MUSCATINE COUNTY IOWA REGISTER OF OLD SETTLERS BOOK ONE

Source: REGISTER OF OLD SETTLERS , BOOK One, page 172
submitted by Neal Carter, Aug. 14, 2007

BY “WAPSIE”

July 21 (1885) – The descendents of Grandfather ENOCH LEWIS, with their wives and children, held a reunion in the grove just north of town, on the 16th last. The number that gathered in was 80, and this was only a little more than one-half, most of the balance being scattered all over the country. I believe by actual count there are a few over 100 living in the vicinity of West Liberty. This is certainly a fair showing for one family, and especially where, as in this case, no one need be ashamed of anyone or all the rest, but where all are true, law-abiding men and women. I believe Mr. Enoch Lewis died at his home near West Liberty in the year 1871, and this is the first reunion of the family since that event. I would be glad to write a more extended account of this extended family, but have not the data to properly do so. Some time early in the forties Uncle Enoch Lewis migrated to this State, from Ohio.

Mr. JOHN BELL died at his home near Downey, Cedar county, Iowa, last Saturday evening at 7 o’clock , and was buried in the West Liberty cemetery yesterday. Mr. Bell was just past 77 years of age. He came to Iowa with his family in 1852, and located about 2˝ miles east of West Liberty, on the old State road from Muscatine to Iowa City, where he lived a number of years on the farm with his brother-in-law, Rev. John Hudson, before removing to the home near Downey. Mr. Bell leaves an aged wife and four children, one son and three daughters, to mourn his loss.

The oppressively hot weather and the haying were both cut short by a rain this afternoon. It is certainly more comfortable to live after than before a rain these days.

Just before the rain to-day and while it was so hot, one of our professional men and a young merchant amused themselves by throwing buckets full of water on each others’ backs. They seemed to enjoy it, and it was certainly refreshing to those who witnessed the play.

What might have been pretty serious work with a pitchfork between two belligerents on the streets to-day was prevented by the bystanders interfering. There was no whisky in that fight, for a wonder.

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