This concludes Chapter 12 WHAT THE PIONEERS HAVE DONE Iowa is a grand state, and in many respects second to none in the Union, and in everything that goes to make a live, prosperous community, not far behind the best.  Her harvests are bountiful; she has a medium climate and many other things that make her people contented, prosperous and happy; but she owes much to those who opened up these avenues that have led to her present condition and happy surroundings.  Unremitting toil and labor have driven off the sickly miasmas that brooded over swampy prairies.  Energy and perseverance have peopled every section of her wild lands and changed them from wastes and deserts to gardens of beauty and profit.  When but a few years ago the barking wolves made the night hideous with their wild shrieks and howls, now is heard only the lowing and bleating of domestic animals.  Only a half century ago the wild whoop of the Indian rent the air where now are heard the engine and rumbling trains of cars, bearing away to markets the products of our labor and soil.  Then the savage built his rude huts on the spot where now rise the dwellings and schoolhouses and church spires of civilized life.  How great the transformation.  This change has been brought about by the incessant toil and aggregated labor of thousands of tired hands and anxious hearts, and the noble aspirations of such men and women as make any country great.  What will another half century accomplish?  There are few, very few of these old pioneers yet lingering on the shores of time as connecting links of the past with the present.  What must their thoughts be as with their dim eyes they view the scenes that surround them?  We often hear people talk of the old fogy ideas and fogy ways and want to enterprise on the part of the old men who have gone through the experiences of pioneer life.  Sometimes, perhaps, such remarks are just, but considering the experiences, education and entire life of such men, such remarks are better unsaid.  They have had their trials, hardships, misfortunes and adventures, and shall we now, as they are passing far down the western declivity of life, and many of them gone, point to them the finger of derision and laugh and sneer at the simplicity of their ways?  Let us rather cheer them up, revere and respect them, for beneath those rough exteriors beat hearts as noble as ever throbbed in the human breast.  These veterans have been compelled to live for weeks upon hominy, and if bread at all, it was bread made from corn ground in hand mills, or pounded up with mortars.  Their children have been destitute of shoes during the winter; their families had no clothing except what was carded, spun, wove and made into garments by their own hands; schools they had none; churches they had none; afflicted with sickness incident to all new countries, sometimes the entire family at once; luxuries of life they had none; the auxiliaries, improvements, inventions and labor-saving machinery of today they had not; and what they possessed they obtained by the hardest of labor and individual exertions; yet they bore these hardships and privations without murmuring, hoping for better times to come, and often, too, with but little prospect to realization. As before mentioned, the changes written on every hand are most wonderful.  It has been but three score years since the white man began to exercise dominion over this region, erst the home of the red men; yet the visitor of today, ignorant of the past of the country, could scarcely realize that within these years there has grown up a popilation of 1,500,000, who in all the accomplishments of life are as far advanced as are the inhabitants of the older states.  Schools, churches, colleges, palatial dwellings, beautiful grounds, large, well cultivated and productive farms, as well as cities, towns and busy manufactories, have grown up and occupy the hunting grounds and camping places of the Indians, and in every direction there are evidences of wealth, comfort and luxury.  There is but little of the old landmarks left.  Advanced civilization and the progressive demands of revolving years have obliterated all traces of Indian occupancy, until they are remembered only in name. In closing this section we again would impress upon the minds of our readers the fact that they owe a debt of gratitude to those who pioneered this state, which can be but partially repaid.  Never grow unmindful of the peril and adventure, fortitude, self-sacrifice and heroic devotion so prominently displayed in their lives.  As time sweeps on its ceaseless flight, may the cherished memories of them lose none of their greenness, but may future generations alike cherish and perpetuate them with a just devotion to gratitude. Debbie Clough G-erischer G-erischer Family Web Site http://gerischer.rootsweb.com/ Assistant CC, Iowa Gen Web, Scott County http://www.celticcousins.net/scott/ List Manager for: IASCOTT-L * G-erischer-L * D-encker-L Fitzpatirck-L * V-lerebome-L * Huntington-L * Otis-L * Algar-L EIGS-L * Pickens-L * McNab-L * Patris-L - Rankin-L