From the 8th of June 1895 until about Dec. 1st of that year I had little work to do, only earning in that time about $80. or $90.

Positions were very hard to secure and business was very dull in nearly all lines.

About the latter part of Dec. 1896 I began to canvass for the Saturday Gazette & Iowa Homestead and continued this work until the spring of 1897.

In October 1896, I visited El Dorado Springs, Cedar Co. Mo. to look the field over with a view to locating there and engaging in the newspaper business with F.M. Haislet, who formerly owned & edited the New Hampton Tribune.

The trip resulted in nothing as it did not seem to me that the business would pay two persons; besides Mr. Haislet's price for a half interest in the paper seemed too high.

Bertha's health was quite poor most of the time during 1895 and 1896. She suffered greatly with the neuralgia.

Robert Harvey was born on the 23rd of July 1895.

He was an unusually good dispositioned babe and was quite healthy, though rather small.

It is now some time since the last addition was made to this sketch.

During 1897, I worked locally at the fire insurance & life insurance business; but found it very slow business and not profitable.

In fact it was very difficult even by practicing the strictest economy to make a living. In the fall of 1897, at the solicitation of friends, my name was presented to the Republican county convention, as a candidate for county superintendent; the convention nominated me. A vigorous canvass of the county was made, resulting in my defeat by J.A. Bishop, the democratic nominee, the county being strongly democratic.

This campaign added to my debts & the winter of 1897 & 98 was a most discouraging time for us, and things looked pretty "blue."

The administration of Wm. McKinley, which began March 4th, 1897, soon began to restore confidence through-out the country. The Dingley tariff measure, enacted in the summer of 1897, when Congress was convened in special session, took the place of the disastrous Wilson Bill, & this, with the assurance of a sound and stable currency, did much to dispel the clouds of business disaster, which overshadowed the sky during Cleveland's second administration.

Before the close of 1897, the country was again growing more hopeful. Business improved greatly; the great factories, many of which had so long been idle or had worked only part of the time, were running on full time & the hum of industry was every where heard. Idle men now found employment; the great army of tramps disappeared.

Prices of farm produce advanced; money was plenty and interest rates became lower; our foreign commerce received a mighty impetus and our markets were no longer flooded with goods manufactured in foreign lands. From a period of disaster during the Cleveland administration, we speedily passed to a period of splendid business & commercial prosperity, the most remarkable this country or any other country had ever known.

During 1898, I combined real estate, the sale of S.W. Minnesota lands, with insurance & made a gain in business.

Ethel graduated in June 1898 from the New Hampton High School, her oration being very fine and exceedingly well delivered.

Uncle Robert McFarland had come from his home near Tonkawa O.Ty. in May to visit Iowa relatives, after an absence of nineteen years, and was present at Ethel's graduation, as were also aunt Mary Troy, of Madison, Wis., Mr. & Mrs. Ed. Evan's of Elma; brother Marvin McFarland & wife and a number of others.

Uncle Rob remained in Iowa, spending much of his time at uncle Aaron Boylan's, until Sept or August, when he returned home. He came back in October bringing his wife, aunt Rene, & they remained in Iowa & Wis. until April 1899, before going home.

This visit with Rob & Rene was a very pleasant one, though the parting was sad. Uncle Rob is fast aging but his heart is as true as ever & he is the same tender, unselfish, kind & genial man he always was.

During 1899 I worked for J.G. Lund of Canby, Minnesota, selling land. My local fire insurance work was also continued. My business was good. I earned all told about $2000, but Lund did not pay me within about $670 of my earnings so my years work netted me about $1300.

In the fall of 1899, about the latter part of Oct. or the first of Nov, Elmer, who had grown tired of school, went to Heber, Arkansas, by team with his uncles, Hal & Claude Babcock. The trip including a three week's stop near Marshaltown, Ia, took probably two months. About Feb. 1900, I sent him a ticket & he came home by rail, via St. Louis & Chicago.

We were very glad to have him at home again. That summer he worked for a while driving delivery wagon for Jno. Ballinger & in the fall & winter worked for Alfred Clark & Bro. Marvin McFarland. I was opposed to his going to Arkansas, but finally yieldied & subsequently regretted giving my consent to his making the trip.

March 24th, 1900, Arthur was born.

During 1900 I sold land for Bloom Martin & Co. of Watertown S.D. & wrote fire insurance. My earnings were about $1050 -- $160 of which I did not receive until August 1901.

Ethel began teaching at Alta Vista Iowa, in the primary room, in Sept. 1900, having previously taught the Williamstown school in Chickasaw Co. Iowa four terms.

She was a successful teacher & could have remained longer at Williamstown had she cared to do so. During the spring of 1901, I worked for the Sioux Valley Land Co. of Henry South Dakota; but had no success & June 19th I went on the road for the Fidelity Fire Ins. Co. of Des Moines as Special Agt. at a salary of $75.00 a month & expenses; but resigned Oct. 1st, 1901, & accepted the position of Secy of the Chickasaw Co. Farmers Mutual Ins. Co.

Notes found in the journal:

Aunt Mary -
Left Ohio when 14 - attended district schools there.
Attended school in Pa. until 1853 & there com - teaching.
Taught 4 terms.
Married Mch 15 - 1855 & re - same year to Wis.
Located on Green Co farm & lived there until spring - (Apl 17 - 83) went to Madison.
In fall of 1874 they came to Ia. on visit.
Staid several weeks.
Went to Pa. on visit in winter of 61-62.
O.A. graduated from U. of W. in 1880.
Bert[ha] in 1887.

Aunt Maggie -
Began to teach in Penn. in summer of 1854.
Attended select school in Lebanon about 1855 or 56,
also at Millon Wis.

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	Bethany McFarland's Family Journals

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This page was created January 16, 1998.

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An Autobiography of O.A. McFarland
Part IX
http://www.citilink.com/~bethany/journal9.html
Bethany McFarland
E-mail: bethany@citilink.com

Copyright 1997, 1998 by Bethany Rose McFarland