Along the way west, they spent a couple of weeks at Russell in Lucas County visiting, among others, acquaintances who had left the Cohocton area behind many years ago and settled permanently in Iowa. Their daughter, Theodosia, and son-in-law, Arthur Boyd, also lived at Russell at the time.
After the visits were complete, Mr. Wagoner wrote a letter to his hometown newspaper, The Coshocton Democrat & Standard, that was published in its edition of October 30.
The result is a snapshot of several Russell-area farming operations as they existed 120 years ago. Personally, I was most interested in John Werts' heard of 225 goats. Goats are featured occasionally in this day and age because of their ability to control vegetation but I'd never considered the possibility that such a use occurred to an enterprising Lucas Countyan quite this long ago.
Here's the text of the article:
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Esquire John Wagoner, of Franklin township, who is visiting in Iowa, favors us with another entertaining letter, which will be read with interest by his many friends in this vicinity.
Since my last letter I have visited many of our friends and relatives in and around the village of Russell. Have traveled over the country surrounding the village several miles in different directions and from appearances it certainly is a good farming country.
Some of the readers of your paper will doubtless be interested to hear of those of their friends and former acquaintances who reside here.
The first farmer visited was Mr. Henry Zimmer, who moved from the vicinity of Adamsville, Muskingum Co. Mr. Z. has been living here nearly 30 years, has a farm of 146 acres. He has on his farm at present 10 milk cows, 9 calves, 2 yearlings and 17 two-year-old cattle; 28 hogs averaging about 150 pounds each, and 40 others consisting of brood sows and pigs; and seven horses. Mr. Z. says the amount of stock he now has is not above the average held by him each year.
I next visited the farm of Mr. S. O. Slater, who also came from near Adamsville. Mr. S. is the owner of 365 acres of as fine farming land as one would wish to see. Don't know how much stock he now has, but he says his farm is capable of carrying 100 head of cattle, one third of which (two years old) are ready to market each year, and a sufficient number of hogs to market at least 60 averaging 250 pounds each year, and from 15 to 20 horses. In addition to stock, he also sells on an average 300 dollars worth of timothy seed each year.
I next visited Mr. Q.A. Shirer, also from Adamsville. He is the owner of 160 acres about as well stocked as the two above mentioned. Mr. Shirer is about 80 years old, but still able to manage his stock and farm.
Mr. M.V. Adams, from the same place as those above mentioned, I also visited. His farm consists of 194 acres. Mr. A.'s stock, like the others, consists of cattle and hogs. Not as many cattle, however, as he also keeps sheep. His flock consists of 200 Shropshires, which are looking well.
Mr. John Werts, son of Jackson Werts, who moved from Franklin township, Coshocton County, is one of the largest farmers in this part of the county. He is the owner of about 500 acres, 240 of which consist of what is here called brush land. This tract lies about 8 miles from the farm he lives on. Mr. W. took me over to see this tract, on which in addition to 60 yearling cattle and several horses he has 225 goats. The sight of this flock of "billys" was quite a treat to me having never seen a large flock before. He bought them for the purpose of clearing the brush off the land, and they seem to be doing their work well and also doing well themselves.
The farmers of Coshocton County can readily see from the above short description (which is not overdrawn) that Lucas county, Iowa, is a good farming county. We are enjoying our visit very much among our many friends here. Will remain about a week longer before starting on our far western trip.
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