Iowa
Old Press
THE WEEKLY BUGLE
Glenwood, Mills Co., Iowa
April 21, 1858
TO THE WEST, BOYS, TO THE WEST
By JOHN W. PATTISON.
In speaking of the West and Northwest, we apply the term East, to
that portion of our country lying east of the eastern line of the
State of Indiana, and the West and Northwest to all that portion
of our country which sweeps off westwardly from this boundary
line towards the setting sun. In the year 1800, Indiana had an
actual population of but a trifle over 4000, and westwardly, from
thence the entire population of our then frontier, would not
number over 1000 more. The date then of our western settlement
may with safety date (as a permanent date) about the 1800, whilst
that of our Eastern States commences as early as the year
1629--some 171 years previous. Forty eight years only, has given
us of the west, a population of at least 3,000,000. This
population is divided amongst the States of Indiana, Illinois,
Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa, Oregon and the Territories of
Nebraska, Kansas, Utah and Washington. Thus in the settlement of
the western portion of the American Union, we find a rapidity of
settlement unparelleled in the history of the world. To this
country, annually tides of emigration rich in energy, yet poor in
circumstances have come to an almost limitless field, where
exuberant fertility so readily supplies the wants of man. From
all nations, parties and sects,--from all circumstances in life,
has this "famous fabled country away out west," been
settled. They gather together as strangers, conflicting in
sentiment and spirit. In almost every village or settlement, are
to be found representatives from almost every place of
humanity.-- To harmonize these discordant elements, and to effect
a union of this mass, in addition to laying aside that sordid
self interest, which to a greater or less extent, characterizes
the men and societies of the east, is not the work of a moment or
day, and only until this is effected, but little attention is
paid to social improvement and the advancement of enterprises of
public benificence. But western society should not be condemned
for this, for as a mass you find communities less selfish and
more generous than many of the older settled States. To Eastern
capitalists, to no little extent, has the progress of western
society been impeded by the entry and purchase of large tracts of
land, and holding on thereto, or selling to settlers at an
advanced rate, and in widely separated lots whereby the value of
their intervening tracts are enhanced in value. The effect of
this has been by separating the settlers so that they could but
poorly enjoy the pleasures of social intercourse, or the benefits
of schools and churches. A brighter day is however dawning, in
this respect throughout the west. The system of land monopolies
is being broken down, and the good effect arising therefrom is
making itself manifest in the building up of Churches, Colleges
and Schools, and the western emigrant in these latter days need
labor under no fear of being isolated long from these privileges
and benefits. It is argued that western Colleges are inferior to
those of the East. This is but a poor argument, for it is a
universal axiom that that system of education is the best which
favors the development of the most truth, and certainly in this
respect western schools and colleges are not behind hand. For a
moment let the reader examine the practical effect of a western
system of education. It has presented to the world one of the
greatest inventors of the age--a western man by birth and
eduction--we refer to John Fitch. From the west came Audubon, the
celebrated ornithologist. From the west came the sculptors,
Powers, Clevinger and Baker. From the west came our popular
orators, Corwin, Douglas and Bates. The pulpit and bar also, will
vie powerfully with those of our more highly favored Eastern
States, and numberless instances of exalted mind and powerful
intellect in all the high walks of life, may be found in this
western world, deriving their culture from the system of western
education. Our youth are taught to depend upon their own
resources, to "paddle their own canoe," as did their
fathers. To "be something," is the watchword. There is
a freedom of choice and a freedom of action amongst the youth of
the west in the practice of which the poor half-clad boy, whether
of American, Irish, English or German extraction, is on the same
footing with his neighbor. All are taught that true spirit of
independence and liberality which marks the man.
But enough upon the subject of western education. We are young
yet. We have much to do as western men in this battlefield of
progress, to which the young and middle aged, the toilworn and
hopeful, may look for encouragement. The emigrant to a western
home--no matter how far upon the frontier he may go--will be
astonished at the amount of intelligence and a thorough knowledge
of the world, is oftimes found in one of our little log cabins,
stuck alongside of some choice grove of Cottonwood or Oak, or
which passes from the lips of some hardy pioneer, as he leans
upon his heavy breaking plough upon the Prairie.To the toil-worn
of the East, who yearly, barely eke out an existence in earning
their bread by the sweat of their brow, and those who more
fortunate, scarcely save a few hundred dollars in the same
time--to the young man who is just starting out to plough in the
field of life, and the middle aged, who are half way on the road
to the grave, with perhaps a family growing up around them,
dependent upon them for support, we urge the importance of
migrating westward. Thousands of acres as rich beautiful lands as
the sun ever shone upon, are now lying vacant in Nebraska,
inviting you to come, and at a mere nominal price, by your
pre-emtpion right, obtain good title thereto for 160 acres, which
almost yearly, will double in value. Buy yourself a Land Warrant
of 160 acres, pack up your traps and come on early, and the
quarter section upon which you apply it, costing you but about
$160, will readily sell in one year for a least four times the
amount paid. Improve it and not only derive the benefit directly
from such improvements, but remember every dollar invested in
this manner will also return you fourfold. Thousands are rapidly
pouring into our western world, dotting our prairies with well
cultivated farms and comfortable farm houses, deriving profit and
pleasure from a soil which yields far more with much less labor,
than any of our Eastern States. Come on then, and come
early--convert your present inheritance into cash and invest it
in this thriving, rich, prosperous, glorious country, "away
out west."
[transcribed by W.F., August 2008]