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D.   A.   W.   PERKINS. 


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Osceola  Counts 


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BY  D.  A.  W.    PERKINS 


1892: 

BROWN   4   SAENGER,    PRINTERS  AND   BINDERS, 
StOUX   FALLS,  SO.    DAK. 


.0  s  P^ 


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The  writer  of  these  pa^es  located  in  O'Brien  County, 
Iowa,  in  the  fall  of  187 1,  and  hence  knows  something  of  the 
hardships  and  privations  of  the  early  settlers  of  these  north- 
western Counties  of  the  State,  and  particularly  of  the  County 
of  Osceola.  This  book  is  intended  to  rescue  from  coming 
oblivion  many  of  the  incidents  and  reminiscences  of  the  early 
days  of  the  County,  and  to  give  them  record  for  the  entertain- 
ment and  benefit  of  the  old  settlers  and  the  new,  and  also  to 
give  a  general  history  of  the  County  from  its  first  organization. 

The  book  is  not  produced  as  a  money  making  scheme;  is 
not  written  to  advertise  anybody  or  anything.  The  writer 
has  simply  taken  a  certain  portion  of  his  time  from  a  busy 
professional  life,  and  wielded  the  pen  in  gratifying  a  personal 
desire  to  preserve  the  County's  history,  and  also  to  bring  home 
to  the  intelligent  people  of  Osceola,  and  all  others  interested 
in  the  County,  a  record  of  what  has  gone  before,  up  to  the 
present  date,  and  from  which  point  some  future  historian  may 
continue  the  task,  when  we,  who  were  active  participants  in  its 
early  struggles,  will  be  numbered  among  those  who  are  of  the 
silent  city  of  the  dead. 


©HE    HAMB. 

Osceola  County  was  named  after  a  Seminole  chief  who  was 
the  acknowledged  head  of  that  band  of  Indians  inhabiting  the 
everglades  of  Florida.  In  1835,  the  United  States  authorities 
attempted  to  remove  the  tribe  into  the  country  west  of  the 
Mississippi,  but  Osceola  at  the  head  of  his  brave  followers  re- 
fused to  go,  and  such  renowned  commanders  as  Scott  and 
Taylor  were  out-generaled  in  every  encounter.  After  two 
years  he  was  captured  b}^  treachery,  sent  to  Charleston  in 
irons,  and  afterwards  at  Ft.  Moultrie  died  of  grief. 

LAW  PERTAINING  TO   ITS  ORGANIZATION. 

Chapter  9  of  the  Laws  of  the  Third  General  Assembly, 
approved  January  15,  1851,  entitled,  "An  Act  to  Establish 
New  Counties  and  Define  Their  Boundaries,"  among  other 
things,  provides  as  follows: 

"Section  49.  That  the  following  shall  be  the  boundaries 
of  a  new  county,  which  shall  be  called  Osceola,  to-wit:  Be- 
ginning at  the  northwest  corner  of  Township  Ninety-seven, 
Range  Thirty-eight,  thence  north  to  the  north  boundary  hne 
of  the  State,  thence  west  to  the  northwest  corner  of  Township 
One  Hundred,  Range  Forty-two,  thence  south  to  the  south- 
west corner  of  Township  Ninety-eight,  Range  Forty-two, 
thence  east  to  the  place  of  beginning." 

Section  27  of  the  same  act  created  a  new  county  called 
Wahkaw,  which  is  the  present  County  of  Woodbury. 

Chapter  8  of  the  Laws  of  the  Fourth  General  Assembly, 
approved  January  12,  1853,  entitled,  "An  Act  Organizing 
Certain  Counties  Therein  Named,"  provides  for  the  organiza- 
tion of  the  County  of  Wahkaw,  and  the  holding  of  a  special 
election  for  that  purpose. 

And  Section  14  of  said  chapter  reads  as  follows: 

"Section  14.  That  for  revenue,  election  and  judicial  pur- 
poses, the  Counties  of  Ida,  Sac,  Buena  Vista,  Cherokee, 
Plymouth,  Sioux,  O'Brien,  Clay,  Dickenson,  Osceola  and  Bun- 
combe are  hereby  attached  to  Wahkaw,  and  the  election  for 
said  county  shall  be  held  at  Sergeant's  Bluff,   and  as   many 


6  HISTORY  OF  OSCEOLA    COUNTY,   IOWA. 

Other  places  as  the  organizing  sheriff  may  designate  in  his 
notice  of  election." 

Thos.  L.  Griffey  was  the  organizing  sheriff  of  the  County 
of  Wahkaw. 

Chapter  12  of  the  Laws  of  the  Fourth  General  Assembly, 
approved  January  t2,  1853,  entitled,  "An  Act  in  Relation  to 
New  Counties,"  provides  the. manner  in  which  citizens  of  an 
unorganized  county  may  secure  the  organization  of  their 
county  by  application  to  the  county  judge  of  the  county  to 
which  such  unorganized  county  is  attached,  and  also  provides 
for  establishing  the  county  seat,  notice  of  election,  canvass  of 
returns  and  qu^tlitication  of  officers  elected. 

And  Section  4  of  said  chapter  provides  that  the  name  of 
the  County  of  Wahkaw  shall  be  changed  to  Woodbury. 

Sections  226  to  230,  inclusive,  of  the  revision  of  i860 
contain  general  provisions  relating  to  unorganized  counties, 
the  holding  of  elections  for  organization,  etc.,  in  which  the 
authority  is  stated  to  be  in  the  county  judge  to  perform  certain 
duties,  but  Sections  312  to  326,  inclusive,  in  effect  confer  upon 
the  board  of  supervisors  the  powers  and  duties  of  the  county 
judge  in  relation  to  unorganized  counties  attached  to  organized 
counties.  And  Section  330  of  the  revision  of  i860  also  so  de- 
clares. 

Under  these  provisions  the  County  of  Osceola  remained 
attached  to  Woodbury  County  until  its  organization  in  Jan- 
uary, 1872. 


Ol^GANIZING    OSGBOLiA   (sOUNTY. 

WOODBURY   COUNTY   RECORDS. 

State  of  Iowa,    \ 
Woodbury  County.  \ 

I,  George  W.  Wakefield,  Auditor  of  Woodbury  County, 
Iowa,  do  hereby  certify  that  at  the  June  session,  A.  D.  1S71, 
of  the  Board  of  Supervisors  of  Woodbury  County,  to-vvit: 
On  the  6th  day  of  June,  A.  D.  1871,  the  following  proceed- 
ings were  had  to-wit: 

Resolved,  that  the  Countv  of  Osceola  in  the  State  of  Iowa, 
be  organized  at  the  general  election  of  187 1. 

Resolved,  that  three  townships  be  formed  out  of  the 
County  of  Osceola  in  the  State  of  Iowa,  to-wit:  All  of 
Township  No.  Ninety-Eight,  of  Range  Thirty-nine,  Forty, 
Forty-One  and  Forty-Two,  shall  compose  one  township  to  be 
known  and  called  Goewey  Township.  All  of  Township  No. 
Ninety-Nine,  Range  Thirty-Nine,  Forty,  Forty-One  and 
Forty-Two,  shall  compose  one  township  to  be  known  and 
called  Holman  Township.  And  all  of  Township  No.  One 
Hundred,  of  Range  Thirty-Nine,  Forty,  Forty-One  and 
Forty-Tw^o,  shall  compose  one  township  to  be  known  and 
called  Horton  Township. 

Resolved,  that  an  election  be  held  for  the  election  of 
Township  and  County  officers  at  the  general  election  for  1871, 
to  be  held  as  follows,  to-vvit:  In  Goewey  Township,  at  the 
house  of  E.  Huff;  in  Holman  Township,  at  the  house  of 
A.  Culver;  in  Horton  Township,  at  the  house  of  H.  R.  Fenton. 

Resolved,  that  the  question  of  whether  the  Provisions  of 
Chapter  144  of  the  Laws  of  the  Twelfth  General  Assembly  of 
the  State  of  Iowa,  shall  be  enforced  in  Osceola  County,  Iowa, 
shall  be  submitted  to  the  legal  voters  of  said  County,  at  the 
general  election  of  187 1,  as  provided  m  said  chapter. 

Resolved,  that  the  proper  officers  are  hereby  authorized 
and  instructed  to  do  and  take  all  necessary  steps  to  have  these 
resolutions  carried  into  effect. 

Resolved,  that  the  Auditor  be  instructed  to  assess  the 
lands  in  Osceola  County  at  twoJ|dollars  an  acre. 


8  HISTORY  OF   OSCEOLA    COUNTT,    fO]VA. 

I  also  certify  that  at  the  September  Session,  A.  D.  187 1, 
to-wit:  On  the  4th  day  of  September,  A.  D,  187 1,  the  fol- 
lowing proceedings  were  had,  to-wit: 

Resolved^  that  the  following  taxes  shall  be  and  are  hereby 
levied  for  the  year  A.  D.  187 t,  upon  the  assessed  value  of  the 
taxable  property  in  Osceola  County,  Iowa,  for  the  year  A.  D. 
187 1,  in  accordance  with  law,  to-wit: 

For  State  revenue,  two  mills  on  the  dollar. 

For  ordinary  County  revenue,  four  mills  on  the  dollar  and 
a  poll  tax  of  fifty  cents. 

For  the  support  of  schools,  two  mills  on  the  dollar. 

For  making  and  repairing  bridges,  three  mills  on  the 
dollar. 

For  road  purposes,  five  mills  on  the  dollar. 

For  school  house  fund,  ten  mills  on  the  dollar. 

For  teachers  fund,  ten  mills  on  the  dollar. 

For  contingent  fund,  four  mills  on  the  dollar. 

I  also  certify  that  at  the  October  session,  A.  D.  187 1,  to- 
wit:  On  the  i6th  day  of  October,  A.  D.  1871,  the  following 
proceedings  were  had  to-wit: 

On  motion  the  Board  proceeded  officially  to  canvass  the 
votes  cast  at  the  general  October  election,  A.  D.  1871,  in  and 
for  Osceola  County,  Iowa,  which  was  reduced  to  writing  and 
placed  on  file,  and  the  abstract  of  votes  cast  was  recorded  in 
the  election  book,  and  signed  by  the  said  Board  and  attested 
by  the  County  Auditor,  and  it  appearing  by  proofs  on  file  that 
due  proclamation  has  been  made  of  the  several  offices  to  be 
filled,  and  to  the  question  submitted  to  the  vote  of  the  County. 

It  was  on  motion  ordered  and  declared  that  the  following 
persons  were  duly  elected  to  the  offices  set  opposite  their  re- 
spective names,  to-wit: 

A.  M.  Culver,  County  Treasurer. 

D.  L.  McCausland,  County  Recorder. 

C.  M.  Brooks,  Clerk  of  the  District  Court. 

Delily  Siiles,  County  Superintendent  of  Public  Schools. 

J.  D.  Hall,  Coroner. 

John  Beaumont,  Drainage  Commissioner. 

M.  J.  Campbell,  County  Surveyor. 

George  Spaulding,  \ 

H.  R.  Fenton.  I  Commissioners. 

J.  H.  Winspear.        ) 

Also  the  following  question  submitted  to  a  vote  of  the 
people  of  the  County  was  declared  to  have  been  carried  in  the 
affirmative: 


HISTORl     OF  OSCEOLA    COCXTl'.   IOWA.  9 

"  Shall  the  provisions  of  Chapter  144  of  the  Laws  of  the 
Twelfth  General  Assembly  of  the  State  of  Iowa,  be  enforced 
in  Osceola  County,  Iowa." 

The  supervisors  elect,  in  and  for  Osceola  County,  Iowa, 
were  classed  and  divided  by  lot  as  by  law  provided,  whereby 
it  was  found  that  George  Spaulding  was  entitled  to  hold  the 
office  of  member  of  the  Board  of  Supervisors  of  said  County 
for  the  term  of  three  years,  and  H.  R.  Fenton  was  entitled  to 
hold  said  office  for  the  term  of  two  3'ears,  and  J.  H.  Winspear 
was  entitled  to  hold  said  office  for  the  term  of  one  year. 

On  motion  it  is  now  ordered  that  the  auditor  be  instructed 
to  notify  Wm.  A.  McDonald  and  F.  M.  Robinson  to  appear  at 
his  office  and  determine  by  lot  which  of  them  shall  be  declared 
elected  Auditor  of  Osceola  County,  Iowa,  also  to  notif}-  S.  C. 
Couch  and  T.  J.  Cutshall  to  appear  at  his  office  and  determine 
by  lot  which  of  them  shall  be  declared  elected  Sheriff  of  Osce- 
ola County,  Iowa,  also  to  give  notice  of  the  adoption  of  the 
several  questions  submitted  to  the  people  as  by  law  provided. 

I  also  certify  that  the  following  proceedings  were  held 
before  the  County  Auditor  of  Woodbnrv  County,  Iowa,  to- 
to-wit : 

F.  M.  Robinson,  \ 

Wm.  a.  McDonald,  f  ^•''  ^''''^^• 

Now  on  this  27th  da}^  of  October,  1871,  comes  Frank  M. 
Robinson  for  himself  and  John  Cleghorn,  Jr.,  for  Wm.  \.  Mc- 
Donald, and  lots  having  been  duly  prepared  and  di'awn,  it  was 
ascertained  that  Frank  M.  Robinson  should  be  declared 
elected  Auditor  of  Osceola  County,  Iowa,  and  pursuant  to  the 
order  of  the  Board  of  Supervisors,  made  October  16,  1871, 
the  said  Frank  M.  Robinson  is  hereby  declared  elected  Audi- 
tor of  Osceola  County,  Iowa. 

I  also  certify  that  at  the  adjourned  October  session,  1871, 
to-wit:  On  the  29th  day  of  October,  A,  D.  187 1,  the  follow- 
ing proceedings  were  had,  to-wit: 

On  motion  it  is  now  ordered  the  Auditor  be  empowered 
and  instructed  to  approve  the  bond  of  the  Auditor  of  Osceola 
County,  Iowa. 

I  also  certify  that  the  following  proceedings  were  had  be- 
fore the  County  Auditor  of  Woodbury  County,  Iowa,  on  the 
19th  day  of  December,  A.  D.  1871: 


10  HISTORY  OF  OSCEOLA    COUNTY,   IOWA. 

F.  M.  Robinson,  Auditor, 


r\  r^  ^  r        OFFICIAL  BOND. 

Osceola  County,  Iowa. 

The  official  bond  of  F.  M.  Robinson,  Auditor  of  Osceola 
County,  Iowa,  in  the  sum  of  Five  Thousand  Dollars  with  J. 
H.  Winspear,  H.  R.  Fenton  and  D.  D.  Doe  as  sureties  is  this 
day  filed  with  the  Auditor,  and  by  him  approved. 

In  Testimony  Whereof,  I  have  hereunto  set  my  hand 
and  affixed  the  seal  of  the  Board  of  Supervisors  of  Wood- 
bury County,  this  22nd  day  of  March,  A.  D.  1872. 

Geo.   W.  Wakepield, 
I  seal.]  Auditor  of  Woodbury  County,  Iowa. 


CHAPTER  I. 

History  is  always  interesting,  and  there  is  sometliing  pe- 
culiarly fascinating  in  the  record  of  past  events.  We  look  for- 
ward with  feelings  of  hope,  of  admiration  and  of  ambition,  but 
we  look  backward  over  the  seemingly  forgotten  past  in  the 
spirit  of  meditation,  and  with  our  hearts  concentrated  upon  the 
scenes  and  incidents  of  other  days,  and  we  ponder  them  with 
absorbing  interest.  The  statements  of  history  are  sometimes 
doubted,  and  controversies  arise  which  can  end  only  in  contro- 
versy, never  settled,  because  the  actors  then  in  the  drama  of 
life  are  mouldering  in  forgotten  and  neglected  graves.  And 
even  when  the  actors  are  still  living,  there  often  arises  a  dis- 
pute which  history  cannot  fully  settle,  as  demonstrated  by  the 
conflicting  reports  and  statements  of  many  a  battle  by  partici- 
pants themselves  in  our  civil  war.  Our  history  is  one  of  com- 
parative recent  events,  whose  pages  turn  back  only  two 
decades,  and  which  our  earliest  settlers  are  familiar  with,  and 
which  will  be  of  much  interest  to  the  people  of  Northwest 
Iowa  generally,  and  indeed  to  the  people  of  all  parts  of  the 
State.  The  intention  of  the  writer  in  the  history  of  Osceola 
County  is  not  only  to  make  record  of  such  facts  as  pertain  to 
its  organization,  its  growth  and  progress,  but  also  to  weave  in 
reminiscences  and  events  connected  with  the  early  settlers, 
and  make  mention  of  every  circumstance  that  will  be  of 
interest  to  the  general  reader. 

In  the  spring  and  summer  of  1870,  the  fair  and  fertile 
prairie  land  of  Osceola  County  was  without  a  settler.  The 
older  parts  of  Iowa,  with  that  instinctive  feeling  that  an  old 
settled  countr}^  has  for  a  new,  regarded  Northwest  Iowa  then 
as  a  barren  and  bleak  part  of  the  state,  and  as  unfit  for  man's 
habitation;  but  before  the  close  of  that  vear  Mr.  E.  Huff  came 
and  filed  on  a  claim  November  3,  which  was  the  southwest 
quarter  of  Section  32,  Towmship  98,  Range  42,  in  what  is  now 
Oilman  Township,  so  that  this  gentleman,  now  a  non-resident, 
was  the  first  settler. 

After  Mr.  Huff  had  made  settlement  as  the  law  required, 
he  retured  to  Beloit,  in  Lyon  County,  and  remained  there  dur- 
ing the   following   winter.     In  the  spring  of    1871,  while  at 


12  HISTORr  OF  OSCEOLA    COCNTl',    IOWA. 

Sioux  City,  he  came  across  C.  M.  Brooks,  who  was  pushing 
west  under  the  advice  of  the  lamented  and  distinguished  Hor- 
ace, but  who  had  started  for  Nebraska.  Mr.  Huff  explained 
to  him  the  wonders  of  Osceola,  and  the  graphic  description  he 
gave  of  this  Garden  of  Eden  resulted  in  Mr.  Brooks  coming  to 
Osceola  County.  Mr.  Brooks  left  behind  him  others,  who 
were  to  follow  when  word  was  received  where  to  go,  and 
when  he  reached  this  County  and  looked  upon  its  fair  and 
fertile  prairie  land,  he  determined  at  once  upon  settlement 
here,  and  wrote  to  his  friends  to  lose  no  time  in  hastening  to 
this  new  and  wonderful  country. 

This  correspondence  brought  W.  W.  Webb,  D.  L.  Mc- 
Causland  and  M.  J.  Campbell,  who,  with  C.  M.  Brooks,  took 
Section  8,  in  Township  99,  Range  41,  now  West  Holman, 
each  taking  of  it  a  quarter-section.  Mr.  McCausland  and  Mr. 
Webb  came  through  with  oxen,  and  Brooks  and  Campbell 
through  to  LeMars  by  rail.  About  this  time,  and  we  believe 
on  the  first  day  of  May,  187 1,  H.  G.  Doolittle,  with  James 
Richardson,  from  Floyd  County,  arrived  at  the  house  of  E. 
Huff  and  remained  over  night.  The  next  day  they  struck  for 
claims;  Doolittle  settled  on  the  southwest  quarter  of  Section 
24,  Township  99,  Range  41,  and  Richardson  on  the  same  sec- 
tion. They  built  sod  houses,  and  had  some  lumber  with  them. 
Mr.  Richardson  after  being  here  a  short  time  returned. 

Houston  A.  Doolittle,  a  brother  of  H.  G.,  came  in  June, 
1 87 1,  and  tiled  on  Section  30,  Township  99,  Range  40.  He 
left  here  in  1889,  and  now  lives  in  Hancock  County.  H.  G. 
Doolittle  established  a  land  business  that  year  near  Shaw's 
store,  elsewhere  referred  to,  and  did  business  in  a  tent.  He 
was  engaged  in  locating  incoming  settlers,  and  did  consider- 
able business. 

Returning  again  to  Messrs.  Webb  and  McCausland,  they 
with  the  others.  Brooks  and  Campbell,  came  from  Fayette 
County.  At  the  starting  of  Mr.  Webb  and  McCausland  with 
the  oxen,  Mr.  McCausland  was  ill,  indeed,  low  with  consump- 
tion, but  the  idea  of  still  going  to  a  new  country  seemed  to  in- 
fuse new  life  in  him,  and  his  entire  recovery  afterwards  was 
indeed  miraculous. 

When  Webb  and  McCausland  got  to  Osceola  County  and 
came  to  the  Ocheydan,  McCausland,  still  weak,  undertook  to 
jump  across  the  narrow  stream  and  landed  nearl}'  to  his  neck 
in  the  middle.  This  was  severe  for  a  consumptive  man  near 
to  death's  door,  but  after  a  change  of  clothing  he  was  all  right 
again.     This  was  in  April,  1871,  and  the  weather  disagree- 


REV.    JOHN   WEBB. 


14  fflSTOR}'  OF   OSCEOLA    COrNTF,    /OU'A. 

able  with  rain  and  sleet.  There  is  something  wonderful  in  the 
mixture  of  ambition,  of  romance  and  love  for  a  pioneer  life, 
that  will  turn  a  seemingly  disagreeable  hardship  into  pleasure 
and  enjoyment.  The  forces  of  nature  seem  to  hold  a  man 
with  peculiar  devotion  to  a  venturesome  life  in  a  new  country; 
he  can  scale  a  cliff,  cross  troublesome  streams,  lay  down  con- 
tent on  the  damp  ground,  and  stand  all  kinds  of  weather  as 
long  as  the  El  Dorado  is  ahead  of  him,  and,  indeed,  after  it  is 
reached.  Webb  and  McCausland  that  night  remained  at  the 
bank  of  the  Ocheyedan,  and  crawled  supperless  into  their 
wagon  and  slept  soundly  until  morning.  When  morning  came 
they  drove  on  west  and  soon  spied  a  sodded  shack,  which 
they  reached,  and,  building  a  fire,  had  a  good  square  meal. 
The  shack  evidently  had  been  put  up  by  a  trapper,  as  some 
deer  meat  was  hanging  inside,  but  was  alive  with  living  evi- 
dences of  decay.  After  breakfast  they  pushed  on  to  the  resi- 
dence of  our  first  settler,  Mr.  E.  Huff.  Huff's  house  was  one 
story,  12  b}^  i6.  No  windows  had  been  put  in  and  no  door, 
but  a  blanket  hung  over  the  place  of  entrance.  They  re- 
mained over  night,  and  besides  them,  within  this  limited  habi- 
tation to  slumber  through,  were  Amos  Buchman,  with  wife 
and  five  children,  Huff  and  his  family,  James  Richardson  and 
H.  G.  Doolittle,  and  how  they  packed  themselves  around  none 
of  them  seem  to  remember.  Buchman  had  been  there  about 
one  week,  and  had  drove  through  with  his*  family  from 
Buchanan  County. 

That  sort  of  hotel  accommodations  might  strike  an  east- 
ern dude  as  somewhat  inconvenient,  but  to  those  early  settlers 
it  was  no  doubt  delightful  and  enjoyable  in  the  highest  degree. 
After  a  night  at  the  "Huff"  house,  Webb  and  McCausland 
started  back  with  Buchman  to  locate  him  where  the  trappers 
shack  was,  and,  not  knowing  the  exact  spot  or  even  the  right 
direction,  their  going  was  somewhat  devious,  but  they  finally 
found  it,  and  this  claim  Mr.  Buchman  at  once  settled  upon 
and  lived  there  until  1882,  when  he  moved  into  Sibley.  Mr. 
Buchman  sold  the  claim  this  year  (1892)  and  its  description 
is  the  northeast  quarter  of  Section  22,  in  Ocheyedan  Town- 
ship. If  any  new  settler  ever  had  a  hard  time  to  get  along,  it 
was  Amos  Buchman  and  family  the  summer  and  fall  of  1871. 
They  lived  on  anything  they  could  get;  ground  corn  in  a  coffee 
mill,  cauglit  hawks,  iDadgers,  skunks  and  any  other  animal 
they  could  get  hold  of.  Some  friend  living  in  Dickmson 
County  sent  his  team  before  winter  set  in  and  removed  the 
Buchman  family  to  Milford,  where  they  remained  until  the 


ITISTORl     OF  OSCEOLA    COfWT)'.    IOWA.  15 

spring  of  1872,  when  they  returned  again  to  their  claim.  Mr. 
Buchman  now  resides  at  Sibley,  one  of  its  most  respected  citi- 
zens, and  is  able  now  to  enjoy  the  comforts  of  life. 

In  June,  1871,  Elder  John  Webb,  then  living  in  Fayette 
County,  came  to  Osceola,  and  along  with  the  rest  filed  on  a 
government  claim,  which  was  the  southeast  quarter  Section  6, 
Township  99,  Range  41.  When  the  Elder  first  drove  up  to 
where  his  son,  W.  W.  Webb,  was,  it  was  Sunday,  and  coming 
across  D.  L.  McCausland  with  a  gun  on  his  shoulder,  said  to 
him,  "Young  man  you  are  breaking  the  Sabbath."  Mc  re- 
torted and  inquired,  "Why  are  you  not  preaching?  " 

In  connection  with  the  coming  of  these  people  from  Fay- 
ette County,  the  writer  wrote  to  Rev.  John  Webb,  now  living 
in  Des  Moines,  for  some  contribution  in  regard  to  himself  or 
his  living  here,  which  he  thought  might  be  of  interest.  Mr. 
Webb  replied  and  contributed  as  follows: 

"In  June,  1872,  in  company  with  Mr.  James  Block,  I  left 
Fayette  County,  this  state,  to  visit  m.y  son  and  others  who  left 
Fayette  to  locate  in  Osceola  County  on  government  claims. 
I  was  directed  from  Lakeville  to  go  to  Ocheyedan  Mound,  and 
was  told  that  when  on  the  mound  I  could  in  all  probability  see 
the  tents  in  which  McCausland,  Brooks  and  W.  W.  Webb 
were  living.  I  went  to  the  mound  and  on  top  of  it,  but  could 
not  see  any  signs  of  life  in  any  direction.  Mr.  Block  and  my- 
self then  went  down  to  the  banks  of  the  Ocheyedan  and 
camped  for  the  night.  The  next  morning  we  started  in  search 
of  the  boys,  and  about  noon  found  them  one  mile  east  of  where 
Sibley  now  is.  We  spent  a  few  days  with  them,  and  our 
horses  were  picketed  out  by  the  fore  leg.  While  the  horses 
were  thus  secured,  something  gave  them  a  fright,  when  they 
run  the  full  length  of  the  rope  and  brought  up  so  suddenly 
both  turned  somersaults  and  one  of  them  was  killed.  I  liked 
the  country,  and  that  fall  took  charge  of  the  Spirit  Lake  Cir- 
cuit, and  the  next  year  took  charge  of  Sibley  Circuit,  and 
formed  the  first  class  ever  formed  in  Osceola  County  at  the 
house  of  A.  M.  Culver.  I  cannot  remember  all  the  members 
of  the  class,  but  Mrs.  Culver,  Annie  Webb,  Robert  Stamm 
and  wife,  Mrs.  Rodgers,  Mrs.  McCausland  and  Mr.  Morrison 
and  wife  were  among  them.  I  built  the  first  Methodist  Episco- 
pal Church,  or  enclosed  it,  and  Rev.  Brasheers  finished  it. 

"While  I  was  living  at  Sibley  at  that  early  day  there  was 
a  young  lawyer  came  to  town,  not  very  scrupulous,  and  per- 
suaded the  board  of  supervisors  to  pay  him  $20,000  and  he 
would  recover  certain  moneys  due  from  Woodbury  County  to 


16  llISTOm     OF  OSCEOLA    COUiXTr,   JOU'A. 

Osceola.  I  heard  of  it  and  \^'ent  to  the  court  house  where  the 
board  was  in  session,  requested  them  to  hear  me  and  they 
consented.  I  told  them  they  would  regret  the  day  that  they 
issued  the  warrant,  and  gave  the  general  reasons  why  such  an 
official  act  should  not  be  done,  and  even  as  an  outsider  I  made 
a  motion,  to  the  board  and  to  the  crowd,  that  Blackmer  be 
allowed  $500  retainer,  and  a  per  cent,  afterwards,  and  I  added 
to  the  motion  that  the  hiring  include  all  the  lawyers,  or  the 
remainder  will  be  coming  in  for  a  share.  J.  T.  Barcley,  Esq., 
who  was  standing  close  by  me,  moved  an  amendment  that  the 
preachers  also  be  added,  but  they  were  not.  This  was  the 
last  ever  heard  of  the  suit  against  Woodbury  County. 

"I  continued  to  live  in  Osceola  County,  and  in  1876  my 
first  wife  was  taken  from  me  by  death,  and  I  was  afterwards 
married  again  to  Mrs.  A.  D.  Bellord,  a  sister  of  Captain 
Chase.  I  saw  the  County  and  town  grow  from  a  small  be- 
ginning to  a  county  well  settled  and  a  thriving  town.  I  went 
from  Sibley  to  Vermillion,  S.  D.,  where  I  remained  not  quite 
a  year;  then  went  to  Kansas,  where  I  was  three  years,  and 
from  there  to  Des  Moines.  I  then  went  to  California  and  re- 
mained there  a  year,  when  I  longed  for  Iowa  again  and  re- 
turned to  it,  where  I  shall  spend  the  remainder  of  m}"^  days, 
for,  take  it  as  a  whole,  Iowa  is  ahead  of  all  the  rest  of  the  uni- 
verse, and  here  let  me  abide  and  pass  the  remnant  of  this 
mortal  career. 

"On  my  return  from  Osceola  that  early  time,  and  after  I 
had  got  to  Independence,  the  hotel  keeper,  Mr.  Naylor,  asked 
me  what  the  Osceola  County  people  used  for  fuel.  I  told  him 
principall}^  hay.  I  think  I  could  have  heard  him  laugh  twenty 
miles  away.  'Hay  for  fuel,'  said  the  astonished  listener,  'why 
the  last  armful  would  be  consumed  before  they  could  get  from 
the  house  to  the  stack  and  back  again.'  Notwithstanding, 
under  the  circumstances,  hay  was  a  pretty  good  fuel. 

"  When  our  Methodist  Church  at  Sibley  was  ready  for 
dedication,  we  met  Sabbath  morning,  and,  just  before  time  to 
commence  public  worship,  and  while  some  of  us  were  stand- 
ing on  the  steps  of  the  church,  it  was  discovered  that  some- 
thino;  was  comino-  from  the  Northwest,  which  looked  like  a 
cloud,  but  still  it  could  be  seen  that  it  was  not  a  cloud,  and 
upon  its  nearer  approach  we  could  then  see  that  it  was  a 
swarm  of  grasshoppers.  This  so  disconcerted  and  discouraged 
the  people  that  it  was  impossible  to  hold  them  for  the  purposes 
of  dedication  that  day,  and  it  was  deferred.  The  ravages 
of  these   pests   which    followed  are    known  to  old  settlers." 


D.  L.  McCAUSI.AND. 


CHAPTER  II. 

The  intention  of  the  writer  is  to  confine  these  events  to 
the  separate  years  as  far  as  possible,  and  also  to  speak  of 
townships  separately,  but  after  all  they  will  be  more  or  less 
blended.  Having  drifted  into  Ocheyedan  Township  by  the 
location  of  Mr.  Buchman,  it  is  perhaps  best  to  finish  this 
township  for  the  year  1871.  Ocheyedan  had  no  prospective 
railroad  to  cross  it,  which,  perhaps,  may  be  the  reason  that 
this  township  was  not  sooner  settled,  or  its  land  filed  upon  as 
early  as  Holman.  Buchman's  place,  meagre  as  it  was,  and 
not  tempting  to  a  traveler  for  hotel  accommodations,  was, 
nevertheless,  a  sort  of  headquarters  between  Western  Osceola, 
Eastern  Lyon  and  Milford  and  Spencer;  and  the  boys  had 
many  a  rollicking  time  at  the  Buchman  habitation.  About 
the  first  of  May,  1871,  Will  Dunham  and  Fred  Frick  settled 
on  Section  8  in  Ocheyedan  Township.  Frick  lived  there 
a]:)out  four  years,  and  Dunham  went  to  California  in  1882. 
On  Section  18,  we  think  the  southwest  quarter,  Ole  Peterson 
settled. 

This  same  summer  of  187 1  also  came  A.  B.  Elmore,  L. 
G.  Ireland  and  E.  N.  Moore;  these  came  from  Clayton 
County,  also  Elder  Dean.  Mr.  Elmore  first  filed  on  a  part  of 
Section  34,  m  Horton  Township,  but  afterwards  settled  on 
Section  2  in  Ocheyedan,  where  he  still  resides  and  is  highly 
respected.  E.  N.  Moore  settled  on  Section  4,  in  Ocheyedan, 
as  did  also  Elder  B.  D.  Dean.  Mr.  Moore  still  owns  the  same 
quarter-section,  but  resides  now  in  the  Town  of  Ocheyedan,  is 
postmaster,  and  considered  one  of  its  best  citizens.  Elder 
Dean  is  now  in  Exeter,  New  Hampshire,  and  left  Osceola 
County  in  1878.  L.  G.  Ireland,  who  was  a  very  honorable 
and  conscientious  man,  left  in  1879  "^^^^  ^'^^  family  and  moved 
to  Florida.     They  have  since  all  died. 

On  the  northwest  quarter  of  Section  20  lived  Fred  Nagg. 
These  comprise  the  settlements  made  in  Ocheyedan  in  1871. 
Nothing  was  raised  that  season  by  these  settlers,  and  the  sum- 
mer was  uneventful,  except  a  severe  hail  storm  which  swept 
this  part  of  the  County  and  was  unusually  severe.  Mr. 
Buchman  lost  a  cow  and  a  calf  in  this  storm;  they  probably 
went  with  it,  as  cattle  will;  at  any  rate  he  never  saw  them 
afterward. 


HISTORl'  OF  OSCEOLA    COUNTY,   IOWA.  19 

The  winter  of  1871  and  1872  was  a  disagreeable  one,  but 
most  of  the  Ocheydan  settlers  wintered  elsewhere.  Those 
that  remained  on  their  claims  were  Dunham  and  Frick,  Ole 
Peterson  and  Fred  Nagg.  The  Nagg  family  had  a  hard  time 
of  it.  They  lived  in  a  sodded  house,  small  and  cold,  and  kept 
a  yoke  of  oxen  in  the  same  room,  ground  corn  to  live  upon, 
and  cut  weeds  and  fed  to  the  oxen  to  keep  them  alive.  Their 
lot  seemed  to  be  a  hard  one,  and  indeed  it  was.  Had  they 
been  there  by  order  of  some  despotic  ruler,  as  a  convict  goes 
to  Siberia,  it  w^ould  have  been  unbearable,  but  thoughts  of  the 
coming  spring  time,  and  of  the  green  grass  and  wild  flowers 
of  the  beautiful  prairie  which  would  return  in  the  summer 
before  them,  kindled  the  joyous  feehng  of  promise  and  of 
hope,  and  gave  them  a  heart  of  sunshine,  even  amid  the  snows 
of  winter.  But,  alas,  before  the  hoped  for  spring  time  had 
come  to  this  poverty  stricken  family,  that  grim  reaper  Death, 
which  stalks  unbidden  ahke  into  the  palaces  of  the  rich  and 
the  hovels  of  the  poor,  sought  out  upon  the  bleak  prairies  of 
Ocheyedan  during  that  hard  winter  of  1871  and  1872  the  head 
of  the  household  Fred  Nagg  himself,  and  this  terrible  atflic- 
tiou  just  then  laid  a  burden  of  sorrow  upon  the  family  which 
in  addition  to  their  abject  condition  of  poverty  seemed  greater 
than  they  could  bear.  Nagg  had  started  on  foot  for  Roger's 
store  during  the  latter  part  of  that  winter,  the  only  store  then 
where  Sibley  now  is,  obtained  a  few  needed  and  indispensable 
articles,  and  left  the  store  to  return  to  his  family,  but  he  never 
reached  them.  He  had  a  hand  sled  and  was  overtaken  with 
a  blizzard  and  sudden  cold  weather.  He  was  not  sutTiciently 
clad  even  for  weather  less  severe,  and,  becoming  numbed  and 
senseless  by  the  cold  and  storm,  lay  down  and  died.  This 
blizzard,  on  February  12,  1872,  lasted  three  days,  and  at  its 
commencement  there  were  about  sixteen  men  at  Roger's  store 
in  from  then-  claims.  They  all  started  home.  Some  reached 
there  and  others  stopped  with  some  settlers  on  the  way.  After 
the  storm  was  over  word  had  been  received  that  Nagg  had 
not  reached  home,  and  J.  F.  Glover,  M.  J.  Campbell,  C.  M. 
Brooks,  Al  Halstead,  F.  F.  and  Eugene  White  started  out  and 
followed  Nagg's  sled  trail.  About  seven  miles  out  southeast 
from  Sibley  they  found  the  sled  and  sack;  wolves  had  clawed 
into  the  sack  and  eaten  a  part  of  the  contents.  The  party 
were  unable  to  find  Nagg's  body,  but  went  to  the  house  and 
consoled  his  wife  as  best  they  could,  holding  out  a  hope  that 
he  might  still  be  alive.  His  body  was  found  afterwards  in 
the   latter   part   of  March,  1872,  by  W.  H.  Lean,  and  it  was 


20  HISTORY   OF  OSCEOLA    COUNTY,   IOWA. 

partially  eaten  by  the  wolves.  Nagg  was  buried  on  his  claim, 
and,  there  being  no  clergyman  to  conduct  the  usual  funeral 
exercises,  Frick  read  the  burial  service  from  an  Episcopal 
prayer  book.  The  few  that  remained  in  Ocheyedan  Town- 
ship during  that  winter  of  1871  and  1872  had  nothing  to 
break  the  monotony  of  pioneer  life,  so  far  as  mingling  in 
society  was  concerned,  but  going  to  Sibley  occasionally,  and 
trapping  some,  was  all  the  diversion  within  reach  of  these  few 
settlers. 

In  the  fall  of  1871  Frick  came  near  having  serious 
trouble  with  an  adventurous  immigrant  pushing  out  into  the 
wild  and  wooly  west.  He  had  some  cattle  with  him  and  one 
of  them  had  strayed  away  at  night,  and  when  Frick  got  up 
one  morning  he*  saw  not  far  off  what  he  supposed  was  an  elk 
feeding  quietly  on  the  prairie.  Frick  was  a  hunter,  and  the 
sight  of  this  supposed  elk  thrilled  every  inch  of  his  stature, 
and  he  moved  about  with  the  stealth  of  an  Indian  for  fear  that 
the  slightest  noise  would  frighten  this  valuable  game  and  send 
it  fleet-footed  out  of  rifle  reach.  Frick  got  good  and  ready, 
pointed  his  rille  out  of  the  shanty  window,  took  a  good  rest 
and  deliberate  aim  and  fired.  The  object  of  his  mark  fell  under 
the  aim  of  the  skillful  hunter  and  he  rushed  out  to  the  bleed- 
ing body  of  his  victim,  but  instead  of  an  elk  Frick's  surprised 
eyes  and  astonished  senses  gazed  upon  only  a  cow.  It  was 
meat,  however,  if  not  venison,  and  Frick  hauled  the  carcass 
to  his  house  and  proceeded  to  do  the  usual  carving  into  roasts 
and  steaks,  when  a  stranger  appeared  upon  the  scene,  who 
was  no  other  than  the  owner  of  the  cow  which  had  strayed 
away.  Circumstantial  evidence,  as  the  lawyers  call  it,  was 
strong  against  Frick,  pointing  to  theft  malicious  and  intended, 
and  the  moving  immigrant  was  about  to  paralyze  everything 
in  reach  of  him.  Frick  explained,  however,  apologized,  and 
scraped  together  what  loose  change  he  had  and  gave  it  to  the 
owner  of  the  cow,  who  went  on  his  way  again  satisfied  and 
contented. 

A.  M.  Culver  came  to  the  County  in  the  spring  of  1871. 
He  settled  and  filed  on  the  southeast  quarter  of  Section  24, 
Township  99,  Range  42. 

The  previous  year,  in  1870,  he  had  left  the  State  of  Wis- 
consin and  gone  to  Mills  County,  in  Iowa,  and  from  Mills 
County  he  drove  through  to  Osceola,  bringing  with  him  three 
horses,  a  wagon  and  buggy,  also  two  cows.  His  family  came 
with  him,  c(jnsisling  of  his  wife,  one  son  and  a  daughter.  Mr. 
Culver  and  family  did  the  best  they  could  with  the  shelter  of 


}:?l't^kfU 


GEORGE    CAREW 


22  HISTORY  OF  OSCEOLA    COUNTY,    IOWA. 

a. wagon  cover,  while  his  son,  Andrew,  went  to  LeMars  and 
got  Cottonwood  lumber  enough  to  build  a  house,  which  they^ 
soon  did,  12  by  14  in  size.  Mr.  Culver  broke  nine  acres  that 
year  and  put  them  into  wheat  and  six  acres  into  oats,  and 
raised  an  average  crop  on  the  sod.  When  Mr.  Culver  came 
first  without  the  family  he  landed  at  Huff's  house,  the  first 
settler  and  heretofore  described,  and  there  being  quite  a  num- 
ber there  that  night,  he  was  among  the  usual  number  laid  out 
in  rows  on  the  floor.  Huff  and  Brooks  located  Culver  on  his 
quarter-section.  On  the  same  section  there  was  also  located 
and  settled  that  year  Andrew  Culver,  Geo.  W.  Bean  and  R. 
O.  Manson. 

John  F.  Glover  landed  in  Sibley  in  the  latter  part  of 
August,  1 87 1,  and  settled  on  the  southwest  quarter  of  Section 
4,  Township  99,  Range  41.  Mr.  Glover's  coming  was  by 
meeting  Stiles  and  F.  M.  Robinson  at  Sioux  City.  Glover  put 
up  the  usual  settler's  shack,  and  obtained  his  lumber  from 
Windom,  Minnesota,  going  for  it  with  a  yoke  of  oxen  and 
wagon. 

After  these  incoming  settlers  had  established  a  home,  the 
next  thing  was  to  find  out  who  their  neighbors  were,  and  in 
this  year  of  187 1  they  were  few  and  far  between. 

Some  other  things  to  think  about,  and  among  these  some- 
thing to  eat.  Glover  made  frequent  trips  hunting,  but  seemed 
to  be  unsuccessful.  While  in  McCausland's  neighborhood, 
Mc  returned  from  a  trip  to  Spirit  Lake  and  reported  that  Rush 
Lake,  near  Ocheyedan,  was  alive  with  ducks,  and  Glover  be- 
came so  excited  over  the  pictured  description  of  vast  lakes 
and  ponds  covered  with  game,  that  he  organized  a  hunting 
party,  consisting  of  himself,  McCausland  and  Luther  Webb, 
who  started  the  next  day  with  oxen  and  a  wagon,  with  which 
conveyance  the  ducks  and  geese  were  to  be  carted  home. 
They  arrived  safely  at  Rush  Lake,  and  sure  enough  McCaus- 
land had  not  overdrawn  the  amount  of  game.  They  had  no 
boat,  and  anyone  who  knows  Rush  Lake,  knows  the  difliculty 
of  getting  game  there  without  a  float  of  some  kind.  Before 
the  boys  had  hardly  appeared  at  the  edge  of  the  water  on  oite 
side,  the  entire  army  of  ducks  had  moved  to  the  other  side, 
out  of  reach,  and  by  running  around  from  one  side  to  the 
other,  the  boys  became  about  exhausted.  Finally  Glover 
gathered  pieces  of  the  wagon,  some  brush,  and  a  decent  sized 
tree  or  two  and  formed  a  raft  sufficient,  as  he  believed,  to 
float  himself  out  on  the  lake,  and  on  it  started.  When  out 
about  twenty  feet  the  frail  craft,  like  man}^  an   air  castle,  fell 


HISTORY  OF  OSCEOLA    COUNTT,   IOWA.  23 

to  pieces,  and  its  only  passenger  went  reluctantly  into  the 
water.  He  soon  got  out,  however,  and  this  dampened  all  the 
ardor  of  hunting  on  his  part,  and  the  other  two  were  tired  and 
discouraged.  Webb  then  started  with  his  oxen  to  Milford  and 
left  McCausland  and  Glover  to  tramp  twelve  miles  home, 
which  they  did.  Just  as  they  were  starting  McCausland 
brought  down  a  brandt,  and,  this  being  the  only  game  they 
got,  with  it  they  started  home,  and  it  was  near  night.  They 
had  brought  with  them  some  cooked  beans  in  an  iron  pot,  and 
a  loaf  of  bread;  when  the  brandt  was  secured  it  was  decided 
that  bread  and  beans  were  nowhere  in  comparison  with  a 
roasted  fowl,  so  that,  hungr}-  as  they  were,  their  appetite  was 
reserved  until  they  could  get  home.  At  last  they  reached 
McCausland's  house,  and  Mc  sent  Glover  to  Roger's  store, 
three  miles,  for  some  necessary  articles  for  the  square  meal, 
and  to  a  settler's  shack  for  something  else.  Glover  returned 
with  the  articles  and  Mc  had  the  brandt  stuffed  and  in  the 
oven  roasting,  but  himself  was  laid  out  on  the  bed.  The  oil}' 
odor  from  the  fowl  on  an  empty  stomach  had  sickened  him, 
and  Glover  was  left  alone  until  C  M.  Brooks  happened  to 
arrive,  when  he  and  Glover  got  the  table  set,  the  roast  on,  and 
the  two  of  them  sat  down  to  a  rich  feast  for  homesteaders. 
But  alas  for  the  dreams  of  fancy,  the  visions  of  bliss  and  the 
tempting  measures  of  delight,  in  which  we  too  often  indulge, 
that  are  at  last  turned  into  the  bitterness  of  gall  in  the  round 
up  of  indulgence.  Glover  and  Brooks  were  soon  laid  out 
groaning  in  the  agony  of  too  much  brandt,  and  the  oily  condi- 
tion of  the  fowl  made  them  too  sick  to  hope  ever  to  make  final 
proof  on  a  government  claim,  the  taking  of  which  had  been 
the  leading  ambition  of  their  lives.  Their  extreme  sickness 
revived  Mc  and  he  ate  the  beans  and  the  bread,  and  towards 
morning  Glover  and  Brooks  got  around  all  right  again,  but 
like  a  victim  of  seasickness  not  a  thing  was  left  in  them,  and 
as  Mc  had  ate  all  the  grub  in  the  house,  the  three  of  them 
started  out  for  something  to  eat,  and  before  they  got  through 
they  had  nearly  eaten  the  whole  neighborhood  out  of  house 
and  home,  and  that  day  there  was  a  tramping  to  Roger's 
store  for  a  fresh  supply.  This  sickened  Glover  for  a  while 
on  wild  fowl;  his  hunting  excursions  after  that  were  few  and 
far  between,  but  it  seems  that  another  ducking  was  still  in 
store  for  him.  He  concluded  that  housekeeping  was  not  well 
done  without  vegetables,  and  nothing  seemed  to  be  in  sight 
but  potatoes,  and  the  nearest  these  could  be  had  was  thirteen 
miles,  but  Glover  had  been   a  soldier   and   could   walk   like    a 


24  HISTOR7'  OF  OSCEOLA    COUNT!',   IOWA. 

professional.  He  started  with  a  sack  and  went  southeast  until 
he  came  to  the  Ocheyedan,  and  when  he  got  to  that  the  water 
was  well  up  and  the  difficulty  of  crossing  was  before  him. 
There  was  a  small  skiff  there  owned  by  Ole  Peterson,  and 
soon  Peterson  himself  appeared,  and,  after  reciting  his  experi- 
ences as  a  sailor  and  his  capabilities  as  a  boatman,  induced 
Glover  to  get  aboard,  and  taking  a  wagon  bow  for  a  paddle 
started  out  with  the  frail  craft  to  ferry  the  now  Mayor  of  Sib- 
ley across  the  troublesome  stream.  Men  are  apt  to  make  too 
little  margin  for  what  might  happen,  often  miscalculate  in 
more  serious  adventures  than  this,  and  often  start  out  in  the 
bouyancy  of  expectation,  but  fall  into  difficulty  with  sudden 
and  unexpected  precipitation.  When  in  the  middle  of  the 
stream,  Peterson,  who  was  standing  up  in  the  boat,  fell  on  one 
side  of  it,  and  himself  and  Glover  went  suddenly  into  the 
water,  and,  having  no  further  use  for  the  boat  in  the  interests 
of  navigation,  they  struck  out.  Glover  for  one  side  of  the  river 
and  Peterson  for  the  other,  and  when  landed  they  stood  drip- 
ping with  the  waters  of  the  Ocheyedan  on  opposite  banks,  gaz- 
ing at  each  other,  Peterson  filling  the  air  with  profanity,  and 
Glover  wondering  if  Peterson  hadn't  overdrawn  his  experi- 
ences as  a  follower  of  the  seas. 


J.  S.   REYNOLDS. 


CHAPTER  III. 

The  people  then  living  in  Osceola  County  in  1871,  did 
not  often  get  together,  only  as  a  neighborhood  would  gather 
for  social  purposes.  There  were  not  many  in  the  county  in 
1 87 1.     The  county  was  sparsely  settled.     It  was 

"The  first  low  wash  of  waves,  where  soon 
Would  roll  a  human  sea." 

The  first  meeting  of  the  people  was  held  at  Abraham 
Miller's  place,  near  Sibley.  It  was  called  for  the  purpose 
of  establishing  mail  facilities,  and  to  provide  for  bringing  the 
mail  from  Le  Mars  to  Shaw's  store,  then  near  Ashton,  This 
was  the  ostensible  purpose,  and  mail  arrangements  were  pro- 
vided for,  but  back  of  it  all  there  were  a  few  political  schemes, 
and  several  ambitious  aspirants  for  office  at  the  coming  elec- 
tion who  wanted  to  look  the  crowd  over,  get  acquainted,  and 
try  to  make  the  usual  favorable  impression  in  order  to  suc- 
ceed in  making  a  harvest  of  votes.  If  a  yankee  should  be 
cast  away  on  a  desolate  island,  the  first  thing  he  would  no 
doubt  do,  would  be  to  divide  the  territory  into  election  pre- 
cints,  and  the  next  thing  to  call  a  caucus.  The  people  of 
Osceola  then  were  strangers  to  each  other,  and  while  other 
things  may  have  been  left  behind  them  at  the  old  home,  the 
great  feeling  of  sovereignty,  realization  of  the  fact  that  each 
was  an  individual  citizen  and  could  vote  and  hold  office,  were 
a  part  of  their  nature,  and  in  this  respect  they  were  alike 
without  even  a  formal  introduction.  Abraham  Miller  was 
chairman  of  the  meeting,  and  Cyrus  M.  Brooks,  secretar}'. 

The  next  meeting  of  the  people  was  held  on  the  4th  da}' 
of  Jul}^,  1 87 1.  It  will  be  noticed  that  the  first  organization  of 
Osceola  was  brought  about  by  act  of  Woodbury  County 
Board  of  Supervisors.  Osceola  was  then  a  part  of  Wood- 
bury for  judicial  purposes,  and,  under  the  law,  for  all  other 
also,  so  that  Woodbury's  act  constituted  a  division  of  territory. 
In  other  words,  Woodbury  set  Osceola  up  in  business  for 
itself.  As  provision  had  been  made  in  the  Woodbury  County 
proceedings  for  the  election  of  Osceola  County  officers  at  the 
general  election  in  1 871,  it  became  the  duty  of  Osceola  Count}' 
people  to  fix  upon  somebody  to  fill  each  of  the  offices,  and  to 
prepare  candidates  for  them  who  should  be  in  the  field  for 


HISTORT   OF  OSCEOLA    COUNTY,   IOWA.  27 

election.  The  order  for  the  election  of  officers  was  made  in 
June,  1871,  and  as  July  4th  was  approaching,  it  was  thought 
best  by  the  people  of  Osceola  County  to  meet  on  that  day,  and 
celebrate  with  the  usual  exercises  and  at  the  same  time  nom- 
inate candidates  for  County  offices. 

The  outside  world  was  full  of  glory  and  enthusiasm,  the 
air  was  filled  with  noise  and  pyrotechnics,  and  the  voices  of 
American  orators  were  sounding  the  distinguished  valor  and 
heroism  of  our  canonized  ancestors.  The  little  band  of 
Osceola  County  settlers  met  together  with  a  quaker  quiet- 
ness, comparatively  speaking.  They  had  their  lunch  baskets 
and  were  socially  agreeable,  but  the  cannon,  the  fire  cracker 
and  fire  works  were  conspicuously  absent.  The  meeting  was 
held  on  A.  M.  Culver's  claim  on  Section  24,  Township  99, 
Range  41,  and  was  called  and  intended,  as  before  stated,  not 
only  to  observe  and  recognize  the  great  American  hohday, 
but  also  to  place  in  nomination  candidates  to  fill  the  county 
offices  at  the  first  election  to  be  held  in  October,  1871. 
At  that  time  none  knew  each  others  quahfications,  except 
where  men  had  come  from  the  same  neighborhood  in  other 
parts  of  the  country.  The  men  to  be  nominated  and  elected 
were  to  have  the  trial  of  service,  were  to  be  weighed  in  the 
balance,  and  given  the  opportunity  to  prove  their  fitness,  or  to 
be  found  unworthy  of  the  trust  that  was  imposed  in  them. 
H.  G.  Doolittle  was    chosen    chairman    of    the  meeting  and 

secretary.     A  few  patriotic  remarks  were  made 

and  the  meeting  proceeded  to  make  its  nominations.  The  fol- 
lowing named  persons  were  put  in  nomination : 

Treasurer,  E.  Huff. 

Recorder,  D.  L.  McCausland. 

Sheriff,  Jeff  Cutshall. 

Superintendent  of  Schools,  Delily  Stiles. 

Clerk  of  Courts,  Cyrus  M.  Brooks. 

Auditor,  McDonald. 

(  J.  H.  Winspear. 

Supervisors,  I  H.  R.  Fenton. 

(  George  Spaulding. 

(^Robert  Stamm. 

„    ,  T.  X-     -r       ,  J  W.  W.  Webb. 

Holmon  1  ownship  Irustees,-^  t^       1    o  m 

^  I  r'rank  Stiles. 

^  H.  R.  Hayes. 

There  was  present  at  this  meeting,  including  all,  about 

one  hundred.     The  business  and  visiting  were  ended  the  latter 

part  of  the  afternoon  and  the  people  dispersed. 


28  HISTORY  OF  OSCEOLA    COUNTY,    IOWA. 

It  might  be  well  to  follow  these  nominations  to  the  elec- 
tion which  followed  in  October.  At  this  election  there  were 
no  contentions  of  political  parties.  The  contest  involved  no 
controversy,  except  individual  success,  and  there  was  no  regu- 
lar opposition  ticket.  There  were  independent  candidates, 
however,  and  the  nominated  ticket  was  not  wholly  successful. 
A.  M.  Culver  was  elected  Treasurer  as  an  independent  candi- 
date over  E.  Huff,  the  regular  nominee.  F.  M.  Robinson  was 
an  independent  candidate  for  Auditor,  and  himself  and  the 
nominee,  McDonald,  were  a  tie  on  the  election.  This  tie  had 
to  be  decided  by  drawing  lots,  and  the  drawing  resulted  in 
favor  of  Robinson,  so  that  Robinson  became  Auditor.  John 
Beaumont  was  the  independent  candidate  against  McCausland, 
but  McCausland  was  elected.  When  the  time  to  qualify 
came,  McCausland  was  away  teaching  school,  and  the  board 
in  January,  1872,  felt  inclined  to  declare  the  office  vacant,  and 
appointed  John  Beaumont,  Recorder.  Afterwards  McCaus- 
land sent  his  bond,  and  upon  his  return,  had  some  little  trouble 
to  get  possession  of  the  office;  but  finally  obtained  it.  Cut- 
shall  and  his  independent  opponent  both  tied,  and  when  the 
drawing  was  to  take  place  neither  were  present,  so  the  board 
on  January  3,  1872,  appointed  Frank  Stiles. 

There  was  at  this  time  under  the  organization  only  three 
townships  in  the  county,  and  this  October  election  was  held  in 
Goewey  Township  at  the  house  of  E.  Huff;  in  Holman  Town- 
ship at  A.  M.  Culver's  house,  and  in  Horton  Township  at  the 
house  of  H.  R.  Fenton.  • 

The  final  outcome  resulted  in  the  following  named  per- 
sons filling  the  places: 

Treasurer,  A.  M.  Culver. 

Recorder,  D.  L.  McCausland. 

Auditor,  F.  M.  Robinson. 

Clerk  of  Courts,  Cyrus  M.  Brooks. 

Surveyor,  M.  J.  Campbell. 

Coronor,  J.  D.  Hall. 

Superintendent  of  Schools,  Delily  Stiles. 

Drainage  Commissioner,  John  Beaumont, 
f  J.  H.  Winspear. 

Supervisors,  I  George  Spaulding. 
(  H.  R.  Fenton. 

There  were  cast  at  this  election  in  all  at  the  three  polhng 
places, votes. 

The  County  was  now  fully  organized,  and  the  Board  of 
Supervisors  had  their  meetmg  January  i,  1872. 


JOHN  L.  ROBINSON. 


30  HI  STORY  OF   OSCEOLA    COUNTY,   IOWA. 

The  proceedings  of  the  board  during  the  first  year  of  its 
administration  are  told  in  another  part  of  this  book  and  we 
need  not  here  recite  them  again.  The  record  and  the 
unwritten  history  of  this  first  year,  and  a  part  of  the  second 
year,  shows  that  a  few  unprincipled  men  came  to  Osceola 
County  for  the  sole  and  only  purpose  of  plunder.  These  few 
gathered  some  friends  around  them — really  had  a  party — many 
of  whom  had  no  share  in  the  spoils,  but  were  made  to  believe 
that  the  leaders  were  only  doing  what  the  good  of  the  County 
demanded,  and  that  the  opposition  were  indignant  because 
they  were  out  of  office  and  not  in. 

There  is  a  certain  stubbornness  in  all  our  natures,  which 
we  often  assert,  sometimes  in  the  wrong  direction,  just  because 
some  trivial  thing  has  thrown  us  with  this  side  or  that,  and 
occasionally  conviction  itself  will  be  suppressed  by  a  stand 
first  taken  and  stubbornly  kept.  These  two  parties  each  had 
their  friends,  and  were  about  equally  divided,  the  reform  party, 
however,  being  mostly  in  the  country  outside  of  the  town. 
Once  allied  with  one  side  or  the  other  it  seemed  difficult  to 
change,  as  it  is  now  difficult  to  go  from  one  political  party  to 
the  other  when  we  have  once  identified  ourselves  with  that  of 
our  choice.  Some  of  the  people  in  1872  and  1873  who  joined 
themselves  with  the  boodlers  were  not — we  will  be  charitable 
enough  to  admit — boodlers  with  them.  There  were  honora- 
ble  exceptions,  strange  as  it  may  seem.  George  Spaulding, 
who  was  one  of  the  County  Supervisors  first  elected,  and 
served  with  Fenton  and  Winspear,  lives  in  Osceola  still,  and 
is  a  man  highly  respected.  He  has  held  office  in  Goewey 
Township,  the  place  of  his  residence,  several  different  times, 
and  is  now  on  the  School  Board.  Mr.  Spaulding  is  looked 
upon  as  a  man  of  integrity  and  a  good  citizen.  He  was  made 
to  believe  that  his  co-members  of  the  board,  though  inclined 
to  extravagance,  were  working  for  the  best  interests  of  the 
County,  and  it  is  conceded  that  Mr.  Spaulding  acted  conscien- 
tiously in  his  official  acts,  and  though  now  he  may  see  some 
things  upon  which  he  would  vote  differently,  he  felt  at  the 
time  that  his  action  was  right.  He  would  now  be  voted  for 
with  the  full  confidence  of  his  fellow  citizens. 


CHAPTER  IV. 

John  H.  Douglass  came  to  Osceola  County  in  October, 
187 1,  driving  through  by  wagon  from  Wisconsin.  He  had 
with  him  his  wife  and  daughter,  now  Mrs.  Henry  Newell, 
and  son,  Mr.  Douglass  filed  on  the  southwest  quarter  of 
Section  14,  Township  no.  Range  42,  and  made  the  usual 
settlement  and  improvements  required  of  a  settler,  and  in 
November  of  that  year  went  to  Alamakee  County,  Iowa,  for 
the  winter.  In  the  spring  of  1872,  Mr.  Douglass  and  family 
returned  to  their  claim,  and  got  here  towards  the  latter  part 
of  March.  He  started  before  the  frost  was  out  of  the  ground 
and  while  the  roads  might  be  fit  for  travel,  but  when  he 
reached  Osceola  County,  it  was  breaking  up,  and  the  spring 
weather  had  thawed  the  snow  away  and  the  rivers  and  creeks 
were  running  with  water.  Mr.  Douglass  came  to  the  Ocheye- 
dan,  that  treacherous  stream  with  which  every  incoming  settler 
seems  to  have  had  an  adventure,  and  the  prospect  of  getting 
over  was  unfavorable,  for  the  appearance  of  the  stream  to 
cross  it  was  neither  promising  nor  inviting.  Douglass  arrived 
at  the  bank  of  the  Ocheyedan  at  the  Buchman  place  on  the 
evening  of  March  7?  1872.  The  river  was  narrow  at  this 
point  but  was  yet  filled  with  snow,  but  soft  and  watery  on  the 
surface.  He  first  assisted  his  family  across,  and  after  this  was 
done  together  with  the  transportation  of  a  few  articles,  he  was 
making  arrangements  to  get  the  horses  and  wagon  over,  when 
the  water  began  to  pour  down  the  river  over  the  snow,  which 
startled  Douglass  with  surprise,  and  confronted  him  with  a 
difficulty  entirely  unexpected.  He  unhitched  the  horses,  tied 
them  to  the  wagon  and  then  started  across,  wading  in  the 
water  on  the  snow,  treading  lightly,  knowing  the  danger  of 
being  completely  submerged.  But  it  seems  that  he  was  not 
to  escape  so  easily,  for  when  about  midway  down,  in  he  went, 
and  when  the  bottom  was  reached  his  head  was  just  above 
water.  There  happened  to  be  at  the  Buchman  shack  H,  G. 
Doolittle  and  his  brother.  These,  with  the  Douglass  family, 
rescued  the  venturesome  settler  and  brought  him  out  on  the 
bank,  but  in  a  deplorable  condition  of  wet  and  cold.  The 
next  morning  the  river  was  still  worse,  but  the  Douglass  effects 
were  divided  and  something  had  to  be  done.     The  horses  and 


32  HISrbRT  OF   OSCEOLA    COUNTT,   IOWA. 

the  wagon  with  the  household  goods,  including  a  barrel  of 
pork  and  two  pigs  in  a  box  strapped  on  behind,  were  on  the 
other  side,  and  they  must  be  brought  over,  let  the  sacrifice  be 
what  it  may.  Douglass,  with  a  board  or  two,  a  rope  and  such 
other  devices  as  the  ingenuity  of  man  will  bring  into  requisi- 
tion under  such  circumstances,  was  enabled  to  get  over  to  his 
effects,  and,  finding  them  all  right,  the  troublesome  question 
again  arose  as  to  how  to  get  them  over.  Douglass  on  one 
side  and  his  friends  and  family  on  the  other,  discussed  the 
difficulty  in  all  its  bearings,  and  the  task  seemed  to  be  hope- 
less, and  the  question  without  any  probability  of  solution. 
Finally  Douglass  was  seized  with  an  idea.  He  had  tied  to 
the  wagon  a  red  cedar  bedstead,  which  had  come  down  as  an 
heir  loom  in  his  wife's  family  from  the  old  Knickerbocker 
days  in  New  York  State,  and  which  had  been  prized  from 
generation  to  generation.  It  was  of  the  old-fashioned  kind, 
about  enough  material  in  it  to  have  absorbed  a  lumber  yard, 
and  with  posts  of  enormous  length  and  size.  Douglass  got 
this  out,  and  by  a  system  of  mechanical  contrivance  formed  a 
raft  that  seemed  capable  of  greater  navigation  than  that  for 
which  it  was  intended.  Mrs.  Douglass  protested,  but  had  to 
look  on  while  this  sacred  relic  from  her  ancesters  was  fast  be- 
ing transformed  from  its  original  construction,  into  nothing  but 
a  float  for  the  purpose  of  ferrying.  John  succeeded,  however, 
with  the  help  of  the  others,  in  taking  over  the  barrel  of  pork 
and  the  other  household  goods,  until  all  was  over  except  the 
horses  and  wagon.  He  tied  a  rope  to  one  horse  and  this  to 
the  other  and  they  were  led  single  file,  and  by  swimming  and 
clambering  they  were  soon  on  the  other  bank.  Then  came 
the  wagon.  With  this,  they  tied  a  rope  in  the  end  of  the 
tongue  and  hitching  the  rope  to  the  horses  started  with  the 
wagon  across.  When  the  hind  end  of  the  wagon  went  down 
the  bank,  the  box  with  the  pigs  in  struck  the  bank  and  broke 
off,  letting  the  pigs  loose,  and  they  went  squeaHng  away,  glad 
to  escape.  The  tongue  stuck  into  the  opposite  bank,  but  this 
was  soon  pulled  loose  and  the  wagon  drawn  out.  The  pigs, 
with  the  aid  of  the  family  dog,  were  soon  caught  and  got  over, 
and  Douglass  heaved  a  sigh  of  relief.  It  took  all  day,  how- 
ever, to  do  the  crossing,  and  the  next  day  he  started  on  north- 
west to  his  claim,  and  came  near  having  the  same  experiences 
in  crossing  the  Otter  that  he  had  at  the  Ocheyedan,  but  he 
finally  landed  at  his  shack  and  soon  was  set  up  in  the  usual 
style  of  homesteader  h(nisekeeping. 

William  Anderson  came  with  Douglass  in  1871.     He  also 


S.   A.    DOVE. 


34  HISTORY  OF  OSCEOLA    COrNTl',    IOWA. 

settled  on  a  claim  and  lived  here,  we  think,  until  1877,  when 
he  returned  to  Wisconsin,  and  now  lives  at  Sparta. 

The  spring  of  1872  was  a  troublesome  one  in  Osceola 
County  for  traveling.  Then  the  streams  had  no  bridges,  and 
the  treacherous  snow  underlying  the  surface  water  was  not 
inviting  to  venture  in.  After  a  limited  thaw  in  the  fore  part 
of  March  there  was  part  of  a  brief  winter  again,  and  it  seemed 
to  the  people  then  that  an  actual  spring  was  never  coming. 

Quite  a  number  of  the  early  settlers  came  from  Grant 
County,  Wisconsin,  so  that  even  if  they  didn't  know  each  other 
there,  when  acquaintance  was  made  between  these  Wisconsin 
people  it  established  a  mutual  feeling  of  interest  in  each  other, 
for  there  is  always  an  attachment  arises  between  people  of 
the  same  nativity,  where  the  same  sights  and  scenes  were 
familiar  to  them  all. 

D.  D.  McCallum  also  came  from  Grant  County,  Wiscon- 
sin. He  started  from  there  the  fore  part  of  May  and  drove 
to  Clayton  County,  and  soon  after  on  to  Osceola  County, 
where  he  arrived  about  the  middle  of  June,  and  on  the  25th 
day  of  June,  1S72,  filed  on  northwest  quarter 'of  Section  14, 
Township  99,  Range  40,  what  is  now  West  Ocheyedan. 
McCallum  drove  in  with  three  horses  and  a  linch-pin  wagon; 
had  with  him  his  wife  and  one  child  (now  Mary  McCallum); 
had  a  few  household  goods,  pork  enough  to  last  several  years 
and  $105  in  money.  He  first  struck  the  Ocheyedan  River  at 
what  was  called  the  Lone  Tree  ford,  drove  northwest  until 
he  came  to  Mandeville  Homestead,  on  Section  26,  Township 
99,  Range  41,  and  there  he  camped  for  the  night.  The  next 
day  he  went  to  Buchman's,  riding  one  horse  and  leading 
another.  Buchman  mounted  the  other  horse  and  the  two  men 
rode  over  the  country  looking  for  a  claim  upon  which 
McCallum  could  settle.  He  finally  selected  the  one  before 
described,  went  to  Sibley  the  next  day,  borrowed  a  saddle 
from  Ward — leaving  his  revolver  as  security — and  started  for 
Sioux  City,  where  he  arrived  safely  and  did  his  filing.  Mc- 
Callum's  first  habitation  after  settlement  was  his  wagon  cover, 
and  once  installed  in  this  he  went  to  work  breaking,  and 
planted  some  potatoes.  He  soon  after  put  up  a  sod  house, 
lived  on  the  claim  until  1878,  when  he  moved  into  Sibley. 
McCallum,  like  a  great  many  others  in  those  early  days,  had 
a  hard  time  of  it.  Soon  his  money  was  gone,  no  income  was 
in  sight,  and  only  those  of  the  McCallum  pluck  were  able  to 
see  it  through.  His  house,  lumber  and  furniture,  and  all  its 
belongings,  cost  about  $20;    so  that  in   those   days   of  settle- 


A.   D.   INIORELAND. 


36  HISTORY   OF  OSCEOLA    COVNTT,   IOWA. 

ment  our  ex-Judge  was  not  in  shape  to  entertain  any  of  the 
kid  glove  or  swallow-tail-coat  members  of  fashionable  society. 

In  the  winter  of  1872  and  1873  McCallum  was  in  Sioux- 
City  chopping  wood,  and  remained  there  until  the  memorable 
blizzard  in  the  spring  of  1873,  when,  feeling  alarmed  about 
his  family,  he  returned  home.  Soon  after  this  in  the  summer 
season  Elder  Dean  while  burning  the  prairie  grass  around  his 
property,  carelessly  let  the  fire  get  away  from  him,  and  it 
swept,  as  a  prairie  fire  will  when  turned  loose,  all  over  the 
country.  This  fire  swept  away  all  McCallum's  hay  and  all 
other  loose  property,  except  the  house. 

The  Elder,  in  spite  of  all  his  religious  graces,  his  Godly 
ways  and  good  intentions,  was  very  much  blamed  for  his  care- 
lessness, and  had  he  been  a  layman  it  is  hard  to  tell  what 
might  have  occurred  as  a  penalty.  As  it  was,  McCallum  had 
the  Elder  arrested,  brought  before  a  Justice,  who  found  the 
accused  guilty  and  fined  him  $5  and  costs,  which  he  paid. 
The  Board  of  Supervisors  had  offered  a  reward  of  $50  for 
the  apprehension  and  conviction  of  a  party  who  was  the  cause 
of  a  prairie  fire.  McCallum  in  this  case  was  entitled  to  it  and 
got  it.  This  affair  did  not  cause  any  hard  feelings  between 
the  Elder  and  McCallum;  indeed,  the  Elder  had  not  the 
slightest  animosity,  for  he  was  a  man  of  broad  views,  kind 
and  charitable,  as  well  as  a  sincere  Christian.  McCallum 
rode  home  with  the  Elder  and  staid  all  night  at  the  Elder's 
house,  and  out  of  the  $50  McCallum  magnanimously  reim- 
bursed him  for  all  the  outlay  and  trouble  he  had  been  put  to, 
though  brought  about  by  his  own  carelessness.  In  other 
words,  McCallum  whacked  up  with  the  Elder. 

Prairie  fires  then  in  this  sparsely  settled  country  were 
very  much  to  be  feared.  Whenever  they  occurred  but  few 
were  prepared  for  them.  They  were  not  set  maliciously,  nor 
with  any  intention  to  do  harm,  but  were  always  the  result  of 
carelessness  or  inability  to  hold  them  against  sudden  puffs  of 
wind  unexpected,  when  the  burning  around  was  done  with  a 
still  atmosphere. 


1      ' 

\ 
WILL    THOMAS. 


CHAPTER  V. 

Most  people  who  settled  in  Osceola  County  in  1871,  did 
not,  in  starting  out,  make  directly  for  the  county,  but  started 
for  government  land  in  Northwest  Iowa.  In  the  spring  of 
187 1,  Frank  R.  Coe  left  Clayton  County,  Iowa,  as  sort  of  an 
advance  guard  for  several  of  his  neighbors  who  had  the 
western  fever.  He  arrived  in  Osceola  County  and  filed  that 
same  spring  on  the  northwest  quarter  of  Section  22,  Town- 
ship 99,  Range  41,  now  East  Holman,  and  then  returned  to 
his  friends,  for  whom  also  he  had  picked  out  claims.  Among 
these  was  J.  S.  Reynolds,  present  County  Auditor.  Coe  and 
Reynolds  came  up  in  September,  1871,  and  Reynolds  filed  on 
the  northeast  quarter  of  Section  22,  the  same  section  with 
Coe.  They  made  the  usual  improvements  required  for  a 
government  settler,  and  returned  again  to  Clayton  County, 
where  they  wintered.  In  the  spring  of  1872,  they  returned 
to  their  claims.  Reynolds  drove  through  with  two  yoke  of 
oxen,  and  had  with  him  his  son  Samuel,  then  about  twelve 
years  old.  Coe  had  a  span  of  horses  and  a  wagon  heavil}' 
loaded  with  the  requirements  of  a  settler.  They  got  to  Mil- 
ford  between  the  first  and  the  middle  of  March,  and  after  the}- 
had  reached  Milford  there  was  a  heavy  fall  of  snow,  and  to 
push  through  this  and  run  the  risk  of  bhzzards  was  a  task 
they  hesitated  to  undertake.  The  last  shack  for  them  to  pass 
after  leaving  Milford  was  about  ten  miles  out,  and  they  would 
pass  no  other  between  that  and  the  Ocheyedan.  They  started 
from  Milford,  Reynolds  going  ahead  with  his  oxen  to  break 
the  road,  and  Coe  following  behind.  After  they  had  passed 
the  last  shack  about  a  mile,  its  occupant  came  after  them  and 
insisted  upon  their  return,  as  it  would  be  dangerous  with 
threatening  weather  to  go  on.  The}^  did  return  and  remained 
with  this  settler  several  days.  They  started  out  again  when 
a  change  in  the  weather  came  on,  and  again  they  returned 
and  tarried  several  days  more,  when  they  started  again.  This 
time  they  reached  the  Buchman  dug-out,  but  everything 
seemed  to  be  covered  with  snow.  This  was  about  March 
1 8th,  and  they  reached  this  stopping  place  in  the  evening. 
They  went  to  work  and  about  two  hours  had  the  snow  cleared 


^^^r"-    ■> 


A.  E.  SMITH. 


40  HISTORY  OF  OSCEOLA    COUNT  1'.    IOWA. 

away  from  the  stable  so  they  could  get  their  teams  in,  which 
they  did,  and  also  themselves  stayed  there  all  night.  In  the 
morning  they  shoveled  the  snow  from  the  dug-out  so  they 
could  get  into  that,  and  there  they  remained  about  two  weeks 
with  bad  weather  and  occasional  blizzards.  I'hey  had  heard 
of  the  death  of  Fred  Nagg,  lost  in  a  blizzard,  and  knew  the 
danger  of  being  caught  in  one  of  them  on  the  open  prairie, 
and  they  were  wise  in  their  apprehensions.  At  the  end  of 
about  two  weeks  the  weather  and  travel  became  such  that 
they  pushed  on  and  soon  after  got  to  their  claims.  When 
once  there  they  commenced  improvements.  Their  stable  was 
made  out  of  a  few  boards  they  borrowed  from  some  other 
settler,  and  with  these  and  the  wagon  covers  they  constructed 
a  shelter  for  the  stock  and  built  it  across  the  line  between  the 
claims  so  that  both  owned  the  stable  jointly.  They  then 
drove  to  Worthington  and  bought  lumber  for  shacks,  and 
bouefht  it  of  Levi  Shell,  who  was  then  in  the  lumber  business 
at  that  point.  Reynolds  put  up  the  usual  8x8  shack,  and  Coe 
one  that  was  8x12.  Coe's  family  soon  followed,  but  Reynold's 
famil}^  did  not  come  until  in  September  following.  This  left 
Reynolds  to  wrestle  with  the  pots  and  kettles,  and  no  doubt 
his  batching  was  like  all  the  rest,  with  the  washing  of  dishes 
repeatedly  deferred,  and  most  meals  consisting  of  a  chunk  of 
bread  and  a  slice  of  fresh  pork,  and  perhaps  an  occasional 
luxury  of  black  molasses.  His  family  met  with  a  misfortune 
after  his  leaving  by  the  burning  of  the  house  in  which  they 
lived  with  all  its  contents.  They  arrived  safely  in  September 
in  Osceola  County,  and  the  family  was  again  united  and  are 
still  here  with  the  grown  up  children  having  families  of  their 
own.     Coe  left  here  several  years  ago. 

In  the  summer  of  187 1,  Will  Thomas,  present  Clerk  of 
Court,  left  Wisconsin  with  a  covered  wagon,  containing  him- 
self and  three  sisters.  There  was  also  with  him  in  another 
covered  wagon  James  G.  Miller  and  his  wife,  who  was  also  a 
sister  to  Mr.  Thomas.  They  started  for  Nebraska,  but  came 
across  some  parties  bound  for  Northwestern  Iowa,  upon  which 
Thomas  and  Miller  also  concluded  to  go  in  the  same  direction, 
which  they  did,  and  landed  in  Osceola  County  in  June  of  that 
year.  They  were  about  one  month  on  the  road,  and  linall}' 
located  on  Section  22,  in  what  is  now  Wilson  Township. 
Thomas  took  the  northeast  quarter.  Miller  the  northwest, 
and  the  girls  claims  adjoining.  When  about  a  mile  from  the 
section  where  the  claims  were  taken  they  camped  for  the 
night,  using  the  wagon  with  its  covering  for  a  sleeping  place 


F.   W.    HAHN. 


42  HISTORY  OF  OSCEOLA    COUNTl',   fOWA. 

and  a  shelter.  During  the  night  a  storm  came  up  which  was 
very  severe,  and  the  wind,  hail  and  rain  with  frequent  flashes 
of  lightning  were  terrible.  Will  Thomas  and  his  companions 
got  out  of  the  wagon,  and  soon  a  gust  of  wind  tipped  the 
wagon  over,  the  horses  got  loose  and  run  away,  but  returned 
after  being  gone  about  three  hours.  W.  M.  Bull  was  camp- 
ing near  by,  with  his  wagon  cover  for  a  tent,  and  the  bows 
stuck  into  the  ground.  W.  P.  Underwood  also  was  near  with 
his  wagon  box  and  its  cover  set  off  on  the  ground.  There 
was  considerable  stirring  around  among  these  campers,  for 
the  night  was  fearful  and  frightening.  The  Miss  Thomas' 
sought  shelter  in  the  Underwood  camp,  and  they  all  managed 
to  worry  through  until  morning.  Of  the  three  young  ladies 
who  experienced  this  midnight  adventure,  one  of  them  is  now 
the  wife  of  Dr.  Lawrence,  another  the  wife  of  John  P. 
Hawxshurst,  and  the  other  at  home  with  her  mother  and  Will 
Thomas,  who  constitute  the  family.  Mr.  Miller  still  lives  in 
the  County  at  Sibley. 


JOHN  SCHLEGEL. 


CHAPTER  VI. 

Referring  again  to  the  incoming  of  Messrs.  Brooks,  Mc- 
Causland,  Webb  and  Campbell  who  settled  on  section  8  in 
the  spring  of  187 1;  they  went  to  work  and  made  continued 
improvements  on  their  claims.  While  they  were  visiting  with 
each  other  one  day  during  the  summer,  they  saw  a  covered 
wagon  approaching  and  heard  the  sound  of  a  voice  singing 
"One  Day's  Journey  Nearer  Home."     When  the  wagon  had 

got  up  and  stopped,  it  was  found  to  contain  John  Cronk, 

Coy  and  James  Hankins,  this  last  mentioned  being  a  Methodist 
preacher,  and  it  was  he  who  was  singing  a  Methodist  hymn. 
The  following  day  Hankins  preached  in  Brook's  house,  to  an 
audience  of  about  twelve,  and  these  were  the  first  religious 
exercises  held  in  the  County,  according  to  Webb's  account  of 
it.  During  the  preaching  Mrs.  Brooks  kept  on  with  her 
bread  making,  for  they  couldn't  live  on  faith  alone,  and  this  is 
told  in  the  following  article,  written  by  John  F.  Glover,  on  the 
death  of  Mrs.  Brooks  which  occurred  at  Denver  in  1884: 

DEATH    OF    A    PIONEER    WOMAN. 

In  the  summer  and  fall  of  187 1,  the  wives  of  C.  M. 
Brooks,  M.J.  Campbell,  W.  W.  Webb  and  D.  L.  McCausland, 
entered  on  pioneer  life  with  their  husbands,  all  four  families 
having  claims  on  Section  8,  Range  99,  Township  41,  the  sec- 
tion on  which  are  now  the  farms  of  Deacon  Herbert  and  Mr. 
Deitz.  The  settlements  were  made  on  Section  8  before  there 
was  a  single  soul  on  Section  13,  Range  99,  Township  42, 
where  is  now  the  flourishing  town  of  Sibley.  Mr.  Brooks 
was  in  the  land  locating  business,  and  his  house  was  a  home 
that  summer  for  several  of  the  women.  Mrs.  Brooks  was 
the  daughter  of  Rev.  John  Webb,  a  Methodist  minister  of 
Fayette,  Iowa,  later  a  pioneer  settler  and  minister  in  Osceola 
County,  still  later  a  pioneer  Presiding  lilder  in  Dakota  Terri- 
tory, and  now  residing  in  Des  Moines.  She'  was  very  attrac- 
tive in  person,  possessed  of  a  good  mind,  and  had  a  sensible 
way  of  doing  the  best  that  circumstances  would  permit,  for 
the  comfort  of  her  household,  and  doing  the  best  she  could  to 
be  content.  The  following  anecdote  will  illustrate  her  faithful 
performance  of  household  duties:  The  greater  than  usual 
number  of  new   comers  at   Mr.  Brooks'  made  it  necessary  to 


NORTHWESTERN  STATE  BANK,  SIBLEY. 


46  HISTORl'  OF   OSCEOLA    COUNTY,    IOWA. 

bake  bread  on  the  Lord's  Day,  and  while  the  baking  was  go- 
ing on,  the  little  pioneer  congregation  gathered  in  the  room  to 
listen  to  a  preacher — one  of  the  new  comers.  In  the  same 
room  were  the  baker  and  the  preacher,  and  as  the  minister 
went  forward  with  his  discourse,  so  did  "  Mel,"  as  Melvina 
Brooks  was  called  by  her  relatives  and  near  friends,  go  on 
with  her  baking.  She  realized  that  on  her  depended  the  feel- 
ing of  hungry  men,  with  appetites  such  as  only  pioneering 
brino-s  to  the  table.  Mrs.  Brooks  was  the  Martha  of  that 
little  company.  While  others  had  nothing  to  do  but  listen,  she 
had  work  to  do  for  the  listeners.  She  could  both  hear  and 
work,  and  right  down  before  the  minister  she  baked  the  bread 
of  earth  while  he  spoke  the  bread  of  Heaven,  and  she  did  her 
work  as  well  and  as  honestly  as  the  preacher  did  his.  It  was 
thus  she  went  forward  doing  the  things  most  necessary  to  be 
done,  and  though  possessed  of  a  not  very  bad  robust  constitu- 
tion did  her  full  measure  of  work — having  less  in  mind  her 
own  strength  than  the  comfort  of  those  around  her. 


CHAPTER  VII. 

The  western  part  of  the  County  was  settled  tirst,  owing 
to  the  prospective  incoming  railroad.  Goewey  Township  and 
Oilman  were  as  early  settled  as  any,  and,  indeed,  the  very 
first  settler  took  his  claim  in  Oilman. 

In  187 1  there  was  living  in  O'Brien  County,  where 
Primghar  now  is,  Mr.  Charles  F.  Allbright.  His  home  was 
a  small  one,  we  should  judge  14x20,  one  story  with  small 
addition.  This  house  was  the  general  stopping  place,  not 
only  for  people  from  the  north  part  of  O'Brien  County,  but 
also  Southern  Osceola.  It  will  be  understood  that  at  this 
time  there  was  no  railroad,  and  freight  was  hauled  mostly  from 
Cherokee,  and  the  Allbright  house  was  about  the  only  one  on 
the  road  in  O'Brien  County  in  making  trips  to  and  from 
Cherokee. 

Mr.  A.  H.  Lyman  made  the  first  track  across  the  County 
from  Allbright's  to  Goewey  Township,  and  Mr.  Lyman  came 
into  Osceola  County  in  March,  1871.  He  came  from  Grant 
County,  Wisconsin,  and  first  settled  upon  and  done  his  filing 
on  the  northeast  quarter  of  Section  26,  Township  98,  Range 
41,  now  Goewey  Township.  He  put  up  a  residence  with  a 
shingled  roof,  but  the  walls  of  which  were  built  of  sod.  He 
broke  about  thirty  acres  that  season,  put  in  beans,  potatoes, 
turnips  and  melons,  and  of  these  had  quite  a  crop.  His  family 
came  in  October,  187 1.  Mr.  Lyman's  house  then  became  the 
stopping  place  for  that  part  of  the  country,  and  it  was  often 
crowded  with  people,  sometimes  the  whole  floor  covered 
with  lodgers,  and,  if  not  cold,  some  outside. 

On  this  same  section,  in  187 1,  Douglas  E.  Ball  and  B.  F. 
Mundorf  took  claims,  and  Adam  Batie  took  his  claim  on  the 
same  section  in  the  spring  of  1872.  Mr.  Lyman  still  lives  in 
Goewey  Township.  His  reputation  is  that  of  an  honest  and 
hard  working  man,  but  Lyman  is  considered  quite  a  talker. 
He  is  a  man  of  ideas  and  likes  to  express  them.  Several 
were  at  Lyman's  one  day  and  a  fellow  by  the  name  of  Patch 
bet  $1  with  Lyman  that  he  couldn't  keep  from  speaking  for 
one  hour.  The  money  was  deposited  with  the  stakeholder, 
and  the  hour  of  silence  commenced.  In  the  course  of  half  an 
hour  some  fellow  came  to  the  house  to  make  some  inquiries. 


48  HISTOKY  OF   OSCEOLA    COUNTl',   IOWA. 

and  the  rest  of  them  kept  in  the  house  to  see  Lyman  wrestle 
with  the  stranger.  His  motions  were  the  most  awkward,  for 
he  couldn't  answer  the  questions  as  his  dollar  was  at  stake, 
and  finally  the  stranger  left  with  the  idea  that  Lyman  had 
gone  crazy. 

The  fore  part  of  the  summer  of  1871  was  a  very  dry  one. 
There  was  not  a  drop  of  rain  from  the  middle  of  March  until 
the  1 6th  day  of  June,  and  during  that  time  of  dryness  several 
got  out  of  the  County,  as  they  have  got  out  of  Dakota,  for 
the  reason,  as  they  said,  the  County  was  too  dry  ever  to  raise 
crops. 

In  April,  1872,  Walter  Fisher  and  Reed  Patch  started 
west  from  Spencer  to  Lyman's  place.  They  knew  the  quarter 
that  Lyman  was  on,  so  took  the  bearings  and  navigated  as  the 
sailors  do,  by  compass.  They  made  it  all  right  and  reached 
the  Lyman  place  safely.  These  three  then  went  to  Sibley 
with  a  sleigh.  The  ground  was  soft,  however,  and  the  creeks 
had  some  water  in.  While  crossing  the  Otter  the  horses  sud- 
denly went  down  in  the  soft,  watery  snow,  and  went  so  sud- 
denly it  pitched  Lyman  out,  who  went  in  up  to  his  neck. 
Lyman  was  got  out  and  over  the  river,  and  Fisher,  by  care- 
ful work,  got  himself  across,  and  the  horses  were  unhitched 
and  they  safely  landed.  Patch  determined  to  stick  to  the 
sleigh  and  not  get  wet,  the  other  fellows  he  thought  could 
look  out  for  themselves.  After  the  horses  were  got  over,  the 
boys  hitched  a  rope  to  the  end  of  the  tongue  of  the  sleigh  to 
pull  that  out,  and  Patch  was  sort  of  crowing  over  his  safe 
and  dry-shod  transportation.  The  horses  started  and  the  first 
jerk  of  the  sleigh  landed  Patch  into  the  creek  and  up  to  his 
neck.  The  boys  got  him  out,  but  he  was  not  only  a -sorry 
looking  object,  but  had  the  appearance  of  a  man  disgustingly 
disappointed.  Lyman  thought  honors  were  easy,  and  they 
soon  got  where  their  condition  was  made  dry  and  comfortable. 

In  June,  187 1,  J.  B.  Lent,  who  was  Treasurer  of  Osceola 
County,  preceding  Mr.  Townsend,  arrived  at  the  Lyman 
place.  Mr.  Lent  also  came  from  Grant  County,  Wisconsin, 
and  had  started  with  some  others  for  Nebraska.  The  others 
who  started  with  him  with  teams  kept  on  to  Cherokee,  while 
Lent  diverted  his  course  to  go  to  Lyman's  for  the  purpose  of 
leaving  some  stock  there  for  Lyman,  they  having  lived  in  the 
same  neighborhood  in  their  Wisconsin  home.  The  reason 
that  the  i6th  of  June  arrival  is  so  well  remembered  is  that  on 
that  day  the  dry  spell  was  broken,  and  Lyman  and  Lent  gazed 
upon  the  falling  water  with  supreme  satisfaction  and  delight. 


REV.  S.   C.  OLDS. 


50  HISTOKV   OF   OSCEOLA    COUNTY,   IOWA. 

Lent,  after  leaving  the  stock  at  Lyman's,  went  to  Cherokee 
and  told  the  rest  of  his  party  he  was  so  dehghted  with  Osceola 
County  that  he  would  settle  there  and  go  no  further;  they 
went  on,  except  Louis  Folsom  and  Lent,  and  these  returned 
to  Lyman's  place.  The  first  night  they  slept  out  under  the 
wagon  cover  set  on  the  ground,  and  during  the  night  the  wind 
blowed  that  over,  when  they  went  into  the  house.  Lent  and 
Folsom  soon  did  their  settlement  and  filing,  Lent  on  south- 
west quarter  of  Section  24,  Township  98,  Range  41,  and  Fol- 
som on  south  half  of  southeast  quarter  of  Section  24,  Town- 
ship 98,  Tiange  41. 

The  great  thing  to  be  feared  then  on  an  open  prairie  was 
a  blizzard.  The  early  settlers  encountered  several  of  them. 
In  December,  187 1,  Dr.  Hall,  then  living  in  Goewey  Town- 
ship, and  his  son,  Arthur,  a  boy,  started  to  the  creek  for  some 
willows  for  fuel.  While  they  were  gone  a  terrible  blizzard 
came  up  and  they  were  caught  out  in  it.  They  made  their 
way  towards  home  the  best  they  could,  but  the  blinding  snow 
and  extreme  cold  made  it  slow  progress,  and  the  oxen,  too, 
were  hard  to  get  along.  Soon  the  boy  discovered  that  the 
father  was  missing  and  could  not  be  found  anywhere.  Of 
course  no  search  could  be  made,  for  the  boy  was  struggling 
to  take  care  of  himself,  but  all  at  once  Mr.  Hall  himself  had 
disappeared,  either  strayed  away  from  the  boy  or  fallen  in 
sheer  exhaustion  unable  to  go  further.  The  boy  went  west 
for  a  while,  then  turned  and  went  east  again,  and  after  travel- 
ing a  few  miles  the  oxen  gave  out;  the  boy  then  hollered  as 
loud  as  he  could,  and  as  luck  would  have  it  he  was  near 
enough  to  the  house  of  F.  O.  Messenger  so  that  Messenger 
heard  him  and  went  in  the  direction  from  where  the  sound 
came  until  he  reached  the  boy.  The  boy's  hands  and  feet 
were  frozen,  but  Messenger  got  him  to  the  house  and  after  a 
while  the  boy  got  around  all  right  again.  The  oxen  were 
also  rescued.  Dr.  Hall  himself  perished  in  that  December 
blizzard,  and  was  not  found  imtil  the  spring  of  1872,  and  was 
then  found  by  Mr.  Messenger's  dog  bringing  to  the  house  the 
bone  from  a  human  body,  which  was  noticed,  and  Mrs.  Mes- 
senger then  directed  the  dog  back  and  followed  him  to  Dr. 
Hall's  remains,  which  were  but  his  bones.  The  boy,  Arthur 
Hall,  grown  to  manhood,  now  lives  in  Washington  State.  Tiie 
blizzard  in  February,  1872,  the  same  in  which  Nagg  perished, 
was  also  a  fearful  one.  The  first  day  of  that  blizzard,  Lyman 
with  others  went  to  Sibley  to  buy  goods  at  Roger's  store. 
The  blizzard  commenced  while  they  were  in  town,  and  they 


GEORGE  T.  VOOREES. 


52  HISTORY   OF  OSCEOLA    COUNT!',   IOWA. 

hurried  up  their  purchases  in  order  to  return,  and  were  soon 
on  their  way  back  again.  It  was  a  foolish  start,  but  still  they 
got  through  and  no  lives  were  lost.  There  were  Lyman,  B. 
F.  Mundorf,  Lon  Sanfrisco,  Eve  Adler  and  A.  Carpenter. 
When  they  got  to  the  house  of  A.  Romey,  Mundorf  and  Ly- 
man had  about  eight  miles  further  to  go,  and  Mundorf  in- 
sisted on  gomg  and  was  bound  to  go.  All  the  others  objected 
to  any  such  thing,  and  Mr.  Romey  declared  that  not  one  of 
them  should  leave  his  house.  Mundorf,  however,  had  made 
up  his  mind  to  go  and  go  he  would,  and  as  there  was  no  other 
alternative,  Lyman,  knowing  that  Mundorf  would  surely  get 
lost,  started  with  him.  Nothing  saved  them  but  the  team  of 
horses  Mr.  Lyman  was  driving.  They  who  are  accustomed 
to  the  road  know  the  great  difference  between  horses  in  know- 
ing the  direction  to  go,  and  Mr.  Lyman's  team  was  of  that 
kind  which  could  find  their  way  home  in  the  darkest  night  or 
in  any  storm  in  which  they  could  travel.  This  was  the  reason 
Lyman  went  with  Mundorf,  and  Lvman  made  no  attempt  to 
guide  his  team  but  let  them  take  their  own  way,  and  they 
landed  these  storm-driven  settlers  safely  home. 

At  this  time  there  was  considerable  of  an  attempt,  and 
some  of  it  successful,  to  hold  claims  in  fictitious  names  and 
cover  them  up,  so-called.  It  was  done  by  filing  applications 
in  the  land  office  at  Sioux  City,  and  the  filer  signing  some 
name  which  would  make  it  appear  of  record  that  the  claim 
was  taken.  It  took  an  incoming  stranger  a  little  time,  using 
a  western  expression,  "  to  catch  on  to  the  racket,"  but  he 
soon  did,  and  there  was  not  much  after  all  made  in  that  kind 
of  speculation.  Soon  after  Lent  and  Folsom  got  here,  and 
they,  with  Lyman  and  some  others,  were  taking  it  easy 
sitting  on  the  prairie  grass  at  Lent's  claim,  a  stranger,  who 
gave  his  name  as  Freman,  drove  up  and  informed  these 
gentlemen  that  they  were  trespassers  on  other  people's 
claims;  that  he  had  done  the  filing  for  them,  and  they  were 
now  on  the  road  to  settle.  Lent  cross-questioned  the  fellow' 
a  little,  Lyman  gathered  himself  together  for  a  controversy, 
and  when  the  stranger  had  told  all  he  knew  about  it  and  the 
boys  had  sized  the  thing  up  so  that  a  conclusion  was  reached, 
Mr.  Freman  was  told  in  a  most  emphatic  manner,  and  in 
language  that  was  not  doubtful  of  construction,  that  if  he  was 
seen  in  that  part  of  the  country  in  just  sixty  minutes  after  that 
interview,  they  would  hang  hnn;  and  Lyman  went  to  hunting 
a  rope  and  to  get  the  well  ready  to  drop  him  in,  when  he 
started,  to  use  Lyman's  expression,  as  though  the  devil  was 
after  him,  and  was  never  seen  afterwards. 


LANSING  isL  BROWN  BUILDING,  OCCUPIED  BY  T.   H.   DRAVIS. 


54  insTonr  of  osceola  countt,  iowa. 

Mr.  A.  Romey,  who  is  now  a  merchant  in  Sibley,  came 
to  Osceola  County  in  April,  187 1.  He  drove  through  from 
Fayette  County,  Iowa,  and  William  Barkhuff  started  and 
drove  through  with  him;  also,  Mr.  A.  Carpenter.  On  the 
road,  Mr.  J.  F.  Jones,  Joshua  Stevens  and  Waldo  joined  them; 
also  W.  H.  Lean.  Mr.  Stephens  and  Mr.  Waldo  have  since 
died.  Mr.  Jones  and  Mr.  Carpenter  are  still  residents  of  the 
county.  Mr.  Romey  filed  on  the  northwest  quarter  of  Section 
4,  Goewey  Township.  He  put  up  a  sod  house,  with  shingled 
roof,  and  hauled  his  lumber  from  Sioux  City.  He  broke 
about  fifteen  acres  in  1871,  but  put  m  no  crop. 


T.   H.   DRAVIS. 


CHAPTER  VIII. 

In  September,  1881,  Henry  C.  Allen  landed  in  Goewey 
Township.  There  came  with  him,  August  Thomson,  C. 
Thomson  and  Francis  Allen,  these  four  forming  the  party. 
H.  C.  Allen  settled  on  the  northeast  quarter  of  Section  8,  in 
Township  98,  Range  41,  where  he  still  resides,  and  the  others 
filed  upon  and  settled  on  claims  near  him,  and  are  now  non- 
residents. This  party  commenced  housekeeping  by  putting 
up  a  house  partly  on  three  quarter-sections,  making  their 
home  together  until  later  on,  when  separate  houses  were  to  be 
built.  In  the  latter  part  of  1871,  H.  C.  Allen  and  Frances 
Allen  drove  their  teams  to  Minnesota  for  work,  and  they  re- 
mained there  during  the  winter,  Frances  Allen  stopping  at 
Eagle  Lake  and  H.  C.  going  on  further  to  Waterford.  H. 
C.  Allen  took  his  family  along  with  him,  consisting  of  his  wife 
and  three  children,  and  with  them  returned  early  in  the  spring 
of  1872.  He  drove  to  Minnesota  with  a  wagon  and  started 
back  with  a  wagon,  but  on  his  way  was  overtaken  with  a 
blizzard  and  a  large  fall  of  snow,  so  that  he  had  runners  put 
under  his  wagon  bed.  He  was  traveling  alongside  the  railroad 
track,  and  a  few  miles  beyond  Heron  Lake  came  to  a  deep 
ravine  which  w^as  filled  with  snow  and  there  seemed  to  be  no 
way  of  getting  across  it,  and,  as  Allen  was  anxious  to  get  home 
before  the  time  run  out  to  get  on  his  claim,  he  drove  across 
the  railroad  bridge,  it  being  a  high  and  reasonably  long  one 
made  in  trestle  work.  It  seemed  a  hazardous  undertaking, 
but  Mr.  Allen  got  over  all  right,  and  in  watching  the  horses 
ahead,  had  actually  forgotten  that  he  had  one  tied  behind,  but 
when  fan'ly  landed  on  the  other  side  everything  was  all  right 
and  got  over  safely.  Mr.  Allen  finally  reached  his  claim,  but 
before  getting  there  went  down  into  a  slough  which  required 
the  aid  of  his  neighbor,  Dagel,  to  pull  him  out.  Someone  had 
been  in  the  house  and  left  it  open,  so  that  everything  was  in 
confusion  and  covered  with  snow. 

To  one  who  drove  over  these  prairies  twenty  years  ago, 
the  scenery  now  in  comparision  is  beautiful  and  magnificent. 
Where  stood  the  sod  house  and  the  usual  8  by  10  shack;  there 
are  now  commodious  and  tasty  residences,  and  groves,  whose 
trees,  dressed  in  their  green  and  luxuriant  foliage,  add  to  the 


JOHN  F.  STAMM. 


58  HISTORT  OF  OSCEOLA    COUNTY.   IOWA. 

beauties  of  nature,  and  mark  the  landscape  with  a  fascinating 
and  dignified  splendor.  Going  back  in  remembrance  to  187 1 
we  could  see  a  shack  on  Section  8,  Goewey  Township,  which 
straddled  the  line  of  three  quarter-sections,  holding  down 
claims  for  H.  C.  Allen,  Frances  Allen  and  one  of  the  Thomson 
boys,  not  a  tree  in  sight  anywhere,  and,  in  fact,  not  a  house. 
We  could  see  the  boys  figuring  on  how  to  get  through  the 
winter,  and  wondering  what  the  country  would  amount  to 
anyhow.  But  forgetting  the  past  and  looking  at  the  living 
present,  we  saw  that  same  quarter-section  on  8,  which  Henry 
Allen  settled  upon  in  187 1,  now  under  thorough  cultivation, 
with  a  large  barn  and  nice  residence  almost  hidden  in  a  grove 
of  large  trees,  and  everything  about  the  place  showing  that  its 
occupant  is  in  comfortable  circumstances  and  in  the  enjoyment 
of  life. 

W.  11.  Lean  came  from  Wisconsin  and  in  187 1  settled 
on  the  southwest  quarter  of  Section  6,  Baker  Township.  Mr. 
Lean  came  with  some  others,  previously  mentioned,  and 
returned  to  Wisconsin  in  1871,  and  came  back  to  his  claim  in 
the  spring  of  1872.  Mr.  Lean  still  resides  on  the  same  land, 
which  now  has  a  beautiful  grove  and  fine  residence,  with  other 
improvements.  He  is  also  the  Goewey  Postmaster.  Mr. 
Lean  found  Nagg's  body,  the  party  mentioned  elsewhere  as 
lost  in  the  February  blizzard,  1872. 

A  beautiful  residence  greets  the  eye  on  the  southeast 
quarter  of  Section  2,  in  Goewey  Township.  The  elegant 
dwellinir  house  and  larcje  barn  are  surrounded  with  large 
stately  forest  trees,  and  everything  betokens  thrift  and  com- 
fort. The  owner  is  O.  B.  Harding,  who  settled  on  the  east 
half  of  southeast  quarter  of  Section  2  in  1873,  and  has  lived 
there  since.  Mr.  Harding  has  since  bought  other  land 
around  him. 

In  1871,  W.  M.  and  J.  H.  Dagel,  brothers,  came  from 
Clayton  County,  Iowa,  driving  through  with  teams,  and 
between  them  took  the  nortli  half  of  Section  6,  in  Goewey 
Township.  By  work  and  economy  they  now  own  over  2,000 
acres  of  land,  and  still  live  on  their  original  claims. 

In  June,  187 1,  Mr.  Thomas  Jackson  filed  a  pre-emption 
on  the  northeast  quarter  of  Section  30,  in  West  Holman  Town- 
ship. Mr.  Jackson  came  from  Wisconsin  and  after  filing 
returned  there,  and  came  to  Osceola  County  again  in  the  fall 
of  same  year  and  again  returned.  In  the  spring  of  1872  he 
drove  through  with  a  team,  bringing  his  family  with  him.  On 
this   same   section    at   that   time   there    were   settled    William 


J.  W.  ORD  S  RESIDENCE,  SIBLEY. 


60  HISTORY  OF  OSCEOLA    COUNTY,   IOWA. 

Jackson,  William  Anderson,  Joseph  Anderson,  Mr.  Aldrich 
and  Charles  Kent.  Mr.  Thomas  Jackson  broke  about  thirty 
acres  in  1872,  put  up  his  shack  in  the  fall  of  1871,  hauling 
his  lumber  from  Heron  Lake,  Minnesota.  'Mr,  Jackson,  after 
living  there  about  twelve  years,  moved  to  Fa'rview  Town- 
ship, where  he  still  resides,  and  is  a  successful  farmer  and  a 
substantial  citizen.  The  perils  and  troubles  of  emigration, 
in  traveling  some  distance  from  the  old  home  to  the  new  one, 
are  often  many. 

Early  in  the  seventies  there  could  be  seen  the  emigrant 
wagons,  reaching  out  for  Northwest  Iowa.  They  were  called 
"prairie  schooners."  and  a  prairie  schooner  was,  after  all  a 
peculiar  institution.  They  navigated,  sometimes  single  and 
alone,  at  other  times  in  numbers  like  a  fleet  of  vessels  at  sea. 
A  Yankee  boy,  fresh  from  Massachusetts,  when  he  saw  one 
for  the  first  time,  said,  "  See  that  butcher  cart,  pa,"  for,  sure 
enough,  the  meat  carts  in  the  cities  of  New  England  go  about 
with  a  white  covering.  It  was  astonishing  to  see  sometimes 
the  amount  of  "truck"  they  carried  and  the  number  of 
inmates.  We  saw  one  in  1873,  heaving  into  Osceola  County, 
that  had  three  trunks,  two  setts  of  harness,  a  sheet-iron  stove, 
several  bushels  of  potatoes,  two  dozen  hens,  and  its  inmates 
were  man  and  wife  and  eight  children ;  they  also  had  cooking 
utensils,  bedding,  and  feed  for  the  team.  This  mode  of  trav- 
elling, too,  when  the  roads  are  good  and  the  party  united  and 
contented,  is  very  enjoyable,  and  certainly  very  healthy. 
These  emigrant  wagons  are  now  seldom  seen,  and  when  they 
are  they  are  bound  for  Dakota. 

In  June,  1872,  N.  W.  Emery  drove  through  from  Floyd 
County  with  a  team  and  wagon,  bringing  his  wife  and  one 
child  (now  Forrest  Emery,  grown  to  manhood.)  Mr.  Emery 
settled  on  the  southwest  quarter  of  Section  34,  in  Horton 
Township,  where  he  still  resides,  in  easy  circumstances  and 
with  the  respect  of  the  people.  The  first  summer  he  lived  in 
his  wagon;  that  is,  this  was  his  only  habitation.  In  the  fall  he 
put  up  a  house,  12x14.  Owing  to  grasshoppers  later  on, 
Mr.  Emery  returned  to  Floyd  County  and  remained  during 
the  winter,  where  he  could  find  something  to  do.  The  follow- 
ing spring  he  returned,  driving  two  yoke  of  oxen,  and  he 
certainly  had  a  time  of  it,  for  the  roads  were  bad,  and  until  he 
reached  Spencer  it  was  nothing  but  mud  and  water.  Five 
other  teams  were  with  him,  of  parties  going  to  Dakota,  and 
they  stuck  together,  for  they  were  useful  to  each  other  when 
one  or  the  other  got  fastened  in  the  mud  when  it  took  strength 


F.  M.   ROBINSON. 


62  HISroKl'  OF  OSCEOLA    COUNTl',    IOWA. 

to  pull  the  wagon  out.  Emery's  oxen  pulled  each  of  the 
others  out  several  times,  and  once  Emery's  wagon  was  so 
deep  in  the  mud  and  water  that  it  took  the  five  teams  com- 
bined with  Emery's  two  yoke  of  oxen  to  pull  him  out.  So 
bad  were  the  roads,  that  one  day  they  traveled  only  nine 
miles,  and  Emery  was  delighted  when  he  got  back  to  his 
claim.  The  first  season  Emery  did  some  breaking  away  from 
home  for  several  weeks,  which  left  his  wife  and  the  infant 
(Forrest)  to  keep  house  alone. 

In  all  the  hardships  incident  to  pioneer  life  it  is  not  only 
the  men  who  endure  them,  but  the  women  also,  whose  burden 
is  as  great,  if  not  greater,  to  bear.  Their  work  may  not  be 
as  hard,  but  it  is  constant,  and,  with  the  care  of  the  family 
and  motherly  anxiety,  the  world  does  not  know,  and  never 
will,  the  mental  anguish  of  a  great  many  of  the  wives  of 
pioneers  who  were  making  a  home  on  these  fertile,  but  then 
uncultivated,   prairies. 

John  P.  Hawxshurst  came  in  Marcii,  1872,  from  Wis- 
consin. He  settled  upon  the  southwest  quarter  of  Section  22, 
Township  100,  Range  42,  and  is  still  a  resident  of  the  county. 
Mr.  Hawxshurst  helped  start  the  Sibley  Gazette — laid  the 
type  from  the  "original  packages"  into  the  case,  and  was 
with  the  paper  until  1885.  At  one  time  he  was  sole  pro- 
prietor, and  during  the  grasshopper  raid  had  a  hard  time  of  it 
indeed.  At  one  time,  for  about  a  month,  he  did  not  take  in 
any  money,  nor  pay  any  out,  nor  did  he  have  any  in  his 
pockets.  His  cash  account  was  not  hard  to  keep,  and  no 
doubt  there  was  many  a  country  printer  then  wondering  half 
the  time  where  his  next  meal  was  coming  from. 

In  September,  187 1,  Mr.  John  L.  Robinson  landed  in 
Osceola  County  from  Alamakee  County.  His  son,  F.  M. 
Robinson,  afterwards  County  Auditor,  had  preceded  him,  and 
Frank  met  his  father  and  mother  and  one  sister  at  Algona, 
and  al!  drove  over  from  there.  They  took  their  claims  on  a 
different  part  of  Section  28,  on  what  is  now  West  Ilohnan, 
put  up  buildings  and  commenced  living.  Mr.  J.  L.  Robinson 
is  still  living  in  the  county,  at  Sibley,  and  F.  M.  Robinson  is 
at  Atlanta,  Georgia.  As  will  be  seen  by  referwing  to  the 
Sibley  records,  F.  M.  Robinson  put  up  the  first  building  on 
the  Sible^'  townsite.  Afterwards  his  father  moved  into  the 
building,  and  lived  there  during  the  winter  of  1871  and  1872. 
While  he  was  living  there,  in  the  fall  of  1871,  the  portly  form 
of  Elder  Webb  darkened  the  doorway,  and  went  into  the 
room   while    Robinson   was    putting    slough    hay  and    broken 


11  IS r our  OF  osceula  county,  iowa.  63 

weeds  into  the  stove.  This  was  the  first  time  the  Elder  had 
seen  that  kind  of  fuel,  and  he  was  surprised  that  it  could  be 
utilized  as  a  warmth  producer.  Mr.  Robinson  was  the  first 
Justice  of  the  Peace  in  the  county,  and  the  office  came  to  him 
by  appointment.  There  being  some  irregularity  in  the 
appointment,  Mr.  Robinson  afterwards  stepped  down  and 
out,  but  while  he  was  in,  some  cases  came  to  his  court.  The 
first  one  brought,  and,  indeed,  the  first  suit  in  the  county,  was 
between  Everett  and  Freeman,  over  a  yoke  of  oxen;  and,  like 
sensible  fellows,  they  afterwards  settled  it.  This  was  before 
there  were  any  lawyers  here  to  back  up  the  respective  sides 
of  a  controversy.  Mr.  Robinson's  daughter,  Ellen,  who  came 
with  him,  was  afterwards  married  to  Charles  M.  Brooks,  now 
a  lawyer  at  Sibley.  The  lumber  with  which  F.  M.  Robinson 
put  up  his  first  building  was  hauled  from  Windom,  Minn., 
and  afterwards  they  did  hauling  from  Cherokee. 


CHAPTER  IX. 

There  is  much  of  individual  heroism  in  common  life  that  is 
lost  to  history,  and  which  is  not  blazoned  among  the  dis- 
tinguished deeds  which  make  some  men  famous  and  their 
names  immortal.  Some  military  chieftain  in  the  nick  of  time, 
and  by  natural  genius  and  adroitness  as  well  as  personal  cour- 
age, drives  the  enemy  into  a  general  slaughter,  and  his  govern- 
ment, with  fulsome  praise,  sends  his  name  down  the  ages,  and 
all  time  has  a  hero  fearless  and  undaunted.  Sometimes  the 
greatest  of  all  heroic  acts  are  manifested  by  one  in  the  humblest 
walks  of  life,  which  find  no  recognition  in  the  record  of  history, 
for  it  is  only  in  the  exalted  stations  of  life  that  the  names  of 
men  glitter  on  the  scroll  of  fame,  and  much  that  is  the  most 
heroic  of  all  heroism  dies  with  the  hero.  We  have  an  old 
newspaper  which  recites  the  conviction  and  execution  of  a 
negro  slave,  in  which  case  Henry  Clay  was  the  public  prose- 
cutor. The  negro  was  a  faithful  servant,  and  had  not  been 
accustomed  to  the  degredation  of  corporal  chastisement.  Dur- 
ing a  temporary  absence  of  his  master,  he  was  placed  under 
the  charge  of  a  young  and  passionate  overseer,  who,  for  some 
slight  or  imaginary  offense,  lashed  him  cruelly  with  a  horse- 
whip, and  brought  wicked  blows  about  the  head  that  were 
unmercifully  given.  The  spirit  of  the  slave  was  aroused,  and, 
seizing  a  weapon  that  was  near  him,  he  laid  his  overseer  dead 
upon  the  spot.  Soon  after,  he  was  borne  to  the  place  of 
execution,  and  the  pride  of  character  he  there  displayed  was 
worthy  of  a  Roman  patriot.  Being  asked  whether  he  was 
anxious  that  his  life  be  spared,  and,  answering  under  a  feeling 
of  the  injustice  that  had  been  done  him  and  under  the  fact  that 
he  was  in  bondage,  he  replied  proudly  and  sternly:  "No!  I 
would  not  live  a  day  longer  unless  in  the  enjoyment  of  liberty." 
The  pages  of  history  might  be  searched  from  the  beginning  to 
tlie  present,  and  nothing  in  the  notoriety  of  preserved  events 
would  exceed  this  personal  proudness  and  bravery  of  an 
obscure  slave,  whose  words  are  lost  in  the  din  of  pyrotecnic 
words  over  names  which  were  prominent  with  the  people. 

Carrying  the  thought  still  further,  one  does  not  need  to 
go  to  a  battlefield,  or  to  find  tragedies  in  blood,  for  the 
world's  greatest  heroes.      Many  unknown  in  life,  bearing  its 


E.  M.  TAYLOR. 


60  HISTORY  OF  OSCEOLA    COUNTY,   IOWA. 

burdens  under  difficulties  and  under  depressing  circumstances, 
and  under  the  crushing  conditions  of  poverty  and  misfortune, 
are  heroes,  and  the  women  who  toil  with  them  are  heroines. 
The  writer  in  the  early  seventies  knew  several  families  in 
Northwest  Iowa  who  were  without  money,  without  friends  — 
for  the  world  is  cold  and  uncharitable  to  the  borrower — -whose 
crops  were  an  utter  failure,  and  where  existence  was  continued 
by  living  on  anything  that  was  accessible,  and  whose  diet 
principally  was  corn  ground  in  a  coffee  mill.  We  who  are 
living  in  the  present  progress  and  prosperity  of  Osceola 
County  cannot  realize  the  crushed  and  despondent  heart  of 
many  a  mother  whose  little  ones,  in  the  early  days  of  the 
county's  history,  were  crying  for  bread,  and  where  but  inch 
boards  protected  them  from  the  severity  of  winter,  huddled 
around  a  fire  made  by  twisted  hay,  and  whose  one  hope  was 
in  a  change,  which  the  future,  dark  and  doubtful,  would  bring 
to  them.  These  early  settlers  who  were  thus  battling  against 
the  misfortunes  of  the  county  then  were  heroes. 

The  early  days  of  Osceola  county,  from  1871  on,  were  hard 
and  trying  to  settlers  who  were  endeavoring  to  make  a  home 
here  and  establish  a  farm  on  the  prairie.  Most  of  them  came 
without  means,  and  depended  on  their  grit  and  muscle  to  pull 
through.  Those  that  brought  money  with  them,  and  were 
reasonably  well  fixed  to  start  on,  seemed  to  be  the  most 
unfortunate  after  all,  especially  when  the  grasshoppers  came, 
for  the  reason  that  they  did  not  hesitate  to  use  their  means 
in  building  good  houses  and  surrounding  themselves  with 
comforts  and  conveniences,  expecting  an  early  return  for  their 
investments.  But  when  the  pocket-book  became  empty,  and 
no  crops  as  expected  and  no  value  to  land,  they  were  not 
only  discouraged  but  disgusted,  and  soon  got  out,  while  the 
fellows  who  started  with  nothing  were  more  inclined  to  stay 
it  through,  still  hoping  to  realize  and  get  return  for  their 
labor. 

We  can  easily  see  how  much  grit  and  determination  it 
took  to  stay  here  several  years,  one  after  the  other,  without  a 
crop  at  harvest  time,  and  still  stay  another  winter  and  burn 
hay  and  take  chances  on  enough  to  eat.  Money  could  not  be 
obtained  only  on  gilt-edged  security  at  a  rate  of  interest  from 
three  to  eight  per  cent,  a  month,  and  sometimes  at  ten.  Many 
a  farm  and  much  live  stock  and  farm  machinery  of  these  early 
settlers  passed  into  the  hands  of  these  money  lenders;  we 
cannot  say  unjustly  so,  but  as  a  matter  of  business,  because 
the    money    was    due,   the    debtor  unable    to    pay,   and    that 


®:r„z]'j 


fi    m 


\r?if 


B.,  C.  R.  &  N.   DEPOT,  SIBLEY 


68  IIISTOKI'  OF  OSCEOLA    COUNTY,   IOWA. 

insatiate  and  inexorable  Shylock,  the  chattel  mortgage,  must 
have  what  its  description  calls  for,  and  without  delay.  Some 
were  crushed  under  the  burden  of  debt,  and  ran  away  from  it, 
glad  to  escape  the  annoyance  of  creditors,  and  into  an  atmos- 
phere of  peace. 

Others  still  kept  working  on,  toiling  in  the  hope  of  better 
days,  and  under  a  feeling  that  no  matter  how  black  and 
hideous  were  the  clouds  of  adversity,  there  was  still  a  silver 
lining,  and  that  in  time  the  sunshine  of  prosperity  would 
change  the  condition  of  things  and  gladden  their  hearts. 

The  days  of  Osceola  County  hardships  are  over.  It  has 
passed  the  period  of  settlement,  of  hard  times,  debt  and  ad- 
versity, and  is  today  one  of  the  most  thrifty  Counties  in  the 
State.  In  1870  its  beautiful  but  unbroken  prairie  land  was 
waiting  in  mute  silence  for  coming  events;  today  its  well 
cultivated  farms,  extensive  and  magnificent  forest  trees,  with 
beautiful  and  comfortable  residences  show  the  wonderful 
progress  and  prosperity  that  can  come  to  a  country  by  the 
industry  and  thrift  of  a  people,  who  under  a  government  like 
ours  know  the  value  of  a  home.  The  county  is  still  advancing, 
its  population  increases  each  year,  its  unbroken  prairie  is 
diminishing  rapidly,  and  before  another  decade  not  a  foot  of 
wild  land  capable  of  cultivation  can  be  found  in  the  county. 
Its  people  are  full  of  energy,  have  the  best  of  social  qualities, 
are  intelligent  and  loyal.  School  districts  and  municipal  town- 
ship governments  and  the  County  administration,  are  all  in  the 
hands  of  men  who  are  honest,  capable  and  economical,  and 
the  future  of  the  county  is  brilliant  in  everything  that  can  lead 
a  people  up  to  the  highest  conditions  of  contentment,  happiness 
and  success.  The  older  settlers,  who  have  borne  the  "burden 
and  heat  of  the  day"  and  are  here  yet,  have  a  feeling  of  pride 
in  what  the  years  accomplished,  and  the  later  incoming  settlers 
realize  that  there  is  no  fairer  or  more  fertile  agricultural 
country  that  the  sun  shines  upon  or  was  ever  watered  with 
the  dews  of  heaven.  However  much  of  adversity  or  hardship 
our  early  settlers  had  to  contend  with  the  clouds  have  now 
rolled  by,  and  other  people  in  the  experience  of  a  like  mis- 
fortune cannot  only  have  our  sympathy,  but  would  find  us 
charitable  enough  and  sufficiently  able  to  pour  into  their  lap 
the  surplus  treasures  of  our  own  producli\  e  soil. 


\V.   II.  GATES. 


CHAPTER  X. 

In  Ma}',  1871,  W.  H.  Gates  arrived  in  Osceola  County 
from  Buchanan  County.  He  started  with  O.  Dnnton  and 
T.  J,  Cutshall,  Dunton  and  Gates  having  teams  and  outfit  of 
their  own,  while  Cutshall  was  sort  of  a  passenger  with  them. 
Gates  filed  on  the  southeast  quarter  of  Section  26,  Township 
100,  Range  42,  and  Dunton  and  Cutshall  on  the  south  half  of 
Section  32,  Township  100,  Range  41.  They  built,  to  start 
on,  a  sod  house  on  Dunton's  claim,  and  made  that  their  head- 
quarters. Mr,  Gates  returned  soon  after  for  his  family,  and 
brought  them  out  in  the  fall  of  187 1,  and  lived  in  the  Dunton 
sod  house  during  the  winter  of  187 1  and  1872,  and  in  the 
spring  of  1872  he  built  a  small  house  on  his  own  claim,  which 
is  still  there,  and  Mr.  Gates  still  owns  the  land.  At  present 
he  is  County  Recorder.  In  the  fall  of  187 1,  after  Mr.  Gates 
had  become  settled  with  his  family,  he  met  Mr.  Glover  for  the 
first  time.  Glover  ventured  over  to  the  Gates  household, 
bringing  a  tin  pail,  bearing  all  the  marks  of  a  siege  in  batch- 
ing. He  modestly  and  timidly  inquired  if  he  could  get  some 
milk,  which  was  generously  supplied  him,  and  John  was 
treated  so  hospitably  he  ventured  another  request,  doubtfully 
asking  Mrs.  Gates  if  he  could  get  a  piece  of  pork  rind  to  grease 
his  griddle  for  pancakes,  and  the  request  was  accompanied 
with  a  skillful  gesture  of  the  hand,  following  the  movement 
usually  made  in  greasing  a  skillet  for  that  purpose.  Glover 
was  surprised  with  a  nice  piece  of  pork  from  a  barrel  which 
Gates  had  brought  with  him,  and  the  ex-Representative  went 
home  in  a  feeling  of  supreme  delight.  Mr.  Gates  was  very 
much  afflicted  that  winter  with  acute  rheumatism,  and  no 
physician  within  forty  miles.  After  laying  helpless  for  about 
a  month  he  got  about  again. 

Cutshall  alternated  for  several  j-^ears  between  his  claim 
and  cobbling  shoes  at  Sibley.  He  now  lives  at  Omaha,  Neb. 
Dunton  a  few  years  ago  went  to  Dundee,  Ills.,  where  he 
now  lives. 

During  the  season  of  1871  deer  and  elk  were  plenty  in 
Osceola  County,  and  they  who  were  hunters  and  good  marks- 
men had  plenty  of  it.  The  next  season,  of  1872,  the  incoming 
railroad  and  influx  of  settlers  drove  them    westward,  in  the 


W.  B.  STEVENS. 


72  JIISTORT  OF   OSCEOLA    COUNTY,    IOWA. 

same  direction  civilization  pushes  the  Indians — towards  the 
setting  sun. 

This  Township,  in  which  Mr.  Gates  settled,  as  will  be 
seen  elsewhere,  was  first  named  Fenton  and  afterwards 
Viola.  But  few  of  the  187 1  and  1872  settlers  are  left  in  the 
Township.  In  187 1  John  Stamm  and  Robert  Stamm  came  to 
the  County,  driving  through  with  teams  from  Jefferson 
County,  Iowa.  John  settled  on  the  southwest  quarter  of 
Section  34,  Viola,  and  Robert  on  the  northeast  quarter  of 
Section  4,  Holman.  We  will  now  continue  as  to  Viola  Town- 
ship. John  Stamm  is  still  a  resident  of  the  County,  and  was 
elected  Sheriff  in  1891.  Frank  Vanamburg  settled  in  187 1 
on  the  southeast  quarter  of  Section  34.  The  same  year 
Theodore  Stage  took  a  part  of  Section  30.  Mr.  Stage  now 
lives  at  Little  Rock.  Also  in  1871,  John  Smith  and  his 
mother  took  the  northwest  quarter  of  Section  20,  he  taking 
one  and  his  mother  the  other  eighty.  On  this  same  section 
C.  C.  Collerson  also  settled  in  1871.  H.  W,  Tinkhum  settled 
the  same  year  on  a  part  of  the  northeast  quarter  of  Section 
26.  Mr.  Tinkhum  is  now  at  Barraboo,  Wis.  The  remaining 
part  of  the  northeast  quarter  of  Section  26  was  taken  by 
Eleazer  Headley  in  the  spring  of  1872.  He  is  now  in 
Indiana.  On  this  same  Section  26,  J.  S.  Patterson  in  187 1 
took  the  northwest  quarter.  He  came  from  Cerre  Gordo 
County,  Iowa,  and  still  hves  on  the  same  piece  of  land.  On 
the  southwest  quarter  of  Section  26,  J.  W.  Blair  settled  in 
1 87 1.  He  still  owns  the  same  piece  and  resides  in  Kansas. 
J.  W.  Nimms  filed  on  the  northeast  quarter  of  Section  34  in 
1 87 1.  On  the  northwest  quarter  of  same  section,  J.  T. 
Barclay  settled  in  1872,  and  put  up  the  usual  shanty.  He 
sold  the  land  afterwards  to  W.  E.  Ripley,  and  Mr.  Barclay 
resides  in  Sibley.  Also  in  the  spring  of  1872,  H.  Jordon  set- 
tled on  the  southeast  quarter  of  Section  28.     Mr.  Jordon  was 

afterwards    a    lawyer    in    Sibley,    and    died    in    .       The 

remainder  of  Section  28  was  taken  by  George  Carew,  the 
northeast  quarter;  D.  B.  Wood,  the  northwest  quarter;  and 
Mr.  Willie,  the  southwest  quarter.  Mr.  Carew  still  lives  in 
Sibley,  and  his  claim  is  now  owned  by  Jacob  Brooks.  Mr. 
Wood  now  lives  in  Springfield,  Missouri. 

The  northwest  quarter  of  Section  32  was  taken  by  James 
Dalton  in  187 1.  He  now  Hves  in  Buchanan  County,  Iowa, 
and  Mr.  Sliapley  owns  the  claim.  George  S.  Downend,  in 
the  spring  of  1872,  filed  on  the  northeast  quarter  of  Section 
32,  and  still  lives  on  the  land,  with  good  improvements.       Mr. 


JOHN   F.   GLOVER. 


74  HIS  TORT  OF  OSCEOLA    COUNTY,   IOWA. 

Downend  was  from   New  York,  was  in  the   war,  and  went 
home  on  crutches. 

Patrick  Piesley  came  to  the  county  in  1871,  and  took  the 
southeast  quarter  of  Section  32.  He  returned  to  his  former 
home  in  Wisconsin,  and  was  married  there  July  3,  1873,  '^"d 
still  lives  in  Osceola  County  on  the  same  piece  of  land.  The 
southwest  quarter  of  this  same  section  was  taken  by  Abraham 
Shapley  in  the  spring  of  1870.  Mr.  Shapley  drove  through 
by  team  from  Clayton  County,  and  along  with  him  was  N.  D, 
Bowles  and  John  Gray.  He  put  up  a  comfortable  house, 
hauling  his  lumber  from  Worthington.  Mr.  Shapley  had  a 
blacksmith  shop,  and,  like  the  rest,  had  a  hard  time  at  the 
start.  After  he  had  got  through  June  of  that  year,  he  had 
just  three  nickels  left;  but  he  had  other  capital,  consisting  of 
grit,  of  muscle  and  ambition.  Mr.  Shapley  still  lives  on  the 
same  place,  has  fine  improvements,  owns  a  section  of  land  in 
the  county,  and  this  year  will  establish  his  residence  in  Sibley, 
and  take  life  easy. 

Asa  Vanblorcon  settled  on  the  east  half  of  the  west  half  of 
Section  30,  in  1872,  and  is  still  living  in  the  same  place.  On 
this  same  section,  Mr.  KnowUon  took  the  southeast  quarter  in 
1 87 1.  Mr.  Shapley  now  owns  the  land.  The  northeast 
quarter  of  Section  30  was  taken  in  1872  by  Henry  Graham, 
who  has  since  died.  On  a  part  of  Section  20  Mr.  Samuel 
Smith  filed  and  settled  in  1872.  He  put  up  first  a  sod  house, 
and  now  has  a  fine  residence  and  is  still  living  on  the  place. 

John  Pann  also  filed  on  a  part  of  Section  20  in  1872,  and 
sold  the  land  this  year  (1892).  On  the  east  half  of  the  north- 
east quarter  of  Section  20,  Edwin  Smith  filed  in  1872.  Mr. 
Smith  still  holds  the  land,  and  is  engaged  in  the  hardware 
business  at  Little  Rock. 

In  1872,  A.  B.  Graves  filed  on  the  southeast  quarter  of 
Section  18,  and  has  since  died.  A  part  of  the  northeast 
quarter  of  Section  18  was  taken  in  1872  by  A.  Averhill,  who 
now  lives  in  LeMars,  but  who  still  owns  the  land.  Sidney 
Beck  with  and  Mr.  Barnard  took  the  northwest  quarter  of 
Section  18  in  1872,  which  quarter  is  now  owned  by  Mr. 
Beckwith,  and  upon  which  he  still  resides.  He  has  other 
land  around,  since  purchased.  The  south  half  of  the  south- 
west quarter  of  Section  18  was  taken  by  Mr.  Beeman  in  1871. 
Mr.  Beeman  perished  in  the  February,  1872,  l)lizzard.  He 
was  haulinfj  log-s  and  was  lost  in  the  storm. 

David  Averhill  and  Obid  Averhill  took  the  south  half  of 
Section  8  in  1872.  David  died  about  two  years  ago  and  Obid 
moved  from  the  county. 


ACADEMY  OF  MUSIC  BLOCK,  SIBLEY 


76  JIISTORT  OF  OSCEOLA    COUNT!'.   IOWA. 

On  the  west  half  of  the  southwest  quarter  of  Section  lo, 
William  Rubow  filed  in  1872.  He  still  owns  the  land,  but 
lives  in  Missouri.  On  this  section  also,  Eugene  and  Charles 
Bennett  settled  in  1872.  Charles  returned  to  Illinois  a  few 
years  after,  and  Eugene  still  lives  in  the  county  on  the  same 
land  and  is  a  prosperous  farmer.  On  Section  22  M.  D. 
Hadsell  took  the  northeast  quarter,  John  Hart  the  southeast 
quarter,  J.  P.  Hawxshurst  the  southwest  quarter,  and  C.  C. 
Hadsell  and  John  Joseph  the  northwest  quarter.  These  all 
filed  in  1872.  The  HadselPs  are  in  Nebraska,  Josephs  in 
Kansas  and  J.  P.  Hawxshurst  resides  in  Sibley.  Peter  Shaw 
and  Charles  Shaw  came  in  1872,  and  filed  between  them  on 
the  northeast  quarter  of  Section  14.  Prof.  J.  F.  Kanson  filed 
in  1872.  He  left  the  county  some  years  ago,  and  lives  in 
Florence,  Kansas.  Also,  in  1871,  C.  C.  Ogan  filed  on  the 
southeast  quarter  of  Section  14.  He  died  since  in  California. 
On  the  southwest  quarter  of  Section  14,  John  H.  Douglass 
filed.     This  gentleman  is  elsewhere  mentioned. 

The  Scribner  family  among  themselves  took  Section  12 
in  1872,  and  have  since  moved  away. 

On  Section  24  N.  J.  Wetmore  filed  on  a  part  of  the 
southeast  quarter,  Merritt  Winchester  on  the  southwest  quar- 
ter, G.  W.  Ketchem  on  the  northwest  quarter,  all  in  1872. 
Mr.  Wetmore  is  in  DeKalb  County,  Illinois,  Mr.  Winchester 
in  Des  Moines,  and  Mr.  Ketchem  went  to  Sioux  City;  he  is 
now  preaching  on  the  Pacific  Coast.  Levi  Shell  settled  on 
the  southeast  quarter  of  Section  36  in  1872.  Mr.  Shell  has 
been  here  ever  since,  and  is  now  in  the  lumber  trade  a  Sibley. 
Joseph  Ferrin,  C.  F.  Torrey  and  Rev.  Jones  also  filed  in  1872 
on  other  parts  of  the  same  section.  These  parties  who  filed 
on  Section  36,  except  Mr.  Shell,  have  been  away  from  the 
County  several  years.  These  settlers  in  Viola  who  are  still 
here  have  weathered  the  disagreeable  hardships  of  the  first 
years  of  pioneer  life,  and  are  now  comfortable  and  well  off. 
Mr.  John  Stamm's  first  wife  died  in  the  county  in  1885.  Viola 
is  a  thrifty  township,  and  one  of  the  most  prosperous  in  the 
County.  Among  its  leading  farmers,  in  addition  to  those 
already  mentioned,  are  the  following  named  gentlemen:  A. 
Ackerman,  B.  Ackerman,  W.  M.  Achenbach,  C.  Barnum,  R. 
Black,  S.  M.  Bullington,  T.  Boyenga,  C.  Bauman,  W.  Beck- 
man,  H.  Branidt,  W.  Christian,  J.  W.  Councill,  Henry  Doug- 
lass, S.  R.  Dunwoody,  W.  Downs,  D.  Dexter,  E.  Fisher,  Geo. 
Gates,  H.  Hincuch,  H.  Hatterman,  L.  Hoffman,  J.  HoUenbach, 
E.  D.  HoUenbach,  H.  Hall,  II.  M.  Heindres,   H.  Houke,  John 


E.  A.  BUNKER. 


78  HISTORY  OF  OSCEOLA    COUNT r,    IOWA. 

Iverson,  G.  C.  Iverson,  B.  Koolman,  I.  Kimball,  W.  Kuhn,  P 
Keer,  F,  E.  Kennedy,  A.  Kiser,  C.  Kreager,  A.  Lusk,  H 
Luterman,  J.  M.  Likes,  H.  Likes,  J.  Mont,  D.  H.  Morse,  S 
Newman,  T.  P.  Norman,  N.  Olson,  J.  Peters,  B.  Robert,  J 
Rain,  F.  Riibow,  P.  Rehms,  J.  Rohger,  S.  B.  Smith,  H.  Soins 
C.  Shroder,  W.  F.  Smith,  H.  Temmenna,  T.  W.  Tarbell 
John  Tann,  S.  S.  Thatcher,  H.  Vietmeyer,  C.  Vink,  W.  J 
Wohleater,  A.  A.  Wyant,  T.  Wyant,  R.  Wyant,  T.  P.  Wald- 
ran,  Fred  Witt,  J.  Hf  Harbets,  J.  Harbets,  W.  Harbets. 


CHAPTER  XL 

In  the  fall  of  187 1  S.  J.  Cram  came  from  Alamak.ee 
County  and  settled  on  a  part  of  Section  32,  in  what  is  now 
Wilson  Township,  and  still  resides  here.  W.  W.  Cram,  a 
brother  of  S.  J.,  also  came  in  187 1  and  filed  on  a  part  of 
Section  14,  in  West  Holman  Township.  He  left  here  in  1882, 
and  now  lives  at  Butte,  Nebraska.  A.  H.  Clark  also  filed  the 
same  year  on  Section  32,  in  Wilson  Township.  In  Holman 
Township  at  this  early  day,  S.  A.  Wright  settled  on  a  claim, 
also  the  Halsteads,  father  and  son,  F.  R.  Cole,  O.  C.  vStaplin 
and  the  Widow  Rosenburv,  and  Randolph  Kinney  on  Section 
28,  in  Wilson  Township.  S.  A.  Wright  was  Treasurer  of  the 
County  one  term,  and  now  lives  at  i3eatrice,  Nebraska.  O. 
C.  Staplin  still  lives  in  the  County  on  the  original  claim,  and 
is  one  of  our  pushing  farmers.  S.  H.  Westcott  came  from 
LeMars  to  Osceola  County  and  filed  on  a  claim  in  the  fall  of 
1 87 1  on  the  southeast  quarter  of  Section  22,  Township  99, 
Range  41.  Mr.  Wescott  has  held  township  and  County 
offices,  and  now  lives  in  Sibley.  In  April,  1871,  there  came 
from  Alamakee  County  to  Osceola  Mr.  E.  Morrison,  R.  O. 
Manson,  F.  M.  Robinson,  W.  W.  Cram,  Myron  Churchill  and 
Thomas  Parian;  these  came  to  file  on  land,  and  with  them  to 
see  the  country  was  Mr.  McFarland.  Mr.  Morrison  settled 
on  a  part  of  Section  10,  in  Township  99,  Range  42;  Mr. 
Manson  on    northwest  quarter  of  Section  24,  West  Holman ; 

F.  M.  Robinson  on •,  West  Holman;  Myron   Churchill 

on  a  part  of  Section  ;  and  Parian  on ,  while  Mr. 

Cram  has  heretofore  been  described  in  his  location.  Mr. 
Morrison  now  resides  in  Sibley,  having  been  here  since  his 
first  settlement,  except  to  return  for  his  family  in  the  fall  of 
1871.      Mr.  Manson  still  resides  on  the  claim  originally  taken. 

After  these  incoming  settlers  had  got  here  from  Alamakee 
County,  they  looked  around  and  decided  upon  the  claims  they 
wanted.  A  part  of  them  then  started  for  Sioux  City  to  file, 
while  Mr.  Morrison  drove  to  LeMars  to  get  some  groceries, 
for  there  were  no  provisions  left,  and  it  was  a  long  ways  to 
market.  When  Morrison  got  to  the  Huff  shack  he  found  that 
Mrs.  Huff  was  out  of  bread  and  no  flour  to  make  any;  he  then 
had  to  drive  to  Orange  City,  or  where  Orange   City  now  is, 


80  IIISTORT  OF  OSCEOLA    COUNTY,    IOWA. 

before  he  could  get  anything  for  himself  or  team.  In  the 
meantime  he  had  left  Robinson,  Manson  and  McFarland  at 
Frank  Stiles'  habitation.  This  consisted  of  an  old  stage  coach, 
approximating  the  Deacon's  one-hoss  shay  when  it  fell  to 
pieces.  Stiles  had  hauled  it  to  his  claim  and  placed  it  there  as 
a  settlement  which  the  law  required.  At  this  stage  coach 
Morrison  left  the  three  parties  above  named,  they  to  wait  until 
Morrison  returned  with  something  to  eat,  but  hunger  got  the 
better  of  them,  so  they  started  on  southeast  to  find  somebod}^ 
or  something  to  eat,  and  came  across  a  shack  near  the 
Ocheyedan  where  Mr.  Miller  lived,  but  here  there  was  nothing 
to  eat  so  they  returned  again  to  Frank  Stile's  cottage  on 
wheels.  After  about  forty-eight  hours'  absence  Morrison 
returned,  and  by  this  time  Robinson,  Manson  and  McFarland 
were  in  about  the  same  condition  that  Greeley  was  when  dis- 
covered in  the  Artie  regions.  They  were  handed  out  some 
bread,  and  the  loaves  disappeared  about  as  fast  as  water  in  a 
gopher  hole,  they  couldn't  wait  for  butter  or  anything  else, 
but  soon  the  boys  felt  better  with  a  satisfied  appetite. 

W.  A.  Morrison,  a  brother  of  E.  Morrison,  came  in  July, 
1872,  and  made  settlement  here,  but  left  the  county  a  few 
years  ago  and  now  resides  in  Kettle  Falls,  Washington. 

In  June,  187 1,  Rev,  Smith  Aldrich  arrived  in  the  county 
and  settled  on  Section  30,  west  Holman.  When  it  became 
known  that  Aldrich  was  a  preacher,  it  was  thought  best  to 
have  services  the  following  Sunday,  so  E,  Morris  and  some 
others  went  around  to  what  few  there  were  and  gave  out  the 
notice.  The  preaching  was  in  Morrison  and  Churchill's 
shack.  There  were  about  twenty-five  present,  and  this 
sermon,  no  doubt,  was  the  first  preached  in  the  county, 
though  W.  W.  Webb  claims  that  some  other  was  the  first. 
In  the  fall  of  187 1  Mrs.  Aldrich,  wife  of  the  reverend  gentle- 
man, died  on  their  claim.  This  was  the  first  death  in  tiie 
county,  and  at  that  time  the  undertaker's  shop  was  far  away, 
so  that  Mr.  A.  M.  Culver  made  the  coffin  and  Mrs.  John 
Douglass  stained  it  with  grape  juice.  The  simple  services  at 
the  funeral  were  impressive,  for  Mrs.  Aldrich  was  a  woman 
much  respected.  Her  body*  was  removed  east  some  time 
after  its  burial  here,  and  Mr.  Aldrich  himself  went  away  after 
remaining  here  a  few  years. 

Mr.  Wallace  Rea  came  here  in  the  spring  of  1872  and 
settled  on  the  southeast  quarter  of  Section  14,  Township  99, 
Range  41.  He  is  now  at  a  Soldiers'  Home.  At  the  first 
school  election  held  in  the  Rea  district  there  were  only  three 


W.   H.   NOEHREN. 


82  irisTonr  of  osceola  county,  iowa. 

present  —  Rea,  O.  C.  Staplin  and  J.  S.  Reynolds.  Staplin 
was  Chairman,  Rea  the  Secretary  and  Reynolds  the  people. 
A  ballot  was  taken,  and  the  vote  stood:  Rea,  i;  Staplin,  i; 
Reynolds,  i.  On  the  second  ballot  Staplin  was  elected. 
Reynolds  declares  that  on  the  first  ballot  he  voted  for  Staplin, 
and  Staplin  for  Reynolds.  At  that  time  there  was  much 
eagerness  for  the  establishment  of  a  school,  and  it  was  all 
right  in  that  feeling  of  personal  anxiety  for  a  fellow  to  vote 
for  himself  as  school  officer. 

Of  the  early  settlers  in  Township  lOO,  Range  41  (now 
Wilson  Township),  but  few  remam.  Will  Thomas  still  owns 
the  original  claim,  and  in  this  township  he  still  retains  his 
residence.  On  Section  26,  in  this  township,  are  two  earl}- 
settlers.  Mr.  John  Klampe  took  the  northeast  quar^^er  about 
twenty  years  ago,  and  still  occupies  it.  On  the  southeast 
quarter,  Benj.  Davis  settled  in  1872,  and  has  borne  the  burden 
and  heat  of  the  day  from  that  time  to  the  present,  farming  the 
same  piece  of  land.  Mr.  R.  S.  Eakin  also  came  to  this  town- 
ship about  twenty  years  ago,  and  first  settled  on  Section  8. 
He  now  owns  240  acres  on  Section  28. 

On  the  southwest  quarter  of  Section  14,  Mr.  Jacob  Wid- 
man  has  lived  since  about  1873.  He  has  made  very  fine 
improvements,  and  on  his  place  there  is  a  spring  of  very  nice 
water,  which  we  believe  is  the  only  spring  in  the  township. 

On  Section  32,  lives  C.  P.  Reynolds,  who  settled  there 
in  1872,  and  has  lived  there  continuously  since.  He  has  good 
improvements,  and  has  been  a  member  of  the  County  Board 
of  Supervisors. 

The  north  tier  of  sections  in  Wilson,  as  in  other  town- 
ships on  the  north  bordering  the  Minnesota  line,  are  clipped 
off,  or  rather  the  surveyors  run  out  of  land  when  they  reached 
the  line;  or,  as  some  one  with  bar-room  proclivities  remarked, 
"they  were  lost  in  the  shuffle."  The  absence  of  this  north 
tier  of  sections  has  been  the  cause  of  trouble  to  some,  as  well 
as  a  loss  of  money,  and  has  brought  others  to  grief.  Some 
years  ago  several  sharpers,  who  were  of  that  class  of  men 
constantly  seeking  opportunities  to  perpetrate  a  swindle, 
actually  made  conveyance  of  some  of  these  quarter  sections 
which  had  no  existence  to  innocent  and  unsuspecting  parties, 
who  took  the  deeds  all  right  and  paid  for  the  land,  only  to 
soon  find  out  they  had  bought  nothing,  and  couldn't  buy  what 
the  deed  described  if  they  wanted  to.  Some  of  these  villianous 
grantors  were  apprehended  and  made  to  languish  in  tiie  pen- 
itentiary, and  to  suffer  punishment  for  the  crime  which  was 
involved  in  this  method  of  conveyance. 


inSTORl     OF  OSCEOLA    COiXTY,    IOWA.  83 

Allen  Cloud  filed  in  1872  on  the  northwest  quarter  of 
Section  34,  and  lived  there  until  he  died  in  January,  1884,  and 
was  buried  in  the  Wilson  Township  Cemetery.  His  widow 
now  lives  in  Sibley. 

The  only  old  settlers  still  Hving  in  Wilson  Township  are 
Will  Thomas  and  W.  A.  Cloud. 

Mr.  C.  E.  Yates,  on  Section  10,  went  there  about  ten 
years  ago;  James  Zweek,  on  Section  14,  about  five  years  ago, 
and  Mr.  H.  A.  Cramer,  on  the  same  section,  two  years  ago. 
The  Makee  boys,  on  the  northwest  quarter  of  Section  15, 
have  been  there  some  time. 

Mr.  Joseph  K.  Shaw,  on  Section  18,  was  reasonably 
early  in  settlement,  as  he  filed  on  a  claim  and  made  final 
proof  in  1876,  and  still  resides  there.  On  this  same  section 
resides  Fred  Theise  and  Mons  Sorem.  On  Section  22,  the 
northwest  quarter,  W.  J.  Miller  filed,  and  still  owns  the  land. 
The  balance  of  this  section  belongs  to  the  Thomas  family, 
with  Clifford  Ling  as  renter.  F.  J.  and  J.  D.  Engle  are 
living  on  the  west  half  of  Section  23,  and  on  the  northeast 
quarter  John  Ackerson  resides.  Other  parties  in  the  town- 
ship, and  among  Wilson's  best  farmers,  not  before  mentioned 
are  Terkark  Benezek,  on  Section  24,  and  F.  A.  Klampke,  on 
Section  25.  Mr.  Klampke  has  320  acres,  and  has  lived  there 
about  1 4  years.  The  east  half  of  Section  27  is  owned  by 
Clans  Klepka,  who  has  lived  in  the  township  about  two 
years.  Mr.  Comstock  lives  on  the  southwest  quarter  of 
Section  29;  also,  on  the  same  section  is  H.  S.  Lindsey. 

J.  N.  Robinson,  on  the  northwest  quarter  of  Section  30, 
owns  the  land,  and  has  lived  there  about  six  years.  On 
Section  31,  Mr.  W.  C.  Connor  owns  the  northeast  quarter, 
and  on  this  same  section  lives  Charles  Hoffman. 

Mr.  A.  B.  Evarts  is  the  owner  of  a  part  of  section  32  and 
has  lived  there  seven  years.  W.  A.  Cloud  is  on  section  33. 
This  gentleman  has  been  in  the  township  seventeen  years,  and 
would  pass  for  an  old  settler.  On  the  northeast  quarter  of 
section  34  lives  E.  A.  Beaston,  while  the  southwest  is  owned 
by  J.  W.  Kaye  of  Sibley,  and  upon  which  there  fives  at 
present,  Mr.  H.  S.  Lindsey.  Mr.  N.  W.  Williams  who 
settled  in  O'Brien  County  in  1871,  has  recently  purchased  the 
northeast  quarter  of  section  36  and  will  soon  be  a  resident  of 
Wilson.  In  187 1  W.  N.  Bull  settled  on  the  northwest  quarter 
of  section  26.     Mr.  Bull  still  resides .  in  the  county  at  Sibley. 


CHAPTER  XII. 

There  ought  to  be  the  strongest  ties  of  feehng  between 
the  old  settlers  of  a  country  who  have  remained  with  it  and 
borne  the  burden  and  heat  of  the  day,  and  there  is.  B}' 
reason  of  the  weakness  of  human  nature  there  may  be  some- 
times a  hostile  feeling  over  some  petty  and  insignificant  affair 
between  neighbors,  but,  as  a  rule,  the  surviving  settlers  of  a 
new  country  whose  experiences  run  back  a  quarter  of  a 
century  are  attached  to  each  oiher;  it  would  be  unnatural  to 
be  otherwise.  Age  may  bring  upon  us  its  infirmities;  it  may 
palsy  the  limbs,  and  gather  the  crows'  feet  insidiously  about 
the  eyebrows,  but  as  long  as  the  faculties  remain  we  shall 
ever  retain  a  feeling  of  fond  recollection  of  the  scenes  and 
incidents  of  other  days,  and  of  those  who  shared  with  us  its 
experiences,  its  joys  and  sorrows.  And  then  again,  people 
who  bear  the  same  misfortune  together  become  united  in  each 
others  interest  and  are  bound  together. 

Ever}^  new  County  has  to  wrestle  in  the  throes  of  doubt 
and  difficulty.  The  incoming  population  are  generally  of 
moderate  means,  and  come  for  the  purpose  of  building  a  home 
and  acquiring  a  competence.  The  first  acts  of  settlement  are 
liable  to  absorb  the  little  that  was  broufjht  with  them,  and  for 
a  time  it  is  a  struggle  with  hardship,  and  sometimes  for  the 
necessaries  of  life. 

Their  manner  of  living  was  not  in  commodious  dwelling 
houses,  but  in  what  was  called  a  shanty  or  a  shack.  A  set- 
tler's shack,  or  shanty,  was  an  exclusive  western  institution. 
It  was  the  first  castle  of  the  settler,  was  of  generall}^  uniform 
size,  8xio,  with  a  shed  roof  and  tar  paper  covering.  If  any- 
one doubted  the  continuous  residence,  the  shanty  was  referred 
to  as  the  mute  but  standing  witness,  and  the  doubter  became 
silent  under  this  avalanche  of  proof.  There  was  also  provided 
a  stove  pipe,  projecting  through  the  roof,  and  this,  added  to 
the  shanty,  emphasized  the  good  faith  of  the  settler.  Occa- 
sionally when  the  shack  was  left  too  long  to  itself,  some  mis- 
chievous or  malicious  fellow  carried  away  some  part  or  all  of 
it,  and  the  place  that  once  knew  it,  knew  it  no  more  forever; 
but  among  settlers  themselves  it  was  regarded  as  the  sacred 
habitation,  the  legal  improvement,  and  everybody  was  warned 


CHARLTiS  M.   BROOKS. 


86  HISrORr  of  OSfEOLA    C0UNT1\   IOWA. 

neither  lo  disturb  nor  molest  it.  Sometimes,  instead  of  this 
kind  of  a  habitation,  the  settler  had  a  dugout  or  a  sod  shanty. 
A  dugout  consisted  of  an  excavation  in  the  ground,  a  hole 
large  enough  to  live  in,  with  a  covering  to  it  of  some  kind, 
sufficient  to  shed  the  rain  and  enclose  it;  or,  if  the  opportunity 
was  had,  it  was  built  into  a  knoll  or  the  side  of  a  hill.  One 
room  served  all  the  purposes  of  the  homesteader  and  his 
family.  If  he  prospered  for  a  season  he  would  add  to  the 
front  of  his  abode  by  erecting  walls  of  sod  on  the  sides  and 
putting  in  a  new  front;  the  old  would  serve  as  a  partition 
between  the  two  rooms.  You  would  often,  upon  entering 
such  an  abode,  be  surprised,  for  once  you  got  through  the 
narrow  hole,  called  a  door,  to  get  into  it,  you  would  find 
elegant  furniture,  left  over  from  the  former  residence,  and  an 
organ  with  an  imposing  cathedral  back,  towering  high  in  one 
corner  of  the  room. 

Sometimes  a  settler's  claim  would  be  jumped,  as  they 
called  it,  but  jumping  claims  was  a  very  disreputable  and 
sometimes  a  serious  business.  It  was  expected  in  those  cases 
where  a  party  entirely  neglected  his  duty  as  a  settler  and 
paid  no  attention  to  the  requirements  of  the  homestead  or 
pre-emption  law,  that  some  one  who  could  comply  would 
take  the  land  and  earn  it  with  a  continuous  residence.  But 
where  the  settler  was  performing  his  duty  to  the  best  of  his 
ability,  and  was  faithful  to  his  claim,  with  good  intentions,  then 
he  who  undertook  to  deprive  him  of  it  was  a  miscreant,  and 
the  neighborhood  would  sit  down  on  him  with  a  determined 
vengeance.  Any  person  of  character  and  respectabilit}^  would 
not  jump  a  claim  without  the  surest  and  safest  of  reasons,  and 
where  a  claimant  abandoned  his  claim  without  actual  settle- 
ment, and  with  continued  neglect,  then  it  was  the  duty  of  any 
seekmg  government  land  to  take  it,  and  let  the  other  party 
lose  his  rights  by  his  delay.  They  did  not  blame  anyone  for 
jumping  a  claim  where  the  claimant  showed  bad  faith,  but 
where  good  faith  was  exhibited,  then  the  act  was  repre- 
hensible. 

We  will  conclude  this  chapter  with  an  experience  of  W. 
R.  Boling:  Mr.  Boling  came  to  Osceola  in  the  fall  of  1872, 
and  left  papers  for  filing  on  his  claim  in  Horton  Township, 
where  he  now  resides.  He  returned  and  remained  that  winter 
in  Powshiek  County,  and  came  back  to  Osceola  in  the  spring 
of  1873.  While  traveling  out,  he  was  joined  by  Ol.  Hem- 
men  way  and  John  Wood,  who  were  pointed  for  Sheldon, 
and    settled    there.     Boling's    trip    was    uneventful    until    he 


IirSTORr   OF  OSCEOLA    COrNTV,   IOWA.  87 

reached  the  Little  Ocheyedan,  about  ten  miles  south  of  now 
Ocheyedan  Town,  and  was  then  on  his  way  to  Sibley.  The 
river  from  heavy  snows  that  winter  had  become  quite  a  stream, 
but  the  ice  was  still  underneath  in  some  places.  Boling  had  a 
span  of  mules,  a  covered  wagon  filled  with  the  requirements 
of  a  settler,  and  the  difficult  task  of  crossing  the  Ocheyedan 
was  before  him.  He  took  a  long  pole,  walked  in  sounding 
the  bottom  to  decide  the  question  of  safe  crossing,  and  satislied 
himself  that  he  could  make  it.  He  got  aboard  the  wagon, 
started  up  the  mules  and  ventured  to  cross.  When  he  was 
about  eight  feet  from  the  opposite  side,  the  mules  went  into 
the  water  out  of  sight,  also  one  of  the  front  wheels,  leaving 
the  wagon  partly  tipped.  Boling  jumped  into  tiie  stream  to 
try  and  right  things,  but  had  a  narrow  escape  from  drowning 
and  only  by  desperate  effort  reached  the  other  side,  and  with- 
out time  to  worry  over  the  fix  he  was  in,  went  to  work  at  once 
to  save  the  outfit.  One  mule  was  completely  under  water, 
and  the  other  had  his  head  just  out  of  it;  finally  Boling  got  one 
mule  out  and  hitched  on  to  the  other  one  and  pulled  him  out 
upon  the  bank  more  dead  than  alive.  A  mule's  existence 
does  not  alwa3's  require  soft  bedding  and  a  pakice  barn,  and 
this  one's  experience  demonstrates  the  fact  that  a  mule  can  be 
pretty  well  drowned  and  still  live.  Boling  waited  until  both 
of  them  got  life  enough  to  travel,  then  rode  one  and  led  the 
other  about  eight  miles  to  a  settler's  cabin,  where  he  staid  all 
night,  and,  returning  next  morning  with  assistence,  rescued 
the  wagon  and  its  contents  and  renewed  his  journey. 


CHAPTER  XIII. 

The  blizzard  of  January  7,  1873,  was  a  fearful  one,  and 
considered  as  the  worst  this  country  ever  experienced.  These 
storms  are  generally  disastrous  for  the  reason  that  they  come 
up  suddenly.  The  morning  may  be  fine  and  clear,  causing 
people  to  start  out  on  the  prairie,  and  in  a  sparsely  settled 
country  where  houses  are  several  miles  apart,  a  sudden  Wind- 
ing snow  storm  makes  it  almost  impossible  to  find  a  shelter, 
and  is  extremely  dangerous  to  any  who  are  out.  On  the 
morning  of  January  7,  1873,  the  sun  rose  bright  and  warm, 
giving  promise  of  a  beautiful  day.  There  was  then  a  stage 
line  between  Spencer  and  Rock  Riipids,  the  stage  driver  being 
Peter  Baker.  He  started  out  from  Sibley  in  the  forenoon 
with  one  passenger,  Mr. .A.  K.Jenkins,  and  when  ten  miles 
west  from  Sibley  they  encountered  that  terrible  blizzard  out 
on  the  unsettled  prairie.  It  continued  warm  and  pleasant  until 
about  noon,  when  the  treacherous  northwest  wind  commenced 
blowing  and  a  dark  cloud  hovered  in  the  western  horizon. 
The  snow  commenced  creeping  and  sifting  over  the  ground  in 
the  peculiar  insidious  style  so  well  known  to  every  dweller  on 
our  broad  and  unprotected  prairies.  In  a  very  short  time  the 
storm  king  was  holding  high  carnival,  and  the  air  was  filled 
with  fiying  snow,  driven  by  the  force  of  the  wind  into  the 
minutest  apertures  and  piling  it  into  drifts  wherever  it  en- 
countered an  obstacle. 

The  storm  raged  with  scarcely  an  abatement  until  Thurs- 
day morning,  when  the  thermometer  indicated  22  degrees 
below  zero. 

As  above  stated,  Mr.  Jenkins,  in  company  with  Mr. 
Baker,  the  stage  driver  on  the  Spencer  and  Rock  Rapids 
Stage  Line,  left  Sibley  for  the  latter  point  named;  when  about 
ten  miles  distant  from  their  destination  the  storm  struck  them 
in  all  its  fur}',  so  completely  hemming  in  their  horses  that  they 
soon  yielded  to  the  influence  of  the  cold  and  sunk  down  in  a 
deep  snow  drift  and  soon  died.  Mr.  Jenkins  tried  to  keep  his 
blood  in  circulation  by  walking,  but  to  the  contrary,  he  became 
so  helpless  from  the  effects  of  the  cold  that  even  with  the  help 
of  his  companion  he  was  unable  to  regain  his  seat  in  the  coach. 
After  eighteen  hours  insane  from  suffering  he  laid  down  before 
Mr.  Baker's  eyes  and  died. 


E.   K.  HAZEN. 


90  HISTORY  OF  OSCEOLA    COUNTY,   IOWA. 

Meanwhile,  Mr.  Baker  was  conscious  that  he  was  losing 
the  use  of  his  limbs,  and  could  render  his  companion  no  further 
assistance.  Mr.  Baker  was  found  frozen  to  the  knees  on 
Friday  afternoon  about  3  o'clock,  about  one-half  mile  from  the 
stage  road;  he  was  taken  to  the  nearest  house  and  cared  for 
until  the  next  day.  He  was  then  taken  to  Sibley.  Soon  after, 
both  his  legs  were  amputated,  and  on  the  25th  day  of  May, 
1873,  he  died. 

George  Hamilton  was  out  in  the  same  blizzard,  and  a 
man  of  less  nerve  and  endurance  would  have  certainly  per- 
ished. Mr.  Hamilton  started  in  the  morning  to  go  to  Milford, 
and  while  only  about  four  miles  from  home  crossing  the  prai- 
rie the  storm  struck  him.  To  face  the  storm  and  try  to  re- 
turn would  have  been  the  height  of  folly.  So  that  all  Mr. 
Hamilton  could  do  was  to  go  with  it.  This  he  did,  and  kept 
on  traveling  until  he  came  to  a  corn  field,  where  the  snov/  had 
formed  in  large  drifts,  and  into  one  of  these  his  horses  got 
down.  Mr.  Hamilton  worked  with  his  horses  until  they  were 
on  their  feet  again,  and  then  as  night  was  coming  on,  he  un- 
hitched and  after  having  shovelled  the  snow  away  from  the 
front  end  of  his  wagon  tied  his  horses  there.  Here  he  spent 
the  night,  with  that  terrible  storm  howling  in  its  fury,  with  no 
shelter  and  really  without  sufficient  clothing,  for  the  storm 
wasn't  looked  for.  He  kept  at  work  shovelling  the  snow 
away  from  where  the  horses  stood  and  twice  lay  down  near 
the  horses  feet  and  got  into  a  dose,  and  each  time  a  horse 
stepped  on  him,  just  enough  to  wake  him  up  and  he  went  to 
work  again.  It  is  only  a  wonder  that  he  didn't  go  to  sleep 
never  to  wake  again,  and  probably  such  would  have  been  his 
fate,  only  for  the  horses  feet.  Finally  morning  dawned  and 
Mr.  Hamilton  feeling  that  he  was  near  somebody's  place,  hol- 
lered as  loud  as  he  could  and  there  came  a  response.  By  this 
communication  of  voice  the  parties  living  near  by  came  to 
where  Hamilton  was  and  himself  and  horses  wt^re  gotten  over 

to  the  house,  it  being   where Smith   lived.     The   horses 

were  placed  under  shelter  and  soon  Hamilton  was  in  the 
Smith  shack  which  had  the  comforts  of  a  stove,  red  with  heat- 
ing. Mr.  Hamilton  found  that  his  clothing  was  not  proof 
against  the  driving  snow,  for  it  had  drifted  through  in  consid- 
erable quantities  next  to  the  skin.  He  staid  at  the  Smitli  hab- 
itation two  days,  then  when  the  storm  was  over  made  his  trip 
to  Milford  and  on  his  return  found  parties  searching  for  him, 
supposing,  of  course,  that  he  could  not  be  otherwise  than  lost. 
This  narrow  escape  which  George  Hamilton  had  in  this  April 


HISTORY  OF  OSCEOLA    COUNTY,   IOWA.  91 

blizzard  shows  how  easily  a  man  of  caution  and  of  excel- 
lent judgment  can  drift  into  danger,  and  where  the  chances  of 
living  are  against  him,  but  a  blizzard  on  an  open  prairie,  comes 
sometimes  so  unexpected  and  unlooked  for  that  it  is  not  a  lack 
of  caution  nor  an  error  in  judgment  to  be  caught  out  where 
life  becomes  suddenly  in  danger.  Mr.  Hamilton's  claim,  as 
will  be  noticed  elsewhere,  was  then  on  Section  30,  in  Fair  view 
Township.  Mr.  Hamilton  believes  that  his  deliverance  was 
providential;  that  it  was  there  on  the  prairie  he  made  his  first 
original  prayer  which  God  gave  him  then  and  there  the  as- 
surance that  it  would  be  verified. 

In  this  same  storm  a  resident  of  Fairview  Township  lost 
his  life.  There  was  then  a  postofiice  on  the  Spirit  Lake  and 
Worthington  route,  about  a  mile  south  of  where  the  town  of 
Round  Lake  now  is.  It  was  kept  by  William  Mosier,  and 
Mr.  Wheeler,  whose  claim  was  on  Section  in  Fairview, 

was  at  the  postoffice  in  Mosier's  house  when  the  storm  came 
up.  Wheeler  started  for  home  and  unable  to  find  his  house, 
he  wandered  with  the  storm  and  at  last  exhausted,  benumbed 
with  cold,  lay  down  and  died.  He  got  nearly  to  West 
Okoboji  Lake  in  Dickinson  County.  He  was  found  soon  as 
the  storm  cleared  up  by  Mr.  Tuttle,  whose  house  was  not  far 
away  from  where  Wheeler  perished. 

Some  others  were  out  in  the  blizzard,  but  not  far  from 
home  so  that  these  got  home  safely. 

One  other  death  occurred  in  the  county,  that  of  Peter 
Ladenberger.  After  the  storm  he  was  missing  and  no  trace 
of  him  could  be  found  it  was  concluded  that  he  must  have 
perished.  He  was  still  unaccounted  for  until  the  29th  day  of 
November,  1873,  when  the  account  of  his  being  found,  given 
at  the  time,  is  as  follows:  When  Fred  Krueger,  while  out 
hunting  in  the  valley  of  the  Ocheyedan  fifteen  miles  south- 
east of  Sibley,  found  the  remains  of  some  person,  they 
proved  to  be  those  of  the  unfortunate  Ladenberger.  Mr. 
Krueger  did  not  inform  any  person  of  the  finding  of  the  re- 
mains until  Sunday,  when  he  related  the  facts  to  Mr.  S.  S. 
Parker.  Early  Monday  morning  Mr.  Parker  came  to  town 
and  informed  the  proper  authorities,  who  immediately  sum- 
moned a  jury,  consisting  of  Messrs.  McCausland,  Parker  and 
Warren;  these  gentlemen  with  the  acting  coroner,  Mr.  Tur- 
ner, Dr.  Mellen  and  some  witnesses  to  identify  the  remains, 
started  for  the  spot  to  determine,  if  possible,  whose  the  re- 
mains were.  The  party  proceeded  eastward  to  the  Parker 
settlement,  where  Krueger  joined  them;  then  going  southeast 


92  •  HISTORT  OF  OSCEOLA    COVNTT,   IOWA. 

they  crossed  the  Little  Ocheyedan,  the  rolHng  prairie,  and  de- 
scended into  the  broad  valley  of  the  Ocheyedan.  When  near 
the  junction  of  the  Little  Ocheyedan  with  the  Ocheyedan,  the 
party  separated,  and  going  to  the  southwest  Mr.  Parker  soon 
discovered  the  remains.  The  dead  man  was  lying — probably 
as  he  fell — breast  down,  with  right  arm  thrown  back.  The 
skull  lay  a  few  feet  from  the  trunk.  At  his  right  foot  was  a 
hole,  and  it  is  possible  that  the  surface  of  the  snow  was  on  that 
account  uneven  and  caused  him  to  stumble.  A  pipe,  a  car- 
penter's pencil,  a  silver  ring,  several  pocketbooks,  cap  and 
pieces  of  clothing  were  found.  The  remains  of  the  body 
were  placed  in  a  coffin  and  taken  to  Sibley.  The  pocketbooks 
were  thawed  out,  and  furnished  conclusive  evidence  that  the 
dead  man  was  Peter  Ladenberger.  On  Tuesday  the  remains 
were  buried.  Mr.  Ladenberger  was  a  carpenter,  and  the  last 
work  he  did  was  to  put  up  the  liberty  pole  on  the  court  house. 
He  came  from  Sheboygan  County,  Wis.,  and  had  no  relatives 
in  the  county. 

The  lirst  settler  in  Fairview  Township  was  Mr.  Ellis,  who 
took  his  claim  there  in  1871.  This  was  the  only  claim  taken 
in  that  township  during  that  year.  There  were  considerable 
many  claims  taken  in  this  township  in  1872,  the  year  of  a 
general  rush  to  Northwest  Iowa.  In  April,  1872,  George 
Hamilton  settled  in  Fairview  and  took  east  half  of  the  north- 
west quarter  of  Section  30.  Mr.  Hamilton  drove  with  his 
team,  his  wife  with  him,  from  Clinton  County,  Iowa,  and  after 
taking  the  claim  lived  on  it  continuously  until  final  proof,  him- 
self and  wife  not  being  away  from  it  at  the  same  time  except 
one  night.  He  has  now  other  land  adjoining,  but  of  these 
early  settlers  in  Fairview,  who  came  there  in  1872,  Mr.  Ham- 
ilton is  the  only  one  of  them  who  still  lives  m  that  township. 
He  put  up  on  the  start  a  very  comfortable  house,  broke  only 
about  four  acres  the  first  year,  but  has  since  been  engaged  in 
extensive  farming,  and  is  a  very  worthy  and  substantial  citizen 
of  Osceola  County. 

S-  A.  Dove  came  to  Fairview  in  May,  1872,  and  settled 
on  the  southwest  quarter  of  Section  8.  C.  A.  Foote  the  same 
year  took  the  northeast  quarter  of  the  same  section.  During 
a  later  residence  in  the  count}^,  and  after  one  of  the  blizzards, 
it  was  impossible  to  get  around  with  a  team,  and  the  neces- 
saries of  life  to  subsist  upon  were  obtained  by  going  on  foot 
with  snow  shoes.  Dove  and  John  Hanna  went  to  Worthing- 
ton,  eleven  miles,  with  snow  shoes,  and  drawing  a  hand  sled. 
Thev  hauled  butter  to  town  and  returned  with  flour;  there 


94 


inSTORl'  OF  OSCEOLA    COUNTY.    IOWA. 


was  no  road,  but  they  made  the  journey  in  a  day,  though  their 
return  was  after  dark.  Dove  came  from  Clinton  County,  Iowa, 
and  drove  through  with  a  team.  He  put  up  first  a  sod  house, 
in  which  he  hved  two  years,  and  then  built  a  frame  house,  and 
in  1890  moved  to  Ocheyedan,  where  he  now  resides. 

Most  of  the  settlers  in  Fairview  have  come  at  a  recent 
date,  and  but  few  reach  back  any  number  of  years.  Among 
its  leading  farmers  at  the  present  time  are  S.  Wright,  Samuel 
Peterson,  John  Ward,  Frank  Palmer,  Levi  Coyour,  Charles 
McLagen,  S.  C.  Palmer,  Fred  Barneking,  Fred  Hindt,  Ed. 
Ward,  Thos.  Jackson,  W.  E.  Proper,  D.  A.  Hall,  John  Hanna, 
Ed.  Severence,  Matthew  Walling,  WilHam  and  Samuel  Hanna, 
E.  S.  Webster,  George  Miller,  Jerry  Bean,  Milton  Woodrow, 

George  Shephard, Steinkuehler,    W.   D.   Hendrix    and 

William  Mowthorpe. 

The  following  is  the  way  Osceola  County  stood  in  the 
year  1873: 

CENSUS  OF  OSCEOLA  COUNTY  FOR  THE  YEAR  1873. 

HOLM  AN    TOWNSHIP. 

Number  of  dwelHngs . t8o 

«  "    families 189 

"  "    white    males 320 

«  "       "       females 281 

"  "    persons  entitled  to  vote. 187 

"  "    militia - 153 

"  "    foreigners  not  naturalized 3 

"  "    acres  of  land  improved 2,553 

"  "    pounds  of  wool  shorn  in  the  year  1S72 45 

BUSHELS    OF    GRAIN    RAISED    IN    1872, 

Wheat - 2,269 

Corn 4,800 

Oats 1,572 

GOEW^EY    TOWNSHIP. 

Number  of  dwellings 143 

"  "  families 146 

"  "  white    males --  277 

^'  «'       "       females 199 

"  "  persons  entitled  to  vote 147 

"  "   militia i 

"  "  foreigners  not  naturalized  . i 

"  "  acres  of  land  improved - .    -  ^  3^464 


HISTORY    OF   OSCEOLA    COUNTT,    IOWA.  95 
BUSHELS    OF    GRAIN    RAISED    IN    1872. 

Wheat 2,174 

Corn .... 5,420 

Oats . 2,605 

Barley .  346 

FENTON    TOWNSHIP. 

Number  of  dwellings 39 

"          "  families 40 

"          "  white  males 76 

"          "       "     females 65 

"          "  persons  entitled  to  vote 43 

"          "  militia _. 39 

"          "  acres  of  land  improved 866 

BUSHELS  OF  GRAIN  RAISED  IN   1 87 2. 

Wheat 694 

Corn 2,265 

Oats 680 

WILSON     TOWNSHIP. 

Number  of  dwellings  _  . 32 

"          "  families '„ 32 

"          "  white  males 64 

"          "       "     females . 63 

"          "  persons  entitled  to  vote 34 

"          "  militia 22 

"         "  acres  of  land  improved 420 

"          "  pounds  of  wool  shorn  in  1872 5 


BUSHELS  OF  GRAIN  RAISED  IN   1872. 


Wheat 


Z9 


Corn 1,337 

IIORTON    TOWNSHIP. 

Number  of  dwellings 17 

"          "families 426 

"          "  white  males . .  40 

"          "       "      females . 30 

"          "  persons  entitled  to  vote 20 

"          "militia 18 

"          "  acres  of  land  improved 144 

"          "  bushels  of  corn  raised  in  the  year  1872 40 


96 


HISTORY  OF  OSCEOLA    COUNT T,    IOWA. 


In  1873  Osceola  County  had  the  following: 

Number  of  dwellings .  419 

"          "  families 426 

"          "  white  males 779 

"         "       "     females 630 

"          "  persons  entitled  to  vote 431 

"          "  mihtia . 324 

"          "  foreigners  not  naturalized 4 

"          "  acres  of  land  improved 7^444 

"          "  pounds  of  wool  shorn  in  the  j^ear  1872 50 

BUSHELS    OV    GRAIN    RAISED    IN    1 87  2. 

Wheat 5,176 

Corn .• 13,862 

Oats . 4,857 

Barley 346 


-     lTt     -"-B.-'(4    ■■■  V'    -?!''',     -V'    «'''_■       •■■■-■■'j    .a"i"'~ 


CENTRAL  BLOCK,  SIBLEY. 


CHAPTER   XIV. 

We  will  now  leave  the  general  run  of  settlement  for  a 
few  chapters  and  speak  of  the  County's  finances  in  its  method 
of  doing  business  in  the  early  days.  Lawyers'  fees  seemed 
to  be  the  most  prominent  method  of  "  raising  the  wind." 
Winspear  was  a  lawyer,  Blackmer  was  a  lawyer,  and,  indeed, 
it  was  the  old  saying  repeated,  that  "  Ceaser  had  a  party,  and 
Brutus  a  party,  but  Rome  had  none."  Other  lawyers,  also 
outside  the  County,  had  a  hand  in  it,  but  still  there  were 
several  lawyers  in  the  County  at  the  time  who  were  battling 
the  gang  in  their  thieving  operations. 

The  early  part  of  Osceola  County,  indeed  northwestern 
Iowa,  for  the  Sioux  City  lawyers,  was,  as  Deacon  Howell 
remarked  of  Lyon  County,  "a  field  for  legitimate  speculation." 
Sioux  City  itself  then  was  not  prolific  with  litigation,  clients 
were  not  numerous,  and  the  Argus  eyes  of  some  of  its  distin- 
guished disciples  of  Blackstone  magnified  the  gigantic  wrongs 
of  this  grasshoppered  district,  and  their  tender  sympathies 
were  manifested  by  professional  services  and  condolence  to 
the  tune  of  retainer  fees,  which  in  the  days  of  old  Rome  would 
have  made  the  eloquent  Cicero  himself  blush  with  hesitation 
in  receiving  them.  The  many  grievances  that  seemed  to 
afflict  these  northwestern  Counties  then  were  simply  astonish- 
ing, but  the  remedies  suggested  by  the  legal  fraternity  to  be 
applied  by  use  of  County  warrants  were  appalling  and  appar- 
ently numberless.  Sioux  City  then  was  the  guardian  of  these 
afflicted  Counties,  and  when  a  steal  was  to  be  perpetrated,  or 
when  suspicion  of  its  coming  perpetration  caused  a  ripple  of 
comment  and  excitement  among  the  people,  then  both  boodler 
and  reformer  would  hie  themselves  to  Sioux  City,  and  within 
the  offices  of  their  respective  counsel  the  shadow  of  defeat  for 
the  one,  or  the  sunshine  of  success  for  the  other,  would  be 
thoroughly  discussed,  which  would  result  either  in  an  exhibi- 
tion of  unbounded  "cheek"  or  a  triumph  for  the  watchers  and 
waiters  for  an  honest  administration.  But  the  time  finally 
arrived  when  the  scathing  voice  of  the  people  brought  these 
wild  speculations  and  exoribitant  retainer  fees  to  a  close,  and 
County  affairs  were  held  down  to  the  bed-rock  of  reason  and 
economy,  and  there  was  established  rules  of  good  government 
and  efficient  administration,  which  no  one  since  has  been  dis- 
posed to  violate  nor  depart  from. 


s^^ir 


J.   W,   KAYE, 


100  insroRY  of  osceola  corNrr,  rowA. 

IndiQfnaitioii 

HEETIH 

Swamp  Land 


All     Iiidignatioii     Meeting    will     be    held     at 
SIBLEY,  MONDAY,  AUG.  26,  72,  at  2  p.  iii.,  for  the 
purpose  of  taking  action  against  the 

Osceola  Comity  does  not  wish  to  become  involved 
in  a  debt  of  $20,(MK).00  without  anything  to  show 
for  it.    COME  EVERY  MAN- ' 

(jazette  Print,  Sibley,  Osceola  Co.,  Iowa. 


W.   L.   PARKER. 


102  niSTORY  OF  OSCEOLA    COUNT!'.   IOWA. 

The  boodler  gang  which  had  fastened  itself  upon  Osceola 
County  in  1872,  had  by  the  boldness  and  mercenary  motives 
of  their  operations,  excited  a  strong  and  desperate  feeling  of 
opposition  among  the  settlers.  That  year  it  was  a  theme  for 
discussion,  the  topic  of  conversation,  and  taxed  the  ingenuity 
and  better  judgment  of  the  honest  element  of  the  county  as  to 
what  to  do.  Each  side  had  their  friends,  and  no  other  ques- 
tion entered  into  the  election  in  the  fall  of  1872,  except  to  elect 
into  office  representatives  from  one  side  or  the  other.  On  the 
26th  day  of  August,  1872,  by  a  previous  call,  there  was  as- 
sembled in  Sibley,  near  the  Sibley  hotel,  a  large  concourse  of 
settlers  from  all  over  the  connty,  numbering  about  five  hun- 
dred. These  men  were  eager  and  determined  in  the  feeling 
and  spirit  of  reform,  and  were  indignant.  The  meeting  had 
been  called  by  H.  G.  Doolittle,  D.  L.  Riley  and  John  Hawxs- 
hurst,  and  a  circular  requesting  the  settlers  to  meet  had  been 
sent  over  the  county.  The  meeting  was  organized  b}^  electing 
D.  L.  Riley  chairman. 

It  will  be  seen  by  the  records  of  the  board  that  there  was 
to  be  swamp  land  selections,  and  that  Frank  Stiles  was  ap- 
pointed to  select  them.  Settlers  in  the  county  were  afraid 
that  this  unscrupulous  gang  might  report  some  of  their  claims 
as  on  the  swamp  land  order,  and  thus  complicate  their  titles 
and  throw  their  claims  into  contest  and  litigation,  which  would 
be  troublesome  and  expensive.  This  question  was  discussed 
at  the  meeting  also,  and  several  made  speeches.  However 
much  the  settlers  then  may  have  been  poor  in  this  world's 
goods,  there  was  not  at  this  meeting  any  poverty  of  language. 
Winspear  himself  appeared  and  made  a  statement  that  in 
swamp  land  selections  it  was  the  railroad  company  lands  they 
were  after,  and  not  the  land  occupied  by  settlers.  He  also 
read  a  letter  from  the  Sioux  City  attorneys  stating  this  fact, 
and  among  other  things  the  letter  instructed  the  Board  to  issue 
the  six  thousand  dollars  attorney  fee  in  warrants  of  one  thous- 
and each.  Speeches  were  made  by  D.  L.  Riley,  Hawxshurst, 
Doolittle  and  others,  and  the  meeting  finaly  culminated  in  ap- 
pointing a  committee  of  twenty-seven  men,  and  these  men 
were  instructed  to  take  the  necessary  steps  to  bring  about 
the  resignation  of  objectionable  members  of  the  Board  of 
Supervisors,  and  to  carry  the  feefing  of  reform  into  practical 
results  in  all  departments  of  the  county  administration.  This 
committee  consisted  of  D.  D.  McCallum,  George  Hamilton 
M.  J.  Campbell,  C.  W.  Wyllys,  M.  D.  Hadsell,  John  Doug- 
lass, E,   Huff,  Geo.   Ketcham,  John   P.    Hawxshurst,   C.  M. 


W.   L.   PARKER  S   DRUG  STORK. 


104  HISTORY  OF  OSCEOLA    COUNTY,   IOWA. 

Brooks,  F.  M.  Robinson,  J.  F.  Glover,  A.  M.  Culver,  W.  H. 
Gates,  H.  L.  Baker,  Robt.    Stamm,  H.  G.  Doolittle,  C.  C. 

Jewel, Stickney,    B.    F.  Tabler,    C.    C.    Ogan,    Rev. 

Jones. 

This  committee  demanded  of  the  Board  of  Supervisors 
that  they  resign.  The  committee  also  organized,  electing 
George  Ketcham  Captain,  John  Douglass  First  Lieutenant 
and  M.  D.  Hadsell,  Second  Lieutenant.  Nothing  was  done 
by  them  except  upon  a  general  conference,  discussion  and 
dehberation,  and  a  final  decision  by  vote  of  the  committee  as 
to  the  moves  to  be  made.  It  was  first  decided  to  proceed  to 
the  house  of  H.  R.  Fenton,  and  demand  his  resignation  at 
once,  and  if  he  refused  to  resign  to  carry  out  the  vigilance 
committee  act,  and  suspend  the  victim,  as  is  usual  in  such 
cases,  in  mid-air.  About  the  first  day  of  September  in  this 
year  of  1872,  the  committee  met  at  the  house  of  C.  W. 
Wyllys  and  at  about  10  o'clock  in  the  evening  started  from 
there  and  went  to  Fenton's  house.  The  committee  took  a 
rope  along  with  them  sufficient  in  strength  for  the  hanging, 
and  if  the  demands  of  the  committee  were  not  complied  with, 
were  anxious  to  use  it.  The  committee  halted  in  the  slough 
west  of  Fenton's  house  and  sent  the  Captain  and  the  two  lieu- 
tenants to  make  demand  upon  the  Supervisor.  Inquiry  was 
made  at  the  house  and  the  three  committee  delegates  were 
informed  that  Fenton  was  away  from  home,  and  it  was 
learned  afterwards  that  there  was  a  traitor  in  the  reform 
camp,  and  that  Fenton  had  been  notified  and  was  in  hiding. 
Fenton  was  then  living  on  Section  20,  in  Wilson  Township. 

The    committee    then    proceeded   to   Winspear's    house, 

which  is  where now  lives,  and  the  larger  part  of 

them  remained  in  the  railroad  cut,  near  the  house,  while  a 
delegation  went  to  the  house  to  demand  the  resignation. 
Winspear  and  friends,  this  committee's  representatives  were 
informed,  said  there  would  be  no  resignation,  and  that  the 
inside  of  the  house  was  an  arsenal,  and  any  attempt  at  violence 
would  be  resisted  and  that  somebody  would  be  killed.  The 
committee,  upon  learning  this  state  of  affairs,  retired  peace- 
fully to  their  homes,  and  probably  wondering  when  would 
this  "cruel  war  be  over." 

The  next  day  it  was  rumored  that  Stiles  had  a  warrant 
of  arrest  for  Douglass,  so  that  this  irrepressible  Scotchman 
cleaned  up  his  six-shooter,  went  to  Sibley,  and  tackled  Stiles 
about  the  warrant,  which  Stiles  denied.  At  this  time  Stiles 
had  appointed  twenty-six  deputies,  for  his  own   and  friends' 


HUGH   JORDAN. 


106  /flSTORl"  OF  OSCEOLA    COUNTT.   IOWA. 

protection,  and  these  were  in  Ward's  saloon  when  Douglass 
went  in.  Their  guns  were  standing  around  against  the  side 
of  the  building,  when  Douglass  got  some  fellow  to  go  around 
behind  Pat  Larkins'  building  and  make  a  cry  of  fire,  which  he 
did,  when  the  twenty-six  deputies  rushed  out  of  the  building 
at  this  unusual  sound,  and  Douglass,  left  alone,  dumped  the 
shooting-irons  through  a  trap  door  where  there  was  about  four 
feet  of  water. 

In  the  fall  of  1872  Blackmer  and  some  others  went  to 
Sioux  City  with  $40,000  of  Holman  School  District  warrants 
for  the  purpose  of  negotiating,  and  D.  D.  McUallum  happened 
to  be  in  the  city  at  the  time  and  learning  that  these  parties 
were  there  with  the  warrants  and  of  their  intentions,  and  know- 
ing the  fraudulent  character  of  the  paper,  notified  the  banks 
so  that  Blackmer  and  his  party  were  unable  to  negotiate  them. 
Bhickmer  returned  to  Sibley  with  them,  and  was  made  to  give 
them  up,  all  but  a  $1,000  warrant  which  was  kept  upon  the 
statement  that  he  had  none  left.  A.  M.  Culver  was  then  one 
of  the  most  active  participants  in  the  opposition  forces  against 
the  Winspear  crowd.  During  the  winter  of  1871-72  Culver 
took  Winspear  to  Sioux  City  in  a  sleigh,  in  Februar}',  and 
Winspear  had  with  him  the  $350  warrant  issued  for  a  map  of 
the  County  which  the  County  had  not  yet  seen.  Culver  knew 
nothing  of  the  warrant,  and  Winspear  in  the  genial  feeling  of 
companionship,  suggested  to  Culver  that  as  he  was  Treasurer 
of  the  Count}',  there  was  a  chance  to  make  some  money,  and 
upon  inquiry  from  Culver  how  it  was  to  be  done,  said,  to  buy 
the  warrants  at  a  discount  and  turn  them  in  for  cash.  Culver 
rejilied  to  him  that  as  a  county  officer  the  law  forbid  it,  and 
aside  from  that  he  did  not  want  to  make  money  that  wa}'. 
Winspear  negotiated  the  map  warrant  at  Sioux  City  on  this 
trip,  and  on  his  return  Winspear  was  accused  of  selling  the 
warrant  which  he  did  not  den}^  but  undertook  to  lay  some  of 
the  blame  onto  Culver  and  told  their  conversation,  distorting 
and  misrepresenting  what  Culver  had  said.  There  was  a 
crowd  of  settlers  on  that  da}'  in  Sibley  and  this  trip  to  Sioux 
City  being  the  topic  of  conversation,  Culver  mounted  a  dry 
goods  box  and  with  that  spirit  of  energy  characteristic  of  the 
man,  and  in  a  feeling  of  indignation,  he  told  the  conversation 
that  had  taken  place  between  himself  and  Winspear  and 
branded  Winspear  as  a  liar  and  a  knave.  This  was  expected 
by  some  to  bring  about  an  open  warfare  and  a  resort  to  weap- 
ons for  the  ripple  of  excitement  was  great  and  almost  irre- 
pressible, but  the  occasion  passed  off  without  disturbance,  save 


G.  I..  CASWELL. 


108  /nSTORT  OF  OSCEOLA    COUNTY,   lOlVA. 

and  except  a  war  of  words.  County  officers  then,  as  now, 
were  required  to  give  bonds,  but  as  all  were  homesteaders  a 
bond  could  not  be  given  in  the  county  that  would  fill  the  re- 
quirements of  the  law  but  bonds  were  accepted  with  such 
signers  as  the  officials  could  obtain.  Soon  after  the  Winspear 
administration  had  charge  of  the  affairs  it  was  found  that  Cul- 
ver would  not  do  their  bidding,  so  that  under  the  pretense  of 
apprehension  Culver  was  notified  that  he  must  give  a  gilt- 
edged  bond  or  the  books  would  be  taken  away  from  him  and 
he  was  given  a  certain  length  of  time  to  procure  the  bond. 
Culver  immediately,  unbeknown  to  anybody,  went  to  LeMars 
and  obtained  good  names  and  then  to  Sioux  City  and  obtained 
the  name  of  T.  J.  Stone  for  $5,000.  When  the  board  met  it 
was  supposed  that  Culver  had  been  unable  to  better  the  bond 
and  Sheriff  Stiles  was  ready  to  turn  Culver  out,  but  the  Treas- 
urer showed  up  what  he  had  and  the  Board  relapsed  into  si- 
lence and  acquiescence.  The  $6,000  allowed  to  H.  B.  Wilson 
and  Joy  &  Wright  as  a  retainer  on  the  swamp  land  business 
was  paid,  but  no  swamp  land  was  ever  reclaimed  or  recovered. 
In  justice,  however,  to  all  parties  concerned,  we  present  the 
following  communication  from  the  attorneys,  which  appeared 
January  9,  -1874: 
Editors  Gazette: 

We  are  compelled,  by  the  position  in  which  we  find  our- 
selves placed,  to  make  the  following  statement  to  the  citizens 
and  taxpayers  of  Osceola  County: 

It  is  well  known  to  the  majority  of  your  citizens  that  we 
have  been  employed  to  commence  and  prosecute  the  necessar}' 
suit  or  suits  to  recover  for  Osceola  County  her  swamp  lands, 
and  that  a  retainer  was  paid  us  for  that  purpose. 

By  the  terms  of  the  agreement  entered  into  between  the 
county  and  ourselves,  the  county  was  to  employ  a  competent 
surveyor — accompanied  with  good  and  truthful  men,  as  wit- 
nesses— to  make  a  selection  of  swamp  lands,  and  ascertain  the 
owner  or  owners  thereof.  And  under  this  agreement,  but 
against  our  advice  and  in  opposition  to  our  protest,  the  Board 
appointed  Mr.  Frank  Stiles  to  make  said  selection.  We  urged 
upon  the  Board  that  Mr.  Stiles  was  not  the  person  to  make 
the  selection,  not  from  any  animosity  to  him,  but  because  he 
was  neither  a  theoretical  or  practical  engineer  or  surveyor; 
because  he  was  at  that  time  (whether  justly  or  unjustl}^)  un- 
popular with  a  large  number  of  your  citizens,  and  any  selections 
he  might  make  would  meet  with  more  or  less  opposition,  by 
reason  of  a  want  of  confidence  in  him. 


W.   R.    BOLING. 


110  mSTURT  OF  OSCEOLA    COUNTY.    IOWA. 

Under  said  appointment,  Mr.  Stiles  went  on  and  made  a 
pretended  selection  of  swamp  lands,  and  did  the  work  in  such 
a  manner  that  it  was  universally  admitted,  by  citizens  of  the 
county,  that  no  action  could  successfully  be  maintained  upon 
it.  We  so  advised  the  Board  of  Supervisors — the  selection 
was  repudiated,  and  the  Board  agreed  to  have  another  and 
proper  selection  made.  Soon  after  this  a  new  Board  of 
Supervisors  came  into  office,  and  we  have  been  constant  and 
unremitting  in  our  efforts  to  induce  them  to  have  the  swamp 
lands  of  the  county  selected,  so  that  we  can  commence  the 
necessary  suit  or  suits,  but  without  avail. 

Now  we  want  the  citizens  of  Osceola  County  to  know 
and  understand  that  we  entered  into  an  engagement  with  the 
county  in  good  faith.  It  is  impossible  for  us  to  make  the 
selection;  this  the  county  must  do,  and  the  interests  of  the 
county  imperatively  demand  that  it  should  be  attended  to  at 
once.  For  reasons,  that  it  would  be  improper  here  to  state, 
the  county  may  lose  her  swamp  lands  if  she  does  not  move  in 
this  matter  promptly.  It  is  certain  that  further  delay  will 
greatly  complicate  the  matter.  If  the  county  expects  to  ac- 
quire swamp  lands,  there  must  be  a  speedy  assertion  of  her 
rights,  and  this  can  only  be  done  by  making  the  proper 
selections.  We  will  not  be  answerable  for  the  result  of  such 
delay. 

We  are  about  to  commence  the  necessary  suit  to  recover 
the  swamp  lands  of  Lyon  County  in  the  next  term  of  the 
District  Court,  and  it  would  be  convenient  to  commence  in 
your  county  about  the  same  time. 

We  submit  to  the  people  of  Osceola  County  that  it  is  not 
treating  us  in  good  faith  to  place  us  in  our  present  position  in 
reference  to  this  matter,  and  we  wish  it  to  be  understood  that 
if  the  swamp  land  claims  of  Osceola  County  are  not  prosecuted 
it  will  not  be  our  fault.  H.  B.  Wilson, 

Joy  &  Wright. 

This  sort  of  belligerent  spirit,  or  fighting  campaign  be- 
tween the  contending  forces,  soon  died  away,  and  other  and 
more  peaceful  methods  were  concluded  upon.  It  was  thought 
l)est  to  resort  to  legal  proceedings  and  at  the  coming  election, 
in  the  fall  of  1872,  to  rally  and  elect  a  reform  member  of  the 
board. 


CHAPTER  XV. 

PROCEEDINGS    OF    BOARD    OF    SUPERVISORS,    PARTIALLY    GIVEN, 
INCLUDING    ALL    MATTERS    OF    IMPORTANCE. 

The  first  session  of  the  Board,  and  the  session  of  the  first 
Board,  was  held  January  i,  1891. 

The  Board  was  called  to  order  by  County  Auditor,  and 
there  were  present  as  members  J.  H.  Winspear  and  H.  R. 
Fenton.  J.  H.  Winspear  was  elected  Chairman.  Eldredge 
Morrison  qualified  as  Clerk  of  Holman  Township,  A.  M.  Culver 
as  Treasurer  of  the  County,  H.  L.  Clapsaddle  as  Justice  of 
the  Peace  for  Holman  Township,  Geo.  W.  Ketcham  as  Clerk 
of  Horton  Township,  O.  Dunton  as  Justice  of  the  Peace  for 
Horton  Township,  Frank  Stiles  as  Justice  for  Holman  Town- 
ship, and  Delily  Stiles  took  the  oath  of  office  as  County  Sup- 
erintendent of  Schools.  The  Board  then  adjourned  to  the 
next  day,  and  met  with  the  same  members  present. 

It  was  voted  to  give  orders  to  Perkins  Bros.,  of  Sioux 
Cit}^  for  books  and  stationery  required  for  County  purposes. 
C.  M.  Brooks  qualified  as  Clerk  of  the  District  Court,  M.  J. 
Campbell  as  County  Surveyor,  and  Geo.  Spaulding  appeared 
and  took  the  oath  of  office  as  County  Supervisor.  Benjamin 
F.  Cox  qualified  as  Clerk  of  Goewey  Township,  and  the 
Board  then  adjourned  to  January  3,  the  next  day. 

The  Board  met  as  per  adjournment,  at  which  meeting  the 
above  members  werepresent,  with  the  addition  of  Geo.  Spauld- 
ing. L.  L.  Webb  qualified  as  Constable  for  Holman  Town- 
ship, and  D.  F.  Curtiss  as  Justice  in  Goewey  Township.     The 

following    appointments     were     then     made:      Garvin, 

Coroner  of  the  County;  Frank  Stiles,  Sheriff;  and  William 
Jepson,  Justice  for  Goewey  Township.  A  large  number  of 
petitions  asking  that  County  roads  be  laid  out  were  presented 
and  allowed,  and  the  Board  adjourned  to  the  next  day,  Jan- 
uary 4.  _ 

At  this  adjourned  meeting  January  4,  it  was  ordered 
that  the  County  Surveyor  select  ten  sections  of  land  that  may 
be  marked  swamp  lands  on  the  district  land  office  plat,  or  as' 
near  ten  sections  as  he  could.  It  was  voted  that  Sible}^  be  the 
county  seat.      Frank    Stiles   then   qualified    as  Sheriff,   John 


112  IIISTORT  OF  OSCEOLA    COUNXr,    IOWA. 

Beaumont  as  Drainage  Commissioner.  Forty-live  dollars  was 
appropriated  for  paupers  to  be  divided  among  the  three  town- 
ships. It  was  then  voted  to  call  a  special  election  to  vote  on 
court  house  bonds  to  the  amount  of  five  thousand  dollars;  also 
to  vote  as  to  whether  stock  shall  be  prevented  from  running 
at  large. 

John  F.  Glover  asked  that  the  County  Auditor  be  author- 
ized to  accept  the  bond  of  D.  L.  McCausland  as  County  Re- 
corder, which  he  was,  provided  the  bond  was  presented  by 
January  lo,  1872.  It  was  also  voted  to  call  for  bids  for  a 
house  14x20  feet,  to  be  used  by  county  officers.  Provision 
was  then  made  for  desks  and  fuel. 

Salaries  were  fixed  as  follows: 

Treasurer,  for  the  year $1,000 

Auditor,        "      "   "    "    __.         840 

Recorder,     "      "       "    500 

The  following  accounts  were  then  allowed : 

Geo.  Spaulding,  supervisor  and  mileage $21   76 

H.  R.  Fenton,  "  "  " i7  44 

J.  H.  Winspear,  "  "  "       ... 1600 

F.  M.  Robinson,  services  to  Sioux  City 60  00 

H.  R.  P'enton,  "       "  " 6000 

J.  H.  Winspear,  "       "  "  6000 

William  Hecker,  maps  of  county 350  00 

Frank  Stiles,  township  trustee 2  00 

John  Beaumont,      "  "        2  00 

H.  K.  Rogers,  use  of  building  _ .. 8  00 

The  Board  then   adjourned  to  meet  February    12,  1872. 

The  Board  met  as  per  adjournment  February  12,  1872, 
and  the  election  in  the  mean  time  having  been  held  to  vote  on 
the  court  house  bonds  and  on  stock  running  at  large,  the  vote 
was  canvassed  and  resulted  as  follows: 

For  court  house  bonds 9 

Against  court  house  bonds 52 

For  the  act  restraininij  stock 61 

Against  the  act  of  restraining  stock i 

The  Board  then  recognized  D.  L.  McCausland  as  Re- 
corder and  approved  his  bond,  and  also  approved  the  appoint- 
ment of  John  F.  Glover  as  Deputy  Recorder.  The  Board 
then  adjourned  to  meet  the  next  day,  February  13. 

At  this,  February  13,  meeting  Perkins  Bros,  were  allowed 
$300  on  their  bill  for  books.  One  dollar  was  allowed  on  the 
scalp  of  each  fox  in  addition  to  the  state  allowance,  and  the 
salary  of  C.  M.  Brooks,  Clerk  of  Court,  was  fixed  at  $50  per 


W.  MEADER  HARPWARE  BUILDING. 


114  HISTORr  OF   OSCEOLA    COUNTY,    IOWA. 

month.  It  was  also  voted  to  advertise  in  the  LeMars  Vidette 
for  bids  for  the  erection  of  a  court  house  to  be  20x40  feet  and 
paid  for  in  county  warrants.  The  Board  then  adjourned  to 
meet  next  day,  February  15. 

The  Board  met  as  per  adjournment,  February  15,  1872. 
Their  first  act  was  to  authorize  the  County  Auditor  to  take 
lei^al  measures  to  take  the  books  of  the  County  Recorder's 
othce  from  John  Beaumont  and  turn  them  over  to  D.  L. 
McCausland.  There  was  then  allowed  various  bills  for  the 
support  of  paupers,  county  seals,  Supervisors'  services,  and 
other  things  aggregating  $342,36,  and  after  this  the  Board 
adjourned  without  day. 

The  next  meeting  of  the  Board  was  April  i,  1872,  and  at 
this  meeting  the  reports  of  road  commissioners  were  acted 
upon'  and  several  roads  established  and  designated.  John 
Beaumont  was  allowed  $30  salary  while  he  was  Recorder  and 
D.  L.  McCausland  i})62,6o  for  expenses  in  obtaining  possession 
of  Recorder's  books. 

The  next  meeting  of  Board  was  the  next  day,  April  2, 
at  which  time  other  business  was  transacted  with  reference  to 
roads,  M.  J .  Campbell  was  approved  as  deputy  clerk  of 
courts,  and  Lewis  E.  Diefendorf  as  deputy  treasurer.  It  was 
then  voted  to  employ  Geo.  W.  Waketield  to  secure  the  adjust- 
ment of  swamp  land  claims  of  the  county  against  the  United 
States. 

The  next  meeting  of  the  Board  was  April  3,  and  no 
business  of  importance  was  transacted. 

The  next  meeting  of  the  Board  was  April  4,  1872,  at 
which  time  it  was  voted  to  accept  the  bid  of  Henry  Phrings- 
ton  for  putting  up  court  house  building,  for  the  sum  of  $1,249. 
There  was  also  bills  allowed  for  several  purposes,  supervisors 
services,  paupers,  officers  pay,  etc,  in  all  aggregating  $639.99, 
The  Board  next  met  May  6,  1872.  This  session  was  not 
extended  and  no  business  of  importance  transacted.  Bills 
were  allowed  for  surveying,  goods  furnished  county,  expenses 
to  Sioux  City,  etc.,  aggregating  $283.55. 

Next  meeting  of  the  Board  was  held  June  3,  1872,  which 
was  unimportant. 

The  Board  next  met  on  the  4th  da}'  of  June,  at  which 
time  Perkins  Bros,  were  allowed  $1,500  for  county  books,  and 
there  was  no  other  business  except  in  connection  with  the 
establishment  of  roads. 

Board  met  again  June  5.  At  this  meeting  it  was  voted 
to  appropriate   $500  in  building  a  bridge  across  Otter  Creek 


HTSTORr  OF  OSCEOLA    COUNTT,   IOWA.  115 

on  Section  15,  Township  98,  Range  42.  Also  the  sum  of 
$350  to  build  a  bridge  across  Ocheyedan  Creek  on  the 
Ocheyedan  Valley  road,  $200  in  bridging  Otter  Creek  on 
Section  13,  Township  99,  Range  42,  J}?  160  bridging  Otter 
Creek  on  County  road  No.  11,  and  $135  bridging  Otter 
Creek  on  Section  12,  Township  99,  Range  42.  There  was 
also  allowed  various  bills  for  salaries,  fees,  and  other  things, 
aggregating  $598.21. 

The  next  meeting  of  Board  was  held  June  6,  and  at  this 
meeting  no  business  was  transacted,  except  bridging  Ocheye- 
dan Creek  near  Section  16,  Township  99,  Range  40. 

Board  met  again  June  7,  1872,  and  it  was  voted  that 
sealed  proposals  be  received  for  building  six  bridges.  It  was 
also  voted — upon  a  petition  presented  by  John  F.  Glover, 
John  Beaumont  and  others — that  Henry  Phringston  be  allowed 
$100  to  release  County  from  his  contract  to  build  court 
house,  and  that  an  election  be  called  to  vote  on  court  house 
bonds  to  the  amount  of  $5,000  with  which  to  build  court 
house.  Bills  were  then  allowed  to  the  amount  of  $82.18,  and 
Board  adjourned  to  July  17,  1872. 

Board  met  again  July  17,  as  per  adjournment,  and  nothing 
was  done  except  passing  the  following  resolution: 

"  Whereas,  On  the  17th  day  of  July,  1872,  by  a  decree  of 
the  District  Court  in  and  for  the  County  of  Osceola,  in  the 
State  of  Iowa,  John  A.  Schmidt,  Esq.,  recovered  a  judgment 
against  the  County  of  Osceola  for  the  sum  of  three  thousand 
Hftv  and  twenty  hundredths  dollars  ($3,050.20),  and, 

"  Whereas,  On  the  17th  day  of  July,  1872,  the  said  John 
A.  Schmidt,  Esq.,  under  the  provisions  of  Chapter  174,  Laws 
of  1872,  elected  not  to  issue  execution  on  said  judgment,  but 
to  receive  payment  of  said  judgment  in  the  bonds  of  Osceola 
County,  bearing  10  per  cent  interest  per  annum,  and, 

"  Whereas,  In  our  judgment  the  interests  of  Osceola 
County  will  be  best  subserved  and  promoted  by  issuing  said 
bonds,  therefore  be  it 

'■'Resolved,  By  the  Board  of  Supervisors  of  Osceola 
County,  that  the  County  of  Osceola  do  issue  its  bonds,  in 
compliance  with  the  election  of  said  John  A.  Schmidt  to 
liquidate  said  judgment,  and  that  the  President  of  the  Board 
and  the  County  Auditor  are  directed  and  instructed  to  duly 
execute  said  bonds  under  the  seal  of  Osceola  County." 

Board  met  again  July  18,  1872,  and  at  this  meeting  the 
votes  cast  for  court  house  bonds  at  the  second  election  wert^ 
canvassed,  and  the  following  was  the  count: 


116  HISTORY  OF   OSCEOLA    COUNT!',   IOWA. 

FOR    BONDS. 

Holman  Township 57 

Goewey  Township 3 

Horton  Township 7 

Total  number  for ^ 67 

AGAINST  BONDS. 

Holman  Township 4 

Goewey  Township .      10 

Horton  Township 8 

Total  number  against 22 

Following  this,  the  usual  resolution  to  provide  for  bonds 
and  carry  out  the  vote  was  passed.  C.  I.  Hill,  Henry 
Phringston  and  D.  L.  Riley  were  appointed  a  committee  to 
prepare  plans  and  specifications  for  court  house.  The  con- 
tract to  build  the  six  bridges  mentioned  in  a  previous  meeting 
were  then  let  to  various  parties,  the  six  aggregating  $1,522. 
There  was  then  appropriated  $135  to  bridge  on  east  line  of 
Section  26,  Township  100,  Range  42;  $250  was  also  appro- 
priated for  bridge  on  Section  34,  Township,  Range  42;  and 
$300  for  building  bridge  across  Ocheyedan. 

The  next  meeting  of  Board  was  held  July  18.  This 
meeting  fixed  the  sheriff's  salary  at  $200  per  year,  and  passed 
bills  aggregating  $981.11. 

The  next  meeting  of  the  Board  was  held  August  12, 
1872.     The  following  resolution  was  passed: 

'■'■Resolved,  That  H.  B.  Wilson  and  Joy  &  Wright  are 
hereby  employed  as  counsel  to  prosecute  the  swamp  land 
claims  for  the  county,  and  that  we  allow  them  the  sum  of 
$6,000  in  county  warrants  as  a  retainer  and  compensation,  and 
the  Auditor  is  instructed  to  is.sue  warrants  for  the  same,  and 
that  the  contingent  interest  in  the  lands  that  may  be  recovered 
shall  not  exceed  the  proportion  they  are  to  receive  in  Lyon 
County  for  prosecuting  their  swamp  land  claims." 

Frank  Stiles  was  appointed  to  make  the  necessary 
survey  of  the  swamp  lands,  and  his  compensation  was  fixed  at 
10  cents  an  acre.  The  contract  to  build  court  house  was 
awarded  to  Henry  Phringston  for  $3,447,  and  the  court  house 
was  to  be  completed  by  November  i,  1872.  Bills  were  then 
allowed  for  various  things  amounting  in  all  to  $368.74. 

Board  again  met  September  2,  1872.     Nothing  was  done 


FRED    H.   BUNKER. 


118  HISTORY  OF  OSCEOLA    COUNTY.   IOWA. 

at  this  meeting,  except  such  business  as  pertained  to  the  estab- 
lishment of  roads. 

Next  meeting  of  the  Board  September  2. 
The  following  resolution  was  adopted :  "  Resolved.,  That 
the  chairman  of  the  Board  of  Supervisors  be  hereby  instructed 
to  employ  such  counsel  as  he  may  deem  necessary  to  defend 
the  county  in  the  measures  now  adopted  by  the  Board  of 
Supervisors."  There  was  then  allowed  bills  to  the  amount  of 
$388,  and  the  Board  adjourned. 

Board  again  met  September  17,  1872.     There  was  con- 
siderable business  done  in  the  establishment  of  count}^  roads, 
and  levies  were  made  as  follows: 
For  State  revenue,  2^  mills. 
For  ordinary  county  revenue,  4  mills. 
For  support  of  schools,  2  mills. 
For  payment  of  court  house  bonds,  5  mills. 
For  payment  of  interest  on  judgment  bonds,  '^y,  mills. 
There  was  also  passed  the  following  resolution : 
"  Resolved^  That  C.  W.  Blackmer  is  hereby  authorized  to 
purchase  fifty-one  volumes  of  the  Iowa  reports,  and  that  we, 
the  Board  of  Supervisors  of  Osceola  County,  hereby  appro- 
priate $700  for  the  purchase  of  the  same,  and   the   County 
Auditor  is  hereby  instructed  to  issue  that  amount  of  County 
warrants  to  C.  W.  Blackmer,  for  the  purpose  of  obtaining  said 
Iowa  Reports  for  the  use  of  the  county." 

There  was  also  allowed  bills  at  this  session  aggregating 
$600.08,  among  which  were: 

Frank  Stiles,  hand  cuffs  and  leg  irons $  51 

Frank  Stiles,  attending  court  with  twenty-seven  deputies, 

September  2 .      56 

Frank  Stiles,  attending  court  with  five  deputies,  Septem- 
ber 3 12 

C.  W.  Blackmer,  attorney's  fees 40 

J.  H.  Wmspear,  attending  court 12 

J.  H.  Winspear,  expenses  and  services  to  Sioux  City  see- 
ing to  the  printing  of  the  court  house  bonds 100 

The  Board  next  met  October  7,  1872.  At  this  meeting 
Horton  Towaiship,  as  originally  organized,  was  divided  into 
three  civil  townships,  as  follows:  Township  100,  Range  42, 
to  be  known  as  Fenton  Township.  Township  100,  Range  41, 
to  be  called  Wilson  Township.  Township  100,  Range  40,  to 
be  called  Horton  Township.  Elections  for  township  oflicers 
for  these  townships  were  ordered  for  the  general  election  in 
1872,  to  be  held  in  Wilson  Township  at  the  house  of  James 


/[IS  TOR  I 


OF  OSCEOLA    COUNTY,    IOWA.  119 


Miller;  for  Fenton  Township,  at  the  house  of  John  H.  Hart; 
for  Horton  Township,  at  the  house  of  L.  G.  Ireland.  It  was 
voted  to  allow  Crandall  &  Hall  $900,  part  payment  on  bridge 
contract.     Bills  were  allowed  amounting  to  $1,025.40. 

The  Board  next  met  October  21,  1872.  At  this  meeting 
a  resolution  was  passed  authorizing  Henry  Phringston  to  build 
privy,  coal  house,  steps  to  court  house,  one  vane  and  flag 
staff  and  to  fit  up  room  under  the  stairway,  for  which  he  was 
to  receive  in  addition  to  court  house  contract,  $1,053.  Bills 
were  then  allowed  amounting  to  $310.25. 

The  next  meeting  of  the  Board  was  held  November  11, 
1 87 2.  At  this  meeting  the  votes  cast  at  the  general  election 
held  this  month  were  canvassed.  As  there  is,  in  another  part 
of  this  history,  the  names  of  all  officers  of  the  county  since  its 
organization,  the  officers  declared  elected  at  this  session  will 
be  found  there.  It  was  also  voted  to  issue  bonds  for  $1091.65 
to  J.  M.  Grant  to  satisfy  a  judgment  obtained  by  Grant  against 
the  county;  also  voted  to  issue  bonds  to  the  amount  of 
$1,339.06  to  Condion  &  Harris  to  satisfy  a  judgment  they  had 
obtained  in  the  circuit  court  against  Osceola  County. 

The  next  meeting  of  the  Board  was  on  November  13, 
1872.  At  this  meeting  Henry  Phringston  was  instructed  to 
get  the  court  house  furniture  from  the  railroad  depot  and  to 
set  it  up,  and  for  these  services  was  allowed  $250.  Delialy 
Stiles,  County  Superintendent,  w^as  allowed  $200  as  salary 
from  January  i,  1872  to  January  i,  1873. 

The  following  resolution  was  passed: 

Resolved,  That  the  Auditor  is  hereby  instructed  to  flt  up 
and  furnish  the  two  north  rooms  on  the  first  floor  and  a  jury 
room  on  the  second  floor  of  the  court  house  for  the  use  and 
benefit  of  the  poor  of  the  county  and  to  furnish  provisions  and 
everything  he  deems  necessary  for  the  comfort  of  the  same. 

There  was  also  allowed  bills  of  various  kinds  and  amounts, 
aggregatmg  $2,403.21,  among  which  were: 
Henry  Phringston,  drawing  plans  and  specifications 

of  court  house ^60  00 

J.  H.  Winspear,  inspecting  court  house -.         10  00 

Furniture  for  court  house 1,102  00 

The  Board  next  met  November  27,  at  which  no  business 
was  transacted,  except  a  small  amount  for  burning  around 
bridge  for  $4.20. 

The  next  meeting  of  the  Board  was  held  December  16, 
1872,  at  which  were  present  the  members,  as  at  other  meet- 
ings, being  J.  H.  Winspear,  H.  R.  Fenton  and  George  Spauld- 


120  JilSTORV  OF  OSCEOLA    COUNTY.   IOWA. 

incr.  The  Auditor  was  instructed  to  issue  a  warrant  of  $106.03 
to  pay  the  premium  for  $2,000  insurance  on  the  court  house 
and  furniture,  in  the  Home  Insurance  Company  of  Columbus, 
Ohio;  warrant  issued  to  W.  H.  Turner. 

H.  R.  Fenton  was  instructed  to  procure  safe  for  Treas- 
urer, and  the  Auditor  ordered  to  issue  warrant  to  pay  what 
was  necessary  for  it.     Board  adjourned  to  Dec.  17. 

Board  met  Dec.  17,  1872,  as  per  adjournment.  Mr. 
Spaulding  was  not  present.  It  was  ordered  by  the  Board  that 
the  Auditor  employ  an  attorney  in  Clayton  County  to  get 
proof  of  the  residence  of  Thomas  Carroll.  It  was  voted  to 
issue  bonds  to  William  C.  Frye  in  the  amount  of  $6,300  to 
satisfy  a  judgment  against  the  County  in  the  United  States 
Court,  and  also  a  warrant  of  $38.80  to  said  Frye,  which  would 
complete  payment  of  judgment.  A  new  survey  of  swamp 
lands  was  then  ordered,  and  in  connection  therewith  the  fol- 
lowing resolution  was  passed: 

"  Resolved^  That  Frank  Stiles  is  hereby  allowed  the  sum 
of  five  hundred  dollars  for  the  use  of  his  present  survey  book 
of  swamp  land  selections  for  Osceola  County  as  a  guide  to  the 
County  in  conducting  the  new  survey  of  swamp  lands  of  said 
County  this  day  ordered  by  the  Board  of  Supervisors,  and 
that,  the  Auditor  is  instructed  to  issue  a  warrant  to  said 
Frank  Stiles  of  that  amount,  upon  his  delivering  said  survey 
book  to  the  Auditor  at  his  office." 

Board  then  adjourned  to  Dec.  18,  at  which  meeting  noth- 
ing was  done  except  allowances  for  bills  of  various  amounts 
and  kinds,  aggregating  $1,231.76. 

Board  met  again  Dec.  30,  1872,  members  all  present.  The 
first  thing  done  was  to  instruct  the  Auditor  to  insure  court 
house  and  furniture  in  the  Hawkeye  Insurance  Company  to 
the  amount  of  $2,000,  and  issue  warrant  sufficient  to  pay 
premium.  It  was  then  voted  to  accept  the  proposition  of  L. 
A.  Barker  to  print  5,000  pamphlets  on  Osceola  County  for 
distribution,  and  the  Auditor  was  instructed  to  issue  warrant 
for  $800  to  pay  the  same. 

The  Board  next  met  December  31.  The  official  bonds 
were  approved  and  the  Auditor's  salary  was  increased ;  as  also 
that  of  the  Recorder.  Polk  &  Hubbell,  of  Des  Moines,  were 
allowed  $100  for  service  in  the  case  of  Wm.  O.  Frye  vs. 
Osceola  County.  Bills  were  then  allowed  amounting  to 
$1,269.94.     Among  the  bills  allowed  were: 


G.  W.   LISTER. 


122  IIISTORT  OF  OSCEOLA    COUNTY,   IOWA. 

Frank  Stiles,  balance  on  bridge  grading,  etc $475  oo 

J.  H.  Winspear,  railroad  fare  to  defend  in  Frye  vs. 

County 60  00 

J.  H.  Winspear,  expenses  in  same  case 40  00 

C.  W.  Blackmer,  counsel  and  advice 250  00 

This  last  meeting  of  the  Board  closed  the  first  year's  ad- 
ministration of  the  County  Supervisors.  As  near  as  can  be 
ascertained  from  a  thorough  search  of  the  records  and  the 
minutes  of  the  Board,  there  was  issued  in  county  warrants 
during  the  year  1872,  $29,000.  There  was  also  issued  bonds 
in  the  sum  of  $17,801.41.  These  bonds  were  based  upon 
judgments  rendered  in  different  courts,  and  aside  from  the 
court  house  bonds,  the  judgments  are  based  upon  actions 
brought  upon  county  warrants  which  are  a  part  of  the  $29,000 
of  warrants  issued.  The  exact  indebtedness  at  the  close  of 
1872  cannot  be  accurately  determined,  but  to  approximate  it 
would  stand  as  follows; 

Bonds  drawing  10  per  cent,  interest $17,801   31 

County  warrants 1 8,000  00 

Continuing  as  to  the  Board  of  Supervisors,  there  was  to 
be  one  member  of  the  Board  elected  at  the  (general  election 
in  1872.  At  this  election  D.  L.  Riley  and  L.  Y.  Diefendorf 
were  candidates  for  the  office,  and  the  votes  were  a  little 
mixed  on  the  Riley  ballots.  They  read  D.  I.  Rile}',  D.  L. 
Riley  and  L.  F.  Riley,  so  that  the  Board  declared  the  result 
as  follows: 

VOTES 

L.  F.  Dfefendorf 78 

D.  I.  Riley 75 

D.  L.  Riley . 55 

L.  F.  Riley. i 

And  officiall}'  declared  that  Diefendorf  was  elected. 

It  cannot  be  found,  however,  from  the  records  that  Diefen- 
dorf ever  qualified  or  acted  with  the  Board.  We  know 
nothing  of  the  man,  but  he  undoubtedl}^  conscientiously  felt 
that  he  was  not  entitled  to  the  office,  and  did  not  have  the 
audacity  nor  the  desire  to  force  himself  upon  the  people  even 
with  the  Board's  decision  that  he?  was  "duh-  elected."  Some- 
thing had  to  be  done,  however,  to  straighten  the  record  and 
overturn  this  otficial  decision  made  by  the  Board,  so  that  the 
proper  proceedings  were  instituted  by  D.  L.  Riley,  as  con- 
testant, against  Diefendorf,  incumbent.  The  tribunal  then  to 
decide  contested  elections  consisted  of  the  Circuit  Judge  and 
two  associate  judges,  one  chosen  by  the  contestant  and   the 


HlSTORi   OF  OSCEOLA    COUNT}',   IOWA.  123 

Other  by  incumbent,  Riley  chose  I.  N.  Gardner,  and  as  the 
incumbent  failed  to  make  a  choice,  the  Clerk  of  the  Court, 
then  J.  F.  Glover,  made  choice  of  A,  M.  Culver.  The  court 
so  constituted  met  at  Sibley  January  2,  1873,  ^"^  that  day  and 
the  day  following  was  taken  up  in  preliminary  matters,  and 
making  up  issues,  also  receiving  evidence,  and  on  these  days, 
and  including  the  next  day,  the  case  was  fully  presented  to 
the  court.  On  January  4,  1873,  the  court  decided  that  the 
contestant,  D.  L.  Riley,  was  entitled  to  the  otllce,  and  he  then 
and  there  appeared  and  took  the  oath  of  otlice  and  thereby 
became  a  member  of  the  Board,  leaving  Diefendorf  to  pay  the 
costs. 

BOARD    PROCEEDINGS    OF    1873, 

The  first  meeting  of  the  Board  in  1873  was  held  January 
6,  and  was  called  to  order  by  the  County  Auditor,  and  there 
were  present  H.  R.  Fenton  and  D.  L.  Riley.  Riley  elected 
Fenton  chairman,  and  the  Board  proceeded  to  approve  othcial 
bonds  and  adjourned  until  afternoon. 

At  the  afternoon  session  the  three  members  were  present, 
which  added  George  Spaulding,  and  these  three  constituted 
the  Board.  Some  business  was  transacted  with  reference  to 
roads,  and  the  Board  adjourned  until  the  next  day,  January  7. 

January  7,  1873,  the  three  members  were  present.  J.  H. 
Douglass,  Sheriff,  notified  the  Board  that  he  had  appointed  C. 
M.  Bailey  as  deputy;  J.  F.  Glover,  Clerk  of  Court,  gave  notice 
that  he  had  appointed  as  deputy,  F.  M.  Robinson,  and  F.  M. 
Robinson,  County  Auditor,  notified  the  Board  that  his  deput}- 
was  C.  M.  Brooks.  The  Board  then  fixed  the  salaries  of 
office,  which  were  to  be  paid  at  the  end  of  each  month,  as 
follows : 

Treasurer $  50  00 

Auditor 100  00 

Clerk  of  Court . 40  00 

Recorder 40  00 

Sheriff . 1665 

Count}'  Superintendent  of  Schools 15   00 

The  Board  then  allowed  various  bills  amounting  in  all  to 
$331.57,  and  adjourned  to  Januar}'  20. 

Januar}-  20,  1873,  the  Board  met  pursuant  to  adjournment, 
and  there  were  present  Fenton  and  Spaulding,  Riley  being 
absent.  Nothing  was  done  particularly  at  this  session.  John 
Beaumont  was  allowed  $58.35  for  services  as  recorder  the 
year  before,  up  to  the  time  McCausland  gobbled  the  books, 
and  other  bills  were  allowed  amounting  to  $541.60.  The 
Board  then  adjourned  to  meet  February  20  next. 


124  J/fSTORr  OF  OSCEOLA    COUNTY.   IOWA. 

February  20,  meeting  of  the  Board  was  held  as  per 
adjournment,  with  Fenton  and  Spaulding  present,  Riley 
absent.  It  was  voted  that  Chairman  Fenton  employ  any 
counsel  to  appear  for  the  county  any  time  he  may  deem  it 
necessary.  The  following  astounding  resolution  was  then 
passed : 

'■'■Resolved.,  That  the  proposition  of  C.  W.  Blackmer  be 
accepted,  and  the  Auditor  of  this  county  is  hereb}-  directed  to 
issue  to  the  said  C.  W.  Blackmer  the  sum  of  twenty  thousand 
dollars,  in  warrants  of  such  dimensions  as  the  said  C.  W. 
Blackmer  may  determine.  It  is  understood  and  agreed  that, 
out  of  the  sum  so  issued  to  the  said  C.  W.  Blackmer,  he  is  to 
compensate  the  assistant  counsel  which  he  has  agreed  to 
employ,  and, 

"  Whereas^  The  said  C.  W.  Blackmer  has  further  pro- 
posed to  this  Board  that  he  will  accept  for  the  remainder  of 
his  compensation  a  contingent  fee  of  20  per  cent  of  the 
amount  recovered  from  the  railroad  company  and  Woodbur}" 
County,  therefore,  be  it  further 

'■'■Resolved.,  That  said  County  of  Osceola  will  pay  the  said 
C.  W.  Blackmer  and  his  assistant  counsel  the  said  contingent 
fee  of  20  per  cent,  provided  the  same  shall  amount  to  more 
than  the  said  sum  of  twenty  thousand  dollars;  it  being  under- 
stood that  the  said  sum  of  twenty  thousand  dollars  is  to  be 
deducted  from  said  sum  of  20  per  cent,  and  that  the  said 
C.  W.  Blackmer  and  his  assistant  counsel  are  only  to  receive 
the  balance,  if  any  remaining,  as  a  contingent  fee." 

The  Board  then  appointed  L.  F.  Diefendorf  as  their 
clerk  fro  tern..,  by  reason  of  F.  M.  Robinson  refusing  to  act 
as  clerk  in  issuing  warrants  to  Blackmer.  It  seems  that  at 
this  time  there  was  considerable  excitement  in  the  county 
over  this  $20,000  to  Blackmer,  which  caused  the  Board  in 
the  afternoon  of  this  same  session  to  rescind  the  resolution, 
and  they  passed  another,  employing  Winspear  and  Blackmer 
to  recover  back  taxes  from  the  railroad  comjjany,  allowing 
the  attorneys  a  retainer  of  $500  and  25  per  cent  on  the 
amount  recovered.  It  was  also  voted  that  C.  M.  Brooks 
should  hang  blinds  upon  the  court  house  windows  at  $4.50 
each,  and  the  Auditor  was  authorized  to  issue  a  warrant  of 
$400  to  said  Brooks,  immediately,  as  part  payment,  balance 
to  be  paid  when  work  was  completed.  The  Treasurer's 
salary  was  then  increased  to  $100  per  month,  and  a  warrant 
drawn  for  $50  for  the  extra  compensation  in  Januar}-. 

February  21,  1873,  the  Board  again  met  with  Fenton  and 
Spaulding  present,  and  Riley  absent.     The  Board  ordered  a 


SIBLEY  ROLLER  MILLS. 


126  HISTORY  OF  OSCEOLA    COUNT}',    IOWA. 

warrant  drawn  of  $400,  part  pay  for  pamphlets,  and  allowed 
bills  aggregating  $2,611.33.     Among  the  bills  were  the  fol- 
lowing: 
H.  R.  Fenton,  expenses  to  Sioux  City,  four  days  time-$  45  00 

Blackmer,  attorney's  fees 20  00 

McCaffery  &  Harmon,  attorney's  fees 35  00 

C.  W.  Blackmer,  balance  of  bill  presented  to  Board 

December  31,  1S72 250  00 

McCaffery  &  Harmon,  attorney's  fees 50  00 

The  next  meeting  of  the  Board  was  held  March  11,  1873, 
at  which  time  there  was  present  Fenton  and  Riley.  Nothing 
important  was  done  at  this  session  except  to  pass  a  resolution 
dismissing  all  attorneys  and  inviting  proposals  from  Sibley 
lawyers  to  do  the  county  business.  Bills  were  allowed 
amounting  in  all  to  $565.94. 

Board  met  again  April  7,  1S73.  The  following  resolution 
was  adopted: 

'■'■Resolved.,  That  J.  H.  Winspear  and  S.  W.  Harmon  are 
employed  to  appear  for  the  county  in  all  suits  now  pending  in 
the  District  Court  and  defend  same." 

Fenton  and  Spaulding  voting  for,  and  Riley  against. 
Board  adjourned  to  meet  April  14. 

April  14th,  as  per  adjournment,  the  record  shows  that 
only  Riley  was  present  and  he  adjourned  over  until  April   21. 

The  record  here  shows  a  change  in  the  Board,  and  that 
O.  Dunton  and  B.  F.  Mundorf  were  appointed  to  till  the 
vacancy  caused  by  removal.  The  first  meeting  of  this  newly 
constituted  Board  was  held  April  21,  1873,  at  which  time 
there  were  present  D.  L,  Riley,  O.  Dunton  and  B.  F.  Mun- 
dorf. D.  L.  Riley  was  elected  chairman.  The  Board  trans- 
acted the  usual  business  pertaining  to  county  legislation.  Bills 
were  allowed,  a  large  part  pertaining  to  court  expenses,  in  all 
amounting  to  $1,071.46. 

The  Board  of  1874  consisted  of  D.  L.  Riley,  O.  Dunton 
and  F.  E.  Perry.  This  Board  placed  the  affairs  of  the 
county  upon  a  thorough  business  basis,  and  established  a 
system  of  econom)'  which  succeeding  Boards  have  not  de- 
parted from.  The  Board  of  Supervisers  from  that  time  up  to 
the  present  have  all  been  men  who  had  the  interest  of  the 
county  at  heart.  The  debt  of  the  county  has  been  reduced, 
warrants  are  at  par,  and  the  administration  of  the  count}' 
affairs  is  satisfactory  to  the  people.  I'he  different  persons 
who  have  constituted  the  Board  of  different  years  will  be 
found  under  the  list  of  county  officers. 


CHAPTER  XVI. 

The  Sibley  Gazette  in  its  starting  out,  although  pub- 
lished by  Ren  Barker,  was  made  to  sparkle  with  the  wit,  the 
genius  and  all  kinds  of  advice  and  suggestions,  from  Nellie 
Granger.  She  wrote  many  articles  of  well  constructed  sen- 
tences, under  the  name  of  Nellie  F.  Granger,  and  the  hard 
and  pointed  hits  she  distributed  around  in  the  community  are 
remembered  by  tradition,  while  the  files  of  the  paper  have 
been  laid  on  the  shelf  for  years,  and  nearly  obliterated  by 
carelessness  and  misuse.  Barker  himself  seemed  to  strucrirle 
against  some  criticisms,  and  was  foolish  enough  to  notice 
them,  for  we  see  by  his  early  issues  occasional  items,  like  the 
following: 

"May  be  some  people  know  our  biz  better  than  we  do. 
If  so  they  are  invited  to  take  charge  of  the  machine." 

The  January  24,  1873,  number  of  the  Gazette^  announces 
that  the  Rock  Rapids  Rcviezv  has  been  started  by  O.  A. 
Cheney,  and  that  the  Sheldon  Mail  has  started  out  on  the  sea 
of  journalism.  It  also  says  that  the  January  blizzard  has  done 
somebody  good,  as  the  homesteaders  have  found  work  shovel- 
ing snow,  which  will  enable  them  to  live  through  the  winter. 
It  also  expresses  fears  that  E.  R.  Hazen  was  lost  in  the  storm, 
in  the  following  item : 

"  Nothing  has  been  heard  of  Elmore  R.  Hazen,  who 
worked  in  Sibley  last  fall,  at  carpentering,  and  who  owned  a 
claim  in  this  county,  and  who  started,  as  we  have  learned,  on 
the  morning  of  the  great  storm,  to  go  to  Ocheyedan  river  for 
wood.     It  is  feared  that  he  has  perished." 

Hazen,  however,  is  still  in  the  land  of  the  living.  In 
January  of  1873,  the  following  mail  routes  were  established: 

From  Cherokee  to  Sibley,  48  miles  and  back,  once  a  week. 

From  LeMars,  by  Orange  City,  Ocheyedan  and  Sibley, 
to  Worthington,  Minn.,  74  miles  and  back,  once  a  week. 

From  Spirit  Lake,  by  Melrose,  Silver  Lake,  Sibley  and 
Doon,  to  Beloit,  92  miles  and  back,  once  a  week. 

From  Sibley  to  Beloit,  48  miles  and  back,  once  a  week. 

The  reader  well  knows  how  the  progress  of  the  county 
has  long  since  abolished  these  routes  for  more  speedy  trans- 
portation.    The  cold  snap  of  January  28,  sent  the  thermome- 


128  HISTORY  OF  OSCEOLA    COUNTY.    IOWA. 

ter  down  to  32  degrees  below  zero,  and  at  Sioux  City  23  be- 
low. That  kept  the  homesteaders  of  Osceola  County  bus}^ 
twisting  hay.  The  January  7,  1873,  blizzard  so  blocked  the 
Sioux  City  and  St.  Paul  road,  now  the  Chicago,  St.  Paul,  Min- 
neapolis and  Omaha,  that  the  train  was  not  got  through  until 
Feb.  14.  In  February  12,  1873,  the  following  announcement 
through  the  columns  of  the  local  press  was  made  to  the 
people : 

"Repudiation. — All  the  citizens  that  are  in  favor  of  re- 
pudiating the  indebtedness  of  Osceola  County,  for  the  year 
1872,  about  $20,000,  are  requested  to  meet  at  the  court  house 
on  Saturday,  March  ist.  McCaffery  &  Harmon  will  guaran- 
tee a  clear  case.     Let  there  be  a  full  attendance." 

This  movement  it  seems  died  a  "  horning,"  as  the  follow- 
ing minutes  of  the  meeting  will  show : 

REPUDIATION    MEETING. 

Proceedings  of  mass  meeting  called  to  consider  the  pro- 
priety of  repudiating  the  county  indebtedness,  above  that 
allowed  by  law,  held  at  the  court  house  in  Sibley,  March 
ist,  1873. 

At  half  past  one  o'clock  the  meeting  was  called  to  order 
by  J.  McCaffery,  of  the  firm  of  McCaffery  &  Harmon.  On 
motion  W.  A.  Spencer  was  elected  chairman  and  M.  J.  Camp- 
bell secretary. 

At  the  request  of  J.  McCaffery,  J.  F.  Glover  made  a  state- 
ment of  the  amount  of  warrants  issued  in  excess  of  the  amount 
allowed  by  law  in  1S72  and  1873,  '^s  follows:  In  1872, 
$14,696.24,  and  in  1873,  ^P  ^^  March  ist,  $432.19. 

J.  McCaffery  opened  the  meeting  by  a  speech  in  favor  of 
repudiation,  and  was  replied  to  by  J.  T.  Barclay,  H.  Jordan, 
et  al. 

Tiie  following  resolution  was  passed: 

"  Resolved,  That  a  committee  of  one  be  appointed  to  wait 
upon  the  Board  of  Supervisors  at  their  next  session,  to  request 
them  not  to  issue  any  warrants  for  attorney's  fees,  in  any  case 
whatever  except  in  criminal  cases  or  to  an  attorney  employed 
by  the  year." 

Motion  was  made  by  D.  M.  Shuck  that  the  vote  of  the 
house  be  taken  on  the  question  of  repudiation;  and  the  vote 
was  unanimous  against  repudiation. 

On  motion  of  J.  ¥.  Glover,  J.  McCaffery  was  allowed  ten 
minutes  more  in  which  to  present  his  case  more  fully. 

The  following  resolution  was  then  adopted,  viz: 


J.  L.  McLAURY 


130  I/ISTOKr  OF   OSCEOLA    COUNT!',    IOWA. 

'■'■  Resolved^  That  a  committee  of  three  be  elected  by  the 
house  to  confer  with  the  attorneys  of  this  place  in  reference 
to  making  a  contract  with  one  or  more  of  them  to  become  the 
people's  attorney  for  the  year,  and  that  we  authorize  them  to 
make  such  contract,  in  case  it  can  be  done  upon  satisfactory 
terms.  O.  Dunton,  D.  M,  Shuck  and  D.  F.  Curtis  were  then 
elected  as  said  committee. 

On  motion  of  J.  F.  Glover,  J.  McCaffery  received  a  vote 
of  thanks  for  calling  this  meeting. 

W.  A.  Spencer,  Chainnan. 

M.  J.  Cainipbell,  Secretary. 

In  July,  1873,  the  postoffice  was  established  at  the  house 
of  L.  G.  Ireland,  with  Mr.  Ireland  as  postmaster.  This  was 
long  before  Ocheyedan  was  thought  of.  At  the  same  time 
a  postoffice*  was  established  at  Silver  Lake,  Dickinson  County, 
at  the  house  of  C.  B.  Knox,  with  Mr.  Knox  as  postmaster. 
These  were  on  the  Sibley  and  Spirit  Lake  route,  with  Orren 
Jones  as  mail  carrier. 


D.   D.  McCALLUM. 


CHAPTER  XVII. 

Horton  township's  first  settler  came  in  1S71.  In  1870 
Seymovir  Coyour,  then  under  age,  came  to  Minnesota  with  his 
father,  and  lived  just  over  the  line  of  Horton  in  Minnesota. 
When  Seymour  came  of  age  he  made  contest  of  the  north- 
west quarter  of  Section  24  and  succeeded  in  obtaining  the 
land,  which  he  filed  upon  and  still  fives  on  the  same  place. 
The  first  settler  in  Horton  Township  was  L.  G.  Ireland,  who 
is  elsewhere  mentioned  as  coming  from  Clayton  County,  Iowa, 
with  A.  B.  Elmore  and  E.  N.  Moore.  Mr.  Elmore  was  also 
one  of  Horton's  first  settlers,  on  Section  34,  but  he  did  not 
long  remain  in  Horton,  as  he  soon  after  took  a  claim  in 
Ocheyedan.  Mr,  Ireland  took  the  southeast  quarter  of  Section 
34,  and  turned  the  first  furrow  of  the  soil  of  that  township.  He 
was  also  a  lawyer,  but  he  was  not  a  distinguished  member  of 
that  profession  and  did  not  claim  to  be.  He  was  polit'cally 
ambitious,  and  was  once  a  candidate  for  the  Legislature  on  an 
independent  ticket.  He  has  since  died.  His  claim  is  now 
owned  by  Dick  Wassmann.  So  far  as  we  can  learn  there 
were  no  other  settlers  in  Horton  Township  in  187 1  except 
Mr.  Elmore  and  Mr.  Ireland. 

In  1872  there  were  many  who  settled  in  this  township. 
N.  W.  Emery,  who  is  elsewhere  mentioned,  came  that  year. 
W.  R.  Boling,  mentioned  also  in  another  chapter,  came  in 
1872.  Mr.  Boling  had  two  brothers,  J.  T.  and  E.  W.,  who 
lived  in  Horton,  but  have  since  moved  away.  E.  W.  moved 
from  the  township  into  Ocheyedan  and  resided  there  until 
about  two  years  ago,  when  he  moved  to  Powshiek  County, 
Iowa,  where  he  now  resides.  J.  T.  was  justice  in  that  town- 
ship several  years,  and  is  now  an  evangelist  nnd  lives  in  Illinois. 
In  1872  also  C.  M.  Richards,  W.  Bisby,  W.  W.  Herron,  Henry 
and  Dan  Gibson  and  Jacob  Brooks  settled  in  Horton,  coming 
from  Butler  County,  Iowa.  Richards  left  about  eight  years 
ago,  and  now  resides  in  Pipestone,  Minnesota.  Bisby  went  to 
Butler  County.  Herron  is  in  California.  Mr.  Brooks  is  now 
a  merchant  at  Sibley.  Also  H.  B.  Clemens  came  that  year  to 
the  township,  and  a  few  years  ago  went  to  Washington. 
During  the  residence  of  these  Butler  County  people  Richards 
was  one  of  the  township  trustees,  and  in  the  fall  went  to  Butler 


BROWN  &  CHAMBERS  BLOCK,  STBLEY 


134  HISTORY  OF  OSCEOLA    COUNTY,    IOWA. 

County  and  remained  during  the  winter.  While  thus  away 
on  a  visit,  the  other  trustees  declared  his  ofiice  vacant,  and 
made  an  appointment.  Richards  returned  in  the  spring  and 
was  present  at  the  annual  meeting,  when  he  was  informed 
that  during  his  absence  the  office  had  dropped  from  under 
him,  and  that  another  had  been  appointed  to  fill  the  vacant 
place.  Richards  was  not  of  that  kind  to  surrender  so  easily — 
using  a  common  expression — he  was  not  built  that  way.  He 
first  gave  vent  to  his  feelings,  spoke  his  mind,  and  this,  with 
the  talking  back,  culminated  in  an  open  fight,  in  which  the 
other  fellows  got  the  worst  of  it,  and  the  affair  finally  drifted 
into  court.  Richards,  however,  held  the  office  until  the  expira- 
tion of  his  term.  Samuel  Collett  settled  in  Horton  in  1872; 
he  proved  up  on  his  claim  and  moved  to  Montana,  where  he 
now  resides.  Jacob  Brooks  owned  the  original  quarter  upon 
which  he  settled  until  recently,  and  it  is  now  occupied  by  Mr. 
H.  Keith. 

Since  the  earlier  settlements  in  Horton  Township  quite  a 
a  number  of  German  families  have  moved  into  the  township, 
and  these  Germans  are  considered  as  some  of  its  most  sub- 
stantial and  industrious  citizens.  In  1882  Henry  Wassmann 
with  his  son  Dick,  Charles  Griep  and  several  others  of  their 
neighbors  left  Indiana  and  bought  tickets  to  Chicago,  from 
there  to  Glendive,  Montana.  They  were  simply  going  west 
as  men  do  go,  without  knowing  exactly  where  until  they  looked 
it  over.  They  got  to  Bismarck  in  North  Dakota,  when  the 
elder  Wassmann  thought  that  any  more  west  was  too  much 
for  him,  and  told  the  rest  of  the  party  they  could  go  on,  but 
as  for  himself  he  should  look  over  a  part  of  Iowa.  This 
caused  the  three  parties  above  named  to  return  to  St.  Paul, 
where  they  bought  tickets  to  Sheldon.  They  drove  from 
Sheldon  to  Bigelow,  Minn.,  and  not  desiring  to  settle  there, 
were  returning,  when,  by  parties  at  Sibley,  they  were  induced 
to  settle  in  Osceola  County,  which  they  did.  The  Wass- 
mann's  bought  several  pieces  of  land,  among  which  was  the 
L.  G.  Ireland  place  on  Section  34,  where  Dick  Wassmann 
now  lives.  His  correct  name  is  Diedrich  Wassmann,  but  is 
commonly  called  Dick.  There  is  no  better  farm  in  the  count}" 
than  Dick  Wassmann's,  and  no  better  place  for  a  home  than 
right  there  among  the  large  variety  of  forest  trees,  set  out  by 
tiie  lamented  Ireland  and  later  by  Dick  himself.  About  one 
hundred  different  kinds  of  trees  stand  there  in  the  gorgeous 
grandeur  of  their  green  foliage  and  as  the  leaves  rustle  in  the 
breeze,  they  seem  to  whisper  a  voice  of  contentment,  of  thrift 


\V.   F.  ALDRED. 


136  HISTORY  OF  OSCEOLA    COUNTY,   IOWA. 

and  independence  which  mark  the  surroundings,  and  are  ex- 
pressed in  the  hospitality  of  the  occupant,  for  Dick  Wass- 
mann  is  no  more  diminutive  in  heart  and  soul  than  he  is  in 
statue.  There  are  kinds  of  trees  on  this  farm  that  probably 
couldn't  be  found  anywhere  else  in  the  state,  and  fruit  trees 
in  abundance.  Henry  Wassmann  returned  to  Indiana  where 
he  still  resides.  Charles  Griep  bought  the  northeast  quarter 
Section  27  where  he  still  lives  and  is  a  successful  farmer. 

The  coming  of  these  parties  here  was  the  means  of  other 
Germans  following  them  and  buying  land  in  Horton. 

Henry  Pinkenburg  took  a  part  of  Section  25,  also  did 
Conrad  Hattendorf;  Henry  Rusche  the  northwest  quarter  of 
Section  14;  Fred  Glade  a  part  of  Section  23;  William  Lick  a 
part  of  Section  21,  and  Conrad  Oldendorf  a  part  of  Sections 
23  and  25.  W.  H.  Noehren  bought  the  northeast  quarter  of 
Section  22,  and  still  Hvqs  there.  Mr.  Noehren  has  been 
prominent  in  township  matters,  and  at  present  is  a  member  of 
the  Board  of  County  Commissioners.  This  township  has  a 
good  class  of  people,  and  among  its  other  substantial  farmers 
not  otherwise  mentioned  are  the  three  Piscators,  father  and 
two  sons,  who  we  believe  are  on  Section  8,  Gustav  Johnson  on 
Section  10,  William  Rehborg  on  Section  11,  and  August 
Polinski  on  Section  13. 

On  Section  14,  besides  Henry  Rusche,  lives  August 
Bremer  on  the  northeast  quarter,  and  John  Estabrook  on  the 
southwest  quarter.  Conrad  Bremer  is  on  Section  15,  William 
Filk  and  John  Farragher  on  Section  18,  and  Peter  Wickland 
on  Section  19.  On  Section  20  is  Vaclave  Sixty,  also  John 
Maske,  Joseph  Rhomatko  and  Joseph  Cload.  On  Section  22 
we  find  Chris  Bremer  and  Henry  Redeker. 

John  Robertson  has  the  southeast  quarter  of  Section  24, 
and  John  Gielow  and  William  Grave  are  on  Section  26.  On 
Section  27,  besides  Mr.  Griep,  are  Charles  Schmidt  and 
William  Sein-.  Mr.  Jolin  Thompson  lives  on  a  quarter  of 
Section  28,  and  Mr.  I.  B.  Titus  owns  a  part  of  Section  30,  and 
is  the  only  resident  on  that  section.  Frank  Engle  is  on  Sec- 
tion 31,  and  William  Maske  on  Section  32.  Chris  Wassman 
is  on  Section  35  and  has  recently  built  there  a  house  and  barn. 
On  Section  36  William  Carney  has  a  quarter,  also  A.  V. 
Randall,  and  on  the  same  section  Mr.  Elmore  has  a  tree  claim. 
Mr.  Randall  formerly  lived  on  his  quarter,  but  is  now  in 
business  in  Ocheyedan.  J.  T.  Boling's  place  is  now  owned 
by  Herman  Bauermeister,  who  lives  in  Worlhington,  Minn. 


GEO.   RUPNER. 


138  lllSTORr  OF  OSCEOLA    COUNTY,   IOWA. 

GRASSHOPPER    PERIOD. 

The  histoiy  of  the  great  world  itself  recognizes  certain 
distinct  periods  which  have  marked  the  ages  with  their  differ- 
ent characteristics.  Osceola  County  is  but  a  small  part  of 
this  mighty  universe,  but  its  brief  history  has  it  periods  which 
are  readily  recognized  by  those  of  its  citizens  whose  residence 
here  reaches  back  even  for  only  a  decade. 

The  first  was  its  filing  period,  when  settlers  made  record 
in  the  government  office,  that  they  claimed  certain  pieces  of 
land  for  residence  and  occupation.  The  next  was  the  grass- 
hopper period,  and  the  last  a  period  of  general  contentment 
and  prosperit}'.  This  part  of  the  histoiy  is  devoted  to  the 
grasshopper  period,  and  following  this,  the  relief  campaign 
which  followed  in  the  wake  of  destroyed  crops  and  destitution. 
The  writer  himself  went  through  this  "  reign  of  terror  "  and 
knows  all  about  it  by  personal  contact  and  experience.  The 
grasshopper  itself  was  a  curiosity;  we  call  it  grasshopper  be- 
cause then  among  settlers  it  bore  no  other  name,  while  the 
books  designate  the  pest  as  the  "Rocky  Mountain  locust." 

The  natural  home  of  these  insects  was  on  the  barren 
table  lands  along  the  eastern  base  of  the  Rocky  Mountains. 
There  they  deposited  their  eggs  every  year.  In  Wyoming 
Territory,  Western  Nebraska,  Texas,  the  Indian  Territory 
and  New  Mexico,  the  broods  were  annually  hatched.  In  their 
native  haunts  they  attained  an  enormous  size,  many  specimens 
being  three  inches  in  length.  Scientific  men,  who  have  studied 
the  habits  of  the  grasshoppers  state  that  each  succeeding  brood 
degenerates  in  size,  and  after  three  or  four  generations  the 
weaker  are  obliged  to  swarm  and  seek  other  quarters,  being 
driven  out  by  the  larger  and  stronger  insects. 

These  exiles  rise  and  go  with  the  wind,  keeping  the 
direction  in  which  they  first  start,  stopping  in  their  flight  for 
subsistence  and  depositing  eggs  in  a  prolific  manner  during  the 
incubating  season,  which  lasted  from  the  middle  of  June  to  the 
middle  of  September. 

This  region  had  been  visited  by  grasshoppers  before,  but 
did  not  excite  a  great  deal  of  attention  for  the  reasons  that  the 
county  was  sparsel}^  settled  and  but  a  small  area  of  land  under 
cultivation,  and  they  came  so  late  in  the  season  that  small 
grains  were  generally  out  of  their  reach,  but  extreme  North- 
western Iowa  then  was  not  settled,  so  that  their  ravages  were 
further  east.  Their  first  appearance  at  Sibley  was  on  the  5th 
day  of  June,  1S73.      The  first  seen  of  them  was  a  huge  black 


I 


/^^i 


\ 


^^'-^ 


14^.   )J^:'-'^^W# 


Q,  E.  CLEAVELAND. 


140  HISTORY  OF  OSCEOLA    COUNTY,   IOWA. 

cloud,  which  was  none  other  than  a  swarm  of  grasshoppers, 
and  which  sent  out  a  roaring  sound  that  terrified  the  ears. 
Where  there  was  any  grain  to  cut  even  before  its  maturity, 
the  settlers  went  at  it  to  save  what  they  could,  but  the  grass- 
hoppers were  not  bad  reapers  themselves,  and  the  modern  and 
latest  improved  of  agricultural  machinery  cut  but  little  figure 
in  the  race,  when  that  swarm  of  grasshoppers  came  down  and 
went  to  work.  They  were  possessed  of  great  vitality  and 
enormous  appetites;  their  first  appearance  was  alarming  and 
their  devastations  were  appalling.  It  introduced  to  the  settlers 
a  serious  problem;  they  were  new  to  the  country,  or  rather 
the  country  was  new  to  them,  and  this  strange  visitation  raised 
the  question  as  to  whether  or  not  this  grasshopper  business 
was  a  part  of  the  country  itself,  and  that  the  pests  would  re- 
main off  and  on  indefinitely  in  the  future.  This  thought,  aside 
from  their  coming  and  the  destruction  the}'  did  in  1873,  caused 
much  concern  and  consternation. 

These  grasshoppers  had  crossed  the  Missouri  River  and 
commenced  foraging  in  the  bordering  Iowa  counties,  and 
devoured  the  crops  as  they  went  to  a  greater  or  less  extent. 
In  this  season  of  1873  some  of  the  Osceola  County  settlers 
lost  what  crop  they  had  by  the  grasshoppers,  and  others  their 
crops  were  partially  destroyed.  Some  saved  a  small  garden 
patch  by  means  of  "shooing"  them  off  and  keeping  the  patch 
free  from  them,  although  the  task  was  tedious  and  difficult. 

The  early  part  of  the  season  was  extremely  dry.  No 
rain  fell  from  the  first  of  May  to  the  middle  of  June.  Grain 
did  not  grow  much,  but  the  grasshoppers  did,  and  before  the 
drouth  ended,  the  crops  were  eaten  and  parched  beyond  all 
hope  of  recovery.  About  the  middle  of  June,  however,  con- 
siderable rain  fell,  and  outside  of  the  before  mentioned  counties 
the  prospect  was  generally  favorable  for  good  crops.  The 
young  grasshoppers  commenced  to  get  wings  about  the  middle 
of  June,  and  in  a  few  days  they  began  to  rise  and  fly.  The 
prospect  seemed  good  for  a  speedy  riddance  from  the  pests. 
The  perverse  insects  were  waiting  for  an  easterly  wind,  but 
the  wind  blew  from  the  southwest  for  nearly  three  weeks,  so 
they  staid  and  visited,  and  eat  and  continued  their  ravages. 

Early  in  the  spring  of  1874  the  eggs  deposited  the  season 
before,  commenced  hatching,  and  the  soil  looked  literally  alive 
with  insignificant  looking  insects,  a  quarter  of  an  inch  in  length 
but  of  enormous  eating  qualities.  As  if  by  instinct,  their  first 
movements  were  toward  the  fields  where  tender  shoots  of 
grain  were  making  their  modest  appearance.     Sometimes  the 


CHRIS  W.  HOLLE. 


142  H/STUKl'  OF  OSCEOLA    COUNTl',    IOWA. 

first  intimation  a  farmer  would  have  of  what  was  going  on 
would  be  from  noticing  along  one  side  of  his  grain-field  a  nar- 
row strip  where  the  grain  was  missing.  At  first,  perhaps,  he 
would  attribute  it  to  a  "balk"  in  sowdng,  but  each  day  it  grew 
wider  and  a  closer  examination  would  reveal  the  presence  of 
young  grasshoppers. 

The  settlers  of  Osceola  County  in  the  spring  of  1874  ^'^^ 
their  sowing  and  planting  under  a  feehng  of  apprehension. 
They  were  here  and  the  work  must  go,  even  with  the  grass- 
hopper difficulty  staring  them  in  the  face.  Many  got  out  of 
the  country,  owing  to  the  grasshoppers  of  1873,  but  they  who 
remained  had  nought  else  to  do  but  to  work  on.  The  grass- 
hopper ravages  were  the  worst  in  1874  "^"^  1875,  and  from 
then  on  the  pests  degenerated  in  size  and  did  less  miscliief 
each  year,  but  were  still  here  until  1879  when  they  did  but 
little  damage  and  in  1880  the  county  felt  itself  well  rid  of 
them. 

All  sorts  of  suggestions  and  devices  were  made  with  ref- 
erence to  the  destruction  of  grasshoppers  during  these  years, 
and  it  was  much  of  a  topic  of  discussion  how  to  get  rid  of 
them.  Judge  Oliver,  in  a  communication  to  the  Sioux  City 
yoitrncil,  said:  "Farmers  should  not  be  discouraged.  Crops, 
especially  wheat  and  corn,  should  be  put  in  as  early  as  possi- 
ble, so  as  to  get  a  start  while  the  hoppers  are  small.  Late 
potatoes  and  beans  may  be  planted  as  late  as  is  safe,  so  as  not 
to  get  up  until  the  hoppers  are  gone.  Young  trees  and 
shrubs  may  be  protected  by  a  sack  of  thin  cloth  drawn  over 
them  and  tied  at  the  bottom.  I  desire  to  impress  on  farmers, 
where  the  eggs  are  unhatched,  the  absolute  necessity  of  early 
seeding.  One  week's  difference  in  the  time  of  seeding  may 
make  all  the  differences  between  a  good  crop   and  a  failure." 

The  Sioux  City  'Journal  said:  "The  grasshopper  de- 
posits its  eggs  at  the  roots  of  the  grass  in  the  latter  part  of 
summer  or  earl}'  autumn.  The  eggs  hatch  out  early  in  spring, 
and  during  the  months  of  April,  May  and  June,  according  as 
the  season  is  early  or  late;  they  are  wingless,  their  sole  power 
of  locomotion  being  the  hop. 

"To  destroy  them,  all  that  is  needed  is  for  each  county, 
town  or  district  to  organize  itself  into  a  fire  brigade,  through- 
out the  district  where  their  eggs  are  known  to  be  deposited. 

"This  fire  brigade  shall  see  that  the  prairies  are  not 
burned  over  in  the  fall,  and  thus  they  will  have  the  grass  for 
the  next  spring  and  to  be  employed  upon  the  pests  while  they 
are  yet  hoppers,  the  means  of  sure  death.     To  apply  it,  let  all 


HLSTORl    OF  OSCEOLA    COVNTT,   IOWA.  143 

agree  upon  a  certain  day,  say  in  April  or  May  or  at  any  time 
when  they  are  sure  all  the  hoppers  are  hatched  and  none  are 
yet  winged.  All  being  ready  let  every  person,  man,  woman 
and  boy,  turn  out  with  torches  and  simultaneously  fire  the 
whole  prairie,  and  the  work,  if  well  done,  will  destroy  the 
whole  crop  of  grasshoppers  for  that  year,  and  none  will  be 
left  to  "soar  their  gossamer  wings"  or  lay  eggs  for  another 
year." 

The  Gazette  of  July  lO,  1S74,  had  the  following: 

"  Grasshoppers  are  being  successfully  chased  by  many 
people  in  this  county.  There  is  usually  a  slight  wind  blowing, 
and  people  take  ropes  one  or  two  hundred  feet  in  length,  and, 
stretching  them  out,  walk  or  ride  across  the  fields,  the  trailing 
rope  disturbing  the  grain,  which  causes  the  'hoppers'  to  fly 
up,  and  then  the  friendly  wmd  carries  them  off  the  field. 

"Mr.  Dunton,  who  has  been  saving  his  wheat  by  the  use 
of  ropes,  finds  it  useful  to  tie  rags,  newspapers,  etc.,  to  them 
on  account  of  the  greater  rustle  the  rope  makes  as  it  trails 
over  the  grain  with  these  attached." 

As  the  grasshopper  years  went  on,  the  people  themselves, 
scientific  men  and  even  the  halls  of  legislation  were  discussing 
tiie  important  question  of  how  to  drive  the  "hoppers"  from 
the  country.  Many  and  varied  were  the  experiments.  They 
tried  smudging,  burning  the  prairie,  burning  tar,  digging 
ditches  and  every  conceivable  thing  that  the  ingenuity  of  man 
could  suggest,  even  to  a  huge  trap  in  which  to  snare  and 
catch  them.  Minnesota  offered  a  bounty  of  a  certain  amount 
per  bushel  for  them,  and  actually  paid  out  quite  a  sum,  which 
helped  the  people  along,  but  the  idea  of  delivering  a  crop  of 
grasshoppers  for  a  consideration,  strikes  us  now  as  bordering 
on  the  ridiculous.  These  pests  lasted  about  seven  years,  and 
the  latter  years  of  the  seven  they  were  much  less  troublesome 
than  the  first.  The  grasshopper  business,  too,  had  its  humor- 
ous side,  and  there  was  much  wit  grew  out  of  it,  and  the 
eastern  papers  made  much  fun  of  us,  and  not  only  that,  but 
seriously  charged  us  with  being  a  country  liable  to  such  things, 
and  hence  unfit  to  live  in.  The  county  papers  around  in 
Northwestern  Iowa  would  each  claim  that  the  other  county 
was  the  worst.  The  Gazette  said  in  one  issue  they  were 
mostly  in  Dickinson  County,  and  the  Beacon  gives  this  assertion 
the  lie  and  says  they  are  on  the  border  of  Osceola  "peeking" 
over.  Some  agricultural  house  printed  a  card  bearing  the 
picture  of  a  grasshopper  sitting  on  a  board  fence  gazing  at  a 
wheat  field, and  underneath  the  words:     "In  this  s( wheat)  by 


144  HISTORY  OF  OSCEOLA    COUNT!',   IOWA. 

and  bye."     The  poet  was  also  at  work,  and  the  following  one 
of  the  numerous  productions: 

CHARGE    OF    THE    GRASSHOPPER    BRIGADE. 

Half  a  league,  half  a  league, 

Half  a  league  onward, 

Right  from  the  West  they  came, 

More  than  six  hundred —  ~ 

Out  from  forest  and  glade; 

"  Charge  for  the  corn ! "  they  said 

Then  for  the  fields  they  made — 

More  than  six  hundred. 

Fields  to  the  right  of  them, 
Fields  to  the  left  of  them ; 
Fields  in  front  of  them, 
Pillaged  and  plundered; 
Naught  could  their  numbers  tell, 
Down  on  the  crop  they  fell. 
Nor  left  a  stalk  or  shell— - 
More  than  six  hundred. 

Flashed  all  their  red  legs  bare. 
Flashed  as  they  turned  in  air, 
Robbing  the  farmers  there. 
Charging  an  orchard,  while 
All  the  world  wondered! 
Plunged  in  the  smudge  and  smoke. 
Right  through  the  corn  they  broke. 
Hopper  and  locust; 
Peeled  they  the  stalks  all  bare, 
Shattered  and  sundered ; 
Then  they  went  onward — but 
More  than  six  hundred. 

Since  these  grasshopper  days  the  old  settlers  can  see  what 
they  missed  by  the  following,  recently  pubhshed: 

"  Some  very  important  uses  for  grasshoppers  have 
recently  been  discovered.  There  would  seem  to  be  no  reason 
why  they  should  not  be  applied  to  commercial  advantage  in 
the  event  of  a  plague  this  year.  Not  long  ago  four  quarts  of 
liquid,  expressed  from  half  a  bushel  of  "hoppers"  under  a 
cheese  press,  were  shipped  in  a  glass  from  Spirit  Lake,  Iowa, 
to  Professor  William  K.  Kedzie,  of  the  Kansas  State  Agri- 
cultural College.  He  made  a  complete  analysis,  and  by 
distilling  the  juice  with  sulphuric  acid  obtained  a  colorless, 
limpid  solution  of  formic  acid.  Now,  this  acid  is  very  valua- 
ble, having  a  present  market  quotation  of  sixty  cents  an  ounce. 
It  is  not  only  employed  in  medicine  to  a  considerable  extent, 
but  it  is  also  utilized  in  the  laboratory  to  reduce  salts  of  the 
noble  metals,  gold,  silver  and  platinum.  Hitherto  it  has 
always  been  extracted  from  red  ants,  but  the  possibility  of 
getting    it   in  large  quantities  from  grasshoppers  suggests  a 


RESIDENCE  OF  ASA  BOWERSOCK,  OCHEYEDAn! 


146  HISTORY  OF   OSCEOLA    COUNTY,   IOWA. 

method  for  employing  these  insects  to  an  unlooked-for  advan- 
tage. An  interesting  feature  of  the  anal3'sis  was  the  discovery 
of  a  certain  amount  of  copper  in  the  liquid.  This  metal  has 
been  found  in  the  blood  of  other  animals,  particularly  m  that 
of  the  horseshoe  crab,  which  always  furnishes  a  trace  of  it.  It 
is  not  suggested,  however,  that  grasshoppers  would  assay  a 
sufficient  amount  of  copper  to  the  ton  to  make  it  worth  while 
to  smelt  them. 

"A  while  ago,  Professor  C.  V.  Ripley,  United  States 
entomologist,  sent  a  bushel  of  grasshoppers,  freshly  caught 
and  scalded,  to  Mr.  Bonnet,  a  St.  Louis  caterer.  The  latter 
made  a  soup  of  them,  which  was  pronounced  perfectly  deli- 
cious by  many  people  who  were  afforded  an  opportunity  of 
tasting  it.  It  closely  resembled  bisque.  Mr,  Bonnet  declared 
that  he  would  gladly  have  it  on  his  bill  of  fare  every  day  if  he 
could  only  obtain  the  insects.  His  method  of  preparing  the 
dish,  as  described  by  himself,  was  to  boil  the  hoppers  over  a 
brisk  fire,  seasoning  them  with  salt,  pepper  and  grated  nut- 
meg, and  occasionally  stirring  them.  When  sufficiently  done 
they  were  pounded  in  a  mortar  with  bread  fried  brown;  then 
they  were  replaced  in  the  saucepan  and  thickened  to  a  broth, 
which  was  passed  through  a  strainer  before  being  served. 
Professor  Riley  treated  some  friends  of  his  on  one  occasion 
to  curr}'  of  grasshoppers  and  grasshopper  croquettes  without 
informing  them  as  to  the  nature  of  the  banquet,  but  an 
unlucky  hind  leg,  discovered  in  one  of  the  croquettes,  revealed 
the  secret." 

RELIEF. 

In  January,  1873,  there  was  organized  at  Sibley  what  they 
called  the  "Citizen  Farmers'  Club."  This  was  before  the 
"Grange"  swept  over  the  state,  but  both  of  these  had  the  usual 
conditions  of  existence.  They  had  their  birth,  maturity  and 
death.  The  Citizen  Farmers'  Club  was  organized  December 
7,  1872,  and  its  object  as  declared  by  a  resolution  was  for  the 
purpose  of  mutual  protection,  assistance,  encouragement,  in- 
struction and  social  intercourse  generally.  Meetings  were 
held  every  Friday  afternoon  at  one  o'clock,  and  no  doubt  many 
an  ambitious  orator,  after  the  fame  of  Cicero,  electrified  and 
delighted  the  audience.  This  organization  had  quite  a  num- 
ber of  meetings,  but  soon  as  the  Grange  was  introduced  into 
Osceola  County,  the  Citizen  Farmers'  Club  began  to  de- 
cline and  last,  in  the  language  of  the  illustrious  Cleveland,  went 
into  "Innocuous  desuetude."     Following  thege  and  really  as  a 


HISTORY  OF  OSCEOLA    COUNTY,   IOWA.  147 

basis  upon  which  to  secure  relief  for  the  people  by  reason  of 
grasshoppers,  the  following  announcement  appeared  in  a  Sep- 
tember number  of  the  Gazette: 

"  Homesteader's  Protective  Association. — There 
will  be  a  meeting  of  the  citizens  of  Osceola  County,  on  the  fair 
grounds,  near  Sibley,  at  i  o'clock  p.  m.,  September  25,  1873, 
for  the  purpose  of  organizing  a  Homesteader's  Protective  As- 
sociation, the  object  and  aim  of  which,  will  be  to  look  after  the 
interests  of  all  true  homesteaders.  It  is  hoped  that  there  will 
be  a  general  turnout,  that  the  organization  may  be  made  per- 
manent as  long  as  it  may  be  needed  in  this  locality.  In  union 
there  is  strength.  Many  Homesteaders." 

The  meeting  was  held  according  to  announcement  and 
the  following  is  a  report  of  it: 

homesteader's    protective  association, 

A  large  number  of  homesteaders  were  present  at  the 
meeting  held  at  the  Court  house  on  Saturday  last.  D.  L. 
Riley  was  chosen  temporary  Chairman,  and  F.  M.  Robinson 
temporary  Secretary.  Appropriate  and  earnest  remarks  were 
made  by  D.  L.  Riley  and  H.  Jordan.  A  committee  on  reso- 
lutions, consisting  of  J.  H.  Douglass,  H.  Jordan  and  A.  W. 
Clark,  was  appointed.  Remarks  were  made  by  J.  L.  Robin- 
son, W.  Rea,  A.  Halstead  and  Allen  Garvin. 

The  committee  on  resolutions  reported  a  preamble  and 
resolutions  which  were  adopted.  We  have  not  space  for 
them,  but  the  gist  of  them  is  as  follows:  After  setting  forth 
as  reasons  for  the  forming  of  an  association,  the  fact  that  many 
homesteaders,  owing  to  the  failure  of  their  crops,  would  be 
compelled  to  leave  the  county  for  a  time  to  obtain  work  in 
order  to  provide  for  their  families;  also  that  fears  were  enter- 
tained of  their  claims  being  unjustly  contested,  thereby  caus- 
ing them  expense  vvhich  they  were  unable  to  bear;  "there- 
fore, be  it 

"  Resolved,  That  we,  the  undersigned,  band  ourselves  to- 
gether for  the  purpose  of  protecting  ourselves  in  our  rights." 

A  series  of  resolutions,  fifteen  in  number,  establishing  the 
number  of  officers  as  one  President,  one  Vice  President  from 
each  range  of  townships,  a  Secretar}^  and  Treasurer;  appoint- 
ing a  regular  meeting  on  the  tirst  Saturday  of  each  month,  at 
I  o'clock  p.  M.,  in  the  court  house;  establishing  certain  com- 
mittees, defining  their  duties;  giving  the  terms  of  admission  to 
the  association;  and  making  it  necessary  for  the  Treasurer  to 
give  a  bond,  etc,  were  adopted.  The  officers  elected  were 
as  follows: 


148  IIISTORl'  OF   OSCEOLA    COUNTY,    IOWA. 

President,  D.  L.  Riley;  First  Vice  President,  C.  W. 
Wyllys;  Second  Vice  President,  C.  M.  Bailey;  Third  Vice 
President,  A.  Garvin;  Secretary,  H.Jordan;  Treasurer,  J.  L. 
Robinson. 

Any  resident  of  Osceola  County  may  become  a  member 
of  this  organization  by  subscribing  his  or  her  name  to  the 
preamble,  resolutions  and  by-laws,  and  paying  the  sum  of 
fifty  cents. 

Any  one  wishing  to  examine  the  by-laws,  etc.,  or  to 
become  a  member  of  the  association,  can  do  so  by  calling  at 
Jordan's  office. 

This  meeting  was  the  foundation  of  a  call  for  relief. 
Grasshoppers  had  devastated  the  county,  and  what  crops  there 
were  had  generally  been  ruined  by  this  pest.  On  the  start, 
the  people  were  divided  on  this  relief  question,  as  many  were 
opposed  to  it  on  the  ground  that  it  would  give  the  county  a 
bad  reputation  and  retard  settlement.  Several  men  in  Sibley 
offered  to  carry  such  families  as  were  extremely  needy, 
throuii'h  the  winter  and  furnish  them  the  necessaries  of  life. 
Others,  of  those  opposed  to  relief,  thought  the  county  had 
better  make  provision  for  its  own,  but  the  relief  party  was 
numerically  the  stronger,  and  finally  its  opposers  had  to  fall 
into  line.  It  is  often  the  case  when  some  sudden  catastrophe 
has  fallen  upon  a  community,  like  the  Chicago  fire  or  the 
Johnstown  flood,  that  the  community  itself  is  unable  to  take 
care  of  its  unfortunates.  Where  hundreds  of  families  are  left 
homeless  and  thrown  upon  the  charity  of  others,  then,  indeed, 
it  is  well  to  call  upon  other  parts  of  the  country  for  contribu- 
tions. But  there  is  always  more  or  less  fraud  connected  with 
it,  and  it  is  apt  to  be  the  case  that  the  modest  people,  but 
more  deserving,  get  but  little  of  the  relief  goods,  while  the 
"cheeky"  ones  get  the  most.  It  was  a  question  then,  and  is 
now,  whether  that  relief  movement  for  Northwestern  Iowa 
was  advisable,  but  the  people  had  it,  organizations  were 
effected  to  handle  it,  the  state  was  solicited  particularly,  and 
the  country  generally,  for  supplies.  Adjutant-General  Baker 
was  the  state  manager,  and  each  county,  and  indeed  each 
township  liad  its  committees. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  Sibley  Grange,  held  the  evening  of 
the  7th  of  October,  1873,  the  following  among  the  proceedings 
was  had: 

"On  motion,  J.  F.  Glover,  H.  C.  Hungerford  and  F.  M. 
Robinson  were  authorized  and  instructed  to  prepare  an  ad- 
dress to  the  Master  of  the  National  Grange,  and  to  the  State 


RESIDENCE  OF  C.  M.  MATsVII.LE,  OCHEYEDAN. 


150  JffSTORr  OF  OSCEOLA    COVNTT.    IOWA. 

and  Subordinate  Granges  of  Iowa,  soliciting  supplies  of  grain 
for  seed,  to  be  used  by  the  farmers  of  Osceola  County  in  the 
spring  of  1874,  who  are  and  will  be  unable  to  purchase  the 
same  on  account  of  the  almost  total  failure  of  crops  the  past 
season." 

The  Gazette  notes  one  weeks  receipts  as  follows:  "Two 
boxes,  three  sacks,  eight  barrels  of  flour  and  two  carloads  of 
coal.  General  Baker  reports  nine  more  carloads  of  coal 
which  will  make  seventeen  in  all.  About  $200  in  cash  have 
been  received,  which  will  be  used  to  procure  seed  grain." 

The  relief  business  soon  fell  into  controversy  and  the 
newspapers  were  wrangling  over  the  question. 

The  Gazette  of  December  19,  1873,  had  the  following 
article : 

"The  Relief  Question. — We  notice  that  some  of  the 
papers  in  this  part  of  the  state  are  attributing  all  the  destitu- 
tion to  this  county;  some  of  them  even  intimate  that  all  the 
supplies  which  come  to  this  place  are  distributed  to  the  people 
of  this  county.  In  order  to  correct  this  impression,  we  have 
obtained  from  J.  L.  Robinson,  the  secretary  of  the  distributing 
committee,  the  following  figures: 

"From  the  loth  to  the  i6th,  inclusive,  of  this  month,  only 
six  davs,  there  has  been  filled  sixty-seven  orders  for  families 
of  Lyon  County,  and  thirty-four  from  Rock  and  Nobles 
Counties,  Minnesota.  Sixty-seven  orders  in  six  days  from  a 
county  whose  prominent  men  boasted  in  the  Sioux  City 
yonrnal  that  they  could  take  care  of  their  own  poor,  does  not 
look  much  as  if  they  were  backing  up  their  talk  by  deeds.  It 
should  be  remembered  that  these  orders  are  not  for  single  arti- 
cles, but  are  from  half  a  ton  of  coal  to  provisions  and  clothing 
for  a  whole  family,  and  in  many  instances  all  combined.  The 
above  explanation  will  also  apply  to  the  Minnesota  applicants. 

"We  publish  elsewhere  a  communication  from  Minnesota 
men  in  regard  to  the  matter. 

"  While  we  have  not  denied  the  need  of  aid  in  this  county, 
we  think  it  hardly  fair  that  we  should  have  to  bear  the  whole 
odium,  especially  when  we  are  giving  out  supplies  to  people 
whose  own  county  was  going  to  take  care  of  them,  and  to  in- 
habitants of  another  state  where  there  is  no  more  than  ordi- 
nary destitution.  No  doubt  some  have  obtained  supplies  who 
did  not  really  need  them,  but  we  should  hesitate  to  call  all 
those  thieves  who  get  aid,  and  they  certainly  would  be  such  if 
they  had  taken  when  not  deserving.  As  we  understand  the 
matter,  the   supplies   were   sent   for  the  needy  homesteaders 


HISTORl'   OF  OSCEOLA    COUNTY,   IOWA..  151 

of  the  northwestern  part  of  the  state,  and  all  received  at  this 
place  have  been  so  distributed,  except  those  furnished  desti- 
tute people  in  Minnesota.  The  distributino-  people  are  faith- 
ful careful  men,  and  have  done  their  work  well;  they  may  have 
been  deceived,  but  we  think  that  what  complaint  there  may 
be,  has  come  from  those  who  have  been  refused  when  it  was 
ascertained  that  they  did  not  need. 

"  We  hope  that  the  papers  of  these  neighboring  counties 
will  at  least  give  us  credit  for  what  we  have  done,  and  not  tr}- 
to  shove  all  their  destitution  off  onto  Osceola  County,  because 
it  might  injure  their  future  prospects — especially  in  the  face  of 
the  above  mentioned  facts." 

On  November  14,  1873,  the  following  appeal  was  issued: 

"  An  Appeal  for  Aid. —  To  Ihc  People  of  the  Slate  of 
lozva :  We,  the  undersigned,  a  committee  appointed  by  the 
Homesteaders'  Protective  Association  of  Osceola  Count}',  an 
organization  effected  for  the  purpose  of  looking  after  the  ex- 
treme and  urgent  necessities  of  the  people  of  said  county, 
caused  by  the  almost  total  failure  of  the  crops,  do  deem  it  just 
and  proper  that  we  let  our  sister  counties,  who  are  in  affluent 
circumstances,  have  positive  knowledge  of  the  situation  of  a 
very  large  proportion  of  the  citizens  of  this  county. 

The  most  of  the  settlers  came  here  last  spring  with  little  or 
no  means,  and  depending  entirely  on  their  efforts  during  the 
summer  to  carry  them  through  the  winter;  honestly  and  faith- 
fully have  they  toiled.  A  very  large  amount  of  ground  was 
sown  and  planted  in  the  spring — more  than  sufficient  to  raise 
subsistence  for  all  for  the  coming  winter,  if  it  had  not  been  for 
an  extremely  wet,  backward  spring,  and  the  invasion  of  a  vast 
army  of  grasshoppers,  which  caused  almost  a  total  failure  of 
corn  and  small  grain  crops,  so  that  they  now  find  themselves 
on  the  eve  of  a  long,  cold  winter,  worse  off  than  in  the  spring; 
without  food  of  the  plainest  kind,  and  without  means  to  pur- 
chase fuel  to  protect  themselves  and  families  during  the  com- 
ing winter.  There  are  hundreds  of  families  who  have  not 
sufficient  clothing,  and  know  not  where  the  bread  that  they 
will  eat  ten  days  hence  is  coming  from,  or  their  fuel.  These 
same  people  relying  on  their  crops  to  carry  them  through  the 
winter,  have  labored  diligently  through  the  summer,  and 
thousands  of  acres  of  the  prairie  have  been  turned  over  ready 
for  a  crop  next  spring. 

"  Now,  therefore,  be  it  known  to  the  people  of  the  State 
of  Iowa,  that  without  liberal  assistance  from  some  source,  a 
very  large  portion  of  the  citizens  of  this  county  will  be  without 


152  .HISTORY  OF  OSCEOLA    COUNTY.   IOWA. 

the  necessaries  to  sustain  life,  and  also  fuel  to  keep  them  from 
freezing,  and  unless,  from  some  source,  seed  is  furnished  to 
these  people  to  sow  and  plant  in  the  spring,  many  of  the 
broad  acres  that  are  now  ready  will  haye  to  lie  idle  the  com- 
ing season. 

"  We  therefore  appeal  to  the  liberal,  christian  hearted  peo- 
ple of  this  state  for  assistance  in  the  shape  of  money,  clothing, 
fuel  and  staple  articles  of   food. 

"  At  the  present  writing  there  are  at  least  two  hundred 
famiHes  in  the  county  needing  immediate  assistance. 
"  All  consignments  will  be  made  to 

"  C.  M.  Bailey,  Agent  H.  P.  A., 

"  Sibley,  Osceola  Count}-,  Iowa. 
"(For  relief.) 

"Allen  Garvin, 
"RoBT.  Stamm, 
"W.  W.  Cramm, 
"J.  L.  RoniNsoN, 
"J.  H.  Douglass, 

'■'•  Committee.'''' 
At  a  joint  meeting  of  the  Relief  and  Grange  Committees, 
held  Saturday,  January  3,  1874,  the  following  township  com- 
mittees were  appointed  to  canvass  the  several  townships  and 
ascertain  the  actual  necessities  of  the  inhabitants: 

Township  98,  Range  42 — S.  rianey,  A.  H.  Miller  and  A. 
W.  Mitchell. 

Township  98,  Range  41 — C.  Thompson,  J.  Mandeville 
and  W.  Rea. 

Township  98,  Range  40  — N.  D.  Bowles,  J.  C.  Moar  and 
D.  W.  McCullam. 

Township  99,  Range  42 — Wm.  Anderson,  F.  Townsend 
and  E.  Huff. 

Township  99,  Range  41 — W.  S.  Westcott,  W.  A.  Spencer 
and  Curtis. 

Township  99,  Range  39-40 —C.  Bo^d,  W.  A.  Waldo 
and  F.  Thayer. 

Township  100,  Range  42 — N.  I.  Wetmore,  F.  Reynolds 
and  S.  Cram. 

Township  100,  Range  41 — Wm.  Tliomas,  P.  Piesle}' 
and  A.  Sliapley. 

Township  100,  Range  40 — W.  W.  Herron,  Q.  E.  Cleve- 
land and  J.  F.  Pfaff. 

Township  100,  Range  39 — J.  S.  Flint,  C.  M.  Richards 
and  Ira  Stevens. 


C.  I.   HILL. 


154  HISTORT  OF  OSCEOLA    COUNTY.  IOWA. 

The  State  Senate  of  1873-74  appointed  a  committee  to 
visit  Northwest  Iowa  with  reference  to  legislative  action  for 
the  purpose  of  securing  a  loan  with  which  to  buy  seed  grain. 
December  3,  1874,  ^eo.  D.  Perkins,  Senator  from  Woodbury 
County,  and  Samuel  Fairall,  Senator  from  Johnson  County, 
went  to  Sibley  and  held  a  conference  with  the  people.  They 
examined  the  Auditor's  books  in  order  to  ascertain  the  financial 
condition  of  the  county,  and  the  feasibility  of  the  count^^  issuing 
warrants  for  the  purchase  of  grain,  and  ascertained  that  the 
county  could  not  "obtain  the  supply  needed  from  its  own  re- 
sources. These  men  expressed  themselves  as  wishing  that 
the  entire  General  Assembly  might  be  there  and  see  for  them- 
selves, and  promised  that  they  would  make  an  appeal  for  its 
sympathy,  and  to  its  patriotism  for  action  in  the  matter.  A 
bill  was  presented  by  Mr.  Perkins  asking  an  appropriation  of 
$105,000  for  the  purchase  of  seed  grain  and  expenses  of  three 
commissioners  to  purchase  and  distribute;  $5,000  out  of  the 
amount  appropriated  to  be  paid  for  expenses.  Under  this  bill 
the  money  was  to  be  in  the  nature  of  a  loan,  w^hich  the  parties 
were  to  pay  back.  After  a  discussion,  a  bill  was  agreed  upon 
to  donate,  instead  of  loan,  $50,000  to  the  northwest  counties, 
and  this  bill  passed  both  houses  and  became  a  law.  Out  of 
this  donation  Osceola  County  got  about  $8,000. 

The  Legislative  Committee,  Messrs.  Brown  and  Tasker, 
arrived  in  Sibey  March  12,  1874,  ^"^  "opened  court."  They 
were  armed  with  blanks,  requiring  the  settler  to  state  where 
he  lived,  whether  he  was  owner  or  renter,  and  how  man}' 
acres  he  had  broken ;  also  that  he  had  no  seed,  no  money  to 
buy  seed  with,  and  that  he  would  use  the  seed  for  sowing. 
They  also  required  testimony  where  one's  word  was  not  con- 
sidered good,  and  admonished  each  and  all  that  the  peniten- 
tiary stared  them  in  the  face  if  they  swore  falsely.  This 
Legislative  tribunal  did  their  work  and  went  home. 

On  March  27,  1874,  '^f^cr  the  relief  business  had  under- 
gone its  usual  trials  and  vexations,  and  charges  of  fraud  had 
gone  around,  and  considerable  discontent  and  dissatisfaction, 
the  following  instructions  were  issued  by  General  Baker  to 
committee: 

"  In  the  distribution  of  all  supplies  the  utmost  caution  and 
care  must  be  exercised,  and  only  the  really  needy  must  be 
supplied,  and  they  must  be  careful  to  save  something  m 
reserve  for  emergency  or  in  case  of  sickness. 

"In  order  to  conform  to  the  above  instructions  the  com- 


irrSTORl     OF   OSCEOLA    COUNTY,   IOWA.  155 

mittee  will  require  each  applicant  for  aid  to  take  and  subscribe 
the  following  oath : 

" Sibley,  Iowa, i874" 

"I, do  solemnly  swear,  so  help  me 

God,  that  I  have  not  flour  or  other  provisions  sufficient  to  last 
my  family  one  week,  and  that  I  have  no  means,  on  hand  or 
at  my  command,  to  procure  subsistence  for  my  family. 


Soon  after  this,  which  was  in  March,  1874,  ^^*^  relief 
business  was  ended. 

On  March  12,  1874,  the  state  committee  issued  the 
following: 

Dks  Moines,  March   12,   1874. 

^'•lo  the  Public :  The  undersigned  would  state  for  the 
information  of  all  concerned,  that  all  supplies  in  our  possession 
for  Northwestern  settlers,  will  be  distributed  by  April  ist, 
1873.  There  may  be  a  small  amount  left  on  hand  at  that  date 
but  hardly  worth  consideration.  The  settlers  and  committees 
must  now  act  most  cautiously  and  govern  themselves  in  ac- 
cordance with  the  existing  condition  of  supplies.  Any 
Grange  or  other  benevolent  people  who  have  anything  to  for- 
ward should  do  so  at  once.  All  our  advantages  on  railroad 
lines  will  probably  cease  by  the  date  above  designated.  And 
here  in  conclusion,  we  wish  to  thank  the  railroads,  express 
companies  and  the  telegi*aph  companies  for  all  the  great  favors 
the}'  have  done  to  the  Northwestern  settlers,  in  forwarding 
the  generous  donations  of  our  benevolent  people. 

N.  B.  Baker. 

J.  D.  Whitman, 

R.  R.  Harbour, 

D.  W.  Prindle, 

State  Grauiyc  Couwuttec. 

March  23,  1873,  after  an  extended  announcement,  the 
people  gathered  in  the  courthouse  at  Sibley,  crowding  the 
house  to  its  utmost  capacity,  to  listen  to  General  Baker  and 
others,  and  to  have  sort  of  a  speaking  love  feast  over  the 
winding  up  of  the  relief  department.  General  Baker  told 
them  that  he  had  done  what  he  could  for  the  people,  that  the 
supplies  would  soon  end  and  that  they  were  now  thrown  upon 
their  own  resources  and  must  view  it  in  that  light  and  act  ac- 
cordingly. Messrs.  Jordan,  Glover  and  Riley  also  spoke  to 
the  people,  and  with  three  cheers  and  tigers  for  Baker  the 
meeting  dispersed.  Thus  ended  the  great  relief  campaign  of 
1873  and  1874. 


CHAPTER  XVIIL 

Soon  after  the  Huff  residence  was  established  Mr.  T.  J. 
Shaw  put  up  a  store  building  and  put  in  a  stock  of  goods;  the 
buildinor  on  the  same  section  with  Huff.  Mr.  Shaw  afterwards 
filed  on  a  part  of  Section  14,  in  Oilman,  and  in  1872,  put  up 
a  store  building  in  the  town  of  St.  Oilman  (now  Ashton)  and 
moved  his  stock  there.  Shaw's  store  was  the  first  store  in 
the  county,  and  in  it  in  1871,  the  old  settlers  used  to  congre- 
gate, and  if  we  had  a  record  of  all  their  doings,  and  the  stories 
there  told,  our  readers  would  be  highly  entertained.  Every 
blizzard  would  find  about  so  many  who  happened  to  be  at  the 
store,  and  unable  to  get  home.  In  one  of  the  blizzards  there 
were  several  of  the  old  settlers  caught  there,  among  whom 
were  Dr.  Ourney,  August  and  C.  Thompson,  W.  A.  Spencer 
and  others.  They  took  their  horses  in  the  store  except  one 
of  them,  and  this  they  put  into  the  railroad  tank  near  by. 
This  was  not  in  the  days  of  prohibition,  and  the  boys  had 
plenty  of  the  ardent,  and  hence  quite  a  jollitication.  One  of 
them  was  preparing  a  pan  of  biscuits  for  baking  while  the 
others  were  watching  the  operation,  when  Shaw  declared  that 
his  mother  always  striped  biscuits  when  she  made  them,  and 
these  must  conform  to  the  parental  custom,  upon  which  he 
brought  his  foot  down  on  the  soft  dough,  giving  them  the 
required  stamp,  when  they  were  pronounced  ready  for  the 
oven,  and  in  they  went.  When  the  settler  got  to  Shaw's 
store  he  generall}'  tarried  awhile,  talked  over  the  news  of  the 
day,  smoked  a  clay  pipe  and  sat  around  on  the  barrel  heads, 
and  of  the  old  settlers  there  were  several  there  at  all  times 
during  the  day  and  evening.  In  April,  1871,  Joseph  Reagan 
with  Uriah  Cook,  Jacob  Henshaw  and  some  others  who  set- 
tled in  Lyon  County,  came  to  Osceola  County  from  Madison 
Countv,  Iowa.  They  went  to  the  "  Huff  "  house  and  through 
the  services  of  our  first  settler  secured  claims.  Mr.  Reagan 
filed  on  a  part  of  Section  20,  Township  98,  Range  42,  now 
Oilman  Township,  and  Uriah  Cook  filed  on  the  same  section 
Huff  was  on.  Mr.  Reagan  still  lives  in  the  county,  is  one  of 
the  prominent  men  in  Ashton  and  its  postmaster.  Mr.  Cook 
now  lives  in  Montana. 

Reagan  and  party  arrived  at   Huff's  on  the  8th  day  of 


RESIDENCE  OF  C.   A.  TATUINI,  OCHEYEDAN. 


158  HISTORY  OF  OSCEOLA    COUNTl\    IOWA. 

April,  1871.  Their  outfit  consisted  of  five  wagons,  twelve 
horses  and  mules  and  six  head  of  cattle.  Each  of  the  wagons 
had  occupants  sleeping  in  them  on  the  night  of  the  8th,  and 
early  on  the  morning  of  the  9th  a  terrible  blizzard  set  in,  and 
these  wagon  sleepers  were  soon  covered  with  snow  and  crawled 
out  and  into  a  house.  The  next  day  they  took  the  wagons 
and  formed  a  half  circle  of  them  at  the  south  side  of  the  house, 
making  a  corral,  in  which  they  put  their  horses  and  then 
tied  the  cattle  to  the  wagons  on  the  outside.  This  storm 
lasted  two  days,  and  the  company,  consisting  of  about  twenty 
men,  women  and  children,  filled  the  house,  and  at  night  it 
taxed  the  ingenuity  of  all  to  arrange  the  packing.  Along  with 
the  inmates  already  named,  there  were  three  dogs  and  forty 
chickens,  so  that  the  time  was  not  passed  in  Quaker  silence, 
and  everybody  was  in  everybody's  way,  though  all  were  jolly. 
The  first  night  all  were  packed  around  systematically.  Huff 
and  his  wife  were  placed  in  the  northeast  corner,  then  came 
Henshaw  and  his  family,  then  the  chickens  and  the  rest  of  the 
crowd  as  they  could  be  accommodated.  The  end  where  the 
horses  were  was  considered  unsafe,  as  the  pressure  against  the 
boards  was  liable  to  break  them  in,  so  that  Reagan,  C.  M. 
Brooks  and  Uriah  Cook  were  assigned  to  that  part  of  the 
shack  to  counteract  the  pressure  from  the  outside. 

The  morning  of  the  third  day  was  pleasant,  and  each  went 
their  way  to  their  separate  claims.  C.  W.  Freeman  came  to 
Gilman  township  in  June,  1872,  and  settled  on  the  northeast 
quarter  of  Section  8.  He  came  from  Humboldt  County  and 
with  him  came  F.  E.  Cook,  J.  W.  Carson  and  Will  Smith. 
These  four  took  Section  8.  Mr.  Carson  died  in  January,  T883, 
and  his  popularity  and  his  large  circle  of  friends  in  the  county 
justifies  a  reproduction  of  the  following  from  January  24,  1883, 
number  of  the  Osceola  County  I^cviczv,  then  published  at 
Ashton : 

"IN    MEMORIAM. 

"James  W.  Carson  was  born  at  Batavia,  Genesee  County, 
New  York,  February  16,  1S33.  When  about  thirteen  years 
old  his  parents,  leaving  their  eastern  home,  became  pioneers 
in  the  then  Territory  of  Wisconsin.  A  wonderful  tide  of 
immigration  was  pouring  into  the  newer  states  and  the  terri- 
tories bordering  the  Mississippi,  and  two  years  later,  when 
Mr.  Boyd  Carson,  the  father  of  the  subject  of  this  sketch, 
removed  to  West  Oregon,  Dane  County,  Wisconsin  had  be- 
come a  state.     The  father  was  one  of  the  hardy  pioneers  of 


HISTORY    OF  OSCEOLA    COUNTY,   IOWA.  159 

the  olden  time,  who,  without  the  help  of  railways  and  modern 
conveniences  of  travel,  made  the  lonc^  and  tiresome  journey  to 
the  frontier  lands,  and  laid  the  foundations  for  prosperous 
communities  and  states.  He  is  described  as  a  man  of  sterling 
integrity  and  fine  Christian  character,  and  James  W.,  the  son, 
inherited  from  his  father  a  high  regard  for  what  was  true  and 
pure  in  religious  life.  James,  or  "  Kit,"  as  he  was  popularly 
called  by  settlers  old  and  new  in  this  county,  of  which  he  was 
one  of  the  first  pioneers,  grew  to  man's  estate  and  was  indus- 
triously employed  in  trade  or  farming,  but  the  agitation  of  the 
slaver}^  question  and  the  disloyalty  of  the  South,  leading  to 
the  civil  war,  he  early  in  the  rebellion  enlisted  in  the  Second 
Wisconsin  cavalry,  and  earned  the  merit  of  being  a  good  sol- 
dier, but  incurred  hardships  and  injuries  which  laid  the  foun- 
dation of  the  disease  which  has  taken  him  away,  to  the  grief 
of  his  family,  the  sorrow  of  his  friends,  and  the  loss  of  the 
community.  After  the  war,  and  soon  after  his  marriage,  he 
removed  to  Humboldt  County,  this  state,  where  he  remained 
two  years.  In  1871  he,  in  compan}^  with  F.  E.  Cook  and  C. 
W.  Freeman,  removed  to  this  county  and  located  homesteads 
in  Gilman  Township.  During  his  twelve  years  residence  in 
this  county  he  formed  a  wide  acquaintance.  The  hold  he  had 
on  the  hearts  of  the  settlers  was  w^ell  attested  by  the  crowd 
that  turned  out  to  his  funeral  on  the  bitter  cold  Wednesday  of 
this  week.  People  gathered  in  from  the  three  counties  of 
Osceola,  O'Brien  and  Lyon — one  family  driving  fully  ten 
miles  across  the  country.  Sheldon  sent  a  large  delegation 
and  quite  a  number  of  old  soldiers,  bringing  choice  flowers  and 
wreaths  for  the  grave.  Kind  neighbors  and  comrades  of 
both  Sheldon  and  Sibley  army  posts  served  as  watchers  from 
the  time — earl}^  Tuesday  morning — that  his  remains  reached 
Ashton  from  Minneapolis,  where  he  died  early  on  Monday — 
the  immediate  cause  of  his  death  being  his  inability  to  with- 
stand the  shock  to  his  S3'stem,  induced  by  an  operation  per- 
formed by  surgeons  at  a  hospital  in  Minneapolis,  removing  a 
large  and  bony-like  tumor  under  the  arm  in  the  left  side, 
which  had  developed  until  it  reached  the  region  of  the  heart-" 
In  187 1,  Nick  Booi-,  along  with  John  Streit  and  William 
Shultz,  landed  in  Gilman  Township.  Thev  came  from  Wis- 
consin, and  drove  through  with  a  team.  Nick  filed  on  the 
southeast  quarter  of  Section  4,  Township  98,  Range  42, 
Streit  on  the  northeast  quarter  of  same  section,  and  Schultz 
on  the  northeast  quarter  of  Section  18.  Mr.  Schultz  lives  at 
Sheldon,  and  Boor  and  Streit  still  live  in  Gilman  Township. 


160  HISrORl'  OF  OSCEOLA    COUNTY.    IOWA. 

C.  C.  Osgood  came  in  1872,  and  settled  in  Oilman  Town- 
ship on  the  southwest  quarter  of  Section  30.  Mr.  Osgood 
still  lives  on  the  same  place,  has  weathered  all  the  difficulties, 
and  is  a  successful  farmer. 

Mr.  WilHam  Foster  settled  in  Oilman  Township  in  1872, 
on  a  part  of  Section  14.  Mr.  Foster  died  a  few  years  ago, 
and  his  widow  with  her  sons  still  live  on  the  old  homestead. 

Ephraim  Miller,  in  1871,  located  on  the  southwest 
quarter  of  Section  26,  Oilman  Township;  still  owns  the  land, 
and  still  resides  in  the  township  on  land  he  has  since  pur- 
chased. 

Of  these  1871  and  1872  settlers  in  Oilman  Township  but 
few  remain  in  the  township  now.  As  far  as  we  can  learn 
they  are  Joseph  Reagan,  Nick  Boor,  John  Streit,  Ephraim 
Miller,  C.  C.  Osgood  and  the  Foster  boys. 

In  the  spring  of  1873,  J.  E.  Townsend,  along  with  his 
brother  Oeorge,  came  to  Oilman  Township  from  Michigan. 
Oeorge  returned  soon  after  and  J.  E.  filed  on  the  north 
half  of  the  northwest  quarter  of  Section  8,  upon  wliich  he 
still  lives  with  his  family  and  has  other  land  afterwards  pur- 
chased. J.  E.  Townsend  is  now  County  Treasurer.  This 
same  year,  1873,  also,  Fred  Poschack  came  from  Wisconsin 
and  filed  on  a  part  of  Section  6,  upon  which  he  still  resides. 
Other  parties  living  in  this  township  came  in  the  years  follow- 
ing these  first  settlements,  and  quite  a  number  are  renters. 
Among  others  of  the  farming  people  in  Oilman  Township, 
Mrs.  John  Neff  resides  on  Section  i ;  also  on  the  same  Section 
John  Rabe.  M.  A.  Schend  was  an  old  settler  in  Lyon  County 
and  now  lives  on  Section  2  in  Oilman  Township.  On  Section 
2  also  Mr.  Frank  Walrich  and  John  Barbien.  On  Section  3 
John  Thorn;  on  Section  4  Joseph  Dries,  Anthony  Oeiver  and 
also  Mr.  Streit;  on  Section  5  Jacob  Johannes;  on  Section  6 
Fred  Poschack,  Matt  Spartz,  John  Seivert,  B.  Sturber  and  B. 
F.  Pettingell.  Mr.  Pettinijell  is  a  Yankee  from  Massachu- 
setts.  Warren  Robbins  is  on  Section  7;  Henry  Shaa,  Joseph 
Ehlen,  besides  J.  E.  Townsend  on  Section  8.  Of  still  other 
residents  of  the  county  Joseph  Dries,  Jr.,  is  on  Section  9;  also 
Matt  Seivert  and  William  Fuger;  R.  Linzen,  Jacob  Leinen, 
William  Fuger  on  Section  10,  Peter  Kappes  on  Section  11; 
Thomas  Cox  and  Charles  Winters  on  Section  12.  The  town 
of  Ashton  is  on  Section  15  in  this  township  and  on  Section  18 
we  find  Henry  Arends,  W.  Popkes,  H.  Lenitzens,  and  Mr. 
DeOroat.  On  Section  20  lives  Rev.  Mr.  Nolte,  a  Quaker 
preacher;  also  C.  W.  Conner.     Mr.    Conner   is   a   prominent 


A.   W.   McCALLUM. 


162  HISTORY  OF   OSCEOLA    COUNrt\   IOWA. 

citizen  and  was  a  member  of  the  County  Board  of  Supervisors. 
George  Jamison  also  lives  on  Section  20. "  Mr.  John  Jackley 
and  Isaac  Smalley  are  on  Section  21  and  B.  H.  Lyman  and 
J.  C.  Wilmarth  on  Section  22.  Wm.  Keith  and  Wm.  Craig 
live  on  Section  23;  Nick  Seivert,  Nick  Leinen  and  Phillip 
Grats  on  Section  24;  on  Section  27  lives  Mr.  Charles  Lingle- 
man  and  C.  Groendyke;  Mr.  Ruben  Heritage  and  James 
Sturgeon  on  Section  29,  and  on  Section  30  is  the  old  Isehn 
place  improved  by  these  boys  John  and  Harry  who  came  from 
New  York  with  money  but  made  a  failure  in  business.  Nels 
Porter  and  S.  Laber  are  on  Section  32  and  C.  Beck,  Charles 
Huntsley  and  James  Bunce  on  Section  34,  with  R.  J.  Stemm 
on  Section  35.  Gilman  Township  is  one  of  the  best  and  finest 
improved  townships  in  the  county  and  is  well  settled. 

Referring  again  to  Goewey  Township,  quite  a  number 
still  live  in  the  county  who  were  among  its  earlier  settlers. 
In  May,  1871,  George  Perry,  along  with  his  brother  John  and 
W.  A.  Spencer,  landed  here,  having  drove  through  from  Wis- 
consin. George  settled  on  a  part  of  Section  10,  John  on  a 
part  of  14,  and  W.  A.  Spencer  on  Section  24.  T.  E.  Perry, 
father  of  John  and  George,  came  in  the  fall  of  1871,  and  re- 
sided here  until  he  died,  July  14,  1890.  The  boys  used  their 
wagon  covers  and  wagons  for  awhile  as  a  habitation  until  they 
got  something  built  for  a  house.  Their  first  load  of  lumber 
was  hauled  from  Windom,  Minn.,  and  the  two  Perrys,  along 
with  Spencer,  went  after  it.  On  the  road  they  overtook  a 
traveler  on  foot  who  accepted  an  invitation  to  ride.  When 
they  got  to  Worthington,  which  was  then  starting  as  a  town 
with  only  a  few  shacks,  the  traveler  got  a  quart  of  whisky, 
and  brought  it  around  to  treat  the  rest  of  them.  Spencer  not 
being  a  drinking  man,  declined  to  take  any,  and  the  fellow 
soon  went  away  by  himself,  and  about  as  the  boys  were  start- 
ing on,  came  around  again  drunk  as  a  lord.  Pointing  to 
Spencer  he  said,  if  that  man  had  drank  his  share  I  wouldn't 
be  tight,  raising  a  question  in  moral  philosophy  whether  or 
not  after  all  Spencer  was  to  blame  for  the  man's  drunken- 
ness. After  this  first  lumber  hauled  from  Windom,  they  aft- 
erwards hauled  from  Cherokee.  On  one  of  George  Perry's 
trips  he  drove  through  the  Orange  City  settlement,  which 
was  composed  mostly  of  Hollanders,  and  with  these  people 
wooden  shoes  being  principal  commodity,  they  were  well 
stocked  and  the  shoes  were  conspicuously  displayed.  George 
Perry  bought  a  pair  for  himself  and  also  a  pair  for  his  wife, 
more  for  the  novelty  of  it  than  anything  else.     His  wife  saw 


HISTOUr  OF  OSCEOLA    COUNTl',   IOWA.  \Q)^ 

him  coming  home  and  as  usual  walked  out  about  a  mile  to 
meet  him.  Georj^e  made  a  little  speech  to  her  about  the 
elegant  foot  gear  he  had  seen,  and  thinking  she  needed  a  pair, 
he  had  invested  for  her,  and  presented  to  her  the  pair  of 
wooden  shoes.  After  that  Mrs.  Perry  let  her  liege  lord  reach 
the  house  before  she  greeted  him.  She  preferred  to  take  her 
surprises  in  the  way  of  presents  at  home. 

Clark  Perry,  another  brother,  came  in  the  fall  of  187 1, 
and  settled  on  the  southwest  quarter  of  Section  10  and  still 
lives  on  the  original  claim. 

John  Perry  now  lives  on  the  claim  originally  taken  by 
his  father,  and  George  now  lives  in  Sibley. 

W.  A.  Spencer  resides  in  Sioux  City;  he  has  a  son, 
however,  C.  A.  Spencer,  now  residing  in  Goewey  Township 
on  Section  22. 

In  June,  1S72,  T.  M.  Spencer,  a  brother  of  W.  A.,  came 
from.  Wisconsin  and  took  the  northeast  quarter  of  Section  23. 
He  has  lived  in  the  county  since,  except  one  year  during  the 
grasshopper  period  he  worked  in  Cherokee.  Mr.  Spencer 
now  lives  in  Ocheyedan;  his  sons,  Charles  A.  and  E.  E.,  live 
in  the  same  town,  while  another  son,  O.,  hves  in  Sibley. 

G.  L.  Van  Eaton  also  settled  in  this  township  in  1872, 
and  is  still  the  owner- of  the  land  upon  which  he  settled.  He 
is  now  in  the  lumber  business  at  Little  Rock.  John  Gray, 
another  settler  of  1872,  lives  at  Ashton.  Among  other  of  the 
1872  settlers  now  living  in  this  township  are  George  Bar- 
rager,  Louis  Folsom.  James  Ford,  E.  Ellis,  Robert  Edwards. 
George  Spaulding,  who  still  resides  in  the  township,  came  in 
1871,  and  also  the  same  year  James  Hollands.  Mr.  Hollands 
novv  resides  in  Sibley.  W.  L.  Daggett,  now  living  on  Section 
36,  also  came  in  1872.  Mr.  E.  Elling  and  J.  C.  Inman,  who, 
we  think,  are  on  Section  34,  are  also  early  settlers.  Mrs. 
Clarinda  Baker,  who  is  also  an  early  settler,  resides  on  Section 
30.  Her  husband  was  gored  to  death  by  a  bull  several  years 
ago.  In  addition  to  those  mentioned,  among  the  early  settlers 
in  this  township  we  find  D.  G.  Crippen,  Henry  Hoffman. 
Alexander  Gilkerson,  George  Haskins,  Frank  Finley,  Eugene 
Guertin,  L.  Daggett,  N.  Madison,  John  Freeman,  P.  F.Jones — 
Mr.  Jones  was  one  of  the  early  settlers  of  1872 — Nelse  Christ- 
ensen,  W.  H.  Winney,  P.  O.  Gillis,  A.  Bronson,  John  St. 
Clair,  John  Christensen,  Henry  Pollman,  P.  N.  Folkers,  D. 
Irish.  T.  Stephens,  Mr.  Brandt,  the  Johannes  brothers,  Walter 
Phihps,  W.  P.  Reeves,  I.  Brandt,  C.  Crumb,  P.  Foley. 

Peter  and  Andrew  Sherbonda,  who  are  still  living  in  the 


164  HISTORY  OF   OSCEOLA    COUNTY,   IOWA. 

towiivship  on  Section  6.  settled  there  in  1S72.  B.  F.  Curtis, 
who  settled  on  Section  34  in  1872,  now  resides  in  Sioux  City. 
Charles  Bangert,  living  on  Section  19,  is  at  present  one  of  the 
County  Board  of  Supervisors.  W.  R.  Foster  lives,  we  think, 
on  Section  20,  and  Lent  on  Section  21.  In  referring  to  these 
present  residents,  there  will  no  doubt  be  some  omissions,  as 
the  writer  has  gathered  several  townships  from  inquiry. 

COURTS. 

There  was  in  1872  a  District  Court,  and  also  a  Circuit 
Court,  both  being  courts  of  record.  Their  jurisdiction  was 
about  the  same,  except  that  the  District  Court  had  exclusive 
criminal  jurisdiction,  and  the  Circuit  Court  had  exclusive  pro- 
bate jurisdiction.  Both  districts  comprised  several  counties, 
of  which  Osceola  was  one. 

The  first  term  of  the  Circuit  Court  was  held  in  Osceola 
County  in  1873,  with  Hon.  Addison  Oliver  presiding.  The 
first  case  on  the  calendar  seems  to  have  been  Jacob  Franz  & 
Co.  vs.  F.  L.  Ward,  and  the  case  was  continued.  John  IT. 
Douglass  was  then  Sheriff  and  John  F.  Glover,  Clerk.  The 
following  attorneys  seem  to  have  figured  into  the  business  of 
that  term:     H.  Jordan,  J.  H.  Swan  and  James  T.  Barclay. 

The  record  does  not  show  any  litigated  cases,  owing,  per- 
haps, to  the  fact  that  the  attorneys  were  not  numerous  enough. 
Everybody  seemed  to  get  judgment  in  what  cases  there  were. 
The  next  term  of  this  Court  was  held  in  December  and  in 
1884  the  State  Legislature  abolished  the  Circuit  Court,  leav- 
ing the  District  Court  as  the  only  Court  of  Record. 

The  first  term  of  the  District  Court,  Hon.  Henry  Ford 
presiding,  was  held  at  Sibley  in  July,  1872.  The  record  makes 
mention  of  the  fact  that  it  was  the  first  term  of  any  Court  of 
Record  held  in  the  count}'.  The  officers  were:  Judge, 
Henry  Ford;  District  Attorney,  C.  H.  Lewis;  Clerk,  C.  M. 
Brooks;  Sheriff,  Frank  Stiles. 

The  record  states  that  C.  I.  Hill,  C.  W.  Blackmer,  H. 
Jordan  and  J.  T.  Barclay  were  present  as  members  of  the 
Sibley  bar,  and  Sioux  City  attorneys  as  follows:  L.  Wynn, 
W.  L.Joy,  O.  C.  Treadway,  H.  B.  Wilson  and  J.  H.  Swan. 
The  first  case  on  the  calendar  was  L.  F.  Diefendorf  vs.  J.  H. 
Winspear  and  others.  The  action  was  to  restrain  Winspear, 
Frank  Stiles  and  others  from  building  school  houses.  The 
injunction  was  modified,  and  in  September  following,  in  vaca- 
tion, Diefendorf  dismissed  the  action,  and  the  school  houses, 
under  the  direction  of  Winspear,  Stiles  and  others,  went  on  in 


J.  E.  TATUM. 


166  HISTORY  OF  OSCEOLA    COUNTY.   IOWA. 

construction.  This  term  of  court  lasted  two  days  and  consisted 
principally  of  a  few  judgments,  there  being  no  criminal  cases 
and  no  jury,  either  grand  or  petit. 

The  next  term  of  the  District  Court  was  held  in  April, 
1873.  The  same  officers  were  present,  except  that  John  H. 
Douglass  was  Sheriff  and  John  F.  Glover  Clerk.  District 
Attorney  C.  H.  Lewis  stated  to  the  court  that  there  was  an 
irregularity  in  drawing  the  grand  jury,  and  asked  that  the 
precept  be  set  aside,  which  was  done,  and  the  court  then 
ordered  a  new  precept  to  issue,  which  was  issued,  and  the 
following  were  the  first  grand  jurors  of  the  county:  H.  G. 
Doolittle,  B.  A.  Dean,  J.  L.  Robinson,  E.  Morrison,  J.  I. 
Halstead,  A.  M.  Culver,  N.  Thompson,  J.  Slecht,  H.  Babcock, 
J.  W.  Kerr,  T.  J.  Cutshall,  Charles  Mandeville,  R.  F.  Kinne, 
D.  L.  Riley  and  O.  Dunton.  Frank  Stiles  and  F.  M.  Robin- 
son were  held  to  answer  to  the  grand  jury  from  a  preliminary 
examination  before  a  justice,  and  upon  inquiry  to  these  parties 
as  to  challenge.  Stiles  challenged  Riley  and  Dunton.  H.  G. 
Doolittle  was  chosen  as  foreman,  and  the  jury  was  instructed 
and  charged  by  the  court.  The  record  then  says,  after  being 
charged  by  the  court  they  retired  to  consider  upon  their  duties. 
There  is  no  further  record  as  to  this  grand  jury,  or  the  case 
against  Robinson  and  Stiles,  so  that  we  are  left  to  conclude 
that  the  grand  jury  are  still  out  considering  their  duties,  and 
Robinson  and  Stiles  are  still  waiting  in  doubtful  apprehension 
of  an  indictment. 

The  first  civil  case  tried  in  this  court  was  H.  Jordan  vs. 
J.  H.  Winspear,  and  the  nature  of  the  case  is  not  disclosed. 
A  jury  was  had,  which  was  the  first  petit  jury  in  the  count}-, 
and  was  composed  of  the  following  named  members:  J.  Mc- 
Kinney,  H.  Reeves,  C.  W.  Wyllys,  Thomas  B.  Jackson,  W. 
H.  Morrison,  S.  W.  Lang,  G.  R.  Helmoly,  A.  Buchman,  C. 
Anderson,  C.  T.  Torey,  Joseph  Kappes  and  George  Taylor. 
Jordan  was  defeated  in  his  suit,  and  retired  at  an  expense  of 
$13.40.  Several  individual  judgments  were  rendered,  and 
Osceola  caught  it  to  the  tune  of  $14,851.12  from  several 
different  parlies,  altogether  aggregating  that  amount. 

It  is  not  necessary  to  follow  the  record  of  these  courts 
further;  the  onl}'  desire  is  to  show  something  connected  with 
their  first  terms.  We  might  add,  however,  that  the  first  per- 
son naturalized  in  the  county,  was  John  R.  Robertson  by  Judge 
Ford,  and  the  first  estate  to  be  probated  was  that  of  Patrick 
Baker,  deceased. 

We  also  omitted  to  state  that  the  only  litigated  case  in 


HISTORT    OF  OSCEOLA    COUNTY,   IOWA.  167 

the  first  term  of  the  Circuit  Court  was  that  of  G.  Toun  vs. 
Sioux  City  and  St.  Paul  Raih'oad  Company,  in  which  case 
J.  T.  Barclay  was  attorney  for  plaintiff  and  J.  H.  Swan  for 
defendant.  The  jury  was  as  follows:  H.  L.  Baker,  C. 
Manderville,  J.  W.  Collman,  E.  E.  Headley,  S.  Cram,  C.  W. 
Wyllys,  Daniel  Busbu,  Frances  F.  White,  Thomas  B.  Jackson, 
George  Fablinger,  H.  F.  Manderville,  Lewis  Cole.  Barclay 
carried  off  the  honors  of  the  victory,  and  obtained  a  verdict 
for  seventy-five  dollars  and  costs  at  the  first  trial;  but  the 
clever  and  tenacious  Swan,  who  knows  but  little  of  the  word 
defeat,  appealed  the  case  to  the  Supreme  Court.  It  is  said 
that  when  a  lawyer  gets  beaten  in  a  case  he  either  appeals,  or 
goes  down  to  the  tavern  and  swears  at  the  court,  and  in  this 
case  Swan  appealed. 

We  have  now  only  a  District  Court,  comprising  Wood- 
bury, Sioux,  Lyon,  Osceola,  Plymouth,  Monona,  O'Brien, 
Cherokee  and  Harrison  Counties.  Within  this  Judicial  District 
are  four  Judges,  who  agree  among  themselves  as  to  the  time 
and  place  each  shall  hold.  The  Judges  are:  George  W. 
Wakefield,  of  Sioux  City;  Scott  M.  Ladd,  of  Sheldon;  Frank 
R.  Gaynor,  of  Le  Mars,  and  A.  Van  Wagenen,  of  Rock 
Rapids.  These  Judges,  all  of  them  being  members  of  dif- 
ferent political  parties,  are  men  of  unquestioned  integrity,  of 
ability,  learned  in  the  law,  and  preside  with  a  desire  to  hold 
the  scales  in  equipose  and  do  justice  to  all.  Will  Thomas  is 
Clerk  of  Court  in  Osceola. 

JUSTICES. 

Justices'  courts  were  in  running  operation  before  there 
was  held  a  court  of  record.  The  office  of  Justice  of  the  Peacfe, 
says  Judge  Conklin,  is  of  somewhat  remote  origin,  having 
been  first  institiited  in  England,  it  is  said,  as  early  as  the  time 
of  William  the  Conqueror.  The  oflfice  was  introduced  into 
this  country  by  our  forefathers  on  their  first  settlement  here, 
so  that  the  people  are  accustomed  to  these  courts  and  have 
them. 

At  the  4th  of  July  meeting  in  1871  nominations  were 
made  for  Justices  of  the  Peace. 

The  first  3'ear  of  the  count}'  organization  the  Justices  were 
as  follows:  H.  L.  Clapsaddle,  O.  Dunton,  Frank  Stiles,  D.  F. 
Curtiss  and  J.  H.  Winspear. 

Since  then  others  have  been  elected  and  retired,  and  the 
Justices  of  the  county  in  1S92  are  as  follows: 


168  HISTORY  OF   OSCEOLA    COUNTY.   IOWA. 

Holman — D.  L.  McCausland  and  E.  Walton. 

Ocheyedan — A.  E.  Smith  and  R.  J.  O.  McGowan. 

Harrison — Charles  Mietke  and  E.  L.  Krukcnberg. 

Baker — Dirk  Frey. 

Wilson— R.  S.  Eakin. 

Fairview — Thomas  Jackson. 

Gilman — Joseph  W.  Reagan. 

Horton — W.  R.  Boling. 

Goewey — W.  J.  Reeves. 

Other  District  Court  officers  are,  John  F.  Stamm,  Sheriff, 
and  T.  P.  May,  Deputy. 

There  are  often  many  amusing  things  occur  in  justice 
courts,  and  in  the  early  days  of  Osceola  County  there  were 
many  here,  but  the  records  have  not  preserved  them,  and  the 
lawyers  who  still  survive  them  are  reticent,  while  others  who 
were  in  practice  here  then,  have  gone  and  some  have  died. 
Among  the  justices  at  an  early  day  was  W.  R.  Boling  in 
Horton  Township — in  fact,  he  is  now  justice.     An  action  was 

brought  before  him  of  ejectment,  and  was  between Wass- 

mann  and  G.  B.  Garvy.  McCallum  brought  the  suit  for 
Wassmann,  the  trial  was  set  for  January  2  at  nine  o'clock. 
McCallum,  the  Sheriff  and  his  deputy,  Webb,  with  McCausland, 
started  over  from  Sibley,  starting  at  three  o'clock  in  the  morn- 
ing, and  at  daylight  the  thermometer  was  twenty-six  degrees 
below  zero;  but  they  were  going  to  a  law-suit,  and  the  stimulus 
of  the  coming  contest  kept  them  warm — for  we  wouldn't  for  a 
moment  intimate  that  anything  else  contributed  to  their  com- 
fort. P.  R.  Bailey,  of  Sheldon,  was  to  be  McCallum's 
opponent,  but  the  distance  to  go  and  the  early  hour  was  too 
much  for  him,  so  he  staid  at  home.  The  parties  were  all  there 
in  season,  and  a  jury  was  called,  whose  qualifications  were 
inquired  into,  and  Mc  found  that  all  of  them  were  quite  satis- 
factory. The  trial  commenced  and  proceeded,  the  testimony 
was  in  and  McCallum  was  making  his  argument.  Just  as  Mc 
commenced.  Jack  Blair  and  A.  V.  Randall  arrived,  and  Blair, 
seeing  a  chance  for  a  little  fun,  went  on  top  of  the  one-story 
building,  laid  a  sack  over  the  stove-pipe,  sticking  up  through 
the  roof,  and  sat  down  on  it.  The  stove  had  just  been 
replenished  wdth  soft  coal,  and  in  an  instant  the  room  was  filled 
with  black,  sulphurous  smoke,  but  Mc  kept  on  until  Webb 
went  to  shaking  the  stove-pipe  to  make  it  draw,  when  about 
twenty  links  of  pipe,  filled  with  soot,  came  suddenly  down  on 
the  heads  of  the  jurors,  the  litigants,  the  court  and  the  counsel, 
when  all  beat  a  hast}^  retreat  out  of  doors,  and  there  was  such 


RESIDENCE  OF  M.  A.  TATUM,  OCHEYEDAN. 


170  HISTORT  OF  OSCEOLA    COUNTY,  lOU'A.^ 

a  similarity  in  appearance,  that  it  was  hard  to  tell  one  from 
the  other.  They  found  out,  however,  what  the  trouble  was, 
re-adjusted  things  and  went  at  it  again,  but  Blair's  escape 
saved  him  from  a  tine  for  contempt.  The  case  lasted  all  night, 
and  at  six  o'clock  the  next  morning,  the  jury  were  led  off 
to  a  school  house  by  Sheriff  Lent  for  the  purpose  of  delibera- 
tion, and  were  out  some  time  before  they  returned,  and  when 
they  did  their  verdict  was  for  Wassmann.  The  court  room 
for  the  purposes  of  the  trial  was  Seymour  Coyour's  shack,  and 
while  the  jury  were  out  McCallum,  Randall,  McCausland  and 
Webb  "turned  in,"  as  the  sailors  call  it,  that  is  all  four  of  them 
went  to  bed  together,  and  while  they  were  snoozing  quietly, 
Blair  appeared  again  and  laid  a  hog's  head  carefully  between 
Randall's  head  and  McCallum's,  which  woke  Mc  up,  and 
himself  and  what  was  left  of  the  hog  were  staring  at  each 
other,  for  their  countenances  were  in  close  proximity.  The 
trial  ended  with  a  judgment  for  Wassmann,  and  then  followed 
an  execution  to  collect  the  costs.  There  was  nothing  in  sight 
to  levy  on  but  some  potatoes,  and  these  were  hardly  in  sight, 
for  they  were  buried  in  a  pit  under  ground.  The  Sheriff, 
however,  armed  with  the  usual  process,  went  out  to  Garvy's 
place,  took  a  man  with  him,  and  spent  nearly  a  day  digging 
into  the  frozen  ground  and  finally  into  the  pit,  but  the  potatoes 
were  missing.  Upon  a  closer  examination  there  was  found  to 
be  another  hole  on  the  other  side  of  the  pit  from  where  the 
Sheriff  had  excavated,  where  the  debtor  had  stole  a  march  on 
the  expected  execution,  and  removed  his  potatoes  to  other 
quarters. 

Since  writing  the  above,  A.  V.  Randall  denies  the  four 
in  a  bed,  and  the  pig's  head  story  so  far  as  he  was  concerned, 
and  states  that  he  was  a  member  of  the  jury. 

In  1873  Charles  Brannock  who  lived  near  the  Ocheyedan 
and  who  was  like  most  of  the  settlers,  hard  up  for  something 
to  eat,  had  caught  some  kind  of  an  animal,  probably  a  musk- 
rat  and  after  skinning  it  was  cooking  the  carcass  on  a  tire 
out  of  doors.  In  an  unfortunate  moment  the  prairie  grass 
caught  fire,  and  soon  the  fire  was  spreading  in  every  direction. 
Brannock  was  arrested  and  bound  over.  He  was  allowed 
to  remain  at  home  to  get  bail,  but  the  next  day  the  fury  of  the 
people  demanded  his  incarceration  and  Sheriff  Douglass  was 
ordered  out  with  the  necessary  papers.  In  order  that  the 
arrest  should  be  a  complete  success,  quite  an  army  volunteered 
to  go  along  and  did  on  horseback,  armed  with  Winchesters,  so 
that  their  going  presented  quite   a   body   of  cavalry    and  they 


HfSTORY   OF  OSCEOLA    COVNTl',  IOWA.  171 

soon  reached  Brannock's  cabin  and  the  terrified  fellow  was 
ordered  to  surrender  which  he  did.  He  asked  leave,  how- 
ever, to  go  inside  and  change  his  clothes  and  once  in,  crawled 
out  of  a  back  window  and  by  cautiously  creeping  at  first  and 
getting  in  the  grass  he  made  his  escape.  There  were  some 
who  understood  his  condition  of  poverty  and  his  peaceful  and 
law-abiding  disposition  and  who  felt  that  while  the  act  was  a 
violation  of  the  law,  still  it  was  not  malicious  nor  intended; 
these  wanted  him  to  get  away  and  we  suspect  that  Douglass 
was  one  of  them.  They  waited  for  his  return  in  changed  suit, 
and  when  sufficient  time  had  elapsed,  an  investigation  was 
made  and  it  was  found  that  he  had  escaped.  Some  one,  a 
friend  to  Brannock,  said  that  he  just  saw  him  going  over  the 
hill  towards  the  south,  and  away  went  the  cavalry  flying  after 
him;  when  that  hill  was  reached  the  friend  said  he  saw  him 
going  over  the  next  one,  and  on  went  the  horsemen  in  furious 
following,  and  thus  for  several  miles  they  were  led,  and  this 
with  searching  took  up  about  the  whole  day.  In  the  mean 
time  Brannock  had  started  north  while  the  searchers  were 
still  searching  he  was  safe  in  Minnesota,  as  only  a  few  miles 
travel  was  required  to  get  there. 

D.  D.  McCallum's  first  case  was  before  a  Justice  of 
marked  morality,  who  was  extremely  harsh  with  criminals. 
His  weakness  was  his  veneration  for  veterans  of  the  late  war, 
all  of  whom  he  esteemed  as  unrewarded  heroes.  McCallum 
had  fought  four  years.  His  client  was  a  thief.  "  The  only 
thing  I  can  do  tor  you,"  said  McCallum,  after  having  gained 
the  man's  confidence,  "is  to  implore  the  mercy  of  the  court. 
When  you  get  on  the  stand  tell  the  whole  truth." 

The  man  had  stolen  a  cow,  killed  it,  sold  the  hide  and 
taken  the  carcass  home  to  his  family,  which  was  really  suffer- 
ing for  the  necessaries  of  life.  The  prosecution,  with  a  long 
line  of  witnesses,  had  made  a  perfect  case,  and  the  brow  of 
the  Justice  was  draped  in  ominous  frowns  when  the  the  pris- 
oner was  called.  The  latter  did  as  directed  by  his  attorney, 
concealing  nothing — from  the  almost  starving  condition  of  his 
wife  and  family  to  the  dressing  of  the  stolen  beef. 

"  Now,  your  honor,"  said  McCallum,"  the  defense  has  no 
witnesses.  My  client  is  guilt}'.  He  has  hidden  nothing  from 
this  court.  It  is  the  first  lime  he  has  ever  transgressed  the 
law.  He  was  inspired  to  do  wrong  by  that  instinct  we  even 
admire  in  brutes." 

Then,  turning  to  the  prisoner  as  if  the  fact  had  nearl}- 
escaped  him,  McCallum  said: 


172  HISTORY  OF  OSCEOLA    COUNTY.   IOWA. 

"  By  the  way,  you  were  a  soldier  in  the  late  war,  were 
you  not  ?" 

«  Yes,  sir." 

"  Weren't  you  at  Gettysburg  ?  " 

"Yes,  sir." 

"So  was  I.  And  you  were  in  other  historic  battles,  fight- 
ing for  your  country,  while  your  wife  and  family  suffered  at 
home  ?" 

"Yes,  sir." 

The  prosecution  at  this  point  saw  the  way  the  case  was 
drifting,  and  attempted  to  ridicule  the  "old  soldier  defense," 
as  the  prosecuting  attorney  named  it. 

The  effect  upon  the  old  Justice  was  to  arouse  all  his  loy- 
alty and  indignation. 

"Enough  of  this,"  said  he,  bringing  his  hand  down  on 
the  desk  in  front  of  him  with  a  thundering  thud.  "No  soldier, 
no  man  who  shed  his  best  blood  for  his  country,  not  even  if  he 
be  a  criminal,  can  be  reviled  in  my  presence.  The  prisoner 
is  discharged.  And,  sir,  when  you  are  suffering  for  the  nec- 
essaries of  life  again,  come  to  me." 

The  joke  was  too  good  to  keep.  McCallum  one  day 
told  him  the  old  soldier  was  an  ex-Confederate;  but  never 
again  did  McCallum  practice  in  that  court. 

COUNTY  OFFICERS 1 87 2. 

Recorder D.  L.  McCausland. 

Treasurer A.  M.  Culver. 

Sheriff Frank  Stiles. 

Surveyor M.  J.  Campbell. 

Superintendent  of  Schools Delily  Stiles. 

Auditor F.  M.  Robinson. 

Clerk  of  Court C.  M.  Brooks. 

(  J.  H.  Winspear. 
Supervisors -;  Geo.  Spaulding. 

(  H.  R.  Fenton. 

1873.    _ 

Recorder D.  L.  McCausland. 

Treasurer A.  M.  Culver. 

Sheriff J.  H.  Douglass. 

Surveyor    M.  J.  Campbell. 

Superintendent  of  Schools Delily  Stiles. 

Auditor F.  M.  Robinson. 

Clerk  of  Court J.  F.  Glover. 


) 


RESIDENCE  OF  D.   D.   McCALLUM,  SIBLEY. 


174  HISTORY  OF  OSCEOLA    COUN'TT,    IOWA. 

Coroner J.  M.  Jenkins, 

(  D.  L.  Riley. 
Supervisors,  until  April  21 -^  H.  R.  Fenton. 

(  Geo.  Spaulding. 

\  D.  L.  Riley. 
Supervisors,  after  April  21 I  P.  Dunton. 

(  B.  F.  Mundorf. 

1874. 

This  year  there  was  no  change  in  the  offices  of  Recorder, 
Sheriff,  Surveyor  and  Coroner.  The  other  officers  were  as 
follows : 

Auditor W.  M.  Moore. 

Treasurer S.  A.  Wright. 

Superintendent  of  Schools J.  M.  Jenkins. 

A  change  of  one  in  the  Board  of  Supervisors — T.  E. 
Perry  in  place  of  B.  F,  Mundorf. 

1875- 

The  officers  of  preceding  year  remained  the  same,  except 
County  Surveyor,  H.  G.  Doolittle,  and  A.  H.  Brown,  member 
of  Board,  in  place  of  T.  E.  Perry. 

1876. 

This  year  the  count}'  officers  were  as  follows: 

Recorder D.  L.  McCausland. 

Treasurer .  Levi  Shell. 

Sheriff Jofin  Douglass. 

Surveyor H.  -G.  Doolittle. 

Superintendent  of  Schools C.  L.  Gurney. 

Auditor W.  M.  Moore. 

Clerk  of  Court J.  F.  Glover. 

Coroner Wm.  R.  Lawrence. 

(  D.  L.  Riley. 
Supervisors I  O.  Dunton,  Ch'n. 

(  A.  H.  Brown. 

1877. 

The  above  officers  remained  the  same,  except  the  follow- 
ing changes: 

Clerk  of  Court W.J.  Miller. 

Recorder E.  Huff. 

Supervisor — C.  W.  Wyllys  in  place  of  O.  Dunton. 


HISTORr  OF  OSCEOLA    COUNTT,  IOWA.  175 

1878. 

County  officers  were  as  follows: 

Recorder E.  Huff. 

Treasurer  . Henry  C.  Hungerford. 

Sheriff John  H.  Douglass. 

Surveyor M.  J.  Campbell. 

Superintendent  of  Schools ..   Mrs.  W.  L.  Parker. 

Auditor W.  M.  Moore. 

Clerk  of  Court W.J.Miller. 

Coroner W.  R.  Lawrence. 

(  D.  L.  Riley. 
Supervisors I  Henry.  C.  Allen. 

(  C.  W.  Wyllys. 

1879. 

The  officers  of  1878  remain  the  same,  except  the  follow- 
ing change: 

Supervisor — H.  L.  Emmert  in  place  of  D.  L.  Riley. 

1880. 

The  only  changes  in  county  officers  for  this  year  were, 
Wm.  R.  Lawrence,  Superintendent  of  Schools,  in  place  of  C.  L. 
Gurney;  W.  H.  Barkhuff,  Coroner,  in  place  of  Lawrence,  and 
Geo.  S.  Downend,  Supervisor,  in  place  of 

i88t. 

The  county  officers  of  1881  stood  as  follows: 

Recorder __.    Mrs.  C.  I.  Hill. 

Treasurer H.  C.  Hungerford. 

Sheriff _ John  H.  Douglass. 

Surveyor M.  J.  Campbell. 

Superintendent  of   Schools Wm.  R.  Lawrence. 

Auditor W.  M.  Moore. 

Clerk  of  Court John  S.  Davison. 

f  H.  C.  Allen. 

I    Robert  Stamm. 
Supervisors .  -\   Nicholas  Boor. 

[    William  Mowthorpe. 

1^  Geo.  S.  Downend. 

It  will  be  noticed  that  this  year  the  members  of  the  Board 
were  increased  to  five. 


176  HISTORY  OF  OSCEOLA    COUNTT.   IOWA. 

1882. 

Recorder Mrs.  C.  I.  Hill. 

Treasurer  _ .  _    Robert  S.  Hall. 

Sheriff Jacob  B.  Lent.     . 

Surveyor M.  J.  Campbell. 

Superintendent  of  Schools J.  R.  Elliott. 

Auditor W.  M.  Moore. 

Clerk  of  Court John  S.  Davidson. 

Coroner W.  H.  Barkhuff. 

No  change  in  Board  of  Supervisors. 

1883. 

There  was  no  change  this  year  in  county  officers  from 
that  of  1882,  except  H.  G.  Doolittle,  Surveyor. 

1884. 

The  changes  this  year  from  1883  were:  Auditor,  J.  S. 
Reynolds  in  place  of  W.  M.  Moore;  H.  Neill,  Coroner,  in 
place  of  Barkhuff,  and  G.  W.  Barrager,  Supervisor,  in  place 
of  H.  C.  Allen. 

1885. 

County  officers  for  the  year  were  as  follows: 

Recorder Mrs.  C.  I.Hill. 

Treasurer    R.S.Hall. 

Sheriff J.  B.  Lent. 

Surveyor . H.  G.  Doolittle. 

Superintendent  of  Schools J.  R.  Elliott, 

Auditor J.  S.  Reynolds. 

Clerk  of  Court W.  H.  Kimberly. 

Coroner H.  Neill. 

f  Wm.  Mowthorpe,  Ch'n. 

I  G.  S.  Downend. 
Supervisors -{  Geo.  W.  Barrager. 

I  Albert  Romey. 

[  N.  Boor. 

1886. 

The  officers  for  this  year  remain  the  same  as  1885,  with 
the  following  changes:  W.  J.  Reeves,  Superintendent  of 
Schools,  in  place  of  J.  R.  Elliott;  W.  S.  Webb,  Coroner; 
C.  P.  Reynolds  and  Wm.  Foster  elected  Supervisors  in  place 
of  N.  Boor  and  G.  S.  Downend. 


RESIDENCE  OF  W.  F.  ALDRED,  OCHEYEDAN. 


178  HISTORY  OF   OSCEOLA    COUNTY,   IOWA. 

1887. 

The  county  officers  of  this  year  were  as  follows: 

Recorder .  . S.  S.  Parker. 

Treasurer R.  S.  Hall. 

Sheriff .    J.B.Lent. 

Surveyor H.  G.  Doolittle. 

Superintendent  of  Schools W.J.  Reeves. 

Auditor J.  S.  Reynolds. 

Clerk  of  Court J.  B.  Mead. 

Coroner W.  R.  Lawrence. 

f  S.  A.  Dove. 

1  C.  P.  Reynolds. 
Supervisors -{  Geo.  W.  Barri((er. 

I  J.  E.  Townsend. 

(  A.  Romey,  Chairman. 


Recorder S.  S.  Parker. 

Treasurer J.  B.  Lent. 

Sheriff •  J-  H.  Douglass. 

Surveyor H.  G.  Doolittle. 

Superintendent  of  Schools W.  J.  Reeves. 

Auditor . J.  S.  Reynolds. 

Clerk  of  Court W.  R.  Lawrence. 

Coroner W.  R.  Lawrence. 

Supervisors  same  as  1887. 

1889. 

Recorder S.  S.  Parker. 

Treasurer .  J.  B.  Lent. 

Sheriff J.  H .  Douglass. 

Surveyor   FL  G.   Doolittle. 

Superintendent  of  Schools W.J.  Reeves. 

Auditor J.  S.  Reynolds. 

Clerk  of  Court J.  B.  Mead. 

Coroner  . . W.  R.  Lawrence. 

There  was  also  elected    in  the  fall   of    1889,  under  a  new 
jMovision  of  the  Legislature,  a  County  Attorney. 
County   Attorney O.  J.  Clark. 

["G.  W.  Barrager,  Ch'n. 

I  A.  Romey. 
Supervisors \  C.  P.  Reynolds. 

I  S.  A.  Dove. 

I  C.  W.  Conner, 


HISTORY  OF  OSCEOLA    COUNT!',   IOWA. 


179 


1890. 

Recorder .    S.S.Parker. 

Treasurer J.  B.  Lent. 

Sheriff J.  H.  Douglass. 

Surveyor John  A.  Flower. 

Superintendent  of  Schools F.  W.  Hahn. 

Auditor J.  S.  Reynolds. 

Clerk  of  Court J.  B.  Mead. 

Coroner W.  E.  Ely. 

Attorney O.J.  Clark. 

C.  P.  Reynolds,  Ch'n. 


Supervisors 


A.  Batie. 
C.  W.  Connor. 
A.  Romey. 
S.  A.  Dove. 


1891. 

Recorder . W.  H.  Gates. 

Treasurer J.  B.  Lent. 

Sheriff J.  H.  Douglass. 

Surveyor J.  A.  Flower. 

Superintendent  of  Schools F.  W.  Hahn. 

Auditor J.  S.  Reynolds. 

Clerk  -of  Court Will  Thomas. 

Coroner   W.  E.  Ely. 

Attorney G.  W.  Lister. 

["S.  A.  Dove,  Chairman. 

I  Adam  Batie. 

Supervisors    '-1  C.  W.  Conner. 

P.  A.  Cajacob. 


[  C.  P.  Reynolds. 


1892. 


The  county  officers  for  this  present  year  are  as  follows: 

Recorder W.  H.  Gates. 

Treasurer James  E.  Townsend. 

Sheriff John  F.  Stamm. 

Superintendent  of  Schools F.  W.  Hahn. 

Auditor . J.  S.  Reynolds. 

Clerk  of  Court Will  Thomas. 

Attorney  . . , G.  W.  Lister. 


180 


HISTORY  OF   OSCEOLA    COUNTY,   IOWA. 


Coroner W.  E.  Ely. 

A.  Batie,  Chairman. 

S.  A.  Dove. 
Supervisors -|  W.  H.  Noehren. 

Charles  Bangert. 

P.  A.  Cajacob. 


D.  II.  BOYD. 


CHAPTER  XIX. 

Returning  again  to  Ocheyedan  Township,  we  find  its 
settlement  in  1871  was  not  extensive,  but  its  incoming  settlers 
in  1872  were  quite  numerous.  In  July,  1872,  Daniel  H.  Bo3'd 
filed  on  the  west  half  of  the  northeast  quarter  of  Section  2. 
Himself  and  son  Charles  first  looked  the  county  over,  and, 
when  final  place  of  location  was  fixed  upon,  Mr.  Boyd  went  to 
Cedar  Falls,  where  his  family  were,  and  all  came  back  with 
him  to  the  claim.  In  the  spring  of  that  year,  1872,  Mr.  Boyd, 
with  the  desire  to  go  west  which  seized  many  people  then,  left 
the  State  of  New  Hampshire,  that  beautiful  country  of  scener}' 
that  Bayard  Taylor  called  the  "Switzerland  of  America."  Mr. 
Boyd  first  put  up  a  small  building  on  the  shack  order,  and  in 
the  fall  built  a  better  house — the  one  he  still  resides  in  on  the 
original  claim— and,  after  a  lapse  of  twenty  years,  he  has  a 
beautiful  home  there,  overlooking  the  thrifty  town  of  Ochey- 
edan, and  where  its  magnificent  forest  trees  add  to  its  attract- 
iveness and  beauty. 

Along  in  September  of  1872,  Mr.  R.  S.  Hall  and  Albert 
March  came  to  the  Boyd  place,  they,  too,  fresh  from  the 
Granite  State.  Mr.  Hall,  a  few  years  ago,  went  to  Long  Pine, 
Nebraska,  where  he  still  resides.  Mr.  March  still  lives  on  the 
original  claim. 

On  the  morning  of  the  January  7  (i873)  blizzard,  Mr. 
March,  who  was  putting  up  a  building  on  his  claim,  started 
from  Mr.  Bo^^d's  to  work  that  day.  As  stated  elsewhere  con- 
cerning the  blizzard,  the  morning  was  beautiful,  and  Mr. 
March  went  with  clothing  for  only  ordinary  weather,  as  he 
was  to  return  again  at  night.  His  partially  built  shack  was 
two  miles  east  from  Mr.  Boyd's,  and  before  Mr.  March  reached 
it  the  blizzard  had  commenced,  so  that,  once  there,  he  did  not 
long  remain,  but  started  back  for  Mr.  Boyd's  house.  He  lost 
his  way  and  wandered  for  over  two  hourS,  not  knowing  which 
way  he  was  going,  with  the  storm  increasing  and  the  atmos- 
phere growing  intensely  colder.  Mr.  March  went  down  upon 
his  knees,  and  in  the  face  of  death  offered  up  a  pra^^er  for  his 
deliverance.  Soon  after  rising  he  saw,  not  far  from  him,  in  a 
lull  of  the  storm,  a  small  shanty,  which  proved  to  be  that  of 
Mr.  Sutton,  which  was  about  two   miles   southeast   from  Mr. 


HISTORY    OF  OSCEOLA    COUNTY.   IOWA.  188 

March's  own  claim.  Mr.  Sutton  had  been  caught  in  the  storm 
at  Mr.  Ireland's  place,  and  Mr.  March  remained  with  the  other 
members  of  the  Sutton  family  until  the  third  day,  when  the 
storm  was  over. 

On  the  second  day  of  that  blizzard  Mr.  Boyd  and  Mr. 
Hall  started  from  the  Boyd  place  to  go  to  March's  shack  to 
look  after  him.  It  was  a  hazardous  undertaking  to  go  two 
miles  in  that  terrible  blizzard  and  back,  but  these  two  men 
had  concluded  that  March  was  still  there  and  might  still  be 
alive,  and  that  they  might  save  him.  They  carried  a  string 
with  them,  stretching  it  out  about  forty  rods,  and  at  the  end  of 
this,  by  going  slowly  and  carefully,  they  followed  the  blind 
road  which  had  been  made  by  some  hauling  to  the  March 
place,  and  at  last  reached  the  shack,  but  there  was  no  occu- 
pant. These  two  disappointed  men  concluded  that  March 
was  lost,  and  that,  rigid  with  freezing  and  with  death,  he  la}' 
out  somewhere  upon  the  prairie.  The  task  of  returning  was 
then  before  them.  Mr.  Hall  was  about  exhausted  and  wanted 
to  lie  down,  but  Mr.  Boyd — of  an  iron  constitution  and  good 
pluck,  and  fearful  that  Hall  would  give  out  on  the  way — 
encouraged  his  companion  to  make  the  venture,  which  they 
did,  and,  after  a  few  hours  of  tedious  plodding  and  in  a  feeling 
of  apprehension  for  their  own  safety,  they  arrived  back  at  the 
l^oyd  residence. 

On  the  third  day,  after  il?  had  cleared  up  some,  Charles 
Boyd  was  about  to  go,  under  the  direction  of  his  father,  to 
the  Sutton  place  to  see  if  March  was  there,  when  March  him- 
self, to  the  delight  and  astonishment  of  the  Boyd  household, 
opened  the  door  and  w'alked  in,  alive  and  well. 

On  this  same  Section  2,  upon  which  Mr.  Bo3'd  filed,  Frank 
Taylor  took  the  east  half  of  the  northeast  quarter  in  1872, 
Charles  R.  Boyd  the  east  half  of  the  northwest  quarter,  and 
Mr.  A.  B.  Elmore  the  west  half  of  the  northwest  quarter.  The 
southeast  quarter  of  this  same  section  was  a  tree  claim,  tiled  on 
b}'^  Mr.  Ruttenburg,  but  which  D.  H.  Boyd  subsequently 
became  the  owner  of.  The  southwest  quarter  was  settled  upon 
originally  by  Mr.  Greenleaf.  James  Goodwin,  of  Spencer, 
afterwards  became  the  owner  of  it,  and  sold  to  Lorenzo  B. 
Bo3'd,  who  still  owns  it  and  there  resides,  except  tifty  acres  on 
the  east  side  conveyed  to  Mrs.  Tracy,  and  upon  the  south  half 
of  this  Section  2  is  a  part  of  the  Ocheyedan  Townsite. 
Lorenzo  B.  and  Charles  R.  Boyd  are  sons  of  D.  H.,  and  the 
Boyd  family  in  one  of  sterling  integrit}^,  and  are  among  the  best 
citizens  in  the  county.     Mr.  A.  B.  Elmore  still  resides  on   his 


184  HISTORY   OF  OSCEOLA    COUNTY,   IOWA. 

original  Ocheyedan  Township  claim,  and,  quoting  from  a 
former  work  on  Northwestern  Iowa,  it  is  said  of  him:  "  He  is 
an  energetic,  hard-working  farmer,  possessed  of  broad  ideas, 
and  is  well  known  as  an  honorable  upright  citizen." 

Geo.  N.  Taylor  and  S.  S.  Parker  left  Minnesota,  where 
they  were  then  living  about  sixty  miles  northwest  of  St.  Paul, 
on  the  6th  day  of  May,  1872,  and  landed  on  the  bank  of  the 
Ocheyedan  on  the  28th.  They  both  took  claims  on  Section 
6,  Township  99,  Range  40.  Mr.  Parker  was  afterwards 
elected  Recorder  and  moved  to  Sibley,  where  he  still  resides. 
Mr.  Taylor  lives  in  Ocheyedan.  Taylor's  first  crop,  or  a  part 
of  it,  was  two  acres  of  wheat  intended  for  family  bread.  He 
harvested  just  one  bushel,  the  grasshoppers  had  harvested 
ahead.  Mr.  Taylor  lost  a  yoke  of  oxen  in  the  January,  1873, 
blizzard.  Luke  Horrobin  settled  in  Ocheyedan  Township  in 
1872,  and  came  here  from  Ohio.  He  first  settled  on  Section 
6  and  afterwards  removed  to  Section  14,  where  he  now  resides. 
About  1873,  Mr.  L.  Tatum,  with  his  son,  C.  A.  Tatum,  drove 
through  from  Floyd  County,  and  arrived  in  Osceola  in  May. 
L.  Tatum  filed  on  a  part  of  Section  14,  in  West  Ocheyedan, 
and  in  the  same  Township  C.  A.  Tatum  filed  a  homestead  on 
a  part  of  Section  24.  L.  Tatum  is  now  in  Nebraska,  and  C. 
A.  Tatum  still  owns  his  original  homestead  and  resides  in  the 
Town  of  Ocheyedan.  A  picture  of  his  residence  is  on  another 
page.  W.  H.  Barkhuff,  who  has  a  very  fine  farm  in  this  town- 
ship, came  from  Fayette  County  in  March,  1872.  He  has 
braved  the  new  country  adversities  with  final  success.  John 
Hesebeck  came  in  1872,  and  still  lives  on  the  original  claim. 
John  has  had  a  hard  time  of  it  Hke  the  rest  of  us,  but  is  a  suc- 
cessful farmer.  In  this  township  also  resides  Hans  Graves, 
who  is  mentioned  as  one  of  the  Graves  family,  most  of  whom 
settled  in  Baker  Township,  also  John  Graves.  Hans  and  John 
came  in  1872,  and  both  have  as  fine  farms  as  can  be  found  in 
the  state.  Claus  Yess,  living  in  this  township,  also  came  in 
1872.  Mr.  Yess  now  lives  in  a  fine  residence,  across  the  road 
from  which  stands  the  origkial  cabin  which  he  first  built. 

Geo.  Raynor  has  a  very  fine  place,  having  purchased  it 
from  one  of  the  Scotch  settlers,  so  called,  for  at  one  time  there 
was  a  Scotch  settlement  in  Ocheyedan  Township,  which  scat- 
tered from  misfortune  or  inexperience  in  farming.  G.  A. 
Peter,  who  still  lives  in  this  township  and  is  a  good  farmer,  is 
a  son  of  one  of  the  Scotch  settlers.  On  the  east  side  of  the 
township  are  C.  E.  Benson,  E.  J.  Benson  and  F.  E.  Benson. 
E.  J.  has  been  some  time   in    the    township.      Other  residents 


JOHN  II.   DOUGLASS. 


186  ,   inSTORY  OF  OSCEOLA    COUNTY,  IOWA. 

are  John  Armstrong,  I.  N.  Beanger,  A.  C.  Barnett,  A.  A. 
Barnett,  Anton  Barta,  C.  H.  Button,  C.  S.  Buchner.  George 
Bremmer  is  an  old  resident  of  this  township  and  lives  in  the 
southwest  part  of  it.  J.  J.  Callender  has  been  here  about  six 
years,  Edmund  Devine  about  three  years  and  John  Ginnie 
about  two  years.  James  Hall,  on  the  east  side,  is  something 
of  an  old  settler,  enough  so  as  to  have  had  a  touch  of  the 
grasshoppers  and  has  been  here  about  fourteen  years.  F.  H. 
Hunt,  along  with  H.  C.  March,  came  in  1875  from  New  En- 
gland. Mr.  Hunt  purchased  the  Luke  Horrobin  place  and 
now  has  an  elegant  home.  Mr.  March  is  well  situated,  and 
had  the  misfortune  about  a  year  ago  to  lose  his  wife  b}-  death. 
Richard  Harrison,  living  south  of  town,  has  resided  there 
about  three  years.  Others  have  been  here  as  follows:  M.  N. 
Herbert  about  five  years,  Joseph  Korth  about  seven,  while  J. 
H.  Kerby  has  been  here  considerably  longer.  H.  J.  and  R. 
C.  Lutson  have  been  residents  about  five  years,  D.  J.  Smith 
about  the  same;  also  B.  J.  J.  Morritz,  O.  J.  Barkhuff  and  J.  F. 
and  E.  J.  Bradley.  Among  other  residents  of  a  latter  date 
are  M.  J.  Swazy,  Thomas  Wise,  I.  W.  Olmstead,  Wallace 
Olmstead,  John  A.  Smith,  Otto  Rumford,  Charles  F.  Porter, 
Manley  Pickett,  J.  S.  Floyd,  Ira  Swaney,  George  Dearhalt. 
T.  B.  Fletcher,  who  lives  near  the  noted  Ocheyedan  Mound, 
came  about  five  years  ago,  as  also  did  W.  A.  Cooper. 

C.  N.  Moar  is  considerable  of  an  old  settler,  as  is  also 
Gilbert  and  Milan  Gee.  Hope  Graham  has  been  here  about 
ten  years,  and  William  Siver  is  considered  an  old  settler. 
Among  other  residents  are  W.  A.  Cook,  J.  H.  Kuntz,  N. 
Richardson,  N.  I.  Peter,  Albert  and  Charles  Shephard,  P.  H. 
Tierney,  Cornelius  Tierney,  R.  S.  Thompson,  J.  H.  Welsh 
and  George  Waldholm.  F.  L.  James  and  A.  W.  Stephens 
are  old  settlers;  also  Walter  Woolridge  and  C.  C.  Webster 
has  been  here  about  four  years.  James  Thomas,  who  is  con- 
sidered an  old  settler,  lives  on  the  east  side  of  the  township. 
P.  L.  Thompson,  a  recent  settler,  and  near  him  H.  Tjden. 
Tjden,  in  addition  to  farming,  is  in  the  insurance  business.  J. 
P.  Tower  is  an  early  settler  and  is  still  living  on  the  original 
claim  which  he  settled  upon  in  1872.  John  S.  Robinson,  on 
the  west  side,  has  lived  there  about  five  years,  and  Joel  Carl, 
after  an  experience  in  Dakota,  settled  in  the  south  part  of  the 
township  about  two  years  ago.  J.  J.  Lintner  has  been  here 
quite  a  number  of  years.  There  are  also  E.  T.  Evins,  E.  J. 
Lee,  who  has  lived  in  the  township  about  two  years;  also  A. 
H.  Paddock.     We  might  further  mention  David  Kratzer,  H. 


HtSTORT  OF  OSCEOLA    COUNTY,  tOWA.  187 

M.  Trumbauer,  W.E.  Phinney,  W.  C.  Ondler,  Andrew  Naab. 
O.  J.  Nenno  is  an  old  settler,  M.  N.  Smith  has  lived  in  the 
township  several  years  and  C.  R.  Marsh  about  two  years  and 
H.  W.  Anderson  about  the  same.  Edward  Everett  lives  near 
Ocheyedan,  in  this  township.  He  first  settled  in  the  county 
in  1 87 1,  east  of  Ashton,  in  Gilman  Township,  and  has  been 
identified  now  for  over  twenty  years  in  Osceola  Count}' 
affairs.  His  wife  is  of  a  literary  turn  of  mind;  has  written 
some  very  elegant  poetry  and  wall  soon  publish  a  volume  of 
her  poems.  Mr.  Everett  was  one  of  the  first  justices  in  Gil- 
man  township  and  the  first  Sunday  school  superintendent  in  that 
part  of  the  township,  and  indeed  we  believe  the  first  in  that 
part  of  the  county.  Ocheyedan  has  gained  very  much  in  set- 
tlement in  the  past  two  years  and  is  a  thrifty,  productive 
township.  On  Section  17,  west  of  Oche3'edan,  is  I.  C.  Stew- 
art and  M.  M.  Hulburt,  and  on  Section  18  Charles  Moore,  and 
Max  Decker  on  Section  33.  Joseph  Smith  lives  in  the  south- 
east part  of  the  township.  Ocheyedan  Township,  as  a  part 
of  Osceola  County,  would  still  be  incomplete  without  a  men- 
tion of  C.  B.  Knox.  Mr.  Knox,  it  is  true,  lives  in  Dickinson 
Count}',  on  the  banks  of  Silver  Lake  but  not  a  great  distance 
from  the  east  line  of  Ocheyedan.  He  came  from  Wisconsin 
in  1S69  and  camped  for  a  few  weeks  on  the  banks  of  Spirit 
Lake,  and  in  that  same  year  settled  upon  the  northeast  quar- 
ter of  Section  28,  Township  100,  Range  38,  where  he  still  re- 
sides. Mr.  Knox  had  occasion  to  pass  across  Osceola  County 
several  times  when  not  a  white  man  was  living  in  the  county 
and  when  he  encountered  bands  of  Indians  and  saw  nothing 
but  the  original  untrodden  prairie,  an  occasional  wild  animal 
and  the  roving  red  man.  Mr.  Knox  has  a  lovely  home  over- 
looking the  placid  waters  of  that  beautiful  lake,  and  there  en- 
joys life  in  contentment  and  with  the  respect  of  his  neighbors 
and  fellow  citizens. 


CHAPTER  XX. 

The  settlement  of  Holman  Township  east  and  west  out- 
side of  Sibley  began  in  1871.  The  township  is  twelve  miles 
east  and  west,  by  six  miles  north  and  south.  The  township 
was  named  after  Supervisor  Holman,  of  Woodbury  Count3\ 
Goewey  Township  and  Horton  were  also  named  after  mem- 
bers of  Woodbury  County's  Board  of  Supervisors  at  the  time 
that  Board  started  Osceola  Count}^  into  existence. 

The  only  settler  in  the  township  near  the  neighborhood 
of  Sibley  was  Frank  Stiles,  and  west  of  Stiles  was  J.  H. 
Winspear,  who  had  a  small  house  near  where  C.  F.  Benson's 
residence  now  is.  Just  north  of  Sibley  L.  C.  Chamberlain 
had  a  homestead,  and  near  him  Ed.  Shufelt,  now  of  Canton, 
South  Dakota,  had  a  pre-emption.  Mr.  Chamberlain  lived 
there  about  twenty  years,  and  now  is  in  San  Francisco,  Cali- 
fornia. Near  these  D.  Busbee,  M.  V.  Beebe  and  J.  K.  Shaw 
were  located,  while  west  of  these  were  Robert  Stamm  and 
John  O'Neill.  Garrett  Irwin  and  James  Bailey  were  in  the 
same  neighborhood.  A  mile  west  of  Chamberlain's  were  E. 
Morrison,  John  Beaumont  and  D.  L.  Riley,  while  still  further 
were  Daniel  Call,  Charles  Call  and  N.  Richards  and  Busbee. 
On  the  section  directly  west  of  Sibley,  where  is  now  the  fine 
stock  farm  of  H.  L.  Emmert,  were  Henry  L.  Baker,  W.  W. 
Cram,  Myron  Churchill  and  Thomas  Parland.  On  the  first 
section  south  of  town  were  R.  O.  Manson,  Geo.  W.  Bean,  A. 
M.  Culver  and  his  son,  Andrew.  West  of  these  were  G.  F. 
Nixon,  A.  W.  Mitchell  and  Pat  Larkin,  and  still  further  west 
were  John  Coughlin,  C.  M.  Bailey  and  Edward  Lindsey. 
Near  this  section  were  located  William  Proper,  William  and 
Joseph  Anderson,  Rev.  Mr.  Aldrich  and  Thomas  Jackson. 
East  of  these  was  the  Robinson  section,  John  L.,  F.  M.  and 
Ed.,  and  near  these  were  the  Rice  brothers,  Martin  and 
Hughes,  also  Doc.  Ward.  South  of  the  Culvers  were  W. 
Belcher  and  near  him  David  Chambers  and  sons.  West  of 
these  were  David  Johns,  Peter  Wagnei%  Thomas  Thompson, 
and  near  them  John  Welcher,  S.  F.  Thompson  and  C.  B. 
Hann. 

Of  these  old  settlers  mentioned,  Winspear  went  to  Colo- 
rado;   Stiles  and   Shufelt  are  in   Dakota;   M.  V.  Beebe  is  in 


RESIDENCE  OF  JOHN  H.  DOUGLASS,  SIBLEY. 


190  HISTORY  OF  OSCEOLA    COUNTY,   IOWA. 

Ellsworth,  Minn.;  J.  K.  Shaw  is  in  Salt  Lake  City;  W.  H. 
Morrison  is  in  Kettle  Falls;  John  O'Neill  and  James  Bailey 
have  died;  D.  L.  Riley  is  in  Iowa  Falls;  H.  L.  Baker  is  in 
Indiana;  Myron  Churchill  is  in  Pipestone,  Minn.;  W.  W.Cram 
is  in  Nebraska;  Edward  Linsdey  is  dead,  and  his  two  sons, 
Harvey  and  Henry,  have  farms  in  this  county;  C.  M.  Bailey  .is 
in  the  Auditor's  office  at  Des  Moines;  F.  M.  Robinson  is  at 
Atlanta,  Ga. ;  and  Pat  Larkin  is  in  Kansas. 

Of  the  pioneers  mentioned,  but  few  remain  on  their 
claims.  Robert  Stamm  continues  to  live  on  his  claim,  and 
A.  W.  Mitchell  and  John  Coughlin  are  on  the  same  original 
claims;  David  Jones,  John  Chamberlain  and  R.  O.  Manson 
also  live  on  the  land  originally  taken.  East  of  Sibley,  Dr. 
J.  M.Jenkins  and  his  brother  John  filed;  near  them,  John  I. 
Halstead  and  his  son,  Al  Halstead,  and  also  Rev.  John  Webb. 
A  mile  north  of  these  was  located  J.  F.  Glover,  F.  F.  White, 
E.  A.  White  and  S.  A.  Wright,  and  east  of,  C.  F.  Krueger 
and  sons.  Near  these  last  mentioned,  were  Chauncey  H. 
Bull,  John  E.  Johnson  and  John  E.  Selecht.  West  of  Bull 
were  James  Bowles,  E.  C.  Jenkins,  Howey  Walters  and  Mr. 
Loharty.  In  the  same  neighborhood  were  the  parties  here- 
tofore mentioned  on  Section  8. 

On  Section  14  were  Wallace  Rea,  O.  C.  Staplin,  John 
Roberts  and  C.  A.  Kirkpatrick.  On  Section  22  were  J.  S. 
Reynolds,  Frank  Coe  and  S.  H.  Weslcott.  On  Section  24, 
H.  G.  Doolittle  and  John  McDonald;  near  there  was  the 
Mandeville  section — H.  N.  and  his  sons  William  and  Charles. 
On  Section  28  were  John  H.  Miller,  W.  J.  Miller,  G.  H. 
Perry  and  John  Q.  Miller;  east  were  Hiram  Burt,  Michael 
Clapsaddle,  H.  S.  Brown  and  J.  Bud  worth;  near  by.  Jack 
Kettle,  Wm.  Horton,  H.  L.  Clapsaddle,  W.  H.  Philips  and 
J.  B.Jenny.  The  Jenkins  people  have  all  moved  away.  The 
Halsteads  moved  to  Nebraska,  the  White  boys  returned  to 
Wisconsin,  S.  A.  Wright  to  Nebraska,  and  Mr.  Loharty  per- 
ished in  a  blizzard.  C.  M.  Brooks  lives  in  Cedar  Rapids  and 
Hiram  Austin  in  Kansas. 

Thus  the  early  settlers  of  Holman  Township  have  scat- 
tered, except  what  few  remain,  and  some  have  died.  Those 
who  left  got  discouraged  and  disheartened  with  the  disadvan- 
tages which  every  new  country  has,  and  returned  to  their 
former  homes,  or  sought  other  fields.  The  land  of  these  early 
settlers  is  now  occupied  by  other  and  later  comers,  who  will 
reap  the  harvest,  which,  with  the  absent  settlers  failed  to 
materialize. 


HISTORY    OF  OSCEOLA    COUNTY,   IOWA.  191 

Among  the  present  settlers,  some  of  whom  may  through 
inadvertence  be  omitted,  are  Geo.  N.  Argubright,  P.  C. 
Alexander,  Gens  Anderson,  Geo.  Alberns,  Horace  Ackerson, 
Dirk  Albers,  Charles  Andrews,  Charles  Thomas,  William 
Brechel,  C.  F.  Blackmore,  J.  W.  Bechet,  Frank  Burton,  A.  L. 
Baxter,  Will  Chase,  P.  A.  Cajacob — Mr,  Cajacob  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Board  of  Supervisors — ^J.  S.  Campbell,  who  bought 
the  tine  Philips  farm,  Geo.  Cooper,  M.  J.  Chambers,  David 
Chambers,  D.  J.  Chambers,  Aaron  Cox,  H.  L.  Clapsaddle, 
J.  J.  Conway,  G.  De  Bries,  William  Drahe,  William  Dix,  J.  L. 
Dufree,  C.  N.  Flower,  G.  W.  Flower,  D.  R.  Flower,  John 
Gerver,  J.  T.  Greenfield.  This  last  named  gentleman  is  a 
pioneer  who  has  a  large  farm.  J.  H.  Gallagher  also  lives  in 
this  township,  who  is  a  fine  stock  breeder;  also  J.  H.  Gee, 
John  Gache  and  Jonathan  Gross.  There  are  also  A.  Hunter, 
John  Hess,  Nick  Hess,  J.  H.  Karem,  Claus  Hoffman,-  George 
Heritage,  Mahlon  Harvey,  E.  A.  Hunter,  Matt  Hillers,  P. 
Henry,  Peter  Johannes,  D.  D.  Jenkins,  J.  G.  Johnson,  J.  B. 
Jenney,  Joseph  Kappes,  F.  L.  Kruger,  W.  H.  Ketchem, 
A.  Klossen,  William  Kastor,  Theodore  Ling,  C.  F.  Ling, 
Thomas  Larson,  J.  S.  Martin,  R.  F.  Maloney,  D.  Myer  and 
J.  Miller,  whose  wife  is  one  of  the  big  turkey  raisers  of  the 
county,  Peter  Nelson,  Dan  O'Neill,  John  McCone,  John 
Pfeffer,  Peter  Philbern,  L.  S.  Patterson,  Thomas  Pell.  This 
last  named  gentleman  is  a  Congregational  clerg3'man,  who  has 
been  pastor  of  a  church  in  the  county  and  last  winter  preached 
in  Florida.  There  are  also  Charles  Parker,  P.  Redmond, 
N.  H.  Reynolds,  Joseph  Roth,  John  Redmond,  B.  A.  Stamm, 
who  is  also  a  pioneer,  Henry  Shroeder,  Will  Shroeder,  John 
Schulte,  Robert  Smith,  who  was  also  a  pioneer,  Martin 
Schmidt,  G.  L.  Smith,  Peter  Shaw,  James  Stevens,  James 
Thomas,  Robert  Taylor,  J.  F.  Taylor,  W.  L.  Taylor,  G.  B. 
Van  Norman,  David  Whitney,  John  Wagner,  who  is  a  large 
farmer,  John  E.  Wagner,  T.  M.  Wagner.  These  names  do 
not  include  all  the  residents  of  Holman  Township,  but  such  as 
could  be  ascertained  by  observation  and  inquiry.  They  have 
taken  the  even  numbered  sections  of  the  government  land, 
and  the  railroad  land,  being  the  odd  numbered,  and  following 
the  little  settlements  and  small  improvements  of  the  pioneer, 
they  have  made  Holman  Township  one  of  the  finest  agricul- 
tural districts  in  the  country. 

The  farmers  of  this  township,  as  well  as  all  other  town- 
ships, have,  in  less  than  a  quarter  of  a  century,  built  highways, 
made   substantial  homes,  built   school-houses,  and  today  this 


192  HISTORl'  OF  OSCEOLA    COUNTT,   IOWA. 

township,  that  in  the  sixties  rated  at  $1.25  per  acre  and  in  the 
seventies  rated  at  $2.50  to  $5  an  acre,  has  advanced  to  be 
worth  from  $25  to  $50  an  acre.  Industrial  developement  is 
marvelous.  The  Nineteenth  Century  advancement  is  won- 
derful to  contemplate,  but  right  here  at  our  doors,  before  our 
very  eyes,  has  been  a  transformation  as  remarkable  as  can  be 
noted  in  any  department  of  industry  in  the  wide  field  of  this 
great  republic. 


RESIDENCE  OF  W.  B.  STEVENS,  SIBLEY. 


CHAPTER  XXI. 

The  lirst  settler  in  Baker  Township  was  in  1871,  but 
during  that  winter  following,  there  was  hardly  anyone  there. 
Several  who  had  settled  in  Goewey  in  1871,  afterwards  moved 
to  Baker,  and  now  reside  there.  Among  these  are  W.  H. 
Lean  and  Adam  Batie.  In  1872,  a  great  many  took  claims 
in  Baker;  indeed,  in  1872  and  1873,  the  Government  land 
was  about  all  taken.  Among  those  that  came  to  Baker  in 
1 87 1,  were  Philip  and  Peter  Ladenberger,  and  came  from 
Wisconsin.  Philip  still  resides  in  the  county  at  Sibley. 
Peter  perished  in  1873  blizzard,  elsewhere  mentioned.  John 
Kinne  also  came  in  1871,  and  we  believe  that  this  gentleman 
and  family  were  the  only  residents  in  this  township  in  the  win- 
ter 187 1  and  1872.  There  were  also  Jacob  Henshaw, 
Albert  Waldo  and  Ed.  Melvin.  Mr.  Melvin  is  in  Sioux  City, 
and  Mr.  Henshaw  now  resides  in  Dickinson  County. 

There  was  some  breaking  done  in  the  township  in  187 1, 
and  some  vegetables  raised,  but  the  products  of  the  county 
that  year  amounted  to  but  httle,  and  the  shacks  were  very 
Hmited  in  number.  Adam  Batie  drove  through  from  Wiscon- 
sin in  1 87 1,  with  Stephen  Higgins,  filed  that  year  on  a  claim 
in  Goewey  Township,  and  afterwards  settled  in  Baker.  Mr. 
Batie  is  a  member  of  the  Board  of  County  Supervisors. 
Elmore  R.  Hazen  arrived, in  the  county  in  1872,  and  settled 
on  the  southwest  quarter  of  Section  2,  in  Baker.  He  still 
owns  the  original  claim.  He  put  up  the  usual  shack  and  did 
some  breaking.  On  the  Hazen  place  now  live  the  Holle 
family,  consisting  of  Herman  Holle,  wife,  one  daughter  and 
three  sons.  A  picture  of  C.  W.  Holle  is  elsewhere  in  the 
book.  They  own  land  themselves,  but  at  present  live  on  the 
Hazen  place,  and  farm  this  along  with  their  own. 

Harmon  Runyon  took  the  northeast  quarter  of  Section  2 
in  1872,  and  is  still  living  on  the  same  place  with  valuable  im- 
provements. He  came  here  from  Winneshiek  County,  and 
along  with  him  came  Mr.  Smith  and  Benj.  Davis.  Smith  and 
Davis  soon  returned.  Davis  afterwards  died,  and  Smith  still 
lives  in  Winneshiek.  Smith  and  Runyon  also  had  a  dangerous 
experience  with  the  December,  1872,  blizzard.  They  went  to 
Sibley  at  that  time  and  then  drove  around  to   Huff's  to  get 


HISTORY    OF  OSCEOLA    COUNTY,   IOWA.  195 

their  papers,  and  while  on  their  way  home  the  blizzard  over- 
took them.  They  kept  pushing  on  with  the  storm,  and  finally 
brought  up  at  Teabout's  ranch,  in  Cla}^  County.  Runyon's 
hat  blowed  away,  and  in  running  after  that,  he  lost  sight  of  the 
team,  and  with  difficulty  found  it  again.  Altogether  it  was  a 
narrow  escape  for  them,  as  it  was  with  a  great  many  others  in 
those  early  blizzards. 

Henry  Dunkleman  is  still  living  in  Baker  on  the  game 
original  claim  filed  upon  in  1872.  Baker  Township  has  one 
postoffice  called  Gopher,  of  which  W.  H.  Lean,  elsewhere 
mentioned,  is  postmaster.  It  is  on  Section  6.  Henry  Brem- 
mer  is  an  early  settler  on  Section  5, 

Among  other  residents  of  the  township,  not  otherwise 
mentioned,  are  Ira  Peck,  who  is  at  present  the  only  one  living 
on  Section  3.  John  Haskins,  Charles  Wilson,  S.  T.  Price, 
Harvey  Nash,  Theodore  Frey,  H.  W.  Jones,  Adolph  Knox, 
A.  Hager,  John  Frey,  Peter  Wilson,  Peter  Anderson,  Hermen 
Frey,  Henry  Verteen,  A.  D.  Wilson,  W.  Logar,  George  Leg- 
gctt,  August  Buchholtz,  Will  PhiHps,  Philip  Schertzer,  Henry 
Walters,  Conrad  Fink,  John  Fink,  Charles  Fink,  Casper 
Diekman,  Benj.  Diekman,  George  Webster,  H.  Weigands, 
Clark  Howard,  W.  Bell,  James  McAnrich,  Herman  Lyman, 
Thomas  Dewey,  Charles  Goodman,  John  Price,  Frank  Cres- 
sap  and  son,  Mr.  Lyons,  David  Logar.  Mr.  Logar  has  in- 
vented a  flax  cleaner  and  obtained  a  patent  on  it,  which  is  said 
to  be  a  great  improvement.  Charles  Timmons  is  on  Section 
2,  and  C.  M.  McDougal  is  on  Section  15.  Still  others  are 
Dirk  Frey,  J.  D.  C.  Frey,  Frank  Quiggle,  Phihp  Keller,  John 
Benz,  John  Wiggenhausser,  Peter  Keutzer,  John  Jobes,  Ernest 
Benz,  Fritz  Rhoda,  S.  M.  Stanford,  August  Gentz,  O.  Dufrees, 
Henry  Bremmer,  H.  Waehtel,  Peter  Johnson,  J.  Hokkoff, 
Theodore  Reimmers,  George  Reimmers.  C.  W.  Br3'an,  who 
is  School  and  Township  Clerk,  lives  on  Section  21.  Palmer 
Rumford  lives  on  the  east  side  of  the  township. 

Hans  Graves,  who  yet  lives  in  Baker  Township,  came  in 
1872,  along  with  H.  Steffenhagen  and  one  other  party.  Mr. 
Steffenhagen  still  lives  in  the  township,  and  both  himself  and 
Mr.  Graves  are  entitled  to  the  success  they  have  made  of  it, 
as  they  went  through  the  early  hard  times.  They  returned 
for  the  winter  and  came* out  agam  in  the  spring  of  1873. 
They  came  from  Clinton  County,  and  when  they  came  back 
the  following  spring,  there  came  with  them  Mr.  Frank  Graves, 
uncle  to  Hans,  and  other  members  of  the  family,  Peter,  John 
C,  Frank  and  Jerry  Graves  and  Claus  Yess.     These  all  took 


196  HISTORY  OF   OSCEOLA    COUNTY,   IOWA. 

claims.  Peter  and  Frank  Graves  are  now  in  Chicago  in  the 
jeweh-y  business,  and  John  C,  with  his  family,  live  in  Ochey- 
edan,  and  is  engaged  in  the  mercantile  business.  The  other 
members  of  the  family  live  on  their  original  claims  and  all  are 
well-to-do. 

As  has  been  said  with  reference  to  other  townships,  some 
names  are  no  doubt  omitted  as  we  did  not  intend  to  make  a 
complete  directory  but  more  of  a  record  of  past  events.  Baker 
Township  is  one  of  the  best  in  the  county. 

Harrison  Township,  which  was  a  part  of  Baker  until  a 
few  years  ago,  was  not  early  settled  as  other  townships  were. 
We  believe  about  the  first  settler  in  this  township  was  Mr. 
Billion,  and  the  place  where  he  lived  was  known  for  several 
years  as  the  Billion  Ranch,  and  is  so  called  now.  It  was  land 
owned  by  Rev.  Peter  Haverman,  a  Catholic  priest,  of  Troy, 
New  York,  who  started  there  a  cattle  ranch,  and  sent  Mr. 
Billion  out  from  New  York  State  to  run  it.  From  poor 
management,  the  enterprise  proved  a  failure.  Mr.  Haverman 
was  out  several  times,  and  is  spoken  of  as  a  very  honorable 
and  conscientious  man. 

In  the  north  part  of  the  township  is  quite  a  settlement  of 
Mennonites.  This  sect  is  distinguished  by  antique  simplicity, 
by  their  indifference  to  the  great  interests  of  the  world,  and  at 
the  same  time  their  industry  and  self  concentrations  make 
them  well  to-do.  The  main  interest  m  the  sect  lies  not  in 
dogma,  but  in  principle,  and  as  men  they  are  conscientious, 
law-abiding  citizens.  They  have  about  thirty  members,  and 
hold  services  every  two  weeks.  They  came  from  Canada  to 
Harrison  township.  Jesse  Bauman  came  first  in  1887,  and,  his 
report  concerning  the  country  bemg  favorable,  others  soon 
followed.  They  sent  out  carpenters,  who  erected  buildings 
for  them,  and  there  is  a  sameness  about  all  their  surroundings. 
Josiah  Martin,  one  of  the  leaders  among  his  people,  has  all  of 
Section  10.  The  Bauman's  are  also  prominent — Jesse,  Amos 
and  Elias.  Elias  is  on  Section  4,  and  Jesse  and  Amos  on 
Section  9.  In  this  north  part  of  the  township  are  also  Julius 
Worm,  Louis  Clatt,  Frank  Gregory,  John  Huehn,  Louis 
Johannes,  Daniel  Weaver,  Daniel  Stauffer,  John  Dunnenworth, 
George  Bryer,  Abraham  Widner,  Jacob  Brubaker,  Elias 
Ginrich,  Henry  Gregory,  Elias  Reist,  Daniel  Harley,  Fred 
Kampene,  James  Reist,  Mr.  Kesterling. 

The  May  City  postoffice  is  on  Section  8,  in  this  township, 
about  the  center.  This  section  is  owned  by  a  company,  and 
is  intended  for  a  townsite.     E.  S.  Robertson  is  postmaster,  and 


OCHEYKDAN  HOUSE,  OCHEYEDAN, 


198  HISTORY  OF  OSCEOLA    COUNTY.   IOWA. 

Mr.  Robertson's  father  and  two  brothers  are  living  there  at 
present.  Martin  Houcks  and  August  Hess  are  the  village 
blacksmiths,  and  John  Brendley  the  shoemaker.  An  incoming 
railroad,  which  is  expected,  would  make  May  City  quite  a 
point.  Section  12  is  owned  by  Lon,  John  and  Joseph  Cham- 
bers. On  Section  6  are  the  Smith  brothers,  O.J.  and  A.  W. 
Among  other  of  the  residents  there,  George  and  E.  L. 
Krukenburg  are  on  Section  31,  Henry  Krukenburg  is  on  Sec- 
tion 30,  Chris  Dorman  and  John  Marsh  are  on  Section  32  and 
John  Isley  and  Henry  Schmoll  are  on  Section  33.  Among 
other  of  its  residents  are  Ernest  Krukenburg,  Henry  Lager, 
Henry  Groff,  Conrad  Schmoll,  Danied  Tyards,  W.  D.  Sauer, 
John  Brochus,  Peter  Anker,  Henry  Newkirk,  T.  Hemmig, 
George  Ryers,  Charles  Mielke;  also  Albert  Mielke,  John 
Sittler,  Martin  Fritz;  also  Peter  Anker,  David  Anker,  A.  F. 
Berdine,  W.  H.  Brerver,  L.  W.  Lopp,  Gerritt  DeBoor,  Wm. 
Eden,  Herman  Eden,  R.  E.  Ellis,  R.  C.  Fuller,  J.  C.  Herlie, 
J.  W.  Wardrip,  A.  B.  Weidman,  Daniel  Shafer,  W.  J.  Smith, 
Hugh  Starts,  Louis  and  Philip  Kesserling,  David  Steiner, 
Henry  Heimrich,  John  Kimble,  E.  T.  Willner,  Martin  Hank, 
John  Huchn.  This  township  was  named  after  President 
Harrison,  and  many  of  its  fine  farms  are  attractive  and  delight 
the  eye.  E.  C.  Roberts,  in  addition  to  the  postoffice  at  May 
City,  has  also  a  general  stock  of  goods  and  his  store  is  well 
patronized.  Emil  Hemmig  and  Fred  Tschudin  also  live  in 
Harrison.  T.  Hemmig  is  an  old  settler  for  Harrison,  and 
came  here  six  years  ago. 


©OWNS  IN  THE  ©OUNTY. 


HARRIS. 


This  is  a  station  on  the  Burlington,  Cedar  Rapids  and 
Northern  Raih'oad,  on  the  east  side  of  the  county.  At  pres- 
ent it  does  not  claim  to  be  metropolitan,  but  expects  some  time 
in  the  future  to  acquire  prominence  as  one  of  the  towns  in  the 
county.  It  is  well  located,  and  when  the  country  around  it 
becomes  more  settled,  the  town  will  grow  correspondingly. 
It  has  one  general  store,  managed  by  Rufus  Townsend,  who 
is  also  postmaster,  and  the  store  has  a  good  trade.  M.  B. 
Smith  has  a  lumber  yard;  also  a  harness  shop.  J.  Ryckman 
runs  a  coal  yard  and  John  Waiting  is  the  blacksmith.  The 
station  agent  is  Homer  Richards,  and  Harris  has  a  decorative 
painter,  Frank  P.  Burley.  This  about  comprises  the  bus- 
iness interests  of  Harris,  and  no  doubt  the  historian  ten  years 
from  now  will  be  able  to  make  an  extensive  record,  which  will 
come  from  its  future  crrowth. 


ASHTON. 


The  Town  of  Ashton  was  laid  out  by  the  Land  Depart- 
ment of  the  Sioux  City  and  St.  Paul  Railroad  Company  in 
1872.  It  was  first  named  St.  Gilman,  but  afterwards,  in  1882, 
this  name  was  changed  to  Ashton.  The  town  is  beautifully 
located,  and  on  the  east  side  of  its  business  portion  runs  the 
Otter,  a  beautiful  stream,  though  not  a  large  one.  It  is  a 
thrifty  town,  having  tributary  to  it  a  scope  of  countr}'  that  for 
productiveness  and  fertility  of  soil  is  unexcelled  in  the  state. 
The  first  building  on  the  townsite  was  placed  there  by  T.  J. 
Sliaw  in  the  fall  of  1872,  and  the  building  still  stands  there  and 
is  now  occupied  by  John  Kunnen  for  a  restaurant.  Mr.  Shaw 
is  the  same  party  who,  previous  to  that  time,  had  a  store  on 
Section  32  in  Gilman  township,  and  he  put  up  the  building 
now  in  Ashton  before  the  town  was  laid  out,  and  when  lots 
were  to  be  had,  placed  the  building  on  one  of  them  and  gave 


200  HISTORY  OF  OSCEOLA    COUNTY,   IOWA. 

it  a  permanent  abiding  place.  Mr.  Shaw  left  Osceola  County 
in  1888,  and  now  resides  in  Oregon.  After  Shaw's  store, 
followed  a  warehouse  in  1873,  P^^^  up  by  Brown  &  Rounds- 
ville.  Mr.  Brown  resides  in  Nebraska,  and  Mr.  Roundsville 
died  several  years  ago.  About  the  same  time  the  warehouse 
was  built,  a  lumber  yard  office  was  put  up,  and  this  was  used 
afterwards  for  various  purposes,  and,  by  adding  to  it,  Mr. 
David  Underbill  now  has  it  for  a  residence.  Then  followed  a 
blacksmith  shop,  run  by  Charles  Miller,  who  sold  to  John  Lee, 
and  m  1878  Lee  sold  out  to  I.  B.  Lucas,  who  still  continues 
the  same  business.  Another  store  soon  followed,  a  millinery 
shop,  and,  in  those  days  of  beer  and  native  wine  from  fruits 
grown  in  the  state,  a  saloon.  A  hotel  building  was  also 
erected  soon  after  by  J.  D.  Billings,  which  still  stands  in  Ash- 
ton,  but  which  has  been  improved  by  large  additions,  and  is 
now  owned  by  C.  W.  Freeman  and  run  by  Nick  Reiter. 
When  Ashton  got  fairly  started,  it  had  two  stores,  a  millinery 
shop,  blacksmith  shop,  hotel,  warehouse,  saloon  and  two  resi- 
dences. Then  came  the  grasshoppers,  whose  ravages  are 
mentioned  elsewhere,  and  these  so  discouraged  and  disheart- 
ened the  first  business  men  of  the  town  that  one  by  one  they 
"Folded  their  tents  like  Arabs,  and  as  silently  stole  away." 
The  store-keepers  sold  what  they  could,  and  packed  up  the 
balance  of  the  stock  and  departed.  The  hotel  man  had  no 
custom  and  he  went,  the  saloon-keeper  had  to  tend  both  sides 
of  the  bar  and  do  all  the  drinking  himself,  the  millinery  goods 
were  not  in  demand,  no  grain  came  to  market,  and  the  exodus 
was  thorough  and  complete. 

In  1879,  "^  writer  in  the  Gazette,  said  the  following  of  St. 
Oilman:  "Last  week  we  spent  an  hour  or  two  in  Oilman. 
This  village  is  struggling  with  all  its  hopes  in  the  future,  wait- 
ing patiently  for  a  depot,  an  elevator,  an  express  and  telegraph 
office.  A  year  or  two  of  good  crops  will  bring  it  into  notice, 
give  it  more  buildings,  sidewalks,  a  mayor  and  all  the  para- 
phernalia of  a  full -fledged  metropolis,  until  then  it  must  move 
quietly  and  contentedly.  Its  only  merchant,  F.  M.  Bashfield, 
was  at  his  post.  He  is  a  gentleman,  courteous,  social  and  of 
much  intelligence;  is  a  close  dealer  and  watches  every  penny, 
and  indeed  this  is  the  secret  of  success.  Kit  Carson,  who  is 
the  magistrate,  was  absent,  either  figuring  on  the  increase  and 
improvement  of  stock,  or  else  talking  politics.  Kit  is  a  host 
in  himself  and  good  company.  The  portly  form  of  Lucas, 
the  village  blacksmith,  was  seen  bending  over  his  work  which 
seemed  to  be  lying  all  around.     The  old  Shaw  store  building 


RESIDENCE  OF  DR.  W.   E.   ELY,  OCHEYEDAN. 


202  HISTORY  OF  OSCEOLA    COUNT!'.   IOWA. 

is  used  for  a  dwelling  and  the  familiar  countenance  of  its  former 
and  original  occupant  is  no  longer  seen  in  town.  Charley 
Miller  has  moved  into  the  country,  not  far  from  Oilman,  and 
now  follows  the  plow  instead  of  measuring  wood  and  weigh- 
ing coal.  When  the  country  tributary  to  Oilman  is  settled,  it 
will  make  a  snug  town  and  a  good  business  point." 

J.  D.  Billings,  now  of  Sheldon,  was  the  first  justice  and 
one  of  the  first  school  officers.  His  daughter  Marv  was  the 
first  child  born  in  the  town. 

In  about  1883  business  revived  there  again,  stores  were 
opened,  the  hotel  once  more  had  a  landlord,  and  St.  Gilman 
then  made  another  start  on  the  road  to  wealth  and  prosperity. 
About  that  time  Nick  Boor  opened  up  there  in  business,  and 
this  had  something  to  do  with  its  new  start.  The  Pattersons 
also,  A.  and  G.  W.,  gave  the  town  an  impetus,  and  since  the 
change  in  name,  and  new  parties  going  in,  the  town  has  con- 
tinued to  grow\ 

Its  leading  business  interests  are  now  represented  by: 
J.  H.  and  C  C.  Carmichael,  drug  store,  who  came  to  Ashton 
in  1892;  restaurant  by  John  Kunnen,  who  commenced  busi- 
ness in  1892;  H.  A.  Carson,  son  of  J.  W.,  who  opened  a 
photograph  gallery  this  present  year;  furniture  store  by  F.  H. 
Thompson,  established  1891;  clothing  store,  M.  Hingtgen, 
1891;  meat  market,  Ira  L.  and  P.  E.  Kennen,  1891;  harness 
shop,  N.  Klees,  1892;  jewelry  store,  A.  I^.  Hyde,  1892;  res- 
taurant, Henry  Wheelhouse,  1890;  hardware,  C.  W.  Rahe, 
1890;  livery  barn,  J.  Smith  and  L.  Lamar;  blacksmith  shop, 
I.  B.  Lucas  and  W.  B.  Reagen;  hotel,  N.  Reiter;  wagon 
shop,  J.  W.  Clark;  general  store,  Henry  Wheelhouse;  also 
general  store,  H.  Ennga,  1892;  general  store,  S.  S.  Dean  and 
J.  A.  Hoffman;  general  store,  W.  S.  and  G.  L.  Queenby, 
1892;  general  store,  M.  Wermerskirchen,  1890;  Nick  Boor 
and  W,  L.  Benjamin  have  an  agricultural  house  and  an 
elevator;  H.  S.  Grant,  farm  machinery;  C.J.King  and  L.  M. 
March,  blacksmith  shop;  Frank  DeVoss,  barber  shop;  and 
S.  M.  Ijrown,  a  mechanic,  and  has  charge  of  the  elevator. 

The  banking  interests  are  represented  by  A.  and  G.  W. 
Patterson,  with  G.  W.  Patterson  in  immediate  charge. 

Ashton's  postmaster  is  J.  W.  Reagan.  It  has  three 
church  buildings.  Catholic,  Presbyterian  and  Methodist.  One 
paper  is  published  there,  the  Leader^  by  C.  A.  Charles.  It  is 
a  bright,  five-column  quarto,  and  has  large  circulation. 

Ashton  is  a  live  business  town  and  one  of  general  pros- 
perity.    It  has  some  very  elegant  residences,  good  stores,  and 


HISTORl   OF  OSCEOLA    COVNTT,  IOWA.  20H 

thorough  business  men,  and  the  town  will  continue  its  growth. 
It  is  a  good  grain  market  and  a  good  place  for  general 
trading, 

Ashton  is  situated  on  Section  15,  in  Oilman  Township;  is 
on  the  Chicago,  St.  Paul,  Minneapolis  and  Omaha  Railway 
line.  It  has  the  usual  secret  societies  and  social  organizations 
and  its  business  men  are  on  a  solid  basis.  J.  B.  McEnany  is 
its  physician.  It  also  has  a  creamery,  managed  and  owned 
by  C.  W.  Baird  and  is  soon  to  have  another  elevator.  Alto- 
gether Ashton  promises  to  be  considerable  of  a  place  in  the 
future.  Its  present  municipal  officers  are : 
Mayor Joseph  W.  Reagan 

("W.  L.  Benjamin. 

I  C.  J.  King. 

Trustees  J  J""^''  ^^""• 

irusiees -i  C.  W.  Rake. 

I  Peter  Wagner. 

^P.  E.  Kiemen. 

Recorder J-  H.  Carmichael. 

Marshal E.  S.  Knowles. 


OCHEYEDAN. 

The  town  is  laid  out  on  a  part  of  Section  2,  and  a  part  of 
Section  11,  in  west  Ocheyedan  Township.  The  writer  has 
been  unable  to  ascertain  correctly  the  origin  of  the  word 
Ocheyedan,  and  hence  will  not  attempt  to  account  for  it. 

The  Burlington,  Cedar  Rapids  and  Northern  Railroad 
crossed  Osceola  County  in  the  year  1884.  The  coming  of 
this  road  brought  into  existence  the  Town  of  Oche3/^edan,  and 
in  the  fall  of  1884  building  commenced.  The  first  building 
put  up  on  the  town  site  was  a  "shanty,"  which  kind  of  a  build- 
ing is  well  understood,  though  the  word  itself  is  bccommg 
obsolete.  This  was  put  up  by  James  Wood,  and  he  lived  in 
it  and  stored  his  goods  there,  while  a  building  was  being  pre- 
pared for  occupancy.  Out  of  his  stock,  however,  he  made 
some  sales,  and  run  a  sort  of  "shanty"  trade  until  he  got 
straightened  out  in  more  mercantile  condition.  This  was  in 
the  fall  of  1884,  and  at  this  same  time  Charles  Wood  worth 
had  lumber  on  the  ground  for  a  hardware  store;  also  did  Wood 
for  a  general  store,  and  William  Smith  for  a  general  store. 
Woodworth  moved  into  his  building  first  with  his  stock  of 
hardware,  so  that  this  building,  which   Mr.   Woodworth  still 


204  HISTORY  OF  OSCEOLA    COUNTY.   IOWA. 

occupies,  may  be  said  to  be  the  first  business  house  in  the 
town.  Wood  put  his  stock  also  in  Woodworth's  building 
temporarily,  and  as  soon  as  his  own  was  finished  moved  into 
that.  Mr.  Smith  got  his  building  finished  in  October,  and  put 
in  a  general  stock.  This  same  fall  of  1884  the  Kout  brothers, 
Joseph  and  Dominick,  put  up  a  store  building  and  filled  it  with 
a  general  stock  of  goods.  L.  B.  Boyd  also  put  up  a  building 
that  fall,  in  which  he  opened  a  general  store,  and  these  four 
general  stores,  with  the  hardware,  constituted  the  mercantile 
business  of  the  town  in  the  winter  of  i884~'85.  We  will  add, 
however,  that  Dr.  C.  Teal  erected  the  building  now  occupied 
by  Ed.  Becker  as  a  barber  shop,  in  the  fall  of  1884,  and 
opened  up  a  drug  store,  also  practiced  as  a  physician.  Dr. 
Teal  moved  from  Ocheyedan  a  few  years  ago,  and  now  lives 
in  North  Carolina.  William  Smith  sold  out  a  year  or  so  after- 
wards to  D.  J.  Jones,  who  carried  on  a  general  store  until  the 
spring  of  1891,  when  he  died.  Mrs.  Jones  continued  the 
business  after  her  husbands  death  until  this  present  year,  when 
she  sold  out  to  Bunker  Bros.,  who  now  occupy  the  building 
with  a  stock  of  groceries.  Wood  sold  out  to  M.  J.  Young, 
who  carried  a  general  stock,  and  in  the  fall  of  1891  Young 
sold  out  to  J.  W.  Thomas  &  Son,  who  now  run  a  general 
store  in  the  same  building.  The  Kout  Bros,  sold  out  building 
and  stock  to  R.  J.  O.  McGowan,  who  now  occupies  the  same 
stnnd  with  a  general  store.  The  L.  B.  Boyd  building  first 
had  a  general  store,  and  is  now  occupied  by  W.  F.  Stimpson 
for  a  restaurant.  In  the  fall  of  1884  also  Archibald  Oliver  put 
up  the  livery  barn  now  owned  and  occupied  by  E.  D.  Cleave- 
land.  Mr.  Oliver  was  then,  and  was  the  first,  station  agent  in 
Ocheyedan. 

There  w^as  also  erected  in  the  fall  of  1884  two  ware- 
houses for  grain  and  coal.  One  was  put  up  by  French  & 
Hayward,  and  the  other  by  D.  L.  Riley.  These  business 
houses,  with  a  few  dwellings,  was  what  constituted  the  town 
of  Ocheyedan  until  the  sping  of  1885.  There  was,  however, 
in  1884  a  lumber  yard  started  by  D.  L.  Riley,  and  run  by 
Fred  Wheeler.  In  the  spring  of  1885  C.  A.  and  M.  A.  Tatum 
erected  the  building  now  occupied  by  A.  J.  Coulton.  Tatum's 
opened  a  feed  store  and  butcher  shop,  and  afterwards  sold  it 
to  Coulton.  Peter  Graves  opened  a  general  store  in  1885, 
and  erected  the  building  now  occupied  by  John  and  Mary 
Graves.  Also  the  same  year  John  Wilson  put  up  the  W.  J. 
Robinson  building,  now  occupied  by  L.  D.  and  E.  P.  Johnson. 
The  hotel  building,  called  the  Ocheyedan  House,  was  built  in 


RESIDENCE  OF  O.  B.  HARDING,  GOEWEY  TOWNSHIP. 


206  HIS  TOR  r  OF  OSCEOLA    COUNT  1\   IOWA. 

1885  by  John  Wilson,  who  run  it  a  few  months  and  was  then 
succeeded  by  Charles  Carnes,  and  he  by  H.  Runyon,  1.  N. 
Daggett  soon  after  purchased  the  building  and  run  the  hotel 
himself  a  short  time,  and  was  succeeded  by  J.  F.  Pfaff.  Pfaff 
was  succeeded  by  S.  A.  D6ve,  who  bought  the  property  in 
1891,  and  is  still  owner  and  landlord.  Mr.  Dove  has  recently 
sold  and  will  move  to  Missouri. 

Ocheyedan  celebrated  the  first  year  of  its  existence  on  the 
4th  day  of  July,  1885.  It  was  given  out  beforehand  that  a 
great  time  was  to  be  had,  and  the  country  around  looked  upon 
the  coming  celebration  as  an  event  of  considerable  importance, 
and  it  was.  People  flocked  into  Ocheyedan  in  great  numbers 
on  that  day,  and  it  seemed  as  if  the  whole  country  was  there. 
Archibald  Oliver  was  president  of  the  day  and  C.  A.  Tatum, 
marshal.  W.  J.  Robinson  read  the  declaration  of  independ- 
ence, and  Henderson,  a  farmer  living  south  of  Ocheyedan, 
delivered  the  oration.  The  music  consisted  of  fife  and  drum; 
also  playing  upon  the  organ  and  singing.  There  was  a  foot 
race,  sack  race  and  a  horse  trot.  Will  Peters  won  the  foot 
race  purse,  and  in  the  sack  race  Joel  Rice  took  first  money 
and  Frank  Daley  second.  The  Tatum's  carried  off  the  hon- 
ors in  the  horse  race,  M.  A.  taking  first  money  and  H.  C.  sec- 
ond. The  contestants  in  the  horse  race  were  M.  A.  and  H. 
C.  Tatum,  Broadfoot,  Adam  Sterling,  Smith  and  Claus  Yess. 
There  was  considerable  excitement  over  this  and  the  boys 
were  somewhat  demonstrative  over  it,  but  did  not  let  their 
angry  passions  rise  to  the  extent  of  an  open  fight,  but  at  times 
were  near  to  it.  The  day  wound  up  with  a  bowery  dance; 
Joseph  Hall  played  the  violin  and  there  was  other  music.  The 
dance  lasted  ;^ill  night  and  towards  morning  the  remaining  par- 
ticipants in  this  first  celebi^ation  went  home  to  recruit  up  after 
this  enthusiastic  siege. 

The  drug  store  building  recently  occupied  by  A.  E. 
Smith  was  built  by  John  Webster  and  was  placed  between 
Cleveland's  livery  and  the  railroad  track,  and  it  was  used  there 
for  a  saloon.  It  was  built  in  1886.  In  1887  it  was  moved  to 
where  it  now  stands.  It  is  now  used  by  T.  H.  Dravis  for  a 
clothing  house. 

Ocheyedan,  as  a  town  location,  is  unexcelled.  It  is  on  a 
gradual  rise  from  the  railroad  track,  and  most  of  the  town  is 
on  the  elevation.  This  enables  it  to  have  clean  streets,  and  a 
complete  drain  for  water. 

Other  buildings  followed  along  in  the  course  of  construc- 
tion, and  in  1885  A.  V.  Randall  erected  a  business  house  on 


HISTORY   OF  OSCEOLA    COUNTY,  IOWA.  207 

the  corner  of  Main  Street,  which  is  now  used  by  Walton 
Brothers  for  a  furniture  store.  In  1S90  C.  A.  and  M.  A. 
Tatnm  put  up  a  building  for  livery  barn,  now  occupied  by 
Tatum  Brothers  for  an  agricultural  house.  The  elevator,  now 
owned  and  occupied  by  A.  W.  Harris  &  Co.,  was  placed  there 
in  1885.  In  1890  Bowersock  Brothers,  consisting  of  Asa  and 
E.  Bowersock,  bought  out  D.  L.  Riley's  lumber  yard,  and  are 
still  running  the  same  business.  In  1891  John  Porter  &  Son, 
of  Reinbeck,  Iowa,  started  the  second  lumber  yard  in  Ochey- 
edan,  which  is  still  running,  under  the  management  of  W.  F. 
Aldred. 

The  bank  building,  now  occupied  by  the  Ocheyedan 
Bank,  was  erected  by  I.  N.  Daggett,  who  sold  out  to  the 
Northwestern  State  Bank,  of  Sibley,  and  it  was  then  placed 
in  charge  of  E.  Baker,  now  vice  president  of  the  Northwestern 
State  Bank.  They  sold  to  the  Ocheyedan  Savings  Bank,  of 
which  C.  S.  McLaury  is  president,  W.  M.  Smith,  vice  presi- 
dent, and  J.  L.  McLaury,  cashier,  under  whose  management 
it  now  is. 

The  present  year,  1892,  John  Porter  &  Son  also  estab- 
lished a  bank,  which,  in  connection  with  their  lumber  business, 
is  under  the  management  of  W.  F.  Aldred,  whose  name 
appears  as  cashier. 

Ocheyedan  has  grown  gradually  each  year  since  its  first 
starting.  It  has  never  been  boomed,  but  has  made  its  way 
quietly  as  the  country  demanded  its  growth.  This  year  of 
1892  it  has  pushed  ahead  considerably.  Kout  Brothers  have 
erected  a  very  fine  business  house,  which  is  now  occupied  by 
A.  E.  Smith  for  a  drug  store.  A.  V.  Randall  has  added  a 
business  building  to  Main  Street,  as  has  also  E.  N.  Moore. 
Several  elegant  dwelling  houses  have  also  been  erected  by 
C.  A.  Tatum,  W.  F.  Aldred,  Dr.  W.  E.  Ely,  Mrs.  D.  R. 
Jones,  Charles  Woodworth  and  others.  In  1891  Asa  Bower- 
sock put  up  a  very  fine  residence  house,  as  also  did  M.  A. 
Tatum. 

In  1889  several  of  the  farmers  around  established  in 
Ocheyedan  a  creamery,  which  is  a  joint  stock  corporation. 
The  association  was  formed  in  1889,  and  the  following  year 
buildings  were  erected  and  business  started.  Its  present 
officers  are:  President,  J.  C.  Moar;  secretary,  W.  E.  Ely; 
treasurer,  J.  L.  McLaury;  directors,  Dick  Wassman,  Geo. 
W.   Thomas,  W.    A.   Cooper,    Henry  Bremer,  J.  C.  Ward. 

At  the  close  of  last  year  the  secretary,  W.  E.  Ely,  pub- 
lished in  the  local  paper  the  following  report : 


208  HISTORY  OF  OSCEOLA    COUNTT.   IOWA. 

"The  Ocheyedan  Creamery  has  just  finished  the  second 
season  of  its  existence,  and  as  there  is  some  inquiry  concerning 
its  workings  and  profits,  we  will  endeavor  to  give  a  short 
account  of  what  has  been  done.  Active  work  commenced 
about  the  middle  of  April  and  continued  until  the  middle  of 
September,  or  about  five  months  in  all.  During  that  time  we 
have  received  526,430  pounds,  making  21,435  pounds  of 
butter,  or  an  average  of  4.07  pounds  per  hundred.  Our  cream 
wagon  has  gathered  6,703  inches  of  cream,  making  the  total 
amount  of  butter  manufactured  28,138  pounds.  For  milk  we 
have  paid  the  shareholders  at  the  rate  of  55  cents  per  hundred 
for  May,  June  and  July;  68  cents  for  August,  and  80  cents  for 
September,  or  a  grand  total  of  $3,098.99,  averaging  59  cents 
per  hundred  for  the  season.  For  gathered  cream  we  paid 
13^  cents  per  inch  in  May  and  June,  12^  cents  in  July,  16^ 
cents  in  August,  and  17)4^  cents  in  September;  in  all  $920,66, 
or  an  average  of  13^^  cents  per  inch  for  the  season.  All  of 
our  butter  has  been  sold  in  New  York  at  Elgin  prices — the 
gathered  cream  excepted,  that  grading  lower  and  bringing 
from  I  to  3  cents  per  pound  less. 

"  It  has  been  clearly  demonstrated  that  a  creamery  pays, 
and  in  proportion  to  the  amount  of  patronage  it  receives. 
Four  hundred  pounds  can  be  manufactured  each  day  as  cheap 
as  100  pounds,  and  reduces  the  expense  accordingly.  When 
milk  can  be  brought  to  the  creamery  in  good  condition  for 
separating,  that  system  pays  better  than  the  gathered  cream 
system,  while  the  latter  on  the  whole  is  more  profitable  than 
the  home  dairy.  But  a  creamery  is  like  any  other  business 
concern,  to  be  successful  it  must  have  patronage,  and  if  its  own 
incorporators  stand  back  waiting  for  it  to  become  a  paying 
concern  before  they  put  their  shoulder  to  the  wheel,  how  can 
they  expect  outsiders  to  take  any  interest  or  invest  any  capital 
in  the  concern.  Two  years'  work  has  demonstrated  sure 
success,  and  if  each  shareholder  does  his  duty  during  the 
coming  season  I  am  sure  he  will  find  that  not  only  will  the 
creamery  relieve  his  family  of  the  drudgery  of  butter  making, 
but  will  pay  him  more  cash  than  he  could  possibly  make  out 
of  his  milk  himself.  Respectfuly, 

•     "W.E.Ely, 

'■'•Secretary.'''' 

Ocheyedan  has  two  church  organizations,  the  Methodist 
and  Congregationalist.  The  Methodist  organization  was  first 
completed  in  the  country  outside  the  town  before  the  town 
started,  and  for  awhile  had  two  buildings,  one  of  them  still 


DR.  B.  A.   WILDER. 


210  HISTORY  OF   OSCEOLA    COUNTY,  IOWA. 

Standing  and  used  near  Mr.  Mowlhorpe's  place.  Judge  Mc- 
Callum,  in  giving  us  the  history  of  the  building,  says  that  in 
1876,  or  thereabouts,  when  he  was  holding  down  his  claim 
near  Ocheyedan,  himself  and  L.  G.  Ireland,  with  F.  H.  Hunt, 
D.  H.  Boyd,  Wm.  Mowthorpe  and  others  concluded  that  they 
wanted  a  sanctuary  for  worship  and  some  place  to  go  to  church. 
Ireland,  McCallum  and  some  others  were  sort  of  outsiders 
and  not  sound  in  the  faith,  and  the  question  arose  as  to  the 
location,  and  upon  this  they  were  divided.  A  meeting  was 
held  at  Mr.  Hunt's  and  the  majority  sat  down  completely  on 
any  location,  except  that  where  a  church  building  now  stands, 
near  Mr.  Mowthorpe's.  The  McCallum  crowd  were  bound 
to  have  a  church  anyhow  where  they  wanted  it,  so  they  went 
at  it,  and  inside  of  three  weeks  they  had  a  building  all  ready 
for  occupancy  on  a  corner  of  Ireland's  claim.  The  other 
fellows,  not  to  be  outdone,  also  went  at  it  and  built  their 
church  near  Mr.  Mowthorpe's,  where  it  now  is.  One  was 
called  grit  and  the  other  grace — the  McCallum  one  being  grit. 
After  they  were  erected,  however,  the  brethren  dwelt  together 
in  unity,  and,  with  the  help  of  Brother  Mallory,  their  spiritual 
welfare  was  looked  after,  and  all  were  satisfied.  The  Mc- 
Callum church  was  moved  into  Ocheyedan  when  the  town 
started. 

When  the  building  was  moved  into  Ocheyedan,  the 
church  pastor  then  was  Rev.  R.  Hild.  He  was  succeeded  by 
Rev.  Keister,  he  by  Rev.  J.  M.  Woolery  and  then  Rev.  S.  C. 
Olds,  the  present  pastor.  The  church  building  is  far  too 
small  for  the  present  accommodations  and  one  larger  and  more 
spacious  will  be  erected  in  the  near  future. 

The  Congregational  society  was  organized  in  the  spring 
of  1889.  For  awhile  its  exercises  consisted  of  a  Sunday 
school  and  occasional  preaching  from  some  clergyman  sent 
from  the  state  missionary  society  and  this  continued  until  1890 
when  Rev.  L.  R.  Fitch  became  its  established  pastor  and  is 
such  now.  .This  society  now  holds  its  services  in  the  school 
house  in  the  upper  story,  but  will  at  no  distant  day  erect  a 
church  building  and  they  are  very  much  in  need  of  one.  Rev. 
Thomas  Pell  was  at  one  time  pastor  and  is  a  forcible  preacher. 

Ocheyedan  became  an  incorporated  town  fully,  upon  the 
election  of  its  first  officers  in  April,  1891.  In  March  of  that 
year,  the  previous  month,  the  question  of  incorporation  or  no 
incorporation  was  submitted  to  the  people.  Public  opinion 
was  about  equally  divided  and  a  discussion  of  the  question 
previous  to  the  vote  being  taken,  had  warmed  the  contending 


HISTORT  OF  OSCEOLA    COUNTT,   IOWA.  211 

parties  into  a  strong  and  almost  belligerent  controversy.  In- 
corporation carried  by  a  few  votes  and  as  soon  as  the  conflict 
was  over,  the  opposers  submitted  gracefully,  and  the  feeling 
then  was  undivided  in  all  interests  that  would  promote  the 
welfare  and  progress  of  Ocheyedan.  Soon  public  improve- 
ments were  entered  into,  ordinances  for  the  better  government 
of  the  town,  and  in  promotion  of  its  welfare  were  passed,  and 
internal  improvements  became  the  order  of  the  day.  The 
town's  greatest  need  then  was  a  system  of  sidewalks  and  these 
came  along  in  good  time,  are  now  on  all  streets  where  busi- 
ness or  residences  require  them.  There  is  an  eight-foot  walk 
which  adds  not  only  to  the  convenience  of  the  town,  but  to  its 
appearance  as  well.  The  present  town  ofhcers  were  the  first 
officers  elected  in  April,  1891,  with  one  exception,  which  is 
that  of  Mr.  Aldred,  and  he  was  elected  at  the  election  held  in 
the  spring  of  1892.     The  present  ofiicers  are  as  follows: 

Mayor    W.  E.  Ely. 

Recorder A.  E.  Smith. 

Treasurer J.  L.  McLaury. 

Assessor R.  J.  Jones. 

Street  Commissioner George  Rupner. 

Marshal George  Rupner. 

f"C.  M.  Manville. 

j  S.  A.  Dove. 
•Y      ■  Charles    Woodworth. 

iiustees J  W.F.  Aldred- 

I  Asa  Bowersock. 
[C.  A.  Tatum. 
Ocheyedan  has  one  newspaper,  pubhshed  by  Mr.  Perk- 
ins. The  paper  was  started  in  1891,  and  its  first  issue  on  the 
7th  day  of  August.  The  paper  was  started  by  D.  A.  W. 
Perkins,  who  intended  it  for  his  son,  George  W.  Perkins,  but 
while  the  material  was  still  in  the  boxes  at  the  freight  depot, 
the  boy  was  drowned  in  Silver  lake,  near  Lake  Park.  Mr. 
Perkins,  however,  under  the  shadow  of  this  terrible  misfort- 
une, proceeded  with  its  pubhcation  and  after  an  intermediate 
change  it  is  still  published  by  Mr.  Perkins.  The  paper  is  a 
five-column  quarto  and  the  public  spirit  of  Ocheyedan  people 
is  well  manifested  by  giving  the^  paper  a  liberal  patronage 
which  they  have  since  the  first  issue,  and  its  circulation  is 
large  and  constantly  increasing.  The  town  is  not  numerous 
with  secret  societies,  but  a  Masonic  lodge  has  a  complete  or- 
ganization, with  a  hall  finely  furnished  in  the  upper  story  of 
the  building  built  by  Joseph   and  Dominick  Kout.     There  is 


212  HISTORY  OF   OSCEOLA    COUNTY,   IOWA. 

what  is  called  the  Ocheyedan  Lodge,  I.  O.  G.  T.,  of  which  C. 
M.  Higley  is  C.  T.,  and  Mary  McCallum,  secretary.  This 
society  meets  each  week.  The  first  postmaster  in  Ocheye- 
dan was  D.  H.  Boyd,  who  was  succeeded  by  A.  V.  Randall 
and  he  by  E.  N.  Moore,  the  present  postmaster. 

The  town  of  Ocheyedan  is  in  nearly  the  center  of  the 
eastern  part  of  Osceola  County,  and  hence  as  a  trading  point 
is  favorably  located.  It  has  a  fine  farming  country  around  and 
tributary  to  it,  and  its  future  is  exceedingly  promising.  Every- 
thing is  peaceable  in  the  town,  at  the  same  time  full  of  business 
activity.     Ocheyedan  socially  is  a  model  town. 

Its  present  most  prominent  business  interests  and  citizens 
are  as  follows: 

Elevators — A.  W.  Harris  &  Co.  (manager,  John  Harris) ; 
A.  E.  Brown  (manager,  A.  D.  Moreland.) 

Lumber — Bowersock  Brothers;  John  Porter  &  Son  (man- 
ager, W.  F.  Aldred.) 

General  Stores — Mary  Graves;  J.  W.  Thomas  &  Son; 
Bunker  Brothers;  R.J.  O.  McGowan. 

Banks — Ocheyedan  Bank;  John  Porter  &  Son. 

Drug  Store — A.  E.  Smith. 

Hardware — Charles  Wood  worth. 

Hotel— S.  A.  Dove. 

Restaurant — W.  F.  Stimpson. 

Meat  Market — C.  Bowersock. 

Feed  Store — A.  J.  Coulton. 

Livery  Barn — E.  D.  Cleaveland. 

Agricultural  House — Tatum  Bros.;  P^-ank  Cleaveland; 
Bowersock  Bros. 

Plarness  Shop — C.  A.  Tatum  &  Son. 

Millinery— E.  P.  Johnson. 

Barber — Ed  Becker. 

Contractors  and  Builders — Zeug  Bros.;  Fred  Wheeler; 
C.  L.  Buchman;  Kout  Bros.;  T.  M.  Spencer;  McLagen 
&  Son. 

Blacksmith — C.  A.  Spencer;  Fred  Meyer. 

Mason— E.  N.  Moore. 

Stock  Buyers — C.  M.  Manville;  Bowersock  Bros. 

Furniture — Walton  Bros. 

Newspaper — Ocheyedan  Press. 

Postmaster — E.  N.  Moore. 

Physician— W.  E.  Ely. 

Lawyer — D.  A.  W.  Perkins, 

Painter — Elmer  Spencer. 


JAMES  T.   BARCLAY. 


214  HISTORY  OF  OSCEOLA    COUNTY.   IOWA. 

Clothing  Store— T.  H.  Dravis. 

Well  Borer— C.  R.  Boyd. 

Stockmen — C.  A.  Tatum;  David  Eicher. 

Clergymen— S.  C.  Olds;  L.  R.  Fitch. 

Station  Agent — O.  L.  Beck. 

Assistant  Station  Agent — A.  O.  Beck. 

Mr,  T.  R.  Stewart,  formerly  in  the  land  business  here,  is 
now  with  John  Porter  &  Son;  C.  IM.  Higley,  formerly  of 
Sheldon,  is  in  the  Ocheyedan  Bank,  and  Frank  Bumgardner 
is  engaged  in  general  farming  and  stock  dealing. 

The  interests  of  the  Burlington,  Cedar  Rapids  and 
Northern  in  its  track  repairs  are  represented  by  John  Wallace 
and  P.  Cramer. 

Eustace  Manville  is  also  in  business  here,  and  the  cream- 
ery is  under  the  management  of  Peter  Jensen.  A.  V.  Ran- 
dall has  a  crockery  store  and  Mr.  A.  Arend  has  a  shoe  store. 
The  Zeug  Brothers  have  a  building  as  a  work  shop  and  in 
which  is  a  public  hall.  Daniel  Weaver,  though  living  in  the 
countr}^  is  the  Ocheyedan  jeweler. 

The  prospect  is  that  Ocheyedan  will  continue  to  have  a 
substantial  growth  and  will  be  a  town  of  some  importance. 


SIBLEY. 


The  Sibley  townsite  is  situated  on  section  13,  in  East  Hol- 
man  township.  It  was  laid  out  by  the  land  department  of  the 
Sioux  City  and  St.  Paul  Railroad  Company,  in  1872,  and  sub- 
sequent additions  have  been  made,  which  are  Chase's  addition 
and  East  Sibley  addition — the  first  by  R.  J.  Chase  and  the  last 
by  several  different  parties,  among  whom  are  Jacob  Brooks, 
H.  S.  Brown,  Mrs.  C.  I.  Hill,  Wilbern  Brothers,  G.  W.  Mea- 
der  and  others.  The  first  building  erected  on  what  is  now  the 
townsite  was  by  F.  M.  Robinson,  in  the  fall  of  1871.  The 
town  was  first  named  Cleghorn,  and  afterwards  changed  to 
Sibley,  named  after  Gen.  H.  H.  Sibley,  of  St.  Paul.  The 
Robinson  building  was  on  the  shack  order,  and  in  which  John 
L.  Robinson,  with  his  son  Frank,  lived  during  the  winter  of 
1871  and  1872  ;  also,  W.  H,  Rogers  put  up  a  store  building, 
and  this,  with  the  Robinson  building,  constituted  the  town  of 
Sibley  that  first  winter.  In  the  spring  of  1872  a  fellow  by  the 
name  of  Ward  had  a  small  building  near  Roger's  store,  and 
in  which  he  kept  a  saloon.  These  buildings,  on  the  start,  were 
on  what  is  Tenth  street,  the  street  where  the  old  Pioneer  hotel 


HISTORY   OF  OSCEOLA    COUNTY.   IOWA.  215 

building  now  stands,  and  this  point,  then,  was  expected  to  be 
the  centre  of  business,  and  was,  until  the  fire  hereafter  men- 
tioned, when  the  town  formed  another  location  north  of  that, 
and  where  the  business  part  of  the  town  now  is.  Just  before 
the  railroad  reached  the  townsite,  D.  L.  McCausland  hauled 
lumber  from  Mountain  Lake,  Minn.,  and  put  up  a  residence 
on  the  townsite,  and  this  was  the  first  residence  building.  Af- 
ter the  road  had  been  built  into  Sibley,  in  June,  1872,  J.  T. 
Barclay  obtained  lumber  out  of  the  first  brought  in,  and  im- 
mediately put  up  a  residence,  which  he  still  occupies  with  his 
family.  After  McCausland  got  his  building  up  he  used  it  for 
a  boarding  house,  and  J.  F.  Glover,  John  Hawxshurst,  with 
many  others,  were  his  boarders.  The  house  was  two-story, 
and  in  the  hurry  of  its  erectiort  stairs  were  neglected,  so  that 
cleats  were  nailed  on  the  studding  for  steps  to  get  up  and 
down.  All  who  have  had  experiences  as  pioneers  know  how 
its  out-door  life,  its  expectations,  and  all  its  ambitious  surround- 
ings, bring  health  to  the  cheek  and  puts  one  in  the  best  of 
physical  condition  ;  and  the  result  of  it  all,  an  enormous  appe- 
tite. McCausland's  boarders  became  so  ravenous,  so  anxious 
for  their  meals,  and  in  such  extraordinary  quantities,  that  it 
kept  Mc  on  the  go  to  keep  up  with  the  demand.  It  is  a  won- 
der that  it  hadn't  broke  Mc  up  in  business,  for  no  doubt  there 
were  some  who  never  missed  a  meal  and  who  never  paid  a 
cent. 

The  town  did  not  get  fairly  started  until  in  the  summer  of 
1872,  after  the  Sioux  City  and  St.  Paul  Railroad,  now  the 
Chicago,  St.  Paul,  Minneapolis  and  Omaha,  reached  the  town 
site,  which  was  June  i,  1872.  Soon  as  the  road-bed  was  in 
shape  for  hauling,  lumber  came  in,  and  the  first  sales  made 
were  b}^  Levi  Shell,  who  then  established  a  lumber  yard,  and 
has  continued  in  the  business  since,  and  is  still  here.  Quite  a 
number  of  business  houses  and  residences  were  erected  during 
that  year;  also  the  court  house  and  school  house.  The  Sibley 
Hotel  was  also  built  that  year,  and  in  the  Sibley  Hotel  barn, 
then  just  completed,  was  held  the  exercises  on  the  Fourth  da}' 
of  Jul}',  which  was  the  first  celebration  had  on  the  town  site. 
L.  S.  Fawcett,  of  Sioux  City,  delivered  the  oration,  and  John 
H.  Douglass  was  captain  of  the  whangdoodles.  This  day  is 
remembered  by  the  old  settlers  as  a  very  cold  one,  making  an 
overcoat  quite  comfortable.  Sibley,  in  1872,  had  the  usual 
air  and  appearance  of  Western  towns  in  their  first  starting. 
These  are  generally  characterized  by  a  feeling  of  independ- 
ence and  a  freedom  to  act  unrestrained  by  the  settled  wa3^s  of 


216  HISTORY  OF  OSCEOLA    COUNTY,   IOWA. 

society  and  of  social  and  religious  organizations.  It  took  the 
balance  of  that  year  (1872)  for  the  men  to  get  squared 
around  with  buildings  for  business  and  residences  for  their 
families.  In  1873  the  substantial  conditions  of  society  pre- 
vailed in  Sibley  and  the  usual  town  societies  came  into  exist- 
ence. In  March,  1873,  the  town  was  out  of  coal  owing  to  the 
snow  blockade,  and  people  burned  what  they  could  get  hold 
of  until  the  blockade  was  lifted.  E.  L.  Kinney,  who  died 
March  2,  1875,  was  the  first  landlord  at  the  Sibley  Hotel,  and 
he  is  remembered  by  old  settlers  not  only  as  a  first-class  land- 
lord, but  as  one  of  the  best  of  men. 

The  I.  O.  O.  F.  lodge  was  started  in  May,  1873,  and  among 
its  first  officers  were:  W.  W.  Cram,  treasurer;  J.  T.  Barclay, 
R.  S.  N.  G.,  and  J.  H.  Douglass,  R.  S.  S. 

In  June  of  that  year  there  was  considerable  rain,  and  the 
mud  was  so  deep  that  lumber  was  rafted  down  the  Otter  to 
build  bridges  at  Doon. 

Some  of  the  business  men  at  Sibley  then  who  are  still  here 
are  Brown  &  Chambers,  Robert  Richardson,  P.  A.  Cajacob, 
D.  L.  McCausland,  J.  T.  Barclay,  J.  F.  Glover,  W.  C.  Grant, 
H.  L.  Emmert,  Levi  Shell,  S.  H.  Westcott,  David  Littlechild, 
S.  S.  Parker,  C.  M.  Mandeville,  George  Carew,  W.  R.  Law- 
rence, Augustus  O'Neill,  A.  W.  Mitchell,  W.  J.  Miller,  J.  P. 
Hawxshurst. 

In  May,  1873,  David  Littlechild  purchased  a  photograph 
gallery,  and  in  his  announcement  said  to  the  ladies:  "Come 
and  secure  the  shadow  ere  the  substance  fades."  This  was 
in  the  da3^s  of  Dave's  youth  and  modesty,  when  he  was  con- 
tent with  the  shadow,  but  since  then,  in  his  increasing  3'ears  of 
bachelorhood,  he  has  been  looking  for  the  substance. 

David  Littlechild  was  also  in  the  livery  business  in  1872. 
This  business  required  considerable  driving,  and  Dave  was 
more  than  once  out  in  a  blizzard  when  his  life  was  in  danger. 
In  driving  once  from  Spirit  Lake  to  Sibley,  a  fearful  snow 
storm  overtook  him;  the  weather  was  extremely  cold,  and  he 
was  unable  to  tell  exactly  where  he  was  or  where  he  could 
find  shelter.  Fort\inately,  he  was  near  the  house  of  D.  H. 
Boyd,  near  Ocheyedan,  and  saw  it  in  a  lull  of  the  storm,  and 
remained  there  until  the  blizzard  was  over. 

A.  W.  Mitchell  established  the  first  genuine  furniture 
store,  J.  A.  Cole  was  about  the  first  druggist,  and  L.  Garner 
about  the  first  harness  shop. 

The  substantial  lawyers,  at  that  time,  were  J.  T.  Barclay, 
Hugh  Jordan,  J.   F.   Glover  and  R.  J.  Chase.     Mr.  Barclay 


C.  W.  BENSON. 


218  HISTORY  OF  OSCEOLA    COUNTY.   IOWA. 

retired  from  the  practice  several  years  ago  for  other  business 
interests.  Hugh  Jordan  died  in  1887,  and  R.  J.  Chase  moved 
to  Sioux  City  in  November,  1874,  where  he  is  still  in  practice. 
Mr.  Chase  purchased  eighty  acres  on  the  north  side  of  Sibley, 
and  laid  out  an  addition,  which  now  is  well  settled  with  fine 
residences.  The  writer  knew  Hugh  Jordan  well,  and  was 
interested  with  him  in  several  litigated  cases.  He  was  a  good 
lawyer,  a  prince  of  good  fellows,  a  good  citizen,  and  indulgent 
to  his  family  and  kind  to  all.  D.  D.  McCallum  studied  law 
with  Mr.  Jordan,  and  was  admitted  in  1878. 

Wilbern  Brothers  were  first  in  the  agricultural  implement 
business,  and  in  the  spring  of  1873  retired  from  that,  and 
opened  a  general  store. 

In  1873,  Robert  Richardson  had  a  meat  market,  and 
P.  A.  Cajacob  also  opened  up  in  the  same  business  in  the 
spring.     Mr.  Richardson  started  in  1872. 

July  4th  of  that  year,  1873,  the  people  of  Sibley  had  a 
celebration,  which  was  largely  attended.  C.  I.  Hill  was 
president  of  the  day;  L.  G.  Ireland,  marshal.  Mr.  Jordan 
read  the  Declaration,  and  J.  F.  Glover  delivered  the  oration. 
Porter  P.  Peck  and  C.  I.  Hill  were  on  the  finance  commit- 
tee, and,  having  realized  quite  an  amount  on  paper,  they  ex-' 
pended  considerable  of  their  own  money,  and  at  last  had  to 
foot  many  of  the  bills.  They  came  out  in  an  article  in  the 
paper  afterwards  and  roasted  the  delinquents  severely.  They 
forgot  the  old  admonition  that  the  time  to  take  up  a  subscrip- 
tion is  when  the  coflin  is  being  lowered  into  the  grave,  as 
wailing  after  the  funeral  is  over  is  a  dangerous  chancing  of 
contribution. 

Mr.  Peck  came  to  Sibley  in  1872,  and  was  for  a  while  in 
business  there  under  the  firm  name  of  Wetherell,  Peck  &  Co. 
He  is  now  a  capitalist  in  Sioux  Falls,  and  is  mayor  of  the  city. 

In  July,  1873,  a  severe  wind  storm  swept  over  Sibley, 
scattering  lumber,  blowing  down  a  few  barns,  and  carrying 
away  the  store  signs. 

Charles  Armbright  was  Sibley's  first  barber,  and  he  was 
also  at  that  time  leader  of  the  Sibley  band. 

A  military  company,  called  the  Osceola  County  Guards, 
was  organized  in  1873,  with  Robert  Stamm  orderl}'. 

The  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  was  dedicated  Decem- 
ber 18,  1874.  The  services  were  conducted  by  Rev.  R.  H. 
Webb,  assisted  by  Rev.  John  Webb.  There  was  an  indebt- 
edness of  $400,  and  this  was  raised  at  the  dedication.  The 
Congregational  Church  was  dedicated  November  29,  1S74, 
the  services  conducted  by  W.  L.  Colman. 


HISTORY    OF  OSCEOLA    COUNTY,   IOWA.  219 

July  4,  1874,  ^^^'^  '^^^  celebrated.  The  president  of  the 
day  was  C.  I.  Hill,  H.  Jordan  delivered  the  oration,  J.  F.  Glo- 
ver read  the  Declaration,  and  C.  M.  Bailey  was  marshal. 

On  the  7th  da}'  of  November,  1873,  Sibley  was  visited  by 
fire.  It  started  in  the  rear  of  Barber  &  Lawrence's  drug 
store,  and  the  cause  of  it  was  either  from  a  stove  in  the  back 
part  of  the  building  or  by  an  incendiary.  The  losses,  as  then 
estimated,  were  :  Barber  «fe  Lawrence,  $900  ;  A.  H.  Clark, 
groceries,  $600  ;  H.  C.  Kellogg,  store,  $1,200  ;  Kelley  &  Wal- 
rath,  dry  goods,  $1,244;  J-  ^-  ^'ole,  drugs,  $2,000;  Wilbern 
Bros.',  stock,  $1,100.  This  fire  was  a  hard  blow  on  Sibley 
then,  but  most  of  the  losers  soon  rebuilt  and  were  soon  in 
business  ajjain. 

C.  L.  Davidson,  one  of  the  prominent  men  of  the  North- 
west, who  was  an  early  settler  in  Sibley,  now  resides  in  Sioux 
Count3^  W.  L.  Parker  established  himself  in  the  drug  busi- 
ness at  Sibley  in  1S74.  D.  L.  Riley,  now  at  Iowa  Falls,  put 
in  a  grain  warehouse  in  1872;  also  a  lumber  ^^ard  with  W.  C. 
Grant.     D.  M.  Shuck  was  also  in  the  lumber  business. 

Sibley  was  incorporated  as  a  town  in  the  spring  of  1876. 
Its  first  officers  were: 

Mayor— D.  L.  Riley. 

Trustees — C.  L.  Norton,  C  E.  Brown,  D.  Cramer,  H.  S. 
Brown,  H.  L.  Emmert. 

Recorder — George  S.  Murphy. 

The  first  banking  house  was  started  by  H.  L.  Emmert 
and  C.  I.  Hill  in  1873.      Mr.  Hill  retired  in  1S74. 

C.  I.  Hill  was  one  of  the  early  settlers  in  Sible}',  and  died 
a  few  years  ago.  He  was  a  man  of  sterling  integrit}^  of  much 
public  spirit,  and  he  was  a  man  much  missed  by  the  people  of 
Sibley  when  he  died.      His  widow  still  resides  here. 

Rev.  W.  W.  Mallory,  a  Methodist  preacher,  here  in  the 
seventies,  was  a  man  of  strong,  vigorous  expression,  yet  of 
sincere  convictions  and  an  upright  life. 

On  the  2ist  day  of  December,  1878,  John  L.  Robinson 
celebrated  his  golden  wedding.  Mr.  Robinson  and  his  wife 
are  still  living  at  Sibley. 

Dr.  J.  M.  Jenkins  was  Sibley's  first  physician,  in  187 1, 
though  Dr.  Gurney,  holding  down  a  claim  near  here,  was  also 
in  practice.  Dr.  Churchill  was  also  here  in  1871,  and  Dr. 
Mellin  in  1872. 

The  Sibley  Gazette  was  started  in  July,  1872,  by  L.  A. 
Barker.  In  May,  1873,  he  sold  to  Riley  &  Brown,  who  a  few 
months  after  sold  to  E.  H.  Craig  and  John  F.  Glover.     Mr. 


\ 


220  HISTORY  OF  OSCEOLA    COUNTY,   IOWA. 

John  Hawxshurst  then  succeeded  Mr.  Craig,  and  with  Mr. 
Glover  published  the  paper.  Mr.  Glover  then  retired,  and 
Mr.  Hawxshurst  was  sole  proprietor.  It  was  then  Edwards 
&  Reed,  then  Reed  &  Glover,  then  Glover,  then  Glover  & 
Hawxshurst,  then  George  Carew.  Afterwards  it  was  Perkins 
&  Foster;  then  the  paper  returned  to  Mr.  Carew  again,  who 
retained  its  ownership  until  in  1891,  when  the  paper  was  sold 
to  Ward  &  Co.,  who  in  turn  sold  to  the  Gazette  Publishing 
Company,  who  are  its  present  proprietors,  under  the  manage- 
ment of  J.  A.  Flower.  It  is  the  first  paper  pviblished  in  the 
county,  and  is  Republican  in  politics. 

In  1S78,  Sibley  had  seventy  scholars  in  its  school — forty- 
four  in  the  higher  department  and  sixteen  in  the  primary. 

The  Sibley  Iribitne  was  started  by  Charles  E.  Crossly; 
then  Dennis  bought  in,  and  in  1884  W.  P.  Webster  bought 
Crossly  out.  In  Novembei',  1890,  G.  L.  Caswell  purchased 
Dennis'  interest,  so  that  the  present  proprietors  and  publishers 
are  W.  P.  Webster  and  G.  L.  Caswell,  under  the  firm  name 
of  Webster  &  Caswell.  It  is  a  six  column  quarto,  and  is  a 
Democratic  paper,  but  not  extremely  partizan. 

There  is  also  published  the  Sibley  Saber,  representing 
the  order  of  Sons  of  Veterans.  A.  W.  McCallum  is  editor-in- 
chief,  and  George  A.  Romey,  general  manager. 

The  history  of  Sibley  would  be  incomplete  without  a 
mention  of  Hon.  Stephen  Miller,  ex-governor  of  Minnesota 
and  who  was,  when  Sibley  started,  representing  the  land  de- 
partment of  the  Sioux  City  and  St.  Paul  Railroad  Compan}^, 
and  had  personal  control  of  the  townsites  along  the  line  of  the 
road  in  northwest  Iowa.  He  was  an  intellectual,  honest,  no- 
ble man.  His  occasional  visits  to  the  different  towns  alwa3^s 
found  the  old  settlers  ready  to  greet  him  warmly,  and  he  was 
highly  respected  b}-  all,  and  died  in  1880.  Fie  is  buried  at 
Worthington,  Minn.  It  would  also  be  incomplete  without  a 
mention  of  Gen.  J.  W.  Bishop,  who  was  then  manager  of  the 
above  named  railroad  and  for  whom  an}'  fulsome  praise  is  un- 
necessary, as  his  standing,  his  character,  and  his  business  in- 
tegrity, are  too  well  known  and  too  well  remembered  b}'  all 
of  us  of  the  early  days.  The  business  men  of  Sibley,  early 
in  the  seventies,  had  a  hard  time  of  it,  as  well  as  did  the  home- 
steaders. The  settlers  were  poor,  generally  so  by  reason  of 
being  poor  when  they  came  here,  and  then  by  grasshoppers 
suffered  a  failure  of  crops  afterwards.  It  was  hard  to  refuse 
them  credit  altogether,  and  a  great  many  were  carrried  along 
on   book  account,  expecting  each  year  to  realize  a  harvest. 


w- 


KER  D.   DUNLOP. 


222  HISTORY  OF  OSCEOLA    COUNTY,   IOWA. 

Those  of  the  settlers  who  staid  here  were,  after  a  while,  able 
to  meet  their  obligations,  while  others  got  out  of  the  country 
in  the  darkness  of  night,  driven  to  desperation  in  their  condi- 
tion of  poverty  and  debt,  and. of  course  the  business  men  of 
Sibley  in  all  such  cases  were  losers.  Others  went  away  in 
broad  daylight,  after  informing  their  creditors  of  their  ina- 
bility to  pay,  and  making  promises  for  the  future.  Many  of 
these,  as  the  years  went  by  and  the  debt  became  ancient,  were 
after  a  while  indifferent,  and,  even  with  the  best  of  intentions 
originally,  never  paid.  The  merchants,  of  course,  were  the 
losers. 

Sibley  in  its  present  condition  is  a  town  of  about  fifteen 
hundred  inhabitants.  It  is  the  abode  of  considerable  wealth, 
is  a  very  fine  business  point,  and  of  high  social  character.  It 
has  the  best  of  educational  facilities,  is  a  peaceable  town,  has 
verv  fine  residences  and  commanding  brick  business  houses. 

Of  its  banks,  are  the  First  National,  capital  $50,000 ;  C. 
E.  Brown,  president ;  H.  L.  Emmert,  cashier  ;  directors,  L. 
Shell,  R.  S.  Hall,  N.  Boor,  C.  E.  Brown,  H.  L.  Emmert. 

There  is  also  the  Northwestern  State  Bank.  It  has  a 
capital  of  $75,000,  and  its  last  quarterly  statement  shows  cash 
deposits  amounting  to  $264,695.62.  J.  W.  Orde  is  president, 
E.  Baker,  vice-president,  L.  Dawn,  cashier. 

IOWA    LAND    COMPANY    (LIMITED.) 

This  company  was  organized  early  in  the  eighties,  prin- 
cipally by  the  Close  Bros.,  who  several  years  ago  left  the 
county  and  ceased  to  operate  in  Northwest  Iowa.  Its  busi- 
ness here  is  now  managed  by  C.  W.  Benson  and  Ker.  D. 
Dunlop,  both  of  whom  are  men  of  the  highest  business  integ- 
rity and  gentlemen  in  every  sense  of  the  word.  This  com- 
pany, without  question,  has  advanced  the  business  interests  of 
the  town  and  the  settlement  of  the  county.  They  have  opened 
up  farms,  brought  settlers  in,  and  given  opportunities  to  men 
without  means  to  work  and  raise  crops  and  become  land  own- 
ers themselves.  During  their  business  career  here  they  have 
foreclosed  only  one  mortgage,  and  this  was  for  the  purpose  of 
settling  title,  in  which  the  mortgagee  himself  had  an  interest. 
They  have  erected  substantial  brick  buildings  in  the  town, 
and  their  investments  here  have  been  a  benefit  to  all  as  well 
as  profitable  to  themselves.  They  control  a  large  number  of 
acres  of  land,  both  improved  and  unimproved.  John  H.  Doug- 
las is  connected  with  this  land  com  pan}'  in  certain  departments 
of  its  business. 


HISTORY    OF  OSCEOLA    COUNT2\   IOWA.  223 

J.    T.    BARCLAY. 

This  gentleman,  formerly  a  lawyer,  now  is  principally 
engaged  in  real  estate.  He  issues  each  month  a  land  journal, 
and  in  his  August  number  says  :  "The  town  is  well  supplied 
with  business  houses,  newspapers,  flouring  mills  and  elevators, 
and  is  now  eager  to  secure  manufactories  of  all  kinds.  Such 
a  growing  town,  in  the  midst  of  an  elegant  farming  country, 
is  bound  to  make  land  and  farms  near  it  very  valuable  in  a 
short  time."  Mr.  Barclay  handles  land  principally  with  his 
own  capital,  buys  and  sells,  and  his  continued  operations 
through  grasshopper  times,  and  up  to  the  present,  have  helped 
largely  the  settlement  of  the  county.  We  quote  somewhat 
from  his  latid  journal  as  to  other  business  interests  in  Sibley. 

M.  M.  TRAINER 

is  Sibley's  efficient  and  popular  dentist.  Mr.  Trainer  thor- 
oughly understands  his  business,  and  is  among  the  most 
prominent  dentists  in  the  Northwest. 

T.  H.  DRAVIS, 

the  "Square-Dealing  Clothier,"  has  one  of  the  finest  stocks  of 
exclusive  clothing  and  gent's  furnishing  goods  to  be  found  in 
the  West. 

WILLIAM    COTTRILL 

is  one  of  Sibley's  most  extensive  harness  dealers. 

J.   W.   KAYE 

is  an  efficient  and  accurate  abstracter,  and  whose  office  is  with 
Lawyer  O.  J.  Clark. 

C.    A.    SANDERS 

is  the  popular  caterer  in  the  City  Bakery  and  Restaurant,  on 
the  south  side  of  Ninth  Street. 

LEONARD    &    CARMICHAEL, 

dealers  in  lumber,  wood  and  coal,  are  one  of  the  largest  firms 
in  this  line  in  the  Northwest. 

D.  L.  m'causland 

is  in  the  insurance  and  loan  business,  and,  as  will  be  noticed 
elsewhere,  is  one  of  the  first  settlers  and  was  first  County 
Recorder. 


224  HISTORY  OF  OSCEOLA    COUNTY,   IOWA. 

JOE    GATES, 

tlie  boot  and  shoe  man,  is  located  just  west  of  the  post-office. 

G.    F.    BRAND 

conducts  what  he  calls  the  "Palace  Grocery"  in  the   Lansing 
&  Brown  building. 

JOHN    DE  BOOS 

is  proprietor  of  the  Third  Avenue  hardware  store. 

IlEIM,    THE    PHOTOIST, 

has  the  only  photograph  gallery  in  Sibley. 

J.  C.    BRICKNER 

is  a  popular  grocer,  and  does  a  good  trade.     His  picture  will 
be  found  on  another  page. 

WILLIAM    RIDDLEBARGER 

is  proprietor  of  the  Bargain  Store. 

MRS.   KNIGHT 

conducts  a  fashionable  millinery    store  through  her  assistant 
here,  Mrs.  Evans. 

J.  B.  CAJACOB 

conducts  the  harness  shop  on  the  west  end  of  Ninth  street. 

A.    BUCHMAN    &    SON 

are  proprietors  of  a  grocery  store  on  Third  avenue. 

V.  B.  GUTHRIE 

has  a  very  fine  barber  shop  under  the   Northwestern   State 
Bank.      He  is  assisted  by  M.  L.  Workheiser. 

ARMIN    &    SHELL 

have  an  extensive  lumber  yard.    Mr.  Shell  was  on  the  ground, 
as  elsewhere  stated,  in  1872. 

J.  WEBBER 

is  proprietor  of  Central  meat  market. 

LAMME    &    m'kENNA. 

These  young   men   are  successors  of    Grant   cS:   Milner. 
They  handle  agricultural  implements. 


R.  y.  CHASE, 


226  HISTOKr  OF   OSCEOLA    COUNTr,   IOWA. 

CIGAR    FACTORY. 

This  has  just  been  started  by  Nic  Koerting,  of  Le  Mars. 

WM.  SMITH 

is  proprietor  of  a  new  restaurant  and  boarding  house  on  Ninth 
street. 

NIC    KIMIMLINGER 

is  Sibley's  merchant  tailor. 

J.  BROOKS, 

who  is  one  of  the  early  settlers,  has  a  flour  and  feed  store. 

A.   ROMEY 

has  a  general  store  next  door  to  the  Osceola  House.  Mr. 
Romey  is  an  old  settler  in  the  county,  as  our  readers  have 
already  noticed. 

W,   R.  LAWRENCE 

operates  a  drug  store  and  grocery  on  the  north  side  of  Ninth 
street.     He  is  an  old  resident  of  Sibley  and  Osceola  County. 

ROBERT    RICHARDSON 

has  a  butcher  shop,  and  we  notice  in  tiie  1873  Sibley  paper 
that  the  same  Robert  had  a  butcher  shop  then. 

W.   E.   PARKER 

has  a  drug  store,  and  erected  the  building  he  occupies,  a  pic- 
ture of  which  is  in  this  book,  in  1891.  Mr.  Parker  is  one  of 
the  early  settlers. 

W^\LTON    BROTHERS 

have  a  very  extensive  furniture  store  in  the  Academy  of  Music 
block.     These  are  E.  Walton  and  H.  E.  Walton. 

THE  siblp:y  hotel. 

Sibley  hotels  are  fully  up  to  the  demands  of  the  town. 
The  Sibley  Hotel,  conducted  by  H.  L.  Leland,  is  located  near 
the  Omaha  depot. 

THE    OSCEOLA    HOUSE 

is  located  on  the  north  side  of  Ninth  Street,  in  the  business 
center  of  the  town.  It  is  conducted  by  John  Hickok,  and 
managed  by  Hickok  Brothers. 


HTSTORr   OF  OSCEOLA    COUNTY,   IOWA.  'i'l'^i 

J.    B.    LENT 

is  dealing  entirely  in  farming  machinery  of  all  kinds. 

ECKERMAN    BROTHERS. 

This  firm  are  successors  to  Davidson  &  Eckerman  in  the 
implement  business. 

J.    B.    GREY 

has  in  full  operation  one  of  the  best  creameries  in  the  State. 
The  output  of  his  institution  the  past  year  ranks  among  the 
highest  of  any  in  the  Northwest. 

PEAVY    &    CO. 

One  of  this  company's  elevators    is    located    at    Sibley. 
J.  T.  Grow  is  their  manager  at  this  place. 

B.    MILLER 

is  city  drayman  and  transfer  man. 

H.    E.    PERRY, 

mail  and  express  transfer  man,  and  general  delivery. 

F.    E.    CRAM 

is  bridge  builder  and  house  mover.  Also  agent  for  the  Austin 
steel  reversible  road  machines  and  well  drills. 

J.    L.    DURFEE 

delivers  milk  at  Sibley  houses  every  day. 

MRS.   KENNY 

conducts  classes  in  instrumental  music  in  Sibley. 

MRS.  WILDER 

has  a  large  class  in  vocal  and  instrumental  music. 

MISS    GRACE    CAMPBELL 

conducts  classes  in  instrumental  music  in  Sibley,  Ashton,  and 
Bigelow,  Minn. 

E.   F.   BEAUMONT 

is  Sibley's  artistic  wielder  of  the  brush,  and  a  professional 
paper  hanger. 


\ 


228  HISTORY  OF   OSCEOLA    COUNTT,   IOWA. 

SIBLEY    MARBLE    WORKS. 

M.  J.  North  looks  after  the  monument  business. 

TOBEY    BROS. 

are  dealers  in  agricultural  implements  and  farm  supplies. 

L.  D.  BARNES 

conducts  a  tin  shop  and  deals  in  small  hardware  in  the  build- 
ing next  to  Webber's  meat  market. 

B.  A.   WILDER, 

physician  and  surgeon,  has  had  forty-two  years'  experience  in 
homo^pathic  methods. 

H.   NEILL, 

is  Sibley's  oldest  physician  and  surgeon. 

MRS.   HAHN MILLINERY. 

She  keeps  hats,  bonnets,  hoods,  ribbons,  tips,  bridal 
wreaths,  China   silks,  etc. 

Y.  A.  HOWARD 

is  an  extensive  dealer  in  all  kinds  of  school  furniture. 

LAWYERS. 

The  lawyers  of  Sibley  are  C.  M.  Brooks,  D.  D.  McCul- 
lum,  O.  J.  Clark,  G.  W.  Lister  and  John  F.  Glover.  Mr. 
Glover  is  the  oldest  in  point  of  residence,  and  Mr.  McCullum 
also  does  an  extensive  pension  business.  Mr.  Lister  is  County 
Attorney.  Mr.  Clark  has  been  in  Sibley  about  ten  years. 
Mr.  McCullum  served  a  term  as  Circuit  Judge  in  that  judicial 
district,  and  is  mentioned  elsewhere  as  an  old  resident.  The 
bar  is  well  represented  and  Sibley's  lawyers  are  efficient  and 
able  practitioners. 

LONG  &  SCHLEGEL 

are  land,  loan  and  insurance  agents,  south  side  of  Ninth  street. 

JOHN  A.   FLOWER 

is  county  surveyor  and  also  manager  of  the  Sibley  Gazette. 

LEISCII  &  BRODT. 

A.  Leisch  and  C.  H.  Brodt  are  the  oldest  draymen  in  the 
city. 


JOHN  ROBERTSON. 


230  ittsTotir  OF  OSCEOLA  covNTr.  lowA. 

A.   W.  MITCHELL 

is  a  milk  dealer.  Mr.  Mitchell  is  spoken  of  elsewhere  as  one 
of  the  early  settlers. 

G.   W.  HEADER 

has  an  extensive  hardware  store,  and  elsewhere  in  this  book 
is  a  picture  of  his  building, 

LIVERY    STARLES. 

These  are  represented    by  Littlechild  Bros,  and  Joe  Gill. 

W.    II.    STEWART. 

Mr.  Stewart  is  veterinary  surgeon. 

C.    W.    LO\^'RY, 

proprietor  of  the  Sibley  Steam  Laundry. 

D.    F.    CAUGHEY, 

is  proprietor  of  City  Laundry. 

CLINT    HUDSON 

is  handling  the  Dustless  grain  and  grass  seed  cleaner  and 
separator. 

HENRY  NEWELL 

is  the  efficient  young  manager  of  the  business  of  the  Chicago, 
St.  Paul,  Milwaukee  &  Omaha  Railway  at  this  station. 

GEO.    W.    BAXTER 

is  the  good  natured  gentleman  who  attends  to  the  wants  of 
the  patrons  of  the  Burlington,  Cedar  Rapids  &.  Northern 
Railway.     He  is  assisted  b}^  C.  A.  Thompson. 

Sibley  is  having  something  of  a  boom  in  fine  residences 
this  year.  A.  W.  Harris,  grain  dealer,  has  erected  a  large 
house  of  modern  architecture.  A  Shapley,  a  retired  farmer, 
has  the  foundation  in  for  a  large  and  commodious  dwelling  in 
which  he  proposes  to  take  life  easy  for  the  remainder  of  his 
days.  Geo.  Carew,  the  veteran  newspaper  man,  is  com- 
fortably situated  in  a  large,  well  built  residence.  Mrs.  C.  I. 
Hill  has  a  fine  residence  just  completed  which  is  an  ornament 
to  the  city.  There  are  several  smaller  residences  which  have 
been  constructed  this  spring. 

Amonjif  its  other  business  men  are 


HISTORY    OF   OSCEOLA    COVNTT,   IOWA.  281 

W.    B.    STEVENS. 

A  picture  of  this  gentleman  and  his  residence  will  be 
found  elsewhere  in  this  book.  He  has  an  extensive  drug 
store;  also  a  line  of  jewelry  and  hardware. 

SIBT.EY    ROLl.ER    MILLS. 

Sibley  boasts  of  the  best  and  most  complete  roller  flour- 
ing mills  in  the  State,  with  a  capacity  of  seventy-five  barrels 
per  day.  It  is  rushed  with  business  every  hour.  Its  makes  of 
flour  are  considered  equal  to  those  of  any  mills  in  the  country, 
and  their  field  of  trade  extends  to  England.  J.  W.  Orde  and 
G.  B.  Gurney  appear  as  its  proprietors,  with  Ciiarles  Himes 
miller,  and  Guv  P.  Elliott  as  an  interested  part}',  and  also  M. 
A.  Harbord. 

BLOTCKY   BROTHERS 

have  dry  goods,  clothing,  groceries,  etc. 

IIINLKEY  &  TAYLOR 

have  a  general  store.     Mr.  Taylor  is  manager,  and  his  picture 
is  elsewhere  in  this  book. 

E.   F,   ROBINSON 

is  the  proprietor  of  the  Postotfice  book  and  news  store. 

BROWN    &  CHAMBERS. 

This  firm  has  been  spoken  of  elsewhere  as  on  the  ground 
at  an  earl}'  day.  In  1S90  the}'  erected  a  brick  building  at  a 
cost  of  $15,000,  a  picture  of  which  is  on  another  page.  They 
carry  a  stock  of  general   merchandise. 

IRA  BRUNSON 

is  eniraored  in  the  jreneral  land  business. 

WILLIAM    PROPER, 

one  of  the  pioneers,  is  a  resident  of  Sibley. 

DANIEL  MAHONEY 

is   a   resident,  and   is   road-master   on  the   Burlington,  Cedar 
Rapids  and  Northern  Railroad. 

JACK    IIANNA, 

one  of  the  old  residents,  is  now  in  the  land  business. 


2B2  ntSTORT  op  OSCEOLA    COVNTT.  IOWA. 

JOHN    SCHESTAG 

is  boot  and  shoe  maker  and  repairer. 

Gus  o'neil, 

paper  hanger  and  painter,  kalsominer  and  plasterer. 

Others  of  Sibley's  business  and  professional  men  are  as 
follows : 

Brand  &  Suter,  contractors  and  builders. 

A.  M.  Mastick,  wagon  maker, 

A.  M.  Culver,  carpenter  and  builder. 

Ed.  Garland,  blacksmith. 

S.  J.  Cram,  carpenter  and  builder. 

A.  L.  Blackmore,  blacksmith. 

H.  C.  Mory,  carpenter  and  builder. 

J.  Grant,  blacksmith. 

C.  H.  Manderville,  carpenter. 

J.  W.  Flint,  plasterer  and  mason. 

H.  G.  Upp,  carpenter  and  mechanic. 

Charles  Anderson,  plasterer. 

Joe  Hillerns,  blacksmith. 

N.  H.  Brand,  carpenter. 

T.  W.  Turk,  painter  and  decorator. 

SCHOOLS. 

Sibley  has  an  elegant  High  School  building  with  eight 
rooms.  The  teachers  are  all  the  best  that  can  be  had,  which 
makes  the  schools  very  thorough.  A  large  number  of  scholars 
from  other  places  attend  here. 

CHURCHES. 

Sibley  has  six  church  societies  and  five  fine  buildings. 
The  Catholic,  Methodist,  Congregational,  Baptist,  Episcopal 
and  German  Evangelical.  All  support  good  ministers  and 
have  a  large  attendance. 

CIVIC    SOCIETIES. 

Sible}'  has  numerous  fraternal  orders  and  all  in  a  prosper- 
ous, healthy  condition.  They  consist  of  the  Masons,  Odd 
Fellows,  Knights  of  Pythias,  Grand  Army  of  the  Republic, 
Sons  of  V^cterans,  Modern  Woodmen,  Order  of  the  Eastern 
Star,  Daughters  of  Rebecca,  W.  R.  C,  L.  A.  S.,  W.  C.  T.  U., 
I.  O.  G.  T.  The  Masons,  Odd  Fellows,  Knights  of  Pythias, 
G.  A.  R.,  and  Good  Templars  all  have  halls  of  their  own. 


H.  C.   WEBB. 


234  HISTORY  OF  OSCEOLA    COUNTY,   IOWA. 

E.   J.    FAIRBROTHER 

is  a  pioneer,  and  is  an  active,  intelligent  gentleman,  eight}^- 
one  years  of  age. 

S.  A.  COLBURN 

is  selling  sewing  machines. 

F.   C.  ALMONT  AND  A.  SCHMITS 

have  established  wagon  and  carriage  works,  with  paint  shop 
attachment. 

GEORGE  T.  \  OORHEES  AND  H.  C.   WKBB 

are  engaged  extensively  in  the  land  business.     The  pictures 
of  both  of  these  gentlemen  are  in  the  book. 

W.  J.  MILLER 

is  in  the  land  and  loan   business.      He  is  one  of  the  early  set- 
tlers. 

JOHN    p.  IIAWXSHURST 

is  doing  abstracting  and  real  estate  work.     Mr.  Hawxshurst 
figures  in  the  early  history  of  the  county. 

H.  E.  THAYER 

came  to  Sibley  in  1S92,  from  O'Brien  Count}^    He  is  engaged 
in  the  real  estate  business  with  J.  T.  Barcla3\ 

DR.    CRAWHALL 

is  established  over  Brown  Ik  Chambers'  store. 

The  Sibley  municipal  officers  are  as  follows: 

Mayor — J.  F.  Glover. 

Recorder — W.  P.  Webster. 

Treasurer — ^J.  Fred  Mattert. 

Marshal — John  Morrow. 

Councilmen — G.  O.  Learned,  E.  Walton,  C.  E.  Brown, 
A.  Romey,  J.  T.  Barclay,  John  DeBoos. 

Street  Commissioner — R.  L.  Norris. 

Assessor — John  Townsend. 

Sibley  has  two  railroads,  the  Chicago,  St.  Paul,  Minne- 
apolis and  Omaha,  which  crosses  the  townsite  north  and  south, 
and  the  Burlington,  Cedar  Rapids  and  Northern,  which  crosses 
east  and  west. 

A  picture  of  J.  C.  Trainer  appears  elsewhere  in  the  book. 


nrSTORl    OF  OSCEOLA   C0UNT1-,  IOWA.  235 

This  gentleman  was  for  several  years  principal  of  the  public 
schools  in  Sibley,  and  left  an  impression  of  thorough  scholar- 
ship and  the  best  of  school  training  upon  all  who  came  under 
his  instruction  or  in  contact  with  him.  He  died  a  few  years 
ago,  and  his  death  caused  a  feeling  of  sadness  in  the  entire 
community. 

WII.BERN    BROTHERS. 

These  gentlemen  are  engaged  extensively  in  business, 
principally  in  real  estate.  They  will  be  remembered  from 
reading  elsewhere  as  early  settlers  in  the  town. 

So  far  as  the  writer  can  gather  from  investigation  and 
inquiry,  the  foregoing  comprise  the  business  interests  of  Sib- 
ley.    If  any  have  been  omitted  it  is  unintentional. 

The  churches  in  Sibley  are  the  following  : 

CONGREGATIONAL. 

Services  every  Sunday  morning  at  10:30  nnd  evening  at 
8  o'clock.  Sabbath  school  immediately  after  the  morning 
services.  Prayer  meeting  on  Thursday  evening.  Rev.  P.  B. 
West,  pastor. 

METHODIST    EPISCOPAL. 

Services  ever}'  Sunday  morning  and  evening.  Sabbath 
school  at  2:30  o'clock  in  the  afternoon.  Prayer  meeting  every 
Thursday  evening.     Rev.  C.  Artman,  pastor. 

BAPTIST. 

Services  every  Sunday  morning  and  evening  in  the 
church.  Sabbath  school  from  12  to  i  o'clock  p.  m.  Prayer 
meeting  ever}'  Thursday  evening.    Rev.  R.  Bradshaw,  pastor. 

ST.  John's  episcopal  church. 

Located  on  the  corner  of  Eighth  street  and  Sixth  avenue. 
Services  each  Sunday.     J.  W.  Orde  officiating  as  minister. 

ST.  Mary's  church  of  siblev. 

Services  each  alternate  Sunday.     Father  Dollard,  pastor. 

Sibley  is  having  a  gradual  growth.  Some  new  building 
seems  to  be  in  process  of  erection  all  the  time,  and  electric 
lights  and  water  works  will  soon  be  the  order  of  the  day. 


k 


CHAPTER  XXII. 

Since  writing  the  preceding  chapters  in  this  book  there 
has  come  under  the  writer's  observation  an  article  written  by 
some  clever  writer  in  1876  on  the  history  of  V^ioki  township, 
and,  although  it  may  be  somewhat  on  the  order  of  repetition, 
I  will  here  reproduce  it.  We  think  it  was  written  by  Peter 
Shaw: 

"  VioivA  Township,  December  2,  1876. — In  accordance 
with  the  proclamation  of  Samuel  J.  Kirkwood,  the  Governor 
of  Iowa  for  1876,  the  Centennial  year,  the  one  hundredth 
anniversary  of  America,  that  the  several  township  clerks  of 
each  county  be  requested  to  write  a  sketch  or  history  of  their 
townships,  though  I  am  not  much  skilled  in  writing  history  or 
anything  that  would  be  of  much  interest  to  the  people,  I  will 
endeavor  to  write  something. 

"This  township  was  first  settled  A.  D.  1871.  The  first 
settlers,  or  rather  the  pioneer  settlers  as  we  term  them,  were 
as  follows:  C.  C.  Collison,  John  Smith,  J.  F.  Van  Emburgh, 
H.  W.  Tinkum,  G.  W.  Ketchum,  J.  T.  Sage,  John  Stamm, 
Hugh  and  Oren  Jones,  W.  H.  Gates,  and  Mrs.  Beeman,  Mrs. 
Jane  Smith  and  Miss  Carrie  Smith.  These  comprise  the 
pioneers.  C.  C.  Collison,  John  Smith  and  John  Stamm  were 
the  first.  C.  C.  Collison  built  the  first  house  that  was  built  in 
the  township.  There  was  considerable  breaking  done  that 
year,  and  some  sod  corn  raised  and  a  few  potatoes.  The  set- 
tlers worked  at  a  great  disadvantage  in  building,  as  there  was 
no  timber  within  fifteen  or  twenty  miles  and  no  lumber  within 
fifty  miles,  till  late  in  the  fall  the  cars  came  as  far  as  Worth- 
ington,  a  distance  of  eighteen  miles,  the  St.  Paul  Railroad 
being  completed  no  further.  So  most  of  the  first  settlers 
built  sod  houses  to  live  in,  which  made  very  comfortable 
houses  for  the  homesteaders  of  Viola.  But  they  had  a  pretty 
severe  winter  to  go  through.  They  had  their  wood  to  haul 
from  fifteen  to  twenty  miles,  which  made  snug  work  to  keep 
warm,  as  they  had  not  learned  to  burn  hay  at  that  time. 

"Mr.  Beeman  was  frozen  to  death.  He  got  caught  out 
in  a  blizzard  on  his  way  home  from  the  Big  Rock  River, 
where  he  had  been  after  a  load  of  corn.  He  left  a  wife  and 
several  children  to  provide  for  themselves  in  the  dead  of  win- 
ter in  the  wilds  of  Osceola.     Though  the  pioneers  came  out 


238  HISTORY  OF  OSCEOLA    COUNTY.   IOWA. 

in  the  spring  fat  and  smoking,  for  their  houses  were  mostly 
covered  over  with  snow,  as  the  snow  fell  very  deep  that  winter. 

"The  settlers  of  A.  D.  1872,  were  as  follows:  Peter 
Shaw,  John  H.  Douglass,  N.  I.  Wetmore,  S.  Ford,  Abram 
Shapley,  John  Hart,  M.  D.  Hadsell,  C.  C.  Hadsell,  E.  Headley, 
C.  C.  Ogan,  E.  S.  Bennett,  C.  G.  Bennett,  William  Rubow, 
A.  Averill,  D.  Averill,  O.  Averill,  A.  B.  Graves,  E.  Mulmex, 
S.  Smith,  E.  Smith,  John  Tann,  W.  M.  Barnard,  J.  Blair,  J.  S. 
Patterson,  George  Carew,  L.  Clark,  G.  S.  Downend,  D.  B. 
Wood,  £.  Nulton,  J.  Farren,  H.  Graham,  T.  W.  Graves,  H, 
Jordan,  L,  McConnell,  P.  L.  Piesley,  Levi  Shell,  C.  T.  Torrey, 
P.  Wilcox,  M.  Winchester,  J.  F.  Ransom,  A.  Van  Blockham. 
These  were  the  settlers  of  '72.  But  the  settlers  of  '72  had 
great  advantages  over  the  settlers  of  '71-  The  St.  Paul  Rail- 
road being  completed  to  Sibley  in  the  early  part  of  June,  lum- 
ber and  wood  were  within  three  to  eight  miles,  and  the  settlers 
went  right  to  work  and  built  their  several  shanties,  and  then 
proceeded  to  break  and  plant  sod  corn  and  potatoes  and  gar- 
dens, and  as  it  was  a  fine  growing  season,  they  had  fine  crops 
for  sod  crops.  Some  rented  land  that  had  been  broken  the 
year  before,  and  had  an  excellent  crop  from  it.  I  raised  206 
bushels  of  wheat  off  of  nine  and  one-half  acres  of  late  breaking 
that  season.  Most  of  the  settlers  that  year  raised  their  vege- 
tables and  feed  for  their  teams,  but  most  of  them  had  their 
meat  and  flour  to  buy  till  the  next  fall. 

"Viola  Township  was  organized  in  the  fall  of  1872,  and 
held  its  first  election  in  John  H.  Douglass'  shanty.  The  fol- 
lowing township  officers  were  elected:  Peter  Shaw,  town- 
ship clerk;  M.  D.  Hadsell  and  John  Smith,  justices  of  the 
peace;  Jackson  Blair,  assessor;  T.  J.  Stage,  C.  C.  Hadsell, 
C.  G.  Bennett,  trustees;  C.  C.  Ogan  and  John  Stamm,  con- 
stables; Hugh  Jones,  road  supervisor;  U.  S.  Grant,  president 
of  the  United  States,  re-elected;  John  H.  Douglass,  sheriff  of 
Osceola  County,  Iowa.  The  township  polled  thirty-six  votes, 
but  part  of  the  officers  went  away  that  winter  and  left  their 
offices  vacant.  The  following  persons  were  appointed  to  fill 
vacancies:  W.  H.  Gates  and  David  Wood,  trustees;  N.  I. 
Wetmore,  assessor;  John  Hart,  road  supervisor;  Abram 
Shapley,  justice  of  the  peace;  Mr.  Shapley  did  not  qualify. 

"The  first  blacksmith  shop  was  erected  by  J.  F.  Van 
Emburgh  in  1871,  and  in  1872  Abram  Shapley  built  another 
shop. 

"  The  first  school  house  was  erected  in  the  summer  of 
1872  on  the  southwest  quarter  of  Section  25,  and  called  the 


HISTORY  OF  OSCEOLA    COUNTY,   IOWA.  239 

Gates  School  House,  and  Miss  Carrie  Smith  was  the  first 
teacher.  She  taught  a  term  of  six  months.  The  first  half  of 
the  term  was  taught  in  one  part  of  C.  C.  CoUison's  house,  and 
three  months  in  the  Gates  School  House.  The  next  two 
school  houses  were  built  in  the  spring  of  1875,  one  on  the 
northwest  corner  of  Section  20,  the  other  one  on  the  northeast 
ijuarter  of  Section  32.  The  first  school  directors  were  M.  D. 
Hadsell,  N.  I.  Wetmore  and  D.  B.  Wood. 

"The  first  Sabbath  school  was  organized  in  the  summer 
of  1 87 1  and  held  at  H.  W.  Tinkham's,  and  has  been  held 
every  summer  in  different  parts  of  the  township.  In  the  sum- 
mer of  1875  the  Sunday  school  officers  were  all  lady  officers, 
with  Mrs.  Ripley  as  superintendent. 

"The  first  church  society  was  organized  by  Brother 
Mallory,  of  Sibley,  in  the  winter  of  1875  and  1876,  at  the 
Greaves  School  House,  but  meetings  had  been  held  by  diff^er- 
ent  denominations.  Since  the  summer  of  1872,  Revs.  B.  A. 
Dean,  Brashears,  Webb,  Lowrie  and  several  others  have  held 
regular  appointments  here.  G.  W.  Ketchum's  sod  house  was 
used  for  the  first  meeting  house,  till  the  Gates  School  House 
was  built. 

"  The  first  white  child  born  in  the  township  was  the 
daughter  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  J.  W.  Nims,  in  June,  1S71,  and 
was  the  first  child  born  in  the  county,  but  it  only  lived  to  the 
age  of   18  months. 

"  The  deaths  have  been  but  few.  The  first  was  Mr.  Bee- 
man,  who  was  frozen  to  death  in  Lyon  county  in  the  winter 
of  1 87 1  and  1872,  in  a  blizzard,  some  time  in  February,  while 
on  his  way  home  from  the  Big  Rock,  where  he  had  been 
after  a  load  of  corn.  The  next  was  the  daughter  of  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Nims.  The  next  was  Mrs.  Jennings,  the  daughter  of 
Mrs.  Abram  Shapley,  who  died  very  suddenly  at  Mr.  G.  S. 
Downend's  with  heart  disease.  The  next  was  Mr.  Wright- 
mire,  though  a  resident  of  Minnesota.  The  next  was  Mrs.  C. 
Collison,  died  in  March,  1S76.  The  next  was  Mrs.  Eliza  J. 
Smith,  died  in  April,  1876.  Mrs.  Collison  and  Mrs.  Smith 
died  but  a  month  apart,  and  came  into  the  county  together  in 
1872,  and  lived  near  neighbors  and  were  highly  esteemed  by 
all  who  knew  them.  Mrs.  Collison  left  a  large  family  of  small 
children.  Mrs.  Smith  was  the  mother  of  John,  Samuel,  Edwin 
and  Carrie  Smith.  She  took  a  homestead  when  she  came, 
and  had  lived  within  a  few  weeks  of  her  five  years  on  the 
homestead. 

"  The  first  married  couple  was  Mr.  John   Tann   to   Miss 


240  HISTORY  OF  OSCEOLA    COUNTY.   IOWA. 

Carrie  A.  Smith,  in  Sibley,  at  the  parsonage,  by  Elder  Webb, 
January  i,  1873.  The  next  was  Edwin  Smith  to  Miss  Greaves, 
and  several  of  the  bachelors  have  married  out  of  the  county. 
They  have  all  taken  a  better  half  except  Joseph  Farren  and  J. 
T.  Sage,  who  still  are  waiting. 

"  The  heaviest  farmers  are  Abram  Shapley,  Peter  Shaw, 
G.  S.  Downend,  P.  L.  Piesley,  J.  Blair,  J.  Farren,  W.  H. 
Gates,  A.  Averill,  A.  B.  Greaves,  John  Tarn,  M.  D.  Hadsell, 
S.  F.  Smith,  Ed.  Smith  and  C.  C.  Colhson. 

"  So  far  the  farmers  have  had  rather  discouraging  farm- 
ing on  account  of  the  grasshoppers.  They  came  here  in  June, 
1873,  and  destroyed  the  greater  part  of  the  crops  that  year, 
so  that  the  people  had  to  apply  for  assistance  in  the  way  of 
relief.  The  State  Legislature  appropriated  $50,000  to  the 
grasshopper  sufferers  in  the  way  of  seed  grain.  But  in  1874 
the  'hoppers  hatched  here  and  came  in  from  Minnesota,  and 
hurt  the  crop  from  about  one-fourth  to  a  third.  In  1875  the 
crops  were  good  except  corn  and  oats,  which  were  badly 
eaten  by  the  pests.  But  the  people  began  to  feel  considerably 
encouraged,  and  in  1876,  the  centennial  year,  they  went  in  as 
if  they  were  going  to  make  up  for  losses,  and  put  in  every 
foot  of  ground  that  they  had  broken.  And  the  grain  was 
looking  fine  and  promising  until  within  a  few  days  of  harvest- 
ing, when  the  'hoppers  came  again  from  the  north  in  great 
numbers  and  waded  into  the  grain,  and  destroyed  almost  the 
entire  crop  in  this  township.  So  most  of  the  farmers  are 
bankrupt,  without  seed  or  money. 

"  Many  of  the  settlers  were  compelled  to  go  away  for  the 
winter  in  order  to  make  a  living  for  their  families  and  get 
something  to  seed  their  places  with  for  the  next  year.  Some 
are  too  poor  to  get  away  and  have  been  compelled  to  prove 
up  on  their  homesteads  and  mortgage  their  places  to  raise 
money  to  carry  them  till  they  can  raise  another  crop.  The 
people  nearly  all  burn  hay  for  fuel  because  they  have  not  the 
wherewith  to  buy  anything  else  to  burn,  but  if  all  other  ne- 
cessities could  be  remedied  as  easily  as  the  fuel  we  could  man- 
age to  get  along  very  well.  As  it  is,  most  of  the  farmers  will 
be  compelled  to  let  part  of  their  farms  lie  still  next  year,  for 
the  want  of  means  to  get  seed  to  seed  their  lands.  Most  of 
the  farmers  did  considerable  breaking  this  season,  and  now 
have  more  ground  broken  than  they  have  the  means  to  carry 
on.  There  were  about  fifteen  hundred  acres  broken  in  this 
township  this  summer.  The  lands  in  this  township  are  very 
rich  and  productive,  and  the  face  of  the  country  is  most  beau- 


DIEDRICH  WASSMANN. 


HISTORl     OF  OSCEOLA    COC'.VTl',   IOWA.  245 

tiful,  just  rolling  enough  to  drain  well,  and  it  is  as  well  watered 
as  any  part  of  Osceola  county.  It  has  the  Otter  creek  run- 
ning through  on  the  east,  the  Little  Rock  on  the  west  and  the 
Muddy  creek  on  the  north.  These  streams  all  have  fine  grass 
land  along  them,  which  produces  the  best  of  hay  for  stock.  It 
is  not  only  good  farming  land,  but  well  adapted  to  raising 
stock  and  the  dairying  business.  We  have  one  cheese  factory 
in  the  township,  which  is  owned  by  Davad  B.  Wood,  and  is 
located  in  the  center  of  the  township.  All  that  is  lacking  now 
is  the  means  to  get  the  stock  to  make  it  one  of  the  most  pro- 
ductive townships  in  the  northwest.  Some  new  settlers  have 
settled  in  this  township." 


I 


CHAPTER    XXIII. 

TOWNSHIPS. 

To  Start  on  there  were  only  three  townships.  The  con- 
gressional township  running  east  and  west  across  the  county, 
numbered  lOO,  was  called  Horton  Township  ;  the  same  run- 
ning east  and  west  across  the  county,  numbered  99,  was  called 
Holman  Township,  and  the  same  numbered  98  called  Goewey 
Township.  These  remained  in  that  way  until  October  7, 
1872,  when  the  board  divided  Horton  Township  into  three 
townships,  making  section  100,  range  42,  Fenton,  section  100, 
range  41,  Wilson,  and  section  100,  range  40,  and  section  100, 
range  39,  Horton.  Afterwards,  by  a  demand  of  the  people 
in  that  township,  Fenton  was  changed  to  Viola.  Fairview  w-as 
set  off  September  7,  1874.  Holman  Township  remained  as 
established  until  at  the  September  27,  1873,  meeting  the  board 
made  two  townships  out  of  the  four,  making  the  east,  being 
section  99,  range  39,  and  section  99,  range  40,  one  township, 
and  giving  the  name  Ocheyedan.  These  townships,  remain- 
ing the  same  as  Holman,  comprise  two  congressional  town- 
ships, and  Ocheyedan  two,  which  for  convenience  sake  are 
called  East  and  West  Ocheyedan.  At  the  January  i,  1884, 
meeting,  Oilman  Township  was  set  off  by  itself.  June  7?  1875, 
the  board  passed  a  resolution  that  township  98,  range  40,  be 
set  off  and  called  Baker,  except  sections  31,  32,  33,  34,  35,  36, 
and  sections  4,  5,  6,  7,  8,  9,  16,  17,  18,  19,  20,  21,  28,  29  and 
30,  in  township  98,  range  39.  Harrison  was  set  off  Septem- 
ber 3,  1888,  and  that  fall  had  its  first  election. 

EDUCATIONAL. 

If  there  is  any  one  thmg  that  is  distinctly  American,  it  is 
our  educational  system,  which  offers  to  each  rising  generation 
the  grandest  facilities  for  scholarship  that  can  be  found  in  the 
world. 

The  American  boy  knows  no  barrier  to  distinction  in  the 
line  of  education  save  in  himself.  Iowa  is  not  behind  any  other 
state  in  the  Union  in  its  legislative  provisions  concerning 
schools,  and  Osceola  Count}^  as  a  part  of  the  great  state,  is 
ever  active  in  the  organization  of  its  school  districts  and  their 
effective  management. 


MARV   I..   MiCAI.LUM. 


'JMn 


Mmm 


H.  G.  DOOLITTLE. 


IIISTORl    OF  OSCEOLA    COVNTT,   IOWA.  251 

If  an}'  boy  or  girl  lives  in  Osceola  County  during  their 
school  days,  and  grows  to  manhood  or  womanhood  here  with- 
out a  good  common  school  education,  the  fault  must  be  charged 
to  the  parent  or  the  child  and  not  to  lack  of  opportunity. 

Immediately  upon  the  formation  of  the  civil  townships, 
as  made  by  the  Woodbury  County  Board,  the  same  townships 
by  operation  of  law  became  school  districts,  and  the  school 
townships  now  are  the  same  in  size  and  name  as  the  civil 
townships, 

F.  W.  Hahn  is  the  present  County  Superintendent  of 
Schools,  and  his  official  management  in  that  department  is 
efficient  and  highly  satisfactory. 

There  are  at  present  in  the  county  eighty-one  school 
houses,  as  follows  : 

Fairview -  3 

Horton 6 

W  ilson 6 

Viola 6 

Ocheyedan   I2 

Harrison   7 

Baker 7 

Goewey 7 

Gilman 8 

Holman i5 

Sibley,  town 2 

Ocheyedan, town i 

Ashton.  town i 

The  value  of  Osceola  County  school  houses  is  estimated 
at  v$44,ooo ;  the  value  of  school  house  apparatus  at  $2,000. 

The  present  school  otlicers  are  as  follows  : 

FAIRVIEW. 

President— J.  C.  Ward. 

Secretary — M.  B.  Smith. 

Treasurer — Wm.  Mowthorpe. 

Directors — Geo.  Hamilton,  B.  F.  Webster. 

HORTON. 

President — Dick  Wassmann. 
Secretary — ^John  Robertson. 
Treasurer — N.  W.  Emery. 
Directors— I.  B.  Titus,  August  Bremer. 


252  HISTORY  OF  OSCEOLA    COUNTY.   IOWA. 

WILSON. 

President— W.  A.  Cloud. 
Secretary — A.  B.  Evarts. 
Treasurer — Will  Thomas. 

Directors— W.  C.  Connor,  Mons.  Soren,  C.  E.  Yates,  F. 
A.  Klampe,  Joseph  Zweck. 

VIOLA. 

President — Joseph  Raine. 
Secretary — George  Downend. 
Treasurer — J.  P.  Wallran. 
Directors— S.  Newman,  Pat  Piesley. 

HOLMAN. 

President — W.  L.  Taylor. 

Secretary — M.  Harvey. 

Treasurer — P.  A.  Cajacob. 

Directors — T.  Ling,  John  Gallagher,  Thomas  Reycraft, 
D.  W.  Whitney,  John  Karpen,  James  Hunter,  O.  C.  Staplin, 
John  Schroeder,  Will  Morse,  J.  B.  Jenny,  John  Wagner,  John 
Melcher. 

OCHEYEDAN. 

President— W.  E.  Ely. 

Secretary — E.  N.  Moore. 

Treasurer — L.  B.  Boyd. 

Directors — G.  W.  Thomas,  Joseph  Smith. 

HARRISON. 

President — J.  W.  Wardrip. 

Secretary — T.  Heinmig. 

Treasurer — F.  H.  Newkirk. 

Directors — George  Krukenberg,  Daniel  Tzards. 

BAKER. 

President — Hans  Graves. 
Secretary — C.  W.  Br3^an. 
Treasurer — W.  H.  Lean. 
Directors — J.  L.  McAnnich,  Fred.  Kuester. 

,  GOEWEY. 

President'— H.  C.  Allen. 
Secretary — Henry  Huffman. 
Treasurer — Alex.  Gilkinson. 

Directors — O.  B.  Harding,  A.  Brunson,  Charles  Bangert, 
Jacob  Brandt,  George  Spaulding,  Eugene  Girton. 


M.  A.  TATUM. 


A.   E.   BEAUMONT 


I 


mSrOKT  OF  OSCEOLA    COUNTY,   IOWA.  257 

OILMAN. 

President — B.  T.  Pettingell. 
Secretary — J.  C.  Wilmarth. 
Treasurer — W.  C.  Craig. 

Directors — A.  Schent,  R.  Lensen,  H.  H.  Nolte,  R.  J. 
Stemm,  E.  Beckwith,  Nels  Porter. 

INDEPENDENT    DISTRICT    OF    SIBLEY. 

President— H.  Neill. 
Secretary — W.  P.  Webster. 
Treasurer — Levi  Shell. 

Directors — A.  Romey,  M.  J.  Campbell,  J.  B.  Lent,  Geo. 
Learned,  W.  H.  Chambers. 

INDEPENDENT    DISTRICT    OF    ASHTON. 

President — I.  B.  Lucas. 
Secretary — J.  W.  Reagan. 
Treasurer — W.  L.  Benjamin. 
Directors — N.  Boor,  H.  S.  Grant. 

The  school  sections,  so-called,  are  numbered  sixteen  in 
each  township,  which  were  donated  by  the  general  govern- 
ment, to  the  State,  for  the  benefit  of  the  schools.  These  sec- 
tions are  sold,  and  the  proceeds  constitute  a  fund  which  re-- 
mains  and  not  disposed  of,  but  it  is  loaned  out  upon  good  real 
estate  security,  and  the  income  from  it  by  way  of  interest,  is 
distributed  over  the  State  to  each  township  according  to  its 
number  of  scholars.  Osceola  County  has  now  of  this  fund, 
and  as  proceeds  from  the  sale  of  land  in  this  county,  about 
$100,000.  The  first  sale  made  of  school  lands  in  Osceola, 
was  in  July,  1881,  and  the  first  quarter  sold  was  bought  by 
Close  Bros,  in  Oilman  Township.  These  school  lands  have 
all  been  disposed  of  except  one  quarter,  and  this  will  go  to 
sale  soon. 

There  are  in  Osceola  County  at  the  present  time,  about 
twenty-one  hundred  persons  of  school  age,  and  the  best  of 
teachers  are  secured,  so  that  our  schools  are  of  a  high  order 
and  the  means  of  much  advancement.  Several  school  build- 
ings have  been  erected  this  present  season.  Prof.  Trainer, 
mentioned  elsewhere,  did  much  for  Osceola  County  in  the  line 
of  education.  He  constantly  contributed  to  the  public  press 
articles  intended  to  stimulate  the  young  in  the  line  of  their 
studies.     The  followmg  is  one  of  his  contributions : 

16 


258  HISTORY  OF  OSCEOLA    COUNTY.   IOWA. 

"A    PLEA    FOR    THE    CHILDREN. 

"Children  hunger  perpetually  for  new  ideas.  They  will 
learn  with  pleasure  from  the  lips  of  others  what  they  deem 
drudgery  to  study  in  books;  and  even  if  they  have  the  mis- 
fortune to  be  deprived  of  many  educational  advantages,  they 
grow  up  intelligent  people. 

"We  sometimes  see  people  who  are  the  life  of  every  com- 
pany which  they  enter,  dull,  silent  and  uninteresting  among 
children;  such  cannot  teach.  The  teacher  must  be  the  life  of 
the  school.  How  can  we  expect  life  and  energy  to  come  from 
dry,  cold,  silent  books!  The  use  of  books  is  a  detriment 
rather  than  an  aid  to  the  younger  pupils.  When  the  pupil 
enters  school  at  the  age  of  five  years  he  already  has  learned 
more  than  any  teacher  on  earth  can  teach  him  in  a  long  life 
time.  Teachers,  did  you  ever  think  that  the  child  at  that  age 
has  learned  two  of  the  most  difficult  things  mortals  have  to 
learn — walking  and  talking  .'^  How  many  works  in  philosophy 
has  it  been  necessary  for  him  to  consult  ?  What  university 
has  he  graduated  from  to  be  able  to  walk  perfectly?  What 
authors  on  language  has  he  studied,  or  how  many  lectures  on 
philosophy  has  he  heard  to  be  able  to  make  known  his 
thoughts  by  talking.  We  know  that  these  and  a  thousand 
other  attainments  have  been  reached  by  doing  for  himself. 
Yet  without  a  knowledge  of  these  things,  from  the  first  hour 
the  child  enters  school  many  teachers  attempt  to  change  the 
whole  course  of  nature  by  forcing  upon  him  that  which  is  as 
foreign  to  his  nature  as  day  is  from  night.  What  we  need  is 
the  teacher  who  will  give  the  children  a  chance  to  observe, 
experiment  and  to  think  for  themselves,  and  let  us  remember 
that  language  is  the  instrument  of  thought,  and  that  without 
language  there  can  be  no  thought." 


JAMES  PORTER. 


I.  C.  HEIM. 


CHAPTER    XXIV. 

Early  in  the  seventies  there  was  much  discussion  as  to  the 
depreciation  of  county  warrants,  which  were  down  then  to  fifty 
cents  on  the  dollar.  Some  writer  in  the  local  press,  in  Janu- 
ary, 1874,  h^^  ^^^  following  : 

"  Northwestern  Iowa  needs  assistance,  and  such  assist- 
ance can  only  be  granted  by  the  State  Legislature.  The  mu- 
nificence of  individuals  can  relieve  the  wants  of  individuals, 
but  it  takes  legislation  to  relieve  the  embarrassments  of 
counties. 

"  In  no  part  of  the  state  is  there  more  fertile  soil,  more 
healthful  climate,  larger  yearly  improvements,  or  more  rapid 
increase  in  population,  than  in  Northwestern  Iowa.  In  a  few 
years  the  counties  will  be  as  independent  as  an}'  in  the  state. 
But  circumstances,  over  which  the  county  had  no  control,  for 
the  very  reason  that  they  were,  themselves,  controlled  by  de- 
signing men,  brought  the  credit  of  many  of  them  into  great 
disrepute,  owing  to  the  issuing  of  warrants  for  no  valid  con- 
sideration, so  that  after  affairs  began  to  be  economically  man- 
aged the  warrants  were  worth,  in  the  market,  but  half  their 
face. 

"  It  may  be  safely  said  that  the  New  Code  of  Iowa  went 
into  operation  finding  the  administration  of  our  northwestern 
counties  in  as  good  hands  as  other  portions  of  the  state,  but 
just  as  the  New  Code  took  force  the  bonding  law  expire<l  by 
statute  limitation,  thereby  taking  away  that  which  had  caused 
warrants  to  be,  at  least  in  some  degree,  in  demand,  as  offering 
an  investment  which  yielded  a  fair  rate  of  interest. 

"  By  economical  management  it  was  hoped  that  warrants 
would  not  depreciate  very  much,  but  when  the  Supreme 
Court's  decision  was  announced  there  was  no  longer  a  mar- 
ket, something,  of  course,  must  be  done.  The  counties  can- 
not remedy  the  matter  ;  it  rests  with  the  Legislature. 

"  Our  assessment  is  $612,000.  At  four  mills  the  revenue 
amounts  to  $2,448  ;  this,  with  the  present  amount  of  property, 
is  all  that' can  be  raised  for  county  purposes. 

"  Now,  see  what  county  expenses  are  to  be  paid  out  of 
this  sum  :  Section  3844  of  the  Code  provides  that  '  The 
Board  of   Supervisors  shall  furnish  the  Clerk  of   District  and 


264  HISTORT  OF  OSCEOLA    COUNTY.   IOWA. 

Circuit  Courts,  Sheriff,  Recorder,  Treasurer,  Auditor  and 
County  Superintendent  with  offices  at  the  county-seat,  to- 
gether with  fuel,  lights,  blanks,  books  and  stationer}^  neces- 
sary and  proper  to  enable  them  to  discharge  the  duties  of 
their  respective  offices.' 

"  The  compensation  of  the  officers  is  fixed  by  the  board, 
and  paid  out  of  the  county  fund,  except  such  as  paid  in  the 
shape  of  fees.  The  sum  total  of  fees  received  in  the  different 
offices  is  no  more  than  sufficient  to  afford  one  officer  a  rea- 
sonable and  fair  compensation,  leaving  four  or  five  officers  to 
be  paid  out  of  the  county  fund.  The  sum  total  of  fees  and 
expenses,  fixed  b}-  law,  and  that  cannot  be  reduced,  amounted, 
for  the  last  year,  to  $4,625.94  ;  add  to  this  amount  compensa- 
tion for  officers  and  the  amount  necessary  to  pay  the  interest 
on  bonds  drawing  ten  per  cent.,  payable  semi-annually,  and 
you  have,  at  the  least  calculation,  a  sum  three  or  four  times 
the  amount  of  the  revenue.  At  present  it  would  take  just 
about  a  twenty  mill  tax  to  keep  up  all  the  drafts  on  the  count}- 
fund. 

"  In  view  of  the  above  condition  of  affairs,  we  appeal  to 
the  Legislature  to  provide  for  a  revenue.  We  submit  that  it 
is  an  outrage  on  the  Board  of  Supervisors,  to  the  people  of 
the  county,  to  the  name  of  legislator  or  legislation,  that  a  body 
of  men,  chosen  to  legislate  for  the  interests  of  the  whole  state, 
should  compel  Boards  of  Supervisors  to  provide  for  the  pay- 
ment of  bills  of  expenses  and  provide  for  only  one-fourth  the 
necessary  revenue. 

"  We  must  have  the  bonding  law  revived,  a  higher  levy, 
and  direct  taxes  voted  by  the  people.  We  need  one,  or  more, 
or  all  these  means  of  relief.  There  is  no  reason  why,  if 
sufficient  revenue  is  provided,  the  paper  of  a  county  cannot 
be  just  as  good  as  the  paper  money  of  the  government." 

PRICES  IN   1873. 

In  1873,  prices  in  Sibley  ranged  about  as  follows:  Six- 
teen and  one-half  pounds  of  dried  apples  for  $1.00;  prunes 
7^  pounds  for  $1.00;  blackberries,  7)^  pounds  for  $1.00; 
peaches,  10  pounds  for  $1.00;  Standard  "A"  sugar,  7^ 
pounds  for  $t.oo;  brown  sugar,  10  pounds  for  $1.00;  bacon, 
12  cents  per  pound;  shoulders,  7  cents  per  pound;  hams,  16 
cents  per  pound;  oil,  35  cents  per  pound. 

The  above  was  from  a  local  dealer  advertising  his  goods. 
The  market  report  in  a  June,  1873,  number  of  the  Gazette^ 
was  as  follows: 


RESIDENCE  OF  A.   VV.    HARRIS,  SIBLEY. 


HISTORI    OF  OSCEOLA    COUNTY,    IOWA.  269 

Wheat,  No.   i,  ^  bush 75@86 

Corn,  ^  bush 40 

Oats,  ^  bush 25 

Barley,  ^  bush 35@40 

Flour,  ^  hundred  Bbs 3.25 

Corn  meal,  ^  hundred  lbs i .  90 

Beans,  ^   bush .... i-5o 

Pork,  f^tt) 12 

Hams,  f^  K) 18 

Potatoes . 30 

Shoulders,  ^  lb ■ 12 

Lard,   ^  K) 17 

Butter,  ^  R) 30 

Cheese,  ^  K) 20 

%gs,  ^  doz 15 

Dried  apples,  ^  K) 12^ 

Dried  peaches,  ^Jb 12)^ 

Tea,  ^  R) 72@i-8o 

Coffee,^    ft) 29@34 

Sugars,  '^  K) 1 2  i^@i 7 

wSyrups,  ^  gal i .  00 

Molasses,  "^  gal 80 

Kerosene,  ^  gal 40 

Lumber,  ^  M 18.00@37.00 

Nails,  ^  ft) 7@io 

Shingles,  ^M 3. oo@5  . 00 

Hard  coal  was  then  selling  at  $25  per  ton,  and  soft  coal 
correspondingly. 

Whatever  the  farmer  raises  in  Osceola  County  he  finds  a 
good  market  for  in  either  of  the  towns,  and  a  prominent  bus- 
iness house  in  Sibley,  Ocheyedan  and  Harris,  inadvertently 
omitted  from  the  Sibley  write-up,  is 

A.    W.    HARRIS    &    CO. 

This  firm  has  a  kirge  grain  and  coal  business  in  Sibley, 
also  in  the  towns  of  Harris  and  Ocheyedan. 

The  town  of  Harris  was  named  after  the  head  of  this 
lirm,  who  laid  out  the  townsite,  and  still  owns  it  except  what 
lots  have  been  sold.  They  put  up  the  first  building  on  the 
Harris  townsite,  and  at  present  are  the  only  grain  buyers 
there.  This  firm  located  in  Sibley  in  1887,  and  are  very 
prominent  in  their  line  of  business  in  Osceola  County. 


CONCLUDING   CHAPTER. 

The  condition  of  Osceola  County  in  this  year  of  our 
Lord,  1892,  is  one  of  general  prosperity.  Pauperism  does 
not  exist,  and  opportunities  for  labor,  for  securing  homes,  and 
for  establishing  Ijusiness  are  on  every  hand.  There  has  been 
an  abundant  harvest,  and  each  year  is  an  advancement  in  farm- 
ing interests  and  in  all  classes  of  business. 

The  last  assessed  valuation  of  the  county  was  $1,726,582. 
The  indebtedness  of  the  county  has  been,  at  it  highest,  about 
^90,000.  Its  present  indebtedness  is  $60,500.  The  amount 
of  school  money  now  loaned  out,  and  under  contract  for  loan 
by  the  county  on  farm  land,  is  $96,500.75.  The  amount  paid 
out  for  school  purposes  in  1891  was  $29,040.  This  came  from 
taxation  except  $611,  which  was  derived  from  the  permanent 
school  fund  interest.  The  running  expenses  of  the  county  m 
1891  required  $18,568.  The  income  to  the  county  from  taxa- 
tion for  1891  was  $61,375. 

The  county  has  a  substantial  court  house  and  every  school 
district  has  the  required  buildings  for  school  purposes. 

The  people  are  thrifty,  intelligent  and  law-abiding,  and 
as  a  class  are  comparable  with  those  of  any  county  in  the  state. 

The  County  has  changed  in  its  inhabitants  since  the  first 
settlement,  some  coming  and  going,  some  remaining  yet,  and 
others  with  the  fate  that  must  follow  all  of  us,  are  lying  in  the 
cemetery.  Western  people  are  given  to  changing  their  busi- 
ness locations  more  than  are  the  people  of  the  East;  here,  if 
anywhere,  is  the  spirit  of  unrest,  implanted  seemingly  m  our 
very  nature  on  the  first  move,  and  with  many  it  becomes  a 
fixed  feeling  and  irresistible.  Osceola  County  has  had  its 
share  of  this  tidal  change,  this  flowing  in  and  out  of  popula- 
tion, and  of  the  original  settlers,  those  who  came  here  in  187 1, 
'72  and  '73,  there  are  not  a  great  many  left. 


A.   W.  HARRIS  &  CO.  ELEVATOR,  SIBLEY. 


REV.  L.   R.   FITCH. 


i 


We  close  this  book  with  a  poem  that  has  fallen  under  our 
observation  without  knowing  to  whom  credit  is  due. 

COMING  TO  OSCEOLA  COUNTY. 

They  are  coming  from  the  deserts  of  the  dim  and  dusky  East, 
Where  to  raise  a  stunted  turnip  is  the  prospect  of  a  feast; 
Where  the  farms  are  made  of  gravel  and  they  plow  witii  dynamite, 
Where  the  festive  chattel  mortgage  sings  its  dirges  day  and  night ; 
They  are  coming  in  their  wagons,  they  are  coming  on  the  train, 
They  are  coming  from  the  regions  where  thev  struggled  long  in  vain  ; 
They  are  coming  from  the  cabin,  they  are  coming  from  the  hall. 
They  are  coming  to  Osceola  County  where  there's  plenty  for  them  all. 

They  are  coming  from  the  .South-land,  they  are  coming  from  the  North 
From  the  valleys  and  the  mountains  they  in  droves  are  coming  forth ; 
They  are  coming  with  their  husbands,  they  are  coming  with  their  wives, 
They  are  coming  with  their  hammers,  with  their  axes  and  their  knives; 
With  their  harrows,  with  their  rakes,  with  their  seeders  and  their  guns, 
They  are  coming  with  their  fathers  and  their  mothers  and  their  sons ; 
They  are  coming  stout  and  slender,  they  are  coming  short  and  tall, 
They  are  coming  to  Osceola  County,  where  there's  plenty  for  them  all. 

Where  the  savage  used  to  wander  searching  for  a  crop  of  haii% 

The  farmer  takes  his  porker  to  the  nearest  county  fair; 

And  the  corn  is  daily  growing  where  the  greasy  wigwams  stood, 

Where  he  burned  the  wailing  captive,  now  the  poullrj'  scratch  for  food; 

And  the  people  who  are  coming  to  this  pleasantest  of  climes. 

Show  a  happy  knack  of  keeping  with  the  progress  of  the  times; 

They  will  find  a  country  beaming  from  the  spring-time  to  the  fall. 

If  they  land  here  in  Osceola  County,  where  there's  plenty  for  them  all. 


FLORENCE  L.  McCAELUM. 


C.  M.   iMAXVILLE. 


i^.l 


C.   A.  CHARLES. 


MRS.  D.  D.  MCCALLUM. 


J.  C.  TRAINOR. 


y.  C.   BRICKER. 


C.   B.   KNOX. 


C.   L.   DAVIDSON. 


L