had a dancing party at their home and invited all the gay blades and the bashful maidens. Some of the boys, inclined to be agitated, got some "Electric Bitters" in a nearby place. The girls, smelling the bitters, refused to dance with the boys and the dance came to a halt. The fellows went into the kitchen and told their tale of woe to the hostess. The hostess, being business-like inclined, had prepared a lavish lunch for those days, and the girls' refusal got her dander up. She went into the room where the dance was to be held, stuck her hands on her hips and delivered an ultimatum. "See here, girls, you either dance or you don't eat." The girls liked to eat as well as the men and the first sit down strike on record ended right then.
Then came the spelling bees that were always a big favorite. They were followed by the debating societies. The settlers met at the neighbors, those that had homes large enough to hold a crowd. Such weighty subjects as "Is single life happier than married life," "Do you get more benefit from education than from experience" were discussed. At times these debates got very personal. These old timers had a lot of pep and zip that they just had to get rid of and the bitterness of several debates lingered for years. In later years came the singing school, when some old guy with a tuning fork would get the use of a schoolhouse, spread the news around that he was going to have a singing school, generally starting off with "Merrily on We Go," a sing song ditty easy to learn and easy to forget. It was more of a meeting place for the young folks than it was for the development of opera stars. School ma'ams and budding young women were always there, a big attraction to the lads both from village and farm; many a budding romance started in the old singing school. Some of the romances ended abruptly and others still last. The fee for a complete musical education was $2.00 for the term.
There were no planes, no autos, not even top buggies in those days, but youth was youth, just as it is today. Norman Jones who was "going" with Pet Ingalls wanted to attend a dance at the Mike Mihin log cabin. He had the running gear of the wagon, but no wagon box. He did have an old row boat and he mounted that on the running gear and yoked up the oxen. He sat in front prodding the beasts with a pitch fork; no doubt Pet was singing "Pull for the Shore." Anyway they got to
—34—
Mike's, danced till morning, then pulled anchor and started for home. Norman lived on the tree claim just south of where Charley Olson lives in Lowville township.
The First Preacher in Western Murray County
The first preacher to hold services in the settlement, was a Reverend Lund, who came in the winter of 1874. He made regular trips, coming every five months from old Westbrook, driving a yoke of oxen attached to a wagon. Naturally services were held at the homes of the settlers until a church was built. A full account of the church activities will be found in another article in this book.
THE FIRST SCHOOLTEACHER IN LEEDS
The first school was held in the winter of 1874, when Miss Ida Peterson went from home to home, spending a week at each place. For this she received one dollar a week and sometimes less. Of course, she had her board.
The first regular school was held south of the Clauson place. This school had perhaps as much variation in ages as any school ever had. The pupils ranged in age from six years to thirty-four years. The Scandinavians craved education and wanted to learn the English language; they did and what wonderful citizens they made! No nation became Americanized as fast as the Norwegians and the Swedes, and history shows that they remained real true, loyal American citizens.
In later years this school house was moved to Hadley, where it was Hadley's first school house and was used until the present one was built. Alex Lowe, with a yoke of oxen, and Ed Christensen, with a team of horses, did the moving of the building.
LIGHTING
For light during the long winter months, the settlers depended upon coal oil when they could buy it. After that they used the lard from salt pork, placed in a saucer with a little rag in it. The rag was lit and a very small amount of light was had. Very small, but enough to see sometimes to read by. There were no newspapers, but they kept up with their reading by exchanging books with the neighbors.
—35—
Previous Page
Next Page
Table of Contents
Index of Names
Home