The Odebolt Chronicle
VOLUME FORTY, Number 14, MAY 5, 1927
Pioneer Days
Experiences of Early Settlers
Told by Odebolt People
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Mrs. Lucinda Sutton
It will be well to bear in mind that in the early days, when the sturdy pioneers came from the east and settled in this part of Sac county, the women did much to help along in the march of progress and the advancement of civilization. It indeed took a brave, stout-hearted wife to face the perils and privations of the early days and they may well be termed heroines, for with the rearing of a family and the struggle to help maintain an existence and become firmly established they showed unmistakable bravery.
The subject of this article, Mrs. Lucinda Sutton, came to Sac county and what she saw, heard and underwent were seen through childish eyes and today she recalls those memorable days with keen intellect. She first came to Sac county with her parents, Mr. and Mrs. James Taylor, in 1873, when but ten years of age, having been born in Delaware county. The family came to Sac City from Denison by stage and finally they settled on what is known as the Jerry Gosch place six miles west of town. There her parents decided to remain and prepared a humble habitation. Among the stock brought along were two shorthorn cattle, and some Brahma chickens. There was no school available so Mr. Taylor sent his children to Vail to attend school. Later on he built a school house on a corner of his farm and here the bulk of Mrs. Sutton's education was obtained. It was also used for church services, week day parties and many an hour has been spent under its roof. It was known as the Taylor school house and Miss Jennie McFarland was the first teacher. On Sundays the preacher from the Cherokee Methodist church would come on horseback and conduct the service. There were no bridges across the streams and he was forced repeatedly to remove his shoes and stockings and ford them, even at times compelled to swim across. The minister was Rev. Mr. Faux.
During her first winter on the farm Mrs. Sutton recalls that there was much hunting for deer which were abundant. At this time she had her first taste of venison. Prairie chickens were [hunted and were easily caught]. Pickerel and other fish swarmed the stream and were much sought after for there was no meat of any sort to be had as cattle were very scarce and not to be had at any price.
In connection with the life at Taylor school, there were fourteen children enrolled from the families of Lyman Mills, J. P. Goreham, Eli Lesher, Eli Ellinger and Mrs. Ollie Stratton. Saturday night at the school house was looked forward to with much pleasurable anticipation for then there was a taffy pull that was a joy to all. Mr. Taylor was the only farmer for miles around who had a sorghum mill. The simple social life of the school proved far more entertaining to Mrs. Sutton in her younger days than that of the present. There was always something going on in the school; there were spelling bees, singing school, lyceums and various other methods of instructive entertainment for the children that paved the way for a more wholesome adult life.
In those days there were no deep wells and as a result there were many cases of typhoid fever. Dr. Stevens was then the only physician between Sac City and Vail. Mrs. Sutton's mother was one of the unfortunate victims of this dread disease.
Mr. Sutton tells with great unction the excitement caused by the building of the first railroad and how her father labored earnestly to get the right of way where the Chicago & Northwestern railroad now runs. The efforts of Mr. Taylor were successful after a hard struggle and he was mainly responsible for getting the right of way from Maple River Junction to Mapleton. So persuasive were his arguments that many of the farmers gladly gave their land for a right of way. The head officials of the road, in process of construction, made their headquarters with the Taylor family, they having the largest house in the vicinity.
Mrs. Sutton recalls to mind an incident regarding the men engaged in building the railroad. There was a camp in which were seventy men. Thirty of them were stricken with typhoid fever at the same time and the attending physician was at a loss to know what to do as he could get no lemons to combat the disease. He told Mrs. Sutton's parents of his need and his inability to secure them. It so happened that Mrs. Taylor had fourteen cans of preserved lemons in the cellar and at the suggestion of Mr. Taylor she gave them to the doctor, who was enabled to feed the stricken men on a diet of boiled water and lemons and everyone of them recovered.
When returning from school at Vail to the home Mrs. Sutton said she remembers how they followed A. D. Peck and his bride from Vail to his farm which was close by. They lead [led] a cow along with them.
Many a pleasing incident of the days upon the pioneer farm does Mrs. Sutton recall. When her father bought the farm he paid $6.00 an acre and six years later when he moved to Odebolt he sold it for $20.00 per acre, a large price in those days.
Mrs. Sutton now makes her home with her daughter, Mrs. Carl A. Oldsen, at Waveland Stock farm and she never tires of talking of the childhood days with its pleasures, and of the companions of those days who have grown up and have families.
She loves to dwell on the pioneer days of yesteryear and brings fresh inspiration to the younger ones of today by the tales she so interestingly unfolds.
transcribed by B. Ekse from microfilm