HOSS TRADING AND CRIME

ROUSE, KENDALL, DAVIS, WESLEY

Posted By: David (email)
Date: 1/9/2005 at 23:13:19

The Chariton Leader, Chariton, Iowa
Thursday, September 26, 1907

This is old settlers week and a season of recalling and recounting early
experiences. The writer cannot boast of being one of the "old settlers" but
will venture the assertion that no pioneer had more thrilling experience
than he had during a couple of youthful years spent in the service of J.W.
ROUSE, on a Washington Township farm. J.W. has abandoned Iowa and is now a
citizen of Kansas, so it is proper that a chapter of unwritten history be
revealed.

Soon after going there the youth was promoted and arose to the position of
confidential clerk" and no big trades were consummated without the matter
being thoroughly discussed and all phases of the situation gone over -- for
J.W. was a trader from Trafficville. Squire KENDALL lived down the road,
around the angle from Union Corner, and was the owner of a trim built black
mare, which MR. ROUSE coveted, so one day in the spring time, when the earth
was soft and spongy and the saltpeter was oozing out of the ground, he said
we would go over and treat with the Squire for the animal, offering a most
likely fawn colored young filly. The Squire, who was no trader at all,
thought that $5 difference, in his favor, would be about right. Without
further words the "confidential clerk" was instructed to draw an order on
the exchequor for that amount, pass it over to the Squire and the exchange
was made.

On our way home the new owner of the trim black mare made the startling
discovery that her left hind leg was about six inches longer than the other
one, and she ambled along in a sort of a semi-kangaroo fashion. This gait
wasn't pleasing, although in all other respects the mare was certainly
worthy a lithograph page in the Percheron horse book, so the "look out" was
kept open for another swap.

In a few days the Rev. THORNTON DAVIS, a local Baptist Minister, residing
down near Brushey, came along riding an ancient looking bay gelding. By
this time the salt peter had gotten entirely out of the ground and the south
wind was blowing gladly -- just the weather for oats sowing, but one more
trade must be made before farming time; the skirmish line was thrown out and
the preacher and his bay gelding fell into ambush. The "confidential clerk"
had been instructed to bring the likely black mare out and lead her forth so
that her kangaroo leg would level up on the down hill slope, (the defect
being caused by a slipped hip). This he did to a king's taste and when the
banter was made the owner of the ancient bay gelding hesitated, but after
looking the likely black mare over said hoss swapping was contrary to his
profession but if it would be any accommodation he would exchange the
ancient bay gelding for the likely looking black mare and $25. After
considerable haggling terms were accepted and he was to call for the
balance of trade" the following day; thus when the saddle was transferred
the keeper of the Baptist faith disappeared away. This was most thoroughly
impressed later when the ancient gelding resorted to his habit of "standing
still" when it was necessary that the burthen move forward.

* * * * *

It was mighty few trades that JOHN WESLEY got worsted in. He looked after
business carefully but had a pardonable delight in practical jokes and often
worked them on his best friends. He enjoyed fun and could always enjoy the
joke, even though at his own expense. He and JOHN ROUGH were boon
companions -- always together, agreeing in nothing and as dissimilar as the
earth's axis. HOUGH was very tidy in dress while ROUSE was rather more
democratic in his attire. It was threshing season and HOUGH had a hobby for
fine hats and at this particular time wore a $6 Stetson every day. Every
time HOUGH lifted this evidence of wealth ROUSE would smile -- he was laying
for that hat. On a pretext of a shortage of good help he inveigled HOUGH
onto the boards to "cut bands" and then stationed the "confidential clerk"
in the forefront of the battle, on the bundle wagon, with instructions to
make a mislick with his pitchfork and lift HOUGH's $6 Stetson over into the
cylinder. When HOUGH saw his crown disappear into the teeth it took the
feeder and several other men to hold him from jumping in after it -- but it
was a whole lot of fun, never-the-less, and for this act of treachery the
confidential clerk" got a two days' furlough on full pay.
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Copied by Nancee(McMurtrey)Seifert
January 6, 2005
iggy29@rnetinc.net