The following letter was published in the Lapeer Clarion newspaper extolling the virtues of Peach Orchard, Arkansas.
Lapeer Clarion
9 April 1890
Peach Orchard, Arkansas
Friends in Lapeer have repeatedly written asking the advisability of locating in Arkansas. They are too numerous to answer individually, so will you kindly insert the following. I have been engaged for the past eighteen months in the lumbering business. This is the chief industry in this section. All varieties of hard wood are plentiful--oak, ash, gum, cyprus [sic - cypress], and occasionally black walnut. The cyprus is of exceptionally good quality and I have seen some ninety feet high without a limb and seven feet across the stump on the property of R. G. Hart. Great chances are offered here for the manufacture of cyprus shingles. Shipping facilities are good, the St. L. I. A. & S. and K. C. railways running through here. Eventually the hard wood will come from here, Missouri and parts of Tennessee. There are three saw mills here, all of them doing a good business, and a fourth one is now in process of erection. A good milling man can always get steady employment, the wages ranging from $1.25 to $2.00 a day. I think a living is easier made here than in the North. I do not wish it to be understood that to make a living a man need not work, but do say that is requires less labor to cultivate the natural product of the country than in northern parts. The principal crops are oats, corn wheat and cotton, all of which are raised with good success. Horses, cattle and hogs run wild the year around and require no herding. The only trouble in connection with raising stock is the branding. A great number of people have located here in the past six months and nearly all the government free land is taken, but good farming and timber land can be had for from $7 to $10 an acre. Altogether I can heartily recommend Arkansas to any one wishing to secure a good home.
Robert Pratt.
Update: Here's another blog related to Jennie (Howland) Allen
3 comments:
Thank you for the communication and the post! I am very interested in anything you find on my family.
Charles and Jennie did move to Peach Orchard and operated a store in the the town. I've included a picture of the store on my blog if you are interested.
the picture
http://riskypics.blogspot.com/
That is a terrific picture on your blog and adds so much to the dry text. Thanks for including the link.
Cathy
Post a Comment