Early years in Story County -Sarah Ballard Boyes

BOYES, BALLARD

Posted By: Linda H Meyers (email)
Date: 5/3/2013 at 17:37:02

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Mrs. H. H. Boyce
By request I will attempt to recall a few incidents of pioneering.
On the 9th day of May the year 1844, in Alleghany county, New York, I first saw the light, and when I was four months old, my father, Dr. M. R. Ballard, with his family migrated westward as far as Ohio. He remained in that state one year; then removed to Will county, Illinois, where he settled on a farm to provide employment for his sons, while he followed his profession as a practicing physician. Again, when I was thirteen years old, the family took up its westward course, coming to Story County, Iowa, and arriving May 20th 1857 in what is now Howard township. I have resided here continuously, with the exception of six years I lived in Nevada and four years in the west.
While journeying on our way from Illinois the experiences were novel at times, but the most vivid recollections were when we came to cross the Mississippi river at Davenport, and drove the covered wagon on to the ferry boat. At Iowa City, my sister Mrs. Ferguson stayed with a brother’s family, who lived there, until the brother came along with the stock, then she came with brother Russell and family, and arrived in Story county, July 4th, 1857. The weather, while we were jogging along from day to day was ideal, and all went well, until, approaching Nevada, we mired down in a slough and required assistance to get started again. Stopping at Nevada, we were supplied with necessaries at Major Hawthorn’s store before leaving for our destination. Between here and Nevada, there were no dwellings until we reached the log cabin of H. L. Boyes, near where we now live.
My father settled on the Isaac Blade farm, by the timber near Skunk River, which overflowed often in spring time. The building was a cabin, with one room for eight in the family to occupy. I well remember how homesick my Mother was to be obliged to get along with so little room in a log cabin; with “bunks” one above another for the family to sleep in; cooking by a fire place etc. until different arrangements could be made.
The following winter of 1857 and 8, the first school in our immediate neighborhood was near my father’s dwelling, and was taught by Lois E. Ballard, brother Russell’s first wife, in their own dwelling. We had a good school, numbering fifteen or twenty pupils. The year 1856 and 7 the first school was taught by Charley Haslett on Long Dick Creek. The second school was the one above mentioned, and the third school was in “Old Poverty” taught by Rollin O. McOmber in the summer of 1858. The winter of 1858 and 9 my brother, B. P. Ballard, taught the first school in the “Sheffield” school and I taught the summer school and the following winter school of 1859 and 1860. H. H. Rood of Mr. Vernon taught the same school. The winter of 1858 and 9, I attended the Nevada school taught by Rollin C. McOmber. Madams F. D. Thompson, Lockridge and Waldron were my class mates as were also Gardner Price, J. D. Ferguson, H. H. Rood and many others. F. D. Thompson taught the Nevada schools the years of 1860 and 61 and 1861 and 2 and I had the pleasure of being one of his pupils.
In pioneer days, wheat bread was a luxury, as we lived principally on corn bread but with plenty of vegetables, and all the wild fruits necessary, sweetened with sorghum. Molasses was relished then. We all enjoyed good health and life was full of pleasure to the younger members of society who could adapt themselves to conditions and circumstances. I often contrast the present prosperity with those days, and imagine it would be a hardship for the younger generation now to be brought to such conditions. This is an era of extravagance and wastefulness. I pity the children who are not taught the value of money, or what it means to make a living. I was taught that a penny saved was two earned. I am not a pessimist. But I predict this extravagance cannot always continue, and that those who do not garner and live within their income, may realize somewhat the strenuous conditions of the pioneer.
-- S. E. Boyes

- Sarah E. (Ballard) Boyes is Mrs. Harrison H. Boyes. This article could have been published about the same time as her brother's articles in 1910. There was no date on the clipping.