Settlers Reunion, August 31, 1882 Part II. I had to go twelve miles to a blacksmiths, and no road to go. Fifteen miles to the nearest P.O. and pay .25 cents per letter. When I left Kentucky I sold out, and when collected, the money was sent in this way. A Hundred dollar bill was cut in two in the center and one half sent in a letter; weeks on the way. Then I had to write back and let them know I had received that half and then they sent the other and placing the two together I had my bill. My first mill was a mortar, a log or stump burnt out and then scraped out. I put soaked corn in and pounded it with an iron wedge fastened in the end of a pole. We sifted all we could for bread and then made hominy of the rest. The next was a hand-mill, something like a coffee mill. One gallon ground in this was as nice and better than a bushel now. The next was small buhrs, run by hand, grinding half a bushel per day. The next mill was a horse mill; I had to go fifteen miles, hitch in two horses, grind all day and part of the night and got one sack of meal. ( I never did put a rock in one end of the sack.) I went to mill 75 miles, near Palmyra a few times. My first cattle I drove to the Mississippi river and then sold them for $7.50 per head; they were three and four year old steers. I also drove some to Hannibal and with this money I paid for the first land I bought, my old home. I drove my hogs to the Mississippi river, killed them and let them hang overnite; then sold them for $1.25 and $1.50 per hundred. Good horses sold for $20 to $25 per head; good cows and calves, $5 to $10 per head; mens wages were $10 per month. A woman spun by the dozen and wove by the yard. Court was held in Kirksville, Adair County. One time while attending court a large rattlesnake came up to the door. We had a lively time playing with the snake and then killed it and all went to duty. After I had been here two years and a half, old Mr. Whitworth, Mr. West and myself, built a school house and hired a teacher. The end