think so to hear those who tried it to tell about getting sloughed (slooed) down nearly a dozen times, and have to unload the best they could, getting to Marietta, Marshalltown, Newton or Des Moines; for we had but few or no bridges then, and yet we had bad roads. Now all our streams have good bridges and lots of them, and the roads are being made good. No trouble now, or but little.
The doleful story given refers to the time we were living under the "Old Dispensation." We will refer to the present prosperous condition of our people as under the "New Dispensation."
Just think back and compare then and now. Think of what we had to undergo from 1853 to 1860 with our present situation (1887) and then complain of hard times! In 1853 no railroad had crossed the Mississippi river. In 1856 the nearest railroad to us was 115 miles off. Now we have seventeen railroad stations in the county, and all around us. We who have seen the "Injun" and other animals, and can see the difference! We will be content with the past, and are willing others should try the adventurous curiosity in the future.
The description I have just given of hard times in the early times of our county I will strengthen my statement by saying that in the Story County Advocate of February 9, 1859, I find seven sheriff sale notices and three marshal sales in Story County, and yet the paper is nearly half gone at that. I have just examined some of our papers and find one sheriff sale for November, 1886. Ten in 1859, and ONE in 1886. And the population in 1859 was about 4,000; now, January 4, 1887, it will be from 18,000 to 20,000 persons. Turn to pages seven and eight of this history and you will learn the cause for an excited meeting of some of our best citizens of Story County, held January, 1858. O, let us not murmur so m-u-c-h now of hard times! Ask the old veterans of our early settlers if I have drawn the picture too dark.
Before closing I will say a little more as to the present. Our towns did more beautifying and painting houses and barns, with some exceptions, than any former year; but less valuable and substantial buildings than usual. There are, however, many new and valuable barns, and some fine dwellings, that were built in 1886 in different townships. I was pretty well over many of the townships and write from what I saw and gathered. I visited twenty-three cemeteries-all in the county except ten or twelve small ones. I presume the total dead of the county will reach 3,100. Yes, we go, one—by—one!
I will again say it is probable, very probable, there is no other county in Iowa, (age considered) to excel Story County in grand, substantial and valuable improvements. With a very productive soil, healthful climate, stirring farmers, and stock dealers, good mechanics, good schools, such as are number one anywhere, a magnificent Iowa Agricultural College and Farm, and several brick High School buildings, and one of the most beautiful Court Houses in the state; with four railroads and seventeen railroad stations, and eighteen post-offices, how is it possible we can be excelled.