Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 19, Number 67, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 29 April 1898 — A Hoosier in Dixie. [ARTICLE]

A Hoosier in Dixie.

How Former Jasperiteß Flourish in Tennessee. We left here to spend a few days in the south, for the purpose of looking over Coffey and Warren counties Tenn., arriving at McMinrille we enquired for Mr. Smith with whom we had some former correspondence, who invited us to take a ride out in the country. We started west and were soon driven to the residence of Mr. Sherd, who was once a resident of Benton county Ind., and proceeded to see his fine farm. As wheat and cow peas are the main crop, we can say his wheat was most excellent. His land be-

ing mostly level. We were shown some large ricks of cow peas and we took a bunch to the cows and horses and to our astonishment they devoured it with relish. After spending the night with Mr. Sherd, we were driven to McMinville, and proceeded to view the city, which hangs on a spur of the Cumberland mountains, the city is filled with merchants and business men of rush and enterprise, has several factories. Everybody seemed to be on the hustle. After dinner we mounted a mule and took in some of the things to be seen on the mountain slope, which were grand. We found the fruit, all right, ns the frost and cold don’t seem to effect anything on the slope of this mountain nor on the top of it. Returning we took a buggy ride through some fine farms, wheat fields and orchards on the road leading from McMinville to Manchester. At evening we hauled up at Mr. Max Smith's a farmer from Dakota, who is engaged in making extensive improvements on his farm. Wenext went to Mr. Jessups, everybody knowns Mr. Jessup and his excellent wife. We found him engaged in hauling saw logs to the saw mill to erect a fine house on his farm. He has some of the finest timber in that part of the country and he also has a good farm with a fine creek running throught it, making it an excellent stock farm as well as a grain farm. We next set out for Manchester to see Dr. StockwelL He lives in Manchester on a acre lot. He is still running his saw mill and has added a planing mill and scroll saw, whereby he can take timber from the woods and convert it into a house. He also ships considerable lumber to different factories in various states. In short the doctor is making money and why shouldn’t he and his good wife be happy, surrounded with every thing that goes to make life enjoyable. We also had a short visit with Bro. Hammerton. He has a fine barn and a large house of the old style; large and many rooms. The railroad is only a few feet from his front yard fenoe. As far as farming is concerned there is no difference between there and here. Being too wet to plow or plant grain, of any kind. As to grass and early pasture, our cattle are faring as well as theirs. From Rensselaer to McMinville fully § of the corn ground is yet to plow, and from Bedford Ind. to McMinville, the wheat crop looks extra weil and quite a large crop sown. Rev. Peter Hinds.