Full resolution (JPEG) - On this page / på denna sida - III. The Arrival of my Father and Brother—Journey to Illinois—Work on a Railroad—The Ague—Doctor Ober—Religious Impressions—The Arrival of my Mother, Sister and her Husband—A Burning Railroad Train—We go to Minnesota—Our Experience as Wood Choppers and Pioneers
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IS 4.2 Story of an Emigrant.
Peter Green, at Spring Creek, near Red Wing. The only
domestic animals he had was a litter of pigs, and as Mr.
Willard and I intended to settle on our land in the spring I
thought it might be well to start in with a couple of pigs.
Accordingly, I got two pigs from Mr. Green, put them in a
bag which 1 shouldered, and left for our cabin in the woods.
According to my calculations, the distance I had to walk
ought not to be over three miles, and in order to be sure of
not getting lost I followed the Cannon river at the mouth
of which our cabin stood. I walked on the ice where the
snow was about a foot deep, and, if I had known of the
meanderingcourse of the river, I would never have undertaken
toearry that burden such a distance. From ninein
themorn-ing until it was almost dark I trudged along with my
burden on my back, prompted to the greatest exertion by the
grunting of the pigs, and feeling my back uncomfortably
warm. These were the first domestic animals I ever owned,
and I think I well earned my title to them by carrying them
along the windings of the river at least ten miles. Both I
and the pigs were well received when we reached the cabin.
We made a pig pen by digging a hole in the ground and
covering it with poles and brush, and fed them on the refuse
from the table. Before we were ready to move one of them
died, while the other, after being brought to our new farm,
ungratefully ran away, and was most likely eaten up by the
wolves, which perhaps was just as agreeable to him as to be
eaten by us.
While living in this camp we saw more Indians than
white men. A band of Sioux Indians camped near us lor
several weeks. They were very friendly, and never molested
us. The men brought us venison and fresh fish, which they
caught in great quantities by spearing them through the ice.
We gave them bread and coffee, and sometimes invited one or
two to dinner after we were through. Their women would
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