The Fremont County Herald
Sidney, Fremont County, Iowa
September 13, 1917

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. Chautauqua assemblies brought entertainment and culture to rural communities with speakers, teachers, musicians, entertainers, and preachers during the early part of the 1900's to the mid-1920's. Former President Theodore ROOSEVELT was known to have said that Chautauqua was "the most American thing in America."

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 Osceola 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 [Missouri] 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

SOURCE: Iowa Old Press, an IAGenWeb Special Project. Transcribed by W. F., February 2008