Green Island-1878

ROEMERS, RODD, TOMPKINS, ADAMS, CAVENAUGH, REED, NEU

Posted By: Ken Wright (email)
Date: 2/3/2009 at 23:04:50

Jackson Sentinel, March 7, 1878.

GREEN ISLAND AND ITS SURROUNDINGS

A Tramp Through Washington and Jackson Townships-The Beauties of “Snaking” a Mustang Pony Twenty-Six miles.

In accordance with orders, one of the correspondents of this paper made a pilgrimage through the eastern part of the county, and we would like to give his trip in full, but space will not permit. We let him tell his own story. The sun was shining brightly on this beautiful Wednesday that we left the Timber City, nothing was heard to disturb the stillness, all was as quiet as a golden humming bird stealing nectar from the fragrant pond lily, when we mounted a mustang pony and took a bee line for Green Island. Nothing happened on the route worthy of note except the noteworthy fact that the farmers were out of sorts as well as out of money.

We managed with the assistance of a spur to get as far as Van Buren the first night, and was entertained at the hotel kept by Chris Roemers, who is a perfect gentlemen and a thorough hotel man. We would recommend the weary traveler to this hotel, where you will receive every attention. We left this hospitable mansion in a drenching rain, and reached Green Island in a state of saturated solution of humility. Pulling up on foot (mustang in the rear) to the hotel owned by Mr. George Rodd, our steed was taken charge of by his gentlemanly clerk, Andy, and we were made as comfortable as the condition of our aching bones would permit. Next day we made a tour of the town, first calling upon Mr. Hogdon, Uncle Sam’s right hand man, and one who attends to the post office right up to the handle. He has a first class store where everything can be found from a dose of pills to a fifty dollar silk dress. While there we discovered he did a thriving business, and sold at prices that would compare favorably with those of Maquoketa. He is a true blue Democrat, takes the Sentinel and Dubuque Herald, and is well posted. Messrs. Tompkins and Adams, the only stock buyers in town, have shipped so far, 98 loads of hogs and cattle. They have a better record than any station on the road, and by fair dealing and fair prices, manage to bring farmers from within three miles of Bellevue to their market. Success gentlemen. Morge Cavenaugh, well known in the county keeps a restaurant, where everything can be found, required for the inner man. Ex-deputy sheriff, Mike Cavenaugh, writes J. P. after his name and will either issue a warrant or a marriage certificate, just as the parties desire. We had the pleasure of meeting Hon. W. H. Reed, who is a genial, whole-souled man, and one that will do to tie to. He was relieving the farmers of their surplus change, being tax collector of Washington township. Mr. Reed is always pleased to have friends call on him and will do his utmost to make their stay pleasant.

There are two good hotels at Green Island, the Rodd House and Dublin House, both give good accommodations. The Dublin House is kept by a lady whom we did not get as well acquainted with as the landlady of the Rodd House. Mrs. Rodd will furnish anything a guest wants, and understands how to prepare it for the table, while her liege lord, Geo. Rodd, is a host within himself. Long live these hotels. The inhabitants of this little town are mainly Irish of a superior class, where the rowdy element has never obtained a foothold. Our stay was very pleasant in Green Island, and we met very sociable men whose names we can not remember.

Bidding farewell to our new acquaintances, we started on our return trip, accompanied by our steady friend the mustang. The country through Wasington township is very uneven, although some superior farms will be found, and scores of men who have become wealthy among these hills. We noticed a large number of the young men had the Kansas fever, and undoubtedly will emigrate in the spring. Through Jackson we found the citizens mostly of German descent, of frugal and persevering tendencies and as a class are well to do in the world. At old Spring Brook we were taken in and provided for by Theodore Neu, who is a warm friend of the Sentinel, and always glad to see any one from this office. We started from his house in the morning, and by good luck and endurance managed to get home in time for a late supper. If he who forgives everything will just forget this trip, we will never attempt it again when the mud is four feet deep and has a sticking power of 1,000 pounds to the square inch.
SLEMERSON, Sentinel Missionary

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