RICHARD SHAWLER FAMILY

Richard & Elizabeth Sailing Shawler

 

STORY OF MY CHILDHOOD, BY IDA SHAWLER SAGE

Ida Shawler

     IN THE EARLY FALL OF 1869, MY FATHER, RICHARD SHAWLER, TOOK THE ADVICE OF HORACE GREELEY AND CAME WEST TO GROW UP WITH THE COUNTRY.  UPON REACHING AFTON, IOWA, WHICH WAS THE TERMINAL OF THE RAILROAD, HE WALKED EIGHTEEN MILES WEST OF AFTON, TO UNION CITY, NEAR WHERE KENT NOW STANDS.  THERE WERE ONLY TWO HOUSES BETWEEN AFTON AND HIS DESTINATION, THE HOME OF HIS BROTHER-IN-LAW.  AS HE WALKED ALONG, HE NOTICED WHAT HE THOUGHT WAS A BLACK DOG FOLLOWING HIM.  EVERY TIME HE LOOKED BACK, IT WOULD STOP AND CONTINUED TO DO SO FOR SOME MILES.  WHEN HE CAME TO ONE OF THE HOUSES, IT TURNED OFF DOWN A RAVINE.  HE STOPPED AT THE HOUSE TO INQUIRE THE WAY AND MADE SOME REMARK ABOUT THE DOG THAT HAD BEEN FOLLOWING HIM.  THE LADY OF THE HOUSE THEN TOLD HIM IT WAS A LYNX AND IT HAD ATTACKED A DOCTOR ON A HORSE THE NIGHT BEFORE.  HE THEN HURRIED ON TO REACH THE BROTHER-IN-LAW'S HOME BEFORE DARK.

     AFTER LOOKING OVER THE COUNTRY, HE PURCHASED HIS BROTHER-IN-LAW'S FARM OF EIGHTY ACRES, FOR EIGHT HUNDRED DOLLARS.  HE RETURNED TO HIS HOME IN WARREN COUNTY, ILLINOIS AND WITH HIS WIFE AND THREE SMALL DAUGHTERS, HE BEGAN PREPARING TO MOVE TO THE FERTILE PRAIRIES OF IOWA.

 

     I WELL REMEMBER THAT MOVE IN THE COVERED WAGON.  I WAS A LITTLE MISS OF FIVE YEARS.  AFTER THE "GOOD BYES" WERE SAID TO RELATIVES AND FRIENDS AND ALL THE OLD HOME TIES BROKEN, WE LAUNCHED OUT AS "PIONEERS" TO IOWA.  REACHING THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER, WE HAD TO GET ON A BOAT AT SHOCKACON AND FERRY UP THE RIVER TO BURLINGTON, IOWA BECAUSE OF BAD ROADS AND HIGH WATERS.  MEMORY BRINGS TO MY MIND FATHER'S TEAM OF FINE BAY MARES.  IN PASSING THROUGH THE TOWNS, MANY MEN WOULD STOP AND ASK HIM IF THEY WERE FOR SALE.  THE ANSWER WAS ALWAYS IN THE NEGATIVE.  HE NEVER PARTED WITH THEM UNTIL THEY DIED OF OLD AGE.  ON OUR JOURNEY, WE FOUND MANY FAMILIES IN COVERED WAGONS, GOING WEST.  WE TRAVELLED FOR DAYS WITH A FAMILY BY THE NAME OF SCHULL AND THEY LOCATED NEAR AFTON.

     AT LAST WE REACHED WHAT WAS TO BE OUR HOME AND MOVED INTO A ONE-ROOM LOG CABIN, A QUARTER OF A MILE FROM THE TIMBER LINE, ON PLATTE RIVER, IN UNION COUNTY.  WE HAD COLD WINTERS AND BAD STORMS, BUT THESE DID NOT DAUNT MY PARENT'S COURAGE FROM MAKING THEIR HOME ON THE WILD, ROLLING PRAIRIES OF IOWA.  WE COULD HEAR THE TIMBER WOLF'S DISMAL HOWL  AT NIGHT AROUND OUR CABIN AND SOMETIMES THEY TOOK OUR POULTRY AND YOUNG PIGS.

     THE FENCE ON THE FARM WAS OF FLAT POSTS WITH HOLES MORTISED IN THEM TO HOLD THE RAILS.  THE RAILS WERE HEWN AT THE ENDS SO TWO COULD BE PLACED IN ONE HOLE.  THERE WERE NO NAILS ABOUT THIS FENCE.  THE WATER, IN DEEP WELLS, WAS DRAWN BY A WINDLESS-FOR SHALLOW WELLS; THEY USED A HICKORY POLE, WITH A PRONG OR HOOK AND PULLED THE BUCKET UP, HAND OVER HAND.

 

 

     LIVING NEAR THE TIMBER AND HAVING A SISTER NEAR MY OWN AGE, WE WERE ALWAYS LOOKING FOR ADVENTURE.  WITH OUR FAITHFUL DOG, WE TOOK MANY RAMBLES IN THE WOODS.  WE COULD CLIMB THE HIGHEST TREES AND KNEW ALL THE BIRDS, THEIR NESTS AND THE COLOR OF THEIR EGGS.  WE SOMETIMES LAY ON A GRASSY KNOLL AND WATCHED THE TURKEY BUZZARDS, AS THEY SOARED HIGH IN THE AIR ABOVE US.  I HAD ALWAYS HAD A DESIRE TO SEE SOME YOUNG BUZZARDS BEFORE THEY LEFT THE NEST SO ONE DAY I DECIDED TO FULFILL THAT DESIRE.  I DISCOVERED A NEST IN A VERY TALL TREE.  I WENT UP THE TREE, REACHED THE NEST AND LOOKED IN.  FOUR OR SIX YOUNG BIRDS OPENED VERY WIDE MOUTHS-THAT WAS ENOUGH-THE SMELL AND ODOR WAS NOT A DELICATE PERFUME OF ROSES.  I NEVER AFTER, HAD ANY LONGING TO SEE YOUNG BUZZARDS, THE SCAVENGERS OF OUR COUNTRY.

     ONE TIME WHEN WE WERE ON A RAMBLE IN THE WOODS, WE HEARD THE DOG BARKING AND KNEW HE HAD SOMETHING.  WE STARTED DOWN WHERE HE WAS, BUT BEFORE WE ARRIVED, WE KNEW BY THE ODOR WHAT HE HAD.  IN A STUMP WAS A NEST OF SKUNKS-ONE OLD ONE AND SIX HALF GROWN ONES.  I REMEMBER GOING UP TO THAT STUMP AND LOOKING IN.  WE GOT SOME POLES AND HELPED THE DOG TO GET THE SKUNKS.  I DON'T REMEMBER HOW WE WERE RECEIVED AT HOME-PERHAPS WE HAD TO SLEEP IN THE WOOD SHED.

     WE WERE EVER ALERT FOR THE PRAIRIE RATTLE SNAKE, AND I KNEW IN AN INSTANT WHEN I HEARD THE SOUND OF HIS RATTLE AND HISS.  I REMEMBER ON ONE OCCASION, MY SISTER AND I WERE FOLLOWING AN OLD ROAD ACROSS WHERE MY FATHER WAS PLOWING.  WE SAW A LARGE RATTLE SNAKE.  AS WE APPROACHED IT COILED READY TO FIGHT.  WE DID NOT HAVE A STICK, SO WE DECIDED THAT ONE OF US WOULD WATCH HIM, WHILE THE OTHER WOULD RUN AND TELL FATHER.  HE GAVE HER A HICKORY POLE HE WAS USING TO STAKE OFF HIS LAND AND WE SOON KILLED THE SNAKE.  FATHER CAME ALONG LATER.  WHEN HE SAW THE SIZE OF THE SNAKE, HE SAID IT WAS THE LARGEST HE HAD EVER SEEN.

     WE KNEW WHERE THE THICKETS OF THE FINEST WILD PLUMS, BLACKBERRIES, GOOSEBERRIES, MAYAPPLES, BLACK AND RED HAWS GREW.  WE SPENT MANY SPRING DAYS GATHERING ALL KINDS OF WILD FLOWERS WHICH GREW IN THE TIMBER AND ON THE PRAIRIE.  WE WENT FISHING AND SOMETIMES CAUGHT CAT FISH AND OFTEN CRAWFISH AND TURTLES.  WE CROSSED THE RIVER ON A FOOT LOG-A TREE WHICH HAD FALLEN OVER THE RIVER.  I REMEMBER VERY WELL ONE INSTANCE WHEN THE RIVER WAS HIGH AND WE WERE CROSSING ON THE FOOT LOG, THE WATER COMING JUST UNDER THE LOG, AND I SLIPPED OFF INTO THE SWIFT WATER.  HAD IT NOT BEEN FOR THE HELP OF MY SISTER AND COUSIN, I WOULD NOT BE HERE TO WRITE THIS STORY.  IN WINTER, WE WOULD GO RABBIT HUNTING AND COME HOME WITH WET FEET, FROM WADING IN THE SNOW, FOR THOSE DAYS WE HAD NO OVERSHOES.  WE WOULD GET A COLD AND MOTHER WOULD MAKE RED HOT GINGER TEA AS A REMEDY.  I CAN FEEL IT STILL AS IT SLIPPED DOWN MY THROAT, SEEMING TO TAKE THE SKIN AS IT WENT. SHE ALWAYS GAVE US A SPRING TONIC OF SULPHUR AND MOLASSES.  ANOTHER "CURE ALL" WAS TURPENTINE AND SUGAR, WHEN WE ATE TOO MUCH CANDY, WHICH WAS SELDOM.

     WE GREW UP TO BE STRONG HEALTHY CHILDREN FOR WE ALWAYS HAD PLENTY OF VEGETABLES OF ALL KINDS.  THE WILD FRUIT, SUCH AS CRABAPPLES, PLUMS, GOOSEBERRIES AND BLACKBERRIES WERE SWEETENED WITH SORGHUM.  IN THE FALL, FATHER WOULD DIG OUT A PLACE IN A STRAW STACK AND FILL IT WITH PUMPKINS AND SQUASHES.  WHEN WE PLAYED HIDE AND SEEK OVER THE STACK, WE SOMETIMES FELL INTO THE PIT AND HAD TO BE HELPED TO GET OUT.  IT WAS GREAT FUN.

     I HAVE WATCHED MY MOTHER MAKE HOMINY OUT OF WHITE CORN BY PUTTING LYE OVER IT, ADDING WATER AND BOILING IT UNTIL THE HULL WOULD LOOSEN.  IT WAS THEN WASHED WITH WATER SEVERAL TIMES AND READY TO BE DRIED OR COOKED.  THIS WAS FINE WITH PORK AND WE ALWAYS HAD PLENTY OF PORK. THE FAMILY WASHING WAS DONE WITH WOODEN MAULS OR POUNDERS, WEIGHING SIX OR SEVEN POUNDS.  THE CLOTHES WERE POUNDED UP AND DOWN IN WOODEN TUBS.

      PEOPLE NEVER WASTED ANYTHING IN THOSE DAYS.  MOTHER HAD A LEACH, IN WHICH SHE PUT WOOD ASHES.  IN THE SPRING, SHE WOULD POUR WATER OVER THE ASHES AND IT WOULD COME THROUGH AS LYE.  WHEN THROUGH LEACHING, SHE WOULD TAKE A LARGE IRON KETTLE, PUT IN CRACKLINGS AND LYE AND MAKE HALF A BARREL OF SOFT SOAP.  THE FATHER OF ONE OF OUR NEIGHBORS LIVED WITH US.  THE OLD MAN LIKED HIS JUG AND WOULD KEEP IT ON THE SLY.  ONE DAY HE WENT TO TOWN TAKING THE JUG.  WHEN HE CAME HOME, HE WAS IN A HURRY TO HIDE IT.  HE PUT IT IN WHAT HE THOUGHT WAS A BARREL OF MEAL, BUT IN HIS HASTE PUT IT IN THE BARREL OF SOFT SOAP.  WHEN THE FOLKS WERE AWAY ONE DAY, HE THOUGHT IT WAS TIME TO GET HIS JUG.  BEHOLD!  HE HAD TO DRAG IT FROM THE SOFT SOAP BARREL, SPILLING SOAP ABOUT.  WHEN THE FOLKS CAME HOME, THEY WERE CERTAIN SOMEONE HAD BEEN STEALING SOAP.  THEY SAID SO MUCH ABOUT IT, THE OLD MAN HAD TO TELL WHERE HE HAD PUT THIS "LIKER".

     MY FATHER RAISED SHEEP AND MOTHER CARDED THE WOOL AND SPUN IT INTO YARN.  THE YARN WAS WOVEN INTO CLOTH CALLED LINDSEY.  SHE ALSO USED THE YARN FOR MAKING BLANKETS, KNITTING MITTENS AND SOCKS FOR THE MEN AND STOCKINGS FOR THE GIRLS.  I CAN SEE THE LARGE SPINNING WHEEL, HEAR IT'S HUM AND SEE HER AS SHE WALKED BACK AND FORTH.  MOTHER DID ALL THE SEWING BY HAND FOR SIX IN THE FAMILY.  SHE WAS ALWAYS BUSY IN THE EVENING, KNITTING AND SEWING.  THERE WAS NOT MUCH TIME FOR RECREATION.  HOW TIMES HAVE CHANGED SINCE THE GOOD OLD DAYS OF GINGER SNAPS AND PUMPKIN BUTTER SMOTHERED IN SORGHUM.

      WE DID NOT HAVE MUCH ROOM, SO WE CHILDREN SLEPT IN TRUNDLE BEDS.  THESE WERE PUSHED UNDER THE BIG BEDSTEADS DURING THE DAY.  IF WE FELL OUT, WHICH WE SOMETIMES DID, WE DID NOT HAVE FAR TO FALL.  THE BEDSTEADS HAD ROUND POSTS WITH WOODEN PINS IN THEM.  SMALL ROPES WERE CROSSED BACK AND FORTH AROUND THE PINS, FORMING A WEAVE TO HOLD THE STRAW THICK.  OUR LIGHTS WERE CANDLES OR SOMETIMES RAGS BRAIDED FOR WICKS AND BURNED IN LARD OIL.  THE LANTERN WAS A TIN WITH SMALL HOLES IN THREE SIDES, GLASS ON ONE SIDE AND A  HOLDER INSIDE FOR A CANDLE.  THE SOCIAL GATHERINGS WERE SINGING SCHOOLS, SPELLING MATCHES, REVIVAL MEETINGS AND LITERARY MEETINGS.  OFTEN TWENTY OR THIRTY WOULD WALK THREE OR FOUR MILES TO THESE GATHERINGS.  THE DEBATING SOCIETY WAS MUCH ENJOYED BY BOTH OLD AND YOUNG.  THE SUNDAY SCHOOL AND REVIVAL MEETINGS WERE HELD IN SCHOOL HOUSES, AND WERE WELL ATTENDED.  PEOPLE WERE VERY SOCIABLE AND KIND TO EACH OTHER, ALWAYS READY TO LEND A HELPING HAND.  FATHER PLOWED CORN WITH A DOUBLE SHOVEL PLOW IN THOSE DAYS.  SUCH WAS LIFE IN UNION COUNTY, IOWA IN THE EARLY DAYS AS LIVED IN A LOG CABIN.

BY IDA SHAWLER SAGE

 Contributed By Carla Kay Hall Ott.  You can reach Carla at:  Carla Hall Ott