IAPALOAL-L Archives

Archiver > IAPALOAL > 2000-09 > 0968512139


From: "Cathy Joynt Labath" <>
Subject: [IAPALOAL] Emmetsburg Democrat; 23 Apr 1913; Palo Alto Co, IA
Date: Sat, 9 Sep 2000 10:08:59 -0500


Emmetsburg Democrat
Palo Alto Co, IA
23 Apr 1913

SPEAKS OF FIFTY YEARS AGO
James HOGAN on His Visit to Emmetsburg in 1861

James HOGAN, who recently visited his sister, Mrs. James HICKEY, of Vernon
township, gave our reporters a very interesting account a few days ago of
his first trip to this county in March, 1861. Mr. and Mrs. HICKEY formerly
resided in Philadelphia. Soon after they moved west he decided he would come
and visit them. Speaking of the affair he said:
"When Mr. and Mrs. HICKEY came to Iowa they located in this county, settling
on the west bank of the river about three miles southwest of the present
town of Emmetsburg. They kept a postoffice at their home for a number of
years. The nearest town to them was Fort Dodge. They had to haul their
provisions from Iowa City. There were, I think, about ten families in the
county at that time. I remember all of the names very well, but it would
take too much space to list them. That was in March, 1861."
"But now let me tell you of my experience. My parents remained at
Philadelphia after Mr. and Mrs. HICKEY came to Iowa. I remember they used to
receive letters from my sister, postmarked Fort Dodge, Webster county, Iowa.
I was then a boy of twelve years of age. I thought Iowa was the jumping off
place out west. one day I made up my mind that I would go and see my sister.
The only address I had was Fort Dodge, Webster county, Iowa. I tied up my
shirt in a little package, bought a few ginger cakes, tied them in a
handkerchief and started out on my long journey. I had about 40 or 50 cents
in my pocket. Some time later I was found in a railway box car by the
brakemen. They took me to the caboose and cared for me. When I reached
Pittsburg they sent me free from there to Chicago. There the agent put me in
charge of the conductor of a train on the C.D. railroad. I had no difficulty
in reaching Dubuque where the conductor brought me to one of hte best hotels
and paid my bill. He told the conductor who was coming west on the Illinois
Central to bring me as far as Farley, which, if I remember correctly, is
about sixty miles this side of Dubuque. The Illinois Central conductor paid
my hotel expenses and my fare on the old Concord coach to Fort Dodge. I soon
found myself in a very wild country compared to Philadelphia, but when I
reached Fort Dodge I discovered that I had not yet arrived at the end of my
journey. The people of that place told me that Mr. and Mrs. HICKEY lived
fifty or sixty miles up the Des Moines river, Keiron MULRONEY was at that
time carrying the mail from Fort Dodge to the Irish settlement in this
locality. He also made one trip a week to Spirit Lake. I got a chance to
ride with Mrs. MARTIN and her sister, who were going to Spirit Lake to
settle some business for the estate of her husband who was killed by the
Indians a short time before. There were two teams and wagons in our party.
The wagon in the lead broke down and left Mrs. MARTIN, her sister, and two
children and myself to come on. It was snowing at the time and we cound not
see the road. We got lost and were very much alarmed when James HICKEY and
some of his neighbors came out with lanterns and found us along the river.
They took us into camp. That night there was a party at the home of Jack
MULRONEY. When we got htere we found them all having a good time. There was
a warm fire and many of the people there were dancing. There was plenty of
fine victuals on the table. Of course I need not say that I was a hungry boy
and enjoyed a good meal.
"The next morning mr. HICKEY, who was my brother-in-law, drove in front of
the house wit ha yoke of oxen, the first I had ever seen. We got into the
wagon and started for home.
"During the summer Mr. HICKEY and Andy HOOD surveyed five townships on the
west side of the river. I was the kid who drove the oxen. I hauled stakes
for the surveyors. After this work was done I did not remain very long in
this locality. I wanted to go back home again so my sister gave me five
twenty dollar gold pieces adn I started back for Philadelphia. John F.
DUNCOMBE was on his way to Fort Dodge from Spirit Lake. He took me with him.
>From Ft. Dodge I started for Des Moines. I was placed in charge of another
lawyer from Des Moines. I took the steamer, Iowa Falls, the last steam boat
that went down the Des Moines River. It was bound for Keokuk. From that
place I went to New Orleans.
"To make a long story short, I have traveled from British America to the
Gulf of Mexico and from Maine to the Rocky Mountains. I have been on all the
navigable streams that flow into the Ohio and Mississippi rivers and on all
of the great lakes except Superior. I have been on the Chesapeake and
Delaware bays, the Pamico and Albemarie sound of North Carolina, in the
Dismal Swamp of Virginia, on the James, Potomac, Roanoke, Rappahannock
rivers and in various other places. I started out young and have had quite
an experience as a traveler. I am at present living at Hobart, Oklahoma,
where I conduct a Eurpoean hotel. It is needless to say that I am enoying my
visit to Emmetsburg. I have met a number of the early settlers who were here
in 1861 and 1862, and have spent a great many pleasant hours talking about
old times."

000525
Cathy Joynt Labath
Palo Alto County, Iowa USGenWeb Project
http://www.rootsweb.com/~iapaloal/paloalto.htm


This thread: