Full text of "History of Winneshiek and Allamakee counties, Iowa"

^n\-

'\V\

.-i^^

HISTORY

llEll

UUiVJi

1 i\

tie:

IOWA.

BY W. E ALEXANDER.

J ) J •

' i J i i

i» 'i

> J o"

> ) ) >■ I > ■• ' > '

SIOUX CITY. IOWA:

W«8TEKN PUBLISHi:<U COMPANY.

1882

259373

AbTOR, LE.NGX AND
VILDEN FOUNDATIONS.

p 1903 L

< , 1 « h »

L I C C t »

; t c « * c ■ •

e c * • *. *

c ccc «w ■.«

c c t {. c

5 « e « •

^ t C I. c c t

■^ t *C C ^ « 1

CONTENTS.

HISTORY OF IOWA.

Page.

DreCOVERT AND OCCUPATION 9

The Original Ownpvs 18

Pike's Expedition '21

Indian Wars 28

Indian Purchases, Reserves and

Treaties ;i2

The Spanish ftrants 'M

The Half-Breed ^I'ract 39

Early Settlements 41

Territorial History 49

The Boundary Question 54

State Organization 59

Growth and Progress 65

Public Institutions 66

Agricultural College and Farm ... 66

State University 67

State Historical Society 73

The Penitentiary 73

PuBLK In.stitutions — Pagp

Additional Penitentiary-. 74

Iowa Hospital for the Insane 74

Hospital for the Insane 75

Iowa ( 'ollege for the Blind 76

Institution for th(! Deaf and Dumb 77

Soldiers' Orphans' Homes 77

State Normal School 79

Asylum for Feeble-Minded Chil-

dr(m 79

The Reform School 80

Fish Hatching Establishment.... 81

TiiK PuHMC Lands 82

Th k Pubi.k; Schools 100

Political Record 105

Territorial and State Officers 105

The Judiciary 107

Congressional Representation. . . . lOi^
War Record 110

HISTORY OF WINNESHIEK COUNTY.

CHAPTER I.

First Settlement 118

First Birth 120

First Marriage 123

First Death 124

First Settlements, no longer existing. 120
First Public School and Teacher. . . . 124

County Organization 125

First Assessment and Tax List 125

First Taxpayers and Settlers by

Townships 126

CHAPTER II.

The Winnebago Indians 133

Fort Atkinson 141

The Chiets Winneshiek and Decorah.141
Indian Traders and Whisky Selling. 144

Bloody Tragedies 145

Indian Customs and Habits 147

CHAPTER. III.

Pioneer Life 152

Pioneer Women 153

An Indian Scare 155

Oddities of Bench and Bar 155

Interesting Reminiscences 158

CHAPTER IV.

Review of Early History 169

County Organization and County

Seat Contest 173

The -Day Family 171

Judge Reed 171

Lewiston, Moneek and Decorah 173

Pioneer Norwegians 185

Protecting Squatters' Rights 189

CHAPTKR V.

Political History 190

First Election and First Officers 191

Votes Cast in Successive Years 192

Voting Precincts 193

Division Into Townships ... 194

Successive County Officers, Legisla-
tors, etc 195

Political Contests and Representa-
tive Men 195

Public Officers (continued) to Pres-
ent Time • 204

CHAPTER VI.

Population 212

Court House and Jail 213

Poor House and Fai-m 214

Murder Trials '214

Railroad Historv 21 1

The County's Products '220

Educational and literary 220

County Finances 221

Census of 1880 222

CHAPTER VII.

The War for the Union '223

Decorah Guards '225

Co. H, Iowa Greyhounds '231

Co. G, Twelfth Iowa 232

Three More Companies 237

Co. D, Sixth Iowa Cavalry "239

CHAPTER VII 1.
Chronological Record of Events 239

CONTENT*.

CHAPTER IX.

Page

History of Decorah 257

History of West Decorah 292

History of Freeport 292

CHAPTER X.

Page

Townships and Villages 299

Rivers and Raihoads 322

Shape and Size of County 322

Printing Establishments 293 ' Geology, Products and Resources. . .323

Pleasure Resorts 297 ! Climate, Soil and Scenery 324

HISTORY OF ALLAMAKEE COUNTY.

CHAPTER I.

Origin of County Name 326

Topography 327

Geology . .' 328

Artesian Wells 339

CHAPTER II.

Botany, Zoology and Entomology. . .340

Climate ." 347

Storms and Tornadoes 348

Agriculture, Live Stock, Manufac-
tures 350

Statistical Information 351

CHAPTER III.

The Aborigines 355

Archaeology 357

Advent of the Whites 361

Early Settlements 361

County Organization and First Offi-
cers 365

Taxable Property in 1849 367

Sketch of Father Loweiy 368

Indian Missions \ 368

The Painted Rock 369

County Seat Elections 371

Sodom and Gomorrah 371

CHAPTER IV.
First Entries of Government Lands. 372

Fhst Importation of Lumber 372

First Grist Mill 372

First Postoffice '. . . , 372

Interesting Reminis:ences 372

First Official Seal ,-l74

Fii-st Terms of Court 374

First Party Organization 376

Systems of County Management 377

List of County Officers, Legislators,
etc., from County Organization

to Present Time 378

The Circuit Court 384

CHAPTER V.

Earliest County Records .385

Township Organizations 389

History of Paint Creek Township.. .393

CHAPTER VI.

The Villages of Allamakee County. 396

Lybrand 396

Lansing, Winfield, Waukon, Colum-
bus 397

Hardin, Smithfield, Postville, Mil-
ton, Ion, Rossville 398

Volney, Cleveland, Johnsonport, Al-
lamakee, Nezekaw 399

Chantry, Alton, Buckland, Mancnes-

ter. New Albin, Myion 400

Dorchester, Lafayette. Paint Rock,

Watendlle, New Galena 401

Wexford 403

Union City 404

CHAPTER Aai.

History of Post Township 404

Histoiy of Postville 410

Myron and Lybrand 415

CHAPTER VIII.
Criminal Episodes 418

CHAPTER IX.

Comity Seat Contests 429

CHAPTER X.

County Buildings 438

Educational 440

Religious Organizations 446

Gospel Pioneers 447

Statistics of Population, etc 449

Assessed Valuations 450

Political Statistics 450

CHAPTER XI.

War Record, Allamakee County Vol-
unteers 451

CHAPTER XII.

Chronological Record ot Important
Events, 463

Two Chief Towns of the Coun-
ty 669

Chapter I.— Waukon 669

Chapter II. — Lansing 699

PREFACE.

*HE object of this work is to place upon record, in a reliable manner and
in a permanent form, whatever incidents of impoitance have transpired
within the limits of Winneshiek and Allamakee Counties since their first
settlement. As preliminary to this, a brief History of Iowa is given, including
an account of its discovery and occupation: its Indian tribes; a sketch of pre-
territorial times ; an outline of Iowa when a Ten-itory : its State organization,
o-rowth and progress; its public institutions, public lands and schools: its polit-
ical and war records. These facts are from the pen ot a well-known writer,
and may be re'ied upon as accurate.

In the history of the Counties, facts and figures, incidents and reminLs-
cences, anecdotes and sketches, are given, with a variety and completeness, it
is thought, commensurate to their importance. This has neeessitated. on the
part of the editorial staff, an appreciable quantity of persevering effort; but
their labor has been cheered by the cordial assistance and good will of many
friends to the entei-prise in both Counties, to all of whom grateful acknowledg-
ments are tendered. They have enabled us to give to the present generation a
valuable reflex, it is believed, of the times and deeds of pioneer days; and to
erect to the pioneer men and women of Winneshiek and Allamakee Counties a
merited and lasting monument.

November, 1882. W. E. A.

IiSTORY OF Iowa,

DISCOVERY AND OCCUPATION.

The name Iowa is said to signify "The Beantiful Land," and was
applied to this magnificent and fruitful region by its ancient
owners, to express their appreciation of its superiority of climate,
soil and location. Prior to 1803, the Mississippi River Avas the
extreme western boundary of the United States. All the great
empire lying west of the "Father of Waters," from the Gulf of
Mexico on the south, to British America on the north, and west-
ward to the Pacific Ocean, was a Spanish province. A brief his-
torical sketch of the discovery and occupation of this great em-
pire by the Spanish and French governments will be a fitting
introduction to the history of the young and thriving State of
Iowa, which, until the commencement of the present century, was
a part of the Spanish possessions in America.

Early in the Spring of 1542, Ferdinand DeSoto discovered the
mouth of the Mississippi River at the mouth of the Washita.
After the sudden death of DeSoto, in May, of the same year, his
followers built a small vessel, and in July, 1543, descended the
great river to the Gulf of Mexico.

In accordance with the usage of nations, under which title to
the soil was claimed by right of discovery, Spain, having con-
quered Florida and discovered the Mississippi, claimed all the ter-
ritory bordering on that river ajid the Gulf of Mexico. But it
was also held by the European nations that, while discovery gave
title; that title must be perfected by actual possession and occupa-
tion. Although Spain claimed the territory by right of first dis-
covery, she mode no effort to occupy it; by no permanent settle-
ment had she perfected and held her title, and therefore had for-
feited it when, at a later period, the Lower Mississippi Valley
was re-discovered and occupiedby France.

The labors of the zealous French Jesuits of Canada in pene-
trating the unknown region of the West, commencing in 1611,
form a history of no ordinary interest, but have no particular con-
nection with the scope of the present work, until in the fall of 1G05.
Pierre Claude Allouez, who had entered Lake Superior in Septem-
ber, and sailed along the southern coast in search of copper, had
arrived at the great village of the Chippewas at Chegoincegon.
Here a grand council of some ten or twelve of the principal In-
dian nations was held. The Pottawatomies of Lake Michigan, the
Sacs and Foxes of the West, the Hurons from the North, the

10 HISTORY OF IOWA.

Illinois from the South, and the Sioux from the land of the prairie
and wild rice, were all assembled there. The Illinois told the
story of their ancient glory, and about the noble river on the
banks of which they dwelt. The Sioux also told their white
brother of the same great river, and Allouez promised to the as-
sembled tribes the protection of the French nation against all
their enemies, native or foreign.

The purpose of discovering the great river about which the In-
dian nations had given such glowing accounts, appears to have
originated with Marquette, in 1669. In the year previous, he and
Claude Dablon had established the Mission of St. Mary's, the
oldest white settlement within the present limits of the State of
Michigan. Marquette was delayed in the execution of his great
undertaking, and spent the interval in studying the language and
habits of the Illinois Indians, among whom he expected to travel.

About this time the French government had determined to ex-
tend the Dominion of France to the extreme Avestern borders of
Canada. Nicholas Perrot was sent as the agent of the govern-
ment to propose a grand council of the Indian nations, at St.
Mary's.

When Perrot reached Green Bay, he extended the invitation
far and near; and, escorted by Pottawatomies, repaired on a
mission of peace and friendship to the Miamis, who occupied the
region about the present location of Chicago.

In May, 1671, a great council of Indians gathered at the Falls
of St. Mary, from all parts of the northwest, from the head waters
of the St Lawrence, from the valley of the Mississippi and from the
Red River of the North. Perrot met with them, and after grave con-
sultation, formally announced to the assembled nations that their
good French Father felt an abiding interest in their welfare, and
had placed them all under the powerful protection of the French
Government.

Marquette, during that same year had gathered at Point St.
Ignace the remnants of one branch of the Hurons. This station,
for a long series of years, was considered the key to the unknown
West.

The time was now auspicious for the consummation of Mar-
quette's grand pi'oject. The successful termination of Perrot's
mission, and the general friendliness of the native tribes, rendered
the contemplated expedition much less perilous. But it was not
until 1073 that the intrepid and enthusiastic priest was finally
ready to depart on his daring and perilous journey to lands never
trod by white men. Having imploring the blessing of God upon
his undertaking, on the 13th day of May, 1673, with Joliet and
five Canadian-French voyageurs, or boatmen, he left the mission
on his daring journey. Ascending Green Bay and Fox River,
these bold and enthusiastic pioneers of religion and discovery pro-
ceeded until they reached a Miami and Kickapoo village, where

HISTORY OF IOWA. 11

Marquette was delighted to fiud a "beautiful cross planted in the
middle of the town, ornamented with white skins, red girdles and
bows and arrows, which these good people had offered to the Great
Manitou, or God, to thank Him for the pity He had bestowed on
them during the winter, in having given them abundant chase."
This was the extreme point beyond which the explorations of the
French missionaries had not then extended. He called together
the principal men of the village, and informed them that his
companion, Joliet, had been sent by the French Governor of
Canada to discover new countries, to be added to the dominion_ of
France; but that he, himself, had been sent by the Most High
God, to carry the glorious religion of the Cross; and assured his
wondering hearers that on this mission he had no fear of death, to
which he knew he would be exposed on his perilous journey.

Obtaining the services of two Miami guides, to conduct his
little band to the Wisconsin River, he left the hospitable Indians
on the 10th of June. Conducting them across the portage, their
Indian guides returned to their village, and the little party de-
scended the Wisconsin, to the great river which had so long been
so anxiously looked for, and boldly floated down its unknown
waters.

On the 25tli of June, the explorers discovered indications of In-
dians on the west bank of the river, and landed a little above the
mouth of the river now known as Des Moines, and for the first
time Europeans trod the soil of Iowa. Leaving the Canadians to
guard the canoe, Marquette and Joliet boldly followed the trail in-
to the Ulterior for fourteen miles (some authorities say six), to an
Indian village situated on the banks of a river, and discovered
two other villages, on the rising ground about half a league dis-
tant. Their visit, while it created much astonishment, did not
seem to be entirely unexpected, for there was a tradition or
prophecy among the Indians that white visitors were to come
to them. They were, therefore, received with great respect and
hospitality, and were cordially tendered the calumet or pipe oi
peace. They were informed that this band was a part of the [Uini
nation, and that their village was called Monin-gou-ma or Moin-
gona, which was the name of the river on which it stood. This,
from its similarity of sound, Marquette corrupted into Des Moines
(Monk's River), its present name.

Here the voyagers remained six days, learning much of the
manners and customs of their new friends. The new religion
they boldly preached, and the authority of the King of France
they proclaimed were received without hostility or remonstrance
by their savage entertainers. On their departure, they were ac-
companied to their canoes by the chiefs and hundreds of warriors.
Marquette received from them the sacred calumet, the emblem of
peace and safeguard among the nations, and re-embarked for the
rest of his journey.

12 HISTORY OF IOWA.

In 1682, LaSalle descended the Missisippi to the Gulf of Mexico,
and in the name of the King of France took formal possession of
all the immense region watered b}^ the great river and its tributa-
ries from its source to its mouth, and named it Louisiana, in honor
of his master, Louis XIV. At the close of the seventeenth cen-
tury, France claimed, by right of discovery and occupancy, the
whole valley of the Mississippi and its tributaries, including Texas,
as far as the Rio del Norte.

In 1719, Phillipe Francis Renault arrived in Illinois with two
hundred miners and artisans. The war between France and Spain
at this time rendered it extremely probable that the Mississippi
Valley might become the theater of Spanish hostilities against the
French settlements; to prevent this, as well as to extend French
claims, a chain of forts was begun, to keep open the connection
between the mouth and the sources of the Mississippi. Fort Or-
leans, high up the Mississippi River, was built as an outpost in 1720.

The Mississippi scheme was at the zenith of its power and
glory in January, 1720, but the gigantic bubble collapsed more
suddenly than it had been inflated, and the Company was de-
clared hopelessly bankrupt in May following. France was impov-
erished by it, both private and public credit was overthrown, capital-
ists suddenly found themselves paupers, and labor was left without
employment. The effect on the colony of Louisiana was disastrous.

While this was going on in Lower Louisiana the region about
the lakes was the theater of Indian hostilities, rendering the
passage from Canada to Louisiana extremely dangerous for many
years. The English had not only extended their Indian trade in-
to the vicinity of the French settlements, but through their
friends, the Iroquois, had gained a marked ascendancy over the
Foxes, a fierce and powerful tribe, of Iroquois descent, whom
they incited to hostilities against the French. The Foxes began
their hostilities with the siege of Detroit, in 1712, a siege which
continued for nineteen consecutive days, and although the expe-
dition resulted in diminishing their numbers and humbling their
pride, yet it was not until after several successive campaigns, em-
bodying the best military resources of ^ew France, had been
directed against them, that they were finally defeated at the great
battles of Butte des Morts, and on the Wisconsin river, and driven
west in 171G.

The Company, having found that the cost of defending Louisi-
ana exceeded the returns from its commerce, solicited leave to sur-
render the Mississippi wilderness to the home government. Ac-
cordingly, on the 10th of April, 1732, the jurisdiction and control
over the commerce reverted to the Crown of France. The Com-
pany had held possession of Louisiana fourteen years. In 1735,
Bienville returned to assume command for the King.

A glance at a few of the old French settlements will show the
progress made in portions of Louisiana during the early part of

HISTOKY OF IOWA. 13

the eighteenth century. As early as 1705, traders and hunters had
penetrated the fertile regions of the Wabash, and from this re-
gion, at that early date, fifteen thousand hides and skins had been
collected and sent to Mobile for the European market.

In the year 1716, the French population on the Wabash kept
up a lucrative commerce with Mobile by means of traders and
Yoyageurs. The Ohio river was comparatively unknown.

In 1716, agriculture on the Wabash had attained to greater
prosperity than in any of the French settlements besides, and in that
year six hundred barrels of flour were manufactured and shipped
to New Orleans, together with considerable quantities of hay, pel-
try, tallow and beeswax.

In the Illinois country, also, considerable settlements had been
made, so that, in 1730, they embraced one hundred and forty
French families, about six hundred '"converted Indians," and many
traders and vovageurs.

In 1753, the first actual conflict arose between Louisiana and
the Atlantic colonies. From the earliest advent of the Jesuit
fathers, up to the period of which we speak, the great ambition
of the French had been, not alone to preserve their possessions in
the West, but by every possible means to prevent the slightest at-
tempt of the English, east of the mountains, to extend their set-
tlements towards the Mississippi. France AA^as resolved on retain-
ing possession of the great territory Avhich her missionaries had
discovered and revealed to the world. French commandants had
avowed their intention of seizing every Englishman Avithin the
Ohio Valley.

The colonies of Pennsylvania, Ncav York and Virginia were
most aff'ected by the encroachments of France in the extension of
her dominion; and particularly in the great scheme of uniting
Canada Avith Louisiana. To carry out this purpose the French
had taken possession of a tract of country claimed by Virginia,
and had commenced a line of forts extending from the lakes to the
Ohio River. Virginia Avas not only alive to her OAvn interests,
but attentive to the vast importance of an immediate and effectual
resistance on the part of all the English colonies to (he actual
and contemplated encroachments of the French.

In 1753, Governor Dinwiddle, of Virginia, sent George Wash-
ington, then a young man just tAventy-one, to demand of the
French commandant "a reason for invading British dominions
Avhile a solid peace subsisted." Washington met the French com-
mandant, Gardeur de St. 'Pierre, on the head Avaters of the Alle-
ghany, and having communicated to him the object of his jour-
ney, received the insolent ansAver that the French would not dis-
cuss the matter of right, but would make prisoners of every
Englishman found trading on the Ohio and its waters. The coun-
try, he said, belonged to the French, by virtue of the discoveries
of LaSalle, and they would not AvithdraAv from it.

14 HISTORY OF IO\VA.

In January, 1754, Washington returned to Virginia, and made
his report to the Governor and Council. Forces were at once
raised, and Washington, as Lieutenant Colonel, was dispatched at
the head of a hundred and fifty men, to the forks of the Ohio^
with orders to "finish the fort already begun there hy the Ohio
Company, and to make prisoners, kill or destroy all who inter-
rupted the English settlements.'"

On his march through the forests of Western Pennsylvania,
Washington, through the aid of friendly Indians, discovered the
French concealed among the rocks, and as they ran to seize their
arms, ordered his men to fire upon them, at the same time, with his
own musket, setting the example. An action lasting about a
quarter of an hour ensued; ten of the Frenchmen were killed,
among them Jumonville, the commander of the party, and twenty-
one were made prisoners. The dead were scalped by the Indians,
and the chief, bearing a tomahawk and a scalp, visited all the
tribes of the Miamis, urging them to join the Six Nations and
the English against the French. The French, however, were soon
re-enforced and Col. Washington was compelled to return to Fort
Necessity. Here, on the 3d day of July, De Villiers invested the
fort with 600 French troops and 100 Indians. On the 4th, Wash-
ington accepted terms of capitulation and the English garrison
Avithdrew from the valley of the Ohio.

This attack of Washington upon Jumonville aroused the indig-
nation of France, and war was formally declared in May, 1756,
and the "French and Indian War" devastated the colonies for
several years. Montreal, Detroit, and all Canada Avere surrendered
to the English, and on the 10th of February, 1763, by the treaty
of Paris — which had been signed, though not formally ratified by
the respective governments, on the 3d of November, 1762 — France
relinquished to great Great Britain all that portion of the prov-
ince of Louisiana lying oa the east side of the Mississippi, except
the island and town of New Orleans. On the same day that the
treaty of Paris v/as signed, France, by a secret treaty, ceded to
Spain all her possessions on the west side of the Mississippi, includ-
ing the whole country to the head waters of the Great River,
and west to the Rocky Mountains, and the jurisdiction of
France in America, which had lasted nearly a century, was
ended.

At the close of the Revolutionary war, by the treaty of peace
between Great Britain and the United States, the English Govern-
ment ceded to the latter all the territory on the east side of the
Mississippi River, and north of the thirty-first parallel of north
latitude. At the same time. Great Britain ceded to Spain all the
Floridas, comprising all the territory east of the Missisjipi and
south of the southern limits of the United States.

At this time, therefore, the present State of Iowa was a part of
the Spanish possessions in North America, as all the territory west

HISTORY OF IOWA. 15

of the Mississippi River Avas under the dominiou of Spain. That
government also possessed all the territory of the Floridas east of
the great river and south of the thirty-first parallel of north lati-
tude. The Mississippi, therefore, so essential to the prosperity of
the western portion of the United States, for the last three hun-
dred miles of its course flowed wholly within the Spanish do-
minions, and that government claimed the exclusive right to
use and control it below the southern boundary of the United
States.

The free navigation of the Mississippi was a very nuportant

. question during all the time that Louisiana remained a dependency of

the Spanish Crown, and as the final settlement intimately affected

the status of the then future State of Iowa, it will be interesting

to trace its progress.

The people of the United States occupied and exercised juris-
diction over the entire eastern valley of the Mississippi, embrac-
ing all the country drained by its eastern tributaries; they had a
natural right, according to the accepted international law, to fol-
low these rivers to the sea, and to the use of the Mississippi River
accordingly, as the great natural channel of commerce. The river
was not only necessary but absolutely indispensable to the pros-
perity and growth of the western settlements then rapidly rising
into commercial and political importance. They were situated in
the heart of the great valley, and with wonderful expansive ener-
gies and accumulating resources, it Avas very evident that no power
on earth could deprive them of the free use of the river below
them, only Avhile their numbers Avere insufficient to enable them
to maintain their right by force. Inevitably, therefore, immedi-
ately after the ratification of the treaty of 1785, the Western
people began to demand the free navigation of the Mississippi — -
not as a favor, but as a right. In 1786, both banks of the river,
beloAv the mouth of the Ohio, were occupied by Spain, and mili-
tary posts on the east bank enforced her power to exact heavy du-
ties on all imports by Avay of the river for the Ohio region. Every
boat descending he river was forced to Jand and submit tO the
arbitrary revenue exactions of the Spanish authorities. Under the
administration of Governor Miro, these rigorous exactions Avere
someAvhat relaxed from 1787 to 17U0; but Spain held it as her
right to make them. Taking advantage of the claim of the
American people, that the Mississippi should be opened to them,
in 1791, the Spanish Government concocted a scheme for the dis-
membership of the Union. The plan was to induce the Western
people to separate from the Eastern States by liberal land grants
and extraordinary commercial privileges.

Spanish emissaries, among the people of Ohio and Kentucky,
informed them that the Spanish Government would grant
them favorable commercial privileges, provided they would secede
from the Federal Government east of the mountains. The Span-

16 HISTORY OF IOWA.

isli Minister to the United States plainly declared to his confiden-
tial correspondent that, unless the Western people would declare
their independence and refuse to remain in the Union, Spain
was determined never to grant the free navigation of the Missis-
sippi.

By the treaty of Madrid, October 20, 1795, however, Spain form-
ally "stipulated that the Mississippi Kiver, from its source to the
Gulf, for its entire width, should be free to American trade and
commerce, and that the people of the United States should be
permitted for three years to use the port of New Orleans as a
port of deposit for their merchandise and produce, duty free.

In November, 1801, the United States Government received,
through Ivufus King, its Minister at the Court of St. James, a
copy of the treaty between Spain and France, signed at Madrid,
March 21, 1801, by which the cession of Louisiana to France,
made the previous autumn, was confirmed.

The change offered a favorable opportunity to secure the just
rights of the United States, in relation to the free navigation of
the Mississippi, and ended the attempt to dismember the Union by
an effort to secure an independent goverment west of the AUeghan}^
Mountains. On the 7th day of January, 1803, the American
House of Representatives adopted a resolution declaring their ''un-
alterable determination to maintain the boundaries and the rights
of navigation and commerce through the River Mississippi as
established by existing treaties."

In the same month. President Jefferson nominated and the Sen-
ate confirmed Robert R. Livingston and James Monroe as Envoys
Plenipotentiary to the Court of France, and Charles Pinckney and
James Monroe to the Court of Spain, with plenary power to ne-
gotiate treaties to efiect the object enunciated by the popular
branch of the National Legislature. These envoyis were instructed
to s'^cure, if possible, the cession of Florida and New Orleans, but
it does not appear that Mr. Jefferson and his cabinet had any idea
of purchasing that part of Louisiana lying on the west side of the
Mississippi. In fact, on the 2d of March following, the instructions
were sent to our Ministers, containing a plan which expressly left
to France ''all her territory on the west side of the Mississippi."
Had these instructions been followed, it might have been that
there would not have been any State of Iowa or any other mem-
ber of the glorious Union of States west of the "Father of
Waters."

In obedience to his instructions, however, Mr. Livingston
broached this plan to M. Talleyrand, Napoleon's Prime Minister,
when that courtly diplomatist quietly suggested to the American
Minister that France might be willing to cede the ivhoh French
domain in North America to the United States, and asked hoAv
much the Federal Government would be willing to give for it.
Livingston intima'^ed that twenty million^ of francs might be a

HISTORY OF IOWA. 17

fair price. Talleyrand thoiiglit that not enough, but asked the
Americans to "think o£ it." A few days later, Napoleon, in an
interview with Mr. Livingston, in effect informed the American
Envoy that he had secured Louisiana in a contract with Spain for
the purpose of turning it over to the United States for a mere
nominal sum. He had been compelled to provide for the safety
of that province by the treaty, and he was "anxious to give the
United States a magniticent bargain for a mere tritie." The price
proposed was one hundred and twenty^-five million francs. This
was subsequently modified to fifteen million dollars, and on this
basis a treaty was negotiated, and was signed on the 30tli day of
April, 1803.

This treaty was ratified by the Federal Government, and by act
of Congress, approved October 31, 1803, the President of the
United States was authorized to take possession of the territory
and provide for a temporary government. Accordingly, on the
20th day of September following, on behalf of the President,
Gov. Clairborne and Gen. Wilkinson took possession of the Louisi-
ana purchase, and raised the American flag over the newly ac-
quired domain, at New Orleans. Spain, although it had by
treaty ceded the province to France in 1801, still held quasi pos-
session and at first objected to the transfer, but withdrew her op-
position early in 1804.

By this treaty, thus successfully consummated, and the peace-
able withdrawal of Spain, the then infant nation of the New
World extended its dominion west of the Mississippi to the Pa-
cific Ocean, and north from the Gulf of Mexico to British
America.

If the original design of Jefferson's administration had been
accomplished, the United States would have acquired only that
portion of the French territory lying east of the Mississippi River,
and while the American people would thus have acquired the free
navigation of that great river, all of the vast and fertile empire
on the west, so rich in its agricultural and inexhaustible mineral
resources, would have remained under the domiou of a foreign
power. To Napoleon's desire to sell the whole of his North
American possessions, and Livingston's act transcending his in-
structions, which was acquiesced in after it was done, does Iowa
owe her position as a part of the United States by the Louisiana
purchase.

By authority of an act of Congress, approved March 26, 1801,
the newly acquired territory was, on the 1st day of October fol-
lowing, divided: that part lying south of the 33d parallel of
north latitude was called the Territory of Orleans, and all north
of that parallel the District of Louisiana, which was placed under
the authority of the officers of Indiana Territory, until July 4,
1805, when it was organized with territorial government of its
own, and so remained until 1812, when the Territory of Orleans

18 HISTOEY OF IOWA.

became the State o£ Louisiana, and the name o£ the Territory of
Louisiana was changed to Missouri. On the 4th of July, 1814,
that part of the Missouri Territory comprising the present State
of Arkansas, and the country to the Avestward was organized into
the Arkansas Territory.

On the 2d of March, 1821, the State of Misssouri. being a part
of the territory of that name, was admitted to the Union. June
28, 1834, the territory west of the Mississippi River and north of
Missouri, was made a part of the territory of Michigan; but two
years later, on the 4th of July, 1830, Wisconsin Territory was
erected, embracing within its limits the present States of Iowa,
Wisconsin and Minnesota.

By act of Congress, approved June 12, 1838, the

TERRITORY OF IOWA

Avas erected, comprising, in addition to the present State, much
the larger part of Minnesota, and extending north to the bound-
ary of the British possession^.

THE 0RIGI2S^AL OWXERS.

Having traced the early history of the great empire lying west
of the Mississippi, of which the State of Iowa constitutes a part,,
from the earliest discovery to the organization of the Territory of
Iowa, it becomes necessary to give some history of the Indians of
Iowa.

According to the policy of the European nations, possession
perfected title to any territory. We have seen that the country
west of the Mississippi was first discovered by the Spaniards, but
afterward, was visited and occupied by the French. It was ceded
by France to Spain, and by Spain back to France again, and then
was purchased and occupied by the United States. During all that
time, it does not appear to have entered into the heads or hearts
of the high contracting parties that the country they bought, sold
and gave away was in the possession of a race of men who, al-
though savage, owned the vast domain before Columbus first
crossed the Atlantic. Having purchased the territory, the United
States found it still in possession of its original OAVuers, who had
never been dispossessed; and it became necessary to purchase again
Avhat had already been bought before, or forcibly eject the occu-
pants; therefore, the history of the Indian nations who occupied
Iowa prior to and during its early settlement by the whites, be-
comes an important chapter in the history of the State, that can-
not be omitted.

For more than one hundred years after Marquette and Joliet
trod the virgin soil of Iowa, not a single settlement had been
made or attempted; not even a trading post had been established.
The whole country remained in the undisputed possession of the
native tribes, who roamed at will over her beautiful and fertile
prairies, hunted in her woods, fished in her streams, and often

HISTORY OF IOWA. 19

poured out their life-blood in obstinately contested contests for
supremacy. That this State so aptly styled "The Beautiful
Land," had been the theater of numerous fierce and bloody
stru^^les between rival nations, for possession of the favored re-
gion, long before its settlement by civilized man, there is no room
for doubt. In these savage wars, the weaker party, whether ag-
gressive or defensive, was either exterminated or driven from their
■ancient hunting grounds.

In 1673, Avhen Marquette discovered Iowa, the Illini were a very
powerful people, occupying a large portion of the State, but when
the country was again visited by the whites, not a remnant of that
once powerful tribe remained on the west side of the Mississippi,
and Iowa was principally in the possession of the Sacs and Foxes,
a war-like tribe which, originally two distinct nations, residing in
New York and on the waters of the St. Lawrence, had gradually
fought their way westward, and united, probably, after the Foxes
had been driven out of the Fox River country, in 1816, and crossed
the Mississippi. The death of Pontiac, a famous Sac chieftain,
Avas made the pretext for war against the Illini, and a fierce and
bloody struggle ensued, which continued until the Illinois were
nearly destroyed and their hunting grounds possessed by their
victorious foes. The lowas also occupied a portion of the State
for a time, in common with the Sacs, but they, too, were nearly
destroyed by the Sacs and Foxes, and, in "The Beautiful Land,"
these natives met their equally war-like foes, the Northern Sioux,
with whom they maintained a constant warfare for the possession
of the country for many years.

When the United States came in possession of the great valley
of the Mississippi, by the Louisiana purchase, the Sacs and Foxes
and lowas possessed the entire territory, now comprising the State
of Iowa. The Sacs and Foxes, also, occupied the most of the
State of Illinois.

The Sacs had four principal villages, Avhere most of them re-
sided, viz.: Their largest and most important town — if an Indian
village may be called such — and from which emanated most of the
obstacles and difficulties encountered by the Government in the
extinguishment of Indian titles to land in this region, was on
Rock River, near Rock Island; another was on the east bank of
the Mississippi, near the mouth of Henderson River; the third
was at the head of the Des Moines Rapids, near the present site
of Montrose, and the fourth was near the mouth of the Upper
Iowa.

The Foxes had three principal villages, viz.: One on the west
side of the Mississippi, six miles above the rapids of Rock River;
another about twelve miles from the river, in the rear of the
Dubuque lead mines, and the third on Turkey River.

The lowas, at one time identified with the Sacs, of Rock River,
had withdrawn from them and become a separate tribe. Their

20 HISTORY OF IOWA. *

principal village was on the Des Moines River, in Van Buren
County, on the site where lowaville now stands. Here the last
great battle between the Sacs and Foxes and the lowas was fought,
in which Black Hawk, then a young man, commanded one divi&ion
of the attacking forces.

The Sacs and Foxes, prior to the settlement of their village on
Rock River, had a fierce conflict with the Winnebagoes, subdued
them and took possession of their lands. Their village on Rock
River, at one time, contained upward of sixty lodges, and was
among the largest Indian villages on the continent. In 1825, the
Secretary of War estimated tJie entire number of the Sacs and
Foxes at 4,600 souls. Their village Avas situated in the immediate
vicinity of the upper rapids of the Mississippi, where the beautiful
and flourishing towns of Rock Island and Davenport are now situ-
ated. The beautiful scenery of the island, the extensive prairies,
dotted over with groves; the picturesque bluff's along the river
banks, the rich and fertile soil, producing large crops of corn,
squash and other vegetables, with little labor; the abundance of
wild fruit, game, fish, and almost everything calculated to make
it a delightful spot spot for an Indian village, which was found
tiiere, had made this place a favorite home of the Sacs, and se-
cured for it the strong attachment and veneration of the whole
nation.

North of the hunting grounds of the Sacs and Foxes, were those
of the Sioux, a fierce and warlike nation, who often disputed pos-
session with their rivals in savage and bloody warfare. The pos-
sessions of these tribes were mostly located in Minnesota, but ex-
tended over a portion of Northern and Western Iowa to the Mis-
souri River. Their descent from the north upon the hunting
grounds of Iowa frequently brought them into collision with the
Sacs and Foxes; and after many a conflict and bloody struggle, a
boundary line was established between them by the Government
of the United States, in a treaty held at Prairie du Chien, in 1825.
But this, instead of settling the difficulties, caused them to quar-
rel all the more, in consequence of alleged trespasses upon each
other's side of the line. These contests were kept up and became
so unrelenting that, in 1830, Grovernment bought of the respective
tribes of the Sacs and Foxes, and the Sioux, a strip of land twenty
miles in width, on both sides of the line, and thus throwing them
forty miles apart by creating between them a "neutral ground,"
commanded them to cease their hostilities. Both the Sacs and
Foxes and the Sioux, however, were allowed to fish and hunt on
this ground unmolested, provided they did not interfere with each
other on the United States territory. The Sacs and Foxes and the
Sioux Avere deadly enemies, and neither let an opportunity to pun-
ish the other pass unimproved.

In April, 1852, a fight occurred between the Musquaka band of
Sacs and Foxes and a band of Sioux, about six miles above Al-

HISTOHY OF IOWA. 21

gona, in Kossuth County, on the west side of the Des Moines
Kiver. The Sacs and Foxes were under the leadership Ko-ko-wah,
a subordinate chief, and had gone up from their home in Tama
County, by way of Clear Lake, to what was then tlie "neutral
ground." At Clear Lake, Ko-ko-wah was informed that a party
of Sioux were encamped on the west side of the East Fork of the
Des Moines, and he determined to attack them. With sixty of
his warriors, he started and arrived at a point on the east side of
the river, about" a mile above the Sioux encampment, in the night,
and concealed themselves in a grove, where they were able to dis-
cover the position and strength of their hereditary foes. The
next morning, after many of the Sioux braves had left their camp
on hunting tours, the vindictive Sacs and Foxes crossed the river
and suddenly attacked the camp. The conflict was desperate for a
short time, but the advantage was with the assailants, and the
Sioux were routed. Sixteen of them, including some of their
Avomen and children, were killed, and a boy 14 years old was cap-
tured. One of the Musquakas Avas shot in the breast by a squaw
as they were rushing into the Sioux's camp. He started to run
away, when the same brave squaw shot him through the body, at a
distance of forty rods, and he fell dead. Three other Sac braves
Avere killed. But few of the Sioux escaped. The victorious party
hurriedly buried their OAvn dead, leaving the dead Sioux above
ground, and made their way home, with their captive, with all
possible expedition.

pike's expedition.

Very soon after the acquisition of Louisiana the United States
Grovernment adopted measures for the exploration of the new ter-
ritory, having in vieAv the conciliation of the numerous tribes of
Indians by Avhom it was possessed, and, also, the .selection of
proper sites for the establishment of military posts and trading
stations. The Army of the West, Gen. James Wilkinson, com-
manding, had its headquarters at St. Louis. From this post Cap-
tains LeAvis and Clarke, with a suificient force, Avere detailed to ex-
plore the unknown sources of the Missouri, and Lieut Zebulon M.
Pike to ascend to the head Avaters of the Mississippi. Lieut. Pike,
with one Sergeant, tAvo Corporals and seventeen privates, left the
military camp, near St. Louis, in a keel-boat, with four month's
rations, on the 9th dav of August, 1805. On the 20th of the
same month, the expedition arrived Avithin the present limit of
Towa, at the foot of the Des Moines Rapids, where Pike met Wil-
liam EAving, Avho had just been appointed Indian agent at this
point, a French interpreter and four chiefs and fifteen Sac and
Fox warriors.

At the head of the rapids, where Montrose is now situated.
Pike held a council Avith the Indians, in which he addressed them
substantially as foUoAvs: ''Your great Father, the President of

22 HISTORY OF IOWA.

the United States, wished to be more intimately acquainted with
the situation and wants of the different nations of red people in
our newly acquired territory of Louisiana, and has ordered the
Oeneral to send a number of his warriors in different directiorfs to
take them by the hand and make such inquiries as might afford the
satisfaction required." At the close of the council he presented
the red men with some knives, whisky and tobacco.

Pursuing his way up the river, he arrived, on the 23d of August,
.at what is supposed, from his description, to be the site of the pres-
ent city of Burlington, which he selected as the location of a mili-
tary post. He describes the place as being "on a hill, about forty
.miles above the liiver de Moyne Rapids, on the west side of the river,
in latitude about 41 degrees 21 minutes north. The channel of
the river runs on that shore; the hill in front is about sixty feet
perpendicular; nearly level on top; four hundred yards in the rear
is a small prairie fit for gardening, and immediately under the hill
is a limestone spring, sufficient for the consumption of a whole
regiment." In addition to this description, which corresponds to
Burlington, the spot is laid down on his map at a bend in the river
a short distance below the mouth of the Henderson, which pours
its waters into the Mississippi from Illinois. The fort was built at
Fort Madison, but from the distance, latitude, description and map
furnished by Pike, it could not have been the place selected by
him, while all the circumstances corroborate the opinion that the
place he selected was the spot w^iere Burlington is now located,
called by the early voyagers on the Mississippi, "Flint Hills."

On the 21:th, with one of his men, he went on shore on a hunt-
ing expedition, and following a stream which they supposed to be
a part of the Mississippi, they were led away from their course.
Owing to the intense heat and tall grass, his two favorite dogs,
which he had taken with him, became exhausted and he left them
on the prairie, supposing that they would follow him as soon as
they should get rested, and went on to overtake his boat. Reach-
ing the river, he waited some time for his canine friends, but they
did not come, and as he deemed it inexpedient to detain the boat
longer, two of his men volunteered to go in pursuit of them, and
he continued on his way up the river, expecting that the two men
would soon overtake him. They lost their way, however, and for six
days were without food, except a few morsels gathered from the
stream, and might have perished had they not accidentally met a
trader from St. Louis, who induced two Indians to take them
up the river, and they overtook the boat at Dubuque.

At Dubuque, Pike was cordially received by Julien Dubuque, a
Frenchman, who held a mining claim under a grant from Spain.
Dubuque had an old field piece and fired a salute in honor of the
advent of the first Americans who had visited that part of the
Territory. Dubuque, however, was not disposed to publish the

HISTORY OF IOWA. 23

•wealtli of his mines, and the young and apparently inquisitive
.officer could obtain but little information from him.

After leaving this place, Pike pursued his way up the river, but
as he passed beyond the limits of the present State of Iowa, a
■detailed history of his explorations on the upper water of the Mis-
sissippi more properly belongs to the history of another State.

It is sufficient to say that on the site of Fort Snelling, Minne-
sota, at the mouth of the Minnesota River, Pike held a council
with the Sioux, September 23, and obtained from them a grant of
one hundred thousand acres of land. On the 8th of January, 1806,
Pike arrived at a trading post belonging to the Northwest Com-
pany, on Lake De Sable, in latitude 47 ° . At this time the then
powerful Northwest Company carried on their immense opera-
tions from Hudson's Bay to the St. Lawrence; up that river on
both sides, along the Great Lakes to the head of Lake Superior,
thence to the sources of the Red River of the North, and west to
the Rocky Mountains, embracing within the scope of their opera-
tions the entire Territory of Iowa. After successfully accom-
plishing his mission, and performing a valuable service to Iowa
and the whole Northwest, Pike returned to St. Louis, arriving
there on the 30th of April, 180G.

INDIAN WARS.

The territory of Iowa, although it had been purchased by the
United States, and was ostensibly in the possession of the Gov-
ernment, was still occupied by the Indians, who claimed title to
the soil by right of ownership and possession. Before it could be
open to settlement by the whites, it was indispensible that the
Indian title should be extinguished, and the original owners re-
moved. The accomplishment of this purpose required the expen-
diture of large sums of money and blood, and for a long series of
years the frontier was disturbed by Indian wars, terminated re-
peatedly by treaty, only to be renewed by some act of oppres-
sion on the part of the whites or some violation of treaty stipu-
lation.

As previously shown, at the time when the United States as-
sumed the control of the country by virtue of the Louisiana pur-
chase, nearly the whole state was in possession of the Sacs and
Foxes, a powerful and warlike nation, who were not disposed to
submit without a struggle to what they considered the encroach-
ments of the pale faces.

Among the most noted chiefs, and one whose restlessness and
hatred of the Americans occasioned more trouble to the Govern-
ment than any others of his tribe, was Black Hawk, who was born
at the Sac village, on Rock river, in 1767. He was simply the
chief of his own band of Sac warriors, but by his energy and am-
bition he became the leading spirit of the united nation of Sacs
and Foxes, and one of the prominent figures in the history of the

21: HISTORY OF IOWA.

countrv from 1804 until his death. In earlv manhood he attained
some distinction as a fighting chief, having led campaigns against
the Osages and other neighboring tribes. About the beginning
of the present century he began to appear prominent in affairs on
the Mississippi. Some historians have added to the statement that
"it does not appear that he was ever a great general, or possessed
any of the qualifications of a successful leader." If this was so
his life was a marvel. How any man who had none of the quali-
fications of a leader became so prominent as such, as he did, indi-
cates either that he had some ability, or that his cotemporaries,
both Indian and Anglo-Saxon, had less than he. He is said to
have been the ''victim of a narrow prejudice and bitter ill-will
against the Americans" but the impartial historian must admit
that if he was the enemy of the Americans, it was certainly not
without some reason.

It will be remembered that Spain did not give up possession of
the country to France on its cession to the latter power, in 1801,
but retained possession of it, and, by the authority of France,
transferred it to the Uniced States, in 1804. Black Hawk and his
band were in St. Louis at the time, and were invited to be present
and witness the ceremonies of the transfer, but he refused the invi-
tation, and it is but just to say that this refusal was caused proba-
bly more from regret that the Indians were to be transferred from
the jurisdiction of the Spanish authorities than from any special
hatred toward the Americans. In his life he says: "I found many
sad and gloomy faces because the United States were about to take
possession of the town and country. Soon after the Americans
came, I took my band and went to take leave of our Spanish father.
The Americans came to see him also. Seeing them approach, we
passed out of one door as they entered another, and immediately
started in our canoes for our village, on Rock River, not liking
the change any more than our friends appeared to at St. Louis.
On arriving at our village, we gave the news that strange people
had arrived at St. Louis, and that we should never see our
Spanish father again. The information made all our people
sorry.

On the 3d day of November, 1804, a treaty was concluded be-
tween William Henry Harrison, than Governor of Indiana Terri-
tory, on behalf of the United States, and five chiefs of the Sac and
Fox nation, by which the latter, in consideration of two thousand
two hundred and thirty-four dollars' worth of goods then delivered,
and a yearly annuity of one thousand dollars to be paid in goods at
just cost, ceded to the United States all that land on the east side of
the Mississippi, extending from a point opposite the Jefferson, in
Missouri, to the Wisconsin River, embracing an area of over fifty-
one millions of acres.

To this treaty Black Hawk always objected and always refused
to consider it binding upon his people. He asserted that the chiefs

HISTORY OF IOWA. 2$

or braves who made it had no authority to relinquish the title of
the nation to any of the lands they held or occupied; and, more-
over, that they had been sent to St. Louis on quite a different er-
rand, namely, to ojet one of their people released, who had been
imprisoned at St. Louis for killing a white man.

The year following this treaty (1805), Lieutenant Zebulon M.
Pike came up the river for the purpose of holding friendly coun-
cils with the Indians and selecting sites for forts within the ter-
ritory recently acquired from France by the United States. Lieu-
tentant Pike seems to have been the jfirst American whom Black
Hawk ever met or had a personal interview with; and he was very
much prepossessed in Pike's favor. He gives the following ac-
count of his visit to Rock Island:

"A boat came up the river with a young American chief and a
small party of soldiers. We heard of them soon after they passed
Salt River. Some of our young braves watched them every day,
to see what sort of people he had on board. The boat at length
arrived at Rock River, and the young chief came on shore with
his interpreter, and made a speech and gave us some presents. We
in turn presented them with meat and such other provisions as we
had to spare. We were well pleased with the young chief. He
gave us good advice, and said our American father would treat us
well."

The events which soon followed Pike's expedition were the
erection of Fort Edwards, at what is now Warsaw, Illinois, and Fort
Madison, on the site of the present town of that name, the latter
being the first fort erected in Iowa. These movements occasioned
great uneasiness among the Indians. When work was commenced
on Fort Edwards, a delegation from their nation, headed by some
of their chiefs, went down to see what the Americans were doing,
and had an interview with the commander; after which they re-
turned home apparently satisfied. In like manner, when Fort
Madison was being erected, they sent down another delegation
from a council of the nation held at Rock River. According to
Black Hawk's account, the American chief told them that he was
building a house for a trader who was coming to sell them goods
cheap, and that the soldiers were coming to keep him company —
a statement which Black Hawk says they distrusted at the time,
believing that the fort was an encroachment upon their rights, and
designed to aid in getting their lands away from them.

It has been held by good American authorities, that the erection
of Fort Madison at the point where it was located ivas a violation
of the treaty of 1804. By the eleventh article of that treaty, the
United States had a right to build a fort near the mouth of the
Wisconsin River; by article six they had bound themselves "that
if any citizen of the United States or any other white persons
should form a settlement upon their lands, such intruders should
forthwith be removed." Probably the authorities of the United

2^6 HISTORY OF IOWA.

States did not regard the establisliment of military posts ascomiuo;
properly within the meaning of the term "settlement," as used in
the treaty. At all events, they erected Fort Madison within the
territory reserved to the Indians, who became very indignant. Not
long after the fort was built, a party led by Black Hawk attempted
its destruction. They sent spies to watch the movements of the
garrison, who ascertained that the soldiers were in the habit of
marching out of the fort every morning and evening for parade,
and the plan of the party was to conceal themselves near the fort,
and attack and surprise them when they were outside. On the
morning of the proposed day of attack, five soldiers came put and
were fired upon by the Indians, two of them being killed. The
Indians were too hasty in their movement, for the regular drill had
not yet commenced. However, they kept up the attack for sev-
eral days, attempting the old Fox strategy of setting fire to the
fort with blazing arrows; but finding their efforts unavailing they
soon gave up and returned to Rock River.

When war Avas declared between the United States and Great
Britain, in 1812, Black Hawk and his band allied themselves with
the British, .partly because he was dazzled by their specious prom-
ises, and more probably because they had been deceived by the
Americans. Black Hawk himself declared that they were "forced
into the war by being deceived." He narrates the circumstances
as follows: "Several of the chiefs and head men of the Sacs and
Foxes were called upon to go to Washington to see their Great
Father. On their return, they related what had been said and
done. They said the Great Father wished them, in the event of a
war taking place with England, not to interfere on either side, but
to remain neutral. He did not want our help, but wished us to
hunt and support our families, and live in peace. He said that
British traders would not be permitted to come on the Mississippi
to furnish us with goods, but that we should be supplied with an
American trader. Our chiefs then told him that the British trad-
ers always gave them credit in the fall for guns, powder and goods,
to enable us to hunt and clothe our families. He repeated that
the traders at Fort Madison would have plenty of goods; that we
should go there in the fall and he would supply us on credit, as
the British traders had done."

Black Hawk seems to have accepted of this proposition, and he
and his people were very much pleased. Acting in good faith,
they fitted out for their winter's hunt, and went to Fort Madison
in high spirits to receive from the trader their outfit of supplies.
But, after waiting some time, they were told by the trader that
he would not trust them. It was in vain they pleaded the promise
of their Great Father at Washington. The trader was inexorable;
and, disappointed and crestfallen, they turned sadly toward their
own village. ''Few of us," says Black Hawk, "slept that night;
all was gloom and discontent. In the morning a canoe was seen

HISTORY OF IOWA. Zi

ascending the river; it soon arrived, bearing an express, who
broiisrht intelliprence that a British trader had landed at Rock
Island with two boats loaded with goods, and requested us to come
up immediately, because he had good news for us, and a variety of
presents. The express presented us with tobacco, pipes and wam-
pum. The news ran through our camp like fire on a prairie. Our
lodges were soon taken down, and all started for Rock Island.
Here ended all hopes of our remaining at peace, having been
forced into the war by being deceived."

He joined the British, who flattered him, styled him "General
Black Hawk," decked him with medals, excited his jealousies
against the Americans, and armed his band; but he met with de-
feat and disappointment, and soon abandoned the service and came
home.

With all his skill and courage. Black Hawk was unable to lead
all the Sacs and Foxes into hostilities to the United States. A
portion of them, at the head of whom was Keokuk ("the Watch-
ful Fox""), were disposed to abide by the treaty of 1804, and to
cultivate friendly relations with the American people. Therefore,
when Black Hawk and his baud joined the fortunes of Great
Britain, the rest of the nati">n remained neutral, and, for protec-
tion, organized, with Keokuk for their chief. This divided the
nation into the "War and Peace Party."

Black Hawk says he was informed, after he had gone to the
war, that the nation, which had been reduced to so small a body
of fighting men, were unable to defend themselves in case the
Americans should attack them, and having all the old men and
women and children belonging to warriors who had joined the
British on their hands to provide for, a council was held, and it
was agreed that Quash-qua-me (the Lance) and other chiefs, to-
gether with the old men, women and children, and such others a>
chose to accompany them, should go to St. Louis, and place them-
selves under the American chief stationed there. They according-
ly went down, and were received as the "friendly band" of the
Sacs and Foxes, and were provided for and sent up the Missouri
River. On Black Hawk's return from the British army, he says
Keokuk was introduced to him as the war chief of the braves then
in the village. He inquired how he had become chief, and was
informed that their spies had seen a large armed force going to-
ward Peoria, and fears were entertained of an attack upon the vil-
lage; whereupon a council was held, which concluded to leave the
village and cross over to the west side of the Mississippi. Keokuk
had been standing at the door of the lodge where the council was
held, not being allowed to enter on account of never having killed
an enemy, where he remained until Wa-co-me came out. Keokuk
asked permission to speak in the council, which Wa-co-me ob-
tained for him. Keokuk then addressed the chiefs; he remon-
strated against the desertion of the village, their own homes and the

28 HISTORY OF IOWA.

graves of their father?, and offered to defend the village. The
council consented that he should be their war chief. He mar-
shaled his braves, sent out spies, and advanced on the trail leading
to Peoria, but returned without seeing the enemy. The Ameri-
cans did not disturb the village, and all were satisfied with the ap-
pointment of Keokuk.

Keokuk, like Black Hawk, was a descendant of the Sac branch
of the nation, and was born on Rock River, in 1780. He was of
a pacific disposition, hut possessed the elements of true courage,
and could fight, when occasion required, with a cool judgment and
heroic energy. In his first battle, he encountered and killed a
Sioux, which placed him in the rank of warriors, and he was
honored with a public feast by his tribe in commemoration of the
event.

Keokuk has been described as an orator, entitled to rank with
the most gifted of his race. In person, he was tall and of portly
bearing; in his public speeches he displayed a commanding atti-
tude and graceful gestures; he spoke rapidly, but his enunciation
was clear, distinct and forcible; he culled his figures from the
stores of nature, and based his arguments on skillful logic. Un-
fortunately for the reputation of Keokuk as an orator, among
white people, he was never able to obtain an interpreter who could
claim even a slight acquaintance with philosophy. With one ex-
ception only, his interpreters were unacquainted with the elements
of their mother-tongue. Of this serious hindrance to his fame,
Keokuk was well aware, and retained Frank Labershure, who had
received a rudimental education in the French and English
languages, until the latter broke down by dississipation and died.
But during the meridian of his career among the white people, he
was compelled to submit his speeches for translation to uneducated
men, whose range of thought fell below the flights of a gifted
mind, and the fine imagery drawn from nature Avas beyond their
power of reproduction. He had sufficient knowledge of the Eng-
lish language to make him sensible of this bad rendering of his
thought, and often a feeling of mortification at the bungling
efforts was depicted on his countenance while speaking. The
proper place to form a correct estimate of his ability as an orator
was in the Indian council, where he addressed himself exclusively
to those who understood his language, and witness the electrical
effect of his eloquence upon his audience.

Keokuk seems to have possessed a more sober judgment, and to
have had a more intelligent view of the great strength and re-
sources of the United States, than his noted and restless cotem-
porar}'^, Black Hawk. He knew from the first that the reckless
war which Black Hawk and his band had determined to carry on
could result in nothing but defeat and disaster, and used every ar-
gument against it. The large number of warriors whom he had
dissuaded from following Black HaAvk became, however, greatly

HISTORY OF IOWA. 29

excited with the war spirit after Stillman's defeat, and but for the
signal tact displayed by Keokuk on that occasion, would have
forced him to submit to their wishes in joing the rest of the war-
riors in the field. A war-dance was held, and Keokuk took part
in it, seeming to be moved with the current of the rising storm.
When the dance was over, he called the council to prepare for
war. He made a speech, in which he admitted the justice of their
complaints against the Americans. To seek redress was a noble
aspiration of their nature. The blood of their brethren had been
shed by the white man, and the spirits of their braves, slain in
battle, called loudly for vengeance. ''I am your chief," he said,
''and it is my duty to lead you to battle, if, after fully considering
the matter, you are determined to go. But before you decide on
taking this important step, it is wise to inquire into the chances
of success." He then portrayed to them the great power of the
United States, against whom they would have to contend, that
their chances of success was utterly hopeless. "But," said he,
"if you do determine to go upon the war-path, I will agree to
lead you, on one condition, viz.: that before we go, Ave will kill
all our old men and our wives and children, to save them from a
lingering death of starvation, and that every one of us determine
to leave our homes on the other side of the Mississippi."

This was a strong but truthful picture of the prospect before
them, and was presented in such a forcible light as to cool their
ardor, and cause them to abandon the rash undertaking.

But, during the war of 1832, it is now considered certain that
small bands of Indians, from the west side of the Mississippi,
made incursions into the white settlements, in the lead mining
region, and committed some murders and depredations.

When peace was declared between the United States and Eng-
land, Black Hawk was required to make peace with the former,
and entered into a treaty at Portage des Sioux, September 14,
1815, but did not "touch the goose-quill to it until May 13, 1816,
when he smoked the pipe of peace with the great white chief," at
St. Louis. This treaty was a renewal of the treaty of 1801, but
Black Hawk declared he had been deceived; that he did not know
that by signing the treaty he was giving away his village. This
weighed upon his mind, already soured by previous disappointment
and the irresistible encroachments of the whites; and when a few
years later, he and his people were driven from their possessions
by the military, he determined to return to the home of his fathers.

It is also to be remarked that in 1816, by treaty with various
tribes, the United States, relinquished to the Indians all the lands
lying north of a line drawn from the southermost point of Lake
Michigan west to the Mississippi, except a reservation five leagues
square, on the Mississippi River, supposed then to be sufficient to
include all the mineral lands on and adjacent to Fever River, and
one league square at the mouth of the Wisconsin River.

30 HISTORY OP IOWA.

THE BLACK HAWK WAR.

The immediate cause of the Indian outbreak in lc30 was the
occupation of Black Hawk's village, on the Rock River, by the
whites, during the absence of the chief and his braves on a hunt-
ing expedition, on the west side of the Mississippi. When they
returned they found their wigwams occupied by white families,
and their own women and children were shelterless on the banks
of the river. The Indians were indignant, and determined to re-
possess their village at all hazards, and early in the spring of 1831
i-ecrossed the Mississippi and menacingly took possession of thei\;
own cornfields and cabins. It may be well to remark here that it
was expressly stipulated in the treaty of 1804, to which they at-
tributed all their troubles, that the Indians should not be obliged
to leave their lands until they were sold by the United States, and
it does not appear that they occupied any lands other than those
owned by the Government. If this was true, the Indians had good
cause for indignation and complaint. But the whites, driven out
in turn by the returning Indians, became so clamorous against
what they termed the encroachments of the natives, that Gov.
Reynolds, of lUincis, ordered Gen. Gaines to Rock Island with a
military force to drive the Indians again from their homes to the
west side of the Mississippi. Black Hawk says he did not intend
to be provoked into war by anything less than the blood of some
of his own people; in other words, that there would be no war
unless it should be commenced by the pale faces. But it Wcis said
and probably "thought by the military commanders along the fron-
tier, that the Indians intended to unite in a general war against
the whites, from Rock River to the Mexican borders. But it does
not appear that the hardv frontiersmen themselves had any fears,
for their experience had been that, when well treated, their Indian
neighbors were not dangerous. Black Hawk and his band had done
no more than to attempt to repossess the old homes of which they had
been deprived in their absence. No blood had been shed. Black
Hawk and his chiefs sent a flag of truce, and a new treaty was
made, by which Black Hawk and his band agreed to remain for-
ever on the Iowa side and never recross the river without the per-
mission of the President or the Governor of Illinois. Whether
the Indians clearly understood the terms of this treaty is uncer-
tain. As was usual, the Indian traders had dictated terms on their
behalf, and they had received a large amount of provisions, etc.,
from the Government, but it may well be doubted whether the
Indians comprehended that they could never revisit the graves
of their fathers without violating their treaty. They undoubtedly
thought that they had agreed never to recross the Mississippi witli
hostile intent. However this may be, on the Cth day of April,
1832, Black Hawk and his entire band, with their women and chil-
dren, again recrossed the Mississippi in plain view of the garrison
of Fort Armstrong, and went up Rock River. Although this act

HISTORY OF IOWA. 31

was construed into an act of hostility by the military authorities,
who declared that Black Hawk intended to recover his village, or
the site where it stood, by force; yet it does not appear that he
made any such attempt, nor did his appearance create any special
alarm amon^ the settlers. They knew that the Indians never
went on the war-path encumbered with the old men, their women
and their children.

The Galenian, printed in Galena, of May 2d, 1832, says that
Black Hawk was invited by the Prophet and had taken possession
of a tract about forty miles up Rock River; but that he did
not remain there long, but commenced his search up Rock
River. Captain W. B. Green, who served in Captain Stevenson's
company of mounted rangers, says that "Black Hawk and his
band crossed the river with no hostile intent, but that his band
had had bad luck in hunting during the previous winter, were
actually in a starving condition, and had come over to spend the
summer with a friendly tribe on the head waters of the Rock and
Illinois Rivers, by invitation from their chief." Other old settlers
who all agree that Black Hawk had no idea of tighting, say that
he came back to the west side expecting to negotiate another
treaty, and get a new supply of provisions. The most reasonable
explanation of this movement, which resulted so disastrouly to
Black Hawk and his starving people, is that, during the fall and
winter of 1831-32, his people became deeply indebted to their
favorite trader at Fort Armstrong (Rock Island), they had not
been fortunate in hunting, and he was likely to lose heavily, as
an Indian debt was outlawed in one year. If, therefore, the In-
dians could be induced to come over, and the fears of the military
could be sufficiently aroused to pursue them, another treaty could
be negotiated, and from the payments from the Government the
shrewd trader could get his pay. Just a week after Black Hawk
crossed the river, on the 13tli of April, 1832, George Davenport
WTote to Gen. Atkinson: "I am informed that the British band
of Sac Indians are determined to make war on the frontier settle-
ments. * * * From every information that I have
received, I am of the opinion that the intention of the British
band of Sac Indians is to commit depredations on the inhabitants
of the frontier." And yet, from the 6th day of April, until after
Stillman's men commenced war by firing on the flag of truce from
Black Hawk, no murders nor depredations were committed by the
British band of Sac Indians.

It is not the purpose of this sketch to detail the incidents of the
Black Hawk war of 1832, as it pertains rather to the history of
the State of Illinois. It is sufficient to say that, after the dis-
graceful affair at Stillman's Run, Black Hawk, concluding that the
whites, refusing to treat with him, were determined to extermi-
nate his people, determined to return to the Iowa side of the Mis-
sissippi. He could not return by the way he came, for the army

32 HISTORY OF IOWA.

was behind him, an army, too, that would sternly refuse to recog-
nize the white flag of peace . His only course was to make his
way northward and reach the Mississippi, if possible, before the
troops could overtake him, and this he did; but, before he could get
his women and children across the Wisconsin, he was overtaken,
and a battle ensued. Here, again, he sued for peace, and, through
his trusty Lieutenant, "the Prophet," the whites were plainly in-
formed that the starving Indians did not wish to fight, but would
return to the west side of the Mississippi, peaceably, if they could
be permitted to do so. No attention was paid to this second effort
to negotiate peace, and, as soon as supplies could be obtained, the
pursuit was resumed, the flying Indians were overtaken again eight
miles before they reached the mouth of the Bad Axe, and the
slaughter (it should not be dignified by the name of battle) com-
menced. Here, overcome by starvation and the victorious whites,
his band was scattered, on the 2d day of August, 1832. Black
Hawk escaped, but was brought into camp at Prairie du Chien by
three Winnebagoes, He was confined in Jefferson Barracks until
the spring of 1833, when he was sent to Washington, arriving
there April 22, On the 26th of April they were taken to Fortress
Monroe, where they remained till the 4th of June, 1833, when
orders were given for them to be liberated and returned to their
own country. By order of the President, he was brought back to
Iowa through the principal Eastern cities. Crowds flocked to see
him all along his route, and he was very much flattered by the
attentions he received. He lived among his people on the Iowa
River till that reservation was sold, in 1836, when, with the rest
of the Sacs and Foxes, he removed to the Des Moines Reservation,
where he remained till his death, which occurred on the 3d of
October, 1838.

INDIAN PUECHASES, RESERVES AND TREATIES.

At the close of the Black Hawk War, in 1882, a treaty was
made, at a council held on the west bank of the Mississippi, where
now stands the thriving city of Davenport, on grounds now occu-
pied by the Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific railroad company,
on the 21st day of September, 1832. At this council, the United
States were represented by Gen. Winfield Scott and Gov. Rey-
nolds, of Illinois. Keokuk, Pash-a-pa-ho and some thirty other
chiefs and warriors of the Sac and Fox nation were present. By
I this treaty, the Sacs and Foxes ceded to the United States a strip
of land on the eastern border of Iowa, fifty miles wide, from the
northern boundary of Missouri to the mouth of the Upper Iowa
River, containing about six million acres. The western line of the
purchase was parallel with the Mississippi. In consideration of
this cession, the United States Government stipulated to pay an-
nually to the confederated tribe?, for thirty consecutive years,
twenty thousand dollars in specie, and to pay the debts of the In-

HISTORY OF IOWA. 33

dians at Rock Island, which had been accumuhitiiig for seventeen
years, and amounted to fifty thousand dolhirs, due to Davenport &
Farnham, Indian traders. The Government also generously do-
nated to the Sac and Fox women and children, whose husbands
and fathers had fallen in the Black Hawk war, thirty-five beef
cattle, twelve bushels of salt, thirty barrels of pork, fifty barrels
of flour and six thousand bushels of corn.

This territory is known as the "Black Hawk Purchase." Al-
though it was not the first portion of Iowa ceded to the United
States by the Sacs and Foxes, it was the first opened to actual
settlement by the tide of emigration that flowed across the Mis-
sissippi as soon as the Indian title was extinguished. The treaty
was ratified February 13. 1833, and took effect on the 1st of June
following, when the Indians quietly removed from the ceded ter-
ritory, and this fertile and beautiful region was opened to white
settlers.

By the terms of the treaty, out of the Black Hawk Purchase
was reserved for the Sacs and Foxes 400 square miles of land
.situated on the Iowa River, and including within its limits Keo-
kuk's village, on the right bank of that river. This tract was
known as "Keokuk's Reserve," and was occupied by the Indians
until 1836, when, by a treaty made in September between them
and Gov. Dodge, of Wisconsin Territory, it was ceded to the
United States. The council was held on the banks of the Mis-
sissippi, above Davenport, and was the largest assemblage of the
kind ever held by the Sacs and Foxes to treat for the sale of lands.
About one thousand of their chiefs and braves were present, and
Keokuk was their leading spirit and principal speaker on the occa-
sion. By the terras of the treaty, the Sacs and Foxes w^ere re-
moved to another reservation on the Des Moines River, where an
agencv was established for them at what is now the town of
Agency City.

Besides the Keokuk Reserve, the Government gave out of the
Black Hawk Purchase to Antoine Le Claire, interpreter, in fee
simple, one section of land opposite Rock Island, and another at
the head of the first rapids above the island, on the Iowa side.
This was the first land title granted by the United States to an in-
dividual in Iowa.

Soon after the removal of the Sacs and Foxes to their new
reservation on the Des Moines River, Gen. Joseph M. Street was
transferred from the agency of the Winnebagoes, at Prairie du
Chien, to establish an agency among them. A farm was selected,
on which the necessary buildings were erected, including a com-
fortable farm house for the agent and his family, at the expense of
the Indian Fund. A salaried agent was employed to superintend
the farm and dispose of the crops. Two mills were erected, one
on Soap Creek, and the other on Sugar Creek. The latter was
soon swept away by a flood, but the former remained and did good

34 HISTORY OF IOWA.

service for many years. Connected with the agency were Joseph
Smart and John Goodell, interpreters. The latter was intrepre-
ter for Hard Fish's band. Three of the Indian chiefs, Keokuk,
Wapello and Appanoose, had each a large field improved, the two
former on the right bank of the Des Moines, back from the river,
in what is now ''Keokuk's Prairie," and the latter on the present
site of the city of Ottumwa. Among the traders connected with
the agency were the Messrs. Ewing, from Ohio, and Phelps & Co.,
from Illinois, and also Mr. J. P. Eddy, who established his post at
what is now the site of Eddyville.

The Indians at this agency became idle and listless in the
absence of their natural and wonted excitements, and many of
them plunged into dissipation. Keokuk himself became dissipated
in the latter years of his life, and it has been reported that he died
of delirium tremens after his removal with his tribe to Kansas.

In May, 1843, most of the Indians were removed up the Des
Moines River, above the temporary line of Red Rock, having ceded
the remnant of their lands in Iowa to the United States on the
21st of September, 1837, and on the 11th of October, 1842. By
the terms of the latter treaty, they held possession of the "New
Purchase" till the Autumn of 18-45, when the most of them were
removed to their reservation in Kansas, the balance being removed
in the Spring of 1846.

1. Treaty with the Sioux.— 'Made July 19, 181o: ratified December 16, 18ir>.
This treaty was made at Portage des Sioux, between the Sioux of Minnesota
and Upper Iowa and the United States, by Wdh'am Clark and Ninian Edwards,
Commissioners, and was merely a treaty of peace and friendship on the part of
those Indians toward the United States at the close of the war of 1812.

2. Treat!/ with the Sacs. — A similar treaty of peace was made at Portage
des Sioux, between the United States and the Sacs, by William Clark, Ninian
Edwards and Augiiste Choteau, on the 13th of September, 1815, and ratified at
the same date as the above. In this, the treaty of 1804 was re-affirmed, and
the Sacs here represented promised for themselves and their bands to keep en-
tirely separate from the Sacs of Rock River, who, under Black Hawk, had
joined the Britisli in the war just then closed.

3. Treat!/ with the Foxes. — A separate treaty of peace was made with the Foxes
at Portag-e ides Sioux, by the same Commission3rs, on 14th of September, 1815,
and ratified the same as the above, wherein the Foxes re-affirmed the treaty at
St. Louis, of November 3, 1804, and agreed to deliver up all their prisoners to
the officer in command at Fort Clark, now Peoria, Illinois.

4. Treati/ with the loioas. — A treaty of p^ace and mutual good will was
made between the United States and the Iowa tribe of Indians, at Portage des
Sioux, by the same Commissioners as above, on the 16th of Septemb?r, 1815, at
the close of the war with Great Britain, and ratified at the same date as the
others.

5. Treat!/ with the Sacs at Rock Hirer. — Made at St. Louis on the 13th of
May, 1816, between the United States and the Sacs of Rock River, by the Com-
missioners, William Clark, Ninian Edwards and Auguste Choteau. and ratified
December 30, 1816. In this treaty, that of 1804 was re-established and con-
firmed by twenty-two chiefs an i head men of the Sacs of Rock River, and
Black Hawk himself attached to it his signature, or, as he said, ''touched the
goose quill. "

6. Treat!/ of 1824. — On the 4ih of August, 1824. a treaty was made between
the United States and the Sacs and Foxes, in the city of VV'^ashing^oii, by Wil-

HlSTOllY OF IOWA. 35

Ham Clark, Commissioner, wherein the Sac and Fox nation relinqnishetl their
title to all lands in Missouri, and that portion of the southeast corner of Iowa
known as the "Half-Breed Tract" was set otf and reserved for the use of the
half-breeds of the Sacs and Foxes, they holding title in the same manner as In-
dians. Ratified January 18, 1825.

7. Treaty of August 19, 1825. — At this date a treaty was made by William
Clark and Lewis Cass, at Prairie du Chien, between the United States and the
Chippewas, Sacs and Foxes, Menonionees, Winnebagoes and a portion of the
Ottawas and I'ottawatomies. In this treaty, in order to made peace between
the contending tribes as to the limits ot their respective hunting grounds in
Iowa, it was agreed that the United States Government should run a boundary
line between the Sioux, on the north, and the Sacs and Foxes, on the south, i\»
follows :

Commencing at the mouth of the Upper Iowa River, on the west bank of the
Mississippi, and ascending said Iowa River to its west fork; thence up the
fork to its source; thence crossing the fork of Red Cedar River in a direct line
to the second or upper fork of the Des Moines River; thence in a direct line to
the lower fork of the Calumet River, and down that river to its junction with
the Missouri River.

8. Treaty of 1830— On the 15th of July, 1880, the confederate tribes of the
Sacs and Foxes ceded to the United States a strip of country lying south of the
above line, twenty miles in width, and extending along the line aforesaid from
the Mississippi to the Des Moines River. The Sioux also, whose possessions
were north of the line, ceded to the Government, in the same treaty, a like
strip on the north side of the boundary. Thus the United States, at the ratifi-
cation of this treaty, Februaiy 24, 18ol, came into possession of a portion of
Iowa forty miles wide, extending along the Clark and Cass line of 1825, fi"om
the Mississippi to the Des Moines River. This territory was known as the
"Neutral Ground," and the tribes on either side of the line were allowed to
fish and hunt on it unmolested till it was made a Winnebago reservation, and
the Winnebagoes were removed to it in 1841.

"o'-

9. Treaty with the Sacs and Foxes and other Tribes. — At the same time
of the above treaty respecting the "Neutral Ground" (July 15, 1880), the Sacs
and Foxes, Western Sioux, Uuiahas, lowas and Missouris ceded to the United
States a portion of the western slope of Iowa, the boundaries of whkh were
defined as follows: Beginning at the upper fork of the Des Moines River, and
passing the sources of the Little Sioux and Floyd Rivers, to the fork of the first
creek that tails into the Big Sioux, or Calumet, on the east side; thence down
said creek and the Calumet Riv;r to the Missouri River; thence down said Mis-
souri River to the Missouri State line above the Kansas; thence along said line
to the northwest corner of said State; thence to the high lands between the
waters tailing into the Missouri and Des Moines, passing to said high lands
along the dividing ridge between the forks of the Grand River; thence along
said high lands or ridge separating the waters of the Missouri from those of the
Des Moines, to a point opposite the source of the Boyer River, and thence in a
direct line to the upper tork of the Des Moines, the place of beginning.

It was understood that the lands ceded and relinquished by this treaty were
to be assigned and allotted, under the direction of the President of the United
States, to the tribes then living thereon, or to such other tribes as the President
might locate thereon, for hunting and other purposes. In consideration of three
tracts of land ceded in this treaty, the United States agreed to pay to the Sacs
three thousand dollars; to the Foxes, three thousand dollars; to the Sioux, two
thousand dollars; to the Yankton and Santee bands of Sioux, three thousand
dollars; to the Omahas, two thousand five hundred dollars; and to the Otoes
and Missouris, two thousand five hundn d dollars— to be paid annually for ten
successive years. In addition to these annuities, the Government agreed to fur-
nish some of the tribes with blacksmiths and agricultural implements to the
amount of two hundred dollars, at the expense of the United States, and to set

36 HISTORY OF IOWA.

apart three thousand dollars annually for the education of the children of these
tribes. It does not appear that any fort was erected in this territory prior to
the erection of Fort Atkinson on the Neutral Ground, in 1840-1.

This treaty was made by William Clark, Superintendent of Indian affairs,
and Col. Wiiloughby Morgan, of the United States First Infantry, and came
into effect by proclamation, February 24, 1831.

10. Treat if with the Winnehagoes. — Made at Fort Armstrong, Rock Island,
September 15, 1882, by Gen. Winfield Scott and Hon. John Reynolds, Governor
of Illinois. In this treaty the Winnebagoes ceded to the United States all their
land lying on the east side of the Mississippi, and in part consideration therefor
the United States granted to the Winnebagoes, to be held as other Indian lands
are held, that portion of Iowa known as the Neutral Ground. The exchange of
the two tra<:ts of country was to take place on or before the 1st day of June. 1833.
In addition to the Neutral Ground, it was stipulated that the United States
should give the Winnebagoes, beginning in September, 1833, and continuing for
twenty-seven successive years, ten thousand dollars in specie, and establish a
school among them, with a farm and garden, and provide other facilities for the
education of their children, not to exceed in cost three thousand dollars a year,
and to continue the same for twenty-seven successive years. Six agriculturists,
twelve yoke of oxen and plows and other farming tools wei e to be supplied by
the Government.

11. Treaty of 1832 with the Sacs and Foxes. — Already mentioned as the
Black Hawk purchase.

12. Treat!/ of 1S36 with the Sacs and Foxes, ceding Keokuk's Reserve to
the United States; for which the Government stipulated to pay thirty thousand
dollars, and an annuity of ten thousand dollars for ten succe'^sive years, together
with other sums and debts of the Indians to various pai-ties.

18. Treat!/ of 1837.— On the 21st of October, 1837, a treaty was made at the
city of Washington, between Carey A. Harris, Commissioner of Indian Affairs,
and the confederate tribes of Sacs and Foxes, ratified February 21, 1838, where-
in another slice of the soil of Iowa was obtained, descnbed in the treaty as fol-
lows : ' 'A tract of country containing 1.250,000 acres, lying west and adjoining
the tract conveyed by them to the United States in the treaty of September 21,
1832. It is understood that the points of termination for the present cession
shall be the northern and southern points of said tract, as fixed by the survey
made under the authority of the United States, and that a line shall be drawn
between them so as to intersect a line extended westwardly from the angle of
said tract nearly opposite to Rock Island, as laid down in the above survey, so
far as may be necessary to include the numlicr of acres hereby ceded, which last
mentioned line, it is estimated, will be about twenty-five miles."

This piece of land was twenty-five miles wide in the middle, and ran off to a
point at both ends, lying directly back of the Black Hawk Purchase, and of the
the same length .

14. Treat!/ of Eelinquifihment. — At the same date as the above treaty, in
the city of Washington, Carey A. Harris, Commissioner, the Sacs and Foxes
ceded to the United States all their right and interest in the country lying south
of the boundary line between the Sacs and Foxes and Sioux, as described in the
treaty of August 19, l.'^25, and between the Mississippi and Missouri Rivers,
the United States paying for the same one hundred and sixty thousand dollars.
The Indians also gave up all claims and interests under the treaties previouslj'
made with them, for the satisfaction of which no appropriation had been made.

15. Treaty of 1842. — The last treaty was made with the Sacs and Foxes
October 11, 1842; ratified March 23, 1843. It was made at the Sac and Fox
agency (Agency City), by John Chambers, Commissioner on behalf of the
United States. In this treaty the Sac and Fox Indians "ceded to the United
States all their lands west of the Mississippi to which they had any claim or
title." By the terms of this treaty they were to be removed from the country
at the expiration of three years, and all who remained after that were to move
at their own expense. Part of them were removed to Kansas in the fall of 1845,
and the rest the spring following.

HISTORY OF IOWA. 37

SPANISH GRANTS.

While the territory now embraced in the State of Iowa was un-
der Spanish rule as a part of its province of Louisiana, certain
claims to and grants of land were made by the Spanish authori-
ties, with which, in addition to the extinguishment of Indian titles,
the United States had to deal. It is proper that these should be
briefly reviewed :

Dubuque. — On the 22d day of September, 1788, Julien Dubuque,
a Frenchman, from Prairie du Chien, obtained from the Foxes a
cession or lease of lands on the Mississippi River for mining pur-
poses, on the site of the present city of Dubuque. Lead had been
discovered here eight years before, in 1780, by the wife of Peosta
Fox, a warrior, and Dubuque's claim embraced nearly all the lead
bearing lands in that vicinity. He immediately took possession of
his claim and commenced mining, at the same time making a set-
tlement. The place became known as the "Spanish Miners," or,
more commonly, "Dubuque's Lead Mines."

In 1796, Dubuque filed a petition with Baron de Carondelet,
the Spanish Governor of Louisiana, asking that the tract ceded to
him by the Indians might be granted to him by pacent from the
Spanish Government. In this petition Dubuque rather indefin-
itely set forth the boundaries of his claim as "about seven
leagues along the Mississippi River, and three leagues in width
from the river," intending to include, as is supposed, the river
front between the Little Maquoketa and the Tete des Mertz Riv-
ers, embracing more than twenty thousand acres. Carondelet
granted the prayer of the petition, and the grant was subsequently
confirmed by the Board of Land Commissioners of Louisiana.

In October, 1804, Dubuque transferred* the larger part of his
claim to Auguste Choteau, of St. Louis, and on the 17th of May,
1805, he and Choteau jointly filed their claims with the Board of
Commissioners. On the 20th of September, 1806, the Board de-
cided in their favor, pronouncing the claim to be a regular Span-
ish grant, made and completed prior to the 1st day of October,
1800, only one member, J. B. C. Lucas, dissenting.

Dubuque died March 24, 1810. The Indians, understanding that
the claim of Dubuque under their former act of cession was only
a permit to occupy the tract and work the mines during his life,
and that at his death they reverted to them, took possession and
continued mining operations, and were sustained by the military
authority of the United States, notwithstanding the decision of
the Commissioners. When the Black Hawk purchase was con-
summated, the Dubuque claim thus held by the Indians w^as ab-
sorbed by the United States, as the Sacs and Foxes made no reser-
vation of it in the treaty of 1832.

The heirs of Choteau, however, were not disposed to relinquish
their claim without a struggle. Late in 1832, they employed an

38 HISTORY OF IOWA.

agent to look after their interests, and authorized him to lease the
right to dig lead on the lands. The miners who commenced work
under this agent were compelled by the military to abandon their
operations, and one of the claimants went to Galena to institute
legal proceedings, but found no court of competent jurisdiction,
although he did bring an action for the recovery of a quantity of
lead dug at Dubuque, for the purpose of testing the title. Being
unable to identify the lead, however, he was non-suited.

By act of Congress, approved July 2, 1830, the town of Dubuque
was surveyed and platted. After lots had been sold and occupied
by the purchasers, Henry Choteau brought an action of ejectment
against Patrick Malony, who held land in Dubuque under a patent
from the United States, for the recovery of seven undivided eighth
parts of the Dubuque claim, as purchased by Auguste Choteau in
1804. The case was tried in the District Court of the United
States for the District of Iowa, and was decided adversely to the
plaintiff. The case was carried to the Supreme Court of the United
States on a writ of error, when it was heard at the December
term, 1853, and the decision of the lower court was affirmed, the
court holding that the permit from Carondelet was merely a lease,
or permit to work the mines; that Dubuque asked, and the Gover-
nor of Louisiana granted, nothing more than the "peaceable pos-
session of certain lands obtained from the Indians; that Caron-
dolet had no legal authority to make such a gfant as claimed, and
that, even if he had, this was but an "inchoate and imperfect
title."

Girord. — In 1795, the Lieutenant Governor of Upper Louisiana
granted to Basil Girard five thousand eight hundred and sixty acres
of land, in what is now Clayton County, known as the "Girard
Tract." He occupied the land during the time that Iowa passed
from Spain to France, aud from France to the United States, in
consideration of which the Federal Government granted a patent
of the same to Girard in his own right. His heirs i^old the whole
tract to James H. Lockwood and Thomas P. Burnett, of Prairie du
Chien, for three hundred dollars.

Honori. — March 30, 1799, Zenon Trudeau, acting Lieutenant
Governor of Upper Louisiana, granted to Louis Honori a tract of
land on the site of the present town of Montrose, as follows: "It
is permitted to Mr. Louis (Fresson) Honori, or Louis Honore Fes-
son, to establish himself at the head of the rapids of the River Des
Moines, and his establishment once formed, notice of it shall be
given to the Governor General, in order to obtain for him a com-
mission of a space sufficient to give value to such establishment,
and at the same time to render it useful to the commerce of the
peltries of this country, to watch the Indians and keep them in
the fidelity which they owe to His Majesty."

Honori took immediate possession of his claim, which he retained
until 1805. While trading with the natives he became indebted

HISTORY OF IOWA. 39

to Joseph Kobedoux, who obtained an execution on wliich the
property was so]d May 13, 1803, and was purchased by the cred-
itor. In these proceedings the property was described as being
''about six leagues above the River Des Moines." Robedoux died
soon after he purchased the property. Auguste Choteau, his ex-
ecutor, disposed of the Honori Tract to Thomas F. Reddeck, in
April, 1805, up to which time Honori continued to occupy it. The
grant, as made by the Spanish Government, was a league square,
but only one mile square was confirmed by the United States.
After the half-breeds sold their lands, in which the Honori grant
was included, various claimants resorted to litigation in attempts
to invalidate the title of the Reddeck heirs, but it was finally con-
firmed by a decision of the Supreme Court of the United States
in 1839, and is the oldest legal title to any land in the State of
Fowa.

THE HALF-BREED TRACT.

Before any permament settlement had been made in the Terri-
tory of Iowa, white adventurers, trappers and traders, many of
whom were scattered along the Mississippi and its tributaries, as
agents and employes of the American Fur Company, intermarried
with the females of the Sac and Fox Indians, producing a race of
half-breeds, whose number was never definitely ascertained. There
were some respectable and excellent people among them, children
of men of some refinement and education. For instance: Dr.
Muir, a gentleman educated at Edinburgh, Scotland, a surgeon in
the United States Army, stationed at a military post located on
the present site of Warsaw, married an Indian woman and reared
his family of three daughters in the city of Keokuk. Other ex-
amples might be cited, but they are probably exceptions to the
general rule, and the race is now nearly or quite extinct in
Iowa.

A treaty was made at Washington, August 4. 1824, between the
Sacs and Foxes and the United States, by which that portion of
Lee County was reserved to the half-breeds of those tribes, and
which was afterwards known as "The Half-Breed Tract." This
reservation is the triangular piece of land, containing about 119,-
000 acres, lying between the Mississippi and Des Moines Rivers.
It is bounded on the north by the prolongation of the northern
line of Missouri, This line was intended to be a straight one,
running due east, which would have caused it to strike the Miss-
issipppi River at or below Montrose; but the surveyor who ran it
took no notice of the change of the variation of the needle as he
proceeded eastward, and, in consequence, the line he run was bent,
deviating more and more to the northward of a direct line as he
approached the Mississippi, so that it struck that river at the lower
edge of the town of Fort Madison. "This erroneous line," says
Judge Mason, "has been acquiesced in as well in fixing the north-

40 HISTORY OF IOWA.

ern limit of the Hal£-Breed Tract as in determining the northern
boundary line of the State of Missouri." The line thus run in-
cluded in the reservation a portion of the lower part of the city of
Fort Madison, and all of the present townships of Van Buren,
Charleston, Jefferson, Des Moines, Montrose and Jackson.

Under the treaty of 1824, the half-breeds had the right to oc-
cupy the soil, but could not convey it, the reversion being reserved
to the United States. But on the 30th day of Januarv, 1834, by
act of Congress, this reversionary right was relinquished, and the
half-breeds acquired the lands in fee simple. This was no sooner
done than a horde of speculators rushed into buy land of the half-
breed owners, and, in many instances, a gun, a blanket, a pony or
a few quarts of whisky was sufficient for the purchase of large
estates. There was a deal of sharp practice on both sides; Indians
would often claim ownership of land by virtue of being half-breeds,
and had no difficulty in proving their mixed blood by the Indians,
and they would then cheat the speculators by selling land to which
they had no rightful title. On the other hand, speculators often
claimed land in which they had no ownership. It was diamond
cut diamond, until at last things became badly mixed. There was
no authorized surveys and no boundary lines to claims, and, as a
natural result, numerous conflicts and quarrels ensued.

To settle these difficulties, to decide the validity of claims or sell
them for the benefit of the real owners, by act of the Legislature
of Wisconsin Territory, approved January 16, 1838, Edward John-
stone, Thomas S. Wilson and David Brigham were appointed
Commissioners, and clothed with power to effect these objects.
The act provided that these Commissioners should be paid six dol-
lars a day each. The commission entered upon its duties and con-
tinued until the next session of the Legislature, when the act cre-
ating it was repealed, invalidating all that had been done and de-
priving the Commissioners of their pay. The repealing act, how-
ever, authorized the Commissioners to commence action against
the owners of the Half-Breed Tract, to receive pay for their ser-
vices, in the District Court of Lee County. Two judgments were
obtained, and on execution the whole of the tract was sold to Hugh
T. Reid, the Sheriff executing the deed. Mr. Reid sold portions of
it to various parties, but his own title was questioned, and he be-
came involved in litigation. Decisions in favor of Reed and those
holding under him were made by both District and Supreme
Courts; but in December, 1850, these decisions were finally reversed
by the Supreme Court of the United States in the case of Joseph
Webster, plaintiff in error, vs. Hugh T. Reid, and the judgment
titles failed. About nine years before the "judgment titles" were
finally abrogated as above, another class of titles were brought
intp competition with them, and in the conflict between the two,
the final decision was obtained. These were the titles based on
the "decree of partition" issued by the United States District

HISTORY OF IOWA. 41

Court for the Territory of Iowa, on the 8th of May, 1841, and
certified to by the Clerk on the 2d day of June of that year. Ed-
ward Johnstone and Hugh T. Reid, then law partners at Fort
Madison, filed the petition for the decree in behalf of the St. Louis
claimants of half-breed lands. Francis S. Key, author of the Star
Spangled Banner, who was then attorney for the New York Land
Company, which held heavy interest in these lands, took a leading
part in the measure, and drew up the document in which it was
presented to the court. Judge Charles Mason, of Burlington, pre-
sided. The plan of partition divided the tract into one hundred
and one shares, and arranged that each claimant should draw his
proportion by lot, and should abide the result, whatever it might
be. The arrangement was entered into, the lots drawn, and the
plat of the same filed in the Recorders office, October 6, 1841.
Upon this basis the titles to land in the Half-Breed Tract are now
held.

EARLY SETTLEMENTS.

The first permament settlement by the whites within the limits
of Iowa was made by Julien Dubuque, in 1788, when, with a small
party of miners, he settled on the site of the city that now bears
his name, where he lived until his death, in 1810. Louis Honori
settled on the site of the present town of Montrose, probably in
1799, and resided there until 1805, when his property passed into
other hands. Of the Girard settlement, opposite Prairie du Chien,
little is known, except that it was occupied by some parties prior
to the commencement of the present century, and contained three
cabins in 1805. Indian traders, although not strictly to be con-
sidered settlers, had established themselves at various points at an
an early date. A Mr. Johnson, Agent of the American Fur Com-
pany, had a trading post below Burlington, where he carried on
traffic with the Indians some time before the United States pos-
sessed the country. In 1820, Le Moliese, a French trader, had a
station at what is now Sandusky six miles above Keokuk, in Lee
County. In 1829, Dr. Isaac Gallaud made a settlement on the
Lower Rapids, at what is now Nashville.

The first settlement in Lee county was made in 1820, by Dr.
Samuel C. Muir, a surgeon in the United States army, who had
been stationed at Fort Edwards, now Warsaw, 111., and who built
a cabin where the city of Keokuk now stands.

Messrs. Reynolds & Culver, who had leased Dr. Muir's claim at
Keokuk, subsequently employed as their agent Mr. Moses Still-
well, who arrived with his family in 1828, and took possession of
Muir's cabin. His brothers-in-law, Amos and Valencourt Van
Ausdal came with him and settled near.

His daughter, Margaret Stillwell (afterward Mrs. Ford), was
born in 1831, at the foot of the rapids, called by the Indians Puch-
a-she-tuck, where Keokuk now stands. She was probably the first
white American child born in Iowa.

42 HISTORY OF IOWA.

In 1831, Mr. Johnson, agent of the American Fur Company,
who had a station at the foot of the rapids, removed to another lo-
cation, and Dr. Muir having returned from Galena, he and Isaac
R. Campbell took the place and buildings vacated by the Company,
and carried on trade with the Indians and half-breeds. Campbell,
who had first visited and traveled through the southern part of
Iowa, in 1821, was an enterprising settler, and besides trading with
the natives, carried on a farm and kept a tavern.

Dr. Muir died of cholera in 1832.

In 1830, James L. and Lucius H. Langwortliy, brothers and na-
tives of Vermont, visited the Territory for the purpose of working
the lead mines at Dubuque. They had been engaged in lead min-
ing at Galena, Illinois, the former as early as 1824. The lead
mines in the Dubuque region were an object of great interest to
the miners about Galena, lor they were known to be rich in lead
ore. To explore these mines and to obtain permission to work
them was therefore eminently desirable.

In 1829, James L. Langworthy resolved to visit the Dubuque
mines. Crossing the Mississippi at a point now known as Dun-
leith in a canoe, and swimming his horse by his side, he landed on
the spot now known as Jones Street Levee. Before him spread
out a beautiful prairie, on which the city of Dubuque now stands.
Two miles south, at the mouth of Catfish Creek, was a village of
Sacs and Foxes. Thither Mr. Langworthy proceeded, and was
well received by the natives. He endeavored to obtain permission
from them to mine in their hills, but this they refused. He, how-
ever, succeeded in gaining the confidence of the chief to such an
extent as to be allowed to travel in the interior for three weeks and
explore the country. He employed two young Indians as guides,
and traversed in different directions the whole region lying between
the Maquoketa and Turkey Rivers. He returned to the village,
secured the good will of the Indians, and returning to Galena,
formed plans for future operations, to be executed as soon as cir-
cumstances would permit.

In 1830, with his brother, Lucius H., and others, having ob-
tained the consent of the Indians, Mr. Langworthy crossed the
Mississippi and commenced mining in the vicinity around Du-
buque.

At this time, the lands were not in the actual possession of the
United States. Although they had been purchased from France,
the Indian title had not been extinguished, and these adventurous
persons were beyond the limits of any State or Territorial govern-
ment. The first settlers were therefore obliged to be their own
law-makers, and to agree to such regulations as the exigencies of
the case demanded. The first act resembling civil legislation
within the limits of the present State of Iowa was done hy the
miners at this point, in June, 1830. They met on the bank of the
river, by the side of an old cottonwood drift log, at what is now

HISTOKY OF iOWA. 43

the Joues Street Levee, Dubuque, and elected a committee, con-
sisting of J. L. Langworthy, H. F. Lander, James McPhetres,
Samuel Scales, and E. M. Wren. This may be called the first
Legislature in Iowa, the members of which gathered around that
old Cottonwood log, and agreed to and reported the following,
written by Mr. Langworthy, on a half-sheet of coarse, unruled paper,
the old log being the writing desk:

We, a Comtnitte!^, having been chosen to tbaft certain rales and regulations
(laws) by which we, as minors, will be governed, and having duly considered
the subject, do unanimously agree that we will be governed by the regula-
tions on t!i^ cast side ot the Mississippi River,* wdth the following exceptions,
to wit:

Article I. That each and every man shall hold 200 yards square of ground
by working said ground one day in six.

Article II. We further agree tliat there shall be chosen, by the majority
of the miners present, a person who shall hold this article, and who shall grant
lettei-s of arbitration on application having been made, and that said letters of
arbitration shall ba obligatory on the parties so applying.

The report was accepted by the miners present, who elected Dr.
Jarote, in accordance with Article 2. Here, then, we have in 1830,
a primitive Legislature elected by the people, the law drafted by it
being submitted to the people for approval, and under it Dr. Jarote
was elected first Grovernor within the limits of the present State of
Iowa. And it is to be said that the laws thus enacted were
as promptly obeyed, and the acts of the executive ofiicer thus
elected as duly respected, as any have been since.

The miners who had thus erected an independent government
of their own on the west side of the Mississippi River, continued
to work successfully for a long time, and the new settlement at-
tracted considerable attention. But the west side of the Mississ-
ippi belonged to the Sac and Fox Indians, and the Government in
order to preserve peace on the frontier, as well as to protect the
Indians in their rights under the treaty, ordered the settlers not
only to stop mining, but to remove from the Indian territory.
They were simply intruders. The execution of this order was en-
trusted to Col. Zachary Taylor, then in command of the military
post at Prairie du Chien, who, early in July, sent an ofiicer to the
miners with orders to forbid settlement, and to command the
miners to remove within ten days to the east side of the Missis-
sippi, or they would be driven off by armed force. The miners,
however; were reluctant about leaving the rich '' leads" they had
already discovered and opened, and were not disposed to obey the
order to remove with any considerable degree of alacrity. In due
time, Col. Taylor dispatched a detachment of troops to enforce his
order. The miners, anticipating their arrival, had, excepting
three, recrossed the river, and from the east bank saw the troops
land on the western shore. The three who had linjjrered a little

■D"^

"Established by the Superintendent of U. S. Lead Mines at Fever River.

44 HISTOKY OF IOWA.

too loug were, however, permitted to make their escape unmolest-
ed. From this time a military force was stationed at Dubuque to
prevent the settlers from returning, until June, 1832. The In-
dians returned, and were encouraged to operate the rich mines
opened by the late white occupants.

In June 1832, the troops were ordered to the east side to assist
in the annihilation of the very Indians whose rights they had been
protecting on the west side. Immediately after the close of the
Black Hawk war, and the negotiations of the treaty in September,
1832, by which the Sacs and Foxes ceded to the United States the
tract known as the "Black Hawk Purchase," the settlers, suppos-
ing that now they had a right to re-enter the Territory, returned
and took possession of their claims, built cabins, erected furnaces,
and prepared large quantities of lead for market. Dubuque was
becoming a noted place on the river, but the prospects of the hardy
and enterprising settlers and miners were again ruthlessly inter-
fered with by the government, on the ground that the treaty with
the Indians would not go into force until June 1, 1833, although
they had withdrawn from the vicinity of the settlement. Col.
Taylor was again ordered by the War Department to remove the
miners, and in January, 1833, troops were again sent frorn Prairie
du Chien to Dubuque for that purpose. This was a serious and
perhaps unnecessary hardship imposed upon the settlers. They
Avere compelled to abandon their cabins and homes in midwinter.
It must be now said, simply that "red tape*' should be respected.
The purchase had been made, the treaty ratified, or was sure to be;
the Indians had retired, and, after the lapse of nearly fifty years,
no very satisfactory reason for this rigorous action of the Govern-
ment can be given.

But the orders had been given, and there was no alternative but
to obey. Many of the settlers recrossed the river and did not re-
turn; a few, however, removed to an island near the east bank of
the river, built rude cabins of poles, in which to store their lead
until spring, when they could iloat the fruits of their labor to St.
Louis for sale, and where they could remain until the treaty went
into force, when they could return. Among these were James L.
Lan gworthy, and his brother Lucius, who had on hand about three
hundred thousand pounds of lead.

Lieut. Covington, who had been placed in command at Dubuque
by Col. Taylor, ordered some of the cabins of the settlers to be
torn down, and wagons and other property to be destroyed. This
wanton and inexcusable action on the part of a subordinate clothed
with a little brief authority was sternly rebuked by Col. Taylor,
and Covington was superseded by Lieut. Geo. Wilson, who pursued
a just and friendly course with the pioneers, who were only waiting
for the time when they could repossess their claims.

June 1, 1833, the treaty formally went into effect, the troops
were withdrawn, and the Langworthy brothers and a few others at

HISTORY OF IOWA. 45

once returned and resumed possession o£ their home claims and
mineral prospects, and from this time the first permament settle-
ment of this portion of Iowa must date. Mr. John P. Sheldon
was appointed Superintendent of the mines by the Government,
and a system of permits to miners and licenses to smelters was
adopted, similar to that which had been in operation at Galena,
since 1825, under Lieut. Martin Thomas and Capt. Thomas C. Le-
gate. Substantially the primitive law enacted by the miners as-
sembled around that old cottonwood drift log in 1830 was adopted
and enforced by the United States Government, except that miners
were required to sell their mineral to licensed smelters, and the
smelter was required to give bonds for the payment of six per
cent, of all lead manufactured to the Government. This was
the same rule adopted in' the United States mines on Fever River
in Illinois, except that, until 1830, the Illinois miners were com-
pelled to pay ten per cent tax. This tax upon the miners created
much dissatisfaction among the miners on the west side as it had
on the east side of the Mississippi. They thought they had suf-
fered hardships and privations enough in opening the way for
civilization without being subjected to the imposition of an odious
government tax upon their means of subsistence, when the Fed-
eral Government could better afford to aid than to extort from
them. The measure soon became unpopular. It was difficult to
collect the taxes, and the whole system was abolished in about ten
years.

During 1883, after the Indian title was fully extinguished, about
five hundred people arrived at the mining district, about one hun-
dred and fifty of them from Galena.

In the same year Mr. Langworthy assisted in building the first
school house in Iowa, and thus was formed the nucleus of the now
populous and thrivii^ city of Dubuque. Mr. Langworthy lived to
see the naked prairie on which he first landed become the site of a
city of fifteen thousand inhabitants, Ihe small school house which
he aided in constructing replaced b}' three substantial edifices,
wherein two thousand children were being trained, churches
erected in every part of the city, and railroads connecting the
wilderness which he first explored with all the eastern world. He
died suddenly on the 13th of March, 1865, while on atrip over the
Dubuque & Southwestern Railroad, at Monticello, and the evening
train brougkt news of his death and his remains.

Lucius H. Langworthy, his brother, was one of the most worthy,
gifted and influential of the old settlers of this section of Iowa.
He died, greatly lamented by many friends, in June, 1865.

The name Dubuque was given to the settlement by miners at a
meeting held in 1834.

In 1832, Captain James "White made a claim on the present site
of Montrose. In 1834 a military post was established at this point

46 HISTORY OF IOWA.

and a garrison of cavalry was stationed here, under the command
of Col. Stephen W. Kearney. The soldiers were removed from
this post to Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, in 1837.

During the same year, 1832, soon after the close of the Black
Hawk war, Zachariah Hawkins, Benjamin Jennings, Aaron
White, Augustine Horton, Samuel Gooch, Daniel Thompson and
Peter Williams made claims at Fort Madison. In 1833, these
claims were purchased by John and Nathaniel Knapp, upon which,
in 1835, they laid out the town. The next summer, lots were
sold. The town was subsequently re-surveyed and platted by the
United States Government.

At the close of the Black Hawk War, parties who had been im-
patiently looking across upon "Flint Hills," now Burlington, came
over from Illinois and made claims. The first was Samuel S.
White, in the fall of 1832, who erected a cabin on the site of the
city of Burlington. About the same time, David Tothero made
a claim on the prairie about three miles back from from the river,
at a place since known as the farm of Judge Morgan. In the
winter of that year, they were driven off by the military from
Rock Island, as intruders upon the rights of the Indians, and
White's cabin was burnt by the soldiers. He retired to Illinois,
where he spent the winter, and in the summer, as soon as the In-
dian title was extinguished, returned and rebuilt his cabin.
White was joined by his brother-in-law, Doolitle, and they laid out
the original town of Burlington, in 1834.

All along the river borders of the Black Hawk Purchase settlers
were flocking into Iowa. Immediately after the treaty with the
Sacs and Foxes, in September, 1832, Col. George Davenport made
the first claim on the spot where the thriving city of Davenport
now stands. As early as 1827, Col. Davenport had established a
flatboat ferry, which ran between the island and the main shore of
Iowa, by which he carried on a trade with the Indians west of the
Mississippi. In 1833, Capt. Benjamin W. Clark moved across from
Illinois, and laid the foundation of the town of Buffalo, in Scott
county, which was the first actual settlement within the limits of
that county. Among other early settlers in this part of the Ter-
ritory were Adrian H. Davenport, Col. John Sullivan, Mulligan
and Franklin Easly, Capt. John Coleman, J. M. Camp, William
White, H. W. Higgins, Cornelius Harrold, Kichard Harrison, E.
H. Shepherd and Dr. E. S. Barrows.

The first settlers of Davenport were Antoine LeClaire, Col.
George Davenport, Major Thomas Smith, Major William Gordon,
Philip Hambaugh, Alexander W. McGregor, Levi. S. Colton, Capt.
James May and others. Of Antoine LeClaire, as the representa-
tive of the two races of men who, at this time occupied Iowa, Hon.
C. C. Nourse, in his admirable Centennial address, says: "Antoine
LeClaire wixs born in St. Joseph, Michigan. 1797. His father
was French, his mother a granddaughter of a Pottawattamie chief.

HISTORY OF IOWA. 47

In 1818 he acted as official interpreter to Col. Davenport, at Fort
Armstrong (now Rock Island). He was well acquainted with a
dozen Indian dialects, and was a man of strict integrity and great
energy. In 1820 he married the granddaughter of a Sac chief.
The Sac and Fox Indians reserved for him and his wife two sec-
tions of land in the treaty of 1833, one at the town of LeClaire
and one at Davenport, The Pottawattamies, in the treaty at
Prairie du Chien, also reserved for him two sections of land, at the
present site of Moline, 111. He received the appointment of Post-
master and Justice of the Peace in the Black Hawk Purchase, at
an early day. In 1833 he bought for $100 a claim on the land
upon which the original town of Davenport was surveyed and
platted in 1836. In 1836 LeClaire built the hotel, known since,
with its valuable addition, as the LeClaire House. He died Sep-
tember 25, 1861."

In Clayton county the first settlement was made in the Spring of
1832, on 'Turkey River, by Robert Hatfield and William W. Way-
man. No further settlements were made in this part of the State
till the beginning of 1836.

In that portion now known as Muscatine county, settlements
were made in 1834, by Benjamin Nye, John Vanater and Gr. W.
Kasey, who were the first settlers. E. E. Fay. William St. John,
N. FuUington, H. Reece, Jona. Pettibone, R. P. Lowe, Stephen
Whicher, Abijah Whiting, J. E. Fletcher, W. D. Abernethy and
Alexis Smith were early settlers of Muscatine.

During the summer of 1835, William Bennett and his family,
from Galena, built the first cabin within the present limits of
Delaware county, in some timber since known as Eads' Grove.

The first postoffice in Iowa was established at Dubuque in 1833.
Milo H. Prentice was appointed postmaster.

The first Justice of the Peace was Antoine LeClaire, appointed
in 1833, as "a very suitable person to adjust the difficulties be-
tween the white settlers and the Indians still remaining there."

The first Methodist Society in the Territory was formed at Du-
buque on the 18th of May, 1831, and the first class meeting was
held June 1st of that year.

The first church bell brought into Iowa was in March, 1834.

The first mass of the Roman Catholic Church in the Territory
was celebrated at Dubuque, in the house of Patrick Quigley, in
the fall of 1833.

The first school-house in the Territory was erected by the Du-
buque miners in 1833.

The first Sabbath school was organized at Dubuque early in the
Summer of 1834.

The first woman who came to this part of the Territory with a
view to permanent residence, was Mrs. Noble F. Dean, in the Fall
of 1832.

48 ■ HISTORY OF IOWA.

The first faaiily that lived in this part of Iowa was that of
Hosea T. Camp, in 1832.

The first meeting house was built by the Methodist Episcopal
Church, at Dubuque, in 1834.

The first newspaper in Iowa was the Dubuque Visitor, issued
May 11th, 1836. John King, afterward Judge King, was editor,
and William C. Jones, printer.

The pioneers of lowa^ as a class, where brave, hardy, intelligent
and enterprising people.

As early as 1824, a French trader named Hart had established a
trading post, and built a cabin on the bluffs above the large spring
now known as ''Mynster Spring," within the limits of the pres-
ent city of Council Bluffs, and had probably been there some time,
as the post was known to the employes of the American Fur
Company as Lacote de Hart, or ''Hart's BlufP." In 1827 an
agent of the American Fur Company, Francis Guittar, with others,
encamped in the timber at the foot of the bluffs, about on the
present location of Broadway, and afterward settled there. In
1839 a block house was built on the bluff in the east part of the
city. The Pottawattamie Indians occupied this part of the State
until 1846-7, when they relinquished the territory and removed to
Kansas. Billy Caldwell was then principal chief. There were no
white settlers in that part of the State, except Indian traders,
until the arrival of the Mormons under the lead of Brigham
Young. These people, on their way westward, halted for the
Winter of 1846-7 on the west bank of the Missouri River, about
five miles above Omaha, at a place now called Florence. Some of
them had reaohed the eastern bank of the river the Spring before,
in season to plant a crop. In the Spring of 1847, Young and a
portion of the colony pursued their journey to Salt Lake, but a
large portion of them returned to the Iowa side and settled mainly
within the limits of Pottawattamie County. The principal settle-
ment of this strange community was at a place called "Miller's
Hollow," on Indian Creek, and afterward named Kanesville, in
honor of Col. Kane, of Pennsylvania, who visited them soon after-
ward. The Mormon settlement extended over the county and into
neighboring counties, wherever timber and water furnished
desirable locations. Orson Hyde, priest, lawyer and editor, was
installed as President of the Quorum of Twelve, and all that part
of the State remained under Mormon control for several years.
In 1846, they raised a battalion, numbering some five hundred
men, for the Mexican war. In 1848 Hyde started a paper called
the Frontier Guardian, at Kanesville. In 1849, after many of
the faithful had left to join Brigham Young at Salt Lake, the
Mormons in this section of Iowa numbered 6,552, and in 1850,
7,828, but they were not all Avithin the limits of Pottawattamie
County, This county was organized in 1848, all the first officials

HISTORY OF IOWA. 49

being Mormons. In 1852 the order was promulgated that all the
true believers should gather together at Salt Lake. Gentiles
flocked in, and in a lew years nearly all the settlers were gone.

May 9, 1843, Captain James Allen, with a small detachment of
troops on board the steamer lone, arrived at the present site of the
capital of the State, Des Moines. The lone was the first steamer
to ascend the Des Moines River to this point. The troops and
stores were landed at what is now the foot of Court avenue, Des
Moines, and Capt. Allen returned in the steamer to Fort Sanford
to arrange for bringing up more soldiers and supplies. In due
time, they, too, arrived, and a fort was built near the mouth of
Raccoon F'ork, at its confluence with the Des Moines, and named
Fort Des Moines. Soon after the arrival of the troops, a trading
post was established on the east side of the river, by two noted
Indian traders named Ewing, from Ohio.

Among the first settlers in this part of Iowa were Benjamin
Bryant, J. B. Scott, James Drake (gunsmith), John Sturtevant,
Robert Kinzie, Alexander Turner, Peter Newcomer, and others.

The Western States have been settled by many of the best and
most enterprising men of the older States, and a large immigra-
tion of the best blood of the Old World^ who, removing to an
arena of larger opportunies, in a more fertile soil and congenial
climate, have developed a spirit and energy peculiarly Western,
In no country on the globe have enterprises of all kinds been
pushed forward with such rapidity, or has there been such indepen-
dence and freedom of competition. Among those who have pio-
neered the civilization of the West, and been the founders of great
States, none have ranked higher in the scale of intelligence and
moral worth than the pioneers of Iowa, who came to the territory
when it was an Indian country, and through hardship, privation
and safFering, laid the foundation of the populous and prosperous
commonwealth which to-day dispenses its blessings to a million
and a half of people. From her first settlement and from the
first organization as a territory to the present day, Iowa has had
able men to manage her affairs, wise statemen to shape her destiny
and frame her laws, and intelligent and impartial jurists to admin-
ister justice to her citizens; her bar, pulpit and press have been
able and widely influential; and in all the professions, arts, enter-
prises and industries which go to make up a great and prosperous
commonwealth, she has taken and holds a front rank among her
sister States of the West.

TERRITORIAL HISTORY.

By act of Congress, approved October 31, 1803, the President of
the United States was authorized to take possession of the terri-
tory included in the Lousiana purchase, and provided for a tem-
porary government. By another act of the same session, approved
March 26, 1804, the neAvly acquired country was divided, October

50 HISTORY OF IOWA.

1st, 1804, iuto tlie territory of Orleans, south of the thirtj-third
parallel of north latitude, and the district of Louisiana, which lat-
ter was placed under the authority of the officers of Indian Territory.

In 1802 the district of Louisiana was organized as a Territory,
with a government of its own. In 1807 Iowa was included in the
Territory of Illinois, and in 1812 in the Territory of Missouri.
When Missouri Avas admitted as a State, March 2, 1821, "Iowa,"
says Hon. C. C. Nourse, "was left a political orphan," until by
act of Congress, approved June 28, 1834, the Black Hawk pur-
chase having been made, all the territory west of the Mississippi
and north of the northern boundary of Missouri, was made a part of
Michigan Territory. L^p to this time there had been no county
or other organization in what is now the State of Iowa, although
one or two Justices of the Peace had been appointed and a post-
office was established at Dubuque in 1833. In September, 1834,
however, the Territorial Legislature of Michigan created two coun-
ties on the west side of the Mississippi River, viz.: Dubuque and
Des Moines, separated by a line drawn westward from the foot of
Rock Island. These counties were partially organized. John
King was appointed Chief Justice of Dubuque County, and Isaac
Leffler of Burlington, of Des Moines County. Two Associate
Justices in each county were appointed by the Governor.

On the first Monday in October, 1825, Gen. Geo. W. Jones, now
a citizen of Dubuque, was elected a Delegate to Congress from this
part of Michigan Territory. On the 20th of April, 1836, through
the efforts of Gen. Jones, Congress passed a bill creating the Ter-
ritory of Wisconsin, which went into operation July 4, 1836, and
Iowa was then included in

THE TERRITORY OF WISCONSIN,

of which Gen. Henry Dodge was appointed Governor; John S.
Horner, Secretary of the Territory; Charles Dunn, Chief Justice;
David Irwin and Wm. C. Fraz<-r, Associate Justices.

September 9, 1836, Gov. Dodge ordered the census of the new
territory to be taken. This census resulted in showing a popula-
tion of 10,531 in the counties of Dubuque and Des Moines. Un-
der the apportionment, these two counties Avere entitled to six
members of the Council and thirteen of the House of Representa-
tives. The Governor issued his proclamation for an election to be
held on the first Monday of October, 1836^ on which day the fol-
lowing members of the First Territorial Legislature of Wisconsin
were elected from the two counties in the Black Hawk purchase:

Duhuque County. — Council: John Fally, Thomas McKnight,
Thomas McCarney. House: Loring Wheeler, Hardin Nowlan,
Peter Hill Engle, Patrick (^uigley, Hosea T. Camp.

Des Moines Count y. — Council: Jeremiah Smith, Jr., Joseph R.
Teas, Arthur B. Inghram. House: Isaac Leffler, Thomas Blair,
Warren L. Jenkins, John Box, George W. Teas, Eli Reynolds,
David R. Chance.

HISTORY OF IOWA. 51

The first Legislature assembled at Belmont, iu the present State
of Wisconsin, on the 25th day of October, 1836, and was organized
by electing Henry T. Baird President of the Council, and Peter
Hill Engle, of Dubuque, Speaker of the House. It adjourned
December 9, 1836.

The second Legislature assembled at Burlington, November 10,
1837. Adjourned January 20, 1838. The third session was at
Burlington; commenced June 1st, and adjourned June 12, 1838.

During the first session of Wisconsin Territorial Legislature,
in 1836, the County of Des Moines was divided in Des Moines,
Lee, Van Buren, Henry, Muscatine and Cook (the latter being sub-
sequently changed to Scott) and defined their boundaries. During
the second session, out of the territory embraced in Dubuque
County, were created the counties of Dubuque, Clayton, Fayette,
Delaware, Buchanan, Jackson, Jones, Linn, Clinton and Cedar,
and their boundaries defined, but the most of them were not or-
ganized until several years afterward, under the authority of the
Territorial Legislature of Iowa.

The question of a separate territorial organization for Iowa,
which was then a part of Wisconsin Territory, began to be agitated
early iu the autumn of 1837. The wishes of the people found ex-
pression in a convention held at Burlington on the 1st of Novem-
ber, which memorialized Congress to organize a Territory west of
the Mississippi, and to settle the boundary line between Wiscon-
sin Territory and Missouri. The Territorial Legislature of Wiscon-
sin, then in session at Burlington, joined in the petition. Gen.
Geo. W. Jones, of Dubuque, then residing at Sinsinawa Mound,
in what is now Wisconsin, was Delegate to Congress from Wis-
consin Territory, and labored so earnestly and successfully, that
"An act to divide the Territory of Wisconsin, and to establish the
Territorial Government of Iowa," was approved June 12, 1838, to
take effect and be in force on and after July 3, 1838. The new
Territory embraced "all that part of the present Territory of Wis-
consin which lies west of the Mississippi River, and west of a line
drawn due north from the headwaters or sources of the Mississippi
to the territorial line." The organic act provided for a Governor,
whose term of office should be three years, and for a Secretary,
Chief Justice, two Associate Justices, and Attorney and Marshal,
who should serve four years, to be appointed by the President, by
and with the advice and consent of the Senate. The act also pro-
vided for the election, by the white male inhabitants, citizens of
the United States, over twenty-one years of age, of a House of
Representatives, consisting of twenty-six members, and a Coun-
cil, to consist of thirteen members. It also appropriated $5,000
for a public library, and 120,000 for the erection of public build-
ings.

President Van Buren appointed ex-Governor Robert Lucas, of
Ohio, to be the first Governor of the new Territory. William B.

52 HI8T0KY OF IOWA.

Conway, o£ Pittsburgh, was appointed Secretary of the Territory;
Charles Mason, o£ Burlington, Chief Justice, and Thomas S. Wil-
son, of Dubuque, and Joseph Williams, of Pennsylvania, Asso-
ciate Judges of the Supreme and District Courts; Mr. Van Allen,
of New York, Attorney; Francis Gehon, of Dubuque, Marshal;
Augustus C. Dodge, Register of the Land Office at Burlington,
and Thomas McKnight, Receiver of the Land Office at Dubuque.
Mr. Van Allen, the District Attoruey, died at Rockingham, soon
after his appointment, and Col. Charles Weston was appointed to
fill his vacancy. Mr. Conway, the Secretary, also died at Burling-
ton, during the second session of the Legislature, and James
Clarke, editor of the Gazette, was appointed to succeed him.

Immediately after his arrival. Governor Lucas issued a proclama-
tion for the election of members of the first Territorial Legisla-
ture, to be held on the 10th of September, dividing the Territory
into election districts for that purpose, and appointing the 12th day
of November for meeting of the Legislature to be elected, at
Burlington.

The first Territorial Legislature was elected in September, and
assembled at Burlington on the 12th of November, and consisted
of the following members:

Council— Jesse B. Brown, J. Keith, E. A. M. Swazy, Arthur In-
gram, Robert Ralston, George Hepner, Jesse J. Payne, D. B.
Hughes, James M. Clark, Charles Whittlesey, Jonathan W. Par-
ker, Warner Lewis, Stephen Hempstead.

Zro??S('.— William Patterson, Hawkins Taylor, Calvin J. Price,
James Brierly, James Hall, Gideon S. Bailey, Samuel Parker,
James W. Grimes, George Temple, Van B. Delashmutt, Thomas
Blair, George H. Beeler,* William G. Coop, William H. Wallace,
Asbury B. Porter, John Frierson, William L. Toole, Levi Thorn-
ton, S. C. Hastings, Robert G. Roberts, Laurel Summers,! Jabez
A. Burchard, Jr., Channcey Swan, Andrew Bankson, Thomas
Cox and Hardin Nowlin.

Notwithstanding a large majority of the members of both
branches of the Legislature were Democrats, yet Gen. Jesse B.
Browne (Whig), of Lee Countv, was elected President of the
Council, and Hon. William H. Wallace (Whig), of Henry County,
Speaker of the House of Representatives— the former unani-
mously and the latter with but little opposition. At that time
national politics were little heeded by the people of the new Ter-
ritory, but in 1840, during the Presidential campaign, party lines
were stronglv drawn.

*Cyrus S. Jacobs, who was elected for Des Moines County, was killed m an
unfortunate encounter at Burlington before the meeting of the Legislature, and
Mr. Beeler was elected to fill the vacancy. v a v

tSamuel R. Nurray was returned as elected from Clinton County, but his seat
was successfully contested \iy Burchard.

HISTORY OF IOWA. 53

At the election in September, 1838, for members of the Legis-
lature, a Congressional Delegate was also elected. There were
four candidates, viz.: William W. Chapman and David Rohrer,
of Des Moines County; B. F. Wallace, of Henry County, aud P.
H. Engle, of Dubuque County. Chapman was elected, receiving
a majority of thirty-six over Engle.

The first session of the Iowa Territorial Legislature was a stormy
and exciting one. By the organic law, the Governor was clothed
with almost unlimited veto power. Governor Lucas seemed dis-
posed to make free use of it, and the independent Hawkey es could
not quietly submit t(7 arbitrary and absolute rule, and the result
was an unpleasant controversy between the Executive and Legisla-
tive departments. Congress, however, by act approved March
3, 1839, amended the organic law by restricting the veto power of
the Governor to the two-thirds rule, and took from him the power
to appoint sheriffs and Magistrates.

Among the first important matters demanding attention was the
location of the seat of government and provision for the erection
of public buildings, for which Congress had appropriated |20,000.
Governor Lucas, in his message, had recommended the appoint-
ment of Commissioners, with a view to making a central location.
The extent of the future State of Iowa was not known or thought
of. Only on a strip of laud fifty miles wide, bordering on the
Mississippi liiver, was the Indian title extinguished, and a central
location meant some central point in the Black Hawk Purchase.
The friends of a central location supported the Governor's sug-
gestion. The southern members were divided between Burlington
and Mount Pleasant, but finally united on the latter as the proper
location for the seat of government. The central and southern
parties were very nearly equal, and, in consequence, much excite-
ment prevailed. The central party at last triumphed, and on the
21st day of January, 1839, an act was passed, appointing Chaun-
cey Swan, of Dubuque County; John Ronalds, of Louisa County,
and Robert Ralston, of Des Moines County, Commissioners, to se-
lect a site for a permament seat of Government within the limits
of Johnson County.

Johnson County had been created by act of the Territorial Leg-
islature of Wisconsin, approved December 21, 1837, and organized
by act passed at the special session at Burlington in June, 1838,
the organization to date from July 4th, following. Napoleon, on
the Iowa River, a few miles below the future Iowa City, was des-
ignated as the county seat, temporarily.

Then there existed good reason for locating the capital in the
county. The Territory of Iowa was bounded on the north by the
British Possessions; east, by the Mississippi River to its source;
thence by a line drawn due north to the northern boundary of the
United States; south, by the State of Missouri, and west, by the
Missouri and White Earth Rivers. But this immense territory

54 HISTORY OF IOWA.

was in undisputed possession of the Indians, except a strip on the
Mississippi known as the Black Hawk Purchase. Johnson County
was, from north to south, in the geographical center of this pur-
chase, and as near the east and west geographical center of the
future State of Iowa as could then be made, as the boundar}^ line
between the lands of the United States and the Indians, estab-
lished by the treaty of October 21, 1837, was immediately west of
tho county limits.

The Commissioners, after selecting the site, were directed to lay
out 640 acres into a town, to be called Iowa City, and to proceed to
sell lots and erect public buildings thereon. Congress having
granted a section of land to be selected by the Territory for this
purpose. The Commissioners met at Napoleon, Johnson County,
May 1, 1839, selected for a site Section 10, in Township 79 North
of Range 6, West of the Fifth Principal Meridian, and immedi-
ately surveyed it and laid off the town. The first sale of lots took
place August 16, 1339. The site selected for the public buildings
was a little west of the geographical center of the section, where
a square of ten acres on the elevated grounds overlooking the river
was reserved for the purpose. The capitol Avas located in the center
of this square. The second Territorial Legislature, which assem-
bled in November, 1839, passed an act requiriing the Commission-
ers to adopt such plan for the building that the aggregate cost
when complete, should not exceed $51,000; and if they had already
adopted apian involving a greater expenditure, they were directed
to abandon it. Plans for the building were designed and drawn
by Mr. John F. Rague, of Springfield, 111., and on the 4th day of
July, 1840, the corner stone of the edifice was laid with appropri-
ate ceremonies. Samuel C. Trowbridge was Marshal of the day,
and Gov. Lucas delivered the address on that occasion.

When the Legislature assembled at Burlington in special session,
July 13, 1840, Gov. Lucas announced that on the 4th of that
month he had visited Iowa City, and found the basement of the
capitol nearly completed. A bill authorizing a loan of $20,000
for the building was passed, January 15, 1841, the unsold lots of
Iowa City being the security offered, but only $5,500 was obtained
under the act.

THE BOUNDARY QUESTION.

The boundary line between the Territory of Iowa and the State
of Missouri was a difficult question to settle in 1838, in conse-
quence of claims arising from taxes and titles, and at one time
civil war was imminent. In defining the boundaries of the coun-
ties bordering on Missouri, the Iowa authorities had fixed a line
that has since been established as the boundary between Iowa and
Missouri. The Constitution of Missouri defines her northern
boundary to be the parallel of the latitude which passes through

HISTORY OF IOWA. 55

the rapids of the Des Moines River. The lower rapids of the
Mississippi immediately above the mouth of the Des Moines River
had always been known as the Des Moines Rapids, or "the rapids
of the Des Moines River." The Missouriaus (evidently not well
versed in history or geography) insisted on running the northern
boundary line from the rapids in the Des Moines River, just below
Keosauqua, thus takiugfrom Iowa a strip of territory eight or ten
miles wide. Assuming this as her northern boundary line, Mis-
souri attempted to exercise jurisdiction over the disputed territory
by assessing taxes, and sending her Sheriffs to collect them by dis-
training the personal property of the settlers. The lowans, how-
ever, were not disposed to submit, and the Missouri officials were
arrested by the Sheriffs of Davis and Van Buren Counties and
confined in jail. Gov. Boggs, of Missouri, called out his militia to
enforce the claim and sustain the officers of Missouri. Gov. Lucas
called out the militia of Iowa, and both parties made active prep-
arations for war. In Iowa, about 1,200 men were enlisted, and
600 were actually armed and encamped in Van Buren County,
ready to defend the integrity of the Territory. Subsequently,
Gen. A. C. Dodge, of Burlington, Gen. Churchman, of Dubuque,
and Dr. Clark, of Fort Madison, were sent to Missouri as envoys
plenipotentiary, to effect, if possible, a peaeable adjustment of the
difficulty. Upon their arrival, they found that the County Com-
missioners of Clarke County, Missouri, had rescinded their order
for the collection of the taxes, and that Gov. Boggs had dispatched
messengers to the Governor of Iowa proposing to submit an
agreed case to the Supreme Court of the United States for the
final settlement of the boundary question. This proposition was
declined, but afterward Congress authorized a suit to settle the
controversy, which was instituted, and which resulted in a judg-
ment for Iowa. Under this decision, William G. Miner, of Mis-
souri, and Henry B. Hendershott were appointed Commissioners
to survey and establish the boundary. Mr. Nourse remarks that
"the expenses of the war on the part of Iowa were never paid,
either by the United States or the Territorial Government. The
patriots who furnished supplies to the troops had to bear the cost
and charges of the struggle."

The first legislative assembly laid the broad foundation of civil
equality, on which has been constructed one of the most liberal
governments in in the Union. Its first act was to recognize the
equality of woman with man before the law, by providing that
"no action commenced by a single woman, who intermarries
during the pendency thereof, shall abate on account of such mar-
riage. ' This principle has been adopted by all subsequent legisla-
tion in Iowa, and to-day woman has full and equal civil rights with
man, except only the right of the ballot.

Religious toleration was also secured to all, personal liberty
strictly guarded, th.e rights and privileges of citizenship extended

66 HISTORY OF IOWA.

to all white persons, and the purity of elections secured hy heavy
penalties against bribery and corruption. The judiciary power was
vested in a Supreme Court, District Court Probate Court, and
Justices of the Peace. Real estate was made divisible by will, and
intestate property divided equitably among heirs. Murder was
made punishable by death, and proportionate penalties fixed for
lesser crimes. A system of free schools, open for every class of
white citizens, was established. Provision was made for a system
of roads and highways. Thus, under the territorial organization,
the country began to emerge from a savage wilderness, and take
on the forms of civil government.

By act of Congress of June 12, 1838, the lands which had been
purchased of the Indians were brought into» market, and land
ofiices opened in Dubuque and Burlington. Congress provided for
military roads and bridges, which greatly aided the settlers, who
were now coming in by thousands, to make their homes on the
fertile prairies of Iowa — "The Beautiful Land.'' The fame of
the country had spread far and wide; even before the Indian title
was extinguished, many were crowding the borders, impatient to
cross over and stake out their claims on the choicest spots they
could find in the new Territory. As soon as the country was open
for settlement, the borders, the Black Hawk Purchase, all along the
Mississippi, and up the principal rivers and streams, and out over
the broad rolling prairies, began to be thronged with eager land
hunters and immigrants, seeking homes in Iowa. It was a sight
to delight the eyes of all comers from every land — its noble
streams, beautiful and picturesque hills and valleys, broad and fer-
tile prairies extending as far as the eye could reach, with a soil
surpassing in richness anything which they had ever seen. It is
not to be wondered at that immigration into Iowa was rapid, and
that within less than a decade from the organization of the Ter-
ritory it contained a hundred and fifty thousand people.

As rapidly as the Indian titles were extinguished and the origi-
nal owners removed, the resistless tide of emigration flowed west-
ward. The following extract from Judge Nourse's Centennial
Address shows how the emigrants gathered on the Indian bound-
ary, ready for the removal of the barrier:

In obedience to our progressive and aggressive spiril', the Government of the
United States made another treaty -with the Sac and Fox Indians, on the 11th
day of August, 1842, for the remaining portion of their land in Iowa. The
treaty provided that the Indians should retain possession of all the lands thus
ceded until May 1, 1843, and should occupy that portion of the ceded territory
west of a line running north and south through Redrock, until October 11,
1845. These tribes, at this time, had their principal village at Ot-tum-wa-no;
now called Ottumwa. As soon as it became known that the treaty had been con-
cluded, there was a rush of immigration to Iowa, and a great number of tem-
porary settlements were made near the Indian boundary, waiting for the 1st day
of May. As the day approached, hundreds of families encamped along the line,
and their tents and wagons ga-^e the scene the appearance of a military expe-

HISTORY OF IOWA. 57

dition. The country beyond had been thoroughly explored, but the United
States military authorities had prevented any settlement, or eyen the making
out of claims by any monuments whatever.

To aid them in making out their claims when the hour should arrive, the set-
tlers had placed piles of dry wood on the rising ground, at convenient distances,
and a short time before twelve o'clock on the night of the 30th of Apvil, these
wore lighted, and when the midnight hour arrived it was anounced by the dis-
charge of tirearms. The night was dark, but this army of occupation pressed
forward, torch in hand, witii axe and hatchet, blazing lines with all manner of
curves and angles. When daylight came and revealed the confusion of these
wonderful surveys, numerouB disputes arose, settled generally by compromise,
but sometimes by violence. Between midnight of the oOth of April and sun-
down of the 1st of May, over one thousand fomili< •^ had settled on their new
purchase.

While this seen 2 was transpiring, the retreating Indians were enacting one
more impressive and melancholy. The winter of 1842-43 was one of unusual
severity, and the Indian prophet, who had disapproved of the treaty, attributed
the severity of the winter to the anger of the Great Spirit, because they had sold
their country. Many religious rites were performed to atone for the crime.
When the time for leaving Ot-tum-wa-no arrived, a solemn silence pervaded the
Indian camp, and the faces of their stoutest men were bathed in tears; and when
their cavalcade was put in motion, toward the setting sun, there was a sponta-
neous outburst of frantic grief from the entire procession.

The Indians remained the appointed time beyond the line running north and
south through Redrock. The Government established a trading post and mili-
tary encampment at the Raccoon Fork of the Des Moines River, then and for
many years known as Fort Des Moines. Here the red men lingered until the
11th of October, 1845, when the same scene that we have before described was
re-enacted, and the wave of immigration swept ov.t the remainder of the "New
Purchase." The lands thus occupied andclaimol 1 y the settlers still belonged
in fee to the General Government. The surveys were not completed until some
time after the Indian title was extinguished. After their survey, the lands
were publicly proclaimed or advertised for sale at public auction. Under the
laws of the United States, a pre-emption or exclusive right to purchase public
lands could not be acquired until afi^r the lands had thus been pubhcly offered
and not sold for want of bidders. Then, and not until then, an occupant mak-
ing improvements in good faith might acquire a right over others to enter the
land at the minimum price of $1.25 per acre. The "claim laws" were un-
known to the United States statutes. They originated in the "eternal fitness
of things," and were enforced, probably, as belonging to that class of natural
rights not enumerated in the constitution, and not impaired or disparaged by
its enumeration.

The settlers organized in every settlement prior to the public land sales, ap-
pointed otiicers, and adopted their own rules and regulations. Each man's
claim_ was duly ascertained and recorded by the Secretary. It was the duty of
all to attend the sales. The Secretary bid off the lands of each settler at $1.25
per acre. The others were there to see, first, that he did his duty and bid in the
land, and, secondly, to see that no one else bid. This, of courss, sometimes led
to trouble, but it saved the excitement of competition, and gave a formality and
degree of order and regularity to the proceedings they would not otherwise have
attained. As far as practicable, the Territorial Legislature recognized the
vahdity of these "claims" upon the public lands, and in 1839 passed an act
legahzing their sale and making their transfer a valid consideration to support a
promise to pay for the same. (Acts of 184:3, p. 456.) The Supreme Territorial
• Court held this law to be valid. (See Hill v. Smith, 1st Morris Rep, 70.) The
opinion not only contains a decision of the question involved, but also contains
much valuable erudition upon that "spirit of Anglo-Saxon liberty" which the
Iowa settlers unquestionably inherited in a direct bne of descent from the said
"Anglo-Saxons." But the early settler was not always able to pay even this
dollar and twenty-five cents per acre for his land.

58 HISTORY OF IOWA.

Many of the settlers had nothing to begin with, save their
hands, health and courage and their family jewels, "the pledges
of love," and the "consumers of bread." It was not so easy to
accummulate money in the early days of the State, and the "beau-
tiful prairies," the "noble streams," and all that sort of poetic
imagery, did not prevent ihe early settlers from becoming dis-
couraged.

An old settler, in speaking of the privations and trials of those

early days, says:

Well do tho "old settlers" of Iowa remember the days from the first settle-
ment to 1840. Those were days of sadness and distress. The endearments of
home in another land had been broken up; and all that was hallowed on earth,
the home of childhood, and the scenes of youth, were severed; and we safe by
the gentle waters of our noble river, and, often "hung our harps on the wil-
lows."

Another, from another part of the State, testifies:
There was no such thing as getting money for any kind of labor. I laid brick
at $3.00 per thousand, and took my pay in anything I could eat or wear. I
built the first Methodist Church at Keokuk, 42x60 feet, of brick, for $600, and
took my pay in a subscription paper, part of which I never collected, and upon
which I only received $50 00 in money. Wheat was hauled 100 miles from the
interior, and sold for ol% cents per bushel.

Another old settler, in speaking of a later period, 1843, says:

Land and everything had gone down in value to almost nominal prices. Corn
and oats could be bought for six or ten cents a bushel; pork, $1.00 per hundred,
and the best horse a man could raise sold for $50.00. Nearly all were in debt,
and the Sheriff and Constable, with legal processes, were common visitors at
almost every man's door. These were indeed "the times that tried men's
souls."

"A few," says Mr. Nourse, "who were not equal to the trial, re-
turned to their old homes, but such as had courage and faith to be
the worthy founders of a great State remained, to more than
realize the fruition of their hopes, and the reward of their self-
denial."

Oe Monda}^ December G, 1S41, the fourth Legislative Assembly
met, at the new capital, Iowa City, but the capitol building could
not be used, and the Legislature occupied a temporary frame house,
that had been erected for that purpose, during the session of
1841-2. At this session, the Superintendent of Public Buildings
(who, with the Territorial Agent, had superseded the Commis-
sioners first appointed), estimated the expense of completing the
building at ^33,330, and that rooms for the use of the Legislature
could be completed for $15,600.

During 1842, the Superintendent commenced obtaining stone
from a new quarry, about ten miles northeast of the city. This is
now known as the "Old Captain Quarry," and contains, it is
thought, an immense quantity of exellent building stone. Here all
the stone for completing the building was obtained, and it was so
far completed that on the 5th day of December, 1842, the Legis-
lature assembled in the new capitol. At this session, the Super-
intendent estimated that it would cost $39,143 to finish the build-

HISTOKY OF IOWA. 59

ing. This was nearly $6,000 higher than the estimate of the pre-
vious year, notwithstanding a large sum had been expended in
the meantime. This rather discouraging discrepancy was ac-
counted for by the fact that the officers in charge of the work were
constantly short of funds. Except the Congressional appropria-
tion of 120,000 and the loan of |5,500, obtained from the Miners'
Bank, of Dubuque, all the funds for the prosecution of the work
were derived from the sale of the city lots (which did not sell
very rapidly), from the certificates of indebtedness, and from scrip,
based upon unsold lots, which was to be received in payment for
such when they were sold. At one time the Superintendent
made a requisition for bills of iron and glass, which could not be
obtained nearer than St. Louis. To meet this, the Agent sold
some lots for a draft, payable at Pittsburgh, Pa., for which he was
compelled to pay twenty-five per cent, exchange. This draft,
amounting to $507, that officer reported to be more than one-half
the cash actually handled by him during the entire season, when
the disbursement amounted to very nearly ^24,000.

With such uncertainty it could not be expected that estimates
could be very accurate. With all these disadvantages, however,
the work appears to have been prudently prosecuted, and as rapid-
ly as circumstances would permit.

Iowa remained a territory from 1838 to 1846, during which the
office of Governor was held by Robert Lucas, John Chambers and
James Clark.

STATE ORGANIZATION.

By an act of the Territorial Legislature of Iowa, approved Feb-
ruary 12, 1844, the question of the formation of a State Constitu-
tion and providing for the election of delegates to a convention to
he convened for that purpose was submitted to the people, to be
voted upon at their township elections in April following. The
vote was largely in favor of the measure, and the delegates elected
assembled in convention at Iowa city on the 7th of October, 1844.
On the first day of November following the convention completed
its work and adopted the first State constitution.

The President of the convention, Hon. Shepherd Leffler, was in-
structed to transmit a certified copy of this constitution to the
delegate in Congress, to be by him submitted to that body at the
earliest practicable day. It was also provided that it should be
submitted, together with auy conditions or changes that might be
made by Congress, to the people of the Territory for their approval
or rejection, at the township election in April, 1845.

The boundaries of the State, as defined by the constitution,
were as follows:

Beginning in the middle of the chcinnel of the Mississippi river, opposite
mouth of the Des Moines river, thence up the said river Des Moines, in the
middle of the main channel thereof, to a point where it is intersected by tlie

60 HISTOKT OF IOWA.

old Indian boundary line, or line run by John C. Sullivan in the year 1816;
thence westwardly along said line to the "old" northwest corner of Missouri;
thence due west to the middle of the main channel of the Missouri river;
thence up in the middle of the main channel of the river last mentioned to the
mouth of the Sioux or Calumet river; thence in a direct line to the middle of
the main channel of tne St. Peters river, where the Watonwan river — according
to Nicollet's map — enters the same; thence down the middle of the main chan-
nel of said river to the middle of the main channel of the Mississippi river;
thence down the middle of the main channel of said river to the place of be-
ginning.

These boundaries were rejected by Congress, but by act approved
March 3, 1845, a State called Iowa was admitted into the Union,
provided the people adopted the act, bounded as follows:

Beginning at the mouth of the Des Moines river, at the middle of the Mis-
sissippi , thence by the middle of the channel of that river to a parallel of lati-
tude passing through the mouth of the Mankato or Blue Earth river; thence
west, along said parallel of latitude to a point where it is intersected by a me-
ridian line seventeen degrees and thirty minutes west of the meridian of Wash-
ington City; thence due south to the northern boundary line of the State of
Missouri; thence easterly following that boundaiy line to the point at which
the same intersects the Des Moines river; thence by the middle of the channel
of that river to the place of beginning.

These boundaries, had they been accepted, would have placed
the northern boundary of the State about thirty miles north of its
present location, and would have deprived it of the Missouri
slope and the boundary of that river. The western boundary
would have been near the west line of what is now Kossuth
county. But it was not so to be. In consequence of this radical
and unwelcome change in the boundaries, the people refused to
accept the act of Congress and rejected the constitution at the
election, held August 4, 1845, by a vote of 7,656 to 7,235.

A second constitutional convention assembled at Iowa City on
the 4th day of May, 1846, and on the 18th of the same month an-
other Constitution for the new State with the present boundaries-
was adopted and submitted to the people for ratification on the 3d
day of August following, when it was accepted; 9,492 votes were
cast "for the Constitution," and 9,036 "against the Constitution."

The Constitution was approved by Congress, and by act of Con-
gress approved December 28, 1846, Iowa was admitted as a sover-
eign State in the American Union.

Prior to this action of Congress, however, the people of the
new State held an election under the new Constitution on the •26th
day of October, and elected Oresel Briggs, Governor; Elisha Cutler,
Jr., Secretary of State; Joseph T. Fales. Auditor; Morgan Reno,
Treasurer, and members of the Senate and House of Represent-
atives.

At this time there were twenty-seven organized counties in the
State, with a population of nearly 100,000, and the frontier
settlements were rapidly pushing toward the Missouri river. The
Mormons had already reached there.

HISTORY OF IOWA. 61

The first General Assembly of the State of Iowa was composed
of nineteen Senators and forty Representatives. It assembled at
Iowa City November 30, 1840, about a monthbefore the State was
admitted into the Union.

At the first session of the State Legislature, the Treasurer of
State reported that the capitol building was in a very exposed con-
dition, liable to injury from storms, and expressed the hope that
some provision would be made to complete it, at least sufficiently
to protect it from the weather. The General Assembly responded
by appropriating $2,500 for the completion of the public buildings.
At the first session also arose the question of the re-location of
the capital. The western boundary of the State, as now deter-
mined, left Iowa City too far toward the eastern and southern
boundary of the State; this was conceded. Congress had appro-
priated five sections of land for the erection of public buildings,
and toward the close of the session a bill was introduced provid-
ing for the re-location of the seat of government, involving to
some extent the location of the State University, which had al-
ready been discussed. This bill gave rise to a deal of discussion
and parliamentary maneuvering, almost purely sectional in its
character. It provided for the appointment of three Commis-
sioners, who were authorized to make a location as near the geo-
graphical center of the State as a healthy and eligible site could be
obtained; to select the five sections of land donated by Congress;
to survey and plat into town lots not exceeding one section of the
land so selected; to sell lots at public sale, not to exceed two in
each block. Having done this, they were then required to sus-
pend further operations, and make a report of their proceedings
to the Governor. The bill passed both Houses by decisive votes,
received the signature of the Governor and became a law. Soon
after, by ''An act to locate and establish a State University," ap-
proved February 25th, 1847, the unfinished public buildings at
Iowa City, together with the ten acres of land on which they were
situated, were granted for the use of the University, reserving
their use, however, by the General assembly and the State officei-s,
until other provisions were made by law.

The commissioners forthwith entered upon their duties, and se-
lected four sections and two half sections in Jasper county. Two
of these sections are in what is now Des Moines Township, and
the others in Fairview township, in the southern part of that
county. These lands are situated between Prairie City and Mon-
roe, on the Keokuk & Des Moines Railroad, which runs diagonally
through them. Here a town w^as platted, called Monroe City, and
a sale of lots took place. Four hundred and fifteen lots were sold
at prices that were not considered remarkably remunerative. The
cash payments (one-fourth) amounted to 11,797.43, while the ex-
penses of the sale and the claims of the Commissioners for ser-

02 HISTORY OF IOWA.

vices amounted to $2,206.57. The Commissioners made a report
of their proceedings to the Governor, as required by law, hut the
location was generally condemned.

When the report of the Commissioners, showing this brilliant
financial operation, had been read in the House of Representatives
at the next session, and while it was under consideration, an indig-
nant member, afterward known as the eccentric Judge McFar-
land, moved to refer the report to a select committee of five, with
instructions to report "how much of said city of Monroe was under
water and how much was burned." The report was referred,
without the instructions, however, but Monroe City never be-
caine the seat of government. By an act approved January 15,
1849, the law by which the location had been made was repealed
and the new town was vacated, the money paid by purchasers of
lots being refunded to them. This, of course, retained the seat of
government at Iowa City, and precluded for the time, the occupa-
tion of the building and grounds by the University.

At the same session $3,000 more were appropriated for complete
ing the State building at Iowa City. In 1852 the further sum of
15,000, and in 1854 $4,000 more were appropriated for the same
purpose, making the whole cost $123,000, paid partly by the Gen-
eral Government and partly by the State, but principally from the
proceeds of the sale of lots in Iowa City.

But the question of the permanent location of the seat of gov-
ernment was not settled; and in 1851 bills were introduced for the
removal of the capital to Pella and to FortDes Moines. The lat-
ter appeared to have the support of the majority, but was finally
lost in the House on the question of ordering it to its third read-
ing-

At the next session, in 1853, a bill was introduced in the Sen-
ate for the removal of the seat of government to Fort Des Moines^
and; on final vote, was just barely defeated. At the next session,
however, the effort was more successful, and on the 15th day of
•lanuary, 1855, a bill re-locating the capital within two miles of
the Racoon Fork of the Des Moines, and for the appointment of
Commissioners, was approved by Gov. Grimes. The site was se-
lected in 1856, in accordance with the provisions of this act, the
land being donated to the State by citizens and property-holders
of Des Moines. An association of citizens erected a building for
a temporary capitol, and leased it to the State at a nominal rent.

The third constitutional convention to revise the Constitution
of the State assembled at Iowa City, January 19, 1857. The new
constitution framed by this convention was submitted to the peo-
ple at an election held August 3, 1857, when it was approved and
adopted by a vote of 40,311 "for" to 38,681 "against," and on the
3rd day of September following was declared by a proclamation of
the Governor to be the supreme law of the State of Iowa.

HISTORY OF IOWA. 63

Advisei of the completion of the temporary State House at Des
Moiues, on the 10th of October following, Governor Grimes issued
another proclamation, declaring the city of Des Moines to be the
capital of the State of Iowa.

The removal of the archives and offices was commenced at once
and continued through the fall. It was an undertaking of no
small magnitude; there was not a mile of railroad to facilitate the
work, and the season was unusually disagreeable. Rain, snow,
and other accompaniments increased the difficulties, and it was
not until December that the last of the effects — the safe of the
State Treasurer, loaded on two large '"bob-sleds" — drawn by ten
yoke of oxen, was deposited in the new capitol. It is not impru-
dent now to remark that, during this passage over hills and
prairies, across rivers, through bottom lands and timber, the safes
belonging to the several departments contained large sums of
money, mostly individual funds, however. Thus, Iowa City
ceased to be the capital of the State, after four Territorial Legisla-
tures, six State L?gislatures and three Constitutional Conventions
had held their sessions there. By the exchange, the old capitol at
Iowa City became the seat of the University, and except the rooms
occupied by the United States District Court, passed under the im-
mediate and direct control of the trustees of that institution.

Des Moines was now the permanent seat of government, made
so by the fundamental law of the State, and on the 11th day of
January, 1858, the seventh General Assembly convened at the
new capital. The building used for governmental purposes Avas
purchased in 1861. It soon became inadequate for tiie purposes
for Avhich it WtiS designed, and it became apparent that a new,
large and permanent State House must be erected. In 1870, the
General Assembly made an appropriation, and provided for the ap-
pointment of a Board of Commissioner;? to commence the work.
The board consisted of Gov. Samuel Merrill, ex-officio President;
Grenville M. Dodge, Council Blufis; James F. Wilson, P'airfield;
Jamas Dawson, Washington; Simon G. Stein, Muscatine; James
0. Crosby, Gainsville; Charles Dudley, Agency City; John N.
Dewey, Des Moines; William L, Joy, Sioux City; Alexander R.
Fulton, Des Moines, Secretary.

The act of 1870 provided that the building should be constructed
of the best material and should be fire proof, to be heated and ven-
tilated in the most approved manner; should contain suitable leg-
islative halls, rooms for State officers, the judiciary, library, com-
mittees, archives and the collections of the State Agricultural
Society; and for all purposes of State Government, and should be
erected on grounds held by the State for that purpose. The sum
first appropriated was $150,000; and the law provided that no
contract should be made, either for constructing or furnishing the
building, which should bind the State for larger sums than those
at the time appropriated. A design was drawn and plans and

64 HISTORY OF IOWA.

specificatious furnished by Cochrane & Piquenard, architects, which
were accepted by the board, and on the 23d of November, 1871,
the corner stone was laid with appropriate ceremonies. The
estimated cost and present value of the capitol is fixed at $2,000,-
000.

From 1858 to 1860, the Sioux became troublesome in the north-
western part of the State. These warlike Indians made frequent
plundering raids upon the settlers, and murdered several families.
In 1801, several companies of militia were ordered to that portion
of the State to hunt down and punish the murderous thieves. No
battles were fought, however, for the Indians fled when they as-
certained that systematic and adequate measures had been adopted
to protect the settlers.

"The year 1856 marked a new era in the history of Iowa. In
1854, the Chicago & Rock Island Railroad had been completed to
the east bank of the Mississippi River, opposite Davenport. In
1854, the corner stone of a railroad bridge, that was to be the first
to span the ''Father of Waters," was laid with appropriate cere-
monies at this point. St. Louis had resolved that the enterprise
was unconstitutional, and by writs of injunction made an unsuc-
cessful effort to prevent its completion. Twenty years later in her
history, St. Louis repented her folly, and made atonement for her
sin by imitating our example. On the first day of January, 1856,
this railroad was completed to Iowa City. In the meantime, two
other railroads had reached the east bank of the Mississippi — one
opposite Burlington, and one opposite Dubuque — and these were
being extended into the interior of the State. Indeed, four lines
of railroad had been projected across the State from the Mississippi
to the Missouri, having eastern connections. On the 15th of May,
1856, the Congress of the United States passed an act granting to
the State, to aid in the construction of railroads, the public lands^
in alternate sections, six miles on either side of the proposed line.
An extra session of the General Assembly was called in July of
this year, that disposed of the grant to the several companies that
proposed to complete these enterprises. The population of our
State at this time had increased to 500,000. Public attention had
been called to the necessity of a railroad across the continent. The
position of Iowa, in the very heart and center of the Republic,ou
the route of this great highway across the continent, began to at-
tract attention. Cities and towns sprang up through the State as
if by magic. Capital began to pour into the State, and had it been
employed in developing our vast coal measures and establishing
manufactories among us, or if it had been expended in improving
our lands, and building houses and barns, it would have been well.
But all were in haste to get rich, and the spirit of speculation
ruled the hour.

In the meantime every effort was made to help the speedy
completion of the railroads. Nearly every county and city on the

HISTORY OF IOWA. 65

Mississippi, and many in the interior, voted lar^e corporate sub-
scriptions to the stock of the railroad companies, and issued their
negotiable bonds for the amount. Thus enormous county and
city debts were incurred, the payment of which these municipalities
tried to avoid upon the plea that they had exceeded the constitu-
tional limitation of their powers. The Supreme Court of the
United States held these bonds to be valid, and the courts by man-
damus compelled the city and county authorities to levy taxes to
pay the judgments. These debts are not all pAid even yet, but
the worst is over and ultimately the burden will be entirely re-
moved.

The first railroad across the State was completed to Council
Bluffs in January, 1871. The others were completed soon after.
In 1851 there was not a mile of railroad in the State. In 1874,
twenty years after, there were 3,765 miles in successful opera-
tion.

GROWTH AND PROGRESS.

When Wisconsin Territory was organized, in 1836, the entire
population of that portion of the Territory now embraced in the
State of Iowa was 10,531. The Territory then embraced two
counties; Dubuque and Des Moines, erected by the Territory of
Michigan, in 1834. From 1836 to 1838, the Territorial Legisla-
lature of Wisconsin increased the number of counties to sixteen,
and the population had increased to 22,859. * Since then the coun-
ties have increased to ninety-nine, and the population, in 1875,
was 1,366,000. The following table will show the population at
different periods since the erection of Iowa Territory:

Year. Population.

1859 638,775

1860 674,913

1863 701,732

1865 754,699

1867 902,040

1869 1,040,819

1870 1,191,727

1873 1,251,333

1875 1,366,000

1880 1,624,463

Year. Fojmlation

1S3S 22,589

1840 43,115

1844 75,152

1846 97,588

1847 116,651

1849 152,988

1850 191,982

1851 204,774

1852 230,713

1853 326,013

1856 519,055

The most populous county in the State is Dubuque. Not only
in population, but in everything contributing to the growth and
greatness of a State has Iowa made rapid progress. In a little
more than thirty years, its wild but beautiful prairies have ad-
vanced from the home of the savage to a highly civilized common-
wealth, embracing all the elements of progress which character-
ize the older States.

Thriving cities and towns dot its fair surface; an iron net-work
of thousands of miles of railroads is woven over its broad acres;
ten thousand school houses, in which more than five hundred

^^ HISTORY OF IOWA.

thousand children are being taught the rudiments of education,
testify to the culture and liberality of the people; high schools,
colleges and universities are generously endowed by the State;
manufactories spring up on all her water courses, aud in most of
her cities and towns.

Whether measured from the date of her first settlement, her
organization as a Territory, or admission as a State, Iowa has thus
far shown a growth unsurpassed, in a similar period, by any com-
monwealth on the face of the earth; and, with her vast extent of
fertile soil, with her inexhaustible treasures of mineral wealth,
with a healthful, invigorating climate; an intelligent, liberty-loving
people; with equal, just and liberal laws, and her free schools,
the future of Iowa may be expected to surpass the most hopeful
anticipations of her present citizens.

Looking upon Iowa as she is to-day — populous, prosperous and
happy — it is hard to realize the wonderful changes that have oc-
curred since the first white settlements svere made within her bor-
ders. When the number of States was only twenty-six, and their
total population about twenty millions, our republican form of gov-
ernment was hardly more than an experiment, just fairly put upon
trial. The development of our agricultural resources and inex-
haustible mineral wealth had hardly commenced. Westward the
"Star of Empire" had scarcely started on its way. West of the
great Mississippi was a mighty empire, but almost unknown, and
marked on the maps t»f the period as ''The Great American Des-
ert."

Now, thirty-eight stars glitter on our national escutcheon, aud
fifty millions of people, who know their rights and dare
maintain them, tread American soil, and the grand sisterhood of
vStates extends from the Gulf of Mexico to the Canadian border,
and from the rocky coast of the Atlantic to the golden shores of
the Pacific.

THE AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE AND FARM.

Ames, Siori/ Count!/.

The Iowa State Agricultural College and Farm were established
by an act of the General Assembly, approved March 22d, 1858.
A Board of Trustees was appointed, consisting of Governor R. P.
Lowe, John D. Wright, William Duane Wilson, M. W. Robinson.
Timothy Day, Richard Gaines, John Pattee, G. W. F. Sherwdn,
Suel Foster, S. W. Henderson, Clement Coffin, and E. G. Day; the
Governor of the State and President of the College being ex-officio
members. Subsequently the number of Trustees was reduced to
five. The Board met in June, 1859, and received propositions for
the location of the College and Farm from Hardin, Polk, Story and
Boone, Marshall, Jeff'erson and Tama counties. In July, the
proposition of Story County and some of its citizens and by the

HISTORY OF IOWA. 67

citizens of Booiie Couuty was accepted, and the farm and the
site for the buildings were located. In 1860-61, the farm house
and barn were erected. In 18G2 Congress granted to the State
240,000 acres of land for the endowment of schools of agriculture
and the mechanical art?, and 195,000 acres were located by Peter
Melendy, Commissioner, in 1862-63. In 1864 the General As-
sembly appropriated $20,000 for the erection of the college build-
ing.

In June of that year the Building Committee proceeded to let
the contract. The $20,000 appropriated by the General Assembly
were expended in putting in the foundations and making the
brick for the structure. An additional appropriation of $01,000
was made in 1866, and the building was completed in 1868.

Tuition in this college is made by law forever free to pupils
from the State ever sixteen years of age, who have been resident
of the State six months previuous to their admission. Each couuty
in the State has a previous right of tuition for three scholars from
each county; the remainder, equal to the capacity of the college,
are by the trustees distributed among the counties in proportion
to the population, and subject to the above rule. All sale of ar-
dent spirits, wine or beer, is prohibited by law within a distance
of three miles from the college, except for sacramental, mechani-
cal or medical purposes.

The course of instruction in the Agricultural College embraces
the following branches: Natural Philosophy, Chemistry, Botany^
Horticulture, Fruit Growing, Forestry, Animal and Vegetable
Anatomy, Geology, Mineralogy, Meteorology, Entomology,
Zoology, the Veterinary Art, Plain Mensuration, Leveling, Sur-
veying, Bookkeeping, and such Mechanical Arts as are directly
connected with agriculture; also such other studies as the Trus-
tees may, from time to time, prescribe, not inconsistent with the
purposes of the institutions The funds arising from the lease and
sale of lands, and interest on investments, are sufficient for the
support of the institution.

The Board of Trustees, in 1881. was composed of Charles W.
Tenney, Plymouth; George H. Wright, Sioux City; Henry G.
Little, Grinnell; William McClintock, West Union; John N.
Dixon, Oskaloosa. A. S. Welch, President of the Faculty, W. D.
Lucas, Treasurer; E. W. Stanton, Secretary.

The Trustees are elected by the General Assembly, in joint
convention, for four years, three being elected at one session and
two the next.

THE STATE UNIVERSITY.

Toiva City, Johnson County.

In the famous Ordinance of 1787, enacted by Congress before
the Territory of the United States extended beyond the Missis-
sippi River, it was declared that in all the territory northwest of

68 HISTORY OF IOWA.

the Ohio River, "Schools and the means of education shall for-
ever be encouraged." By act of Congress, approved July 20, 1840,
the Secretary of the Treasury was authorized "to set apart and re-
serve from sale, out of any of the public lands within the Terri-
tory of Iowa, to which the Indian title has been or may be ex-
tinguished, and not otherwise appropriated, a quantity of land, not
exceeding the entire townships, for the use and support of a uni-
versity within said Territory when it becomes a State, and for no
other use or purpose whateverr; to be located in tracts of not les.s
than an entire section, corresponding with any of the large divis-
ions into which the public lands are authorized to be surveyed."

William W. Dodge, of Scott County, was appointed by the
Secretary of the Treasury to make the selections. He selected
Section 5, in Township 78, north of Range 3, east of the Fifth
Principal Meridian, and then removed from the Territory. No
more land were selected until 1846, when, at the request of the
Assembly, John M. Whitaker, of Van Buren County, was ap-
pointed, who selected the remainder of the grant except about 122
acres.

In the first Constitution, under which Iowa was admitted to the
Union, the people directed the disposition of the proceeds of this
munificent grant in accordance with its terms, and instructed the
General Assembly to provide, as soon as may be, effectual means
for the improvement and permanent security of the funds of the
University derived from the lands. ^

The first General Assembly, by act approved February 25, 1847,
established the "State University of Iowa" at Iowa City, then
the Capital of the State, "with such other branches as public con-
venience may hereafter require." The "public buildings at Iowa
City, together with the ten acres of land in which they are sit-
uated, were granted for the use of said University, proi'ided. how-
ever, that the sessions of the Legislature and State offices should
be held in the capitol until otherwise provided by law. The con-
trol and management of the University were committed to a
Board of fifteen Trustees, to be appointed by the Legislature, five
of whom were to be chosen biennially. The Superintendent of
Public Instruction was made president of this Board. Provisions
were made for the disposal of the two townships of land, and for
the investment of the funds arising therefrom. The act further
provides that the University shall never be under the exclusive
control of anv reliofious denomination whatever, and as soon as
the revenue for the grant and donations amounts to $2,000 a year,
the University should commence and continue the instruction,
free of charge, of fifty students annually. The General Assem-
bly retained full supervision over the Universi'y, it officers and
the grants and donations made and to be made to it by the State.

The organization of the University at Iowa City was impractica-
ble, however, so long as the seat of government was retained there.

HISTORY OF IOWA. 69

In January, 1849, two branches of the University and three
Normal Schools were established. The branches were located —
one at Fairfield, and the other at Dubuque, and were placed upon
an equal footing, in respect to funds and all other matters, with
the University established at Iowa City. ''This act," says Col.
Benton, "created three State Universities, with equal rights and
powers, instead of a 'University with such branches as public con-
venience may hereafter demand^ as provided by the Constitu-
tion."

The Board of Directors of the Fairfield Branch consisted of
Barnet Ristine, Christian W, Slagle, Daniel Rider, Horace Gay-
lord, Bernhart Henn and Samuel S. Bayard. At the first meeting
of the Board Mr. Henn was elected President, Mr. Slagle Secre-
tary, and Mr. Gaylord Treasurer. Twenty acres of land were
purchased, and a building erected thereon, costing $2,500. This
building was nearly destroyed by a hurricane, in 1850, but was re-
built more substantially, all by contributions of the citizens of
Fairfield. This branch never received any aid from the State or
from the University Fund, and by act approved January 24, 1853,
at the request of the Board, the General Assembly terminated its
relation to the State.

The branch at Dubuque was placed under the control of the
Superintendent of Public Instruction. The Trustees never or-
ganized, and its existence was only nominal.

The Normal Schools were located at Andrew, Oskaloosa and
Mount Pleasant, respectively. Each was to be governed by a board
of seven Trustees, to be appointed by the Trustees of the Univer-
sity. Each was to receive $500 annually from the income of the
University fund, upon condition that they should educate eight
common school teachers, free of charge for tuition, and that the
citizens should contribute an equal sum for the erection of the
requisite buildings. The several Boards of Trustees were appointed.
At Andrew, the school was organized November 21, 1849. A
building was commenced and over $1,000 expended on it, but it
was never completed. At Oskaloosa, the Trustees organized in
April, 1852. This school was opened in the Court House, Septem-
ber 13, 1852. A two-story brick building was completed in 1853,
costing $2,473. The school at Mount Pleasant was never orsjan-
ized. Neither of these schools received any aid from the Univer-
sity fund, but in 1857 the Legislature appropriated $1,000 each
for those at Oskaloosa and Andrew, and repealed the law author-
izing the payment of money to them from the University fund.
From that time they made no further effort to continue in opera-
tion.

At a special meeting of the Board of Trustees, held February
21, 1850, the "College of Physicians and Surgeons of the Upper
Mississippi," established at Davenport, was recognized as the ''Col-
lege of Physicians and Surgeons of the State University of Iowa,"

70 HISTORY OF IOWA.

expressly stipulatiiig, however, that such recoguitiou should not
render the University liable for any pecuniary aid, nor was the
Board to have any control over the property' or management of
the Medical Association. Soon after, this College was removed to
Keokuk, its second session being opened there in November, 1850.
In 1851, the General Assembly confirmed the action of the Board,
and by act approved January 22, 1855, placed the Medical College
under the supervision of the Board of Trustees of the University,
and it continued in operation until this arrangement was termi-
nated by the new Constitution, September 3, 1857.

From 1847 to 1855, the Board of Trustees was kept full by
regular elections by the Legislature, and the Trustees held fre-
<{\\ent meetings, but there was no effectual organization of the
University. In March, 1855, it was partially opened for a term
of sixteen weeks. July 16, 1855, Amos Dean, of Albany, N. Y..
was elected President, but he never entered fully upon its duties
The University was again opened in September, lc55, and con-
tinued in operation until June, 1850, under Professors Johnson,
Welton, Van Valkenburg and Guffin.

In the Spring of 1856 the capital of the State was located at
Des Moines; but there were no buildings there, and the capitol at
Iowa City was not vacated by the State until December, 1857.

In June, 1856, the faculty was re-organized, with some changes,
and the University was again opened on the third Wednesday of
September, 1856. There were one hundred and twenty-four stu-
dents— eight3'-three males and forty-one females in attendance
during the year 1856-7, and the first regular catalogue was pub-
lished.

Article IX, Section 11, of the new State Constitution, which
went into force Sept. 3, 1857, provided as follows:

The State University shall be established at one place, without branches at
any other place; and the University fund shall be applied to that institution,
and no other.

Article XI, Section 8, provided that

The seat of government is hereby permanently established, as now fixed by
law, at the city of Des Moines, in the county of Polk: and the State University
at Iowa City, in the county of Johnson.

The new Constitution created the Board of Education, consist-
ing of the Lieutenant-Governor, who was ex-oificio President, and
one member to be elected from each judicial district in the State.
This Board was endowed with ''full power and authority to legis-
late and make all needful rules and regulations in relation to com-
mon schools and other educational institutions," subject to altera-
tion, amendment or repeal by the General Assembly, which was
vested with authority to abolish or re-organize the Board at anv
time after 1863. , "

In December, 1857, the old capitol building, now known as
Central Hall of the University, except the rooms occupied by the
United States District Court, and the property, with that excep-

HISTORY OF IOWA. 71

tion, passed under the control of the Trustees, and became the
seat of the University. The old building had had hard usage, and
its arrangement was illy adapted for University purposes. Exten-
sive repairs and changes were necessary, but the Board was with-
out funds for these purposes.

The last meeting of the Board, under the old law, was held in
January, 1858. At this meeting a resolution was introduced, and
seriously considered, to exclude females from the University; but
it finally failed. •

March 12, 1858, the first Legislature under the new Constitution
■enacted a new law in relation to the University, but it wiis not
materially different from the former. March 11, 1858, the Legis-
lature appropriated $3,000 for the repair and modification of the
old capitol building, and $10,000 for the erection of a boarding
liouse, now known as South Hall.

The Board of Trustees created b}' the new law met and duly or-
ganized April 27, 1858, and determined to close the L^niversity
until the income from its funds should be adequate to meet the
current expenses, and the buildings should be ready for occupa-
tion. Lhitil this term, the building known as the "Mechanics'
Academy"' had been used for the school. The Faculty, except the
•Chancellor (Dean), was dismissel, and all further instruction sus-
pended, from the close of the term then in progress until Sep-
tember, 1859. At this meeting, a resolution was adopted ex-
cluding females from the University after the close of the existing
term: but this was afterward, in August, modified, so as to admit
them to the Normal Department.

An '"Act for the Government and Regulation of the State Uni-
versity of Iowa," approved December 25, 1858, was mainly a re-
enactment of the law of March 12, 1858, except that changes were
made in the Board of Trustees, and manner of their appointment.
This law provided that both sexes were to be admitted on equal
terms to all departments of the institution, leaving the Board no
discretion in the matter.

At the annual meeting June 28, 1860, u fujl Faculty was ap-
pointed, and the University re-opened, under this new organiza-
tion, September 19, 1860 (third Wednesday); and at this date the
actual existence of the University may be said to commence.

August 19, 1862, Dr. Totten having resigned. Prof. Oliver M.
Spencer was elected President and the honorary degree of Doctor
of Laws was conferred upon Judge Samuel F. Miller, of Keokuk.

At the commencement, in June, 1863, was the first class ^f
gi-aduates in the Collegiate Department.

The Board of Education was abolished March 10, 1861 and the
oflfice of Superintendent of Public Insi ruction was restored; the
General Assembly resumed control of the subject of education,
and on March 21 an act was approved for the government of the
Universitv. It was substantial! v the same as the former law. but

72 HISTORY OF IOWA.

provided that the Governor should be ex-officio President of the
Board of Trustees. Until 1858, the Superintendent of Public
Instruction had been ex-officio President. During the period of
the Board of Education, the University trustees were elected by
it, and elected their own President.

The North Hall was completed late in 1866.

The Law Department was established in June, 1868, and in Sep-
tember following an arrangement was perfected with the Iowa
Law School, at D.es Moines, which had been in successful opera-
tion for three years, by which that institution was transferred to
Iowa City and merged in the Law Department of the University.

At a special meeting of the Board, on the 17th of September,
1868, a committee was appointed to consider the expediency of
establishing a Medical Department. The committee reported at
once in favor of the proposition, the Faculty to consist of the
President of the University and seven Professors, and recom-
mended that, if practicable, the new department should be opened
at the commencement of the University year, in 1869-70.

By an act of the General Assembly, approved April 11, 1870,
the "Board of Regents" was instituted as the governing power of
the University, and since that time it has been the fundamental
law of the institution. The Board of Regents held its first meet-
ing June 28, 1870.

The South Hall, having been fitted up for the purpose, the first
term of the Medical Department was opened October 24, 1870, and
continued until March, 1871.

In June 1874, the "Chair of Military Instruction" was estab-
lished, and the President of the United States was requested to
detail an officer to perform its duties. At the annual meeting, in
1876, a Department of Horacepathy was established. In March,
1877 a resolution was adopted affiliating the High Schools of the
State with the University.

In 1872, the ex-officio membership of the Superintendent of
Public Instruction was abolished, but it was restored in 1876.

The Board of Regents, in 1881, was composed as follows:
Johnll. Gear, Governor, ex-officio, President; Carl W. VonCoelln,
Superintendent of Public Instruction, ex-officio; J. L. Picard,
President of the University, ex-officio. C. W. Slagle, Fairfield,
First District; D.N. Richardson, Davenport. Second District; H.
C. Bulis, Decorah, Third District; A. T. Reeve, Hampton, Fourth
District; J. N. W. Rumple, Marengo, Fifth District; W. 0.
Crosby, Centerville, Sixth District; T. S. Parr, Indianola, Seventh
District; Horace Everett, Council Blue's, Eighth District; J. F.
Duncombe, Fort Dodge, Ninth District. John N. Coldren, Iowa
City, Treasurer; W. J. Haddock, Iowa City, Secretary.

The Regents are elected by the General Assembly, in Joint
Convention, for six years, one-third being elected at each regular
session, one member to be chosen from each Congressional District.

HISTORY OF IOWA. 73

The present educational corps of the University consists of the
President, nine Professors in the Collegiate Department, one Pro-
fessor and six Instructors in Military Science; Chancellor, three
Professors and four Lecturers in the Law Department; eight Pro-
fessor demonstrators of Anatomy; Prosector of Surgery and two
Lecturers in the Medical Department, and two Professors in the
Homcepathic Medical Department.

STATE HISTORICAL SOCIETY.

By act of the General Assembly, approved January 28, 1857, a
State Historical Society was provided for in connection with the
University. At the commenceme.it, an appropriation of $250
was made, to be expended in collecting, embodying and preserving
in an authentic form, a library of books, pamphlets, charts, maps,
manuscripts, papers, painting, statuary, and other materials illus-
trative of the history of Iowa; and with the further object to res-
cue from oblivion the memory of the early pioneers; to obtain and
preserve various accounts of their exploits, perils and hardy ad-
ventures; to secure facts and statements relative to the history
and genius, and progress and decay of the Indian tribes of Iowa,
to exhibit faithfully the antiquities and past and present re-
sources of the State; to aid in the publication of such collections
of the society as shall, from time to time, be deemed of value and
interest; to aid in binding its books, pamphlets, manuscripts and
papers, and in defraying other necessary incidental expenses of
the Society.

There was appropriated by law to this institution, till the Gen-
eral Assembly shall otherwise direct, the sum of fl500 per annum.
The Society is under the management of a Board of Curators,
consisting of eighteen persons, nine of whom are appointed by the
Governor, and nine elected by the members of the Society. The
Curators receive no compensation for their services. The annual
meeting is provided for by law, to be held at Iowa City on Mon-
day preceding the last Wednesday in June of each year.

The State Historical Society has published a series of very valu-
able collections, including history, biography, sketches, remi-
niscences, etc., with quite a large number of finely engraved por-
traits of prominent and early settlers, under the title of "Annals
of Iowa."

THE PENITENTIARY.

Located at Fort Madison^ Lee County.

The first act of the Territorial Legislature, relating to a Peni-
tentiary in Iowa, was approA ed January 25, 1839, the fifth section
of which authorized the Governor to draw the sum of $20,000
appropriated by an act of Congress approved July 7, 1838, for
public buildings in the Territory of Iowa. It j rovided for a

74 HISTOEY OF IOWA.

Board of Directors of three persons elected by the Legislature,
who should direct the building of the Penitentiary, which should
be located within one mile of the public square, in the town of
Fort Madison, Lee County, provided Fort Madison should deed to
the Directors a tract of land suitable for a site, and assign thern,
by contract, a spring or stream of water for the use of the Peni-
tentiary. To the Directors was also given the power of appoint-
ing the Warden; the latter to appoint his own assistants.

The first Directors appointed were John S. David and John
Clay pole. They made their first report to the Legislative Council
November 9> 1839. The citizens of the town of Fort Madison
had executed a deed conveying ten acres of land for the building
site. Amos Ladd was appointed Superintendent of the building
June 5, 1839. The building was designed of sufficient capacity
to contain one hundred and thirty-eight convicts, and esiimated to
cost $55,933.90. It was begun on the 9th of July, 1839; the
main building and Warden's house were completed in the fall of
1841. Other additions were made from time to time till the build-
ing and arrangements were all complete according to the plan of
the Directors. It has answered the purpose of the State as a
Penitentiary for more than thirty years, and during that period
many items of practical experience in prison management have

been gained.

ADDITIONAL PENITENTIARY.

Located at Anamosa, Jones County.

By an Act of the Fourteenth General Assembly, approved April

23, 1872, William Ure, Foster L. Downing and Martin Heisey
were constituted Commiss^ioners to locate and provide for the erec-
tion and control of an additional P.enitentiary for the State of
Iowa. These Commissioners met on the 4th of the following
June, at Anamosa, Jones County, and selected a site donated by
the citizens, within the limits of the city. L. W. Foster & Co.,
architects, of Des Moine. , furnished the plan, drawings and
specifications, and work was commenced on the building on the
28th day of September, 1872. May 13, 1873, twenty convicts
were transferred to Anamosa from the Fort Madison Peniten-
tiary. The entire enclosure includes fifteen acres, with a frontage
of 663 feet.

IOWA HOSPITAL FOR THE INSANE.

Mount Pleasant, Henry County.

By an act of the General Assembly of Iowa, approved January

24, 1855, $4,425 were appropriated for the purchase of a site, and
$50,000 for building an Insane Hospital, and the Governor
(Grimes), Edward Johnston, of Lee County, and Charles S Blake,
of Henry County, were appointed to locate the institution and

HISTORY OF IOWA. 75

superintend the erection of the building. These Commissioners
located the institution at Mt. Pleasant, Henry County. A plan
for a building designed to accommodate 300 patients was accepted,
and in October work was commenced. Up to February 25, 1858, and
including an appropriation made on that date, the Legislature
had appropriated 1258,555.67 to this institution, but the
building was not finished ready for occupancy by patients until
March 1, 1861. April 18, 1876, a portion of the hospital build-
ing was destroyed by fire.

TruHtees, i<§8i.-— Timothy Whiting, Mount Pleasant; J. H.
Kulp, Davenport; Denison A. Hurst, Oskaloosa; John Conaway,
Brooklyn; L. E. Fellows, Lansing. Mark Ranney, M. D., Mt.
Pleasant, is the Medical Superintendent; C. V. Arnold, Mt. Pleas-
ant, Treasurer.

HOSPITAL FOR THE INSANE.

Independence^ Buchanan Count ij.

In the winter of 1867-8 a bill providing for an additional Hos-
pital for the insane w^as passed by the Legislature, and an appro-
1)riation of $125,000 was made for that purpose. Maturin L.
^'isher, of Clayton County; E. G. Morgan, of Webster County, and
Albert Clark, of Buchanan County, were appointed Commissioners
to locate and supervise the erection of the building.

The Commissioners met and commenced their labors on the 8th
day of June, 1868, at Independence. The act under which they
were appointed required them to select the most eligible and de-
sirable location, of not less than 320 acres, within two miles of
the City of Independence, that might be offered by the citizens
free of charge to the State. Several such tracts were offered, but
the Commissioners finally selected the south half of southwest
quarter of Section 5; the north half of northeast quarter of Sec-
tion 7; the north half of northwest quarter of Section 8, and the
north half of northeast quarter of Section 8, all in Township 88
north. Range 9 west of the Fifth Principal Meridian. This loca-
tion is on the west side of the VVapsipinicon River, and about a
mile from its banks, and about the same distance from Independ-
ence.

The contract for erecting the building was awarded for $88,114.
The contract Avas signed November 7, 1868, and work was at once
commenced. The main buildings were constructed of dressed
limestone, from the quarries at Anamosa and Farley. The base-
ments are of the local granite worked from the immense boulders
found in large quantities in this portion of the State.

In 1872 the building was so far completed that the Commis-
sioners called the first meeting of the Trustees, on the 10th day
of July of that year. The building was ready for occupancy
April 21, 1873.

76 HISTOKY OF IOWA.

In 1877, the south wing was built, but was not comjileted readj
for occupancy until ihe Spring or Summer of 1878.

Trustees, 1881: — Erastus G. Morgan, Fort Dodge, President;
Jed. Lake, Independence; Mrs. Jennie C. McKinney, Decorah;
Lewis H. Smith, Algona; David Hammer, McGregor; A. Rey-
nolds, M. D., Independence, Medical Superintendent; W. G. Don-
nan, Independence, Treasurer.

IOWA COLLEGE FOR THE BLIND.

Vinton, Benton County.

In August, 1852, Prof. Samuel Bacon, himself blind, established
an Institution for the instruction of the blind of Iowa, at Keokuk.

By act of the General Assembly, entitled "An act to establish
an Asylum for the Blind," approved January 18, 1853, the institu-
tion was adopted by the State, removed to Iowa City, February
3d, and opened for the reception of pupils April 4, 1853, free to
all the blind in the State.

The Board of Trustees appointed Prof. Samuel Bacon, Princi-
pal; T. J. McGittigen, Teacher of Music, and Mrs. Sarah K.
Bacon, Matron. Twenty-three pupils were admitted during the
first term.

In his first report, made in 1854, Prof. Bacon suggested that the
name should be changed from ''Asylum for the Blind," to that
of "Institution for the Instruction of the Blind." This was done
in 1855, when the General Assembly made an annual appropria-
tion for the College of $55 per quarter for each pupil. This was
subsequently changed to $3,000 per annnm, and a charge of $25
as an admission fee for each pupil, which sum, with the amounts
realized from the sale of articles manufactured by the blind pupils,
proved sufficient for the expenses of the institution during Mr.
Bacon's administration.

On the 8th of May, 1858, the Trustees met at Vinton, and made
arrangements for securing the donation of $5,000 made by the
citizens of that town.

In June of that year a quarter section of land was donated
for the College, by John W. 0. Webb and others, and the Trustees
adopted a plan for the erection of a suitable building. In I860 the
plan was modified, and the contract for enclosing let for $10,420.

In August, 1862, the building was so far completed that the
goods and furniture of the institution were removed from Iowa City
to Vinton, and early in October the School was opened therewith
twenty-four pupils.

Trustees, 1881:— Clinton 0. Harrington, Vinton; S. H. Wat-
son, Vinton, Treasurer; J. F. White, Sidney; M. H. Westerbrook,
Lyons; W. H. Leavitt, Waterlop; Jacob Springer, Watkins;
Rev. Robert Carothers, Principal of the Institution and Secretary
of the Board.

HISTORY OF IOWA. 77

INSTITUTION FOR THE DEAF AND DUMP..

Council Bluffs^ Pottaimttamie Counti/.

The Iowa Institution for the Deaf and Dumb was established
at Iowa City by an act of the General Assembly, approved Jan-
uary 24, 1855. The number of deaf mutes then in the State was
301; the number attending; the Institution, 50.

A strong effort was made, in 1866, to remove this important in-
stitution to Des Moines, but it was located permanently at Council
Bluffs, and a building rented for its use. In 1868, Commissioners
were appointed to locate a site for, and to superintend the erection
of a new building, for which the Legislature appropriated $125,-
000 to commence the work of construction. The Commissioners
selected ninety acres of land about two miles south of the city of
Council Bluffs. The main building and one wing were completed
October 1, 1870, and immediately occupied by the Institution.
February 25, 1877, the main building and east wing were de-
stroyed by fire; and August Gth, following, the roof of the new
west wing was blown off and the walls partially demolished by a
tornado. At the time of the fire about one hundred and fifty
pupils were in attendance. After the fire, half the classes were
dismissed and the number of scholars reduced to about seventy,
and in a week or two the school was in running order.

Trustees, 1881: — B. F. Clayton, Macedonia, President; J. H. Stu-
benrauch, Pella, Treasurer; Louis Weinstein, Burlington. Rev.
A. Rogers, Superintendent.

SOLDIERS' ORPHANS' HOMES.
Davenport, Cedar /aZ/.s-, GUnwood.

The movement which culminated in the establishment o£ this
benificent institution was originated by Mrs. Annie Wittenmeyer,
during the civil war of 1861-65. This noble and patriotic lady
called a convention at Muscatine, on the 7th day of October, 1863,
for the purpose of devising measures for the support and educa-
tion of the orphan children of the brave sons of Iowa, who had
fallen in defense of national honor and integrity. So great was
the public interest in the movement that there was a large repre-
sentation from all parts of the State on the day named, and an
association was organized called the Iowa State Orphan Asylum.

The first meeting of the Trustees was held February 11, 1864,
in the Representative Hall, at Des Moines. Committees from both
branches of the General Assembly were present and were invited
to participate in their deliberations. Arrangements were made
for raising funds.

At the next meeting, in Davenport, in March 1864, the Trus-
tees decided to commence operations at once, and a committee was

78 HISTORY OF IOWA.

appointed to leavse a suitable building, solicit donations, and pro-
cure suitable furniture. The committee secured a large brick
building in Lawrence, Van Buren County, and engaged Mr. Ful-
ler, of Mt. Pleasant, as Steward.

At the annual meeting, in Des Moines, in June, 1864, Mrs. C.
B. Baldwin, Mrs. G. G. Wright, Mrs. Dr. Horton, Miss Mary E.
Shelton and Mr. George Sherman, were appointed a committee to
furnish the building and take all necessary steps for opening the
"Home,"' and notice was given that at the next meeting of the
Association^ a motion would be made to change the name of the
Institution to Iowa Orphans' Home.

The work of preparation was conducted so vigorously that on
the 13th day of July following, the Executive Committee an-
nounced that they were ready to receive the children. In three
weeks twenty-one were admitted, and the number constantly in-
creased, so that, in a little more than six months from the time
of opening, there w^ere seventy children admitted, and twenty
more applications, which the Committee had not acted upon — ^all
orphans of soldiers.

The ''Home" was sustained by the voluntary contributions of
the people until 1866, when it was assumed by the State. In that
year, the General Assembly provided for the location of several
such "Homes" in the different counties, and which were estab-
lished at Davenport, Scott County; Cedar Falls, Black Hawk
County, and at Glenwood, Mills County.

The Board of Trustees, elected by the General Assembly, had
the oversight and management of the Soldiers' Orphans' Homes of
the State, and consisted of one person from each county in which
such Home was lo;"ated, and one for the State at large, who held
their offices two years, or until their successors were elected and
qualified. An appropriation of $10 per month for each orphan
actually supported was made by the General Assemby.

The Home in Cedar Falls was organized in 1865, and an old
hotel building was fitted up for it. January, 1866, there were
ninety-six inmates.

October 12, 1869, the Home was removed to a large brick build-
in w, about two miles west of Cedar Falls, and was very prosperous
for several years, but in 1876, the General Assembly established a
State Normal school at Cedar Falls, and appropriated the build-
ings and grounds for that purpose.

By "An act to provide for the organization and support of an
asylum at Glenwood, in Mills County for feeble-minded children,"
approved March 17, 1876, the buildings and grounds used by the
Soldiers' Orphans' Home at that place were appropriated for this
purpose. By another act, approved March 15, 1876, the soldiers'
orphans, then at the Homes at Glenwood and Cedar Falls, were to
be removed to the Home at Davenport within ninety days there-

HISTORY OF IOWA. 79

ufter, and the Board of Trustees of the Home were authorized to
receive other indigent children into that institution, and provide
for their education in industrial pursuits.

Trustees, 1881:— C. M. HoLon, Iowa City; Seth P. Bryant, Da-
venport; C. C. Horton, Muscatine. S. W. Pierce, Davenport, Su-
perintendent,

STATE NORMAL SCHOOL.

Cedar Falls, Black Hawk County.

Chapter 129 of the laws of the Sixteenth Gi'neral Assembly, in
1876, established a State Normal School at Cedar Falls, Black
Hawk County, and required the Trustees of the Soldiers' Orphans'
Home to turn over the property in their charge to the Directors
of the new institution.

The Board of L^irectors met at Cedar Falls June 7, 1876, and
duly organized. The Board of Trustees of the Soldiers' Orphans'
Home met at the same time for the purpose of turning over to the
Directors the property of that institution, which was satisfac-
torily done and properly receipted for as required by law.

On the 12th of July, 1876, the Board again met, when executive
and teachers' committees were appointed and their duties assigned.
A Steward and a Matron were elected, and their respective duties
•defined.

The buildings and grounds were repaired and fitted up as well as
the appropriation would admit, and the first term of school opened
September 6, 1876, commencing with twenty-seven and closing
with eightv-seven students.

Directors, 1881:— C. C. Cory, Bella; E. H. Thayer, Clinton; G.
S. Robinson, Storm La^e; N. W. Boyes, Dubuque; L. D. Lewel-
ling, Mitchellville; J. J. Tollertou, Cedar Falls; E, Townsend,
■Cedar Falls, Treasurer.

ASYLUM FOR FEEBLE-MINDED CHILDREN.

Glenivood, Mills CounUj.

Chapter 152 of the laws of the Sixteenth General Assembly,
approved March 17, 1876, provided for the establishment of an
asylum for feeble-minded children at Glenvvood, Mills County, and
the buildings and the grounds of the Soldiers' Orphans' Home at
that place were to be used for that purpose. The asylum was
placed under the management of three Trustees, one at least of
whom should be a resident of Mills County. Children between
the ages of 7 and 18 years are admitted. Ten dollars per month
for each child actually supported by the State was appropriated
by the act, and ^2,000 for salaries of officers and teachers for two
rears.

Hon. J. W. Cattell, of Polk County; A. J. Russell, of Mills
County, and W. S. Robertson, were appointed Trustees, who held
their first meeting at Glen wood, April 26, 1876. Tlie Trustees

80 HISTORY OF lUWA.

found the house and farm which had been turned over to thera in
a shamefully dilapidated condition. The fences were broken
down and the lumber destroyed or carried away; the windows
broken, doors off theii hinges, floors broken and filthy in the ex-
treme, cellars reeking with offensive odors from decayed vegeta-
bles, and every conceivable variety of filth and garbage; drains
obstructed, cisterns broken, pump demoralized, wind-mill broken,
roof leaky, and the whole property in the worst possible condi-
tition. It was the first work of the Trustees to make the house
tenable.

The institution was opened September 1, 1876; the first pupil
admitted September 4, and the school was organized September 10..

Trustees, 1881:-Fred. O'Donnell, Dubuque; S. B. Thrall, Ot-
tumwa; E. R. S. Woodrow, Glenwood; 0. W. Archibald, M. D.,
Medical Superintendent.

THE REFORM SCHOOL.
Eldora^ Hardin County.

By "An act to establish and organize a State Reform School for
Juvenile Offenders," approved March 31, 18G8, the General Assem-
bly established a State Reform School at Salem, Lee (Henry)
County; provided for a Board of Trustees, to consist of one per-
son from each Congressional District. For the purpose of immedi-
ately opening the school, the Trustees were directed to accept the
proposition of the Trustees of White's Iowa Manual Labor Insti-
tute, at Salem, and lease, for not more than ten years, the lands,.
buildings, etc., of the Institute, and at once proceed to prepare for
jmd open a reform school as a temporary establishment.

The contract for fitting up the buildings was let September 21,
1868, and on the 7th of October following, the first inmate was
received from Jasper County. The law provided for the admission
of children of both sexes under 18 years of age. In 1876 this
was amended, so that they are now received at ages over 7 and
under 16 years.

April 19, 1872, the Trustees were directed to make a permanent
location for the school, and $15,000 was appropriated for the erec-
tion of the necessary buildings. The Trustees were further di-
rected, as soon as practicable, to organize a school for girls in the
. buildings where the boys were then kept.

The Trustees located the school at Eldora, Hardin County, and
in the code of 1873, it is permanently located there by law.

The institution is managed by five Tiustees, who are paid mile-
age, but no compensation for their services.

The object is the reformation of children of both sexes, under
the age of 16 and over 7 years of age; and the law requires that
the Trustees shall require the boys and girls under their charge to
be instructed in piety and morality, and in such branches of useful

HISTORY OF IOWA. 81

kno-wledge as are adapted to their age and capacity, and in some
regular course of labor, either mechanical, manufacturing or agri-
cultural, as is best suited to their age, strength, disposition and
capacity, and as may seem best adapted oo secure the reformation
and future benefit of the boys and girls.

A boy or girl committed to the State Reform School is there
kept, disciplined, instructed, employed and governed, under the
direction of the Trustees, until he or she arrives at the age of
majority, or is bound out, reformed or legally discharged. The
binding out or discharge of a boy or girl as reformed, or having
arrived at the age of majority, is a complete release from all pen-
alties incurred by conviction of the crime for which he or she is
committed.

Trustees, 1881: — J. A. Parvin, Muscatine, President; W. J.
Moir, Eldorado, Treasurer; W. G. Stewart, Dubuque: J. T. Moor-
head, Ely; T. E. Corkhill, Mount Pleasant; B. J. Miles, Eldora,
Superintendent. L. D. Lewelling is Superintendent of the Girl's
Department, at Mitchellville, Polk County.

FISH HATCHING ESTABLISHMENT.
Near Anamosa, Jones County.

The Fifteenth General Assembly, in 1871. passed "An act to
provide for the appointment of a Board of Fish Commissioners
for the construction of fish ways for the protection and propaga-
tion of fish;" also ''an act to provide for furnishing the rivers
and lakes with fish and fish spawn." This act appropriated $3,000
for the purpose. In accordance with the provisions of the first
act above mentioned, on the 9th of Apiil, 1874, S. B. Evans, of
Ottumwa, Wapello County; B. F. Shaw, of Jones County, and
Charles A. Haines, of Black Hawk County, were appointed to be
Fish Commissioners by the Governor. These Commissioners met
at Des Moines, May 10, 1874, and organized by the election of
Mr. Evan^, President; Mr. Shaw, Secretary and Superintendent,
and Mr. Haines, Treasurer.

The State was partitioned into three districts or divisions to en-
able the Commissioners. to better superintend the construction of
fishways as required by law. At this meeting, the Superintendent
was authorized to build a State Hatching House; co procure the
spawn of valuable fish adapted to the waters of Iowa; hatch and
prepare the young fish for distribution, and assist in putting them
into the waters of the State.

In compliance with these instructions, Mr. Shaw at once com-
menced work, and in the summer of 1874, erected a ''State
Hatching House" near Anamosa, 20x40 feet, two stories; the
second story being designed for a tenement; the first story being
the "hatching room." The hatching troughs are supplied with
water from a magnificent spring, four feet deep and about ten

82 HISTORY OF lOAVA.

feet in diameter, aflfording an abundant and unfailing supply of
pure running water. During the first year, from May 10, 1874,
to May 10, 1875, the Commissioners distributed within the State
100,000 shad, 300,000 California salmon, 10,000 bass, 80,000
Penobscot (Maine) salmon, 5,000 land-locked salmon, 20,000 of
other species.

By act approved March 10, 1876, the law was amended so that
there should be one instead of three Fish Commissioners, and B.
F. Shaw was appointed, and the Commissioner was authorized to
purchase twenty acres of land, on which the State Hatching
House was located, near Anamosa.

In the fall of 1876, Commissioner Shaw gathered from the
sloughs of the Mississippi, where they would Jiave been destroyed,
over a million and a half of small fish, which were distributed in
the various rivers of the State and turned into the Mississippi.

In 1875-6, 533,000 California salmon, and in 1877, 303,500
lake trout were distributed in various rivers and lakes in the State.
The experiment of stocking the small streams with brook trout is
being tried, and 81,000 of the speckled beauties were distributed
in 1877. In 1876, 100,000 young eels were distributed. These
came from New York, and they are increasing rapidly.

A. A. Mosier, of Spirit Lake, was appointed Assistant Fish
Commissioner by the Governor, under Chapter 15G, Laws of 1880.

THE PUBLIC LANDS.

The grants of public lands made in the State of Iowa, for vari-
ous purposes, are as follows:

1 . The 500,000 Acre Grant .

2. The 16th Section Grant.

>j. The Mortgage School Lands.

4. The University Grant.

5.. The Saline Grant.

6. The Des Msines River Grant.

7. The Des Moines River School Lands.

8. The Swamp Land Grant.

9. The Railroad Grant.

10. The Agricultural College Grant.

I. THE FIVE HUXDRED THOUSAND ACRE GRANT.

When the State was admitted into the Union she became en-
titled to 500,000 acres of land by virtue of an act of Congress, ap-
proved September 4, 1841, which granted to each State therein
specified 500,000 acres of public land for internal improvements;
to each State admitted subsequently to the passage of the act, an
amount of land which, with the amount that might have been
granted to her as a Territory, would amount to 500,000 acres. All
these lands were required to be selected within the limits of the
State to which they were granted.

HISTORY OF IOWA. 83

The Constitution of Iowa declares that the proceeds of this
f^rant, together with all lands then granted or to be granted by
Congress for the benefit of schools, shall constitute a perpetual
fund for the support of schools throughout the State. By an act
approved January 15, 1849, the Legislature established a Board of
School Fund Commissioners, and to that Board was confided the
selection, care and sale of these lands for the benefit of the School
Fund. Until 1855, these Commissioners were subordinate to the
Superintendent of Public Instruction, but on the 15th of Janu-
ary of that year, they were clothed with exclusive authority in the
management and sale of school lands. The office of School Fund
Commissioner was abolished March 23, 1858, and that officer in
each county was required to transfer all papers to and make full
settlement with the County Judge. By this act, County Judges
and Township Trustees were made the agents of the State to con-
trol and sell the sixteenth sections; but no further provision was
made for the sale of the 500,000 acre grant until April 3d, 1860,
when the entire management of the school lands was committed
to the Boards of Supervisors of the several counties.

II. THE SIXTEENTH SECTION'S.

By the provisions of the act of Congress admitting Iowa to the
Union, there was granted to the new State the sixteenth section
in every township, or where that section had been sold, other
lands of like amount for the use of schools. The Constitution of
the State provides that the proceeds arising from the sale of these
sections shall constitute a part of the permanent school fund. The
control and sale of these lands were vested in the School Fund
Commissioners of the several counties until March 23, 1858, when
they were transferred to the County Judges and Township Trus-
tees, and were finally placed under the supervision of the County
Boards of Supervisors in January, 1861.

III. THE MORTGAGE SCHOOL LANDS.

These do not belong to any of the grants of laud proper. They
are lands that have been mortgaged to the school fund, and became
school lands when bid ofi' by the State by virtue of a law passed in
1862. Under the provisions of the law regulating the manage-
ment and investment of the permanent school fund, persons de-
siring loans from that fund are required to secure the payment
thereof with interest at ten per cent, per annum, by promissory
notes endorsed by two good sureties and by mortgage on unincum-
bered real estate, which must be situated in the county where the
loan is made, and which must be valued by three appraisers. Mak-
ing these loans and taking the required securities was made the
duty of the County Auditor, who was required to report to the
Board of Supervisors at each meeting thereof, all notes, mortgages
and abstracts of title connected with the school fund, for exami-
nation.

"St HISTORY OF IOWA.

When default was made of payment of money so secured by
mortgage, and no arrangement made for extension of time as the
law provides, the Board of Supervisors were authorized to bring
suit and prosecute it with diligence to secure said fund; and in ac-
tion in favor of the county for the use of the school fund, an in-
junction may issue without bonds, and in any such action, when
service is made by publication, default and judgment may be en-
tered and enforced without bonds. In case of sale of land on exe-
cution founded on any such mortgage, the atttorney of the board,
or other person duly authorized, shall, on behalf of the State or
county for the use of said fund, bid such sum as the interests of
said fund may require, and if struck off to the State the land shall
be held and disposed of as the other lands belonging to the fund.
These lands are known as the Mortgage School Lands, and reports
of them, including description and amount, are required to be
made to the State Land Office.

IV. UNIVERSITY LANDS.

By act of Congress July 20, 1840, a quantity of laud, not
exceeding two entire townships, was reserved in the Territory of
Iowa for the use and support of a university within said Terri-
tory when it should become a State. This land was to be located
in tracts of not less than an entire section, and could be used for
no other purpose than that designated in the grant. In an act
supplemental to that for the admission of Iowa, March 3, 1845,
the grant was renewed, and it was provided that the lands should
be used "solely for the purpose of such university, in such manner
as the Legislature may prescribe."

Under this grant there were set apart and approved by the Sec-
retary of the Treasury, for the use of the State, the following
lands:

ACRES.

In the Iowa City Land District, Feb. 29, 1849 20,150.49

In the Fairiielfl Land District, Oct. 17, 1849 9,685.20

In the Iowa City Land District. Jan. 28, 1850 2,571.81

in the Fairfield Land District. S. pt. 10. 1850 3,198.20

In the Dubuque Land District, May 19, 1852 10,552.24

Total 45,957.94

These lands were certified to the State November 19, 1859. The
University lands are placed by law under the control and manage-
ment of the Board of Trustees of the Iowa State University. Prior
to 1865 there had been selected and located under 282 patents,
22,892 acres in sixteen counties, and 23,036 acres unpatented,
making a total of 45,928 acres.

v. SALINE LANDS.

By act of Congress approved March 3, 1845, the State of Iowa
was granted the use of the salt springs within her limits, not ex-
ceeding twelve. By a subsequent act, approved May 27, 1852,

HISTORY OF IOWA. 85

€ongres!'«:ranted the sprin«,'sto the State in fee simple, together
with six sections of hind contiguous to each, to be disposed of as
the Legislature might direct. In 1861 the proceeds of these lands
then to be sold were constituted a fund for founding and support-
ing a lunatic asylum, but no sales were made. In 1856 the pro-
ceeds of the saline lands were appropriated to the Insane Asylum,
repealed in 1858. In 18G0, the saline lands and funds were made a
part of the permanent fund of the State University. These lands
were located in Appanoose, Davis. Decatur, Lucas. Monroe, Van
Buren and Wayne counties.

VI. THE DES MOINES RIVER GRANT.

By act of Congress, approved August 8, 1846, a grant of land
was made for the improvement of the navigation of Des Moines
lliver, as follows:

Be it enacted hy the Senate and House of Bepresentatires of the United
States of America in Congress assembled, That there be, and hereby is, grant-
ed to said Territory of Iowa for the purpose of aiaing said Territory to improve
the navig'ation of the Des Moines River from its mouth to the Racoon Fork (so
called) in said Territory, one equal moiety, in alternate sections, of the public
lands (remaining unsold and not otherwise disposed of, incumbered or appro-
priated), in a strip five miles in width on each side of said river, to be selected
withm said Territory by an agent or agents to be appointed by the Governor
thereof, subject to the approval of the Secretary of the Treasury of the United
States.

Sec. 2. And be it futiher enacted, That the lands hereby granted shall not
be conveyed or disposed of by said Territory, nor by any State to be formed out
of the same, except as said improvement shall progress; that is, the said Terri-
tory or State may sell so much of said lands as shall produce the sum of thirty
thousand dollars, and then the sales shall cease until the Governor of said Ter-
ritory or State shall certify the fact to the President of the United States that
one-half of said sum has been expended upon said improvements, when the
said Territory or State may sell and convey a quantity of the residue of said
lands sufficient to replace the amount expended and thus the sales shall pro-
gi'ess as the proceeds thereof shall be expended, and the fact of such expendi-
ture shall be certified as aforesaid.

Sec. 3. And be it further enacted. That the said River Des Moines shall be
and forever remain a public highway for the use of the Government of the
United States, free from any toll or other charge whatever, for any property of
the United States or persons in their service passing through or along the same;
Provided always. That it shall not be competent for the said Territoryor
future State of Iowa to dispose of said lands, or any of them, at a price
lower thin, for tli9 tim J b^in^', shiU hi thi minim.in p:ic3 of other public
lands.

Sec. 4. And be it further enacted, That whenever the Territory of Iowa
shall be admitted mto the Union as a State, the lands hereby granted for the
above pui-pose shall be and become the property of said State for the purpose
contemplated in this act, and for no other; Provided, the Legislature of the
State of Iowa shall accept the said grant for the said purpose. Approved
Augusts, 1846.

By joint resolution of the General Assembly of Iowa, approved
January 9, 1847, the grant was accepted for the purpose specified.
By another act, approved February 24, 1847, entitled ''An act

86 HISTOKY OF IOWA.

creating the Board of Public Works, and providing for the im-
provement of the Des Moines River," the Legislature provided for
a Board consisting of a President, Secretary and Treasurer, to be
elected by the people. This Board was elected August 2, 1847,
and was organized on the22d of September following. The same
act defined the nature of the improvement to be made, and pro-
vided that the work should be paid for from the funds to be de-
rived from the sale of lands to be sold by the Board,

Agents appointed by the Governor selected the sections desig-
nated by ''odd numbers" thnmghout the whcle extent of the
grant, and this selection was approved by the Secretary of the
Treasury. But there was a conflict of opinion as to the extent
of the grant. It was held by some that it extended from the mouth
of the Des Moines River only to the Racoon Forks; others held,
as the agents to make selection evidently did, that it extended from
the mouth to the headwaters of the river. Richard M. Young,
Commissioner of the General Land office, on the 2 ^d of February,
1848, construed the grant to mean that ''the State is entitled^to
the alternate sections within five miles of the Des Moines River,
throughout the whole extent of that river within the limits of
Iowa. Under this construction, the alternate sections above the
Raccoon Forks would, of course, belong to the State; but on the
19th of June, 1848, some of these lands were, by proclamation,
thrown into market. On the 18th of September, the Board o
Public Works filed a remonstrance with the Commissioner of the
General Land office. The Board also sent in a protest to the State
Land Office, at which the sale was ordered to take place. On the
8th of January, 1849, the Senators and Representatives in Con-
gress from Iowa also protested against the sale, in a communica-
tion to Hon, Robert J. Walker, Secretary of the Treasury, to
which the Secretary replied, concurring in the opinion that the
grant extended the whole length of the Des Moines River in
Iowa.

On the 1st of June, 1849, the Commissioner of the General
Land Office directed the Register and Receiver of the Land Office
at Iowa City "to withhold from sale all lands situated in the odd
numbered sections within five miles on ench side of the Des
Moines River above the Raccoon Forks." March 13. 1850, the
Commissioner of the General Land Office submitted to the Secre-
tary of the Interior a list "showing the tracts falling within the
limits of the Des Moines River grant, above the Raccoon Forks,
etc., under the decision of the Secretary of the Treasury, of March
2, 1849," and on the 6th of April following Mr. Ewing, then
Secretary of the Interior, reversed the decision of Secretary
Walker, but ordered the lands to be withheld from sale until Con-
gress could have an oppo t unity to pass an explanatory act. The
Iowa authorities appealed from this decision to the President
(Taylor), who referred the matter to the Attorney General (Mr.

HISTORY OF IOWA. 87

Johnson). On the 10th of July, Mr. Johnson submitted as his
opinion, that by the terms of the <^rant itself, it extended to the
very source of the Des Moines, but before his opinion was pub-
lished President Taylor died. When Mr. Tyler's cabinet was
formed, the question was submitted to the new Attorney General
(Mr. Crittenden), who, on the 30th of June, 1851, reported that
in his opinion the grant did not extend above the Raccoon Forks.
Mr. Stewart, Secretary of the Interior, concurred with Mr,
Crittenden at first, but subsequently consented to lay the whole
subject before the President and Cabinet, who decided in favor of
the State.

October 29, 1851, Mr. Stewart directed the Commissioner of the
General Land Office to "submit for his approval such lists as had
been prepared, and to proceed to report for like approval lists of
the alternate sections claimed by the State of Iowa above the Rac-
coon Forks, as far as the surveys have progressed, or may here-
after be completed and returned." And on the following day,
three lists of these lands were prepared in the General Land
Office.

The lands approved and certified to the State of Iowa under
this grant, and all lying above the Raccoon Forks, are as follows:

Bv Secretary Stewart, Oct. 30, 1851 81,707.93 acrep.

March 10, 1862 143,908.37 ' '

By Secretary McLellan, Dec. 17, 1^53 33,142.43 "

Dec. 30, 1853 12,813.51 "

Total 271,572.24 acres.

The Commissioners and Register of the Ues Moines River Im-
provement, in their report to the Governor, November 30, 1852,
estimate the total amount of lands then available for the work,
including those in possession of the State and those to be surveyed
and approved, at nearly a million acres. The indebtedness then
standing against the fund was about $108,000, and the Commis-
sioners estimated the work to be done would cost about $1,200,000.

January 10, 1853, the Legislature authorized the Commissioners
to sell ''any or all the lands which have or may hereafter be
granted, for not less than $1,300,000."

On the 21th of January, 1853, the General Assembly provided
for the election of a Commissioner by the people, and appointed
two Assistant Commissioners, with authority to make a contract,
selling the lands of the Improvement for $1,300,000. This new
Board made a contract, June 9, 1855, with the Des Moines Navi-
gation & Railroad Company, agreeing to sell all the lands dona-
ted to the State by Act of Congress of August 8, 1816, which the
State had not sold prior to December 23, 1853, for $1,800,000, to
be expended on the improvement of the river, and in paying the
indeb.edness then due. This contract was duly reported to the
Governor and General Assembly.

88 HISTOKY OF IOWA.

By an act approved January 25, 1855, the Commissioner and
Register of the Des Moines River Improvement were authorized
to negotiate with the Des Moines Navigation & Railroad Company
for the purchase of lands in Webster County, which had been
sold by the School Fund Commissioner as school lands, but which
had been certified to the State as Des Moines River lands, and had,
therefore, become the property of the Company, under the pro-
visions of its contract with the State.

March 21, 1856, the old question of the extent of the grant was
again raised, and the Commissioner of the General Land Office
decided that it was limited to the Raccoon Fork. Appeal was
made to the Secretary of the Interior, and by him the matter was
referrred to the Attorney General, who decided that the grant ex-
tended to the northern boundary of the State; the State relin-
quished its claim to the lands lying along the river in Minnesota,
and the vexed question was supposed to be Hnally settled.

The land which had been certified, as well as those extending to
the northern boundary within the limits of the grant, were re-
served from pre-emption and sale by the General Land Commission-
er, to satisfy the grant of August 8, 1846, and they were treated
as having passed to the State, which from time to time sold por-
tions of them prior to their final transfer to the Des Moines Nav-
igation & Railroad Company, applying the proceeds thereof to the
improvement of the river in compliance with the terms of the
grant. Prior to the final sale to the Company, June 9, 1854, the
State had sold about 327,000 acres, of which amount 58,830 acres
were located above the Raccoon Fork. The last certificate of the
General Land Office bears date December 30, 1853.

After June 9th, 1854, the Des Moines Navigation & Railroad
Company carried on the work under its contract with the State.
As the improvement progressed, the State, from time to time, by
its authorized officers, issued to the Company, in payment for said
Avork, certificates for laud. But the General Land Office ceased to
certify lands under the grant of 1846. The State had made no
other provision for paying for the improvements, and disagree-
ments and misunderstanding arose between the State authorities
and the Company.

March 22, 1858, a joint resolution was passed by the Legislature
submitting a proposition for final settlement to the Company,
which was accepted. The Company paid to the State $20,000 in
cash, and released and conveyed the dredge boat and materials
named in the resolution; and the State, on the 3d day of May,
1858, executed to the Des Moines Navigation & Railroad Compajiy
fourteen deeds or patents to the lands, amounting to 256,703.64
acres. These deeds were intended to convey all the lands of this
grant certified to the State by the General Government not pre-
viously sold; but, as if for the purpose of covering any tract or
parcel that might have been omitted, the State made another deed

HISTORY OF IOWA. 89

of conveyance on the 18tli day of May, 1858. These fifteen deeds,
it is chiimed, by the Company, convey 260,108 acres, of which
about 53,367 are below the Raccoon Fork, and the balance, 212,741
acres, are above that point.

Besides the lands deeded to the Company, the State had deeded
to individual purchasers 58,830 acres above the Raccoon Fork,
making an aggregate of 271,571 acres, deeded above the Fork, all
of which had been certified to the State by the Federal Govern-
ment.

By act approved March 28, 1858, the Legislature donated the
remainder of the grant to the Keokuk, Fort Des Moines & Minne-
sota Railroad Company, upon condition that said Company as-
sumed all liabilities resulting from the Des Moines River improve-
ment operations, reserving 50,000 acres of the land in security for
the payment thereof, and for the completion of the locks and
dams at Bentonsport, Crotton, Keosauqua and Plymouth. For
every three thousand dollars' worth of work done on the locks
and dams, and for every three thousand dollars paid by the Com-
pany of the liabilities above mentioned, the Register of the State
Land Office was instructed to certify to the Company 1,000 acres
of the 50,000 acres reserved for these purposes. Up to 18G5, there
had been presented by the Company, under the provisions of the
act of 1858, and allowed, claims amounting to $109,579.37, about
seventy-five per cent, of which had been settled.

After the passage of the act above noticed, the question of the
extent of the original grant was again mooted, and at the De-
cember term of the Supreme Court of the United States, in 1859-
60, a decision was rendered declaring that the grant did not ex-
tend above Raccoon Fork, and that all certificates of land above
the Fork had been issued without authority of law and Were,
therefore, void (see 23 How., 66).

The State of Iowa had disposed of a large amount of land with-
out authority, according to this decision, and appeal was made to
Congress for relief, which was granted on the 3d day of March,

1861, in a joint resolution relinquishing to the State all the title
which the United States then still retained in the tracts of land
along the Des Moines River above Raccoon Fork, that had been
improperly certified to the State by the Department of the Inte-
rior, and which is now held hj bona fide purchasers under the State
of Iowa.

In confirmation of this relinquishment, by act approved July 12,

1862, Congress enacted:

That the grant of lands to the then Territory of Iowa for the improvement of
the Des Moines River, made bj' the act of August 8, 1846, is hereby extended
so as to include the alternate sections (designated by odd numbers) lying within
five miles of said river, between the Raccoon Fork and the northern boundary
of said State; such lands are to fce held and applied in accordance with the
provisions of the original grant, except that the consent of Congress is hereby
given to the application of a portion thereof to aid i)i the construction of the

90 HISTOKY OF lOAVA.

Keokuk, Fort Des Moines & Minnesota Railroad, in accordance with the pro-
visions of the act of the General Assembly of the State of Iowa approved March
22, 1858. And if any of the said lands shall have been sold or otherwise dis-
posed of by the United States before the passage of this act, except those re-
leased by the United States to the grantees of the State of Iowa, under joint
resolution of March 3, 1861, the Secretary of the Interior is hereby dhected to
set apart an equal amount of lands within said State to be certified in lieu
thereof: Provided, that if the State shall have sold and conveyed any portion of
the lands lying within the limits of the ^rant the title of which has proved in-
vaUd, any lands which shall be certified to said State in heu thereof by virtue of
the provisions of this act, shall inure to and be held as a tnist fund for the ben-
efit of the person, or persons, respectively, whose titles shall have failed as
aforesaid.

The grant of lands by the above act of Congress was accepted
by a joint resohition of the General Assembly, Sept. 11, 1862, in
extra session. On the same day, the Governor was authorized to
appoint one or more Commissioners to select the lands in accord-
ance with the grant. These Commissioners were instructed to
report their selections to the Registrar of the State Land Office.
The lands so selected were to be held for the purposes of the
grant, and were not to be disposed of until further legislation
should be had. D. W. Kilburne, of Lee County, was appointed
Commissioner, and, on the 25th day of April, 1864, the General
Land Officer authorized the selection of 300,000 acres from the
vacant public lands as a part of the grant of July 12, 1862, and
the selections were made in the Fort Dodge and Sioux City Land
Districts.

Many difficulties, controversies and conflicts, in relation to claims
and titles, grew out of this grant, and these difficulties were en-
hanced by the uncertainty of its limits until the act of Congress
of July, 1862. But the General Assembly sought, by wise and
appropriate legislation, to protect the integrity of titles derived
from the State. Especially was it the determination to protect the
actual settlers, who had paid their money and made improvements
pr or to the final settlement of the limits of the grant by Con-
gress.

VII.— THE DES MOINES EIVER SCHOOL LANDS.

These lands constituted a part of the 500,000 acre grant made
by Congress in 1841; including 28,378.46 acres in Webster County,
selected by the Agent of the State under that grant, and ap-
proved by the Commissioner of the General Land Office February
20, 1851. They were ordered into the market June 6, 1853, by
the Superintendent of Public Instruction, who authorized John
Tolman, School Fund Commissioner for Webster County, to
sell them as school lands. Subsequently, when the act of 1846
was construed to extend the Des Moines River grant above Rac-
coon Fork, it was held that the odd numbered sections of these
lands within five miles of the river were appropriated by that act,
and on the 30th day of December, 1853, 12,813.51 acres were set
apart and approved to the State by the Secretary of the Interior,

HISTORY OF IOWA. 91

as a part of the Des Moines River grant. Jannary 6, 1854, the
Commissioner of the General Land Office transmitted to the Su-
perintendent of Public Instruction a certified copy of the lists of
these lands, indorsed by the Secretary of the Interior. Prior to
this action of the Department, however, Mr. Tolman had sold to
individual purchasers 3,194.28 acres as school lands, and their
titles were, of course, killed. For their relief, an act, approved
April 2, 1860, provided that, upon application and proper showing,
these purchasers should be entitled to draw from the State Treas-
ury the amount they had paid, with ten per cent, interest, on ths
contract to purchase made with Mr. Tolman. Under this act, five
applications were made prior to 1864, and the applicants received,
in the aggregate, ^949.53.

By an act approved April 7, 1862, the Governor was forbidden
to issue to the Dubuque & Sioux City Railroad Company any cer-
tificate of the completion of any part of said road, or any convey-
ance of lands, until the company should execute and file, in the
State Land office, a release of its claim — first to certain swamp
lands; second, to the Des Moines River Lands sold by Tolman;
third, to certain other river lands. That act provided that "the
said company shall transfer their interests in those tracts of land
in Webster and Hamilton Counties heretofore sold by John Tol-
man, School Fund Commissioner, to the Register of the State
Land Office in trust, to enable said Register to carry out and per-
form said contracts in all cases when he is called upon by the
parties interested to do so, before the 1st day of January, A. D.,
1864.

The company filed its release to the Tolman lands, in the Land
Office, February 27, 1864, at the same time entered its protest that
it had no claim upon them, never had pretended to have, and had
never sought to claim them. The Register of the State Land Of-
fice, under the advice of the Attorney General, decided that pat-
ents would be issued to the Tolman purchasers in all cases where
contracts had been made prior to December 23, 1853, and remain-
ing uncancelled under the act of 1860. But before any were is-
sued, on the 27th of August, 1864, the Des Moines Navigation
and Railroad Company commenced a suit in Chancery, in the
District Court of Polk County, to enjoin the issue of such patents.
On the 30th of August, an ex parte injunction was issued. In
January, 1868, Mr. J. A. Harvey, Register of the Land Office,
filed in the court an elaborate answer to plaintiffs' petition, deny-
ing that tlie company had any right to or title in the lands. Mr.
Harvey's successor, Mr. C. C. Carpenter, filed a still more exhaus-
tive answer February 10, 1868. August 3, 1868, the District
Court dissolved the injunction. The company appealed to the
Supreme Court, where the decision of the lower court was affirmed
in December, 1869.

92 HISTORY OF IOWA.

VIII. SWAMP LAND GRANT.

An act of Congress, approved March 28, 1850, to enable Arkan-
sas and other States to reclaim swampy lands within their limits,
granted all the swamp and overflowed lands remaining unsold
within their respective limits to the several States. Although
the total amount claimed by Iowa under this act does not exceed
4,000,000 acres, it has, like the Des Moines River and some of the
laud grants, cost the State considerable trouble and expense, and
required a deal of legislation. The State expended large sums of
money in making the selections, securing proofs, etc., but the
General Government appeared to be laboring under the impression
that Iowa was not acting in good faith; that she had selected
a large amount of lands under the swamp land grant, transferred
her interest to counties, and counties to private speculators, and
the General Land office permitted contests as to the character of
the lands already selected by the Agents of the State as "swamp
lands." Congress, by joint resolution December 18, 1856, and by
act March 3, 1857, saved the State from the fatal result of this
ruinous policy. Many of these lands were selected in 1854 and
1855, immediately after several remarkably wet seasons, and it
was but natural that some portions of the selections would not ap-
pear swampy .after a few dry seasons. Some time after these first
selections were made, persons desired to enter parcels of the so-
called swamp lands and offering to prove them to be dry. In such
cases the General Land office ordered hearing before the local
land officers, and if they decided the land to be dry, it was permit-
ted to be entered and the claim of the State rejected. Specula-
tors took advantage of this. Affidavits were bought of irrespon-
sible and reckless men, who, for a few dollars, would confident-
ly testify to the character of lands they never saw. These ap-
plications multiplied until they covered 3,000,000 acres. It was
necessary that Congress should confirm all these selections to the
State, that this gigantic scheme of fraud and plunder might be
stopped. The act of Congress of March 3, 1857, was designed to
accomplish this purpose. But the Commissioner of the General
Land office held that it was only a qualified confirmation and un-
der this construction sought to sustain the action of the Depart-
ment in rejecting the claim of the State, and certifying them un-
der act of May 15, 1856, under which the railroad companies
claimed all swamp land in odd numbered sections within the lim-
its of their respective roads. This action led to serious complica-
tions. When the railroad grant was made, it was not intended,
nor was it understood that it included any of the swamp lands.
These were already disposed of by previous grant. Kor did the
companies expect to receive any of them, but under the decision
of the Department adverse to the State the way was opened, and
hey were not slow to enter their claims. March 4, 1862, the At-

HISTORY OF IOWA. 93

torney General of the State submitted to the General Assembly an
opinion that the railroad companies were not entitled even to con-
test the right of the State to these lands, under the swamp land
grant. A letter from the Acting Commissioner of the General
Land Office expressed the same opinion^ and the General Assembly
by joint resolution, approved April 7, 1862, expressly repudiated
the acts of the railroad companies, and disclaimed any intention
to claim these lands under any other than the act of Congress of
September 28, 1850. A great deal of legislation has been found
necessary ia relation to these swamp lands.

IX. THE RAILROAD GRANT.

One of the most important grants of public lands to Iowa for
purposes of internal improvement was that known as the "Rail-
road Grant," by act of Congress, approved May 15, 1856. This
act granted to the State of Iowa, for the purpose of aiding in, the
construction of railroads from Burlington, on the Mississippi Riv-
er, to a point on the Missouri River, near the mouth of Platte
River; from the city of Davenport, via Iowa City and Fort Des
Moines to Council Bluffs; from Lyons City northwesterly to a
point of intersection with the main line of the Iowa Central Air
Line Railroad, near Maquoketa; thence on said main line, running
as near as practicable to the Forty-second Parallel; across the said
State of Iowa to the Missouri River; from the city of Dubuque to
a point on the Missouri River near Sioux City, with a branch from
the mouth of the Tete des Morts, to the nearest point on said road,
to be completed as soon as the main road is completed to that
point, every alternate section of land designated by odd numbers,
for six sections in width, on each side of said roads. It was also
provided that if it should appear, wheii the lines of those roads
were definitely fixed, that the United States had sold, or right of
pre-emption had attached to any portion of said land, the State
was authorized to select a quantity equal thereto, in alternate sec-
tions, or parts of sections, within fifteen miles of the line so lo-
cated. The lands remaining to the United States within six
miles on each side of said roads were not to be sold for less than
the double niininum price of the public lands when sold, nor were
any of said lands to become subject to private entry until they had
been first offered at public sale at the increased price.

Section 4 of the act provided that the lands granted to said State
shall be disposed of by said State only in the manner following,
that is to say: "That a quantity of land not exceeding one hundred
and twenty sections for each of said roads, and included within a
continuous length of twenty miles of each of said roads, may be
sold; and when the Governor of said State shall certify to the Sec-
retary of the Interior that any twenty continuous miles of any of
said roads is completed, then another quantity of land hereby

94 HISTORY OF IOWA.

granted, not to exceed one hundred and twenty sections for each
of said roads having twenty continuous miles completed as afore-
said, and included within a continuous length of twenty miles of
each of such roads, may be sold; and so from time to time until
said roads are completed, and if any of said roads are not com-
pleted within ten years, no further sale said shall be made, and the
lands unsold shall revert to the United States."

At a special session of the General Assembly of Iowa, by act ap-
proved July 14, 1856, the grant was accepted and the lands were
granted by the State to the several railroad companies named, pro-
vided that the lines of their respective roads should be definitely
fixed and located before April 1, 1857; and provided, further, that
if either of said companies should fail to have seventy-five miles
of road completed and equipped by the 1st day of December, 1859,
and its entire road completed by December 1, 1865, it should be
competent for the State of Iowa to resume all rights to lands re-
maining undisposed of by the company so failing.

The railroad companies, with the single exception of the Iowa
Central Air Line, accepted the several grants in accordance with
the provisions of the above act, located their respective roads and
selected their lands. The grant to the Iowa Central was again
granted to the Cedar Rapids & Missouri River Railroad Company,
which accepted it.

By act, approved April 7, 1862, the Dubuque & Sioux City Rail-
road Company was required to execute a release to the State of
certain swamp and school lands, included within the limits of its
grant, in compensation for an extension of the time fixed for the
completion of its road.

A careful examination of the act of Congi'ess does not reveal
any special reference to railroad companies. The lands were
granted to the State^ and the act evidently contemplated the sale
of them hu the State, and the appropriation of the proceeds to aid
in the construction of certain lines of railroad within its limits.
Section 4 of the act clearly defines the authority of the State in
disposing of the lands.

Lists of all the lands embraced by the grant were made, and cer-
tified to the State by the proper authorities. Under an act of Con-
gress approved August 3, 1861, entitled, ''An act to vest in the
several States and Territories the title in fee of the lands tvhich
have been or maij he certified to them,''' these certified lists, the
originals of which are filed in the General Land Ofiice, conveyed
to the State "the fee simple title to all the lands embraced in such
lists that are of the character contemplated" by the terms of the
act making the grant, and "intended to be granted thereby; but
where lands embraced in such lists are not of the character em-
braced by such act of Congress, and were not intended to be
granted thereby, said lists, so far as these lands are concerned,
shall be perfectly null and void; and no right, title, claim or in-

HISTORY OF IOWA. 95

terest shall be conveyed thereby." Those certified lists made
under the act u£ May 15, 1850, were forty-three in number, viz. : For
the Burlington & Missouri River Railroad, nine; for the Missis-
sippi & Missouri Railroad, eleven; for the Iowa Central Air Line,
thirteen; and for the Dubuque & Sioux City Railroad, ten. The
lands thus approved to the State were as follows:

Burlington & Missouri River R. R 237,095.34 acres

Mississippi & Missouri River R. R 774,674.36 "

Cedar Rapids & Missouri River R. R 775,454.19 "

Dubuque & Sioux City R. R 1,226,558.32 "

A portion of these had been selected as swamp lands by the
State, under the act of September 28, 1850, au'l these, by the terms
of the act of August 3, 1854, could not be turned over to the rail-
roads unless the claim of the State to them as swamp was first re-
jected. It was not possible to determine from the records of the
State Land Office the extent of the conflicting claims arising un-
der the two grants, as copies of the swamp land selections in some
of the counties were not filed of record. The Commissioner of the
Greneral Land Office, however, prepared lists of the lands claimed
by the State as swamp under the act of September 28, 1850, and
also claimed by the railroad companies under act of May 15, 1856,
amounting to 553,293.33 acres, the claim to which as swamp had
been rejected by the Department. These were consequently cer-
tified the State as railroad lands. There was no mode other than
the act of July, 1856, prescribed for transferring the title to these
lands from the State to the companies. The courts had decided
that, for the purposes of the grant, the lands belonged to the
State, and to her the companies should look for their titles. It was
generally accepted that the act of the Legislature of July, 1856,
was all that was necessary to complete the transfer of title. It was
assumed that all the rights and powers conferred upon the State by
the act of Congress of May 14, 1856, were by the act of the Gen-
eral Assembly transferred to the companies; in other words that
it was designed to put the companies in the place of the State as
the grantees from Congress — and, therefore, that which perfected
the title thereto to the State perfected the title to the companies
by virtue of the act of July, 1856. One of the companies, how-
ever, the Burlington & Missouri River Railroad Company, was not
entirely satisfied with this construction. Its managers thought
that some further and specific action of the State authorities in ad-
dition to the act of the Legislature was necessary to complete their
title. This induced Gov. Lowe to attach to the certified lists his
official certificate, under the broad seal of the State. On the 9th
of November, 1859, the Governor thus certified to them (com-
m_encing at the Missouri River) 187,207.44 acres, and December
27th, 43,775.70 acres, an aggregate of 231.073.14 acres. These
were the only lands under the grant that were certified by the
State authorities with any design of perfecting the title already

96 HISTOKY OF IOWA.

vested in ilie company by the act o£ July, 1856. The lists which
were afterward furnished to the company were simply certified by
the Governor as being correct copies of the lists received by the
State from the United States General Laud Office. These subse-
quent lists embraced lands that had been claimed by the State
under the Swamp Land Grant.

It was urged against the claim of the Companies that the effect
of the act of the Legislature was simply to substitute them for the
State as parties to the grant. 1st. That the lands were granted
to the State to be held in trust for the accomplishment of a specific
purpose, and therefore the State could not part with the title until
that purpose should have been accomplished. 2d. That it was not
the intention of the act of July 14, 1850, to deprive the State of
the control of the lands, but on the contrary that she should retain
supervision of them and the right to withdraw all rights and
poAvers and resume the title conditionally conferred by that act
upon the companies in the event of their failure to complete their
part of the contract. 3d. That the certified lists from the General
Land Office vested the title in the State only by virtue of the act
of Congress approved August 3, 1854. The State Land Office held
that the proper construction of the act of July 14, 1856, when ac-
cepted by the companies was that it became a conditional contract
that might ripen into a positive sale of the lands as from time to
time the work should progress, and as the State thereby became
authorized by the express terms of the grant to sell them.

This appears to have been the correct construction of the act,
but by a subsequent act of Congress, approved June 2, J 864,
amending the act of 1856, the terms of the grant were changed,
and numerous controversies arose between the companies and the
State

The ostensible purpose of this additional act was to allow the
Davenport & Council Bluffs Railroad "to modify or change the
location of the uncompleted portion of its line," to run through
the town of Newton, Jasper county, or as nearly as practicable to
that point. The original grant had been made to the State to aid
in the construction of railroads within its limits, and not to the
companies, but Congress, in 1864, appears to have been utterly ig-
norant of what had been done under the act of 1856, or, if not,
to have utterly disregarded it. The State had accepted the origin-
al grant. The Secretary of the Interior had already certified to
the State all the lands intended to be included in the grant within
fifteen miles of the lines of the several railroads. It will be re-
membered that section 4, of the act of May 15, 1856, specifies the
manner of sale of these lands from time to time as work on the
railroads should progress, and also provided that "if any of said
roads are not completed within ten years, no ftoiJier sale shall be
made, and the lands unsold shall revert to the United States^
Having vested the title to these lands in trust, in the State of Iowa,

HISTORY OF IOWA. 97

it is plain that until the expiration of the ten years there could be
no reversion, and the State, not the United States, must control
them until the grant should expire by limitation. The United
States authorities could not rightfully require the Secretary of
the Interior to certify directly to the companies any portion of the
lands already certified to the State. And yet Congress, by its act
of June 2, 1864, provided that whenever the Davenport & Council
Bluffs Railroad Company should file in the General Laud Office, at
Washington, a map definitely showing such new location, the
Secretary of the Interior should cause to be certified and conveyed
to said company, from time to time, as the road progressed, out of
any of the lands belonging to the United States, not sold, reserved
or otherwise disposed of, or to Avhich a pre-emption claim or right
of homestead had not attached, and on which a bona fide settle-
ment and improvement had not been made under color of title de-
rived from the United States or from the State of Iowa, within
six miles of such newly located line, an amount of land per mile
equal to that originally authorized to be granted to aid in the
construction of said road by the act to which this was an amend-
ment.

The term "out of any lands heJongimj to the United States, not
sold, reserved or otherwise disposed of, etc.," would seem to indi-
cate that Congress did intend to grant lands already granted, but
when it declared that the Company should have an amount per
mile equal to that originally authorized to he granted, it is plain
that the framers of the bill were ignorant of the real terms of the
original grant, or that they designed that the United States should
resume the title it had already parted with two years before the
lands could revert to the United States under the original act,
which was not repealed.

A similar change Avas made in relation to the Cedar Rapids &
Missouri Railroad, and dictated the conveyance of lands in a
similar manner.

Like provision was made for the Dubuque & Sioux City Rail-
road, and the Company was piermitted to change the location of
its line between Fort Dodge and Sioux City, so as to secure the
best route between those points; but this change of location was
not to impair the right to the land granted in the original act,
nor did it change the location of those lands,'

By the same act, the Mississippi & Missouri Railroad Company
was authorized to transfer and assign all or any part of the grant
to any other company or person, "if, in the opinion of said Com-
pany, the construction of said railroad across the State of Iowa
would be thereby sooner and more satisfactorily completed; but
such assignee should not in any case be released from the liabili-
ties and conditions accompanying this grant, nor acquire perfect
title in any other manner than the same Avould have been ac-
quired by the original grantee.''

98 HISTOEY OF IOWA.

Still further, the Burlington & Missouri River Railroad was not
forgotten, and was, by the same act, empowered to receive an
amount of land per mile equal to that mentioned in the original
act, and if that could not be found within the limits of six miles
from the line of said road, then such selection might be made
along such line within twenty miles thereof out of any public
lands belonging to the United States, not sold, reserved or other-
wise disposed of, or to which a pre-emption claim or right of
homestead had not attached.

Those acts of Congress, which evidently originated in the
•'lobby," occasioned much controversy and trouble. The Depart-
ment of the Interior, however, recognizing the fact that when the
Secretary had certified the lands to the State, under the act of
1856, that act divested the United States of title, under the vest-
ing act of August, 1854, refused to review its action, and also re-
fused to order any and all investigations for establishing adverse
claims (except in pre-emption cases), on the ground that the
United States had parted with the title, and, therefore, could ex-
ercise no control over the land.

May 12, 1861, before the passage of the amendatory act above
described. Congress granted to the State of Iowa, to aid in the
construction of a railroad from McGregor to Sioux City, and for
the benefit of the McGregor Western Railroad Company every
alternate section of land, designated by odd numbers, for ten
sections in width on each side of the proposed road, reserving the
right to substitute other lands, whenever it was found that the
grant infringed upon pre-empted lands, or on lands that had been
reserved or disposed of for any other purpose. In such cases, the
Secretary of the Interior was instructed to select, in lieu, lands
belonging to the United States lying nearest to the limits specified.

X. AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE AND FARM LAND.

An Agricultural College and Model Farm was established by
act of the General Assembly, approved March 22, 1858. By the
eleventh section of the act, the proceeds of the five-section grant
made for the purpose of aiding in the erection of public buildings
was appropriated, subject to the approval of Congress, together
with all lands that Congress might thereafter grant to the State
for the purpose for the benefit of the institution. On the 23d of
March, by joint resolution, the Legislature asked the consent of
Congress to the proposed transfer, By act approved July 11,
1862, Congress removed the restrictions imposed in the ''Five-
section grant," and authorized the General Assembly to make
such disposition of the lands as should be deemed best for the in-
terests of the State. By these several acts the five sections of
land in Jasper County certified to the State to aid in the erection
of public buildings under the act of March 3, 1815, entitled: "An
act supplemental to the act for the admission of the States of

HISTORY OF IOWA, 99

Iowa and Florida into the Union," were fully appropriated for the
benefit of the Iowa Agricultural College and Farm. The institu-
tion is located in Story County. Seven hundred and twenty-one
acres in that and two hundred in Boone County were donated to
it by individuals interested in the success of the enterprise.

By act of Congress approved^July 2, 1852, an appropriation was
made to each State and Territory of 30,000 acres for each Sena-
tor and Representative in Congress to which, by the apportion-
ment under the census of 1850, they were respectfully entitled.
This grant was made for the purpose of endowing colleges of ag-
riculture and mechanic arts.

Iowa accepted this grant by an act passed at an extra session of
its Legislature, approved Sept 11, 1862, entitled: ''An act to ac-
cept of the grant, and carry into execution the trust conferred
upon the State of Iowa by an act of Congress entitled 'An act
granting public lands to the several States and Territories which
may provide colleges for the benefit of agricultural and the me-
chanic arts, approved July 2, 1862." This act made it the duty
of the Governor to appoint an agent to select and locate the lands,
and provided that none should be selected that were claimed by
any county as swamp lands. The agent was required to make re-
port of his doings to the Governor, who was instructed to submit
the list of selections to the Board of Trustees of the Agricultural
College for their approval. One thousand dollars were appropri-
ated to carry the law into effect. The State having two Senators and
six Representatives in Congress, was entitled to 240,000 acres of
land under this grant, for the purpose of establishing and main-
taining an Agricultural College. Peter Melendy, Esq., of Black
Hawk County, was appointed to make the selections, and during
August, September and December, 1863, located them in the Fort
Dodge, Des Moines and Sioux City Land Districts. December 8,
1864, these selections were certified by the Commissioner of the
General land Office, and were approved to the State by the Secre-
tary of the Interior December 13, 1864. The title to these lands
were vested in the State in fee simple, and conflicted with no other
claims under other grants.

The agricultural lands were approved to the State as 240,000.90

acres; but 35,691.66 acres were located within railroad limits,

which were computed at the rate of two acres for one, the actual

amount of land approved to the State under this grant was only

204,309.30 acres, located as follows:

In Des Moines Land District 6,804.96 acres.

In Sioux City Land District 59,025.37 "

In Fort Dodge Land District 138,478.97 • '

By act of the General Assembly, approved March 29, 1864, en-
titled, "An act authorizing the Trustees of the Iowa State Agri-
cultural College and Farm, to sell all lands acquired, granted, do-
nated or appropriated for the benfit of said College, and to make

100 HISTORY OF lO^VA.

an investment of the prcceeds thereof," all these lauds were
granted to the Agricultural College and Farra, and the Trustees
were authorized to take possession and sell or lease them. There
was then under the control of the Trustees, lands as follows:

Under the act of July 2, 1852 304,309.30 acres.

Of the five-section grant 3,200.00 '•

Lands donated in Story County 721.00

Lands donated in Boone County 200.00 •'

Total 208,430.30 acres.

The Trustees opened an office at Fort Dodge, and appointed
Hon. G. W. Bassett their a^ent for the sale of these lands.

"»

THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

The germ of the free public school system of Iowa, which now
ranks second to none in the United States, was planted by the
first settlers. They had migrated to the "Beautiful Land"' from
other and older States, where the common school system had been
tested by many years' expei'ience, bringing with them some
knowledge of its advantages, which they determined should be en-
joyed by the children of the land of their adoption. The system
thus planted was expanded and improved in the broad fields of
the West, until now it is justly considered one of the most com-
plete, comprehensive and liberal in the country.

Nor is it to be wondered at when it is remembered humble log
school houses were built almost as soon as the log cabin of the
earliest settlers were occupied by their brave builders. In the lead
mining regions of the State, the first to be occupied by the white
race, the hardy pioneers provided the means for the education of
their children even before they had comfortable dwellings for their
families. School teachers were among the first immigrants to
Iowa. Wherever a little settlement was made, the school house
was the first united public act of the settlers; and the rude primi-
tive structures of the early time only disappeared when the com-
munities had increased in population and wealth, and were able to
replace them with more commodious and comfortable buildings.
Perhaps in no single instance has the magnificent progress of the
State of Iowa been more marked and rapid than in her common
school system and in her school houses, which, long since, super-
ceded the log cabins of the first settlers. To-day, the school houses
which everywhere dot the broad and fertile prairies of Iowa are
unsurpassed by those of any other State in the great Union. More
especially is this true in all her cities and villages, where liberal
and lavish appropriations have been voted, by a generous people,
for the erection of large commodious and elegant buildings, fur-
nished with all the modern improvements, and costing from $10,-
000 to $60,000 each. The people of the State have expended
more than $10,000,000 for the erection of public school buildings.

HISTORY OF IOWA. 101

The first house erected in Iowa was a log cabin at Dubuque,
built by James L. Langworthy and a few other miners, in the
Autumn of 1833.

Mrs. Caroline Baxter commenced teaching in Dubuque in March,
1836. She was the first female teacher there, and probably the
first in Iowa. The first tax for the support of schools at Dubuque
Avas levied in 1810.

Among the first buildings erected at Burlington was a commod-
ious log school house m 1834, in which Mr. Johnson Pierson
taught the first school in the Winter of 1831-5.

The first school in Muscatine County was taught by George
Bumgardner, in the Spring of 1837, and in 1839, a log school
house was erected in Muscatine, which served for a long time for
school house, church and public hall. The first school in Daven-
port was taught in 1838. In Fairfield Miss Clarissa Sawyer.
James F. Chambers and Mrs. Reed taught school in 1839.

When the site of Iowa City was selected as the capital of the
Territory of Iowa, in May, 1839, it was a perfect wilderness. The
first sale of lots took place August 18, 1839, and before January
1, 1840, about twenty families had settled within the limits of the
town; and during the same year, Mr. Jesse Berry opened a school
in a small frame building he had erected, on what is now College
street. "'^

The first settlement in Monroe County was made in 1848, by
Mr. John R. Grray, about two miles from the present site of Ed-
dyville; and in the Summer of 1844, a log school house was built,
and the first school was opened. About a year after the first cab-
in was built at Oskaloosa, a log school house was built.

At Fort Des Moines, now the Capital of the State, the first
school was taught in the winter of 1846-7.

The first school in Pottawattamie County was opened at Coun-
cil Point, prior to 1849.

The first school in Decorah was taught in 1853. In Osceola, the
first school was opened by Mr. D. W. Scoville. The first school
at Fort Dodge was taught in 1855, by Cyrus C. Carpenter, since
(xovernor of the State. In Crawford County the first school
house was built in Mason's Grove in 1856, and Morris McHenry
first occupied it as teacher.

During the first twenty years of the history- of Iowa, the log
school houses prevailed, and in 1861, there were 893 of these
primitive structures in use for school pui'posesin the State. Since
that time they have been gradually disappearing. In 1865, there
were 796: in 1870, 336; and in 1875, 121.

Iowa Territory was created July 3, 1838. January 1, 1839, the
Territorial Legislature passed an act providing that ''there shall
be established a common school, or schools, in each of the coun-
ties in this Territory, which shall be open and free for every class
of white citizens between the ages of five and twenty-one yoars."

102 HISTORY OF IOWA.

The second section of the act provided that "the County Board
shall, from time to time, form such districts in their respective
counties whenever a petition may he presented for the purpose hy a
majority of the voters resident within such contemplated district."
These districts were governed by boards of trustees, usually of
three persons; each district was required to maintain school at
least three months in every year; and later, laws were enacted
providing for county school taxes for the payment of teachers,
and that whatever additional sum might be required should be
assessed upon the parents sending, in proportion to the length of
time sent.

When Iowa Territory became a State, in 1846, with a popula-
tion of 100,000 and with 20,000 pupils within its limits, about
four hundred school districts had been organized. In 1850, there
were 1,200, and in 1857, the number had increased to 3,265.

In March, 1858, the Seventh General Assembly enacted that
''each civil township is declared a school district," and provided
that these should be divided into sub-districts. This law went in-
to force March 20, 1858, and reduced the number of school dis-
tricts from about 3,500 to less than 900.

The change of school organization resulted in a very material
reduction of the expenditures for the compensation of District
Secretaries and Treasurers. An effort was made for several years,
from 1867 to 1872, to abolish the sub-district system. The Legis-
lature of 1870, provided for the formation of independent districts
from the sub-districts of district townships. The system of
graded schools was inaugurated in 1849; and new schools, in which
more than one teacher is employed, are universally graded.

The first official mention of Teachers' Institutes in the educa-
tional records of Iowa, occurs in the annual report of Hon. Thomas
H. Benton, Jr., made December 2, 1850.

In March, 1858, an act was passed authorizing the holding of
Teachers' Institutes for periods not less than six working days,
whenever not less than thirty teachers should desire. The Super-
intendent was authorized to expend not exceeding $100 for any
one Institute, to be paid out by the County Superintendent as the
Institute might direct for teachers and lecturers, and one thou-
sand dollars was appropriated to defray the expenses of these In-
stitutes.

The Board of Education at its first session, commencing Decem-
ber 6, 1858, enacted a code of school laws which retained the ex-
isting provisions for Teachers' Institutes. In March, 1860, the
General Assembly amended the act of the Board by appropriating
"a sum not exceeding fifty dollars annually for one such Institute,
held as provided by law in each county."

By act approved March 19, 1874, Normal Institutes were estab-
lished in each county, to be held annually by the County Superin-
tendent, and in 1876 the Sixteenth General Assembly established

HISTORY OF IOWA. 103

the first permanent State Normal School at Cedar Falls, Black
Hawk County, appropriating the building and property of the
Soldiers' Orphans' Home at that place for that purpose.

The public school system of Iowa is admirably organized, and if
the various officers who are entrusted with the educational inter-
ests of the commonwealth are faithful and competent, should and
will constantly improve.

''The public schools are supported by funds arising from several
sources. The sixteenth section of every Congressional Township
was set apart by the General Government for school purposes, be-
ing one-thirty-sixth part of all of the lands of the State. The
minimum price of these lands was fixed at one dollar and twenty-
five cents per acre. Congress also made an additional donation to
the State of five hundred thousand acres, and an appropriation of
five per cent, on all the sales of public lands to the school fund.
The State gives to this fund the proceeds of the sales of all
lands which escheat to it; the proceeds of all fines for the vio-
lation of the liquor and criminal laws. The money derived from
these sources constitutes the permanent school fund of the State,
which cannot be diverted to any other purpose. The penalties
collected by the courts for fines and forfeits go to the school fund
in the counties where collected. The proceeds of the sale of lands
and the five per cent, fund go into the State Treasury, and the
State distributes these proceeds to the several counties according to
their recpest, and the counties loan the money to individuals for
long terms at eight per cent, interest, on security of land valued
at three times the amount of the loan, exclusive of all buildings
and improvements thereon. The interest on these loans is paid
into the State Treasury, and becomes the available school fund of
the State. The counties are responsible to the State for all monev
so loaned, and the State is likewise responsible to the school
fund for all moneys transferred to the counties. The interest on
these loans is apportioned by the State Auditor semi-annually to
the several counties of the State, in proportion to the number of
persons between the ages of five and twenty-one years. The
counties also levy an annual tax for school purposes, which is ap-
portioned to the several district townships in the same way. A
district tax is also levied for the same purpose . The money aris-
ing from these several sources constitutes the support of the pub-
lic schools, and is sufficient to enable every sub-district in the
State to afford from six to nine months' school each year."

The taxes levied for the support of schools are self-imposed.
Under the admirable school laws of the State, no taxes can be
legally assessed or collected for the erection of school houses until
they have been ordered by the election of the district at a school
meeting legally called. The school houses of Iowa are the pride
of the State and an honor to the people. If they have been some-
times built at a prodigal expense, the tax-payers have no one to

104 HISTORY OF IOWA.

blame but themselves. The teachers' and eontiugent funds are
determined by the Directors, under certain legal restrictions.
These boards are elected annually, except in the independent dis-
tricts, in which the board may be entirely changed every three
years. The only exception to this mode of levying taxes for sup-
port of schools is the county school tax, which is determined by
the County Board of Supervisors. The tax is from one to three
mills on the dollar; usually, however, but one.

In his admirable message to the General Assembly, just previous
to retiring from the Gubernatorial chair, Gov. Gear has the follow-
ing to say concerning the public schools of Iowa:

"The number of school children reported is 594,750. Of this
number 384,192 are, by approximation, between the ages of six
and sixteen years. The number of all ages enrolled in the
schools is 431,513, which shows that much the greater proportion
of children of school age avail themselves of the benefits of our
educational system. The average attendance is 254,088. The
schools of the State have been in session, on an average, 148
days.

"There is, doubtless, quite a per centage of children who attend
schools other than those of a public character. Yet the figures I
have quoted show clearly that very many children, through the
negligence or unwillingness of parents, do not attend school at all,
but are in a fair way to grow up in ignorance. I, therefore, earn-
estly suggest that you consider the expediency of enacting a com-
pulsory educational law, which should require attendance upon
schools of some kind, either public or private. To me it does
seem as if the State shall not have done her full duty by the
children, until she shall have completed her educational system
by some such enactment.

''The interest in the normal institutes is maintained, and, be-
yond doubt, they render great aid in training the teachers who
attend them.

"Tlie receipts for all school purposes throughout the State were
$5,006,023. 60, and the expenditures $5,129,279.49; but of these
receipts and expenditures about $400,000 was of money borrowed
to refund outstanding bonds at lower rates of interest.

"The amount on hand aggregated, at the end of the fiscal year,
$2,653,356.55. This sum is, in my judgment, much larger than
the necessities of the schools require, and it would be well to im-
pose some check to prevent an excessive or unnecessary levy of
taxes for school purposes."

The significance of such facts as these is unmistakable. Such
lavish expenditures can only be accounted for by the liberality
and public spirit of the people, all of whom manifest their love
of popular education and their faith in the public schools by the
annual dedication to their support of more than one per cent, of
their entire taxable property; this too, uninterruptedly through a

HISTORY OF IOWA. 105

series of years, commencing in the midst of a war which taxed
their energies and resources to the extreme, and continuing
through years of general depression in business — years of moder-
ate yield of produce, of discouragingly low prices, and even amid
the scanty surrounding and privations of pioneer life. Few hu-
man enterprises have a grander significance or give evidence of a
more noble purpose than the generous contributions from the
scanty resources of the pioneer for the purpose of public educa-
tion.

POLITICAL RECORD.

TERRITORIAL OFFICERS.

Governors — Robert Lucas, 1838-41 ; John Chambers, 1811-45;
James Clarke, 1815.

Secretaries — William B. Conway, 1838, died 1839; James Clarke,
1839; 0. H. W. StuU, 1841; Samuel J. Burr, 1843; Jesse AVil-
liams, 1845.

Auditors— Jesse Williams, 1840; Wm. L. Gilbert, 1843; Robert
M. Secrest, 1845.

Treasurers — Thornton Bayliss, 1839; Morgan Reno, 1840.

Judges — Charles Mason, Chief Justice, 1838; Joseph Williams,
1838, Thomas S. Wilson, 1838.

Presidents of Council — Jesse B. Browne, 1838-9; Stephen Hem-
stead, 1839-40; M. Bainridge, 1840-1; Jonathan W. Parker,
1841-2; John D. Elbert, 1842-3; Thomas Cox, 1843^; S. Clinton
Hastings, 1845; Stephen Hemstead, 1845-6.

Speakers of the House — William H. Wallace, 1838-9; Edward
Johnston, 1839^0; Thomas Cox, 1840-1; Warner Lewis, 1841-2;
James M. Morgan, 1842-3; James P. Carleton 1843-4; James M.
Morgan, 1845; George W. McCleary, 1845-6.

First Constitutional Convention^ 1844 — Shepherd Leffler, Presi-
dent; George S. Hampton, Secretary.

Second Constitutional Convention^ 1S46 — Enos Lowe, President;
William Thompson, Secretary,

OFFICERS OF THE STATE GOVERXME^^T.

Governors— A.\\se\ Briggs, 1846 to 1850; Stephen Hemstead,
1850 to 1854; James W. Grimes, 1854 to 1858; Ralph P. Lowe,
1858 to 1860; Samuel J. Kirkwood, 1860 to 1864; William M.
Stone, 1S64 to 1868; Samuel Merrill, 1868 to 1872; Cvrus C. Car-
penter, 1872 to 1876; Samuel J. Kirkwood, 1S76 to 1877; Joshua
G. Newbold, Acting, 1877 to 1878; John H. Gear, 1878 to 1882;
Buren R. Sherman, 1882 to—

Lieutenant Governors — Office created by the new Constitution,
September 3, 1857— Oran Faville, 1858-9; Nicholas J. Rush,
1860-1; John R Needham, 1862-3; Enoch W. Eastman, 1864-5;
Benjamin F. Gue, 1866-7: John Scott, 1868-9; M. M. AValden,

306 HISTORY OF IOWA.

1870-1; H. C. Bulis, 1872-3; Joseph Dysart, 1874-5; Joshua G.
Newbold, 1876-7; Frank T. Campbell, 1878-82; 0. H. Manning,
1882 to—.

Secretaries of State — Elisha Cutler, Jr., Dec. 5, 1846, to Dee. 4,
1848; Josiah H. Bonney, Dec. 4, 1848, to Dec 2, 1850; George W.
McCleary, Dec. 2, 1850, to Dec. 2, 1856; Elijah Sells, Dec. 1, 1856,
to Jan 5, 1863; James Wright, Jan. 5, 1863, to Jan. 7, 1867; Ed.
Wright, Jan. 7, 1867, to Jan 6, 1873; Josiah T. Young, Jan 6,
1873, to 1879; J. A. T; Hull, 1879 to—.

Auditors of /S/aff— Joseph T. Fales, Dec. 5, 1846 to Dec. 2, 1850;
William Pattee, Dec. 2, 1850, to Dec. 4, 1854; Andrew J. Stevens,
Dec. 4, 1854, resigned in 1855; John Pattee, Sept. 22, 1855 to
Jan. 3 1859; Jonathan W. Cattell, 1859, to 1865; John A. Elliot,
1865 to 1871; John Russell, 1871 to 1875; Buren R. Sherman,
1875 to 1881; W. V. Lucas, 1881 to—.

l.\easurers of State— '^or^Q.a Reno, Dec. 18,1846, to Dec. 2,
1850; Israel Kister, Dec 2, 1850, to Dec. 4, 1852; Martin L. Mor-
ris, Dec. 4, 1852, to Jan. 2, 1859; John W. Jones 1859 to 1863;
William H. Holmes, 1863 to 1867; Samuel E. Rankin, 1867 to
1873; William Christy, 1873 to 1877; George W. Bemis, 1877 to
1881; Edwin G. Conger, 1881 to—.

Superintendents of Public Instruction — Office created in 1847 —
James Harlan, June 5, 1845 (Supreme Court decided election void);
Thomas H. Benton, Jr., May 23, 1844, to June 7, 1854; James D.
Eads, 1854-7; Joseph C. Stone, March to June, 1857; Maturin L.
Fisher, 1857 to Dec. 1858, when the office was abolished and the
duties of the office devolved upon the Secretary of the Board of
Education.

Secretaries of the Board of Education — Thomas H. Benton. Jr.,^
1859—1863; Oran Faville, Jan. 1, 1864. Board abolished March
23, 1864.

Superintendents of Public Instruction — Office re-created March
23, 1864— Oran Faville, March 28, 1864, resigned March 1, 1867;
D. Franklin Wells, March 4, 1879, to Jan., 1870; A. S. Kissell,
1870 to 1872; Alonzo Abernethy, 1872 to 1877; Carl W. von
Coelln, 1877 to 1882; J. W. Akers, 1882 to — .

State Binders — Office created February 21, 1845 — William M.
Coles, May 1, 1855, to May 1, 1859; Frank M. Mills, 1859 to
1867; James S. Carter, 1867 to 1870; J. J. Smart, 1870 to 1874;
H. A. Perkins, 1874 to 1878; Matt Parrott, 1878 to — .

Begiters of the State Land Office — Anson Hart, May 5, 1S55»
to May 13, 1857; Theodore S. Parvin, May -13, 1857, to Jan. 3,
1859; Amos B. Miller, Jan. 3, 1859, to October, 1862; Edwin
Mitchell, Oct. 31, 1862, to Jan. 5, 1863; Josiah A. Harvev, Jan.
5, 1863, to Jan. 7, 1867; Cyrus C. Carpenter, Jan. 7, 1867, to Jan.
1871: Aaron Brown, January, 1871, to Januarv, 1875; David Se-
cor, January, 1875, to 1879; J. K. Powers. 1879 to — .

HISTORY OF IOWA. 107

State Printers — Office created Jan. 3, 1810 — Garrett D. Palmer
and Georjre Paul, 1819; William H. Merritt, 1851 to 1853; Wil-
liam A. Hornish, 1853 (resigned May 16, 1853); Mahoney & Dorr,
1853 to 1855; Peter Moriarty, 1855 to 1857; John Teesdale, 1857
to 1861; Francis W. Palmer, 1861 to 1869; Frank M. Mills, 18G9
to 1870; G. W. Edwards, 1870 to 1872; R. P. Clarkson, 1872 to
1878; Frank M. Mills, 1878 to — .

Adjutants General — Daniel S. Lee, 1851-5; Geo. W. McCleary,
1855-7; Elijah Sells, 1857; Jesse Bowen, 1857-61; Nathaniel Ba-
ker, 1861 to 1877; John H. Looby, 1877 to 1879; W. L. Alexan-
der, 1870 to — .

Attorneys General — David C. Cloud, 1843-56; Samuel A. Rice,
1856-60; Charles C. Nourse, 1861-4; Isaac L. Allen, 1865 (resigned
January, 1866); Frederick E. Bissell, 1866 (died June 12, 1867);
Henry O'Connor, 1867-72; Marsena E. Cutts, 1872-6; John F.
McJiinkin, 1877 to 1881; Smith McPherson, 1881 to — .

Presidents of the Senate — Thomas Baker, 1846-7; Thomas
Hughes, 1848; John J. Selman, 1848-9; Enos Lowe, 1850-1: Wil-
liam E. Leffingwell, 1852-3; Maturin L. Fisher, 1854-5; William
W. Hamilton, 1856-7. Under the new Constitution, the Lieuten-
ant Governor is President of the Senate.

Speakers of the House — Jesse B. Brown, 1847-8; Smiley H.
Bonhan, 1849-50; George Temple, 1851-2; James Grant, 1853-4;
Reuben Noble, 1855-6; Samuel McFarland, 1856-7; Stephen B.
Sheledy, 1858-9; John Edwards, 1860-1; Rush Clark, 1862-3; Ja-
cob Butler, 1864-5; Ed. Wright, 1866-7: John Russell, 1868-9;
Aylett R. Cotton, 1870-71; James Wilson, 1872-3; John H. Gear,
1874-7; John Y. Stone, 1878-9; Lore Alford, 1880-1; G. R. Stru-
ble, 1882 to — .

New Constitutional Convention, 1859 — Francis Springer, Presi-
dent; Thos. J. Saunders, Secretary.

STATE OFFICERS, 1882.

Buren R. Sherman, Governor; 0. H. Manning, Lieutenant Gov-
ernor; John A. T. Hull, Secretary of State; William V. Lucas, Au-
ditor of State; Edward H. Conger, Treasurer of State; James K.
Powers, Register of State Land Office; W. L. Alexander, Adjutant
General; Smith McPherson, Attorney General; Edward J. Holmes,
Clerk of the Supreme Court; Jno. S. Runnells, Reporter Supreme
Court; J. W. Akers, Superintendent of Public Instruction; Frank
M. Mills, State Printer; Matt. Parrott, State Binder; Prof. Nathan
R. Leonard, Superintendent of Weights and Measures; Mrs. S. B
Maxwell, State Librarian.

THE JUDICIARY.

SUPREME COURT OF IOWA, 1882.

Chief Justice, Austin Adams, Dubuque; Associate Judges,'Wil-
liam H. Seevers, Oskaloosa; James D. Day, Sidney; James H. Roth-
rock, Tipton; Joseph M. Beck, Fort Madison.

108 HISTORY or IOWA.

DISTRICTS COURTS, 1882.

First Judicial District, Abraham H. Stutsman, Burliugtou; Sec-
ond Judicial District, Edward L. Burton, Ottumwa; Third Judicial
District. R. C. Henry, Mount Ayr; Fourth Judicial District, Charles
H. Lewis, Cherokee; Fifth Judicial District, William H. McHenry,
Des Moines; Sixth Judicial District, John C. Cook, Newton; Sev-
enth Judicial District, Walter I. IJayes, Clinton; Eighth Judicial
District, John Shane, Vinton; Ninth Judicial District, Sylvester
Bagg, Wa'erloo; Tenth Judicial District, Ezekial E. Cooley, De-
corah; Eleventh Judicial District, James W. McKenzie, Hampton;
Twelfth Judicial District, Geo. W. Ruddick, Waverly; Thirteenth
Judicial District, Joseph R. Reed, Council Bluffs; Fourteenth Ju-
dicial District, Ed. R. Duffie, Sac City.

CIRCUIT COURTS, 1882.

First Judicial Circuit, First District, W^illiam J. Jeffries, Mt.
Pleasant; Second Judicial Circuit, First District, Charles Phelps,
Burlington; Second Judicial Circuit, H. C. Traverse, Bloomfield;
Third Judicial Circuit, D. D. Gregory, Afton; Fourth Judicial
Circuit, J. R. Zuver, Sioux City; First Judicial Circuit, Fifth
District, Josiah Given, Des Moines; Second Judicial Circuit,
Fifth District, Stephen A. Callvert, Adel; Sixth Judicial Circuit,
W. R. Lewis, Montezuma; First Judicial Circuit, Seventh District,
Charles W. Chase, Clinton; Second Judicial Circuit, Seventh Dis-
trict, DeWitt C. Richman, Muscatine, Eighth Judicial Circuit,
Christian Hedges, Marengo; Ninth Judicial Circuit, Benjamin W.
Lacy, Dubuque; Tenth Judicial Circuit, Charles T. Granger, Wau-
kon; Eleventh Judicial Circuit, D. D. Miracle, Webster City;
Twelth Judicial Circuit, Robert G. Reineger, Charles City; Thir-
teenth Judicial Circuit, C. F. Loofbourrow, Atlantic; Fourteenth
Judicial Circuit, John N. Weaver, Algona.

CONGRESSIONAL REPRESENTATION.

UNITED STA.TES SENATORS.

(The firs General Assembly failed to elect Senators.)
George W. Jones, Dubuque, Dec. 7, 1848-1858; Augustus C.
Dodge, Burlington, Dec. 7, 1848-1855; James Harlan, Mt. Pleas-
ant, Jan. 6, 1855-1865; James W. Grimes, Burlington, Jan. 26,
1858-died 1870; Samuel J. Kirkwood, Iowa City, elected Jan. 13,
1866, to fill vacancy caused by resignation of James Harlan; James
Harlan, Mt. Pleasant, March 4, 1866-1872; James B. Howell,
Keokuk, elected Jan. 20, 1870, to fill vacancy caused by the death
of J. W. Grimes— term expired March 3d; Geo. G. Wright, Des
Moines, March 4, 1871-1877; William B. Allison, Dubuque,
March 4, 1872; Samuel J. Kirkwood, March 4, 1877; James W.
McDill, appointed to fill vacancy caused by the resignation of S-.

HISTORY OF IOWA. 109

J. Kirkwood, in 1881, and elected Jan. 1882, to fill the unexpired
term; Jaraes F. Wilson, elected Jan. 1882, for the full term, be-
ginning March 4, 1883.

MEMBERS OF HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Tiventy-ninth Congress — 1810 to 1817. — S. Clinton Hastings;
Shepherd Leffler.

Thiiileth Congress— ISil to 1849.— First District, AVilliani
Thompson; Second District, Shepherd Leffler.

Thirty-first Congress— IS^Si to 1851.— First District, First Ses-
sion, Wm. Thompson; unseated by the House of Representatives
on a contest, and election remanded to the people. First District,
Second Session, Daniel F. Miller. Second District, Shepherd
Leffler.

Thirty-second Congress — 1851 to 1853. — First District, Bern-
hart Henn. Second District, Lincoln Clark.

Thirty-third C'owr/mss— 1853 to 1855. — First District, Bernhart
Henn. Second District, John P. Cook.

Thirty-fmrth Congress — 1855 to 1857. -First District, Augustus
Hall. Second District, James Thoringtou.

Thirty-fifth Congress— 1851 to 1859.— First District, Samuel
K. Curtis, Second District, Timothy Davis.

Thirty-sixth Conr/ress — 1859 to 1861. — First District, Samuel
R. Curtis. Second District, William Vandever.

Thirty-seventh Congress— 1S61 to 1863.— First District, First
Session, Samuel R. Curtis.* First District. Second and Third Ses-
sions, James F. Wilson. Second District, William Vandever.

Thirty-eighth Congress — 1863 to 1865. — First District, James
F. Wilson; Second District, Hiram Price; Third District, William
B. Allison; Fourth District, Josiah B. Grinnell; Fifth District,
John A. Kasson; Sixth District, Asahel W. Hubbard.

Thirty-ninth Congress — 1865 to 1867. — First District, James
F. Wilson; Second District, Hiram Price; Third District, William
B. Allison; Fourth District, Josiah B. Grinnell; Fifth District,
John A. Kasson; Sixth District, Asahel W. Hubbard.

Fortieth Congress— 18Q1 to 1809.— First District, James F.
Wilson; Second District, Hiram Price; Third District William B.
Allison; Fourth District, William Lough ridge; Fifth District,
GrenviUeM. Dodge; Sixth District, Asahel W. Hubbard.

Forty-first Congress— lS>d9 to 1871— First District. George W.
McCrary; Second District, William Smyth; Third District,
William B. Allison; Fourth District, William Loughridge; Fifth
District, Frank W. Palmer; Sixth District, Charles Pomeroy.

♦Vacated seat hy acceptance of commission as Brigadier General, and J. F. Wilson
chosen his successor.

110 HISTORY OF IOWA.

Fortif-second Congress — 1871 to 1873 — Fiist District, George
W. McCrarv; Second District, Aylett R. Cotton; Third District,
W. G. Donnan; Fourth District, Madison M. Waldon; Fifth Dis-
trict, Frank W. Palmer; Sixth District, Jackson Orr.

Fortij-third Congress— \^1^ to 1875— First District,. George W.
McCrary; Second District, Aylett R. Cotton; Third District,
William G. Donnan; Fourth District, Henry 0. Pratt; Fifth Dis-
trict, James Wilson; Sixth District, William Loughridge; Seventh
District, John A. Kasson; Eighth District, James W. McDill;
Ninth District, Jackson Orr.

Forty-fourth Congress — 1875 to 1877. — First District, George
W. McCrary, Second District, John Q. Tufts; Third District. L.
L. Ainsworth; Fourth District, Henry 0. Pratt; Fifth District,
James Wilson; Sixth District: Ezekiel S. Sampson: Seventh Dis-
trict, John A. Kasson; Eighth District, James W^. McDill; Ninth
District, Addison Oliver.

Forty-fifth Congress— 1871 to 1879.— First District, J. C. Stone;
Second District, Hiram Price; Third District, T. W^ Burdick;
Fourth District, H. C. Deering; Fifth District, Rush Clark; Sixth
District, E. S. Sampson; Seventh District, H. J. B. Cummings;
Eighth District, W. F. Sapp; Ninth District, A. Oliver.

Forty-sixth Congress— 1879 to 1881.— First District, Moses A.
McCoid; Second District. Hiram Price; Third District, Thomas
Updegraff; Fourth District, Nathaniel C. Deering; Fifth District,
W. G. Thompson; Sixth District, James B. Weaver; Seventh Dis-
trict, Edward H. Gillette; Eighth District, William F. Sapp;
Ninth District, Cyrus C. Carpenter.

Forty-seventh Congress— 18S1 to 1883.— First District Moses A.
McCoid; Second District, Sewall S. Farwell; Third District,
Thomas UpdegratJ'; Fourth District, Nathaniel C. Deering; Fifth
District, W. G. Thompson; Sixth District, Madison E. Cutts,
Seventh District, John* A. Kasson; Eighth District, William P.
Hepburn; Ninth District, Cyrus C. Carpenter.

WAR RECORD.

The State of Iowa may well be proud of her record during the
War of the Rebellion, from 1861 to 1865. ^ The following brief
but comprehensive sketch of the history she made during that
trying period, is largely from the pen of Col. A. P. Wood, of Du-
buque, the author of ''The History of Iowa and the W^ar," one of
the best works of the kind yet written.

"Whether in the promptitude of her responses to the calls made
on her by the General Government, in the courage and constancy
of her soldiery in the field, or in the wisdom and efficiency with
which her civil administration was conducted during the trying
period covered by the War of the Rebellion, Iowa proved herself
the peer of any loyal State. The proclamation of her Governor,
responsive to that of the President, calling for volunteers to com-

HISTORY OF lOWA. Ill

pose her First Regiment, was issued on the fourth iuy after the
fall of Sumter. At the end of only a single week, men enough
were reported to be in quarters (mostly in the vicinity of their
own homes) to fill the regiment. These, however, were hardly
more than a tithe ^f the number who had been offered by com-
pany commanders for acceptance under the President's call. So
urgent were these offers that the Governor requested (on the 24th
of April) permission to organize an additional regiment. While
awaiting an answer to this request, he condllionally accepted a
sufficient number of companies to compose two additional regi-
ments. In a short time, he was notified that both of these would
be accepted. Soon after the completion of the Second and Third
Regiments (which was near the close of May), the Adjutant Gen-
eral of the State reported that upwards of one hundred and sev-
enty companies had been tendered to the Governor to serve against
the enemies of the Union.

"Much difficulty and considerable delay occurred in fitting these
regiments for the field. For the First Infantry a complete outfit
(not uniform) of clothing was extemporized — principally by the
volunteered labor of loyal women in the different towns — -from
material of various colors and qualities, obtained within the limits
of the State. The same was done in part for the Second Infantry.
Meantime, an extra session of the General Assembly had been
called by the Governor, to convene on the 15th of May. With
but little delay, that body authorized a loan of ^800,000 to meet
the extraordinary expenses incurred, and to be incurred, by the
Executive Department, in consequence of the new emergency. A
wealthy merchant of the State (ex-Governor Merrill, then a resi-
dent of McGregor) immediately took from the Governor a con-
tract to supply a complete outfit of clothing for the three regi-
ments organized, agreeing to receive, should the Governor so elect,
his pay therefor in State bonds at par. This contract he executed
to the letter, and a portion of the clothing (which was manufac-
tured in Boston to his order) was delivered at Keokuk, the place
at which the troops had rendezvoused, in exactly one month from
the day on which the contract had been entered into. The re-
mainder arrived only a few days later. This clothing was delivered
to the regiment, but was subsequently condemned by the Govern-
ment, for the reason that its color was gray, and blue had been
adopted as the color to be Avorn by the national troops."

Other States also clothed their troops, sent forward under the
first call of President Lincoln, with gray uniforms, but it was
soon found that the Confederate forces were also clothed in gray,
and that color was once abandoned by the Union troops. If both
armies were clothed alike, annoying if not fatal mistakes were
liable to be made.

But while engaged in these efforts to discharge her whole duty,
in common with all the other Union-loving States in the great

112 HISTORY OF IOWA.

emergency, Iowa was compelled to make immediate and ample pro-
vision for the protection of her own borders, from threatened in-
vasion on the south by the Secessionists of Missouri, and from
incursions from the west and northwest by bands of hostile
Indians, who were freed from the usual restraint imposed upon
them by the presence of regular troops stationed at the frontier
posts. These troOps are withdrawn to meet the greater and more
pressing danger threatening the life of the nation at its very
heart.

To provide for the adequate defense of her borders from the
ravages of both rebels in arms against the Government, and of
the more irresistible foes from the Western plains, the Governor
of the State was authoi'ized to raise and equip two regiments of
infantry, a squadron of cavalry (not less than five companies) and
a battalion of artillery (not less than three companies). Only
cavalry were enlisted for home defense, however, "but," says Col.
Wood, "in times of special danger, or when calls were made by
the Unionists of Northern Missouri for assistance against their
disloyal enemies, large numbers of militia on foot often turned
out, and remained in the field until the necessity for their ser-
vices had passed.

"The first order for the Iowa volunteers to move to the field
w^as received on the 13th of June. It was issued by Gen. Lyon,
then commanding the United States forces in Missouri. The
First and Second Infantry immediately embarked in steamboats,
and moved to Hannibal. Some two weeks later, the Third In-
fantry was ordered to the same point. These three, together with
many other of the earlier organized Iowa regiments, rendered
their first field service in Missouri. The First Infantry formed
a part of the little army with which Gen, Lyon moved on Spring-
field, and fought the bloody battle of Wilson's Creek. It received
unqualified praise for its gallant bearing on the field. In the fol-
lowing month (September), the Third Iowa, with but very slight
support, fought with honor the sanguinary engagement of Blue
Mills Landing; and in November, the Seventh Iowa, as a part of
a force commanded by Gen. Grant, greatly distinguished itself in
the battle of Belmont, where it poured out its blood like water —
losing more than half the men it took into action.

"The initial operations in which the battles referred to took
place, were followed by the more important movements led by
Gen. Grant, Gen. Curtis, of this state, and other commanders,
which resulted in defeating the armies defending the chief
strategic lines held by the Confederates in Kentucky, Tennessee,
Missouri and Arkansas, and compelling their withdrawal from
much of the territory previously controlled by them in those
States. In these and other movements, down to the grand cul-
minating campaign by which Vicksburg was captured and the
Confederacy permanently severed on the line of the Mississippi

HISTORY OF IOWA. 113

River, Iowa troops took part in steadily increasing numbers. In
the investment and siege of Vicksburg, the State was represented
by thirty regiments and two batteries, in addition to which, eight
regiments and one battery were employed on the outposts of the
besieging army. The brilliancy of their exploits on the many
fields where they served, won for them the highest meed of praise,
both in military and civil circles. Multiplied were the terms in
which expression was given to this sentiment, but these words of
one of the journals of a neighboring State, 'The Iowa troops have
been heroes among heroes,' embody the spirit of all.

''In the veteran re-enlistments that distinguished the closing
months of 1863, above all other periods in the history of re-enlist-
ments for the national armies, the Iowa three years' men (who
were relatively more numerous than those of any other State)
were prompt to set the example of volunteering for another term
of equal length, thereby adding many thousands to the great army
of those who gave this renewed and practical assurance that the
cause of the Union should not be left without defenders.

"In all the important movements of 1864-65, by which the
Confederacy was penetrated in every quarter, and its military
power finally overthrown, the Iowa troops took part. Their
drum-beat was heard on the banks of every great river of the
South, from the Potomac to the Rio Grande, and everywhere they
rendered the same faithful and devoted service, maintaining on
all occasions their wonted reputation for valor in the field and en-
durance on the march.

"Two Iowa three-year cavalry regiments were employed during
the whole term of service in the operations that were in progress
from 1863 to 1866 against the hostile Indians of the western
plains. A portion of these men were among the last of the vol-
unteer troops to be mustered out of service. The State also sup-
plied a considerable number of men to the navy, who took part in
most of the naval operations prosecuted against the Confederate
power on the Atlantic and Gulf coasts, and the rivers of the
West.

"The people of Iowa were early and constant workers in the
sanitary field, and by their liberal gifts and personal efibrts for the
benefit of the soldiery, placed their State in front rank of those
who became distinguished for their exhibition of patriotic benevo-
lence during the period covered by the war. Agents appointed by
the Governor were stationed at points convenient for rendering
assistance to the sick and needy soldiers of the State, while others
were employed in visiting from time to time, hospitals, camps and
armies in the field, and doing whatever the circumstances rendered
possible for the health and comfort of such of the Iowa soldiers
as might be found there.

"Some of the benevolent people of the State early conceived
the idea of establishing a Home for ?uch of the children ofj de-

114 HISTORY OF IOWA.

ceased soldiers as might be left in destitute circumstances. This
idea first took form in in 1863, and in the. following year a Home
was opened at Farmington, Van Buren County, in a building
leased for that purpose, and which soon became filled to its utmost
capacity. The institution received liberal donations from the gen-
eral public, and also from the soldiers in the field. In 1865 it be-
came necessary to provide increased accommodations for the large
number of children who were seeking the benefits of its care.
This was done by establishing a branch at Cedar Falls, in Black
Hawk County, and by securing, during the same year, for the use
of the parent Home, Camp Kinsman, near the city of Davenport.
This property was soon afterward donated to the institution by
act of Congress.

"In 1866, in pursuance of a law enacted for that purpose, the
Soldiers' Orphans' Home (which then contained about four hun-
dred and fifty inmates) became a State institution, and thereafter
the sums necessary for its support were appropriated from the
State Treasury. A second branch was established at Glenwood,
Mills county. Convenient tracts were secured and valuable im-
provements made at the different points. Schools were also estab-
lished and employments provided for such of the children as were
of suitable age. In all ways the provision made for these wards
of the State has been such as to challenge the approval of every
benevolent mind. The number of children who have been in-
mates of the Home from its foundation to the present time is con-
siderably more than two thousand.

"At the beginning of the war, the population of Iowa included
about one hundred and fifty thousand men, presumably liable to
render military service. The Sta<^e raised, for general service,
thirty-nine i-egiiuents of infantry, nine regiments of cavalry, and
four companies of artillery, composed of three years ' men; one
regiment of infantry, composed of three months' men; and four
regiments and one battallion of infantry composed of one hundred
days' men. The original enlistments in these various organiza-
tions, including seventeen hundred and twenty-seven men raised
by draft, numbered a little more than sixty-nine thousand. The
re-enlistments, including upward of seven thousand veterans,
numbered very nearly eight thousand. The enlistments in the
regular army and navy, and organizations of other States, will, if
added, raise the total to upward of eighty thousand. The number
of men who, under special enlistments, and as militia, took part at
different times in the operations on the exposed borders of the
State, was probably as many as five thousand.

"Iowa paid no bounty on account of the men she placed in the
field. In some instances, toward the close of the war, bounty to,
a comparatively small amount was paid by cities and towns. On
only one occasion — that of the call of July 18, 1864 — was a draft
made in Iowa. This did not occur on account of her proper liabil-

HISTORY OF IOWA.

115

ty, as established by previous rulings of the War Department, to
supply men under that call, but grew out of the great necessity
tha'l there existed for raising men. The Government insisted on
temporarily setting aside, in part, the former rule of settlements,
and enforcing a draft in all cases where sub-districts in any of the
States should be found deficient in their supply of men. In no
instance was Iowa, as a whole, found to be indebted to the General
Government for men, on a settlement of her quota accounts."

It is to be said to the honor and credit of Iowa, that while many
of the loyal States, older and larger in population and wealth, in-
curred heavy State debts for the purpose of fulfilling their obli-
tions to the General Government, Iowa, while she was foremost
in duty, while she promptly discharged all her obligations to her
sister States and the Union, found herself at the close of the war
without any material addition to her pecuniary liabilities incurred
before the war commenced. Up an final settlement after the res-
toration of peace, her claims upon the Federal Government were
found to be fully equal to the amount of her bonds issued and
sold during the war to provide the means for raising and equipping
troops sent into the field, and to meet the inevitable demands
upon her treasury in consequence of the war.

STATEMENT showing the number of men furnished and casualities in Iowa
regiments during the War of the Bebellion.

Regiments.

1st Battery

2d Batteiy

3d Battery

4th Battery,

1st Cavalry

2d Cavalry

3d Cavalry

4th Cavalrj-

5th Cavalry

6th Cavah-y

7th Cavalry

8th Cavalry

9th Cavalry

Sioux Citv Cavalry

Co. A. ll'thPeun. Cavalry.

1st Infantry

2d Infantry

3d Infantry

2d and 3d Inf. ConsoUdated

4th Infantry

5th Infantry

6th Infantry

7th Infantry

o s
H

Killed or

died of

Wounds.

149

124

123

142

152

1478

543

.54

1391

602

1360

770

1227

590

1245

452

1125

193

562

402

1234

274

1178

258

• >

959

165

1247

758

1074

749

1184

973

108

1037

699

1013

855

132

li:^

885

129

3:^

187

191

224

186

127

162

107

237
90

124

135

116

HISTORY OF IOWA.

Regiments

8th Infantry

9tli Infantry

lOth Infantry

11th Infantry

r2th Infantrj-

13th Infantry

14th Infantry

14th Inf. Res. Batt..

15th Infantry

16th Infantry

17th Infantry

1 8th Infantrj-

19th Infanti-v

20th Infantry

'21st Infantry

22d Infantry

23d Infantry

24th Infantry

25th Infantry

26th Infantry

27th Infantry

28th Infantry

29th Infantry

30th Infantry

31st Infantry

32d Infantry

33d Infantry

34th Infantry

34th Consolidated

35th Infantry

36th Infantry

37th Infantry

38th Infantry

39th Infantry

40th Infantry

41st Infantry

44th Infantry

45th Infantry

46th Infantry

47th Infantry

48th Infantry

1st African Infantry. .

Totals

-*—

Killed er

died of

Wounds.

1027

761

loyo

973

133

1027

739

1022

610

981

768

989

852

840

526
11

ii96

1029

130

918

819

950

614

875

449

985

562

925

359

980

531

1108

634

105

961

570

959

761

111

995

564

919

562

940

530

956

696

1005

511

978

646

977

540

925

589

985

580

953

561

• > • ■

984

510

9>6

619

914

503

910

431

933

406

900

.361

294

867

912

892

884

346

903

383

56,864

30,394

3,139

O CO

137

208
134
148
243
182
122

i94

217

109

130

157

126

196

197

199

204

162

180

248

233

261

203

196

228

182

226

141

310

119

179

331

8,695

History of Winneshiek County.

CHAPTER I.

Histoi'ij: Its Basis of Fad, Tradition and Legend; First Settle-
ment; First Birth; First Marriage; First Death; First Settle-
ments, no Longer Existing; First Public School and School
Teacher; Countij Organization ; First Assessment and Tax List;
First Tax-Payers and Settlers bij Townships.

When some of the old historians wrote their histories they
were forced to admit that fact and legend had become so inter-
mingled that it was impossible to clearly separate truth from fic-
tion. The legends of the past were such a mixture of facts, tra-
ditions and tales of ancestors, varied in many details, as brought
down from father to son, that it was a relief to come to common
ground on which all were agreed, and where was found a firm
basis for the historian.

And though the settlement of Winneshiek County by the
whites has little of fable, and is not invested with mythological
tales of gods and demi-gods, yet there are always, in recalling the
history of early and pioneer life in new countries, fancies and tradi-
tions, generally with some kind of basis of truth, that become so in-
terwoven with facts, that it is difficult to distinguish the one from
the other, and the shrewdest head may become bewildered in the at-
tempt. The sooner the separating process is commenced the bet-
ter, and it is fortunate that even before the present day important
facts have been collected, and in many cases placed on record —
facts gathered from the lips of those who were witnesses of the
early scenes of pioneer life in this county, — while there are still
dwelling among us those who can verify many of the incidents
and details of early history.

Our indebtedness to books and papers published in years past is
freely and gratefully acknowledged; and it is our purpose to attempt
to collate from them, as well as to collect from other sources, and
from personal interview and observation, such additional facts and
incidents as may help to preserve and continue down to the present
time, such history, records and pictures of early life in our county,
as we are able to do with the tiuie and resources at our command.
Permit us to say at the outset, that we shall draw freely from Mr.
C. H. Sparks' history of Winneshiek County, written in 1876,
and published early in the year 1878, and from papers from the
pen of Mr. A. K. Bailey, quoted iij the above volume.

118 HISTORY OF MINNESHIEK COUNTY.

EAELY SETTLEMENT,

It was forty years ago that the first steps toward the coming of
white settlers into this county were taken, by establishing the
Indian Agency at Old Mission, although it was nearly ten years
later before actual settlement commenced. We quote as follows
from Sparks' History:

"As early as 1835, Rev. D. Lowery, the man who afterwards
established the Old Mission, conducted a school of like nature
near the mouth of Yellow River. Mr. Lowery emigrated from
Tennessee, and was a strict adherent to the sect known as the
Cumberland Presbyterians. In his youth he had received the
benefits of a thorough education, and was peculiarly qualified for
the arduous duties of ameliorating the condition of the Indians.
In 1874 he took up his residence in Pierce City, Missouri, where
he died on the 19th of January, 1876, at the advanced age of 82
years. Mr. Lowery was a man of marked ability, and during the
more active portion of his life was prominent in all that pertained
to the history of the country in which he lived. He was, for per-
haps more than fifty years, a minister in the Cumberland Presby-
terian Church. A man of unusual physical make-up, and pos-
sessed of a large brain, which eminently fitted him for the fron-
tier life which he led. He was one of our noble men, and will
be long remembered by many of our people, and especially by the
early settlers of this portion of the great West.

In 1842 Mr. Lowery was appointed Indian Agent for the reser-
vation which included the tract of land now known as Winneshiek
County. The same year he received instructions from the Gov-
ernment to form a Mission and farm on the reservation, for the
education of the Indians in husbandry and the English language,
in hopes of civilizing and morally benefitting them. The erection
of the Mission was commenced, as near as can be ascertained, in
June, 1842, the Rev. D. Lowery superintending the work. The
Mission was a large, commodious wooden building, located about
five miles southeast of Fort Atkinson. A remnant of one of the
buildings still exists.

The Government had authorized Mr. Lowery to open a farm for
the instruction of the Indians in agricultural pursuits, the ex-
penses incurred thereby to be deducted from their annuity. Mr.
Lowery turned over this part of the work to his assistant. Col.
Thomas. The first year, under Col. Thomas' supervision, a farm
of three hundred acres was opened, and endeavors were made to
instruct the Indians how to till the soil, but they were so careless
and indolent that but little work could be got out of them. The
crops planted began to show neglect. In fact the farm began to
retrograde, when Col. Thomas had a force of garrison men de-
tailed to cultivate it — they being paid for their labor out of the
Indian annuity. One year served to demonstrate that the Indian
as a husbandman was a failure. In 1843, Col. Thomas, under in-

HISTORY OF WINNESHIEK COUNTY. 119

structions from the Government, built the first gristmill in Win-
neshiek county. The Mission and farm was continued under Col.
Thomas' supervision, until the Indians sold their reservation to
the Government, when they were removed, and there was no fur-
ther need of these enterprises.

'•Lowery continued in charge of the Indian Mission some time
after building it, but finally resigned to take charge of a Mission
in Minnesota, whereupon Gen. Fletcher was appointed to serve in
his stead,

"It is difficult to discriminate, exactly, as to whom belougs the
honor of being the first permanent settler. It lies between Mr.
A. R. Young, of Fort Atkinson, and Hamilton Campbell and wife,
of Bloomfield township. Mr. A. R. Young, residing on his farm,
celebrated as the defunct Lewiston, was a member of the garrison
stationed at the fort, and the only soldier who remained and be-
came a permanent resident. He married a daughter of one of the
first comers. If to him is accorded the right of a settler from the
time of his coming to the fort as a soldier, then he is the oldest
resident beyond all dispute. But if, on the contrary, the honor
of being a settler is not accorded to him until after he was muster-
ed out of the service and began to till the soil, then to Hamilton
Campbell and wife belongs the credit,

"Hamilton Campbell and wife made a claim June 7, 1818, on
sections 23 and 26, in what is now Bloomfield township, and
there to-day they are honored residents.

Dr. F. Andros, formerly of Decorah, was surgeon at the fort,
but on its abandonment he removed to Clayton county, where for
twenty-five years he was a useful and honored citizen. [Dr
Andros has since, within a year or two, removed to Dakota, to
renew his experience in pioneer life].

"From 1812 to 1818, the only resident families on the Winne-
bago reservation, except such as were in Government employ,
were those of Joel Post and Mr. Wilcox, The latter resided
about forty rods south of the fort, on the road leading to the In-
dian Agency, or Mission. Both these men were special favorites
of office holders, and were permitted by the Indian Agency to
keep houses of entertainment for the accommodations of persons
visiting the fort and agency. The information to be obtained in
relation to Wilcox is very meagre. Beyond the above fact we
have been unable to ascertain anything in relation to his history,
and it is not believed that he was long a resident.

"Mr. Joel Post was the first farmer, and first actual settler on
the reservation. Soon after the Government had decided to es-
tablish Old mission and Fort Atkinson, he conceived the idea that
a half-way house for the accommodation of parties engaged in
transporting building material and supplies from Fort Crawford
to Fort Atkinson would prove profitable. He therefore made ap-
plication to the General Government to establish such a house on

120 HISTORY OF WINNESHIEK COUNTY.

the reservation, which he was allowed to do. He erected a log
house in 1811, on the site where Postville now stands. The same
spring, he broke up some ground and raised crops. This preced-
ed the mission farm by a year.

'^Harmon Snyder was the first blacksmith who worked at his
trade in Winneshiek County. He came from Prairie du Chien
with the force detailed to build the fort, and was employed, chiefly,
in work for the garrison. At the same time, he did a great deal
of work for the Indians. They would stand around and watch
him while at his work, with wonder and abmiration. How long
he remained and whither he went, must remain an untold story,
for lack of information.

"The credit of being the first white child born in the county
belongs to Miss Mary Jane Tapper, this being her maiden name.
She was born at the fort, on the 16th of January, 1841. She is
the daughter of Mr. James and Mrs. Ellen Tapper, who were mar-
ried in New York city in 1838, and emigrated from there to St.
Louis, arriving at their destination on the 10th of May, 1840,
Mr. Tapper met Government officials at this place, and with about
fifty other mechanics contracted to come out into the then wild
and comparatively unknown region of Iowa, and construct a fort,
said fort being Fort Atkinson. Mr. Tapper is an Englishman,
and came to this county in 1828. He now resides two miles
southeast of Monona.

"Mary Jane Tapper, the first white child born in the county,
married a Mr. Robert M. Boyce, and resides with her husband two
miles north of Monona.

''The honor of being the second white child born in the county,
so far as can be ascertained, belongs to Miss E. Thomas of Prairie
du Chien, a lady of marked talent and pleasing social attainments.
She was born in 1844, at the Old Mission, where her parents re-
sided, her father, Col. Thomas, being in charge of the Mission
at the time.

"The settlement of the county was so rapid that in 1850 the
pioneers felt themselves old enough to organize. Prior to that
time the land had been surveyed and brought into market. In
1850, J. L. Carson was appointed organizing officer, and an elec-
tion for a temporary organizatton ordered. At that time there
were fewer polling places than now, there being only three. Their
names serve to show where the settlers were located. They were
Decorah, Moneek and Lewiston. Many have asked without re-
ceiving an answer, "Where is Lewiston?" ' My researches enable
me to answer this query: In 1850 it promised to be a town of
note. It was the speculator s "Napoleon;" but Lewis Harkins,
then in charge of the Government property, and Mr. Francis Rogers,
joint owners of the land, became involved in a quarrel regarding
their individual interests in the town plat, which finally resulted in
the wreck of all the bright hopes before entertained as to the future

HISTORY OF WINJSTESHIEK COUJSTTY, 121

prosperity of Lewistou. To-day there is not a vestige of its re-
mains. Even the records give no account of its whereabouts and
this one vote is the only recorded evidence of its existence. In
another generation this fact would have been buried from the re-
searches of the historian, as only a few of the settlers remain
vrho are able to verify the early existence of such a place. Fran-
cis Rogers and Lewis Harkins were the proprietors of the land
where Lewiston was laid out, and the place derived its name from
Harkins' given name. The old settlers say that Lewiston was a
regularly laid out town, situated one mile north of Old Mis-
sion, on what is now known as the Rogers farm, owned by Aaron
Young, who at that time was Second Sergeant of Company C.

"Among the defunct places of notoriety that existed in the
early history of Winneshiek County, was a spot bearing the
euphoneous name of Grab-all. The place noted hj this title was
a high bench of timber land, half way between the Iowa trail
and Postville. It was given this name because the Government
stationed a sergeant's guard there, to "grab all" the Indians pass-
ing that way, for removal.

''The next place worthy of special^mention is Rattletrap. Rat-
tletrap of early times is known to-day as Castalia. At the time
the town bore this name it consisted of one solitary log house,
owned and superintended over by one of the most natural and or-
iginal of Erin's daughters, Mrs. John Powell. I have it from re-
liable authority that she was capable of talking a common regi-
ment of Decorah lawyers blind in less than no time. It would
be comforting to believe this statement, but when one stops to
consider the capability of the Decorah lawyers, it is accepted only
as a rough joke perpetrated on the old woman.

Whisky Grove was a popular resort for the soldiers stationed at
Fort Atkinson. The grove that became thus noted is located just
east of Calmar. An incident showing why it was given this name,
is related in substance as follows: It was near the time when
the Indians would receive their annuity, and the soldiers at the
fort their pay, that a half-breed would procure a barrel of whisky
at Fort Crawford, loaded it on his wagon and transported it to
this particular grove. The soldiers were secretly informed of the
fact, and the most of them got gloriously drunk. The first inti-
mation the commander of the garrison had of its existence was
the beastly intoxication of his men, and even then he was unable
to ascertain its location. The half-breed remained here for some
time, and carried on a thriving business. The soldiers who pat-
ronized him would not betray his whereabouts to their commander.

The winter of 1853-i the first immigration of Bohemians came
to the county, settling in the vicinity of Fort Atkinson. There
were eight families of them. The winter was severe in the ex-
treme, and the following incident is told of it:

122 HISTORY OF WINNESHIEK COUNTY.

One day in mid-winter two boys, members of a Bohemian
family who had settled near Spillville, were dispatched to Wau-
coma to mill. At the time they left their homes nothing be-
tokened a storm. But on their return, when they were near the
Van Dyke place, one of our much dreaded Iowa "blizzards" over-
took them. The elements were convulsed, and emitted forth the
blinding snow in voluminous quantities. The wind swept across
the bare prairies a perfect tornado. Becoming enveloped in such
a storm, they soon became confused and lost their way. No one
can describe what their feelings were when the certainty of their
being lost on the wild prairie in such a storm dawned upon them.
Conjectures only can be made. That they thought of their anx-
ious parents and little brothers and sisters waiting patiently for
their return, which, alas! would never be; that they at times gave
way to grief as they speculated on their dreadful fate; or again at
other times would become courageous when a ray of hope would
break on their clouded way, or when despair would fill their hearts,
that they sought the Giver of Life in fervent supplication to spare
their lives and guide them safely to their homes. That they did
all this would be but natural. The prayers of anxious parents
availed nothing. God in His wisdom denied their petitions. The
boys were frozen to death. A drift of driven snow was their last
resting place, and the snow their winding sheet. It was twelve
days thereafter before the bodies of the unfortunate boys were
found. Both oxen were found to be alive. One had forced him-
self from the yoke, and was browsing near by, while the other was
held an unwilling prisoner.

"Mr. Aaron Young tells the following story of the early dis-
covery of coal deposits in the south part of Winneshiek county.
Mr. Young was a soldier at the fort at the time of the reputed
discovery. He says:

"The discovery was made by one of the regular soldiers, who used
to go from the fort on horseback and return in less than an hours'
time, bringing with him a sack of coal. These trips were always
made in the night, and alone. He allowed no one to accompany him,
nor would he divulge his secret. Although the officers tried
bribing him, punishing him, and finally got him drunk, in hopes
he would be more confiding; but all to no purpose. His time was
nearly out, and he said he calculated to open the coal mine
as soon as it expired. But before the time came his company was
ordered to Florida, where he was shot, dying almost instantly,
leaving no one in possession of his valuable secret.

"Another story is that the Indians used to bring coal in their
blankets to sell to the blacksmith, or when they wanted a pony
shod, and that an old Indian chief, by the name of Four-Eyes,
offered to tell where the coal was, at one time, for two ponies.
But as nobody had the ponies the bargain was not consummated
and the old chieftain'took his knowledge away with him to the Far

HISTORY Of AV.NNESHIEK COUNTY. 123

West. That coal was obtained in some mysterious way by the
soldier there is no doubt; but to convince the scientific man that
he obtained it from deposits in Winneshiek county will require
stronger evidence than the above stories furnish. Every person
familiar with the geological topography of the country well under-
stands how unreasonable such an idea is.

"The first church erected in Winneshiek county, excepting the
old Mission chapel, was built about the year 18 — , in the vicinity
of Twin Springs. It was Catholic. Father Leuvent officiated.
The site was selected and the church directed to be built by Bishop
Lovas, of Dubuque, who was the first ordained Bishop in Iowa,

"The first duly commissioned postmaster in Winneshiek county
was James B, Cutler, of Osage, then a sterling pioneer of the
county. He located on the Atkin Farm, Frankville township.
The commission confers on James B. Cutler the appointment of
postmaster of Jamestown, and bears the signature of Nathaniel
K. Hall, Postmaster General under Millard Fillmore, and dated
the 18th day of September, 1851. Judge J. T. Atkins served as
assistant postmaster. The office was discontinued March 31,1852.
Mr. Leonard Cutler and family came to the county May 30, 1850,
which places them among the early pioneers. The father of Mr.
James B. Cutler is still living."

[We are informed by Judge M. V. Burdick, one of the old
settlers and a prominent man in pioneer life here, that there is a
slight error in the above paragraph. Lewis Harkins, proprietor of
Lewiston, was postmaster at Fort Atkinson certainly as early as
1850; and at an equally early date John L. Carson was postmaster
at Old Mission.

[Mr. James B. Cutler is now (1882) over one hundred years of
age. The one hundredth anniversary of his birthday was cele-
brated at Frankville last year, and was a notable event. It will
be referred to elsewhere.]

Among the various souvenirs seen by the author, retained as
mementoes of olden times, is a shipping-bill of certain mill irons
brought from Galena to Lansing by "the good steamboat called
the Nominee," consigned to Messrs. Beard & Cutler, and dated
the 29th of March 1852. These mill irons were used by Beard &
Cutler in what was in 1860 known as the Rogers Mill, on the Ca-
noe, and now known as Springwater Mill, now owned by Mr. A.
Bradish. The erection of the mill began in the fall of 1851, and
it was running July 8, 1852. Probably it was the first saw-mill
north of the Iowa river.

"In 1850 a young man came from Norway to Iowa and found a
spot of ground that suited him iji what is now known as Madison
township, Winneshiek County. So far as ascertained, he was its
first settler. In the year following an older man followed him,
who was the father of at least one girl. As young men and
maidens will, this young man and this maiden agreed to v/ed.

»->

124 HISTORY OF WINNESHIEK COUKTT.

These parties were Joliaunes Evenson and Catherine Helen An-
derson. At that time, as now, the law required the parties to
have a license. In order to obtain this a visit to the J udge was
necessary. Rev, N. Brandt, then a wandering missionary, was in
the county, and would perform the ceremony. And if this chance
escaped them, no knowing when another opportunity would be
afforded them. Mr. Evenson straightway started for Bloomlield
Township to see the Judge and get a permit to enter into a matri-
monial alliance. The missionary had promised to await his re-
turn. Mr. E. found the Judge absent. He had gone to Dubuque
on official business. Imagine the sensations of that waiting bride-
groom! Again the question: Would that minister tarry? After
three days Judge Reed returned, and with his license in his pocket,
John turned his footsteps homeward a happier man. No grass
grew under his feet on that trip. The minister had remainded, and
the marriage ceremony was performed — the first, as the records
show, to have been performed in the county. The license for this
marriage was granted on the 5th day of October, 1851. The sec-
ond marriage license was granted on the 3d of November, 1851.
The contracting parties were Erick Anderson and Miss Ann
Soles.

"The first death to occur in the county was that of a Grovern-
ment teamster named Howard. He was engaged in the trans-
portation of material from Fort Crawford to Fort Atkinson, to be
used in the construction of the latter. On the 3d of October,
1840, a heavy snow had fallen, and on the next day Mr. Howard
started from Joel Post's place, or Postville, to go to Fort Atkin-
son. A party following in his wake the next day Avere surprised
to find his loaded wagon in the road and team and driver gone.
They followed his track up to near the present sit^ of Castalia,
where they found him frozen stiff in death. The same day his
remains were brought to the Fort, and on the next day, or 5th of
October, 1840, he^was buried. This information is authenticated,
and shows that the date of the first death and graveyard preceded
the first birth by one year, and the first marriage by eleven years.
In fact, the graveyard had quite an encouraging start over the
marriage era. However much consolation this may have afforded
the departed, they may be assured, that in after years, the matri-
monial fever swept the county like an epidemic, finding victims
on every side.

"It is worthy of note that the first public school building was
built at the corners of the following townships, Decorah, Spring-
field, Glen wood and Frank ville, in the center of a Norweigiau
settlement. This event is worthy of record, as it serves to illus-
trate the strong desire the Norwegian people have to advance
their mental condition. Even here, inhabitants of a wild coun-
try, and isolated from the world as they were, they found nieaus
of encouraging education. In 1852, principally through their ef-

HISTORY OF WIXXESHIEK COUNTY. 125

forts, a small, unpretentious lof? achool-house was built at the cor-
ners, and in it the late Mrs. Erick Anderson, then a young wom-
nian, taught the first school.

"The previous portions show, with considerable accuracy, who
were the residents previous to 1851. The following portion of
this chapter, perhaps the most valuable in the entire book for
the historical information it contains — is in a great measure the
work of Mr. A. K. Bailey, editor of the Decorah Repuhlican.

"In 1851 the county was organized. Its officers were elected,
and we may presume regularly inducted into office. They needed
money in compensation for their services, and then as now it had
to be raised by taxe?. Happily the first tax list of the county is
preserved. The lists for 1853 and 1851 are gone, and this volume
was rescued ten years ago by Mr. A. K. Bailey while serving the
public as county treasurer, from a box of old papers that were
stowed away in an unused closet of the Court House. It should
be scrupulously kept as a relic. It is in a fair state of preserva-
tion. The contrast between this volume and that of 1862 — ten
years only — is a complete history in itself of the rapid growth of
Winneshiek county. That of 1862 is a volume of nearly a thou-
sand pages of the largest ledger size. This of 1852 is but a
small home-made book of 62 pages, composed of double blue fools-
cap, with its columns ruled off by hand, and bound in a beautiful
sample of Indian-tanned buckskin. The wan ant for collecting
the taxes bears date September 15th, 1852; is addressed to Daniel
Kuykendall, treasurer, and is signed by D. R. Reed, county
judge. The title page bears the signature of ''Morris B. Derrick,
Clerk" — a man, who was for a time, at least, a partner of Aaron
Newell, at the old Pioneer Store, of Decorah.

This volume, we believe, is really a complete list of the resi-
dents (who had any property) in the fall of 1851. Although dated
many months later, the work of preparing the list was begun at
a time when it would have been impossible to include the settlers
Avho came in 1853. We learn from others that the assessment,
which was preliminary, was made by A. H. Fannon, the jolly old
constable, who still serves the public."

[Mr. Fannon has died since the publication of the above, being
in good health to near the time of his death.]

Mr. Fannon says that the assessment was begun and made early
in the spring, before the immigration of 1852 had set in, and he
thinks all whose names are included in it had arrived in 1851 or
before. Mr. F. made the assessment as sheriff; says he was
really the first sheriff; and this was one of the first of his official
acts. This claim is in collision with the records, and we cannot
undertake to reconcile the discrepancy. In making the list, Mr.
F. says he sometimes could not visit more than half a dozen fami-
lies in a day, so widely were they scattered, particularly in the
north half of the county, but he always found a welcome recep-

126 inSTORY OF UIXNESHIEK COrNTY.

tioii, and a hearty invitation to- "sit up to the table"' when meal
time brought him to one of their cabins. The residents in the
northern tier of townships, however, strongly objected to being
assessed; not that they wished to escape taxation, but because it
was doubtful in their minds whether they dwelt in Iowa or Min-
nesota. Mr. E. E. Meader gives this information. He, personally,
wished to be in Iowa, and had the happiness of finding, when the
lines were run, that he had located his cabin just right in order
to secure the land he wanted, and at the same time remain an
lowan. This much of outside history to the volume. Now for
the stories its pages reveal. We find in it the names of 44G persons.
Perhaps some of these were not residents, but the list contains
many a known and familiar name. A large share are assessed
with personality only; which means that they had not secured
their lands, and had only the "improvements" or a little stock to
pay tribute on. It will be impossible to locate most of these in
making a list of settlers by townships, as we propose to do; but
whenever lands are named, the townships and ranges will be an
unerring guide. Preliminary to this, however, let us give a few
general facts. Lands were assessed at the Government price,
|l.25 per acre. As land was plenty at this price, it is fair to pre-
sume that assessments were made at the full cash value. The
taxes were only four in number besides the poll tax, viz.: county,
state, school and road, and they summed fifteen mills. In these
later days, when assessments are made at one-third of the cash
value, taxation is high if it reaches twenty-five mills, with town-
ship school taxes included. There are no footings to show what the
total value of the assessed property wa^^, but the taxes them-
selves aggregate as follows:

County tax $ 696 68

State tax 175 08

School Tax 11.5 42

Road Tax 230 75

$1,217 9:!

besides $650 of poll taxes. This would make the total assessable
property in the county at that time, w^orth $182,789.

The richest man in the county was John McKay, of Washing-
ton Prairie. He paid the enormous sum of $23.94 in taxes.
Francis Teabout was close up to him, being down for $23.16.
lienjamin Beard followed with $20.95. These three w^ere the
very rich men, for they were the only ones who paid more than
620; or, rather, were regularly assessed for sums that amounted to
precisely that figure. The list of other persons w^ho paid over $10
is so short that we give the names in full :

Joseph Spilhnan, Cahuar $18 96

Levi Moore, Buit Oak 17 68

Moses McSwain, Bloniufield 16 8:^

James S. Ackerson, Burr Oak 16 00

HISTORY OF WINNESHIEK COUNTY. 127

James B . Cutler, Frankville 15 78

Newell & Derrick, Decorah 15 73

Ingebret Peterson, Decorah 14 82

Isaac Callender, Frankville 14 32

Samuel Allen, Bloomfield , 14 30

0. W. Emery, Decorah 13 81

Gideon Green, Bloomfield 13 59

C. E. Brooks, Military 13 04

David Bartlett, Canoe 12 76

J. T. Atkins, Frankville 12 29

Joseph Huber, Washington 11 27

Abner DeCow, Bloomfield 11 24

W. F. Kimball, Decorah 11 17

Wm. Cummings, Bloomfield 11 13

Richard M. Carson, Washington 11 13

Wm. Campbell, Bloomfield 11 05

Andrew Mayer, Washington 10 83

John W. Smith, Frankville 10 72

James D. McKay, Frankville 10 09

This table indicates that the wealth of the county then centered
on Washington Prairie. Decorah with her preset t capital cer-
tainly makes a poor showing. The population, too, was most
numerous there. This the following table, showing all the names
to which land is assessed, will more clearly show. Although the
majority of those named have passed away, there are enough
familiar names to make it interesting reading, and worth preserv-
ing:

BLOOMFIELD.

Samuel Allen. G. B. Abbmar. Charles Anderson, Geo. Blake. John Braumire,
Samuel Clark, John Cowen, Wm. Clark, Grace Cohen, Jonathan Dean, David
DufF, Abner DeCosv, Wm. Elliott, Samuel N. Faint, Gideon Green, Levi
Grundy, Adam Garen, Charles Hawthorn, Benj. Hawk, John W. Jenkins,
Samuel B. Jones, TasaT. Kendt, Maria Lacy, Henry McSwain, John McMar-
tin, Nathan McKinley, Henry Noble, Andrew Stewart, Margaret Slaught,
Kund Thompson, Richard Thomis, John Thompson, Moses McSwain.

FKANKVILLE.

J. T. Atkins, Antin Anderson. Robert Angers, Christ. Anderson, Lucy
Adams, Heniy Brandt, John C. Buckley, Benson Egbert, Thomas .Beard, Ben-
jamin Beard, Wm. Beard, Wm. Birdsell, John Bennett, Besalid Bennett.
Isaac Calender, William Cummings, James Cutlip, Edward Carter, Francis
Carlton, David Duff, Emanuel Dean, James Dunn, Francis Durst, H. D. Evans,
J. H. Gellelan. Egbret Gulbranson, Joseph Gordon, Ole Hulverson, J. H. Hawk,
Isaac Hawk, John Halver, Levi Hubbell, Samuel Hood, Elizabeth Joiner, Mat-
len Johnson, James Kilgore, Edward Knight, Benj. Knight, John Krauder,
Alanson Loomis, Ole Anderson Loma. J. D. McKay, John McKay, Miron Dean,
M. McSwain, John Martin, Drury Mays, John 'F. Neider, Erick B.Olson,
Erick Oleson, Knud Oleson, Robert Pierce, Samuel Peterson, Harris Reed, D.
Ritchie, J. H. Ransom, Dwight Rathbun, John W. Smith. James B. Schenck,
Andrew Stewart, James Smith, S. Schrekner, Josiah T. Tuttle, George Teeple,
Francis Teabout. Knud Toleffson, Elizabeth Tuttle, William Woods. Oliver F.
Woods, Walter Rathbun.

MILITARY.

John Anderson, Mary Ashby, Chauncy Brooks, C. E. Brooks, Dolvy How-
ard, John 0. Porter, Geo. Bechel, ]\Iartin Bechel, John L. Carson. Geo. A.
Clark, Wm. H. Fulton, John Gardner. Lewis Harkins, Joseph Huber, Wil-

128 HISTOKY OF WINXESHIEK COUNTY.

liam J. Peek, Andrew Sharp, T. H. Semis?, Jacob Smith, Tolef and Lars Tos-
ten, Charles K. Wood, Jas. C. H. MiUer, Andrew Meyer, John S. Neal, Fran-
cis N. Palmer, Harvey P. Waters, Gardner Waters, Aaron Young.

SPRINGFIELD.

Jacob Abrahamson, J. B. Cutler, Knud Gulbran?0D, Ole Gullikson, E.2:bert
Gulbranson, Halvor Halvorson, Erick Clements, 0. A. Lomen, Ole Larson,
Wm. Lansing, Michael Omlie, Thomas Simonson, T. Holverson, Ole Tos-
tenson.

JACKSON.

Joseph Spillman.

DECORAH.

Jacob Abrahamson, Thos. P. Parker, Ann Bowie, John L. Carson, William
Day, Claiborne Day, Nathan Drake, Adams Dexter, 0. W. Emery, N. S. Gil-
bert, Thor. Gulbranson, Geo. W. Hazel, Adam Heckart, W. F. Kimball, Dan-
iel Kuykendahl, M.- A. Meintner, Philip Morse,- Joseph McGehee Newell &
Derrik, K. G. Newland, Engebret Peterson, Amasa Perkins, William Par-
ker, Thomas Robertson, Joseph Reed, A. Simmonson, Jason Tuttle, John R.
Townsley, Abraham Taxell, Geo. A. Wigeland.

MADISON.

H. Anstenson, Ole Asleson, John Evenson, Jane Fletcher, Ever Gulbranson,
Ole Gunderson, Peter Jamison, Chas. McLaughlin, H. Oleson, Wilson Smith,
Tolef Tuleston.

BLUFFTON.

Benjamin Disbie, Philo S. Curtis, E. Chapmen, Geo. A. Clark, Emery Bur-
ritt, Geo. R. Emery, S. E. Fairbanks, Bernard Harmon, M. A. Meinter, Levi
Moore, Geo. Smith, Robert Stockton, James Turner, Daniel Wheeler, Hemy
Wilson.

CANOE .

James J. Ackerson, John Robinson, David Bartlett, Samuel Bolinger, Jas. B.
Cutler, Wm. T. Cochrane, J. Freedenberger, B. F. Giles, N. S. Giblert, Michael
GatUn, Lorenzo Gates, Joseph Harper, H. Holverson, J. Hornson, L. Iverson,
Thos. Kennedy, John Knudson, Davicl Kinnison, S. M. Leach, E. B. Horton,
Elizabeth Potter, Ob Snear, Wm. Shirley, N. Updegraff, Wm. B. Updegraff.

GLENWOOD.

J. T. Atkins, Robert Angus, Philander Baker, John Barthel, Levi Barn-
house, John C. Buckley, David Bender, Daniel Becknell, L. Carmichael, Chas.
Benjamin, Julien Dougherty, F. M. Fuller, Torkel Hanson, Permany Hantly,
C. N. Hatch, Nels Johnson, German Johnson, Geo. Keatings, Wm. Kyrk,
John S. Morse, Lyman Morse, Thos. Severson, W. Sanford, Tosten Nelson,
Lebrend Whitney, Leroy C. Walter.

PLEASANT.

Benj. Beard, J. B, Cutler, H. Halverscn, Join Klontz, Peter K. Londgon,
Ole M agues on.

This completes the entire list of landed assessments, and, it will
be seen, includes only twelve of the twenty townships. Of the
eight others no mention is made. These were the four in the
northern tier, and four out of five on the west side. The fifth
has only one assessment, and that is to a resident in Calmar town-
ship. That there were dwellers or squatters on this territory is

HISTORY OF AVIXNESHIEK COUNTY. 129

beyond question; because some of tliem — like Mr. Meader, D. D.
Huff, and others, who came as early as 1851 — are still living on
the land they selected in that yea] . These lands, however, did
not really come into market until a year or two later, so that
settlers could acquire title. For this reason they were assessed, if
at all, with "personality" only. A list of these will complete,
what I believe to be the most perfect list that can be obtained of
the really "first settlers" — those who were here and took part in
the organization of the county, [n the foregoing lists, as Avell as
in the following, there are doubtless some non-residents; but these
cannot, at this late day, be selected out. The names that follow
are those of persons of the latter classes, who cannot be assorted
into townships as a whole. Many of them, hoAvever. can be read-
ily located by the reader:

Erick Anderson, John Anderson, Toleff Avins, James Ackerson, Erastus
V. Andrus, John Bush, John Brandt, William Bannintr, Jeremiah Brisco,
Joseph Brown, Lewis Bachel, Benjamm Bear, L. W. Bisb}^ Madison Brown,
Ole Benson, Samuel F. Brush, John Bateman, Phineas Banning Alva Chase,
Richard M. Carson, Hamilton Campbell, James G. Chase, James Cross, Cor-
nelius Callahan, Oscar C. Dexter, Thomas Dickerson, John DeCow, D. David-
son, Christian Evei'son, Hover Everson, Gilbert Erickson, David Erasier, Acles
H. Fannon, Nelson Fisher, Orson Graudy, Benjamin Goodwater, K. Goodman-
son, George Gulbranson, Josiah Goddard, George Helmer, Andrew Hoverson,
Ole A. Hankj', John Halvorsen, Torger Halvorsen, Peter Halvorsen, Phillip
Husted, D. D. Hutf, Thomas J. Hazlitt, Anthony Huber, Geo. Herzog, H.
Harkins, Ole Herbranson, Henry Holm, Benjamin Hollenbach, John R. How-
ard, Knud Herbranson, William Horton, Phillip Howe, Moses Hostetler,
Christopher Hoverson, Halvor Johnson, John Johnson, Ever Johnson, John R.
Johnson, John G. Johnson, Andrew Johnson, Martin Johnson, Michael John-
son, Raid Knudson, Anch-ew Knudson, Toleff Knudson, William Klontz, A.
L. Kincaid, Elraar Knudson Charles Krech, G. S. Krumm, G. L. Krumm,
Theophilus Krumm, J. N. Klein, James Kelley, Ever Knudson, James Lyon,
EUick Larson, John Livengood, Knud Larson, Valentine Larkins, Halgrim
Larson, Phillip Lathrop, James R. Moore, James F. Moore. George Miers,
Ezekiel E. Meader, William Meyer, Casper Meyer, J. N. Miller, G. Nelson,
Ole Olson, (five of 'em) Barney Oleson, Magnus Oleson. Andrew Olson, Hover
Olson (two), Christian Olson, John Olson, James Oleson, George Oleson, Ame
Oleson, Herman Oleson, Knutson Oleson, J. Ostrander, William Painter, Ole
Peterson, D. W. Pierce, William Padden, David Reed, Daniel Reed, John Rul-
ler, Abraham Rosa, John Reams, Conrad Riley, S. Riddle, A. Russell, John
Stuart, William Sharpe, John Shafer, M. B. Spencer, M. B. Sherwin, Ole
Simonson, Geo. W. Tate, Michael Townsend, Ole Thoreson, Jacob Torgrim-
son, Sebastian Thaat, Ephraim Thompson, Nelson Torkleson, George Thaat,
Mykle Toreson, Isaac Underhill, John Vail, John H. Vamall, John Williams,
Silas Wheeler, Harrison Wheeler, Justus Wilson, Anna Yans.

Perhaps it would be well to follow up the list of the first tax-
payers with a list of the early settlers, so far as such is obtainable.
Such a list is necessarily, in a great measure, a repetition of what
has been given in previous chapters. Through the kindness of
Mr. A. K. Bailey, I am permitted the use of the old settlers'
cards, taken as admission tickets at the door of Steyer's Opera
House at the time of the organization of the Old Settlers Associa-
tion, July 4, 1876. It was the object of the inventor of this mode

130 HISTORY OF WINNESHIEK COUNTY.

of gaining admission, not only to make the cards serve that pur-
pose, but also to give a condensed history of each individual; and
in order to serve this purpose to the best advajitage, printed cards,
with blank spaces to fill, were used. The person gaining admis-
sion by this means was obliged to fill the blank spaces left for
that purpose, and which, when filled, would give his age, when
married, to whom and what year, and the date of his settlement
in the county, as well as the number of the section on which he
settled.

The following list of the very early settlers is quite complete:

Hamilton Campbell and his wife, Sarah, came to Winneshiek
County June 7, 1848, and settled on sections 23-26, Bloomfield
Township. Hamilton Campbell was born in 1802, and married in
1838.

Gotlob Krum and wife came to Winneshiek County on the 29th
of June, 1818, and settled on the N. W. Q. of Section 17, in what
is Washington township.

Gotleib Krum, June 29, 1818, Washington.

David Reed and wife settled on the N. E. Q. of Section 25
August 15. 1818, Bloomfield Township.

Daniel Reed settled on the N. E. Q. of Section 25; August 15,

1818, Bloomfield Township.

John N. Topliff settled on the S. E. Q. of Section 25. of Bloom-
field Township. April 1, 1818.

Andrew Meyer and wife came to Winneshiek County on the 1st
of April, 1819, and settled in Washington Township on Section 23.

Phenas Banning settled on the N. W. of N, W. Q. of Section
5, in what is now Bloomfield Township, in June, 1859.

William Day and Elizabeth, his wife, came to Winneshiek
County and settled on what is now Decorah, on the 10th of June,

1819. John F. Day, same. Richard V, Day, same. Claibourne
Day, same.

0. W. Emery came to Winneshiek County on the 20th of Au-
gust, and settled on the N. W. Q. of Section 17, Canoe Township

Josiah Goddard. Jr., October 10, 1819, Decorah.

The following are settlers who made a permanent settlement in
the county in 1850:

David Kinnison and his wife Henrietta, who settled on the N.
AV. Q. of Section 7.

John DeCow and his wife Marv D.. who settled on the N. E.
Q. of Section 1, in Bloomfield Township. June 29.

A. 0. Lommen and his wife. Seigie. who settled on the E ^ of
N. W. Q. of Section 2. in Springfield Township, June 12.

Erick Anderson settled on the S. E. Q. of Section 24, Spring-
field Township, June 12.

A. K. Anderson came to Winneshiek County on the 20th of
June, and settled on the N. E. Q. of Section 23, Springfield
Township.

HISTORY OF WINNESHIEK COUNTY. 131

• Tolef Simianson and his wife Betsy, came to Winneshiek
County July 2, and settled on the N. E. Q. of Section 1, Spring-
field Township.

Russell Dean, April, Bloomfield Township.

Ole G. Johnson settled on the S. W. Q. of Section 31, Glenwood
Township, July 2.

Nelson Johnson and his wife Hannah came to Winneshiek
County on the 2d of July, and settled on the N. E. Q, of Section
36, Decorah.

Orin Simmons came to Winneshiek County on the 3d of July,
and settled on the N. E. Q. of Section 23, Decorah Township.

E. G. Opdahl came to Winneshiek County on the 4th of July,
and settled on the N. E. Q. of Section 14, Springfield Township.

Albert Opdahl settled on the N. E. Q. of Section 14, Spring-
field Township, July 4th, and his Avife, Mary H., settled on the
N. W. Q. of the N. W. il of Section 13, Decorah Towhship,
July 25.

John W. Holm came to Winneshiek County on the 30th of
July, and settled on the N. E. Q. of Section 33, Canoe Town-
ship.

Benjamin L. Bisby came to Winneshiek County on the 1st of
August, and settled on the S. W. Q. of Section 29, Hesper Town-
ship.

Peter K. Langland and his wife Emma, came to Winneshiek
County in August, and settled on the N. W. Q. of Section 10,
Pleasant Township.

John Evanson came to Winneshiek County on the 25th of Sep-
tember, and settled on the N. E. Q. of Section 32, Madison Town-
ship.

Christopher A. Estrim and his wife Juger Caroline, settled on
the S. half of S. E, Q. of Section 5, on the 3d of September,
Frankville.

John Fredenburg settled, the 20th of October, on the N. W.
Q. of Section 6, Canoe Township.

William Padden and wife settled 25th of November, Section
28, Frankville Township.

John Rosa came to Winneshiek County with his father, and
settled on the Washington Prairie.

Jacob Duff, Frankville.

Edward Tracy, Decorah.

Walter Rathbun and his wife Welthie came to Winneshiek
County in March, and settled on the N. W. Q. of Section 16.

The following is a partial list of the pioneers who came to the
county in 1851:

E. C. Dunning and wife settled on settled 16, Decorah Town-
ship, June 20th.

Geo. Blake, April, Bloomfield Township.

Russell Dean, April, Bloomfield.

132 HISTORY OF AVINNESHIEK COUNTY.

E. E. Clement, Springfield, settled March l,on the S. W. S. W.
Q. of Section 1, Springfield Township.

D. D. Huff and his wife Anna settled April 26, on the S. E. Q.
of Section 29, Hesper Township.

Peter E. Haugen came to Winneshiek county on the 12tli of
May, and settled on the N. W. Q. of Section 31, Decorah Town-
ship.

Simeon M. Leach and his wife settled on the 12th of May, on
theS. W. Q. of Section 17, Canoe Township.

A. V. Anderson and wife, Parmelia, settled the first part of
June, on the N. E. Q. of Section 21.

Torket Hansen and his wife, Sophronia, came to Winneshiek
county about the 15th day of June, and settled on the N. E. Q.
of Section 25, Decorah Township.

Christopher Evans settled the 15th of June, on the N. E. Q. of
Section 32, Glenwood Township.

Iver Gr. Ringstad and wife settled in Madison Township on the
30th of June, on the S. half of Section 29.

Herbrand Onstine settled in Madison Township.

Helge Nelson Myran settled in Madison township, on the S. W.
S. W. Q. of Section 8.

Ole M. Asleson and wife settled July 12, on the N. E. Q. of
Section 8, Madison Township.

William Birdsall and his wife, Mary, settled on Section 28,
Frankville Township, on the 13th of August.

Gulbrand Erickson Wig, settled in September, on the S. E. Q.
of Section 36, Madison Township.

Gulbrand T. Lommen settled on Section 33, Decorah Town-
ship.

Ole Kittleson and wife settled on Section 17, Decorah Town-
ship.

Philip Husted.

W. L. Iverson. Mount Pleasant.

Isaac Birdsall, Frankville.

Ole Toleffson Wig, and his wife, Thora, settled oa Section 31,
Decorah Township.

Geo. V. Putney settled on Section 30, Burr Oak Township.

A. K. Drake, Decorah.

Erick Olsen Bakke and wife settled on Section 5, Frankville
Township.

Nathan Drake settled on Section 7, Glenwood Township.

Rolland Tobiason and wife settled on Section 10, Springfield
Township.

HISTORY OF WINNESHIEK COUNTY. 133

CHAPTER II.

The Winnehogo Indians ; Our Count y and County Seat Named after
theirChie/s; Early History of the Tribe; their Career in Wiscon-
sin; Removal to Iowa ^ in Winneshiek County; Fort Atkinson;
the Chiefs Winneshiek and Decorah; the Grave of the Latter^
and Re-interment of His Remains; Indian Traders and Whisky
Selling; Bloody Tragedies; Indian Customs and Habits.

As our county and county seat have taken their names from the
chiefs of the Winnebago Indians, it will be of interest, as well
as of historic value, to trace the history of our historic predeces-
sors on this soil, even though we have little clue, except by the
remains left by the mound builders, of the races of the pre-
historic ages of the past. It is now about two and a half centu-
ries since the civilized world began to gain knowledge of the exist-
ence in the Far West of a tribe of Indians known as the Winneba-
goes, that is, "Men of the Sea;" pointing possibly to their early emi-
gration from the shores of the Mexican Gulf or the Pacific. North-
ern Wisconsin and the upper northwestern peninsula of Michi-
gan were in early times inhabited by several tribes of the Algon-
quin race, forming a barrier to the Dakotas or Sioux, who had ad-
vanced eastward to the Mississippi. But the Winnebagoes, al-
though one of the tribes belonging to the family of the latter, had
passed the Mississippi at some unknown period, and settled upon
the head waters of Green Bay. Some historians claim that they
came from Mexico, whence they fled to escape the Spaniards.

Here the "sea tribe" as early, it is believed, as 1634, was visited
by an agent of France, and a treaty concluded with them. The
tribe afterward called themselves Hochungara, or Ochunkora, but
were styled by the Sioux Hotanke or Sturgeon. Nothing more
is heard of the Ouenibigoutz or Winnebegouk (as the Winneba-
goes were called by the Jesuit missionaries, and the Algonquin
tribes, meaning men from the fetid or salt water, translated by
the French, Puants) for the next thirty-five years, although there
is no doubt that the tribe had been visited, meanwhile, by adven-
turous Frenchmen, when on the second of December, 1669, some
of this nation were noted at a Sac (Sauk or Saukie's) village on
Green Bay, by Father Allouez. As early, at least as 1670, the
French were actively engaged among the Winnebagoes trading.
"We found afl'airs," says one of the Jesuit missionaries, who ar-
rived among them in September of that year, "we found affairs
in a pretty bad condition, and the minds of the savages much
soured against the French who were there trading; ill-treating
them in deeds and words, pillaging and conveying away their
merchandise in spite of them, and conducting themselves toward

134 HISTORY OF WINNESHIEK COUNTY.

them with insupportable insolence and indignities." The cause of
this disorder, adds the missionary, "is that they had received bad
treatment from the French, to whom they this year had come to
trade, and particularly from the soldiers, from whom they had
pretended to receive many wrongs and injuries." It is thus made
certain that the arms of France were carried into the territory of
the Winnebagoes over two hundred years ago.

Two Jesuits who ascended the Fox river of Green Bay in 1670,
at some falls about one day's journey from the head of the bay, dis-
covered an idol that the savages honored, "never failing, in passing,
to make him some sacrifice of tobacco, or arms, or paintings or other
things to thank him, that by his assistance they had, in ascend-
ing, avoided the danger of the waterfalls that are in this stream,
or else if they had to ascend to pray him to aid them in this peril-
ous navigation." The devout missionaries caused the idol "to be
lifted up by the strength of arm and be cast into the depths of the
river, to appear no more" to the idolatrous savages. The mission
of St. Francis Xavier, founded in December, 1669, by Allouez was a
roving one among the tribes inhabiting the shores of Green Bay,
and the interior country watered by the Fox Eiver and its tribu-
taries, for about two years, when its first mission house was
erected at what is now Depere, Brown County, Wisconsin. This
chapel was soon afterward destroyed by fire, but was rebuilt in
1676.

The Winnebago Indians by this time had not only received
considerable spiritual instruction from the Jesuit fathers, but had
obtained quite an insight into the mysteries of trading and traffic-
ing with white men; for following the footsteps of the mission-
aries, and sometimes preceding them, were the ubiquitous French
traders. It is impossible to determine precisely what territory
was occupied by the Winnebagoes at this early date, farther than
they lived near the head of Green Bay. A direct trade with the
French upon the St Lawrence was not carried on by the Winne-
bagoes to any great extent until the beginning of the eighteenth
century. As early as 1679 an advance party of La Salle had col-
lected a large store of furs at the mouth of Green Bay, doubtless
in a trafiic with this tribe and others contiguous to them. Gener-
ally, however, the surrounding nations sold their peltries to the
Ottawas, who in turn disposed of them to the French.

The commencement of the eighteenth century found che Win-
nebagoes friendly to and in alliance with France and in peace
with the dreaded Iroquois. In 1718, the nation numbered six
hundred. They were afterward found to have moved up Fox
river, locating upon Winnebago lake, which stream and lake were
their ancient seat, and from which they had been driven either by
fear or the prowess of more powerful tribes of the West or South-
west. Their intercourse with the French was gradually extended

HISTORY OF WINNESHIEK COUNTY. 135

and generally peaceful, though not always so. joining with them
in their wars Avith the Iroquois, and subsequently in their con-
flicts with the English which finally ended in 1760.

In Shea's '"Early French Voyages" there was printed a letter
from Father Guignas, written May 29, 1728, at Fort Beauharnois
on Lake Pepin, on the upper Mississippi river, in which an inter-
esting reference is made to the Winnebagoes. He says:

''The Sioux convoy left the end of Montreal Island on the 16th
of the month of June, last year, at 11 a. m., and reached Michili-
mackinac on the 22d of the month of July. This post is two
hundred and fifty leagues from Montreal, almost due west, at 45.
deg. 20 min. north latitude.

"We spent the rest of the month at this post, in the hope of
receiving from day to day some news from Montreal, and in the
design of strengthening ourselves against the alleged extreme
diflBculties of getting a free passage through the Foxes. At last,
seeing nothing, we set out on our march the first of the
month of August, and after seventy-three leagues of quite pleas-
ant sail along the northerly side of Lake Michigan, running to
the southeast, we reached Green Bay on the 8th of the same
month at 5:30, p. m. This post is 41 deg. 43 min. north lati-
tude.

"We stopped there two days, and on the 11th, in the morning,
we embarked, in a very great impatience to reach the Foxes. On
the third day after our departure from the bay, quite late in the
afternoon, in fact somewhat in the night, the chiefs of the Puans
( Winnebagoes) came out three leagues from the village to meet
the French, with their peace calumets and some bear meat as a re-
freshment, and the next day we were received by the small nation,
amid several discharges of a few guns, and with great demonstra-
tions.

"They asked us with so good grace to do them the honor to stay
some time with them, that we granted them the rest of the day
from noon, and the following day. There may be in all the vil-
lage, sixty to eighty men, but all the men and women of very tall
stature and well made. They are on the bank of a very pretty
little lake, in a most agreeable spot for its situation and the good-
ness of the soil, nineteen leagues from the bay and eight leagues
from the Foxes."

When the English, in October, 1701, took possession of the
French post at Green Bay. the Winnebagoes were found to num-
ber only one hundred and fifty warriors; their nearest village be-
ing at the lower end of Wennebago Lake. They had three towns,
and perhaps more.

Their country at this period inclosed not only the lake, but all
the streams floAving into it, especially Fox river, and afterward ex-
tended to the Wisconsin and Rock rivers. They readily changed
the course of their trade — askinor now of the commandant of the

136 HISTORY OF WIXXESHIEK COUJsTY.

fort for English traders to be sent among them. In the Indian
outbreak under Pontiac, in 1763, they joined with the Menomi-
nees and other tribes to defend the British garrison at the head of
the bay, assisting in conducting them to a place of safety. They
continued their friendship to the English during the Revolution,
by joining with them against the colonies, and were active in the
Indian war of 1790-4, taking part in the attack on Fort Recovery,
on the Maumee, in the present State of Ohio, in 1793. They
also fought on the side of the British in the war of 1812-15^ aid-
ing in 1811 to reduce Prairie du Chien. Thev were then esti-
mated at 4,5U0.

When, in 1816, the government of the United States sent
troops to take possession of the Green Bay country, by establish-
a garrison there, some trouble was anticipated from the Winne-
bago Indians, who, up to that date, had the reputation of being a
bold and warlike tribe. A deputation from the nation came down
Fox river and remonstrated with the American commandant on
what they considered an intrusion. They were desirous of know-
ing why a fort was to be established so near them. The reply
was, that although the troops were armed for war, their purpose
was peace. The response of the Indians was an old one. "If your
object is peace, you have too many men; if war, too few." How-
ever the display of a number of cannon that had not yet been
mounted, satisfied the Winnebagoes that the Americans were
masters of the situation, and the deputation gave the garrison no
further trouble. On the 30th of June. 1816. at St. Louis, the
tribe made a treaty of peace and friendship with the General Gov-
ernment, but they continued to lay tribute on white people who
passed up Fox river. At this time a portion of the tribe was liv-
ing on the Wisconsin river, away from Green Bay. In 1820, they
had five villages on Winnebago Lake and fourteen on Rock river.
In 1825 the claim of the Winnebagoes was an extreme one so far
as territory was concerned. Its southern boundary stretched away
from the source of the Rock river to within forty miles of its
mouth in Illinois, where they had a village. On the west it ex-
tended to the heads of the small streams flowing into the Missis-
sippi. To the north it i cached Black river and the Upper Wiscon-
sin, to the Chippewa Territory, but did not extend over Fox river,
although they contended for the whole of Winnebago Lake.

The final removal of the Winnebagoes from Wisconsin to the
westward, across the Mississippi soon followed. In 1829, a large
part of the territory in southwest Wisconsin, lying between the
Sugar River and the Mississippi and extending to the Wisconsin,
was sold to the Government,' and three years later, all the residue
lying south and east of the Wisconsin and Fox rivers of Green
Bay. And finally in the brief language of the treaty of Novem-
ber 1, 1837, (this tribe having become unsettled and wasteful).
*'The' Winnebago Nation of Indians" ceded to the General Govern-

HISTOKY OF WINNESHIEK COUNTY. 139

ment "all their lands east of the Mississippi.'" Not an acre was
reserved. And the Indians agreed that within eight months from
that date, they would move west of the "great river," they being
alloted territory a part of which Avas in the present Winneshiek
County. This arrangement, however, was not fully carried out.
In 1842 there were only 756 at the then Turkey River, Iowa
Settlement, their new home, with as many in Wisconsin and
small bands elsewhere. All had become lawless and roving. Some
removed from Wisconsin in 1848, while a party to the number of
eight hundred left that State as late as 1873 for Nebraska, long
after the Iowa portion of the tribe had preceeded them to their
Avestern home. Their Nebraska reservation is north of and adja-
cent to the Omalias, containing over one hundred thousand acres.
However, since their first removal, they have several times changed
their homes, and scattering bands have wandered back and forth
between Wisconsin and Nebraska. The total number is now esti-
mated at less than twenty-five hundred.

The following brief paragraphs in reference to the Winneba-
goes, and removals of portions of the tribe, is taken from a sketch
of the "Explorers and Pioneers of Minnesota," by Rev. Edward
D. Neil:

"The Ho-Tchun-Graws, or Winnebagoes, belong to the Daka-
tah family of aborigines. Champlain, although he never visited
them, mentions them. Nicollet, who had been in his employ,
visited Green Bay about the year 1635, and an early relation men-
tions that he saw the Ouinipegos, a people called so because they
came from a distant sea, which some French writer erroneously
called Puants."

Another writer, speaking of these people, says:
''These people are called 'Les Puants,' not because of any bad
odor peculiar to them, but because they claim to have come
from the shores of a far distant lake, toward the north, whose
waters are salt. They call themselves the people 'de Teau pu-
ants' of the putrid or bad water."

"By the treaty of 1837 they were removed to Iowa, and by an-
other treaty in October, 184G, they came to Minnesota in 1848, to
the country between the Long Prairie and Crow Wing River.
The agency was located on the Long Prairie River, forty miles
from the Mississippi, and in 1849 the tribe numbered about five
hundred souls.

"In February, 1855, another treaty was made with them, and
that spring they removed to lands on the Blue Earth River.
Owing to the panic caused by the outbreak of the Sioux in 1862,
Congress, by a special act, Avithout consulting them, in 1863 re-
moved them from their fields in Minnesota to the Missouri River,
and in the words of the missionary, 'they were, like the Sioux,
dumped in the desert, one hundred miles above Fort Randall.'' "

140 HISTORY OF WINNESHIEK COUNTY.

IN WINNESHIEK COUNTY.

The eastern line of the Iowa reservation to which the Winne-
bagoes Avere removed from Wisconsin, and w^hich embraced Win-
neshiek County, was about twenty miles Avest of the Mississippi
river. Their roving and unsettled condition had apparently
changed their traditional independent and Avarlike character; and
the large annuity given them as a condition of their removal from
Wisconsin added to their vices and accellerated their progress to
laziness and worthlessness. And if it is true that they were orig-
inally warlike and fierce, as has been stated in these pages, they
rapidly sunk in this respect until they won a memorable reputa-
tion among the early settlers of being not only cowardly, but
craftily revengeful and treacherous. Of these Winnebagoes after
their removal to Iowa, Spark's History of Winneshiek County
says:

"The Winnebagoes were not brave and chivalrous, but vindic-
tive and treacherous. Instead of facing a foe and braving danger,
they would stealthily steal upon him, and in an unguarded moment,
wreak their vengeance. But these were not the worst features in
this tribe. They possessed vices of a meaner and more degrading
nature. They united the art of stealing to that of lying. Any-
thing belonging to another on which they could lay their pilfering
fingers, they appropriated to their own use. Their lying propen-
sities Avere proverbial. They regarded the white man Avith envy,
but stood in such fear of their Indian neighbors — the Sacs and
Foxes — that they dare not oppose him, but made him their cham-
pion and protector against these warlike and powerful tribes.
They were more opulent in their annuities than any other tribe of
Indians. Besides about §1100,000 in cash and goods paid them an-
nually, large sums were expended in the vain attempts to educate
and christianize them. A fcAv among them could read and write;
but in proportion as they improved in book lore, in the same, and
even in a greater ratio, they deteriorated morally; and those who
enjoyed the greatest advantages were the most Avorthless and de-
graded of their tribe. Every attempt that has been made to civi-
lize them, has sunk them loAver in the scale of humanity- At
least this is the evidence of those who are familiar with their
history. It has been reduced to an axiom, by observation and ex-
perience, that the Indian is incapable of civilization, except in
rare cases. They are gradually and surely fading aAvay. The
very approach of civilization is a poison to them, from the ef-
fects of which there is no escape. Its operation is slow but sure,
and but a fcAv years will have made their annual rounds before
the race Avill be numbered Avith the things of the past, and only
known in history."

The Winnebagoes being of such a character, or reputation, at
least, it seemed all the more necessary that there should be an
arm of the General Government extended toAvard their control,

HISTORY OF WINN^ESHIEK COUNTY. lil

and a garrison e.:-tablishetl in their midst. And so Fort Atkinson,
situated on a hill overlooking the village of that name in our
county, was established. Some remains of the old fort still ex-
ist. The fort was named after the famous and successful fighter
of the Indians, General Atkinson, the hero of the Black Hawk
war, and was commenced on the 2d of June, 1840, about fift}"-
mechanics being employed in the work. It was intended to con-
trol the Indians and protect them from bands of their enemies, as
well as to protect the settlers. Further particulars in regard to it,
and the village which bears its name, as well as in relation to
Old Mission and Indian farm and reservation, established in 1842
by Indian Agent Rev. D. Lowery, about five miles southwest of
Atkinson, for educating and civilizing the Indians, will be found
elsewhere in this volume.

WINKESHIEK AND DECORAH.

Winneshiek, the ruling chief of the Winnebagoes, soon after
their removal to the reservation or neutral ground, including
what is now known as Winneshiek County, did not become chief
through royal Indian blood, nor because of bravery or prowess in
war. He was made chief by order of the United States War De-
partment, on account of his ability and fitness for the position.
Under him as head chief, there were several chiefs of respective
bands into which the nation was divided. The village of the head
chief, Winneshiek, extended along the Upper Iowa River for
several miles, where Decorah',is now located. He was an Indian of
remarkable ability, intelligence and good sense, tall, straight, well
developed, and fine looking, and confided in and trusted the
whites, whom he seemed to thoroughly respect as they did him, and
could speak the English language tolerably well. Judge Murdock
and others, who were acquainted with him, and who have heard
him deliver several speeche.^, were much impressed with his ability
and oratorical genius. His face would light up with the fires of
excitement; tone and gesture would add to the effect of his words;
and the effect on his hearers was thrilling and powerful.

It is not known positively whether Winneshiek is still living.
There was a rumor of his death some years ago, but it has not been
authentically confirmed. Whether alive or not, his name is per-
petuated in being given to our county, one of the finest and best
in the State. In accordance with the polygamous custom of the
Winnebagoes, Winneshiek had six wives; and that he was a con-
noisseur in female beauty is shown by the fact that he chose the
finest looking women in the nation.

Decorah, our beautiful inland citv, and county seat of Winne-
shiek County, was named after Waukon-Decorah, one of the
prominent chiefs of the Winnebagoes. Our neighboring and
thriving village of Waukon gained its name from the first half
of the hyphenated name of the aforesaid chieftain. He had lost

142 HISTORY OF WINNESHIEK COUNTY.

an eye, and was familiarly known by the whites as ''one-eyed
Decorah.'' He, like Winneshiek, was an eloquent orator, and
would sometimes boast of having white blood in his veins. He
had two brothers, who. as well as he, were of prominence in their
tribe.

The following quotation is from a speech of Decorah, made to
the Government Commissioners after he had served with the
Government forces in the Black Hawk war. He complained that
his tribe had been firm friends of the whites, had aided them in
the critical war against Black Hawk, and had not only re-
ceived in return, but also because of helping their white brethren,
had promoted the enmity of other Indians, who had been wreak-
ing vengeance upon them. He said: ''The Sacs hate the Win-
nebagoes for helping their Great Father, and when peace was
made with the whites they struck at the Winnebagoes; first at the
family of the speaker, when he was away from home they stole
upon his lodge and killed his wife and children; and now he
thought that his Great Father would give him some token of re-
membrance of his services."

What are said to be the remains of Decorah, having been twice
re-interred, now repose in the Court House grounds, near the
northeast corner. It has been claimed by some that Waukon
Decorah is still living, but that is very doubtful, and he must
have been a very old mam long before this time. The site of the
grave of the alleged Decorah, above referred to, was, it is reported,
often visited in early days by bands of Winnebago Indians, who
came back to their old homes here for a brief visit.

The first grave of Decorah was on ground now occupied by
Winnebago Street, just below Main, almost at their intersection,
and therefore in front of the present St. Cloud Hotel. The open-
ing of the street to travel, made it desirable that the remains be
removed to another spot. This was done by a formal meeting of
prominent citizens on Aug. 4, 1859. Below is the report of that
meeting by the secretary thereof, as afterwards published :

''Decorah, August 4, 1859.

"The citizens of Decorah assembled at the grave of the Indian
Chieftain, 'Decorah', marked by the decaying bark and wood that
lay over it, and on motion of Rev. E. Adams, Dr. J. M. Green
was chosen moderator and T. W. Burdick was appointed secre-
tary.

"After the examination of the grave it Avas on motion re-
solved that the remains of the Chieftain be disinterred.

"The grave being at the intersection, and within the limits
of Main and Winnebago streets, and if not removed must soon
give place to the use of these streets for the travel and com-
merce of the white man.

"Thereupon those present proceeded to exhume the body.
Only bones remained. On motion of Rev. Adams, a committee

HISTORY OF WINNESHIEK COUNTY. 143

consisting of D. B. Ellsworth, R. F. Gibson and Nathaniel
Otis, were appointed to provide a suitable receptacle for the re-
mains, and hold the same subject to the order of the citizens
meeting.

"On motion a committe was appointed to raise funds to obtain
a suitable monument, and erect a fence to mark the grave.

"The committee appointed took charge of the remains, and on
jnotion the meeting adjourned.

T. W. BuRDiCK. Secretary."

In this new grave on the Court House grounds, the remains lay
undisturbed for about seventeen years. But the grading and ter-
racing of the grounds and the building of the new stone wall, a
solid, substantial, structure, still comparatively new, compelled
another resurrection and re-interment in the summer of 1876.
The following in relation thereto is from the Decorah Bee^ June
13, 1876:

"Decorah has been resurrected. We do not mean thisbeautifu
little citv, but the bones of the noble chieftain after whom it is
named. On Tuesday morning the workmen engaged in grading
and excavating for a new stone wall and sidewalk on the Main
street side of the Court House grounds, came across the remains
of an old cotfin containing some human bones, rusty scalping-
knife, and tomahawk and pipe. They were some three feet from
the surface of the ground, just inside the old Avail, on the north-
east corner of the courtyard. That they are the bones of the old
Indian chief, Decorah, we are assured by old residents, from whom
we learn the following facts:

About seventeen years ago, Winnebago street being about to be
opened, a grave, situated where now is about the middle of the
street in front of the post-office and known as the grave of De-
corah. was opened and the remains, consisting of human bones, a
blanket, tomahawk, pipe, and a lot of beads taken out, buried in
Ellsworth & Landers' store for about six months, till the stone wall
in front of the Court House yard was completed, when they were
buried where now found.''

"It is held as conclusive proof of this being the remains of
Decorah, that the Indians of his tribe frequently assembled about
that early grave, whence the remains have since been removed,
performed their mournful rites, and that they called it the grave
of Decorah.

"Only a portion of the bones of the body were found to have sur-
vived the devastating hand of time, were taken out, and placed in
a box to be hurried again inside the new stone wall when built.

"Quite a crowd of people assembled to look at those poor re-
mains of the proud chieftain whose spirit hath departed. Lo
these many 3"ears."

The action of the old settlers noted above in the report of the
secretary of the meeting of 1859, which exhumed the supposed re-

144 HISTORY OF "WINNESHIEK COUNTY.

mains of Decorali, would be considered pretty good evidence of
their genuineness; but the despoiling hand of the inconoclast is
made to appear to throw doubt over the historic stories, as in the
case of the tale of the saving of John Smith by the dusky prin-
cess Pocahontas, and the equally sacred tradition of Washington
and his hatchet. It will be seen that even a prominent actor in
the first resurrection of the remains of Decorah was befogged
with donbts by the spreading of rumors that Decorah was stilj
living. For in a sermon, entitled, "First Things of Decorah,"
preached not long after this first exhuming, the Rev. E. Adams said:
"Some may recollect how our bosoms swelled with respect for
the old chief; with what reverence we exhumed his remains; how,
in imagination, we beheld his noble form, as his skull, with its
straight, black hair, was turned out by the spade; Avith what
pomp and ceremony it was planned to remove his remains to some
suitable place, possibly a monument erected — till, in gathering
necessary facts for the occasion, word came back to us that De-
corah was a chief greatly respected by his tribe, an old man, con-
siderably bent over, with one eye put out, and his haiT very gray.
His hair very gray! All but this could have been got along with,
but somehow the poetry was gone! Enthusiam subsided! How-
ever, if in future years, by the lapse of time, this difficulty should
be obliterated, and any desire should remain to erect a monument
to the old chief, they can find his bones, or those of some other
poor Indian, safely deposited in a rough box a few inches below
the surface of the ground, close to the northeast corner of the
Court House yard."

CUSTOMS, INCIDENTS, TRAGEDIES.

As has already been intimated, the Winnebagoes practiced
polygamy, and their manner of wooing was not much tinctured
with a comprehension of the idea of the equality of the sexes;
nor did the marriage ceremony have enough of form or ceremony
as to have been considered satifactorily binding, if the contracting
parties had been whites. The Indian brave opened his suit not with
the dusky daffis?l, but with her parents, and as persuasive argu-
ments, gave them such presents as his ability or liberality ofi'ered.
If the paternal copper-colored '"lord of creation" was willing, the
matter was considered settled, and the bride would be borne away
to the lodge of the wooer, whether she wished it ©r not.

The funeral services were simple and devoid of form, the body
of the deceased being wrapped in his blankets, and buried in a
reclining position in a shallow grave. The period and profuse-
ness of mourning varied, and is said to have depended on the
anlount of whisky on hand, or provided for the occasion.

In the early settlements of this country, as at present on the
frontier, "fire water" was the great curse of the Indians. In
many cases, a despicable white under the guise of an Indian teach-

HISTORY OF WINNESHIEK COUNTY. 14:5

(sr, made his real business the selling of whisky to the Indians.
He would secrete his stock of Avhisky in some grove or out of the
way place near enough to the whites for protection.

The Winnebago settlement on the reservation was not one to
be neglected by this class of people, who, not allowed by the gov-
ernment to come on to the reservation, came as near to its boun-
daries as they dared. Two of these characters and the murders
resulting from their evil practices, are thus described in Spark's
history:

"Taft Jones was an individual of this character. He hailed
from Fort Crawford, and located a trading post in the vicinity of
Monona, giving it the name of 'Sodom.' Another genius, named
Grraham Thorn, started a trading post in close proximity to Sod-
om, and called it 'Gomorrah.' The Indians used to frequent these
places, and, of course, usually got badly cheated. It is a matter
of recollection that ouce in a trial before Hon. T. S. Wilson, the
first judge of this part of the country, a witness testified to things
that happened at Sodom and Gromon-ah. The Judge was disposed
to become indignant, and asked, somewhat pointedly, if the wit-
ness was not imposing on the Court. The reply was given by
Judge Murdock, then a young attorney, 'Oh, no, your Honor;
these places do actually exist.' The old mayor of Sodom crossed
long since to the other side of Jordan."

During the sojourn of the Indians on their resarvation three
murders were committed, to wit: that of the Gardner family, in
Fayette county; of Riley, near Monona; and of Hereby, near the
mouth of the Volga, In all of these cases whisky Avas the in-
citing cause, and some of the parties undoubtedly deserved their
fate. In the Riley case, a small party of Indians were encamped
on a tributary of the Yellowstone river, four or five miles from
Monona. An old Indian visited Taft Jones' den, at Sodom, and
(as many a "paleface" has since done in similar cases) traded all
his worldly effects for whisky. He even sold the blanket from his
shoulders. Becoming intoxicated, he was turned out of doors, and
on his way to his lodge died from exposure and cold. The next
morning his son, a youth of about twenty summers, found the
dead body of his father lying out in the snow, naked and frozen.
His revengeful feelings were aroused, and going to the whisky
den at Gomorrah, he shot at the first man he saw through the
window. Unfortunately it happened to be an inoffensive man
named Riley. A detachment of troops under command of Lieut.
David S. Wilson, late Judge of Dubuque Circuit Court, was sent
out to capture the Indian who committed the murder. He was
apprehended, taken to Fort Atkinson, and confined in the guard-
house, but by the connivance of a sympathizing white man he es-
caped and was never recaptured. Jones lived but a short time
after this occurrence. Dr. Andros, of this city, witnessed his
death and descrD^es it as follows: 'I was travelling from Fort

14G HISTORY OF "^^'IXXESHIEK COrXTY.

Atkinson to Prairie du Cliieu, and as I was passing by Sodom I
was called in to see Taffy Jones. I found him on his bed in a
miserable condition, and dying from chronic alcoholism. His
countenance was horrible to look upon. He seemed to have but
one thought, one wish. His only cry was whisky! whisky!
whisky ! I told Thorn, who was his right bower, that Taify was
dying, and to gratify his last wish. A tumbler of whisky was
placed to his lips, and he swallowed it with all the gusto that
marks the smallest babe while drawing nourishment from the
breast of its mother. In a few hours he died, a striking illustra-
tion of the the old adage/ 'the ruling passion strong in death.'' The
murder of the Gardner family Avas caused by whisky. Gardner
kept a whisky shop, and it seems a number of Indians called at
his place for their favorite beverage. He dealt out the whisky to
them until they became intoxicated, and he, becoming alarmed,
refused to let them have any more. They then determined to
take the whisky by force, whereupon Gardner offered resistance.
He was seized by the demons and dispatched. His defenseless wife
and innocent babe were next assassinated, and his daughter, a
beautiful girl about twelve years old, was reserved for a more
terrible fate."

Of the bands of Winnebagoes and the difficulties of their re-
moval. Sparks' history says:

"At the time the Winnebagoes Avere removed they numbered
about four thousand, and were scattered over their reservation, or
what was then called 'the neutral ground.' Four bands were
located near the Fort and Agency. The other bauds were located
more remote. Where the city of Decorah now stands was a large
band under the government of the hereditary chief Decorah;
hence the name. This country was at that time an Indian para-
dise, abounding in fish and game. The sale of their lands to the
Government by their chiefs, and their acceptance of a new home
in Minnesota, was very unsatisfactory to the Indians themselves.
For a long time they refused to comply with the agreement en-
tered into by their chiefs, and only consented when compelled by
force of United States troops. Owing to their reluctance to re-
move, the whole summer was spent in their ejection. One band,
governed by a chief called the 'The Dandy,' Avould not go upon
the land assigned them, but returned Avith their chief to Black
River, Wisconsin, where they remained till the summer of 1874,
Avhen they were finally removed (at a great expense to the Gov-
ernment) to the home of the tribe west of the Missouri. But
they had remained on their neAV hunting grounds but a few
months when they again returned to their old homes."

The remainder of this chapter, describing Indian life and an-
other bloody tragedy caused by selling whisky to the Indians, is
from a series of papers being published in the Decorah Journal
on pioneer life in this region :

HISTORY OF WIXXESHIEK COUNTY. 147

"The character of the Indians, as written by their distant ad-
mirers, or their near enemies, has been both overrated and under-
rated. How shall I describe them? — a mixture of savage barbar-
ism and of 'civilization,' as learned from the whites. This is about
what the pioneers found them to be. They are either warm and
trusty friends, or bitter, treacherous and blood-thirsty enemies.
That is their savage nature. They are inveterate beggars, liars
and thieves; a part of this is nature, and a part Avas learned from
their white brothers. They are lazy, dirty and shiftless. They
are brave, chaste and constant in their marital relations. They
are true to their tribe and those who befriend them, but revenge-
ful and unforgiving to their enemies. How much of this is na-
ture, and how much is learned from the pale faces, I leave to the
reader to say.

"With the coming of the whites, the habits of the Indians un-
derwent something of a change. They learned to prize money
and to covet its possession, provided it could be gained without
much labor. Their wants gi-ew to be more numerous as the abil-
ity to supply them increased. They were still hunters, as they
had always been, but to this was added a few other pursuits
whereby money could be obtained. But in this the principle la-
bor fell upon the squaws. The braves would hunt and fish, and
would sell their furs, which always commanded good prices, while
the deer skins would be tanned b}'^ the squaws, and often manu-
factured into moccasins, many of them tastefully beaded and orna-
mented. For thread they used the sinews of the deer, and their
work was both substantial and neat. These moccasins were favor-
ite foot wear for the pioneers, both men and women, and for com-
fort they cannot easily be surpassed, and a pretty foot never
looked prettier than when dressed in a neat fitting Indian moc-
casin. No white person could ever give a softer finish to a deer
skin than do the squaws. In this they surpass all others.

"The gathering of wild berries, and of wild rice, also contributed
considerably toward supplying their wants. In summer a small
patch of Indian corn, and sometimes of potatoes, would be culti-
vated. In this, also, the squaws performed the most of the labor,
while the braves wandered off" on hunting or fishing expeditions.

"But few persons living in countries Avhere a wild Indian is
seldom or never seen, having anything like a correct idea of the
kind of life these people really lead. Mmy imagine that theirs is
a happy care-free life, free from all restraint, and that as he roams
at will over the vast free forest of the west, his must be a life to
be envied by civilized men and women. Let us look for a mo-
ment at the reality,

"In summer the Indian life may be said to be at its best, but
even then hunger is not an unknown or even an unfrequent guest.
Then the Indians settle down in groups, or families, erect their
wigwams, and there remain while their small patch of corn is

148 HISTORY OF WIXNESHIEK COUN"TY,

cultivated, berries gathered, etc. In the autumn they remove to
the rice fields, which lie to the north. The wild rice forms one of
the chief articles on which they subsist, and if this crop fails, as
is often the case, it is the cause of great destitution and suffering.
Throughout the winter the Indians are frecjuently on the move
going to new regions in quest of game, or for other reasons. I
will relate a couple or incidents which moved my heart to pity for
these poor creatures:

"It was a bitter cold morning in January. A party of five or
six were traveling by stage, and though thickly and comfortably
clothed, and snugly tucked up with buffalo robes, all were com-
plaining of the cold. We were passing over a bleak prairie where
the wind blew a perfect gale, when we came upon a party of In-
dians who had just broken camp and were moving to some new
locality. There were about twenty in the company, consisting of
men, women and children. There were two or three Indian pon-
ies loaded with camp equipage, and on these ponies were mounted
some of the smaller children, though boys, down to the ages of
eight or nine years, together with the squaws, plodded through
two feet of snow as best they might, their route lying across the
prairie and not in the direction the road ran. The Indians walked
erect, carrying only their guns, but the squaws, and even the chil-
dren, were bent down with heavy loads, carrying not only the
camp supplies, but also the woven bark of which their wigwams
were made, strapped upon their backs.

"The Indians were dressed in buckskin leggins with moccasins
of the same material. A thin calico shirt was the only garment,
from the waist up. The squaws were similarly dressed, with the
addition of a woolen shirt that reached just below the knees. The
heads of all were uncovered, and around the form of each was
loosely drawn a large blanket, which it seemed to us might have
afforded greater protection had it been more closely drawn, or se-
cured with our own indispensable pins. The dark, slender hands
of all were wholly unprotected. Two or three of the squaws had
little pappooses strapped upon their backs who cried piteously,
very much as a little hu^nanhahj would have done.

"And this party of wanderers would plod a long until hunger and
weariness would overtake them. Then, on that cold winter's
day, they would scrape away the heavy snow, would undo the
rolls of bark matting, which must afford but a poor protection
from the cold, gather sticks and brush and build a fire, and then,
after cooking and eating a simple meal, would spread their
blankets and lie down on the cold, frozen ground, to sleep and
rest. After thinking of all this, and of the warm fire and smok-
ing meal that would await us at the hotel not far distant, there
was not much more complaint among us.

"One chilly night, late in autumn, word was brought that a
party of Indians were encamped in a grove near by. Although

HItiTOKY OF WINNESHIEK COUNTY. 149

there are large Indian settlements a little ways to the north, an
Indian f^amp in our midst is sufficiently rare to attract some at-
tention. So that evening, taking a few presents as a peace-ofi'er-
ing, a party set out to pay the encampment a visit. A blazing
fire guided us to the spot. About the fire, over which a kettle
hung suspended, were a group of ten, all seated on the ground — •
six Indians and four squaws. The Indians were smoking their
pipes with stolid countenances, while the squaws tiad their blank-
ets drawn up over their heads, and their heads resting on their
hands, seemed indifferent to everything in life. An effort at con-
versation elicited only a grunt, and a declaration in the Indian
tongue that they could not speak English; a statement which we
very much doubted, as it is an Indian trick to feign ignorance of
our language, even when well understood. A presentation of our
gifts aroused a little life, and a chatter in the Indian tongue.

^'The kettle was boiling slowly, and, being uncovered, was seen
to contain a piece of meat, some potatoes, and some pieces of
black bread, all boiling together, and would form a not unsavory
meal. When cooked it would be set out on the ground, and the
group squatted around would dip out morsels and eat them from
their fingers. Then,Avith blankets drawn around them, and with
heads toward the fire, and with no shelter save the cold, starry
heavens, they would sleep until morning. Possibly they would
partake of the remnants of last night's meal, and at early dawn
would be again on the trail, and not until twenty-five or thirty
miles were accomplished would they again stop to rest. Our
homes never seem warmer or more comfortable, or our beds softer
or more downy, than when on some cold, chilly night we think
of a visit to an Indian encampment.

''Does any one wonder, with all their suft'ering and privation,
with wars waged among them, and with the white man's 'fire-
water' dealing ruin and death in their midst, that he is fact dying
out?

"Sometimes the savagen ature of the Indians would burst forth,
like a prisoned volcano, and culminate in deeds of bloodshed
and murder so horrible as to strike terror to the stoutest hearts. In
recording these deeds of carnage the blame cannot be said to rest
wholly upon the savages. They are generally inclined to be friendly
with the whites when treated with kindness and justice. Some
of their most atrocious acts of cruelty may rather be attributed to
drunken frenzy, than to either injustice on the part of the whites,
or savage barbarity on the part of the Indians. Of this class
was one of their most fiendish murders, known as the Tea-Garden
murder.

"There lived in one of the northwestern counties of Iowa a
Frenchman named Tea-Garden. The country was very wild, with
only a few white families scattered through a wide extent of ter-
ritory. His family consisted of his wife — a very estimable woman.

150 HISTOKY OF WINNESHIEK COUNTY.

aud four children — two boys, aged respectively eiojlit and
eleven years of age, a girl of six years of age, annd
an infant child. Tea-Garden kept a trading post and
dealt with the Indians, who were much more numerous
than the whites. He soon found that although they cov-
eted beads and other trinkets, there was one article which
found much more ready sale than any other, and for which an In-
dian would sacrifice almost anything he possessed. This article
was called in the Indian tongue 'Poch-a-ninna,' the literal sig-
nification of which is 'fire-water," in plain English, Avhisky. He
was not a man of much principle, and though the sale of liquor
to the Indians was strictly against the laws of the territory, he soon
came to dispense the fiery fluid with a freedom that was in accord-
ance with the Indians' capability of paying for it.

'•But few men can handle fire-brands without themselves being
scorched. But few can deal out poison without themselves feel-
ing its direful effects, and Tea -Garden did not prove to be one of
the few. Having a natural liking for the vile stuff, with him to
handle was to taste, and he soon came to drink freely with his
customers, be they either whites or Indians, and in a short time
he became a drunkard and a sot, with scarcely a spark of man-
hood left.

"He abused his family, his helpless children, and his faithful
wife, who clung to what little of manhood he yet possessed.
There was one of the hangers-on around this drinking place, an
Irishman named Mahone who, although a good aud kind-hearted
man, had yielded to his appetite for liquor until he, too, had be-
come a confirmed drunkard, and having no family ties, cared but
little for anything save the gratification of his appetite for liquor.

"One day liquor had flowed more freely than usual, and as a con-
sequence Tea-Garden had been more abusive than ever. He had
beaten both his wife and his children, Avho cowered before his
drunken wrath. In the course of their drunken revelry it was pro-
posed that Mahone purchase Tea-Garden's wife. This was acceded
to, and the price being agreed on, the money was paid over and a pa-
per made out declaring Mahone the rightful owner of the'chattel.'

"Mahone had a genuine respect for the woman, and being par-
tially sober the next morning, approached the woman and frankly
stated the bargain. Said he: 'According to the custom of this rough
country, I suppose that I might claim you and make you trouble,
but I wish nothing but to see you in a happier situation than you
are here. You have friends to whom you can go and who will
gladly receive you. Go, and I will protect you in so doing.' She
Avas glad to accept the offer, and taking the youngest child with
her, went to her friends, leaving the other children until she could
find means to provide for them. This explains how there came to
be only drunken Indians, and whites, and small children at this
trading post at the time of the tragedy.

HISTORY OF WINNESHIEK COUNTY. 151

''Tlie two men, Tea-Garden and Mahone, kept togetlier, drinking
and carousing, and selling liquor to the Indians, sinking lower and
lower in the scale of humanity. The Indians' money went into
the white man's pocket as freely as ever, but there began to be low
mutterings of discontent, mingled with the drunken dance and
whoop. A storm was gathering but its omens were not heeded.

"One day in mid-winter, a gang of Indians had been at the post
all day, drinking and carousing. The host and his companion,
Mahone, had drank with them, and were even more under the in-
fluence of liquor than their guests. Night came on and the chil-
dren were sent supperless to bed. The children were frightened
and hungry, and were lying in bed awake listening to all that was
going on around them. They knew that their father and Mahone
were asleep by their heavy breathing, but the Indians were awake
and talking angrily in their own language, which the children
well understood. They were telling how they had been cheated
by Tea-Garden, and as their anger increased the children heard
these savages plan the murder of the whole family while they
slept. The three were in one bed, and the little girl of six was
the only one that slept. The oldest boy drew the bedclothes up
over her head in the hope that by so doing she might be unnoticed
and so escape the massacre that awaited them. Trembling with
fear the boys dared not speak or stir, but no word or movement
escaped them. They saw one of the Indians take up an ax from
the corner, try its edge, and then saw it descend, crashing through
the brain of their father. They saw it raised, and again descend,
in like manner, above the prostrate form of Mahone. Both men
passed from their drunken slumber into the embrace of death
without a sigh or a struggle.

"The two boys lay clasped in each other's arms, horror-stricken
at the scene. For fully half an hour they lay there, gazing on
the bloody spectacle, before the Indians seemed to remember their
existence and came toward them. True to their savage custom
of sparing neither women nor children, they prepared to finish
their hellish work. With an unerring aim the ax went crashing
through the skull of the younger boy. The elder crept beneath
the bed-clothes in terror, and as the ax again descended it crashed
through his shoulder, inflicting a severe but not painful wound,
and as, with almost superhuman fortitude and presence of mind,
he lay perfectly quiet, the Indians did not take the trouble to see
whether they had quite finished their work or not, as they doubt-
less would have done had they been sober. The little girl slept on
unnoticed and undisturbed. The drunken orgies increased, while
the boy of eleven years, the sole witness of the scene, peered out
from under the bed clothes. About the middle of the night, ac-
cording to the Indian custom, the bloodthirsty, drunken wretches
stole away, having first kindled a fire at the outer Avails of the
building. The brave boy listened until their savage yells died

152 HISTORY OF WINNESHIEK COUNTY.

away in the distance, then rousing his sleeping sister, his only liv-
ing companion in all the household, the two set out, barefooted
and nearly naked, over the snow to the nearest neighbor's house,
a mile away. With that bleeding, gaping wound m his shoulder,
partly dragging and partly carrying his little sister, the boy suc-
ceeded at last in reaching the friendly shelter of the neighbor's
house. But the hands and feet of both the boy and girl were
badly frozen.

"In the morning neighbors visited the scene of the tragedy, and
found only the ashes and smouldering ruins of the building, and
the charred bones of the three victims.

"Both the girl and boy grew up — the girl to brave, noble
womanhood. The boy, even before he reached the years of man-
hood, became a wild hunter, who told no tales of the game he
sought. But whereever his hunting-grounds lay, there might
often be found a dead Indian, with a peculiar mark, as if killed by
the same unerring aim. None but himself knew the number
slain, but at last he himself fell a victim to his life-long foes.

CHAPTER III.

Pioneer Life; Pioneer Women; An Indian Scare; Oddities of
Bench and Bar; Unique Weddings; Jumping Claims; Rather
Crowded ; Lost in the Woods.

There are many reminiscences of pioneer life in this now well
peopled and thriving country, and its borders, which, told by com-
fortable and even luxurious firesides, sound like the telling of a
dream, or like the pages of some improbable romance. The early
settlers are fast passing away, and in the rapid march of time, the
early days, with their hard struggles, their privations, their quaint
legends, and withal, their mirth and jollity are being rapidly for-
gotten.

There are those in the older States, and in fact in all countries,
who have no desire to remove from their ancestral homes, who
are content to "live where their fathers lived — die where their
fathers died," but the natural increase of population, as well as
the tide of immigration from the countries of Europe would make
it impracticable for all to do this. And it is fortunate that a large
class is imbued with the spirit of the pioneer — with the earnest
desire to seek new and more thinly settled countries, and carve out
a fortune or win a comfortable home and a competency for them-
selves. This spirit and steady purpose it is that turned the prai-

HISTORY OF WINNESHIEK COUNTY. 153

ries and forests of the west into cultivated farms, and caused the
beautiful hills and valleys of our county to teem with waving
fields of grain, swarm with flocks and herds, be made beautiful
Avith fruits and flowers, which adorn and cheer the homes, where
but a few years ago the wild Indian sought his game, and was
"monarch of all he surveyed." All honor then, to the sturdy set-
tlers who in braving danger as well as solitude, not only for him-
self but also for those he loved, to become an independent home
winner, has done so much to open up the land for those who fol-
lowed in his footsteps, or who in later years came after him.

PIONEER WOMEN.

But if we honor the man who thus cuts loose from the dear
associations of his early home, how much more honor is due to
the woman who, though often reared in the lap of ease, or even
luxury, does not repine. The life that for man is only difficult,
for woman is truly hard. From much that makes frontier life ex-
citing and pleasant to men, women are naturally shut out. Her
work is at home. It is woman who keeps the hearth-fires glow-
ing and helps keep the wolf from the door, not always an imagin-
ary wolf, but sometimes a wolf of real flesh and blood. It is
woman that spreads the hospitable board for all strangers and
travelers and gives to the wilderness cabin the life and light of
'home. With whatever difficulty the way of man as a pioneer
was beset, at his side, an ever ready and willing helper, was woman.

In health, a friend and companion; in sickness, a physician,
nurse and housekeeper, all in one, not only in her home, but also
in the home of an unfortunate neighbor. The pioneer woman
was always busy, generally cheerful, and always to be depended on
in times of trial. As brave as modest, they turned back from no
difficulty, they feared no danger. As modest as brave, they
shrank from having their names and deeds written for the public.
The quiet life of daily toil and self-sacrifice was not the kind of
which histories are made, but rather the life which livfes in the
grateful memory of those who knew them. The following from
a speech before an old settlers meeting, pays such a deserved trib-
ute to woman, and is so true and appropriate, that we c^uoteit:

"But what of old comrades in the life battles in the wilderness
that was, what of our companions, the women ? Most of them
had been delicately reared, and were accustomed to the luxuries
and refinements of cultivated society; and most of all had good
homes with the necessaries and conveniences of life in abundance,
and were surrounded by kind friends and dear relatives. To
these they had been bred; to all these they were strongly at-
tached. But these ties were sundered, these homes were left be-
hind, w^hen after the last trunk was packed, and the last farwell
was sadly uttered they set their faces sadly w^estward for a new
life and a new home, they knew it must be among strangers.

154 HISTORY OF WINNESHIEK COUNTY.

The;^ shared with us the trial of the journey, the weary miles of
sunshine, and storm as we journeyed on and on-ward. They par-
took with us the coarse fare and rude accommodation of the wag-
on and wayside, the canal boat and the steamer, the log tavern and
the bivouac under the open heaven, all this they encountered
without murmuring, and cheerfully. And when late in autumn,
or early in spring it may be in the cold storm or driving mist and
chilly winds that cut to the bone, they took their departure from
the last outpost of civilization, over lonely prairies, or through the
gloomy forest, over the dismal roads, beset with roots or stumps
without sign of cultivation, or human habitation, then it was, the
hour of bitter trial came to their hearts; then it was that amid
their loneliness, and utter heart desolation the dear homes and
kindred they had left, rose up before them, and through the tears
they look down upon the little ones who cling to them. But
not a murmur, not a word of complaint or regret escaped them.
The feelings too deep for utterance, which swelled within them,
w^ere smothered in their bosoms. When we at last, (some later,
some earlier) had found a place where to make a home in these
pleasant groves and prairies, pleasant to us men; for here there
were herds of bounding deer, and flocks of wild fowl, the wolf
and sand-hill crane, and game large and small to give us sport.
The lakes and streams abounded in fish, and we could take them
at our will. The country was all open and free to roam over, as*
one great park. There was excitement for us in all this; suited
to our rougher natures and coarser tastes. We could roam and
fish or hunt, as we pleased, amid the freshness and beauties of na-
ture. But how was it with our wives? From all these they were
excluded. They were shut up with their children in log cabins,
when they were fortunate enough to get them, rude huts without
floors often, and not unfrequently without doors and windows,
while the cold fierce winds of dark December whistled through
them . Frequently they were covered with sticks fastened with
poles, between which the stars of night looked down upon the
faithful mother and her sleeping infants, here in one small
room, filled perhaps with smoke; without furniture, except a lit-
tle of the rudest kind; rough slab stools, an equally rough table,
and bedstead, if any, made of poles fastened into the house, no
kitchen utensils, save perhaps a skillet and a frying pan, destitute
of crockery, and with little tinware, they were called upon to do
unaided, the duties of a housewife. With these conveniences and
these surroundings, they took upon them for weeks and months,
and even for years the burdens of their households, in a continued
struggle with hindrances and perplexities. These were the heroic
women to whom our hearts did homage; and I should fail in my
duty, at this time if in the roll call of worthy and honorable
names they should not be remembered. And all honor to these
pioneer women, sa^^ we."

HISTORY OF WINNESHIEK COUNTY. 155

AN" INDIAN SCARE.

^Wecaunot now realize the anxiety nor even the dangers that
beset the settlers from the Indians, particularly at the time of In-
dian outbreaks, in this and neighboring States.

A contributor to the Decorah Journal the present year, in
writing of pioneer life, thus refers to an occurrence well remem-
bered by old settlers:

"As I write the word 'Indians,' memory takes me back to the
early days of my childhood in Decorah. Again I see a rider on a
foaming steed dash along Broadway, as I did twenty or more years
ago, shouting at the top of his voice, 'The Indians are coming!'
Again I see the street thronged with blanched-faced men and
trembling women, running to and fro in wild excitement and gazing
with anxious faces off into the west, imagining every tree a red-skin,
and the smoke from every distant chimney a sign of their devas-
tation. Again I hear the whispered consultation of the men as
to the best means of protecting their loved ones. Again I feel
my hand clasped in that of my sainted mother as 1 toddle along
at her side, down Mill street hill, across the old red bridge, and
over to West Decorah — a place of imagined safety. It was a
false alarm, and probably faded from the memory of many of our
readers, and remembered by others only as the dim recollection of
a half forgotten dream. But it comes back to my mind to-night
as vividly as though it were an occurrence of yesterday. Twenty
years! How great the change! Infants then in their mothers'
arms are men and women now; the young are middle aged; the
middle aged old; while many whom we knew and loved have
fallen asleep and are at rest in the silent churchyard.

AMUSING REMINISCENCES.

But life here had its bright and hopeful side, and with all the
anxieties and trials of the pioneers, they became accustomed to
their lot, which was cheered by a realization of what they were
accomplishing, and by amusing and sometimes exciting incidents
or episodes. We are permitted to glean the following from a lec-
ture by Judge M. V. Burdick, whose residence here, and famili-
arity with early life, and wide acquaintance with old settlors, has
given him a large fund of information, and which his warm and
sympathetic heart and command of language has given him a
happy way of expressing himself. The first anecdote has for its
leading characters the judge himself, aud another well known at-
torney and ex-judge:

"In a country as new as Iowa was in 1850, there is always con-
siderable litigation, and a young lawyer, even though he dons the
plain habiliments of a farmer, and swings the axe to cut the logs
that build his cabin, need not tarry long without a client. At
least, I found it so on my arrival in Iowa. In a busy little town
that gave promise of ere long expanding into a citv, the Turkey

156 HISTORY OF WINJfESHIEK COUNTY.

river was dammed aud a saw-mill erected by its side. The mill
and dam together formed a foot-bridge across the stream. Hard
by the mill a log cabin had been built, in which a family lived
and a store was kept. The merchant and the miller were not on
friendly terms, and so the miller forbade the merchant the privi-
lege of passing through the mill or across the dam. The mer-
chant heeded not the notice, but went to cross the river in the
accustomed route, The miller kept a rifle by him with which to
prevent intrusion. If miller and merchant had their names re-
versed, the latter might have used the well known couplet of
Shakespeare:

"Lay on, McDufF,
And damned be he who first cries hold — enough.

But as it was, it were better to say, "Layon to McDufl"." Well
the miller drew the rifle, aimed at the merchant, and blazed away,
the ball burying itself in the post to the saw frame. The mer-
chant applied to the youthful attorney. An information, charging
the miller with the crime of assault with intent to commit murder
was filed, a warrant was issued, and the defendant was arrested and
brought before the magistrate. He asked time to send to a neighbor-
ing county for a lawyer, which was granted, the lawyer came. The
examination proceeded with the circumstances given in evidence,
and the prosecution closed. The attorney for the defence moved
to discharge the prisoner because the prosecution had failed to
make a primafacie case. He introduced an authority to the efiect
that in order to convict of the crime, it was necessary to prove
that the gun with which the assault was made, was loaded with
powder and ball. He admitted the powder part had been proven,
but argued that there was no proof whatever that the gun con-
tained a ball. The young attorney protested that the fact that the
mill post had been hit and penetiated by some hard substance, was
proof positive that the gun was loaded with a deadly missile, and
that this was sufiicient, but all in vain. The Justice ruled that
the law said it must be proven by the prosecution that the gun
was loaded with powder and ball, and it might have been a slug
that penetrated the post. Would you know where these events
occurred? It was not "Sweet Auburn, loveliest village of the
plain," of which Goldsmith speaks in his peerless poem, "The
Deserted Village." w^ould you know the lawyer who made the suc-
cessful defense? It Avas a noble defence of injured innocence,
and on my part an ignoble defeat."

''You have heard of the young man who, in writing to his fath-
er, told him to come out west — for very mean men get office here."
This may be true, for I have held office several times myself.
Men are frequently elevated to positions of trust who are illy
qualified to perform the duties required of them. An instance in
point I will relate though it smacks very strongly of profanity.
A man was on trial before a Justice of the Peace, charged with

HISTORY OF WINNESHIEK COUNTY. 157

killing a neighbor's dog. The defendant was called as a witness,
and the Justice said, "hold up your right hand." "You do sol-
emnly swear" — he could get no further. He "scratched his pate
and felt for brains." Again he said, "You do solemnly swear."
Again he paused; the oath had escaped his memory. Despair was
deficted in every lineament of his countenance. Large drops of
perspiration stood upon his brow. At length an idea struck him;
his countenance beamed with intelligence, and with the gravity
becoming the solemnity of an oath, he said, "You do solemnly
swear by the upturned hand of Almighty God that you did not kill
the dog, and if you did, you hoped to be damned." "The oath excited
so much merriment that good feelings was engendered and the
case settled, but the dog killing settler refers to the oath as the
only lie he ever swore to."

"In the trial of a case before a justice a motion arose on the ad-
missibility of testimony, and the attorney cited an authority from
Greenleaf on Evidence. The Justice assumed a very dignified
attitude, looked very wise and said : 'Mebby you think I don't
know the law, but I guess I do. I know as much as Greenleaf
did. The only difference between me and him is that he wrote a
book and I didn't.' "

"Even in the higher courts, things of amusing interest occur. In
a district court a case was on trial on the last day of the term,
and there was to be a dancing party in the evening. The Judge
had a decided penchant for tripping the "light fantastic toe," and
was extremely anxious to conclude the case in time for the dance.
The day and part of the evening was occupied in the examination
of witnesses. When the testimony was closed the plaintiff's attor-
ney arose and said: 'If the Court please — ' The Court don't
please,' the Judge responded. 'Gentlemen of the jury; your ver-
dict will be: We, the jury find for plaintiff- dollars; or, we,

the jury find for defendant. Mr. Sheriff, adjourn Court and let us
join the dance;' and they danced."

"A case was pending in which the lawyer had several times been
demurred out of Court, and the party, in presence of his attorney,
appealed to the Judge to tell him what to do to insure a trial of
the case on its merits. 'Employ a lawyer,' the Judge replied. A
short time after, a witness was being examined in the trial of a
case, and the Judge, as he occasionally did, left his seat and
mingled in the crowd of lookers-on. A large dog seated himself
in the judicial chair. One of the attorneys arose and said: 'May
it please the court, — ' The crowd roared; the discorafitted attor-
ney said; 'Go on, Mr. Attorney, there is more ability on the
bench now than there was a moment ago.' The Judge might have
fined him for contempt of court, but he did not. He was willing
to cry quits,"

Occasionally a marriage ceremony is twice performed. A
couple had plighted their vows, and all that was lacking to make

158 HISTORY OF WrXNESHIEK COUNTY.

their happiness complete was a marriage license and the ceremony.
The would-be-groom procured the license from the Clerk of the
County of his residence and took the waiting bride to the resi-
dence of a minister in an adjoining county, who glanced at the
license, saw that it contained their names, and performed the cere-
mony. After they had gone, he took the license to make out the
certificate, and found that it was issued from his neighboring
county. He thought he had exceeded his authority, ordered his
horse and followed the couple home. They had letired for the
night when he arrived, but he routed them out of bed and per-
formed the ceremony again, this time of course in the county in
which the license was issued. He was bound to perform his duty-
It were well if all who perform marriage ceremonies were equally
particular. I know a county in the west in which fourteen
licenses were issued in 1881; to which no certificates have been
returned. Whether it is owing to broken engagements or neg-
lect of duty can not be ascertained from records."

Our gleanings from Judge Burdick's lecture are fittingly closed
with the following poem from his pen:

"Sweeter than the poet's singing

Is the anthem of the free,
Blither is the anvil's ringing

Than the song of bird or bee.

"There's a glory in the rattle

Of the wheels 'mid factory's gloom,
Richer than are snatched from battle

Are the trophies of the loom.

"See the skillful builder raising,

Gracefully yon towering pile.
Round the forge and furnace blazing,

Stand the noble sons of toil.

"Tliey are heroes of the people,

Who the weal of nations raise;
Every dome and every steeple

Rear their heads in Labo-'s prais-e."

As a companion anecdote to those of Judge Burdick, we add
one from Sparks' history:

"At the time that the military company commanded by Captain
Parker was stationed at Fort Atkinson, an incident occurred
which verifies the old maxim that 'two of a trade can never agree.'
The Orderly of the company was a young lawyer hailing from
Connecticut, who had been a prominent man in the political
arena. The Second Sergeant was also a young lawyer, who hailed
from Vermont. On a certain occasion a dispute sprang up be-
tween them; words were plenty, as is usual with lawyers, wh<^H
Vermont says to Connecticut, 'If you did not rank me, I would
thrash you like h— 1.' To which Connecticut replied, 'I waive
my rank.' They adjourned from the parade ground and stripped

HISTORY OP WINNESHIKK COUNTY, 159

for the contest. The number of rounds fought deponent saith
not, but as the story goes 'Vermont' came off victor, 'Vermont'
afterwards located at Grarna^illo and practiced law. While here
he was arrested for horse stealing, and very suddenly disappeared.
He is to-day a prominent lawyer of Plattsburg, N. Y. The
young lawyer whom I have designated 'Connecticut,' became a
distinguished jurist in this district, and now occupies a prominent
position as an influential citizen of this State. He believes, with
all his strength and might, in narrow-gauge railroads, but is a
broad guage man."

And as a companion story of unique weddings, we give the fol-
lowing from the aforementioned contributor to the Journal of the
sketches of pioneer life:

"It is related as a fact that in early days a hardy backwoodsman
was elected Justice of the Peace. He was accredited to know
more of hunting, fishing and trapping than of the law, but
being deemed honest, and in the lack of better material
was elected to the office. His statute-book had not yet
arrived, when an anxious couple visited his house for the
purpose of being married. In vain he plead ignorance of any
knowledge of the marriage ceremony. They would not take 'no'
for an answer. 'Well, then, I will do the best I can,' said the
ofiicer, and the couple stood up before him. There the wits of
the backwoodsman forsook him, and he tried in vain to recall
some words that he had heard on like occasions. At last in sheer
desperation he blurted out: "Take her by God. She's yours—
she s yours for life, and I am Justice of the Peace." He had
managed to bring in the name of the Deity in the only way Avith
which he was at all familiar. The marriage was considered
legal."

*e)^

JUMPING CLAIMS.

Much of the land was settled before it was properly surveyed,
or came into market. And even when regularly entered, it some-
times happened that when a survey was made, two men would
be found to have made improvements on the same land, their
claims having overlapped. This often gave rise to bitter feuds,
and occasionally tragedies. Sometimes a man would come into
the county poor, pre-empt a piece of land, and make some im-
provements, intending to buy the land of the government before
the time of pre-emption expired. There were unprincipled men
who would not hesitate to deposit money at the land office against
these claims, and if the settler failed to be on hand at the time
the pre-emption expired, the land with all its improvements would
pass into his hands and he could demand any price he chose from
the settler, and the law gave the latter no redress. This was
called jumping a claim. So much injustice was done that this
jumping of claims was considered a heinous crime, and the pioneers

160 HISTORY OF WINNESHIEK COUKTT,

bauded themselves together, and resorted to mob violence to pro-
tect themselves, homes, and families; so that the jumping of
claims came to be dangerous and liable to cause the offender to be
brought before ''Judge Lynch," when justice was often summary
and severe. Judge Burdick thus describes a case of this kind:

"^ trivial dif&culty arises between two settlers which results in
a law suit. The one is well-to-do and has the title to his land —
the other is poor and holds his land by the uncertain tenure of a
claim. The one, smarting under supposed grievances, enters the
other's house and takes the home from under him. This is an in-
dignity the sturdy settlers will not brook. They call a meeting,
wait upon the refractory settler and ask his attendance. He res-
ponds and agrees to submit matters in controversy to three disin-
terested men. A trial is had and the land is awarded to the
claimant. They give the aggressor a week in which to execute the
deed. Before the week expires, his antagonist is called away, and
with two or three friends he forciby enters the house and turns
the family out of doors in a fearful winter storm. The news is
carried on the wings of the wind. There is a spontaneous gather-
ing of the people together. Three hundred strong, they repair
to his house and bear him away. The land is demanded but he
declines to comply. They treat him to the luxury of riding on a
rail, and again ask a deed of the land. Again refused, it is sug-
gested that perhaps he would like to fly away. The hint sufiBces.
Tar and feathers are produced and in the usual manner applied.
Unyieldins still, some one remarks that he is transformed into a
goose, and that gozlings swim before they fly. The rail is again
produced and he is borne to an adjacent pond. They demand the
land again, but his iron will remains unshaken. They cut a hole
in the ice and quietly introduce him to the cooling element. The
goose is allowed to swim. He still defies them. An Irishman re-
marks, 'did ye's ever see a goose swim so long widout divin'?'
And suiting the action to the word, he commences 'divin" him in
true goose style. Twice he is subirierged and then asked to com-
ply. 'I'll die before Til yield,' is his reply. 'Then die you shall,'
is the response, and he is plunged beneath the wave and held
there longer than before. He kicks and flounders and is taken,
out. He catches his breath and with accents broken and subdued
he says, 'I will, I will give it up.' It was well he yielded, else he
there had found a wintry grave. The purchase money was
raised and paid by the settlers, the deed was executed and the
poor man's home was secured to him."

CONSIDERABLY CROWDED.

We read and hear much of the crowded tenement houses in the
large cities, but even in this a genuine pioneer's dwelling can
sometimes discount them — but with the redeeming feature that
there is plenty of fresh air and out door room. Here is a case

HISTORY OF WINNESHIEK COUNTY. 161

which was not by any means a solitary one in pioneer life here.
The house was a lone one, with a roof sloping from the front to
the back and was without a chamber. There were two rooms,
12x14, each. Now for the inmates. There were three families
living in these rooms, and included in these three families were
seventeen children, nine of whom were under the age of nine
years. There were three infants in cribs. If this large family
could not live in harmony in the house, there was plenty of room
out of doors. These families wanted to buy a sewing machine
(an apparently necessary article) and the agent who visited them
thought the house and family remarkable enough to mention, but
those who have been conversant with pioneer life can remember
many similar ones.

LOST IN THE WOODS.

The scene of the following thrilling narrative, which is no fic-
tion, was partly laid in the present territory of Winneshiek County,
and is taken from the sketches of pioneer life already referred to
in process of publication, in the Decorah Journal'.

Two boys, whom we will call Willie and Johnnie, lived with
their parents, in a wild, unsettled region in the Northeastern
part of Iowa. Willie was aged nine years, an active, self-reliant
boy, and Johnnie was seven years old, large for his age, but less
strong and enduring than his elder brother. These boys were al-
ways together, Willie being the leader in all the sports and amuse-
ments which boys would naturally find in a wild country, without
schools or companions.

One Sabbath morning in the autumn of 181:3, the parents of
these boys started on horseback to attend a religious meeting
several miles distant, leaving the boys at home to amuse them-
selves as best they might. Having soon exhausted all their re-
sources at home, they set out for a ramble in the woods accom-
panied by two large dogs, their inseparable companions in all their
rambles, and without which, they had been cautioned not to leave
the house, for savage wild animals were numerous, and sometimes
troublesome.

It was no unusual thing for these boys to take long rambles in
the woods, with only the dogs for their companions, they, having
always lived in a wild region, and all their education and train-
ing tending to make woodsmen of them, besides, the elder was
somewhat vain of his accomplishments in this direction, never
having been 'lost,' and being often praised for his ability to keep
a true course in the woods anywhere. This Sabbath morning was
clear and cool. The boys took a course north from their home.
They found plenty to interest and amuse them. Squirrels chat-
tered and leaped from limb to limb. A few belated birds were
gathered in flocks, preparatory to a flight southward; acorns
dropped to the ground at their feet. The drum of a partridge in

162 HISTORY OF WINNESHIEK COUNTY.

the distance drew them further on. In this way they had wan-
dered about a mile and a half from home, when the loud and ex-
cited barking of the dogs led them to hasten their steps, to find
out the cause. On arriving at the spot they discovered that the
dogs had 'treed' some large animal, and npon nearer approach
saw that it was a large panther. They had seen a good many pan-
thers, and had often heard their unearthly screech, (which resem-
bles the cry of a woman in distress), but they had never before
seen a live one, and their curiosity was aroused for a nearer view.

According to all stories I have ever read of the nature of this
animal, the panther should have attacked and speedily dispatched
both the dogs and children, but truth compels me to record that
the beast behaved in a most cowardly manner. He not only showed
his fear of the dogs, but seemed to have obtained a knowledge of
how human beings use their guns, and seemed intent on keeping
the tree between his body and the place where the boys were. In
their eagerness to obtain a good view of the panther, the boys
kept running around the tree, first in one direction, then in an-
other, the panther all the time changing his position to keep out
of their sight. In this manner considerable time was consumed,
but at last our boys were satisfied with the occasional glimpses
they had been able to obtain, and were ready to go home.

In passing so many times around the tree, absorbed with look-
ing up into its branches, they had failed to observe the direction
by which they came, or to note how many circuits they had taken,
and although they set out with full confidence that they were go-
ing in the direction of home, they took an entirely diff'erent
course.

This was, as near as they could afterward judge, about noon,
when they commenced their perilous journey. The elder boy
took the lead, as was his custom, and they chatted gaily of their
adventure, and of the many sights that met their gaze, for an
hour or more, when suddenly turning to his companion, with
something of a look of fright in his face, Willie said:

"Johnnie, we are not going home! We are lost!'

At this the younger and less heroic brother cried a little, but
in the feeling that he must act as protector and guide, the courage
of the oldest was aroused — a courage that never deserted him
through all the trials that awaited them.

He tried to comfort and encourage his brother that they would
soon find their way out, and all the while the two hurried on as
fast a5 their short footsteps would take them, as if in haste lay
their only hope.

About four o'clock, as near as they could tell, they came to a
traveled road. Instead of following it, as an older person would
have done, they crossed it. Willie insisting that it was a road
with which be was familiar, and that their home was about three-

HISTORY OF WINNESHIEK COUNTY. 163

fourths of a mile distant and that by taking a near route^ with which
he was certain lie was familiar, they would soon reach their
father's house.

This road, however, lay about seven miles north of their home,
and when they had crossed it, keeping, as they did, a northward
course, they were in a dense forest.

In an hour or more they came to a small stream. Here they
were divided in their opinions as to the course to pursue. For
the first and only time during their journey, Johnnie put in a
plea. He wanted to follow the stream downward. In his anxiety
to do so, he offered to give his knife, his sled, and all the few
playthings he possessed to Willie, if he would take the route down
the stream. On being refused he made the crowning offer of all,
said he: —

"If you will go this way with me, FU give you a million dollars
when I get to be a man."

The answer was characteristic of the esteem in which the other
held himself, said he: —

"When I get to be a man I will have all the money I want, and
shall not need any of yours," and as usual, his will conquered.
As was afterward learned, had they taken the downward course of
the stream, they would have soon come to settlements, and would
have found their way out that night, but crossed it instead, and
soon lost its course entirely.

They wandered on and on, and at length, night began to cast
its shadows around them. The stars seldom looked down upon a
sadder or more lonely sight than that of these two children, hardly
past the age of babyhood, alone in a deep, dense forest, inhabited
by beasts of prey, and in a spot where the foot of white man, had
perhaps never trod. The two faithful dogs still kept them com-
pany, and watch and guard over them.

One of the boys was provided with a knife, a flint, and a piece
of "punk," the common means of producing a fire in those days
and in that region, for although matches had been invented they
did not find their way often into that unsettled, western region.
As the shadows grew dark, they found the shelter of a fallen
tree-top, and gathering sticks they built a fire, and laid down.
Johnnie slept the sleep of weary childhood, but Willie was watch-
ful, and kept the fire burning all night, with only a few snatches of
slumber, his main care to keep his brother warm and comfortable.

The parents had returned home late in the day, and learning
from the other children that the two boys had gone into the wood
early in the morning and had not yet returned, the wildest alarm
was felt. The few neighbors within reach were aroused, and
search commenced. But no one could have had the slightest idea
as to the distance to which the little wanderers had rambled.
Fires were built, and men watched by them all night, and were
ready to resume the search early next morning.

164 HISTORY OF WINNESHIEK COUNTY.

The morning dawned clear and cold. The lost children were
awake at the first break of day. Their one idea was to hasten on
— to find home if possible, and to do so they must bend every ef-
fort. Over trees and logs, through briars and brush, they never
knew what course they took, or how far they wandered. They
had not tasted food since the morning before, and had put forth
exertions that would have tried the strongest man, yet they never
felt hunger or weariness, so great was their excitement. They
never once stopped to rest or set down to murmur.

The previous day the two had kept up a steady conversation,
but to-day they pressed on in an almost unbroken silence. The
forenoon passed without incident. There was the same monto-
nous stretch of woods, the silence unbroken, save by the fall of
nuts or acorns, the tread of their own feet and the dry leaves, the
breaking of a dry stick now and then, which lay in their path,
and the occasional barking of the dogs when they espied wild game.
The sun mounted higher and higher in the sky. About noon they
reached a large stream of water. As was afterward learned, this
was the head waters of the Yellow River, a stream which flows
into the Mississippi. A large tree had fallen across this stream,
and formed a bridge, over which the boys crossed to the opposite
side. They were plunging deeper and deeper into the forest, and
their case now seemed hopeless indeed, for no one would suppose
it possible for such children to cross so large a stream, (unless
they had come upon this particular spot,) or would think of look-
ing for them on the opposite side.

An hour or two rapid traveling, and our little wanderers began
to ascend a steep ridge, covered with wild grape vines, from which
the luscious fruit hung in great purple clusters. This was indeed
good fortune. Never did fruit taste more delicious than did those
grapes to the almost famished children. The tangled masses of
vines made it difficult for the children to climb, so that although
they never stopped or wasted time in their journey their appetites
were well satisfied with the feast of fruit which they had gathered
and ate in their ascent. But with a strange improvidence, for
which it is not easy to account, they took not one of the thous-
ands of drooping clusters with them for future use. Just over the
hill the loud barking of the two dogs denoted that game of an un-
usual kind had been sighted. Upon nearer approach, it was found
that they were barking at the foot of a tree, in the branches of
which, the animal, whatever it was, had taken refuge. Curiosity
led the boys to approach and upon getting a good view they knew
the animal to be a large lynx, one of the most dangerous animals
of the forest.

Willie cautioned his younger brother not go too near, lest the
lynx should spring down upon him, but with the fearlessness of
his boy-nature, he himself went directly to the foot of the tree
for a closer view. The fierce animal, was, however, to much in-

HISTORY OF WIKNESHIEK COUNTY. 165

timidated by the dogs to venture an attack, and thus, for the sec-
ond time, did they, in a wonderful manner, escape from a danger-
ous encounter with wild beasts.

Not long did they linger here, for a new hope had taken pos-
session of them, born, perhaps, as much of the refreshing fruit of
which they had partaken, as of any outward surroundings, but be
that as it might, they now fancied themselves on familiar ground,
and thought that a short walk would soon bring them out to a
neighbor's field where they had often been — so, with this thought
to cheer them, they kept bravely on, and the evening shadows had
again began to darken before this hope entirely forsook them.

To-night an overhanging ledge of rock Avas found which oiTered
them shelter, and again the knife and flint were produced, and a
fire kindled for the night. As before, the younger was blissfully
forgetful of his troubles, and slept a sound, refreshing sleep.
With Willie it was diiferent — his young mind, half-bewildered
and crazed though it was, was away with the home and friends, whom,
perhaps, he was never to see again. Most of all did he think of
his mother's anxiety concerning the fate of her lost boys. Was
he never te see her again? Never to look upon her dear face or
to hear her voice again? And was he to never to bring her dar-
ling Johnnie, her "pet," back to her, and to have her praise him
for his manliness and his courage.

At home that mother was almost wild with grief. Once she
had been found in the woods by a party of searchers, herself lost,
and not knowing which way to go, but calling wildly the names
of her lost children. She had been taken back and a guard left to
prevent her again wandering awa3^ To-night a mother's true in-
stinct told her that her boys were still alive, and she was weeping
and praying, as only a mother can weep and pray for her darlings,
and who shall say that her prayers were not answered, and in a
blind, uncertain way, still, as it seemed, in the only possible way
a means of rescue was provided?

In the woods, watch-fires were kindled, and men were staying
by them, but not to sleep, for many were thinking of their own
little ones safe at home, and then of the little wanderers, and then
every sense was alert, and every sound was noted, hoping that it
might lead to a discovery of their fate. But these fires and
watchers were all many miles away from the little blazing fire by
the ledge of the rocks.

But it is the story of the lost children that I am to tell, so
will return to them. As the younger boy lay calmly sleeping,
the other was thinking — thinking. All the events of the past
two days passed rapidly through his mind, and he began to won-
der if there was no way or plan to be devised by which all the
weary way could be retraced, until home was reached. With
these questions a light seemed to break in upon him, and here ap-
pears the strangest part of the story. Of course he knew, as

166 HISTORY OF WIKNESHIEK COUNTY.

every boy of iiis age, that the sun rises in the east and sets in the
west. But in his bewildered state he was incapable of reasoning,
and even of distinct memory. He must have remembered some-
time having heard it said the sun was in the south at noonday,
and the idea that took possession of his young brain was this:
'The sun is in the south and we must travel toward it to reach
home.' Over and over to himself he conned this lesson:

•'The sun is in the south, and we must travel toward it if
we would reach home.' "

As certain as though his mother had told him did he feel the
truth of these words. Having them fully impressed upon his
mind, he was calm and assured. It must have been long past
midnight when he arrived at this state, but now he was content to
Bleep until morning, when they would set out on their homeward
way. Accordingly he replenished the fire, and then laid down
and was soon lost in dreamless slumber.

The sun was lighting the trees with its earlist rays when he
awoke. The fire had burned low, and the air was cold and frosty.
He looked at his sleeping brother, and pity made him hesitate for
a moment to wake him; but not for long. Full of the hopeful
thought that had filled his mind, he was eager to communicate it
to his companion, so with a gentle touch he aroused him. The
boy awoke from dreams of home, and looking around at the dark
forest, and at the overhanging rocks, and as a realization of his
present state broke in upon him, the tears filled his eyes and
coursed down his cheeks.

"Don't cry," said Willie. "'I have thought of a plan by which
we can get home. You see the sun shining yonder? Well, the
sun is always in the south, and we have been traveling from it.
Now, if we go toward the sun we shall, of course, go towards
home, so hurry, and let us be going, for we have no time to lose.'

Johnnie was too stupefied to notice the falsity of his brother's
logic, as doubtless he would have done at another time, but, never-
theless, the deprecating manner in which he received it dampened
the ardor of Willie a little.

"I do not think much of your plans," said he, "and I do not
believe we will ever see home or mother again.'

It was a blessed thing, as they afterwards knew, that their
courage had not been destroyed by taking in the full horror of
death by starvation, and fatigue in the woods, or the more blessed,
because more speedy, but still terrible thought of being killed by
wild beasts.

The little weary feet were soon on their way, and their little
faces turned toward the rising sun. Until now, one of the boys
had worn a pair of moccasins, and the other a pair of shoes, but
thinking that they could travel faster without them, they were
removed, and although the ground was hard and frozen, and the
little feet were often torn by briers and sticks, they hastened on.

HISTORY OF WINNESHIEK COUNTY. 167

never niiudiiig the pain. Hope rose higher, as they thought at
times they could recognize places they had passed the previous day.

It must have been noon when they again came to a large
stream, and — ^wonderful to tell — there was the very same tree on
which they had crossed the day before. They knew it by many
unmistakable marks, and if any proof were wanting, there were
the prints of their own feet, and also those of the dogs on the wet
sand at the further shore. They recrossed this stream with more
hopeful hearts than they had carried with them to the opposite
shore.

An hour or two of rapid walking, and they came to a road —
the same they had crossed on their first day out, but much farther
from home. A short consultation was held, and they decided not
to cross this road but to follow it — but in which direction ? The
sun was so nearly overhead that they scarcely knew how to follow
its guidance. They however, concluded to take an easterly
course. They had not traveled more than a couple of miles before
they had made up their minds that they were wrong, so back over
the same road pattered the little bare feet. This time they kept
steadily on their course, until at last the low roof of a building
met their view. This, be it remembered, was the first sight of a
human habitation that had met their view for three days. An
older person would have went directly to it and have sought food
and rest. Not so did our young wanderers. Willie had once
been at McGregor's Landing, and although McGregor was a flour-
ishing young town, and this was only a solitary cabin, he was
convinced in his own mind that he was at the former place. It
seemed to him afterward, to have been a strange idea, but we have
seen that neither of the boys were capable of reasoning.

"That," said he to his brother, "is McGregor's Landing. I
know it iDCcause I have been there. The sun must now be about
two hours high, and we are five miles from home. If we hurry,
we can get there before dark,"

Johnnie offered no objections, so back over the same road, for
the third time that day did they hurry.

Dusk was gathering around their path, and they were still hur-
rying on, Willie considerably in advance, and at times, waiting
impatiently for his brother to come up, when they were met by
some travelers. There were two men driving oxen, and with a
wagon loaded with lumber. There were some traps for game, and
a few other articles on the load — how well did the boys remem-
ber every detail in after years.

It must have been a strange sight to these men — that of two
tattered, weary, and wild looking boys on this lonely road, where
seldom a human face was met.

They were hurrying on without speaking, but the men stopped
their teams and enquired:

"Where are you going, boys?"

16S HISTORY OF WINNESHIEK COUNTY.

"We are going home," called out Willie, without stopping or
looking around.

"But are you not lost?" enquired one of the men.

"No. We have been lost, but we are going home, now."

"Where do you live?" persisted the man.

"On the Goss place, and its just ahead," said Willie.

" Then you are lost, for that is seventeen miles away, and this
road does not lead past there either."

Reluctant as was Willie to stop, Johnnie had halted and he was
now obliged to wait for him to come up.

"When did you leave home?" was the next question.

"Three days ago; bat if you will not hinder us, we will go on,
and will soon be there."

"But I have told you that this road does not lead to your home.
If you will go with us, we will care for you to-night, and will
take you home in the morning."

To this proposition they offered a stout resistance, saying that
their parents would be uneasy about them, and that it was neces-
sary for them to reach home that night.

Just then two other men rode up on horseback, and having
heard their story offered to ride on that night, and inform the
boys' parents that they were found. But here they entreated to
be taken on the horses and carried home.

Seeing how unfit they were for the journey, they were answered
that the horses would not carry double, and that they had best go
home with the men who had the team, (they living in the cabin
whose roof the two boys had seen early in the day,) and remain
until morning.

Just then the sound of a horn rang out loud and clear, more
than any words could have done, did that sound calm and quiet
the excited children? "That is father's horn," they both cried in
a breath, "and he is looking for us. Let us go to him."

But now, in a calmer state, they were ready to listen to reason,
and were easily persuaded to return with the teams, while the
men on horseback rode with all haste to the place where the horn
was heard to sound, a distance of some three miles. They found
that the boys had not been mistaken. It was their father's horn,
and that father was overjoyed at the glad news the men had to
to communicate. Then the firing of three guns in quick succes-
sion announced to other searchers that the children were found,
and after a short time two more guns told that they were alive,
this being the signal previously agreed upon. This was responded
to by others. And all through the woods firing was heard, and
shouts of joy as men began to gather and take their homeward way.

Feeling that the weary wanderers were better for a night's rest
before being taken home, they were left with the men who had
taken them up, while the good news was conveyed to the anxious
waiters at home.

HISTORY OF WINNESHIEK COUNTY. 169

I have before said that neither hunger or weariness had been
realized by the lost children, but no sooner were their excited
minds at rest than both began to grow upon them. They laid
down upon the wagon, and by the time they had reached the
home of the men were to stiff and lame to walk, and had to be
assisted into the house, and never did a meal taste sweeter than
the one of corn bread, salt pork, and strong coffee, with which
they were provided.

In the morning they were conveyed to their home, where you
may be certain a glad welcome awaited them. As friends came
out to welcome them, little Johnnie pushed passed all, telling
them rather crossly to let him alone. He went into the house,
and climbing on the first bed he found, covered his face and re-
fused to speak. From that bed it was thought he never would
arise. For long days he lay in the delirium of a fever. His limbs
were swollen with travel, and scratches and bruises covered his
form from head to foot. It seemed evident that had the children
spent another night in the woods, their swolen and tired limbs
would have refused to carry them further on the next morning,
and that only death would have relieved their sufferings.

Years have passed since then. The boys have grown to man-
hood, and in the changes and chances of pioneer life, and later on
in the war of the rebellion, many trials have come to their lot,
but in memory's pictures, vivid and distinct above all others stands
out the pictures of those three days' wanderings' alone, and Lost
IN THE Woods. *

CHAPTER IV.

Review of Early History: Fort Atkinson; Old Mission; First
Settlers; First Settler's Cabin; First Things Reviewed; Coun-
ty Organization and County Seat Contest; The Day Family;
Judge Reed; Lewisfon, Moneek and Decorah; Strategy; Mo-
neek's Defeat and County Seat for Decorah; Freeport's Fight
for it and Defeat; Land Office and Court House Fixes it at De-
corah; Sketch of Moneek ; More about Early Settlers; Pioneer
Norivegians^ who were the First; Protecting Squatter Rights.

We have in previous chapters given particulars of the early
settlement of this county, a sketch and history of the W^innebago
Indians who (after the Sacs and Foxes who formerly occupied a
large part of Iowa, and were removed by treaty, as will be seen
from state history,) occupied this territory just previous to the
coming of the whites, their traits and characteristics and in-

170 HISTORY OF WIKKESHIEK COUNTY.

tercourse between the two races; also a sketch of pioneer life
here, and the incidents in the early settlement of the county. We
continue the history of the county by first giving a brief resume
of leading events.

The erection of the fort for the military supervision of the In-
dians, overlooking the site of the village which now bears its
name — Fort Atkinson — was commenced on the 2d of June, 1840.
Capt. Sumner, afterward, the renowned Gen. Sumner, being in
command. He remained in charge till 1846, when he left to join
the U. S. forces in the Mexican War.

After the removal of the Indians, in 1848, the military appearance
of the fort was no longer kept up but it was not entirely aban-
doned as a post, until some years later. More extended details in
regard to it will be found in a succeeding chapter embracing a
township history of Fort Atkinson.

It was in the spring of 1842 that Rev. D. Lowery, who had
just been appointed an Indian agent, commenced the" erection of
the mission buildings at Old Mission about five miles southeast of
Fort Atkiuson, and in 1843, Col. Thomas, his assistant, built the
first grist mill in Winneshiek County. The first permanent set-
tlement in that vicinity commenced in 1847, when those pioneers
and homesteaders, Gotlob and Gotleib Krumm, Charles Kregg,
and Francis Rogers arrived at Fort Atkinson in June, Gotlob
•Krumm coming directly from Germany. Gotlob his wife and two
children had for their first habitation a deserted Indian wigwam
near a beautiful spring. In a few weeks a log house was built
for them in the same locality, being the first actual settlers' cabin
in that part of the county.

A. R. Young, who was a soldier in the fort, would be entitled
to the honor of being the first settler as he remained and settled
after the garrison left, if the time of his coming to the fort could
be counted.

Mr. Joel Post, referred to in a previous chapter, was the first
actual settler in the reservation. But as his log house, built in
1841, was on the site where Postville now stands, it is out side of
our county line, and therefore he cannot be called the first settler
in Winneshiek County.

Some authorities say that the Fort Atkinson settlers, named
above, did not come until 1848, and that Hamilton Campbell and
his wife, who made a claim June 7, 1848, in Bloomfield Township,
were the first permanent settlers. The names of the old settlers
as they successively arrived, have been given in a previous chapter
to which our readers are referred for further detail; and we close
this resume of that portion of the history by eecalling a few points
of interest.

The lionor of being the first white child born in the county be-
longs to Mary Jane, daughter of Mr. Jas. Tapper, one of the

HISTORY OF wmNESHIEK COUNTY, 171

mechanics wlio built Fort Atkinson, where she was born on the
16th of January, 1841; she married Robert M, Boyce and lives
near Monona.

The first church in the county, except the old Missionary Chapel
was a Catholic edifice, erected near Twin Springs.

The first public school building was built at the corner of De-
corah, Springfield and Glenwood Townships, in 1852.

The location of the first post office has in previous records been
given to Jamestown, Frankville Township, in 1851. But there
were post ofiices at Fort Atkinson and Old Mission before that
time, as is noted elsewhere.

The first marriage recorded was that of Johannes Evenson to
Catherine Helen Anderson, in October 1851, Rev. N. Brandt per-
forming the ceremony.

The first death was that of a government teamster named How-
ard, who was frozen to death on the 4th of October, 1840, near
the present site of Castalia.

The first newspaper was the Decorah Chronicle^ published in 185G.

With this hasty rehearsal of leading events, most of them re-
corded more fully in other chapters, we take up the county his-
tory where it was left in the first chapter; we are now approach-
ing an interesting period, embracing the organization of the coun-
ty and the successive strifes for securing the county seat which
was finally and permanently located at Decorah.

To the Day family belongs the unquestioned honor of being
the first settlers in Decorah; and as this became the county capi-
tol and has grown to be the most important and influential town,
it naturally gives them pre-eminence over other settlers — especi-
ally as it is to members of that family to a large extent, that the
credit is due of securing the county seat for Decorah as well as
the Land Office soon afterward. The Days came to Decorah on
the lOtli of June, 1849. The family consisted of nine persons,
William and Elizabeth Day, Mrs. Day still living, and their sons
Claibourne F. Day, Richard V. Day, and John F. Day, being
from that time until now prominent and influential citizens. In-
teresting particulars in regard to their coming and settlement
here, will be found in the sketch of Decorah in a succeeding
chapter.

Another early settler who was a prominent factor in deciding
the county-seat contest, was the late ex-Judge David Reed, whose
family settled in the northeast quarter of section 25, in Bloom-
field township, in August, 1848. Mr. Reed was born in 1799,
was elected County Judge at the age of 52, and held that office
from 1851 to 1855. Himself and family are referred to more at
length elsewhere in this history.

Of the naming of the county, and of the territory it occupied
and other matters before its organization, Mr. A. K. Bailey in his
historical sketch, read before the old settlers, July 4th, 1876, said:

172 HISTORY OF WINNESHIEK COUNTY.

"1 am compelled at the outset to admit the weakness of my his-
tory by telling you that I can give no account whatever, why^
when or where Winneshiek derived its name. Tradition says that
Hon. Eliphalet Price, one of the pioneers and strong men of Clay-
ton, selected the name, as he did that of Allamakee. No doubt
this is the truth; for what could be more proper than that this
former home of the Winnebagos should bear the name of this
most distinguished of chiefs of that tribe? Be this as it may, [
find the existence of the county recognized in the earliest records
of the State. In the first arrangement of Senatorial and Repre-
sentative districts by the Constitutional Convention of 1846, no
mention is made of either of the four counties in this northeast-
ern corner, except Clayton. But in the session laws of the First
General Assembly, Winneshiek is twice designated in such a
manner as to show its prior existence. An act defining the limits
of the second Judicial District, includes by name, Fayette, Winne-
shiek and Allamakee, but the times for holding courts therein was
left entirely to the will of the Judge. This district then com-
prised all the tei ritory north of the southern line of Winneshiek
County and was bounded on the west by the west
lines of Cedar, Jones, Buchanan, Fayette and Winneshiek.
A little later that year I find in the apportionment of State Sena-
tors and Representatives that the territory known as the Third
Congressional District of Iowa, now containing a population of
160,000 souls was given two Senators, and to Clayton, Fayette,
Winneshiek and Allamakee, were acorded one Representative.
This was in 1849. The dividing line between Iowa and Minneso-
ta had not been made, and the territory west of us was still in
the hands of the aborigines. The Winnebagoes had been re-
moved, but it was enforced removal, and they were frequently re-
turning in large bodies to what was once their choicest and hap-
piest hunting grounds. The hardy pioneers had only just begun to
enter upon these lands, and their homes were only claims, to be
perfected into titles whenever the territory should come into the
market." From the time of first permanent settlement there
must have been a rapid influx, for by the Federal census taken in
June, 1850, there were five hundred and seventy persons found
and enumerated by the census taker."

Of a rumored "oldest inhabitant," Mr. Bailey said. "We learn
that there is now living in Canoe Township a Norwegian named
Lars Iverson, who came to the county in 1845 along with Govern-
ment Surveyors, and who after the latter had finished their work,
'kind er stayed around' and has been a resident ever since. If
this be so — we have not had time to confirm it — it may be as with the
Norske pioneers to America — a Norwegian the first real comer,
although not the first 'settler' in the full sense of the term. So
far as Ihave been able to learn, he was the only one who remained
as a settler. I know not whether he has responded to this iuvi-

HISTORY OF WINNESHIEK COUNTY. 173

tation which has called us together to-day; but I was in hopes to
be able to introduce him to you as that wonderful person so often
talked of but seldom seen — the oldest inhabitant. James Dan-
iels of Ossian was also one of the volunteers at Fort Atkinson, but
he returned to Clayton County after his company was disbanded,
I know not the date of his return."

COUNTY SEAT CONTESTS.

As early as the fall of 18i9, some of the settlers began to agi-
tate the question of organizing a county and to take steps to that
purpose. Judge Price, of Clayton, was then here taking the census
for State purposes, and as he represented all northwestern Iowa,The
agreed to attend to the matter for them. An organizing act was
passed by the legislature and on the 15th of January, 1851, Avas
approved by the Governor and became a law, constituting Winne-
shiek an organized county. It embraces 468,000 acres, is bound-
ed on the north by Minnesota, on the east by Allamakee county
— the only county between it and the Mississippi river — on the
south by Fayette county, and on the west by Howard and Chicka-
saw counties.

This organizing act appointed, on and after the first day of
March, 1851, John L. Carson, the organizing sheriff, and direc-
ted him to set stakes for points that might contend for the coun-
tyseat, as follows:

One at or near Louisville on the Turkey river, another at or
near Swaney's (or McS wain's) mill on the Turkey river (the site
of Moneek,) and the third at Decorah, on the Upper Iowa river;
the elections to be held on the first Monday in April.

Louisville, or Lewiston, as it was called, from the first name of
one of its proprietors, was regulary laid out between Fort Atkin-
son and Old Mission, on the farm of Lewis Harkins, as more ful-
ly detailed in a previous chapter. It was never more than a paper
town — the quarrel between its proprietors, Lewis Harkins and
Francis Rogers proving fatal to its hopes. It is not necessary
to tell where Decorah was and is, though it made but little show-
ing then; its history is given elsewhere. Moneek, now almost
as much forgotten as Lewiston, was then Decorah's most formid-
able rival. Moneek had a site in a beautiful valley on the north
side of Yellow river, high, well wooded bluffs surrounding it, and
was located on the southwest quarter of section 1, in Bloomfi Id
township. It was originally settled by Canadians, but some of
them had been in the west long enough to get posted in the ways
of pioneer speculators, and figured for a booming town from the
first. But we will proceed with the county seat contest, and give
a history of Moneek further on.

The county documents do not tell much of the story of the ex-
citing contest. All they have is embodied in the following, from
the first page of the first records of Winneshiek County:

174 HISTORY OF WINNESHIEK COUNTY.

State of Iowa — WiiuufyJiiek County:

I hereby certify that at an election held in the County of Winne-
shiek, and State of Iowa, on the 7th day of April, A. D. 1851, De-
corah was duly elected to be the county seat of said county.

In testimony whereof, I have set my hand the 14th of April,
1851. J. L. Carson, Organizing Sheriff.

As we have said, the above does not tell the whole story. In
point of numbers, Moneek had most undoubtedly and most decided-
ly the advantage. But victories are sometimes won by strategy.
While there was no doubt, a "full ballot" all around, Moneek's
champions could hardly call it a "fair count" for their whole bal-
lot was thrown out when it came before the county "returning
board." In fact Moneek's returns were not in legal form, nor
were they sworn to as the law directed. The story of how it hap-
pened to be so, we will briefly relate, leaving out the unwritten
history of how a regular poll book, intended for Moneek, never
happened to get there. Previous to election day, poll books were
dispatched to the several voting points named. Somehow the one
intended for Moneek was miscarried and what became of it, who
can (or will) tell. The Canadians there had no form for a poll
book, did not know how to make one, nor how to make returns
correctly; nor were they sharp enough to find out. As a result, a
lot of names were written down on a large piece or pieces of pa-
per in such a way that had the document been found in the road
no one could have told w^hatit meant or was intended for. It had
no regularity and did not conform to the legal "red tape" require-
ments. In fact there was no way of telling whether the names
were those of legal voters or not. And so Decorah was declared
the county seat of Winneshiek County.

But Decorah's fight was not yet crver. Freeport had been set-
tled by enterprising men who thought that broad valley the place
to drop down the county seat, if they could get it away from
Decorah, which they certainly had strong prospects of doing. The
fight in this case had points in resemblance to that with Moneek,
though the result did not so entirely wipe out Decorah's rival
town.

By the old law, in order to get a vote on the question of the re-
location of a county seat, it was necessary to obtain an act of the
legislature authorizing such vote. In the election of a member
of the legislature in 1854, the county seat question was made an
issue. Decorah had for its candidate, we are informed, a Mr.
Moore, and the candidate of Freeport was James D. McKay, who
was elected by an overwhelming majority. The purpose of Free-
port was to secure from the legislature an order for an election on
the question of re-location of the county seat, and the friends of
that locality were consequently jubilant. But Decorah did not
give up the contest. It happened that Mr. Claibourne Day, then,
as ever since, an active and public-spirited Decorah man, had oc-

HISTORY OF WINNESHIEK COUNTY. 175

casion to visit Des Moines during the legislative session of 1854-
5. He had good friends among some of the old legislators from
other parts of the state, and before the session was over, was pret-
ty well acquainted with every member. It cannot be doubted
that he was alive to the interests of Decorah, whether in daily
converse with members of the bench or bar; or in the social gath-
erings which those early legislators were wont to have. It has
been hinted that a temperance gentleman from Freeport who at-
tempted to do missionary work in the legislature, did not help the
cause of that town — but that may be only rumor. At all events
the election was not ordered. But to meet this and similar cases
elsewhere, the present law was passed. And here let us digress
and say that Mr. Day also did good work for Decorah in that leg-
latnre in another respect. He got the names of most of the mem-
bers to a petition to congress, dividing the Dubuque land district
and establishing a land office in Decorah. This was done by the
succeeding congress and helped to more permanently establish
Decorah as the commercial as well as political capitol of the
county.

The above law, regulating county seat re-location, which still ex-
ists, and under which there have been frequent strifes ii: various parts
of the State, authorizes a vote for re-location on a petition of the
majority of the electors, the votes polled at the preceding election
being taken as a basis. In February, 1856, the Freeport people
presented a petition to Judge Reed, asking for the election, and
signed by the required number, as the votes at the previous elec-
tion had been 420. But Decorah was not idle. The stumbling
block of a remonstrance was resorted to. Wm. Painter was
offered the honorable and flattering position of presenting such
remonstrance to the judge and swearing to the same, the getters-
np of the remonstrance telling him that they would get the
names, and that he need not have any trouble about that. And
in a very short time a petition with 800 signatures, remonstrating
against the election, was placed in the hands of Mr. Painter, who,
while his coadjutors stood back, or perhaps were not near the
presence of the court, swore that the petitioners, so far as he
knew, were residents of the county. No doubt they were — so far
as he knew them. It is not very probable that he knew everybody,
and indeed it is not probable that any one man knew the ma-
jority on that petition. On the other hand, it is claimed that the
Freeport petition was not wholly bona fide. And now it be-
hooved Judge Reed to decide whether he should grant the elec-
tion in spite of the remonstrance. The case was argued by law-
yers on both sides for a day and a half, (Levi Ballis being attor-
ney for the petitioners, and E. E. Cooley for the remonstrants),
and the county seat was saved for Decorah by the judge's de-
cision to grant no election. It was, and is still, asserted that had
Judge Reed not been a Arm friend of Decorah, Freeport would

176 HISTORY OF WINNESHIEK COUNTY.

have been the victor. However this may be, all further attempts to
secure a vote or to reverse decisions denying such vote, were abor-
tive, and the securing of the land office here, as previously re-
ferred to in this chapter, and the building of the court house — a
loan of $6,000 for the purpose having been voted in 1856, —
permanently settled the county seat at Decorah. Further details
of the contest are given in the sketch of Decorah, and in the
following from an address of A. K. Bailey before the Old Set-
tlers' Association in the Opera House, at Decorah, July 4th,
1876:

"Under the law authorizing a vote on petition of a majority of
the electors polled at the last preceding election, in 1856, Freeport
appeared as an applicant for a vote on re-location. In the fall be-
fore 120 votes were polled. Their petition was signed by 400 pe-
titioners, but it was met by a remonstrance bearing nearly 800
signatures. The Court, our venerable friend Judge Reed, presid-
ing, decided to grant no vote. The July following another peti-
tion of the same tenor was presented, it being signed by 451
names. Another remonstrance was forthcoming, signed by 715
persons. In both cases the petitions and remonstrances were cer-
tified to by affidavit as containing only names of actual residents.
The last appeal met with a fate similar to the first. The case was
removed to the District Court on a writ of certiorari, and was
ended by a decision of Judge Murdock, affirming the
decision of the County Court. In the Following year
the erection of the court house at Decorah began, and
Freeport gave up the struggle. Such is a short his-
tory of the selection of the county capital. I may add that per-
haps at no time in the history of the county >j3as there been any
more desperate struggle or any harder work done than in the cau-
cuses and elections which preceded and culminated in these con-
tests. From the best information I can gain, I am strongly of
the opinion tiiat notwithstanding the affidavits as to actual citizen-
ship which accompanied the petitions and remonstrances, Freeport
labored under the disadvantage of being off the main line of im-
migration which was pouring in, and through to the west, as well as
Minnesota. There are stories still told how money was used and
promised, but from the best knoAvledge I can acquire, I think
this is not true. If sharp practice was played, and ''She-
nanigan" was used, we to-day, looking back upon those times, cannot
say that evil has come of it. The result was to prevent the
county seat from getting upon wheels, and when a settled con-
clusion was reached, the worl^of building up and improving began
immediately, and has been pursued so steadily that every resident
of Winneshiek feels it a matter of pride that his countv town is
excelled by no other of equal size in the entire State. He knows
that it has a repute far and near as a bustling, enterprising, well-

HISTORY OF WINXESHIEK COUXTY. 177

built manufacturing and commercial young city, situated in the
centre of a dense population, draining a section unrivaled for its
agricultural wealth.

STORY' OF A DEFUNCT TOWN.

The following history of Moneek is from sketches of early his-
tory of Winneshiek count}^ and was published in the Decorah
R?pnU}can, March 20, 1875:

Those who are familiar with the early history of the county
will remember that when its organization was perfected, the
most flourishing settlement was neither Decorah or Fort Atkin-
son. And those who have read Rev. E. Adams' 'First things of
Decorah,' will remember that there is good evidence that the resi-
dents of both these places were evidently afraid of that third
town. The latter, in examination of the records and witnesses
did not venture to enquire deeply into the first county seat vote,
and he intimates pretty plainly that sharp practice was resorted
to in order to shut out the overwhelming vote which this third
town might secure for the coveted houors and the profits aris-
ing from its pre-eminence as the county town. The name of
this town was Moneek, it evidently was, in 1850, '51 and '52
the foremost town in the county, and a veritable history, if
one is ever written, cannot be complete without the story of its
rise, growth and decay. The records show it the oldest town in
the county, and there is every reason to believe that at one time
its opportunities were most favorable, and it bade fair to lead any
that might be- started as its rival. The recorded plat shows that
it was surveyed in January, 1852, although the plat was not re-
corded until the November following. Decorah was not platted
.and recorded until the jear following, viz: August, 1853. Frank-
ville came into existence similarly in October, and was followed
by Freeport in May, and Calmar in November, 1851; and Ossian
in April, 1855. That year saw a number of other towns begun,
some of which have a lively existence still; while others never
got beyond the record in progress towards village existence. The
seniorit}^ is enough of itself to give Moneek prominence in these
sketches.

It was situated on the north fork of the Yellow river, on the
southwest quarter of section 1, in Bloomfield township. Tremen-
dous hills, well wooded, surrounded it. and it nestled cosily in the
valley on the river, on a site that originally must have been
charmingly beautiful.

The pioneer settlers were Moses S. McSwain and Abner De-
Cow. To these may be added John DeCow, who joined them a
year later. All of them were Canadians, but McSwain had re-
sided for a while previous in Illinois, and probably obtained there
some ideas of the western methods of doing things. They had a
town site in their eves from the commencement. The two arrived

178 HISTORY OF AYINN^ESHIEK COUNTY.

at Moneek with their families in July, 1849, and lived in their tent
wagjons until a log house 12x16 was built. They commenced the
same season to build a saw mill, which was afterwards noted all
over the adjacent country as tlie mill.

Their nearest neighbors were Joel Post, at Postville, and two
families who had "squatted" on the Military Road. These were
David Reed, the first county Judge, yet a resident of the county,
and a man named Campbell. The widow of the latter still occu-
pies the land on which her husband made his claim. Besides
these, there were the Hawks, and Isaac Callender, over in Frank-
ville. R. Tillotson joined them the same year. He was a mill-
wright, and helped them build the mill. This was completed in
July, 1850. In the spring of the latter year Russell Dean and
Geo. Blake, with their families — also from Canada — joined the
new settlement June 29tli 1850. John DeCow, ex-County Judge
and now member of the State Legislature — also moved in; he, too
coming from Canada. He found all of the four families occupying
the one log house, above mentioned, yet it was large enough to re-
ceive the fifth family, until another house— the second in the em-
bryo city — could be built.

The hospitality of the early settlers was nnbounded. Like the
modern omnibus, their old log habitations had always room for
more, and the new comer surely received a warm welcome. How
this small building accommodated the five families during the six
Vv^eeks in which he was putting up his own house, the Judge can
now scarcely tell. He does tell us that he brought a little pro-
visions with him, and when these were exhausted he was com-
pelled to go to Elkader and McGregor for more. After making
his purchases, and buying a cow, price $20, he had left, as a work-
ing capital, the magnificent sum of $1.30. Returning home, he
hired out to McSwain and Abner DeCow, who were partners, to
work in a mill at |18 per month. This engagement lasted only
one month and twenty-two days, when he struck out to paddle his
own canoe. How well this has been done is attested by the 400
choice acres he now owns, near Ossian, well fenced, cultivated and
stocked, to say nothing of a little surplus funds laid by for a
rainy day. His first act was to make a claim adjoining Moneek
for 160 acres.

The same year Blake went south and Dean west about a mile
and a half, and put up log houses on 'claims' of their own.

In the spring of 1851 the first frame building was built by A.
and J. DeCow. This was rented to a man named Johnson, from
Illinois, who brought on a stock of goods and became the first
merchant. His capital was small, the amount of trade limited,
and he soon 'busted.' McSwain bought out his remnants, and
sold out the stock. Having neither money or credit with which
to purchase more goods, the mercantile business came to an end
for the time being.

HISTORY OF AVINNESniEK COUNTY. 170

The same year John Duff came along, liked the looks of the
settlement, and built a blacksmith shop, which he sold in the fall
to Phil Lathrop (the same who was landlord at Frankville, fifteen
years ago.) The latter united butchering to blacksmithing, and
soon after added merchandising. About the same year he built a
house, which when completed was opened for the entertainment
of man and beast, and the village had a hotel. It was not large,
but in those days it was thought to be 'a good one.'

In 1S52, George Crawford, who afterwards went to Burr Oak
Springs — another defunct town of early promise — became a mem-
ber of the community. He was, likewise, a Canadian, and brought
goods, mostly cloths, with him. He was a tailor by trade and did
a thriving business, which soon required the aid of a journeyman.
He soon added groceries to his stock — dry and *wet' — and pros-
pered as long as Moneek was in its glory.

James F. Andrews, a retired Baptist minister, with two sons
and their families, became residents in the same year. They added
another store. One of the sons was a doctor, and so the town se-
cured the benefit of clergy and medicine by this really large ac-
quisition. They, however, only remained about a year. The
town was outgrowing the settlements, and was not large enough
to support so many "middlemen."

Louis Boughner, also a Canadian, but of German descent, came
along in the same year, opened his kit of tools, and sat down upon
his shoemaker's bench. That' winter the hamlet began to feel as
though it was of sufiicient importance to be recognized by the
General Government, and postal facilities were demanded. Dur-
ing the winter or following spring these were secured, and
Boughner had so far won the confidence of the people that he was
chosen to serve as the village Nasby. The olfice was supported by
"Winneshiek" — a post office then situated between Castalia and
Postville, at which Mr. D. A. Reed, of Decorah, was then deputy
postmaster. It is related by Mr. II. that his brother-in-law was
postmaster, and he served as deputy. By this arrangement the mail
carrier, or any one calling for mail, was sure to find one or the
other at home. The convenience of this arrangement was very
great, because the postmaster and his deputy only lived a quarter
of a mile apart. About this Winneshiek P. 0., E.E. Meader can
tell an incident, something like this. About the time the lands
were to come into market, he had a large sum of money, amount-
ing to about $100, coming to him in Indiana. There was no ex-
presses in those days, and he was compelled to direct that it be sent
in a letter. He expected to receive it at Decorah, then a small
office, which, according to Rev. E. Adams, was carried around in
Claib. Day's hat. After waiting a more than reasonable time for
its arrival, and it not being forthcoming, he became enxious about
it. Procuring a list of the offices in the county he visited them

180 HISTORY OF WINNESHIEK COUNTY.

and at last found it intact at this Winneshiek P. 0., and went
home rejoicing. The sender had failed to address it to Decorah.

That year, 1852, saw a large increase to the settlers outside, as
■well as in Moneek. Among those who came was Col. D. D.
Webster, David Duff, Philip Husted, Andrew Stewart and John
W. Smith, The first three still reside on the farms they occu-
pied, surrounded by large families and prosperity. About that
time Dr. Riddle, an Ohioan, settled in Moneek. He now lives at
or near Nora Springs. Dr. A. B. Hanna, now of Elkader, fol-
lowed a year or two later, and succeeded Boughner as postmaster,
holding the office until it was thrown up — sometime in the six-
ties.

In 1853 Geo, W, Esty settled there, and is, to-day, the sole
owner of what was then a most thriving village. He came from
New York, and found the village to consist of eight dwellings,
one saw mill owned and operated by Abner DeCow, one black-
smith shop, worked by John Duff, Jr., two stores kept by James
F, Andrews and George Crawford; a shoe shop and post office,
managed by Boughner, and two liquor saloons, one kept by Geo.
Crawford as an adjunct to his store, and the other by a man named
Walker, who enlisted when the war broke out, and died in battle.
The Yellow River then contained double the water it now posses-
ses, and the saw mill was easily able to run five months in the year.
The timber in the neighborhood was superior, and this won the
mill a wide and high reputation. In 1850, E. E. Meader, who
had settled at Hesper, obtained there ash flooring for the log
house in which he began his Iowa house-keeping. At the time of
its greatest prosperity, Moneek contained scarcely a score of build-
ings, divided into dwellings, shops, etc. But it had a large out-
lying settlement, and it was this, probably, that made it feared by
the dwellers in Decorah and Fort Atkinson when the county seat
vote was taken. They were sufficiently numerous to give the two
other points a "close call" in a fair poll. Failing to receive the
poll book in time, the people of Moneek held an election with as
much form and regularity as they could devise, but not sufficiently
so to prevent the vote from being thrown out. What might have
been, if there had been more determined watchfulness by the peo-
ple of the village, it is impossible to tell. What did happen is
very easy to narrate.

Its decline began in 1855. Judge DeCow saw it coming in 1854,
and sold his 160 acre claim adjoining the plat for $1,800, to a man
named Barnum. The place has been sold twice since, but never
for as much money. With the proceeds the Judge settled on the
place he now owns, and is very thankful he took that tide in his
life at its flood. The tax list of 1855 shows that the Moneek
merchant's assessment was $800 for four lots; and Abner De-
Cow's tavern was valued at the same figuie. In Decorah, at that
time, there were only four assessments of greater amount, and

HISTORY OF WJNNESIIIEK COUNTY. 181

two others only equaled it. The causes fur its decline were few
and simple. Settlers were thronging into the country, and open-
ing other sections. Post routes and lines of communication were
being established. Nature was rather against Moneek. It was
nestled away in the valley of the Yellow River, surrounded by
mountainous hills, and not easy of access. Notwithstanding this,
the founders of the place evidently thought Moneek had such a
start that its growth was sure and permanent; that roads must
come to them; they could not be 'left out in the cold.' One
thing is certain, while the post routes were being established the
Moneekers were too busy with their 'corner lots,' In the mean-
while, a busy, bustling fellow named Frank Teabout, had settled
on the ridge, and when the 'state road' was run lie was looking
after his interests. The line was established on the ridge; Frank-
ville sprang into existence; and ere they knew it the great tide of
emigration which set in was sweepnig by them, along the ridge
road, but bringing no grist to be tolled and ground for the benefit
of Moneek, it had its method of egress, but no artery of trade.
The result was certain. Those who were in trade one by one sold
out, or abandoned the place; and by the time it was ten years old
it was indeed a deserted village.

Early in the sixties its postoffice was thrown up. Abner De-
Cow enlisted in 1861 and served in Capt. Willett's company of
the 3d Iowa Infantry; and at the close of the w\ar removed to
Kansas, where he still resides. McSwain remained until about
1865, Avhen he left, principally because the neighborhood was
getting too warm for him. The rights of the property were
not rigidly observed by everybody about that time; but who it
was that was careless as to other people's titles, was not known.
At last an old buggy was missed from the road where it had been
left. Inquiry was made as to its whereabouts for several days
ineffectually, until Judge DeCow (mind, he doesn't tell us this
story, and isn't responsible for it,) Avent down to McSwaiu's to
look at some sheep the latter wished to sell. As the families had
not visited for a long time, he took his wife and children along.
During the day the children went to the straw stack to play, and
pleased themselves by climbing to the top, and sliding down the
stack. McSwain's boy, however, cautioned the Judge's son not
to slide down on a certain side, because there was a wagon under
there! This excited his curiosity enough so that he remembered
to tell his father about it on the way home in the evening. It
instantly struck the father — there is that missing buggy! The
suspicion was more than hinted to the owner, and a search proved
it to be the identical buggy. McSwain settled the matter, but
used, afterwards, to charge the sheep with being the sole cause of
the difficulty. He reasoned it out, somewhat after this manner.
If he had not owned the sheep and wanted to sell them, the Judge
would not have paid him that visit; the boys would not have

182 HISTORY OF WINNESHIEK COUNTY.

been sliding down the straw stack; the buggy would have re-
mained hid until he could have run it off. Ergo: the sheep were
wholly to blame!

This discovery gave the neighbors cause to suspicion McSwain
whenever anything was missing; and as there was considerable
horse-thieving going on about that time, it became too unpleasant
a place to stay. As soon as he could dispose of his property, he
folded his tents, and fled away to new fields.

The plat of the village was vacated in 18— ; and it is now a part
of a good farm, which a clever, thorough going farmer, Mr. G.
W._ Esty, above mentioned, annually plows, sows and reaps. Oc-
casionally a new comer enquires where was Moneek, and the
query calls up a smile to the face of an old settler, as he cheerful-
ly answers and thinks of the swath it cut in the years which are
so recent, and yet in the hurry-skurry of more important events,
seem much longer than a fifth century ago.

EARLIER SKETCHES.

The following from sketches of earlv history, published in the
Decorah RepuUican in 1865, give much interesting information,
although some points omitted are supplied elsewhere, and the
chronology of early settlers given more completely in Chapter I.

It has been repeatedly shown, and it is an undisputed fact,
that the Day family are entitled to the honor of being Decorah's
first settlers; and, as this has grown into the most important and
influential point within the county, it will always give to them a
pre-eminence over all other pioneers. But, as we have shoAvn in
the history of Fort Atkinson, there were those who preceded them.
The Days came to Decorah in June, 1819. The German colony,
consisting of Gotlob and Gotleib Krumm, Charles Kregg and
Francis Rogers, came in 1817, nearly two years before. We have
sometimes doubted whether this is not an error of a year, because-
the soil was then Indian territory, and not open to squatters. The
Indians were removed in 1818, and the reservation opened to set-
tlement. The date, however, has been published, and stands un-
questioned, therefore we give it again, with this query, which may
substantiate it or correct an error. If it is substantiated, the fact
is very clear that they were the first permanent residents.

If there is an error of one year, it will give them a year's
precedence over the settlement 'at Decorah, but it will leave it an
open question whether a family named Campbell, who had settled
in Bloomfield township, were not as early, or earlier comers. To
these may be added the family of ex-Judge David Reed, who follow-
ed the Campbells closely, and became the pioneer settlers in the
southeast corner of the countv.

We leani of these through 'Mr. D. A. Reed. He informs us
that his father's family moved upon what afterwards became the
northeast quarter of Section 25, in August, 1848. The family

HISTORY OF WINKESHIEK COUNTY, 183

'Consisted of eight persons, and he was then 18 3'ears ohl. They
found their only neighbors to be the family of this Mr. Campbell.
He had come in only a few weeks previous, and was still "camping
out," or occupying an emigi'ant wagon, over on the west side of
what became Section 23. Both these points were on the Military
road, then the only travelled thoroughfare. This would make
the Campbells resident from some time in July, 1818. Perhaps
Mrs. Campbell, the wife, now a widow, living (we believe) on the
homestead which they then squatted upon, may be able to give
the exact date. Mr. Reed tells us that Mr. Campbell made claim
to a strip of land one mile wide and four miles long, and a
year or two later he thought it hard that he could not get |20 for
his claim.

Mrs. Powell, the old lady who was canonized in the sketch of
Fort Atkinson as the wonderful talker at "Rattle-trap," had also
come in a few weeks before, but as she did not long remain, we
leave her out of the list of settlers.

Leaving the dates as they have been written, we have this data
as established facts: The German colony was first in precedence;
the Campbells and Reeds second, and the Days third. If there
are any who can dispute this order we have yet to hear a hint or
trace of them. They represent, too, three different sections of the
county, or independent settlements, each begun prior to July 1st,
1819. In that month of July Geo. Bachel, Joseph Huber,
Andrew Myers, Anthony Stottle, Joseph Spillman, and Jonah
Rausch, with their families, joined the German colony; and the
Goddards came in the fall. In the same mouth McS wain and
Abner DeCow settled at Moneek. These speak of Hawks and
Callenders, who were residing over in what has become Frankville
township. Of the date of their coming we have obtained no in-
formation. Rev. E. Adams, in his "First Things of Decorah,"
mentions that the Days found but two settlers between Monona
and Decorah, and these were at or near what is now called Frank-
ville.

The history of Moneek added a few other names to that settle-
ment in 1849. To Decorah was added the Painter family, and
probably on the first of January, 1850, the residents of the county
did not number over two score families, all told. Large accessions
came in that year; and it must be left to an "Old Settlers' Associa-
tion," to gather up all their names and put them on record (this is
done in the chapter first of this history). We have a few facls
gathered here and there, which will serve as contributions to such
a roll of pioneers. Among these, and one of the most valuable,
is a list of those who lived north of the Iowa River in 1850.
Henry Holm moved into Canoe Township about August 1, 1850.
His family consisted of himself and wife, three sons and three
daughters. The oldest son, J. W. Holm, is still a well-known
resident of Canoe, and was then 19 years old. The neighbors

184 HISTORY OF WINNESHIEK COUNTY.

were few and they soon knew each other. Happily, Mr. H. dis-
tinctly remembers the names and location of all the old settlers,
and from him we gather the interesting fact that there were then
twelve families living north of the Iowa River. These were, —

George Ream, John Ream and James Cross. These all lived
together in an old log cabin, still standing on what is known as
the H. H. Horn farm,

David Kinnison, in Canoe, on the farm he still occupies.

David Bartlett, on the farm now occupied by Wm. Marlow.
Avhere he died.

Wells Mclntyre, on the farm which his sons still occupy.

John Johnson, on the Jewell farm, in Decorah Township.

James Boyce, on the river bottom, forming a part of what
has been known since as the "Filbert" and the "Ashmore" farm.

Aldrich, the miller, at the Spring mill.

Joe Brown, on the Russell farm, in Canoe.

William Klontz and Justice Wilson lived with Brown.

Mr. Holm's family made fhe 13th.

There was at this time — August, 1850 — but one farm opened,
the Reams had one crop of about eight acres of winter wheat,
which was cut and in shock, at the time. The winter previous
had proved favorable, and the crop was a good one. The Holms
bought of them and sowed winter wheat that fall, but it proved
then as it has repeatedly since, a failure.

Rev. Mr. Adams mentions the presence, when the Days moved
in, of these Reams and a man named Button; but as they did' not
remain they can scarcely be called pioneer settlers.

Mr. J. W. Holm helped dig the race for the Decorah mill, and
hewed logs for the first dam that was built. They were cut from
a burr oak grove that was standing close by on the north side of
the river.

Mr. H. says at that time the postoffice used was McGregor, and
thither they had to go to get their necessary supplies.

While writing these notes, circumstances favor us with an op-
portunity to consult another of these thirteen.

Mr. David Kinnison came to Iowa in 1849, but wintered down
on the Yellow River. In March, 1850, he came up into this sec-
tion. He passed through Decorah, finding the Day and Painter
families on the east or south (?) side, Aldrich on the west side, and
the Reams on their claim as above stated. He settled on the
northwest quarter of section seven, in Canoe township, and
claims, probably rightfully, that he built the first cabin erected in
Canoe township; and so far as they then knew, or have ever been
able to learn, there were no white settlers north of him, and west
of the river, except at St. Paul. Bartlett, Johnson, Bryce, Brown,
Klontz and Wilson came in May, following; and Mclntyre ar-
rived on the last day in J une. Besides these, there was one James

niSTOKy OF WINNESHIEK COUNTY. 185

Kelley — not mentiouecl by Mr. Holm — who came on the 10th of
May, and settled on a part of what is now the Col. J. W. Taylor
farm.

Among others w^ho joined these that year were two yonng
men, named Gilbert and Lambert, who made a claim on the Iowa
river above the Reams. They kept a kind of store. Bernard
Harmon came in the fall, and made claim of the present Jacob
Headington farm. George Smith was another neighbor, who
moved in and occupied a piece of land on the Iowa, just over the
line in Blufftown township (section 24) where he may yet be
found. James Ackerson and B. L. Bisby were also among the
'50rs. They pushed on to the front, the first getting over into
Hesper and the other into the northeast corner of Bluffton town-
ship.

PIONEER NORWEGIANS.

Norwegian enterprise and their work in pioneer service have
had much to do in the development and prosperity of the county.
Of their first settlers here, Mr. Baily, in his address, said:

So far as I can learn, Engebret Peterson Haugen, who died last
year, was the original pioneer of this nationality. He came
to settle in 1850 but was here prospecting the fall previous, and
bought the claim where he lived and died, and on which was the
old Henry M. Rice trading post. In July, 1850, twelve Norwe-
gian families came in from Wisconsin and found a home on
Washington Prairie, a home where several of the fathers still live
the heads of large and prosperous families. These twelve were
represented by Nelson and Germund Johnson, Ole A. and Andrew
0. Lommen, Andras Hogue, Knudt Ophal, John Johnson, A.
Holverson, Ole Tostenson and Mikkle Omlie. Other families fol-
lowed them rapidly, and from that day, Norwegians, by their in-
dustry and frugality, have done a large share of the hard work
which has made our best prairies to bud and blossom as the rose.
Not alone as emigrants have they done service in multiplying the
popiilation. The earliest marriage records show that they did not
think it good for man to live alone and also that they were more
disposed to giving and taking in marriage than any other class.
The first recorded marriage is that of one of those early pioneers,
now that useful citizen of Madison township, Mr. John Evan-
son, and Catherine Helen Anderson. The ceremony was perform-
ed in February, 1852, by Rev. N. Brandt, then a wandering mis-
sionary from Wisconsin, and now pastor of the Lutheran Church
in Decorah. I further find that of the first 1,227 marriages
recorded in the clerk's office, that other pioneer and christian
gentleman, Rev. V. Koren, ofiiciated at 247, and I hasten to ac-
cord to him the position of champion marrier.

The sketches previously published, and from which we have
quoted, say:

186 HISTORY OF WIJiTNESHIEK COUNTY.

We have not met with the names of any Norwegians in re-
searches prior to 1850, but in that year there came, if not the
pioneers, a band of them who found on the West side of Wash-
ington Prairie the land that suited them, and made there
homes which have given competence to all and wealth to several
of them. They have been, too, among the best citizens of the
county; generally founders of large families, with sons and
daughters who are following in their worthy footsteps. This band
consisted of twelve families, and became the settlers of what is
known as Springfield township. The names of the heads of these
families were as follows:

Nelson Johnson — died in 1881.

Germund Johnson — still living.

A. Simmonson — dead.

Toleff Simmonson — still living.

Ole A. Lommen — killed by accident, a few years ago.

A. 0. Lommen — ex-Representative and still living.

Andrus Hogue — dead.

John Johnson — dead.

Knud G. Opdahl — dead.

H. Holverson — died in March, 1875.

Ole Tostenson — still living.

Mickkel Omlie — still living.

These came in two caravans. The first three left homes in
Racine county, and the others were from Dane county, Wiscon-
sin. The latter came directly through, but the three were en-
cumbered by flocks and herds— a tendency some of them have
not outgrown — and had to drive more slowly. One of these, Mr.
Nelson Johnson, who furnishes us these names and facts, says his
party arrived on the 2d day of July, 1850 nine days after the
party from Dane county. They immediately commenced making
the homes which grew into rich and valuable farms,

Mr. Johnson informs us that it was at his house, or log cabin,
that the caucus or convention, was held which nominated officers
preparatory to the first election of county officers. This was prior
to, but a part of the work of organizing the county. It occurred
in March, 1851. Decorah was not yet a hamlet of amazing im-
portance, and Mr. Johnson's place was centrally located. This is
the only reason he can give for its selection. The attendance
was large — all the beginnings of settlements being well repre-
sented.

DISAPPOINTED ASPIRATIONS.

In this connection Mr. J. tells a little story of political aspira-
tions nipped in the bud, worthy of record. Among the rest who
came was a man named Minot, residing over east somewhere. He
was ambitious for honors, and capable, besides willing, to serve
the people in any place they might see fit to put him. Mr. J.

^^^^^^^^^-^^^^

J^'-u-

HISTOKY OF WINNESHIEK COUNTY. 187

was a new comer, a Norwegian, too, not accustomed, then, to par-
ticipation in public meetings of that kind; and he kept himself
busy attending to the arrivals, animals, &c. This, however, gave
him an opportunity to hear of tlie ''horse-shed" or by-talk which
went on. The claims of Minot were fully discussed; and to a
man, they agreed in letting hiui alone because he was clad in
broadcloth coat and pants, satin ve.-:t, fine boots and a shiny hat!
He was not the man for the horny-handed pioneers; not a bit of
it; and Minot went home disgusted. This caucus and convention
put in nomination the ticket which was afferwards elected, and
has heretofore been given, as the first officers of Winneshiek
county,

Engebret Peterson Haugeu, followed these in October, after
having spent the summer in traveling over portions of Wisconsin
and Minnesota. He actually squatted on a claim back from Red
Wing; but could not hold it because it was still Indian territory.
Coming down the river he heard of these fellow-countrymen, and
came out here. He liked the country; and got his eye fixed on
the magnificent farm he still owns three miles southwest of De-
corah. It was a claim then owned by G. Cooney living at Garni-
villo. It is the claim Mr. C. referred to in his narrative, as the
one Dr. Andros threatened to shoot him if he jumped it; and
about the safety of doing which he consulted Avith his friend
Judge Murdock. It was also the old H. -\J. Rice trading post. The
The store used by Rice was standing, and for five years later
served Mr. Haugen as a dwelling. His family, however, did not
arrive until May following. They came from Beloit, where they
had located in 1842, when that territory was new. Peter E.
Haugen, the son, was a boy 16 years of age when the family re-
moved to Iowa; and he distinctly remembers the first bridge built
over the Rock river at Beloit. They came direct from Norway in
1842. Inasmuch as emigration from that country did not com-
mence until 1838, Mr. P. can be called a pioneer settler, in the
fullest sense of the term.

Besides those above named, the only other Norwegian we have
heard named at this date, is Mr. Thor Peterson, of Calmar.

WHO WERE FIRST.

Sparks' History, published later than sketches, and also the
year after Mr. Burley's address, says:

From the most reliable information, it would seem that the
first immigration of Norwegian settlers came in the year 1850,
But to whom to accord the honor of being the first actual settlers
— whether to Thor Peterson and his party, who afterward settled in
Calmar Township, or to the Erick Anderson party, who settled in
Springfield Township, is a question , The Anderson party emigrated
from Dane County, Wis., and included the following persons:
Halvor Hulverson, Ole GuUickson, Knudt Anderson, Ole and

18S HISTOKY OF WIXXESHIEK COUNTY.

Staale Tostenson. This company was joined at Prairie du Chien
by Ole Loraen and Andrew Lomen. Mr. Erick Anderson served
the party as guide and interpreter. The Anderson party finding
land in Springfield Township that suited them, took" up their
claims thereon in June, 1850. But it seems that the Peterson
party had preceded them by a few days, and had laid claim to the
very land on which Anderson's company had squatted. At that
time there was a county organization for the protection of settlers
against claim-jumpers, if such they can be called. It was an
imperative law with this association that the man who first regis-
tered his claim at Moneek had a perfect title to the same. The
Peterson party demanded that the Anderson party move off what
they called their claims; but the other party was" determined not
to surrender their claims until obliged to, and consequently they
immediately dispatched a representative to Moneek, whose duty
it was to ascertain if the Peterson party had registered their
claims. On examination he found that no registration had been
made, and he took advantage of their tardiness and registered the
claims for his party. The matter was finally compromised, the
Anderson party paying some indemnity for their usurpation.

Mr. Sparks goes on to say that the Nelson Johnson party, re-
ferred to a little previously, made settlements in Springfield in
July, and were therefore a little later — ^and that Engebret, Peter-
son and Haugen followed these in October.

Eighteen hundred and fiftj'-one saw a large addition to each
of these commencements to settlements — for settlements
they could not yet be called. The northern townships
were being occupied in this year, 1851. Among those
Avho came and settled on lands where they still reside are
D. D. Huff and E. E. Meader. Both happened to fall within
the boundary lines of what is now known as Hesper Township,
although they lived between four and five miles apart. They
were, however, near neighbors in those days, and very warm
friends. As one old settler remarked to us, '"We thought nothing of
tramping off ten or a dozen miles to see a man." Mr. Huff tells
us a story something like this: He lived in Michigan and started
west in the fall of 1850. Winter found him in Illinois, where he
met a brother of Bernard Harmon. He was told by this brother
about Northern Iowa, and became interested in it. Coming to
McGregor lie met the pioneer merchant, H. D. Evans. By the
way, it is singular how warmly these pioneers to a man speak of
the generosity and liberality of this same Evans. He trusted
them freely when they had nothing; and if it had not been for
his kindness and unselfishness, many could not have stayed upon
their claims. Evans had been up to Decorah, around among the
settlers, and was enthusiastic in his ideas about the country and
its future; and imparted some of his enthusiasm to Mr. H.. The
latter pushed through to Decorah, with B. Harmon's as an objcc-

HISTORY OF WINNESHIEK COUNTY, 189

tive point. Nightfall overtook liira, however, as he drove up to
the old log "Winneshiek House." In response to his applications
for lodgin'gs he was told the house was "full.'' There had been
inportant arrivals that day. John B. Onstine and Dr. Hazlet had
just come, and the hotel could accommodate no more. Mr. Huff
found accommodations on the floor of the Painter cabin that
night; and he savs that when they were settled for the night,
that, too, was full. In the morning he pushed on to Harmon's,
and soon found his home for the next quarter of a century. His
experience for the first year or two was that of nearly all the
pioneers, and need not be repeated.

PROTECTING SQUATTER RIGHTS.

As he told some of his experiences to us the other day, an his-
torical fact was brought to light which we cannot permit to go
unrecorded. Surveys were being made that year, the lands were
soon to come into market, and there was nothing to hinder land
sharks from buying their homes from under thera. Here was a
danger that seriously menaced the new settlers. Buy their homes,
they could not. Tliey not only had no money, but they were
struggling to make a bare living. Protect themselves in some
way they must. To do this a large meeting of settlers was
called, and held at Meader's, in Hesper township, on the fourth of
July, 1851, at which a solemn compact was formed between those
present, to protect each other in their squatter rights. Although
it was not expressed in as eloquent words, doubtless they meant to
maintain the compact and pledged their lives, their fortunes, and
their sacred honor. The compact was drawn up by a committee
duly chosen, consisting of one Marshall Sherwin (squatter on the
present Ezra Reed farm) one Kincaid (living just east of Huff,)
Benjamin Beare, (a settler over by what is now Locust Lane post-
office,) Eli Waterman, (a man who lived for a short time close by
the spring at Russell Taber's mill, in Hesper,) and Mr. Huff". By
this compact it was agreed that every squatter was entitled to a
homestead of 160 acres. If he needed timber, he might claim a
10 where he listed. This was to be his by their squatter law, un-
til good fortune should enable him to secure the legal title
from the government. They agreed to stand by each other to the
worst, if need be, in protecting each other; and it would have
been dangerous for any man to attempt to enforce a claim con-
trary to the squatter claim. Happily, no serious resistance to
these crude laws ever compelled the settlers to unite in forcible
protection of each other. Doubtless the existence of this com-
pact was well known at Dubuque, where the land office was loca-
ted; and "when the land was so plenty, speculators did not care to
buy laAV-suits or disputes with settlers who might prove reckless-
if their rights were trodden upon.

190 HISTORY OF WINXESHIEK COUNTY.

There were differences between the settlers themselves; but
these the terms of the compact soon settled. One of the com-
mittee (Sherwin, we think, was the name given) was the first to
attempt to break it. He coveted the whole, or part of the claim
of a neighbor, but the members of the organization convinced
him that they would compel an obedience, and he acquiesced. In
this way difficulties were avoided, and their claims preserved to
the pioneers till they could secure them by purchase. Some of the
members were not able to enter their lands until a year or more
had elapsed after the lands of Northern Iowa had been in market;
but under this compact they felt a degree of security that now
seems strange even to them.

MORE DETAILS

have accumulated as the material for this chapter have been col-
lected, but they will be given where they belong in the township
histories, or in a collection of rhiscellaneous facts relating to
county history, in succeeding pages.

A chronology of dates of early settlements, coming of first
settlers, and leading events in the history of the count3^ will be
given in one of the succeeding chapters.

CHAPTER V

Political History; County Organization; First Election and First
Officers; Salary Grabbing; Votes Cast in Successive Years;
Voting Precincts; Final Division into Townships ; Position of
Toivnships and Villages; Successive Elections and County
Officers^ Legislators, etc.; Levi Bullis and E. E. Cooley; Politi-
. cal Contests; H. C. Bullis, G. R. Willett, T. W. Burdick, and
other Legislators and Bepresentative Men; County Officers {con-
tinued) to Present Time.

The particulars of the organization of this county, and of the
county seat becoming permanently fixed at Decorah, are given in
the preceding cha2)ter. Let us briefly review these two events.
The organizing act was approved by the Governor January 15,
1851, constituting John L. Carson the organizing sheriff, and
Winneshiek an organized county after March 1, 1851. By the
election held April 7, 1851, Decorah was chosen as county seat.
Freeport's struggle to obtain the county seat culminated in 1856,
resulting in its final and permanent location in Decorah, which
was made more certain by the commencement of the building of

HISTORY OF WINNESHIEK COUNTY. 191

the court house in 1857. and by the impetus given to Decorah by
the location of the land office, which was opened here on the day
before Christmas, 1855. These events are narrated more at length
in previous pages, and in the sketch of Decorah,

Very soon after the organization of the county, steps were
taken for the election of officers. According to the best infor-
mation obtainable, a well attended caucus was held in the log cabin
of the late Nelson Johnson, in the southeast corner of Decorah
township. The election was held on the 4th of August, 1851,
and resulted in the following officers being choseu :

David Reed over J. R. Morse, as county judi2:e.

George Bachel over James F. More, as sheriff.

Francis Rogers over William Vail, as supervisor.

John N. Kline over R. G. Nuvland, as surveyor.

Daniel Kuykendahl over P. Morse, as Recorder and Treasurer.

E. W. Aldrich over D. Bender, as coroner.

Isaac Uuderhill, F. Joseph Huber and Joseph Brown served as
judges of election, the first two certifying to the result as justices
of the peace, whether by appointment, or as elected in the spring, is
uncertain; eighty-two ballots, all told, were cast, and Mr. Huber,
still a citizen of Washington township, is with us to personally
attest the validity and fairness of the first vote. In April follow-
ing John McKay Avas elected school fund commissioner, and W.
F. Kimball clerk of the courts.

It seems that at first the amount that the officers received on
their salaries depended on the amount of fees received; for from
the first the Judge, Clerk and Treasurer were accustomed to meet
at stated intervals, each reporting the fees that he had received,
and then the money would be divided between them. The Treas-
urer would also report the cash in the Treasury, which would
be divided with equal impartiality; then County Judge Reed would
issue county warrants to each one for the balance found due.
As soon as taxes were levied and collected this system ceased, and
the county officers have generally, since that time, drawn their
salaries with commendable regularity, although there may have
been times when they have been compelled to wait a little before
getting their warrants cished.

Of Judge Reed, Mr. Bailey in his address said: David Reed
was the first County Judge. He was born in June, 1799, and con-
sequently was 52 years of age when first elected County Judge of
Winneshiek county. His regular term of service covered four
years — years, too, of the stormiest character, in which, as the
autocrat of the county, he could share the responsibilities with no
one, and shirk no duties. Of course his conduct was sharply
criticised, and in his time he bore his share of public obloquy.

Judge Reed held the office of County Judge by the suffrages of
the people, continuously, from 1851 to 1855.

192 HISTORY OF WIXXESHIEK COUNTY.

In the election of 1853 Joseph Gibbons and J. T. Atkins Avere
candidates for the office. Gibbons received ten more votes than
Atkins. Jas. B. Cutler, on behalf of himself and others, contest-
ed the election; a court was found to hear the case. Judge Reed
presiding, with C. L. Childs and J. D.Jenkins assisting by choice
of the parties. A hot contest ensued, no less than twenty-seven
witnesses being examined. The case was this:

The trustees of Bloomfield township had changed the place of
voting from Moneek to Castalia without giving the required
legal notice. Thirteen persons testified that they Avent to Moneek
as usual, to vote, and not hearing of the change wei'e unable to do
so. They also said that if they had voted it Avould have been in
favor of J. T. Atkins as County Judge. The lawyers were heard,
of course, and the whole case gone over most profoundly. That
an informality existed in the vote of the township is quite clear;
its effect upon the main vote was the question. We, at this day,
would decide promptly, that at most only the vote of Bloomfield
township shoukl have been thrown out. The Court decided to set
aside the entire election, as to Judge, and declared no one was
elected. One of the assistants has explained to me that instead of
being satisfied with this, there were some who 'cussed the Court
like pizen,' because they did not declare the entire election void.
The result was to continue Judge Reed in office for two years
more, during which time he built and left as his legacy, the (for
the times) splendid courthouse, which is only now becoming too
cramped for public use.

Information with regard to these first officers is not now readi-
ly obtainable, and of some of them we can give nothing further
than that they were elected and held office as above stated.

Geo. Bachel, the first sheriff, was for years an active, influential
citizen of Jackson township, and died much respected, a year or
two ago.

Francis Rogers, the first supervisor, Avas one of the oldest resi-
dents of the county, and Avas noted for the many litigations he had
Avith his neighbors.

Daniel Kuykendahl, the first recorder and treasurer, had his of-
fice at his home, Avhicli was a log house situated under a bluff
near a large spring, about a half a mile out of Freeport, on the
Lansing road. The duties of his office at that time were not very
arduous, and his Inode of keeping the records Avas somewhat prim-
itive. He had not even a decent desk at Avhich to write. It was
his custom to record his deeds, and then pigeon-hole them between
the cracks in the logs.

The number of votes cast at these early elections is one of the
best indices of the incoming of early settlers, and a few words
will give these data. At the first election there Avere. as has been
stated, 82 votes cast; in April following, there were 180; in Aug-
ust, 1852, 150; in April, 1853, 224; in 1854, 280; in 1855, 521; in

HISTORY OF WINJ^ESHIEK COUXTY. 193

1856, 816; in August, 1857, 894; in October, 1858, 1,288; in the
Presidential election of 1860, 2,162. The increase since that time
is indicated by the fact that in the Presidential election of 1880,
4,080 votes were cast.

As previously noted, there were three points recognized at the
ver}' commencement as having claims to prominence in the coun-
ty. These were Decorah, Lewiston and Moneek. Polls were
held for each of these three first elections at these places only,
and they were called precincts. It was not until 1854 that even a
single name appears on the records to show that any other title
than that of precinct was given to them. March 8th, 1852, it
was ordered by the county court that elections should be held in
the ensuing April, at the following places:

In Precinct No. 1, at house of Wm. Day, Decorah.

In Precinct No. 2, at house of Francis Rogers, Lewiston,

In Precint No, 3, at house of John DeCow, Moneek,

This is our only information as to the first division into what
Ave have since known as townships. Their boundaries we can
only infer from subsequent entries. In July, 1852, the division
line between precincts 2 and 3 was changed, and made to run be-
tween ranges 7 and 8, thus throwing, as the record says, one more
tier of townships into the third precinct. From this I infer that
the third precinct originally consisted of what is now known as
Bloomfield and Frankville townships, and was six miles wide, east
and west, and tweh e long. Precinct No, 2 covered three times
as much territory, and was eighteen miles wide, and twelve long.
This left all the remainder of the county — now comprising
twelve organized townships — in precinct No, 1, March 1, 1852,
the latter was so divided up as to make what is now Canoe, BlufF-
ton and Orleans townships, with the townships north of them,
precinct No, 4, February 5, 1854, what are now Military and
Springfield, were divided from Washington (now named for the
first time) and created township (not precinct) No, 5,

March 6, 1854, township 98, range 7, was separated from "De-
corah Precinct," and was called township No. 6, It is now known
as Glenwood,

March 11, 1855, "Burr Oak Precinct" was divided, and the en-
tire tier on the north line of the county was called Burr Oak.
The remaining part of the precinct was named Canoe, At the
same session of the county court, township 99, range 10, was set
off and given the name of Pilot Grove,

On the tax list of 1855, proper names are given to each of those
precincts. Precinct No. 1 had become Decorah, Glenwood, Canoe,
Burr Oak and Pilot Grove; township No. 2 appears as Bloomfield
and Summit (now Frankville), and No. 3 had been divided in-
to Military and Washington; but no record other than I have
quoted appears upon the court minutes as to these and subsequent
changes. According to the tax lists, in 1856 Pleasant township

HISTORY OF WINNESHIEK COUNTY.

took its name and place; in 1858 Summit had become Frankville,
and Pilot Grove, Orleans; Springfield had been separated from
Military, Calmar and Sumner from Washington, and Hesper and
Fremont from Burr Oak. In 1860 Madison was taken from Decorali,
and Highland divided from Pleasant; and in 1862 the symmetry
of all the townships was completed by the division of Lincoln
from Sumner, and Jackson from Washington.

The location of these different precincts, and more particularly
of the twenty townships of the county after this final division,
will be more fully understood by the following diagram, showing
the positions of the townships of the county as they now stand,
each township being six miles square:

Fremont.

Burr Oak.

Hesper.

Highland.

Orleans.

Bluffton.

Canoe.

Pleasant.

Lincoln

Madison

Decorah

Glenwood.

Sumner.

Calmar.

Springfield,

Franklin ville.

Jackson.

Washington.

Military.

Bloomfield.

HISTORY OF WI^'NESHIEK COUXTY, 195

The city of Decorah is a little west of the centre of Decorali
Township, while Freeport is about two and a half miles directly
east of Decorah, and also in Decorah Township, about three-
fourths of a mile from its eastern boundary.

Calmar is near the southeastern part of Calmar Township.
Couover being near the centre and Spillville in the western part
of the same township.

Fort Atkinson is toward the northwestern part, and Festina a
little southeast of the centre of Washington Township.

Ossian is about midwaj^ between the centre and northeastern
part of Military Tov/nship.

Ridgway is nearly two miles east of the centre of Lincoln Town-
ship and Kendallville and Plymouth Rock, respectively, toward
the southwestern and southeastern parts of Freemont Township.

The villages of Bluffton, Burr Oak, Ilesper and Frankville are
in the several townships of the same name.

The positions of all these places will be seen by reference to a
map of the county, but this data is given here as a matter of con-
venience for reference in connection with the foregoing sketch of
divisions of the county.

The second election held in the county after a permanent organ-
ization had been effected was April 5, 1852. The total number
of votes polled at this election was 180. This election, as the
records show, gave the county its first School Fund Commissioner
and District Clerk. The successful parties who first bore the
honors of these offices were, respectively, N. S. Gilbert and W.
F. Kimball. Out of 180 ballots cast for School Fund Commis-
sioner, N. S. Gilbert had 4 majority over his opponent, John D.
McKay. There were 156 votes cast for the office of District
Clerk, of which number W. F. Kimball received 88, and his oppo-
nent, James B. Schenck, 68. Kimball was declared elected by 20
majority. The vote for Coroner stood as follows: J. B, Chase
had 60 votes, and his opponent, Wm. Painter, 41. James B. Chase
was elected Coroner. At this election, for the first time, the new
county helped elect a District Judge, and it showed its steadfast
faith and high appreciation of Judge T. S. Wilson, by giving him
162 votes.

At the third election, held in August, 1852, M. B. Derrick was
chosen District Clerk by 15 majority.

John D. McKay was elected Prosecuting Attorney by 29 ma-
jority; and H. K. Averill was elected Surveyor.

The fourth election was held in April, 1853, the following be-
ing the officers elected:

Aaton Newell, District Clerk — his opponents being W. F.
Kimball and N. S. Gilbert.

N. S. Gilbert, Treasurer and Recorder.

H. K. Averill, County Surveyor.

J. F. Moore, Drainage Commissioner.

196 HISTORY OF WINNESHIEK COUNTY.

Acles Haven Faunon, Coroner. Mr. Fannon, whose genial,
jovial face is well remembered by the people of Decorah, and who
was for successive years constable np to the time of his death, not
very many months ago, was born in Wythe County, Virginia,
April 17th, ISOU. He settled at Freeport, Winneshiek Countyj
in 1850, and laid out the town, and for several years engaged in
tavern-keeping. He was the first mail contractor to carry the
mails to Decorah. He contracted to carry the mails from Hardin
to Decorah, from Decorah to Fort Atkinson, and from Lansing to
Decorah. He was elected Coroner in 1875.

At the election August 1st, 1853, 175 votes w^ere cast. N. S.
Gilbert was elected Recorder and Treasurer, without opposition,
if we except three scattering votes.

James F. Moore was declared elected Sheriff, over Lewis Eddy
and A. H. Fannon.

Elijah Middlebrook was elected County Surveyor. There was
no opposition candidate for Surveyor.

Samuel Kendall Avas elected Coroner.

The newly elected Sheriff, James F. Moore, failed to qualify,
and Judge Reed, therefore, declared the office vacant, and ap-
pointed Wm. F. Kimball to fill it.

Soon after the election, N. S. Gilbert suddenly left the coun-
try, leaving the county Avithout a Recorder and Treasurer, Judge
Reed appointed Thos. L Hazelett to fill the vacancy until another
election. Of Mr. Gilbert, Spark's history, from which we
largely gather the following records, till 1860, says:

N. S. Gilbert, the second Recorder and Treasurer of the county,
was an estimable young man, possessed of great energy. He was
efficient, proud spirited, and decidedly the most shrewd man called
upon in early days to administer county affairs; notwithstanding
that he was freely accredited, with the possession of all these qual-
ifications, the tongue of scandal, soon after his induction into
office, rolled him about as a SAveet morsel to its taste. Mr. Gilbert
was not a defaulter, nor did he desert his office intentionally,
although at the time he left this was the current report. The
additional crime of eloping with a Mrs. Moore, the Sheriff's wife,
Avas charged to his account, and it is true that the parties left
Decorah together, and afterwards went to St. Louis and liA^ed as
man and Avife; yet at the time of their leaving Decorah, it is
plain that there was no criminal intent or previous arrangement.
It was in tlie spring of the year, and Mr. Gilbert, instead of inten-
tionally deserting his office, went on a journey to St. Louis to pur-
chase goods. Mrs. Moore Avas on her Avay to friends in Wisconsin,
and had started on the trip Avith the avowed jiurpose of leaving
her husband. Mrs. Moore defended her course on the ground of
ill treatment received at the hands of Mr. Moore. While at Lan-
sing Avaiting for a steamer, they had occasion to hold a private
conference, which was interpreted, by prying parties, as a crimi-

HISTORY OF WINNESHIEK COUNTY. 197

nal intimacy. The report, at the time unfounded and untruthful,
was freely circulated. Mr. Gilbert having compassion for the
woman, and being ashamed to return to his home, took her under
his charge. Things had come to such a crisis that they now
resolved to elope, and did so, going to St. Louis.

At the April election in 1854, John McKay was re-elected
School Fund Commissioner, over I. I. Stewart.

Elijah Middlebrook was elected SheritT, by 20 majority, over
James S. VanPelt.

Nelson Burdick was elected Recorder and Treasurer, over Wm.
F. Kimball, by 73 majority. Mr. Burdick filled the office accept-
ably. He was continued in office until 1859.

Wm. Painter was elected Drainage Commissioner.

At the sixth election, held in August, 1854, there were 262
votes cast for the office of State Representative, of which number
James D. McKay received 194, and his opponent, Wm. H. Morri-
son, 68. James D. McKay was declared elected.

Aaron Newell was elected Clerk of the District Court over
Daniel Carrier.

Albert B. Webber was elected Prosecuting Attorney over Calvin
Farns worth.

The newly elected Prosecuting Attorney failed to qualify. The
County Judge appointed Dryden Smith to fill the vacancy, and
he, too, resigned. J. T. Atkins was appointed, accepted and served
through the term.

In 1854 .James D. McKay (who had previously been Prosecu-
ting Attorney) at a District Convention called at Waukon (the
district then was composed of Allamakee and Winneshiek coun-
ties), was nominated for Representative, and elected. In the leg-
islature he favored the "Maine Liquor Law," which was adopted
by the Iowa State Legislature. In this election he ran on the
Republican ticket, which was successful, not only in the district,
hut throughout the state, so much so that the former power held
by the Democrats was wrested from them. A Republican Gov-
ernor was elected in the person of James W. Grimes, and a ma-
jority secured on a joint ballot in the General Assembly. He was
born in Livington county, New York, on the 24th of February,
1815. Until 16 years of age he was taught the common branches
of an education by his father, when he was sent to the Genesee
Wesleyan Seminary, situated at Lima, New York, to be fitted for
the ministry. He also studied law under James Butler, a cousin
of Gen. Butler. At the age of 21 he became acquainted with
Julia Stone, to whom he was married September, 1836. He im-
migrated to Winneshiek County in October, 1851, and settled on
the S. W. Q. of section 15, township 97, Range 7, where he still
resides. He has served the public as Prosecuting Attorney and
member of the Assemblv.

198 HISTORY OF WINXESHIEK COUNTY.

In the seventh political contest held in the county, April, 1855,
a vote was taken on the prohibitory liquor law. The result stood
as follows: for the law, 167; and against it, 169.

Hon. E. E. Cooley was elected Prosecuting Attorney, over Levi
Bullis, J. B. Onstine and William Bailey.

At this contest there came upon the stage as leading actors,
two men who arrived here the previous year and who have been
leaders in repeated political campaigns, some of them bitterly
waged, and whom now stand in the front ranks as able attorneys
as well as leading citizens of the county. They were Levi Bullis
and Ezekiel E. Cooley. Mr. Bullis arrived here in May, 1851, and
Mr. Cooley in October, of the same year.

Of the political contests in which these gentlemen were lead-
ers of the opposing parties, many amusing incidents might be
told over, and some exciting ones.

"Levi Bullis was born April 5, 1828, in West Plattsburg, New
York. He lived in Plattsburg until 26 years of age. and there ac-
ciuired his education. He early attended the Balston Springs Law
School, and acquired a legal education. In 1S53 Mr. Bullis left
his old home and came to Illinois, where he remained about a
year; when he was induced, by the flattering reports he received
from Averill. an old schoolmate, to emigrate from there to Iowa.
He reached Decorah May, 1851, and immediately commenced the
practice of his profession. The first week after his arrival he
tried a case and won it. Mr. Bullis was elected one of the original
members of the Board of Supervisors in 1860. Although active
in politics in the county, yet this is the only office he was ever
elected to. It was his friends that he worked for in politics, and
not himself, and not unfrequently have they succeeded through
his instrumentality. Mr. Bullis is characterized with a rough ex-
terior and a warm heart. He has aided more young men to posi-
tion, and placed them on the road to success, than perhaps any
other man in the county. He was married in 1861 to Abbie R.
Dibble, of Whitehall, New York."

Mr. Bullis stands high in his profession, and is well posted in
matters in general, as well. He has a large and valuable library
of general literature,' besides his extensive law library; has an in-
teresting family, and is a devoted husband and father; is true to
his friends and has many warm ones.

"Ezekiel E. Cooley was born in Victory, Cayuga county, New
York, Jan. 12, 1827. He received an academic education, and at the
age of 17 commenced teaching school,which occupation he followed
five years. ^In 1817 he emigrated to Kentucky, where he taught, and
read law with Judge Trimble, and was admitted to the bar in
1819. He returned to New York, and from there emigrated to
Decorah in October, 1851, where he has ever since continued the
practice of his profession, with an exception of one year spent in
the army. In 1857 he was elected member of the first Legislature,

HISTORY OF AVIXNESHIEK COUNTY. 199

under the new State constitution, and served witli marked ability.
He was appointed postmaster at Decorah in 18G1, and Jield the
office until he resigned, in 1863. In September, 18G1, President
Lincoln appointed him commissary of subsistence, with the rank
of Captain of cavalry. He was brevetted Major for meritorious
conduct, and was honorably discharged in November. 18G5. In
180S and 1870 he was warmly supported by the Republicans of his
county for the nomination to Congress, but the other counties of
his district carried the majority for his competitor. Mr. Cooley
was married at Dubuque, in 185G, to Miss Jane M. Rhodes, then
of that city. In the legal profession Mr. Cooley has few peers in
Northern Iowa, and few have made themselves a better public
and private record. He has ever had the interest of his city and
county at heart, and has been identified with many of the enter-
prises that have proved beneficial to the community in which he
has so long resided.''

In the latter part of 1879 Mr. Cooley was appointed by Gover-
nor Gear to the position of District Judge of the Tenth Judicial
District, consisting of Winneshiek, Howard, Chickasaw, Fayette,
Clayton and Allamakee counties, to fill the vacancy caused by the
resignation of Judge Reuben Noble. In November, 1880, he was
elected to the same position for the regular term of two years.
He has a beautiful home, an unusually fine library, and his social
and domestic relations are of the pleasantest. He- has two sons,
the elder of whom, C. M. Cooley, is married to the daughter of
Rev. H. B. Wood worth, for a number of years pastor of the
Congregational Church in Decorah, and now lives in Dakota.
Previous to his election as Judge, Mr. Cooley was elected to and
discharged the office of Mayor of Decorah for two successive
terms, with honor to himself and credit to the city.

The eighth election was held on the 6th of August, 1855.

Nelson Burdick was elected Recorder and Treasurer, over N.
Otis, by 102 majority.

James Van Pelt was elected Surveyor, and Philip Morse, Coro-
ner.

In this election there were no less than five candidates for the
office of County Judge. The canvassing board returned the fol-
lowing count: Joseph Gibbons had 205 votes for the office, while
his opponents in the race had the following number of votes re-
spectivelv: J. T. Atkins, 195; William Painter, 10; David Reed,
9, and N. Otis, 1.

An informality in this election caused it to be set aside, as far
as Judge was concerned, and Mr. Reed was continued in office for
another term of two years. The particulars are given in the pre-
ceding chapter, introductory to the county seat contest.

On the 1st of April Aaron Newell resigned the office of Clerk
of the District Court, and Nathaniel Otis was appointed in his
stead.

200 HISTORY OF WIXNESHIEK COUNTY.

In the April election of 185G there were 816 votes j^olled. The
only officer elected was School Fund Commissioner. There were
plenty of candidates in the field willing to assume the responsi-
bilities of this office, as the following list will show: J. E. B.
Morgan, Elijah Middlebrook, J. P. McKinney and Thomas Bell.
J. E. B. Morgan was elected to fill the office by forty-eight ma-
jority. This office was discontinued during Morgan's term.

L. Butler resigned the office of Liquor Agent on the 26th of
June, 1856, to which office he had previously been appointed. The
duties of this officer were to superintend the sale of liquors in the
county, that is to see that no one trafficed in liquors except those
who sold it for medicinal purposes. Butler's resignation was ac-
cepted, and H. C. Bulls appointed to fill the vacancy, on the 30th of
June, 1856. This office was discontinued at the expiration of his
term. ^

The tenth election was held in August, 1856.

L, W. Griswold was elected Prosecuting Attorney, over S. A.
Tup per.

Nathaniel Otis was elected Clerk of the District Court, over S.
D. H. Hughes and G. W. Esty. Previous to this election the
county had been organized into eleven voting precincts.

This election gave to Winneshiek County her first Senatorial
officer, in the person of J. T. Atkins. At this date Winneshiek
county was but a portion of the Sitli Senatorial District, which
was composed of the following counties: Winneshiek, Allama-
kee, Howard, Floyd and Mitchell. The total vote of this en-
tire Senatorial District was 2,331,of which number J. T. At-
kins received 1,599, as against 716 for Edward Ellis, his oppo-
nent.

J. T. Atkins was born in Phillipstown, Worcester County,
Mass., April 4, 1811. The early part of his life was spent in the
Eastern States, where he followed steamboating as a vocation
during the season when navigation was open, and taught school
during the winter months. He received a common school educa-
tion. Mr. Atkins immigrated to Indiana in 1835, where he com-
menced a real estate brokerage business. In 1851 there was much
talk of the "new purchase," a part of which was Winneshiek
County. The Judge contracted the fever, and came to Winne-
shiek County, Iowa, in the autumn of that year. Here he re-
sumed his old business, that of land speculating, and also prac-
ticed law for several years, but not being a resident at the county
seat, he concluded to abandon his profession and give his atten-
tion solely to his speculations. October 19, 1851, he was appoint-
ed Prosecuting Attorney and Enrolling Officer, by Gov. Kirkwood.
He was elected County Judge, at one time, but failed to qualify.
In 1867 he was chosen to represent this county in the State Legis-
lature. He has for some years past been a resident of Decorah.

IIISTUKY OF NVINXE.SIIIEK COUXTV. 201

I The first special election was held on the 10th of October, 1856.
The question at stake was whether tlie county should vote
$100,000 in aid of the Northwestern Railroad. There were 920
votes cast in favor of it, and 505 against.

The eleventh election was held in April, 1857, in which con-
test James B. Smith was elected to the office of Sheriff. George
N. Hoi way was elected to the office of County Assessor.

George N. Holway Avas born in Sandwich, Mass., September
29, 1826. He received his education at Sandwich and Providence.
He immigrated to Iowa in 1852, and made a permanent settlement
at Hesper. He soon afterward became iudentified with the polit-
ical affairs of the county. He was first elected County Assessor.
He has been elected to the office of Treasurer, Supervisor and
County Superintendent. He is now (1882) engaged in mining in
one of the western territories.

James E. Simpson was elected to the office of Drainage Com-
missioner.

James E. Simpson was born in New York City^ August 10,
1833. He received his education in the public schools of that
State. He immigrated to Allamakee County in 1855. In that
county he was engaged in teaching school and surveying until
the summer of 185G, when he moved to Decorah, and that winter
taught the public school of the latter place. That spring he was
appointed Deputy County Surveyor, in which position he con-
tinued as Deputy and County Surveyor until 1860. In 1860 he
was appointed Deputy Clerk under S. W. Paul. He was elected
County Superintendent in 1861, which office he resigned to enter
the United States service. He enlisted in Co. G, Twelfth Iowa
Volunteers. He was made Orderly Sergeant, and promoted to
Second Lieutenant. He resigned his lieutenancy during the sum-
mer of 1862, on account of ill health. On his return home he
again resumed the office of County Superintendent. In 1863 he
was appointed Deputy Provost Marshal of Winneshiek County,
which office he filled until mustered out of the service in 1865.
In 1866 he was appointed United States Revenue Inspector of the
Third Iowa District. In 1868 he was retained as one of the
twenty-five United States Revenue Agents, and remained in the
service until September, 1876. He was married to Mary A. Rank-
in, of Frankville, in July, 1860.

Mr. Simpson was, several years ago, appointed United States
Revenue Collector for this district, with headquarters at Dubuque,
to which place he thereupon removed, though socially as well as
in property interests he is still identified with Decorah,

L. W. Griswold resigned the office of Prosecuting Attorney, July
11, 1857. Dryden Smith was appointed to fill the office made
vacant by Griswold's resignation, July 21, 1857, and was elected
as Prosecuting Attorney in the October election, 1857. The fol-
lowing winter this office was abolished.

202 HISTORY OF WINNESHIEK COUNTY,

The next electioa was held August, 1857, at which there were
804 votes cast for County Judge, L. W. Griswold was the suc-
cessful candidate for this oiBce over S. A. Tupper,

J. B. Smith was re-elected Sheriff over E. M. Farnsworth.

Nelson Burdick was re-elected Recorder and Treasurer over
J. Oleson.

L, W. Ludlow was elected County. Surveyor over David Gorsuch,

Amos Hoag was elected Coroner over George Cooney.

There were 3-15 majority for the new State Constitution.

In the October election following, E. E. Cooley was elected
State Representative by a majority of 512, over William F.
Kimball.

Dryden Smith was elected Prosecuting Attorney by 481 major-
ity, over S. A. Tapper. Dryden Smith was an Indianian. He
early came to the county, and figured quite prominently in politi-
cal affairs.

The spring election of 1858 was held on the 14th of April. The
only county officer elected in this contest was that of Superinten-
dent of Public Instruction. It was the first office of this charac-
ter elected in the county, and H. C. Bulls was the man on whom
this honor was conferred by the people.

Hon. H. C. Bulls was born in Chazy, Clinton County, New
York, on the 14th of November, 1830, He studied medicine in
Vermont, with Dr. A, C. Butler, and graduated at the Vermont
Medical College, Woodstock, Vt. He came to W^inneshiek coun-
ty a young man, in October, 1854, and taught the first month of
the second term of school that was taught in the village. Politi-
cally, the doctor was a strong Clay Whig, and latterly as ardent
a republican. Previous to his being elected County Superin-
tendent he had been appointed commissioner for the sale of in-
toxicating liquors, by Judge Reed. At the expiration of his
term this office was discontinued. He was next elected a member
of the Board of Supervisors, and was made its president. In
1865 he was elected State Senator, and served his constituency
four years in this capacity, during which time he was elected
a trustee of the Iowa State University, In 1869 lie was returned
to the State Senate. He served one year of his second term, dur-
ing which time he was elected President 'pro tern, by the House of
Representatives. In 1871, he was electecl Lieutenant Governor of
the State. His thorough knowledge of parliamentary rules pe-
culiarly fitted him for this new responsibility. He discharged the
duties of this office honorably, efficiently and faithfully. In
August, 1876, he was appointed by President Grant a member of
the Indian commission, whose duty it was to treat with the
Sioux Indians for the purchase of the Black Hill sterritory. Dr.
Bulls was absent five months on this mission. The object of the
commission was, finally, successfully accomplished.

HISTORY OF WINNESHIEK COUNTY. 203

Dr. Bulis, was elected to the office of Mayor of Decorali, in
1880, holding that position for two successive terms, performing
the duties with honor to himself and with credit and henefit to
Decorah, of which he is ever an enterprising and public-spirited
citizen, his wife being an active helper in every good work.

In the October election of 1858, there were 1,305 votes polled
for Clerk of the District Court. S. W. Paul was declared elected
to the office, over K. K. Buckman, by 190 majority.

J. E. Simpson was elected County Surveyor, over David Gorsuch.

•In the elections of 1859, the following officers were elected:

Erick Anderson, Sheriff; S. W. Matteson, Clerk; T. W. Bur-
dick, Recorder and Treasurer; A. K. Averill, County Surveyor;
John^R. Howard, Coroner; W. F. Coleman, County Superinten-
dent of Public Instruction.

In the fall election of 1860, which took place on the Tuesday
after the first Monday in November, S. W. Matteson was re-elec-
ted Clerk of the District Court.

With 1860 was inaugurated a. change in the administration of
County affiiirs, a Board of Supervisors, one from each organized
township, taking the place of the County Judge in these matters,
in January, 1861, although the County Court contiuued to exist
for probate and some other matters till the foundation of the
Circuit Court, referred to in succeeding pages.

This Supervisor system gave place in 1870 to the County Com-
missioner system, the officers still being termed, as they now are,
Supervisors, of which there were three. In 1872 the number of
Supervisors was increased to five, the County being divided into
five districts — the number at present existing.

And as the Courts of the county form a prominent part of its
history, we here briefly trace their successive Judges, completing
first the roll of County Judges till that office was abolished by the
organization of the Circuit Court, about the close of the year 1868.

COUNTY JUDGES.

Our previous record shows that L. W. Griswold was elected
County Judge in 1857. He held the office to January 1st, 1860.
His successors were as follows:

D. H. Hughes, who held the office two years, commencing Jan.
1st, 1860.

Jno. DeCow, two years, commencing Jan. 1,1862.
G. R. Willett, four years, commencing Jan. 1, 1861.

E. Cutler assumed the office Jan. 1, 1868, and held it till the
close of that year, when it gave place to the Circuit Court, (re-
ferred to a little later), which attended to Probate business. The
duties of the County Auditor had hitherto been performed by the
County Judge, and Mr. Cutler therefore became County Auditor,
ex-officio, to the end of his terra and was then twice re-elected
Auditor, as referred to hereafter.

13 '

20i HISTORY OF WlifNESHIEK COUNTY.

DISTRICT AND CIRCUIT COURTS.

Winneshiek county is a part of the 10th judicial district, the
balance of the district being comprised of Howard, Chickasaw,
Fayette, Allamakee, and Clayton counties. The territories of the
district and circuit courts coincide, or in other words, they have
concurrent jurisdiction^ in all the judicial districts throughout the
State.

The District Court exercises general and original jurisdiction,
both civil and criminal, where not otherwise provided^ and appel-
late jurisdiction in all criminal matters; and it has a general su-
pervision over all inferior courts and officers in all criminal cases,
to prevent and correct abuses where no other remedy is provided.
One district judge elected by the people, holds court alternately at
each county seat at times specified by the district and circuit
judges, and a clerk of the District Court, who is ex-officio clerk,
also of the Circuit Court, is elected once in two years in each county.

The Circuit Court exercises original jurisdiction concurrent
with the District Court in all civil actions and special proceedings,
and exclusive jurisdiction in all appeals and writs of error from
inferior courts, tribunals and officers, and has a general super-
vision thereof in all civil matters. All probate business is also
done by the Circuit Court.

For nearly seventeen years the District Court had charge of the
business now transacted by both courts. But the business here, as
well as in other districts of the State, became so great as to be bur-
densome and cause delay; and the 12th General Assembly enacted
a law signed April 3d, 1868, creating Circuit Judges, the act tak-
ing effect Jan. 1st, 1869, except that the judges should be elected
in November, 1868.

The first term of District Court for this county was held in
Decorah on Friday, the 9th day of July, 1852. Present — -Hon.
Thomas. S. Wilson, Judge; Geo. Bachel, Sheriff; and Wm. F.
Kimball, Clerk; Eeuben Noble, B. W. Poor, Jno. McKay, and
Jno. W. Ramine were admitted to practice as attorneys. They
had previously been admitted to the bar in other States. Jno.
D. McKay, on application and examination was admitted for the
first time to practice as an attorney and counselor-at-law. The
first grand jury empanneled consisted of the following named
persons: Nathan S. Gilbert, foreman; Isaac Callendar, J. H.
Gilliband, Omri Emery, Rupel Dean, D. W. Carrier, Henry Mc-
Swain, Wm. Campbell, Levi Moore, Adam Heckart, Wm. Clark,
Lewis Eddy, Dwight Kathburn, David Frazier and Philip Howe.

Judge Wilson continued in office till the commencement of
1855, when Samuel S. Murdock, of Clayton Co., having been
chosen at the regular election the latter part of the preceding
year, took the bench and occupied it for a term of four years.
The District Judges since that tinie^ — the opening of the year
1859 — have been:

HISTORY OF WINNESHIEK COUNTY. 205

Elias A. Williiims of Clayton county, two terms, to 18C7.

Milo McGlatliety, of Fayette County, two terms, to 1875.

Reuben Noble, of Clayton County, held the first session of his
first term in Feb., 1875. He was elected to a second term at the
fall election of 1878, and held the office till the latter part of
1879, when he resigned.

E. E. Cooley, of Decorah, was appointed by Gov. Gear to fill
the vacancy till the election the following year. He took his seat
in December, 1879.

At the election in the fall of 1880, Mr. Cooley was chosen to
fill the remainder of the unexpired term, and still occupies the
bench.

The first Circuit Court Judge was chosen at the election in
November, 1868, his term commencing, according to the law pre-
viously referred to, on the 1st of January, 1869.

The Judge chosen was M. V. Burdick, who has been previously
referred to in this history, and to him belongs the honor of being
the first Circuit Judge of the Tenth District. He was an early
resident of Decorah, and has been here much of the time since,
though now living at Lansing, Allamakee County. He held the
office for one term of four years.

The second Circuit Judge was C. T. Granger, of Waukon,
Allamakee County, who came upon the bench at the opening of
the year 1873, tor a term of four years. He was re-elected in
the fall of 1876 for a second term, and again in 1880 for a third
term, in which he is now serving.

The preceding record of elections shows who were Clerks of
Court for Winneshiek County up to 1860, when S. W. Matteson
held the office. He was re-elected in 1861, again in 1862, and
again in 1864. The following is the date of election of Clerks of
Court for this county since that time:

Dan Lawrence in 1866.

M. P. Hathaway in 1868.

S. E. Tubbs in 1870 and 1872.

A. W. Brownell in 1874.

E. B. Hutchinson in 1876 and 1878.

M. W. Harden in 1880, being the present incumbent.

The important office of District Attorney for the Tenth Dis-
trict has been held successively for the last two terms by Winne-
shiek County men. Orlando J. Clark, elected in 1874, and whose
term expired January 1st, 1879, was succeeded by the present in-
cumbent, Cyrus Wellington, elected in the fall of 1878.

STATE LEGISLATORS.

Our state Senators since Dr. H. C. Bulls, with whom our pre-
vious record leaves off, have been:
M. V. Burdick, elected in 1861.

206 HISTORY OF WINNESHIEK COUNTY.

H. C. Bulls, again elected iu 1S65; was re-elected 1S69, and re-
signed in 1871, when be was elected Lieutenant Governor of the
State.

Hon. (j. R. Willett was chosen to fill the vacancy caused by the
resignation of Dr. Bulls, and was in 1873 re-electsd for a four
years term.

"Hon. G. R. Willett was born in Lacadie, Province of Quebec,
November 11, 1826. Though born in Canada, yet both his pa-
rents were Americans. He spent the early part of his life in
Canada, and received his education there. He studied law at
Champlain, New York, and graduated at the Albany Law School.
He was admitted to the bar in that city in 1856, He practiced
law in Champlain until 1857, when he came west and settled in De-
corah. He raised the first company of volunteers to fight for the
Union, namely. Company D, Third Iowa Infantry. He was
wounded in the knee in 1861, which so disabled him that he was
obliged to resign and return home. In 1864 he was elected County
Judge. During the winter of 1874 he was elected President pro
tern, of the Senate. He was Chairman of the Committee on Con-
stitutional Amendments, and during the session of 1875 he was
Chairman of the Judiciary Committee. He was also a member of
the Committee on Railroads, Insurance and Judicial Districts.
From 1868 to 1872 he was President of the Winneshiek W^oolen
Manufacturing Company. He was married at the age of 21 to
Miss Alinda C. Kellogg, "in Champlain, New York. Mr. Willett
has occupied many high positions within the gift of the people,
and has always discharged his trust honorably and faithfully. His
legal ability Is recognized abroad as well as well as at home. As
evidence of this fact, the reader is referred to his appointment as
Chairman of the Judiciary Committee."

Mr. Willett and wife can now be reckoned as comparatively old
residents, as they are among our most active, liberal and public-
spirited ones. Their oldest son, Mahlon, is a successful minister
to a church on the Pacific coast, while the second son, Norman,
is a partner of his father in the law business, and reliable and
successful.

M. N. Johnson was elected in 1877. Mr. Johnson is a son of
Nelson Johnson, an old pioneer previously referred to. He grad-
uated at the State University in 1873, and at the law class there
in 1876. He was elected State Representative in the fall of 1875,
and a presidential elector in 1876. He is now in partnership with
his younger brother in the law business in Decorah.

H. A. Baker was elected in the fall of 1882. He is a promi-
nent young business man of Osslan, popular, enterprising, and
thriving. His present term will hold through the next session of
the legislature — the winter of 1883-4.

HISTORY OF WINNESHIEK COUNTY. 207

Since our record, closing witli 1860, the following have been
elected as State Representatives; the elections being for but one
biennial session.

W. H. Baker and Ole Nelson in 1861.

Ole Nelson and James H. Brown in 1863.

H. B. Williams was elected in 1864 to fill vacancy caused by
the death of Ole Nelson.

Jas. H. Brown and H. B. Williams, elected in 1865.

H. B. Williams and J. T. Atkins, in 1867.

H. B. Williams and 0. A. Lommen, in 1869.

Knudt Berg and Warren Danforth, in 1871.

Knudt Bergh was born in Norway, and came to America when
a boy, with his father, and settled in Highland Township. Mr.
Bergh early appreciated the value of an education, and strove with
all his energy to attain the high place which he afterwards reached
in educational circles. An adopted citizen, he became an Ameri-
can in all that the name implies. He was an exemplary man, and
revered by all who knew him. In the legislative halls of the
State he served his county with fairness and ability. Mr. Bergh
was a graduate of the University of St. Louis. He afterward
became one of the professors in the Norwegian Lutheran College.
His health failed him, and in 1873 he visited his native country,
where he died of consumption, on the 16th of June, 1875, at Eide,
Hardanger, Norway.]

Warren Danforth and Jno. DeCow in 1873.

Warren Danforth and M. N. Johnson in 1875.

H. A. Baker and H. C. Manning in 1877.

H. A. Baker and Levi Hubbell in 1879.

Levi Hubbell and D. (). Aker m 1881.

REPRESENTATIVES IN" CONGRESS.

It was not till 1877 that the Representative in Congress for this
district was chosen from Winneshiek County. From soon after
the organization of the State to 1863, there were but two Con-
gressional Districts in Iowa, and after that time till 1881, Winne-
shiek County has been in the Third Congressional District,
although the number of districts have been mcreased from time to
time. Wm. B. Allison, of Dubuque, was our Representative from
1863 to 1871, and ceased to be Representative to become United
State Senator, which position he now holds.

W. G. Donnan, of Independence, was Representative to the
Forty-second Congress — 1871 to 1873, and also to the Forty-third
Congress — 1873 to 1875.

For the Forty-fourth Congress — 1875 to 1877— a Democrat;
L. L. Aiusworth, of West Union, was elected by a very small ma-
jority after a close contest; C. T. Granger, of Waukon, being his
Republican opponent.

208 HISTORY OF WINNESHIEK COUNTY.

The Third Congressional District embraced the counties of
Allamakee, Buchanan, Clayton, Delaware, Dubuque, Fayette and
Winneshiek.

At the Congressional Convention held at McGregor Sept. 6,
1876, Theodore W. Burdick, of Decorah, who had not sought
the office, went into the convention supported by nineteen dele-
gates from the Winneshiek County Republican Convention, who
stood by him through' the Convention, until he was nominated
on the 22d ballot. J. M. Griffith, of Dubuque, was his Dem-
ocratic opponent, and the contest was a fierce one, intensi-
fied by the fact that a Democrat had . been elected for the pre-
ceding term. Mr. Burdick was elected by a majority of 1,267,
his own county leading the list of Republican counties by a
majority of 1,265. He was a faithful and efficient working mem-
ber of Congress, and at the close of the term positively declined a
re-nomination. Since the previous biographical sketches in this
volume have been put in the hands of the printer, it has been de-
cided to give more complete sketches of prominent men else-
where in the volume, so that it will not be necessary to give them
at length in the regular history, but the following from Andreas'
Atlas of Iowa, published before Mr. Burdick's election, is worthy
of reproduction here.

"Theodore W. Burdick, cashier of the First National and Sav-
ings Banks of Decorah, is a native of Pennsylvania, born Octo-
ber 7, 1836. He removed with his parents to Winneishiek County
at the age of 17, having previously acquired a good English edu-
cation, his father having intended him for a collegate course at
Oberlin. The removal to the west, however, interfered with that
arrangement, and on their arrival at Decorah, in the spring of 1853,
he was employed as the first school teacher in the place, the first
school-house having just then been completed. The following
spring his father was elected County Treasurer, and he took charge
of the office and also that of County Recorder, discharging prac-
tically the duties of both until he became of age, in 1857. At
the next election following he was elected County Treasurer, and
filled the office in a most faithful and satisfactory manner till 1862,
when he resigned to enter the army. He was commissioned Cap-
tain of Company D, Sixth Iowa Volunteer Cavalry, in which ca-
pacity he served foi three years — till 1865. Four brothers besides
himself were in the army, and three of them lost their lives in their
country's service. On his return from the army Mr. Burdick pur-
chased an interest in the First National Bank of Decorah, of
which he was elected Cashier in 1866. Since the war he has held
no public office, but has devoted himself exclusively to business.
Both in his public and private relations, for a period of over
twenty years, since he became a citizen of Decorah, he has been
noted as a gentleman of honor and integrity, of good business
talents and irreproachable character."

HISTOKy OF WINNESHIEK COUNTY. 209

Thomas Updegraff, of McGregor, was the Republican candidate
for Congress in 1878, being nominated at McGregor (after a very
close fight for the nomination with D. N. Cooley, of Dubuque).
Mr. Updegraff was elected October 8, 1878, receiving 12,596 votes
in the district; Fred. O'Donnell, (Democrat), of Dubuque, receiv-
ing 10,881, and Spangle (Greenback) receiving 5,338.

Thomas Updegraff was re-elected November 2, 1880, his oppon-
ents being W. G. Stewart, (democrat) and M. H. Moore (green-
back), both of Dubuque. The vote was: Updegraff, 17,359; Stew-
art, 13,969; Moore, 2,193.

By the recent re-districting of the State, this county is in the
Fourth Congressional District, embracing the counties of Alla-
makee, Winneshiek, Howard, Mitchell, Clayton, Fayette, Chicka-
saw and Floyd. Mr. Updegraff is a candidate for re-election with
the probability of being returned for the third term.

COUNTY OFFICERS RESUMED.

TREASURERS AND RECORDERS.

Our previous record shows T. W. Burdick as County Treasurer
and Recorder in 18G0. In 1861 he was re-elected. He resigned
his position in 1862 to enlist in the army, and G. R. Willet was
appointed to fill the vacancy. The following were successively
elected to the office of the Treasurer, the Recorder's office being
separated from it in 1861:

A. K. Bailey, in 1863.

G. N, Holway, in 1865-7.

G. T. Lommen, in 1869 and 1871.

Edwin Klove, in 1873, 1875, 1877, and 1879; his fourth term
expiring December 31st, 1881.

N. H. Adams was elected in the fall of 1881, and on the 1st of
January, 1882, assumed the duties of the office of Treasurer, which
he now holds.

In 1861:, when the Recoider's office was separated from that
of the Treasurer, Jno. E. Powers was elected Recorder, and was
re-elected in 1866.

Cyrus W. McKay was elected in 1868, 1870 and 1872.

Chas. Stern in 1874 and in 1876. Mr. Stern died during his
second term of office and Wm. M. Fannon was elected to fill the
vacancy. Mr. Fannon was re-elected in 1878 and again in 1880.
His term of office will expire wdtli 1882.

COUNTY SUPERINTENDENTS.

In 1861 or 1862, H. C. Bulls was appointed County Superinten-
dent of Schools.

210 HISTORY OF WlifNESHIEK COUNTY.

I, M. Wedge Avood was elected County Superinteudent of Schools
in 1863, 18G5, 1867 and 1869.

Henry Toye was elected in 1871.

G. N. Hoi way was elected in 1873.

Nels Kessy in 1875, 1877 and 1879.

J. A. Klien Avas elected in 1881, assuming the duties of office
January 1, 1882.

COUNTY SUEVEYORS.

Taking up again the office of County Surveyor, we find E.
Baldwin elected in 1861, 1863, 1865 and 1867.
W. C. Adsit elected in 1869, 1871 and 1873.
J. L. Cameron in 1875 and 1877.
E. B. Collwell in 1879.
J. L. Cameron in 1881, his term commencing January 1, 1882.

SHERIFFS.

Sheriff Erick Anderson, previously mentioned as elected in
1859, was re-elected in 1861.

Armund Arneson was elected in 1863, and again in 1865.

A. S. Skofstadt was elected in 1867.

Knudt Thompson in 1869 and 1871.

C. H. Hitchcock in 1873.

J. H. Womeldorf in 1875 and 1877.

DeWitt C. Moore in 1879 and 1881.

Soon after election in the fall of 1881, Mr. Moore resigned
to accept the position of cashier of a bank at Grafton, Dakota, his
resignation taking effect Dec. 8, 1881.

H. M. Langland was thereupon appointed by the Board of
Supervisors to fill the vacancy till the next election, which takes
place in November, 1882.

COUNTY AUDITORS.

E. Cutler was elected County Judge in the fall of 1867, and
assumed its duties Jan. 1, 1868. At the close of 1868, as already
detailed, the newly created Circuit Court absorbed the duties of
County Probate Court, and Mr. Cutler became County Auditor
ex officio^ retaining the Court duties pertaining to that branch of
the office. He was re-elected County Auditor in the fall of 1869,
and again in 1871.

H. A. Bigelow was elected in 1873.

R S. Hale was elected in 1875, 1877, and 1879.

T. E. Egge was elected in 1881 and entered upon his two years'
term Jan. 1, 1882.

CORONERS.

John Howard — referred to in record prior to 1860 — was succeed-
ed by the following coroners:

HISTORY OF AVINNESHIEK COUNTY. 211

C. McKay was elected in 1861, 1863, 1865, 1867, and 1869.

F. W. Knox, elected in 1871.

A. C. Ferren, in 1873.

A. H. Fannon, in 1875.

E. Mather, in 1877 ard 1879.

W. F. Coleman, in 1881.

COUNTY SUPERVISORS.

Since 1870, when the County Commissioner system was adopted,
by the county being divided into districts, and a Commissioner or
Supervisor elected from each district, the Supervisors have been
as follows:

M. S. Drury, Geo. C. Winship and A. Arneson were elected in
1870, for terms varying so that a portion of them should be elected
each year.

M. S. Drury was re-elected in 1872, the other members being
increased to five. F. G. Hale and C. Sydow w^ere elected the same
year. F. G. Brittain was elected in 1873.

By the above change to five Supervisors, the districts embrace
townships as follows:

First District— Bloomfield, Military, Springfield, Frankville.

Second District— Washington, Jackson, Sumner, Calmar.

Third District — Lincoln, Bluff'ton, Orleans, Burr Oak, Fremont.

Fourth District — Pleasant, Canoe, Hesper, Highland, Glen-
wood.

Fifth District — Decorah, Madison.

The Supervisors in ofiice at the commencement of 1874 were
M. S. Drury, A. Arneson, Chas. Sydow, F. G. Hale and Geo. C.
Winship. The following were elected from the several districts
thereafter, the elections being for a regular term commencing the
January following the election, except in case of removal, death,
or resignation.

Elected in 1871:, Second District, Chas. Meyers; Fifth District,
G. C. Winship.

Elected in 1875, First District, Turner Calender; Third District,
Peter Morton.

Elected in 1876, Second District, H. Geisen, Fourth District, 0.
W. Ellin gson.

Elected in 1877, Second District, A. W. Brownell; Fifth Dis-
trict, Jacob Jewell.

Elected in 1878, First District, Geo Merrill; Third District, S.
G. Kendall.

Elected in 1879, Fourth District, Nels Larson.

Elected in 1880, First District, E. S. Lambert; Second District,
A. W. Brownell; Third District, Almon Rice; Fifth District G. L.
Wendling.

Elected in 1881, Third District, R. Barnes; Fourth District, 0.
T. Lommen.

212 HISTORY OF WINNESHIEK COUNTY.

COUNTY OFFICEES IN 1882.

The present (1882) County Officers (besides the officers for this
Judicial District— District Judge E. E. Coolej, Circuit Judge C.
T. Granger, and District Attorney Cyrus Wellington) are:

Clerk of Courts— M. W. Harden; N. H. Nelson, Deputy.

Auditor— T. E. Egge; J. W. Danbrey, deputy.

Treasurer— N. H. Adams; C. E. Header, deputy.

Recorder— Wm. M. Fannon; Wm. H. Fannon^ deputy.

Sheriff— H. M. Langland; W. P. Sanford, deputy.

Superintendent of Schools— J. A. Klein.

Surveyor — J. L. Cameron.

Coroner — W. F. Coleman.

The present Supervisors (1882) are as follows:

First District— 0. T. Lommen.

Second District— A. W. Brownell.

Third District— R. Barnes.

Fourth District — Nels Larsen.

Fifth District— Geo. L, Wendling.

NEW JAIL.

^ At the November election, 1876, a tax was voted for the erec-
tion of a new County jail, the majority for the tax being '290.
The erection of a substantial brick building on the southeast
corner of the Court House grounds was promptly commenced and
duly completed, and improved steel cells put in. Besides being a
handsome structure, it is the safest in this part of Iowa. It is re-
ferred to elsewhere.

CHAPTER VI.

Pojmlation; Court House and Jail; Court House Grounds; Poor
House and Farm; Murder Trials; Railroad History; Our
Products; Educational and Literary; a Gratifying Exhibit;
Good State of the County Finances; Census of 1880.

By the United State census of 1880 the population of Winne-
shiek County was 23,937. And yet up to the commencement of
the previous year, the court house erected in the early days, with
a jail and residence for the sheriff in the basement, was so good
a building that it had done service for a little over thirty years,
and now with a new jail, containing sheriff s residence, improve-
ments made in the court house and enlargement of quarters of

HISTORY OF WINNESHIEK COUNTY. 213

county officers, the latter building will answer the purpose for
the county for some years yet. A few words about the county

buildings

COURT HOUSE AND JAIL.

The present Court House was commenced in 1857, a tax having
been voted in ' 1S5G, and was completed in 1858. The courts
previous to that time were sometimes held in rented rooms, —
though for a while at first in the log house of Wm. Day, and
afterwards in Newell's Hall. The cost of the Court House build-
ings, including the jail in the basement, was about $18,000. The
land for the grounds was donated by Wm. Day and Wm. Paint-
er, and occupies one square, being bounded on the north by Main
street, on the east by Winnebago street, on the south by Broad-
way, and on the west by Court street. The Court House building
has a basement of stone in which were originally the jail and
sheriff's residence, and above this two stories of brick; the court
room occupying the upper floor and the county offices the remain-
dea of the building.

After the erection of the new jail the basement was given up
to the Recorder's office with a large fire-proof vault, the Clerk's
office with also a fire-proof vault, and the office of the County
Surveyor. The offices of the County Treasurer, Auditor, Sheriff,
and County Superintendent, are now on the floor above. The
court room is on the upper floor as originally constructed.

In the fall of 1876, a county tax of $12,000, to be divided be-
tween 1877 and 1878, was voted for the erection of a new jail, as
stated at the close of the preceding chapter. The jail was com-
menced and completed in 1878. It is a handsome brick building,
two stories high, with stone basement and tin roof — size on the
ground being 311x56 feet. The Sheriff's residence is on the first
floor and the jail proper on the second floor, provided with Pauley's
patent steel cells, considered very secure and proof against jail
breakers. The cost of building, with cells, etc., was —

Jail building |5,434.25

P.' J. Pauley's patent steel cells and corridors with sewer pipe and

water tank 6,097 00

200 baiTol cistern 175 00

10 inch sewer pipe connecting with dry run 208 00

Total 111,114 25

There was also expended in 1878, on stone walls and terracing
the Court House grounds, about $5,000. Much smaMer amounts
have since been expended in continuing the walls and terracing,
and the work is mostly finished, except on the south side, where
the excavating of Broadway by the city is not yet completed.
The main front of the Court House is on the north side, the
building being a little back of the centre of the grounds, and the
jail at the southeast corner of the grounds.

214 HISTORY OF WIKKESHIEK COUNTY.

With the outer wall there are five walls and terraces, covered
with grassy lawn, presenting a beautiful appearance. The court
house was, for that time, a magnificent building, and is still re-
spectable looking, though a little ancient. Its position is com-
manding, overlooking the city and surrounding valley, and will
some of these days, no doubt, be the site of an imposing edifice.

POOR HOUSE AND FARM.

The poor house and farm of Winneshiek County are located
near the village of Freeport, on the southeast quarter of section
14, township 98, range 8 west, in Decorah township; the farm
contains 130 acres. Sixty acres were purchased in 1866, and on
it stood a large frame house; a brick house, barn and other build-
ings have since been erected, and seventy acres of timber land
purchased .

MURDER TRIALS.

Winneshiek County has had some half a dozen murders, or
cases in which that crime was cbarged, the trial in the last
case being still to come. Several of them have been exciting
ones.

The first trial for murder was held in 1861. The defendants
were John Livengood and Delilah A. Telyea, who were tried for
the murder of Charles Telyea, the husband of Delilah A., in the
October term of court, 1861, Wore Judge Williams. When the
^ charge was first made against the guilty parties, the grand jury
failed to find an indictment, on the ground that the body of the
murdered man had not been found; but the case was brought be-
fore the next grand jury, who brought in a bill. Public opinion
was strong against the accused, and great excitement prevailed.
The public was agitated to such an extent over the matter that
the defendants' attorneys sued for a change of venue, which was
granted. The case was taken to Clayton County, where the par-
ties were tried. Livengood was found guilty, and sentenced to the
penitentiary for life; while Mrs. Telyea was acquitted, although
public opinion generally considered her guilty. Livengood was par-
doned out at the end of ten years, and is supposed to be now living
somewhere in Northern Wisconsin.

The next case to enlist attention, and set the public in a state
of ferment was that of Charles D. Seeley, for the murder of Wm.
McClintock, tried before Judge McGlatherty, February 11th,
1872. Seeley was convicted of manslaughter, and sentenced to
the penitentiary, at hard labor, for fifteen months.

The third murder trial, and by far the most exciting, was that
of Helen D. Stickles for the murder of her husband, J. P. Stickles,
by poison. On January 4, 1876, John P. Stickles, to all appear-
ances was enjoying perfect health. That afternoon he was sud-
denly taken sick, and died within a few hours, with all the atten-

HISTORY OF WIKXESHIEK COUNTY. 215

dant symptoms of poisoning by strychniue. The next morning
as the news circulated from mouth to mouth, giving in detail the
sudden and horrible death, the conviction was forced upon the
community that either a fatal mistake had been made in adminis-
tering medicine to the unfortunate man, or a wanton and terrible
crime had been committed. A post-mortem examination was held,
which served to strengthen the previous theory that J. P.
Stickles had died from poison. The stomach was sent to Chica-
go for analysis. Dr. M. P. Hatfield, the chemist who made the
analysis, sent back word that he had found strychnine. As a re-
sult of the continual agitation of the question by the public, and
the evidence produced, the Grand Jury, at its March session, 1876,
indicted Helen D. Stickles for murder. The case came on for
trial in the District Court, Judge Reuben Noble presiding,' in
June. The trial lasted nine days, during which time the excite-
ment was intense and unabated. 0. J.Clark, Prosecuting Attor-
torney, was aided by J. T. Clark in prosecuting the side of the
State, while C. P. Brown and Cyrus Wellington made themselyes
noted as criminal lawyers, by the ability with which they defend-
ed the accused. It was one of the most stubbornly-contested
trials ever held in the county. Public opinion very generally
condemned Mrs. Stickles, but the jury disagreed, standing five for
acquittal to seven for conviction. A change of venue was granted
the accused, and the case was taken to Fayette County for trial,
where she was finally acquitted. She afterwards married Harry
Shufelt who was an intimate friend of the family at the time of
the death of Mr. Stickles, as well as of the accused at the time
of the trial, and moved to the northeastern part of the State,
where several years later she attempted suicide on account of be-
ing scolded by her husband for too much hilarity; but the dose of
poison was pumped out.

On the 9th of July 1876, a fatal shooting encounter took place
at the residence of Simeon Oleson. They had some supplies left
over from the Uh of July and concluded to have a bowery dance
on Sunday evening; Andrew Throndson, who was not invited,
attended; but it was a fatal visit to him. It seems that one or
both of the parties to the afi'ray had been drinking. As Thrond-
son, who, with some others, were shooting in a grove not far off,
approached the house of Simeon Oleson, who witli some others,
went outjto meet him, it was charged that both parties shot at each-
other. Throndson fell in the field where he stood, but the others
thought that he meant to decoy them, or at least they did not go out
there until the next morning, where the dead body of Throndson
was found. Oleson was bound over for trial. At the first trial the
jury disagreed, and at the second he was acquitted.

The next murder case or afi'ray resulting in death, occurred on
the 21st of December, 1876. Four brothers, named Torfin, living
not far from Locust Lane postoffice, which is near the northeast cor-

216 HISTORY OF WIKNESHIEK COUNTY.

ner of Pleasant Township, were going home from Decorah in a
sleigh, several other sleighs following along behind them. Some of
the sleighs passed them, and in some way the parties got into a quar-
rel. Peace was apparently soon restored, however, and they contin-
ued on their way until the sleighs that were ahead of the Torfin
brothers, reached across road where they halted; some of the men
jumped out, and when the Torfins came up, Avanted to "settle this
thing right here." Some of the Torfins jumped from their sleigh,
and while walking about, Ed. Torfin was felled to the earth with a
club. It was found that Helge Nelson struck the blow: Torfin
sprang up and ran and got into his sleigh, drove home, and came
down to his breakfast the next morning. The affray occurred on
Thursday evening. Sunday morning he died. Nelson was arrested,
tried, and sentenced to six months in the penitentiary.

The last murder was committed on Sunday, June 4, 1882, and
the trial has not yet taken place. We take the following particu-
lars from the Decorah Journal, June 7.

Peter Peterson Krogsund, a well-to-do farmer near the Peter
Olson stone mill, in Glenwood township, will have no more
trouble about his cattle trespassing; and Hans Hansen Skjerdahl,
who rents a farm near there, will probably have a life time to re-
pent the killing of his neighbor, whether that life is suddenly
brought up at the end of a rope or spent in prison walls — or pos-
sibly ended in some other way — who can tell.

To state the case briefly, and not to try to prejudge it, or give
evidence on either side that might prejudice it, as that will more
properly came before a jury, it is as follows:

Some years ago the deceased, Peter Peterson Krogsund, bought
a farm, on which he lived up to the time of his death. After his
purchase he was ordered to move back his fence, which was built
before he owned it, and which it seems trespassed a little on the
road. He thereupon removed his fence entirely, leaving his neigh-
bors to look after their stock, as the stock law did not compel him
to keep a fence. That seems to have been the beginning of ill-
feeling.

The recent trouble between the deceased and Hansen, the man
who shot him, first commenced last fall, but has not been renewed
again, particularly, it appears, until recently, though Hansen pur-
chased a revolver about a month ago.

Two days before the shooting there was a little trouble about
the deceased's stock getting on to Hansen's premises. Last Sun-
day afternoon Krogsund's cattle came on to Hansen's place, when
the latter shut them up and sent word by a girl to the owner. It
does not appear that the cattle had done much damage.

The deceased, who had the reputation of being quarrelsome,
came to the field about sun down, and began to throw the bars
down to get his cattle. Hansen was lying just a little behind the
point of the bluff near the bars, and rose up and told K. not to

HISTORY OF WINNESHIEK COUNTY. 217

touch the bars. The latter replied that he was going to have his
cattle. He again ordered him not to touch the bars, and mean-
while Hansen approached with his hands raised, in one of which
he held a revolver. The deceased, it appears, then also approached
Hansen, holding in his hands a light stick, which he raised as if
to strike Hansen, who fired his revolver at close range, the bullet
piercing the forehead of Krogsund, just above the left eye, caus-
ing him to fall unconscious. He did not move afterward^ except
some slight twitchings, and he died about midnight.

Hansen says he shot in self-defense, and that he was struck a
blow with the stick before he shot. The wounded man's brother
says that no blow was struck, though the stick was raised. Two
men on the bluff, about 15 rods distant, saw the stick raised and
also saw Hansen approach with hands raised, but saw no blow
struck.

Hansen immediately gave himself up, waived examination, and
is in jail for trial for murder, without bail. He is 23 years old and
leaves a viile and child. Peterson, or Krogsund, was about 36 years
old and also leaves a wife and child.

A coroner's inquest was held on Monday, and a verdict rendered
that the deceased came to his death by a bullet from a pistol in
the hands of Hansen. We are informed that the revolver con-
tained only the one charge. The scene of the tragedy was not far
from the stone mill above referred to, and very near the famous
cave in Grlenwood township, about nine miles from Decorah.

KAILROAD HISTORY.

For many years after the first settlement of the county, the pro-
ducts of the country had to be transported to the river and goods
brought back by team, McGregor being generally the trading
point for several years before the railroad was extended in this di-
rection. But the enterprising people demanded better transporta-
tion. Speaking of these first things in railroad enterprise. Sparks'
History says:

In 1856 everything was booming. The abundant resources of a
new country had reached a high state of development, money was
plenty, and the prospects for the future bright. One thing alone
seemed lacking to make the people perfectly satisfied with their
condition — better facilities for transportation. The time had
passed when the products of the county could be transported
sixty miles to market by ox-teams without suffering much incon-
venience and loss. The time had come when a railroad was a
necessity. The railroad fever was raging throughout the West,
and far-seeing ones realized the immense value that would sweep
in on iron rails, drawn by the iron horse. After a due amount of
talk and agitation, the Northwestern Railroad Company was
formed. Decorah was its headquarters, but they took in promi-
nent citizens of Clinton. John Thompson, of Clermont, became

218 HISTORY OF WINNESHIEK COUNTY.

President; 0. C. Lee, a banker at McGregor, Secretary; W. F.
Kimball, of Decorah, Treasurer; Eb. Baldwin, Chief Engineer,
and E. E. Cooley, Attorney. With a mighty faith in the future,
business men put down their names for stock by the thousand
dollars' worth, and ^80,000 of the capital was actually subscribed.
Whether it all could have been paid for is another matter.
With such a start as this, the company felt it could appeal to the
public spirit of the people, and the county was asked to bond itself
to the amount of (?1()0,000. Strange as it may seem to later
comers, who worked and toiled to gather together the few thou-
sands which the railroad actually cost when it did come, the peo-
ple enthusiastically came forward and voted aye. The bonds
were printed after some delay, and were all ready to be formally
signed, sealed and delivered, when the Supreme Court stamped
the law under which the bonds were being put out, with the word
"unconstitutional." The scheme collapsed, and the county was
saved a burden of debt, which might have retarded its progress
for all the years past, as well as scores to come. It is worthy of
note that when the railroad did come to us it followed the line
marked out by those pioneers, and proved that their plans were
wise and far-sighted, if they were a dozen years ahead of the
times.

Several attempts were made before a railroad was finally built.
The company to succeed was the McGregor Western. This com-
pany was organized January 19, 1863. The commencement of
the road was at North McGregor. Work was commenced in
March, 1863, and in one year the road was in running order to
Monona, fourteen and one-half miles. The work was completed
to Postville in September, 1864, to Castalia in October, 1864, and
to Conover in August, 1865.

Decorah, at this date, had become a thriving inland city, well
supported with newly started manufactories. Her citizens looked
upon the road that was to pass them by with a covetous eye.
Railroad connection, with river and lake transportation, was
necessary to the future pi-osperity of the place. This was readily
comprehended, and every effort was put forth by an energetic peo-
ple to secure better transportation facilities. As a result, proposals
were ifiade to the managers of the McGregor Western Railway to
build a branch line from Conover to Decorah, nine miles. The
citizens of Decorah pledged themselves to furnish ^40,000, as a
bonus, provided the Company would build the nine miles of road,
which the managers agreed to do. Nearly ^18,000 was paid in by
the people of Decorah, and, on the other hand, the road was
graded and bridged, ready for the superstructure. But the main
line having been leased to the Milwaukee & Prairie du Chien Com-
pany, work on the branch was suspended in September, 1865.

The road is now operated under the management of the Chica-
go, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railway Company, by which name it is

HISTORY OF WINNESHIEK COUNTY. 219

known. The branch was completed to Decorah iu September,
1869, in accordance with the agreement made by the company
with the citizens of Decorah. The event was one of great im-
portance to the capital city of the county. A day of celebration
and rejoicing was given in honor of the event. Large crowds of
people thronged to the city, and many availed themselves of the
opportunity oifered and made excursion trips to Conover and back.
Hon. E. E. Cooley delivered an address, in which he ably set
forth the great value the new railroad would be to Decorah and
the surounding country.

Several attempts have been made within the past few years to
secure additional railroad facilities, the principal object being to se-
cure competing lines, so as to obtain lower freights.

On the 8tli of August, 1879, the township of Decorah voted a
four per cent, tax, to induce the river road from Clinton and
Dubuque to LaCrosse, which was leased to and connected with the
Chicago & Northwestern Railway — to extend its Waukon narrow
guage branch to Decorah. The townships of Frankville and
Glen wood refused to vote the tax. But the railroad was
graded to Decorah, and the laying of iron out of Waukon was
commenced, when the river road was bought out by the Chicago,
Milwaukee & St. Paul company, and the enterprise stopped. There
are indications that the latter company is about to widen the
gauge of the Waukon branch to the regular standard, and per-
haps extend it to Decorah, to give an easier grade to the river and
accommodate the immense trade of its branches that meet at Cal-
mar. As the road was not built as stipulated, Decorah escaped
the payment of the tax, which had been voted.

The above project for a connection with the Northwestern,
having failed, another was attempted. On the 9th of November,
1881, the township of Decorah voted a five per cent, tax on con-
dition that a railroad be built to the Mississippi river, at or about
Lansing, Iowa. But a hoped for connection not having been se-
cured, the upper Iowa and Mississippi railway company — as the
above company was called — had the proposed tax cancelled to give
a choice for the enterprise mentioned below.

This last enterprise was the proposed building of a railroad to
connect with the Burlington, Cedar Rapids & Northern Railway,
at or near West Union or Clermont, This giving another south-
ern and eastern connection by way of the Chicago, Rock Island &
Pacific road (the backers of the B. C. R. & N). On theith day of
April, 1882, Decorah Township voted a five per cent, tax for the
continuation of this road, on condition that it be built bj"^ Sept.,
1883, assurances being made that there was ample capital to con-
struct the road. It cannot be told at the time of this writing
whether the road will be built or not, as it could be done if nec-
essary, if not actively commenced till the spring of 1883. A tax
for this road was voted down in Military Township.

220 HISTORY OF WINNESHIEK COUNTY.

Meanwhile there are prospects of a road being built across the
northern part of the county. This proposed road is called the
Minnesota, Iowa & Southwestern, and is intended to run from La
Crosse, Wis., via Charles City, to Western Iowa. Taxes were voted
for the proposed road in the fall of 1881, by Hesper, Burr Oak
and Bluffton Townships, and the right-of-way is now being pur-
chased (in the fall of 1882) over some portions of the line in this
county. It was alleged that there was a technicality in the man-
ner of ordering the vote in Bluffton Township which made it
illegal, and a new election was ordered early in 1882. in which the
project met with defeat. The tax has been ordered by the
County Supervisors in accordance with the old vote in Bluffton ; it
may be left to the courts to decide whether it shall be collected.

Decorah will probably have another railroad connection before
long, but just how soon is not yet determined.

The continuation of the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Rail-
way from Conover, north to Ridgway and St. Paul, when Conover
lost the "boom which had made it a busy, bustling little city; the
continuation of the Iowa & Dakota division from Calmar west-
ward to Fort Atkinson and beyond in 1869, and the recent com-
pletion of the line between Calmar and Davenport, are matters to
be referred to elsewhere, more especially in the sketches of the
towns named.

OUR PRODUCTS.

Since the county became settled, until the last five years, wheat
has been the principal product, and though the larger portion of
the wheat has been shipped in bulk, there are now in this county
six mills devoted wholly or in part to the manufacture of flour for
eastern markets, while sixteen more are devoted to custom work.
The fine water powers with which the county abounds, give ample
facilities for these and other manufactories.

Within the past two or three years more attention has been
given to dairying and stock raising, and this county promises to
become, as it is well adapted to be, one of the finest in the coun-
try for this purpose. Already its stock farms and its creameries
have become famous.

Of these and various other industries, the woolen mill, scale
factory, paper mill, extensive stone quarries, etc., further mention
will be found in our sketch of Decorah and other townships in
the county.

EDUCATIONAL AND LITERARY.

In educational progress this county has kept well in the front.
Besides the excellent public schools, there are private ones, promi-
nent among which is the Decorah Institute, under the excellent
management of Prof. Breckenridge, attracting a large attendance
of pupils from abroad. This, as well as the Norwegian Lutheran

HISTORY OF WINNESHIEK COUNTY. 221

College, located at Deborah, with its fiue, large building costing
$100,000. its nine profe^f^ors, and its regular attendance of nearly
two hundred students, are more particularly described in a follow-
ing chapter giving the history of Decorah.

The first newspaper in the county has already been mentioned.
Decorah has had fully a score of them, and now has several Eng-
glish and one Norwegian newspaper, besides the religious and
literary periodicals issued by the Norwegian College publishing
house. Calmar and Ossian have had successive ones which have
failed, but they now have one each. These newspaper ventures
will be mentioned more particularly in the sketches of the several
towns.

GRATIFYING SHOWING.

The following from the Decorah liepuhlican gives a compre-
hensive view of the growth and prosperity of the county, finan-
cially, educationally and otherwise:

The growth of Winneshiek County in wealth and evidences of
material prosperity, has been steady and rapid.

In 1852, the assessment of the county only represented an
actual value in both real and personal property of $81,000, while
our present assessments represents an actual value in round
numbers of $15,-500,000. In this are included 18,270 cattle over
six months old, representing a cashvaluf of $310,000; 11,188
horses, representing a cash value of $881,000; and 23,567 swine,
representing an actual value of $20,000.

The total tax levied for the year 1880, for all purposes includ-
ing State, County, School and Municipal, was $101,715.95 of
which $36,456.28 was for the support of schools alone. The last
annual report of the County Superintendent of Public Schools
showed that there was in the hands of difierent district treasurers
in the county, school money to defray current expenses aggregat-
ing nearly $30,000

The financial management of the county has always been con-
servative. Such a thing as a bonded debt has never been per-
mitted, and at no time in the history of the county has the float-
ing debt been so large but that it was easily paid by ordinary
financiering. There is now no debt whatever against the county,
and settlers are not sought as a financial relief. On the contrary,
we invite them to a home where all the early wants have been met
and supplied.

With no debt existing, the county possesses such requisities in the
shape of public buildings and property as these: A substantial
Court House, ample for the needs of the next twenty years; a good
Poor House and farm for the support of its needy; and a jail — one
of the best and safest in the state — for the restraint of the crimi-
nal class. For the education of its children, there are already
built 92 frame, 30 brick, and 14 stone school houses, ranging in

222 HISTORY OF WLXNESHIEK COUNTY.

value from a few liuiiilred dollars up to ^20,000, By an appraise-
ment made last year, the total worth of these houses was esti-
mated at $117,150. Of the original log structures, erected by the
pioneers, but two remain.

The streams of the county are spanned by bridges of all kinds,
representing an actual outlay of nearly a quarter-million dollars.
Thirty-eight of these are iron bridges, fourteen are stone-arch,
four of combined iron and wood, and the remainder are substan-
tial wooden superstructures upon solid stone abutments.

Of private buildings for public use an even better record can be
made. The church buildings number nearly two score, or one to
every 650 of population. Those of the Methodist denomination
are most numerous, being a round dozen in number; but those of
the Norwegian Lutherans (eight in number) are the largest and
most costly. The Catholics have six structures, all large and fine
buildings. The remainder are divided among the different sects,
representing the Congregationalists, Friends, Episcopalians, Ad-
ventists and Universalists. In a few cases, and only a few, a
church debt exists, but of a trivial amount.

This is the work of but little more than a quarter of a century.
It is no longer a pioneer region. The foundations are all laid —
and well laid — for a broad and intelligent civilization, and the full
enjoyments of all the comforts and few of the deprivations of
life in a land which, if not '^flowing with milk and honey," is
rich in all the elements of agricultural wealth.

POPULATION.

This review is fittingly supplemented with the following from
the United States Census of Winneshiek county, for 1880:

Bloomfield Township, including village of Castalia 1,010

*Castalia village 108

BluflFton township, including village of Bluffton 807

*Bluffton village 102

Burr Oak Township, including village of Burr Oak 826

*Burr Oak village 199

Calmar Township, including the foU swing places 2,043

*Conover village 168

Cahnar town c 617

♦Spillville village 340

Canoe Township 991

Decorah Township, including the following places 4,559

Decorah City, including West Decorah 3,524

Frankville Township, including village of Frankville 970

*Frankville village 158

Fremont Township, including village of Kendallville 692

*Kendallville village 75

Glenwood Township 1,190

Hesper Township, including village of Hesper 1,000

*Hesper village 212

Highland Township 782

J ackson Township 797

Lincoln Township . 992

HISTORY OF WINNESHIEK COUNTY, 223

Madison Township 781

Military Township, including town of Ossian 1,521

Ossian town 444

Orleans Township 636

Pleasant Town.ship. 929

Springfield Township 1 ,037

Sumner Township 863

Washington Township, includmg the following villages 1,509

*Festina village 127

*Fort Atkinson village 435

Total 23,937

* Unincorporated villages.

CHAPTER VII.

The War for the Union; Prompt Besponse to Calls; the First
Company and its Glorious liecord; Battle of SJtiloh; Surren-
der of Vickshur;/; Battle of Atlanta ; Our Heroic Dead and
Wounded; Other Companies from Winnesliieh County; the
March to the Sea; Gallant Deeds to the Final Battle of the
War; the Wounded Living and the Martyred Dead.

Winneshiek County may well remember with pride the patriot-
ism of her devoted sons in the war for the Union. Immediately
on the report of the attack of the rebels on Fort Sumter, men
stood ready to respond to the call of the Government for troops,
and within a week steps were taken, at a public meeting held at
the Court House, to organize and offer a military company to the
Government. That the people as well as officials of the county
were prompt to encourage those who should step forward for
their country's service, and care for the families they left behind,
is showji by the following resolutions which were passed at the
time by the County Board of Supervisors, and which were fully
carried out:

^^ Resolved, That under the present aspect of national affairs it
is the duty of every community to do its share toward the de-
fense of our common country.

^'Resolved, That it is the duty of the county to drill and
cause to be equipped at least one company of men; that in order
to do so an appropriation by the county, enabling every person to
aid in his due proportion in the common defense, is most just and
equitable; that the men who risk their lives and spend their time
should be provided with the means to be of service as soldiers, and
that an appropriation made in pursuance hereof should have pre-
cedence of all other claims; therefore,

224 HISTORY OF WINNESHIEK COUNTY.

'■^Eesolved^ That the county funds now in the hands o£ the treas-
urer of Winneshiek County, be and the same are hereby appropri-
ated, not exceeding the sum of $2,000 for the purpose of equipping
the military company known as the 'Decorah Guard', and that the
Clerk of the District Court be and he is hereby authorized to issue
county warrants to Levi Bullis, D. H. Hughes and C. C. Tupper,
who shall constitute a committee for the negotiation of said
county warrants, and the purchase of said equipments, the said
committee first giving bonds to said county, conditioned that the
said appropriation be used for the purpose designed, faithfully and
truly.

'''' Be solved , that the families of each member of the 'Decorah
Guard' receive the following weekly allowance during their term
of service, viz: Three dollars per week for the wife, and one dol-
lar per week for each child, to the extent of three."

Many of the actors in those stirring scenes are men from among
us, while several who remained at home contributed these resolu-
tions to Spark's History, and to it we shall be indebted for most
of the remainder of this chapter.

On the 20th of April, 1861, just six days after the booming of
cannon, heard at Sumpter, had sounded the alarm of civil war, a
meeting of the patriotic citiz-^ns of Winneshiek County, and
Decorah in particular, was held in the Court House. It was held
for the purpose of giving expression to the outraged feelings of a
liberty-loving people at the atrocious stroke made against human
freedom and American liberty, and to declare their adhesion to the
old flag that waved from the Court House dome above them.

The brave who died in the mountains of Arkansas, the marshes
of Louisiana, the rocky fastnesses of Georgia, and the swamps of
Carolina, are remembered less vividly by their old comrades as
year by year passes away, and when this generation has gone
there will be few to recall the names of the youthful heroes of
Winneshiek County who faced fatigue and sickness, steel and
ball, and died in the fierce front of battle, facing the foe, or fell
victims to malarious diseases. But while their individual memo-
ries will have perished, the cause for which they died, the cause
for which they perished, the cause of liberty and humanity will
remain, and future generations will derive fresh courage to
struggle for the right from the glorious example of the citizen-
soldiers who crushed the "Great Rebellion."

It was Abraham Lincoln, our noble, martyred President, who
said at Gettysburg, "The world will not long remember what we
may say here, but they can never forget what we have done here."
And it is a fitting thing that the custom of observance of May
30, of last year, as Decoration Day, has been established; a day
when we can strew with flowers the graves of those who sleep in
our cemeteries, and revive the memories of those who sleep in

HISTORY OF WINKESHIEK COUNTY. 225

distant or unknown graves, liolding the names of them all in
grateful recollection, and rendering more precious the heritage
they have transmitted to us and to our children.

The meeting was called to order, and Capt. John H. Simpson
made chairman. This distinction was paid the aged gentleman
because of his efficiency in commanding and his co-operation
with the first militia company ever organized in Decorah.

Capt. John H. Simpson was born in Ganston, England, March
22, 1796, and died at Decorah, July 2, 1S69. He had been a mem-
ber of the Royal Life Guards (Body Guard of the King) and as
one of the battalion, was on his way to the field when the battle
of Waterloo was fought. In 1828 he came to America and set-
tled in New York City. He came to Decorah in 1850, and here
for thirteen years he lived an honest, blameless life. He was elected
Captain of the Decorah Guards on the formation of the company
in 1859.

There are men yet living in Winneshiek County who remem-
ber the memorable meeting over which he presided, and how his
patriotism gave vent, in the greatest efi"ort of his life, in a patri-
otic speech that sent the blood tingling through the veins of every
listener. In this speech he tendered the remainder of his life
for the defense of his country, though the snows of 65 winters
rested on his brow. He was not accepted. Younger men, with
stronger sinews and harder muscles, volunteered their ser-
vices.

DECORAH GUARDS.

But one week intervened before there was a reorganization of
the Decorah Guards, and men better fitted for the hardships of a
soldier's life superceded the members of the original company.
The Decorah Guards, as they originally were, underwent a com-
plete transformation, only three of the old company being re-
tained in the ranks of the new organization. The old officers re-
signed, and new ones were elected. This was the first company
of men in Winneshiek County to enlist in defence of the stars
and stripes. They were men in the full vigor of life, men of
sterling worth, the very flower of our young county, as the fol-
lowing summary of the company indicates: The oldest men in
the company (two of them) were aged 36, one 31, one 32, one 31,
one 30, one 29, two 28, three 27, three 26, six 25, eight 21, sev-
en 23, ten 22, nine 21, nine 20, eleven 19, ten 18, making a total
of officers and men of 85, with an average of 22 years, 8 months
and 22 days.

The company was known as the Decorah Guards, until mus-
tered into the service; then they assumed the name of Company D,
Third Regiment of Iowa Volunteer.-:. The officers of the new
company were:

226 HISTORY OF WINNESHIEK COUNTY.

Captain— G. R. Willett.

First Lieutenant — Emilius I. Weiser.

Second Lieutenant — Ole A. Anderson.

Orderly Sergeant — Geo. McKay.

Second Sergeant — A. H. McMurtrie.

Third Sergeant— C. W. Burdick.

Fourth Sergeant — Robert Ray.

First Corporal — E. M. Farnsworth.

Second Corporal — Milton Ross.

Third Corporal — Charles. P. Brown.

Fourth Corporal — Joseph S. JSIeff.

This company was enrolled iu Winneshiek County, and ordered
into quarters by the Governor of the State, May 21, 1861. The
company left Decorah for Keokuk, their rendezvous. May 28,
1861, and was mustered into the United States service June 10,
1861. The date of the company's departure from Decorah for the
scenes of war will remain a memorable one in the recollection of
the hundreds of citizens who met on Court House Square to bid
the boys a last farwell. The ladies had prepared a beautiful flag,
which was presented to the company by Miss Carrie McNair,
whom I feel compelled to more than casually mention; and in or-
der to do so I shall be obliged to digress from the main subject.

Carrie McNair was born in Livingston County, N. Y., about the
year 1832. She came to Decorah in the year 1860, at that period
in our national existence when the very atmosphere was deadened
with treasonable imprecations against the Union, and when the
cloud of rebellion had so spread its mammoth proportions as to
nearly obscure the bright sunlight of freedom. Being a woman
of strong emotional nature, a lover of liberty and union, she early
indentified herself with the Union side of the controversy that
then threatened a separation of states; consequently, out of respect
and appreciation of her noble nature, and her sympathy with the
Union, she was chosen, of all other women, better fitted to make
the presentation. In 1862, following the many bloody battles,
and not infrequent disastrous engagements, Miss McNair felt that
there was need of her services in the crowded hospitals. With a
heartfelt desire to render the Union any services in her power,
and an anxiety and willingness to alleviate the sufferings of brave
men who had fallen wounded in their country's cause, she became
a nurse in a soldiers' hospital at St. Louis. She served in this
capacity until the end of the war, and furnished aid and comfort
to thousands of poor unfortunates.

Following the presentation of the flag, there was a presentation
of Bibles and Testaments. The scene was such as never had oc-
cured before, and was solemn, impressive and trying.

The Company, in vehicles, pursued their course to McGregor,
and from thence to Keokuk, and from here, soon after, they were
transported to scenes of active service, in Missouri.

HISTORY OF WINNESHIEK COUNTY. 227

The first hard fought battle that the Company engaged in was
at Blue Mills, September 7, 1861, although previous to this they
had been engaged in many hotly contested skirmishes. In the
battle of Blue Mills the Unionists were driven back.

Wm. B. Miller, of Company D, was killed in this engagement
and Capt. Willett, Second Lieut. Ole Anderson, and private Wm.
B. Heckert, was seriously wounded. Capt. Willet's wound occa-
sioned his resignation, and the promotion of Lieut. E. I. Weiser
to the captaincy of the Company.

Lieut Anderson fell, wounded in the temple, and was left on the
field for dead. Company D having been obliged to retreat, he
fell into the enemy's hands. His body was stripped of all its
clothing but its pants, and he was robbed of everything by the
rebels. The next day after the battle the rebels were obliged to
retreat, and then Company D reclaimed his body. Lieut. An-
derson lay unconcious three weeks, and it was a question for a
long time afterwards whether he would survive or not. He en-
tered the army a perfect athlete, and a perfect man, physicially
and mentally, and to-day, from the effect of that wound, incurred
at the cost of duty and bravery, he is a mere wreck of his former
self. As an ofiicer he was efficient and brave to a fault.

The battle of Shiloh, fought on the 6th and 7th of April, 1862,
was the next great conflict in which Company D participated. Un-
der the hottest fire and amid the most trying scenes. Company D
behaved itself with coolness and bravery. After passing through
that fiery ordeal, a summary of the loss it sustained showed the
following: Killed — Edward Knapp, Hans H. Stensou, and Sam-
uel D. Smith. Wounded — Capt. E. I. Weiser. Corp. J. H. Farber,
Geo. H. Culver, Jas. S. Daskam, Hans Gulbrandson, Thos. Heath,
Peter B. Hulverson, Knudt Knudson, Matthew Kellogg, Gilbert
Knudson, Henry H. Sheldso, Geo. H. Kelley, John Jas. Fisher,
Hiram S. Daskam.

The battle of Hatchie, fought on the 5th of October, was the
scene of the next hotly contested engagement in which Company
D took an active part.

The company lost the following: Wounded — Capt. E. I.
Weiser, Corp. C. C. Watson, Geo. Culver, Martin E. Oleson (mor-
tally), and Martin Pepper.

In the battle of Hatchie the second Captain of Company D was
made incapable for active service by a rebel bullet.

Captain E. I. Weiser was born in York, Pa., April 10, 1835,
and emigrated from the place of his nativity to Decorah in 1856.
Being possessed with a warm heart and a genial nature, and a
patriotic love of country, the threats of war against the Union
aroused his impulsive nature to a desire to make any sacrifice —
hardship, sufiering, even life itself — in his country's cause. As a
result, when the first cry of a distressed country was heard, call-
ing on her sons for protection against the assaults of traitors,

223 HISTORY OF "WINNESHIEK COUNTY.

Capt. E. I. Weiser was the fii'st and foremost of her patriots in
Winneshiek County to respond. Capt, E. I. Weiser was the first
man to enlist from Winneshiek County in his country's service in
the late civil war. He enlisted as a high private in Company D,
and was elected first Lieutenant at the first election held by the
company.

Capt. E. I. Weiser participated in many warm skirmishes and
two hard-fought^battles. He was wounded at Shiloh; also at
Hatchie, on the 5th of October, 1862. The wound he received at
Hatchie disabled him from further active military service during
the war. Eight months he was detained in the hospital by his
wound, and seven of these eight months he was compelled to lie
in one position — on his back. He was with his company one
week while it was at Memphis. While here the boys of Company
D presented him with a silver pitcher, as a mark of their regard
and the appreciation they had for him as a soldier and com-
mander. Capt. Weiser was brave, cool, efiicient, and possessed all
the noble attributes requisite in a successful commander. His
physical disability is a glorious certificate of his bravery.

Company D next went to Memphis where . it remained six
months, and from thence to Yicksburg. They were engaged in
the siege of Yicksburg up to the date of its surrender. Yicksburg
surrendered July 4, 1863. The white flag was raised on every fort
at 9 A. M. on the 3d. The rebels sent out a flag of truce, and
wished to surrender on conditions. Gen. Grant sent back word
that nothing but an unconditional surrender would be accepted.
On the 3d, when the white flags were hoisted, all firing ceased.
The rebels came outside of -their works and held a sociable with
our boys. On the 4th of July, at 10 a. m., the rebels marched
outside of their works, were drawn up in a line, and stacked their
arms, and promptly at 11 a. m. the stars and stripes proudly
floated over the rebel works.

In this siege, on the 26th of June, Thomas Kelly, of Company
D, was mortally wounded. He lived about a week, having won,
in dying, the honor of being the bravest among the brave.

The Third regiment received orders on the 5th to take
up their line of march for Black River, to look after Johns-
ton, who, with a large force had been prowling in the rear. On
the 12th of July, 1863, about 225 men of the Third Iowa, among
which number were many of Company D, made an assault on
rebel works, behind which were ensconsed about 10,000 of
Johnston's men. The result of the assaultjwas a M'hirlwind of
death. In the first volley fired by the enemy 125 out of the
original 225 were almost instantly mowed down. There were
about 800 men engaged, but 225 who ventured right into the
jaws of this fiery hell. The commander in charge was immediate-
ly relieved of command.

HISTORY OF WINNESHIEK COUNTY. 229

On the 7th of July Johnston evacuated Jackson, the scene of
the last engagement, and here, in rebel hospitals, were found the
wounded who had survived the disastrous charge of the 12th inst.
Among the number was Lieut McMurtrie, who had both legs
broken by rebel shots. His right leg had been wounded with a
piece of shell, and was so badly shattered that amputation was
necessary. The left leg had been broken by a minie ball.

It was found necessary, on the 21st of July, to remove the
wounded to Vicksburg. The journey had to be made in ambu-
lances. Lieutenant McMurtrie was among the unfortunates that
had to submit to the removal. Words cannot express the
Suffering this trip entailed upon him in his weakened condi-
tution.

On the 23d he was placed on a hospital boat to be sent
north, but died before the boat left the wharf, at 2 p. m., July
25, 1863.

Lieut. McMurtrie was born at Homer, Michigan, June 30, 1837.
He cam3 to Iowa in 1856. He was promoted First Lieutenant of
Company D, May 21, 1862.

Lieut. McMurtrie was endowed with a great moral character,
which lost none of its noble attributes by his army career. He
died a brave soldier, lamented by his comrades in arms and all
who knew him.

C. W. Burdick was promoted First Lieutenant, to fill the va-
cancy caused by Lieut. McMurtrie's death, which post of duty he
held from that time until his three years enlistment had expired.
At this time Lieut. Burdick was the only commissioned officer in
the company. During three years' service, Lieut. Burdick was off
duty but twelve days. He took an active part in every skirmish
and battle in which his company was engaged, and was never
touched by an enemy's fire. Few men, and I doubt if any, in Iowa
can show a better record than this.

The engagement at Jackson was the last of any note in which
Company D took an active part. The time of enlistment of Com-
pany D expired on the 10th of June, 1864. The Company was
stationed at Kingston, Georgia. All that did not re-enlist, started
home to be mustered out of the service. Many of the boys re-
mained. At the memorable battle of Atlanta, fought July 22d,
the Third Iowa literally fought itself to death,
i The boys of the Third and Company D went into this battle
with that Spartan valor that had characterized them, individually
and collectively, in many a hard fought engagement. As the
battle grew raging hot and desperate, a handful of our undaunted
men, among whom were a remnant of Company D, gathered
amidst the pelting shower of shot and shell, and there around our
flag and banner they stood its guard in the most perilous mom-
ents. The color-bearer, the bravest of the brave, relinquished his
hold by death alone. Still the mass stood there fighting madly

230

HISTORY OF WINNESHIEK COUNTY.

for its defence. Their number fast decreasing by death, their
hopes began to fail, and as they surrendered themselves to the
enemy, they tore the emblem of our nationality, and regimental
designation, into pieces and into shreds, which concealed, they
proudly brought back to us, untouched and nnsoiled by impious
and traitorous hands.

COMPANY H— "IOWA GREY HOUNDS."

Company H, Ninth Iowa Volunteer Infantry, was organized at
Decorah, in the months of August and September, 1861, and was
mustered into service at Dubuque, on the 21th of September, the
same year.

After remaining at Camp Union, Dubuque, until the middle of
October, the Kegiment was sent to St. Louis, and Avent into camp
at Beuton Barracks. A few weeks were passed in the usual rou-
tine of camp duty, when the regiment was ordered to Pacific City,
Missouri, and passed some little time in guarding railroads and
arresting gusrillas. ' During this time the regiment was perfecting
its discipline; and the diseases incidental to the climate and season,
joined to the hardships of camp life, were thinning the ranks of
all men who were deficient in physicial vigor.

When the expedition against "Price was organized, the Ninth
was ordered to Rolla, Mo., and after a week spent in camp at that
place, started on the march for Springfield. The march was made
m winter, and the crossing of the Gasconade, the roads knee-deep
in mud, and the cold, inclement weather tested the endurance of
the men, and when the regiment was placed in the advance, after
the capture of Springfield, it earned its title, ''The Iowa Grey-
hounds," by marching 135 miles in four days in pursuit of Price.
Company H received its "baptism of fire" at Pea Ridge, and the
day before the fight marched forty miles on a half-pint of corn-
meal to the man. It mustered fifty-two men when the fight
opened; twenty-two were unwounded at the close of the struggle.

On that field the boys, most of them beardless, who six months
before were laboring on farms and in workshops, showed them-
selves able to defeat the practiced riflemen of Missouri and Arkan-
sas, the Rangers of Texas, and the trained regiments of Louisiana.

The march across Arkansas, in the summer of 1862, followed
the conflict at Pea Ridge. Some time was passed in camp Helena,
and m December the regiment took part in the first attack on
Vicksburg. The expedition up the dark Yazoo and its unfortu-
nate results, were amply avenged at Arkansas Post, January 10,
1863.

In all the operations that culminated in the capture of Vicks-
burg the Ninth was actively engaged— from digging in the canal
to storming rifle-pits and batteries. And in the charge on the
22d of May, Company H lost eighteen men killed and wounded
out of a total twenty-six men in action, and of these nine were

HISTORY OF WINNESHIEK COUNTY. 231

killed on the field or mortally wounded. PVom Vicksburgto Jack-
son, thence back to Vicksburg, up the river to Memphis, thence to
Tuscumbia, where a severe conflict took place, then up the sides of
Lookout Mountain, under the lead of Osterhaus, followed by a
rapid pursuit of the routed foes, and the fight at Ringgold, is a
brief outline of the work Company H took part in during 1863.
The majority of the company re-enlisted as veterans, and after
their return from furlough the boys found themselves a part of
the mighty host Sherman was about to lead "to the sea."

For seventy days from the opening of this memorable campaign,
members of Company H who participated in the operations, were
constantly under fire, with perhaps slight intermission prior to
the crossing of the Chattahoochee. The fights at Resaca, New
Hope Church, Burnt Hickory and Kenesaw Mountain, showed the
valor and discipline of the Ninth. On the 22d of July the Ninth
was one of the [owa regiments that, under the eye of Sherman,
recaptured the battery of DeGress, and drove the rebels, at the
bayonets' point, from the entrenched line they had wrested from
the loyalists. At Ezra's Church, on the 28th of July, and at
Jonesboro, where the fate of Atlanta was decided, the boys of
Company H were actively engaged .

After the capture of Atlanta and the pursuit of Hood, who was
left to the "tender mercies" of Thomas, the boys followed Sher-
man to the sea, and Company H furnished its full cpota of able
and accomplished "bummers." From Savannah the company
marched through the Carolinas, taking part in any "little un-
pleasantness" that came in the way, and actively participating in
the closing fight at Bentonville. After resting a few days at
Raleigh, the regiment marched to Washington and took part in
the "Grand Review," and was shortly after mustered out of the
service at Louisville, Ky.

That Company H did its whole duty, the following figures, ta-
ken from the Adjutant General's Report, prove:

Company H, 9th Iowa — Total killed and wounded 53

Total killed and died of wounds 19

Company D, 3d Iowa — Total killed and wounded 33

Total killed and died of wounds 9

Company G, 12th Iowa — Total killed and wounded 9

Total killed and died of wounds 4

Company E, 38th Iowa — Total killed and wounded

Company K, 38th Iowa — Total killed and wounded 1

Total killed and died of wounds 1

Company D, 38th Iowa — Total killed and wounded 1

Total killed and died of wounds 1

The above table shows the extent of the loss sustained by Com-
pany H in battle, as compared with the reported losses of the
other companies organized in this county from the same cause. I
do not think the above figures do full justice to Companies E, K

-^'-^ HIt>TOK\ OF WINJS^ESHIEK COUNTY.

and D, Thirty-Eighth Iowa, for no ro-inient or^^uiized in the
eouatrv suttered to j>uoh an extent by disease. Stationed in local-
ities Avhere to breathe the air was to inhale death, the bovs of Com-
pany L, D and K performed their allotted duty, sustained bv
naught save the feeling of patriotism, and faced death nncheered
by the shout ot victorv, the rapture of the strife "

Died of disease: Company D, 3d Iowa, 10: Company H, 9th
Iowa lo: ( onipany G lL>tli Iowa, 17; Company ll 3Sth Iowa,
o4:^ Company D, ;^Mh Iowa, 37: Company K, 38th Iowa, 37.

Company II, at the time it was mustered in. was commanded by
M. A Moore, who achieved no particular distinction. He ri
signed 111 the spring of 1S03, and Avas succeeded bv 0. M Bli^s
who enlisted as a private and secured promotion \)y meritorious
services. C apt. bliss was as mie a soldier as ever drew a sword
Brave, earnest and patriotic, he "dared to lead where anv dared to
follow. After facing death on twenty fields he died 'from in-
juries received bv a fall from his hors^ while acting as Major, af-
ter the capture of Atlanta, J. H. Phillips succeeded to the cap-
taincy, and commanded the company until its service was ended
In writing this brief sketch of the career of Company H em-
bracing a j>erKHl of nearly four years, and services performed in
eight states, from the Oziirk Mountains to the Atlantic Ocean a
hundred incidents and memories crowd on the mind that spice
will not permit me to relate. Neariy sixteen years have elapsed
since -we took the oath of muster with right hand raised to heav-
en, and m looking back, the boys of Company H will instinctive-
ly date their memory of army life from the bitter, persistent
struggle in the wild ravines of the Ozark, where their first blood
was shed And during all subsequent campaigning. Pea Ridge
was the standard whereby to measure the severity o^ the coutlid;
And the boys of the Ninth will ever remember, with proud grati-
hcahon the tribute their valor received from the ladies of Bost^^n—
a stand of colors emblazoned with the name of their fiercest
battle.

The thml company raised m the county was one that became
tomptmy Ct, Twelfth Iowa. It wjis enrolleil at Decorah in Sei>-
ternber, 1H>1 ordered into quarters at Dubuque, September 30
and mustereil into the Uuiteil States service November 5, 1S61
It was oincered as follows:

Captain— C. C. Tuoper.

First Lieutenant— L. D. Townsley.

Second Lieutenant— ^T. F. Nickerson.

Orderly Sergeant— J. E. Simpson.

The company became a portion of the regiment from the date
of its miister m, and from that time on until disbanded always
acted well its part. Company Ct was noted in its regiment for its

IlISTOliY OF VVINNESUIEK COUNTY. 233

excellent moral status and soldierly efficiency. It saw hard ser-
vice, and took an active part in the followinf( hotly-contected bat-
tles: Fort lienry, Fort Donelson, Shiloh, siej^e of Corinth,
Corinth, Jackson, Vicksburj^, Jackson siege and capture, ]irandon,
Tupelo, Nashville, and lirentwood ]fiil. Besides these battles, the
company did excellent service as skirmishers. The company early
met with a severe loss in the death of its first captain, C. C. Tupper.

Captain C. C. Tupper was born at Auburn, New York, Decem-
ber 24, 1832, and came to Decorah in May, 1857. He had re-
ceived a liberal education, and prior to taking a ^residence in Iowa
had served as agent of the Associated Press and local manager of
the telegraph offices at Buffalo and St. Louis. He was admitted to
the bar soon after his arrival, but for a brief time edited the De-
corah Jourwil^ a Democratic newspaper. When the war broke
out he took an active and intensely patriotic interest in every
movement. Military life was always attractive to him, and he
was unusually well versed in the manual of arms. He assisted in
organizing the two companies from Winneshiek County that
found place in the Third and Ninth regiments, and helped pre-
pare them for the field. When it became evident that a third
company must be drawn from the county, all eyes turned toward
Captain Tupper to take its lead. Although of a frail constitution,
and physically unfitted for the severe trials of army life, his patri-
otism overrode all prudence, and he consented. The company
was rapidly recruited, and assigned to the Twelfth Regiment of
Iowa Volunteers. But Capt. Tupper's association with the com-
pany was only a brief one. He was idolized by his men, beloved
by all his associate officers, and thoroughly respected by his super-
iors. But these could not protect and defend him from disease
and death. While going from Dubuque to St. Louis with the
regiment he caught a severe cold, and in six weeks died at Benton
Barracks, in St. Louis, a victim of capilliary bronchitis. In his
death the terrible evils of war was first brought directly home to
the community of which he had been a member. He had been the
leader in the best social circles, the active abettor of every public
enterprise, and his death carried sadness and mourning to almost
every household in the county. Of friends who mourned his death
there were scores upon scores; of enemies, none.

The sad event narrated above necessitated the promotion of
Lieut. L. D. Townsley to the captaincy of the company, which
office he held until mustered out of the service, November 25,
1864. He was taken prisoner at the battle of Shiloh, in which
engagement he sustained a severe wound in the left arm, and suf-
""ered with the rest of his brother officers the hardships of prison
life. After his exchange he was often employed in important de-
tached duties, which he always filled with credit to himself and
country. He served out his entire term of service, and is now re-
siding in Chicago.

234 HISTORY OF WINNESHIEK COUNTY.

Lieut. J. F. Nickersou was made First Lieutenant, and was
stunned at the battle of Fort Donelson with what was supposed
to be a solid shot from the enemy's batteries. From this he never
recovered, was sick and ill the morning of the Shiloh fight, but
persisted in going out with his company to the front, was taken
prisoner, and died in rebel prison at Montgomery, Ala., May 31,
1862. Kind but firm, a noble, brave man, beloved by his friends
and all who knew him, a martyr to the cause.

Orderly Sergeant J. E. Simpson was promoted to be Second
Lieutenant, but resigned on account of ill-health in 1862, and is
now living in Decorah.

A. A. Burdick, Second Sergeant, was made Orderly and then
First Lieutenant, and was killed at the battle of Tupelo, July 14,
1864. He was the Quartermaster of the regiment, and had been
ordered to the rear with his train; but after seeing his wagons
properly "parked" he came to the front, and volunteered to assist
in bringing forward ammunition. While thus engaged he was
struck by a shell and instantly killed. He died as a soldier would
wish to die, with his face to the enemy and in the heat of battle.
Lamented and mourned by all who knew him, no better man or
braver soldier ever offered up his life that his country might be
saved.

Anton E. Anderson, Third Sergeant, became Second Lieutenant,
served with credit to himself until mustered out, at expiration of
term of service, December, 1864, ani died at his farm, some years
after the war, near Eldorado, Iowa.

Robert A. Gibson, Fifth Sergeant, became Orderly Sergeant,
March 27, 1863, was promoted to First Lieutenant December 2,
1864, became Captain of his company January 23, 1865, and for a
time was Captain and Provost Marshal at Selma, Ala., and served
with great credit to himself to the end of the war. He was then
appointed Second Lieutenant in the regular army, and was killed
by the accidental discharge of a pistol at Fort Randall in 1867.

Jacob H. Womeldorf , First Corporal, became Fifth Sergeant,
■was taken prisoner with his company at Shiloh; was held prisoner
for some tinie, and suffered great hardships that so broke down his
health as to compel him to return home in 1863. He was after-
ward Sheriff of Winneshiek County.

Nelson B. Burdick was Eighth Corporal, and but a youth at
school when he went into the service. He contracted the measles
at Benton Barracks, and was never well afterwards. He took
part in the battles of Fort Henry, Donelson and Shiloh. Warm-
hearted, generous towards all, he became a universal favorite. The
hardships endured in rebel prisons were to much for his impaired
frame. He reached home and died among his friends.

"He has fought his last battle;

No sound can a\rake him to glory again.''

rHE

TILD£N F

;)N8

^-^-'-T-Z-fii'^'

'<Jt-3t^

HISTORY OF WINNESHIEK COUNTY. 237

John Steen, private, became Quartermaster Sergeant in 1864,
and bis wbole term of service to tbe end was marked witb ability
and efficiency. Since the war he has held several positions of re-
sponsibility and trust, and is now living at Fremont, Neb.

The regiment was ordered to Davenport for final pay and dis-
charge Jan. 25, 1866.

THREE MORE COMPANIES.

In 1863 Winneshiek County again came to the front and con-
tributed, for the suppression of the rebellion, three companies in
addition to the brave men she had before sent. The companies
were, respectively, D, K, and E, and formed a part of the Thirty-
Eighth Regiment. Henry A. Cleghorn was Captain of Company E.

Company K was officered as follows:

Captain — Samuel B. CalifF.

First Lieutenant — Levi Freeman.

The officers of Company D were:

Captain — George R. Humphreys.

First Lieutenant — Newton Richards.

Second Lieutenant — E. J. Barker.

These companies were mustered into service at Camp Randall,
Dubuque, Iowa. From here they were transferred to Benton
Barracks, St. Louis, Mo., where they spent Christmas and New
Years, 1863-4. They were next transferred to Fort Thompson,
which they retained charge of nearly six months.

The Thirty-Eighth Regiment was next transferred to the main
forces then besieging Vicksburg. In this siege the Thirty-
Eighth, including the three companies from Winneshiek County,
formed the extreme left of the Union line. Their position was
in the very heart of a malarious swamp, and here was contracted
the germ of a disease which afterwards carried off these brave
men by the hundreds. Within ten days after the surrender of
Vicksburg the Thirty-Eighth was ordered to Yazoo City, on the
Yazoo River. At Yazoo City the regiment remained about a
week. While there the disease bred in the swamp opposite Vicks-
burg began to break out, and many men died. The regiment re-
turned to Vicksburg. They were next ordered to Port Hudson
to aid in the subjugation of that place, but did not reach the
scene of action until the stronghold had fallen. The Thirty-
Eighth remained at Port Hudson about a month, and while here
the disease contracted in the swamps broke out in all its viru-.
lence. So universal was the prostration of the soldiers, that dur-
ing the month, there were on an average from three to fifteen
only in the whole regiment that reported able for duty. Almost
hourly the death of a companion in arms was announced to his
sick and dying comrades. It was while lying here that the regi-
ment met with its severest losses. Here it was they lost their
beloved Colonel.

238 HISTOKT OF "WIKNESHIEK COUlN'TY.

D. H. Hughes was commissioned Colonel of the Thirty-
Eighth Regiment by Gov. Samuel Kirkwood, He was born in
Jefferson County, New York, September, 1831, and died Aug. 7,
1863. He died from the disease which carried almost universal
death to his entire regiment. Col. Hughes graduated at the Al-
bany Normal Institute in 1853. In 1854 he was employed on the
Prairie Far7ner, Chicago. He married Adaliza Matteson, in
Waterlown, Jefferson County, N. Y., in March, 1855, and imme-
diately thereafter came to Decorah, engaging in the practice of
law. Col. Hughes was a man of commanding stature, fine pres-
ence, the soul of honor, and became a lawyer of considerable re-
pute. He was a Democrat in politics, but was elected County
Judge of Winneshiek County in the fall of 1859, notwithstand-
ing the county then, as now, was of strong Republican complex-
ion. He was the candidate of his party for State Senator in the
fall of 1861, and only failed of an election of nine votes. The
Colonel was a War Democrat from the outset, and pending the
consideration of a petition of prominent Republicans and Demo-
crats to become an independent candidate for Judge of the Dis-
trict Court of the Tenth Judicial District, hearing the cry of his
country for more troops. Judge Hughes promptly cast aside his
political opportunity to enter upon a patriotic duty; and, warmly
espousing her cause, made a stirring canvass of the county in that
behalf, and thus drifted into the army.

Col. Hughes, while stationed at New Madrid, was called to St.
Louis as Judge Advocate in some trials then pending, and from
his bearing on that occasion, and the ability he displayed, upon
the conclusion of the trials the Court (and it was a Court of
strangers to him, too) unanimously recommended his promotion
to Brigadier-General, which document, however, he would not al-
low to go forward, alleging as a reason his brief experience as a
military commander, and that there were already lives enough
under his charge. Such was his modesty and noble character.
Col. Hughes died respected and beloved by all his soldiers, and not
more universal was the mourning in camp over the death of their
commander than that of his host of friends at home.

The Thirty-Eighth took their departure from Port Hudson for
New Orleans, where they remained about three months. It was
next transferred to Point Isabel, on the Rio Grande River. After
leaving Port Hudson Company E was without a commissioned
officer for nearly a year. The regiment was next sent to Browns-
ville, Texas. While here Quartermaster T. R. Crandall was
made Captain of Company E, and Walter Green was made its
First Lieutenant.

August, 1864, again found the regiment in New Orleans.
From here it was sent to Morganzie Bend. While at Morganzie
Bend the Thirty-Fourth and Thirty-Eighth were consolidated,
and afterwards known as the Thirty-Fourth, The new regiment

HISTORY OF WINXESHIEK COUNTY. 239

numbered 1056 men. Company E, of Winneshiek, and Com-
pany F, of Fayette, were likewise consolidated, and afterward
known as Company K. Capt. Rogers, of Company F, and Lieu-
tenant Green, were relieved of duty, and T. R. Crandall made
Captain. H. T. Shumaker, of the original Company F, was
made First Lieutenant, and 0. J. Clark made Second Lieutenant.
Companies D and K were likewise consolidated. The Thirty-
Fourth participated in the siege of Fort Gains and Fort Morgan,
on Mobile Bay, and here it remained until these forts capitulated.
The Thirty-Fourth was also present at the charge on Fort Fisher.
The regiment was engaged in the last battle of the war, which
was the taking of Fort Blakesl}'^, the day before Lee's surrender.
In this engagement, in just eighteen minutes, over 1,500 Union
soldiers were slain and wounded. The regiment was mustered
out of the service at Houston, Texas, but did not disband until it
reached Davenport.

COMPANY D, 6th IOWA CAVALRY.

Company D, Sixth Iowa Cavalry, was the last company donated
to the Union cause by Winneshiek County. Although the men
composing this company enlisted with the intention and expecta-
tion of fighting rebels, they were transferred to other fields of
duty — which was even more undesirable — that of fighting In-
dians. The company was mustered into the United States ser-
vice in February, 1863, with the following officers:

Captain— T. W. Burdick.

First Lieutenant — Sherman Page.

Second Lieutenant — Timothy Finn.

Orderly Sergeant — W. H. Fannon.

The United States forces, in which was Company K, had several
engagements with the Indians, each time coming out victorious,
with great loss to the Indians and small loss to themselves.

CHAPTER VIII.

Record of Events from the First Settlement of Winneshiek County
to the Present Time Chronologically Arranged.

This chapter will be devoted largely to a brief review or chron-
ology of prominent events in the history of the county, bringing
them down to the present; omitting, however, the records of elec-
tions and the officers elected in the county each year, as they are
given for each successive year in Chapter V. We also omit some
other things of which a regularly yearly record [is made in other

240 HISTORY OF WINXESHIEK COUNTY.

chapters, but ^ive a general chronological record of events of
special prominence, going into details in matters not already des-
cribed in other chapters.

The Winnebago Indians, who occupied the territory now em-
bracing Winneshiek County, when the white settlers first came
in, and the Sacs and Foxes who precede the AYinnebagoes, are
sufficienty referred to in previous chapters of this volume. This
chapter will take up the record from the time of the incoming of
the whites.

In 1840, Fort Atkinson was erected to provide headquarters for
the supervision of the Winnebago Indians and to protect them
from predatory bands from other tribes. The fort was commenced
June 2, 1840. Details of its erection and history are given in the
sketch of Fort Atkinson in another chapter.

In June, 1842, Old Mission, about four miles southeast of Fort
Atkinson, was established for the education of the Indians.

In 1840 a government teamster froze to death between Joel
Post's and Fort Atkinson.

In 1841 Joel Post built the first log house at Postville, just out-
side of our county limits. This cannot be ^properly received as
the settlement of the county, but is given because of its close
contiguity to us.

The first events here briefly recorded, are generally given in
more detail elsewhere in preceding or following chapters.

June 6, 1841, the first white child, Mary Jane Tupper, was
born at Fort Atkinson.

In 1843, first grist mill, erected by Col. Thomas, of Old Mission.

In 1846, Capt. E. V. Summer, afterwards General Summer,
who commanded at the fort from the first, left to join the United
States Army in the Mexican War, and Capt. James Morgan, of
Burlington, succeeded to the command of the infantry, and Capt.
John Parker, of Dubuque, to the command of the cavahy.

In 1847, Capt Morgan's company was mustered out, and Capt.
Parker given charge of the fort till the Indians were removed in
1848,

In 1847, Gotlob and Gotleib Kruman and others are said to have
come and settled near Fort Atkinson. Details are given else-
where. There seems to be a little doubt about the exact date of
their coming.

In 1848 the Winnebago Indians were ordered removed, although
some of them strayed back here, and the permanent settlement of
the county commenced; for details of which, see earlier chap-
ters and the township histories in succeeding chapters.

Fort Atkinson was abandoned as a military post in 1848, but it
remained m charge of the Government until 1853, when it was
sold at auction.

In 1849, first settlement of Decorah by Wm. Day and family —
a notable event in county history.

HISTORY OF WINNESHIEK COUNTY. 241

Wm. Painter came here in 1849 and commenced running a
small grist mill at the present site of the Spring Mill, or Dun-
ning's mill, Decorah.

First settlers at Moneek in July, 1819.

The same year quite a number of other families settled in the
county, as will be seen by records in first chapter.

1850.

Settlements were made in what are now Decorah, Bloorafield,
Springfield, Glenwood, Canoe, Pleasant, Madison, Frankville and
Military townships.

Burr Oak was probably settled at about the same time; for in
the fall of 1851, Judge M. V. Burdick visited the place and found
where the village of Burr Oak is now located, a hotel, a store and
a blacksmith shop.

Judofe Burdick also found, in 1850, at the present site of Spill-
ville, Mr. Spillman to be the only settler; while at what is now
Twin Springs or Festna, then, there was a saloon.

The same year, 1850, the federal census was taken, showing a
population of 570.

First immigration of Norwegians took place this year.

1851.

An act of the Legislature, organizing Winneshiek County, was
approved Jan. 15, 1851. It appointed John L. Carson, Organiz-
ing Sheriff, to assume duties March 1st.

April 7, Decorah Avas elected to be the County Seat. [Interest-
ing details of the fight with Moneek are given elsewhere.]

In 1851, the first Post Office in the county, excepting those at
Fort Atkinson and Old Mission, was established at Jamestown, in
what is now Frankville township, James B. Cutler postmaster.
His commission was dated Sept. 15, 1851.

On Oct. 5, 1851, occurred the first marriage in the county —
Johannes Evenson to Catharine Helen Anderson.

Aug. 4, 1851, David Reed, who had come to this county in 1848,
was chosen County Judge, and held the position till 1855.

Geo. Bachel, first County Sheriff, and other county ofiicers elec-
ted, as recorded elsewhere.

Hesper and Highland townships were settled this year.

In Sept., 1851, the first County Court was opened at the log
house of Wm. Day, Decorah. There being no business, it ad-
journed to the first Monday in October, when the first marriage
license was granted.

The Heivly water power was improved by Mr. Painter and
"Uncle Phillip" Morse, who arrived here in 1851, and built the
saw mill, some of the ruins and the race which are to be seen be-
tween the present Arlington House and the old stone grist mill.

In July the first lawyer came to Decorah.

242 HISTORY OF WINNESHIEK COUNTY.

This year also saw the first mercantile firm in Decorah, Aaron
Newell and his partner, named Derrick. They opened their goods
in the smoke house on the premises of the Winneshiek House,
afterwards removed to a slab shanty, and soon built the first frame
building in town — a store known as the Pioneer Store, which has
since burned. It stood on the present site of the store of C. N.
Goddard, on the southwest corner of Washington and Water
Streets.

This same year, 1851, came to Decorah the first minister of the
gospel, Elder Bishop, preaching here monthly on a circuit de-
scribed elsewhere. A few weeks afterwards a Congregational min-
ister, A. M. Eastman, came and established monthly meetings at
the log tavern. From these spring the Methodist and Congrega-
tional churches of Decorah.

The first mails came to Decorah in June, 1851. C. Day, post-
master, and Lewis Harkins, mail carrier.

1852.

Lincoln Township was settled during this year.

At the April election 180 votes were cast in the county; at the
August election 150.

March 8, 1852, the County Court ordered elections to be held
at three precincts; 1st, at the house of Wm. Day, Decorah; 2d, at
the house of Francis Rogers, Lewisten, in the southwest part of
the county; 3d, at the house of John DeCow, Moneek. For fur-
her and later divisions of the county, see a preceding chapter.

Moneek was surveyed and platted in January, but the plat was
not recorded till November.

The Pioneer Store building in Decorah commenced in 1851,
was completed in 1852, a public hall, known as Newell's Hall, be-
ing in the second story.

In August and September, there was built by Philip Morse, the
first frame dwelling in Decorah, the one now occupied by Mr.
Bonstell, not far from the Arlington House.

The first term of District Court for this county was held in
Decorah on Friday, July 9, 1852, Thos. S. Wilson, Judge. The
first indictment found by the Grand Jury was against Francis
Teabout, for gambling; the second against Philander S. Baker,
for selling intoxicating liquors; the third was against James T.
Moore, for gambling. Each were held to bail to the next term of
court in the sum of $100.00.

1853.

The number of votes cast in the county in April, 1853, was
221; and the number steadily increased in successive years, as will
be seen by the record elsewhere.

The present city of Decorah was surveyed and platted in Au-
gust of this year.

HISTORY OF WINNESHIEK COUNTY. 2:i3

The village of Frankville was surveyed and platted iu October.

This year Ammon & Co. came to Decorah and were the first to
add steam power to our water power, finally resulting in their
foundry, machine shop, and wagon manufactory.

The government property at Fort Atkinson was this year sold
at auction and Mr. Cooney, who was in 1852 appointed to take
charge of the old fort and government buildings, found his "oc-
cupation gone."

In the winter of 1853-4 the first Bohemian settlers came in and
settled not far from Fort Atkinson. To those settlers the present
village of Spillville largely owes its existence.

1854.

The village of Freeport was platted in May.

The first building in Calmar was erected this year; and the vil-
lage of Calmar was platted in November.

The Decorah House was built this year, and also the Tremont
House, which was burnt in 1857, and which stood on the site of
the present Arlington House, Decorah.

The famous Decorah hotel, the Winneshiek House, was built
in 1854-5, and a part of it, rejuvenated and repaired, still remains
as our popular hotel of the same name.

1855.

Early this year Ossian was platted as a village, and the plat re-
corded April 30th.

Decorah, which had become quite a village, received an addi-
tional impetus by the Land Office being established here, the office
being opened the day before Christmas, 1855. It was removed
the following year, but much of the business which it brought
remained.

In the winter of 1855-6, there were nine banking houses in
Decorah, two of which, the First National and the Winneshiek
County Bank, are the outgrowth.

1856.

This year witnessed the famous but unsuccessful fight of the then
flourishing and enterprising village of Freeport to take the county
seat from Decorah; this contest is told in detail elsewhere.

A county loan of 86,000 was also voted this year to build a
Court House at Decorah, the tax to be levied in the years 1857 and
1858.

A special election was also held October 10, and the county
voted 8100,000 in bonds to aid in the building of the Northwest-
ern Railroad: there being 926 votes case for the tax, and 505
against it. As the road was not built the county was not bur-
dened with the tax.

The year 1856 also gave the county its first newspaper, the De-
corah Chronicle. It was edited and published by a man named

244 BISTORT OF WIXNESHIEK COUXTT.

Tracy, but very soon Jud^e M. V. Burdick became the editorial
Writer. It had its iips and downs, and the Decorah RepuhJic of
to-day may be considered as its successor, Wesley Bailey and son
buying out the establishment, and issuing it as the Decorah Re-
piihlic, in 1860, and afterwards changing the name to Decorah
RepiihJican^ published by A. K. Bailey & Brother.

1857.

The Court House was commenced this year and finished the
following year. It is fully described in a preceding chapter.

This year witnessed the burning of the Tremont House,. De-
corah, then a well-known hotel.

This year, also, Decorah became an organized town. A meeting
for incorporation was held on the first Monday in April, and at
the election of ofiicers on the 30th of June, E. E. Cooley was
chosen President.

The Legislative act of incorporation was not passed till 1871.

1858.

The plat of the village of Hesper — the township having been
first settled in 1851 — was recorded on the 25th of February, 1858,
the plat having been drawn Dec. 27th of the preceding year.
The township of Hesper was also organized in 1858.

The county had grown so that the number of votes cast in Oc-
tober of this year was 1,288.

On the 18th of April, 1858, the first County Superintendent
was elected. Dr. H. C. Bulls was chosen.

1859.

A prominent historical event of this year was the resurrection
of the alleged bones of the famous Indian Chief Decorah, after
whom the county seat was named. The grave was at the inter-
section of Main and Winnebago streets, and must give place to
travel necessitated by the growth of the thriving little city.
The story of the removal is told in a preceding chapter. It was
considered an important event, and observed with due solemnity.
The bones were again resurrected in 1876, in order to improve
the Court House grounds, and before their final interment some of
the Indian relics found with them were stolen.

The close of this year brings us up to the commencement of a de-
cade which opened with some changes in the manner of county
government, made necessary, or at least desirable, by the increase
of population and the prospective gi-owth and importance of the
county. By the census of 1850, the population was 540, while
it was now by the census taken in 1860 — the following year — ■
13,942. We will not, however, anticipate, but briefly note the
important events as they occur.

HISTORY OF WINNESHIEK COUNTY. 2'15

1860.

Durinp^ this year a change was made in the management o£
county affair:^, up to this time administered by the County Judge.
A Board of Supervisors, consisting of one from each township,
was elected, the change taking effect on the 1st of January, 1861.

In April, 1860, the firm of Bailey & Son. consisting of Wesley
Bailey and his son, Ansel K. Bailey, purchased the Decorah Re-
public, succeeding B. F. Jones, as publishers of that paper. The
first number under their management appeared April 13th.

In the first issue are notices of Decorah's institutions as fol-
lows: ''Population of Decorah, estimated, from 1,600 to 2,000. It
has a brass band, 17 stores, 3 harness shops, 6 blacksmiths, 5
cabinet makers, 3 wagon makers, 2 plow and horticultural imple-
ment manufactories, 2 jewelers, 2 milliners, 2 tanneries, 1 lum-
ber yard, 2 bakeries, 1 daguerreotype artist, 2 meat markets, 1
distillery, 1 brewery, 1 gunsmith, a dozen lawyers, 3 doctors, 1
dentist, 2 barbers, a Methodist church in their own building, and
a Congregational church, holding services iu the Court House,
their church not yet being completed."

Hesper has a literary society that meets one a week.

May 3, five prisoners escape from the County Jail, one in for
horse stealing, one for counterfeiting, and the others for minor
offenses.

April 29, the house of Postmaster Stanberg, of Calmar, was
burned.

May 18, Mr. McKinney left Fort Atkinson for Pikes Peak,
with N. Otis, of Decorah.

May 17, a Norwegian celebration of their national anniversary
occurred at Peterson's trading post, B. 0. Dahly delivering the ad-
dress.

Postmaster Kimball, of Decorah, improves his post office and
store.

In June, the Landers residence on Broadway was commenced,
also the Francis residence on Broadway, now owned by A.
Bradish.

Fourth of July was celebrated in Decorah, the orator being
Douglas Lelfingwell.

By the census then being taken the population of Decorah

township and city was given as follows:

Population of Decorah 904

Population of West Decorah 315

Rest of township TOG

Total 1,925

August 7th, Wm. Day died at the Winneshiek House, in the
69th year of his age. He came here in 1850, was a liberal, honest,
public-spirited man. He built the first house, for some years the
only hotel, and afterwards built the Winneshiek House.

246 HISTOKT OF WINNESHIEK COUNTY.

August 30th, Fitz Henry Warren (Republican), spoke at De-
corah, Judge Clark, of Dubuque, opposing him.

The Congregational church of Decorah was in process of erec-
tion this season. ^

September 21st, County Fair was held in Decorah.

October 5th, a daily mail was established between McGregor
and Decorah.

1861.

At the opening of the year, the Board of Supervisors, one from
each township, in order that the terms of office might not expire
at the same time, they cast lots to see which should hold office for
one year, and which for two years. The result was as follows:

For one year — Levi Bullis in place of Dan Lawrence, who was
elected and resigned, for Decorah; J. Fagin, Frankville; J. T.
Galby, Summer; I. West, Canoe; G. N. HoUoway, Hesper; J. G.
Ackerson, Burr Oak; S. Christen, Madison; Lars T. Land, Calraar;
Levan Wanless, Bluffton,

For two years — W. H, Baker, Bloomfield; F. S. Northup,
Glen wood; Ole Nelson, Pleasant; W. B. Chamberlin, Orleans;
Amnion Ammundsoc, Highland; D. E. Shelmadine, Fremont; M.
J. Woolsey, Military; A. 0. Lommen, Springfield; Orville Jenni-
son, Washington.

G. N. Holloway was elected President of the Board.

March 3d, the remains of a Norwegian, named Iver Knudsen
Jouen, were found near the foot of the bluff at the head of Trout
Run. He started home from Decorah, drunk, on Christmas eve-
ning. Going over the road past the cemetery, it is thought that
he lost his way, rolled down the bluff and froze to death.

The Decorah cemetery grounds were laid out this year.

April 8th, a public meeting was held and the Decorah Guards
organized, being the first company to enter the service in the war
of the rebellion. The record of this and other companies from
the county, will be found in a preceding chapter.

June 14th, E. E. Cooley received the appointment as postmaster
of Decorah, and took possession July 1st.

June 11th, the County Supervisors voted §3.00 per week to
each of the families of the Decorah Guards.

June 17, L. Standring turned the first scraper full of dirt into
the Decorah branch of the Northern Iowa Railroad. Gangs of
men were set at work at Decorah, Calmar, Ossian and Monona,
but the work was discontinued.

July 4th, celebration at Decorah. with oration by Geo. A.
Stephens.

In July the plastering and mason work of the Congregational
Church was completed.

The Norwegian Lutheran Synod decided to build a college on
the site selected in West Decorah.

HISTOKY OF WINNESHIEK COUNTY, 247

August 22, Winneshiek Normal institute incorporated; S. Page,
Principal.

September 27th and 28th, County Fair.

November 17th, Congregational Church, Decorah, dedicated,
E. Adams pastor.

The Livengood-Telyea murder trial commenced near the close
of this year and continued into 1862. Particulars elsewhere in
this volume.

1862.

Fourth of July celebration in Decorah, Hon M. V. Burdick de-
livering the oration.

August 30th, saloon of Wm. Oleson, Decorah, burned, and
George Gulbranson burned to death, and others badly injured.

September 6th, Aaron Newell, an old resident, died.

In September the Norwegian High School opened in Decorah
being the nucleus of the future college.

1863.

June 4th, work on the Norwegian Lutheran College commenced.
The building to be 150x20 feet on the ground, and three stories
high above the basement.

Population of county by assessors returns in 1863, 15,035.
Population of Decorah, 2,165.

Fourth of July celebrated in Decorah; addresses by home talent.

November 3d, Elisha Hurlbut, postmaster of Decorah, died.
Joseph Hutchinson, assistant, continued in office until a successor
was appointed.

1864.

February 9th, J. R. Slack was appointed postmaster of Decorah,
and took possession February 28th. Geo. W. Adams was appoint-
ed his assistant.

June 20th, the $40,000 necessary, secured, and engineers com-
menced locating a railroad to Decorah.

A grist mill was built by D. Addicken, and commenced running
that year.

June 30, corner-stone of the Norwegian College laid.

Oct. 3, Capt J. R. Moore, Decorah, died suddenly in his bed.

Oct. 12, celebration of the arrival of the railroad atCastalia.

Oct. 22, the Catholics of Decorah occupied their new church.

Dec. 22, Decorah gets a through mail from Chicago.

1865.

March 20, flood in Dry Run did considerable damage. High
waters in the river carried away the West Decorah bridge, and
also the Freeport bridge.

248 HISTORY OF WINNESHIEK COUNTY.

April 8, a rousing celebration in Deeorali of the taking of
Richmond, in which enthusiasm extravagantly boiled over in wild
and peculiar freaks.

April 27, funeral services in Decorah, Castalia, and other places
on the death of Lincoln.

June 15, railroad completed to near Calmar.

July 4, Fourth of July celebration at Decorah, Col. Henderson
orator.

July 20, railroad completed to Conover.

September — , Methodist parsonage at Decorah completed.

Oct. 15, dedication of the Norwegian Lutheran College, one
wing four stories high, with basement, being completed. Promi-
nent Norwegians from all parts of the country were present.

1866.

The Decorah public school building was built this year.

April 1, Decorah post office removed to first floor of new brick
building on Winnebago street, now occupied by Journal office

April 5, greatest flood since 1859, carrying oflf numerous bridges
and doing considerable damage in the county.

July 4, celebrated in Decorah, M. V. Burdick and R. Swearingen

Nov.'l, great fire in Decorah; loss from $30,000 to $40,000,
burning out Dennis &Hulverson, P. S. Smout, Green & Morss, and
others, also the office of the Winneshiek Register, established in
1866, Haislet Bros, proprietors.

Nov. 11, County Supervisors bought the present Poor Farm of
C. E. Dickerman.

This year the railroad reached the site of Ridgeway, and gave it
its first start.

1867.

The new Masonic Hall, Decorah, dedicated. It was pronounced
the best in Iowa.

Jan. 30, Fremont House and barn burned.

February 12, meeting to organize a fire company in Decorah.

May 17, Norwegian celebration. Addresses by B. 0. Dahly,
K. E. Burgh, 0. M. Lucken, and John Steen.

May 27, Decorah graded school established.

Oct. 3 and 4, County Fair held at Decorah.

During this year the residences of E. E. Cooley, D. B. Ells-
worth, Mrs. Hughes, and J. Hunter, and the Dickerman building,
were erected or commenced.

The telegraph line to Decorah was completed this year.

Nov. 28, Rev. E. Adams preached his Thanksgiving sermon,
entitled "The First things of Decorah."

Dec. 6, Col. T. W. Higginson lectured in Decorah.

HISTORY OF WINNESHIEK COUNTY. 249

Near the close of the year 1867, B. Annundson established a
Norwegian printing office in Decorah, printing several publica-
tions for the college. A few years later he commenced the pub-
lication of the Decorah Posten, which is the only Norwegian
paper in Iowa, and has a very large circulation.

1868.

Feb. 1, Decorah secures two mails a day.

This winter Decorah secures a course of lectures by Fred Doug-
las, Theodore Tilton, Henry Vincent and E. P. Whipple,

February 2, Norwegian M. E. Church on Washington Prai-
rie dedicated.

Feb. 18, John T. Stoneman lectures in Decorah on Joe Smith,
the Mormon prophet,

April, Decorah Democrat established. Bob Shurley. editor.

May 17, Norwegian celebration; oration by Prof. Larsen.

July 4, celebration at Decorah; Rev. Henderson, of Dubuque,
orator.

Oct. 7, 8 and 9, County Fair at Decorah.

In 1868, by the creation of the Circuit Court as previously de-
scribed, the County Court ceased to exist. The County Judge be-
came ex officio County Auditor, the new state of things taking ef-
fect June 1, 1869.

• 1869.

On New Year's day Charles Magoffin fell over the bluff over-
hanging the dugway, above the mill dam, Decorah. He was get-
ting some cedar branches, and stepping on ice, slipped and fell
down the bluff and was killed.

Jan. 12, Oddfellows occupied their new hall in the Dickerman
building, Decorah.

March 15, paper mill company at Freeport organized.

May 12, work commenced in earnest oa the Decorah branch of
the railroad.

May 9, depot and six grain warehouses atOssian burned.

June 7, A.K. Bailey appointed postmaster at Decorah.

June 13, Kramer s store burned, and depot and Lambert's store
at Castalia robbed.

July 4, celebrated at Ossiau and Hesper.

July 12, Calmar is incorporated as a village of the second class

Aug. 24, David Self was killed by his wagon tipping over into
river, on the dugway, Decorah. He was thrown under the wagon;
his wife and children escaped.

Sept 15, first regular train ran into Decorah. It was a day of
celebration and rejoicing.

Sept 22, 23 and 24, County Fair at Decorah.

Oct. 28, Edgar Harden, son of H. J. Harden, was fatally
stabbed at Burr Oak by Jasper Jewell, who became irritated by
the badinage of a party of threshers, with whom he was working.

250 HISTORY OF WINifESHIEK COUN'TY.

Dec. 2, Beauseant Commandery o£ Knights Templar fully or-
ganized and officers installed at Decorah with a grand parade, dis-
play, etc.

The Decorah Ventilator was established this year.

This year the railroad reached Fort Atkinson, and the building
of the new town commenced.

1870.

In 1870 the old Supervisor system of one from each township
gave place to the present system, except that at first there were
but three Supervisors; but this was changed, in 1872, to five, the
present number.

In February S.S. Haislett bought E. C. Huntington's interest
in the State Press newspaper, recently established at Decorah.

In March woman's sulFrage lectures were delivered in Decorah
by Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Mrs. H. C. Reed.

A 4th of July accident occurs at Spillville by the premature ex-
plosion of an anvil, by which four men were badly hurt.

August 17, the publication of the Winneshiek Kepresentative
was commenced at Calmar by Bent Wood.

Steyer's Hall, Decorah, was completed this year.

1871.

Decorah had a lecture course for the winter of 1870 and 1871,
among the lecturers being Lilian Edgerton and W, H. Milburn.

February 2, a fire in Decorah destroys Goddard & Henry's
store, the Howell and Heivly building occupied by P. S. Smout
and Mrs. G. W. Adams' millinery store.

February 21, by legislative enactment Decorah was incorporated
a city of the second class. It first election was held March 6,
1871. The first mayor was Charles F. Allen. The other officers
are given in a sketch of Decorah.

May 17, Norwegian celebration at Decorah. County Fair in
Decorah in September.

The number of County Supervisors was increased from three to
five, as at present.

June 23, the Winneshiek Representative at Calmar suspended
publication.

Decorah celebrated the 4th of July; Mahlon Willet, orator.

Sept. 6th, a homicide occurred in the evening in Frankville
township. Wm. McClintock was scolding his nephew about some
piece of mischief when a man, named Seeley, rode up and said:
''Take one of your size." And in a quarrel that followed See-
ley knocked McClintick down with a club. McClintock died three
hours afterward. Seeley was held to bail in the sum of $1,000,
and afterwards sent to the penitentiary.

The County Fair was held at Decorah in September.

The Decorah Democrat was discontinued, and the material taken
to McGregor for a paper there.

HISTORY OF WINNESHIEK COUNTY. 251

1872.

Jan. 17, old settlers of the county organize.

March 27, Ole Bull comes to Decorah, gives two concerts and a
mattinee, and is given a grand public reception by the people.

July 4, Fort Atkinson celebrates, with W. H. Bennett as orator.

Deborah celebrates, with Rev. Casabeer as orator and Mrs. H.
Bottsford as reader.

County Fair at Decorah, Sept, 17, 18, 19 and 20.

1873.

The great storm and snow blockade commenced Jan. 7th, con-
tinuing about a week. It was in this storm that Conductor Bob
Jamieson organized a rescue party and went from ^Calmar
carrying provisions to passengers in a blockaded train a little
south of Ridge way. They made their way through the blinding
storm by starting from one telegraph pole to another; the one
who found the pole first shouting to the others. It was nearly
two weeks before the blockade was finally lifted.

Jan. 20, the new school house at Fort Atkinson was burned.

Feb. 28, Andrew Johnson of Pleasant township, starting to go
home from Decorah, drunk, froze to death on his way.

March 12, W. N. Burdick, of Cresco, purchased half the inter-
est in the Decorah Yentillator.

May 17, Norwegian celebration at Decorah. Addresses by Rev.
Larsen and L. Reque.

June 7, Ole Bull again visited Decorah and gave a concert.

Sept. 18, the district fair was held at Hesper.

County fair was held at Decorah, Sept. 23, 24 and 26.

1874.

March 31, death of C. H. Henry, of the firm of Goddard &
Henry, Decorah.

April 5, death of F. E. Ruth, of the firm of Ruth Bros., De-
corah .

May 24th, about this date the business part of Ridgway burned.
Twenty-five buildings were destroyed and ^50,000 worth of prop-
erty.

Fourth of July celebrated in Decorah. Rev. H. B. Wood-
worth, pastor of Congregational Church, orator.

July 31, new bridge over Iowa river at Decorah finished.

Aug. 11, Decorah Independent started by Ed. Wood and S. S.
Haislet.

Aug. 13, corner stone of the M. E. Church laid.

Sept. 11 and 12 State Line fair at Hesper.

Sept. 15, 16, 17, county fair at Decorah.

Oct. 3, H. H. Buck, of Decorah, committed suicide.

Nov. 3, A. A. Aiken's Trot Run woolen factory burned.

Greer & Hunter's mill Avas completed this month.

252 HISTORY OF WINNESHIEK COUNTY.

Dec. 2, final completion and dedication of one wing of the Nor-
wegian College.

Dec. 20, new M. E. Church, of Decorah, dedicated. Bishop
Andrews, of Des Moines, presiding.

In November, 1874, Aiken & Woodruff, purchased the Winne-
shiek Register, published at Decorah (which was the successor of
the Decorah Ventillator,) of Geo. W. Haislet. In February, 1875,
the Saturday Bee was published from the Register office, and
during the snow blockade about that time, and afterwards, at
times when occasion demanded, it was issued daily. The present
Decorah Journal, Henry Woodruff, editor and publisher, is the
successor to the Register, having absorbed the Independent; the
Bee also becoming a part of the Journal establishment.

1875.

February 4th, a snow blockade continued several days,

March 3d, Ole Anderson, who lived north of Hesper, going
home from Decorah, froze his hands and feet. A suit
against H. D. Lolberge followed, in which $6,000 damage was
awarded Anderson's wife.

March 31st, it was decided to erect a new Episcopal Church in
Decorah this year.

May 9, Rev. Father McNulty, pastor of the Catholic Church,
Decorah, died.

June 23, this night occured the great flood of Dry Run, sup-
posed to have been caused by a water spout. Three small dwell-
ings were carried away, and five bridges over Dry Run; Washing-
ton Street bridge being the only one saved. All the bridges and
much of the railroad track between Decorah and Conover were
washed away.

July 2, Presiding Elder Wm. Smith of the M. E. Church, died.

July 7, County Supervisors provided for new iron bridges in
various parts of the county.

July 17, death of D. Addicken, of Decorah.

July 19, death of Horace S. Weiser, of Decorah.

September 21, 22, 23, State Line fair at Hesper.

1876.

January 4, John B. Stickles died, it was supposed that he was
poisoned. The famous murder trials resulting from his death, are
recorded in previous chapters.

January 9, Charles Meyers, Supervisor from Second district,
died.

January 31, J. Ellen Foster lectured at the Court House on
temperance.

March 3, first accident on the Decorah branch of the railroad.
Train was ditched three miles from the city. Eleven persons
were hurt, but none were killed.

HISTORY OF WINNESHIEK COUNTY. 253

March li, the new Episcopal Church at Decorah was dedicated.

April 7, Peter Duffin, an old settler, died.

June 18, Luther Church, Decorah, was dedicated.

June 6, alleged remains of Decorah, the Indian Chief, taken up,
so as to improve the Court House grounds; they were re-interred
inside the new wall.

July i. Centennial celebration at Decorah, with oration by H.
B. Wood worth, and meeting of the old settlers in the afternoon.

Oct. 10, 1876, Geo. W. Haislet, who had been engaged in var-
ious newspaper enterprises in Decorah, Cresco, Lansing, Mc-
Gregor, and lately for about a year at Dubuque, came back to
Decorah and established the Decorah Radical, which he published
till the time of his death in the spring of 1881, as recorded
under that date.

July 9, in Frankville township Simeon Oleson shot and killed
Anderson Theonson, who came to a party uninvited. After two
trials Oleson was acquitted. An account of the case is given in a
preceding chapter.

Sept. 6th, Capt. T. W. Burdick was nominated for Congress,
being the first Representative from Winneshiek County, and was
elected.

Sept 19-21, Fair at Hesper.

At the November election a $12,000 tax, divided between two
years, was voted to build a new jail.

Dec. 21, 1876, near Locust Lane, while several teams were on
the way home from Decorah, a quarrel arose, and Helge Nelson
struck Ed. Torfin a fatal blow on the head with a club. Nelson-
escaped with six months in the penitentiary.

1877.

Feb. 1, a new hotel, the Arlington House, was opened at De-
corah.

Lectures this month in Decorah by James M. Bailey, of the
Danbury News, and Mong Chin Foo, followed by others.

May 30, first observance of Decoration day, in Decorah. H. S.
Henderson, orator, ^nd C. Wellington, reader.

June 8, death of Joseph Grinsell, station agent at Decorah, his
body being found in an unoccupied house at Prairie du Chien.

June !■!, in the District Court Helge Nelson was convicted of
manslaughter in killing Edwin Torfin, December 21, 1876. Par-
ticulars are given in account of murder trials in this county.

July 4, celebrated by old settlers, reunion at Weiser s grove.

July, James Relf , a pioneer, died.

July 4, Howard's livery stable, Decorah, burned, and othe prop-
erty greatly endangered.

This same month it was concluded to have an artesian well in
Decorah.

254 HISTOKY OP WIKJS'ESHIEK COUNTY, "^

July 31, Recorder Charles A. Steen, who was wounded at Get-
tysburg, died in Deeorah, aged 40 years, 11 months, and 1 day.
Cyrus McKey was appointed to fill the vacancy until the next
election.

Oct., Fair held at Hesper.

Oct. 18, a fire at Calmar burned four business houses, includ-
ing McMullin's drug store, a shoe store, restaurant and saloon.

Nov. 3, Charles Hartsing, of Castalia, one of the first settlers
of Winneshiek County died, aged 65 years.

Nov. 29, Adams' block, Deeorah, burned, burning out Ben
Bears' clothing store, Coleman & Toye's drug store, J. C. Meus-
er's jewelry store, Newton's grocery, and some other tenants.

Deeorah had a lecture course the following winter with Gener-
al Kilpatrick, Henry VVatterson, Mrs. Livermore, and Will Carle-
ton.

1878.

Jan. 28, work on the artesian well, Deeorah, stopped, it havino-
reached a depth of 1,200 feet, and the water being 30 feet from
the top.

April 4, the Board of Supervisors having this spring provided
for the construction of a new jail, contracted for Pauley's steel
cells.

April 11, plans for the new jail adopted, the site of which is
located on the southeast corner of the court house grounds.

July 1, contract awarded for building a new county jail, which
was erected the same year.

Sept, 17, 18, 19, fair at Hesper.

Oct. 10, Harvey Benedict fell from the house of his brother, A.
A. Benedict, and was killed.

Nov. 21, the body of H. A. Hegg, of Deeorah, was found in
the creek at the railroad bridge, near Standring's cut. The coro-
ner's jury found that his death was caused by strychnine, and that
it occurred before he fell into the water. The mystery of his death
is not yet solved.

1879.

February 15, Blue Ribbon movement organized by John W.
Drew, in Deeorah, and reform club established.

May 17, Norwegian celebration; orations by Professors Sander,
Veflen, and others.

May 30, Decoration Day in Deeorah; oration by H. B. Wood-
worth.

June 22, twenty-fifth anniversary of the Congregational Church
of Deeorah observed.

July 4, celebration in Deeorah, John T. Stoneman, orator.
Celebrated at Ossian, Rev. Sherin, orator.

HISTORY OF WINNESHIEK COUNTY. 255

Aug. 7, Decorah township voted a 4 per cent tax to induce the
Waukon narrow guage railroad, which was then leased to the
Northwestern, to come to Decorah. The road bed was graded,
but the Milwaukee company bought it up — it did not come — and
Decorah saved its tax.

Sept. — , Fair at Hesper this year.

Nov. 12, Jannauschek, the actress, appeared at Decorah.

Dec. 1, Judge E. E. Cooley appointed to fill a vacancy caused by
the resignation of .Judge Reuben No))le.

June 13, the railroad depot at Conover burned.

July 4, celebration at Hesper, Rev. H. B. Wood worth, orator.
Ossian also celebrated.

July 23, at the PeterCoogan school-house, three miles north of
Decorah, Willard Van Pelt shot George Rastetler through the
side, the latter having been abusing and threatening Van Pelt.
Both were young men. Van Pelt was arrested and held for trial,
when he was finally fined f 20 and costs. Rastetler's wound was at
'first thought to be dangerous, but he recovered.

Aug. 19, Thomas Updegraff was unanimously re-nominated for
Congress by the Republican Convention at McGregor, and was
re-elected.

Sept. 12, Henry Diers was stabbed by Mike Wholehan, Avhom
he had ordered away from Addicken's brewery on Sunday. Diers'
wound was thought to be fatal, but he recovered. Wholehan
was held in |5,000 bail, and on trial was sentenced to one year
and six months in the penitentiary.

Sept. 15, 16 and 17, fair at Hesper.

1881.

Feb. 13, Remenyi gave a concert in Decorah.

Feb. 18, meetings held in Decorah to organize Citizens' Asso-
ciation, which organization was afterwards effected.

March 6, George W. Haislet, an old newspaper man and editor
of the Decorah Radical, died. The publication of the Radical
was continued for about one year by Mrs. Haislet, and in the
spring of 1882 was purchased by C. H. Craig, who changed its
name to the Decorah Pantagraph.

March 11, Wm. Telford, an old settler of Decorah, 51 years
of age, fell dead at a fire at the foot of Pleasant Hill.

March 28, James McConnell, an old resident of Bluffton, was
killed by being thrown from his wagon on his way home from
Decorah.

March 20, Chicago, Decorah & Minnesota Railroad Company
incorporated.

April 1, Prof. Jacobson, of Luther College, died.

May 11, the City Council of Decorah voted to build water
works, which were completed that year.

256 HISTOEY OF WINNESHIEK COUNTY.

May 30, Decoration day, Decorah. F. B. Daniels, of Dubuque,
delivering the oration. F. E. Brush, pastor of the M. E. church,
Decorah, delivered the address at the cemetery.

June 10, observance at Frankville of the lOOth anniversary of
Father Cutler's birthday. An account of the celebration will be
found in our sketch of Frankville.

August — , contract let for water works in Decorah.

August 12, Decorah post office moved into its new building.

September 20, 21 and 22, County Fair at Decorah.

November 9, Decorah Township voted a five per cent, tax to
the Upper Iowa & Mississippi Railroad Company, conditioned on
its building a railroad to the Mississippi, at or about Lansing.
The road was not built and the tax was forfeited. It is now stated
that the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railroad Company, who
are widening the gauge to Waukon will continue the work to De-
corah, thus giving them another outlet, via Calmarfrom the west,
rather than to build a double track from Calmar to McGregor.

Hesper, Burr Oak and Bluffton townships also voted taxes to a
road running through them to be built from LaCrosse to the
southwest through Charles City, and the right-of-way for the
road is beins secured.

1882.

February 22, Decorah waterworks trial, parade and celebration.

April 14, Decorah Township voted a five per cent, tax to a rail-
road to connect with the Burlington, Cedar Rapids & Northern,
to be completed before September, 1883. Grading has been
commenced.

June 4, murder in trlenwood Township. Peter Peterson Krog-
sund was shot and killed by Hans Hansen Skjerdahl. Particulars
given in a preceding chapter.

June 22, Decorah Drum Corps wins first prize at the State
Military Encampment at Waterloo. The Decorah Light Guards
also took a prize.

June 27, prohibitory amendment adopted in Iowa. Vote of
Winneshiek County was 1,411 for, l,69d against the amend-
ment.

July 4, celebrated in Decorah, with oration by F. E. Brush, of
Davenport. At Ossian, oration by T. J, Sullivan. It was
also observed at Fort Atkinson.

July 8, Turner Callender, an old resident of Frankville, died.
He came to the county in 1849.

Aug. 29, the Decorah Drum Corps wins a victory at the Inter-
state Military Encampment at Dubuque, being victors over the
Chicago Drum Corps, and winning the first prize of $500,

Sept. 1, Decorah Drum Corps welcomed home with a grand re-
ception at the Opera House. Address by E. E. Cooley.

HISTORY OF WINNESHIEK COUNTY. 257

Sept. 12, 13, 14 and 15, County Fair in Decorah. A grand
success; pronounced the best in this section of the country; and
equal to many State Fairs. A magnificent display of cattle and
other blooded stock. Receipts, §3,173.79.

Measures are being taken to largely develop the extensive stone
quarries around Decorah, and also to bring into market profit-
ably its wonderful fossil limestone for which there is a large de-
mand for ornamental purposes.

CHAPTER IX.

DECORAH.

Decorah, the county seat of Winneshiek county, the beautiful
and famous gem city of northeastern Iowa, naturally comes first
in importance in mentioning the towns of the county. It is
romantically located in the valley of the Upper Iowa River, and
about two miles from the exact geographical center of the county.
The Upper Iowa River, being supplied by largo, never failing
springs all along its course, has a continuous water-power as it
traverses a valley of great fertility, and romantic and varied
beauty. Into the river at Decorah and its suburbs, flow streams
from both sides — generally of cool, spring water. The city is
sheltered from the storms of winter and summer by high, wooded
hills, usually sloping up from the valley, but in some places stand-
ing out in precipices and rocky bluffs, which rise in tower-like
masses, adding variety and charm to the picture. Though the
hills surrounding Decorah are at their summits from 200 to 260
feet high — one of them thus giving a powerful head to Decorah's
water works — the country about is reached by easy grades up the
valleys by which the city is surrounded, and yet which are so
circling, that the broad valley in which Decorah is located is fully
protected, and seems surrounded by hills.

From some of the caves in these hills issue streams of water
large enough to operate flour mills with two run of stones.

The most remarkable of these caves is known as Ice Cave. Its
entrance is through an opening in a rocky blufi", overlooking the
river and facing the city, about half a mile north of its business
streets. In this cave ice forms in summer and melts away in win-
ter, and many have been the theories and discussions by scientific
men on the subject. As you enter the cave you go several rods
through its successive chambers, down steep slopes, and at the
lower depths of the cave is found the chilly atmosphere from the
rocks which, it may be, have during the winter accumulated so
much frigidity that they retain it till well through the summer,
and freeze the water that comes down through the crevices from

258 HISTORY OF WINKESHIEK COUNTY.

the hills above; but by the end of summer generally lose their
coldness so that the ice melts away as winter comes, before a new
store of freezing .chilliness can be garnered up. However this
may be the cave is a great wonder to multitudes of people.

Another great wonder which has been more particularly de-
veloped within a very few years, is the rich deposit of a fossilifer-
ous rock, from which are obtained specimens of surpassing beauty.
This region is a delight to geologists, who pronounce it one of the
most wonderful in the country.

Add to these and other attractions to be seen on every hand,
the charming and romantic drives that lead out from Decorah,
and the magnificent views that reward those who climb the hills,
and it is no wonder that t*lie new-comer is delighted. The
changeful scenes are so variedly beautiful that even the old resi-
dent never becomes tired of them. A visitor to Decorah a few
years ago, in writing to an eastern periodical, thus expresses his or
her appreciation: ,

"We know of no locality where the picturesque, the roman-
tic, the curious and the rural are so happily blended with the re-
finements, the elegancies, and amenities of city life, as in De-
corah; nor do we know of any place where persons suffering
from overtaxed physical and mental energies, or from billions
or pulmonary complaints, can find a more delightful locality for
recuperation, recreation, and restoration to a vigorous health;
nor are we surprised to learn that many from the east and south
are beginning to make Decorah a place of resort. The health-
fulness of the climate of northern Iowa, and the peculiar free-
dom of Decorah from all malarial elements, makes her one of
the best possible resorts for persons afflicted with the billions
complaints of the south and the pulmonary diseases of the
east."

The continuous fall of the river as it seeks the Mississippi,
in the valley hundreds of feet below, not only makes frequent
water powers, bat prevents ponds and sloughs, with their ma-
larious influences, and the water of the large and small streams
are unusually pure and sparkling.

The principal part of Decorah is on one side of the Iowa River.
A broad tongue of elevated land reaches out into the valley, and
yet low enough to be protected by the surrounding hills. On the
most elevated ridge of this tongue is Broadway with the Court
House and most of the churches, and on Broadway and the streets
that cross it and are parallel to it are numerous pleasant resi-
dences. Slightly elevated plateaus in other parts of the city also
furnish sites for many delightful homes and grounds.

Across the river is the very pleasant suburb known as West
Decorah. Quite a number of Decorah's thriving business men
have their residences there. On an elevated plateau, overlooking

HISTORY OF WINNESHIEK COUNTY. 259

West Decorah, and a part of Decorah, stands, in the midst of
ample and pleasant grounds, that important and imposing insti-
tution of learning the Norwegian Luther College.

But before we look at the institutions and business of Decorah,
let us trace its history as far back as we can; and that is not far.
For there are unwritten tales of centuries on centuries in the lim-
itless remains of animal life in the fossil rocks, and impressive
"sermons in stone" in the rocky treasures that are scattered
almost everywhere beneath our feet as we explore the hills and
valleys, but let us come back again to the history that has been,
or perhaps can be, written.

And how better can we take it up than in the words of Rev. E.
Adams, for some years pastor of the Congregational church, De-
corah, and afterwards State Agent for the Co])gregational Society.
His Thanksgiving discourse, preached at the Methodist church,
Decorah, November 28, 1867, was true to its title, "The First
Things of Decorah," an extensive re-production from its pages
will be of interest and permanent value. After appropriate and
suggestive introductory remarks, Mr, Adams said:

[Since the preceding paragraphs were prepared, it has seemed
desirable, as a matter of record as well as for permanent preserva-
tion in historical records, to give the Thanksgiving discourse of
Mr. Adams entire, and it is therefore presented as follows:]

THE FIRST THINGS OF DECORAH.

Text: '-i Syrian ready to perish teas my Father.. — Deut. xxvii; 5th.'

It is interesting and profitable to trace results to their begm-
nings, especially if the results are great and the beginnings
small. It serves to awaken gratitude and humility; sometimes to
inspire new courage for the future. God was mindful of this in
his dealings with His ancient people. That people, great and
mighty, He raised up from a humble origin until established in the
promised land. Here among the things which He appointed for
them annually to observe was the Feast of Ingatherings, at which
time they were to bring up to Jerusalem the first fruits of the
harvest from all parts of the land, — every man with his own offer-
ing. It was then that each was to appear with his basket of
fruits upon his shoulder, to be given into the hand of the Priest,
by whom it was to be set down before the altar of his God, and
then he was to say: "A Syrian ready to perish was my Father."
This was to remind him of the littleness of his people's origin,
when one of his ancestors was a homeless wanderer and exposed to
famine. Then he was to recount briefly the dealings of God with
his nation through the past to the present, concluding thus: —
'\And now, behold, I have brought the first fruits of the land
which Thou, 0, Lord, hast given me." There and thus was he to
worship, and then, tarrying yet awhile in the city, as he choose,
was he to rejoice in every good thing which the Lord had given

260 HISTORY OF WIXNESHIEK COUKTT.

him and his house, the Levite and the stranger. What a grand
thanksgiving time that must have been; the whole city filled thus
with grateful offerings and joyful hearts !

Our Puritan fathers, not by any direct command from God,
but as a natural result of their heartfelt dependence on Him, fell
into very much the same wa}^ as, from year to year, when the
annual harvests were gathered in, they set apart a day for special
praise and thanks, in which, after the public assembly, were the
joyous family gatherings of the children and children's children,
at the old homestead, where in the midst of the bounties of God,
there was good cheer, praise and prayer; and we may add, too, of
frolic and glee — a portion in due season for old and young. Hence
came Thanksgiving Day, now national, as we are called upon by
the highest authority of the land to observe it.

Thus are we convened to-day. The occasion naturally suggests
tons a glance at our national origin — a brief reyiew of the course
of Providence with us to the present time, till now there is spread
out upon this continent a great and mighty people. Especially
would it be proper to note the events of the past year^ the dis-
coveries of science, or achievements of art, the development of
our national resources, additions to our literature, the spread of
education and religion, forgetting not the bounties of the harvest
and such blessings as being found in the narrower circles of our
domestic and private life, are particularly calculated to put us in
sympathy with the spirit and object of tlie day. Many a topic
here might be found, but not here will we linger to-day.

We might again extend our vision abroad, and by contrast
hold up the cause of national gratitude, setting the prosperous
condition, on the whole, of our country, though troubled yet
with the burdens and problems of a recent intestine war, with
the unsettled condition of the European world: England dis-
turbed by Fenian assemblies and Trade Unions; France lowered
in the scale of her national greatness, with her people calling for
more liberty, to be satisfied perhaps with a little more military glory;
Prussia struggling for a united Germany; Spain with her internal
corruption and weakness, and so on; each with something to an-
noy; the balance of power as uncertain as ever; taxes in some
cases enormously oppressive; business generally greatl}^ crippled;
the world looking on, not knowing what a day may bring
forth. Here, I say, we might turn, but why not dismiss to-day
the outside world for, we will not say a selfish, but a narrower
yiew.

If to us it is pleasant to trace the origin of things, particularly
of things prosperous that have started recently from small be-
ginnings; and if again this pleasure is greatly increased even to
joy and gratitude to God, who in all things is to be acknowleged
by the fact that the things passed in review are such as we

HISTOKY OF WINNESHIEK COUNTY. 201

have been familiar with, a part of, cr greatly interested in, why
may we not find fitting employment for a few moments in so
humble a theme as the history of our own town?

This, then, Christian friends and fellow-citizens is what I pro-
pose to-day — a task that has been found easier in conception than
execution. To write history is a difficult work — a strictly truth-
ful history can never be written, for history when made is life,
and this fife can never be re-produced by the pencil or the pen —
only imitations of it. The historian must gather such dry bones
of dates, names and facts as come to hand, and clothe them with
such semblance of life as he may. To write history, again, while
the actors are still living must be, as you perceive, a delicate work.

Expect not then too much! be charitable. Overlook any omis-
sions or inaccuracies that may at once appear to you — more fa-
miliar as some of you are with the scenes reviewed then am I. It
is only by snatches of time that materials have been gathered and
arranged. More time and care, I have no doubt would bring to
light things just as worthy of notice as those Avhich will appear,
and correct some that do appear. All I propose to do, all 1 can do, is
to turn you back to the beginning of our town, to note a few of its
first things^more particularly in a few of the first years of its
history, which I trust will so present to us the past, the present
and future, as to fill us with emotions becoming the day.

We have to go back but a brief period of time. Less than
twenty years ago, as the sun rose in the east to look down upon
this quiet valley, where now are our dwellings, these streets and
gardens and farms, no hum of business broke in upon the stillness
of the morning hour.

The natural beauty of the landscape, ere marred by the white
man's touch, must have been of exceeding loveliness. No won-
der that for the red man here was one of his favorite haunts up-
on the banks of this beautiful river, fed by its springs and trout
brooks, its bluffs now becoming so bare, then covered with their
forest in which were the wild deer, the partridge and squirrel;
these vales, now at times bare and dust-covered, filled with wav-
ing grass, plum trees, fruits and flowers. No wonder, 1 say, that
from the outside prairies the Indian trails centered here, along
which these, our recent predecessors of a former race, in accord-
ance with their simple patriarchal government, by their families
and their tribes, came in here for the burial of their dead; hereto
hunt and fish; aye, here, too, may we not say, according to their
idea of the good and bad spirits above them, to worship also.

Often upon these bluffs, as the hunter's arrow, or in later
times, the rifle missed its mark, has he cast upon the ground a
bit torn from his blanket, or plucked a bed from his wampum,
or scattered a portion of his ammunition, as an offering to appease
the Spirit, through whose displeasure the failure had come, or to
avert it in future. Here, often, no doubt, were the games and

262 HISTORY OF WINJfESHIEK COUNTY.

sports of the young; here, too, lamentations and sorrows, even as
in later times, in burial scenes, as some old warrior, chief, maiden,
or child, was called to depart. And here, thanksgivings, too, —
doubtless feasts of rejoicing at success of hunting parties, or vic-
tory in bloody strife. Yes, up to within the brief space of twenty
years ago, this beautiful valley was all full of life, primitive life of
nature and man. But now the scene is changed, and we are here!
The process has been a rapid one. When and by whom was the
the beginning of it? Precisely what white man, as surveyor, or
ranger, first looked in upon the home of his red brethren, with the
infelt destiny of displacing or possessing, we are not able to say.
But in the month of June, 1849, in the midst of the picture we
have just sketched, though at the time somewhat faded out, yet
with seventy-five or one hundred Indians gazing upon the specta-
cle, their tents still standing, — -with the graves of the dead scat-
tered about where now run our streets and stand our dwellings,
— in this month of June, 1849, could have been seen an ordinary
emigrant wagon, with horses detached, and arrangements being
made not for a night's camping merely, but a permanent stay. This
of course, as everybody is aware, was what is known the coun-
try around as the "Day Family," consisting then of nine persons;
starting first from Tazewell County, Virgicia, the year previous,
touching at Cassville, Wisconsin, then for a short time on a
claim in the eastern part of the county, near John McKay's,
thence to this place. McGregor then was but a landing, but sel-
dom landed at. What some of us have traveled as the old stage
road, was but an Indian trail, with only two settlers upon it be-
tween here and Monona, at what is now Frankville.

Beyond this, westward, were but two white families, by the
names of Reams and Button. The head of this Button family
was suspected of horse-thieving, and was, at an early date visited
on this business by a deputation of nine men from Linn County,
anxious that justice should be extended, even to the farthest lim-
its of the country then known. No evidence was really found
against him; but upon the hint that his absence would be as good
as his presence, he soon left, selling his claim to a man by the
name of Johnson, of whom the farm was purchased by its present
occupant, Mr. Jacob Jewell.

But to return to the inmates of our emigrant wagon. The
first thing, was a covering for the head, and then more per-
manent arrangements for the winter. A temporary cabin, 16xlG,
to serve ultimately as a stable, had already, by way of anticipa-
tion, been partially erected by some members of the family who
selected the site, and this was soon so far completed as to admit
of moving in, and the same night was a tavern opened on the
same premises, where from that day to this the hospitalities of the
''Winneshiek House" have ever been extended. In that first sea-
son, when by the presence of surveying parties, horse-thief hunt-

HISTORY OF WINNESHIEK COUNTY, 263

ers, or the rush of travel on Indian trails (!) the accommodations
within were somewhat straightened, the guests, in the mild e^en-
ings of our autumnal climate, of course could find a welcome bed
on the green grass, just outside, and ample space for horses as
they stood tied to Indian stakes. No need then for the old sign,
— ''Room for Man and Beast;" — it was all room, and all the room
there was was apparent to every one. Before winter, however,
a more commodious building was erected, the main part 20x25,
with a wing attached. This was made of logs, shingled, lathed
and plastered, — really, for the time, cjtiite an imposing structure.
This is the building known as the '"old log house," and which
made its disappeara*nce but a few years since.

In this connection it may be proper to say that the present
•'Winneshiek House" was "built in the years of 1854-5, The
frame was hewed from the native timber, the lath and shingles
obtained at Lansing, while the siding is of the pine that once
skirted the banks of our river, got out at what was known as Car-
ter's mill, at Plymouth Rock, Considering its size and the diffi-
culty at the time of obtaining and collecting material, no wonder
that it was two years in building; completed December 24, 1855,
The "Decorah House," as it was originally built, was finished
prior to this in 1854, and since enlarged at difi"erent times to its
present dimensions. An allusion to the "Tremont House," fin-
ished in 1857, and burned last winter, (1867,)— gives us a glance
at the hotel business among us; commenced in that first log house,
though perhaps there is another that some one will say ought to
be named — '"'The Central Housed

Almost coeval with this branch of business commenced another,
which now appears in the history we have commenccsd. I allude
to the improvements of our water powers. In the same season of
1849, there came a man with his family, who, the year previous,
on an exploring tour through this region, had seen such visions
of mill-wheels, mill-stones, of saw mills, turning-lathes, possibly
of woolen-mills even, in connection with the curves pf our river,
and the adjacent springs that he had already made his claim and
put up his cabin to the square — a man, who, endowed by nature
with more than ordinary mechanical skill, has been following up
his visions every since, one who is still frequently upon our
streets, the fruits of whose labor all of us are reaping more or less,
one of those by whom the world is more benefited than is by the
world acknowledged, • This man, as, of course, many of you know,
was William Painter, a native of Green County, Ohio,

His cabin was built upon the property known as the Butler
property, nearly opposite the present machine shop, where, as the
fruits of his labor, may now be seen the first well dug in town.
In his family was the first birth, his son George Patten, born in
the fall of 1849, in honor of which and also because he took the
names of two sons of the Day family— George, Patten — he after-

264 IIISTOKY OF WINNESHIEK COUNTY.

wards had the present of a town k^t. In his milling propensities
Mr. Painter commenced immediately in 1849, and what is known
as the Spring or Dunning's mill, soon taking into company with
him one Aldridge. He brought a small pair of buhrsfrom Cincin-
nati, and set them running by the simplest of machinery possible,
in a log mill about sixteen feet square, some of the remains of
which are still to be seen. The Heivly power was in his claim,
but he did not think it best to commence the improvement of this
till his means should be more ample and the country better settled.
This power, however, was not long to remain in waiting for soon
there came to our town another, the third family, February, 1851,
in which there was the same propensity for milling to which we
have alluded as a kind of family trait, true to which the descen-
dants of this family may still be seen threadi^ig our water courses
in search of more powers yet to be improved; I allude now, of
course, as many of you again know, to the "Morse Family," the
respected father of which is still among us, whose cheerful face is
often greeted with the familiar title of '^Uncle Philipy He with
his wife and two children moved in for a time with Mr. Painter,
but soon built him a cabin on the back part of the lot on which
the Tremont House stood. He built a year or two afterwards, in
August and September, 1852, the first frame dwelling in town,
which is still standing, and occupied at present by our fellow-citi-
zen, Mr. Driggs (now occupied by Mr. Bonestell. — Eds)^ just
west of the Tremont Stand. In his family was the first marriage,
as the records have it:

Married. — August 22, 18-'')2, Henry T. Morse to Hannah C. Chase. John S.
Morse, Minister. The Mr. Morse now living in Freeport.

But we must not by these pleasing items be drawn down our thread
of history too rapidly. In the same season that he came, the
the summer of '51, Mr. Morse bought of Mr. Painter a portion
of the Heivly water-power and commenced the saw-mill now
upon it, he and Mr. Painter building the dam and race together.
Mr. Painter built, about the same time, a grist mill, the frame of
which still stands within the walls enclosing the present building.
About this time the Spring Mill was sold to its present owner,
Mr. Dunning, whose family was the fourth in town. Thus com-
menced and to the joint labor of these men — Wm. Painter. Philip
Morse and E. Dunning — are we indebted for, the first beginnings
by way of improving the abundant water-power with which we
are favored, the value of which we do not yet begin to realize, but
which is being developed from day to day. No doubt their labors at
this early date had much to do in making this a point, as well as
drawing hither other branches of manufacture, to which refer-
ence may be made in due time.

In the same year, July 3, 1851, the first lawyer made his ap-
pearance, undertaking to walk out from Lansing, he got lost by the
way and stopped the first night at a Norwegian's house six or

HISTORY OF WINNESHIEK COUNTY. 265

eight miles east of this. Starting on the next morning he came
along about noon to the log tavern, and inquired the way to De-
corah, rejoicing, no doubt, to be at his journey's end ere he had
found it. His name was John B. Onstine. The second of his
profession that came was Dryden Smith; the third, A. B. Web-
ber; the fourth, John L. Burton; the fifth, L. Bullis; the sixth,
E. E. Cooley, who came October, ISo-l, — and so on.

Mention has been made of houses being built. Of course
there were carpenters here at this early date. The first in town
was a man by the name of Stevens, who soon left for California,
Avhere he has since died. The second was our fellow-citizen Mr.
William E. Taylor, who came in November, 1851. He bought
the chest and tools of Mr. Stevens, the first brought to town —
which chest and many of said tools are doing good service at the
present day.

The mercantile has ever been a prominent interest among us.
This, too, was started at an early date in the summer of 1851, by
Aaron Newell, with a partner by the name of Derrick. They
opened their stock of goods — not a very large one; indeed, some
say about a wheel-barrow full — in the smoke-house on the Win-
neshiek premises. They soon moved for better accommodations
to a kind of slab shanty until they could build a real frame build-
ing, the first store, and the first frame building, in fact, built
in town, advertised and known as the "Pioneer Store,"
at present owned and occupied by the firm of Goddard & Henry,
and by them enlarged to its present dimensions. This was com-
pleted in the summer of '52, and was for the time quite a build-
ing, furnishing in the second story a public hall called Newell's
Hall. Could we but have a few of all the transactions within
that hall, of county courts, caucuses and, I am afraid, of dances,
too, and all sorts of things, it would give us a pretty good clue to
the early history of the times.

[The old 'Tioneer Store" building has since burned down, and
a large brick building now stands upon the old site, occupied as a
store by C. N. Goddard. — Eds.]

In connection with law and commerce the Gospel soon came, in
Septemper, 1851 in the person of a Methodist preacher, who pre-
sented himself at the cabin of Uncle Philip Morse on the errand,
as he said, of looking up the lost sheep of the house of Israel.
Being assured that he had found them, he walked in. That night
there was preaching and a class soon organized. This preacher was
Elder Bishop, and made arrangements to preach monthly, taking in
Lansing, Monona, and the country about in his circuit. A few
weeks after, a Congregational minister, Mr. A. M. Eastman, made
his appearance and established monthly meetings at the log tav-
ern. Hence sprang the two first churches organized in town.
Their subsequent history, the date of organization, the time of
building their houses of Avorship, etc., with a notice of other

266 HISTORY OF WIXNESHIEK COUNTT.

churches since and more recently formed, would take us further
down the line of history we are pursuing, and require more
minuteness than time will permit to-day.

While these things are going on, assuming shape, evidentl}^, to
make this quite a point, another event occurred which, of course,
cannot be overlooked. It was in this season of 1851 that this was
established as the county seat. As, in the minds of many respect-
ing this county seat question, there is an impression that there
are things curious, and yet no definite knowledge about it, the re-
cital of a few facts may not be amiss.

In the winter of 1850 and 1851, the Legislature at Iowa City
appointed John L. Carson organizing officer of the county. It
Avas his duty to furnish poll books and assist the people in ap-
pointed districts within the county in a lUwf ul way to determine
by vote where the county seat should be. Three places were ap-
pointed for the casting of votes: — this place, Lewiston, at or
near Fort Atkinson, and Moueek. The majority of voters were
about Moneek, while the interests of Lewiston and Decorah were
united upon Decorah. The day of election came. For some
reason or other the people of Moneek failed of receiving, as they
should, the requisite poll book A man was appointed, indeed, by
the organizing officer to receive it, and it was understood that he
was to give it to a certain other person, and that other person was
to carry it to Moneek; but somehow there was a failure to con-
nect — that other person never received it, and it was never car-
ried. The people at Moneek being left to their own resources to
get up a poll-book and conduct the election, it is not strange
that they made some legal mistakes; a few illegal votes, too, were,
doubtless, in their eagerness, cast, and yet they had among them,
it is supposed, enough legal votes, if lawfully cast, to have secured
their object. Their vote, however, was declared illegal and thrown
out, which, of course, left Decorah duly elected. The whole
number of votes cast was 63. As to that missing poll book; how
it failed to connect; this, I believe, is a mystery never yet to the
piiblic satisfactorily explained. There Avere those that asserted,
and doubtless believed, that it Avas all a trick by designing ones,
that the people of Moneek might fall into mistakes, and get their
vote thrown out. As to the facts whether this was so or not, the
historian of course has had no power to put any one on the
stand, nor, in some cases, has he thought it modest to question too
closely.

These being the facts in the case, it is not to be Avondered at
that some were dissatisfied with the result of the election; and so,
afterwards, as you are aware, there was an effort to remove the
county seat thus located. This was in 1856. A law had just been
passed by which the County Judge of any county was to submit
the question of the county seat to the votes of the people on a
petition therefor signed by a certain proportion of voters in the

HISTOKY OF WINNESHIEK COUNTY. 267

county. In February, 1856, a petition signed by 400 was pre-
sented to the Judge praying an election to be ordered. At the
same time a remonstrance was presented, signed by 800. Here
arose a question. Was it the duty of the County Judge to order
an election in favor of the petitioners regardless of the re-
monstrance, or in case of a remonstrance — and that in the major-
ity — was he to disregard the petition? Sides were taken, and law-
yers employed. For a day and a half, as the case was argued before
him, did the Judge carefully gather all possible light from the best
legal talent of the day, finally deciding against the petitioners. No
election was ordered. At the April election an unofficial vote
was taken simply to show the sentiments of the people, which, as
a matter of fact, was in favor of a removal — Freeport being the
place named.

In June another petition for an election, to be ordered by the
Judge, was presented, and another remonstrance, also as before,
two to one, followed by a like decision of the County Judge
against the petitioners. The case was then referred to the District
Court in July, — where, by the District Judge, the action of the
County Judge was sustained. In April, 1856, a proposition was
submitted to the County for a county loan of $0,000 to build a
court house, which at this time carried, and so fixed the matter.

In reference to these, there were those (among the dissatisfied,
of course,) who talked of bribes and unfair dealing — in fine, of
much irregularity generally; but here again is the weakness of
the historian. He cannot give the real life, but must be content
with bare outside facts.

Some things, however, are very evident. The feeling must
have been strong, and no pains spared on either side — especially
that of the remonstrants, A petition of 400 and a remonstrance
of 800, gives 1,200 voters. As a matter of fact, there were many
voters who signed neither. This, according to the usual calcula-
tion, would give to the county a population of at least about 8,000
people — more by half, as everybody knows than were then in
it. There must have been remarkaljle diligence, not to say great
skill, in finding signatures. Had a vote been ordered at the time,
it is generally thought that the majority would have been for re-
moval. And again, had there been a judge personally in favor of
a removal, very likely (such is the weakness of human nature) an
election would have been ordered, and Decorah's sceptre might
have passed to Freeport,

But how easy it is to slide down the lapse of time.

We were in the year of 1851, — quite an eventful year. Let us
see what we have: Three log cabins, one hotel; a lawyer and two
merchants, partners in trade; with other families and persons that
might be named, though the census would not be large; the water
power beginning to be improved; regular preaching once a
month by two diff'erent denominations, and a county seat, with of

268 HISTORY OF WINNESHIEK COUNTY.

course regular sessions of the county court — -(an august body.)
This year of 1851 is really the most interesting by way of the be-
ginning of things among us, and we might dwell here entirely;
but we will come down a few years later by a brief glance here
and there at what is transpiring.

In 1853 some new-comers are added, and new trades introduced.
It was in this year that the first blacksmith shop was started by
an old Californian, who burned his own coal in what is called
"Cruson's Hollow." He blew his bellows in a building now oc-
cupied by Mr. Grolz as a cabinet shop; and as he pounded his iron,
was somewhat of a dealer in real estate, also. By him the whole
block on which the Howell house stands, now the residence of Mr.
Goddard, was purchased for |20. The block opposite, where is the
residence of Mr. Horace Weiser, for $40. A few additional frame
dwellings there must have been at that time, though probably not
many, as this blacksmith's wife was designated as the ''woman
that lives in the frame house." His name, as near as can be as-
certained, was A. Bradish. He also carried on the tin trade, and
had as a hired journeyman, one George C. Winship.

It was in this year, too, as I think, that another very lucrative
business was started, though it gives no pleasure to mention it.
But we read that when the sons of God came to present them-
selves before the Lord, Satan came also; and the historian must
be faithful.

About this time, down under the hill, in a kind of a spring
house, near Day's spring, was a man, we will not call his name
at this time, boasting that he had "the pure article" for sale, but
it was afterwards ascertained that it had been well watered on its
way to this place at Trout Run — a whisky fraud no doubt. This
traffic soon crept up into daylight on Water street (which it has
never fairly crossed, as it would seem), and was subsequently in
the hands of one Gookins whose establishment not long afterward
was destroyed, and the place for once cleared of liquors. This,
however, was the result more of a quarrel among his patrons than
a movement of reform among the people. The absence of the
spirits was but temporary. To the place, though swept and gar-
nished, they soon returned with at least seven others added, which
have gone on increasing ever since. In justice to this, Gookins,
however, it ought to be said that there is reason to believe that he
became a better man, as some of us used to meet him in prayer-
meetings, and as one interested in Sabbath schools. So in the
history of this town, have some from time to time exchanged the
business referred to for a better, and to as many as will do like-
wise will we most heartily give the right hand of welcome.

In 1853 the population increases. In this year Amnion & Co.
came in; the first to add steam to our water power; the beginning
of what is culminated, at last, in the present foundry and ma-
chine shop — an' establishment no less useful than ornamental to

HISTORY OF WINNESHIEK COUNTY. 269

the place. It was in this year that the town was first laid out,
and original plat made ready for record August 17, 1853. The man is
still living (Judge Price, of Clayton County) who claims the honor
of suggesting the idea to the members of the Day family, while
yet in the log house. The idea, however, was not entirely new to
them, though by his encouragement, doubtless, their purpose was
strengthened. He claims, too, the credit of suggesting the name
Decorah, and tells how, after supper, he took a piece of chalk and
marked out on the table how the to.wn could be laid off,

In 1854 the first school house was built; the same that now
stands on the old site, recently changed in color and fenced for
domestic uses. The first teacher employed was a young man in
the greeness of his youth, fresh from Vermont, seeking a location
for the practice of medicine. He had come in through Monona,
and was greatly discouraged by the residents here, so far as the
prospects of medical practice was concerned, but had the offer of
the school at $30 per month, if he could pass examination. An
examining committee was appointed and a day set for the ordeal.
The day came, and with it one of the committee, who examined
him, found him qualified, and gave him a certificate. • He com-
menced school, taught a month, flogged a child of one of the direc-
tors, and raised quite an excitement in the district thereby. By
this time his practice had commenced; he didn't care whether he
taught or not. The result was, another man took the school off
his hands and he devoted himself to his profession, which he had
modestly followed ever since. His name was H. C. Bulis. The
committee-man who examined him and gave him his certificate
was Levi BuUis. The new teacher was Charlie Allen. That old
certificate, by the way, the first ever given in the school, is still
kept as a relic of the past; whether brought out in later times as
evidence to the people of Cjualificatious for Senatorial honors, is
not ascertained.*

It would be interesting here from these beginnings, to trace
the history of our educational institutions, the Select or High
Schools we have had — good ones, too — not overlooking, of course,
our Norwegian College, but more especially to trace the progress
of our public school; how it was driven by winter's cold and

*The author of this discourse wishes to say that since its delivery a mistake has been
discovered in this matter. The school house was built in the year previous, 1853, and
a school taught in it bv a young man who came with his father's family, in that year,
from Crawford County, Pennsylvania, and settled at Freeport. After teaching that
winter he was for four years th e acting Treasurer of the County until of age, when he
was elected for three successive terms to fill that office, until in the war he served as
Captain of Company D, 6th Iowa Cavalry; after .which he became cashier in the First
National Bank, where he may now be found— Mr. T. W. Burdick. (he has also repre-
sented his district in Congress, as is noted elsewhere —Eds.)

To him certainly some credit is due that since the organization of the county its
Treasury has never suffered from a single .embezzlement or fraud. Mr. Burdick shows
his certificate, signed by Mr. H. K. Averill, and a list of his scholars, about forty-six in
number, with the names of the parents. He says that he '"boarded 'round," taking in
his rang-? the families ii. Cruson's Hollow on the east, and the l»loore and Child places
on the west, and that such was the growth of trees and underbrush around the school
house that one could hardly see it at four rods distance.

270 HISTORY OF TVIXXE5HIEK COUXTT.

straightness of space, to sojourn for a while in basement rooms,
sheltered beneath church eaves, as schools often are; how taxes
were first voted by the people for a §20,000 school house, generally
about three attending the elections, till money accumulating ex-
cited an interest among the lovers of education ! It would be in-
teresting, I say, to follow the progress of these things, till, at last,
we have such a building and such a school as we have, of which
we have reason to be proud; bat of this, time will not admit.

At the close of this year — 1854 — let us see, if we can, how the
town looks. Our three cabins of '51 have increased to quite a
little village of fifteen or twenty buildings, counting hotels,
stores, stables, shops and buildings of all kinds. On the other
side of Dry Run, so-called, to the south and east, stands one now
occupied by Dr. BoUes; on Broadway, two: the old school house
and the one occupied by myself, though less in size then than
now. The rest, a dozen or fifteen in number, were scattered along
Water street, commencing with the old building, or a part of it,
now occupied by Mr. Keyes for a carpenter shop, including some
of the old buildings on the opposite side a little further up; then
up to the hotel stands the Pioneer store, and so with a building
here and there on one side of the street or other, up to the cabins
of Mr. Painter and Morse, aforesaid. The population probably
was about one hundred.

At this time traces of Indian graves were not all obliterated;
a half a dozen or so had indeed been leveled to prepare the site of
the Winneshiek House, then building. However, a spot was
marked, and still had traces by which it could be marked, right
at the intersection of Winnebago and Main streets, between the
old Norwegian College buildings and Lawyer Bullis' office, of a
recent grave, said to be the resting place of Chief Decorah, from
whom our town was named. Some present may recollect how, a
few years afterwards, our bosoms swelled with respect for the old
chief; with what reverence we exhumed his remains — how, in
imagination, we beheld his noble form, as his skull, with its
straight hlack hair was turned out by the spade; with what pomp
and ceremony it was planned to remove his remains to some
suitable place, possibly a monument erected — till, in gathering
necessary facts for the occasion, word came back to us that De-
corah was a chief greatly respected by his tribe, an old man, con-
siderably bent over, Avith one eye put out, and his hair very gray.
His hair very graij ! All but this could have been got along with,
but somehow the poetry was gone! Enthusiam subsided!

However, if in future years, by the lapse of time, this difficulty
should be obliterated, and any desire should remain in any to erect
a monument to the old chief, they can find his bones, or those of
some other poor Indian, safely deposited in a rough box a few
inches below the surface of the ground, close to the northeast
corner of the court house yard.

HISTORY OF WINXESUIEK COUNT V. 271

But here, again, how easy to slip down among the things that
we have done, instead of keeping back in the past.

• I will detain you bj' an allusion to only one year more, that of
1855. In this year our town made marked progress. Many new-
comers were added, and many new kinds of business introduced;
among them the Pioneer Harness Shop was opened by J. C.
Spencer.

The first livery stable started was by Clark Kenyon and C. E
Dickerman. Said Dickerman also sold the first drugs, with an as-
sortment of other things, such as could be turned to advantage;
though the first regular drug store was opened the year after by
E. I. Weiser & Bro.

What gave the place an especial impetus in this year of 1855,
was the establishment of the Land Office for the Turkey River
Land District. The bill constituting this land district passed
Congress in March, 1855, mainly by the efforts of Gen. Jones,
of Dubuque. What considerations any persons in Washington
were to receive for getting the office here; how they somehow
failed of getting what they expected, and displeased thereby, aided
in removing the office early in 1856, need not be told.

Nor need a detail of land office times here be entered upon.
They must have been wild and curious times. The office was
finally opened the day before Christmas, 1855; office hours from
9 to 12 each day. The town was ciowded with adventurers
from all parts of the country, with a rage for land almost barbar-
ous. For two weeks, until some system was established, en-
trance was gained to the office by brute force. He that could get
his hand upon the handle of the door, and maintain his position
until office hours was first best. The entrance was by an outside
stairway leading to the second story. The building used for the
office still stands, occupied as a boarding house, one door east of
the harness shop of Mr. Noble. The white paint but partially hides
the old sign "U. S. Land Office." One night, with the thermom-
eter at thirty-five degrees below zero, a man stationed himself at
midnight at the head of the stairs, and endured the bitter cold
bravely for his chance. By morning both his feet were frosted,
but still he held his ground. Awhile after daylight the crowd
gathered behind him down the stairs and out into the street,
passed up to him a warm breakfast and hot coffee in honor of his
persistence, and good-naturedly cheered him to hold on, which he
did. Sometimes these throngs would begin to gather by one
o'clock p. m., and stand all night for the next day. At the same
time in the rear of the building was another pair of stairs, and
those within the ring could somehow get entrance to the office,
and enter all the laud they chose by paying the officials something.
Head clerks in this way received their hundreds of dollars for
single night's works. This, too, was known. How this company
of men ever got through the winter without continued conten-

272 HISTORY OF WIN'NESHIEK COUNTY.

tions and outbreaks, to sav nothing of tearing the office to the
ground, as they threatened to do, is indeed a wonder, especially
when we are told, and we would not say it if we had not been
told so, that the quantity of liquor used that winter was by no
means limited. It is also remarkable that during this time not a
theft or robbery was known. This is the more so, as the amount
of gold, or its equivalent then in tovai was almost incredible,
some say not less than a half a million. In proof of this the man-
can be produced, and he then but a youth, who affirms that in pe-
culiar circumstances he was constituted by acclamation chief
treasurer to hold in safe keeping for the time being such effects
as might be upon the persons of parties present. Belts filled with
gold, packages of warrants, etc., were thrown together in a dry
goods box over which he was to stand guard until the equilib-
rium of the assembly should be restored, the contents of Avhich
box counted out over $320,000. The circumstances alluded to
I need not hint further than to say that it was about Christmas,
just as news came that the office was to be really opened. Such a
young man, so Stand(r)ing in the esteem of his fellows for so-
briety and honesty, deserves to prosper as a retired banker, in
the honest calling of a farmer. We wish him a railroad close
to his house!

In this winter and spring of 1855-6, nine banking houses were
in full operation, two of which remain, that of Weiser & Filbert,
now Winneshiek County Bank, and one Easter, Cooley & Co.,
now First National iBank. Heavy stocks of goods were
opened; the population and business had taken such a start that
Decorah was the chief centre of trade for the whole region around
about even.for a hundred miles or more, especially north and west.

When the Land Office was removed in 1856, some people and
some things left with it, but many stayed. The town got a start,
and it kept on growing— no railroad, indeed, yet, but still we live.
I will follow down the history no farther.

But you will allow me here to note one or two interesting and a
few first things with which I have met that have failed to find a
place in the history given.

Wm. Painter ate water-melons that grew on a patch of ground
at the lower end of town, in the street, near Mr. Keyes' carpenter
shop, from seeds scattered by the Indians at a dance and feast held
there. A. Bradish feasted on strawberries plucked upon the lot
where he built his shop, now Mr. Golz's cabinet shop.

To Dea. James Smith belongs the honor of making the first
plow manufactured in town, in a blacksmith shop which he erec-
ted, now used as a stable in the rear of Mr. Eckart's cabinet shop.
He also ironed the first buggy made in town; the buggy was made
by an enterprising Welshman, who came to town in 1854. He,
like the first lawyer, walked out from Lansing to take a view,
liked the prospects, and soon commenced a business that took the

HISTORY OF "WINNESHIEK COUNTY. 273

shape of agricultural ware-rooms, on which is the name of "G.
Phelps," The oldest cat in town probablfis one called "Bob," it
is thirteen years of age, whose kittenhood commenced in the mer-
cantile life in the store of Dr. Green and Hazelett, in West Deco-
rah, thence to the old Dickerman stand, now the leather store of
Mr. Cyrus Adams, thence to its present quarters, in the store
next to the Post Office, with Father Green, With much wisdom
from the past, with an amiable and serene old age, do they jog
along in life together.

Of the equine race, the oldest resident probably is one called
"Dandy,'' brought to this place in the energies of a six-year-old
by Mr. Filbert, now owned by Mr, Weiser, still powerful in his
old age, a good moral horse, in one respect at least, never by his
masters subjected to the infections of the race course — what we
wish could be said of all horses.

The first court was in the log tavern, Monday, September 1,
1851, Being no business, adjourned to October following. At
this time the county revenues were 70 cents. Warrants issued
16.00.

The first mail entered town June, 1851 — in one letter, two
newspapers — Lewis Harkins. mail carrier; C. Day, Postmaster, It
is said in these days he carried the post office in his pocket,

I have already mentioned the first well dug, the first bn-th, the
first marriage. The first death was of a Mr, Chase, who died in
the fall of 1852, buried, of course, where we used to bury our dead,
in the brush on private property — we are almost ashamed to tell
where and how — till the enterprise of Mr. James. E. Simpson, in
1861, gave us a cemetery.

Thus, my friends, have I given you a few items of our early
history. Some of you, doubtless, see mistakes and omissions. You
will pardon these; I have given simply what I have met with my
inquiries made at snatches of time.

Allow me a few words in conclusion. Gratitude is due to God
to-day for his kind and preserving care. Some of the earlier res-
idents indeed, are no more. Of the Day family five have been
taken: two sons, one in Oregon, and one in California; two
daughters, one fourteen and the other a little older, dying while
attending school at Madison, Wis. Father Day, we buried in
the autumn of 1860; Aaron Newell, in 1862. And so might we
mention others; but yet a goodly number of the older residents
are still with us, and many not here are in other places.

The goodness of God marks the scenes passed in review to-day.
We should rejoice together in the continued thrift of our town.
A railroad we expect, of course, in due time; but if disappointed
in this let us remember our water powers and our manufactures,
with other elements of growth peculiar to us. These let us in all
ways encourage. All thanks here to the enterprise of our me-
chanics. Then we have much brain power to be developed. Go

274 HISTORY OF WINNESHIEK COUNTY.

stand in our. new school building and behold the process there
daily going on of fusing nationalities in the crucible of intelli-
gence and mental culture. Let facilities there be added for in-
structions in the classics, the higher mathematics; for every-
thing lower than the college, drawing into it the patronage of
the country, while it gives increased advantages to our own
children, and more will come from this to give us prosperity
and character than one would at first suppose. Our cemetery 1
would be glad to see the property of an association, and not a
private individual, and better improved as it should be. Also a
monument upon the court house square, or some other place, to
the deceased soldiers of the county, as in every county there
ought to be, and then with other things attended to that would
naturally follow 1 would like to meet you, if God will, on other
thanksgiving occasions, with humble thankfulness to our heav-
enly Father, with social life, friendly feeling, intelligence, vir-
tue, and piety growing among us, with continued blessings of
God from year to year.

By us precedents are being set, and customs established. We
stand at the head of influences whose flow is to be as permanent
as the river and the hills that enter into the beautiful scenery of
our home. Let us be faithful to our trust.

LATER HISTORY.

Before proceeding with the sketch of Decorah and events fol-
lowing those described in the discourse of Mr. Adams, it will l?e
well to locate some of the buildings mentioned by him.

The "Howell House" is the old frame building on the south-
east corner of Water and Court sts., recently occupied as a tin
shop in connection with the adjoining tin shop on Water street.

Mr. Goddard now has a pleasant home on the slightly elevated
plateau south of the C, M. & St. P. By. depot, where are the
fine residences and grounds of Hon. T. W. Burdick, and Conduc-
tor L. L. Cadwell, as well as those of Geo. Pennington, A. Tracy,
P. A. Whalen, D. N. Hawley, Geo. Q. Gardner, Conductor J. W.
Hogan^ and others.

The opposite corner on the same side of Water street, men-
tioned as the residence of Horace S. Weiser, has just become the
home of Dr. C. W. Amy, a brother of Mrs. Weiser, and his wife,
Dr. Harriet Bottsford A.mv. Mr. Weiser commenced his newresi-
dence on the southeast corner of Broadway and Grove streets, and
diagonally opposite the elegant house and grounds of Judge E.
E. Cooley, in the spring of 1872, and completed it in 1873. It is
now occupied by his widow, Mrs. H. S. Weiser and family.

The "Old Norwegian College buildings — occupied by them as a
school and college before the building of the Norwegian Lutheran
College — were what is now the St. Cloud Hotel, on the north-
west corner of Main and Winnebago streets, and the residence

HISTORY of' WINNESHIEK COUNTY. 275

just west of it on Main street, recently occupied by C. W. Bur-
dick. The St. Cloud hotel has since been enlarged by a fourth
story, counting the basement, in which is the dining room,
kitchen, etc. 0. T. Hamre is its present landlord.

"The Decorah House'' was the large frame building standing on
the southeast corner of Water and Washington streets and now
occupied by several small branches of business.

The "Central House" was a stone building which occupied the
site where now stands Dakyn's livery stable, on the southwest
corner of Washington and Main streets.

The house spoken of as occupied by Dr. Bolles, stood over on
the flat beyond the present Decorah public school building.

"Cruson's Hollow" is the valley across the river through which
flows the stream from the springs in A. C. Ferren's place, Cru-
son's notorious place being this side of Ferren's, near the site of
the old brick yard.

The first school house, built in 1854, has given place to the
present three-story brick building on the northwest corner of
Winnebago and Vernon streets, built in th^ season of 1866, and
so far completed that year, that the lower floor was occupied, the
other floors being furnished and occupied soon afterward.

The oldest horse mentioned — "Dandy," — the property of Mr.
H. S. Weiser, was carefully cared for by Mrs. Weiser till it died in
January, 1880.

The Winneshiek House, built in lS5iby Wm. Day, whose death
August 7, 1860, leaving a widow who is still living, more partic-
ularly referred to in the chapter on County Chronology, has al-
ways been a prominent and popular hotel, and its fame has extend-
ed to other parts of the country. It was greatly enlarged and im-
proved in the latter part of 1876 and early in 1877 magnificently
furnished and re-opened Wednesday, April 18, 1877; Seibert's St.
Paul band furnishing music for the occasion. Its handsome front
looks down Washington Street, and its location is still a promi-
nent and convenient one. Present landlord, A. J. McClaskey.

Mr. Adams mentions the Tremont House, burned in the winter of
1867. Early in 1876 the project of building an up-town hotel on
the Tremont site was agitated. ■^It resulted in the erection of the
fine three-story hotel building, known as the Arlington, costing
about $16,000. It was opened in grand style February 1,1877,
and did a good business for sometime, but was closed on the leav-
ing of landlord Dow, and is now used as a boarding-house, of the
Decorah Institute.

One of the oldest but later hotels of Decorah was the Union
House, on the south side of Water Street, below Washington Street,
kept by Felix Curran, now a resident of Alexandra, Dakota. It
Was destroyed by fire on the night of November 28, 1870.

276 HISTORY OF WIlfNESHIEK COUNTY.

Besides the leading hotels, the Winneshiek House and the St.
Cloud Hotel, Decorah, has the old popular farmer's hotel, the
Stiles House, and several other smaller ones.

The cemetery mentioned by Mr. Smith, thanks to the enterprise
of J. E. Simpson and others, has become a large and beautiful
resting place for the dead. Situated on the elevated rolling
grounds south of the city, partly covered v^^ith a grove of young
trees, is well laid out and kept in good order. But the very few
recent graves testify to the healthf ulness of the city.

Mr. Adams refers to the solemn resurrection of the alleged re-
mains of the Indian Chief Decorah, after which this city was
named. This event, which took place August 4, 1859, and the
second resurrection on the 6th of June, 1876, Avhen the Court
House grounds were graded in order to terrace them, are des-
scribed at some length in a preceding chapter/ relating to the
Winnebago Indians. Judge M. V. Burdick asserts, however, that
he has frequently seen the noted Indian chief since the time of
such resurrection and re-interment. His name was Wachon-De-
corah, and from him our neighboring town of Waukon also takes
its name. He was more commonly known, however, as "one-eyed
Decorah," from the fact of his having but one eye. Judge Bur-
dick says that he must have been very old, as his form was much
bent — a thing uncommon even with very aged Indians, or squaws,
who have seen many years of toil. He died, according to Judge
Burdick. in the winter of 1880-81, on an island in the Mississippi
River, above Lansing, near the Wisconsin shore.

The record of Decorah and her people in the war of the Rebel-
lion is given in a previous chapter on the military history of the
county. Her railroad history has also been given in that of the
county and in the chronological history of events, and will be re-
ferred to later in this volume so far as concerns the present. Many
prominent events, including criminal trials, storms and floods, not
recorded in county history, are noted in the chronological history
of the county, and we will not repeat them here. But there are
some things not specially noted that deserve a more extended men-
tion than has been given them.

On the first Monday in April, 1857, a meeting was held to in-
corporate Decorah as a village. Resulting from this an election
•was held on the 30th of June, 1857, when E. E. Cooley-was
chosen President of the incorporated government. Decorah con-
tinued as an incorporated town until 1871, the control of affairs
being invested in a board of five aldermen or councilmen, elected
from the town at large.

Among its executive officers following Mr. Cooley, we find, W.
F. Coleman, elected Mayor in March, 1861; again in 1862, and re-
peatedly elected to that office till 1870.

HISTORY OF WINNESHIEK COUNTY. 277

Early in 1871 Decorali was incorporated as a city of the second
class and divided into four wards, represented in the city council
by two aldermen or councilmeu from each ward. At the election
held March 6th, 1871, the following officers were elected:

Mayor, Charles F. Allen; Clerk, G. W. Patterson; Treasurer, E.
I. Weiser; City Attorney, E. E. Cooley; Marshal, John T. Baker;
Aldermen, G. 0. Rusted, G. W. Adams, N. Burdick, John Greer,
J. L. Pennington, A. D, Thomas, J. H. Montgomery, 0. J. Clark.

We have had for Mayors since that time the following well-
known residents of Decorah, elected as follows: Frank E.
Baker, in March, 1873; VVm. H. Valleau, in March, 1875; and
twice re-elected, holding the office for three years. E. E. Cooley,
elected in March, 1878 and again in 1879; Dr. H. C. Bulls, elected
in March, 1880, and again in 1881; Wm. H. Valleau, elected in
March, 1882, and present incumbent.

The following are the present officers (1882) of the Decorah
city government: Mavor, Wm. H. Valleau; City Attorney, 0. J.
Clark; City Clerk, W, R. Toye; Treasurer, George Q. Gardner;
Assessor, Cyrus Adams; Street Commissioner, A. W. Bonstell;
Marshal, Ed Bean; Night Watchman, John Wilson.

The members of the City Council, elected for two years, one
being chosen each year from each ward, are:

1st Ward, H. Engerbertson. Geo. L. Wendling; 2d Ward, E. P.
Johnson, Wm. Jennisch; 3d Ward, R. B. Tuttle, John Curtin;
4th Ward, James Alex Leonard, J. H. Baker.

In the chronological history of the county, several mentions
are made of the Norwegian Lutheran College, erected on its large
grounds, and commanding site in West Decorah, and its progress
from commencement to completion. The college has thirty-two
acres of rolling ground connected with it, and is an imposing edi-
fice in the Norman-Gothic style of architecture, three stories in
height, and costing $100,000. The main building and one wing
Avere erected in 1865; the other wing, completing the original de-
sign, in 1874. This college was at first opened at LaCrosse, Wis.,
in 1861, was transferred to Decorah in 1862, and occupied what
is now the St. Cloud Hotel, till 1865, when it moved into its pres-
ent building. It began with eleven students in LaCrosse, had
thirty-two on its commencement in Decorah, and eighty on en-
trance into its present building. Now it has an average of from
one hundred and Mfj to two hundred students, often approaching
the latter number. Its president is L. Larsen, an able and effi-
cient one. It has nine professors which are selected from the
ablest of the scholars and educators in Europe and America. The
college and the cause of learning recently sustained a severe loss
in the death of Prof. J. D. Jacobson, but in that case as in other
vacancies, they are filled with the best men that can be found.
The Norwegian Lutheran College is the representative institution of
that nationality for this country and especially for the northwest.

278 HISTOKY OF WI^STjq-ESHIEK COUNTY.

Its pupils : are more particularly from Iowa,": Wisconsin
and Minnesota. It is chiefly supported by contributions from
Lutheran congregations. The college is not strictly theolocrieal
—those who wish to study theology can be prepared in it to^en-
ter the Norwegian Lutheran Theological Seminary at Madison
Wisconsin or Concord College, a German Theological school, at
bt. Louis, Mo, I he course of study embraces a preparatory de-
partment and a full college course. Thirty dollars per year is
charged for tuition, and $70 for board; but aid is afforded to stu-
dents not able to pay their way. The college has its literary so-
cieties and a library of several thousand volumes. The colleo-e
choir IS a popular institution with the people of the city as Is
also Its orchestra and its excellent cornet band, which has fur-
nished music on many public holidays and celebrations in De-
corah.

The Decorah public school building has been previously re-
ferred to m this chapter. It cost, exclusive of furniture, $20 000
It was thought to be ample for the educational Avants of the city
for years, but has become so crowded that additional room will
have to be secured, as there are over 600 students enrolled this
early in the school year; the enrollment last year was 688 and
the number this year will probablv be greater. This does not in-
clude the West Decorah school. The school is divided into nine
grades, ic which all the branches from the primary to the Hio-h
bchool course are taught. A new and advantageous feature "is
the system of special teachers for a particular branch in the var-
ious departments, thus securing the benefit of special fitness for
instruction in each study taught, instead of one teacher giving in-
struction m all the studies in his or her department. The school
possesses appropriate apparatus. A special High School depart-
ment was established a few years ago, and the first class, nine in
nuniber, graduated in the latter part of June, 1881, with credit
to themselves and the school, as did the class which followed
them this year— 1882.

The following is the corps of teachers for the present school
year, they all being so successful in their several departments as
to be re-elected from the previous year:

tit"^" Ji-,^offeen, Principal; Misses Lou Hughes, Julia Curran,
Mary Helgerson, Ada Bulis, Eva Benedict, M. E. Riley, Emma
Shipley, Emma Telford. Susie Duffin and Mrs. M. E. Jester. C
H. Valder, Teacher of Penmanship.

The Board of Education, which has management of the schools,
IS as follows: E. Cutler, President; Joseph Hutchinson, W. F.
Coleman, Geo. Q. Gardner, B. Annundson, Edwin Klove.

In our. chronological record will be seen mention of the Winne-
shiek Normal Institute, with Sherman Page as principal. This in-
stitution suspended during the war, Mr. Page taking a position in
the army. It was afterward revived under his management for a

HISTORY OF WINNESHIEK COUNTY. 279

time; but Pedagogue Page soon removed to Austin, Minn., where
he became somewhat famous as Judge Page, in the bitter unre-
lenting warfare which he waged on political and professional ene-
mies in Austin and elsewhere. But its ])lace is filled by the De-
corah Institute, under the management of Prof. J. Breckeuridge,
his assistant, J. W. llich, and an efficient corps of assistants.
The Decorah Institute was established by Prof. Breckeuridge in
September, 1874. It occupies the building formerly used by the
M. E. Church, and is situated on Broadway, south of the Court
House. The Arlington House is used as a boarding house where
students obtain board at actual cost, it being amply fitted for the
purpose, as well as for rooms for many of the students. The De-
corah Institute draws pupils from adjoining counties and States.
There were over 250 in attendance last year, and the number this
year will probably be larger, as at the commencement of the school
year there are are over 150.

The Decorah Business College, under the charge of John R.
Slack, an experienced instructor and accountant, Avas established
at about the same time and was conducted in connection with the
Decorah Institute, It occupies the second floor of the brick build-
ing on Water Street, opposite Stile's Hotel.

The Catholics have a parochial school in connection with their
church here, and the initiatory steps have been taken and a part
of the funjds raised for the building of a Sisters School, which will
become an important educational institution of Decorah.

The Norwegians also have a private school in the basement of
the Norwegian Lutheran Church on Broadway with a good at-
tendance.

In 1875 a select school for young children, embracing some of
the features of the Kindergarten system, was established by Mrs.
S. K. Everett in the basement of the Congregational Church, and
met with gratifying success, and continued for several years. Her
ill health caused the temporary suspension of the school, and it
was taken up by others. Mrs. Everett in the spring of 1881 ac-
cepting a position as a teacher in the Iowa College for the blind,
at Vinton, to which she was re-elected at the end of the school
year, and served to the present summer, when she declined re-
appointment on account of poor health and needed rest. The
childrens' school here is continued, however, Mrs. J. Breckeuridge,
capably filling the vacancy for the present.

In musical talent and culture Decorah stands high, and is well
supplied with amateur artists on voice and instrument. The pres-
ent summer has witnessed a revival in voice culture, thi-ough the
work of Prof. E. C. Kilbourne, of Terre Haute, Ind., a higly suc-
cessful teacher of vocal and instrumental music, whose time of
late has been specially given to voice culture in which he has
rare ability and success, and who came here for a summer vaca-
tion. The opportunity was improved, however, by singers and

280

HISTOET OP WINIhESHIEK COUI^TY;

students m music in Decorah and vicinity to take private lessons
m voice culture, so that Prof. Kilbourne's time was fullv occu-
pied to the end of his vacation. A probably successful elFort is
being madeto have him return next season and establish a sum-
mer school m Decorah.

Decorah is well supplied with churches. The largest is the Nor-
wegian Lutheran Church on Broadwav, adjoining the beautiful
residence and grounds of Mrs. H. S . Weiser. It il built of brick

7q- af *''"''^"°."'^ °^ ^ '^°^^ basement, and was erected in
18^0-6, at a cost of $20,000. Rev. W. Brandt presides there
very acceptably to a large congregation.

The Methodist Church which took the place of their old wood-
en building— the first church building in Decorah— is a fine lar-e
brick structure, trimmed with stone, costing about $13,000 and
was erected m 1860, and dedicated December 20th. It has had
tor Its pastors men who have become prominent for eloquence
and ability Among them are Rev. H. W. Bennett, now of Du-
buque, and m late years two young men. Rev. S. G. Smith, who
IS just finishing his third year as pastor of a prominent church in
bt. faul, Minnesota, to become presiding elder there; and after
him came Rev. F. E. Brush last year called to the leading M. E
Churchof Davenport Iowa. The pastor for the present year
has been Rev. F. M. Robertson, an earnest preacher and worker
llie Congregational Church, on the southeast corner of Broad-
way and Court streets, built of brick with a high stone basement
was erected in 1860, at a cost of about $6,000. Previous to its'
erection meetings were held at the Court House. The first reo-u-
ar pastor was Rev. W. A. Keith, who was here about a year, ?nd
hved at Freepor . In 1857 Rev. Ephriam Adams succeeded him,
and remained till 1872, when he was called to the position of
btate Agent for the Congregational Society in Iowa. He was fol-
lowed by Rev. H. B. Woodworth, who became pastor in Septem-
ber 1«(2. He proved to be one of the ablest pulpit orators in the
state, and his services were in demand on many public occasions,
ile was pastor of the church till the spring of 1882; except for
about a year and a half's absence on account of ill-health, durino-
which time Rev. J. F. Tainter, a young, but efficient and abl?
worker occupied the pulpit; Mr. Tainter's services closing at the
commencement of 1880. Mr. Woodworth gave in his final res-
ignation early in 1882, and about the first of March went with his
tamily, for the sake of his health, to a stock farm near Mt. Ver-
non, Dakota 18 miles beyond Mitchell. Not long after Mr.
Woodworth s departure, Rev. A. Etheridge, of Marseilles, 111.,
was engaged to preach for six months, and proved an earnest
and taithtul laborer for the cause of Christianity. Rev. John Wil-
iard, of Massachusetts, an able, eloquent and 'earnest pulpit ora-
tor, and zealous and effectual in church and social work, is occu-
pying the pulpit at this writing, and has the hearty sympathy and

HISTORY OF WINJ^-ESHIEK COUNTY. 281

co-operation of the people. [Since this chapter was written Rev.
H. S. Church has been appointed pastor of the M. E. Church for
the ensuing conference year, and J. W. Clinton is continued as
presiding elder of the Decorah district.]

The Catholic Church, a substantial stone building on lower
Broadway, cost about 8T,000, and was erected in 1865. The cause
of that church is efficiently served by the pastor, Rev. Father
Garrahan.

The Episcopals have a beautiful little church building on Broad-
way, between the residences of C. E. Dickerman and W. H. Yal-
leau. It was erected in 1876, at a cost of 85,000. Rector, Chas.
A. Stroh; a zealous churchman and an earnest self-denying
worker.

The Christian Church occupies the old M. E. church building,
and has no regular pastor. A German Methodist Church also oc-
cupies an up-stairs room on upper Water Street. It will erect a
church on the southwest corner of Main and Grove Streets,

Decorah's banking institutions are established on a firm and re-
liable basis, with abundant capital. They are as follows:

The First National Bank established in 1854, under the firm
name of Easton, Cooley & Co. It was one of the few banks that
weathered the financial crisis of 1857. In 1870 it was changed to
the firm of Wrfi. L. Easton & Son, the latter being Jas. H. Easton,
who is now president; and under the National Banking act of
1864, became the First National Bank of Decorah. Its officers
are: President, Jas. H. Easton; Vice-President, A. Bradish;
Cashier, T. M. Burdick; Assistant Cashier, Geo. Q. Gard-
ner; Teller, E. R. Baker; Book-keeper, Joseph Operud; Messenger,
Frank Cutler.

The Savings Bank of Decorah has its office in the same rooms
with the First National Bank, and is in a prosperous condition.
It was established in 1873. Its officers are: President, Jas. H.
Easton; Vice-President, C. E. Dickerman; Cashier, T. W. Burdick.

The Winneshiek County Bank — Mrs. H. S. Weiser's — is the
oldest bank in the State that has had a continuous existence under
the same name. It was established in 1855 by the late Horace S.
Weiser and Thomas J. Filbert, who died quite a number of years
before him. This bank Avas one of the two in Decorah that safely
passed through the crisis of 1857. It was continued by Mr. Wiser
until his death, and since that time by Mrs. Weiser, and Strong &
Williams, administrators of the estate. Mr. Weiser, whose death
occured July 19, 1875, was a [genial, public-spirited citizen, and
did much to develop the resources of the county. His biography
will be given with that of other Winneshiek County men in
another part of this volume. The present officers of the bank
are: President, J. C. Strong; Cashier, J. M. Williams; Teller and
Book-keeper, E. N. Hoi way.

282

HISTORY OF Wi:S^NESHIEK COUXTY.

There are several other private banking houses and brokers and
real estate office?. S. W. Matteson's broker and loan office is in
the Dickerman block on Winnebago Street. Mr. Dickerman has
his office in the same building.

Henry Paine, whose beautiful home looks down upper Broad-
way from the west, has a broker and insurance office in his build-
ing on Washington Street, and is also a dealer in wagons car-
nages, etc. '

Geo. Phelps, a former resident of Decorah, has this season set-
tled here permanently, having purchased the spacious G. F. Fran-
cis residence, and improved and fitted it up in an elegant manner-
he has opened a handsome banking office on Winnebago street'
next to the St. Cloud Hotel. F. R. Fulton, who has also impor-
tant interests at Grand Forks and Grafton, Dakota, and who pur-
chased the pleasant residence of H. B. Woodworth, has an office
in the Phelps building. C. W. Burdick's real estate and abstract
office IS two doors north of the Phelps' office, being next door to
the postoffice.

And speaking of postoffices, Decorah now boasts of one of the
most handsome and convenient to be found in any town of its
size, the building being erected especially for that purpose in the
spring of 18S1. It is of brick, two stories high, on the west
side ot Winnebago street, between Water and Main streets. Be-
ing on the south side of a broad alley, it gives opportunity for re-
ceiving and delivering mails at the rear door.

Going over the names of postmasters of Decorah, as they ap-
pear m county chronology, after C. Day, 'Svho carried the post-
office m his pocket," we find the familiar ones of A. Kimball, E
E. Cooley, and Elisha Hurlburt, who died November 3, 1863 and
was succeeded by John R. Slack, who was appointed February 4
1864. During Mr. Slack's terra of office the postoffice was moved
into the then new brick building on the east side of Winnebago
street near Main' now occupied by the Journal office, and con-
tinued to occupy those quarters till moved across the street to its
present location in August, 1881. On the 7th of June, 1869, An-
sel K. Bailey, editor of the Decorah Republican, was appointed
postmaster, and continues in that position. It was under his ad-
ministration that the present neat and commodious quarters were
secured. C. W. Burdick consenting to erect a building and lease
the lower floor to the Government for a moderate rent.

The Western Union Telegraph Office is in the postoffice. A. S.
Bailey, of the firm of Bailey & Bro., of the Republican being ij
charge.

Decorah's telephone exchange, established in 1881 was origi-
^ l^r^^^^ postoffice, but was removed to the adjoining office of
t. W. Burdick.

The water works system of Decorah is admirable; the high
blutts about the city being particularly favorable therefor. The

HISTORY OF AVINNESHIEK COUXTY. 283.

water works were erected in 1881 at a cost of about 125,000, in-
cluding reservoir, pump bouse, and machinery, street pipes, etc.
The large reservoir is situated on the summit of the high bluff in
the southwestern part of the city, not far from the river, being
reached by the road running southward from Upper or West
Broadway. The reservoir is over 200 feet higher than the busi-
ness streets, and over 100 feet higher than the most elevated res-
idence portion of the city ; it is covered with a cone shaped roof. The
pumping works are in the valley in the southwestern part of the
city, and the water is obtained from a large well, fed from abun-
dant hidden springs. At the firemen's parade and celebration of
the completion of the water works, on February 22, by the force
of pressure of the water in the reservoir a stream was thrown
over the top of the steeple of the Methodist Church on Upper
Broadway, and also far above the Court House . A well drilled,
efficient, and suitably equipped fire department as an auxiliary to
the water works protects Decorah from fires. It consists of two
hose companies and a hook and ladder company. The following
are the officers of the department:

Chief Engineer, R. F. B, Portman; First Assistant, W. A,
Bonstell; Second Assistant, Jas Alex. Leonard; Foreman of Hook
and Ladder Company ,;E. D. Field; Foreman of Hose Company No. 1,
Geo. Hislop; Foreman of Hose Company No. 2, Geo. Q. Gardner.

The military spirit is kept up and the city is honored by the
Decorah Light Guards, under the efficient drill of their old com-
mander, Capt. Geo. Q. Gardner, and the present one, W. E. Akers.
They were winners of one of the prizes at the State military en-
campment, June, 22, 1882. The officers are: Captain, W. E.
Akers; First Lieutenant, E. R. Baker; Second Lieutenant, R. Reed,
of the former members of the company Angus Johnson is Quar-
termaster of the Second Brigade, L N. G., with the rank of Cap-
tain, and W. R. Toye is Quartermaster of the Fourth Regiment,
with the rank of First Lieutenant.

The Decorah Drum Corps has won national as well as State rep-
utation. On the 22d of June, 1882, at the State military encamp-
ment of the Iowa National Guards, at Waterloo, it was awarded
the first prize as being the best drum corps. Dubuque being its
chief competitor. At the inter-state military encampment at Du
buque, it was, on the 29th of August, awarded the first prize of S500,
beating the Chicago Drum Corps. It is the Drum Corps of the
Fourth Regiment Iowa National Guards, of which its leader,
Frank Cutler, is Drum Major.

Of the secret societies, three are Masonic, viz: Great Lights
Lodge, No. 181; A. F. & A. M.; King Soloman's Chapter, No. 35;
Royal Arch Masons; and Beausant Commandery, No. 12, Knights
Templar. They have for several years occupied a fine hall on the
upper floor of the First National Bank building, but are just now

284

HISTORY OF "\VI]S-XESIIIEK COUNTY.

completing an elegant new assembly hall on the third floor of the
next building east, specially fitted up for them, and have rooms for
other business on the floor below.

The Odd Fellows have Winneshiek Lodge, No. 58, I. F
and Decorah Encampment, No. 39, which occupies the third floor
over the Dickerman block.

Nora Lodge, R. H. K. (Norwegian), has a hall on the third
floor, over the n inneshiek County Bank.

There are also branch lodges of the A. 0. U. W., Leo-ion of
Honor, and the V. A. S. fraternities, all mutual life insurance or-
ganizations.

The fact that Decorah has a large and well arranged Opera
House, with well equipped stage, and fine scenery, has caused the
city to be favored with numerous first-class entertainments
Among the noted musicial and dramatic stars who have visited
Decorah, have been Ole Bull, Remenyi, and Camilla, the great
violinists; Janauschek, the great tragedienne, and other famous
actors, Litta, the celebrated vocalist, and other famous sint^ers
and companies; andm the lecture field, the most prominent, sley-
er s Opera House, a monument to the enterprise of Joseph Steyer
who IS still its active manager, was erected in 1870, and was 44

/io ?^J ^l ^^ ^^^^ ^^^P- ^^ ^as enlarged in 1875 by a frontage
ot ^2 teet, the new part running back 114 feet. On its enlarc^e-
ment it was entirely re-fitted, a circular gallery put in, and a suc-
cession of raised seats beneath the gallery. New stage furniture
and scenery by the best artists were provided, and chairs put in
tor seats throughout the whole lower floor of the hall. Opera
House block is an imposing three story brick building, situated on
Water street, next to the Winneshiek House, and looking down
Washington Street. "

There are other public halls. Rudolph's Hall is neatly fitted up
and furnished with fine and artistically painted stage scenery.

Decorah has several important manufactories, and ample water
power for more. Among the oldest of these is what has been re-
cently known as the mill, foundry, and agi'icultural manufactorv
T /^"^°io^^' ^cott & Co. The agricultural works were founded bv

?-• 1- 1 ^°^°^ ^^ -^^^^- "^^^^ ^^^^1' afterwards ioined the firm
™^,r^^^f ^^-f^on, Greer & Co., and the company, purchased in
J 8 /O the mill of Henry Heivly, formerl v known as the Painter Mill.
Mr. Career retired, and in 1870 Geo. W. Scott became a member
otthehrui, which became a joint stock companv until it went
out ot business some two years ago. The flouring mill is now
owned and run by Henry Heivly. The wagon making and agri-
cultural department was wound up for the company, for the ben-
efit of stockholders, by Leonard Standring, who in years past has
been prominent m banking and manufacturing enterprises in De-
corah, and who now has a pleasant home and extensive farm near "
the railroad in its southwestern suburbs. These extensive ac^ri-

HISTORY OF WINNESHIEK COUNTY. 285

cultural buildings on Upper Water street, are not now running,
but will not, probably, long remain idle. Mr. Amnion is now
in the milling business in the western part of the state, and Mr.
Scott engaged in business in Minneapolis.

John Greer, formerly of the above firm, in company with Jas.
Hunter, erected, in 1874, the Ice Cave Flouring Mill in the lower
part of the city, it having three run of stones and costing $40,-
000. This mill has recenty been purchased by John Lawler and
Peter Doyle, who are interested in the C, M. & St. P. Ry., and
the track of that road is now being extended down to their mill
to accommodate their extensive shipments, as well as to the ex-
tensive stone quarries on the river bank beyond. Mr. Greer re-
mains in charge of the mill, and Mr. Hunter is still a resident
of Decorah.

The extensive building of the Decorah Woolen Mill, on the
bank of the river or Upper Water street, was built in 1867 by
the Decorah Woolen Mill Company, and cost with machinery
$35,200. Its stock was owned largely by Englishmen, of whom
there are many residing in the county, and are enterprising and
• public-spirited, generally bringing with them a good deal of cap-
ital. The Woolen Mill was managed for a considerable number of
years bv Capt. W. T. Baker, still a resident of this city, and
was sold recently by Capt. Lloyd, a son-in-law of Capt. Baker,
who had recently acquired the chief ownership, to Lawler &
Doyle, owners of the Greer & Hunter Mill. The Woolen Mill
has recently been leased for five years by John E. Duncan, who
has repaired and improved the machinery, and will run it to its
full capacity.

The Trout Run Woolen Mill, erected in 1866-7, at the head of
Trout Run, where that large stream issues from a cave at the
foot of the bluff, was the first woolen mill in the county, and did
an extensive business. It was burned in November, 1874.

A prominent pioneer in early business enterprises was Diedrich
Addicken. He was born in Oldenberg, Germany, Nov. 5, 1824;
came to America in 1855, settling in Clayton County, and in 1857
came to Decorah where he built what has been known as the old
brewery near the old stone mill, April, 1865, he commenced to
build what is now the Addicken mill, brewery, and residence
property on the Iowa River just above the city, about a mile from
the prominent business center. He was an energetic, popular,
and generous man, and his death, July 17, 1875, caused by being
thrown from a wagon, the fall breaking his leg, was a shock to
the people generally. The business was continued by Mrs. Ad-
dicken until her recent death, assisted by her daughter, who with
competent assistants has had charge since that time, and has been
successfully and prosperously conducted. The machinery of these
establishments is run by water power from Union Springs, near-
ly a mile above.

286 nisTOKY or winneshiek county.

Other prominent flouring mills in Decorah are the Tavener
Mills, on the Iowa River, half a mile above the Addicken settle-
ment. And in addition to the Heivly and Greer & Hunter Mills
recently mentioned, the Trout Run Mill, at the mouth of Trout
Run, and propelled by the water-povs^er of that stream, w^here it
flows into the river about a mile below the city. Benedict & Mott
are proprieters of the West Run Mill.

Among other manufacturing enterprises are the wagon and car-
riage works of Jennisch & Wendling, who do a large business;
the wagon shop of McKay & Bergeson; the extensive steam bakery
of Joseph Hutchinson, which has custom through a large territory;
the planing mill of L. R. Fish, and a considerable number of
smaller establishments.

Among other recently established manufacturing enterprises, is
the Scale Factory, at what is known as Union Springs, a little
more than a mile west of the city. In the spring of 1880, T. E.
Gaston, in company with H. Heivly, began the erection of a large
and commodious building for the purpose of manufacturing scales.
It was completed the following September, and the first set of scales
was turned out October 15, 1880. The machinery used in this •
factory is of the latest style, has all the modern improvements,
and is run by a water-power 22-horse strong, the water being fur-
nished by a spring near the factory, and gives them 17^ feet head.
They employ ^rom 15 to 20 men, and turn out from 3,000 to 4,000
scales a year. The quality of the scales is second to none manu-
factured in the United States, being built after the pattern of the
Fairbank's scales. Mr. T. E. Gaston is the efiicient manager, and
thoroughly understands the business, he personally superintends
both the manufacture and sale, the latter extending through lowa^
Minnesota and Dakota.

The business of egg packing was commenced in Decorah by
A. W. Grow, a number of years ago, and within the past two years
has grown into such proportions as to necessitate the erection of a
large building especially for the business, and its enlargement last
year. Mr. Grow's egg packing house is situated on Washington
Street, south of the railroad. He packs yearly about 250,000 doz-
ens of eggs, making about 3,500 barrels and twenty-four
car loads. When it is considered that each egg has to
be handled, and the bad ones picked out, it will be seen that
•there is considerable work in the business, especially in the
busy season. But Mr. Grow has found money in it. He has now
purchased the H. H. Hoen paper warehouse property adjoining
him on Washington Street, with a frontage of 100 feet on the
railroad track, to use as a storage room, and as a cooper shop to
manufacture barrels for his egg packing house, and for a coal
yard, etc.

The past two or three years has seen the development of a new
industry in the county. Grain growing has partially given place

HISTORY OF WINNESHIEK COUNTY. 287

to dairying and stock raising, thus varying the products of the soil,
and that, too, in a most desirable manner. In this connection the
new system of butter making has added greatly to the dairy pro-
ducts, as our dairy butter commands the very highest price in the
eastern markets.

The Ice Cave Creamery, located in the eastern part of the city,
and owned and operated Ijy Wm. Beard & Sons, was the pioneer
in the creamery movement in this county. It collects cream from
farms nearly all over the county, having within this past year es-
tablished branch creameries at Fort Atkinson and Hesper. The
Ice Cave Creamery, of Decorah, which is the largest of the trio,
is in itself the largest in the state, and in the world. It is operat-
ed by steam, and has systematic machinery for operating it both
summer and winter. The total product of the Ice Cave Creamery
for sixty days, commencing June 3, 1882, was 192,361 pounds of
butter, being on an average of 3,206 pounds a day. The largest
product for one day was 4,955 pounds on July 13th, and the next
largest 4,870 pounds.

Another creamery, known as Decorah Creamery, has been es-
tablished in Decorah the present season. It is located in the
Klein brewery building across the river in the northern part of the
city. It is operated by P. S. Smout, and power furnished from
the large spring at Spring Mill, just beyond it.

Pure cold water is furnished from an in mense spring that- flows
into the building, and uriderground vaults leading from the cream-
ery into the bluff, make it admirably adapted for creamery pur-
poses. Nearly 1,000 pounds of butter are made per day by this
creamery.

This creamery business has caused further development of the
inventive genius of P. S. Smout, of Decorah, who produced his
patent refrigerant milk can, which is adapted to private dairies
as well as for those who sell cream to the creameries. It is meet-
ing with immense sale through this and other states. The result
has been the building up of a large manufacturing business by
Smout & Hoy, in Decorah, principally to manufacture these cans,
and incidentally for the making of Smout's cream carriers.

The abundant supply of excellent stone for building purposes
to be found in our quarries has been a matter of local knowledge
for years, and stones that have been used in our business blocks
for twenty-four years, still have the marks of the chisel as plain
as when they were hewn, and show no sign of perishability. But
it was not until very recently that public attention was called to
our mineral treasure. Within the past year many car-loads have
been shipped to different points by D. B. Ellsworth and others;
and now Norman Willett, son of Judge G. R. Willett, having
purchased Chase & Pinkham's quarry and works, and thirty acres
of land, including the old Spring Mill on the north side of the
river, and leased some other quarries, is putting in extensive stone

288 HISTORY OF WINNESHIEK COUNTY.

and sawing machineiT which will be nm b}' the water power
above the mill — formerly Dunning's Mill — which will run a gang
of thirty saws which will cut a block of stone ten feet long and
about five and a half feet wide and thick at the rate of 4 to 6
inches per hour. Other cjuarries will be more extensively worked
and as the railroad track, as elsewhere referred to, is to be extend-
ed to the quarries, this source of wealth and prosperity to the
city will be very great, as the supply is inexhaustible. Experts
who have examined it pronounce it even superior to the famed
Anamosa stone in solidity and durability; and, as to the color of
our stone, it is durable and lasting. For decorative purposes the
Decorah stone is far superior. It will take on the highest possi-
ble polish — which the Anamosa stone will not. Its fossil ledges,
which are abundant, are wonderful, and marvelously beautiful.
They are rich masses of fossilized animal life in past ages of the
world. Prof. Gunning, of Boston, one of the best geologists of
the day, says that nowhere in the United States is there to be
found a stone that equals these fossil ledges in revelations given
of the past. For intrinsic beauty he places it above the famous
red stone of California — perhaps the most costly material used by
artists for decorative purposes. A slab of this'stone can be seen
at the stamp window of the Decorah postoffie. Other more beau-
tiful specimens have been made into paper weights and other orn-
aments, and into table tops and books — and what a volume of un-
written history these books contain — by M. Steyer, W, H. Spencer,
and other workers in stone in Decorah. Prof. E. C, Kilbourne in
his short stay here, was enthusiastic, over the treasures not only
found in quarries, but in the pavements on which we tread, and
the ditches along the streets. He gathered and polished a splen-
did collection of rare mineral beauties, some of them small, rare
and exquisite enough for settings for pins or watch charms;
others perfectly formed fossils of which geology tells us; and still
others that were masses of various remains which, the rubbish be-
ing removed, stood out in wonderful distinctness and perfectness.

The subject is almost inexhaustible. But enough has been
said; suffice it that utility, durability and beauty exist in the high-
est degree in this stone, and its development is but just com-
mencing.

The railroad history of Decorah has been given in that of the
county in a preceding chapter. Ever since the completion of the
branch of the C. M, & St, P, road from Conover to Decorah, in
September, 1869, its business has far exceeded expectations. It is
suggested by those who are supposed to know, that these nine
miles pay far better than any other nine miles on the road. The
three elevators at Decorah have done a very large business, re-
ceipts at times being nearly ten thousand bushels per day. And
though the partial change from grain to stock raising and dairy-
ing has correspondingly changed the character of shipments, those

HISTORY OF WINNESHIEK COUNTY. 289

from Decorah for July and August, 1882, will compare favorably
with the enormous wheat shipments seven or eight years ago, and
outstrip any year since that time. But be it remembered that the
diiferepce in value between butter and beef cattle, and the same
bulk in wheat, is greatly in favor of the former. The last day's
shipments from Decorah of which we have record at the time of
writing, consisted of ten cars, and none of them live stock.

Since the above was sent to the printer, ground has been pur-
chased and a handsome passenger depot will be speedily built on
Water street, just as it reaches Dry Run. It will closely adjoin the
business part of the city and be less than two squares from the
Winneshiek House and Opera House. The old passenger depot
will be used for freight. Work is rapidly progressing on the ex-
tension of the track of the C. M. & St. P. Railway down to the
Greer & Hunter mill, and will be completed this fall; a sidetrack
will also probably be laid to the stone quarries this season.

In our county history a reference is made to the extension of
the Postville branch of the B. C. R. & N. Railway to Decorah.
Work upon that extension has been commenced, and though the
time given for its completion in the voting of a five per cent tax
by Decorah does not expire till September, 1883, the road may be
finished to Decorah before the close of this season; and it means
not onlv another line to the south and east, but also an extension
northward to another connection with St. Paul, uniting the lum-
ber regions with the coal regions of Iowa.

The Citizens' Association, designed to promote the interests of
the city and county, was organized in Decorah early in 1882.
The Chicago, Decorah and Minnesota Railway Co., was an out-
growth of the above association ; and its purpose to secure addition-
al railroad facilities seems in a fair way to speedy accomplishment.

There is also a well-founded belief that the C. M. & St. P. Rail-
way will continue their road from Waukon to Decorah on their
road-bed already graded, and thus secure another outlet for the
northern and western roads which meet at Calmar, and avoid the
heavy grade between Calmar and McGregor, even if this road does
not also build another extension northward from Decorah.

The business of the C. M. & St. P. Railway at Decorah is in
charge of F. H. Merrill, a capable and popular official.

The dray and omnibus line is well conducted by Greer &
Protheroe, successors to Jamieson & Greer — Bob Jamieson, the
popular old-time conductor on the branch having removed to
fields further west. They run the omnibus for the Winneshiek
House, while the St. Cloud has an omnibus of its own.

The United States Express Co. has an oflice which was for
vears in charge of Albert Fewell, an excellent ofiicer, who re-
signed on account of ill-health, and now lives on his suburban
farm, just south of the city. His place is capably filled by I. N.
Morrill, an experienced express man.

290 HISTORY OF WINNESHIEK COUNTY.

A fair indication of the growth of Decorah is its post-office bus-
iness, which is steadily on the increase. Let us look at it for the
past four years.

The total receipts of the office each year, exclusive of the oiouey
order business were: 1878, ^6,102.74; 1879, 86,467.76; 1880,
^6,762.45; 1881, 16,810.92.

For the first half of 1882 the business amounted to 83,963.55,
and the business for the last half of the year will be larger, so that
the total receipts of 1882 will probably exceed §8,000.

The paper mill of J. R. Booth, of Decorah, located at Freeport,
in Decorah Township, can be reckoned as a Decorah institution.
It was originally started by the Winneshiek Paper Co., and was
afterward operated by Henry H. Horn, and by Henry Paine. It
was purchased in the spring of 1880 by J. R. Booth, an experienced
and successful manufacturer, and is doing a large business. The
mill is run by water power from the Upper Iowa River, and em-
ploys twenty hands. Its product is straw wrapping paper, of
which it is making a nice article. It manufactures about three
and a half tons of paper per day, and consumes from 1500 to
1800 tons of straw per year. It is an important branch of man-
ufacture to the people, as well as to our business interests.
The paper mill is connected with Decorah by telephone.

The Decorah Packing House, originally built by G. F. Francis,
who has done much to build up Decorah, in residences as well as
business hou&es, has of late been operated by a stock com-
pany. It does a large business and is a source of wealth to the
city and county, bedsides a convenience to the people in improving
the market for hogs. Mr. Francis still makes Decorah his family
home, though now absent in Dakota during the summer and fall.

In stock raising, Winneshiek County is rapidly advancing to
the front. The collection of cattle at the recent county fair in
Decorah, was a superb one. Herds from this county also won the
first premiums at fairs in adjacent counties, as well as at the Min-
neapolis Exposition. Decorah is represented in this line by Sam-
uel Aiken's stock farm and magnificent herd of Holsteins; by the
Hesper Stock Farm, by Geo. Q. Gardner, of Decorah, and by other
smaller herds.

The Decorah Driving Park, with large grounds, on which are
held the annual fairs of the County Agricultural Society, has a
fine and well used track. Thanks to the enterprise of C. C. Bates.

The extensive seed and hide store of N. H. Adams, present
County Treasurer, does a very large business purchasing products
from a large territory, extending into adjoining counties.

Jas. Alex. Leonard, a comparatively new comer, and proprietor
of an extensive book store, news stand, and* circulating library,
has shown his faith in the city by buying his store building, the
one adjoining it on the south, and a pleasant residence on Broad-
way.

HISTORY OF Wl^STNESHIEK COUNTY. 291

Among the jewelry firms is the old resident, S. T. Wilson, who
keeps an excellent eating house and fruit stand.

The Decorah Green House, near the Chicago, Milwaukee & St.
Paul depot, a well-kept establishment with a choice and extensive
collection of flowers and plants, is a bower of beauty as well as
a great convenience to the people here and in surrounding towns.

Decorah has had her fires, but of late years destructive ones
have been very rare, A prominent one was on what has become
noted as Ben. Bear's corner. The old Adains building on the
southwest corner of Water and Winnebago streets, was destroyed
by fire on Thanksgiving Day, 1877, and Ben. Bear, who came here
in 1876, was burnt out as well as some other smaller establish-
ments mentioned in chronological history. The fine new Adams
block of brick and stone was erected in 1878, and in November of
that year Ben. Bear re-occupied it with a very heavy stock of
clothing and furnishing goods. His business has continued to
steadily increase each successive year.

Space will not permit mention of the numerous business houses
of Decorah, but we will enumerate a few old established firms and
recent changes to which the attention of the historian has been
called: The "Pioneer Store'' of C. N. Goddard, referred to else-
where; the old diy goods houses of Oleson & Thompson, S. W.
Landers & Son, McHenry & Allison; and L. F. Nelson, general
merchant, who has recently erected a new building; and former-
ly, the dry goods firms of Boyce & Wilson, It. F. Gibson, now
justice of the peace, and some others who have retired from busi-
ness, their places being supplied by K. I. Hangen, P. H. Whal-
eu, Tver Larsen, Lee & Johnson, and others. In grocery stores,
George Pennington, continues the old establishment of Penning-
ton & Fewell. D. B. Dennis is "still on Deck." P. J. Euright
holds the fort. B. Holcomb & Son occupy the old Ammon &
Scott store, and numerous other grocers and general merchants
keep the people from starving. B. 0. Dahly, who moved up from
Freeport and established the Emporium of Fashion for the ladies,
still keeps up his large establishment. Among the liverymen
John Curtin continues worthy of the old reputation of Curtin
Bros.' Stable, his brother and partner, M. Curtin, having died the
present year. Among the comparative new-comers is A. W. Hay-
ward, who occupies the Boyce & Wilson store, Mr. Wilson still
residing here. Mr. Hayward has the finest and largest store in
this part of the country. W. L. Easton continues active as
proprietor of the Opera House Clothing Store and merchant tail-
oring establishment, and J. H. Mackenstadt is still kept busy with
custom work at his old stand. The Day brothers, first settlers of
Decorah, have an extensive lumber yard, and E. J. Riley super-
intends another for the Flemming Bros., of McGregor. The old
hardware firm of Ruth Bros, still exists, and that of Finn Bros.
is continued by Finn & Noble, while the Gulickson hardware store

292 HISTORY OF WIISTNESHIEK COUNTY.

is continuecl by Hoyt & Hinman. The Weiser, Montgomery &
Rudolph and Solberg's drug stores still compound medicines, while
J. J. Klopp's drug store has been here long enough to be almost
an "old residenter."

Among prominent business men and firms of olden time Dr.
J. M. Green, A. Howell, D. B. Ellsworth, Daniel Lawrence, R. F.
Gibson, Henry Heivly, and C. E. Dickerman have residences on
Upper Broadway, and S. W. Matteson, J. G. Morse and B. B.
Green in that neighborhood. But we forbear further personal
mention at this place. ISl ames of old residents come up so rapidly, as
do those of prominent firms now doing business here. Decorah
has her share of professional men, and of more than average abili-
ty. As biographies of prominent men of this city are to appear
later in this volume, we leave further personal mention to the
writers of those sketches.

A quite prominent and successful institution m its day was the
Mississippi Valley Insurance Company, located at Decorah. H. S.
Weiser was its first president and after him Leonard Standring.
J. C. Strono^ was secretary, and managed the business during
most of its life, and to its close. It was organized in 1864, and
closed up its business early in 1875. It was a fire and lightning
insurance company, and paid all its losses promptly. When it
went out of business it cancelled and paid back premiums, and
paid to stockholders a dividend of 25 per cent.

WEST DECORAH.

West Decorah is properly a part of Decorah, and only separated
from it by the river, over which are fine bridges, the whole form-
ing a beautiful city of about four thousand inhabitants. Yet,
West Decorah, which has some five hundred inhabitants is incor-
porated as a town. It is the site of Luther College, and the
homes of several prominent Decorah business men. Among these
residences are the elegant home of J. J. Marsh, an extensive deal-
er in agricultural machinery, and C. W. Burdick, of the real es-
tate and abstract office. It was incorporated in 1879. The follow-
ing are its present officers:

Mayor, G. W. G. Sawyer; Councilmen, C. W. Burdick, Fred
Hencke, J. J. Marsh, J. H, Mackenstadt, N. P. Chase, Oren
Hall; Treasurer, J. Bandeau; Recorder, J. Fannon; Marshal,
Frank Betts.

The prominent store is that of Fred Hencke, who also has an
extensive pop manufactory. Dan. Shaw is principal of its public
schools.

FREEPORT.

This little village, so prominent in the county seat contest, des-
cribed in County History, is on the LTpper Iowa River in the east-
ern part of Decorah tov/nship, about two miles from Decorah in

HISTORY OF WINNESHIEK COUNTY. 293

a'straight line, and three nnles by road. It is on the grade of the
proposed raih'oad extension from Waukon to Decorah, and on the
daily stage route between these two places. It has a new Methodist
Church with regular services, the paper mill of J. R. Booth, a
postoffice and store kept by A. A. Snyder, and the county poor
house and farm. It has also several other small business enterprises,
and a population of about 150. When Freeport finally lost all
hope of securing the county seat, most of Freeport's business
came to Decorah, and soon after the families of the Burdicks, the
Fannons, and B. 0. Dahly, and others. It was a good site for a
town, being in a broad and fertile valley, and having a good water
power.

PRINTING ESTABLISHMENTS.

Various newspaper enterprises are mentioned in the previous
pages of the history of the county. It would be difficult to give
a complete record of the twenty-five that have had their existence
in as many years, and we will not attempt to repeat it here; but
briefly mention the printing establishments now in Decorah, and
those of which they are the legitimate successors; and as the pub-
lishers are, in virtue of their offices, the recorders in their history
of the newspapers of the county, we give a few personal facts in
regard to them as a convenience for future reference:

In 1856, one Tracy issued the prospectus of the Decorah Clironi-
ele^ and in due time that paper appeared. Judge M. V. Burdick
was for a time its anonymous editor. Its successor is the present
Decorah Repuhlicmi. It has had the names of Chronicle^ Gazette
Republic and Bepuhlican^ there being sometimes, in early days,
suspensions of publication, with exchanges of names of proprietors.
It was the Decorah J/fpf/J/Zc when purchased in 1860 by Wesley
Bailey & Son, who came here from New York, where they had
been thoroughly educated in the newspaper business. In March,
1866 the name was changed to Decorah Bepiihlican; the proprie-
torship was also changed to A. K. Bailey & Bros., the father re-
tiring, and now a resident of Decorah. A. K. Bailey, editor, is
also postmaster, and his partner brother, A. S. Bailey, manager of
the Western Union telegraph office, and assistant postmaster.
Ansel K. Bailey was born at Wales, Erie Co., N. Y., Nov. 15,
1835. He removed to Utica, N. Y., in 1842, where he received a
common school education. When between 12 and 18 years of
age he entered his father's printing office. He gave his note for
a newspaper office in Utica the day he became of age, and has been
engaged in newspaper work ever since — a period of more than a
quarter of a century. In March, 1860 he came to Decorah, having
with his father bought the only newspaper office in the place, some
two months before his removal. His father had been here in the
September previous, and the purchase Avas made by correspondence.
He was elected Treasurer of the county in 1863. and served one

294 HISTORY OF WINNESHIEK COUNTY.

term, from 1864 to 1865, declining a re-election. Four years
later the appointment as postmaster was made by President
Grant, which office he has held without contest ever since.
Editorial and official position, and acquaintance with the people of
the county, have made him a serviceable agent of his party, and
more than half the time he has been the chairman of the Republi-
can central committee serving in that capacity in each of the last
four Presidential campaigns. In this position he has been subject
to sharp criticism, which, however, has neither damaged his char-
acter nor soured a temper that is usually equable and genial. His
opponents have frequently been warm personal friends and the
contests have usually ended with the close of a campaign. No one
probably, has less desire than he to be a political boss. In social
and religious life he has been active and prominent, and a useful
and exemplary member of society.

For fifteen years he was superintendent of the Congregational
Sabbath School, and is now serving the 18th and 19th years in
that capacity. He was married at Utica, N. Y., in 1859, to Miss
Sarah Higham. They have had five children, four of which are
living. Their residence is on Vernon street, about one square
west of the public school building. The Bepuhlican has steam
power and a well-equipped job printing office, and occupies the
second floor of the new postoffice building on Winnebago street.
It recently showed its enterprise by printing a daily during the
County Fair in Decorah.

A. S. Bailey, of the above paper and telegraph manager, has
been the main stand-by of the popular Decorah Amateurs. He
has decided dramatic ability, excelling especially in comedy. He
was married several years ago at Cleveland, Ohio, to Miss Mary

The next oldest paper in Decorah is the present Decorah Jour-
Wolcott, a deservedly popular favorite in Decorah society.
nal^ counting it as identical with its legitimate predecessor. The
Winneshiek Register was founded^by G. W. Haislet in 1866; in No-
vember the office was destroyed by fire. A new office was pur-
chased on time, and in the spring of 1869 the paper was compelled
to suspend. August 25, 1869, he re-issued his paper under the
name of Register & Ventilator, afterwards dropping the first half
of the name. Several years later W. N. Burdick became a part-
ner with Haislet, and soon bought him out entirely, and in 1874
was sole proprietor, and changed the name Ventilator to Winne-
shiek Register. In November, 1874, Mr. Burdick sold out to A.
A. Aiken and Henry Woodruff. C. H. Fullerton soon after be-
coming a member of the firm for a time. Mr. Burdick is now
publisher fthe Postville Review. Early in February, 1875 the
Saturdaij Bee was issued as an extra from the office of the Register,
and during the February snow blockade, and on other special oc-
casions — the Bee was issued daily, or as [often as occurences de-
manded. In the latter part of 1875 the Register establishment

HISTORY OF WI]S"NESHIEK CGUISTY. 295

absorbed the Independent (whicli was started by Ed. Wood and S.
S. Haislet in the summer of 1S74), the combined paper taking the
name Independent-liefjister. In January, 1876, Mr. Aiken sold
out ^ his interest, Henry Woodruff becoming editor and manager
of the Bee^ which continued without change till January, 1879,
Ed. Wood taking the Independent Register, and soon dropping
the word Register from the name. About the first of June, 1876,
Mi. Wood sold out and gave place to J. F. Meagher, who, in the
latter part of July, '^stepped down and out," the present proprie-
tors of the Decorah Journal becoming its purchaser, and its sub-
scription list was united with that of the Bee. In January, 1879,
the regular publication of the weekly Decora Journal commenced,
it being virtually the successor of the o\d Register and Independent^
and the Bee office soon dropped its separate character and became
part of the Journal establishment. Henry Woodruff, the editor
and publisher, was born at Vienna, Trumbull County, Ohio, Oc-
tober 20, 183G. He learned the printer's trade, commencing at he
age of 15, in the office of the Anti-Slaver g Bugle., at Salem, Ohio,
then a center of western abolitionists, of which the Bugle was the
organ, Abby Kelley and S. C. Foster, Wm. Loyd Garrison, Parker
Pillsbury,the Burleighs and the venerable and quaint colored female
lecturer, Sojourner Truth, who is still living, often making that
town their western headquarters, and lecturing there. He after-
wards worked at his trade at Warren Ohio, and graduated at the
High School there, having lived for a time at Talmadge, Ohio,
and from there he went to Western Reserve College, at Hudson,
Ohio, since removed to Cleveland and known as Western Reserve
University, from which he graduated in 1865, being meanwhile
four months in the Union army, and was married in Hudson,
September 17, 1865, to Miss Cordelia Kilbourne. He lived for a
short time at Geneseo, N. Y,, and also at Cleveland, 0., and in
July, 1867, went to St. Paul, Minn., where he at once became ed-
itorially connected with the Dailg Press. He was one of the
prize speakers and the poet of his class, but has since made no effort
in the way of rhyming, except to accept the invitation in 1873, to
deliver the Alumni poem at Western Reserve College commence-
ment, at Hudson, in June, on the occasion of the late President
Garfield's address to the college societies, and to twice read the an-
nual poems before the Minnesota State Editorial Association. He
remained at his editorial work at St. Paul, excepting an interval
of a year and a half, as editor of a paper in StiHwater, until he
came to Decorah with his family about December 1, 1871:. Their
residence is on the northwest corner of Broadway and Grove
Streets. They have three children. The Journal office is now
situated on the first floor of tlie brick building on the east side of
Winnebago Street, near Main, vacated by the postoffice in 1881.
It made arrangements some two years ago with the Luther College
Publishing House, just "across Main Street, to run its Cylinder

296 HISTOKY OF M'lXNESHIEK COUKTY.

Press by steam, and has since had its newspaper Press work done
there. It has a job office, press, etc, in its own olfice, from which
is also issued the monthly Home Journal, which has a large cir-
culation.

The other English printing office in Decorah is that o£ the De-
corah Pantograph., successor to the Decorah Badical. Geo. W.
Haislet, after leaving the Register office, went to Cresco, where he
published a paper for a time, and in August, 1875, came back to
Decorah and started another Ventilator, but soon suspended pub-
lication and went to Dubuque, where he continued in the news-
paper business. In the fall of 1876 he came back to Decorah, and
on October 10th commenced the publication of the Decorah Badi-
cal.1 which he continued till his death, March 6, 1881. The Radi-
cal was continued by Mrs. Haislet, Judge M. V. Burdick conduc-
ting it for a time. It was purchased April, 1882, by C. H. Craig,
who changed its name to the Decorah Pontagraph, and is its
present publisher. It does not run a job office and has its news-
paper press work done at the Posten office which is near at hand.
Mr. Craig was born in Albany, N. Y., November 20, 1856, and re-
ceived his education in the public schools there. He came west to
Sioux Falls, Dakota, in April, 1878; became connected with the
newspapers, and remained there until he came to Decorah in April
of the present year. He is at present unmarried, but the deserved-
ly happy lot of a Benedict is predicted for him by his friends.

The Decorah Posten is the only Norwegian paper in Iowa. B.
Annundsen, the publisher, came to Decorah in 1867 and started a
printing office. He established the Posten in September, 1874; it
was then a small four page sheet, 18x24 inches; subscription price
50c. a year. The first month the subscription list grew to 1,200.
In 1875 the paper was enlarged to 22x32 inches, subscription price
$1.10. In 1876 its size was 24x36; in 1877, 24x38; and in 1878
it w^as enlarged to its present size, 29x40, being in large four-page
form; price, $1.10. Its present circulation is over 7,000. It is
independent in all things and owns to be a purely literary and
family newspaper. B. Annundsen, the persevering and energetic
proprietor, was born at Skien, Norway, in 1814. He came to
America in 1864, and to Decorah in 1867, as already stated. He
has a family, and his residence is on east Main street.

The publishing house of the Norwegian Lutheran Synod has
grown to be a very important one. Besides printing the several
Norwegian newspapers and magazines, it does a large book-pub-
lishing business and has complete book-binding and stereotyping
departments. Its regular periodicals are the Kirketidende, a
church weekly, and the Ophgggelsesblad, a church monthly, and
Fer Hjeinmet, a semi-monthly for the family. It is now engaged
in printing from its stereotype plates a large edition of the New
Testament in the Norwegian language. It is also extensively en-
gaged in the publication of Norwegian religious and school books,

HISTORY OF WINXESHIEK COUNTY. 297

and has several presses and other machinery run Ijy a powerful
steam engine. The publishing establishment is on Main street,
near Winnebago, and its retail department on the corner of Win-
nebago and Main streets, next door to the Journal oifice. It em-
ploys more than twenty hands, and its business is rapidly increas-
ing, as it has for its field all parts of the United States where Nor-
wegians have located. Its manager, J. L. Lee, who was born in
Christiana, Norway, in 1835, Avas educated there, came to Amer-
ica in 1852, and to Decorah in 1872. He became manager of the
business in 1877, and to him its success is largely due. The resi-
dence of Mr. Lee and family is in West Decorah.

The extent of the newspaper business in Decorah may be judged
from the fact that during the three months ending with Septem-
ber, 1882, the Decorah postoffice mailed 13,825 pounds of news-
papers, or nearly seven tons, for which the government secured a
revenue of $208.62.

PLEASURE RESORTS.

Decorah and its suburbs abound in charming, extended, and
beautiful views, and romantic places of resort for the summer vis-
tor; and within the limits of the township are many more. The
wonderful Ice Cave, about half a mile north of "the busines part of
the city, has been mentioned in the opening part of this chapter.
From the bluff above it, one of the finest views of Decorah can be
had. About a half a mile west of it, a few rods up a romantic val-
ley is "Spring Mill," where a large stream of water pours out of a
cave in the blufi", about 100 feet high, while it is fully another
hundred feet to the top of the overhanging bluff", from which a
magnificent view of city and valley is gained. About half a mile
east of Ice Cave, a romantic valley leads up to A. C. Ferren's
grounds, where two large springs, clear and cold, make a favorite
place for picnics, and the home of some beautiful trout, which
Mr. Ferren has raised. Coming back to the bank of the river, a
gradual ascent towards the east leads up to the top of the perpen-
dicular, rocky bluff", from which is a beautiful view of the city and
valley above, and the river below — lying apparently at your feet —
the whole presenting an extraordinary picture. From Pleasant
Hill, southeast of the city, and from the hill at the head of Wash-
ington street, other fine views of city and valley can be had.
About two miles south the immense spring or underground river,
forming Trout Run, comes out from a mamoth rock at the foot of
a bluff", winds around a grassy slope where stands the residence of
Prof. Seevers, while in the foreground, tall, rocky pillars and per-
pendicular bluff's overlook the beautiful valley for miles below.
There are also delightful picnic grounds at Union Springs, near
the scale factory, referred to in this chapter. Several large springs
of pure cold water flow out from the bluff' at all seasons of the
year, while close at hand are grassy lawns and refreshing shade

298 HISTORY OF WINNESHIEK COUNTY.

from the heat of summer. But there are delightful rambles in-
side the limits of the city. Only a few rods from Upper Broad-
way, just beyond the beautiful residence of Henry Paine, is the
shady summit of the precipitous bluff overhanging the river and
''dugway" road to Addicken mill and Union Springs. Here the
eye takes in a view of West Decorah, Luther College, and the
broad expanse of river and valley. And yet not half has been
told. The eye of the rambler is greeted with continual surprise.

In speaking of places of resort it is convenient just here to re-
fer to some noted ones in other parts of the county. A drive to
Bluffton, about twelve miles northwest of Decorah, where immense
rocky bluffs overlook the river, takes one through some of the
wildest and most romantic scenery on the Upper Iowa River. In
the southern part of Burr Oak township, a few miles from Bluff-
ton, is the well-known ''Cold Spring," where a stream of water
sufficient to turn a mill flows from the mouth of a cave, under a
towering bluff 100 feet high. In the cave is a lake about 100 feet
long by forty feet wide, the top of the cave rising in a high arch
as it recedes from the entrance. Again, about eight miles from
Decorah, on a cross-road between the Waukon and Frankville
roads, near the Peter Oleson flour mill, in Glenwood township, is
another large cave. The entrance is low and narrow; and a boat
and torch are necessary to explore the cave. Once in, there is
plenty of room, and water that will float a boat through a narrow
channel that seems to be a' quarter of a mile long, and further if
one cares to go. In some places the ceiling is in plain sight
and at others invisible in the darkness.

Another cave, as large as a good-sized mercantile salesroom,
can be found on the Coleman farm, about six miles up the Iowa
River. The caves and springs in this county on and near the
Wankon road, are frequently visited by picnic parties from Wau-
kon. There are other caves that might be mentioned. But we
will close by saying that it will amply repay any one to visit the
large and beautiful grounds of Col. J. W. Taylor, about six miles
west of the city; where art has combined with nature to make
nature look still more varied and beautiful, and where frequent
surprises greet the eye as one drives through avenues lined with
evergreens, succeeded by flowers, solitary woods, bright and
velvety openings in the forest, and finally reaches the cozy,
unique log cabin of the proprietor, beyond whicb a bridle path
leads down past a precipitous bluff to the bed of a beautiful
stream, where are abundant springs, grassy slopes and green fields
beyond.

A PARTING WORD.

Decorah has good reason for pride in its large, handsome and
substantial business blocks, as well as its beautiful residences. Its
court house, and handsome, substantial new jail, have been de-

HISTORY OF WINNESHIEK COUNTY. 299

scribed in tlie chapters of county history. The elevated portion
of the court house grounds is very nearly in the center of the city;
their beautiful terraced slopes at once attract attention, and from
them the eye looks down on a beautiful city, spreading out across
a broad valley, and the grand, encircling hills which surround and
protect it. May it attain the growth that its natural advantages
entitle it to, and the public spirit of its citizens make it quick to
utilize and make the most of those advantages, and use all for the
promotion of its natural, as well as moral and social welfare.

CHAPTER X.

Townships and Villages of the County; General Remarks; Rivers
and Railroads; Shape and Size of County ; Its Geology^ Pro-
duds^ and Resources; Healthy Climate; Rich Soil and Beautiful
Scenery.

The general history of the settlement and development of Win-
neshiek County, as well as its chronological history, has embraced
to a great extent that of its several townships and villages, and
in the biographical sketches toward the end of this volume. The
history of Decorah has also been to a large extent that of the
county at large. But there are many things that pertain speci-
ally to the townships and villages, and separate mention of them
will be of interest. As a matter of convenience, the townships
are taken up by tiers, commencing with the northern tier, and the
western township of that tier.

FREMONT TOWNSHIP AND THE TILLAGES OF KENDALLVILLE AND

PLYMOUTH ROCK.

Fremont township is in the extreme northwest corner of the
county. Positively who was the first settler is not decided. A.
C. Hitchcock, afterwards deputy sheriff, and Wm. Finfield and
wife came there in 1854. There were probably earlier settlers,
for Rev. Ephraim Adams, in his Thanksgiving discourse, said that
the siding for the Winneshiek House, which was built in 1854-5,
was got out at what was known as Carter's Mill, at Plymouth
Rock. Fremont township for several years belonged to Burr
Oak precinct. In August, 1856, an election was ordered to es-
tablish Fremont township, and was carried. The first township
ofiicers were:

Justice of the Peace, Joseph Eddy; Town Clerk, Wm. F. Das-
kam; Constable, C. Parmalee; Trustees, DeWitt Brady, J. P.
Johnson, D. E. Shelmadine.

300 HISTORY OF WINNESHIEK COUNTY.

The population of the township by the census of 1880, was 692.
There are two postoffiees at two small villages in the township —
Kendallville and Plymouth Rock.

The village of Kendallville, which by the census of 1880 con-
tained 75 inhabitants, is on the southwest side of the Upper Iowa
River, is two and a half miles from the west line, and three-quar-
ters of a mile from the south line of the township. It was origi-
nally called "Enterprise," and was located on the claim of Mr.
Shelmadine. S. G. Kendall came to this county from Mississippi
in 1860, commenced the erection of a flour mill and other im-
provements, and started the mill in operation in 1862; the village
from that time was called Kendallville, and the postoifice was
changed to this place from Twin Springs, one mile north; the
plat of Kendallville was recorded September 9th, 1874. George
Potter was the first postmaster. The first store was kept by
David Bennett. A Grange hall was built January, 1868, two
stories high, 20x50 feet, is still conducted by the society of Pat-
rons of Husbandry, and is one of the few lodges in the state in a
flourishing condition. The mill passed from Mr. Kendall's hands
to Mr. Lawler, of Prairie du Chien, and from him to John Mc-
Hugh, of Cresco, who still owns it. Kendallville has two stores,
one by J. L. Daskam, the postmaster, and one by R. Barnes; J.
H. Stockman has a blacksmith shop. It is 21 miles from Decorah
and eight from Cresco, with which it connects by a tri-weekly
mail. The extensive Kendalh'ille stock farm of John McHugh is
located near here.

Plymouth Rock village and post ofiice is within half-a-mile of
the south [line of Fremont township, and 1| miles from the east
line. It was platted in September, 1855, and the plat recorded
January 15, 1856. The siding for the Winneshiek House, built
in 1851-5, was obtained from what was known as Carter's Mill, at
Plymouth Rock. It has a population of about 30, and is about
19 miles from Decorah, and 10 from Cresco. It has a tri-weekly
mail. G. Y. Puntney, postmaster, runs the flour mill; L. Wan-
less has a general store.

BUER OAK TOWNSHIP AND VILLAGE.

Burr Oak is the second from the west in the northern tier of
townships. Geo. V. Puntney, now of Plymouth Rock, settled on
section 30, in 1851. "Burr Oak Precinct" for several years em-
braced all the northern tier of townships. For its several divis-
ions, see County History. Burr Oak village is on Silver Creek,
near the center of the eastern side of the township, and about
three-fourths of a mile from its eastern line. It was platted by
S. Middlebrook, May 16, and plat recorded July 14, 1855. Sam-
uel S. Belding was proprietor of the town plat; Manning's addition
was recorded Octobsr 15, 1856. By the census of 1880, Burr Oak

„„-^'^.

Chas.Paulk.

PUBLIC LIBRARY

A6TOR, LENOX AND
TILOEN FOUNDATIONS

HISTORY OF WINNESHIEK COUNTY. 301

township has a population of 826, and the village 199. It is about
12 miles north of Decorah, with which it is connected by A. M
Preg's daily mail and stage line.

A: J. Cratsenberg is postmaster and has a good general store.
S. H. Willets is another merchant, and there are several other
branches of business. There is a good hotel, the American House,
kept by J. H. Porter. There are three church buildings, the
Methodist, Congregational, and Second Adventists, and an Odd
Fellows lodge of 40 members, with a hall of their own. It has
limestone quarries, and the surface of the country is rolling and
fertile, and well settled by intelligent farmers. In the fall of
1881 a five per cent, tax was voted for a railroad through Burr
Oak, known as the Minnesota, Iowa & Southwestern, running from
La Crosse southwest, and there are prospects that it will be built,
and increase the importance and business of the village. In the
southern part of Burr Oak township is the famous Cold Spring
cave and underground lake described in the preceding chapter re-
ferring to pleasure resorts accessible from Decorah. Judge M. V.
Burdick thus writes of Burr Oak in 1853:

''When I saw its location, the beautiful groves that surrounded
it on every side, the undulating country in every direction, the
limpid stream of pure and sparkling water, cold and clear, that
wound its way through the place, I could not fail to admire the
judgment and discernment of the men who decided upon the
place for a site of a town. In after years I became better ac-
quainted with the resources of the country, its exhaustible supply
of timber, and its two excellent quarries of blue limestone un-
surpassed for building purposes."

HESPER TOWNSHIP AND VILLAGE.

Hesper Township, in the northern tier of the county, adjoins
Burr Oak on [the east. Benjamin L. Bisby settled on the south-
west quarter of section 29, in 1850. The next year brought in
quite a number of settlers. The first permanent settler, E. E.
Meader, reached his new home there on the morning of April 12,
1851, and settled on the southeast quarter of section 10, where
his present residence stands. Mr. Meader came to Iowa in the
fall of 1850 from his home in Maine, stopped in Clayton County,
and meeting a man named Frazier, from Wisconsin, they came to-
gether, looked over the lands, were pleased with them, and in
March, 1851, came with teams and prepared building sites. A.
M. Waterman had, several weeks previous, encamped on a part of
section 11, engaged in making sugar. Having cut and hauled
logs for their dwellings, Meader and Frazier had to go eight miles
for hands to help them put it up. Mr. Waterman provided the
meal at this pioneer house raising. Having split out boards to
roof their buildings, they piled them up, and started for the Volga

302 HISTORY OF WINNESHIEK COUNTY,

settlements for their families. Mr. Meader and famil}' came alone,
however, in April as above stated, Mr. Frazier not coming till fall.

"Late m the evening of April 11, 1851, they reached Ackerson's, about four
miles from their destination, where they were pursuaded to pass the night.
But early next morning, without stopping for breakfast, they pushed on to
their new home, set out the cook stove beside the unfinished house, and there,
in the open air of the chill April morning, Mrs. Meader prepared and set before
her husband and 5 children, the first of many thousands of meals which she was
destined to serve upon the same spot. The walls of the house had not even a
doorway, and the first proceeding after breakfast was to cut an entrance, and
then to put on the roof, for which purpose a supply of nails had been brought
in the wagon. By night the family had a shelter overhead, and a loose, temp-
orary floor of split boards; but the walls being entirely without chinking, and
only a blanket hung across the doorway, the first night, which was stormy,
with wind, rain and snow, was cheerless enough. By a dint of hard labor, pa-
tient endurance, and the advance of the season, they were, in the course of a
few weeks, settled in comparative comfort."'

D. D. Huff and his wife Anna, settled on sec. 29, on the 26th

day of April, 1851.

"In the summer of 1853 there was quite an influx of settlers, among them
Tristram Allen, a member and minister of the Society of Friends, or Quakers,
who, with his family, came from Michigan, in August ot that year, and bought
out Frazier's claim, upon which he settled and lived for almost twenty years, or
until a short time before his death, which occurred in 1873. Two months later
several other families of Friends came from some part of Michigan and settled
some of them within the limits of this township, and some just over the line in
Minnesota. Thus was begun the nucleus of the Quaker Settlement at Hesper,
which has ever since been one of the prominent features of the place. Among
those who came at this time was Geo. N. Holway, a native of Massachusetts,
but for a time before his coming to Iowa a resident of Michigan. He purchased
and settled upon the claim located by Larsen, on .section 9, where he lived for.
a number of years, and then removed to Decorah. Also Joseph Gibbon, D.
Allan, Ansel Rogers, and Abraham West. In the spring of 1855 was held the
first regularly organized meeting of the Society of Friends in the new settle-
ment, and in the course of the summer, a number of families of that persuasion
came in from Vermont, adding materially to the Quaker element and to the
prosperity of the settlement. Among these were Russell Taber and his broth-
ers, who. having purchased the claim originally located by Waterman, began
to make preparations for erecting a steam mill. This they got in running or-
der, so as to do sawing, before winter set in. This mill, with its subsequent
additions and enlargements, still stands on the north side of the village of Hes-
per. During the winter a small building was put up, a stock of goods pro-
cured, and the first mercantile establishment in the place was opened, by H.
H. Whaley, on the corner now occupied by Meader's store. With opening
spring came another influx of immigrants, among them, several families ot
Friends, from Indiana, and in the course of the summer of 1856, the members
of that society erected a meeting house, on the southwest comer of section 10,
from ■which place it was, a year later, removed to a lot within the bounds of the
town, then being first laid out. On the third day of July, 1856, T. N. Wilson
anived with his family from Jackson County, where he had stopped for two
years after coming to the state, from the East. Immediately after his arrival
he began preparations for erecting a house. On the last day of July, the build-
ing was so far completed that the family moved into it, and on the the third
day of August it was first opened for the entertainment of travelers. The next
year still more marked advances were made in the way of enterprise and im-
provement, lu April, the first Methodist Quarterly Meeting was held in Wil-
son's house, and the "Rev. Mr. Lease, then quite a young man, was placed up-
on the charge as minister. In the summer a school house was put up on a lot

HISTORY OF WINNESHIEK COUNTY. 303

where the biiiUliii<^ now stands, bvit no lonf,'er used for its origipid purpose; it
is now known as the "Gi-any'e Hall." The first term of school in this house
was taught by Eaward W. Holway."'

In March, 18G8, the present library association and literary so-
ciety, ''The Philoniatheans," was burned. They have a library of
about 300 volumes. The present large and handsome school
building was erected in 1872. The church of the Society of Friends
was built in 1870; the Norwegian Church about a year later, and
the Methodist Church in 1873. The State Line, and afterwards,
Winneshiek County Fairs were held for. several years at Hesper,
and the village last fall voted a tax to the proposed Southwestern
railroad, referred to in the sketch of Burr Oak and in the County
History. The plat of the village was recorded February 24:th,
1858. The township was organized the same year. It is near the
northern part of the township, and fifteen miles north from De-
corah. The township by the census of 1880, had 1,000 inhabi-
tants, of which 212 were in the village of Hesper. The post-
master is Dr. F. Worth, who keeps a drug and grocery store.
Dry goods and other branches of business are well represented.
Wm. Beard & Sons, Decorah, have a branch of their Ice Cave
Creamery here, and the stock farm of Geo. Q. Gardner, of De-
corah, is in Hesper township.

HIGHLAND.

Highland is the northeastern township (A the county. Its post-
office, Highlandville, is in the southern part of the township.

"Previous to the year 1851, Highland township was a wild and unsettled
region, with the vast country lying west of it. But in that year, three young
men— Erick Davidson, Magne Nelson and Hagen Mastad — immigrated, in the
spnng, from Dane County, Wisconsin, and sonaetime in June, of that year,
settled about one mile north of where Highlandville is now situated. In the
spring of 1852 there was quite an influx of immigiution, and among the most
notable were the Aniesons, Knudt Bjorgo, M. John, Nels Nelson, Sr., with a
family of three boys, viz: Andrew, Ole and Nels, Jr., who have played quite
a conspicuous part in the history of Highland township. In the same year Al-
bert Stoneson made his appearance with a blooming young bride. He is now
surrounded by a large family of young men and women. In the years follow-
ing there were quite a number that came to Highland township, among the
most notable of whom was E. Berg, father of the late Hon. K. Berg and Rev. J.
Berg. K. Berg had preceded his father to this country, and had made his home,
before his father's arrival here, in Dane County, Wis.

"When Decorah enjoyed the palmy days of the U. S. Land Office, High-
land township suffered with the rest of the county in respect to her unoccupied
lands. Every acre was gobbled up by speculators, and great was the trouble
among the squatters who had not already a United States patent on their
homestead. A great number lost their land, as they were not able to borrow
money at the then ruling rate of interest, which was 40 per cent. The immi-
gration then ceased for quite a while, and was almost at a standstill till 1860,
or the beginning of the War of the Rebellion. But in the meantime the pio-
neers of Highland had not been idle. Most of them had become well-to-do
farmers, and many of them were already on the road to wealth, Lars Olson
came from Muskegon here in the year 1851 with only a few hundred dollars.
He began to lend his money at 40' per cent., and in the short space of twenty
years had amassed a fortune of almost $100,000, without any kind of specula-

304 HISTORY OF WINNESHIEK COUNTY.

tion whatever. Olson died a lew years a^o, and Ins money is divided amono-
his large family of ten boys and girls, who are scattered over the southern
part ot Minnesota.

"About the year 1856, a school district was organized, consisting of almost
the whole township. At that time the township was not very thickly setttled.
In the spring of 1857 a small log school house was erected, which has lon(^
since given place to a large and commodious fi-ame building, with all the mod"-
ern improvements. It was in this old log school house that the late Prof. Berg
taught his first English school, and where K. Bjorgo, Jr., learned his A B C's
Heis now a young minister of the Lutheran Synod, of marked abilitj'. Mar-
tha K. Bjorgo was the first child born in the township.

"In 1857 a Lutheran congregation was organized in Pleasant and Highland
townships, and they, in conjunction with Spring Grove, Minn., called C. L,
Clauson as their spiritual adviser. He served the two congregations for soma
time; but his labors became too arduous, and the congregations separated
about three years after their organization. Spring Grove retaining the minister
who only lived a few years longer, he being the first Lutheran minister that died
in this country."

Highland township had a population of 782 by the census of
1880. Highlandville has about 50 inhabitants. "Bear Creek fur-
nishes power to its flour mill, and it has a store and other busi-
ness.

ORLEANS TOWNSHIP.

This is the western township of the second tier from the Minne-
sota line. We have no record of the first settler. Edwin M.
Farnsworth was there in 1855. It was then known as Pilot Grove
but in 1858 its name had been changed to Orleans. The post of-
fice for a large part of its inhabitants is Cresco, just across the
Howard County line, though it has no village, it is famous for its
fine farming country, beautiful rolling prairie. In former days a
cheese factory was one of the prominent enterprises of the town-
ship and now its stock farms are famous for their fine herds of
Holsteins and other herds of blooded cattle. Among these are the
stock farms of L.R.Brown and Chas. Crapser, who made splendid
showings at the late Winneshiek County Fair, at Decorah. Mr.
Crapser also took his herd to the Minneapolis Exposition, where he
carried off all the best premiums. Population of toAvnship bv cen-
sus of 1880, was 636.

BLUFFTON TOWNSHIP AND VILLAGE.

The township of BlufFton is the second one from the countv
line from the east and the north. The population of the township
IS given as 807. of which the village, which is about one mile north
of the center of the township, has 102, and is 12 miles northwest
of Decorah, with which it connects by a tri-weekly mail and stage.
The village and post office of BlufFton is situated in a romantic
valley of the Upper Iowa River, about 40 rods wide. On one side
the valley is overhung by a wall of precipitous rock, presenting
a romatic and picturesque appearance, and the river and valley at
and near BlufFton, is famous for its romatic and beautiful scenery,

HISTORY OF WINNESHIEK COUNTY. 305

not excelled in this county, or State. The village was founded by
Henry and Lyman Morse, sons [of ''Uncle Philip" Morse, promi-
nently mentioned in the history of Decorah. A saw mill was built
there by Henry Morse in 1852. The plat of the village was recorded
October 3, 1856. The Morse brothers lived there for years, and
built a grist mill before they went away. Henry Morse built the
grist mill for Joseph Speilman, at Spillville. Both the brothers
finally went to California, having sold out their interest in Bluff-
ton, Greer & Boggs bought the grist mill, and ran it for some
years, the first named member of the firm being John Greer who
now has charge of the Greer & Hunter Mill, Decorah.

This mill, which is a prominent business institution of that part
of the county, is now owned by Rice & Hale, the partners being
Almon Rice, for some years holding the office of County Supervis-
or, as well as other offices and F. G. Hale for a time County Sup-
ervisor, and recently County Auditor for three successive terms,
to January 1, 1882. Both are prominent and enterprising citi-
zens of the county.

BlufFton is on the line of the proposed Iowa, Minnesota &
Southwestern railroad, a reference to which and the tax list voted
is found in the chapter of chronological history of the county, and
for which the right of way is being purchased, as this is written,
and paid for in cash, when demanded. The river here is spanned
by a handsome and substantial iron bridge. The village, which
contains about three hundred inhabitants, is connected with De-
corah by a tri-weekly mail. The postmaster, A. H. Meader, is an
enterprising, popular young man, who also keeps a store well
supplied with general merchandise. J. J. Glossman & Co. also
keep a good general store. Lange Moritz, Justice of the Peace, is
one of the early settlers, while 0. E. Cooley, another old set-
tler, can entertain vou by the hour with reminiscences of early
life.

The village has also a hotel, shoemaker, blacksmith, cooper and
carpenter shops; phyeician, barber, and other small places of bus-
iness. F. R. Fletcher, millwright, isone of the old citizens, and an
active business mm, now engaged in traveling for the sale of mill
machinery.

The village of Bluffton is supplied with two churches. Catholic
and Methodist. The population of the village is 102, and of the
township, 807. The township as weW as the village is settled with
an enterprisising class of people, and especially with its pros-
pective railroad and its fine water power, has a promising future
before it.

CANOE TOWNSHIP.

This township is the first one north of Decorah. It takes its
name from the "Canoe River," which flows through it and emp-
ties into the Upper Iowa, beyond the eastern border of Winiie-

306 HISTORY OF WINNESHIEK COUNTY,

shiek County. Its postoffices are Decorah, and Springwater on
the Canoe River, 6 miles from Deeorali, where is a good fall of
water, and the mills where E. Blakeman manufactures excellent
flour. Those residing in the northeastern corner get their mail,
from Locust Lane, P. 0. in Pleasant township. Population of
the township, 991. One of the well-known oldest settlers of
the county, 0. W, Emory, came there on the 20th of August,
1849, and settled on the northwest quarter of section 17. Among
the othei" settlers were John W. Hohn, who came here on the
30tli of July, 1850, John Fredenburg, who settled on section C,
on the 20th of October, 1850, and Simeon M. Leach, who came
on the 12th of May, 1851. Further particulars of early settle-
ments are given in preceding pages of County History.

The beautiful grounds of Col. Taylor, described elsewhere in
this volume, are in Canoe township, about six miles north of De-
corah.

PLEASANT TOAVNSHIP — LOCUST LANE P. 0.

According to the tax lists. Pleasant township took its name and
place in 1856. It is the eastern one of the second tier. The Ca-
noe runs across the southern portion, and the Upper Iowa River
across the northeast corner. Population in 1880 was 929. Lo-
cust Lane postoffice is near the extreme northwestern corner of
the township, has a population of about 25, and is on the tri-
weekly mail route between Decorah and Hesper. I, T, Shipley
is postmaster, and keeps a general store. It is 10 miles nearly
north from Decorah.

"In the year 1850, two Germans from Pennsylvania, viz: John Klontz and
Wm. Vale, pitched their tents in the northwest comer of Pleasant township,
Vale choosing for his homestead what has since been known as the Locust
Lane Farm, deriving its name from the locust trees that were planted on each
side of the road immediately after the land was fenced in. John Klontz took
up his ranch on the south side of Vale, and both went to work. They made
money, as everything they had to sell brought them good prices. Mr. Vale
one time enjoyed the privilege of holding all the township offices, except con-
stable, at one and the same time. He was the first justice of the peace, the
first assessor, and the first clerk the township had. He also built the first brick
dwelling in Winneshiek County. Klontz and Vale have both since sold their
farms and moved to Missouri . In the following year the first influx of Nor-
wegians commenced. They were: Hover Evenson, Ole Magneson, and Erick
Erickson, who came here from Cambridge, Dane County, Wisconsin, and Pet-
er K. Langland, Lewis Peterson, Knudt K. Liquen and K. Erickson, from
Illinois. Hover Evenson was the first blacksmith in the northern part of the
county. He long since abandoned his trade, and attended exclusively to farm-
ing; he is one of the wealthiest farmers of his township. Ole Magneson and
E. Erickson settled in the northeastern comer of the township. The latter is
still on his old homestead, living in a house which has become somewhat noted
from the fact that it is all built from one pine tree. The walls are a solid
plank, six inches thick, and only three such planks from the floor to the ceiling
in the first story and two above . The floors, roof-boards, window and door
casings are from the same tree. It was all sawed up with a hand-saw, as the
logs could not be moved from the place where the tree grew, on Pine Creek.
Ole Magneson introduced the first reaper into the neighborhood, and was also
the owner or the first threshing-machine in that township.

HISTORY OF WliiNESHIEK COUNTY. 307

"In the year 1853 there was another influx from Dane County, Wisconsin,
prominent among whom were Bottolf Olson, Magne Langland, H. Hendiick-
son, Sven Olson, Ole Thorson, and others. In 1858 Ole B. Olson was one of
tlae first settlers of Dakota Territory, and was elected the first judge of the ter-
ritory, which position he occupied until his death, in 1875. Enck B. Olson, the
younger brother, was one of the first four men who climbed the mountains of
Colorado in search of gold, in 1859."

"The first school-house was built at Locust Lane, in 1854, and served, also,
a church for every denomination. The second school-house that was built is
still standing, and is known as the EUingson school-house. This was built of
logs, quite large, and intended to serve as a church for the Lutheran congrega-
tion that was then organized in connection with Highland and Spring Grove.
It was built mostly by private funds; every farmer would bring so many logs
and work so many days. This district consisted of portions of four townships,
viz: Pleasant and Highland, m Winneshiek, and Waterloo and Hanover, in
Allamakee. The first school was taught by James Lennon, of Frank^ille
township. The late Hon. Ole Nelson taught the first school in this house, and
was also the first Norwegian Representative in the Iowa Legislature."

"In 1855 and 1856, almost all the land was taken up, and what was not
was bought up by speculators when the land office was in Decorah. Among
those who came later may be mentioned K. Thompson, who became sheriff
of this county in 1870, and was as good an officer as the county ever had. Al-
so Peter Sampson, 0. W. Elhngson, and the Johnson Brothers (of whom
there were seven at one time). Tnere is also another fact worth mentioning,
and that is this, that almost every one of the pioneers that came into the town-
ship in the years 1852-3-4, with the exception of one or two, are still living on
their old homesteads, which shows that the pioneers must have been a strong,
healthy and vigorous set of men."

LINCOLN TOWNSHIP — EIDGEWAY.

This township is the western one of the central tier of the
county. The Turkey River flows diagonally southeast through
the township, a little west of the center, on it is Dauber-
smith's mill. Ridgeway railway station, post ofiice and village is
near the center of the eastern half, about one mile from the town-
ship line. Population of township in 1880 was 992. Ridgeway
has a population of about 350, and quite a number of good stores,
elevator and grain ware houses, and other places of business. D.
0. Aaker, late State Representative, of the firm of Galby &
Aaker, is one of the prominent business men. S. Pike, hotel
keeper, has been its historian in times past, and from his writ-
ings the present sketch is mostly gleaned.

"The first settlement was made in Lincoln Township in the spring of 1852,
Knud Alfson built a small house and broke up a few acres on Section 27, while
Lars Thompson commenced about the same time on Section 34. In the fall of
the same year. Jacob Knudson and Kittle Sanderson established themselves on
Section 22. The next year Gunder Kittleson. Albert Kittleson, Gullick Thomip-
son, Tove Thompson and Thomas Thompson, settled in the immediate neigh-
borhood, while John Seleir, IMichael Parrel, Charles Straun, John Wholelian,
Nels Olsen, Charles Junck, H. W. Klemme, Andrew Michael, Philip Kratz and
Wm. Blackburn, came in durinp: the two or three years following. The town-
ship of Lincoln was formerly reckoned as an integral part of Decorah, an ar-
rangement that did not last very long, as a reconstruction of the map was soon
effected, by which the present township was apportioned to Sumner, and upon
the authorized survey and platting of townships, was given its present name.

308 HISTORY OF WIN'NDSHIEK COUNTY.

In 1866, Ridgeway existed only its name. About this time, the Chicago,
Milwaukee & St. P. railway having reached there, the railroad company built a
house for their accommodation, and Mr. S.Pike soon after took charge of it.
The building was 16x32 feet base, one and a half stories high, divided into sev-
eral compartments, and ceiled throughout with good matched flooring. Mr.
Pike with his wife moved into the house December, 4, 1866, a day ever to be re-
membered in their experiences of housekeeping. Though the gi-ound had been
frozen for some time previous, the heavy rains that had fallen the preceding
week had thawed the earth again, and the different gangs who were grading
the prospective grounds, and also a gang of track layers who were putting in a
switch and laying a spur of track for present accommodation, had made the
house a place of resort for shelter during the heaviest of the rains, and when
they reached there about dark of that rainy December night, the prospect was
dreary enough. Fred. Gashom and James Kinney, antedate Mr. Pike's claim
to the title, "oldest inhabitant," by about two or three weeks. They did not
live within the limits of the present village, however, but were about a hundred
rods below, the winter was unusually severe and protracted, the last passage of the
snow plow being on March 28, 1876, and that after a three days' efibrt from
McGregor."

No effort was made in the way of improvements until about
a year after the road was completed to Cresco. In July, 1867,
J. L. Flowers built a grain warehouse, and Gilchrist & Co. another
soon afterward. A drug store by A. M. Blakeman, and a gener-
al merchandise store were built the same year, and a post office
established. A small depot building was also erected in 1857.
The next year there were many other improvements, and business
greatly increased.

Ridgeway was organized into an independent school district during the year
1875. It has a good school house, with an average attendance of scholars
There is one churcii edifice in town, and that a small wooden structure built by
a body of dissenterfrom the ^Id established Lutheran Church among the Nor-
wegians. The house is not completed, and is seldom used. The Methodists
and Adventists hold meetings in the school house.

In the spring of 1874 (May 9), Rideway was swept by a fire that threatened
to wipe out the entu-e village. The fire started in a small untenanted wooden
structure on the comer where the Herchmer House now stands. A continuous
blast from the south swept across the square, taking everything in the line ot
the wind. The weather had been very diy for some time previous, and the
denselv-packed wooden row fronting the railroad was simply a line of tinder
boxes through which the fire swept without let or hinderance, and one hour
from the time the alarm was given, four-fifths of the business interests of the
town were in ashes. The fire originated with two little boys, four years old,
lighting a cigar in the house above mentioned. The fire devoured everything
in its course, including, besides the business row and dwellings,, four grain
•warehouses, the depot (unlamented), and a fine water-tank, which the railroad
company had just completed. Daniel Rice, a^saloon-keeper, in trying to save
his money, was burned so that he died. The loss of property was veiy severe.
The total number of buildings— stores, saloons, dwelHngs and bams — burned,
were thirty-four, leaving fifty-nine unbumed, the latter being almost wholly
dwellings and out building's. A careful estimate of the total losses incuiTcd
amounted to $48,730, of which amount only |1 1,850 was covered by insurance.

Immediately after the fire the railroad company set to work building a depot.
Instead of the narrow and cramped accommodations of the old trap dignified by
the name, they have now ample room for ever>' department of their business.
The water-tank was also rebuilt, and with one of the best wells on the road, is
an importa^t adjunct in the management of its rolling stock. The village has

HISTORY OF WI]S"KESHIEK COUN^TY. 309

completely recovered from the severe losses it sustained by the fire. Its busi-
ness interests have continued to increase, and, as a result, larger and better bus-
iness buildmgs serve the accommodations of trade.

In 1877 Ridgway had a newspaper for a short time. The
Ridgway Register^ published by F. A. Howe,

MADISON TOWNSHIP.

The eastern line of this township crosses the center of the
county. In i860 Madison was separated from Decorah township
and given an existence of its own. The first settler was Jo-
hannes Evenson, in 1850, whose marriage to Miss Catharine
Helen Anderson was the first marriage in the county. The li-
cense was granted on the fifth day of October. 1850, and the
ceremony was performed by the well-known Rev. N. Brandt,
now pastor of the Norwegian Lutheran Church, Decorah, but
then a wandering missionary. The hunt for the license, so as to
take advantage of the presence of the minister and have the mai-
riage performed, and the v/aiting for Judge Reed to return from
Dubuque to grant the license, are more fully related in an early
chapter of this history. Other settlers were Iver Gr. Ringstad
and wife, June 30, 185i, on section 29; Ole M. Asleson and wife,
July 12, on section 8; Gulbrand E. Wig, in September, on sec-
tion 36; Helge N. Myron and Herbert Onstien, all in 1851. Ed-
ward R. Scott, now a prominent farmer of Madison township,
settled there with his wife in 1854:. Population of the township,
781. The residents get their mail at Decorah and Ridgeway. The
Upper Iowa River runs across the extreme northeastern part of
the township.

DECORAH.

This township, city and county seat are described in the pre-
ceding chapter.

GLENWOOD TOWNSHIP.

This IS the eastern of the central tier of townships. The Up-
per Iowa River runs across the northern part. "Trout River"
running north through the central part, empties into it. Popu-
lation about 1,200. Woodville P. 0. is about two miles south-
east of the center of the township, on the Decorah and Waukon
daily mail route, and Thoten P. 0. in the Rocksvold neighbor-
hood, toward the northwest part. The Washington Prairie P. 0.,
in Frankville township, and the Freeport P. 0. are convenient to
some 'of the inhabitants. There are ample water powers and
several mills in the township. The large spring and caves on
and near the Decorah and Waukon road, are often visited by pic-
nic parties from Waukon. The large cave not far from ''Trout
River" in the southern part of the township, is described in the
account of iileasure resorts near Decorah, given in the preceding
chapter.

310 HISTORY OF WINifESHIEK COUNTY.

July 2; 1850, Ole G. Johnson settled on the southwest quarter
of section 31. Among other early settlers were Christopher
Evans, June 15, 1851, on the northeast quarter of section 32;
and Nathan Drake, the same year, on section 7, where he is still
a prominent and public-spirited citizen. Ole P. Rocksvold. Hen-
ry Kniss and Lewis L. Cook and wife, settled in 1853. Geo. C.
Windship and wife, now of Decorah, and quite a number of others
in 1854, and the settlement was afterwards rapid. The graded
road bed of the proposed railroad extension from Waukon to De-
corah, which may yet be built, runs through the northern part of
the township.

SUMNER TOWNSHIP.

This is the western township of the fourth tier from the north.
Population, 863, in 1880. The Turkey River flows southeast
through the northeast part of the township. The nearest post-
office is Spillville, just across the eastern line. It was divided
from Lincoln and made a separate township in 1862. There is no
village nor even store in Sumner township. It is purely agricultu-
ral. A. Tracy, now of Decorah, who went there in 1858 and set-
tled on section 29, where he lived until a few years ago, was the
first settler on the open prairie, "which he describes as marvelous-
ly beautiful, being a rolling sea of many hued flowers, with fre-
quent springs. There was a Norwegian settlement in the north-
east on the Turkey River before Mr. Tracy came. The Germans,
mostly in the eastern part, also came before him. The Bohem-
ians came later, and comprise a large portion of the inhabitants.
The north half of the township is rolling and generally pretty
well timbered. The south half is open rolling prairie, except
where trees have been planted, with plenty of springs. All is good
soil.

CALMAR TOWNSHIP — CALMAR, SPILLVILLE AND CONOVER.

Calmar township, with total population in 1880, 2,043, has three
villages and postoffices. Calmar, the railroad center of several
branches of the C, M. & St. P. Ry., with a population in 1880
of 617, is a little over a mile from the southeast corner of the
township. Spillville, on the Turkey River which flows through
the western part of the township — population, 340; and Conover
the junction of the Decorah branch of the railroad, and situated
near the center of the township — population, 168. The first vot-
ing precinct of the township is at Calmar and the second at
Spillville.

Calmar village is situated on a high rolling prairie and in the
center of a beautiful and productive country. It is on the main
line of the Iowa & Minnesota division of the Chicago, Milwaukee
& St. Paul railroad. It is the starting point of the Iowa & Da-
kota Division, also of the trains on the Decorah branch via Con-

HISTORY OF WINNESHIEK COUNTY. 311

over, and of trains on the Davenport via Jackson Junction.
Some eighteen trains arrive and leave daily, making the move-
ment of thirty-six trains. The important business of the station
is under the capable charge of S. V. Potter, agent. T. A hern,
roadmaster, T. W. Hazleton, foreman of the round house, and
Sam Kelsey, foreman of repair shop, and Conductor Hoxsie, of
the I. & D. Division, have their homes here, as do quite a number
of other railroad men. S. V. Potter several years ago, put up a
large and handsome residence, and fine residences have also been
erected by T. Ahern, and other railroad men and citizens.

Calmar is now well supplied with churches. The Norwegian
Lutheran Church, built of stone in 1857, but since enlarged, has
been for twenty-five years a prominent landmark; the Catholics
erected a handsome frame church 'building several years ago, and
the erection of a frame edifice for the Methodist Church, to cost
$3,000, has just been commenced. The graded school, Avith two
distinct departments and two teachers in summer and three in
winter, has a commodious and handsome new building — atten-
dance, 160. C. S. Boyce is principal, and Anna Stanberg assistant.

John Scott, postmaster and express agent, has a large general
merchandise store. The Excelsior Wagon Works of Miller,
Geisen & Co., are an important enterprise. C. W. Geisen runs
the lumber yard, Meyer & Dortal a good general store, and
McEwen & Stiles the drug and book store; while in the same
row with P. Olson's dry goods store, occupying a district recently
burned out, are y. E. Strayers handsome new brick hardware
store, and L. 0. Moen's fine new brick building for his furniture
store. Some fifteen dwelling houses have also been erected in
Calmar this season. Beside the Railroad Hotel there are the George
House, the Ferguson House and the American House. The other
branches of business are well represented. The present city offi-
cers are:

Mayor, C. W. Geisen; Recorder, J. B. Kaye.; Treasurer, P.
Olson; Councilmen, J. S. Roome, A. E. Stiles, F. L. George, H.
Miller, Jr., J. H. Constantine, and V. E. Strayer.; Marshal, Geo.
Miller.

John B. Kaye, Justice of the Peace, and prominent attorney, is
also a poet of no mean ability, and a general favorite. His second
volume, ''Songs of Lake Geneva, and Other Poems," is now in the
hands of the publishers.

Calmar's first newspaper, the Winneshieh Bepresentative, pub-
lished by T. B. Wood, commenced in 1870, lived about a year and
removed to Ossian, where it soon died. The Calmar Guardian
commenced April 19, 1876, ran about two years. Sam S. Haislet,
the publisher, now has a paper at Heron Lake, Minn. The Calmar
Critic, commenced in June by W. C. Eaton, now represents Cal-
mar in the newspaper world, besides Calmar departments of the
Decorah newspapers.

312 HISTORY OF WINNESHIEK COUNTY.

The following in regard to the early history of Calmar, as well
as incidentally of Conover, is gleaned from a contributor to
Sparks' History:

"In the early part of the year 1854, the first buikling was erected in Cahnarby
Peter Clawson and Alt. Chirk, natives of Sweden, who came from California
about that time and located at this place. This building was little more than
a shanty, but served the double pui-pose of a variety store and dwelling house,
Clark & Clawson being the occupants and the first merchants of the town.

'"John P. Landin, my informant, tells me that the town site, surveyed a little
later in the season — himself helping to cany the chain — and was then platted
and dedicated to the public, by Clark, the owner of the land. On the comple-
tion of the survey it was found that the store stood in the center of Main street.
Before winter, however, Clark & Co., had erected three other buildings of more
pretentions — a hotel, the Calmar House, which bvn-ned down in August. 1873,
a^tore, on the site now occupied by P. Olson's building, and a saloon, which
stood on the ground now occupied by the Huston House.

"Clark «fe Co. ran the new store, one Henry Miller the hotel, and Hans Gul-
branson the saloon, while Landm served for some time in the capacity of hostler
in the hotel stable. On account of the scarcity of shingles in the river markets
at the time, the hotel was roofed in the first instance with canvas, or sheeting,
and so remained for several months . Jjandin dug the first well in town, dur-
ing the same year. It was sank in the public square. On the 9th of July,
1854, says Landin. before I ever saw Calmar, or the site where it stands, I
stopped at Fort Atkinson, ate supper, stopped over night and breakfasted next
day with Squire Cooney. After hoeing corn awhile as an equivalent, I inquired
of the squire if there was any of my countiymen in the vicinitj', and he told me
that there was one by the name of Clark keeping store at Whisky Grove, and I
came up here. It was my first day in Calmar. Whisky Grove, it appears, was
a name often applied to this locality in those days.

"The town was by Clark named Marysville, and went by that name for
about one year, when a postoffice was located here, and, on account of there be-
mg another Marysville in the State, the name was changed to Calmar. This
latter name was also of Clark's choosing, and was given in remembrance of his
native town of Kalmar, situated on Kalmar Sound, on the southeast coast of
Sweden. Clark was the first postmaster, and his successors have been P. M.
Stanberg, D . S . Lovejoy, and John Scott, the present incumbent.

"In the year 1855, Landin erected a wooden building on the site now occu-
pied by the Clawson & Landin Block. In that building he opened up a grocery-
business and sold whisky and beer — the latter he brewed himself in an under-
ground cave near by. A large percentage of his sales were paid in butter and
eggs. At that time he paid from six cents to nme cents per pound for butter,
and three cents per dozen for eggs. Whisky sold for five cents per glass, so
that for only one dozen and eight eggs a man could get a 'square drink,' and
if a customer wanted a 'nog' it was common for the trader to throw in the egg
'free gratis.'

"In the year 1868, work was commenced on the Iowa & Dakota branch of
the Milwaukee & St. Paul railroad, with Calmar as its eastern terminus and
junction with the main line. During the year, track was laid as far as New
Hampton, considerably increasing the trade of the town, and adding to its
importance as a shipping center as the road was pushed further into the interior.
During the next year the Decorah branch was built, but for a year thereafter
the trains of that branch did not run farther east then Conover, since which
time Calmar has been the eastern end of their run and the point of passenger
transfer. But, as already stated, these trains still make a stay at Conover.

"In the year 1869, under the provisons of the Municipal Incorporation Act,
Chapter 51, Revised Statutes of 1860, Calmar was made an incorporated town,
and was duly organized by the election of municipal officers in March, 1870.
John Scott was elected Mayor, and was re-elected in 1871. In 1872 John W.
Tower was elected Mayor, and in 1873-4, the citizens chose S. V. Potter to fill

HISTORY OF WIJfNESHIEK COUNTY. 313

that office. In 1875 the mantle was worn by A. E. jNIanchester, and E. Pen-
nington is the present incumbent. Since the incorpoi'ation of the town, several
miles of sidewalks built, Town Hall erected, and many other public improve-
ments made.

"The Free Masons have a lodge in Cal mar with a membership of forty-five .
Their hall is over the post office, and is neat, commodious and well furnished.
The lodge is out of debt, and its growth and influence in our town has been
rapid and beneficent. The Sons and Daughters of Temperance also have a
lodge here, and although organized only about a year ago, it has about forty
active members, and is doing a good work. Their hall, on the upper floor of the
Anderson-Landin block, is large, and well arranged."

The flush days of Conover village, which is niue miles from
Decorah and three from Calmar, and situated Avhere the De-
corah branch leaves the St. Paul and Minneapolis branch of the
Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Ry., are pictured in the preceding
description. But it still has 168 inhabitants by the census of
1880, an elevator, a general store, hotel and other business. C.
J. Thompson is railroad and express agent.

Spillville village, three miles Avest of Conover, and twelve miles
southwest of Decorah, is situated on the southwest bank of the
Turkey River, and has 310 inhabitants. The plat was recorded
by Joseph Spielman, proprietor. May 7, 1860. Joseph Spillman,
or Spielman, who lived there in 1851, Avas the first settler, and
had a mill. The flouring mill, now one of its prominent institu-
tions, was built by Henry and Lyman Morse, the well-known
Bluffton pioneers, before they left for California. It was after-
ward operated by Norris Miller, now of Decorah. It is now owned
by the Spillville Mill Co. Frank Nockles' brewery is another
prominent enterprise. J. J. Hang, postmaster, has a general store,
and there are other branches of business. S. W. Sanders & Son,
Decorah, have a branch store there. Spillville is the center and
headquarters of the Bohemians of the county, who flock in
crowds to the large Bohemian Catholic Church there, in the fore-
noon, and after services all go to the beer saloons and enjoy
themselves in their old country style — but there is rarely drunk-
ness on the occasions. The Spillville band and orchestra is fa-
mous, and is often called to Decorah on public occasions.

SPRINGFIELD TOAVNaHIP

adjoins Decorah township on the south. The C, M. & St. Paul
Ry. runs across its soutliAvestern corner. It has no village nor
postofiice, its most convenient ones being Decorah, Calmar, and
Ossian. Population, 1,837. The toAvnship was settled in June,
1850, by what are claimed to be the first NorAvegian settlers in
the county. An account of this settlement — that of the Erick
Anderson party in June, of Nelson Johnson and party in July,
and of Engebret Peterson Haugen, in October of the same year,
are given in a previous chapter relating to early county history,
and need not be repeated here.

Zli HISTOKY OF WINNESHIEK COUNTY.

FRA.NKVILLE TOWNSHIP AND VILLA.GE,

Frankville is the eastern township of next to the southern tier
of townships. The census of 1880 gave it a population of 970.
Of these 158 are in Frankville village, in the southeastern corner
of the township, and 12 miles southeast of Decorah. Woodside
postofSce is on the road to Desorah, about 1 miles from Frank-
ville. Spark's History says:

"In 1851-2-3 the county was deluged with a healthy immigration. They
were men noted for their integrity, perseverance, and a determination to suc-
ceed. They came in their covered carts drawn by oxen, with the family sup-
port hitched on behind in the possession of a good milch cow. A great many
of these men found their homes on Washington Prairie. The earliest pioneers
were the Hawkes, Moses Hostetter, J . Callendar, Christopher Anderson Es-
trem, Wm. Padden, the Rosa family, Jacob Duff, Walter Rathbun, and
others. These came in 1850 or early in 1851 . Among the number who drifted
into the county in the years 1851-2 were J. T. Atkins, the Beards and Cutlers,
.Tohn and James D. McKay, Joel Pagin, Wm. Birdsell, Philip Husted, Isaac
Birdsell, Erick, Olson Bakke, James B. Schenk, and others too numerous to
mention. This immigration had the effect to change the wild prairie of a year
or two previous into the garden of Winneshiek County. The construction of
houses was carried on until they dotted the prairie from every conceivable point
of the compass. Deer were numerous, prairie-chickens plenty, the small
streams abounded with speckled trout, while larger fish were to be obtained
from the Iowa River. With these, and what they were able to raise, it would
seem these hardy pioneers fared sumptuously.

"Along with the tide that rolled over the country in 1851 was a man noted for
his wealth, energy and perseverance. He came to stay, bringing with him a
herd of cattle. Among others who preceded him was one Timothy FuUer,
whose claim he purchased and settled on. This man is kno^vn all over the coun-
try as Frank Teabout, the founder of Frankville.

"In 1852. Frankville was little more than a trading point, at which lived the
only inhabitant and proprietor, Mr. Frank Teabout; but about this time an
event transpired which gave to it lite and brighter prospects for the future. A
commission had been appointed to locate the State road for the benefit of im-
migrants seeking homes in Northwestern Iowa and Southern Minnesota.
Frankville secured tlie road.

The location of the road is the greatest event in the history of Frankville, for
without it, in all likelihood, the place would never have been anything more
than the residence of Mr. Frank Teabout. As it is, Frankville is a pleasant
village, and at one time figured conspicuously in the history of the county.

It was near night when the commission arrived at Mr. Teabout's residence,
and they of course accepted his hospitality until the next morning. On the
next day Mr. Teabout lead the commissioners to Decorah, they declaring
their line of march to be the location of the new road. There were other par-
ties besides Mr. Teabout who studied self-interest in the location of the State
road. Among the number was John McKay. He secured the passage of this
desired highway through his farm. Mr. McKay had the same ambition for a
town that actuated his neighbor. His first work in that direction was the es-
tablishment of a postoffice, which was effected on the discontinuance of the
Jamestown office. He also secured the location of a store at this place. This
town bore the name of Trout River, and at one time was a strong competitor
of Frankville. The postoffice was continued at tliis place for nearly two years
from whence it was moved to Frankville. It is claimed that this move was
effected through a compromise entered into between the respective founders
of the two towns.

Immediately on the location of the road, as if by magic, a town grew up
about the nucleus that had previously been built, and was given the name of

HISTORY OF WINNESHIEK COL'NTY. 315

Frankville. Frankville very soon became the great center of attraction. Mo-
neek became discouraged, and moved the greater part of its worldly ettects up
to the new town.

The Lathrop House, an impressive three-story frame building, was built by
Philip Lathrop in the year 1854. This hotel was well provided for, and did a
good business. The building was destroyed by fire in the winter of 1857-8.
Mr. Lathrop was absent at the time of the burning of his house, at Des
Moines, lobbying through a bill asking the location of the Deaf and Dumb
Asylum at Frankville, the people of that place pledging land and material in
aid of its construction. Mr. Teabout replaced the building destroyed, by an-
other, which long afforded hospitality to the traveler.

Much of the early success and prosperity of Frankville is justly accredited
to its founder, Mr. Frank Teabout. He possessed wealth, and lavished it on
the various enteiiDrises that benefited his town. In 1852 he built the Presbyte-
rian Church, and gave it to that denomination — the fiist house of worship
built in the village. This church edifice was early occupied by Rev. D. W.
Lyon, a preacher who divided his time between McGregor, Monona, Frankville
and other points.

As an illustration of the importance Frankville attained when at its acme, it
will only be necessary to state that the Free Masons of Decorah used to go to
the former place to hold lodge meetings.

In 1854 Mr. Teabout built a saw-mill at a cost of $1,500. This mill did a
good business, its owner finding a ready sale for all the timber it could saw.
The mill was sold to Mr. Cutler, No trace ot it remains to-day. In 1856 Mr.
Teabout built a large steam grist mill, of two run of stone, at a cost of $10,000.
The mill, during the first few years of its existence, was a financial success. It
was finally sold by the proprietors to Messrs. Beard and Cutler, who trans-
ferred the machinery to the Spring Water Mill, on the Canoe. Parties used to
come from Southern Minnesota to get their grist ground at this mill.

The Methodist Church was built in 1873. This denomination had held ser-
vices previously in other buildings. To the Rev. Mr. Webb is said to belong
the honor of being the first minister of this denomination to. officiate in the
place. Frankville continued to prosper until the Milwaukee & St. Paul Rail-
road cut it off; then came its decline.

On the 10th of June, 1881, the hundredth anniversary of
Leonard Cutler, of Frankville, the father of James B. Cutler, the
first postmaster, was observed at the residence of James D. Mc-
Kay, in Frankville. His children present were James B., David
E., and William Cutler, of Osage, and Mrs. James D. McKay and
Mrs. W. D. Smith of Frankville. Mr. Cutler was a member of
the Masonic fraternity, and twenty-one members from Decorah
were present. Judge M. V. Burdick delivered an address, which
was responded to by James. B. Cutler. Though his eyesight has
failed him and his hearing impaired, the veteran centenarian is
still living. He was born in Remington, Vt., June 10, 1781, and
has twenty-three grandchildren and four great grandchildren. Of
his thirteen children, nine are living, one of them being Leonard
Cutler, formerly of Decorah.

Another of the hale and hearty old men of Frankville is S. B.
Cavin, who though over four score years, is still as stout and
vigorous as many men thirty or forty years younger. His son J.
A. Cavin, keeps the store there, Frankville Hall being in the up-
per story.

316 HISTOKY OF WINNESHIEK COUNTY.

JACKSON TOWNSHIP

IS the southeastem township of the county; population, 797. Like
Sumner, which borders it on the north, it is purely agricultural.
It has no villages. Navan postoffice is in the southwestern cor-
ner, and New Albany postoffice in the central western part. Fort
Atkinson is its nearer postoffice on the east. Like Sumner, the
country is rolling prairie, the forests being mostly in the south-
western part, and the remainder of the township comparatively
free from timber, except as planted. The inhabitants are a mix-
ture of Americans, Germans, Irish and Bohemians. The history
of the early settlement of Fort Atkinson, just across the town-
ship line, IS also to a certain extent a history of the settlement of
Jackson township, especially as Jackson was not separated from
Washington township till 1882. The name of Joseph Spillman,
first settler of Spillville. is the only one from Jackson township
on the first county tax list— that of 1851. Jackson township is
crossed diagonally in a southwesterly direction by the I. & D.
division of railroad, Jackson station being established about a
year ago, near the center of the township, where the recentlv
completed Davenport branch leaves the I. & D.

WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP— FOKT ATKINSON— FESTINA, OR TWIN

SPRINGS.

_ The census of 1880 gave to Washington township, the second
in the southern tier, a population of 1,509. Of these, 435 were in
Fort Atkinson village, and 117 in Festina Postoffice, better known
as the village of Twin Springs. The first voting precinct of the
township IS at Festina, and the second at Fort Atkinson.

There was a single house of entertainment, a kind of saloon,
at Twin Springs as early as 1850 or 1851. Twin Springs vil-
lage Avas platted, and the plat recorded Oct. 17, 1856, by An-
drew Meyer and wife. It lies in a beautiful valley five miles
south of Calmar. Here is located the brewery of A. F. Gart-
ner, two general stores, and other branches of business. The
German Catholic church here is a very large building, and has a
school connected with it. The village also has a public school.

Fort Atkinson village, in the northwestern part of Washington
township, near the western line, took its name from the fort of
that name, as detailed in the previous pages of county history.
Of the old fort, which stood on a hill overlooking the site of the
present village, a portion of one building remains. It is about
seventy feet of the old settlers' building, and is now occupied by
three families. Turkey River, which runs southwesterly through
the township, furnishes the power for several mills. Beard &
Sons, of Ice Cave Creamery, Decorah, have a branch creamery at
lort Atkinson, and the various branches of business are well
represented. There are four churches, and a good graded school.

HISTOllY OF WINNESHIEK COUNTY. 317

There are general stores by Shreiber &Fornian, T. H. Tower, and
several other mercantile houses, including F. J. Huberts hardware
store, and J. C. Morris' jewelry store. The hotels are the well-
known Warren House and the Summer's House. We gather
much of the following from Sparks' History:

The fort bearing: the name of the successful Indian General, Atkinson, the
liero of the Black Hawk war, was commenced on the 2d of June, 1840, A com-
pany of mechanics, about fifty in number, contracted to do the work. Among
the number was James Tapper, residing at Monona. These men were escorted
from Fort Crawford, Wis., to the place selected ibr the Fort, by Company F.,
5th U. S. Infantry, commanded by Isaac Lyon. A captain of artillery named
Sumner, who became the illustrious Gen. E. V. Sumner of the late rebellion,
superintended the building of the fort, aided by Happy Jack, his First Lieuten-
ant. Sumner held command of the fort until the Mexican war, when he was
detailed to fields furnishing more active se.vice.

The lort was built for the protection of the Winnebago Indians from the
hostile and predatory tribes surrounding them, as well as for the protection
of the pioneer settlers. It was stone masonry work, situated on a?! eminence
north of the present town of Fort Atkinson, and originally consisted of four
main buildings, and two gun houses, as represented in the followuig dingram.

: D : : H :

o : G -.a

: ^ : -q^uogiuojj : a

[A, B, C and D, Ban-acks or Main Buildings; F and H, Gun Houses; E,
Powder House; G, Flag Staff.!

The fort wns built in the shape of a square, inclosing an acre of ground, the
material of which it was built being prepared at Fort Crawford. The cost o
making a wagon-road, the same ever since known as the Old Military, and
transporting the material to its place of destination, augmented the cost of
building the fort to the enormous sum of $93,000r It was afterwards sold. at
auction to private parties for $3,521. In 1845 Capt. Sumner still held com-
mand of the fort. The force at that time consisted of a company of infantry
and one of dragoons. In 1846 Capt. Sumner left for Mexico, and the fort was
then garrisoned by two companies of volunteers. Capt. James Morgan, of
Burlington, succeeded to the command of the infantry, and Capt. John Par-
ker, of Dubuque, to the command of the dragoons. In 1847 Capt. Morgan's
company was mustered out of the service, and Capt. Parker given entire
charge of the fort until the removal of the Indians, in 1848. It was found
necessary to use force to compel them to vacate the country. Captain
Knowlton, afterwards Judge Knowlton, was detailed to assist the command
under Capt. Parker.

After the removal of the Indians, in 1848,there was no further necessity for
keeping up military appearances, consequently the fort, as a military rtndez-

318 HISTORY OF WINNESHIEK COtlNTY.

vous, -was dispensed with; yet the government did not entirely abandon it. A
man named Alexander Faulkner was appointed to look alter it. Soon after,
Faulkner was relieved by Geo. Cooney, a well-known citizen of the county,
who is yet living in the vicinity of the old fort.

In 1853, after the removal of the Indians, the fort became useless as gov-
ernment property, and the administration then in power decided to dispose of
it at public auction.

On the reception of this news, in July, 1853, one of the Day boys visited Mr.
Cooney at the fort and informed him that, the fort would be sold at auc-
tion the next Wednesday. This intelligence was sad news to him; he un-
doubtedly would have much rather heard of somebody's wedding. By pre-
vious agreement he had promised to inform certain parties of the sale when it
should take place; and he immediately dispatched a messenger with the intel-
ligence to H. D. Evans and S. A. Clark of Prairie du Chien, and another to
the Bishop at Dubuque. On the morning of the sale these parties were present
bringing with them $4,000 in gold to purchase it with. John M. Flowers,
Capt. Frazier, and a gentleman from White Pigeon, were also on the ground
in hopes of purchasing the fort.

The Flowers were extraordinary characters, and played no little part in the
history of Fort Atkinson. There were two brothers of them, and were classed
with Charley Clark, Coleman and Tavernier, as "the Canadians." These Can-
adians came to the fort with the intention of making a living easily. They
had somehow got the impression that Fort Atkinson was destined to be a great
city, and thought it afforded a rich field in which to exercise their wit and
shrewdness to benefit themselves. In language not to be misundei stood, they
were sharpers .

Flowers wanted to get possession of the fort property, and induced a wid-
owed English lady by the name of Newington to purchase it — he bidding the
feame off. As the bidding progressed "and the price advanced in the Fort,
Flowers became fearlul that he would not be able to make the purchase, and
asked those bidding against him, what they would take to stop where they
were. Clark, Evans and the others held a consultation, and as a result agreed
to take $25. Flowers said he would give it, and accordingly wrote his note
for the amount. Said note read as follows :

"I owe you $25 for value received.

"J. M. Floweks.

"Dated Fort Atkinson, 1853."

Four years after this note was given. Mr. Evans placed it in Mr. Cooney's
hands (who was a justice of peace at the time) for collection. Three years later
Mr. Cooney got his pay out of Flowers in sawing.

The fort was sold to "Flowers for $3,521.

In 1857 a grist mill was commenced on the site where the Ames Mill
now stands. Finkle & CJark were the builders, and they received a certain
portion of the town-plat for building the mill, getting a warranty deed for
the same. Mr. McMillan^ a resident of Fort Atkinson, who resided, pre-
vious to 1857, in Canada, and an acquaintance of Finkle, was induced by
Finkle to accompany him to the United States, and aid in the construction
of the mill, with promises of a fair remuneration. The mill was completed
in November, but, owing to some miscalculation of the architect in laying
out the foundation, when the water was let through the floom it undermined
the wall, and rent the mill m twain, precipitating a portion of it into Tur-
key River. The mill was reconstructed shortly afterward.

It is estimated that in 1857, when the Fort was at the summit of its grand-
eur, it had a population of 500 souls. A public school, of course, would be a
necessary adjunct to so thriving a community. Consequently one was organ-
ized, and an estimable and capable teacher was found in the person of Dr. E.
Hazen, now a professor in the medical department of the State University,
and generally acknowledged as standing at the head of his profession in the
state. To Dr. Hazen belongs the credit of teaching the first school at the

HISTORY OF AVIXNESHIEK COUNTY. 310

Fort. The Doctor had met Mr. l\rcKinney and wife, at the commencement of
Oberlin College, and was advised by them to emifjnite west. He was then a
young man and had graduated. Mr. .]. P. McKinney, assisted by his wife,
taught the second term of school at the Fort. The school session was held in
one of the fort buildii.gs, and their enrollment of scholars numbered nearly 100.

A Mr. Sharp, from J'ayette county, kept the first hotel in the place. He
dispensed his hospitality in one of the fort buildings.

Martin Baehel was the first Constable elected .

J. P. McKinney was the first Notary Public.

The new town of Fort Atkinson was commenced in 1?69. The same year the
railroad entered the place, J. T. Clark's Addition was made to the town, Aug.
28, 1869. This addition was formerly known as the Tavernier Farm, and was
sold to J. T. Clark at sheriff's sale several years previous. Its location is on
the southwest quarter of Section 8, Town 96, Range 9. Main Street is eighty
feet wide. All the other streets are sixty feet wide. The blocks number
from 1 to 14, inclusive.

About this period the first church building was erected. It was located
north of the old fort, and built by the aid of subscriptions. The Methodist
church was built soon after. It is located on the old town site, and was built
by the aid of S. B. Dunlop, a wealthy farmer residing near by, and largely with
his money."

The J. P. McKinney, several times referred to in the above
sketch, of Fort Atkinson, and who, with his wife, taught school
there, is now a resident of Decorah, and is mail agent on the Chi-
cago, Milwaukee and St. Paul Railway between McGregor and St.
Paul. Mrs. McKinney is a zealous female suffrage advocate, and a
leader in that cause in this part of the state.

On the 15th of June, 1878, Congressman T. W, Burdick, of
Decorah, had an interesting conversation with Rev. J. L. Elliott,
of Washington, D. C, who was the first chaplain at Fort Atkin-
son. He went there in the fall of 1844. The Mission School
was five miles away, where Supt. Lowry had a school for boys and
girls, and also taught sewing, the cutting of garments, etc. Chap-
lain Elliott taught the post school at the fort, consisting of chil-
dren of the officers and men, and ranging from 22 to 25 pupils;
he preached on Sunday, and sometimes exchanged with Mr. Lowry.
Henry M. Rice, afterwards U. S. Senator from Minnesota, was
sutler. In 1848 the Indians were removed to Blue Earth, Minn.,
Indian reservation. Mr. Elliott's office was vacated and the post
abandoned early in 1849.

MILITARY TOWNSHIP — OSSIAN.

Military township adjoins Washington on the east. The Chi-
cago, Milwaukee anc St. Paul railway runs through the northeast
part of the township — population 1,521. The thriving village of
Ossian had, by the census of 1880, a population of 444, which has
increased somewhat since that time. It is on the Chicago, Mil-
waukee and St. Paul railway, about one mile northeast of the
center of the township. It is 12 miles south of Decorah, on a
broad prairie, beautifully rolling and richly productive. Among
its prominent business institutions are the Ossian Bank, Meyer &
Carter proprietors, one of them M. J. Carter, an able practicing

320 HISTORY OF WIXXESHIEK COUNTY.

attonie}-; two elevators, a hotel kept by R. A. Kennedy, the gen-
eral store kept by H. A. Baker & Bi'o., H. A. Baker being present
state senator; and a number of other stores and places of business,
a Methodist and a Catholic church, a school being connected with
the latter, of wich Rev. Tierney is pastor. Ossian has a good pub-
lic school, with an average daily attendance of over 100, of which
J. jC, Murphy is principal and Miss Sarah Owens assistant. The
Ossian Creamery, C. W. Williams & Co., proprietors, makes about
800 pounds of butter a day on the average. The largest amount
made in any one day 1,650 pounds.

The present officers of the town are: Mayor, J. Malloy; Re-
corder, C. J. Mills; Treasurer, 0. Thompson; Trustees, D. Jack,
J. Becker. T. R. Winn, John Collins, P. H. Mills.

T. B. Wood, who removed there from Calmar, published Ossian\s

first newspaper, which lived but a short time, as did also the one

started in 1876 b}" one Morey. The Ossian Independent was

started in 1878 by E. L. Howe, and w^as published something over

a year. The Ossian Herald was started August 19, 1880, by L.

C. McKenney, It was purchased in the summer of 1882 by T. B.

Hauna, who died in September, but the paper will probably be

continued. The first number of the Herald gave the following

brief history of Ossian :

"Ossian, the second village in Winneshiek county, vras settled b}' John Os-
sian Porter, a native of Pennsj-lvania, in the year 1850. The next settlers in
this vicinity were the Brookses, who came eighteen months later. To Chaun-
cey Brooks and wife was born the first white child in the township, a daughter
whom they named Mary. Mr. Porter erected the first house, a log cabin 18x20,
which was for many years used for a hotel and stage station. Erick Anderson
was the first merchant, and John Case the first teacher; he taught a select school
over Anderson's store. In 1870 a commodious brick school-house was built, which
has since furnished ample accommodations for the scholars attending school.
Thomas Larsen started the village cemetery, being killed by a runaway ox
team. In March, 1876, the village was incorporated, with the ioUowing offi-
cers: Mayor, Geovge McWilliaras; Aldermen, James Kennedy, H. C. Burgess,
Carl Eiler, S. L). Hinckley and J.J. hJmith. Clerk, James Maloy."

John Ossian Porter, the first postmaster, and afterwards county
sheriff, now lives on a farm in Springfield township.

Spark's History gives the following additional particulars of
the founding of Ossian:

"The original town site of Ossian wa.s laid out by its founder, John Ossian
Porter, on the southeast comer of the section. It consisted of three blocks, in
aU fourteen lots. It was acknowledged by J. 0. Porter and wife on the 13th
of April, 18.55. and was filed for record in the Recorder's office of Winneshiek
county on the 30th of April, the same year. Mr. Elijah Middlebrook did the
surveying. Two years later, on the_8th of April, Capt. C. E. Brooks achnowl-
edged the plat of the first addition to' Ossian, which was accordingly placed on
the proper record. It consists of six blocks, containing sixty- three lots. On
the 8th day of October, 1864, Capt. C. E. Brooks acknowledged the plat of his
second addition to Ossian, which consisted of thirty l^locks, divided into lots.
This plat was properly recorded. On the 4th day of May, 1869, he laid out ten
additional blocks, and called it Brooks' Western Addition to Ossian. This, so
far as the records show, was the last addition to the place, and, minus the vaca-
lon of a few blocks by Mr. Brooks, is the Ossian of to-day.

HISTORY OF WINNESHIEK COUNTY. 321

"Tlie year 1865 marked anew era in the history of Ossian. That which was
the death blow ot FrankviUe — the railroad — gave fresh life to Ossian. During
this year the railroad was built past its door. Thevear before, C. E. Brooks made
a fresh addition to the place, which was far-sighted, for town lots were in demand
immediately. The following year the construction of numerous dwellings was
commeneed, and business interests of various kinds multiplied.

"Ossian was nearly twenty- one years of age before a single church edifice
had been erected. The Cathohcs erected a building for worship, which wa,s
the first, about the year 1869. ^bout two years later the ]\Ietho(lists built a
church."

BLOOMFIELD TOWNSHIP — CASTALIA.

This is the southeastern corner township ot the county. The
headwaters of Yellow River flow through its northern part.
Population, 1,010. Castalia village and postofiQce is about a mile
southwest of the center of the township, and is on the Chicago,
Milwaukee & St. Paul Railroad, which reached there October 12,
1861:. The population of Castalia b}^ the census of 1880 was
108. It has two churches. A. W. Kramer, postmaster, keeps a
general store, and there are other branches of business.

The history of Moneek, in a preceding chapter, is an early his-
tory of the settlement in Bloomfield township, in which it was
located; as is also the brief mention of Rattletrap, the name
given to Castalia in early times. Hamilton Campbell and wife,
claimed by some — as previously recorded — to be the first perma-
nent settlers in the country, came there and settled sections 23
and 26 on June 7, 1848. JDavid Reed and wife, and Daniel Reed,
settled there August 15, 1819. Other record of early settlers is
found in that of early settlers of the county, in a previous chap-
ter, John N. ToplifF and Russell Dean, being among them.

GENERAL REMARKS.

It will be seen that no attempt has been made to enumerate the
churches and school houses in the different villages and townships
but only prominent ones. The general enumeration has been
given in a preceding chapter. Some of the finest churches are
situated away from villages and are prominent landmarks on the
rolling prairie, their location being such as to accomodate the
residents of the country about them.

The voting places at general elections are one to each township,
except Calmar, which has its first voting precinct at Calmar, and
the second at Spillville, and Washington township, with its first
precinct at Festina and the second at Fort Atkinson.

And right here the attention of the writer is called to the
different spellings of the county ,"Winnesheik.*' The printer of
this volume has caused the word to be spelled Winneshiek; it is so
spelled in Sparks' history of the county, and in Tuttle's History
of Iowa. But the people of the county almost invariably spell it
"Winnesheik," and it is so spelled in Andreas' Atlas of Iowa.
But, however the spelling may be, it is pronounced as if spelled
''Win-ne-sheek," with the accent on the first syllable.

322 HISTORY OF WINNESHIEK COUNTY.

RIVERS AND RAILROADS.

The Upper Iowa River, with its abundant water power, enters
the county at the northwest corner, flows southeast to Decorah,
and thence by a zigzag route leaves the county ic general direc-
tion a little north of west. The Turkey river runs across the
southwest part of the county and furnishes valuable water power.
The Canoe river is a small stream in Canoe and Pleasant town-
ships. The Yellow river rises in the southeastern part of the
county. There are numerous other small streams.

The Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railway enters the county
at its southeast corner, and its main line runs diagonally through
it in a northwesterly direction. From Calmar a branch runs
northeast to Decorah, and the Iowa & Dakota and the Davenport
branches in a southwesterly direction until beyond the limits of
the county. The principal railroad stations are Decorah, Calmar,
Ossian, Castalia, Fort Atkinson, Conover, and Ridgeway. The
other prospective roads are referred to elsewhere.

SHAPE AND SIZE OF COUNTY — ITS CHARACTERISTICS,

The townships were intended to be six miles square, but in
completing the survey on reaching the northern line of the State
it was found that it lapped over one mile into Minnesota, so the
northern tier is but five miles wide from north to south, making
the county 29 miles wide from north to south, and 21 miles wide
from east to west.

We have previously given the position and boundaries of Win-
neshiek County, It's considerably over 400,000 acres are mostly
arable land, well adapted to cultivation. The surface of the coun-
ty is diversified, alternating between rolling prairie and timber,
with bluflfs along the principal streams. It has plenty of clay,
sand, brick, and stone for building purposes, and its limestone
out-croppings can be burned into a goodly quality of lime.

POLITICAL.

In politics, on national issues the county is generally republi-
can. But in county matters, party lines are not always closely
adhered to, and frequently one or more Democrats aye elected on
the county ticket — occasionally, nearly all of them. The vote at
the Presidential election ot 1880 was Republican, 2,471; Demo-
cratic, 1,415; Greenback, 212.

GEOLOGICAL FEATURES.

The rocks exposed in Winneshiek County range from the low-
er sandstone as far up as the lower beds of the Galena limestone.
The Lower Magnesian is seen on Canoe Creek, six miles north of
Decorah, and is a hard crystalline rock of a light gray color. The
central portion of the county is chiefly occupied by the Trenton

HISTORY OF WINNESHIEK COUNTY. 323

limestone, -which gradually passes into the Galena in the south-
western part. At and about Decorah the Trenton limestone — of
the Lower Silurian period — is finely displayed, this rock forming
the whole thickness of the bluffs which border the river here. It
is crowded with fossils, especially in some of its lower exposed
strata, where were found the beautiful and wonderful specimens
referred to in the sketch of Decorah. There is a thickness of from
100 to 130 feet displayed in the bluffs west of town, where the
rock is a pure limestone of a light gray color, and crowded with
fossils. Near Calmar the lower beds of the Galena crop out. At
Ossian the rocks are similar, and at Ft. Atkinson the Trenton
and the Galena appear.

POPULATION, PRODUCTS, RESOURCES AND FINANCES.

The population of the county was 546 in 1850; 13,492, in 1860;
23,570, in 1870; and 23,937, in 1880. In the last decade, more
especially in the early part, there was a falling off in the increase
of population, a large territory being opened up to the westward,
but there has been an increase in the past few years, and a pros-
pect of a more rapid growth in wealth and prosperity.

A few years ago this was the banner wheat county in the
State. Several failures of crops caused the attention of the farm-
ers to be turned, to a considerable extent, to dairying and stock
raising, the soil and face of the country, and its numerous springs,
making it particularly favorable for those pursuits. The extensive
Decorah, Ossian, Ft. Atkinson and Hesper creameries are men-
tioned in sketches of those townships, as are also the stock farms
in Decorah, Orleans, Fremont and Hesper townships. But these
by no means represent all the dairying and stock raising indus-
tries, which are scattered all over the county.

Notwithstanding the great progress of dairying and stock rais-
ing, grain growing will not be abandoned, but will have its place,
and no insignificant one. Enriched by stock and the rotation of
crops, the soil will continue the old fertility of our grain producing
lands, and their products readily give employment to more mills
and manufactories. There are in this county six mills devoted
wholly or in part to the manufacture of flour for the eastern
market, and sixteen more devoted to custom work. There are
scores of unused water-powers. The Upper Iowa River has an
average fall of eight feet to the mile, and affording more avail-
able water-power than any river in the State. In no part of its
course are these more accessible than in the windings of the
river at and near Decorah. The other streams also furnish abund-
ant water-powers. Besides the principal streams, innumerable
springs and the rippling streams that flow from them, furnish a
lavish supply of pure water in all parts of the county. The
county is rich in building material. Its fossilized limestone quar-
ries are almost inexhaustible; from these were furnished the trim-

324 HISTOKT OF WINNESHIEK COUNTY.

mings of the Minnesota College for the Deaf, Dumb and Blind at
at Faribault, and from the richer specimens of fossil stone, men-
tioned in the sketch of Decorah, are made many beautiful orna-
ments. Easily worked quarries of sandstone, in the eastern part
of the county, furnished the elegant trimmings of the Norwe-
gian Lutheran College, Decorah. In Washington and Orleans
townships cream-colored brick is made that rivals the celebrated
Milwaukee brick.

The finances of city and county are in excellent shape, as is
shown in a previous chapter of County History. Out of debt,
with good public buildings, churches and school-houses, plenty of
substantial iron bridges over the streams, and all paid for, taxes,
will consequently be low, and education and church privileges un-
usually good. It is a good place to live in.

CLIMATE, SOIL AND SCENERY.

The latitude of Winneshiek County is about the same as cen-
tral New York and Michigan, but the winters are less broken and
changeable. Winter usually sets in about December 1st and some-
times earlier, and continues until March, with generally a "Janu-
ary thaw; the weather thereafter usually growing milder till spring
opens; but without the sudden changes of New England, and the
long, drizzling rains of the Central and Eastern States. The air
is invigorating, bracing, and wonderfully pure. No district in the
Union will excel it in sanitary considerations. An article in the
Decorah Bepuhlican has thus admirably and truthfully described the
soil and the face of the county:

"The soil of the county is not excelled. It is a rich black loam with a depth
of from one to aix feet. It has a slight admixture of sand, just enouerh in
quantity to make it friable and easily worked. It is well known to the scientific
farmer that the land best suited to most small grains, and in which the earthy,
saline and organic matters are distributed in the proportion best adapted to im-
part fertility and durability, is a soil based on the calcareous rocks. This con-
dition particularly characterizes the country bordering on the Mississippi and
its tributaries in this latitude, as well as for a distance above and below.

"The county is well timbered, nearly, all the larger streams bemg
bordered by a growth of both hard and soft woods. Originally about
three-eighths of the county was prairie, and the same proportion burr oak open-
ings. The openings have been mostly cleared and improved, having now the
general appearance of prairie."

Truly this is a goodly County of a goodly State. May the true
spirit of enterprise richly develop its ample resources, and the
children of the present be worthy successors to the pioneers of
the past.

History of Allamakee County.

CHAPTER I.

BY E. M. HANCOCK.

Prefatortj; Origin of County Name; Topof/raj)Jty; (Jeoloc/ij; Arte-
sian JVells.

"The lapsing j'oars joined those beyond the flood,
Each filled with loves, griefs, strifes and honest toil;

And thus, as shadows o'er the checkered plain,
Children their fathers followed to the grave,

The fruitage of their lives and deeds is ours."

— The Annalist.

A history of our county must necessarily consist largely of nar-
ratives of a personal or biographical character, as the history of
a comparatively few individuals is the history of this entire re-
gion during the early days of which we are called npon to write.
It is eminently fii and proper that the deeds of these pioneers
should be placed on record in a convenient and permanent form
for preservation, ere the hand of the relentless harvester has
plucked the last of them from among us, and sealed their lips for-
ever upon the facts they might relate regarding the early settle-
ment and development of the country, which will be of increas-
ing value and interest to their children, and children's children, as
the years grow upon years. Already have so many of them gone
to that bourne Avhence no traveler returns, that anything like a
complete record of the settlement and organization of the county
is beyond the bounds of possibility. It seems hardly credible that
no record of the organizing election of Allamakee County can be
found either among the state or county archives; but it would ap-
pear that the organizing Sheriff had failed to make report of such
election; and not even the scratch of a pen remains of the transac-
tions of county business under the old Commissioner system. In
some instances not the slightest record is to be found regarding
township organizations. And now:

"Beneath those whispering pines, that oak tree's shade,

Where heaves the turf in many a mouldering heap,
Each in his waiTQ cell forever laid,
'I he rude forefathers of the hamlet sleep."

— Gray.
To collate the facts still accessible and record the history of
the works by which they have left us so goodly a heritage as is
our fair county to-day, would be a pleasing task were it not so

326 HISTORY OF ALLAMAKEE COUNTY.

fraught with difficulties and disappointments, because of the fail-
ing memories and consequent conflicting recollections of those
still left who were witnesses of and participants in the events of
the early days. But if this work is ever to be done the time is

opportune. . i i.

In the preparation of these pages great care has been taken to
verify dates and statements hy such records as are obtainable, and
to corroborate by cumulative testimony. Errors will doubtless be
found, but we believe that in the main the history is accurate and
reliable. No similar work has heretofore been attempted, and we
therefore have nothing to build from as a basis. The writer is
indebted to the valuable and interesting sketches prepared for the
Makee township Early Settlers' Association m 1880, by G. M.
Dean, and to the sketches by John Bryson, and others, for quota-
tions here and there; and by diligently poring over old newspa-
per files he has discovered numerous items of interest bearing up-
on our early history, and establishing dates that could not other-
wise be obtained. "To those who have in any manner aided m his
researches, he would express his thanks. If he has, m the time
and space, to which he was limited, succeeded m putting together
in permanent shape and convenient for reference the more im-
portant facts relating to the county history, and m an acceptable
manner, it is all he expected to accomplish.

NAME.

There are two theories as to the origin of ;the name -'Allama-
kee," each of which has its supporters. One of these theories is
that it is the name of an Indian chief. The other is about as fol-
lows, as we find it stated in the proceedings of a meeting of the
Earlv Settlers' Association of Lansing, published in the Mirror
of Nov. 28, 1879: ^ , , ,. „ , ,

''Dr. J. I. Taylor spoke of the subject of the selection of the
name of the countv, as he had it from John Haney Jr deceased.
It was his recollection that David Umstead, m the Legislature
from this unorganized portion of the state, gave the county its
present title. An old friend of Umstead was Allen Magee, an In-
dian trader, who was familiarly known to the Winnebago tribes
and, in their guttural dialect, called Al-ma-gee. Calling to mind
this fact, Mr. Umstead caused the name 'Allamakee to be insert-
ed in the organizing act, and it was thus legalized. , , .

Which of these theories is correct we will not attempt to de-
cide, although we incline to prefer the first. According to the
official records "David Umstead" did not represent this section m
the Legislature which organized this county (the Second General
Assembly). Samuel B. Olmstead was a member of the First Gen-
eral Assembly, which held two sessions: Nov 30, 1846, to 1^ eb
25, 1847, and Jan. 3, 1848, to Jan. 25, 1848 During the first ot
these sessions an act was passed defining the boundaries ot sev-

HISTORY OF ALLAMAKEE COUNTY. 327

eral counties, among them the then unorganized county of Allama-
kee, and it is probable its name was officially given at that time.
David Umstead was a member of the Second Constitutional Conven-
tion, in 1846. We have been to some pains to investigate this
subject, but tind nothing fully authoritative. Col. S. C. Trow-
bridge, a resident of Iowa City, who came to Iowa in 1837 and
surveyed and organized Johnson County, states positively that
"the name Allamakee is an Indian name purely, all speculative
theories to the contrary notwithstanding."

TOPOGRAPHY.

Allamakee County occupies the extreme northeastern corner of
Iowa, with the Mississippi river on its eastern border, Minnesota
on the north, and Winneshiek and Clayton counties on the west
and south respectively. It is about twenty-nine miles in length
from north to south; twenty miles from east to west at the northern
line, and twenty-eight in extreme width through the center tier of
townships, averaging about twenty-three; giving an area of 664
square miles. At the southern line of the County the Mississippi
river is about 625 feet above the sea level. Along the river
front the County is bordered its entire length with a bold out-
line of bluffs from 300 to 400 feet high, from the tops of which
the surface gradually slopes upward until at Waukon, eighteen
miles back, it reaches an altitude of 655 feet above the river at
low water mark.

The Upper Iowa River and its tributaries water the northern
portion of the county; Village Creek and Paint Creek take their
rise near its centre and flow eastward into the Mississippi. The for-
mer north and the latter south of east— while the Yellow River
takes its course through the southern tier of townships. These
streams have all cut their channel deeply into the rocks, especial-
ly the Upper Iowa, which flows through a narrow, winding valley,
with blufts on either side which have an elevation near its mouth
but little less than those along the Mississippi. In many places
the fall of these streams is quite rapid, furnishing the very best
of water powers. Along the courses of the Iowa and lower part
of Yellow Rivers, and a strip four to six miles wide on the river
front, the surface of the country is of course, rough and badly
broken, but much of this bluffy country is well wooded, as are also
many of the valleys of the streams, as well as the uplands in some
portions of the county. Back from the river the county rpresents
a more attractive appearance to the agriculturist. The oak and
hickory openings, the rich hazel-brush lands, the prairie with their
deep, black loam, the warm and sometime sandy valleys, together
with the rich alluvial deposits of the river bottoms, aff'ord a di-
versity of soil well adapted for all his purposes.

The prairies occupy the central and western portions ofthe
county, as well as parts of the extreme northern and southern

328 HISTORY OF ALLAMAKEE COUNTY.

tiers of townships, and are unsurpassed for natural fertility and
beauty. They are well watered with innumerable gushing
springs of clear, cold and pure water, are dotted here and there
with groves, and are just suiBciently rolling to afford excellent
drainage, as also relief from the monotonous level of some prairie
countries.

In the valley of the Mississippi where the channel does not ap-
proach the base of the bluffs, are some extremely fertile bottom
lands, and a net work of sloughs, lakes and islands; some of the
sloughs being of sufficient size to at times allow the passage of
large steamers, as is the case with Harper's channel along the
front of Taylor Township. At some points the main channel is
three or four miles from the bluffs, and again it skirts their very
base.

The principal tributaries of the Iowa are: on the north. Bear,
Waterloo, and Clear Creeks; and on the south, Coon, Patterson,
Mineral, Silver, and French Creeks. Those of the Yellow River
are: from the north, the north fork, and Bear Creek; from the
south, Hickory and Suttle Creeks. No less than seven of these
creeks — including Village and Paint — have their sources in
springs near the highest part of the county, surrounding Wau-
kon, and flow thence in all directions except to the southwest.
Some of these springs bubble up through the earth at the foot of
a hill-slope, frequently covering a surface many feet square and
forming a good-sized brook at once; others have a less preten-
tious origin; while there are numerous instances in the County
where the water issues in a torrent from near the base of the cav-
ernous face of a limestone cliff from twenty to fifty feet high, on
a side-hill.

GEOLOGY.

It is to be regretted that no complete geological survey of this
County has ever been made. Enough is now known, however,
from the experience of practical observers, to show that, while
our system of rocks is on the whole a simple one, as demonstrated
by the early explorers, in its details it is far more complicated
than they supposed, owing to interruption of the regular stratifi-
cation; and as it is more studied and examined the more it exhib-
its surprising evidences of disturbance during its formation.

As classified by geologists all the rocks of our county come un-
der the head of Lower Silurian, and many of them are rich in fos-
sils of mollusks peculiar to that age. These rocks are oldest in
order and lowest in the earth's superstructure, the Potsdam Sand-
stone which is exposed in the valley of the Upper Iowa river, ly-
ing next above the rocks of the Azoic Age^the foundation of all.
Above the Potsdam Sandstone in the following order are the Low-
er Magnesian Limestone, the St. Peter's Sandstone, the Trenton
and Galena Limestones. The dip, or inclination of all these strata

HISTORY OF ALLAMAKEE COUNTY. 329

in this region is to the south, so that theoretically in entering
the county from that direction one finds the last mentioned rock
occupying the surface, and in passing northward he crosses in
succession the surfaces occupied by the Trenton, St. Peter's, and
the Lower Magnesian, meanwhile passing downward or back-
ward in the order of their formation. And this is nearly correct
practically, also. Prof. C. A. White, in his report on the Geolog-
ical Survey of Iowa (unfortunately never completed) published in
1870, says: "The Upper Iowa rises in the region occupied by
Devonian rocks and flows across the outcrops respectively of the
Niagara, Galena, and Trenton Limestones, the St. Peter's Sand-
stone, the Lower Magnesian Limestone, and Potsdam Sandstone;
into, and through all of which, except the last, it has successively
cut its valley, the deepest valley in Iowa, reaching a depth in its
lower part of more than four hundred feet from the highest
ground in the vicinity. That portion of it which traverses Alla-
makee County has the Potsdam Sandstone composing the base of
its valley sides, the Lower Magnesian Limestone forming the re-
mainder of them. =ic * * They are every-
where high and steep, the Limestone cliffs giving them a wild and
rugged aspect. The farming lands of the higher surface, howev-
er, extend almost to the very verge of the valley. * *
* This stream has the greatest slope per mile of any
in the State; consequently it furnishes immense water power.

* * * This river and its tributaries are the

only trout streams in the State."

Potsdam Sandstone.- — In his report on the Geology of Iowa, pub-
lished in 1858, State Geologist James Hall says of this rock: "It
attains its greatest exposure in Minnesota and Wisconsin, north of
the limits of Iowa, and about the region of Lake Pepin. From this
point the rock dips both to the northeast and southwest. The ex-
cavation of the Upper Iowa River has removed the Calciferous
Sandstone (Lower Magnesian Limestone) so that in following up
that river the Potsdam Sandstone forms its banks for more than
twenty miles along its meandering course. * * * *

Below the mouth of the Upper Iowa, this rock forms the bluffs
along the Mississippi, extending for a greater or less distance up
the ravines and valleys of the larger streams. The tops of the high
bluffs near the river, however, soon become capped by the lower
Magnesian, and * :^ * ^j-^g sandstone

gradually declines from cliffs several hundred feet in height to the
level o£ the river, beneath which it finally disappears at the foot
of Pike's Hill, opposite the mouth of the Wisconsin River, and a
short distance below McGregor's landing. * * *

It is usually a light drab color, sometimes nearly white, and
not unfrequently stained brown by the oxide of iron which at
some places appears in great abundance.*'

330 HISTORY OF ALLAMAKEE COUNTY.

"Some slightly calcareous bands of this rock contain fragments
of trilobites, and in numerous localities shellsof Xm^^^/aare found.
These fossiliferous bands appear in the vicinity of Lansing,
where the bed containing trilobites lies some sixty feet above the
river, In its general character this sandstone is a friable mass,
usually crumbling on exposure to the frost and sun.''

"The passage of this sandstone into the overlying limestone is
effected by numerous repetitions and alternations of the two rocks,
giving rise to a series of beds along their junction, which from their
chemical composition, might as well be reckoned to one rock as
the other

Lower Macjnesian Limestone. — Of this formation. Prof. Hall says:
"The great dolomitic mass which overlies the Potsdam Sandstone
in the Valley of the Mississippi is known throughout that region as
the Lower Magnesian Limestone. * * * This rock becomes
a conspicuous member of the series where it forms the bluffs which
overhang the Mississippi from Prairie du Chien far up the St. Croix.
The undulations of the strata bring it to the surface in many val-
leys in Wisconsin where the Galena or Blue limestones occupy
the elevated prairie (and this is also true on the west side of the
river). * * * Within the limits of Iowa

the Lower Magnesian is most conspicious along the Upper Iowa
River, it also crops out in the valleys of Paint Creek and Yellow
River, but the amount of surface covered by it is quite small."

"The rock is usually checkered with seams and joints on its ex-
posed surfaces, and presents a very rude exterior. In some locali-
ties, however, it will produce a durable building material." "The
materials of the rock appear to have been broken up while par-
tially indurated; the interstices are often filled with sand, and
fragments of friable sandstone are often found mingled with the
broken rock itself. In some instances these fragments bear evi-
dence of having been torn from masses of rock previously indura-
ted. In many cases the breceiated character seem to be due in
some degree to internal action among the materials of the rock
itself." In some regions, "sudden depression occur, where the
succeeding rock comes in at a much lower level than it occupies
on either side. The appearance is that of sudden small faults or
downthrows, as if the rock over a certain area were abruptly de-
pressed before the deposition of the succeeding one." "The
annexed section on Bear Creek, near New Gralena, thirteen
miles due west of the Mississippi, shows the character and rela-
tions of this rock to the over and underlving sandstones.

"Soft friable red sandstone 12 feet

White crystalline dolomite, partly concealed, but showing itself at var-
ious points 168 feet

Beds of passage from dolomite to sandstone "30 feet

White sandstone, to level of Bear Creek 83 feet

HISTORY OF ALLAMAKEE COUNTY. 331

This shows "a thickness of one Imndred and sixty-eight feet of
the Lower Magnesian limestone, of which the lower one hundred
and fourteen feet are concealed hy a grassy slope. The upper fif-
ty-four feet are exposed in a vertical cliff of hard white dolomite,
irregularly stratified and somewhat concretionary in its structure.
Of the upper — or St. Peter's — sandstone only twelve feet are here
exhibited: it is a friable rock of red color.'' '"The indications of
the existence of organic life during the deposition of this lime-
stone are few."

Sulphuret of lead has been found in the Lower Magnesian in
such quantities that formerly many persons were led to suppose
that this rock might one day become of as much importance as
the Galena limestone has been. We quote Prof. Hall: "The
most important deposits of lead in this rock which have been ob-
served within the limits of Iowa, are situated in the valley of Min-
eral Creek, a stream flowing north, through a valley lined with
precipitous bluffs, into the Upper Iowa river, and about three
miles south of a small settlement called New Galena: the diggings
are on the southwest cjuarter of section 13, township 99, range
6 west. In this vicinity the Upper sandstone is well exposed on
the top of the bluff', and a shaft has been sunk in it. Along the
face of the bluff', in which a thickness of one hundred and
twenty to one hundred and fifty feet of the Lower Magnesian
limestone is exposed, a number of drifts have been extended into
the rock, a little below its junction with the sandstone, and con-
siderable galena has been taken out. * * *
The ore appears to be associated with irregular strings and
bunches of calcareous spar, ramifying through the rock, but no-
where assuming a regular form like that of a vein, or appearing
to occupy a well developed fissure. * * *
It is said that between fifty and one hundred thousand pounds of
lead had been obtained from these diggings; but it seems hardly
possible that the operation should have been, on the whole, a pro-
fitable one; and, * * * we see little to en-
courage farther expenditures at this point.''

The "mine" was abandoned about that time, of which we shall
speak further in another place; and although during the quarter
of a century since then there have been a number of persons
faithful to this idea of finding lead in paying quantities in the
county, none as yet has been developed. Small quantities have
been found from time to time, in various portions of the county
— in Paint Creek, Jefferson, Ludlow and Unioti Prairie townships,
on Portland Prairie, and notably in the valley of Yellow River
and a small tributary three or four miles from the Mississippi. In
the last mentioned locality specimens have been found as lately as
1881 which assayed 89 per cent, of lead, with 249.7 ounces of sil-
ver to the ton, and a trace of gold. Copper has also been ob-
served in some of these specimens, as also in specimens from the

332 HISTORY OF ALLAMAKEE COUNTY.

New Galena region. Zinc deposits have long been known to ex-
ist in the vicinity of New Galena, and at this day there are par-
ties prospecting with the purpose of developing its value and
quantity.

We quote further: ''The Yellow River cuts into the Lower
Magnesiau, but not through it. At Volney this rock is seen
rising in cliffs from the bottom of the valley to the height of thir-
ty or forty feet. On the south side of the river, above the Lower
Magnesian, may be seen cropping out the Upper, or

St. Peter's Sandstone. — "This rock occurs as a friable or incohe-
rent mass, having a thickness of from fifty to eighty and even one
hundred feet, and sometimes having so little coherence as to be
removed from the bank like ordinary sand or gravel. * * *
Although the grains of which it is composed are of white or lim-
pid quartz, the mass is often and particularly near the base, much
stained by oxide of iron, while the upper portions are frequently
quite free from discoloration, This sandstone will furnish an ex-
cellent material for glass making, whenever that branch of indus-
try shall be established in the Mississippi Valley."

This sandstone is found in many places in the county, and where
accessible have proved very useful for building purposes as in the
case of beds of it near Waukon. "It occurs in several outliers on
the south side of the Upper Iowa River, some of them occupying
considerable areas." On the banks of "the Mississippi the sum-
mits of the cliffs recede abruptly from the terrace formed by the
Magnesian, owing to its less power of resisting denudation,"
but where the Trenton Limestone appears over the sandstone, the
cliffs again assume their sharp outline above, though, "even then
they present a recession above the Magnesian. Sloping abruptly
from this, they are capped by the succeeding limestone which rises
in perpendicular or overhanging cliff's. In consequence of this
character the bluffs have the aspect of a double terrace, the first
being formed by the Magnesian, and the second, some eighty feet
higner, by the Trenton limestone."

The Trenton Limestone, with its usual fossiliferous bluish-gray
layers, occupies the elevated surface of the country through the
center of this county, over a space of some ten or twelve miles in
width. This rock is usually concealed by the superficial formations
(drift, etc.), but crops out in the valleys, * * * where it
is quarried for lime and as a building stone, for both of which
uses it is well adapted. * * * rpj^^ Trenton limestone
proper is marked in some localities by numerous species of its
characteristic fossils, while elsewhere they are extremelv rare.

* * * This rock is mostly thin-bedded;

though the drab-colored layers are firmer, thicker, and usually free

from seams, furnishing building stone of moderate dimensions,

and, rarely of the thickness of eighteen or twenty inches. *

* * The increase in thickness is chiefly at the

HISTORY OF ALLAMAKEE COUNTY. 333

base of the formation."' The limestones at the base of the Tren-
ton, appear, from their chemical composition, to be better quali-
fied to make good hydraulic cements than any others found in the
State of Iowa. * * * The following analy-

sis will give an idea of the composition of the Trenton lime-
stone as it exists in the northeastern corner of Iowa. The speci-
men is from a quarry four miles south of Waukon:

"This is a very light drab-colored rock, not materially chang-
ing its color or appearance by weathering. It breaks with a
smooth fracture into rectangular fragments. Its texture is finely
crystalline, and it is very compact and homogeneous with the ex-
ception of minute specks of crystallized calcareous spar and bi-
tumen which are sparsely scattered through it. It is in all res-
pects a good building stone, splitting out in good shape, dressing
easily and keeping its color well. This is not from one of the
very fossil if erous layers of the blue limestone; but it contains a
few fossils, and is colored by a trace of organic matter.

"Insoluble (silicate of alumina) 4.07

Carbonate ofiron 62

Carbonate of lime 94.08

Carbonate of magnesia, alkalies, chlorine, sulphuric acid and loss 1.23

100.00

"The specimen analyzed above represents in character and
composition the lower portion of the Blue limestone, as developed
throughout the northeastern corner of the State. It is quarried
in numerous places, and affords the best material, both for build-
ing stone and for lime, being an almost pure carbonate of lime.
It sometimes fades slightly on exposure by the gradual disappear-
ance of the organic matter which it contains; and is not unfre-
quently colored of a light buff on the exterior by the oxidation of
the iron which it contains in the form of carbonate of the pro-
toxide."

"The passage from the Trenton into the Galena limestone above
is not an abrupt one; on the contrary there are, in many locali-
ties, several alternations of calcareo-magnesian and purely calcar-
eous layers between the two formations.''

The Galena Limestone is found in this county, only in the southern
portions, occupying the surface of the elevated country south of the
Yellow River. North of that stream a few outliers of this rock are
found on the highest points, above the Trenton, but as we proceed
northward these disappear entirely, and give place to the Trenton
which occupies by far the largest portion of the surface of the
county, south of the Upper Iowa, and is the most valuable rock we
have, economically considered, because of its properties for building
purposes, for lime and other uses; although portions of the Galena
and the Lower Magnesian are also well adapted for building pur-
poses. The Galena is the rock in which are found the valuable lead

^34

HISTORY OF ALLAMAKEE COUXTY.

deposits of this State in the vicinity of Dubuque; but it does not
appear in this county in sufficieut thickness to warrant expecta-
tions of any future developments of value in that respect.

Prof. Hall says: ''The Galena limestone as usually developed
is a rather thick-bedded, light-grayish or light yellowish-gray
dolomite, distinctly crystalline in its texture and usually rather
course grained, although occasionally so finely granular as to be
almost compact." It "closely resembles in lithological character,
as well as in chemical composition, the Lower Magnesian from
which it is separated by the Trenton. It is, however, more uniform
in its texture, and does not exhibit the breceiated and concretion-
ary structure.''

It will be seen by those who are conversant with the geological
system of this county, that while the survey by Prof. Hall twenty-
five years age is substantially correct, he was not aware of the
great irregularity in the various strata throughout the interior of
the county which has since been developed in the shape of
"faults", undulations, upheavals and other evidences of internal
disturbances. In numerous instances "breaks have occurred in
such manner as to show the entirely different formation of rock
abutting upon each other, and side by side occupying large tracts
of country on the same level, as in the case just northeast of
Waukon, where a pure sand rock composes the entire surface, hills
and valleys, on the east of an abrupt dividing line which separates
it from a purely limestone formation.

In this place it is appropriate to allude to Hon. Samuel Mur-
doch's discovery of a fossiliferous rock underlying the Potsdam
Sandstone. We quote from an article written by him in 1875.

"From the neighberhood of Lansing there is a rapid southern
dip in all the formations along the river, and this is so rapid that
the whole thickness of one formation is entirely hid in the space
of twenty miles, and this rate will correspond with the whole of
them. Now if this dip was confined to any one of these forma-
tions alone we might conclude that it was originally formed* at
this angle, but when we see them all conform to the same dip
and preserve a uniform thickness, it forbids the idea of an original
slant. From the neighborhood of Lansing there is also a corres-
ponding northern dip in all the formations, leaving the conclus-
ion upon us, that somewhere in the neighborhood of this city, a
powerful subterranean force is constantly being exerted to heave
up a large portion of Iowa and Wisconsin, I am therefore strong-
ly disposed to look to the new rock which I have recently discov-
ered, lying beneath the Potsdam sandstone, as the great lever that
is doing the work."

"At the city of Lansing it rises to an altitude of more than
two hundred feet above the level of the river, and can be traced to
the water's edge, is largely composed of lime, and this substance
in contact with both heat and water would furnish, perhaps, the

HISTORY OF ALLAMAKEE COUNTY. 335

largest expansive force of any other rock known upon the globe.
Having recently traced this rock for several miles up the Little
lov^^a, and again into Wisconsin up and along the Kicsapoo, and de-
termined that it has both a northern and southern dip, I am
therefore prepared to say that it forms a ridge in this neighbor-
hood of only about ten miles across, when it is lost again from
sight upon either side. How far this new rock can be traced east
and Avest from Lansing I am not prepared to say, but I am in-
clined to believe that ten by thirty miles will cover the whole area
of its exposure, when it fades out of sight beneath the Potsdam
sandstone. This new rock is undoubtedly of vast thickness, and
like some huge monster of the great deep, is pushing its way up-
Avard with giant strength, lifting and tilting everything above it,
as if they were but feathers in its way. It contains within its
folds the remains of a dead world that flourished in the dim long
ago, and over these remains the future geologist may well ponder,
and contemplate the vast cycle of time that has elapsed since they
flourished in life and activity.'''

And again, from an article published in 1876:

"Several years ago while wandering over the beautiful bluffs
that overlook the thriving city of Lansing, in Allamakee County,
in company with James I. Gilbert, he called my attention to a pe-
culiar ledge of rocks that forms the base of the hill in the immed-
iate rear of the city. Since that time, I have found that it run
under the Potsdam sandstone.

''With the exception of this fact, I supposed it to be devoid of
geological interest, and it was not until a recent visit to Lansing
that I discovered this rock to be rich in fossil remains. I discover
both the vertebrated fish and the articulated worm in great num-
bers, and I have no doubt that upon a close examination, both the
Radiates and Mollusks could be found in equal numbers.

"Dr. Ranney, an intelligent scientist of Lansing, while disputing
with me the fact that this rock underlies the Potsdam, but claims
that it only exists in a basin, and is of a modern lake deposit, in-
forms me that he found in this rock in a fossil state, a perfect cat-
fish, resembling in every particular its fellows of our present
rivers.

''The city of Lansing is built upon this rock, while it still rises
above the town and forms a second bench about two hundred feet
above the level of the river, while its lowest strata runs beneath
the water.

"About two miles south of the city it is again seen beneath the
Potsdam, but at a much lower level than its surface at the city,
and here it is rapidly dipping to the south, while at the city it
rapidly dips to the north, and in a few miles either way it des-
cends out of sight.

336 HISTORY OF ALLAMAKEE COUNTY.

"Some great internal force lias served to raise it up north of the
valley of the Lansing creek that did not operate south of that
stream, and must have broken a fissure which afterwards became
the valley of the stream.

"This rock is composed of lime, sand and shale in alternate de-
posits; the streaks of sand often very thin, and alternating
through the entire mass."

The ^'Iron Mountain/' — Prof. Hall failed to notice any evi-
dences of iron ore other than "in some localities the rock is highly
charged with oxide of iron * * of which the origin appears to be
from the decomposition of iron pyrites." "Oxide of ii'on, or
hematite, is occasionally present in small nodules" in the Pots-
dam sandstone, etc. But it has long been known to some resi-
dents of the county that fragments and boulders of iron ore were
scattered over the surface of the ground along and on either side
of Makee Ridge, two or three miles northeast of Waukon, and
that in some places the road-bed seemed to be of solid iron. No
particular notice had been taken of this, however, by outsiders,
until within the past few years, through the efforts of Mr. Chas.
Barnard, who has taken pains to furnish several experienced iron
men with samples of this ore, who have in every instance given
analysis showing it to be a good quality of red hematite, of a
purity ranging from 50 to 70 per cent. Mr. Barnard has exam-
ined the deposit carefully for several years, and is satisfied that
it is not merely a shell, but a rich mine of great depth, and that
if the surface ore which has been exposed to the air yields 65 per
cent, of the pure metal, the interior deposits must be as rich
as any now known. Nothing but actual trial can determine
whether this apparently great, solid mass of iron ore is really
what it appears. However, now that outside parties of capital
are becoming interested in the matter, it would seem, at this
writing (July, 1882,) that its value will soon be ascertained. The
following extracts from an article by A. M. May, editor of the
Waukon Standard, published in that paper of May 18, 1882,
will give a tolerably clear idea of the situation of this bed of
ore:

"We know it is against the geological arrangement of strata as
usually seen in this part of Iowa, that such a bed should exist,
and that it is not mentioned in any report; and that we have been
laughed at in years gone by for suggesting that iron did exist
here in any appreciable quantity ; but we have believed it because we
have seen it and know it is here. The only question in our mind
was: Is it rich enough to pay for working?

"The ore bed is situated about two miles northeast of town.
The Lansing road crosses it near the old Sloan place. It extends
east or beyond where the road turns nearly north towards the
poor farm. Thence irregularly southwest to a little below the

HISTORY OF ALLAMAKEE COUNTY. 337

old C. J. White place, and then with a northwesterly curve to the
place of beginning. The old Stoddard house is somewhere near
the northern center of the bed.

''Not long since we made a thorough examination of it in com-
pany with Mr. C. Barnard, who came from an iron and coal coun-
try and has had years of experience in mining. We first struck
the ore on the south side near the old White place, and followed
up the ravine nearly to the top of the hill; crossed the ridge to
another ravine; and made a general examination of fields, ravines
and washes. The bed is bounded on the south and east by the
St. Peter sandstone; on the west and north by the Trenton lime-
stone. The bed extends much further down the hill going south
than it does going north. The change from the iron bed proper
to the other formations is abrupt. At the old AVhite and Stod-
dard places, there are springs of soft water, while all other
springs in this county, so far as we know, are hard water. In
following up the ravines a person can walk almost the entire dis-
tance on ore. No other rock formation shows itself. The ra-
vines wash out till the ore is struck and can wash no lower. The
sides of the washes are lined with ore. It crops out on the sum-
mits of the hills in large boulders. From our examinations, we
should say there was at least two hundred acres two hundred feet
deep of the ore. There are now thousands of tons of it in sight.
This is an estimate, and not by measurement. Of course it can-
not be positively determined to what depth it does extend; sink-
ing a shaft only can determine that. Our opinion is that it is an
upheaval of considerable and perhaps great depth, and not merely
a shell on the surface."

And the following from the Dubuque Trade Journal of about
the same date relates to iis availability:

''Here would seem to be a mine of wealth, a genuine bonaijza
awaiting the advent of capital, enterprise and skill, to establish an
industry that would redound in fortunes to all concerned. The
only drawback is the want of fuel in the immediate vicinity. But
fortunately, from the deposit to the Mississippi river, which is not
far off, there is a continuous down grade. The ore can therefore
be easily taken to the water and then floated in barges to Dubu-
que to be smelted. If thought advisable, smelting furnaces might
be established in the Turkey river district, where an abundance
of the best wood is found; or, for that matter, anywhere along
the banks of the river on either side for a distance of more than
seventy-five miles. Furthermore, a railroad connection of not
more than three miles would place the valuable freightage in the
hands of the Waukon railroad. By water or rail the grade is
downward, so that under any circumstances the transportation
would be of the easiest kind."

From a personal examination of this iron bed, in company with
Mr. Barnard, we found that recent heavy rains had washed out

338 HISTORY OF ALLAMAKEE COUNIY.

the ravines so as to expose the ore in better shape, giving more
favorable indications than before. In several places strata of fine
blue clay are found of considerable thickness, possibly in sufficient
quantities to warrant the undertaking of the manufacture of
white brick. In other places, at the base of the iron exposure,
there was observed a heavy bed of what is pronounced by those
familiar with its appearance to be a superior quality of potter's

The main portion of this iron deposit lies on Section 17, extend-
ing to the south on to Section 20, and to the west on to Section
18, covering a total area of about 328 acres. On its southern bor-
der is nothing but sandstone; to the west it abuts abruptly upon a
limestone filled with fossils; a limestone without fossils lies on its
north; while on the east are found sandstone, limestone and a
black granite, the latter being found nowhere else in this region
with the exception of small boulders of glacial deposit in some
localities. The springs of soft water which flow from near the
centre of this area, are strongly impregnated with iron, but no
complete analysis has yet been made. Numerous beds of blue
clay are also found here and there over this area; and the more
the region is studied the more wonderful geological surprises does
it present to the observer.

Since the above was written one of the numerous analysis, made

by a thoroughly competent man, has been published, as follows:

Sesquioxide of iron , 52.571

Sesquioxide of manganese 8.054

Sesquioxide of cobalt 230

Alumina 1.777

Lime 1.090

Magnesia 374

iSulphuric acid 047

Phosphoric acid 4.092

Water and organic matter 13.134

Silicious matter 18.631

100,000
In regard to the extent of the ore, Mr. Barnard, after careful
examination, has made out the following list of owners and num-
ber of acres owned by each :

Thomas Meroney, acres 35

John Barthell 103

James Hall 35

J ohn Kasser 35

G. Schellschmidt 40

John Griffin 20

C. Helman 20 .

Mrs. S. S. Johnson 25

Gilman Nelson 20

Total number of acres exposed 333

Fossil Marble.— This term is applied to the fossiliferous layers
of blue limestone found in such profusion in certain quarries in

HISTORY OF ALLAMAKEE COUNTY. 339

the central portion oil the county. These layers or strata are
composed almost entirely of a mass of organic forms, the fossil
remains of the numerous pieces of mollusks so characteristic of
that epoch, possessing such a degree of cohesion, however, that
the rock which they compose is used extensively in building, and
is susceptible of a high degree of polish, like marble. When
so polished, the surface presents a most beautiful appearance,
showing as it does the hundreds of curious forms of shells, corals,
etc., in one solid mass of confusion, though each distinctly pre-
served as they were huddled together by the waters of the ancient
ocean in which they had their existence, and from which they
were so wonderfully preserved for our study and admiration. So
wrought, this rock is useful for all ornamental purposes; is inex-
pensive and much used for mantels, table tops, etc., in place of
marble, and is aptly christened "fossil marble."

Artesian, Wells. — The well near Harper's Ferry was bored in
186 — , with the hope of finding petroleum. Of course the pro-
ject was a failure. Prof. White says: "It is quite remarkable
that the most careful tests failed to find any iron in it. This water
has been reported to be strongly impregnated with salt. The
analysis will show no warrant for such a statement. One liter of
the water contains .79 grains of solid matter, of which there are
of

Sulphuric acid 082 grams

Hydrochloric acid 193 "

Calcium oxyd 096 '^

Magnesium oxyd 045

"The depth of this well has been variously stated, * * and it has
been found impossible to get a perfectly satisfactory account of
the strata passed through by the drill."

The first artesian well at the foot of Main street, in Lansing,
was drilled in April, 1877, and began to flow at a depth of 366
feet. Granite was struck at 760 feet, and the work ceased, with a
flow of 320 gallons per minute; but this well not having a suffi-
cient "head" of water for practical purposes (33| feet only),
another was started, but abandoned at 440 feet, and a third one
undertaken further up town, which was completed in July, the
depth being 676 feet, and the flow greater than at the first well.
The water is clear, cold, and soft, with no bad taste.

3i0 HISTOEY OF ALLAMAKEE COUNTY.

CHAPTER II.

Botany^ Zoology and Entomology ; Climate; Storms and Torna-
does; Agriculture. Live Stock and Manufacturing Interests;
Tables of Statistics.

The botany of Allamakee County is rich in species, both of
exogens and endogens. The country on the whole may be con-
sidered well wooded, though many of the groves that now dot the
prairie are the result of forethought on the part of the early set-
tlers, who planted trees for shelter from the winds of winter and
the summer sun, and are well repaid by the enhanced beauty and
value of their farms thereby.

Among the forest trees and shrubs of the county are found the
oaks, white, black, and minor varieties; the hard and soft maples,
Avhich here grow to perfection; the hickory, butternut, black
walnut, hackberry; ash, white and black; elms, cottonwood, pop-
lar, birch, willows, several species; basswood, honey locust and
mulberry, rare; wdld plum, crab-apple, wild cherry, iron- wood,
thorn-apple, elder, sumach, hazel, gooseberry, raspberry, black-
berry, wild grape, etc., among the deciduous varieties; and the
common white pine, red cedar, balsam fir, trailing hemlock and
trailing juniper among the evergreens. Besides these, all the
hardier varieties of fruit trees, ornamental shade trees and shrubs,
do well when introduced into this region, as the apple, pear,
cherry, grape, currants, chestnut, buckeye, mountain ash, larch,
spruce, arbor-vita?, etc.

In regard to fruit trees, the experience of most of the early
comers who attempted to grow apples of the varieties which had
prospered well in their former homes, was discouraging in the
extreme, and the trees killing out winter after winter induced
nearly all to give up the attempt. There were a few, however, in
different portions of the county, who believed that with judicious
selection and management the apple would be made a success, and
about 1855 and 1856 there were numerous nucseries established,
nearly every one of which proved failures. Among those who
entered this branch of horticulture was D. W. Adams, who estab-
lished a nursery at Waukon in 1856, and persevering year after
year, casting aside as worthless such varieties as winter-killed and
propagating only such as readily became acclimated, he succeeded
in establishing the fact that some of the best apples in the coun-
try can be easily grown in this region. He to-day has forty acres
of bearing orchard, probably as fine as any in the Northwest,
which has yielded as high as 2,000 bushels per annum. Through-
out the county, too, are many orchards in bearing, supplied with
the varieties which have proven themselves well adapted to this
climate — some of them seedlings of remarkable excellence.

^ I

ITHE
PUbLlL

A6TOR,
TILOEN F

HISTORY OF ALLAMAKEE COUNTY. 343

Of the herbs and small shrubs the number is very great. From
early spring, when the anemone or wind flower appears upon the
hill-side, until the late frosts of fall, there is a constant succession
of floral beauties. Among the more common of these herbs and
flowers may be mentioned the buttercups, liverwort, cowslip,
prairie pinks, blood root, sorrel, dandelion (said to have first ap-
peared with the coming of the white man), thistles, lilies, sun-
flowers (many varieties), asters, bone-set or thoroughwort, wild
rose, strawberry, may weed, lobelia, cardinal flower, wild pea, la-
dy's slipper (yellow and purple, the latter not common), May ap-
ple or mandrake, several species of milk-weed, morning glory,
etc., as well as many kinds of beautiful ferns and mosses in the
shady dells. Of course a number of plants and grasses have been
introduced that have become practically indigeneous. The tame
grasses have found a congenial home in the rich prairie soil, and
aff'ord the most luxuriant pasturage for all kinds of live stock.

This chapter would be incomplete without an allusion to the
lotus, or the beautiful and fragrant cream-colored water-lily,
which expands ten inches in diameter, and is found in the sloughs
along the Mississippi river. It is said to grow in but few locali-
ties in North America.

ZOOLOGY.

The natural history of Allamakee County deserves to be studied
with more care and scientific accuracy tkan has yet been bestowed
thereon. And especially should the young people be encouraged
to take an interest in a study so attractive as well as useful. Spe-
cies once common are becoming extinct, and others not native
here are appearing year by year and taking the place of those that
are disappearing. Not one in twenty of our boys knows what in-
sects are useful to the farmer, nor what birds; and of the latter
great numbers are annually slaughtered in wanton sport, which,
had their lives been spared, would render valuable aid to the far-
mer and horticulturist in ridding him of annoying and destructive
insect pests.

The principle mammalia found in the county by the early settlers
were the panther, gray wolf, prairie wolf, lynx, wild cat, raccoon,
skunk, mink, weasel, beaver, otter, niuskrat, rabbit (hare), bat,
shrew, mole, fox, black bear, gray squirrel, fox squirrel, flying
squirrel; striped squirrel j(or chipmunk), gray gopher and striped
gopher (or ground squirrels), woodchuck or ground hog, the
pouched or pocket gopher, and mice of several species. Rats were
so early an importation by steamers that it would not be surpris-
ing to see some gray veteran, with the impudence of his race, ap-
pear and claim a share of the banquet at a pioneer's meeting. The
porcupine has also been found in this region, we believe. An oc-
casional red squirrel has been obtained of late years, though not
observed when the county was first settled. Since white men set-

344 HISTORY OF ALLAMAKEE COUNTY.

tied in the county its prairies have not been sliaken by the tramp
of buffalo (more properly bison), which were undoubtedly at one
time to be found within our borders. Elk were found here at first,
but have disappeared long since. Ked deer were very plentiful
for many years after the county was settled, and a few are killed
each year to this day along the bluffy regions of the Iowa and
Yellow Rivers. At as late a date as December, ISTO, we have an
instance of no less than ten being shot in a three days' hunt, par-
ticipated in by four men, in the Iowa Valley. The latest instance
we have of the capture of a beaver in our county borders was in
November 26, 1874, when one was killed on the farm of C. J. F.
Newell, on the Yellow River, in Franklin Township, This speci-
men was three feet, eight inches long, and weighed forty-eight
pounds. Of wolves, wild cats and foxes, there are still a sufficient
number to warrant the county in paying a bounty upon their
scalps, and they do not seem to decrease as rapidly as the sheep
and poultry owners might wish, as the following comparison will
show: In the five months' ending, June 1, 1871, the county paid
bounties upon 47 wolves (including whelps), 37 wild cats and 40
foxes. In the year ending, December 31, 1881, the number paid
for was — wolves 88, wild cats 43, and foxes 23. Occasional lynx
are included in this number and classed among the cats.

The birds of this county are those of a large portion of North
America, though we are more favored in numbers of varieties than
many sections because of our varied topograph}" — a combination
of prairie, valley, bluff, woods and Avater — affording breeding
places for nearly all the species that inhabit this climate in
North America. Several species are only occasional visitors;
many others go southward during the winter; while a small num-
ber remain here the year around. Among the birds of prey {Raj)-
tores) the bald eagle holds the first place, and may still be seen
perched in solitary state in lofty trees, and is known to breed in
this county. Among other species of this order which are sup-
posed to nest in this region may be mentioned the buzzard, duck
hawk, pigeon hawk, sparrow hawk, goshawk, Cooper's hawk,
sharp-shinned hawk, red-tailed or hen-hawk, barn owl, great
horned owl, mottled or screech owl, golden eagle, fish hawk, and
barred owl. The great gray and snowy owls of the northern
regions are often seen in winter.

Of the Scansores. or climbers: the ^red and the black-billed
cuckoos, hairy woodpecker, downy woodpecker, the black wood-
cock (rare), and the yellow-bellied, red-headed, golden-winged, and
perhaps some other woodpeckers. It is an idea of some, but fast
becoming exploded, that some varieties of woodpeckers do great
injury to fruit trees, etc.; but the fact is that no more industri-
ous insect hunter exists, and these species should be protected in-
stead of exterminated. They seldom peck away any but decayed
wood, and the good they do is vastly greater than the injury.

HISTORY OF ALLAMAKEE COCKTY. 345

Insessores, or perchers. This order is represented by an in-
numerable variety, so that we can mention but a few of the most
common; such as: Ruby-throated humming bird, chimney swal-
low, whippoorwill, night hawk, belted kingfisher, king bird, pewee
or Phoebe bird, wood thrush, common robin, blue-bird, black and
white creeper, Maryland yellow-throat, chestnut-sided warbler,
scarlet tanager, barn swallow, cliff swallow, bank swallow, purple
martin, shrike or butcher-bird, red-eyed vires or fly-catcher, cat-
bird, brown thrush, house wren, winter wren, nut-hatch, tit-
mouse or chickadee, horned lark, finch, yellow bird, white throat-
ed sparrow, tree sparrow, chipping sparrow, sing sparrow, rose-
breasted grosbeak, indigo-bird, chewink, bobolink, cow-bird, red-
winged black-bird, meadow lark, Baltimore oriole, orchard oriole,
crow black-bird, blue jay, etc. The mocking bird breeds here,
rarely. The crow is not common, though far more so than
twenty years ago. The snow-bunting is found in winter. The
black snow bird is seen in countless numbers, spring and fall, as
it migrates to the north or south. The rose-breasted grosbeak
has increased in numbers wonderfully in the last fifteen years,
since the advent of the potato-bug, of which it is inordinately
fond.

The order of Bacores, which includes many of our game birds,
is represented by the wild or passenger pigeon, Carolina dove,
pinnated grouse or prairie chicken, which is scarce compared with
the early years, ruffed grouse or partridge, and the quail. The
wild turkey is said to have been fouad occasionally when the
country was new, but if so they have long since disappeared.

Among the GraUatores^ or waders, we have the sand-hill crane
occasionally, the bittern, green heron, golden plover^ killdeer
plover, king plover, black-bellied plover, turnstone, woodcock,
Wilson's snipe, rail, and others.

Among the Natatores, or swimmers, we might mention a great
variety of species that tarry in our waters a greater or less period
in passing to and from their northern breeding grounds in spring
and fall, including the wild goose, brant, mallard, green and blue-
winged teal, midgeon, red-head, canvas-back, golden-eye, butter-
ball, and other varieties of ducks and geese; and the great northern
diver, or loon. The summer duck, and some other species of this
order^ breed with us. The swan is sometimes found; as is also the
white pellican.

Reptiles are neither very numerous nor formidable, though,
when first settled, several sections of the county were considerably
infested by more or less dangerous specimens. The yellow rattle-
snake and the massasauga or prairie rattlesnake were frequently
encountered, and the former sometimes attained great sizes. It
found a congenial habitat along the bluffs among the rocks, and
there are traditions of dens of these hideous reptiles similar to
that described )>y 0. W. Holmes in "Elsie Venner," inhabited by

346 HISTORY OF ALLAMAKEE COUNTY,

monsters o£ fabulous uumber and size. Single specimens, and
some quite large, are still found occasionally, and their possible
presence is still, to the timid, a terror in those otherwise delight-
ful dells that break through the bluff wall. The water-snake sur-
vives in the streams. The black-snake, the blue-racer, the ground
snake and the garter-snake — the most common comprise the other
species, and they are every year decreasing in number. There are
three or four species of turtle, possibly one lizard, and one or two
salamanders, besides the usual varieties of frogs and toads.

Fishes abound in all the streams of any size, ranging from the
minnow to the gigantic buifalo and catfish. Among the more
common are the perch, bass, pike, pickerel, sucker, sturgeon, eel,
red horse, chub, gar-pike, dog-fish, etc. The only brook or
speckled troiit found in Iowa are caught in the cold, swift creeks
that empty into the Upper Iowa. The}^ were formerly very
numerous in Patterson, Silver and French creeks, but these
streams have been so persistently fished that comparatively few
are now to be found. The other varieties are caught in great
numbers in both the Mississippi and the Iowa.

Of the crustaceous, the crawfish, or crab, is our best known
representative; and of the mollusks, the snail.

The insects include representatives of all the great families.
The leimloptera (moths and butterflies) have many species, varying
greatly in size, from the great cecropia moth, five inches across
the wings, to the tiny tinea^ less than half an inch, which does so
much damage to uncared for carpets, etc. The hymneoptera
include the membraneous winged insects, such as bees, wasps,
ichneumons, saw-flies, ants, and their allies; the dipterea, the two-
winged insects, as flies, mosquitoes, etc.; the coleoptera, or sheath-
winged insects, are numerous, and many of them large and beau-
tifully colored. This class embraces the beetles, among the
troublesome and destructive borers of many species, the scaven-
ger bugs, and the potato bug. The beautiful and useful lady-
bugs belong also to this division. Many of the borers are re-
markable for the length of their anfennia', and for the strange-
ness and elegance of their forms. The apple-tree borer is about
three-fourths of an inch long in its beetle state. It lays its eggs
on the bark, near the foot of the tree. The larvae are whitish,
with small, horny, brown-colored heads. They remain in the
larvae state two or three years, during which time it is they do the
damage. Their transformation is usually completed in June,
when the perfect beetle emerges. The lady-bug is destructive to
aphides^ or plant lice, and should therefore be preserved. The
Colorado potato bug first appeared in this county, we believe, in
the season of 1867. It is a native of the Far West, and when
making this "invasion" spread over the country to the eastward
at an average rate of about sixty miles a year.

HISTORY OF ALLAMAKEE COUNTY. 347

The herwipfera comprise buj^s, cicadas or harvest-flies, and the
like. In this division Ave find the chiuchbug, which has been very
destructive to wheat in this county for a number of years. It is of
the same family and genus (citnex) as the bed-bug. The seven-
teen-year locust" also comes under this class. It appeared in this
county, or portions of it, in immense numbers in 18G4, and again
in 1881. There are several different broods throughout the
country, so that in various sections they are found in different
years. Entomologists tell us there is another variety which re-
appears in thirteen years. They are short-lived and harmless, ex-
cept that they injure the looks of the foliage where they are
abundant.

Ortlwptera are the straight-winged insects, like the grasshoppers,
katydids, cockroaches, crickets, etc.; and the neiiroptera are nerve-
winged, like the dragon-flies, or ''devil's darning needles," and
their allies. The arachnidcp, or spiders, and the mijriapoda^ or cen-
tipedes, are of course found everyMdiere in their accustomed haunts.

It will be seen that the geology and natural history of this
county offers an ample field for the amateur collector, or for the
naturalist who seeks to lay a broad foundation for future investi-
gation by first acquiring a thorough knowledge of the local flora
and fauna. It is far from creditable to the scientific spirit of the
county, and especially to its high schools, that no better collec-
tions illustrating local geology, botan}', zoology, or entomology,
exist M'ithin its borders. Teachers, especially the able principals
of schools, could easily awaken an interest in the minds of their
pupils that might not only result in the developement of en-
thusiastic practical naturalists, but in the formation of collections
that would be both of value in teaching and objects of interest
through the future. Moreover, knowledge derived from the study
of nature has a pecuniary value not easily estimated. The man
who has a knowledge of botany is not liable to be tricked into
buying worthless vegetable wonders. The existence of the
borers, the potato beetle, the chinch bug, and the many other ene-
emies of the horticulturist and the farmer, demonstrate the need
of at least a passing acquaintance with insects and their habits, in
order to the better combat with them, and teachers should lead
in impressing on the minds of all the importance of such know-
ledge. The loss annually sustained by Iowa farmers by the
ravages of insects is several millions of dollars, of which Alla-
makee county bears her full share; and a large portion of this
immense sum might be readily saved by a proper popular know-
ledge of them and the measures to be taken for their destruction.

CLIMATE,

In general, the air of this region is bracing, healthful and invig-
orating. Miasma and malaria are not prevalent, except along the
sloughs of the Mississippi where attacks of ague are imminent at

348 HISTORY OF ALLAMAKEE COUifTY.

certain seasons. It is seldom that consumption is contracted here,
although our climate is not now considered, as formerly^ a specific
for that disease. The prevailing winds are westerly — northwest
being most prevalent, the southwest next, and southeast third in
order. The annual precipitation of moisture averages about 36
inches; and the mean annual temperature is not far from 45 de-
grees Fahrenheit. In general the winters are cold and long con-
tinued, with plenty of snow, though exceptions are not infrequent.
The open winter of 1877-78 will long be remembered, when mud
prevailed and roads were nearly impassible for weeks. Flowers
bloomed on the open ground the last week in December; bees were
at work on Christmas day; and at Lansing an excursion by ferry
boat on the Mississippi was indulged in. Peas and greens grew
five inches high in gardens in early January, ducks were flying
north, and considerable plowing was done. So, also, will be re-
membered the severe winter of 1880-81, with its long continued
and frequently repeated snow-blockades; and the winter of 1856-
57, when the deeply drifted snow was covered with a crust that
supported ox teams in places, and deer were run down by men on
foot because their sharp hoofs penetrated the crust which imped-
ed their speed and lacerated their legs.

Friday night, April 27, 1877, an old-fashioned northeast snow
storm set in, and continued almost steadily until Sunday after-
noon. The roads were blockaded by drifts which rose in places
to the depth of four feet. Very late heavy frosts are on record
for the 11th, 12th and 13th of May, 1878, and ice formed to con-
siderable thickness May 22d and 23d, 1882. Although these are
exceptional cases, frosts have been known in June and July. Aug.
22d and 23d, 1875, severe frost injured corn in low lands; and
frosts are usually liable to occur after Sept. 10th. The beautiful
Indian summer weather of late fall is one of the prominent fea-
tures of our climate, though it is sometimes crowded out of the
annual programme entirely.

Our county has so far since its settlement escaped the ravages
of severe tornadoes to a great extent, the most serious storm of
that character which has visited us entered the county from the
southwest, on the afternoon of the 26th of September, 1881; pass-
ing just north of Postville, it demolished the houses of several
farmers in Post township, especially at Lybrand, and passed
northwardly through Jefferson Township, unroofing houses and
twisting off or uprooting trees in its course, finally disappearing
east of Waukon. Undoubtedly had the storm struck a town
there would have been loss of life as well as property. As it was,
several were very severely injured in Post township and all their
personal effects swept away. Sept. 24, 1872, several buildings
were blown down at Monona, including the depot and the Catho-
lic church, but no lives were lost.

HISTORY OF ALLAMAKEE COUNTY. 349

Of the other severe storms, the following are the most note-
worthy : A severe wind and hail storm destroyed the crops in its
path in July, 1854, unroofing Scott Shattuck's large barn at Wau-
kon, and blowing down the frame of the Makee school house.
May 21st, 1870, a storm passed eastwardly through Union Prairie,
Makee, Center and Lafayette, unroofing the West Ridge Catholic
church, and the hail broke window glass all along its course.
July 14th of the same season severe hail, rain and wind destroyed
crops in Lndlow, the hail destroying a great deal of window glass
and cutting the heads of people exposed to its fury. April' 29th,
1872, a severe storm visited the southern portion of the county,
unroofing houses and blowing down trees. August 4th, 1872, a
hail storm extended over a good share of the county, doing great
damage to crops in Post and Franklin . One of the most terrible
"blizzards" ever experienced in this region raged January 7th,
8th and 9th, 1873, when the snow was drifted to unprecedented
heighths, the air was filled with the fine, cutting particles so that
travel was impossible, and the mercury ranged from 20 to 36 de-
grees below zero. This was the time trains were snov/ed in for
three days, in Winneshiek County, and passengers passed for-
ty-eight hours of suff'ering therein. In the night of June 23d,
1875, a terrific rain flooded the valleys of Paint and Village creeks,
the Iowa and its tributaries, sweeping away many county bridges,
mill dams, etc. The Yellow river was treated to a similar des-
tructive flood June 1st, 1878.

On the 10th of July, 1878, began our heaviest rain fall on rec-
ord, raging at intervals from Wednesday evening until Friday
morning, when the rain gauge showed 6.70jinches of rain in thirty-
six hours (at Waukon), and on Sunday .66 in addition fell. This
flood was general all over the county and did untold damage at
Lansing and Village Creek; several had narrow escapes from
drowning; almost every bridge along Village Creek was swept
away, and the damage along the valley was estimated at f 50,000.
The valleys of the Iowa and Yellow Rivers did not escape with less
injury.

But the rainy season of 1880 was more remarkable in many re-
spects, though generally not so destructive, except on Yellow
River where the damage was unprecedented. This series of rains
began May 24th, and continued nearly through June, the months
of May and June showing a rain fall of 14.68 inches at Waukon.
The first storms was most severe in the northern portion of the
county, while that of June 14th was particularly destructive along
Yellow River, sweeping away crops, bridges, dams, and even mills.
Great rains prevailed throughout the Upper Mississippi valley,
so that river was higher than ever before known, during the latter
part of June. Along our border it reached its highest about June
22d, nearly a foot higher than the previous high water mark
of April, 1870.

350 HISTORY OF ALLAMAKEE COUNTY.

June 24, 1882, the lower Village Creek valley experieuced its
highest water on record, from rains of that morning and the pre-
ceding night. Families in the village of that name narrowly es-
caped with their lives, and the wagon and railroad bridges at the
mouth of the creek were both taken out.

AGRICULTURE AND MANUFACTORIES.

Allamakee County has always been classed as one of the best of
agricultural regions, because of the diversity and fertility of its
soil. The principle products have been wheat, corn, oats, barley
and potatoes. But owing to the partial failure of what was for-
merly the staple crop — spring wheat — continuing for several years
in succession, the attention of the farmers have been turned to a
greater variety of resources, having learned from dear experience
how greatly the universal dependence upon the wheat crop will
impoverish a region through impoverishment of the soil. Butter
and eggs, hogs and cattle, etc., have always been produced for ex-
port to a considerable extent, but have been more relied upon
within a few years, with the addition of flax, sorghum, onions,
etc. Fine stock and the dairy, especially, are beginning to receive
that attention which they demand; and these, with the increase
of manufactories, will prove the pecuniary salvation of our people.

There was not a creamery in the county until 1880, when one
was established at Waukon, which has made this season (1882) as
high as 2,000 pounds of butter per day, and ordinarily 1500
pounds per day. There are now five of these establishments in
the county manufacturing from 400 to 1,500 pounds per day.

Our manufactures are not extensive as yet, but the many un-
improved water powers and other natural advantages for that
class of industries are a guarantee that they will one day become
as important as our agricultural resources. They consist at pres-
ent of one large lumbering establishment, one foundry, one brew-
ery, five creameries, numerous wagon and plow shops, brick yards,
etc, and flouring mills, and last but not least, a woolen mill. The
latter is situated at Village Creek, and was established by H. 0.
Dayton in 1865, the building being of stone, three and a half
stories. It did a large business until October 28, 1868, when it
was destroyed by fire, involving a loss of ^35,000 — nothing but
the bare walls being left. It was rebuilt and new machinery put
in, but on May 21, 1875, it was again destroyed by fire, at a loss of
$25,000. In less than a year the mill was once more in operation,
and has since continued to do a large business, notwithstanding
the proprietors, Messrs. Howard, Carrolls & Ratcliffe, have met
with many discouragements in the shape of disastrous floods,
which have washed out the dam, time and again, causing great
loss of time and expense for repairs.

Of the flouring and grist mills, they are between twenty-five
and thirty in number, although all are not now in operation, ow-
ing to the great decrease in the wheat crops in the last few years.

HISTORY OF ALLAMAKEE COUNTY.

351

From the latest available statistics (the results of the census of
1880 not having been made public yet except in regard to some
items) we have compiled the following tables relating to agricul-
tural and manufacturing matters, and where practicable have
given ojiportunity for a comparison of different years.

ABSTRACT OF CENSUS OF 1873.

CI t~

6"S

Bar-
ed '72

Names of

^4-1 1—'

^00

•^ r— 1

0-' V

u o

Townships

2 S

% ^

^^.

. >

3 >

o C

PhC

u
o

■J.

Swine
mon

^^-

!^' '

Center

7656

75601

28833

23998

730

823

351

857

230

235

Fairview

2499

7805

25402

5377

341

178

356

143

Franklin

5135

16430

38520

16252

3418

1488

343

628

344

382

Fren'h Cr'k

5072

49085

32550

16292

582

650

359

897

194

878

Hanover

3663

30543

39050

13827

561

953

202

652

378

487

Iowa

2537

10833

34300

3632

1807

223

683

279

332

Jefferson

10027

54378

61980

37330

5212

3072

497

836

567

668

Lafayette

7774

63992

39361

17804

218

548

425

989

161

611

Lansing-

4248

51832

37915

23517

852

693

340

855

152

467

Lansi'gC'tv

131

132

Linton

3368

13921

32210

13850

202

1241

267

646

245

389

Lndlow

12865

79647

69095

59172

12940

1770

571

970

455

701

Makee

9085

69178

53610

34690

3595

1611

633

972

405

855

Paint Creek

7136

54658

47710

32117

870

2410

416

918

752

702

Post

8213

32895

58950

25260

3018

2902

516

1102

529

949

Taylor

6400

46751

37725

20541

180

946

406

757

244

597

Union City

4525

36205

50599

14055

620

375

282

749

155

1040

Un'n Pra're

7878

65143

64875

39116

8426

1466

443

879

308

1284

Waterloo

6037

55634

45490

21963

1534

653

314

808

233

5697

816

Total

114118

814531

79S166

418793

43034

23749

6897

114

14686

11027

352

HISTORY OF ALLAMAKEE COUXTY.

P
m

O
H

pa:|U'B[j JO sa.ir»y

• o

•-0 o

uaqaiij,
p.in^j'B^ JO SBJoy

■aiiiAv;

X' .-O 1— I -^ C^l CC -^ CO Oa C~ OO '^C O O 1— 1 CJ TC CO
C^ C<] X CT M< "* >— 1 CO C: t^ O 1— I -H lO O O lO 1— I

1 — I T— It — I C<1t— tCOi— ll — I 1 — li-H

•daaqg

t^TtiO'rt^t^ooco-HX'^cor^cC'Cs-^air^ci
o] o-iOQi— ico-*ciT— iio-*-*aj>— icOl— loco

•^m^o ^^^M

ct xj t- c^ 02 cTi CO i^' r^ t^ ^ c; oa i-o -* CO »o o

•S9ini/\[

•00

•sasjojj

oiooaovior^cO'X-^c^cooa— iiocO'*io-^
c^cor^coor— lot— (^HOsoji-ooooa'nHctiio
^ 1— I CO -* OJ oa lo lO o ca X CO ■* CO CO oa ^ CO

■^i8I uf «-toqg
100 AV JO spunoj

oiooc^— Hcocoi— locDO'— icocot^coc— 00
cooaco-f<io-HCvi'— ioax:or^ooji^cofMio

T-i I— I 00 c: lO X CO CO c^ C' 'O' oi t^ oa ^- o oi t^

"—I I— 103 I— lC0C<10ai-Hi— It— I I— I

■fL8I "? p9;S9xV.I'BJJ

s9o;b;oj jo spqsng

cO'i>-iost^oooccoa'*co-*-*'— it^ocixi

cor^X)Ci-^c<ia2 0500ici>c^iOT— loicocotM

COOiGOCOiOOiOt^OCl-rf'M'^COCOC-OOOOi
<:OC:l>iO'*C?I^-OOX<MI>050I:~OOCOC:Tj<

^Z,8l at p9:issA.iBH
A8[j'Bg JO s[aqsng

iO lO ^H lO o
t^ ^ 03 01 O

1— I T-H CO CO

■coooooaeO't^-^o

• '^i ^ t^ CO t^ X' CO X CO
"* coio

•(M

ooa oa a; 1— I

C^ 03 1— c

■ -H oa

tZ,8I "I pa^saAiBjj
s;eo JO spqsng

X oi [^ CO' lo ^ oi o lO CO. -H t^ 00 CO o GO ^ r^
co-^Oi— i-^^oaoJOOTcoc^iOi'Mc^ico^ooa
oat^c— c<ico— i-^00[^c0i-or^r-X>c0O5C^O3
cococO'Oscococ^o-'+'coiococor— -H^HCii— I
c<i I— 1 1— 1 1— I CO 03 OS >— I CO CO CO oa oa >— I CO oa

uaoQjo spqsng

lOOoooor^oj-^iooaococjscTiOOco
oococDt>-'-Hcooaoaojcoo5cooocooacix>oo
coiOi^t--ox(Moor^r^<0'— i-^oo-^coea
'^o.iiocoor— cnoiocooiooio-^LOcoco

COOa-<*-*-^COiOCOiOCOOiO)iOf--*iOiO-*

tiSI ^n pa^saA-i-Bfj
"^t'^q;^ jo spqsng

r^i— ir^cocDOJXi— (COcoiOiiO)coo3oai-oo-^
coioooc3>ox'COco— CO— cr^ooc<i»-i'coc<ic<i

OXiOOOJ— HiO^OOt-iOi-OO-Hr-iiO-^OD

lOoocot^ocoococooaocoOiOOiio-Tfoa

00 (MiO(Mi-HCOC~CO(MOOXjr-TjHiOCOI^-CO

•putj'^ peAoid
-uTj sojoy JO 'ojvj

cOiOcooor^-^-^'-^-HoacocoocO'— 1'*'#-^
>— lO-^co-^r-H'+icoc^ooocvir^-H— ico-^co
oooot— c50a-^#(Mcoi^cot^>ocoo3CM^c^a5
oooai.oco-^ccioci5co-^-*oia50co-«4<oco

fe CO

c-g

S o s s

O -3 ^ K^' ^ O

a J5t2 c? 2-2

-a

05
S-i

■ ^H

!->

:oP-i o

g CI «""

y^ -^j • ^-^ >: X

'X O X) O X -^ O r^ iX lO O ■"/" CO' CO CO C2 CO co
CO Ol X ^^ C^ O 'ti CO O CO CO r-< O] O lO O O-l CO lO

01 -J O CO lO C5 '^ l:^ Ct i-O CO t^ >-0 C^ X' CT CO o
I— 1 O L^ 1— I CO ^O lO CO O] O- -^ .— I I— I 1— I OJ T

(Ol

CO
00

Cft

CO
CO

00
o

a:'

HISTORY OF ALLAMAKEE COUNT'S.

353

In 1880 the amount exempt from taxation in Allamakee County
on account of fruit and forest trees planted was $7,250.

LIVE STOCK IN" ALLAMAKEE COUNTY.

Year.

Hor.«es.

Cattle

Sheep.

Swine.

1867

4864
6897
7610
7921
7365

15132

14686
19652
16408
17708

11657

5697

7372

4055

4774

*24956

1873

111027
19770

1875

1880

22939

1882

17760

*A11 ages. fOver six months old.

ABSTRACT OF CENSUS OF ALLAMAKEE COUNTY FOR 1875-

MANUFACTURES.

Number of engines

Horse power

Number of wheels

Horse power

Average number of hands employed in 1874

Tons of pig and scrap iron consumed.

156

240

199

250

Cubic feet of wood consumed 3,5.39,274

Pounds of Wool 27,020

Pounds of leather 8,000

Bushels of wheat 280,000

Bushels of corn 10,400

Bushels of barley 7,000

Value of goods made in 1874 $745,072

AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY.

Agreeable to a notice signed by Geo. C. Shattuck, John Ray-
mond, D. H. Gilbert, John A. Townsend, Thos. A. Minard and
Robert Isted, a meeting was held at Waukon, on the 7th day of
June, 1853, of which John Raymond was President and Joel
Baker Secretary, and which resulted in the formation of the
''Allamakee County Agricultural and Mechanical Society." The
first officers of the society were :

President- -John A. Wakefield.

Vice Presidents— Robert Isted, John Laughlin, Wm. C.
Thompson.

Recording Secretary— J. J. Shaw.

Corresponding Secretary — John Haney, Jr.

Treasurer — A. J. Hersey.

The original roll showed a membership of eighteen persons, as
ollows;

John Raymond, John S. Clark, Robert Isted, M. B. Lyons,
John A. Wakefield, Reuben Smith, C. W. Cutler, Absalom Thorn-
burg, L. S. Pratt, M. Lashman, G. C. Shattuck, D. H. Gilbert, J.
M. Gushing, Ezra Reed, A. J. Hersey, Scott Shattuck, Austin
Smith, John Haney, Jr.

We quote from Judge Dean :

354 HISTORY OF ALLAMAKEE COUifTY.

"June 23cl at a meeting of the directors it was voted that there
be a County Fair at Wankon on the 13th of November. At this
Fair Ezra Reed and G. C. Shattuck took premiums on sheep.
Robert Isted, John M. Gushing, and Shattuck, took premiums on
swine. Patrick Keenan, John Raymond, D. H. Gilbert, Robert
Isted, and Abraham Bush, took premiums on cattle. Jehial
Johnson, J. B. Cutler, Moses Shaft, G. C. Shattuck, took premiums
on vegetables. L. Abbott took premium on wheat. Moses Shaft
on corn, John A. Wakefield on best ten acres of corn. Benja-
min Beard, L.Abbott, Mrs. L. T. Woodcock, Mrs. J. A. Townsend,
Mrs. J. M. Cushing, and Mrs. Prescott, took premiums on house-
hold products. This was the first Agricultural Society or Fair
ever held in the County, and for those early days was a grand suc-
cess, although held on the open prairie,"

The following year D. W. Adams was elected President of the
society. Although we have no record of the old society at hand
to refer to, we know that for several years quite successful Fairs
were held, for those days.

At the suggestion of Mr. Adams and John Plank, Sr., a meet-
ing was held at Waukon Jan. 8th, 1868, for the purpose of re-
organizing a County Agricultural Society, which was successfully
accomplished, and this organization has held a County Fair each
year since then, nearly all of which have been successful ones,
and the society is prosperous. At that meeting the following
officers were elected:

President, John Haney, Jr.; Vice President, John Plank, Sr.;
Secretary, D. W. Adams; Treasurer, Charles Paulk,

Directors — Center township, John Stillman; Fairview, D. F,
Spaulding; Franklin, Selden Candee; French Creek, Porter Bel-
lows; Hanover, Hans G, Hanson; Iowa, A, B, Hays; Jefferson,
C. D. Beeman; Lafayette, W. Smith; Lansing, G. Kerndt; Lin-
ton, Harvey Miner; Ludlow, Thos. Feely; Makee, C. 0. Howard;
Paint Creek, John Smeby; Post, W. H. Carithers; Taylor, James
Carrigan; Union City, Benj. Ratclifife; Union Prairie, A. L. Grip-
pen; Waterloo, W. Robinson.

It was decided to purchase grounds adjoining Waukon, and
each director was made an agent for the sale of life and annual
membership tickets to accomplish this.

The present fair grounds, comprising seventeen acres, admir-
ably adapted to the purpose, were purchased and paid for, inclosed
by an eight foot tight board fence, and a halt mile track made
within the inclosure, at the following cost:

Cost of grounds $ SOO 00

Labor and material 6:>4 60

Lumber, etc 084 88

Total cost $2,129 48

HISTORY OF ALLAMAKEE COUNTY. 355

On which, after paying all the premiums of the first fair in
full, there was at the annual meetiilg in January, 1869, a remain-
ing debt of only $483.58 unprovided for.

In the autumn of 1809 the society erected a new hall, 39 by 60
feet, and made considerable other improvements, at an expense of
$560, and still further reduced its debt. The society has con-
tinued to make improvements upon its grounds from time to
time, including an addition to the exhibition hall in 1881. It is
now almost entirely out of debt, and is one of the most flourish-
ing societies of its kind in a wide region around.

The present officers of the society are:

President— W. C. Earle.

Vice-President^ — H. G. Grattan.

Treasurer — A. E. Robbins.

Secretary — H. A. Rodgers.

Directors — John Johnson, Center; Eugene Perry, Fairview; C.
F. Newell, Franklin; J. Doughterty, French Creek; H. G. Han-
son, Hanover; A. B. Hays, Iowa; T. B. Wiley, Jefierson; An-
drew Sandry, Lansing; E. D. Tisdale, Lafayette; Robt. Hender-
son, Linton; Simon Opfer, Sr., Ludlow; J. A. Townsend, Makee;
R. Sencebaugh, Paint Creek; W. H. Carithers, Post; Robert
Banks, Taylor; B. RatclifFe, Union City; T. W. David, Union
Prairie; A. P. Dille, Waterloo.

CHAPTER III.

General History; the Aborigines; Archceology; Advent of the
Whites; Early Settlements; County Organization; First County
Officers; Taxable Property in 1849; Sketch of Father Lowrey;
Indian Missions; The Painted Pock; County Seat Elections;
Sodom and Gomorrah.

The great Dakota or Sioux family of American Indians, whose
proper domain is the vast central prairies between tne Mississippi
River and the Rocky Mountains, from east to west, and stretch-
ing from the Saskatchewan on the north to the Red River, of
Texas, occupied the territory in which Allamakee county is in-
cluded, when the white man first set foot on Iowa soil, in 1673.
They are remotely allied, in language, to the Wyandotte-Iroquois
family of the East.

At the time of the advent of the white man, the Winnebagoes
C'Puans" of the Canadians), a division of this powerful Dakota
tamily, formed their eas'"ern outpost, and lived on the western
shore of Lake Michigan, and about the waters of Winnebago

356

HISTOEY OF ALLAMAKEE COUNTY.

Lake and Green Bay, Wisconsin. This tribe was the parent stock
ot the Omahas, lowas, Kansas, Quappas, or Arkansas, and Osac^es
Ihey took up arras with the French in the Franco-Encrlish wars
and with the English in the Revolution and war of 1812. '

The Sacs and Foxes, originally separate tribes, were at one time
neighbors of the Winnebagoes in Wisconsin, but had united their
numbers in one band, and removed to and occupied a larc^e por-
tion of Illinois, and the eastern part of Iowa, south of the^upper
Iowa river. By the treaty of 1825 this river was made the divid-
ing line between the Sioux on the north and the Sacs and Foxes
(now considered as one tribe) on the south. But owin<r to fre-
quent collisions between these tribes, in their hunting expeditions
the favorite hunting grounds being a bone of contention, the
Government, m 1830, assembled them in council and established
"the neutral ground," a strip of territorv forty miles in width
from north to south, with the upper lowa'^as its center, extendino-
westwardly from the Mississippi to the upper valley of the Des
Moines river. Thus nearly the whole of what is now Allamakee
county was included in the neutral ground, which was considered
on of the yery best of hunting grounds, and upon which
either tribe was permitted to hunt at pleasure, without interfer-
ence from the other.

At the close of the Black Hawk war, in 1832, in which the
Winnebagoes took no active part, but were rather friendly to the
whites, a treaty was made whereby this neutral ground was to
become their reservation, and in consideration of the surrender of
their lands in Wisconsin they were to be allowed large annuities
from the government, which also undertook to supply them with
agricultural implements and teach them the art of tilliuo- the soil
hoping to induce them thereby to abandon their wild*' and idle
ways and become civilized; a hope which proved fallacious. - This
treaty, (or another made near that time,) was proclaimed Feb. 13
1833, and by its terms— as recently found bv A. M. May in a vol-
ume of Indian treaties in the library of the" Wisconsin State His-
torical Society— defined the boundaries of the reservation as fol-
lows: Beginning at a point on the west bank of the Mississippi
river, twenty miles above the mouth of the Upper Iowa, thence
west to Red Cedar Creek (the head-waters of the Cedar River)
thence south forty miles, thence east to the Mississippi, thence'
?? 7ooo P ^^® °^ beginning. This grant was to take effect June
1st, 1833, provided that by that time they should leave their old
reservation and settle upon this. The eastern portion of this neu-
tral ground was soon occupied, and a mission school and farm was
established by the government on the north side of the Yellow
River m 1834, of which we shall have more to say further
along. -^

By another treaty proclaimed June 16, 1838, the Indians re-
imquished their right to occupy the eastern portion of this tract

HISTORY OF ALLAMAKEE COUNTY, 357

of laud, except for hnntinf?, and agreed to move, in eight months
after the ratification of saii treaty, to the western part of the
neutral ground, Avhich was done in 1839 or '40. This was the oc-
casion of the abandonment of the Yellow River mission, and the
establishment, in 1840, of the Fort Atkinson mission on the Tur-
key River in Winneshiek County.

By a treaty made Oct. 13, 1846, and proclaimed Feb. 4, 1847,
the Wiunebagoes ceded and sold to the United States all their
right, title, and interest in this neutral ground; and in June, 1848,
they were removed to the upper Mississippi, north of the St.
Peter's (or Minnesota) River. By a series of treaties they have
since been removed no less than four times, occupying reserva-
tions in various parts of Minnesota and Dakota, and now live
upon the Omaha reservation in Nebraska, where they are said to
be prospering. The love for their old haunts, however, was hard
to overcome, and year after year they returned in small parties
to their old hunting grounds on the banks of the Mississippi.
And although time and again were these scattered parties gathered
together by squads of U. S. troops and taken to their reservation,
there are still quite a number who continue to inhabit the islands
of the river along our county border, subsisting upon fish and

game.

ARCHAEOLOGY

The banks of some of our streams bear the marks of having been
the home of a numerous people many centuries in the past, but
of what race they were is a mystery hard to solve. Especially are
there in the valley of the Upper Iowa numerous mounds, but of
the acts and scenes which were taking place in this beautiful val-
ley in the age in which they were constructed we may imagine,
though probably never know. That it is an interesting subject
for investigation is felt by all; and the following extracts from
an account of explorations made in 1875, are worthy of a place
here. The article was written by Dr. W. W. Ranney, of Lans-
ing, who was accompanied in his investigations by Judge Mur-
dock, of Garnavillo, and others of Lansing:

''The mound in which our excavations Avere made is situated
on the southeast quarter of the southeast quarter of section thir-
ty-six, township one hundred, range five, west of principal merid-
ian (or the southeast corner of Union City township), or about
one hundred feet above the Iowa River bottom. It is not in the
form of the burial mounds, or tumuli, but forms a circle, the cir-
cumference of which is seven hundred feet. The ridge, or eleva-
tion, averages about twenty-five feet in width, leaving a circular
inclosure 210 feet in diameter. The height of the ridge or mound
is about three to four feet from the surface of the ground.

"On opening it we discovered pieces of broken pottery made of
a bluish clay and partially pulverized mussel shells; stones, show-

358

HISTORY OF ALLAMAKEE COUNTY.

m^ evidence of having been used for hearths, or supports for the
earthen vessels while being used for cooking food; collections of
hsh scales, bones of buffalo, deer, badger, bear, fish and birds but
no evidence whatever of human bones. The long, or marrow
bones of all animals were found broken or split, supposed to have
been done for the purpose of extracting the marrow for food
Avhich circumstance is also noted in the Kjokkommoddino-s or
kitchen middings, of Denmark. One peculiarity noticed by Mr
Hemenway was that each of us digging in different localities found
the ornamentation of the pottery dissimilar. For instance all
Mr. Haney found was ornamented with horizontal circular rino-s-
all the Judge found was ornamented with zig-zag lines with dots
in the angles. All that we found had perpendicular lines like a
muskmelon, etc. This was finally accounted for by the supposi-
tion that each family had its own particular method of ornamen-
tation, by which they recognized their propertv.

''These vessels were quite capacious, the diameter of one havincr
been fourteen inches at the mouth, (or as large as a ten pound
tobacco pail). About one and three-quarter inches below the
mouth they abruptly widened out about six inches all around,
making the largest diameter twenty six inches.

''Taking occasion to remark to the Judge that we had found no
bottoms to the vessels, set him to thinking, and the result was
that he decided that the bottoms had been rounded in such a
manner that they never tipped over, but let them be set doAvn as
they might they oscillated till they finally, when still, sit in an
"Pf'f .?°^'^'°?; ^"""^ ^^^ purpose of handling, the vessels were pro-
vided with handles on two opposite sides similar to our jug handles
/liesidesthe before-mentioned articles. Col. Johnston found a
thin strip of copper two inches long by three-quarters wide, and
and we found an ornament of the same material, triangular inform
one inch wide at the base, and one and one-half inches from base
to apex the form being the same as the face of a flat iron, the
center being perforated to attach some additional ornament, and
the apex also, to attach a string to fasten in the ear.

"Now the question arises, when, how and for what purpose was
this mound built. Was it a burial ground, a fort or a village?
At first the Judge thought the former, Mr. James Haney the
second and we took the last proposition. To say when, is imposs-
ible; the time has been long, long ago, as we have evidence by
the decay of the bones and shells. Why it was built? We think
It theremams of a village. That the huts or wigwams were built
m a circle, and the piles of burnt stone we unearthed each repre-
senced a hearth in a hut, on which the pottery set while cooking,
and around each of which a separate family warmed and fed then>
selves. We think with Mr. H. that each family had a separate
distinct mark on their vessels by which they were known from
their neighbors in the next hut or wigwam.

HISTORY OF ALLAMAKEE COUNTY. 359

''We think that the bones found show no evidence of human
bones, and consequently it could not be used for a burial f^round.
Another evidence lies in the fact that all the bones are broken to
obtain the marrow. The scales and bones of fish and animals,
the charcoal, ashes and burnt hearth-stones all point conclusively
to the fact that this was their abode. The central enclosure was
used for their games, dancing and pleasure, or perhaps in case of
attack from wild beasts or their fellow men, as a place for the
aged, the young and the women to flee to while the warrior met
their encroachments outside the circle of dwellings. Add to this
the fact forty rods south of this village we find some eighty-three
burial mounds or tumuli, out of which we procured parts of hu-
man skeletons, and nothing else, with the long bones entire, and
we are convinced of the fact that this was once a town filled with
people, enjoying the pleasures of families and all knit together as
one tribe of people."

Commenting on the above, Mr. J. G. Ratcliffe, for many years
a resident of that valley, and a close observer of those mounds,
wrote in 1875:

"These remains extend up the Iowa River, from near New
Albin, for a distance of at least twenty miles, and consist of sites
of ancient villages or forts; tumuli or burial grounds; lookout
or signal stations on the tops of the blufis; and rude hieroglyph-
ics; these last consisting of men on horseback, buffalos, pecul-
iar circular figures, etc., being now mostly obliterated through
the agency of the Aveather, the friable nature of the rock (potsdam
sandstone) and rude boys.

"Of the village or forts: these consist of circular (in one case
only triangular) enclosures or embankments of earth and stone.
They were located generally at intervals of a couple of miles
apart on the benches or second bottoms of the valley, but some-
times (as was the case with one on a farm formerly owned by me)
were down on the river flat. The enclosures were generally from
seventy-five to one hundred yards in diameter. The embankments
being now about twenty-five to thirty feet in width and two or
three in height, were originally, I think, much higher, and prob-
ably built of sods, serving the purposes of a modern stockade as a
means of defence against enemies, and high enough for a sup-
port for one end of their tent poles, while at the base on the inside
were their kitchen hearths, whereon was cooked the spoils of the
chase, the embankment warding off the inclement storms to which
the climate is subject.

"In exploring these embankments we found (in addition to the
pottery, bones, fish scales, etc., mentioned as found by Judge
Murdock and party) large stone mortars and pestles, for grinding
corn, two or three kinds of stone axes, celts, etc.; also numerous
flint and chert arrow heads, and skinning instruments. These
mortars ai-e about fourteen inches in diameter and about five

360 HISTORY OF ALLAMAKEE COUNTY.

inches iu thickness, hollowed out like a soup plate, hand made,
from a hard syenite stone, but sometimes from a common sand-
stone. The pestles are of three kinds and the most common kind
are about the size of, and almost identical in shape with a large
sized biscuit, being about three and a half inches in diam-
eter by one and three quarter inches in depth, can be
readily clutched in the hand, and are worn off very smooth by
constant abrasion; these are quite numerous. Another kind is
similar to a common potato masher, except that the handle is a
little larger and shorter, the whole instrument being eight or nine
inches in length. Also one of a shape between these two with
grooves for the fingers. This kind is very scarce. I have never
known of but one being found here.

"The stone axes, celts, etc, are crude instruments when com-
pared with ours; and yet they are crude in material more than in
workmanship. There is a symmetry of form and a proportion of
materials to the work to be done which invites our admiration, and
suggests the question 'whether the civilized men of the present
day placed in the same situation and with the same materials and
tools could or would do any better'. The stone ax is much the
size and shape of one of our axes with the steel worn away and
blunted. Instead of an eye there is a groove cut around the head
of the ax, around which the handle was withed. The Sioux In-
dians of the present day withe their handles on in this manner with
strips of green rawhide, which on drying makes a firm and elastic
handle. The material with which these axes were made is a verj-^
tough kind of porphyritic granite or green stone and is not found
nearer than the Lake Superior region and the Canadas.

"Mr. John Haney informed me sometime since that many years
ago, when he and his brothers first started their mill, that they
very succes^ully used one of these wedges or celts of this material
for a mill pick for dressing the buhr stones. The stone celts and
skinning instruments are similar to the axes except that with the
same cutting edge they have the top part rounded off to grasp with
the hand or sink into a club. Some of these are quite diminuitive;
I have some specimens that are not over two and a half inches in
length, while others are as large as a blacksmith's sledge. An-
other specie of skinning instrument is a large flat stake; one of
these found on the Iowa is about six inches in length by four and
one-half in breadth, and three-fourths of an inch in thickness, and
resembles very much one described in Harper's Magazine for Sep-
tember, 1875.

"A year or two ago a band of wandering Winnebagoes happened
along the Iowa, fishing and beggiug as is their wont. The atten-
tion of one of the old men was called to an old village site and he
was asked what it was. He replied an Indian garden. His know-
ledge of this subject was coextensive with that of one of the same
tribe to whom I showed a large mastodon bone, which was ex-

HISTORY OF ALLAMAKEE COUNTY. 361

humed near New Albin in grading the railroad. On asking him
to what animal it belonged he answered "buffalo," that being the
largest animal of which he had any knowledge.

''Before leaving the subject of these forts or village sites, I
would say in this connection that on a trip over on the Kickapoo
River in Wisconsin, last year, I found them quite numerous, and
of peculiar shape. The engineer of the Narrow Gauge Railroad
there surveyed and platted some of them, when to his surprise he
found them take the shapes of a bear, birds and other animals,
showing artistic design in their construction."

THE ADVENT OF THE WHITE MAN.

The first permanent settlement within the boundaries of Alla-
makee County of which we have any record was at the old Gov-
ernment Indian Mission in Fairview township, which was]opened in
1835 with Rev. David Lowrey and Col. Thomas in charge. The
building was erected the previous year; and as early as 1828 a de-
tail of men from Ft. Crawford (Prairie du Chien, which place
was settled by Indian traders more than a century before) had
built a saw mill on the Yellow River a short distance below this
point to get out lumber for building purposes at the Fort. In-
deed, it would have been strange if this region had not been well
traversed by white hunters and trappers for many years previous
to this time; and it is said that somewhere along our river border
a white man had established his home as early as 1818, but had
after a time abandoned it. Of this the writer has nothing authen-
tic, however, and the earliest individual or private settlement of
which we have knowledge was by one Henry Johnson, at the
mouth of Paint Creek, about the year 1837 — and this was the
origin of "Johnsonport."

The third settlement was made by Mr. Joel Post and his wife,
Zerniah, in 1841, they establishing a half way house of entertain-
ment on the military road, between Ft. Crawford and Ft. Atkin-
son. Their place was in the extreme southwest corner of the
county, and is now the thriving town of Postville. Mrs. Post is
still living in that place, and her memory register preserves the
names of many distinguished guests who have enjoyed the hos-
pitality of her home. Among these maybe mentioned Capt. N.
Lyon, Lt. Alfred Pleasanton, Gen. Sumner, and other officers who
afterwards became noted.

From this time on there seem to have been no other settle-
ments made until the Indians were removed in 1818, although
portions of the county were explored in 1817. When Reuben
Smith located on Yellow River, in June, 1819, he reports that
there were seven or eight settlers then near Mr. Post's.

In 1818 Patrick Keenan and Richard Cassiday settled in Makee
township, and William Garrison and John Haney at Lansing.

362 HISTORY OF ALLAMAKEE COUNTY.

In 1849 there were many new settlements made in various
parts of the county, including those of Geo. C. Shattuck at Wau-
kon, W. C. Thompson in Lafayette, some parties along Yellow
River and others to the north of the Iowa, so that in the latter
part of this year the population was enumerated and reported at
277. When Mr. Shattuck located at Waukon his nearest post
office was Monona, just over the line in Clayton County. The
only one in this county at that time was at Postville, established
in January of that year.

From an interesting sketch of the early settlement of the coun-
ty, prepared by G. M. Dean and read before the Early Settlers'
Association, of Makee township, in January, 1880, we make the
following extract, as showing very clearly the condition of things
in those days:

"In 1834 the United States, through its military authorities at
Fort Crawford, Prairie du Chien, built on what is now section 19,
township 9t5, range 3, called Fairview township, in this county, a
mission school and farm. At this time Col. Zachary Taylor, af-
terwards President of the United States, commanded the post, and
Jefferson Davis, since President of the so-called Southern Confed-
eracy, was on duty there as Lieutenant. General Street was In-
dian agent; all the agents at that time being army officers, and
the Indians being under the control of the Secretary of War. The
mission was for the purpose of civilizing and christianizing the
Indians, and was opened in the spring of 1835 with the Rev.
David Lowrey, a Presbyterian in faith, as school teacher, and Col.
Thomas as farmer. But the effort to make good farmers, schol-
ars or christians out of these wandering tribes proved abortive,
and poor 'Lo' remained as before, 'a child of nature,' content to
dress in breech-clout and leggins, lay around the sloughs and
streams, and make the squaws provide for the family.

"After their removal, the government having no more use for
the Mission, put it on the market and sold it to Thomas C. Lin-
ton, who occupied it as a farm a few years and sold it to Ira Per-
ry, and on the death of Mr. Perry in 1868 it became the property
of his son, Eugene Perry, the present owner. The building is a
large two-story stone house, the chimney of which was taken for
a 'witness tree' when the Government survey of public lands was
made at a later day. It is still standing in a good state of pre-
servation, and has sheltered the families of its respective owners
up to this date.

"This house has become historic in many respects. It is one of
the very prominent land-marks in the history of the development
of Allamakee County, and we earnestly hope its owners will let
it stand as long as grass grows or water runs,* and thus preserve
to those who may come after us at least one ^tiling that may be
considered venerable.

HISTORY OF ALLAMAKEE COUNTY. 363

"111 the fall and winter of 1849 there were only three dwelling
houses in the valley of the Yellow River. The Old Mission,
called at this time the Linton House, the house of Mr. .John S.
Clark, on section fourteen in Franklin township, and the house of
Reuben Smith on section eleven in Post township.

"It is a very difficult matter for us, who live in Allamakee
County to-day, to concei%e of the condition of things in the
Mississippi Valley when this old Mission wa-i first built in 1834,
and it is still more difficult for the writer to convey a clear idea
of it.

"There was at that time no Allamakee County, no Clayton
County, no Winneshiek County, and in fact no Territory organi-
zation, but simply a wilderness waste. In 1836, Iowa, Wisconsin
and Minnesota was taken from Michigan and made ^Wisconsin Ter-
ritory', and Iowa soon after divided all of her territory lying
west of the Mississippi River into two counties, to-wit: Dubuque
County and Des Moines County, the dividing lines being at the
foot of Rock Island.

"The Indian tribes roamed over this whole region, and Jefferson
Barracks, a military post about eight miles below St. Louis, Mis-
souri, was headquarters for the military operations of the Mississ-
ippi Valley. Just think of it! This valley knew no railroads, no
telegraphs and a very large per cent, of its present inhabitants
were not then born. The military post at Prairie du Chien had
been established and when they wanted to utilize the resources of
this wild region about them, they detailed soldiers for the work,
and in 1828, being in want of lumber, they sent a part of the gar-
rison over to Yellow River, and built a saw mill about two miles
below what is now the old Mission House, the remains of which
was burned down in 1839.

"In 1810, one Jesse Danley built a saw mill on the river about
one mile below the Mission, but the floods came and took the
dam away, and the proprietor meeting with one mishap after
another, finally abandoned it, and in time it was torn down.

"The town of Johnsonsport, at the mouth of Paint Creek, was
named after a soldier who served out his time at the Prairie, and
was discharged and paid off in 1837. Now this man, Johnson be-
ing fond of Indian women, took several of them for wives, and
spent his time between hanging around the post and living among
the tribes, and finally settled near the river bank, somewhere be-
tween what is now Harper's Ferry and North McGregor. Some
of our old residents still remember him and speak of him as
Squaw Johnson, but he has been dead several years, and the writer
has no knowledge of his descendants, if he left any.

"In 1839, Hiram Francis aud family came from Prririe du Chien
to the old Mission in the employ of the Government, and remained
there until it ceased to be a Mission, and from him we learn that

364 HISTORY OF ALLAMAKEE COUNTY.

his duties were to issue daily rations to such Indians as were fed at
that place, and that in November, 1840, the last of them were re-
moved to the Turkey River, and the school closed.

"In 1841, there lived at the Mission Mr. and Mrs. Jacob Ryner-
son, and there was born unto them a son, and this was thought to
be the first white child born in the county.

''The earliest settlers in what is now Makee and Union Prairie
townships, came in overland from the south, through Clayton
County, there being no town then where Lansing is now. In
conversation with the late Elias Topliff, when he was a citizen
among us, he related to me that while living in Clayton County
he, with several others, started out to hunt land on which to make
a home; that they followed an Indian trail north across the
Yellow River and on to the Iowa River somewhere, where the
party camped over night and caught and cooked a splendid mess
of speckled trout. He thought they traveled across what is now
the prairie on which Waukon stands, but could not positively
identify their old route,for at that time the country traveled over
was in a state of nature, and there was not a white man to be seen
on the trip after leaving the settlements of Clay ton County. In the
morning they retraced their steps and returned to Clayton county
again, not finding a single foot of land that suited them. My
recollection now is that the Judge located this tiip in 1847.

"The first white settlers in Makee township were Patrick
Keenan and his brother-in-law, Mr. Richard Cassiday. They lived
together, and in October, 1848 settled on Makee Ridge, where
they grubbed out and broke up about three acres of land, built a
log cabin, and in 1849 abandoned it and made themselves farms ia
Jeiferson township, where they lived until they passed on to ''the
better country." Mr. Keenan was the first man in the county, of
his nationality, ever made an American citizen through the
naturalization law, the court at the time being held at Columbus ,
on the Mifsis-ippi river.* He died in March, 1878, leaving a
large and respectable family and a handsome property, and was
buried at Cherry Mound. Mr. Cassiday died in 1879 and was
buried at the same place.

"In the spring of 1849 there was born to Mr. and Mrs. Cassiday
a daughter, Margaret, now Mrs. Murphy, living in McGregor, and
she was the first white child born in Jefferson township."

"In 1850 there was a small pair of buhrs near Decorah for
grinding, but no bolt attached, and our settlers from this locality
with their ox teams hauled their little grists up there; but soon
after (summer of 1850) one Ellis put in a small pair of buhrs,
without bolt, on Paint Creek, just around the bend below where
Waterville now stands. The remains of this first mill in the
county still stand in that place. * * * . *

* We think Mr. Dean slightly in error liere, as the date of this transaction was
July, 1849, when there was no settlement at Columbus.

HISTORY OF ALLAMAKEE COUNTY. 365

"In the winter of 1848 the Legislature passed an act authorizing
the organization of the county, and appointed Thomas C. Linton,
who owned the old mission property, as organizing sheriff; and as
this county then belonged to Clayton (^ounty it recpiired him to
appear at her county seat, file his bond, take the oath of office,
and make due returns of his doings thereto. We have been un-
able to find any written record of that organizing election, and
after much inquiry by correspondence and otherwise have through
the kindness of Mr. J. S. Deremo of Fairview township, obtained
the particulars as he gathered them the past week from Mr.
Moses Van Sickle, one of the participants in that election. It was
held under the call of Mr. Linton, at his house, in August, 1849,
about fifteen votes being cast, and resulted in the election of the
following persons:

"County Commissioners — Thomas Van Sickle, Daniel G. Beck,
Thos. B. Twiford.

"County Clerk — James Haney.

"Recorder — Stephen Holcomb.

"School Fund Commissioner — Moses Van Sickle.

"Treasurer— Elias ToplifF.

"Sheriff— Lester W. Hays.

"Thomas Van Sickle died in Nebraska about 1878. Daniel G.
Beck died in Missouri about 1866. Thos. B. Twiford moved to
Minnesota and was the founder of the town of Chatfield. James
Haney lives at this time in Wisconsin. Stephen Holcomb died at
the Mission about 1851. Moses Van Sickle is living at this date
in Fairview township. Elias ToplifF died in Waukon in 1860.
Thomas C. Linton lives in Oregon.

"Lester W. Hays was for several years before his death a
county charge, living sometimes at the county farm, and some-
times in Fairview township where he had a little log hut hardly
high enough to stand erect in, nor large enough to afford room
for many visitors; and being about eighty years old and too in-
firm to labor, he was allowed from the poor fund the pittance of
one dollar per week, and this with the charity of kind neighbors
kept life in the old man until last Christmas night, the coldest
night of the year, when the mercury ran down to thirty-three
degrees below zero, he perished. The next morning some of the
neighbors went to the hut and found the old man lying on his
rude cot, with -legs and arms frozen. The county furnished a
coffin, and poor Hays is no more.

'Rattle his bones over the stones,

For he's but a pauper whom nobody owns.'

"This election gave the County a legal and working existence.
In 1849 she had two hundred and' seventy-seven white inhabitants,
men, women and children.

"The county records of those early times as left by the commis-
sioners, are either lost, mislaid, or were made in so transient a

366 HISTORY OF ALLA.MAKEE COUNTY.

manner as to preclude their being handed down to posterity, and
so much as we have gathered has been obtained from other official
records, the personal recollection of our early settlers, and has
taken much time and labor, and as the years roll on these items of
early history are more and more difficult to obtain in consequence
of the death, removal or incapacity through age or infirmity of the
parties participating in them.

"From EliasTopliff I learned that the first tax list was put iuto
his hands for collection; that the gross amount of it was about
ninety dollars; that he traveled all through the eastern part of
the county to collect, and that after doing his best, collecting
about one half of the list and making his returns to the Commis-
sioners, they charged up to him the uncollected portion and took
it from his compensation as Treasurer."

In a carefully preserved copy of the North Iowa Journal, pub
lished at Waukon, in the summer of 1860, we find a sketch of the
previous history of the county, from which we shall find occasion
to make a few extracts. In regard to the County organization we
find:

The county was organized by an act of the Legislature, approved
January 15, 1849, and taking effect March 6th, 1819.

Thomas C. Linton was appointed organizing Sheriff; the first
election being held by the order of the Sheriff on the first Wed-
nesday of April, 1819. The officers elected were:

County Commissioners — James M. Sumner and Joseph W.
Holmes.

Sheriff — Lester W. Hays.

Clerk Commissioners' Court — D. G. Beck.

Clerk of District Court — Stephen Holcomb.

The officers elect qualified at the house of Thomas C. Linton,
April 10th, 1849.

The second election was held the first Monday of August, 1849,
and the following officers were elected:

County Commissioners — James M. Sumner, Thomas A. Van-
Sickle and Daniel G. Beck.

Clerk of Commissioners' Court — G. A. Warner.

Sheriff— L. W. Hays.

Treasurer and Recorder and Collector — Elias Topliff.

County Surveyor — JaniesM. Sumner.

Judge of Probate Court — Stephen Holcomb.

Inspector of Weights and Measures — -G. A. Warner.

Coroner — C. P. Williams.

It will be seen that there is a discrepancy between this account
and that in Judge Dean's paper, as regard the time of the first
election and the lists of officers elected thereat. We are inclined
to take the Journal account to be authoritative, for the reason
that it was published week after Aveek for several months in suc-
cession, apparently without question, and that at a time only elev-

HISTORY OF ALLAMAKEE COUNTY. 367

en years after the events narrated; and further, we have reason to
believe that the facts there stated were gleaned at the time from a
sketch of the county history, prepared by Mr. Dean while County
Judge in 1859, a copy of which was deposited in the corner stone
of the Waukon Court House after being read to the people there
assembled to witness that ceremony. The original has been miss-
ing for many a year, as Mr. Dean tells us. On the other hand,
the account as it appears in his later narrative is based largely up-
on the recollections of individuals, after a lapse of over thirty
years, and no matter how honest their intentions are, it is quite
likely they have erred by means of the incidents of two or more
elections becoming intermingled in their memory.

The sketch we last quoted then continues:

''On the first Monday of August, 1851, Elias ToplifF was elected
County Judge, succeeding the County Commissioners; he served as
Judge until August 25, 1857, when George M. Dean was elected.
In 1859, J. A. Townsend was elected, and is now acting Judge.

"James M. Sumner was elected Recorder and Treasurer in 1851.
Since then the following gentlemen have served the county in
tR'at capacity: T. C. Linton, J. J. Shaw, L. 0. Hatch and Elias
Toplift', the present officer.

"In August, 1851, Leonard B. Hodges was elected Clerk of the
District Court. Lewis Hersey and C. J. White has since served.
C. J. White is the present Clerk. At the same election Wm. C.
Thompson was chosen Sheriff. John Laughlin succeeded him and
John A. Towngend next served for two successive terms in that
office. Wm. C. Thompson was again elected in 1859, and is now
the acting Sheriff.

"In August, 1856, James Brysoji was elected as a Representative
to the Legislature.

"In 1857, G. W. Gray was chosen a member of the Legislature,
J. B. Suttor, County Assessor; G. W. Gray, Drainage Commission-
er; W. W. Hungerford, Surveyor; M. F. Luark, Coroner, and G.
W. Camp, Prosecuting Attorney.

•'In 1858, J. W. Merrill was chosen Drainage Commissioner; C.
J. White, Clerk of the District Court; F. W. Nottingham, Coro-
ner, and J. W. Flint, Superintendent of Common Schools.

"In 1859, Charles Paulk was chosen a member of the Legisla-
ture; G. L. Miller, Drainage Commissioner; John Ryan, Surveyor;
J. W. Granger, Coroner, and R. C. Armstrong, Superintendent of
Common Schools.

"The above list comprises the principal officers since the organ-
ization of the county. The records previous to 1856 are very in-
complete, and we were unable to learn the dates of the elections of
the various officers.

"The total amount of taxable property in the county was: In
1849, 11,729; in 1851, ^8,299; in 1854, $700,794; in 1857, $1,827,-
766; in 1859, $1,967,899.

368 HISTORY- OF ALLAMAKEE COUNTY.

^ We have said that when the Indian Mission was established on
Yellow River, it was placed in charge of Father Lowrey, a man ex-
ceedingly well adapted to the duties pertaining thereto. He was
well known many years after in this part of the country and great-
ly admired.

David Lowrey, D. D., was born in Logan County, Kentucky,
January 20, 1796. His parents were worthy members of the
Presbyterian Church, but, like many other good people, were en-
trusted with little of this world's treasury. The widowed mother
died when he was only a little over two years old, leaving him a
penniless and friendless orphan. He was bound out to a family
that, in course of time became very reckless and intemperate; but at
a Cumberland Presbyterian camp meeting, held near his residence,
he solemnly consecrated his heart and his life to God. This event
happened when he was eighteen years of age. Shortly after his
conversion he became a candidate for the ministry, under the care
of Logan Presbytery, and his proficiency and usefulness were so
great that he was soon licensed and ordained to the work of the
ministry. On the 16th of December, 1830, he began the publication
in Princeton, Kentucky, of the "-Religious and Literary Lifelligen-
cer.'" It was a weekly journal, ably edited, and was the first pa-
per published under the auspices of that church. To him, there-
fore, belongs the honor of being the father of Cumberland Pres-
byterian journalism. Some years afterward he was editor of the
''Cumberland Presbyterian,'' then published in Nashville, Tennes-
see. In addition to his editorial duties he had the pastorate of the
Cumberland Presbyterian Church in Nashville, which was then in
its infancy; and for his year's labor he received, as compensation,
the astonishing sum of one wagon load of corn in the shucJxl

In the year, 1832, under the