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HEIVIAN  C.  SMITH 


HISTORY 

OF 


DECATUR  COUNTY 

IOWA 


AND  ITS  PEOPLE  ^ 


PROF.  J.  M.  HOWELL  and  HEMAN  C.  SMITH 

SUPERVISING    EDITORS 


ILLUSTRATED 


VOLUME  I 


CHICAGO 

THE  S.  J.  CLARKE  PUBLISHING  COMPANY 

1915 


THE  NEW  YORK 
PUBLIC  LIBRARY 

731365 

ASTOR,  LENOX  AND 
TILDEN  FOUNDAl  IONS 

R  1916  L 


INTRODUCTION 

The  history  of  Decatur  County  as  United  States  territory  reaches 
back  to  that  eventful  day  in  iNIay,  1803,  when  the  treaty  was  signed 
by  which  France  ceded  the  vast  territory  included  in  the  Louisiana 
Purchase  to  our  Federal  Government.  The  hand  of  Providence 
seems  plainly  manifest  in  the  course  of  events  which  led  to  its  acquisi- 
tion. It  is  said  that  the  American  envoys  who  conducted  the  negotia- 
tions on  behalf  of  the  United  States  "spent  no  small  part  of  their 
time  explaining  that  they  only  wished  a  little  bit  of  Louisiana,  includ- 
ing Xew  Orleans  and  the  east  bank  of  the  INIississippi."  Livingston 
indeed  went  so  far  as  to  express  a  veiy  positive  disinclination  to  take 
the  territory  west  of  the  INIississippi  at  any  price,  stating  that  he 
should  much  prefer  to  see  it  remain  in  the  hands  of  France  or  Spain, 
and  suggesting  by  way  of  an  apolog}^  for  its  acquisition,  that  it  might 
be  resold  to  some  European  power.  JNIadison  who  was  at  the  head  of 
the  state  department  at  that  time  "felt  a  strong  disinclination  to  see 
the  national  domain  extend  west  of  the  JNIississippi  and  he  so  instructed 
Monroe  and  Livingston,"  who  were  in  charge  of  the  matter  on  our 
I^art.  But  Napoleon,  harassed  on  every  hand  by  the  great  powers  of 
Europe  and  fearful  that  the  territory  might  fall  into  the  hands  of  the 
English,  rapidly  abated  his  demands  from  the  exorbitant  sum  first 
asked,  finally  offering  to  take  $15,000,000  and  forced  Livingston  and 
jSIonroe  to  become  reluctant  purchasers  not  merely  of  Xew  Orleans, 
but  of  all  the  immense  territory  stretching  vaguely  northwestward  to 
the  Pacific.  Another  strange  thing  about  the  matter  is  that  Jeffer- 
son, in  whose  administration  the  purchase  was  made,  "had  led  his 
party  into  power  as  special  champion  of  states'  rights  and  the  special 
opponent  of  national  sovereignty.  He  and  they  rendered  a  very 
great  service  to  the  nation  by  acquiring  Louisiana;  but  it  was  at  the 
cost  of  violating  every  precept  which  they  had  professed  to  hold  dear." 
Thus  came  into  the  possession  of  the  United  States  a  territorj^  of  vast 
and  very  ill  defined  extent.  Congress  authorized  a  temporary  gov- 
ernment for  the  newly  acquired  province  on  October  31,  1803,  but 
its  jurisdiction  was  merely  nominal  as  the  French  governor  retained 

•  •  • 

in 


iv  INTRODUCTION 

his  power  at  the  request  and  by  the  authority  of  the  United  States. 
By  further  action  of  Congress  the  whole  of  the  province  north  of  the 
33d  parallel  was  organized  into  a  court  district  and  formed  for  gov- 
ernmental and  judicial  purposes  a  part  of  the  Territory  of  Indiana. 
This  action  was  had  ^larch  26,  1804,  and  affected  what  are  now  the 
states  of  Ai'kansas,  jMissouri  and  Iowa,  also  Southern  Minnesota ;  it 
was  called  Upper  Louisiana,  and  in  this  way  the  name  District  of 
Louisiana  was  originated,  by  which  it  was  known  during  the  early  his- 
tory of  the  country. 

On  ]March  3,  1805,  Iowa  was  included  as  a  part  of  the  Territory 
of  Louisiana,  with  the  capital  at  St.  Louis,  and  that  part  of  the 
Louisiana  Purchase  now  known  as  Louisiana  became  Orleans  Ter- 
ritory. The  Territory  of  JMissouri  was  organized  June  4,  1812,  and 
Iowa  was  embraced  in  it.  When  Missouri  became  a  state  in  1820, 
Iowa  w^th  other  territory,  was  detached  and  forgotten  and  "remained 
a  country  without  a  government,  either  political  or  judicial,  until 
June  28,  1834,  when  the  abuses  of  outlawry  and  crime  became  so 
prominent  and  so  serious  that,  as  a  means  of  redress  and  correction, 
it  was  included  in  the  Territory  of  jNIichigan.  During  all  of  these 
years,  it  is  probable  that  the  only  civil  law  in  force  in  Iowa  was  the 
provision  of  the  ^Missouri  Act  which  prohibited  slavery  and  involun- 
tary servitude  in  the  territories  of  the  United  States  north  of  thirty- 
six  degrees,  thirty  minutes,  north  latitude." 

By  1836  the  population  of  this  region  had  so  increased  that  the 
territorial  government  of  Wisconsin  was  organized,  which  at  first  in- 
cluded a  part  of  the  upper  peninsula  of  INIichigan,  the  whole  of  INIin- 
nesota  and  Iowa,  and  that  part  of  Dakota  lying  east  of  the  INIissouri 
and  White  Earth  rivers.  When  the  Territory  of  Iowa  was  organized 
July  12,  1838,  it  included  the  present  State  of  Minnesota  and  parts 
of  North  and  South  Dakota. 

By  an  act  of  Congress  approved  INIarch  3,  1845,  provision  was 
made  for  the  admission  of  Iowa  into  the  Union  as  a  sovereign  state, 
with  boundaries  extending  on  the  north  the  parallel  of  latitude  pass- 
ing through  the  mouth  of  the  Blue  Earth  River  and  on  the  w^est  only 
to  seventeen  degrees,  thirty  minutes,  from  Washington,  correspond- 
ing very  nearly  to  the  existing  line  between  Ringgold  and  Union 
counties  on  the  one  hand  and  Taylor  and  Adams  counties  on  the 
other.  This  reduction  of  the  boundaries  laid  down  by  the  Constitu- 
tional Convention  of  1844  was  very  distasteful  to  the  people,  the 
admission  was  rejected  by  a  popular  election  and  in  1846  Congress 
proposed  new  boundary  lines,  having  the  State  of  Minnesota  for  the 


INTRODUCTIOX  v 

north  boundary,  3Iissouri  for  the  south,  the  ]Mississipx)i  River  on  the 
east  and  the  ^lissouri  and  Sioux  rivers  on  the  west.  The  date  of 
admission  to  the  Union  was  December  28,  IS-iC. 

Comparatively  few  of  the  counties  as  at  present  estabhshcd  had 
been  organized  previous  to  the  convening  of  the  first  territorial  as- 
sembly. It  was  not  until  after  Iowa  was  organized  as  a  state  that  we 
find  Decatur  represented  in  the  Legislature.  It  was  the  last  of  twelve 
counties  created  by  the  act  of  the  Legislature  of  the  Territory  of 
Iowa,  api^roved  January  13,  184C,  and  its  boundaries  as  at  first  de- 
fined have  remained  permanent.  The  land  included  within  the  liinits 
of  the  county  was  ceded  to  the  United  States  Government  by  the  Sac 
and  Fox  Indians  in  a  treaty  dated  October  11,  1842.  Decatur  was 
west  of  the  line  by  which  this  cession  was  divided  into  two  parts  and 
therefore  did  not  have  to  be  vacated  by  the  Indians  until  three  years 
after  the  date  of  cession.  The  three  southern  tiers  of  counties  in  Iowa 
at  present  were  carved  from  the  original  territory  of  the  County  of 
Des  jNIoines.  Des  JNIoines  was  the  second  county  established  in  Iowa, 
Dubuque  having  been  the  first.  The  limits  of  the  County  of  Des 
]\Ioines  were  defined  in  section  2  of  an  act  to  lay  off  and  organize 
counties  west  of  the  JNIississippi  River.  In  the  definition  of  the  boun- 
daries of  Des  jNIoines  County  an  error  was  made  in  that  the  county 
was  not  limited,  in  so  many  words,  to  territory'  to  which  the  Indian 
title  had  been  extinguished.  The  intention  of  the  framers  of  the  act 
was  to  erect  the  southern  part  of  the  Black  Hawk  Purchase  into  Des 
jMoines  County,  but  by  the  omission  of  a  phrase  the  county  was  appar- 
ently extended  westward  to  the  Missouri  River.  The  territory 
enacted  into  new  counties  was  only  the  southern  part  of  the  Black 
Hawk  Purchase.    It  did  not  extend  westward  to  the  Missouri  River. 


CONTENTS 


CHAPTER  1 
EARLY  SETTLEMENT  OF  DECATUR  COUNTY 


,', 


FIRST  SETTLEMENTS AN   EARLY   SCRIBE  S  DESCRIPTION FRANKLIN 

TOWNSHIP LONG  CREEK  TOWNSHIP — RICHLAND  TOWNSHIP 

GRAND    RI^^R DECATUR PRODUCTIONS  —  EDUCATIONAL 

MANUFACTORIES  RAILROADS  REAL  ESTATE  BRIDGES  

CHURCHES — POSTOFFICES — OLD  TIME  NEWSPAPER  CLIPPINGS 

IN  THE  DAYS  OF  AULD  LANG  SYNE 1 


CHAPTER  II 
ORGANIZATION  OF  DECATUR  COUNTY 

COUNTY  ORGANIZATION — FIRST  TOWNSHIPS — COUNTY  SEAT — IN 
REGARD  TO  THE  COUNTY  SEAT  C0NTR0\T:RSY — FIRST  COURT- 
HOUSE  COURTHOUSE      BURGLARY THE      NEW      C0U;RTH0USE 

JAIL POOR   FARM THE   COUNTY   ROAD   SYSTEM 16 

CHAPTER  III 
SUMMARY  OF  COUNTY  OFFICIALS 

COUNTY      JUDGES TREASURERS      AND      RECORDERS — TREASURERS 

RECORDERS — CLERKS SHERIFFS — COUNTY       SUPERINTENDENTS 

AUDITORS SUPERVISORS CORONERS  —  SURVEYORS DIS- 
TRICT   JUDGES SENATORS REPRESENTATIVES 30 

"  i 

Vll 


viii  CONTEXTS 

CHAPTER  IV 
HAMILTON  TOWNSHIP  BEFORE  THE  WAR 

AX  ARTICLE  FROM  THE  PEN  OF  DUNCAN  CAMPBELL 34 

CHAPTER  V 
ABOUT  NEW  BUDA  AND  THE  HUNGARIANS 

WRITTEN  BY  G.  P.  ARNOLD,  ALSO  THE  STORY  OF  FRANCIS  VARGA .  ...     48 

CHAPTER  VI 
DECATUR'S  WAR  STORY 

FIRST  PREPARATIONS ENLISTMENTS GEORGE  POMUTZ PROMI- 
NENT   SOLDIERS    FROM    THIS    COUNTY SKETCH    OF   THE   THIRD 

IOWA  CAVALRY THE  HOME  COMING  OF  THE  THIRD 54 


CHAPTER  VII 

ROSTER  OF  DECATUR  COUNTY  SOLDIERS  WHO 
SERVED  IN  THE  WAR  OF  REBELLION 

FOURTH  IOWA  VOLUNTEER  INFANTRY COMPANY  D THIRTY- 
FOURTH  IOWA  INFANTRY COMPANY  A COMPANY  I THIRTY- 
NINTH    IOWA    INFANTRY COMPANY    K SEVENTEENTH     IOWA 

INFANTRY COMPANY  A THIRD  IOWA  VOLUNTEER  CAV- 
ALRY  COMPANY  L COMPANY  M UNASSIGNED NINTH  IOWA 

CAVALRY COMPANY       C FORTY-EIGHTH       IOWA      VOLUNTEER 

INFANTRY COMPANY      C DECATUR      COUNTY      SOLDIERS       IN 

TROOPS  OF  OTHER  STATES COMPANY  A,  THIRTY-SEVENTH  ILLI- 
NOIS     INFANTRY COMPANY     D,      FIFTIETH      ILLINOIS TENTH 

KANSAS   VOLUNTEER    INFANTRY COMPANY    K TfllRTY-FIFTH 

MISSOURI  INFANTRY COMPANY  A COMPANY  E FORTY- 
FOURTH  MISSOURI  INFANTRY MISSOURI  STATE  MILITIA SEV- 
ENTH  CAVALRY SOUTHERN   BORDER   BRIGADE    (iOWA) THIRD 

;  BATTALION COMPANY   A 63 


CONTENTS  ix 

CHAPTER  VIII 
PROGRESS   OF   EDUCATION  IN  DECATUR  COUNTY 

EARLY     LEON     SCHOOL     DAYS ANOTHER     SCHOOL     REMINISCENCE 

DECATUR  SCHOOLS EARLY  SCHOOL  DAYS  IN  FRANKLIN  TOWN- 
SHIP  IN  GARDEN  GROVE IN  EDEN  TOWNSHIP SCHOOL  STA- 
TISTICS         77 

CHAPTER  IX 
GRACELAND  COLLEGE 

AN  ARTICLE  WRITTEN  BY  MISS  INEZ  SMITH 96 

CHAPTER  X 
THE  CITY  OF  LEON 

EARLY    SETTLEMENT    AND    GROWTH NEWSPAPERS TELEPHONES 

ELECTRICITY WATER IMPROVEMENTS BANKS LODGES, 

SOCIETIES    AND    CLUBS— CHURCHES THE    SWIFT    COMPANY 

COMMERCIAL    CLUB REMINISCENCES    OF   LEON    BY    MAJ.    J.    L. 

YOUNG THE   LEON    BOARD   OF   TRADE LEON   AS   DESCRIBED   IN 

1869 MEMORIES  OF  LEON  BY  J.  N.  MACHLAN 110 

CHAPTER  XI 

THE  FOUNDING  OF  LAMONI  AND  THE  WORK  OF 

THE  ORDER  OF  ENOCH 

A  HISTORY  PREPARED  BY  ASA  S.   COCHRAN— BANKS NEWSPAPERS 

THE  CITY  OF  LAMONI  AND  ITS  PEOPLE SOCIETIES THE  METH- 
ODIST CHURCH 130 

CHAPTER  XII 

THE  BEGINNING  OF  THE  LATTER  DAY 
SAINTS  CHURCH 

WRITTEN    BY    HEMAN     C.     SMITH THE    PRESENT    STATUS     OF    THE 

CHURCH THE    SAINTS'    HERALD 138 


X  CONTENTS 

CHAPTER  XIII 
EARLY  SETTLEMENT  AT  GARDEN  GROVE 

AX  ACCOUNT  OF  THE  MORMOX  SETTLEMEXTS  THERE  IX   1834  WRIT- 
TEN BY  HEMAX^  C.   SMITH 143 

CHAPTER  XIV 
DECATUR  COUNTY  TOWNS 

DAVIS      CITY GARDEX      GROVE PLEASAXTOX^— VAX      WERT GRAXD 

RIVER DECATUR  CITY WELDOX" LEROY NEW  BUDA TERRE 

HAUTE — TUSKEEGO HIGH    POIXT WESTERVILLE 154 

CHAPTER  XV 

POLITICS  IN  DECATUR  COUNTY 

historical  and  political  remixiscex^ces  of  decatur  couxty  by 
"ax"  old  politiciax" 183 

CHAPTER  XVI 
THE  MEDICAL  PROFESSION 

DOCTORS  IX  DECATUR  COUXTY DECATUR  COUNTY  MEDICAL  SOCIETY 

THE  physicians'  REGISTER 190 

CHAPTER  XVII 
THE  LEGAL  PROFESSION 

PROMIXEX^T    LAWYERS,    PAST    AX^D    PRESEX^T THE    PRESEXT    BAR — 

THE  FIRST  COURT 197 

CHAPTER  XVIII 
THE  NAMES  OF  DECATUR  COUNTY  STREAMS 

AX    ACCOUX^T   OF   THE    XAMIXG   OF   THE    STREAMS    OF   THE    COUNTY 

WRITTEX  BY  J.  E.  VAIL 204 


CONTEXTS  xi 

CHAPTER  XIX 

MISCELLAXEOUS 

EAKLY  FARM   METHODS RAILROADS GRAND   RIVER  OUTLAWS PIO- 
NEER REMINISCENCES CHRISTMAS  FIFTY  YEARS  AGO DECATUR 

COUNTY   IMMIGRATION    SOCIETY DECATUR    COUNTY   AGRICUL- 

TUR^U.   AND   LIVE   STOCK   ASSOCIATION THE   DECATUR   COUNTY 

HISTORICAL  SOCIETY,  BY  HEMAN  C.  SMITH 209 

CHAPTER  XX 
GEOLOGY  OF  DECATUR  COUX^TY 

INTRODUCTION  PHYSIOGRAPHY  TOPOGRAPHY  DRAINAGE  

STRATIGRAPHY CARBONIFEROUS DES   MOINES   SERIES PLEAS- 
ANTON   SHALES MISSOURIAN   SERIES BETHANY   LIMESTONE 

PLEISTOCENE KANSAN   AND   OLDER   DRIFT   SHEETS LOESS   AND 

GUMBO ALLUVIUM STRUCTURE  ECONOMIC    PRODUCTS COAL 

CLAYS BUILDING         STONES LIME ACKNOWLEDGMENTS 

FOREST    TREES    AND    SHRUBS    OF    DECATUR     COUNTY NOMEN- 
CLATURE      228 


PROFESSOR   J.    M.    HOWELL 


HISTORY  OF  DECATUR  COUNTY 


CHAPTER  I 
EARLY  SETTLEMENT  OF  DECATUR  COUNTY 

Pioneer  history,  at  its  best,  is  an  elusive  subject.  Records  of  the 
days  when  the  settlers  hewed  their  homes  from  the  unbroken  wilder- 
ness have  not  been  adequately  presenxd  and  consequently  the  soiu'ces 
of  information  which  have  survived  are  treasures  which  must  be  kept 
and  immortalized  by  the  present  generation  and  the  ones  to  come, 
lest  the  tales  of  the  hardships  and  sturdy  deeds  be  lost  to  view  forever. 
Such  is  the  purpose  of  history.  Pioneer  history,  as  well  as  any  other, 
grows  with  the  telling.  There  is  glamour  and  interest  centering 
around  the  hard  fought  battles  of  the  early  days,  which  will  bear  the 
retelling  many  times  over.  What  if  bits  of  imagination  are  intro- 
duced in  the  retelling?  Any  life  is  prosaic  in  the  stern  reality — and 
narrative  beauty  is  added  by  the  coloration  of  the  pure  facts ;  but,  of 
course,  strict  adherence  to  these  same  facts  is  a  prime  requisite. 

In  the  beginnino;  of  Iowa  history,  and  with  it  that  of  Decatur 
County,  settlements  were  miles  apart  and  social  intercourse  was 
difficult.  Log  rollings,  husking  bees,  barbecues,  cabin  buildings  and 
other  entertainments  significant  to  the  pioneers  supplied  the  only  op- 
])ortunities  for  the  people  to  congregate  together  and  these  periods 
were  often  months  apart.  So  the  pioneer  lived  alone  with  his  family 
in  the  silent  and  mighty  forest  and  on  the  monotonous  level  of  the 
prairie,  sallying  out  before  dawn  to  shoot  the  game  for  the  day's  food 
or  to  cast  a  line  in  the  nearby  stream.  The  clothes  were  manufac- 
tured by  the  good  housewife  who  sat  for  days  before  the  loom  and 
spinning  wheel,  patiently  working;  linsey-woolsey  and  homespun, 
adorned  with  the  skins  of  wild  animals,  were  the  popular  fabrics. 

An  extreme  hardiness  of  body  and  soul  resulted  from  this  life; 
men  were  cast  in  steel.    Writers  of  today  lament  the  deterioration  of 

Vol.  I— 1 


2  HISTORY  OF  DECATUR  COUNTY 

the  twentieth  century  civihzation,  praying  for  the  spirit  of  the  pioneer 
days.  This  may  be  true,  but  the  effects  of  money  and  luxuries  are  too 
familiar  to  merit  discussion  in  a  work  such  as  this  yolume.  It  is  to 
the  first  men  of  the  county  and  their  infl^uence  in  building  up  old 
Decatur  and  to  the  men  of  the  present  generation  who  are  stolidly 
retaining  this  standard,  that  this  work  must  be  dedicated. 

FIRST   SETTLEMENTS 

Perhaps  the  first  record  of  early  settlement  in  the  County 
of  Decatur  proclaims  that  the  very  earliest  settlements  were  made  in 
the  southern  part  of  the  county  in  or  about  the  year  1840.  Among 
the  men  who  came  to  this  territory  at  this  time  and  threw  up  their 
rude  habitations  were:  William  Hamilton,  James  and  Reuben  Hat- 
field, Alfred  Stanley,  John  McDaniel,  John  E.  Logan  and  Allen 
Scott.  It  is  said  that  some  of  these  pioneers  came  eyen  as  early  as 
1838,  carrying  the  impression  that  they  were  settling  in  the  State  of 
jNIissouri. 

It  is  interesting  to  note  that  prior  to  the  settlement  of  the  so- 
called  boundary  question  a  number  of  slayes  were  held  in  the  southern 
jDart  of  the  county.    Among  the  early  records  is  the  following: 

"I,  John  ]McDaniel,  of  the  County  of  Decatur  and  the  State  of 
Iowa,  do  hereby  release,  giye  up,  and  set  at  liberty  as  a  free  man, 
George,  a  black,  a  colored  man,  w^ho  has  resided  in  my  family  since 
boyhood.  Said  man  is  about  forty-fiye  years  old  at  this  time,  about 
fiye  feet  eleyen  inches  hioh.  Witness  my  hand  and  seal  this  25th  day 
of  February,  A.  D.,  18o2. 

"John  McDx^niel." 

This  same  George  died  in  the  southern  part  of  the  county,  evi- 
dently preferring  to  spend  the  rest  of  his  days  in  the  vicinity  of  his 
former  master's  home.  McDaniel  afterward  moved  to  the  State  of 
Oregon. 

The  boundary  dispute  referred  to  in  the  above  occurred  about 
the  time  of  the  Fourth  Legislative  Assembly  in  Iowa.  There  w^as  in 
question  the  boundary  line  between  this  territory  and  the  State  of 
^Missouri.  There  was  a  difference  of  a  strip  eight  or  ten  miles  wide, 
extending  from  the  oNIississippi  to  the  JNIissouri  rivers,  which  each 
claimed.  JNIissouri  officers,  attempting  to  collect  taxes  within  the  dis- 
puted territory,  were  arrested  by  Iowa  sheriffs,  so  the  respective  gov- 


HISTOKV  OF  DECATUli  COUNTY  3 

ernors  called  out  the  militia,  fully  expecting  that  there  would  be 
bloodshed  between  the  two  factions.  About  twelve  hundred 
Iowa  men  enlisted  under  the  colors  of  their  state  and  ,300  were 
actually  armed  and  equipped  and  encamped  in  Van  Euren  County. 
At  this  juncture  three  men  were  sent  to  jNlissouri  as  envoys  plenipo- 
tentiary to  endeavor  to  consume  a  peaceable  settlement  of  the  ques- 
tion. Upon  their  arrival  they  found  that  the  county  commissioners 
of  Clark  County,  Mo.,  had  rescinded  their  order  for  the  collection  of 
taxes  and  that  Governor  Boggs  had  dispatched  messengers  to  the 
governor  of  Iowa  proposing  to  submit  an  agreed  case  to  the  Supreme 
Court  of  the  United  States.  This  proposition  was  declined,  but  after- 
ward, upon  petition  of  Iowa  and  ^Missouri,  Congress  authorized  a 
suit  to  settle  the  controversy.  This  suit  w^as  dulv  instituted  and  re- 
suited  in  the  decision  that  Iowa  had  the  right  to  the  land.  Under  an 
order  from  the  national  Supreme  Court  commissioners  surveyed  and 
established  the  boundary.  The  expenses  of  the  war,  on  the  part  of 
Iowa,  were  never  paid,  either  by  the  United  States  or  the  territorial 
government. 

Again,  owing  to  the  fact  that  the  land  in  this  section  of  the  coun- 
try had  not  yet  been  acquired  from  the  Indians,  settlers  were  forbid- 
den by  the  military  authorities  from  settling  thereon.  This  explains 
the  fact  that  most  of  the  early  settlers  of  Decatur  County  located  in 
the  present  southern  part.  They  were  not  in  that  day  in  Decatur 
County,  but  in  the  State  of  JNlissouri,  hence  not  trespassers  on  Indian 
lands. 

In  the  fall  of  1847  a  company  of  INIormons,  en  route  to  the  State 
of  Utah,  stopped  at  a  place  now^  known  as  Garden  Grove,  in  the 
northeastern  part  of  the  county,  to  spend  the  winter.  When  spring 
came  the  main  body  of  them  moved  on  westward,  but  a  few  others 
remained  several  more  seasons.    The  last  of  them  left  in  1851. 

In  the  year  1850  L.  Ujhazy,  who  was  formerly  civil  governor  of 
the  Fortress  of  Komorn  in  Hungary,  came  to  this  country  and  set- 
tied  on  the  left  bank  of  Grand  River,  and  occupying  the  lands  on  the 
right  bank  wliere  Davis  City  now  stands.  A  postoffice  was  estab- 
lished and  he  gave  it  the  name  of  New  Buda,  in  honor  of  Buda-Pesth, 
the  capital  city  of  Hungary.  He  was  appointed  postmaster.  Sev- 
eral other  of  his  countrymen  came  with  him  to  this  place  and  it  became 
known  as  a  Hungarian  Settlement. 

iMore  will  be  said  in  connection  wath  this  interesting  event  in  a 
special  article  later  in  this  work. 


4  HISTORY  OF  DECATUR  COUNTY 

AX  EARLY  scribe's  DESCRIPTION 

The  following  paragraphs  relative  to  Decatur  County  were  pub- 
lished in  the  Decatur  County  Journal  of  August  6,  1868,  and  in  sev- 
eral succeeding  issues,  which  was  about  two  months  after  the  estab- 
lishment of  the  paper: 

The  countj^  is  about  twenty-four  miles  square,  and  contains  576 
square  miles,  more  or  less.  There  is  probably  not  a  county  in  South- 
ern Iowa  as  well  timbered  as  this  and  the  timber  is  well  interspersed 
among  the  prairies,  which  are  generally  small  and  rolling,  or  gently 
undulating,  and  consequently  well  adapted  to  the  growth  of  all  the 
grains  and  grasses  of  this  latitude. 

The  principal  stream  is  Thompson's  Fork  of  Grand  River,  which 
enters  the  county  not  far  from  the  northwest  corner,  and  winds  its 
way  through  Richland,  Grand  River,  Decatur,  Bloomington,  New 
Ruda  and  Hamilton  townships,  and  leaves  the  county  and  enters  Mis- 
souri near  the  south  line.  This  is  a  beautiful  stream,  bedded  wath 
limestone,  which  supplies  a  large  portion  of  the  county  with  a  good 
article  of  lime  and  also  stone  suitable  for  building  purposes.  It  is 
also  well  timbered  through  the  entire  length  of  the  county,  wuth  an 
excellent  quality  of  white,  black,  red  and  spotted  oak,  together  with 
walnut,  elm,  hickory,  hackberry,  buckeye,  hard  and  soft  maple,  mul- 
berry and  linn  or  basswood.  It  is  the  best  mill  stream  in  the  county, 
there  being  several  very  good  establishments  of  the  kind  upon  it.  The 
first  one  north  is  what  is  usually  called  the  Westervelt  ]\Iill,  pur- 
chased a  few  years  since  by  John  Polly,  and  completely  reconstructed 
and  put  in  thorough  running  order.  The  next  one  southward  is 
Funk's  Mill,  which  has  also  changed  hands,  and  been  refitted  in  a 
first  class  manner.  Still  farther  south  stands  the  Davis  ]\Iill  owned 
by  William  Davis.  These,  with  several  sawmills,  make  up  the  mill 
privileges  of  the  Grand  River.  West  of  it  is  Elk  Creek,  a  small 
stream,  skirted  with  timber.  Near  the  center  of  the  county  runs 
liittle  River,  which  affords  abundance  of  stock  water,  and  the  banks 
of  which  are  well  set  w^ith  the  timber  of  the  usual  kinds.  This  stream 
empties  into  the  Weldon  Fork  of  Grand  River,  which  is  about  half 
as  large  as  the  Thompson  Fork,  and  is  a  fine  stream,  furnishing  abun- 
dance of  water  for  the  east  side  of  the  county.  It  enters  the  county 
near  the  center  of  the  north  side,  zigzags  through  Garden  Grove, 
Fligh  Point  and  Woodland  to^\aiships  and  enters  JNIissouri  not  far 
from  the  southeast  corner  of  the  county.  Its  banks  and  adjacent 
ridges  furnish  a  large  amount  of  good  timber  for  the  small  prairies 


HISTORY  OF  DECATUR  COUNTY  5 

nearby.  The  tributaries  are  Little  River,  Rriish  Creek,  Jonathan 
Creek,  and  Steel's  Creek.  These  are  also  bordered  with  the  usual 
varieties  of  timber.  In  addition  to  these  streams  there  are  numerous 
springs  scattered  over  the  county.  On  the  prairies  good  well  water 
can  be  had  by  digging  from  fifteen  to  forty  feet.  We  neglected  to 
mention  in  the  proper  place  Long  and  Short  creeks,  tributaries  of 
Thompson's  Fork  of  Grand  River,  the  former  of  which  has  an  abun- 
dance of  good  limestone  for  building  purposes  and  both  have  a  large 
quantity  of  good  timber  along  their  banks.  The  numerous  streams, 
springs,  etc.,  together  with  the  smallness  of  the  prairies,  and  the  large 
amount  of  good  timber,  well  scattered  over  the  county,  adapts  it  to 
a  heavier  settlement  than  any  other  comity  in  Southern  Iowa. 

FRANKLIX   TOWNSHIP 

This  is  second  to  none  as  a  farming  country.  It  embraces  a  part 
of  the  largest  prairie  in  our  county,  and  consequently  timber  is  more 
unhand}^  than  in  any  other  part  of  the  county.  It  has  a  population 
of  289.  The  citizens  have  shown  fully  that  thev  were  not  behind  other 
townships  in  point  of  energy  and  enterprise,  notwithstanding  the 
disadvantages  of  the  remoteness  of  their  timber  from  their  prairie 
land,  they  have  within  a  very  few  years  brought  into  cultivation  a 
large  portion  of  the  township  and  have  erected  substantial  buildings 
upon  the  same.  The  town  has  three  subdistricts,  eighty  children 
entitled  to  school  privileges,  pays  an  aggregate  of  $704  to  teachers. 
Franklin  is  the  name  of  the  postoffice. 

LONG   CREEK   TOWNSHIP 

Though  it  cannot  boast  of  having  as  large  an  extent  of  fine  prairie 
as  Franklin,  can  lay  claim  to  having  some  of  the  best  oak  timber  in 
the  county.  It  has  a  population  of  350;  has  eight  subdistricts;  252 
children  between  five  and  twenty-one  years;  pays  $1,177  annually 
to  teachers.  It  has  three  prominent  stock  dealers,  William  West, 
Stephen  Strong  and  R.  G.  ^lansfield.  Prairieville,  located  in  the 
east  side  of  the  township,  has  one  store  and  one  grocery.  There  are 
two  meeting  houses  in  this  place,  one  belonging  to  the  ^lethodist 
Episcopal  Church  and  the  other  to  the  Christian. 

RICHLAND  TOWNSHIP 

This  township,  being  the  northwestern  one,  lies  on  Thompson's 
Fork  of  Grand  River,  is  well  watered,  prairies  small  and  timber  in 
plenty.     It  has  a  population  of  486,  222  having  the  privileges  of 


6  HISTORY  OF  DECATUR  COUNTY 

the  common  schools.  Four  subdistricts  paid  in  1867  $396  to  their 
teachers.  Rehgiously,  the  people  represent  the  Methodists,  Bap- 
tists, United  Brethren,  Christian  and  Tunkers,  and  are  peaceable  and 
quiet.     The  postoffice  is  Westervelt. 

GRAND  RIVER 

Located  south  of  Richland,  is  also  on  the  river,  and  has  equal 
advantages  of  water,  timber  and  good  land,  with  a  population  of 
219  and  106  children  entitled  to  school  privileges,  being  at  j)resent 
divided  into  four  subdistricts.  The  aggregate  amount  given  to 
teachers  last  year  was  $506.58.  Religiously  about  the  same  as  Rich- 
land. Persons  visiting  or  locating  with  them  will  be  made  to  feel 
not  entirely  beyond  civilization. 

DECATUR 

This  township  has  in  it  some  of  the  oldest  settlers  of  the  county, 
among  whom  are  JNIillers,  Woodmansee,  Boord,  Gill  and  others. 
These,  as  well  as  those  who  liave  come  in  since,  brought  with  them 
cultivation,  skill  and  energy,  which  have  been  manifested  in  the  agri- 
cultural development  of  the  township.  It  has  a  population  of  829, 
312  of  whom  are  enjoying  the  advantages  of  the  common  schools. 
Paid  teachers  last  year  a  total  of  $709.50.  Decatur  City  is  its  chief 
village.  It  is  situated  on  an  elevated  dividing  ridge  between  Grand 
and  Little  rivers,  and  is  therefore  free  from  the  miasmatic  influence 
of  low,  wet  lands.  It  has  a  population  of  from  three  to  five  hundred 
and  is  an  independent  school  district.  The  citizens  have  shown  their 
interest  in  educational  matters  by  erecting  a  good  frame  schoolhouse, 
two  stories  high,  in  the  public  square,  and  since  its  completion  they 
have  had  an  excellent  school  taught.  Decatur  City  has  two  dry 
goods  stores,  one  drug  store,  one  groceiy,  one  blacksmith  shop  and 
two  taverns.  The  meeting  house  is  owned  by  the  iNIethodist  Epis- 
copal Church.  It  is  a  neat,  frame  building,  30  by  40  feet.  The 
chiu'ch  is  under  the  care  of  IMr.  Baker.  The  Tunkers  also  have 
regular  services  in  the  place  by  JNIr.  William  Stout  and  Garver. 
Some  years  since  the  Adventists,  or  Soul  Sleepers  as  they  were  called, 
flourished  extensivelv.  but  like  the  orator  of  whom  we  have  read,  thev 
have  "subsided."  Tlie  Clnistian  Church  also  eked  out.  There  are 
many  honorable  members  of  these  societies  residing  here,  but  with- 
out a  home  of  Morship.     There  are  three  physicians  in  Decatur  City. 


HISTORY  OF  DECATUR  COUNTY  7 

PRODUCTIONS 

On  the  west  and  south  sides  of  the  county  good  buihhng  stone 
is  abundant.  A  httle  coal  has  been  found  in  several  localities,  but 
no  banks  have  yet  been  opened. 

In  varietv  and  beauty  of  natural  scenery  this  county  is  unsur- 
passed.  JNIany  of  the  views  along  Grand  River  are  indeed  grand, 
as  the  name  suggests.  From  the  prairie  highlands  the  wooded  slopes 
and  valleys  present  to  the  eye  the  loveliest  landscapes. 

This  is  one  of  the  finest  grain-producing  counties,  and  is  especially 
ada])ted  to  winter  wheat.  No  county  in  the  state  has  produced  better 
crops  of  tame  grass  and  the  farmers  have  engaged  largely  in  its  pro- 
duction. Decatur  County  is  well  adapted  to  the  raising  of  fruits, 
and  there  are  already  many  bearing  orchards.  Among  the  citizens 
who  are  devoting  their  attention  to  fruits  may  be  mentioned  Amos 
Newman,  J.  B.  Lunbeck,  Charles  jNIoore,  J.  S.  AVarner,  Thomas 
^Valler  and  Caselton  Gibson.  The  wild  fruits  which  grow  abundantly 
are  ])lums,  grapes,  crabapples,  blackberries,  raspberries  and  straw- 
berries. The  wild  cherry,  mulberry  and  the  red  and  black  haw  are 
also  found.  Among  the  shrubs  are  the  sumach,  black  elder  and 
hazel  in  great  profusion,  and  all  indicative  of  a  rich,  deep  soil.  The 
prickly  ash  and  swamp  dogwood  are  also  found  in  places.  As  a 
stock-raising  county  Decatur  compares  favorably  with  many  others. 
The  numerous  running  streams  afford  water  at  all  seasons,  while  the 
timber  makes  a  winter  shelter.  Several  leading  farmers  are  largely 
engaged  in  raising  cattle  and  other  fine  stock,  among  whom  may  be 
mentioned  Alexander  McNeil,  Stei)hen  Strong,  Adam  Johns  k.  Bros. 

EDUCATIOXAL 

There  are  in  the  county  seventy-seven  sub-districts  and  three  inde- 
pendent  districts,  Decatur,  Garden  Grove  and  Leon.  Last  year's 
report  of  the  superintendent  shows  that  there  were  68  schoolhouses, 
four  brick,  30  frame  and  34  log.  There  were  78  schools  taught  last 
year,  with  an  aggregate  of  2,005  j)upils  in  attendance.  There  were  60 
male  and  46  female  teachers  reported,  the  average  compensation  of  the 
males  per  week  being  $9.4.5  and  females  $6.37.  Decatur  Township 
and  the  independent  district  of  Decatur  City  justly  paid  male  and 
female  teachers  the  same  wage,  while  all  other  toM'nships  discriminated 
against  the  females. 


8  HISTORY  OF  DECATUR  COUNTY 

MANUFACTORIES 

Grand  River,  as  it  passes  through  this  county,  furnishes  a  large 
number  of  ehgible  mill  sites,  some  four  or  five  of  which  have  been  im- 
proved. There  are  in  the  county  two  woolen  mills,  one  carding  fac- 
tory, three  water  flouring  mills,  three  steam  flouring  mills,  ten  steam 
sawmills  and  four  shingle  machines  attached  to  sawmills.  Several 
of  the  sawmills  have  lath  mills  attached. 

One  of  the  leading  manufacturing  establishments  of  the  county  is 
the  woolen  mills  of  R.  ^I.  jNIudget  &  Company,  situated  at  Leon. 
They  have  a  building  40  by  70  feet  and  three  stories  high.  It 
is  suj^plied  with  the  best  machinery,  consisting  in  part  of  two  sets  of 
manufacturing  cards,  two  sets  of  roll  cards,  two  jacks  of  180  spindles 
each,  one  broad  and  three  narrow  looms,  with  steam  engine  and  all 
other  necessary  machinery.  The  factory  has  been  in  operation  some- 
thing over  a  year,  but  the  proprietors  have  just  made  additions  to  the 
property  to  accommodate  the  increasing  business. 

Four  miles  east  of  Pleasant  Plain,  near  the  state  line,  are  sit- 
uated the  woolen  mills  of  John  Clark,  which  have  been  in  operation 
about  twelve  vears.  The  main  factorv  building  is  34  by  70 
feet  and  three  stories  high,  with  two  additional  buildings.  It  has  two 
sets  of  roll  cards,  two  full  sets  of  manufacturing  cards,  two  jacks,  one 
of  180  and  the  other  144  spindles,  one  broad  and  six  narrow  looms. 

Stout  &  Blodgett  recently  erected  at  Leon  a  brick  flouring  mill, 
the  main  structure  being  30  by  36  feet,  and  three  stories  high,  with  an 
engine  room  14  by  16  feet.  It  is  provided  with  an  engine  of  fifty 
horsepower,  has  two  run  of  burrs  and  is  fitted  up  with  all  the  latest 
improved  machinery. 

STATISTICS  OF  AGRICULTURE 

In  1866  there  were  enclosed  58,141  acres;  rods  of  hedging,  1,649, 
acres  of  spring  wheat,  1,030;  bushels  harvested,  11,266;  acres  of 
winter  wheat,  630;  bushels  harvested,  6,860;  acres  of  oats,  3,668 
bushels  harvested,  104,382;  acres  of  corn,  25,069;  bushels  harvested 
299,820 ;  acres  of  rye,  282 ;  bushels  harvested,  3,686 ;  acres  of  barley 
28;  bushels  harvested,  271;  acres  of  sorghum,  350;  gallons  of  syrup, 
15,653;  acres  of  Irish  potatoes,  352;  bushels  harvested,  11,124.  The 
statistics  of  last  year's  crops  will  show  a  vast  increase  over  the  above 
figures.  The  crop  of  wheat  for  the  year  1868  will  more  than  double 
that  given  above  for  1866.  The  area  of  land  in  cultivation  is  rapidly 
increasing  in  this,  as  well  as  other  counties  in  Southern  Iowa. 


HISTORY  OF  DECATUR  COUNTY  9 

RAILROxVDS 

As  yet  no  lines  of  railroad  have  been  completed  within  the  county. 
The  people,  however,  feel  a  deep  interest  in  several  contemplated 
railroads,  promising  great  advantages  to  them  in  the  future.  One 
project  which  the  people  in  the  west  psirt  of  the  county,  especially, 
feci  interested  in,  is  known  as  the  Iowa  &  3Iinnesota  Railroad.  Some 
two  years  ago  under  a  former  organization  called  the  Fort  Des  Moines 
&  Kansas  City  Railroad  Company,  the  line  was  surveyed  and  located. 
A  considerable  amount  of  the  grading  was  also  done  south  of  Decatur 
City.    There  is  confidence  in  the  ultimate  success  of  this  road. 

Another  jDroject  is  that  known  as  the  Chillicothe,  Leon  &  Des 
JMoines  Railroad,  in  which  the  people  of  Leon  and  the  eastern  part 
of  the  county  felt  a  particular  interest.  The  JNIissouri  counties  through 
which  the  road  passes  have  subscribed  $.50,000  worth  of  stock  towards 
its  construction  to  the  state  line  at  Pleasant  Plain,  twelve  miles  south 
of  Leon.  About  thirty-seven  thousand  dollars  has  been  subscribed  in 
Decatur  County.  I.  H.  Sales  of  Leon  is  president  of  the  company. 
Both  of  the  above  projects  have  met  with  great  favor  in  the  jNIissouri 
counties  through  which  the  lines  pass,  and  one  of  the  lines,  if  not  both, 
will  doubtless  be  constructed  at  an  early  day.  The  contract  for  grad- 
ing,  bridging  and  tieing  the  Chillicothe  &  Des  INIoines  Railroad  from 
Chillicothe  to  Princeton,  a  distance  of  fifty  miles,  was  let  on  the  10th 
of  February  and  the  road  is  to  be  ready  for  the  iron  by  the  first  of 
August,  1870.  As  soon  as  possible  the  survey  w^ill  be  made  through 
this  county  and  put  under  contract.  A  county  possessing  the  elements 
of  wealth  that  Decatur  does  cannot  longer  afford  to  wait  for  a  railroad 
to  develop  her  resources. 

REAL   ESTATE 

Unimproved  lands  may  be  bought  in  this  county  at  reasonable 
prices  ranging  from  $3  to  $6  per  acre  and  some  even  as  low  as  $2.50. 
Unimproved  lots  in  Leon  are  held  at  all  prices,  from  $20  up  to  $200. 

BRIDGES 

The  county  has  erected  good  bridges  over  most  of  the  streams. 
One  was  completed  last  spring  over  Grand  River  at  a  cost  of  $9,000 
and  one  over  Little  River  this  winter  at  a  cost  of  $o00.  Another  over 
Long  Creek  is  now  in  the  course  of  constiiiction  and  will  be  finished 
very  soon. 


10  HISTORY  OF  DECATUR  COUNTY 

CHURCHES 

Nearly  all  the  evangelical  religious  denominations  are  represented 
in  the  county.  The  religious  organizations  of  Leon  are  ^Methodist 
Episcopal,  Christian,  Bai^tist  and  Presbyterian.  The  jMethodists  have 
a  neat,  new  and  commodious  frame  church,  with  bell,  and  well  linished. 
They  have  a  good  membership  and  a  large  attending  congregation. 
The  Christian  denomination  have  a,  brick  church,  40  by  60  feet  in  size, 
also  provided  with  a  good  bell.  The  other  denominations  have  not 
yet  built  churches  in  Leon.  Flourishing  Sabbath  schools  are  con- 
nected with  the  above  denominations. 

In  Decatur  City  the  JNIethodist  Episcopal  Church  has  an  organiza- 
tion of  about  forty  members.  The  town  is  enclosed  in  what  is  known 
as  Decatur  City  Circuit.  The  circuit  has  ten  preaching  places  and 
has  about  250  members.  The  largest  society  in  the  circuit  is  at  Prairie- 
ville,  one  and  a  half  miles  north  of  Decatur  City.  On  this  circuit  and 
connected  with  the  church  are  seven  Sabbath  schools,  that  at  Decatur 
City  having  an  attendance  of  about  eighty  pupils.  The  Union  Sab- 
bath School  in  Decatur  City  has  about  the  same  number. 

The  ^Methodist  Church — formerly  known  as  the  Protestant  JNIeth- 
odist — has  two  organizations,  one  at  Decatur  City  and  the  other  at 
Funk's  ^lill  on  Grand  River,  northwest  of  Decatur  Citv.  The  soci- 
eties  were  organized  by  Rev.  F.  A.  Kirkpatrick  within  the  last  year. 

The  United  Brethren  also  have  an  organization  at  Decatur  Citv 
and  others  in  different  parts  of  the  county  to  the  number  of  eight  with 
300  members.  We  believe  the  Baptists  also  have  a  society  at  this 
place. 

The  Decatur  County  Bible  Society  was  organized  in  18oj.  James 
P.  Layton,  G.  D.  Sellers,  Uriah  Bobbitt  and  J.  W.  Warner  are  prom- 
inent workers  in  this  society  at  the  present  time. 

POSTOFFICES 

The  following  are  the  postoffices  in  Decatur  County  in  1868: 
Westervelt,  Funk's  ^lill,  Decatur,  Elk,  Sedgwick,  Terre  Haute,  New 
Buda,  Nine  Eagles,  High  Point,  Garden  Grove,  Franklin,  Leon. 

OLD  TIME  NEWSPAPER  CLIPPINGS 

June  4,  1868 — Our  friends  of  the  JNIethodist  persuasion  received, 
on  Thursday  evening  last,  a  fine  bell  for  their  church,  weighing  600 
pounds.    It  is  of  regular  bell  metal  and  cost  delivered  about  $280. 


HISTOllV  OF  DECxVTUR  COUNTY  li 

June  4,  1868 — Everybody  who  Mants  a  cheap  farm  should  come 
to  Decatur  County.  Good  wild  lands  can  be  had  at  from  $2  to  .$.3 
per  acre  and  improved  lands  at  $10  to  $12. 

June  25,  18()8 — J.  AV.  Harvey,  late  of  JNIonroe,  Jasper  County, 
this  state,  has  settled  among  us  and  associated  himself  with  J.  L. 
Young  in  the  practice  of  law. 

July  80,  18G8 — W.  C.  Akers,  living  three  miles  east  of  Leon,  killed 
a  lynx  last  Sunday  morning  in  a  pasture  about  800  yards  from  his 
house. 

September  12,  1808 — Dan  Castello's  monster  shows  exhibited  in 
Leon. 

September  10,  1868 — We  are  pleased  to  chronicle  the  return  of 
Dr.  I.  F.  Hildreth  to  his  new  home  in  Leon.  This  gentleman  came  to 
our  town  a  couple  of  months  ago,  and  together  with  Judge  Sales, 
bought  the  stock  of  goods  owned  by  C.  S.  Stout  &  Company.  The  Dr. 
hails  from  Belief ontaine,  jNIahaska  County,  and  comes  recommended 
as  a  gentleman  of  ability  and  high  moral  character  and  we  have  no 
doubt  will  prove  to  be  a  valuable  citizen.  Here's  our  3^^,  Doctor,  and 
our  best  wishes  for  your  success. 

October  lo,  1868 — Whereas  Oscar  A.  Doolan,  aged  12,  regularly 
l)ound  to  me,  left  my  house  and  control,  on  October  4,  1868,  without 
my  consent  or  knowledge,  this  is  to  warn  all  persons  not  to  trust  or 
harbor  him  on  my  account  as  I  will  pay  no  debts  of  his  contracting. 
P'ive  cents  reward  will  be  paid  for  his  return  to  me  without  expense. 
Signed,  D.  Huff. 

INIarch  4,  1869 — Quite  a  novel  scene  was  witnessed  in  the  circuit 
court  last  Saturday,  in  the  introduction  of  a  full  blooded  African  upon 
the  witness  stand,  and  drew  a  large  crowd  to  hear  the  testimony.  This, 
we  believe,  was  the  first  instance  of  the  kind  on  record  in  this  countv 
and  excited  no  little  comment. 

April  9,  1869 — The  Leon  Woolen  INIills  will  commence  operations 
one  week  from  next  JNIonday. 

April  29,  1869 — ^Ir.  Thomas  F.  IMarshall,  one  of  the  engineers  of 
the  Chillicothe  and  Des  INIoines  Railroad,  arrived  in  Leon  on  ^londav 
last  and  commenced  the  survey  of  the  line  of  the  Leon,  Chillicothe 
and  Des  jNIoines  road  from  the  state  line  to  this  place. 

May  13,  1869 — The  Christian  Church  hds  just  been  completed 
and  the  finishing  touches  added.  It  will  now  compare  with  any  edifice 
of  the  kind  in  Southern  Iowa. 

June  30,  1869— The  G.  F.  Bailey  &  Co.'s  Gigantic  Caravan, 
^lenagerie  and  Circus  exhibited  in  Leon. 


12  HISTORY  OF  DECATUR  COUNTY 

October  14,  1869 — Die  Wage  is  the  title  of  a  paper  just  started  in 
this  county,  jDrinted  in  the  German  language  and  edited  by  H.  Kompe. 

December  22,  1870 — Ab  Waggoner  is  now  running  the  stage  from 
here  to  Osceola,  making  connections  with  the  trains  going  both  east 
and  west. 

June  11,  1808 — 1.5,000  pounds  of  wool  were  received  at  the  R.  M. 
JSludgett  &  Co.  woolen  factory  during  the  past  ten  days. 

IN  THE  DAYS  OF  AULD  LANG  SYNE 

The  following  items  were  taken  from  the  Decatur  County  Journal 
in  the  years  1872-3: 

Trains  now  leave  Garden  Grove  going  east  as  follows:  Atlantic 
express,  11.01  P.  M.;  mail,  2  P.  M.;  Chicago  express,  4.11  A.  M. 

Col.  Geo.  Burton  returned  home  last  week  from  the  south  country 
where  he  had  been  buying  cattle.  He  has  a  drove  of  500  head  on  their 
way  here. 

^Monday  afternoon  was  a  good  day  for  editors.  W.  J.  Wightman 
of  the  Garden  Grove  Express  was  down.  G.  N.  Udell  of  the  Bed- 
ford Southwest,  was  in  town.  These  two,  with  the  Leon  editors, 
ex-editors  and  sub-editors,  met  at  Q.  M.  Lindsej^'s  and  held  a  little 
convention. 

Jerome  Harvey  and  Prof.  Frazier  will  hold  a  normal  school  July 
22d  to  continue  four  weeks. 

Superintendent  Perkins  and  Chief  Engineer  jMallory  were  in  town 
Tuesday  on  railroad  matters  intent.  They  authorized  the  riffht  of 
way  committee  to  locate  the  depot.  The  right  of  way  committee  con- 
sists of  J.  W.  Harvey,  Judge  INIiles  and  Samuel  Castor.  Xow  is  the 
time  to  buttonhole  said  committee. 

ISlr.  Denham,  of  Grand  River  township,  tried  to  have  a  Greeley 
ratification  meeting  at  his  house.  Four  men,  including  Mr.  D.  and  his 
hired  man,  were  in  attendance. 

On  the  4th  of  July  a  celebration  was  held  in  the  srrove  at  the  east 
edge  of  town  adjacent  Little  &  Wise's  mill  and  fully  2,000  people 
attended.  In  the  morning  there  was  a  procession  of  "Fantastics," 
while  a  cannon  brought  up  the  rear.  Dolly  Varden  was  present  during 
the  day  and  presented  a  graceful  figiire.  Dr.  G.  W.  Baker  was  mar- 
shal of  the  day.  JNIusic  was  furnished  by  the  Leon  Cornet  Band,  and 
the  band  wagon  was  drawn  by  four  horses  driven  by  "that  superb 
reinsman,  Samuel  Lindsey."  J.  W.  Harvey  acted  as  president. 
Prof.  W.  ]VI.  Jordan  and  a  company  of  vocalists  sang  patriotic  songs. 


HISTORY  OF  DECATUR  COUNTY  13 

Addresses  were  delivered  by  Prof.  Harkness,  J.  B.  JNIorrison,  Francis 
^^arga,  Samuel  Forrey  and  Elder  J.  C.  Porter.  The  celebration 
closed  with  a  display  of  fireworks  in  the  evening  in  the  north  part  of 
town. 

The  peojjle  of  Prairie  City,  now  called  Van  Wert,  celebrated  the 
4th  in  a  grove  2l/>  miles  west  of  town.  John  Gemmell  was  marshal 
of  the  day.  There  was  a  parade  to  the  gromids  where  the  exercises 
opened  with  a  song  by  the  Sunday  schools  and  prayer  by  Levi  Lewis. 
Rev.  Seth  Samson  made  the  address  of  welcome,  which  was  responded 
to  by  J.  C.  Lewis.  J.  C.  Roberts  delivered  an  oration,  which  was 
followed  bv  a  declamation  by  Miss  Nannie  Gemmell.  After  dinner 
Lizzie  INIcCann  read  the  Declaration  of  Independence  and  Hon.  Fred 
Teale  delivered  an  oration.  The  local  chronicler  says  that  "Fred 
seemed  full  of  patriotism."  The  singing  was  led  by  A.  Bullard  and 
^Irs.  Barbara  ^IcCormick. 

The  4th  was  observed  at  Pleasanton  by  an  old  fashioned  celebra- 
tion. The  Declaration  was  read  by  Dr.  JNIurphy  and  A.  M.  Post 
delivered  an  oration. 

W.  H.  Robb  addressed  a  large  political  meeting  at  Pleasanton  last 
Saturday. 

The  Leon  public  schools  opened  September  9th  with  W.  S.  Domer, 
of  Iowa  City,  as  principal;  INIrs.  M.  J.  Read,  grammar  department; 
jNIiss  Ella  Eaton,  intermediate,  and  INIiss  Mollie  JNIiles,  primary. 
Attendance,  258. 

Jeremiah  Hatfield,  one  of  the  oldest  residents  of  Decatur  County, 
and  one  of  the  most  influential  men  we  had,  was  stricken  dead  while 
working  in  his  field  last  oNIonday. 

Wood  is  selling  for  $2  per  cord  in  Leon. 

Look  out  for  the  cars !  The  track  lavers  are  only  two  miles  from 
town  at  this  writing,  August  22. 

Cooper^s  Circus  exhibited  in  Leon  August  2d. 

James  Goen  has  the  contract  to  carry  the  mail  from  the  depot  to 
the  postofRce. 

The  Grant  and  Wilson  Club  will  be  addressed  on  next  Wednesday" 
evening,  September  4th,  by  W.  T.  Laughlin,  candidate  for  district 
attorney,  and  Hon.  Sam  Forrey.    Come,  everybody. 

The  oldest  inhabitant  never  before  saw  such  crops  as  Iowa  can 
justly  boast  of  this  season.  The  county  is  a  perfect  ocean  of  corn, 
some  of  which  has  grown  so  tall  that  the  owners  will  have  to  get  on  a 
ladder  to  pick  the  ears  off. 


14  HISTORY  OF  DECATUR  COUNTY 

J.  A.  Snyder  has  put  an  addition  to  his  shop  one  door  east  of  the 
M.  E.  Church. 

Died,  in  Franklin  Township,  October  6,  1872,  of  congestive  fever, 
Ebenezer  Price,  in  the  -lith  year  of  his  age.  He  was  a  faithful  soldier 
three  years  in  the  Union  army  during  the  late  war,  and  has  been  for 
several  years  an  excellent  member  of  the  Christian  Church. 

The  hotel  now  occupied  by  H.  L.  Sales  passed  into  the  hands  of 
that  prince  of  landlords,  Capt.  L.  A.  Ray,  of  Chariton,  on  Thursday 
of  this  week. 

Some  unprincipled  cuss  gobbled  up  a  pocketbook  belonging  to 
Robert  E.  Dye,  on  last  ^londay,  containing  about  $200  in  cash,  besides 
some  papers  and  a  postoffice  order  for  $3.90. 

The  residence  of  J.  R.  Bashaw  was  totally  destroyed  by  fire  on 
JNlonday  afternoon  last,  with  a  large  proportion  of  his  household  goods, 
furniture  and  clothing.  The  fire  originated  in  the  roof  in  the  neigh- 
borhood of  a  flue. — Dec.  5. 

The  prairie  chickens  have  the  epizootic. 

Day  before  Christmas  the  mercury  fell  to  26  degrees  below  zero  at 
Chariton.  It  w^as  42  at  Minneapolis,  32  at  Cedar  Rapids  and  28  at 
Burlington. 

Died,  at  his  residence  near  Terre  Haute,  December  27,  1872,  John 
jNIay.    His  unexpected  death  will  be  mourned  by  a  host  of  friends. 

On  Friday  evening  last  23  cars  of  hogs  were  shipped  at  this  point 
for  Chicago. 

On  last  Tuesday  the  last  vestige  of  democracy  w^as  swept  from  our 
courthouse.  A.  E.  Chase  commenced  his  duties  of  clerk  of  the  courts 
in  place  of  Xathan  Perdew,  retiring. 

There  has  been  shipped  from  this  point  since  the  finishing  of  the 
railroad  175  cars  of  hogs,  49  of  cattle,  10  of  sheep  and  2  of  horses, 
making  a  total  of  258  cars  of  live  stock.  In  December  alone  116  cars 
of  hogs  or  7,000  head  were  shipped. 

There  are  over  500  patrons  of  husbandry  or  grangers  in  our  county. 

Last  week  a  Ringgold  county  man  brought  to  town  twelve  deer 
which  he  had  killed  within  a  few  davs.  The  venison  sold  readilv  at  9 
to  12  cents  per  pound. 

The  following  is  the  grand  jury  list  for  1872 :  J.  D.  Burns,  J.  R. 
Starr,  Newton  Spencer,  T.  Fullerton,  D.  J.  Patterson,  INI.  T.  Shelton, 
James  Coover,  Thos.  Konklin,  Sam  Thomas,  Thos.  Pitman,  Wm. 
Loving,  Jesse  Lloyd,  C.  Osborne,  R.  Turner,  Peter  Cartwright. 

Thursday  Tom  Bradfield  was  unable  to  make  his  mail  trip  to 


HISTORY  OF  DECATUR  COUNTY  15 

Corvdon  on  account  of  the  drifts,  but  on  Fridav  the  mail  ])a.s.sed 
through  all  right. — February  6,  1873. 

The  old  Patterson  House  is  being  pulled  down  to  give  room  for  a 
new  two-story  building  to  be  erected  by  Armstrong  &  Blind. 

The  scholars  of  Eden  Center,  under  the  superintendence  of  their 
teacher,  Mr.  G.  W.  Samson,  will  give  an  exhibition  on  Friday  evening, 
February  28,  at  which  several  dramas  will  be  presented  and  lots  of 
fun  besides. 

A  lot  of  boys  attended  a  dance  in  the  country  on  Friday  evening 
last,  and  got  drunk  as  a  natural  consequence. 

J.  C.  Roberts  and  T.  W.  Silvers,  after  an  arduous  examination, 
which  they  passed  with  great  credit  to  themselves,  were  admitted  to 
the  ])ractice  of  the  law  by  Judge  Hewitt,  on  Friday  evening  last. 

The  town  of  High  Point  is  still  improving.  Curt  Alexander  is 
building  a  dwelling  on  the  lot  east  of  RufFcorn's  store. 


CHAPTER  II 

ORGANIZATION  OF  DECATUR  COUNTY 

Decatur  County  was  named  after  Commodore  Stephen  Decatur, 
who  was  born  in  ^laryland,  January  5,  1779,  and  was  killed  by  Com- 
modore Barron  in  a  duel  at  Bladensburg,  JNIarch  22,  1820.  The 
territory  was  obtained  from  the  Indians  by  a  treaty  wliich  was  rati- 
fied in  March,  1843. 

COUNTY  ORGANIZATION 

The  County  of  Decatm-  was  officially  organized  on  the  1st  day  of 
Ai^ril  in  the  year  1850. 

The  first  meeting  of  the  Board  of  County  Commissioners  was 
held  on  INIay  6,  1850.  The  commissioners  were:  Josiah  JNIorgan, 
AVilliam  Hamilton  and  Asa  Burrell.  Henry  B.  Noston  was  the  first 
clerk  of  the  board. 

The  first  order  issued  by  this  board  was  one  allowing  Andrew 
Still  the  sum  of  $30  for  his  services  as  organizing  sheriff.  The  com- 
missioners, at  this  meeting,  also  ordered  that  the  District  Court,  Pro- 
bate Court  and  Commissioners'  Court  be  held  at  the  house  of  Daniel 
JNIoad  until  the  county  seat  should  be  located. 

FIRST   TOWNSHIPS 

At  another  meeting  of  the  board  of  commissioners  in  July,  1850, 
the  county  was  divided  into  four  civil  townships,  namely:  Garden 
Grove,  JNIorgan,  Burrell  and  Hamilton.  It  will  be  noted  that  the 
last  three  names  were  the  respective  names  of  the  commissioners. 

The  following  judges  and  clerks  of  election  were  appointed  in 
these  divisions:  Garden  Grove.  William  Davis.  Victor  Doze  and 
Hiram  Chase,  judges;  Joshua  R.  INIonroe  and  Enos  Davis,  clerks. 
Morgan,  Reuben  Hatfield,  William  Oney  and  Christopher  Wain- 
scott,  judges;  Thomas  Gilgore  and  Samuel  INIcDowell,  clerks.  Bur- 
rell, Asa  Howard,  John  jNIcDaniel  and  John  Still,  judges;  James 

16 


HISTORY  OF  DECATUR  COUNTY  17 

Woodmaiisee  and  Andrew  Still,  clerks.  Hamilton,  William  Katon, 
Jefferson  Dimick  and  William  Hamilton,  judges;  \Vyllis  Dickinson 
and  Gideon  J.  Walker,  clerks. 

After  the  first  board  of  commissioners  had  divided  the  county 
into  four  townships,  County  Judge  S.  S.  Thompson  organized  the 
townships  of  Center,  Decatur,  Richland,  Eden  and  High  Point.  In 
18.50  Judge  Thompson  was  called  to  Princeton,  ]Mo.,  on  business 
and  he  left  his  office  in  charge  of  Samuel  Forrey,  who  had  been 
employed  to  act  as  county  attorney.  He  organized  and  named  the 
following  townships:  Grand  River,  Long  Creek,  Franklin,  New 
Buda  and  Woodland.  Long  Creek  and  Grand  River  were  named 
after  the  streams  of  the  same  name,  and  Woodland  because  of  its 
heavy  growth  of  timber.  The  names  of  Franklin  and  New  Buda 
were  suggested  by  villages  of  the  same  name,  both  of  which  have 
now  disappeared.  The  townshij^s  of  Fayette  and  Bloomington  were 
called  Prairie,  but  were  afterwards  divided  and  given  their  present 
names.  The  name  of  Bloomington  was  suggested  by  JNI.  ^McDonald, 
who  had  on<"e  resided  in  Bloomington,  111. 

COUNTY  SEAT 

On  January  18,  1851,  an  act  of  the  Legislature  was  approved, 
appointing  commissioners  and  providing  for  the  location  of  the  county 
seat.  The  commissioners  were  Henr}^  Allen  and  F.  N.  Sales.  On 
July  21,  1851,  they  reported  to  the  Board  of  County  Commissioners 
that  they  had  selected  the  east  half  of  the  southeast  quarter  and  the 
west  half  of  the  southeast  quarter  of  section  27,  township  69,  range 
26,  "being  high,  gently-rolling  prairie,  through  Avhich  runs  the  main 
road  from  Fort  Des  IMoines  to  Independence,  INIo.,  and  in  the  imme- 
diate vicinity  of  good  timber  and  stone,  with  good  mill  privileges." 
They  also  reported  that  they  had  named  the  town  Decatur.  N. 
Westcoat  was  selected  to  survey  the  new  town.  A  sale  of  lots  was 
also  ordered  to  take  place  in  Decatur  on  August  25,  1851,  notice 
being  given  in  the  Des  ^loines  Republican  and  the  Sentinel  at  Fair- 
fiekl 

There  were  many  people  in  the  county  who  strenuously  claimed 
that  the  selection  of  the  county  seat  had  been  illegal,  because,  on 
account  of  the  high  water  prevailing  at  that  time,  the  commissioners 
liad  not  been  able  to  reach  the  site  inside  the  limits  of  the  time  fixed 
bv  the  statute.  The  General  Assembly  accordingly  ordered  an  elec- 
tion  to  take  place  the  first  Monday  in  April,  1853,  to  decide  again  on 

Vnl.  1  —  2 


18  HISTORY  OF  DECATUR  COUNTY 

the  location  of  the  county  seat.  It  was  urged  that  the  point  to  which 
it  was  proposed  to  take  the  county  seat  was  very  little  more  in  a 
central  position  than  Decatur,  which  had  been  selected.  Also,  that 
the  county  had  gone  to  the  expense  in  constructing  a  courthouse  at 
Decatur. 

The  vote  was  counted,  however,  and  showed  the  majority  in  favor 
of  removing  the  county  seat  to  Independence,  afterward  called  South 
Independence,  and  now  Leon,  located  on  the  southwest  quarter  of  the 
southwest  quarter  of  section  28,  and  northwest  quarter  of  the  north- 
west quarter  of  section  33,  township  69,  range  2.5.  The  county  sur- 
veyor was  employed  to  survey  the  new  town. 

At  the  next  April  term  of  the  County  Court  a  sale  of  lots  was 
directed  to  take  place  on  the  second  Tuesday  of  JNIay,  1853,  notice 
to  be  given  by  publication  in  the  Des  Moines  Valley  Whig,  Fairfield 
Sentinel,  Iowa  City  Reporter  and  the  Pioneer  at  Trenton,  jNIo. 

On  the  site  of  the  town  forty  acres  of  land  had  been  donated 
to  the  countv  as  an  inducement  for  the  removal  of  the  countv  seat, 
and  the  survey  of  the  town  was  made  in  JNIav,  1853.  On  the  12th  of 
the  same  month  a  courthouse  was  ordered  constructed  and  Peter  C. 
Stewart  was  awarded  the  contract,  the  price  being  $1,650.  For  some 
reason  he  failed  to  discharge  the  contract,  and  at  the  June  term, 
1854,  another  order  was  made  for  a  courthouse,  to  be  built  of  brick, 
24  by  40  feet,  and  two  stories  in  height,  with  three  rooms  below  for 
offices  and  one  above  for  a  courtroom.  A  contract  for  the  brick 
work  and  plastering  was  let  to  Arnold  Childers  for  the  sum  of  $900 
and  the  wood  work  to  F.  Parsons  for  the  sum  of  $800.  This  build- 
ing was  in  use  when  burned,  with  all  its  contents,  on  INIarch  31,  1874. 

One  of  the  voting  places  in  the  April  (1853)  election  was  at  the 
store  of  Switzler,  Davis  &  Co.,  located  half  a  mile  south  of  the 
residence  on  the  INIarion  Oney  farm  in  Eden  Township.  The  store 
was  in  charge  of  I.  N.  Clark.  jNIr.  Clark  recalled  the  following 
voters  as  being  among  those  who  were  present:  Reuben,  Calvin, 
Stanley,  Andrew,  Hiram  and  JNIyers  Hatfield,  James  Hatfield 
(father  and  son),  Hiram,  Calvin  and  Abel  Stanley,  Alf  Stanley 
(father  and  son),  John  and  Anthony  Vanderpool,  William  Oney, 
Johnny  Patterson,  P.  C.  Stewart,  Harrison  Weldon,  Dan  and  Elisha 
INIoad,  Thomas  INIann,  Oliver  Stanley,  the  INIcIlvaines  (three  in  num- 
ber). Dr.  S.  C.  Thompson,  Sam  McDowell,  Dan  Bradley,  Thomas 
East  and  I.  N.  Clark. 

As  soon  as  it  was  known  that  the  proposition  to  move  the  county 
seat  had  carried.  Doctor  Thompson  mounted  his  horse  and  started 


HISTORY  OF  DECATUR  COUNTY  19 

for  Chariton,  where  the  land  office  was  located.  It  was  his  intention 
to  enter  the  land  on  which  to  locate  the  new  town  and  also  the  sur- 
rouiuling  territory.  At  that  time  one  of  the  officials  in  the  land 
office  was  Oliver  L.  Palmer,  who  was  a  son-in-law  of  Isaac  Leffler, 
of  Burlington.  In  some  way  Palmer  heard  of  the  result  of  the 
election  in  Decatur  County  and  at  once  proceeded  to  take  advantage 
of  his  information.  Doctor  Thompson  called  the  next  morning 
after  his  arrival  and  entered  the  land  on  which  Leon  is  now  located. 
He  tlien  discovered  that  Oliver  L.  Palmer  had  entered  an  80-acre 
tract  east  of  the  proposed  townsite  and  Porter  W.  Earl  an  80-acre 
tract  on  the  west  side  and  Samuel  Baird  120  acres  on  the  south.  Tlie 
IGO-acre  tract  north  of  Leon  had  been  entered  by  Uriah  Shaffer  in 
18.50,  and  hence  Shaffer's  Addition  to  the  Town  of  Leon.  Palmer 
assigned  his  land  to  Isaac  Leffler,  who  afterw^ards  moved  here  and 
sold  many  lots  in  Leffler's  Addition.  Mr.  Leffler  had  served  several 
terms  in  Congress  from  Virginia,  and  was  a  man  of  ability  and  a 
prominent  democratic  politician.  He  lived  here  some  time  with  his 
family  and  built  a  house  on  the  lots  now  owned  by  John  Holden. 
Earl's  land  was  afterwards  sold,  and  part  of  it  is  now  known  as  the 
Stout  and  Gillham's  Addition.  Doctor  Thompson  donated  forty  acres 
of  land  to  the  town,  which  was  surveyed  in  JNIay,  1853. 

IX  REGARD  TO  THE  COUNTY  SEAT 

The  following  article  was  prepared  by  "one  who  knew"  in  1906 
during  the  controversy  over  the  location  of  the  comity  seat,  and  when 
Decatur  had  presented  a  petition  to  have  the  seat  of  justice  moved 
there  from  Leon.  The  article  has  to  do  with  the  controversies  in 
former  years  and  mentions  many  things  which  are  not  found  in 
strictly  formal  history: 

"As  an  early  settler  in  Decatur  County,  ^larch  12,  18.51,  at  that 
time  there  had  not  been  any  townsite  located  for  the  county  seat. 
But  in  the  spring  of  18.52  there  was  a  proposition  made  to  take  a 
vote  at  the  April  election,  and  a  location  was  to  be  made  as  near  the 
geographical  center  of  the  county  as  the  lay  of  the  ground  would 
admit,  which  was  about  1%  miles  west  of  the  town  plat  of 
Leon,  on  what  is  known  as  the  Tash  farm  and  called  Greencastle. 
Another  site  was  at  the  present  Town  of  Decatur  City,  located  there 
by  two  men  who  lived  in  Garden  Grove  at  tliat  time,  and  had  a 
claim  on  a  part  of  the  land  where  Decatur  City  now  stands.  There 
was  no  legal  call  for  the  vote,  but  it  was  intended  to  ascertain  the 


20  HISTORY  OF  DECATUR  COUNTY 

f eelinof  of  the  settlers  of  the  county  as  to  where  the  county  seat  should 
be.  The  April  election  was  to  elect  the  township  officers,  but  the 
general  election  was  the  first  JNlonday  in  August  for  all  state  and 
national  officers.  When  the  yote  w^as  counted  Greencastle  had  the 
majority  of  the  votes  cast,  although  Garden  Grove  gave  several  votes 
for  Decatur  City.  At  the  August  election  in  1852,  Decatur  and 
Wayne  counties  had  to  elect  a  representative  to  the  Legislature. 
O.  N.  Kellogg,  of  Garden  Grove,  w  as  a  candidate,  and  Harvey  Dun- 
can, of  Wayne  County,  was  a  candidate  for  the  same  office.  Mr. 
Kellogg  was  in  favor  of  a  commission  to  be  appointed  by  the  Legis- 
lature of  Iowa  to  locate  the  county  seat  of  Decatur  County,  while 
]\lr.  Duncan  was  in  favor  of  the  voters  of  the  county  locating  the 
county  seat  by  vote  of  the  electors,  and  said  if  he  was  elected  he 
would  use  his  inffiience  to  have  a  special  act  of  the  Legislature  allow- 
ing the  voters  of  the  county  to  locate  by  vote  at  the  April  election  in 
1853,  and  at  that  election  a  large  majority  of  the  votes  were  cast 
in  favor  of  Leon.  The  citizens  of  Decatur  City  would  not  encourage 
the  building  up  of  Leon,  but  discouraged  strangers  from  set- 
tling in  the  county  seat  at  Leon,  with  the  result  that  these 
strangers  did  not  settle  in  either  place  for  more  than  twenty-five 
years,  but  went  to  other  counties  where  there  was  no  factional  fight 
over  the  county  seat.  As  the  result  of  that  factional  fight  there  were 
hundreds  of  men  who  came  to  Decatur  County  and  would  have  set- 
tled here,  but  did  not  from  that  very  cause.  Do  the  voters  of  the 
county  want  to  repeat  that  factional  fight  again?     I  think  not. 

"In  trying  to  keep  Leon  from  building  up  they  not  only  injured 
Decatur  City  just  as  bad,  but  the  whole  county  suffered  in  the  price 
of  every  acre  of  land  from  $5  to  $15.  That  was  the  condition  of  our 
county  before  the  railroad  came  to  Leon.  As  I  have  stated,  the  price 
of  all  land  was  from  $5  to  $15  an  acre  less  than  in  adjoining  coun- 
ties until  the  Chicago,  Rurlington  &  Quincy  Railroad  was  built  to 
Leon  and  the  narrow  gauge  from  Des  INIoines  to  Leon,  when  in  a 
year  or  two  the  price  of  land  began  to  raise  in  value,  because  there 
was  a  feeling  that  the  countj^  seat  question  was  settled.  There  is 
])ut  one  question  for  every  voter  to  ask  himself,  and  that  is,  is  there 
one  reason  why  the  county  seat  should  be  removed  to  Decatur  City 
after  being  fifty-three  years  at  Leon?  I  say  there  is  not  one  single 
reason.  But  there  are  many  reasons  why  Leon  should  remain  as 
the  county  seat,  and  one  reason  is  Leon  is  very  close  to  the  center  of 
the  county.  But  the  greatest  reason  is  the  price  of  land  w^ould  not 
depreciate   if  it   remains   the   county   seat   as   at   present.     Another 


HISTORY  OF  DPXATUR  COUNTY  21 

reason  is  that  the  people  of  the  east  half  of  the  county  have  spent 
thousands  of  dollars  to  secure  the  two  railroads  built  to  Leon,  the 
county  seat,  which  was  done  by  jjcrsonal  subscription  and  tax  levies 
on  Eden,  Center  and  Leon  townships  to  aid  the  roads  in  building. 
Now  let  every  voter  in  the  county  who  is  opposed  to  removing  the 
county  seat  to  Decatur  City  sign  the  remonstrance.  I  am  satisfied 
that  a  great  many  have  signed  the  petition  who  do  not  honestly 
believe  that  the  county  seat  ought  to  be  moved.  Now  let  them  sign 
the  remonstrance,  and  their  names  will  count  on  the  remonstrance 
and  not  on  the  petition. 

"Now  to  correct  an  error  in  regard  to  the  second  term  of  the  Dis- 
trict Court  of  Decatur  County  being  held  in  Decatur  City.  From 
my  personal  knowledge  it  was  not  held  in  Decatur  City,  but  was 
held  in  a  log  cabin  some  three  miles  east  and  south  of  Decatur  City. 
John  J.  Stanley  was  sheriff.  Judge  Townsend,  of  Albia,  was  the 
judge,  and  I  was  one  of  the  grand  jurors  at  that  court.  The  grand 
jurors  were  sw^orn  and  Judge  Townsend  gave  us  instructions,  and 
we  left  the  room  and  went  out  on  the  grass  near  the  cabin  and  talked 
for  an  hour  or  so,  and  rejDorted  there  was  no  business  to  do,  and  w^e 
were  discharged,  and  the  judge  got  through  with  what  business  there 
was  to  do  and  adjourned  court  the  same  afternoon.  Judge  Town- 
send  and  I  wxre  neighbor  boys  in  Indiana,  and  he  made  his  stopping- 
place  at  my  home  at  that  time." 

The  desire  of  Decatur  City  to  have  the  county  seat  there  was 
short  lived,  for  in  1906  the  County  Board  of  Supervisors  turned  down 
their  petition. 

FIRST  COURTHOUSE 

At  a  meeting  of  the  board  of  commissioners  on  October  27,  1851, 
it  was  determined  to  erect  a  courthouse,  to  be  20  by  22  feet,  and 
14  feet  in  height,  and  to  be  constructed  of  hewed  logs.  Thi^ 
building  was  put  up  according  to  plans,  but  of  course  did  not  serve 
more  than  a  few  years  in  its  proper  role.  It  afterward  became  a 
hotel. 

John  J.  Stanley  built  the  structure  for  $375  on  land  conveyed  to 
the  county  by  Allen  Scott. 

The  next  county  building  was  a  large  frame  structure  which 
stood  upon  the  lot  where  the  Varga  home  was  afterward  located. 
Court  was  held  therein  tw^o  terms  when  the  county  judge  filed  objec- 
tions, and  finally  refused  to  receive  it  from  the  contractors.  Another 
building  was  started,  but  before  it  \y{\      'ompleted  it  was  destroyed 


22  HISTORY  OF  DECATUR  COUNTY 

by  a  windstorm.  Another  was  built  upon  its  ruins,  but  fire  swept 
it  out  of  existence.  It  contained  no  fireproof  vaults,  and  was  long 
considered  an  unsafe  place  for  the  count}^  records.  On  the  morning 
of  March  31,  1874,  about  3  o'clock,  G.  P.  Knott  discovered  flames 
issuing  from  the  building.  The  alarm  was  quickly  given  and  the 
citizens  made  every  effort  to  save  the  building,  but  all  to  no  purpose. 
The  structure  was  destroyed,  together  with  all  of  the  records  of  the 
county.  One  book  from  the  office  of  the  recorder  and  one  from  that 
of  the  clerk  were  the  only  records  saved  outside  of  the  treasurer's 
office.  A  snowstorm  came  just  in  time  to  keep  the  flames  from 
destroying  other  portions  of  the  town.  The  safe  in  the  treasurer's 
office  contained  over  thirty-three  thousand  dollars  in  money,  but  when 
the  rubbish  had  been  cleared  away  and  the  safe  opened  the  contents 
Mere  found  to  be  intact. 

The  coiu'thouse,  w  hich  was  torn  down  to  make  room  for  the  pres- 
ent handsome  structure,  w^as  erected  in  1875.  This  building,  which 
had  served  Decatur  County  for  so  many  years,  was  erected  in  the 
following  manner:  There  had  been  many  sales  of  lots  laid  out  in 
the  forty  acres  given  to  the  county.  The  proceeds,  together  wqth 
the  ordinary  resources  being  sufficient,  the  county  judge  contracted 
for  the  brick,  which  w^as  burned  in  1874,  at  a  cost  of  about  two  thou- 
sand dollars.  The  board  of  supervisors  had  secured  plans  for  the 
building,  wliich  was  estimated  to  cost  about  twenty  thousand  dollars. 
The  state  had  years  jDrior  donated  swamp  lands  to  the  county,  which 
had  been  sold  from  time  to  time,  and  from  this  source  the  county 
had  $10,000  of  swamp  funds.  The  board  offered  to  appropriate  this 
money  if  the  i)eople  would  furnish  enough  money  to  finish  the  build- 
ing. A  Leon  contractor  scaled  the  price  down,  and  the  Leon  people 
raised  $6,600  and  completed  the  building.  On  the  morning  of  April 
1,  1877,  the  entire  west  side  of  the  structure  was  blown  out  with 
dynamite. 

COURTHOUSE  BURGLARY 

Three  years  prior  to  this  time  the  county  was  ^vild  w^ith  excite- 
ment, for  in  March,  1^74,  the  courthouse  had  burned  to  the  around 
and  no  one  knew  or  has  ever  known  just  how  the  fire  started.  The 
loss  to  the  county,  not  only  in  property,  was  large,  but  the  greatest 
damage  was  the  loss  of  valuable  records.  Then  the  second  court- 
house, described  in  the  preceding  paragraph,  w^as  constructed,  costing 
about  fifteen  thousand  dollars.  Everything  seemed  to  be  proceeding 
smoothly  and  the  people  felt  themselves  fortunate  in  having  such  a 


OLD  DEC ATIK  CUUXTY  ( UUKTHOUSE 
Blown   n]<   by  burglars,  April   1,   187G 


HISTORY  OF  DECATUR  COUNTY  23 

fine  building  when,  at  5  o'clock  on  Sunday  morning,  April  1,  1877, 
the  heavens  were  lighted  with  a  sudden  flash  and  the  whole  town 
trembled  as  with  an  earthquake. 

As  this  was  the  1st  day  of  April,  many  who  heard  it  were  slow  to 
go  out,  thinking  it  was  some  one  getting  up  an  "April  fool."  But 
those  on  the  square  Mere  convinced  that  something  more  serious  had 
occurred,  and  they  leaped  up  and  went  to  their  windows  to  see  what 
was  the  matter.  Those  who  could  see  the  west  side  of  the  court- 
house were  struck  with  horror  at  the  sight,  for  nearly  the  whole  west 
side  of  the  building  was  blown  to  the  ground. 

W.  H.  Dake,  who  lives  upstairs  on  the  southwest  corner  of  the 
square,  saw  the  house  about  the  first  man,  and  took  in  the  situation 
at  a  glance.  He  saw  that  the  fire  had  just  caught,  and  with  great 
presence  of  mind,  snatched  up  the  pail  of  water  in  his  room  and  ran 
with  all  his  might  to  the  ruins.  When  he  arrived  the  blaze  was  about 
four  feet  high.  He  dashed  on  the  water  and  subdued  the  fast- 
increasing  flames.  The  wind  was  blowing  a  strong  gale  at  the  time, 
and  in  two  more  minutes  the  building  would  have  been  a  blaze.  While 
running  to  the  courthouse  he  saw  some  men,  but  did  not  recognize 
who  they  were,  as  it  was  still  too  dark  to  notice  who  persons  were 
unless  close  at  hand. 

jNIr.  Dake  raised  the  cry  of  fire,  and  when  he  had  time  to  recover 
from  putting  out  the  fire  these  men  were  nowhere  to  be  seen.  John 
Kling,  who  keeps  a  restaurant  on  the  west  side  of  the  street,  sprang 
up  at  the  sound  and  saw  three  men  in  an  alley,  and  one  of  them  went 
back  and  looked  at  the  work  they  had  done ;  then  came  back,  spoke  to 
the  others  and  turned  and  ran  south.  In  a  few  minutes  people 
gathered  at  the  scene  and  found  that  the  explosion  had  been  caused 
by  a  charge  of  powder  within  the  building.  It  was  soon  broad  day- 
liglit,  and  then  an  inspection  began  and  revealed  the  fact  that  it  had 
been  done  by  burglars  who  had  entered  the  building  during  the  night 
witli  the  intent  of  robbing  the  treasurer's  office.  ^lany  were  the 
speculations  that  were  advanced  as  to  what  would  be  the  result  if 
the  parties  could  be  found.  Even  after  hours  had  passed  many 
Avould  not  believe  the  facts  when  told.  Parties  immediately  notified 
the  sheriff  and  treasurer,  who  soon  appeared  on  the  scene  and  began 
to  search  for  the  county  safe,  which  contained  a  large  sum  of  money, 
some  twenty  thousand  dollars.  The  safe  was  discovered  buried  deep 
in  the  ruins,  and  it  took  some  time  to  get  it  out,  but  with  ropes  and 
levers  it  at  last  was  dragged  out  in  the  yard  and  found  to  be  in 
sound  condition.     The  treasurer,  ^Ir.  Varga,  tried  the  combination 


24  HISTORY  OF  DFCATUR  COUNTY 

and  found  it  all  right,  and  when  he  opened  it  found  every  dollar  of 
money  in  its  proper  place,  and  the  people  breathed  freer.  But  when 
they  turned  and  beheld  the  ruined  condition  of  their  handsome  court- 
house, a  frown  settled  on  each  face.  Each  asked  the  other,  "Who 
are  the  guilty  parties?" 

After  the  first  blast  of  excitement  had  passed  and  people  began 
to  come  to  their  sober  senses  and  think  the  matter  over,  suspicion 
was  fastened  on  two  of  the  citizens  of  Leon,  and  these  two  were  found 
missing.  They  had  been  seen  late  the  night  previous.  These  two 
were  W.  W.  Van  Schaick  and  Howard  Reed.  The  former  owned 
a  stove  and  tin  store  here,  and  had  been  in  business  some  six  years. 
The  other  one  failed  in  a  hardware  store  here  the  preceding  summer, 
and  had  only  been  here  occasionally  afterwards  himself,  but  his  family 
had  remained  all  the  time.  The  sheriiF  visited  both  of  their  houses 
early  Sunday  morning,  but  they  were  not  at  home,  and  their  wives 
said  they  had  not  been  home  the  night  previous,  nor  were  they  to  be 
found. 

The  officer  soon  found  that  Van  had  been  east  the  first  of  the 
week,  and  had  returned  on  Saturday  and  brought  a  strange  woman 
with  him.  She  stopped  at  the  hotel,  and  Saturday  evening  paid  her 
bill  and  was  not  seen  afterwards.  A  visit  to  the  livery  stable 
revealed  the  fact  that  Van  had  hired  a  livery  team  and  started  for 
Osceola  just  after  the  explosion,  in  company  with  said  woman.  Pur- 
suit began  at  once.  A  telegram  was  sent  to  take  them  in  as  soon  as 
they  got  there.  Sheriff  Backus  and  Deputy  Sheriff  Lindsey  started 
at  once  for  the  same  point,  on  horseback,  and  they  got  there  soon 
after  Van  and  his  charmer,  and  before  the  dispatch  reached  there. 
They  found  them  both  there  and  took  them  in  and  started  back  to 
Leon.  The  woman  is  a  girl  about  eighteen  years  of  age,  and  passed 
by  the  name  of  Lee,  but  her  real  name  is  Robinson.  She  is  a  "fast 
young  bird,"  and  her  home  is  in  the  east  part  of  the  state.  She 
became  frightened  and  confessed  the  whole  matter,  telling  the  story 
of  where  they  were  during  the  first  part  of  the  night,  who  were  the 
parties  she  saw,  where  the  tools  were  placed  when  they  left  the 
courthouse  to  await  the  explosion.  Their  rendezvous  was  over  Van's 
old  store,  on  the  west  side  of  the  square,  and  she  was  looking  out 
of  tlie  window  and  saw  the  explosion.  Van  then  came  to  her  and 
they  went  up  in  the  north  of  town,  and  there  they  met  the  bugg>^ 
that  took  them  to  Osceola.  This  she  told  to  several  parties  on  their 
return  to  Leon. 


HISTORY  OF  DECATUR  COT  XTY  25 

The  officers  soon  found  that  Reed  had  engaged  a  team  to  take 
him  to  Allerton  on  ^Monday  morning,  so  as  to  catch  the  train  going- 
south  early,  and  they  were  certain  he  was  secreted  somewhere  in  town. 
A  diligent  search  and  close  watch  was  kept,  and  about  10  o'clock  he 
was  found  in  an  upstairs  room  over  Van's  old  store,  asleep.  The 
officers  kept  this  to  themselves,  but  put  a  watch  on  the  premises,  and 
waited  until  the  excitement  had  subsided  a  little,  for  there  was  a  pros- 
pect that  if  he  was  brought  out  he  would  taste  the  end  of  a  rope. 
About  1  o'clock  they  went  in  the  room  and  told  the  said  Reed  they 
wanted  him.  A  search  revealed  the  fact  that  the  room  was  a  perfect 
arsenal.  Pistols  and  knives  of  the  finest  make  were  there,  quite 
numerous.  He  was  taken  to  jail  to  await  the  arrival  of  his  partners 
in  crime,  who  arrived  after  dark  and  were  placed  under  lock  and  key 
to  answer  a  charge  of  burglary  on  the  courthouse. 

It  is  not  positively  known  how  they  entered  the  courthouse,  but 
the  woman  says  they  went  in  at  an  upstairs  window,  pried  up  the 
floor,  drilled  through  the  top  of  the  vault,  but  made  a  mistake  in  the 
distance  and  got  into  the  recorder's  vault,  which  is  separated  by  a 
heavy  wall  from  the  treasurer's  vault.  They  then  took  off  the  lock 
of  the  recorder's  vault  and  came  out  in  the  recorder's  office.  They 
then  pried  open  the  side  door  to  the  hall,  then  went  to  the  treasurer's 
office,  burst  it  open  and  found  that  he  had  not  locked  his  vault,  for 
he  liad  intended  to  come  back  after  supper,  but  some  unseen  power 
seemed  to  keep  him  at  home,  and  this  was  the  first  time  he  ever  left 
things  in  this  shape  over  night.  This  had  taken  the  whole  night, 
and  daylight  was  coming  in  the  east,  and  they  had  but  just  got  to 
the  safe  in  the  vault,  and  what  must  be  done  must  be  done  at  once. 
The  safe  is  the  same  one  that  passed  through  the  fire  when  tlie  court- 
house burned.  They  found  it  locked,  and  resolved  to  finish  up  by 
putting  several  pounds  of  powder  under  the  safe,  putting  a  fuse  to  it 
and  get  out  of  the  way.  Their  theory  was  that  the  powder  exploding 
under  the  safe  would  spring  open  the  doors.  In  this  they  were 
fooled,  for  instead  of  throwing  open  the  safe  it  threw  out  the  whole 
side  of  the  house,  including  both  the  treasurer's  and  the  recorder's 
vaults,  burying  the  safe  several  feet  under  the  debris. 

The  treasurer's  and  the  recorder's  offices  were  on  the  west  side 
of  the  courthouse.  The  treasurer  in  the  southwest  corner,  and 
the  recorder  in  the  northwest.  The  vaults  for  both  offices  were  in  the 
center  between  the  two  offices.  The  powder  was  exploded  in  tlie 
treasurer's  vault,  and  the  force  was  terrific,  tearing  out  the  center  of 
the  wall  from  the  ground  to  the  roof,  and  throwing  it  out  and  tearing 


26  HISTORY  OF  DECATUR  COUXTY 

the  vaults  to  pieces  and  throwing  down  about  half  of  the  partition 
wall  on  the  west  side  of  the  hall,  at  the  south  end,  opposite  the  treas- 
urer's office.  Across  the  hall  from  this  was  the  auditor's  office,  the 
door  of  which  was  blown  wide  oj^en  and  burst  terribly.  The  office 
in  the  northeast  corner  was  the  clerk's  office.  This  received  very 
little  damage.  The  floor  over  the  west  half  of  the  lower  rooms  was 
torn  to  jDieces,  and  such  was  the  force  that  all  the  supports  to  the  roof 
were  blown  down,  and  had  there  been  a  stronger  wind  the  roof  must 
have  fallen  in.  The  forcing  up  of  the  floor  and  joists  bulged  the 
east  wall  out  some. 

The  books  of  the  treasurer  and  recorder  were  in  a  terrible  shape 
—  all  mixed  up  with  the  fallen  walls  and  timbers,  many  of  them 
almost  entirelv  ruined,  but  not  defaced. 

The  two  culprits  spent  six  years  in  the  prison  at  Fort  ^ladison 
for  their  work.     The  courthouse  was  repaired  at  considerable  expense. 

THE   NEW   COURTHOUSE 

During  the  year  1898  t!ie  question  of  a  new  courthouse  for  Decatur 
County  was  first  discuss  id.  It  was  finally  ordered  by  the  board  that 
an  election  be  held  in  the  county  on  November  7,  1899,  for  the  pur- 
pose of  deciding  on  the  question.  The  election  was  held  and  resulted 
in  a  vote  of  2,167  to  847  against  building  the  courthouse.  Another 
election,  held  May  27,  1*902,  resulted  the  same  way  by  a  vote  of  1,7.54 
to  1,280.  Finally,  at  the  election  held  November  7,  190.5,  the  question 
was  carried  by  1,.536  to  1,293,  and  the  contract  was  let  to  Lauritzen 
Rrothers  of  Waterloo,  Iowa.  J.  J.  Peterson,  their  representative, 
who  erected  the  courthouse,  arrived  INIarch  9,  1907,  and  operations 
were  begun  on  the  20th. 

The  cornerstone  of  the  new  courthouse  was  laid  on  ]Mav  23,  1907. 
The  ceremonies  w^ere  in  charge  of  the  Grand  Lodge  of  Iowa,  Ancient 
Free  and  Accepted  JNIasons.  Judge  H.  ^I.  Towner  of  Corning  deliv- 
ered the  address  of  the  afternoon. 

The  dedicatory  services  of  the  new  courthouse  were  held  on  July 
4,  1908.  The  day  was  a  memorable  one  in  the  history  of  Decatur 
County,  as  Leon  was  packed  with  people  from  all  over  the  county 
and  many  nearby  counties  contributed  large  delegations.  The  day 
was  taken  up  with  band  concerts,  drills,  baseball  game,  trade  parade, 
and  dedicatory  exercises,  the  latter  directly  after  dinner.  The  dedi- 
catory address  M^as  delivered  in  a  masterful  manner  by  Judge  Smith 
]McPherson  of  the  L^nited  States  District  Court.  Judge  H.  ^I. 
Towner  of  Corning  and  Judge  H.  K.  Evans  of  Corydon  also  spoke. 


DECATUR  COUNTY  COURTHOUSE,  LEON 


HISTORY  OF  DECATUR  COUNTY  27 

The  courthouse  is  fireproof  throughout.  The  floors  are  con- 
structed of  cement  and  marble,  the  floors  inside  the  raihngs  and  in 
the  court  room  being  of  oak  laid  over  the  cement.  Iron,  steel,  stone, 
tile,  brick,  marble  and  granite,  with  very  little  hard  wood,  are  the 
materials  used  in  the  construction.  The  fixtures  in  tlie  various  offices 
are  of  steel,  the  counters  are  covered  with  polished  granite.  The 
building  is  replete  M'ith  the  most  modern  conveniences  and  the  various 
offices  and  rooms  are  arranged  with  the  idea  of  most  efficiency  and 
facility  of  use.    The  estimated  total  cost  of  the  building  was  $70,000. 

JAIL 

In  18j6,  under  Judge  Kelley,  a  substantial  log  jail  was  erected 
at  a  cost  of  $1,800.  This  was  used  until  1884-.  The  present  jail  is  of 
brick  and  was  erected  soon  after  the  old  one  was  abandoned.  It  cost 
$12,000.  It  stood  near  the  northeast  corner  of  the  square,  at  the 
corner  of  Eighth  and  Idaho  streets. 

POOR  FARM 

For  the  purpose  of  housing  the  county  poor  a  tract  of  160  acres 
M'as  purchased  January  4,  1866,  on  motion  of  S.  P.  JNIcXeil  of  High 
Point,  for  $2,700.  It  is  located  on  section  14,  Eden  Township,  and 
was  owned  by  D.  B.  Gammon.  His  residence  was  enlarged  and  fitted 
up  as  an  infirmary.  In  the  autumn  of  1878  a  frame  addition  was 
built,  as  an  insane  hospital,  at  a  cost  of  $2,000. 

THE  COUNTY  ROAD  SYSTEM 

The  county  road  system  comprises  155%  miles  of  road.  This  is 
to  be  taken  care  of  by  the  revenue  derived  from  the  automobiles  thus : 
In  1913  the  automobiles  brought  into  Decatur  County  $.5,706  and  in 
1914  about  seven  thousand  five  hundred  dollars.  This  system  brings 
an  average  of  about  sixty  dollars  per  mile  for  its  entire  lengtli.  There 
are  in  the  neighborhood  of  fifteen  county  road  superintendents  to  look 
after  this  road.  These  road  superintendents  look  after  the  grading  of 
the  road  in  preparation  for  dragging,  as  well  as  the  dragging  itself 
and  the  repair  of  the  wooden  bridges  and  keeping  approaches  to 
bridges  smooth.  For  this  work,  if  the  superintendent  does  the  work 
himself,  he  receives  the  same  compensation  that  he  would  have  to  pay 
others  to  do  the  same  work.     If  the  superintendent  does  not  do  the 


28  HISTORY  OF  DECATUR  COUNTY 

work  himself  he  hires  it  done  and  has  the  supervision  over  it  and 
receives  for  such  services  20  cents  per  hour  for  time.  For  any  mileage 
of  said  system  the  superintendent  is  not  allowed  to  spend  over  an 
average  of  $60  per  mile.  If  it  is  necessary  to  have  some  few  corru- 
gated tubes  to  take  care  of  small  drainage  areas  temporarily,  these 
are  taken  care  of  out  of  the  $60  limit  also. 

A  great  portion  of  the  dragging  is  now  contracted  for  at  the  rate 
of  $10  per  mile  per  year.  Concrete  work  and  heavy  grading  come 
over  and  above  this  limit. 

Contracts  for  steel  bridges,  for  bridge  lumber,  reinforcing  bars 
for  concrete  work,  have  been  let  by  bids  and  not  as  heretofore. 

Last  fall  a  contract  was  made  with  the  A.  E.  Shorthill  Co.,  of 
Des  ^loines,  for  three  50-foot  steel  spans  and  one  80-foot  span,  all 
riveted  trusses  and  designed  to  carry  a  heavy  traction  engine  and  a 
concrete  floor. 

The  80-foot  span  was  to  go  over  Long  Creek  above  De  Kalb  on  a 
proposed  new  road.  One  oO-foot  span  goes  over  Little  River  on  the 
Cannon  Ball,  another  goes  on  the  Corn  Belt  west  of  LeRoy  near  the 
Alda  Roe  farm,  and  the  other  will  go  on  what  is  called  the  Griffith 
cut-off,  along  the  railroad  between  Davis  City  and  Lamoni,  on  the 
Inter  State  and  Waubonsie  trails. 

The  Tacoma  Lumber  Co.,  of  Tacoma,  Wash.,  received  the  con- 
tract for  bridge  lumber  for  the  year  1915,  at  an  average  price  of 
$25.50,  instead  of  about  thirty-odd  dollars  per  thousand  as  at  some 
previous  times. 

Reinforcing  bars  were  bought  in  a  carload  shipment  from  the 
jNIonmouth  Bridge  Co.,  of  JNIonmouth,  111.,  as  they  were  low  bidders. 

Before  construction  on  any  concrete  culverts  is  begun  the  county 
road  superintendent  is  required  to  file  with  the  auditor  plans  for  the 
same,  giving  the  estimated  cost,  drainage  area  and  location.  After 
the  construction  he  is  required  to  file  the  actual  cost  sheets,  showing 
the  itemized  expenditures  and  to  whom  paid.  These  are  to  be  found 
in  the  auditor's  office  and  are  open  to  public  inspection  at  all  times. 
For  any  new  work  on  which  the  estimated  cost  is  $300  or  over,  a  resolu- 
tion of  necessity  is  adopted  and  published  in  order  to  give  the  public 
notice  and  if  they  think  such  expenditure  is  not  necessary,  a  chance  to 
make  a  kick  is  given  at  the  time  named  in  the  resolution. 

If  work  is  estimated  to  cost  $1,000  or  over,  it  must  be  advertised 
for  sealed  bids.  And  if  bids  are  thought  to  be  too  high,  all  can  be 
rejected  and  the  same  put  in  by  day  labor  if  done  under  the  lowest 
bid  received. 


DECATUR   COUNTY    HOME,    EDEX    TOWNSHIP 


HISTORY  OF  DECATUR  COUNTY  29 

It  is  quite  probable  that  a  plant  for  the  manufacture  of  reinforced 
concrete  pipe  for  culverts  will  be  established  in  Leon  in  the  near 
future.  These  pipes  are  now  being  made  in  one  or  two  counties  in 
the  state  at  prices  that  are  below  the  same  sizes  in  corrugated  tubing. 


CHAPTER  III 
SUMMARY  OF  COUXTY  OFFICIALS 

COUNTY    JUDGES 

Samuel  C.  Thompson,  1852-7;  William  F.  Kelly,  1858-9;  L.  H. 
Sales,  1860-1;  W.  W.  Ellis,  1862-3;  Lmiian  X.  Judd,  1865;  Robert 
Kimiear,  1866-9. 

TREASURERS  AND  RECORDERS 

John  Brown,  1852;  Abner  Harbour,  1853;  John  Jordan,  1854-7; 
Ira  B.  Ryan,  1858-9;  Samuel  C.  Cummins,  1860-3;  J.  C.  Porter,  1864. 

TREASURERS 

J.  C.  Porter,  1865;  Samuel  C.  Thompson,  1866-71;  Charles  B. 
Jordan,  1871;  Francis  Varga,  1872-7;  E.  J.  Sankey,  1878-9;  J.  C. 
Gammill,  1880-3;  A.  E.  Chase,  1884-8;  M.  A.  Gammill,  1888-90; 
J.  A.  Caster,  1890-4;  Charles  H.  Edwards,  1894-8;  Asa  S.  Cochran, 
1898-1902;  W.  H.  Young,  1902-6;  E.  G.  Monroe,  1906-10;  W.  C. 
Cazad,  1910-12;  J.  V.  Arney,  1912-14;  Elba  Shewmaker,  1914-. 

RECORDERS 

Luman  X.  Judd,  1865;  W.  W.  Ellis,  1866-8;  W.  J.  Sullivan, 
1869-76;  John  W.  Leeper,  1876-80;  J.  H.  Garrett,  1881-2;  John  W. 
Little,  1883-4;  C.  W.  Beck,  1885-9;  John  X.  Grayson,  1889-91; 
James  Grindstaff,  1891-5;  J.  J.  Evans,  1895-7;  Bryson  Bruce, 
1897-9:  Charles  H.  Brown,  1899-1901;  Charles  E.  Lane,  1901-5; 
VV.  A.  Poush,  1905-9;  Ira  B.  Officer,  1909-13;  Will  Gardner,  1913-. 

CLERKS 

W.  L.  Warford,  1852-3;  Samuel  Dunn,  1854-5;  George  T. 
Young,  1856-62;  Xathan  Perdew,  1863-4;  Francis  Varga,  1865-6; 

30 


HISTORY  OF  DECATUR  COUNTY  31 

Ed  K.  Pitman,  1867-70;  Xathan  Perdew,  1871-2;  A.  E.  Chase, 
1873-8;. Nathan  Perdew,  1879-80;  Millard  F.  Stookey,  1881-4;  E.  J. 
Sankey,  1885-9;  Millard  F.  Stookey,  1889-91;  T.  II.  Schenck,  1891-8; 
John  N.  Gates,  1893-7;  John  C.  Stockton,  1897-1901;  Spencer  W. 
Kehler,  1901-5;  A.  S.  Tharp,  1905-9;  John  Mendenhall,  1909-13; 
E.  E.  Beck,  1913-. 

SHERIFFS 

John  J.  Stanley,  1852-5;  Joseph  R.  Parsons,  1855-7;  Harrison 
Weldon,  1858-9;  George  AVoodbnry,  1860-3;  Ira  1^  Ryan,  1864-5; 
George  Woodbury,  1866-9;  E.  J.  Sankey,  1870-3;  \V.  II.  Fortune, 
1874-5;  A.  Dilsaver,  1876;  J.  A.  Snyder,  1876;  John  Backus,  1877; 
W.  A.  Kilpatrick,  1878-9;  A.  J.  Allen,  1880-3;  W.  A.  Brown, 
1884-5;  J.  W.  Honnold,  1886-90;  G.  W.  Lefollett,  1890-2;  G.  W. 
Blain,  1892-4;  Charles  C.  Beck,  1894-8;  George  F.  Wolever,  1898- 
1902;  R.  D.  Martin,  1902-4;  Thomas  Wallace,  1904-9;  J.  E. 
Andrews,  1909-13;  F.  L.  Lorey,  1913-. 

COUNTY  SUPERINTENDENTS 

Thomas  Johnson,  1858-61;  Yincent  Wainright,  1862-3;  J.  C. 
Porter,  1863;  J.  W.  Penney,  1864-7;  Samuel  Bowman,  1868-9;  W.  C. 
Jackson,  1870-3;  J.  L.  Harvey,  1874-5;  J.  C.  Roberts,  1876-8; 
Josephine  Kellogg,  1878-9;  Laura  Y.  Dye,  1880-1;  Emmeline 
^lanney,  1882-3;  Lou  Armel,  1884-5;  ]Mrs.  Julia  B.  Hoadley, 
1886-90;  A.  A.  Roy,  1890-6;  Joseph  E.  Cummins,  1896-1900;  J.  A. 
Mcintosh,  1900-4;  Eli  Hutchinson,  1904-7;  J.  W.  Long,  1907-13; 
Mabel  Horner,  1913-. 

AUDITORS 

George  Burton,  1871;  Robert  E.  Dye,  1872-3;  W.  C.  Jackson, 
1874-9;  W.  J.  Sullivan,  1880-3;  J.  F.  Scott,  1884-5;  T.  H.  Schenck, 
1886-90;  Charles  ShafFner,  1890-3;  John  Ledgerwood,  1893-7; 
George  Sears,  1897-1901;  James  F.  Gill,  1901-5;  H.  G.  Scott, 
1905-9;  J.  Y.  Lemley,  1909-13;  R.  E.  3IcLaughHn,  1913-15;  Walter 
Osborne,  1915-. 

SUPERVISORS 


A.  B.  Stearns,  R.  D.  Burnett,  Samuel  W.  Sears,  Seth  Samson 
G.  W.  Budibaugh,  G.  W.  Shewmaker,  J.  D.  Brown,  W.  S 
Ammerman,  E.  Banta,  Hiram  Chase,  Edward  Conwell,  W.  H.  H 


r 


32  ■     HISTORY  OF  DECATUR  COUNTY 

Clark,  D.  G.  Sears,  C.  W.  Barr,  J.  D.  Strong,  J.  R.  Smith,  M.  A. 
Wasson,  James  R.  Smith,  J.  Lentz,  John  Allbaiigh,  J.  G.  Springer, 
Harvey  D.  Day,  H.  D.  Dye,  W.  H.  Paris,  Charles  L.  Rudibaugh, 
Fred  13.  Xiece,^  W.  H.  Campbell,  T.  JNIorris,  C.  W.  Barr,  W.  L. 
Edmondson,  J.  F.  Hacker,  A.  B.  McClaran,  S.  H.  Covington,  S.  P. 
]Miley,  Patrick  Griffin,  W.  M.  Frost,  H.  L.  Xorthrup,  J.  H.  Hill 
and  Ij.  p.  Hastings  have  all  served  in  the  capacity  of  supervisor. 
The  board  is  made  up  of  three  members,  one  elected  each  year  for  a 
term  of  three  years. 

a.' 

CORONERS 

Owing  to  the  fact  that  the  courthouse  records  prior  to  187i5  were 
burned  in  the  fire  of  the  '70s,  the  list  of  coroners  before  that  time  is 
not  obtainable.  Following  is  the  summary  of  the  men  who  have 
served  since: 

J.  A.  Snyder,  1875-6;  Q.  M.  Lindsey,  1876-82;  C.  A.  Gillham, 
1882-4;  H.  C.  Van  Werden,  1884-6;  W.  A.  Gardner,  1886-90; 
A.  Brown,  1890-4;  H.  R.  Layton,  1894-8;  B.  R.  ^McAllister,  1898- 
1904;  F.  A.  Bowman,  1904-1909;  W.  G.  Jeffries,  1909-11;  H.  R. 
Lavton,  191 1-. 

SURVEYORS 

H.  W.  Peck,  1876-80;  W.  F.  Craig,  1880-4;  H.  W.  Peck,  1884-6; 
H.  H.  Flanagan,  1886-8;  W.  F.  Craig,  1888-90;  J.  M.  Hollinger, 
1890-6;  George  Barrett,  1896-8;  J.  M.  Hollinger,  1898-1904;  Edward 
H.  Peck,  1904-7;  J.  M.  Hollinger,  1907-11;  Frank  Mallette,  1911-. 

DISTRICT  JUDGES 

Samuel  Forrey,  J.  W.  Hewitt,  E.  F.  Sullivan,  ^M.  A.  ^lills,  D.  D. 
Gregory,  John  W.  Harvey,  W.  H.  Tedford,  H.  :M.  Towner,  R.  L. 
Parrish,  H.  K.  Evans,  have  served  in  this  position. 

SENATORS 

^Amos  Harris,  18.52-3;  Nathan  Udell,  18.54-.5;  John  W.  Warner. 
18.)0-9;  William  E.  Taylor,  1860-1;  E.  F.  Esteb,  1862-3;  C.  G. 
Bridges,  1804-7;  Isaac  W.  Keller,  1868-71;  Ehsha  T.  Smith,  1872-5; 
Fred  A.  Teale,  1876-9;  Isaac  W.  Keller,  1880-3;  John  ^NIcDonough, 
1884-8:  J.  B.  Hurst,  1888-92;  W.  H.  Robb,  1892-6;  George  S.  Allyn, 


HISTORY  OF  DECATUR  COUNTY  33 

1896-1904;  Marion  F.  Stookey,  1904-9;  J.  D.  Brown,  1909-13;  C.  H. 
Thomas,  19 13-. 

KEPRESENTATIVES 

Abraham  Putnam,  18j2-3;  S.  P.  Yeomans,  1854-5;  Thomas  iSI. 
Bowen,  1856-7;  W.  J.  Laney,  1858-9;  Racine  D.  Kellogg,  1860-3; 
John  R.  Andrews,  1864-5;  Thomas  H.  Brown,  1866-7;  Henry  W. 
Peck,  1868-9;  Fred  A.  Teale,  1870-3;  Stanfield  P.  McXeill,  1874-7; 
W.  S.  Warnock,  1878-9;  J.  C.  Porter,  1880-1;  William  F.  Kelley, 
1882-3;  Elijah  Banta,  1884-5;  Thomas  Teale,  1886-90;  Guy  P. 
Arnold,  1890-2;  Bryson  Bruce,  1892-4;  Z.  H.  Gurley,  1894-8;  M. 
Wemple,  1898-1900;  B.  L.  Eiker,  1900-4;  E.  J.  Sankey,  1904-7; 
C.  C.  Dye,  1907-9;  E.  J.  Sankey,  1909-11;  J.  A.  Smith,  1911-13; 
M.  F.  Thompson,  1913-. 


Vol.  1—3 


CHAPTER  IV 
HAMILTON   TOWNSHIP  BEFORE   THE  WAR 

By  Duncan  Campbell 

Hamilton  is  one  of  the  southern  tier  of  townships  of  Decatur 
County,  Iowa.  It  is  bounded  on  the  east  by  ^lorgan,  on  the  north 
bv  Eden  and  on  the  west  by  New  Buda  Townships.  In  a  few  places 
the  west  line  is  indented  by  the  curves  of  Grand  River,  and  towards 
the  northeast  it  is  crossed  by  Little  River,  a  tributary  of  the  Grand. 
Several  creeks  and  small  streams  carry  their  waters  into  these  rivers 
when  the  flow  is  not  exhausted  by  dry  weather.  The  surface,  gener- 
ally, is  an  undulating  prairie,  broken  in  places  by  ravines.  The  river 
bottoms  were  covered  with  a  large  growth  of  timber  at  the  time  of  its 
first  settlement,  but  much  of  it  has  since  fallen  before  the  axe  and 
saw  of  the  woodmen.  Later,  some  portions  of  the  prairie  became 
covered  with  a  dense  growth  of  shrubs  and  small  timber  planted  by 
the  settlers  in  order  to  protect  their  dwellings,  farm  buildings  and 
fences,  and  to  keep  down  the  running  fires  which  hitherto  had 
destroyed  the  incipient  saplings.  The  soil  on  the  few  white  oak 
ridges  is  light,  yielding  but  a  meager  reward  for  the  toil  of  the  agri- 
culturist, but  elsewhere  good  crops  are  raised  and  the  people  generally 
make  a  good  living,  many  of  them  becoming  quite  wealtliy. 

The  first  settlers  found  some  bands  of  Sac  and  Pottawattomie 
Indians  still  making  the  neighboring  river  bottoms  their  winter  quar- 
ters, but  spending  the  summers  on  their  favorite  hunting  grounds  in 
Kansas.  Some  of  the  settlers  made  considerable  money  in  trading 
with  them,  on  account  of  the  Indians'  poor  appreciation  of  compara- 
tive values.  These  traders  frequently  managed  to  get  the  red  man 
much  in  debt  to  them  and  when  the  Indians  repaired  to  the  agencies 
at  Fort  Des  Moines  or  Council  Bluff's  to  receive  their  annuities  from 
the  Government  these  traders  usually  appeared  with  them  to  collect 
the  balance  before  the  Indian  had  time  to  spend  it  otherwise,  which 
he  was  prone  to  do. 

34 


HISTORY  OF  DECATUR  COUNTY  35 

The  first  actual  settlers  upon  the  lands  now  embraced  in  Hamilton 
Township  appear  to  have  arrived  in  the  '40s.  Champ  Collier,  an 
micle  of  the  JNlissoin-i  statesman,  Champ  Clark,  who  was  named  after 
him;  Allen  Scott,  Wyllis  Dickinson,  Aaron  and  Moses  Turpin,  Kd 
Winkle,  William  Conover,  Cole  Seymour,  Alfred  I..o<;an,  ^Martin 
Casline,  John  Reid,  William  Hamilton,  William  xVcton,  Asa  Rurrell 
and  Gideon  P.  Walker  were  among  the  earliest.  As  most  of  these 
came  in  by  way  of  JNIissouri  they  naturally  held  to  the  view  of  tluit 
state  with  reference  to  the  boundary  question  and  supposed  they  were 
settling  within  its  limits.  This  view  placed  a  line  six  miles  or  more 
farther  north  than  the  Iowa  claim  allowed,  which  was  tliat  the  SulH- 
van  line  run  in  1816  was  the  true  boundary.  The  Supreme  Court 
of  the  United  States,  having  decided  in  favor  of  the  Iowa  side  of  the 
controversy,  these  settlers  found  themselves  in  a  different  state  from 
that  in  which  they  intended  to  settle,  and  this  will  to  some  extent 
account  for  the  mixed  politics  in  the  township  in  the  early  days. 

The  conditions  which  obtained  in  JNIorgan,  Hamilton  and  New 
Buda  Townships  in  those  times  were  very  much  alike;  the  most  primi- 
tive order  of  things  prevailed  in  all  of  them.  Ox  teams  were  used 
instead  of  horses  and  these  were  of  the  scrubbiest  kind.  It  required  a 
team  of  six  or  seven  yoke  of  them  to  break  up  the  prairie  which  at 
that  time  was  covered  with  a  growth  of  blue-stemmed  grass,  higher 
than  a  man's  head.  However,  it  required  but  little  ground  to  raise 
the  corn  needed  for  family  uses.  The  markets  were  too  distant  and 
the  price  paid  too  low  to  make  it  pay  to  grow  corn  for  that  purpose. 
There  was  little  or  none  needed  for  the  hogs,  because  they  fatted  them- 
selves on  the  abundant  mast  which  in  the  little  hollows  about  the  trees 
could  be  shoveled  up  by  the  scoopful.  One  of  the  early  settlers 
informed  the  writer  that  one  fall  he  had  sold  $800  worth  of  hogs, 
fattened  in  this  way.  Hence,  about  the  only  corn  raised  was  tliat 
required  by  oxen  and  for  the  family  bread.  Corn  needed  but  little 
cultivation  then,  as  the  famous  cockle-burr  and  other  weeds  had  not 
begun  to  take  possession  of  the  ground  as  they  have  in  later  times. 
In  many  cases  the  hogs  of  the  different  families  ran  out  in  the  woods 
together  and  little  discrimination  was  shown  as  to  which  was  which. 
When  a  family  got  out  of  meat  one  of  the  men  took  a  gun  and  shot 
the  first  fat  hog  that  came  within  range,  without  very  close  inquiry 
as  to  where  it  belonged.  Wild  turkey,  deer  and  other  game  were 
found  in  great  numbers,  and  this  with  the  hog  meat  made  the  flesh 
supplies  especially  bountiful. 


36 


HISTORY  OF  DECATUR  COUNTY 


Cattle  were  raised  cheaply  and  with  little  trouble.  Thus  plenty 
of  butter  could  be  had  at  the  cost  of  the  labor  of  making  it.  There 
was  little  inducement  to  manufacture  it  for  sale  at  the  frequent  price 
of  3  cents  per  pound.  Eggs  were  very  plentiful  and  so  cheap  that 
they  were  often  fed  to  the  hogs  by  the  bucketful.  Many  times 
there  was  no  market  for  them  at  any  price.  For  sweets  honey  was 
obtained  from  the  bee  trees  by  the  barrel  and  was  a  source  of  consid- 
erable revenue,  even  at  the  low  price  of  20  cents  a  gallon.  In 
the  way  of  fruit  wild  apples,  plums,  grapes,  black  haws  and  many 
kinds  of  berries  made  satisfactory  relishes.  Sorghum  was  introduced 
in  18.57  or  18.58  by  a  jNIr.  Fields  who  lived  about  a  mile  west  of 
Pleasanton.     He  sent  to  Washington  for  the  seed. 

A  portion  of  the  clothing  of  the  men  was  made  from  buckskin,  and 
being  nicely  dressed  looked  quite  well.  Woolen  clothes  were  made  by 
the  women,  who  carded  the  w^ool,  spun  it,  wove  it  and  made  it  into 
clothes  of  such  enduring  quality  that  a  new  dress  did  not  have  to  be 
made  every  other  day. 

The  first  land  to  be  occupied  was  in  the  timber  or  adjacent  to  it. 
This  was  because  of  the  facility  afforded  for  getting  material  for 
dwellings,  barns,  fences  and  fuel.  The  first  houses  were  log  cabins 
with  puncheon  floors  and  clapboard  roofs.  The  puncheons  were  logs 
split  and  dressed  or  hewed  on  one  side  to  a  flat  surface  and  laid  close 
together  on  log  sleepers.  The  shingles  were  made  from  blocks  of 
oak  about  three  or  four  feet  in  length,  quartered  and  then  split  into 
clapboards  by  a  froe.  These  were  laid  on  the  rude  logs  and  then 
weighted  and  held  in  place  by  other  logs.  The  doors  oftentimes  hung 
on  wooden  hinges  and  fastened  with  wooden  latches.  The  windows 
consisted  of  openings  between  the  logs  over  which  pieces  of  oil  paper 
or  muslin  were  stretched.  The  stick  and  clay  chimney,  with  its  open 
fireplace  and  wide  hearth,  was  a  distinctive  feature  of  those  primitive 
homes  and  no  happier  memories  cling  around  the  recollection  of  any 
liearthstones  in  the  world  than  do  in  the  thoughts  connected  with 
these  lowly  cabins.  The  minds  of  many  of  those  now  in  middle  age 
liearked  back  to  the  times  when,  if  as  by  chance,  the  young  people  of 
the  neighborhood  gathered  in  one  of  those  16  by  18  dweUings  of  an 
evening  and  the  stove  and  the  table,  the  beds  and  the  cupboard  were 
hustled  outdoors  to  make  room  for  the  dance. 

From  a  short  biography  of  John  E.  Logan,  who  settled  in  INIorgan 
Township  in  1844,  we  take  the  following:  "The  Indians  had  not  then 
been  removed  and  the  county  was  then  in  a  primitive  state.  His  post- 
office  was  at  Trenton,  Mo.,  forty  miles  away,  and  the  postage  on 


HISTORY  OF  DECATUR  COUNTY  37 

each  letter  was  25  cents,  which  was  invariably  demanded  wlien 
the  letter  was  taken  from  the  office.  ^Nloney  was  scarce  and 
with  bnt  little  silver  to  make  change  and  beeswax  was  used  as  a  sub- 
stitute, which  was  in  good  demand  at  25  cents  a  pound.  A  small 
gristmill  had  been  erected  about  four  miles  below  Princeton,  Mo., 
a  distance  of  about  twenty-five  miles.  This  was  of  very  small  dimen- 
sions, but  much  better  than  none  and  was  a  blessing  for  which  the 
pioneers  were  thankful.  His  dwelling  was  a  cabin  of  hewed  logs, 
18  by  20  feet  in  size.  He  had  been  here  the  previous  autumn  and 
had  engaged  his  location  and  engaged  a  man  to  build  tlie  above  men- 
tioned, he  returning  to  Missouri  and  bringing  his  family  the  following 
spring.  This  cabin  forms  a  part  of  his  present  residence,  it  having 
been  clapboarded  on  the  outside  and  sealed  within.  This  is  the  oldest 
residence  in  the  township.  Here  Mr,  Logan  and  wife  had  lived  for  a 
period  of  forty-two  years.  A  generation  has  passed  away  since  they 
settled  here.  It  was  a  beautiful  timbered  country,  with  no  under- 
brush, and  deer  and  other  wild  game  were  abundant." 

But  there  were  other  wild  animals  in  the  woods  besides  the  deer; 
coyotes  or  prairie  wolves  roamed  about  in  great  numbers  and  made 
night  vocal  with  the  chorus  of  their  prolonged  howls.  ^lany  a  calf, 
pig,  lamb  and  chicken  fell  a  victim  to  their  raids  on  the  pens  and 
corrals  of  the  settlers. 

When  Decatur  County  was  organized  April  1,  1850,  AVilliam 
Hamilton,  Asa  Burrell  and  Josiah  Morgan  were  named  as  commis- 
sioners and  their  first  meeting  as  such  was  held  May  6th.  Henry  B. 
Noston  was  chosen  clerk  and  Andrew  Still  was  allowed  $30  for 
his  work  as  organizing  sheriff.  The  county  seat  was  not  yet  located 
and  it  was  ordered  that  until  that  was  done  the  district  covn-ts, 
the  probate  court  and  the  commissioners'  court  should  be  held  at  the 
home  of  Daniel  Moad  about  six  miles  southeast  of  where  Leon  now 
stands.  In  July  following  the  commissioners  held  a  meeting  in 
which  they  organized  Garden  Grove,  Morgan,  Hamilton  and  Burrell 
townships,  naming  the  last  three  in  which  they  severally  lived  after 
themselves.  In  the  organization  of  Hamilton  Township  ^Villiam 
Hamilton,  AVilliam  Eaton  and  Jefferson  Dimick  were  chosen  judges 
and  Wyllis  Dickinson  and  Gideon  P.  Walker,  clerks.  In  those  days 
the  township  business  was  transacted  in  a  most  simple  and  informal 
manner.  At  the  first  election  held  in  Woodland  Township  the  ballot 
box  was  a  tin  pail  with  a  cover  and  the  tickets  wer6  written  by  one  of 
the  clerks. 


38  HISTORY  OF  DECATUR  COUNTY 

With  the  '50s  many  new  settlers  came  in.  From  1852  to  1857 
more  new  people  came  in  than  in  any  other  equal  period  since  the 
first  settlement.  David  Purden,  William  Snook,  A.  W.  Moffett, 
Daniel  Rartholow,  George  JNIorey,  G.  M.  Hinkle,  John  Keown, 
William  Loving,  Austin  Cowles,  Robert  Booth,  James  Dunleav^^ 
John  Henderson,  James  Gammill,  Dr.  David  Macy,  Dr.  Glenden- 
ning.  Dr.  ]Mullinnix,  Fleming,  James,  Ambrose  and  JNIeredith  Dale, 
Wilson  Stone,  Ebenezer  Robinson,  Amasa  Bonney,  W.  S.  Warnock, 
William  Alden,  Roval  Richardson,  John  Park,  Isaac  Waldrup,  Rich- 
ard  Holden,  Andrew  Scott,  T.  J.  Graves,  John  ^lark,  Henry  Laney, 
Fields,  James  Alfrey,  Hartman,  John  ^Mills,  with  their  famihes.  No 
doubt  there  were  a  number  of  others  whose  names  have  been  over- 
looked. 

In  the  days  before  grist  and  sawmills  were  erected  various  expe- 
dients were  employed  to  meet  the  needs  of  the  x^eople.  It  is  said  that 
Champ  Collier  went  out  to  the  timber,  cut  down  a  large  walnut,  split 
it  up,  dressed  the  boards,  and  put  together  a  very  respectable  coffin 
for  one  of  his  neighbors  who  had  died.  For  making  corn  meal  the 
grating  method  was  somethiies  used.  By  this  means  the  corn  was 
scraped  oiF  the  cob  by  hand  on  a  contrivance  like  a  huge  nutmeg 
grater.  Others  used  a  sweep.  On  the  lower  end  of  a  suspended  pole 
was  a  block  of  wood  in  which  an  iron  wedge  was  inserted,  with  which 
the  corn  placed  in  the  cavity  hollowed  out  of  the  top  of  a  stump  was 
pounded  into  meal  by  working  the  sweep  up  and  down. 

In  the  course  of  time  Allen  Scott  put  up  a  horsemill  for  grinding 
corn.  The  patrons  usually  supplied  the  power,  which  was  at  first 
more  frequently  by  oxen  than  by  horses.  In  the  latter  half  of  the 
'50s  several  mills  were  erected,  some  of  them  run  by  steam  and  others 
by  water  power.  In  1854  D.  C.  Cowles  built  a  sawmill  at  Davis 
Citv  for  William  Davis,  and  two  or  three  years  later  Royal  Richard- 
son,  AVilliam  Snook,  John  jNIark  and  John  Clark  put  up  mills  in  the 
south  and  east  part  of  the  township. 

Calicos,  blankets  and  coffee  and  such  things  were  sometimes 
obtained  from  the  Indians,  who  brought  them  from  Council  Bluffs 
and  Fort  Des  ^loines,  when  they  went  to  those  agencies  to  draw  their 
allowances  from  the  Government.  Allen  Scott  opened  the  first 
store,  whicli  he  kept  at  his  farmhouse,  and  in  partnership  with  him 
for  a  time  was  a  man  named  Foster.  The  first  postoffice  was  also 
kept  here,  and  was  named  Nine  Eagles,  of  which  Governor  Ejhazy, 
a  Hungarian  refugee,  was  the  first  postmaster.  The  mail  was 
brought  by  way  of  Princeton,  ]\Io. 


HISTOKY  OF  DECxVTUll  COUNTY  39 

The  first  school  was  taught  in  a  vacated  cabin  on  the  Hamilton 
place,  about  a  mile  northwest  of  where  Pleasanton  is  now.  Cole  Sey- 
mour was  perhaps  the  first  teacher,  followed  by  Jim  Dunkerson, 
Mr.  Tillery  and  Gideon  P.  Walker,  the  latter  teacliing  several  terms. 
The  teachers  were  paid  by  subscription  and  the  lengtli  of  the  terms 
depended  on  the  amount  of  money  raised  in  this  way. 

The  Village  of  Pleasanton  was  laid  out  in  the  spring  of  18.54  by 
Daniel  Bartholow,  and  named  Pleasant  Plains.  One-half  of  the 
land  was  given  by  Bartholow  and  the  other  half  by  AVilliam  Snook. 
The  first  store  was  kept  by  G.  31.  Hinkle,  who  lived  on  a  farm  now 
occupied  by  John  ^IcCormick  about  a  mile  and  a  half  northwest  of  the 
town.  Later  there  were  stores  by  Greenville  Watson,  JefF  Gardner, 
Isaac  Waldrup  and  James  Alfrey,  who  first  served  in  a  store  belong- 
ing to  Dallou  &  Pritchard,  and  afterwards  set  up  for  himself.  Tom 
JNIajors,  afterward  candidate  for  governor  of  Nebraska  on  the  repub- 
lican ticket,  had  a  large  stock  of  goods  in  1859.  The  goods  Mere  at 
fu'st  brought  in  by  ox  teams  from  Keokuk  and  Burlington,  on  the 
Mississippi,  and  from  Brunswick  and  St.  Joe,  on  the  ]Missouri.  Later 
they  were  hauled  from  Ottmnwa  after  the  main  line  of  the  Chicago, 
Burlington  &  Quincy  Railroad  reached  there.  The  hauling  of  the 
goods  from  those  points  gave  considerable  occupation  to  men  and 
teams,  helping  materially  to  piece  out  the  means  of  living  and  giving 
a  start  in  the  acquiring  of  j^roperty. 

At  an  early  date  William  Snook  entertained  travelers,  and  later 
Joel  Painter  kept  a  licensed  hotel  on  the  lot  where  the  Pleasanton 
Bank  now  stands.     Royal  Richardson  opened  his  hotel  in  1861. 

Dr.  David  3Iacy  was  the  first  physician  and  located  in  Pleasanton 
in  1855.  Doctor  Glendenning  was  at  Pleasanton  for  a  year  or  more 
when  he  first  entered  upon  the  practice  of  his  profession  about  1856. 
Dr.  P.  E.  ]Mullinnix  located  for  practice  here  in  1859.  Dr.  W.  E. 
Peters  also  that  year. 

When  W.  S.  Warnock,  who  had  been  admitted  to  the  Ohio  bar 
in  1853,  struck  Pleasanton  in  the  fall  of  1865  on  his  way  to  the  West 
in  the  search  for  health  and  incidentally  looking  for  an  opportunity 
to  teach  school,  there  was  no  school  building  in  the  village.  Some 
of  the  public-spirited  citizens,  learning  that  he  wished  to  teach,  asked 
him  to  tarrv  for  a  few  days  while  they  erected  a  schoolhouse.  He 
did  so.  The  men  of  the  village  went  to  work  with  a  will,  repaired 
to  the  timber,  cut  logs,  hauled  them  to  a  site  just  back  of  where 
Mr.  Richardson's  present  residence  is,  and  in  less  than  two  weeks 
had  a  building  ready  for  occupancy.     True,  it  hardly  came  up  to  the 


40  HISTORr  OF  DECATUR  COUNTY 

standard  of  a  modern  city  school,  with  its  log  walls,  j)uncheon  floor 
and  clax3board  roof,  its  seats  of  split  logs  with  wooden  pegs  for  legs. 
Nevertheless,  it  served  a  good  purpose,  being  used  as  a  meeting  house 
for  religious  services  as  well  as  for  day  school.  There  were  meetings 
for  Bible  study  and  later  a  Simday  school.  Isaac  Waldrup,  mer- 
chant of  the  town,  preached  there  with  much  acceptance. 

Doctor  Forbes  had  a  school  in  a  log  cabin  on  the  site  of  the  Inter- 
state Index  office.  The  floor  of  the  cabin  had  not  been  laid  and  the 
log  sleepers  were  used  for  seats,  yet  the  instruction  imparted  served 
its  purpose  in  the  development  of  the  youthful  mind  as  well  as  that 
given  today  on  seats  of  the  latest  design  and  mechanism. 

Education  was  considered  of  such  great  importance  by  the  citizens 
that  a  building  known  as  the  College  was  erected  for  educational  pur- 
poses in  the  late  '50s.  It  was  a  2-story  frame  building,  40  by  60, 
and  was  built  by  private  subscription.  The  attendance  of  students 
varied  from  fifty  to  a  hmidred.  But  little  more  than  the  ordinary 
English  branches  were  taught.  E.  Lewis  and  wife,  George  Stanton, 
John  W.  Crawford,  W.  S.  Warnock  and  John  Sallee  were  among 
the  instructors.  Myra  Snook,  afterwards  the  wife  of  Dr.  E.  C. 
jNIacy,  helped  in  the  teaching  while  attending  the  school  as  a  student. 
The  building  was  also  used  for  church  purposes,  and  soldiers  were 
drilled  in  it  during  the  war.  With  thirteen  other  buildings  it  was 
destroyed  in  a  fierce  tornado  which  devastated  the  town  in  1864.  It 
never  was  rebuilt,  being  a  more  advanced  step  than  the  community 
could  support  at  that  early  time. 

There  were  no  chm'ch  buildings  erected  before  the  war.  The 
]Metliodist  Episcopal  people  began  one,  but  it  went  no  further  than 
the  erection  of  part  of  the  frame,  which  was  neglected  and  destroyed 
in  the  excitement  attending  the  opening  of  the  war.  There  was  a 
^Methodist  organization  which  struggled  along  and  religious  services 
Avere  held  in  the  school  buildings  b}^  Isaac  Waldrup,  John  JNIark, 
Elijah  Crawford  and  Doctor  Glendenning.  The  Latter  Day  Saints 
people  efl'ected  an  organization  in  1859,  and  preaching  services  were 
maintained  by  George  INIorey,  A.  W.  ^lofl'ett  and  Ebenezer  Robin- 
son. Their  usual  place  of  meeting  was  at  a  schoolhouse  on  the  farm 
of  A.  W.  ]Mofl*ett,  but  services  were  occasionally  held  at  other  places. 

The  men  carried  their  arms  to  the  place  of  meeting  and  wore  moc- 
casins, or  more  often,  when  the  weather  permitted,  came  barefoot. 
Those  from  a  distance  came  in  ox  wagons. 

Tlie  legal  fraternity  was  represented  by  Gideon  P.  Walker,  W.  S. 
Warnock  and  James  Alfrey.     Walker  was  reared  and  educated  in 


HISTORY  OF  DFXATUR  COUNTY  41 

New  York,  where  he  read  law  and  was  admitted  to  tlie  bai-.  On 
reaching  his  majority  he  located  in  the  southern  states,  remaining 
there  for  several  years,  teaching  school  and  i)racticing  law.  He  came 
to  Hamilton  in  the  spring  of  1849,  and  on  the  organization  of  the 
township  in  1850  he  was  chosen  one  of  the  first  clerks.  W .  S.  AVar- 
nock  was  a  native  of  Ohio,  in  whicli  state  he  studied  law  and  was 
admitted  to  the  bar.  He  came  to  Pleasanton  late  in  18.3o,  where  he 
taught  school,  kept  postoffice  and  practiced  his  profession.  T]i  1872 
he  moved  to  Davis  City,  and  in  1878  was  elected  to  represent  the  dis- 
trict in  the  Seventeenth  General  Assembly  of  Iowa.  James  Alfrey, 
a  clerk,  storekeeper,  school  teacher  and  county  superintendent,  read 
some  law  and  practiced  in  justice  of  the  peace  court,  but  present 
information  does  not  indicate  whether  he  was  ever  admitted  to  the 
bar  or  not. 

When  the  postoffice  was  moved  from  Allen  Scott's  place  to  Pleas- 
anton in  1858  the  old  name  Nine  Eagles  was  retained  for  several 
years.  Early  postmasters  were  Isaac  Waldrup  and  W.  S.  AVar- 
nock ;  some  say  the  one  was  the  first,  some  say  the  other. 

In  the  eastern  part  of  the  township  Robert  Booth  settled  on  a 
farm  of  several  hundred  acres  in  1854.  He  had  a  mill  and  also  a 
store,  and  was  the  first  postmaster  of  the  Spring  Yalley  office.  The 
little  handet  M'hich  sprang  up  about  his  place  of  business  was  vari- 
ously known  as  Boothtow^n  or  El  Dorado.  This  was  on  the  east  side 
of  IJttle  River.  Almost  opposite  on  the  west  side  of  the  little  stream 
settled  Austin  Cowles,  with  his  two  sons,  D.  C.  and  H.  A.  On  a 
little  hill  not  far  from  the  river  they  built  one  of  the  first  farm 
frame  houses  in  the  township,  and  on  the  river  itself  they  put  up  a 
Mater  power  sawmill,  to  which  was  afterwards  added  grinding  facili- 
ties. Before  a  regular  school  was  established  in  the  neighborliood 
the  children  used  to  go  to  their  home  of  an  evening  to  be  instructed 
in  the  rudiments  of  reading  and  writing.  Wesley  Cowles,  another 
son,  had  a  blacksmith  shop  in  Boothtown. 

James  ^I.  Dale  was  another  of  the  early  Little  River  pioneers. 
He  bought  out  Jefferson  Dimick,  who  was  named  one  of  the  town- 
ship election  judges  at  its  organization  in  1850.  Mr.  Dale  had  four 
brothers,  Fleming,  Ambrose,  Dudley  and  ^Meredith,  who  all  settled 
in  the  same  neighborhood  and  raised  considerable  families  that  exer- 
cised  important  influence  in  the  development  of  the  community. 

James  Gammill  arrived  in  the  same  neighborhood  in  1854,  and 
also  raised  a  large  family  of  worth  and  intelligence.  Besides  these 
tliere  were  the  Laney,  Dunleavy,  Sharp,  Williams,  Rutherford,  Rob- 


42  HISTORY  OF  DECATUR  COUNTY 

ertson,   Xewcomer,  McDowell,  Bayles  and  Budd  families.     T.  J. 
Graves  came  in  1859  and  kept  a  blacksmith  shop  in  El  Dorado. 

Some  distance  farther  down  the  river  John  Clark  established 
himself  in  1856.  His  biography,  as  published  in  the  Decatur  County 
Historical  Record,  gives  the  following  account  of  him:  "Mr.  Clark 
entered  and  purchased  in  ^lorgan  and  Hamilton  townships  about  one 
thousand  acres  of  land,  one-half  of  which  was  heavily  timbered,  much 
of  the  timber  being  of  large  size  and  of  excellent  quality.  Here  he 
immediately  erected  a  sawmill  for  the  purpose  of  manufacturing  the 
timber  into  lumber.  A  small  log  cabin  was  already  on  the  place, 
wliich  his  family  occux^ied  until  he  could  manufacture  lumber  with 
which  to  build  a  more  commodious  residence.  He  purchased  his 
machinery  at  Keokuk  and  hauled  it  from  that  place  with  ox  teams. 
In  1857  ^Ir.  Clark  added  two  sets  of  burrs  to  his  mill  propert}^  and 
also  carding  machinery — combining  in  the  same  building  sawing, 
milling  and  wool  dressing.  In  1859  he  added  spinning  machinery 
and  looms,  manufacturing  all  kinds  of  woolen  clothes.  During  the 
War  of  the  Rebellion  the  demand  for  his  goods  increased  to  such  an 
extent  that  ten  or  twelve  looms  were  kept  busy.  During  this  period 
his  firm  handled  no  less  than  75,000  pounds  of  wool  annualh".  It 
proved  a  successful  enterprise  and  the  greater  part  of  the  abundant 
wealth  of  J.  Clark  and  sons  was  acquired  in  the  above  mentioned 
manner.  Their  goods  were  a  source  of  large  revenue  to  the  Govern- 
ment. The  surplus  funds  were  turned  over  to  the  Government  in 
return  for  bonds,  and  thus  in  two  ways  did  thev  contribute  in  a  sub- 
stantial  way  to  the  support  of  the  Union  in  its  struggle  for  existence. 
The  milling  business  was  discontinued  soon  after  they  started  the 
woolen  factory.  In  1869  the  First  National  Bank  of  Leon  was 
organized  with  a  capital  of  $50,000,  of  which  INIr.  Clark  supplied 
$20,000,  and  he  was  president  of  the  bank  during  the  whole  term  of 
its  existence,  or  until  it  became  the  Farmers  and  Traders  Bank.  In 
1876  ]Mr.  Clark  and  his  son,  William  H.,  purchased  the  Davis  Mill 
property  at  Davis  City,  and  in  1875  father  and  two  sons  built  the 
present  brick  flouring  mill  at  a  cost  of  about  twenty  thousand  dollars. 
The  mill  had  a  superior  water  power,  and  an  important  use  to  which 
this  power  is  applied  is  pumping  water  to  supply  the  tank  of  the 
Chicago,  Burlington  &  Quincy  Railroad  Company.  This  work  is 
done  by  contract.  Clark  k  Sons  have  contributed  largely  toward 
the  building  up  of  Davis  City;  each  has  a  fine  brick  residence  and 
they  have  erected  and  own  all  the  brick  business  houses  in  town  with 
one  exception.     Another  enterprise  of  public  interest  and  one  highly 


HISTORY  OF  DECxVTUR  COUNTY  43 

creditable  to  its  builder  was  the  erection  in  1878  of  a  fine  brick  church 
at  Davis  City.  Mr.  Clark  built  this  church  at  his  own  expense  and 
furnished  it  with  a  fine  town  clock.  All  of  its  appointments  are  of 
the  best.  The  cost  of  the  church  and  furnishings  was  about  five 
thousand  dollars.  JNlr.  Clark  has  never  identified  himself  with  any 
religious  denomination,  but  recognizing  the  importance  of  moral  and 
religious  training,  he  resolved  to  construct  an  edifice  that  should  be 
free  to  all  denominations.  It  is  called  the  First  Union  Church  of 
Davis  City,  and  is  the  only  church  building  in  town." 

Among  the  most  noted  characters  of  early  Hamilton  history  was 
Wyllis  Dickinson.  He  was  born  in  Kensington,  Conn.,  about  1799; 
came  to  Hamilton  in  1840.  He  first  lived  on  the  bottom  land  by 
Grand  River,  but  having  had  an  undesirable  experience  with  the  over- 
flow of  the  river  he  moved  farther  back  to  higher  ground  on  the  ridge. 
He  put  up  the  walls  of  a  log  cabin,  and  needing  the  shelter  before 
he  could  get  the  roof  on,  within  these  walls  he  made  a  tent  of  muslin 
bouglit  at  Cincinnati  on  his  way  hither,  and  in  this  he  lived  two  or 
three  years  before  the  cabin  roof  was  put  on.  In  this  rude  and  primi- 
tive dwelling,  without  a  window,  he  lived  mitil  his  death  in  1892,  a 
period  of  fifty-two  years  from  his  coming  to  the  township.  For  the 
sake  of  exactness  it  should  be  said  that  toward  the  very  last  a  single 
pane  of  glass  was  inserted  in  the  wall  near  the  chimney  corner. 
Before  indulging  in  this  piece  of  luxury  his  reading  during  daylight 
hours  Mas  done  by  sitting  with  his  back  toward  an  opening  in  the 
wall  made  by  removing  a  block  of  the  chinking  which  was  replaced 
in  cold  weather,  when  his  reading  was  over  for  the  time  being.  At 
night  he  read  by  the  light  of  the  lamp  suspended  by  one  of  the  beams 
wliich  supported  the  ceiling.  It  consisted  of  a  saucerlike  vessel  of 
metal,  with  a  lip  to  it,  in  which  lay  a  strip  of  cotton  immersed  in  oil 
or  melted  grease,  with  which  it  was  partially  filled.  The  part  of  the 
cotton  strip  coming  up  through  the  lip  was  lighted,  and  as  it  burned 
down  was  drawn  up  from  time  to  time  with  a  large  pin  or  other  sharp- 
nointed  article. 

In  this  simple  way  he  was  accustomed  to  gratify  his  love  of  read- 
ing, which  was  intense,  as  he  was  a  man  of  more  than  usual  education 
for  the  time  and  place.  He  resorted  to  these  simple  expedients  not 
because  he  lacked  the  means  to  supply  himself  with  better  things,  but 
because  of  the  simplicity  of  his  tastes  and  character.  Tliere  were 
plenty  of  funds  at  his  command  to  have  provided  not  only  the  sub- 
stantial necessaries  of  life,  but  to  have  given  him  the  enjoyment  of 
refinements,  its  luxuries  and  elegancies  as  well,  if  he  had  craved  them. 


44  HISTORY  OF  DECATUR  COUNTY 

It  is  said  that  when  he  was  leaving  the  Xew  England  home  his  father 
wished  to  invest  many  thousands  in  liis  interests,  but  he  would  have 
none  of  it,  preferring  to  push  his  way  by  natural  means  in  the  wilder- 
ness like  another  Thoreau  far  from  the  rush  of  modern  life  as  it 
developed  in  the  older  communities.  His  relatives  were  liberal  in 
sending  him  supplies  of  money  so  that  he  never  was  without  the  power 
to  pay  amply  for  even  the  simplest  service  rendered  him,  and  in  this 
manner  he  was  very  independent.  He  w^as  the  owner  of  570  acres 
of  land  in  the  county,  indicating  that  the  simplicity  of  his  life  was 
not  owing  to  poverty,  but  to  inherent  characteristics  which  induced 
sympathy  with  the  natural  rather  than  the  artificial.  That  he  was 
fond  of  literature  is  not  to  be  wondered  at,  seeing  that  he  was  the 
cousin  of  the  poet  Percival,  born  in  the  same  town  four  years  before 
himself,  who  was  a  geologist  as  well,  but  was  known  chiefly  as  a 
writer  of  dainty  and  picturesque  verse.  Mr.  Dickinson  was  a  nephew 
of  a  Mrs.  Willard,  who  maintained  a  female  seminary  in  the  State 
of  New  York,  where  she  at  one  time  entertained  Lafayette,  whose 
visit  she  afterward  returned  in  his  home  in  France. 

He  was  much  interested  in  young  people  making  a  struggle  for 
an  education,  and  was  ever  anxious  for  an  opportunity  to  furnish 
sucli  with  books  and  magazines.  A  neighbor's  son,  John  Holden, 
though  now  well  advanced  in  years,  has  still  in  his  possession  a  val- 
uable work  which  was  the  gift  of  the  old  hermit. 

That  he  was  a  loyal  citizen  and  patriot  is  proved  by  the  fact  that 
during  the  War  of  the  Rebellion  he  offered  forty  acres  of  his  land  to 
a  neighbor's  son  on  condition  that  he  would  enlist  in  the  army  for  the 
preservation  of  the  Union.  It  is  a  matter  of  regret  that  the  off*er 
was  not  accepted.  Under  his  influence  a  nephew,  Sherman  Hart, 
who  lived  with  him  and  whom  he  intended  to  make  his  heir,  joined 
the  Union  army.  He  was  taken  sick  at  Island  No.  10,  and  being 
taken  to  Cape  Girardeau  for  hospital  treatment,  died  there.  This 
was  more  to  be  lamented  inasmuch  as  he  was  engaged  to  an  estimable 
young  woman  whom  he  expected  to  marry  at  the  close  of  hostilities, 
the  dwelling  for  their  occupancy  having  already  been  erected. 

He  was  never  married,  and  though  a  great  recluse  was  never 
melancholy  or  downhearted.  On  the  contrary,  he  was  a  singularly 
happy  disposition.  His  unusual  physical  strength  was  under  the 
complete  control  of  dominant  will  and  the  serenity  of  his  tempera- 
ment was  the  leading  trait  of  his  character.  His  coolness  of  temper 
was  strikingly  displayed  by  an  incident  which  occurred  in  1855.  He 
had  just  sold  some  land  and  was  supposed  to  have  had  considerable 


HISTORY  OF  DECATUR  COUNTY  45 

money  stowed  away  somewhere  in  the  cabin,  as  proceeds  of  the  sale. 
In  the  course  of  an  evening,  as  he  sat  reading,  and  after  young  John 
Holden,  who  was  assisting  him  with  his  corn  gathering,  had  gone 
to  bed  behind  a  curtain  stretched  across  the  room,  on  wliich  account 
his  presence  was  unsuspected,  there  came  a  knock  at  the  door,  and 
not  being  suspicious  of  evil  intent,  Dickinson  proceeded  to  unfasten 
the  door  by  removing  a  large  pin.     Upon  opening  the  door  a  very- 
large  man  appeared,  followed  by  a  smaller  one.     The  large  man 
claimed  to  be  an  agent  of  the  Government,  deputized  to  gather  up 
all   of   the  arms   found  in   the   hands   of    the   citizens.    JNIr.   Dick- 
inson   expressed   his    surprise    at    this    alleged   action    on    the   part 
of  the   Government,   especially  in  his  case,  as  he  was  well  known 
to  be  a  perfectly  loyal  citizen  from  whom  the  Government  had  noth- 
ing to  fear.     During  the  colloquy  the  old  man  seemed  to  be  thor- 
ouglily  unsuspicious,  but  to  the  young  man  behind  the  curtain  the 
move  seemed  to  be  a  mere  ruse  on  the  part  of  the  intruders  to  get 
into  their  own  hands  a  shotgun,  rifle  and  a  musket  which  were  kept 
upon  the  wall  in  the  customary  manner,  in  order  that  the  obvious  pur- 
pose of  robbery  might  be  more  easily  carried  out.     Finding  that  the 
revolver  that  he  usually  carried  was  not  within  his  reach,  he  sprang 
from  the  bed  and  seized  the  leader  by  the  throat,  who,  on  account  of 
his  superior  strength  was  enabled  to  shake  him  off,  but  finding  that 
Dickinson  was  not  alone,  rushed  through  the  open  door  and  made  his 
escape  with  his  fellow  burglar.     One  of  the  pieces  from  the  wall  was 
fired  after  them,  Dickinson  the  while  remaining  perfectly  cool  and 
collected,  and  after  the  flight  of  the  parties  making  the  remark  that 
he  could  easily  have  brained  the  fellow  with  the  powerful  door  pin 
which  he  still  held  in  his  hand. 

The  hermit  w^as  very  successful  in  handling  bees  and  he  had  per- 
haps as  many  as  a  hundred  sw^arms  at  one  time,  and  also  rendered 
the  honey  and  wax  from  forty  hives,  most  of  which  was  shipped  to 
St.  Joseph,  Mo.,  but  some  went  as  far  as  California.  Of  the  honey 
he  was  accustomed  to  make  considerable  quantity  of  methelgin,  a 
strong  spirituous  liquor  which  he  drank  freely  as  a  stimulant,  also 
sharing  it  liberally  with  his  callers,  for  he  was  fond  of  company. 
Doing  his  own  cooking,  he  became  quite  an  expert  in  that  line,  and 
many  of  the  young  people  of  the  place  liked  nothing  better  than 
to  have  an  opportunity  of  partaking  of  the  savory  viands  prepared 
by  his  hands,  and  he  took  great  delight  in  thus  catering  to  their 
tastes. 


46  HISTORY  OF  DECATUR  COUNTY 

The  old  gentleman  was  originally  an  Episcopalian,  but  in  mature 
life  leaned  to  the  JNIethodist  persuasion,  and  gave  freely  of  his  means 
to  its  support,  though  he  never  became  an  actual  member  of  the 
church.     He  was  a  great  Bible  reader. 

Allen  Scott,  who  lived  on  section  19,  one  of  the  very  first  of  the 
jjioneers,  was  a  remarkable  character  and  included  in  his  make-up 
both  the  virtues  and  the  vices  of  the  class  and  time  of  which  he 
belonged.  He  was  somewhat  of  enterprising  spirit,  having  the  first 
store,  the  first  postoffice  and  the  first  mill  in  the  township.  Some 
of  the  timbers  of  the  framework  of  the  old  mill  were  still  to  be  seen 
standing  in  a  field  by  Sand  Creek  bridge  as  late  as  in  the  '80s. 

After  My.  Scott  had  lived  in  the  toAvnship  some  years  he  was 
visited  one  winter  day  by  a  wife  and  daughter  whom  he  had  aban- 
doned in  the  old  Indiana  home.  After  making  the  call  and  receiving 
the  blessing  in  the  shape  of  some  silk  dress  patterns  from  his  store, 
they  left  his  place  on  foot  for  the  purpose  of  returning  to  the  home 
of  a  relative  living  beyond  Davis  City.  While  crossing  the  prairie, 
bottom  land  intervening,  they  were  overtaken  by  a  fierce  snowstorm 
and  blizzard,  and  being  blinded  by  its  force,  they  became  bewildered 
and  lost  their  way.  They  wandered  aimlessly  about  until  benumbed 
by  the  freezing  rain,  and  overcome  by  the  stupor  which  affects  per- 
sons in  such  cases,  they  dropped  in  the  snow,  and  after  the  storm  was 
over,  were  found  frozen  to  death.  Their  bodies  were  buried  in  what 
is  now  the  orchard  of  this  writer. 

In  those  early  times  horse  racing  was  one  of  the  chief  forms  of 
recreation  and  dissipation.  Between  Scott's  house  and  the  river  a 
track  was  laid  ovit  and  his  place  became  the  rendezvous  of  sporting 
men  from  all  parts  of  the  country,  in  order  to  test  the  speed  of  their 
horses,  gaining  and  losing  money. 

Horse  thieves  abounded  in  those  days  and  many  times  the  best 
animals  of  the  honest  farmers  came  up  missing.  The  matter  finally 
became  so  grievous  that  it  was  found  necessary  to  adopt  heroic  meas- 
ures in  order  to  put  a  stop  to  the  serious  losses  incurred  in  this  way. 
The  farmers  quietly  banded  together,  and  at  night  visited  those 
known  to  be  engaged  in  this  nefarious  business,  took  them  out  to  the 
timber  and  treated  them  to  a  liberal  application  of  hickory  switches. 
This  method  of  procedure  effectually  cured  the  evil,  the  parties 
receiving  treatment  speedily  betaking  themselves  from  the  country, 
one  dose  being  found  quite  enough. 

One  one  occasion  it  was  strongly  suspected  that  Scott  knew  more 
about  such  things  than  he  was  willing  to  tell,  and  it  was  proposed  to 


HISTORY  OF  DECATUli  COUATY  47 

use  radical  measures  to  make  him  willing.  One  night  he  was  rather 
forcibly  invited  to  an  interview  under  an  oak  in  the  road  leading  to 
Pleasanton.  A  noose  on  the  end  of  a  rope  was  placed  about  his  neck, 
the  other  end  was  thrown  over  a  limb,  and  he  was  shot  rapidly  sky- 
ward. After  dangling  in  the  air  for  some  time  he  was  lowered  to 
the  ground  and  given  an  opportmiity  to  share  the  desired  information 
with  his  friends,  but  he  was  still  unwilling;  and  a  second  application 
also  failing  to  elicit  any  knowledge  from  him,  he  was  set  free,  liis 
captors  thinking  that  after  all  he  might  be  wrongly  suspected.  The 
tree  on  which  the  operation  took  place  was  afterwards  known  as  the 
Al  Scott  tree  and  remained  a  prominent  landmark  in  the  highway 
until  it  was  cut  down  a  few  years  ago  for  firewood,  much  to  the  regret 
of  the  old  settlers. 

At  one  time  there  was  quite  an  excitement  over  the  alleged  dis- 
covery of  gold  on  the  Scott  place  in  the  bed  of  Sand  Creek.  There 
was  a  considerable  amount  of  gold  found,  but  there  is  reason  to 
believe  that  the  particidar  spot  where  the  supposed  discovery  w^as 
made  had  been  salted  for  commercial  purposes,  that  the  value  of  the 
land  being  raised  Scott  would  be  able  to  sell  his  farm  at  high  price. 
However,  the  plan  did  not  work,  for  the  gold  was  sought  with  such 
avidity  tliat  the  supply  gave  out  before  any  trade  for  the  farm  was 
consummated,  and  the  excitement  soon  died  out.  The  salting  of  the 
creek  bed  was  easily  accomplished  b}^  collusion  with  one  or  more  of 
the  many  gold  seekers  who  w^ere  constantly  passing  to  and  fro  on 
the  California  trail  during  the  days  of  the  gold  fever  in  1849  and  the 
'.50s.  The  Scott  place  Avas  a  noted  resort  for  such  parties.  The 
farm  remained  in  his  possession  until  1876,  when  it  was  sold  to 
Stephen  Beach. 

But  Scott  was  not  all  bad.  He  had  his  good  points.  Like  most 
of  us,  he  was  a  mixtiu'e  of  the  worst  and  the  better  elements  in  the 
human  aggregation.  He  was  generous  and  hospitable.  Everybody 
was  welcome  to  his  board  and  no  one  was  refused  a  bed  when  occa- 
sion required.  The  needy  were  never  turned  aw^ay  empty  handed, 
and  those  in  want  of  accommodation  cheerfully  received  sucli  help 
as  he  could  give.  But  like  many  another  free-hearted  soul  who  failed 
in  recognition  of  the  higher  aspects  of  life,  he  lived  long  enough  to 
become  a  pensioner  on  the  bounty  of  his  friends.  He  was  misuited 
to  the  conditions  which  followed  tlie  war;  his  property  gradually  frit- 
tered away,  until  he  found  himself  without  a  home,  but  not  altogetlier 
without  friends. 


CHAPTER  V 
ABOUT  NEW  BUDA  AND  THE  HUNGARIANS 

By  G.  P.  Arnold 

The  Hungarian  Revolution  of  1848  was  one  of  many  ferments  of 
the  kind  that  affected  all  of  Europe  at  that  time.  Before  this  there 
were  ties  binding  Austria  and  Hungary  into  one  political  family,  and 
the  revolution  was  Hungary's  hunger  for  freedom.  The  two  figures 
which  stand  out  in  the  limelight  of  that  time  were  Louis  Kossuth,  the 
provisional  president  of  the  Hungarian  Republic,  and  Gorgy,  the 
man  of  genius  in  the  field  of  war.  Kossuth  was  the  orator,  in  some 
respects,  without  rival  in  all  history.  In  a  Turkish  prison,  with  but 
meager  material,  he  familiarized  himself  in  the  use  of  our  English 
speech,  to  that  extent  that  he  held  English  and  American  audiences 
spellbound.  So  great  a  judge — no  greater  judge  then  lived — as 
Ralph  Waldo  Emerson  declared  that  a  part  of  his  Birmingham 
speech  reached  the  highest  rung  of  oratory.  His  American  tour  was 
an  ovation,  and,  brilliant  as  it  was,  failed  to  satisfy  the  fiery  Magyar; 
he  wanted  armed  intervention  in  the  affairs  of  Hungary  and  felt 
piqued  that  there  was  no  prospect  of  armies  forthcoming.  He  was 
irreconcilable  to  the  last;  found  an  asylum  at  Milan  and  never 
returned  to  the  home  of  his  youth. 

The  struggle  over,  the  flight  began.  England  and  especially 
America  were  the  objective  points.  Turkey  was  a  hospitable  station 
on  that  underground  railway.  An  American  war  vessel  conveyed 
Kossuth  to  England.  His  American  tour  began  with  a  reception  in 
New  York,  a  journey  to  Washington  where  the  orator  and  his  suite 
were  entertained,  wined  and  dined  at  Brown's  Hotel  at  Government 
expense.  He  addressed  the  Congress  and  was  given  a  reception  at 
which  Secretary  of  State  Webster  presided.  Besides  this  Congress 
passed  a  law  allowing  each  Hungarian  to  select  a  quarter  section 
from  any  unappropriated  land  anywhere,  and  the  same  should  be  held 
from  sale  for  ten  years  without  tax  or  cost. 

48 


HISTORY  OF  DECATUR  COUNTY  49 

At  the  head  of  the  Decatur  County  colony  was  Ujhazy,  former 
civil  governor  of  Komorn,  a  fortified  island  in  the  Danube  which  sur- 
rendered to  Austria.  The  governor  and  party  came  here  about  the 
year  18 j1,  and  at  that  time  the  Grand  River  Valley  was  unsurveyed. 
The  governor  gave  the  name  to  the  township  and  settlement;  was,  in 
fact,  the  first  postmaster  in  the  county,  at  Nine  Eragles,  on  the  farm 
of  Allen  Scott. 

Now  Scott  was  of  another  era,  a  contemporary  of  Thompson,  of 
Edinburg,  jNlo.,  and  Peter  Cain  of  Cainesville.  It  is  presumed 
that  the  Cain-Scott  wave  of  immigration  came  from  the  South,  for 
as  late  as  1851  and  later,  the  mail  accommodations  were  by  way  of 
Princeton,  INIo.,  and  Decatur  County  had  no  east  lines  of  communi- 
cation at  that  time. 

The  governor  had  a  house  built,  a  rambling  structure,  that  was 
the  most  expensive  dwelling  of  the  day.  It  is  related  of  the  governor 
that  he  was  accustomed  to  ride  over  the  prairies  and  select  the  land- 
marks, and  fix  the  confines  of  the  Hungarian  reservation,  claiming  a 
vast  tract  including  the  present  Davis  City  and  southwest  to  the 
present  site  of  the  original  manorial  castle,  and  saw  in  his  mind's  eye 
a  vast  colony  of  his  countrymen  living  in  i^eace  under  the  folds  of 
the  stars  and  stripes.  This  roseate  view  of  the  future  must  have  been 
shared  with  Col.  George  Pomutz,  for  later  the  genial  colonel  actually 
j)romoted  a  scheme  for  a  greater  New  Buda,  but  that  is  another  story 
and  will  be  deferred  for  the  present.  Governor  Ujhazy  and  family 
and  George  Pomutz  in  the  year  18.53  moved  to  San  Antonio,  Tex., 
and  the  governor  remained  there  until  his  death,  at  a  ripe  old  age, 
never  returning  to  his  native  land. 

Pomutz  came  back  and  thereafter  was  the  central  figure  of  New 
Buda,  and  in  connection  with  a  civil  engineer  by  the  name  of  Drahos, 
put  on  paper  his  ideas  of  a  greater  New  Buda.  The  fine  map  showed 
a  city  having  a  University  Square,  Boehm  St.  Kossuth  Platz,  with 
the  accessories  of  a  full  fledged  city.  The  colonel  sold  lots  and  invited 
immigration  upon  the  merits  of  his  paper  town,  and  not  without  suc- 
cess, for  a  few  German  families  fell  in  with  his  offer.  The  colonel 
covered  St.  Louis  and  Hoboken  in  his  operations,  and  had  he  lived 
in  these  days  would  have  merited  the  name  of  frenzied  financier. 
Detractors  he  had,  but  his  presence  and  speech  appealed  to  the  popular 
taste.  The  white  mare  he  rode  he  called  Highland  jNIary.  He  used 
the  English  speech  almost  as  well  as  Kossuth  and  freely  quoted  from 
Byron,  the  popular  poet  of  the  time.  His  linguistic  accomplishments 
were  considerable.     He  spoke  besides  Hungarian  the  language  of 

Vol.  1—4 


50  HISTORY  OF  DECATUR  COUNTY 

English,  German,  French  and  was  familiar  with  one  or  two  Slavonic 
tongues.  In  person  he  was  tall,  blonde,  with  a  full  beard  and  mus- 
tachios,  wavy  hair,  that  suggested  a  hairdresser  when  none  was  at 
hand,  a  military  bearing  and  a  suave  and  ingratiating  presence.  This 
was  the  Col.  George  Pomutz  of  the  later  '50s. 

Now  comes  his  Civil  war  record — and  it  was  a  good  one.  He 
wrote  the  history  of  an  army  brigade  and  when  the  battle  ended  got 
the  appointment  of  consul  to  the  Czar's  dominion.  He  became  consul- 
general  and  died  about  1894  at  the  post  of  duty  in  Petrograd.  He 
died  in  the  Greek  faith,  and  according  to  an  American  newspaper 
account,  sometimes  aj^peared  at  court  in  the  full  regimentals  of  an 
American  brigadier-general. 

The  Uj  hazy- Pomutz  dream  of  a  Greater  New  Buda  was  not  so 
flimsy  and  airy  as  one  might  think.  In  other  hands  and  other  manage- 
ment a  23rosperous  community  might  now  occupy  the  colony's  choice 
of  a  site. 

After  the  colonel's  death  the  consulate  made  inquiries  at  Washing- 
ton as  to  the  deceased  consul's  relatives,  for  it  was  thought  that  he  left 
an  inmiense  estate  judging  from  the  highly  colored  maps  of  the  metro- 
politan New  Buda  with  accompanying  title  deeds  conveying  great 
values  in  the  nascent  city.  At  this  time  University  Place  and  Kossuth 
Pltaz  were  waving  in  corn. 

One  has  said  that  Ujhazy  went  from  Texas  to  Hungary  and  col- 
laborated with  the  great  Deak  in  the  work  for  Hungary's  betterment, 
a  work  that  is  still  unfinished,  but  mightily  advanced  by  Deak's 
statesmanship.  Cavour  and  Deak  were  contemporaries,  but  Cavour's 
dream  of  a  united  Italy  under  constitutional  rule  was  realized  during 
his  life,  while  the  struggle  in  Hungary  is  still  on.  Deak  died  without 
his  heart's  wish.  The  usual  theory  of  Ujhazy's  life  after  leaving  New 
Buda  is  that  in  Texas  he  found  a  home  and  died  by  his  own  hand  at 
an  advanced  age.  It  is  very  probable  that  he  was  in  communication 
with  Deak  and  the  Liberals,  but  that,  like  Kossuth,  never  returned  to 
the  home  of  his  youth,  although  all  obstacles  were  removed  in  1866. 

The  New  Buda  colony  is  not  to  be  confounded  with  the  Slavonic 
Hungarians  ^vhich  now  flock  to  our  shores  to  work  in  the  coal  and 
iron  industries.  The  elder  colony  was  composed  as  a  rule  of  men 
who  were  educated  in  the  schools,  had  held  office,  military  and  civic, 
under  the  provisional  government  and  now  were  in  a  new  country 
and  under  strange  conditions.  The  colony  was  a  failure,  measured  by 
our  standards.    Thirty  or  forty,  at  high  water  mark,  would  complete 


HISTORY  OF  DECATUR  COUNTY  51 

the  census  at  the  breaking  out  of  our  Civil  war;  soon  thereafter  few 
remained. 

Another,  Francis  Varga,  was  long  connected  with  the  affairs  of 
the  county  and  is  remembered  by  hundreds  of  citizens;  he  was  inti- 
mately connected  with  the  Kossuth  government  and  after  its  fall  his 
flight  was  imperative.  Disguise  and  the  greatest  secrecy  were  neces- 
sary to  elude  the  minions  of  Austria ;  at  last  the  free  City  of  Hamburg 
was  reached  and  thence  to  England  and  America,  following  the  foot- 
stejis  of  Ujhazy  to  Decatur  County.    Here  he  lived  and  died. 

The  colonists  were  not  empire  builders  in  any  sense,  few  of  them 
ever  having  had  any  experience  as  farmers,  and  their  crude  attempt 
at  tilling  the  soil  is  well  known.  The  last  log  of  Ujhazy's  manorial 
castle  is  gone  as  certainly  as  his  dream  of  a  prosperous  and  greater 
New  Buda  has  vanished  into  thin  air.  The  founders  are  dead  and  all 
that  remains  of  the  unique  colony  is  the  name. 

THE  STORY  OF  FRANCIS  VARGA 

One  of  the  most  prominent  of  the  colony  of  Hungarians  who 
came  to  Decatur  County  in  the  early  days  was  Francis  Varga,  whose 
death  occurred  April  5,  1902,  at  the  age  of  eighty-five  years. 

Francis  Varga  was  born  at  Debreczen,  Hungary,  on  August  8, 
1817,  where  his  father  acted  as  professor  in  the  Protestant  college. 
He  went  to  school  in  his  native  city  and  in  1840  was  graduated  as 
attorney-at-law.  Shortly  thereafter  he  went  to  Nagy-Becskerek, 
where  he  was  appointed  as  attorney  for  the  Kiss  family's  estates; 
therefore  for  Erno  Kiss,  who  was  executed  October  6,  1849.  In 
1840,  during  the  bloody  riots  of  the  Serbs  and  Wallachians,  there 
had  been  a  vigilance  committee  of  five  members  appointed,  of  which 
he  was  chairman.  This  committee  during  six  months  of  its  services 
had  convicted  twenty-three  persons.  In  1840,  in  the  month  of  Jan- 
uary, he  was  elected  chairman  of  the  so-called  Danger  Committee  at 
Szeged,  This  committee  soon  finished  its  work  and  Francis  Varga 
was  elected  vice  lord  lieutenant  and  transferred  his  place  of  business 
to  Nagy-Becskerek. 

When  the  southern  army  was  conquered,  Francis  Varga,  with  the 
rest  of  the  Torental  officers,  crossed  the  river  at  JNIaross,  and  on  the 
13th  of  August  arrived  at  Vilagos,  where  the  Hungarian  army  sur- 
rendered. About  two  thousand  civilians,  under  Russian  escort,  were 
sent  toward  Kis-Jeno.  Among  these  was  Francis  Varga  in  a  vehicle 
with  five  of  his  comrades.     Near  Gyula  the  coachman  succeeded  in 


52  HISTORY  OF  DECATUR  COUNTY 

getting  away  with  all  that  were  under  his  charge.  Varga  then  went 
to  Gvula,  where  his  relative  resided.  Here,  however,  he  was  not  in 
safety,  and  acting  upon  his  uncle's  advice  he  went  to  a  village;  later 
to  his  mother,  who  resided  at  Hadju  Boszormemy,  whence  he  was 
coniijelled  to  flee.  After  roaming  for  four  months  there  was  nothing 
left  for  him  to  do  but  to  leave  the  country,  more  so  as  he  was  sought 
everywhere.  Through  his  cousin  he  succeeded  in  obtaining  a  j)ass- 
port. 

With  chemicals  he  erased  his  name  and  the  description  of  the 
person  to  whom  it  was  issued  and  substituted  it  with  the  name  of 
Frank  Wagner  and  setting  forth  therein  the  description  of  his  own 
person.  After  a  hard  struggle  he  arrived  at  Krakkaw  (Cracow). 
AVith  the  assistance  of  a  worthy  Polish  physician  he  succeeded  in 
obtaining  a  passport,  and  with  that  he  went  to  Hamburg,  where  he 
met  several  of  his  fleeing  countrymen. 

The  officials  soon  grew  tired  of  the  hospitality  shown  to  the 
patriots,  so  they  went  over  to  Altona  (Schleswig-Holstein),  where 
they  remained  until  January  1,  1851.  Then,  with  Ladislaus  jNIada- 
rasz,  Joseph  JNIajtenyi  and  several  others,  he  went  to  London.  The 
following  period  is  described  in  the  words  of  Francis  Varga  himself: 

"Here  we  spent  six  months  without  molestation,  free  as  birds 
of  the  universe,  longing  and  waiting  that  something  might  happen 
whereby  we  might  return  to  the  East.  We  soon  realized  that  there 
w^as  not  a  ray  of  hope,  however,  and  we  decided  to  go  to  America. 
Madarasz  and  Majthenyi  spent  five  months  at  Ostend.  INIadarasz's 
son  also  came  there  (William),  as  did  JNIrs.  Majthenyi  with  her  only 
son,  Theodore.  Before  we  embarked  about  forty  Hungarians 
arrived  at  Southampton  from  Turkey;  they  were  all  Bem's  army; 
they  were  under  the  command  of  Captain  Bissinger,  whose  real  name 
was  Erno  Drahos.  He  was  at  one  time  attorney-at-law  in  County 
Torantal  and  chairman  of  the  vigilance  committee  at  Szeged.  The 
unfortunate  fellow^  did  not  have  money  enough  to  come  in,  so  I  took 
him  to  my  lodging.  We  spent  a  few  days  in  London  and  afterwards 
we  bade  farewell  to  Europe.  At  Liverpool  we  embarked  on  the 
steamer  INIanchester,  jNIajthenyi  and  INIadarasz  with  their  sons,  also 
Drahos  and  myself.  The  captain,  an  English  fellow,  I  should  term 
a  'stuck-up'  fellow,  therefore  I  could  not  say  that  our  trip  was 
enjoyable.  It  took  us  twenty-two  days  to  cross  the  ocean.  During 
that  time  we  had  severe  storms.  Finally,  on  the  13th  of  August,  we 
reached  port.  While  we  greeted  our  new  country  with  hail,  with  a 
powerful  sigh  did  we  think  of  the  betterment  of  our  own  beloved 


HISTORY  OF  DECATUR  COUNTY  53 

country.     We  did  not  fare  any  better  than  the  average  of  the  immi- 
grants." 

For  fifty-two  years  Francis  Varga  was  away  from  his  fatherland, 
seeing  it  only  once  in  that  time.  He  was  married  in  1858  to  ^Nlary 
Sanders,  of  German  descent,  and  to  them  Avere  born  seven  children, 
one  son  and  six  daughters.  The  son,  Stephen,  is  now  a  prominent 
business  man  of  Leon,  Iowa. 


CHAPTER  VI 
DECATUR'S  WAR  STORY 

The  County  of  Decatur  is  justly  proud  of  the  part  played  by  her 
sons  in  the  great  drama  of  the  '60s.  Enshrined  in  the  hearts  of  the 
people,  these  men  who  resolutely  faced  the  terrors  of  the  South,  risk- 
ing life,  home,  health  and  everything  that  was  dear  to  them,  in  order 
that  the  Union  might  be  preserved,  truly  deserve  more  than  a  few 
scattering  words  to  their  memorv.  It  is  true  that  monuments  may 
be  erected,  the  deeds  of  the  brave  sung  in  immortal  verse  and  ennobled 
in  the  national  literature,  but  the  true  memorial  the  sanctity  of  the 
heart  will  enfold  and  by  world  of  mouth  from  generation  to  genera- 
tion will  the  courage,  fortutude  and  sublime  self-sacrifice  of  the 
"boys  in  blue"  be  transmitted  in  enduring  form.  History  has  a  pur- 
pose; it  is  to  preserve,  fairly  and  justlj",  the  records  of  the  past,  so 
that  a  guide  may  be  rendered  to  the  thoughts  and  conceptions  of 
future  men  and  women  who  live  when  these  white  pages  have  grown 
sear  and  yellow.  Simple  statement  of  fact  is  far  better  than  ful- 
some encomium  in  the  narration  of  the  big  story  of  fifty  years  ago; 
it  is  by  these  direct,  forceful  means  that  history  will  serve  its  true 
purpose. 

Decatur  County  at  the  beginning,  when  the  first  dark  mutterings 
of  war  were  heard,  held  a  very  peculiar  position.  There  were  about 
eight  thousand  jDeople  in  the  county  at  that  time.  Also  there  were  no 
railroads  and  no  telegraph  and  news  filtered  through  slowly.  Patriot- 
ism in  such  a  position  might  be  said  to  have  existed  in  spots;  large 
spots  it  is  true.  Decatur  was  located  on  the  southern  border  of  the 
state  and  this  fact,  did  much  to  divide  the  sympathies  of  the  people. 
It  would  not  be  fair  to  the  present  readers  to  say  that  this  county 
resolved  itself  into  a  unit  for  the  support  of  the  North,  for  it  did  not. 
There  was  a  very  strong  southern  spirit  here  and  very  antagonistic 
to  the  northern  element.  The  latter  was,  however,  in  the  majority. 
There  existed  during  tlie  opening  years  of  war  an  organization  known 
as  the  Knights  of  the  Golden  Circle  and  they  were  strongly  repre- 

54 


HISTORY  OF  DECATUR  COUNTY  55 

sented  in  Decatur  Count3\  ^^^n  contemplating  enlistment  in  the 
Union  Army  were  made  the  recipients  of  many  letters  and  verhal 
persuasions  from  these  Knights,  endeavoring  to  prevent  them  from 
fighting  for  the  North.  JNIore  of  this  will  be  related  later  in  this 
chai)ter. 

The  general  reader  of  today  does  not  appreciate  the  scope  of  the 
word  "slavery,"  what  it  meant  in  those  days.  The  true  meaning  hrs 
been  either  mercifully  expurgated  from  the  pages  of  modern  litera- 
ture ;  or,  it  may  be  said,  it  is  unfortunate  that  more  has  not  been  writ- 
ten of  it,  in  order  that  the  facts  may  be  common  knowledge.  The 
term  "white  slavery"  is  well  known  today  and  the  meaning:  of  the 
phrase  brings  to  us  a  feeling  of  loathing  and  indignation.  The  slavery 
of  the  South  Mas  little  better,  was  even  more  universal  and  more 
countenanced.  In  the  ulterior  character  different  in  motive,  it  yet 
embodied  deeds  and  principles  exactly  similar  to  the  modern  slavery. 
This  inter-relation  of  the  races  meant  commercial  advancement  on  the 
auction  block,  thus  the  justification.  Rome  and  the  Latin  countries 
also  had  their  slavery  and  the  literature  of  these  i^eoples  does  not 
disguise  the  dreaded  institution. 

The  outbreak  of  the  Civil  war  has  been  attributed  to  many  causes. 
These  are  all  based  upon  the  one  thing — slavery.  The  political  dif- 
ferences and  the  intrigues  and  enmities  rested  on  this  issue  alone.  In 
reading  this  deduction,  many  will  disagree,  for  even  at  this  late  day 
there  seems  to  be  incontrovertible  argument  on  each  side  of  the  ques- 
tion. Slavery  was  distinctly  out  of  tune  with  the  times ;  the  attitude 
of  the  southerners  was  falsely  aristocratic ;  all  of  which  tended  to  their 
inevitable  downfall.  The  stirring  times  which  followed  the  Mexican 
Territory  acquisition,  the  fugitive  slave  law,  the  INIissouri  Compro- 
mise, the  struggle  in  Congress,  the  Lincoln-Douglas  debates  and  Lin- 
coln's election  to  the  Presidency,  cannot  be  detailed  in  a  work  of  this 
scope,  but  a  discussion  is  worthy  as  a  preface  to  the  story  of  the  part 
Decatur  County  played  later. 

A  greater  appreciation  of  Abraham  Lincoln's  worth  is  gained 
when  we  comprehend  the  arena  into  which  he  stepped  in  1800.  The 
utter  confusion,  the  threatening  war  clouds,  and  the  words  of  the 
people,  "Let's  see  what  you  can  do,"  were  stern  tests  for  the  "back- 
woods lawyer."  The  opportunity  was  given  him  and  his  accom- 
plishments are  history. 

War  might  have  been  avoided  had  the  North  recognized  the  slaves 
on  the  same  basis  as  cattle  or  any  other  common  property,  or,  on 
the  other  hand,  had  the  South  reverted  to  the  sentiment  of  the  North 


56  HISTORY  OF  DECATUR  COUNTY 

and  pronounced  slavery  an  evil.  It  is  evident,  however,  when  the 
tenor  of  the  day  is  considered,  that  these  two  theories  were  impos- 
sible. The  mass  of  the  people  on  both  sides  were  eager  for  the  actual 
conflict;  mob  spirit  prevailed  in  many  places;  but  the  greater  minds, 
the  leaders,  entered  the  struggle  with  heavy  hearts.  Lincoln,  Grant, 
Lee,  Jackson  and  Longstreet,  and  other  foremost  figin-es  of  the  war, 
were  sad  with  the  weight  of  unjust  and  useless  carnage.  The  four 
years'  strife,  the  early  success  of  the  Confederate  hosts,  the  high  tide 
at  Gettysburg,  the  slow,  merciless  pounding  of  Grant's  machine  on 
the  depleted  army  of  Northern  Virginia  and  the  final  chapter  at  Ap- 
pomattox cannot  be  more  than  mentioned,  but  this  is  appropriate 
and  adequate. 

FIRST  PREPARATIONS 

Soon  after  President  Lincoln  issued  his  call  for  volunteers  in  1861 
a  company  was  raised  in  Leon  and  vicinity.  Their  services  were  ten- 
dered to  the  state,  but  owing  to  the  plentitude  of  other  companies 
their  services  were  not  accepted  immediately.  They  were  told  to 
hold  themselves  in  readiness,  which  they  did,  drilling  and  training 
themselves  regularly. 

In  July,  1861,  the  Decatur  company  was  mustered  in  as  Com- 
pany D,  Fourth  Iowa  Volunteer  Infantry.  George  Burton  was  cap- 
tain; Joseph  S.  Warner,  first  lieutenant;  John  B.  Springer,  second 
lieutenant.  Warner  resigned  his  commission  in  Februarj^  1862. 
Burton  was  afterward  promoted  to  the  rank  of  lieutenant-colonel. 
Howard  Brown,  once  promoted  to  first  lieutenant,  later  became  a  cap- 
tain. Frederick  Teale  was  captain  during  the  latter  years  of  the 
war.  Samuel  Bowman  was  first  lieutenant  after  the  promotion  of 
Howard  Brown.  James  W.  Finley  became  second  lieutenant  and 
later  first  lieutenant.  James  D.  Gamble  Avas  second  lieutenant  for  a 
time. 

Soon  after  this  first  company  was  raised  in  the  county  a  cavalry 
company  was  organized  in  Garden  Grove  and  vicinity.  In  August, 
1861,  they  became  Company  L  of  the  Third  Cavalry.  Gilman  C. 
JNIudgett  was  captain  of  the  company  until  INIarch,  1864,  and  was 
succeeded  by  John  D.  Brown,  who  had  been  promoted  from  fourth 
sergeant  to  second  lieutenant.  Ezra  Fitch  was  fij-st  lieutenant,  but 
resigned  his  commission  on  May  1,  1862,  and  was  succeeded  by  Dud- 
ley E.  Jones  of  Keokuk.  James  C.  Williams  was  first  lieutenant  dur- 
ing the  last  years  of  their  service.  Edward  ^ludgett  was  the  last 
second  lieutenant  of  the  company.     About  twenty-five  men   from 


HISTORY  OF  DECATUR  COUNTY  57 

Decatur  County  also  entered  Company  M  of  the  same  regiment 
under  Captain  John  W.  Warner,  who  resigned  February  6,  18G2. 

In  AugList,  1862,  another  large  force  of  volunteers  from  this 
county  became  a  part  of  Company  K,  Thirty-ninth  Infantry.  ]Milli- 
gan  J.  Cain  of  this  county  was  made  first  lieutenant  and  Carrington 
S.  Porter  second  lieutenant. 

In  the  fall  of  1802  two  companies  of  men  were  raised  for  the 
Thirty-fourth  Infantry,  becoming  Companies  A  and  I.  The  former 
went  to  the  front  with  Eli  H.  Alexander  as  captain;  Jonathan  R. 
Waters,  first  lieutenant:  Rowland  T.  Sloan,  second  lieutenant. 
Company  I  had  as  captain,  John  Ward;  first  lieutenant,  Almon  S. 
Gardner. 

In  August,  1863,  Capt.  John  L.  Young  raised  a  body  of  men  for 
the  cavalry.  They  were  taken  as  a  part  of  Company  C,  Ninth  Cav- 
alry, with  Young  as  captain.  The  latter  was  afterward  promoted  to 
the  rank  of  major. 

During  the  summer  months  of  1864  a  company  of  men  was  raised 
in  Decatur  County  for  the  100  days'  service.  It  became  Company 
C,  Forty-eighth  Infantry,  and  was  officered  as  follows:  captain, 
James  H.  Summers;  first  lieutenant,  James  Burrows;  second  lieu- 
tenant, William  H.  Barnes. 

There  were  maintained  during  a  part  of  the  war  a  Southern 
Border  quota  of  companies,  one  from  each  county.  The  Decatur 
company  was  raised  in  September,  1862,  and  was  known  as  Company 
A,  Third  Battalion.  James  H.  Summers  was  captain;  C.  G.  Bridges, 
first  lieutenant ;  and  R.  G.  Mansfield,  second  lieutenant. 

A  few  men  from  Decatiu*  County  also  joined  Companies  G  and 
H,  Sixth  JNIissouri  State  JNlilitia.  A  large  number  entered  Company 
K  and  a  few  Company  I  of  the  Seventh  Cavalry,  ^Missouri  State 
INIilitia. 

During  the  War  of  the  Rebellion  quite  a  number  of  men  from 
Decatur  County  enlisted  in  INIissouri  and  Kansas  regiments  and  had 
the  county  received  its  proper  credit  of  men  no  draft  would  have 
been  necessary.  As  it  was,  only  a  few  men  were  drafted  from  three 
or  four  townships.  Counting  enlistments  in  outside  organizations  no 
doubt  Decatur  County  supplied  the  Union  army  between  900  and 
1,000  men.  Six  full  companies  were  furnished  as  follows:  Com- 
pany D,  Fourth  Infantry;  Company  L,  Third  Cavalry;  Company 
A,  Seventeenth  Infantry;  Companies  A  and  I,  Thirty-fourth  Infan- 
try; and  Company  C,  Forty-eight  Infantry.  The  following  organiza- 
tions were  composed  largely  of  men  enlisted  from  this  county:  Com- 


58  HISTORY  OF  DECATUR  COUNTY 

pany  M,  Third  Cavalry;  Comi3any  K,  Thirty-ninth  Infantry;  Com- 
pany C,  Ninth  Cavahy;  and  Company  K,  Seventh  Cavahy,  Mis- 
souri State  JNIilitia.  Besides  the  foregoing  quite  a  nmnber  of  soldiers 
joined  the  Fifth  Kansas  Cavalry,  the  Sixth  Missouri  State  Militia, 
and  other  organizations.  The  highest  rank  attained  by  a  Decatur 
County  soldier  was  won  by  George  Pomutz  who  became  a  brevet 
brigadier  general.  The  next  was  George  Burton,  who  became  lieu- 
tenant-colonel of  the  Fourth  Infantry.  Both  of  these  men  were  born 
under  a  foreign  flag. 

When  the  war  broke  Pomutz  joined  the  Fifteenth  Iowa  Infantry 
and  was  made  adjutant  of  the  regiment.  Shiloh  was  the  first  battle 
in  which  the  regiment  participated  and  in  this  engagement  Pomutz 
was  wounded  in  the  thigh.  He  became  conspicuous  for  his  gallantry 
in  action  and  Mas  promoted  to  the  rank  of  major  of  his  regiment. 
At  the  Battle  of  Corinth  he  rendered  efficient  aid  as  assistant  adjutant 
general  to  Gen.  T.  J.  INIcKenan  and  also  as  engineer  in  connecting 
and  strengthening  forts  and  in  constructing  short  interior  lines.  The 
regiment  participated  in  the  Vicksburg  campaign  and  belonged  to 
Crocker's  Iowa  Brigade.  On  INIay  20,  1864,  Pomutz  was  selected  and 
served  for  some  time  as  corps  provost  marshal  on  the  staff  of  Gen. 
Frank  P.  Blair,  commander  of  the  Seventeenth  Army  Corps. 
Pomutz  joined  his  regiment  at  the  beginning  of  the  Atlanta  cam- 
paign and  bore  a  gallant  part  in  the  long  series  of  battles  which  fol- 
lowed. Later  Pomutz  was  made  lieutenant-colonel  and  on  JNIarch  13, 
1865,  was  made  brevet  general  of  volunteers.  He  had  frequently 
commanded  his  regiment  and  sometimes  his  brigade.  Further  his- 
tory of  this  estimable  gentleman's  life  may  be  read  in  another  por- 
tion of  this  volume. 

George  Burton,  who  became  lieutenant-colonel  of  the  Fifteenth 
Iowa,  was  born  in  the  City  of  Dublin.  His  father  was  an  English- 
man and  a  wealthy  manufacturer  of  Dubhn.  The  son  served  as  a 
sailor  for  several  years  and  then  came  to  the  United  States  and  finally 
settled  at  Bloomington,  Illinois.  He  enlisted  in  the  regular  army 
and  participated  in  the  Mexican  war.  At  the  close  of  hostilities  he 
came  to  Decatur  County  and  entered  what  was  later  known  as  the 
Soper  Farm  in  Eden  Township.  At  the  beginning  of  the  Civil  war 
Burton  entered  the  service  as  captain  of  Company  D,  Fourth  Iowa 
Infantry.  About  a  month  after  the  Battle  of  Pea  Ridge,  Burton  was 
made  lieutenant-colonel  and  at  the  Battle  of  Arkansas  Post  on  Janu- 
ary 10  and  11,  1863,  he  led  his  regiment.  At  the  close  of  the  war 
Burton  located  in  Leon,  where  he  resided  for  a  number  of  years,  and 


HISTORY  OF  DECATUR  COUNTY  59 

then  took  up  his  residence  in  Kansas.    He  died  several  years  ago  in 
Wellington,  Kan. 

Decatur  County  furnished  three  soldiers  who  rose  to  the  rank  of 
major — J.  L.  Young  of  the  Ninth  Cavalry,  R,  D.  Kellogg  of  the 
Thirty-fourth  Infantiy,  and  G.  C.  INIudgett  of  the  Third  Iowa  Cav- 
alry. Prior  to  his  service  in  the  Ninth  Cavalry  jNIajor  Young  served 
as  captain  of  Company  A,  Seventeenth  Infantry.  At  the  Battle  of 
luka  Captain  Young  commanded  the  regiment  hy  order  of  Gen- 
eral Rosecrans,  and  no  officer  ever  performed  his  duty  more  gal- 
lantly. The  Seventeenth  incurred  the  unjust  censure  of  General 
Rosecrans  at  luka,  hut  the  regiment  won  such  high  distinction  at 
the  Battle  of  Corinth  as  to  elicit  the  following  congratulatory  order 
from  the  commanding  general:  "The  Seventeenth  Iowa  Infantry, 
hy  its  gallantry  in  the  Battle  of  Corinth,  on  the  4th  of  Octoher, 
charging  the  enemy  and  capturing  the  flag  of  the  Fortieth  jNIissis- 
sippi,  has  amply  atoned  for  its  misfortune  at  luka  and  stands  among 
the  honored  regiments  of  the  command." 

In  the  list  of  captains  supplied  hy  the  county  there  were  included 
the  following:  John  B.  Springer  and  Fred  Teale,  of  the  Fourth 
Infantry;  John  D.  Brown,  John  C.  Gammill  and  John  W.  Warner, 
of  the  Third  Cavalry;  James  Stonaker,  John  F.  Landis  and  Charles 
P.  Johnson,  of  the  Seventeenth  Infantry;  Eli  H.  Alexander  and 
Thomas  Ward,  of  the  Thirty-fourth  Infantry;  and  James  H.  Sum- 
mers,  of  Company  C,  Forty-eighth  Infantry. 

The  Third  Iowa  Cavalry  consisted  of  12  companies,  1,000  strong, 
recruited  from  the  counties  of  Davis,  Van  Buren,  Lee,  Appanoose, 
Jefferson,  Decatur,  Wayne,  Clarion,  JNIunroe  and  Lucas.  It  was 
raised  and  equipped  by  Col.  Cyrus  Bussey  at  the  personal  request 
of  General  Fremont.  The  first  regular  battle  in  wliich  the  regi- 
ment participated  was  Pea  Ridge  on  the  6th,  7th  and  8th  of  ^Nlarch, 
1862.  Out  of  the  235  men  engaged  in  the  battle  the  loss  was  2.5 
killed,  17  wounded  and  9  missing. 

At  the  Battle  of  Hartsville,  ]Mo.,  John  D.  Brown,  then  a  lieuten- 
ant in  Company  L,  was  taken  prisoner  early  on  the  morning  of 
January  11,  1863,  but  was  shortly  afterwards  paroled.  On  the  10th 
of  June,  1864,  the  regiment  bore  a  conspicuous  and  gallant  part  in 
the  disastrous  fight  at  Guntown,  Miss.  In  Captain  Noble's  report 
of  this  battle  the  following  is  said:  "Captain  Wilson  and  Lieutenant 
Lynch  Avith  Company  C  charged  the  enemy  gallantly  and  drove  the 
enemy's  squadrons  back.  They  were  reinforced  by  Companies  E 
and  F  under  Captains  Spencer  and  Crail.    This  was  on  the  7th.    On 


60  HISTORY  OF  DECATUR  COUNTY 

the  8th  and  9th  we  advanced  towards  Guntown.  On  the  morning  of 
the  7th  we  left  camp  and  went  into  the  battle  at  Brice's  Cross  Roads. 
I  placed  one  battalion  on  the  right  of  the  road  and  one  under  JNIajor 
Jones  also  mounted  on  the  left.  Sent  two  squadrons  under  Capt. 
John  D.  Brown  a  mile  to  the  front  as  a  i)icket.  The  battalion  under 
Jones,  Companies  F,  G,  H  and  I,  were  under  fire  from  a  heavy- 
column  of  the  enemy  and  held  them  in  check  for  almost  an  hour. 
Company  I,  under  Stanton,  was  the  most  exposed  of  my  squadrons. 
The  enemy  was  driven  back  three  times.  We  were  ordered  to  retire 
and  were  relieved  by  infantry,  but  we  formed  in  line  immediately  in 
their  rear.  After  this  the  contest  lasted  but  a  short  time  when  all 
were  retired.  The  cavalry  were  ordered  to  protect  the  retreating 
colunms.  We  were  fired  upon  with  solid  shot  and  shell,  but  no  dis- 
order was  caused.  We  were  then  ordered  to  fall  back  to  Stubbs 
Plantation  where  we  rested  until  2  A.  M.  of  the  next  day  and  then 
moved  towards  Ripley,  holding  the  rear.  After  daylight  two  squad- 
rons were  sent  a  mile  to  the  rear  and  a  line  formed  to  support  them. 
We  were  then  assailed  with  great  fury  and  only  by  the  energy  and 
courage  of  Companies  L,  M  and  A  under  Captain  Brown  and  B 
under  Captain  DeHufF  did  we  hold  the  bridge  leading  to  Ripley." 

General  Noble,  in  his  report  of  the  action  of  July  13th,  speaks 
of  Captain  Brown  as  follows:  "This  officer,  with  his  usual  coolness, 
seeing  the  enemy  about  three  hundred  strong,  between  him  and  the 
column,  formed  his  men  on  the  brow  of  the  hill  and  calling  upon 
every  man  who  could  keep  in  his  saddle  to  follow  him,  led  the  charge; 
our  men,  cheering,  firing  and  thundering  down  the  hill,  surprised  the 
rebs,  who  broke  and  fled  in  amazement."  On  the  afternoon  of  the 
next  day  W.  J.  Sullivan  of  Company  JNI  suffered  the  loss  of  an  arm 
by  a  cannon  shot. 

Referring  to  the  Battle  of  Big  Blue  on  the  Price  Raid,  General 
Winslow  says,  "I  was  struck  in  the  left  leg  with  a  rifle  ball  and  dis- 
able and  turned  the  command  of  the  brigade  over  to  Colonel  Benteen. 
I  know  tliat  Captain  Brown  and  Lieutenant  Watts  were  dangerously 
wounded  while  gallantly  leading  their  men." 

The  regiment  participated  in  the  Wilson  Raid  and  Colonel  Noble 
in  his  report  of  the  affair  at  Ebenezer  Church,  Ala.,  speaks  of  Cap- 
tain Brown  as  follows:  "Captain  Brown  captured  a  whole  company 
with  arms  yet  loaded;  they  were  a  color  company  and  outnumbered 
the  company  that  captured  them." 

Capt.  John  C.  Gammill  enlisted  in  Company  L,  Tliird  Iowa  Cav- 
alry, August  10,  1861,  and  was  made  orderly  sergeant  of  his  com- 


HISTORY  OF  DECATUK  COUNTY  61 

pany.  On  oNIay  2,  1864,  he  was  promoted  to  second  lieutenant  and  on 
July  12th  of  the  same  year  was  made  first  lieutenant  and  served  in 
that  capacity  until  the  close  of  the  war.  On  July  1,  180.5,  he  passed 
an  examination  for  a  commission  in  a  colored  regiment  and  was 
appointed  a  captain  in  the  One  Hundred  and  Thirty-seventh  Colored 
Infantry.  He  served  in  tliat  capacity  until  the  regiment  was  mus- 
tered out  January  9,  1866.  For  three  months  prior  to  this  date  he 
commanded  the  regiment.  Captain  Gammill  served  4^/2  years  and 
participated  in  more  than  fiftj-  battles  and  engagements. 

In  writing  of  the  home-coming  of  the  Third  Iowa  Cavalry,  W.  J. 
Sullivan,  a  member  of  Company  jNI  and  who  lost  an  arm  in  the  service 
of  his  country,  writes : 

In  the  fall  of  1863  the  Third  re-enlisted  at  Benton,  xVrk.  On  or 
about  January  20,  1864,  at  9  o'clock  at  night,  the  regiment  received 
orders  to  be  ready  to  start  for  home  at  4  o'clock  the  next  morning. 
In  my  imagination  I  can  almost  hear  the  boys  yelling  and  singing 
"Home,  Sweet  Home."  You  may  rest  assured  that  one  blast  of  the 
old  bugle  brought  the  boys  out  of  their  tents,  everybody  busy  rolling 
their  blankets  and  making  ready  for  the  trip  homeward. 

We  marched  to  Little  Rock  and  crossed  the  Arkansas  River  to 
the  depot  of  the  Little  Rock  &  Duvall's  Bluff  Railroad.  In  a  short 
time  we  boarded  flat  cars  for  Duvall's  Bluff  and  arrived  there  in  the 
afternoon.  After  a  few  hours'  delay  we  went  on  board  a  little  old 
stern-wheel  boat  called  the  Anna  Jacobs.  Just  before  dark  we  started 
down  the  White  River,  which  empties  into  the  JNIississippi.  Our  first 
stop  was  at  the  Town  of  St.  Charles.  In  some  Avay  information 
reached  the  regiment  that  a  lot  of  rebels  were  located  in  this  town. 
When  we  got  to  St.  Charles  the  boat  landed,  the  gang  planks  were 
placed  in  position,  and  we  went  on  shore  rebel  hunting.  We  scouted 
around  town  for  a  short  time,  but  there  was  no  fighting.  I  do  not 
think  that  we  could  have  made  much  of  a  fight  as  we  were  armed 
only  with  revolvers,  having  turned  our  guns  over  to  the  Government 
before  Me  left  Little  Rock. 

Our  next  stop  was  at  Helena,  Ark.,  where  we  landed  and  went  up 
town  to  procure  a  few  needed  supplies.  By  9  o'clock  at  night  we 
were  all  on  board  and  pushed  out  into  the  INIississippi  and  continued 
our  journey.  Our  next  stop  was  at  Memphis,  Tenn.,  where  we 
stojDped  for  the  night  for  the  purpose  of  procuring  a  larger  and 
faster  boat  the  next  morning.  During  the  night  some  of  the  boys 
got  ashore,  in  some  way  unknow^n  to  the  officers,  and  undertook  to 
paint  the  town,  and  in  doing  so  George  Retherford,  of  my  comjiany. 


62  HISTORY  OF  DECATUR  COUNTY 

was  killed  by  the  provost  guards  while  trjang  to  make  his  way  back 
to  the  boat. 

Xext  morning  we  boarded  a  fine  side-wheel  boat  called  the  Mary 
E.  Forsvthe  and  started  for  Cairo,  111.  There  we  left  the  boat  and 
boarded  a  train  for  Decatur,  111.,  and  reached  there  early  in  the  morn- 
ing. We  then  boarded  a  train  for  Hamilton,  111.  I  cannot  brag  on 
this  last  train,  for  the  reason  that  it  was  made  up  of  cattle  cars,  with 
rough  boards  for  seats.  But  we  were  nearing  our  homes  and  loved 
ones  and  thought  we  could  put  up  with  anything  which  would  hasten 
us  to  our  homes  and  destination. 

On  the  morning  of  January  29,  1864,  I  think,  we  arrived  at  Ham- 
ilton, 111.,  just  opposite  Keokuk.  It  was  early  in  the  morning  that 
we  left  our  stock  cars  and  started  for  Keokuk  by  crossing  the  river 
on  the  ice.  When  we  reached  the  river  we  could  see  hundreds  of 
people  on  the  Iowa  side  ready  to  receive  us  with  glad  hands.  Right 
here,  in  sight  of  the  homes  of  many  members  of  the  regiment,  we 
experienced  our  greatest  peril  of  the  war.  For  several  daj^s  before 
our  arrival  the  w^eather  had  been  very  warm  and  had  to  a  great  extent 
weakened  the  ice  on  the  river.  In  our  great  anxiety  to  once  more 
step  on  the  soil  of  beloved  Iowa  we  failed  to  realize  the  dangerous 
condition  of  the  ice  under  our  feet.  We  could  see  people  on  the 
wharf  waving  their  hands,  hats  and  handkerchiefs,  but  we  thought, 
of  course,  that  they  were  manifesting  their  delight  at  our  return 
home.  However,  some  of  the  boys  took  in  the  situation  and  gave  the 
alarm.  We  then  understood  the  signals  of  our  friends.  We  scattered 
into  a  verv  thin  skirmish  line  for  the  rest  of  the  way  across  the  river 
and  were  saved  to  our  friends  and  country. 


CHxVPTER  VII 

ROSTER  OF  UECATLR  COUNTY  SOEDIERS  WHO 
SERVED  IX  THE  CIVIL  WAR 

FOURTH  IOWA  VOLUNTEER  INFANTRY 

Company  D 

Burton,  George,  captain.  Warner,  Joseph  S.,  first  lieutenant. 
Springer,  John  B.,  second  heutenant. 

Akers,  George  C,  wounded  severely  in  leg  July  28,  1804;  leg 
amputated  and  died  of  wounds  August  4,  1864.  Arnold,  John  C, 
wounded  in  head  slightly  March  7,  1862.  Aslihum,  James  M., 
wounded  in  head  by  shell  December  28,  1862.  Asherwood,  John, 
enlisted  October  21,  1864.  Beck,  Clark,  reached  the  rank  of  eighth 
corporal.  Bowman,  Samuel,  reached  the  rank  of  first  lieutenant. 
Bozarth,  AVilliam,  reached  the  rank  of  fourth  sergeant.  Burnett, 
William,  reached  the  rank  of  first  corporal.  Burns,  Henry,  wounded 
in  heel  JNIarch  7,  1862.  Burton,  George,  appointed  captain  August 
17,  1861;  wounded  severely  in  arm  JNIarch  7,  1862;  promoted  lieu- 
tenant-colonel May  1,  1862.  Childers,  Edwin  D.  Collins,  Henry  M., 
reached  rank  of  fourth  sergeant;  taken  prisoner  and  died  JNIarch  6, 
1864,  in  the  prison  at  Andersonville.  Colwell,  Williard,  wounded  in 
neck  JNIarch  7,  1862.  Davis,  James  A.,  reached  rank  of  second  cor- 
poral; died  ^lay  7,  1864,  in  Iowa.  Davis,  Merrick,  wounded  severely 
in  arm  March  7,  1862.  Driskill,  Elmer  R.,  enlisted  INIarch  26,  1864. 
Finley,  James  W.,  reached  the  rank  of  captain.  Finley,  John  P., 
wounded  in  arm;  arm  amputated  ^larch  7,  1862;  reached  the  ranks 
of  captain  and  assistant  adjutant.  Folkner,  Elijah  J.,  died  Febru- 
ary 25,  1863.  Forkner,  Squire  W.  Fortner,  Abijah  A.,  died  Febru- 
ary 28,  1863.  Gamble,  James  D.,  reached  the  rank  of  first  lieutenant. 
Gillham,  Charles  A.,  reached  rank  of  fifth  sergeant;  wounded  in  leg 
March  7,  1862.  Gray,  James,  reached  rank  of  third  sergeant;  taken 
prisoner  in  1864.  Harman,  William  F.,  reached  rank  of  second  cor- 
es 


64  HISTORY  OF  DECATUR  COUNTY 

poral;  discharged  as  William  F.  Hannan.  Harrison,  William  H., 
killed  in  battle  March  7,  1862.  Harrow,  James  ^I.,  womided  in  hand 
JNIarch  7,  1862.  Hawkins,  William,  wounded  in  arm  JNlarch  7,  1862. 
Hays,  John  M.,  died  June  25,  1864,  in  New  Albany,  Ind.  Hines, 
AVillis,  wounded  in  both  thighs  March  7,  1863.  Hunt,  James  D., 
wounded  June  4,  1864,  at  Kenesaw  Mountain  and  died  of  his  wounds 
September  5,  1864,  at  home.  Keller,  William  R.  Kennear,  Robert 
P.,  fourth  sergeant;  died  September  4,  1862,  at  Helena,  Ark.  Killer, 
Oscar  G.  Lawrence,  JNIatthew  G.,  wounded  in  shoulder  JNIarch  7, 
1862.  ^larcum,  John,  wounded  in  head  JNIarch  7,  1862;  reached  rank 
of  second  sergeant.  JNIarshall,  John,  died  February  24,  1863,  on  board 
steamer  D.  A.  January.  Martin,  Samuel,  wounded  in  arm  March  7, 
1862.  JNIartin,  Silas,  reached  the  rank  of  first  corporal.  JNIetz,  Rich- 
ard, fourth  sergeant;  killed  in  action  jNIay  19,  1863,  at  Vicksburg, 
Miss.  ^Milligan,  Isaac.  Moad,  Thomas,  died  February  2,  1863,  at 
Young's  Point,  La.  Paj^ton,  James  JM.  Ross,  John.  Rumley,  An- 
drew J.,  wounded  in  hand  March  7,  1862;  fifth  sergeant.  Sellers, 
John.  Sheeley,  Silas.  Simons,  Henry.  Smith,  Francis  JNL,  fourth 
corporal;  wounded  in  back  INIarch  7,  1862.  Snyder,  Henry  T., 
wounded  by  railroad  wreck  at  Parkersburg,  Va.,  June  2,  1865;  sec- 
ond lieutenant.  Solomon,  Lewis,  reached  rank  of  fifth  corporal. 
Springer,  John  B.,  reached  rank  of  captain.  Stevens,  Charles  O. 
Tanner,  William  T.,  reached  rank  of  first  sergeant.  Teale,  Frederick 
K.,  wounded  in  shoulder  March  7,  1862;  captain.  Tucker,  Arnold, 
wounded  in  hand  March  7,  1862.  Wamer,  Joseph  S.  Welson,  Reu- 
ben S.,  second  sergeant;  wounded  in  arm  JNIarch  7,  1862.  Wells, 
Benjamin  F.  Work,  Alonzo  L.,  sixth  corporal;  wounded  and  died 
of  injuries  November  17,  1862,  at  Memphis. 

THIRTY-FOURTH    IOWA    VOLUNTEER    INFANTRY 

Mustered  October  15,  1862 

Field  and  stafF:  Kellogg,  Racine  H.,  promoted  major  Septem- 
ber 16,  1862.     Golliday,  Uri  P.,  chaplain. 

Company  A 

Alexander,  Eli  H.,  captain.  Waters,  Jonathan  R.,  first  lieuten- 
ant.    Sloan,  Rowland  T.,  second  lieutenant. 

Arnold,  Henry  L.,  died  INIarch  10,  1863,  at  St.  Louis.  Beavers, 
William  J.  Bennett,  William  A.,  sixth  corporal;  reduced  to  ranks 
October  30,  1864.     Bridges,  Martin.     Briley,  Stephen  H.     Brown, 


HISTORY  OF  DFXATUR  COUNTY  65 

John  M.  Billiard,  Reuben.  BuUard,  Royal  13.  Carr,  William  H. 
Carter,  Charles  ]M.  Chandler,  Heniy  T.  Connely,  John,  lifth  ser- 
geant; reduced  to  ranks  October  30,  1864.  Curry,  Italus  JNI.,  second 
corporal;  reduced  to  ranks  October  30,  1804?.  Edgington,  Asahel, 
fit'er.  Edgington,  Charles,  seventh  corporal.  Ellas,  Albert  S.,  first 
sergeant.  Ettleman,  Daniel.  Farris,  James  S.,  died  of  disease 
.Alarch  18,  1863,  at  ^lemphis.  Field,  ^Miller,  died  January  24,  1863 
at  ]Mound  City,  111.  Gallagher,  James.  Gillham,  Lycurgiis  L.,  died 
June  1.5,  1863,  at  ^Nlound  Citj",  111.  Graham,  John  IT.  Hall,  Allen 
D.,  died  February  3,  1863,  at  St.  Louis.  Hamm,  John.  Hankins, 
Alexander,  died  April  2,  1863,  at  St.  Louis.  Harding,  Hiram. 
Harding,  Samuel,  died  January  21,  1862,  on  Steamer  latan.  Hard- 
man,  Christian,  died  January  11,  1863,  on  Steamer  latan.  Hardman, 
Moses,  died  January  12,  1863,  on  Steamer  latan.  Harman,  Jonas  F. 
Hawkins,  Alvin  G.,  died  at  Yazoo  City,  Miss.,  July  20,  1863.  Heas- 
ton,  Eli,  died  at  Helena,  Ark.,  December  24,  1863.  Helmick,  Isaac. 
Helt,  George,  third  sergeant;  reduced  to  ranks.  Henning,  Jacob, 
died  Xovember  25,  1862,  at  Burlington,  la.  Herschberger,  Joel,  died 
January  14,  1863,  on  Steamer  latan.  Hines,  Hiram.  Hitchcock, 
AVilliam  H.  Hite,  Conrad  B.  Hite,  James  J.  Huffman,  John  ]\I. 
Huffman,  Jonathan  B.  Johnson,  Abraham,  died  jNIarch  4,  1863,  at 
]\Iound  City,  111.  Kennett,  John  W.  Kinnaman,  Peter.  Lillard, 
Henry  L.,  fifth  sergeant;  died  Januarj^  29,  1863,  St.  Louis.  Lock- 
wood.  Asahel  C.  McCullough,  Isaac,  deserted  October  14,  1862.  ]Mc- 
Kinney,  Andrew  J.  ^IcKinney,  Lewis.  INIcLeod,  Josiah,  quarter- 
master. McYay,  John,  eighth  corporal.  ^lacy,  Davis,  sixth  corporal; 
died  July  2.5,  1863,  at  Vicksburg.  Manning,  Amos  A.  ^lelton,  James 
C.  ]Monk,  Jesse.  ^lourrer,  Phillip  W.  Norris,  ^Milton  B.  Xutter, 
William.  Pace,  Elisha  L.,  deserted  October  18,  1862.  Pearsey, 
Charles.  Phelps,  Eli  W.  Rogers,  John  O.,  died  January  26,  1863, 
at  ^lound  City,  111.  Rogers,  Merit  S.  C.  Scott,  Peter,  second  ser- 
geant. Scott,  Stephen.  Shank,  Samuel.  Silvers,  James  INI.  Silvers, 
Stephen  H.,  died  December  9,  1862,  at  Helena,  Ark.  Silvers,  Wil- 
liam B.,  died  March  25,  1863,  at  St.  Louis.  Sloan,  Clinton  D.  Sloan, 
Rowland  T.  Smith,  John,  Jr.,  died  February  14,  1863,  at  St.  Louis. 
Sparling,  Silas  H.,  died  December  15,  1862,  at  Helena,  Ark.  Stan- 
ford, Andrew  J.  Stiles,  Daniel  M.,  died  February  7,  1863,  at  St. 
Louis.  Stults,  George  H.,  wagoner.  Tharp,  Zeno.  Thornberry, 
William,  died  February  3,  1863,  at  St.  Louis.  Walker,  Johnson. 
Walton,  Henry,  first  lieutenant;  taken  prisoner  September  29,  1863, 
Sterlings  Plantation,  La.     Warrington,  Xathaniel  B.,  fourth  cor- 

Vol.  1—5 


66  HISTORY  OF  DECATUR  COUNTY 

poral.  Walters,  Jonathan  R.,  captain.  AVilliams,  Hiram,  fourth 
corporal.  Williams,  James,  lii'st  corporal.  Winters,  Joseph,  first 
corporal;  died  January  22,  1863,  on  Steamer  latan.  Wolverton, 
Perry,  fourth  sergeant.  Worden,  Jackson  M.,  third  corporal;  died 
October  13,  1864,  St.  Louis. 

Company  I 

Ward,   Thomas,  captain.     Andrews,  John  R.,   first  lieutenant. 
Maxwell,  William  K.,  second  lieutenant. 

Arnold  Moses.  Baley,  James.  Reals,  Daniel  N.,  died  February 
10,  1863,  at  Chicago.  Beck,  David  F.,  died  August  3,  1863,  on 
Steamer  City  of  ^lemphis;  first  sergeant.  Riddle,  Hugh.  Riddle, 
William  A.  Rond,  Thomas  F.,  fifth  sergeant;  died  February  15, 
1864,  Xew  Orleans.  Royd,  Allen.  Rradley,  William  R.  Rranaman, 
Peter,  fifth  corporal;  reduced  to  ranks.  Rroadbrooks,  John  jNI. 
Rrownell,  Joseph  S.,  died  August  11,  1863,  at  Port  Hudson,  La. 
Coleman,  William  R.,  second  lieutenant;  died  June  9,  1863,  Cairo, 
111.  Cox,  Stephen  L.  Craft,  James,  died  April  20,  1863,  at  Renton 
Rarracks,  JNIo.  Craft,  John.  Craft,  Thomas,  died  April  20,  1863, 
at  St.  Louis.  Crees,  John  F.  Davidson,  John  S.  Dunbar,  John. 
Eaves,  Xelson  R,  Edmiston,  James  D.  H.  Eller,  Jacob.  Fletcher, 
George  W.,  third  sergeant.  Fuller,  Alonzo  F.,  died  January  12, 
1863,  at  Arkansas  Post,  iVrk.  Gabble,  George  W.,  died  February  4, 
1863,  at  St.  Louis.  Gardner,  Almon  S.,  first  lieutenant.  Gardner, 
William  A.,  died  January  20,  1863,  on  Steamer  latan.  Gercken, 
Henry.  Gibler,  Albert,  died  July  27,  1863,  at  Port  Hudson,  La. 
Gibson,  Adam,  sixth  corporal.  Gibson,  John.  Gibson,  Moses.  Gil- 
bert, John  R.  Gray,  Thomas,  died  in  July,  1864,  at  Xew  Orleans. 
Hatfield,  James  A.,  died  December  6,  1863,  at  Xew  Orleans.  Hat- 
field, William  R.  Hedrick,  Andrew  J.  Hedrick,  John  D.,  died  Xo- 
vember  27,  1862.  Howard,  Joseph  C.  Jackson,  Guy.  Jenkins,  Ren- 
jamin  F.,  wounded  July  4,  1863,  at  Vicksburg  and  died  of  wounds 
August  27,  1863,  at  Jefferson  Rarracks,  ^lo.  Jenkins,  Frederick. 
Jones,  George  W.  Jordan,  William.  Judd,  Luman  K.  Keller, 
Andrew  J.,  fourth  sergeant.  Kizzier,  William,  died  July  30,  1863, 
at  Vicksburg.  Laddusaw,  William.  Lain,  Charles  W.,  died  March 
19,  1863,  at  St.  Louis.  LefFter,  Michael,  died  February  17,  1863,  at 
Chicago.  Lighthill,  Joseph.  Lighthill,  William.  Liming,  Joseph 
M.,  died  February  10,  1863,  at  Chicago.  Little,  X^ewton  C.  :Mc- 
Clure,  William,  died  January  27,  1863,  at  St.  Louis.  McDonald, 
William,  died  February  11,  1863,  at  Alton,  111.     Mcllvain,  John. 


HISTORY  OF  DECATUli  COUXTV  67 

^IcLaughlin,  John  W.,  fourth  corporal ;  reduced  to  ranks.  ]Manrose, 
Andrew  J.  oSIathes,  Ira,  died  February  17,  1803,  at  Benton  Bar- 
racks, ^lo.  ^laxwell,  AVilliani  K.  fiercer,  John,  seventh  corporal; 
(lied  February  9,  1803,  St.  Louis.  Miller,  John  W.  JSIoffett,  Fran- 
cis G.,  first  sergeant.  Motsinger,  Christojiher,  deserted  February 
10,  1863.  ^Murray,  Washington  E.  Norman,  Asbury.  Xotson, 
Thomas  T.,  second  corporal.  Osborn,  Christopher.  Peterson,  David 
J.  Pitman,  Jeremiah  V.,  died  November  3,  1863,  at  Xevv  Orleans. 
Kumley,  Cyrus.  Sawyer,  William  C,  died  November  30,  1863,  at 
Mustang  Island,  Tex.  Schenck,  Daniel  II.,  eighth  corporal;  died 
April  7,  1863,  St.  Louis.  Sheely,  Adnah.  Simpson,  Lennius.  Sly, 
Cornelius,  died  February  6,  1863,  at  Chicago.  Smith,  Robert  B., 
died  February  16,  1863,  at  Helena,  Ark.  Springer,  Oliver,  third 
sergeant.  Stapp,  JNIilton.  Stout,  INIicajah,  seventh  corporal.  Strong, 
T.  W.  Taylor,  James  M.,  died  February  4,  1863,  at  Chicago.  Tharp, 
Albert.  Tharp,  Jacob.  Tharp,  Osborn  C,  died  September  25,  1863, 
at  Carrollton,  la.  Thompson,  Henry,  died  February  25,  1863,  at 
Chicago.  Tippie,  Lewis.  Tullis,  John  S.  Ward,  Thoroas.  Wiley, 
Abraham,  second  sergeant.  Woodmansee,  John.  Young,  Henry  H., 
sixth  corporal. 

(Note:  JNIost  of  these  two  companies  were  joined  with  the  Thir- 
ty-fourth Consolidated  Battalion  on  November  12,  1864.) 

THIRTY-NINTH    IOWA  VOLUNTEER   INFANTRY 

Mustered  November  24,  1862 
Company  K 

Bennett,  William  F.,  captain.  Cain,  INIilligan  J.,  first  lieutenant. 
Porter,  Corrington  S.,  second  lieutenant. 

Amack,  Robert  W.,  died  December  1,  1862,  at  Davenport,  la. 
Asbach,  Herman,  died  February  8,  1863,  at  Corinth,  ^liss.  Bales, 
Curtis  J.  Bales,  Joseph  A.,  third  corporal;  taken  prisoner  October 
.5,  1864,  at  Allatoona,  Ga. ;  paroled.  Blakesley,  Andrew  L.,  taken 
jirisoner  December  30,  1862,  at  Shady  Grove,  Tenn.;  killed  in  action 
October  .5,  1864,  at  Allatoona,  Ga.  Blakesley,  Isaac  ^I.  Bright, 
Henry,  wounded  October  5,  1864,  at  Allatoona.  Brown,  Bird,  taken 
prisoner  October  5,  1864,  at  Allatoona.  Butts,  Jesse  D.,  taken  pris- 
oner October  5,  1864,  at  Allatoona.  Carter,  John  B.,  third  corporal. 
Clark,  James  A.,  taken  prisoner  October  .5,  1864,  at  Allatoona. 
Clark,  Joshua.     Clear,  John  W.,  died  January  26,  1863,  at  Colum- 


68  HISTORY  OF  DECATUR  COUXTY 

bus,  Ky.  Cockerham,  William  D.,  fourth  sergeant.  Comstock, 
George  W,,  died  March  4,  1863,  at  Corinth,  ^liss.  Coppersmith, 
George.  Cozad,  Aaron  A.,  fii'st  corporal;  taken  prisoner  October 
5,  1864,  at  Ailatoona.  Davis,  John.  Doan,  Isaac  S.,  taken  prisoner 
October  5,  1864,  at  Ailatoona.  Doan,  ]Milton  S.,  second  sergeant. 
Dunn,  William.  Evans,  James  E.,  wounded  December  31,  1862, 
Parkers  Cross  Roads,  Tenn.;  taken  prisoner  October  5,  1864,  at  Aila- 
toona. Fames,  William,  taken  prisoner  Parkers  Cross  Roads,  De- 
cember 31,  1862;  killed  in  action  October  5,  1864,  at  Ailatoona. 
Fisher,  George  W.,  deserted  October  11,  1862.  Fugit,  Isaac  P.,  died 
Xovember  30,  1862,  at  Davenport,  la.  Gabler,  Francis,  killed  in 
action  October  5,  1864,  at  Ailatoona.  Green,  Xoah,  accidentally 
killed  while  on  picket  duty  at  Corinth,  JNIiss.,  July  12,  1863.  Grow, 
George  W.,  taken  prisoner  October  5,  1864,  at  Ailatoona.  Harris, 
Stephen  F.  Harris,  William  T.,  taken  prisoner  October  5,  1864,  at 
Ailatoona.  King,  John  H.,  killed  in  action  October  5,  1864,  at  Aila- 
toona. Lighthill,  Peter.  Lose,  Wesley  F.,  sixth  corporal.  jNIacklin, 
Harvey  B.,  fifth  corporal;  taken  prisoner  October  5,  1864,  at  Aila- 
toona. jNIartin,  ISIatthew.  JNIercer,  George,  taken  prisoner  Decem- 
ber 30,  1862,  at  Shady  Grove,  Tenn.,  and  died  February  12,  1863, 
at  St.  Louis.  jNIiller,  Abraham,  killed  in  action  October  5,  1864,  at 
Ailatoona.  Moad,  Elisha  B.,  first  lieutenant;  captured  at  Ailatoona. 
Osborn,  John  R.,  second  lieutenant.  Osborn,  Samuel  L.,  fourth  ser- 
geant; died  INIarch  20,  1865,  at  Savannah,  Ga.  Parrott,  James  R. 
Piercy,  James  W.,  first  corporal.  Piercy,  William,  died  January  22, 
1863,  at  Jackson,  Tenn.  Purdun,  Oliver  E.,  fourth  corporal;  taken 
prisoner  at  Ailatoona.  Ross,  Isaiah.  Ross,  Jacob.  Ross,  Thomas, 
deserted  September  12,  1862.  Ryan,  Joseph  J.  Ryan,  Thomas  G. 
Sherard,  Hiram  P.,  fourth  sergeant.  Stephens,  Robert,  taken  pris- 
oner at  Ailatoona  October  5,  1864.  Stone,  John  INI.,  fifth  corporal; 
taken  prisoner  at  Ailatoona.  Waddle,  James,  taken  prisoner  at  Aila- 
toona. Wright,  INIartin  V.,  taken  prisoner  at  Shady  Grove,  Tenn., 
December  30,  1862. 

SEVENTEENTH  IOWA  VOLUNTEER  INFANTRY 

Mustered  April  16,  1862 

Company  A 

Young,  John  L.,  captain.     Garrett,  Jesse  B.,  first  lieutenant. 
Sales,  Lorenzo  H.,  second  lieutenant. 


HISTORY  OF  DECATUR  COUNTY  69 

Aitkens,  James  A.,  first  corporal;  taken  prisoner  at  Tilton,  Ga., 
on  October  13,  1864.  Aitkens,  Joseph  :M.,  first  sergeant;  taken  pris- 
oner at  Tilton.    Arnold,  Daniel  S.,  Mounded  slightly  at  luka,  ^Nliss., 

1862.  Ashburn,  Earnett.  Ballard,  John,  deserted  :March  1,  1863. 
Beck,  William  A.,  sixth  corporal;  taken  prisoner  at  Tilton.  Bird, 
William,  wounded  in  right  arm  June  26,  1863,  at  Vicksburg;  died 
of  wounds  July  12,  1863.  Blair,  William  H.  H.,  first  lieutenant. 
Bosarth,  Jose]3h  S.,  wounded  October  13,  1864,  at  Tilton  and  died 
of  wounds  December  2,  1864.  Burnett,  Joseph  X.,  fourth  sergeant. 
Butts,  Peter.  Carroll,  James,  wounded  severely;  taken  prisoner 
and  paroled  in  ^Mississippi.  Carroll,  Wesley,  fourth  corporal.  Clem- 
ents, Charles  W.,  wounded  and  taken  prisoner  at  Tilton.  Comb,  Sam- 
uel P.     Davidson,  Robert  F.,  wounded  and  taken  prisoner  ]May  14, 

1863.  at  Jackson,  ]Miss.;  taken  prisoner  again  at  Tilton  in  October, 

1864.  Davis  Hugh,  wounded  at  Vicksburg;  missing  November  24, 
1863,  at  3Iissionary  Ridge,  Tenn.;  died  while  a  prisoner  at  Ander- 
sonville,  Ga.,  October  18,  1864.  Dunn,  Allen,  second  corporal;  re- 
duced to  fifth  corporal;  wounded  at  Vicksburg  and  taken  prisoner 
at  Tilton.  Faulkner,  Green  B.  Fishburne,  ^lartin  S.  Fisher,  Her- 
schell,  died  ^Nlarch  14,  1864.  Flory,  Jacob  F.,  fourth  corporal. 
Franklin,  Jeret  I.,  captain.  Fullerton,  John  W.,  fourth  sergeant. 
Fullerton,  Thomas  A.,  third  corporal.  Garrett,  David  J.  Garrett, 
Jesse  B.,  wounded  severely  at  Corinth  October  4,  1863.  Gulliams, 
Samuel.  Harris,  James.  Harris,  William  D.  Hatfield,  Thomas, 
taken  prisoner  at  Tilton.  Henry,  John  R.,  fifth  sergeant;  prisoner 
at  Tilton.  Howard,  George  J.,  died  September  3,  1862,  at  Farm- 
ington,  ]Miss.  Jackson,  Guy,  absent  without  leave  from  ]May  4,  1862. 
Johnson,  Charles  P.,  captain;  wounded  and  taken  prisoner  INIay  14, 
1863,  at  Jackson,  Miss.  Jones,  Abraham.  Joseph,  Eliphalet,  killed 
in  action  May  14, 1863,  at  Jackson,  Miss.  Keller,  Rufus  L.,  wounded 
severely  and  taken  prisoner  at  Jackson.  Leffler,  Frank,  died  Novem- 
ber 22,  1862,  at  St.  Louis.  Leffler,  Martin.  Levally,  Henry  B.,  died 
May  16,  1862,  at  Keokuk,  la.  Lighthill,  INIichael.  Lumley,  Joseph. 
^IcGuire,  Charles,  deserted  JNIarch  4,  1863.  JNIacksburg,  Samuel, 
third  sergeant;  wounded  at  Vicksburg;  captured  at  Tilton.  ]Mather, 
George  W.,  fifth  sergeant.  ^Miller,  George,  killed  in  action  INIay  14, 
1863,  at  Jackson.  ]\Iiller,  JNIonroe,  first  lieutenant.  jNIiller,  ^lordecai. 
]\Iusser,  Samuel,  killed  in  action  November  24,  1863,  ^Missionary 
Ridge,  Tenn.  Norman,  James,  wounded  at  Vicksliurg;  prisoner  at 
Tilton.  Norman,  Samuel,  captured  at  Tilton.  Odell,  David  D. 
Oldsted,  Allen.     Platter,  George  W.     Porter,  James.    Reid,  Fred- 


70  HISTORY  OF  DECATUR  COUXTY 

erick.  Relea,  Aaron  T.,  wounded  and  taken  prisoner  at  Jackson. 
Sales,  Lorenzo  H.  Sears,  David  M.  Shafe,  Myron  W.  Simms, 
Samuel  X.,  wounded  and  captured  at  Jackson;  killed  in  action  No- 
vember 24,  1863.  Simpson,  Elias  H.,  third  corporal;  captured  at 
Tilton;  wounded  at  Champion  Hills;  died  May  28,  1865.  Slaughter, 
Asa  M.,  second  corporal;  killed  in  action  jNIay  14,  1863,  at  Jackson, 
Miss.  Smith,  George  W.  Smith,  Joseph  F.,  died  June  7,  1863,  at 
JMilliken's  Bend,  La.  Stevens,  Warren  N.,  fourth  corporal.  Stew- 
art, Charles,  died  April  18,  1862.  Suter,  John  J.  Switzer,  John, 
taken  prisoner  at  Jackson;  wounded  and  captured  at  Tilton  later. 
Sylvester,  John,  second  corporal.  Syh^ester.  John,  Jr.,  wounded  and 
captured  at  Jackson.  Toney,  William  R.,  third  corporal;  captured 
at  Tilton.  Turley,  Granville  X.,  no  record;  Green  W.  died  at  Keo- 
kuk April  7,  1862.  Turley,  Jacob,  first  sergeant;  wounded  at  Jack- 
son; killed  in  action  INIissionary  Ridge  X^ovember  24,  1863.  Wads- 
worth,  John  C,  killed  in  action  May  14,  1863,  at  Jackson,  Miss. 
Wheeler,  Joseph  F.,  fifth  corporal;  wounded  and  captured  at  Jack- 
son. Willis,  Henry  G.,  wounded  September  19,  1862,  at  luka,  IMiss. 
Wilson,  INIichael.  Wilson,  Thomas  F.,  captured  at  Tilton.  Wires, 
James  H.,  captured  at  Tilton.  Wj^coff ,  Cranmore,  wounded.  Young, 
William  H.    Zernes,  John  J.,  wounded  severely  at  luka. 

THIRD   IOWA  VOLUNTEER   CAVALRY 

Mustered  September  14,  1861 

Field  and  Staff:  Brown,  Thomas  H.,  brevet  captain. 
X^on-commissioned    Staff:     Hall,    Isaac   X.,   reduced   to   ranks. 
Brown,  Thomas  H. 

Company  L 

INIudgett,  Gilman  C,  captain.  Fitch,  Ezra,  first  lieutenant. 
Baker,  Mica j  ah,  second  lieutenant. 

Ammerman,  William  S.  Beaman,  William  C.  Beeler,  Joseph. 
Bennett,  Roland.  Bright,  William,  died  December  29,  1861,  St. 
Louis.  Brown,  John  D.,  taken  prisoner  at  Hartville,  ^lo.,  January 
11.  1863;  wounded  severely  at  Big  Blue,  ^lo.;  reached  rank  of  cap- 
tain. Brown,  Thomas  H.,  third  sergeant.  Brown,  William,  commis- 
sary sergeant.  Brown,  William  W.  Bullard,  Calvin,  deserted  Octo- 
ber 13.  1861.  Carroll,  Hugh.  Cary,  Edward  G.  Casey,  John,  died 
X^ovember  ,5,  1861,  at  Keokuk,  la.  Casper,  Dimick  E.  Chase,  James 
H.  Courtney,  Jacob.  Culver,  Orange,  fifth  sergeant.  Curry,  Edgar 
W.     Custers,  INIatthias.    Daws,  Edward  W.,  third  sergeant.    Ded- 


HISTORY  OF  DECATUR  COUNTY  71 

rick,  Andrew  J.,  third  corporal.  Dunn,  William.  Fitch,  Ezra.  Gas- 
kill,  Harvev.  Goven,  Thomas.  Gray,  William  A.  Hale.  Charles 
R.  Hale,  Isaac  X.,  third  sergeant.  Hamm,  John  II.  Hammond, 
^Villiam  A.,  died  December  23,  1861,  at  St.  Louis.  Hand,  Charles 
D.,  died  July  1,  18G2,  at  Indianapolis,  Ind.  Harrett,  Peter,  taken 
prisoner  at  Hartville.  Harris,  Simeon  R.,  third  corporal.  Hastings, 
Herbert  JSI.  Hines,  Daniel.  Hitchcock,  Isaac  P.  Hitchcock,  James 
F.  Hitchcock,  John  F.  Honnold,  James  W.,  second  corporal; 
wounded  at  INIine  Creek,  Kan.  Houseman,  David  G.  Jewell,  ^Vil- 
liam  P.  Johnson,  Robert.  Johnston,  Richard  H.  Jordon,  John. 
Judd,  Oscar.  Knapp,  Benjamin  F.  Knapp,  Charles  ^NI.,  fourth 
sergeant.  Knapp,  Edward  Y.  Knight,  Sanuiel  G.  ^NIcQueary, 
IMilton  G.,  first  sergeant:  died  September  10,  1861.  ^Martin,  Henry 
H.,  tliird  corporal,  fiercer,  William  G.  D.  JNIiner,  Joseph.  ^ludg- 
ett,  Edward,  second  lieutenant.  ^ludgett,  Gilman  C,  Jr.,  first  ser- 
geant. ]Mudgett,  Gilman  C,  Jr.,  major.  ^ludgett.  Recorder  ]SI. 
Newman,  Stephen  D.,  died  October  15,  1864,  at  ^lemphis.  Xortliup, 
Albert  C,  taken  prisoner  at  Hartville,  ^lo.  Pace,  William  P.  Pat- 
ton,  John  W.,  died  November  7,  1861,  Keokuk,  la.  Pryor,  Leroy, 
first  corporal.  Rains,  Jacob,  seventh  corporal.  Riley.  James  H. 
Rvan.  Thomas  G.  Sankev,  E.  J.,  wounded  severely  and  leg  ampu- 
tated  June  11,  1864,  on  retreat  from  Guntown,  Miss.  Smith,  James 
INI.,  died  April  17,  1864,  at  St.  Louis.  Space,  Nathaniel.  Stewart, 
John  W.  Thompson,  Charles  W.  Thompson,  Francis  :M.  Thomp- 
son, John  M.,  third  corporal.  Vaughn,  William  R.  Yeatch,  Ben- 
jamin F.  Warren,  John.  White,  Louis  R.,  third  corporal:  de- 
serted September  12,  1861.  Williams,  James  C,  first  lieutenant. 
Williams,  Thomas  G.  Williamson,  Henry.  Wilson,  John  W.,  second 
sergeant.  Wilson,  Samuel  A.  Wooley,  Abner.  Wooley,  William, 
sixth  sergeant. 

Unassigned 

Fames,  James.    Orren,  George  W.    Richey,  James  E. 

Company  M 

Warner,  John  W.,  captain.  Jones,  Benjamin  S.,  first  lieutenant. 
Walker,  Harvey  H.,  second  lieutenant. 

Acton,  Aaron.  Acton,  Thomas.  Acton,  William  H.  Anderson, 
Solomon  S.,  died  January  18,  186.5.  Asbach,  John,  killed  in  action 
September  25,  1864,  at  Osage,  ^Mo.  Bard,  Benjamin  F.,  wounded 
severely  July  14,  1864,  at  Tupelo,  Miss.;  died  of  wounds  July  24, 


72  HISTORY  OF  DECATUR  COUNTY 

18G4,  at  MemiDhis.  Benton,  Richard  D.  Blades,  Robert  E.  Blades, 
Samuel  E.  Blades,  William  J.  Blakesley,  Abraham,  third  corporal. 
Bowman,  George  S.,  fifth  corporal.  Bowman,  John  W.  Broad- 
books,  Rufus  W.,  died  iNIarch  13,  1863,  Rolla,  Mo.  Brown,  Burr, 
killed  in  action  AjDril  27,  1863,  at  Jackson,  Mo.  Cowles,  Henry  A., 
fourth  sergeant;  captured  at  Pea  Ridge.  Cowles,  Wesley  F.  Cox, 
James  31.    Dale,  ^Meredith  J.    Dunlavy,  William  H.    Farris,  Alfred 

L.,  died  Xovember  11,  1861,  at  Keokuk,  la.     Faulkner,  , 

fifth  sergenat.  Gammill,  James  jNI.  Gammill,  John  C,  first  lieuten- 
ant. Gunter,  John  F.  Gunter,  jNIarion.  Gunter,  JNIonroe.  Hamil- 
ton, Francis  M.  Hatfield,  William  P.,  died  January  14,  1862.  Keys, 
Charles.  Lee,  Henry.  Loe,  JNIadison.  JNIcBroom,  William.  jMans- 
field,  Asail  J.,  killed  in  action  ^larch  7,  1862,  Pea  Ridge.  JNlartin, 
James  B.,  died  October  18,  1862,  at  Lebanon,  3Io.  jNIay,  James  S., 
fourth  corporal,  died  October  21,  1861.  Miller,  Abbey,  died  Febru- 
ary 8,  1862,  at  St.  Louis.  JMiller,  Jefferson.  Miller,  William  B., 
killed  by  guerrillas  August  17,  1862,  in  Jackson  County,  Mo.  Newel, 
Elijah  F.  Xewel,  JNlarquis  T.  C.  Nixon,  Robert  jNL,  sixth  corporal. 
Schaeff er,  John  W.  Scott,  Brison.  Sevmour,  Willard  P.  Seymour, 
William  A.  Shackelford,  Howard,  first  sergeant.  Slack,  John  H. 
Slack,  William  R.  Smith,  Francis  JM.  Snodgrass,  William  H., 
fourth  corporal.  Stevens,  L^zziel  J.,  fifth  corporal.  Sullivan,  William 
J.,  wounded  and  arm  amputated  July  14,  1864,  at  Tupelo,  Missis- 
sippi. Swander,  Harrison,  first  corporal.  Talley,  Isaac  A.  Teeters, 
Thomas.  Thrailkill,  Scott.  Tong,  Francis  31.  Walker,  Harvey  H., 
first  lieutenant.  AValker,  Henderson,  died  February  7,  1862,  at 
Rolla,  3Io.  "Warner,  John  W.,  captain.  Weber,  Franc.  AVhitten, 
Increase  S.,  died  September  8,  1864,  at  3Iemphis.  Whitten,  Oscar. 
AVilson,  John  S.  Wilson,  Simmeon  N.,  sixth  regiment.  Wise,  Carter 
H.     Works,  Orville,  second  sergeant. 

Unassigned 
Fames,  Augustus.    Fames,  James.    Richey,  James  E. 

NINTH  IOWA  VOLUNTEER  CAVALRY 

Clustered  November  30,  1863 

Companj^  C 

Young,  John  L.,  captain.     Reigart,  Thomas  J.,  first  lieutenant. 
Wood,  William  H.,  second  lieutenant. 


HISTORY  OF  DECATUR  COUNTY  73 

Allbee,  Robert  G.  Anderson,  Joel  ^I.,  second  corporal.  Arnold, 
^Michael,  died  Febrnary  17,  18G.3.  Atba,  John  E.  Ballinger,  James 
E.  Barnes,  Stephen,  died  November  9,  1864,  at  Keokuk,  la.  Bob- 
bitt,  John  P.,  fourth  corporal.  Bristow,  Henry,  died  September  12, 
186.3,  at  Lewisburg,  Ark.  Chennowith,  Lemon.  Cherry,  John,  third 
corporal.  Cole,  David.  Crawford,  James  F.  Davis,  Jacob,  died 
October  21,  1864,  at  Jefferson  Barracks,  ^NIo.  Dennis,  Lee,  died 
July  22,  1864,  at  Benton  Barracks,  ]Mo.  Dunham,  James  T.  Dunn, 
James  H.  Dunn,  John  P.  Earnest,  Elbert.  Evans,  James  J.,  sec- 
ond corporal.  Farris,  James  H.,  fifth  corporal.  Garrett,  David  J., 
fourth  sergeant.  Gibson,  Thomas  J.  Hadley,  Harlan.  Handley, 
Chancey.  Hastings,  Lewis  ^1.  Hawkins,  James.  Houderscheldt, 
James,  died  September  lo,  1864,  at  Austin,  Ark.  Hunt,  James  H. 
Jennings,  Alvin,  seventh  corporal.  ^IcCalla,  George.  jMartin,  Jacob 
C.  Clayton,  John.  Mercer,  Asbury,  sixth  corporal.  Milligan,  Jesse 
A.  ^Morrison,  Robert  W.  Rader,  ^Michael  M.,  deserted  January  16, 
1864.  Sears,  ^Villiam  O.  B.  Smith,  Francis  ]M.,  third  sergeant. 
Williams,  Daniel  3L    Williams,  Thomas  C.    Young,  John  L. 

rOKTY-EIGHTH  IOWA  VOLUNTEER  INFANTRY 

Clustered  July  13,  1864.    100  Days'  Service. 

Company  C 

Summers,  James  H.,  captain.  Burrows,  James,  first  lieutenant. 
Barnes,  William  H.,  second  lieutenant. 

Adair,  Jeptha.  Adkins,  Lewis  P.  Aikey,  Peter.  Alexander, 
Curtis  L.  Allmon,  William  H.  Arnold,  Henry  L.  Baker,  Wesley 
C.  Barnes,  Benjamin  O.,  died  October  4,  1864,  at  Rock  Island,  111. 
Barnes,  WiUiam  H.  Bell,  Jasper  N.  Bennett,  Hiram.  Bover, 
Leander.  Brown,  AVilliam.  Bullard,  Albert  D.  Bunce,  George  W. 
Bunton,  Albert.  Chambers,  Austin.  Chambers,  John  W.  Chew, 
Samuel  F.  Clark,  Levi.  Day,  Daniel  R.  Dilsaver,  Albert.  Doug- 
lass, William  H.  Downey,  Robert  T.  Endecott,  Jacob.  Enlow, 
Benjamin  A.  Enlow,  John  D.  Fierce,  William  E.  Fletcher,  Joh.n 
H.  Foreman,  Arriley.  Gates,  Rufus  A.  Gay,  Hiram.  Hamilton, 
Peter  J.  Hamm,  Robert  B.  Harrison,  Benjamin  F.  Hitchcock, 
Horace  A.  Humphries,  James.  Hutton,  Charles  A.  Kenion, 
James.  ^latthews,  James.  ^Miller,  Francis  B.  ]Moore,  William. 
^Morris,  Nathan.  ]Moss,  James.  Nigh,  George  W.  Ownby,  William 
H.     Oxford,    Lilbern    H.     Oxford,    William    R.     Page,    Reuben. 


74  HISTORY  OF  DECATUR  COUNTY 

Piburn,  Thomas  B.  Power,  Andrew.  Rector,  Jesse.  Renfro,  John. 
Robertson,  James.  Rogers,  Edward.  Rogers,  John.  Schaffer,' Rob- 
ert C.  Schoonover,  Nathan.  Seymour,  John  A.  Strong,  Solomon 
P.  Summers,  James  H.  Thogmartin,  Robert.  Tliompson,  Luther. 
VanCleve,  John.  Vanderpool,  James.  Warnock,  Wilham  S.  Whit- 
tecar,  Jasper  N.  ^Vhittecar,  Wesley  A.  Williams,  James.  Wil- 
liams, John  W.    Wilson,  John. 

DECATUR  COUNTY  SOLDIERS  IX  TROOPS  OF  OTHER  STATES 

Company  A,  Thirty-seventh  Illinois 

Gray,  William  S. 

Company  D,  Fiftieth  Ilhnois 

Waller,  Alexander. 

Company  K,  Tenth  Kansas  Volunteer  Infantry 

Ronowgus,  William  D.  Clibbun,  George.  Hatfield,  Andrews 
Kesecker,  Andrew.  INIcCoy,  Charles  B.  JMay,  John  E.  INIiller, 
Franklin.  :Mory,  George  W.  Pope,  Cyrus  W.  Pope,  Virgil.  Scott, 
iVllen.  Scott,  John  R.  Scott,  Peter.  Smith,  James  A.  Watson, 
Greenville.    Watson,  Thomas.    White,  James  W. 

Company  A,  Thirty-fifth  Missouri  Infantry 

Benton,  Clark  L. 

Company  E 

French,  Robert.  Gordon,  James  L.  Guire,  Jacob,  deserter. 
^Miller,  Bryson  J.,  deserter.  INIiller,  John  R.  Miller,  Nathan,  de- 
serter. jNIiller,  Reuben.  Osborn,  Samuel  W.  Plaintiff,  George  W. 
Smith,  William  S.  Vincent,  Joseph.  Wyon,  David.  Wyon,  Fred- 
erick.   Wyon,  Henry. 

Company  D,  Forty-fourth  Missouri  Infantry 
Zimmerman,  Jacob. 

Missouri  State  INIilitia 

Company  D,  Second  Cavalry:    Hukill,  John  H. 
Company  H,  Fifth  Cavalry:    Cogsdel,  Stephen. 
Company  G,  Sixth  Cavalry:    Banks,  Henis;  Simpson,  Gilliard; 
Simpson,  James;  Vanvallinburg,  James. 


HISTORY  OF  DECATUR  COUNTY  75 

Seventh  Cavalry 
Company  I 
Corrigan,  James.    Likes,  Samuel  J.    Orr,  William  H. 

Company  K 

Clark,  Isaac  X.  Collyer,  Thomas.  Combs,  Washington  F.  Con- 
quest, John.  Crookshank,  Peter.  Deck,  Isaac.  Gardner,  Baylis 
D.  Gardner,  John  L.  Gardner,  Joshua  A.  Gilbert,  Samuel  R. 
Gray,  John  R.  Gray,  John  W.  S.  Hall,  John  W.  Hall,  Samuel 
L.  Hatfield,  Andrews.  Hatfield,  James.  Hatfield,  John  M.  Hat- 
field, Riley.  Hines,  Alexander.  Horn,  Elisha.  Johnson,  Farmer  A. 
Kelly,  George  B.  Kelly,  Robert.  Kemp,  John  ]M.  Kemp,  Phillip. 
Kentch,  Lewis  F.  Kirk,  Josiah.  Leech,  John  C.  Long,  AVilliam  L. 
iMcDonald,  Barnett.  ^McDowell,  Samuel.  jNIcKern,  Thomas  H. 
Xixson,  Thomas.  Oney,  Joseph  A.  Oney,  JNIarion.  Oney,  Thomas 
B.  Pavne,  William  T.  Piercv,  James  T.  Piercv,  John  H.  Pitman, 
Ed  K.  Pitman,  John  H.  Price,  Harrison  H.  Smith,  Benjamin  F. 
Spellman,  Hiram.  Stanley,  Calvin.  Still,  Hiram.  Still,  Jesse. 
Tash,  William  R.  Waldrip,  Byron  F.  Wescoat,  Cyrus  K.  Wheeler, 
AVilliam  F.  WickofF,  X.  S.  WicufF,  John  T.  AVilson,  William  D. 
Wisdom,  Francis  F. 

SOUTHERN  BORDER  BRIGADE    (iOWa) 

Third  Battalion 
Company  A 

Summers,  James  H.,  captain.    Bridges,  C.  G.,  lieutenant. 

Alfrey,  J.  P.  Alfrey,  J.  W,  Allen,  Jacob.  Arnold,  Alonzo. 
Arnold,  Daniel  J.  Ayers,  Alfred.  Barickman,  C.  J.  Beck,  T.  Ij. 
Blades,  W.  J.  Bomer,  William.  Bovd,  Henrv.  Bovd,  John. 
Branscom,  Henry.  Bridges,  C.  G.  Brown,  James.  Brown,  Yolney. 
Campbell,  J.  W.  Campbell,  Robert.  Carlton,  S.  O.  Chance,  John. 
Chew',  S.  F.  Cleaver,  J.  P.  Cook,  Henderson.  Cook,  Wilkinson. 
Covington,  Smith  C.  Craft,  John.  Day,  G.  S.  Dilley,  James  V. 
Dreese,  Reuben.  Fierce,  E.  W.  Poland,  INIichael.  Gardner,  J.  A. 
Gatlin,  Cornelius.  Gibson,  Jasper.  Gibson,  William  B.  Gordon, 
J.  jNI.  Harnor,  John  S.  Hazen,  Joseph  S.  Higby,  Hiram.  Hisey, 
James.  Hisey,  John.  Hoover,  George.  Houston,  Robert  L.  Hou- 
derscheldt,  Wesley.    Jackson,  Jesse  L.    Kingen,  James.    Kromer,  O. 


76  HISTORY  OF  DECATUR  COUNTY 

W.  Kumley,  Lewis.  Lane,  George.  Lee,  Clarence.  Lennox,  Rich- 
ard.   Lovd,  Jesse.    ]McCroskey,  Samuel.     ^NIcGuire,  jNlichael.     ^Ic- 

Kee,  Clark.     ^NIcKee,  William  L.     ]Mc]Murtney,  .     INLans- 

field,  R.  G.  fiercer,  James  A.  Millsaps,  Robert.  INIillsaps,  Samuel 
A.  Xotson,  R.  P.  S.  Page,  Samuel.  Parmer,  Samuel.  Paschal, 
William.  Pierce,  Ess.  Robbins,  Wilham  S.  Roberts,  Jesse.  Roop, 
AVilkinson.  Rowell,  Columbus  B.  Rumley,  William.  Scott,  John. 
Sheets,  Christian.  Smith,  Robert.  Suavely,  Abraham  Y.  Snook, 
William.  Stanle\%  John.  Stanley,  Benjamin.  Stanley,  JNlatchet. 
Stanley,  O.  L.  Stephenson,  Craig.  Strong,  John  D.  Strong, 
Linens.  Strong,  Solomon.  Summers,  James  H.  Lapscott,  John  K. 
Thompson,  F.  M.  Turpon,  Brison.  Utterback,  Willis.  Vandever, 
Edward.  Vaughn,  Hiram  S.  Vaughn,  J.  D.  Vaughn,  J.  S.  Wal- 
dron,  Enoch.  Walters,  Madison.  Welmon,  James  LI.  West,  Wil- 
liam. Whitecar,  Diamond.  Whitecar,  G.  W.  Whitecar,  Josiah. 
Whitecar,  William.  Whittecar,  James.  Whittecar,  Wesley.  Wian, 
Jacob.  Wian,  John.  Williams,  J.  T.  Williams,  J.  W.  Williams, 
Walker.  Witter,  David  F.  Witter,  William  L.  Woodard,  E.  P. 
^Vurtenbee,  John.    Zin,  Abraham. 


CHAPTER  VllI 

PROGRESS  OF  EDUCATION  IN  DECATUR  COUNTY 

The  prosperity,  the  progress,  the  spirit  and  the  character  of  a 
county  is  largely  measured  by  the  condition  of  its  schools.  The  intel- 
lectual qualities  of  the  people,  their  culture  and  regard  of  life  may 
also  be  summed  up  by  this  means.  Decatur  County  began  her  life 
under  the  usual  hardships,  privations  and  sacrifices  and  her  first 
schools  were  consequently  crude  and  inefficient,  but  through  the 
years  of  upbuilding  in  other  lines,  the  county  has  perfected  a  com- 
mendable school  sj^stem,  one  that  will  jDossibly  bear  more  improve- 
ment, such  as  school  consolidation,  but  nevertheless  one  which  deserves 
credit.  Competent  teachers  are  employed  and  the  schools,  so  far  as 
possible,  are  equipped  as  the  modern  school  should  be.  Every  pupil 
has  the  opportunity  to  receive  a  splendid  education  in  Decatur  County 
and  has  entrance  to  just  as  many  courses  and  as  great  a  variety  of 
subjects  as  can  be  had  in  any  county  in  the  state. 

The  government  has,  almost  without  exception,  been  in  the  hands 
of  capable  educators.  The  money  of  the  county  has  been  extended 
freely  upon  request  for  the  betterment  of  the  schools,  and  it  is  safe 
to  predict  that  within  the  next  decade  the  advance  will  be  even  greater 
than  it  has  been  in  the  last  decade. 

The  following  paragraphs  deal  largely  with  the  early  history  of 
the  schools  in  the  countv  and  many  of  them  are  written  by  men  and 
women  who  attended  the  classes  in  the  los^  houses  and  who  firmly  be- 
lieve  that  they  acquired  as  good  or  better  education  than  the  pupils 
who  sit  in  steam-heated,  ventilated  rooms,  with  the  maximmn  of  light. 

EAKLY  LEON  SCHOOL  DxVYS 

A  former  Decatur  County  woman  wrote  the  following  of  her  girl- 
hood days  in  the  schools  of  Leon: 

"In  a  room  upstairs  on  INIain  Street  possibly,  the  old,  old  court 
room,  Howard  Shackleford  and  I  stood  beside  Miss  Jones'  knee  and 


78  HISTORY  OF  DECATUR  COUNTY 

learned  our  A  B  C's.     To  me  she  seemed  queenly  as  she  was  tall, 
stately  and  grand. 

"3Iy  next  remembrance  is  of  attending  school  in  the  old  JNIeth- 
odist  Church  ere  it  was  finished  inside,  being  seated  with  rough  boards. 
There  were  three  teachers,  I.  P.  INIartin,  Sarah  Kirkpatrick  and 
Elizabeth  Simmons,  of  Garden  Grove,  each  reigning  over  a  corner 
of  the  room,  a  most  trying  time  for  both  teachers  and  pupils.  Two 
incidents  were  vividly  impressed  on  my  mind,  one  being  when  jNIr.  A. 
Gillham's  large  j^ellow  dog  was  loosed  one  morning  and  came  to  the 
church,  causing  us  children  to  scamper  into  the  room  with  fear  and 
trembling.  3Iiss  Simmons  thought  to  teach  us  a  lesson  in  kindness  to 
animals  and  put  out  her  lily  white  hand  to  pat  the  dog,  saying,  as  she 
did  so,  'O,  the  poor  dog  won't  hurt  you,'  whereujjon  he  snapped  her 
hand,  biting  it  quite  severely.  With  tears  and  sobs  she  informed  us 
that  she  had  a  friend  (?)  in  Garden  Grove  who  would  avenge  her  in- 
jmy.  The  other  was  how  chagrined  we  were  when  JNlr.  Martin  had 
several  of  us  distributed  around  the  platform  to  learn  the  eights  in 
multiplication,  and  County  Superintendent  Wainwright  came  to 
visit  the  school. 

"Afterwards  came  L.  jNI.  Hastings,  who  remained  with  us  more 
than  three  years,  moving  with  us  to  the  first  brick  school  building  on 
tlie  site  of  the  present  north  building.  It  contained  four  rooms,  halls, 
bell,  home-made  seats,  desks  and  recitation  seats,  and  a  good  long 
blackboard.  For  the  first  time  we  began  to  call  the  teacher  'Pro- 
fessor,' and  he  could  not  have  been  happier  had  he  owned  the  whole 
building,  as  he  sang,  'There's  INIusic  in  the  Air'  with  far  more  fervor 
than  usual,  and  bade  us  'goodby'  and  'good  morning  or  afternoon' 
every  time  he  left  the  room  or  entered  for  several  days.  A  few  of 
us,  ]Myra  Gardner,  Hila  Fishburn,  Emma  Dawson  and,  I  believe, 
Lily  Berger  were  not  eligible  to  the  high  room,  but  he  graciously  took 
us,  saying  that  he  had  us  started  his  way  of  teaching  and  Avanted  to 
keep  us.  The  thorough  mental  arithmetic  drill  he  gave  us  has  ever 
been  beneficial  to  me,  although  our  parents  thought  him  severe  because 
we  'talked  it  in  our  sleep.' 

"Politics  raged  high  in  school  during  the  Civil  war  and  fights,  of 
words  and  fists,  Avith  an  occasional  hair-pulling,  were  not  uncommon. 
'Re])el,'  'Secesh,'  'Copperhead,'  'Abolitionist'  and  'A  nigger  is  as 
good  as  you  are,'  were  epithets  hurled  back  and  forth.  The  ardor  of 
the  repul)lican  girls  was  dampened  by  the  other  girls  saying,  'You 
are  glad  to  get  a  democrat  for  a  beau,'  as  there  were  more  boys  of 
tliat  party  than  the  other. 


HISTORY  OF  DECATUR  COUNTY  79 

"Soon  came  A.  J.  Abbott,  a  nice  man,  and  Professor  Newcomb, 
who  was  awfully  in  love,  spending  most  of  his  time  walking  the  Moor, 
planning  how  he  could  get  to  Humeston  and  back  from  Friday  even- 
ing until  ^londay  morning.  ]Mr.  Tip  Dilsaver,  that  prince  of  good 
fellows,  taught  us  to  sing  'The  Poor  Swiss  Girl  of  Lucerne,'  and 
seated  the  boys  and  girls  together.  Cal  Hoffman  was  my  seatmate 
and  I  remember  how  shy  he  w  as,  clad  in  brown  overalls  and  occupying 
tlie  few  inches  on  the  farthest  end  of  the  seat  from  me. 

"The  school  was  graded  about  the  year  18G7,  beginning  in  the 
fall  of  18C8  to  have  a  three-year  high  school  course  of  nine  months 
each.  How  eager  we  were  to  finish  that  course.  Comparing  it  now 
with  the  course  pursued  in  small  towns  of  today  I  find  the  latter  only 
excel  it  in  more  difficult  texts  and  the  addition  of  Latin  and  German. 

"A.  F.  Woodruff  was  about  two  days  smarter  than  the  rest  of 
the  class  and  w^as  proud,  timid  and  wreaked  under  criticism.  He  was 
standing  at  the  blackboard  one  morning,  arm  extended  from  the  shoul- 
der, drawing  a  perfect  circle,  a  feat  w'e  all  envied,  and  as  usual  I 
was  making  merry  with  a  group  in  the  rear  of  the  room,  but  he  thought 
tliat  I  was  making  fun  of  his  lavender  pants,  which  were  shrunken 
from  much  washing.  So,  with  darkened  visage,  knitted  brow  and 
gritted  teeth,  he  dashed  off  the  following  and  passed  it  to  me : 

"  'In  Pluto's  dark  domain  below 
Where  some  are  forced  to  go 
They  wear  petticoats  and  switches; 
But  while  on  earth's  domain  we  dwell, 
Some  nmst  be  content  as  well, 
To  wear  short  breeches.' 

"Being  so  verdant  as  not  to  know^  whether  'pegged  topped'  or 
'tight,'  long  or  short  trousers  were  the  latest,  I  had  to  seek  an  inter- 
preter.    Again,  though  not  provoked  to  it,  he  wrote: 

"  'Of  all  the  men  who  wisely  wrote. 
Be  he  saint  or  cuss. 
The  one  who  wrote  most  strangely. 
Was  this  Anonymous.' 

"Besides  several  longer  poems,  'The  Rabbi's  Daughter,'  and  '^ly 
Former  Lover.' 

"One  of  the  text-books  piu'sued  was  one,  floral  Science,  contain- 
ing a  chapter  on  marriage  laws.  Belle  Thompson  was  reciting  and 
ventured  the  suggestion  that  peojile  should  marry  on  six  months'  pro- 


80  HISTORY  OF  DECATUR  COUNTY 

bation,  and  if  contracting  parties  were  not  congenial  said  contract 
to  be  null  and  void.  A  suppressed  giggle  passed  through  the  audience 
and  she  was  excused  from  further  recitation. 

"T.  W.  Silvers  was  fluent  and  logical,  mapping  out  a  career,  fol- 
lowing it  closely  and,  of  course,  attaining  success. 

"S.  A.  Gates,  always  amiable,  had  little  use  for  monosyllables  in 
his  vocabulary.  He  did  not  'fall'  out  of  the  hay  mow,  but  'was  pre- 
cipitated.' Belle  Bobbitt  used  that  for  'a  saying'  until  Josephine  Kel- 
lo"i>\  when  secretary  of  the  institute,  wrote: 

"  'The  multiplicity  of  matters  to  be  attended  to  at  the  beginning 
of  the  term  precluded  the  possibility  of  a  carefully  prepared  literary 
program.' 

"I  frequently  contrast  the  commencements  then  and  now.  Now 
we  have  showers  and  flowers  and  bowers,  decorations,  ovations  and 
collations;  but  we  marched  in  two  by  two.  Woodruff*,  with  his  bor- 
rowed clothes,  which  we  knew  not  of  until  his  days  of  ^jrosperity; 
Gates,  with  his  whiskers;  Silvers,  with  his  boyish  appearance,  and  I, 
with  mv  white  dimity  dress  trimmed  in  a  yard  of  val  lace,  and  deliv- 
ered  our  essays  and  orations,  replete  with  figures  of  speech  and  flights 
of  oratory,  we  thought.  We  had  neither  flowers,  motto  nor  decora- 
tions. The  subjects  were  heavy  enough,  mine  being  'Lights  and 
Shadows  of  Life.'  It  makes  me  want  to  shrink  out  of  existence  to 
think  of  it.  I  opine  I  might  do  better  on  both  the  lights  and  shadows 
but  on  the  mystery  of  life  not  any." 

•''V  •■ 

ANOTHER  SCHOOL  EEMIXISCENCE 

The  following  paragraphs  are  written  by  another  woman,  wliose 
memories  of  the  early  schools  include  the  years  from  18.56  to  1877: 

"The  first  school  ever  held  in  Leon  was  in  the  courthouse  and  the 
teacher,  George  T.  Young,  forever  endeared  himself  to  all  parents, 
by  saving  the  lives  of  his  pupils  at  the  risk  of  his  own  in  a  cyclone  that 
blew  the  building  down  behind  him  as  he  carried  out  the  last  two  tots. 
This  was  in  June  or  July,  18.55. 

"When  a  wee  girl  I  went  to  school  with  my  big  brother  Lemuel, 
to  J.  C.  Porter  (a  better  preacher  than  teacher),  in  the  first  school- 
house  Leon  ever  owned,  a  little  frame  building  out  in  the  east  part 
of  town,  where  long  recesses,  carrying  and  passing  the  water,  singing 
the  states  and  capitals  and  the  multiplication  tables  Mere  the  main 
attractions.    On  Friday  afternoon  the  speakin'  was  great.    John  S. 


HISTORY  OF  DECATUR  COUNTY  81 

Gardner  'Timber' — Aunt  Ann's,  Al  (there  was  a  'Prairie'  Aunt 
Ann's,  Al  also)  and  Hattie  RaifF  were  the  prize  speakers,  and  when  Al 
Gardner  started  out  once  a  month  on  'Rienzi's  Address  to  the  Romans' 
^ye  sat  with  bated  breath  until  he  resonantly  closed  the  declamation. 
Lou  Weldon  taught  us  little  girls  to  knit  at  recess.  John  Bowman 
gave  us  riddles  to  guess.  Later  another  preacher,  George  Adams, 
taught  school  over  a  store,  being  succeeded  in  turn  by  Samuel  Sears, 
Carr  Porter,  Sarah  Patterson,  Mr.  Judd,  Emily  Higbee  and  others. 
The  new  ^Methodist  Episcopal  Church  was  used  by  Professor  Lewis, 
J.  C.  Porter  and  later  by  that  fiery  tempered,  but  best  educator  Leon 
ever  had  up  to  that  time,  L.  INI.  Hastings,  a  man  who  was  a  genera- 
tion ahead  of  his  day,  who  really  sowed  ambition's  earnest  seed  in 
student  minds  and  gave  the  new  schools  a  new  impetus. 

"The  boys  of  those  old  school  davs  were  Jack  and  Reuben  AVel- 
don,  Bob  and  Billy  Boone,  Bill  Kirkpatrick  and  several  others  that 
I  do  not  recall  at  present.  JNIy  school  attendance  closed  here  for  ]Mr. 
Hastings  being  county  superintendent,  as  well  as  teacher,  issued  to 
four  conceited  pert  little  girls  of  fifteen  to  seventeen  years,  a  teacher's 
certificate  each,  as  special  rewards  of  merit  for  greatest  scholastic 
attainments  in  briefest  time.  They  were  Ella  Adams,  ^Martha  Jor- 
dan, Fannie  RaifF  and  the  writer.  At  once  we  secured  schools  and 
launched  into  careers  poorly  prepared,  but  bravely  determined. 

"How  well  I  remember  that  sketch  of  Henry  Lunbeck's  on  the 
blackboard  of  the  old  north  end  brick,  where  jNIarv  INIiles,  Emma 
Dawson,  Marv  Hutchinson  and  yours  truly  assisted  Aaron  Frazier 
in  his  school  work.  The  three  Belles  (Bobbitt,  Thompson  and  Burns) 
made  his  life  something  wretched  to  carry,  and  he  in  turn  took  it 
out  of  his  under  teachers.  ]My  school  days  in  1861  to  1865  are  eventful 
ones.  When  Ann  Wharton  and  INIartha  Jordan  tore  a  Lincoln  and 
Hamlin  button  oif  my  dress,  political  excitement,  even  among  the 
children  was  high ;  I  got  JNIary  Knapp  and  we  promptly  relieved  those 
two  girls  of  Douglas  badges.  The  war  was  carried  further  next  day 
by  the  democrat  girls  annexing  to  their  ranks,  jNIary  and  Edith  Pat- 
terson, Sarah  Kirkpatrick  and  Nancy  Sales;  on  our  side  we  had  Hat- 
tie  Raiff,  Nancy  Freeman,  INIinerva  Bobbitt  and  all  our  little  sis- 
ters. While  the  war  waged  it  was  earnest.  When  we  went  home  for 
repairs  most  of  us  had  a  threshing  thrown  in,  though  our  parents  all 
were  in  secret  sympathy  with  the  children's  waj^  of  settling  matters  of 
national  importance  Mhile  our  big  brothers  were  'in  the  war.'  " 

\ol.  I-     B 


82  HISTORY  OF  DECATUR  COUNTY 

DECATUR  SCHOOLS 

The  following  article  on  the  schools  of  the  county  was  prej)ared 
in  the  schools  of  Leon  by  a  pupil  and  contains  an  interesting  and 
instructive  story  of  the  progress  of  education  in  this  locality. 

The  fii-st  school  in  Leon,  la.,  was  conducted  in  1854  by  H.  V. 
Waignright  in  a  log  schoolhouse  located  on  Gospel  Ridge  and  East 
Leon.  He  taught  one  term  and  was  succeeded  by  Satah  Patterson 
Bashaw,  who  conducted  a  school  in  the  same  schoolhouse  for  two 
terms. 

When  the  time  for  the  next  term  of  school  came  the  old  log  school- 
house  was  too  small  to  accommodate  the  number  of  pupils,  so  that 
the  lower  floor  of  a  two-story  building,  used  as  a  courthouse,  and 
standing  where  the  Varga  residence  now  is,  was  pressed  into  service 
and  George  T.  Young  hired  as  teacher.  While  ]Mr.  Young  was  teach- 
ing in  the  year  1857  a  storm  occurred  which  blew  down  the  building, 
from  which,  fortunately,  all  escaped  with  their  lives. 

The  courthouse  having  been  blown  down,  a  couple  of  buildings, 
one  back  of  where  the  Kraft,  Grimes  &  Co.'s  clothing  store  now 
stands  and  the  other  across  the  street  east  of  the  present  town  square, 
were  used  for  school  purposes.  About  1864  school  was  held  in  the 
old  iSlethodist  Church,  which  stood  where  the  Carnegie  Library  is 
now  located. 

J.  C.  Porter,  Sarah  Kirkpatrick,  Professor  Hastings,  C.  S.  Porter 
and  ^Ir.  Caldwell  were  some  of  the  teachers  between  1860  and  1868, 
when  tlie  first  building  was  constructed  for  school  purposes.  This 
building,  which  stood  on  the  site  now  occupied  by  the  Xorth  school 
building  and  premises,  was  a  four-roomed  brick  building.  The  first 
teacher  in  the  new  building  was  Aaron  Frazier,  who  initiated  a  course 
of  study  requiring  twelve  years  to  complete.  Under  him  the  first 
graduating  exercises  ever  held  in  Leon  were  given  in  1871  by  the  class 
composed  of  A.  F.  AVoodrufF,  ^Matilda  Jordan,  S.  A.  Gates,  T.  W. 
Silvers. 

Professor  Frazier  taught  until  1876,  when  a  second  brick  building 
of  eight  rooms  was  erected  on  the  present  site  at  a  cost  of  $11,000,  the 
first  brick  building  being  retained  for  several  years  as  a  janitor's 
residence. 

In  the  '80s  Profs.  A.  B.  Cornell,  B.  F.  Miller,  and  S.  ^I. 
^Nlowatt,  who  had  charge  of  the  school  for  seven  years.  Next  came 
Professors  Lyon  and  V.  R.  :McGinnis,  who  served  for  two  years  each, 
followed  by  Samuel  L.  Darrah,  who  w^as  principal  of  the  school  for 


CARXKdIE  LIBRARY,  LEOX 


HIGH    SCHOOL    ]UILJnX(;,    LK(L\ 


HISTORY  OF  DECATUR  COUNTY  83 

four  years.  During  this  time,  in  the  summer  of  189.5,  the  present 
South  school  building  was  erected,  S.  H.  Lorey  being  the  contractor. 

Professors  Drake,  Pierce,  Volker  and  Gass  followed.  During 
the  year  1903  the  building  which  w^as  erected  in  1876  was  torn  down 
and  a  new  one  built  in  its  place,  whicli,  with  the  addition  annexed  in 
1913,  forms  the  present  modern  and  commodious  North  school 
building. 

There  is  now  the  normal  training  course,  with  domestic  science,  a 
corp  of  nineteen  teachers  and  an  enrollment  in  1913  of  610  scholars. 

The  first  school  in  Decatur  County  was  taught  in  Garden  Grove 
in  the  year  1849  by  ]Mrs.  Enos  Davis,  a  relative  of  Susan  B.  Anthony, 
school  being  conducted  in  her  home^  as  there  was  no  building.  Her 
house  was  known  as  the  Old  California  House  and  so  named  by  gold 
seekers  on  their  way  to  California. 

About  1853  a  frame  school  building  was  erected  and  Reverend 
Carey,  a  jNIethodist  preacher,  was  hired  to  teach  in  the  new  building, 
but  it  burned  on  the  first  day  of  school.  In  1856  a  brick  school  build- 
ing was  erected  of  octagon  shape,  which  was  the  best  in  Southern 
low^a,  and  Professor  Hastings  hired  to  teach  the  first  class.  In  186'1 
the  school  began  rising  in  prominence  under  the  supervision  of  R.  A. 
Harkness,  of  Delaware  County,  N.  Y.  During  the  sixteen  years  that 
he  taught  the  school  was  called  the  Athens  of  Iowa.  Since  then  tlie 
octagonal  brick  has  been  torn  down  and  a  frame  building  erected, 
which  lasted  for  several  years,  but  it  was  recently  razed  and  the  pres- 
ent handsome  structure  erected. 

The  school  at  the  present  time,  with  its  normal,  domestic  science 
and  manual  training,  is  considered  one  of  the  best  in  the  county.  They 
have  an  enrollment  of  about  two  hundred  and  fifty  students  and 
employ  about  ten  school  teachers. 

In  the  year  1879,  when  the  Humeston,  Shenandoah  Railroad  was 
extended  westward,  the  little  Village  of  Weldon  sprang  up  and  grew 
with  great  rapidity.  In  the  fall  of  1880  Emma  De  Selm  taught  a 
subscription  school  in  the  I.  O.  Cr."T.  Hall.  Tlie  next  spring  the  chil- 
dren were  sent  to  a  country  school  located  one  mile  south  of  town. 
That  fall  William  ]Morren  was  hired  to  teach  in  towii,  the  expenses 
of  this  school  being  paid  from  the  township  school  funds.  October  1, 
1882,  the  town  was  set  off  as  an  independent  school  district  and  W.  C. 
AVliitmarsh  employed  to  teach  the  school,  which  was  conducted  on  tlie 
second  floor  of  the  town  hall.  The  members  of  the  first  school  board 
were  Geo.  E.  ^Mitchell,  S.  INI.  Prowell  and  L.  T.  Greenlee.  Dr.  Enos 
^Mitchell  was  hired  to  teach  the  school  during  the  months  of  jNIay  and 


84  HISTORY  OF  DECATUR  COUNTY 

June,  1883,  at  a  salary  of  $25  per  month.  He  was  often  obliged  to 
leave  the  school  in  charge  of  one  of  the  older  pupils  while  he  attended 
his  practice. 

The  next  fall  ]Mrs.  M.  A.  Critchfield  took  charge  of  the  school. 
She  had  an  enrollment  of  about  seventy  pupils.  The  next  year  she 
hired  JNIiss  INIillie  Grimes  to  assist  her  for  a  few  months.  In  188.5  the 
first  schoolhouse  was  erected  at  a  cost  of  $2,000,  grounds  included. 
Joseph  Coffee  was  the  contractor. 

The  first  year  in  the  new  building  Mrs.  Critchfield  was  assisted  in 
the  primary  department  by  Miss  Nora  Brown. 

In  1886-87,  J.  H.  Jamison,  now  known  as  ex-Senator  Jamison, 
was  principal,  preceding  I.  S.  Condit,  now  professor  of  mathematics 
in  the  Iowa  State  Teachers'  College.  Next  came  A.  A.  Roy,  who 
took  the  first  steps  in  arranging  a  graded  system.  Next  came  J.  C. 
^Vingett,  Charles  Fisher,  and  J.  W.  Cozad,  who  held  the  first  gradu- 
ating exercises  in  the  spring  of  1893.  The  members  of  this  class 
were  INIaitland  Maxwell,  Joe  Lane,  Frank  Durnal,  Jessie  JNIarshall, 
Anna  Kline  and  Ella  Tallman. 

The  school  having  outgrown  the  building  the  grades  were  continued 
in  the  building  while  the  high  school  was  moved  to  the  opera  house 
until  the  new  building  was  completed  early  in  the  year  189.5.  Since 
then  an  addition  has  been  added  to  the  building,  now  valued  at  $6,000. 
The  school  has  continued  to  grow.  They  now  have  five  teachers  be- 
sides the  music  teacher,  and  last  year's  report  gave  an  enrollment  of 
130  pupils.  Among  the  later  principals  were  A.  N.  Smith,  J.  A. 
Mcintosh,  J.  M.  Howell  and  H.  J.  O'Neil. 

When  sub-district  No.  ,5  of  Richland  Township  was  made 
an  independent  district  in  1874,  a  school  building  was  erected  in  the 
Tawn  of  Grand  River,  la.  Here  Nora  Gassett-Eiker,  Ellen  Gam- 
mon-Long and  Hannah  Hutchinson  were  employed  as  teachers  for 
the  first  terms  in  this  building.  By  1886  this  building  became  inade- 
quate and  a  new  building  28  by  40  was  erected  and  a  short  distance 
from  the  first  one,  and  for  a  time  school  was  carried  on  in  both  build- 
ings. Afterwards  both  buildings  were  sold;  one  is  now  used  for  a 
residence  and  the  other  for  a  church.  Chas.  JNIatsler  and  Bert  Emer- 
son were  among  the  first  teachers.  Following  Emerson  came  V.  R. 
^IcGinnis. 

In  1890  Jolm  ^Vaterman  made  the  first  attempt  toward  a  graded 
school.  He  formulated  a  course  of  study  from  which  there  was  prac- 
tically no  change  from  1890  to  1896.  He  held  the  first  graduating 
exercises  in  the  year  189.5,  the  class  being  composed  of  Frank  Bone, 


HISTORY  OF  DECATUR  COUNTY  85 

Robert  Snyder,  John  Burkhart,  Xora  Boyd,  Xora  Overholtzer  and 
Nellie  Brennaman. 

In  1897  the  present  school  building  was  erected.  It  consists  of  four 
rooms,  including  the  recitation  room  and  library.  Four  teachers  are 
emj^loyed  to  teach  the  eleven  grades. 

Following  ;Mr.  Waterman  came  R.  E.  Porter,  R.  \V.  Boeger,  J. 
L.  Latta,  and  H.  L.  Cosner,  who  was  the  first  principal  to  have  an 
assistant  in  the  high  room.  Next  came  V.  S.  AYebber,  John  Burkhart, 
and  the  jDresent  principal,  Charles  H.  Tedford.  The  school  has  con- 
tinued to  grow  in  size,  until  last  year  an  enrollment  of  167  students 
was  reported. 

During  the  years  of  1879,  1880  and  1881  the  children  of  Lamoni 
attended  the  district  school  of  Fayette  Township  No.  1,  the  school- 
house  being  a  small  frame  structure  east  of  town  across  the  road  from 
the  Banta  farm  where  Samuel  Keown  now  resides. 

Among  the  early  teachers  in  this  school  were  Earl  D.  Bailey,  A.  L. 
Ferguson,  Inas  Peck,  Julia  Hoadley,  and  JNIiss  Fuller. 

Some  of  the  early  students  were  jNIiss  Graham,  now  jNIrs.  Poush,  of 
Leon,  C.  F.,  T.  J.,  and  E.  H.  Smith,  Tom  and  Nellie  Riggs,  Letha 
Barr  and  Alex.  Hopkins,  now  of  Lamoni. 

In  1882  a  carpenter  shop  was  rented  in  the  business  part  of  town, 
which  provided  an  additional  schoolroom  until  1883,  when  the  main 
part  of  the  old  East  Side  building,  containing  three  rooms,  was  erected. 
Prof.  A.  A.  Roy  was  the  first  teacher  in  this  schoolhouse,  he  teaching 
from  1883  to  1886.  Professor  Andrews  then  taught  two  terms,  he 
23receding  Prof.  D.  F.  Lambert,  w^ho  taught  from  the  spring  term 
of  1887  to  the  spring  term  of  1889,  when  he  resigned  this  position. 

Under  Professor  Lambert  the  first  class  that  ever  graduated  in 
Lamoni  held  its  exercises  in  the  year  1888.  This  class  was  composed 
of  Frank  Stoddard,  Andie  Smith,  Cora  Bailey,  jNIartha  Robinson, 
Frances  Walker  and  JNIary  Evans. 

Professor  Gunsolly,  who  is  now  in  Graceland  College,  was  hired  to 
teach  the  next  term  of  school,  he  teaching  till  the  fall  of  1894.  During 
this  time  the  old  East  Side  building  had  become  so  congested  that  out- 
side rooms  were  again  pressed  into  use  until  1891,  when  the  north 
wing  of  the  old  East  Side  schoolhouse  was  erected.  The  town  grew  so 
rapidly  that  in  1894  a  four-roomed  brick  building  was  built  in  West 
Lamoni.  It  was  then  that  Prof.  D.  F.  Lambert  again  took  charge  of 
the  schools  until  1897. 

In  1896  the  school  board  iiurchased  the  old  lumber  yard  lot  and 
shed,  which  was  quickly  converted  into  a  schoolhouse,  today  known 


86  HISTORY  OF  DECATUR  COUNTY 

as  the  Red  Central.  Since  1897  Lamoni  has  had  the  following  pro- 
fessors: G.  N.  Briggs,  ]Mr.  BufFman,  who  is  now  in  the  North  Dakota 
University,  JNlr.  Griffiths,  Mr.  Hannum,  O.  H.  Hollen,  JNIr.  Fisher 
and  the  present  superintendent,  Mr.  Neveln. 

Lamoni  is  now  building  a  fine  modern  building  just  south  of  the 
Herald  Publishing  House,  which  is  to  cost  around  forty-two  thousand 

dollars. 

The  first  school  in  Pleasanton  was  j^robably  conducted  in  1855-56, 
in  a  log  house  not  built  for  school  purposes  on  ^lain  Street  west  of 
the  square.  The  first  teacher  was  Perry  Bailey.  A  few  of  his  pupils 
were  Henry,  Louis  and  JNIary  Anne  JNIills,  William  and  John  Craw- 
ford, Almira  Snook,  Lucy  Anne  and  ^lonroe  Willis. 

The  first  building  erected  for  a  schoolhouse  was  a  large  log  house 
built  in  northeast  Pleasanton.  It  is  now  used  as  an  icehouse.  W.  S. 
Warnock  and  Louis  Hastings  were  two  of  the  early  teachers  in  this 
building.  Among  the  early  students  of  this  school  are  W.  J.  Sullivan, 
Doctor  Foxworthy,  now  of  Leon;  John  Painter,  of  Pleasanton;  Dr. 
E.  C.  ]Macy,  of  Pleasanton,  now  deceased;  JNIrs.  E.  C.  Macey,  Mrs. 
Gardner,  and  Rev.  G.  P.  Campbell,  now  of  Davis  City. 

In  the  later  '50s  or  early  '60s,  the  people  of  Pleasanton  decided  to 
establish  a  college.  The  building  was  to  be  a  large  two-story  one,  40 
by  80  feet.  For  financial  reasons  only  two  rooms  were  finished.  These 
were  used  by  the  little  town  for  a  public  school.  Among  the  early 
teachers  were  W.  S.  Warnock,  deceased,  A.  W.  Lewis,  and  W.  W. 
jNIurphey,  now  a  prominent  physician  in  Los  Angeles,  Cal.  Later 
teachers  were  Mrs.  Dr.  Mace}^  Sr.,  Gideon  P.  Walker,  Doctor  Fox- 
W'orthv  and  J.  INI.  Sallee,  of  Bethany,  now  deceased. 

In  the  year  1886  the  building  blew  down  before  a  severe  hurricane. 
In  its  place  was  erected  a  one-story  brick  building  occupying  the  same 
site.  This  brick  building  was  torn  down  in  1898  and  the  present  one 
erected.  Among  the  teachers  in  the  present  building  were  Erven 
Spencer,  Mrs.  Vena  Edwards,  Ralph  Shelton,  and  at  present  INIiss 
Silvia  Vandel. 

For  many  years  Pleasanton  claimed  to  have  one  of  the  best  schools 
to  be  found  in  the  country.  It  now  has  a  good  school  of  ten  grades, 
it  being  graded  about  1904. 

The  first  schoolhouse  in  Decatur  was  a  log  one,  located  about 
where  Lew  Brown's  residence  now  stands.    Mr.  James  taught  in  the 
year  1855,  a  later  teacher  being  John  Finley,  Jr.,  of  Leon.    Anion 
the  early  pupils  were  Sarah  McCroskey-Springer,  Delia  Huston 
Teale,  Jane  Huston-Day,  and  Anna  Ownby-Rowell. 


HISTORY  OF  DECATUR  COUNTY  87 

During  early  times  when  no  school  building  was  to  be  had,  school 
was  conducted  in  a  store  room,  JNIethodist  Chinch  and  hotel,  succes- 
sively, until  a  building  was  erected  in  the  center  of  what  is  now  their 
town  imvk. 

In  the  years  1871  and  1872,  Ed  Sampson,  of  Van  Wert,  was  ])rin- 
cipal  and  ]Mrs.  Ownby  was  primary  teacher.  Among  her  pupils  were 
Eelle  Shelton-Horner,  ]Mrs.  Emma  Horner-TuUis,  Arthur  and  Gene 
Moore,  and  ^Nlollie  Moore-Little. 

The  schoolhouse  which  stood  in  the  center  of  the  x^ark  burned  and 
the  present  building  erected  about  1882. 

Henry  and  Sarah  Alden  were  the  first  teachers  in  the  present 
building.  Succeeding  the  Aldens  came  I.  N.  W.  Cooper.  During  the 
'80s  Col.  H.  W.  Peck  taught  several  terms.  Since  then  a  great  num- 
ber of  men  have  been  principals,  among  whom  are  Profs.  W.  H. 
Kalkofen,  D.  W.  Greenslate,  Arthur  JNIoore,  J.  W.  Long,  Ed  Con- 
well,  J.  M.  Howell,  Erven  Spencer,  J.  C.  Cozad,  and  the  present 
superintendent,  F.  H.  Riggle,  who  is  now  in  his  fourth  year. 

The  first  school  building  in  Davis  City  was  located  in  S.  W.  Davis' 
pasture  in  the  southwest  part  of  town.  JNIr.  Samuel  Bowman  was 
teacher  in  the  year  1863.  Mr.  N.  C.  Piercv  taught  in  1807.  INIr. 
Piercy  preceded  JNIr.  S.  A.  Gates,  who  taught  the  year  of  1868,  and 
then  returned  to  Davis  City  in  1874  and  conducted  school  in  the  same 
old  building.  He  had  an  average  of  seventy-two  scholars  and  forty- 
two  recitations  daily.  For  teaching  the  schools  he  received  $40  per 
month. 

The  brick  building  which  is  now  used  as  an  opera  house  was  erected 
in  187.5,  and  William  Poland  hired  as  principal,  with  jNIrs.  Lloyd 
Severe  as  primary  teacher.  From  187.5  to  1880  William  Poland,  A. 
jNI.  JVIorgan,  E.  J.  Hainer,  W.  P.  Davidson  and  J.  C.  Hainer  were 
employed  as  teachers.  iSIr.  J.  C.  Hainer  upon  leaving  Davis  City 
was  employed  in  the  State  Agricultural  College  at  Ames.  INIr.  E.  J. 
Hainer  was  later  a  United  States  congressman.  Since  1882  up  to 
the  present  time  J.  INI.  Howell  has  alternated  with  many  principals, 

among  whom  are  J.  C.  Knott, JNIcGhee, Owen,  J.  W. 

Long  and  James  Dutton. 

Principal  Darrah  taught  the  first  term  in  the  present  schoolliouse 
which  was  erected  in  1890.  The  members  of  the  first  graduating  class 
were:  Lew  Horner,  IMaude  ToplifF,  Grace  Horner,  Pearl  Xorman 
and  Anna  Shirley. 

The  first  Van  Wert  schoolhouse  was  built  about  one-fourth  of  a 
mile  north  of  Van  Wert  or  Prairie  City,  as  it  was  then  called,  in  1858. 


88 


HISTORY  OF  DECATUR  COUNTY 


This  building  was  a  log  structure  about  16  by  20  feet,  with  one  door 
and  two  or  three  windows.  It  was  provided  with  puncheon  slats  long 
enough  for  eight  or  ten  pupils  to  sit  on,  for  seats.  An  undressed  board 
placed  upon  pegs  driven  into  the  wall  served  as  a  writing  desk. 

Among  the  early  teachers  in  this  school  were :  Miss  Powell,  Lewis 
Holt,  James  Blair  and  Newton  Piercy.  Some  of  their  pupils  were: 
Charles  L.  Spencer,  Guy  and  George  Jackson,  John,  WiUiam  and 
INIinerva  Barrackman,  6.  H.  and  E.  J.  Blair,  W.  A.  Irving,  the 
Misses  Taylor,  Jake  and  John  Flora,  and.Leora  and  LeRoy  Kelsey. 

In  the  winter  of  1871-72,  Mrs.  Belle  Burns-Hai'\^ey,  who  was 
teaching  there  at  the  time,  held  the  first  Christmas  exercises  ever  given 
in  the  town.  While  she  was  teaching  the  name  of  Prairie  City  was 
changed  to  Van  Wert. 

In  the  year  1872  a  frame  building  22  by  28  feet  was  erected  and 
equipped  with  desks  in  keeping  with  the  time.  It  was  a  one-room 
building  and  seated  during  the  winter  of  1887-88,  seventy-seven  pupils. 

In  1888  a  high  school  or  graded  school  building  of  three  rooms  was 
erected  and  a  two-roomed  school  started.  Some  of  the  early  prin- 
cipals in  this  school  were:  ^Ir.  Rhodes,  V.  R.  McGinnis,  A.  A.  Roy 
and  ]Mr.  McVey. 

A  few  years  back  an  addition  of  two  rooms  was  built  to  the  school- 
house,  the  result  being  the  present  building.  Some  of  the  later  prin- 
cipals have  been  F.  P.  Reed,  O.  H.  Hollen,  Mr.  Davis  and  Miss  Poi- 
teaux  Halstead,  who  is  the  present  principal. 

EARLY  SCHOOL  DAYS  IN  FRANKLIN  TOWNSHIP 

By  J.  N.  JVIachlan 

The  schoolhouse  at  which  the  writer  first  attended  school  was 
located  one-half  mile  north  and  one-fourth  mile  west  of  Fairview 
Cliurch  on  what  was  then  called  the  Leon  and  Osceola  road,  which 
angled  across  a  beautiful  stretch  of  prairie  from  where  Fairview 
schoolhouse  now  stands  to  what  was  formerly  Green  Bay,  over  which 
the  old  buckboard,  drawn  by  pair  of  tiny  steeds,  assisted  LTncle  Sam 
in  distributing  the  mails.  Well,  the  little  school  ship  weighed  anchor 
and  launched  out  with  Hannah  Smith,  later  Lorey  but  at  present 
Evans,  of  Leon,  at  the  helm,  with  a  small  band  of  urchins  at  her 
side,  prominent  among  whom  was  the  writer  of  this  article,  who  at 
that  time  still  donned  the  dress  such  as  was  worn  by  the  fair  sex  of 
our  country  and  which  became  a  source  of  no  little  grievance  to  the 
wearer  from  the  fact  that  mv  brothers,  who  were  bad  bovs  and  were 


HISTORY  OF  DECATUR  COUNTY  89 

a  little  older  than  mj^self,  persisted  in  calling  me  "sis,"  a  name  w  hicli 
I  abhorred  from  the  beginning. 

Perhaps  some  of  my  readers  will  say,  "For  land  sake,  why  didn't 
the  mothers  dress  their  young  men  in  pantaloons?"  Well,  let  me  tell 
you  some  reasons  for  doing  as  they  did. 

1st.  Fashions  have  changed  somewhat  over  in  Paris  during  the 
past  few  decades. 

•2d.  Cloth  from  ^^  hich  to  make  garments  at  that  time  was  very 
high  and  we  must  of  necessity  economize  by  wearing  our  garments 
as  long  as  they  were  any  good. 

3d.     Self  pride  had  not  yet  overrun  this  country. 

4th.  This  country  was  not  yet  rid  of  the  army  greyback  and  the 
seven-year  itch. 

So  you  see  the  mothers  were  quite  busy  preparing  food,  looking 
after  sanitary  regulations,  etc.,  and  could  not  devote  much  time  to 
making  wearing  apparel  as  at  the  present  day.  The  little  school  ship 
glided  peacefully  along  and  ^Ve  pupils  were  learning  quite  rapidly. 
]Miss  Smith  was  painstaking  and  her  methods  of  teaching  about  as 
follows:  Twice  two  was  four;  two  times  four  are  eight;  twice  five 
ought  to  be  ten,  and  so  on.  About  the  same  as  they  teach  mathematics 
now.  The  school  fixtures  consisted  of  benches,  a  blackboard  and  a 
gad.  The  books  were  princi])ally  of  the  old  elementary  type  of 
readers  and  spellers ;  not  so  costly  as  at  present.  A  good  lead  pencil 
cost  10  cents,  a  slate,  2.5  to  30  cents.  The  pupils  had  to  walk  pretty 
straight  or  get  a  licking,  the  writer  excepted,  who  was  a  very  obedient 
lad  of  a  few  summers.  Our  teacher  was  a  good  singer  and  used  to 
entertain  us  with  such  songs  as,  "We'll  Hang  Jeff  Davis  to  a  Sour 
Apple  Tree,"  "Glory  Hallalujah,"  etc.  Our  hats  were  home-made, 
of  rj'e  straw  braided  by  our  mothers. 

In  course  of  time  it  was  deemed  best  to  move  the  schoolhouse  to 
a  location  more  convenient  to  the  pupils,  who  were  few  and  scattered. 
At  an  appointed  time  when  the  ground  was  covered  with  snow  the 
building  was  placed  on  skids,  several  teams  hooked  on  and  tlie  build- 
ing was  moved  one-half  mile  north  and  one-fourth  mile  west  where  it 
remained  on  the  prairie  until  it  was  sold  and  torn  down.  After  the 
schoolhouse  was  moved  a  term  of  school  commenced,  and  at  the  close 
of  the  term  a  summer  term  was  taught.  A  big  fellow  who  stood  six 
feet  tall  was  employed  to  teach  the  m  inter  term.  When  the  day  ar- 
rived he  appeared  with  a  gad  some  six  feet  long,  and  at  the  sight  of 
that  six  foot  salamander  the  chills  chased  each  other  up  and  down  my 
spine  and  I  believe  my  schoolmates  felt  similar  to  myself,  as  we  knew 


90  HISTORY  OF  DECATUR  COUNTY 

he  had  whipped  a  boy  at  another  place  so  hard  that  the  boy  was  con- 
fined to  his  bed  for  a  time.  This  teacher,  although  very  strict,  proved 
to  be  a  good  instructor. 

There  was  a  class  in  mathematics  that  was  far  advanced,  also  some 
good  readers.  Among  those  who  attended  this  school  who  have  be- 
come prominent  were:  One  missionary  to  India,  one  lawyer  of  no 
little  prominence,  one  college  professor  who  has  the  reputation  of 
being  one  of  the  best  educators  in  Iowa,  besides  several  successful 
school  teachers,  farmers,  merchants,  etc.  We  now  jump  a  period  of 
time  to  the  time  when  Lee  Harvey,  of  Leon,  was  employed  to  teach 
a  winter's  term  of  school.  INIr.  Harvey  was  equal  to  the  occasion. 
He  was  a  veiy  intelligent  and  promising  young  man.  Well,  Lee,  as 
we  called  him,  taught  a  very  successful  term  of  school.  He  taught 
four  winter  temis  in  succession.  INIr.  Harvey  was  a  kind  hearted 
man  and  was  held  in  high  esteem  by  the  majority  if  not  all  the 
pupils. 

EARLY  SCHOOLS  IN  GARDEN  GROVE 

This  article  was  written  bv  one  who  attended  the  earlv  schools 
of  Garden  Grove  and  lived  there  during  the  first  years  of  that  town's 
existence : 

"Thirty-one  years  ago  our  little  colony,  consisting  of  Ozro  N. 
Kellogg  and  his  family  and  the  Davis  family  arrived  at  Garden 
Grove.  There  were  about  a  hundred  families  of  Mormons  making  a 
transient  stav,  but  not  a  house  for  a  distance  of  fortv  miles,  either 
east  or  west;  the  nearest  settlers  being  along  the  southern  border  of 
our  county.  There  were  no  counties  organized  adjoining  this,  in  Iowa, 
and  no  land  surveyed,  excepting  six  townships  that  were  put  in 
market  to  induce  immigrants  to  buy  the  improvements,  for  the 
alleged  reason  that  the  saints  were  destroying  the  timber,  thereby 
diminishing  in  value  the  timber  land. 

"We  cannot  proceed  without  honorable  mention  of  the  lamented 
father  of  our  county  superintendent,  who  was  the  first  to  awaken  an 
interest  in  the  cause  of  education  in  this  goodly  land,  not  by  teaching, 
as  he  did  formerly,  but  recommending  the  writer  to  our  neighbors, 
many  of  whom  were  glad  of  an  opportunity  to  have  their  children  at 
school. 

"This  school  commenced  in  December,  or  as  soon  as  a  puncheon 
floor  could  be  made  for  our  rude  log  cabin,  and  continued  three 
months.  Tuition,  $1.2.5  per  scholar.  In  the  winter  of  18.51-52  Mr. 
Hiram  Chase  resumed  the  work.    He  had  been  a  successful  educator 


HISTORY  OF  DECATUR  COUNTY  91 

in  years  gone  by.  They  vacated  their  kitchen,  and  a  profita])le  term 
was  taught  not  kept. 

"Those  good  spelhng  schools  will  always  be  remembered  by  those 
who  attended,  and  almost  every  person  in  our  sparsely  settled  com- 
munity was  included  in  the  number. 

"The  summer  of  '52  still  found  us  dependent  on  our  own  resources 
for  a  teacher.  A  district  had  been  organized  and  the  writer  was  em- 
ployed. Some  pupils  came  five  miles,  and  frequently  were  obliged 
to  leave  their  horses  across  Weldon  and  come  over  on  a  foot  log.  ]Mr. 
Kellogg  proffered  the  use  of  one  of  his  rooms.  The  teacher  went  a 
mile  and  carried  two  children  on  horseback. 

"Our  first  teachers  re-entered  the  schoolroom  from  the  necessity. 
They  brought  with  them  years  of  study  and  practice,  and  knew  no 
education  that  meant  an  exemption  from  labor,  in  whatever  depart- 
ment. They  had  no  advantages  of  convenient  school  buildings  or 
fixtures.  The  seats  were  made  of  logs  split  in  two  with  legs  put  in 
them.  The  kitchen  tables  (not  extensions)  were  the  desks,  and  they 
used  what  books  happened  to  be  brought.,  ]Much  of  the  instruction 
was  necessarily  oral.  They  took  great  pride  in  correct  sj^elling,  good 
reading  and  wanting." 

The  following  list  is  of  the  first  pupils  who  attended  the  normal 
school  at  Garden  Grove  in  1881:  Till  Jordan,  Eva  Chase,  jNIettie 
Pitman,  Leola  Haywood,  Amanda  Kier,  Mina  INIadarasz,  Jessie 
JVIadarasz,  Kate  Detrick,  Esther  Sanger,  Kittie  Stone,  Emma  Butts, 
Ijizzie  Martan,  Cyrena  Kausler,  Belle  Wise,  Addie  Hainer,  ]Mary  J. 
Ryan,  ^lary  Campbell,  ^landa  Rogers,  Ada  Kirkpatrick,  Kate 
Rvan,  Sallie  Coover,  Allie  Gardner,  Allie  Porter,  Ida  Genree,  IMary 
Davis,  Xora  Gassett,  INIary  Shinn,  Eva  Shinn,  Sallie  Walton,  H. 
Hutchinson,  Delia  Lunbeck,  Ellen  Gammon,  Anna  Gammon,  JNIat- 
tie  Post,  and  J.  A.  Beevers,  W.  A.  ^lachlin,  A.  J.  Law,  Dan  West, 
Elza  Osborn,  E.  D.  Samson,  T.  J.  Hasty,  W.  W.  Hamilton,  Chas. 
JMatsler,  Stev.  Varga. 

EARLY  EDEN  TOW^NSHIP  SCHOOLS 

The  first  school  in  Eden  Township  was  taught  in  18o3  in  a  log 
building,  16  by  24,  covered  with  clapboards  and  punclieons.  David 
Shinn  was  the  teacher.  Robert  Dye  taught  in  the  same  building  in 
1855-56.  The  next  school  was  held  near  the  Judge  Kelley  farm. 
The  first  regular  schoolhouse  was  built  in  1856  on  the  Richard  ]Meeks 
fai-m,  built  of  frame,  the  timber  saw^ed  by  Billy  Davis,  of  Davis  City. 


92  HISTORY  OF  DECATUR  COUNTY 

Robert  Dye  taught  the  first  term  in  this  new  school.  In  18j6-o7  the 
townshij)  organized  and  divided  into  school  districts.  Aunt  ]Mary 
A^^'alton  was  another  of  the  pioneer  teachers  of  this  township.  The 
present  Eden  School  was  built  in  1868.  It  was  built  of  brick  by 
\Villiam  Jenkins,  of  Leon.    Calvin  JVIorris  was  the  first  teacher  here. 

SCHOOL    STATISTICS 

In  the  Davis  City  District  there  are  two  teachers,  one  male  and 
one  female;  there  are  2.50  pupils  enrolled;  and  one  schoolhouse  is 
used,  which  cost  $9,000. 

In  the  Decatur  City  District  there  is  one  male  and  four  female 
teachers;  118  pupils  enrolled;  and  one  school,  cost  $4o0. 

In  the  Garden  Grove  City  District  there  are  two  male  and  nine 
female  teachers;  there  is  one  schoolhouse  worth  $15,000.  This  school 
was  built  in  1903.    The  enrollment  is  245. 

In  the  Grand  River  Town  District  there  is  one  male  and  three 
female  teachers;  156  pupils  are  enrolled;  and  there  is  one  school  worth 
$2,500. 

In  the  Lamoni  District  there  are  two  male  and  twelve  female 
teachers  emploj^ed;  the  enrollment  is  466;  and  there  are  four  school- 
houses,  worth  together  $10,000. 

In  the  Leon  District  there  are  two  male  and  seventeen  female 
teachers;  631  enrolled;  and  two  schools  with  a  combined  value  of 
$35,000. 

In  the  Leroy  District  there  is  one  male  and  two  female  teachers ; 
eighty  pupils  enrolled;  and  one  school  used,  which  is  worth  $4,500. 

In  the  Pleasanton  District  there  are  three  female  teachers;  124 
enrolled;  and  one  $2,000  schoolhouse. 

In  the  Van  Wert  District  there  is  one  male  and  five  female  teach- 
ers; 117  enrolled;  and  one  school,  cost  $4,500. 

In  the  Weldon  District  there  is  one  male  and  five  female  teachers ; 
132  enrolled;  one  $6,000  school. 

The  total  in  independent  city,  town  and  village  districts  is  as 
follows:  twelve  male  and  sixty-five  female  teachers;  2,319  enrolled; 
and  fourteen  schoolhouses,  costing  together  $88,950. 

COUNTY  DISTRICTS 

In  Eloomington  District  there  are  two  male  and  nine  female  teach- 
ers; 207  are  enrolled;  and  there  are  eight  schoolhouses,  costing  $6,050. 


HISTORY  OF  DECATUR  COUNTY  93 

In  the  Burrell  District  there  is  one  male  and  eight  female  teach- 
ers; 171  enrolled;  seven  schools  worth  $4,200. 

In  the  Center  District  there  are  eight  female  teachers:  100  en- 
rolled; seven  schoolhouses,  worth  $J3,60(). 

In  Eden  District  there  are  one  male  and  seven  female  teachers; 
183  enrolled;  eight  schoolhonses,  worth  $4<,0.)0. 

In  the  Franklin  District  there  is  one  male  and  seven  female 
teachers;  120  enrolled;  six  schoolhonses  worth  $2,300. 

In  the  High  Point  District  there  is  one  male  and  eight  female 
teachers;  131  enrolled;  eight  schoolhonses,  costing  $3,300. 

In  the  JNIorgan  District  there  are  two  male  and  six  female  teach- 
ers; 183  enrolled;  six  schoolhonses  which  cost  $2,2.50. 

In  the  Woodland  District  there  is  one  male  and  eight  female 
teachers;  189  enrolled;  nine  schools  which  cost  $3,72.5. 

In  the  Decatur  District  there  are  the  following:  No.  2,  Wood- 
mansee,  there  is  one  male  teacher,  eighteen  enrolled,  and  one  school 
which  cost  $634;  No.  3,  Pleasant  Hill,  there  is  one  female  teacher, 
twenty-eight  enrolled,  and  one  $.500  school;  in  No.  4,  Stone,  there  is 
one  female  teacher,  thirteen  enrolled,  and  one  $400  school;  in  No.  ,5, 
Washington,  there  is  one  female  teacher,  fifteen  enrolled,  and  one 
$300  school;  in  No.  6,  Wells,  there  is  one  female  teacher,  twenty-nine 
enrolled,  and  one  $300  school;  in  No.  7,  Hickory  Grove,  there  is  one 
female  teacher,  seventeen  enrolled,  and  one  $300  school;  in  No.  8, 
Lone  Star,  there  is  one  female  teacher,  twenty-six  enrolled,  and  one 
$400  school. 

In  the  Fayette  District  there  are  the  following:  In  No.  2,  Spur- 
rier, there  are  three  female  teachers,  nineteen  enrolled,  and  one  $300 
school;  in  No.  3,  Black,  there  is  one  female  teacher,  twenty-six  en- 
rolled, and  one  $.500  school;  in  No.  4,  Evergreen,  there  are  two  fe- 
male teachers,  twenty-two  enrolled,  and  one  school  which  cost  $1,17.5; 
in  No.  5,  Athens,  there  is  one  female  teacher,  fourteen  enrolled,  and 
one  $300  school ;  in  No.  6,  Brenizer,  there  is  one  female  teacher,  twen- 
ty-three enrolled,  and  one  $500  school. 

In  the  Garden  Grove  Rural  Independent  District  there  are  the 
following:  In  No.  2,  White  Oak,  there  is  one  female  teacher,  twenty 
enrolled,  and  one  $500  school;  in  No.  3,  Gospel  Ridge,  there  is  one 
male  teacher,  thirteen  enrolled,  and  one  $300  school;  in  No.  4,  Tick 
Ridge,  there  are  two  female  teachers,  fifteen  enrolled,  and  one  $800 
school;  in  No.  5,  Pleasant  Ridge,  there  is  one  female  teacher,  eighteen 
enrolled,  and  one  $800  school. 


T 


94  HISTORY  OF  DECATUR  COUNTY 

In  the  Grand  River  Rural  Independent  District  there  are  the 
following:  m  Xo.  1,  Jefferson,  there  is  one  male  and  one  female 
teacher,  seven  enrolled,  and  one  $100  school;  in  No.  2,  West  Elk,  there 
is  one  female  teacher,  sixteen  enrolled,  and  one  $600  school ;  in  No.  3, 
Centennial,  there  is  one  female  teacher,  twenty-one  enrolled,  and  one 
$500  school ;  in  No.  4,  Union,  there  are  two  female  teachers,  twenty- 
three  enrolled,  and  one  $450  school;  in  No.  5,  Elk,  there  is  one  male 
and  one  female  teacher,  twenty-five  enrolled,  and  one  $400  school;  in 
No.  6,  Center,  there  are  two  female  teachers,  nineteen  enrolled;  and 
one  $500  school;  in  No.  7,  Diamond,  there  are  two  female  teachers, 
sixteen  enrolled,  and  one  $600  school;  in  No.  8,  Welcome,  there  is 
no  school. 

In  Long  Creek  District  there  are  the  following:  In  No.  1,  Wood- 
ard,  there  are  three  female  teachers,  twenty-seven  enrolled,  and  one 
$800  school ;  in  No.  3,  Good  Hope,  there  is  one  male  and  one  female 
teacher,  fourteen  enrolled,  and  one  $350  school;  in  No.  4,  there  is  one 
female  teacher,  twenty-three  enrolled,  and  one  $400  school;  in  No.  5, 
there  is  one  female  teacher,  twenty-six  enrolled,  and  one  $300  school ; 
in  No.  6,  Hawkeye,  there  is  one  female  teacher,  eleven  enrolled,  and 
one  $500  school;  in  No.  7,  Hazel  College,  there  is  one  female  teacher, 
twenty-nine  enrolled,  and  one  $400  school;  in  No.  8,  Elm  Grove, 
there  are  two  female  teachers,  forty-one  enrolled,  and  one  $200  school ; 
in  No.  9,  Spring  Valley,  there  is  one  female  teacher,  seventeen  en- 
rolled, and  one  $300  school. 

In  the  New  Buda  District  there  are  the  following:  In  No.  2, 
Stringtown,  there  are  two  female  teachers,  tw^enty-nine  enrolled,  and 
one  $450  school;  in  No.  3,  New  Buda,  there  is  one  female  teacher, 
twenty-four  enrolled,  and  one  $500  school;  in  No.  4,  Togo,  there  is 
one  female  teacher,  twelve  enrolled,  and  one  $500  school;  in  No.  5, 
Bennett,  there  is  one  female  teacher,  thirty-one  enrolled,  and  one 
$60  house;  in  No.  6,  Liberty,  there  is  one  female  teacher,  twenty  en- 
rolled, and  one  $300  school. 

In  Richland  District  there  are  the  following:  In  No.  1,  Brick, 
there  is  one  female  teacher,  forty-three  enrolled,  and  one  $600  school ; 
in  No.  2,  Glenwood,  there  is  one  male  and  one  female  teacher,  nine- 
teen enrolled,  and  one  $250  school;  in  No.  3,  Dunham,  there  is  one 
male  teacher,  thirty-three  enrolled,  and  one  $500  school;  in  No.  4, 
Daughton,  there  is  one  female  teacher,  sixteen  enrolled,  and  one  $400 
school;  in  No.  6,  Comstock,  there  is  one  female  teacher,  twenty-one 
enrolled,  and  one  $800  school;  in  No.  7,  Liberty,  there  is  one  male 


HISTORY  OF  DECATUR  COUNTY  95 

teacher,  fifty-six  enrolled,  and  one  $700  school;  in  No.  8,  Westerville, 
there  is  one  male  teacher,  twenty-seven  enrolled,  and  one  $600  school. 

The  total  for  the  rural  districts  is  as  follows:  There  are  nine- 
teen male  and  one  hundred  eighteen  female  teachers,  there  are  2,4.37 
pupils  enrolled,  and  110  schoolhouses,  costing  a  total  of  $.5.5,494. 

The  grand  total  is  as  follows:  there  are  thirty-one  male  and  183 
female  teachers,  there  are  4,776  pupils  enrolled  in  the  county,  and 
there  are  124  schools,  costing  an  aggregate  of  $144,444.  In  the 
county  there  are  2,68G  male  and  2,600  female  children  between  the 
ages  of  five  and  twenty-one.  The  average  monthly  wage  for  men 
teachers  is  $67.66  and  for  women,  $49.4.5. 


CHAPTER  IX 

GRACELAND  COLLEGE 

By  Inez  Smith 

For  righteous  masters  seized  my  youth, 
And  purged  its  faith,  and  trimmed  its  fire; 

Showed  me  the  high,  white  star  of  truth 
That  bade  me  gaze  and  then  aspire. 

— Matthew  Arnold. 

Ahnost  as  old  as  the  church  itself  is  the  dream  of  its  wise  men  for 
the  establishment  of  a  house  of  learning.  Graceland  is  the  crystalliza- 
tion of  that  dream.  They  were  not  all — in  fact,  few  of  them  were — 
educated  men,  who  built  the  church  and  sustained  it  in  the  olden  days — 
they  were  not  educated  men  who  kept  the  sacred  gospel  message  pure 
through  the  "dark  and  cloudy  day,"  but  all  were  men  who,  even  while 
they  felt  the  Spirit's  power,  still  knew  that  an  organized,  systematic 
course  of  study  and  discipline  would  make  them  bigger  men.  Had  not 
the  Almighty  himself  spoken  and  urged  this  duty  upon  them?  The 
Seer  of  Palmyra — an  unlettered  farmer  boy,  during  the  brief  years 
of  his  activity  in  the  world,  in  the  midst  of  church — and  city  building, 
and  in  the  midst  of  turmoil  and  confusion,  still  found  time  as  he  rested 
from  flight  by  the  dusty  roadside,  or  in  the  home  of  a  friend,  to  study 
his  Greek  or  Hebrew  lexicon.  And  our  fathers  who  built  the  little 
city  on  the  river  shore  had  dreams  that  did  not  concern  the  boisterous 
Gentile  hordes  that  stormed  their  gates  and  made  defense  first  thought. 
In  those  dreams  a  university  crowned  the  hill,  and  a  learned  people 
populated  the  little  City  of  Nauvoo.  In  all  those  days,  through  sedi- 
tion within  and  pressure  without,  the  people  were  rallied  and  sup- 
ported by  a  love  and  trust  in  one  man,  for  they  said  that  God  was 
with  him.  Why  need  they  fear,  when  this  one  man,  a  man  of  almost 
unparalleled  moral  and  physical  courage,  saw  nothing  to  fear? 

But  there  came  a  dark  day  when  that  one  was  gone;  there  were 
brave  men  left,  there  were  true  men  left,  but  the  blessing  of  God  had 
gone  from  the  little  city  forever,  and  it  m  ith  all  its  dreams  lay  in 

96 


GRACELAND   COLLEGE,   LAMONI 


HISTORY  OF  DECATUR  COUNTY  97 

ruins.  No,  not  that ;  for  dreams  are  built  of  stronger  stuff  than  stone 
and  mortar,  and  they  were  still  as  substantial  in  the  hearts  of  the 
strong  men  of  Israel  as  thej^  had  been  in  the  days  of  Nauvoo's  greatest 
glory. 

The  day  came  again  when  true  men  and  strong  gathered  to  the 
old  standard,  and  still  in  the  hearts  of  these  were  the  potential  possi- 
bilities that  would  have  clothed  the  hills  round  old  Nauvoo  with  Gothic 
spires. 

In  1869  at  a  conference  at  St.  Louis,  INIissouri,  after  a  lengthy 
preamble  the  following  resolution  was  adopted; 

"Resolved,  That  this  conference  recommend  for  consideration 
of  the  twelve  and  general  church  authorities,  the  feasibility  and  the 
advisability  of  establishing  a  school  for  the  education  of  our  own 
young  men,  with  a  view  to  the  ministry;  and  that  the  question  be 
brought  up  at  the  next  sitting  of  the  general  conference." 

This  was  adopted.  Accordingly  it  was  called  up  at  the  semi- 
annual conference  at  Gallands  Grove,  Iowa,  October  7,  1869,  and 
after  some  discussion  was  deferred  until  the  annual  conference  of 
1870.  April  8,  1870,  at  Piano,  Illinois,  the  resolution  was  again 
taken  up,  and  after  much  discussion,  and  efforts  to  amend,  it  was  lost. 
The  conference  evidently  thought  that  the  School  of  the  Prophets 
provided  for  in  the  law  would  meet  the  requirements  sought,  for 
immediately  after  the  rejection  of  the  resolution  mentioned  above 
the  following  was  adopted:  "Resolved  that  the  School  of  the 
Prophets  be  organized  at  as  early  a  time  as  i^racticable."  The  con- 
ference therefore  did  not  intend  to  discourage  the  desire  for  educa- 
tion, but  sought  to  provide  for  it  in  another  way. 

Nothing  more  was  done  for  some  time.     The  next  attempt  was 

an  effort  made  by  the  formation  of  a  joint  stock  company.     At  a 

regular  meeting  of  the  "Board  of  Trade  of  Lamoni,  Iowa,"  held  on 

the  31st  day  of  December,   1888,  Articles  of  Incorporation  for  a 

college  in  Lamoni  were  presented  and  read,  and  upon  motion  ordered 

printed;  also  Joseph  Smith,  David  Dancer,  George  A.  Blakeslee, 

William  W.  Blair,  and  Delos  F.  Nicholson  were  requested  to  act  as 

a  committee  to  secure  subscriptions  for  the  purpose  of  erecting  the 

college.     Another  committee,  David  Dancer,  of  Lamoni,  Iowa,  and 

Edmund  L.   Kelley,   of  Kirtland,  Ohio,  and  Robert  Winning,  of 

St.   Joseph,   Missouri,   were   appointed  April   18,   1889,   to   "solicit 

stock,  arrange  and  devise  to  put  in  operation  the  plan  of  the  college." 

On  ]May  2.5th  the  committee  met  and  reported  subscriptions  received. 

In  and  around  Lamoni  $4,300.     Foreign  list  reported  $62,5.     Israel 

A-ol.  I—    7 


98  HISTORY  OF  DECATUR  COUNTY 

L.  Rogers,  Sandwich,  Illinois,  $5,000,  Edmund  L.  Kelley,  Kirtland, 
Ohio,  $50,  Robert  Winning,  St.  Joseph,  Missouri,  $1,000.  The 
committee  was  continued,  with  the  exce^Dtion  of  David  Dancer,  who 
by  his  own  request  w^as  released,  and  Asa  S.  Cochran  was  chosen  in 

his  place. 

During  the  April  conference,  the  following  action  was  had  by 

the  conference: 

"Resolved,  That  in  the  opinion  of  this  conference,  the  time  has 
arrived  when  it  may  be  expedient  to  establish  an  institution  of  learn- 
ing under  the  control  or  influence  of  our  church  oi-ganization,  and  to 
this  end  there  shall  be  a  committee  appointed  (bj^  the  body)  to  receive 
propositions  for  a  location  and  take  such  other  preliminary  measures 
as  may  be  necessary;  and  said  committee  empowered  after  receiving 
such  proposals  to  make  all  necessary  arrangements  for  the  establish- 
ment of  such  institution." 

A  committee  consisting  of  seven,  viz. :  George  A.  Blakeslee,  Israel 
L.  Rogers,  Edmund  L.  Kelley,  David  Dancer,  Robers  Winning, 
Frederick  G.  Pitt,  and  John  A.  Robinson  was  appointed. 

Upon  the  next  day  the  committee  reported  in  part  as  follows : 

"Resolved,  That  the  committee  take  measures  to  secure  a  proper 
fund  for  the  carrjdng  into  effect  the  resolution  relative  to  the  estab- 
lishment of  an  institution  of  learning  passed  by  the  conference  on 
yesterday,  and  to  this  end  we  open  proper  subscription  books  and 
arrange  for  a  special  fund  to  be  known  as  the  College  Fund,  for 
this  purpose. 

"That  E.  L.  Kelley  and  Robert  Winning  be  a  committee  to  pre- 
pare the  necessary  subscription  list  and  books. 

"That  the  personal  canvass  be  under  the  direction  of  the  bishop- 
ric, they  appointing  suitable  persons  to  solicit  subscriptions. 

"That  all  authorized  canvassers  be  instructed  to  report  monthly 
to  the  secretary,  whose  duty  it  is  to  collect  all  moneys  and  to  turn 
over  same  to  treasurer,  taking  his  receipt  therefor. 

*******        ***        ***** 

"That  the  secretary  communicate  with  Lamoni  College  Commit- 
tee and  subscribers,  and  if  possible  secure  the  turning  over  to  his  com- 
mittee of  all  cash  and  other  subscriptions  made.     *     *     *" 

The  joint  stock  plan  failed,  but  the  agitation  of  the  college  prop- 
osition still  continued.  In  1894  at  a  joint  counsel  of  the  twelve  and 
the  bishopric  held  in  the  editorial  room  of  the  Herald  office  on  Fri- 
day, April  20th  the  following  action  was  had: 


HISTORY  OF  DECATUR  COUXTY  99 

"Resolved,  That  we  look  witli  favor  upon  the  effort  to  build  a 
college  at  Lamoni  to  be  controlled  by  the  cliurcli.  Resolved  further, 
That  we  believe  that  it  should  be  a  purely  educational  institution  and 
free  from  sectarian  influence  or  bias.  Resolved  further,  That  we 
give  our  hearty  sujjport  to  the  present  movement  looking  in  tlie  above 
direction." 

Those  present  were  Joseph  Smith,  William  W.  Rlair  of  the 
presidency,  Alexander  H.  Smith,  Edmund  C.  Rriggs,  James  Caff  all, 
William  H.  Kelley,  John  H.  Lake,  Joseph  R.  Lambert,  Heman  C. 
Smitli,  Joseph  Luff  and  Gomer  T.  Grifhths,  of  the  twelve;  Edmund 
L.  Kelley,  George  H.  Ililliard  and  Edwin  A.  Rlakeslee,  of  the 
bishopric.     The  resolution  was  adopted  without  a  dissenting  vote. 

By  the  time  of  the  next  conference,  189.3,  the  college  committee 
was  ready  to  report.  Land  had  been  donated  by  Sisters  ^Marietta 
Walker  and  ^linnie  Wickes,  and  Bro.  W.  A.  Hopkins  for  college 
purposes;  also  twenty-six  acres  had  been  purchased  from  ]Mr.  Hop- 
kins, making  sixty-six  acres  in  all. 

The  conference  ordered  the  college  committee  to  incorporate  as 
provided  under  the  laws  of  Iowa,  and  a  board  of  directors  was  sub- 
sequently chosen.  The  former  board  was  known  as  a  board  of  trus- 
tees and  was  composed  of  the  following:  Edmund  L.  Kelley,  Daniel 
Anderson,  Robert  Winning,  Joseph  Smith,  William  Anderson,  Ellis 
Short,  Edmund  A.  Blakeslee.  The  board  of  directors  consisted  of 
Joseph  Smith,  Daniel  F.  Lambert,  Parley  P.  Kelley,  Edmund  L. 
Kelley,  John  H.  Hansen,  James  R.  Smith,  Alexander  H.  Smith, 
William  W.  Blair,  and  Edwin  A.  Blakeslee. 

The  board  of  trustees  started  the  erection  of  the  college  building 
and  its  equipment.  By  them  it  was  christened  Graceland  College 
and  the  grounds  the  Graceland  Addition  to  Lamoni.  The  streets 
were  named — articles  of  incorporation  filed  and  adopted.  Along  the 
platted  streets  of  the  grounds  the  committee  set  out  about  eight  hun- 
dred shade  trees. 

On  November  12,  1895,  the  cornerstone  of  the  building  was  laid 
with  elaborate  ceremonies. 

The  procession  formed  at  the  east  side  public  school  and  led  by 
Lamoni's  junior  band,  marched  to  the  college,  carrying  the  stars 

and  stripes. 

Services  were  in  charge  of  Bishop  Edmund  L.  Kelley.     Prayer 
was  offered  by  Elder  Henry  A.  Stebbins.     Directed  by  President 
Joseph  Smith,  the  cornerstone  was  lowered  into  place  by  L.  J.  Frink,         »^ 
L.  B.  JNIitchell  and  John  Weedmark,  and  President  Smith  officiall^*^^ 


100  HISTORY  OF  DECATUR  COUNTY 

laid  the  cornerstone.  Speeches  were  made  by  William  W.  Scott, 
mayor  of  Lamoni;  Joseph  Smith;  Zenos  H.  Gurley;  Daniel  F.  Lam- 
bert,  superintendent  of  public  schools,  and  Alexander  H.  Smith, 
president  of  the  quorum  of  twelve. 

During  President  Smith's  speech  he  announced  that  the  follow- 
ing articles  were  placed  in  the  cornerstone:  Copies  of  the  Chicago 
Chronicle,  Chicago  Times-Herald,  Chicago  Inter-Ocean,  Chicago 
Tribune,  Saints'  Herald,  Autumn  Leaves,  Independent  Patriot,  Col- 
lege City  Chronicle,  Zion's  Ensign,  Holy  Scriptures,  Book  of  Mor- 
mon, Book  of  Doctrine  and  Covenants,  and  church  articles  of 
incorporation. 

Before  the  w^inter  of  1895-96  closed  the  basement  was  completed 
and  the  walls  up  about  as  high  as  the  second  floor.  The  building 
was  estimated  to  cost  about  ten  thousand  dollars,  and  some  lots  in 
Graceland  Addition  were  sold  with  the  hope  of  meeting  the  expense. 

The  first  faculty  consisted  of  Thomas  J.  Fitzpatrick,  Joseph  T. 
Pence,  Jeremiah  A.  Gunsolley  and  Nellie  Davis.  The  first  enroll- 
ment was  thirty-five,  and  they  began  work  September  17,  1895,  in 
a  rented  building  in  the  business  part  of  Lamoni,  known  as  the 
"France  Block." 

The  college  building  itself  was  ready  for  dedication  on  January 
1,  1897. 

The  dedication  service  w^as  under  the  direction  of  the  program 
committee,  consisting  of  Edmund  L.  Kelley,  Daniel  Anderson  and 
Daniel  F.  Lambert.  The  opening  prayer  was  by  Rev.  George 
JVIitchell,  of  Davis  City,  la.  The  dedicatory  address  was  delivered 
by  President  Joseph  Smith.  Speeches  were  made  by  Judge  H.  M. 
Towner,  judge  of  the  Third  Judicial  District  of  Iowa,  and  by  Elder 
Joseph  R.  Lambert.  The  dedicatory  prayer  was  oiFered  by  Prof. 
JNIark  H.  Forscutt,  dean  of  the  faculty,  and  the  dismissal  prayer  was 
offered  by  Elder  Columbus  Scott.  An  entertainment  was  given  in 
the  evening,  and  the  day's  exercises  closed  with  a  benediction  by 
Elder  Alexander  H.  Smith. 

The  fifty  students  in  attendance  were  immediately  transferred  to 
the  new  building.  In  1898  the  trustees  and  directors  were  united  in 
one  board,  to  perform  the  duties  of  both. 

Mr.  Joseph  T.  Pence,  first  president,  acted  in  that  capacity  until 
1898,  when  Prof.  Ernest  Ritson  Dewsnup,  of  Manchester,  England, 
was  secured.  Professor  Dewsnup  acted  until  the  end  of  the  college 
year  1899,  when  he  was  succeeded  by  Prof.  R.  A.  Harkness.  In 
1901  Prof.  Herbert  Spencer  Salisbury,  of  Illinois,  became  ]Dresident; 


HISTORY  OF  DECATUR  COUNTY  lOi 

following  him  C.  O.  Taylor  acting  president  from  1902  to  January, 
1903;  Charles  Marr  Barber,  January,  1903,  to  June,  1903;  Professor 
Dewsnup  resumed  the  chair  in  1903  and  acted  until  June,  190.3,  when 
Prof.  Holland  ^IcLaren  Stewart,  of  the  University  of  Iowa,  was 
called  to  the  position.  When  Professor  Stewart  resigned,  in  1908, 
Prof.  David  Allen  Anderson,  of  Iowa  University,  became  head  of 
the  college  for  one  year,  since  which  time,  in  the  absence  of  an  elec- 
tion to  that  office.  Prof.  Jeremiah  Alden  Gunsollev  has  acted  in  that 
capacity. 

iSIany  good  and  capable  men  and  women  have  served  on  the 
faculty  of  Graceland  in  her  history,  and  it  is  impossible  in  limited 
space  to  name  them  all.  Almost  without  exception  they  have  had  the 
college  and  her  interests  at  heart,  and  have  helped  in  making  Grace- 
land  what  she  is  today — contributing  not  only  in  their  official  capacity 
to  the  life  of  the  college,  but  sacrificing  of  their  time  and  talents 
outside  of  their  work  to  the  college  and  community,  and  even  at 
times  giving  material  aid  financially. 

The  library  of  the  college  early  became  an  important  factor. 
Mrs.  Mina  Cook  Hart  w^as  the  fo-st  to  attempt  getting  it  in  con- 
dition and  properly  classified.  She  arranged  the  books  according  to 
the  Dewey  Decimal  System.  A  few  years  later,  however,  the  library 
lapsed  into  a  condition  of  haphazard  growth,  and  by  the  fall  of  1908 
w^as  in  a  condition  of  decided  chaos  so  far  as  library  law  and  order 
were  concerned.  Prof.  Thomas  J.  Fitzpatrick,  who  had  been  that 
year  elected  to  the  head  of  the  Department  of  :Mathematics,  being 
himself  a  private  librarian  and  collector  of  some  note,  took  the  library 
work  in  charge,  since  which  the  library  has  assumed  a  rather  phe- 
nomenal growth.  He  has  been  helped  in  his  work  as  librarian  by 
donations  from  individuals,  faculty  members,  funds  donated  by  the 
Athenian  Literary  Society,  Zion's  Religio-Literary  Society  and  the 
General  Sunday  School  Association.  The  library  at  its  present  rate 
of  progress  will  soon  comply  with  state  requirements. 

The  museum,  also  an  early  attraction  to  college  visitors,  is  now 
being  well  cared  for,  and  will  become  more  and  more  interesting 
and    instructive.     Professor   Fitzpatrick   is   also   in   charge   of   the 

museum. 

But  in  financial  matters,  in  common  with  many  other  schools  of 
her  class,  Graceland  came  near  being  grounded.  There  were  those 
who  expected  to  see  her  able  to  make  her  own  way  in  the  world,  and 
there  were  those  in  the  church  who  began  to  feel  the  support  of  this 
child  of  their  own  adoption  becoming  a  burden  to  them;  so  in  the 


102  HISTORY  OF  DECATUR  COUNTY 

year  1904,  in  about  the  seventh  year  of  her  age,  Graceland  received 
what  was  at  the  time  considered  her  deathblow,  when  at  Kirtland, 
O.,  the  church  in  conference  assembled,  passed,  after  a  lengthy  dis- 
cussion, by  a  yea  and  nay  vote  of  851  for  and  826  against,  the  follow- 
ing preambles  and  resolution : 

"Whereas,  The  maintenance  of  Graceland  College  is  proving  to 
be  a  serious  burden  in  a  financial  waj^  and  is  likely  to  so  continue ;  and, 

"Whereas,  There  seems  to  be  but  a  minority  of  the  members  of 
the  church  who  favor  its  continuance;  and, 

"Whereas,  The  operation  of  a  college  of  its  character  does  not  lie 
within  the  direct  line  of  our  appointed  work  as  a  church ;  therefore, 

"Resolved,  That  we  favor  a  discontinuance  of  Graceland  College 
after  the  close  of  its  present  term,  and  recommend  that  the  property 
be  turned  over  to  other  uses  such  as  may  be  agreed  upon  by  the 
bishopric  of  the  church  and  such  other  councils  or  persons  as  may  be 
chosen  by  the  general  conference  until  such  time  as  the  general  con- 
ference decides  to  reopen  the  college." 

On  ]May  12th  the  bishopric  and  board  of  trustees  took  under  advise- 
ment the  carrying  out  of  the  resolution  and  decided  upon  the  follow- 
ing action,  which,  whatever  may  be  said  about  its  legitimacy,  we 
believe  has  proved  a  blessing  to  many  of  us,  who  had  it  not  been  for 
the  open  doors  of  Graceland  College,  would  never  have  had  the 
privilege  of  the  little  learning  we  have  had.  The  report  of  the 
council  was  as  follows: 

On  ^lay  12,  1904,  the  bishopric  of  the  church  and  the  Board  of 
Trustees  of  Graceland  College,  to  whom  was  referred  the  matter 
of  the  use  and  disposition  of  the  property  of  Graceland  College  by 
resolution  of  the  general  conference  at  Kirtland,  held  a  joint  meet- 
ing in  the  rooms  of  the  Herald  Publishing  House,  Lamoni,  la.,  and 
after  due  and  careful  consideration  of  their  powers  and  duties  in 
the  premises  adopted  the  following  as  a  basis  of  work : 

"First:  That  the  Board  of  Trustees  of  Graceland  College  was 
by  the  general  conference  at  its  last  session  appointed  a  committee 
to  act  with  the  bishopric  in  caring  for  the  property  of  Graceland 
College  as  shown  by  minutes  of  said  conference,  pages  705  and  706, 
and  following  the  passage  of  a  resolution  of  said  conference,  page 
698  of  minutes,  to-wit: 

"Resolved,  That  we  favor  a  discontinuance  of  Graceland  College 
after  the  close  of  its  present  term,  and  recommend  that  the  property 
be  turned  over  to  other  uses  such  as  may  be  agreed  upon  bj^  the  bish- 
opric of  the  church  and  such  other  councils  or  persons  as  may  be 


HISTOllY  OF  DECATUR  COUNTY  103 

chosen  by  the  general  conference  until  such  a  time  as  the  general 
conference  decides  to  reopen  the  college. 

"Second:  That  the  resolution  favoring  the  discontinuance  of 
Graceland  College  was  acted  upon  without  any  notice  whatever  hav- 
ing been  given  that  the  same  would  be  presented  for  action,  as  is 
required  by  the  articles  of  incorporation  of  Graceland  College,  which 
reads  as  follows : 

"These  articles  may  be  amended  at  any  general  conference  of 
said  Reorganized  Church,  or  at  any  meeting  of  the  board  of  trus- 
tees lierein  named,  providing  sixty  days'  publislied  notice  of  said 
amendment  and  the  nature  of  the  same  be  given  through  the  Saints' 
Herald  prior  to  the  time  of  such  annual  conference  or  meeting." — 
Article  1.5  of  incorporation  act. 

"Third:  That  the  resolution  referred  to  of  the  general  confer- 
ence cannot  properly  be  considered  an  order  for  the  closing  of  Grace- 
land  College,  for  the  same  would  be  contrary  to  the  articles  of  incor- 
poration, and  the  former  action  of  general  conference  requiring 
sixty  days'  published  notice  before  action  upon  such  a  resolution, 
and  therefore  absolutely  void;  but,  that  it  was  simply  the  expression 
of  the  sentiment  of  those  present  at  the  conference  upon  the  ques- 
tion, without  the  authority  of  an  action  to  close  the  college. 

"Fourth:  That  this  council,  after  due  consideration  of  the  ques- 
tion of  closing  the  college  and  diverting  the  property  to  other  uses 
than  that  of  a  college,  which  is  duly  provided  for  in  the  articles  of 
incorporation,  believe  that  it  will  actually  cost  less  to  run  the  college 
the  ensuing  year  than  to  discontinue  the  running  of  the  same;  besides, 
it  will  so  disturb  the  educational  work,  already  in  operation  at  great 
sacrifice  and  expense,  as  to  make  it  doubtful  if  the  college  could  ever 
recover  from  the  effects  of  so  stopping  it. 

"Therefore,  after  a  full  and  respectful  consideration  of  the  feel- 
ing and  sentiment  expressed  in  the  resolution  by  the  general  con- 
ference, it  is  the  sense  of  this  council  that  its  members  in  their 
respective  capacities  and  duties  as  members  of  the  bishopric  of  the 
Reorganized  Church,  and  as  trustees  of  Graceland  College,  use  every 
legitimate  effort  practicable  to  solicit  and  collect  the  means  to  liqui- 
date the  full  indebtedness  now  against  the  college,  and,  should  the 
means  be  furnished,  continue  the  running  of  the  college  according 
to  its  articles  of  incorporation,  and  the  trust  reposed  by  the  church." 

The  board  of  trustees  also  took  action  as  follows: 

"Whereas,  The  conference  in  session  at  Kirtland,  O.,  took  action 
favoring  tlie  closing  of  the  college  without  regard  to  a  provision  in 


104  HISTORY  OF  DECATUR  COUNTY 

the  articles  of  incorporation  requiring  sixty  days'  notice  in  case  of 
change  of  said  articles,  thereby  doing  injustice  to  a  number  of  stu- 
dents and  to  parties  who  had  purchased  scholarships  and  made  dona- 
tions, when  a  year's  notice  would  seem  none  too  long  to  take  such 
action  in  a  matter  so  important ;  and, 

"Whereas,  The  sacrifice  made  in  closing  the  college  at  this  time  is 
entirely  too  great,  both  by  losing  the  services  of  President  Dewsnup 
bj'-  reason  of  his  educational  standing,  together  with  the  extra  expense 
of  securing  a  president,  who,  if  his  equal,  would  cost  us  several  thou- 
sand dollars  more  for  the  term  which  he  was  engaged,  and  the  dis- 
couragement it  may  cost  to  the  many  who  have  given  their  aid  in 
many  ways  and  who  have  cause  to  fear  the  stability  of  the  institution 
which  may  be  closed  with  scarcely  a  moment's  notice;  and, 

"Whereas,  A  resolution  w^as  presented  later  in  the  conference 
than  the  foregoing,  by  the  quorum  of  twelve,  favoring  the  running 
of  the  college  as  soon  as  the  debt  was  jDaid,  the  board  believing  such 
to  be  the  sentiment  of  the  church  membership  generally,  and  that 
the  closing  of  the  college  at  the  end  of  this  year  will  present  almost 
insurmountable  obstacles  to  its  reopening,  and  having  an  assurance 
from  the  bishopric  that  active  measures  will  be  taken  at  once  looking 
to  the  immediate  liquidation  of  the  debt ;  therefore,  be  it 

"Resolved,  by  the  Board  of  Trustees  of  Graceland  College,  in 
special  session  assembled  on  this  12th  day  of  May,  1904,  That  we 
immediatelj^  proceed  with  the  work  of  procuring  and  electing  mem- 
bers of  the  faculty,  the  distribution  of  catalogues,  and  the  performing 
of  such  other  duties  as  are  prescribed  by  the  articles  of  incorporation 
to  continue  the  college  in  session  for  the  next  year;  it  is  understood, 
however,  that  such  action  is  to  be  contingent  upon  the  debt  against 
the  college  being  j^aid." 

The  bishopric  also  took  action  regarding  the  financial  phase  of 
the  affair,  and  the  whole  was  embodied  in  the  report  of  the  trustees 
to  the  general  conference  of  1905.  At  the  same  time  a  minority 
report  was  brought  in,  and  the  subject  of  the  legahty  of  the  action 
was  discussed  at  length  on  the  conference  floor.  As  a  good  way  out 
of  tlie  dilemma  the  conference  finally  decided  to  receive  both  reports 
and  indorse  neither.  At  the  same  conference  the  question  of  con- 
tinuing the  college  was  again  broached,  and  the  following  resolutions 
relative  to  the  matter,  after  having  been  adopted  by  a  joint  council 
of  the  twelve,  presidency  and  bishopric,  were  presented  to  the  body 
and  eventually  adopted: 


HISTORY  OF  DECATUR  COUNTY  105 

"To  the  General  Conference,  Greeting — At  a  joint  council  of 
the  first  presidency,  twelve  and  the  bishopric  held  this  morning,  the 
following  was  adopted  and  presented  to  the  conference: 

"First.  That  after  due  consideration  of  the  question  of  con- 
tinuing the  running  of  the  college,  and  the  importance  of  the  same  in 
giving  proper  training  and  educational  facilities  to  the  youth  of  the 
church,  and  such  others  as  may  care  to  avail  themselves  of  its  bene- 
fits, together  with  the  present  status  of  the  financial  condition  of  the 
same,  we  are  of  the  opinion  that  the  college  should  continue;  and 
whatever  minor  changes  as  to  courses  of  study  and  methods  of  devel- 
opment, if  any,  be  left  as  provided  by  its  articles  of  incorporation 
with  the  board  of  trustees,  and  such  changes  as  may  be  made  directly 
by  the  conference. 

"Second.  We  favor  recommending  to  the  conference  that  the 
expenses  of  running  the  college  be  met  by  voluntary  contributions 
for  the  purpose,  and  that  one  day  in  each  year  be  set  apart,  to  be 
known  as  College  Day,  upon  which  offerings,  in  the  manner  of  col- 
lections, shall  be  taken  up  in  all  districts  and  branches  of  the  church, 
to  aid  the  college  work,  the  same  to  be  forwarded  to  the  bishop  of  the 
church  to  be  devoted  to  such  purposes. 

"Respectfully  submitted, 
"Heman  C.  Smith, 
"Fkederick  M.  Smith, 

"Secretaries  of  Joint  Council. 

"Lamoni,  la.,  April  7,  190o." 

The  school  had  opened  the  previous  fall  as  usual,  but  with  the 
tremendous  handicap  of  public  opinion  throughout  the  church  against 
it.  A  fair  number  of  students  enrolled  from  various  localities,  rang- 
ing from  :Massachusetts  on  the  east  to  Ai-izona  on  the  west, 
Saskatchewan  on  the  north  and  Texas  on  the  south.  It  was  at 
this  perilous  time  that  the  advent  of  President  Rolland  ^I.  Stewart 
found  college  affairs  in  a  dubious  condition.  In  all  Graceland  his- 
tory perhaps  there  never  was  a  better  loved,  respected  and  capable 
president  than  Professor  Stewart.  It  is  enough  to  say  for  him  that, 
laboring  under  the  prejudices  above  mentioned,  he  doubled  the  enroll- 
ment during  two  years  of  his  presidency.  The  year  190.5  brought 
the  first  agitation  for  dormitories  and  industrial  work.  The  first 
Sunday  in  each  September  was  set  apart  as  Graceland  Day  through- 
out the  church  for  the  taking  of  collections  for  the  support  of  Grace- 
land.     The  next  vear  this  was  changed  to  first  Sunday  in  October. 


106  HISTORY  OF  DECATUR  COUNTY 

The  refunding  of  railway  fare  brought  the  college  nearer  to  the 
door  of  the  prospective  students.  The  action  of  the  1905  confer- 
ence brought  new  lease  of  life,  and  once  more  Graceland  faced  her 
problems  ^\'ith  renewed  determination  to  make  good. 

In  1907  the  Industrial  Department,  much  planned  and  talked  of, 
was  begun  in  a  small  way.  A  dormitory  for  girls  was  built  at  a  cost 
of  $3,100,  and  given  the  name  of  Marietta  Hall,  in  honor  of  JNIrs. 
iNIarietta  Walker,  a  pioneer  in  church  and  college  work.  ^Irs.  Bettie 
B.  Smith,  a  kind-hearted,  motherly  saint,  w^as  put  in  charge  of  the 
dormitory,  and  kitchen  and  dining  room  in  the  basement  of  the  col- 
lege. It  was  a  large  family  to  cook  for,  and  no  one  but  "Aunt  Bet- 
tie"  could  have  done  it.  It  was  a  small  beginning,  but  by  no  means 
meager  in  memory  to  those  who  w^ere  there  and  visited  there.  The 
precious  "first  things"  are  always  best,  and  the  first  days  of  dormi- 
tory life  at  Graceland  were  no  exception.  The  boys  and  girls  of 
those  days  could  tell  you  the  most  interesting  part  of  this  history,  for 
like  most  history,  the  best  parts  must  forever  be  the  unwritten  ones. 
But  who  has  forgotten  the  strolls  on  the  college  campus,  the  informal 
"sings"  in  the  chapel,  the  quarrelings  and  makings-up  of  college  life 
in  those  days?  If  that  crowd  were  once  more  gathered  on  the  cam- 
pus, I  am  sure  that  none  would  have  forgotten  how  to  play  "three 
deep,"  or  if  they  met  in  the  basement  kitchen  would  any  fail  to 
remember  the  right  projDortions  of  sugar  and  milk  that  would  result 
in  "dandy  fudge."  Even  dish-washing  had  a  charm  undreamed  of  in 
mother's  kitchen.  But  the  Industrial  School  has  grown  older,  more 
staid  and  more  sober  now,  and  things  move  in  a  more  dignified  way 
than  at  first;  but  perhaps  some  of  the  students  of  later  years  can 
testify  that  none  of  the  good  times  have  been  lost  on  the  road. 

The  future  of  the  Industrial  School  devolved  upon  Prof.  Charles 
B.  Woodstock,  of  Kenosha,  Wis.,  who  has  made  a  success  of  that 
phase  of  his  work  by  his  untiring  effort.  By  this  means  many  have 
gained  an  education  who,  had  it  been  otherwise,  might  never  have 
had  it.  The  kitchen  and  dining  room  work  and  part  of  the  laundry 
work  is  done  by  student  help.  The  farm  and  all  outdoor  work  is 
carried  on  by  the  men  who  are  studying  at  the  institution,  as  is  also 
the  janitor  work,  and  in  fact  everything  that  student  labor  can  do. 
The  Graceland  boys  of  several  years  ago,  some  of  whom  are  now  in 
the  missionar}^  field,  ^\'ho  used  to  canvass  the  town  in  search  of  wood 
to  saw,  can  best  appreciate  the  better  facilities  for  the  man  who  wants 
to  help  liimself.  Professor  Woodstock  is  the  head  of  the  manual 
training  course,  a  department  of  the  industrial  work,  which  is  deserv- 


HISTORY  OF  DECATUR  COUNTY  107 

edly  very  popular,  and  needs  no  argument  to  prove  its  merits.  The 
revival  of  interest  in  the  arts  and  crafts  has  never  needed  a  recom- 
mendation. We  are  heginning  to  realize  that  our  "ten  fingers  are 
our  hest  friends."  Some  very  interesting  work  has  been  designed 
and  put  out  by  the  Graceland  shops.  We  expect  Graceland  to  keep 
in  the  van  of  this  movement. 

In  point  of  numbers  of  its  devotees  perhaps  the  Business  School 
exceeds  all  other  departments  in  popularity,  with  a  close  second  of 
the  Normal  School.  The  short  time  that  some  students  have  to 
devote  to  college,  limited  finance  and  tlie  desire  to  get  to  work  in  the 
M'orld  and  feel  the  joy  of  earning  are  some  of  the  causes  that  crowd 
the  Business  Department.  The  Normal  Department  also  has  a  de- 
serving popularity,  for  the  work  of  educating  for  the  art  of  teaching 
has  become  more  and  more  imperative.  There  was  a  time  when 
almost  anyone  could  "teach  school;"  but  that  time  has  passed,  and 
Graceland  realizes  with  her  contemporaries  the  true  worth  of  the  title 
"Teacher,"  and  is  making  skillful  the  hand  and  the  heart  that  must 
in  some  sense  control  the  future  citizenship.  The  Children's  Home 
should  in  time  furnish  the  students  of  the  Normal  Department  the 
necessary  "training  school,"  and  prove  an  advantage  both  to  the 
home  and  the  Normal  Department.  Too  often  the  entrance  of  com- 
mercial and  industrial  courses  side  by  side  with  the  higher  liberal 
studies  results  in  the  deterioration  in  interest  of  the  latter.  We  hope 
that  this  has  not  been  the  case  with  Graceland.  The  desire  expressed 
by  some  to  make  a  commercial  school  of  Graceland  has  never  met 
M'ith  favor  from  those  who  rate  a  life  higher  than  a  living.  The  mad 
commercial  spirit  which  insists  on  knowledge  that  "pays"  and  even 
philosophizes  on  the  truth  that  all  knowledge  is  useful,  and  distorts  it 
into  the  idea  that  useful  knowledge  consists  only  in  those  obvious 
and  visible  parts  of  truth  that  mean  dollars  and  cents.  The  spirit 
has  reached  us,  as  it  has  others,  and  the  School  of  Liberal  Arts  cannot 
])e  said  to  be  as  popular  as  others  in  the  past.  Tlie  time  will  come 
when  the  demands  of  the  young  people  w^ho  come  to  Graceland  will 
require  the  beginning  of  a  movement  for  a  greater  Graceland  in  the 
things  that  count  for  true  scholarship.  We  must  comply  with  tlie 
weio-hts  and  measures  of  education  that  have  been  selected  as 
standard,  and  then  a  "degree"  from  Graceland  will  be  worthy  of 
lionor  in  the  world  of  men.  But  in  the  meantime,  while  we  are  wait- 
ing to  grow,  Graceland  is  one  of  the  small  colleges  which  has  not 
and  will  not  refuse  to  do  wliat  she  can  for  those  who  cling  to  the 
time-honored  ideal  of  a  liberal  education. 


108  HISTORY  OF  DECATUR  COUNTY 

The  jNIusic  Department  has  been  a  prominent  feature  from  the 
inception  of  the  college  until  now.  JMiss  Nellie  Davis  was  the  first 
head  of  this  department,  and  she  has  been  followed  by  the  best  help 
available  to  the  trustees  from  time  to  time. 

The  School  of  Oratory  was  originally  conducted  by  Mrs.  Ruth 
Lyman  Smith,  and  has  since  been  x^resided  over  by  Mrs.  Evelyn 
Gurlev  Kane,  JNIiss  Alice  Heathcote  McElrath,  Miss  Zaida  Gaines 
and  the  present  director,  JNIiss  Lena  Lambert.  There  was  a  time 
when  the  School  of  Oratory  suffered  a  sort  of  decline,  but  it  was 
brought  into  prominence  again  by  Miss  McElrath,  whose  own  inter- 
est inspired  everybody  else,  and  soon  made  her  the  idol  of  the  student 
bod3\  It  was  JMiss  McElrath  who  planned,  coached  and  helped  in 
the  execution  of  the  first  annual  Athenian  play,  in  1907.  It  was 
the  old  favorite,  "Esmeralda,"  and  it  was  such  a  signal  triumph  for 
the  Athenians  that  the  Athenian  play  has  become  an  annual  event. 

The  school  has  one  literary  society — the  Athenian — it  was  organ- 
ized almost  at  the  beginning  of  the  college  and  has  been  thriving  ever 
since.  The  Athenian  Society,  besides  their  own  literary  improve- 
ment, have  done  things.  The  evidences  of  Athenian  liberality  in  the 
matter  of  gifts  to  the  college  is  not  hard  to  find,  and  the  list  of  them 
would  be  too  long  to  enumerate.  The  Athenian  Society  has  met 
representatives  of  other  schools  and  colleges  in  several  interschool 
debates  and  won  her  share  of  them. 

The  Athletic  Associations  have  held  wavering  prominence  in 
Graceland's  history,  but  since  the  appearance  in  the  faculty  of  Prof. 
Roy  V.  Hopkins,  who  is  director  of  athletics,  in  addition  to  being 
professor  of  ancient  languages  in  the  college,  athletics  seem  to  have 
come  into  prominence  to  stay,  and  have  created  a  college  spirit  that 
the  old  Graceland  never  knew — that  spirit  of  loyalty  to  the  gold  and 
blue,  the  college  and  the  team,  that  lives  always. 

The  first  dormitory  descended  to  the  boys,  and  the  girls  occupy 
a  new  one,  built  in  1909,  and  named  Patroness  Hall,  after  a  society 
of  loyal  Lamoni  matrons  formed  several  years  ago  for  the  purpose 
of  helping  Graceland.  And  they  did  help  her,  and  helped  the  new 
dormitory  so  substantially  that  when  it  was  finished  there  was  no 
choice  but  to  name  it  Patroness  Hall.  There  is  a  sunny,  spacious 
dining  hall  in  Patroness,  and  three  times  a  day  the  people  from  both 
dormitories  meet  there  around  the  long  tables. 

The  students  take  pride  in  improving  the  school.  Out  of  their 
private  funds  they  have  donated  liberally  for  certain  school  projects, 
and  the  latest  improvement  was  the  decorating  of  the  dining  hall. 


HISTORY  OF  DECATUR  COUNTY  109 

which  was  achieved  by  a  box  social  given  by  the  girls  after  a  week 
full  of  excited  planning,  crepe  paper,  ribbon  and  all  sorts  of  wonder- 
ful things. 

Blair  Hall  is  the  farm  house  and  has  at  different  times  sheltered 
some  of  the  students. 

Eivery  year  the  Booster  Club  furnishes  to  the  public  a  lecture 
course  which  makes  a  small  profit  for  the  college,  and  also  helps  the 
college  in  its  work,  with  other  college  recitals,  plays  and  entertain- 
ments, the  college  calendar  is  quite  full. 

There  is  one  honor  scholarship  conferred  each  year  for  the  best 
oration.  For  the  time  the  donor  of  the  scholarslii])  (hd  not  wish  his 
name  revealed,  but  somehow  the  scholarship  has  become  universally 
spoken  of  as  the  Pitt  scholarship  and  everybody  knows  that  the  ben- 
efactor is  William  Pitt,  of  Independence,  ]Mo. 

The  history  of  Graceland  is  a  little  bit  of  a  misnomer,  for  as  vet 
she  has  not  had  a  score  of  years  in  which  to  make  history ;  the  longest 
and  best  part  of  her  history  is  in  the  future,  still  Graceland  has  lived 
lono-  enouoh  to  earn  many  lifelong  friends  in  the  students  whom  her 
old  brick  walls  have  sheltered.  That  indefinable  something  that  ties 
a  man  to  his  school  has  bound  us  Gracelanders  forever  to  Grace- 
land  days  and  Graceland  ways,  however  conmionplace  they  may 
seem  to  others.  There  are  some  of  us  whom  the  memory  of  a  violet- 
dotted  campus  and  the  songs  of  the  meadow  lark  on  the  Graceland 
hills  will  follow  all  our  lives;  then  how  can  we  forswear  allegiance? 
Like  Goldwin  Smith,  who  by  the  way  was  no  sentimentalist,  said  of 
]Magdalen  College  when  at  fourscore  he  wrote,  "]My  heart  has  often 
turned  to  its  beauty,  and  often  the  sound  of  its  sweet  bells  have  come 
to  me  across  the  ocean — a  little  Eden  in  a  world  where  there  are  none 
too  many  of  them;"  so  will  many  of  us  say  in  the  eventide  of  our 
lives,  when  we  look  back  to  our  Graceland. 

There  are  people — even  of  our  own  church — who  doubt  Grace- 
land  and  her  mission;  that  prejudice  must  be  laid  aside  by  those  wlio 
go  out  from  her  walls.  We  will  show  them  that  Graceland  does  not 
send  into  the  world  mere  intellectual  deformities,  but  men  and  women 
ready  for  the  world's  struggles  and  triumphs,  with  broad,  generou;^ 
views  of  life,  that  will  tend  to  make  life  better  worth  living — fitted 
intellectually,  spiritually,  and  physically  to  cope  witli  the  world's 
problems. 


CHAPTER  X 
THE  CITY  OF  LEON 

EARLY  SETTLEMENT  AND  GROWTH 

Leon  is  now  a  city  of  1,800  inhabitants.  When  the  town  was 
first  surveyed  it  was  given  the  name  of  Independence,  but  as  tlie 
county  seat  of  Buchanan  County,  la.,  bore  the  same  name  the 
postal  authorities  objected,  so  the  new  town  was  given  the  name 
South  Independence.  In  the  winter  of  18.54-5  the  Legislature  of 
the  state  changed  the  name  to  Leon  in  compliance  with  a  petition 
drawn  by  a  committee  consisting  of  S.  C.  Thompson,  Dr.  J.  P.  Fin- 
ley  and  G.  L.  ^loore.  It  is  said  that  the  name  Leon  was  suggested 
by  W.  H.  Cheevers  who  became  attracted  by  it  while  serving  as  a 
soldier  in  the  Mexican  war. 

Thomas  H.  East  built  the  first  residence  in  Leon.  It  was  a  log 
cabin  located  in  the  rear  of  the  present  opera  house.  After  the  town 
was  surveyed  Dr.  S.  C.  Thompson  built  a  log  house  sixteen  feet 
square  where  the  opera  house  now  stands  and  occupied  the  same  for 
a  residence.  He  also  put  a  small  building  up  for  use  as  an  office. 
I.  X.  Clark  put  up  a  store  building  for  Cleveland  &  Winn  on  the 
site  later  occupied  by  Clark  &  JMcClelland's  store.  Into  this  building 
the  goods  from  the  store  on  the  Oney  farm  were  moved  and  INIr.  Clark 
sold  the  first  dollar's  worth  of  goods  to  Reuben  Hatfield.  The  build- 
ing was  20  by  40  feet  in  dimensions  and  constructed  of  rough  logs. 
One  of  the  firm,  Winn,  in  recent  years  conducted  a  store  at  Higgins- 
ville,  Mo. 

Soon  a  sufficient  number  of  settlers  arrived  to  justify  the  estab- 
lishment of  a  postoffice  and  Joshua  Davis  was  the  first  postmaster. 
He  was  a  brother-in-law  of  Johnny  Patterson  and  had  his  office  on 
the  north  side  of  the  square.  Among  other  pioneer  business  men 
were:  Dr.  Frank  Warford,  ]Moore  &  Richards,  Samuel  Harrow  & 
Son,  W.  W.  Ellis,  Dr.  J.  P.  Finley,  Stillwell  &  Stevens,  Ira  B. 
Ryan,  and  Reuben  Shackleford.     The  latter  kept  the  first  hotel  then 

110 


HISTORY  OF  DECATUR  COUNTY  ill 

located  on  the  site  of  Mrs.  Konkle's  residence.  Ishani  Fuqua  also 
kept  an  hotel  in  an  early  day.  John  M.  Richardson  conducted  the 
first  flouring  mill.  The  first  attorneys  were  John  Warner,  George 
A.  Hawley,  P.  H.  Binkley,  Judge  Samuel  Forrey  and  "Timher" 
Wood. 

In  18o4j  the  first  school  building  was  erected  in  Leon.  At  the 
close  of  that  year  the  town  had  four  stores  and  about  forty  residences. 
From  tliis  time  until  the  commencement  of  the  Civ^il  war  the  growth 
in  population  was  quite  raj^id  and  the  town  enjoyed  a  lucrative  trade. 
Xew  stores  multiplied  rapidly  and  bj'^  1800  the  town  had  GOO  inhab- 
itants. In  1870  the  town  numbered  820  people;  in  1880  there  were 
1,367;  in  1890,  1,.56.5;  in  1900,  1,620;  and  in  1910  there  were  1,800 
people  living  here.  The  town  in  the  last  five  years  has  grown  pro- 
portionately. 

Among  the  old  settlers  here  was  W.  T.  Fishburn.  He  came  from 
Van  Buren  County  in  1856.  By  trade  he  was  a  millwright  and  con- 
tractor. That  year  he  built  a  grist  mill  for  Uncle  Billy  Davis,  the 
founder  of  Davis  City.  He  built  a  grist  mill  in  Terre  Haute  in 
18.58  for  himself  and  managed  it  for  nearly  three  years.  The  mill 
was  partially  destroyed  in  1860  and  so  he  returned  to  Leon,  where  he 
owned  and  occupied  a  residence  on  the  present  site  of  the  Advent 
Church.  He  was  an  accomplished  mechanic  and  put  the  machinery 
in  the  Little  grist  mill  in  the  east  part  of  Leon.  He  supervised  the 
placing  of  the  town  clock  in  the  church  at  Davis  City. 

Leon  was  incorporated  as  a  city  in  18.58.  The  early  records  of 
the  city  have  been  lost,  so  it  is  not  possible  to  ascertain  just  who  the 
first  officers  were:  however,  in  1874  the  office  of  mayor  was  held  bj^ 
M.  A.  Mills. 

The  office  of  postmaster  has  been  held  successively  by  Joshua 
Davis,  Alexander  UpdegrafF,  ]Mr.  Snyder,  P.  O.  James,  John  P. 
Finley,  Jr.,  W.  H.  Robb,  J.  L.  Harvey,  W.  J.  Sullivan,  E.  K.  Pit- 
man, J.  R.  Conrey,  John  Ledgerwood,  JNIillard  F.  Stookey.  The 
office  is  in  the  third  class,  with  no  city  delivery,  but  with  five  rural 
route  carriers.  In  the  near  future,  however,  the  Leon  office  will  be 
changed  to  the  second  class. 

.  NEWSPAPERS 

The  Leon  Pioneer  was  published  by  Binckley  Brothers,  P.  H. 
and  George,  in  the  autumn  of  18.55.  It  was  a  seven-column  folio, 
issued  on  Thursday.    It  was  democratic  in  politics.    Binckley  Brothers 


112  HISTORY  OF  DECATUR  COUNTY 

sold  out  to  Joe  Parsons  and  he  to  Sam  Caster.  The  next  proprietor 
was  John  Finley  who  changed  the  name  to  the  Democratic  Reporter. 
Jackson  &  Howard  finally  succeeded  Finley  and  in  1866  the  paper 
came  into  the  hands  of  Detrick  &  Penniwell.  A  INIr.  Garrett  after- 
wards bought  the  interest  of  Penniwell  and  then  the  whole  was  sold 
to  G.  N.  Udell.  Frazier  &  Jackson  were  the  next  in  the  list  of  owners 
and  they  restored  the  name  of  Pioneer  to  the  sheet  and  during  the 
last  of  1870  sold  to  Ed  D.  Pitman  who  published  the  paper  in  1871-2. 
He  then  disposed  of  the  office  material  to  Shinn  Brothers  and  the 
latter  moved  it  to  Hutchinson,  Kan. 

The  Democrat  was  started  in  January,  1879,  by  O.  JNI.  Howard 
and  W.  C.  Jackson  and  was  a  few  months  later  consolidated  with  the 
Reporter,  another  young  sheet,  the  new  paper  being  called  the  Dem- 
ocrat-Reporter. On  February  26,  1880,  the  Decatur  County  Press 
was  issued  for  the  first  time  by  the  Press  Printing  Company  with  J. 
C.  Stockton  as  editor  and  publisher.  On  October  26,  1881,  this  paper 
was  united  with  the  Democrat-Reporter.  jNIr.  Stockton  was  editor 
of  the  new  combination  and  J.  A.  Ray  was  business  manager  until 
August,  1884,  when  a  company  was  formed.  Lon  H.  Boydston  was 
then  editor.  Up  until  this  time  it  had  been  a  greenback  paper,  but 
now  it  changed  to  the  democratic  color. 

On  January  1,  1887,  Boydston  sold  to  J.  D.  and  O.  E.  Hull. 
The  new  owners  dropped  the  name  used  and  called  the  paper  The 
Reporter,  which  title  has  been  used  continuously  ever  since.  On 
October  1,  1887,  J.  D.  Hull  sold  his  interest  to  E.  W.  Curry  and  the 
firm  name  was  then  Curry  &  Hull.  This  lasted  until  May,  1889, 
when  L.  H.  Boydston  purchased  Curry's  interest.  On  December  1, 
1890,  O.  E.  Hull  bought  out  Boydston  and  came  into  full  owner- 
ship which  he  has  retained  until  the  present  time.  The  paper  is 
democratic,  six  columns,  weekly  issue  running  from  twelve  to  sixteen 
pages.    The  circulation  is  about  two  thousand  seven  hundred. 

The  Leon  Plain  Talk  was  first  issued  April  3,  1886,  as  an  inde- 
pendent sheet,  and  was  the  successor  of  the  Voice  and  Echo  which 
was  published  from  September  to  December,  1885,  by  Brannon  & 
Flanders.    This  paper  ran  but  a  few  months,  then  died. 

Die  Wage  was  a  German  paper  printed  for  a  few  weeks  in  1869, 
to  encourage  German  settlers  to  come  to  this  county. 

The  Decatur  County  Advocate  was  started  in  the  spring  of  1873 
by  D.  Frank  Knapp.  He  published  it  one  year  as  an  anti-monopoly 
paper.  In  1876  he  returned  and  started  the  L^on  Clipper,  a  repub- 
lican paper.    This  he  published  for  a  period  of  three  months. 


HISTORY  OF  DECATUR  COUNTY  113 

The  Fact  was  started  in  Leon  in  1887  by  the  firm  of  Stockton  & 
Watsebaugh.  This  paper,  independent  in  pohtics,  continued  to  run 
successfully  until  1897,  when  it  was  abandoned. 

Forty-eight  years  ago  the  Journal  was  first  issued  in  Leon  by 
P.  O.  James,  a  practical  printer  and  an  experienced  newspaper  man. 
It  has  since  been  published  continuously  and  thus  is  the  oldest  pai)er 
in  the  county.  The  old  Washington  hand  press  and  other  material 
was  hauled  to  town  in  a  wagon  by  the  late  R.  E.  Dye.  At  that  time 
the  population  of  the  town  was  about  seven  hundred  and  the  county 
not  over  nine  thousand. 

Peter  Orlando  James  had  been  an  employe  of  the  Des  INIoines 
Register,  where  he  formed  the  acquaintance  of  Frank  W.  Palmer 
who  had  an  ambition  to  serve  the  people  of  this  district  in  Congress. 
It  is  said  that  Palmer  bought  the  press  and  type  and  presented  them 
to  JNIr.  James.  At  any  rate  the  paper  was  started  in  the  interests  of 
Mr.  Palmer  and  successfullv  so.  JNIr.  James  had  served  during  the 
Civil  war  in  the  Fourth  Iowa  Infantry  and  was  an  excellent  soldier. 
He  was  a  prominent  Odd  Fellow  and  took  great  interest  in  the  order. 
He  filled  in  succession  all  of  the  offices  of  the  lodge  and  was  chosen 
several  times  as  a  representative  to  the  grand  lodge.  Mr.  James 
became  postmaster  in  1871.  JMrs.  jNI.  E.  James  continued  the  pub- 
lication of  the  Journal  and  also  served  as  postmistress.  In  1875 
Mrs.  James  sold  the  paper  to  W.  T.  Robinson,  now  deceased.  He 
conducted  the  paper  for  ten  years,  during  which  time  he  improved 
the  mechanical  department  and  increased  the  patronage  and  circula- 
tion. He  was  assisted  in  the  local  work  by  S.  C.  Mitchell  and  J.  A. 
Keaton.  jNIr.  Robinson  w^as  an  experienced  printer  and  newspaper 
man  and  was  held  in  high  esteem  by  all  who  knew  him.  In  August, 
188.5,  ]Mr.  Robinson  sold  the  paper  to  JNIarion  F.  Stookey,  ^Millard 
F.  Stookey  and  W.  S.  Johnson,  with  the  latter  in  control  as  editor. 
On  January  1,  1893,  the  paper  became  the  joint  property  of  the  two 
Stookeys,  and  on  January  1,  1904,  a  joint  stock  comi:)any  was  organ- 
ized, composed  of  the  following  stockholders:  jNIarion  F.  and  ^lil- 
lard  F.  Stookey,  James  F.  Harvey,  Thomas  Teale,  Capt.  J.  D. 
Brown,  Stephen  Varga.  The  stock  held  by  these  men  has  been  grad- 
ually taken  over  by  Will  F.  Lindsey  and  James  F.  Harvey,  these 
two  men  now  owning  the  entire  paper,  the  former  acting  as  editor. 
The  paper  is  published  weekly,  is  republican,  six  columns,  and  gen- 
erally runs  from  twelve  to  sixteen  pages  each  issue.  The  office  and 
plant  is  equipped  with  the  latest  machinery,  including  a  modern  lino- 
type. 

Vol.  1—8 


114  HISTORY  OF  DECATUR  COUNTY 

TELEPHONES 

The  Leon  Telephone  Company  estabHshed  an  exchange  in  Jan- 
uary, 1896,  in  the  building  now  occuj)ied  by  the  Exchange  National 
Bank.  Miss  Lou  Craigo  was  the  operator.  The  exchange  remained 
in  the  above  location  until  February  22,  1898,  when  it  was  removed 
to  the  Caster  Building  at  the  corner  of  JNIain  and  Commercial  streets. 
The  Leon  Telephone  Company  was  the  property  of  C.  A.  Hawkins 
of  Chicago  and  W.  R.  Ellinwood  of  Leon.  Leon  now  has  the  service 
of  both  the  Bell  and  JMutual  companies. 

ELECTRICITY 

The  Leon  light  plant  was  constructed  in  1888  by  the  City  of  Leon 
and  managed  by  the  city  until  November,  1904,  when  the  plant  was 
sold  to  Curtis  &  Chase,  the  consideration  being  $5,000.  This  deal 
was  closed  on  November  15th  and  the  new  proprietors  began  operat- 
ing the  plant  under  the  title  of  the  Leon  Electric  Light,  Heat  and 
Power  Company,  with  George  W.  Sears  as  superintendent  and  treas- 
urer. Lewis  Nies  of  Oskaloosa  was  secured  as  electrician.  In  jNIarch, 
1909,  J.  F.  Smith  and  Sam  C.  Johnston  of  Omaha,  Neb.,  bought 
out  the  company  and  changed  the  title  to  the  Leon  Electric  Com- 
pany. This  company  now  supplies  Decatur  City  and  Garden  Grove 
with  electricity. 

WATER 

The  question  of  a  municipal  water  supply  first  came  before  the 
people  of  Leon  in  1909.  On  June  10th  of  that  year  a  special  election 
was  held  on  the  proposition  of  issuing  $35,000  in  bonds  for  the  con- 
struction of  a  system  of  water  works.  This  proposition  was  defeated 
by  a  majority  of  195  votes. 

On  December  14,  1909,  the  question  was  again  submitted  to  a 
general  vote.  By  a  vote  of  626  to  253  the  people  declared  in  favor 
of  issuing  bonds  to  the  extent  of  $35,000  and  by  a  vote  of  336  to  130 
in  favor  of  establishing  a  system  of  water  works. 

IMPROVEMENTS 

Within  the  last  decade  a  start  has  been  made  in  equipping  the  City 
of  Leon  with  adequate  paving,  sewerage  and  other  improvements 
necessary  to  a  growing  town.     In  the  years  1913-4  fully  three  miles 


HISTORY  OF  DECATUR  COUNTY  115 

of  good  brick  paving  was  laid.  In  1909  the  sanitary  sewerage  sj'stem 
was  installed  under  the  main  streets,  the  sewage  being  disposed  of 
by  artificial  means.  There  are  six  miles  of  water  mains  in  the  city, 
all  municipally  owned.  In  the  summer  of  1915  there  will  be  nine 
miles  more  sewerage  laid  in  the  city. 

The  new  Burlington  depot  at  Leon  was  opened  to  the  public  Jan- 
uary 23,  1911. 

The  AVaubonsie  Trail  was  put  through  Leon  in  the  spring  of 
1911. 

The  first  meeting  to  consider  a  Young  Glen's  Christian  xVssocia- 
tion  in  Leon  was  held  December  16,  1879. 

BANKS 

The  Farmers  and  Traders  State  Bank  of  Leon  was  organized  in 
1894  as  a  private  bank  by  J.  E.  Thomas  of  Davis  City,  A.  H.  Teale 
of  Kellerton.  They  bought  the  bank  building  of  L.  P.  Sigler.  In 
the  same  year  Thomas  Teale  bought  their  interests  in  the  bank  and 
it  was  incorporated  as  a  state  bank  January  1,  1895,  Judge  John  W. 
Harvey  being  a  partner  and  stockholder  and  later  becoming  presi- 
dent. There  has  been  no  change  in  ownership  as  the  estate  of  Judge 
Harvey  still  retains  a  half  interest.  The  present  officers  are :  Thomas 
Teale,  president ;  jNIrs.  John  W.  Harvey,  vice  president ;  Fred  Teale, 
cashier;  T.  S.  Arnold,  S.  G.  Mitchell  and  C.  E.  Stuber,  assistant 
cashiers.  The  bank  started  with  a  capital  of  $25,000,  increased  to 
$50,000  in  1903,  and  to  $100,000  in  1913.  It  is  the  largest  capitalized 
bank  in  the  county  at  the  present  time. 

The  Exchange  National  Bank  of  Leon  was  started  as  the  Ex- 
change Bank  in  February,  1885,  with  the  following  first  officers:  S. 
W.  Hurst,  president;  I.  N.  Clark,  vice  president;  C.  E.  Gardner, 
cashier.  The  present  officers  are:  A.  L.  Ackerly,  president;  O.  E. 
Hull,  vice  president;  E.  G.  Monroe,  cashier;  Carl  ^Monroe,  assistant 
cashier.     The  capital  stock  is  $35,000;  and  the  deposits  are  $190,000. 

The  Farmers  and  Traders  Bank  mentioned  above  was  originally 
started  in  1869  as  the  First  National  Bank  and  five  j^ears  later  was 
purchased  by  the  Decatur  County  Banking  Association,  namely,  D. 
and  A.  B.  Stearn  and  L.  P.  Sigler,  who  named  it  the  Farmers  and 
Traders  Bank.     Sigler  was  president  and  T.  S.  Arnold  cashier. 

There  is  in  process  of  organization  a  new  bank  in  Leon  to  be 
known  as  the  Leon  Savings  Bank.  It  is  to  be  located  in  the  Sigler 
Building  at  the  corner  of  ]Main  and  Ninth  streets.     The  articles  of 


116  HISTORY  OF  DECATUR  COUNTY 

incorporation  are  at  this  date  filed.  Marion  F.  Stookej^  will  be  presi- 
dent; Frank  N.  Hansell  and  G.  W.  Baker,  vice  presidents;  and 
George  T.  Ogilvie,  casliier. 

LODGES,  SOCIETIES  AND  CLUBS 

Grand  River  Lodge  No.  78,  Ancient  Free  and  Accepted  Masons, 
was  organized  under  dispensation  November  30,  1855,  with  the  fol- 
lowing charter  members:  Samuel  C.  Thompson,  worshipful  master; 
George  T.  Young,  senior  warden;  J.  R.  McClelland,  junior  warden; 
D.  O.  Ball  and  Thomas  Silver.  John  P.  Finley,  Peter  C.  Stewart 
and  Samuel  Forrey  were  the  first  initiates  and  were  received  January 
15,  1856.  The  charter  was  granted  June  5,  1856,  and  Samuel  C. 
Thompson  was  named  as  worshipful  master;  George  T.  Young,  senior 
warden;  F.  M.  Wafford,  junior  warden. 

Leon  Chapter  No.  33,  Royal  Arch  JNIasons,  was  organized  Octo- 
ber 25,  1866,  with  the  following  officers:  C.  S.  Stout,  high  priest; 
S.  C.  Thompson,  king;  John  P.  Finley,  scribe;  H.  W.  Peck,  captain 
of  hosts;  C.  G.  Bridges,  principal  sojourner;  John  E.  Chancy,  royal 
arch  captain;  William  M.  Duncan,  master  third  vail;  George  T. 
Young,  master  second  vail;  W.  B.  Montgomery,  master  first  vail; 
J.  H.  Woodbury,  secretary;  Thomas  Johnson,  guard.  George 
Woodbury  was  the  first  man  elected  to  membership. 

Independence  Chapter  No.  28,  Order  of  Eastern  Star,  was  organ- 
ized in  November,  1884,  with  a  membership  of  about  twenty- five. 

Hesperia  Lodge  No.  33,  Knights  of  Pythias,  existed  several  years 
before  the  fire  of  1879,  when  the  records  were  all  destroyed  with  the 
exception  of  the  charter  which  was  returned  to  the  grand  lodge. 
The  lodge  was  reorganized  June  21,  1886,  under  the  former  name. 
The  lodge  was  reorganized  with  eight  of  the  original  members,  namely : 
A.  E.  Chase,  W.  A.  Brown,  E.  W.  Curry,  W.  T.  Cartwright,  S.  A. 
Gates,  L.  W.  Forgraves,  G.  L.  Harvey,  C.  W.  Hoffman.  The  fol- 
lowing also  became  charter  members  at  this  time:  J.  L.  Young,  H. 
C.  Van  Werden,  C.  M.  INIurray,  L.  Van  Werden,  Albert  GafFord, 
W.  J.  Sullivan  and  John  F.  Hamilton. 

Leon  Lodge  No.  84,  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows,  was 
organized  by  dispensation  February  7,  1856,  and  chartered  October 
8th  of  the  same  year.  The  charter  members  were:  John  F.  Finley, 
Sr.,  W.  H.  Cheever,  J.  H.  Clark,  Arnold  Childers  and  C.  R.  Lap- 
ham.  The  lodge  flourished  until  1861  when,  by  reason  of  numerous 
enlistments  in  the  army,  meetings  were  discontinued.    The  last  meet- 


?0 


^ 


HISTORY  OF  DECATUR  COUNTY  117 

ing  was  on  ^larch  9th  of  that  year  and  the  next  recorded  meeting  was 
held  on  July  27,  1868. 

Leon  Post  No.  251,  Grand  Army  of  the  Republic,  was  organized 
November  22,  1883,  by  W.  T.  Wilkinson,  mustering  officer.  Tho 
following  were  the  first  officers:  J.  A.  Ray,  commander;  S.  P.  Nott, 
senior  vice  commander;  C.  W.  Beck,  junior  vice  commander;  W.  J. 
Sullivan,  quartermaster;  Ed  K.  Pitman,  adjutant;  W.  L.  Kelly, 
surgeon;  I.  P.-jNlorton,  cliaplain;  John  P.  Finley,  officer  of  the  guard; 
E.  W.  Curry,  officer  of  the  day;  J.  M.  Sylvester,  sergeant-major; 
J.  B.  Garrett,  quartermaster-sergeant. 

Leon  Lodge  No.  88,  I.  O.  G.  T.,  was  organized  in  the  autumn 
of  188.5  with  forty-six  charter  members.  The  charter  was  received 
December  12th,  following. 

CHURCHES 

In  the  fall  of  1850  John  Patterson,  Pamela  Patterson,  John  Jor- 
dan, Artemesia  Jordan,  William  Burt,  an  exhorter,  Cynthia  Burt, 
Lou  Annie  JNIcIlvaine,  Abner  Harber,  Ishmael  Barnes,  Levi  Clark, 
ten  in  number,  organized  a  Methodist  class,  and  in  September,  1850, 
Decatur  County  was  organized.  In  March,  1851,  the  Methodist  Epis- 
copal Church  was  to  be  organized  at  John  Patterson's  cabin,  the 
original  chapel  of  JNIethodism  in  Decatur  County,  size  11  by  11  by  6, 
center  to  comb,  but  the  preacher.  Brother  Klepper,  from  Missouri, 
was  sick  and  could  not  get  nearer  than  John  Jordan's  on  Eden 
Prairie,  near  the  Richard  JNIeek  place,  so  John  Patterson  walked 
dow^n  there  that  day  in  a  snow  storm  from  his  home  where  the  Leon 
cemetery  now  is,  and  they  organized  the  church. 

In  the  fall  of  1851  the  low^a  Conference  sent  a  missionary  by 
the  name  of  Lyman  Briggs  to  Decatur  County.  Three  sermons  were 
preached  and  on  week  days,  but  every  Sabbath  the  class  met  at  Pat- 
terson's. 

John  Parker  was  the  next  one;  he  came  in  the  fall  of  1852. 
Barnes  and  family  came  and  lived  where  W.  A.  Boone  lives.  iNIcIl- 
vaines  came  and  lived  on  the  Doctor  Baker  farm.  Doctor  Thompson 
came  in  the  fall  of  1851.  Quarterly  meeting  was  at  Albia  and  Uncle 
John  Patterson  went  on  horseback,  as  it  was  the  onlv  wav  to  travel, 
as  there  was  no  road  with  the  exception  of  the  Indian  trail  and  no 
bridges.  This  year  Thomas  Smith  and  family  came  and  added  five 
more  to  the  church.  Others  who  came  w^ere:  Stanleys,  Vanderpools, 
Hatfields,  I.  N.  Clark,  Thomas  Winn,  James  Garrett,  Frank  Smith. 


118  HISTORY  OF  DECATUK  COUNTY 

Brother  Swim  came  to  preach,  but  not  often,  as  there  were  five 
counties  to  be  supphed.  The  first  quarterly  meeting  was  held  at 
Decatur  City  in  a  house  built  for  a  courthouse.  John  Hayden  was 
the  first  presiding  elder;  John  Parker,  pastor;  John  Patterson,  class 
leader;  John  Jordan,  steward. 

The  first  Sunday  school  in  Decatur  County  was  organized  in 
18.33,  in  John  Patterson's  cabin,  by  Williams,  a  Presbyterian,  and 
John  Patterson  as  superintendent.  In  1854  the  Decatur  mission  was 
formed  and  D.  L.  Swim  appointed  pastor  in  charge.  In  the  same 
year  it  became  Leon  Circuit,  which  was  composed  of  the  counties  of 
Decatur,  Kinggold,  Clarke  and  Union.  Owing  to  the  increase  in 
population  it  was  thought  best  to  divide  the  circuit  so  Decatur  Cir- 
cuit was  established.  There  being  a  substantial  church  in  Decatur 
City  the  minister  aroused  the  people  of  Leon  to  build  a  large  church. 
Services  were  held  at  Patterson's  and  other  members'  homes  and 
later  they  were  held  in  a  school  where  Mrs.  Landis  now  lives.  In 
1850  preaching  and  Sunday  school  were  held  in  an  old  courthouse  in 
the  east  of  town,  where  the  Varga  residence  now  stands.  Then  in  the 
old  brick  courthouse  in  the  southwest  corner  of  the  square.  The  Pres- 
byterian and  Methodist  societies  plastered  this  building  to  obtain  its 
use,  each  society  occupying  the  building  on  alternate  Sabbaths.  The 
bell  now  used  by  the  public  schools  once  called  the  worshippers  to  tliis 
church. 

On  January  13,  1859,  a  committee  was  appointed  to  estimate  the 
cost  of  a  new  church  and  shortly  afterward  the  lot  where  the  public 
library  now  stands  was  taken  over  and  work  begun  on  the  building. 
The  committee  named  was  composed  of:  George  Hawley,  John 
Jordan,  John  Patterson,  John  Tharp,  Daniel  Shaffer,  Rev.  J.  D. 
De  Lay.  It  was  through  great  effort  that  the  building  was  enclosed, 
floored  and  one  coat  of  plaster  put  on  in  the  fall  of  1859.  For  seats 
slab  benches  were  made  with  no  backs.  The  threatenings  of  the  Civil 
war  and  later  the  war  itself  stopped  all  work  upon  the  church.  In 
1860  the  trustees  were  ordered  to  buy  or  build  a  parsonage.  In  1863 
])art  of  the  pastor's  salary  of  $400  was  paid  in  produce.  In  1876 
the  church  building  was  renovated.  W.  P.  Wood  and  L.  P.  Sigler 
gave  the  church  its  first  organ  in  1877.  On  July  5,  1888,  the  church 
was  incorporated. 

The  cornerstone  for  the  new  church  structure  was  laid  August 
23,  1888,  and  completed  at  a  cost  of  $9,000. 

The  following  are  tlie  names  of  the  pastors  who  have  served  this 
society:     Lyman  Briggs,  John  Parker,  Swim,  J.  B.  Rawls,  David 


METHODIST  CHURCH.  LEOX 


CHKIS'l  1A.\    C  111  lU  11.    \.\'A)S 


HISTORY  OF  DECATUR  COUNTY  119 

Dickinson,  Erasmus  T.  Coiner,  Jacob  De  Lay,  Benjamin  Williams, 
Samuel  Farlow,  J.  E.  Caiy,  Benjamin  Sliinn,  D.  O.  Stuart,  William 
F.  Hertwood,  G.  P.  Bennett,  R.  ^V.  Thornburg,  J.  C.  R.  Layton, 
Simpson  Guyer,  Amos  AVilson,  A.  P.  Hull,  D.  JNlcIntyre,  AN'illiam 
Plested,  A.  Brown,  W.  H.  Shipman,  C.  L.  Nye,  C.  H.  Newell, 
James  Boreman,  A.  T.  Jeffrey,  W.  C.  Hohansbelt,  George  :M. 
Hughes,  George  Winterbourn,  John  Gibson,  Joseph  Stephen,  I.  N. 
Woodward,  A.  M.  Pilcher,  Ray  Shipman,  James  L.  Boyd,  E.  M. 
Hoff,  Guy  J.  Fansher. 

The  Christian  Church  was  an  aggressive  force  among  the  early 
pioneers  of  Decatur  County.  An  organization  was  established  in 
good  season  in  Leon,  and  the  efforts  of  the  pastor  and  visiting  evan- 
gelists exercised  a  material  influence  toward  the  moral  and  educa- 
tional advancement  of  the  people. 

The  first  regular  organization  of  the  Christian  Church  was 
effected  the  first  Sunday  in  June,  1854,  by  Elder  Josephus  C.  Por- 
ter, who  served  as  preacher  in  charge  for  nearly  twenty  years.  Names 
that  are  now  mentioned  with  respect  and  affection  as  members  of 
this  devoted  band  of  pioneer  Christians  are :  John  Gardner  and  wife, 
Christina  A.  Gardner,  Franklin  Gardner,  J.  C.  Porter  and  wife, 
Anna  Bradfield,  Catherine  Gardner,  Wilson  I.  Gardner,  Anna 
Thatcher,  Jacob  Witter  and  wife,  Reuben  Shackleford  and  wife, 
Andrew  McElvain,  J.  JNIcElvain  and  wife,  John  AV.  Gardner  and 
wife,  W.  W.  Ellis  and  wife.  Dr.  J.  R.  jNIcClelland  and  wife,  Daniel 
Bradley  and  wife,  and  Nancy  Weldon.  Among  those  who  assisted 
in  evangelistic  work  during  the  early  days  were  Elders  John  Polly, 
W.  B.  Fisk,  O.  E.  Brown,  J.  C.  Levey  and  T.  V.  Berry. 

In  1867  the  congregation  had  increased  in  numbers  to  such  an 
extent  that  a  church  building  became  a  necessity.  Accordingly  a 
brick  structure  was  erected  which  cost  $4,000  and  was  used  as  a 
house  of  worship  until  the  spring  of  1902.  It  was  40  by  60  feet  in 
size  and  for  many  years  was  the  best  church  building  in  the  county. 
The  new  building  was  dedicated  on  Sunday,  February  14,  1903. 

The  list  of  pastors  who  have  served  this  church  in  Leon  is  as  fol- 
lows: Revs.  J.  C.  Porter,  James  Gaston,  T.  V.  Berry,  A.  B.  Cor- 
nell, S.  H.  Hedrix,  H.  A.  Lemon,  W.  E.  Jones,  O.  Elbert,  A.  E. 
Major,  John  P.  Jesse,  C.  F.  Stevens,  H.  T.  Clark,  R.  J.  Castor, 
H.  H.  Hubbell. 

The  Cimiberland  Presbyterian  Church  was  organized  in  18.57. 
Among  the  leading  members  were  John  W.  Warner,  ^Ir.  Gillam, 
W.  P.  Blair,  Robert  Patterson  and  George  T.  Young,  with  their 


120  HISTORY  OF  DECATUR  COUNTY 

families.  They  met  in  the  courthouse  on  alternate  Sunday  mornings 
for  four  years  and  then  discontinued  services.  Reverend  Post  was 
their  only  pastor  during  this  time. 

The  Presbyterian  Church  was  formed  June  2,  1866,  in  the  Metho- 
dist Church.  The  fii'st  members  were  Francis  and  Mary  Varga, 
W.  H.  Smith,  Thomas  and  Mary  Baldwin,  Fidelia  F.  Thompson, 
Robert  and  Jveturak  Kinnear,  Margaret  Stone,  W.  W.  and  Rebecca 
J.  ]Moore,  W.  P.  Blair,  Mary  A.  Blair,  Mary  E.  Young  and  Martha 
E.  Avery.  The  meetings  were  first  held  every  month  in  the  old 
schoolhouse.  After  1869  they  were  held  on  alternate  Sundays,  one 
preacher  serving  this  and  the  Grand  River  Church.  In  1871  a  house 
of  worship  Avas  erected  on  Commercial  Street,  two  blocks  east  of 
JNIain,  costing  $7,000.  The  pastors  who  have  served  here  are: 
Revs.  D.  S.  Hughes,  R.  J.  Burt,  A.  A.  Mathes,  F.  Rea,  C.  :M.  Des 
Islets,  Cj^rus  Johnson,  W.  C.  Cort. 

The  Baptist  Church  first  held  services  four  miles  southeast  of 
Leon,  some  years  before  the  war.  The  meeting  place  was  shortly 
removed  to  town.  Among  the  early  members  were:  ]Mr.  and  JNIrs. 
Burns,  Mrs.  Hammer,  Samuel  C.  ThomiDson,  Robert  E.  Dye  and 
wife.  Rev.  John  Woodard  preached  for  the  congregation  for  some 
years  just  before  the  war  and  then  the  organization  went  down. 
About  1867  Reverend  Cake  preached  for  one  year.  Then  came 
Revs.  INIorton,  Tillbury,  Freeland  Edwards.  The  new  organization 
was  effected  November  1,  1879.  Among  the  members  who  helped 
in  this  revival  were:  Robert  E.  Dye  and  wife,  Mrs.  Hammer,  ]Mr. 
and  ]Mrs.  Burns,  Warren  Cole  and  wife,  N.  P.  Bullock  and  wife, 
C.  ]M.  JMurray  and  S.  P.  Nott  and  wife.  The  society  rented  a  hall 
over  Bowman's  harness  shop  until  the  church  was  constructed  in  1883 
on  the  second  block  east  of  the  square.  It  was  a  frame  structure  and 
cost  $3,500. 

The  Seventh  Day  Adventists  formed  a  society  in  Leon  in  1888 
under  F.  C.  Watkins.  A  house  of  worshiji  was  constructed  soon 
after  the  organization  of  the  society.  The  society  has  now  but 
twenty-three  members  and  hold  meetings  every  other  Sunday. 
There  is  also  an  Adventist  Church  at  Woodland,  nine  miles  south- 
east of  Leon,  and  one  at  Tuskeego.  Both  of  these  congregations 
are  small. 

The  United  Brethren  Society  began  their  work  in  the  county  in 
18.56,  when  Elder  Abraham  Replogle,  of  Appanoose  County,  gath- 
ered the  members  at  Franklin  and  organized  them  into  a  chin-ch  with 
William  J.  Stout,  Sam  A.  Gurber  and  Harry  Spurlock  as  ministers. 


HISTORY  OF  DECATUR  COUNTY  121 

The  charter  members  of  this  society  were:  Susan  Hendricks,  Jacob 
Sears  and  wife,  Christ  Heaston  and  wife,  Jacob  Heaston  and  wife, 
Samuel  Sears,  William  Stout  and  wife,  Harvey  Spurlock  and  wife, 
Samuel  Garber  and  wife,  and  James  Owensby  and  wife.  The  first 
communion  was  held  at  the  Owensby  home.  The  first  church  was 
constructed  in  the  county  in  1874,  six  miles  northeast  of  Leon,  and 
was  known  as  Franklin  Church.  In  1883  came  the  unfortunate 
division  of  the  church  over  the  question  of  uniformity  in  religious 
garb.  The  liberal  conference  joined  with  the  Presbyterians  in  build- 
ing a  union  chapel  at  Crown.  The  following  preacliers  have  served 
there:  Revs.  S.  H.  Bashor,  INIrs.  Clara  Flora,  Noali  Flora,  Isaac 
Thomas,  Sadie  Gibbons,  W.  A.  Witty,  S.  J.  AVood,  F.  Rawlinson, 
J.  F.  and  F.  A.  Garber,  G.  T.  Ronk.  The  church  at  Union  Chapel 
was  organized  in  October,  1912.  The  church  building  in  Leon  was 
begun  May  28,  1914,  the  lot  having  been  purchased  in  October,  1913, 
and  the  church  was  dedicated  October  25,  1914. 

THE   SWIFT   COMPANY 

The  j)lant  of  Swift  &  Company  in  Leon  was  completed  in  Sep- 
tember, 1904,  and  opened  for  business  the  same  month  with  T.  D. 
Watson  as  resident  manager.  He  w^as  manager  of  the  Chariton 
plant  before  coming  to  Leon,  and  after  the  big  fire  that  destroyed 
the  former  Swift  plant  in  this  city  he  had  charge  of  both  the  houses 
of  the  company,  here  and  at  Chariton.  The  first  plant  was  built  and 
opened  in  1902,  and  was  completely  destroj^ed  by  fire  in  the  winter 
of  1904.  The  cost  of  the  second  structure  was  $5,000.  This  second 
plant  burned  to  the  ground  on  Saturday,  October  24,  1914.  The 
loss  amounted  to  $100,000. 

COMMERCIAL  CLUB 

The  Leon  Commercial  Club  was  established  April  2G,  1907.  The 
object  of  the  club  is  to  promote  the  civic  and  industrial  interests  of 
the  city  and  to  place  Leon  on  equal  footing  with  similarly  sized  cities 
in  the  state.  The  present  officers  are:  James  F.  Harvey,  presi- 
dent; A.  L.  Ackerley,  vice  president;  William  J.  S^Jringer,  secre- 
tary; C.  W.  Robinson,  treasurer. 

REMINISCENCES  OF  LEON 

By  IMaj.  J.  L.  Young 

In  November,  1859,  when  I  first  saw  Leon  there  was  not  a  foot 
of  sidewalk  in  the  town.     The  men  engaged  in  the  mercantile  busi- 


122  HISTORY  OF  DECATUR  COUNTY 

ness  were  Richards  &  Hale,  who  had  a  nice  stock  of  goods  in  an  old 
frame  shack  at  the  northwest  corner  of  the  square.  Bradley  &  Gard- 
ner were  doing  business  in  the  frame  building  that  stood  on  the  opj)o- 
site  corner  of  the  square,  where  the  Evans  Block  now  stands.  J.  D. 
Harrow  &  Co.  were  in  a  still  smaller  frame  building  that  stood 
where  the  Park  Hotel  now  stands.  Stevens  &  Stillwell  were  in  a 
frame  building  on  the  west  side  of  the  square  near  the  Hurst  store. 
I  am  not  certain  whether  John  R.  Wharton  or  Wharton  &  Rich- 
ardson were  then  in  business,  but  I  think  they  were  in  a  2-story 
frame  building  standing  on  the  alley  where  Stempel's  drug  store 
stood.  That  was  the  first  imposing  business  building  in  the  town 
and  had  an  outside  stairway  on  the  south  side  leading  to  the  second 
story,  where  the  Bincklej'-s  printed  the  Pioneer,  the  only  paper  then 
published  in  the  county.  Alexander  UpdegrafF  and  Ab  Gillham 
had  a  harness  shop  just  south  of  Farquhar  Brothers'  hardware  store. 

The  legal  guessing  on  points  of  law  and  equity  at  that  time  was 
done  by  Judge  Sears,  w^hile  Bob  Parrott,  of  Osceola,  was  prosecuting 
attorney  for  the  district.  George  T.  Young  was  clerk;  Harrison 
Weldon,  sheriff;  John  Jordan,  treasurer,  and  L.  H.  Sales,  county 
judge.  The  jail  was  a  log  structure  and  had  iron  bars  in  the  win- 
dows which  we  thought  awfully  secure  in  those  days.  I  guess  it  was, 
for  nobody  broke  jail  then  as  they  have  since  the  cage  system  was 
introduced.  The  jail  then  stood  one  block  west  of  the  northwest 
corner  of  the  square. 

At  that  time  I.  N.  Clark  was  the  only  retired  merchant  in  Leon. 
]\I.  H.  Wood  made  and  mended  our  shoes,  and  Uriah  Bobbitt  filled 
the  same  office  for  the  horse  and  mule  population.  Judge  Samuel 
Forrey  was  the  leading  lawyer  of  the  place,  while  Joe  and  John 
AVarner  dropped  in  the  procession  next,  and  P.  H.  Binkley,  George 
A.  Hawley  and  George  S.  Adams  brought  up  the  rear,  with  V.  Wain- 
wright  just  newly  admitted,  looking  out  for  a  good  place  in  which  to 
drop. 

John  Warner  and  George  A.  Hawley  were  the  Presbyterian 
preachers  for  the  town  and  vicinity.  John  concluded  to  give  all  of 
his  time  to  the  church  and  sold  his  practice  and  good  will  to  Young 
&  Wainw^'ight  and  quit  the  jDractice  for  six  or  eight  months,  and  then 
went  into  the  firm  for  active  practice  again. 

The  hotel  accommodations  then  were  fully  up  to  the  present  con- 
sidering the  town  size.  The  Patterson  House,  kept  by  Robert  Pat- 
terson and  his  estimable  family,  was  a  2l/4-story  structure,  of  wood, 
that  stood  on  the  south  side  of  the  square  just  east  of  the  site  of  the 


HISTORY  OF  DECATUR  COUNTY  123 

Varga  Block,  where  a  nice,  cheerful  wood  fire  in  the  old-fashioned 
fii-e-place  gave  such  a  comfortable  greeting  to  the  traveler  that  he 
was  prepared  to  partake  heartily  of  the  substantial  and  well  cooked 
meal  he  was  always  sure  of  having  placed  before  him.  The  Free- 
man House,  a  clean,  comfortable  place  to  stay,  was  kept  by  ]Mrs. 
Rhoda  Hawkins,  Billy  Boone's  mother.  Billy  was  then  a  bare- 
footed boy,  usually  with  his  big  toe  tied  up  or  a  stone  bruise  on  his 
heel.  John  Warner  and  Old  Man  Shackleford  had  been  engaged  in 
the  hotel  business,  but  they  retired  and  gave  way  to  more  pretentious 
hostelries.  Shortly  before  this  Karl  Hoffman  completed  the  build- 
insr  known  for  vears  as  the  Sales  House.  Hoffman  traded  the 
buildina'  for  ei"htv  acres  of  land  north  of  Leon,  where  his  son  Cal 
now  resides. 

The  frame  JNIethodist  Church  was  not  completed  in  18.57,  but  they 
held  meetings  every  Sunday  at  11  o'clock,  and  at  "early  candle 
lightin'  "  when  they  could  get  a  preacher.  When  they  could  not. 
Uncle  Johnny  Patterson  w^ould  hold  class  or  Jimmie  Garrett  would 
"exhort"  for  an  hour  or  two. 

John  Lee,  an  importation  from  Illinois,  started  a  saloon  in  a  pho- 
tographer's car  on  the  west  side  of  the  square  in  1861,  but  a  committee 
composed  of  the  best  women  of  the  town  visited  the  place  one  fine 
day  with  axes,  hatchets  and  matches,  and  John  did  not  keep  a  saloon 
in  Leon  after  that. 

In  18.56  the  population  of  Leon  had  increased  to  600.  In  1871 
it  was  only  8o0,  but  the  arrival  of  the  railroad  during  that  year 
brought  many  people  to  the  place  so  that  the  population  had  increased 
to  1,367  in  1880.  The  greater  portion  of  the  main  line  of  the  Chi- 
cago, Burlington  &  Quincy  Railroad  through  Iowa  and  also  the 
branch  from  Chariton  to  Leon  was  constructed  during  the  year  1871. 
Eight  years  later  the  road  was  extended  to  Bethany,  JNIo.  In  order 
to  procure  the  branch  line  Garden  Grove  Township  donated  $25,000, 
while  Center  gave  $50,000  and  the  right  of  way  from  Garden  Grove 
to  Leon.  The  advent  of  the  railroad  stimulated  immigration,  pro- 
moted business  activity  and  increased  the  value  of  real  estate  through- 
out the  country. 

Among  the  members  of  the  Leon  bar  in  1871  were  John  W.  Har- 
vey, Warner  &  Post,  N.  P.  Bullock,  J.  B.  Morrison,  E.  W.  Curry, 
W.  M.  Porter,  W.  E.  Dawson  and  Albert  Hale.  The  i^hysicians 
w^ere  J.  P.  Finley,  H.  C.  Sanford  and  J.  R.  INIcClelland.  A.  S. 
UpdegrafF  conducted  a  harness  shop,  and  Q.  IM.  Lindsey  officiated 
as  landlord  at  the  Sales  House.     The  First  National  Bank  had  a 


124  HISTORY  OF  DECATUR  COUNTY 

capital  of  $60,000  and  was  officered  as  follows:  President,  John 
Clark;  vice  president,  William  Davis;  cashier,  L.  P.  Sigler;  directors, 
J.  D.  Wasson,  A.  M.  Hilton,  R.  E.  Hutchinson,  William  Loving, 
J.  H.  Garrett,  J.  E.  Logan  and  S.  C.  Thompson.  The  druggists 
were  Hildreth  &  Woodbury,  Thompson  &  Gillham  and  Hammer  & 
Finley.  Among  the  prominent  merchants  were  S.  W.  Hurst,  Rich- 
ards &  Close  and  W.  D.  Coventry.  S.  V.  Walton  &  Brothers  adver- 
tised themselves  as  breeders  and  shippers  of  Poland  China  hogs. 
Shorthorn  cattle  and  Spanish  fowls.  Phillip  Blind  was  the  barber, 
and  A.  C.  Davis  the  dentist.  L.  S.  Lunbeck  was  the  painter  and 
paperhanger.  The  woolen  factory  was  owned  and  operated  by  CM. 
Knapp,  and  Jordan  &  Robb  owned  the  abstract  books  and  conducted 
a  land  agency.  Sinclair  &  Jenks  were  the  restaurant  people,  and 
S.  A.  Miller  supplied  bread  for  the  public  at  his  bakery  located  south 
of  the  square.  P.  O.  James  had  established  the  Journal  in  1868  and 
in  his  issue  of  August  24,  1871,  occurred  the  following:  "We  learn 
that  work  commenced  on  the  B.  &  M.  Branch  at  Garden  Grove  on 
Monday.  This  is  glorious  news  to  our  people  and  gives  us  room  to 
hope  that  we  will  soon  have  a  railroad  in  Decatur  County." 

THE  LEON  BOARD  OF  TRADE 

This  organization  has  been  superseded  by  the  Commercial  Club, 
but  nevertheless,  the  history  of  the  same  is  interesting.  On  January 
15,  1888,  a  meeting  of  the  business  men  of  Leon  was  held  at  the 
courthouse  at  which  steps  were  taken  towards  organizing  a  business 
men's  association.  At  this  meeting  a  committee  was  appointed  for 
the  purpose  of  drawing  up  a  plan  of  organization.  At  a  second 
meeting  held  on  Friday  evening,  January  13th,  the  committee 
reported,  recommending  that  an  association  be  formed  at  once  under 
the  name  of  the  Leon  Board  of  Trade.  The  shares  of  stock  were 
fixed  at  $5  each,  and  each  member  of  the  board  was  required  to  take 
not  less  than  one  share  of  the  stock.  The  constitution  and  by-laws 
were  at  once  circulated  for  signatures,  and  within  fifteen  minutes 
thirty  of  the  business  men  of  the  town  had  signified  their  intention  of 
becoming  members  of  the  board.  The  board  of  trade  existed  suc- 
cessfully and  helpfully  for  a  number  of  years.  The  purposes  of  the 
organization,  of  course,  were  largely  the  same  as  the  present  Com- 
mercial Club. 


HISTORY  OF  DECATUR  COUNTY  125 

LEON  AS  DESCRIBED  IN  18G9 

The  Decatur  County  Jom-nal,  issue  of  Tuesday,  INIarch  4,  18G9, 
has  the  following  to  say  of  Leon : 

This  is  the  county  seat  and  is  situated  about  two  miles  northeast 
of  the  geographical  center  of  the  county.  Thomas  H.  East  had 
built  a  house  on  the  townsite  before  the  town  was  laid  out.  Judire 
S.  C.  Thompson  built  the  first  after  the  location  of  the  town.  Clark, 
Winn  &  Co.  built  the  first  business  house,  and  I.  X.  Clark  sold  the 
first  goods  in  September,  1853. 

It  now  contains  six  general  stores,  two  family  groceries,  two  drug 
stores,  two  stove  and  tinware  stores,  thi'ee  shoe  shops,  two  printing 
offices,  two  harness  shops,  two  jewelers,  two  milliners,  three  hotels, 
one  livery  stable,  three  blacksmiths,  three  wagonmakers,  one  cabinet 
dealer,  two  land  agencies,  eight  lawj^ers,  six  physicians,  two  churches, 
one  schoolhouse,  two  flouring  mills,  one  woolen  factory,  witli  the 
usual  proportion  of  mechanics  of  diff*erent  kinds. 

Among  the  substantial  business  men  are  Richards  &  Close,  J.  D. 
Harrow  and  G.  D.  Sellers,  general  dealers;  Hildreth  &  Sales  and 
T.  W.  Hammer,  druggists;  S.  Farquhar  and  J.  W.  ShaefFer,  dealers 
in  stoves  and  tinware;  J.  L.  Simms,  boots  and  shoes;  A.  S.  UpdegraiF 
and  Patterson  &  Darr,  saddles  and  harness;  Jacob  Warner,  jeweler; 
Mills  &  Cross,  Uriah  Bobbitt,  blacksmiths;  G.  Irelan,  wagonmaker. 
J.  O.  Johnson  keeps  the  Sales  House;  this  is  known  as  the  best  hotel 
in  Southern  Iowa,  Among  our  prominent  lawyers  are  Young  & 
Harvey,  S.  Forrey  and  J.  B.  IVIorrison.  The  physicians  are  J.  P. 
Finley,  Sr.,  B.  F.  Raiff",  R.  D.  Gardner,  H.  Clay  Sanford,  J.  R. 
McClelland  and  C.  P.  INIullinnix. 

A  ]\Iasonic  lodge,  known  as  Grand  River  Lodge  No.  73  and  Leon 
Chapter  No.  32,  located  in  Leon,  are  in  a  flourishing  condition.  Leon 
Lodge  No.  84,  I.  O.  O.  F.,  is  also  in  flourishing  condition.  A 
Chapter  of  Temperance  was  organized  during  the  past  winter  and  is 
doing  good  work. 

Considerable  attention  has  been  given  by  the  citizens  to  tlie  ])lant- 
ing  of  shade  and  ornamental  trees  and  shrubbery.  The  Public 
Square,  a  block  of  ground  216  feet  square,  has  been  enclosed  and 
planted  in  forest  trees,  mostly  maple,  yet  of  small  size.  Half  a  mile 
north  of  town  there  is  a  large  and  well-stocked  nursery  of  fruit  and 
ornamental  shrubbery  of  almost  every  variety.  The  nursery  has  been 
in  operation  twelve  or  more  years,  and  is  owned  and  operated  by  the 
practical  horticulturist,  J.  B.  Lunbeck. 


126  HISTORY  OF  DECATUR  COUNTY 

Wood  is  the  principal  fuel  used  and  is  delivered  in  Leon  during 
the  winter  season  at  $2  per  cord. 

There  are  forty-four  arrivals  and  departures  of  the  mails  each 
week  to  and  from  different  directions.  The  postoffice  here  is  a  money- 
order  office. 

The  population  of  Leon  is  about  one  thousand.  During  the  past 
season  about  thirty  good  buildings  were  erected. 

MEMORIES  OF  LEON 

The  following  items  were  prepared  by  J.  N.  Machlan.  The 
writer  makes  the  items  doubly  interesting  by  using  the  historical 
present  tense: 

As  Abraham  Lincoln  is  now  running  for  President  of  the  United 
States  it  is  fitting  that  some  demonstration  in  honor  of  the  occasion  be 
given  at  Leon.  It  is  useless  to  state  that  there  is  no  little  interest 
shown  by  both  political  parties  on  the  occasion.  Prominent  among 
the  Lincolnites  that  are  among  those  that  are  parading  the  streets  of 
Leon  are  Jesse  Roberts  and  George  ^lachlan,  who  with  a  string  of 
teams  hitched  to  a  wagon  loaded  with  logs  are  j)laying  an  important 
part  as  they  pass  through  the  streets  of  young  Leon,  one  of  them 
driving  and  the  other  splitting  rails  with  a  mall  and  wedge. 

News  has  reached  us  that  El.  Curry,  son  of  William  Curry  and 
brother  of  E.  W.  Currv,  has  returned  home  from  the  war  on  a  fur- 
lough. 

That  Grandma  Taylor,  mother  of  Uncle  Ben  Taylor,  living  in 
the  northeast  part  of  Franklin  Township,  had  disappeared  from  the 
homestead  of  her  son,  Ben,  where  she  made  her  home.  The  news 
was  heralded  from  place  to  place  over  the  sj^arsely  settled  country, 
and  a  searching  party,  consisting  of  John  Lillard,  George  Machlan 
and  others,  have  searched  diligently  for  the  missing  woman  and  have 
found  no  traces  of  her  whereabouts  except  some  small  bits  of  her 
clothing. 

News  has  also  reached  us  that  Denver  Curry,  youngest  son  of 
WilHam  Curry,  met  with  a  sad  accident  while  watching  his  father 
bore  holes  in  a  stick  of  timber  to  be  used  in  making  a  bob  sled.  The 
little  fellow  became  anxious  to  ascertain  if  the  auger  point  was  about 
to  come  through  the  lower  side  of  the  timber,  and  in  doing  so  thrust 
his  front  finger  into  the  hole  that  was  just  being  completed,  when  it 
was  instantly  seized  by  the  crude  jaws  of  the  auger  and  cut  off.  The 
severed  piece  was  preserved  in  alcohol. 


HISTORY  OF  DECATUR  COUNTY  127 

We  are  informed  that  the  young  daughter  of  ]Mr.  Clinkinbeard, 
near  Prairie  City  (now  Yan  Wert),  who,  with  her  parents,  was  visit- 
ing at  the  JNIachlan  homestead,  became  anxious  to  eat  some  home- 
made soap  from  a  kettle  near  the  house.  The  cliild  was  attracted  by 
the  looks  of  the  soap,  and  thinking  it  was  sorgiuim  molasses,  ate 
quite  a  mouthful  before  she  learned  it  was  hurting  her.  Presently 
she  began  to  suffer,  and  as  soon  as  it  was  learned  what  she  had  eaten 
she  was  given  raw  egg  and  cream,  which  relieved  her  somewliat. 

We  are  informed  that  a  dance  will  take  place  at  Jesse  Roberts' 
one  night  next  week.     All  are  invited. 

There  will  be  a  spelling  school  at  the  Walker  sclioolhouse  next 
Friday  night.     A  cordial  invitation  is  extended  to  all. 

Strange,  isn't  it,  that  we  have  just  learned  that  the  little  round 
yellow  and  red  varieties  of  Jerusalem  cherries  that  some  people  call 
tomatoes,  such  as  our  mothers  raise  in  their  gardens  for  ornaments, 
are  said  to  be  relished  by  some  people  as  edible. 

Horrible  Accident. — INIrs.  Day,  wife  of  Joshua  Day,  living  in 
central  Franklin  Township,  was  killed  by  a  runaway  team  M'hile 
returning  home  from  Leon  with  her  son,  Joe  Jackson.  When  al)out 
41/4  miles  north  of  town  the  team  became  frightened,  and  running 
for  some  distance  when  ^Irs.  Day  was  thrown  from  tlie  carriage, 
her  clothing  catching  about  the  vehicle.  She  was  dragged  near  the 
horses'  heels  for  some  distance,  when  Joe  became  unable  to  hold 
the  team.  They  kept  on  running,  the  carriage  upsetting,  and  becom- 
ing loosened,  they  continued  on  toward  home,  leaving  the  corpse  in 
a  badly  mutilated  condition  in  the  little  muddy  creek  41/9  miles  north 
of  town. 

The  Eclipse  of  the  Sun.— The  other  day.  while  we  were  busily 
engaged  stacking  wheat  and  had  a  stack  almost  finished  at  about  3 
o'clock  in  the  afternoon,  we  observed  first  a  hazy  atmosphere,  then  a 
smoky  appearance,  then  in  a  few  minutes  a  yellowish  tint,  then  dark- 
ness was  coming  on  and  peculiar  sensations  were  chasing  each  other 
up  and  down  our  spine  as  it  grew  darker  and  darker.  We  climbed 
down  from  the  stack,  as  it  was  too  dark  to  work,  and  went  to  the 
house.  The  fowls  had  gone  to  roost.  But  ere  long  Old  Sol  began 
to  show  his  shining  face  as  if  nothing  extraordinary  had  taken  place, 
and  before  his  face  disappeared  beneath  the  western  horizon  we  had 
our  wheat  stack  finished  and  climbed  down  for  supper. 

J.  S.  Ryan's  daughters  look  quite  well  in  their  new  dresses  made 
of  wool  yarn  spun  and  wove  into  cloth  by  their  mother,  ]Mrs.  John 


128  HISTORY  OF  DECATUR  COUNTY 

Ryan,  of  North  Central  Township.     The  flannel  was  made  from 
red  and  blue  wove  in  cheeks. 

The  hum  of  the  spinning  wheel  may  be  heard  in  the  land  these 
days.  Mrs.  John  Delk  and  Mrs.  George  ^lachlan  enjoy  treading 
the  wheel  and  singing  as  they  spin. 

The  sad  news  has  just  reached  us  that  Chicago  is  burning  and  that 
horses  and  cattle  are  rushing  to  the  lake  and  j)lunging  into  the  water 
to  escape  the  flames. 

J.  S.  Ryan,  J.  M.  Gardner  and  Alma  Jackson  have  each  pm*- 
chased  new  organs.  Organs  have  been  so  reduced  in  price  that  a 
l^retty  good  instrument  can  be  had  for  from  $250  to  $300,  and  the 
price  of  pianos  has  also  dropped  until  a  fairly  good  one  can  be  had 
for  from  $600  to  $800. 

A  Narrow  Escape. — Ebenezer  Price,  while  assisting  with  the 
threshing  at  his  near  neighbor's,  was  standing  near  the  tumbling 
rod  of  the  thresher  when  his  clothes  caught  on  the  revolving  shaft 
and  was  fast  winding  them  up,  when,  with  great  presence  of  mind, 
he  seized  the  shaft,  called  out  "Whoa!"  to  the  teams  and,  being  a 
powerful  man,  was  enabled  to  bring  the  revolving  shaft  to  a  stand- 
still and  saved  meeting  a  horrible  death. 

There  will  be  a  spelling  contest  at  the  White  Oak  schoolhouse 
Friday  night.  Some  good  spellers  are  expected  to  be  present.  Come 
everybody. 

Theodore  Delk,  living  in  Center  Township,  has  become  quite  pro- 
ficient in  handling  the  violin. 

Sherman  Abbott,  a  bright  young  fellow,  is  doing  some  spying  for 
Uncle  Sam  in  the  northeast  part  of  the  county. 

INIr.  Vannostrand  is  making  some  good  hard  monej^  on  his  fine 
farm  on  the  north  county  line.  ]Mr.  Van  knows  how  to  till  the  soil 
for  what's  in  it. 

Frank  Samson,  a  bright  3'^oung  son  of  Reverend  Seth,  of  near 
Prairieville,  fell  twenty  feet  through  a  ha}'-  mow  at  George  JSIachlan's, 
lighting  on  a  hard  floor  and  temporarily  injuring  his  spine. 

Denver  Curry,  brother  of  School  Teacher  E.  W.  Curry,  stopped 
growing  at  a  height  of  6  feet  4  inches. 

A  party  of  four  young  couple  boarded  a  lumber  wagon  a  few 
evenings  ago  and  started  to  church  northwest  of  Greenbay,  stopping 
at  Mr.  Johnson's  store  in  Greenbay  and  procuring  all  the  candy 
Mr.  Johnson  had,  which  w^as  about  three  pounds,  and  started  on  their 
way  munching  at  the  candy  as  they  went.     It  was  not  long  until  they 


HISTORY  OF  DECATUR  COUNTY  129 

began  to  feel  sick  and  not  one  of  the  entire  posse  escaped  the  effect 
of  the  candy.     They  all  returned  home  a  little  worse  for  the  wear. 

There  will  be  a  corn-shucking  at  ^Ir.  Donover's  stable  tomorrow 
night.  Oysters  will  be  served  after  the  shucking.  Come  early  and 
bring  your  sweethearts. 

Ebenezer  Price,  on  going  to  his  barn  yesterday  as  usual  to  feed 
his  horses,  was  picking  up  some  haj'  and  uncovered  a  man  dead  drunk. 
The  man  was  almost  frozen  to  death,  and  would  have  been  beyond 
recovery  had  not  JNIr.  Price  taken  him  to  the  house  and  warmed  him 
up  and  gave  him  some  food  to  eat. 

Amusing,  wasn't  it,  to  see  young  George  W.  Samson  ])lushing 
crimson  the  other  day  during  school  hours  at  the  Roberts  sclioolhouse 
when  young  pretty  JNIiss  Smith  (teacher)  caught  him  napping? 

There  will  be  a  taffy  pulling  at  Frank  Bedier's  Saturday  night. 
Come  and  bring  vour  'lasses  and  your  lassies. 

INIr.  Henry  Gribble  has  purchased  a  recently  invented  self-binding 
harvester  for  about  three  hundred  and  seventy-five  dollars.  The 
machine  binds  grain  with  wire  and  is  attracting  people  from  far  and 
near  to  see  the  wonder  of  the  age. 

It  is  reported  in  Decatur  County  that  a  line  of  wire  called  a  tele- 
phone line  has  been  constructed  between  Indianola,  in  Warren 
County,  and  Afton,  in  Union  County,  and  that  people  in  said  towns 
can  talk  over  the  line  of  wire  by  talking  into  a  queer-looking  appara- 
tus called  a  telephone.  The  ]3eople  in  adjoining  counties  are  quite  a 
little  excited  over  the  affair,  as  many  of  them  never  heard  of  such  a 
thing  before  in  their  lives. 


\ol.  I—    9 


CHAPTER  XI 

THE  FOUNDIXG  OF  LAMONI  AND  THE  WORK  OF 

THE  ORDER  OF  ENOCH 

By  Asa  S.  Cochran 

The  name  Lamoni,  as  apphed  to  the  locality  which  is  now  known 
thereby,  had  its  origin  with  the  First  United  Order  of  Enoch,  a  cor- 
poration composed  of  a  number  of  men  of  means  connected  with  the 
Reorganized  Church  of  Jesus  Christ  of  Latter  Day  Saints. 

The  stockholders  of  this  organization  held  their  first  meeting  at 
Council  Bluffs,  la.,  September  19,  1870,  at  which  meeting  Elijah 
Banta,  Israel  L.  Rogers,  David  Dancer,  David  ^I.  Garnet,  Alex- 
ander ^IcCord,  Calvin  A.  Beebe  and  Phineas  Cadwell  were  chosen  a 
board  of  directors.  These  men  further  organized  by  choosing  Elijah 
Banta,  president,  Israel  L.  Rogers,  treasurer,  and  Henry  A.  Steb- 
bins,  secretary.  The  purpose  of  this  organization  is  clearly  set  forth 
in  section  2  of  the  constitution,  which  reads  as  follow^s: 

"Section  2.  The  general  business  and  object  of  this  corporation 
shall  be  the  associating  together  of  men  and  capital  and  those  skilled 
in  labor  and  mechanics,  *  *  *  for  the  purpose  of  settling,  devel- 
oping and  improving  new  tracts  of  land  which  tracts  of  land  shall  be 
selected  and  purchased  by  a  committee  to  be  appointed  by  the  board 
of  directors  *  *  *  to  take  cognizance  of  the  w^ants  of  the  worthy 
and  industrious  poor  men  who  shall  apply  therefor,  and  provide  them 
with  labor  and  the  means  for  securing  homes  and  a  livelihood  and  to 
develop  energies  and  resources  of  the  people  who  may  seek  their 
respective  localities  for  settlement." 

At  the  first  meeting  of  the  board  Elijah  Banta,  David  Dancer, 
Israel  L.  Rogers  and  Phineas  Cadwell  were  appointed  a  committee 
to  seek  a  suitable  location  for  the  purchase  of  land  and  the  operation 
of  said  company.  The  stock  certificates  of  this  corporation  were 
issued  from  Lamoni,  la.  The  committee  visited  several  localities 
in  the  states  of  Missouri,  Kansas,  Nebraska  and  Iowa,  finalty  locat- 

130 


LATTEE  DAY  SAIXTS  (HrRCH,  LA:\in\T 


SAINTS'  HOME  FOll  THE  AGED,  LAMONI 


HISTORY  OF  DECATUR  COUNTY  131 

ing  in  the  Township  of  Fayette,  Decatur  County,  la.;  the  post- 
ottice  being  Sedgwick;  the  nearest  store  being  at  Davis  City,  seven 
miles  distant;  and  Leon,  eighteen  miles  away,  being  the  nearest  rail- 
road station.  The  first  report  of  the  secretary,  dated  September  1, 
1871,  showed  that  the  capital  stock  amounted  to  $44,.)00  and  that 
2,680  acres  of  land  had  been  purchased  at  a  cost  of  $21,708.84.  Sub- 
sequent reports  show  that  the  capital  stock  had  been  increased  $100 
more  and  a  total  of  3,330  acres  of  land  had  been  purchased  at  a  c(jst 
of  $30,073.94.  Twelve  new  houses  had  been  built  costing  $7,078.40 
and  about  sixteen  himdred  acres  of  prairie  land  had  been  broken  at 
a  cost  of  $4,040,  a  nursery  planted  and  various  other  improvements 
made.  The  shares  in  the  company  were  $100  each.  Tliose  holding 
the  largest  amounts  of  stock  were:  David  Dancer,  $9,000;  Elijali 
Banta,  $.5,000;  Israel  L.  Rogers,  $5,000;  Phineas  Cadwell,  $3,400; 
Moses  A.  Meder,  $3,000;  William  Hopkins,  Simeon  Stivers  and 
family,  T.  J.  Andrews  and  family,  Ephraim  Rowland,  JNIarietta 
Walker,  Alexander  McCord,  and  Calvin  A.  Beebe,  $1,000  each;  the 
remaining  stock  being  divided  up  among  about  sixty  different  indi- 
viduals. 

The  organization  continued  about  twenty  years,  paying  90  per 
cent  in  dividends  and  returning  the  original  stock  also. 

A  resolution  passed  by  the  board  in  1874  shows  one  thing  had  in 
view  by  them  which  concerns  our  subject.  It  is  as  follows:  "Resolved 
that  we  proceed  to  locate  a  town  site  upon  or  near  the  land  belonging 
to  the  association  as  soon  as  it  is  found  practicable." 

The  elders  of  the  Decatur  District,  principally  of  the  Little  River, 
now  Pleasanton  branch,  had  been  busy  preaching  in  Fayette  Town- 
ship and  several  had  been  baptized,  so  that  on  November  12,  1871,  in 
pursuance  of  a  resolution  passed  by  the  Decatur  District  conference, 
the  district  president,  A.  W.  Moffett,  organized  the  Lamoni  branch 
which  was  composed  of  fifteen  members  who  had  formerly  been  mem- 
bers of  the  Little  River  branch,  namely:  Charles,  Harriett  and 
James  R.  Walker,  William  and  Eliza  Bunt,  Robert  L.  Simpson; 
Adam,  Angeline,  Francis  jM.,  and  Susan  Dennis,  Andrew  J.  Green, 
James  D.  and  George  R.  Dillon  and  John  E.  Ackerly,  also  Charles 
H.  and  JNIargaret  Jones,  Z.  H.  Gurley  and  James  P.  Dillon.  Charles 
H.  Jones  was  chosen  president.  During  the  next  year,  1872,  tlie 
membership  of  the  branch  was  increased  considerably.  Samuel  Ack- 
erly, George  Ross  from  Wisconsin,  George  Braby,  Peter  B.  Johnson, 
and  Andrew  K.  Anderson  from  Illinois,  I.  N.  W.  Cooper  from  Penn- 
sylvania, William  Hopkins  from  California,  James   Shaw,  Robert 


132  HISTORY  OF  DECATUR  COUNTY 

and  John  Johnson  from  Canada,  who  with  their  families  and  numer- 
ous baptisms  by  the  elders  had  increased  the  membershij)  of  the  branch 
to  nearly  seventy.  In  the  year  1873  the  members  were  still  further 
increased  by  the  arrival  of  O.  J.  Bailey  from  ^lichigan,  George  W. 
Bird  who  had  been  with  Lyman  Wight  in  Texas,  Richard  Elliker 
from  Canada,  Daniel  P.,  David  D.,  and  Alburn  B.  Young,  George 
Adams  and  E.  J.  Robinson  from  California,  each  with  one  exception 
having  families,  a  companion  at  least. 

By  this  time  they  were  in  need  of  a  place  of  meeting.  When  the 
writer  came  here  in  the  fall  of  1875  Daniel  P.  Young  had  succeeded 
Brother  Jones  as  president  of  the  branch.  Meetings  were  held  in  two 
schoolhouses  at  the  same  hour.  One  of  the  houses  was  a  part  of  the 
one  near  the  Evergreen  Church  and  the  other  was  4^/0  miles  east. 
In  the  following  spring  the  president  called  a  union  meeting  on 
Sunday  and  appointed  the  meeting  on  the  following  Sunday  in  the 
new  church. 

The  following  week  was  a  busy  one.  No  lumber  nearer  than 
Leon,  twenty  miles  away.  JNIonday  and  Tuesday  lumber  was  hauled 
from  Leon  and  blocks  for  foundation  from  the  timber.  Wednesday 
and  Thursday,  carpenters,  of  whom  I  remember  Alexander  H.  Smith, 
who  had  moved  that  spring  from  Nauvoo  and  settled  near  where 
Aiidover,  Mo.,  now  is,  and  H.  R.  Harder  and  Hiram  Dougherty, 
who  came  from  Kansas,  and  perhaps  others,  framed  the  building  and 
laid  the  foundation.  Friday  and  Saturday  anyone  who  could  wield 
a  hammer  or  saw  was  invited  and  before  the  sun  set  for  the  last  time 
of  the  week,  the  building  was  up,  shingled,  inclosed,  windows  in,  and 
door  hung.  Meeting  was  held  the  next  day  according  to  appoint- 
ment. No  floor,  no  seats,  except  lumber,  wagon  seats,  or  chairs 
brought  in  for  temporary  use.  The  building  was  located  near  the 
center  of  the  township  on  land  furnished  by  E.  J.  Robinson.  In  the 
fall,  as  the  cool  weather  came  on,  a  floor  was  laid,  walls  plastered, 
and  it  was  made  comfortable  for  the  winter.  The  size  was  probably 
about  twenty-four  by  thirtj^-six,  about  ten  feet  to  the  eaves.  It  was 
never  painted  and  was  abandoned  as  a  church  and  sold  after  the 
church  was  erected  in  town. 

In  1875,  I  think,  Samuel  H.  Gurley  started  a  small  store  in  what 
had  been  a  schoolhouse,  keeping  a  limited  supply  of  goods  as  he 
deemed  suitable.  There  were  no  other  stores  or  wagon  or  blacksmith 
shops  nearer  than  Davis  City  until  about  1877,  when  Peter  Harris 
arrived  from  Wisconsin  and  erected  a  blacksmith  shop  not  far  from 
the  church  building.     This  was  afterwards  moved  to  town,  also  the 


HKiH  St  HOOl.  JU  II>1)1XG,  LAMOXl 


WEST  SI  OK  S(  H'toL.  L  A:\rn\T 


HISTORY  OF  DECATUR  COUNTY  133 

dwelling  he  constructed.  Conditions  remained  the  same,  being  only 
a  farming  community,  until  the  year  1879.  A  company  was  formed 
somewhere  east,  known  as  the  Leon,  ^It.  Ayr  &  Southwestern  Rail- 
road  Company,  formed  principally  of  men  connected  with  tlie  Clii- 
cago,  Burlington  &  Quincy  Railroad  Company,  their  purpose  being 
to  extend  the  railroad  from  Leon  through  ]Mt.  Ayr.  Work  was 
pushed  forward  to  Davis  City  and  w^est  to  wluit  was  afterwards 
known  as  Bethany  Junction,  now  called  Togo.  From  there  they 
designed  to  take  a  northwesterly  course  and  commenced  tlie  work  of 
grading  and  would  have  passed  about  two  or  three  miles  north  of 
where  Lamoni  now  stands,  when  Samuel  Y.  Bailey  chanced  to  meet 
some  of  the  leading  men  of  the  company  and  conversed  with  them  in 
regard  to  changing  their  course'so  as  to  reach  "The  Colony,"  as  the 
locality  was  then  named.  This  proposition  was  favorably  received 
by  them  in  case  sufficient  aid  was  guaranteed  to  justify  them  in  chang- 
ing their  course.  Several  individuals  almost  immediately  entered  into 
an  agreement  to  obligate  themselves  each  in  proportion  to  the  value 
the  assessor  had  placed  upon  their  property  to  furnish  the  aid  to  the 
company  required.  They  w-ere  David  Dancer,  Elijah  Banta,  the 
First  Order  of  Enoch,  S.  Y.  Bailey,  J.  R.  Smith,  and  I  think  X.  H. 
Riggs,  George  Adams  and  W.  Hudson.  jNIeeting  with  the  railroad 
men  they  obligated  themselves  to  furnish  them  200  acres  of  land  for 
a  town  site,  also  the  right  of  way  through  the  township,  also  the  right 
of  way  to  the  state  line,  provided  they  should  wish  to  make  a  junc- 
tion at  Lamoni  at  some  future  time.  The  railroad  men  were  to  build 
and  operate  a  railroad,  establish  and  maintain  a  depot  on  the  land 
supplied  them,  and  pay  $15  per  acre  for  the  land,  also  deed  them  100 
average  lots  when  the  town  was  laid  out  and  platted.  The  Order  of 
Enoch  supplied  120  acres  of  land  which  lies  on  the  south  side  of  ]Main 
Street  and  bought  eighty  acres  of  Frank  Drummond  which  lies  on 
the  north  side  of  jNIain  Street.  The  land  purchased  of  Drummond 
cost  them  $600  more  than  the  railroad  men  allowed  them.  They  also 
furnished  three  miles  of  right  of  way.  But  eventually  the  100  lots 
sold  for  enough  to  reimburse  them'  for  the  outlay. 

There  was  one  dwelling  on  the  land  furnished  by  the  Order  of 
Enoch  which  stood  where  the  W.  A.  Hopkins  home  now  is  located, 
and  was  occupied  by  I.  P.  Baggerly.  He  had  the  land  now  north  of 
the  railroad  planted  in  corn  which  was  ready  to  cut  up  when  trains 
commenced  running  and  the  building  of  tlie  town  commenced.  On 
tlie  other  side  of  3Iain  Street  on  the  eighty  acres  were  two  houses. 
One  stood  on  the  block  immediately  south  of  the  one  afterwards 


134  HISTORY  OF  DECATUR  COUNTY 

occupied  by  the  Herald  office,  and  was  occupied  by  INIr.  Drummond, 
who  maintained  a  bachelor's  hall  therein.  The  other  house,  a  much 
older  one,  stood  very  near  where  the  Barr  Hotel  now  stands.  INIuch 
of  this  land  was  planted  in  corn.  The  first  dwelling  house  erected 
was  by  Volentine  White,  later  owned  by  James  Jennings  and  now 
by  Doctor  Hill. 

Among  the  early  comers  to  the  new  town  were  William  Ofi&cer 
and  J.  T.  Dixon,  L.  A.  Fowler  and  B.  L.  Merritt.  The  first  busi- 
ness houses  were  erected  by  Thomas  Teale  and  Samuel  H.  Gurley; 
the  first  where  D.  C.  White  and  Sons  have  their  store  and  the  latter 
one  where  the  Lamoni  Hardware  Company  is  now  located.  There 
was  an  effort  made  by  some  people  to  have  the  new  town  named 
Sedgwick,  as  that  had  been  the  name  of  the  postoffice  here  up  until 
this  time,  but  Lamoni  was  kept  finally  as  the  name  of  the  new  town. 
Lamoni  was  a  busy  place  in  the  fall  of  1879.  Over  ten  thousand 
bushels  of  corn  were  sold  and  shipped.  Carpenters  were  busy  in  all 
directions.  A  lumber  yard  was  started  by  David  Dancer,  Albert  P. 
Dancer  and  A.  S.  Cochran.  In  the  fall  of  1880  Henry  A.  Stebbins 
became  a  resident  of  Lamoni  and  succeeded  Albert  P.  Dancer  in  the 
lumber  business. 

The  first  person  born  in  the  new  town,  that  is,  after  the  town  was 
established,  was  Bertie  Lamoni  White,  the  son  of  Volentine  and  JSIary 
A.  White.  The  first  ones  to  be  married  were  Earl  D.  Bailey  and 
Katie  Harris.  The  first  person  that  died  was  Nehemiah  D.  Smith, 
whose  death  occurred  Februarv  7,  1880. 

BANKS 

The  Farmers  State  Bank  of  Lamoni  was  established  in  1898.  The 
officers  at  the  present  time  are:  Fred  Teale,  president;  J.  R.  Smith, 
vice  president;  Orra  Teale,  cashier;  and  T.  B.  Nicholson,  assistant 
cashier.  The  capital  stock  is  $25,000  and  the  deposits  amount  to 
$160,000. 

The  State  Savings  Bank  of  Lamoni  was  organized  and  begun 
business  in  1898.  W.  A.  Hopkins  is  the  president;  Anna  A.  Dancer, 
vice  president;  and  Oscar  Anderson,  cashier.  The  capital  stock  is 
$50,000  and  the  deposits  $438,000. 

NEWSPAPERS 

The  Lamoni  Gazette  was  given  to  the  public  in  November,  1885, 
by  Sumner  E.  King,  from  INIissouri.  Three  months  later  he  disposed 
of  the  paper  to  Walker  and  Hansen.     Several  owners  followed  this 


LlJiERTY  HO:\IK  FOR  THE  AtJKD,  LA.^[()^■1 


C'HILDREN'8   HO.AIE.    l^A.MUXI 


HISTORY  OF  DECATUR  COUNTY  135 

firm  and  it  finally  fell  into  the  hands  of  the  Lambert  Riuthers  who 
changed  the  name  to  the  Independent  Patriot  and  under  tliis  name 
it  was  a  success  and  a  great  aid  in  the  moral  uplift  of  the  conimuuitv. 
It  was  discontinued  in  1910. 

The  Lamoni  Chronicle,  the  present  newspaper  at  Lamoni,  was 
first  established  in  June,  1894,  by  W.  H.  Deam.  Deam  kept  tlie 
paper  for  a  time  and  then  sold  out.  Several  owners  followed  until 
April  1,  1913,  when  W.  H.  Blair,  H.  E.  Gelatt  and  G.  \V.  Blair  pur- 
chased the  plant.  They  have  made  a  distinct  success  of  the  paper  and 
have  one  of  the  most  modern  plants  ;to  be  found  in  the  state  among 
the  smaller  papers.  The  paper  runs  from  eiglit  pages  up,  is  six 
columns,  and  is  issued  on  Thursday  of  each  week  to  about  thirteen 
hundred  paid-up  subscribers.  „-  t--- - -- 

THE   CITY   OF  LAMONI  AND   ITS   PEOPLE 

Among  the  many  active  agencies  for  the  building  of  Lamoni  is 
the  Lamoni  Commercial  Club,  organized  to  promote  the  general  wel- 
f ace  of  the  community.  The  business  of  the  town  has  been  very  pros- 
jierous  due  to  this  spirit.  The  club  was  organized  in  1907  and  its 
first  officers  were:  W.  A.  Hopkins,  president;  C.  E.  Blair,  vice  presi- 
dent; F.  B.  Blair,  secretary;  O.  E.  Teale,  treasurer. 

At  the  present  time  Lamoni  has  upwards  of  eighteen  hundred  in- 
habitants and  is  located  in  the  heart  of  a  rich  agricultural,  gently 
rolling  and  fertile  prairie  country,  well  settled  and  improved  by 
])rosperous  and  substantial  farmers. 

Lamoni  has  a  modern  system  of  water  works  installed  in  1910, 
with  an  abundance  of  good  water,  supplied  from  a  large  lake  cover- 
ing over  ten  acres  of  ground  and  thirty  feet  deep  in  places,  located 
three  quarters  of  a  mile  from  the  business  section  of  the  town. 

Electricity  for  the  town  is  supplied  by  the  plant  at  the  Herald 
office,  which  also  supplies  current  for  Davis  City  and  Kellerton. 

In  1914  an  extensive  sewerage  system  was  laid  beneath  the  jirin- 
cipal  streets,  the  sewage  being  disposed  of  by  means  of  a  septic  tank 
located  on  the  outskirts  of  the  city. 

Among  the  other  things  which  cause  Lamoni  to  be  justly  proud 
of  herself  are:  two  municipally  owned  parks;  a  modern,  pressed  brick 
coliseum  building,  completed  in  1911;  an  efficient  fire  company; 
beautiful  homes;  two  banks;  charitable  homes;  two  fine  church  build- 
ings; a  splendid  telephone  system;  no  saloons,  gambling  rooms  or 
13ool  halls;  a  second  class  postofl^ce;  and  above  all  a  spirit  of  progres- 
sive citizenship. 


136  HISTORY  OF  DECATUR  COUNTY 

Lamoni  has  for  years  had  a  modernly  equipi^ed  grain  elevator, 
inchiding  cleaning  and  shelling  stations  on  the  Burlington  Railway 
hetween  St.  Joseph,  IMo.,  and  Des  jNIoines  and  Chariton,  la.  The 
second  elevator  is  owned  by  the  Farmers  Grain  and  Seed  Company. 

Lamoni  is  the  headquarters  of  the  Inter- State  Trail,  which  is  an 
organized,  improved  and  well  marked  highway  extending  from  St. 
Paul  to  Kansas  City,  via  Des  Moines,  Lamoni  and  St.  Joseph.  The 
AVaubonsie  Trail,  running  east  and  west,  also  passes  through  Lamoni, 
forming  a  junction  of  the  two  trails  at  this  point.  In  the  movements 
for  good  roads  the  citizens  of  Lamoni  have  always  taken  an  active 
interest. 

One  of  the  finest  high  school  buildings  in  the  state  is  located  here. 
This  building  was  started  first  in  1913-4  and  completed.  In  Novem- 
ber, 1914,  fire  destroyed  the  interior  and  roof,  without  damaging  the 
side  walls  to  any  extent,  however.  The  work  of  rebuilding  was  imme- 
diately begun  and  now  is  about  completed.  The  original  cost  of  this 
magnificent  building  was  $50,000.  The  equipment  is  of  the  latest 
and  every  care  has  been  taken  to  comply  with  the  laws  of  hygiene  and 
efiiciency  relative  to  a  perfect  schoolhouse. 

SOCIETIES 

The  fraternal  spirit  in  Lamoni  has  been  developed  to  a  very  high 
degree  in  the  past  years.  Besides  the  men's  clubs  there  are  numerous 
clubs  composed  of  women,  all  of  them  organized  with  a  worthy  pur- 
pose in  view,  whether  for  the  intellectual  improvement  of  the  mem- 
bers or  the  co-operative  effort  to  better  the  city.  Perhaps  the  leading 
club  among  the  women  is  the  Patronesses,  more  of  which  is  said  in 
the  history  of  Graceland  College  by  Inez  Smith. 

The  Ancient  Free  and  Accepted  JNIasons,  the  Independent  Order 
of  Odd  Fellows,  the  JNIodern  Woodmen  of  America,  all  have  chapters 
in  Lamoni  and  are  prosperous  and  with  strong  membership.  The 
Grand  Army  of  the  Republic  Post  and  the  Women's  Relief  Corps 
hold  a  strong  position  in  the  organized  life  of  the  city  and  have  a 
building  devoted  to  their  especial  use. 

John  Anderson  Post  No.  487,  Grand  Army  of  the  Republic,  at 
Lamoni,  la.,  was  organized  there  in  February,  1891.  Among  the 
twenty  charter  members  were:  E.  B.  Teale,  S.  A.  Ferguson,  G.  H. 
Teale,  J.  M.  Ashburn,  Henry  Stoddard,  D.  F.  Crave,  Robert  Turner 
and  David  Ennis.  They  continued  as  a  working  body  for  several 
years,  but  deaths  and  removals  then  caused  a  discontinuance  of  the 


Herald   I'lihlisliiii"'  House 


I    In 


^ 


The  Coliseum 


Main  Street 


Linden    Street 


VIEWS  IN  LAMONI 


HISTORY  OF  DECATUR  COUNTY  137 

post.  Later  other  old  soldiers  moved  to  Lainoni  and  the  post  was 
reorganized  in  October,  1909,  with  the  following  as  charter  members: 
El.  A.  Stedman,  John  McElroy,  John  Smith,  Robert  Turner,  H.  A. 
Stebbins,  Frank  Hackett,  John  Spaulding  and  others.  The  post  has 
remained  active  ever  since  and  every  year  observes  ^Memorial  Sundav 
and  Decoration  Day  with  befitting  ceremonies. 

THE  METHODIST  CHURCH 

•   -  .  .,        ' 

The  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  of  Lamoni  was  originally  built 
on  a  farm  near  Lamoni  and  was  removed  to  town  in  1884.  The 
membership  in  Lamoni  is  not  very  strong  at  the  present  time,  but  the 
church  itself  is  well  housed  and  practically  free  from  debt,  thus  insur- 
ing life  though  small  in  membership. 


CHAPTER  XII 

THE    BEGINNING    OF    THE    LATTER    DAY    SAINTS 

CHURCH 

By  Heman  C.  Smith 

The  Church  of  Jesus  Christ  of  Latter  Day  Saints,  sometimes 
called  the  "JNIormon  Church,"  was  organized  in  Fayette,  N.  Y.,  on 
the  6th  of  April,  1830.  Joseph  Smith  Mas  chosen  its  first  presiding 
officer,  which  position  he  held  until  his  death  in  1844. 

In  the  autumn  of  1830  missionaries  were  sent  from  headquarters 
in  New  York  to  the  western  country,  principally  to  preach  to  the 
Indians,  but  to  also  preach  to  others  by  the  way.  These  missionaries 
were  Oliyer  Cowdery,  Parley  P.  Pratt,  Peter  Whitmer,  Jr.,  and  Ziba 
Peterson. 

Pratt  had  previously  been  associated  with  the  Disciples,  in  what 
was  known  as  the  Western  Reserve,  Ohio,  and  was  personally 
acquainted  with  one  Sidney  Rigdon,  the  pastor  at  ^Mentor,  Ohio,  so 
called  upon  Mr.  Rigdon  en  route.  After  a  few  weeks  spent  in  that 
vicinity  they  baptized  ]Mr.  Rigdon  and  many  others  and  organized 
a  flourishing  church  in  the  vicinity  of  ^Mentor  and  Kirtland. 

In  1831  Joseph  Smith  and  a  large  part  of  the  church  in  New 
York  moved  to  Ohio,  and  Kirtland  became  the  headquarters  of  the 
church. 

The  missionaries  before  mentioned  moved  on  to  Western  JNIis- 
souri,  and  a  portion  of  the  church  soon  followed  them  there,  locating 
at  Independence,  in  Jackson  County,  from  whence  they  were  expelled 
by  a  religious  persecution  in  the  autumn  of  1833.  The  body  of  the 
church  located  in  Clay  County,  but  subsequently  the  County  of  Cald- 
well was  set  apart  or  organized  with  the  understanding  that  the  Latter 
Day  Saints  were  to  have  control.  Consequently  they  bought  out 
the  few  settlers  there,  entered  the  land,  and  rapidly  settled  up  the 
county,  and  founded  the  City  of  Far  West,  which  soon  became  quite 
a  flourishing  place. 

138 


THE  ORIGINAL  HERALD  OFEK  IC  AT  LAMONI 
ConstriK-ted  in   1881 


THE   I'RESEXT   HERALD    i;rilJ)ING 
Ercc-tcd   ill    1907 


HISTORY  OF  DECATUR  COUNTY  139 

All  this  time  the  organization  at  Kirtland  Avas  maintained. 

Joseph  Smith  removed  to  ^lissouri  in  1838,  and  the  settlement 
at  Far  West  was  then  considered  the  central  church  or  headcjuarters. 

Soon  after  this  friction  again  arose  which  resulted  in  the  chui-cli 
again  heing  driven  hy  mob  force  from  their  homes.  (I  am  not  enter- 
ing into  the  causes  of  these  disturbances,  real  or  supposed,  as  I  sup- 
pose that  is  not  the  subject  in  which  you  are  interested.) 

In  the  winter  of  1838  and  1839  the  great  body  of  the  Latter  Day 
Saints  left  the  State  of  Missouri  and  found  a  temporary  asylum 
near  Quincy,  111. 

Soon  after  they  purchased  two  large  farms  in  the  vicinity  of 
Commerce,  subsequently  called  Nauvoo,  in  Hancock  County,  and 
there  enjoyed  a  season  of  great  prosperity,  the  City  of  Xauvoo  at 
one  time  having  a  population  of  about  thirty  thousand,  and  was 
said  at  the  time  to  have  been  the  largest  city  in  the  State  of  Illinois. 

Large  portions  of  the  surrounding  country  were  also  possessed 
by  members  of  the  church  and  extensive  settlements  made  on  the 
Iowa  side  of  the  river. 

Their  former  enemies  in  INIissouri  were  industrious  in  stirring  up 
their  new  neighbors  against  them  and  after  a  few  years  of  compara- 
tive ])rosperity  they  were  again  beset  by  violent  opposition. 

This  culminated  in  the  murder  of  Joseph  Smith  and  his  brother, 
Hvrum,  bv  a  mob  of  ruffians  at  Carthage,  111.,  on  June  27,  1844. 
The  church  then  broke  up  into  many  factions,  following  different 
leaders.  One  of  the  most  bold  and  unscrupulous  was  Brigham 
Young,  who  with  his  faction  afterwards  settled  in  Utah  and  has  been 
a  continual  source  of  trouble  to  the  Government  on  account  of  the 
practice  of  polygamy  and  other  questionable  things.  This  practice, 
by  the  way,  was  not  taught,  nor  indulged  in  during  the  lifetime  of 
Joseph  Smith,  as  the  evidence  abundantly  shows,  though  Young  and 
his  followers  have  dated  the  practice  back  to  1843,  doubtless  to  give 
this  criminal  practice  the  prestige  of  Joseph  Smith's  name  among 
those  who  believed  in  his  claims.  It  was  this  faction  under  Brigham 
Young  who  first  settled  at  INIount  Pisgah  in  Jones  Township. 

The  Latter  Day  Saints,  ,  with  headquarters  at  Lamoni,  have 
always  strongly  advocated  the  original  faith  on  the  marriage  ques- 
tion, and  ever  since  1862  have  maintained  a  mission  in  Salt  Lake 
City,  Ut.,  protesting  earnestly  against  the  doctrine  of  polygamy 
practiced  there.  One  of  the  articles  of  faith  of  the  Latter  Day 
Saints  reads:  "We  believe  that  marriage  is  ordained  of  God  and 
tliat  the  law  of  God  provides  for  but  one  conqianion  in  wedlock  for 


140  HISTORY  OF  DECATUR  COUNTY 

■ 

either  man  or  woman,  except  in  case  of  death  or  where  the  marriage 
contract  is  broken  by  transgression." 

THE   PRESENT  STATUS  OF  THE  CHURCH 

The  little  City  of  Lamoni,  la.,  is  the  headqnarters,  the  center,  of 
the  Latter  Day  Saints  Church  in  the  ^^orld.  Here  are  located  the 
general  offices,  the  main  church  and  the  official  publications.  Besides 
the  church  at  Lamoni  there  are  in  Decatur  County  branches  of  the 
church  at  the  following  places:  Six  miles  southwest  of  Lamoni, 
four  miles  north  of  Lamoni,  seven  miles  east  of  Lamoni,  one  at  Davis 
City,  one  at  Pleasanton  and  one  at  Leon. 

Among  the  general  church  officers  at  Lamoni  are:  Elbert  A. 
Smith,  one  of  the  presidency  of  three  men;  R.  S.  Salyards,  secretary; 
Heman  C.  Smith,  historian,  and  Claude  I.  Carpenter,  recorder. 
These  officers  are  located  in  the  Herald  Building.  The  present 
church  building,  a  handsome  and  commodious  structure,  was  built  in 
1882-83. 

The  church  in  Lamoni  maintains  two  homes  for  old  folks  and 
one  home  for  homeless  or  unfortunate  children.  The  old  folks' 
homes  are  under  the  charge  of  a  board  of  control,  consisting  of  Joseph 
Roberts,  Richard  J.  Lambert  and  Lorenzo  Haver.  The  Children's 
Home  is  incorporated  as  such,  approved  by  the  state  authorities, 
and  is  under  the  control  of  a  board  of  trustees.  Heman  C.  Smith 
is  president  of  this  board;  Oscar  Anderson  is  secretary;  Joseph  Rob- 
erts, treasurer;  Richard  Bullard,  ^Irs.  L.  L.  Resseguie,  ^Irs.  C.  B. 
Stebbins  and  ]Mrs.  ^Minnie  Xicholson.  There  are  forty  acres  of 
land  in  connection  with  this  latter  home,  and  over  one  hundred  acres 
connected  with  the  homes  for  the  aged. 

THE  saints'  herald 

At  the  semi-annual  conference  of  the  Church  of  Latter  Day  Saints 
of  1859,  October  6th  to  10th,  it  was  resolved  that  the  church  publish  a 
monthly  church  paper  and  continue  it  six  months,  called  the  True 
Latter  Day  Saints'  Herald. 

This  publication  was  inaugurated  at  Cincinnati,  Ohio,  where  it 
was  continued  as  a  monthlv  until  ]March,  1863.  At  this  time  the 
office  was  removed  to  Piano,  Kendall  County,  111.,  and  the  first  issue 
from  this  place  was  in  April,  1863.  Beginning  in  July  of  the  same 
year  the  Herald  Mas  issued  as  a  semi-monthly  and  continued  so  until 


X 


o 
a 


00 
CO 


HISTORY  OF  DECATUR  COUNTY  141 

the  end  of  the  year  1882.     Then,  beginning  with  tlie  first  week  in 
January,  1883,  it  was  issued  weekly. 

In  the  latter  part  of  the  year  1881  the  plant  was  removed  from 
Piano  to  Lamoni,  Decatur  County,  la.,  and  the  first  issue  from  this 
place  was  run  off  the  in-esses  November  1,  1881. 

The  first  editor  of  this  paper  was  Isaac  Sheen,  and  he  served 
until  JNIay  1,  1865.  Then  Joseph  Smith  took  charge  of  the  editorial 
department  of  the  paper.  Associated  with  liim  at  different  times 
as  assistant  editors  have  been:  JNI.  H.  Forscutt,  ^I.  B.  Ohver,  H.  A. 
Stebbins,  Daniel  F.  Lambert,  W.  W.  Blair,  R.  S.  Salyards,  F.  :M. 
Smith,  Leon  A.  Gould  and  E.  A.  Smith;  in  April,  1803,  the  office 
of  corresponding  secretary  was  created  and  Joseph  Luff  took  the 
position,  to  be  succeeded  by  Heman  C.  Smith,  and  later  by  David  A\\ 
Wight  and  T.  M.  Sheehy.  Joseph  Smith  came  to  his  death  on 
December  10,  1914.  The  board  of  publication  consists  of  Edwin  A. 
Blakeslee,  president;  Albert  Carmichael,  business  manager;  Thomas 
A.  Hougas,  Oscar  Anderson  and  Frederick  B.  Blair;  J.  A.  Gunsal- 
ley,  secretary.  Elbert  A.  Smith  and  John  F.  Garver  are  editors 
of  the  Herald;  Heman  C.  Smith  is  editor  of  the  Journal  of  Historv; 
E.  A.  Smith  is  editor  of  Autumn  Leaves;  ^Irs.  Estella  AVight  is 
editor  of  Stepping  Stones,  a  juvenile  paper;  Ethel  I.  Skank  and 
Miss  Wight  are  editors  of  Zion's  Hope. 

The  first  Herald  monthly  was  a  24-page  paper,  4  by  7  inches; 
then  was  reduced  to  sixteen  pages.  In  1876  it  was  made  a  32-page 
paper,  and  the  next  year  again  reverted  to  sixteen  pages.  The  name 
has  now  been  changed  to  the  Saints'  Herald,  and  each  issue  com- 
prises twenty-four  pages,  8  by  IQl/^  inches. 

The  Herald  office  as  first  erected  in  Lamoni  during  the  summer 
of  1881  was  built  of  bricks  burned  in  Lamoni.  During  tlie  years 
1891-92  a  wing  was  added  on  the  west,  consisting  of  two  stories  and 
a  basement.  On  the  morning  of  January  5,  1907,  this  building  was 
completely  destroyed  by  fii-e,  but  before  the  day  was  done  steps  were 
taken  toward  rebuilding.  At  a  citizens'  meeting  in  Lamoni  the  fol- 
lowing Sunday  $17,000  was  subscribed  tow^ard  a  new  structure.  The 
work  of  rebuilding  began  during  the  last  week  in  INIay,  considerable 
work  in  excavating  and  cleaning  away  debris  having  been  prior  to 
that  date.  The  new  building  consists  of  two  stories  and  basement. 
The  top  floor  is  used  by  the  editors,  proofreaders,  church  library  and 
offices  of  general  church  officers;  the  ground  floor  contains  the  man- 
ager's office,  composing  room,  mailing  room  and  bindery;  in  the 
basement  are  the  presses,  repair  shops  and  storerooms.     Tlie  power, 


142  HISTORY  OF  DECATUR  COUNTY 

heating  and  lighting  plant  is  in  a  separate  building.  This  plant  not 
only  supijlies  Lanioni  with  electricity,  but  also  Kellerton  and  Davis 
City.     The  new  building  was  dedicated  in  November,  1907. 

The  present  circulation  of  the  Herald  is  about  ten  thousand,  these 
papers  going  all  over  the  world. 

In  the  Herald  Building  there  is  located  the  general  church  library. 
This  library  is  controlled  by  a  library  commission  and  is  open  to  the 
public.  The  number  of  volumes  in  the  institution  is  small,  owing 
to  the  fact  that  the  most  of  the  valuable  books  were  destroyed  by  the 
fire  of  January,  1907,  when  the  whole  Herald  Building  was  con- 
sumed. 


'X 


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o 
^1 


CHAPTER  XIII 
EARLY  SETTLEMENT  AT  GARDEN  GROVE 

By  Heman  C.  Smith 

I 
I 

It  appears  that  what  is -now  known  as  Decatur  County,  la.,  has 
had  attraction  for  the  oppressed,  not  only  of  other  nations,  but  of 
our  own.  Five  years  prior  to  the  advent  of  the  Hungarians  a  settle- 
ment was  made  at  Garden  Grove  by  exiles  from  a  sister  state.  To 
enter  into  the  merits  of  the  controversy  which  caused  them  to  be 
expelled  from  their  homes  is  not  our  province.  It  is  the  old  story  of 
long-established  organizations  objecting  to  the  formation  of  new 
ones,  and  of  protesting  to  the  point  of  violence.  Without  entering 
into  discussion  of  the  issues,  it  will  be  sufficient  to  present  the  con- 
dition of  this  people  as  they  left  their  former  homes  and  arrived 
within  the  precincts  of  what  is  now  Decatur  County.  In  doing  this 
we  cannot  do  better  than  to  quote  from  an  address  delivered  by 
Col.  Thomas  L.  Kane  before  the  Pennsylvania  Historical  Society, 
on  the  26th  of  INIarch,  1850: 

"A  few  years  ago,  ascending  the  Upper  Mississippi  in  the  autumn 
when  its  w^aters  were  low,  I  was  compelled  to  travel  by  land  past  the 
region  of  the  rapids.  IMy  road  lay  through  the  half-breed  tract,  a 
fine  section  of  Iowa,  which  the  unsettled  state  of  its  land  titles  had 
appropriated  as  a  sanctuary  for  coiners,  horse  thieves  and  other  out- 
laws. I  had  left  my  steamer  at  Keokuk,  at  the  foot  of  the  lower 
fall,  to  hire  a  carriage,  and  to  contend  for  some  fragments  of  a  dirty 
meal  with  the  swarming  flies,  the  only  scavengers  of  the  locality. 
From  this  place  to  where  the  deep  water  of  the  river  returns,  my 
eye  wearied  to  see  everywhere  sordid,  vagabond  and  idle  settlers; 
and   a  country  marred,   without  being  improved,  by  tlieir  careless 

hands. 

"I  was  descending  the  last  hillside  upon  my  journey,  when  a  land- 
scape in  delightful  contrast  broke  upon  my  view.  Half  encircled  by  a 
bend  of  the  river,  a  beautiful  city  lay  glittering  in  the  fresh  morning 

143 


144  HISTORY  OF  DECATUR  COUNTY 

sun;  its  bright,  new  dwellings,  set  in  cool,  green  gardens,  ranging  up 
around  a  stately  dome-shaped  hill,  which  was  crowned  by  a  noble 
marble  edifice,  whose  high,  tapering  spire  was  radiant  with  white  and 
gold.  The  cit}''  aj^peared  to  cover  several  miles;  and  beyond  it,  in 
the  background  there  rolled  off  a  fair  country,  chequered  by  the  care- 
ful lines  of  fruitful  husbandry.  The  unmistakable  marks  of  industry, 
enterprise,  and  educated  wealth  everywhere,  made  the  scene  one  of 
singular  and  most  striking  beauty. 

"It  was  a  natural  impulse  to  visit  this  inviting  region.  I  procured 
a  skiff,  and  rowing  across  the  river,  landed  at  the  chief  wharf  of  the 
city.  No  one  met  me  there,  I  looked,  and  saw  no  one.  I  could  hear 
no  one  move ;  though  the  quiet  everywhere  was  such  that  I  heard  the 
flies  buzz,  and  the  water-ripples  break  against  the  shallow  of  the 
beach.  I  walked  through  the  solitary  streets.  The  town  lay  as  in  a 
dream,  under  some  deadening  spell  of  loneliness,  from  which  I  almost 
feared  to  wake  it;  for  plainly  it  had  not  slept  long.  There  was  no 
grass  growing  up  in  the  paved  ways;  rains  had  not  entirely  washed 
away  the  prints  of  dusty  footsteps. 

"Yet  I  went  unchecked.  I  went  into  empty  workshops,  ropewalks, 
and  smithies.  The  spinner's  wheel  was  idle;  the  carpenter  had  gone 
from  his  work-bench  and  shavings,  his  unfinished  sash  and  casing. 
Fresh  bark  was  in  the  tanner's  vat,  and  the  fresh-chopped  light  wood 
stood  piled  against  the  baker's  oven.  The  blacksmith's  shop  was  cold ; 
but  his  coal  heap,  and  ladling  pool,  and  crooked  watering  horn,  were 
all  there,  as  if  he  had  gone  for  a  holiday.  No  work  people  anywhere 
looked  to  know  my  errand.  If  I  went  into  the  gardens,  clinking  the 
witcket-latch  loudly  after  me,  to  pull  the  marigolds,  heart's-ease,  and 
lady-slippers,  and  draw  a  drink  with  the  water-sodden  well-bucket 
and  its  noisy  chain;  or,  knocking^  off  with  mv  stick  the  tall,  heavy- 
headed  dahlias  and  sunflowers,  hunted  over  the  beds  for  cucumbers 
and  loveapples — no  one  called  out  to  me  from  any  opened  window, 
or  dog  sprang  forward  to  bark  and  alarm.  I  could  have  supposed  the 
people  hidden  in  the  houses,  but  the  doors  were  unfastened ;  and  when 
at  last  I  timidly  entered  them,  I  found  dead  ashes  white  upon  the 
hearths,  and  had  to  tread  a-tiptoe,  as  if  walking  down  the  aisle  of  a 
country  church,  to  avoid  rousing  irreverent  echoes  from  the  naked 
floors. 

"On  the  outskirts  of  the  town  was  the  city  graveyard;  but  there 
was  no  record  of  plague  there,  nor  did  it  in  any  wise  differ  much  from 
other  Protestant  American  cemeteries.  Some  of  the  mounds  were 
not  long  sodded ;  some  of  the  stones  were  newly  set,  their  dates  recent, 


STREET   SCENE.  GARDEN  DRDVE 


HISTORY  OF  DECATUR  COUNTY  U5 

and  their  black  inscriptions  glossy  in  the  mason's  hardly  dried  letter- 
ing ink.  Beyond  the  graveyard,  out  in  the  fields,  1  saw,  in  one  spot 
hard  by  where  the  fruited  boughs  of  a  young  orchard  had  been  rouglily 
torn  down,  the  still  smouldering  remains  of  a  barbecue  lire  tliat  had 
been  constructed  of  rails  from  the  fencing  around  it.  It  was  the 
latest  sign  of  life  there.  Fields  upon  fields  of  heavy  iieaded  yellow 
grain  lay  rotting  ungathered  upon  the  ground.  Xo  one  was  at  liand 
to  take  in  their  rich  harvest.  As  far  as  the  eve  could  reach,  tliev 
stretched  away — they  sleeping  too  in  the  hazy  air  of  autumn. 

"On\v  two  portions  of  the  city  seemed  to  suggest  the  import  of 
this  mvsterious  solitude.  On  the  southern  suburb,  the  houses  lookiim- 
out  upon  the  country  showed,  by  their  splintered  woodwork  and  walls 
])attered  to  the  foundation,  that  thev  had  latelv  l)een  the  mark  of  a 
destructive  cannonade.  And  in  and  around  the  splendid  temple, 
wliich  had  been  the  chief  object  of  my  admiration,  armed  men  were 
barracked,  surrounded  by  their  stacks  of  musketry  and  pieces  of  heavy 
ordnance.  These  challenged  me  to  render  an  account  of  myself,  and 
why  I  had  the  temerity  to  cross  the  water  without  a  written  permit 
from  a  leader  of  their  band. 

"Though  these  men  were  generally  more  or  less  under~nie  in- 
fluence  of  ardent  spirits,  after  I  had  explained  myself  as  a  passing- 
stranger,  they  seemed  anxious  to  gain  my  good  o])inion.  They  told 
the  story  of  the  dead  city;  that  it  had  been  a  notable  manufacturing 
and  commercial  mart,  sheltering  over  twenty  thousand  persons;  that 
they  had  waged  war  with  its  inhabitants  for  several  years  and  had 
finallv  been  successful  onlv  a  few  davs  before  mv  visit,  in  an  action 
fought  in  front  of  the  ruined  suburb;  after  which  they  had  driven 
them  forth  at  the  point  of  the  sword.  The  defense,  they  said,  had 
been  obstinate,  but  gave  way  on  the  third  day's  bombardment.  They 
])oasted  greatly  of  their  prowess,  especially  in  this  battle,  as  they 
called  it;  but  I  discovered  that  they  were  not  of  one  mind  as  to  cer- 
tain of  the  exploits  that  had  distinguished  it;  one  of  which,  as  I  re- 
member, was,  that  they  had  slain  a  father  and  his  son,  a  boy  of  fifteen, 
not  louff  residents  of  the  fated  citv,  whom  thev  admitted  to  have 
borne  a  character  without  reproach. 

"It  was  after  nightfall  M'hen  I  was  ready  to  cross  the  river  on 
my  return.  The  wind  had  freshened  since  the  sunset,  and  the  water 
))eatinff  roughlv  into  mv  little  boat,  I  hedged  higher  up  the  stream 
than  the  point  I  had  left  in  the  morning  and  lighted  to  where  a  faint 
glimmering  invited  me  to  steer.  Here,  among  the  dock  and  ruslies, 
slieltered  onlv  by  the  darkness,  without  roof  between  them  and  tlie 

Vnl.  I    —10 


146  HISTORY  OF  DECATUR  COUNTY 

sky,  I  came  upon  a  crowd  of  several  hundred  human  creatures,  whom 
my  movements  roused  from  uneasy  slumber  upon  the  ground.  Pass- 
ing these  on  my  way  to  the  light  I  found  that  it  came  from  a  tallow 
candle  in  a  paper  funnel  shade,  such  as  is  used  by  street  venders, 
and  wliich,  flaming  and  guttering  away  in  the  bleak  air  off  the  water, 
shone  fiickeringly  on  the  emaciated  features  of  a  man  in  the  last  stage 
of  a  bilious  remittent  fever.  The}"  had  done  their  best  for  him.  Over 
his  head  was  something  like  a  tent,  made  of  a  sheet  or  two,  and  he 
rested  on  a  partially  torn  straw  mattress,  with  a  hair  sofa  cushion 
under  his  head.  His  gaping  jaw  and  glazing  eye  told  how  short  a 
time  he  used  these  luxuries;  though  a  seemingly  excited  and  bewild- 
ered person,  who  miglit  have  been  his  wife,  seemed  to  find  hope  in 
occasionaih"  forcing  him  to  swallow  awkwardly,  sips  of  the  tepid  river 
water,  from  a  burned  and  battered  bitter-smelling  tin  coffee-pot. 
Those  who  knew  better  had  furnished  the  apothecary  he  needed;  a 
toothless  old  bald-head,  whose  manner  had  the  repulsive  dullness 
of  a  man  familiar  with  death  scenes.  He,  so  long  as  I  remained, 
mumbled  in  his  patient's  ear  a  monotonous  and  melancholy  prayer, 
between  the  pauses  of  which  I  heard  the  hiccup  and  sobbing  of  two 
little  girls,  who  were  sitting  up  on  a  piece  of  driftwood  outside. 

"Dreadful,  indeed,  was  the  suffering  of  these  forsaken  beings; 
bowed  and  cramped  by  cold  and  sunburn,  alternating  as  each  weary 
day  and  night  dragged  on,  they  were,  almost  all  of  them,  the  crippled 
victims  of  disease.  They  were  there  because  they  had  no  homes,  nor 
hospital,  nor  poorhouse,  nor  friends  to  offer  them  any.  They  could 
not  satisf'v  the  feeble  cravings  of  their  sick:  thev  had  not  bread  to 
quiet  the  fractious  hunger-cries  of  their  children.  ^Mothers  and  babes, 
daughters  and  grandparents,  all  of  them  alike,  were  bivouacked  in 
tatters,  wanting  even  covering  to  comfort  those  whom  the  sick  shiver 
of  fever  was  searching  to  the  marrow. 

"These  were  JNlormons,  in  Lee  County,  la.,  in  the  fourth  week 
of  the  month  of  September,  in  the  year  of  our  Lord  1846.  The  city 
--it  was  Xauvoo,  111.  The  oNIormons  were  the  owners  of  that  city, 
and  the  smiling  country  around.  And  those  who  had  stopped  their 
plows,  who  had  silenced  their  hammers,  their  axes,  their  shuttles, 
and  their  workshop  wheels;  those  who  had  put  out  their  fires,  who 
had  eaten  their  food,  spoiled  their  orchards,  and  trampled  under  foot 
their  thousands  of  acres  of  unharvested  bread;  these  were  the  keepers 
of  their  dwellings,  the  carousers  in  their  temple,  whose  drunken  riot 
insulted  the  ears  of  the  dvinff. 


HISTORY  OF  DECATUR  COUNTY  147 

"I  think  it  was  as  I  turned  from  the  wretched  night-watch  of 
whicli  1  have  spoken,  that  1  first  listened  to  the  sounds  of  revel  of  a 
party  of  tlie  guard  within  the  city.  Above  the  (hstant  liuni  of  tlie 
voices  of  many,  occasionally  rose  disinct  the  loud  oatli-tainted  ex- 
clamation, and  the  falsely  intonated  scrap  of  vulgar  song;  but  lest 
this  requiem  should  go  unheeded,  every  now  and  then,  wlien  their 
boisterous  orgies  strove  to  attain  a  sort  of  ecstatic  climax,  a  cruel 
spirit  of  insulting  frolic  carried  some  of  them  up  into  the  liigh  belfry 
of  the  temple  steeple,  and  there,  with  the  wicked  chihhsliness  of  in- 
ebriates, they  whooped,  and  shrieked,  and  beat  the  (hum  tliat  1  had 
seen,  and  rang  in  charivaric  unison  their  loud-tongued  steamboat 
bell. 

"They  were,  all  told,  not  more  than  six  hundred  and  forty  persons 
who  were  thus  lying  on  the  river  flats.  But  tlie  ^lormons  in  Xauvoo 
and  its  dependencies  had  been  numbered  the  year  before  at  over 
twenty  thousand.  AVhere  were  they?  They  had  last  been  seen,  carry- 
ing  in  mournful  train  their  sick  and  w^ounded,  halt  and  blind,  to  dis- 
appear behind  the  western  horizon,  pursuing  the  phantom  of  another 
home.  Hardly  anything  else  was  known  of  them:  and  people  asked 
wn'th  curiosity,  'What  had  been  their  fate — what  their  fortunes?'  " 

As  stated  by  Colonel  Kane,  these  people  whom  he  visited  on  the 
banks  of  the  ]Mississippi  were  but  the  remnant  of  the  people  wlio 
had  inhabited  the  city  described  by  him,  most  of  whom  had  already 
departed  for  the  West. 

Iowa,  with  her  magnificent  resources,  was  then  but  little  known. 
In  December,  1853,  George  William  Curtis  wrote  to  a  friend  in  the 
East  from  ^Milwaukee,  Wis.,  saying:  "I  have  seen  a  prairie,  I  have 
darted  all  day  across  a  prairie,  I  have  been  near  the  INIississippi,  I 
have  been  invited  to  Iowa,  which  lies  somewdiere  over  the  western 
horizon." 

It  was  into  this  almost  unknown  region  that  this  unfortunate 
people  launched  in  those  early  days  to  find  a  resting  place  where  they 
could  again  build  their  homes  and  enjoy  the  freedom  of  which  their 
country  boasted.  Several  companies  had  left  the  City  of  Xauvoo, 
taking  a  westward  course  into  this  unknown  region.  The  particular 
company  of  which  we  speak  left  Xauvoo  in  the  early  part  of  Feb- 
ruary, 1846.  It  was  composed  of  several  hundred  families.  They 
made  their  first  camp  on  Sugar  Creek,  a  few  miles  west  of  the  river, 
where  they  remained  for  nearly  a  month,  during  which  time  they  liad 
great  diflSculty  in  getting  sustenance  for  themselves  and  then-  cattle 
and  horses.     Orson  Pratt  who  was  a  leading  spirit  in  the  movement, 


148  HISTORY  OF  DECATUR  COUNTY 

in  his  private  journal,  remarks  concerning  this  time  that  they  required 
many  hundreds  of  bushels  of  grain  daily;  but  as  they  had  not  yet 
launclied  into  regions  altogether  uninhabited,  they  were  enabled  to 
buy  large  quantities  of  Indian  corn  from  time  to  time  with  money 
and  labor. 

On  JNlarch  1st  the  comjiany  moved  on.  The  following  day  they 
camped  on  the  banks  of  the  Des  JNIoines  River,  four  miles  below  the 
Village  of  Farmington.  Then  tliey  proceeded  up  the  east  bank  of 
the  river  until  they  reached  Bonaparte's  JNIills,  where  they  crossed 
the  river  on  JNIarch  5th.  The  weather  was  cold ;  and  it  being  too  early 
in  the  spring  for  grass,  their  teams  subsisted  upon  the  limbs  and  bark 
of  trees.  Heavy  rains  and  snows  impeded  their  progress,  while  frosty 
nights  rendered  the  situation  very  uncomfortable.  Their  camp  was 
organized  thoroughly,  with  captains  of  hundreds,  of  fifties,  and  of 
tens ;  and  all  other  necessary  officers.  Their  condition  was  made  more 
tolerable  by  the  hunters  finding  game;  and  jNIr.  Pratt  says  they 
brought  into  camp  more  or  less  deer,  wild  turkeys  and  prairie  hens 
every  day. 

The  real  condition  of  this  company  can  be  best  described  by 
quoting  again  from  the  address  of  Colonel  Kane: 

"Under  the  most  favorable  circumstances,  an  expedition  of  this 
sort,  undertaken  at  such  a  season  of  the  vear,  can  scarcelv  fail  to  be 
disastrous.  But  the  pioneer  company  had  set  out  in  haste,  and  w^ere 
very  imperfectly  supplied  with  necessities.  The  cold  Avas  intense. 
They  moved  in  the  teeth  of  keen-edged  northwest  winds,  such  as 
sweep  down  the  Iowa  peninsula  from  the  ice  bound  regions  of  the 
timber-shaded  Slave  Lake  and  Lake  of  the  Woods ;  on  the  bald  prai- 
rie tliere,  nothing  above  the  dead  grass  breaks  their  free  course  over 
the  hard  rolled  hills.  Even  along  the  scattered  Avater  courses,  where 
they  broke  the  thick  ice  to  give  their  cattle  drink,  the  annual  autumn 
fires  had  left  little  wood  of  any  value.  The  party,  therefore,  often 
wanted  for  good  camp  fires,  the  first  luxuries  of  all  travelers;  but, 
to  men  insufficiently  furnished  with  tents  and  other  shelters,  almost 
an  essential  to  life.  After  days  of  fatigue,  their  nights  were  often 
passed  in  restless  efforts  to  save  themselves  from  freezing.  The 
stock  of  food  proved  inadequate ;  and  as  their  systems  became  impov- 
erished, their  suffering  from  cold  increased. 

"Sickened  with  catarrhal  affections,  manacled  bv  the  fetters  of 
dreadfully  acute  rheumatism,  some  contrived  for  a  while  to  get  over 
the  shortening  day's  march  and  drag  along  some  others.  But  the 
sign  of  an  impaired  circulation  soon  began  to  show  itself  in  the  liabil- 


:HETH0DI8T   EPISCOPAL   (  HIRCH. 
GARDEN   GROVE 


PRESRVTERIAX   CHFRGH.   GARDEN"    (;i;o\E 


HISTORY  OF  DECATUR  COUNTY  U9 

ity  of  all  to  be  dreadfully  frost-bitten.  The  hardiest  and  strongest 
became  helplessly  crippled.  About  tlie  same  time  the  strength  of 
their  beasts  of  draft  began  to  fail.  The  small  supply  of  provender 
that  they  could  carry  with  them  had  given  out.  The  winter-])leached 
prairie  straw  proved  devoid  of  nourishment,  and  they  could  only  keep 
them  from  starving  by  seeking  for  the  browse,  as  it  is  called,  a  green 
bark,  and  tender  buds,  and  branches  of  the  cotton  wood,  and  other 
stinted  growths  of  the  hollows. 

"To  return  to  Xauvoo  was  apparently  tlie  only  escape;  but  this 
would  have  been  to  give  occasion  for  fresh  mistrust,  and  so  to  bring 
new  troubles  to  those  they  had  left  there  behind  them.  They  resolved 
at  least  to  hold  their  ground,  and  to  advance  as  they  miglit,  were  it 
only  by  limping  through  the  deep  snows  a  few  slow  miles  a  day.  They 
found  a  sort  of  comfort  in  comparing  themselves  to  the  exiles  of 
Siberia,  and  sought  cheerfulness  in  earnest  prayers  for  the  spring — 
longed  for  as  morning  by  the  tossing  sick. 

"The  spring  came  at  last.  It  overtook  them  in  the  Sac  and  Fox 
country,  still  on  the  naked  prairie,  not  yet  half  way  over  the  trail  they 
were  following  between  the  ^lississippi  and  ^lissouri  rivers.  But  it 
brought  its  own  share  of  troubles  with  it.  The  months  with  which  it 
opened  proved  nearly  as  trying  as  the  worst  of  winter. 

"The  snow  and  sleet  and  rain  which  fell,  as  it  appeared  to  them 
without  intermission,  made  the  road  over  the  rich  prairie  soil  as  im- 
passable as  one  vast  bog  of  heavy  black  mud.  Sometimes  they  would 
fasten  the  horses  and  oxen  of  four  or  five  wagons  to  one,  and  attempt 
to  get  ahead  in  this  w^ay,  taking  turns;  but  at  the  close  of  a  day  of 
hard  toil  for  themselves  and  their  cattle,  they  would  find  themselves 
a  quarter  or  a  half  mile  from  the  place  they  left  in  the  morning.  The 
heavy  rains  raised  all  the  watercourses ;  the  most  trifiing  streams  were 
impassable.  Wood  fit  for  bridging  was  often  not  to  be  had,  and  in 
such  cases  the  only  recourse  was  to  halt  for  the  freshets  to  subside— a 
matter  in  the  case  of  the  headwaters  of  the  Chariton,  for  instance,  of 
over  three  weeks'  delay. 

"These  were  dreary  waitings  upon  Providence.  The  most  spirited 
and  sturdy  murmured  most  at  their  forced  inactivity.  And  even  the 
women,  whose  heroic  spirits  had  been  proof  against  the  lowest  ther- 
mometric  fall,  confessed  their  tempers  fluctuated  with  the  ceaseless 
variations  of  the  barometer.  They  complained,  too,  that  the  health 
of  their  children  suffered  more.  It  was  the  fact,  that  the  open  winds 
of  IMarch  and  April  brouglit  with  them  more  mortal  sickness  than  the 
sharpest  freezing  weather. 


150  HISTORY  OF  DECATUR  COUXTY 

"The  frequent  burials  made  the  hardiest  sicken.  On  the  soldier's 
march  it  is  matter  of  discipline,  that  after  the  rattle  of  musketry  over 
his  comrade's  grave,  he  shall  tramp  it  to  the  music  of  some  careless 
tune  in  a  lively  quickstep.  But,  in  the  JNIormon  Camp,  the  companion 
who  lay  ill  and  gave  up  the  ghost  within  view  of  all,  all  saw  as  he 
stretched  a  corpse,  and  all  attended  to  his  last  resting  place.  It  was 
a  sorrow,  too,  of  itself  to  simple  hearted  people,  the  deficient  pomp  of 
their  imperfect  style  of  funeral.  The  general  hopefulness  of  human 
— including  JNIormon — nature,  was  well  illustrated  by  the  fact,  that 
the  most  provident  were  found  unfurnished  with  undertaker's  articles ; 
so  that  bereaved  affection  was  driven  to  the  most  melancholy  make- 
shifts. 

"The  best  expedient  generally  was  to  cut  down  a  log  of  some  eight 
or  nine  feet  long,  and  slitting  it  longitudinally,  strip  off  its  bark  in 
two  half  cylinders.  These,  placed  aromid  the  body  of  the  deceased 
and  bound  firmly  together  with  withes  made  of  the  alburnum,  formed 
a  rough  sort  of  tubular  coffin  which  surviving  relations  and  friends, 
with  a  little  show  of  black  crape,  could  follow  with  its  inclosure  to  the 
hole,  a  bit  of  ditch,  dug  to  receive  it  in  the  wet  grounds  of  the  prairie. 
They  grieved  to  lower  it  down  so  poorly  clad,  and  in  such  an  unheeded 
grave.  It  was  hard — was  it  right,  thus  hurriedly  to  j^lunge  it  in  one 
of  the  undistinguishable  waves  of  the  great  land  sea,  and  leave  it 
behind  them  there,  under  the  cold  north  rain,  abandoned  to  be  for- 
gotten? They  had  no  tombstones;  nor  could  they  find  rocks  to  pile 
the  monumental  cairn.  So,  when  they  had  filled  up  the  grave,  and 
over  it  prayed  a  miserere  prayer,  and  tried  to  sing  a  hopeful  psalm, 
their  last  office  was  to  seek  out  landmarks,  or  call  in  the  surveyor  to 
help  them  to  determine  the  bearings  of  valley  bends,  headlands,  or 
forks  and  angles  of  constant  streams,  by  which  its  position  should 
in  the  future,  be  remembered  and  recognized.  The  name  of  the  be- 
loved person,  his  age,  the  date  of  his  death,  and  these  marks  were  all 
registered  with  care.  The  party  was  then  ready  to  move  on.  Such 
graves  mark  all  the  line  of  the  first  year  of  the  JNIormon  travel — dis- 
piriting milestones  to  failing  stragglers  in  the  rear. 

"It  is  an  eri,'or  to  estimate  largely  the  number  of  jNIormons  dead 
of  starvation,  strictly  speaking.  Want  developed  disease,  and  made 
them  sick  under  fatigue,  and  maladies  that  would  otherwise  have 
proved  trifling.  But  only  those  died  of  it  outright  who  fell  in  out-of- 
the-way  places,  that  the  hand  of  brotherhood  could  not  reach.  Among 
the  rest  no  such  thing  as  plenty  was  known,  while  any  went  an 
hungered.    If  but  a  part  of  a  group  was  supplied  with  provision,  the 


HISTORY  OF  DECATUR  COUNTY  151 

only  result  was,  that  the  a\  hole  went  on  the  half  or  quarter  ration, 
according  to  the  sutiiciency  that  there  was  among  them;  and  this  so 
ungrudgingly  and  contentedly,  that,  till  some  crisis  of  trial  to  tlieir 
strength,  they  were  themselves  unaware  that  their  health  was  sink- 
ing,  and  their  vital  force  impaired.     Hale  young  men  gave  up  tlieir 
own  provided  food  and  shelter  to  the  old  and  helpless,  and  walked 
their  way  back  to  parts  of  the  frontier  states,  chiefly  ^Missouri  and 
Iowa,  where  they  were  not  recognized,  and  hired  themselves  out  for 
wages,  to  purchase  more.     Others  were  sent  there  to  exchange  for 
meal  and  flour,  or  wheat  and  corn,  the  table  and  bed  furniture,  and 
other  last  resources  of  personal  property  which  a  few  had  still  retained. 
"In  a  kindred  spirit  of  paternal  forecast,  others  laid  out  great 
farms  in  the  wilds,  and  planted  in  them  the  grain  saved  for  their  own 
bread,  that  there  might  be  harvests  for  those  mIio  should  follow  them. 
Two  of  these,  in  the  Sac  and  Fox  country,  and  beyond  it,  Garden 
Grove  and  Blount  Pisgah,  included  within  their  fences  above  two 
miles  of  land  apiece,  carefully  planted  in  grain,  witli  a  hamlet  of 
comfortable  log  cabins  in  the  neighborhood  of  each. 

"Through  all  this,  the  pioneers  found  redeeming  comfort  in  the 
thought,  that  their  own  suffering  was  the  price  of  humanity  to  their 
friends  at  home.  But  the  arrival  of  spring  proved  this  a  delusion. 
Before  the  warm  weather  had  made  the  earth  dry  enough  for  easy 
travel,  messengers  came  in  from  Nauvoo  to  overtake  the  party,  with 
fear-exaggerated  tales  of  outrage,  and  to  urge  the  chief  men  to  hurry 
back  to  the  city,  that  they  might  give  counsel  and  assistance  there. 
The  enemy  had  only  ^^aited  till  the  emigrants  were  supposed  to  be 
gone  on  their  road  too  far  to  return  to  interfere  with  them,  and  then 
renewed  their  aggressions." 

Notwithstanding  this   suffering,  however,  they  seemed  to  have 
been  cheerful  and  devoted  to  their  convictions.    Under  date  of  xVpril 

5,  Elder  Pratt  says: 

"It  being  Sunday,  a  portion  of  our  camp  met  together,  to  offer 
up  our  sacrament  to  the  JNIost  High.  After  a  few  remarks  by  myself 
and  Bishop  Miller,  we  proceeded  to  break  bread,  and  administer  in 
the  holy  ordinance  of  the  Lord's  supper.  At  6  o'clock  in  the  evening 
we  met  with  the  captains  of  companies  to  make  arrangements  for 
sending  twelve  or  fourteen  miles  to  the  settlements  for  corn  to  sus- 
tain our  animals." 

The  next  day,  April  6th,  his  journal  records  the  following: 
"This  morning,  at  the  usual  hour  of  prayer,  we  bowed  before  the 
Uord  with  thankful  hearts,  it  being  just  sixteen  years  since  the  or- 


152  HISTORY  OF  DECATUR  COUNTY 

ganization  of  this  church,  and  we  were  truly  grateful  for  the  many 
manifestations  of  the  goodness  of  God  towards  us  as  a  people." 

On  the  same  day  they  sent  nine  or  ten  wagons  with  four  yoke  of 
oxen  on  each  wagon  to  the  settlements  to  obtain  corn.  These  teams 
were  gone  two  days,  returning  on  the  8th,  most  of  them  empty.  Great 
difficulty  was  found  in  finding  sustenance  for  teams  as  they  moved 
slowly  westward. 

On  April  16th  they  arrived  at  a  grove,  which  is  described  by  Elder 
Pratt  as  "a  very  pleasant  grove  which  we  called  Paradise;  and  about 
a  mile  to  the  south  found  the  grass  very  good."  Here  they  stopped 
several  days  and  recruited  their  teams.  Resuming  their  journey  on 
the  22d  they  arrived  at  their  temporary  resting  place  on  April  24t, 
1846.     Under  that  date  Elder  Pratt  records  the  following: 

"Yesterday  we  traveled  about  eight  miles,  today  six  miles.  We 
came  to  a  place  which  we  named  Garden  Grove.  At  this  point  we 
determined  to  form  a  small  settlement  and  open  farms  for  the  benefit 
of  the  poor,  and  such  as  were  unable,  for  the  present,  to  pursue  their 
journey  farther,  and  also  for  the  benefit  of  the  poor  who  were  yet 
behind." 

On  the  27th  he  records  that  at  the  sound  of  the  horn  they  gathered 
together  to  organize  for  labor.  One  hundred  men  were  appointed  for 
cutting  trees,  splitting  rails,  and  making  fence;  forty-eight  to  cut 
logs  for  the  building  of  log  houses ;  several  were  appointed  to  build  a 
bridge ;  a  number  more  for  the  digging  of  wells ;  some  to  make  wood 
for  plows;  and  several  more  to  watch  the  flocks  and  keep  them  from 
straying;  while  others  were  sent  several  days'  journey  into  the  Mis- 
souri settlements  to  exchange  horses,  feather  beds,  and  other  prop- 
erty, for  cows,  provisions,  etc. 

On  jNIay  10th  Elder  Pratt's  jom*nal  records  the  following: 

"A  large  amount  of  labor  has  been  done  since  arriving  in  this 
grove;  indeed  the  whole  camp  are  very  industrious.  INIany  houses 
have  been  built,  wells  dug,  extensive  farms  fenced,  and  the  whole 
place  assumed  the  appearance  of  having  been  occupied  for  years, 
and  clearly  shows  what  can  be  accomplished  by  union,  industry,  and 
perseverance." 

The  recognized  leader  of  this  movement  was  Brigham  Young; 
but  Elder  Orson  Pratt,  and  his  brother  Parley  P.  Pratt,  seemed  to 
come  more  clearly  into  the  limelight  of  history  during  the  movement 
than  did  Elder  Young.  They  were  apparently  the  leading  spirits. 
Elder  Orson  Pratt  was  a  scholar  of  no  mean  attainments;  and  dur- 
ing their  travels  from  TsTauvoo  to  Garden  Grove,  frequently  took  ob- 


HISTORY  OF  DECATUR  COUNTY  153 

sei-vations  from  the  sun  by  the  use  of  instruments  in  his  possession 
by  which  he  ascertained  the  latitude  of  their  camp  and  corrected 
their  time.  He  ascertained  that  Garden  Grove  was  in  latitude  fortv 
degrees  and  fifty-two  minutes.  How  nearly  this  agree:>  vvitli  later 
observations  we  are  not  able  to  say,  but  it  is  approximately  correct. 

Among  the  leading  spirits  was  also  Bishop  George  JNliller,  who 
was  not  always  in  harmony  with  others  of  the  leaders,  in  conse(iucnce 
of  which  he  finally  left  them  at  Winter  Quarters  on  JNlissouri  River. 

Their  meeting-house  was  located  on  what  is  now  the  northeast 
one  quarter  of  the  northeast  one  quarter  of  section  33,  70,  24,  now  a 
part  of  the  farm  of  \Villiani  AVaters,  and  within  the  present  cor- 
porate limits  of  the  Town  of  Garden  Grove. 

Two  farms  were  fenced  and  cultivated  with  an  area  respectively 
of  1,500  acres;  a  mill  was  erected  for  grinding  corn  on  the  south  line 
of  section  28,  midway  of  the  section. 

The  cemetery  was  located  in  the  southeast  part  of  the  southeast 
quarter  of  section  28.  There  are  now  more  than  one  hundred  o^vners 
of  the  realty  that  w^as  originally  contained  within  the  confines  of  tliese 
two  fields  mentioned  above. 

The  leading  men  remained  at  Garden  Grove  but  a  short  time, 
resuming  their  journey  on  j\Iay  11th,  to  pursue  their  western  pilgrim- 
age and  form  other  settlements  for  like  purposes  at  what  they  called 
Blount  Pisgah,  in  Union  County,  and  at  Kanesville  (Coimcil 
Bluffs),  la.  Such  were  the  people,  and  such  were  the  circumstances 
under  which  the  first  town  was  founded  in  Decatur  County.  Leav- 
ing this  place  these  leading  men  left  behind  them  a  sufficient  company 
to  cultivate  these  fields  and  raise  grain  for  the  sustenance  of  other 
parties  who  were  to  follow  them  in  the  exodus. 

The  colony  was  maintained  until  the  spring  of  18.52,  some  going 
and  others  coming  from  time  to  time,  and  it  is  estimated  that  at  times 
there  were  as  many  as  300  families  at  Garden  Grove. 

Finally  they  all  disappeared,  leaving  their  temporary  homes  to  be 
occupied  by  the  later  emigrants  who  came  to  that  fruitful  land,  until 
now  there  is  no  vestige  left  of  the  early  settlement  except  the  name 
Garden  Grove,  which  is  appropriately  perpetuated.  During  the  time 
of  the  settlement  Garden  Grove  was  a  recmiting  station  for  emi- 
o-rants  coming  from  Em-ope  and  the  eastern  states  en  route  for  Utah. 


CHAPTER  XIV 
DECATUR  COUNTY  TOWNS 

DAVIS  CITY 

The  Town  of  Davis  City  is  located  on  the  west  bank  of  Grand 
River,  on  section  33,  Burrell  Township.  The  town  was  laid  out  in 
18.55  by  W.  H.  Cheever.  The  autumn  before,  however,  William 
Davis  had  constructed  a  log  residence  and  a  sawmill,  the  latter  ope- 
rated by  water  power.  In  the  spring  of  18.55  he  built  a  frame  dwell- 
ing and  in  the  autumn  of  1856  he  erected  the  first  store  in  the  town. 
In  this  store  the  first  stock  of  goods  was  placed  on  sale  by  G.  W. 
Jenre,  who  later  sold  out  to  Arnold  &  Davis,  which  firm  was  in  turn 
succeeded  by  Davis  &  Bowman.  Henry  Bowman  built  a  hardware 
store  in  1872,  the  same  year  in  which  J.  R.  Frisbie  put  up  the  second 
store  building  in  the  town.  At  this  time  there  were  no  more  than 
fifty  people  in  Davis  City.  Oscar  Severe's  harness  shop  w^as  opened 
soon  after,  and  then  came  Archibald  Rankin's  drug  store.  Young  & 
Wren's  "Chicago  Store"  and  INIorris  &  Clark's  store,  the  latter  being 
the  first  brick  structure  here. 

The  original  Town  of  Davis  City  contained  just  four  blocks,  each 
60  bv  124  feet,  and  about  the  vear  1870  Clark's  Addition  was  laid  out. 
Other  additions  have  since  been  made.  The  j^ostoffice  was  first  at  the 
house  of  W.  F.  Craig,  the  first  postmaster.  Henry  Bowman,  James 
Teale,  Carter  Scott  were  other  early  incumbents.  The  railroad  was 
constructed  through  the  town  in  1879. 

The  first  school  was  taught  in  1857  by  JNIrs.  J.  S.  Warner.  A 
brick  schoolhouse,  with  three  rooms,  was  constructed  soon  after,  cost- 
ing $2,200. 

A  church  was  constructed  in  1878  by  John  Clark  at  a  cost  of 
$4,500.  The  INIethodists  and  United  Brethren  held  alternate  meet- 
ings in  this  building,  and  it  was  occasionally  used  by  the  Latter  Day 
Saints,  Christians,  Baptists  and  Adventists. 

15-1 


\U-:\\  IN  TH1-:  I'AKK.  I)A\  IS  (  ITY 


MAIN    STHKKT    LOOKING    SOl'lll.    I)A\  IS    (  I  lA 


HISTORY  OF  DECxVTUR  COUNTY  155 

LODGES 

Davis  City  Post  No.  306,  Grand  Army  of  the  Repu))lic,  was 
organized  March  31,  1884,  with  twenty-two  nienihers,  and  was  mus- 
tered in  by  Hugh  White,  of  JNlt.  Ayr,  under  tlie  direction  of  the 
department  mustering  officer,  W.  T.  Wilkinson.  In  the  spring  of 
1885  the  post  purchased  a  building  for  meeting  purposes. 

Davis  City  Lodge  No.  375,  Ancient  Free  and  Accepted  ]Masons, 
was  organized  in  187^^.  Davis  City  Lodge  No.  314,  Independent 
Order  of  Odd  Fellows,  was  organized  in  1876  and  \\'illiain  Asbacli 
was  the  first  noble  grand.  Davis  City  Lodge  No.  89,  I.  O.  G.  T., 
was  organized  in  December,  1885,  with  fourteen  members. 

BANKS 

The  Citizens  Bank  was  established  here  in  1879  by  the  Decatur 
County  Banking  Association. 

The  Farmers  Bank,  a  private  institution,  was  established  first  in 
1894  with  S.  Radnich  as  president,  and  A.  C.  Dorn  as  cashier.  The 
bank  commenced  business  under  the  present  name  August  1,  1902. 
J.  A.  Frazier  is  president;  O.  L.  Frazier  is  cashier.  The  capital 
stock  is  $10,000  and  the  deposits  amount  to  $94,000. 

The  Valley  Bank  began  business  JNIay  15,  1900.  J.  N.  Gates  is 
])resident  and  ow^ner.  It  is  a  private  bank.  The  capital  is  $10,000 
and  the  deposits  amount  to  $90,000. 

NEW^SPAPERS 

The  first  paper  to  be  started  at  Davis  City  w^as  the  Clipper  and 
was  started  in  1876  by  D.  Frank  Knapp.  Its  life  expired  after 
eighteen  months.  J.  C.  Stockton  started  the  Commercial  in  1879 
and  sold  to  C.  W.  Lillie.  The  last  proprietor  was  C.  C.  Bartlett. 
He  moved  away  and  the  paper  was  taken  to  Kansas.  The  Press  was 
established  in  March,  1884,  by  J.  W.  ]Mather  and  discontinued  in 
June,  1885.  The  office  material  was  taken  to  Weldon  and  used  by 
the  Hornet  at  that  place.  The  Tidings  was  established  in  October, 
1885,  by  Adams  Brothers,  as  an  independent  paper.  The  Davis  City 
News,  the  present  weekly  paper  published  here,  was  started  in  1910 
by  Grant  Mallory.  The  paper  has  a  good  circulation  and  is  a  four 
page,  five  column  sheet. 

The  location  of  Davis  City  has  many  natural  advantages.  Good 
building  stone  can  be  found  in  abundance,  lumber  in  plenty,  one  of 
the  finest  water  powers  in  the  county,  plenty  of  good  limestone  water 
under  the  town,  sand  in  abundance,  brick  clay,  and  excellent  farming 


156  HISTORY  OF  DECATUR  COUNTY 

and  grazing  country  surrounding.  It  is  thought  that  the  wheat  lands 
on  the  bottom  lands  near  and  south  of  the  city  are  as  good  as  any  in 
the  state;  they  are  also  splendid  for  corn. 

The  town  is  situated  on  what  is  called  and  known  as  the  second 
bottom  land,  partly  level  and  partly  undulating,  and  above  the  high 
water  mark  of  Grand  River  by  twenty  or  thirty  feet. 

Xear  the  western  limits  of  the  city  there  was  once  located  a 
famous  spring,  where  in  the  early  days  the  Indians  came  from  all 
directions,  claiming  for  it  great  medical  properties.  In  later  days 
the  spring  was  neglected,  and  the  surrounding  timber  having  been 
burnt  and  scarred  to  a  great  extent,  while  sand  has  covered  all  traces 
of  the  spring.  The  water  then  issued  forth  from  under  the  edge  of 
a  limestone  rock  and  it  is  now  over  a  half  century  since  the  Indian 
trails  led  to  this  place  from  every  direction. 

Another  legend  is  that  about  three  miles  southeast  of  Davis  City, 
on  section  13,  township  67,  range  26,  stood  an  oak  tree,  near  ten  feet 
in  circumference  at  the  surface  of  the  ground  and  not  more  than 
thirty  feet  to  the  topmost  limbs,  and  spreading  out  fully  twenty-five 
feet  each  way,  while  a  person  could  step  from  the  ground  up  the  limbs 
like  stair  steps.  This  tree  stood  out  alone,  with  no  forest  nor  brush 
near.  It  has  been  said  that  the  Indians  claimed  this  as  their  sacred 
tree  and  brought  the  sick  for  many  miles,  hanging  them  in  hammocks 
at  the  top  of  this  tree  and  claiming  that  they  would  not  die  while  in 
the  tree.  Some  of  the  old  settlers  have  claimed  to  have  visited  the 
sick  in  this  tree. 

About  the  year  1832  this  point  became  know7i  as  the  Falls  of 
Grand  River,  and  for  many  years  was  a  noted  point.  During  this 
time  the  falls  became  famous,  an  enterprising  citizen  of  JNIissouri, 
one  of  the  Jackson  County  INIormons,  under  the  laws  of  Missouri, 
having  pre-empted  the  Grand  River  Falls  by  commencing  to  improve 
the  same  for  mill  power.  This  power  was  held  until  the  state 
boundary  line  question  was  settled,  and  when  the  line  passed  south 
of  the  falls  several  miles,  the  pre-emption  and  claim  became 
void  and  the  claimant  never  appeared  again  in  the  vicinity.  Allen 
Scott,  seeing  immediately  the  value  of  this  water  power,  at  once  pre- 
empted the  same  under  the  territorial  laws  of  Iowa,  and  held  the 
same,  entering  the  adjoining  land  with  the  expectation  of  improving 
the  power  at  some  future  time.  In  the  year  1855  William  Davis 
heard  of  the  falls  and  their  value  and,  wishing  to  erect  a  mill,  came 
from  the  East,  examined  the  property  and  entered  into  a  partner- 
ship with  Scott  in  erecting  a  mill.     This  was  in  the  spring  of  1856 


PUBLIC  StMOOL  BUILDINCi,  DAVIS   CITY 


RESIDENCE    STREET    SCENE,    1)A\IS   CITY 


HISTOKY  OF  DECATUR  COUNTY  157 

and  within  three  months  the  mill  was  running.  Davis  purchased 
Scott's  interest  in  the  mill,  also  eighty  acres  of  land,  and  at  once  laid 
out  four  blocks  of  lots,  with  the  intention  of  bettering  the  jirospects 
of  those  who  would  work  for  him. 


A  GERMAN   VILLAGE 

In  the  early  days  of  the  town  and  vicinity  a  colony  of  Gennan 
immigrants  settled  on  land  about  one  mile  northwest  of  Davis  City. 
The  colony  contained  mechanics,  merchants,  physicians  and  lal)orers. 
They  seemed  to  be  in  a  flourishing  condition  for  a  time,  but  the  change 
of  climate  and  manner  of  living  soon  had  a  disastrous  effect.  Fevers 
broke  out  among  them.  The  physicians  did  not  understand  the  nature 
of  the  disease  and  nearly  all  of  those  attacked  died.  Their  remains 
were  buried  in  a  grove  near  the  site  of  the  community.  The  few  sur- 
vivors became  scattered  and  the  very  location  of  the  village  lost. 

GARDEN  GROVE 

Newspapers  published  in  1869  have  this  to  say  of  Garden  Grove: 

This  is  a  handsome  village,  located  in  the  toAvnship  of  the  same 
name,  in  the  northeast  part  of  the  county,  and  on  the  road  from 
Chariton  to  Leon.  It  is  on  a  fine,  rolling  prairie,  adjacent  to  a  splen- 
did grove  of  timber,  on  the  Weldon  Fork  of  Grand  River.  It  was 
first  settled  by  the  ^Mormons  in  the  spring  of  1848.  but  the  town  plat 
was  not  recorded  until  within  the  last  year  (1808).  The  land  was 
sold  off  in  parcels  by  metes  and  bounds.  iNIany  of  the  early  ^Mormon 
settlers  remained  until  1851.  The  place  now  contains  two  general 
stores,  one  drug  store,  two  hotels,  one  harness  shop,  two  blacksmith 
shops,  one  wagon  shop,  one  flouring  mill  and  four  physicians.  There 
are  flourishing  lodges  of  Masons  and  Odd  Fellows  here. 

A  minute  and  interesting  account  of  the  ^lormon  settlement  at 
Garden  Grove  may  be  read  in  the  article  by  G.  P.  Arnold,  entitled 
"Early  Days,"  to  be  found  elsewhere  in  this  volume. 

Among  the  early  and  actual  settlers  in  this  town  were  Enos  Davis, 
O.  N.  Kellogg,  William  Davis,  Amasa  J.  Davis  and  probably  a  few 
others.  Prior  to  18o6  there  also  came  to  this  town  the  following: 
S.  F.  Baker,  C.  R.  Lampman,  Ben  Wooley,  G.  W.  Piper,  Hiram 
Chase,  Edward  Dawes,  R.  D.  Kellogg,  D.  Stearn,  A.  B.  Stearn.  J. 
R.  Cary,  Hugh  Brown,  J.  H.  Woodbury.  Thomas  Chambei'liu, 
Nathaniel  Shaw,  Dan  Bowen,  Svlvanus  Arnold,  J.  D.   Burns,   S. 


r 


158  HISTORY  OF  DECATUR  COUNTY 

]Metier,  Hiram  Chase,  Thomas  Lilhard,  John  Vail,  S.  P.  McNeil, 
Robert  ^IcBroom.  A  mmiber  of  these  men  brought  their  families. 
The  village  never  had  a  sudden  growth  and,  in  fact,  did  not  appear 
at  all  promising  until  the  construction  of  the  railroad  in  1871.  The 
first  shipping  into  this  town  by  railroad  occurred  on  January  10, 
1872.  By  the  year  188.5  the  population  had  increased  to  62.5.  G.  W. 
Piper  was  the  first  postmaster,  and  A.  B.  Stearn  was  the  second. 
Other  early  men  in  this  office  were  J.  S.  Brown,  Hiram  Chase,  F.  D. 

C.  Shaw,  J.  W.  Boyle,  J.  O.  Parrish  and  John  D.  Burns. 

Garden  Grove  was  incorporated  in  the  fall  of  1879  and  John 

D.  Burns  was  the  first  maj^or. 

SCHOOLS 

The  first  school  in  Decatur  County  w^as  taught  here  in  the  winter 
of  1848-49.  No  building  for  school  purposes  was  erected  for  several 
years.  A  frame  structure  was  then  built  and  was  soon  after  de- 
stroyed by  fire.  In  18.56  a  brick  building  was  put  up  and  was  then 
considered  the  finest  school  in  Southern  Iowa.  In  1873  a  new  frame 
building  was  erected,  costing  $7,000. 

The  Garden  Grove  Normal  School  was  started  in  1881,  under 
Prof.  R.  A.  Harkness,  with  two  assistants.  A  building,  costing 
$.5,000,  was  erected  on  grounds  west  of  the  depot.  The  school  had 
good  attendance  from  this  and  surrounding  counties  until  Harkness 
was  called  to  the  professorship  in  Parsons  College,  Fairfield,  la., 
and  then  the  school  was  discontinued. 

CHURCHES 

The  Presbyterian  Church  was  organized  July  9,  1856,  at  Stephen 
Carrither's,  six  miles  west  of  Garden  Grove,  by  a  committee  ap- 
pointed by  the  Des  INIoines  presbytery,  consisting  of  Rev.  J.  M. 
Batchelor  and  Elder  Wills.  Calvin  Johnson  and  Thomas  Cham- 
berlin  were  chosen  elders.  The  first  members  were  Calvin  and  Sarah 
Johnson,  Thomas  and  Elizabeth  Chamberlin,  James  and  Sarah  J. 
Irven,  Joseph  and  Eliza  Johnson,  INIaria  L.  Brengle,  Anna  A. 
iNIoore,  Elizabeth  Carrithers,  Harriet  Brown  and  JNIary  Burns.  This 
was  then  called  the  Leon  Church  and  preaching  was  by  turns  at 
I^eon,  Calvin  Johnson's  place,  Prairie  City  and  Garden  Grove. 
Afterward  the  name  was  changed  to  the  Garden  Grove  Church.  The 
pastors  have  been  Revs.  James  P.   Brengle,   Craig  Van   Emmon, 


METHODIST    EPISCOPAL   CHURCH.    DAMS    t  ITV 


UNION  CHURCH,  DAVIS  CITY 


HISTORY  OF  DECATUR  COUNTY  150 

Reuben  Halm,  Fred  Rea,  George  Ensley,  Robert  Beer.  During 
tlie  war  a  frame  church  was  built  at  a  cost  of  $1,300.  A  fine  brick 
church  was  constructed  in  1882  and  cost  $4,000. 

The  ^Methodist  Episcopal  Church  was  organized  at  an  early  day 
in  the  house  of  Sylvanus  xVrnold,  a  mile  west  of  the  village.  Reverend 
Carey  formed  the  first  class,  among  the  meni])ers  being  iVrnold.  his 
wife  and  daughter,  and  Carey  and  wife.  Charlotte  Sliaw  and  her 
father  were  received  soon  after.  Until  18()8  the  society  held  their 
meetings  in  the  Presbyterian  house  of  worship.  In  the  spring  of 
that  vear  plans  were  made  for  the  erection  of  a  chuich  of  their  own, 
and  the  cornerstone  was  laid  on  July  26th.  ,  The  property  cost  $4,000. 

LODGES 

Temple  Lodge  Xo.  170,  Ancient  Free  and  Accepted  Masons, 
was  chartered  June  7,  186.5,  with  B.  ^V.  Richards  as  the  first  worship- 
ful master,  E.  H.  Alexander  as  senior  warden,  and  A.  Culver  as 
junior  warden.  A  hall  was  built  in  1869  which  cost  the  lodge  the 
sum  of  $1,600. 

An  order  of  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows  was  maintained 
from  1864  to  1872  and  then  removed  to  Humeston. 

Henry  Walton  Post  No.  312,  Grand  Army  of  the  Republic,  was 
nmstered  April  8,  1883,  with  about  twelve  members.  Bryson  Bruce, 
S.  L.  Wood,  W.  H.  Kehler,  C.  D.  Wheeland,  V.  L.  Chester,  Willis 
Hine,  C.  R.  Hall,  C.  E.  Mater  and  Michael  Sullivan  held  the  first 
offices. 

BANKS 

The  Garden  Grove  Bank  was  established  in  July,  1880,  by  the 
Decatur  County  Banking  Association  (D.  and  A.  B.  Stearns  and 
L.  P.  Sigler).  G.  J.  Woodbury  was  the  cashier.  C.  S.  Stearns  & 
Brothers  began  in  the  banking  business  in  November,  1883.  The 
Stearns  family  were  probably  the  most  influential  people  in  the  de- 
velopment of  Garden  Grove.  The  elder  members  of  the  family, 
D.  and  A.  B.,  came  here  in  18.54  from  Ohio  and  in  July  of  that  year 
A.  B.  was  hired  to  G.  W.  Piper,  the  only  mercliant  in  the  town, 
Sylvanus  Arnold  making  the  contract  in  favor  of  :Mr.  Stearns.  At 
that  time  whiskev  was  freely  sold  and  Sunday  was  the  big  day  for 
disposing  of  the  liquor.  :Mr.  Arnold  stipulated  that  Stearns  woulid 
not  sell  whiskey  on  Sunday,  an  agreement  which  Piper  acce]ited. 
This  had  the  effect  of  breaking  up  the  Sunday  wliiskey  traffic.    Dan 


160  HISTORY  OF  DECATUR  COUXTY 

Stearns  at  this  time  was  breaking  prairie  for  the  wage  of  $12  per 
month.  In  two  months  A.  B.  Stearns  bought  out  Piper's  store  and 
the  two  brothers  went  into  partnership. 

In  1900  the  First  National  Bank  was  estabhshed  with  C.  S. 
Stearns  as  president  and  F.  E.  Stearns  as  vice  president.  This  bank 
has  been  merged  into  the  institution  now  known  as  the  C.  S.  Stearns 
Commercial  Bank,  with  C.  S.  Stearns  as  president;  H.  J.  Culver, 
vice  president.  The  capital  stock  is  $2.5,000;  and  the  deposits  are 
$200,000. 

NOTES 

William  Davis  is  said  to  have  bought  the  entire  ]Mormon  claim  for 
$400.  The  JNIormons  also  sold  400  head  of  sheep  to  the  settlers  at  an 
average  price  of  45  cents  per  head. 

About  two  hundred  Pottawattomie  Indians  encamped  on  the 
creek  west  of  Young's  farm  in  the  winter  of  1851-52. 

The  first  trees  planted  in  the  village  were  two  willows.  They 
were  cut  in  Davis  County,  la.,  by  Tom  Knapp  and  O.  X.  Kellogg 
and  after  being  used  for  more  than  three  days  for  riding  switches 
they  were  j)lanted. 

The  nearest  settlement  to  Garden  Grove  in  1850  was  at  Didge's 
Point,  now  in  Appanoose  County,  forty  miles  away. 

The  first  meadow  of  tame  grass  cut  in  the  county  was  a  twenty 
acre  lot  of  which  Professor  Harkness'  home  later  occupied  the  south- 
west corner. 

Josephine  Kellogg,  daughter  of  O.  X.  Kellogg,  was  the  first 
child  born  in  the  village. 

In  the  winter  of  1848-49  the  nearest  postoffice  was  at  Priceton, 
Mo.,  and  for  three  months  there  was  no  communication  between  the 
settlers  and  the  outside  world.  At  the  end  of  these  three  months  a 
couple  of  strangers  passed  through  from  Princeton  and  A.  J.  Davis 
and  John  Brown  took  advantage  of  their  tracks  in  the  snow  and  vis- 
ited the  postoffice,  forty  miles  distant. 

The  first  sawmill  was  drawn  from  Keokuk  by  Tom  Knapp  with 
an  outfit  of  sixteen  yoke  of  cattle,  a  pair  of  horses  and  two  wagons 
built  in  Keokuk  for  the  purpose.  The  mill  was  set  on  the  banks  of 
the  Weldon,  west  of  town,  and  the  freight  bill  paid  by  Knapp  was 
$560. 

In  February,  1884,  fire  destroyed  a  solid  block  in  Garden  Grove, 
from  the  corner  of  Main  and  Jefferson  east,  including  Jenning's 
general  store,  Woodbury's  drug  store,  Craig's  barber  shop,  Knapp's 


HISTORY  OF  DECATUR  COUNTY  161 

meat  market,  Brown's  grocery,  F.  E.  Stearns  &  Co's.  general  store, 
McCaull's  boot  and  shoe  shop,  Rideway's  harness  shop  and  the  post- 
office. 

NEAVSPAPERS 

The  Garden  Grove  Bnlletin  was  an  advertising  sheet  issued  from 
1S54>  until  1809  at  irregular  dates  by  D.  and  A.  B.  Stearns. 

The  Garden  Grove  Enterprise  was  established  in  18G9  by  IT.  :M. 
Belvel.  He  sold  to  W.  J.  AVhiteman,  who  discontinued  tlie  paper 
in  1873.    It  was  a  republican  paper. 

The  Garden  Grove  Express  first  came  into  existence  on  ]\Iay 
5,  187.3,  but  was  called  The  Iowa  Express  until  December,  1882. 
J.  O.  Parrish  was  editor  and  proprietor  until  JNIarch  1,  1881,  when  he 
disposed  of  the  property  to  Bryson  Bruce. 

EARLY  DAYS 

The  following  is  from  the  pen  of  G.  P.  Arnold: 

The  words  that  follow  do  not  purport  to  reveal  new  subject  mat- 
ter, or  to  contain  anything  heretofore  unknown,  but  rather  to  attempt 
to  fix  the  location  of  certain  landmarks  in  the  earlv  history  of  the 
Township  of  Garden  Grove,  to  correct  a  somewhat  hazy  conception 
of  the  whereabouts  of  the  temple  and  other  matters  allied  to  the  early 
times  of  this  locality.  Whenever  numbers  are  used  for  land  sub-divi- 
sion it  is  understood  to  apply  to  the  township  mentioned  above. 

The  writer  first  saw  Decatur  County  in  June,  18,53,  and  cannot, 
therefore,  claim  that  he  came  here  with  the  first  installment  of  the 
Gentile  invasion.  The  temple  I  saw,  of  course,  but  when  it  had  fallen 
into  a  prosaic  and  practical  state.  "To  what  base  uses  we  may  de- 
scend, Horatio."  It  was  used  to  stable  horses  and  at  this  time,  to 
make  it  respectable,  would  have  required  the  services  of  a  pocket  edi- 
tion of  Hercules  in  the  original  Augean  stable  act. 

I^ater  on  this  narrative  will  give  location  and  uses  to  which  this 
temple  was  dedicated.  It  is  the  regret  of  good  men,  peace  men,  like 
Tolstoi,  Quakers,  Dunkhobers  and  the  like,  that  to  install  great  re- 
forms or  to  set  up  a  new  religion,  streams  of  innocent  blood  must  be 
shed.  The  list  is  long,  but  the  mind  readily  recalls  Calvary,  the  Roman 
Martyrs,  Smithfield  and  the  Tower,  Reign  of  Terror,  and  but  yes- 
terday in  ^Moscow  and  Petrograd,  the  snow  was  reddened  with  the 
blood  of  working  men.  The  followers  of  Jose])]i  Smith,  known  as 
the  Latter  Day  Saints  or  INIormons,  had  their  tragedy,  too.    When 

Vol.1  — n 


162  HISTORY  OF  DECATUR  COUNTY 

Joseph  and  Hyrum  Smith  were  killed  by  a  mob  at  the  window  of 
Carthage  Jail,  then  the  doom  of  Nauvoo  as  chief  city  of  the  faithful, 
a  manufacturing  center,  utilizing  the  waters  of  the  great  river  near 
at  hand,  was  sealed. 

The  exodus  began  in  the  early  months  of  the  year  1847.  Small 
parties  crossed  the  river  on  the  ice,  driving  westward.  The  presi- 
dency now  developed  on  Brigham  Young  and  about  this  time  the 
idea  must  have  been  conceived  of  pushing  on  to  Salt  Lake,  as  it  was 
called  upon  the  maps,  for  Young  and  party  arrived  there  in  the  lat- 
ter part  of  the  same  year  1847.  One  party  of  refugees  came  to 
Decatur  County,  arrived  in  this  township  in  1847,  named  the  place 
Garden  Grove  and  established  a  "Stake  in  Zion"  or  perhaps  it  was  a 
"Stake  of  Zion."  The  establishment  of  the  stake  was  to  utilize  the 
forces  of  the  people  and  found  a  kind  of  theocratic-communal  life. 

When  called  together  under  a  tree  in  that  Aj)ril  day,  in  the  year 
1847,  some  were  tolled  off  as  bridge  builders,  others  were  to  cut  the 
logs  for  cabins,  others  were  set  to  prepare  the  ground  for  planting. 
For  the  most  part  they  were  poor  folk  and  the  work  animals  were 
thin  and  unequal  to  the  task  of  breaking  prairie.  This  is  usually 
given  as  the  rejison  why  the  settlement  was  made  in  or  near  the  timber 
skirting  the  streams.  Although  substantial  cabins  and  a  few  minor 
industries  were  built  it  never  was  the  intention  to  make  the  stay 
permanent.  After  Nauvoo,  all  other  than  Salt  Lake  were  resting 
places  only. 

Practically  all  left  here  during  1853.  I  have  alluded  to  the  the- 
ocratic-communal character  of  the  settlement.  At  one  time  a  little 
less  than  three  sections  were  fenced  in  one  field.  This  was  subdivided 
into  plots  of  arable  land  eighteen  acres  in  extent.  The  farmer  paid 
in  kind  tithings  to  the  church.  Those  otherwise  employed  tithed 
themselves  in  like  manner.  It  is  believed  that  no  white  man  lived  in 
the  township  when  the  IMormons  came;  no  courts,  no  law,  and  the 
land  had  not  been  sectionized.  It  is  a  matter  of  fact  that  they  grew 
hemp  and  being  a  peaceful  people,  one  is  in  doubt  for  what  purpose, 
until  he  remembers  the  great  cable  for  the  great  trek  in  May,  1851. 
No  murders  are  of  record  or  within  the  memory  of  any  remaining 
Gentile,  although  rumor  is  to  the  effect  that  a  body  was  found  hang- 
ing to  a  tree  in  a  secluded  spot.  It  may  have  been  a  case  of  suicide; 
at  least  there  was  no  investigation  or  attempt  thereto  made. 

As  a  rule  the  INIormons  and  Gentile  neighbors  lived  in  peace  to- 
gether, and  the  exceptional  case  was  that  of  a  man  who  sought  his  plow 
shortly  after  the  departure  of  a  delegation  for  Salt  Lake  and  found 


HISTORY  OF  DECATUR  COUNTY  163 

only  the  woodwork  in  the  brush  while  the  share,  mouldboard  and  all 
other  iron  x^arts  presumably  were  journeying  to  the  Promised  Land. 
He,  the  possessor,  argued,  perhaps,  that  it  was  a  sight  easier  for  his 
neighbor  to  get  another  from  Jolin  Deere  than  he  far  away  in  the  wilds 
to  find  one  there.  The  mill,  too,  where  the  community  ground  their 
corn,  merits  description.  The  motive  power  was  oxen  or  cows  and  the 
burrs  turned  by  reason  of  the  specific  gravity  of  the  animals.  It  was  a 
treadmill  of  a  peculiar  type.  Imagine  a  wheel  with  an  axle  ten  feet 
in  length,  having  spokes  mortised  into  the  axle  in  an  irregular  maimer. 
When  the  axle  alread}"  spoked,  and  a  gudgeon  in  each  end  was  raised 
perpendicularly,  the  spokes  covered  with  plank,  the  result  was  an  in- 
clined plane  upon  which  the  animals  walked,  thereby  driving  the 
burrs.  Belts  and  cogwheels  were  of  wood  and  rawhide  and  except 
a  few  bolts  and  bits  of  iron  around  the  stand  of  burrs,  there  was  little 
besides.     Evidently  the  iron  age  had  not  yet  arrived. 

Before  this  mill  was  made  and  set  up  near  the  south  line  of  sec- 
tion 28,  they  tried  to  make  out  of  a  hard  granite  glacial  boulder  a 
millstone.  The  work  progressed  so  far  as  to  face  the  boulder  for  the 
nether  stone  and  there  the  work  ceased.  It  is  said  that  the  local 
blacksmiths  could  not  temper  the  steel  hard  enough  to  cut  the  granite. 
The  "Big  Field,"  so  called,  comprised  major  parts  of  sections  32, 
33  and  34.  There  were  cabins  and  improvements  scattered  along 
the  smaller  streams,  called  branches.  The  temple  was  located  near 
the  west  line  of  the  northeast  of  the  northeast  of  section  33,  about 
thirty  rods  south  of  the  town  residence  of  the  late  Sam  INIetier.  This 
structure  was  built  of  logs  and  had  a  puncheon  floor.  The  logs  form- 
ing the  sides  of  the  building  ^\ere  pinned  together,  forming  a  solid 
side  without  side  brace,  and  the  roof  was  of  clapboards.  It  was  three 
or  four  stories,  all  on  the  ground,  as  was  the  current  witticism,  used  in 
describing  the  Paris  mercantile  establishment  at  High  Point.  The 
temple  was  used  for  secular  as  well  as  sacred  purposes.  With  tliese 
people  dancing  was  held  to  be  very  near  a  means  of  grace. 

I  am  not  apprised  whether  authority  for  the  practice  or  the  art 
terpsichorean  was  found  in  the  new  revelation  delivered  by  Joseph 
Smith,  or  rested  on  the  Old  Testament  text.  Evidently  the  New  of 
the  authorized  version  did  not  sanction  it.  It  mattered  little  to  the 
young  saints,  I  imagine,  where  lay  the  authority  if  the  local  fiddler 
was  proficient  in  scraping  the  Arkansas  Traveller,  Fisher's  horn  pipe 
or  Money  Musk.  Conservative  Gentile  opinion  is,  that  the  popula- 
tion at  its  height  was  about  two  thousand  souls.  The  industries  were 
a  rope  walk,  wagon  and  blacksmith  shops  and  the  mill.     Critchlow, 


164  HISTORY  OF  DECATUR  COUNTY 

Doctor  Roberts  and  Blanchard  were  leading  lights.  Orson  Pratt, 
also,  as  the  records  in  Salt  Lake  show,  tarried  here  for  a  season.  It  is 
mooted  whether  President  Brigham  Young  was  ever  here;  if  he  was 
it  was  while  passing  through  on  the  first  trip  to  the  Salt  Lake  Basin. 
It  is  said  that  Lee,  of  the  JMountain  JNIeadows  episode,  abode  here, 
too.  Xo  credit  for  that.  Brigham  Yomig  is  usually  credited  with 
having  received  the  revelation  concerning  polygamy.  This  new  light 
must  have  come  to  Young  about  the  time  of  the  dispersion  from  Nau- 
voo,  because  two  or  three  of  the  leaders  practiced  it  while  living  here. 
This  is  Gentile  testimony.  With  a  short  account  of  what  I  am  pleased 
to  call  the  great  trek  I  will  close  this  part  of  the  early  township  his- 
torv.  On  jNIav  20,  1851,  the  start  was  made  from  Garden  Grove 
with  a  train  of  120  wagons,  all  made  in  shops  here  out  of  white  oak, 
whip  sawed,  near  at  hand.  One  outfit  of  two  wagons,  one  of  which 
was  a  trailer,  drawn  by  eight  yoke  of  oxen,  carried  1,000  feet  of  hemp 
rope,  2l/)  inches  in  diameter.  The  hemp  was  grown  here  and  worked 
in  a  local  rope  walk.  The  cable  was  intended  for  ferrj^ing  unbridged 
streams.  Pontoons  were  also  a  part  of  the  luggage.  Accompanying 
the  wagon  train  was  a  battalion  of  500  uniformed,  armed  men, 
mounted  and  commanded  by  a  colonel  and  other  officers.  It  is  notice- 
able that  whenever  these  people  tarried  for  a  short  or  longer  period 
they  began  the  building  of  temples.  Witness  the  Ohio  Station,  Nau- 
voo.  Garden  Grove,  perhaps  Pisgah  and  Council  Bluffs,  and  at  last 
Salt  Lake  where  very  early,  maybe  the  first  year,  it  is  recorded  that 
Young  drove  his  walking  stick  in  the  ground  and  declared  "that 
here  sliall  a  temj^le  be  built;"  and  after  many  years  the  pretentious, 
many-pinnacled  structure  fulfilled  the  prophecy. 

This  closes  the  short  account  of  the  JVIormon  phase  of  the  early 
settlement.  The  Gentiles  came  here  as  early  as  1848  and  later.  The 
w^ell  known  names  Kellogg,  Davis,  Chase,  Knapp,  Baker,  Piper, 
Bowen  and  others  are  recalled.  O.  N.  Kellogg  built  a  hotel  out  of 
JNIormon  cabins  and  added  another  story  atop.  It  is  this  ancient  hos- 
telry that  departed  this  life  twenty-five  years  ago  which  by  many  was 
supposed  to  have  been  the  ancient  temple.  At  this  time  good  feeling 
existed  between  the  Hungarian  colonists  of  New  Buda  and  the  people 
here.  I  remember  that  July  4,  1854,  witnessed  a  great  out-pouring 
of  colonists  joining  with  the  people  here  in  honor  of  the  day.  Seats 
were  used  in  the  peach  orchard  adjoining  the  Kellogg  Hotel.  It 
seems  as  if  New  Buda  had  appeared  in  force.  I  recall  the  presence 
of  Pomutz,  Varga,  oNIitani,  JNIadarasz  and  many  others  whose  names 


HISTORY  OF  DECATUR  COUXTV  165 

have  slipped  through  the  meshes  of  the  years.     The  peacli  orcliard 
bore  fruit  that  year  to  the  extent  of  fifty  bushels,  it  is  said. 

Jonathan  Creek  was  named  after  a  pioneer  swine-herd  who  drove 
his  half  wild,  mast  fed  hogs  to  the  ^lissouri  River  to  find  a  market. 
His  eabin  was  in  Center  Township  near  the  stream  wjiich  l)cars  his 
name.     Weldon,  although  the  ancestral  acres  of  this  family  were  in 
Burrell  Township,  was  probably  named  in  like  manner.     Maybe  it 
was  Cherry  Creek,  too,  after  a  person,  as  one  of  the  name  lived  here. 
It  was  almost  the  universal  rule  to  hear,  in  those  days.  Grand  River 
spoken  of  as  plain  Thompson,  Thompson's  Fork  of  (iraiid  ]?iver, 
never  Grand  River.     Personality  counted  for  much   in  those  days. 
One  who  has  lived  in  a  gold  mining  camp  has  been  impressed  with  the 
imaginative,  optimistic  nature  of  man}^  of  the  gold  hunters.    A  story 
spreads  quietly  that  Crazy  Dick,  or  a  drunken  sailor,  was  seen  with  a 
big  sack  of  dust  and  the  dust  never  came  from  this  camp;  then  Dick 
or  the  sailor  is  followed  and  in  a  short  time  a  stampede  is  under  head- 
way.     Almost  every  camp  has  its  old-time  story  of  stam})edes  and 
stampeders.     Stories  are  floated  about,  oftentimes  with  a  basic  deal 
of  truth,  how  Lucky  Bill  took  a  chance  in  his  claim  at  I>ast  Chance. 
Struck  it  rich.     It  was  the  merest  chance  that  Bill  went  mining  there 
at  first.     This  desire  to  "strike  it"  is  ingrained  in  human  nature  and 
no  nationality  or  race  is  exempt.     The  manifestations  are  the  same 
whether  at  ^Nloosehead  in  the  far  North,  Gold  Lake  of  the  California 
Sierras,  Cool-gardie  or  the  Rand  of  South  America.    One  would  not 
expect  to  find  mystery  and  even  a  bit  of  stampede  here  in  Decatur 
County.    First  as  to  the  mystery.    Artillery  Grove,  in  the  early  days, 
was    a    prominent    landmark   situated    in    Clay    Township,    Wayne 
County;  a  high  bluff  covered  with  oak  trees  near  Steele  Creek  could 
be  seen  from  afar.     The  legend  is  that  troops  on  their  way  from  the 
fort  at  Raccoon  Forks  to  Fort  Leavenworth  buried  here  two  ])ieces 
of  artillery  to  save  them  from  falling  into  the  hands  of  the  Indians. 
This  story  is  at  least  sixty  years  old  and  moss-])acked.     Another  is 
that  a  paymaster  buried  his  trunk  somewhere  in  Long  Creek  Town- 
ship to  save  his  wealth  from  the  savages.     This,  too,  is  as  old  as  the 
former  and  hoary  with  years.     The  real  stampede  occurred  liefore 
the  Avar  during  the  late  '50s  when  men  flocked  to  the  gold  mines  on 
Steele  Creek  in  High  Point  Township.     Less  than  twenty  years 
ago  there  remained  at  the  said  mines  the  rotting  side  of  a  long  torn 
as  evidence  of  the  rush. 

It  is   a   fair    presumption   that   th.e  artillery    were  not   16-inch 
pieces  and  the  mines  of  the  Steele  Creek  basin  were  not  Cri])i)le  Creek 


166  HISTORY  OF  DECATUR  COUNTY 

claims  of  the  first  water.  Here  ends  the  chapter.  This  is,  the  writer 
beheves,  a  fair  account  of  the  early  days,  not  complete  and  perhaps 
not  entirely  free  from  error,  but  undertaken  with  the  hope  that  the 
great  field,  temple  and  cognate  matters  of  interest,  as  to  location,  at 
least  might  be  fixed  in  the  minds  of  the  rising  generation  ere  the  last 
living  witness  had  passed  in  his  checks.  Sometimes  it  is  necessary  to 
jog  the  memories  of  the  old-timer,  "Lest  we  forget,  lest  we  forget." 

MISCELLANEOUS 

During  the  winter  of  1848  William  Davis  bought  the  church  j^rop- 
erty  at  a  very  small  jDrice  per  acre  and  resold  the  land  in  eighty-acre 
lots  at  $50  for  first  choice  and  down  to  $30  for  the  last  choice.  He 
also  formed  a  partnership  with  Don  C.  Roberts  and  furnished  a  few 
hundred  dollars,  which  his  partner  invested  in  staple  commodities, 
mostly  groceries,  which  ^vas  quite  a  convenience,  but  proved  a  loss  to 
the  senior  member  of  the  firm  as  the  groceries  were  partly  stolen  from 
the  cabin  fitted  up  for  their  occupancy. 

JNIrs.  Enos  Davis  kept  a  school  in  their  cabin  at  $1.2o  per  scholar, 
for  a  term  of  three  months,  the  pay  mostly  in  provisions. 

O.  N.  Kellogg  bought  the  first  choice  of  lots  and  in  the  spring 
of  1849,  in  company  with  Enos  Davis,  bought  the  gardens  and  the 
use  of  two  cabins  of  a  couple  of  families  living  on  the  tract,  and  moved 
into  them.  In  September  of  that  year  Hiram  Chase  and  his  family 
came  to  ioin  the  little  colony-  They  w^ere  the  first  to  come  direct  from 
Dodge's  Point  over  the  new  road  just  staked  out.  About  that  time 
Daniel  Winters  and  JNIordecai  Smith,  with  their  families,  came  from 
Lee  County  and  went  about  four  miles  northwest.  Winters  moved 
to  land  that  he  had  entered  and  as  he  was  the  first  settler  there  and  a 
minister  of  the  ]\Iissionary  Baptist  Church  the  settlers  named  it  Gos- 
pel Ridge.  In  the  spring  before  O.  N.  Kellogg  had  entered  a  quarter 
section  there,  the  first  entered  in  the  county.  The  citizens  were  formed 
into  a  society  for  mutual  protection,  as  many  of  the  claims  had  val- 
uable improvements.  Josiah  ^Morgan  and  a  few  others,  with  their 
families,  reached  the  grove  in  the  fall.  The  latter  settled  on  Jonathan 
Creek,  a  few  miles  southwest,  where  Jonathan  Stanley,  from  Ten- 
nessee, had  lived  a  hermit  life  for  several  years,  dressing  in  buckskin 
and  living  by  hunting  and  trapping.  INIorgan  bought  a  claim  just 
west  of  the  town  and  the  JNIormon  Mill  which  had  failed.  He  fixed 
the  mill  and  it  became  a  great  convenience  to  the  people  of  the  com- 
munity.    He  built  a  good,  hewed  log  house  adjoining  his  cabin  in 


HISTORY  OF  DECATUR  COUNTY  167 

in  18o3  and  soon  after  sold  and  settled  on  Gospel  Ridge.  The  place 
was  afterwards  owned  and  occupied  by  Sylvanus  Arnold  and  called 
White  Oak. 

During  the  winter  of  1849  and  1850  a  gentleman  named  Gwimi, 
from  Virginia,  visited  the  place,  looking  for  locations  for  his  chil- 
dren, three  of  whom,  two  sons  and  a  daughter,  made  homes  her(i  the 
following  year. 

Henry  B.  Notson  came  and  brought  a  stock  of  goods,  opened  a 
store  in  an  extra  cabin  moved  up  for  the  purpose  by  Enos  Davis,  with 
whom  he  boarded.  Jehu  Blades  also  sold  goods  in  tlie  lower  part  of 
town,  near  the  creek. 

There  w^ere  many  Indians,  chieflv  Pottawattomies,  in  the  vicinity 
during  the  early  days,  under  the  control  of  Chief  John  Kish  Kosh. 

At  the  time  the  ^Mormons  left  the  grove  the  weather  was  very 
inclement,  roads  almost  impassable;  and  groceries,  flour,  meat  and 
clothing  were  sold  for  small  prices  in  order  to  lighten  the  weight  of 
the  wagons.  Along  at  this  time,  also,  came  the  need  of  accommoda- 
tions for  travelers.  Accordingly  O.  N.  Kellogg  added  another  log 
house  to  the  one  he  occupied  with  space  between,  and  an  additional 
story  over  all,  the  upper  part  in  one  room  when  used  for  a  hall  and 
divided  by  curtains  when  used  for  sleeping  rooms.  A  sign  told  the 
seekers  for  shelter  that  this  was  the  California  House  and  a  little 
board  nailed  to  the  fence  marked  Entertainment,  showed  that  E. 
Davis'  cabin,  a  little  east,  might  hold  a  limited  number.  The  flrst 
hotel  stood  where  Doolittle's  home  later  w^as  erected.  The  jNlormon 
young  people  assembled  in  the  hall  sometimes,  as  their  church  had  been 
taken  for  a  stable.     The  lumber  was  whipsawed  for  doors  and  floors. 

In  the  summer  of  1849  John  JNI.  Whitekar  of  Van  Buren  County 
made  this  place  his  headquarters,  being  one  of  the  three  appointed  to 
select  the  500,000  acres  of  school  land.  He  also  located  the  ninety- 
six  sections  of  university  land.  There  was  some  saline  land  here,  but 
it  finally  Avent  back  to  the  Government. 

R.  ]M.  ]McBroom  settled  here  in  18.50. 

The  first  election  was  held  in  18.50.  AVilliam  Davis,  Victor  Doze 
and  Hiram  Chase  were  the  judges.  Hiram  Chase  was  elected  justice 
of  the  peace  and  served  twenty  years. 

Daniel  Hankins  came  and  was  the  first  settler  at  High  Point, 
also  brought  a  hand  mill  to  grind  corn.  For  a  number  of  years  it  was 
at  least  forty  miles  to  a  good  flouring  mill.  INIost  of  the  goods,  flour 
included,  came  from  Keokuk — Cleghorn  &  Harrison,  Bridgeman  & 
Reed,  Cox  &  Shelley  were  among  the  principal  houses  dealt  with. 


168  HISTORY  OF  DECATUR  COUNTY 

The  Des  3Ioines  Valley  Whig  was  the  fii'st  paper  taken  after  a  post- 
office  was  secured. 

S.  F.  Baker  and  wife  came  in  1851  on  their  bridal  tour.  Z.  W. 
Knapp  and  family  joined  their  friends,  Chase  and  Kellogg,  and  many 
others  also  came  in  1852.  The  next  year  brought  an  even  greater 
number,  many  of  them  locating  around  Gospel  Ridge,  most  of  them 
from  Illinois.  A  school  district  had  been  organized  and  JNIrs.  Enos 
Davis  taught  in  the  east  room  of  the  California  House.  Hiram  Chase 
had  a  school  in  their  kitchen  the  preceding  winter. 

The  year  1854  brought  a  great  influx  of  valuable  settlers.  Wil- 
liam Davis  and  Hiram  Chase  built  a  two-story  frame  schoolhouse  and 
Rev.  J.  R.  Cary  began  school  there.  While  soldering  some  tin  on 
the  cupola  a  workman  dropj)ed  a  coal  which  ignited  the  shavings  and 
the  building  was  consumed.  Sylvanus  Arnold  replaced  it  with  an 
octagonal  brick,  which  in  turn  was  supplanted  by  another  frame 
structure. 

E.  W.  Dawes  purchased  the  first  hotel  property  and  it  w^as  then 
called  the  Dawes  House.  The  Ohio  House  and  the  Amos  House 
were  later  hotels. 

Garden  Grove  was  incorporated  in  1879. 

D.  L.  Bowen  and  George  Douglass  built  the  first  flouring  mill. 
John  Avis,  an  Englishman,  and  his  wife  walked  from  Keokuk,  carry- 
ing their  small  child  and  luggage  and  built  the  first  frame  house  in 
Garden  Grove.  This  home  was  later  improved  and  became  the  resi- 
dence of  A.  C.  Shaw.  The  first  sawmill  was  built  by  a  company  and 
operated  by  John  ^larshall,  west  of  town,  on  Weldon,  in  1855-56. 

PLEASANTON 

The  Town  of  Pleasanton  is  situated  on  the  divide  between  Grand 
River  and  Little  River  on  the  south  line  of  Decatur  County.  The 
surrounding  country  is  a  rolling  prairie,  fertile  and  in  a  good  state 
of  preservation. 

One  account  states  that  the  town  was  laid  out  in  the  spring  of 
1854  by  Daniel  Bartholow  and  called  Pleasant  Plain.  Another 
authority  states  that  the  town  was  founded  in  1854  by  William  Snook 
and  William  Loving.  The  town  was  first  know^n  as  Pleasant  Plain. 
There  was  a  postoffice  2l/4  miles  northwest  of  the  place  called  Nine 
Eagles,  which  was  subsequently  moved  here  and  the  name  changed 
to  Pleasanton. 

The  first  business  house  erected  for  use  as  a  general  store  was 
owned  by  a  Mr.  Hinkle.    It  was  located  on  the  lot  where  the  Painter 


HISTORY  OF  DECATUR  COUNTY  169 

store  later  stood.  The  next  building  was  constructed  on  the  present 
site  of  the  Tye  Building,  by  Green  Watson.  The  \illage  liad  a  very 
slow  growth  until  188^3  when  the  Des  Moines  &  Kansas  City  Rail- 
road was  built  through  the  jDlace.  This  is  now  a  part  of  the  Hui  ling- 
ton.  When  the  railroad  first  reached  Pleasanton  the  town  was 
christened  Harding,  but  this  name  did  not  remain  very  long. 

The  first  hotel  or  public  house  'was  conducted  by  .Joel  I'ainter 
and  in  1800  the  second  hotel  was  erected  by  Royal  Richardson,  wliieli 
he  managed  for  twenty-two  years.  The  first  postmaster  was  Captain 
W^arnock.  The  first  schoolhouse,  which  also  served  as  a  meeting 
house,  was  a  log  building  erected  in  the  early  days  of  the  town,  Tiie 
loos  are  still  in  use  in  the  framework  of  a  })arn  erected  bv  H.  A. 
Cowles. 

The  college,  a  building  30x60  feet,  two  stories  high,  was  next 
erected,  but  was  destroyed  by  a  tornado  in  ISO.).  After  this  a  ])rick 
schoolliouse  was  built  and  in  1898  after  being  pronounced  dangerous 
gave  wa}'  to  a  frame  school  of  two  stories,  costing  $1,.>00. 

The  first  paper  was  the  Index,  established  in  1900  by  J.  R.  Ben- 
nett. 

The  Bank  of  Pleasanton  was  opened  for  business  on  ^larch  0, 
190o.  It  is  now^  known  as  the  Farmers  and  ^lerchants  Bank.  Wil- 
ham  Woodard  is  president  and  J.  W.  Chew  cashier.  The  capital  is 
$20,000  and  the  deposits  $112,000. 

Several  times  in  the  history  of  the  town  tliere  liave  been  destructive 
fires.  The  south  side  w^as  burned  at  one  time  and  tlie  north  side  has 
suffered  twice. 

In  an  issue  published  in  1868  the  Decatur  County  Journal  has 
this  to  say  of  Pleasant  Plains,  now  Pleasanton: 

"This  village  is  situated  on  the  divide  between  Grand  River  and 
Little  River,  on  the  south  line  of  the  county  in  Hamilton  Townshi]). 
An  addition  to  the  village  is  situated  in  JNIissouri.  The  surrounding 
country  is  a  rolling  prairie,  fertile  and  in  a  good  state  of  cultivation, 
w^ith  timber  about  a  mile  distant,  both  east  and  west.  Some  years  ago 
a  building  was  erected  liere  for  a  college.  An  institution  of  learning 
was  duly  organized  with  flattering  prospects,  but  in  June,  18.5.5,  the 
building  was  blown  down  and  has  not  yet  been  rebuilt. 

"The  town  was  laid  out  in  the  spring  of  1854  by  Daniel  Bartholow. 
It  now^  contains  four  general  stories,  one  drug  store,  two  blacksnutli 
shops,  one  wagon  shop,  two  hotels,  one  shoemaker,  three  physicians, 
and  one  attorney.  Its  population  is  about  two  hundred  and  fifty. 
One  of  its  substantial  and  enterprising  citizens  is  Royal  Richardson, 


170  HISTORY  OF  DECATUR  COUNTY 

proprietor  of  the  Richardson  House,  and  also  the  owner  of  a  fine 
farm,  on  which  he  this  year  cut  sixty-five  tons  of  timothy  hay  and 
harvested  1,000  bushels  of  oats.  There  is  a  good  brick  schoolhouse 
and  a  Masonic  lodge  known  as  Emblem  Lodge  No.  189.  There  is 
an  organization  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  with  a  Sabbath 
school  in  connection.  The  place  is  tw^elve  miles  south  of  Leon  and 
twenty  miles  northwest  of  Princeton,  the  county  seat  of  Mercer 
County,  Mo.  It  has  a  daily  mail  north  and  south  and  semi-weekly 
east  and  west.  The  postoffice  here  is  called  Nine  Eagles,  for  the 
reason  that  mail  matter  directed  to  Pleasant  Plains  often  miscarried, 
there  being  a  place  of  that  same  name  in  Jefi"erson  County,  la." 

PLEASANTON  AND  ITS  PAST 

By  Royal  Richardson 

I  was  born  in  Phillipston,  Worcester  County,  INIass.,  February 
12,  1827,  and  my  parents  were  natives  of  the  same  state.  I  was 
reared  on  a  farm,  and  received  my  education  in  my  native  town.  I 
was  married  to  Martha  Johnson  and  in  18.54  I  came  to  Batavia,  111., 
where  I  worked  at  the  carj^enter's  trade  for  two  years.  We  located 
at  Pleasanton,  Decatur,  County,  la.,  in  May,  18.56. 

The  town  was  then  called  Pleasant  Plains,  had  been  laid  out  in 
tlie  spring  of  1854  by  Daniel  Bartholow  and  contained  about  fifty 
inliabitants.  At  that  time  the  towns  in  Decatur  County  were 
Decatur,  Garden  Grove,  Leon  and  Westerville.  Allen  Scott  was 
postmaster  at  Nine  Eagles,  2^4  niiles  northwest  of  Pleasanton.  In 
1859  the  postoffice  was  moved  to  Pleasanton  and  W.  S.  Warnock 
became  the  first  postmaster.  The  writer  held  the  same  office  for 
eighteen  years.  Among  the  early  settlers  of  Pleasanton  and  vicinity 
I  recall  the  names  of  Patrick  Willis,  Joseph  Tong,  A.  W.  Moff  ett, 
William  Hamilton,  William  Acton,  William  Loving,  George  JNIorey, 
Ebenezer  Robinson,  William  Alden,  John  Clark,  Elijah  Crawford, 
W^yllis  Dickinson,  G.  P.  Walker  and  Abner  INIarks. 

Dr.  George  Hinkle  started  the  first  store  and  conducted  it  for 
three  years.  Greenville  Watson  started  the  second  store  and  after- 
wards moved  to  California.  Jeff  Gardner  started  the  third  store. 
He  died  after  the  war  in  Mercer  County,  INIo.  A.  Works  after- 
wards had  a  store  and  Joel  Painter  kept  the  first  hotel.  The  village 
blacksmith  was  William  Snook  whose  daughter  afterAvards  married 
Dr.  E.  C.  INIacy.    A.  W.  MofFett  mended  shoes.    Tom  JNIajors,  after- 


HISTORY  OF  DECATUK  COUNTY  171 

wards  candidate  for  governor  of  Nebraska  on  the  republican  ticket, 
had  a  large  stock  of  goods  in  18.59. 

Some  time  during  the  war  a  two  story  frame  building  was  built 
by  private  subscription  for  educational  purposes.  It  was  generally 
known  as  the  College.  In  June,  18(5.5,  it  was  destroyed  by  a  cyclone 
which  blew  down  and  unroofed  thirteen  buildings. 

Several  persons  have  lost  their  lives  by  violence  in  Pleasanton  and 
vicinity.  The  first  was  Edward  Purcell  who  was  shot  and  killed  on 
the  street  in  18G4  by  Dike's  Missouri  militia.  Turcell  was  required 
to  hurrah  for  Lincoln  but  he  refused  to  do  so  and  ^^•as  fired  on  with 
fatal  result. 

Dr.  Parmentus  Mullinnix  was  killed  in  18G6  at  a  dance  seven 
miles  southeast  of  Pleasanton  in  fiercer  County,  Mo.  .John 
Crawford  was  charged  with  the  deed,  but  was  tried  at  Pi-inceton  and 
acquitted.  At  the  preliminary  Joe  Warner  of  Leon  represented  the 
prosecution  and  Judge  Orton  of  Princeton  and  Judge  Porrey  of 
Leon  the  defense.  Crawford  afterwards  moved  to  Kansas  and 
became  a  county  treasurer. 

James  AUfrey,  a  school  teacher  and  lawyer,  was  shot  and  killed 
in  1867  by  Jake  Williams,  about  three  miles  southwest  of  Pleasan- 
ton. Williams  immediately  disa])peared  and  never  was  tried.  He  is 
now  dead.  Allfrey  was  a  dead  shot  and  had  two  Colt's  revolvers 
with  him  when  killed,  but  was  taken  unawares. 

At  the  breaking  out  of  the  Civil  war  the  spirit  of  patriotism  per- 
vaded the  entire  community.  JNIuch  of  the  spring  of  1861  was  occu- 
])ied  in  drilling  and  prej^aring  for  war.  The  drill  master  was  Cai)t. 
Jeff  JNIiller,  a  veteran  of  the  INIexican  war,  and  who  was  afterwards 
wounded  at  the  battle  of  Pea  Ridge.  There  was  no  draft  in  Hamil- 
ton Township  and  the  people  responded  patriotically  to  every  call 
for  troops.  Pleasanton  and  vicinity  supplied  soldiers  to  the  Federal 
Army  and  the  following  is  the  roll  of  honor: 

J.  W.  Allfrey,  Thomas  Acton,  W.  H.  Acton,  Jesse  Ratchel- 
der,  Alfred  Brant.  B.  F.  Bard,  IManson  Bird,  C;.  W.  Blakesley, 
Burr  Brown,  Bird  Brown,  AA''esley  Cavanaugh,  Stephen  Crouse, 
Henry  Collins,  James  Crawford,  James  Dnnleavy,  ISl.  J.  Dale,  .1.  .M. 
Gammill,  I^ieut.  E.  Horn,  David  Horn,  John  Holden.  Peter  J.  Ham- 
ilton, W.  H.  Harrison,  M.  V.  Helton,  Hemy  Ilouk,  Jr.,  J.  1?.  Har- 
ris, George  B.  Kelley,  IMarion  Marks,  Benjamin  ^larks,  David  ^lonk, 
W.  H.  iSIills,  George  W.  INIills,  Lieutenant  IMaxwell,  James  May, 
John  ]McIntosh,  William  JNIcIntosh,  Elijah  Newell,  Dan  Ockerman, 
F.  ]M.  Peterson,  George  W.  Rutherford,  Seth  Roe,  C.  H.  Sullivan, 


172  HISTORY  OF  DECATUR  COUNTY 

David  Snook,  Ira  Steward,  Ross  Scott,  T.  D.  Scott,  Ed  Seymour, 
John  Seymour,  Robert  Snodgrass,  Frank  Turpen,  Byron  Waldrup, 
Leslie  Works,  J.  S.  Wilson,  James  Wakefield,  Burr  Watson,  Abe 
Vandel,  John  Alexander,  James  Acton,  Aaron  Acton,  Asa  Bur- 
rell,  W.  H.  Barnes,  Abe  Blakesley,  Jerry  Blakesley,  Howard  Brown, 
J.  M.  Broadbrook,  T.  J.  Brant,  Henry  A.  Cowles,  W.  J.  Clark,  John 
W.  Crawford,  Henry  Craig,  W.  H.  Dunleavy,  Fleming  Dale,  James 
Dunham,  Capt.  J.  C.  Gammill,  T.  J.  Graves,  George  Hedrick,  F. 
M.  Hamilton,  James  Holden,  W.  H.  Hatfield,  James  Humphress, 
Henry  Houk,  John  H.  Helton,  John  Hutchinson,  John  ^lay,  John 
]\Iarks,  Ezra  ^Nlarks,  C.  E.  Macy,  Lewis  Mills,  Capt.  J.  F.  3Iiller, 
William  ^lav,  Henrv  ^lorris,  Aaron  Mcintosh,  M.  C.  T.  Newell, 
Pompa  Niles,  Eph  Pardun,  Thomas  Perkins,  James  Reynolds,  W. 
J.  Sullivan,  John  Snook,  William  Snook,  Brison  Scott,  Allen  Scott, 
John  D.  Scott,  Willard  Seymour,  W.  H.  Snodgrass,  Harrison 
Swander,  W.  D.  Wilson,  Orville  Works,  Gardner  Works,  W.  S. 
Warnock,  Green  Watson,  Joe  Vandel. 

VAN  WERT 

Van  Wert  is  an  old  town  on  the  Humeston  &  Shenandoah,  now 
the  Burlington,  and  is  located  on  section  12,  Long  Creek  Township. 
It  was  first  settled  about  1853  and  was  called  Florence.  On  June 
29,  1855,  the  town  lots  were  sold  at  public  auction.  George  W.  Big- 
ford  built  the  first  store  about  the  same  time.  A  steam  mill  was  con- 
structed by  George  Douglass.  Tlie  original  town  contained  fourteen 
blocks  and  additions  have  been  added  from  time  to  time.  The  name 
was  afterward  changed  to  Prairie  City,  then  to  Prairieville  and  on 
April  1,  1880,  to  Van  Wert. 

The  village  possessed  but  one  store,  that  of  John  Gimmel,  until 
1880,  when  the  Missouri,  Iowa  &  Nebraska  Railroad  was  built  to 
that  point.  The  western  portion  of  that  road  was  sold  to  the  Humes- 
ton  &  Shenandoah,  and  they  extended  the  line  westward  to  Shenan- 
doah. This  gave  the  town  an  impetus  and  stores  were  erected  by  W. 
E.  Stone  &  Company,  D.  Tharp  &  Company  and  M.  R.  Sanger. 
The  Des  JNIoines  &  Kansas  City  Railroad  was  built  to  this  town  in 
1882. 

This  was  made  an  indeioendent  school  district  in  1872  and  a  frame 
building,  22  by  28  feet  in  size,  was  erected  at  a  cost  of  $465.  The 
building  soon  proved  too  small  for  the  needs  of  the  district  and  it 
was  sold  in  1885  and  a  fine  two-story  frame  costing  $2,700  was  built. 
It  contained  three  rooms. 


.A 


METHODIST   KIMSCOPAL  CHIRCH.  \'A\   W  KRT 


CHLrRCH  OF  CHRIST,  VAX  WKRT 


HISTORY  OF  DECATUR  COUNTY'  173 

The  Methodist  Church  was  built  in  the  summer  of  1801  hv  the 
members.  The  Christian  Church  was  first  built  in  188G  at  a  cost 
of  $1,700. 

The  town  was  incorporated  fifteen  years  ago  witli  P.  K.  Hall  as 
the  first  mayor. 

Several  newspapers  have  been  published  in  Van  Wert  with  in(hf- 
ferent  success.  C.  S.  Fulmer  establislied  the  Van  Wert  Record  in 
190.5  and  made  of  it  an  excellent  publication.  There  are  no  papeis 
published  here  at  the  present  time. 

Another  authority  on  the  earlv  history  of  Van  Wert  states  that 
the  first  store  was  opened  by  J.  Irving  in  the  east  end  of  his  own 
dwelling  house,  in  the  year  18.53.  The  second  venture  was  claimed 
to  have  fallen  to  the  lot  of  Paul  Ord  and  the  next  to  George  liick- 
ford,  followed  by  Jehu  Blades.  W.  E.  Stone  was  in  business  for 
himself  for  about  a  year  and  a  half,  after  which  he  took  J.  C.  Eletclier 
into  partnership.  They  continued  in  business  for  two  years  when 
they  dissolved  partnership.  Stone  continuing  alone  until  188G  and 
then  selling  out  to  Tallman  &  Blair.  This  latter  partnersliip  broke 
up  after  six  months,  Tallman  retaining  the  business  and  entering  into 
another  partnership  later  with  Ed  Hall. 

In  1875  a  novel  and  unsuccessful  attempt  was  made  to  operate 
a  gristmill  by  wind.  By  the  application  of  steam  this  mill  was  after- 
wards made  a  success. 

THE   PRESENT  TOW^N 

The  Town  of  Van  Wert,  with  the  latest  improvements  neces- 
sary to  a  town  of  its  size,  such  as  telephones,  railroads,  good  mail 
service,  etc.,  has  grown  into  a  prosperous  and  enterprising  community. 
The  citizens  of  the  town  have  used  every  effort  to  make  the  commun- 
ity a  substantial  one  and  have  formed  several  organizations  with  this 
purpose  in  view.  The  lodges  and  clubs  are  also  engaged  in  the  work 
of  civic  betterment.  The  railroad  is  the  means  of  making  Van  AVert 
an  excellent  trading  point,  quite  an  amount  of  grain  and  stock  being 
shipped  to  the  markets  from  here. 

The  first  bank  was  organized  in  1898.  It  was  called  The  Farmers 
&  T^Ierchants  Bank.  Mark  M.  Shaw  was  the  cashier.  In  1900  the 
Bank  of  Van  Wert  purchased  this  institution  and  on  December  10. 
1900,  organized  with  W.  F.  Blair  as  president,  E.  O.  Stearns  as 
cashier  and  IMrs.  Ada  L.  Stearns  as  assistant  cashier.  The  ca])ital 
was  first  $10,000.     Those  interested  in  its  organization  were:    AV.  F. 


174  HISTORY  OF  DECATUR  COUNTY 

Blair,  JNIorris  Brown,  G.  S.  Barr,  G.  A.  Hamilton,  F.  L.  Hall,  J. 
Stearns,  M.  F.  Thompson,  E.  O.  Stearns,  William  Goodman,  Lester 
Gould. 

The  capital  stock  at  present  is  $10,000  and  the  deposits  $100,000. 
Ij.  Gould  is  vice  president  and  A.  E.  Blair,  assistant  cashier. 

Van  Wert,  like  many  other  towns  in  the  county,  has  been  the 
victim  of  destructive  fires  at  different  times.  In  September,  1903, 
a  fire  consumed  everj^thing  on  the  west  side  of  INIain  Street  and  north 
of  the  tracks.  In  February,  1915,  another  bad  fire  occurred  in  the 
business  section  of  the  town,  practically  a  whole  block  being  consumed. 

Van  Wert  Post  No.  205,  Grand  Army  of  the  Republic,  was 
mustered  in  July,  1883,  with  thirty  members. 

GRAND   RIVER 

Grand  River  is  located  about  a  half  mile  from  the  west  bank  of 
Grand  River,  on  section  33,  in  Richland  Township,  on  the  Burling- 
ton Railroad  which  was  formerly  known  as  the  Humeston  &  Shenan- 
doah Railroad.  It  is  in  the  heart  of  a  fine  agricultural  district,  in- 
habited by  the  most  substantial  and  progressive  farmers  of  Southern 
Iowa.  The  soil  in  this  district  is  very  rich.  Also,  as  a  trading  point, 
Grand  River  is  of  considerable  importance. 

This  town  was  laid  out  in  1881  by  E.  C.  Perkins  for  a  corpora- 
tion then  known  as  the  Town  Lot  Company,  a  company  organized 
for  the  purpose  of  laying  out  towns  along  the  route  of  the  Humeston 
&  Shenandoah  Railroad.  The  first  business  house  was  constructed 
by  the  firm  of  Bosworth  &  INIilligan  and  was  known  as  the  Blue 
Front.  It  was  used  continuously  as  a  general  store  until  the  build- 
ing was  destroyed  by  fire  in  the  spring  of  1905.  G.  W.  Bradshaw 
started  the  first  store,  according  to  account,  and  later  entered  partner- 
ship with  ]Mr.  Lamb.  S.  C.  Jennings  started  a  general  store  in  1886. 
A  school  building  was  constructed  in  the  town  in  1876  and  a  union 
church  building  in  1881. 

Some  of  the  first  residents  of  the  town  were  Schuyler  Jennings, 
C.  H.  Chapman,  A.  R.  Taylor,  John  Burham,  Dr.  H.  C.  Bone, 
Doctor  Landes,  W.  J.  Beck,  H.  C.  Jennings.  Several  of  the  above 
assisted  in  selecting  a  name  for  the  new  town  in  its  early  daj^s.  At 
a  public  meeting  held  in  1881,  Beulah,  Westerville  and  other  names 
were  proposed  and  rejected  in  turn.  A  motion  made  by  C.  H. 
Chapman,  later  proprietor  of  the  Chapman  House,  to  call  the  town 
Grand  River  prevailed  and  so  the  town  was  named. 


HISTORY  OF  DECATUR  COUNTY  175 

Soon  after  the  town  was  started  lots  were  offered  for  sale  and 
were  taken  very  rapidly.  Dwellings,  store  rooms,  hotels,  ete.,  were 
at  once  erected  and  soon  the  community  had  the  appearance  of  a 
fast  growing  city.  During  the  iirst  year  the  presence  (jf  the  liaiids 
who  were  at  work  on  the  extension  of  the  Humeston  &  Shcnaiidoali 
Railroad  from  that  place  westward  across  the  state,  heli)cd  to  give 
the  merchants  of  the  place  a  good  trade  until  the  husincss  of  the 
town  could  be  built  up  from  the  surrounding  country.  'JMie  new 
town,  however,  had  a  good  trade  from  the  very  start.  One  thiii< 
which  at  first  very  materially  retarded  the  growth  of  (J rand  l{i\(  i 
was  the  difficulty  in  crossing  Grand  River  at  that  i)oiMt,  there  being 
no  bridge  and  the  river  having  to  be  forded.  This  tended  to  cut  off 
a  large  part  of  her  legitimate  trade.  In  the  summer  of  1887,  tliough, 
an  iron  bridge  was  constructed  across  the  river  one-half  mile  east  of 
the  town,  and  the  difficulty  was  removed. 

Among  the  early  improvements  was  a  fine  church  buihUng, 
erected  by  the  Presbyterians,  but  which  was  open  to  other  denomi- 
nations when  not  in  use  by  the  builders. 

The  State  Savings  Bank  at  Grand  River  was  originallv  estab- 
lished  in  1889  by  Patrick  Griffin  who  conducted  it  as  a  private  insti- 
tution under  the  name  of  Bank  of  Grand  River.  Ten  years  later 
]Mr.  Griffin  disposed  of  the  business  to  A.  L.  Ackerly  who  conducted 
it  as  a  private  bank  under  the  same  name  until  July  1,  1900,  wlien  it 
Mas  incorporated  under  the  title  of  State  Savings  Bank  of  Grand 
River.  This  is  now  known  as  the  First  National  Bank.  A.  L.  Ack- 
erly is  president;  Patrick  Griffin,  vice  president;  J.  C.  Brotliers, 
cashier;  and  Charles  Kelley,  assistant  cashier.  The  capital  stock  is 
$2.5,000  and  the  deposits  amount  to  $118,000. 

The  Farmers  Bank  was  established  in  1903.  J.  Switzer  is  the 
])resident  and  A.  R.  Switzer  is  cashier.  The  capital  is  $10,000  and 
the  deposits  amount  to  $128,000. 

DECATUR    CITY 

Decatur  Citv,  another  of  the  county's  substantial  towns,  is  lo- 
cated  very  nearly  in  the  center  of  the  county.  As  a  trading  point  it 
is  an  important  one  with  many  natural  advantages.  Decatur  City 
is  one  of  the  oldest  settlements  in  the  county  and  was  first  designated 
as  the  county  seat.  Two  years  later,  in  1853,  the  county  seat  was 
moved  to  Leon. 

A  common  school  district  was  maintained  at  a  very  early  day. 
In  1864  it  was  made  an  independent  district  and  a  frame  bnihlinu-. 


176  HISTORY  OF  DECATUR  COUNTY 

32  by  40  feet,  was  built  at  a  cost  of  $3,000.  This  building  was  burned 
in  1885.  The  structure  was  insured  for  $1,000.  The  next  building 
was  erected  in  1885  and  cost  $3,200.  It  was  30  by  60  feet  and  was 
divided  into  two  rooms. 

Several  newspaj^ers  have  been  published  in  Decatur  City  at  dif- 
ferent times.  The  Commoner  was  published  from  1859  to  1861  by 
F.  A.  C.  Foreman;  the  Decatur  Enteri^rise  in  1866-7  by  C.  S.  Wil- 
son. Foreman  went  to  Chicago  from  here  and  later  died  at  Marengo, 
la.  Wilson  afterwards  became  editor  of  the  Des  Moines  Daily 
News. 

The  Des  Moines,  Osceola  &  Southern  Railroad  was  built  to  De- 
catur City  in  1882  and  then  on  to  Leon  and  thence  south.  The  name 
of  the  road  was  afterwards  changed  to  the  Des  JNIoines  &  Kansas 
City,  under  which  it  operated  until  acquired  by  the  Keokuk  &  West- 
ern and  made  a  standard  gauge  road.  The  road  is  now  owned  by 
the  Burlington  Route  Sj^stem. 

The  first  church  built  in  the  town  was  in  1856  and  was  dedicated 
by  the  JNIethodists.  Later  there  were  four  societies  here  and  all  used 
this  one  church  for  their  services. 

AN   EARLY   DESCRIPTION 

The  following  description  of  this  town  was  published  in  the 
Decatur  County  Journal  of  March  4,  1869,  and  gives  a  correct  idea 
of  the  town  at  that  time : 

This  place  is  situated  on  a  high  prairie  in  Decatur  Township, 
2^4  miles  east  of  Grand  River,  and  on  the  line  of  the  Leavenworth 
&  Des  JNIoines  Railroad.  It  contains  three  general  stores,  one  drug 
and  grocery  store,  one  family  grocer,  one  stove  and  tinware  store, 
three  hotels,  one  milliner,  two  blacksmith  shops,  two  wagon  shops, 
one  chair  maker,  two  cabinet  makers,  one  wheelwright,  one  harness 
maker,  two  shoemakers,  and  three  physicians. 

The  following  are  prominent  and  leading  citizens  of  the  place: 
Dicken  &  Mechem,  S.  W.  Johnston  &  Company,  P.  S.  Dicken  and 
A.  Miles  &  Son,  general  merchants;  A.  Gill,  dealer  in  drugs  and  gro- 
ceries and  also  proprietor  of  the  Decatur  House ;  Hogue  &  Caldwell, 
dealers  in  stoves  and  tinware;  Sam  Schenck,  wagon  maker  and  post- 
master; J.  H.  Horner,  harness  maker;  Thomas  Waller,  military  and 
general  claim  agent;  C.  Schenck  and  J.  W.  Laney,  physicians;  Wil- 
liam Kew,  shoemaker;  Col.  H.  W.  Peck,  chief  engineer,  I.  &  ^I. 
Railroad. 


HISTORY  OF  DECATUR  COUNTY  177 

Decatur  City  being  on  the  main  road  east  and  west,  enjoys  the 
advantages  of  a  daily  mail,  M'ith  a  semi- weekly  mail  soutli  via  Kagle- 
ville,  Bethany  and  Gallatin  to  Cameron  on  the  Ilannihal  &  St.  Joe 
Railroad. 

There  is  a  Masonic  Lodge  and  a  lodge  and  encam})mcnt  of  Odd 
Fellows. 

BANKS 

The  Citizens  State  Savings  Rank  of  Decatur  City  was  organized 
in  the  year  1892.  At  the  present  time  James  Creswe  is  i)resi(lent; 
H.  T.  Ranch,  vice  president;  E.  \V.  Townsend,  casliier;  and  O.  F. 
Walker,  assistant  cashier.  The  capital  stock  is  $2(),()00;  tlie  de- 
posits are  $173,000. 

The  Decatur  State  Savings  Bank  was  esta])lislied  in  1908  and 
at  the  present  time  has  a  capital  stock  of  $2.), 000  and  in  deposits  the 
sum  of  $180,000.  W.  H.  Loyd  is  president;  F.  .T.  Euritt,  vice  presi- 
dent; James  C.  Cozad,  cashier;  and  L.  D.  Shoemaker,  assistant 
cashier. 

Both  of  these  banks  are  doing  an  excellent  business  in  that  sec- 
tion of  the  county  and  both  have  a  reputation  for  strength  and  in- 
tegrity. 

This  is  another  town  whose  existence  was  begun  by  the  advent 
of  the  Humeston  &  Shenandoah  Railroad.  In  the  summer  of  1880 
about  July  the  railroad  company  purchased  of  J.  P.  Kline  seventy 
acres  of  fine  farm  land  adjacent  to  and  south  of  the  railroad  for  a 
town  site.  On  August  3d  it  was  laid  out  in  streets  and  lots  which 
Mere  rapidly  purchased.  The  proprietors  of  the  town  were  formed 
into  a  company  composed  of  L.  P.  Sigler,  J.  L.  Young,  of  Leon, 
Drake  and  Hill  of  Centerville.  Doctor  ^Mitchell  built  the  first  house 
in  the  town;  ^lerritt  French  and  family  were  the  first  to  begin  house- 
keeping. Doctor  Wall  also  constructed  a  house  about  the  same  time. 
A  railroad  depot  was  soon  put  up  and  became  headcpiarters  for  many 
of  the  tow^n  people.  L.  G.  and  F.  M.  Jamison  moved  their  store 
building  and  stock  of  goods  from  Smyrna  and  were  the  first  business 
firm  in  the  town.  After  some  delay  a  postoffice  was  established,  the 
delay  being  over  the  name  of  the  town.  L.  G.  Jamison  was  appointed 
postmaster  and  to  accommodate  the  office  he  constructed  an  addition 
to  his  store.  This  building,  with  all  its  goods,  was  destroyed  by  fire 
several  years  later.     The  second  general  store  was  that  of  Ledger- 


rol.    1—12 


178  HISTORY  OF  DECATUR  COUNTY 

wood  &  Hodges.  The  first  lumber  yard  was  that  of  Baldwin  and 
Williamson.  Tlie  former  member  of  the  firm  soon  sold  to  John  Bul- 
lard  of  Fort  Madison.  Mrs.  Wolever  who  had  kept  a  boarding 
house  at  Greenbay  for  several  years  soon  built  a  hotel  near  the  depot 
and  did  a  good  business.    Weldon  was  incorporated  in  1902. 

BANK 

The  Bank  of  Weldon  was  organized  in  the  sj)ring  of  1881  by  the 
Decatur  County  Banking  Association  and  conducted  by  it  until 
January  1,  1886,  when  it  was  sold  to  a  company  consisting  of  Thomas 
J.  Eals,  Cyril  C.  Wood,  A.  E.  Chase,  S.  O.  Hingston,  Oscar  Judd, 
J.  Z.  McAllister,  E.  L.  Chase. 

The  Weldon  Savings  Bank  was  organized  in  1901.  H.  E. 
Stevens  is  president;  W.  R.  Warren,  vice  president;  F.  L.  Hall, 
cashier;  C.  T.  Newell,  assistant  cashier.  The  capital  is  $20,000  and 
the  deposits  amount  to  $127,000. 

OTHER  EARLY  BUSINESS 

JNI.  Hughes,  before  the  first  holiday  season  came,  had  put  up  a 
two  story  business  house  on  the  east  side  of  Main  Street,  using  the 
upper  story  for  living  rooms  and  the  ground  floor  for  hardware  and 
agricultural  implements.  A.  L.  Dilsaver  was  the  first  on  the  ground 
with  an  exclusive  stock  of  groceries.  His  family  living  rooms  -were 
back  of  the  store.  Doctor  Wall  soon  saw  that  a  drug  store  was  a 
necessity  and  set  one  going  under  the  firm  name  of  Wall  &  Fippin, 
but  soon  sold  out  to  C.  B.  Chase  &  Company.  Dr.  George  A.  Stuart 
who  had  located  here  for  practice  had  his  office  in  this  store.  John 
]\Ietier  owned  the  first  livery  barn,  selling  out  to  Howard  &  Rudd, 
and  with  Lee  Matheny  went  into  the  hardware  and  implement  busi- 
ness. In  the  early  spring  of  1881  John  Barnard  moved  his  shop  from 
Smyrna  and  became  a  blacksmith  of  Weldon.  William  Baker  con- 
structed a  large  store  room  at  that  time  and  stocked  it  with  general 
merchandise.  The  Rogers  sisters  opened  a  millinery  establishment. 
T.  L.  McVay  and  Ol  Mayer  had  charge  of  the  market ;  Frank  Doo- 
little,  jeweler;  Dick  JNIurphy,  furniture;  Dick  jNIurphy,  G.  W. 
Hester,  M.  French  and  Joseph  Coffey,  carpenters. 

NEWSPAPERS 

On  May  26,  1881,  the  first  newspaper  in  the  Town  of  Weldon 
was  issued.     It  was  called  the  Weldon  Witness  and  was  edited  by 


:methuuist  Ki-iseurAi.  (Hikch    wki.dox 


CHKLSTIAX  (Hn;(  11.   WKLDOX 


HISTORY  OF  DECATUR  COUNTY  ii'j 

Ed  Rurleigh.  The  paper  was  a  newsy  little  slieet,  but  was  short 
lived,  passing  into  the  hands  of  S.  L.  Daily  of  Ilmnestoii  in  March, 
1883.  The  paper  was  printed  in  a  store  ijuilding  uliidi  then  stood 
on  the  present  site  of  the  Christian  Cliurch,  })iit  which  was  moved 
later.  Three  terms  of  school  Mere  taught  in  the  same  huilding  hcfore 
a  schoolhouse  was  constructed. 

After  the  demise  of  the  Witness  the  \Veld()n  ITonict  was  puh- 
lished  and  edited  by  J.  R.  Crichfield.  Then  came  the  Wcldon  Mes- 
senger, edited  by  G.  M.  Smith.  F.  ^V.  Durnal  next  |)nl)lisli((l  a 
sheet,  also  called  the  Hornet.  The  next  2)aper  was  the  Expositor 
by  W.  R.  Boardman.  He  left  town  in  1893  under  a  cloud.  Next 
was  the  Weldon  News  by  E.  E.  Graham.  The  Weldon  Huilctin 
was  then  started  by  H.  J.  Reger,  assisted  by  his  daughter,  lihuiche. 

SCHOOLS 

W.  E.  ^lorrow  taught  the  first  term  of  the  above  mentioned 
school;  Doctor  ^litchell  taught  one  term,  as  also  did  ^Ir.  \Vitmarsh. 
In  1883  the  first  schoolhouse  was  built  in  East  Weldon.  J.  H.  Jami- 
son probably  taught  the  first  term  in  the  new  building.  Ira  Condit, 
Roy,  Wingett,  Cozad,  Palmer,  Ratcliff,  Latta  and  Hill  were  other 
teachers.  As  the  years  passed  and  the  number  of  school  children 
increased  a  new  building,  an  elegant  two  story  modern  structure,  was 
built. 

CHURCHES 

Until  the  beginning  of  the  second  year  of  the  town's  existence 
Sunday  school  and  all  religious  services  were  held  sometimes  in  the 
waiting  room  of  the  depot,  sometimes  in  the  bank  ])arlor,  or  MJierever 
a  room  large  enough  could  be' had.  Early  in  1882  both  the  Methodist 
and  Christian  Church  peoples  united  their  efforts  and  built  the 
INIethodist  Episcopal  Church  which  was  dedicated  in  August  of  the 
same  year,  the  dedicatory  sermon  being  preached  by  President  Park 
of  Simpson  College,  Indianola.  Rev.  D.  O.  Stuart  was  the  first 
pastor  of  the  new  church.  The  members  of  the  Christian  Church 
decided  after  a  time  that  thej^  were  strong  enough  in  numbers,  as 
well  as  financially,  to  build  a  chapel.  Consequently,  in  ^Nlay.  188(>, 
they  dedicated  their  church  building,  L.  L.  Carpenter  ])reaching  tlic 
dedicatory  sermon.  In  1902  an  annex  was  built  to  the  structure.  A 
heating  and  lighting  plant  was  also  added.  Roth  of  these  churclics 
noAv  have  a  substantial  membership. 


180  HISTORY  OF  DECATUR  COUNTY 

LODGES 

At  one  time  Weldon  was  called  the  city  of  lodges.  Some  of 
them  flourished  for  a  day  and  then  died.  Jacinth  Lodge  No.  443, 
Ancient  Free  and  Accepted  Masons  was  chartered  June  5,  1884. 
Weldon  Lodge  No.  441,  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows,  was 
organized  in  December,  1881.  Doctor  Greenlee  who  came  here  in 
the  spring  of  1882  was  instrumental  in  oi'ganizing  a  Grand  Army  of 
the  Republic  Post  in  1883.  Other  lodges  Avhich  have  existed  here 
are  the  Knights  of  Pythias,  ]\Iodern  Woodmen  of  America,  Good 
Templars,  W.  C.  T.  U.,  W.  R.  C,  and  Rebekahs. 

FIRST  VITAL  STATISTICS 

The  first  child  born  was  John  Lewis  INIitchell,  son  of  Rev.  G.  E. 
JMitchell  and  wife.  The  first  marriage  was  that  of  C.  B.  Chase  and 
Blanche  Roach. 

LEROY 

Another  of  Decatur's  prosperous  towns  is  Leroy.  It  is  located 
on  section  11,  Garden  Grove  Township,  and  is  but  4I4  miles  from 
Garden  Grove.  The  town  lies  in  the  center  of  a  good  agricultural 
district. 

Leroy  was  laid  out  in  1880  upon  the  building  of  the  Humeston 
&  Shenandoah  Railroad,  now  the  Burlington,  as  were  several  other 
towns  in  the  county.  INIaj.  J.  L.  Young,  L.  P.  Sigler  and  E.  S. 
Buffum  established  the  town  on  land  owned  by  BufFum.  Some  time 
later  they  disposed  of  their  interests,  or  a  part  of  them,  to  ex-Gov- 
ernor Drake  and  his  business  associates.  JNIr.  BufFum  still  owns 
considerable  of  the  town  site. 

Tlie  first  business  house  erected  in  Leroy  was  built  by  Flannigan 
&  Perrin,  who  conducted  a  general  store  therein.  Other  business 
houses  followed,  residences  were  built  and  the  little  town  began  to 
show  sturdiness  and  progress.  The  town  has  made  much  gain  during 
the  past  few  years  and  is  one  of  the  best  trading  points  in  the  county. 
As  a  shipping  point  it  is  also  excellent.  The  country  surrounding 
this  town  is  well  adapted  for  stock  raising  of  all  kinds. 

A  modern  schoolhouse  was  erected  in  the  summer  of  1904. 

Tlie  Leroy  Exchange  Bank  was  founded  in  1896  by  F.  E.  and 
C.  S.  Stearns  of  Garden  Grove  with  B.  D.  Barger  as  cashier  and 
Mrs.  Barger  as  assistant  cashier.     C.  S.  Stearns  acted  as  president 


HISTORY  OF  DECATUK  COUNTY  181 

and  F.  E.  as  vice  president.  On  tlie  first  of  ]Marcli,  li)();j.  J.  \V. 
Stearns  of  Garden  Grove  succeeded  Barger  as  cashier.  E.  II.  IJlair 
is  president  at  this  time;  H.  E.  Stevens,  vice  president;  D.  C.  Thur- 
low,  cashier;  and  Edna  Tliurlow,  assistant  cashier.  The  ca[)itai  st(jck 
is  $.),()()()  and  the  deposits  amount  to  $.50,()()(). 

NEW    liUDA 

The  following  descrii)ti()n  of  this  extinct  town  a})peare(l  in  a 
county  newspaper  in  18G8: 

This  place  is  located  on  the  west  side  of  Grand  River,  on  a  heau- 
tiful  second  hottom,  ahout  a  half  mile  from  the  rivei'.  It  was  laid 
out  in  November,  18.5.5,  bv  Ernest  Drahos.  It  was  the  center  of  a 
settlement  of  Hungarian  exiles,  who  landed  in  this  country  in  the 
year  18.52,  under  the  leadership  of  General  Ujhazy,  one  of  the  com- 
panions of  Kossuth.  Seeking  a  refuge  and  asylum  in  this  far  land 
of  the  West,  they  coidd  not  forget  the  associations  of  the  land  of  the 
INIagyar  and  so  called  their  adopted  prairie  home  New  Ruda  and  gave 
to  the  public  park  in  their  village  the  name  of  Kossuth  Square,  while 
one  of  their  streets  they  christened  INIagyar  Street.  The  village  con- 
tains sixteen  blocks  of  eight  lots  each.  There  are  two  general  stores, 
one  blacksmith  shop,  one  hotel  and  a  good  schoolhouse.  The  popula- 
tion is  about  one  hundred. 

TERRE    HAUTE 

This  is  another  village  which  has  disappeared.  An  early  account 
describes  it  thus: 

This  is  a  primitive  looking  village  on  the  west  bank  of  Grand 
River,  some  five  miles  southwest  of  Decatur  City,  at  the  point  where 
the  survey  of  the  I.  &  M.  Railroad  crosses,  and  on  the  road  leading 
to  Eagleville  and  Bethany,  Mo.  It  has  two  stores,  one  black- 
smith shop,  one  hotel,  one  shoe  shop,  one  cooper  shop,  schoolhouse 
and  postoflfice.     Its  population  is  abut  seventy-five. 

TUSKEEGO 

This  is  only  a  station  on  the  Burlington  Railroad.  It  was  laid 
out  in  1879  on  section  20,  Bloomington  Townshi]),  the  land  being 
owned  by  A.  M.  Jackson.  The  town  was  laid  out  in  business  and 
residence  lots.     The  first  building  was  erected  in  1870  and  the  first 


182  HISTORY  OF  DECATUR  COUNTY 

merchant  was  S.  W.  Hurst.     A  postoffice  was  established  there  in 
1879. 

HIGH    POINT 

This  is  an  old  postoffice  village  in  High  Point  Township.  At 
one  time  there  were  several  stores  there,  but  now  there  is  little  left 
excei^t  the  name. 

WESTERVILLE 

Westerville  is  an  old  town  situated  on  Grand  River,  on  section 
28,  in  Richland  Township.  A  postoffice  was  established  at  this  place 
in  18.53  and  Theron  Westervelt  was  appointed  postmaster.  He 
named  the  town.  In  the  following  year  a  village  was  laid  out  by 
William  Henshaw  and  named  Milford.  This  name  ^\'as  afterwards 
discarded. 

Richland  Township  was  settled  early  by  such  men  as  Alexander 
Brammer,  INIichael  Foland,  Theron  Westervelt  and  others.  In  1852 
a  colony  from  Tennessee  settled  in  the  northeast  corner  of  the  town- 
ship, in  what  was  afterward  known  as  Little  Tennessee. 

Another  authority  on  the  early  history  of  this  section  states  that 
the  Town  of  Westerville  was  ffi'st  settled  by  Henshaw,  and  was  known 
by  the  name  of  IVIilford  until  1855,  when  Theron  Westervelt  came 
from  Ohio  and  built  a  gristmill  and  changed  the  name  to  Wester- 
ville.    I.  P.  Lamj)  was  another  early  settler,  also  Samuel  Landis. 


CHAPTER  XV 

POLITICS  IX  DECATUR  COUNTY 

When  the  County  of  Decatur  first  became  a  definitely  organized 
territory  of  the  State  of  Iowa,  there  were  but  two  great  parties  in 
power  in  the  country — the  democratic  and  the  whig.  Decatin-  County 
generally  favored  the  former  of  these.  This  obtained  especial! \'  in 
state  and  national  issues,  but,  however,  in  the  affairs  of  the  county 
there  was  a  different  status.  Until  the  year  1858,  or  until  the  oi)cn- 
ing  of  the  Civil  war,  a  political  candidate  for  a  county  office  depended 
largely  upon  his  personal  popularity  and  known  ability  rather  than 
upon  his  particular  party  affiliation.  The  people  willingly  sup])orted 
the  man  whom  they  thought  best,  although  the  majority  were  pos- 
sibly adherents  of  the  opposite  faith.  With  the  opening  of  the  war, 
though,  it  became  necessary  for  each  man  to  be  either  a  supporter  of 
the  Government  or  a  secessionist;  there  was  no  middle  ground.  A 
man  claiming  to  be  strictly  neutral  would  be  considered  doubtfully 
and  very  probably  hostilely.  After  the  struggle  with  the  South  the 
personal  side  of  county  campaigns  again  became  evident,  although 
in  not  such  a  pronounced  manner  as  before.  It  is  today  that  a  worthy 
man  may  be  successful  in  his  home  county  politics  even  if  his  party  is 
not  the  party  of  the  majority  of  the  people. 

HISTORICAL  AND  POLITICAL  REMINISCENCES  OF  DECATUR  COUNTY 

By  An  Old  Politician 

Possibly  the  political  history  of  Decatur  County  does  not  differ 
materially  from  that  of  the  other  counties  of  the  state,  but  it  will  not 
be  denied  that  our  political  campaigns  have  been  more  of  the  strenu- 
ous variety,  mainly  because  the  two  parties  have  always  been  very 
nearly  even  in  numbers.  The  democratic  organization  has  ever  been 
under  the  strictest  discipline  and  led  by  shrewd  and  in  many  instances 
unscrupulous  leaders.  In  no  other  county  in  the  state  is  the  opposi- 
tion more  alert  and  aggressive,  and  under  such  circumstances  republi- 
can victories  are  only  won  by  united  effort  and  under  a  wise  general- 

183 


184  HISTORY  OF  DECATUR  COUNTY 

ship.  Both  xjarties  have  always  charged  the  other  with  machine  rule, 
and  bandying  back  and  forth  the  epithets  "boss"  and  "ring"  are 
prominent  features  of  every  campaign. 

Part}^  lines  were  not  closely  drawn  in  our  county  prior  to  the 
presidential  campaign  of  1856.  The  pioneer  settlers  were  too  busy 
building  homes  and  cultivating  fields  to  attend  the  caucus  and  conven- 
tion, and  candidates  for  office  were  selected  almost  solely  with  refer- 
ence to  their  personal  popularity.  A  county  seat  fight  which  over- 
shadowed every  other  issue,  prevailed  for  several  years  prior  to  the 
location  of  the  county  seat  in  Leon  in  the  spring  of  the  year  1853. 
Voters  divided  into  the  east  and  west  sides  and  candidates  on  the 
east  side  ticket  were  generally  successful  as  the  members  of  that 
faction  were  more  numerous. 

Quite  a  number  of  pioneers  settled  in  the  southern  part  of  Decatur 
County  prior  to  1840.  Among  them  were  the  Hamiltons,  Harfields, 
Stanleys,  ^IcDaniels,  Logans,  Scotts,  ^lillers  and  Burrells.  Allen 
and  Andrew  Scott  arrived  in  the  year  1836.  Immigrants  settled  in 
the  southern  portion  of  the  county  because  the  boundary  line  had 
not  been  located  and  that  section  was  supposed  to  have  been  in  jNIis- 
souri.  Allen  Scott,  who  then  resided  near  the  present  site  of  Davis 
City,  was  indicted  by  the  grand  jury  of  Buchanan  County,  Mo.,  for 
selling  whiskey  to  the  Indians.  The  prosecution  was  not  pushed, 
however,  for  the  settlement  of  the  boundary  line  question  followed 
very  soon  after.  Prior  to  this  settlement  which  occurred  in  1853, 
a  number  of  slaves  were  held  in  the  southern  part  of  the  county.  In 
1852  John  McDaniel  owned  George,  a  colored  man,  and  Mr.  Dun- 
can who  lived  near  Lineville,  owned  a  number  of  slaves.  George 
died  in  slavery  and  was  buried  in  the  Pleasanton  cemeter}^  where  a 
neat  monument  has  been  erected  to  his  memory. 

The  first  court  case  (mentioned  elsewhere)  was  tried  by  Judge 
William  McKay.  Judge  JNIcKay's  knowledge  of  law  was  limited  and 
he  was  strongly  addicted  to  the  use  of  intoxicants. 

Samuel  Forrey  came  to  our  county  in  1855  and  began  to  practice 
law  in  Leon.  He  organized  the  republican  party  in  this  section  and 
was  the  first  person  who  made  republican  speeches  over  the  county. 
Up  until  the  time  he  was  appointed  judge  he  was  influential  in  the 
selection  of  county  candidates  and  practically  dictated  the  platforms 
of  the  party  organization.  Judge  Forrey  was  born  in  Columbia, 
Penn.,  in  1825. 

Party  lines  on  sectional  issues  were  more  closely  drawn  in  1856 
than  ever  before.     The  republican  party  that  3^ear  conducted  its  first 


HISTORY  OF  DECATUR  COUNTY  185 

national  campaign  with  its  fii'st  national  standard  bearer,  COl.  Jolm 
C.  Fremont,  popularly  known  as  the  pathfinder.  Tlie  repiihliean 
party  was  in  process  of  formation  and  practieall\-  absorbed  the 
strength  of  the  old  whig  organization.  The  main  issue  was,  of  course, 
the  slavery  question.  At  the  election  in  18.5G  Decatur  Counly  polled 
6.50  votes  and  Buchanan  received  240  ])luralitv.  There  was  a  strontr 
know  nothing  sentiment  in  Hamilton  Township  and  it  cast  a  major- 
itv  of  its  votes  for  INlillard  Fillmore.  The  countv  continued  sti-ouulv 
democratic  for  many  years,  although  in  ISC)^  tlie  republicans  carried 
the  most  of  the  county  ticket  by  small  majorities.  It  may  not  be 
out  of  place  in  this  connection  to  venture  the  oi)inion  that  the  county 
always  has  been  really  democratic  from  the  commencinu;  of  its  his- 
tory  down  to  the  present  time. 

The  campaign  of  18.50  brought  into  the  limelight  of  publicity  a 
younff  man  of  more  than  ordinary  ability  who  afterwards  became  a 
successful   soldier,   an   able   lawyer   and  jurist,  a   millionaire  and   a 
member  of  the   United   States   Senate.     When  nominated   for  the 
Legislature  by  the  district  composed  of  the  counties  of  Decatur  and 
Wayne,  Thomas  JNI.  Bowen  had  not  obtained  his  majority,  though 
he  has  commenced  the  practice  of  law  at  Corydon.    He  was  a  native 
of  Iowa,  gifted  as  a  speaker,  a  handsome,  well-forme'd  young  man. 
After  serving  one  term  hi  the  Legislature  he  lived  successively  at 
Bedford  and  Clarinda.     On  the  breaking  out  of  the  Civil  war  he 
entered  the  Union  army  and  was  promoted  rapidly  on  account  of  his 
soldierly  qualities.     He  was  the  friend  and  protege  of  (icn.  James 
Lane  of  Kansas  and  at  the  close  of  the  war  he  was  a  brigadier  gen- 
eral commanding.    Having  been  mustered  out  of  the  military  service 
he  began  the  practice  of  his  profession  at  Little  Rock,  Ark.,  and  ^vas 
soon  afterwards  made  one  of  the  judges  of  the  Supreme  Court.    At 
the  expiration  of  his  term  of  office  he  was  appointed  governor  of  a 
western  territory  where  he  served  several  years  and  then  located  in 
New  York  City.     Having  lost  all  he  possessed  in  speculation  he 
returned  to  Arkansas,  but  finding  the  republican  party  out  of  power 
he  remained  but  a  short  time,  and  finally  located  in  Colorado.     He 
began  to  practice  and  soon  became  a  district  judge.    He  made  some 
remarkably  lucky  ventures  in  mining  property  and  was  soon  reckoned 
among  the  wealthy  men  of  that  state.     His  election  to  the  United 
States  Senate  is  within  the  memory  of  all. 

The  democratic  ticket  in  1856  was  constituted  as  follows:  senator, 
John  W.  Warner;  representative,  Thomas  INI.  Bowen:  clerk,  George 
T.  Young.     The  republican  candidates  were:    Uv.  Duncan,  senator: 


186  HISTORY  OF  DECATUR  COUNTY 

George  A.  Hawley,  representative;  Samuel  Forrey,  clerk.  Dr.  Sam- 
uel Dunn  was  an  independent  candidate  for  clerk.  A  series  of  joint 
discussions  were  arranged  between  the  opposing  candidates  and  in 
pursuance  of  said  arrangement  meetings  were  held  at  Garden  Grove, 
High  Point,  Funk's  sawmill,  Decatur  City,  Leon  and  Pleasanton. 
The  meetings  were  well  attended  and  all  of  the  candidates  partici- 
j)ated  in  the  discussion  except  Doctor  Dunn.  At  the  Garden  Grove 
joint  debate  R.  D.  Kellogg,  afterwards  a  major  in  the  Thirty-foui'th 
Iowa  Infantry,  made  an  attack  on  Mr.  Duncan  and  charged  him  with 
bringing  slaves  into  the  state.  Samuel  Forrey  replied  that  Mr.  Dun- 
can's course  showed  that  he  was  a  good  anti-slavery  man  inasmuch 
as  he  had  set  his  slaves  free  by  bringing  them  into  the  State  of  Iowa. 
]Mr.  Bowen  usually  paid  special  attention  to  his  dress,  but  during  this 
campaign  his  attire  was  so  seedy  that  it  attracted  attention.  Before 
the  Decatur  joint  debate  occurred  I.  N.  Clark  and  other  democrats 
went  to  Bowen  and  suggested  that  he  improve  his  dress,  as  it  hardly 
comported  with  the  dignity  of  his  jjosition  and  to  the  one  to  which 
he  aspired.  Bowen  replied  that  the  clothes  he  wore  were  the  best  he 
had  and  intimated  that  if  they  were  not  satisfactory  he  w  as  willing  to 
accept  a  donation.  So  the  democrats  chipped  in  and  bought  a  new 
coat  for  Bowen  in  order  that  he  might  present  a  creditable  appear- 
ance for  his  joint  debates. 

The  candidates  traveled  from  one  meeting  to  another  on  horse- 
back. The  joint  debate  in  Leon  was  held  in  a  building  on  the  lot  on 
which  is  now  located  the  Advent  Church.  The  entire  democratic  ticket 
was  elected  that  fall  by  a  good  majority.  The  campaign  was  an  edu- 
cational one,  free  from  personalities  and  charges  of  rings  and  bossism. 

In  the  olden  times  the  duties  of  the  county  treasurer  and  recorder 
were  performed  by  the  same  person.  The  two  offices,  however,  were 
separated  in  I860  by  provisions  of  law.  The  first  treasurer  and 
recorder  was  John  Brown  who  served  in  1852.  Abner  Harbour 
served  in  the  same  capacity  in  1853  and  his  successors  in  office  were 
John  Jordan,  Rev.  Ira  B.  Ryan,  Samuel  C.  Cunmiins,  and  J.  C. 
Porter.  John  Jordan  served  from  1854  to  and  including  the  year 
1857.  He  was  the  father  of  Charles  Jordan  later  of  Enid, 
Okla.,  who  served  as  deputy  treasurer  under  Doctor  Thompson. 
John  Jordan  was  a  man  of  more  than  average  ability  and  accomplished 
in  business  matters.  He  became  a  prominent  member  of  the  Meth- 
odist Church  and  was  always  a  zealous  democrat.  He  was  a  fair 
representative  of  a  large  class  of  democrats  in  the  county  who  never 
ceased   work    for  their   j)arty.    Mr.   Jordan   was    considered   quite 


HISTOllY  OF  DECATUR  COUNTY  l«7 

wealthy  at  one  time,  but  lost  his  wealth  during  the  hard  times  of  18.57. 
He  owned  the  Reed  farm  north  of  Davis  City. 

The  first  recorder  of  Decatur  County  was  Luman  X.  .judd  who 
served  in  1865  and  was  elected  as  a  repul)lican.  He  also  served  as 
county  judge.  He  was  a  brother  of  Norman  B.  Judd,  one  of  the 
founders  of  tlie  republican  party  and  who  probably  (hd  as  nuicli  as 
anyone  to  insure  the  nomination  of  Lincoln  for  the  presidency.  Lu- 
man N.  Judd  was  a  fine  looking  man  whose  abilities  were  marred  liy 
his  eccentric  conduct.  He  served  in  the  Union  armv  durino'  tiie  Ci\  il 
war. 

J.  C.  Porter  served  the  county  as  treasurer  during  the  years 
1864  and  186.5.  He  was  succeeded  by  S.  C.  Thompson  wlio  served 
from  1866  to  1871.  W.  W.  Ellis  was  recorder  from  186()  to  1S68 
and  W.  J.  Sullivan  from  1869  to  1876.  George  T.  Young  was  clerk 
of  courts  from  1856  to  1862;  Nathan  Perdew  during  the  years  18(>:j 
and  1864;  Francis  Varga  during  1865  and  1866;  and  Ed  K.  Pit- 
man from  1867  to  1870.  George  Woodbury  was  sheriff  from  18(;() 
to  1863;  Ira  B.  Ryan  in  1864  and  1865;  and  then  Woodbury  was 
re-elected  and  served  from  1866  to  1869.  ^lajor  Kellogg  was  rep- 
resentative in  1860,  Capt.  John  Andrews  in  1864,  T.  H.  Brown  in 
1866  and  Colonel  Peck  in  1868.  C.  G.  Bridges  of  Decatur  City 
served  as  state  senator  from  1864  to  1868.  Bridges  could  make  a 
fair  speech  and  was  recognized  as  a  man  of  ability.  He  was  ad- 
mitted to  the  bar  and  practiced  law  for  a  time  at  Decatur  City.  He 
was  prominently  identified  with  a  railroad  project  which  was  to  have 
been  built  from  Duluth  to  Des  JNIoines,  then  to  Kansas  City  via 
Decatvn*  and  then  on  to  Galveston.  Considerable  grading  was  done 
on  the  line  between  Decatur  and  Terre  Haute.  Bridges  died  several 
j^ears  ago  in  Kansas,  having  left  the  county  shortly  after  his  term 
of  office  expired. 

In  the  pioneer  days  the  republican  party  had  but  a  slender  fol- 
lowing in  the  county  and  no  conventions  were  held  until  the  Civil 
war,  when  the  party  received  many  accessions.  In  the  old  days  the 
re])ublican  party  was  controlled  by  Samuel  Forrey,  Dr.  John  P.  Fin- 
lev  and  George  W.  Hale  and  year  after  year  these  three  men  met 
together  and  selected  the  candidates  for  the  county  ticket.  Gener- 
ally the  tickets  were  very  shrewdly  made  up  and  tlie  party  grew 
stronger  until  victorious  at  the  polls  in  1864.  In  1862  ^Mr.  Hale 
caused  to  be  selected  as  republican  candidate  for  clerk  of  the  courts 
I.  P.  JNIartin,  who  was  at  home  fresh  from  the  battlefield  of  Shiloh 
where  he  was  severely  wounded.     jMr.   ^lartin  had  always  been  a 


188  HISTORY  OF  DECATUR  COUNTY 

democrat  and  went  to  the  polls  that  fall  and  cast  a  straight  democratic 
ticket.  Not  long  afterwards,  however,  he  experienced  a  change  of 
heart  and  was  always  afterwards  known  as  a  stamich  republican. 

The  political  campaign  of  1871,  though  not  commencing  until 
September,  was  one  of  the  most  acrimonious  ever  known  in  the  his- 
tory of  the  county.  For  the  first  time  the  existence  of  a  courthouse 
ring  was  claimed  and  that  the  democratic  party  was  dominated  by  a 
machine  used  for  the  benefit  of  an  office-holding  faction  of  the  party. 
The  democrats  held  their  county  convention  September  2d  and  nomi- 
nated the  following  ticket :  Auditor,  George  Burton ;  representative, 
Dr.  S.  C.  Thompson;  treasurer,  George  Woodbury;  sheriff,  C.  T. 
Frazee;  county  superintendent,  E.  S.  Buffum;  supervisor,  Jacob 
Hiner ;  and  Mr.  Jennings  for  surveyor.  John  W.  Warner  and  Doctor 
Thompson  delivered  addresses  which  elicited  much  enthusiasm  among 
the  faithful. 

The  republicans  held  their  convention  a  week  later  and  there 
was  a  good  attendance,  every  township  being  represented  in  full 
except  High  Point.  Candidates  had  previously  announced  them- 
selves in  the  columns  of  the  Journal.  The  ticket  selected  was  as 
follows:  F.  Teale,  representative;  Francis  Varga,  treasurer;  R.  E. 
Dye,  auditor;  E.  J.  Sankey,  sheriff;  J.  L.  Harvey,  superintendent 
of  schools;  A.  B.  Stearns,  supervisor;  L.  H.  Northrup,  surveyor;  J. 
S.  Horner,  coroner.  A  County  Central  Committee  was  then  selected 
as  follows:  P.  O.  James,  Albert  FTale,  H.  G.  Stiles,  A.  M.  Post 
and  E.  W.  Curry. 

In  the  campaign  which  followed  both  parties  made  desperate 
efforts  to  win  the  victory.  '  The  democratic  organ,  called  The  Pioneer, 
was  edited  bj^  the  late  Ed  Pitman  and  he  made  a  vigorous  defense  of 
his  party.  The  democrats  had  control  of  the  offices  and  their  officials 
were  charged  with  incompetence  and  boodling.  Acting  in  the  capac- 
ity of  county  attorney  at  this  time  was  J.  B.  Morrison,  a  lawyer  of 
more  than  ordinary  ability  and  a  lifelong  democrat.  He  joined  the 
republican  party  and  threw  the  weight  of  his  influence  against  the 
democratic  ticket.  The  following  is  an  extract  from  a  letter  written 
by  Mr.  Morrison  shortly  before  the  election:  "I  have  no  quarrel 
with  Colonel  Burton,  but  as  the  attorney  of  the  county,  I  say  to  the 
people  that  I  believe  that  there  is  some  mismanagement.  The  taxes 
have  been  too  heavy.  I  believe  that  illegal  taxes  have  been  placed 
on  the  books  and  collected  off  of  a  confiding  public.  The  yoke  has 
become  so  heavy  that  it  cannot  be  borne  longer.  No  official  shall 
dodge  responsibility   and   secure   another   election  by   calling   'mad 


HISTORY  OF  DECATUR  COUNTY  189 

dog'  and  then  distracting  attention  in  another  direction.  Our  county 
has  lost  a  thousand  dollars  or  more  by  his  mismanagement  of  road 
matters.  Any  man  that  will  deny  that  will  make  a  certiticate  that  is 
untrue  or  scratch  a  record.  I  do  not  oppose  the  auditor  (jn  pers(jnal 
grounds,  but  because  in  common  witli  others  1  want  an  investiga- 
tion of  the  aft'airs  of  the  county,  as  conducted  in  this  otHce.  He 
admits  the  accounts  of  the  school  funds  were  not  correctly  kej)t, 
because  he  could  not  deny  it.  The  auditor  of  state  sent  a  man  liere 
who  straightened  him  and  his  books  both  out.  Couldn't  come  that 
game  with  the  Des  ]Moines  chaps.  If  the  school  fund  has  been 
wrongfully  kept,  may  there  not  be  something  else  wrong?" 

The  election  occurred  on  the  10th  of  Octo])er  and  resulted  in  the 
success  of  the  entire  republican  ticket. 

It  must  be  acknowledged  in  the  light  of  subsequent  events  that 
the  republican  charges  were  entirely  justifiable.  There  existed  a 
political  machine,  with  official  incompetence  and  peculation,  and 
the  pu])lic  interests  demanded  an  entire  change  of  officers.  For- 
tunately the  people  acted  none  too  promptly.  Tlie  logical  outcome 
a  continuously  organized  ring  is  invariably  prejudicial  to  tlie  inter- 
ests of  the  people.    It  means  official  incompetency  and  graft. 

Rings  have  existed  more  or  less  ever  since  these  days  described 
above.  Where  there  is  politics  there  will  be  factions  in  either  party, 
one  undergoing  the  accusations  and  criticisms  of  the  other.  The 
solution  and  remedy  is  not  yet  in  sight. 


CHAPTER  XVI 
THE  MEDICAL  PROFESSION 

There  is  no  j)rofession,  no  trade,  no  enterprise,  which  did  not 
have  a  beginning  in  darkness;  there  is  no  effort  to  which  the  forces 
and  energies  of  mankind  have  been  directed  but  that  did  not  first 
combat  the  obscurity  of  ignorance,  pardonable  ignorance,  it  is  true. 

In  this  enhghtened  age  of  medical  science  one  regards  the  early 
doctor  as  a  person  with  little  knowledge  of  the  profession,  one  who 
apjDlied  the  home  remedies  of  calomel,  castor  oil  and  blue  pill  with 
the  abandon  of  a  solicitous  grandmother  and  one  who  wielded  the 
lancet  with  artistic  indiscrimination.  However  one  regards  the  early 
physician,  there  must  be  taken  into  account  the  times  in  which  he 
worked,  in  other  words  the  knowledge  of  medicine  and  surgery  which 
then  existed  in  the  world.  Secondly,  there  are  the  physical  conditions 
under  which  the  earlv  doctor  worked.  Thirdly,  there  was  distinct 
character  of  disease  among  the  early  settlers,  and,  lastly,  the  remedies 
with  which  the  doctor  had  to  work  were  scarce  and  manv  times  not 
the  best  antidote  for  the  ailment. 

In  the  matter  of  world  knowledge  of  medicine  at  that  time  it  can 
safely  be  said  that  little  or  nothing  was  known  in  comparison  with 
the  present  status  of  the  science.  In  fact,  medicine  has  made  more 
rapid  strides  in  the  past  decade  than  in  the  past  century.  In  the 
earlv  days  of  this  state  and  county  the  doctors  had  strong  faith  in 
the  use  of  the  lancet,  believing  that  by  letting  a  copious  amount  of 
blood  from  the  patient,  the  object  of  which  was  to  destroy  the  tene- 
jiient  of  the  disease,  a  cure  could  be  effected.  Then  there  was  the 
Spanish  Fly  blister  which  was  applied  for  all  sorts  of  ills;  there 
were  calomel  and  blue  pills  as  the  universal  internal  remedies.  Dur- 
ing the  convalescent  period  of  the  patient,  if  such  a  period  w^ere  ever 
reached,  gamboge,  castor  oil  and  senna  were  administered  in  generous 
portions  to  work  out  of  the  system  the  effects  of  the  first  course  of 
treatment. 

It  would  be  difficult  to  describe  in  limited  space  just  how  far  the 
step  has  been  taken  from  those  early  theories  to  the  present   day 

190 


HISTORY  OF  DECxVTUR  COUNTY  191 

theories.  A  glance  at  the  daily  newspapers  and  magazines  will  in- 
variably prove  by  concrete  instance  the  wonderfnl  cures  being  eifected 
today,  both  in  medicine  and  surgery.  Operations  upon  the  heart, 
upon  the  brain,  upon  the  other  delicate  and  vital  organs  of  tiie  body 
are  becoming  of  daily  occurrence,  whereas  a  (piarter  century  ago 
they  ^vould  have  been  ridiculed.  The  day  of  serums  has  arrived  and 
the  disease  is  thus  throttled  in  its  inception.  The  present  day  doctor 
assists  nature  to  repair  the  break  and  is  a  man  of  thought  and  in- 
itiative. 

The  physical  conditions  under  which  the  early  doctor  woikcd  is 
another  point  in  his  favor.  There  were  no  roads,  bridges  and  in  many 
places  there  was  not  even  a  marked  place  of  travel.  His  trips  were 
made  on  horseback  through  intense  blizzards,  soaking  rains,  bitter 
cold  and  in  the  face  of  the  high  winds  which  swe])t  across  the  prairie. 
Ofttimes  his  sleep  was  snatched  while  in  the  saddle.  In  reward  for 
this  torturous  service  he  received  a  very  meagre  fee  and  the  fact  is 
known  today  that  in  the  majority  of  cases  he  received  nothing,  for 
the  settlers  as  a  class  were  too  poor  to  pay  for  his  aid.  Then  again, 
he  would  receive  his  fee  in  potatoes,  apples,  flour  or  whatever  com- 
modity the  settler  could  best  give  him.  These  facts  have  placed  the 
doctor  of  the  early  times  on  the  pedestal  of  fame,  for  it  is  upon  his 
sturdiness  and  vitality  that  the  whole  medical  profession  is  built. 

The  diseases  common  to  the  early  settlers  were  distinctive.  The 
j-ough  life  they  led  and  the  exposures  they  endured  did  not  permit 
entrance  to  the  many  ills  and  pains  attendant  upon  civilization  and 
large  city  communities.  Fevers  and  ague,  with  an  occasional  stomacli 
ache,  were  nearlv  all  the  ills  thev  bore.  Accidents  there  were  which 
required  the  use  of  splints  of  wood  and  bandages  and  also  the  early 
doctor  needed  a  good  knowledge  of  obstetrics,  although  the  latter 
wisdom  was  not  alwavs  called  into  nse.  The  hardv  ])ioncer  motlier 
many  times  endured  the  ])irth  of  her  child  without  assistance.  AVhen 
sickness  broke  in  the  family  the  doctor  was  called  if  within  distance, 
but  if  not,  the  stock  of  simple  remedies  in  every  cabin  was  ]nit  into 
use.  If  it  were  nothing  more  than  a  cold  among  the  children  the 
application  of  hot  lard  and  bacon  rind  and  the  internal  use  of  quinine 
and  onion  juice  completed  the  treatment. 

DOCTORS  IN  DECATUR  COUNTY 

One  of  the  first  physicians  in  the  county  and  one  of  the  most 
respected  was   Samuel  C.   Thompson.     He  was  a  very  prominent 


r 


192  HISTORY  OF  DECATUR  COUNTY 

figure  in  the  early  development  of  the  county.  The  year  1851 
brought  him  here  from  Davis  County,  la.,  although  he  was  a 
native  of  Ohio.  For  twenty  years  he  resided  in  this  county,  prac- 
ticing his  profession,  and  at  diiferent  times  serving  as  county  judge 
and  also  county  treasurer.  Doctor  Thompson  was  not  a  graduate  of 
a  medical  college,  but  he  possessed  enough  native  ability  to  offset 
this  disadvantage.     He  is  now  deceased. 

In  1853  J.  R.  McClelland  located  at  Leon  and  practiced  con- 
tinuously until  his  death. 

W.  J.  Laney,  a  very  intelligent  physician,  came  to  Leon  in  the 
earlj^  days  and  j^racticed  here  for  two  years,  then  moved  to  Decatur 
City.  He  served  one  term  in  the  legislature  as  representative  of 
Decatur  County.     He  has  been  dead  several  years. 

L.  H.  Sales,  one  of  the  best  known  of  Decatur  County  pioneers, 
l^racticed  to  some  extent  in  the  early  days,  but  gave  the  majority  of 
his  attention  to  other  hues  of  business.  For  about  twenty-five  years 
he  was  the  proprietor  of  the  Sales  House  and  also  traded  to  some 
extent.  At  one  time  he  filled  the  position  of  county  judge.  He  has 
long  since  passed  to  his  death. 

John  P.  Finley  was  a  native  of  the  State  of  Ohio,  but  came  to 
Leon  from  Galena,  111.,  in  the  spring  of  1854.  He  was  an  able 
physician  and  won  considerable  reputation  during  his  long  sojourn 
in  Decatur  County.  He  served  as  examining  surgeon  at  Des  JNIoines 
during  the  war.     His  death  occurred  in  IMarch,  1883. 

C.  P.  jMullinnix  practiced  for  over  thirty  years  in  the  county. 
Robert  D.  Gardner,  known  as  a  botanic  physician  and  now  de- 
ceased, practiced  for  several  decades  in  or  near  Leon. 

G.  W.  Baker  located  at  Decatur  City  about  the  year  1858,  but 
later  moved  to  a  place  a  mile  north  of  Leon.  Here  he  largely  gave 
up  the  practice  of  medicine  and  devoted  himself  to  agricultural  pur- 
suits.    He  is  now  dead. 

B.  F.  Raiff,  an  eclectic,  came  to  Leon  before  the  beginning  of  the 
Civil  war.  During  the  latter  struggle  he  served  in  the  Union  ranks 
as  assistant  surgeon.  About  1869  he  moved  his  business  to  Osceola, 
where  he  practiced  until  his  death. 

Harry  R.  Layton,  a  native  of  Lee  County,  la.,  came  here  in  1874 
and  entered  the  practice  of  his  profession,  which  he  still  continues  in 
Leon  with  a  high  mark  of  success.  He  is  well  known  not  onlv  as  a 
doctor,  but  as  a  surgeon  of  ability  and  courage. 

H.  C.  Van  Werden,  of  Dutch  parentage,  and  a  native  of  Keokuk 
County,  la.,  located  at  High  Point  in  1878  where  he  practiced  for 


HISTORY  OF  DECATUR  COT  XTV  193 

two  years,  then  moved  to  Garden  Grove,  staying  there  two  years 
also.  Then  he  located  at  Leon  and  formed  a  partnership  with  J.  P. 
Feenly,  which  continued  a  year,  then  practiced  ahnie  until  entering 
partnership  with  his  brother  William.  H.  C.  Van  \Ver(len  is  now 
deceased,  but  his  brother  William  is  yet  living  and  engaged  in  piac- 
tice. 

A  Doctor  Macey  practiced  medicine  for  a  number  of  years  in 
the  early  times.  After  the  Civil  war  he  removed  to  jNlissouri  and  tliere 
died.     He  had  a  son  to  practice  in  Pleasanton  later. 

Another  early  physician  of  Pleasanton  was  Doctor  Rnrns,  wlio 
died  there  after  a  few^  years.  Elijah  Glendenning,  a  prominent  phy- 
sician of  Pleasanton  and  afterwards  of  Wayne  County,  studied  witli 
Burns.  He  is  now  dead.  Doctor  ^Nlullinnix,  a  brother  of  C.  P.  ]Mul- 
linnix  of  Leon,  was  killed  at  Pleasanton  during  the  war  by  sliooting. 

The  first  physician  at  Garden  Grove  was  a  Doctor  Smith.  He 
settled  there  in  the  early  day,  but  did  not  remain  long.  In  saying 
that  he  was  the  first  physician  on  the  spot  wdiere  is  now  located  Gar- 
den Grove  mav  give  rise  to  some  doubt.  When  the  jNIormon  in- 
vasion  came  there  were  in  all  probability  several  doctors  accomi)any- 
ing  tliem.     The  names  of  these  men  have  been  lost. 

Doctor  Johnson  came  to  Garden  Grove  about  1857  and  after 
several  years  work  here  went  to  Corning  where  he  died.  He  had  one 
son,  Richard,  who  continued  the  practice  at  Pleasanton  until  liis 
death. 

John  Sigler  came  to  the  Grove  shortly  before  the  outbreak  of 
hostilites  in  1861.  He  practiced  a  few  years  and  tlien  retired.  His 
death  occurred  in  1883. 

W.  A.  Todd  came  to  Garden  Grove  in  1866,  after  completing 
a  very  excellent  course  in  medicine  at  the  L^niversity  of  ]Micliigan 
and  the  Indiana  JNIedical  College  at  Indianapolis.  He  practiced  in 
this  vicinity  for  fifteen  years,  then  moved  to  Chariton.  He  is  now 
deceased. 

John  Carder  practiced  in  partnership  with  Todd  for  some  time, 
and  then  practiced  alone.     He  then  removed  to  Central  Iowa,  where 

he  died. 

V.  L.  Chester  began  the  practice  of  medicine  at  Garden  Grove 

in  187o,  but  later  moved  away. 

E.  W.  Doolittle  graduated  at  the  University  of  Iowa  and  came 
to  Decatur  County  in  1879  and  was  in  partnershi])  with  Doctor  Todd 
until  the  latter  removed  to  Chariton.  He  remained  in  the  practice 
alone  until  his  death  at  Cainesville,  Mo. 

Vol    .    I— 11 


19i  HISTORY  OF  DECATUR  COUNTY 

\V.  D.  DufF  came  to  Garden  Grove  in  the  spring  of  the  year 
18G6.     He  has  been  dead  for  several  years. 

At  Decatur  City  W.  J.  Laney  is  credited  as  having  been  the  first 

physician. 

O.  A.  Day  practiced  there  for  several  years,  or  from  1856  to 
186.5.     He  then  moved  to  Kansas,  where  he  died. 

Samuel  Dav,  a  brother  of  the  above,  was  here  from  I860  to  1868 
and  then  moved  to  Tennessee.  Doctor  Stringer  was  in  Decatur  City 
from  1868  to  1870.  H.  C.  Bone  came  here  in  1875  and  practiced  here 
one  year  and  is  now  still  in  the  practice  at  Grand  River.  E.  JMeacham 
was  here  from  1868  to  1882,  and  then  moved  to  Kansas,  where  he 
died  in  188.5.  Joseph  Puckett  practiced  from  1856  to  1879,  when 
he  died.  J.  R.  Teller  was  here  in  1876-77  and  then  moved  away.  H. 
Parrish  came  to  the  town  in  1877  and  practiced  continually  until  his 
death.  David  R.  Springsteen  began  medical  work  here  in  1883  and 
continued  all  of  his  life. 

At  Van  Wert  there  was  a  Doctor  Darmeille  in  1855  and  1856 
and  a  Doctor  Powell  after  him  for  a  short  time.  Both  of  these  early 
doctors  are,  of  course,  deceased.  B.  R.  Walker  practiced  at  this 
point  for  over  thirty-five  years.  Doctor  Pugh  came  here  from  Green 
Bay  Township,  Clarke  County,  remained  a  short  time  and  left  in 
the  autumn  of  1882.     N.  J.  Hyatt  came  in  1882,  also  W.  H.  Todd. 

At  Weldon  T.  ^I.  Wall  was  among  the  first.  He  did  not  stay 
long,  nor  did  he  stay  long  in  any  place.  David  R.  Springsteen  was 
at  Weldon  during  1884  and  then  went  to  Decatur  City.  George  A. 
Stuart  was  here  from  1880  to  1883  and  then  went  to  Greene  County, 
la.,  where  he  practiced  until  his  death.  O.  W.  Foxworthy  came  in 
1884.  Enos  Mitchell  came  to  Weldon  in  1880,  but  has  now  departed 
from  the  county.  L.  P.  Greenlee,  from  Promise  City,  Wayne 
County,  located  here  in  1882  and  practiced,  also  sold  drugs. 

The  first  physician  at  Davis  City  was  I.  O.  Day,  and  he  remained 
for  about  two  years.  His  son-in-law,  jNIurphy,  practiced  here  one 
year.  X.  ]M.  Smith  was  here  for  two  or  three  years,  then  went  to 
Kansas.  J.  B.  Plorner  came  here  in  1873  and  is  now  practicing  at 
Lamoni.  J.  H.  Barber  was  also  here  many  years  ago,  then  went 
to  Kansas.  In  the  fall  of  1885  he  returned  to  Davis  City  and  re- 
sumed his  practice,  which  he  continued  until  his  death  several  years 
ago.  W.  C.  Wheeler,  from  Pleasanton,  practiced  in  Davis  City  for 
several  years. 

At  Lamoni  the  first  physician  was  Doctor  Bissell.  J.  W.  De- 
Xoon  came  there  in  1880;  J.  J.  Stafford  in  1882;  J.  H.  Hansen  in 


HISTORY  OF  DECATUR  COUNTY  195 

1884  and  D.  D.  Steiner  in  1886.     xVll  of  these  men  are  either  dead 
or  removed  to  some  other  locality. 


DECxVTUR   COUNTY   MEDIC.VL   SOCIETY 

This  society  was  organized  June  8,  1875,  for  the  first  time.  Tlic 
iiKii  present  at  tliat  time  who  became  members  were:  Doctors 
Chester,  Stuart  and  Todd  of  Garden  Grove;  Sanford,  Finley,  Mc- 
Clelland, and  Layton  of  Leon.  Doctor  Todd  was  chosen  temporary 
president  and  Doctor  Finley  the  first  permanent  president.  Doctor 
jNEcClelland  was  vice  president  and  Doctor  Lavton  secretary.  Doctors 
Lanev  and  Rone  of  Decatur  City  became  members  at  the  second 

•  « 

meeting,  when  a  constitution  and  by-laws  were  adopted  and  a  fee 
bill  selected. 

Regular  meetings  of  this  society  have  been  held  ever  since  the 
day  of  organization  and  a  great  amount  of  interest  has  been  taken 
in  the  work  of  the  society.  The  society  is  automatically  affiliated 
with  the  Iowa  State  JNIedical  Association  and  occupies  a  high  rank 
among  the  societies  of  the  different  counties  in  the  state. 

THE   physicians'   REGISTER 

In  the  pliysicians'  register  at  the  county  courthouse  there  are  the 
following  doctors  registered,  which  undoubtedly  comprise  about 
all  who  ever  practiced  in  this  county. 

A.  J.  Ayres,  1888;  H.  C.  Rone,  1880;  M.  L.  Royer,  1880:  Thomas 
Rrenizer,  1880;  G.  W.  Raker,  1880;  I.  N.  Rarber,  1880;  T.  R.  Rul- 
lock,  A.  Rrown,  C.  S.  Rishop;  Fred  A.  Rowen,  1898;  William  Oliver 
Rye,  1899;  T.  L.  Chester,  1880;  A.  R.  Hornell;  J.  W.  CrofFord, 
188.);  Renjamin  D.  DeKalb,  1880;  Emmett  W.  Doolittle,  1880; 
J.  W.  DeNoon,  1880;  A.  S.  Davison;  W.  D.  Duff;  W.  P.  Emerick; 
Thomas  Emley;  J.  P.  Finley;  O.  W.  Foxworthy;  R.  F.  Fellows; 
R.  D.  Gardner;  Calvin  Grim;  L.  T.  Greenlee;  T.  W.  Grace,  1891; 
J.  W.  Greenman,  1898;  J.  R.  Horner,  1880;  I.  F.  Hildreth,  1880;  H. 
Higgins,  1881;  A.  Hamilton;  N.  J.  Hyatt;  John  H.  Hansell,  1884; 
L.  R.  Hinsdell,  1897;  J.  W.  Helton,  1907;  G.  C.  Jewett.  1888; 
W.  G.  Jeffries,  1906;  William  T.  Kelley,  1881;  W.  J.  Laney,  1880: 
Q.  M.  Lindsey,  1880;  H.  R.  Layton,  1880;  C.  W.  Lillie,  1881; 
L.  J.  Landes,  1892;  C.  T.  Mullinnix,  1880,  J.  X.  :McClelland.  1880; 
E.  C.  Macey,  1880;  R.  Miller,  1880;  Enos  INIitchell,  1880:  W.  L. 
Minton,  1880;  J.  E.  Minton,  1880;  J.  ^Maxwell,  1881;  X.  :McXicho- 


196  HISTORY  OF  DECATUR  COUNTY 

las,  1883;  E.  X.  Mullinnix,  1884.;  R.  M.  Miller,  1886;  John  O.  Mote, 
1896;  B.  R.  McAllaster,  1896;  Otto  E.  Macy,  1899;  H.  Parrish, 
1880;  William  Plested;  John  W.  Pugh;  A.  C.  Reynolds,  1885;  James 
J.  Stafford,  1880;  John  W.  Shell,  1880;  George  A.  Stuart,  1881; 
D.  R.  Springsteen,  1883;  A.  Scott,  1890;  A.  W.  Sherman,  1892; 
William  A.  Todd,  1880;  O.  G.  Tremaine,  1881;  W.  H.  Todd;  H.  C. 
Van  Werden,  1880;  W.  Van  Werden,  1880;  B.  R.  Walker,  1880; 
A.  Wilson,  1880;  W.  C.  Wheeler;  T.  M.  Wall;  S.  J.  Wright;  W.  H. 
Wilson;  J.  W.  Wailes,  1891;  R.  A.  Wilson,  1892;  W.  F.  Wright, 
1896;  T.  J.  Wilkins,  1906;  G.  W.  Youdin,  1915;  W.  H.  Zieber,  1890. 


CHAPTER  XVII 
HISTORY  OF  THE  LEGAL  PROFESSIOX 

The  Decatur  County  bar  has  ever  been  a  reputable  one.  Law- 
j^ers  who  have  practiced  their  calling  in  this  county,  have,  with  pos- 
sibly a  few  exceptions,  been  of  a  higii  class  and  of  recognized  ability 
and  integrity.  There  has  not  been  so  many  of  the  practitioners  here 
as  in  larger  counties,  but  there  has  been  a  sufficient  number  to  keep 
the  legal  wheels  of  the  county  running  smoothly. 

In  the  early  '40s  there  settled  in  the  southeastern  part  of  the 
countv  a  man  bv  the  name  of  Henry  Berge.  He  was  an  active  man 
and  was  known  to  be  very  eccentric.  He  styled  himself  an  attorney, 
but  it  is  said  that  his  business  was  confined  to  a  justice's  court.  Grant- 
ing that  he  was  a  lawyer,  even  after  a  fashion,  he  will  have  to  be  given 
the  honor  of  having  been  the  first  in  Decatur  County.  His  death 
occurred  before  the  opening  of  the  Civil  war. 

Another  man,  by  the  name  of  Tucker,  settled  in  the  county  some 
time  between  1840  and  18.50.  He  lived  in  a  log  cabin  two  miles 
southwest  of  the  later  site  of  Leon.  He  possessed  some  ability  in 
the  legal  trade,  but  was  considered  as  much  or  more  eccentric  than 
Berge,  and  his  legal  practice  was  as  much  limited.  He  left  tlie  county 
very  soon  and  moved  to  Trinidad,  Colorado,  where  he  lived  until 
quite  old. 

Gideon  P.  Walker  came  to  Decatur  County  in  the  late  '40s  and 
lived  alone  on  the  southern  border  of  the  county.  He  was  excellently 
educated  for  the  day  and  was  noted  as  a  fine  penman.  He,  too,  is 
said  to  have  been  very  eccentric  and  odd  in  his  habits.  His  practice 
of  law  was  probably  confined  to  the  four  walls  of  his  cabin,  but  never- 
theless he  was  known  as  an  attorney  and  a  good  one. 

The  first  lawyer  to  practice  at  Leon  was  George  A.  Hawley,  who 
located  here  in  1854  and  practiced  for  a  period  of  eight  years.  He 
had  quite  an  amount  of  a])ility  and  was  well  liked  on  account  of  his 
affable  disposition.  He  was  active  in  the  politics  of  the  county.  Dur- 
ing the  early  years  of  the  war  he  moved  to  Chillicothe,  ]Mo..  after- 
ward  to  Atchison,  Kan.,  and  then  Hamilton-^  111.    He  is  now  deceased. 

197 


198  HISTORY  OF  DECATUR  COUNTY 

Andrew  J.  Baker  came  to  the  county  early  and  practiced  a  short 
time  in  partnership  with  Hawley.  During  the  Civil  war  he  served 
as  lieutenant  and  when  hostilities  ceased  he  located  in  Putnam  County, 
;Mo.  He  took  a  prominent  part  in  the  Liberal  movement  which 
carried  that  state  in  1870  and  became  attorney-general,  which  posi- 
tion he  held  for  four  years.  He  afterwards  removed  to  Centerville,. 
la.,  and  formed  a  partnership  with  General  Drake  and  in  1884  was 
elected  attorney-general  of  Iowa. 

The  three  Warner  brothers  came  to  Leon  from  Ohio  about  1856, 
together  with  several  other  lawyers.  John  W.  Warner  was  perhaps 
the  leader  of  the  party.  Soon  after  coming  here  he  erected  a  cheap 
structure  for  the  care  of  travelers  and  for  several  years  he  alter- 
nated the  practice  of  law  with  the  duties  of  a  host.  He  was  an  excel- 
lent speaker  and  very  popular,  but  his  success  in  dollars  and  cents 
was  not  very  great.  He  moved  to  Colorado  finally  and  engaged  in 
mining. 

Joseph  S.  Warner  was  at  first  simply  known  as  a  carpenter. 
Wliile  working  with  his  brother,  John  W.,  on  the  building  afterwards 
called  the  Sales  House  he  accidentally  fell  from  the  top  to  a  scaffold- 
ing below.  He  was  not  hurt  as  much  as  he  was  disgusted  and  he 
immediately  declared  that  he  would  never  do  another  day's  work  as 
long  as  he  lived.  He  studied  law,  entered  the  practice  and  was  very 
successful.  At  the  height  of  his  career  he  was  stricken  by  death  at 
his  home  in  Leon.    Politically,  he  was  a  democrat. 

A.  J.  Warner  started  to  practice  law  as  his  life's  work,  but  soon 
grew  tired  of  it.  He  became  of  a  peculiar  turn  of  mind  and  soon 
became  an  agnostic,  which  made  him  very  unpopular.  Soon  after 
the  war  he  started  farming  in  Knox  County,  111.  He  is  now  deceased 
as  are  all  the  Warner  brothers. 

George  S.  Adams  was  an  attorney  for  a  short  time  in  Decatur 
County,  then  became  a  Presbyterian  preacher  and  then  went  to  Colo- 
rado.    He  is  now  deceased. 

P.  H.  Binckley  came  to  Leon  with  the  purpose  of  starting  the 
Leon  Pioneer,  the  first  newspaper  in  the  county,  in  partnership  with 
his  brother,  George.  He  also  practiced  law.  He  was  a  well  edu- 
cated man  and  equally  well  versed  in  the  law,  but  he  was  not  success- 
ful. However,  as  a  man  he  was  popular  and  took  a  very  active  part 
in  politics.  During  the  administration  of  President  Johnson  he  was 
appointed  to  a  clerkship  in  Washington,  D.  C.  and  afterward  moved 
to  Dayton,  Ohio,  where  he  died. 


HISTORY  OF  DECATUR  COUNTY  199 

Samuel  Forre}^  one  of  the  best  known  of  the  men  of  Decatur 
County  in  the  early  days,  came  to  Leon  in  I800.  lie  immediately 
began  to  i^ractice  law  and  continued  until  his  death.  Eight  years 
of  this  time  he  ^^•as  on  the  bench  as  district  judge  and  for  several 
years  served  as  justice  of  the  peace.  He  was  at  first  a  republican, 
but  finally  changed  to  the  democratic  party  while  led  })y  Cleveland. 

Fred  Teale  was  at  one  time  a  lawyer,  but  soon  retired  from  that 
profession,  and  now  is  in  the  banking  bushiess. 

Vincent  AVainright  began  practice  in  Leon  about  I80G  or  18.37. 
He  was  considered  a  splendid  lawyer.  He  held  the  office  of  county 
superintendent  for  one  term,  having  been  elected  on  the  democratic 
ticket.  At  the  beginning  of  the  Civil  war  a  company  was  formed  in 
Leon  under  the  captaincy  of  George  Burton.  This  company  soon 
became  enlisted  to  full  strength  and  consequently  there  were  many 
men  left.  These  were  kept  at  regular  drill.  Wainright  was  captain 
of  this  body  of  men  until  he  removed  to  Winterset.  He  is  now  de- 
ceased. 

W.  S.  Warnock  settled  in  Leon  about  the  same  time  as  AVain- 
right  and  practiced  for  about  fifteen  years,  earning  a  reputation  for 
ability.  He  subsequently  went  into  business  at  Davis  City  and  then 
into  the  pursuit  of  farming.  He  served  one  term  in  the  Iowa  General 
Assembly.  During  his  life  he  was  affiliated  with  both  the  democratic 
and  the  republican  parties. 

James  S.  Alfrey  came  also  about  the  same  date  and  practiced 
irregularly  for  ten  years.  He  served  one  term  as  county  superin- 
tendent. He  was  enlisted  in  the  army  for  a  short  time  during  the  war 
and  after  the  war  taught  school.  He  was  murdered  by  a  man  named 
Williams  on  ]May  20,  1866. 

Jesse  W.  Penny  came  to  Leon  during  the  early  years  of  the  Civil 
war  and  practiced  for  five  or  six  years,  or  until  his  death.  He  was 
an  excellent  scholar  and  was  successful  during  the  short  time  he  was 
permitted  to  work.  He  was  democratic  in  politics  and  served  one  term 
as  county  superintendent. 

About  18.50  A.  J.  Evans  settled  in  the  southeastern  part  of  the 
county,  near  Lineville,  on  a  farm.  In  18.54  or  18.5.5  he  was  elected 
prosecuting  attorney,  when  the  district  including  Decatur  Comity 
extended  to  the  ^Missouri  River,  and  took  in  about  one-fiftli  of  the 
State  of  Iowa.  JNIr.  Evans  assisted  in  holding  court  in  Decatur 
County  before  the  erection  of  the  first  courthouse,  but  did  not  remove 
his  residence  to  the  county  seat  until  186,5,  when  he  devoted  himself 
entirely  to  the  legal  practice,  gaining  a  good  reputation  in  the  same. 


200  HISTORY  OF  DFCATUR  COUNTY 

He  removed  to  Alabama  in  1871  and  afterwards  decided  to  go  to 
Kansas.  While  en  route  to  the  latter  state  he  was  seized  with  small- 
2^ox  and  died. 

John  W.  Harvey  came  to  Leon  from  Jasj)er  County,  la.,  in 
1868  and  was  in  partnership  with  Major  Yomig  until  1882,  when  he 
was  elected  judge  of  the  District  Court.  He  was  a  republican.  He 
is  now  deceased. 

R.  L.  Parrish  was  a  school  teacher  before  he  was  admitted  to 
the  bar.  He  graduated  at  Iowa  City  and  was  admitted  to  the  bar  at 
Leon.  He  was  first  in  partnership  with  C.  W.  Hoffman,  then  with 
E.  W.  Haskett  and  in  1883  with  JNIajor  Young.  He  is  still  living, 
and  is  practicing  in  Des  Moines,  la. 

E.  W.  Haskett  began  the  practice  of  law  in  Leon  in  1874.  Dur- 
ing the  administration  of  President  Arthur  in  1883  he  was  appointed 
United  States  district  attorney  to  Alaska.  He  held  this  position 
for  two  years,  until  relieved  by  Cleveland's  administration,  and  on 
his  way  home  A^as  accidentally  killed  at  Needles,  Cal. 

C.  W.  Hoffman  was  born  and  raised  in  Decatur  County  and 
was  admitted  to  the  practice  here  in  1876.  He  is  very  prominent 
in  democratic  politics.  He  is  still  living,  and  practicing  his  profes- 
sion in  Leon. 

N.  P.  Bullock  located  here  in  1867  and  w^as  in  partnership  at  dif- 
ferent times  with  John  W.  Warner,  Joseph  S.  Warner  and  C.  W. 
Hoffman.     He  belonged  to  the  republican  party. 

W.  H.  Albaugh  read  law  w^ith  Harvey  &  Young  and  was  after- 
ward admitted  to  the  bar.  He  w^as  mayor  for  two  terms  and  justice 
of  the  peace  several  years.     Mr.  Albaugh  is  still  living. 

]Marion  F.  Stookev  and  his  cousin,  jNIillard  F.  Stookev,  came,  at 
the  same  time  from  jNIarion,  la.  The  former  was  in  partnership  with 
E.  W.  Haskett  for  a  time.  He  was  chairman  of  the  Republican 
Central  Committee  for  several  years  and  was  one  of  the  proprietors 
of  the  Decatur  County  Journal  for  many  years.  He  is  now  practic- 
ing law  in  Leon.  jNIillard  F.  Stookey  was  in  partnership  for  a 
time  with  W.  H.  Robb,  but  separated  when  elected  clerk  of  tlie 
courts.  He  held  this  office  two  terms  and  then  was  a  deputy  in  the 
same  office.  jNIr.  Stookey  has  been  postmaster  at  Leon  for  the  last 
nine  years. 

W.  H.  Robb  was  reared  in  this  county  and  was  admitted  to  the 
practice  in  1868.  He  engaged  also  in  the  abstract  business  with  his 
son-in-law,  Charles  Jordan,  until  1874,  when  the  books  and  busi- 
ness were  sold  to  the  Leon  Loan  and  Abstract  Company.     JNIr.  Robb 


HISTORY  OF  DECATT^R  COUNTY  201 

was  for  several  years  postmaster  at  Leon,  and  was  succeeded  by  W.  J. 
Sullivan.  He  ^\  as  then  given  an  appointment  by  the  Interior  Depart- 
ment of  tlie  United  States  and  given  duties  in  the  ^Vest  with  the 
Indian  bureau.  He  held  this  office  until  Cleveland's  administration. 
He  then  removed  to  Kansas.     ]Mr.  Robb  is  now  deceased. 

In  the  '70s  a  man  named  Black  settled  in  the  western  part  of  the 
county  and  practiced  law  with  good  success.  He  died  just  a  few 
years  after  comino'  here. 

^I.  A.  ^lills  came  to  Leon  about  1868  from  Indiana.  He  grad- 
uated at  the  Iowa  Law  School  and  practiced  successfully  for  several 
years.  In  1878  he  removed  to  Nebraska  and  afterwards  served 
a  term  in  the  Senate  of  that  state.     Politically  he  was  a  democrat. 

Albert  Hale,  a  young  attorney,  practiced  at  Leon  for  several 
years,  then  moved  away.     He  is  now  dead. 

Another  prominent  lawyer  of  Decatur  County  was  E.  W.  Curry, 
M  lio  practiced  for  many  years. 

J.  B.  ^lorrison  came  about  1868  from  Indiana,  resided  and  prac- 
ticed law  in  Leon  for  about  ten  years,  was  mayor  two  terms  and  then 
moved  to  a  farm  west  of  Grand  River.     He  is  now  deceased. 

S.  A.  Gates  and  John  X.  Gates  were  among  tlie  early  lawyers  of 
Leon.  S.  A.  Gates  began  the  study  of  law  in  1872  with  J.  ^V. 
Penny,  of  Leon,  who  died  in  the  spring  of  187-i.  He  then  continued 
his  studies  with  A.  ]M.  Post,  who  was  sent  as  consul  to  the  Cape  Yerde 
Islands.  He  completed  his  studies  with  X.  P.  Bullock.  After  being 
admitted  to  the  bar  Mr.  Gates  opened  an  office,  and  in  June,  1884, 
was  joined  by  his  brother,  John  X.  John  X.  Gates  is  not  in  active 
practice  at  present,  but  S.  A.  Gates  still  retains  an  office  in  Leon  and 
is  continuing  a  lucrative  practice  in  the  county,  also  is  engaged  in  the 
real  estate  business  to  some  extent. 

]Maj.  John  L.  Young  settled  in  the  county  in  the  fall  of  18.59. 
In  the  previous  year  he  had  been  admitted  to  the  bar  in  the  Supreme 
Court  at  Des  ]Moines.  He  practiced  at  Bloomfield  until  he  came  to 
Leon.  After  coming  here  he  immediately  began  the  practice  of  his 
profession  with  Yictor  Wainright.  This  partnership  w^as  formed  in 
February,  1860.  During  the  Civil  war  he  won  a  great  deal  of  promi- 
nence and  for  gallantry  readied  the  rank  of  maior.  He  then 
returned  to  Leon  and  resumed  the  practice  of  his  profession,  and 
later  formed  a  partnership  with  John  W.  Harvey,  which  continued 
until  1869.  Through  his  efforts  at  this  time  a  national  bank  was 
secured  and  he  was  made  cashier.  He  retained  this  position  until 
1871.     He  then  organized  the  Peoples  Bank  at  Leon,  wdiich  was  not 


202  HISTORY  OF  DECATUR  COUNTY 

successful.  He  was  then  engaged  for  a  time  as  traveling  attorney 
for  Dood,  Brown  &  Co.,  of  St.  Louis.  In  1877  he  came  back 
and  reformed  a  partnership  with  Judge  Harvey,  which  continued 
until  the  latter  was  nominated  for  judge  in  1882,  when  Stephen 
Varga  became  associated  with  him.     ]Mr.  Young  is  now  deceased. 

W.  S.  Shepherd  located  at  Garden  Grove  during  the  '50s  and 
lived  there  for  several  years.  He  went  to  California  to  settle  up  the 
estate  of  his  father-in-law  and  there  died  in  1871. 

W.  W.  INIiller  located  at  Garden  Grove  in  1880  and  practiced 
two  years,  when  he  was  appointed  a  pension  clerk  in  Washington. 

S.  H.  Amos  came  to  Garden  Grove  in  1877  from  Wayne  County, 
where  he  had  been  teaching  school.  He  taught  a  term  in  Decatur 
County  and  kept  a  hotel  for  a  time.  In  the  meantime  he  was  study- 
ing law  and  completed  his  course  under  Judge  John  W.  Harvey, 
of  Leon.  In  1878  he  was  admitted  to  the  bar  and  located  at  the 
Grove. 

Marion  Woodard  began  the  practice  of  the  profession  in  1883  at 
Decatur  City.  He  is  now  engaged  in  the  practice  at  Leon.  C.  W. 
Bridges  also  practiced  here  for  a  time. 

R.  J.  Critchfield  began  the  practice  at  Weldon  in  1883. 

W.  W.  Peasley,  from  Eagleville,  Mo.,  practiced  in  Davis  City 
from  1875  to  1885  and  later  became  a  banker  at  Kellerton,  Ring- 
gold County.  He  is  now  deceased.  J.  H.  Kling  was  in  practice 
at  Davis  City  for  three  years.  W.  A.  Williams  also  practiced  at 
Weldon  for  a  time. 

THE  PRESENT  BAR 

The  following  is  the  present  bar  in  Decatur  County:  S.  H. 
Amos,  Garden  Grove;  R.  B.  Hawkins,  Van  Wert;  B.  JNI.  Russell, 
Lamoni;  George  W.  Baker,  S.  A.  Gates,  J.  F.  Harvey,  C.  W.  Hoff- 
man, V.  R.  McGinnis,  A.  P.  Olsen,  J.  S.  Parrish,  Clarion  F.  Stookey, 
E.  H.  Sharp,  W.  J.  Springer,  Stephen  Varga,  Francis  Varga  and 
Marion  Woodard,  all  of  Leon.     The  total  is  sixteen  members. 

THE  FIRST  COURT 

The  first  District  Court  in  the  county  convened  at  the  house  of 
Daniel  ^Moad,  as  ordered  by  the  Board  of  County  Commissioners,  on 
May  19,  1851.  This  home  was  about  six  miles  southeast  of  the  pres- 
ent  location   of   Leon.     William   McKay   presided   as   judge,   and 


HISTORY  OF  DECATUR  COUNTY  203 

Daniel  Moad  served  in  the  capacity  of  clerk.  John  J.  Stanley  was 
the  sheriff.  The  following  were  the  first  grand  jurors:  ^lordeeai 
Smith,  Anthony  Vander^jool,  Elijah  R.  Hole,  Oliver  Hoskins,  Alfred 
Stanley,  Hiram  J.  Stanley,  John  Price,  A\''illiam  Oney,  John  Jordan, 
Charles  Jordan,  Simon  H.  Harmon,  John  Vanderpool,  Stanley  Hat- 
field, Isaac  Craig,  Andrew  Hatfield,  Andi'ew  J.  Randolph.  JNIor- 
decai  Smith  was  foreman;  Thomas  Kilgore  w^as  bailiff.  William  H. 
Bramfield  was  appointed  as  prosecuting  attorney  for  the  term. 

The  first  case  to  come  up  before  this  court  was  a  suit  foi*  divorce, 
entitled  John  Blades  vs.  JNIaria  Blades.  The  case  was  continued 
until  the  next  term  and  the  plaintiff  was  finally  successful.  Perhaps 
the  second  case  to  come  before  the  court  was  also  a  divorce  proceeding, 
Ann  Knapp  vs.  Zelatus  W.  Knapp.     Ann  w^on,  according  to  record. 

The  first  marriage  license  was  issued  on  INIay  18,  18.50,  to  Henry 
Hall  and  Eliza  Ann  Ewing.  On  the  same  day  also  a  license  was 
given  to  Thomas  Ewang  and  INIary  Ann  Carson.  No  return  of  the 
marriage  certificate  was  made  in  either  case.  The  first  marriage 
certificate  on  record  is  that  of  John  Zimmerman  and  Harriet  L. 
Lamb,  married  by  William  Cutchlow,  justice  of  the  peace,  on  Sep- 
tember 22,  1850. 


\ 


CHAPTER  XVIII 

THE  NAMES  OF  DECATUR  COUNTY  STREAMS 

By  J.  E.  Vail 

This,  which  I  opine  may  consistently  be  called  our  county,  is  very 
near  the  great  3Iississippi-iMissouri  water  shed,  and  according  to 
the  best  geological  evidence,  has  its  formation  both  from  glacial  drift 
and  from  the  wind-blown  soils.  The  former  with  the  tendency  to 
level  oiF,  the  latter  to  irregularly  deposit  immense  strata  of  variable 
fine  dust  like  silt,  this  as  time  passed  on,  became  subject  to  great 
erosions  and  has  left  our  section  of  the  state  generally  rough  and 
broken  in  topograph}^  and  crossed  by  numerous  streams,  sloughs 
and  branches. 

These  prevailing  conditions  are  the  more  apparent  when  a  care- 
fully drawn  map  of  Decatur  County  is  compared  with  that  of  Poco- 
hontas,  or  any  of  the  counties  which  lie  in  the  later  Wisconsin  glacial 
formation,  and  which  were  not  subject  to  the  wind-blown,  or  Loess 
drifts  and  the  subsequent  great  erosions.  These  conditions  therefore, 
being  the  geologically  attributed  cause  of  the  numerous  streams 
which  traverse  our  county,  the  origin  of  the  names  of  these  may 
worthily  be  the  subject  of  a  sketch. 

It  is  a  matter  of  regret  that  the  wandering  folk  who  possessed 
the  land  while  the  aborigines  remained,  left  so  little  upon  w-hich  to 
build.  Tlie  very  name  of  a  stream  or  settlement — and  all  is  said. 
The  stream  name  continues  long  after  advancing  civilization  has 
swept  away  the  rude  huts  called  "settlement."  To  preserve  the 
vestiges  which  remain,  to  compare  w^ith  others  the  available  data  that 
at  this  late  day  must  be  sought  in  the  memories  of  men,  is  the  excuse 
offered  for  this  writing. 

Decatur  County's  principal  system  of  water  courses  comprise, 
Thompson's  Fork  of  Grand  River,  Weldon  Creek,  Little  Creek,  Elk 
Creek  and  Steel's  Creek,  all  of  which  are  constantly  augmented  at 
nearly  every  mile  of  their  meandering  course  by  some  branch  feeder, 
and  as  most  of  these  have  at  some  time  received  a  name  to  designate 

204 


HISTORY  OF  DECATUR  COUNTY  205 


the  one  from  the  other,  and  as  many  of  these  names  were  given  in 
the  early  pioneer  days  and  were  generally  taken  from  those  of  the 
early  settlers  who  were  attracted  to  their  bottoms  because  of  the 
natural  necessity  of  all  pioneers — wood  and  water — and  as  these 
early  settlers  by  common  instinct,  almost  invariably  soon  pushed  on 
to  the  unexplored,  and  because  of  the  age  of  the  county,  their  memory 
now  forgotten,  the  meagre  date  to  be  obtained,  nnist  be  taken  witli 
at  least  certain  doubts,  and  it  is  more  than  likely  that  the  true  facts 
mav  be  in  a  large  measure  forgotten. 

As  to  Grand  River,  this  stream  traverses  the  west  prat  of  the 
county.  In  an  early  day  it  was  not  thus  called,  but  went  by  the 
nam  eof  Thompson's  Fork,  which  was  later  on  contracted  to  Grand, 
unquestionably  because  of  its  being  a  prominent  branch  of  the  river 
so  named.  There  are  those  today  of  the  early  settlers  who  in  refer- 
ring  to  it,  always  call  it  Thompson's  Fork. 

Thompson  settled  at  Edinburg,  ]Mo.,  about  the  year  1840  and 
gave  his  name  to  the  stream.  He  was  a  contemporary  of  Peter  Cain 
and  probably  the  two  made  settlement  at  about  the  same  i:)eriod.  He 
appears,  by  the  way,  to  have  been  one  of  the  class  of  hardy  hunters, 
trappers  and  traders  who  have  ever  been  immediately  in  the  rear  of 
the  vanishing  Indian.  By  reports,  he  led  a  strenuous  life,  making 
various  excursions  of  discovery,  mingling  with  the  distant  settlements, 
hunting,  trapping  and  trading  and  at  times  acting  as  guide,  well 
known  over  a  wide  area  of  country  and  especially  well  acquainted 
with  the  river  as  he  is  reported  to  have  often  been  met  with  in  the 
vicinity  of  Afton,  la. 

Likewise,  Weldon  Creek,  or  River  as  it  is  sometimes  called,  was 
named  after  one  Weldon  who  came  into  the  county  in  the  early  '40s 
and  is  reported  to  have  first  settled  in  or  near  Burrell  Township. 
He,  too,  was  constantly  mingling  with  the  settlements  and  probal)ly 
made  various  excursions  into  the  country  tributary  to  the  stream  and 
traded  with  and  had  much  association  with  the  jNIormons  who  passed 
through  Iowa  about  1846,  and  most  likely  from  these  associations, 
and  knowing  the  country  and  the  different  trails  and  fords  thor- 
oughh^  the  creek  was  called  after  him. 

Steel  Creek,  which  has  its  rise  in  the  northwest  part  of  Richman 
Township,  Wayne  County,  and  which  enters  Decatur  County,  at 
Section  13,  High  Point  Township,  and  joins  with  AVeldon  at  Sandy 
Point  on  the  land  commonly  known  as  the  Beaumont  farm,  was 
named  after  one  Steel. 


206  HISTORY  OF  DECATUR  COUNTY 

The  site  of  his  cabin  is  iDlaced  as  being  located  in  the  bend  of  the 
creek  about  a  quarter  mile  north  of  the  bridge  on  the  state  road  and 
on  the  farm  now  known  as  the  Captain  Alexander  estate.  Little  if 
anything  is  remembered  of  him  and  he  probably  left  the  county  at 
a  very  early  period.  It  might  be  added  in  connection  with  this  stream 
that  many  years  ago  there  was  no  small  excitement  of  the  finding 
of  gold  on  some  of  the  deep  slough  branches  and  that  colors  were 
quite  readily  shown  in  the  pans,  and  indeed  it  is  reported  that  one 
particular  day  there  were  more  than  one  hundred  men  congregated 
and  engaged  in  the  quest,  and  that  a  rough  sluice  box  was  constructed 
and  all  preparations  of  an  extent  indicating  permanency,  but  the 
excitement  was  short  lived. 

Likewise,  Artillery  Grove,  a  high  wooded  point  of  ground  near 
this  creek,  was  for  many  years  a  landmark  and  there  are  many  legends 
of  buried  cannon,  of  a  battle  between  emigrants  and  Indians  and  of 
a  skirmish  between  INIissouri  jNIilitia  and  JNIormons,  and  last  and  most 
reasonable,  that  the  point  was  on  or  near  the  old  trail  leading  to 
Fort  Des  ^loines  and  that  passing  troops  being  encumbered,  buried 
two  pieces  of  small  cannon  here.  It  is  certain  that  these  have  never 
been  found,  though  on  several  occasions  treasure  hunters  have  vainly 
sought  them.     On  the  whole,  the  various  stories  lack  corroboration. 

Jonathan  Creek,  which  rises  just  southeast  of  Van  Wert,  and 
joins  with  Weldon  about  the  Gardner  farm  in  High  Point  Township, 
was  named  after  one  Jonathan  who  settled  at  a  point  just  east  of 
the  Capt.  J.  D.  Brown  homestead.  T.  J.  Knapp,  who  came  to  Iowa 
about  1851,  states  that  he  distinctly  remembers  the  site  of  the  log 
cabin,  which  was  a  few  rods  north  of  the  Leon-Garden  Grove  road 
wliere  the  same  winds  up  the  hill  after  crossing  the  creek.  Here  he 
lived  and  made  a  small  clearing  and  was  engaged  in  raising  and 
feeding  hogs.  His  last  drive  to  Brunswick,  ]\Io.,  was  made  in  the  fall 
of  the  year  1851. 

Just  north  of  his  ranch  and  near  the  present  Scott  farm  lived 
one  Cherry,  likewise  an  early  settler  and  neighbor,  and  from  him 
was  named  Cherry  Creek,  which  branch  traverses  along  the  line  of 
the  Chicago,  Burlington  &  Quincy  Railroad. 

Kilgore  Branch,  named  from  the  Kilgores,  early  settlers  and  who 
are  referred  to  by  early  settlers  as  being  "hoss-traders"  and  of  whose 
various  exploits  alone  a  volume  might  be  written,  but  is  passed  ^or 
want  of  space.  Mormon-Pool  or  Brush  Creek,  north  of  Garden 
Grove,  probably  took  its  name  after  having  been  used  for  baptismal 
purposes.     The  old  trail  to  Chariton  passed  at  a  rocky  ford  just 


HISTORY  OF  DECATUR  COUNTY  207 

above  which  was  a  deep  pool  of  water,  probably  seven  or  eight  feet 
deep  in  places  in  an  early  day,  the  west  bank  of  same  being  a  long, 
gradual  and  gravelly  slope  naturally  made  it  a  favorite  x^oint  for 
these  ceremonies. 

While  there  are  many  other  branches  in  tlie  county,  at  this  late 
day  it  is  difficult  to  get  the  information  and  to  select  the  true  from 
the  legendary  stories.  In  obtaining  data  as  to  names  of  our  county 
streams,  one  is  surprised  even  in  our  comparatively  recent  settlement, 
in  the  meagerness  of  the  actual  or  authentic  facts  to  be  obtained. 
Very  frequently,  after  interviewing  a  half  dozen  old  settlers,  one 
only  learns  that  "Old  Jim  So-and-So  lived  down  there  on  the  bot- 
toms when  he  came  to  the  county  and  as  he  was  the  only  fellow  near, 
we  just  called  the  creek  Jim  Creek  after  him — he  left  just  about 
the  time  we  landed  here.  He  was  a  sort  of  reticent  cuss,  anyway, 
and  they  saj^  he  had  mighty  good  reasons  for  living  away  from  white 
folks" — and  so  it  goes. 

Aside  from  Grand  River,  which  is  merely  an  overgrown  creek, 
the  remainder  of  the  drainage  streams  of  the  county,  while  numerous, 
comprise  small  branches  and  sloughs,  many  of  them  unnamed,  and  of 
the  named  not  a  few  are  self-descriptive  of  local  conditions  through 
their  course,  such  as  Sand  Creek,  of  which  there  are  several  so-called, 
all  of  which  that  I  have  crossed  being  with  sandy  bottoms;  Brush 
Creek,  very  suggestive  from  the  name;  Big  Creek;  Long  Creek;  Short 
Creek;  Spring  Branch  and  Turkey  Run  and  a  host  of  similarly  des- 
ignated branches,  some  of  w^hich  w^ould  hardly  bear  witness  to  lieing 
other  than  a  dry  arroyo  unless  caught  in  the  very  act  of  caring  for 
a  three  or  four-inch  rainfall.  I  have  committed  from  the  more  com- 
monly called,  a  little  stream  in  Center  and  High  Point  toM'nships 
called  Granny  Branch.  An  inquiry  as  to  the  reason  for  the  name 
brought  forth  tlie  following:  "Well,  all  I  know  about  it  is  tliat  wlien 
we  came  here  there  was  about  the  biggest  lot  of  old  women  living  in 
tliat  settlement  of  anywhere  else  in  these  parts;  there  was  Granny 
Smitli  and  some  five  or  six  other  women  whose  names  I  don't  now 
exactly  recollect  wlio  used  to  go  out  nursing  and  doctoring — mighty 
liandy  those  days  to  have  them — and  just  as  far  back  as  I  can  remem- 
])er  we  called  the  creek  Granny  after  the  wdiole  buncli  of  them." 

As  to  Elk  Creek,  the  very  name  is  suggestive.  This  stream  was 
unquestionably  named  after  the  animal  long  extinct  in  our  county. 
I  have  never  been  able  to  meet  with  anyone  who  remembered  seeing 
a  herd  of  elk  in  our  section.  There  are,  however,  various  reports 
passed   around  of  straggling  elk  having  been  killed   along  Grand 


208  HISTORY  OF  DECATUR  COUNTY 

River.  The  early  settlers  of  the  western  townships  very  vividly 
describe  of  the  early  '50s  "that  the  country  was  a  great  expanse  of 
prairie  with  luxurious  growth  of  grass,  and  timbered  along  the  rivers 
and  most  of  the  branches— no  underbrush — thanks  to  the  yearly  fires 
which  swept  the  plains,  and  possible  to  drive  almost  any  place  with 
team  and  wagon  ;v  the  creeks  and  prairie  sloughs  abounded  in  small 
fish,  with  comparatively  clear  water  and  deep  holes,  many  good  hard 
bottom  fords,  and  last  of  all,  the  western  prairies  marked  with  horns 
and  teeth  of  elk,  these  remaining  vestiges  of  this  noble  creature  being 
plentifully  found  near  the  timber  line  along  the  creeks  and  frequently 
quite  far  out  on  the  prairies,  thus  showing  that  there  was  a  period 
when  they  were  here  in  numbers,  as  the  life  of  the  horns  and  teeth, 
exposed  to  existing  conditions,  is  variously  estimated  from  twenty 
to  thirty  years,  we  may  assume  that  the  elk  quit  this  range  some  time 
in  the  '30s  or  early  '40s,  as  our  early  settlements  hardly  date  further 
back  than  1847."  The  stream  probably  took  its  name,  not  from  some 
stray  specimen,  but  from  the  remains  of  a  herd. 

Dickinson  Branch  in  Burrell  Township  took  its  name  from  a 
hermit  settler,  WyHs  Dickinson.  I  am  not  informed  as  to  when  he 
came  to  the  county,  but  probably  during  the  'oOs.  He  was  a  peculiar 
character,  a  Xew  Englander  by  birth  I  believe,  reported  to  have  been 
disappointed  in  a  love  affair.  He  settled  in  the  then  glades,  later  to 
be  quite  heavily  timbered  land  not  far  from  Davis  City  and  on  the 
upland  east  of  Grand  River.  He  was  a  quiet,  mild-mannered  man. 
He  lived  in  a  small  cabin  surrounded,  when  I  first  became  acquainted 
with  the  man  and  the  place,  by  native  trees  and  quite  hidden  from 
view  from  the  road.  There  were  only  two  small  fields  of  four  or  five 
acres  each  in  culture  at  the  time,  one  of  which  he  allowed  to  lie  fallow 
each  alternate  year,  the  other  cultivated.  There  were  many  squirrels 
and  birds  in  the  trees,  for  he  killed  nothing  himself  and  permitted  no 
hunting  on  his  premises,  nor  did  he  clear  any  more  of  his  land  than 
the  two  little  fields  before  mentioned.  The  decayed  and  fallen  trees 
sup])lied  him  with  wood  and  the  water  supply  was  from  the  branch 
which  bears  his  name.  He  was  very  affable  with  his  neighbors  and 
might  never  have  been  called  hermit  except  for  the  fact  that  he 
shunned  the  villages  and  society,  and  so  he  lived — almost  unknown 
personally  except  to  a  very  few,  surrounded  by  his  trees  and  with 
his  stock  and  the  squirrels  and  the  birds  as  company. 


CHAPTER   XIX 
MISCELLANEOUS 

EARLY    FAR:M    METHODS 

The  following  description  of  agriculture  in  the  early  days  of  the 
county  was  prejjared  by  J.  X.  JNIachlan. 

jNIy  parents  erected  a  little  cabin  in  the  brush  near  the  present 
site  of  the  county  bridge,  on  Little  River,  west  from  the  Fairview 
schoolhouse,  and  called  it  home;  before  long  my  father  with  a  good 
team  of  horses  and  an  old-fashioned  sod  plow  began  to  cut  and  turn 
the  virgin  soil  preparatory  to  raising  a  crop.  The  plowman's  nec- 
essary equipment  for  success  were  as  follows:  Plentj^  of  patience, 
a  whip,  a  plow  file,  a  heavy  hammer  and  a  hunk  of  iron,  to  use  as  an 
anvil  to  cold  hammer  the  plowshare  occasionally;  the  file  with  which 
to  put  the  finishing  touch  on;  and  the  patience  came  into  good  play 
when  he  encountered  a  stone,  a  root,  or  some  other  obstacle  that  j  erked 
the  plow,  plowman  and  all  clear  out  of  the  furrow.  There  were  also 
numerous  snakes  to  contend  with,  the  rattlesnakes,  the  bull  snake, 
the  hissing  viper,  the  blue  racer,  the  house  snake,  the  garter  snake, 
the  horn  snake,  the  yellow  joint  snake,  the  green  joint  snake,  the  blue- 
black  joint  snake  and  a  few  other  species,  besides  the  nasty  lizzards 
which  could  be  seen  by  the  hundreds. 

Xow,  as  the  virgin  soil  had  been  turned  bottom  side  up  and  time 
had  arrived  for  corn  planting,  we  proceeded  to  plant  corn  by  one  of 
the  following  methods :  By  axing  it  in,  hoeing  it  in,  healing  it  in  or 
di-opping  by  hand  following  the  plow  every  third  round  and  dropping 
the  grain  on  top  of  the  furrow^  at  such  a  place  that  the  next  furrow 
would  barely  cover  it  with  its  upper  edge.  This  would  produce  what 
we  called  a  crop  of  sod  corn,  either  good  or  bad,  according  to  the 
season  and  condition  of  the  sod.  Plenty  of  rain  was  essential  to  a 
good  crop.  It  was  also  essential  for  the  sod  to  be  well  rotted.  Scores 
of  snakes  would  be  cut  in  twain  by  the  plow  every  season,  among  them 
a  great  many  rattlesnakes.    The  early  settlers  did  not  have  implement 

Vol.        J— 14 

209 


210  HISTORY  OF  DECATUR  COUNTY 

stores  to  which  they  could  go  and  purchase  farming  tools,  but  were 
compelled  of  necessity  to  make  them.  When  the  ground  was  in  con- 
dition for  harrowing  we  set  to  work  with  three  sticks  of  timber  some 
four  or  five  inches  square  and  perhaps  six  feet  in  length  and  frame 
or  bolt  them  together,  which  when  joined  would  be  a  good  representa- 
tion of  the  letter  A.  Next  with  an  inch  and  a  half  or  two-inch  auger 
we  bored  holes  in  the  side  pieces  and  cross  section,  into  which  we 
inserted  huge  pegs  made  from  oak  or  hickory,  then  sharpened  the 
lower  ends  of  the  pegs  and  our  harrow  was  completed.  Our  wooden 
harrow  rotted  down  in  the  fence  corner  after  many  years  of  good 
service.  A  few^  years  later  the  sod  tearer  was  invented.  It  was 
such  a  peculiarly  constructed  instrument  that  to  the  writer  it  baffles 
description. 

Much  of  the  virgin  soil  contained  so  many  tough  roots  that  it  was 
not  uncommon  to  see  a  furrow  of  sod  one-half  mile  long  without 
a  break  in  it.  Some  of  the  toughest  roots  were  the  wild  indigo,  shoe- 
string, blue  stem,  rosin  weed  and  sometimes  a  patch  of  hazel  or  buck 
brush.  The  rosin  weed  produced  a  white  gum  which  was  used  as 
chewing  gum  by  the  lads  of  the  early  day. 

After  a  few  months  spent  in  the  little  cabin  in  the  brush  we 
decided  to  venture  out  on  the  broad,  bleak  prairie  and  erect  another 
log  cabin.  A  well  was  dug,  which  supplied  w  ater  for  the  house,  but 
for  years  our  stock  had  to  be  taken  across  the  prairie  to  some  creek 
or  spring  to  quench  their  thirst  and  as  for  ourselves  when  working  in 
the  fields  or  on  the  prairie  making  hay  we  have  many  times  drunk 
from  a  puddle  containing  many  angle  worms,  crawfish  and  bugs,  and 
the  water  would  often  be  warm  enough  for  dish  water.  Time  rolled 
on  and  it  became  necessary  to  fence  our  farm ;  father  proceeded  to  the 
timber  some  eleven  miles  distant  and  split  rails  and  hauled  them,  and 
a  worm  fence  built,  which  when  completed  was  from  seven  to  ten 
rails  in  height,  but  soon  a  new  difficulty  arose.  IMore  settlers  were 
coming  in,  fires  were  started  in  the  prairie  grass,  some  were  started 
by  accident,  some  purj)osely,  and  on  quite  a  few  occasions  campers 
have  left  fire  where  they  had  stopped  for  the  night;  the  wind  w^ould 
rise  and  the  fire  would  be  scattered.  Soon  a  conflagration  would  be 
raging  across  the  prairies  and  perhaps  hundreds  or  even  thousands 
of  acres  would  be  burned  over  before  the  fire  went  out.  In  many  cases 
the  fires  w^ould  burn  all  night.  It  was  at  such  times  that  our  rail 
fences  would  suffer  destruction.  Then  an  idea  came  to  us  how  to 
prevent  this  loss. 


HISTORY  OF  DECATUR  COUNTY  2li 

The  fires,  of  course,  would  do  most  of  the  mischief  in  the  spring, 
and  at  some  convenient  time  we  would  plow  a  few  furrows  around 
the  farm  near  the  fence,  then  perhaps  two  or  three  rods  farther  from 
tlie  fence  we  would  plow  a  few  more,  the  strip  between  called  the 
fire  land.  At  a  favorable  time,  when  the  wind  was  not  blowing,  gen- 
erally of  an  evening,  father  would  say,  "Well,  boys,  this  is  a  good 
time  to  burn  out  those  fire  lands."  This  pleased  the  boys  and  after 
the  day's  work  was  done  we  equipped  ourselves  with  small  boards 
and  brush  to  fight  fire  and  on  some  occasions  we  would  take  along 
from  one  to  three  barrels  of  water,  in  case  fire  should  get  into  the 
fence,  we  were  fixed  for  it.  All  things  ready,  we  commenced  firing 
along  the  side,  so  the  fire  would  have  to  burn  against  the  wind,  but 
it  matters  not  how  calm  it  was  when  the  fire  was  started,  the  hot  air 
rising  creates  a  vacuum  and  the  cool  air  rushing  in  to  take  its  place 
would  cause  a  breeze  and  sometimes  the  fire  would  get  beyond  control 
despite  our  best  efforts  and  sometimes  we  would  not  reach  home  until 
a  very  late  hour  in  the  night.  A  weed  well  known  to  early  settlers 
called  the  tumbleweed  or  careless  weed  which  grew  in  great  numbers 
on  these  new  cultivated  lands,  the  tops  of  which  were  almost  spherical 
in  shape  and  ranging  in  diameter  from  twelve  to  thirty-six  inches, 
when  assisted  bv  the  breeze,  would  carrv  fire  for  some  distance.  They 
were  so  near  round  they  would  roll  for  miles  without  stopping  when 
a  stiff  wind  was  blowing. 

When  the  soil  had  become  well  rotted  and  the  corn  big  enough 
to  need  attention  we  plowed  it  with  a  cultivator  having  but  one  shovel, 
which  was  made  from  a  triangular-shaped  piece  of  iron,  witli  which 
it  was  necessary  to  plow  two  rounds  to  each  row  of  corn.  The  culti- 
vator was  used  in  the  field  more  or  less  until  the  silk  made  its  appear- 
ance on  the  voung  ears  of  corn.  The  worst  weed  we  had  to  contend 
with  in  the  cornfield  in  those  days  was  a  species  of  smart  weed,  rarely 
seen  except  on  new  land.  It  grew  down  close  to  the  ground  and  had 
a  firm  grip  upon  it.  Hoes  were  extensively  used  in  those  days  in  the 
cornfield.  Another  advanced  step  was  taken  in  the  method  of  plant- 
ing corn.  The  cultivator  referred  to  was  used  to  draw  a  shallow 
furrow  for  each  row  of  corn,  the  corn  is  then  dropped  into  the  fin-- 
row,  about  every  three  feet,  then  covered  either  with  a  hoe  or  by  cross 
harrowing,  three  of  us  dropping  and  one  furrowing  off,  planting  as 
much  as  seven  acres  in  one  day. 

The  time  came  when  we  were  raising  a  little  spring  wheat,  oats 
and  flax.  The  method  of  threshing  grain,  after  it  had  been  harvested 
with  the  cradling  scythe  and  was  well  cured,  was  to  prepare  a  circular 


212  HISTORY  OF  DECATUR  COUNTY 

l)iece  of  ground,  usually  from  sixteen  to  twent}^  feet  in  diameter,  by 
taking  a  sharp  spade  and  shaving  off  the  surface  until  it  was  quite 
smooth  and  level;  after  this  was  done  a  pole  some  eight  or  ten  feet 
high  was  set  upright  in  a  hole  dug  in  the  center  of  the  circular  patch 
of  ground.  To  this  pole  usually  two  horses  were  tied  with  long  ropes 
and  a  lad  mounted  on  one  of  the  horses  with  a  small  gad.  The  grain 
liad  been  evenly  spread  upon  the  prepared  ground  and  the  horses  were 
started  on  a  long  tramp,  tramping  out  the  grain  on  the  ground,  a 
process  which  was  very  monotonous  to  the  horses  and,  speaking  from 
experience,  the  writer  was  very  glad  when  the  noon  hour  or  nightfall 
had  an-ived.  The  grain,  during  the  tramping  process,  was  turned 
over  with  a  forked  stick,  and  as  soon  as  the  grain  was  tramped  out 
the  straw  was  removed  and  the  grain  gathered  up  and  winnowed  out. 
A  fresh  supply  was  spread  upon  the  floor  and  the  tramping  process 
was  continued. 

The  snowfall  during  some  of  the  winters  was  very  heavy.  I 
believe  that  it  was  in  the  winter  of  1866  that  we  arose  and  discovered 
that  the  snow  had  drifted  to  the  eaves  of  the  little  cabin.  Our  fences 
were  all  snowed  under  and  our  stock  scattered  hither  and  thither  and 
our  enclosures  for  stock  were  all  under  snow.  After  the  snow  fell 
the  weather  turned  colder  and  the  snow  froze  hard.  We  could  drive 
in  any  direction  across  the  prairie  over  high  fences.  We  had  just  put 
out  a  washing  before  the  snow  and  it  was  six  weeks  before  we  were 
enabled  to  find  all  of  it.  Heavy  snows  were  common,  but  this  one 
M  as  the  heaviest  that  I  ever  saw.  Our  cabin  was  covered  with  clap- 
boards, as  was  the  custom  in  those  days,  and  the  snow  would  blow 
between  them  and  sift  down  through  the  loft  into  our  faces  as  we 
lay  in  bed  during  the  snowstorm.  The  last  thing  the  good  mother 
would  do  before  retiring  was  to  see  if  the  five  children  were  in  bed, 
covered  up  head  and  all  so  that  the  snow  would  not  lodge  in  their 
faces.  It  was  a  common  occurrence  after  a  snowstorm  had  subsided 
for  some  one  of  the  family  to  ascend  to  the  loft  and  scoop  the  snow 
out  before  it  melted. 

As  we  pass  along  it  might  be  well  to  describe  the  bedsteads 
installed  in  some  of  the  cabins.  One  method  of  constructing  a  bed- 
stead was  to  place  a  log  in  the  walls  angling  across  a  corner  of  the 
cabin  at  a  convenient  height,  into  which  pegs  were  set  about  six  inches 
a])art.  A  small  rope  Avas  then  procured  and  strung  back  and  forth 
from  the  pegs  in  the  logs  to  corresponding  pegs  in  the  cabin.  A  later 
metliod  of  construction  was  to  procure  two  round  poles  to  serve  as 
side  rails,  set  the  pegs  into  them,  fasten  them  to  corner  posts,  nail  on 


HISTORY  OF  DECATUR  COUNTY  213 

end  rails,  then  string  the  pegs  with  the  rope,  and  the  bedstead  was 
completed. 

No  cabin  was  complete  without  the  fireplace.  Tlie  hearth  was 
laid  with  brick  or  stone  and  the  chininey  usually  built  of  the  same 
materials,  or  wooden  slats  built  up  in  nmd  or  lime  mortar.  In  our 
cabin  the  hearth  was  made  of  flat  limestone  under  which  the  rats 
burrowed  and  made  nests  and  reared  their  young,  and  as  their  dis- 
gusting habits  are  nocturnal,  the  saucy  little  rodents  would  emerge 
from  underneath  the  hearth  during  the  night,  especially  in  the  winter, 
and  skip  about  the  fire,  evidently  warming  themselves  and  eating 
such  things  as  suited  their  taste.  Thev  would  sometimes  bite  some 
of  the  family  or  anyone  who  chanced  to  be  there  during  the  night. 
INIy  brother,  who  resides  in  Des  ^loines,  was  bitten  on  the  great  toe 
while  asleep.  A  servant  girl  who  was  employed  to  assist  in  the  house- 
hold duties  was  also  bitten,  whereupon  she  cried  "JNIurder!"  But 
as  that  was  a  common  expression  with  some  people  in  those  days 
when  they  were  frightened,  hurt  or  alarmed,  the  family  thought 
nothing,  but  someone  proceeded  to  make  a  light  to  ascertain  how 
badly  she  was  bitten. 

The  various  kinds  of  lights  used  in  those  days  were  first  the  grease 
light,  then  the  grease  lamp  and  then  the  tallow  candle. 

When  the  sod  had  become  well  rotted,  watermelons,  pumpkins  and 
potatoes  did  quite  well.  Among  the  various  kinds  of  potatoes  grown 
were  the  calico,  white  meshanic,  California  peachblow,  long  red,  and 
ladyfinger,  the  long  red  being  the  most  prolific. 

For  several  years  after  Iowa  became  a  state  apples  were  hauled 
in  from  :Missouri,  many  of  them  coming  from  what  was  known  as 
the  famous  crab  orchard,  so  called  because  the  apple  scion  were  grafted 
into  the  root  of  the  wild  crab.  The  first  apples  the  writer  ever  saw 
grown  were  in  a  small  orchard  of  young  trees  planted  on  the  old 
homestead.  I  think  there  were  less  than  a  dozen  of  them,  which 
were  guarded  very  closely,  lest  something  befall  them  before  they 

were  matured. 

After  the  chaff-piling  threshing  machine  was  introduced  the 
threshing  of  grain  was  not  so  great  a  task  as  it  was  formerly,  but 
as  the  straw  carrier  had  not  yet  been  invented  it  became  necessary 
to  remove  the  straw  and  chaff  from  the  rear  end  of  the  machine,  either 
with  horses  or  by  some  other  method,  any  of  which  were  very  dis- 
agreeable, as  the  chaff  and  dust  would  fill  the  eyes,  nose,  ears  and 
mouth;  but  being  as  it  was,  it  was  quite  an  improvement. 


2U  HISTORY  OF  DECATUR  COUNTY 

Thinking  there  might  be  profit  in  sheep  raising,  we  purchased 
a  ilock  of  two  or  three  hundred,  with  a  guarantee  from  the  owner 
that  none  of  them  were  more  than  four  years  old,  but  soon  tliey 
])eoan  to  die  of  old  age  and  we  discovered  that  we  were  beaten  in  the 
deal;  however,  we  kept  on  trying.  We  had  plenty  of  range,  but  they 
must  have  a  shepherd,  which  lot  usually  fell  upon  the  writer,  and  per- 
mit me  to  say  that  it  was  a  very  monotonous,  lonesome  occupation, 
watching  sheep  on  the  broad  prairie  and  not  a  human  being  in  sight 
for  hours  at  a  time.  For  years  we  were  compelled  to  lot  the  sheep 
at  night  near  the  cabin,  to  prevent  the  wolves  from  killing  them,  but 
e\'en  then  they  would  get  among  them  and  kill  the  lambs.  One  day 
Nvliile  the  writer  was  tending  his  sheep  a  short  distance  from  the 
cabin  a  wolf  came  into  the  flock  and  seizing  a  lamb  by  the  back  of 
tlie  neck,  trotted  off  with  it.  I  waved  my  stick,  which  I  usually 
carried,  vigorously  in  the  air  and  yelled  with  all  the  force  I  could 
summons.  The  wolf  dropped  the  lamb  and  I  took  it  to  the  cabin, 
but  it  was  so  badly  injured  that  it  only  lived  a  few  days.  Our  flock 
increased  and  the  extremely  old  ones  died  off  and  we  had  better  success 
for  a  time.  In  our  flock  was  a  large  fellow  with  curled  horns;  he 
liad  been  teased  quite  a  little  and  had  become  quite  mischievous.  On  a 
certain  occasion  by  accident  the  sheep  became  imprisoned  in  the 
smokehouse;  some  member  of  the  family  had  closed  the  door,  not 
knowing  that  he  was  in  there.  The  servant  of  the  kitchen,  who  was 
commonly  called  an  old  maid,  went  to  the  smokehouse  for  something 
to  serve  for  the  dinner  meal  and  on  opening  the  door  the  sheep  made 
a  dive  for  her,  running  between  her  feet,  carrying  her  for  a  short 
distance  and  bleating  as  if  in  great  agony,  while  the  maid  was  scream- 
ing and  trying  to  alight  from  his  back.  The  situation  seemed  to  be 
a  critical  one,  as  the  sheep  did  not  know  how  to  unload  his  burden  and 
the  maid  feared  trying  to  let  loose  for  fear  of  getting  hurt  in  the 
attempt,  but  finally  by  some  kind  of  maneuvers  they  came  out  of  the 
fracas  none  the  worse  for  wear. 

Another  advance  had  been  made  in  the  corn  cultivator,  which 
then  had  two  shovels  instead  of  one,  and  a  row  of  corn  was  plowed 
every  round  of  the  horse  and  plowman,  which  was  quite  gratifying 
to  the  farmers,  but  while  this  was  true  new  and  additional  weeds  were 
added  to  the  farmer's  list  of  pests,  among  which  were  the  milkweed 
and  the  black-eyed  swan,  both  of  which  are  with  us  unto  the  present 
day.  The  latter  was  introduced  into  this  country  as  a  garden  flower 
l)y  some  English  i^eople. 


HISTORY  OF  DECATUR  COUNTY  215 

Time  rolls  on  and  the  rats  under  the  hearth  having  inereased  in 
numbers  and  boldness,  they  became  almost  unbearable  and  lather 
set  trails  and  caught  quite  a  number  of  them.  The  cabin  all  being 
in  one  room,  we  could  watch  them  by  the  light  of  the  fireplace  from 
all  quarters  of  the  room,  and  I  must  say  that  it  was  amusing  to  see 
father  spring  out  of  bed  on  hearing  the  trap  spring  and  kill  the 
rat,  set  the  trap  again,  and  retire,  sometimes  only  remaining  in  bed 
but  a  short  time,  when  he  would  repeat  the  ox^eration.  Someone 
prescribed  a  remedy.  It  was  as  follows:  Catch  a  rat,  singe  it  over 
the  fire  and  turn  it  loose  and  the  rats  would  all  take  a  leave  of  absence. 
Father  caught  the  rat,  but  his  heart  failed  him  when  it  came  to  the 
singeing  process  and  the  rat  never  got  singed.  So  much  for  rat- 
trajDping  around  the  old  fireside. 

Other  improvements  had  been  made  to  facilitate  corn  planting. 
A  farmer  a  few  miles  distant  had  purchased  a  two-horse  planter  for 
about  seventy-five  dollars,  and  we  could  hire  it  for  about  fifteen  cents 
per  acre.  The  ground  when  ready  to  plant  was  first  marked  off  with 
a  kind  of  sled;  the  first  one  to  appear  made  two  marks  at  once  and 
in  a  few  j^ears  someone  made  an  improvement  on  the  marker  and  it 
made  three  marks.  About  this  time  we  thought  we  ^^'ould  cap  the 
climax.  We  made  two  wooden  axles  that  would  fit  our  wagon  wheels, 
one  short  and  one  long  one,  coupled  them  together  and  made  tour 
marks  at  a  time,  which  was  easy  on  the  team  and  by  this  improvement 
forty  acres  could  be  marked  off  in  a  few  hours.  The  ground  being 
marked,  two  persons,  a  driver  and  a  dro^^per,  a  team  of  horses  and 
the  new  corn  planter,  would  plant  from  ten  to  fifteen  acres  per  day. 
The  most  common  variety  of  corn  planted  during  those  days  was  the 
bloody  butcher,  although  more  or  less  Avhite  corn  was  grown. 

A  threshing  machine  had  been  introduced  with  a  short  straw 
carrier  attachment  known  as  the  buffalo  pitts,  which  was  quite  an 
imi^rovement  over  the  old  chaff  piler.  In  connection  with  this 
thresher  was  introduced  a  system  of  tallying  the  number  of  bushels 
of  grain  threshed.  It  consisted  mainly  of  a  board  attached  to  the  side 
of  the  machine  where  the  grain  came  out.  It  had  a  number  of  one- 
fourth-inch  holes  in  it,  arranged  in  rows,  into  which  pegs  were  moved 
for  each  bushel  of  grain  threshed.  The  board  would  tally  up  to 
1,000  bushels,  when  it  became  necessary  to  begin  again  at  the  first. 

By  this  time  Osceola  had  a  railroad.  The  Leon  merchants  had 
their  goods  shipped  to  Osceola  and  hired  them  hauled  in  wagons 
across  the  country.  Engaged  in  the  hauling  of  goods  was  a 
^fr.  Hughes,  Islw  Goins,  ^Ir.  Lindsey  and  others,  all  of  whom  were 


216  HISTORY  OF  DECATUR  COUXTY 

residents  of  Leon.  Hughes  was  engaged  at  a  certain  time  in  hauling 
sliinoles.  One  day  while  en  route  to  Leon  with  a  load  of  shingles  his 
horses  became  frightened  and  ran  away,  scattering  shingles  along 
tjie  hiffhwav  for  some  distance.  31r.  Hughes  received  the  name  of 
"Shingle  sower." 

Another  step  forward  was  taken  and  the  two-horse  cultivator  was 
introduced  to  the  farmers.  We  bargained  for  a  Black  Hawk  walking 
cultivator  with  the  firm  of  Richards  &  Close,  whose  advertisement 
api^eared  in  the  Decatur  County  Journal  of  that  time.  The  plow 
was  delivered  at  our  gate  at  the  old  homestead  by  the  Mr.  Hughes 
above  referred  to,  while  en  route  to  Leon.  The  plow  cost  $35  and  was 
the  first  two-horse  cultivator  the  writer  ever  saw. 

In  the  early  days  of  Decatur  County  considerable  hay  and  grain 
were  stolen.  Movers  and  travelers  going  across  the  country  would 
often  steal  their  horse  feed  and  take  rails  from  the  fences  with  which 
to  make  fuel.  One  farmer,  however,  got  even  with  a  mover.  He  had 
missed  some  rails  from  his  fence  and  mounting  a  horse,  went  after 
them,  and  overtaking  the  mover  before  he  reached  Osceola,  made 
him  pay  fifty  cents  each  for  the  rails  he  had  burned.  The  farmers 
would  often  see  them  in  the  act.  The  writer  on  one  occasion  caught 
some  young,  well-dressed  fellows  stealing  hay.  I  asked  what  they 
did  that  for  and  they  asked  me  to  set  a  price,  which  I  did.  They  said 
that  it  was  not  any  too  much  and  paid  and  drove  on. 

Good-blooded  horses  were  very  scarce,  but  at  the  same  time 
there  were  a  good  many  serviceable  horses  on  the  farms,  among  which 
were  the  Canadian  horses  as  they  were  called. 

The  first  hogs  were  the  well-known  hazel-splitters  or  razor-backs 
that  were  allowed  to  rove  the  prairies  at  will,  and  j^ou  might  imagine 
yourself  among  the  brush  or  in  the  tall  prairie  grass  with  a  salamander 
in  your  hand  searching  for  a  hog  to  butcher  or  one  that  might  have 
a  family  of  pigs  to  care  for.  It  was  not  uncommon  to  fail  in  finding 
a  young  litter  of  swine  until  they  were  several  days  old.  As  to  cattle 
there  were  just  cattle  and  a  conglomeration  of  colors  and  kinds.  They 
all  had  horns  and  most  of  them  good  long  ones.  There  were  some 
excellent  milkers  and  some  expert  kickers  among  them. 

RAILROADS 

In  the  year  1870  the  Burlington  &  :Missouri  River  Railroad  Com- 
pany was  organized  to  build  a  railroad  from  Burlington  Mest.  The 
Chicago,  Burlington  &  Quincy  Railroad  Company  soon  took  over  a 


HISTORY  OF  DECATUR  COUNTY  217 

controlling  interest  in  this  road,  and  since  this  time  has  been  under 
this  ownership.  The  greater  part  of  the  line  east  and  west  through 
Iowa  was  built  in  1871  and  at  the  same  time  a  line  was  built  from 
Chariton  to  Leon,  under  the  name  of  the  Chariton  Branch.  To 
obtain  this  branch  line  the  localities  through  which  it  passed  had  to 
raise  considerable  money.  Over  eighty  thousand  dollars  ^^■as  raised 
in  Decatur  County.  Garden  Grove  Township  gave  $2.5,000,  while 
Center  gave  $50,000  and  the  right  of  way  between  Garden  Grove 
and  Leon.  At  Leon  the  road  stopped  for  eight  years.  In  1879  it 
was  extended  south  as  far  as  Bethany,  jNIo.,  and  in  the  following 
year  a  branch  was  built  from  a  point  in  New  Buda  To^^•nship,  now 
called  Togo,  through  Blount  Ayr,  in  Ringgold  County,  to  Grant 
City,  ]Mo.  This  was  done  under  the  name  of  the  Leon,  ^Nlount  Ayr 
&  Southwestern,  but  really  by  the  Burlington  company.  Xew  Buda 
voted  a  5  per  cent  tax,  which  yielded  $27,000,  and  Davis  City  also 
voted  a  tax,  besides  the  private  subscriptions  which  were  obtained. 
The  Bethany  Branch  has  been  extended  to  St.  Joseph,  3Io.,  and 
farther  southward  since. 

The  Humeston  &  Shenandoah  Railroad  was  built  in  1879  and 
1880.  The  ^Missouri,  Iowa  &  Nebraska  Line  extended  its  road  to 
Van  Wert,  in  Decatur  County,  and  then  turned  over  the  line  from 
Humeston  to  Van  Wert  to  the  Humeston  &  Shenandoah  Company, 
which  company  then  built  on  to  Shenandoah.  Franklin  and  Long 
Creek  townships  voted  aid  in  the  form  of  taxes,  with  the  understand- 
ing that  the  road  should  be  built  through  the  center  of  the  townships. 
However,  the  road  extended  along  the  northern  border  and  the 
townships  which  had  voted  the  money  opposed  the  collection  of  it. 
Franklin  won  out,  while  Long  Creek  paid  only  enough  to  cover  court 
costs.     This  line  is  now  owned  by  the  Burlington  System. 

The  Des  ^Nloines,  Osceola  &  Southern  Railroad,  which  was  at  first 
known  as  the  narrow  gauge,  was  projected  and  constructed  by  Osceola 
parties,  aided  by  subscriptions  along  the  line.  The  company  was 
organized  at  Osceola  in  1880  and  the  actual  work  of  construction 
was  begun  in  the  spring  of  1881.  In  1882  the  road  was  built  south 
from  Osceola  to  Decatur  City,  in  Decatur  County.  There  it  stopped 
for  some  months,  the  officers  of  the  company  apparently  undecided 
Avhich  way  to  go.  Decatur  Township  contributed  over  twenty  thou- 
sand dollars  in  tax,  besides  the  subscriptions.  The  following  year 
the  road  turned  at  a  right  angle  and  came  to  Leon,  arriving  October 
1,  1883.  Leon  gave  $30,000  and  also  the  right  of  way  to  the  south 
line  of  Eden  Township.     In  the  spring  of  1884  the  line  was  started 


218  HISTORY  OF  DECATUR  COUNTY 

south  again  and  completed  to  Cainesville,  Mo.  Eden  Township 
gave  $6,000  and  Hamilton  Township  $11,000  and  the  right  of  way. 
This  line  later  passed  into  the  hands  of  a  receiver  and  then  was  taken 
over  by  the  Burlington  System,  which  owns  all  the  railroads  in  Deca- 
tur County  at  present. 

GRAND  RIVER  OUTLAAVS 

In  all  the  realms  of  human  fancy  it  is  impossible  to  conceive  of  a 
more  desperate  band  of  incendiaries,  cattle  thieves  and  insurance 
fraud  promoters  than  that  which  for  years  infested  the  regions  adja- 
cent to  the  little  Town  of  Grand  River,  in  Decatur  County,  la. 

Even  the  Cantril  band  of  grave  robbers  was  not  more  daring  in 
its  movements,  more  diabolical  in  its  plans  and  more  devilishly  shrewd 
in  putting  those  plans  into  action  than  what  were  called  Frank  Green- 
land's barn-burners  and  horse-killers  who  held  sway  for  perhaps  ten 
years  until  finally  run  to  earth  by  men  who  represented  insurance 
companies  in  Iowa  and  other  states.  Now  the  band  is  broken  up. 
Greenland  is  under  indictment  for  shooting  two  horses  and  has  also 
been  convicted  of  cattle  stealing  and  is  now  serving  a  term  at  Fort 
JNIadison.  Other  members  of  the  gang,  among  them  Dick  Pray, 
the  chief  lieutenant,  confessed  after  awaiting  until  the  statute  of 
limitations  made  them  immune  from  prosecution.  The  terrorism 
which  hovered  over  Grand  River  in  a  cloud  has  been  dispelled,  and 
the  frauds,  unique  and  cunning,  have  ended.  Here  in  brief  is  the 
system  employed  by  the  gang: 

^lembers  would  purchase  horses  for  a  couple  of  dollars  each. 
They  would  remove  good  animals  from  their  barns  and  place  within 
the  iDlugs.  The  barn  would  be  mysteriously  destroyed  by  fire,  the 
insurance  companies  would  be  forced  to  pay  for  the  barn  and  for  the 
destroyed  animals,  and  the  good  horses  would  then  be  sold  at  the 
highest  market  value  in  some  distant  point.  Still  further  it  devel- 
oped, when  Dick  Pray  took  the  witness  stand,  that  these  men  would 
knock  horses  in  the  head,  singe  the  hair  on  the  neck  and  faces  with 
matches,  place  the  carcasses  near  barbed  wire  fences  and  collect  insur- 
ance for  the  supposed  lightning  struck  animals. 

In  one  case,  it  came  to  view,  two  horses  were  tied  to  a  tree, 
knocked  in  the  head,  dynamite  was  exploded  in  the  branches,  and  the 
insvu-ance  companies  paid  $190  on  the  alleged  victims  of  lightning. 
And  that  on  horses  which  cost  less  than  $5  apiece. 

In  the  territory  around  Grand  River,  the  gang  numbering  per- 
haps a  dozen,  ruled  with  absolute  power.     No  one  dared  oppose  or 


i 


HlSTOllY  OF  DECATUR  COUNTV  219 

speak  against  the  methods  enipJoyed.  AVhenever  a  resident  had  the 
courage  to  say  what  he  tliought,  his  barn  or  other  property  would 
mysteriously  catch  fire.  The  power  of  the  gang  was  endless.  And 
thus  for  several  years  it  pursued  its  course  of  burning,  destroying 
and  collecting  until  hundreds  of  dollars  were  filched  from  the  treas- 
uries of  the  insurance  companies.  Within  the  year  1901  alone  thirty- 
three  horses  were  destroyed  by  the  fire  or  lightning  and  the  insurance 
was  collected  for  them,  notwithstanding  the  fact  that  suspicion  pointed 
an  accusing  finger  at  some  of  the  owners. 

To  I.  N.  Corbett,  of  Des  Moines,  the  claim  adjuster  of  the  State 
Insurance  Company,  more  than  to  any  other  is  due  the  credit  for 
unveiling  the  mystery  and  dispersing  the  band.  In  1901  Green- 
land's barn  burned  and  with  it  nineteen  head  of  horses.  The  State 
Insurance  Company  claimed  that  fraud  had  been  used.  It  refused 
to  pay  the  $4,000  insurance.  The  case  was  taken  into  District  Court 
and  judgment  was  given  Greenland  for  that  amount.  INIr.  Corbett 
redoubled  his  labors.  For  three  years  he  searched  for  evidence  against 
what  he  believed  to  be  the  gang  at  the  bottom  of  the  work.  Finally 
the  statute  of  limitations  having  intervened,  members  of  the  gang 
confessed,  and  in  October,  1904,  Judge  Towner  set  aside  the  judg- 
ment. Judge  Towner's  decision  in  setting  aside  the  judgment  was 
a  masterpiece.  It  scored  members  of  the  band  in  a  manner  delightful 
to  the  residents  of  Grand  River  district. 

After  the  night  of  September  8,  1901,  when  Greenland's  barn 
burned  with  the  nineteen  head  of  horses,  Mr.  Corbett  was  sent  to  the 
scene  to  look  over  the  situation  before  the  money  for  insurance  was 
paid.  The  first  suspicious  sign  that  struck  Corbett  was  the  fact 
that  the  horses  had  been  buried  before  being  examined.  He  secured 
a  veterinarian  and  went  to  the  spot  where  the  horses  were  interred, 
with  the  intention  of  digging  up  the  carcasses  and  inspecting  them. 
By  looking  at  their  teeth  the  veterinarian  was  expected  to  tell  the  age 
and  sex  of  the  animals.  Fancy  the  surprise  when  out  of  the  nine- 
teen horses  exhumed  but  one  had  teeth.  The  other  eighteen  were 
headless.  This  looked  like  fraud  to  Corbett,  and  after  a  little  further 
investigation  he  recommended  that  the  claim  not  be  allowed  and  thus 
resulted  the  law  suit.  Since  then  it  has  developed  that  the  highest 
price  paid  for  any  animal  in  that  barn  was  $11  and  the  lowest  $1. 
That  was  the  value  of  the  $120  horses.  Later  it  became  known  that 
the  night  before  the  fire  Greenland  had  taken  all  of  his  good  stock 
out  of  the  barn  and  had  hidden  them  nearby.  In  their  places  he  put 
nineteen  j^lugs. 


220  HISTORY  OF  DECATUR  COUNTY 

The  number  of  other  fires  convinced  the  insurance  companies  that 
crime  was  afoot,  so  Corbett  was  ke^it  on  the  trail  for  the  next  few 
years.  He  was  known  to  the  gang  and  his  way  was  not  replete  with 
success  by  any  means.  In  his  search  for  evidence  he  traveled  con- 
siderably over  the  ^liddle  West.  Finally,  in  October,  1904,  the  men 
confessed. 

The  change  wrought  by  the  elimination  of  the  criminals  was 
remarkable.  Before  Grand  River  and  vicinity  had  been  in  a  state 
of  lawless  disorder,  saloons  ran  without  license,  and  shooting  scrapes 
and  destruction  of  projDcrty  passed  without  trial  because  there  could 
be  found  no  witnesses  who  had  the  temerity  to  speak  what  they  knew. 
In  natural  order,  the  country  around  settled  down  after  the  appre- 
hending of  the  desperadoes  and  has  been  peaceful  ever  since. 

PIONEER  REMINISCENCES 

The  article  following  is  from  the  pen  of  C.  B.  Jordan,  now  a  resi- 
dent of  Oklahoma.  In  this  story  he  finds  exception  to  many  things 
which  have  heretofore  been  legion  in  the  history  of  the  county: 

Speaking  of  the  first  term  of  court,  of  which  Daniel  oNIoad  was 
clerk,  I  will  never  forget  seeing  him  use  the  county  seal  for  the  first 
time.  There  was  no  frame  or  lever  about  the  seal,  simply  the  brass 
circle.  He  smoothed  a  piece  of  a  log  in  the  woodpile  with  an  axe 
and  placed  the  paper  thereon,  then  placed  the  brass  piece  only  con- 
taining the  letters  thereon,  then  struck  it  with  the  axe  to  make  the 


impression. 


]Much  of  the  election  of  relocation  of  the  county  seat  I  remember 
distinctly.  The  general  advertised  understanding  up  to  within  forty- 
eight  hours  of  the  date  of  the  election  was  that  two  points  only  were 
to  be  voted  on;  one  was  the  point  at  Decatur  City,  then  there  was  a 
strong  element  who  were  going  to  vote  for  a  point  at  the  center  of 
the  county;  and  about  forty-eight  hours  prior  to  election  day  John 
Vanderpool,  AVilliam  Oney,  Hiram  J.  Stanley,  Doctor  Thompson 
and  my  father,  John  Jordan,  all  being  interested  east  of  Little  River, 
counted  noses  and  they  beheved  that  they  could  defeat  both  the  other 
places  by  a  little  quick  work,  and  locate  the  county  seat  on  the  high 
prairie  east  of  Little  River,  so  they  selected  three  of  their  number 
with  good  horses  and  saddles  and  ordered  them  to  see  every  voter 
east  of  Little  River  and  east  of  range  25,  south  of  Little  River, 
between  that  and  election  morning  and  tell  them  about  this  game, 
and  swear  them  not  to  let  anvone  west  of  the  same  lines  know  a  thins^ 


HISTORY  OF  DECATUR  COUNTY  221 

about  it,  but  to  go  up  early  the  morning  of  the  election  and  vote  for  a 
point  named  Independence.  Decatur  City  did  not  hear  of  it  until 
the  next  day.  JNIy  memory  is  that  it  carried  by  eight  votes  over  all 
others. 

Now  to  Lamoni.  1  left  that  countrv  in  the  vear  187.5,  and  ^Ir. 
Banta,  as  president  of  the  colony,  accompanied  by  Mr.  Dancer,  as 
vice  president,  purchased  the  first  land  of  me,  as  agent  of  the  land 
that  the  church  bought,  they  having  made  purchases  of  other  agents 
who  had  no  authority  to  sell,  and  returned  to  Leon  expecting  some 
deeds  to  have  been  there,  but  not  one  deed  had  arrived.  Tlien  they 
came  to  my  office,  and  I  assured  them  if  they  bought  land  of  me  that 
the  deed  would  come,  except  in  case  the  owner  had  died  since  my 
authority.  The  third  day  after  they  gave  me  some  money  two  deeds 
arrived  by  mail,  and  they  were  so  well  pleased  they  made  my  office 
their  headquarters  until  I  had  sold  them  something  over  one  hundred 
and  ten  thousand  dollars  worth.  I  found  them  a  nice  set  of  men.  I 
think  the  Joe  Smith  of  JMormon  reputation  has  been  in  my  office 
several  times.     j\Ir.  Banta  delighted  in  being  called  a  JNIormon. 

Now  as  to  changing  the  name  from  Independence  and  from  South 
Independence  to  Leon.  I  was  at  that  meeting,  and  George  L.  ^loore, 
at  that  time  a  merchant  in  partnership  with  Seth  Richards,  was 
empowered  fully  by  the  meeting  to  select  some  suitable  short  name, 
and  he  selected  Leon.  The  present  generation  do  not  know  how 
awkward  that  name  seemed  to  be  at  first.  The  first  house,  built  bv 
Thomas  H.  East,  was  built  before  the  toAvn  was  located  and  was 
just  immediately  soutli  of  the  present  ^Methodist  Church,  between 
that  and  the  alley,  if  there  is  an  alley  there.  The  sclioolliouse  that 
INIrs.  Delilah  Loe  thinks  was  a  mile  east  of  town,  in  18,53,  was  in  the 
east  edge  of  Leffler's  Addition;  if  my  memory  is  right,  the  teacher's 
name  was  Hastings.  Along  about  those  years  there  ^\as  a  school 
taught  in  what  was  known  as  the  old  Blair  courtliouse  building,  by 
Josephus  C.  Porter,  who  nearly  scared  me  to  death  for  whispering 
to  my  girl.  But  the  first  school  was  taught  in  a  loghouse  on  what 
was  known  later  as  Hurst's  Store  Corner,  by  Humphrey  Fullerton, 
a  brother  of  INIrs.  F.  F.  Thompson,  and  one  term  by  Carrington  S. 
Porter. 

It  has  been  stated  that  Charles  B.  Jordan,  of  Enid,  Okla.,  started 
the  abstract  books,  and  the  clerical  work  was  performed  by  Albert 
Hale.  I  wish  to  state  that  the  real  blank  books  that  were  up  to  date 
Mere  bought  and  commenced  at  a  date  (which  I  have  forgotten)  by 
Georsre  Burton  and  J.  Barr  INIorrison.     About  the  same  date  and 


222  HISTORY  OF  DECATUR  COUNTY 

unknown  to  either  party  Albert  Hale  and  W.  E.  Dawson  x^urchased 
a  set  of  blanks  of  another  book  firm,  all  of  the  blank  books  arriving 
in  Leon  at  about  the  same  time.  If  either  had  known  of  the  other's 
action  there  w^ould  have  been  but  one  set  purchased.  Soon  the  former 
fii-m  disagreed  and  quit  work;  soon  thereafter  I  bought  Burton's 
interest,  without  consulting  ]Mr.  jNIorrison.  About  the  same  day 
William  H.  Robb  bought  Mr.  ^Morrison's  interest,  without  consulting 
]Mr.  Burton,  so  unknown  to  each  other  the  firm  of  Jordan  &  Robb 
was  established.  Later  I  purchased  Mr.  Robb's  interest.  I  worked 
steadily  along  for  three  years  in  my  books,  employing  Albert  Hale 
to  complete  the  last  record  book.  I  paid  him  $5  per  day.  It  took 
twenty  days  in  which  to  complete  them  up  to  date.  You  will  find  that 
set  of  books  mainly  in  my  handwriting.  After  a  time  Dawson  and 
Hale  did  not  hitch  good,  and  Mr.  Dawson  coaxed  me  to  buy  ^Ir.  Hale 
out,  which  I  did,  and  later  I  bought  ^Ir.  Dawson  out.  This  set  of 
books  were  mainly  in  INIr.  Hale's  handwriting,  but  I  never  used  them, 
as  they  were  not  up  to  date. 

CHRISTMAS   FIFTY   YExVRS   AGO 

By  an  Old  Timer 

The  Christmas  spirit  is  doubtless  the  same  today  that  it  was  forty 
years  ago,  though  manifested  in  different  ways  of  feasting  and 
serving. 

One  of  the  first  Christmas  entertainments  within  my  recollection 
was  held  in  the  old  INIethodist  Episcopal  Church,  where  the  Carnegie 
Library  now  stands.  The  tree  was  not  a  graceful  evergreen,  but  a 
wild  crabapple  from  the  backyard  of  Ira  B.  Ryan's  home  on  West 
Commercial  Street.  The  children  covered  its  branches  with  bright- 
colored  paper  and  strands  of  popcorn. 

Aunty  Patterson  made  tissue  paper  snowballs  with  which  to 
adorn  it. 

The  teachers  made  silver  paper  baskets,  which  w^ere  filled  with 
nuts  and  candy  for  each  scholar.  Of  the  program  I  remember  that 
Jennie  Blodgett  directed  the  music;  I.  P.  jNIartin  made  a  speech 
about  the  use  of  profane  language.  Uzz  Tharp  and  Heck  Sanford 
sang  a  comic  song.  Pretty  little  Alice  Dilsaver  recited  in  trumpet 
tones,  "Hang  Up  the  Baby's  Stocking."  Dan  Portor  picked  a  fan- 
dangle (I  think  that  w^as  w^hat  he  called  it)  on  a  guitar.  Rosy- 
cheeked,  blue-eyed  Emma  and  Ollie  Gillham,  looking  like  big 
"chainy"  dolls,  sang  a  song  about  a  lost  kitten.     Then  J.  L.  Young, 


HISTORY  OF  DECATUR  COUNTY  223 

representing  Santa  Claus,  distributed  the  i^resents.  The  most  popu- 
lar little  girls  received  sugar  apples  and  china  dollheads  ( dolls  had 
no  bodies  in  those  days) . 

The  larger  girls  received  bottles  of  choice  perfumery,  such  as 
musk  and  bergamot.  The  big  boys  received  bear-sliaped  bottles  of 
hair  oil  and  candy  hearts  bearing  sentiments  of  affection,  the  latter 
creating  much  merriment,  being  read  by  Santa  Claus  before  they 
reached  their  owners. 

On  the  top  of  the  tree  was  a  huge  turkey  for  Rev.  G.  P.  Bennett. 

But  the  crowning  event  of  the  holiday  week  was  the  annual  "festi- 
ble"  held  in  the  old  brick  schoolhouse.  Every  man,  woman  and  child 
that  could  raise  the  necessary  four  bits  attended.  Lon"-  before  dark 
the  crowd  began  to  arrive.  The  tables  extended  the  entire  length  of 
the  room  and  were  filled  with  every  product  the  village  and  country- 
side afforded.  In  those  days  we  had  no  smothered  or  fricasseed 
chicken,  but  great  platters  of  fried  and  roasted  fowls;  no  veal  loaf 
or  jellied  beef,  but  stacks  of  old-fashioned  roast  beef,  home-cured 
ham  and  plenty  of  crisp,  juicy  turkey.  No  salads,  olives  or  celery, 
but  pickles  galore,  cucumbers,  beets,  mango,  pickled  eggs,  piccililli 
and  cold  slaw.  No  patties,  but  each  plate  was  supplied  with  a  little 
jelly  tart. 

For  dessert  we  could  boast  no  sherbet,  ices  or  frappe,  but  oceans 
of  preserves,  pies  and  cakes.  Stem  glass  dishes  were  passed  back 
and  forth  containing  crabapple,  tomato,  ground  cherry,  plum,  wild 
strawberry,  watermelon  and  citron  preserves. 

The  pies  were  equally  as  varied,  gooseberry,  blackberry,  elder- 
berry, squash,  pmnpkin,  grape  and  vinegar. 

Beside  each  plate  was  a  goblet  filled  with  float,  ornamented  with 
a  bit  of  currant  jelly.  Conspicuous  among  the  viands  were  ]Mrs. 
Uriah  Bobbit's  and  ^Nlrs.  S.  C.  Thompson's  sugar-coated  rusks, 
Mrs.  J.  B.  Lunbeck's  and  Mrs.  S.  H.  Gates'  golden  crulls,  ]\Irs.  S.  "\V. 
Hurst's .  white  mountain  cake  adorned  with  a  bouquet  of  artificial 
flowers,  ]Mrs.  L.  H.  Sales'  big  fruit  cake,  ^Nlrs.  I.  N.  Clark's  cake 
trimmed  with  red  gum-drops,  3Irs.  Udell's  pyramid  cake  formed  of 
forty-two  small  cakes,  3Irs.  Craigo's  fine  marble  cake,  3Irs.  Hil- 
dreth's  white-frosted  cake  w4th  the  date,  "1869,"  outlined  in  red  sand 
sugar. 

In  place  of  carnations  and  roses  the  center  of  each  table  was 
decked  with  baskets  of  Aunt  Rhoda  Hawkins'  feather  flowers  of  bril- 
liant hues. 


224  HISTORY  OF  DECATUR  COUNTY 

The  baskets  were  made  of  crystallized  alum  and  glittered  and 
sparkled  under  the  blinking  candles,  making  a  veritable  Jack  Frost 
scene.  How  merry  everyone  seemed  as  they  marched  around  vie^v- 
ing  the  tables.  There  was  no  changing  of  plates;  everything  to  eat 
in"si"'ht.  How  "smelly"  the  coiFee  and  the  baked  beans  and  mashed 
potatoes  when  the  lids  were  lifted  from  the  big  tureens ! 

Hettie  Rogers,  Ada  Kirk,  Anna  Gardner,  Ester  Sanger,  "Doc" 
Warner  and  Wesley  Silvers  poured  the  coffee — not  in  little  china 
shells,  but  in  big  heavy  cups  that  held  nearly  a  pint,  and  that  com- 
pleted the  serving.  After  supper  we  had  some  singing  led  by  Jabez 
Dawson;  then  the  young  folks  played  "Needle's  Eye;"  Billy 
Boone,  Wade  AVood,  Billy  Smith  and  Cass  Sales  got  "choosed"  the 
oftenest.  While  Kittie  Givens,  Hattie  Lindsey,  Emma  Vaughn  and 
Hila  Fishburn  were  the  belles  of  the  evening — perhaps  on  account 
of  their  beautiful  curls,  the  kind  that  curled  naturally — around  a  hot 
poker.  Among  the  little  misses  that  caused  much  envy  by  the  pretti- 
ness  of  their  dresses  were  Katie  Finley,  in  bright  Scotch  plaid ;  Emma 
Elsworth,  in  flowered  ^Marseillaise;  Helen  Dawson,  in  red  alpaca,  and 
Etta  ^IcClelland,  in  blue  wool  delaine  trimmed  with  cloverleaf  tettin'. 
There  were  many  little  boys  present,  but  none  attracted  more  atten- 
tion than  little  Harry  and  Orra  Long,  in  velveteen  sailor  suits,  with 
red  sashes  tied  military  fashion. 

Next  came  Aunt  Jane  JNIiller's  big  cake  containing  a  gold  ring. 
The  cake  was  cut  in  many  pieces,  each  piece  selling  at  10  cents.  Sam 
Ellis  drew  the  ring  and  gave  it  to  ^lollie  ^liles  or  Emma  Schaifer — 
I  have  now  forgotten  which.  Then  a  cane  was  voted  to  the  laziest 
man,  and  a  cake  to  the  handsomest  ladv.  Albert  Hale  carried  off 
the  cane,  and  Mrs.  E.  J.  Close  won  the  cake.  The  big  "festible" 
netted  over  one  hundred  dollars  for  the  schoolhouse  organ,  and  thus 
closed  the  holiday  season  of  1869,  which  probably  for  good  fellow- 
ship and  real  enjoyment  is  not  far  surpassed  by  the  more  elaborate 
festivities  of  the  present  day. 

DECATUR  COUNTY  IMMIGRATION  SOCIETY 

In  September,  1869,  an  organization  was  effected  which  was 
called  the  Decatin-  Countv  Immio-ration  Societv.  The  officers  of  this 
association  were:  President,  H.  C.  Bechtold;  vice  president,  G.  W. 
Baker;  treasurer,  S.  C.  Thompson;  secretary,  H.  Kompe;  assistant 
secretary,  W.  W.  Ellis.  A  constitution  and  by-laws  were  adopted 
and  quite  a  sum  of  money  was  subscribed  towards  paying  the  expenses 


HISTORY  OF  DECATUR  COUNTY  225 

of  the  association.  One  of  the  principal  objects  of  the  association 
Mas  the  pubhcation  of  a  newspaper  called  Die  AVage,  to  be  printed  in 
the  German  language,  to  induce  Germans  to  settle  in  the  county. 
The  editor,  H.  Kompe,  guaranteed  that  it  would  bring  200  Germans 
into  Decatur  County.  Although  the  association  did  not,  through 
lack  of  means,  accomplish  all  it  desired,  yet  it  proved  that  the  pro- 
jectors of  the  plan  were  enterprising  and  liad  the  interests  of  the 
county  at  heart. 

DECATUR  COUNTY  AGRICULTUR.VL  AXD  lAXY.  STOCK  ASSOCIATION 

The  first  two  or  three  fairs  in  Decatur  County  were  held  in  the 
years  before  the  war,  but  none  were  held  during  the  progress  of  the 
struggle.  After  the  war  was  over  the  society  was  revived  and  fairs 
were  held  regularly.  In  1875  a  reorganization  resulted  in  the  forma- 
tion of  the  Decatur  County  Agricultural  and  Live  Stock  Associa- 
tion as  a  stock  comjDany.  The  capital  stock  was  fixed  at  $6,000,  with 
$10  shares.  The  property  owned  by  the  association  consisted  of 
eighty  acres,  finely  improved  for  fair  and  racing  purposes.  It  was 
located  one  mile  north  of  Leon  and  was  purchased  from  U.  L.  Shafer 
and  J.  B.  Lunbeck. 

THE  DECATUR  COUNTY  HISTORICAL  SOCIETY 

By  Heman  C.  Smith 

The  Decatur  County  Historical  Society  enjoys  the  distinction  of 
being  the  second  county  society  in  the  State  of  Iowa  to  be  organized, 
and  hence  has  been  spoken  of  by  the  Iowa  Journal  of  History  and 
Politics  as  being  "a  pioneer  among  local  organizations."  (Iowa 
Journal  of  History  and  Politics,  Vol,  V,  Xo.  3,  July,  1907,  page 
433.) 

The  society  was  organized  in  1901,  only  a  few  weeks  after  the 
organization  of  the  Lucas  County  Historical  Society  at  Chariton,  la., 
which  Mas  the  first  organized  in  the  state. 

The  organization  of  the  Decatur  County  society  M-as  due,  to  an 
extent,  to  the  influence  of  the  Hon.  Charles  Aldrich,  deceased,  in  this 
May:  As  mc  remember  it,  it  M'as  early  in  the  spring  of  1901,  Mhile 
on  a  visit  to  Des  ^loines,  that  m'c  paid  our  usual  visit  to  this  grand 
old  man  in  loMa  history,  as  M^as  our  M'ont  Mhile  in  the  City  of  Des 
^loines.  And  in  talking  over  matters  pertaining  to  the  preservation 
of  things  historical.  Me  asked  him  M'hy  it  M^ould  not  be  a  good  plan  to 


Vol.  I— 1  5 


226  HISTORY  OF  DECATUR  COUNTY 

organize  county  societies  to  work  in  conjunction  with  the  state  depart- 
ment. He  at  once  told  us  of  the  organization  of  the  Washington 
County  Historical  Society  of  Pennsylvania,  and  gave  us  a  copy  of 
the  constitution  adopted  by  that  society,  and  he  further  urged  us,  at 
as  early  a  date  as  possible,  to  perfect  the  organization  of  Decatur 

County. 

Acting  upon  his  suggestion,  but  delaying  the  matter  somewhat, 
we  organized,  but,  as  before  said,  shortly  after  Col.  Warren  S.  Dun- 
gan,  now  also  deceased,  had  called  together  some  of  his  friends  and 
organized  the  Lucas  County  Historical  Society.  We  called  in  four 
of  our  friends  whom  we  thought  would  be  interested  in  historical 
work,  and  organized  ourselves  by  adopting  the  constitution  of  which 
you  are  all  more  or  less  familiar.  It  is  a  noteworthy  fact  that  the 
entire  membership,  as  represented  at  the  first  meeting,  was  given 
office.  The  writer  was  elected  president;  E.  L.  Kelley,  Jr.,  secre- 
tary; Miss  Carrie  Judd,  assistant  secretarj^;  R.  C.  Kelley  and  Israel 
A.  Smith,  curators.  At  meetings  held  subsequent  to  this  there  were 
admitted  to  membership  ]Mrs.  F.  M.  Smith,  Miss  ^label  Horner  and 
Dr.  J.  B.  Horner. 

Unfortunately  for  the  cause  of  accuracy  in  getting  the  history  of 
our  early  organization,  our  records  have  become  lost  or  destroyed, 
we  fear  having  been  destroyed  in  the  fire  which  destroyed  the  Herald 
office  in  Lamoni.  The  few  organizers  of  the  society  were  earnest, 
and  they  organized  with  the  full  intention  of  doing  systematic  and 
earnest  work  in  the  way  of  interviewing  early  settlers  in  the  county, 
and  getting  a  record  of  events  which  live  only  in  the  memoiy  of  the 
older  settlers,  and  which  are  lost  to  us  as  these  settlers  pass  away 
without  being  interviewed  or  enabled  to  write.  But  unfortunately 
for  the  work  of  the  society,  fate  ruled  that  the  membership  was  to  be 
widely  scattered,  and  at  one  time  while  the  president  was  doing  church 
work  "on  the  far  eastern  coast  of  INIaine,  the  assistant  secretary  was 
teaching  in  the  far-away  Philippine  Islands,  while  the  secretary  and 
one  of  the  curators  were  doing  educational  work  in  Iowa  City,  and  the 
otlier  officer  at  work  in  Nebraska. 

It  was  early  appreciated  that  for  the  society  to  do  its  best  work 
the  organization  must  be  countj^  wide,  and  hence,  a  meeting  held  at 
the  home  of  Doctor  Horner,  the  president  was  authorized  to  enrolL 
as  members  any  whom  he  deemed  proper  to  become  members.  This 
autliority  was  given  him  with  a  view  to  his  making  visits  to  Leon, 
Decatur  City,  Pleasanton  and  other  places  in  the  county  to  extend 
the  organization.     It  was  while  acting  under  this  authority  that  the 


HISTORY  OF  DECATUR  COUNTY  227 

president  called  a  meeting  in  Leon  of  June  1,  1907,  to  arouse  interest 
in  Leon,  and  at  which  some  thirty-odd  memhers  were  enrolled,  the 
newly  enrolled  members  at  once  entering  into  business  session  and 
electing  a  new  corps  of  officers. 

After  the  society  had  been  oi-ganized  some  three  years,  at  the 
invitation  of  Dr.  Benjamin  F.  Shambaugh,  editor  of  tlie  Iowa  State 
Historical  Society,  the  Decatur  County  Historical  Society  became 
affiliated  with  the  state  society,  its  certificate  of  auxiliary  membership 
being  dated  August  3,  1904,  we  believe. 


CHAPTER  XX 

GEOLOGY  OF  DECATUR  COUNTY 

> 

The  following  detailed  description  of  the  geology  of  Decatur 
County  is  taken  from  the  Iowa  Geological  Survey,  Vol.  VIII,  annual 
report  1897,  pages  255  to  314.     The  survey  was  made  by  H.  F.  Bain. 

INTRODUCTION 

Decatur  County  lies  in  the  southern  tier  of  counties,  almost  mid- 
way between  the  Mississi^Dpi  and  Missouri  rivers.  Ringgold  bounds 
it  on  the  west,  Clarke  on  the  north,  Wayne  on  the  east,  and  Harrison 
and  JNIercer  counties,  of  Missouri,  on  the  south.  In  area  it  includes 
528  square  miles,  with  some  fractional  pieces  of  land,  the  total  being 
343,910  acres.  The  townships  run  from  67  to  70  north,  the  southern 
tier  being  fractional,  and  the  ranges  from  24  to  27  west.  The  county 
is,  as  usual,  divided  into  sixteen  civil  townships. 

To  the  geologist  Decatur  County  is  of  especial  interest,  because 
of  the  fact  that  running  through  it  is  the  heavy  limestone  which  forms 
the  base  of  the  Missourian  series  and  which  derives  its  interest  to  the 
economist  from  the  fact  that  it  divides  the  productive  from  the  unpro- 
ductive coal  measures.  This  limestone,  or  assemblage  of  separate 
limestones,  is  known  as  the  Bethany  or  Bethany  Falls  limestone,  a 
name  first  used  by  Broadhead.  In  Iowa  the  exposures  have  been 
mainly  studied  are  in  the  vicinity  of  Winterset,  and  to  the  strata  at 
that  point  White  gave  the  name  of  Winterset  limestone.  The  beds 
outcrop])ing  at  Bethany,  Mo.,  and  Winterset,  la.,  have  for  some  time 
been  believed  to  be  identical,  and  the  actual  continuity  of  the  two  has, 
in  fact,  been  recently  proven.  Between  the  two  points  mentioned, 
liowever,  no  detailed  sections  have  been  published,  and  it  was  mainly 
to  sui)ply  tliis  lack  that  the  study  of  Decatur  County  was  taken  up 
at  this  time. 

Previous  to  the  present  survey  White  seems  to  have  been  the  only 
geologist  who  had  worked  in  the  county.     His  notes  ^  include  sec- 

1  First  and  Second  Ann.  Repts.  State  Geologist,  pp.  42-43.  1868.  Also  Geology  of  Iowa, 
Vol.  I,  pp.  818-327.     1870. 

228 


HISTORY  OF  DECATUli  COUXTV  229 

tions  at  a  few  points  along  Grand  River  and  its  tributaries,  but  the 
short  time  allowed  for  the  work  preehided  anything  like  a  detailed 
study  of  the  area.  The  adjoining  eounties  of  Iowa  were  also 
described  by  him  in  the  report  cited.  In  ^lissouri,  Harrison  and 
Mercer  counties,  which  adjoin  Decatur  on  the  south,  have  been  visited 
by  various  members  of  the  JNIissouri  (Geological  Survey.  The  earliest 
notes  are  those  of  Swallow,  descriptive  of  certain  fossils  collected  in 
Harrison  County."  The  coal  beds  of  both  counties  are  noted  by 
Winslow.'^  The  character  of  the  surface  deposits  are  noted  by  Todd,* 
and  the  altitudes  and  topograpliy  discussed  by  jNIarbut. "  Rroadhead 
has  also  published  notes  on  the  coal  measures  of  the  region,  which 
will  be  more  particularly  referred  to  in  the  body  of  this  report. 

Physiography 

topography 

Decatur  County  lies  well  up  on  the  ]Mississippi-Missouri  divide. 
The  streams  belong  to  the  ^Missouri  River  system,  but  the  country 
belongs  rather  to  the  high  land  between  the  rivers  than  to  the  JNIis- 
souri Valley  proper.  It  is  a  broad,  even,  but  much  dissected  plain, 
with  little  or  no  slope,  and  includes  the  northern  continuations  of  the 
Warrensburgh  platform  and  the  Lathrop  plain,  defined  by  jNIarbut.*' 
In  the  country  under  discussion  the  two  physiographic  areas  are  not 
very  distinct.  The  influence  of  the  drift  seems  to  have  been  such  as 
to  obscure  the  divisions  which  here  may  perhaps  never  have  been  so 
sharj^ly  defined  as  farther  south.  In  a  general  way  it  is  true  that 
as  one  passes  west  from  the  Des  INIoines  to  the  jMissouri  River  the 
ascent  is  made  by  a  series  of  steps.  This  is  shown  by  the  profile  of 
the  main  line  of  the  Chicago,  Burlington  &  Quincy  Railway.  This 
road  runs  across  the  drainage  lines  of  the  region  and  accordingly 
crosses  a  series  of  intermediate  upland  stretches.  These  bits  of  upland 
are  approximately  level,  but  stand  successively  higher  toward  the 
west.  The  divide  between  the  Des  Moines  and  the  Chariton  runs 
from  INIaxon  to  Albia  at  959  A.  T.  and  is  about  three  hundred  feet 
above  Ottumwa.  The  second  u])land  is  almost  level  from  Russell, 
1,037,  to  Chariton,  1,042;  being  ninety  feet  above  the  plain  just  men- 

2Trans-St.  Louis  Acad.  Sci.,  Vol.  U,  pp.  81-101.     18G3. 

3  Missouri  Geol.  Surv.,  Vol.  I,  p.  99.     1896. 

4  Missouri  Geol.  Surv.,  Vol.  X,  pp.  U.'MHl.     1890. 

5  Missouri  Geol.  Surv.,  Vol.  VII,  pp.  22.5-316.     1895.     Ibid.,  Vol.  X,  pp.  4.5-19.     1896. 

6  Missouri  Geol.  Surv.,  Vol.  X,  pi.  ii.     1896. 


230  HISTORY  OF  DECATUR  COUNTY 

tioned.  The  third  upland,  from  near  Brush  to  INIurray,  has  a  shght 
rise  to  the  west,  being  at  Osceola,  1,132,  and  at  Murray,  1,21(5.  West 
of  ^lurray  the  railway  dips  down  into  the  Valley  of  Grand  River, 
just  touching  the  level  of  the  top  of  the  Bethany  limestone  (1,0.51) 
at  Afton  Junction.  At  Creston,  1,312,  it  is  again  on  an  upland 
which  extends  with  slight  slope  to  Hillsdale,  1,189,  not  far  below  the 
crest  of  the  ^Missouri  River  bluffs.  Into  this  latter  plain  the  Nish- 
nabotna  and  Nodaway  rivers  have  cut  200  to  250  feet,  while  the  ^lis- 
souri  bottom  land  at  Pacific  Junction  lies  at  962  A.  T. 

From  Creston  west  to  the  edge  of  the  INIissouri  Valley  there  is  a 
long  gentle  slope  not  broken  by  marked  escarpments.  To  the  east 
the  country  first  drops  down  to  the  Osceola  platform,  1,132  A.  T., 
and  then  by  a  further  drop  of  about  one  hundred  feet  to  the  Chariton 
platform.  The  Albia  platform  lies  about  one  hundred  and  twenty- 
five  feet  still  lower  and  from  there  the  slope  to  the  Des  JNIoines  is  gen- 
tle. At  Chariton,  Osceola  and  Creston  there  is  a  great  thickness  of 
drift.  At  Chariton,  as  shown  bv  drill  holes,  the  rock  is  found  at  882 
to  897  A.  T.  At  Osceola  the  top  of  the  limestone  quarried  northwest 
of  town  lies  140  feet  below  the  railway  station.  At  Creston  there  are 
no  exposures  and  the  drift  is  known  to  be  very  thick.  The  nearest 
exposures  lie  260  feet  below  the  level  of  the  town.  The  rock  then 
rises  between  Chariton  and  Osceola  from  882  to  1,092  feet,  while  from 
Osceola  west  present  evidence  seems  to  indicate  that  it  maintains  an 
a^Jproximately  even  surface.  This  would  apparently  indicate  that  in 
preglacial  time  the  Bethany  limestone  formed  in  Iowa,  as  it  does  now 
in  ^Missouri,  a  marked  escarpment.  The  distribution  of  the  drift, 
however,  is  such  that  this  escarpment  is  almost  wholly  concealed. 

The  major  portion  of  Decatur  County,  being  underlain  by  the 
JNIissourian,  would  belong  to  JNIarbut's  Lathrop  plain.  The  portions 
of  the  Warrensburgh  platform  penetrating  the  county  are  confined 
to  the  river  valleys,  and  hence  form  but  an  insignificant  fraction  of 
the  whole.  It  is  the  general  upland  plain  which  is  most  obvious  as 
one  travels  through  the  county.  The  valleys  are  all  clearly  erosional 
and  the  roughness  encountered  when  one  descends  from  the  upland 
is  indicative  of  the  completeness  with  which  the  streams  have  dissected 
the  area. 

The  major  streams  of  the  county  have  a  north-south  direction. 
Their  tributaries  follow  the  main  streams  and  do  not  usually  travel 
from  far  to  the  east  or  west.  The  result  is  that  the  original  upland 
plain  has  been  cut  by  a  series  of  long,  relatively  narrow  river  valleys 
with  high  narrow  ridges  between.     The  resulting  topography  was 


HISTORY  OF  DECATUR  COUNTY  231 

quite  fittingly  described  by  the  early  settlers  who  spoke  of  the  region 
as  the  "devil's  washboard."  An  east-west  traveler  must  cross  a  series 
of  alternating  ridges  and  valleys.  The  north-soutli  traveler  may 
usually  find  a  ridge  road.  From  the  latter,  looking  off  over  the 
country,  the  to])s  of  the  successive  flat-topped  ridges  appear  rising 
to  an  even  surface  and  restoring  the  old  phiin  in  wliich  the  valleys 
have  been  carved. 

By  examining  the  following  table  of  elevations  the  position  of  this 
plain  can  be  understood.  Weldon  and  Van  Wert,  1,147,  are  upon 
the  upland.  Leroy,  1,107,  and  Garden  Grove,  1,114,  occupy  similar 
l^ositions.  Lamoni,  1,126,  and  Tuskeego,  1,175,  in  the  southwest  are 
on  divides  which  form  a  portion  of  the  plain.  Decatur  City,  near 
the  center  of  the  county,  at  1,111,  is  also  on  the  plain.  De  Kalb,  947, 
Grand  River,  957,  and  Davis  City,  914,  are  all  on  flood  plains. 
Blockley,  1,042,  and  Leon,  1,025,  are  on  partially  dissected  land. 
Pleasanton,  1,173,  on  the  extreme  southern  line  of  the  county,  again 
marks  the  upland.  The  differences  in  these  upland  levels  are  not 
important  and  may  be  to  a  limited  extent  due  to  errors  arising  from 
comparing  different  surveys.  On  the  whole  they  indicate  a  very  even 
surface  with  little,  if  any,  slope. 

For  convenience  of  reference  these  elevations  are  put  in  tabular 
form. 

TABLE  OF  ELEVATIONS 

Station                                     Authority  Feet 

Blockley D.  M.  &  K.  C.  Ry.  .  .  1,042 

Cainsviile  (Mo.) D.  M.  &  K.  C.  Ry.  .  .  936 

Davis  City C,  B.  &  Q.  Ry 914 

Decatur  Citv D.  M.  &  K.  C.  Ry.  .  .  1,111 

De  Kalb  .  .  ! H.  &  S.  Ry 947 

Garden  Grove C,  B.  &  Q.  Ry 1,115 

Grand  River H.  &  S.  Ry 957 

Lamoni    C,  B.  &  Q.  Ry 1,126 

Leon D.  M.  &  K.  C.  Ry.  .  .  1,025 

Le  Roy K.  &  W.  Ry .......  .  1,107 

Pleasanton D.  ]M.  &  K.  C.  Ry.  .  .  1,173 

Tuskeego C,  B.  &  Q.  Ry 1,175 

Van  Wert    K.  &  W.  Ry 1,147 

Weldon    K.k  W.  Ry 1,147 

Westerville    K.  &  W.  Ry 987 


232  HISTORY  OF  DECATUR  COUNTY 

DllAINAGE 

The  streams  of  Decatur  County  are  all  tributary  to  Grand  River, 
which  flows  into  the  JSIissouri  in  Chariton  County,  Mo.  Grand  River 
itself  has  two  main  branches  coming  together  near  Chillicothe.  The 
eastern  fork  alone  penetrates  Decatur  County,  though  certain  of  the 
tributaries  of  Big  Creek,  which  is  independent  of  this  eastern  fork, 
tap  the  southwestern  portion.  It  is  the  eastern  branch  of  Grand 
River  proper  wliich  is  known  in  Iowa  as  Grand  River.  In  ^lissouri, 
when  the  term  is  used  without  qualification,  the  western  or  the  united 
stream  is  usually  referred  to.  Grand  River  in  Iowa  is  an  important 
stream  having  its  headwaters  in  Adair  County  and  crossing  Madison, 
Union,  a  corner  of  Ringgold  and  the  western  part  of  Decatur  County. 
As  far  south  as  Afton  Junction  in  Union  County  there  is  no  reason 
to  believe  that  the  stream  is  preglacial.  Throughout  its  course  in 
Decatur  County  it  is  quite  certainly  older  than  the  Kansan  drift, 
since  the  latter  is  found  undisturbed  in  its  valley,  while  the  rocks  rise 
in  the  hillsides  a  considerable  distance  above  the  flood  plain.  It  has 
a  broad  valley  whose  width  is  suggested  by  the  outline  of  the  Des 
JNIoines  formation  where  the  river  has  cut  through  the  Bethany. 
From  Terre  Haute  to  Davis  City  the  Des  INIoines  area  shown  on  the 
map  outlines  the  bottom  land.  It  will  be  noted  that  the  river  runs 
close  along  the  south  blufl",  where  it  has  an  east-west  trend.  On  the 
north  the  slope  is  long  and  gentle  and  the  bottom  land  is  broad.  The 
soutli  blufl"  is  abrupt,  rising  in  section  28  of  Burrell  Township,  140 
feet  above  low  water.  This  is  true  again  north  of  Westerville,  where 
the  south  bank  of  the  river  is  a  sharp  bluff,  while  the  north  side  of 
the  valley  shows  a  long,  gentle  slope.  Where  the  stream  runs  from 
north  to  south  it  shows  no  especial  predilection  towards  either  bank. 

This  tendency  of  east-west  streams  in  Iowa  to  run  along  their 
southern  bank  has  been  noted  by  McGee,^  Tilton  ^  and  Calvin."  The 
latter  has  suggested  that  it  is  due  to  the  greater  activity  of  M^eathering 
agencies  upon  a  southward  facing  slope.  McGee  was  evidently 
inclined  to  consider  the  phenomena  as  due  to  structural  agencies.  In 
Decatur  County,  however,  there  is  no  evidence  of  structural  peculiari- 
ties adequate  to  account  for  the  phenomena,  and  its  almost  universal 
presence  throughout  Southern  Iowa,  regardless  of  the  character  of 
the  rocks,  which  the  stream  may  be  eroding,  seems  warrant  for  the 

7  Eleventh  Ann.  Kept.  U.  S.  Geol.  Surv.,  Pleistocene  Hist.  N.  E.  Iowa,  p.  412.     1891. 

8  Iowa  Geol.  Surv.,  Vol.  V,  p.  307.     1896. 

«  Iowa  Geol.  Surv.,  Vol.  VII,  pp.  49-50.    1897. 


HISTORY  OF  DECxVTUR  COUNTY  233 

conclusion  that  the  chniatic  cause  suggested  by  Calvin  is  a  true  one. 
The  phenomena  cannot  be  due  to  individual  tilted  ])locks  of  strata, 
as  suggested  by  31cGee,  and  any  other  structural  agency  competent 
to  the  task  could  only  be  a  prolonged  uplift  to  the  north,  wliicli  would 
induce  a  migragation  of  the  divides  toward  the  uplift,  as  has  been 
shown  by  Campbell.^"  This  would  account  for  the  larger  number 
and  longer  course  of  the  tributaries  flowing  from  the  north  into  an 
east-west  stream,  but  would  hardly  account  for  the  marked  difference 
in  the  slopes  of  the  valley  sides  proper.  It  is  probable  that  while 
uplift  to  the  north  has  been  a  potent  factor  in  providing  the  phe- 
nomena, the  climate  factor  is  also  to  be  taken  into  account. 

That  Grand  River  in  this  portion  of  its  course  is  an  old  stream  will 
be  readily  believed  by  anyone  familiar  wuth  this  valley.  The  size  of 
the  latter,  and  the  fact  that  much  of  it  is  cut  in  rock,  is  alone  con- 
vincing. The  distribution  and  character  of  its  tributary  drainage 
lines  afford  additional  proof.  Still  further  evidence  tending  to  prove 
its  great  age  may  be  adduced  from  the  great  bend  in  the  river  in  the 
northwest  portion  of  Burrell  Township.  (See  Fig.  1,  Plate  xxi.) 
This  has  originated  as  an  upland  meander  and  has  been  cvit  through 
the  Bethany  down  to  the  Fragmental  limestone.  It  is  characteris- 
tically developed,  but  the  tongue  of  rock  running  out  into  the  bend  has 
been  very  largely  cut  away.  Only  a  low  spur  protrudes  from  a  high 
bluff  at  the  base  of  the  bend.  Such  a  spur  would,  in  any  case,  be 
short  lived,  as  it  is  exposed  to  vigorous  erosion  on  three  sides,  but  the 
fact  that  it  has  here  been  almost  completely  cut  away  seems  to  be  of 
more  than  usual  significance.  Upon  jNIiddle  River,  iii  jNIadison 
County,  and  Raccoon  River,  in  Guthrie  County,  as  w'cll  as  on  other 
rivers  which  cross  the  Bethany  escarpment,  upland  meanders  are  well 
developed,^ ^  but  in  no  case  is  the  rock  tongue  so  much  eroded  as  in 
the  Decatur  County  example.  Here  it  has  been  so  nearly  cut  awaj^ 
that  at  first  it  w  as  thought  to  be  absent.  Upland  meanders  are  devel- 
oped by  a  long  and  slow  process,^^  and  where  they  have  not  only  been 
developed,  but  almost  destroyed,  they  indicate  a  considerable  lapse 
of  time.  The  meander  and  the  stream  valley  are,  of  course,  of  later 
age  than  the  peneplain,  and  they  indicate  tliat  the  time  of  stream 
cutting  anterior  to  the  drift  was  long,  and  that  the  pene])lain  is,  rela- 
tive to  the  drift,  old.  Further  than  that  it  seems  impossible,  at  pres- 
ent, to  fix  its  age. 

10  Jour.  Geol.,  Vol.  IV,  pp.  567.  657.     1896. 

11  Geol.  Madison  County,  Iowa  Geol.  Surv.,  Vol.  VII,  pp.  500-501.     1897. 

12  Marbut:  Mo.  Geol.  Surv.,  Vol.  X,  p.  98.     1896. 


234  HISTORY  OF  DECATUR  COUNTY 

Within  the  county  the  most  important  tributaries  of  Grand  River 
are  Elk  Creek  from  the  west,  and  Long  Branch  from  the  east.  Both 
are  important  streams,  cutting  through  the  drift  and  into  the  rock. 
Exposures  of  Carboniferous  are  found  along  the  branches  of  Elk 
Creek  from  sections  21  and  22  of  Grand  River  Township  to  the  mouth, 
and  along  Sweet  Creek,  a  tributary,  from  section  23  of  Bloomington 
Township  to  the  main  stream.  The  minor  tributaries  show  exposures 
for  corresponding  distances.  Elk  Creek  with  its  branches  drains 
most  of  Bloomington  and  Grand  River  townships,  but  in  addition  to 
it  Grand  River  receives  from  the  west  Sand  Creek  near  Westerville, 
Bad  Run  near  Grand  River,  Roaring  Branch  and  Russell's  Branch 
between  there  and  the  north  of  Elk  Creek,  Pot  Hole  Creek  or  Pot- 
ter's Branch  near  Terre  Haute,  Dickerson  Creek  near  Davis  City, 
and  some  minor  streams  between  that  place  and  the  ^Missouri  State 
line.  These  streams  with  their  tributaries  reach  out  into  all  that 
portion  of  the  county  west  of  Grand  River,  except  portions  of  Bloom- 
ington and  New  Buda  townships  and  all  of  Fayette,  which  are  drained 
by  Shane  and  Seven  Mile  creeks,  streams  having  courses  through  Big 
Creek  to  the  main  branch  of  Grand  River  near  Pattonsburg,  Mo. 

Long  Creek,  with  its  tributaries.  Bee  and  Wolf  creeks,  is  the  most 
important  stream  flowing  into  Grand  River  from  the  east.  It  receives 
Short  Creek  near  De  Kalb,  and  at  the  latter  place  has  cut  200  feet 
below  the  upland  at  Van  Wert.  There  are  rock  exposures  along  the 
lower  portion  of  its  course. 

Aside  from  Grand  River  there  are  two  important  rivers  in  the 
county,  Weldon  and  Little  rivers.  Weldon  River  has  its  source  in 
Franklin  Township  and  flows  east  through  Garden  Grove,  and  thence 
almost  due  south  to  the  state  line,  receiving  Jonathan,  Brush  and 
Steel  creeks  with  Turkey  Run  and  List  Branch.  Little  River  has 
its  source  near  Van  Wert  and  a  course  from  there  south  past  Leon, 
Blockley  and  Spring  Valley. 

The  streams  of  the  county  are  almost  entirely  preloessial  in  age. 
Only  the  minor  tributaries  have  had  a  later  origin.  The  major 
streams.  Grand  River,  Weldon  River,  and  probably  Little  River, 
are  preglacial,  or  at  least  pre-Kansan.  Some  of  the  tributaries  are 
])erhaps  as  old  as  the  main  streams ;  but  most  of  them  are  merely  pre- 
loessial. 

It  seems  probable  that  the  preglacial  drainage  of  the  county  was 
in  outline  quite  similar  to  the  present.  In  contrast  with  most  of 
Iowa  the  ])resent  streams  seem  to  be  working  on  a  lower  level  than 
that  which  obtained  in  preglacial  times.     They  are  cutting  in  the 


HISTORY  OF  DECATUK  COUNTY  235 

rock  and  iisualh'  show  no  important  drift  filling  below  low  water. 
The  bridges  over  Weldon  River  and  Steel  Creek  in  INIorgan,  ^Vood- 
land,  and  even  sections  13  and  25  of  High  Point  Township,  rest  on 
rock  or  shale  foundations.  The  same  is  true  of  the  I^ittle  River 
bridges  in  Hamilton  Township  and  of  the  Grand  River  bridges  as 
well  as  those  over  Long  and  Klk  creeks.  Yet  in  the  valleys  of  Wel- 
don, Little  and  Grand  rivers  there  are  places  showing  undistvu-bed 
drift  down  to  low  water  level.  The  entire  absence  of  great  drift- 
filled  channels  in  this  region  as  compare^l  with  that  farther  east  ' ' 
would  indicate  that  in  later  glacial  times,  and  perhaps  in  the  present, 
the  surface  of  Iowa  has  been  warped,  the  west  rising  more  than  that 
to  the  east.     This  is  in  accord  with  other  observed  phenomena. 

The  effect  of  the  varjdng  hardness  of  the  underlying  rocks  upon 
present  valleys  is  shown  in  the  alternate  widening  and  closing  of 
their  valleys,  though  the  latter  is  probably  also  due  in  part  to  other 
agencies,  as  already  suggested.  The  effect  is  also  shown  in  the  pond- 
ing of  the  streams  as  each  of  the  members  of  the  Bethanv  is  crossed; 
])henomena  first  observed  and  described  by  White. ^^ 

Stratigraphy 
general  relations  of  strata 

The  geological  formations  occurring  in  Decatur  County  fair  into 
two  series,  differing  widely  in  character,  origin  and  age.  The  under- 
Iving  rocks  are  indurated.  They  include  principally  shales  and  lime- 
stones, and  record  the  time  w^hen  what  is  now  a  portion  of  a  beautiful 
prairie  plain  lay  beneath  the  waters  of  the  Carboniferous  Sea.  They 
are  the  products  of  the  destruction  of  an  older  land  and  were  laid 
down  by  the  action  of  marine  agencies.  Partially  at  that  time  and 
partially  since,  under  the  influence  of  (Circulating  waters  and  slight 
pressure,  they  have  been  changed  from  relatively  loose,  unconsoli- 
dated sea  deposits  to  the  firm,  hard  rock  now  found. 

Over  these  older  rocks  are  the  loose  and  unconsolidated  gravels, 
sands  and  clays  which  form  so  common  and  conspicuous  a  feature  of 
the  surface.  These  are  of  very  much  later  age  than  the  indurated 
rocks,  belonging  indeed  to  the  Pleistocene  period,  and  have  been  in 
part  deposited  in  present  time.  They  are  the  product  not  of  the 
sea,  but  of  ice;  an  incursion  of  immense  glaciers  or  a  sheet  of  land 
ice.  which  spread  over  much  of  the  northern  hemisphere.     In  part 

13  Proc.  Iowa  Acad.  Sci.,  Vol.  IT,  pp.  23-26.     1895. 
i-i  Geol.  Iowa.,  Vol.  I,  pp.  318-320.     1870. 


236  HISTORY  OF  DECATUR  COUNTY 

these  deposits  were  made  by  the  ice  itself,  and  in  part  by  the  waters 
from  its  melting.  Some  of  the  beds  present  were  formed  by  the' 
present  rivers  by  ordinary  processes,  such  as  may  even  now  be  seen 
?n  operation.  Some  were  laid  down  by  waters  of  uncertain  age  and 
extent,  and  some  perhaps  by  winds.  The  relations  and  ages  of  these 
beds  are  indicated  in  the  subjoined  table.  Their  distribution  and 
character  will  be  described  later. 


Group. 


System. 


Series. 


Cenozoic. 


Recent. 


Pleistocene. 


Paleozoic. 


Glacial. 


Carboniferous. 


Missourian. 


Stage. 


Kansan 


Pre-Kansan(  ?). 


Betliany. 


Des  Moines. 


Pleasanton. 


Sub-Stage. 


Alluvium. 


Loess. 


Gumbo. 


Drift. 


Drift!?). 


Westerville(?). 


De  Kalb. 


Winterset. 


Earlham. 


Fragmental. 


CARBONIFEROUS 


The  Carboniferous  of  the  INIississippi  Valley  is  divided  into  two 
major  divisions  long  known  respectively  as  the  upper  and  lower. 
The  latter  does  not  occur  within  the  county  and  its  onh^  importance 
in  this  connection  arises  from  the  fact  that  the  St.  Louis  limestone, 
one  of  its  members,  forms  the  floor  upon  which  the  coal  measures 
rest.  In  any  future  deep  drilling  for  coal  the  St.  Louis  will  indicate 
the  horizon  below  which  it  is  inadvisable  to  prospect. 


HISTORY  OF  DECATLK  COUNTY  237 

The  upper  Carboniferous  is  commonly  known  as  the  coal  meas- 
ures, and  the  term  Pennsylvanian  series  has  been  proposed  to  cover 
the  same  beds.  In  this  immediate  region  it  consists  of  two  major 
members,  known  as  the  Des  Moines  and  the  ^lissourian,  each  divisible 
into  subordinate  groups.  These  correspond  respectively  to  the  lower 
or  i^roductive  and  to  the  upper  or  unproductive  coal  measures.  Keyes 
has  proposed  '''  to  consider  each  of  these  divisions  as  independent 
series;  dividing  the  Carboniferous  of  the  interior  into  the  ^lississip- 
inan,  Des  Moines,  JNIissourian,  and  Oklahoman.  ^Vhile  it  is  not  cer- 
tain that  these  different  divisions  are  of  strictly  equivalent  rank,  and 
probably  some  include  more  than  others,  it  is  a  great  convenience  in 
discussion  and  in  mai^ping  to  use  the  terms  in  the  sense  proposed,  and 
for  these  reasons  they  are  adopted  here,  leaving  to  future  critical 
paleontologic  studies  the  adjudication  of  the  rank  of  the  divisions. 

DES    MOIXES    SERIES 

PLEASANTON   SHALES 

The  Des  JNIoines  formation  is  but  sparingly  exposed  within 
Decatur  County.  The  best  exposures  are  on  Weldon  River.  Imme- 
diately south  of  the  state  line  (township  67  north,  range  24  west, 
section  28),  at  the  wagon  bridge  over  the  Weldon,  a  thin  sandy  lime- 
stone is  exposed  about  four  feet  above  the  water.  The  rock  carries 
Productus  costatus,  but  seems  to  show  no  specimens  of  Chonetes 
mesoloba  which  is  usually  found  in  the  Des  JNIoines  strata.  In 
physical  characteristics  it  very  closely  resembles  a  bed  found  at  the 
corresponding  horizon  in  INIadison  and  adjoining  counties  and  it  is 
confidently  referred  to  the  Des  JNIoines  formation. 

At  the  bridge  in  section  15  of  Morgan  Township  there  is  an  expos- 
ure sliowin"'  tw  elve  feet  of  blue  sandy  shale  of  Des  JNIoines  character 
and  differing  from  anything  found  in  the  JNIissourian  of  the  region. 
The  basal  portion  of  the  Bethany  outcrops  high  in  the  hills  on  the 
west  side  of  the  river,  and  beds  probably  representing  the  Earlham 
horizon  have  been  opened  up  in  a  small  quarry.  In  the  first  ravine 
west  of  Little  River  (section  16,  southeast  southeast)  a  sandy  lime- 
stone corresponding  in  character  to  that  found  on  Weldon  River, 
near  the  state  line,  outcrops.  It  is  here  fourteen  inches  thick,  and, 
as  usual,  non-fossiliferous.  About  six  inches  above  it  are  traces  of 
a  three-inch  black  shale,  an  unusual  member  of  the  section  and  per- 
haps only  locally  developed.    The  arenaceous  limestone  outcrops  again 

15  Am.  Geol.,  Vol.  XVIII,  pp.  22-28.    1896. 


238  HISTORY  OF  DECATUR  COUNTY 

about  two  miles  west  of  Weldon  River  on  Lick  Branch  (southwest 
of  southeast,  section  17,  ^Morgan  Township),  at  which  point  it  has 
more  of  the  shaly  character. 

Along  Grand  River  there  are  few  exposures  of  the  Des  3Ioines, 
the  fragmental  hmestone  of  the  Bethany,  or  the  Earlham,  outcrop- 
ping usually  at  the  edge  of  the  flood  plain.  Near  Davis  City,  how- 
ever, the  upper  portion  of  the  lower  beds  may  be  seen.  Along  the 
small  ravine  leading  down  past  the  old  hme  kilns  north  of  town 
(northwest  of  southeast,  section  3.5,  Burrell  Township)  below  the 
base  of  the  Bethany  is  the  following  exposure : 

FEET 

.5.     Shale ^ 

4.     Shale,  black,  "slate" 1 

3.     Shale,  drab,  sandy 4 

Farther  down  and  near  the  mouth  of  the  ravine  is  the  following: 

2.     Shale,  sandy,  yellow 6 

On  the  main  stream  near  the  mill,  and  accordingly  below^  the  above, 
the  following  beds  are  exposed : 

1.     Shale,  drab,  clayey,  with  several  thin  bands  of  blue- 
black  non-fossiliferous  limestone 4 

It  is  stated  that  before  the  dam  was  put  in,  limestone  used  to  show 
in  the  bottom  of  the  river  below  these  beds,  and  it  is  known  to  extend 
below  the  bottom  land  as  far  across  the  valley  as  the  trestle  opposite 
town  extends.  Limestone  has  also  been  encountered  in  wells  north 
of  Davis  City  under  the  low  platform  reaching  out  from  the  hills  to 
the  west  and  under  the  bottom  land  ( northw^est  of  southwest,  section 
7,  and  northwest  of  northwest,  section  12,  New  Buda  Township). 
Since  the  fragmental  limestone  is  exposed  on  Dickenson  Creek  at  a 
level  above  this  bottom  land  (southwest,  section  3)  this  lower  lime- 
stone would  correspond  to  the  arenaceous  limestone  exposed  on  Wel- 
don River.  No.  1  of  the  section  as  given  would  correspond  to  the  same 
number  in  White's  section  ^"  at  this  point.  The  other  numbers  give 
details  of  the  beds  comprised  under  No.  2  in  his  section.  He  mentions 
finding  here  specimens  of  Beyrichia  americana,  which  he  also  collected 

i«  Geol.  Iowa,  Vol.  I,  pp.  321-322.     1870. 


I 


HISTORY  OF  DECATUR  COUNTY  239 

from  corresponding  beds  in  Guthrie  County.     This  would  strengthen 
the  reference  of  the  beds  to  the  Des  jNIoines. 

The  beds  here  referred  to  the  Des  ^loines  form  the  top  of  that 
formation.  AVith  the  exception  of  the  arenaceous  limestone  already 
ip.entioned  they  are  predominantly  shales.  They  are  usually  arena- 
ceous to  a  noticeable  degree.  They  correspond  in  general  facies  and 
in  stratigraj^hical  j^osition  to  the  Pleasanton  shales  of  Kansas.'"  While 
the  actual  equivalent  has  not  been  proven,  it  has  been  suggested  ""  and 
it  seems  quite  likely  to  prove  the  correct  correlation.  In  the  interests 
of  simplicity  of  nomenclature  the  name  applied  by  the  Ivansan  geol- 
ogists may  be  used  for  these  beds.  They  are  not  extensively  exposed  in 
Iowa,  though  they  have  been  described  in  Guthrie/"  Dallas  -"  and 
JNIadison-^  counties,  and  are  known  at  other  points.  It  is,  perhaps, 
significant  that  to  the  east  of  the  Bethany  limestone  one  finds  in 
Waj^ne,  Lucas  and  Clarke  counties  a  broad,  open  prairie,  such  as 
would  readily  be  formed  over  the  area  of  outcrop  of  these  shales  by 
step  and  platform  erosion.--  The  actual  surface  is,  of  course,  due  to 
the  drift,  and  the  underlying  step  and  platform  is  correspondingly 
obscured.  The  topography,  nevertheless,  serves  to  outline  the  prob- 
able outcrop  of  these  beds  and  would  suggest  that  they  are  of  greater 
im])ortance  than  knowledge  derived  from  their  outcrops  alone  would 
indicate.  Their  probable  thickness  and  the  character  of  the  underly- 
ing beds  is  discussed  in  connection  with  the  subject  of  coal. 

MISSOURIAN   SERIES 

As  will  be  seen  by  the  maps,  the  major  portion  of  the  county 
is  underlain  by  the  JNIissourian,  or  upper  coal  measures.  This  forma- 
tion, as  here  developed,  consists  of  several  beds  of  limestone  separated 
by  shales  of  various  types.  This  assemblage  of  shales  and  limestones 
taken  together  constitutes  the  Bethany  limestone,  the  lowermost  of  the 
several  subdivisions  of  the  JNIissourian.  The  ^lissourian  as  a  whole  has 
not  yet  been  much  studied,  thougli  the  Bethany  limestone  and  its 
ecjuivalents  have  received  considerable  attention  in  Kansas,  ^lissouri 
and  Iowa. 


17  Haworth:  Kansas  Univ.  Quart.,  Vol.  II,  p.  2T4.    1895;  Univ.  Geol.  Surv.  Kansas,  Vol.  I, 
pp.  1.54-15.5.     1896. 

18  Keyes:  Proc.  Iowa  Acad.  Sci.,  Vol.  IV,  p]).  22-25.     1897. 

19  Bain:  Iowa  Geol.  Surv.,  Vol.  VII,  443-44i.     1897. 

20  Leonard:  Ibid.,  Vol.  VIII,  pp.  78-82. 

21  Tilton  and  Bain:  Ibid.,  Vol.  VII,  504-.509.     1897. 

22  Marbut:  Mo.  Geol.  Surv.,  Vol.  X,  p.  29.     189(). 


2i0  HISTORY  OF  DECATUR  COUNTY 

BETHANY  LIMESTONE 

At  Bethany,  JNIo.,  where  the  limestone  was  first  studied  by  Broad- 
head," '  the  beds  as  now  exposed  yield  the  following  sequence  as  shown 
along  a  small  tributary  of  Big  Creek  running  through  the  town. 
The  first  exposure,  which  shows  the  top  of  the  Bethany,  is  near  the 
railway  bridge  north  of  the  depot,  the  top  of  the  limestone  being  at 
about  888  A.  T. 

FEET 

6.  Limestone,  fragmental,  loosely  cemented,  with  many 

specimens  of  JNleekella  striato-costata,  Chonetes 
verneuilanus,  Productus  costatus,  Athyris  sub- 
tilita,  Productus  longispinus,  Spirifer  cameratus 
and  Dielasma  bovidens 6 

5.  Shale,  clayey,  green  to  drab,  with  thin  bands  of  lime- 

stone        2 

4.     Shale,  clayey,  drab  to  black 2 

3.     Limestone,  dark  blue,  two  ledges,  9  and  3  inches 

thick  respectively   1 

2.     Shale,   black    1 

1.  Shale,  black  to  drab,  with  irregular  nodular  and  thin 
layers  of  impure  black  limestone,  carrying  large, 
well-formed  Productus  cora,  Productus  nebrascen- 
sis,  Athyris  subtilita,  Myalina  subquadrata  ( ?), 
Schizodus  sp?  In  the  shale  itself  are  Myalina  sub- 
quadrata, Productus  nebrascensis,  Athyris  sub- 
tilita, Rhombopora  lepidendroides  and  plates  of 
Euj^achycrinus  verrucosus 6 

Below  this  exposure  for  some  distance  there  are  no  outcrops,  but 
in  the  western  part  of  town  there  are  some  small  quarries  which  show 
the  following  beds : 

FEET    INCHES 

7.  Shale,  clayey,  drab 6 

6.  Shale,    calcareous,    transition    beds,    with 

Spirifer    cameratus,    Meekella    striato-, 
costata,  Productus  cora,  Productus  cos- 


23Trans.-St.  Louis  Acad.  Sci.,  Vol.  II,  311,  1862;  Mo.  Geol.  Surv.,  "Iron  Ore  and  Coal 
Fields,"  pt.  ii,  p.  77  et  seq.     1873. 


HISTORY  OF  DECxVTUR  COUNTY  241 

FEET    INCHES 

tatiis,  Prodiictus  iiebrascensis,  Rhoinbop- 
ora  lepidodeiidroides,  Fistulii^ora  nodiili- 
fera,  jNIyalina  suhquadrata,  Athyris  sub- 
tilita,  Derbya  crassa 1  G 

5.     Limestone,    heavy   ledge,    nuuiy    Fiisuliiia 

sylindrica   2         10 

4.  Limestone,  thin  bedded,  with  manj''  of  the 
fossils  collected  above,  particularly 
Athyris  siibtiHta,  Prodiictiis  cora,  Pro- 
ductus  costatus,  Spirifer  cameratus  and 
JNIeekella  striato-costata    10 

2.     Unexposed 8 

1.  Limestone,  thin  bedded,  with  Prodnctus 
costatus,  Productus  cora,  Productus 
longispinus,  Athyris  su])tilita,  Spirifer 
lineatus,  Spirifer  cameratus,  Spiriferina 
kentuckensis,  Chonetes  verneuilanus, 
Hustedia  mormoni,  Dielasma  bovidens 
and  Fusulina  cylindrica 12-15 

Not  far  from  here  is  the  mouth  of  the  stream  which  enters  just 
above  the  falls  of  Big  Creek.  The  rock  forming  the  falls  lies  prob- 
ably six  to  eight  feet  below  the  base  of  the  limestone  just  described. 
It  is  about  twenty  feet  thick,  the  upper  eighteen  feet  being  made  up 
of  a  coarse  but  finely  cemented  limestone  breccia,  such  as  is  shown  in 
Fig.  2,  Plate  xxi.  It  is  marked  by  long  dark  streaks  which  suggest 
corals,  but  which  fail  to  show  structure.  The  only  fossil  collected 
from  it  was  Productus  cora.  Below  the  breccia  is  about  two  feet  of 
fine-grained  gray  limestone,  carrying  large,  well-formed  Spirifer 
cameratus  with  Productus  cora.  The  brecciated  character  of  the  lime- 
stone and  the  absence  of  marked  sedimentation  planes  has  yielded, 
under  water  action,  rounded  forms  and  knob  and  pot  hole  surfaces. 
(See  Plate  xxii.) 

The  general  sequence  found  here  with  the  four  bodies  of  limestone, 
separated  by  shales,  is  the  same  as  has  already  been  found  in  central 
Iowa.  The  exposures  in  the  latter  region  were  first  studied  by 
White  "^  and  have  been  more  recently  reviewed  by  the  ])resent  sur- 


24  First  and  Second  Ann.  Repts.  State  Geol.,  i)p.  71-72.     Des  Moines,  1868.     Geol.  Iowa, 
Vol.  I,  pp.  24.5-2.50.     Des  Moines,  1870. 

Vol.1     —16  !  ■ 


242  HISTORY  OF  DECATUR  COUNTY- 

vey."'  In  many  of  the  minute  details  even  there  is  a  close  correspond- 
ence between  the  Bethany  section  and  that  of  JNIadison  and  adjacent 
comities.    The  latter  may  be  summarized  as  follows : 

FEET 

8.  Limestone,  thick  and  thin  bedded,  characterized 
by  a  particular  abundance  of  Fusulina  cylin- 
drica,  and  hence  called  the  Fusulina  limestone. .  15-30 

7.  Shales,  predominantly  dark  colored  and  argilla- 
ceous, containing  several  thin  bands  of  bitumi- 
nous limestone,  which  are  usually  quite  fossilif- 
erous.  About  midway  of  the  shales  is  a  horizon 
which  is  i^articularly  fossiliferous.  The  more 
usual  forms,  including  Athyris,  Productus  and 
Spirifer,  occur  in  great  abundance  and  perfec- 
tion. With  these  forms  are  vast  numbers  of 
Derbya  crassa  with  Mj^alina  subquadrata, 
JSIyalina  kansasensis,  JNIyalina  swallowi,  Avi- 
culpecten  ocidentalis,  Productus  nebrascensis, 
etc.  Not  far  above  this  horizon  is  usually  a  thin 
band  of  limestone  literally  made  up  of  Chonetes 
verneuilanus.  The  whole  thickness  of  the  shale 
is 10-20 

6.  Limestone,  medium  grained,  thin  to  thick  bedded 
quarry  rock,  with  Atl^ris  subtilita,  Productus 
cora  and  Meekella  striato-cosata.  Best  exposed 
near  Winterset,  and  hence  called  the  Winterset 
limestone   12-15 

5.  Shale,  usually  dark  and  including  a  black  bitumi- 
nous horizon   8-12 

4.  Limestone,  well  shown  near  Earlham,  and  hence 
called  the  Earlham  limestone.  Carries  an  abun- 
dant fauna,  w  hich  will  be  noted  later 20 

3.     Shale,  with  bituminous  horizon,  and  at  many  points 

a  thin,  black  limestone 3-8 

2.     Shales,  sandy,  light  colored,  very  variable  thickness    2-16 

1.  Limestone,  fragmental,  made  up  of  irregular  bits 
of  lime  rock,  filled  in  with  calcareous  clay.  In 
places  the  rock  can  be  picked  to  pieces  with  the 


25Proc.  Iowa  Acad.  Sci.,  Vol.  I,  pi.  iii,  pp.  26-271,  893;  Iowa  Geol.  Surv.,  Vol.  Ill,  p.  137, 
1895;  Ibid.,  Vol.  VII,  pp.  446-451,  1897. 


HISTORY  OF  DECATUR  COUNTY  243 

FEET 

fingers,  elsewhere  it  hardens  up  into  massive, 
thick-bedded  layers.  Along  a  small  tributary 
of  Deer  Creek,  in  Guthrie  County,  it  is  quite 
fossiliferous,  yielding  Spirifer  lineatus,  Spirifer 
cameratus,  Athyris  subtilita,  Hustedia  mor- 
moni,  Productus  longispinus,  Naticopsis  alto- 
nensis,  Lopophyllumn  proliferum,  Ortliis 
23ecosi,  Bellerophon  sp.,  Straparollus  sp.,  Arch- 
seocidaris   sp lO-lo 

As  the  Earlham  limestone  is  particularly  well  shown  in  Decatur 
County  and  presents  there  many  analogies  to  the  beds  at  the  type 
locality,  the  following  details  regarding  the  latter  may' be  quoted.-'^' 
The  typical  section  is  given  below; 

FEET    INCHES 

11.  Bed  of  soft,  yellowish,  magnesian,  earthy  lime- 
stone, decomposing  readily  when  exposed  to 

weather  4 

10.     Limestone  in  three  heavy  ledges  at  west  end 

of  quarry 4 

9.     EufF  shale  with  Chonetes  verneuilanus 4 

8.     Limestone,  like  No.  4 2 

7.     Ashen  shale  with  very  few  fragments  of  brachi- 

opod   shells    6 

6.     Earthy   limestone,   decomposing   readily,   yel- 
lowish, carrying  large  individuals  of  Athyris 

subtilita 3 

5.     Drab   shale,   with   Productus   longispinus,    P. 
costatus,   crinoid   stems   and   fragments   of 

other  fossils 6 

4.     Quarry  limestone,  in   thin  layers,  irregularly 

bedded    8 

3.     Unexposed 20 

2.     Sandstone,  in  heavy  layers 7 

1.     Base  of  sandstone  to  creek,  unexposed 17 

At  one  point  the  quarrymen  had  worked  down  in  the  bottom  of 
the  quarry  and  exposed,  below  No.  4,  drab  and  black  shales  to  the 

20  Geol.  Madison  County,  Iowa  Geol.  Surv.,  Vol.  VII,  pp.  514-515.     1897. 


244  HISTORY  OF  DECATUR  COUNTY 

depth  of  three  feet,  and  below  the  shales  a  ledge  of  Imiestone  six 
inches  in  thickness. 

Distributed  through  the  limestone  beds  No.  4  are  the  following: 

Lophophyllum  proliferum,  McChesney. 

Meekella  striato-costata,  Cox. 

Productus  punctatus,  ^lartin. 

P.  costatus,  Sowerby. 

P.  longispinus,  Sowerby. 

P.  cora  D'Orbigny — P.  prattenianus  of  authors. 

Athyris   (Seminula)  subtilitia,  Hall. 

Hustedia  niornioni,  Marcou. 

Spirifer  cameratus,  Morton. 

Spiriferina  kentuckensis,  Shum. 

Allorisma  subcuneatum,  M.  &  H. 

Stem  segments  and  body  plates  of  crinoids. 

Various  sj)ecies  of  Bryozoa. 

Chonetes  verneuilanus  N.  &  P.  is  somewhat  common  in  No.  9,  but 
is  very  rare  in  tlie  other  members  of  the  section.  Spirifer  cameratus 
and  Productus  longispinus  are  most  abundant  near  the  base  of  No.  4, 
while  Productus  costatus  and  Athyris  subtilita  are  more  common  in 
the  upper  layers.  All  the  species  enumerated,  however,  with  the 
exception  of  Allorisma  subcuneatum,  range  through  all  the  beds 
making  up  No.  4. 

The  best  exposures  of  the  Bethany  limestone  in  Southern  Iowa 
are  found  along  Grand  River  and  its  tributaries.  From  the  out- 
crops found  here  a  complete  section  can  be  made  from  the  Frag- 
mental  limestone  at  the  base  up  to  and  above  beds  which  farther 
north  have  been  called  the  Fusulina  limestone,  but  which,  from  their 
excellent  development  in  that  vicinity,  may  now  perhaps  be  best 
called  the  De  Kalb  limestone. 

In  Union  County  there  is  an  important  bed  of  limestone  which, 
from  tlie  fact  that  it  is  well  shown  on  Sand  Creek  near  Westerville, 
may  be  called  the  Westerville  limestone.  It  lies  some  little  distance 
above  the  De  Kalb  horizon.  In  Jones  Township  of  Union  County 
(section  28  and  farther  south  along  the  river)  the  beds  are  exposed, 
showing  the  following  section: 

.5.  Uimestone,  ash  gray,  fine  grained,  thin  bedded, 
becoming  almost  shaly  at  the  top,  with  Productus 
cora,  Productus  costatus,  Spirifer  cameratus, 
Athyris  subtilita,  Chonetes  verneuilanus  cf.  gla- 


HISTORY  OF  DECxVTUR  COUNTY  245 

FEET 

bra,     Lophophylkmi     2)rolif'cri]iii,     Straparollus 
subquadratus  and  Fenestelloid  bryozoa 10 

4.  Shale,  gray,  calcareous,  with  thin  nodular  bands 

of  Ihnestone    4 

3.  Shale,  drab  to  black 10 

2.  Limestone,  impure,  nodular,  hi  two  bands 21^ 

1.  Shale,  drab  to  black,  well  exposed  at  Westerville       8 

These  beds  extend  into  Decatur  County,  being-  seen  near  Wester- 
ville, on  Sand  Creek,  and  on  Grand  River.  It  seems  probable  that 
the  shale  (Xo.  1)  extends  down  to  the  top  of  the  De  Kalb  or  Fusuhna 
limestone  which  is  exposed  near  Grand  River  and  was  at  one  time 
quarried  at  the  old  Madarasz  quarry.  (Section  36,  township  70 
north,  range  27  west.)  The  best  exposures  of  the  latter  limestone, 
and  the  ones  which  may  be  taken  as  typical,  are  found  a  short  dis- 
tance east  of  De  Kalb  station.  (Section  28,  township  70  north,  range 
26  west.)     The  section  at  this  point  is  given  below: 

INCHES 

5.  Limestone,  irregularly  water  worn 6 

4.  Shale,  hard,  drab 6 

3.  Limestone,  irregularly  bedded 8 

2.  Shale,    calcareous,    becoming    in    places    a    poor 

grade  of  limerock 2 

1.     Limestone,  in  thick  to  thin  ledges 48 

The  limestone  is  quite  fossiliferous,  the  forms  collected  including 
Productus  costatus,  Productus  longispinus,  Athyris  subtilita,  Sj)irifer 
camerata,  Spirifer  kentuckensis,  Dielasma  bovidens,  Derbya  crassa, 
Lophopliyllum  proliferum  and  Fusulina  cylindrica.  This  fauna  is 
more  abundant  than  is  usually  found  in  the  same  beds  farther  north, 
though  no  exhaustive  collections  have  been  made  in  jNIadison  and 
adjoining  counties,  and  many  of  the  species  collected  at  De  Kalb  are 
known  to  be  present,  sparingly  at  least,  in  the  former  regions.  The 
marked  predominance  of  Fusulina  sylindrica  wliich  is  so  striking  a 
characteristic  of  these  beds  in  INIadison  County,  is  not  so  noticeable 
at  De  Kalb.  This  is  probably  due  as  much  to  the  greater  abundance 
at  the  latter  point  of  the  other  forms  mentioned  as  to  any  real  decrease 
in  the  numbers  of  the  Fusulina.  It  is,  nevertheless,  true  that  in  the 
earlier  advent,  or  at  least  culmination,  of  Fusulina  the  Decatur  County 


246  HISTORY  OF  DECATUR  COUNTY 

outcrops  show  much  closer  relations  to  the  rocks  as  developed  at 
Bethany,  than  to  the  Winterset  section.  It  is  for  this  reason,  in  part, 
that  the  term,  De  Kalb  limestone,  is  to  be  preferred  to  Fusulina  lime- 
stone, since  neither  the  jiresence  nor  the  abundance  of  the  latter  form 
is  found  to  be  consonant  with  a  constant  stratigrapliical  horizon. 

The  beds  below  the  De  Kalb  limestone  are  shown  near  the  wagon 
bridge  just  north  of  the  railway  station.  The  section  exposed  is  as 
follows : 

FEET 

5.     Limestone,  De  Kalb,  thin  bedded,  very  fossiliferous     2 

4.  Shale,  soft,  gray 2 

3.  Shale,   fine  black  "slate" 1 

2.  Shale,  black,  soft 21/2 

1.  Shale,  drab    4 

These  shales  are  not  particularly  fossiliferous,  as  the  section  does 
not  extend  down  to  the  MyaHna  horizon  already  noted.  The  latter 
is  well  shown  on  Grand  River  at  the  bridge  about  three  miles  west  of 
Decatur  (township  69  north,  range  26  west,  section  30,  southwest, 
southwest).  The  section  at  this  point  is  as  given  below.  Fig.  1, 
Plate  xxiv. 

FEET 

5.  Limestone  (De  Kalb)  lower  ledges  only 3 

4.  Shales,    drab    to    black,    carrying   Derby  a    crassa, 

INIyallina  subquadrata,  Athyris  subtilita,  Pro- 
ductus  nebrascensis,  Lophophyllum  lepiden- 
droides  and  plates  of  Eupachycrinus  verrucosus, 
^  exposed  as  a  slope.  Thin  ledges  of  limestone 
found  on  the  slope  made  up  of  Chonetes  verneu- 
ilanus    15 

3.  Limestone,   blue   to   black,   with    Productus    cora, 

Productus  nebrascensis  and  Athyris  subtilita.  .        3 

2.  Shale,  drab,  clayey 12 

1.  Limestone  (Winterset),  coarse  bedded,  with  Athy- 
ris subtilita,  Productus  costatus  and  Meekella 
striata-costata    10 

The  Winterset  limestone  dips  north  here  about  five  feet  per  hun- 
dred and  its  maximum  thickness  is  not  exposed.  The  dip  seems  to  be 
local  only.  The  Winterset  is  exposed  south  from  the  bridge  as  far 
as  the  abrupt  turn  of  the  river  in  the  southeast  corner  of  section  36, 


HISTORY  OF  DECATr^R  COUNTY  247 

Grand  River  Township.  \\'itliin  a  mile  the  Earlhaiii  rock  aiJ^jears, 
and  at  the  ford  in  section  7,  of  Burrell  Township,  the  Fragmental 
rock  is  seen  in  the  bed  of  the  river. 

The  AVinterset  rock  at  the  Decatur  bridge  is  quite  similar  to  the 
tyi^ical  beds  at  AVinterset,  both  in  physical  characteristics  and  the 
character  and  relative  meagreness  of  its  fauna. 

The  shales  between  the  W^interset  and  the  De  Kalb  limestone  form 
one  of  the  most  marked  stratigraphic  horizons  in  the  section,  and  their 
close  resemblance  in  all  particulars  to  the  corresponding  beds  at  both 
Winterset  and  Bethany  will  be  at  once  seen.  The  same  fossils  occur 
and  in  the  same  perfection  and  abundance. 

The  shales  below  the  Winterset  and  extending  down  to  the  Earl- 
ham  limestone  are  not  well  shown  on  Grand  River.  Elsewhere  they 
are  usually  about  ten  feet  thick  and  carry  about  their  middle  a  one- 
foot  black  slate  horizon.  The  Earlham  limestone  is  quite  well  shown 
near  the  bridge  in  northeast  of  northwest  of  section  5,  Burrell  T(5wn- 
ship.  The  exposure,  which  is  on  the  east  side  of  the  river  just  south 
of  the  bridge,  shows  the  following  beds : 

FEET    INCHES 

6.     Limestone,    coarse    grained,     with    Fusulina 

cylindrica  and  Athvris  subtilita 2 

5.     Shale,  clayey,  carrying  Athyris  subtihta  and 

Chonetes  verneuilanus 6 

4.     Limestone,  quarry  rock,  4  to  12-inch  ledges, 
with  Productus  cora,  Athyris  subtilita,  Hus- 

tedia  mormoni,  etc 8 

3.     Shale,  argillaceous,  drab 1 

2.     Shale,  black  "slate" 1         6 

1.     Shale,  drab,  soft 4 

The  very  strong  resemblance  of  this  section  to  the  typical  Earl- 
ham section  as  already  given  will  be  noticed  at  once.  The  partings 
in  each  case  are  of  the  same  character  and  carry  the  same  fossils. 
Ilustedia  mormoni,  which  is  abundant  wherever  the  Earlham  is  ex- 
posed, has  not  been  collected  from  any  of  the  higher  beds  along  Grand 
River,  although  at  Bethany  it  is  found  frequently  at  higher  horizons. 

The  fragmental  rock  is  not  shown  at  the  exposure  just  described 
though  it  is  exposed  a  short  distance  below  at  water  level.  On  Pot 
Hole  branch,  south  of  Terre  Haute  (township  08  north,  range 
26  west,  section  29,  southeast  of  northwest),  it  is  present  about  ten 


248  HISTORY  OF  DECATUR  COUNTY 

feet  below  the  base  of  the  Earlham,  being  firmly  cemented  and  non- 
fossiliferous.  A  thickness  of  four  feet  is  shown  in  the  bed  of  the 
creek  and  more  may  be  present.  The  Fragmental  rock  is  also  below 
the  base  of  the  quarries  opened  up  southwest  of  Davis  City  (town- 
ship 67  north,  range  26  west,  section  3,  southeast  of  southwest) . 
Here  it  is  also  non-fossiliferous. 

The  exposures  in  and  near  Davis  City  show  the  Earlham  beds 
excellently.  They  are  the  ones  which  have  been  much  opened  up, 
though  the  Winterset  and  the  De  Kalb  are  present  high  in  the  hills. 
From  the  Earlham  limestone  on  Dickenson  Creek,  southwest  of  Davis 
City,  the  following  forms  were  obtained:  Productus  longispinus, 
Productus  costatus,  Athyris  subtilita,  Spirifer  cameratus,  Chonetes 
verneuilanu8,  Fusulina  cylindrica,  Hustedia  mormoni  and  j^lates  of 
Archteocidaris  and  Zeocrinus. 

In  the  eastern  portion  of  the  county,  on  Weldon  and  Little  rivers, 
it  is  apparently  the  Earlham  which  is  exposed,  though  the  rock  has 
not  been  opened  up  enough  to  make  the  determination  sure.  The 
Fragmental  does  not  show,  being  concealed  bj^  talus  and  drift,  but 
has  been  encountered  in  bridge  excavations.  A  short  distance  south 
of  Spring  Valle}^  limestone,  apparently  the  Earlham,  is  exj^osed 
along  a  small  stream  running  into  Little  River  from  the  east  (south- 
east of  southeast  section  13).  The  stone  is  fine-grained,  ash  gray, 
breaks  with  irregular  fracture  and  weathers  white.  One  ledge  as 
much  as  eighteen  inches  in  thickness  is  indicated  by  the  blocks  found 
on  the  surface.  The  rock  is  said  to  be  underlain  by  shales.  The 
fossils  found  included  Athyris  subtilita,  Productus  longispinus, 
Productus  costatus,  Chonetes  verneuilanus,  and  Spirifer  cameratus. 

Beds  corresponding  to  those  just  described  outcrop  about  a  mile 
north  (northwest  of  northeast  section  13)  along  a  tributary  of  Little 
River,  and  have  been  in  fact  opened  up  at  several  jDoints  in  the 
vicinity.  At  the  old  Cole  mill  (northwest  of  northeast  section  14) 
tlie  section  given  below  is  exposed  in  the  west  bank  of  the  river.  The 
limestone  is  probably  the  Earlham. 

FEET 

4.     Limestone,  thick  bedded,  with  Athyris  subtilita,  very 
abundant    corals,     and     plates     and     spines     of 

ArchcTocidaris    5 

3.     Shale,  gray  to  drab 4 

Shale,  black  "slate" 1 


9 


1.     Shale,   gray,   sandy 6 


HISTORY  OF  DECATUR  COUNTY  249 

The  limestone  found  on  VVeldon  River  (southeast  section  1.5, 
jNIorgan  Township)  is  i^robably  also  the  Earlham.  The  only  fossils 
collected  were  Athyris  subtilita  and  Archa^oeidaris.  The  outcrops 
indicate  that  higher  limestones  occur. 

In  the  western  portion  of  the  county  there  are  a  number  of  excel- 
lent exposures  of  the  various  members  of  the  formation,  ^lanj-  of 
them  will  be  referred  to  in  the  notes  on  the  quarries.  The  exposures 
in  the  eastern  portion  of  the  county  are  rare  and  with  the  thick  drift 
present  it  is  difficult  exactly  to  locate  the  eastern  limits  of  the  forma- 
tion. As  laid  down  ujjon  the  accompanying  map  the  line  is  subject 
to  some  correction.  The  limit  in  the  southeastern  corner  of  the  county 
is  probably  quite  correct,  though  there  may  be  an  outlier  east  of 
Caleb  Creek.  Farther  north  it  is  fixed  by  some  exposures  on  White- 
breast  Creek  in  Clarke  County.  Between  these  points  it  may  be 
found  to  extend  a  little  farther  to  the  east  or  west  than  is  indicated. 

PLEISTOCENE 

In  recent  years  the  unconsolidated  materials  which  so  generally 
form  the  surface  formations  have  attracted  considerable  attention. 
This  is  particularly  true  of  those  beds  which  were  laid  down  by,  or  in 
connection  with,  the  great  glaciers  or  ice  sheets  which,  in  tlie  period 
inmiediately  preceding  historic  times,  spread  over  much  of  North 
America  as  well  as  certain  portions  of  the  Old  World.  The  deposits 
made  by  the  ice  sheets  are  well  displayed  in  Iowa  and  have  been  found 
to  be  of  peculiar  interest.  Within  the  last  year  or  two  it  has  been 
shown  that  the  drift  deposits  of  this  state  have  had  a  much  more  com- 
plex history  than  has  been  heretofore  ascribed  to  them.  Near  Afton 
in  Union  County  to  the  north,  and  again  in  Harrison  County,  ]Mo., 
to  the  south,  certain  phenomena  of  more  than  local  interest  have  been 
observed.  When  the  study  of  Decatur  County  was  taken  up  it  was 
hoped  that  in  the  exposures  along  its  deep  cut  valleys  decisive  evi- 
dence on  certain  mooted  questions  would  be  obtained.  Tlie  result 
of  the  investigations  are  neither  altogether  satisfactory  or  altogether 
disappointing.  Their  value  and  bearing  upon  general  questions  may, 
however,  be  better  estimated  after  a  review  of  the  evidence. 

The  drift  deposits  of  Decatur  County  include  the  Kansan  bowlder 
clay,  with  certain  possibly  older  beds,  the  gumbo,  the  loess  and  the 
alluvium.  The  latter  is  the  most  recent  deposit  and  is  found  along 
all  tlie  streams,  occupying  the  lowlands.  Tlie  loess  is  the  surface 
formation  over  the  upland  and  runs  over  the  divides  and  down  into 


250  HISTORY  OF  DECATUR  COUNTY 

the  valleys  in  the  form  of  a  mantle.  The  gmiibo  is  under  it  and  has 
the  same  stratigraphic  relations  as  the  loess.  The  drift  deposits 
jH'oper  are  under  the  gumbo  and  often  under  the  alluvium.  They 
cover  the  whole  of  the  upland  region  to  a  variable  depth,  averaging 
l^robably  150  to  200  feet.  The  drift  also  runs  down  into  the  i^re- 
glacial  valleys. 

KANSAN  AND  OLDER  DRIFT  SHEETS 

The  drift  sheet  left  by  the  major  advance  of  the  Keewatin  ice 
sheet  and  extending  out  from  under  the  later  loAvan  and  Wisconsin 
tills  is  known  as  the  Kansan  drift.  It  is  believed  to  hsLve  extended 
on  the  south  to  the  Missouri  River  and  on  the  southwest  across  that 
stream  into  Kansas.  When  named  ^'  it  w^as  thought  to  be  the  oldest 
drift  sheet  in  North  America.  Daw^son  ^^  has  since  shown  that  in 
Canada  there  is  an  older  drift,  named  by  him  the  Albertan,  and  the 
evidence  of  two  drifts  in  Southern  Iowa,  long  since  noted  by  Cham- 
berlin  ^^  and  McGee,  has  been  interpreted  as  indicating  a  pre-Kansan 
drift  ^"  in  that  region. 

The  interpretation  accords  with  the  results  obtained  from  a  study 
of  the  Alps  '^^  to  the  extent  that  it  postulates  two  old  drift  sheets.  In 
the  latter  region  there  is,  outside  the  moraine  of  the  last  glacial  period, 
evidence  of  two  older  and  widely  separated  invasions  of  the  ice,  the 
younger  of  the  two  apparently  representing  our  Kansan.  The  inter- 
pretation here  offered  is  also  in  harmony  wath  numerous  other  phe- 
nomena. In  a  word  it  may  be  stated  that  under  the  Kansan  drift 
there  are  traces  of  a  still  older  drift,  though  the  limits  of  this  older 
drift  are  not  known,  nor  is  the  evidence  with  regard  to  its  existence 
everywhere  as  satisfactory  as  could  be  desired. 

The  surface  drift  throughout  Decatur  County  is  old.  This  is 
shoA\'n  not  only  in  the  topography,  but  in  the  condition  of  the  drift 
itself.     Where  the  surface  of  the  bowlder  clay  has  not  suffered  recent 


27Chaiiil)crlin:  Gekie's  "Great  Ice  Age,"  pp.  773-774.  1894.  Jour.  Geol.,  Vol.  Ill,  pp. 
270-277.     1895. 

28  Dawson:  Jour.  Geologj-,  Vol.  Ill,  pp.  507-511.     1895. 

snChanihrrlin:  I.oc.  Cit.  McGee:  Pleistocene  Hist.  N.  E.  Iowa,  Eleventh  Ann.  Rep.  U.  S. 
Geol.  Surv.,  ]>]>.  493-499.     1891. 

soChamherlin:  Jour.  Geol.,  Vol.  ly,  pp.  872-876.  1896.  Calvin:  "Annals  of  Iowa"  (3), 
Vol.  Ill,  No.  1,  pp.  1-22.  1897.  Iowa  Geol.  Surv.,  Vol.  VII,  pp.  18,  19.  1897.  Amer.  Geol., 
Vol.  XIX,  pp.  270-272.  1897.  Bain:  Trans.  Iowa  Hort.  Soc.  1896.  Iowa  Geol.  Surv.,  Vol.  VI, 
pp.  4(;.3-467.    1897.     Ibid.,  Vol.  VII,  pp.  335-338.    1897. 

31  See  "Le  Systems  Glaciaire  des  Alpes,  guide  public,  a  de  occasion  du  Congres  geologique 
International,  6  m  Session,  Zurich,  1894,  par  M  M.  Penck,  Bruckner  et  du  Pasquier.  (W^ith 
references.) 


HISTORY  OF  DECATUR  COUNTY  251 

erosion  it  is  uniforinily  liighly  colored.  The  iron  content  has  been 
oxidized  until  a  reddish-brown  surface  corresponding  to  the  "fer- 
retto"  of  Italian  geologists  has  been  x^i'oduced.  This  reddish-brown 
grades  through  orange  to  yellow  below,  and  the  yellow  in  turn  gi\'es 
place  to  blue,  which  is  the  fundamental  color  of  the  Kansan  bowlder 
clay.  Often  the  yellow  is  seen  following  down  into  the  blue  along 
cracks  and  fading  out  from  their  edges.  All  the  evidences  indicate 
that  here,  as  elsewhere,  the  blue  and  yellow  clays  belong  together. 
The  change  in  color  is  a  matter  of  oxidation,  and  is  most  marked  when 
the  oxidation  has  been  most  active. 

The  blue  bowlder  clay  and  much  of  the  yellow  contains  a  large 
amount  of  calcium  carbonate,  fine  limestone  dust.  This  causes  it  to 
give  a  vigorous  reaction  when  tested  with  acid.  The  upper  surface 
of  the  bowlder  clay  gives  no  reaction,  and  the  strength  of  the  reac- 
tion, increasing  from  nothing  at  the  surface  to  full  vigor  at  a  depth 
of  7  to  9  feet,  is  proportional  to  the  amount  of  leaching  which 
the  clay  has  suffered,  which  in  turn  is  approximately  proportional 
to  the  depth  below  the  surface.  The  bowlder  clay  contains  a  con- 
siderable variety  of  pebbles  and  bowlders,  they  being  in  most  cases 
flattened  and  planed,  and  often  showing  striations. 

In  a  cut  on  the  Humeston  &  Shenandoah  Railway,  near  De  Kalb, 
the  following  kinds  of  rock  were  observed  in  the  till :  Gray  and  red 
granite,  red  porphyry,  Sioux  quartzite  coarse  and  fine-grained, 
quartzite  with  pebbles  of  clean  quartz  and  red  jasper,  gabbro,  fine- 
grained greenstones,  iron  concretions,  bits  of  clear,  wliite  quartz, 
small  pieces  of  limestone,  chert  and  very  small  bits  of  sandstone.  The 
sandstone  and  limestone  doubtless  come  from  the  coal  measures  of  the 
adjacent  region.  The  quartzite,  including  that  with  the  quartz  and 
jasper  pebbles,  probably  came  from  the  Sioux  Falls  region.  The 
granites  and  greenstones  came  from  farther  north.  ^lany  of  the 
granite  cobbles,  both  large  and  small,  are  so  badly  weathered  that 
they  may  be  easily  picked  to  pieces  with  the  fingers.  This  is  par- 
ticularly true  of  those  near  the  top  of  the  formation  and  becomes  less 
noticeable  toward  the  bottom.  It  is  not  confined  to  particular  kinds 
of  rock  which  might  be  supposed  to  weather  easily,  such,  for  example, 
as  coarse-grained  granites  with  large  feldspars,  but  is  true  of  a  wide 
variety  of  stones. 

It  is  believed  that  the  weathering  of  the  granites,  the  oxidation 
of  the  iron  and  the  decalcification  of  the  bowlder  clay,  in  view  of  their 
obvious  relationships  to  the  original  surface  of  the  latter,  are  to  be 
interpreted  as  evidence  of  a  long  period  of  subsrial  decay  after  the 


252  HISTORY  OF  DECATUR  COUNTY 

bowlder  clay  was  deposited.  The  ferretto  surface  maintains  itself 
under  the  loess  and  outlines  the  present  topography,  so  that  this 
period  of  exposure,  which  the  advanced  stage  of  the  topography  indi- 
cates, must  have  been  a  long  one,  occurred  after  the  bowlder  clay  was 
laid  down,  and  before  the  overlying  gumbo  and  loess  were  deposited. 
It  is  this  drift  which  forms  the  bulk  of  the  Pleistocene  deposits  of  the 
county  and  which  has  been  called  the  Kansan.  Relative  to  the  ques- 
tion of  a  possible  pre-Ivansan  there  are  certain  exposures  of  interest. 
In  section  36,  Pleasant  Township  of  Union  County,  the  following 
exi50sure  is  seen  in  the  bank  of  Grand  River  near  the  ford.  This  is 
within  a  mile  of  the  northwest  corner  of  Decatur  County: 

FEET 

4.     Loess-like  top  soil 1 

3.     Sand,  fine  to  coarse,  with  some  gravel  below 6 

2.     Gravel,  sandy,  much  weathered  material'. 10 

1.     Bowlder    clay,    blue-black,    in    physical    character 
resembling   the   older   bowlder   clay   at  Afton 

Junction 12 

The  sand  and  gravel  are  evidently  waterlaid  beds  and  belong 
together.  They  graduate  laterally  into  a  reddish  clay  and  these  into 
a  drab  to  blue  bowlder  clay.  This  shading  off  of  the  gravels  into  a 
bowlder  clay  is  true  as  well  of  the  gravels  at  Afton  Junction.  The 
gravel  found  at  this  exposure  is  similar  in  every  regard  to  that  foimd 
farther  up  the  river.  It  wants  only  the  bowlder  clay  over  the  gravel 
fo  make  the  exposure  complete,  and  as  the  exposure  is  some  distance 
below  tlie  high  land,  there  can  be  little  doubt  of  a  higher  bowlder 
clay.  Between  the  two  exjiosures  there  are  traces  of  the  same  beds, 
and  it  is  evident  that  what  explains  one  exposure  must  serve  also  to 
explain  the  other. 

About  three  miles  northwest  of  Davis  City  (center  of  section  28, 
Burrell  Township)  a  bluff  at  another  ford  across  Grand  River  shows 
an  interesting  drift  exjiosure.  The  hills  here  on  the  south  are  close 
to  the  river.  A  spur  runs  out  a  little  from  the  bluffs,  as  indicated 
on  the  sketch  map. 

The  nose  of  this  spur  has  been  cut  across  by  the  river,  making  the 
exposure.  At  the  water's  edge  stratified  sands  are  exposed.  Fifteen 
feet  above  the  water  is  a  well  marked  soil  horizon  buried  beneath  thirty 
feet  of  yellow  bowlder  clay  sloping  up  to  the  bluff  150  feet  high.  The 
bowlder  clay  is  evidently  Kansan.     From  the  fact,  however,  that  it 


IIISTOKY  OF  DECATLli  COUNTY  253 

shows  a  certain  amount  of  rude  stratification,  as  well  as  the  fact  that 
the  soil  horizon  is  ahout  on  a  level  with  the  present  flood  plain,  the 
exposure  may  jierhaps  he  thout^ht  to  represent  side  filling-  in  over  the 
bottom  land.  The  absence  of  direct  evidence  favoring-  this,  and  the 
fact  that  so  large  an  amount  of  bowlder  clay  could  haidly  slip  down 
without  leaving  direct  evidence  of  the  fact  except  by  a  rcmai'kal)ly 
slow  and  uniform  movement,  while  the  bottom  land  is  evidently 
young,  seems  sufficient  reason  for  rejecting  this  hypothesis. 

There  is  another  exposure  of  interest  found  in  the  east  bluff  of 
the  river  near  the  bridge,  about  four  miles  southeast  of  Davis  City 
(southwest  of  northwest  section  18,  Hamilton  Township).  iVbove 
the  bridge  there  is  a  small  ravine  coming  in  from  the  east  and  cutting 
in  two  what  was  once  apparently  a  continuous  exposure.  The  portion 
of  this  exposure  south  of  the  ravine  shows  at  the  base  a  blue  black 
bowlder  clay  with  many  pebbles.  This  clay  has  the  typical  character- 
istics of  the  pre-Kansan.  Its  blackness  here  is  quite  noticeable  and 
leads  one  on  first  view  to  expect  a  Carboniferous  shale.  It  does  not 
extend  along  the  entire  base  of  the  exposure  and  seems  to  be  sep- 
arated from  the  remainder  of  the  latter  by  a  zone  of  weathering. 
Over  it  where  first  seen  are  beds  of  stratified  sand,  gravel,  and  loess 
with  at  least  one  pretty  well  marked  zone  of  weathering.  North 
of  the  ravine  is  a  blue  bowlder  clay,  not  so  dark  in  color,  breaking 
cubically  rather  than  in  flakes,  and  passing  upward  into  a  yellow 
bowlder  clay  containing  masses  of  highly  weathered  gravels  of 
Aftonian  aspect.  Then  yellowing,  resultant  on  oxidation,  here  fol- 
lows the  cracks  well  down  into  the  blue  clay.  In  the  adjoining  region 
the  usual  succession  of  loess,  gumbo,  3'ellow  and  blue  bowlder  clay 
is  seen.  The  compact  black  flaky  bowlder  clay  is  unusual.  At  the 
exposure  itself  the  facts  are  not  altogether  clear,  but  this  much  may 
be  stated  definitely,  that  there  is  here  a  bowlder  clay  of  a  type  uncom- 
mon for  this  region  but  of  physical  character  very  like  that  of  the 
older  drift  at  Afton  Junction. 

Directly  west  of  Leon,  on  the  main  road  to  Decatur  City  (south 
west  southwest  section  29,  Center  Township),  a  long  westward  facing- 
slope  shows  the  exposure  sketched  below. 

On  the  top  of  the  hill  is  the  usual  upland  loess  (1)  running  down 
over  the  edge  of  the  rather  steep  slope.  Below  it  is  the  normal  gumbo 
deposit  (2)  eight  to  ten  feet  thick.  Under  this  is  a  yellow  bowlder 
clay  (3)  with  all  the  usual  characteristics.  So  far  the  section  is  ex- 
actly the  same  as  occurs  throughout  tlie  county.  The  bowlder  clay 
is,  however,  only  about  fifteen  feet  thick,  and  below  it  is  found  a 


254  HISTORY  OF  DECATUR  COUNTY 

second  gumbo  about  twelve  feet  tbick.  This  is  a  dark  blue- 
drab  clay.  At  its  upper  limit  it  contains  humus  and  a  distinct 
soil  three  to  five  inches  thick.  The  soil  is  quite  black  and  well  marked, 
though  thin.  It  contains  some  roots  which  do  not  seem  to  come  down 
from  the  bowlder  clay.  The  latter  shows  slight  evidence  of  water 
action  for  as  much  as  a  foot  above  the  gumbo,  but  above  that  is  the 
normal  unstratified  bowlder  clay.  Under  the  gumbo  is  a  second 
yellow  bowlder  clay  (6)  not  differing  in  any  known  particular  from 
that  above.  It  carries  cherts,  red  and  gray  granites,  limestones, 
greenstones,  iron  concretions  and  quartzites.  The  same  sorts  of  rocks 
are  found  in  the  clay  above.  Both  show  evidence  of  age  and  carry 
much  weathered  material.  At  the  foot  of  the  slope  is  the  alluvium  of 
the  bottomland. 

The  ravines  at  the  side  of  the  road  have  cut  back  far  enough  to 
show  that  the  beds  lie  directly  under  each  other  as  indicated.  The 
upper  bowlder  clay  (3)  where  it  rests  upon  the  lower  gumbo  (4)  is 
not  the  hillside  wash  or  the  result  of  creep.  The  material  brought 
down  by  these  processes  is  shown  at  5  and  is  quite  distinct.  It  includes 
smaller  pebbles,  is  sandier,  very  gravelly,  and  distinctly  waterlaid. 
It  can  be  distinguished  at  a  glance.  No  hypothesis  of  slipping  seems 
able  to  account  for  the  arrangement  of  the  beds  and  they  seem  to  indi- 
cate true  and  original  superposition.  This  is  the  more  probable  from 
the  fact  that  exactly  similar  exposures,  except  that  the  relations  are 
even  clearer,  mav  be  seen  about  one  and  a  half  miles  east  of  Osceola 
in  Clarke  County.  At  several  points  in  the  ravines  north  of  AYeldon 
the  same  plienomena  seem  to  be  present  though  the  exposures  are 
not  good.  Only  at  the  Leon  exposure  was  the  soil  on  top  the  lower 
gumbo  noted.  It  has  here  the  appearance  of  a  buried  soil  with  the 
upper  portion  removed,  leaving  only  a  little  of  the  soil  proper  over 
the  subsoil.  There  is  no  sufficient  evidence  of  erosion  at  any  point 
in  the  section  lower  than  the  top  of  the  upper  bowlder  clay. 

In  regions  where  the  superimposed  drift  sheets  occur,  buried 
forests  are  not  uncommonly  encountered.  This  is  particularly  true 
in  regions  near  the  edge  of  an  upper  drift,  where,  probably  as  a 
result  of  the  fact  that  but  little  ice  passed  over  the  forest,  it  is  better 
preserved.  Buried  forests  are  not  of  equal  significance.  They  may 
readily  occur  as  a  result  of  temporary  retreats  and  advances  of  the 
ice  where  only  one  drift  sheet  is  present.  It  is  only  when  they  throw 
light  upon  the  climate  or  physical  conditions  obtaining  during  the 
interrum  that  they  have  important  bearing.  It  should  always  be 
remembered,  however,  that  the  simplest  explanation  is  not  neces- 


HISTORY  OF  DECATUR  COUNTY  255 

sarih'  the  true  one,  and  that  where  the  facts  are  capable  of  exi)lana- 
tion  equally  well  by  the  hypothesis  of  one  or  of  two  ice  sheets,  it  is 
by  no  means  necessarily  true  that  the  former  hypothesis  is  t(j  be 
preferred. 

There  are  evidences  of  a  buried  forest  in  Decatur  County,  and  in 
the  adjoining  region.  Indeed,  such  evidence  is  found  at  a  number 
of  points  in  Southern  Iowa,  and  has  been  reviewed  at  another  place.  '- 
In  Decatur  Countv  the  forest  bed  is  best  known  in  the  vicinitv  of 
Lamoni,  where  it  has  been  encountered  in  several  wells.  In  the  eleva- 
tor well  at  that  place  it  was  struck  at  a  depth  of  eighty-five  feet,  and 
below  it  there  was  a  thickness  of  100  feet  of  bo^^■l(ler  clay.  It  is  clear 
that  this  forest  bed  is  far  below  the  base  of  the  loess  and  is  in  the 
bowlder  clay.  There  are  no  specimens  of  wood  at  hand,  though  the 
material  examined  by  Prof.  T.  J.  Fitzpatrick  was  found  to  be  conif- 
erous. The  climatic  bearing  of  the  find  is  unimportant.  The  signifi- 
cant facts  are  that  the  bed  is  of  some  thickness,  occurs  commonly  in 
the  deep  wells  over  quite  a  wide  region,  and  is  in  the  bowlder  clay. 
It  evidently  neither  represents  adventitious  wood  in  the  latter,  nor 
any  pose-Kansan  accumulations. 

In  Harrison  County,  3Io.,  Dr.  C.  R.  Keyes  "^  reports  a  nine-foot 
forest  bed  struck  at  a  depth  of  about  one  hundred  and  twenty  feet 
and  in  the  drift.  The  evidence  here  would  seem  to  be  of  the  same 
nature  as  at  Lamoni,  but  the  thickness  of  the  bed  makes  more  impos- 
sible any  reference  of  the  deposits  to  adventitious  sources,  and  indi- 
cates some  little  time  of  accumulation. 

These  two  cases  represent  the  better  examples  of  buried  forests 
in  Decatur  and  its  immediate  vicinity.  Other  cases  are  reported, 
but  do  not  seem  so  reliable.  In  Union  County  good  specimens  of  peat 
have  been  obtained  from  Avells  near  Afton,  but  the  horizon  is  not 
well  fixed  and  may  be  of  later  age.  Setting  aside  for  the  present  the 
buried  gumbo  near  Leon,  it  will  be  noted  that  there  are  in  this  county 
or  its  immediate  vicinity  the  following  evidences  of  two  drifts. 

1.  Waterlaid  deposits  between  tills. 

2.  Buried  forests  and  soil  horizons. 

3.  Traces  of  an  underlying  till  of  peculiar  and  marked  physical 
character. 

In  considering  the  first  of  these  it  will  at  once  suggest  itself  that 
the  large  amount  of  ice  necessitates  considerable  water-action  (though 
not  necessarily  "great  floods"),  and  that  accordingly  waterlaid  beds 


32  Proc.  Iowa  Acad.  Sci.,  Vol.  V. 

33  Private  communication. 


256  HISTORY  OF  DECATUR  COUNTY 

may  be  expected  to  occur  at  various  horizons  in  and  about  the  drift. 
It  is  possible,  however,  that  the  deposits  should  be  of  such  a  nature 
as  clearly  interdict  any  reference  to  ice-derived  floods  in  their  forma- 
tion, or  their  distribution  might  be  such  as  to  show  that  they  followed 
a  considerable  period  of  erosion.  Neither  is  exactly  true  in  this  case, 
but  it  is  true  that  the  gravels  found  above  Westerville  are  of  the  same 
character  and  occupy  the  same  position  as  those  found  at  Afton,  and 
there  are  some  reasons  for  believing  that  the  latter  accumulated  dur- 
ing a  considerable  period  of  erosion. 

Regarding  the  evidence  derived  from  buried  soils  and  forest  beds 
but  little  can  be  added  to  what  has  already  been  said.  It  is  mani- 
festly uncertain  and  of  slight  independent  value. 

The  third  point  is  one  hard  to  estimate.  It  is  true,  however,  that 
whatever  one  may  think  of  correlations  based  upon  the  color  and 
physical  characteristics  of  bowlder  clays,  there  is  certainly  some  sig- 
nificance in  the  fact  that  at  every  known  exposure  in  Iowa,  of  bowlder 
clays  which  for  various  reasons  are  considered  as  probably  older  than 
the  Kansan,  the  physical  character  of  the  bowlder  clay  is  the  same, 
and  that  it  is  markedlv  different  from  that  of  the  Kansan. 

This  is  true  not  only  of  such  clays  in  southwestern  Iowa  but  of 
the  exposures  at  Albion  in  Marshall  County,  Oehvein  in  Fayette,  and 
at  jNIuscatine.  It  is  certainly  a  fact  of  some  significance.  Probably 
none  of  these  classes  of  evidence  at  this  point  would  independently 
prove  the  presence  of  a  pre-Kansan  drift,  but  it  must  be  remembered 
the  facts  have  a  cumulative  value.  If,  for  example,  a  single  exposure 
showed  a  forest  bed,  a  soil  and  waterlaid  deposits  betw^een  drift  sheets 
of  markedly  different  physical  characters,  and  there  w^ere  no  opposing 
phenomena  in  the  surrounding  region,  but  one  inference  could  be 
drawn.  In  the  same  way  when  the  three  classes  of  phenomena  occur 
not  in  the  same,  but  in  contiguous  exposures,  they  gather  weight 
from  the  association.  For  this  reason  it  is  believed  that  the  evidence 
from  Decatur  County,  meager  though  it  admittedly  is,  supports  the 
hypothesis  that  there  are  traces  of  a  pre-Kansan  drift  sheet  in  the 
region,  separated  from  the  Kansan  by  an  unknown  but  probably 
important  interval. 

The  exposures  near  Leon,  it  is  believed,  are  best  interpreted  as 
results  of  changes  in  the  front  of  the  Kansan  ice  sheet.  The  gumbo 
alone  proves  only  that  there  was  a  period  when  fine  sedimentation 
such  as  is  characteristic  of  still  waters  could  go  on  for  some  time. 
The  soil  has  been  so  nearlv  removed  that  its  original  thickness  can 
only  be  guessed,  and  it  is  recognized  that  soils  alone  do  not  necessarily 


HISTORY  OF  DECATLU  COLM  V  257 

iiiaicate  an  especially  long  lapse  of  time.  The  thickness  of  the 
overlying  till  and  the  total  lack  of  distinguishing  marks  between  it 
and  that  below  the  gumbo  throws  the  exposure  out  of  harmony  with 
those  of  the  Aftonian  and  pre-Kansan  beds.  The  apparently  local 
nature  of  the  phenomena,  confined  as  they  are  to  a  relative  narrow 
belt  stretching  from  Osceola  to  Leon,  suggests  a  local  cause. 

In  the  recent  railway  cuts  of  the  D.  ^I.  &  K.  C.  Kailwav  there 
are,  at  a  few  points,  gravels  suggestive  of  the  Buchanan.  The  gravel 
consists  of  small  well  rounded  pebbles,  is  highly  stained,  carries 
eathered  material,  and  occurs  apparently  in  pockets  in  tlie  top  of 
the  Kansan  and  under  the  gumbo.  It  has  the  appearance  at  times 
of  local  hillside  wash;  but  its  occurrence  at  such  ^idelv  scattered 
)  oints  as  Leon,  New  Virginia,  and  Truro,  together  with  the  fact 
that  in  Eastern  Iowa  the  Buchanan  gravels  often  occur  some  miles 
out  from  the  edge  of  the  later  lowan  drift,  suggests  the  advisability 
of  keeping  in  mind  the  alternative  hypothesis. 

Glacial  strife. — The  limestone  on  Pot  Hole  Creek  at  one  point 
shows  stria  as  indicated  in  Plate  xxiii.  As  measured  by  Prof.  T.  J. 
Fitzpatrick  these  have  a  direction  of  s.  1°  w.  magnetic.  They  are 
upon  the  Winterset  limestone  and  below  the  Kansan  drift. 

LOESS  AND   GUMBO 

The  only  general  deposits  occurring  throughout  the  county  and 
later  than  the  drift  are  the  loess  and  the  gumbo  clay.  They  arc 
of  the  general  type  familiar  throughout  Southern  Iowa  and  Northern 
JNIissouri.  The  loess  is  of  the  older  or  white  clay  phase,  and  as  com- 
pared with  that  found  along  the  iMississippi  and  ^lissouri  rivers  as 
well  as  inland  farther  north,  is  less  porous,  more  plastic,  and  non- 
■^ossiliferous.  It  carries  lime  nodules  but  is  free  from  pebbles.  It 
graduates  upward  into  the  black  loam  which  forms  the  prairie  soil. 

The  gumbo  belongs  stratigraphically  with  the  loess.  It  occurs 
below  the  latter,  and  has  a  blue  to  drab  color.  It  is  even  more  plastic 
and  less  porous  than  the  loess.  When  damp  but  not  wet.  it  has  a 
mealy  appearance  which  is  quite  deceptive  as  to  its  real  character. 
It  rarely  carries  pebbles  though  a  few  have  been  found  in  it.  It  often 
contains  small  lime  balls  but  these  are  neitlier  so  large  nor  so  numer- 
ous as  in  the  loess.  It  has  the  appearance  of  being  finer  grained 
than  the  latter  and  suggests  a  quiet  water  deposit  which  has  since 
been  compacted  or  puddled  by  water.  In  general  the  giunlio  is  about 
ten  feet  thick  and  rests  on  the  ferretto  horizon  of  the  Kansan.     The 

Vol.    T.— 17 


258  HISTORY  OF  DECATUR  COUNTY 

loess  is  from  ten  to  as  much  as  twenty  feet  thick.     Both  deposits 
passed  down  the  flanks  of  the  hills  into  the  larger  valleys. 

ALLUVIUM 

The  alluvial  deposits  of  Decatur  County  while  extensive  have 
little  that  is  j)eculiar.  They  cover  the  broad  bottoms  of  Grand,  Wel- 
don  and  Little  rivers,  and  occur  along  many  of  the  minor  streams.  As 
a  rule  the  alluvium  is  not  of  any  remarkable  thickness.  x\long  Grand 
River  the  flood  plain  is  usually  about  flfteen  feet  above  ordinary  water 
stages.  The  alluvium  is  necessarily  made  up  in  the  main  of  material 
derived  from  the  loess  and  gumbo.  South  of  Davis  City,  however, 
along  Dickerson  Creek,  it  contains  large  bodies  of  sand  and  gravel, 
derived  apparently  from  beds  of  the  same  age  as  the  gravels  above 
AVesterville.  Inasmuch  as  the  river  does  not  show  this  material  in  the 
region  between  Westerville  and  Davis  City,  it  is  highly  probable  that 
the  beds  which  formed  the  source  of  the  Dickerson  Creek  deposits 
are  concealed  below  the  drift  in  the  hills  west  of  Davis  City. 

STRUCTUKE 

The  rocks  of  the  county  have  been  subject  to  very  little  disturb- 
ance. The  dip  noted  west  of  Decatur  (see  Plate  xxiv)  is  the  most 
pronounced  in  the  county.  It  is  entirely  local  and  throughout  the 
area  the  rocks  lie  very  nearly  horizontal.  Apparently  the  general 
dip  to  the  southwest  which  characterizes  the  rocks  of  so  much  of  the 
state  is  here  almost  entirely  absent.  There  are  no  data  which  war- 
rant considering  it  here  to  be  more  than  one  or  two  feet  per  mile. 
The  base  of  the  Bethany,  so  far  as  Decatur  County  is  concerned, 
seems  to  occuj^y  a  practically  horizontal  plane. 

ECONOMIC  PRODUCTS 

Coal 

That  Decatur  County  lies  within  the  limits  of  the  coal  measures 
has  long  been  known.  The  exposures  of  black  shale  outcropping 
along  the  streams  in  various  portions  of  the  county,  and  already  dis- 
cussed, have  led  to  considerable  exploration  in  a  small  way,  and 
have  been  the  basis  of  various  local  coal  excitements.  As  has  already 
been  stated  the  shale  seen  along  the  ravines  belongs  almost  exclusively 
to  the  upper  or  barren  coal  measures.    In  a  few  cases  it  carries  with 


HISTOKV  OF  DECATUR  COUNTY  259 

it  a  little  coal.  Along  Weldon  River  in  early  days  some  coal  was 
taken  from  the  horizon  below  the  Earlliam  limestone.  Near  the 
Cole  ^Nlill  (section  14,  Hamilton  Townsliip),  in  excavating  for  the 
bridge,  it  is  stated  that  as  much  as  eight  inches  of  coal  was  found 
at  this  horizon.  This  thickness  is  quite  exceptional.  At  no  phicc  in 
the  county  does  coal  of  workable  thickness  outcrop.  Any  supplies 
which  may  be  obtained  must  come  from  lower  horizons.  As  has 
already  been  stated  the  Des  Moines  formation  extends  under  the 
jNIissourian.  The  dip  is  such  as  to  bring  the  various  coal  horizons 
worked  in  the  counties  northeast  of  Decatur  some  distance  below 
the  base  of  the  limestone  here. 

The  Des  JNIoines  formation  in  Southern  Iowa  is  composed  of  three 
members.  (1)  The  lowermost  beds  of  shales,  sandstones  and  coal 
exposed  along  the  Des  Moines  River,  and  from  there  west  to  the 
Chariton,  and  probably  the  equivalent  of  the  Cherokee  shales  of 
Kansas;  ^^  (2)  the  Appanoose  formation  consisting  of  a  series  of 
limestones  and  shales,  and  carrying  the  JNIystic  coal  outcropping 
west  of  the  Chariton  River  in  Appanoose  County  '^^  and  extending 
under  the  eastern  portion,  at  least,  of  Wayne  County;  (3)  a  shale 
sequence,  as  yet  but  little  studied  and  infrequently  exposed,  extend- 
ing over  Western  Wayne  County,  and  outcropping  immediately 
below  the  base  of  the  Bethany  in  Decatur  and  adjoining  counties.  It 
is  probable,  but  as  yet  unproven,  tliat  this  formation  is  to  be  cor- 
related with  the  Pleasanton  shales  of  Kansas.""'  The  Pleasanton 
shales  in  this  region,  at  least,  are  not  coal-bearing.  Their  thickness 
is  not  certainly  known,  but  is  probably  not  less  than  seventy-five 
feet. 

The  Appanoose  formation  carries  a  much  w^orked  and  valuable 
coal  bed,  thirty  inches  thick.  This  coal  thins,  however,  to  the  west; 
beino-  at  Harvard  in  Wavne  County  but  twentv-two  inches  in  thick- 
ness.  The  dip  of  the  bed  if  persistent  is  such  as  to  bring  the  Mystic 
coal  horizon  about  100-1.50  below  the  base  of  the  Bethany  limestone 
in  Decatur  County.  It  is  not  certain,  however,  that  the  Appanoose 
formation  maintains  itself  so  far  to  the  west.  Toward  the  north  in 
Lucas,  Warren,  Madison,  Guthrie  and  Dallas  counties,  its  equivalents 
take  on  a  character  somewhat  different  from  that  of  the  typical  expo- 


34Haworth  and  Kirk:  Kansas  Univ.  Quart.,  Vol.  II,  p,  10.5.  1894.  Haworth:  I'niv.  Geo]. 
Surv.,  Kansas,  Vol.  I,  pp.  150-1.51.    189G. 

35  Geol.  Appanoose  County,  Iowa  Geol.  Surv.,  Vol.  V,  3T8,  et  scq.     1896. 

soHaworth:  Kansas  Univ.  Quart.,  Ill,  274,  189.5;  Univ.  Geol.  Surv.,  Kansas,  I,  152-153. 
1896.     Keves:  Proc  Iowa  .\cad.  Sci.,  Vol.  IV,  24-25.    1897. 


260  HISTORY  OF  DECATUR  COUNTY 

SLires.  The  general  facies,  however,  of  the  formation  remains  the 
same;  i.  e.,  it  consists  of  argillaceous  shales,  thin  limestones  and  thin 
but  jjersitent  coal  beds.  Its  normal  thickness  is  uually  about  eighty 
feet.    It  base  should  be  about  one  hundred  and  sixty  feet  below  the 

Bethany. 

The  coal  output  of  Iowa,  with  the  exception  of  that  derived  from 
the  ^lystic  bed,  comes  almost  entirely  from  thick  coal  beds  of  the 
Cherokee  shales.  The  workable  coal  occurs  in  this  formation  along 
certain  fairly  persistent  horizons  marked  in  general  by  the  presence 
of  bituminous  matter  in  some  form,  but  varying  much  and  rapidly 
in  the  thickness  of  actual  coal.  The  better  horizons  are  uniformly 
near  the  base  of  the  formation.  The  best,  perhaps,  may  be  called  the 
AVapello  horizon  from  its  considerable  development  in  the  county 
of  that  name. 

The  Wapello  horizon  has  been  proven  through  much  of  Keokuk, 
JNIahaska,  ^Marion,  Wapello,  Monroe  and  Lucas  counties.  The  old 
Whitebreast  mines  at  Cleveland  in  the  last  county  mentioned,  were 
the  farthest  west  of  any  mines  which  have  worked  this  horizon.  From 
its  proven  extent  and  general  richness  it  is  the  horizon  most  likely  to 
yield  returns  to  prospectors.  Near  Chariton,  it  occurs  at  about  675- 
700  feet  above  sea  level  and  approximately  200  feet  below  the  base 
of  the  beds  corresponding  to  the  Appanoose  formation.  At  Center- 
ville  it  should  be  at  approximately  525  feet  above  sea  level  or  400 
feet  below  the  base  of  the  Appanoose.  JNIaking  the  proper  allowance 
for  dip,  the  horizon  should  occur  at  a  depth  of  approximately  500 
feet  below  the  base  of  the  Bethany  in  Decatur  County. 

Wliether  or  not  it  would  carry  workable  coal  so  far  to  the  west 
can  not  be  foretold  and  can  only  be  determined  by  careful  work  with 
the  diamond  drill.  In  the  region  where  the  horizon  has  so  far  been 
oi)ened  up  it  has  been  found  to  be  generally  rich  but  to  be  often 
entirely  or  i)ractically  barren.  Even  where  the  field  is  best  known 
and  has  been  most  largely  developed  it  requires  careful  and  extensive 
drilling  to  locate  the  coal  accurately  enough  to  warrant  opening  a 
mine.  The  coal  is  not  evenly  distributed  along  this  horizon  but  lies 
in  a  series  of  partially  or  wholly  disconnected  basins.  Within  the 
limits  of  a  single  square  mile  it  varies  in  thickness  from  nothing  to 
seven  feet.  In  a  recent  set  of  twenty  diamond  drill  holes  through 
this  horizon  only  ten  showed  coal  of  more  than  three  feet  in  thick- 
ness and  seven  showed  no  coal  at  all. 

The  attempts  so  far  made  to  locate  coal,  in  or  near  Decatur 
County,  have  not  been  tirely  successful.    At  Davis  City  a  borina-  was 


HISTORY  OF  DECATLK  COLXTV  261 

put  down  about  twenty  years  ago.  Starting  near  the  base  of  the  Beth- 
any limestone  it  was  carried  to  a  depth  of  212  feet  and  is  said  to  have 
shown  only  two  seams  of  coal  four  inches  and  six  inches  thick  respec- 
tively. Near  De  Kalb  a  hole  was  sometime  since  put  down  without 
success.  This  started  at  the  base  of  the  De  Kalb  limestone  and  ended 
apparently  in  the  Pleasanton  shales.  An  examination  of  such  of 
the  drillings  as  have  been  preserved  shows  the  usual  limestone  and 
shale  sequence. 

At  Bethany,  ]Mo.,  a  hole  was  drilled  in  189.3,  starting  at  the  base 
of  the  Bethany  limestone.  It  was  carried  down  to  GoO  feet  and  should 
accordingly  ha^e  reached  the  Wapello  horizon.  No  coal  more  than 
nine  inches  thick  was  reported.  W'inslow  ^'  who  reports  the  drillings, 
casts  some  doubts  on  its  accuracy. 

In  1897  Mr.  C.  Woodruff  of  High  Point,  in  drilling  for  water 
reported  three  beds  of  coal  respectively  one  foot,  three  feet  and 
four  inches  in  thickness.  The  hole  was  located  upon  the  highland 
and  started  accordingly  approximately  1,125  feet  above  sea  level. 
It  was  carried  to  a  depth  of  412  feet  and  seems  to  have  stopped  in 
the  Cherokee  shales. 

So  far  as  known  all  drilling  mentioned  was  done  with  the  churn 
or  jump  drill.  In  the  last  case  at  least,  coal  was  not  sought,  so  that 
no  special  jDreparations  were  made  for  the  accurate  determination  of 
its  thickness.  As  is  easily  understood,  results,  particularly  at  such 
depths,  based  upon  churn  drill  records  have  very  small  value.  The 
method  does  not  permit,  except  under  the  most  favorable  circum- 
stances of  fine  discrimination.  Results  of  real  value  are  only  to  be 
obtained  by  means  of  the  core  drill. 

There  has  been  some  recent  discussion  in  the  county  as  to  the 
advisability  of  direct  prospecting  for  coal,  and  because  of  this  fact, 
as  well  as  the  further  facts  that  the  conditions  here  are  very  similar 
to  those  obtaining  over  a  considerable  portion  of  Soutliwestern  Iowa, 
it  may  be  advisable  to  say  a  little  as  to  the  cost  of  such  work.  From 
what  has  been  said  it  will  be  readily  understood  tliat  there  is  no  coal 
to  be  obtained  in  the  surface  formations.  Also  that  below  tliese  is 
a  thickness  of  seventy  feet  of  shales  which  are  practically,  if  not 
entirely,  barren.  Below  these  in  turn  is  a  thickness  of  1.50-200  feet 
which  from  all  previous  experience  may  be  expected  to  carry  thin 
coal,  Init  no  thick  seams;  probably  no  coal  as  much  as  two  feet  thick. 
There  is  accordingly  a  thickness  of  at  least  200  feet  under  the  low- 
land or  400  feet  under  the  high  table  land  which  for  practical  pur- 

37  Mo.  Geol.  Surv.,  Vol.  I,  p.  99.     1891. 


262  HISTORY  OF  DECATUR  COUNTY 

poses  may  be  expected  to  prove  barren.  Below  this  is  a  thickness 
of  300-400  feet  in  which  coal  may  be  found;  the  chances  of  thick 
coal  increasing  toward  the  bottom.  To  explore  the  strata  thoroughly 
a  hole  running  from  500  to  GOO  feet  in  depth  would  have  to  be  drilled 
even  if  one  could  so  locate  the  work  as  always  to  drill  from  the  low- 
land. If  the  prospecting  compam^  owned  its  own  drill  and  were  not 
unfortunate  in  the  loss  of  diamonds,  the  cost  would  probal)ly  average 
$1  to  $1.25  per  foot  provided  5,000  to  10,000  feet  were  drilled.  To 
locate  400  to  600  acres  of  workable  coal,  provided  the  strata  prove 
as  rich  as  farther  east,  a  matter  unproven,  once  could  hardly  count 
on  less  than  twenty  and  might  need  100  drill  holes.  The  work  would 
accordingly  cost  $10,000  to  $40,000  or  more.  In  the  end  it  might 
})rove  that  the  money  would  be  lost,  though  on  the  whole  it  seems 
probable  that  some  coal  at  least  would  be  located,  tliough  perhaps  not 
enougli  to  warrant  a  large  mine.  In  some  exploratory  work  in  Iowa 
where  the  holes  are  about  half  as  deep  as  they  would  need  to  be  here 
about  seven  thousand  dollars  was  spent  and  work  was  carried  on  for 
nearly  two  years  before  a  good  coal  basin  was  located.  If  a  suitable 
coal  basin  were  located  the  cost  of  working  it  would  probably  not  be 
prohibitive.  It  would  depend  more  upon  the  amount  of  railway 
track  necessary  than  the  depth  to  the  coal,  and  if  it  should  chance 
that  the  shaft  could  be  located  near  a  present  railway  the  mine  might 
even  cost  less  than  some  now  operated.  The  amount  of  capital 
invested  would  depend  largely  upon  whether  the  mineral  rights  were 
leased  or  jiurchased,  and  upon  the  equipment  of  the  mine.  It  might 
perha])s  be  as  low  as  $60,000  under  very  favorable  circumstances,  or 
as  much  as  $150,000.  A  large  percentage  of  this  would  necessarily 
be  invested  before  any  return  could  be  expected. 

It  will  hardly  be  seriously  thought  that  the  present  local  market, 
or  any  probable  local  market  of  the  immediate  future,  would  war- 
rant such  an  investment.  It  remains  to  examine  the  chance  for  a 
shi])])ing  mine,  A  mine  in  Decatur  County  would  have  the  theoretical 
advantage  in  competition  of  nearness  to  Missouri  River  points.  Prac- 
tically this  advantage  would  not  be  entirely  realized.  The  C,  B.  & 
Q.  Railway  would  furnish  a  direct  line  to  St.  Joseph  and  when  the 
D.  ]M.  &  K.  C.  Railway  is  extended,  a  short  line  to  Kansas  City  would 
be  open.  Both  of  these  markets  are,  however,  well  supplied,  and 
competition  is  so  keen  as  to  offer  few  attractions  to  prospective 
investors.  Coal  would  not,  of  course,  be  sold  north  or  east  to  advan- 
tage.    In  reaching  the  Omaha,  Sioux  City  and  Nebraska  markets,  a 


HISTORY  OF  DECATUR  COUNTY  263 

local  railway  tariff  would  always  tend  to  destroy  any  sliulit  ad\antaL^e 
which  the  location  giyes. 

Under  present  circumstances  it  will  be  seen  that  tlie  opening  of 
the  Decatur  County  coal  field  would  be  too  hazardous  to  be  a  leuiti- 
mate  business  yenture.  One  niiglit  put  down  one  hole  and  strike 
workable  coal,  and  open  up  on  such  slender  prospects.  Such  things 
haye  been  done  occasionally  with  profit,  often  with  loss;  but  the 
undertaking  would  be  a  gambler's  chance,  not  a  business  proposition. 
For  the  present  it  is  probably  better  not  even  to  put  down  random 
search  holes.  If  good  coal  were  found  in  such  a  hole  it  pi'ol)a))ly 
would  not  serye  to  interest  capital  and  if  no  coal  were  found  it  would 
discourage  future  work,  eyen  though  such  a  result  is  entireh^  unwar- 
ranted by  the  conditions  of  the  field.  Some  time  in  the  years  to  come 
when  the  demand  for  coal  is  greater.  Southwestern  Io^^•a  will  be  pros- 
pected and  then  the  Grand  Riyer  Valley  will  prove  the  most  inviting 
field,  not  so  much  because  of  any  better  prospect  of  coal  occurring 
there  rather  than  under  the  hills  or  in  other  valleys,  l)ut  because  the 
depth  to  which  the  river  has  cut  will  make  the  prospecting  cheaper 
and  easier.  Until  that  time  Decatur  County's  wealth  must  come, 
as  in  the  present  and  past  from  its  other  resources. 

Clays 

The  clays  so  far  developed  in  Decatur  County  have  come  entirely 
from  the  surface  formations.  The  loess  present  throughout  the 
county,  is  of  the  older  type  common  in  Southern  Iowa.  It  has  become 
somewhat  changed  for  a  depth  of  twelve  to  eighteen  inches  from  the 
surface,  losing  some  of  the  finer  and  more  soluble  constituents  and 
acquiring  a  considerable  proportion  of  humus.  The  soil  resulting  is 
admirably  adapted  to  the  production  of  hand  brick,  having  all  the 
usual  characteristics  of  alluvium.  It  is  now  used  at  Garden  Grove 
and  Leon.  The  main  body  of  the  loess  below  the  soil,  and  the  gumbo 
clavs  below  the  loess  have  not  so  far  been  Morked.  The  gumbo 
clays  are  not  of  any  value  for  manufacturing  except  in  the  produc- 
tion of  clay  ballast.  For  this  purpose  they  are  unexcelled,  their 
plasticity  and  high  tensile  strength  causing  them  to  shrink  consid- 
erably in  burning  and  so  by  cracking,  open  up  the  pieces  of  clay  to 
thorough  interior  burning.  These  very  properties  make  them  unavail- 
able for  use  in  ordinary  clay  works.  The  gumbo  clavs  are  widely  dis- 
tributed  throu^^hout  the  county  and  their  ready  accessibility  makes 
them  a  valuable  source  of  burned  clay.  So  far  they  have  been  used 
only  by  the  C,  B.  &  Q.  Railway,  for  which  several  kilns  have  been 


264  HISTORY  OF  DECATUR  COUNTY 

burned  at  Davis  City.  The  material  here  is  obtained  from  lowland 
forming  a  long  gentle  slope  on  the  west  side  of  Grand  River.  It  may 
represent,  in  part  at  least,  redeposited  gmnbo  worked  over  by  the 
river.  The  earliest  kilns  here  were  burned  by  hand  and  required  a 
large  force  of  men.  Ballast  is  now  being  hauled  out  which,  however, 
was  burned  about  five  years  ago  with  the  aid  of  machines. 

The  material  is  light,  porous  and  yet  strong.  It  seems  probable 
that  in  the  future  it  will  become  an  important  source  of  road  metal 
and  be  applied  to  the  improvement  of  the  wagon  roads.  The  wide 
(Hstribution  of  the  clays,  the  ease  with  which  it  can  be  obtained  and 
the  cheapness  with  which  it  can  be  burned,  all  render  it  worthy  of 
serious  investigation. 

The  shale  clays  occurring  in  the  county  have  never  been  utilized. 
From  the  point  of  view  of  accessibility  the  shales  at  Davis  City  and 
De  Kalb  are  the  only  ones  at  present  worthy  of  consideration.  In 
eacli  case  the  thickness  is  not  great,  and  the  shales  carry  limestone 
nodules.  At  De  Kalb  an  important  portion  of  the  section  (page 
278)  consists  of  bituminous  shale  or  slate,  which  would  need  to  be 
thrown  aside.  The  clays  would  in  all  probability  yield  a  good  hard 
brick,  and  possibly  pavers  could  also  be  made.  They  could  not,  how- 
ever, be  worked  by  open  pits,  but  would  need  to  be  mined.  This 
"vvould  impose  no  especial  burdens  at  De  Kalb  as  there  is  a  good  lime- 
stone roof  and  a  fair  thickness  of  clay  above  water  level.  It  would, 
however,  make  the  work  more  expensive  than  at  many  competing 
plants. 

The  brick  made  at  present  are  the  common  salmon  brick,  bring- 
ing al)out  six  dollars  per  thousand.  The  Foster  INIullinix  yard  is 
located  in  tlie  northeastern  portion  of  Leon.  The  brick  are  hand 
made  from  the  surface  loam  and  burned  with  wood  in  a  cased  kiln. 
South  of  Leon  (township  68  north,  range  25  west,  section  9,  south- 
west of  southeast)  W.  H.  ^lills  has  burned  brick  of  the  same  char- 
acter. None  were  burned  here  in  1897.  W.  H.  Jenkins  runs 
two  kilns  having  a  capacity  of  100,000  each,  in  the  northern  part 
of  Leon,  and  Mr.  G.  C.  Dilsaber  burns  brick  of  the  usual  character 
at  Garden  Grove.  Mr.  Dilsaber  has  recently  installed  a  brick  machine 
and  intends  to  work  the  loess  under  the  surface  loam.  The  loess  here 
should  make  a  good  hard  brick  of  cherry  red  color  if  properly  handled. 
It  will  doubtless,  as  usual,  require  extra  care  in  drying,  but  there  is 
IK)  reason  to  doubt  that  here,  as  at  other  upland  points  in  the  county, 
a  considerable  and  profitable  industry  in  the  manufacture  of  stand- 
ard building  brick  can  be  built  up. 


HISTORY  OF  DECATUR  COUNTV  265 

liuildiim'  Stunes 


'O 


The  great  limestone  foriiuitioii  which  uiiderhes  so  consideraljle 
a  portion  of  the  county  has  been  opened  up  and  quarried  at  a  num- 
ber of  widely  distributed  points.  In  the  main,  the  quarries  are 
located  in  the  western  half  of  the  county.  In  the  soutlieastern  town- 
ships a  little  stone  has  been  taken  out,  but  none  of  the  openings  there 
are  extensive  enough  to  be  called  quarries  in  a  commercial  sense. 
Indeed  nowhere  in  the  county  is  stone  quarried  upon  an  extensive 
scale.  A  majority  of  the  openings  are  for  local  and  temporary  pur- 
poses. Few  enjoy  a  regular  trade  and  all  are  worked  intermittently. 
Nevertheless  the  aggregate  amount  of  stone  taken  out  in  any  one 
year  is  fairly  considerable.  For  the  most  part  it  is  used  rough  for 
fomidations  and  for  well  rock.  A  considerable  amount  is  used  in 
the  county  bridge  work.  Some  is  sold  as  dimension  stone  and  some 
has  been  dressed  and  used  for  monumental  purposes. 

The  quarry  appliances  are  of  the  simplest.  In  general  the  strip- 
ping is  removed  by  hand  and  wheelbarrow;  occasionally  scrapers  are 
employed.  The  rock  is  pried  loose  by  w^edges  and  crow-bars,  or 
where  these  means  are  ineffectual,  the  jump  drill  and  blasting  powder 
are  called  into  requisition.  In  most  instances  perhaps,  the  (juarries 
are  worked  on  short  leases;  royalties  being  paid  to  the  fee  holder, 
and  the  quarryman  deserting  the  opening  so  soon  as  the  strip])ing 
becomes  heavy  or  the  bedding  too  massive  for  his  tools.  For  these 
reasons  the  stone  has  not  been  opened  up  enough  to  allow  its  real 
value  and  character  to  be  positively  determined.  That  whicli  has  so 
far  been  placed  upon  the  market  has  been  almost  entirely  obtained 
from  the  croppings. 

So  far  as  sliown  by  the  natural  outcrops  and  the  quarries  now- 
open,  the  stone  is  predominantly  thin-bedded.  Ledges  of  over  twelve 
inches  are  rare,  though  stone  of  fourteen  and  eighteen  inches  may  be 
found.  The  majority  of  courses,  how^ever,  sliow  four,  six  and  eight 
inch  stone.  In  this  particular  there  seems  to  be  but  little  difference 
between  the  various  members  of  the  formation,  except  that  in  gen- 
eral the  Winterset  seems  to  include  heavier  courses  than  either  tlie 
De  Kalb  or  the  Earlhani,  which  are  the  main  quarry  rocks.  In 
physical  characteristics  there  is  considerable  uniformity.  The  rock 
is  fine-grained  and  usually  ash-gray  to  buff  in  color.  It  breaks  with 
a  conchoidal  fracture  showing  smooth  surfaces  set  witli  inclosures  of 
clear  calcite.  It  is  a  non-magnesian  stone  of  great  purity  and  con- 
tains little  or  no  pyrites.     So  far  as  its  mineralogical  constitution  is 


266  HISTORY  OF  DErATUR  COUNTY 

concerned  it  is  well  adapted  to  withstand  weathering  agencies.  As 
a  matter  of  fact  the  stone  so  far  quarried  does  not  usually  withstand 
weathering  so  well  as  its  general  appearance  would  lead  one  to  expect. 
It  splits  and  cracks  under  frost  action,  the  fault  apparently  being  in 
the  physical  structure  of  the  rock.  It  is  cut  by  minute  cracks  which 
allow  the  absorption  of  water,  while  the  close  texture  x^revents  this 
from  freezing  out,  so  that  the  full  force  of  the  expansion,  which  has 
been  calculated  to  be  as  much  as  138  tons  i^er  square  foot,  is  expended 
upon  the  rock.  Since  this  rock  has  a  crushing  strength  only  of  about 
four  thousand,  five  hundred  pounds  per  square  inch,  a  good  deal  of  it 
gives  way  before  this  strain.  Some  of  the  ledges  naturally  withstand 
frost  action  better  than  others,  but  it  is  doubtful  whether  it  would  be 
practicable  to  quarry  them  separately  with  a  profit.  For  the  purposes 
to  which  the  stone  is  now  applied  it  answers  well  enough,  but  its  use 
in  large  and  important  structures  or  in  bridge  work,  except  after 
careful  selection,  can  not  be  recommended. 

It  is  quite  probable  that  the  Winterset  rock  would  yield  an  average 
stone  of  better  quality  than  that  now  marketed;  but  so  far  it  has 
been  but  little  quarried. 

The  Westerville  limestone  occurring  in  the  hills  along  Sand  Creek, 
has  not  been  quarried  to  any  great  extent.  In  general  it  is  very 
similar  to  the  De  Kalb  in  character.  A  thickness  of  about  ten  feet 
is  present  and  the  stone  is  readily  accessible.  The  rock  showing  near 
the  water  at  the  mill  is  the  same  as  is  exposed  at  Reynold's  ford.  It 
is  a  thin  bed  of  impure  nodular  rock  and  has  only  a  slight  value. 

In  the  vicinity  of  Grand  River  Station  there  are  numerous  quar- 
ries working  the  De  Kalb  limestone.  Among  them  are  the  quarries 
of  S.  C.  Jennings,  Blair  Brenneman  and  C.  Miles.  The  Miles  quarry 
is  east  of  the  town  near  the  railway  bridge  over  Grand  River.  The 
total  thickness  of  the  stone  is  about  three  feet,  the  ledge  yielding  rock 
six  and  eight  inches  thick.  It  is  a  hard  blue  stone  somewhat  similar 
to  the  Reynolds'  Ford  rock  and  may  represent  the  same  horizon, 
though  apparently  at  Grand  River  it  is  not  far  above  the  De  Kalb 
proper.  The  most  pretentious  attempt  to  quarry  the  De  Kalb  lime- 
stone was  at  the  old  Madarasz  quarry,  now  abandoned.  This  quarry 
is  located  on  the  river  about  three  miles  northeast  of  town,  in  section 
36.  It  was  opened  near  the  Humeston  &  Shenandoah  Railway  and 
at  one  time  had  a  switch  from  that  road.  It  is  said  that  considerable 
rock  was  taken  from  the  quarry  for  railway  construction.  Nothing 
can  now  be  seen  of  the  quarry  face,  which  is  said  to  have  shown  ten 
feet  of  stone  with  tlie  base  five  feet  above  the  river. 


HISTORY  OF  DECATUR  COUNTY  267 

East  of  De  Kalb  station  are  the  tyi)ieal  exposures  of  the  De 
Kalb  rock.  A  section  has  ah-eady  been  given  but  the  following  details 
from  a  neighboring  quarry  will  show  the  thiekness  of  the  individual 
ledges. 

TEET    INCHES 

6.  Stripping,  bowlder  clay 0 

0.  Limestone,  irregidar  and  waterworn 6 

4.  Shale,  hard   6 

3.  Limestone,  irregularly  bedded 8 

2.  Shale  or  bastard  rock 2 

1.  Limestone  in  five  ledges  that  are  respectively 

9,  12,  G,  13  and  8  inches  in  thickness 4 

The  upper  courses  yield  little  of  value  and  the  main  output  is  of 
stone  from  the  lower  ledges.  There  are  two  quarries  here,  the  south 
one  being  owned  by  ^Ir.  E.  U.  De  Kalb  and  the  north  one  bv  ^lartha 
Fry.  A  short  distance  w^est  of  De  Kalb  station  the  stone  has  also 
been  opened  up  on  Short  Creek  (northeast  of  northwest  section  32, 
Long  Creek  Township).  In  the  quarries  here  the  following  section 
Avas  observed. 

TEET    INCHES 

10.  Shale,  gray  to  green 2         6 

9.  Limestone,  shalv 6 

8.  Limestone,  solid 9 

7.  Shale,  drab  to  yellow 2 

6.     Limestone,  thin,  shaly 4 

5.  Clay  parting 2 

4.  Limestone    1 

3.  Limestone    5 

2.  Limestone    4 

1.     Limestone    6 

The  rock  is  the  usual  character  and  carries  Productus  nebrascensis, 
Productus  cora,  Productus  costatus,  INIeekella  striato-costata  and 
Chonetes  verneuilanus. 

Along  Hall  Run  and  Elk  Creek,  in  Grand  River  and  Blooming- 
ton  townships,  there  are  numerous  exposures  of  the  De  Kalb  and 
Winterset,  and,  near  the  mouth  of  Elk  Creek,  the  Earlham  lime- 
stones. The  exposure  shown  in  Fig.  2,  Plate  xxiv,  is  one  of  the 
best  and  shows  the  Winterset  limestone  to  a  thickness  of  fifteen  feet 
with  the  shales  below^  it  and  extending  down  to  the  Earlham.     This 


268  HISTORY  OF  DECATUR  COUNTY 

exposure  is  almost  five  miles  northeast  of  Lamoni  on  Pot  Hole  or 
Potters'  branch.    The  section  at  this  point  includes  the  following  beds. 

FEET    INCHES 

6.     Limestone  (Winterset)  with  Spirifer  came- 
rata,     Productus     punctatus,     Productus 

costatus,  Athyris   subtilita,   etc 15 

5.     Shale,  gray  to  drab 3         6 

4.     Shale  bituminous   2         6 

3.     Coal    ,  .  ll/o 

2.  Shale,  gray   6 

1.     Limestone  (Earlham)  in  bed  of  creek. 

A  few  miles  north  of  here  at  the  Millsap  quarries  (section  34, 
Gi'and  River  Township)  the  base  of  the  De  Kalb  limestone  shows 
again  with  some  ledges  of  rock  thirty-six  inches  thick.  Below  the 
limestone  is  a  drab  to  gray  shale  carrying  Athyris  subtilita  and 
Productus  longispinus.  About  five  feet  below  the  base  of  the  lime- 
stone, and  in  the  shale,  is  a  third  band  of  limestone  very  full  of 
Chonetes  verneuilanus  and  overlying  an  irregular  ledge  of  nodular 
blue  limestone  carrying  large  well  formed  Productus  cora.  The 
exposure  does  not  seem  deep  enough  to  expose  the  JNIyalina  horizon 
thougli  Derbya  crassa  is  present.  In  the  southeast  corner  of  the  same 
section  the  blue  limestone  shows  again  and  a  short  distance  farther 
down  the  Winterset  is  exposed. 

In  tlie  northwestern  portion  of  Burrell  Township  the  Fragmental, 
Earlham  and  Winterset  limestones  and  associated  shales  are  exposed 
on  the  west  side  of  the  river  (section  7,  west  half  northeast  quarter). 
On  the  east  side  of  the  river  the  Earlham  has  been  quarried  on  the 
Anton  Ranch  land.  This  quarry  has  not  recently  been  worked  but 
the  stock  pile  shows  some  excellent  eighteen-inch  rock.  The  stone 
from  the  quarry  has  been  dressed  and  sold  for  monumental  work. 

Soutli  of  Terre  Haute  on  Pot  Hole  Branch,  near  the  exposure 
of  AVinterset  figured  above,  there  are  the  S.  A.  Ferguson,  N.  N. 
Hazelton,  and  Isaac  Toney  quarries,  all  in  the  Earlham  rock.  The 
section  here  is  as  follows:  . 

FEET 

3.  I^imestone,  ash  gray  to  brown,  fine-grained,  thin- 

bedded,  M'ith  courses  up  to  1  foot  in  thickness 

and  shale  partings 6-10 


HISTORY  OF  DKCATUR  COUNTY  269 

FEET 

2.  Shale,  drab,  imperfectly  exposed,  but  showing  1 

foot  of  black  slate 10 

1.  Limestone,  brecciated  or  fragmental  type,  firmly 

cemented  and  apj^arently  non-fossiliferous.  .  4 

It  is  the  upper  rock  Mhich  is  quarried  and  which  carries  Athyris 
subtilita  (abundant)  Productus  cora,  Productus  cameratus,  Pro- 
ductus  costatus,  Rhynchonella  uta,  Hustedia  mormoni  (rare)  and 
the  usual  stems  and  spines  of  crinoids.  The  rock  dips  to  the  west, 
and  the  \\^interset  present  in  the  hills  above  is  exposed  farther  up 
the  stream. 

Near  Davis  City  there  are  quarries  both  north  and  southwest  of 
town.  The  main  (piarry  north  of  town  is  the  S.  Radnick,  which  is 
opened  in  the  Earlham.  The  (juarries  southwest  of  town  are  along 
Dickerson  branch  and  include  the  W.  Rickards,  Hugh  Sutherland, 
Jos.  Boswell,  and  C.  Noble  openings.  These  are  all  small  openings 
in  the  Earlham. 

As  seen  at  the  Boswell  quarry  the  section  is  as  given  below. 

FEET    INCHES 

6.  Stripping,  loess-loam 2-4 

5.  Limestone    1 

4.  Rotten  stone  and  shale 2 

3.  Limestone,  14-inch  ledge  carrying  a  3-inch 

ledge  below 1         5 

2.  Shale  and  rotten  stone 1 

1.     Limestone,  with  wavy  bedding,  ledges  run- 
ning from  3  to  16  inches o 

The  bedding  in  the  lower  stone  is  quite  irregular.  The  courses 
are  persistent  but  vary  rapidly  in  thickness  so  that  the  surface  lines 
are  w^avy.  In  the  roadway,  about  ten  feet  below  the  stone,  are  traces 
of  a  black  slate;  and  in  the  stream,  about  twenty  feet  below  the  quarry, 
the  Fragmental  rock  outcrops.  It  is  unfossiliferous  except  for  the 
jDresence  of  Productus  cora,  is  loosely  cemented  and  crumbles  so 
readily  that  it  does  not  form  a  ledge.  The  Winterset  limestone  is 
jiresent  higher  in  the  hills  and  possibly  also  the  De  Kalb. 

The  location  of  the  various  outcrops  in  the  southeastern  portion 
of  the  county  and  the  character  of  the  stone  has  already  been  suffi- 
cientlv  indicated. 


270  HISTORY  OF  DECATUR  COUNTY 

Lime 

In  the  earlier  years  of  the  settlement  of  the  county  lime  was 
burned  at  several  points.  The  rock  is  not,  however,  adapted  to  the 
manufacture  of  the  best  grade  of  lime,  owing  to  its  non-magnesian 
character,  and  with  the  better  transportation  facilities  now  enjoyed 
by  the  region  the  trade  has  passed  into  the  hands  of  producers  in 
other  sections  of  the  country.  The  non-magnesian  rocks  burn  to  a 
clear  white  lime  of  good  aj)pearance,  but  which  really  affords  a 
weaker  bond  than  that  furnished  by  the  magnesian  lime.  It  is  also 
difficult  to  handle  and  can  only  be  worked  by  exercising  great  care  in 
slacking  and  by  using  an  abundance  of  water.  For  these  reasons  it 
would  compete  upon  unequal  terms  with  the  lime  now  on  the  mar- 
ket, and  except  in  especial  instances  the  old  industry  is  not  aj^t  to 
be  revived.  The  purity  of  the  stone  suggests  that  it  would  be  an 
excellent  source  of  lime  for  cement  production  w^henever  it  becomes 
economical  to  grind  limestone  for  that  purpose.  For  the  present  the 
chalks  and  marls  shut  it  out  of  that  field. 

A  partial  analysis  made  for  the  survey  by  Dr.  J.  B.  Weenis  gave 
the  following  results. 

Ca  COo    91.96 

Mg  CO3 1.99 

H.O    07 

This  sample  was  from  the  De  Kalb  limestone  as  shown  at  the 
type  locality.  It  emphasizes  the  fact  of  the  purity  of  the  stone  which 
Is  essentially  calcium  carbonate  and  would  yield  51.2,5  per  cent  of 
lime  (Ca  O).  While,  as  has  been  stated,  this  would  be  a  non-mag- 
nesian lime,  it  may  be  remembered  that  the  St.  Louis  and  other  Mis- 
souri limes,  which  enjoy  a  large  trade,  are  of  this  character.  Analyses 
of  several  of  these  are  given  below.-^^ 

Carbonate   of   lime 99.815 

Magnesia    Tr. 

Oxide    of    magnesia Tr. 

Alumna     .054 

Oxide    of    Iron .011 

Silicic    and    insoi .12 

Phosphoric    acid    None. 

Sulphuric    acid    Tr. 

Calcium    sulphate    

Water 

Alkalis   and   loss .  .  . 


II. 

92.75 
3.26 

III. 
97.76 
.12 

IV. 

98.80 

.02 

■  ■  ■  '.48 
.40 
.495 

.20  S 
.26 

.40 
.08 

'  Tr.'  ' 
.675 
1.94 

Total     100.00  100.00  98.34  99.30 

I.  Ash  Grove  white  lime. 

II.  Champion  white  limestone,  Ash  Grove,  Mo. 

III.  Limestone   from   St.   Louis   County. 

1\  .  Limestone  from   Marion  County,   Mo. 


••^  Minn.  Ros.  U.  S.,  1889-90,  pp.   1.06-407. 


HISTORY  OF  DECATUR  COUNTY  271 

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS 

In  the  preparation  of  this  report  the  author  lias  received  informa- 
tion and  other  courtesies  from  a  hirge  number  of  persons  both  williin 
and  without  the  county.  It  is  impossible  to  mention  everyone  l)ut 
especial  reference  must  be  made  to  Prof.  T.  J.  Fit/patrick  of  Grace- 
kind  College  who  furnished  the  list  of  forest  trees  appended  and  to 
]Mr.  F.  M.  Smith  with  him  for  the  photographs  from  which  Plate  xxiii 
and  Figvn'e  2,  Plate  xxiv,  were  prepared.  To  Professor  Calvin  is 
due  the  determination  of  the  fossils  and  to  jNlr.  \Villiam  Haven  of 
Ottumwa,  is  due  certain  valuable  suggestions  used  in  discussmg  the 
coal.  To  ]Mr.  ^Morgan  G.  Thomas,  state  mine  inspector,  the  author 
is  particularly  indebted  for  reviewing  the  latter  section  of  the  report 
and  checking  the  cost  estimates  there  made. 

FOREST  TREES  AND  SHRUDS  OF  DECATUR  COUNTY 

By  T.  J.  Fitzpatrick 

Decatur  County  is  essentially  an  expanse  of  prairie  with  narrow 
sinuous  belts  of  timber  stretched  along  Grand  River  and  its  tribu- 
taries. Unbroken  prairie  is  being  slowly  occupied  by  forests.  In 
such  places  the  hazelnut,  ground  oak,  laurel  oak,  red  oak,  bur  oak, 
white  oak,  and  the  elms  are  slowly  establishing  themselves.  INIany 
of  these  embryo  forests  exist  and  are  annually  drawn  upon  for  fenc- 
ing material  and  firewood.  While  perhaps  the  larger  number  of  such 
forests  are  being  reduced  in  size  or  destroyed,  in  order  to  increase  the 
area  of  tillable  soil  or  of  pasture,  yet  these  forests,  if  carefully  hus- 
banded, would  be  sufficient  for  future  needs.  The  older  forests  are 
confined  to  the  main  water  courses  and  are  of  limited  extent.  Here 
the  soft  timber  predominates.  The  white  oak,  hard  majilc  and  other 
trees  of  like  character  are  too  few  in  number  to  be  of  conseciuence  in 
the  manufacture  of  lumber.  A  few  sawmills  are  located  in  the  county 
and  produce  annually  a  small  amount  chiefly  of  soft  lumber  which 
is  used  locally. 

The  nomenclature  of  the  following  list  of  trees  and  shrubs  is  that 
of  the  sixth  edition  of  Gray's  oNIanual. 

TILIACE.E 

Tilia  americana  L.  Basswood,  Linden  or  Linn.  Common  in 
river  bottoms  and  frequent  in  rich  uplands. 


272  HISTORY  OF  DECATUR  COUNTY 

Xaiithoxylum  aniericana  31111.  Northern  Prickly  Ash.  Frequent 
in  woods. 

CELASTRACE^ 

Celastrus  scandens  L.  Climbing  Bitter  Sweet.  Frequent  in 
upland  woods. 

Euonvmus  atropurpureus  Jacq.     Burning-Bush.      Rich   woods,' 
infrequent. 

RHAMXACE/E 

Rhaninus  lanceolata  Pursh.  Buckthorn.  Common  along  fence 
rows  bordering  woods;  frequent  in  thickets  along  highways. 

Oeanothus  americanus  L.  New  Jersey  Tea.  Prairies  and  upland 
woods,  rather  rare. 

C.  ovatus  Desf.     Prairies  and  roadsides,  common. 

VITACE^E 

Vitis  riparia  jNIx.     Wild  Grape.     Rich  woods,  common. 
V.  cinerea  Englm.     Downy  Grape.     Waste  places,  rare. 
Ampelopsis  quinquefolia  INIx.     Virginian  Creeper.     Rich  woods, 
frequent. 

SAPINDxVCE.E 

iEsculusglabra  Willd.  Ohio  or  Fetid  Buckeye.  Rich  woods,  com- 
mon but  less  so  than  formerly. 

Acer  saccharinum  Wang.  Hard  or  Sugar  INIaple.  Frequent 
along  Grand  River  ])ut  disappearing.     Frequent  in  cultivation. 

A.  dasycarpum  Ehrh.  Soft  INIaple.  Common  in  river  bottoms,  a 
frequent  grove  tree. 

Negundo  aceroides  INIoench.  Box-Elder.  Rich  woods,  common. 
Frequent  in  cultivation. 

AXACARDIACE.^5 

Rhus  glabra  L.    Smooth  Sumach.    Upland  open  woods,  common. 
R.  toxicodendron  L.    Poison  Ivy.    Fence  rows,  woods:  frequent. 


HISTORY  OF  DECATUR  COUNTY  273 

LEGUMINOS.E 

Aiiiorpha  canescens  Xutt.  Lead-Plant.  Prairies  and  open 
woods,  common. 

A.  fruticosa  L.  False  Indigo.  Rich  soil  in  sloughs  and  low 
places,  common. 

Robinia  pseudacacia  L.  Common  Locust.  A  frequent  tree  along 
roadsides  and  in  waste  places. 

Cercis  canadensis  L.  Red-bud.  AVooded  bluffs.  Frequent  along 
Grand  River  below  Woodmansee  bridge. 

Gvmnocladus  canadensis  Lam.  Kentucky  Coffee-tree.  A  few 
in  low  woods  below  Woodmansee  bridge. 

Gleditschia  triacanthos  L.  Honey-Locust.  River  bottoms  and 
rich  uplands,  frequent. 

ROSACE^E 

Prunus  americana  JNIarsh.    Wild  Plum.    Upland  woods,  common. 

P.  serotina  Ehrh.  Wild  Black  Cherry.  Upland  woods,  fre- 
quent. 

P.  virginiana  L.     Choke-cherr3\     Rich  woods,  common. 

Physocarpus  opulifolius  INIax.  Nine-bark.  Rocky  banks;  infre- 
quent. 

Rubus  occidentalis  L.  Raspberry.  Fence  rows,  thickets,  not 
common. 

R.  villosus  Ait.    Blackberry.    Uplands,  not  common. 

Rosa  arkansana  Porter.  Common  Wild  Rose.  Prairies,  com- 
mon.   Determined  by  Mo.  Bot.  Gar. 

Pyrus  coronaria  L.    Crab- Apple.    Thickets,  common. 

P.  malus  L.  Apple.  A  frequent  escape  into  fields  and  waste 
places. 

Crataegus  coccinea  L.    Red  Hawthorn.    Thickets,  common. 

C.  tomentosa  L.    Scarlet  Thorn.    Thickets,  frequent. 

C.  crus-galli  L.     Cockspur  Thorn.     Thickets,  common. 

Amelanchier  canadensis  T.  &  G.  Service-berry.  Wooded  bluffs, 
frequent. 

SAXIFRAGACE^ 

Ribes  gracile  Mx.  Missouri  Gooseberry.  Open  low  woods,  fre- 
quent. 

Vol.      1—18 


274  HISTORY  OF  DECATUR  COUNTY 

COIINACE.E 

Cornus  sericea  L.  Silky  Cornel.  Rich  soil,  frequent.  This 
and  the  following  were  determined  by  the  Mo.  Bot.  Gar. 

C.  paniculata  L'Her.  Panicled  Cornel.  Waysides,  thickets, 
frequent. 

CAPRIFOLIACE^E 

Sanibucus  canadensis  L.     Elder.     Rich  soil,  frequent. 
Syniphoricarpos  vulgaris  JNIx.     Coral-berry.     Rich  open  woods, 
common. 

EUBIACE^ 

Cephalanthus  occidentalis  L.  Button-bush.  Swampy  soil,  fre- 
quent. 

OLEACE^ 

Fraxinus  viridis  Mx.  Green  Ash.  A  frequent  tree  in  low  or  rich 
upland  woods.    Determined  by  the  Mo.  Bot.  Gar. 

F.  americana  L.  This  sj)ecies  is  vmdoubtedly  present  but  has 
not  been  observed. 

BIGNONIACE.E 

Catalpa  speciosa  Warder.  Catalpa.  A  frequent  tree  in  cultiva- 
tion, rarely  an  escape. 

URTICACE^ 

Ulmus  fulva  ^Ix.    Red  or  Slippery  Elm.    Rich  woods,  frequent. 

U.  americana  L.     White  Elm.     Rich  woods,  common. 

Celtis  occidentalis  L.     Hackberry.     Low  woods,  frequent. 

Madura  aurantiaca  Xutt.  Osage  Orange.  Formerly  cultivated 
for  hedge  fences,  frequently  spontaneous. 

]\Iorus  rubra  L.  Red  ^Mulberry.  Wooded  bluffs  and  low  w^oods, 
frequent. 

TLATANACE^ 

Platanus  occidentalis  L.  Sycamore,  Buttonwood.  An  infre- 
quent tree  along  Grand  River  and  its  tributaries. 


HISTOllY  OF  DECATUK  COUNTY  275 

JUGLAXDACE.E 

Juylans  nigra  L.    Black  AValnut.     Rich  woods,  frequent. 

Carya  alba  Xutt.     White  Iliekorv.     Upland  woods,  common. 

C.  sulcata  Xutt.  Shell-bark  Hickory.  Low  woods  alou"-  Grand 
River,  once  frequent  but  disappearing. 

C.  amara  Xutt.  Ritter-nut  or  Pignut  Hickory.  Rich  woods, 
common. 

CUPULIFEK.1: 

Corylus  americana  Walt.     Hazelnut.     Uplands,  common. 

Ostrya  virginica  Willd.  Ironwood,  Hop-hornbeam.  Wooded 
blufl^s,  frequent. 

Carpinus  caroliniana  Walt.  Ironwood,  American  Hornbeam. 
VVooded  bluffs,  frequent. 

Quercus  alba  L.    ^Vllite  Oak.     Uplands,  frequent. 

Q.  macrocarpa  ^Ix.  Bur  Oak.  A  large  tree  in  rich  woods,  shrub- 
by on  the  prairies;  common. 

Q.  bicolor  A\''illd.  Swamp  White  Oak.  Bottom  woods,  com- 
mon near  Woodmansee  bridge  and  elsewhere. 

Q.  muhlenbergii  Englm.  Chestnut  Oak.  Upland  w^oods,  infre- 
quent. 

Q.  prinoides  Willd.     Ground  Oak.     Uplands,  common. 

Q.  rubra  L.    Red  Oak.     Upland  woods,  frequent. 

Q.  coccinea  Wang.     Scarlet  Oak.     Upland  woods,  common. 

Q.  ]:»alustris  Du  Roi.     Pin  Oak.     Low  woods,  frequent. 

Q.  imbricaria  ^Ix.  Laurel  Oak,  Shingle  Oak.  Upland  woods, 
common. 

Q.  nigra  I^.     Black  Jack  or  Barren  Oak.     LTplands,  frequent. 

SALICACE.T; 

Populus  tremuloides  jNIx.     Quaking  xVsp.     Upland  woods. 

P.  monilifera  Ait.     Cottonwood.     Low  woods,  frequent. 

P.  alba  L.  Wliite  Poplar.  A  cultivated  variety  of  this  is  becom- 
ing a  frequent  escape. 

Salix  humilis  ^larsh.  Prairie  Willow.  Prairies,  common. 
Determined  by  the  ]Mo.  Bot.  Gar. 


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