| the Good Hope Settlement |
| including the Willow Creek Settlement |
| story by Nora Olson: The circuit rider, the man of God, crossed miles of the wilderness on horseback to give comfort, baptize, perform marriages, preach to the pioneers and bring news of the outside world. This rider served two settlements on the west side of the Little Sioux River -- the Willow Settlement, on Willow Creek, northwest of what is now Washta and Good Hope Settlement, five and six miles south on the river trail. Along the west side of this trail were hills which crowded the path at points where the river made curves. At one divide in the hills, a second trail followed a shallow creek leading west into the shelter of these hills, the trail soon divided into two trails both leading to the Ridge and the Good Hope Settlement. Dugouts and log cabins had been erected by settlers along these trails to the west and north. The Correctionville Settlement, a few miles to the south was located on the east side of the Little Sioux River on Bacon Creel near old Highway 20. It was difficult to reach for those living to the north. Crossing the river was a problem because the slough was wide north of the river then high hills to the ridge. The Good Hope Settlement had no grave-yard at this time. Con Sanford, when a boy, lived in this settlement. He attended a burial conducted by the settlers. The grave was dug near the dwelling on the present Nora Olson home; there was no casket. There were no fences. Lilian Wolf, as a child, herded sheep for her parents who lived in Good Hope. John and Elizabeth Collins and Family also lived at Good Hope Settlement. A daughter Cora later married Warren Joslyn. Mrs. Fred ( Ella ) Nissen's mother also lived in Good Hope The stage route from Cherokee to Smithland, crossed Willow Creek, and then a short distance south was the stage stop at a log cabin. The stage route continues south to present Harold Crocker home, then angeled southeast to a fork in the river where it crossed the east side of present Joe Linn farm joining a trail on Ashton Creek continuing on south along the river to the Correctionville settlement and points east. Good Hope and Willow Settlements received mail by stage THE END |
| this iste maintained by KKB |