Slabtown

At Topeka Indiana
My home was there on main,
Nor far north of the railroad
Where I could see each train,
The trains were often passing
>From east and from the west,
My aim was see the local
The train I loved the best.
I oft ran to the depot
To talk to railroad men,
Who came there with the local
Pulled by small engines then.
The railroad was completed
In eighteen ninety three,
That brought cheer to Topeka,
That Slabtown use-to-be.
Slabtown was oft rejoicing
Oh how it's band would play,
To learn of a new railroad
A coming through they'd say.
And long before the railroad
Bert Smith did haul the mail,
>From Ligonier to Slabtown
Who's job at last did fail,
For then was built the Wabash
That took his job away,
That's brought mail to Topeka,
Since in Bert's wagon day,
I still remember Slabtown
Since eighteen eighty three
For there I spent my childhood
Why it's so dear to me.
 
Author
Idda E. Carlson
1601 Cassopolis Street
Elkhart, Ind.

(This poem was handwritten on a piece of paper and stuck in the book, LaGrange County Centennial 
History, 1828-1928)

A Reflection

Tell me, brothers, does the scene
In and 'round old Springfield gleam
With that bright and sylvan touch
Which we used to love so much?

Do the breezes of the night
Cadence on the soft moonlight?
Do the stars to brightly beam
As in days of youthful dream?

Does the bright and rosy morn
Subjugate your hopes forlorn?
Does it throng your heart with joy
As when you were just a boy?

In your calm, reflective mood
Do you seek some solitude
Chambered in a forest dell,
Where messengers of Pan dwell?

Do the upland and the wood
Hark you back where one there stood
Pioneers of former years,
Fathers of our hopes and fears?

Oh! glorious days of old
Their loveliness is untold--
While our bark sppeds to that shore
Their songs lilt to us evermore.

Pleasant, sweet, forever yet,
Their mem'ry is rimmed and set
With the gems of loves and sighs
Lost in the hush of sad "good-byes."

by S. C. Spero
Lived in Greenfield Township and later in Brushy Prairie, Springfield Township, LaGrange, IN
Published in History of Northeast Indiana

Corn a-Talkin'

What I like the best of all
        Is to hear the corn a-talkin'
When the wind is through it walkin'
        And to ketch the punkins listnin'
And a layin' low and glistnin'
As ef waitin' for a call.

Dr. Silas B. McManus
Lived Howe Township, LaGrange County, IN; died April 15, 1917 at his home near Howe, IN
Published in LaGrange County Centennial History, 1828-1928

Hoosierdom

Let's sing a song of Hoosierdom,
        The land where we were born,
Where golden sunshine falls upon
        The waviing wheat and corn, 
And breezes gently sighing o'er
        The fields and meadows green,
Waft all the sorrows far away
        Which passing days have seen.
With hearts as light and faces bright,
        Though far from you we roam,
Our thoughts turn back to you tonight,
        Dear Indiana home!

Let's sing a song of Hoosierdom,
        Of our dear native state,
And measure all the good it's done,
        Its boundaries wise and great.
Its name upon the pages of
        The hist'ry of our land
Is shining with a glory which
        Few rivals can command,
And burnished even brighter
        Will a coming page proclaim
In ranks of science, art, and wealth,
        Its ever honored name.

Let's sing a song of Hoosierdom,
        And of the dear old farm-
The sun, which we in childhood knew,
        Is shining just as warm.
The birds are in the orchard trees,
The vine is o'er the door,
The stranger shares our humble fare
        As freely as of yore;
The gold tie of friendship binds
        The country and the town,
And nature's face is smiling as
        She hands her blessing down.

Let's sing a song of Hoosierdom
        And let the chorus rise
>From every heart which claims its joys-
        We'll laud it to the skies!
That all the world may know its worth
        And knowing, prize aright,
The stalwart man and woman-hood;
        Its glory and its might.
Go on, dear Indiana State,
        `Till all your praise shall sing,
Within our loving hearts tonight,
        We'll crown you as our King!

By Deamer R. Drake 
(Born August 12, 1874 in Clearspring Township, LaGrange County, IN, to Reason R. Drake and Salina 
Ann Stone)  
Published in LaGrange County Centennial History, 1828-1928

Contributed by: Barbara Boyd Stewart