By Byron Kerr
 Early in March, 1884 the Geo. Kerr family, left Tarport, Pa., with a party of new homeseekers, Winegars, Jenkins, Harrops, Lavens are the only ones I can name now.
The train was crowded, big folks, little folks, bedding and lunch baskets. After three days and nights, we came to Plum Creek, where we stayed at the old Johnson House.
Father with others and the land agent made several trips out to look at land. Father bought a half section north of Eustis (before Eustis was there) and a section southeast from Farnam.
A little later when it was quite warm father got a livery rig and brought mother and I out to see what he had bought.
Leaving Plum Creek in the morning we had dinner at Nordins and at supper time we were at Tufts and Johnsons.
During the night we all got out to see the fires, some near, others far away.
When we drove on [the] next day to see section 27, crossing Plum Creek between
|
|
the places where Harry Messersmiths and Bakers live then south and east. After crossing the creek, the grass was gone, just a fine black ash that rose in little clouds about the ponies feet and got into your mouth and eyes, but there was a faint trail to follow.
When we got to about where Dan Grabenstein now lives, father said that should be the place. Then he saw a little cotton wood with its head sticking up out of a pocket. It was the land mark that was his section of the finest grass he ever was grow.
Black, black for miles in every direction with clay catsteps looking twice as big and three times too many.
Mother said, "George, I would steal before I would live in a country like this." The rest of the ride was very quiet.
We stayed that night with Billie Clarks, north of Eustis, then back to Plum Creek.
March 8, 1885 I was ten years old and I started to school in Plum Creek.
I guess you know what has happened since then.
|
