Pioneer Times in Henry County Recalled by Mrs. John Taylor Ninety-four Year-Old Woman Remembers Chief Shabonna and Deer Herds. By Mrs. Nellie Casey. Dispatch Special Service Atkinson, Jan. 26. --

Mrs. John Taylor, 94-year-old resident of Cornwall township, one of the oldest residents of Henry county, has seen so many improvements in general that she wouldn't be much surprised to be able to take a trip to the moon and back before she is called to rest. When she came to Henry county there were no railroads, no telephones, no motion pictures, no radio sets, no automobiles, no surveyed roads -- in fact there wasn't much of anything, not even cross word puzzles.

She lives in a spacious, old-fashioned house on a farm about six miles south of Atkinson. Considering her age, one would expect to be met at the door by a little old woman on crutches, or probably leaning on a cane, but Mrs. Taylor is spry, of keen mentality and memory, and has a handclasp like that of a strong man. She does all her own housework, including the making of butter and cooking for her son Woodbury, her only still living child.Last fall, Mrs. Taylor dug a patch of potatoes.

She came to this country in 1840 with her parents and five brothers and sisters from Pennsylvania, where she was born in 1831. Upon reaching Henry county the family resided on what is now the Ogden farm two and a half miles north of Geneseo. In 1849 she was married to John Taylor and moved to her present home where has has resided since -- a span of three quarters of a century.

Her first home on this farm was a log cabin erected by Mr. Taylor. No sawed lumber was used in the dwelling. even the shingles being split clapboards. No nails were used in the cabin.

Some Ancient Days In the summer before her wedding Mrs. Taylor worked in a hotel in Davenport to provide funds for the wedding. At that time Davenport was a mere village without even a railroad. Atkinson was not yet founded. Moline and Rock Island were only little villages and Geneseo had one store.

Eight children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Taylor. All of them but her son Woodbury, have died, as well as Mr. Taylor. Two of the children were taken by typhoid fever, which was a scourge in early days because efficient methods had not been discovered for fighting it.

Mr. and Mrs. Taylor had a few neighbors, but most of the surrounding country was undeveloped virgin prairie or woodland. Mrs. Taylor remembers the howls of huge packs of wolves, the sight of large droves of deer moving across her farm, and also remembers Chief Shabonna, whose camp was in the Green River bottoms. She saw many bands of Indians moving from one camp ground to another.

Grain was hauled to a mill north of Geneseo or to one at Cleveland Ferry to be converted into corn meal or flour. Cattle were purchased by traveling herdsmen who drove them to eastern markets. Hogs had to be butchered and hauled by wagon to Peoria. Grain could be hauled to Chicago and exchanged for calico and other necessities of life.

There were no washing machines, sewing machines, etc. and John and his sons cradled his wheat and plowed with a walking plow, often with oxen. Prairie chickens were plentiful and formed a staple table article.

First school in Cornwall township was held in the home of Mr. Bernard, who had a two-room log cabin and gave up one room for educational purposes. First school building was a small shack on a tract adjoining the Taylor land and was taught by a man who had failed to find work as a farm hand.

When Cornwall township was first formed Mr. Taylor was appointed tax collector. Under regulations then existing taxes had to be paid in gold or silver. Mr. Taylor was forced to change paper money for the settlers and borrow money, for which he paid 5 percent interest, in order to be able to make change.

Mrs. Taylor is alert in spite of her advanced age, and wear speckles only to read. To talk with her is to be carried by the force of her personality back to the days of 1850. Her favorite byword is "I wonder!" The house in which she receives visitors was built in 1862. The hardships and struggles of pioneer days are written on her gnarled hands but her personality and nature are sweet and she is pleasant to interview.