Page:History of Iowa From the Earliest Times to the Beginning of the Twentieth Century Volume 1.djvu/287



was Samuel H. McCrory; and the first blacksmith Henry Usher.

There were no roads leading into the town, and in order to guide travelers to the new Capital from the Mississippi River, the enterprising first settlers employed Lyman Dillon to run a furrow across the prairie and through the groves to guide strangers to the new seat of government.

Dillon started from Iowa City with his huge breaking plough, drawn by five yoke of oxen, a two-horse emigrant wagon carrying provisions, cooking utensils and bedding for the journey. All day the patient ox-team drew the plough, turning over the tough prairie sod, mile after mile, to mark the way for travelers. At noon and night the oxen were turned out to graze on the rich prairie grass, while the men cooked their food and slept in the wagon. For nearly one hundred miles the longest furrow on record marked the way and soon a well-beaten road was made beside it by the white-top wagons of the coming settlers.

During the autumn of 1839 Governor Lucas, accompanied by two daughters, with General Fletcher, of Muscatine, as guide, all traveling on horseback, visited the new Capital. They met a most cordial reception. The hospitality of the most commodious house in the village, the only one having an attic, was tendered the distinguished guests. The way to their sleeping room was up a rude ladder through a small opening in the upper floor. Before his return the Governor purchased a claim near the city which in after years became his home. No mail line had yet been established between the new Capital and the outside world; letters and papers were brought from Muscatine for the citizens by any one who happened there on business. There was no flouring mill nearer than Muscatine, corn meal, ground in coffee mills, took the place of wheat flour with many. The food was plain, the houses rudely constructed and cold, this first winter in the history of Iowa City; but her pioneer