John Tennant was one of the first settlers of Fox Township, buying eighty acres of land in that township in 1857. He resided on the same tract for about forty years, when he moved to Independence.

    Mr. Tennant has written the following reminiscences:

    "I came to Iowa in 1857 and in the same year bought eighty acres of land in Fox Township, which I began at once to break up. The breaking was done with oxen, as they were used more than horses in the early days, being better to stand the hard work and the hardships of pioneering.

    "Two years later I built a house of logs, with all the modern improvements for that day. It had two rooms, one downstairs and one above. There was one twelve-light window in each, and one door in the lower room.

    "We were frequently visited by Indians who camped along the Cedar River. They came to hunt, also to beg from the settlers. Many times we gave them of our scanty store, but we did not live on cake, pie and other desserts in those days. Pork, beans and corn bread in large part constituted our daily rations. Our fruits were wild plums, grapes and cherries.

    "Foxes and wolves were common neighbors then and we frequently had to chase them form our barn and chicken yards, to prevent them from carrying off our young flocks and herds, which were small in numbers. As time passed on I remember a little incident which happened one Sunday morning, as I was about to go out to do the chores. I heard a noise among the chickens. On hurrying to the spot I saw a wolf making his escape with the only rooster on the place. I soon mounted a horse and was on his trail, overtaking him a half mile away. As I approached he dropped the rooster and fled. I picked up the fowl, brought it home and threw it down in the barnyard, where he flopped his wings and crowed lustily.

    "Prairie chickens were very plentiful in the early days and were trapped by the hundreds. They were not rejected from our own tables, the breasts being delicious when fried.

    "We had no high schools then, but enjoyed going to school in our little log school houses, which were equipped with writing desks pinned to the walls, with long benches in front of them. There were no railroads in 1857 nearer than Dyersville, which was a few miles west of Dubuque, and where Jesup stands today there was but one business house, conducted by William Marshall. But newcomers kept flocking in, building a little house here and there. They early began to set out trees, which afforded protection against the wind which blew a gale in the winter months. Although the winters were long and cold, with deep snow, and neighbors were far apart, these conditions did not prevent the settlers from bundling up and going in sleds to visit each other. The whole family would go visiting in the forenoon, stay to dinner and most of the afternoon. When the sun dropped low they would return home to do their chores. These visits were greatly enjoyed and everyone had a royal time.

    "There was no so-called high-toned society then, but all were on a common level. All endured the same hardships and rejoiced in the same victories which came in subjugating a wild country. The spirit of comradeship and helpfulness was widespread among the pioneers. Each was ready to do a kind act for the other. Farmers exchanged work and neighboring gatherings were places where good fellowship held away and we believe that people enjoyed life better in their poverty then than in their riches now. The memory of those days is precious to us and it is a delight to permit the mind to wander back over the years and recall the pleasures and sociability and cooperative helpfulness of those who came to the new country and did their part in making Iowa what it is today."