INMONROE-L Archives

From: Randi Richardson <>
Subject: John Mayfield
Date: Wed, 01 Dec 1999 10:24:56 -0500

Bloominton Telephone, April 14, 1883, p. 8.

A LETTER FROM NEBRASKA.

Exeter, Neb., April 5.

According to promise, I am seated to write you, and will give my views of
this part of the west. Exeter, where we are now located, is in Tillmore
County, and to a new comer the soil is as good as can be found in Nebraska,
though there is much of it that is bottom land. One peculiarity is to see
no fences, except as used for pens. This is said to be one of the best
corn growing counties in the west, and now instaed of selling their grain,
farmers are raising more stock, as it pays much better. Exeter is the only
railroad point in the county, and an immense amount of grain is shipped.
No less than 200,000 bushels of corn is now here in pens and elevators, and
much of it yet is to be marketed. All through the country piles of corn
can be seen, that is ready to ship, but farmers are busy preparing to sow
wheat and oats. Corn is worth 30 cents; hogs, fat, $5.75 to $6.25. Thus
it is evident that with corn so cheap, there is money in hogs. Cattle do
well here, and bring $5.75--for beef. Horses are higher, but of a good
quality. But there are objections, also, to the place. The wind is
strong, and there being no timber, it blows a great deal, and keeps a
person covered with dirt and dust. If you want to see a woman mad, just
come out some windy day, when they are washing, and you will hear language
more expressive than proper. Another objection is the lack of shelter for
tools and farming implements. Everything is done by machinery, and when
they are through with, it stays there till wanted again. As the people of
Clear Creek would say, everybody puts their tools in John Hornbarger's
shed, and thats out of doors. I have written enough. Will hear from us
again in the near future.

John A. Mayfield.

This thread:

• John Mayfield by Randi Richardson <>