High View Farm

Near Sweet Owen

Mr. Editor,

To vindicate the aptness of the name to these parts, be it known that your jovial and popular J. C. Hartsough christened the thing several years agone, and to certify the wisdom let me say that while the exact number above sea level is not known, yet from the parts on the farm four Baptist Church houses may be seen, that is, Pleasant Ridge, Mr. Hebron, Mussel Shoals and Holbrook.  And, added to this, a barn and dwelling may be seen about a half mile from the Cross Roads Baptist Church, which by the way, would at least suggest that the neighborhood was made up of moral and religious people, while we have some examples of noble christian man hood and more of womanhood.  Yet, alas, the rank and file fall below the standard brought to us by God's book, and the moral philosopher will readily discover three reasons:  First, inherent depravity; second, blind tigers in Owenton, and the pretended legal sale of whiskey in Jonesville; and third, the universal and unyielding thirst to gain money, by any means and at all hazards.

But more about the surroundings of High View.  We are about equal distance between the L & N and the Cincinnati Southern railroads, and can hear trains run and whistle on each when the air is favorable.  But a few years ago only four farms were between this and the noted Big Woods, which was a terror to civilization.  The people wore coon skin caps and moccasins, hunting gowns, and carried big homemade bowie knives and woe unto the stranger that crossed their road.  And now, behold, the bottom rail is on top, for the country is thickly settled, large two-story mansions occupy near-by flats, pianos, organs, rubber-tire buggies and carriages are common commodities.  Daily papers are read in nearly every home.  The young people attend the best schools, and many of them take a college course, and some one is on railroad train every day, and so the world wags. 

But the most notable feature of the community is that there are five bachelor halls in sight of each other, yet occupied by widowers, and several of them are surround by plenty of this world's goods. We have Mr. G. R. Stafford, a genial whole souled fellow, young and handsome, but he does not advertise for a housekeeper, though he goes to Jonesville. right much and yet he don't drink and was never accused of "treating."  Then we have Taylor Tool, the black whiskered man, who says it is a mighty independent way of living and some of us really think that Taylor don't want to marry.  Then we have the Waldrops, father and son, who do not talk much about the conspicuous absence of the usual environments, but attend strictly to business, and cultivate large sympathy for mankind daily.  Next is Jake Gross and Ed whose large and well furnished home does look somewhat lonely.  While surrounded by hundreds of broad acres they live well, but alas, are not mated.  Last, but not least is Mr. Dick Gross, who owns a fine house and a large farm, and they say a lot of spondulix [a.k.a., money], lives all alone, but, of course, his money is in the bank.  Some of us thought some time ago he had found a bird for his cage was down in Tennessee, but it proved to be a "flash in the pan." Now let it be distinctly understood that this is not intended for an advertisement, but ho, this is a leap year, and even as it is enough is known of this gang that no widow or old maid need apply without the best of references, and that in capitals.

Around here we are unanimously in favor of the pooled tobacco for 1906 and 1907, and also in favor of no crop this year.  We try to be faithful citizens, tax payers and voters.  We are opposed to all clicks, rings, and bosses either in Washington, Frankfort, or Owenton, and especially at Owenton.  We are watching folks more than they know.  We don't think we have any faction, only the people on one side and the money they have paid for State and County purposes turned into other channels, which they want recovered, and want it much.  They want honest sober, honest, economical men in office.  They want brave and fair mined men on their juries, selected by the strict rules of law, and summing up all, they are much in favor of he Society of Equity, though opposed to barn burning, shooting and all lawlessness.  They are Democrats after the old independent type, not fool Democrats, to be whipped into line by the so called party lash, and that in the hands of men that have no more patriotism than a heathen Chinese, or a Hotentot Islander.  They want McCreary sent to the Senate, and the new Legislature to get out of the old ruts, revise the new tax laws, leave Louisville out, as to all the time, and rectified whiskey as well, and to do things worthy of the Assembly, and for the uplift of the State.

Senex, Jr.

from the Owenton News-Democrat, 1908