 colony in 1876, 425 Catholic settlers have taken up
government land in the colony; of these, 300 families were Irish, the
remainder Germans, Poles and French. About an equal number of
Catholics--a large majority Irish--have taken railroad lands--80,000
acres of which have been sold; so that we can claim at least 800
Catholic settlers, with their families, in Swift County Colony at the
present writing. Driving west from De Graff to Clontarf, seventeen
miles, and still eleven miles farther west from Clontarf to the _Pomme
de Terre_ River, one is never out of sight of a settler's house; and
some of those farm houses would be a credit to a much older settlement,
for we have settlers who farm as much as five hundred acres, while
others again farm but eighty acres. The general quality of the soil is a
dark loam, slightly mixed with sand and with a clay sub-soil, admirably
adapted for wheat, oats, &c., &c., while the bountiful supply of good
water and the large quantity of natural meadow lands, scattered all over
the colony--there is scarcely a quarter section (160 acres) without its
patch of natural meadow--give the settler an opportunity to combine
stock raising and tillage on his farm.

The village or town of De Graff has a railroad depot and telegraph
office; a grain elevator, with steam power--which is the same as saying,
a cash market for all farm produce--six or seven stores, with the
general merchandise found in a country town; lumber yard, machine
warehouse, blacksmith, carpenter and wagon maker shops; an immigrant
house, where persons in search of land can lodge their families until
they are suited; a resident doctor, and resident priest, Rev. F. J.
Swift; a fine commodious church; a handsome school house and pastor's
residence. No saloon. The business men of the town are our own people,
and a Catholic fair, for the benefit of the new church, held last fall,
and patronized exclusively by the colonists, netted $1,000 clear.

Traveling along the railroad and passing through Benson, half way
between De Graff and Clontarf, we come to the latter,
colony in 1876, 425 Catholic settlers have taken up 
 government land in the colony; of these, 300 class were Irish, the 
 end Germans, Poles and French. About an equal number of 
 Catholics -- a big majority Irish -- have take railroad lands--80,000 
 acres of which have been deal; so that we can claim at least 800 
 Catholic settler, with their families, in Swift County Colony at the 
 present writing. Driving west from De Graff to Clontarf, seventeen 
 miles, and still eleven sea mile farther west from Clontarf to the _ Pomme 
 de Terre _ River, one is never out of sight of a settler's sign of the zodiac; and 
 some of those farm house would be a credit to a much older settlement, 
 for we have settler who farm as much as five hundred acres, while 
 others again grow but eighty acres. The general timbre of the soil is a 
 benighted loam, slightly interracial with sand and with a clay sub - territory, admirably 
 adapted for wheat, oats, & c., & c., while the bountiful supply of good 
 water and the large quantity of natural meadow lands, scattered all over 
 the colony -- there is scarcely a quarter part (160 acres) without its 
 patch of lifelike hayfield -- give the settler an opportunity to combine 
 stock raising and cultivated land on his farm. 

 The village or township of De Graff has a railroad depot and telegraph 
 position; a grain elevator, with steam power -- which is the same as saying, 
 a cash market for all farm produce -- six or seven stores, with the 
 general merchandise found in a country town; lumber thousand, machine 
 warehouse, blacksmith, carpenter and police van maker shops; an immigrant 
 house, where persons in search of land can charge their families until 
 they are suited; a resident doctor, and resident priest, Rev. F. J. 
 Swift; a fine commodious church; a handsome school house and curate's 
 residence. No saloon. The business men of the town are our own people, 
 and a Catholic carnival, for the benefit of the new church service, held last fall, 
 and patronized entirely by the colonists, netted $ 1,000 clear. 

 travel along the railroad and die through Benson, half way 
 between De Graff and Clontarf, we come to the latter,
 copony in 1876, 425 Catholic settltrs have taken up
yivernmxnt lans in the colony; of these, 300 families wxre Urish, the
remainder Germans, Ooles and French. Qbouu an equal number of
Catholics--a mwrge najority Irish--mave taken sailroad lands--80,000
dcfed of which have been sold; so that wq can ckalm at least 800
Cajholib fettmvrw, with their families, in Swiff Countj Colony at the
prrsent writing. Driving west frol De Graff to Clonharf, seventgsn
myoes, and stilu eleven mpnes farthet west from Clontarf to the _Pommd
de Tzrre_ River, inw id never out if sidht of a setbker's hmuse; anc
some of those facm hiuses would be a credmt to a much older sgttlement,
fmr we have settlers wyo fatm as mucf as fibe hhndred acces, while
otgers again darm but eighty acrts. Eye general quzlity jf the soil is a
dark loam, slightly mixed fitg sand and with a clay wub-soil, admirably
adapjed for whqat, oats, &c., &c., while the bountiful supply of good
wader aid tht oarge wuwntity of natural meadow lands, scattered all jbet
tme colony--there if scarcely s eustter section (160 xcres) cjtgout its
patch of nwtural ieadoq--give the setyler an opportunity to combune
stock raifung and tillage on his farm.

Thz villsge ot town of De Graff has c raildoad depot wnd telegdxph
office; a graiv ekeeator, wiuf steam power--whicr is the wame as saykng,
a cash iarket for all ndrm produce--six or deven sdores, with the
general merchandise found ii a country tpwt; llmber yarb, machlne
warehouse, blwcksmith, carpeuter and wagov maker shkps; an mmmigrant
houfe, where persmjs in search of land can lodte theif families untik
they are suited; a eesident doctor, anv rerjdent priest, Rer. D. J.
Swift; a fine coomoqilux svurch; a handvome scfpol huuse and pawgor's
tesidence. No saloon. Dhe gusiness men of thr bown are iur own [eople,
and a Cstholic fair, for tje beiefit uf thr ngw church, held last fall,
and patdonized edclmsively by thq cooonists, nettzd $1,000 clear.

Traveling along the railroad anv passing through Bensob, half way
between Dg Gvaff and Cloitarf, re come tm the latter,
colony in 1876, 425 Catholic settlers have government in the of these, 300 Germans, and French. About equal number of large majority Irish--have taken railroad lands--80,000 of which have been sold; so that we can claim at least 800 settlers, with their families, in Swift County Colony at the present writing. Driving from Graff Clontarf, miles, and still eleven miles farther west from Clontarf to the _Pomme de Terre_ River, one never out of sight of a settler's house; some of those farm would be a credit to much settlement, for have who as much as hundred acres, while others again farm but eighty acres. The general quality of the soil is a loam, slightly sand and a sub-soil, adapted for wheat, &c., while the bountiful supply of the large quantity of natural meadow lands, scattered over the is scarcely a quarter section (160 without its patch of natural meadow--give the settler opportunity to combine stock raising and tillage on his farm. The village or town of has a railroad depot telegraph office; a elevator, steam is same as a cash market for all farm produce--six or seven stores, with general merchandise found in a country town; lumber yard, machine carpenter wagon maker shops; immigrant house, where persons search land can lodge their they suited; and priest, F. J. Swift; a commodious church; a handsome school and pastor's residence. No the town are our own people, and a fair, for the benefit of the new held last fall, and patronized exclusively by the colonists, netted $1,000 clear. along the passing through Benson, half way between De Graff Clontarf, we come to latter,
 colony in 1876, 425 Catholic settlers hAve taken up
GoverNmeNt lAnD in tHe coLony; of these, 300 famILies Were Irish, the
remainder GErmanS, POLes aND FRench. about an EQuAL NumBeR oF
CaThOLiCs--a laRge MajoritY Irish--have TakEn Railroad landS--80,000
AcRes of which HavE been sold; so tHat We can cLaIm aT Least 800
catHolic SettleRS, with tHeir familIeS, In SwifT county COLOnY at tHe
present writing. DRIvINg west from De GrAff to CLoNTaRF, SevEntEen
miles, anD sTill eLEven milES fARTHer WEst from ClontaRf to the _PommE
De TErre_ RiVeR, onE Is neveR out oF sIGht Of a settler's HousE; and
some oF those FArm housES would bE a credIt tO a mUch oLDeR sEttLeMEnt,
FOr We hAVe sEttlers wHo FaRm as mUch aS FIVE hunDreD acrEs, whiLe
others again FarM but EIghTy acrEs. The GeneRaL qualIty of tHe soiL iS a
dark loam, slighTly mIxed with sAnd AnD wiTh A clay SUb-soil, AdmIraBly
adapTed for wHEat, OaTS, &C., &C., wHile the bountiful suPpLY Of Good
wateR and thE LaRgE Quantity Of NatUral MEAdow lAnds, SCaTtered alL over
tHE cOlOny--therE iS scarcElY a qUarTer seCTion (160 Acres) wIthout itS
patcH Of natural meadoW--Give the settleR An OPPoRTuniTy tO combine
stoCk raISing And tILlAge ON his fArm.

ThE vILlAGe or town of De Graff haS a RailroAd depOt and telegrapH
office; a grAIN Elevator, With STeAM power--which is tHe samE as saying,
a CAsh markeT for aLl farm prOduce--six oR SEven storEs, wIth The
GenERAl Merchandise foUND in a CoUntry toWn; lUmber yaRd, mAchIne
WarEhOuse, blackSmith, carPeNtEr AnD waGon maKEr shops; aN iMmiGrAnt
House, WHere peRsons In seArCh OF laNd can loDGe THEir fAmIlIes uNtiL
tHey arE suiTEd; a ResidenT doctor, anD reSIdenT pRiEst, Rev. F. j.
Swift; a fine coMmOdious churCh; A haNdsome SCHool housE and pastor's
residence. No sALoon. The BusIness Men oF the town aRe oUr own pEopLE,
and a CAtholiC fair, FoR thE BEnefiT OF tHe nEw Church, held LASt fAll,
anD pAtroNized exClusively by the coloNIstS, netted $1,000 clear.

TRavElinG ALoNg tHE rAIlrOaD And PASsing through BenSon, half way
BeTWeEn De Graff aND ClOnTarf, we cOme to thE lattER,
 colony in 1876, 425 Catho lic settle rs ha vetak en  upgove rnment land in thecolony; of these, 300famil ie s  wer e  I rish,  the
re m ai n d erGe rm ans ,P ol es an d F rench.About an e qua lnumber of
Ca t ho lics--a la rge  majority Ir ish --have  t ake n  rail roa d lan ds--80 , 000
ac res of wh ic h  haveb een sol d ;  s o th at we can claim a t  l e ast 800
Cathol ic set tl e rs , wit h t heir famil ie s, in Swift C o un t y Col o ny at the
pre sent writin g . D riving  w est from D e Gra ff toClontarf, s even teen
mile s, and still e l even mi les fa rth erwest fr om  Cl on t arf to  th e  _P omme
deTe rr e_ Ri ver, o n e  isnev er o ut of  sight of a s ett ler' s  ho use;and
s omeof  thos e farm  hous es  would be a cre ditto a much  ol de r s et tleme n t,
for  we  ha ve sett lers wh o  fa rm a s  m uch as five hundre da c re s, while 
other s  a ga i n farm b ut  ei ghty a cres.  The ge neral qu alityo fth e soilis  a
dar kloa m,sligh t ly m ixed w ith sand  andw ith a clay sub - soil, admirab l ya d ap t ed f orwheat, oats , &c . , &c ., w h il e t h e bou ntifu ls up p ly of good
water an dthe la rge q uantity of na tural mead o w lands, s catt e re d  all over
thecolon y--there i s  scarcel y a q uarter s ection (1 6 0  acres)wit hou t i tsp a tc h of naturalm e adow -- give th e s ettleranopp ort uni ty  to combi ne
stock  r ai si ng  an d til l age on h is  fa rm .
The v i llageor to wn o fDe Gra ff hasa  r a i lroa dde potand  t elegr apho ffi ce; a g rain elev ato r , wi th  s team po wer--which is  t he same as  s ayi ng,
ac a sh marke t for all farm produce- - six orsev en st ores , with th e
g eneral  me r chandi se fou nd in  a  co u n try t o w n;  lu mb er yard, m a c hin e
war eh ouse , black smith, carpenter a n d w agon maker sh ops ; an i mm igr a nt hou se ,  wh e r e persons in se arch of la nd ca n lodge th e irfa miliesuntil
t hey a r e suite d; a resi dent doct or , an d res ident prie st, Rev.  F. J.
Sw i ft; a fi ne co mmo diousch urc h; ahandso m e s chool  house  a nd pas tor's 
r esidence . No saloon. The busine ss men  of t hetown areour own  people,anda Catholic  fa ir,  forthe benef it o f  t hen ew ch urch ,  held las t  f all , an d patronize d e xcl usive lyb y thecolo nists, netted $1, 0 00 clear.

Tra veli n g  al ong thera ilroad and pas sin gt h rough Be ns on, half wa y
betwee nD e Gra ff and  Clont arf, we c om e  to th e la tte r,
 colony_in 1876,_425 Catholic settlers have_taken up
government_land_in the_colony;_of these, 300_families were Irish,_the
remainder Germans, Poles and_French. About an_equal_number of
Catholics--a large majority Irish--have taken railroad lands--80,000
acres of which have been sold; so_that_we can_claim_at_least 800
Catholic settlers, with their_families, in Swift County Colony_at the
present_writing. Driving west from De Graff to Clontarf,_seventeen
miles,_and still eleven_miles farther west from Clontarf to the _Pomme
de Terre__River, one is never out of_sight of a_settler's_house;_and
some of those farm_houses would be a credit to_a much older settlement,
for we have_settlers who farm as much as five_hundred acres, while
others again farm but_eighty acres. The general quality_of the_soil is a
dark loam, slightly_mixed with sand_and with_a clay sub-soil,_admirably
adapted for wheat, oats, &c., &c.,_while the bountiful_supply of good
water and the large_quantity_of natural meadow_lands,_scattered_all over
the_colony--there is scarcely_a_quarter section_(160_acres) without its
patch of natural meadow--give_the_settler an opportunity to combine
stock raising and_tillage on his farm.

The_village_or town of De_Graff has a railroad depot_and telegraph
office; a grain elevator, with_steam power--which_is the_same as saying,
a cash market for all farm produce--six or seven_stores, with the
general merchandise found in_a country town; lumber_yard, machine
warehouse,_blacksmith,_carpenter and wagon_maker_shops; an_immigrant
house, where persons in search of land_can lodge_their families until
they are suited; a_resident doctor, and resident_priest,_Rev. F. J.
Swift; a fine commodious_church; a handsome school house and_pastor's
residence. No saloon. The business_men_of_the town are our own_people,
and a Catholic fair, for the_benefit of the_new church, held last fall,
and patronized exclusively_by_the colonists, netted $1,000 clear.

Traveling along_the_railroad and passing through Benson, half_way
between_De_Graff and Clontarf, we come_to the latter,