John Cross

Jamestown Press
Jamestown, [Boone County] Indiana
Friday, 29 Nov. 1901 page 2

Uncle John CROSS is about the luckiest man we know of. Last summer he planted about two bushels of pumpkin seed in his corn field, but as the season was so dry the plants were slow at making their appearance. Uncle John, however, thought they would come out alright and that he would have enough of the delicious pumpkin to last him until after Christmas and also keep his cow through the winter. After he had laid his corn by he did not visit the field anymore to see how his pumpkin crop was doing, supposing it was alright. Last week he put double sideboards on his wagon and started out to gather his pumpkins. He had promised several of his neighbors enough for their Thanksgiving dinner and they were to be at the house that day and get them. Uncle John drove down to the place where he had seen the vines and began to search for the crop. There was not a "pumpkin" in sight, but he hunted around about the four acres of ground. Finally he found a vine, and after following it about nineteen rods was about to give up the search, when his foot struck something solid and threw him to the ground. Upon investigating he found it to be what he was looking for. He plucked it and took it to the house, but the neighbors had to look elsewhere for pumpkins for pies. The one Uncle John found was about the size of a Vanderver [?] apple, and he served that for dessert. He says if the frost had remained off long enough he believes the vine would have reached Racoon[sic] Creek.

Transcribed by: Janet ISLEY Price. "I am posting this article for others. I am not related to this subject."