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MOFFATT MEMOIRS

Related by WILLIAM WALLACE MOFFATT
Written by EUNICE BEALL MOFFATT, his wife
1934 A.D.

Dedicated to the MOFFATT descendants,
who receive it with appreciaton and
a full understanding of the gracious
act of love and labor.

MEMOIRS

by W. W. MOFFATT, Mount Ayr, Iowa, A.D. 1934

Back to the country of my ancestors I go,
in memory of happenings of the long ago.

To say that country is a fairyland you can find by reading "Evangeline" - which description is better than mine. The hills and valleys, mountains and lakes are a wonderland.

The two important cities of Cape Breton Island are Sydney and North Sydney - one on each side of the "most beautiful harbor in the world" - quoted by Charles Moffatt. This harbor lies northeast to southwest, a distance of about fifteen miles.

Cape Breton Island

My great grandfather was James Moffatt, who died in 1825. Our grandfather, John Moffatt, located on the north side of the harbor, about two miles from the entrance, where he purchased one-hundred acres of land back to the hills.

This was just after the country was taken by the English from the French. This land is now very valuable for its coal.

At that time it was covered with excellent saw-timber. Great grandfather started a shipyard at this place. Also a tannery.

A man by the name of Archibald, operated a general merchandise store. Great grandfather's business was building and repairing boats. Here is where the large boat Isabella was built and launched. Here grandfather, the only child, inherited as nearly as we can tell, in the year 1790 or before. Here grandfather married Mary Ray about this time, and here their sixteen children were born, fourteen growing to be men and women - John, Thomas, Hannah, Steven, Mary, Elizabeth, Ann, Tabitha, George, William, Charles, Margaret, Peter and Fred. Two died in infancy.

Uncle Charles went through the ice Christmas-day when he was twenty-one years old, out skating. His body was never recovered.

Father, Peter Moffatt, worked on the farm with grandfather. Father, when young, learned the shoe-maker's trade. Later he helped grandfather in the shipyard and on the farm. Twelve years of his labor was lost, by their going security on notes for Archibald, which gave him a lasting impression never to go as security, or never to go in debt.

About one mile up the harbor and on the opposite side, was the home of grandfather Grant. The land is now owned by a company, it being very rich in copper ore. All the buildings were removed. They were as one in affection. We saw John Grant's daughter, Matilda, when in Nova Scotia in 1926. She distinctly remembered when she stood up with my father and mother at their wedding when she was five years old.

About a mile up the harbor from Grandfather Grant's home was the Andrews' home, and a mile from them, the Campbell home.

All these families were closely associated and in the same group of young people. Grandfather Grant's wife was Ann Love Musgrave. Their family consisted of Charles, Caroline, Alexander, George, Eliza and Ann. Later, by a second wife, Bessie.

The first marriage in this group was Peter Andrews and Caroline Grant. Their first daughter, now Ann Stevens, will be ninety years old April 27th, 1934. Henry Andrews was born in 1845, and died in 1903. Elizibeth, was born in 1846, is now Mrs. Blades and lives in Colorado.

November 12, 1851, my father, Peter Moffatt (born August 15, 1823) was married to Eliza Grant. She was born March 5, 1831. To this union was born Fatima Moffatt-Tilbury, September 29, 1852, Mary Moffatt-Stockton, April 13, 1854, Bessie, in 1856, lived three months, William Wallace, July 27, 1860, (first one born in Iowa), George Duncan, October 1, 1862, Anna Caroline Moffatt Kater, April 20, 1866.

The families were all contented and happy in or near North Sydney until the death of Caroline Grant-Andrews, June 4, 1857. The grief occasioned by this loss caused Rev. Peter Andrews (he had become a Baptist preacher) to seek a new home in the United States.

He anticipated locating in Kansas but while on the boat from St. Louis to St. Joseph, he encountered a number of slaveholders abusing their slaves. He remonstrated with them and they were going to throw him overboard, but the captain locked him in his own cabin, so he would safely reach his destination. Arriving at St. Joseph, he found there was such agitation in Kansas over the slave question, he decided to go to Iowa. He came to Mt. Ayr, at that time having only a few houses. Not finding government land he could enter he started to Taylor County, hiring a horse. He met Mr. Stewart living near the Missouri line, whom he had previously met near Mt. Ayr.

Mr. Stewart told him he would find him eighty acres of land in Ringgold County that he could enter. This he did, and it is now the home of his ninety year old daughter, Mrs. Stephens. The glowing accounts of the immense prairies, fine timber land and beautiful streams of water, were sent home to the relatives, with the view of bringing them to this country. Immediately father's mind was made up to go west, and he planned to come in 1858. William Campbell left Cape Breton in about 1826 for the United States. He went to Florida, married a lady there of considerable wealth. Her brother and William Campbell were partners in wagon-making and general blacksmithing. In 1857 his wife died, and in the summer of 1858 he visited his old home near Sydney. Here he met Ann Grant, a beautiful talented young lady of twenty-four. She at first refused his attentions, but his promises to immediately free his slaves and dispose of all Florida property, and join the party coming to Iowa, changed her mind. They were married, and all left on the same boat for Boston, Mass., making a party of sixteen. Mrs. Munn, (Mrs. Ross's sister), Ben Moore and wife, Vina, Robert, Joe and Charles Moore, his children, Peter and Eliza Moffatt and children, Fay and Mary; Ann, Elizabeth and Henry Andrews, William and Ann Campbell. In crossing the Bay of Fundy, a heavy storm struck them, driving them a hundred miles out of their course, scudding before the wind. (Related by Ann Stephens.) The party visited a few days in Boston with uncle George Grant, then the Campbells went on to Florida, and the others took boat for Portland, Me., thence to Toronto, Canada by rail, - from there to Chicago by way of the Great Lakes - thru the Straits of Mackinaw.

Father's description of Chicago at this time, was not much there and the worst kind of streets. No pavements. From Chicago they went to St. Louis by rail. From St. Louis to St. Joseph by boat, the boat being so heavily loaded it took eight days to make the trip, or about forty miles a day. At St. Joseph, a man with a team was engaged to take them to John Ross's, between forty and fifty miles, near what is now Stanberry, Mo.

Main Street, Stanberry, Missouri, circa 1910

This gave the Nova Scotians a chance to get thoroughly acquainted with Missouri mud. It rained nearly all the time, taking two days to make that trip. The men walked nearly all the way. Arriving at John Ross's, mother was a victim of quinsy*, and was not able to be moved. Father came on to see uncle Peter Andrews, accompanied by the Andrews children.

There they found uncle William Campbell, who had preceded them, from Florida. He bought the Zook farm, joining the Andrews' farm. He then returned to Florida. Father went back to Ross's in about a month and brought mother to Iowa, where they all wintered with uncle Peter Andrews in a small log-house with a fireplace in one end. The larder became very low. Fresh meat was scarce.

Henry made a coup (sic) with cornstalks and sticks and put it in the buckwheat patch to catch prairie-chickens. One of the Walters boys showed him how to make triggers to hold the coup up to catch them. The first day Henry noticed his coup was sprung and full of chickens. He rushed out to hold the coup down, calling for mother to come and help him. She felt very grateful for such an abundant supply of needed food and made the remark, "The Lord will provide", but Henry said she did not give him a bit of credit for his part.

Father, in looking for a location for a home, decided to buy forty acres of land of George Walter, at five dollars an acre. This joined forty acres that he could enter from the government at a dollar and a quarter an acre. This constitues the old home know as the Moffatt eighty. I do not think this land was ever mortgaged. With uncle Peter's and Henry Andrews' help, the winter of 1858-59, they worked in the woods, Henry Andrews hauling logs to the mill with a yoke of oxen, the others remaining to chop.

In the spring they commenced a frame house, fourteen by eighteen feet, fireplace in the east end. The lath and shingles were hand made. "Uncle" Joe Woods, who came from England, and lived a mile north, did the plastering. It is mostly there yet and firm to this day. Father had very little time for gardening and raising corn while building the house.

In November of 1850, uncle Peter Andrews took his oxen and went to Denver, Mo., for corn, paying one dollar a bushel, and bought a load of it and cornmeal. The night he got back with his load, he saw the light in the window, and trying to reach it, got to one side in the cellar-drain, and the folks in the house heard him calling "Help! Help!" so went and found him with his load stuck in the drain. The winter was very severe and hardships numerous for the new colony. Father's first bay mare and one-horse-wagaon was bought from a Missouri man and was the means of conveyance for about three years.

They still used oxen and sleigh in winter. In 1863 father traded a yoke of oxen for old Kit. She had been stolen in Missouri and after father heard that, they were worried for some time for fear the owners would come to take her, but they did not, and she proved to be a great money maker, her colts selling for one-hundred to one-hundred-fifty dollars at two to four years old. Her last colt lived to the age of twenty-six years on the farm.

In 1860, Uncle Peter Andrews married Elizibeth Walter. In the spring of 1860, uncle William Campbell came with his family from Florida. Their oldest son, Alexander, was born in 1861. Cy. Andrews was also born in 1861. George Moffatt was born in 1862. Our parents were quite proud of the new force of boys coming on to follow the plow. Uncle William built a large barn in 1863. Ben. Moore, who had located in Stanberry, Mo., was the head carpenter for uncle William's building.

Civil War Flags.jpg In 1863, Henry Andrews went to fight in the civil war. In 1864, Ben. Moore joined the army. He was soon taken sick and sent home on furlough, and only lived a few months, his being the first death of those coming together in 1868 (?). He left nine children fatherless, his second wife having three little boys. Uncle John Ross was appointed administrator and guardian.

In 1865, uncle George Grant was our first relative to visit from the old home. He and Will Campbell made a trip to Ottumwa for fruit-trees. On their way home, they encounted an awful wind and rainstorm. The first gust tore every button off of uncle George's rain-coat and when it was over, they were thoroughly drenched.

Uncle William Campbell gave an apple-tree to each brother George and myself, and they bore fruit and lived to a considerable age.

Henry Andrews returned from the war in 1865. Father helped uncle Peter and Henry Andrews put up their hay that fall. As I sat on old Kit, I remember Henry coming up and teasing me till I lost my temper.

In 1866-67, father built on more house-room. In 1867, Susan Moore and family moved from the Ross' neighborhood to Iowa, making their home with father for the first winter. Sister Fay and Vina Moore attended school in Mt. Ayr, Vina boarding with J. F. Mounts, and Fay with Dr. Merrills, each working their board.

Uncle Fred Moffatt came in 1868 to seek a home. He helped father on the farm most of the summer, and worked at the carpenter trade in Mt. Ayr. In the fall of 1869, both Fay and Vina taught their first terms of school, Vina the Baird School, near Redding, Fay the John Scott school, near where Kellerton was located later.

Here Fay boarded at the Guile home, Flo Guile being about her age. They became close friends. They names their first daughter for the other.

April, 1870 was the saddest day our colony ever experienced, Ann Grant-Campbell passing away, leaving a daughter a few days old.

Christmas-day, uncle William Campbell and boys were at father's for dinner. After dinner, we boys out at play, saw black smoke pouring out of the flue of their home, two miles away. We hurried to tell the folks, and about this time the fire came out of the upstairs window. Father jumped on a horse, and uncle William hitched up and followed as fast as possible. There was not much saved out of the house. Tom Campbell and family were living there. They went into a large log-house nearby for a temporary home.

Uncle William, Charles and the baby made their home with us for several months. In the fall of 1870, mother and uncle William made a visit to Boston and, I think, to Nova Scotia.

Father had bought a side-saddle for my sisters and July 4, 1971 (sic, should be 1871), my sister Molly and I went to Mt. Ayr to the celebration. About four o'clock, Molly found me and said, "let us start for home at once. It is going to rain". We mounted our horses and hurried for home. We watched the clouds very closely, but when near the farm afterwards the Hunter farm, a very sharp streak of lightening and heavy clapp of thunder came and we were sure the rain would catch us. Molly tucked her had (sic) under her skirt to save it, and we speeded on as fast as our horses could carry us. Molly's long black hair streaming at full length behind. We could have turned in at Walters or Edd Stucks but Molly said, "No, home", and we got into the barn just as the storm struck. In the spring of 1872, Molly went to Corning to work at the millinery trade, and boarded with uncle Peter Andrews. July 4, 1872, uncle Joe Woods and wife and Fay and I went to Corning to visit and bring Molly home. At this time I had my first sight of railroad and train.

The first day of May, 1873, sister Fay married Rev. C. Tilbury. In August of that year, they established their home in Leon, Iowa.

That summer uncle John and aunt Jane Ross visited us and Susan Moore. Sister Molly was working at the millinery trade at home. Aunt Jane persuaded mother to let her go to Mt. Pleasant, Mo., to start a millinery shop. In August, father, Molly and I went to Ross's and she stayed and went in the millinery business at the Hutten home in Mt. Pleasant. This did not last but a few months, when Molly took a partner in November, 1873, A. R. Stockton being the one in a life's partnership, living in Mt. Pleasant. He owned a nice home in town, being a widower with one son. While out riding one evening, they decided to be married in the buggy, and one of his relatives performed the ceremony, he being a Justice of the Peace. No license was needed at that time in the State of Missouri. That night they did not tell of their marriage, but she introduced Mr. Stockton as her husband at the breakfast time, next morning.

The summer of 1874, father bought his first mowing machine, paying a hundred-five dollars. He also bought the first two horse cultivator. Our heaviest work was in August and September, putting up enough hay to keep the stock through the winter. In February of 1875, two of Mr. Stockton's brothers came with teams and I went with them to Leon, where we loaded Mr. Tilbury's and their possessions into our three wagons and brought them to father's, and stayed one night there, and the Stocktons' went on with their wagons, and a few days later, the Tilburys followed, where Mr. Tilbury became pastor of the Baptist church in Mt. Pleasant, Mo. Here Flola May Tilbury was born in September 21, 1875. One month later, Gertrude Stockton was born, and only lived about a year. These were father's first grand children.

In 1876 uncle Peter Andrews made his first trip back to Nova Scotia. Before leaving there, he had preached at the old church on the Moffatt wharf, where was also located the cemetery, one or more stores and tannery. On this trip he preached in the new church which was built in North Sydney - so he had the honor of preaching in both Baptist churches. Bert Moore, Vina's brother, who had lived with his aunt in North Sydney, came back with uncle Peter to make his home in this country.

Commercial Street, North Sydney, Nova Scotia

The winter of 1876-77, William Barnes taught the Caledonia school, and as I took more interest in this school than for some time, mother engaged board with uncle Joe Woods and I attended Mt. Ayr High School the spring term, George A. Slentz being teacher.

In 1876 Rev. Tilbury and family moved to Clarinda, Iowa. Sister Fay sent me an invitation to come and stay with her and attend school. I went the last week in September, 1877, but the new school building was not completed until the first of January, 1878. October I worked gathering corn for a Mr. Butler, ten miles south, took typhoid fever and was sick in November and December. In July, 1878, a young Mr. Martin and I went to Essex to harvest. We hired to a Mr. Johnson for a dollar fifty per day, binding wheat. My shoes rubbed my heels until I could not wear them. Then I worked in my sock feet for a day. Imagine the condition of my feet and hands, but thanks to a great downpour of rain which lasted a day and a half, Mr. Martin and I went to the river and kept our hands and feet in water all day, not even going home for dinner. After this, all the briars and blades of wheat had no effect on me. We worked over two weeks here, when another heavy rain stopped all harvesting. Martin and I started for our Clarinda home, bare footed, crossing streams out of banks. One place I went clear under but struck the bank on the other side and climbed out.

Then Martin went some distance up the stream to get across the ditch while I waited. Talk about fun - yes he had our fun. Arrived at Sister Fay's without dinner, after a fourteen mile tramp. Went to school again this year of 1878-79. In October, 1878, Belle Tilbury was born and Truman Stockton in April of 1878.

In the summer of 1879 I decided to come home to work on the farm, coming by rail through Villisca and Afton. The Mt. Ayr bus (or stage,) - they called it, had gone, so I started afoot from Afton about one o'clock P.M. Two miles out, I saw an old gentleman eating and feeding his team, so stopped to talk. I told him where I was going and asked to ride. He said he was going to Eagleville, by Mt. Ayr and Caledonia.

He was loaded, so I asked to ride on the level and down hill. He readily agreed. We got to Eugene near sundown. A black storm-cloud was right on our heels. I suggested we stop -- he though we could go further. I said, "No, I stop at this house", I asked the lady if I could stay over-night. I told her of the old gentleman, and could he stay. She said "yes" to both questions. I ran out to tell him and before he could get his team put away, one of the heaviest rains I ever saw, came down. He had his own bedding and she had a good wood-house or summer kitchen and he suggested we sleep there. She said it would not cost us anything, so there we slept. The next morning was bright.

I rolled my pants to my knees and started afoot without breakfast, and was in sight of Mt. Ayr before I thought possible. I washed off my feet, put on my shoes and went to a restaurant for dinner. I looked around for someone from Caledonia, but not seeing any one, I resumed my journey afoot. Arrived home early in the evening, surprising the folks. This summer of 1879, brother George took the old team and went to seek his fortune working on the new railroad west of Kellerton, near the Burns' farm. He and George and James Farmer thought they were having a picnic, and prevailed on me to go also. I took a fine young sorrel team, known as Barney and Blaze. As I passed through Caledonia, Madison Sullivan said he would rather have what I took off of the team than all I would make. I told him I would look out for the team.

The first week I had a picnic with the others. The second week was very hot and I was very sick all one night, and a heavy rain that night stopped the work for a day.

I returned home not much wealthier, but wiser. A year later, Rev. J. H. Tedford of Mt. Ayr bought Blaze, and Rev. Allen of Kellerton bought Barney. The first of September, I returned to school at Clarinda. Father made sister Fay a present of the mare known as little Bird. In January, 1880, brother George came to Clarinda and bought Bird for fifty-dollars. Mr. Tilbury now decided to go to Stanberry, Mo., and run a grocery store. This town had been started October 9, 1879. He moved there about February 15, 1880.

I worked for him a month in the grocery. The 20th of March, I hired to Alex Stockton, who lived three miles away on his farm; he to pay me $16.00 per month for six months. I expected to return to school at Clarinda. Mr. Stockton made me an offer of $17.00 per month for a year if I would remain with him. I went over to Clarinda at the time of the Fair there, and on looking around, did not find a boarding place to my liking, so returned to accept Mr. Stockton's offer.

He was feeding fifty-six head of cattle. They sold about June 1, 1887, making a nice profit. The summer was very favorable, and we got a fine crop of corn off of one hundred acres. In November, he put eight-one head of cattle on feed. My business was to feed the cattle and then gather corn the rest of the time. The corn was cribbed by the first of December. Holiday week, I came home for a week.

While at home, father bought the Medaris' farm, one-hundred acres for fourteen hundred and fifty dollars. January 16, 1881, Irvin Roy Stockton was born. I had the pleasure of getting out at two o'clock in the morning, and riding Jeff Davis, the old horse, a distance of three miles of icy roads, to Stanberry, to summon the Doctor. He told me to go on and he would overtake me, but he nearly failed, for I was at the home gate when he came. I walked (or ran) most of the way home in a raging snow storm. I took the Doctor's horse while he went to the house. Then I hitched the mules to the sled and went half a mile for Mr. Stockton's father and mother, arriving about daylight. Then was announced the arrival of a fine boy. After the chores, the next trip was to Stanberry for Alex's sister, Mrs. Flowers. The storm lasted for about a week, blowing, snowing and drifting. Alex and I were as busy as bees taking care of things. He also fed the chickens at his father's. One day the mule he was riding, mired in the snow and Alex rolled off and landed in a ditch six feet deep. For references of this storm, ask any one who lived in 1881.

My year being up in September, Mother and George came to take me home the fifteenth. The sixteenth, we had a good heavy snow storm which only lasted a few hours. In November, Geoge went and helped Alex Stockton a month, gathering corn.

The corn on the Medaris farm brought thirty dollars per acre. being 75-cents per bushel. As the farm cost $14.50 per acre, if all had been in corn, it would have brought twice what he paid.

July 4, 1882, I started to Mt. Ayr to the celebration with my sister and three other young ladies. In crossing a small creek, the team and the old spring-wagon parted company, leaving the ladies in the wagon in the stream, I jumping and landing on the bank holding the team. I rolled my pants to my knees, took off my shoes and socks, threw in a log and got them on the bank -- they gathered brush and I lifted the wagon, one wheel at a time, and got it out, resuming our journey. The only damage was to my Sunday-breeches, which were bursted at the crotch, but repaired with pins by my sister.

July 4, 1883, brother George was married to Lennie Sullivan. In September, the cattle were sold, and the last debt on the Medaris farm was paid.

July 26, 1884, Ada Fay Moffatt was born. In October, we bought from Ira Cooper the eighty acres across the road from the old home, price $1050.00. In 1885, Georgia Emma Tilbury was born.

In 1886, father, A. R. Stockton and wife and Irwin Stockton, went to Nova Scotia, Mother going with them to Boston and Springfield, where she visited her brothers. They stayed a month at Father's old home in Cape Breton.

In February, 1887, Anna Moffatt was married to C. F. Kater, and in September, 1888, Bessie Fay Kater was born. The sixteenth of March, 1889, we bought 160 acres of land adjoining Lon Smith on the south. The owner offered George the land for $8.00 per acre. Also the same offer to a man named Lewis. Mr. Lewis the next day stopped to say he was going to buy the land and we could have the north half for $10.00 per acre. Father said "we will give the $8.00 for it." "No, $10.00 or I will keep it". When George and I came in from the feeding, Father gave us the report. I said to brother George, "Saddle the gray mare and I will beat him to town." I discovered him four miles from town talking to a neighbor. I turned into another road without his discovering me, went in, bought the land, had the deed recorded and returned home the same way. When he arrived and found what had been done, he was very angry and on his way home, stopped to give Father his blessing - I being absent. The same spring I was helping C. F. Kater buy horses for the eastern market. I went with a load of horses to Springfield, Mass., about the twelfth of May; Kater taking a load to Philadelphia. Prices not suiting him there, he re-loaded and went on to Springfield. They were finally sold at auction, making him a nice little depression.

The 30th and 31st of May and first of June, we had frost each morning, ending with a heavy freeze. The night of May 30th was the Johnstown flood (1889). C. F. Kater was on the first train crossing after the Johnstown bridge was repaired - I having come on the northern route a week sooner.

Uncle Alex and uncle George Grant and wives made us a visit in October, 1889. The two uncles went to visit uncle Peter Andrews at Corning, and found him quite sixk (sic). From there they visted Henry Andrews in Kearney, Nebraska. They returned by Stanberry where they visited A. R. Stockton and other relatives; Alex bringing them back to father's. We had the sad news for them that uncle Peter had passed away and uncle William Campbell was very sick. He, too, passed away a few weeks later. During the holidays, I took uncle Alex and wife to Stanberry, where they went on to St. Louis and then to their home. In January, I took uncle George and wife to Stanberry to stay a few days and then to go on to California to spent the winter.

[Peter Moffatt was born August 15, 1823; died August 26, 1894, with interment at Ringgold Cemetery.****]

On the way they stopped to see the Grand Canon (sic), and he told me to be sure to see it if I ever had the opportunity. Forty years later, we were able to take his advice. Uncle Georges visited with uncle Fred Moffatt's wife in Oakland, California and other friends, returning about the first of April to spend a few weeks, before returning to his home in Boston. While he was here, the Moffatt partnership was dissolved. Brother George got the Medaris land and the Speelman land, making 100 acres. I received the 80 acres west, across the road from the old home, and the 80 acres south of Lon Smiths.

Brother George gave father his note for $1000.00 and I for $500.00, neither of which was ever paid. From now on till his death, father and I were partners - fifty-fifty.

In June, 1891, Lydia Moffatt was born. The fall of 1892, George and Fred Wilkinson traded farms, George moving there, north of the Hunter farm on March 1, 1893. This is the 160 acres George willed to his son Ernest.

March 20, 1893, Alex Grant Moffatt was born. The summer of 1894 was known with us as the dry year. Very little corn or hay, and orchards and other trees died from drouth (sic). The fourth of July, George N. Moffatt came to visit us. In August, father took him to Stanberry, as he took sick and passed away the wenty-sixth (sic) of the same month.

Alex Stockton and family moved the fall of 1895 from Stanberry to Canon City, Colorado. In January of 1896, I visited them there.

The first of March, I rented the farm to E. R. Anderson for one year, he taking care of my stock. Mother visited through the summer with sister Fay Tilbury at Sharon, Kansas. The fifth of May, I left Mount Ayr for Boston, having in care a carload of horses for C. A. Powers.

Arrived at uncle George Grant's the evening of the tenth. He was out walking and aunt Fay and I were having a nice visit on the porch when uncle George returned. He could hardly believe his eyes, not knowing but what I was in Iowa. After a week's visit, I went to Springfield, Mass., for a week. Bought a scalper's ticket from Boston to Chicago, being at the time of the Democratic National Convention when W. J. Bryan was nominated on the platform of sixteen to one.

I returned home in time to help Anderson put up hay. In the fall, brother George and family went to visit A. R. Stockton in Canon City, Colorado, - Mother and I keeping house for them. March 1, 1897, we returned to the old home, Anderson having bought the G. S. Moore farm near Caledonia. The fall of 1897, George rented his farm to John Talley and they moved to Canon City, Colorado.

Soda and Iron Springs, Canon City, Colorado

In February, 1896, I was taken sick with a pain in my side that lasted me three years or more. In June, 1893, George and I bought roundtrip tickets and met at the Omaha Exposition, exchanging them, and after a few weeks visit, each again met in Omaha. Here sister Fay met us for a few days visit at the Exposition and returned home with me where she visted till about the first of September.

George W. Moffatt, having worked for C. F. Kater during the summer, offered to care for the farm and let mother and me visit in Colorado. On leaving the old home, sister Fay said, "we three will never go out this lane again." Mother came