from Story county to Iowa City and on to Rock Island, Illinois, which was the nearest railroad town, covering the distance of one hundred and ninety miles in four days. At night he would seek shelter in some pioneer cabin, for in those days the homes of the early settlers were always open to the traveler. He did not need money or introduction to secure accommodations. It was a time in which hospitality reigned supreme and a cordial welcome was extended to all. While Mr. Craig misses some of the old-time pleasures and customs, he is yet a believer in the world's progress and knows that substantial advancement has been made over the old methods of living when the farm work was done with crude machinery and when the homes were small, large families being crowded into two or three rooms. Today comforts and conveniences are to be had by all who will labor persistently and earnestly for them, and Mr. Craig is numbered with those to whom prosperity has come as the reward of earnest and persistent toil.
LEWIS APPELGATE.
Lewis Appelgate, who was numbered among the early settlers of Story county and who took active and helpful part in developing and improving this section of the state, was born in Indiana on the 25th of February, 1819, a son of Nathaniel and Elizabeth (smith) Appelgate, the former a native of Virginia, while the latter was probably born in Indiana. They had seven sons and four daughters, including Lewis Appelgate.
In his childhood days our subject accompanied his parents on their removal to Bureau county, Illinois, the family home being established midway between De Pue and Princeton. There he was reared to manhood amid the pleasant conditions of country life and having arrived at years of maturity he was united in marriage to Miss Louisa Tichenor, who was born in Indiana, February 7, 1821. Her father was Moses Tichenor.
Mr. and Mrs. Appelgate began their domestic life in Illinois, and six children were born unto them there before their removal to Iowa in 1855, at which time they took up their abode in Story county, settling on section 18, Nevada township, two miles south of Nevada. There the father spent his remaining days, devoting his time and energies to the development and improvement of a farm of one hundred and forty-two acres of land which was naturally rich and productive and responded to the care and labor which was bestowed upon it. He was ever an upright, honorable man, and held membership in the Methodist Episcopal church. His political allegiance was given to the democratic party, and he filled some minor offices but never cared for political preferment.
Unto Mr. and Mrs. Appelgate were born nine children. Joseph, the eldest, is now deceased. James M. enlisted from Story county for active service at the front during the Civil war and died in the army. Sarah A.