Hays, Lockwood, Davis, Potter, Renton, Wright, Rhodes, Dairymple and Gates, while in some instances there were several families of the same name, while but a few indeed of these and other unnamed associates of these are alive of those, especially who were middle aged or over when coming west. And again, how scattered became many of these and their descendents over the broad west as years passed away. Even a letter of this writer in the Excelsior two years ago or so, “held up” some of these “old boys” whom I used to know “down east,” one of whom came a long distance to visit us, all of which indicates that the Excelsior is in the habit of getting a long way from home among quite distant old friends.

But coming down to home matters, let me say that one of Jackson county’s old landmarks is on his fourth year as postmaster in our stirring town in the person of Thomas Abbey, who has proven a first-class official. But the “writing” is seen plainly on the “wall” that Tom must go when the political clock touches the right hour, Tom’s only offense is that he is a Republican.

Mr. Abbey is also notary public and dealer in notions, stationery, etc., and making himself useful in a general way, while his wife is a good worker in the Union Sunday school.

And in conclusion, let me say that letters from my friends at Hull, Sioux county, this state, often speak of Mr. L. H. Warriner of that town, whom many Jackson county people perhaps know, and who had poor health at last account, “Uncle Heck” is near four score years and has voted four times for a Harrison – William Henry in 1836-40, and Benjamin in 1888-92

But I must close my already too lengthy letter, with best wishes for the Excelsior family, personal and business, for its correspondents, readers and also for old-time or later-time friends of the retired, invalid writer or their descendants, whose eyes may see these hasty “memory notes.”

W. HENRY WARD.