Iowa
Old Press
THE FREMONT COUNTY HERALD
Sidney, Fremont Co., Iowa
September 13, 1917
TRAVEL SKETCH OF SOUTHWEST IOWA.
Interesting Article Written by a Sister of Mrs. W. M. Sells of
Near Sidney
The following interesting article was printed in the Chariton
Leader. It was written by Mrs. R. E. Pedigo, a sister of
Mrs. W. M. Sells, who lives three miles east of Sidney. Mrs.
Pedigo was here the final day of the Sidney chautauqua, which she
visited. But read the article:
Having lived for several years on one of the state auto roads, we
have had frequent opportunity to pause and look longingly and
dreamingly after the tourists flying by our door. So, when S. J.
Littleton, our brother-in-law, telephoned to know if we could
arrange our work so as to accompany himself, wife and nephew,
Donald Van Nice, on a visit to the home of Wm. Sells, another
brother-in-law, who lives in Fremont county, three miles east of
Sidney, the county seat, we arranged. Thursday, August 16, was
set for the trip. It was a perfect August day. S. J. and family,
in their six cylinder Oakland, arrived at out place, one-half
mile east of Norwood, at 5:30, and fifteen minutes later we were
on the way with this for our motto--"If anything troubles
you, forget it." We planned our first run should be to
Osceola. Leaving Woodburn to the south, we arrived just as
Osceola was waking up. An early morning ride is grand, and sure
makes one feel all worry is nonsense. We compared every place
with home and our own county seat, Chariton, did not lose
anything by comparison with any of the eight county seats
visited. We went south from Oseola over the broad, smooth
Jefferson highway to Leon. The miles seemed to slip away so fast
the thought came, "We will be in Sidney by noon, it is going
to be no trip at all." In either direction from this trail,
as far as the eye can see, are fields of corn and oats--most of
the oats in the shock at this time, the corn generally looking
fine. Only three small fields of wheat did we see in our drive
into 12 counties. South of Osceola we saw a beautiful herd of
Guernsey cows. Leon is quite a pretty city. After a little rest
we took up the Waubonsie Trail. We made the short cut to
Kellerton, and in so doing we missed Tuskeego, where we would
have been glad to call on our good friends, Mrs. John Preston and
Bert Murry and family. The Waubonsie led us up and down hill
continuously, each one seemingly a little higher than the last,
into Mount Ayr. Here we noticed cars parked in the center of the
street, as an idea new to us, and certainly with its advantages.
Here, as every place we stopped, we found some one ready to
direct us to the best road,and we found it a good plan to ask
questions, for although the marked roads are usually best, little
difficulties are often thus avoided. For instance, in many places
we found the main road torn to pieces by road workers. As one in
our party noted, "simply impassable, not even
jackasssable." Leaving Mount Ayr we still followed the
Indian trail, Waubonsie, into Taylor county. We missed the county
seat here, passed through the little village of Conway, where we
gave the Oakland a drink of gasoline, although it was neither hot
nor thirsty. We found a shady place, out came the lunch basket.
Fried chicken, bread, butter and ripe tomatoes never tasted
better. Gravity was the largest town we saw in this county. It
was a very neat, well kept appearance. A straight, hilly road
leads into Page county. At Clarinda the county fair was on, the
town full of people. Here we had the second course of our
progressive dinner, an ice cream soda. As our crowd seemed
reasonably normal, we passed the asylum up, said good-bye to Page
in Shenandoah. The town here was full of people, attending
chautauqua. Page county seemd to be taking a holiday. The
beautiful homes, abundant crops, well kept roads, proved it a
deserted one. Soon after we entered Fremont county we were in the
valley of the Nishnabotna, and everything took on a different
appearance. Every farm has a big apple orchard, and the trees are
loaded. In the long stretches of bottom land was nothing to
remind us of home. The corn fields look like forests, and if Jack
Frost keeps his fingers off, what a corn gathering there will be.
The oat fields had almost disappeared and alfalfa fields rested
the eye. At 5 o'clock we reached our destination. Arriving at a
sister's home is as near like getting in home as anything I know.
A good supper and all the visiting that could be crowded in
before early bed time, finished our first day out. Brother-in-law
Sells has 75 acres of as good corn as we saw, but he is
particularly interested in Duroc Jersey hogs. He owns Uneeda
Model, No 214253, and while we were there he refused an offer
from Fred Swan of Missouri Valley of $800 for him. He is one year
old. The same day he sold a spring male pig to Mr. Wilson for
$75. It seemed to us we would have done more selling, but we
don't know much about pigs. We visited the Sidney chautauqua,
where we were entertained by Mason's "Jubilee Singers",
then listened to Strickland Gillian. The laughs, with sermons in
between, of this great American humorist, did much to enliven our
visit. He is best known as the author of "Off Ag'in, On
Ag'in, Gone Ag'in, Finnigan." One familiar face greeted us
in the big audience, Hon. John Darrah, who was visiting
relatives. Sidney has a fine park for such entertainment. The
autos were lined up in two rows, facing each other, forming a
wide aisle for the people to pass through and reach their car
without being run down by cars. The cars always backing away from
the aisle, there is no confusion, and an inexperienced driver
need have no trouble. Two miles southwest of Sidney is Tolen
Springs. There is a 68,000 gallon reservoir. It furnishes Sidney
160 gallons a minute; 35,000 gallons waste per day. The water is
soft and so clear a nickle dropped into the reservoir can be
plainly seen. The place is beautiful in a wild, neglected way. We
tried to imagine what Chariton would do about it. We picture
fountains, grass slopes and wide driveways. We drove 12 miles
south into Missouri, then around to Hamburg, where we climbed to
the top of the bluff. Did not learn the height of the bluff. It
is possible better than 150 feet. There is a big reservoir up
here that furnishes the city of Hamburg water. The view here is
great. We had a glimpse of three states. We crossed the muddy
river into Nebraska City for dinner. We returned to Sidney by way
of Knox. A 10 mile drive to Randolph showed us more of Fremont
county. Here we called for a pleasant half hour at the home of
Miles Sells. Monday morning found us bidding the folks good-bye.
We went north, and at Hastings took up the Blue Grass trail.
Mills county looks good. At Red Oak we made quite a stay, driving
about looking at the beautiful homes. We found all accommodations
for travelers first class, as if they were expecting us. The
Oakland grumbled a little on the road between Red Oak and
Corning, but after a little adjustment, it took up the cheerful
hum we had learned to love. We found much threshing here, but
judge they were as scarce of machines as at home. Just west of
Creston the corn is badly fired. We had just left the town of
Murray, when we met a heavy rain, so we turned back and spent the
night. We learned from our host that Roy Fuller of Chariton had a
fine veterinary business here, and was permenently located.
Murray is well lighted; their source of electricity is Chariton.
Learning it had not rained north, we took the Tourists trail to
Truro, then across to New Virginia, where we struck the Jefferson
highway. At the garage we found James Crooks of Norwood, head
mechanic; also met Sam Boyd of Russell, who is located here,
carrying the mail for Uncle Sam. We passed through Medora, then
on the Liberty Center and Norwood at 11.We had enjoyed another
fine morning ride through country we never had seen. Southwestern
Iowa is surely prepared to do her part in feeding the great army,
as well as our allies, and we would defy German spies to report
to the contrary. Our indicator showed 500 miles.
MRS. R. E. PEDIGO
[transcribed by W.F., February 2008]