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THE
H J S T O R Y
VAN BUREN COUNTY,
I O 'W A,
rONTAININO
jl Ifblor^ of ^t Somti^^ tb StHe$^ ^ototn^ Ict^
A Biographical Directory of Citizens, War Record of its Vol-
unteers in the late Rebellion, General and Lx>cal Statistics,
Portraits of Early Settlers and Prominent Men, His-
tory of the Northwest, History of lo'wa. Map
of Van Buren County, Constitution of the
United States, Miscellaneous
Matters, <Sbc.
iriTjTTST:RATE!r>,
rniOAGO:
WESTERN Historical company.
1«78. • Digitized by Google
PUBLICLIBRAR",
298989
ASTDR, LENOX AND
TILOEN FOUNDATIONS
R 1^4 L
Entered, aooording to Act ot OongreM, in th« year 1878, bj
THE WESTERN HISTORICAL COMPANY
In the Offloe of the LfbmriMi of Oongreas, at Wuhington, D. 0.
" • • • ♦
• • •
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PREFACE.
THE history of Van Buren County differs from that of almost every other
county in Iowa, in one essential respect, viz., the records of its towns.
No one locality, outside of the county seat, calls for special elaboration, but
many sections present about equal opportunities for comment. It is a cause of
sincere regret to us, and will, no doubt, be to our readers, that the official
papers and books of the several towns are no longer in existence. The pages
here offered were prepared under serious difficulties, and are the product of
much hard labor. If inaccuracies appear in them, the fault is not with the
compiler, for every effort was put forth to secure correct data.
The Western Historical Company extends its thanks to those who have so
generously aided in the work of securing reliable information.
The importance of the task here undertaken will be more fully realized and
admitted in years to come, when time shall have added to the obstacles in the
way of determining proper historic truth.
THE PUBLISHERS.
December, 1878.
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CONTENTS
HMTORT MORTHWEST AND HTATE OP IOWA.
Paos.
Htetory Northwest Territory....^... 10
Oeographlcal Podtlon 19
Baiiy Bxplorations 20
DiacoTeiyof the Ohio 33
■nffliih Exploratioiu and Set-
Uementi 36
American Settlements 60
DiTision of the Northwest Ter-
ritory 66
Tecamseh and the War of 1812 70
Black Hawk and the Black
Hawk War 74
Other Indian Tronbles ~ 79
Present Condition of the North-
west 86
Chicago ^.. 96
niinois 267
Indiana „ 269
Iowa 260
Michigan 263
Wisconsin.....^ ^64
MinnesoU 266
Nebruka 267
History of Iowa :
GeogFaphioal Sitaation ^ 109
Topofraphy » ~ ~109
Drainage System. 110
Paos.
Histoiy ot Iowa :
RiYers « Ill
Ukes 118
Springs » 119
Prairies. „ 120
Geology 120
Climatology 137
DisooTery and Occupation 139
Territory 147
Indians. 147
Pike's BxpediUon 161
Indian Wan. 162
Black Hawk War 167
Indian Purchase, Beserves and
Treaties 169
Spanish Grants 163
Half-Breed Tract ««..164
Early Settlements _166
Territorial History « 173
Boundary Question 177
State OrganizaUon 181
Growth and Progress. 186
Agricultural College and Farm.186
State University 187
Stete Historical Society 193
Penitentiaries 194
Paoi.
History of Iowa:
Insane Hospitals 196
College for the Blind 197
Deaf and Dumb Institution 199
Soldiers' Orphans' Homes 199
State Normal School .201
Asylum for Feeble Minded
Children 201
Reform School 202
l^h Hatching Bstablishment.aiid
Public Lands 804
Public Schools .^ ..218
Political Record 2fft
War Record. 229
Infantry „..., 233
Cavalry « 244
Artillery 247
Miscellaneons 248
Ihromotions from Iowa Reg-
iments 249
Number Casualties— Offloers.260
Number Casualties— Enlist-
ed Men ..262
Number Vulonteem 264
Population 265
Agricultural Statistics 320
HISTORY VAN BtlRKlf COUNTY.
Paoe.
G«>lo«y .323
ronnation of Lime-Beds 324
Great Coal-Basin 326
Cretaceous 327
GlacialPeriod 327
Drift Period .329
Bowldera. 331
Origin of the Prairies 331
Descriptive Geography .332
Dnluiown Race 334
Aborigines 341
Keokwk 342
Black Hawk .846
Advent of the White Man 364
Pioneers. 367
Flist Birth 368
first DeaUi 368
Flrat Marriage 358
Anecdotes of the Trading-Poets.... .368
Organixation of the Connty .361
First Oourt 362
First Militia. 363
First itecords 363
Official Roster of the County ..364
Early Polltios 367
Reminiscences Jt68 '
Page.
Distinguished Men of the County .378
How Pioneers Lived .379
County Seat Question 384
County Commissionera 385
Early Criminal Events .387
Legislative Enactments 388
W. G. Clark :i91
A Poem .397
State Boundary Difficulty 407
Des Moines River Improvement
Schemes 416
Origin of the Name Des Moines... ..428
War Record 429
Roster 431
Memoriam 463
Population and General Stotistics...4JS»i
Educational .466
Miller-Thompson Contested
Election 468
Kneeland Movement 464
Pr««i ^ 464
Keosauqua.. 467
Farmington 480
Bonaparte 484
Bentonsport 489
Vernon.. .1^ 491
; Paub.
Birmingbam.. 492
lowavllle 494
; Pittsburg 496
Mt. Sterling 497
Milton 498
Cantril IM)
Independent 602
I Portland 502
Wlnchesttor « 603
, Summit .603
Doud's Station -604
Plymouth 607
Black Hawk City 607
Columbus 607
Rochester J^>7
. Business Comers 608
Oakland 608
Upton 608
Utica .608
I Kilbourn .608
j PieroeTilie ^..608
Watertown 509
Wllllts 609
Oak Point.. .-^. « 509
t Lebanon 609
Salubria J509
Paob.
Month of the Mississippi........^..^. 21 >
Source of the Mississippi 21
Wfld Prairie 23
La Salle Landing on t^e Shore of
Green Bay „.„ «.... 26
BnflUo Hant 27
Trapping — 29
Haatiog . — 32
Iroquois Chief. . ....„ 34
Pontlac. the Ottawa Chieftain 43
Indiaos Attacking Frontiersmen.. 66
A PnOrie Storm 69
IliliVSTiKATIOBm.
Paok.
A Pioneer Dwelling 61 |
Breaking Prairie........ 63 ;
Tecnmseh, the Shawanoe Chieftain 69 <
Indians Attacking a Stockade 72 '
Black Hawk, the Sac Chieftain 75
Big Eagle.- 80
Ct^iMn Jack, the Modoc Chieftain 83
Kinzie House... 86 i
A Representative Pioneer. 86 I
Lincoln Monument..... „ 87 !
A Pioneer School House 88 I
Paob.
Pioneers* First Winter 94
Great Iron Bridge of C.« R. I. A P.
R. R., Crossing the Mississippi at
Davenport, Iowa.. 91
Chicago in 1833 96
Old Fort Dearborn, 1830 98
Present Site Lake Street Bridge,
Chicago, 1833 96
Ruins of Chicago 104
Sew of the City of Chicago 106
anting Prairie Wolves..... 268
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CONTENTS.
VAN BVRBBT COUNTY VOIiFNTEKHS.
Infantr:y: Paok.
Second 431
Fifth 433
Fonrt««nth ^ 435
Fifteenth 436
Seventeenth 437
Nineteenth 438
Infkntry: Paok.
Thirtieth 440
Thiit7-««Tenth 442
Forty-fifth 442
OftTalry:
Third 443
Seventh 448
Cavalry : Paok.
Eighth 449
Firat Infkntry (Sixtieth U. S. Yols.) 449
Southern Bonier Brigade 460
Seventh Missouri Cavalry 450
Twenty-first Missouri Inlkntry 460
Miscellaneous 461
BIOORAPHICAIi TOWNSHIP OIBJBCTORT.
Paok.
671
Bonaparte..,
Cedar.. aoz
Chequest. 666
Des Moines.....»» ^ 561
Paok.
Farmington..
Paoe. I
Henry ^ .558 Village
Jackson 687 i Van Buren 511
Lick Creek 550 | Vernon 54B
Harrisbarg 601 I Washington 642
...666 i Union 692
I.IT1IOOBAPHIC PORTRAITS.
Paok.
Cresap, B. H 421
Sloan, Joshua 8 471
Paok.
Manning, Edwin 321
Meek, WUliam 371
ABSTRACT OF IOWA STATE I.AWS.
Paok.
ikdoption of Children 303
Bills of Exchange and Promissory
Notes ^ 293
Commercial Terms 306
Cbipital Punishment 298
Charitable, Scientific and Religious
Associations .316
Descent 293
Damages flrom Trespass 'M)0
Exemptions fh>m Execution 298
Bstnon 299
Forms:
Articles of Agreement 3C7
BUlsof Sale 308
Bond for Deed. 315
BiUi of Purchase. .306 |
Paok.
Map of Van Buren County Front.
Constitution of United SUtes... 269 '
Vote for President, Governor And ^ [
Congressmen..
Paok.
Forms :
Chattel Mortgage ».314
Confession of Judgment 306
Lease 312
Mortgages ^..310
Notice to Quit- 309
Notes .». -306,313
Orders. .306
Quit Claim Deed 315 I
Receipts 306 !
Wills and Codicils 309 i
Warranty Deed. 314
Fences ^ 300
Interest 293 i
Intoxicating Liquors... .^ -317 I
Jurisdiction of Courts 297 ,
MISCBl^E.ANKOIJH.
Paok. ;
Surveyor^ Measure 288 i
How to Keep Accounts 288 !
Interest TabU 289
Miscellaneous TaMe..
Practical Rules forEveiy-Day Use..284 i Names of the States of the Union
United States Govemment Land j and their Significations 290 i
Measure- 287 ! Population of the United States 291
Paok.
Jurors ^7
LImitaUon of Actions 297
Landlord and Tenant »..304
Married Women 298
Marks and Brands J)00
Mechanics' Liens. - 301
Roads and Bridges 302
Surveyors and Surveys 303
Suggestions to Persons Purchasing
Books bv Subscription 319
Supporter Poor 303
Taxes 295
Wills and Estates 293
Weights and Measures 306
Wolf Scalps 300
Paok.
Population of Fifty Principal Cities
of the United States 291
Population and Area of the United
Stetes 292
Population of the Principal Coun-
tries in the World 292
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THE NEW YORK
PUBLIC l::.. ai;y.
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THE NEW YORK'
■ UBLIC LIBRARY
ASTOR, LENOX A ,0
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The Northwest Territory.
GEOGRAPHICAL POSITION.
When the Northwestern Territory was ceded to the United States
by Virginia in 1784, it embraced only the territory lying between the
Ohio and the Mississippi Rivers, and north to the northern limits of the
United States. It coincided with the area now embraced in the States
of Ohio, Indiana, Michigan, Illinois, Wisconsin, and that portion of
Minnesota lying on the east side of the Mississippi River. The United
States itself at that period extended no farther west than the Mississippi
River ; but by the purchase of Louisiana in 1803, the western boundary
of the United States was extended to the Rocky Mountains and the,
Northern Pacific Ocean. The new territory thus added to the National
domain, and subsequently opened to settlement, has been called the
'*New Northwest," in contradistinction from the old "Northwestern
Territory. **
In comparison with the old Northwest this is a territory of vast
magnitude. It includes an area of 1,887,850 square miles ; being greater
in extent than the united areas of all the Middle and Southern States,
including Texas. Out of this magnificent territory have beto erected
eleven sovereign States and eight Territories, with an aggregate popula*
tion, at the present time, of 13,000,000 inhabitants, or nearly one third of
. the entire population of the United States.
I Its lakes are fresh-water seas, and the larger rivers of the continent
flow for a thousand miles through its rich alluvial valleys and far-
stretchiilg prairies, more acres of which are arable and productive of the
liighest percentage of the cereals than of any other area of like extent
on the globe.
For the last twenty years the increase of population in the North-
west has been about as three to one in any other portion of the United
States.
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20 THE NORTHWEST TERBITORY.
EARLY EXPLORATIONS.
In the year 1541, DeSoto first saw the Great West in the New
World. He, however, penetrated no farther north than the 35th parallel
of latitude. The expedition resulted in his death and that of more than
half his army, the remainder of whom found their way to Cuba, thence
to Spain, in a famished and demoralized condition. DeSoto founded no
settlements, produced no results, and left no traces, unless it were that
he awakened the hostility of the red man against the white man, and
disheartened such as might desire to follow up the career of discovery
for better purposes. The French nation were eager and ready to seize
upon any news from this extensive domain, and were the first to profit by
DeSoto's defeat. Yet it was more than a century before any adventurer
took advantage of these discoveries.
In 1616, four years before the pilgrims " moored their bark on the
wild New England shore," Le Caron, a French Franciscan, had pene-
trated through the Iroquois and Wyandots (Hurons) to the streams which
run into Lake Huron ; and in 1634, two Jesuit missionaries founded the
first mission among the lake tribes. It was just one hundred years from*
the discovery of the Mississippi by DeSoto (1541) until the Canadian
envoys met the savage nations of the Northwest at the Falls of St. Mary,
below the outlet of Lake Superior. This visit led to no permanent
result; yet it was not until 1659 that any of the adventurous fur traders
attempted to spend a Winter in the frozen wilds about the great lakes,
nor was it until 1660 that a station was established upon their borders by
Mesnard, who perished in the woods a few months after. In 1665, Claude
Allouez built the earliest lasting habitation of the white man among the
Indians of the Northwest. In 1668, Claude Dablon and James Marquette
founded the mission of Sault Ste. Marie at the Falls of St. Mary, and two
years afterward, Nicholas Perrot, as agent for M. Talon, Governor Gen-
eral of Canada, explored Lake Illinois (Michigan) as far south as the
present City of Chicago, and invited the Indian nations to meet him at a
grand council at Sault Ste. Marie the following Spring, where they were
taken under the protection of the king, and formal possession was taken
of the Northwest. This same year Marquette established a mission at
Point St. Ignatius, where was founded the old town of Michillimackinac.
During M. Talon's explorations and Marquette's residence at St.
Ignatius, they learned of a great river away to the west, and fancied
— as all others did then — that upon its fertile banks whole tribes of God's
children resided, to whom the sound of the Gospel had never come.
Filled with k wish to go and preach to them, and in compliance with a
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THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. 21
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22 THE NOBTHWEST TEBRITOitY.
request of M. Talon, who earnestly desired to extend the domain of his
king, and to ascertain whether the river flowed into the Gulf of Mexico
or the Pacific Ocean, Marquette with Joliet, as commander of the expe-
dition, prepared for the undertaking.
On the 13th of May, 1673, the explorers, accompanied by five assist-
ant French Canadians, set out from Mackinaw on their daring voyage of
discovery. The Indians, who gathered to witness their departure, were
astonished at the boldness of the undertaking, and endeavored to dissuade
them from their purpose by representing the tribes on the Mississippi as
exceedingly savage and cruel, and the river itself as full of all sorts of
frightful monsters ready to swallow them and their canoes together. But,
nothing daunted by these terrific descriptions, Marquette told them he
was willing not only to encounter all the perils of the unknown region
they were about to explore, but to lay down his life in a cause in which
the salvation of souls was involved ; and having prayed together they
separated. Coasting along the northern shore of Lake Michigan, the
adventurers entered Green Bay, and passed thence up the Fox River and
Lake Winnebago to a village of the Miamis and Kickapoos. Here Mar-
quette was delighted to find 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
giving them an abundant " chase." This was the farthest outpost to
which Dablon and AUouez had extended their missionary labors the
year previous. Here Marquette drank mineral waters and was instructed
in the secret of a root which cures the bite of the venomous rattlesnake.
He assembled the chiefs and old men of the village, and, pointing to
Joliet, said : " My friend is an envoy of France, to discover new coun-
tries, and I am an ambassador from God to enlighten them with the truths
of the Gospel." Two Miami guides were here furnished to conduct
them to the Wisconsin River, and they set out from the Indian village on
the 10th of June, amidst a great crowd of natives who had assembled to
witness their departure into a region where no white man had ever yet
ventured. The guides, having conducted them across the portage,
returned. The explorers launched their canoes upon the Wisconsin,
which they descended to the Mississippi and proceeded down its unknown
waters. What emotions must have swelled their breasts as they struck
out into the broadening current and became conscious that they were
now upon the bosom of ths Father of Waters. The mystery was about
to be lifted from the long-sought river. The scenery in that locality is
beautiful, and on that delightful seventeenth of June must have been
clad in all its primeval loveliness as it had been adorned by the hand of
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THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. 23
Nature. Drifting rapidly, it is said that the bold blufifs on either hand
"reminded them of the castled shores of their own beautiful rivers of
France." By-and-by, as they drifted along, great herds of buffalo appeared
on the banks. On going to the heads of the valley they could see a
country of the greatest beauty and fertility, apparently destitute of inhab-
itants yet presenting the appearance of extensive manors, under the fas-
tidious cultivation of lordly proprietors.
THE WILD PRAIRIE.
On June 25, they went ashore and found some fresh traces of men upon
the sand, and a path which led to the prairie. The men remained in the
boat, and Marquette and Joliet followed the path till they discovered a
village on the banks of a river, and two other villages on a hill, within a
half league of the first, inhabited by Indians. They were received most
hospitably by these natives, who had never before seen a white person.
After remaining a few days they re-embarked and descended the river to
about latitude 33°, where they found a village of the Arkansas, and being
satisfied that the river flowed into the Gulf of Mexico, turned their course
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24 THE NORTHWEST TERBTTORY.
up the river, and ascending the stream to the mouth of the Illinois,
rowed up that stream to its source, and procured guides from that point
to the lakes. " Nowhere on this journey," says Marquette, " did we see
such grounds, meadows, woods, stags, buffaloes, deer, wildcats, bustards,
swans, ducks, parroquets, and even beavers, as on the Illinois River."
The party, without loss or injury, reached Green Bay in September, and
reported their discovery — one of the most important of the age, but of
which no record was preserved save Marquette's, Joliet losing his by
the upsetting of his canoe on his way to Quebec. Afterward Marquette
returned to the Illinois Indians by their request, and ministered to them
until 1675. On the 18th of May, in that year, as he was passing the
mouth of a stream — going with his boatmen up Lake Michigan — ^he asked
to land at its mouth and celebrate Mass. Leaving his men with the canoe,
he retired a short distance and began his devotions. As much time
passed and he did not return, his men went in search of him, and found
him upon his knees, dead. He had peacefuUj'^ passed away while at
prayer. He was buried at this spot. Charlevoix, who visited the place
fifty years after, found the waters had retreated from the grave, leaving
the beloved missionary to repose in peace. The river has since been
called Marquette.
While Marquette and his companions were pursuing their labors in
the West, two men, differing widely from him and each other, were pre-
paring to follow in his footsteps and perfect the discoveries so well begun
by him. These were Robert de La Salle and Louis Hennepin.
After La Salle's return from the discovery of the Ohio River (see
the narrative elsewhere), he established himself again among the French
trading posts in Canada. Here he mused long upon the pet project of
those ages — a short way to China and the East, and was busily planning an
expedition up the great lakes, and so across the continent to the Pacific,
when Marquette returned from the Mississippi. At once the vigorous mind
of LaSalle received from his and his companions' stories the idea that by fol-
lowing the Great River northward, or by turning up some of the numerous
western tributaries, the object could easily be gained. He applied to
Pront^nac, Governor General cf Canada, and laid before him the plan,
dim bat gigantic. Frontenac entered warmly into his plans, and saw that
LaSalle's idea to connect the great lakes by a chain of forts with the Gulf
of Mexico would bind the country so wonderfully together, give un-
measured power to France, and glory to himself, under whose adminis-
tration he earnestly hoped all would be realized.
LaSalle now repaired to France, laid his plans before the King, who
warmly approved of them, and made him a Chevalier. He also receivad
from all the noblemen the warmest wishes for his success. The Chev-
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THE NORTHWEST TBERITOBY. 25
alier returned to Canada, and busily entered upon his work. He at
once rebuilt Fort Frontenac and constructed the first ship to sail on
these fresh-water seas. On the 7th of August, 1679, having been joined
by Hennepin, he began his voyage in the GriflSn up Lake Erie. He
passed over this lake, through the straits beyond, up Lake St. Clair and
into Huron. In this lake they encountered heavy storms. They were
some time at Michillimackinac, where LaSalle founded a fort, and passed
on to Green Bay, the "Baie des Puans" of the French, where he found
a large quantity of furs collected for him. He loaded the Griffin with
these, and placing her under the care of a pilot and fourteen sailors,
LA SALLE LANDING ON THE SHORE OF GREEN BAY.
Started her on her return voyage. The vessel was never afterward heard
of. He remained about these parts until early in the Winter, when, hear-
ing nothing from the GriflSn, he collected all the men — thirty working
men and three monks — and started again upon his great undertaking.
By a short portage they passed to the Illinois or Kankakee, called by
the Indians, "Theakeke," wolf^ because of the tribes of Indians called
by that name, commonly known as the Mahingans, dwelling there. The
French pronounced it Kiakiki^ which became corrupted to Kankakee.
*' Palling down the said river by easy journeys, the better to observe the
country," about the last of December they reached a village of the Illi-
nois Indians, containing some five hundred cabins, but at that moment
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26 THE NOBTHWB8T TERBITOBY.
no inhabitants. The Seur de LaSalle being in want of some breadstuff^
took advantage of the absence of the Indians to help himself to a suflS-
ciency of maize, large quantities of which he found concealed in holes
under the wigwams. This village was situated near the present village
of Utica in LaSalle County, Illinois. The corn being securely stored,
the voyagers again betook themselves to the stream, and toward evening,
on the 4th day of January, 1680, they came into a lake which must have
been the lake of Peoria. This was called by the Indians Pim-i-te-wi^ that
is, a place where there are many fat beasts. Here the natives were met
with in large numbers, but they were gentle and kind, and having spent
some time with them, LaSalle determined to erect another fort in that
place, for he had heard rumors that some of the adjoining tribes were
trying to disturb the good feeling which existed, and some of his men
were disposed to complain, owing to the hardships and perils of the travel.
He called this fort " Crevecoeur'^ (broken-heart), a name expressive of the
very natural sorrow, and anxiety which the pretty certain loss of his ship,
Griffin, and his consequent impoverishment, the danger of hostility on the
part of the Indians, and of mutiny among his own men, might well cause
him. His fears were not entirely groundless. At one time poison was
placed in his food, but fortunately was discovered.
While building this fort, the Winter wore away, the prairies began to
look green, and LaSalle, despairing of any reinforcements, concluded to
return to Canada, raise new means and new men, and embark anew in
the enterprise. For this purpose he made Hennepin the leader of a party
to explore the head waters of the Mississippi, and he set out on his jour-
ney. This journey was accomplished with the aid of a few persons, and
was successfully made, though over an almost u jknown route, and in a
bad season of the year. He safely reached Cana ia, and set out again for
the object of his search.
Hennepin and his party left Fort Crevecoeur on the last of February,
1680. When LaSalle reached this place on his return expedition, he
found the fort entirely deserted, and he was obliged to return again to
Canada. He embarked the third time, and succeeded. Seven days after
leaving the fort, Hennepin reached the Mississippi, and paddling up the
icy stream as best he could, reached no higher than the Wisconsin River
by the 11th of April. Here he and his followers were taken prisoners by a
band of Northern Indians, who treated them with great kindness. Hen-
nepin's comrades were Anthony Auguel and Michael Ako. On this voy-
age they found several beautiful lakes, and " saw some charming prairies."
Their captors were the Isaute or Sauteurs, Chippewas, a tribe of the Sioux
nation, who took them up the river until about the first of May, when
they reached some falls, which Hennepin christened Falls of St. Anthony
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THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. 27
in honor of his patron t«aint. Here they took the land, and traveling
aearly two hundred miles to the northwest, brought them to their villages.
Here they were kept about three months, were treated kindly by their
captors, and at the end of that time, were met by a band of Frenchmen^
BUFFALO HUNT.
headed by one Seur de Luth, who, in pursuit of trade and game, had pene-
trated thus far by the route of Lake Superior; and with these fellow-
countrymen Hennepin and his companions were allowed to return to the
borders of civilized life in November, 1680, just after LaSalle had
returned to the wilderness on his second trip. Hennepin soon after went
to France, where he published an account of his adventures.
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28 THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY.
The Mississippi was fiist discovered by De Soto in April, 1541, in his
vain endeavor to find gold and precious gems. In the following Spring,
De Soto, weary with hope long deferred, and worn out with his wander-
ings, he fell a victim to disease, and on the 2l8t of May died. His followers,
reduced by fatigue and disease to less than three hundred men, wandered
about the country nearly a year, in the vain endeavor to rescue them-
Belves by land, and finally constructed seven small vessels, called brigan-
tines, in which they embarked, and descending the river, supposing it
would lead them to the sea, in July they came to the sea (Gulf of
Mexico), and by September reached the Island of Cuba.
They were the first to see the great outlet of the Mississippi ; but,
being so weary and discouraged, made no attempt to claim the country,
and hardly had an intelligent idea of what they had passed through.
To La Salle, the intrepid explorer, belongs the honor of giving the
first account of the mouths of the river. His great desire was to possess
this entire country for his king, and in January, 1^82, he and his band of
explorers left the shores of Lake Michigan on their third attempt, crossed
the portage, passed down the Illinois River, and oh the 6th of February,
reached the banks of the Mississippi.
On the 13th they commenced their downward course, which they
pursued with but one interruption, until upon the 6th of March they dis-
covered the three great passages by which the river discharges its waters
into the gulf. La Salle thus narrates the event :
" We landed on the bank of the most western channel, about three
leagues (nine miles) from its mouth. On the seventh, M. de LaSalle
went to reconnoiter the shores of the neighboring sea, and M. de Tonti
meanwhile examined the great middle channel. They found the main
outlets beautiful, large and deep. On the 8th we reascended the river, a
little above its confluence with the sea, to find a dry place beyond the
reach of inundations. The elevation of the North Pole was here about
twenty-seven degrees. Here we prepared a column and a cross, and to
the column were affixed the arms of France with this inscription :
Louis Le Grand, Roi De France et de Navarre, regne ; Le neuvicrae Avril, 1682.
The whole party, under arms, chanted the Te Deum^ and then, after
a salute and cries of ^^Vive le Boi^*' the column was erected by M. de
La Salle, who, standing near it, proclaimed in a loud voice the authority of
the King of France. LaSalle returned and laid the foundations of the Mis-
sissippi settlements in Illinois, thence he proceeded to France, where
another expedition was fitted out, of which he was commander, and in two
succeeding voyages failed to find the outlet of the river by sailing along
the shore of the gulf. On his third voyage he was killed, through the
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treachery of his followers, and the object of his expeditions was not
accomplished until 1699, when D'lberville, under the authority of the
crown, discovered, on tlie second of March, by way of the sea, the mouth
of the "Hidden River." This majestic stream was called by the natives
*^ Malbouchia^'' and by the Spaniards, *'Za Paliasade,'' from the great
TRAPPING.
number of trees about its mouth. After traversing the several outlets,
and satisfying himself as to its certainty, he erected a fort near its western
outlet, and returned to France.
An avenue of trade was now opened out which was fully improved.
In 1718, New Orleans was laid out and settled by some European colo-
nists. In 1762, the colony was made over to Spain, to be regained by
France under the consulate of Napoleon. In 1803, it was purchased by
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30 THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY.
the United States for the sum of fifteen million dollars, and the territory
of Louisiana and commerce of the Mississippi River came under the
charge of the United States. Although LaSalle's labors ended in defeat
and death, he had not worked and suffered in vain. He had thrown
open to France and the world an immense and most valuable country ;
had established several ports, and laid the foundations of more than one
settlement there. " Peoria, Kaskaskia and Cahokia, are to this day monu-
ments of LaSalle's labors ; for, though he had founded neither of them
(unless Peoria, which was built nearly upon the site of Fort Crevecoeur,)
it was by those whom he led into the West that these places were
peopled and civilized. He was, if not the discoverer, the first settler of
the Mississippi Valley, and as such deserves to be known and honored."
The French early improved the opening made for them. Before the
year 1698, the Rev. Father Gravier began a mission among the Illinois,
and founded Kaskaskia. For some time this was merely a missionary
station, where none but natives resided, it being one of three such vil-
lages, the other two being Cahokia and Peoria. What is known of
these missions is learned from a letter written by Father Gabriel Marest,
dated " Aux Cascaskias, autrement dit de I'lmmaculate Conception de
la Sainte Vierge, le 9 Novembre, 1712." Soon after the founding of
Kaskaskia, the missionary, Pinet, gathered a flock at Cahokia, while
Peoria arose near the ruins of Fort Crevecoeur. This must have been
about the year 1700. The post at Vincennes on the Oubache river,
(pronounced WSrbit, meaning summer cloud moving swiftly') was estab-
lished in 1702, according to the best authorities.* It is altogether prob-
able that on LaSalle's last trip he established the stations at Kaskaskia
and Cahokia. In July, 1701, the foundations of Fort Ponchartrain
were laid by De la Motte Cadillac on the Detroit River. These sta-
tions, with those established further north, were the earliest attempts to
occupy the Northwest Territory. At the same time efforts were being
made to occupy the Southwest, which finally culminated in the settle-
ment and founding of the City of New Orleans by a colony from England
in 1718. This was mainly accomplished through the efforts of the
famous Mississippi Company, established by the notorious John Law,
who so quickly arose into prominence in France, and who with his
scheme so quickly and so ignominiously passed away.
From the time of the founding of these stations for fifty years the
French nation were engrossed with the settlement of the lower Missis-
sippi, and the war with the Chicasaws, who had, in revenge for repeated
* There is considerable dispute about this date, some asserting it was founded as late as 1742. When
the new court house at Vincennes was erected, all authorities on the subject were carefully examined, and
i'/OS fixed upon as the correct date. It was accordingly engrraved on the corner-stone of the court house.
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THE NOKTHWEST TERRITORY. 81
injuries, cut off the entire colony at Natchez. Although the company
did little for Louisiana, as the entire West was then called, yet it opened
the trade through the Mississippi River, and started the raising of grains
indigenous to that climate. Until the year 1750, but little is known of
the settlements in the Northwest, as it was not until this time that the
attention of the English was called to the occupation of this portion of the
New World, which they then supposed they owned. Vivier, a missionary
among the Illinois, writing from " Aux Illinois," six leagues from Fort
Chartres, June 8, 1750, says: "We have here whites, negroes and
Indians, to say nothing of cross-breeds. There b.x^ five French villages,
and three villages of the' natives, within a space of twenty-one leagues
situated between the Mississippi and another river called the Karkadaid
(Kaskaskias). In the five French villages are, perhaps, eleven hundred
whites, three hundred blacks and some sixty red slaves or savages. The
three Illinois towns do not contain more than eight hundred souls all
told. Most of the French till the soil; they raise wheat, cattle, pigs and
horses, and live like princes. Three times as much is produced as can
be consumed ; and great quantities of grain and flour are sent to New
Orleans." This city was now the seaport town of the Northwest, and
save in the extreme northern part, where only furs and copper ore were
found, almost all the products of the country found their way to France
by the mouth of the Father of Waters. In another letter, dated Novem-
ber 7, 1750, this same priest says: "For fifteen leagues above the
mouth of the Mississippi one sees no dwellings, the ground being too low
to be habitable. Thence to New Orleans, the lands are only partially
occupied. New Orleans contains black, white and red, not more, I
think, than twelve hundred persons. To this point come all lumber,
bricks, salt-beef, tallow, tar, skins and bear's grease ; and above all, pork
and flour from the Illinois. These things create some commerce, as forty
vessels and more have come hither this year. Above New Orleans,
plantations are again met with ; the most considerable is a colony of
Germans, some ten leagues up the river. At Point Coupee, thirty -five
leagues above the German settlement, is a fort. Along here, within five
or six leagues, are not less than sixty habitations. Fifty leagues farther
up is the Natchez post, where we have a garrison, who are kept prisoners
through fear of the Chickasaws. Here and at Point Coupee, they raise
excellent tobacco. Another hundred leagues brings us to the Arkansas,
where we have also a fort and a garrison for the benefit of the river
traders. * * * From the Arkansas to the Illinois, nearly five hundred
leagues, there is not a settlement. There should be, however, a fort at
the Oubache (Ohio), the only path by which the English can reach the
Mississippi. In the Illinois country are numberless mines, but no one to
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82 THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY.
work them as they deserve." Father Marest, writing from the post at
Vinceniies in 181 2, makes the same observation. Vivier also says : " Some
individuals dig lead near the surface and supply the Indians and Canada.
Two Spaniards now here, who claim to be adepts, say that our mines are
like those of Mexico, and that if we would dig deeper, we should find
silver under the lead ; and at any rate the lead is excellent. There is also
in this country, beyond doubt, copper ore, as from time to time large
pieces are found in the streams."
HUNTING.
At the close of the year 1750, the French occupied, in addition to the
lower Mississippi posts and those in Illinois, one at Du Quesne, one at
the Maumee in the country of the Miamis, and one at Sandusky in what
may be termed the Ohio Valley. In the northern part of the Northwest
they had stations at St. Joseph's on the St. Joseph's of Lake Michigan,
at Fort Ponchartrain (Detroit), at Michillimackanac or Massillimacanac,
Fox River of Green Bay, and at Sault Ste. Marie. The fondest dreams of
LaSalle were now fully realized. The French alone were possessors of
this vast realm, basing their claim on discovery and settlement. Another
nation, however, was now turning its attention to this extensive country,
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THE NORTHWEST TBBBITOBY. 3<J
and hearing of its wealth, began to lay plans for occupying it and for
securing the great profits arising therefrom.
The French, however, had another claim to this country, namely, the
DISCOVERY OF THE OHIO.
This " Beautiful " river was discovered by Robert Cavalier de La-
Salle in 1669, four years before the discovery of the Mississippi by Joliet
and Marquette.
While LaSalle was at his trading post on the St. Lawrence, he found
leisure to study nine Indian dialects, the chief of which was the Iroquois.
He not only desired to facilitate his intercourse in trade, but he longed
to travel and explore the unknown regions of the West. An incident
soon occurred which decided him to fit out an exploring expedition.
While conversing with some Senecas, he learned of a river called the
Ohio, which rose in their country and flowed to the sea, but at such a
distance that it required eight months to reach its mouth. In this state-
ment the Mississippi and its tributaries were considered as one stream*
LaSalle believing, as most of the French at that period did, that the great
rivers flowing west emptied into the Sea of California, was anxious to
embark in the enterprise of discovering a route across the continent to
the commerce of China and Japan.
He repaired at once to Quebec to obtain the approval of the Gov-
ernor. His eloquent appeal prevailed. The Governor and the Intendant,
Talon, issued letters patent authorizing the enterprise, but made no pro-
vision to defray the expenses. At this juncture the seminary of St. Sul-
pice decided to send out missionaries in connection with the expedition^
and LaSalle offering to sell his improvements at LaChine to raise money»
the offer was accepted by the Superior, and two thousand eight hundred
dollars were raised, with which LaSalle purchased four canoes and tho
necessary supplies for the outfit.
On the 6th of July, 1669, the party, numbering twenty-four persons^
embarked in seven canoes on the St. Lawrence ; two additional canoes
carried the Indian guides. In three days they were gliding over the
bosom of Lake Ontario. Their guides conducted them directly to the
Seneca village on the bank of the Genesee, in the vicinity of the present
City of Rochester, New York. Here they expected to procure guides to
conduct them to the Ohio, but in this they were disappointed.
The Indians seemed unfriendly to the enterprise.. LaSalle suspected
that the Jesuits had prejudiced their minds against his plans. After
waiting a month in the hope of gaining their object, they met an Indian
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84 THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY.
from the Iroquois colony at the head of Lake Ontario, who assured them
that they could there find guides, and offered to conduct them thence.
On their way they passed the mouth of the Niagara River, when they
hetfrd for the first time the distant thunder of the cataract. Arriving
IKO^UOiS CUIKF.
among the Iroquois, they met with a friendly reception, and learned
from a Shawanee prisoner that they could reach the Ohio in six weeks.
Delighted with the unexpected good fortune, they made ready to resume
their journey ; but just as they were about to start they heard of the
arrival of two Frenchmen in a neighboring village. One of them proved
to be Louis Joliet, afterwards famous as an explorer in the West. He
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THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. 86
had been sent by the Canadian Government to explore the copper mines
on Lake Superior, but had failed, and was on his way back to Quebec.
I^e gave the missionaries a map of the country he had explored in the
lake region, together with an account of the condition of the Indians in
that quarter. This induced the priests to determine on leaving the
expedition and going to Lake Superior. LaSalle warned them that the
Jesuits were probably occupying that field, and that they would meet
with a cold reception. Nevertheless they persisted in their purpose, and
after worship on the lake shore, parted from LaSalle. On arriving at
Lake Superior, they found, as LaSalle had predicted, the Jesuit Fathers,
Marquette and Dablon, occupying the field.
These zealous disciples of Loyola informed them that they wanted
no assistance from St. Sulpice, nor from those who made him their patron
saint ; and thus repulsed, they returned to Montreal the following June
without having made a single discovery or converted a single Indian.
After parting with the priests, LaSalle went to the chief Iroquois
village at Onondaga, where he obtained guides, and passing thence to a
tributary of the Ohio south of Lake Erie, he descended the latter as fiur
as the falls at Louisville. Thus was the Ohio discovered by LaSalle, the
persevering and successful French explorer of the West, in 1669.
The account of the latter part of his journey is found in an anony-
mous paper, which purports to have been taken from the lips of LaSalle
himself during a subsequent visit to Paris. In a letter written to Count
Frontenac in 1667, shortly after the discovery, he himself says that he
discovered the Ohio and descended it to the falls. This was regarded as
an indisputable fact by the French authorities, who claimed the Ohio
Valley upon another ground. When Washington was sent by the colony
of Virginia in 1763, to demand of Gordeur de St. Pierre why the French
had built a fort on the Monongahela, the haughty commandant at Quebec
replied : ** We claim the country on the Ohio by virtue of the discoveries
of LaSalle, and will not give it up to the English. Our orders are to
make prisoners of every Englishman found trading in the Ohio Valley."
ENGLISH EXPLORATIONS AND SETTLEMENTS.
When the new year of 1750 broke in upon the Father of Waters
and the Great Northwest, all was still wild save at the French posts
already described. In 1749, when the English first began to think seri-
ously about sending men into the West, the greater portion of the States
of Indiana, Ohio, Illinois, Michigan, Wisconsin, and Minnesota were yet
under the dominion of the red men. The English knew, however, pretty
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86 THE NOBTHWEST TBBRITOBY.
conclusively of the nature of the wealth of these wilds. As early as
1710, Governor Spotswood, of Virginia, had commenced movements to
secure the country west of the Alleghenies to the English crown. In
Pennsylvania, Governor Keith and James Logan, secretary of the prov-
ince, from 1719 to 1731, represented to the powers of England the neces-
sity of securing the Western lands. Nothing was done, however, by that
power save to take some diplomatic steps to secure the claims of Britain
to this unexplored wilderness.
England had from the outset claimed from the Atlantic to the Pacific,
on the ground that the discovery of the seacoast and its possession was a
discovery and possession of the country, and, as is well known, her grants
to the colonies extended " from sea to sea." This was not all her claim.
She had purchased from the Indian tribes large tracts of land. This lat-
ter was also a strong argument. As early as 1684, Lord H oward. Gov-
ernor of Virginia, held a treatyiwith the six nations. These were the
great Northern Confederacy, and comprised at fii-st the Mohawks, Onei-
das, Onondagas, Cayugas, and Senecas. Afterward the Tuscaroras were
taken into the confederacy, and it became known as the Six Nations.
They came under the protection of the mother country, and again in
1701, they repeated the agreement, and in September, 1726, a formal deed
was drawn up and signed by the chiefs. The validity of this claim has
often been disputed, but never successfully. In 1744, a purchase was
made at Lancaster, Pennsylvania, of certain lands within the " Colony of
Virginia," for which the Indians received £200 in gold and a like sum in
goods, with a promise that, as settlements increased, more should be paid.
The Commissioners from Virginia were Colonel Thomas Lee and Colonel
William Beverly. As settlements extended, the promise of more pay was
called to mind, and Mr. Conrad Weiser was sent across the mountains with
presents to appease the savages. Col. Lee, and some Virginians accompa-
nied him with the intention of sounding the Indians upon their feelings
regarding the English. They were not satisfied with their treatment,
and plainly told the Commissioners why. The English did not desire the
cultivation of the country, but the monopoly of the Indian trade. In
1748, the Ohio Company was formed, and petitioned the king for a grant
of land beyond the Alleghenies. This was granted, and the government
of Virginia was ordered to grant to them a half million acres, two hun-
dred thousand of which were to be located at once. Upon the 12th of
June, 1749, 800,000 acres from the line of Canada north and west was
made to the Loyal Company, and on the 29th of October, 1751, 100,000
acres were given to the Greenbriar Company. All this time the French
were not idle. They saw that, should the British gain a foothold in the
West, especially upon the Ohio, they might not only prevent the French
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THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. ^ 87
settling upon it, but in time would come to the lower posts and so gain
possession of the whole country. Upon the 10th of May, 1774, Vaud-
reuil. Governor of Canada and the French possessions, well knowing the
consequences that must arise from allowing the English to build trading
posts in the Northwest, seized some of their frontier posts, and to further
secure the claim of the French to the West, he, in 1749, sent Louis Cel-
eron with a party of soldiers to plant along the Ohio River, in the mounds
and at the mouths of its principal tributaries, plates of lead, on which
were inscribed the claims of France. These were heard of in 1752, and
within the memory of residents now living along the " Oyo," as the
, beautiful river was called by the French. One pf these plates was found
with the inscription partly defaced. It bears date August 16, 1749, and
a copy of the inscription with particular account of the discovery of the
plate, was sent by DeWitt Clinton to the American Antiquarian Society,
among whose journals it may now be found.* These measures did not,
however, deter the English from going on with their explorations, and
though neither party resorted to arms, yet the conflict was gathering, and
it was only a question of time when the storm would burst upon the
frontier settlements. In 1750, Christopher Gist was sent by the Ohio
Company to examine its lands. He went to a village of the Twigtwees,
on the Miami, about one hundred and fifty miles above its mouth. He
afterward spoke of it as very populous. From there he went down
the Ohio River nearly to the falls at the present City of Louisville,
and in November he commenced a survey of the Company's lands. Dur-
ing the Winter, General Andrew Lewis performed a similar work for the
Greenbriar Company. Meanwhile the French were busy in preparing
their forts for defense, and in opening roads, and also sent a small party
of soldiers to keep the Ohio clear. This party, having heard of the Eng-
lish post on the Miami River, early in 1652, assisted by the Ottawas and
Chippewas, attacked it, and, after a severe battle, in which fourteen of
the natives were killed and others wounded, captured the garrison.
(They were probably garrisoned in a block house). The traders were
carried away to Canada, and one account says several were burned. This
fort or post was called by the English Pickawillany. A memorial of the
king's ministers refers to it as " Pickawillanes, in the center of the terri-
tory between the Ohio and the Wabash. The name is probably some
variation of Pickaway or Picqua in 1773, written by Rev. David Jones
Pickaweke."
* The following Is a traaslatlon of the inacrlptlon on the plate: "In the year 1749. reign of Louis XV^
King of France, we^ Celeron, commandant of a detachment by Monsieur the Marquis of Gallisonlere, com-
noQder-ln-cbief of Mew France, to establish tranquility in certain Indian villages of these cantons, have
buried this place at the confluence of the Toradalcoln. this twenty- ninth of July, near the river Ohio, otherwise
Beaatifnl RlTer, as a monument of renewal of possession which we have taken of the said river, and all its
tribaUries; Inasmuch as the preceding Kings of France have enjoyed It, and maintained It by their arms and
t; especially by those of Byswlck, Utrecht, and AIx La Ohapelle.**
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88 THE NORTHWEST TERBITOBY,
This was the first blood shed between the French and English, and
occurred near the present City of Piqua, Ohio, or at least at a point about
forty-seven miles north of Dayton. Each nation became now more inter-
ested in the progress of events in the Northwest. The English deter-
mined to purchase from the Indians a title to the lands they wished to
occupy, and Messrs. Fry (afterward Commander-in-chief over Washing-
ton at the commencement of the French War of 1775-1763), Lomax and
Patton were sent in the Spring of 1752 to hold a conference with the
natives at Logstown to learn what they objected to in the treaty of Lan-
caster already noticed, and to settle all difficulties. On the 9th of June,
these Commissioners met the red men at Logstown, a little village on the
north bank of the Ohio, about seventeen miles below the site of Pitts-
burgh. Here had been a trading point for many years, but it was aban-
doned by the Indians in 1750. At first the Indians declined to recognize
the treaty of Lancaster, but, the Commissioners taking aside Montour,
the interpreter, who was a son of the famous Catharine Montour, and a
chief among the six nations, induced him to use his influence in their
favor. This he did, and upon the 13th of June they all united in signing
a deed, confirming the Lancaster treaty in its full extent, consenting to a
settlement of the southeast of the Ohio, and guaranteeing that it should
not be disturbed by them. These were the means used to obtain the first
treaty with the Indians in the Ohio Valley.
Meanwhile the powers beyond the sea were trying to out-manoeuvre
each other, and were professing to be at peace. The English generally
outwitted the Indians, and failed in many instances to fulfill their con-
tracts. They thereby gained the ill-will of the red men, and further
increased the feeling by failing to provide them with arms and ammuni-
tion. Said an old chief, at Easton, in 1758 : ^^ The Indians on the Ohio
left you because of your own fault. When we heard the French were
coming, we asked you for help and arms, but we did not get them. The
French came, they treated us kindly, and gained our affections. The
Governor of Virginia settled on our lands for his own benefit, and, when
we wanted help, forsook us."
At the beginning of 1653, the English thought they had secured by
title the lands in the West, but the French had quietly gathered cannon
and military stores to be in readiness for the expected blow. The Eng-
lish made other attempts to ratify these existing treaties, but not until
the Summer could the Indians be gathered together to discuss the plans
of the French. They had sent messages to the French, warning them
away ; but they replied that they intended to complete the chain of forts
abeady begun, and would not abandon the field.
Soon after this, no satisfaction being obtained from the Ohio regard-
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T^B NORTHWEST TEBBITORY. 89
ing the positions and purposes of the French, Governor Dinwiddie of
Virginia determined to send to them another messenger and learn from
them, if possible, their intentions. For this purpose he selected a young
man, a surveyor, who, at the early age of nineteen, had received the rank
of major, and who was thoroughly posted regarding frontier life. This
personage was no other than the illustrious George Washington, who then
held considerable interest in Western lands. He was at this time just
twenty-two years of age. ' Taking Gist as his guide, the two, accompanied
by four servitors, set out on their perilous march. They left Will's
Creek on the 10th of November, 1768, and on the 22d reached the Monon-
gahela, about ten miles above the fork. From there they went to
LfOgstown, where Washington had a long conference with the chiefs of
the Six Nations. From them he learned the condition of the French, and
also heard of their determination not to come down the river till the fol-
lowing Spring. The Indians were non-committal, as they were afraid to
turn either way, and, as far as they could, desired to remain neutral.
Washington, finding nothing could be done with them, went on to
Venango, an old Indian town at the mouth of French Creek. Here the
French had a fort, called Fort Machault. Through the rum and flattery
of the French, he nearly lost all his Indian followers. Finding nothing
of importance here, he pursued his way amid great privations, and on the
11th of December reached the fort at the head of French Creek. Here
he delivered Grovernor Dinwiddle's letter, received his answer, took his
observations, and on the 16th set out upon his return journey with no one
but Gist, his guide, and a few Indians who still remained true to him,
notwithstanding the endeavors of the French to retain them. Their
homeward journey was one of great peril and suffering from the cold, yet
they reached home in safety on the 6th of January, 1764.
From the letter of St. Pierre, commander of the French fort, sent by
Washington to Governor Dinwiddie, it was learned that the French would
not give up without a struggle. Active preparations were at once made
in all the English colonies for the coming conflict, while the French
finished the fort at Venango and strengthened their lines of fortifications,
and gathered their forces to be in readiness.
The Old Dominion was all alive. Virginia was the center of great
activities ; volunteers were called for, and from all the neighboring
colonies men rallied to the conflict, and everywhere along the Potomac
men were enlisting under the Governor's proclamation — which promised
two hundred thousand acres on the Ohio. Along this river they were
gathering as far as Will's Creek, and far beyond this point, whither Trent
had come for assistance for his little band of forty-one men, who were
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40 THE NORTHWEST TBRBITORY.
working away in hunger and want, to fortify that point at the fork of
the Ohio, to which both parties were looking with deep interest.
" The first birds of Spring filled the air with their song ; the swift
river rolled by the Allegheny hillsides, swollen by the melting snows of
Spring and the April showers. The leaves were appearing ; a few Indian
scouts were seen, but no enemy seemed near at hand ; and all was so quiet,
that Frazier, an old Indian scout and trader, who had been left by Trent
in command, ventured to his home at the mouth of Turtle Creek, ten
miles up the Monongahela. But, though all was so quiet in that wilder-
ness, keen eyes had seen the low intrenchment rising at the fork, and
swift feet had borne the news of it up the river ; and upon the morning
of the 17th of April, Ensign Ward, who then had charge of it, saw
upon the Allegheny a sight that made his heart sink — sixty batteaux and
three hundred canoes filled with men, and laden deep with cannon and
stores. * * * That evening he supped with his captor, Contrecoeur,
and the next day he was bowed off by the Frenchman, and with hb men
and tools, marched up the Monongahela."
The French and Indian war had begun. The treaty of Aix la
Chapelle, in 1748, had left the boundaries between the French and
English possessions unsettled, and the events already narrated show the
French were determined to hold the country watered by the Mississippi
and its tributaries ; while the English laid claims to the country by virtue
of the discoveries of the Cabots, and claimed all the country from New-
foundland to Florida, extending from the Atlantic to the Pacific. The
first decisive blow had now been struck, and the first attempt of the
English, through the Ohio Company, to occupy these lands, had resulted
disastrously to them. The French and Indians immediately completed
the fortifications begun at the Fork, which they had so easily captured,
and when completed gave to the fort the name of DuQuesne. Washing-
ton was at Will's Creek when the news of the capture of the fort arrived.
He at once departed to recapture it. On his way he entrenched him-
self at a place called the " Meadows," where he erected a fort called
by him Fort Necessity. From there he surprised and captured a force of
French and Indians marching ^against him, but was soon after .attacked
in his fort by a much superior force, and was obliged to yield on the
morning of July 4th. He was allowed to return to Virginia.
The English .Government immediately planned four campaigns ; one
against Fort DuQuesne ; one against Nova Scotia ; one against Fort
Niagara, and one against Crown Point. These occurred during 1755-6,
and were not successful in driving the French from their possessions.
The expedition against Fort DuQuesne was led by the famous Geperal
Braddock, who, refusing to listen to the advice of Washington and those
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acquainted with Indian warfare, suffered such an inglorious defeat. This
occurred on the morning of July 9th, and is generally known as the battle
of Monongahela, or " Braddock's Defeat," The war continued with
various vicissitudes through the years 1766-7 ; when, at the commence-
ment of 1758, in accordance with the plans of William Pitt, then Secre-
tary of State, afterwards Lord Chatham, active preparations were made to
cany on the war. Three expeditions were planned for this year : one,
under General Amherst, against Louisburg ; another, under Abercrombie,
against Fort Ticonderoga ; and a third, under General Forbes, against
Port DuQuesne. On the 26th of July, Louisburg surrendered after a
desperate resistance of more than forty days, and the eastern part of the
Canadian possessions fell into the hands of the British. Abercrombie
captured Fort Frontenac, and when the expedition against Fort DuQuesne,
of which Washington had the active command, arrived there, it was
found in flames and deserted. The English at once took possession,
rebuilt the fort, and in honor of their illustrious statesman, changed the
name to Fort Pitt.
The great object of the campaign of 1759, was the reduction of
Canada. General Wolfe was to lay siege to Quebec ; Amherst was to
reduce Ticonderoga and Crown Point, and General Prideaux was to
capture Niagara. This latter place was taken in July, but the gallant
Prideaux lost his life in the attempt. Amherst captured Ticonderoga
and Crown Point without a blow ; and Wolfe, after making the memor-
able ascent to the Plains of Abraham, on September 13th, defeated
Montcalm, and on the 18th, the city capitulated. In this engagement
Montcolm and Wolfe both lost their lives. De Levi, Montcalm's successor,
marched to Sillery, three miles above the city, with the purpose of
defeating the English, and there, on the 28th of the following April, was
fought one of the bloodiest battles of the French and Indian War. It
resulted in the defeat of the French, and the fall of the City of Montreal.
The Governor signed a capitulation by which the whole of Canada was
surrendered to the English. This practically concluded the war, but it
was not until 1763 that the treaties of peace between France and England
were signed. This was done on the 10th of February of that year, and
under its provisions all the country east of the Mississippi and north of
the Iberville River, in Louisiana, were ceded to England. At the sanie
time Spain ceded Florida to Great Britain.
On the 13th of September, 1760, Major Robert Rogers was sent
from Montreal to take charge of Detroit, the only remaining French post
in the territory. He arrived there on the 19th of November, and sum-
moned the place to surrender. At first the commander of the post,
Beletre: refused, but on the 29th, hearing of the continued defeat of the
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42 THE NORTHWEST TERRITOKY.
French arms, surrendered. Rogers remained there until December 23d
under the personal protection of the celebrated chief, Pontiac, to whom,
no doubt, he owed his safety. Pontiac had come here to inquire the
purposes of the English in taking possession of the country. He was
assured that they came simply to trade with the natives, and did not
desire their country. This answer conciliated the savages, and did much
to insure the safety of Rogei*s and his party during their stay, and while
on their journey home.
Rogers set out for Fort Pitt on December 23, and was just one
month on the way. His route was from Detroit to Maumee, thence
across the present State of Ohio directly to the fort. This was the com-
mon trail of the Indians in their journeys from Sandusky to the fork of
the Ohio. It went from Fort Sandusky, where Sandusky City now is,
crossed the Huron river, then called Bald Eagle Creek, to '* Mohickon
John's Town" on Mohickon Creek, the northern branch of White
Woman's River, and thence crossed to Beaver's Town, a Delaware town
on what is now Sandy Creek. At Beaver's Town were probably one
hundred and fifty warriors, and not less than three thousand acres of
cleared land. From there the track went up Sandy Creek to and across
Big Beaver, and up the Ohio to Logstown, thence on to the fork.
The Northwest Territory was now entirely under the English rule.
New settlements began to be rapidly made, and the promise of a large
trade was speedily manifested. Had the British carried out their promises
with the natives none of those savage butcheries would have been perpe-
trated, and the country would have been spared their recital.
The renowned chief, Pontiac, was one of the leading spirits in these
atrocities. We will now pause in our narrative, and notice the leading
events in his life. The earliest authentic information regarding this
noted Indian chief is learned from an account of an Indian trader named
Alexander Henry, who, in the Spring of 1761, penetrated his domains as
far as Missillimacnac. Pontiac was then a great friend of the French,
but a bitter foe of the English, whom he considered as encroaching on his
hunting grounds. Henry was obliged to disguise himself as a Canadian
to insure safety, but was discovered by Pontiac, who bitterly reproached
him and the English for their attempted subjugation of the West. He
declared that no treaty had been made with them; no presents sent
them, and that he would resent any possession of the West by that nation.
He was at the time about fifty years of age, tall and dignified, and was
civil and military ruler of the Ottawas, Ojibwas and Pottawatamies.
The Indians, from Lake Michigan to the borders of North Carolina,
were united in this feeling, and at the. time of the treaty of Paris, ratified
February 10, 1763, a general conspiracy was formed to fall suddenly
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PONTIAC, THE OTTAWA CHIEFTAIN.
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44 THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY.
upon the frontier British posts, and with one blow strike every man dead.
Pontiac was the marked leader in all this, and was the commander
of the Chippewas, Ottawas, Wyandots, Miamis, Shawanese, Delawares
and Mingoes, who had, for the time, laid aside their local quarrels to unite
in this enterprise.
The blow came, as near as can now be ascertained, on May 7, 176?.
Nine British posts fell, and the Indians drank, " scooped up in the hollow
of joined hands," the blood of many a Briton.
Pontiac's immediate field of action was the garrison at Detroit.
Here, however, the plans were frustrated by an Indian woman disclosing
the plot the evening previous to his arrival. Everything was carried out,
however, according to Pontiac's plans until the moment of action, when
Major Gladwyn, the commander of the post, stepping to one of the Indian
chiefs, suddenly drew aside his blanket and disclosed the concealed
musket. Pontiac, though a brave man, turned pale and trembled. He
«aw his plan was known, and that the garrison were prepared. He
endeavored to exculpate himself from any such intentions ; but the guilt
was evident, and he and his followers were dismissed with a severe
reprimand, and warned never to again enter the walls of the post.
Pontiac at once laid siege to the fort, and until the treaty of peace
between the British and the Western Indians, concluded in August, 1764,
<5ontinued to harass and besiege the fortress. He organized a regular
commissariat department, issued bills of credit written out on bark,
which, to his credit, it may be stated, were punctually redeemed. At
the conclusion of the treaty, in which it seems he took no part, he went
further south, living many years among the Illinois.
He had given up all hope of saving his country and race. After a
time he endeavored to unite the Illinois tribe and those about St. Louis
in a war with the whites. His efforts were fruitless, and only ended in a
quarrel between himself and some Kaskaskia Indians, one of whom soon
afterwards killed him. His death was, however, avenged by the northern
Indians, who nearly exterminated the Illinois in the wars which followed.
Had it not been for the treachery of a few of his followers, his plan
for the extermination of the whites, a masterly one, would undoubtedly
have been carried out.
It "was in the Spring of the year following Rogers' visit that Alex-
ander Henry went to Missillimacnac, and everywhere found the strongest
feelings against the English, who had not carried out their promises, and
were doing nothing to conciliate the natives. Here he met the chief,
Pontiac, who, after conveying to him in a speech the idea that their
French father would awake soon and utterly destroy his enemies, said :
** Englishman, although you have conquered the French, you have not
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THE NOBTHWBST TERRITORY. 46
yet conquered us I We are not your slaves ! These lakes, these woods,
these mountains, were left us by our ancestors. They are our inheritance,
and we will part with them to none. Your nation supposes that we, like
the white people, can not live without bread and pork and beef. But you
ought to know that He, the Great Spirit and Master of Life, has provided
food for us upon these broad lakes and in these mountains."
He then spoke of the fact that no treaty had been made with them,
no presents sent them, and that he and his people were yet for war.
Such were the feelings of the Northwestern Indians immediately after
the English took possession of their country. These feelings were no
doubt encouraged by the Canadians and French, who hoped that yet the
French arms might prevail. The treaty of Paris, however, gave to the
English the right to this vast domain, and active preparations were going
on to occupy it and enjoy its trade and emoluments.
In 1762, France, by a secret treaty, ceded Louisiana to Spain, to pre-
vent it falling into the hands of the English, who were becoming masters
of the entire West. The next year the treaty of Paris, signed at Fon-
tainbleau, gave to the English the domain of the country in question.
Twenty years after, by the treaty of peace between the United States
and England, that part of Canada lying south and west of the Great
Lakes, comprehending a large territory which is the subject of these
sketches, was acknowledged to be a portion of the United States ; and
twenty years still later, in 1803, Louisiana was ceded by Spain back to
Prance, and by France sold to the United States.
In the half century, from the building of the Fort of CrevecoBur by
LaSalle, in 1680, up to the erection of Fort Chartres, many French set-
tlements had been made in that quarter. These have already been
noticed, being those at St. Vincent (Vincennes), Kohokia or Cahokia,
Kaskaskia and Prairie du Rocher, on the American Bottom, a large tract
of rich alluvial soil in Illinois, on the Mississippi, opposite the site of St.
Louis.
By the treaty of Paris, the regions east of the Mississippi, including
all these and other towns of the Northwest, were given over to England;
but they do not appear to have been taken possession of until 1766, when
Captain Stirling, in the name of the Majesty of England, established him-
self at Fort Chartres bearing with him the proclamation of General Gage,
dated December 30, 1764, which promised religious freedom to all Cath-
olics who worshiped here, and a right to leave the country with their
effects if they wished, or to remain with the privileges of Englishmen.
It was shortly after the occupancy of the West by the British that the
war with Pontiac opened. It is already noticed in the sketch of that
chieftain- By it many a Briton lost his life, and many a frontier settle-
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46 THE NOBTHWBST TBERITOBY.
ment in its infancy ceased to exist. This was not ended until the year
1764, when, failing to capture Detroit, Niagara and Fort Pitt, his confed-
eracy became disheartened, and, receiving no aid from the French, Pon-
tiac abandoned the enterprise and departed to the Illinois, among whom
lie afterward lost his life.
As soon as these diflSculties were definitely settled, settlers began
rapidly to survey the country and prepare for occupation. During the
year 1770, a number of persons from Virginia and other British provinces
explored and marked out nearly all the valuable lands on the MonoDga-
hela and along the banks of the Ohio as far as the Little Kanawha. This
was followed by another exploring expedition, in which George Washing-
ton was a party. The latter, accompanied by Dr. Craik, Capt. Crawford
and others, on the 20th of October, 1770, descended the Ohio from Pitts-
burgh to the mouth of the Kanawha ; ascended that stream about fourteen
miles, marked out several large tracts of land, shot several buflfalo, which
were then abundant in the Ohio Valley, and returned to the fort.
Pittsburgh was at this time a trading post, about which was clus-
tered a village of some twenty houses, inhabited by Indian traders. This
same year, Capt. Pittman visited Kaskaskia and its neighboring villages.
He found there about sixty-five resident families, and at Cahokia only
forty-five dwellings. At Fort Chartres was another small settlement, and
ac Detroit the garrison were quite prosperous and strong. For a year
or two settlers continued to locate near some of these posts, generally
Fort Pitt or Detroit, owing to the fears of the Indians, who still main-
tained some feelings of hatred to the English. The trade from the posts
was quite good, and from those in Illinois large quantities of pork and
flour found their way to the New Orleans market. At this time the
policy of the British Government was strongly opposed to the extension
of the colonies west. In 1763, the King of England forbade, by royal
proclamation, his colonial subjects from making a settlement beyond the
sources of the rivers which fall into the Atlantic Ocean. At the instance
of the Board of Trade, measures were taken to prevent the settlement
without the limits prescribed, and to retain the commerce within easy
reach of Great Britain.
The commander-in-chief of the king's forces wrote in 1769 : " In the
course of a few years necessity will compel the colonists, should they
extend their settlements west, to provide manufactures of some kind for
themselves, and when all connection upheld by commerce with the mother
country ceases, an independency in their government will soon follow."
In accordance with this policy. Gov. Gage issued a proclamation
in 1772, commanding the inhabitants of Vincennes to abandon their set-
tlements and join some of the Eastern English colonies. To this they
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THE NORTHWEST TERRITOEY. 47
strennously objected, giving good reasons therefor, and were allowed to
remain. The strong opposition to this policy of Great Britain led to its
change, and to such a course as to gain the attachment of the French
population. In December, 1773, influential citizens of Quebec petitioned
the king for an extension of the boundary lines of that province, which
was granted, and Parliament passed an act on June 2, 1774, extend-
ing the boundary so as to include the territory lying within the present
States of Ohio, Indiana, Illinois and Michigan.
In consequence of the liberal policy pursued by the British Govern-
ment toward the French settlers in the West, they were disposed to favor
that nation in the war which soon followed with the colonies ; but the
early alliance between France and America soon brought them to the side
of the war for independence.
In 1774, Gov. Dunmore, of Virginia, began to encourage emigration
to the Western lands. He appointed magistrates at Fort Pitt under the
pretense that the fort was under the government of that commonwealth.
One of these justices, John Connelly, who possessed a tract of lan4 in the
Ohio Valley, gathered a force of men and garrisoned the fort, calling it
Fort Dunmore. This and other parties were formed to select sites for
settlements, and often came in conflict with the Indians, who yet claimed
portions of the valley, and several battles followed. These ended in the
&moas battle of Kanawha in July, where the Indians were defeated and
driven across the Ohio.
During the years 1775 and 1776, by the operations of land companies
and the perseverance of individuals, several settlements were firmly estab-
lished between the Alleghanies and the Ohio River, and western land
speculators were busy in Illinois and on the Wabash. At a council held
in Kaskaskia on July 5, 1773, an association of English traders, calling
themselves the " Illinois Land Company," obtained from ten chiefs of the
Kaskaskia, Cahokia and Peoria tribes two large tracts of land lying on
the east side of the Mississippi River south of the Illinois. In 1775, a mer-
chant from the Illinois Country, named Viviat, came to Post Vincennes
as the agent of the association called the " Wabash Land Company." On
the 8th of October he obtained from eleven Piankeshaw chiefs, a deed for
37,497,600 acres of land. This deed was signed by the grantors, attested
by a number of the inhabitants of Vincennes, and afterward recorded in
the office of a notary public at Kaskaskia. This and other land com-
panies had extensive schemes for the colonization of the West ; but all
were frustrated by the breaking out of the Revolution. On the 20th of
April, 1780, the two companies named consolidated under the name of the
"United Illinois and Wabash Land Company." They afterward made
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48 THE NORTHWEST TfiBBITORY.
strenuous efforts to have these grants sanctioned by Congress, but all
signally failed.
When the War of the Revolution commenced, Kentucky was an unor-
ganized country, though there were several settlements within her borders.
In Hutchins' Topography of Virginia, it is stated that at that time
" Kaskaskia contained 80 houses, and nearly 1,000 white and black in-
habitants— the whites being a little the more numerous. Cahokia con-
tains 50 houses and 300 white inhabitants, and 80 negroes. There were
east of the Mississippi River, about the year 1771 " — when these observa-
tions were made — " 300 white men capable of bearing arms, and 230
negroes."
From 1775 until the expedition of Clark, nothing is recorded and
nothing known of these settlements, save what is contained in a report
made by a committee to Congress in June, 1778. From it the following
extract is made :
"Near the mouth of the River Kaskaskia, there is a village which
appears to have contained nearly eighty families from the beginning of
the late revolution. There are twelve families in a small village at la
Prairie du Rochei-s, and near fifty families at the Kahokia Village. There
are also four or five families at Fort Chartres and St. Philips, which is five
miles further up the river."
St. Louis had been settled in February, 1764, and at this time con-
tained, including its neighboring towns, over six hundred whites and one
hundred and fifty negroes. It must be remembered that all the countiy
west of the Mississippi was now under French rule, and remained so imtil
ceded again to Spain, its original owner, who afterwards sold it and the
country including New Orleans to the United States. At Detroit there
were, according to Capt. Carver, who was in the Northwest from 1766 to
1768, more than one hundred houses, and the river was settled for more
than twenty miles, although poorly cultivated — the people being engaged
in the Indian trade. This old town has a history, which we will here
relate.
It is the oldest town in the Northwest, having been founded by
Antoine de Lamotte Cadillac, in 1701. It was laid out in the form of an
oblong square, of. two acres in length, and an acre and a half in width.
As described by A. D. Frazer, who first visited it and became a permanent
resident of the place, in 1778, it comprised within its limits that space
between Mr. Palmer's store (Conant Block) and Capt. Perkins' house
(near the Arsenal building), and extended back as far as the public bam,
and was bordered in front by the Detroit River. It was surrounded by
oak and cedar pickets, about fifteen feet long, set in the ground, and had
four gates — east, west, north and south. Over the first three of these
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gates were block houses provided with four guns apiece, each a six*
pounder. Two six-gun batteries were planted fronting the river and in a^
pai-allel direction with the block houses. There were four streets running
east and west, the main street being twenty feet wide and the rest fifteen
feet, while the four streets crossing these at right angles were from ten
to fifteen feet in width.
At the date spoken of by Mr. Frazer, there was no fort within the
enclosure, but a citadel on the ground corresponding to the present
northwest comer of Jefferson Avenue and Wayne Street. The citadel was
inclosed by pickets, and within it were erected barracks of wood, two
stories high, sufficient to contain ten officers, and also barracks sufficient
to contain four hundred men, and a provision store built of brick. The
citadel also contained a hospital and guard-house. The old town of
Detroit, in 1778, contained about sixty houses, most of them one story,
with a few a story and a half in height. They were all of logs, some
hewn and some round. There was one building of splendid appearance,
called the " King's Palace," two stories high, which stood near the east
gate. It was built for Governor Hamilton, the first governor commissioned
by the British. There were two guard-houses, one near the west gate and
the other near the Government House. Each of the guards consisted of
twenty-four men and a subaltern, who mounted regularly every morning
between nine and ten o'clock. Each furnished four sentinels, who were
relieved every two hours. There was also an officer of the day, who per-
formed strict duty. Each of the gates was shut regularly at sunset ;
even wicket gates were shut at nine o'clock, and all the keys were,
delivered into the hands of the commanding officer. They were opened
in the morning at sunrise. No Indian or squaw was permitted to enter
town with any weapon, such as a tomahawk or a knife. It was a stand-
ing order that the Indians should deliver their arms and instruments of
every kind before they were permitted to pass the sentinel, and they were
restored to them on their return. No more than twenly-five Indians were
allowed to enter the town at any one time, and they were admitted only
at the east and west gates. At sundown the drums beat, and all the
Indians were required to leave town instantly. There was a council house
near the water side for the purpose of holding council with the Indians.
The population of the town was about sixty families, in all about two
hnndred males and one hundred females. This town was destroyed by
fire, all except one dwelling, in 1805. After which the present *' new "
town was laid out. •
On the breaking out of the Revolution, the British held every post of
importance in the West. Kentucky was formed as a component part of
V^irginia, and the sturdy pioneers of the West, alive to their interests,
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60 THE NORTHWEST TEERITORY.
and recognizing the great benefits of obtaining the control of the trade in
this part of the New World, held steadily to their purposes, and those
within the commonwealth of Kentucky proceeded to exercise their
civil privileges, by electing John Todd and Richard Gallaway*
burgesses to represent them in the Assembly of the parent state.
Early in September of that year (1777) the first court was held
in Harrodsburg, and Col. Bowman, afterwards major, who had arrived
in August, was made the commander of a militia organization which
had been commenced the March previous. Thus the tree of loyalty
was growing. The chief spirit in this far-out colony, who had represented
her the year previous east of the mountains, was now meditating a move
unequaled in its boldness. He had been watching the movements of the
British throughout the Northwest, and understood their whole plan. H(
saw it was through their possession of the posts at Detroit, Vincennes,
Easkaskia, and other places, which would give them constant and easy
access to the various Indian tribes in the Northwest, that the British
intended to penetrate the country from the north and soucn, ana annihi-
late the frontier fortresses. This moving, energetic man was Colonel,
afterwards General, George Rogers Clark. He knew the Indians were not
unanimously in accord with the English, and he was convinced that, could
the British be defeated and expelled from the Northwest, the natives
might be easily awed into neutrality ; and by spies sent for the purpose,
he satisfied himself that the enterprise against the Illinois settlements
might easily succeed. Having convinced himself of the certainty of the
• project, he repaired to the Capital of Virginia, which place he reached on
November 6th. While he was on his way, fortunately, on October 17th,
Burgoyne had been defeated, and the spirits of the colonists greatly
encouraged thereby. Patrick Henry was Governor of Virginia, and at
once entered heartily into Clark's plans. The same plan had before been
agitated in the Colonial Assemblies, but there was no one until Clark
came who was sufficiently acquainted with the condition of affairs at the
scene of action to be able to guide them.
Clark, having satisfied the Virginia leaders of the feasibility of his
plan, received, on the 2d of January, two sets of instructions — one secret,
the other open — the latter authorized him to proceed to enlist seven
companies to go to Kentucky, subject to his orders, and to serve three
months from their arrival in the West. The secret order authorized hkn
to arm these troops, to procure his powder and lead of General Hand
at Pittsburgh, and to proceed at once to subjii^ate the. country.
With these instructions Clark repaired to Pittsburgh, choosing rather
to raise his men west of the mountains, as he well knew all were needed
in the colonies in the conflict there. He sent Col. W* B. Smith to Hoi-
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8tou for the same purpose, but neither succeeded in raising the required
number of men. The settlers in these parts were afraid to leave their
own firesides exposed to a vigilant foe, and but few could be induced to
join the proposed expedition. With three companies and several private
volunteers, Clark at length commenced his descent of the Ohio, which he
navigated as far as the Falls, where he took possession of and fortified
Corn Island, a small island between the present Cities of Louisville,
Kentucky, and New Albany, Indiana. Remains of this fortification may
yet be found. At this place he appointed Col. Bowman to meet him
with such recruits as had 'reached Kentucky by the southern route, and
as many as could be spared from the station. Here he announced to
the men their real destination. Having completed his arrangements,
and chosen his party, he left a small garrison upon the island, and on the
24th of June, during a total eclipse of the sun, which to them augured
no good, and which fixes beyond dispute the date of starting, he with
his chosen band, fell down the river. His plan was to go by water as
far as Fort Massac or Massacre, and thence ms^rch direct to Kaskaskia.
Here he intended to surprise the garrison, and after its capture go to
Cahokia, then to Vincennes, and lastly to Detroit. Should he fail, he
intended to march directly to the Mississippi River and cross it into the
Spanish country. Before his start he received two good items of infor-
mation : one that the alliance had been formed between France and the
United States ; and the othjsr that the Indians throughout the Illinois
country and the inhabitants, at the various frontier posts, had been led to
believe by the British that the " Long Knives " or Virginians, were the
most fierce, bloodthirsty and Cruel savages that ever scalped a foe. With
this impression on their minds, Clark saw that proper management would
cause them to submit at once from fear, if surprised, and then from gi*ati«
tude would become friendly if treated with unexpected leniency.
The march to Kaskaskia was accomplished through a hot July sun,
and the town reached on the evening of July 4. He captured the fort
near the village, and soon after the village itself by surprise, and without
the loss of a single man or by killing any of the enemy. After suflSciently
working upon the fears of the natives, Clark- told them they were at per-
fect liberty to worship as they pleased, and to take whichever side of the
great conflict they would, also he would protect them from any barbarity
from British or Indian foe. This had the desired effect, and the inhab-
itants, 80 unexpectedly and so gratefully surprised by the unlocked
for turn of affairs, at oncQ swore allegiance to the American arms, and
when Clark desired to go to Cahokia on the 6th of July, they accom-
panied him, and through their influence the inhabitants of the place
surrendered, and gladly i)laced themselves under his protection. Thus
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the two important posts in Illinois passed from the hands of the English
into the possession of Virginia.
In the person of the priest at Easkaskia, M. Gibault, Clark found a
powerful ally and generous friend. Clark saw that, to retain possession
of the Northwest and treat successfully with the Indians within its boun-
daries, he must establish a government for the colonies he had taken.
St. Vincent, the next important post to Detroit, remained yet to be taken
before the Mississippi Valley was conquered. M. Gibault told him that
he would alone, by persuasion, lead Vincennes to throw off its connection
with England. Clark gladly accepted his offer, and on the 14th of July,
in company with a fellow-townsman, M. Gibault started on his mission of
peace, and on the 1st of August returned with the cheerful intelligence
that the post on the " Oubache " had taken the oath of allegiance to
the Old Dominion. During this interval, Clark established his courts,
placed garrisons at Kaskaskia and Cahokia, successfully re-enlisted his
men, sent word to have a fort, which proved the germ of Louisville,
erected at the Falls of the Ohio, and dispatched Mr. Rocheblave, who
had been commander at Kaskaskia, as a prisoner of war to Richmond.
In October the County of Illinois was established by the Legislature
of Virginia, John Todd appointed Lieutenant Colonel and Civil Governor,
and in November General Clark and his men received the thanks of
the Old Dominion through their Legislature.
In a speech a few days afterward, Clark made known fully to the
natives his plans, and at its close all came forward and swore alle-
giance to the Long Knives. While he was doing this Governor Hamilton,
having made his various arrangements, had left Detroit and moved down
the Wabash to Vincennes intending to operate from that point in reducing
the Illinois posts, and then proceed on down to Kentucky and drive the
rebels from the West. Gen, Clark had, on the return of M. Gibault,
dispatched Captain Helm, of Fauquier County, Virginia, with an attend-
ant named Henry, across the Illinois prairies to command the fort.
Hamilton knew nothing of the capitulation of the post, and was greatly
surprised on his arrival to be confronted by Capt. Helm, who, standing at
the entrance of the fort by a loaded cannon ready to fire upon his assail-
ants, demanded upon what terms Hamilton demanded possession of the
fort. Being granted the rights of a prisoner of war, he surrendered to
the British General, who could scarcely believe his eyes when he saw the
force in the garrison.
Hamilton, not realizing the character of the men with whom he was
contending, gave up his intended campaign for the Winter, sent his four
hundred Indian warriors to prevent troops from coming down the Ohio,
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ftad to annoy the Americans in all ways, and sat quietly down to pass the
Winter. Information of all these proceedings having reached Clark, he
gaw that immediate and decisive action was necessary, and that unless
he captured Hamilton, Hamilton would capture him. Clark received the
news on the 29th of January, 1779, and on February 4th, having suflB-
ciently garrisoned Kaskaskia and Cahokia, he sent down the Mississippi
a " battoe," as Major Bowman writes it, in order to ascend the Ohio and
Wabash, and operate with the land forces gathering for the fray.
On the next day, Clark, with his little force of one hundred and
twenty men, set out for the post, and after incredible hard marching
through much mud, the ground being thawed by the incessant spring
rains, on the 22d reached the fort, and being joined by his *' battoe," at
once commenced the attack on the post. The aim of the American back-
woodsman was unerring, and on the 24th the garrison surrendered to the
intrepid boldness of Clark. The French were treated with great kind-
ness, and gladly renewed their allegiance to Virginia. Hamilton was
sent as a prisoner to Virginia, where he was kept in close confinement.
Daring his command of the British frontier posts, he had offered prizes
to the Indians for all the scalps of Americans they would bring to him,
and had earned in consequence thereof the title " Hair-buyer General,"
by which he was ever afterward known.
Detroit was now without doubt within easy reach of the enterprising
Virginian, could he but raise the necessary force. Governor Henry being
apprised of this, promised him the needed reinforcement, and Clark con-
cluded to wait until he could capture and suflBciently garrison the posts.
Had Clark failed in this bold undertaking, and Hamilton succeeded in
uniting the western Indians for the next Spring's campaign, the West
would indeed have been swept from the Mississippi to the Allegheny
Mountains, and the great blow struck, which had been contemplated from
the commencement, by the British.
" But for this small army of dripping, but fearless Virginians, the
union of all the tribes from Georgia to Maine against the colonies might
have been effected, and the whole current of our history changed."
At this time some fears were entertained by the Colonial Govern-
ments that the Indians in the North and Northwest were inclining to the
British, and under the instructions of Washington, now Commander-in-
Chief of the Colonial army, and so bravely fighting for American inde-
pendence, armed forces were sent against the Six Nations, and upon the
Ohio frontier. Col. Bowman, acting under the same general's ordei-s,
marched against Indians within the present limits of that State. These
expeditions were in the main successful, and the Indians were compelled
to sue for peace.
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54 THE NOBTHWBST TBBRITOBY.
During this same year (1779) the famous " Land Laws" of Virginia
were passed. The passage of these laws was of more consequence to the
pioneers of Kentucky and the Northwest than the gaining of a few Indian
conflicts. These laws confirmed in main all grants made, and guaranteed
to all actual settlers their rights and privileges. After providing for the
settlers, the laws provided for selling the balance of the public lands at
forty cents per acre. To carry the Land Laws into effect, the Legislature
sent four Virginians westward to attend to the various claims, over many
of which great confusion prevailed concerning their validity. These
gentlemen opened their court on October 13, 1779, at St. Asaphs, and
continued until April 26, 1780, when they adjourned, having decided
three thousand claims. They were succeeded by the surveyor, who
came in the person of Mr. George May, and assumed his duties on the
10th day of the month whose name he bore. With the opening of the
next year (1780) the troubles concerning the navigation of the Missis-
sippi commenced. The Spanish Government exacted such measures in
relation to its trade as to cause the overtures made to the United States
to be rejected. The American Government considered they had a right
to navigate its channel. To enforce their claims, a fort was erected below
the mouth of the Ohio on the Kentucky side of the river. The settle-
ments in Kentucky were being rapidly filled by emigrants. It was dur-
ing this year that the first seminary of learning was established in the
Wes^t in this young and enterprising Commonwealth.
The settlers here did not look upon the building of this fort in a
friendly manner, as it aroused the hostility of the Indians. Spain had
been friendly to the Colonies during their struggle for independence,
and though for a while this friendship appeared in danger from the
refusal of the free navigation of the river, yet it was finally settled to the
satisfaction of both nations.
The Winter of 1779-80 was one of the most unusually severe ones
ever experienced in the West. The Indians always referred to it as the
"Great Cold." Numbers of wild animals perished, and not a few
pioneers lost their lives. The following Summer a party of Canadians
and Indians attacked St. Louis, and attempted to take possession of it
in consequence of the friendly disposition of Spain to the revolting
colonies. They met with such a determined resistance on the part of the
inhabitants, even the women taking part in the battle, that they were
compelled to abandon the contest. They also made an attack on the
settlements in Kentucky, but, becoming alarmed in some unaccountable
manner, they fled the country in great haste.
About this time arose the question in the Colonial Congress con-
cerning the western lands claimed by Virginia, New York, Massachusetts
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THE NORTHWEST TERRITOBY. 65
and Connecticut. The agitation concerning this subject finally led New
York, on the 19th of February, 1780, to pass a law giving to the dele-
gates of that State in Congress the power to cede her western lands for
the benefit of the United States, This law was laid before Congress
during the next month, but no steps were taken concerning it until Sep-
tember 6th, when a resolution passed that body calling upon the States
claiming western lands to release their claims in favor of the whole body.
This basis formed the union, and was the first after all of those legislative
measures which resulted in the creation of the States of Ohio, Indiana,
Illinois, Michigan, Wisconsin and Minnesota. In December of the same
year, the plan of conquering Detroit again arose. The conquest might
have easily been effected by Clark had the necessary aid been furnished
him. Nothing decisive was done, yet the heads of the Government knew
that the safety of the Northwest from British invasion lay in the capture
and retention of that important post, the only unconquered one in the
territory.
Before the close of the year, Kentucky was divided into the Coun-
ties of Lincoln, Fayette and Jefferson, and the act establishing the Town
of Louisville was passed. This same year is also noted in the annals of
American history as the year in which occurred Arnold's treason to the
United States.
Virginia, in accordance with the resolution of Congress, on the 2d
day of January, 1781, agreed to yield her western lands to the United
States upon certain conditions, which Congress would not accede to, and
the Act of Cession, on the part of the Old Dominion, failed, nor was
anything farther done until 1783. During all that time the Colonies
were busily engaged in the struggle with the mother country, and in.
consequence thereof but little heed was given to the western settlements.
Upon the 16th of April, 1781, the first birth north of the Ohio River of
American parentage occurred, being that of Mary Heckewelder, daughter
of the widely known Moravian missionary, whose band of Christian
Indians suffered in after years a horrible massacre by the hands of the
frontier settlers, who had been exasperated by the murder of several of
their neighbors, and in their rage committed, without regard to humanity,
a deed which forever afterwards cast a shade of shame upon their lives.
For this and kindred outrages on the part of the whites, the Lidians
committed many deeds of cruelty which darken the years of 1771 and
1772 in the history of the Northwest.
During the year 1782 a number of battles among the Indians and
frontiersmen occurred, and between the Moravian Indians and the Wyan-
dots. In these, horrible acts of cruelty were practised on the captives,
many of such dark deeds transpiring under the leadership of the notorious
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56 THE NORTHWEST TERBITOBY.
frontier outlaw, Simon Girty, whose name, as well as those of his brothers,
was a terror to women and children. These occurred chiefly in the Ohio
valleys. Cotemporary with them were several engagements in Kentucky,
in which the famous Daniel Boone engaged, and who, often by his skill
and knowledge of Indian warfare, saved the outposts from cruel destruo-
INDIANS ATTACKING FRONTIERSMEN.
tion. By the close of the year victory had perched upon the American
banner, and on the 30th of November, provisional articles of peace had
been arranged between the Commissioners of England and her uncon-
querable colonies. Cornwallis had been defeated on the 19th of October
preceding, and the liberty of America was assured. On the 19th of
April following, the anniversary of the battle of Lexington, peace was
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THE NORTHWEST TEBRITORY. 57
proclaimed to the army of the United States, and on the 2d of the next
September, the definite treaty which ended our revolutionary struggle
was concluded. By the terms of that treaty, the boundaries of the West
were as follows : On the north the line was to extend along the center of
the Greaf Lakes ; from the western point of Lake Superior to Long Lake ;
thence to the Lake of the Woods ; thence to the head of the Mississippi
River; down its center to the 31st parallel of latitude, then on that line
east to the head of the Appalachicola River ; down its center to its junc-
tion with the Flint ; thence straight to the head of St. Mary's River, and
thence down along its center to the Atlantic Ocean.
Following the cessation of hostilities with England, several posts
were still occupied by the British in the North and West. Among these
was Detroit, still in the hands of the enemy. Numerous engagements
with the Indians throughout Ohio and Indiana occurred, upon whose
lands adventurous whites would settle ere the title had been acquired by
the proper treaty.
To remedy this latter evil. Congress appointed commissioners to
treat with the natives and purchase their lands, and prohibited the set-
tlement of the territory until this could be done. Before the close of the
year another attempt was made to capture Detroit, which was, however,
not pushed, and Virginia, no longer feeling the interest in the Northwest
she had formerly done, withdrew her troops, having on the 20th of
December preceding authorized the whole of her possessions to be deeded
to the United States. This was done on the 1st of March following, and
the Northwest Territory passed from the control of the Old Dominion.
To Gen. Clark and his soldiers, however, she gave a tract of one hundred
and fifty thousand acres of land, to be situated any where north of the
Ohio wherever they chose to locate them. They selected the region
opposite the falls of the Ohio, where is now the dilapidated village of
Clarksville, about midway between the Cities of New Albany and Jeffer-
sonville, Indiana.
While the frontier remained thus, and Gen. Haldimand at Detroit
refused to evacuate alleging that he had no orders from his King to do
80, settlers were rapidly gathering about the inland forts. In the Spring
of 1784, Pittsburgh was regularly laid out, and from the journal of Arthur
Lee, who passed through the town soon after on his way to the Indian
council at Fort Mcintosh, we suppose it was not very prepossessing in
appearance. He says :
" Pittsburgh is inhabited almost entirely by Scots and Irish, who
hve in paltry log houses, and are as dirty as if in the north of Ireland or
even Scotland. There is a great deal of trade carried on, the goods being
bought at the vast expense of forty-five shillings per pound from Phila-
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58 THE NOBTHWEST TERRITORY.
delphia and Baltimore. They take in the shops flour, wheat, skins and
money. There are in the town four attorneys, two doctors, and not a
priest of any persuasion, nor church nor chapel."
Kentucky at this time contained thirty thousand inhabitants, and
was beginning to discuss measures for a separation from Virginia. A
land office was opened at Louisville, and measures were adopted to take
defensive precaution against the Indians who were yet, in some instances,
incited to deeds of violence by the British. Before the close of this yeai*,
1784, the military claimants of land began to occupy them, although no
entries were recorded until 1787.
The Indian title to the Northwest was not yet extinguished. They
held large tracts of lands, and in order to prevent bloodshed Congress
adopted means for treaties with the original owners and provided for the
surveys of the lands gained thereby, as well as for those north of the
Ohio, now in its possession. On January 31, 1786, a treaty was made
with the Wabash Indians. The treaty of Fort Stanwix had been made
in 1784. That at Fort Mcintosh in 1785, and through these much land
was gained. The Wabash Indians, however, afterward refused to comply
with the provisions of the treaty made with them, and in order to compel •
their adherence to its provisions, force was used. During the year 1786,
the free navigation of the Mississippi came up in Congress, and caused
various discussions, which resulted in no definite action, only serving to
excite speculation in regard to the western lands. Congress had promised
bounties of land to the soldiers of the Revolution, but owing to the
unsettled condition of affairs along the Mississippi respecting its naviga-
tion, and the trade of the Northwest, that body had, in 1783, declared
its inability to fulfill these promises until a treaty could be concluded
between the two Governments. Before the close of the year 1786, how-
ever, it was able, through the treaties with the Indians, to allow some
grants and the settlement thereon, and on the 14th of September Con-
necticut ceded to the General Government the tract of land known as
the " Connecticut Reserve," and before the close of the following year a
large tract of land north of the Ohio was sold to a company, who at once
took measures to settle it. By the provisions of this grant, the company
were to pay the United States one dollar per acre, subject to a deduction
of one-third for bad lands and other contingencies. They received
760,000 acres, bounded on the south by the Ohio, on the east by the
seventh range of townships, on the west by the sixteenth range, and on
the north by a line so drawn as to make the grant complete vnthout
the reservations. In addition to this. Congress afterward granted 100,000
acres to actual settlers, and 214,285 acres as army bounties under the
resolutions of 1789 and 1790.
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THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. 59
While Dr. Cutler, one of the agents of the company, was pressing
its claims before Congress, that body was bringing into form an ordinance
for the political and social organization of this Territory. When the
cession was made by Virginia, in 1784, a plan was offered, but rejected.
A motion had been made to strike from the proposed plan the prohibition
of slavery, which prevailed. The plan was then discussed and altered,
and finally passed unanimously, with the exception of South Carolina.
By this proposition, the Territory was to have been divided into states
A PRAIRIE STORM.
by parallels and meridian lines. This, it was thought, would make ten
states, which were to have been named as follows — beginning at the
northwest comer and going southwardly : Sylvania, Michigania, Cher-
sonesus, Assenisipia, Metropotamia, lUenoia, Saratoga, Washington, Poly-
potamia and Pelisipia.
There was a more serious objection to this plan than its category of
names, — the boundaries. The root of the diflBculty was in the resolu-
tion of Congress passed in October, 1780, which fixed the boundaries
of the ceded lands to be from one hundred to one hundred and fifty miles
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60 THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY.
square. These resolutions being presented to the Legislatures of Vir-
ginia and Massachusetts, they desired a change, and in July, 1786, the
subject was taken up in Congress, and changed to favor a division into
not more than five states, and not less than three. This was approved by
the State Legislature of Virginia. The subject of the Government was
again taken up by Congress in 1786, and discussed throughout that year
and until July, 1787, when the famous "Compact of 1787" was passed,
and the foundation of the government of the Northwest laid. This com-
pact is fully discussed and explained in the history of Illinois in this book,
and to it the reader is referred.
The passage of this act and the grant to the New England Company
was soon followed by an application to the Government by John Cleves
Symmes, of New Jersey, for a grant of the land between the Mianais.
This gentleman had visited these lands soon after the treaty of 1786, and,
being greatly pleased with them, offered similar terms to those given to the
New England Company. The petition was referred to the Treasury
Board with power to act, and a contract was concluded the following
year. During the Autumn the directors of the New England Company
were preparing to occupy their grant the following Spring, and upon the
23d of November made arrangements for a party of forty-seven men,
under the superintendency of Gen. Rufus Putnam, to set forward. Six
boat-builders were to leave at once, and on the first of January the sur-
veyors and their assistants, twenty-six in number, were to meet at Hart-
ford and proceed on their journey westward ; the remainder to follow as
soon as possible. Congress, in the meantime, upon the 8d of October,
had ordered seven hundred troops for defuse of the western settlers, and
to prevent unauthorized intrusions ; and two days later appointed Arthur
St. Clair Governor of the Territory of the Northwest.
AMERICAN SETTLEMENTS.
The civil organization of the Northwest Territory was now com*
plete, and notwithstanding the uncertainty of Indian affairs, settlers from
the East began to come into the country rapidly. The New England
Company sent their men during the Winter of 1787-8 pressing on over
the AUeghenies by the old Indian path which had been opened into
Braddock's road, and which has since been made a national turnpike
from Cumberland westward. Through the weary winter days they toiled
on, and by April were all gathered on the Yohiogany, where boats had
been built, and at once started for the Muskingum. Here they arrived
on the 7th of that month, and unless the Moravian missionaries be regarded
as the pioneers of Ohio, this little band can justly claim that honor.
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Gen. St. Clair, the appointed Governor of the Northwest, not having
yet arrived, a set of laws were passed, written out, and published by
being nailed to a tree in the embryo town, and Jonathan Meigs appointed
to administer them.
Washington in writing of this, the first American settlement in the
Northwest, said : " No colony in America was ever settled under
such favorable auspices as that which has just commenced at Muskingum.
Information, property and strength will be its characteristics* I know
many of its settlers personally, and there never were men better calcu-
lated to promote the welfare of such a community."
A PIONEER DWELLING.
On the 2d of July a meeting of the directors and agents was held
on the banks of the Muskingum, *' for the purpose of naming the new-
bom city and its squares." As yet the settlement was known as the
^'Muskingum," but that was now changed to the name Marietta, in honor
of Marie Antoinette. The square upon which the block - houses stood
was called "(7am/m«ilfartii^;" square number 19, ^^ Capitolium ;'' square
number 61, ^*' Cecilia ;'' and the great road through the covert way, " Sacra
Fta." Two days after, an oration was delivered by James M. Varnum,
who with S. H. Parsons and John Armstrong had been appointed to the
judicial bench of the territory on the 16th of October, 1787. On July 9,
Gov. St. Clair arrived, and the cplony began to assume form. The act
of 1787 provided two district grades of government for the Northwest,
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62 THE NORTETWBST TEEEITOBY.
under the first of which the whole power was invested in the hands of a
governor and three district judges. This was immediately formed upon
the Governor's arrival, and the first laws of the colony passed on the 25th
of July. These provided for the organization of the militia, and on the
next day appeared the Governor's proclamation, erecting all that country
that had been ceded by the Indians east of the Scioto River into the
County of Washington. From that time forward, notwithstanding the
doubts yet existing as to the Indians, all Marietta prospered, and on the
2d of September the first court of the territory was held with imposing
ceremonies.
The emigration westward at this time was very great. The com-
mander at Fort Harmer, at the mouth of the Muskingum, reported four
thousand five hundred persons as having passed that post between. Feb-
ruary and June, 1788 — many of whom would have purchased of the
"Associates," as the New England Company was called, had they been
ready to receive them.
On the 26th of November, 1787, Symmes issued a pamphlet stating
the terms of his contract and the plan of sale he intended to adopt. In
January, 1788, Matthias Denman, of New Jersey, took an active interest
in Symmes' purchase, and located among other tracts the sections upon
which Cincinnati has been built. Retaining one-third of this locality, he
sold the other two-thirds to Robert Patterson and John Filson, and the
I three, about August, commenced to lay out a town on the spot, which
was designated as being opposite Licking River, to the mouth of which
they proposed to have a road cut from Lexington. The naming of the
town is thus narrated in the "Western Annals " : — " Mr. Filson, who had
been a schoolmaster, was appointed to name the town, and, in respect to
its situation, and as if with a prophetic perception of the mixed race that
were to inhabit it in after days, he named it Losantiville, which, being
interpreted, means : ville^ the town ; antiy against or opposite to ; o«, the
mouth ; L. of Licking."
Meanwhile, in July, Symmes got thirty persons and eight four-horse
teams under way for the West. These reached Limestone (now Mays-
ville) in September, where were several persons from Redstone. Here
Mr. Symmes tried to found a settlement, but the great freshet of 1789
caused the " Point," as it was and is yet called, to be fifteen feet under
water, and the settlement to be abandoned. The little band of settlers,
removed to the mouth of the Miami. Before Symmes and his colony left
the " Point," two settlements had been made on his purchase. The first
was by Mr. Stiltes, the original projector of the whole plan, who, with a
colony of Redstone people, had located at the mouth of the Miami,
whither Symmes went with his Maysville colony. Here a clearing had
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THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. 68
been made by the Indians owing to the great fertility of the soil. Mr.
suites with his colony came to this place on the 18th of November, 1788,
with twenty-six persons, and, building a block-house, prepared to remain
through the Winter. They named the settlement Columbia. Here they
were kindly treated by the Indians, but suffered greatly from the flood
of 1789.
On the 4th of March, 1789, the Constitution of the United States
went into operation, and on April 30, George Washington was inaug-
urated President of the American people, and during the next Summer,
an Indian war was commenced by the tribes north of the Ohio. The
President at first used pacific means ; but these failing, he sent General
Harmer against the hostile tribes. He destroyed several villages, but
BREAKING PBAIBIE.
was defeated in two battles, near the present City of Fort Wayne,
Indiana. From this time till the close of 1795, the principal events were
the wars with the various Indian tribes. In 1796, General St. Clair
was appointed in command, and marched against the Indians ; but while
he was encamped on a stream, the St. Mary, a branch of the Maumee,
he was attacked and defeated with the loss of six hundred men.
General Wayne was now sent against the savages. In August, 1794,
he met them near the rapids of the Maumee, and gained a complete
victory. This success, followed by vigorous measures, compelled the
Indians to sue for peace, and on the 30th of July, the following year, the
treaty of Greenville was signed by the principal chiefs, by which a large
tract of country was ceded to the United States.
Before proceeding in our narrative, we will pause to notice Fort
Washington, erected in the early part of this war on the site of Cincinnati.
Nearly all of the great cities of the Northwest, and indeed of the
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64 THE NORTHWEST TEREITOEY.
whole country, have had their nuclei in those rude pioneer structures,
known as forts or stockades. Thus Forts Dearborn, Washington, Pon-
chartrain, mark the original sites of the now proud Cities of Chicago,
Cincinnati and Detroit. So of most of the flourishing cities east and west
of the Mississippi. Fort Washington, erected by Doughty in 1790, was a
rude but highly interesting structure. It was composed of a number of
strongly-built hewed log cabins. Those designed for soldiers' barracks
were a story and a half high, while those composing the o£Scers quarters
were more imposing and more conveniently arranged and furnished.
The whole were so placed as to form a hollow square, enclosing about an
acre of ground, with a block house at each of the four angles.
The logs for the construction of this fort were cut from the ground
upon which it was erected. It stood between Third and Fourth Streets
of the present city (Cincinnati) extending east of Eastern Row, now
Broadway, which was then a narrow alley, and the eastern boundary of
of the town as it was originally laid out. On the bank of the river,
immediately in front of the fort, was an appendage of the fort, called the
Artificer's Yard. It contained about two acres of ground, enclosed by
small contiguous buildings, occupied by workshops and quartei's of
laborers. Within this enclosure there was a large two-story frame house,
familiarly called the " Yellow House," built for the accommodation of
the Quartermaster General. For many years this was the best finished
and most commodious edifice in the Queen City. Fort Washington was
for some time the headquarters of both the civil and military governments
of the Northwestern Territory. »
Following the consummation of the treaty various gigantic land spec-
ulations were entered into by diflferent persons, who hoped to obtain
from the Indians in Michigan and northern Indiana, large tracts of lands.
These were generally discovered in time to prevent the outrageous
schemes from being carried out, and from involving the settlers in war.
On October 27, 1795, the treaty between the United States and Spain
was signed, whereby the free navigation of the Mississippi was secured-
No sooner had the treaty of 1795 been ratified than settlements began
to pour rapidly into the West. The great event of the year 1796 was the
occupation of that part of the Northwest including Michigan, which was
this year, under the provisions of the treaty, evacuated by the British
forces. The United States, owing to certain conditions, did not feel
justified in addressing the authorities in Canada in relation to Detroit
and other frontier posts. When at last the British authorities were
called to give them up, they at once complied, and General Wayne, who
had done so much to preserve the frontier settlements, and who, before
the year's close, sickened and died near Erie, transferred his head-
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THE N0BTHWB8T TEBBITORY. * 65
quarters to the neighborhood of the lakes, where a county named after
him was formed, which included the northwest of Ohio, all of Michigan,
and the northeast of Indiana. During this same year settlements were
formed at the present City of Chillicothe, along the Miami from Middle-
town to Piqua, while in the more distant West, settlers and speculators
began to appear in great numbers. In September, the City of Cleveland
was laid out, and during the Summer and Autumn, Samuel Jackson and
Jonathan Sharpless erected the first manufactory of paper — the " Red-
stone Paper Mill " — in the West. St. Louis contained some seventy
houses, and Detroit over three hundred, and along the river, contiguous
to it, were more than three thousand inhabitants, mostly French Canadians,
Indians and half-breeds, scarcely any Americans venturing yet into that
part of the Northwest.
The election of representatives for the territory had taken place,
and on the 4th of February, 1799, they convened at Losantiville — now
known as Cincinnati, having been named so by Gov. St. Clair, and
considered the capital of the Territory — to nominate persons from whom
the members of the Legislature were to be chosen in accordance with
a previous ordinance. This nomination being made, the Assembly
adjourned until the 16th of the following September. From those named
the President selected as members of the council, Henry Vandenburg,
of Vincennes, Robert Oliver, of Marietta, James Findlay and Jacob
Burnett, of Cincinnati, and David Vance, of Vanceville. On the 16th
of September the Territorial Legislature met, and on the 24th the two
houses were duly organized, Henry Vandenburg being elected President
of the Council.
The message of Gov. St. Clair was addressed to the Legislature
September 20th, and on October 18th that body elected as a delegate to
Congress Gen. Wm. Henry Harrison, who received eleven of the votes
cast, being a majority of one over his opponent, Arthur St. Clair, son of
Gen. St. Clair.
The whole number of acts passed at this session, and approved by
the Governor, were thirty-seven — eleven others were passed, but received
his veto. The most important of those passed related to the militia, to
the administration, and to taxation. On the 19th of December this pro-
tracted session of the first Legislature in the West was closed, and on the
30th of December the President nominated Charles Willing Bryd to the
office of Secretary of the Territory vice Wm. Henry Harrison, elected to
Congress. The Senate confirmed his nomination the next day.
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66 THE NOBTHWB8T TBRRITOBY.
DIVISION OF THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY.
The increased emigration to the Northwest, the extent of the domab,
and the inconvenient modes of travel, made it very diflBcult to conduct
the ordinary operations of government, and rendered the efficient action
of courts almost impossible. To remedy this, it was deemed advisable to
divide the territory for civil purposes. Congress, in 1800, appointed a
committee to examine the question and report some means for its solution.
This committee, on the 3d of March, reported that :
" In the three western countries there has been but one court having
cognizance of crimes, in five years, and the immunity which ofifenders
experience attracts, as to an asylum, the most vile and abandoned crim-
inals, and at the same time deters useful citizens from making settlements
in such society. The extreme necessity of judiciary attention and assist-
ance is experienced in civil as well as in criminal cases. ♦ * ♦ ♦ To
minister a remedy to these and other evils, it occui*s to this committee
that it is expedient that a division of said territory into two distinct and
separate governments should be made ; and that such division be made
by a line beginning at the mouth of the Great Miami River, running
directly north until it intersects the boundary between the United States
and Canada."
The report was accepted by Congress, and, in accordance with its
suggestions, that body passed an Act extinguishing the Northwest Terri-
tory, which Act was approved May 7. Among its provisions were these :
*' That from and after July 4 next, all that part of the Territory of
the United States northwest of the Ohio River, which lies to the westward
of a line beginning at a point on the Ohio, opposite to the mouth of the
Kentucky River, and running thence to Fort Recovery, and thence north
until it shall intersect the territorial line between the United States and
Canada, shall, for the purpose of temporary government, constitute a
separate territory, and be called the Indiana Territory."
After providing for the exercise of the civil and criminal powers of
the territories, and other provisions, the Act further provides :
" That until it shall otherwise be ordered by the Legislatures of the
said Territories, respectively, Chillicothe on the Scioto River shall be the
seat of government of the Territory of the United Stales northwest of the
Ohio River ; and that St. Vincennes on the Wabash River shall be the
seat of government for the Indiana Territory."
Gen. Wm. Henry Harrison was appointed Governor of the Indiana
Territory, and entered upon his duties about a year later. Connecticut
also about this time released her claims to the reserve, and in March a law
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THE NORTHWEST TBREITOBY. 67
was passed accepting this cession. Settlements had been made upon
thirty-five of the townships in the reserve, mills had been built, and seven
hundred miles of road cut in various directions. On the 3d of November
the General Assembly met at Chillicothe. Near the close of the year,
the first missionary of the Connecticut Reserve came, who found no
township containing more than eleven families. It was upon the first of
October that the secret treaty had been made between Napoleon and the
King of Spain, whereby the latter agreed to cede to France the province
of Louisiana.
In January, 1802, the Assembly of the Northwestern Territory char-
tered the college at Athens. Prom the earliest dawn of the western
colonies, education was promptly provided for, and as early as 1787,
newspapers were issued from Pittsburgh and Kentucky, and largely read
throughout the frontier settlements. Before the close of this year, the
Congress of the United States granted to the citizens of the Northwestern
territory the formation of a State government. One of the provisions of
the "compact of 1787" provided that whenever the number of inhabit-
ants within prescribed limits exceeded 45,000, they should be entitled to
a separate government. The prescribed limits of Ohio contained, from a
census taken to ascertain the legality of the act, more than that number,
and on the 30th of April, 1802, Congress passed the act defining its limits,
and on the 29th of November the Constitution of the new State of Ohio,
so named from the beautiful river forming its southern boundary, came
into existence. The exact limits of Lake Michigan were not then known,
but the territory now included within the State of Michigan was wholly
within the territory of Indiana.
Gen. Harrison, while residing at Vincennes, made several treaties
with the Indians, thereby gaining large tracts of lands. The next year is
memorable in the history of the West for the purchase of Louisiana from
France by the United States for $15,000,000. Thus by a peaceful mode,
the domain of the United States was extended over a large tract of
country west of the Mississippi, and was for a time under the jurisdiction
of the Northwest government, and, as has been mentioned in the early
part of this narrative, was called the "New Northwest.'* The limits
of this history will not allow a description of its territory. The same year
large grants of land were obtained from the Indians, and the House of
Representatives of the new State of Ohio signed a bill respecting the
College Township in the district of Cincinnati.
Before the close of the year. Gen. Harrison obtained additional
grants of lands from the various Indian nations in Indiana and the present
limits of Illinois, and on the 18th of August, 1804, completed a treaty at
St Louis, whereby over 61,000,000 acres of lands were obtained from the
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68 THE KOBTHWBST TEBBITOBY.
aborigines. Measures were also taken to learn the condition of affairs in
and about Detroit.
C. Jouett, the Indian agent in Michigan, still a part of Indiana Terri-
tory, reported as follows upon the condition of matters at that post :
" The Town of Detroit. — The charter, which is for fifteen miles
square, was granted in the time of Louis XIY. of France, and is now,
from the best information I have been able to get, at Quebec. Of those
two hundi'ed and twenty-five acres, only four are occupied by the town
and Fort" Lenault. The remainder is a common, except twenty-four
acres, which were added twenty years ago to a farm belonging to Wm.
Macomb. * * ♦ A stockade incloses the town, fort and citadel. The
pickets, as well as the public houses, are in a state of gradual decay. The
streets are narrow, straight and regular, and intersect each other at right
angles. The houses are, for the most part, low and inelegant."
During this year, Congress granted a township of land for the sup-
port of a college, and began to offer inducements for settlers in these
wilds, and the country now comprising the State of Michigan began to
fill rapidly with settlers along its southern borders. This same year, also,
a law was passed organizing the Southwest Territory, dividing it into two
portions, the Territory of New Orleans, which city was made the seat of
government, and the District of Louisiana, which was annexed to the
domain of Gen. Harrison.
On the 11th of January, 1805, the Territory of Michigan was foimed,
Wm. Hull was appointed governor, with headquarters at Detroit, the
change to take effect on June 30. On the 11th of that month, a fire
occurred at Detroit, which destroyed almost every building in the place.
When the officers of the new territory reached the post, they found it in
ruins, and the inhabitants scattered throughout the country. Rebuild-
ing, however, soon commenced, and ere long the town contained more
houses than before the fire, and many of them much better built.
While this was being done, Indiana had passed to the second grade
of government, and through her General Assembly had obtained large
, tracts of land from the Indian tribes. To all this the celebrated Indian,
Tecumthe or Tecumseh, vigorously protested, and it was the main cause
of his attempts to unite the various Indian tribes in a conflict with the
settlers. To obtain a full account of these attempts, the workings of the
British, and the signal failure, culminating in the death of Tecumseh at
the battle of tlie Thames, and the close of the war of 1812 in the Northwest,
we will step aside in our story, and relate the principal events of his life»
and his connection with this conflict.
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TECUM8EH, THE SHAWANOE CHIEFTAIN.
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TO THE NOETHWBST TBEBITOBY.
TECUMSEH, AND THE WAR OF 1812.
This famous Indian chief was born about the year 1768, not far from
the site of the present City of Piqua, Ohio. His father, Puckeshinwa,
was a member of the Kisopok tribe of the Swanoese nation, and his
mother, Methontaske, was a member of the Turtle tribe of the same
people. They removed from Florida about the middle of the last century
to the birthplace of Tecumseh. In 1774, his father, who had risen to be
chief, was slain at the battle of Point Pleasant, and not long after Tecum-
seh, by his bravery, became the leader of his tribe. In 1795 he was
declared chief, and then lived 'at Deer Creek, near the site of the
present City of Urbana. He remained here about one year, when he
returned to Piqua, and in 1798, he went to White River, Indiana. In
1805, he and his brother, Laulewasikan (Open Door), who had announced
himself as a prophet, went to a tract of land on the Wabash River, given
them by the Pottawatomies and Kickapoos. From this date the chiel
comes into prominence. He was now about thirty-seven years of age,
was five feet and ten inches in height, was stoutly built, and possessed of
enormous powers of endurance. His countenance was naturally pleas-
ing, and he was, in general, devoid of those savage attributes possessed
by most Indians. It is stated he could read and write, and had a confi-
dential secretary and adviser, named Billy Caldwell, a half-breed, who
afterward became chief of the Pottawatomies. He occupied the first
house built on the site of Chicago. At this time, Tecumseh entered
upon the great work of his life. He had long objected to the grants of
land made by the Indians to the whites, and determined to unite all the
Indian tribes into a league, in order that no treaties or grants of land
could be made save by the consent of this confederation.
He traveled constantly, going from north to south ; from the south
to the north, everywhere urging the Indians to this step. He was a
matchless orator, and his burning words had their effect.
Gen. Harrison, then Governor of Indiana, by watching the move-
ments of the Indians, became convinced that a grand conspiracy was
forming, and made preparations to defend the settlements. Tecumseh' s
plan was similar to Pontiac's, elsewhere described, and to the cunning
artifice of that chieftain was added his own sagacity.
During the year 1809, Tecumseh and the prophet were actively pre-
paring for the work. In that year. Gen. Harrison entered into a treaty
with the Delawares, Kickapoos, Pottawatomies, Miamis, Eel River Indians
and Weas, in which these tribes ceded to the whites certain lands upon
the Wabash, to all of which Tecumseh entered a bitter protest, averring
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THE NORTHWEST TEERITOBY. 71
as one principal reason that he did not want the Indians to give up any
lands north and west of the Ohio River.
Tecumseh, in August, 1810, visited the General at Vincennes and
held a council relating to the grievances of the Indians. Becoming unduly
angry at this conference he was dismissed from the village, and soon after
departed to incite the southern Indian tribes to the conflict.
Gen. Harrison determined to move upon the chiefs headquarters at
Tippecanoe, and for this purpose went about sixty-five miles up the
Wabash, where he built Fort Harrison. From this place he went to the
prophet's town, where he informed the Indians he had no hostile inten-
tions, provided they were true to the existing treaties. He encamped
near the village early in October, and on the morning of November 7, he
was attacked by a large force of the Indians, and the famous battle of
Tippecanoe occurred. The Indians were routed and their town broken
up. Tecumseh returning not long after, was greatly exasperated at his
brother, the prophet, even threatening to kill him for rashly precipitating
the war, and foiling his (Tecumseh's) plans.
Tecumseh sent word to Gen. Harrison that he was now returned
from the South, and was ready to visit the President as had at one time
previously been proposed. Gen. Harrison informed him he could not go
as a chief, which method Tecumseh desired, and the visit was never
made.
In June of the following year, he visited the Indian agent at
Fort Wayne. Here he disavowed any intention to make a war against
the United States, and reproached Gen. Harrison for marching against his
people. The agent replied to this ; Tecumseh listened with a cold indif-
ference, and after making a few general remarks, with a haughty air drew
his blanket about him, left the council house, and departed for Fort Mai-
den, in Upper Canada, where he joined the British standard.
He remained under this Government, doing effective work for the
Crown while engaged in the war of 1812 which now opened. He was,
however, always humane in his treatment of the prisoners, never allow-
ing his warriors to ruthlessly mutilate the bodies of those slain, or wan-
tonly murder the captive.
In the Summer of 1813, Perry's victory on Lake Erie occurred, and
shortly after active preparations were made to capture Maiden. On the
27th of September, the American army, under Gen. Harrison, set sail for
the shores of Canada, and in a few hours stood around the ruins of Mai-
den, from which the British army, under Proctor, had retreated to Sand-
wich, intendiDg to make its way to the heart of Canada by the Valley of
the Thames. On the 29th Gen. Harrison was at Sandwich, and Qen.
McArthur took possession of Detroit and the territory of Michigan.
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72 THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY.
On the 2d of October, the Americans began their pursuit of Proctor,
whom they overtook on the 5th, and the battle of the Thames followed.
Early in the engagement, Tecumseh who was at the head of the column
of Indians was slain, and they, no longer hearing the voice of their chief-
tain, fled. The victory was decisive, and practically closed the w^ in
the Northwest.
INDIANS ATTACKING A STOCKADE.
Just who killed the great chief has been a matter of much dispute ;
but the weight of opinion awards the act to Col. Richard M. Johnson,
who fired at him with a pistol, the shot proving fatal.
In 1805 occurred Burr's Insurrection. He toot possession of a
beautiful island in the Ohio, after the killing of Hamilton, and is charged
by many with attempting to set up an independent government. His
plans were frustrated by the general government, his property confiscated
and he was compelled to flee the country for safety.
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THE »0BTHWE8T TEBBTTOBY. 78
In January, 1807, Governor Hull, of Michigan Territory, made a
treaty with the Indians, whereby all that peninsula was ceded to the
United States. Before the close of the year, a stockade was built about
Detroit. It was also during this year that Indiana and Illinois endeavored
to obtain the repeal of that section of the compact of 1787, whereby
slavery was excluded from the Northwest Territory. These attempts,
however, all signally failed.
In 1809 it was deemed advisable to divide the Indiana Territory,
This was done, and the Territory of Illinois was formed from the western
part, the seat of government being fixed at Kaskaskia. The next year,
the intentions of Tecumseh manifested themselves in open hostilities, and
then began the events already narrated."
While this war was in progress, emigration to the West went on with
surprising rapidity. In 1811, under Mr. Roosevelt. of New York, the
first steamboat trip was made on the Ohio, much to the astonishment of
the natives, many of whom fled in terror at the appearance of the
"monster." It arrived at Louisville on the 10th day of October. At the
close of the first week of January, 1812, it arrived at Natchez, after being
nearly overwhelmed in the great earthquake which occurred while on its
downward trip.
The battle of the Thames was fought on October 6, 1813. It
effectually closed hostilities in the Northwest, although peace was not
fully restored until July 22, 1814, when a treaty was formed at Green-
ville, under the direction of General Harrison, between the United States
and the Indian tribes, in which it was stipulated that the Indians should
cease hostilities against the Americans if the war were continued. Such,
happily » was not the case, and on the 24th of December the treaty
of Ghent was signed by the representatives of England and the United
States. This treaty was followed the next year by treaties with various
Indian tribes throughout the West and Northwest, and quiet was again
restored in this part of the new world.
On the 18th of March, 1816, Pittsburgh was incorporated as a city.
It then had a population of 8,000 people, and was already noted for its
manufacturing interests. On April 19, Indiana Territory was allowed
to form a state government. At that time there were thirteen counties
organized, containing about sixty -three thousand inhabitants. The first
election of state officers was held in August, when Jonathan Jennings
was chosen Governor. The officers were sworn in on November 7, and
on December 11, the State was formally admitted into the Union. For
some time the seat of government was at Corydon, but a more central
location being desirable, the present capital, Indianapolis (City of Indiana),
was laid out January 1, 1825.
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74 THE NORTHWEST TBRBITOBY.
Od the 28th of December the Bank of Illinois, at Shawneetown, was
chartered, with a capital of $300,000. At this period all banks were
under the control of the States, and were allowed to establish branches
at different convenient points.
Until this time Chillicothe and Cincinnati had in turn enjoyed the
privileges of being the capital of Ohio. But the rapid settlement of the
northern and eastern portions of the State demanded, as in Indiana, a
more central location, and before the close of the year, the site of Col-
umbus was selected and surveyed as the future capital of the State.
Banking had begun in Ohio as early as 1808, when the first bank was
chartered at Marietta, but here as elsewhere it did not bring to the state
the hoped-for assistance. It and other banks were subsequently unable
to redeem their currency, and were obliged to suspend.
In 1818, Illinois was made a state, and all the territory north of her
northern limits was erected into a separate territory and joined to Mich-
igan for judicial purposes. By the following year, navigation of the lakes
was increasing with great rapidity and affording an immense source of
revenue to the dwellers in the Northwest, but it was not until 1826 that
the trade was extended to Lake Michigan, or that steamships began to
navigate the bosom of that inland sea.
Until the year 1832, the commencement of the Black Hawk War,
but few hostilities were experienced with the Indians. Roads were
opened, canals were dug, cities were built, common schools were estab-
lished, universities were founded, many of which, especially the Michigan
University, have achieved a world wide-reputation. The people were
becoming wealthy. The domains of the United States had been extended,
and had the sons of the forest been treated with honesty and justice, the
record of many years would have been that of peace and continuous pros-
perity.
BLACK HAWK AND THE BLACK HAWK WAR.
This conflict, though confined to Illinois, is an important epoch in
the Northwestern history, being the last war with the Indians in this part
of the United States.
Ma-ka-tai-me-she-kia-kiah, or Black Hawk, was born in the principal
Sac village, about three miles from the junction of Rock River with the
Mississippi, in the year 1767. His father's name was Py-e-sa or Pahaes ;
his grandfather's, Na-na-ma-kee, or the Thunderer. Black Hawk early
distinguished himself as a warrior, and at the age of fifteen was permitted
to paint and was ranked among the braves. About the year 1783, he
went on an expedition against the enemies of his nation, the Osages, one
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THE NOBTHWEST TBBBITOBY. 76
BLACK HAWK, THE SAC CHIEFTAIN.
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76 THE NORTHWEST TERRITOBY.
of whom he killed and scalped, and for this deed of Indian bravery he was
permitted to join in the scalp dance. Three or four years after he, at the
head of two hundred braves, went on another expedition against the
Osages, to avenge the murder of some women and children belonging to
his own tribe. Meeting an equal number of Osage warriors, a fierce
battle ensued, in which the latter tribe lost one-half their number. The
Sacs lost only about nineteen warriors. He next attacked the Cherokees
for a similar cause. In a severe battle with them, near the present City
of St. Louis, his father was slain, and Black Hawk, taking possession of
the " Medicine Bag," at once announced himself chief of the Sac nation*
He had now conquered the Cherokees, and about the year 1800, at the
head of five hundred Sacs and Foxes, and a hundred lowas, he waged
war against the Osage nation and subdued it. For two years he battled
successfully with other Indian tribes, all of whom he conquered.
Black Hawk does not at any time seem to have been friendly to
the Americans. When on a visit to St. Louis to see his '' Spanish
Father," he declined to see any of the Americans, alleging, as a reason,
he did not want two fathers.
The treaty at St. Louis was consummated in 1804. The next year the
United States Government erected a fort near the head of the Des Moines
Rapids, called Fort Edwards. This seemed to enrage Black Hawk, who
at once determined to capture Fort Madison, standing on the west side of
the Mississippi above the mouth of the Des Moines River. The fort was
garrisoned by about fifty men. Here he was defeated. The difficulties
with the British Government arose about this time, and the War of 1812
followed. That government, extending aid to the Western Indians, by
giving them arms and ammunition, induced them to remain hostile to the
Americans. In August, 1812, Black Hawk, at the head of about five
hundred braves, started to join the British forces at Detroit, passing on
his way the site of Chicago, where the famous Fort Dearborn Massacre
' ^ a few days before occurred. Of his connection with the British
^ L . ernment but little is known. In 1813 he with his little band descended
the Mississippi, and attacking some United States troops at Fort Howard
was defeated.
In the early part of 1815, the Indian tribes west of the Mississippi
were notified that peace had been declared between the United States
and England, and nearly all hostilities had ceased. Black Hawk did not
sign any treaty, however, until May of the following year. He then recog-
nized the validity of the treaty at St. Louis in 1804. From the time of
signing this treaty in 1816, until the breaking out of the war in 1832, he
and his band passed their time in the common pursuits of Indian life.
Ten years before the commencement of this war, the Sac and Fox
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THB NORTHWEST TERRITORY. 77
Indians were urged to join the lowas on the west bank of the Father of
Waters. All were agreed, save the band known as the British Band, of
which Black Hawk was leader. He strenuously objected to the removal,
and was induced to comply only after being threatened with the power of
the Government. This and various actions on the part of the white set-
tlers provoked Black Hawk and his band to attempt the capture of his
native village now occupied by the whites. The war followed. He and
his' actions were undoubtedly misunderstood, and had his wishes been
acquiesced in at the beginning of the struggle, much bloodshed would
have been prevented.
Black Hawk was chief now of the Sac and Fox nations, and a noted
warrior. He and his tribe inhabited a village on Rock River, nearly three
miles above its confluence with the Mississippi, where the tribe had lived
many generations. When that portion of Illinois was reserved to them,
they remained in peaceable possession of their reservation, spending their
time in the enjoyment of Indian life. The fine situation of their village
and the quality of their lands incited the more lawless white settlers, who
from time to time began to encroach upon the red men's domain. From
one pretext to another, and from one step to another, the crafty white
men gained a foothold, until through whisky and artifice they obtained
deeds from many of the Indians for their possessions. The Indians were
finally induced to cross over the Father of Waters and locate among the
lowas. Black Hawk was strenuously opposed to all this, but as the
authorities of Illinois and the United States thought this the best move, he
was forced to comply. Moreover other tribes joined the whites and urged
the removal. Black Hawk would not agree to the terms of the treaty
made with his nation for their lands,' and as soon as the military, called to
enforce his removal, had retired, he returned to the Illinois side of the
river. A large force was at once raised and marched against him. On
the evening of May 14, 1832, the first engagement occurred between a
band from this army and Black Hawk's band, in which the former were
defeated.
This attack and its result aroused the whites. A large force of men
was raised, and Gen. Scott hastened from the seaboard, by way of the
lakes, with United States troops and artillery to aid in the subjugation of
the Indians. On the 24th of June, Black Hawk, with 200 warriors, was
repulsed by Major Demont between Rock River and Galena. The Ameri-
can army continued to move up Rock River toward the main body of
the Indians, and on the 21st of July came upon Black Hawk and his band,
and defeated them near the Blue Mounds.
Before this action. Gen. Henry, in command, sent word to the main
army by whom he was immediately rejoined, and the whole crossed* the
IKOTS.— The above it the generally accepted yertlon of the cante of the Black Hawk War. bnt In our History- of
Jo Datiert Conntjr. 111., we had cccasicn to go to the bottom of this matter, and have, we think, found the actnal
B of the war, which will be found on page 157.
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78 THE NORTHWEST TERRITOEr.
Wisconsin in pursuit of Black Hawk and his band who were fleeing to the
Mississippi. They were overtaken on the 2d of August, and in the battle
which followed the power of the Indian chief was completely broken. He
fled, but was seized by the Winnebagoes and delivered to the whites.
On the 21st of September, 1832, Gen. Scott and Gov. Reynolds con-
cluded a treaty with the Winnebagoes, Sacs and Foxes by which they
ceded to the United States a vast tract of country, and agreed to remain
peaceable with the whites. For the faithful performance of the provi-
sions of this treaty on the part of the Indians, it was stipulated that
Black Hawk, his two sons, the prophet Wabokieshiek, and six other chiefs
of the hostile bands should be retained as hostages during the pleasure
of the President. They were confined at Fort Barracks and put in irons.
The next Spring, by order of the Secretary of War, they were taken
to Washington. From there they were removed to Fortress Monroe,
"there to remain until the conduct of their nation was such as to justify
their being set at liberty." They were retained here until the 4th of
June, when the authorities directed them to be taken to the principal
cities so that they might see the folly of contending against the white
people. Everywhere they were observed by thousands, the name of the
old chief being extensively known. By the middle of August they
reached Fort Armstrong on Rock Island, where Black Hawk was soon
after released to go to his countrymen. As he passed the site of his birth-
place, now the home of the white man, he was deeply moved. His village
where he was born, where he had^ so happily lived, and where he had
hoped to die, was now another's dwelling place, and he was a wanderer.
On the next day after his release, he went at once to his tribe and
his lodge. His wife was yet living, and with her he passed the remainder
of his days. To his credit it may be said that Black Hawk always re-
mained truato his wife, and served her with a devotion uncommon among
the Indians, living with her upward of forty years.
Black Hawk now passed his time hunting and fishing. A deep mel-
ancholy had settled over him from which he could not be freed. At all
times when he visited the whites he was received with marked atten-
tion. He was an honored guest at the old settlers' reunion in Lee County,
Illinois, at some of their meetings, and received many tokens of esteem.
In September, 1838, while on his way to Rock Island to receive his
annuity from the Government, he contracted a severe cold which resulted
in a fatal attack of bilious fever which terminated his life on October 8.
His faithful wife, who was devotedly attached to him, mourned deeply
during his sickness. After his death he was dressed in the uniform pre-
sented to him by the President while in Washington. He was buried in
a grave six feet in depths situated upon a beautiful eminence. ^^ The
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body was placed in the middle of the grave, in a sitting posture, upon a
seat constructed for the purpose. On his left side, the cane, given him
by Henry Clay, was placed upright, with his right hand resting upon it.
Many of the old warrior's trophies were placed in the grave, and some
Indian garments, together with his favorite weapons."
No sooner was the Black Hawk war concluded than settlers began
rapidly to pour into the northern parts of Illinois, and into Wisconsin,
now free from Indian depredations. Chicago, from a trading post, had
grown to a commercial center, and was rapidly coming into prominence.
In 1835, the formation of a State Government in Michigan was discussed,
but did not take active form until two years later, when the State became
a part of the Federal Union.
The TTiain attraction to that portion of the Northwest lying west of
Lake Michigan, now included in the State of Wisconsin, was its alluvial
wealth. Copper ore was found about Lake Superior. For some time this
region was attached to Michigan for judiciary purposes, but in 1830 was
made a territory, then including Minnesota and Iowa. The latter State
was detache'd two years later. In 1848, W^isconsin was admitted as a
State, Madison being made the capital. We have now traced the various
divisions of the Northwest Territory (save a little in Minnesota) from
the time it was a unit comprising this vast territory, until circumstances
compelled its present division.
OTHER INDIAN TROUBLES.
Before leaving this part of the narrative, we will narrate briefly the
Indian troubles in Minnesota and elsewhere by the Sioux Indians.
In August, 1862, the Sioux Indians living on the western borders of
Minnesota fell upon the unsuspecting settlers, and in a few hours mas-
sacred ten or twelve hundred persons. A distressful panic was the
immediate result, fully thirty thousand persons fleeing from their homes
to districts supposed to be better protected. The military authorities
at once took active measures to punish the savages, and a large number
were killed and captured. About a year after, Little Crow, the chief,
was killed by a Mr. Lampson near Scattered Lake. Of those captured,
thirty were hung at Mankato, and the remainder, through fears of mob
violence, were removed to' Camp McClellan, on the outskirts of the City
of Davenport. It was here that Big Eagle came into prominence and
secured his release by the foUowing order :
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BIG EAGLE.
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"Special Order, No. 430. "War Department,
'' Adjutant General's Office, Washington, Dec. 3, 1864.
"Big Eagle, an Indian now in confinement at Davenport, Iowa,
will, upon the receipt of this order, be immediately released from confine-
ment and set at liberty.
" By order of the President of the United States.
" Official : " E. D. TowNSBND, A99H Adft Gen.
" Capt. James Vanderventer, Com'y Sui. Vols.
"Through Com'g Gen'l, Washington, D. C."
Another Indian who figures more prominently than Big Eagle, and
who was more cowardly in his nature, with his band of Modoc Indians,
is noted in the annals of the New Northwest : we refer to Captain Jack.
This distinguished Indian, noted for his cowardly murder of Gen. Canby»
was a chief of a Modoc tribe of Indians inhabiting the border lands
between California and Oregon. This region of country comprises what
is known as the " Lava Beds," a tract of land described as utterly impene-
trable, save by those savages who had made it their home.
The Modocs are known as an exceedingly fierce and treacherous
race. They had, according to their own traditions, resided here for many
generations, and at one time were exceedingly numerous and powerful.
A famine carried off nearly half their numbers, and disease, indolence
and the vices of the white man have reduced them to a poor, weak and
insignificant tribe.
Soon after the settlement of California and Oregon, complaints began
to be heard of massacres of emigrant trains passing through the Modoo
country. In 1847, an emigrant train, comprising eighteen souls, was en-
tirely destroyed at a place since known as ** Bloody Point." These occur-
rences caused the United States Government to appoint a peace commission^
who, after repeated attempts, in 1864, made a treaty with the Modocs»
Snakes and Klamaths, in which it was agreed on their part to remove to
a reservation set apart for them in the southern part of Oregon.
With the exception of Captain Jack and a band of his followers, who
remained at Clear Lake, about six miles from Klamath, all the Indians
complied. The Modocs who went to the reservation were under chief
Schonchin. Captain Jack remained at the lake without disturbance
until 1869, when he was also induced to remove to the reservation. The
Modocs and the Klamaths soon became involved in a quarrel, and Captain
Jack and his band returned to the Lava Beds.
Several attempts were made by the Indian Commissioners to induce
them to return to the reservation, and finally becoming involved in a
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82 THE NORTHWEST TERRITOBY.
difficulty with the commissioner and his military escort, a fight ensued,
in which the chief and his band were routed. They were greatly enraged,
and on their retreat, before the day closed, killed eleven inoffensive whites.
The nation was aroused and immediate action demanded. A com-
mission was at once appointed by the Government to see what could be
done. It comprised the following persons : Gen. E. R. S. Canby, Rev.
Dr. E. Thomas, a leading Methodist divine of California ; Mr. A. B.
Meacham, Judge Rosborough, of California, and a Mr. Dyer, of Oregon.
After several interviews, in which the savages were always aggressive,
often appearing with scalps in their belts. Bogus Charley came to the
commission on the evening of April 10, 1873, and informed them that
Capt. Jack and his band would have a " talk " to-morrow at a place near
Clear Lake, about three miles distant. Here the Commissionen?, accom-
panied by Charley, Riddle, the interpreter, and Boston Charley repaired.
After the usual greeting the council proceedings commenced. On behalf
of the Indians there were present : Capt. Jack, Black Jim, Schnac Nasty
Jim, Ellen's Man, and Hooker Jim. They had no guns, but carried pis-
tols. After short speeches by Mr. Meacham, Gen. Canby and Dr. Thomas,
Chief Schonchin arose to speak. He had scarcely proceeded when,
as if by a preconcerted arrangement, Capt. Jack drew his pistol and shot
Gen. Canby dead. In less than a minute a dozen shots were fired by the
savages, and the massacre completed. Mr. Meacham was shot by Schon-
chin, and Dr. Thomas by Boston Charley. Mr. Dyer barely escaped, being
fired at twice. Riddle, the interpreter, and his squaw escaped. The
troops rushed to the spot where they found Gen. Canby and Dr. Thomas
dead, and Mr. Meacham badly wounded. The savages had escaped to
their impenetrable fastnesses and could not be pursued.
The whole country was aroused by this brutal massacre ; but it was
not until the following May that the murderers were brought to justice.
At ths^t time Boston Charley gave himself up, and offered to guide the
troops to Capt. Jack's stronghold. This led to the capture of his entire
gang, a number of whom were murdered by Oregon volunteers while on
their way to trial. The remaining Indians were held as prisoners until
July when their trial occurred, which led to the conviction of Capt.
Jack, Schonchin, Boston Charley, Hooker Jim, Broncho, alias One-Eyed
Jim, and Slotuck, who were sentenced to be hanged. These sentences
were approved by the President, save in the case of Slotuck and Broncho
whose sentences were commuted to imprisonment for life. The others
were executed at Fort Klamath, October 3, 1873.
These closed the Indian troubles for a time in the Northwest, and for
several years the borders of civilization remained in peace. They were
again involved in a conflict with the savages about the country of the
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CAPTAIN JACK. THE MODOC CHIEFTAIN.
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Black Hills, in which war the gallant Gren. Custer lost his life. Just
now the borders of Oregon and California are again in fear of hostilities ;
but as the Government has learned how to deal with the Indians, they
will be of short duration. The red man is fast passing away before the
march of the white man, and a few more generations will read of the
Indians as one of the nations of the past.
The Northwest abounds in memorable places. We have generally
noticed them in the narrative, but our space forbids their description in
detail, save of the most important places. Detroit, Cincinnati, Vincennes,
Kaskaskia and their kindred towns have all been described. But ere we
leave the narrative we will present our readers with an account of the
Kinzie house, the old landmark of Chicago, and the discovery of the
source of the Mississippi River, each of which may well find a place in
the annals of the Northwest.
Mr. John Kinzie, of the Kinzie house, represented in the illustra-
tion, established a trading house at Fort Dearborn in 1804. The stockade
had been erected the year previous, and named Fort Dearborn in honor
of the Secretary of War. It had a block house at each of the two angles,
on the southern side a sallyport, a covered way on the north side, that led
down to the river, for the double purpose of providing means of escape,
and of procuring water in the event of a siege.
Fort Dearborn stood on the south bank of the Chicago River, about
half a mile from its mouth. When Major Whistler built it, his soldiers
hauled all the timber, for he had no oxen, and so economically did he
work that the fort cost the Government only fifty dollars. For a while
*the garrison could get no grain, and Whistler and his men subsisted on
acorns. Now Chicago is the greatest grain center in the world.
Mr. Kinzie bought the hut of the first settler, Jean Baptiste Point au
Sable, on the site of which he erected his mansion. Within an inclosure
in front he planted some Lombardy poplars, seen in the engraving, and in
the rear he soon had a fine garden and growing orchard.
In 1812 the Kinzie house and its surroundings became the theater
of stirring events. The garrison of Fort Dearborn consisted of fifty-four
men, under the charge of Capt. Nathan Heald, assisted by Lieutenant
Lenai T. Helm (son-in-law to Mrs. Kinzie), and Ensign Ronan. The
surgeon was Dr. Voorhees. The only residents at the post at that time
wei;e the wives of Capt. Heald and Lieutenant Helm and a few of the
soldiers, Mr. Kinzie and his family, and a few Canadian voyagers with their
wives and children. The soldiers and Mr. Kinzie were on the most
friendly terms with the Pottawatomies and the Winnebagoes, the prin-
cipal tribes around them, but they could not win them from their attach-
ment to the British.
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After the battle of Tippecanoe it was observed that some of the lead-
ing chiefs became sullen, for some of their people had perished in that
conflict with American troops.
One evening in April, 1812, Mr. Kinzie sat playing his violin and his
children were dancing to the music, when Mrs. Kinzie came rushing into
the house pale with terror, and exclaiming, " The Indians ! the Indians ! "
" What ? Where ? " eagerly inquired Mr. Kinzie. " Up at Lee's, killing
and scalping," answered the frightened mother, who, when the alarm was
given, was attending Mrs. Burns, a newly -made mother, living not far oflF.
KIITZIE HOTTBE,
Mr. Kinzie and his family crossed the river in boats, and took refuge in
the fort, to which place Mrs. Burns and her infant, not a day old, were
conveyed in safety to the shelter of the guns of Fort Dearborn, and the
rest of the white inhabitants fled. The Indians were a scalping party of
Winnebagoes, who hovered around the fort some days, when they dis-
appeared, and for several weeks the inhabitants were not disturbed by
alarms.
Chicago was then so deep in the wilderness, that the news of the
declaration of war against Great Britain, made on^the 19th of June, 1812,
did not reach the commander of the garrison at Fort Dearborn till the 7th
of August. Now the fast mail train will carry a man from New York to
Chicago in twenty -seven hours, and such a declaration might be sent,
every word, by the telegraph in less than the same number of minutes.
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86 THE IfOETHWBST TEBBITOBY.
PRESENT CONDITION OF THE NORTHWEST.
Preceding chapters have brought us to the close of the Black Hawk
war, and we now turn to the contemplation of the growth and prosperity
of the Northwest under the smile of peace and the blessings of our civili-
sation. The pioneers of this region date events back to the deep snow
A BBPRESEKTATIYE PIONSSR.
of 1881, no one arriving here since that date taking first honors. The
inciting cause of the immigration which overflowed the prairies early in
the '30s was the reports of the marvelous beauty and fertility of the
region distributed through the East by those who had participated in the
Black Hawk campaign with Gen. Scott. Chicago and Milwaukee then
had a few hundred inhabitants, and Gurdon S. Hubbard's trail from the
former city to Kaskaskia led almost through a wilderness. Vegetables
and clothing were largely distributed through the regions adjoining the
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THE NORTHWEST TEERITOBY. 87
lakes by steamers from the Ohio towns. There are men now living in
Illinois who came to the state when barely an acre was in cultivation,
and a man now prominent in the business circles of Chicago looked over
the swampy, cheerless site of that metropolis in 1818 and went south
ward into civilization. Emigrants from Pennsylvania in 1830 left behind
LINCOLN MONUMENT, SPBINOFIELD, ILLINOIS.
them but one small railway in the coal regions, thirty miles in length,
and made their way to the Northwest mostly with ox teams, finding in
Northern Illinois petty settlements scores of miles apart, although the
southern portion of the state was fairly dotted with farms. The
water courses of the lakes and rivers furnished transportation to the
second great army of immigrants, and about 1850 railroads were
pushed to that extent that the crisis of 1837 was precipitated upon us,
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88 THE NOBTHWEST TEEBITOEY.
from the effects of which the Western country had not fully recovered
at the outbreak of the war. Hostilities found the colonists of the prairies
folly alive to the demands of the occasion, and the honor of recruiting
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the vast armies of the Union fell largely to the Governors of the Western
States. The struggle, on the whole, had a marked effect for the better on the
new Northwest, giving it an impetus which twenty years of peace would not have
produced. In a large degree, this prosperity was an inflated one; and, with
the rest of the Union, we have since been compelled to atone therefor by four
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THE NORTHWEST TEBRITOEY. 89
years of depression of values, of scarcity of employment, and loss of
fortune. To a less degree, however, than the manufacturing or mining
regions has the West suffered during thq prolonged panic now so near its
end. Agriculture, still the leading feature in our industries, has been
quite prosperous through all these dark years, and the farmers have
cleared away many incumbrances resting over them from the period of
fictitious values. The population has steadily increased, the arts and
sciences are gaining a stronger foothold, the trade area of the region is
becoming daily more extended, and we have been largely exempt from
the financial calamities which have nearly wrecked communities on the
seaboard dependent wholly on foreign commerce or domestic manufacture.
At the present period there are no great schemes broached for the
Northwest, no propositions for government subsidies or national works
of improvement, but the capital of the world is attracted hither for the
purchase of our products or the expansion of our capacity for serving the
nation at large. A new era is dawning as to transportation, and we bid
fair to deal almost exclusively with the increasing and expanding lines
of steel rail running through every few miles of territory on the prairies.
The lake marine will no doubt continue to be useful in the warmer
season, and to serve as a regulator of freight rates ; but experienced
navigators forecast the decay of the system in moving to the seaboard
the enormous crops of the West. Within the past five years it baa
become quite common to see direct shipments to Europe and the West
Indies going through from the second-class towns along the Mississippi
and Missouri.
As to popular education, the standard has of late risen very greatly,
and our schools would be creditable to any section of the Union.
More and more as the events of the war pass into obscurity will the
fate of the Northwest be linked with that of the Southwest, and the
next Congressional apportionment will give the valley of the Mississippi
absolute control of the legislation of the nation, and do much toward
securing the removal of the Federal capitol to some more central location.
Our public men continue to wield the full share of influence pertain-
ing to their rank in the national autonomy, and seem not to forget that
for the past sixteen years they and their constituents have dictated the
principles which should govern the country.
In a work like this, destined to lie on the shelves of the library for
generations, and not doomed to daily destruction like a newspaper, one
can not indulge in the same glowing predictions, the sanguine statements
of actualities that fill the columns of ephemeral publications. Time may
bring grief to the pet projects of a writer, and explode castles erected on
a pedestal of facts. Yet there are unmistakable indications before us of
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90 THE NORTHWEST TERRITORy.
the same radical change in our great Northwest which characterizes its
history for the past thirty years. Our domain has a sort of natural
geographical border, save where it melts away to the southward in the
cattle raising districts of the southwest.
Our prime interest will for some years doubtless be the growth of
the food of the world, in which branch it has already outstripped all
competitors, and our great rival in this duty will naturally be the fertile
plains of Kansas, Nebraska and Colorado, to say nothing of the new
empire so rapidly growing up in Texas. Over these regions there is a
continued progress in agriculture and in railway building, and we must
look to our laurels. Intelligent observers of events are fully aware of
the strides made in the way of shipments of fresh meats to Europe,
many of these ocean cargoes being actually slaughtered in the West and
transported on ice to the wharves of the seaboard cities. That this new
enterprise will continue there is no reason to doubt. There are in
Chicago several factories for the canning of prepared meats for European
consumption, and the orders for this class of goods are already immense.
English capital is becoming daily more and more dissatisfied with railway
loans and investments, and is gradually seeking inammoth outlays in
lands and live stock. The stock yards in Chicago, Indianapolis and East
St. Louis are yearly increasing their facilities, and their plant steadily
grows more valuable. Importations of blooded animals from the pro-
gressive countries of Europe are destined to greatly improve the quality
of our beef and mutton. Nowhere is there to be seen a more enticing
display in this line than at our state and county fairs, and the interest
in the matter is on the increase.
To attempt to give statistics of our grain production for 1877 would
be useless, so far have we surpassed x)urselves in the quantity and
quality of our product. We are too liable to forget that we are giving
the world its first article of necessity — its food supply. An opportunity
to learn this fact so it never can be forgotten was afforded at Chicago at
the outbreak of the great panic of 1873, when Canadian purchasers,
fearing the prostration of business might bring about an anarchical condition
of affairs, went to that city with coin in bulk and foreign drafts to secure
their supplies in their own currency at first hands. It may be justly
claimed by the agricultural community that their combined efforts gave
the nation its first impetus toward a restoration of its crippled industries,
and their labor brought the gold premium to a lower depth than the
government was able to reach bj' its most intense efforts of legislation
and compulsion. The hundreds of millions aboyt to be disbursed for
farm products have already, by the anticipation common to all commercial
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THE NORTHWEST TEBRITOBT. 91
nations, set the wheels in motion, and will relieve us from the perils so
long shadowing our efforts to return to a healthy tone.
Manufacturing has attained in the chief -cities a foothold which bids
feir to render the Northwest independent of the outside world. Nearly
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our whole region has a distribution of coal measures which will in time
support the manufactures necessary to our comfort and prosperity. As
to transportation, the chief factor in the production of all articles except
food, no section is so magnificently endowed, and our facilities are yearly
increasing beyond those of any other region.
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©2 THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY.
The period from a central point of the war to the outbreak of the
panic was marked by a tremendous growth in our railway lines, but the
depression of the times caused almost a total suspension of operations.
Now that prosperity is returning to our stricken country we witness its
anticipation by the railroad interest in a series of projects, extensions,
and leases which bid fair to largely increase our transportation facilities.
The process of foreclosure and sale of incumbered lines is another matter
to be considered. In the case of the Illinois Central road, which formerly
transferred to other lines at Cairo the vast burden of freight destined for
the Gulf region, we now see the incorporation of the tracks connecting
through to New Orleans, every mile co-operating in turning toward the
northwestern metropolis the weight of the inter-state commerce of a
thousand miles or more of fertile plantations. Three competing routes
to Texas have established in Chicago their general freight and passenger
agencies. Four or five lines compete for all Pacific freights to a point as
as far as the interior of Nebraska. Half a dozen or more splendid bridge
structures have been thrown across the Missouri and Mississippi Rivers by
the railways. The Chicago and Northwestern line has become an aggre-
gation of over two thousand miles of rail, and the Chicago, Milwaukee
and St. Paul is its close riyal in extent and importance. The three lines
running to Cairo via Vincennes form a through route for all traffic with
the states to the southward. The chief projects now under discussion
are the Chicago and Atlantic, which is to unite with lines now built to
Charleston, and the Chicago and Canada Southern, which line will con-
nect with all the various branches of that Canadian enterprise. Our
latest new road is the Chicago and Lake Huron, formed of three lines,
and entering the city from Valparaiso on the Pittsburgh, Fort Wayne
and Chicago track. The trunk lines being mainly in operation, the
progress made in the way of shortening tracks, making air-line branches,
and running extensions does not show to the advantage it deserves, as
this process is constantly adding new facilities to the established order
of things. The panic reduced the price of steel to a point where the
railways could hardly afford to use iron ^'ails, and all our northwestern
lines report large relays of Bessemer track. The immense crops now
being moved have given a great rise to the value of railway stocks, and
their transportation must result in heavy pecuniary advantages.
Few are aware of the importance of the wholesale and jobbing trade
of Chicago. One leading firm has since the panic sold $24,000,000 of
dry goods in one year, and they now expect most confidently to add
seventy per cent, to the figures of their last year's business. In boots
and shoes and in clothing, twenty or more great firms from the east have
placed here their distributing agents or their factories 5 and in groceries
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Chicago supplies the entire Northwest at rates presenting advantages
over New York.
Chicago has stepped in between New York and the rural banks as a
financial center, and scarcely a banking institution in the grain or cattle
regions but keeps its reserve funds in the vaults of our commercial insti-
tutions. Accumulating here throughout the spring and summer months*
they are summoned home at pleasure to move the products of the
prairies. This process greatly strengthens the northwest in its financial
operations, leaving home capital to supplement local operations on
behalf of home interesti^.
It is impossible to forecast the destiny of this grand and growing
section of the Union. Figures and predictions made at this date might
seem ten years hence so ludicrously small as to excite only derision.
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HISTORY OF THE NORTHWEST. 95
CHICAGO.
It is impossible in our brief space to give more than a meager sketch
of such a city as Chicago, which is in itself the greatest marvel of the
Prairie State. This mysterious, majestic, mighty city, bom first of water,
and next of fire ; sown in weakness, and raised in power ; planted among
the willows of the marsh, and crowned with the glory of the mountains ;
sleeping on the bosom of the prairie, and rocked on the bosom of the sea ,
CHICAGO IN 1833.
the youngest city of the world, and still the eye of the prairie, aa Damas-
cus, the oldest city of the world, is the eye of the desert. With a com-
merce far exceeding that of Corinth on her isthmus, in the highway to
the East ; with the defenses of a continent piled around her by the thou-
sand miles, making her far safer than Rome on the banks of the Tl^^ip
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96 HISTORY OF THB NORTHWEST.
with schools eclipsing Alexandria and Athens : with liberties more con-
spiouous than those of the old republics ; with a heroism equal to the first
Carthage, and with a sanctity scarcely second to that of Jerusalem — set
your thoughts on all this, lifted into the eyes of all men by the miracle of
its growth, illuminated by the flame of its fall, and transfigured by the
divinity of its resurrection, and you will feel, as I do, the utter impossi-
bility of compassing this subject as it deserves. Some impression of her
importance is received from the shock her burning gave to the civilized
world.
When the doubt of her calamity was removed, and the horrid fact
was accepted, there went a shudder over all cities, and a quiver over all
lands. There was scarcely a town in the civilized world that did not
shake on the brink of this opening chasm. The flames of our homes red-
dened all skies. The city was set upon a hill, and could not be hid. All
eyes were turned upon it. To have struggled and suffered amid the
scenes of its fall is as distinguishing as to have fought at Thermopylae, or
Salamis, or Hastings, or Waterloo, or Bunker Hill.
Its calamity amazed the world, because it was felt to be the common
property of mankind.
The early history of the city is full of interest, just as the early his-
tory of such a man as Washington or Lincoln becomes public property,
and is cherished by every patriot.
' Starting with 560 acres in 1833, it embraced and occupied 23,000
acres in 1869, and, having now a population of more than 600,000, it com-
mands general attention.
The first settler — Jean Baptiste Pointe an Sable, a mulatto from the
West Indies — came and began trade with the Indians in 1796. John
Kinzie became his successor in 1804, in which year Fort Dearborn was
erected.
A mere trading-post was kept here from that time till about the time
of the Blackhawk war, in 1832. It was not the city. It was merely a
cock crowing at midnight. The morning was not yet. In 1833 the set-
tlement about the fort was incorporated as a town. The voters were
divided on the propriety of such corporation, twelve voting for it and one
against it. Four years later it was incorporated as a city, and embraced
660 acres.
The produce handled in this city is an indication of its power. Grain
and flour were imported from the East till as late as 1837. The first
exportation by way of experiment was in 1839. Exports exceeded imports
first in 1842. The Board of Trade was organized in 1848, but it was so
weak that it needed nursing till 1855. Grain was purchased by the
wagon-load in the street.
I remember sitting with my father on a load of wheat, in the long
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HISTORY OF THE NORTHWEST. 9T
line of wagons along Lake street, while the buyers came and untied the
bags, and examined the grain, and made their bids. That manner of
business had to cease with the day of small things. Now our elevators
will hold 15,000,000 bushels of grain. The cash value of the produce
handled m a year is $216,000,000, and the produce weighs 7,000,000
tons or 700,000 car loads. This handles thirteen and a half ton each
minute, all the year round. One tenth of all the wheat in the United
States is handled in Chicago. Even as long ago as 1853 the receipts of
grain in Chicago exceeded those of the goodly city of St. Louis, and in
1854 the exports of grain from Chicago exceeded those of New York and
doubled those of St. Petersburg, Archangel, or Odessa, the largest grain
markets in Europe.
The manufacturing interests of the city are not contemptible. In
1873 manufactories employed 45,000 operatives; in 1876,60,000. Th©
manufactured product in 1876 was worth $177,000,000.
Na estimate of the size and power of Chicago would be adequate
that did not put large emphasis on the railroads. Before they came
thundering along our streets canals were the hope of our country. But
who ever thinks now of traveling by canal packets ? In June, 1852,
there were only forty miles of railroad connected with the city. The
old Gkdena division of the Northwestern ran out to Elgin. But now,
who can count the trains and measure the roads that seek a terminus or
connection in this city ? The lake stretches away to the north, gathering
in to this center all the harvests that might otherwise pass to the north
of us. If you will take a map and look at the adjustment of railroads,
you will see, first, that Chicago is the great railroad center of the world,
as New York is the commercial city of this continent ; and, second, that
the raUroad lines form the iron spokes of a great wheel whose* hub is
this city. The lake furnishes the only break in the spokes, and this
seems simply to have pushed a few spokes together on each shore. See
the eighteen trunk lines, exclusive of eastern connections.
Pass round the circle, and view their numbers and extent. There
is the great Northwestern, with all its branches, one branch creeping
along the lake shore, and so reaching to the north, into the Lake Superior
legions, away to the right, and on to the Northern Pacific on the left,
swinging around Green Bay for iron and copper and silver, twelve months
ia the year, and reaching out for the wealth of the great agricultural
belt and isothermal line traversed by the Northern Pacific. Another
blanch, not so far north, feeling for the heart of the Badger State.
Another pushing lower down the Mississippi — all these make many con-
nections, and tapping all the vast wheat regions of Minnesota, Wisconsin,
Iowa, and all the regions this side of sunset. There is that elegant road,
the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy, running out a goodly number of
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98 HISTORY OF THE NORTHWEST.
OLD FOET DEARBORN, 1830.
PRESENT SITE OF JLAKE STREET BRIDGE, CHICAGO, IN 1833.
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HISTORY OF THB NORTHWEST. 99
branches, and reaping the great fields this side of the Missouri River.
I can only mention the Chicago, Alton & St. Louis, out Illinois Central,
described elsewhere, and the Chicago & Rock Island. Further around
we come to the lines connecting us with all the eastern cities. The
Chicago, Indianapolis & St. Louis, the Pittsburgh, Fort Wayne &
Chicago, the Lake Shore & Michigan Southern, and the Michigan Cen.
tral and Great Western, give us many highways to the seaboard. Thus we
reach the Mississippi at five points, from St. Paul to Cairo and the Gulf
itself by two routes. We also reach Cincinnati and Baltimore, and Pitts-
burgh and Philadelphia, and New York. North and south run the water
courses of the lakes and the rivers, broken just enough at this point to
make a pass. Through this, from east to west, run the long lines that
stretch from ocean to ocean.
This is the neck of the glass, and the golden sands of commerce
most pass into our hands. Altogether we have more than 10,000 miles
of railroad, directly tributary to this city, seeking to unload their wealth
in our coffers. All these roads have come themselves by the infallible
instinct of capital. Not a dollar was ever given by the city to secure
one of them, and only a small per cent, of stock taken originally by her
citizens, and that taken simply as an investment. Coming in the natural
order of events, they will not be easily diverted.
There is still another showing to ail this. The connection between
New York and San Francisco is by the middle route. This passes inevit-
ably through Chicago. St. Louis wants the Southern Pacific or Kansas
Pacific, and pushes it out through Denver, and so on up to Cheyenne.
But before the road is fairly under way, the Chicago roads shove out to
Kansas City, making even the Kansas Pacific a feeder, and actually leav-
ing St. Louis out in the cold. It is not too much to expect that Dakota,
Montana, and Washington Territory will find their great market in Chi-
cago.
But these are not all. Perhaps I had better notice here the ten or
fifteen new roads that have just entered, or are just entering, our city.
Their names are all that is necessary to give. Chicago & St. Paul, look-
ing up the Red River country to the British possessions ; the Chicago,
Atlantic & Pacific ; the Chicago, Decatur & State Line; the Baltimore k
Ohio; the Chicago, Danville & Vincennes; the Chicago & LaSalle Rail-
road ; the Chicago,. Pittsburgh & Cincinnati \ the Chicago and Canada
Southern ; the Chicago and Illinois River Railroad. These, with their
connections, and with the new connections of the old roads, already in
process of erection, give to Chicago not less than 10,000 miles of new
tributaries from the richest land on the continent. Thus there will be
added to the reserve power, to the capital within reach of this city, not
leas than 81,000,000,000.
SL^898<lbgle
100 HISTORY OF THE NORTHWEST.
Add to all this transporting power the ships that sail one every nine
minutes of the business hours of the season of navigation ; add, also, the
canal boats that leave one every five minutes during the same time — and
you will see something of the business of the city.
THE COMMERCE OF THIS CITY
has been leaping along to keep pace with the growth of the country
around us. In 1852, our commerce reached the hopeful sum oi
$20,000,000. In 1870 it reached $400,000,000. In 1871 it was pushed
up above $450,000,000. And in 1875 it touched nearly double that.
One-half of our imported goods come directly to Chicago. Grain
enough is exported directly from our docks to the old world to employ a
semi-weekly line of steamers of 3,000 tons capacity. This branch is
not likely to be greatly developed. Even after the great Welland Canal
is completed we shall have only fourteen feet of water. The great ocean
vessels will continue to control the trade.
The banking capital of Chicago is $24,431,000. Total exchange in
1875, $659,000,000. Her wholesale business in. 1875 was $294,000,000.
The rate of taxes is less than in any other great city.
The schools of Chicago are unsurpassed in America. Out of a popu-
lation of 300,000 there were only 186 persons between the ages of six
and twenty-one unable to read. This is the best known record.
In 1831 the mail system was condensed into a half-breed, who went
on foot to Niles, Mich., once in two weeks, and brought back what papers
and news he could find. As late as 1846 there was often only one mail
a week. A post-office was established in Chicago in 1833, and the post-
master nailed up old boot-legs on one side of his shop to serve as boxes
for the nabobs and literary men.
It is an interesting fact in the growth of the young city that in the
active life of the business men of that day the mail matter has grown to
a daily average of over 6,500 pounds. It speaks equally well for the
intelligence of the people and the commercial importance of the place,
that the mail matter distributed to the territory immediately tributary to
Chicago is seven times greater than that distributed to the territory
immediately tributary to St. Louis.
The improvements that have characterized the city are as startling
as the city itself. In 1831, Mark Beaubien established a ferry over the
river, and put himself under bonds to carry all the citizens free for the
privilege of charging strangers. Now there are twenty-four large bridores
and two tunnels.
In 1833 the government expended $30,000 on the harbor. Then
commenced that series of manoeuvers with the river that has made it one
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HISTORY OP THB NORTHWEST. 101
of the world's curiosities. It used to wind around in the lower end of
the town, and make its way rippling over the sand into the lake at the
foot of Madison street. They took it up and put it down where it now
is. It was a narrow stream, so narrow that even moderately small crafts
had to go up through the willows and cat's tails to the point near Lake
street bridge, and back up one of the branches to get room enough iu
which to turn around.
In 1844 the quagmires in the streets were first pontooned by plank
roads, which acted in wet weather as public squirt-guns. Keeping you
out of the mud, they compromised by squirting the mud over you. The
wooden-block pavements came to Chicago in 1857. In 1840 water was
delivered by peddlers in carts or by hand. Then a twenty-five horse-
power engine pushed it through hollow or bored logs along the streets
till 1854, when it was introduced into the houses by new works. The
first fire-engine was used in 1885, and the first steam fire-engine in 1859.
Gas was utilized fpr lighting the city in 1860. The Young Men's Chris-
tian Association was organized in 1858, and horse railroads carried them
to their work in 1859. The museum was opened in 1863. The alarm
telegraph adopted in 1864. The opera-house built in 1865. The city-
grew from 560 acres in 1833 to 23,000 in 1869. In 1834, the taxes
amounted to $48.90, and the trustees of the town borrowed J60 more for
opening and improving streets. In 1835, the legislature authorized a loan
of $2,000, and the treasurer and street commissioners resigned rather thau
plunge the town into such a gulf.
Now the city embraces 36 square miles of territory, and has 30 miles
of water front, besides the outside harbor of refuge, of 400 acres, inclosed
by a crib sea-wall. One-third'of the city has been raised up an average
of eight feet, giving good pitch to the 263 miles of sewerage. The water
of the city is above all competition. It is received through two tunnels
extending to a crib in the lake two miles from shore. The closest analy-
sis fails to detect any impurities, and, received 35 feet below the surface,
it is always clear and cold. The first tunnel is five feet two inches in
diameter and two miles long, and can deliver 50,000,000 of gallons per
day. The second tunnel is seven feet in diameter and six miles long,
running four miles under the city, and can deliver 100,000,000 of gal-
lons per day. This water is distributed through 410 miles of water-
mains.
The three grand engineering exploits of the city are : First, lifting-
the city up on jack-screws, whole squares at a time, without interrupting
the business, thus giving us good drainage ; second, running the tunnels
under the lake, giving us the best water in the world ; and third, the
turning the current of the river in its own channel, delivering us from the
old abominations, and making decency possible. They redound about
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102 HISTORY OF THE NORTHWEST.
equally to the credit of the engineering, to the energy of the people, and
to the health of the city.
That which really constitutes the city, its indescribable spirit, its soul,
the way it lights up in every feature in the hour of action, has not been
touched. In meeting strangers, one is often surprised how some homely
women marry so well. Their forms are bad, their gait uneven and awk-
ward, then: complexion is dull, their features are misshapen and mismatch-
ed, and when we see them there is no beauty that we should desire them.
But when once they are aroused on some subject, they put on new pro-
portions. They light up into great power. The real person comes out
from its unseemly ambush, and captures us at will. They have power.
They have ability to cause things to come to pass. We no longer wonder
why they are in such high demand. So it is with our city.
There is no grand scenery except the two seas, one of water, the
other of prairie. Nevertheless, there is a spirit about it, a push, a breadth,
a power, that soon makes it a place never to be forsaken. One soon
ceases to believe in impossibilities. Balaams are the only prophets that are
disappointed. The bottom that has been on the point of falling out has
been there so long that it has grown fast. It can not fall out. It has all
the capital of the world itching to get inside the corporation.
The two great laws that govern the growth and size of cities are,
first, the amount of territory for which they are the distributing and
receiving points ; second, the number of medium or moderate dealers that
do this distributing. Monopolists build up themselves, not the cities.
They neither eat, wear, nor live in proportion to their business. Both
these laws help Chicago.
The tide of trade is eastward — ^not up or down the map, but across
the map. The lake runs up a wingdam for 600 miles to gather in the
business. Commerce can not ferry up there for seven months in the year,
and the facilities for seven months can do the work for twelve. Then the
great region west of us is nearly all good, productive land. Dropping
south into the trail of St. Louis, you fall into vast deserts and rocky dis-
tricts, useful in holding the world together. St. Louis and Cincinnati,
instead of rivaling and hurting Chicago, are her greatest sureties of
dominion. They are far enough away to give sea-room, — farther off than
Paris is from London, — and yet they are near enough to prevent the
springing up of any other great city between them.
St. Louis will be helped by the opening of the Mississippi, but also
hurt. That will put New Orleans on her feet, and with a railroad running
over into Texas and so West, she will tap the streams that now crawl up
the Texas and Missouri road. The current is East, not North, and a sea-
port at New Orleans can not permanently help St. Louis.
Chicago is in the field almost alone, to handle the wealth of one-
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HISTORY OP THE NORTHWEST. 103
fourth of the territory of this great republic. This strip of seacoast
divides its margins between Portland, Boston, New York, Philadelphia,
Baltimore and Savannah, or some other great port to be created for the
South in the next decade. But Chicago has a dozen empires casting their
treasu;:es into her lap. On a bed of coal that can run all the machinery
of the world for 500 centuries ; in a garden that can feed the race by the
thousand years; at the head of the lakes that give her a temperature as a
summer resort equaled by no great city in the land ; with a climate that
insures the health of her citizens ; surrounded by all the great deposits
of natural wealth in mines and forests and herds, Chicago is the wonder
of to-day, and will be the city of the future.
MASSACRE AT FORT DEARBORN.
During the war of 1812, Port Dearborn became the theater of stirring
events. The garrison consisted of fifty-four men under command of
Captain Nathan Heald, assisted by Lieutenant Helm (son-in-law of Mrs.
Kinzie) and Ensign Ronan. Dr. Voorhees was surgeon. The only resi-
dents at the post at that time were the wives of Captain Heald and Lieu-
tenant Helm, and a few of the soldiers, Mr. Kinzie and his family, and
a few Canadian vayageurs^ with their wives and children. The soldiers
and Mr. Kinzie were on most friendly terms with the Pottawattamies
and Winnebagos, the principal tribes around them, but they could not
win them from their attachment to the British.
One evening in April, 1812, Mr. Kinzie sat playing on his violin and
his children were dancing to the music, when Mrs. Kinzie came rushing
into the house, pale with terror, and exclaiming : ^^ The Indians I the
Indians 1" "What? Where?" eagerly inquired Mr. Kinzie. **Up
at Lee^s, killing and scalping," answered the frightened mother, who,
when the alarm was given, was attending Mrs. Barnes (just confined)
living not far off. Mr. Eanzie and his family crossed the river and took
refuge in the fort, to which place Mrs. Barnes and her infant not a day
old were safely conveyed. The rest of the inhabitants took shelter in the
fort. This alarm was caused by a scalping party of Winnebagos, who
hovered about the fort several days, when they disappeared, and for several
weeks the inhabitants were undisturbed.
On the 7th of August, 1812, General Hull, at Detroit, sent orders to
Captain Heald to evacuate Fort Dearborn, and to distribute all the United
States property to the Indians in the neighborhood — a most insane order.
The Pottawattamie chief, who brought the dispatch, had more wisdom
than the commanding general. He advised Captain Heald not to make
the distribution. Said he : ** Leave the fort and stores as they are, and
let the Indians make distribution for themselves; and while they are
engaged in the business, the white people may escape to Fort Wayne."
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HISTORY OF THE NORTHWEST. 106
Captain Heald held a council with the Indians on the afternoon of
the 12th, in which his officers refused to join, for they had been informed
that treachery was designed — ^that the Indians intended to murder the
white people in the council, and then destroy those in the fort. Captain
Heald, however, took the precaution to open a port-hole displfiying a
cannon pointing directly upon the council, and by that means saved
his life.
Mr. Kinzie, who knew the Indians well, begged Captain Heald not
to confide in their promises, nor distribute the arms and munitions among
them, for it would only put power into their hands to destroy the whites.
Acting upon this advice, Heald resolved to withhold the munitions of
war ; and on the night of the 13th, after the distribution of the other
property had been made, the powder, ball and liquors were thrown into
the river, the muskets broken up and destroyed.
Black Partridge, a friendly chief, came to Captain Heald, and said:
^^ Linden birds have been singing in my ears to-day: be careful on the
march you are going to take." On that dark night vigilant Indians had
crept near the fort and discovered the destruction of their promised booty
going on within. The next morning the powder was seen floating on the
surface of the river. The savages were exasperated and made loud com*
plaints and threats.
On the following day when preparations were making to leave the
fort, and all the inmates were deeply impressed with a sense of impend-
ing danger, Capt. Wells, an uncle of Mrs. Heald, was discovered upon
the Indian trail among the sand-hills on the borders of the lake, not far
distant, with a band of mounted Miamis, of whose tribe he was chief,
having been adopted by the famous Miami warrior. Little Turtle. When
news of Hull's surrender reached Fort Wayne, he had started with this
force to assist Heald in defending Fort Dearborn. He was too late.
Every means for its defense had been destroyed the night before, and
arrangements were made for leaving the fort on the morning of the 15th.
It was a warm bright morning in the middle of August. Indications
were positive that the savages intended to murder the white people ; and
when they moved out of the southern gate of the fort, the march was
like a funeral procession. The band, feeling the solemnity of the occa-
sion, struck up the Dead March in Saul.
Capt. Wells, who had blackened his face with gun-powder in token
of his fate, took the lead with his band of Miamis, followed by Capt.
Heald, with his wife by his side on horseback. Mr. Kinzie hoped by his
personal influence to avert the impending blow, and therefore accompanied
them, leaving his family in a boat in charge of a friendly Indian, to be
taken to his trading station at the site of Niles, Michigan, in the event of
his death.
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106 HISTORY OF THE NORTHWEST.
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HISTORY OP THE NORTHWEST. 107
The procession moved slowly along the lake shore till they reached
the sand-hills between the prairie and the beach, when the Pottawattamie
escort, under the leadership of Blackbird, filed to the right, placing those
hills between them and the white people. Wells, with his Miamis, had
kept in the advance. They suddenly came rushing back, Wells exclaim*
ing, " They are about to attack us ; form instantly." These words were
quickly followed by a storm of bullets, which came whistling over the
little hills which the treacherous savages had made the covert for their
murderous attack. The white troops charged upon the Indians, drove
them back to the prairie, and then the battle was waged between fifty-
four soldiers, twelve civilians and three or four women (the cowardly
Miamis having fled at the outset) against five hundred Indian warriors..
The white people, hopeless, resolved to sell their lives as dearly as possible.
Ensign Ronan wielded his weapon vigorously, even after falling upon his
knees weak from the loss of blood. Capt. Wells, who was by the side of
his niece, Mrs. Heald, when the conflict began, behaved with the greatest
coolness and courage. He said to her, " We have not the slightest chance
for life. We must part to meet no more in this world. God bless you.''
And then he dashed forward. Seeing a young warrior, painted like a
demon, climb into a wagon in which were twelve children, and tomahawk
them all, he cried out, unmindful of his personal danger, " If that is your
game, butchering women and children, I will kill too.'* He spurred hid
horse towards the Indian camp, where they had left their squaws and
papooses, hotly pursued by swift-footed young warriors, who sent buUeta
whistling after him. One of these killed his horse and wounded him
severely in the leg. With a yell the young braves rushed to make him
their prisoner and reserve him for torture. He resolved not to be made
a captive, and by the use of the most provoking epithets tried to induce
them to kill him instantly. He called a fiery young chief a sqiiawj when
the enraged warrior killed Wells instantly with his tomahawk, jumped
upon his body, cut out his heart, and ate a portion of the warm morsel
with savage delight I
In this fearful combat women bore a conspicuous part. Mrs. Heald
was an excellent equestrian sCad an expert in the use of the rifle. She
fought the savages bravely, receiving several severe wounds. Though
fiiint from the loss of blood, she managed to keep her saddle. A savage
raised his tomahawk to kill her, when she looked him full in the face>
tod with a sweet smile and in a gentle voice said, in his own language,.
"Surely you will not kill a squaw I " The arm of the savage fell, and
the life of the heroic woman was saved.
Mrs. Helm, the step-daughter of Mr. Kinzie, had an encounter with
a stout Indian, who attempted to tomahawk her. Springing to one side^
she received the glancing blow on her shoulder, and at the same instant
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108 HISTORY OP THE NORTHWEST.
Beized the savage round the neck with her arms and endeavored to get
hold of his scalping knife, which hung in a sheath at his breast. While
she was thus struggling she was dragged from her antagonist by ano l^hei
powerful Indian, who bore her, in spite of her struggles, to the margfin
of the lake and plunged her in. To her astonishment she was held by
him so that she would not drown, and she soon perceived that she was
in the hands of the friendly Black Partridge, who had saved her life.
The wife of Sergeant Holt, a large and powerful woman, behaved as
bravely as an Amazon. She rode a fine, high-spirited horse, which the
Indians coveted, and several of them attacked her with the butts of their
guns, for the purpose of dismounting her ; but she used the sword which
she liad snatched from her disabled husband so skillfully that she foiled
them ; and, suddenly wheeling her horse, she dashed over the prairie,
followed by the savages shouting* '' The brave woman ! the brave woman !
Don't hurt her ! " They finally overtook her, and while she was fighting
them in front, a powerful savage came up behind her, seized her by the
neck and dragged her to the ground. Horse and woman were made
captives. Mrs. Holt was a long time a captive among the Indians, but
was afterwards ransomed.
In this sharp conflict two-thirds of the white people were slain and
wounded, and all their horses, baggage and provision were lost. Only
twenty-eight straggling men now remained to fight five hundred Indians
rendered furious by the sight of blood. They succeeded in breaking
through the ranks of the murderers and gaining a slight eminence on the
prairje near the Oak Woods. The Indians did not pursue, but gathered
on their flanks, while the chiefs held a consultation on the sand-hills, and
showed signs of willingness to parley. It would have been madness ol
the part of the whites to renew the fight ; and so Capt. Heald went for-
ward and met Blackbird on the open prairie, where terms of surrender
were soon agreed upon. It was arranged that the white people should
give up their arms to Blackbird, and that the survivors should become
prisoners of war, to be exchanged for ransoms as soon as practicable.
With this understanding captives and captors started for the Indian
camp near the fort, to which Mrs. Helm had been taken bleeding and
suffering by Black Partridge, and had met her step-father and learned
that her husband was safe.
A new scene of horror was now opened at the Indian camp. The
wounded, not being included in the terms of surrender, as it was inter-
preted by the Indians, and the British general. Proctor, having offered a
liberal bounty for American scalps, delivered at Maiden, nearly all the
wounded men were killed and scalped, and the price of the trophies was
afterwards paid by the British government.
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THE STATE OF IOWA.
GEOGRAPHICAL SITUATION.
The State of Iowa has an outline figure nearly approaching that of a rec-
tangular parallelogram, the northern and southern boundaries being nearly due
east and west lines, and its eastern and western boundaries determined by
aoutherly flowing rivers — the Mississippi on the east, and the Missouri, together
with its tributary, the Big Sioux, on the west. The northern boundary is upon
the parallel of forty-three degrees thirty minutes, and the southern is approxi-
mately upon that of forty degrees and thirty-six minutes. The distance from
the northern to the southern boundary, excluding the small prominent angle at
the southeast comer, is a little more than two hundred miles. Owing to the
irr^ularity of the river boundaries, however, the number of square miles does
not reach that of the multiple of these numbers ; but according to a report of
the Secretary of the Treasury to the United States Senate, March 12, 1863,
the State of Iowa contains 35,228,200 acres, or 55,044 square miles. When it
b understood that all this vast extent of surface, except that which is occupied
by our rivers, lakes and peat beds of the northern counties, is susceptible of the
highest cultivation, some idea may be formed of the immense agricultural
resoarces of the State. Iowa is nearly as large as England, and twice as large
I M Scotland ; but when we consider the relative area of surface which may be
! made to yield to the wants of man, those countries of the Old World will bear
tto comparison with Iowa.
TOPOGRAPHY.
No complete topographical survey of the State of Iowa has yet been made.
Therefore all the knowledge we have yet upon the subject has been obtained
from incidental observations of geological corps, from barometrical observations
by authority of the General Government, and levelings done by railroad en-
gineer corps within the State.
Taking into view the facts that the highest point in the State is but a little
naore than twelve hundred feet above the lowest point, that these two points are
^^eariy three hundred miles apart, and that the whole State is traversed by
109
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110 HISTORY OF THE STATE OF IOWA.
gently flowing rivers, it will be seen that in reality the State of Iowa rests
wholly within, and comprises a part of, a vast plain, with no mountain or hill
ranges within its borders.
A clearer idea of the great uniformity of the surface of the State may be
obtained from a statement of the general slopes in feet per mile, from point to
point, in straight lines across it :
From the N. E. comer to the S. £. comer of the State 1 foot 1 inch per mile.
From the N. £. comer to Spirit Lake 6 feet 5 inches per mile.
From the N. W. comer to Spirit Lake 5 feet 0 inches per mile.
From the N. W. comer to the S. W. comer of the State 2 feet 0 inches per mile.
From the S. W. comer to the highest ridge between the two
great rivers (in Ringgold County)...- 4 feet 1 inch per mOe
From the diyiding ridge in the S. E. comer of the State 5 feet 7 inches per mile.
From the highest point in the State (near Spirit Lake) to the
lowest point in the State (at the mouth of Des Moines
Riyer) 4 feet 0 inches per mile.
It will be seen, therefore, that there is a good degree of propriety in regard-
ing the whole State as a part of a great plain, the lowest point of which within
its borders, the southeast comer of the State, is only 444 feet above the level of
the sea. The average height of the whole State above the level of the sea is
not far from eight hundred feet, although it is more than a thousand miles
inland from the nearest sea coast. These remarks are, of course, to be undei^
stood as applying to the sur&ce of the State as a whole. When we come to
consider its surface feature in detail, we find a great diversity of surface by the
formation of valleys out of the general level, which have been evolved by the
action of streams during the unnumbered years of the terrace epoch.
It is in the northeastern part of the State that the river valleys are deepest ;
consequently the country there has the greatest diversity of surfistce, and its
physical features are most strongly marked.
DRAINAGE SYSTEM.
The Mississippi and Missouri Rivers form the eastern and western bounda-
lies of the State, and receive the eastern and western drainage of it.
The eastern drainage system comprises not far from two-thirds of the en-
tire surface of the State. The great watershed which divides these two systems
is formed by the highest land between those rivers along the whole length of a
line running southward from a point on the northern boundary line of the State
near Spirit Lake, in Dickinson County, to a nearly central point in the northern
part of Adair County.
From the last named point, this highest ridge of land, between the two great
rivers, continues southward, without change of character, through Ringgold
County into the State of Missouri ; but southward from that point, in Adair
County, it is no longer the great watershed. From that point, another and
lower ridge bears off more nearly southeastward, through the counties of Madi-
son, Clarke, Lucas and Appanoose, and becomes itself the great watershed.
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HISTORY OF THB STATE OP IOWA. Ill
RIVERS.
All streams that rise in Iowa rise upon the incoherent surface deposits,
occupying at first only slight depressions in the surface, and scarcely percept-
ible. These successively coalesce to form the streams.
The drift and bluff deposits are both so thick in Iowa that its streams not
only rise upon their surface, but they also reach considerable depth into these
deposits alone, in some cases to a depth of nearly two hundred feet from the
general prairie level.
The majority of streams that constitute the western system of Iowa drainage
ran, either along the whole or a part of their course, upon that peculir deposit
known as bluff deposit. Their banks are often, even of the small streams,
from five to ten feet in height, quite perpendicular, so that they make the
streams almost everywhere unfordable, and a great impediment to travel across
tiie open country where there are no bridges.
The material of this deposit is of a slightly yellowish ash color, except
where darkened by decaying vegetation, very fine and silicious, but not sandy,
not very cohesive, and not at all plastic. It forms excellent soil, and does not
bake or crack in drying, except limy concretions, which are generally dis-
taribnted throughout the mass, in shape and size resembling pebbles ; not a
stone or pebble can be found in the whole deposit. It was called ^^ silicious
marl " by Dr. Owen, in his geological report to the General Government, and
its origin referred to an accumulation of sediment in an ancient lake, which
wag afterward drained, when its sediment became dry land. Prof Swallaw
gives it the name of ^^ bluff," which is here adopted ; the term Lacustral would
baye been better. The peculiar properties of this deposit are that it will stand
securely with a precipitous fix)nt two hundred feet high, and yet is easily
ezcayated with a spade. Wells dug in it require only to be walled to a point just
ibove the water line. Yet, compact aa it is, it is very porous, so that water
wbich fiills on its surface does not remain, but percolates through it ; neither
does it accumulate within its mass, as it does upon the surface of and within
die drift and the stratified formations.
The bluff deposit is known to occupy a region through which the Missouri
nms almost centrally, and measures, as far as is known, more than two hun-
^ miles in length and nearly one hundred miles in width. The thickest
part yet known in Iowa is in Fremont County, where it reaches two hundred
feet The boundaries of this deposit in Iowa are nearly as follows : Com-
mencing at the southeast corner of Fremont County, follow up the watershed
between the East Nishnabotany and the West Tarkio Rivers to the southern
boundary of Cass County ; thence to the center of Audubon County ; thence
to Tip Top Station, on the Chicago & Northwestern Railway ; thence by a
broad curve westward to the northwest comer of Plymouth County.
This deposit is composed of fine sedimentary particles, similar to that
which the Missouri River now deposits ft-om its waters, and is the same which
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112 HISTORY OP THB STATE OF IOWA.
that river did deposit in a broad depression in the sar£sM^ of the drift that
formed a lake-like expansion of that river in the earliest period of the history
of its valley. That lake, as shown by its deposit, which now remains, was
about one hundred miles wide and more than twice as long. The water of the
river was muddy then, as now, and the broad lake became filled with the sedi-
ment which the river brought down, before its valley had, enough in the lower
portion of its course to drain it. After the lake became filled with the sedi- i
ment, the valley below became deepened by the constant erosive action of the
waters, to a depth of more than sufficient to have drained the lake of its first
waters ; but the only effect then was to cause it to cut its valley out of the de-
posits its own muddy waters had formed. Thus along the valley of that river,
so far as it forms the western boundary of Iowa, the bluffs which border it are
composed of that sediment known as bluff deposit, forming a distinct border
along the broad, level flood plain, the width of which varies from five to fifteen
miles, while the original sedimentary deposit stretches far inland.
All the rivers of the western system of drainage, except the Missouri itself^
are quite incomplete as rivers, in consequence of their being really only
branches of other larger tributaries of that great river , or, if they empty into
the Missouri direct, they have yet all the usual characteristics of Iowa rivers,
from their sources to their mouths.
Ohariton and Ghrand Rivera both rise and run for the first twenty-five miles
of their courses upon the drift deposit alone. The first strata that are exposed
by the deepening valleys of both these streams belong to the upper coal meas-
ures, and they both continue upon the same formation until they make their
exit from the State (the former in Appanoose County, the latter in Ringgold
County), near the boundary of which they have passed nearly or quite through
the whole of that formation to the middle coal measures. Their valleys gradu-
ally deepen from their upper portions downward, so that within fift;een or twenty
miles they have reached a depth of near a hundred and fifty feet below the gen-
eral level of the adjacent high land. When the rivers have cut their valleys
down through the series of limestone strata, they reach those of a clayey com-
position. Upon these they widen their valleys and make broad flood plains
(commonly termed "bottoms"), the soil of which is stiff and clayey, except
where modified by sandy washings.
A considerable breadth of woodland occupies the bottoms and valley sides
along a great part of their length ; but their upper branches and tributaries arc
mostly prairie streams.
Platte River. — This river belongs mainly to Missouri. Its upper branches
pass through Ringgold County, and, with the west fork of the Grand River
drain a large region of country.
Here the drift deposit reaches its maximum thickness on an east and xv-es
line across the State, and the valleys are eroded in some instances to a depth o
two hundred feet, apparently, through this deposit alone^
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HISTORY OF THB STATE OF IOWA. 118
The term " drift deposit " applies to the soil and sub-soil of the greater part
d the State, and in it alone many of our wells are dug and our forests take
root. It rests upon the stratified rocks. It is composed of clay, sand, gravel
Mid boulders, promiscuously intermixed, without stratification, varying in char-
acter in different parts of the State.
The proportion of lime in the drift of Iowa is so great that the water of all
oar wells and springs is too *^ hard " for washing purposes ; and the same sub-
stance is so prevalent in the drift clays that they are always found to have suffi-
eient flux when used for the manufacture of brick.
One Hundred and Two River is represented in Taylor County, the valleys
of which have the same general character of those just described. The country
around and between the east and west forks of this stream is almost entirely
prairie.
Nodaway River. — This stream is represented by east, middle and west
branches. The two former rise in Adair County, the latter in Cass County.
These rivers and valleys are fine examples of the small rivers and valleys of
Southern Iowa. They have the general character of drift valleys, and with
beautiful undulating and sloping sides. The NodawAys drain one of the finest
agricultural regions in the State, the soil of which is tillable almost to their very
banks. The banks and the adjacent narrow flood plains are almost everywhere
composed of a rich, deep, dark loam.
Nishnabotany River. — This river is represented by east and west branches,
the former having its source in Anderson County, the latter in Shelby County.
Both these branches, from their source to their confluence — and also the main
stream, from thence to the point where it enters the great flood plain of the
Missouri — run through a region the surface of which is occupied by the bluff
deposit. The West Nishnabotany is probably without any valuable mill sites.
In the western part of Cass County, the East Nishnabotany loses its identity
by becoming abruptly divided up into five or six different creeks. A few
good mill sites occur here on this stream. None, however, that are thought
reliable exist on either of these rivers, or on the main stream below the
confluence, except, perhaps, one or two in Montgomery County. The
nlleys of the two branches, and the intervening upland, possess remarkable
fertility.
Boyer River. — Until it enters the flood plain of the Missouri, the Boyer
rang almost, if not quite, its entire course through the region occupied by the
bluff deposit, and has cut its valley entirely through it along most of its pas-
sage. The only rocks exposed are the upper coal measures, near Reed's mill, in
Harrison County. The exposures are slight, and are the most northerly now
bown in Iowa. The valley of this river has usually gently sloping sides, and an
ndistinctly defined flood plain. Along the lower half of its course the adjacent
upland presents a surface of the billowy character, peculiar to the bluff deposit.
The source of this river is in Sac County.
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114 HISTORY OF THE STATE OP IOWA.
Soldier River. — The east and middle branches of this stream have tlieir
source in Crawford County, and the west branch in Ida County. The whole
course of this river is through the bluff deposit. It has no exposure of strata
along its course.
Little Sioux River, — Under this head are included both the main and west
branches of that stream, together with the Maple, which is one of its branches.
The west branch and the Maple are so similar to the Soldier River that they
need no separate description. The main stream has its boundary near the
northern boundary of the State, and runs most of its course upon drift deposit
alone, entering the region of the bluff deposit in the southern part of Cherokee
County. The two principal upper branches, near their source in Dickinson
and Osceola .Counties, are small prairie creeks, with indistinct valleys. On
entering Clay County, the valley deepens, and at their confluence has a depth
of one hundred feet, which still further increases until along the boundary line
between Clay and Buena Vista Counties, it reaches a depth of two hundred
feet. Just as the valley enters Cherokee County, it turns to the southward and
becomes much widened, with its sides gently sloping to the uplands. When the
valley enters the region of the bluff deposit, it assumes the billowy appearance.
No exposures of strata of any kind have been found in the valley of the Little
Sioux or any of its branches.
Floyd River. — This river rises upon the drift in O'Brien County, and flow-
ing southward enters the region of the bluff deposit a little north of the center
of Plymouth County. Almost from its source to its mouth it is a prairie stream,
with slightly sloping valley sides, which blend gradually with the uplands. A
single slight exposure of sandstone of cretaceous age occurs in the valley near
Sioux City, and which is the only known exposure of rock of any kind along
its whole length. Near this exposure is a mil] site, but farther up the stream
it is not valuable for such purposes.
Rock River. — This stream passes through Lyon and Sioux Counties. It
was evidently so named from the fact that considerable exposures of the red
Sioux quartzite occur along the main branches of the stream in Minnesota, a
few miles north of our State boundary. Within this State the main stream and
ita branches are drift streams, and strata are exposed. The beds and banks of
the streams are usually sandy and gravelly, with occasional boulders intermixed.
Big Sioux River. — The valley of this river, from the northwest comer of
the State to its mouth, possesses much the same character as all the streams of
the surface deposits. At Sioux Falls, a few miles above the northwest comer
of the State, the stream meets with remarkable obstructions from the presence
of Sioux quartzite, which outcrops directly across the stream, and causes a fall
of about sixty feet within a distance of half a mile, producing a series of cas-
cades. For the first twenty-five miles above its mouth, the valley is very broad,
with a broad, flat flood plain, with gentle slopes occasionally showing indistinctly
defined terraces. These terraces and valley bottoms constitute some of the finest
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HISTORY OF THE STATE OF IOWA. 115
i^cultural land of the region. On the Iowa side of the valley the upland
presents abrupt bluffs, steep as the materiald of which they are composed will
stand, and from one hundred to nearly two hundred feet high above the stream.
At rare intervals, about fifteen miles from its mouth, the cretaceous strata are
found exposed in the face of the bluffs of the Iowa side. No other strata are
exposed along that part of the valley which borders our State, with the single
exception of Sioux quartzite at its extreme northwestern comer. Some good mill
sites may be secured along that portion of this river which borders Lyon County,
but below this the fall will probably be found insufficient and the location for
dams insecure.
Missouri River. — This is one of the muddiest streams on the globe, and its
waters are known to be very turbid far toward its source. The chief pecul-
iarity of this river is its broisid flood plains, and its adjacent bluff deposits.
Much the greater part of the flood plain of this river is upon the Iowa side, and
continuous from the south boundary line of the State to Sioux City, a distance
of more than one hundred miles in length, varying from thre^ to five miles in
width. This alluvial plain is estimated to contain more than half a million acres
of land within the State, upward of four hundred thousand of which are now
tillable.
The rivers of the eastern system of drainage have quite a different character
from those of the western system. They are larger, longer and have their val-
leys modified to a much greater extent by the underlying strata. For the lat-
ter reason, water-power is much more abundant upon them than upon the
streams of the western system.
Des Moines River, — This river has its source in Minnesota, but it enters
Iowa before it has attained any size, and flows almost centrally through it from
northwest to southeast, emptying into the Mississippi at the extreme southeast-
em corner of the State. It drains a greater area than any river within the
State. The upper portion of it is divided into two branches known as the east
and west forks. These unite in Humboldt County. The valleys of these
branches above their confluence are drift-valleys, except a few small exposures
of subcarboniferous limestone about five miles above their confluence. These
exposures produce several small mill-sites. The valleys vary from a few hun-
dred yards to half a mile in width, and are the finest agricultural lands. In the
northern part of Webster County, the character of the main valley is modified
by the presence of ledges and low cliffs of the subcarboniferous limestone and
gypsum. From a point a little below Fort Dodge to near Amsterdam, in Ma-
rion County, the river runs all the way through and upon the lower coal-meas
ure strata. Along this part of its course the flood-plain varies from an eighth
to half a mile or more in width. From Amsterdam to Ottumwa the subcarbon-
iferous limestone appears at intervals in the valley sides. Near Ottumwa, the sub-
carboniferous rocks pass beneath the river again, bringing down the coal-measure
strata into its bed ; but they rise again from it in the extreme northwestern part
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116 HISTORY OF THE STATE OF IOWA.
of Van Bnren County, and sabcarboruferous strata resume and keep their place
along the valley to the north of the river. From Fort Dodge to the northern
part of Lee County, the strata of the lower coal measures are present in the
valley. Its flood plain is frequently sandy, from the debris of the sandstone
and sandy shales of the coal measures produced by their removal in the process
of the formation of the valley.
The principal tributaries of the Des Moines are upon the western side.
These are the Raccoon and the three rivers, viz.: South, Middle and North Riv-
ers. The three latter have their source in the region occupied by the upper
coal-measure limestone formation, flow eastward over the middle coal measures,
and enter the valley of the Des Moines upon the lower coal measures. These
streams, especially South and Middle Rivers, are frequently bordered by high,
rocky cliffs. Raccoon River has its source upon the heavy surface deposits of
the middle region of Western Iowa, and along the greater part of its course it
has excavated its valley out those deposits and the middle coal measures alone.
The valley of the Des Moines and its branches are destined to become the seat
of extensive manufactures in consequence of the numerous mill sites of immense
power, and the fact that the main valley traverses the entire length of the Iowa
coal fields.
Skunk River. — This river has its source in Hamilton County, and runs
almost its entire course upon the border of the outcrop of the lower coal meas-
ures, or, more properly speaking, upon the subcarboniferous limestone, just where
it begins to pass beneath the coal measures by its southerly and westerly dip.
Its general course is southeast. From the western part of Henry County, up
as far as Story County, the broad, flat flood plain is covered with a rich deep
clay soil, which, in time of long-continued i^ins and overflows of the river, has
made the valley of Skunk River a terror to travelers from the earliest settle-
ment of the country. There are some excellent mill sites on the lower half of
this river, but they are not so numerous or valuable as on other rivers of the
eastern system.
Iowa River. — This river rises in Hancock County, in the midst of a broad,
slightly undulating drift region. The first rock exposure is that of subcarbon-
iferous limestone, in the southwestern comer of Franklin County. It enters
the region of the Devonian strata near the southwestern comer of Benton
County, and in this it continues to its confluence with the Cedar in Louisa
County. Below the junction with the Cedar, and for some miles above that
point, its valley is broad, and especially on the northern side, with a well
marked flood plain. Its borders gradually blend with the uplands as they slope
away in the distance from the river. The Iowa furnishes numerous and valua-
ble mill sites.
Cedar River. — This stream is usually understood to be a branch of the
Iowa, but it ought, really, to be regarded as the main stream. It rises by
numerous branches in the northern part of the State, and flows the entire lengUi
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HISTORY OP THE STATE OF IOWA. 117
of the State, through the region occupied by the Devonian strata and along the
trend occupied by that formation.
The valley of this river, in the upper part of its course, is narrow, and the
sides slope so gently as to scarcely show where the lowlands end and the up-
lands begin. Below the confluence with the Shell Rock, the flood plain is more
distinctly marked and the valley broad and shallow. The valley of the Cedar
is one of the finest regions in the State, and both the main stream and its
branches afibrd abundant and reliable mill sites.
Wapsipinnicon River. — This river has its source near the source of the
Cedar, and runs parallel and near it almost its entire course, the upper half
upon the same formation — the Devonian. In the northeastern part of Linn
County, it enters the region of the Niagara limestone, upon which it continues
to the Mississippi. Il^is one hundred miles long, and yet the area of its drain-
age is only from twelve to twenty miles in width. Hence, its numerous mill
sites are unusually secure.
Turkey River. — This river and the Upper Iowa are, in many respects, un-
like other Iowa rivei-s. The difierence is due to the great depth they have
eroded their valleys and the different character of the material through which
they have eroded. . Turkey River rises in Howard County, and in Winnesheik
County, a few miles from its source, its valley has attained a depth of more than
two hundred feet, and in Fayette and Clayton Counties its depth is increased to
three and four hundred feet. The summit of the uplands, bordering nearly the
whole length of the valley, is capped by the Maquoketa shales. These shales
are underlaid by the Galena limestone, between two and three hundred feet
thick. The valley has been eroded through these, and runs upon the Trenton
Umestone. Thus, all the formations along and within this valley are Lower
Silurian. The valley is usually narrow, and without a well-marked flood plain.
Water power is abundant, but in most places inaccessible.
Upper Iowa River, — This river rises in Minnesota, just beyond the north-
em boundary line, and enters our State in Howard County before it has attained
any considerablesize. Its course is nearly eastward until it reaches the Mis-
sissippi. It rises in the region of the Devonian rocks, and flows across the out-
crops, respectively, of the Niagara, Galena and Trenton limestone, the lower
magnesian limestone and Potsdam sandstone, into and through all of which,
except the last, it has cut its valley, which is the deepest of any in Iowa. The
▼alley sides are, almost everywhere, high and steep, and cliffs of lower magne-
sian and Trenton limestone give them a wild and rugged aspect. • In the lower
part of the valley, the flood plain reaches a width suflScient for the location of
anall farms, but usually it is too narrow for such purposes. On the higher
surface, however, as soon as you leave the valley you come immediately upon a
cultivated country. This stream has the greatest slope per mile of any in Iowa,
consequently it furnishes immense water power. In some places, where creeks
come into it, the valley widens and affords good locations for farms. The town
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118 HISTORY OF THE STATE OF IOWA.
of Decorah, in Winnesheik County, is located in one of these spots, which
makes it a lovely location ; and the power of the river and the small spring
streams around it offer fine facilities for manufacturing. This river and its
tributaries are the only trout streams in Iowa.
Misaissippi River. — This river may be described, in general terms, as a broad
canal cut out of the general level of the country through which the river flows.
It is bordered by abrupt hills or bluffs. The bottom of the valley ranges from
one to eight miles in width. The whole space between the bluffs is occupied by
the river and its bottom, or flood plain only, if we except the occasional terraces
or remains of ancient flood plains, which are not now reached by the highest
floods of the river. The river itself is from half a mile to nearly a mile in
width. There are but four points along the whole length of the State where the
bluffs approach the stream on both sides. The Lower Sijurian formations com-
pose the bluffs in the northern part of the State, but they gradually disappear
by a southerly dip, and the bluffs are continued successively by the Upper
Silurian, Devonian, and subcarboniferous rocks, which are reached near the
southeastern comer of the State.
Considered in their relation to the present general surface of the state, tiie
relative ages of the river valley of Iowa date back only tq the close of the
glacial epoch ; but that the Mississippi, and all the rivers of Northeastern Iowa,
if no others, had at least a large part of the rocky portions of their valleys
eroded by pre-glacial, or perhaps even by palaeozoic rivers, can scarcely be
doubted.
LAKES.
The lakes of Iowa may be properly divided into two distinct classes. The
first may be called drift lakeSy having had their origin in the depressions left
in the surface of the drift at the close of the glacial epoch, and have rested upon
the undisturbed surface of the drift deposit ever since the glaciers disappeared.
The others may be properly termed fluvatile or aUuvial lakesy because they have
had their origin by the action of rivers while cutting their own valleys out from
the surface of the drift as it existed at the close of the glacial epoch, and are now
found resting upon the alluvium, as the others rest upon the drift. By the term
alluvium is meant the deposit which has accumulated in the valleys of rivers by
the action of their own currents. It is largely composed of sand and other
coarse material, and upon that deposit are some of the best and most productive
soils in the State. It is this deposit which form the flood plains and deltas of
our rivers, as well as the terraces of their valleys.
The regions to which the drift lakes are principally confined are near the
head waters of the principal streams of the State. We consequently find them
in those regions which lie between the Cedar and Des Moines Rivers,' and the
Des Moines and Little Sioux. No drift lakes are found in Southern Iowa.
The largest of the lakes to be found in the State are Spirit and Okoboji, in
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HISTORY OF THE STATE OF IOWA. 119
Dickinson County ; Clear Lake, in Cerro Gordo County ; and Storm Lake, in
Banea Vista County.
Spirit Lake. — The width and length of this lake are about equal , and it
contains about twelve square miles of surface/ its northern border resting directly
on the boundary of the State. It lies almost directly upon the great watershed.
Its shores are mostly gravelly, and the country about it fertile.
OTcohoji Lake. — This body of water lies directly south of Spirit Lake, and
has somewhat the shape of a horse-shoe, with its eastern projection within a few
rods of Spirit Lake, where it receives the outlet of the latter. Okoboji Lake
extends about five miles southward from Spirit Lake, thence about the same
distance westward, and then bends northward about as far as the eastern projec-
tion. The eastern portion is narrow, but the western is larger, and in some
places a hundred feet deep. The surroundings of this and Spirit Lake are very
pleasant. Fish are abundant in them^ and they are the resort of myriads of
water fowl.
Clear Lake, — This lake is situated in Cerro Gordo County, upon the
watershed between the Iowa and Cedar Rivers. It is about five miles long,
and two or three miles wide, and has a maximum depth of only fifteen
feet. Its shores and the country around it are like that of Spirit Lake.
Storm Lake. — This body of water rests upon the great water shed in Buena
Vista County. It is a clear, beautiful sheet of water, containing a surface area
of between four and five square miles.
The outlets of all these drift-lakes are dry during a portion of the year, ex-
cept Okoboji.
Walled LakeB, — Along the water sheds of Northern Iowa great numbers of
small lakes exist, varying from half a mile to a mile in diameter. One of the lakes
in Wright County, and another in Sac, have each received the name of " Walled
Lake," on account of the existence of embankments on their borders, which are
supposed to be the work of ancient inhabitants. These embankments are from
two to ten feet in height, and from five to thirty feet across. They are the
result of natural causes alone, being referable to the periodic action of ice, aided,
to some extent, by the force of the waves. These lakes are very shallow, and
in winter freeze to the bottom, so that but little unfrozen water remains in the
middle. The ice freezes fast to everything upon the bottom, and the expansive
power of the water in freezing acts in all directions from the center to the cir-
cumference, and whatever was on the bottom of the lake has been thus carried
to the shore, and this has been going on from year to year, from century to
century, forming the embankments which have caused so much wonder.
SPRINGS.
Springs issue from all formations, and from the sides of almost every valley,
but they are more numerous, and assume proportions which give rise to the
name of sink-holes, along the upland borders of the Upper Iowa River, owing
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120 HISTORY OF THE STATE OF IOWA.
to the peculiar fissured and laminated character and great thickness of the strata
of the age of the Trenton limestone which underlies the whole region of the
valley of that stream.
No mineral springs, properly so called, have yet been discovered in Iowa,
though the water of several artesian wells is frequently found charged with
soluble mineral substances.
ORIGIN OF THE PRAIRIES.
It is estimated that seven-eighths of the surface of the State was prairie
when first settled. They are not confined to level surfaces, nor to any partic-
ular variety of soil, for within the State they rest upon all formations, from
those of the Azoic to those of the Cretaceous age, inclusive. Whatever may
have been their origin^ their present existence in Iowa is not due to the influ-
ence of climate, nor the soil, nor any of the underlying formations. The real
cause is the prevalence of the annual fires. If these had been prevented fifty
years ago, Iowa would now be a timbered country. The encroachment of forest
trees upon prairie farms as soon as the bordering woodland is protected from
tiie annual prairie fires, is well known to farmers throughout the State.
The soil of Iowa is justly famous for its fertility, and there is probably no
equal area of the earth's surface that contains so little untillable land, or whose
soil has so high an average of fertility. Ninety-five per cent, of its surface is
tillable land.
GEOLOGY.
The soil of Iowa may be separated into three general divisions, which not
only possess different physical characters, but also differ in the mode of their
origin. These are drift, bluff and alluvial, and belong respectively to the
deposits bearing the same names. The drift occupies a much larger part of the
surfetce of the State than both the others. The bluff has the next greatest area
of surface, and the alluvial least.
All soil is disintegrated rock. The drift deposit of Iowa was derived, to a
considerable extent, from the rocks of Minnesota ; but the greater part of Iowa
drift was derived from its own rocks, much of which has been transported but a
short distance. In general terms the constant component element of the drift
soil is that portion which was transported from the north, while the inconstant
elements are those portions which were derived from the adjacent or underlying
strata. For example, in Western Iowa, wherever that cretaceous formation
known as the Nishnabotany sandstone exists, the soil contains more sand than
elsewhere. The same may be said of the soil of some parts of the State occu-
pied by the lower coal measures, the sandstones and sandy shales of that forma-
tion ftirnishing the sand.
In Northern and Northwestern Iowa, the drift contains more sand and
gravel than elsewhere. This sand and gravel was, doubtless, derived from the
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HISTORY OF THE STATE OF IOWA
121
cretaceous rocks that now do, or formerly did, exist there, and also in part
from the conglomerate and pudding-stone beds of the Sioux quartzite.
In Southern Iowa, the soil is frequently stiflF and clayey. This preponder-
ating clay is doubtless derived from the clayey and shaly beds which alternate
with the limestones of that region.
The bluff soil is that which rests upon, and constitutes a part of, the bluff
deposit It is found only in the western part of the State, and adjacent to the
Missouri River. Although it contains less than one per cent, of clay in its
composition, it is in no respect inferior to the best drift soil.
The alluvial soil is that of the flood plains of the river valleys, or bottom
lands. That which is periodically flooded by the rivers is of little value for
agricultural purposes ; but a large part of it is entirely above the reach of the
highest floods, and is very productive.
The stratified rocks of Iowa range from the Azoic to the Mesozoic, inclu-
sive; but the greater portion of the surface of the State is occupied by those
of the Palaeozoic age. The table below will show each of these formations in
their order :
SYSTEMS.
AQES. I
GRO0P8.
PBRI0D8.
FORMATIONS.
BPO0H8.
Cretaoeons.
Oirboiuferous.,
Deronian
IFpper Silurian..
Lower SUorian..
Atoic
' Poet Tertiary
Lower Cretaceous.
Coal Measures.
Suboarboniferous.
HamiltoD
Niacara
'Cmoinnati
Trenton.
Primordial,
ituronian
DHJt
Inoceramous bed.
Woodbury Sandstone and Shales.,.
NUhnabotany Sandstone
Upper Coal Measures
Middle Coal Measures
Lower Coal Measures
St. Louis LimestoDS
Keokuk Limestone
Burlington Limestone
Kinderhook beds
I Hamilton Limestone and Shales..
INiagara Limestone
iMaquoketA Shales
jGalena Limestone
iTrenton Limestone
iSt. Peter's Sandstone
Lower Magnesian Limestone
IPotsdam Sandstone
Sioux Quartzite
THICKNESS.
IN FEET.
10
to 200
50
180
100
200
200
200
76
90
196
176
200
850
80
250
200
80
250
800
50
THE AZOIC SYSTEM.
The Sioux quartzite is found exposed in natural ledges only upon a few
lores in the extreme northwest corner of the State, upon the banks of the Big
Sioux River, for which reason the specific name of Sioux Quartzite has been
given them. It is an intensely hard rock, breaks in splintery fracture, and a
color varying, in different localities, from a light to deep red. The process of
metamorphism has been so complete throughout the whole formation that the
rock is almost everywhere of uniform texture. The dip is four or five d^rees
to the northward, and the trend of the outcrop is eastward and westward. This
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122 HISTORY OF THE STATE OF IOWA.
rock may be quarried in a few rare cases, but usually it cannot be secured in
dry forms except that into which it naturally cracks, and the tendency is to
fuigular pieces. It is absolutely indestructible.
LOWER SILURIAN SYSTEM.
P|LIMORDIAL GROUP.
Potsdam Sandstone, — This formation is exposed only in a small portion of
the northeastern portion of the State. It is only to be seen in the bases of the
bluffs and steep valley sides which border the river there. It may be seen
underlying the lower magnesian limestone, St. Peter s sandstone and Trenton
limestone, in their regular order, along the bluffs of the Mississippi from the
northern boundary of the State as far south as Guttenburg, along the Upper
Iowa for a distance of about twenty miles from its mouth, and along a few of
the streams which empty into the Mississippi in Allamakee County.
It is nearly valueless for economic purposes.
No fossils have been discovered in this formation in Iowa.
Lower Magnesium Limestone. — This formation has but little greater geo-
graphical extent in Iowa than the Potsdam sandstone. It lacks a uniformity
of texture and stratification, owing to which it is not generally valuable for
building purposes.
The only fossils found in this formation in Iowa are a few traces of crinoids^
near McGregor.
St. Peter's Sandstone. — This formation is remarkably uniform in thickness
throughout its known geographical extent ; and it is evident it occupies a large
portion of the northern half of Allamakee County, immediately beneath the
drift.
TBBNTON GROUP.
Trenton Limestone. — With the exception of this, all the limestones of both
Upper and Lower Silurian age in Iowa are magnesian limestones — nearly pure
dolomites. This formation occupies large portions of Winnesheik and Alla-
makee Counties and a portion of Clayton. The greater part of it is useless for
economic purposes, yet there are in some places compact and evenly bedded
layers, which afford fine material for window caps and sills.
In this formation, fossils are abundant, so much so that, in some places, the
rock is made up of a mass of shells, corals and fragments of tribolites, cemented
by calcareous material into a solid rock. Some of these fossils are new to
science and peculiar to Iowa.
The Qalena Limestone. — This is the upper formation of the Trenton group^
It seldom exceeds twelve miles in width, although it is fully one hundred and
fifty miles long. The outcrop traverses portions of the counties of Howard,
WinnefiJheik, Allamakee, Fayette, Clayton, Dubuque and Jackson. It exhibits
its greatest development in Dubuque County. It is nearly a pure dolomite,
with a slight admixture of silicious matter. It is usually unfit for dressings
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HISTORY OP THE STATE OF IOWA. 123
though sometimes near the top of the bed good blocks for dressing are found.
This formation is the source of the lead ore of the Dubuque lead mines. The
lead region proper is confined to an area of about fifteen miles square in the
vicinity of Dubuque. The ore occurs in vertical fissures, which traverse the
rock at regular intervals from east to west ; some is found in those which have
a north and south direction. The ore is mostly that known as Galena, or suU
phuret of lead, very small quantities only of the carbonate being found with it,
CINCINNATI GROUP.
Maquoketa Shales. — The surface occupied by this formation is singularly
long and narrow, seldom reaching more than a mile or two in width, but more
than a hundred miles in length. Its most southerly exposure is in the bluffs of
the Mississippi near Bellevue, in Jackson County, and the most northerly yet
recognized is in the western part of Winnesheik County. The whole formation
is largely composed of bluish and brownish shales, sometimes slightly arenas
ceous, sometimes calcareous, which weather into a tenacious clay upon the sur-
&ce, and the soil derived from it is usually stiff and clayey. Its economic
value is very slight.
Several species of fossils which characterize the Cincinnati group are found
in the Maquoketa shales ; but they contain a larger number that have been
found anywhere else than in these shales in Iowa, and their distinct faunal char-
acteristics seem to warrant the separation of the Maquoketa shales as a distinct
formation from any others of the group.
UPPER SILURIAN SYSTEM.
NIAGARA G^OUP.
Niagara Limestone. — The area occupied by the Niagara limestone is nearly
one hundred and sixty miles long from north to south, and forty and fifty miles
wide.
This formation is entirely a magnesian limestone, with in some places a con-
siderable proportion of silicious matter in the form of chert or coarse flint. A
large part of it is evenly bedded, and probably affords the best and greatest
amount of quarry rock in the State. The quarries at Anamosa, LeClaire and
Farley are all opened in this formation.
DE;V0NIAN SYSTEM.
HAMILTON GROUP.
Hamilton Limestone. — The area of surface occupied by the Hamilton lime-
stone and shales is fully as great as those by all the formations of both Upper
and Lower Silurian age in the State. It is nearly two hundred miles long and
from forty to fifty miles broad. The general trend is northwestward and south-
eaatwsMrd.
Although a large part of the material of this formation is practically quite
-worthless, yet other portions are valuable for economic purposes ; and having a
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124 HISTORY OF THE STATE OF IOWA.
large geographical extent in the State, is one of the most important formations,
in a practical point of view. At Waverly, Bremer County, its value for the
production of hydraulic lime has been practically demonstrated. The heavier
and more uniform magnesian beds furnish material for bridge piers and other
material requiring strength and durability.
All the Devonian strata of Iowa evidently belong to a single epoch, and re-
ferable to the Hamilton, as recognized by New York geologists.
The most conspicuous and characteristic fossils of this formation are bra-
chiopod, moUusks and corals. The coral Acervularia Davidsoni occurs near
Iowa City, and is known as " Iowa City Marble,'* and " bird's-eye marble."
CARBONIFEROUS SYSTEM.
Of the three groups of formations that constitute the carboniferous system,
viz., the subcarboniferous, coal measures and permian, only the first two are
found in Iowa.
SUBCARBONIFEROUS GROUP.
The area of the surface occupied by this group is very large. Its eastern
border passes from the northeastern part of Winnebago County, with consider-
able directness in a southeasterly direction to the northern part of Washington
County. Here it makes a broad and direct bend nearly eastward, striking
the Mississippi River at Muscatine. The southern and western boundary is to
a considerable extent the same as that which separates it from the coal field.
From the southern part of Pocahontas County it passes southeast to Fort Dodge,
thence to Webster City, thence to a point three or four miles northeast of El-
dora, in Hardin County, thence southward to the middle of the north line of
Jasper County, thence southeastward to Sigoumey, in Keokuk County, thence
to the northeastern comer of Jefferson County, thence sweeping a few miles
eastward to the southeast comer of Van Buren County. Its area is nearly two
hundred and fifty miles long, and from twenty to fifty miles wide.
The Kinder hook Beds, — The most southerly exposure of these beds is near
the mouth of Skunk River, in Des Moines County. The most northerly now
known is in the eastern part of Pocahontas County, more than two hundred
miles distant. The principal exposures of this formation are along the blu&
which border the Mississippi and Skunk Rivers, where they form the eastern
and northern boundary of Des Moines County, along English River, in Wash-
ington County ; along the Iowa River, in Tama, Marshall, Hamlin and Frank-
lin Counties ; and along the Des Moines River, in Humboldt County.
The economic value of 'this formation is very considerable, particularly in
the northern portion of the region it occupies. In Pocahontas and Humboldt
Counties it is almost invaluable, as no other stone except a few boulders are
found here. At Iowa Falls the lower division is very good for building pur-
poses. In Marshall County all the limestone to be obtained comes from this
formation, and the quarries near LeGrand are very valuable. At this point
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HISTORY OF THE STATE OF IOWA. 125
some of the layers are finely veined with peroxide of iron, and are wrought into
ornamental and useful objects. ,
In Tama County, the oolitic member is well exposed, where it is manufac-
tured into lime. It is not valuable for building, as upon exposure to atmosphere
and frost, it crumbles to pieces.
The remains of fishes are the only fossils yet discovered in this formation
that can be referred to the sub-kingdom vertebrata ; and so far as yet recog-
nized, they all belong to the order selachians.
Of ARTICULATES, Only two species have been recognized, both of which
belong to the genus phillipsia.
The sub-kingdom mollusca is largely represented.
The RADIATA are represented by a few crinoids, usually found in a very im-
perfect condition. The sub-kingdom is also represented by corals.
The prominent feature in the life of this epoch was molluscan ; so much so
m fact as to overshadow all other branches of the animal kingdom. The pre-
vaihng classes are : lamellibranchiateSy in the more arenaceous portions ; and
brachiopods, in the more calcareous portions.
No remains of vegetation have been detected in any of the strata of this
fDrmation.
The Burlington Limestone. — This formation consists of two distinct calca-
reous divisions, which are separated by a series of silicious beds. Both divi-
sions are eminently crinoidal.
The southerly dip of the Iowa rocks carries the Burlington limestone down,
so that it is seen for the last time in this State in the valley of Skunk River,
near the southern boundary of Des Moines County. The most northerly point
at which it has been recognized is in the northern part of Washington County.
It probably exists as far north as Marshall County.
This formation afibrds much valuable material for economic purposes. The
upper division furnishes excellent common quarry rock.
The great abundance and variety of its fossils — crinoids — now known to be
more than three hundred, have justly attracted the attention of geologists in all
parts of the world.
The only remains of vertebrates discovered in this formation are those of
fishes, and consist of teeth and spines ; bone of bony fishes, like those most
common at the present day, are found in these rocks. On Buffington Creek, in
Louisa County, is a stratum in an exposure so fully charged with these remains
that it might with propriety be called bone breccia.
Remains of articulates are rare in this formation. So far as yet discovered,
tfiey are confined to two species of tribolites of the genus phillipsia.
Fossil shells are very common.
The two lowest classes of the sub-kingdom radiata are represented in the
genera zaphrentis^ amplexus and syringapora, while the highest class — echino-
derms — are found in most extraordinary profusion.
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126 HISTORY OP THE STATE OP IOWA.
The Keokuk Limestone, — It is only in the four counties of Lee, Van
Buren, Henry and Des Moines that this formation is to be seen. .
In some localities the upper silicious portion of this formation is known as
the Geode bed. It is not recognizable in the northern portion of the formation^
nor in connection with it where it is exposed, about eighty miles below Keokuk.
The geodes of the Geode bed are more or less spherical masses of silez,
usually hollow and lined with crystals of quartz. The outer crust is rough and
unsightly, but the crystals which stud the interior are often very beautiful
They vary in size from the size of a walnut to a foot in diameter.
The economic value of this formation is very great. Large quantities of its
stone have been used in the finest structures in the State, among which are the
post offices at Dubuque and Des Moines. The principal quarries are along the
banks of the Mississippi, from Keokuk to Nauvoo.
The only vertebrate fossils found in the formation are fishes, all belonging
to the order selachians, some of which indicate that their owners reached a
length of twenty-five or thirty feet.
Of the articulates, only two species of the genus phiUipsia have been found
in this formation.
Of the mollusks, no cephalopods have yet been recognized in this formation in
this State ; gasteropods are rare ; brachiopods and polyzoans are quite abundant
Of radiates, corals of genera zaphrentes, amplexus and aulopera are found,
but crinoids are most abundant.
Of the low forms of animal life, the protozoans, a small fossil related to the
sponges, is found in this formation in small numbers.
The St. Louis Limestone. — This is the uppermost of the subcarboniferous
group in Iowa. The superficial area it occupies is comparatively small, because
it consists of long, narrow strips, yet its exten* is very great. It is first seen
resting on the geode division of the Keokuk limestone, near Keokuk. Pro-
ceeding northward, it forms a narrow border along the edge of the coal fields
in Lee, Des Moines, Henry, Jefferson, Washington, Keokuk and Mahaska
Counties. It is then lost sight of until it appears again in the banks of Boone
River, where it again passes out of view under the coal measures until it is
next seen in the banks of the Des Moines, near Fort Dodge. As it exi3t8 in
Iowa, it consists of three tolerably distinct subdivisions — the magnesian, arena-
ceous and calcareous.
The upper division furnishes excellent material for quicklime, and when
quarries are well opened, as in the northwestern part of Van Buren County,
large blocks are obtained. The sandstone, or middle division, is of little
economic value. The lower or magnesian division furnishes a valuable
and durable stone, exposures of which are found on Lick Creek, in Van Bur^i
County, and on Long Creek, seven miles west of Burlington.
Of the fossils of this formation, the vertebrates are represented only by ih»
remains of fish, belonging to the two orders, selachians and ganoids. The
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HISTORY OF THE STATE OF IOWA. 127
uticnlates are represented by one species of the trilobite, genus philKpsia, and
two ostracoid, genera, eythre and beyricia. The mollusks distinguish this
fonnation more than any other branch of the animal kingdom. Radiates are
exceedingly rare, showing a marked contract between this formation and the
two preceding it.
The rocks of the subcarboniferous period have in other countnes, and in
other parts of our own country, furnished valuable minerals, and even coal, but
in Iowa the economic value is confined to its stone alone.
The Lower Silurian, Upper Silurian and Devonian rocks of Iowa are largely
composed of limestone. Magnesia also enters largely into the subcarbon-
iferous group. With the completion of the St. Louis limestone, the
production of the magnesian limestone seems to have ceased among the rocks of
Iowa.
Although the Devonian age has been called the age of fishes, yet so far as
Iowa is concerned, the rocks of no period can compare with the subcarbon-
iferous in the abundance and variety of the fish remains, and, for this reason,
the Burlington and Keokuk limestones will in the future become more
&mous among geologists, perhaps, than any other formations in North
America.
It will be seen that the Chester limestone is omitted from the subcarbon-
iferous group, and which completes the full geological series. It is probable
the whole surface of Iowa was above the sea during the time of the
formation of the Chester limestone to the southward about one hundred
At the close of the epoch of the Chester limestone, the shallow seas in
which the lower coal measures were formed again occupied the land, extending
ahnost as far north as that sea had done in which the Kinderhook beds were
formed, and to the northeastward its deposits extended beyond the subcarbon-
iferous groups, outlines of which are found upon the next, or Devonian rock.
THE COAL-MEASURE GROUP.
The coal-measure group of Iowa is properly divided into three formations,
riz., the lower, middle and upper coal measures, each having a vertical thick-
oeH of about two hundred feet.
A line drawn upon the map of Iowa as follows, will represent the eastern
»d northern boundaries of the coal fields of the State : Commencing at the
southeast comer of Van Buren County, carry the line to the northeast comer
rf Jefferson County by a slight easterly curve through the western portions of
Lee and Henry Counties. Produce this line until it reaches a point six or
eight miles northward from the one last named, and then carry it northwest-
ward, keeping it at about the same distance to the northward of Skunk River
and its north branch that it had at first, until it reaches the southem boundary
of Marshall County, a little west of its center. Then carry it to a point
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128 HISTORY OF THE STATE OF IOWA.
three or four miles northeast from Eldora, in Hardin County ; thence west-
ward to a point a little north of Webster City, in Hamilton County ; and
thence further westward to a point a little north of Fort Dodge, in Webster
County.
Lower Coal Measures.— ^In consequence of the recedence to the southward
of the borders of the middle and upper coal measures, the lower coal measures
alone exist to the eastward and northward of Des Moines River. They also
occupy a large area westward and southward of that river, but their southerly
dip passes them below the middle coal measures at no great distance from the
river.
No other formation in the whole State possesses the economic value of the
lower coal measures. The clay that underlies almost every bed of coal furnishes
a large amount of material for potters' use. The sandstone of these measures
is usually soft and unfit, but in some places, as near Red Rock, in Marion
County, blocks of large dimensions are obtained which make good building
material, samples of which can be seen in the State Arsenal, at Des Moines.
On the whole, that portion of the State occupied by the lower coal measures,
is not well supplied with stone.
But few fossils have been found in any of the strata of the lower coal meas-
ures, but such animal remains as have been found are without exception of
marine origin.
Of fossil plants found in these measures, all probably belong to the class
acrogens. Specimens of calamiteSy and several species of ferns, are found in
all of the coal measures, but the genus lepidodendron seems not to have existed
later than the epoch of the middle coal measures.
Middle Coal Measures. — This formation within the State of Iowa occupies
a narrow belt of territory in the southern central portion of the State, embrac-
ing a superficial area of about fourteen hundred square miles. The counties
more or less underlaid by this formation are Guthrie, Dallas, Polk, Madison,
Warren, Clarke, Lucas, Monroe, Wayne and Appanoose.
This formation is composed of alternating beds of clay, sandstone and lime-
stone, the clays or shales constituting the bulk of- the formation, the limestone
occurring in their bands, the lithological peculiarities of which offer many con-
trasts to the limestones of the upper and lower coal measures. The formation
is also characterized by regular wave-like undulations, with a parallelism which
indicates a widespread disturbance, though no dislocation of the strata have
been discovered.
Generally speaking, few species of fossils occur in these beds. Some of the
shales and sandstone have afforded a few imperfectly preserved land plants —
three or four species of ferns, belonging to the genera. Some of the carbonif-
erous shales afford beautiful specimens of what appear to have been sea- weeds.
Radiates are represented by corals. The moUusks are most numerously repre-
sented. Trilobites and ostracoids are the only remains known of articulates.
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HISTORY OF THE STATE OF IOWA. 129
Vertebrates are only known by the remains of salachians, or sharks, and
ganoids.
Upper Coal Measures, — The area occupied by this formation in Iowa ia
very great, comprising thirteen whole counties, in the southwestern part of the
State. It adjoins by its northern and eastern boundaries the area occupied by
the middle coal measures.
The prominent lithological features of this formation are its limestones, yet
it contains a considerable proportion of shales and sandstones. Although it is
known by the name of upper coal measures, it contains but a single bed of coal,
and that only about twenty inches in maximum thickness.
The limestone exposed in this formation furnishes good material for building
as in Madison and Fremont Counties. The sandstones are quite worthless. No
beds of clay for potter's use are found in the whole formation.
The fossils in this formation are much more numerous than in either the
middle or lower coal measures. The vertebrates are represented by the fishes
of the orders selachians and ganoids. The articulates are represented by the
trilobites and ostracoids. Mollusks are represented by the classes cephalapoda^
gasteropoda, lamelli, branchiata, brachiapoda and polyzoa. Radiates are more
numerous than in the lower and middle coal measures. Protogoans are repre-
sented in the greatest abundance', some layers of limestone being almost entirely
composed of their small fusiform shells.
CRETACEOUS SYSTEM.
There being no rocks, in Iowa, of permian, triassic or Jurassic age, the
next strata in the geological series are of the cretaceous age. They are found
in the western half of the State, and do not dip, as do all the other formations
upon which they rest, to the southward and westward, but have a general dip
of their own to the north of westward, which, however, is very slight.
Although the actual exposures of cretaceous rocks are few in Iowa, there is
reason to believe that nearly all the western half of the State was originally
occupied by them ; but being very friable, they have been removed by denuda-
tion, which has taken place at two separate periods. The first period was
during its elevation from the cretaceous sea, and during the long tertiary age
that passed between the time of that elevation and the commencement of the
glacial epoch. The second period was during the glacial epoch, when the ice
produced their entire removal over considerable areas.
It is difficult to indicate the exact boundaries of these rocks ; the following
will approximate the outlines of the area :
From the northeast corner to the southwest comer of Kossuth County ;
thence to the southeast corner of Guthrie County; thence to the southeast
comer of Cass County; thence to the middle of the south boundary of Mont-
gomery County : thence to the middle of the north boundary of Pottawattamie
County; thence to the middle of the south boundary of Woodbury County \
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130 HISTORY OF THE STATE OF IOWA.
thence to Sergeant's bluffs; up the Missouri and Big Sioux Rivers to the
northwest corner of the State ; eastward along the State line to the place of
beginning.
All the cretaceous rocks in Iowa are a part of the same deposits farther up
the Missouri River, and in reality form their eastern boundary.
Ni9hnahotany Sandstone. — This rock has the most easterly and southerly
extent of the cretaceous deposits of Iowa, reaching the southeastern part of
Guthrie County and the southern part of Montgomery County. To the^ north-
ward, it passes beneath the Woodbury sandstones and shales, the latter passing
beneath the inoceramus, or chalky, beds. This sandstone is, with few excep-
tions, almost valueless for economic purposes.
The only fossils found in this formation are a few fragments of angiosper-
mous leaves.
Woodbury Sandstones and Shales. — These strata rest upon the Nishna-
botany sandstone, and have not been observed outside of Woodbury County,
hence their name. Their principal exposure is at Sergeant's Bluffs, seven
miles below Sioux City.
This rock has no value except for purposes of common masonry.
Fossil remains are rare. Detached scales of a lepidoginoid species have
been detected, but no other vertebrate remains. Of remains of vegetation,
leaves of salix meekii and sassafras cretaceum have been occasionally found.
Inoceramus Beds, — These beds rest upon the Woodbury sandstones and
shales. They have not been observed in Iowa, except in the bluffs which
border the Big Sioux River in Woodbury and Plymouth Counties. They are
composed almost entirely of calcareous material, the upper portion of which is
extensively used for lime. No building material is to be obtained from these
beds ; and the only value they possess, except lime, are the marls, which at
some time may be useful on the soil of the adjacent region.
The only vertebrate remains found in the cretaceous rocks are the fishes.
Those in the inoceramus beds of Iowa are two species of squoloid selachians,
or cestratront, and three genera of teliosts. Molluscan remains are rare.
PEAT.
Extensive beds of peat exist in Northern Middle Iowa, which, it is esti-
mated, contain the following areas :
Countits, Acres.
Cerro Gordo 1,500
Worth ,^, 2,c00
Winnebago '. 2,000
Hancook 1.900
Wright 500
Kossuth 700
Dickinson 80 •
Several other counties contain peat beds, but the character of the peat is
inferior to that in the northern part of the State. The character of the peat
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HISTORY OF THE STATE OF IOWA. 181
named is equal to that of Ireland. The beds are of an average depth of four
feet It is estimated that each acre of these beds will furnish two hundred and
fifty tons of dry fuel for each foot in depth. At present, owing to the sparse-
ness of the population, this peat is not utilized ; but, owing to its great distance
from the coal fields and the absence of timber, the time is coming when their
value will be realized, and the fact demonstrated that Nature has abundantly
compensated the deficiency of other fuel.
GYPSUM.
The only deposits of the sulphates of the alkaline earths of any economic
value in Iowa are those of gypsum at and in the vicinity of Fort Dodge, in
Webster County. All others are small and unimportant. The deposit occupies
a nearly central position in Webster County, the Des Moines River running
nearly centrally through it, along the valley sides of which the gypsum is seen
in the form of ordinary rock cliflf and ledges, and also occurring abundantly in
similar positions along both sides of the valleys of the smaller streams and of
the numerous ravines coming into the river valley.
The most northerly known limit of the deposit is at a point near the mouth
of Lizard Creek, a tributary of the Des Moines River, and almost adjoining
the town of Fort Dodge. The most southerly point at which it has been
found exposed is about six miles, by way of the river, from this northerly point
before mentioned. Our knowledge of the width of the area occupied by it is
limited by the exposures seen in the valleys of the small streams and in the
ravines which come into the valley within the distance mentioned. As one goes
up these ravines and minor valleys, the gypsum becomes lost beneath the over-
lying drift. There can be no doubt that the different parts of this deposit, now
disconnected by the valleys and ravines having been cut through it, were orig-
inally connected as a continuous deposit, and there seems to be as little reason
to doubt that the gypsum still extends to considerable distance on each side of
the valley of the river beneath the drift which covers the region to a depth of
from twenty to sixty feet.
The country round about this region has the prairie surface approximating
a general level which is so characteristic of the greater part of the State, and
which exists irrespective of the character or geological age of the strata beneath,
mainly because the drift is so deep and uniformly distributed that it frequently
almost alone gives character to the surface. The valley sides of the Des Moines
River, in the vicigity of Fort Dodge, are somewhat abrupt, having a depth there
from the general level of the upland of about one hundred and seventy feet,
and consequently presents somewhat bold and interesting features in the land-
scape.
As one walks up and down the creeks and ravines which come into the
valley of the Des Moines River there, he sees the gypsum exposed on
either side of them, jutting out from beneath the drift in the form of
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132 HISTORY OF THE STATE OF IOWA.
ledges and bold quarry fronts, having almost the exact appearance of
ordinary limestone exposures, so horizontal and regular are its lines of
stratification, and so similar in color is it to some varieties of that rock. The
principal quarries now opened are on Two Mile Creek, a couple of miles below
Fort Dodge.
The reader will please bear in mind that the gypsum of this remarkable
deposit does not occur in " heaps ** or " nests," as it does in most deposits of
gypsum in the States farther eastward, but that it exists here in the form of a
regularly stratified, continuous formation, as uniform in texture, color and
quality throughout the whole region, and from top to bottom of the deposit
as the granite of the Quincy quarries is. Its color is a uniform gray, result-
ing from alternating fine horizontal lines of nearly white, with similar lines
of darker shade. The gypsum of the white lines is almost entirely pure, the
darker lines containing the impurity. This is at intervals barely sufficient in
amount to cause the separation of the mass upon those lines into beds or layers,
thus facilitating the quarrying of it into desired shapes. These bedding sur-
faces have occasionally a clayey feeling to the touch, but there is nowhere any
intercalation of clay or other foreign substance in a separate form. The deposit
is known to reach a thickness of thirty feet at the quarries referred to, but
although it will probably be found to exceed this thickness at some other points,
at the natural exposures, it is seldom seen to be more than from ten to twenty
feet thick.
Since the drift is usually seen to rest directly upon the gypsum, with noth-
ing intervening, except at a few points where traces appear of an overlying bed
of clayey material without doubt of the same age as the gypsum, the latter
probably lost something of its thickness by mechanical erosion during the
glacial epoch ; and it has, doubtless, also suffered some diminution of thickness
since then by solution in the waters which constantly percolate through the
drift from the surface. The drift of this region being somewhat clayey, partic-
ulary in its lower part, it has doubtless served in some degree as a protection
against the diminution of the gypsum by solution in consequence of its partial
imperviousness to water. If the gypsum had been covered by a deposit of sand
instead of the drift clays, it would have no doubt long since disappeared by
being dissolved in the water that would have constantly reached it from the sur-
face. Water merely resting upon it would not dissolve it away to any extent,
but it rapidly disappears under the action of running water. Where little rills
of water at the time of every rain run over the face of an unused quarry, from
the surface above it, deep grooves are thereby cut into it, giving it somewhat the
appearance of melting ice around a waterfall. The fact that gypsum is now
suffering a constant, but, of course, very slight, diminution, is apparent in the
fact the springs of the region contain more or less of it in solution in their
waters. An analysis of water from one of these springs will be found in Prof.
Emery's report.
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HISTORY OF THE STATE OF IOWA. 133
Besides the clayey beds that are sometimes seen to rest upon the gypsum,
there are occasionally others seen beneath them that are also of the same
age, and not of the age of the coal-measure strata upon which they rest.
Age of the Gh/psum Deposit, — In neither the gypsum nor the associated
clays has any trace of any fossil remains been found, nor has any other indica-
tion of its geological age been observed, except that which is afforded by its
stratigraphical relations ; and the most that can be said with certainty is that it
is newer than the coal measures, and older than the drift. The indications
afforded by the stratigraphical relations of the gypsum deposit of Fort Dodge
are, however, of considerable value.
As already shown, it rests in that region directly.and unconformably upon
the lower coal measures ; but going southward from there, the whole series of
coal-measure strata from the top of the subcarboniferous group to the upper
coal measures, inclusive, can be traced without break or unconformability.
The strata of the latter also may be traced in the same manner up into the
Permian rocks of Kansas; and through this long series, there is no place or
horizon which suggests that the gypsum deposit might belong there.
Again, no Tertiary deposits are known to exist within or near the borders
of Iowa to suggest that the gypsum might be of that age ; nor are any of the
palaeozoic strata newer than the subcarboniferous unconformable upon each
other as the other gypsum is unconformable upon the strata beneath it. It
therefore seems, in a measure, conclusive, that the gypsum is of Mesozoic age,
perhaps older than the Cretaceous.
lAthological Origin. — As little can be said with certainty concerning the
hthological origin of this deposit as can be said concerning its geological age,
for it seems to present itself in this relation, as in the former one, as an isolated
foct. None of the associated strata show any traces of a double decomposition
of pre-existing materials, such as some have supposed all deposits of gypsum to
have resulted from. No considerable quantities of oxide of iron nor any trace
of native sulphur have been found in connection with it ; nor has any salt been
found in the waters of the region. These substances are common in association
with other gypsum deposits, and are regarded by some persons as indicative of
the method of or resulting from their origin as such. Throughout the whole
region, the Fort Dodge gypsum has the exact appearance of a sedimentary
deposit. It is arranged in layers like the regular layers of limestone, and the
whole mass, from top to bottom, is traced with fine horizontal laminae of alter-
nating white and gray gypsum, parallel with the bedding surfaces of the layers,
but the whole so intimately blended as to form a solid mass. The darker lines
contain almost all the impurity there is in the gypsum, and that impurity is
evidently sedimentary in its character. Frc^i these facts, and also from the
further one that no trace of fossil remains has been detected in the gypsum, it
seems not unreasonable to entertain the opinion that the gypsum of Fort Dodge
originated as a chemical precipitation in comparatively still waters which were
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134 HISTORY OF THE STATE OF IOWA.
saturated with sulphate of lime and destitute of life; its stratification and
impurities being deposited at the same time as clayey impurities which had be^i
held suspended in the same waters.
Physical Properties, — Much has already been said of the physical proper-
ties or character of this gypsum, but as it is so different in some respects firom
that of other deposits, there are yet other matters worthy of mention in connec-
tion with those* According to the results of a complete and exhaustive anal-
ysis by Prof. Emery, the ordinary gray gypsum contains only about eight per
cent, of impurity ; and it is possible that the average impurity for the whole
deposit will not exceed that proportion, so uniform in quality is it from to top
to bottom and from one pnd of the region to the other.
When it is remembered that plaster for agricultural purposes is sometimes
prepared from gypsum that contains as much as thirty per cent, of impurity, it
will be seen that ours is a very superior article for such purposes. The impu-
rities are also of such a character that they do not in any way interfere with its
value for use in the arts. Although the gypsum rock has a gray color, it
becomes quite white by grinding, and still whiter by the calcining process nec-
essary in the preparation of plaster of Paris. These tests have all been practi-
cally made in the rooms of the Geological Survey, and the quality of the plaster
of Paris still further tested by actual use and experiment. No hesitation,
therefore, is felt in stating that the Fort Dodge gypsum is of as good a quality
as any in the country, even for the finest uses.
In view of the bounteousness of the primitive fertility of our Iowa soils,
many persons forget that a time may come when Nature will refiise to respond
so generously to our demand as she does now, without an adequate return.
Such are apt to say that this vast deposit of gypsum is valueless to our com-
monwealth, except to the small extent that it may be used in the arts. This
is undoubtedly a short-sighted view of the subject, for the time is even now
rapidly passing away when a man may purchase a new farm for less money
than he can re-fertilize and restore the partially wasted primitive fertility of the
one he now occupies. There are farms even now in a large part of the older
settled portions of the State that would be greatly benefited by the proper
application of plaster, and such areas will continue to increase until it will be
difficult to estimate the value of the deposit of gypsum at Fort Dodge. It
should be remembered, also, that the inhabitants of an extent of country
fidjoining our State more than three times as great as its own area will find it
more convenient to obtain their supplies from Fort Dodge than from any other
source.
For want of direct railroad communication between this region and other
parts of the State, the only use yet made of the gypsum by the inhabitants is
for the purposes of ordinary building stone. It is so compact that it is found
to be comparatively unaffected by the frost, and its ordinary situation in walls
of houses is such that it is protected from the dissolving action of water, which
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HISTORY OF THE STATE OP IOWA. 135
ean at most reach it only from occafiional rains, and the effect of these is too
slight to be perceived after the lapse of several years.
One of the citizens of Fort Dodge, Hon. John F. Buncombe, built a large,
fine residence of it. in 1861, the walls of which appear as unaffected by
exposure and as beautiful as they were when first erected. It has been so long
and successfully used for building stone by the inhabitants that they now prefer
it to the limestone of good quality, which also exists in the immediate vicinity.
This preference is due to the cheapness of the gypsum, as compared with the
stone. The cheapness of the former is largely due to the fiwility with which it
is quarried and wrought. Several other houses have been constructed of it in
Fort Dodge, including the depot building of the Dubuque & Sioux City Rail-
road. The company have also constructed a large culvert of the same material
to span a creek near the town, limestone only being used for the lower courses,
which come in contact with the water. It is a fine arch, each stone of gypsum
being nicely hewn, and it will doubtless prove a very durable one. Many of
the sidewalks in the town are made of the slabs or flags of gypsum which occur
in some of the quarries in the form of thin layers. They are more durable
than their softness would lead one to suppose. They also possess an advantage
over stone in not becoming slippery when worn.
The method adopted in quarrying and dressing the blocks of gypsum is
peculiar, and quite unlike that adopted in similar treatment of ordinary stone.
Taking a stout auger-bit of an ordinary brace, such as is used by carpenters,
and filing the cutting parts of it into a peculiar form, the quarryman bores his
holes into the gypsum quarry for blasting, in the same manner and with as
great facility as a carpenter would bore hard wood. The pieces being loosened
by blasting, they are broken up with sledges into convenient sizes, or hewn
into the desired shapes by means of hatchets or ordinary chopping axes, or cut
by means of ordinary wood-saws. So little grit does the gypsum contain that
these tools, made for working wood, ai*e found to be better adapted for working
the former substance than those tools are which are universally used for work-
ing stone.
MINOR DEPOSITS OF SULPHATE OF LIME.
Besides the great gypsum deposit of Fort Dodge, sulphate of lime in the
▼arious forms of fibrous gypsum, selenite, and small, amorphous masses, has
also been discovered in various formations in different parts of the State, includ-
ing the coal -measure shales near Fort Dodge, where it exists in small quanti-
ties, quite independently of the great gypsum deposit there. The quantity of
gypsum in these minor deposits is always too small to be of any practical value,
and frequently minute. They usually occur in shales and shaly clays, asso-
ciated with strata that contain more or less sulphuret of iron (iron pyrites).
Gypsum has thus been detected in the coal measures, the St. Louis limestone,
the cretaceous strata, and also in the lead caves of Dubuque. In most of these
cases it is evidently the result of double decomposition of iron pyrites and car-
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136 HISTORY OF THE STATE OF IOWA.
bonate of lime, previously existing there ; in which cases the gypsum is of course
not an original deposit as the great one at Fort Dodge is supposed to be.
The existence of these comparatively minute quantities of gypsum in the
shales of the coal measures and the subcarboniferons limestone which are exposed
within the region of and occupy a stratigraphical position beneath the great
gypsum deposits, suggests the possibility that the former may have originated as
a precipitate from percolating waters, holding gypsum in solution which they
had derived from that deposit in passing over or through it. Since, however,
the same substance is found in similar small quantities and under similar con-
ditions in regions where they could have had no possible connection with that
deposit, it is believed that none of those mentioned have necessarily originated
from it, not even those that are found in close proximity to it.
The gypsum found in the lead caves is usually in the form of efflorescent
fibers, and is always in small quantity. In the lower coal-measure shale near
Fort Dodge, a small mass was found in the form of an intercalated layer, which
hid a distinct fibrous structure, the fibers being perpendicular to the plane of
the layer. The same mass had also distinct, horizontal planes of cleavage at
right angles with the perpendicular fibers. Thus, being more or less transpa-
rent, the mass combined the characters of both fibrous gypsum and selenite.
No anhydrous sulphate of lime {anhydrite) has been found in connection with
' the great gypsum deposit, nor elsewhere in Iowa, so far as yet known.
SULPHATE OF STRONTIA.
(Celet'tfif.)
The only locality at which this interesting mineral has yet been found in
Iowa, or, so far as is known, in the great valley of the Mississippi, is at Fort
Dodge. It occurs there in very small quantity in both the shales of the lower
coal measures and in the clays that overlie the gypsum deposit, and which are
regarded as of the same age with it. The first is just below the city, near Rees'
coal bank, and occurs as a layer intercalated among the coal measure shales,
amounting in quantity to only a few hundred pounds' weight. The mineral is
fibrous and crystalline, the fibers being perpendicular to the plane of the layer.
Breaking also with more or less distinct horizontal planes of cleavage, it resem-
bles, in physical character, the layer of fibro-crystalline gypsum before men-
tioned. Its color is light blue, is transparent and shows crystaline facets upon
both the upper and under surfaces of the layer ; those of the upper surface
being smallest and most numerous. It breaks up readily into small masses
along the lines of the perpendicular fibers or columns. The layer is probably
not more than a rod in extent in any direction and about three inches in maxi-
mum thickness. Apparent lines of stratification occur in it, corresponding with
those of the shales which imbed it.
The other deposit was still smaller in amount, and occurred as a mass of
crystals imbedded in the clays that overlie the gypsum at Cummins* quarry in
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HISTORY OF THE STATE OF IOWA. 187
the valley of Soldier Creek, upon the north side of the town. The mineral is
in this case nearly colorless, and but for the form of the separate crystals would
closely resemble masses of impure salt. The crystals are so closely aggregated
that they enclose but little impurity in the mass, but in almost all cases their
fundamental forms are obscured. This mineral has almost no real practical
Talue, and its occurrence, as described, is interesting only as a mineralogical
fiict.
SULPHATE OF BARYTA.
(BaryUtf Heavy Spar,)
This mineral has been found only in minute quantities in Iowa. It has
been detected in the coal-measure shales of Decatur, Madison and Marion
Counties, the Devonian limestone of Johnson and Bremer Counties and in the
lead caves of Dubuque. In all these cases, it is in the form of crystals or small
crystalline masses.
SULPHATE OF MAGNESIA.
{EpiOfMie.)
Epsomite, or native epsom salts, having been discovered near Burlington,
we have thus recognized in Iowa all the sulphates of the alkaline earths of
natural origin ; all of them, except the sulphate of lime, being in very small
quantity. Even if the sulphate of magnesia were produced in nature, in large
quantities, it is so very soluble that it can accumulate only in such positions as
afford it complete shelter from the rains or running water The epsomite
mentioned was found beneath the overhanging cliff of Burlington limestone,
near Starr's mill, which are represented in the sketch upon another page, illus*
trating the subcarboniferous rocks. It occurs in the form of efflorescent encrus-
tations upon the surface of stones and in similar small fragile masses among the
fine debris that has fSsdlen down beneath the overhanging cliff. The projection
of the cliff over the perpendicular face of the strata beneath amounts to near
twenty feet at the point where epsomite was found. Consequently the rains
never reach far beneath it from any quarter. The rock upon which the epsom-
ite accumulates is an impure limestone, containing also some carbonate of mag-
nesia, together with a small proportion of iron pyrites in a finely divided con-
dition. It is doubtless by double decomposition of these that the epsomite re-
sults. By experiments with this native salt in the office of the Survey, a fine
article of epsom salts was produced, but the quantity that might be annually
obtained there would amount to only a few pounds, and of course is of no prac-
tical value whatever, on account of its cheapness in the market.
CLIMATOLOGY.
No extended record of the climatology of Iowa has been made, yet much of
great value may be learned from observations made at a single point. Prof. T.
8* Parvin, of the State University, has recorded observations made from 1839
to the present time. Previous to 1860, these observations were made at Mus-
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188 HISTORY OP THE STATE OP IOWA.
catine. Since that date, they were made in Iowa City. The result is that the
atmospheric conditions of the climate of Iowa are in the highest degree favor-
able to health.
The highest temperature here occurs in August, while July is the hottest
month in the year by two degrees, and January the coldest by three degrees.
The mean temperature of April and October most nearly corresponds to the
mean temperature of the year, as well as their seasons of Spring and Fall,
while that of Summer and Winter is best represented in that of August and
December.
The period of greatest heat ranges from June 22d to August Slst ; the next
mean time being July 27th. The lowest temperature extends from December
16th to February 15th, the average being January 20th — the range in each
case being two full months.
The climate of Iowa embraces the range of that of New York, Pennsyl-
vania, Ohio, Indiana and Illinois. The seasons are not characterized by the
frequent and sudden changes so common in the latitudes further south. The
temperature of the Winters is somewhat lower than States eastward, but of other
seasons it is higher. The atmosphere is dry and invigorating. The surface of
the State being free at all seasons of the year from stagnant water, with good
breezes at nearly all seasons, the miasmatic and pulmonary diseases are
unknown. Mortuary statistics show this to be one of the most healthful States
in the Union, being one death to every ninety-four persons. The Spring,
Summer and Fall months are delightful ; indeed, the glory of Iowa is her
Autumn, and nothing can transcend the splendor of her Indian Summer, which
lasts for weeks, and finally blends, almost imperceptibly, into Winter.
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HISTORY OF THE STATE OF IOWA.
DISCOVERY AND OCCUPATION.
Iowa, in the symbolical and expressive lauguage of the aboriginal inhab*
itants, is said to signify " The Beautiful Land,** and waa applied to this
magnificent and fruitful region by its ancient owners, to express their apprecia-
tion of its superiority of climate, soil and location. Prior to 1803, the Mississippi
River was 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 westward to the Pacific Ocean, was
a Spanish province. A brief historical sketch of the discovery and occupation
of this grand empire 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, fifty years after Columbus discovered the New
World, and one hundred and thirty years before the French missionaries discov-
ered its upper waters, Ferdinand De Soto discovered the mouth of the Mississippi
River at the mouth of the Washita. After the sudden death of De Soto, in
May of the same year, his followers built a small vessel, and in July, 1643^
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 conquered Florida and discovered
the Mississippi, claimed all the territory bordering on that river and 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 occupation.
Although Spain claimed the territory by right of first discovery, she made no
effort to occupy it ; by no permanent settlement had she perfected and held her
title, and therefore had forfeited it when, at a later period, the Lower Mississippi
Valley was re-discovered and occupied by France.
The unparalleled labors of the zealous Fr( nc^ Jesuits of Canada in penetrating
the unknown region of the West, commencing in 1611, form a history of no ordi-
nary interest, but have no particular connection with the scope of the present
work, until in the Fall of 1666. Pierre Claude AUouez, who had entered Lake
Superior in September, 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 Indian nations was held.
The Pottawatomies of Lake Michigan, the Sacs and Foxes of the West, the
Hurons from the North, the Illinois from the South, and the Sioux from the
la >d of the prairie and wild rice, were all assembled there. The Illinois told
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140 HISTORY OF THE STATE OF IOWA.
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 assembled tribes the protection of the French
nation against all their enemies, native or foreign.
The purpose of discovering the great river about which the Indian na-
tions had given such glowing accounts appears to have originated with Mar-
xjuette, 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 extend the do-
minion of France to the extreme western borders of Canada. Nicholas Perrot
was sent as the agent of the government, 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 friend-
ship 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. Law-
fence, from the valley of the Mississippi and from the Red River of the North.
Perrot met with them, and after grave consultation, formally announced to the
assembled naj;ions 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
remn ants 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 Marquette's grand
project. The successful termination of Perrot's mission, and the general friend-
liness of the native tribes, rendered the contemplated expedition much less per-
ilous. But it was not until 1673 that the intrepid and enthusiastic priest was
finally ready to depart on his daring and perilous journey to lands never trod by
white men.
The Indians, who had gathered in large numbers to witness his departure,
were astounded at the boldness of the proposed undertaking, and tried to dis-
courage him, representing that the Indians of the Mississippi Valley were cruel
and bloodthirsty, and would resent the intrusion of strangers upon their domain.
The great river itself, they said, was the abode of terrible monsters, who could
swallow both canoes and men.
But Marquette was hot to be diverted from his purpose by these fearful re-
ports. He assured his dusky friends that he was ready to make any sacrifice,
even to lay down his life for the sacred cause in which he was engaged. He
prayed with them ; and having implored the blessing of God upon his undertak-
ing, on the 18th day of May, 1673, with Joliet and five Canadian-French voy-
ageurs, or boatmen, he left the mission on his daring journey. Ascendinff
Green Bay and Fox River, these bold and enthusiastic pioneers of religion and
discovery proceeded until they reached a Miami and Kickapoo village, where
Marquette was delighted to find '' a beautiful cross planted in the middle of the
town, ornamented witli white skins, red girdles and bows and arrows, which
these good people had offered to the Great Manitou, or God, to thank Him for
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HISTORY OP THE STATE OP IOWA. 141
che 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. Here Marquette was instructed by his
Indian hosts in the secret of a root that cures the bite of the venomous rattle-
snake, drank mineral water with them and was entertained with generous hos-
pitality. He called together the principal men of the village, and informed
them that his companion, Joliet, had been sent by the French Governor of Can-
ada 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 gloriotis religion
of the Cross ; and assured his wondering hearers that on this mission he nad
no fear of death, to which he knew he would be exposed on his perilous journeys.
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. Conduct-
ing them across the portage, their Indian guides returned to their village, and
the little party descended the Wisconsin, to the great river which had so long
been so anxiously looked for, and boldly floated down its unknown waters.
On the 25th of June, the explorers discovered indications of Indians on the
west bank of the river and land d 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 canoes, Marquette and Joliet boldly fol-
lowed the trail into the interior for fourteen miles (some authorities say six), to
an Indian village situate on the banks of a river, and discovered two other vil-
lages, on the rising ground about half a league distant. 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 of peace. They were informed that
this band was a part of the Illini nation and that their village was called Mon-
in-gou-ma or Moingona, 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 hos-
tility or remonstrance by their savage entertainers. On their departure, they
were accompanied 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.
It is needless to follow him further, as his explorations beyond his discovery
of Iowa more properly belong to the history of another State.
In 1682, La Salle descended the Mississippi to the Gulf of Mexico, and in
the aame of the King of France, took formal possession of all the immense
region watered by the great river and its tributaries from its source to its mouth,
and named it Louisiana, in honor of his master, Louis XIV. The river he
called " Colbert,'* afber the French Minister, and at its mouth erected a column
and a cross bearing the inscription, in the French language,
"Louis thb Great, King of Francb and Navarre,
Reigning April 9th, 1682.*'
At the close of the seventeenth century, France claimed, by right of dis-
covery and occupancy, the whole valley of the Mississippi and its tributaries,
including Texas, as far as the Rio del Norte. . .
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142 HISTORY OF THE STATE OF IOWA.
The province of Louisiana stretched from the Gulf of Mexico to the sources
of the Tennessee, the Kanawha, the Allegheny and the Monongahela on the
easjj, and the Missouri and the other great tributaries of the Father of Waters
on the west. Says Bancroft, " France had obtained, under Providence, the
guardianship of this immense district of country, not, as it proved, for her own
benefit, but rather as a trustee for the infant nation by which it was one day to
be inherited."
By the treaty of Utrecht, France ceded to England her possessions
in Hudson's Bay, Newfoundland and Nova Scotia. France still retained
Louisiana ; but the province had so far failed to meet the expectations of the
crown and the people that a change in the government and policy of the country
was deemed indispensable. Accordingly, in 1711, the province was placed in
the hands of a Governor General, with headquarters at Mobile. This govern-
ment was of brief duration, and in 1712 a charter waa granted to Anthony
Crozat, a wealthy merchant of Paris, giving him the entire control and mo-
nopoly of all the trade and resources of Louisiana. But this scheme also failed.
Crozat met with no success in his commercial operations ; every Spanish harbor
on the Gulf was closed against his vessels ; the occupation of Louisiana was
deemed an encroachment on Spanish territory ; Spain was jealous of the am-
bition of France.
Failing in his eflForts to open the ports of the district, Crozat "sought to-
develop the internal resources of Louisiana, by causing trading posts to be
opened, and explorations to be made to its remotest borders. But he
actually accomplished nothing for the advancement of the colony. The only
prosperity which it ever possessed grew out of the enterprise of humble indi-
viduals, who had succeeded in instituting a little barter bjtweon themselves-
and the natives, and a petty trade with neighboring European settlements.
After a persevering effort of nearly five years, he surrendered his charter in
August, 1717."
Immediately following the surrender of his charter by Crozat, another and
more magnificent scheme was inaugurated. The national government of France
was deeply involved in debt; the colonies were nearly bankrupt, and John Law
appeared on the scene with his &mous Mississippi Company, as the Louisiana
branch of the Bank of France. The charter granted to this company gave it a
legal existence of twenty-five years, and conferred upon it more extensive powers
and privileges than had been granted to Crozat. It invested the new company
with the exclusive privilege of the entire commerce of Louisiana, and of New
France, and with authority to enforce their rights. The Company was author-
ized to monopolize all the trade in the country; to make treaties with the
Indians ; to declare and prosecute war ; to grant lands, erect forts, open mines
of precious metals, levy taxes, nominate civil officers, commission those of the
army, and to appoint and remove judges, to cast cannon, and build and equip
ships of war. All this was to be done with the paper currency of John Law's
Bank of France. He had succeeded in getting His Majesty the French King
to adopt and sanction his scheme of financial operations both in France and in
the colonies, and probably there never was such a huge financial bubble ever
blown by a visionary theorist. Still, such was the condition of France that it
was accepted as a national deliverance, and Law became the most powerful man
in France. He became a Catholic, and was appointed Comptroller General of
Finance.
Among the first operations of the Company was to send eight hundred
emigrants to Louisiana, who arrived at Dauphine Island in 1718.
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HISTORY OF THE STATE OF IOWA. 143
In 1719, Philipe Francis Renault arrived in Illinois with two hundred
mipers 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 Orleans, high up
the Mississippi River, waa erected 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 declared hopelessly bankrupt in May following. France
was impoverished by it, both private and public credit were overthrown, capi-
talists suddenly found themselves paupers, and labor was left without employ-
ment. The effect on the colony of Louisiana was disastrous.
While this was going on in Lower Louisiana, the region about the lakes waa
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 into 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 they continued for nineteen consecutive days, and although
the expedition resulted in diminishing their numbers and humbling their pride,
yet it was not until after several successive campaigns, embodying the best
military resources of New France, had been directed against them, that were
finally defeated at the great battles of Butte des Morts, and on the Wisconsin
River, and driven west in 1746.
The Company, having found that the cost of defending Louisiana exceeded
the returns from its commerce, solicited leave to surrender the Mississippi
wilderness to the home government. Accordingly, on the 10th of April, 1732,
the jurisdiction and control over the commerce reverted to the crown of France.
The Company had held possession of Louisiana fourteen years. In 1736, Bien-
ville retumea 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 the eighteenth century. As
early as 1705, traders and hunters had penetrated the fertile regions of the
Wabash, and from this region, 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 voyageurs. The Ohio River
▼as comparatively unknown.
In 1746, 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 consider-
able quantities of hides, peltry, 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 voyageurs.
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
j slightest attempt of the English, east of the mountains, to extend tfieir settle-
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144 HISTORY OF THE STATE OF IOWA.
ments toward the Mississippi. France was resolved on retaining possession of
the great territory which her missionaries had discovered and revealed to the
world. French commandants had avowed their purpose of seizing every
Englishman within the Ohio Valley.
The colonies of Pennsylvania, New York and Virginia were most affected by
the encroachments of France in the extension of her dominion, and particularly
in the great scheme of uniting Canada with Louisiana. To carry out this
purpose, the French had taken possession of a tract of country claimed by Vir-
ginia, and had commenced a line of forts extending from the lakes to the Ohio
River. Virginia was not only alive to her own interests, but attentive to the
vast importance of an immediate and effectual resistance on the part of all
the English colonies to the actual and contemplated encroachments of the
French.
In 17C3, Governor Dinwiddie, of Virginia, sent George Washington, then a
young man just twenty-one, to demand of the French commandant '* a reason
for invading British dominions while a solid peace subsisted.'* Washington met
the French commandant, Gardeur de St. Pierre, on the head waters of the
Alleghany, and having communicated to him the object of his journey, received
the insolent answer that the French would not discuss the matter of right, but
would make prisoners of every Englishman found trading on the Ohio and its
waters. The country, he said, belonged to the French, by virtue of the dis-
coveries of La Salle, and they would not withdraw from it.
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 by the
Ohio Company, and to make prisoners, kill or destroy all who interrupted 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 pris-
oners. The dead were scalped by the Indians, and the chief, bearing a toma-
hawk 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, Washington accepted
terms of capitulation, and the English garrison withdrew from the valley of
the Ohio.
This attack of Washington upon Jumonville aroused the indignation 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 were 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, 1 762 — France relinquished
to Great Britian all that portion of the province of Louisiana lying on the east
side of the Mississippi, except the island and town of New Orleans. On the
same day that the treaty of Paris was signed, France, by a secret treaty, ceded
to Spain all her possessions on the west side of the Mississippi, including the
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HISTORY OF THE STATE OF IOWA. 145'
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 Government 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 Mississippi and
Bouth 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 of the Mississippi River
was under the dominion 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 latitude. The Mississippi, therefore, so essential to the pros-
perity of the western portion of the United States, for the last three hundred
miles of its course flowed wholly within the Spanish dominions, and that govern-
ment claimed the exclusive right to use and control it below the southern boun-
dary of the United States.
The free navigation of the Mississippi was a very important 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 jurisdiction over
the entire eastern valley of the Mississippi, embracing all the country drained
by its eastern tributaries ; they had a natural right, according to the accepted in-
ternational law, to follow these rivers to the sea, and to the use of the Missis-
sippi River accordingly, as the great natural channel of commerce. The river
was not only necessary but absolutely indispensable to the prosperity 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
wonderfully expansive energies and accumulating resources, it was very evident
that jao power on earth could deprive them of the fiee use of the river below
them, only while their numbers were insuflScient to enable them to maintain
their right by force. Inevitably, therefore, immediately after the ratification of
the treaty of 1783, 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, below the mouth of the Ohio, were occupied by Spain, and military
posts on the east bank enforced her power to exact heavy duties on all im-
ports by way of the river for the Ohio region. Every boat descending the
river was forced to land and submit to the arbitrary revenue exactions of the
Spanish authorities. Under the administration of Governor Miro, these rigor-
ous exactions were somewhat relaxed from 1787 to 1790 ; but Spain held it as
her right to make them. Taking advantage of the claim of the American people,
that tne Mississippi should be opened to them, in 1791, the Spanish Govern-
ment concocted a scheme for the dismembership 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 Spanish Minister to the United States plainly declared to his confidential
correspondent that, unless the Western people would declare their independence
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146 HISTORY OF THE STATE OF IOWA.
and refuse to remain in the Union, Spain was determined never to grant the
free navigation of the Mississippi.
By the treaty of Madrid, October 20, 1795, however, Spain formally stip-
ulated that the Mississippi River, 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 Rufus
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 Loui-
siana 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
government west of the Alleghany Mountains. On the 7th of January, 1803,
the American House of Representatives adopted a resolution declaring their
" unalterable determination to maintain the boundaries and the rights of navi-
gation and commerce through the River Mississippi, as established by existing
treaties."
In the same month. President Jefferson nominated and the Senate 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 powers to negotiate treaties to effect the object enunciated
by the popular branch of the National Legislature. These envoys were in-
structed to secure, 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, contain-
ing 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 member of the glori-
ous 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 diplo-
matist quietly suggested to the American Minister that France might be wiUing
to cede the whole French domain in North America to the United States, and
asked how much the Federal Government would be willing to give for it. Liv-
ingston intimated that twentv millions of francs might be a fair price. Talley-
, rand thought that not enough, but asked the Americans to " think of 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 magnificent bargain for a
mere trifle." 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 30th 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 it a temporary government.
Accordingly, on the 20th day of December following, on behalf of the Presi-
dent, Gov. Clairborne and Gen. Wilkinson took possession of the Louisiana
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HISTORY OF THE STATE OP IOWA. 147
parchase, and raised the American flag over the newly acquired domain, at New
Orleans. % Spain, although it had by treaty ceded the province to France in
1801, still held quasi possession, and at first objected to the transfer, but with-
<frew her opposition early in 1804.
By this treaty, thus successfully consummated, and the peaceable withdrawal
of Spain, the then infant nation of the New World extended its dominion west
of the Mississippi to the Pacific 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 ou the west, so rich in its agricultural and inexhaustible mineral
resources, would have remained under the dominion of a foreign power. To
Napoleon's desire to sell the whole of his North American possessions, and Liv-
ingston's act transcending his instructions, 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, 1804, the newly
acquired territory was, on the 1st day of October following, 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 ofiicers 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 became the State of Louisiana, and the
name of the Territory of Louisiana was changed to Missouri. On the 4th of
July, 1814, that part of Missouri Territory comprising the present State of
Arkansas, and the country to the westward, was organized into the Arkansas
Territory.
On the 2d of March, 1821, the State of Missouri, being a part of the Terri-
toiy of that name, was admitted to the Union. June 28, 1834, the territory
vest 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, 1836, Wiscon-
an Territory was erected, embracing within its limits the present States of
Iowa, Wisconsin and Minnesota.
By act of Congress, approved June 12, 1838, the
TBRRITORY OF IOWA
ns erected, comprising, in addition to the present State, much the larger part
of Minnesota, and extending north to the boundary of the British Possessions.
THE ORldlNAL OWNERS.
Having traced the early history of the great empire Iving west of the Mis-
siasippi, of which the State of Iowa constitutes a part, from the earliest dis-
coYery to the organization of the Territory of Iowa, it becomes necessary to
give some hbtory 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,
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148 HISTORY OF THE STATE OF IOWA.
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, although savage, owned the vast domain
before Columbus first crossed the Atlantic. Having purchased the territory,
the United States found it still in the possession of its original owners, who had
never been dispossessed ; and it became necessary to purchase again what had
already been bought before, or forcibly eject the occupants ; therefore, the his-
tory of the Indian nations who occupied Iowa prior to and during its early set-
tlement by the whites, becomes an important chapter in the history of the State,
that cannot 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 undis-
puted 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 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 struggles between rival nations, for possession of the favored
region, long before its settlement by civilized man, there is no room for doubt.
In these savage wars, the weaker party, whether aggressive or defensive, was
either exterminated or driven from their ancient hunting grounds.
In 1673, when 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 warlike 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 1846, and crossed the Mississippi. The death
of Pontiac, a famous Sac chieftain, was 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 warlike foes, the
Northern Sioux, with whom they maintained a constant warfare for the posses-
sion of the country for many years.
When the United States came in possession of the great valley of the Mis-
sissippi, 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, where most of them resided, 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 encoun-
tered 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
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HISTORY OF TilE STATE OP IOWA. 149
taWes 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 with-
drawn from them and become a separate tribe. Their 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 division
of the attacking forces. The following account of the battle has been given :
<- Contrary to long established custom of Indian attack, this battle was commenced in the day
time, the attending circumstances justifying this departure fVomthe well settled usages of Indian
vtr&re. The battle field was a IctoI river bottom, about four miles in length, and two miles
vide near the middle, narrowing to a point at either end. The main area of this bottom rises
perhaps twenty feet above the river, leaving a narrow strip of low bottom along the shore, covered
with trees that belted the prairie on the river side with a thick forest, and the immediate bank of
the rirer was fring^ with a dense growth of willows. Near the lower end of this prairie, near
the river bank, was s'.tuated the Iowa Tillage. About two miles above it and near the middle of
ihepraiHe is a mound, covered at the time with a tuft of small trees and underbrush growing on
its summit. In the rear of this little elevation or mound lay a belt of wet prairie, covered, at that
time, with a dense growth of rank, coarse grass. Bordering this wet prairie on the north, the
coantry rises abruptly into elevated broken river bluffs, covered with a heavy forest for many
Diles in extent, and in places thickly clustered with undergrowth, affording a convenient shelter
for the stealthy approach of the foe.
" Through this forest the Sao and Fox war party made their way in the night and secreted
thenselvis in the tall grass spoken of above, intending to remain in ambush during the day and
Qoke such observations as this near proximity to their intended victim ndght afford, to aid them
in their contemplated attack on the town during the following night. From this situation their '
ipies coald uke a fuH survey of the village, and watch every movement of the inhabitants, by
which means they were soon convinced that the lowas had no suspicion of their presence.
'^Atthefootof themoundabovementioned, the lowas had their race course, where they diverted
themselves with the excitement of horse racing, and schooled their young warriors in cavalry
erolutions. In these exercises mock battles were fought, and the Indian tactics of attack and
defense carefully inculcated, by which meansa skill in horsemanship was acquired rarely excelled.
Unfortunately for them this day was selected for their equestrian sports, and wholly uncon-
seioos of the proximity of their foes, the warriors repaired to the race ground, leaving most of
their arms in the Tillage and their old men and women and children unprotected.
** Pash-a-po-po, who was chief in command of the Sacs and Foxes, perceived at once the
idnotage this state of things afforded for a complete surprise of his now doomed victims, and
orJered Black Hawk to file off with his young warriors through the tall grass and gain the cover
of the timber along the river bank, and with the utmost speed reach the village and commence
the battle, while he remained with his diTision in the ambush to make a simultaneous assault on
thetmarmed men whose attention was engrossed with the excitement of the races. Tlie plan
Tu skillfully laid and most dexterously executed. Black Hawk with his forces reac hed the
Tillige undii-ooTered, and made a furious onslaught upon the defenseless inhabitants, by firing
9Qe general ToUey into their midst, and completing the slaughter with the tomahawk and scalp-
ing knife, aided by the devouring flames with which they enveloped the village as suoj as the
in brand could be spread from lodge to lodge.
"On the instant ot the report of firearms at the village the forces under Pash-,i-po-po
Wtped from their couchant position id the grass and sprang tiger-like upon the astoni:<hed and
■Bannel lowas in the midst of their r.icing sports. The fir^t impulse of tbe latter natuially led
them to mike the utmost speed toward their arms in the village, and protect if possble their
vires and ch.l Iren from the attack of their merciless assailants. The distance from the pl.ic j of
utack on the prairie was two miles, and a great number fell in their flight by the bullets and
tonahawks of their enemies, who pressed them closely with a running fire the whole way. and
ihemrvivora only reached their town in time to witness the horrors of its destructim. Their
«bole vilLige was in fl:tmes, and the dearest objects of their lives lay in slaughter d heaps
uiidstthe devouring elem nt, an I tho agonizing groans of the dying, mingled with ih > exu'ting
■hoats of the victorious foe, fillel their he irts with maddening despair. Their wives an 1 chiitlren
vho had been spared the general massacre were prisoners, and together with their arms were in
the hands of the victors ; and all that could now be done was to draw off their shut tere I and
defenseless forces, and save as many lives as possible by a retreat across the Des Moine-t River,
which they effected in the best possible manner, and took a position among the Soap Creek
The Sacs and Foxes, prior to the settlement of their village on Rock River,
b^fl a fierce conflict with the Winnebagoes, subdued them and took possession
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160 HISTORY OF THE STATE OP IOWA.
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 the entire number of the Sacs and Foxes
at 4,600 souls. Their village was situated in the immediate vicinity of the
upper rapids of the Mississippi, where the beautiful and flourishing towns of
Elock Island and Davenport are now situated. The beautiful scenery of the
island, the extensive prairies, dotted over with groves ; the picturesque bluffs
along the river banks, the rich and fertile soil, producing large crops of com,
squash and other vegetables, with little labor ; the abundance of wild fruit,
game, fish, and almost everything calculated to make it a delightful spot for an
Indian village, which was found there, had made this place a favorite home of
the Sacs, ^nd secured 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 possession with their
rivals in savage and bloody warfare. The possessions of these tribes were
mostly located in Minnesota, but extended over a portion of Northern and
Western Iowa to the Missouri 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 difiiculties,
caused them to quarrel all the more, in consequence of alleged trespasses upon
each other's side of the line. These contests were kept up and became so unre-
lenting that, in 1830, Government bought of the respective tribes of the Sites
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
f round unmolested, provided they did not interfere with each other on United
tates territory. The Sacs and Foxes and the Sioux were deadly enemies, and
neither let an opportunity to punish 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 Algona, in Kossuth County,
on the west side 6f the Des Moines River. The Sacs and Foxes were under
the leadership of 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 the *' 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 deter-
mined 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 vin-
dictive 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 assail-
ants, and the Sioux were routed. Sixteen of them, including some of their
women and children, were killed, and a boy 14 years old was captured. One
of the Musquakas was 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 twenty rods, and he fell dead. Three
other Sac braves were killed. But few of the Sioux escaped. The victorious
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HISTORY OF THE STATE OF IOWA. 151
party hurriedly buried their own dead, leaving the dead Sio^x 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 Government
adopted measures for the exploration of the new territory, having in view the
conciliation of the numerous tribes of Indians by whom 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 commanding,
had its headquarters at S^ Louis. From this post. Captains Lewis and Clark,
with a sufficient force, were detailed to explore the unknown sources of the
Missouri, and Lieut. Zebulon M. Pike to ascend to the head waters of the Mis-
sissippi. Lieut. Pike, with one Sergeant, two Corporals and seventeen privates,
left the military camp, near St. Louis, in a keel-boat, with four months' rations.
on the 9th day of August, 1806. On the 20th of the same month, the expe-
dition arrived within tne present limits of Iowa, at the foot of the Des Moines
Rapids, where Pike met William Ewing, who 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 with the Indians, in which he addressed them substantially as follows :
"Your great Father, the President of 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
General to send a number of his warriors in different directions 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 present city of Burlington,
which he selected as tke location of a military post. He describes the place as
being " on a hill, about forty miles above the .River de Moyne Rapids, on the
west side of the river, in latitude about 41° 2V 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
heen the place selected by him, while all the circumstances corroborate the
opinion that the place he selected was the spot where Burlington is now located,
^edby the early voyagers on the Mississippi, "Flint Hills.'*
On the 24th, with one of his men, he went on shore on a hunting expedition,
»nd following a stream which they supposed to be a part of the Mississippi, they
were led away from theur course. Owing to the intense heat and tall grass, his
two (avorite dogs, which he had taken with him, became exhausted and he left
Aem on the prairie, supposing that they would follow him as soon as they
should get rested, and went on to overtake his boat. Reaching the river, he
waited sometime for his canine friends, but they did not come, and as he deemed
>t inexpedient to detain the boat longer, two of his men volunteered to ©> in pur-.
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152 HISTORY OF THE STATE OF IOWA.
suit 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 in-
duced 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 pub-
lish the wealth of his mines, and the young and evidently inquisitive officer
obtained 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 explo-
rations on the upper waters of the Mississippi more properly belongs to the his-
tory of another State.
It is sufficient to say that on the site of Fort Snelling, Minnesota, 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 Company, on Lake De Sable, in latitude 47°. At this time the
then powerful Northwest Company carried on their immense operations 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 operations the entire Territory of Iowa. After successfully accomplishing
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, 1806.
INDIAN WARS.
The Territory of Iowa, although it had been purchased by the United States,
and was ostensibly in the possession of the Government, 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 indispensable that
the Indian title should be extinguished and the original owners removed. The
accomplishment of this purpose required the expenditure of large sums of
money and blood, and for a long series of years the frontier was disturbed by
Indian wars, terminated repeatedly by treaty, only to be renewed by some act
of oppression on the part of the whites or some violation of treaty stipulation.
As previously shown, at the time when the United States assumed the con-
trol of the country by virtue of the Louisiana purchase, 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
encroachments of the pale faces.
Among the most noted chiefs, and one whose restlessness and hatred of the
Americans occasioned more trouble to the Government than any other 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
ener^ and ambition he became the leading spirit of the united nation of Sacs
and Foxes, and one of the prominent figures in the history of the country from
1804 until his death. In early manhood he attained some distinction as a
fighting chief, having led campaigns against the Osages, and other neighboring
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HISTORY OF THE STATE OF IOWA. 153
tribes. About the beginning of the present century he began to appear prom-
inent 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 qualifications of a leader became so prom-
inent as such, as he did, indicates 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 theAmericans, 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 United 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 invitation,
and it is but just to say that this refusal was caused probably 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
hw life he says : " I found many sad and gloomy feces 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
fltninge 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 between William
Henry Harrison, then Governor of Indiana Territory, on behalf of the United
States, and five chiefs of the Sac and Fox nation, by which the latter, in con-
sideration of two thousand two hundred and thirty-four dollard' 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 Mississppi, extending from a point opposite the Jefferson, in Missouri, to
the VVisconsin 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 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, moreover, that they had been sent to St. Louis on quite
a different errand, namely, to get 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 councils with the Indians and select-
ing sites for forts within the territory recently acquired from France by the
United States. Lieutenant Pike seems to have been the first American whom
Bhwk Hawk ever met or had a personal interview with ; and he was very much
prepossessed in Pike's favor. He gives the following account 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
The boat at length arrived at Rock River, and the young chief came on
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154 HISTORY OF THE STATE OF IOWA.
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 in-
terview with the commander; after which they returned home apparently satis-
fied. In like manner, when Fort Madison was being erected, they sent down
another delegation from a council of the nation held at Rock River. Accord-
ing to Black Hawk's account, the American chief told them that he was build-
ing 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 was 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 States did not regard tLe
establishment of military posts as coming 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 indig-
nant. 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 them-
selves near the fort, and attack and surprise them when they were outside. On
the morning of the proposed day of attack, five soldiers came out 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 several days, attempting the old Fox strategy of setting
fire to the fort with blazing arrows ; but finding their efforts unavailing, ihey
6oon gave up and returned to Rock River.
When war was 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 promises, 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 circum-
stances 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
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HISTORY OF THE STATE OP IOWA. 165
chiefe then told him that the British traders always gave them credit in the
Fall for guns, powder and goods, to enable us to hunt and clothe our Camilies.
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 that 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 ascending the river ; it soon arrived, bearing an
express, who brought intelligence that a British trader had landed at Rock
Island with two boats loaded with goods, and requested us to come up imme-
diately, because he had good news for us, and a variety of presents. The
express presented us with tobacco, pipes and wampum. The news ran through
our camp like fire on a prairie. Our lodges were soon taken down, and all
started for Bock 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 nim, styled him " Gen. Black Hawk,"
decked him with medals, excited his jealousies against the Americans, and
armed his band ; but he met with defeat and disappointment, and soon aban-
doned 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 Watchful 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 band joined the fortunes of Great
Britain, the rest of the nation remained neutral, and, for protection, organized,
with Keokuk for their chief. This divided the nation into the " War and the
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 the 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, together with the old men,
women and children, and such others as chose to accompany them, should go to
St. Louis and place themselves under the American chief stationed there.
They accordingly 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
bad become chief, and was informed that their spies had seen a large armed
force going toward Peoria, and fears were entertained of an attack upon the
village ; 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
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166 HISTORY OF THE STATE OF IOWA.
obtained for him. Keokuk then addressed the chie& ; he remonstrated against
the desertion of their village, their oVn homes and the graves of their fathers,
and offered to defend the village. The council consented that he should be
their war chief. He marshaled his braves, sent out spies, and advanced on the
trail leading to Peoria, but returned without seeing the enemy. The Americans
did not disturb the village, and all were satisfied with the appointment 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,
but possessed the elements of true courage, and could fight, when occasion
required, with a cool judgment and heroic energy. In his first battle, he en-
countered and killed a Sioux, which pla<;ed him in the rank of warriors, and be
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 attitude and graceful gestures ; he spoke
rapidly, but his enunciation was clear, distinct and forcible ; he culled his fig-
ures 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 acquaint-
ance with philosophy. With one exception only, his interpreters were unac-
quainted 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 dissipation 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 was bevond their power
of reproduction. He had sufiicient knowledge of the English language to make
him sensible of this bad rendering of his thoughts, and often a feeling of morti-
fication 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 under-
stood 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 resources of the United States,
than his noted and restless cotemporary, 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 argument against
it. The large number of warriors whom he had dissuaded from following Black
Hawk became, however, greatly 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 joining the rest of the warriors 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 sheil 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 bat-
tle, if, after fully considering the matter, you are determined to go. But before "
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HISTORt OP THE STATE OP IOWA. 157
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 chance 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, we 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 aban-
don 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 dep-
redations.
When peace was declared between the United States and England, 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 1804,
but Black Hawk declared he had been aeceived ; 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
fiithers.
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 southernmost 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.
THE BLACK HAWK WAR.
The immediate cause of the Indian outbreak in 1830 was the occupation of
Black Hawk's village, on the Rock River, by the whites, during the absence of
tbe chief and his braves on a hunting expedition, on the west side of the
Mississippi. When they returned, they found their wigwams occupied by white
femilies, and their own women and children were shelterless on the banks of
the river. The Indians were indignant, and determined to repossess their village
at all hazards, and early in the Spring of 1831 recrossed the Mississippi and
menacingly took possession of their own cornfields and cabins. It may be well
to remark here that it was expressly stipulated in the treaty of 1804, to which
they attributed all their troubles, that the Indians shoula 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
Illinois, 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 any thing less than the blood of
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158 HISTORY OF THE STATE OF IOWA.
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 was said and probably thought by the mili-
tary commanders along the frontier 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 hardy frontiersmen themselves had any fears, for their experi-
ence had been that, when well treated, their Indian neighbors were not danger-
ous. Black Hawk and his band had done no more than to attempt to repossess the
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 forever
on the Iowa side and never recross the river without the permission of the
President or the Governor of Illinois. Whether the Indians clearly understood
the terms of this treaty is uncertain. As was usual, the Indian traders had
dictated terms on their behalf, and they had received a large amount of pro-
visions, 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 with hostile intent. However this may be, on
the 6th day of April, 1832, Black Hawk and his entire band, with their women
and children, again recrossed the Mississippi in plain view of the garrison of
Fort Armstrong, and went up Rock River. Although this act was construed
into an act of nostility by the military authorities, who declared that Black
Hawk intended to recover his village, or the site where it stood, by force ; but
it does not appear that he made any such attempt, nor did his apearance
create any special alarm among 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 2, 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 march up Rock River. Capt. W. B. Green, who served in Capt. Stephen-
son's company of mounted rangers, says that "Black Hawk and h^s 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 set-
tlers, who all agree that Black Hawk had no idea of fighting, 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 disastrously to Black Hawk and his starving people, is that, during
the Fall and Winter of 1831-2, 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 Indians could be induced to come over, and the
fears of the military could be suflBciently 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 13th of April, 1832, George Davenport wrote to Gen. Atkinson : '* I am
informed that the British band of Sac Indians are determined to make war on^
the frontier settlements. * * * 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
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HISTORY OP THE STATE OF IOWA. 159
yet, from the 6th day of April until after Stillman*s men commenced war by
firing on a 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 disgraceful affair at Stillman's Run, Black
Hawk, concluding that the whites, refusing to treat with him, were determined
to exterminate his people, determined to return to the Iowa side of the Missis-
sippi. He could not return by the way he came, for the army was behind him,
an array, too, that would sternly refuse tq recognize 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 Lieu-
tenant, ''the Prophet," the whites were plainly informed that the starving
Indians did not wish to fight, but would return to the west side of the Missis-
sippi, 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) commenced. 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 2bth of April, they were taken to Fortress Monroe, where they remained
till the 4th of June, lo33, 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 PURCHASES, RESERVES AND TREATIES.
At the close of the Bla<!k Hawk War, in 1832, a treaty was made at a
coancil held on the west bank of the Mississippi, where now stands the thriving
city of Davenport, on grounds now occupied by the Chicago, Rock Island &
Pacific Railroad Company, on the 21st day of September, 1832. At this
council, the United States were represented by Gen. Winfield Scott and Gov.
Reynolds, of Illinois. Keokuk, Pash-a-pa-ho and some thirty other chiefs and
warriors of the Sac and Fox nation were present. By 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 annually to the confederated
tribes, for thirty consecutive years, twenty thousand dollars in specie, and to
pay the debts of the Indians at Rock Island, which had been accumulating for
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160 HISTORY OF THE STATE OF IOWA.
seventeen years and amounted to fifty thousand dollars, due to Davenport &
Farnham, Indian traders. The Government also generously donated 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." Although it was
not the first portion of Iowa ceded to the United States by the Sacs and Foxes,
it waa the first opened to actual settlement by the tide of emigration that flowed
across the Mississippi 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 territory, 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 in-
Icuding within its limits Keokuk'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 Mississippi, above Davenport, and was the largest assem-
blage 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 occasion. By the terms of the
treaty, the Sacs and Foxes were removed to another reservation on the Des
Moines River, where an agency 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 individual 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 comfortable farm house for the agent and his family, at
the expense of the Indian Fund. A salaried agent was employed to superin-
tend 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 service for many years. Connected
with the agency were Joseph Smart and John Goodell, interpreters. The
latter was interpreter for Hard Fish's band. Three of the Indian chiefe, Keo-
kuk, 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 tho^resent 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 estab-
lished 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.
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HISTORY OF THE STATE OF IOWA. 161
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 ^he Autumn 'of 1845, when the most of them
were removed to their reservation in Kansas, the balance being removed in the
Spring of 1846.
1. Treaty tmth the Siotac-^MsAe July 19, 1B15; ratified December 16, 1815. This treaty
was made at Portage des Sioux; between the Sioux of Minnesota and Upper Iowa and the United
States, by William 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. Treaty with the Saee.—A similar treaty of peace was made at Portage des Sioux, between
the United States and the Sacs, by William Clark, Ninian Edwards and Auguste Choteau, on the
13th of September, 1815, and ratified at the same date as the above. lu this, the treaty of 1804
was re-affirmed, and the Sacs here represented promised for themselTes and their bands to keep
entirely separate from the Sacs of Rock River, who, under Black Hawk, had joined the British
in the war just then closed.
8. Treaty with the Foxe*. — A separate treaty of peace was made with the Foxes at Portage
des Sioux, by the same Commissioners, on the 14th of September, 1815, and ratified the same as
the above, wherein the Foxes re-affirmed the treaty of St. Louis, of November 8, 1804, and
agreed to deliver up all their prisoners' to the officer in command at Fort Clark, now Peoria,
Illinois.
4. Treaty with the lowat. — A treaty of peace and mutual good will wafs 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 September, 1815, at the close of the war with Great Britain, and ratified
at the same date as the others.
6. Treaty with the Sacs of Rock River — Made at St. Louis on the 13th of May, 1816, between
the United States and the Sacs of Rock River, by the Commissioners, William Clark, Ninian
Edwards and Auguste Choteau, and ratified December 80, 1816. In this treaty, that of 1804
was reestablished and confirmed by twenty-two chiefs and 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. TVeaty of 1824 — On the 4th of August, 1824, a treaty was made between the United
States and the Sacs and Foxes, in the city of Washington, by William Clark, Commissioner,
wherein the Sao and Fox nation relinquished their title to all lands in Missouri and that portion
of the southeast corner of Iowa known as the " Half-Breed Tract" was set oflf 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, 1826, — 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, Me-
nomonees, Winnebngoes and a portion of the Ottawas and Pottawatomies. In this treaty, in
order to make peace between the contending tribes as to the limits of 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, as 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 cross-
ing the fork of Red Cedar River in a direct line to the second or upper fork of the Des Moines
Kiver ; 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 18S0.— On the 15th of July, 1830, the confederate tribes of the Sacs and Foxes
ceded to the United States a strip of couotry 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 ratification of this
treaty, February 24, 1831, came into possession of a portion of Iowa forty miles wide, extend-
ing along the Clark and Cass line of 1825, from the Mississippi to the Des Moines River. Thif
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.
9. Treaty with the Saes and. Foxes and other TVibes. — At the same time of the above treaty re-
specting the ** Neutral Ground" (July 15, 1830), the Sacs and Foxes, Western Sioux, Omahas,
lowas and Missouris ceded to the United States a portion of the western slope of Iowa, the boun-
daries of which 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
fitUs into the Big Sioux, or Calumet, on the east side ; thence down said creek and the Calumet
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162 HISTORY OF THE STATE OP IOWA.
RiTer to the Missouri River ; thence down said Missouri Riyer to the Missouri State line above
the Kansas ; thence along said line to the northwest corner of said State ; thenoe to the high lands
between the waters falling 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 Arom those of the Des Moines, to a point opposite the source
of the Bojer River, and thence in a direct line to the upper fork of the Des Moines, the place of
beginning.
It was understood that the lands ceded and relinquished by (his treaty were to be assigned
and allotted, under the direction of the President of the United States, to the tribes t(ien living
thereon, or to such other tribes as the President might locate thereon for hunting and other par-
poses. 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 Santie bands of Sioux, three thousand dollars ; to the
Omahas, two thousand five hundred dollars ; and to the Ottoes and Missouris, two thousand five
hundred dollars — to be paid annually for ten Huccessive years. In addition to these annuitiea,
the Government agreed to furnish some of the tribes with blacksmiths and agricultural imple-
ments to the amount of two hundred dollars, at the expense of the United States, and to set 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 1840-41.
This treaty was made by William Clark, Superintendent of Indian affairs, and Col. Willooghby
Morgan, of the United States First Infantry, and came into effect by proclamation, February
24, 1831.
10. Treaty tpith the Wirmehagoet. — Made at Fort Armstrong, Rock Island, September 15, 1832,
by Gen. Winfield Scott and Hon. John Reynolds, Governor of Illinois. In this treaty the Win-
nebagoes 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 tracts of country was to take place on or before the 1st day of June, 1883. In addition to
the Neutral Ground, it was stipulated that the United States should give the Winnebagoes, be(^-
ning in September, 1888, 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 focili-
ties 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 were to be supplied by the Government.
11. Treaty of 18S2 with the Sacs and Foxet, — Already mentioned as the Black Hawk purchase.
12. Treaty of 18S6y 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 thou-
sand dollars for ten successive years, together with other sums and debts of the Indians to
various parties.
13. Treaty of 1887,-- On the 21st of October, 1837, a treaty was made at the city of Wash-
ington, between Carey A. Harris, Commissioner of Indian Affairs, and the confederate tribes of
Sacs and Foxes, ratified February 21, 1838, wherein another slice of the soil of Iowa was obtained,
described in the treaty as follows: <' 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 SeptemW 21,
1832. It is understood that the points of termination for the present cession shall be the north-
em 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 Arom 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 number 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 ai both
ends, lying directly back of the Black Hawk I^irchase, and of the same length.
14. Treaty of Relinqttithment. — ^At the same date as the above treaty, in the city of Washino-
ton, Carey A. Harris, Commissioner, the Sacs and Foxes ceded to the United States all their
jight 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, 1825, and between the Mississippi and Mis-
souri 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 previously made with them,
for the satisfaction of which no appropriations had been made.
15. Treaty of 184£.^The last treaty was made with the Saos and Foxes October 11, 1842 ;
ratified March 28, 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 rf this treaty they were to be removed fh>m the country at the expira-
tion 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.
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HISTORY OP THE STATE OF IOWA. 163
SPANISH GRANTS.
While the territory now embraced in the State of Iowa waa under Spanish
rale as a part of its province of Louisiana, certain claims to and grants of land
were made by the Spanish authorities, with which, in addition to the extinguishment
oflndian titlfe, the United States had to deal. It is proper that these should
be briefly reviewed.
DubuqiAe, — On the 22d day of September, 1788, Julien Dubuque, a French-
man, from Prairie du Chien, obtained from the Foxes a cession or lease of lands
on the Mississippi River for mining purposes, 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 settlement. 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 patent from the Spanish Government. In this petition,
Dubuque rather indefinitely set forth the boundaries of this 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 Rivers, embracing more than twenty thou-
sand 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 decided in their favor, pronouncing the claim to be
a regular Spanish 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 consummated, the Du-
buque claim thus held by the Indians was absorbed by the United States, as the
Sacs and Foxes made no reservation 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 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 Gralena to institute
l^al 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, 1836, Jhe town of Dubuque was sur-
veyed and platted. After lots had been sold and occupied by the purchasers,
Henry Chotean brought an action of ejectment against Patrick M!alony, who
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' 164 HISTORY OF THE STATE OF IOWA.
held land in Dubuque under a patent from the United States, for the recovery
of seven undivided eighth parts of the Dubuque claiin,^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
aflBrmed, the court holding that the permit from Carondolet was DfJerely a lease
or permit to work the mines ; that Dubuque asked, and the Governor of Louisiana
granted, nothing more than the '^ peaceable possession *' of certain lands obtained
from the Indians ; that Carondelet had no legal authority to make snch a grant
as claimed, and that, even if he had, this was but an ^^ inchoate and imperfect
title."
Griard. — In 1795, the Lieutenant Governor of Upper Louisiana granted to
Basil Giard five thousand eight hundred and sixty acres of land, in what is now
Clayton County, known as the '* Giard Tract." He occupied the land during
the time that Iowa passed from Spain to France, and from France to the United
States, in consideration of which the Federal Government granted a patent of
the same to Giard in his own right. His heirs sold the whole tract to James H.
Lockwood and Thomas P. Burnett, of Prairie du Chien, for three hundred dollars.
H(mori. — 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)
Henori, or Louis Honore Fesson, 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 commission 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 to Joseph Robedoux, who
obtained an execution on which the property was sold May 13, 1803, and was
purchased by the creditor. In these proceedings the property was described as
being " about six leagues above the River Des Moines.** Robedoux died soon
after he purchased the proprerty. Auguste Choteau, his executor, disposed of
the Honori tract to Thomas F. Reddeck, in April, 1805, up to which time
Honori continued ix) 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 confirmed 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 Iowa.
THE HALF-BREED TRACT.
Before any permanent settlement had been made in the Territory of Iowa,
white adventurers, trappers and traders, many of whom were scattered along
the Mississippi and its tributaries, as agents and emploves 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
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HISTORY OF THE STATE OP IOWA. 166
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 exam-
ples 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 afterward known as " The
Half-Breed Tract." This reservation is the triangular piece of land, containing
about 119,000 acres, lying between the Mississippi andDes 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 Mississippi River at or below Montrose ; but the surveyor who
run it took no notice of the change in 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
sdiick that river at the lower edge of the town of Fort Madison. " This errone-
ous line," says Judge Mason, "has been acquiesced in as well in fixing the
northern limit of the Half-Breed Tract as in determining the northern boundary
line of the State of Missouri.** The line thus run included 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 occupy the soil,
but could not convey it, the reversion being reserved to the United States. But
on the 30th day of January, 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 in to 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 were 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 Johnstone, 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 dollars
a day each. The commission entered upon its duties and continued until the
next session of the Legislature, when the act creating it was repealed, invalidat-
ing all that had been done and depriving the Commissioners of their pay. The
repealing act, however, authorized the Commissioners to commence action against
the owners of the Half-Breed Tract, to receive pay for their services, in the Dis-
trict Court of Lee County. %yfo 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 becune involved in litigation. Decisions in favor of Reid
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166 HISTORY OP THE STATE OP IOWA.
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 into 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 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. Edward 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 interests
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 Recorder's oflSce, October 6,
1841. Upon this basis the titles to land in the Half-Breed Tract are now held.
EARLY SETTLEMENTS.
The first permanent settlement by the whites within the limits of Iowa was
" made by Julien Dubuque, in 1788, when, with a small party of miners, he set-
tled on the site of the citv that now bears his name^ where he lived until his
death, in 1810. Louis Honori settled on the site of the present town of Mon-
trose, probably in 1799, and resided there until 1805, when his property passed
into otfier hands. Of the Giard 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 considered settlers, had established themselves at
various points at an early date. A Mr. Johnson, agent of the American Fur
Company, had a trading post below Burlington, where he carried on traffic with
the Indians some time before the United States possessed 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 set-
tlement 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. Dr. Muir was a man of strict integrity and irreproachable char-
acter. While stationed at a military post on the tipper Mississippi, he had
married an Indian woman of the Fox nation. Of his marriage, the following
romantic account is given :
The post at which he was stationed was visited by a beautiful Indian maiden — whose natiTe
name, unfortunately, has not been preserved — who, in her dreams, had seen a white brave un-
moor his oanoe, paddle it across the river and come directly to her lodge. She felt assured,
according to the superstitious belief of her race, that, in her dreams, she had seen her ftiture
husband, and had come to the fort to find him. Meeting Dr. Muir, she instantly recognized
him as the hero of her dream, which, with childlike innocence and simplicity, she related to
him. Her dream was, indeed, prophetic. Charmed with Sophia's beauty, innocence and devo-
tion, the doctor honorably married her ; but after a while, the sneers and gibes of his brother
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HISTORY OF TEE STATE OF IOWA, 167
officers — less honorable than he, perhaps — made him feel ashamed of his dark-skinned wife, and
when his regiment was ordered down the river, to Bellefontaine, it is said he embraced the
opportunity to rid himself of her, and left her, never expecting to see her again, and little
dreaming that she would have the courage to follow him. But, with her infant child, this in-
trepid wife and mother started alone in her canoe, and, after many days of weary labor and a
lonely journey of nine hundred miles, she, at last, reached him. She afterward remarked, when
speaking of this toilsome journey down the river in search of her husband, ** When I got there
I was all perished away — so thin ! *' The doctor, touched by such unexampled devotion, took her
to bis heart, and ever after, until his death, treated her with marked respect. She always pre-
sided at bistable with grace and dignity, but never abandoned her native style of dress. In
18H)-20, he was stationed at Fort Edward, but the senseless ridicule of some of his brother
officers on account of his Indian wife induced him to resign his commission.
Aner building his cabin, as above stated, he leased his claim for a term of years to Otis
Reynolds and John Culver, of St. Louis, and went to La Pointe, afterward Galena, where he
practiced his profession for ten years, when he returned to Keokuk. His Indian wife bore to
him four children — Louise (married at Keokuk, since deadj, James, (drowned at Keokuk), Mary
and Sophia. Dr. Muir died suddenly of cholera, in 1832, but left his property m such condition
that it was soon wasted in vexatious litigation, and his brave and faithful wife, left fHendless and
penniless, became discouraged, and, with her children, disappeared, and, it is said, returned to
her people on the Upper Missouri.
Messrs. Reynolds k Culver, who had leased Dr. Muir's claim at Keokuk,
subsequently employed as their agent Mr. Moses Stillwell, who arrived with
his family in 1828, and took possession of Muir's cabin. His brothers-in-law,
Amos and VaJe^court Van Ansdal, 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.
In 1831, Mr. Johnson, Agent of the American Fur Company, who had a
station at the foot of the rapids, removed to another location, and, Dir. 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. Langworthy, brothers aijd natives of
Vermont, visited the Territory for the purpose of working the lead mines at Du-
buque. They had been engaged in lead mining at Galena, Illinois, the former
from as early as 1824. The lead mines in the Dubuque region were an object
of great interest to the miners about Galena, for 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. Cross-
ing the Mississippi at a point now known as Dunleith, in a canoe, and swim-
ming his h(frse 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 Du-
buque now stands. Two miles south, at the mouth of Catfish Creek, was a vil-
lage of Sacs and Foxes. Thither Mr. Langworthy proceeded, and was well re-
ceived by the natives. He endeavored to obtain permission from them to mine
in their hills, but this they refused. He, however, succeeded in gaining the con-
fidence 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 Galen^, formed plans for future opera-
tions, to be executed as soon as circumstancea would permit. . ^ .
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168 HISTOEY OF THE STATE OF IOWA.
In 1830, with his brother, Lucius H., and others, having obtained the con-
sent of the Indians, Mr. Langworthj crossed the Mississippi and commenced
mining in the vicinity around i)ubuque.
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 government. 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 by 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 the Jones 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 mem-
bers of which gathered around that old cottonwood log, and agreed to and re-
ported the following, written by Mr. Langworthy, on a half sheet of coarse, un-
ruled paper, the old log being the writing desk :
We, a Comniittee haying been chosen to draft certain rules and regulations (laws) hj
which we as miners wiU be governed, and having duly considered the subject, do unanimously
agree that we wiU be governed by the regulations on the east side of the Mississippi River,* witli
the following exceptions, to wit :
Abticle I. That each and every man shall hold 200 yards square of ground by working
said ground one day in six.
Aeticlb ir. We further agree that there shall be chosen, by the majority of the miners
present, a person who shall hold this article, and who shall grant letters of arbitration on appli-
cation having been made, and that said letters of arbitration shall be 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 Legisla-
ture elected by the people, the law drafted by it bemg submitted to the people
for approval, and under it Dr. Jarote was elected first Governor 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 oflScer 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 attracted considerable attention. But the
west side of the Mississippi belonged to the Sac and Fox Indians, and the Gov-
ernment, 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 entrusted to Col. Zachary Taylor, then in com-
mand of the military post at Prairie du Chien, who, early in July, sent an -officer
to the miners with orders to forbid settlement, and to command the miners to
remove within ten days to the east side of the Mississippi, 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 dis-
posed 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 wlio
had lingered a little too long were, however, permitted to make their escape
• Established by the Superintendent of U. S. Le«d Mines at Fever Riter. ^-^ I
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HISTORY OF THE STATE OP IOWA. 169
unmolested. From this time, a military force was stationed at Dubuque to
prevent the settlers from returning, until June, 1832. The Indians returned,
and were encouaged 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 me Black Hawk war, and the negotia-
tions 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 set-
tlers, supposing 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 interfered 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 efanuary, 1833,
troops were again sent from Prairie du Chien to Dubuque for that purpose.
This was a serious and perhaps unnecessary hardship imposed upon the settlers.
They were compelled to abandon their cabins and homes in mid-winter. It
must now be 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 Government 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 return ; 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 float the fruits oiF
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. Lang-
worthy, 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
ana 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. George Wil-
son, 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 once retiimed and resumed
possession of their home claims and mineral prospects, and from this time the
first permanent settlement 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 Gtilena, since 1825, under Lieut. Martin. Thomas
and Capt. Thomas C. Legate. Substantially the primitive law enacted by the
miners assembled 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
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170 HISTORY OP THE STATE OF IOWA.
Illinois, except that, until 1830, the Illinois miners were compelled to pay 10
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 suffered hardships and privations enough in opening the way
for civilization, without being subjected to the imposition of an odious Govern-
ment tax upon their means of subsistence, when the Federal Government could
better afford to aid than to extort from them. The measure soon became unpop-
ular. It was difficult to collect the taxes, and the whole system was abolished
in about ten years.
During 1833, after the Indian title was fully extinguished, about five hun-
dred people arrived at the mining district, about one hundred 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 thriving
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, the small
school house which he aided in constructing replaced by 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 explor^
with all the eastern world. He died suddenly on the 13th of March, 1865,
while on a trip over the Dubuque & Southwestern Railroad, at Monticello,
and the evening train brought the news of his death and his remains.
, Lucius H. Langworthy, his brother, was one of the most worthy, gifted and
mfluential 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 the 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, and a earrison 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 impatiently
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 the
river, at a place since known as the faim of Judge Morgan. In the Winter of
that year, they were driven oflF 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 Indian title was extinguished, returned and rebuilt his cabin. White
was joined by his brother-in-law, Doolittle, 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 Sac? and Foxes, in Septem^
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HISTORY OF THE STATE OF IOWA. 171
ber, 1832, Col. George Davenport made the first claim on the spot where the
thrivinff 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 Bufialo, in Scott County, which was the first actual
settlement within the limits of that coun^. Among other early settlers in this
part of the Territory were Adrian H. Davenport, Col. John Sullivan, Mulli-
gan and Franklin Easly, Capt. John Coleman, J. M. Camp, William White,
H. W. Higgins, Cornelius Harrold, Richard Harrison, E. H. Shepherd and
Dr. E. S. Barrows.
The first settlers of Davenport were Antoine LeClaire, Col. George Daven-
port, Major Thomas Smith, Idajor William Gordon, Philip Hambough, Alexan-
der W. McGf egor, Levi S. Colton, Capt. James May and others. Of Antoine
LeClaire, as the representative of the two races of men who at this time occu-
pied Iowa, Hon. C. C. Nourse, in his admirable Centennial Address, says :
*' Antoine LeClaire was bom at St, Joseph, Michigan, in 1797. His father
was French, his mother a granddaughter of a Pottowatomie chief 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
sections of land in the treaty of 1833, one at the town of LeClaire and one at
Davenport. The Pottawatomies, 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 Postmaster and Justice of the Peace in the Black
Hawk Purchase, at an early day. In 1833, ho 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 addi-
tion, as the LeClaire House. He died September 25, 1861."
In Clayton County, the first settlement was made in the Spring of 1832,
on Turkey River, by Robert Hatfield and William W. Wayman. No further
settlement was 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 Yanater and G. W. Kasey, who were the first
settlers. E. E. Fay, William St John, N. Fullington, H. Reece, Jona Petti-
bone, R. P. Lowe, Stephen Whicher, Abijah Whitinc, J. E. Fletcher, W. D.
Abernethy and Alexis Smith were early settlers of Muscatine.
During the Summer of 1835, William Bennett and his &mily, fix)m Galena,
built the first cabin within the present limits of Delaware County, in some
tanber since known as Eads' Grove.
The first post office in Iowa was established at Dubuque in 1833. Milo H.
Prentice was appointed Posttnaster.
The first Justice of the Peace was Antoine Le Claire, appointed in 1833, as
'*a very suitable person to adjust the difficulties between the white settlers and
the Indians still remaining there.'*
The first Methodist Society in the Territory was formed at Dubuque on
the 18th of May, 1834, and the first class meeting was held June 1st of that
year. *
The first church bell brought into Iowa was in March, 1884.
. The first mass of the Roman Catholic Church in the Territoiy was celebrate
at Dubuque, in the house of Patrick Quigley, in the Fall of 1833.
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172 HISTORY OP THE STATE OF IOWA.
The first school house in the Territory was erected by the Dubuque miners
in 1883.
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 per-
manent residence was Mrs. Noble F. Dean, in the Fall of 1832.
The first family 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 Iowa, as a class, were 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 blufis above the large spring now known as
*' Mynster Spring,'* within the limits of the present 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 Bluffs." 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 Br<Mul-
way, and afterward settled there. In 1839, a block house was built on the
bluff in the east part of the city. The Pottawatomie 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
reached the eastern bank of the river the Spring biefore, 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 first called "Miller's Hollow/'
on Indian Creek, and afterward named Kanesville, in honor of Col. Kane, of
Pennsylvania, who visited them soon afl;erward. 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 bat-
talion, 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 within the limits of Pottawattamie County. This county was organised in
1848, all the first officials 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 few years nearly all the first settlers were gone.
Mar 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
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HISTORY OP THE STATE OP IOWA. 173
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 Fork, at its
conSaence 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 enter-
prising men of the older States, and a large immigration of the best blood of
the Old World, who, removing to an arena of larger opportunities, in a more
fertile soil and congenial climate, hav,e developed a spirit and an energy
peculiarly Western. In no country on the globe have enterprises* of all kinds
b^n pushea forward with such rapidity, or has there been such independence
»d freedom of competition. Among those who have pioneered the civiliza-
tion 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,
priTation and sufiering, laid the foundations of the populous and prosperous
oommonwealth which to-day dispenses its blessings to a million and a quarter
of people. From her first settlement and from her first organization as a terri-.
tory to the present day, Iowa has had able men to manage her affairs, wise
statesmen to shape her destiny and frame her laws, and intelligent and impartial
jarists to administer justice to her citizens ; her bar, pulpit and press have been
able and widely influential ; and in all the professions, arts, enterprises 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 ta;ke possession of the territory included in the
Louisiana purchase, and provide for a temporary government. By another act
rf the same s^sion, approved March 26, 1804, the newly acquired country was
Wed, October 1, 1804 into the Territory of Orleans, south of the thirty-third
parallel of north latitude, and the district of Louisiana, which latter was placed
B«ler the authority of the officers of Indiana Territory.
In 1805, the District of Louisiana was organized as a Territory with a gov-
^rament of its own. In 1807, Iowa was included in the Territory of Illinois,
»din 1812 in the Territory of Missouri. When Missouri was admitted as a
State, March 2, 1821, " Iowa,'* says Hon. C. C. Nourse, "was left a political
'ffphan,'* until by act of Congress, approved June 28, 18347 the Black Hawk
pwchase having been made, all the territory west of the Mississippi and north
rfthe 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
tte State of Iowa, although one or two Justices of the Peace had been appointed
wd a post office was established at Dubuque in 1833. In September, 1834,
however, the Territorial Legislature of Michigan created two counties on the
v«t side of the Mississippi River, viz. : Dubuque and Des Moines, separated
hyaline drawn westward from the foot of Rock Island. These counties were
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174 HISTORY OP THE STATE OP IOWA.
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, 1835, Gen. George W. Jones, now a citi-
zen of Dubuque, was elected a Delegate to Congress from this part of Michigan
Territory. On the 20th of April, 1836, through the eflForts of Gen. Jones,
Congress passed a bill creating the Territory 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. Homer, Secre-
tary of the Territory ; Charles Dunn, Chief Justice ; David Irwin and William
C. Frazer, Associate Justices.
September 9, 1836, Governor Dodge ordered the census of the new Territory
to be taken. This census resulted in showing a population of 10,531 in the
counties of Dubuque and Des Moines. Under the apportionment, these two
counties were entitled to six members of the Council and thirteen of the House
of Representatives. The Governor issued his proclamation for an election to be
held on the first Monday of October, 1836, on which day the following members
of the First Territorial Legislature of Wisconsin were elected from the two
counties in the Black Hawk purchase :
Dubuque County. — Council: John Fally, Thomas McKnight, Thomas Mc-
Craney. ffovse : Loring Wheeler, Hardin Nowlan, Peter Hill Engle, Patrick
Quigley, Hosea T. Camp.
I)e8 Moines County. — Council: Jeremiah Smith, Jr., Joseph B. Teas,
Arthur B. Ingram, ffovse: Isaac Leffler, Thomas Blair, Warren L. Jenkins,
John Box, George W. Teas, Eli Reynolds, David R. Chance.
The first Legislature assembled at Belmont, in the present State of Wiscon-
sin, on the 26th day of October, 1836, and was organized by electing Henry T.
Baird President of the Council, and Peter Hill Engle, of Dubuque, Speaker ot
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; com-
menced June 1st, and adjourned June 12, 1838.
During the first session of the Wisconsin Territorial Legislature, in 1836,
the county of Des Moines was divided into Des Moines, Lee, Van Buren, Henry,
Muscatine and Cook (the latter being subsequently changed to Scott) and defined
their boundaries. During the second session, out of the territory embraced inl
Dubuque County, were created the counties of Dubuque, Clayton, Fayette,
Delaware, Buchanan, Jackson, Jones, Linn, Clinton and Cedar, and their boun-
daries defined, but the most of them were not organized until several year^
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 in the Autumn of
1837. The wishes of the people found expression in a convention held at Bur-j
lington on the 1st of November, which memorialized Congress ta organize i^
TerritoiT west of the Mississippi, and to settle the boundary line between Wis^
consin Territory and Missouri. The Territorial Legislature of Wisconsin, then
in session at Burlington, joined in the petition. Gen. George W. Jones, of
Dubuque, then residing at Sinsinawa Mound, in what -is now Wisconsin, was
Delegate to Congress from Wisconsin Territory, and labored so earnestly and
successfully, that " An act to divide the Territory of Wisconsin, and to estab^
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HISTORY OF THE STATE OP IOWA. 175
lish 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 Wisconsin which lies west of the Mis-
sissippi River, and west of a line drawn due north from the head water 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 provided 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 Council,
to consist of thirteen members. It also appropriated ^,000 for a public library,
and?20,000 for the erection of public buildings.
President Van Buren appointed Ex-Governor Robert Lucas, of Ohio, to be
the first Governor of the new Territory. William B. Conway, of Pittsburgh,
▼as appointed Secretary of the Territory ; Charles Mason, of Burlington,
Chief Justice, and Thomas S. Wilson, of Dubuque, and Joseph Williams, of '
Pennsylvania, Associate Judges of the Supreme and District Courts; Mr. Yaii
Allen, of New York, Attorney; Francis Gehon, of Dubuque, Marshal; Au
psins C. Dodge, Register of the Land Office at Burlington, and Thomas Mo
Knight, Receiver of the Land Office at Dubuque. Mr. Van Allen, the Distric^\
Attorney, died at Rockingham, soon after his appointment, and Col. Charleti
Weston was appointed to fill his vacancy. Mr. Conway, the Secretary, als<»
died at Burlington, during the second session of the Legislature, and Jamai
Clarke, editor of the Gazette, was appointed to succeed him.
Immediately after his arrival, Governor Lucas issued a proclamation for tht)
dection of members of the first Territorial Legislature, to be held on the lOtL
of September, dividing the Territory into election districts for that purpose, and
appointing the 12th day of November for meeting of the Legislature to bo
ctected, at Burlington.
The first Territorial Legislature was elected in September and assembled at
Borhngton on the 12th of November, and consisted of the following members :
Council. — Jesse B. Brown, J. Keith, E. A. M. Swazey, Arthur Ingram,
Robert Ralston, George Hepner, Jesse J. Payne, D. B. Hughes, James M
Clark, Charles Whittlesey, Jonathan W. Parker, Warner Lewis, Stepheii.
Home, — ^William Patterson, Hawkins Taylor, Calvin J. Price, Jame(^
Brierly, James Hall, Gideon S. Bailey, Samuel Parker, James W. Grimes,
George Temple, Van B. Delashmutt, Thomas Blair, George H. Beeler,'*
WiUmm G. Coop, William H. Wallace, Asbury B. Porter, John Frierson,
William L. Toole, Levi Thornton, S. C. Hastings, Robert G. Roberts, Laurel
Snmmers,t Jabez A. Burchard, Jr., Chauncey 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 County,
^fM 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
. ^Cyrw S. ^ cobi, who was elected fbr Dm Moinee Coanty, wm killed In an nnfortimate encoonter at Barllngtcm
■'wn the m tng of the Legislature, and Mr. Beeler was elected to fill the rauancy.
-tStmoel A. VaiTay was returned as elected from Clinton County, but his seat was succeasftUly contaitad bg
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176 HISTORY OP THE STATE OF IOWA.
were little heeded by the people of the new Territory, but in 1840, during the
Presidential campaign, party lines were strongly drawn.
At the election in September, 1838, for members of the Legislature, a Con-
rsional Delegate waa also elected. There were four candidates, viz. : William
Chapman and David Rohrer, of Des Moines County ; B. F. Wallace, of
Henry County, and 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 excit-
ing one. By the organic law, the Governor was clothed with almost unlimited
veto power. Governor Lucas seemed disposed to make free use of it, and the
independent Hawkeyes could not quietly submit to arbitrary and absolute rule,
and the result waa an unpleasant controversy between the Executive and Legis-
lative departments. Congress, however, oy act approved March 8, 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 appointment 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 land fifty miles wide, bordering on the Missis-
sippi River, 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 suggestion. 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 excitement prevailed. The
central party at last triumphed, and on the 21st day of January, 1839, an act
was passed, appointing Chauncey Swan, of Dubuque County ; John Ronalds,
of Louisa County, ana Robert Ralston, of Des Moines County, Commissioners,
to select a site for a permanent seat of Government within the limits of John-
son County.
Johnson County had been created by act of the Territorial Legislature 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 fiiture
Iowa City, was designated 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 was in un-
disputed 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 purchase, and as near the east and west geosrapbical
center of the future State of Iowa as could then be made, as the boundary line
between the lands of the United States and the Indians, established by the
treaty of October 21, 1837, was immediately west of the 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 Napo-
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HISTORY OP THE STATE OF IOWA. 17T
leon, Johnson County, May 1, 1839, selected for a site Section 10, in Town-
ship 79 North of Range 6 West of tho Fifth Principal Meridian, and immedi-
ately surveyed it and laid off the town. The first sale of lots took place August
16, 1839. 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 tho elevated
grounds overlooking the river was reserved for the purpose. The capitol is
located in the center of this square. The second Territorial Legislature, which
assembled in November, 1839, passed an act requiring the Commissioners to
adopt such plan for the building that the aggregate cost when complete should
not exceed $51,000, and if they had already adopted a plan 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 J uly,
1840, the corner stone of the edifice was laid with appropriate 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 author-
izing 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 QLTESTION.
The boundary line between the Territory of Iowa and the State of Missouri
was a difficult question to settle in 1838, in consequence of claims arising from
taxes and titles, and at one time civil war was imminent. In defining the
boundaries of the counties bordering on Missouri, the Iowa authorities had fixed
a hne that has since been established as the boundary between Iowa and Mis-
souri. The Constitution of Missouri defined her northern boundary to be the
^raUel of latitude which passes through the rapids of the Des Moines River.
The lower rapids of the Mississippi immediately above the mouth of the Dea
Moines River had always been known as the Des Moines Rapids, or ^' the
rapids of the Des Moines River." The Missourians (evidently not well versed
in histoiT or geography) insisted on running the northern boundary line from
Ae rapids in the Des Moines River, just below Keosauqua, thus taking from
Iowa, a strip of territory eight or ten miles wide. Assuming this as her
northern boundary line, Missouri attempted to exercise jurisdiction over the
disputed territory by assessing taxes, and sending her Sheriffs to collect them by
distraining the personal property of the settlers. The lowans, however, were
Bot disposed to submit, and the Missouri officials were arrested by the Sheriffs
rf 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 preparations for war. In Iowa, about 1,200 men were enlisted, and
500 were actually armed and encamped in Van Buren County, ready to defend
Ae integrity of the Territory. Subsequently, Gen. A. C. Dodge^ of fiurlington,
Gen. Churchman, of Dubuque, and Dr. Clark, of Fort Madison, were sent to
Missouri as envoys plenipotentiary, to effect, if possible, a peaceable adjustment
of the difficulty. Upon their arrival, they found that the County Commissionera
of Clarke County , Missouri, had rescinded their order for the collection of the taxes,
and that Gov. Boggs had despatched messengers to the Governor of Iowa proposing
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178 HISTORY OF THE STATE OP IOWA.
»
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 insti-
tuted, and which resulted in a judgment for Iowa. Under this decision,
William G. Miner, of Missouri, 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 tne 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 intermames
during the pendency thereof, shall abate on account of such marriage." This prin-
ciple has been adopted by all subsequent legislation 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,
the rights and privileges of citizenship extended to all white persons, and the
!urity of elections secured by heavy penalties against bribery and corruption,
'he 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 fi^
schools, open for every class of white citizens, was established. Provision was
made for a system of roads and highways. Thus under the territorial organi-
zation, the country began to emerge from a savage wilderness, and take on the
forms of civil government.
By act of Congress of June 12, 1888, the lands which had been purchased
of the Indians were brought into market, and land offices 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 mdke 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 Mississipi, and up the principal rivers and streams, and
out over the broad and rolling prairies, be^n to be thronged with ea^r 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, beautifm and picturesque
hills and valleys, broad and fertile 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 Territory, it contained a hundred
and fifty thousand people.
As rapidly as the Indian titles were extinguished and the original owners
removed, the resistless tide of emigration flowed westward. The following extract
from Judge Nourse's Centennial Address shows how the immigrant^ gathered
on the Indian boundary, ready for the removal of the barrier :
In obedience to oar progressive and aggressive spirit, 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
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HISTORY OP THE STATE OP IOWA. 179
poflaeasion of all the lands thus ceded until May 1, 1843, and should ocoupj that portion of the
ceded territorj west of a line running; north and south through Bedrock, 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 concluded, there was a rush of immigration to
Iowa, and a great number of temporary settlements were ^ade near the Indian boundary, wait-
ing for the 1st day of May. As the day approached, hundreds of families encamped along the
line, and their tents and wagons gave the scene the appearance of a military expedition. The
country beyond had been thoroughly explored, but the United States military authorities had
preTcnted any settlement or even the making out of claims by any monuments whatever.
To aid them in making out their claims when the hour should arrive, the settlers had placed
piles of dry wood on the rising ground, at convenient distances, and a short time before twelve
o'clock of the night of the 80th of April, these were lighted, and when the midnight hour arrived,
it was announced by the discharge of firearms. The night was dark, but this army of occupa-
tion pressed forward, torch in hand, with axe and hatchet, blazing lines with all manner of
curves and angles. When daylight came and revealed the conftision of these wonderful surveys,
numerous disputes arose, settled generally by compromise, but sometimes by violence. Between
midnight of the 80th of April and sundown of the 1st of May, over one thousand fiunilies had
settled on their new purchase.
While this scene was transpiring, the retreating Indians were enacting one more impressiTS
and melancholy. The Winter of 1^2-48 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 spontaneous outburst of frantic grief from the
entire procession.
The Indians remained the appointed time beyond the line running north and south through
Bedrock. The government established a trading post and military encampment at the Raccoon
Fork of the Des Moines River, then and for many years known as Fort Des Moines. Here the
red man lingered until the 11th of October, 1&45, when the same scene that we have before
described was re-enacted, and the wave of immigration swept over the remainder of the ** New
Purchase.** The lands thus occupied and claimed by the settlers still belonged in fee to the Gen-
eral Government. The surveys were not completed until some time after the Indian title was
txtinguished. 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 net be acquired until after the lands had thus been publicly offered and not
•old for want of bidders. Then, and not until then, an occupant making improvements in good
Adth might acquire a right over others to enter the land at the minimum price of $1.25 per
sere. The <* claim laws" were unknown 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 organised in every settlement prior to the public land sales, appointed officers,
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
hmds 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 elte bid. This, of course, 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 validity of these ** claims *' upon the public lands, and
in 1839 passed an act legalizing their sale and making their transfer a valid consideration to sup-
port a promise to pay for the same. (Acts of 1843, p. 456). The Supreme Territorial Court
held this hiw to be valid. (See Hill v. Smith, 1st Morris Rep. 70). The opinion not only con-
tains 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
line of descent Arom 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.
Many of the setttero 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 accumulate money in the early days of the State,
and the "beautiful prairies," the "noble streams," and all that sort of poetic
imagery, did not prevent the early settlers from becoming discouraged.
An old settler, in speaking of the privations and tri^ of those early days,
says:'
Well do the " old settlers "* of Iowa remember the days from the first settlement to 1840.
Those were days of sadness and distress. The endearments of home in another land had been
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180 HISTORY OF THE J3TATB OF IOWA.
broken up ; and all that was hallowed on earth, the home of childhood and the scenes of youths
we seTered ; and we sat down by the gentle waters of our noble riTer, and often ** hung our harps
on the willows."
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, pari
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 87} cents per bushel.
Another old settler, speaking of a later period, 1843, says :
Land and eveiything had gone down in value to almost nominal prices. Com 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, returned to
their old homes, but such as had the 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."
On Monday, December 6, 1841, 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
JPublic 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
Capitol Quarry,'* aijd contains, it is thought, an immense quantity of excellent
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 Superintendent esti-
mated that it would cost $39,143 to finish the building. This was nearly
$6,000 higher than the estimate of the previous year, notwithstanding a large
sum had been expended in the meantime. This rather discouraging discrep-
ancy was accounted for by the fact that the officers in charge of the work were
constantly short of funds. Except the conffressional appropriation of $20,000
and the loan of $5,500, obtained froin 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 certificates of indebtedness, and from
scrip, based upon unsold lots, which was to be received in payment for such lots
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 disbursements
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 rapidly as circumstances would permit.
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HISTORY OF THE STATE OP IOWA. 181
Iowa remained a Territory from 1888 to 1846, during which the office of
Goyemor was held by Robert Lucas, John Chambers and James Clarke.
STATE ORGANIZATION.
By an act of the Territorial Legislature of Iowa, approved February 12,
1844, the question of the formation of a State Constitution and providing for
the dection of Delegates to a convention to be 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 instructed 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 pro-
vided that it should be submitted, together with any 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 this Constitution, were as fol-
lows:
Beginning in the middle of the channel of the Mississippi River, opposite mouth of the
Dee Moines BiTer, thence up the said river Des Moines, in the middle of the main channel
thereof, to a point where it is intersected by the Old Indian Boundary line, or line run by John
C. Sullivan, in the year 1816 ; thence westwardly along said line to the " old *' northwest comer
of Missouri ; thence due west to the middle of the main channel of the Missouri River ; thence
op 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 the St. Peters River,
where the Watonwan River — accordiug to Nicollet's map — enters the same ; thence down the
middle of the main channel 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 beginning.
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
accepted the act, bounded as follows :
Beginning at the mouth of the Des Moines River, at the middle of the Mississippi, thence
by the middle ol the channel of that river to a parallel of latitude 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 meridian line seventeen degrees and thirty minutes west of the meridian
of Washington City ; thence due south, to the northern boundary line of the State of Missouri ;
thence eastwardly, following that boundary 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 boundanr 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 unwel-
come 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 another 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 "
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182 HISTORY OP THE STATE OF IOWA.
The Constitution was approved by Conffress, and by act of Congress approved
December 28, 1846, Iowa was admitted as a sovereign 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 26 th 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 Representatives.
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 push-
ing toward the Missouri River. The Mormons had already reached there.
The first General Assembly of the State of Iowa was composed of nineteen
Senators and forty Representatives. It assembled at Iowa City, November 30,
1846, about a month before the State was admitted into the Union.
At the first session of th6 State Legislature, the Treasurer of State reported
that the capitol building was in a very exposed condition, liable to injury from
storms, and expressed the hope that some provision would be made to complete
it, at least suflSciently to protect it from the weather. The General Assembly
responded by appropriating $2,600 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 determined, left Iowa City too far toward
the eastern and southern boundary of the State ; this was conceded. Congress
had appropriated five sections of land for the erection of public buildings, and
toward the close of the session a bill was introduced providing for the re-location
of the seat of government, involving to some extent the location of the State
University, which had already 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 Commissioners, who were authorized to
make a location as near the geographical 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 exceea two in each block.
Having done this, they were then required to suspend 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,"
approved February 25, 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 oflBcers, until other provisions were made by law.
The Commissioners forthwith entered upon their duties, and selected 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 Monroe, on the Keokuk & Des Moines Railroad, which runs diagonally
through them. Here a town was 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 $1,797.43, while the expenses of the sale and the claims of the
Commissioners for services amounted to $2,206.57. The Conmaissioners made
a report of their proceedings to the Governor, as required by law, but the loca-
tion was generally condemned.
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HISTORY OF THE STATE OF IOWA. 183
When the report of the Commissioners, showing this brilliant financial ope-
ration, had been read in the House of Representatives, at the next session, and
while it was under consideration, an indignant member, afterward known as
the eccentric Judge McFarland, 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
iDstructions, however, but Monroe City never became the seat of government.
By an act approved January 16, 1849, the law by which the location had been
made was repealed and the new town was vacated, the money paid by purchas-
ers of lots being refunded to them. This, of course, retained the seat of govern-
ment at Iowa City, and precluded, for the time, the occupation of the building
and grounds by the University.
At the same session, $3,000 more were appropriated for completing the
State building at Iowa City. In 1862, the further sum of $6,000, and in 1864
$4,000 more were apppropriated for the same purpose, making the whole cost
$123,000, paid partly by the General 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 government was
not settled, and in 1861 bills were introduced for the removal of the capital to
Pella and to Fort Des Moines. The latter appeared to have the support of the
majority, but was finally lost in the House on the question of ordering it to its
third reading.
At the next session, in 1868, a bill was introduced in the Senate 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 efibrt was more
succ^sful, and on the 16th day of January, 1866, a bill re-locating the capital
within two miles of the Raccoon Fork of the Des Moines, and for the appoint-
ment of Commissioners, was approved by Gov. Grimes. The site was selected
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 people at an election held August 3, 1867,
when it was approved and adopted by a vote of 40,311 ''for ' to 38,681
" against," and on the 8d day of September following was declared by a procla-
mation of the Governor to be the supreme law of the State of Iowa.
Advised of the completion of the temporary State House at Des Moines, on
the 19th 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 con-
tinued 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 de-
posited in the new capital. It is not imprudent 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 Legislatures, six State Legislatures and three
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184 HISTORY OF THE STATE OF IOWA.
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 immedi-
ate and direct control of the Trustees of that institution.
Des Moines waa 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 was purchased In 1864. It soon became inadequate
for the purposes for which it was designed, and it became apparent that a new,
large and permanent State House must be erected. In 1870, the General
Assembly luade an appropriation and provided for the appointment of a Board
of Commissioners to commence the work. The board consisted of Gov. Samuel
Merrill, ex officio. President ; Grenville M. Dodge, Council Bluffs ; James F.
Wilson, Fairfield; James 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 ventilated in the most
approved manner; should contain suitable legislative halls, rooms for State
officers, the judiciary, library, committees, archives and the collections of the
State Agricultural Society, and for all purpoees 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 specifications furnished by Cochrane & Piquenard, architects,
which were accepted by the board, and on the 23d of November, 1871, the cor-
ner 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 northwestern
part of the State. These warlike Indians made frequent plundering raids upon
the settlers, and murdered several families. In 1861, 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 ascertained 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 ceremonies at this point. St. Louis had resolved that the enter-
prise was unconstitutional, and by writs of injunction made an unsuccessful
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 1st day of January, 1856, this railroad was completed to Iowa City.
In the meantime, two other railroads had reached the east bank of the Missis-
sippi— 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, hav-
ing 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
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HISTORY OF THE STATE OF IOWA. 185
railroads, the public lands in alternate sections, six miles on either side of the
proposed lines. 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, on the route of this great highway across the continent,
began to attract attention Cities and towns sprang up through the State as
if by magic. Capital began to pour into the State, and had it oeen 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
bams, 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 Mississippi, and many in
the interior, voted large corporate subscriptions 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 constitutional limit-
ation of their powers. The Supreme Court of tlie United States held these
bonds to be valid ; and the courts by mandamus compelled the city and county
aathorities 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
removed
The first railroad across the State was completed to Council Bluffs in Jan-
uary, 1871. The others were completed soon after. In 1854, there was not
a mile of railroad in the State. In 1874, twenty years after, there were 3,765
miles in successful operation.
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 Territoiy of Michigan, in 1834. From 1836 to 1838, the Territorial
Legislature of Wisconsin increased the number of counties to sixteen, and the
population had increased to 22,859. Since then, the counties 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 :
Ytar, PopulaHon. I Tear, Population.
22,589 1852 280,718
1840 48,116
1844 75,162
1846.. 97,688
1847 116,651
1849 152.988
1850 191,982
1851 204,774
Tear. Population.
1869 1,040,819
1870 1,191,727
1873 1,261,338
1875 1,866.000
1876«
1877
1854 826,013
1866 619.055
1869 688,776
1860 674,918
1863 701,732
1865 754,699
1867 902,040
The most populous countv in the State is Dubuque. Not only in popula-
tion, 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 advanced from the home of the savage to a highly civ-
ilized commonwealth, embracing all the elements of progress which characterize
the older States.
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186 HISTORY OF THE STATE OF IOWA.
Thriving cities and towns dot its fair surface ; an iron net-work of thou-
sands of miles of railroads is woven over its broad acres ; ten thousand school
houses, in which more than five hundred 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, and 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 unsur-
passed, in a similar period, by anv commonwealth 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 mo^t hopeful anticipations of hesr
present citizens.
Looking upon Iowa as she is to-day — populous, prosperous and happy — ^it
is hard to realize the wonderful changes that have occurred since the first white
settlements were made within her borders. When the number of States was
only twenty-six, and their total population about twenty millions, our repub-
lican form of government was hardly more than an experiment, just fairly put
upon trial. The development of our agricultural resources and inexhaustible
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 of the period as ^' The
Great American Desert."
Now, thirty-eight stars glitter on our national escutcheon, and forty-five
millions of people, who know their rights and dare maintain them, tread
American soil, and the grand sisterhooa of States 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^ Story County.
The Iowa State Agricultural College and Farm were established by an act
of the General Assembly, approved March 22, 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 Graines, John Pattee, G. W.
F. Sherwin, Suel Foster, S. W. Henderson, Clement Coffin and E. G. Day ;
the Governors of the State and President of the College being ex officio mem-
bers. Subsequently the number of Trustees was reduced to five. The Board
met in June, 1869, and received propositions for the location of the College and
Farm from Hardin, Polk, Story and Boone, Marshall, Jeflerson and Tama
Counties. In July, the proposition of Story County and some of its citizens
and by the citizens of Boone County was accepted, and the farm and the site
for the buildings were located. In 1860-61, the farm-house and bam were
erected. In 1862, Congress granted to the State 240,000 acres of land for the
endowment of schools of agriculture and the mechanical arts, and 196,000 acres
were located by Peter Melendy, Commissioner, in 1862-3. George W. Bassett
was appointed Land Agent for the institution. In 1864, the General Assem-
bly appropriated $20,000 for the erection of the college building.
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HISTORY OP THE STATE OF IOWA. 18T
In Jane of that year, the Building Committee, consisting of Suel Foster,
Peter Melendy and A. J. Bronson, proceeded to let the contract. John Browne,
of Des Moines, was employed as architect, and furnished the plans of the build^
ing, but was superseded in its construction by C. A. Dunham. The $20,000
appropriated by the General Assembly were expended in putting in the foun-
dations and making ^e brick for the structure. An additional appropriation
of ^1,000 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
orer sixteen years of age, who have been resident of the State six months pre-
vious to their admission. Each county in the State has a prior right of tuition
for three scholars from each county ; the remainder, equal to the capacity of the
collie, are by the Trustees distributed amone the counties in proportion to the
population, and subject to the above rule. All sale of ardent spirits, wine or
beer are prohibited by law within a distance of three miles from the college,
except for sacramental, mechanical 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, Geolocy, Mineralogy, Meteorology,
Entomology, Zoology, the Veterinary Art, Plane Mensuration, Leveling, Sur-
veying, Bookkeeping, and such Mechanical Arts as are directly connected
with agriculture ; also such other studies as the Trustees may from time to time
prescribe, not inconsistent with the purposes of the institution.
The funds arising from the lease and sale of lands and interest on invest-
ments are sufficient ror the support of the institution. Several College Societies
ire maintained among the students, who publish a monthly paper. There is.
also an " out-law " c5led the " A TA^ Chapter Omega."
The Board of Trustees in 1877 was composed of C. W. Warden, Ottumwa,
Chairman ; Hon. Samuel J. Kirkwood, Iowa City ; William B. Treadway,
Sioux City ; Buel Sherman, Fredericksburg, and Laurel Summers, Le Claire.
E. W. Starten, Secretary ; William D. Lucas, Treasurer.
Board of Instruction. — A. S. Welch, LL. D., President and Professor of
Psychology and Philosophy of Science ; Gen. J. L. Geddes, Professor of Mili-
tary Tactics and Engineering; W. H. Wynn, A. M., Ph. D., Professor of
English Literature; C. E. Bessey, M. S., rrofessor of Botany, Zoology, Ento-
mology ; A. Thompson, C. E., Mechanical Engineering and Superintendent of
Workshops; F. E. L. Beal, B. S., Civil Engineering; T. E. Pope, A. M.,
Chemistry; M. Stalker, Agricultural and Veterinary Science; J. L. Budd,
Horticulture; J. K. Macomber, Physics; E. W. Stanton, Mathematics and
Political Economy; Mrs. Margaret P. Stanton, Preceptress, Instructor in
French and Mathematics.
THE STATE UNIVERSITY.
Iowa Oitj/j Johnson County.
In the famous Ordinance of 1787, enacted by Congress before the Territory
of the United States extended beyond the Mississippi River, it was declared
that in all the territory northwest of the Ohio River, " Schools and the means
of education shall forever 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 Territory of Iowa, to-
which the Indian title has been or may be extinguished, and not otherwise ap-
propriated, a quantity of land, not exceeding the entire townships, for the use
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188 HISTORY OF THE STATE OF IOWA.
*nd support of a university within said Territorry when it becomes a State, and
for no other use or purpose whatever ; to be located in tracts of not less than aa
•entire section, corresponding with any of the large divisions into which the pub-
lic land are authorized to be surveyed."
William W. Dodge, of Scott County, was appointed by the Secretaiy of the
Treasury to make the selections. He selected Section 6 in Township 78, north
of Range 3, east of the Fifth Principal Meridian, and then removed from the
Territory. No more lands were selected until 1846, when, at the request of the
Assembly, John M. Whitakerof Van Buren County, was appointed, 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 ac-
<5ordance with its terms, and instructed the General Assembly to prgyide, as soon
as may be, efiectual 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 convenience may hereafter require.*'
The " public buildings at Iowa City, together with the ten acres of land in which
they are situated," were granted for the use of said university, provided^ how-
ever, that the sessions of the Legislature and State offices should be held in the
•Capitol until otherwise provided by law. The control 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 bienially. 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 any religious 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 Assembly retained full supervision over the
University, its officers and the grants and donations made and to be made to it
by the State.
Section 5 of the act appointed James P. Carleton, H. D. Downey, Thomas
Snyder, Samuel McCrory, Curtis Bates, Silas Foster, E. C. Lyon, James H.
Gower, George G. Vincent, Wm. G. Woodward, Theoiore S. Parvin, George
Atchinson, S. G. Matson, H. W. Starr and Ansel Briggs, the first Board of
Trustees.
The organization of the University at Iowa City was impracticable, how-
ever, so long as the seat of government was retained there.
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 Universiti^, with equal
fights and powers, instead of a 'University with such branches as public conven-
ience may hereafter demand^* as provided by the Constitution.'*
The Board of Directors of the Fairfield Branch consisted of Barnet Ris-
tine, Christian W. Slagle, Daniel Rider, Horace Gaylord, Bernhart Henn and
Samuel S. Bayard. At the first meeting of the Board, Mr. Henn was elected
President, Mr. Slagle Secretary, and Mr. Gaylord Treasurer. Twenty acres
of land were purchased, and a building erected thereon, costing $2,500.
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HISTORY OF THE STATE OF IOWA. 189
This building was nearly destroyed by a hurricane, in 1850, but was rebuilt
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, 1863, at the request of the Board, the Gen-
eral Assembly terminated its relation to the State.
The branch at Dubuque was placed under the control of the Superintendent
of Public Instruction, and John King, Caleb H. Booth, James M. Emerson,
Michael J. Sullivan, Richard Benson and the Grovemor of the State as
Trustees. The Trustees never organized, 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 University. Each was to receive J500 annu-
ally from the income of the University Fund, upon condition that they should ed-
ucate 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 Nov. 21, 1849; Samuel Ray, Principal; Miss J. S. Dorr, Assist-
ant. 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, September 13, 1852, under the charge
of Prof G. M. Drake and wife. A two story brick building was completed in
1853, costing $2,473. The school at Mount Pleasant was never organized.
Neither of these schools received any aid from the University Fund, but in
1857 the Legislature appropriated $1,000 each for those at Oskaloosa and
Andrew, and repealed the law authorizing the payment of money to them from
the University Fund. From that time they made no further effort to
continue in operation.
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 " College of Physicians and Surgeons of
the State University of Iowa," expressly stipulating, however, that such recog-
nition 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 ses-
sion 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 waa termi-
nated by the new Constitution, September 3, 1857.
From 1847 to 1855, the Board of Trustees was kept full by regular elec-
tions by the Legislature, and the Trustees held frequent 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, 1855, and continued in operation
wntil June, 1856, under Professors Johnson, Wdton, Van Valkenburg and
Gnffin.
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
t>y the State until December, 1857.
In June, 1856, the faculty was re-organized, with some changes, and the
Univeraty was again opened on the third Wednesday of September, 1856.
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190 HISTORY OF THE STATE OF IOWA.
There were one hundred and twenty-four students— eighty-three males and
forty-one females — in attendance during the year 1866-7, and the first regular
catiJogue was published.
At a special meeting of the Board, September 22, 1857, the honorary de-
gree of Bachelor of Arts was conferred on D. Franklin Wells. This was the
first degree conferred by the Board.
Article IX, Section 11, of the new State Constitution, which went into force
September 8, 1857, provided as follows :
The State TJniyersity sliaU be established at one place, without branches at any other plmee ;
and the University fund shall be applied to that institution, and no other.
Article XI, Section 8, provided that
The seat of Goyemment is hereby permanently established, as now fixed by law, at the citj
of Des Moines, in the county of Polk ; and the State Uniyersity at Iowa City, in the county of
Johnson.
The new Constitution created the Board of Education, consisting of the
Lieutenant Governor, who was ex officio President, and one member to be elected
from each judicial district in the State. This Board was endowed with
'' full power and authority to legislate and make all needful rules and regula-
tions in relation to common schools and other educational institutions," subject
to alteration, amendment or repeal bv the General Assembly, which was vested
with authority to abolish or re-organize the Board at any time after 1863.
In December, 1857, the old capitol building, now known as Central Hall of
the University, except the rooms occupied by 3ie United States District Court,
and the property, with that exception, 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. Extensive repairs
and changes were necessary, but the Board was without funds for these pur-
poses.
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 was not materially difierent from
the former. March 11, 1858, the Legislature appropriated $3,000 for the re-
pair and modification of the old capitol building, and $10,000 for the erection
of a boarding house, now known as South Hall.
The Board of Trustees created by the new law met and duly organized
April 27, 1858, and determined to close the University until the income St)m its
fiind should be adequate to meet the current expenses, and the buildings should
be ready for occupation. Until this term, the building known as the *' Mechan-
ics' Academy" had been used for the school. The Faculty, except the Chan-
cellor (Dean), was dismissed, and all further instruction suspended, from the close
of the term then in progress until September, 1859. At this meeting, a reso-
lution was adopted excluding 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.
At the meeting of the Board, August 4, 1858, the degree of Bachelor of
Science was conferred upon Dexter Edson Smith, being the first degree con-
ferred upon a student of the University. Diplomas were awarded to the mem-
bers of the first graduating class of the Normal Department as follows : Levi
P. Aylworth, Cellina H. Aylworth, Elizabeth L. Humphrey, Annie A. Pinney
and Sylvia M. Thompson.
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(
I
/ HISTORY OF THE STATB OF IOWA. 191
An '^ Act for the Gt)veminent and Regulation of the State Universitj 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. Tnis law provided that both sexes were to be
admitted on equal terms to all departments of the institution, leaving the Board
DO discretion in the matter.
The new Board met and organized, Februarv 2, 1859, and decided to con-
tinue the Normal Department only to the end of the current term, and that it
was unwise to re-open the University at that time ; but at the annual meeting
of the Board, in June of the same year, it was resolved to continue the Normal
Department in operation ; and at a special meeting, October 25, 1859, it was
decided to re-open the University in September, 1860. Mr. Dean had resigned
as Chancellor prior to this meeting, and Silas Totten, D. D., LL. D., was elected
President, at a salary of $2,000, and his term commenced June, 1860.
At the annual meeting, June 28, 1860, a full Faculty was appointed, and
the University re-opened, under this new organization, 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 of graduates in
the Collocate Department.
The JBoard of Education was abolished March 19, 1864, and the office of
Superintendent of Public Instruction was restored; the General Assembly
resumed control of the subject of education, and on March 21, an act was ap-
proved for the government of the University. It was substantially the same as
the former law, but 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.
President Spencer was granted leave of absence from April 10, 1866, for
fifteen months, to visit Europe; and Prof. Nathan R. Leonard was elected
President two tern.
The I^rth Hall was completed late in 1866.
At the annual meeting in June, 1867, the resignation of President Spencer
(absent in Europe) was accepted, and Prof. Leonard continued as President pro
Um.^ until March 4, 1868, when James Black, D. D., Vice President of Wash-
ington and Jefferson College, Penn., was elected President. Dr. Black entered
upon his duties in September, 1868.
The Law Department was established in June, 1868, and, in September fol-
lowing, an arrangement was perfected with the Iowa Law School, at Des Moines,
which had been in successful operation for three years, under the management
of Messrs. George G. Wright, Chester C. Cole and William G. Hammond, by
which that institution was transferred to Iowa City and merged in the Law De-
Wtment of the University. The Faculty of this department consisted of the
President of the University, Hon. Wm. G. Hammond, Resident Professor and
Principal of the Department, and Professors G. G. Wright and C. C. Cole.
Nine students entered at the commencement of the first term, and during
the year ending June, 1877, there were 103 students in this department.
At a specisS meeting of the Board, on the 17th of September, 1868, a Com-
mittee was appointed to consider the expediency of establishing a Medical De-
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192 HISTORY OP THE STATE OF IOWA.
partment. This Committee reported at once in favor of the propoeidoD, the
Faculty to consist of the President of the University and sevenjf^^ Professors, and
recommended that, if practicable, the new department should r^ \ opened it the
commencement of the University year, in 1869-70. At thie , , meeting, Hon.
Ezekiel Clark was elected Treasurer of the University. ^® {J?
By an act of the General Assembly, approved April 11, 187( ),the "Board
of Regents " was instituted as the governing power of the Universi. . ity,aiid since
that time it has been the fundamental law of the institution. TLe jL^Ssjtrd of
Regents held its first meeting June 28, 1870. Wm. J. Haddock was elected
SecretaiT, and Mr. Clark, Treasurer.
Dr. felack tendered his resignation as President, at a special meeting of the
Board, held August 18, 1870, to take effect on the 1st of December following.
His resignation was accepted.
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, at which time there were three graduates and thirty-nine students.
March 1, 1871, Rev. George Thacher was elected President of the Univer-
sity. Mr. Thacher accepted, entered upon his duties April 1st, and was form-
ally inaugurated at the annual meeting in June, 1861.
In June, 1874, the " Chair of Military Instruction" was established, and
the President of the United States was requested to detail an officer to perform
its duties. In compliance with this Request, Lieut. A. D. Schenck, Second Artil-
lery, U. S. A., was detailed as "Professor of Military Science and Tactics,"
at Iowa State University, by order of the War Department, August 26, 1874,
who reported for duty on the 10th of September following. Lieut. Schenck
was relieved by Lieut. James Chester, Third Artillery, January 1, 1877.
Treasurer Clark resigned November 3, 1875, and John N. Coldren elected
in his stead.
At the annual meeting, in 1876, a Department of Homoeopathy was
established.
In March, 1877, a resolution was adopted affiliating the High Schools of
the State with the University.
In June, 1877, Dr* Thacher's connection with the University was termi-
nated, and C. W. Slagle, a member of the Board of Regents, was elected Pres-
ident.
In 1872, the ex officio membership of the Superintendent of Public Instruc-
tion was abolished ; but it was restored in 1876. Following is a catalogue of
the officers of this important institution, from 1847 to 1878 :
TRUSTEES OR REGENTS.
PRESIDENTS.
FROM TO
James Harlan, Superintendent Public Instruoiion, ex officio 1847 1848
Thomas H. Benton, Jr,, Superintendent Public Instruction, ex officio 1848 1854
James D. Eads, Superintendent Public Instruction, ex officio 1854 1857
Maturin L. Fisher, Superintendent Public Instruction, ex officio 1857 1858
Amos Dean, Chancellor, ex officio 1858 1859
Thomas H. Benton, Jr 1859 1868
Francis Springer 1863 1864
William M. Stone, Governor, ex officio 1864 1868
Samuel Merrill, Governor, ex officio 1868 1872
Cyrus C. Carpenter, Governor, ex officio.... 1872 1876
Samuel J. Kirkwood, Governor, ex officio 1876 1877
Joshua G. Newbold, Governor, ex officio 1877 1878
John H. Gear 1878
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HISTORY OF THE STATE OF IOWA. 19&
VICB PUSIDBNTf. TOOM TO
SUM Foster 1847 1861
Robert Lucas 1861 1868
Edward Connelly 1864 1866
Moeea J. Monman ; 1866 1868
8BCRKTARII8.
Hn^'D. Downey 1847 1861
Aneon Hart i 1861 1867
Eiyah Sells. 1867 1868
Anson Hart 1868 1864
William J. Haddock.. 1864
Morgan Reno, State Treasurer, ex officio 1847 1860
Israel Kister, State Treasurer, ex officio 1860 1862
Martin L. Morris, State Treasurer, ex officio 1862 1866
Henry W. Lathrop...; 1866 1862
William Cram 1862 1868
Exekieiaark 1868 1876
John N. Coldrcn 1876
PRISI DENTS or THB UNIVBRSITT.
Amos Dean, LL. D 1865 1858
Silas Totten, D. D., LL. D 1860 1862
Oliver M. Spencer, D. D.* 1862 1867
James Black, D. D 1868 1870
George Thacher, D. D 1871 1877
a W. Slagle 1877
The present educational corps of the University consists of the President,
nine Professors in the Collegiate Department, one Professor and six Instructors
in Military Science ; Chancellor, three Professors and four Lecturers in the
Law Department ; eight Professor Demonstrators of Anatomy ; Prosector of
Surgery and two Lecturers in the Medical Department, and two Professors in
the Homoeopathic Medical Department.
STATE HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
By act of the General Assembly, approved January 28, 1857, a State His-
torical Society was provided for in connection with the University. At the
commencement, 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, paintings, statuary, and other materials illus-
trative of the history of Iowa; and with the further object to rescue from
obUvion the memory of the early pioneers; to obtain and preserve various
accounts of their exploits, perils and hardy adventures ; 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
resources 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 General Assembly
shall otherwise direct, the sum of $500 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
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194 HISTORY OF THE STATE OF IOWA.
meeting is provided for by law, to be held at Iowa City on Moncmy preceding
the last Wednesday in June of each year.
The State Historical Society has published a series of very valiViable collec-
tions, including history, biography, sketches, reminiscences, etc., with quite a
large number of finely engraved portraits of prominent and early set\lers, 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 Penitentiary in
Iowa, was approved January 25, 1839, the fifth section of which authorized the
Governor to draw the sum of J20,000 appropriated by an act of Congress ap-
proved July 7, 1838, for public buildings in the Territoir of Iowa. It provided
for a 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
them, by contract, a spring or stream of water for the use of the Penitentiary.
To the Directors was also given the power of appointing the Warden ; the latter
to appoint his own assistants.
The first Directors appointed were John S. David and John Claypole. They
made their first report to the Legislative Council November 9, 1839. The citi-
zens 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 con-
tain one hundred and thirty-eight convicts, and estimated 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 building and arrangements were all complete aiK^ording^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 ex-
perience in prison management have been gained.
It has long been a problem how to conduct prisons, and deal with what are
called the criminal classes generally, so as to secure their best good and best
subserve the interests of the State. Both objects must be taken into considera-
tion in any humaritarian view of the subject. This problem is not yet solved,
but Iowa has adopted the progressive and enlightened policy of humane treat-
ment of prisoners and the utilization of their labor for their own support. The
labor of the convicts in the Iowa Penitentiary, as in most others in the United
States, is let out to contractors, who pay the State a certain stipulated amount
therefor, the State furnishing the shops, tools and machinery, as well as the
supervision necessary to preserve order and discipline in the prison.
While this is an improvement upon the old solitary confinement system, it
still falls short of an enlightened reformatory system that in the future will
treat the criminal for mental disease and endeavor to restore him to usefulness
in the community. The objections ur^ed against the contract system of dis-
posing of the labor of prisoners, that it orings the labor of honest citizens into
competition with convict labor at reduced prices, and is disadvantageous to the
State, are not without force, and the system will have no place in the prisons of
the future.
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HISTORY OF THE STATE OP IOWA. 195
It is right that the convict should labor. He should not be allowed to live
in idleness at public expense. Honest men labor ; why should not they? Hon-
est men are entitled to the fruits of their toil ; why should not the convict as
well ? The convict is sent to the Penitentiary to secure public safety. The
State deprives him of his liberty to accomplish this purpose and to punish him
for violations of law, but, having done this, the State wrongs both itself and the
criminal by confiscating his earnings ; because it deprives his family of what
justly belongs to them, and an enlightened civilization will ere long demand
that the prisoner in the penitentiary, after paying a fair price for his board, is
as justly entitled to his net ^rnings as the good citizen outside its walls, and
his family, if he has one, should be entitled to draw his earnings or stated portion
of them at stated periods. If he has no family, then if his net earnings should
be set aside to his credit and paid over to him at the expiration of his term of
imprisonment, he would not be turned out upon the cold charities of a somewhat
Pharisaical world, penniless, with the brand of the convict upon his brow, with
no resource save to sink still deeper in crime. Let Iowa, " The Beautiful Land,"
be first to recognize the rights of its convicts to the fruits of their labor ; keep
their children from the alms-house, and place a powerful incentive before them
to become good citizens when they return to the busy world again.
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 Commis-
sioners to locate and provide for the erection and control of an additional
Penitentiary for the State of Iowa. GThese 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 Moines, furnished the plan, drawings and specifications, and work was
commenced on the building on the 28th (ky of September, 1872. May 18,
1873, twenty convicts were transferred to Anamosa from the Fort Madison
Penitentiary. 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,
11,425 were appropriated for the purchase of a site, and $50,000 for building
an Insane Hospital, and the Governor (Grimes), Edward Johnston, of Lee
Coanty, and Charles S. Blake, of Henry County, were appointed to locate the
institution and superintend the erection of the building. These Commission-
ers located the institution at Mt. Pleasant, Henry County. A plan for a
biulding designed to accommodate 300 patients, drawn by Dr. Bell, of Massa-
chusetts, was accepted, and in October work was commenced under the superin-
tendence of Mr. Henry Winslow. Up to February 25, 1858, and including an
appropriation made on that date, the Legislature had appropriated $258,556.67
to this institution, but the building was not finished ready for occupancy by
patients until March 1, 1861. The Trustees were Maturin L. Fisher, Presi-
dent, Farmersburg; Samuel McFarland, Secretary, Mt. Pleasant; D. L.
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196 HISTORY OF THE STATE OF IOWA.
\
McGugin, Keokuk; G. W. Kincaid, Muscatine; J. D. Elberi^, Keosauqua ;
John B. Lash and Harpin Riggs, Mt. Pleasant. Richard J. Patterson, M. D.,
of Ohio, was elected Superintendent; Dwight C. Dewey, M. JD., Assistant
Physician; Henry Winslow, Steward; Mrs. Catharine Winslow, Matron.
The Hospital was formally opened March 6, 1861, and one hundred patients
were admitted within three months. About 1865, Dr. Mark Ranney became
Superintendent. April 18, 1876, a portion of the hospital building was
destroyed by fire. From the opening of the Hospital to the close of October,
1877; 3,584 patients had been admitted. Of these, 1,141 were discharged
recovered, 505 discharged improved, 589 disch^^ged unimproved, and 1 died;
total discharged, 2,976, leaving 608 inmates. During this period, there were
1,384 females admitted, whose occupation was registered " domestic duties ;"
122, no occupation; 25, female teachers; 11, seamstresses; and 25, servants.
Among the males were 916 farmers, 394 laborers, 205 without occupation, 39
cabinet makers, 23 brewers, 31 clerks, 26 merchants, 12 preachers, 18 shoe-
makers, 13 students, 14 tailors, 13 teachers, 14 agents, 17 masons, 7 lawyers,
7 physicians, 4 saloon keepers, 3 salesmen, 2 artists, and 1 editor. The pro-
ducts of the farm and garden, in 1876, amounted to $13,721.26.
Trustees, 1877 :—T. Whiting, President, Mt. Pleasant; Mrs. E. M. Elliott,
Secretary, Mt. Pleasant; William C. Evans, West Liberty; L. E. Fellows,
Lansing ; and Samuel Klein, Keokuk ; Treasurer, M. Edwards, Mt. Pleasant.
Resident Officers: — Mark Ranney, M. D., Medical Superintendent; H. M.
Bassett, M. D., First Assistant Physician; M. Riordan, M. D., Second Assistant
Physician; Jennie McCowen, M. D., Third Assistant Physician ; J. W. Hender-
son, Steward: Mrs. Martha W. Ranney, Matron; Rev. Milton Sutton,
Chaplain.
HOSPITAL FOR THE INSANE.
Independence^ Buchanan County.
In the Winter of 1867-8, a bill providing for an additional Hospital for the
Insane was passed by the Legislature, and an appropriation of $125,000 was
made for that purpose. Maturin L. Fisher, 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. Mr. Clark
died about a year after his appointment, and Hon. G. W. Bemis, of Indepen-
dence, was appointed to fill the vacancy.
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 desirable 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 Section 7 ; the north half of
northwest quarter of Section 8, and the north half of northeast quarter of Sec-
tion 8, all in Township 88 north. Range 9 west of the Fifth Principal Meridian.
This location is on the west side of the Wapsipinicon River, and about a mile
from its banks, and about the same distance from Independence.
Col. S. V. Shipman, of Madison, Wis., was employed to prepare plans,
specifications and drawings of the building, which, when completed, were sub-
mitted to Dr. M. Ranney, Superintendent of the Hospital at Mount Pleasant,
who suggested several improvements. The contract for erecting the building
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HISTORY OF THE STATE OF IOWA. 197
was awarded to Mr. David Armstrong, of Dubuque, for $88,114. The con-
tract was signed November 7, 1868, and Mr. Armstrong at once commenced
work. Mr. George Josselyn was appointed to superintend the work. The
main buildings were constructed of dressed limestone, from the quarries at
Anamosa and Farley. The basements 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 Commissioners called
the first meeting of the Trustees, on the 10th day of July of that year. These
Trustees were Maturin L. Fisher, Mrs. P. A. Appleman, T. W. Fawcett, C.
C. Parker, E. G. Morgan, George W. Bemis and John M. Boggs. This board
was organized, on the day above mentioned, by the election of Hon. M. L.
Fisher, President; Rev. J. G. Boggs, Secretary, and George W. Bemis, Treas-
urer, and, after adopting preliminary measures for organizing the local govern-
ment of the hospital, adjourned to the first Wednesday of the following Septem-
ber. A few days before this meeting, Mr. Boggs died of malignant fever,
and Dr. John G. House was appointed to fill the vacancy. Dr. House was
elected Secretary. At this meeting, Albert Reynolds, M. D., wa^ elected
Superintendent; Greorge Josselyn, Steward, and Mrs. Anna B. Josselyn,
Matron. September 4, 1873, Dr. Willis Butterfield was elected Assistant
Physician. The building was ready for occupancy April 21, 1873.
In the Spring of 1876, a contract was made with Messrs. Mackay & Lundy,
of Independence, for furnishing materials for building the outside walls of the
two first sections of the south wing, next to the center building, for $6,250.
The carpenter work on the fourth and fifth stories of the center building was
completed during the same year, and the wards were furnished and occupied by
patients in the Fall.
In 1877, the south wing was built, but it will not be completed ready for
occupancy until next Spring or Summer (1878).
October 1, 1877, the Superintendent reported 322 patients in this hospital,
and it is now overcrowded.
The Board of Trustees at present (1878) are as follows: Maturin L.
Fisher, President, Farmersburg ; John G. House, M. D., Secretary, Indepen-
dence ; Wm. G. Donnan, Treasurer, Independence ; Erastus G. Morgan, Fort
Dodge ; Mrs. Prudence A. Appleman, Clermont ; and Stephen E. Robinson,
M. D., West Union.
RESIDENT OFFICERS.
Albert Reynolds, M. D., Superintendent ; G. H. Hill, M. D., Assistant
Phyaician; Noyes Appleman, Steward; Mrs. Lucy M. Gray, Matron.
IOWA COLLEGE FOR THE BLIND.
Vintony Benton County.
In August, 1852, Prof. Samuel Bacon, himself blind, established an Insti-
tution 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 institution 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 first Board of Trustees were James D. Eads, President ; George W.
McClary, Secretary ; James H. Gower, Treasurer ; Martin L. Morris, Stephen
Hempstead, Morgan Reno and John McCaddon. The Board appointed Prof.
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I
198 HISTORY OF THE STATE OP IOWA.
Samuel Bacon, Principal; 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 As-
sembly made an annual appropriation for the College of $55 per quarter for
each pupil. This was subsequently changed to $3,000 per annum, 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. Although
Mr. Bacon was blind, he was a fine scholar and an economical manager, and
had founded the Blind Asylum at Jacksonville, Illinois. As a mathematician
he had few superiors.
On the 8th of May, 1858, the Trustees met at Vinton, and made arrange-
ments 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 1860, the plan was modified, and the con-
tract for enclosing let to Messrs. Finkbine & Lovelace, for $10,420.
In August, 1862, the building was so far completed that the goods and fur-
uiture of the institution were removed from Iowa City to Vinton, and early in
October, the school was opened there with twenty-four pupils. At this time,
Rev. Orlando Clark was Principal.
In August, 1864, a new Board of Trustees were appointed by the Legisla-
ture, consisting of James McQuin, President; Reed Wilkinson, Secretary ; Jas.
Cbapin, Treasurer; Robert Gilchrist, Elijah Sells and Joseph Dysart, organized
and made important changes. Rev. Reed Wilkinson succeeded Mr. Clark as
Principal. Mrs. L. S. B. Wilkinson and Miss Amelia Butler were appointed
Assistant Teachers ; Mrs. N. A. Morton, Matron.
Mr. Wilkinson resigned in June, 1867, and Gen. James L. Geddes was
appointed in his place. In September, 1869, Mr. Geddes retired, and was
succeeded by Prof. S. A.Knapp. Mrs. S. C. Lawton was appointed Matron,
and was succeeded by Mrs. M. A. Knapp. Prof. Knapp resigned July 1,
1875, and Prof. Orlando Clark was elected Principal, who died April 2,
1876, and was succeeded by John B. Parmalee, who retired in July, 1877,
when the present incumbent. Rev. Robert Carothers, was elected.
Trustees, 1877-8. — Jeremiah L. Gay, President ; S. H. Watson, Treasurer;
H. C. Piatt, Jacob Springer, C. L. Flint and P. F. Sturgis.
Faculty, — Principal, Kev. Robert Carothers, A. M. ; Matron, Mrs. Emeline
E. Carothers; Teachers, Thomas F. McCune, A. B., Miss Grace A. Hill,
Mrs. C. A. Spencer, Miss Mary Baker, Miss C. R. Miller, Miss Lorana Mat-
tice. Miss A. M. McCutcheon ; Musical Director, S. 0. Spencer.
The Legislative Committee who visited this institution in 1878 expressed
their astonishment at the vast expenditure of money in proportion to the needs
of the State. The structure is well built, and the money properly expended ;
yet it was enormously beyond the necessities of the State, and shows an utter
disregard of the fitness of things. The Committee could not understand why
$282,000 should have been expended for a massive building covering about two
and a half acres for the accommodation of 130 people, costing over eight thou-
sand dollars a year to heat it, and costing the State about five hundr^ dollars
a year for each pupil.
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HISTORY OP THE STATE OP IOWA. 199
INSTITUTION FOR THE DEAF AND DUMB.
Council Bluffs, Pottawattomie County.
The Iowa Institution for the Deaf and Dumb was established at Iowa City
by an act of the General Assembly, approved January 24, 1855. The number
of deaf mutes then in the State was 301 ; the number attending the Institution,
50. The first Board of Trustees were : Hon. Samuel J. Kirkwood, Hon. E.
Selb, W. Penn Clarke, J. P. Wood, H. D. Downey, William Crura, W. E.
Ijams, Principal. On the resignation of Mr. Ijams, in 1862, the Board
appointed in his stead Mr. Benjamin Talbot, for nine years a teacher in the
Ohio Institution for the Deaf and Dumb. Mr. Talbot was ardently devoted to
the interests of the institution and a faithful worker for the unfortunate class
under his charge.
A strong effort was made, in 1866, to remove this important institution 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 Commis-
sioners selected ninety acres of land about two miles south of the city of Coun-
cil Blufis. The main building and one wing were completed October 1, 1870,
and inmiediately occupied by the Institution. February 25, 1877, the main
building and east wing were destroyed by fire ; and August 6 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 run-
ning order.
The Legislative Committee which visited this Institution in the Winter of
1857-8 was not well pleased with the condition of affairs, and reported that the
building (west wing) was a disgrace to the State and a monument of unskillful
workmanship, and intimated rather strongly that some reforms in management
were very essential.
Trusteesy i<977'-«9.— Thomas Officer, President; N. P. Dodge, Treasurer;
Paul Lange, William Orr, J. W. Cattell.
Superintendent, Benjamin Talbot, M. A. Teachers, Edwin Southwick,
Conrad S. Zorbaugh, John A. Gillespie, John A. Kennedy, Ellen J. Israel,
Ella J. Brown, Mrs. H. R. Gillespie ; Physician, H. W. Hart, M. D. ; Steward,
N. A. Taylor; Matron, Mary B. Swan.
SOLDIERS* ORPHANS' HOMES.
Davenportj Cedar Falls, Q-lenwood.
The movement which culminated in the establishment of this beneficent in-
stitution 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 of October 1863, for the purpose of devising measures for the support
and education 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 representation from all parts of the State
on the day named, and an association was organized called the Iowa State Or-
phan Asylum.
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200 HISTORY OP THE STATE OF IOWA.
The first oflScers were : President, William M. Stone ; Vice Presidents, Mrs.
G. G. Wright, Mrs. R. L. Cadle, Mrs. J. T. Hancock, John R. Needham, J. W.
Cattell, Mrs. Mary M. Bagg ; Recording Secretary, Miss Mary Kibben ; Cor-
responding Secretary, Miss M. E. Shelton; Treasurer, N. H. Brainerd; Board
of Trustees, Mrs. Annie Wittenmeyer, Mrs. C. B. Darwin, Mrs. D. T. Newcorab.
Mrs. L. B. Stephens, 0. Fayville, E. H. Williams, T. S. Parvin, Mrs. Shields,
Caleb Baldwin, C. C. Cole, Isaac Pendleton, H. C. Henderson.
The first meeting of the Trustees was held February 14, 1864, in the Repre-
sentative Hall, at Des Moines. Committees from both branches of the General
Assembly were present and were invited to participate in their deliberations.
Gov. Kirkwood suggested that a home for disabled soldiers should be connected
with the Asylum. Arrangements were made for raising funds.
At the next meeting, in Davenport, in March, 1864^ the Trustees decided to
commence operations at once, and a committee, of which Mr. Howell, of Keo-
kuk, was Clxairman, was appointed to lease a suitable building, solicit donations,
and procure suitable furniture. This committee secured a large brick building
in Lawrence, Van Buren County, and engaged Mr. Fuller, 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 neces-
sary 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 1 3th day
of July following, the Executive Committee announced that they were ready ti)
receive the children. In three weeks twenty-one were admitted, and the num-
ber constantly increased, so that, in a little more than six months from the time
of opening, there were seventy children admitted, and twenty more applica-
tions, which the Committee had not acted upon — all orphans of soldiers.
Miss M. Elliott, of Washington, was appointed Matron. She resigned,
in February, 1865, and was succeeded by Mrs. E. G. Piatt, of Fremont
County.
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 difierent
counties, and which were established 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 located, and one for
the State at large, who held their oflSce 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 Assembly.
The Home in Cedar Falls was organized in 1865, and an old hotel building
was fitted up for it. Rufus C, Mary L. and Emma L. Bauer were the first
children received, in October, and by January, 1866, there were ninety-six in-
mates.
October 12, 1869, the Home was removed to a large brick building, 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 buildings and grounds for that purpose.
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HISTORY OP THE STATE OF IOWA. 201
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 thereafter,
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.
STATE NORMAL SCHOOL.
Cedar Falhj Black Hawk County.
Chapter 129 of the laws of the Sixteenth General Assembly, in 1876, estab-
lished 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 Directors met at Cedar Falls June 7, 1876, and duly organ-
ized by the election of H. C. Hemenway, President ; J. J. Toleston, Secretary,
and E. Townsend, Treasurer. 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 satisfactorily done and properly receipj;ed
for as required by law. At this meeting, Prof J. C. Gilchrist was elected
Principal of the School.
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 appro-
priation would admit, and the first term of the school opened September 6, 1876,
commencing with twenty-seven and closing with eighty-seven students. The
second term closed with eighty-six, and one hundred and six attended during
the third term.
The following are the Board of Directors, Board of Ofiicers and Faculty :
Board of Directors, — H. C. Hemenway, Cedar Falls, President, term
expires 1882 ; L. D. Lewelling, Salem, Henry County, 1878 ; W. A. Stow,
Hamburg, Fremont County, 1878 ; S. G. Smith, Newton, Jasper County,
1880 ; E. H. Thayer, Clinton, Clinton County, 1880 ; G. S. Robinson, Storm
Lake, Buena Vista County, 1882.
Board of Officers. — J. J. Toleston, Secretary ; E. Townsend, Treasurer ;
William Pattes, Steward ; Mrs. P. A. Schermerhorn, Matron — all of Cedar
Falls.
Faculty. — J. C. Gilchrist, A. M., Principal, Professor of Mental and
Moral Philosophy and Didactics ; M. W. Bartlett, A. M., Professor of Lan-
Siages and Natural Science ; D. S. Wright, A. M., Professor of Mathematics ;
iss Frances L. Webster, Teacher of Geography and History ; E. W. Burnham,
Professor of Music.
ASYLUM FOR FEEBLE MINDED CHILDREN.
Glenwood^ Mills County.
Chapter 152 of the law's of the Sixteenth General Assembly, approved
March 17, 1876, provided for the establishment of an asylum for feeble minded
children at Glenwood, Mills County, and the buildings and grounds of the
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202 HISTORY OP THE STATE OF IOWA.
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 sup-
ported by the State was appropriated by the act, and J2,000 for salaries of
officers and teachers for two years.
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. Mr. Robertson was elected President; Mr. Russell,
Treasurer, and Mr. Cattell, Secretary. The Trustees found the house and farm
which had been turned over to them in a shamefully dilapidated condition. The
fences were broken down and the lumber destroyed or carried away ; the win-
dows broken, doors off" their hinges, floors broken and filthy in the extreme,
cellars reeking with offensive odors from decayed vegetables, and every conceiv-
able variety of filth and garbage ; drains obstructed, cisterns broken, pump
demoralizea, wind-mill broken, roof leaky, and the whole property in the worst
possible condition. It was the first work: of the Trustees to make the house
tenable. This was done under the direction of Mr. Russell. At the request
of the Trustees, Dr. Charles T. Wilbur, Superintendent of the Dlinois Asylum,
visited Glenwood, and made many valuable suggestions, and gave them much
assistance.
0. W. Archibald, M. D., of Glenwood, was appointed Superintendent,
and soon after was appointed Secretary of the Board, vice Cattell, resigned.
Mrs. S. A. Archibald was appointed Matron, and Miss Maud M. Archibald,
Teacher.
The Institution was opened September 1, 1876 ; the first pupil admitted
September 4, and the school was organized September 10, with only five pupils,
which number had, in November, 1877, increased to eighty-seven. December
1, 1876, Miss Jennie Van Dorin, of Fairfield, was employed as a teacher and
in the Spring of 1877, Miss Sabina J. Archibald was jJso employed.
THE REFORM SCHOOL.
Eldoray Hardin County.
By "An act* to establish and organize a State Reform School for Juvenile
Offenders," approved March 31, 1868, the General Assembly established a
State Reform School at Salem, Lee (Henry) County ; provided for a Board of
Trustees, to consist of one person from each Congressional District. For the
purpose of immediately opening the school, the Trustees were directed to accept
the proposition of the Trustees of White's Iowa Manual Labor Institute, at
Salem, and lease, for not more than ten years, the lands, buildings, etc., of the
Institute, and at once proceed to prepare for and open a reform school as a
temporary establishment.
The contract for fitting up the buildings was let to Clark & Haddock, Sep-
tember 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 $45,000 was appropriated for the erection of the necessary
buildings. The Trustees were further directed, as soon as practicable, to
organize a school for girls in the buildings where the boys were then kept.
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HISTORY OF THE STATE OP IOWA. 205
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 Trustees, who are paid mileage, but no
compensation for their services.
The object is the reformation of the children of both sexes, under the age
of 16 years 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 knowledge as are adapted to their age
and capacity, and in some regular course of labor, either mechanical, manufac-
turing or agricultural, as is best suited to their age, strength, disposition and
capacity, and as may seem best adapted to secure the reformation and future
benefit of the boys and girls.
A boy or girl committed to the State Reform School is there kept, disci-
plined, 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
l^lly 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 penalties
incurred by conviction of the ofiense tor which he or she was committed.
This is one step in the right direction. In the future, however, still further
advances will be made, and the right of every individual to the fruits of their
labor, even while restrained for the public good, will be recognized.
PISH HATCHING ESTABLISHMENT.
Near Anamosa, Jones County,
The Piffeeenth General Assembly, in 1874, passed " An act to provide for
the appointment of a Board of Fish Commissioners for the construction of
Fishways for the protection and propagation of Fish,** also " An act to provide
for furnishing the rivers and lakes with fish and fish spawn.** This act appro-
priated J3,000 for the purpose. In accordance with the provisions of the first
act above mentioned, on the 9th of April, 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. Evans, President; Mr. Shaw, Secretary and Superintendent,
and Mr. Haines, Treasurer.
The State was partitioned into three districts or divisions to enable the^
Commissioners to better superintend the construction of fishways as required by
law. That part of the State lying south of the Chicago, Rock Island L Pacific
Railroad was placed under the especial supervision of Mr. Evans ; that part be-
tween that railroad and the Iowa Division of the Illinois Central Railroad, Mr.
Shaw, and all north of the Illinois Central Railroad, Mr. Haines. At this
meeting, the Superintendent was authorized to build a State Hatching House ;
to 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 commenced 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 feet in diam-
eter, afibrding an abundant and unfailing supply of pure running water. During
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204 HISTORY OF THE STATE OF IOWA.
the first year, from May 10, 1874, to May 10, 1876, 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 but 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 have 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, 633,000 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
distribated. These came from New York and they are increasing rapidly.
At the close of 1877, there. were at least a dozen private fish farms in suc-
cessful operation in various parts of the State. Commissioner Shaw is en-
thusiastically devoted to the duties of his office and has performed an important
service for the people of the State by his intelligent and successful operations.
The Sixteenth General Assembly passed an act in 1878, prohibiting the
catching of any kind of fish except Brook Trout from March until June of each
year. Some varieties are fit for food only during this period.
THE PUBLIC LANDS.
The grants of public lands made in the State of Iowa, for various purposes,
are as follows :
1. The 600,000 Acre Grant.
2. The 16th Section Grant.
8. The Mortgage School Lands.
4. The University Grant.
6. The Saline Grant.
6. The Des Moines 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 HUNDRED THOUSAND ACRE GRANT.
When the State was admitted into the Union, she became entitled to
500,000 acres of land by virtue of an act of Congress, approved September 4,
18il, 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 600,000 acres. AH these lands
were required to be selected within the limits of the State to which they were
granted.
The Constitution of Iowa declares that the proceeds of this grant, 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
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HISTORY OF THE STATE OF IOWA. . 205
a board of School Fund Commissioners, and to that board was confided the
^election, care and sale of these lands for the benefit of the School' Fund. Until
1855, these Commissioners were subordinate to the Superinteudent of Public
Instruction, but on the 15th of January 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
maiJe the agents of the State to control 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 SECTIONS.
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 towushij), 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 Trustees, 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 land proper. They are lands
that have been mortgaged to the school fund, and became school lands when bid
off by the State by virtue of a law passed in 18G2. Under the provisions of the
law regulating the management and investment of the permanent school fund,
persons desiring 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 unincumbered real estate, which must be
situated in the county where the loan is made, and which must be valued by
three appraisers. Making 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 examination.
When default was made of payment of money so secured by mortgage, and
IK) 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 action in favor of the county for the use of the school
fimd, an injunction may issue without bonds, and in any such action, when
service is made by publication, default and judgment may be entered and
enforced without bonds. In case of sale of land on execution founded on any
9uch mortgage, the attorney 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 fnnd. 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.
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206 HISTORY OP THE STATE OP IOWA.
IV. UNIVERSITY LANDS.
By act of Congress, July 20, 1840, a quantity of land not exceeding two
futire townships was reserved in the Territory of Iowa for the use and support
'){ a university within said Territory 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 Secretary of the
Treasury, for the use of the State, the following lands :
ACRSS.
In the Iowa<5ity Land District, Feb. 26, 1849 20,160.49
In the Fairfield Land District, Oct. 17. 1849 9,685.20
In the Iowa Gty Land District, Jan. 28, 1850 « 2,571.81
In the Fairfield Land District, Sept. 10, 1850« 8,198.20
In the Dubaque 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 management of the Board of
Trustees of the Iowa State University. Prior to 1866, there had been selected
and located under 282 patents, 22,o92 acres in sixteen counties, and 23,036
acres unpatented, making a total of 45,928 acres.
V. — SALINB 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 exceeding twelve.
By a subsequent act, approved May 27, 1852, Congress granted the springs
to the State in fee simple, together with six sections of land 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 proceeds of the
saline lands were appropriated to the Insane Asylum, repealed in 1858. In
1860, 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. — ^THB 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 Kiver, as follows :
Be it enaeled by the Senate ^nd House of Representativet of the United States of America m
Congress assembUdy That there be, and hereby is, granted to said Territory of Iowa, for the
purpose of aiding said Territory to improve the navigation of the Des Moines River from its
mouth to the Raccoon Fork (so oalled| in said Territory, one equal moiety, in alternate sections,
of the public lands (remaining unsold and not otherwise disposed of, incumbered or appropri-
ated), in a strip five miles in width on each side of said river, to be selected within said Terri.
tory 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.
Sbo. 2. And be it further enacted, That the lands hereby granted shaU 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 Territory 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 Gov-
ernor of said Territory or State shall certify the fact to the President of the United States that
one-half of s%id sum has been expended upon said improvements, when the said Territory or
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HISTORY OF THE STATE OF IOWA. 207
State maj sell and oonrey a quantity of the residue of said lands sufficient to replace the amount
expended, and thus the sales shall progress as the proceeds thereof shall be expended, and the
fMt of such expenditure shall be certified as aforesaid.
Seo. 3. And be it further macUdy That the said Biver Des Moines shall be and forerer
remain a public highway for the use of the Govemment of the United States, free from any toll
or other charge whatever, for any property of the United States or persons in their serTioe
passing through or along the same : Provided always^ That it shall not be competent for the said
Territory or fUture State of Iowa to dispose of said lands, or any of them, at a price lower than,
for the time being, shall be the minimum price of other public lands.
Sbc. 4. And be it further enacted^ That whenever the Territory of Iowa shall be admitted
into the Union as a State, the lands hereby granted for the above purpose 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
Aug. 8, 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, ap-
? roved February 24, 1847, entited "An act creating the Board of Public
forks, and providing for the improvement 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 the 22d of September following. The same act
defined the nature of the improvement to be made, and provided that the work
should be paid for from the funds to be derived from the sale of lands to be
sold by the Board.
Agents appointed by the Governor selected the sections designated by "odd
numbers'' throughout tne whole extent of the grant, and this selection was ap-
proved by the Secretary of the Treasury. But there was a conflict of opinion
as to the extent of the grant. It was neld by some that it extended from the
mouth of the Des Moines only to the Raccoon Forks ; others held, as the
agents to make selection evidently did, that it extended from the mouth to the
head waters of the river. Richard M. Young, Commissioner of the General
Land OflSce, on the 23d 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 of Public Works filed a remonstrance with the Com-
missioner 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 Congress from Iowa also
protested against the sale, in a communication to Hon. Robert J. Walker, Sec-
retary 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 with-
hold from sale all lands situated in the odd numbered sections within five miles
on each side of the Des Moines River above the Raccoon Forks." March 13,
1850, the Commissioner of the General Land Office submitted to the Secretary
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-
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208 HISTORY OF THE STATE OF IOWA.
gress could have an opportunity to pass an explanatory act. The Iowa author-
ities appealed from this decision to the President (Taylor), who referred the
matter to the Attorney General (Mr. Johnson). On the 19th of July, Mr.
Johnson submitted as his opinion, that by the terms of the grant itself, it ex-
tended 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, concurrel
with Mr. Crittenden at first, but subsequently consented to lay the whole sub-
ject before the President and Cabinet, whp decided in favor of the State.
October 29, 1851, Mr. Stewart directed the Commissioner of the General
Land OflBce 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 Raccoon Forks, as far as the surveys have progressed,
or may hereafter 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 :
By Secretary Stewart, Oct. 30, 1851 81,707.93 acres.
March 10, 1852 143.908.37 "
By Secretary McLellan, Dec. 17, 1853 83,142.43 "
Dec. 80, 1853 12,813.61 •«
Total 271,572.24 acres.
The Commissioners and Register of the Des Moines River Improvement, in
their report to the Governor, November 30, 1852, estimates 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 Commissioners
estimated the work to be done would cost about $1,200,000.
January 19, 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 24th of January, 1853, the General Assembly provided for the elec-
tion of a Commissioner by the people, and appointed two Assistant Commission-
ers, 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 Navigation & Railroad Company, agreeing to sell all the lands donated
to the State by Act of Congress of August 8, 1846, which the State had not
sold prior to December 23, 1853, for $1,300,000, tc? be expended on the im-
provement of the river, and in paying the indebtedness then due. This con-
tract was duly reported to the Governor and General Assembly.
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 provisions 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 thr it was limited to
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HISTORY OF THE STATE OF IOWA. 209
the Raccoon Fork. Appeal was made to the Secretary of the Interior, and by
him the matter was referred to the Attorney General, who decided that the grant
extended to the northern boundary of the State ; the State relinquished its
claim to lands lying along the river in Minnesota, and the vexed question was
supposed to be finally settled.
The land which had been certified, as well as those extending to the north-
em boundary within the limits of the grant, were reserved from pre-emption
and sale by the General Land Commissioner, to satisfy the grant of August 8,
1846, and they were treated as having passed to the State, which from time to
time sold portions of them prior to their final transfer to the Des Moines Navi-
igation & Railroad Company, applying the proceeds thereof to the improve-
ment 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 Ofiice 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 work, certificates for lands. But the General
Land OflSce 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 propasition for final settlement to the Company, which was accepted. The Com-
pany 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 of May, 1858,
executed to the Des Moines Navigation & Railroad Company fourteen deeds
or patents to the lands, amounting to 256,703.64 acres. Tnf se deeds were
intended to convey all the lands of this grant certified to the State by the Gen-
eral Government not previously sold ; but, as if for the purpose of covering any
tract or parcel that might have been omitted, the State made another deed of
conveyance on the 18th day of May, 1858. These fifteen deeds, it is claimed,
by the Company, convey 266,108 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 Government. •
By act approved March 28, 1858, the Legislature donated the remainder of
the grant to the Keokuk, Fort Des Moines & Minnesota Railroad Company,
upon condition that said Company assumed all liabilities resulting from the Des
Moines River improvement 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, Croton, 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 Company of the liabilities above mentioned, the Register of
the State Land Ofiice was instructed to certify to the Company 1,000 acres of
the 50,000 acres reserved for these purposes. Up to 1865, there had been pre-
sented 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
^n settled.
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210 HISTORY OF THE STATE OP IOWA.
After the passage of the Act above noticed, the question of the extent of the
original grant was again mooted, and at the December Term of the Supreme Court
of the United States, in 1859-60, a decision was rendered declaring that the
grant did not extend abote 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 without 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 im-
properly certified to the State by the Department of the Interior, and which is
now held by 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 (hen Territory of Iowa for the improvement of the Des Moines
River, made hj the act of August 8, 1846, is hereby extended so as to include the alternate sec-
tions (designated by odd numbers] lying within five miles of said river, between the Raoooon
Fork and the northern boundary of said State ; such lands are to be held and applied in accord-
ance with the provisions of the original grant, except that the consent of Congress is hereby giTen
to the application of a portion thereof to aid in the construction of the Keokuk, Fort Des Moines
& Minnesota Railroad, in accordance with the provisions of the act of the General Assemblj of
the State of Iowa, approved March 22, 1858. And if any of the said lands shall have been sold
or otherwise disposed of by the United States before the passage of this act, except those released
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 directed 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 grant the title of which has proved invalid,
any lands which shall be certified to said State in lieu thereof by virtue of the provisions of this
act, shall inure to and be held as a trust fund for the benefit of the person or persons, respeotr
ively, whose titles shall have failed as aforesaid.
The grant of lands by the above act of Congress was accepted by a joint
resolution of the General Assembly, September 11, 1862, in extra session. On
the same day, the Governor was authorized to appoint one or more Comniis-
sioners to select the lands in accordance with the grant. These Commissioners
were instructed to report their selections to the Kegistrar 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. Kil-
bume, 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 enhanced by the uncertainty
of its limits until the act of Congress of July, 1862. But the General Assem-
bly sought, by wise and appropriate legislation, to protect the integrity of titles
derived from the State. Especially was the determination to protect the actual
settlers, who had paid their money and made improvements prior to the final
settlement of the limits of the grant by Congress.
Vn. — THE DES MOINES RIVER 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 approved by the Commissioner of the General
Land Office February 20, 1851. They were ordered into the market June 6,
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HISTORY OF THE STATE OF IOWA. 211
1858, by the Superintendent of Public Instruction, who authorized John ToL
man, 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 Raccoon 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 S^retary of the Interior, as a part of the
Des Moines River grant. January 6, 1854, the Commissioner of the General
Land OflSce transmitted to the Superintendent 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 indi-
ridaal 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 Treasury the amount they had paid, with 10 per cent, interest,
on the contract to purchase made with Mr. Tolman. Under this act, five appli-
cations were made prior to 1864, and the applicants received, in the aggregate,
1949.53.
By an act approved April 7, 1862, the Governor was forbidden to issue to
the Dubuque k Sioux City Railroad Company any certificate of the completion
of any part of said road, or any conveyance of lands, until the company should
execute and file, in the State Land OfiBce, a release of its claim — first, to cer-
tain 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 interest in those tracts of land in Webster and Hamilton
Counties heretofore sold by John Tolman, School Fund Commissioner, to the
Register of the State Land OfSce in trust, to enable said Register to carry out
&na perform said contracts in all cases when he is called upon by the parties
interested to do so, before the Ist day of January, A. D. 1864.
The company filed its release to the Tolman lands, in the Land Ofiice, Feb-
ruary 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 OflSce, under the advice of the Attorney General,
decided that patents would be issued to the Tolman purchasers in all cases
where contracts had been made prior to December 23, 1853, and remaining
uncanceled under the act of 1860. But before any were issued, on the 27th of
August, 1864, the Des Moines Navigation & 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 OflSce, filed in the
court an elaborate answer to plaintiflTs' petition, denying that the company had
any right to or title in the lands. Mr. Harvey's successor, Mr. C. C. Carpen-
ter, filed a still more exhaustive 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 aflSrmed in December,
1869.
VIII. — SWAMP LAND GRANT.
By an act of Congress, approved March 28, 1850, to enable Arkansas 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
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212 HISTORY OF THE STATE OF IOWA.
does not exceed 4,000,000 acres, it has, like the Des Moines River and some
of the land 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 SUite as "swamp lands." Congress, by joint resolution
Dec. 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 appear 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 permitted to be entered and the
claim of the State rejected. Speculators took advantage of this. Affidavits
were bought of irresponsible and reckless men, who, for a few dollars, would
confidently testify to the character of lands they never saw. These applica-
tions multiplied until they covered p,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 Commis-
sioner of the General Land Office held that it was only a qualified confirma-
tion, and under this construction sought to sustain the action of'the Department
in rejecting the claim of the State, and certifying them under act of May 15,
1856, under which the railroad companies claimed all swamp land in odd num-
bered secdons within the limits of their respective roads. This action led to
serious complications. 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. Nor did the companies expect to
receive any of them, but under the decisions of the Department adverse to the
State the way was opened, and they were not slow to enter their claims. March
4, 1862, the Attorney General of the State submitted to the General Assembly
an opinion that the railroad companies were not entitled even to contest 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
Sept. 28, 1850. A great deal of legislation has been found necessary in rela-
tion to these swamp lands.
IX. — THB RAILROAD GRANT.
One of the most important grants of public lands to Iowa for purposes of
internal improvement was that known as the " Railroad 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 River, 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
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HISTORY OF THE STATE OF IOWA. 213
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 ih© Missouri River, near Sioux City, with a branch from the
mouth of the Tete dee Morts, to the nearest point on said road, to be com-
pleted 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 eacTi side of
said roads. It was also provided that if it should appear, when 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 sections, or parts of sections, within
fifteen miles of the lines so located. 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 minimum 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
Secretary of the Interior that any twenty continuous miles of any of said roads
is completed, then another quantity of land hereby granted, not to exceed one
hundred and twenty sections for each of said roads having twenty continuous
miles completed as aforesaid, 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 completed within ten
years, no further sale 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 approved July
14, 1856, the grant was exjcepted and the lands were granted by the State to
the several railroad companies named, provided that the lines of their respective
roads should be definitely fixed and located before April 1, 1857 ; and pro-
vided 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 remaining undisposed of by the
eompany 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 k Missouri River Railroad
Company, which accepted them.
By act, approved April 7, 1862, the Dubuque & Sioux City Railroad Com-
pany 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 Congress does not reveal any special
reference to railroad campaniea. The lands were granted to the StatCy and the
act evidently contemplate the sale of them by the State, and the appropriation
of the proceeds to aid in the construction of certain lines of railroad within its
Digitized by VjOOQIC
214 HISTORY OF THE STATE OP IOWA.
limits. Section 4 of the act clearly defines the authority of the State in dis-
posing of the lands.
Lists of all the lands embraced by the grant were made, and certified to the
State by the proper authorities. Under an act of Congress approved August 3,
1854, entitled ^^An act to vest in the several States and Territories the title in
fee of the lands which have been or may be certified to them^' these certified lists,
the originals of which are filed in the General Land Office, conveyed to thQ State
'' the fe^ simple title to all the lands embraced in such lists that are of the char-
acter contemplated " by the terms of the act making the grant, and '^ int^ided
to be granted thereby ; but where lands embraced in such lists are not of the
character embraced 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 interest shall be conveyed thereby."
Those certified lists made under the act of May 15, 1856, were forty-three in
number, viz.: For the Burlington & Missouri River Railroad, nine ; for the
Mississippi & Missouri Railroad, 11 ; 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 & MiBsouri River R. R 287,005.34 acres.
Mississippi & Missouri River R. R 774,674.36 "
Cedar Rapids & Missouri River R. R 775,454.19 "
Dubuque & Sioux QtyR. R 1,226,558.82 "
A portion of these had been selected as swamp lands by the State, under
the act of September 28, 1850, and these, by the terms of the act of August 3,
1854, could not be turned over to the railroads unless the claim of the State to
them as swamp was first rejected. It was not possible to determine from the
records of the State Land Office the extent of the conflicting claims arising under
the two grants, as copies of the swamp land selections in some of the counties
were not filed of record. The Commissioner of the General Land Office, however,
prepared lists of the lands claimed by the State as swamp under 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 certified to 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 neces-
sary 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 General 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, however, the Burlington & Missouri River Rail-
road Company, was not entirely satisfied with this construction. Its managers
thought that some further and specific action of the State authorities in addition
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 (commencing 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
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HISTORY OF THE STATE OF IOWA. * 215
lands under the grant that were certified by the State authorities with any
design of perfecting the title already vested in the company by the act of 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 Land Office. These subsequent 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, 1866, to deprive the State of the con-
trol of the lands, but on the contrary that she should retain supervision of them
and the right to withdraw all rights and powers and resume the title condition-
ally 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 Gen-
eral Land Office vested the title in the State only by virtue of the act of Con-
gress approved August 3, 1854. The State Land Office held that the proper
construction of the act of July 14, 1856, when accepted 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 sub-
sequent act of Congress, approved June 2, 1864, 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 4
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 com-
panies, but Congress, in 1864, appears to have been utterly ignorant of what
had been done under the act of 1856, or, if not, to have utterly disregarded it.
The State had accepted the original grant. The Secretary of the Interior had
already certified to the State all the lands intended to be included in the grant
within fiflieen miles of the lines of the several railroads. It will be remembered
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 fur-
ther 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, it is plain
that until the expiration of the ten years there could be no reversion, and the
State, riot the United States, must control them until the grant should expire
bv 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 k Council Bluffs Railroad Com-
pany should file in the General Land Office at Washington a map definitely
showmg such new location, the Secretary of the Interior should cause to be cer-
tified 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
Digitized by VjOOQIC
216 HISTORY OP THE STATE OF IOWA.
otherwise disposed of, or to which a pre-emption claim or right of homestead had
not attached, and on which a bona fide settlement and improvement had not
been made under color of title derived 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 amendment.
The term *' out of any lands belonging to the United States, not sold, re-
served or otherwise disposed of, etc.," would seem to indicate 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 be 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 was 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 Railroad, and the
Company was permitted to change the location of its line between Fort Dodge
and Sioux City, so as to secure the best route between those points ; bat this
change of location was not to impair the right to the land granted in the ong-
inal act, nor did it change the location of those lands.
By the same act, the Mississippi & Missouri Railroad Company was author-
ized to transfer and assign all or any part of the grant to'any other company or
person, " if, in the opinion of said Company, the construction of said railroad
across the State of Iowa would be thereby sooner and more satisfactorily com-
pleted ; but such assignee should not in any case be released from the liabilities
and conditions accompanying this grant, nor acquire perfect title in any other
manner than the same would have been acquired by the original grantee."
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 otherwise 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," occa-
sioned much controversy and trouble. The Department of the Interior, how-
ever, 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 vesting act of August, 1854, refused to review its action, and also refused
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 exercise no control over the land.
May 12, 1864, 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.
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HISTORY OF THE STATE OF IOWA. 217
X. — ^AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE AND FARM LANDS.
An Agricultural College and Model Farm was established by act of the
General Assembly, approved March 22, 1858. By the eleventh section of the
a^, 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 Con-
gress, together with all lands that Congress might thereafter grant to the State
for the purpose, for the benefit of the institution. On the 53d 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 interests 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, 1845, entitled " An act supplemental to the act for the admission of
the States of Iowa and Florida into the Union," were fully appropriated for
the benefit of the Iowa Agricultural College and Farm. The institution 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, 1862, an appropriation was made to
each State and Territory of 30,000 acres for each Senator and Representative
in Congress, to which, by the apportionment under the census of 1860, they
were respectively entitled. This grant was made for the purpose of endowing
colleges of agriculture and mechanic arts.
Iowa accepted this grant by an act passed at an extra session of its Legis-
lature, approved September 11, 1862, entitled "An act to accept 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 agriculture and the
mechanic arts,' approved July 2, 1862.'* This act made it the duty of the
Governor to appoint an agent to select and locate the lauds, and provided
that none should be selected that were claimed by any county as swamp
lands. The agent was required to make report 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 appro-
priated 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 maintaining an Agricultural College.
Peter Melendy, Esq., of Black Hawk County, was appointed to make the selec-
tions, 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 Secretary of the Interior December 13,
1864. The title to these lands wcus vested in the State in fee simple, and con-
flicted with no other claims under other grants.
The agricultural lands were approved to the State as 240,000.96 acres ; but
M 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
nnder this grant was only 204,309.30 acres, located as follows :
In Des Moines Land District 6,804.96 acres.
In Sionx Ciij Land District 69,026.37 "
In Fort Dodge Land District 138,478.97 "
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218 HISTOEY OF THE STATE OF IOWA.
By act of the General Assembly, approved March 29, 1864, entitled, " An
act authorizing the Trustees of the Iowa State Agricultural College and Farm
to sell all lands acquired, granted, donated or appropriated for the benefit of
said college, and to make an investment of the proceeds thereof,'' all these lands
were granted to the Agricultural College and Farm, and the Trustees were au-
thorized to take possession, and sell or lease them. They were then, under the
control of the Trustees, lands as follows :
Under the act of July 2, 1862 204,809.80 acres.
Of the five-section grant 8,200.00 ••
Lands donated in Story (bounty 721.00 "
Lands donated in Boone County 200.00 *'
Total 208,480.80 acres.
The Trustees opened an office at Fort Dodge, and appointed Hon. G. W-
Bassett their agent for the sale of these lands.
THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
The germ of the free public school system of Iowa, which now ranks sec-
ond to none in the United States, was planted by the first settlers. They had
migrated to the ^' The Beautiful Land '' from other and older States, where die
common school system had been tested by many years' experience, bringing
with them some knowledge of its advantages, which they determined should be
enjoyed 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 complete, comprehensive and liberal in the
country.
Nor is this 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 th« 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, primitive structures of the early time
only disappeared when the communities 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, superseded 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, furnished with all the modem improvements,
and costing from $10,000 to $60,000 each. The people of the State have ex-
pended more than $10,000,000 for the erection of public school buildings.
The first house erected in Iowa was a log cabin at Dubuque, built by James
L. Langworthy and a few other miners, in l£e Autumn of 1833. When it was
completed, George Cabbage was employed as teacher during the Winter of
1833-4, and thirty-five pupils attended his school. Barrett Whittemore taught
the second term with twenty-five pupils in attendance. Mrs. Caroline Dexter
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HISTORY OF THE STATE OP IOWA. 219
commenced teaching in Dubuque in March, 1836. She was the first female
teacher there, and probably the first in Iowa. In 1889, Thomas H. Benton,
Jr., afterward for ten years Superintendent of Public Instruction, opened an
English and classical school in Dubuque. The first tax for the support of
schools at Dubuque was levied in 1840.
Among the first buildings erected at Burlington was a commodious ^g school
house in 1834, in which Mr. Johnson Pierson taught the first school in the
Winter of 1834-5.
The first school in Muscatine County was taught by George Bumgardnjer,
in the Spring of 1837, and in 1839, a log school house was erected in Musca-
tine, which served for a long time for school house, church and public hall.
The first school in Davenport 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 1843, by Mr. John R.
Gray, about two miles from the present site of Eddyville; and in the Summer
of 1&44, a log school house was built by Gray, William V. Beedle, C. Renfro,
Joseph McMullen and Willoughby Randolph, and the first school was opened
by Miss Urania Adams. The building was occupied for school purposes for
nearly ten years. About a year after the first cabin was built at Oskaloosa, a
log school house was built, in which school was opened by Samuel W. Caldwell
in 1844.
At Fort Des Moines, now the capital of the State, the first school was
taught by Lewis Whitten, Clerk of the District Court in the Winter of 1846-7,
in one of the rooms on " Coon Row," built for barracks.
The first school in Pottawattomie County was opened by George Green, a
Mormon, at Council Point, prior to 1849 ; and until about 1854, nearly, if not
quite, all the teachers in that vicinity were Mormons.
The first school in Decorah was taught in 1853, by T. W. Burdick, then a
oang man of seventeen. In Osceola, the first school was opened by Mr. D.
V. Scoville. The first school at Fort Dodge was taught in 1855, by Cyrus C.
Carpenter, since Governor 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 house pre-
vailed, and in 1861, there were 893 of these primitive structures in use for
sehool purposes in the State. Since that time they have been gradually dis-
appearing. 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
whool, or schools in each of the counties in this TeiTitory, which shall be
open and free for even^ class of white citizens between the ages of five and
twenty-one years.** 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 be presented for the purpose by a majority of the
voters resident within such contemplated district.** These districts were gov-
«nied by boards of trustees, usually of three persons ; each district was required
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220 HISTORY OF THE STATE OF IOWA.
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 population of 100,-
000, and with 20,000 scholars within its limits, about four hundred school dis-
tricts had been organized. In 1850, there were 1,200, and in 1857, the
number had increased to 3,265.
In March, 1858, upon the recommendation of Hon. M. L. Fisher, then Su-
perintendent of Public Instruction, 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 into force March 20, 1858, and
reduced the number of school districts from about 3,500 to less than 900.
This 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. Mr. Kiss ^11, Superintendent, recommended, in his report of
January 1, 1872, and Governor Merrill forcibly endorsed his views in his annual
message. But the Legislature of that year provided for the formation of inde-
pendent districts from the sub-districts of district townships.
Tlie system of graded schools was inaugurated in 1849 ; and new schools, in
which more than one teacher is employed, are universally graded.
The first oflBcial mention of Teachers' Institutes in the educational records
of Iowa occurs in the annual report of Hon. Thomas H. Benton, Jr., made
December 2, 1850, who said, " An institution of this character was organized a
few years ago, composed of the teachers of the mineral regions of Illinois,
Wisconsin and Iowa. An association of teachers has, also, been formed in the
county of Henry, and an effort was made in October last to organize a regular
institute in the county of Jones." At that time — although the beneficial
influence of these institutes was admitted, it was urged that the expenses of
attending them was greater than teachers with limited compensation were able
to bear. To obviate this objection, Mr. Benton recommended that '* the sum of
$150 should be appropriated annually for three years, to be drawn in install-
ments of $50 each by the Superintendent of Public Instruction, and expended
for these institutions." He proposed that three institutes should be held annu-
ally at points to be designated by the Superintendent.
No legislation in this direction, however, was had until March, 1858, when
an act was pas.«^ed authorizing the holding of teachers' institutes for periods not
less than six working days, whenever not less than thirty teachers should desire.
The Superintendent 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 thousand dollars was appropriated to
defray the expenses of these institutes.
December 6, 1858, Mr. Fisher reported to the Board of Education that
institutes had been appointed in twenty counties within the preceding six months,
and more would have been, but the appropriation had been exhausted.
The Board of Education at its first session, commencing December 6, 1858,
enacted a code of school laws which retained the existing 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.'
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HISTORY OP THE STATE OF IOWA. 221
In 1865, Mr. Faville reported that " the provision made by the State for the
benefit of teachers' institutes has never been so fully appreciated, both by the
people and the teachers, as during the last two years.'*
By act approved March 19, 1874, Normal Institutes were established in
each county, to be held annually by the County Superintendent. This waa
regarded as a very decided step in advance by Mr. Abernethy, and in 1876 the
Sixteenth General Assembly established 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. This
school is now '' in the full tide of successful experiment."
The public school system of Iowa is admirably organized, and if the various
officers who are entrusted with the educational interests 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, being one-thirty-sixth part of all 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 violation 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 forfeitures 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 accord-
ing to their request, 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 avail-
able school fund of the State. The counties are responsible to the State for all
money so loaned, and the State is likewise responsible to tlie 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 pro-
portion 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 apportioned
to the several district townships in the same way. A district tax is also
levied for the same purpose. The money arising from these several sources
constitute the support of the public schools, and is sufficient to enable
every sub-district in the State to afibrd 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 blame but
themselves. The teachers' and contingent funds are determined by the Board of
Directors under certain legal restrictions. These boards are elected annually,
except in the independent districts, in which the board may be entirely changed
every three years. The only exception to this mode of levying taxes for support
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222 HISTORY OF THE STATE OF IOWA.
of schools is the county school tax, which is detennined by the County Board
of Supervisors. The tax is from one to three mills on the dollar ; usually,
however, but one. Mr. Abemethy, who was Superintendent of Public Instruc-
tion from 1872 to 1877, said in one of his reports :
There is but little opposition to the leyj of taxes for the support of schools, and there
would be still less if the ftinds were always properly guarded and judiciouslj expended. Hew-
ever much our people disagree upon other subjects, they are practically united upon this.
The opposition of wealth has loDg since ceased to exist, and our wealthy men are usually the
most liberal in their views and the most active friends of popular education. They are often
found upon our school boards, and usually make the best of school officers. It is not uncommon
for Boards of Directors, especially in the larger towns and cities, to be composed wholly of men
who represent the enterprise, wealth and business of their cities.
At the close of 1877, there were 1,086 township districts, 3,138 indepen-
dent districts and 7,016 sub-districts. There were 9,948 ungraded and 476
graded schools, with an average annual session of seven months and five days.
There were 7,348 male teachers employed, whose average compensation was
J34.88 per month, and 12,518 female teachers, with an average compensation
of $28.69 per month.
The number of persons between the ages 5 and 21 years, in 1877, waft
567,859; number enrolled in public schools, 421,163; total average attendance,
251,372 ; average cost of tuition per month, $1.62. There are 9,279 fratne,
671 brick, 257 stone and 89 log school houses, making a grand total of 10,296,
valued at $9,044,973. The public school libraries number 17,329 volumes.
Ninety-nine teachers* institutes were held during 1877. Teachers' salaries
amounted to $2,953,645. There was expended for school houses, grounds,
libraries and apparatus, $1,106,788, and for fuel and other contingencies,
$1,136,995, making the grand total of $5,197,428 expended by the generous
people of Iowa for the support of their magnificent public schools in a single
year. The amount of the permanent school fund, at the close of 1877, was
$3,462,000. Annual interest, $276,960.
In 1857, there were 3,265 independent districts, 2,708 ungraded schools,
and 1,572 male and 1,424 female teachers. Teachers' salaries amounted to
$198,142, and the total expenditures for schools was only $364,515. Six hun-
dred and twenty-three volumes were the extent of the public school libraries
twenty years ago, and there were only 1,686 school houses, valued at $571,064.
In twenty years, teachers* salaries have increased from $198,142, in 1857,
to $2,953,645 in 1877. Total school expenditures, from $364,515 to
$5,197,428.
The significance of such facts as these is unmistakable. Such lavish expen-
ditures 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 a'hnual dedication to their support of more than one
per cent, of their entire taxable property ; this, too, uninterruptedly through a
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 moderate yield of produce, of oiscouragingly low prices, and
even amid the scanty surroundings and privations of pioneer life. Few human
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
purposes of public education.
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HISTORY OP THE STATE OF IOWA. 223
POLITICAL RECORD.
TERRITORIAL OFFICERS.
O-avemors — Robert Lucas, 1838-41 ; John Chambers, 1841-45 ; James
Clarke, 1845.
Secretaries— WilliBja B. Conway, 1838, died 1889 ; James Clarke, 1839 ;
O. H. W. Stall, 1841 ; Samuel J. Burr, 1843 ; Jesse Williams, 1845.
Auditors— Jeaae Williams, 1840; Wm. L. Gilbert, 1843- Robert M.
Secrest, 1845.
■ Treasurers — Thornton Bayllss, 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 Hempstead,
1839-40; M. Bainridge, 1840-1; Jonathan W. Parker, 1841-2; John D.
Elbert, 1842-3 ; Thomas Cox, 1843-4 ; S. Clinton Hastings, 1845 ; Stephen
Hempstead, 1845-6.
Speakers of the House — William H. Wallace, 1838-9 ; Edward Johnston,
1839-40; 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, President ; Geo.
S. Hampton, Secretary.
Second Constitutional Convention^ 1846 — Enos Lowe, President ; William
Thompson, Secretary.
OFFICERS OF THE STATE OOVERNMENT.
Governors — Ansel Briggs, 1846 to 1850; Stephen Hempstead, 1850 to
1854; James W. Grimes, 1854 to 1858 ; Ralph P. Lowe, 1868 to 1860; Sam-
uel J. Kirkwood, 1860 to 1864 ; William M. Stone, 1864 to 1868 ; Samuel
Morrill, 1868 to 1872 ; Cyrus C. Carpenter, 1872 to 1876 ; Samuel J. Kirk-
wood, 1876 to 1877 ; Joshua G. Newbold, Acting, 1877 to 1878 ; John H.
Gear, 1878 to .
LieiUenant Governor — OflSce created by the new Constitution September 3,
1857 — Oran Faville, 1858-9 ; Nicholas J. Rusch, 1860-1 ; John R. Needham,
1862-3; Enoch W. Eastman, 1864-5; Benjamin F. Gue, 1866-7; John
Scott, 1868-9; M. M. Walden, 1870-1; H. C. Bulis, 1872-3; Joseph Dy-
sart, 1874-5 ; Joshua G. Newbold, 1876-7 ; Frank T. Campbell, 1878-9.
Secretaries of State— Elishs^ Cutler, Jr., Dec. 5, 1846, to Dec. 4, 1848 ;
Josiah H. Bonney, Dec. 4, 1848, to Dec. 2, 1850; George W. McCleary, Dec.
2, 1850, to Dec. 1, 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 .
Auditors of State— Joseph T. Fales, Dec. 5, 1846, to Dec. 2, 1850 ; Will-
iam 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 .
Treasurers of State — Morgan Reno, Dec. 18, 1846, to Dec. 2, 1850 ;
Israel Kister, Dec. 2, 1850, to Dec. 4, 1852 ; Martin L. Morris, Dec. 4, 1852,
to Jan. 2, 1859; John W. Jones. 1859 to 1863 ; William H. Holmes, 1863 to
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224 HISTORY OP THE STATE OF IOWA.
1867 ; Samuel E. Rankin, 1867 to 1873 ; William Christy, 1873 to 1877 ;
George W. Bemis, 1877 to .
Superintendents of Public Instruction— OSlgq 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 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, 1867, to Jan., 1870 ; A. S. Kissell, 1870 to 1872 ; Alonzo Abernethy,
1872 to 1877 ; Carl W. Von Coelln, 1877 to .
State Binders — Office created February 21, 1855^— 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 1875;
James J. Smart, 1875 to 1876 ; H. A. Perkins, 1876 to .
Registers of the State Land Office — Anson Hart, May 5, 1855, 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. Harvey, Jan. 6, 1863, to Jan. 7, 1867 ; Cyrus C.
Carpenter, Jan. 7, 1867, to January, 1871 ; Aaron Brown, January, 1871, to
to January, 1875 ; David Secor, January, 1875, to .
State Printers — Office created Jan. 3, 1840 — Grarrett D. Palmer and
George Paul, 1849; William H. Merritt, 1851 to 1853; William 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, 1869 to 1870; G. W. Edwards, 1870 to
1872; R. P. Clarkson, 1872 to .
Adjutants Q-eneral — Daniel S. Lee, 1851-5 ; Geo. W. McCleary, 1855-7 ;
Elijah Sells, 1857; Jesse Bowen, 1857-61; Nathaniel Baker, 1861 to 1877;
John H. Looby, 1877 to .
Attorneys 6?e7i€raZ— David C. Cloud, 1853-56 ; 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. McJunkin, 1877.
Presidents of the Senate— Thomd^ Baker, 1846-7 ; Thomas Hughes,
1848 ; John J. Selman, 1848-9 ; Enos Lowe, 1850-1 ; William E. Leffing-
well, 1852-3; Maturin L. Fisher, 1854-5; William W. Hamilton, 1856-7.
Under the new Constitution, the Lieutenant 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 ; Jacob Butler, 1864-5 ; Ed. Wright,
1866-7 ; John Russell, 1868-9 ; Aylett R. Cotton, 1870-1 ; James Wilson,
1872-3; John H. Gear, 1874-7 ; John Y. Stone, 1878.
New Constitutional Convention^ 1859 — Francis Springer, President ; Thos.
J. Saunders, Secretary.
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HISTORY OF THE STATE OP IOWA. 226
STATE OFFICERS, 1878.
John H. Gear, Governor; Frank T. Campbell, Lieutenant Governor; Josiah
T. Young, Secretary of State; Buren R. Sherman, Auditor of State; George
W. Bemis, Treasurer of State; David Secor, Register of State Land OflSce;
John H. Looby, Adjutant General; John F. McJunken, Attorney General;
Mrs. Ada North, State Librarian ; Edward J. Holmes, Clerk Supreme Court ;
John S. Runnells, Reporter Supreme Court; Carl W. Von Coelln, Superintend-
ent Public Instruction; Richard P. Clarkson, State Printer; Henry A. Perkins,
State Binder; Prof. Nathan R. Leonard, Superintendent of Weights and
Measures; William H. Fleming, Governor's Private Secretary; Fletcher W.
Young, Deputy Secretary of State; John C. Parish, Deputy Auditor of State;
Erastus G. Morgan, Deputy Treasurer of State; John M. Davis, Deputy Reg-
ister Land OfSce; Ira C. Kling, Deputy Superintendent Public Instruction.
THE JUDICIARY.
SUPREME COURT OF IOWA.
Chief Justices, — Charles Mason, resigned in June, 1847 ; Joseph Williams^
Jan., 1847, to Jan., 1848; S. Clinton Hastings, Jan., 1848, to Jan., 1849; Joseph
Williams, Jan., 1849, to Jan. 11, 1855; Geo. G. Wright, Jan. 11, 1855, to Jan.,
1860 ; Ralph P. Lowe, Jan., 1860, to Jan. 1, 1862 ; Caleb Baldwin, Jan., 1862, to
Jan., 1864 ; Geo. G. Wright, Jan., 1864, to Jan., 1866 ; Ralph P. Lowe, Jan.,1866,
to Jan., 1868; John F. Dillon, Jan., 1868, to Jan., 1870; Chester C. Cole, Jan.
1, 1870, to Jan. 1, 1871; James G. Day, Jan. 1, 1871, to Jan. 1, 1872; Joseph
M. Beck, Jan. 1, 1872, to Jan. 1, 1874; W. E. Miller, Jan. 1, 1874, to Jan. 1,
1876; Chester C. Cole, Jan. 1, 1876, to Jan. 1, 1877; James G. Day, Jan. 1,
1877, to Jan. 1, 1878; James H. Rothrock, Jan. 1, 1878.
Associate Judges, — Joseph Williams; Thomas S. Wilson, resigned Oct.,
1847; John F. Kinney, June 12, 1847, resigned Feb. 15, 1854; George
Greene, Nov. 1, 1847, to Jan. 9, 1855; Jonathan C. Hall, Feb. 15, 1854, U^
succeed Kinney, resigned, to Jan., 1855; William G. Woodward, Jan. 9, 1855;
Norman W. Isbell, Jan. 16, 1855, resigned 1856 ; Lacen D. Stockton, June 3,
1856, to succeed Isbell, resigned, died June 9, 1860; Caleb Baldwin, Jan. 11,
1860, to 1864; Ralph P. Lowe, Jan. 12, 1860; George G. Wright, June 26,
1860, to succeed Stockton, deceased; elected U. S. Senator, 1870; John F. Dil-
lon, Jan. 1, 1864, to succeed Baldwin, resigned, 1870; Chester C. Cole, March
1, 1864, to 1877 ; Joseph M. Beck, Jan. 1, 1868 ; W. E. Miller, October 11,
1864, to succeed Dillon, resigned; James G. Day, Jan. 1, 1871, to succeed
Wright.
8UP&EMB COUBT, 1878.
James H. Rothrock, Cedar County, Chief Justice ; Joseph M. Beck, Lee
County, Associate Justice ; Austin Adams, Dubuque County, Associate Justice ;
William H. Seevers, Oskaloosa County, Associate Justice; James G, Day, Fre^
mont County, Associate Justice.
CONGRESSIONAL REPRESENTATION.
UNITKD STATES BEKATORS.
(The first General Assembly failed to elect Senators.)
(Jeorge W. Jones, Dubuque, Dec. 7, 1848-1858 ; Augustus C. Dodge, Bur-
lington, Dec. 7, 1848-1855; James Harlan, Mt. Pleasant, Jan. 6, 1855^1866;
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
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226 HISTORY OF THE STATE OF IOWA.
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.
Orimes — ^term expired March 8d ; George G. Wright, Des Moines, March 4,
1871-1877 ; William B. Allison, Dubu(iue, March 4, 1872 ; Samuel J. Kirk-
wood, March 4, 1877.
MBMBIB8 OF HOUSI OF BBPBIBSNTATITE8.
Twenty-ninth Congress — 184^6 to 1847. — S. Clinton Hastings; Shepherd
Leffler.
Thirtieth Congress^l8jl7 to 1849. — First District, William Thompson:
Second District, Shepherd Leffler.
Thirty-first Congress— 1849 to 1851.— First District, First Session, Wm.
Thompson; unseated by the House of Representatives on a contest, and election
remanded to the people. First I^istrict, Second Session, Daniel F. Miller.
Second District, Shepherd Leffler.
Thirty-second Congress — 1851 to 1853. — First District, Bernhart Henn.
Second District, Lincoln Clark.
Thirty-third Congress — 1853 to 1855. — First District, Bernhart Henn.
Second District, John P. Cook.
Thirty-fourth Congress — 1855 to 1857. — First District, Augustus HalL
Second District, James Thorington.
Thirty-fifth Congress— 1857 to 1859.— First District, Samuel R. Curtis.
Second District, Timothy Davis.
Thirty-sixth Congress — 1859 to 1861. — ^First District, Samuel R. Curtis.
Second District, William Vandever.
Thirty-seventh Congress — 1861 to 1863. — First District, First Session,
Samuel R. Curtis.* First District, Second and Third Sessions, James F. Wil-
son. Second District, William Vandever.
ThiHy-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 — 1867 to 1869. — First District, James F. Wilson ; Sec-
ond District, Hiram Price ; Third District, William B. Allison, Fourth District,
William Loughridge; Fifth District, Grenville M. Dodge; Sixth District,
Asahel W. Hubbard.
Forty-first Congress— 1869 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 Dis-
trict, Charles Pomeroy.
Forty-second Congress— 1871 to 1873.— First District, George W. Mc-
Crary ; Second District, Aylett R, Cotton ; Third District, W. (x. Donnan ;
Fourth District, Madison M. Waldon ; Fifth District, Frank W. Palmer ; Sixth
District, Jackson Orr.
Forty-third Congress — 1873 to 1875. — First District, George W. McCrary;
Second District, Aylett R. Cotton ; Third District, William Y. Donnan ; Fourth
District, Henry 0. Pratt; Fifth District, James Wilson; Sixth District,
* TAsated teat by acceptinoa of oommissloD as Brigadier Q«neral, antt J. F. Wilson choaon his saoceMor.
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HISTORY OF THE STATE OF IOWA. 229
William Loughridge; Seventh District, John A, Kasson; Eighth District,
James W. McDill ; Ninth District, Jackson Orr.
FoHy-fourth Congre9%—1875 to 1877,— First District, George W. Mc-
Crary ; 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 District, John A. Kasson; Eighth District,
James W. McDill ; Fifth District, Addison Oliver.
FoHy-fifth Congre98—1877 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, Addison Oliver.
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 Dubuque, the author of '' The History of Iowa and the War,** 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 compose her First
Regiment, was issued on the fourth day 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 of the number who had been offered by company com-
manders 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 conditionally
accepted a sufficient number of companies to compose two additional regiments.
In a short time, he waa 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 General of the State reported that upward of one
hundred and seventy companies had been tendered to the Governor to serve
against the enemies of the Union.
" Much difficulty and considerable delay occured in fitting these regiments
for the field. For the First Infantry a complete outfit (not uniform) of clothing
was extemporized — principallv by the volunteered labor of loyal women in the
diiferent town? — 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 emer-
gency. A wealthy merchant of the Stato (Ex-Governor Merrill, then a resident
of McGregor) immediately took from the Governor a contract to supply a com-
plete outfit of clothing for the three regiments organized, agreeing to receive,
should the Governor so elect, his pay therefor in State bonds at par. This con-
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230 HISTORY OP THE STATE OP IOWA.
tract he executed to the letter, and a portion of the clothing (which was maau-
factured 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 remainder arrived only a few days later.
This clothing was delivered to the regiment, but was subsequently condemned
by the Government, for the reason that its color was gray, and blue had been
adopted as the color to be worn 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 con-
federate forces were also clothed in gray, and that color was at once abandoned
by the Union troops. If both armies were clothed alike, annoying if not fiaital
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 emergency, Iowa was compelled
to make 'immediate and ample provision for the protection of her own borders,
from threatened invasion on the south by the Secessionists of Missouri, and
from danger of 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 were
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 authorized 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 services had
" The first order for the Iowa volunteers to move to the field was received
on the 13th of June. It was issued by Gen. Lyon, then commanding the
iJnited States forces in Missouri. The First and Second Infantry immediately
embarked in steamboats, and moved to Hannibal. Some two weeks later, the
Third Infantry 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 Springfield, and fought the bloody battle of Wilson's
Creek. It received unqualified praise for its gallant bearing on the field. In
the following month (September), the Third Iowa, with but very slight support,
fought with nonor 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 of the men it took into action.
" The initial operations in which the battles referred to took place were fol-
lowed 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, Tenn-
nessee, Missouri, and Arkansas, and compelling their withdrawal from much of
the territory previouslv controlled by them in those States. In these and other
movements, down to tne grand culminating campaign by which Vicksburg was
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HISTORY OF THE STATE OF IOWA. 231
captured and the Confederacy permanently severed on the line of the Mississippi
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 neigh-
boring 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-enlistments 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 endurance on the march.
" Two Iowa three-year cavalry regiments were employed during their whole
term of service in the operations that were in progress from 1863 to 1866
^inst the hostile Indians of the western plains. A portion of these men were
among the last of the volunteer troops to be mustered out of service. The State
also supplied 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 efforts for the benefit of the soldiery,
placed their State in the front rank of those who became distinguished for their
exhibitions of patriotic benevolence during the period covered by the war.
Agents appointed by the Governor were stationed at points convenient for ren-
dering 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 soldiery as might be found there.
" Some of the benevolent people of the State early conceived the idea of
establishing a Home for such of the children of deceased soldiers as might be
left in destitute circumstances. This idea first took form 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 general public,
and also from the soldiers in the field. In 1865, it became necessary to pro-
ride 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
wt of Congress. , . .
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232 HISTORY OF THE STATE OF IOWA.
" In 186&, in pursuance of a law enacted for that purpose, the Soldiers'
Orphans' Home (which then contained about four hundred 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
(jlenwood, Mills County. Convenient tracts were secured, and valuable improve-
ments made at all the different points. Schools were also established, and em-
ployments 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 chal-
lenge the approval of every benevolent mind. The number of children who
have been inmates of the Home from its foundation to the present time is
considerably 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 State raised, for general service, thirty-nine regiments 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 regi-
ments and one battalion of infantry, composed of one hundred days* men. TRhe
original enlistments in these various organizations, 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 liability, as established by previous rulings of the War Department,
to supply men under that call, but grew out of the great necessity that 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
subdistricts 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 SfiCid to the honor and credit of Iowa that while many of the loyal
States, older and larger in population and wealth, incurred heavy State debts
fi)r the purpose of fulfilling their obligations 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 com-
menced. Upon final settlement after the restoration 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
her troops sent into the field, and to meet the inevitable demands upon her
treasury in consequence of the war.
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HISTORY OF THE STATE OF IOWA. 283
INFANTRY.
THE FIRST INFANTRY
was organized under the President's first proclamation for volunteers for three
months, with John Francis Bates, of Dubuque, as Colonel ; William H. Mer-
ritt, of Cedar Rapids, as Lieutenant Colonel, and A. B. Porter, of Mt. Pleas-
ant, as Major. Companies A and C were from Muscatine County ; Company
B, from Johnson County; Companies D and E, from Des Moines County;
Company F, from Henry County; Company G, from Davenport; Companies
H and I, from Dubuque, and Company K, from Linn County, and were mus-
tered into United States service May 14, 1861, at Keokuk. The above com-
panies were independent military or^nizations before the war, and tendered
their services before breaking-out of hostilities. The First was engaged at the
battle of Wilson^s Creek, under Gen. Lyon, where it lost ten killed and fifty
wounded. Was nCiustered out at St. Louis Aug. 25, 1861.
THE SECOND INFANTRY
was organized, with Samuel R. Curtis, of Keokuk, as Colonel ; Jas. M. Tuttle,
of Keosauqua, as Lieutenant Colonel, and M. M. Crocker, of Des Moines, as
Major, and was mustered into the United States service at Keokuk in May,
1861. Company A was from Keokuk; Company B, from Scott County; Com-
pany C, from Scott County ; Company D, from Des Moines ; Company E, from
Fairfield, Jefferson Co. ; Company F, from Van Buren County ; Company G,
from Davis County; Company H, from Washington County ; Company I, from
Clinton County ; and Company K, from Wapello County. It participated in the
following engagements : Fort Donelson, Shiloh, advance on Corinth, Corinth,
Little Bear Creek, Ala.; Tunnel Creek, Ala.; Sesaca, 6a.; Rome Cross Roads,
Dallas, Kenesaw Mountain, Nick-a-Jack Creek, in front of Atlanta, January 22,
1864 ; siege of Atlanta, Jonesboro, Eden Station, Little Ogeechee, Savannah,
Columbia, S. C; Lynch*s Creek, and Bentonsville. Was on Sherman's march
to the sea, and through the Carolinas home. The Second Regiment of Iowa
Infantry Veteran Volunteers was formed by the consolidation of the battalions
of the Second and Third Veteran Infantry, and was mustered out at Louisville,
Ky., July 12, 1865.
THE THIRD INFANTRY
was organized with N. G. Williams, of Dubuque County, as Colonel ; John
Scott, of Story County, Lieutenant Colonel ; Wm. N. Stone, of Marion County,
Major, and was mustered into the United States service in May, 18t)l, at
Keokuk. Company A was from Dubuque County ; Company B, from Marion
County ; Company C, from Clayton County ; Company D, from Winneshiek
County ; Company E, from Boone, Story, Marshall and Jasper Counties ; Com-
pany F, from Fayette County ; Company G, from Warren County ; Company II,
from Mahaska County ; Company I, from Floyd, Butler Black Hawk and
Mitchell Counties, and Company K from Cedar Falls. It was engaged at Blut
Mills, Mo. ; Shiloh, Tenn. ; Hatchie River, Matamoras, Vicksburg, Johnson,
Miss., Meridian expedition, and Atlanta, Atlanta campaign and Sherman's
march to Savannah, and through the Carolinas to Richmond and Washington.
The veterans of the Third Iowa Infantry were consolidated with the Second,
and mustered out at Louisville, Ky., July 12, 18t)4.
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234 HISTORY OF THE STATE OF IOWA.
THE FOURTH INFANTRY
was organized with G. M. Dodge, of Council Bluffs, as Colonel; John
Galligan, of Davenport, as Lieutenant Colonel ; Wm. R. English, Glenwood,
as Major. Company A, from Mills County, was mustered in at Jefferson Bar-
racks, Missouri, August 15, 1861 ; Company B, Pottawattamie County, was
mustered in at Council Bluffs, August 8, 1861 ; Company C, Guthrie County,
mustered in at Jefferson Barracks, Mo., May 3, 1861 ; Company D, Decatur
County, at St. Louis, August 16th ; Company E, Polk County, at Council
Bluffs, August 8th; Company F, Madison County, Jefferson Barracks, August
15tb ; Company G, Ringgold County, at Jefferson Barracks, August 15th ;
Company H, Adams County, Jefferson Barracks, August 15th ; Company L
Wayne County, at St. Louis, August 31st; Company K, Taylor and Page
Counties, at St. Louis, August 31st. Was en^ged at Pea Ridge, Chickasaw
Bayou, Arkansas Post, Vicksburg, Jackson, Lookout Mountain, Missionary
Ridge, Ringgold, Resaca, Taylor's Ridge; came home on veteran furlough
February 26, 1864. Returned in April, and was in the campaign against
Atlanta, and Sherman's march to the sea, and thence through the Carolinas
to Washington and home. Was mustered out at Louisville, Kentucky, July
24, 1865.
THE FIFTH INFANTRY
was organized with Wm. H. Worthington, of Keokuk, as Colonel ; C Z. Mat-
thias, of Burlington, as Lieutenant Colonel; W. S. Robertson, of Columbus City,
as Major, and was mustered into the United States service, at Burlington, July
15, 1861. Company A was from Cedar County; Company B, from Jasper
County ; Company C, from Louisa County ; Company D, from Marshall County ;
Company E, from Buchanan County ; Company F, from Keokuk County ; Com-
pany G, from Benton County ; Company H, from Van Buren County ; Company
I, from Jackson County ; Company K, from Allamakee County ; was engaged at
New Madrid, siege of Corinth, luka, Corinth, Champion Hills, siege of Vicks-
burg, Chickamauga ; went home on veteran furlough, April, 1864. The non-
veterans went home July, 1864, leaving 180 veterans who were transferred to
the Fifth Iowa Cavalry. The Fifth Cavalry was mustered out at Nashville,
Tennessee, Aug, 11, 1865.
THE SIXTH INFANTRY.
was mustered into the service July 6, 1861, at Burlington, with John A,
McDowell, of Keokuk, as Colonel ; Markoe Cummins, of Muscatine, Lieuten-
ant Colonel ; John M. Corse, of Burlington, Major. Company A was from
Linn County ; Company B, from Lucas and Clarke Counties ; Company C,
from Hardin County ; Company D, from Appanoose County : Company E,
from Monroe County ; Company F, from Clarke County ; Company G, from
Johnson County; Company H, from Lee County; Company I, from Des
Moines County ; Company K, from Henry County. It was engaged at Shiloh,
Mission Ridge, Resaca, Dallas, Big Shanty, Kenesaw Mountain, Jackson, Black
River Bridge, Jones' Ford, etc., etc. The Sixth lost 7 oflScers killed in action, 18
wounded ; of enlisted men 102 were killed in action, 30 died of wounds, 124 of
disease, 211 were discharged for disability and 301 were wounded in action,
which was the largest list of casualties, of both oflBcers and men, of any reg-
iment from Iowa. Was mustered out at Louisville, Kentucky, July 21, 1865.
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HISTORY OP THE STATE OF IOWA. 285
THE SEVENTH INFANTRY
was mustered into the United States service at Burlington, July 24, 1861,
with J. G. Lauman, of Burlington, as Colonel ; Augustus Wentz, of Daven-
port, as Lieutenant Colonel, and E. W. Rice, of Oskaloosa, as Major. Com-
pany A was from Muscatine County ; Company B, from Chickasaw and Floyd
Counties ; Company C, from Mahaska County ; Companies D and E, from Lee
County ; Company F, from Wapello County ; Company G, from Iowa County ;
Company H, from Washington County ; Company I, from Wapello County ;
Company K, from Keokuk. Was engaged at the battles of Belmont (in which
it lost in killed, wounded and missing 237 men), Fort Henry, Fort Donelson,
Shiloh, siege of Corinth, Corinth, Rome Cross Roads, Dallas, New Hope
Church, Big Shanty, Kenesaw Mountain, Nick-a-Jack Creek, siege of Atlanta,
battle on 22d of July in front of Atlanta, Sherman's campaign to the ocean,
through the Carolinas to Richmond, and thence to Louisville. Was mustered
out at Loui8\nlle, Kentucky, July 12, 1865.
THE EIGHTH INFANTRY
was mustered into the United States service Sept. 12, 1861, at Davenport,
Iowa, with Frederick Steele, of the regular army, as Colonel ; James L. Geddes,
of Vinton, as Lieutenant Colonel, and J. C. Ferguson, of Knoxville, as Major.
Company A was from Clinton County ; Company" B, from Scott County ;
Company C, from Washington County ; Company D, from Benton and Linn
Counties; Company E, from Marion County; Company F, from Keokuk
County ; Company G, from Iowa and Johnson Counties ; Company H. from
Mahaska County ; Company I, from Monroe County ; Company K, from Lou-
isa County. Was engaged at the following battles : Shiloh (where most of the
regiment were taken prisoners of war), Corinth, Vicksburg, Jackson and Span-
ish Fort. Was mustered out of the United States service at Selma, Alabama,
April 20, 1866.
THE NINTH INFANTRY
was mustered into the United States service September 24, 1861, at Dubuque,
with Wm. Vandever, of Dubuque, Colonel ; Frank G. Herron, of Dubuque,
Lieutenant Colonel ; Wm. H. Coyle, of Decorah, Major. Company A was
from Jackson County ; Company B, from Jones County ; Company C, from Bu-
chanan County ; Company D, from Jones County ; Company E, from Clavton
County ; Company F, from Fayette County ; Company G, from Black Hawk
County ; Company H, from Winneshiek County ; Company I, from Howard
County and Company K, from Linn County. Was in the following engage^
ments : Pea Ridge, Chickasaw Bayou, Arkansas Post, siege of Vicksburg,
Ringgold, Dallas, Lookout Mountain, Atlanta campaign, Sherman's march to
the sea, and through North and South Carolina to Richmond. Was mustered
Ottt at Louisville, July 18, 1865.
THE TENTH INFANTRY
was mustered into the United States service at Iowa City September 6, 1861,
with Nicholas Perczel, of Davenport, as Colonel ; W. E. Small, of Iowa City,
as Lieutenant Colonel ; and John C. Bennett, of Polk County, as Major. Com-
pany A was from Polk County ; Company B, from Warren County ; Company
C, from Tama County ; Company D, from Boone County ; Company E, from
Washington County ; Company F, from Poweshiek County ; Company G, from
Digitized by VjOOQIC
s
286 HISTORY OF THE STATE OF IOWA.
Warren County ; Company H, from Greene County ; Company I, from Jasper
County ; Company K, from Polk and Madison Counties. Participated in the
following engagements : Siege of Corinth, luka, Corinth, Port Gibson, Ray-
mond, Jackson, Champion Hills, Vicksburg and Mission Ridge. In Septem-
ber, 1864, the non-veterans being mustered out, the veterans were transferred
to the Fifth Iowa Cavalry, where will be found their future operations.
THE ELEVENTH INFANTRY
was mustered into the United States service at Davenport, Iowa, in September
and October, 1861, with A. M. Hare, of Muscatine, as Colonel ; Jno. C. Aber-
crombie, as Lieutenant Colonel ; Wm. Hall, of Davenport, as Major. Com-
pany A was from Muscatine ; Company B, from Marshall and Hardin Counties ;
Company C, from Louisa County ; Company D, from Muscatine County ; Com-
pany E, from Cedar County ; Company F, from Washington County ; Company
G, from Henry County ; Company H, from Muscatine County ; Company I
from Muscatine County ; Company K, from Linn County. Was engaged in the
battle of Shiloh, siege of Corinth, battles of Corinth, Vicksburg, Atlanta cam-
laign, battle of Atlanta, July 22, 1864. Was m^istered out at Louisville, Ky.,
uly 15, 1866.
THE TWELFTH INFANTRY
was mustered into the United States service November 25, 1861, at Dubuque,
with J. J. Wood, of Maquoketa, as Colonel ; John P. Coulter, of Cedar Rapids,
Lieutenant Colonel ; Samuel D. Brodtbeck, of Dubuque, as Major. Company
A was from Hardin County ; Company B, from Allamakee County ; Company C,
from Fayette County ; Company D, from Linn County ; Company E, from Black
Hawk County ; Company F, from Delaware County ; Company G, from Winne-
shiek County ; Company H, from Dubuque and Delaware Counties ; Company
I, from Dubuque and Jackson Counties ; Company K, from Delaware County.
It was engaged at Fort Donelson, Shiloh, where most of the regiment was
captured, and those not captured were organized in what was called the Union
Brigade, and were in the battle of Corinth; the prisoners were exchanged
November 10, 1862, and the regiment re-organized, and then participating in
the siege of Vicksburg, battle of Tupelo, Miss.; White River, Nashville and
Spanish Fort. The regiment was mustered out at Memphis, January 20, 1866.
THE THIRTEENTH INFANTRY
was mustered in November 1, 1861, at Davenport, with M. M. Crocker, of Des
Moines, as Colonel ; M. M. Price, of Davenport, Lieutenant Colonel ; John
Shane, Vinton, Major. Company A was from Mt. Vernon ; Company B, from
Jasper County ; Company C, from Lucas County ; Company D, from Keokuk
County ; Company E, from Scott County ; Company F, from Scott and Linn
Counties ; Company G, from Benton County ; Company H, from Marshall County ;
Company I, from Washington County ; Company K, from Washington County.
It participated in the following engagements : Shiloh, siege of Corinth, Corintn,
Kenesaw Mountain, siege of v icksburg. Campaign against Atlanta. Was on
Sherman's march to the sea, and through North and South Carolina. Was
mustered out at Louisville July 21, 1865.
THE FOURTEENTH INFANTRY
was mustered in the United States service October, 1861, at Davenport, with
Wm, T. Shaw, of Anamosa, as Colonel ; Edward W. Lucas, of Iowa City, as
Digitized by
Googie
HISTORY OF THB STATE OF IOWA. 23T
Lieatenant Colonel ; Hiram Leonard, of Des Moines County, as Major. Com-
pany A was firom Scott County ; Company B, from Bremer County ; Company
D, from Henry and Van Buren Counties ; Company E, from Jasper County ;
Company F, from Van Buren and Henry Counties ; Company G, from Tama and
Scott Counties ; Company H, fix)m Linn County ; Company I, from Henry
County ; Company K, from Des Moines County. Participated in the follow-
ing engagements : Ft. Donelson, Shiloh, Corinth (where most of the regiment
were taken prisoners of war), Pleasant Hill, Meridian, Ft. De Russey, Tupelo,
Town Creek, Tallahatchie, Pilot Knob, Old Town, Yellow Bayou, etc., etc.,
and was mustered out, except veterans and recruits, at Davenport, Iowa, No-
Tember 16, 1864.
THE FIFTEENTH INFANTRY
was mustered into the United States service March 19, 1862, at Keokuk, with
Hugh T. Reid, of Keokuk, as Colonel ; Wm. Dewey, of Fremont County, as
Lieutenint Colonel ; W. W. Belknap, of Keokuk, as Major. Company A was
from Linn County ; Company B, from Polk County ; Company C, from Mahaska
County ; Company D, from Wapello County ; Company E, from Van Buren
County ; Company F, from Fremont and Mills Counties ; Company G, from
Marion and Warren Counties ; Company H, from Pottawattamie and Harrison
Counties ; Company I, from Lee, Van Buren and Clark Counties ; Company K,
from Wapello, Van Buren and Warren Counties. Participated in the battle of
Shiloh, siege of Corinth, battles of Corinth, Vicksburg, campaign against At-
lanta, battle in front of Atlanta, July 22^, 1864, and was under fire during
the siege of Atlanta eighty-one days; was on Sherman's march to the sea, and
through the Carolinas to Richmond, Washington and Louisville, where it was
mastered out, August 1, 1864.
THB SIXTEENTH INFANTRY
was mustered into the United States service at Davenport, Iowa, December 10,
1861, with Alexander Chambers, of the regular army, as Colonel; A. H.
Sanders, of Davenport, Lieutenant Colonel; Wm. rurcell, of Muscatine,
Major. Company A was from Clinton County ; Company B, from Scott
County; Company C, from Muscatine County; Company D, from Boone County;
Company E, from Muscatine County ; Company F, from Muscatine, Clinton and
Scott Counties ; Company O, from Dubuque County ; Company H, from Du-
buque and Clayton Counties ; Company I, from Black Hawk and Linn Counties ;
Company K, from Lee aud Muscatine Counties. Was in the battles of Shiloh,
si^ of Corinth, luka, Corinth, Kenesaw Mountain, Nick-a-Jack Creek, battles
around Atlanta; was in Sherman's campaigns, and the Carolina campaigns.
Was mustered out at Louisville, Ky., July 19, 1865.
THB SEVENTEENTH INFANTRY
was mustered into the United States service at Keokuk, in March and April,
1862, with Jno. W. Rankin, of Keokuk, Colonet; D. B. Hillis, of Keokuk,
as Lieutenant Colonel; Samuel M. Wise, of Mt. Pleasant, Major. Company
A was from Decatur County; Company B, from Lee County; Company C,
from Van Buren, Wapello and Lee Counties ; Company D, from Des Moines,
Van Buren and Jefferson Counties; Company E, from Wapello County; Com-
pany F, from Appanoose County ; Company G, from Marion County ; Com-
pany H, from Marion and Pottawattamie Counties; Company I, from Jefferson
and' Lee Counties; Company K, from Lee and Polk Counties. They were in
Digitized by VjOOQIC
238 HISTORY OF THE STATE OP IOWA.
the following engagements : Siege of Corinth, luka, Corinth, Jackson, Cham-
pion Hills, Fort Hill, siege of Vicksburg, Mission Ridge, and at Tilton, Gr»-,
Oct. 13, 1864, most of the regiment were taken prisoners of war. Was mus-
tered out at Louisville, Ky., July 26, 1865.
THE EIGHTEENTH INFANTRY
was mustered into the United States service August 5, 6 and 7, 1862, at Clin-
ton, with John Edwards, of Chariton, Colonel ; T. Z. Cook, of Cedar Rapida,
Lieutenant Colonel ; Hugh J. Campbell, of Muscatine, as Major. Company
A, was from Linn and various other counties ; Company B, from Clark County :
Company C, from Lucas County; Company D, from Keokuk and Wapello
Counties ; Company E, from Muscatine County; Company F, from Appanoose
County ; Company G, from Marion and Warren Counties ; Company H, from
Fayette and Benton Counties; Company I, from Washington County; Com-
pany K, from Wapello, Muscatine and Henry Counties, and was engaged in
the battles of Springfield, Moscow, Poison Spring, Ark.', and was mustered out
at Little Rock, Ark., July 20, 1865.
THE NINETEENTH INFANTRY
was mustered into the United States service August 17, 1862, at Keokuk, with
Benjamin Crabb, of Washington, as Colonel ; Samuel McFarland, of Mt. Pleas-
ant, Lieutenant Colonel, and Daniel Kent, of Ohio, Major. Company A was
from Lee and Van Buren Counties ; Company B, from Jefferson County ; Com-
pany C, from Washington County; Company D, from Jefferson County ; Com-
pany E, from Lee County; Company F, from Louisa County; Company G,
from Louisa County; Company H, from Van Buren County; Company I, from
Van Buren County ; Company K, from Henry County. Was engaged a Prairie
Grove, Vicksburg, Yazoo River expedition. Sterling Farm, September 29, 1863,
at which place they surrendered ; three officers and eight enlisted men were
killed, sixteen enlisted men were wounded, and eleven officers and two hundred
and three enlisted men taken prisoners out of five hundred engaged; Uiey
were exchanged July 22d, and joined their regiment August 7th, at New Or-
leans. Was engaged at Spanish Fort. Was mustered out at Mobile, Ala., July
10, 1866.
THE TWENTIETH INFANTRY
was mustered into the United States service August 25, 1862, at Clinton, with
Wm. McE. Dye, of Marion, Linn Co., as Colonel : J. B. Leek, of Davenport, as
Lieutenant Colonel, and Wm. G. Thompson, of Marion, Linn Co., as Major.
Companies A, B, F, H and I were from Linn County ; Companies C, D, E, G
and K, from Scott County, and was engaged in the following battles : Prairie
Grove, and assault on Fort Blakely. Was mustered out at Mobile, Ala., Julv
8, 1865. ^
THB TWENTY-FIRST INFANTRY
was mustered into the service at Clinton in June and August, 1862, with
Samuel Merrill (late Governor of Iowa) as Colonel ; Charles W. Dunlap, of
Mitchell, as Lieutenant Colonel ; S. G. VanAnda, of Delhi, as Major. Com-
pany A was from Mitchell and Black Hawk Counties ; Company B, from
Clayton County; Company C, from Dubuque County; Company D, fit)m
Clayton County ; Company E, from Dubuque County ; Company F, from Du-
buque County ; Company G, from Clayton County ; Company H, from Dela-
Digitized by VjOOQIC
HISTOKY OF THE STATE OP IOWA. 239
ware County ; Company I, from Dubuque County ; Company K, from Delaware
County, and was in the following engagements : Hartsville, Mo. ; Black River
Bridge, Fort Beauregard, was at the siege of Vieksburg, Mobile, Fort Blakely,
and was mustered out at Baton Rouge, La., July 15, 1865.
THE TWENTY-SECOND INFANTRY
was mustered into the United States service Sept. 10, 1862, at Iowa City, with
Wm. M. Stone, of Knoxville (since Governor of Iowa), as Colonel ; Jno. A.
Garrett, of Newton, Lieutenant Colonel ; and Harvey Graham, of Iowa City,
as Major. Company A was from Johnson County ; Company B, Johnson
County ; Company C, Jasper County ; Company D, Monroe County ; Company
E, Wapello County; Company F, Johnson County; Company G, Johnson
County ; Company H, Johnson County ; Company I, Johnson County ; Com-
pany K, Johnson County. Was engaged at Vieksburg, Thompson's Hill, Cham-
pion Hills, Sherman's campaign to Jackson, at Winchester, in Shenandoah Val-
ley, losing 109 men, Fisher's Hill and Cedar Creek. Mustered out at Savannah,
Ga., July 25, 1865.
THE TWENTY-THIRD INFANTRY
was mustered into United States service at Des Moines, Sept. 19, 1862, with
William Dewey, of Sidney, as Colonel ; W. H. Kinsman, of Council Bluffs, as
Lieutenant Colonel, and S. L. Glasgow, of Corydon, as Major. Companies
A, B and C, were from Polk County ; Company D, from Wayne County ; Com-
pany E, from Pottawattamie County ; Company F, from Montgomery County ;
Company G, from Jasper County ; Company H, from Madison County ; Com-
pany I, from Cass County, and Company K, from Marshall County. Was in
Vieksburg, and engaged at Port Gibson, Black River, Champion Hills, Vieks-
burg, Jackson, Milliken's Bend, Fort Blakely, and was mustered out at Harris-
burg, Texas, July 26, 1865
THE TWENTY-FOURTH
was mustered into United States service at Muscatine, September 18, 1862,
withEber C. Byam, of Mount Vernon, as Colonel; John Q. Wilds, of Mount
Vernon, as Lieutenant Colonel, and Ed. Wright, of Springdale, as Major.
Company A was from Jackson and Clinton Counties ; Companies B and C,
fix)m Cedar County; Company D, from Washington, Johnson and Cedar
Counties; Company E, from Tama County; Companies F, G and H, from
Linn County ; Company I, from Jackson County, and Company K, from Jones
County. Was engaged at Port Gibson, Champion Hills, Gen. Banks' Red
River expedition, Winchester and Cedar Creek. Was mustered out at Savan-
nah, Ga., July 17, 1865.
THE TWENTY-FIFTH INFANTRY
was organized with George A. Stone, of Mount Pleasant, as Colonel ; Fabian
Brydolf as Lieutenant Colonel, and Calom Taylor, of Bloomfield, as Major,
and was mustered into United States service at Mount Pleasant, September 27,
1862. Companies A and I were from Washington County ; Companies B and
H, from Henry County ; Company C, Irom Henry and Lee Counties ; Com-
panies D, E and G, from Des Moines County ; Company F, from Louisa
County, and Company K, from Des Moines and Lee Counties. Was engaged
at Arkansas Post, Vieksburg, Walnut Bluff, Chattanooga, Campain, King-
Digitized by VjOOQIC
240 HISTORY OF THE STATE OP IOWA.
gold, 6a., Resaca, Dallas, Kenesaw Mountain, battles around Atlanta, Love-
joy Station, Jonesboro, Ship's Grap, Bentonville, and on Sherman's march
through Georgia and the Caroling, to Richmond and Washington. Was
mastered out at Washington, D. C, June 6, 1866.
THB TWENTY- SIXTH
was organized and mustered in at Clinton, in August, 1862, with Milo Smith,
of Clinton, as Colonel ; S. G. Magill^ of Lyons, as Lieutenant Colonel, and
Samuel Clark, of De Witt, as Major. Company A was from Clinton and
Jackson Counties ; Company B, from Jackson County ; Companies C, D, E,
F, G, H, I and K, from Clinton County. Was engaged at Arkansas Post,
Vicksburg, Snake Creek Gap, G%„ Resaca, Dallas, Kenesaw Mountain, De-
catur, siege of Atlanta, Ezra Church, Jonesboro, Lovejoy Station, Ship's Gap,
Sherman's campaign to Savannah, went through the Carolinas, and was mus-
tered out of service at Washington, D. C, June 6, 1865.
THE TWENTY-SEVENTH
was mustered into United States service at Dubuque, Oct. 8, 1862, with James
I. Gilbert, of Lansing, as Colonel ; Jed Lake, of Independence, as Lieutenant
Colonel ; and G. W. Howard, of Bradford, as Major. Companies A, B and I
were from Allamakee County ; Companies C and H, from Buchanan County ;
Companies D and E, from Clayton County; Company F, from Delaware
County ; Company G, from Floyd and Chickasaw Counties, and Company K,
from Mitchell County. Engaged at Little Rock, Ark., was on Red River ex-
pedition, Fort De Kussey, rieasant Hill, Yellow Bayou, Tupelo, Old Town
Creek and Fort Blakely. Was mustered out at Clinton, Iowa, Aug. 8, 1865.
THE TWENTY-EIGHTH ^
was organized at Iowa City, and mustered in Nov. 10, 1862, with William E.
Miller, of Iowa City, as Colonel ; John Connell, of Toledo, as Lieutenant Colonel,
and H. B. Lynch, of Millersburg, as Major. Companies A and D were
from Benton County ; Companies JB and G, from Iowa County ; Companies
C, H and I, from Poweshiek County ; Company E, from Johnson County ;
Company F, from Tama County, and Company K, from Jasper County. Was
engaged at Port Gibson, Jackson and siege of Vicksburg ; was on Banks' Red
River expedition, and engaged at Sabine Cross Roads ; was engaged in Shen-
andoah Valley, Va., and engaged at Winchester, Fisher's Hill and Cedar Creek.
Was mustered out of service at Savannah, Ga., July 31, 1865.
THE TWENTY-NINTH
was organized at Council Bluffs, and mustered into the United States service
December 1, 1862, with Thomas H. Benton, Jr., of Council BluiTs, as Colonel;
R. F. Patterson, of Keokuk, as Lieutenant Colonel; and Charles B. Shoe-
maker, of Clarinda, as Major. Company A was from Pottawattamie County ;
Company B, from Pottawattamie and Mills Counties ; Company C, from Harrison
County ; Company D, from Adair and Adams Counties , Company E, from
Fremont County ; Company F, from Taylor County ; Company G, from Ring-
gold County. Was engaged at Helena, Arkansas and Spanish Fort. Was
mustered out at New Orleans August 15, 1865.
Digitized by VjOOQIC
HISTORY OP THE STATE OF IOWA. 241
THE THIRTIETH INFANTRY
was organized at Keokuk, and mustered into the United States senrice September
23, 1862, with Charles B. Abbott, of Louisa County, as Colonel ; Wm. M. G. Tor-
rence, of Keokuk, as Lieutenant Colonel ; and Lauren Dewey, of Mt. Pleasant, as
Major. Companies A and I were from Lee County ; Company B, from Davis
County ; Company C, from Des Moines County ; Company D, from Van Buren
County ; Companies E and K from Washington County ; Company F, from
Davis County; and Companies G and H, from Jefferson County. Was
engaged at Arkansas Post, Yazoo City, Vicksburg, Cherokee, Ala., Ringgold,
Resaca, Kenesaw Mountain, Atlanta, Lovejoy Station, Jonesboro, Taylor's
Ridge ; was in Sherman's campaigns to Savannah and through the Carolinas to
Richmond ; was in the grand review at Washington, D. C, where it was mus-
tered out June 5, 1865.
THB THIRTY-FIRST INFANTRY
was mustered into the service at Davenport October 18, 1862, with William
Smyth, of Marion, as Colonel ; J. W. Jenkins, of Maquoketa, as Lieutenant
Colonel ; and Ezekiel Cutler, of Anamosa, as Major. Company A was from
Linn County ; Companies B, C and D, from Black Hawk County ; Companies
E, G and H, from Jones County ; Companies F, I and K, from Jackson County.
Was engaged at Chickasaw Bayou, x^rkansas Post, Raymond, Jackson, Black
River, Vicksburg, Cherokee, Lookout Mountain, Mission Ridge, Ringgold,
Taylor 8 Hills, Snake Creek Gap, Resaca, Dallas, New Hope Church, Big
Shanty, Kenesaw Mountain, Atlanta, Jonesboro ; was in Sherman's campaign
through Georgia and the Carolinas, and was mustered out at Louisville, Ken-
tucky,'June 27, 1865
THE THIRTY-SECOND INFANTRY
was organized at Dubuque, with John Scott, of Nevada, as Colonel ; E. H.
Mix, of Shell Rock, as Lieutenant Colonel, and G. A. Eberhart, of Waterloo,
as Major. Company A was from Hamilton, Hardin and Wright Counties;
Company B, from Cerro Gordo County; Company C, from Black Hawk
County ; Company D, from Boone County ; Company E, from Butler County ;
Company F, from Hardin County; Company G, from Butler and Floyd Coun-
ties; Company H, from Franklin County; Company I, from Webster County,
' and Company K, from Marshall and Polk Counties, and was mustered into
the Unit€Kl States service October 5, 1862. Was engaged at Fort De Russey,
Pleasant Hill, Tupelo, Old Town Creek, Nashville, etc., and was mustered out
of the United States service at Clinton, Iowa, Aug. 24, 1865.
THE THIRTY-THIRD INFANTRY
was organized at Oskaloosa, with Samuel A. Rice, of Oskaloosa, as Colonel ;
Cyrus H. Maskey, of Sigourney, as Lieutenant Colonel, and Hiram D. Gibson,
of Knoxville, as Major. Companies A and I were from Marion County; Com-
panies B, F and H, from Keokuk County ; Companies C, D, E and K, from
Makaska County, and Company G, from Marion, Makaska and Polk Counties,
and mustered in October 1, 1862. Was engaged at Little Rock, Helena, Sa-
line River, Spanish Fort and Yazoo Pass. Was mustered out at New Orleans,
July 17, 1865.
Digitized by VjOOQIC
242 HISTORY OF THE STATE OF IOWA.
THE THIRTY-FOURTH INFANTRY
was organized with George W. Clark, of Indianola, as Colonel ; W. S. Dungan,
of Chariton, as Lieutenant Colonel, and R. D. Kellogg, of Decatur County, as
Major, and mustered in at Burlington, October 15, 1862. Companies A and I
were from Pecatur County ; Companies B, C and D, from Warren County ; Com-
pany E, from Lucas County; Company F, from Wayne County; Company G,
from Lucas and Clark Counties; Company H, from Madison and Warren
Counties, and Company K, from Lucas County. Was engaged at Arkansas
Post, Ft. Gaines, etc., etc. Was consolidated with the Thirty-eighth Infantry,
January 1, 1866, and mustered out at Houston, Texas, August 16, 1866.
THE THIRTY-FIFTH INFANTRY
was organized at Muscatine, and mustered in the United States service Sep-
tember 18, 1862, with S. G. Hill, of Muscatine, as Colonel ; James H. Roth-
rock, as Lieutenant Colonel, and Henry 0' Conner, of Muscatine, as Major.
Companies A, B, C, D and E, were from Muscatine County; Compwiy F,
from Muscatine and Louisa Counties ; Companies G, H and I, from Muscatine
and Cedar Counties, and Company K, from Cedar County. Participated in
the battles of Jacki^on, siege of Vicksburg, Bayou Rapids, Bayou de Glaze,
Pleasant Hill, Old River Lake, Tupelo, Nashville, etc. Was mustered out at
Davenport, August 10, 1865.
THE THIRTY-SIXTH INFANTRY
was organized at Keokuk, with Charles W. Kittredge, of Ottumwa, as Colonel ;
F. M. Drake, of Union ville, Appanoose County, as Lieutenant Colonel, and T.
C. Woodward, of Ottumwa, as Major, and mustered in October 4, 1862 ; Com-
?any A was from Monroe County; Companies B, D, E, H and K, from
tTapello County, and Companies C, F, G and I, from Appanoose County.
Was engaged in the following battles : Mark's Mills, Ark. ; Elkins' Ford,
Camden, Helena, Jenkins' Ferry, etc. At Mark's Mills, April 26, 1864, out
of 500 engaged, lost 200 killed and wounded, the balance being taken prisoners
of war ; was exchanged October 6, 1864. Was mustered out at Duvall's Bluff,
Ark., August 24, 1865.
THE THIRY-SEVENTH INFANTRY (OR GRAY BEARDS;
was organized with Geo. W. Kincaid, of Muscatine, as Colonel ; Geo. R. West,
of Dubuque, as Lieutenant Colonel, and Lyman Allen, of Iowa City, as Major,
and was mustered into United States service at Muscatine December 15, 1862.
Company A was from Black Hawk and Linn Counties ; Company B, from
Muscatine County ; Company C, from Van Buren and Lee Counties ; Company
D, from Johnson and Iowa Counties ; Company E, from Wapello and Mahaska
Counties ; Company F, from Dubuque County ; Company G, from Appanoose,
Des Moines, Henry and Washington Counties ; Company H, from Henry and
Jefferson Counties ; Company I, from Jasper, Linn and other counties, and
Company K, from Scott and Fayette Counties. The object of the Thirty-
seventh was to do garrison duty and let the young men go to the front. It was
mustered out at Davenport on expiration of three years' service.
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HISTORY OP THE STATE OP IOWA. 248
THE THIRTY-EIGHTH INFANTRY
fras organized at Dubaque, and mustered m November 4, 1862, with D. H.
Hughes, of Decorah, as Colonel ; J. 0. Hudnutt, of Waverly, as Lieutenan,
Colonel, and Charles Chadwick, of West Union, as Major. Companies A, Ft
G and H were from Fayette County ; Company B, from Bremer County ; Com-
pany C, from Chickasaw County ; Companies D, E and K, from Winneshiek
County, and Company I, from Howard County. Participated in the siege of
Vicksburg, Banks* Red River expedition, and on December 12, 1864, was
consolidated with the Thirty-fourth Infantry. Mustered out at Houston, Texas,
August 16, 1865.
THE THIRTY-NINTH INFANTRY
was organized with H. J. B. Cummings, of Winterset, as Colonel ; James Red-
field, of Redfield, Dallas County, as Lieutenant Colonel ; and J. M. Griffiths,
of Des Moines, as Major. Companies A and F were from Madison County ;
Companies B and I, from Polk County; Companies C and H, from Dallas
County ; Company D, from Clark County; Company E, from Greene County ;
Company G, from Dee Moines and Henry Counties ; and Company K, from
Clark and Decatur Counties. Was engaged at Parker's Cross Roads, Tenn.;
Corinth, Allatoona, Ga.; Resaca, Kenesaw Mountain, Atlanta, Sherman's march
to Savannah and through the Carolinas to Richmond, and was mustered out at
Washington June 6, 1865.
THB FORTIETH INFANTRY
was organized at Iowa City November 15, 1862, with John A. Garrett, of
Newton, as Colonel; S. F. Cooper, of Grinnell, as Lieutenant Colonel; and
8. G. Smith, of Newton, as Major. Companies A and H were from Marion
County ; Company B, from Poweshiek County ; Company C, from Mahaska
County ; Companies D and E, from Jasper (Jounty ; Company F, from Ma-
haska and Marion Counties ; Company G, from Marion County ; Company I,
from Keokuk County ; and Company K, from Benton and other counties. Par-
ticipated in the siege of Vicksburg, Steele's expedition, Banks' Red River
exj^tion, Jenkins' Ferry, etc. Was mustered out at Port Gibson August 2,
1866.
THE FORTY-FIRST INFANTRY,
formerly Companies A, B and C of the Fourteenth Infantry, became Compa-
nies K, L and M of the Seventh Cavalry, under authority of the War Depart-
ment. Its infantry organization was under command of John Pattee, of Iowa
City. Company A was from Black Hawk, Johnson and other counties ; Com-
pany B, fix>m Johnson County ; and Company C, from Des Moines and various
counties.
THE FORTY-FOURTH INFANTRY (100 DAYS)
was omnized at Davenport, and mustered in June 1, 1864. Company A was
from Dubuque County ; Company B, Muscatine County ; Company C, Jones,
Linn and Dubuque Counties ; Company D, Johnson ana Linn Counties ; Cora-
Pftiiy E, Bremer and Butler Counties; Company F, Clinton and Jackson
Counties ; Company G, Marshall and Hardin Counties ; Company H, Boone
aad Polk Counties; Companies I and K, Scott County. The f^orty-fourth
did garrison duty at Memphis and La Grange, Tenn. Mustered out at Daven-
port, September 15, 1864.
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244 HISTORY OF THE STATE OF IOWA.
THE FORTY-FIFTH INFANTRY (100 DAYS)
was mustered in at Keokuk, May 25, 1864, with A. H. Bereman, of Mount
Pleasant, as Colonel ; S. A. Moore, of Bloomfield, as Lieutenant Colonel, and
J. B. Hope, of Washington, as Major. The companies were from the following
counties : A, Henry ; B, Washington ; C, Lee ; D, Davis ; E, Henry and
Lee ; F, Des Moines ; G, Des Moines and Henry ; H, Henry ; I, Jefferson,
and K, Van Buren. Was mustered out at Keokuk, September 16, 1864.
THE FORTY-SIXTH INFANTRY (100 DAYS)
was organized with D. B. Henderson, of Clermont, as Colonel ; L. D. Durbin,
of Tipton; as Lieutenant Colonel, and G. L. Tarbet, as Major, and was mus-
tered in at Dubuque, June 10, 1864. Company A was from Dubuque; Com-
pany B, from Poweshiek ; C, from Dallas and Guthrie ; D, from Taylor and
Fayette ; E, from Ringgold and Linn ; F, from Winneshiek and Delaware ; G,
from Appanoose and Delaware ; H, from Wayne ; I, from Cedar, and K, from
Lucas. Was mustered out at Davenport, September 23, 1864.
THE FORTY-SEVENTH INFANTRY (100 DAYS)
was mustered into United States service at Davenport, June 4, 1864, with
James P. Sanford, of Oskaloosa, as Colonel ; John Williams, of Iowa City, as
Lieutenant Colonel, and G. J. Wright, of Des Moines, as Major. Company
A was from Marion and Clayton Counties; Company B, from Appanoose
County ; Company C, from Wapello and Benton Counties ; Company B, fit)m
Buchanan and Linn Counties; Company E, from Madison County; Company
F, from Polk County ; Company G, from Johnson County ; Company H, from
Keokuk County ; Company I, from Mahaska County, and Company K, from
Wapello.
THE FORTY-EIGHTH INFANTRY — BATTALION— (100 DAYS)
was organized at Davenport, and mustered in July 13, 1864, with 0. H. P.
Scott, of Farmington, as Lieutenant Colonel. Company A was from Warren
County ; Company B, from Jasper County ; Company C, from Decatur County,
and Company D, from Des Moines and Lee Counties, and was mustered out at
Rock Island Barracks Oct. 21, 1864.
CAVALRY.
THE FIRST CAVALRY
was organized at Burlington, and mustered into the United States service May
3, 1861, with Fitz Henry Warren, of Burlington, as Colonel ; Chas. E. Moss,
of Keokuk, as Lieutenant Colonel ; and E. W. Chamberlain, of Burlington,
James 0. Gower, of Iowa City, and W. M. G. Torrence, of Keokuk, as Majors.
Company A was from Lee, Van Buren and Wapello Counties ; Company B,
from Clinton County ; Company C, from Des Moines and Lee Counties ; Com-
pany D, from Madison and Warren Counties; Company E, from Henry^
^ County ; Company F, from Johnson and Linn Counties ; Company G, from'
' Dubuque and Black Hawk Counties ; Company H, from Lucas and Morrison
Counties ; Company I, from Wapello and Des Moines Counties ; Company K,
from Allamakee and Clayton Counties ; Company L, from Dubuque and other
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HISTORY OF THE STATE OF IOWA. 245
counties; Company M, from Clinton County. It was engaged at Pleasant
Hill, Mo.; Rolla, New Lexington, Elkins' Ford, Little Rock, Bayou Metoe,
Wjmrensburg, Big Creek Bluffs, Antwineville, Clear Creek, etc. Was mustered
out at Austin, Texas, February 15, 1866.
THE SECOND CAVALRY
was organized with W. L. Elliott, of the regular army, as Colonel ; Edward
Hatch, of Muscatine, as Lieutenant Colonel ; and N. P. Hepburn, of Marshall-
town, D. E. Coon, of Mason City, and H. W. Love, of Iowa City, as Majors,
and was mustered into the United States service at Davenport September 1,
1861. Company A was from Muscatine County ; Company B, from Marshall
County ; Company C, from Scott County ; Company D, from Polk County ;
Company E, from Scott County; Company F, from Hamilton and Franklin
Counties ; Company G, from Muscatine County ; Company H, from Johnson
County ; Company I, from Cerro Gordo, Delaware and other counties ; Com-
pany K, from Des Moines County ; Company L, from Jackson County, and
Company M, from Jackson County. The Second Cavalry participated in the
following military movements : Siege of Corinth, battles of Farmington, Boone-
ville, Rienzi, luka, Corinth, Coffeeville, Palo Alto, Birmingham, Jackson,
Grenada, Collierville, Moscow, Pontotoc, Tupelo, Old Town, Oxford, and en-
gagements against Hood's march on Nashville, battle of Nashville, etc. Was
mustered out at Selma, Ala., September 19, 1865.
THE THIRD CAVALRY
was organized and mustered into the United States service at Keokuk, in Au-
gust and September, 1861, with Cyrus Bussey, of Bloomfield, as Colonel; H.
H. Bussey, of Bloomfield, as Lieutenant Colonel, and C. H. Perry, H. C. Cald-
well and W. C. Drake, of Corydon, as Majors. Companies A and E were from
Davis County; Company B, from Van Buren and Lee Counties; Company C,
from Lee and Keokuk Counties; Company D, from Davis and Van Buren
Counties; Company F, from Jefferson County; Company G, from Van Buren
County; Company H, from Van Buren and Jeflferson Counties; Company I,
from Appanoose County; Company K, from Wapello and Marion Counties;
Company L, from Decatur County, and Company M, from Appanoose and De-
catur Counties. It was engaged in the following battles and skirmishes:
Pea Ridge, La Grange, Sycamore, near Little Rock, Columbus, Pope's Farm,
Big Blue, Ripley, Coldwater, Osage, Tallahatchie, Moore's Mill, near Monte-
vallo, near Independence, Pine Bluff, Botts' Farm, Gun Town, White's Station,
Tupelo, Village Creek. Was mustered out of United States service at Atlanta,
Ga., August 9, 1865.
THE FOURTH CAVALRY
was organized with Asbury B. Porter, of Mount Pleasant, as Colonel ; Thomas
Drummond, of Vinton, as Lieutenant Colonel ; S. D. Swan, of Mount Pleas-
ant, J. E. Jewett, of Des Moines, and G. A. Stone, of Mo\vnt Pleasant, as
Majors, and mustered into United States service at Mount Pleasant November
21, 1861. Company A was from Delaware County ; Company C, from Jef-
ferson and Henry Counties ; Company D, from Henry County ; Company E,
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246 HISTORY OP THE STATE OF IOWA.
from Jasper and Poweshiek Counties ; Company F, from Wapello County ;
Company G, from Lee and Henry Counties ; Company H, from Chickasaw
County; Company I, from Madison County; Company K, from Henry
County; Company L, from Des Moines and other counties; and Company M,
from Jefferson County. The Fourth Cavalry lost men in the following engage-
ments : Guntown, Miss.; Helena, Ark.; near Bear Creek, Miss.; near Mem-
phis, Tenn.; Town Creek, Miss.; Columbus, Ga.; Mechanicsburg, Miss.; Little
Blue River, Ark.; Brownsville, Miss.; Ripley, Miss.; Black River Bridge,
Miss.; Grenada, Miss.; Little Red River, Ark.; Tupelo, Miss.; Yazoo River,
Miss.; White River, Ark.; Osage, Kan.; Lick Creek, Ark.; Okalona, Miss.;
St. Francis River, Ark. Was mustered out at Atlanta, Ga., August 10, 1865.
THE FIFTH CAVALRY
was organized at Omaha with Wm. W. Lowe, of the regular army, as Colo-
nel ; M. T. Patrick, of Omaha, as Lieutenant Colonel ; and C. S. Bernstein,
of Dubuque, as Major, and mustered in September 21, 1861. Companies A,
B, C and D were mostly from Nebraska ; Company E, from Dubuque County ;
Company F, from Des Moines, Dubuque and Lee Counties ; Company G, from
Minnesota ; Company H, from Jackson and other counties ; Companies I and
K were from Minnesota ; Company L, from Minnesota and Missouri ; Com-
pany M, from Missouri ; Companies G, I and K were transferred to Minnesota
Volunteers Feb. 25, 1864. The new Company G was organized from veterans
and recruits and Companies C, E, F and I of Fifth Iowa Infantry, and trans-
ferred to Fifth Cavalry August 8, 1864. The second Company I was organ-
ized from veterans and recruits and Companies A, B, D, G, H and K of the
Fifth Iowa Infantry, and transferred to Fifth Iowa Cavalry August 18, 1864.
Was engaged at second battle of Fort Donelson, Wartrace, Duck River Bridge,
Sugar Creek, Newnan, Camp Creek, Cumberland Works, Tenn.; Jonesboro,
Ebenezer Church, Lockbridge's Mills, Pulaski, Cheraw, and mustered out at
Nashville, Tenn., August 11, 1865.
THE SIXTH CAVALRY.
was organized with D. S. Wilson, of Dubuque, as Colonel ; S. M. Pollock, of
Dubuque, as Lieutenant Colonel ; T. H. Shephard, of Iowa City, E. P. Ten-
Broeck, of Clinton, and A. E. House, of Delhi, as Majors, and was mustered
in at Davenport, January 31, 1863. Company A was from Scott and other
counties ; Company B, from Dubuque and other counties ; Company C, from
Fayette County; Company D, from Winneshiek County; Company E, from
Southwest counties of the State; Company F, from Allamakee and other
counties ; Company G, from Delaware and Buchanan Counties ; Company H,
from Linn County; Company I, from Johnson and other counties; Company
K, from Linn County ; Company L, from Clayton County ; Company M, from
Johnson and Dubuque Counties. The Sixth Cavalry operated on thefrontier
against the Indians. Was mustered out at Sioux City, October 17, 1865.
THE SEVENTH CAVALRY
was organized at Davenport, and mustered into the United States service April
27, 1863, with S. W. Summers, of Ottumwa, as Colonel ; John Pattee, of Iowa
City, as Lieutenant Colonel ; H. H. Heath and G. M. O'Brien, of Dubuque,
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HISTORY OF THE STATE OF IOWA. 247
and Jolm S. Wood, of Ottumwa, as Majors. Companies A, B, C and D, were
from Wapello and other counties in immediate vicinity ; Companies E, F, G
and H, were from all parts of the State ; Company I, from Sioux City and
known as Sioux City Cavalry; Company K was originally Company A of the
Fourteenth Infantry and afterward Company A of the Forty-first Infantry, was
from Johnson and other counties ; Company L was originally Company B, of
the Forty-first Infantry and afterward Company B, of the Forty , and
was from Johnson County; Company M was originally Company C, of the
Fourteenth Infantry, and afterward Company C, of the Forty-first and from Des
Moines and other counties. The Seventh Cavalry operated against the Indi-
ans. Excepting the Lieutenant Colonel and Companies K, L and M, the regi-
ment was mustered out at Leavenworth, Kansas, May 17, 1866. Companies
K, L, and M were mustered out at Sioux City, June 22, 1866.
THE EIGHTH CAVALRY
was organized with J. B. Dorr, of Dubuque, as Colonel ; H. G. Bamer, of
Sidney, as Lieutenant Colonel ; John J. Bowen, of Hopkinton, J. D. Thompson,
of Eldora, and A. J. Price, of Guttenburg, as Majors, and^ere mustered in at
Davenport September 30, 1863. The companies were mostly from the follow-
ing counties : Company A, Page ; B, Wapello ; C, Van Buren ; D, Ring-
gold; E, Henry; F, Appanoose; G, Clayton; H, Appanoose; I, Marshall;
K, Muscatine; L, Wapello ; M, Polk. The Eighth did a large amount of dutjr
guarding Sherman's communications, in which it had many small engagements.
It was in the battles of Lost Mountain, Lovejoy's Station, Newnan, Nashville,
etc. Was on Stoneman's cavalry raid around Atlanta, and Wilson's raid
through Alabama. Was mustered out at Macon, Ga., August 13, 1865.
THE NINTH CAVALRY
was mustered in at Davenport, November 30, 1863, with M. M. Trumbull, of
Cedar Falls, as Colonel ; J. P. Knight, of Mitchell, as Lieutenant Colonel ; E.
T. Ensign, of Des Moines, Willis Drummond, of McGregor, and William Had-
dock, of Waterloo, as Majors. Company A was from Muscatine County ;
Company B, Linn County; Company C, Wapello and Decatur Counties ; Com-
pany D, Washington County ; Company E, Fayette County ; Company F,
Clayton County ; Companies G and H, various counties ; Company I, Wapello
and Jefferson Counties ; Company K, Keokuk County ; Company L, Jasper
and Marion Counties ; Company M, Wapello and Lee Counties. Was mustered
oat at Little Rock, Ark., February 28, 1866.
ARTILLERY.
THl PIKST BATTERY OP LIGHT ARTILLERY
was enrolled in the counties of Wapello, Des Moines, Dubuque, Jefferson^
Black Hawk, etc., and was mustered in at Burlington, Aug. 17, 1861, with C. H.
Fletcher, of Burlington, as Captain. Was engaged at Pea Ridge, Port Gibson,
m Atlanta campaign, Chickasaw Bayou, Lookout Mountain, etc. Was mus-
tered out at Davenport July 5, 1865.
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248 HISTORY OF THE STATE OF IOWA.
THE SECOND BATTERY OF LIGHT ARTILLERY
was enrolled in the counties of Dallas, Polk, Harrison, Fremont and Pottawat-
tamie, and mustered into United States service at Council Bluffs and St. Louis,
Mo , Aug. 8 and 31, 1861, with Nelson T. Spear, of Council Bluffs, as
Captain. Was engaged at Farmington, Corinth, etc. Was mustered out at
Davenport, Aug. 7, 1865.
THE THIRD BATTERY OF LIGHT ARTILLERY
was enrolled in the counties of Dubuque, Black Hawk, Butler and Floyd, and
mustered into United States service at Dubuque, September, 1861, with M.
M. Hayden, of Dubuque, as Captain. Was at battle of Pea Ridge, etc., etc.
Was mustered out at Davenport, Oct. 23, 1865.
THE FOURTH BATTERY OF LIGHT ARTILLERY
was enrolled in Mahaska, Henry, Mills and Fremont Counties, and was mus-
tered in at Davenport, Nov. 23, 1863, with P. H. Goode, of Glenwood, Cap-
tain. Was mustered out at Davenport, July 14, 1865.
MISCELLANEOUS.
THE FOURTH BATTALION
Company A, from Fremont County, W. Hoyt, Captain ; Company B, firom
Taylor County, John Flick, Captain; Company C, from Page County, J.
Whitcomb, Captain.
THE NORTHERN BORDER BRIGADE
was organized by the State of Iowa to protect the Northwestern firontier,
James A. Sawyer, of Sioux City, was elected Colonel. It had Companies A,
B, C, D and E, all enlisted from the Northwestern counties.
THE SOUTHERN BORDER BRIGADE
was organized by the State for the purpose of protecting the Southern border
of the State, and was organized in counties on the border of Missouri. Com-
pany A, First Battalion, was from Lee County, Wm. Sole, Captain ; Company B,
First Battalion, Joseph Dickey, Captain, from Van Buren County; Company
A, Second Battalion, from Davis County, Capt. H. B. Horn; Company B, Sec-
ond Battalion, from Appanoose County, E. B. Skinner, Captain; Company A,
Third Battalion, from Decatur County, J. H. Simmons, Captain; Company B,
Third Battalion, from Wayne County, E. F. Estel, Captain ; Company C,
Third Battalion, from Ringgold County, N. Miller, Captain.
THE FIRST INFANTRY — AFRICAN DESCENT — (SIXTIETH U. S.)
was organized with John G. Hudson, Captain Company B, Thirty-third Mis-
souri, as Colonel ; M. F. Collins, of Keokuk, as Lieutenant Colonel, and J. L.
Murphy, of Keokuk, as Major. Had ten companies, and were mustered in at
various places in the Fall of 1863. The men were from all parts of the State
and some from Missouri.
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HISTOEY OF THE STATE OF IOWA. 249
Daring the war, the following promotions were made by the United State?
Government from Iowa regiments:*
KAJOB GENERALS
Samuel R. Curtis, Brigadier General, from March 21, 1862.
Frederick Steele, Brigadier General, from November 29, 1862.
Frank J. Herron, Brigadier General, from November 29, 1862.
GrenviUe M. Dodge, Brigadier General, from June 7, 1864.
BRIGADIEB GENERALS.
Samuel R. Curtis, Colonel 2d Infantry, from May 17, 1861.
Frederick Steele, Colonel 8th Infantry, from February 6, 1862.
Jacob G. Lauman, Colonel 7th Infantry, from March 21, 1862.
GrenviUe M. Dodge, Colonel 4th Infantry, from March 81, 1862.
James M. Tuttle, Colonel 2d Infantry, from June 9, 1862.
Washington L. Elliott, Colonel 2d Cavalry, from June 11, 1862.
Fitz Henry Warren, Colonel 1st Cavalry , from July 6, 1862.
Frank J. Herron, Lieutenant Colonel 9th Infantry, from July 80, 1862.
Charles L. Matthies, Colonel 5th Infantry, from November 29, 1862.
William Vandever, Colonel 9th Infantry, from November 29, 1862.
Marcellus M. Crocker, Colonel 18th Infantry, from Nov. 29, 1862. (Since died.)
Hugh T. Reid, Colonel 15th Infantry from March 18, 1868.
Samuel A. Rice, Colonel 33d Infantry, from August 4, 1863.
John M. Corse, Colonel 6th Infantry, from August 11, 1863.
Cyrus Bussey, Colonel 3d Cavalry, from January 5, 1864.
Edward Hatch, Colonel 2d Cavalry, from April 27, 1864
Elliott W. Rice, Colonel 7th Infantry, from June 20, 1864.
Wm. W. Belknap, Colonel 15th Infantry, from July 30, 1864.
John Edwards, Colonel 18th Infantry, from September 26, 1864..
James A. Williamson, Colonel 4th Infantry, from January 13, 1864.
James I. Gilbert, Colonel 27th Infantry, from Febiniary 9, 1865.
BREVET MAJOR GENERALS.
John M. Corse, Brigadier General from October 5, 1864.
Edward Hatch, Brigadier General, from December 15, 1864.
Wm. W. Belknap, Brigadier General, from March 13, 1865.
W. L. Elliott, Brigadier General, from March 13, 1865.
Wm. Vandever, Brigadier General, from June 7, 1865.
BBEVET BRIGADIER GENERALS.
Wm. T. Clark, A. A. G., late of 13th Infantry, from July 22, 1864.
Edward F. Winslow, Colonel 4th Cavalry, from December 12, 1864.
8. G. Hill, Colonel 85th Infantry, from December 15, 1864. (Since died.)
Thos. H. Benton, Colonel 29th Infantry, from December 15, 1864.
Samuel L. Glasgow, Colonel 23d Infantry, from December 19, 1864.
Clark R. Wever, Colonel 17th Infantry, from February 9, 1865.
Francis M. Drake, Lieutenant Colonel 36th Infantry, from February 22, 1865.
George A. Stone, Colonel 25th Infantry, from March 13, 1865.
Datus E. Coon, Colonel 2d Cavalry, from March 8, 1865.
George W. Clark, Colonel 34th Infantry, from March 13, 1865.
Herman H. Heath, Colonel 7th Cavalry, from March 13, 1865.
J. M. Hedrick, Colonel 15th Infantry, from March 13, 1865.
^ W. W. Lowe, Colonel 5th Cavalry, from March 13, 1865.
/TbonM J. M cKean was appointed Paymaster in U. S. A. firom Io^ml and sabsequenUj promoted Brigadier Genetml,
toaste from Nov. 21, 1861. •'*~ "^ ^ -i / »- f ~^^^i^
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250
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264
HISTORY OP THE STATE OF IOWA.
NUMBER OF TROOPS FURNISHED BY THE STATE OF IOWA
DURING THE WAR OF THE REBELLION,
TO JANUARY 1, 1866.
No. Regiment.
Ist Iowa
2d
Bd
4th
6th
6th
7th
8th
9th
10th
nth
12th
Idth
14th
16th
16th
17th
18th
19th
20th
2l8t
22d
28d
24th
26th
26th
27th
28th
29th
80th
8l8t
82d
88d
84th
86th
86th
87th
88th
Infantry..
No. of]
men,
969
1,247
1,074
1,184
1,087
1.018
1,138
1,027
1,090
1,027
1.022
981
989
840
1,196
919
966
876
985
925
980
1,008
961
979
995
919
940
956
1,006
978
977
925
986
958
984
986
914
910
89th Iowa Infantry
40th " "
4l6t Battalion Iowa Infantry....
44th In&ntry (lOO-days men)..
46th «« ** " ..
46th " " ** ..
47th " " ** .,
48th Battalion " " ..
Ist Iowa Cayaliy
2d " "
No. Regiment.
|No. of
men.
8d *« "
4th " "
6th " "
6th " "
7th " "
8th «* «*
9th " "
Sioux City Cavalry*
Co. A, 11th Penn. Cavalry..
let Battery Artillery
2d «» «'
8d " «*
4th " "
Ist Iowa African Infantry, 60th U. Sf
Dodge's Bri«kde Band
Band of 2d Iowa Infantry
Enlistments as far as reported to Jan. 1.
1864, for the older Iowa regiments..
Enlistments of Iowa men in regiments
of other States, over
Total
Re-enlisted Veterans for different Regi-
ments
Additional enlistments
Grand total as for as reported up to Jan.
1, 1866
988
900
294
867
912
892
884
346
1,478
1,894
1,860
1,227
1,245
1,125
562
1,284
1,178
98
87
149
128
142
152
908
14
10
2,766
2,500
61,668
7,202
6,664
75,519
This does not include those Iowa men who veteranized in the regiments of other States, nor
the names of men who enlisted during 1864, In regiments of other States.
* Afterward consolidated with Seventh Cavalry,
t Only a portion of this regiment was credited to the State.
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HISTOBT OF THE STATE OF IOWA.
255
POPULATION OF IOWA,
By Counties,
COUNTIES.
, AGGREGATE.
1S75.
1S70.
1S60.
1850.
1840.
Toters.
AdMT
7045
7832
19168
17406
2370
28807
22918
17261
13220
17316
8661
8982
4614
17868
16456
1212
22464
21706
14684
12528
17084
1685
984
1633
12237
11931
454
8496
8244
4232
4916
7906
57
1616
Adunff
1727
Allamakee
777
3131
8668
Appanoose
Aadubon •
8679
627
Benton
672
135
736
4778
Black Hawk
4877
Boone «...,
••••••
8516
Bremer
2656
Buchanan
617
8890
BuenaVistA
817
Banoombe^
BuUer
11734
8185
6760
10562
17879
6686
4249
11400
10118
8659
27184
84296
6039
14886
16767
13249
16893
86415
1748
43846
1436
20516
13100
6558
18719
7028
8184
9638
7701
1482
16029
11818
21694
7876
8455
794
17466
28061
24128
17127
24664
19168
9961
1602
2461
5464
19731
4722
1967
10180
8736
1623
27771
36357
2680
12019
15665
12018
17432
27266
1389
88969
1392
16973
10768
4788
11173
4627
6399
7061
6055
999
13684
8981
21463
6282
2696
226
16644
22619
22116
17839
24898
19781
8724
147
281
1612
12949
940
68
4836
6427
62
20728
18938
888
5244
13764
8677
11024
19611
180
81164
105
12078
8744
1809
6074
1374
793
8058
1699
179
5440
8621
18701
8168
832
43
8029
18498
9888
16038
17578
18306
2698
Calhoun
681
CmtoIL.
1197
CaB8«
2422
Cedar
8941
1268
8934
Ccnro Gordo
1526
Cherokee
1001
Chickasaw
2392
Clarke
79
2218
dftT
868
Clayton
8873
2822
1101
821
6272
Clinton .•.........•••
6569
Crawford
1244
Ddhw
864
7264
965
1769
12988
8170
Dtiis
3448
Decatur
2882
Delaware
168
5577
8662
Des Moines
6654
Dickinson ■
894
Dubuque
10841
8069
8769
Timmett . ,..».r,...-,..T,,.
299
Fkjette
825
4687
Flojd
2884
Franklin
1374
Fremont
1244
2998
Oreene
1622
Grundy.
1525
Quthrie »
2889
Hamilton .t. ....
1466
Hancock
808
Hirdin
8215
Harrison
2658
Henry
Howard
8707
8772
4641
1712
Humboldt
695
Ida
172
Iowa
822
7210
1280
9904
4472
3007
8576
Jackson
1411
4901
Ja8pcr„
6239
Jefferson
2773
1491
471
8721
Johnson
5225
Jones
4180
* In 1862, name changed to Lyon.
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256
HISTORY OF THE STATE OP IOWA.
POPULATION OF IOWA— Concludbd.
COUNTIES-
AOGBEQATB.
1»75.
1870.
I860.
I860.
1840.
▼•tem.
Keokuk
20488
8766
88918
81816
12499
11725
1189
16080
28718
24094
19629
10556
11528
2267
12811
10889
21628
2349
1778
14274
2728
5282
2249
81558
21665
16482
7546
2873
89768
6664
8120
13111
18771
10418
8827
16980
23866
18541
19269
18978
18114
2986
24238
8668
4908
8244
19484
8851
88210
28852
12877
10388
221
18884
22608
24436
17676
8718
9682
3664
12724
5934
21688
715
1827)
416
29232
18947
10870
5766
4822
4202
Kossuth
778
Lee
18861
5444
4989
471
6093
1373
1927
7274
Linn ..«
7509
L0Ui8ft-»tTTT-*..Tr..TT»TT.TT.-»»»-f---»-»T.T..
2899
Lnoftfl
2464
LTon*.
287
Madison
7339
14816
16818
6016
4481
8409
832
8612
1256
16444
"8
1179
5989
5482
838
8682
Mahaska
6287
Marion . ..—
49^
Marshall
4445
Mills
^^^^
2365
\fiiAh»11
2388
Monona
1292
Monroe
2884
2748
Montflromorv . ... ......................
2486
Muscatine
5731
1942
6588
O'Brien
695
Osceola
498
Pa^re
9975
1336
2199
1446
27857
16893
16681
6691
1411
88699
2540
576
11661
16131
6989
6986
17672
22346
17980
18952
11287
10484
1562
23570
6172
2892
2392
4419
182
148
103
11626
4968
5668
2923
246
25959
818
10
4061
5285
8590
' 2012
17081
14518
10281
14286
6409
2604
168
18942
1119
756
653
551
8222
Palo Alto
556
Plymouth
1186
PnAnhontAfl
464
Polk
4513
7828
616
6842
Pottawattomie
4392
Poweshiek....
8634
Ringgold
1496
Qf^ . , ,
657
Scott
5986
2140
7109
Shelby
1084
Sioux
687
gtorr
2674
Tama .
8
204
8911
Taylor
2282
Uidon
1924
Van Buren
12270
8471
961
4957
840
6146
8898
Wapello
5846
Warren
4168
Washington
1594
4168
^i^yne ••... •
2947
Webster ..
;!!;!;;*.;!!!
2747
Winnebago
Winneshiek
406
646
4117
Woodhnrv ..
1776
Worth
766
Wright
::::::::;:;::::;;:::;:;;
694
Total
1858118
1191792
674918
192214
48112
284567
* Formerly Buncombe.
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THE NORTHWBSTEKN STATES. 267
ILLINOIS.
Length, 880 miles, mean width about 156 miles. Area, 55,410 square
miles, or 35,462,400 acres. Illinois, as regards its surface, constitutes a
table-land at a varying elevation ranging between 350 and 800 feet above
the sea level ; composed of extensive and highly fertile prairies and plains.
Much of the south division of the State, especially the river-bottoms, are
thickly wooded. The prairies, too, have oasis-like clumps of trees
scattered here and there at intervals. The chief rivers irrigating the
State are the Mississippi— dividing it from Iowa and Missouri — the Ohio
(forming its south barrier), the Illinois, Wabash, Kaskaskia, and San-
gamon, with their numerous afiBuents. The total extent of navigable
streams is calculated at 4,000 miles. Small lakes are scattered over vari-
ous parts of the State. Illinois is extremely prolific in minerals, chiefly
coal, iron, copper, and zinc ores, sulphur and limestone. The coal-field
alone is estimated to absorb a full third of the entire coal-deposit of North
America. Climate tolerably equable and healthy ; the mean temperature
standing at about 51*" Fahrenheit As an agricultural region, Illinois takes
a competitive rank with neighboring States, the cereals, fruits, and root-
crops yielding plentiful returns ; in fact, as a grain-growing State, Illinois
may be deemed, in proportion to her size, to possess a gi'eater area of
lands suitable for its production than any other State in the Union. Stock-
raising is also largely carried on, while her manufacturing interests in
regard of woolen fabrics, etc., are on a very extensive and yearly expand-
mg scale. The lines of railroad in the State are among the most exten-
bive of the Union. Inland water-carriage is facilitated by a canal
connecting the Illinois River with Lake Michigan, and thence with the
St. Lawrence and Atlantic. Illinois is divided into 102 counties ; the
chief towns being Chicago, Springfield (capital), Alton, Quincy, Peoria,
Galena, Bloomington, Rock Island, Vandalia, etc. By the new Consti-
tution, established in 1870, the State Legislature consists of 61 Senators,
elected for four years, and 153 Representatives, for two years ; which
numbers were to be decennially increased thereafter to the number of
six per every additional half-million of inhabitants. Religious and
educational institutions are largely diffused throughout, and are in a very
flourishing condition. Illinois has a State Lunatic and a Deaf and Dumb
Asylum at Jacksonville ; a State Penitentiary at Joliet ; and a Home for
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258 THE NORTHWESTERN STATES.
Soldiers' Orphans at Normal. On November 30, 1870, the public debt of
the State was returned at $4,870,937, with a balance of $1,808,833
unprovided for. At the same period the value of assessed and equalized
property presented the following totals: assessed, $840,031,703 ; equal-
ized $480,664,058. The name of Illinois, through nearly th*^ whole of
the eighteenth century, embraced most of the known regions north and
west of Ohio. French colonists established themselves in 1673, at
Cahokia and Kaskaskia, and the territory of which these settlements
formed the nucleus was, in 1763, ceded to Great Britain in conjunction
with Canada, and ultimately resigned to the United States in 1787.
Illinois entered the Union as a State, December 3, 1818 ; and now send*
19 Representatives to Congress. Population, 2,539,891, in 1870.
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THE" NORTHWESTERN STATES. 269
INDIANA.
The profile of Indiana fonns a nearly exact parallelogram, occupy-
ing one of the most fertile portions of the great Mississippi Valley. The
greater extent of the surface embraced within its limits consists of gentle
undulations rising into hilly tracts toward the Ohio bottom. The chief
rivers of the State are the Ohio and Wabash, with their numerous
affluents. The soil is highly productive of the cereals and grasses — ^most
particularly so in the valleys of the Ohio, Wabash, Whitewater, and
Wtite Rivers. The northeast and central portions are well timbered
with virgin forests, and the west section is notably rich in coal, constitut-
ing an oflfehoot of the great Illinois carboniferous field. Iron, copper,
marble, slate, gypsum, and various clays are also abundant. From an
agricultural point of view, the staple products are maize and wheat, with
the other cereals in lesser yields ; and besides these, flax, hemp, sorghum,
hops, etc., are extensively raised. Indiana is divided into 92 counties,
and counts among her principal cities and towns, those of Indianapolis
(the capital). Fort Wayne, Evansville, Terre Haute, Madison, Jefferson-
ville, Columbus, Vincennes, South Bend, etc. The public institutions of
the State are many and various, and on a scale of magnitude and
efficiency commensurate with her important political and industrial status.
Up\rard of two thousand miles of railroads permeate the State in all
directions, and greatly conduce to the development of her expanding
manufacturing interests. Statistics for the fiscal year terminating
October 31, 1870, exhibited a total of receipts, $3,896,541 as against dis-
bursements, $3,532,406, leaving a balance, $364,135 in favor of the State
Treasury. The entire public debt, January 5, 1871, $3,971,000. This
State was first settled by Canadian voyageurs in 1702, who erected a fort
at Vincennes ; in 1763 it passed into the hands of the English, and was-
by the latter ceded to the United States in 1783. From 1788 till 1791,
an Indian warefare prevailed. In 1800, all the region west and north of
Ohio (then formed into a distinct territory) became merged in Indiana,
la 1809, the present limits of the State were defined, Michigan and
Illinois having previously been withdrawn. In 1811, Indiana was the
theater of the Indian War of Tecumseh, ending with the decisive battle^
of Tippecanoe. In 1816 (December 11), Indiana became enrolled among
the States of the American Union. In 1834, the State passed through a
monetary crisis owing to its having become mixed up with railroad,
eanal, and other speculations on a gigantic scale, which ended, for the
lame being, in a general collapse of public credit, and consequent bank-
ruptcy. Since that time, however, the greater number of the public
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260 THE NORTHWESTERN STATES.
works which had brought about that imbroglio — especially the great
Wabash and Erie Canal — have been completed, to the great benefit of
the State, whose subsequent progress has year by year been marked by
rapid strides in the paths of wealth, commerce, and general social and
political prosperity. The constitution now in force was adopted in 1851.
Population, 1,680^1637.
IOWA.
In shape, Iowa presents an almost perfect parallelogram; has a
length, north to south, of about 300 miles, by a pretty even width of 208
miles, and embraces an area of 55,045 square miles, or 35,228,800 acres.
The surface of the State is generally undulating, rising toward the
middle into an elevated plateau which forms the "divide" of the
Missouri and Mississippi basins. Rolling prairies, especially in the south
section, constitute a regnant feature, and the river bottoms, belted with
woodlands, present a soil of the richest alluvion. Iowa is well watered ;
the principal rivers being the Mississippi and Missouri, which form
respectively its east and west limits, and the Cedar, Iowa, and Des
Moines, affluents of the first named. Mineralogically, Iowa is important
as occupying a section of the great Northwest coal field, to the extent of
an area estimated at 25,000 square miles. Lead, copper, zinc, and iron,
axe also mined in considerable quantities. The soil is well adapted to
the production of wheat, maize, and the other cereals ; fruits, vegetables,
and esculent roots; maize, wheat, and oats forming the chief staples.
Wine, tobacco, hops, and wax, are other noticeable items of the agricul-
tural yield. Cattle-raising, too, is a brknch of rural industry largely
engaged in. The climate is healthy, although liable to extremes of heat
and cold. The annual gross product of the various manufactures carried
on in this State approximate, in round numbers, a sum of $20,000,000.
Iowa has an immense railroad system, besides over 500 miles of water-
communication by means of its navigable rivers. The State is politically
divided into 99 counties, with the following centers of population : Des
Moines (capital), Iowa City (former capital), Dubuque, Davenport, Bur-
lington, Council Bluffs, Keokuk, Muscatine, and Cedar Rapids. The
State institutions of Iowa — ^religious, scholastic, and philanthropic — are
on a par, as regards number and perfection of organization and operation,
with those of her Northwest sister States, and education is especially
well cared for, and largely diffused. Iowa formed a portion of the
American territorial acquisitions from France, by the so-called Louisiana
purchase in 1 803, and was politically identified with Louisiana till 1812,
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THE NORTHWESTERN STATES. 268
when it merged into the Missouri Territpry; in 1834 it came under the
Michigan organization, and, in 1836, under that of Wisconsin. Finally,
after being constituted an independent Territory, it became a State of
the Union, December 28, 1846. Population in 1860, 674,913 ; in 1870,
1,191,792, and in 1876, 1,363,118.
MICHIGAN.
United area, 66,243 square miles, or 36,996,620 acres. Extent of the
Upper and smaller Peninsula — length, 316 miles; breadth, fluctuating
between 36 and 120 miles. The south division is 416 miles long, hy from
50 to 300 miles wide. Aggregate lake-shore line, 1,400 miles. The
Upper, or North, Peninsula consists chiefly of an elevated plateau,
expanding into the Porcupine mountain-system, attaining a maximum
height of some 2,000 feet. Its shores along Lake Superior are eminently
bold and picturesque, and its area is rich in minerals, its product of
copper constituting an important source of industry. Both divisions are
heavily wooded, and the South one, in addition, boasts of a deep, rich,
loamy soil, throwing up excellent crops of cereals and other agricultural
produce. The climate is generally mild and humid, though the Winter
colds are severe. The chief staples of farm husbandry include the cereals,
grasses, maple sugar, sorghum, tobacco, fruits, and dairy-stuflfs. In 1870,
the acres of land in farms were : improved, 6,096,939 ; unimproved
woodland, 4,080,146 ; other unimproved land, 842,057. The cash value
of land was $398,240,678 ; of farming implements and machinery,
•13,711,979. In 1869, there were shipped from the Lake Superior ports,
874,582 tons of iron ore, and 45,762 of smelted pig, along with 14,188
tons of copper (ore and ingot). Coal is another article largely mined.
Inland communication is provided for by an admirably organized railroad
Bystem, and by the St. Mary's Ship Canal, connecting Lakes Huron and
Saperior. Michigan is politically divided into 78 counties ; its chief
urban centers are Detroit, Lansing (capital), Ann Arbor, Marquette,
Bay City, Niles, Ypsilanti, Grand Haven, etc. The Governor of the
State is elected biennially. On November 30, 1870, the aggregate bonded
debt of Michigan amounted to $2,385,028, and the assessed valuation of
land to 1266,929,278, representing an estimated cash value of $800,000,000.
Education is largely diffused and most excellently conducted and pro-
vided for. The State University at Ann Arbor, the colleges of Detroit
and Kalamazoo, the Albion Female College, the State Normal School at
Ypsilanti, and the State Agricultural College at Lansing, are chief among
the academic institutions. Michigan (a term of Chippeway origin, and
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264 THE NORTHWESTERN STATES.
signifying "Great Lake), was discovered and first settled by French
Canadians, who, in 1670, founded Detroit, the pioneer of a series of trad-
ing-posts on the Indian frontier. During the " Conspiracy of Pontiac,*'
following the French loss of Canada, Michigan became the scene of a
sanguinary struggle between the whites and aborigines. In 1796, it
became annexed to the United States, which incorporated this region
with the Northwest Territory, and then with Indiana Territory, till 1803,
when it became territorially independent. Michigan was the theater of
warlike operations during the war of 1812 with Great Britain, and in
1819 was authorized to be represented by one delegate in Congress ; in
1837 she was admitted into the Union as a State, and in 1869 ratified the
15th Amendment to the Federal Constitution. Population, 1,184,059.
WISCONSIN.
It has a mean length of 260 miles, and a maximum breadth of 216.
Land area, 53,924 square miles, or 34,511,360 acres. Wisconsin lies at a
considerable altitude above sea-level, and consists for the most part of an
upland plateau, the surface of which is undulating and very generally
diversified. Numerous local eminences called mounds are interspersed
over the State, and the Lake Michigan coast-line is in many parts char-
acterized by lofty escarped cliffs, even as on the west side the banks of
the Mississippi form a series of high and picturesque bluffs. A group of
islands known as The Apostles lie off the extreme north point of the
State in Lake Superior, and the great estuary of Green Bay, running far
inland, gives formation to a long, narrow peninsula between its waters
and those of Lake Michigan. The river-system of Wisconsin has three
outlets — those of Lake Superior, Green Bay, and the Mississippi, which
latter stream forms the entire southwest frontier, widening at one point
into the large watery expanse called Lake Pepin. Lake Superior receives
the St. Louis, Burnt Wood, and Montreal Rivers; Green Bay, the
Menomonee, Peshtigo, Oconto, and Fox ; while into the Mississippi
empty the St. Croix, Chippewa, Black, Wisconsin, and Rock Rivers.
The chief interior lakes are those of Winnebago, Horicon, and Court
Oreilles, and smaller sheets of water stud a great part of the surface.
The climate is healthful, with cold Winters and brief but very warm
Summers. Mean annual rainfall 31 inches. The geological system
represented by the State, embraces those rocks included between the
primary and the Devanian series, the forpaer containing extensive
deposits of copper and iron ore. Besides these minerals, lead and zinc
are found in great quantities, together with kaolin, plumbago, gypsum,
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THE NORTHWESTERN STATES. 26;>
and various clays. Mining, consequently, forms a prominent industry,
and one of yeariy increasing dimensions. The soil of Wisconsin is of
varying quality, but fertile on the whole, and in the north parts of the
State heavily timbered. The agricultural yield comprises the cereals,
together with flax, hemp, tobacco, pulse, sorgum, and all kinds of vege-
tables, and of the hardier fruits. In 1870, the State had a total number
of 102,904 farms, occupying 11,715,321 acres, of which 6,899,343 con-
sisted of improved land, and 3,437,442 were timbered. Cash value of
farms, $300,414,064 ; of farm implements and machinery, $14,239,364.
Total estimated value of all farm products, including betterments and
additions to stock, $78,027,032 ; of orchard and dairy stuffs, $1,046,933 ;
of lumber, $1,827,618 ; of home manufactures, $338,423 ; of all live-stock,
$46,310,882. Number of manufacturing establishments, 7,136, employ-
ing 39,065 hands, and turning out productions valued at $86,624,966*
The political divisions of the State form 61 counties, and the chief places,
of wealth, trade, and population, are Madison (the capital), Milwaukee,
Fond du Lac, Oshkosh, Prairie du Chien, Janesville, Portage City,
Racine, Kenosha, and La Crosse. In 1870, the total assessed valuation
reached $333,209,838, as against a true valuation of both real and personal
estate aggregating $602,207,829. Treasury receipts during 1870, $886,-
696 ; disbursements, $906,329. Value of church property, $4,749,983^
Education is amply provided for. Independently of the State University^
at Madison, and those of Galesville and of Lawrence at Apple ton, and
the colleges of Beloit, Racine, and Milton, there are Normal Schools at
Platteville and Whitewater. The State is divided into 4,802 common
school districts, maintained at a cost, in 1870, of $2,094,160. The chari-
table institutions of Wisconsin include a Deaf and Dumb Asylum, an
Institute for the Education of the Blind, and a Soldiers' Orphans' School.
In January, 1870, the railroad system ramified throughout the State
totalized 2,779 miles of track, including several lines far advanced toward
completion. Immigration is successfully encouraged by the State author-
ities, the larger number of yearly new-comers being of Scandinavian and
German origin. The territory now occupied within the limits of the
State of Wisconsin- was explored by French missionaries and traders in
1639, and it remained under French jurisdiction until 1703, when it
became annexed to the British North American possessions. In 1796, it
reverted to the United States, the government of which latter admitted
it within the limits of the Northwest Territory, and in 1809, attached it
to that of Illinois, and to Michigan in 1818. Wisconsin became independ-
ently territorially organized in 1836, and became a State of the Union*
March 3, 1847. Population in 1870, l,0t)4,985, of which 2,113 were of
the colored race, and 11,521 Indians, 1,206 of the latter being out o£
tribal relations.
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266 THB NORTHWESTERN STATES.
MINNESOTA.
Its length, north to south, embraces an extent of S80 miles ; its
oreadth one of 250 miles at a maximum. Area, 84,00t) square miles, or
54,760,000 acres. The surface of Minnesota, generally speaking, con-
sists of a succession of gently undulating plains and prairies, drained by
an admirable water-system, and with here and there heavily- timbered
bottoms and belts of virgin forest. The soil, corresponding with such a
superfices, is exceptionally rich, consisting for the most part of a dark,
calcareous sandy drift intermixed with loam. A distinguishing physical
feature of this State is its riverine ramifications, expanding in nearly
every part of it into almost innumerable lakes — the whole presenting an
aggregate of water-power having hardly a rival in the Union. Besides
the Mississippi — which here has its rise, and drains a basin of 800 miles
of country — the principal streams are the Minnesota (334 miles long),
the Red River of the North, the St. Croix, St. Louis, and many others of
lesser importance ; the chief lakes are those called Red, Cass, Leech,
Mille Lacs, Vermillion, and Winibigosh. Quite a concatenation of sheets
of water fringe the frontier line whare Minnesota joins British America,
culminating in the Lake of the Woods. It has been estimated, that of
an area of 1,200,000 acres of surface between the St. Croix and Mis-
sissippi Rivers, not less than 73,000 acres are of lacustrine formation. In
point of minerals, the resources of Minnesota have as yet been very
imperfectly developed; iron, copper, coal, lead — all these are known to
exist in considerable deposits ; together with salt, limestone, and potter's
clay. The agricultural outlook of the State is in a high degree satis-
factory ; wheat constitutes the leading cereal in cultivation, with Indian
corn and oats in next order. Fruits and vegetables are grown in great
plenty and of excellent quality. The lumber resources of Minnesota are
important ; the pine forests in the north region alone occupying an area
of some 21,000 square miles, which in 1870 produced a return of scaled
logs amounting to 313,116,416 feet. The natural industrial advantages
possessed by Minnesota are largely improved upon by a railroad system.
The political divisions of this State number 78 counties ; of which the
chief cities and towns are : St. Paul (the capital), Stillwater, Red Wing,
St. Anthony, Fort Snelling, Minneapolis, and Mankato. Minnesota has
already assumed an attitude of high importance as a manufacturing State ;
this is mainly due to the wonderful command of water-power she pos-
sesses, as before spoken of. Besides her timber-trade, the milling of
flour, the distillation of whisky, and the tanning of leather, are prominent
interests, which in 1869, gave returns to the amount of $14,831,043.
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THE NORTHWESTERN STATES. 267
Education is notably provided for on a broad and catholic scale, the
entire amount expended scholastically during the year 1870 being $857,-
816 ; while on November 30 of the preceding year the permanent school
fund stood at $2,476,222. Besides a University and Agricultural College,
Normal and Reform Schools flourish, and with these may be mentioned
such various philanthropic and religious institutions as befit the needs of
an intelligent and prosperous community. The finances of the State for
the fiscal year terminating December 1, 1870, exhibited a balance on the
right side to the amount of $136,16-4, being a gain of $44,000 over the
previous year's figures. The earliest exploration of Minnesota by the
whites was made in 1680 by a French Franciscan, Father Hennepin, who
gave the name of St. Antony to the Great Falls on the Upper Missisippi.
In 1763, the Treaty of Versailles ceded this region to England.
Twenty years later, Minnesota formed part of the Northwest Territory
transferred to the United States, and became herself territorialized inde-
pendently in 1849. Indian cessions in 1851 enlarged her boundaries, and,
May 11, 1857, Minnesota became a unit of the great American federation
of States. Population, 439,706.
NEBRASKA.
Maximum length, 412 miles; extreme breadth, 208 miles. Area,
75,905 square miles, or 48,636,800 acres. The surface of this State is
almost entirely undulating prairie, and forms part of the west slope of
the great central basin of the North American Continent. In its west
division, near the base of the Rocky Mountains, is a sandy belt of
country, irregularly defined. In this part, too, are the " dunes," resem-
bUng a wavy sea of sandy billows, as well as the Mauvaises TerreS; a tract
of singular formation, produced by eccentric disintegrations and denuda-
tions of the land. The chief rivers are the Missouri, constituting its en-
tire east line of demarcation ; the Nebraska or Platte, the Niobrara, the
Republican Fork of the Kansas, the Elkhorn, and the Loup Fork of the
Platte. The soil is very various, but consisting chiefly of rich, bottomy
loam, admirably adapted to the raising of heavy crops of cereals. All
the vegetables and fruits of the temperate zone are produced in great
size and plenty. For grazing purposes Nebraska is a State exceptionally
well fitted, a region of not less than* 23,000,000 acres being adaptable to
this branch of husbandry. It is believed that the, as yet, comparatively
infertile tracts of land found in various parts of the State are susceptible
of productivity by means of a properly conducted system of irrigation.
Pew minerals of moment have so far been found within the limits of
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268 THE NORTHWESTERN STATES.
Nebraska, if we may except important saline deposits at the head of Salt
Creek in its southeast section. The State is divided into 67 counties,
independent of the Pawnee and Winnebago Indians, and of unorganized
territory in the northwest part. The principal towns are Omaha, Lincoln
(State capital), Nebraska City, Columbus, Grand Island, etc. In 1870,
the total assessed value of property amounted to $53,000,000, being an
increase of $11,000,000 over the previous year's returns. The total
amount received from the school-fund during the year 1869-70 was
$77,999. Education is making great onward strides, the State University
and an Agricultural College being far advanced toward completion. In
the matter of railroad communication, Nebraska bids fair to soon place
herself on a par with her neighbors to the east. Besides being inter-
sected by the Union Pacific line, with its ofif-shoot, the Fremont and Blair,
other tracks are in course of rapid construction. Organized by Con-
gressional Act into a Territory, May 30, 1854, Nebraska entered the
Union as a full State, March 1, 1867. Population, 122,993.
IIJINTING PRALOIE WOLVES 12X AN EABLY DAY,
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GO^SXnUTION OF THE UKITED 8TAXB8 269
CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
AND ITS AMENDMENTS.
TFe, the people of the United States^ in order to form a more perfect union^
establish justice^ insure domestic tranquillity^ provide for the common
defense^ promote the general welfare ^ and secure the blessings of liberty
to ourselves and our posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution
for the United States of America.
Article I.
Section 1. All legislative powers herein granted shall be vested in
a Congress of the United States, which shall consist of a Senate and
House of Representatives.
Sec. 2. The House of Representatives shall be composed of mem-
bers chosen every second year by the people of the several states, and the
lectors in each state shall have the qualifications requisite for electors of
the most numerous branch of the State Legislature.
No person shall be a representative who shall not have attained to the
age of twenty-five years, and been seven years a citizen of the United
States, and who shall not, when elected, be an inhabitant of that state in
which he shall be chosen.
Representatives and direct taxes shall be apportioned among the sev-
eral states which may be included within this Union, according to theii
respective numbers, which shall be determined by adding to the whole
number of free persons, including those bound to service for a term of
years, and excluding Indians not taxed, three-fifths of all other persons.
The actual enumeration shall be made within three years after the first
meeting of the Congress of the United States, and within every subse-
quent term of ten years, in such manner as they shall by law direct. The
number of Representatives shall not exceed one for every thirty thousand,
but each state shall have at least one Representative ; and until such
enumeration shall be made the State of New Hampshire shall be entitled
to choose three, Massachusetts eight, Rhode Island and Providence Plan-
tations one, Connecticut five, New York six, New Jersey four, Pennsylva-
nia eight, Delaware one, Maryland six, Virginia ten, North Carolina five,
and Georgia three.
When vacancies' happen in the representation from any state, the
Executive authority thereof shall issue writs of election to fill such
vacancies.
The House of Representatives shall choose their Speaker and other
officers, and shall have the sole power of impeachment.
Sec. 3. The Senate of the United States shall be composed of two
Senators from each state, chosen by the Legislature thereof for six years ;
and each Senator shall have one vote.
Immediately after they shall be assembled, in consequence of the first
©lection, they shall be divided as equally as may be into three classes.
The seats of the Senators of the first class shall bo vacated at the expira-
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270 Airo ITS AMENDMENTS.
tion of the second year, of the second class at the expiration of the fourth
year^ and of the tmrd class at the expiration of the sixth year, so that
one-third^may be chosen every second year; and if vacancies happen by
resignation or otherwise, during the recess of the Legislature of any state,
the Executive thereof may make temporary appointments until the next
meeting of the Legislature, which shall then fill such vaca^icies.
Ko person shall be a Senator who shall not have attained to the f^e
of thirty years and been nine years a citizen of the United States, and
who shall not, when elected, be an inhabitant of that state for which he
shall be cbosen.
The Vice-President of the United States shall be President of th
Senate, but shall have no vote unless they be equally divided.
The Senate shall choose their other officers, and also a President pro
tempore^ in the absence of the Vice-President, or when he shall exercise
the office of President of the United States.
The Senate shall have the sole power to try all impeachments. When
sitting for that purpose they shall be on oath or affirmation. When the
President of the United States is tried the Chief Justice shall preside.
And no person shall be convicted without the concurrence of two-thirds
of the members present.
Judgment, in cases of impeachment, shall not extend further than to
removal from office, and disqualification to hold and enjoy any office of
honor, trust, or profit under the United States ; but the party convicted
shall nevertheless be liable and subject to indictment, trial, judgment,
and punishment according to law.
, Sec. 4. The times, places and manner of holding elections for Sen-
ators and Representatives shall be prescribed in each state by the Legis-
lature thereof; but the Congress may at any time by law make or alter
such regulations, except as to the places of choosing Senators.
The Congress shall assemble at least once in every year, and such
meeting shall be on the first Monday in December, unless they shall by
law appoint a different day.
Sec. 5. Each house shall be the judge of the election, returns, and
qualifications of its own members, and a majority of each shall constitute
a quorum to do business ; but a smaller number may adjourn from day to
day, and may be authorized to compel the attendance of absent members
in such manner and under such penalties as each house may provide.
Each house may determine the rules of its proceedings, punish its
members for disorderly behavior, and, with the concurrence of two-thirds,
expel a member.
Each house shall keep a journal of its proceedings, and from time to
time publish the same, excepting such parts as may, in their judgment,
require secrecy ; and the yeas and nays of the members of either house
on any question shall, at the desire of one-fifth of those present, be entered
on the journal.
Neither house, during the session of Congress, shall, without the
consent of the other, adjourn for more than three days, nor to any other
place than that in which the two houses shall be sitting.
Sec. 6. The Senators and Representatives shall receive a compen-
sation for their services, to be ascertained by law, and paid out of the
treasury of the United States. They shall in all cases, except treason,
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CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES 271
felony, and breach of the peace, be privileged from arrest during their
attendance at the session of their respective houses, and in going to and
returning from the same ; and for any speech or debate in either hous^
they shall not be questioned in any other place.
No Senator or Representative shall, during the time for which he was
elected, be appointed to any civil office under the authority of the United
States, which shall have been created, or the emoluments whereof shall
have been increased during such time ; and no person holding any office
under the United States, shall be a member of either house during his
continuance in office.
Seo. 7. All bills for raising revenue shall originate in the House of
Representatives ; biTt the Senate may propose or concur with amendments
as on other bills.
Every bill which shall have passed the House of Representatives and
the Senate, shall, before it becomes a law, be presented to the President
the United States ; if he approve he shall sign it ; but if not he shall
retam it, with his objections, to that house in which it shall have origi-
nated, who shall enter the objections at large on their journal, and
Eroceed to reconsider it. If, after such reconsideration two-thirds of that
ouse shall agree to pass the bill, it shall be sent, together with the objec-
tions, to the other house, by which it shall likewise be reconsidered, and if
approved by two-thirds of that house, it shall become a law. But in all
snch cases the votes of both houses shall be determined by yeas and nays,
and the names of the persons voting for and against'the bill shall be entered
on the joui-nal of each house respectively. If any bill shall not be returned
by the President within ten days (Sundays excepted), after it shall have
been presented to him, the same shall be a law, in like manner as if he
bad signed it, unless the Congress, by their adjournment, prevent its
return, in which case it shall not be a law.
Every order, resolution, or vote to which the concurrence of the
Senate and House of Representatives may be necessary (except on a
question of adjournment), shall be presented to the President of the
United States, and before the same shall take effect shall be approved by
him, or, being disapproved by him, shall be re-passed by two-thirds of
the Senate and House of Representatives, according to the rules and lim-
itations prescribed in the case of a bill.
Seo. 8. The Congress shall have power —
To lay and collect taxes, duties, imposts and excises, to pay the debts,
and provide for the common defense and general welfare of the United
wtates ; but all duties, imposts, and excises shall be uniform throughout
the United States ;
To borrow money on the credit of the United States ;
To regulate commerce with foreign nations, and among the several
itrtes, arid with the Indian tribes ;
To establish a uniform rule of naturalization, and uniform laws on
the subject of bankruptcies throughout the United States ;
To coin money, regulate the value thereof, and of foreign coin, and
fix the standard of weights and measures ;
To provide for the punishment of counterfeiting the securities and
current coin of the United States;
To establish post ofSces and post roads ;
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272 AND ITS AMENDMENTS.
To promote the progress of sciences and useful arts, by securing,
for limited times, to authors and inventors, the exclusive right to their
respective writings and discoveries ;
To constitute tribunals inferior to the Supreme Court ;
To define and punish piracies and felonies committed on the high
seas, and offenses against the law of nations ;
To declare war, grant letters of marque and reprisal, and make rules
eoncerning captures on land and water ;
To raise and support armies, but no appropriation of money to that
use shall be for d longer term than two years;
To provide and maintain a navy ;
To make rules for the government and regulation of the land and
naval forces ;
To provide for calling forth the militia to execute the laws of the
Union, suppress insurrections, and repel invasions ;
To provide for organizing, arming and disciplining the militia, and
for governing such part of them as may be employed in the service of the
United States, reserving to the states respectively the appointment of the
officers, and the authority of training the militia according to the disci^
pline prescribed by Congress ;
To exercise legislation in all cases whatsoever over such district (not
exceeding ten miles square) as may, by cession of particular states, and the
acceptance of Congress, become the seat of the government of the United
States, and to exercise' like authority over all places purchased by the
consent of the Legislature of the state in which the same shall be, for
the erection of forts, magazines, arsenals, dock yards, and other needful
buildings; and
To make all laws which shall be necessary and proper for carrying
into execution the foregoing powers, and all other powers vested by this
Constitution in the government of the United States, or in any depart-
ment or officer thereof.
Sec. 9. The migration or importation of such persons as any of the
states now existing shall think proper to admit, shall not be prohibited
by the Congress prior to the year one thousand eight hundred and eight,
but a tax or duty may be imposed on such importation, not exceeding ten
dollars for each person.
The privilege of the writ of habeas corpus shall not be suspended,
unless when in cases of rebellion or invasion the public safety may
require it.
No bill of attainder or ex post facto law shall be passed.
No capitation or other direct tax shall be laid, unless in proportion
to the census or enumeration hereinbefore directed to be taken.
No tax or duty shall be laid on articles exported from any state.
No preference shall be given by any regulation of commerce or rev
enue to the ports of one state over those of another ; nor shall vessels
bound to or from one state be obliged to enter, clear, or pay duties in
another.
No money shall be drawn from the Treasury, but in consequence of
appropriations made by law ; and a regular statement and account of
the receipts and expeditures of all public money shall be published from
time to time.
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C0N8TITUTI0K OF THE UNITED STATES 278
No title of nobility shall be granted by the United States : and no
person holding any office of profit or trust under them, shall, without the
consent of the Congress, accept of any present, emolument, office, or title
of any kind whatever, from any king, prince, or foreign state.
Sec. 10. No state shall enter into any treaty, alliance, or confeder-
ation ; grant letters of marque and reprisal ; coin money ; emit bills of
credit ; make anything but gold and silver coin a tender in payment of
debts ; pass any bill of attainder, ex post facto law, or law impairing the
obligation of contracts, or grant any title of nobility.
No state shall, without the consent of the Congress, lay any imposts
or duties on imports or exports, except what may be absolutely necessary
for executing its inspection laws, and the net produce of all duties and
imposts laid by any state on imports or exports, shall be for the use of the
Treasurj'- of the United States ; and all such laws shall be subject to the
revision and control of the Congress.
No state shall, without the consent of Congress, lay any duty on
tonnage, keep troops or ships of war in time of peace, enter into any
agreement or compact with another state, or with a foreign power, or
engage in war, unless actually invaded, or in such imniinent danger as will
not admit of delay.
Aeticle II.
Section 1. The Executive power shall be vested in a President of
the United States of America. He shall hold his office during the term
of four years, and, together with the Vice-President chosen for the same
term, be elected as follows :
Each state shall appoint, in such manner as the Legislature thereof
may direct, a number of Electors, equal to the whole number of Senators
and Representatives to which the state may be entitled in the Congress ;
but no Senator or Representative, or person holding an office of trust or
profit under the United States, shall be appointed an Elector.
[*The Electors shall meet in their respective states, and vote by
ballot for two persons, of whom one at least shall not be an inhabitant of
the same state with themselves. And they shall make a list of all the
persons voted for,^and of the number of votes for each ; which list they
shall sign and certify, and transmit, sealed, to the seat of the government
of the United States, directed to the President of the Senate. . The Pres-
ident of the Senate shall, in the presence of the Senate and House of Rep-
resentatives, open all the certificates, and the votes shall then be counted.
The person having the greatest number of votes shall be the President,
if such number be a majority of the whole number of Electors appointed ;
and if there be more than one who have such majority, and have an equal
number of votes, then the House of Representatives shall immediately
choose by ballot one of them for President ; and if no person have a ma-
jority, then from the five highest on the list the said House shall in like
manner choose the President. But in choosing the President, the vote
shall be taken by states, the representation from each state having one
vote ; a quorum for this purpose shall consist of a member or members
from two-thirds of the states, and a maijority of all the states shall be
i^ccessary to a choice. In every case, after the choice of the President,
* This clause between brackets has been superseded and annuUed by the Twelfth amendini»n»
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274 AND ITS AMENDMENTS.
the person having the greatest number of votes of the Electors shall be
the Vice-President. But if there should remain two or more who have
equal votes, the Senate shall choose from them by ballot the Vice-Presi-
dent.]
The Congress may determine the time of choosing the Electors, and
the day on which they shall give their votes ; which day shall be the same
throughout the United States.
No person except a natural born citizen, or a citizen of the United
States at the time of the adoption of this Constitution, shall be eligible
to the office of President ; neither shall any person be eligible to that
office who shall not have attained the age of thirty-five years, and been
fourteen years a resident within the United States.
In case of the removal of the President from office, or of his death,
resignation, or inability to discharge the powers and duties of the said
office, the same shall devolve on the Vice-President, and the Congress
may by law provide for the case of removal, death, resignation, or inabil-
ity, both of the President and Vice-President, declaring what officer shall
then act as President, and such officer shall act accordingly, until the dis-
ability be removed, or a President shall be elected.
The President shall, at stated times, receive for his services a com-
pensation which shall neither be increased nor diminished during the
period for which he shall have been elected, and he shall not receive
within that period any other emolument from the United States or any of
them.
Before he enters on the execution of his office, he shall take the fol-
lowing oath or affirmation:
" I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will faithfully execute the
office of President of the United States, and will, to the best of my ability,
preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution of the United States."
Sec. 2. The President shall be commander in chief of the army and
navy of the United States, and of the militia of the several states, when
called into the actual service of the United States ; he may require the
opinion, in writing, of the principal officer in each of the executive
departments, upon any subject relating to the duties of their respective
offices, and he shall have power to grant reprieves and pardon for offenses
against the United States, ex<3ept in cases of impeachment.
He shall have power, by and with the advice and consent of the
Senate, to make treaties, provided two-thirds of the Senators present con-
cur; and he shall nominate, and by and with the advice of the Senate,
{>hall appoint ambassadors, other public ministers and consuls, judges of
the Supreme Court, and all other officers of the United States whose
appointments are not herein otherwise provided for, and which shall be
established by law ; but the Congress may by law vest the appointment
of such inferior officers as they think proper in the President alone, in
the courts of law, or in the heads of departments.
The President shall have power to fill up all vacancies that may
happen during the recess of the Senate, by granting commissions which
shall expire at the end of their next session.
Sec. 3. He shall from time to time give to the Congress information
of the state of the Union, and recommend to their consideration such mea-
sures as he shall judge necessary and expedient ; he may on extraordinary
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CONSTITUTION OF T^E UNITED STATES 275
occasions convene both houses, or either of them, and in case of disagree-
ment between them, with respect to the time of adjournment, he may
adjourn them to such time as he shall think proper ; he shall receive
ambassadors and other public ministei*s ; he shall take care that the laws be
faithfully executed, and shall commission all the officers of the United
States.
Sec, 4, The President, Vice-President, and all civil officers of the
United States, shall be removed from office on impeachment for, and con
yiction of, treason, bribery, or other high crimes and misdemeanors.
Article III.
SEcmoN I. The judicial power of the United States shall be vested
in one Supreme Court, and such inferior courts as the Congress may from
time to time ordain and establish. The Judges, both of the Supreme and
inferior courts, shall hold their offices during good behavior, and shall, at
stated times, receive for their services a compensation, which shall not be
diminished during their continuance in office.
Sec. 2. The judicial power shall extend to all cases, in law and
equity, arising under this Constitution, the laws of the United States, and
treaties made, or which shall be made, under their authority ; to all cases
affecting ambassadors, other public ministers, and consuls ; to all cases of
admiralty and maritime jurisdiction ; to controversies to which the United
States shall be a party ; to controversies between two or more states ;
between a state and citizens of another state ; between citizens of differ-
ent states ; between citizens of the same state claiming lands under grants
of different states, and between a state or the citizens thereof, and foreign
states, citizens, or subjects.
In all cases affecting ambassadors, other public ministers, and consuls,
and those in which a state shall be a party, the Supreme Court shall have
original jurisdiction.
In all the other cases before mentioned, the Supreme Court shall
have appellate jurisdiction, both as to law and fact, with such exceptions
and under such regulations as the Congress shall make.
The trial of all crimes, except in cases of impeachment, shall be bj
jury ; and such trial shall be held in the state where the said crimes shall
have been committed ; but when not committed within any state, the
trial shall be at such place or places as the Congress may by law have
directed.
Sec. 3. Treason against the United States shall consist only in levy-
ing war against them, or in adhering to their enemies, giving them aid
and comfort. No person shall be convicted of treason unless on the tes-
timony of two witnesses to the same overt act, or on confession in open
court.
The Congress shall have power to declare the punishment of treason
but no attainder of treason shall work corruption of blood, or forfeiture
except during the life of the person attainted.
Article IV.
Section 1. Full faith and credit shall be given in each state to the
public acts, records, and judicial proceedings of every other state. And
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276 AND ITS AMENDMENTS.
the Congress may, by general laws, prescribe the manner in which sncli
acts, records, and proceedings shall be proved, and the effect thereof.
Sec. 2. The citizens of each state shall be entitled to all privileges
and immunities of citizens in the several states.
A person charged in any state with treason, felony, or other crime,
who shall flee from justice and be found in another state, shall, on demand
of the executive atithority o£ the state from which he fled, be delivered
up, to be removed to the state having junedicHon of the crime.
No person held to service or labor in one state, rmAuc the laws thereof
escaping into another, shall, in consequence of any law wr regulation
therein, be discharged from such service or labor, but shall be deliT««d
up on the claim of the party to whom such service or labor may be due.
Sec. 3. New states may be admitted by the Congress into this Union;
but no new state shall be formed or erected within the jurisdiction of any
other state ; nor any state be formed by the junction of two or niore states,
or parts of states, without the consent of the Legislatures of the states
concerned, as well as of the Congress.
The Congress shall have power to dispose of and make all needful
rules and regulations respecting the territory or other property belonging
to the United States ; and nothing in this Constitution shall be so construed
as to prejudice any claims of the United States or of any particular state.
Sec. 4. The United States shall guarantee to every state in this
Union a republican form of government, and shall protect each of them
a.c^ainst invasion, and on application of the Legislature, or of the Execu-
tive (when the Legislature can not be convened), against domestic vio-
lence.
Article V.
The Congress, whenever two-thirds of both houses shall deem it
necessary, shall propose amendments to this Constitution, or, on the ap-
plication of the Legislatures of two-thirds of the several states, shall call
a convention for proposing amendments, which, in either case, shall be
valid to all intents and purposes as part of this Constitution, when rati-
fied by the Legislatures of three fourths of the several states, or by con-
ventions in three-fourths thereof, as the one or the other mode of ratifi-
cation may be proposed by the Congress. Provided that no amendment
which may be made prior to the year one thousand eight hundred and
eight shall in any manner affect the first and fourth clauses in the ninth
section of the first article ; and that no state, without its consent, shall
be deprived of its equal suffrage in the Senate.
Article VL
All debts contracted and engagements entered into before the adop-
tion of this Constitution shall be as valid against the United States under
this Constitution as under the Confederation.
This Constitution, and the laws of the United States which shall be
made in pursuance thereof, and all treaties made, or which shall be made,
under the authority of the United States, shall be the supreme law of the
land ; and the Judges in every state shall be bound thereby, anything in
the Constitution or laws of any state to the contrary notwithstanding.
The Senatoi-8 and Representatives before mentioned, and the mem-
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OON8TIT0TION OF TEffi UNITED STATES
277
bers of the several state Legislatures, and all executive and judicial offi-
cers, both of the United States and of the several states, shall be bound
by oath or affirmation to support this Constitution ; but no religious test
shall ever be required as a qualification to any office or public trust under
the United States.
Abticlb VII.
The ratification of the Conventions of nine states shall be sufficient
for the establishment of this Constitution between the states sa ratifying
the same.
Done in convention by the unanimous consent of the states present, the
seventeenth day of September, in the rear of our Lord one thousand
seven hundred and eighty-seven, and of the independence of the
United States of America the twelfth. In witness whereof we have
hereunto subscribed our names.
GEO. WASHINGTON,
President and Deputy from Virginia. -
New Hampshire.
John Langdon,
NlOHOLAS GiLMAN.
Massachusetts.
Nathaniel (tOBHAM,
Rupus King.
Ctmnecticut.
Wm. Sam'l Johnson,
Roger Shehman.
Ifew Torh.
Alexander Hamilton.
New Jersey.
WiL. Livingston,
Wm. Paterson,
David Bbeabley,
JoNA. Dayton.
Delaware.
Geo. Read,
John Dickinson,
Jaco. Broom,
Gunning Bedford, Jr.,
Richard Bassett.
Maryland,
James M'Henry,
Danl. Carroll,
Dan. of St. Thos. Jenifer.
Virginia.
John Blair,
James Madison, Jr.
North Carolina.
Wm. Blount,
Hu. Williamson,
Rich'd Dobbs Spaight.
Pennsylvania.
B. Franbxin,
RoBT. Morris,
Thos. Fttzsimons,
James Wilson,
Thos. Mifflin,
Geo. Clymer,
Jared Ingersoll,
Qouv. Morris.
South Carolina.
J. Rutledge,
Charles Pinckney,
Chas. Cotesworth Pinckney.
Pierce Butler.
Georgia.
William Pew,
Abr. Baldwin.
WILLIAM JACKSON, Secretary.
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^78 AND ITS AMENDMENTS.
Abtioles in Addition to and Amendatoey op the Constitution
OF THE United States of Ameuioa.
Proposed by Congress and rectified by the Legislatures of the several states,
pursuant to the fifth article of the original Constitution.
Aeticle I.
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion,
or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of
speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble,
and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.
Article II.
A well regulated militia being necessary to the security of a free
state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed.
Abticle III.
No soldier shall, in time of peace, be quartered in any house without
the consent of the owner, nor in time of war but in a manner to be pre*
scribed by law.
Article IV.
The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers,
and effects against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be vio-
lated ; and no warrants shall issue but upon probable cause, supported by
oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched
and the persons or things to be seized.
Article V.
No person shall be held to answer for a capital or otherwise infamoui
crime, unless on a presentment or indictment of a Grand Jury, except in
cases arising in the land or naval forces, or in the militia when in actual
service in time of war or public danger ; nor shall any person be subject
for the same offense to be twice put in jeopardy of life or limb ; nor shall
be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself, nor be
deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law ; nor
shall private property be taken for public use, without just compensation.
Article VI.
In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right to a
speedy and public trial, by an impartial jury of the state and district
wherein the crime shall have been committed, which district shall have
been previously ascertained by law, and to be informed of the nature and
cause of the accusation ; to be confronted with the witnesses against him;
to have compulsory process for obtaining witnesses in his favor; and to
have the assistance of counsel for his defense.
Article VII.
In suits at common law, where the value in controversy shall exceed
twenty dollars, the right of trial by jury shall be preserved, and no faot
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OONSTITXJTION OF THE UNITED STATES 281
tried by a jury shall be otherwise re-examined in any court of the United
States than according to the rules of the common la^y•
Abtiolb VIII.
Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed,
nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted.
Article IX.
The enumeration, in the Constitution, of certain rights, shall not be
construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people.
Abpicle X.
The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution,
nor prohibited by it to the states, are reserved to the states respectively,
or to the people.
Abticlb XI.
The judicial power of the United States shall not be construed to
extend to any suit in law or equity commenced or prosecuted against one
of the United States by citizens of another state, or by citizens or sub-
jects of any foreign state.
Article XII.
The Electors shall meet in their respective states and vote by ballot
for President and Vice-President, one of whom, at least, shall not be an
inhabitant of the same state with themselves ; they shall name in their
ballots the person to be voted for as president, and in distinct ballots the
person voted for as Vice-President, and they shall make distinct lists of
all persons voted for as President, and of all persons voted for as Vice-
President, and of the number of votes for each, which list they shall sign
and certify, and transmit sealed to the seat of the government of the United
States, directed to the President of the Senate. The President of the
Senate shall, in presence of the Senate and House of Representatives,
open all the certificates, and the votes shall then be counted. The person
having the greatest number of votes for President shall be the President,
if snch number be a majority of the whole number of Electors appointed ;
and if no person have such majority, then from the persons having the
highest number not exceeding three on the list of those voted for as
President, the House of Representatives shall choose immediately, by
ballot, the President. But in choosing the President, the votes shall be
taken by States, the representation from each state having one vote; a
quomm for this purpose shall consist of a member or members from two-
thirds of the states, and a majority of all the states shall be necessary to
a choice. And if the House of Representatives shall not choose a Presi-
dent whenever the right of choice shall devolve upon them, before the
fourth day of March next following, then the Vice-President shall act as
President, as in the case of the death or other constitutional disability of
the President. The person having the greatest number of votes as Vice-
President, shall be the Vice-President, if such number be the majority
of the whole number of electors appointed, and if no person have a major-
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282 AND ITS AMENDMENTS.
itj; then from the two highest numbers on the list, the Senate shall choose
the Vice-President ; a quorum for the purpose shall consist of two-thirds
of the whole number of Senators, and a majority of the whole number
shall be necessary to a choice. But no person constitutionally ineligible
to the office of President shall be eligible to that of Vice-President of the
United States.
Article XIII.
Section 1. Neither slaveiy nor involuntary servitude, except as a
punishment for crime, whereof the party shall have been diily convicted,
shall exist within the United States, or any place subject to their juris-
diction.
Sec. 2. Congress shall have power to enforce this article by appro-
priate legislation.
Abticle XIV.
Section 1. All persons bom or naturalized in the United States and
subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States, and
of the state wherein they reside. No state shall make or enforce any law
which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United
States; nor shall any state deprive any person of life, liberty, or property,
without due process of law, nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction
the equal protection of the laws.
Sec. 2. Representatives shall be appointed among the several states
according to their respective numbers, counting the whole niunber of per-
sons in each state, excluding Indians not taxed ; but when the right to
vote at any election for the choice of Electors for President and Vice-
President of the United States, Representatives in Congress, the execu-
tive and judicial officers of a state, or the members of the Legislature
thereof, is denied to any of the male inhabitants of such state, being
twenty-one years of age and citizens of the United States, or in any way
abridged except for participation in rebellion or other crimes, the basis of
representation therein shall be reduced in the proportion which the num-
ber of such male citizens shall bear to the whole number of male citizens
twenty-one years of age in such state.
Sec. 3. No person shall be a Senator or Representative in Congress,
or Elector of President and Vice-President, or hold any office, civil or
military, under the United States, or under any state, who, having previ-
ously taken an oath as a Member of Congress, or as an officer of the
United States, or as a member of any state Legislature, or as an execu-
tive or judicial officer of any state to support the Constitution of the
United States, shall have engaged in insurrection or rebellion against the
same, or given aid or comfort to the enemies thereof. But Congress may
by a vote of two-thirds of each house, remove such disability.
Sec. 4. The validity of the public debt of the United States author-
ized by law, including debts incurred for payment of pensions and boun-
ties for services in suppressing insurrection or rebellion, shall not be ques-
tioned. But neither the United States nor any state shall pay any debt
or obligation incurred in the aid of insurrection or rebellion against the
United States, or any loss or emancipation of any slave, but such debts,
obligations, and claims shall be held illegal and void.
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CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES.
283
Article XV.
Section 1. The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not
be denied or abridged by the United States, or by any State, on accoont of
race, color, or previous condition of servitude.
VOTE FOR GOVERNOR, 1877, AND PRESIDENT, 1876.
Coujfiiu*
1877.
QoTemor.
1 1876.
Preildent.
Cotnmw.
1877.
Governor.
1876.
Pre^drnt.
Bep.
Detn.
Gr.
Pro.
iBep.
Dem.
Bep.
Dem.
Gr.
Pro.
Bep.
Dem.
Ad«ir«
982
876
1647
1166
4ia
1432
1780
1612
1180
1290
747
1463
418
633
1692
1316
903
662
1279
1054
617
1873
2444
898
1641
893
1269
1226
2316
197
1687
213
1933
1233
1311
1260
1031
909
1160
842
340
1492
1348
1770
661
382
321
1132
1619
1977
1396
161
897
1640
1049
362
712
llll
981
682
769
192
768
76
744
839
1093
848
74
1107
267
16
1770
2327
661
216
1231
961
1143
1384
8
3415
28
1067
208
336
1331
215
604
496
265
95
661
861
424
647
149
54
112()
19t)<>
1154
753
681
486
69
729
26
667
96
466
196
726
161
19
171
141
116
206
72
383
37
813
20
66
286
19
1241
803
310
32
767
""Hi
889
162
16
834
651
'""iei
29
238
623
Km
201
115
1(H
642
224
lOlH
676
15
38
36
32
""449
244
10
1
223
20
95
74
11
80
416
40
86
94
19
67
167
66
111
80
12
19
625
6
12
63
27
30
10
27
8
21
67
2
154
19
140
619
64
1334
1376
1709
1711
427
2901
2979
2018
1737
2227
770
1828
622
799
1876
2323
1274
861
1674
140>
667
2662
3554
1043
2136
1586
1647
2233
3325
259
2798
246
3029
2032
1178
1658
1310
1099
1434
1187
281
2152
1557
2809
1194
52:J
212
1870
2126
3:^75
2106
693
620
1646
1419
352
1355
1692
1305
757
1416
200
780
196
771
979
Johnson
1984
1808
1772
463
2157
2524
1328
1203
261
1792
1823
1976
1448
1435
1396
680
1034
1122
1753
306
295
11G6
311
779
370
3171
2223
1496
064
CIG
3031
8S«
436
1200
1426
1325
899
1490
17 0
1726
K87
i:il6
850
544
2074
1U«9
628
3'Jl
2345
1218
1626
236
2863
2316
817
804
-17
1077
10N6
1806
837
1102
459
119
928
441
1776
21
40
608
357
487
0:J
18J^5
ltU59
882
71
128
1903
639
132
344
833
293
616
1305
1029
944
1221
832
127
40
1009
867
132
icr.
18
14
822
13
850
75
80
103
9
616
1011
760
389
98
36
432
247
6a2
171
201
13
34«
273
68
105
89
299
685
108
12
14
66
690
95
604
28
80
9
20
47
387
14
33
203
3
39
30
94
121
346
47
13
37
16
2345
2591
2364
638
316a
4331
1920
1478
262
2246
3221
2736
8056
1452
166a
713
1418
1749
2523
463
329
2243
343
835
374
4321
25C5
2509
1246
C6l
3819
897
439
1843
2337
1727
1238
2113
2582
2439
2467
1692
1299
498
27.)9
1034
70;^
574
3563
AiiaoMi
Jonea
1763
Alluimk^
Keokuk
1862
ApiMuioose
Audubon..
Benton. .. . -...
KoMuth
227
Lee «
Linn
3682
2917
Black Hawk
Loulsft
lOOS
Boooe. —
Broni6r
'Lucaa
Lyon
\yUdi»ou
1044
49
Buchanan .
1638
BneoaViata
Mahaska
1701
Butter
GWihouB «...
Marion
Marshall
23C4
1189
G^rrolL.
Mills
1166
Ctas ,.«.. . .
Mitchell
671
Cr^l^rr -T- ,. ,-,
1445
448
Monona
304
Ohto Gordo
1246
Cberokee....^....
Chirkamw
175
1090
816
94
2621
Montgomery
759
2075
C^rti „ ,
O'Brien
116
CUy
OUyton ^
Clinton
Osceola
&»
Page ;
861
3398
638
752
Palo Alto»
83J.
Crawford
Plymouth^
77
44
13r::J
218
420
071
177
309
49
641
196
8G8
8:jo
301
1205
742
303
404
1421
60-'
Dallai..
Pocahontas
141
DaTta-
Bjcatar «
Delaware
1631
1282
1466
2917
Polk
Pottawattamie....
Poweshiek
238i
2414
IO83
Det Moine*
Rin etrold
422
Dickinson...
48
4977
36
1709,
751
379
16821
610
417'
629
Sac
166
Duboqne
Scott
ihb^
tmnifitt
Shelby
631
layette
Sioux
220
Floyd „..
riaoklin
Story
187
133
679
Tama .....m.
1317
PiMBont
Taylor
679
Greene. . . . ..
Union
63
130
290
1(»1
112
3
47
795
Gnindy
Gatfarie -
Van Buren
Wapello
1G61
2412
Hamilton
425
99
980
1386
1485
Warren
1316
Hancock
Hardin
Barriaon
Washington
Wayne
Webster
loO»
1341
087
Henry „
Howard....^
HanAoldt.
8»
600
183
67
1348
2185
1449
Winneshiek
Woodbury
279
226
8
117
238
9
14
9cS
1617
997
Lu: : ; .
Worth ..:.
149
Iowa
22H
15
26?
109
Wright :
184
Jackion
Totals
Jagper
12154r
4-19 1
79153
3422?
10G39
1713T.
:.92ll
1 121 2T
JtffBfion
Ma,joritlps
Total Tot«, Iten, 246,766, 1876 (iDcludingj949 Ormnback), 292,»43.
VOTE FOR CONGRESSMEN, 1876.
District
Bep.
Dem.
R.MaJ.
ToUl.
M^. 74.
District
Rep. Dem.
R.Maj.
Total.
Maj. 74.
I
17188
16439
17423
20770
19274
18778
14814
14683
16100
9379
11154
14719
2374
1756
1323
11391
8120
4059
32002
31122
33523
30149
80428
D 1863
VII
19496 11688
193.58 15236
19503 10583
7808
4122
89bO
S1184
34594
R 2300
II. ..._
R. 657
D 63
VIII
r' 9127
Ill
IX
?Ki14ftl R ftJUft
IV-..
R. 3824
R. 5243
oyoV| .
V 13"
168289118356
49933I •295111....
VI ;;;..
83497
R. 2724
Total Tote, 1874, 184,640 ; aggregate Republican majority, 24,524. ^Including 6,466 Greenback vot.^
Digitized by VjOOQIC
Practical Rules for Every Day Use.
Sow to find the gain or loss per cent, when the cost and selling priee
are given.
. Rule. — Find the difference between the cost and selling price, which
will be the gain or loss.
Annex two ciphers to the gain or loss, and divide it by the cost
price ; the result will be the gain or loss per cent.
Sow to change gold into currency.
Rule. — Multiply the given sum of gold by the price of gold.
Sow to change currency into gold.
Divide the amount in currency by the price of gold.
Sow to find each partner^ a share of the gain or loss in a copartnership
business.
Rule. — Divide the whole gain or loss by the entire stock, the quo-
tient will be the gain or loss per cent.
Multiply each partner's stock by this per cent., the result will be
each one's share of the gain or loss.
Sow to find gross and net weight and price of hogs.
A short and simple method for finding the net weighty or price of hogs,
when the gross weight or price is given^ and vice versa,
NoTB.— It is generally assumed that the gross weight of Hogs diminished by 1-5 or 20 percent
of itself gives the net weight, and the net weight increased by }i or 25 per cent, of itself equals the
vroBS weight
To find the net weight or gross price.
Multiply the given number by .8 (tenths.)
To find the gross weight or net price.
Divide the given number by .8 (tenths.)
Sow to find the capacity of a granary^ bin^ or wagon-bed.
Rule. — Multiply (by short method) the number of cubic feet by
6808, and point off one decimal place — the result will be the correct
nswer in bushels and tenths of a bushel.
For only an approximate answer^ multiply the cubic feet by 8, and
point off one decimal place.
Sow to find the contents of a corn-crib.
Rule. — Multiply the njimber of cubic feet by 64, short method, or
(284)
Digitized by VjOOQIC
MISOELLANBOnS INFORMATIOH. 286
by 4i ordinary method, and point off one decimal plac^e — the result wiL
be the answer in bushels.
NOTK— In estimating corn In the e»r, the quality and the time It has been cribbed must be taken
into consideration, since corn will shrink considerably during the Winter and Spring. This rule generally holdt
good for corn measured at the time it Is cribbed, prorlded It is sound and clean.
Sinp to find the contents of a cistern or tank.
Rdxe. — Multiply the square of the mean diameter by the depth (all
m feet) and this product by 5681 (short method), and point off onb
decimal place — ^the result will be the contents in barrels of 31i gallons.
Soto to find the contents of a barrel or ca^k.
Rule. — Under the square of the mean diameter, write the length
(all in inches) in RBVBBeiiD order, so that its units will fall under the
TENS ; multiply by short method, and this product again by 480 ; point
off one decimal place, and the result will be the answer in wine gallons.
Sow to measure boards.
RtTLB. — Multiply the length (in feet) by the width (in inches) and
divide the product by 12 — the result will be the contents in square feet.
Sow to measure scantlings^ joists^ planks^ sillSj etc.
RuLB. — Multiply the width, the thickness, and the length together
(the width and thickness in inches, and the length in feet), and divide
the product by 12 — the result will be square feet.
Sow to find the number of acres in a body of land.
Rule. — Multiply the length by the width (in ix>ds), and divide the
product by 160 (carrying the division to 2 decimal places if there is a
remainder) ; the result will be the answer in acres and hundredths.
When the opposite sides of a piece of land are of unequal length,
add them together and take one-half for the mean length or width.
Sow to find the number of square yards in a floor or wall.
Rule. — Multiply the length by the width or height (in feet), and
divide the product by 9, the result will be square yards.
Sow to find the number of bricks required in a building.
Rule. — Multiply the number of cubic feet by 22i.
The number of cubic feet is found by multiplying the length, height
nd thickness (in feet) together.
Bricks are usually made 8 inches long, 4 inches wide, and two inches
thick ; hence, it requires 27 bricks to make a cubic foot without mortar,
hut it is generally assumed that the mortar fills 1-6 of the space.
Sow to find the number of shingles required in a roof.
Rule. — Multiply the number of square feet in the roof by 8, if the
shingles are exposed 4i inches, or by 7 1-5 if exposed 5 inches.
To find the number of square feet, multiply the length of the roof by
twice the length of the rafters.
Digitized by VjOOQIC
286 MISCELLANEOUS INFORMATION.
To find the length of the rafters, at one-poubtH pitch, multiply the
width of the building by .56 (hundredths) ; at one-third pitch, by .6
(tenths) ; at two-fifths pitch, by .64 (hundredths) ; at one-half
pitch, by .71 (hundredths). This gives the length of the rafters from
the apex to the end of the wall, and whatever they are to project must be
taken into consideration.
Note.— By 3^ or H pitch is meant that the apex or comb of the roof Is to be K or i< the wfdtli of the
ballding higher than the walla or base of the rafters.
How to reckon the cost of hay.
Rule. — Multiply the number of pounds by half the price per ton,
and remove the decimal point three places to the left.
How to measure grain.
Rule. — Level the grain ; ascertain the space it occupies in cubic
feet ; multiply the number of cubic feet by 8, and point off one place to
the left.
NOTB.— Exactness requires the addition to every three hundred bushels of one extra bosheL
The foregoing rule may be used for finding the number of gallons, by
multiplying the number of bushels by 8.
If the corn in the box is in the ear, divide the answer by 2, to find
the number of bushels of shelled corn, because it requires 2 bushels of eai
com to make 1 of shelled corn.
Rapid rules for measuring land without instruments.
In measuring land, the first thing to ascertain is the contents of any
given plot in square 3^ards ; then, given the number of yards, find out the
number of rods and acres.
The most ancient and simplest measure of distance is a step. Now,
an ordinary-sized man can train himself to cover one yard at a stride, on
the average, with suflScient accuracy for ordinary purposes.
To make use of this means of measuring distances, it is essential to
walk in a straight line ; to do this, fix the eye on two objects in a line
straight ahead, one comparatively near, the other remote ; and, in walk-
ing, keep these objects constantly in line.
Farmers and others by adopting the following simple and ingenious con-
trivance^ may always carry with them the scale to construct a correct yard
measure.
Take a foot rule, and commencing at the base of the little finger ol
the left hand, mark the quarters of the foot on the outer borders of the
left arm, pricking in the marks with indelible ink.
To find how many rods in length will make an acre^ the width being given.
Rule. — ^Divide 160 by the width, and the quotient will be the answer.
^
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MISOELLAliTBOtrS INFORMATION. , 287
How to find the number of acres in any plot of landy the number of rods
being given.
Rule. — ^Divide the number of rods by 8, multiply the quotient by 5,
and remove the decimal point two places to the left.
The diameter being given^ to find the circumference.
RuiiE. — Multiply the diameter by 3 1-7,
Bow to find the diameter^ when the circumference is given.
Rule. — Divide the circumference by 3 1-7.
To find how many solid feet a round stick of timber of the same thick*
ness throughout unll contain when squared.
Rule. — Square half the diameter in inches, multiply by 2, multiply
by the length in feet, and divide the product by 144.
General rule for measuring timber^ to find the solid contents in feet.
Rule. — Multiply the depth in inches by the breadth in inches, and
then multiply by the length in feet, and divide by 144.
To find the number of feet of timber in trees with the bark on.
Rule. — Multiply the square of one-fifth of the circumference in
inches, by twice the length, in feet, and divide by 144. Deduct 1-10 to
1-15 according to the thickness of the bark.
Howard's new rule for computing interest.
Rule. — The reciprocal of the rate is the time for which the interest
on any sum of money will be shown hy simply removing the decimal
point two places to the left; for ten times that time, remove the point
one place to the left ;, for 1-10 of the same time, remove the point three
places to the leffc.
Increase or diminish the results to suit the time given.
KoTK.— The reciprocal of the rate Is found by InTertinff the rate ; thus 8 per cent, per month. In-
verted, becomes 3i of a month, or 10 days.
When the rate is expressed by one figure, always write it thus : 3-1,
three ones.
Rule for converting English into American currency.
Multiply the pounds, with the shillings and pence stated in decimals,
by 400 plus the premium in fourths, and divide the product by 90.
U. S. GOVERNMENT LAND MEASURE.
A township— 36 sections each a mile square.
A section — 640 acres,
A quarter section, half ^ mile square^l60 acres.
An eighth section, half a mile long, north and south, and a quarter
of a mile wide — 80 acres.
A sixteenth section, a quarter of a mile square — 40 acres.
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288 MISCELLANEOUS INFORMATION.
The sections axe all numbered 1 to 36, commencing at the north-east
comer.
The sections are divided into quarters, which are named by the
cardinal points. The quarters are divided in the same way. The de-
scription of a forty acre lot would read : The south half of the west half of
the south-west quarter of section 1 in township 24, north of range 7 west,
or as the case might be ; and sometimes will fall short and sometimes
overrun the number of acres it is supposed to contain.
The nautical mile is 795 4-5 feet longer than the common mile,
SURVEYORS' MEASURE.
7 92-100 inches make 1 link.
25 links " 1 rod.
4 rods " 1 chain.
80 chains " 1 mile.
*
Note. — A chain is 100 links, equal to 4 rods or 66 feet.
Shoemakers formerly used a subdivision of the inch called a barley-
corn ; three of which made an inch.
Horses are measured directly over the fore feet, and the standard of
measure is four inches — called a hand.
In Biblical and other old measurements, the term span is sometimes
used, which is a length of nine inches.
The sacred cubit of the Jews was 24.024 inches in length.
The common cubit of the Jews was 21.704 inches in length.
A pace is equal to a yard or 36 inches.
A fathom is equal to 6 feet.
A league is three miles, but its length is variable, for it is strioUy
speaking a nautical term, and should be three geographical miles, equal
to 3.45 statute miles, but when used on land, three statute miles are said
to be a league.
In cloth measure an aune is equal to li yards, or 45 inches.
An Amsterdam ell is equal to 26.796 inches.
A Trieste ell is equal to 25.284 inches.
A Brabant ell is equal to 27.116 inches.
HOW TO KEEP ACCOUNTS.
Every farmer and mechanic, whether he does much or little business,
should keep a record of his transactions in a clear and systematic man-
ner. For the benefit of those who have not had the opportunity of ac-
quiring a primary knowledge of the principles of book-keeping, we here
present a simple form of keeping accounts which is easily comprehended,
and well adapted to record the business transactions of farmers, mechanics
and laborers.
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MISOELI^AMBOUS INFOBHATIOK.
28»
1875.
A. H. JACKSON.
Dr.
Cr.
Jan. 10
To 7 bushels Wheat at $1.25
$8
6
1
48
6
17
75
30
25
00
25
50
82
18
2
25
4
35
u 17
By shoeing span of Horses
oO
Feb. 4
To 14 bushels Oats at $ .45
4
March 8
To51bs. Butter at .25
By new Harrow
00-
" 8
By sharpening 2 Plows ,
40
" 13
By new Double-Tree
9f}
" 27
To Cow and Calf
April 9
9
To half ton of Hay
By Cash
00
May 6
" 24
July 4
By repairing Corn-Planter
75
To one Sow with Pigs
By Cash, to balance account
15
•88
05
$88
05^
1876.
CASSA MASON.
Dr.
Cr.
Marct
I 21
t(
21
4(
23
May
1
t(
1
June
19
u
26
July
10
M
29
Aug.
12
It
12
Sept.
1
By 3 day s' lab or at • 1 . 2 5
To2 Shoats at 3.00
To 18 bushels Com at .45
By 1 month's Labor
To Cash
By 8 days' Mowing at $1.50
To 50 lbs. Flour
To 27 lbs. Meat at $ .10
By 9 days' Harvesting at 2.00
By 6days' Labor at 1.50
To Cash
To Cash to balance account
$3
$6
00
8
10
25
10
00
12
2
75
2
70
18
9
20
00
18
20
$67
75
167
75
00
00
00
00'
75
INTEREST TABLE.
A SlXPLB BaUi FOB AOCU&ATBLT COMPUnWO INTKRSST AT AWY GiVlBN pKtt CKKT. POR AKY
Length op Timb.
^ Xaltlply the mrindpal (amount of money at Interest) by the time reduced todaye; then dlylde this prodttet,
or the guoNent obtained by dividing 860 (the number of days in the intere8tyear)by the per cent of Interest.
vaAthe quotient t/kus obtained will be the required interest.
iixusTBATioxr. Solution.
_ Beqolre the interest of 9462.50 for one month and eighteen days at 6 per cent. An $462.50
mterett month is 30 days ; one month and eighteen days equal 48 days. $463.50 multl- .48
ciBt« by 4ft: and in like maimer for any other per cent.
870000
\ 185000
60/ $223.0000(98.70
180
420
420
00
MISCELLANEOUS TABLE.
Unnlti, or things, 1 Doaen. I
g^^«en. 1 Qross.
aothtngi, 1 Score.
190 pounds, 1 Barrel of Flour.
300 pounds. 1 Barrel of Pork.
56 pounds, 1 Firkin of Butter.
24 sheets of paper. 1 Quire.
20 quires paper 1 Ream.
4 ft: wide,^ fr: high, and 8 ft. long, 1 Cord Wood.
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290 inSOELLANBOUS INFOBMATIOK.
UAMES OF THE STATES OF THE UNION, AND THEIR SIGNIFICATIONS.
Virginia. — ^The oldest of the States, was so called in honor of Queen
Elizabeth, the " Virgin Queen," in whose reign Sir Walter Raleigh made
his first attempt to colonize that region.
Florida. — Ponce de Leon landed on the coast of Florida on Easter
Sunday, and called the country in commemoration of the day, which was
the Pasqua Florida of the Spaniards, or *' Feast of Flowers/'
Louisiana was called after Louis the Fourteenth, who at one time
owned that section of the country.
Alabama was so named by the Indians, and signifies '^ Here we Kest."
Mississippi is likewise an Indian name, meaning " Long River."
Arkansas^ from Kansas, the Indian word for ** smoky water." Its
prefix was really arc^ the French word for ** bow."
The Carolinas were originally one tract, and were called "Carolana,"
-after Charles the Ninth of France.
Georgia owes its name to George the Second of England, who first
established a colony there in 1732.
Tennessee is the Indian name for the ^* River of the Bend," t. e.j the
Mississippi which forms its western boundary.
Kentucky is the Indian name for " at the head of the river."
Ohio means ** beautiful ; " lowa^ " drowsy ones ; " Minnesota^ " cloudy
water," and Wisconsin^ " wild-rushing channel."
Illinois is derived from the Indian word illiniy men, and the French
BuflSx oisy together signifying " tribe of men."
Michigan was called by the name given the lake, fish-weir^ which was
«o styled from its fancied resemblance to a fish trap.
Missouri is from the Indian word " muddy," which more properly
applies to the river that flows through it.
Oregon owes its Indian name also to its principal river.
Cortes named California.
Massachusetts is the Indian for " The country around the great hills.*'
Connecticut^ from the Indian Quon-ch-ta-Cut, signifying "Long
River."
Maryland^ after Henrietta Maria, Queen of Charles the First, of
England.
New York was named by the Duke of York.
Pennsylvania means " Penn's woods," and was so called after William
Penn, its orignal owner.
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MISCELLANEOUS INFORMATION.
291
Delaware after Lord De La Ware.
New Jersey^ so called in honor of Sir George Carteret, who was
Governor of the Island of Jersey, in the British Channel.
Maine was called after the province of Maine in Prance, in compli-
ment of Queen Henrietta of England, who owned that province.
Vermont^ from the French word Vert Monty signifying Green
Mountain.
New Sampshire^ from Hampshire county in England. It was
formerly called Laconia.
The little State of Rhode Island owes its name to the Island of
Rhodes in the Mediterranean, which domain it is said to greatly
resemble.
Texas is the American word for the Mexican name by which all that
section of the country was called before it was ceded to the United States.
POPULATION OF THE
UNITED STATES.
States attd Tbrritoribs.
Alabama
Arkansas....
California...
Gonnectlcat .
Delaware
Florida.
llnols
Indiana
Iowa.
Kansas
Xentaoky ,
lOQlsiana ,
Maine
Maryland
Massachusetts.....*
Michigan
Minnesota
Mtsslsslppl
Missouri..
Nebraska
Ketada
Mew Hamiwhire. . . .
New Jersey
New York.
North Carolina
Ohio
Oregon
PeDDsylvanla.
Bhode Island
South Carolina
Tennessee
Texas
Vermont
Virginia.,
West Virginia.
Wisconsin
Total States..,
Arizona.
Colorada ,
Dskou ,
pisMctof Colnmbia..
Idaho
HontsDa ,
New Mexico
Utah
^tthlngton*.
Wyoming
ToulTerrltortei.....
T^)tal United States..
Total
Population.
38,118.853
9.658
89.864
14.181
181.700
14.999
20.595
9.118
442,780
88.555,988
POPULATION OF FIFTY
PRINCIPAL CITIES.
Crnss.
al.
Paterson, N. J
Kansas City, Mo
Mobile, Ala
Toledo, Ohio
Portland, Me
Columbus. Ohio
Wilmington. Del
Dayton, Ohio
Lawrence, Mass
Utica, N. T
Charlestown, Mass..
Savannah, Oa
Lynn. Mass
Fall Riyer, Mass
Populuion.
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292
MISGELX.ANEOUS INFOBMATION.
POPULATION OP THE UNITED STATES.
PRINCIPAL COUNTRIES OF THE WORLD;
Population and Area.
Chin*
British Empire
RusAl*
United States with Alaska. . . .
France
Austria and Hungary
Japan
Great Britain and Ireland. . . .
German Empire
Italy
Spain
Braxll
Turkey
Mexico
Sweden and Norway
Persia.
Belgium
Bavaria.
Portugal
Holland
New Grenada
Chill
Switzerland
Peru
Bolivia.
Argentine Republic
Wurtemburg
Denmark
Venezuela
Baden
Greece
Guatemala
Ecuador
Paraguay
Hesse
Liberia
San Salvador
Haytl
Nicaragua
Uruguay ,
Honduras
San Domingo ,
CostaRlca.
Hawaii
Population.
00
00
00
00
100
UO
s?
100
K)0
100
too
m
KK)
too
iOO
too
m
KK)
KK)
iOO
KM)
)00
KM)
KM)
roo
M)0
MM)
KM)
KM)
MM)
KK)
138
MM)
KM)
M)0
MM)
KM)
M)0
MM)
WO
)50
Date of
Census.
1871
1871
1871
1870
1866
1809
1871
1871
1871
1871
1867
1869
1870
1870
1869
1871
18«8
1870
1870
1869
1870
1871
■1869
1871
1870
'i87i
1870
1871
1871
'i's'ii
1871
1871
1871
1871
1876
Area in
Square
Miles.
182
)91
»99
)15
807
}47
m
Inhabitants
to Square
Mile.
119.8
48.6
lO.S
7.78
\m
282.8
262.8
2|o!9
8.07
24.4
P("
L<
St rg..
y) ....
Pi
VI
Y(
U
B(
R
M
Ri
Constantinople .
Mexico
Stockholm
Teherau
Brussels
L
M
B
Sj
B
L
C
B
81
C
C
c
A
Guatemala
Quito
Asuncion
Darmstadt
Monrovia ,
Sal Salvador....
Port au Prince,
Managua
Montevideo...,
Comayagua
San Domingo...
San Jose
Honolulu
PopolatioD.
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ABSTRACT OF IO¥A STATE LAWS.
BILLS OF EXCHANGE AND PROMISSORY NOTES.
Upon negotiable bills, and notes payable in this State, grace shall be allowed
according to the law merchant All the above mentioned paper falling due on
Sunday, New Year's Day, the Fourth of July, Christmas, or any day appointed
or recommended by the President of the United States or the Governor of the
State, as a day of fast or thanksgiving, shall be deemed as due on the day pre-
vious. No defense can be made against a negotiable instrument (assigned before
due) in the hands of the assignee without notice, except fraud was used in
obtaining the same. To hold an indorser, due diligence must be used by suit
against the maker or his representative. Notes payable to person named or to
order, in order to absolutely transfer title, must be indorsed by the payee.
Notes payable to bearer may be transferred by delivery, and when so payable,
every indorser thereon is held as a guarantor of payment, unless otherwise
expressed.
In computing interest or discount on negotiable instruments, a month shall
be considered a calendar month or twelfth of a year, and for less than a month,
a day shall be figured a thirtieth part of a month. Notes only bear interest
when so expressed ; but after due, they draw the legal interest, even if not
stated.
INTEREST.
The legal rate of interest is six per cent. Parties may agree, in writing,
on a rate not exceeding ten per cent. If a rate of interest greater than ten
per cent, is contracted for, it works a forfeiture of ten per cent, to the school
fund, and only the principal sum can be recovered.
DESCENT.
The personal property of the deceased (except (1) that necessary for pay-
ment of debts and expenses of administration ; (2) property set apart to widow,
as exempt from execution ; (3) allowance by court, if necessary, of twelve
months* support to widow, and to children under fifteen years of age), including
life insurance, descends as does real estate.
One-third in value (absolutely) of all estates in real property, possessed by
husband at any time during marriage, which have not been sold on execution
or other judicial sale, and to which the wife has made no relinquishment of her
right, shall be set apart as her property, in fee simple, if she survive him.
(298)
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294 ABSTRACT OF IOWA STATE LAWS.
The same share shall be set apart to the surviving husband of a deceased
wife.
The widow's share cannot be affected by any will of her husband's, unless
she consents, in writing thereto, within six months after notice to her of pro-
visions of the will.
The provisions of the statutes of descent apply alike to surviving husband
or surviving wife.
Subject to the above,, the remaining estate of which the decedent died
siezed, shall in absence of other arrangements by will, descend
FivBt. To his or her children and their descendants in equal parts ; the
descendants of the deceased child or grandchild taking the share of their
deceased parents in equal shares among them.
Second. Where there is no child, nor descendant of such child, and no
widow or surviving husband, then to the parents of the deceased in equal parts ;
the surviving parent, if either be dead, taking the whole ; and if there is no
parent living, then to the brothers and sisters of the intestate and their descend-
ants.
Third. When there is a widow or surviving husband, and no child or chil-
dren, or descendants of the same, then one-half of the estate shall descend to
such widow or surviving husband, absolutely ; and the other half of the estate
shall descend as in other cases where there is no widow or surviving husband,
or child or children, or descendants of the same.
Fourth. If there is no child, parent, brother or sister, or descendants of
either of them, then to wife of intestate, or to her heirs, if dead, according to
like rules.
Pifth. If any intestate leaves no child, parent, brother or sister, or de-
scendants of either of them, and no widow or surviving husband, and no child,
parent, brother or sister (or descendant of either of them) of such widow or
surviving husband, it shall escheat to the State.
WILLS AND ESTATES OF DECEASED PERSONS.
No exact form of words are necessary in order to mako a will good at law.
Every male person of the age of twenty-one years, and every female of the age
of eighteen years, of sound mind and memory, can make a valid will ; it must
be in writing, signed by the testator, or by some one in his or her presence, and
by his or her express direction, and attested by two or more competent wit-
nesses. Care should be taken that the witnesses are not interested in the will.
Inventory to be made by executor or administrator within fifteen days from
date of letters testamentary or of administration. Executors* and administra-
tors' compensation on amount of personal estate distributed, and for proceeds of
sale of real estate, five per cent, for first one thousand dollars, two and one-half
per cent, on overplus up to five thousand dollars, and one per cent, on overplus
above five thousand dollars, with such additional allowance as shall be reasona-
ble for extra services.
Within ten days after the receipt of letters of administration, the executor
or administrator shall give such notke of appointment as the court or clerk shall
direct.
Claims (other than preferred) must be filed mthin one year thereafter, are
forever barred, unless the claim is pending in the District or Supreme Court, or
unless peculiar circumstances entitle the claimant to equitable relief.
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ABSTRACT OP IOWA STATE LAWS. 296
Claims are classed s^nSi payable in the following order:
1. Expenses of administration.
2. Expenses of last sickness and funeral.
3. Allowance to widow and children, if made by the court.
4. Debts preferred under laws of the United States.
5. Public rates and taxes.
6. Claims filed within six months after the first publication of the notice
given by the executors of their appointment.
7. All other debts.
8. Legacies.
The awards or property which must be set apart to the widoWy in her otvn
rights by the executor, includes all personal property which, in the hands of th^
deceased, as head of a family, would have been exempt from ezectUdon.
TAXES.
The owners of personal property, on the first day of January of each year,
and the owners of real property on the first day of November of each year, ar&
liable for the taxes thereon.
The following property is exempt from taxation, viz. :
1. The property of the United States and of this State, including univer-
sity, agricultural, college and school lands and all property leased to the State ;
property of a county, township, city, incorporated town or school district when
devoted entirely to the public use and not held for pecuniary profit ; public-
grounds, including all places for the burial of the dead ; fire engines and all
implements for extinguishing fires, with the grounds used exclusively for their
buildings and for the meetings of the fire companies ; all public libraries,
grounds and buildings of literary, scientific, benevolent, agricultural and reli-
gious institutions, and societies devoted solely to the appropriate objects of these
institutions, not exceeding 640 acres in extent, and not leased or otherwise used
with a view of pecuniary profit ; and all property leased to agricultural, charit-
able institutions and benevolent societies, and so devoted during the term of such
lease ; provided^ that all deeds, by which such property is held, shall be duly
filed for record before the property therein described shall be omitted from the
assessment.
2. The books, papers and apparatus belonging to the above institutions;
used solely for the purposes above contemplated, and the like property of stu-
dents in any such institution, used for their education.
3. Money and credits belonging exclusively to such institutions and devoted
solely to sustaining them, but not exceeding in amount or income the sum pre-
scribed by their charter.
4. Animals not hereafter specified, the wool shorn from sheep, belonging ta
the person giving the list, his farm produce harvested within one year previous
to the listing ; private libraries not exceeding three hundred dollars in value;
family pictures, kitchen furniture, beds and bedding requisite for each family,
all wearing apparel in actual use, and all food provided for the family ; but no-
person from whom a compensation for board or lodging is received or expected,
is to be considered a member of the family within the intent of this clause.
5. The polls or estates or both of persons who, by reason of age or infirm-^
ity, may. in the opinion of the Assessor, be unable to contribute to the public;
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296 ABSTRACT OP IOWA STATE LAWS.
revenue ; such opinion and the fact upon which it is based being in all cases
reported to the Board of Equalization by the Assessor or any other person, and
subject to reversal by them.
6. The farming utensils of any person who makes his livelihood by fanning,
and the tools of any mechanic, not in either case to exceed three hundred doUajre
in value.
7. Government lands entered or located or lands purchased from this State,
should not be taxed for the year in which the entry, location or purchase is
made.
There is also a suitable exemption, in amount, for planting fruit trees or
forest trees or hedges.
Where buildings are destroyed by fire, tornado or other unavoidable casu-
alty, after being assessed for the year, the Board of Supervisors may rebate
taxes for that year on the property destroyed, if same has not been sold for
taxeSj and if said taxes have not been delinquent for thirty days at the time of
destruction of the property, and the rebate shall be allowed for such loss only
as is not covered by insurance.
All other property is subject to taxation. Every inhabitant of full age and
sound mind shall assist the Assessor in listing all taxable property of which
he is the owner, or which he controls or manages, either as agent, guardian,
father, husband, trustee, executor, accounting officer, partner, mortgagor or
lessor, mortgagee 'or lessee.
Road beds of railway corporations shall not be assessed to owners of adja-
cent property, but shall be considered the property of the companies for pur-
poses of taxation ; nor shall real estate used as a public highway be assessed
and taxed as part of adjacent lands whence the same was taken for such public
purpose.
The property of railway, telegraph and express companies shall be listed
and assessed for taxation as the property of an individual would be listed and
assessed for taxation. Collection of taxes made as in the case of an individual.
The Township Board of Equalization shall meet first Monday in April of
each year. Appeal lies to the Circuit Court.
The County Board of Eqalization (the Board of Supervisors) meet at their
regular session in June of each year. Appeal lies to the Circuit Court.
Taxes become delinquent February 1st of each year, payable, without
interest or penalty, at any time before March 1st of each year.
Tax sale is held on first Monday in October of each year.
Redemption may be made at any time within three years after date of sale,
by paying to the County Auditor the amount of sale, and twenty per centum of
such amount immediately added as penalty, with ten per cent, interest per
annum on the whole amount thus made from the day of sale, and also all sub-
sequent taxes, interest and costs paid by purchaser after March 1st of each
year, and a similar penalty of twenty per centum added as before, with ten per
cent, interest as before.
If notice has been given, by purchaser, of the date at which the redemption
is limited, the cost of same is added to the redemption money. Ninety days'
notice is required, by the statute, to be published by the purchaser or holder of
certificate, to terminate the right of redemption.
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ABSTRACT OF IOWA STATE lAWS 297
JURISDICTION OF COURTS
DISTRICT COURTS
have jurisdiction, general and original, both civil and criminal, except in such
cases where Circuit Courts have exclusive jurisdiction. District Courts have
exclusive supervision over courts of Justices of the Peace and Magistrates, in
criminal matters, on appeal and writs of error.
CIRCUIT COURTS
have jurisdiction, general and original, with the District Courts, in all civil
actions and special proceedings, and exclusive jurisdiction in all appeals and
writs of error from inferior courts, in civil matters. And exclusive jurisdiction
in matters of estates and general probate business.
JUSTICES OF THE PEACE
have jurisdiction in civil matters where JlOO or less is involved. By consent
of parties, the jurisdiction may be extended to an amount not exceeding ^300.
They have jurisdiction to try and determine all public offense less than felony,
committed within their respective counties, in which the fine^ by law, does not
exceed flOO or the imprisonment thirty days.
LIMITATION OF ACTIONS.
Action for injuries to the person or reputation; for a stutute penalty; and
to enforce a mechanics' lien, must be brought in two (2) years.
Those against a public officer within three (3) years.
Those founded on unwritten contracts; for injuries to property; for relief
on the ground of fraud ; and all other actions not otherwise provided for, within
five (5) years.
Those founded on written contracts; on judgments of any court (except
those provided for in next section), and for the recovery of real property, within
ten (10) years.
Those founded on judgment of any court of record in the United States,
within twenty (20) years*'
All above limits, except those for penalties and forfeitures, are extended in
fever of minors and insane persons, until one year after the disability is removed
— ^time during which defendant is a non-resident of the State shall not be
included in computing any of the above periods.
Actions for the recovery of real property, sold for non-payment of taxes,
must be brought within five years after the Treasurer's Deed is executed
and recorded, except where a minor or convict or insane person is the owner,
and they shall be allowed five years after disability is removed, in which to
bring action.
JURORS.
All qualified electors of the State, of good moral character, sound judgment,
and in full possession of the senses of hearing and seeing, are competent jurors
in their respective counties.
United States officers, practicing attorneys, physicians and clergymen,
acting professors or teachers in institutions of learning, and persons disabled by
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298 ABSTRACT OP IOWA STATE LAWS.
bodily infirmity or over sixty-five years of age, are exempt from liability to act
as jurors.
Any person may be excused from serving on a jury when his own interests
or the public's will be materially injured by his attendance, or when the state of
his health or the death, or sickness of his fiunily requires his absence.
CAPITAL PUNISHMENT
was restored by the Seventeenth General Assembly, making it optional widi
the jury to inflict it or not.
A MARRIED WOMAN
may convey or incumber real estate, or interest therein, belonging to her ; may
control the same or contract with reference thereto, as other persons may con-
vey, encimiber, control or contract.
She may own, acquire, hold, convey and devise property, as her husband
may.
Her husband is not liable for civil injuries committed by her.
She may convey property to her husband, and he may convey to her.
She may constitute her husband her attorney in fact.
EXEMPTIONS FROM EXECUTION.
A resident of the State and head of a family may hold the following prop-
erty exempt from execution : All wearing apparel of himself and family kept for
actual use and suitable to the condition, and the trunks or other receptacles neo-
essary to contain the same ; one musket or rifle and shot-gun ; ail private
libraries, family Bibles, portraits, pictures, musical instruments, and paintings
not kept for the purpose of sale ; a seat or pew occupied by the debtor or his
&mily in any house of public worship ; an interest in a public or private burying
ground not exceeding one acre ; two cows and a calf; one horse, unless a horse
is exempt a^ hereinafter provided ; fifty sheep and the wool therefrom, and the
materials manufactured from said wool ; six stands of bees ; five hogs and all
pigs under six months ; the necessary food for exempted animals for six months ;
all flax raised from one acre of gt*ound, and manufactures therefrom ; one bed-
stead and necessary bedding for every two in the family ; all cloth manufactured
by the defendant not exceeding one hundred yards ; household and kitchen fur-
niture not exceeding two hundred dollars in value ; all spinning wheels and
looms ; one sewing machine and other instruments of domestic labor kept for
actual use ; the necessary provisions and fuel for the use of the &mily for six
months ; the proper tools, instruments, or books of the debtor, if a farmer,
mechanic, surveyor, clergyman, lawyer, physician, teacher or professor ; the
horse or the team, consisting of not more than two horses or mules, or two yokes
of cattle, and the wagon or other vehicle, with the proper harness or tackle, by
the use of which the debtor, if a physician, public officer, &rmer, teamster or
other laborer, habitually earns his living ; and to the debtor, if a printer, there
shall also be exempt a printing press and the types, ftimiture and material nec-
essary for the use of such printing press, and a newspaper office to the value of
twelve hundred dollars ; the earnings of such debtor, or those of his family, at
any time within ninety days next preceding the levy.
Persons unmarried and not the head of a family, and non-residents, have
exempt their own ordinary wearing apparel and trunks to contain the same.
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ABSTRACT OF IOWA STATE LAWS. 299
There is also exempt, to a head of a family, a homestead, not exceeding forty
acres; or, if inside city limits, one-half acre with improvements, value not
limited. The homestead is liable for all debts contracted prior to its acquisition as
such, and is subject to mechanics* liens for work or material furnished for the same.
An article, otherwise exempt, is liable, on execution, for the purchase
money thereof.
Where a debtor, if a head of a family, has started to leave the State, he shall
have exempt only the ordinary wearing apparel of himself and family, and
other property in addition, as he may select, in all not exceeding seventy-five
dollars in value.
A policy of life insurance shall inure to the separate use of the husband or
wife and children, entirely independent of his or her creditors.
ESTRAYS.
An unbroken animal shall not be taken up as an estray between May Ist
and November 1st, of each year, unless the same be found within the lawful
enclosure of a householder, who alone can take up such animal, unless some
other person gives him notice of the fact of such animal coming on his place ;
and if he fails, within five days thereafter, to take up such estray, any other
householder of the township may take up such estray and proceed with it as if
taken on his own premises, provided he shall prove to the Justice of the Peace
such notice, and shall make affidavit where such estray was taken up.
Any swine, sheep, goat, horse, neat cattle or other animal distrained (for
damage done to one's enclosure), when the oii^ner is not known, shall be treated
as an estray.
Within five days after taking up an estray, notice, containing a ftill descrip-
tion thereof, shall be posted up in three of the most public places in the town-
ship ; and in ten days, the person taking up such estray shall go before a Justice
of the Peace in the township and make oath as to where such estray was taken
up, and that the marks or brands have not been altered, to his knowledge. 1 he
estray shall then be appraised, by order of the Justice, and the appraisement,
description of the size, age, color, sex, marks and brands of the estray shall be
entw^ by the Justice in a book kept for that purpose, and he shall, within ten
days thereafter, send a certified copy thereof to the County Auditor.
When the appraised value of an estray does not exceed five dollars, the
Justice need not proceed further than to enter the description of the estray on
his book, and if no owner appears within six months, the property shall vest in
the finder, if he has complied with the law and paid all costs.
Where appraised value of estray exceeds five and is less than ten dollars, if
no owner appears in nine months, the finder has the property, if he has com-
pUed with the law and paid costs.
An estray, legally taken up, may be used or worked with care and
moderation.
If any person unlawftilly take up an estray, or take up an estray and fail to
comply witJi the law regarding estrays, or use or wdrk it contrary to above, or
work it before having it appraised, or keep such estray out of the county more
than five days at one time, before acquiring ownership, such offender shall foifeit
to the county twenty dollars, and the owner may recover double damages with
costs.
If the' owner of any estray fail to claim and prove his title for one year after
the taking up, and the finder shall have complied with the law, a comolete title
vests in the finder.
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800 ABSTRACT OF IOWA STATE LAWS.
But if the owner appear within eighteen months from the taking up, prove
his ownership and pay all costs and expenses, the finder shall pay him the
appraised value of such estray, or may, at his option, deliver up the estray.
WOLF SCALPS.
A bounty of one dollar is paid for wolf scalps.
MARKS AND BRANDS.
Any person may adopt his own mark or brand for his domestic animals, and
have a description thereof recorded by the Township Clerk.
No person shall adopt the recorded mark or brand of any other person
residing in his township.
DAMAGES FROM TRESPASS.
When any person's lands are enclosed by a lawful fence, the owner of any
domestic animal injuring said lands is liable for the damages, and the damages
may be recovered by suit against the owner, or may be made by distraining the
animals doing the damage ; and if the party injured elects to recover by action
against the owner, no appraisement need be made by the Trustees, as in case of
distraint.
When trespassing animals are distrained within twenty-four hours, Sunday
not included, the party injured shall notify the owner of said animals, if known;
and if the owner fails to satisfy the party within twenty-four hours thereafter,
the party shall have the township Trustees assess the damage, and notice shall
be posted up in. three conspicuous places in the township, that the stock, or part
thereof, shall, on the tenth day aft^r posting the notice^ between the hours of 1
and 3 P. M., be sold to the highest bidder, to satisfy said damages, with costs.
Appeal lies, within twenty days, from the action of the Trustees to the Cir-
cuit Court.
Where stock is restrained, by police regulation or by law, from running at
large, any person injured in his improved or cultivated lands by any domestic
animal, may, by action against the owner of such animal, or by distraining such
animal, recover his damages, whether. the lands whereon the injury was done
were inclosed by a lawful fence or not.
FENCES.
A lawful fence is fifty-four inches high, made of rails, wire or boards, ¥rith
posts not more than ten feet apart where rails are used, and eight feet where
boards are used, substantially built and kept in good repair ; or any other fence
which, in the opinion of the Fence Viewers, shall be declared a lawful fence —
provided the lower rail, wire or board be not more that twenty nor less than six-
teen inches from the ground.
The respective owners of lands enclosed with fences shall maintain partition
fences between their own and next adjoining enclosure so long as they improve
them in equal shares, unless otherwise agreed between them.
If any party neglect to maintain such partition fence as he should maintain,
the Fence Viewers (the township Trustees), upon complaint of aggrieved party,
may, upon due notice to both parties, examine the fence, and, if found insuf-
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ABSTRACT OF IOWA STATE LAWS. 301
ficient, notify the delinquent party, in writing^ to repair or re-build the same
within such time as they judge reasonable.
If the fence be not repaired or rebuilt accordingly, the complainant may do
90, and the same being adjudged sufficient by the Fence Viewers, and the
ralue thereof, with their fees, being ascertained and certified under their hands,
the complainant may demand of the delinquent the sum so ascertained, and if
the same be not paid in one month after demand, may recover it with one per
cent a month interest, by action.
In case of disputes, the Fence Viewers may decide as to who shall erect or
maintain partition fences, and in what time the same shall be done ; and in case
any party neglect to maintain or erect such part as may be assigned to him,
the aggrieved party may erect and maintain the same, and recover double
damages.
No person, not wishing his land inclosed, and not using it otherwise than in
common, shall be compelled to maintain any partition fence ; but when he uses
or incloses his land otherwise than in common, he shall contribute to the parti-
tion fences.
Where parties have had their lands inclosed in common, and one of the ^
owners desires to occupy his separate and apart from the other, and the other
refuses to divide the line or build a sufficient fence on the line when divided,
the Fence Viewers may divide and assign, and upon neglect of the other to
build as ordered by the Viewers, the one may build the other's part and
recover as above.
And when one incloses land which has lain uninclosed, he must pay for
one-half of each partition fence between himself and his neighbors.
Where one desires t9 lay not less than twenty feet of his lands, adjoining
his neighbor, out to the public to be used in common, he must give his neighbor
SIX months' notice thereof.
Where a fence has been built on the land of another through mistake, the
owner may enter upon such premises and remove his fence and material withn
six months after the division line has been ascertained. Where the material to
build such a fence has been taken from the land on which it was built, then,
before it can be removed, the person claiming must first pay for such material
to the owner of the land from which it was taken, nor shall such a fence be
removed at a time when the removal will throw open or expose the crops of the
other party ; a reasonable time must be given beyond the six months to remove
crops.
MECHANICS' LIENS.
Every mechanic, or other person who shall do any labor upon, or furnish
any materials, machinery or fixtures for any building, erection or other improve-
ment upon land, including those engaged in the construction or repair of any
work of internal improvement, by virtue of any contract with the owner, his
agent, trustee, contractor, or sub-contractor, shall have a lien, on complying:
with the forms of law, upon the building or other improvement for his labor
done or materials furnished.
It would take too large a space to detail the manner in which a sub-
contractor secures his lien. He should file, within thirty days after the last of
the labor was performed, or the last of the material shall have been furnished,
with the Clerk of the District Court a true account of the amount due him, after
allowing all credits, setting forth the time when such material was furnished or
labor performed, and when completed, and containing a correct description of
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302 ABSTRACT OF IOWA STATE LAWS.
the property sought to be charged with the lien, and the whole verified by
aflSdavit.
A principal contractor must file such an affidavit within ninety days, as
above.
Ordinarily, there are so many points to be examined in order to secure a
mechanics' lien, that it is much better, unless one is accustomed to managing
such liens, to consult at once with an attorney.
Remember that the proper time to file the claim is ninety days for a princi-
pal contractor, thirty days for a sub-contractor, as above; and that actions to
enforce these liens must be commenced within two years, and the rest can much
better be done with an attorney.
ROADS AND BRIDGES.
Persons meeting each other on the public highways, shall give one half of
the same by turning to the right. All persons failing to observe this rule shall
be liable to pay all damages resulting therefrom, together with a fine, not exceed-
ing five dollars.
The prosecution must be instituted on the complaint of the person wronged.
Any person guilty of racing horses, or driving upon the public highway, in
a manner likely to endanger the persons or the lives of others, shall, on convic-
tion, be fined not exceeding one hundred dollars or imprisoned not exceeding
thirty days.
It is a misdemeanor, without authority from the proper Road Supervisor, to
break upon, plow or dig within the boundary lines of any public highway.
The money tax levied upon the property in each road district in each town-
ship (except the general Township Fund, set apart for purchasing tools, machin-
ery and guide boards), whether collected by the Road Supervisor or County
Treasurer, shall be expended for highway purposes in that district, and no part
thereof shall be paid out or expended for the benefit of another district.
The Road Supervisor of each district, is bound to keep the roads and bridges
therein, in as good condition as the funds at his disposal will permit ; to put
guide boards at cross roads and forks of highways in his district ; and when noti-
fied in writing that any portion of the public highway, or any bridge is unsafe,
must in a reasonable time repair the same, and for this purpose may call out
any or all the able bodied men in the district, but not more than two days at
one time, without their consent.
Also, when notified in writing, of the growth of any Canada thistles upon
vacant or non-resident lands or lots, within his district, the owner, lessee or
agent thereof being unknown, shall cause the same to be destroyed.
Bridges when erected or maintained by the public, are parts of the highway,
and must not be less than sixteen feet wide.
A penalty is imposed upon any one who rides or drives fester than a walk
across any such bridge-
The manner of establishing, vacating or altering roads, etc., is so well known
to all township officers, that it is sufficient here to say that the first step is by
petition, filed in the Auditor's office, addressed in substance as follows :
The Board of Supervisors of County : The undersigned asks that
a highway, commencing at and running thence and terminating
at — , be established, vacated or altered (as the case may be.)
When the petition is filed, ell necessary and succeeding steps will be shown
and explained to the petitioners by the Auditor.
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ABSTRACT OP IOWA STATE LAWS. 808
ADOPTION OF CHILDREN.
Any person competent to make a will can adopt as his own the minor child
of another. The consent of both parents, if living and not divorced or separ-
ated, and if divorced or separated, or if unmarried, the consent of the parent
lawfully having the custody of the child ; or if either parent is dead, then the
consent of the survivor, or if both parents be dead, or the child have been and
remain abandoned by them, then the consent of the Mayor of the city where
the child is living, or if not in the city, then of the Clerk of the Circuit Court
of the county shall be given to such adoption by an instrument in writing,
signed by party or parties consenting, and stating the names of the parties, if
known, the name of the child, if known, the name of the person adopting such
child, and the residence of all, if known, and declaring the name by which the
child is thereafter to be called and known, and stating, also, that such child is
given to the person adopting, for the purpose of adoption as his own child.
The person adopting shfdl also sign said instrument, and all the parties shall
acknowledge the same in the manner that deeds conveying lands shall be
acknowledged.
The instrument shall be recorded in the office of the County Recorder.
SURVEYORS AND SURVEYS.
There is in every county elected a Surveyor known as County Surveyor,
who has power to appoint deputies, for whose official acts he is responsible. It
is the duty of the County Surveyor, either by himself or his Duputy, to make
all surveys that he may be called upon to make within his county as soon as
may be after application is made. The necessary chainmen and other assist-
ance must be employed by the person requiring the same to be done, and to be
by him paid,«unless otherwise agreed ; but the chainmen must be disinterested
persons and approved by the Surveyor and sworn by him to measure justly and
impartially. Previous to any survey, he shall furnish himself with a copy of
t\ie field notes of the original survey of the same land, if there be any in the
oflSce of the County Auditor, and his survey shall be made in accordance there-
irith.
Their fees are three dollars per day. For certified copies of field notes,
twenty-five cents.
SUPPORT OF POOR.
The father, mother and children of any poor person who has applied for aid,
and who is unable to maintain himself by work, shall, jointly or severally,
maintain such poor person in such manner as may be approved by the Town-
ship Trustees.
In the absence or inability of nearer relatives, the same liability shall extend
to the grandparents, if of ability without personal labor, and to the male grand-
children who are of ability, by personal labor or otherwise.
The Township Trustees may, upon the failure of such relatives to maintain
* poor person, who has made application for relief, apply to the Circuit Court
for an order to compel the same.
Upon ten days' notice, in writing, to the parties sought to be charged, a
hearing may be had, and an order made for entire or partial support of the poor
person.
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804 ABSTRACT OF IOWA STATE LAWS.
Appeal may be taken from such judgment as from other judgments of the
Circuit Court.
When any person, having any estate, abandons either children, "wife or hus-
band, leaving them chargeable, or likely to become chargeable, upon the publifc for
support, upon proof of above fact, an order may be had from the Clerk of the
Circuit Court, or Judge, authorizing the Trustees or the SheriflF to take into
possession such estate.
The Court may direct such personal estate to be sold, to be applied, as well
as the rents and profits of the real estate, if any, to the support of children,
wife or husband.
If the party against whom the order is issued return and support the per-
son abandoned, or give security for the same, the order shall be discharged, and
the property taken returned.
The mode of relief for the poor, through the action of the Township
Trustees, or the action of the Board of Supervisors, is so well known to every
township officer, and the circumstances attending applications for relief are so
varied, that it need now only be said that it is the duty of each county to pro-
vide for its poor, no matter at what place they may be.
LANDLORD AND TENANT.
A tenant giving notice to quit demised premises at a time named, and after-
ward holding over, and a tenant or his assignee willfully holding over the prem-
ises after the term, and after notice to quit, shkll pay double rent.
Any person in possession of real property, with the assent of the owner, is
presumed to be a tenant at will until the contrary is shown.
Thirty days* notice, in writing, is necessary to be given by either party
before he can terminate a tenancy at will ; but when, in any case, a rent is
reserved payable at intervals of less than thirty days, the length of notice need
not be greater than such interval between tne days of payment. In case of
tenants occupying and cultivating farms, the notice must fix the termination of
the tenancy to take place on the Ist day of March, except in cases of fidd
tenants or croppers, whose leases shall be held to expire when the crop is har-
vested ; provided, that in case of a crop of com, it shall not be later than the
1st day of December, unless otherwise agreed upon. But when an express
agreement is made, whether the same has been reduced to writing or not,
the tenancy shall cease at the time agreed upon, without notice.
But where an express agreement is made, whether reduced to writing or
not, the tenancy shall cease at the time agreed upon, without notice.
If such tenant cannot be found in the county, the notices above required
may be given to any sub-tenant or other person in possession of the premises ;
or, if the premises oe vacant, by affixing the notice to the principal door of the
building or in some conspicuous position on the land, if there be no building.
The landlord shall have a lien for his rent upon all the crops grown on the
premises, and upon any other personal property of the tenant used on the
premises during the term, and not exempt from execution, for the period of one
year after a year's rent or the rent of a shorter period claimed falls due ; but
such lien shall not continue more than six months after the expiration of the
term.
The lien may be eflFected by the commencement of an action, within the
period above prescribed, for the rent alone ; and the landlord is entitled to a writ
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ABSTBACT OF IOWA STATE LAWS.
305^
of attachment, upon filing an affidavit that the action is commenced to rcover
rent accrued within one year previous thereto upon the premises described in the
affidavit.
WEIGHTS AND MEASURES.
Whenever any of the following articles shall be contracted for, or sold or
delivered, and no special contract or agreement shall be made to the contrary,
the weight per bushel shall be as follows, to-wit:
Apples, Peaches or Quinoes, 48
Cherries, Grapes, Currants or Gooseberries, 40
Strawberries, Raspberries or Blackberries, 82
Osage Orange Seed 32
MiUetSeed 46
Stone Coal. 80
lime 80
Com in the ear 70
Wheat.„, 60
Potatoes 60
Beans 60
aover Seed 60
Onions , 57
Shelled Corn 56
Rye 56
Flax Seed 56
Sweet Potatoes 46
Sand 180
Sorghum Seed 80
Broom Com Seed 80
buckwheat 52
Salt 50
Barley 48
Com Meal 48
Castor Beans 46
Timothy Seed 45
Hemp Seed 44
Dried Peaches 88
Oats :. 88
Dried Apples 24
Bran 20
Blue Grass Seed 14
Hungarian Grass Seed 45
Penalty for giving less than the above standard is treble damages and costs
and five dollars addition thereto as a fine.
DEFINITION OF COMMERCIAL TERMS.
$ means dollars, being a contraction of U. S., which was formerly placed
before any denomination of money, and meant, as it means now. United States
Currency.
£ means pounds, English money.
@ stands for at or to; ft {or pounds^ and bbl. for barrels; ^ {or jper or by
the. Thus, Butter sells at 20@30c ^ ft, and Flour at ?8@^12 ^ bbl.
% for per cent., and J for number.
May 1. Wheat sells at $1.20@$1.25, " seller June." Seller June means
that the person who sells the wheat has the privilege of delivering it at any
time during the month of June.
Selling short, is contracting to deliver a certain amount of grain or stock,
at a fixed price, within a certain length of time, when the seller has not the
stock on hand. It is for the interest of the person selling "short" to depress
the market as much as possible, in order that he may buy and fill his contract
at a profit. Hence the " shorts " are termed '* bears."
Buying long, is to contract to purchase a certain amount of grain or shares
of stock at a fixed price, deliverable within a stipulated time, expecting to make
a profit by the rise in prices. The " longs " are termed " bulls," as it is for
their interest to ** operate" so as to "toss" the prices upward as much as
possible.
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306 ABSTRACT OP IOWA STATE LAWS.
NOTES.
Form of note is legid, worded in the simplest way, so that the amount and
lEUne of payment are mentioned :
JIOO. Chicago, 111., Sept. 15, 1876.
Sixty days from date I promise to pay to E. F. Brown or order, one hun-
dred dollars, for value received. L. D. Lowry.
A note to be payable in anything else than money needs only the fects sub-
stituted for money in the above form.
ORDERS.
Orders should be worded simply, thus :
Mr. F. H. Coats : Chicago, Sept. 15, 1876.
Please pay to H. Birdsall twenty-five dollars, and charge to
F. D. SiLVA.
RECEIPTS.
Receipts should always state when received and what for, thus :
JIOO. Chicago, Sept. 15, 1876.
Received of J. W. Davis, one hundred dollars, for services
rendered in grading his lot in Fort Madison, on account.
Thomas Bradt.
If receipt is in full, it should be so stated.
BILLS OF PURCHASE.
W. N. Mason, Salem, Illinois, Sept. 18, 1876.
Bought of A. A. Graham.
4 Bushels of Seed Wheat, at fl.50 $6 00
2 Seamless Sacks " 80 60
Received payment, $6 60
A. A. Graham.
CONFESSION OF JUDGMENT.
-, Iowa, , 18 — .
after date — promises to pay to the order of , dollars,
at , for value received, with interest at ten per cent, per annum after
until paid. Interest payable , and on interest not paid when due,
interest at same rate and conditions.
A fiiilure to pay said interest, or any part thereof, within 20 days after due, shall cause the
whole note to become due and collectable at once.
If thin note is sued, or judgment is confessed hereon, $ shaU be allowed as attorney ftes.
No.—. P.O. , .
CONFESSION OF JUDGMENT.
— VS. — . In Court of County, Iowa, , of
•County, Iowa, do hereby confess that justly indebted to , in the
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ABSTRACT OP IOWA STATE LAWS. 307
sum of dollars, and the further sum of 9 as attorney fees, with
interest thereon at ten per cent, from , and — hereby confess judgment
against as defendant in favor of said , for said sum of 9 ,
and $ as attorney fees, hereby authorizing the Clerk of the Court of
said county to enter up judgment for said sum against with costs, and
interest at 10 per cent, from , the interest to be paid .
Said debt and judgment, being for .
It is especially agreed, however, That if this judgment is paid within twenty
days after due, no attorney fees need be paid. And hereby sell, convey
and release all right of homestead we*now occupy in favor of said so
&T as this judgment is concerned, and agree that it shall be liable on execution
for this judgment.
Dated , 18—. .
The State of Iowa, 1
County. J
being duly sworn according to law, depose and say that the forego-
ing statement and Confession of Judgment was read over to , and that —
understood the contents thereof, and that the statements contained therein are
true, and that the sums therein mentioned are justly to become due said
as aforesaid.
Sworn to and subscribed before me and in my presence by the said
this day of , 18 — . , Notary Public.
ARTICLES OF AGREEMENT.
An agreement is where one party promises to another to do a certain thing
in a certain time for a stipulated sum. Good business men always reduce an
agreement to writing, which nearly always saves misunderstandings and trouble.
No particular form is necessary, but the facts must be clearly and explicitly
stated, and there must, to make it valid, be a reasonable consideration.
GENERAL FORM OF AGREEMENT.
This Agreement, made the Second day of June,*1878, between John
Jones, of Keokuk, County of Lee, State of Iowa, of the first part, and Thomas
Whiteside, of the same place, of the second part —
WITNESSETH, that the said John Jones, in consideration of the agreement
of the party of the second part, hereinafter contained, contracts and agrees to
and with the said Thomas Whiteside, that he will deliver in good and market-
able condition, at the Village of Melrose, Iowa, during the month of November,
of this year. One Hundred Tons of Prairie Hay, in the following lots, and at
the following specified times ; namely, twenty-five tons by the seventh of Nov-
ember, twenty-five tons additional by the fourteenth of the month, twenty-five
tons more by the twenty-first, and the entire one hundred tons to be all delivered
by the thirtieth of November.
And the said Thomas Whiteside, in consideration of the prompt fulfillment
of this contract, on the part of the party of the first part, contracts to and agrees
with the said John Jones, to pay for said hay five dollars per ton, for each ton
« soon as delivered.
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308 ABSTRACT OP IOWA STATE LAWS.
In case of failure of agreement by either of the parties hereto, it is hereby
stipulated and agreed that the party so failing shall pay to the other, One Hun-
dred dollars, as fixed and settled damages.
In witness whereof, we have hereunto set our hands the day and year first
above written. John Jones,
Thomas Whiteside.
AGREEMENT WITH CLERK FOR SERVICES.
This Agreement, made the first day of May, one thousand eight hundred
and seventy-eight, between Reuben Stone, of Dubuque, County of Dubuqne,
State of Iowa, party of the first part, and George Barclay, of McGregor,
County of Clayton, State of Iowa, party of the second part —
WITNESSETH, that Said George Barclay agrees faithfully and diligently to
work as clerk and salesman for the said Reuben Stone, for and during the space
of one year from the date hereof, should both live such length of time, without
absenting himself from his occupation ; during which time he, the said Barclay, in
the store of said Stone, of Dubuque, will carefully and honestly attend, doing
and performing all duties as clerk and salesman aforesaid, in accorjdance and in
all respects as directed and desired by the said Stone.
In consideration of which services, so to be rendered by the said Barclay, the
said Stone agrees to pay to said Barclay the annual sum of one thousand dol-
lars, payable in twelve equal monthly payments, each upon the last day of each
month ; provided that all dues for days of absence from business by said Barclay,
shall be deducted from the sum otherwise by the agreement due and payable by
the said Stone to the said Barclay.
Witness our hands. Reuben Stone.
George Barclay.
BILLS OF SALE.
A bill of sale is a written agreement to another party, for a consideration to
convey his right and interest in the personal property. The purchaser mtut
take actual possession, of the property y or the bill of sale mv^t be acknowledged
and recorded.
COMMON FORM OF BILL OF SALE.
Know aIll Men by this instrument, that I, Louis Cljy, of Burlington,
Iowa, of the first part, for and in consideration of Five Hundred and Ten
Dollars, to me paid by John Floyd, of the same place, of the second part, the
receipt whereof is hereby acknowledged, have sold, and by this instrument do
convey unto the said Floyd, party of the second part, his executors, administra-
tors and assigns, my undivided half of ten acres of corn, now growing on the
arm of Thomas Tyrell, in the town above mentioned ; one pair of horses,
sixteen sheep, and five cows, belonging to me and in my possession at the farm
aforesaid ; to have and to hold the same unto the party of the second part, his
executors and assigns forever. And I do, for myself and legal representatives,
agree with the said party of the second part, and his legal representatives, to
warrant and defend the sale of the afore-mentioned property and chattels unto .
the said party of the second part, and his legal representatives, against all and
every person whatsoever.
In witness whereof, I have hereunto aflSxed my hand, this tenth day of
October, one thousand eight hundred and seventy-six.
Louis Clay.
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ABSTRACT OF IOWA STATE LAW& 309
NOTICE TO QUIT.
To John Wontpay :
Tou are hereby notified to quit the possession of the premises you now
occupy to wit :
^Insert Description.'}
on or before thirty days from the date of this notice.
Dated January 1, 1878. Landlord.
[^Reverse for Notice to Landlord.}
GENERAL FORM OF WILL FOR REAL AND PERSONAL
PROPERTY.
I, Charles Mansfield, of the Town of Bellevue, County of Jackson, State
of Iowa, being aware of the uncertainty of life, and in failing health, but of
sound mind and memory, do make and declare this to be my last will and tes-
tament, in manner following, to-wit :
Mrst. I give, devise and bequeath unto my eldest son, Sidney H. Mans-
field, the sum of Two Thousand Dollars, of bank stock, now in the Third
National Bank, of Cincinnati, Ohio, and the farm owned by myself, in the
Township of Iowa, consisting of one hundred and sixty acres, with all the
houses, tenements and improvements thereunto belonging ; to have and to hold
onto my said son, his heirs and assigns, forever.
Second. I give, devise and bequeath to each of my two daughters, Anna
Louise Mansfield and Ida Clara Mansfield, each Two Thousand Dollars in bank
stock in the Third National Bank of Cincinnati, Ohio; and also, each one
quarter section of land, owned by myself, situated in theTownship of Fairfield,
and recorded in my name in the Recorder's office, in the county where such land
is located. The north one hundred and sixty acres of said half section is
devised to my eldest daughter, Anna Louise.
Third. I give, devise and bequeath to my son, Frank Alfred Mansfield, five
shares of railroad stock in the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad, and my one hundred
and sixty acres of land, and saw-mill thereon, situated in Manistee, Michigan,
with all the improvements and appurtenances thereunto belonging, which said
real estate is recorded in my name, in the county where situated.
Fourth. I give to my wife, Victoria Elizabeth Mansfield, all my household
fiimiture, goods, chattels and personal property, about my home, not hitherto
disposed of, including Eight Thousand Dollars of bank stock in the Third
National Bank of Cincinnati, Ohio, fifteen shares in the Baltimore & Ohio
Railroad, and the free and unrestricted use, possession and benefit of the home
farm so long as she may live, in lieu of dower, to which she is entitled by law
—said farm being my present place of residence.
Fifth. I bequeath to my invalid father, Elijah H. Mansfield, the income
from rents of my store building at 145 Jackson street, Chicago, Illinois, during
the term of his natural life. Said building and land therewith to revert to
my said sons and . daughters in equal proportion, upon the demise of my said
father.
Sixth. It is also my will and desire that, at the death of my wife, Victoria
Elizabeth Mansfield, or at any time when she may arrange to relinquish her
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310 ABSTRACT OP IOWA STATE LAWS.
life interest in the above mentioned homestead, the same may revert to mj
above named children, or to the lawful heirs of each.
And lastly. I nominate and appoint as the executors of this, my last will
and testament, my wife, Victoria Elizabeth Mansfield, and my eldest son, Sidney
H. Mansfield.
I further direct that my debts and necessary funeral expenses shall be paid
from moneys now on deposit in the Savings Bank of Bellevue, the residue of
such moneys to revert to my wife, Victoria Elizabeth Mansfield, for her use for-
ever.
In witness whereof, I, Charles Mansfield, to this my last will and testmnent,
have hereunto set my hand and seal, this fourth day of April, eighteen hundred
and seventy-two.
Charles Mansfield.
Signed, and declared by Charles Mansfield, as and for his last will and tes-
ment, in the presence of us, who, at his request, and in his presence, and in
the presence of each other, have subscribed our names hereunto as witnesses
thereof. Peter A. Schenck, Dubuque, Iowa,
Frank E. Dent, Bellevue, Iowa.
CODICIL.
Whereas I, Charles Mansfield, did, on the fourth day of April, one thousand
eight hundred and seventy-two, make my last will and testament, I do now, by
this writing, add this codicil to my said will, to be taken as a part thereof.
Whereas, by the dispensation of Providence, my daughter, Anna Louise,
has deceased, November fifth, eighteen hundred and seventy-three ; and whereas,
a son has been bom to me, which son is now christened Richard Albert Mans-
field, I give and bequeath unto him my gold watch, and all right, interest and
title in lands and bank stock and chattels bequeathed to my deceased daughter^
Anna Louise, in the body of this will.
In witness whereof, I hereunto place my hand and seal, this tenth day of
March, eighteen hundred and seventy-five. Charles Mansfield.
Signed, sealed, published and declared to us by the testator, Charles Mans-
field, as and for a codicil to be annexed to his last will and testament. And
we, at his request, and in his presence, and in the presence of each other, have
subiscribed our names as witnesses thereto, at the date hereof
Frank E. Dent, Bellevue, Iowa,
John C. Shay, Bellevue, Iowa.
{Form No, 1.)
SATISFACTION OF MORTGAGE.
State of Iowa, 1
County, /
I, , of the County of , State of Iowa, do hereby acknowledge
that a certain Indenture of , bearing date the day of , A. C
18 — , made and executed by and , his wifoj to said on
the following described Real Estate, in the County of , and State of
Iowa, to-wit : (here insert description) and filed for record in the ofiice of the
Recorder of the County of , And State of Iowa, on the day of——,
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ABSTRACT OP IOWA STATE LAWS. 311
A. D. 18 — , At o'clock . M. ; and recorded in Book of Mortage-
Records, on page j is redeemed, paid off, satisfied and discharged in full.
. [seal.]
State op Iowa, 1
County, j
Be it Rememoered, That on this day of , A. D. 18 — , before
me the undersigned, a in and for said county, personally appeared ,
to me personally known to be the identical person who executed the above
(satisfaction of mortgage) as grantor, and acknowledged signature
thereto to be voluntary act and deed.
Witness my hand and seal, the day and year last above
written. .
ONE FORM OF REAL ESTATE MORTGAGE.
Know all Men by these Presents : That , of County, and
State of , in consideration of dollars, in hand paid by of
County, and State of y dor hereby sell and convey unto the said
the following described premises, situated in the County , and State of
, to wit : (here insert description,) and do hereby covenant with the
said that lawfully seized of said premises, that Jthey are free from
incumbrance, that have good right and lawful authority to sell and convey
the same ; and do hereby covenant to warrant and defend the same against
the lawful claims of all persons whomsoever. To be void upon condition that
the said shall pay the full amount of principal and interest at the time
therein specified, of certain promissory note for the sum of dollars.
One note for 9 » due , 18 — , with interest annually at per cent.
One note for $ , due , 18 — , with interest annually at per cent.
One note for $ , due , 18 — , with interest annually at per cent.
One note for $ , due , 18 — , with interest annually at per cent.
And the said Mortgagor agrees to pay all taxes that may be levied upon the
above described premises. It is also agreed by the Mortgagor that if it becomes
necessary to foreclose this mortgage, a reasonable amount snail be allowed as an
attorney's fee for foreclosing. And the said hereby relinquishes all her
right of dower and homest^ in and to the above described premises.
Signed to day of , A. D. 18—.
[Acknowledge as in Form No. 1.]
SECOND FORM OF REAL ESTATE MORTGAGE.
This Indenture, made and executed by and between of the
county of and State of — r-, part of the first part, and of the
county of and State of party of the second part, Witnessethj that the
said part of the first part, for and in consideration of the sum of dollars,
paid by the said party of the second part, the receipt of which is hereby^
acknowledged, have granted and sold, and do by these presents, grant, bargain,
sell, convey and confirm, unto the said party of the second part, heirs and
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812 ABSTRACT OF IOWA STATE LAWS.
assigns forever, the certain tract or parcel of real estate situated in the county
of and State of , described as follows, to- wit :
(Here insert description.)
The said part of the first part represent to and covenant with the part of
the second part, that he have good right to sell and convey said premises,
that they are free from encumbrance and that he will warrant and defend
them against the lawful claims of all persons whomsoever, and do expressly
hereby release all rights of dower in and to said premises, and relinquish and
convey all rights of homestead therein.
This Instrument is made, executed and delivered upon the following con-
ditions, to-wit :
First. Said first part agree to pay said or order
Second. Said first part further agree as is stipulated in said note, that if
he shall fail to pay any of said interest when due, it shall bear interest at the
rate of ten per cent, per annum, from the time the same becomes due, and this
mortgage shall stand as security for the same.
Third. Said first part further agree that he will pay all taxes and
assessments levied upon said real estate before the same become delinquent, and
if not paid the holder of this mortgage may declare the whole sum of money
herein secured due and collectable at once, or he may elect to pay such taxes or
assessments, and be entitled to interest on the same at the rate of ten per cent,
per annum, and this mortgage shall stand as security for the amount so paid.
Fourth. Said first part further agree that if he fail to pay any of said
money, either principal or interest, within days after the same becomes
due ; or fail to conform or comply with any of the foregoing conditions or agree-
ments, the whole sum herein secured shall become due and payable at once, and
this mortgage may thereupon be foreclosed immediately for the whole of said
money, interest and costs.
F^th. Saidpdi't further agree that in the event of the non-payment of either
principal, interest or taxes when due, and upon the filing of a bill of foreclosure
of this mortgage, an attorney's fee of dollars shall become due and pay-
able, and shall be by the court taxed, and this mortgage shall stand as security
therefor, and the same shall be included in the decree of foreclosure and shall
be made by the Sherifi* on general or special execution with the other money,
interest and costs, and the contract embodied in this mortgage and the note
described herein, shall in all respects be governed, constructed and adjudged
by the laws of , where the same is made. The foregoing conditions
l)eing performed, this conveyance to be void, otherwise of full force and virtue.
[Acknowledge as in form No. 1.]
FORM OF LEASE.
This Article of Agreement, Made and entered into on this day of
A. D. 187-, by and between , of the county of , and
State of Iowa, of the first part, and , of the county of -
and State of Iowa, of the second part, witnesseth that the said party of the first
Digitized by VjOOQIC
ABSTRACT OP IOWA STATE LAWS. 313
part has this day leased unto the party of the second part the following described
premises, to wit :
[^ffere insert description.']
for the term of from and after the — day of , A. D. 187-, 34
the rent of dollars, to be paid as follows, to wit :
[Here insert Temu,']
And it is further agreed that if any rent shall be due and unpaid, or if
default be made in any of the covenants herein contained, it shall then be law-
ful for the said party of the first part to re-enter the said premises, or to destrain
for such rent; or he may recover possession thereof, by action of forcible entry
and detainer, notwithstanding the provision of Section 3,612 of the Code of
1873 ; or he may use any or all of said remedies.
And the said party of the second part agrees to pay to the party of the first
part the rent as above stated, except when said premises are untenantable by
reason of fire, or from any other cause than the carelessness of the party of the
second part, or persons family, or in employ, or by superior force
and inevitable necessity. And the said party of the second part covenants
that will use the said premises as a , and for no other purposes
whatever ; and that especially will not use said premises, or permit the
same to be used, for any unlawful business or purpose whatever ; that will
not sell, assign, underlet or relinquish said premises without the written consent
of the lessor, under penalty of a forfeiture of all rights under this lease, at
the election of the party of the first part ; and that will use all due care
and diligence in guarding said property, with the buildings, gates, fences, trees,
vines, shrubbery, etc., from damage by fire, and the depredations of animals ;
that will keep buildings, gates, fences, etc., in as good repair as they now
are, or may at any time be placed by the lessor, damages by superior force,
inevitable necessity, or fire from any other cause than from the carelessness of
the lessee, or persons of family, or in employ, excepted ; and that
at the expiration of this lease, or upon a breach by said lessee of any of the said
covenants herein contained, ^ will, without further notice of any kind, quit
and surrender the possession and occupancy of said premises in as good condi-
tion as reasonable use, natural wear and decay thereof will permit, damages by
fire as aforesaid, superior force, or inevitable necessity, only excepted.
In witness whereof, the said parties have subscribed their names on the date
first above written.
In presence of
i
FORM OF NOTE,
I , 18—.
On or before the — day of , 18 — , for value received, I promise to
pay or order, dollars, with interest from date until paid,
at ten per cent, per annum, payable annually, at . Unpaid interest
shall bear interest at ten per cent, per annum. On failure to pay interest
within days after due, the whole sum, principal and interest, shall become
due at once.
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314 ABSTRACT OF IOWA STATE LAWS.
CHATTEL MORTGAGE.
Know all Men by these Presents : That of County, and
State of in consideration of dollars, in hand paid by , of
County and State of do hereby sell and convey unto the said the
following described personal property, now in the possession of -^— in the
(County and State of , to wit :
\^Here insert Deser^Uon.']
And do hereby warrant the title of said property, and that it is free from
any incumbrance or lien. The only right or interest retained by grantor in
and to said property being the right of redemption as herein provided. This
conveyance to be void upon condition that the said grantor shall pay to said
grantee, or his assigns, the full amount of principal and interest at the time
therein specified, of certain promissory notes of even date herewith, for
the sum of dollars,
One note for 9 » duo , 18 — , with interest annually at per cent
One note for $ , duo , 18 — , with interest annually at per cent.
One note for ^ — — , due , 18 — , with interest annually at per cent.
One note for $ , due , 18 — , with interest annually at per cent.
The grantor to pay all taxes on said property, and if at any time any part
or portion of said notes should be due and unpaid, said grantee may proceed by
sale or foreclosure to collect and pay himself the unpaid balance of said notes,
whether due or not, the grantor to pay all necessary expense of such foreclosure,
including $ Attorney's fees, and whatever remains after paying off said
notes and expenses, to be paid over to said grantor.
Signed the day of , 18 — . .
[Acknowledged as in form No. 1.] .
WARRANTY DEED.
Know all Men by these Presents : That of County and
State of , in consideration of the sum of Dollars, in hand paid by
of , County and State of , do hereby sell and convey unto
the said and to heirs and assigns, the following described premises,
situated in the County of , State of Iowa, to- wit :
[Here insert description.']
And I do hereby covenant with the said that — lawftilly seized in fee
simple, of said premises, that they are free from incumbrance ; that — ha good
right and lawful authority to sell the same, and — do hereby covenant to war-
rant and defend the said premises and appurtenances thereto belonging, against
the lawful claims of all persons whomsoever ; and the said hereby re-
linquishes all her right of dower and of homestead in and to the above described
premises.
Signed the day of , A. D. 18—.
in presence of
^^^ "- [Acknowledged as in Form No. 1.]
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ABSTRACT OP IOWA STATE LAWS. 315
QUIT-CLAIM DEED.
Know all Men by these Presents : That , of County,
State of , in consideration of the sum of dollars, to — in hand
paid by ^ of County, State of , the receipt whereof — do
hereby acknowledge,have bargained, sold and quit-claimed, and by these presents
do bargain, sell and quit-claim unto the said and to — heirs and assigns
forever, all — right, title, interest, estate, claim and demand, both at law and
in equity, and as well in possession as in expectancy, of, in and to the following
described premises, to wit : [here insert description] with all and singular the
hereditaments and appurtenances thereto belonging.
Signed this day of , A. D. 18 — .
Signed in Presence of
[Acknowledged as in form No. 1.]
BOND FOR DEED.
Know all Men by these Presents: That of County,
and State of am held and firmly bound unto of County, and
State of , in the sum of Dollars, to be paid to the said ^, his
executors or assigns, for which payment well and truly to be made, I bind myself
firmly by these presents. Signed the day of A. D. 18 — .
The condition of this obligation is such, that if the said obligee shall pay to
said obligor, or his assigns, the full amount of principal and interest at the time
therein specified, of — certain promissory note of even date herewith, for the
sum of Dollars,
One note for ^ , due , 18 — , with interest annually at — per cent.
One note for $ , due , 18 — , with interest annually at — per cent
One note for 9 ? due , 18 — , with interest annually at — per cent.
and pay all taxes accruing upon the lands herein described, then said obligor
shall convey to the said obligee, or his assigns, that certain tract or parcel of
real estate, situated in the County of and State of Iowa, described as fol-
lows, to wit: [here insert description,] by a Warranty Deed, with the usual
covenants, duly executed and acknowledged.
If said obligee should fail to make the payments as above stipulated, or any
part thereof, as the same becomes due, said obligor may at his option, by notice
to the obligee terminate his liability under the bond and resume the posses-
sion and absolute control of said premises, time being the essence of this
agreement.
On the fulfillment of the above conditions this obligation to become void,
otherwise to remain in fall force and virtue ; unless terminated by the obligor
as above stipulated.
[Acknowl3dge as in form No. 1.]
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316 ABSTRACT OF IOWA STATE LAWS.
CHARITABLE, SCIENTIFIC AND RELIGIOUS ASSOCIATIONS.
Any three or more persons of full age, citizens of the United States,
a majority of whom shall be citizens of this State, who desire to associate
themselves for benevolent, charitable, scientific, religious or missionary pur-
poses, may make, sign and acknowledge, before any oflScer authorized to take
the acknowledgments of deeds in this State, and have recorded in the oflRce of
the Recorder of the county in which the business of such society is to be con-
ducted, a certificate in writing, in which shall be stated the name or title by
which such society shall be known, the particular business and objects of such
society, the number of Trustees, Directors or Managers to conduct the same, and
the names of the Trustees, Directors or Managers of such society for the first
year of its existence.
Upon filing for record the certificate, as aforesaid, the persons who shall
have signed and acknowledged such certificate, and their associates and success-
ors, shall, by virtue hereof, be a body politic and corporate by the name
stated in such certificate, and by that they and their successors shall and may
have succession, and shall bo persons capable of suing and being sued, and may
have and use a common seal, which they may alter or change at pleasure ; and
they and their successors, by their corporate name, shall be capable of taking,
receiving, purchasing and holding real and personal estate, and of making by-
laws for the management of its affairs, not inconsistent with law.
The society so incorporated may, annually or oftener, elect from its members
its Trustees, Directors or Managers at such time and place, and in such manner
as may be specified in its by-laws, who shall have the control and management
of the affairs and funds of the society, a majority of whom shall be a quorum
for the transaction of business, and whenever any vacancy shall happen among
such Trustees, Directors or Managers, by death, resignation or neglect to serve,
such vacancy shall be filled in such manner as shall be provided by the by-laws
of such society. When the body corporate consists of the Trustees, Directors or
Managers of any benevolent, charitable, literary, scientific, religious or mis-
sionary institution, which is or may be established in the State, and which is or
may be under the patronage, control, direction or supervision of any synod, con-
ference, association or other ecclesiastical body in such State, established
agreeably to the laws thereof, such ecclesiastical body may nominate and
appoint such Trustees, Directors or Managers, according to usages of the appoint-
ing body, and may fill any vacancy which may occur among such Trusftees,
Directors or Managers; and when any such institution may be under the
patronage, control, direction or supervision of two or more of such synods, con-
ferences, associations or other ecclesiastical bodies, such bodies may severally
nominate and appoint such proportion of such Trustees, Directors or Managers
as shall be agreed upon by those bodies immediately concerned. And any
vacancy occurring among such appointees last named, shall be filled by the
synod, conference, association or body having appointed the last incumbent.
In case any election of Trustees, Directors or Managers shall not be made
on the day designated by the by-laws, said society for that cause shall not be
dissolved, but such election may take place on any other day directed by such
by-laws.
Any corporation formed under this chapter shall be capable of taking, hold-
ing or receiving property by virtue of any devise or bequest contained in anj
last will or testament of any person whatsoever ; but no person leaving a wife,
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Google
ABSTRACT OF IOWA STATE LAWS. 317
child or parent, shall devise or bequeath to such institution or corporation more
than one-fourth of his estate after the payment of his debts, and such device or
be([ue8t shall be valid only to the extent of such one-fourth.
Any corporation in this State of an academical character, the memberships
of which shall consist of lay members and pastors of churches, delegates to any
synod, conference or council holding its annual meetings alternately in this and
one or more adjoining States, may hold its annual meetings for the election of
oflScers and the transaction of business in any adjoining State to this, at such
place therein as the said synod, conference or council shall hold its annual meet-
ings ; and the elections so held and business so transacted shall be as legal and
binding as if held and transacted at the place of business of the corporation in
this State.
The provisions of this chapter shall not extend or apply to any association
or individual who shall, in the certificate filed with the Recorder, use or specify
a name or style the same as that of any previously existing incorporated society
in the county.
The Trustees, Directors or stockholders of any existing benevolent, char-
itable, scientific, missionary or religious corporation, may, by conforming to the
requirements of Section 1095 of this chapter, re-incorporate themselves or con-
tinue their existing corporate powers, and all the property and effects of such
existing corporation shall vest in and belong to the corporation so re*incorporated
or continued. •
INTOXICATING LIQUORS.
No intoxicating liquors (alcohol, spirituous and vinous liquors), except wine
manufactured from grapes, currants or other fruit grown in the State, shall be
manuSEU^tured or sold, except for mechanical, medicinal, culinary or sacramental
purposes ; and even such sale is limited as follows :
Any citizen of the State, except hotel keepers, keepers of saloons, eating
houses, grocery keepers and confectioners, is permitted to buy and sell, within
the county of his residence, such liquors for such mechanical, etc., purposes
only, provided he shall obtain the consent of the Board of Supervisors. In
order to get that consent, he must get a certificate from a majority of the elec-
tors of the town or township or wa^rd in which he desires to sell, that he is of
good moral character, and a proper person to sell such liquors.
If the Board of Supervisors grant him permission to sell such liquors, he
most give bonds, and shall not sell such liqum-s at a greater profit than thirty-
three per cent, on the cost of th^ same. Any person having a permit to sell,
shall make, on the last Saturday of every month, a return in writing to the
Auditor of the county, showing the kind and quantity of the liquors purchased
by him since the date of his last report, the price paid, and the amount of
freights paid on the same ; also the kind and quantity of liquors sold by him
since the date of his last report ; to whom sold ; for what purpose and at what
price; also the kind and quantity of liquors on hand; which report shall be
sworn to by the person having the permit, and shall be kept by the Auditor,
subject at all times to the inspection of the public.
No person shall sell or give away any intoxicating liquors, including wine or
heer, to any minor, for any purpose whatever, except upon written order of
parent, guardian or family physician ; or sell the same to an intoxicated person
or a person in the habit of becoming intoxicated.
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318 ABSTRACT OF IOWA STATE LAWS.
Any person who shall mix any intoxicating liquor with any beer, wine or
cider, by him sold, and shall sell or keep for sale, as a beverage, such mixture,
shall be punished as for sale of intoxicating liquor.
But nothing in the chapter containing the laws governing the sale or pro-
hibiting the sale of intoxicating liquors, shall be construed to forbid the sale by
the importer thereof of foreign intoxicating liquor, imported under the author-
ity of the laws of the United States, regarding the importation of such liquors,
and in accordance with such laws ; provided that such liquor, at the time of the
sale by the importer, remains in the original casks or packages in which it was
by him imported, and in quantities not less than the quantities in which the
laws of the United States require such liquors to be imported, and is sold by
him in such original casks or packages, and in said quantities only.
All payment or compensation for intoxicating liquor sold in violation of the
laws of this State, whether such payments or compensation be in money, goods,
lands, labor, or anything else whatsoever, shall be held to have been received in viola-
tion of law and equity and good conscience, and to have been received upon a
valid promise and agreement of the receiver, in consideration of the receipt
thereof, to pay on demand, to the person furnishing such consideration, the
amount of the money on the just value of the goods or other things.
All sales, transfers, conveyances, mortgages, liens, attachments, pledges and
securities of every kind, which, either in whole or in part, shall have been made
on account of intoxicating liquors sold contrary' to law, shall be utterly null and
void.
Negotiable paper in the hands of holders thereof, in good faith, for valuable
consideration, without notice of any illegality in its inception or transfer, how-
ever, shall not be affected by the above provisions. Neither shall the holder of
land or other property who may have taken the same in good faith, without
notice of any defect in the title of the person from whom the same was
taken, growing out of a violation of the liquor law, be affected by the above
provision.
Every wife, child, parent, guardian, employer, or other person, who shall be
injured in person or property or means of support, by an intoxicated person, or
in consequence of the intoxication, has a right of action against any person who
shall, by selling intoxicating liquors, cause the intoxication of such person, for
all damages actually sustained as well as exemplary damages.
For any damages recovered, the personal and real property (except home-
stead, as now provided) of the person against whom the damages are recovered,
as well as the premises or property, personal or real, occupied and used by him,
with consent and knowledge of owner, either for manufacturing or selling intox-
icating liquors contrary to law, shall be liable.
The only other exemption, besides the homestead, from this sweeping liability,
is that the defendant may have enough for the support of his family for six
months, to be determined by the Township Trustee.
No ale, wine, beer or other malt or vinous liquors shall be sold within two
miles of the corporate limits of any municipal corporation, except at wholesale,
for the purpose of shipment to places outside of such corporation and such two-
mile limits. The power of the corporation to prohibit or license sale of liquors
not prohibited by law is extended over the two miles.
No ale, wine, beer or other malt or vinous liquors shall be sold on the day
on which any election is held under the laws of this State, within two miles of
the place where said election is held ; except only that any person holding a
permiMaaj2;.gfilLupon the prescription of a practicing physician.
; Digitized by CjOOglC
ABSTRACT OF IOWA STATE LAWS. 319
SUGGESTIONS TO THOSE PURCHASING BOOKS BY SUBSCRIP-
TION.
The business of publishing books by svhscription^ having so often been
brought into disrepute by agents making representations and declarations not
autlwrized by the publisher^ in order to prevent that as much as possible, and
that there may be more general knowledge of the relation such agents bear to
their principal, and the law governing such cases, the following statement is
made:
-4 subscription is in the nature of a contract of mutual promises, by which
the subscriber agrees to pay a certain sum for the work described; the consid-
eration is concurrent that the publisher shall publish the book named, and
deliver the same, for which the subscriber is to pay the price named. The
nature and character of the work is described by the prospectus and sample
shoum. These should be carefully examined before subscribing^ as they are
the basis and consideration of the promise to pay, and not the too often exag-
gerated statements of the agents who is merely employed to solicit subscriptions,
for which he is usually paid a commission for each subscriber, and has no
avlhority to change or alter the conditions upon which the subscriptions are
authorized to be made by the publisher. Should the agent assume to agree to
make the subscription conditional or modify or change the agreement of the
publisher, as set out by the prospectus and sample, in order to bind the princi-
pal, the subscriber should see that such condition or changes are stated over or
in connection tvith his signature, so that the publisher may have notice 5f the
same.
All persons making contracts in reference to matters of this kind, or any
other business, should remember that the law as written is, that they can not be
altered, varied or rescinded verbally, but if done at all, must be done in vrriting.
It is therefore important that all persons contemplating subscribing should
distinctly understand that all talk before or after the subscription is made, is not
admissible as evidence, and is no part of the contract.
Persons employed to solicit subscriptions are known to the trade as can-
vassers. They are agents appointed to do a particular bumness in a prescribed
mode, and have no authority to do it any other way to the prejudice of their
principal, nor can they bind their principal in any other matter. They can not
collect money, or agree that payment may be made in anything else but money.
They can not extend the time of payment beyond the time of delivery, nor bind
their principal for the payment of expenses incurred in their business.
It would save a great deal of trouble, and often serious loss, if persons,
before signing their names to any subscription book, or any written instrument,
would examine carefully what it is ; if they can not read themselves call on
some one disinterested who can.
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STATISTICS OF AGRICULTURE OF IOWA (CENSUS OF 1875.)
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HISTORY OF VAN BUREN COUNTY.
GEOLOGY.
The aniversaf desire to know the causes of manifest effects, and to ascertain
the ori^n of %11 things, is as marked to-day as it was in those far-off times
when the earth was deemed a flat disc resting upon the back of an elephant,
the elephant upon a tortoise, the tortoise upon a serpent, and the serpent upon
*an undiscoyered something. Each age regards its store of knowledge as almost
infinite, jet each succeeding generation finds some new fund to draw
from and expand the sum of wisdom. Science has opened many pages
in the great book of nature, and has supplied the key to the mysteries therein
record^. Future research may modify the theories at first advanced by the
patient investigators of the absorbing work : but so firmly established are many
of th^ ideas promulgated in the school of modern science that they must be ac-
cepted as fixed facts. In no division of study has greater or more certain
progress been made than in that of geology. The finest intellects of the
century have been engrossed in the labor of determining the origin of the earth
and the gradations by which it has reached its present habitable conditions.
As a part of the history o^ this particular section of the globe, the formation
of the rocks and soil, is certainly a topic worthy of considerable space in this
record of events. We have, therefore, compiled a geologic sketch of the lower
valley of the Des Moines, with the belief that it will be an acceptable paper.
in the general history of the State which is given in this volume, will be
found a somewhat elaborate description of the geology of Iowa, from a scientific
standpoint. It remains for us to limit the circuit of our work in connection
herewith to the actual boundaries of the Des Moines Valley. We shall attempt
to popularize a most interesting but not generally studied theme, and endeavor to
explain, in simple form, what is too often rendered obscure to the uninitiated in
scientific methods, by technical terms and expressions. Since those who wish
to do so can turn to the general chapter and learn of the geologic structure of
the State, let us now bring to a focus the more practi<^ ideas relative to
the subject of the recent or superficial formations of this region. This is
designed to be only a short popular treatise, so as to interest every man and
woman of good observation who shall peruse it, and to call tludir attention, at
least, to the surface formation of the earth, so that in a few years there may be
. hundreds of observers of interesting geological facts where there is but one at
the present time.
That geology commends itself to us as a truthftil science will be very
readily elucidated by a simple statement of a fact within the comprehension
of all.
To illustrate : A certain kind of rock? are called Archaean or Laurentian.
These are the most ancient rocks known to geologists ; at one time they were
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824 HISTORY OP VAN BUREN COUNTY.
supposed to be destitute of fossils. In all the systems of rocks, they occupy the
lowest, and consequently the oldest, position ; but in whatever part of the earth
found, they are always recognizable by the geologist. So the Devonian rocks
are distinguished by certain fossil fishes that are found in them, and in them
alone. The Carboniferous rocks are known by certain fossil mollusks ; the
Cretaceous, by certain reptiles that occur in no other formation ; and so every
geological period has its characteristic fossils, by means of which the formation
and its comparative age may always be accurately determined.
The geologist will always know the coal-bearing rocks from any other class ; .
and this knowledge ought to be possessed by every one interested in explora-
tions for coal.
The geologic history of Iowa is but a page in the ^neral history of the
continent of North America. This continent has been demonstrated to be the
oldest portion of the earth, notwithstanding the misnomer, "New World." It
is new only in ci?ilization. The geologist reads is the rocks evidences of age
that are far more reliable than those which are placed on perishable scrolls by
the pen of man. The oldest groups of rocks are not found in Iowa, but are
visible in the Canadas. The first system, underlying all others, in this State,
is the Azoic, seen only in a small section of the northeast portion of Iowa.
Next come the Lower and Upper Silurian, the Devonian, the Carboniferous
and the Cretaceous systems. Of the earlier formations we shall say nothing,
as allusion to them necessitates a far more extended article than we desire to
prepare.
The scope of this paper extends back only to the Carboniferous svstem, at
the period known as the Subcarboniferous group. In plainer terms, this refers
to the limestone which underlies the coal formations, and brings the subject at
once to the visible formations in the valley. This section is rich in coal deposits,
and a glance at the method of creation will be both interesting and instructive.
FORMATION OF LIMB BBDS.
Limestones have mainly been formed in the bottom of the ocean ; the older
and purer kinds in the deep, still sea ; the more recent and less pure in a shal-
low and disturbed sea. When the great limestone deposits were made in the
Mississippi Valley, a deep salt ocean extended from the Alleghany to the
Rocky Mountains, from the Gulf of Mexico to the Arctic Ocean. This was
the age of mollusks (shell fish), and the sea bottom swarmed with them. Many
of the rocks seem to have been wholly made up of conglomerate shells. In
this age of the world there was no creature living with a spinal column or a
brain ; but corals, a low order of radiates, as crinoidea, several varieties of
mollusks, crustaceans, called trilobites (somewhat corresponding to the river
crawfish), and some lowly tporms ! These were the highest development of
animal life when the earlier limestone rocks were being slowly formed.
This Silurian age was succeeded by the Devonian, characterized as the age
of fishes, during which were deposited the Hamilton and Carboniferous lime-
stones. Then came the Subcarboniferous period, during which were deposited
the limestone beds. These were formed in a comparatively shallow sea, a fact,
proven by numerous ripple marks in the rocks, also by their sandy composition
in some layers, and farther, by an occasional thin layer of clay intervening
between the strata of rocks. These were uneasy times on the earth's crust,
when it was ffiven to upheavings and down-sinkings over large areas. Then
it was that the whole northeastern and eastern part of the State was up-
raised. .
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HISTORY OF VAN BUREN COUNTY. 826
THE GREAT COAL BASIN
formed weat and south throughout Iowa, reaching into Missouri and Ean-
, and perhaps into the Indian Territory and Texas. Over this vast area
there stretched a vast^ dismal swamp.
On this vast marshy plain grew the rank vegetation that was in the future
to be pressed into coal. It was a wilderness of moss and ferns and reeds, such
as can l^ found nowhere on earth at the present time. Prof. Gunning, in
speaking of it, says: ^' To the land forest of coniferas and cycads, and the
marsh forest of scale trees and seal trees and reed trees and fern trees, add an
undergrowth of low herbaceous ferns, and you have the picture of a primeval
landscope. Blot from the face of nature every flowering weed and flowering
tree, every grass, every fruit, every growth useful to man or beast ; go, then to
the Sunda Iblands for the largest club moss, to the East Indies for the largest
tree fern', to the damp glades of Caracas for the tallest reeds, to the Moluccas
for their cycad, and to Australia for its pine, to the ponds and sluggish streams
of America for their quillwort, and place them all side by side over a vast
marsh and its sandy borders, and you will faintly realize vour picture of a prim-
eval landscape. Dwarf the cycad and the pine, lift still higher the tapering
column of the tree fern, multiply by two the bulk of the reed and by three
the club moss, lift the quillwort from the water, and to its long, linear leaves
add a fluted stem eighty feet high, and you would fully reieilize a carbon-
iferous landscape — realize it in lul but its vast solitudes. Not a bird ever
perched on spiky leaf qr spreading fern of a coal forest. No flower had
opened yet to spread fragrance on the air, and no throat had warbled a note
of music. Such poor •animal life as the carboniferous world then possessed
left its imprint on wave-washed shore and in the hollow stems of fallen
trees."
This was the beginning of the age of amphibians. Then lived the progeni
tors of the loathsome alligator .and lizard. La Conte says : ^^ The climate
of the coal period was characterized by greater warmth, humidity , uniformity
and a more highly carbonated condition of the atmosphere than now ob-
tains." We may, therefore, picture to ourselves the climate of this period as warm,
moist, uniform, stagnant and stifling from the abundance of carbonic-acid gas.
Such conditions were extremely favorable to vegetable life, but not to the
higher forms of animal life. Neither man nor monkey nor milk-giving animal
of any kind, lived for many cycles of time after the Subcarboniferous period ;
but that vegetation grew rank, scientific facts corroborate ; thus. Prof. Gunning
says : '' It takes between five and eight feet of vegetable debris to form one
foot of coal. A Pittsburgh seam is ten feet thick, while one in Nova Scotia is
thirty-five feet in depth. The Pittsburgh seam represents a vegetable deposit
of from fifty to a hundred feet in depth, and the one in Nova Scotia between a
hundred and seventy-five and three hundred and fifty feet in thickness. A four-
foot seam in Wapello County would represent from twenty to forty feet of vege-
table debris.
During the growth and decay of this vegetable matter, the surface of the
earth did not sink ; but this quiescent period was followed by one of submei
ffence. " The surface, loaded with the growth of quiet centuries, was carried
down beneath the sea, where it was swept by waves and overspread by sands
and mud." It was in nature's great hydraulic press, where it remained until
another upheaval again threw it to the surface, and another long era of verdure
succeeded the one of submergence.
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826 HISTORY OF VAN BUREN COUNTY.
Thas, emergence and submergence succeeded each other as many times aa
the coal-seams and the shale, slate or sandstone alternate — in some parts of
Iowa, three times, in Nova Scotia about forty times ! Who can compute the
centuries here recorded !
The coal-fields of Iowa are extensive. A line drawn on the map of tbe
State as follows will about define them : Commencing at the sohtheast comer
of Van Buren County, running to the northeast comer of Jefferson, by a wav-
ing line slightly eastward through Lee and Henry Counties ; thence a few miles
northward from Jefferson and northwestward, keeping six or eight miles north
of Skunk River, until the southern boundary of Marshall County is reached a
little west of the center; thence three or four miles northeast from Eldora, in
Hardin County ; thence westward to a point % little north of Webster City, in
Hamilton County, and thence westward to a point a little north of Fort Dodge,
in Webster County.
The coal-field in Iowa belongs to the tme carbonifetous system, and is,
moreover, the outfield of the vast coal-basin which partly covers this State,
Illinois, Indiana, Ohio and Pennsylvania. It is only in the AUeghanies that
subterranean action has converted any part of the coal into anthracite. Every-
where else in the immense basin it is strictly bituminous, varying, however,
from the article as first prepared by the economic* forces of Nature from the
block coal of Indiana to the cannel coal found in certain parts of Iowa.
It appears from the researches of Liebig and other eminent chemists, that
when wood and other vegetable matter are buried in the earth, exposed to
moisture and partially or entirely excluded ^om air, ^ley decompose slowly and
evolve carbonic acid gas, thus parting with a portion of their original oxygen.
By this means they become gradually converted into» lignite, or wood coal,
which contains a larger proportion of hydrogen than wood does. A continuance
of decomposition changes this lignite into common or bituminous coal, chiefly
by the discharge of carbureted nydrogen, or the gas by which we illuminate
our streets and nouses. According to fiischoff,«the inflammable gases which are
always escaping from mineral coal, and are so often the cause of fatal accidents
in mines, always contain carbonic acid, carbureted hydrogen, nitrogen and
defiant gas. The disengagement of all these gradually transforms ordinary or
bituminous coal into anthracite, to which the various names of glance coal,
cota, hard coal, culm and many others have been given.
In explaining the cause of the freedom of coal from impurities of almost
every description. Sir Charles Lyell gives a paragraph which is interesting in
this connection. He says: "The purity of coal itself, or the absence in it of
earthy particles and sand, throughout areas of vast extent, is a fact which
appears to be very difficult to explain when we attribute each coal-seam to a
yegetable growth in swamps. It has been asked how, during river inundations
capable of sweeping away the leaves of ferns and the stems and roots of trees,
could the waters faU to transport some fine mud into swamps ? One generation
of tall trees after another grew in mud, and their leaves and prostrate trunks
formed layers of vegetable matter which afterwar^ covered with mud and turned
to shale; but the coal itself, or altered vegetable matter, remained all the while
unsoiled with earthy matter. This enigma, however perplexing at first sight,
may, I think, be solved by attending to what is now taking place in deltas.
The dense growth of reeds and herbage which encompasses the margin of forest-
covered swamps in the valley and delta of the Mississippi, is such that the
fluviatile waters, in passing tlurough them, are filtered and made to clear them-
selves entirely before they reach the areas in which vegetable matter may accu-
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HISTORY OF VAN BUREN COUNTY. 827
mulate for centuries, forming coal, if the climate be fovorable. There is no
possibility of the least intermixture of earthy matter in such cases. Thus, in
the large submerged track called 'Sunk Country,* near New Madrid, forming
part of the western side of the valley of the Mississippi, erect trees have been 'i
standing ever since the year 1811-12, killed by the great earthquake of that
date ; lacustrine and swamp plants have been growing there in the shallows,
and several rivers have annually inundated the whole space, and yet have been
unable to carry in any sediment within the outer boundaries of the morass, so
dense is the marginal belt of reeds and brushwood. It may be affirmed that
generally, in the cypress swamps of the Mississippi, no sediment mingles with
the vegetable matter accumulated there from the decay of trees and semi-
aquatic plants. As a singular proof of this fact, I may mention that whenever
any part of the swamps in Louisiana is dried up, during an unusually hot
season, and the wood is set on fire, pits are burned into the ground many feet
deep, or as far down as the fire can descend without meeting with water, and it is
then found that scarcely any residuum or earthy matter is left. At the bottom
of these cypress swamps a bed of clay is found, with roots of the tall cypress,
just as the under clays of the coal are filled with stigmaria/*
CRETACEOUS.
The next formation above the coal was the cretaceous, or chalk. This
formation is not seen in this region, being encountered only in the west and
northwest portions of the State. If any ever existed here, it was carried
away during the gladal period, which is hereafter explained. The absence of
chalk brings us to speak next of the
GLACIAL PERIOD.
That the surface of Iowa, and, in fact, the whole of North America north of
the thirty-eighth parallel, is covered by a material known as drift, has become a
popular opinion. Strewed all over the country, on the hills and in the valleys
and on the level prairies, covering up the native rocks to a depth of from twenty
to three hundred feet, is found this peculiar deposit. The well-diggers and the
colliers, in their excavations, encounter it, and the quarryman has to strip it from
the sur&ce of this rock bed. It is not all alike ; first there are a few feet of sur-
&ce soil, created by recent vegetable deposits ; then a variable depth of clay, or
clay and sand intimately bleikded ; then water- worn gravel and sand, and then
Hue clay, resting upon the country rock.
Scattered over the continent are frequently seen '' lost rocks," or bowlders,
of various sizes and of different varieties, some of granite, others of gneiss or
trap, and occasionally some of limestone. These bowlders are also frequently
found in excavating the earth.
The blue clay which lies upon the country rocks, or the original formation,
is the oldest of the drift deposits. It consists of a heterogeneous mixture of
dark blue clay, sand, gravel, pebbles and irregular-shaped stones and bowlders,
of various kinds and sizes, unassorted and unstratified, and therefore could not
have been deposited in water. Sometimes an occasional piece of stone-coal
and fragments of wood are found in it-. This blue clay is bowlder or glacier clay.
From whence it came and how formed is one of the most interesting subjects
that scientific minds have investigated. The history of glacial phenomena is
the history of the deposition of the blue clay formation.
Too much credit cannot be given to the late lamented Prof. Agassiz and
Principal Forbes for their discovery of the laws regulating glacial action. These
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828 HISTORY OP VAN BUREN COUNTY.
eminent savants built a hut on a living glacier, in Switzerland, and studied it in
all its relations to the past history of the globe.
Prof. Gunning says : ** The area of Greenland is nearly eight hundred
thousand square miles ; and all this, save the narrow strip which faces an ice-
choked sea, on the west, is a lifeless solitude of snow and ice. The snow over-
tops the hills and levels up all the valleys, so that, as far as the eye can reach,
there is nothing but one vast, dreary, level expanse of white. Over all broods
the silence of death. Life, there is none. Motion, there seems to be none —
none save of the wind, which sweeps now and then, in the wrath of a polar
storm, from the sea over the ' ice-sea, ' and rolls its cap of snow into great bil-
lows, and dashes it up into clouds of spray. But motion there is ; activities we
shall see there are, on a scale of grandeur commensurate with the vast desola-
tion itself.**
Let the mind go back in. the history of our earth, one hundred thousand
years, when. Prof. Croll, from mathematical deductions, infers the existence
of a snow cap, covering the whole of North America and Europe, from the
thirty-eighth parallel to the north pole ; then, in imagination, see the larger
portion of North America, as you see Greenland now, covered with an '' ice-
mantle '* 3,000 to 6,000 feet thick. A glacier is Sk frozen river ^ having motion
as a stream of water has, but bound in gigantic bands by the cold atmosphere.
Conceive, if you please, a moving block of iron, thousands of tons in weight,
dragged over a plowed field. The track of this monster is marked by a level
bed of compressed, pulverized earth. Transfer your imagination to a mass of
ice covering the entire northern hemisphere, or at least to the thirty-eighth
parallel (at which point the equatorial heat began to assert itself on the ice-
walls, and decompose them, carrying the debris of the glacier, in solution,
southward), moving half a foot or more a day, because of the hydraulic pressure
from behind and within — the streams which flowed into it — and you can then
have some faint idea of the incalculable force of a glacier, and the action of the
ice-mass on the plastic earth.
The dynamic power of such a continental mass of ice is inconceivable. It
is fit to be called one of the giant mills of the gods, which are represented " to
grind slowly, but exceeding fine.'* It was a monstrous ice-plane, shaving off the
rugged crags of mountains, leveling up valleys and filling up ancient river-
beds. Its under surface was thickly set with rock-bowlders, which, with its
ponderous weight, ground the underlying rocks to powder. This pulverized
rock was washed from beneath the glacier by the overflowing waters which con-
stantly gushed forth, and settled on £Etr-off plains as alluvial sand and clay.
The motion of the glacier wsfl slow, perhaps six inches in twenty-four hours.
This was the giant mill that ground out the bltie clay — the glacier clay — that
overlies the native formations of the entire country. It douotless owes its dark
blue color to the Laurentian and trap rocks of Canada. Well-diggers are
familiar with it and it is nearly always the same in color and composition.
Geologists are now unanimous in the opinion that during the glacial epoch the
whole northern portion of the continent was elevated one thousand to two
thousand feet above the present level. Le Conte says : *' The polar ice-cap
had advanced southward to 40° latitude, with still further southward projections,
favored by local conditions, and an Arctic rigor of climate prevai'iwl over the
United States, even to the shores of the Gulf. At the end of this epoch an
opposite or downward movement of land surface over the same region commenced
and continued until a depression of five hundred or one thousand feet below
the present level was attained.
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HISTORY OP VAN BUREN COUNTY. 829
Le Conte says : '' f his ice sheet moved, with slow, glacier motion, south-
eastward, southward and southwestward, over New England, New York, Ohio,
Illinois, Iowa, etc., regardless of smaller valleys, glaciatin'g the whole surface,
and gouging out lakes in its course. Northward, the ice-sheet probably extended
to the pole ; it was an extension of the polar ice-cap.''
It is not within the province of this sketch to go into details and give the
problematic causes of this glacier period. The causes were mainly astronomical.
Mr. CroU has calculated the form of the earth's orbit a million years back and
a million years forward. The probable time of the last glacial period was
100,000 years back ; then the eccentricity of the earth's orbit was very great,
and the earth in aphelion (or when most distant from the sun, being about
thirteen millions of miles further than in summer) in midwinter ; then the
winters were about thirty days longer than now. In summer, the earth would
be correspondingly nearer the sun, and would receive an excess of heat, thus
giving the earth in the northern hemisphere ahort^ hot summers and long^ cold
winters.
The subsidence referred to above forms the beginning of
THE DRIFT PERIOD.
Now let us see how the drift was deposited on the bowlder clay. When the
continental depression took place, a large portion of the Mississippi Valley was
submerged. Le Conte says: ** It was a time of inland seas. * * *
Another result, or at least a concomitant, was a moderation of the climate, a
melting of the glaciers, and a retreat of the margin of the ice-cap northward.
If was, therefore, a time of flooded lakes and rivers. Lastly, over these inland
seas and great li^es, loosened masses of ice floated in the form of icebergs. It
was, therefore, a time of iceberg action."
For a time the ideas upon the subject of glacial and iceberg action were
confused, until Prof. Agassiz practically demonstrated the difference,* on the
glacier in Switzerland. The iceberg period followed that of the glacier. The
depression of the continent, from 1,000 to 2,000 feet, created a sea-bed. This
was filled by the melting of the ghicier. Meanwhile, the water supply on the
glacier continued, but the moderated climate prevented the formation of the ice-
cap. As a result, the hydraulic pressure from behind forced the glacier, or
frozen stream, into the sea. The buoyancy of the water counteracted
on the specific gravity of the glacier, and, when the ice had projected beyond
a point at which it could resist the upward pressure of the sea- water, great
masses of it were broken off. These masses floated away, and are known as
icebergs.
The glacier was frozen to the bottom of its river-bed, congealing in its
embrace rocks, gravel, sand and whatever substances lay thereon. These sub-
stances were held firmly during the progress of the iceberg", after its liberation
from the parent glacier, until it had floated into warmer waters. Then began
a gradual dripping of the freight of the berg, until finally the ice itself disap-
peared in the mild waters of a tropic ocean.
The opinion prevails among geologists that the glacier motion was from the
east of north, but that the Ghamplain flow was from the northwest. Corrobo-
rating this hypothesis is the marked difference in colpr of the bowlder clay and
the Upper Drift deposit. If the glacier motion was from the north, or east of
north, it did not produce the beds of our present rivers. Glaciation, or the
process of leveling the earth's surface by thepressure of moving glaciers, only
wore off and smoothed down the surface of the country, leaving it a vast undu-
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880 HISTORY OP VAN BUREN COUNTY.
lating plain of dark blue mud, a heterogeneous mass of clay, sand, gravel and
bowlders. The old river courses and valleys were completely obliterated.
That the ^reat beds of alluvium which cover up the blue clay were deposited
in water, is clearly proven by its stratification, which can be observed in almost
any excavation where a hill or bluff has been cut through in constructing rail-
roads or mills, or where brick clay has been procured.
But let us see how the Champlain or Drift period was produced.
A continental subsidence came oh and large inland lakes were formed. The
climate became modified ; the glaciers melted more rapidly ; vast icebergs broke
loose from the mountain-like glaciers and floated over the land, carrying rocks
and clay and debris with them, and as they melted, strewed them over the sur-
face, sometimes grounding and excavating basins for future lakes and ponds.
Thus, year after year and age after age, did the muddy waters and freighted ice-
bergs flow over the country, the former depositing our present alluvial drift, the
latter dropping here and there the bowlders and debris that we now find scat-
tered over the country. No erosion or wearing away, save from a stranded ice-
berg, occurred at that time, but it was a period of filling in, a period of dis-
tribution over the submerged land, of powdered rocks, sand and clay, and an
occasional bowlder. But when the continent emerged from the abyss, and the
waters flowed off, and the higher undulations of the land appeared, then die
erosive action of winds and waves and storms and currents took place. The
waters, as they flowed toward the sea and Gulf, produced their inevitable
channels.
There was much of the drift carried into the streams and borne away in the
floods to the sea. Then was the stranded bowlder, by wind and wave, stripped
of its soft, alluvial bed, left high and dry on the surface of the hereafter prairie.
Then were the gravelly knolls that are found in some parts of the State robbed
of every fine sediment, and the gravel and stones left to tell the story of the
floods. Then were the great vdleys washed out; then did the annual wash-
outs all along the water-courses — rapidly at first, but more slowly in after
ages— eat away the drift accumulations and form the hills. The hilly districts
generally lie contiguous to the streams. Back from these water courses, the
land is usually undulating prairie, showing but little erosion.
The country contiguous to the Des Moines River and its tributaries bears, in
many localities, unmistakable evidences of the action of the retiring waters of the
Champlain period. As geology has written its history in the rocks, so the latest
action of the waters has left its legible records in the drifts — it made tr<ick%.
and by its tracks we can see where it was and what it did.
When two currents of water flow together, charged with sediment, where
the currents meet there will occur an eddy, the eddy- water will throw down its
load of floating mud and build up a bar. In the valley of every creek in this
locality, may be found many of those silted-up banks and promontories, the
deposits of the waters during the later Champlain period.
If our readers will but notice the action of any swollen creek, they will at
once perceive how the prairie streams have silted or thrown up the hillocks so
frequently met with. Notice the little brook that meets the larger creek yon-
der. At the mouth of the brook is a firmer hit of ground in the sloujgh, upon
which the horseman, at an early day, safely crossed the miry ford. That firm
ground was formed by the heavy sediment of the brook. The two streams pro-
duced an eddy on meeting, and the waters were delayed an instant. Some of
the sand brought down stream sank during this pause, and a hillock in embryo
was made.
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HISTORY OF VAN BUREN COUNTY. 831
Years from this time, the course of that stream will be changed because of an
impeding elevation of land, and that elevated land will be cultivated, with rich
retarns. So the surface of the prairies was formed into irregular hills and
dalee.
BOWLDERS
are frequently found scattered over the surface of the country, and very com-
monly in ravines or sloughs, because, when denudation was taking place by
the agency of the subsiding waters, they invariably moved down hill when the
earth was washed from under them. This readily accounts for their
being usually found in ravines.
ORIGIN OF THE PRAIRIES.
Prof. Hall, in his Geological Report of Iowa, says :
The subject of the origin of the prairies, or the cause of the absence of trees over so exten-
siTe a region, is one which has often been discussed, and in regard to which diametrically
opposite opinions are entertained.
The idea is very extensively entertained throughout the West, that the prairies were once
corered with timber; but that it has been deen destroyed by the fires which the Indians have
b«en in the habit of starting in the dry grass, and which swept a vast extent of surface every
Autumn. A few considerations will show that the theory is entirely untenable.
In the first place, the prairies have been in existence at least as far back as we have
any knowledge of the country, since the first explorers of the West describe them just as
they now are. There may be limited areas once covered with woods and now bare ; but, in
general, the prairie region occupies the same surface which it did when first visited by the white
But, again, prairies are limited to a peculiar region — one marked by certain characteristic
topographioU and geological features, and they are, by no means, distributed around wherever
the Indians have roamed and used fire. Had frequent occurrence of fires in the woods been the
means of removing the timber and covering the soil with a dense growth of grass, there is no
reason why prairies should not exist in the Eastern and Middle States, as well as in the Western.
The whole northern portion of the United States was once inhabited by tribes differing but little
from each other in their manner of living.
^gain, were the prairies formerly covered by forest trees, we should probably now find
some remains of them buried beneath the soil, or other indications of their having existed.
Such is not the case, for the occurrence of fragments of wood beneath the prairie surface is quite
rare. And when they are found, it is in such position as to show that they had been removed to
some distance from the place of their growth.
It has been maintained by some that the want of sufficient moisture in the air or soil was
the cause of the absence of forests in the Northwest ; and it is indeed true that the prairie region
does continue westward, and become merged in the arid plains which extend along the base of
the Rocky Mountains, where the extreme dryness is undoubtedly the principal obstacle to the
growth of anything but a few shrubs peculiarly adapted to the conditions of climate and soil
which prevail in that region. This, however, cannot be the case in the region of the Mississippi
and near Lake Michigan, where the prairies occupy so large a surface, since the results of
meteorological observations show no lack of moisture in that district, the annual precipitation
being fully equal to what it is in the well-wooded country farther east in the same latitude.
Besides, the growth of forest trees is rich and abundant all through the prairie region under
certain conditions of soil and position, showing that their range is not limited by any general
climatological cause.
Taking into consideration all the circumstances under which the peculiar vegetation of the
prairie occurs, we are disposed to consider the nature of the soil as the prime cause of the
absence of forests, and the predominance of grasses over the widely-extended region. And
although chemical composition may not be without influence in bringing about this result, which
is a subject for further investigation, and one worthy of careful examination, yet we conceive
that the extreme fineness of the particles of which the prairie soil is composed is probably the
principal reason why it is better adapted to the growth of its peculiar vege ation than to the
development of forests.
It cannot fail to strike the careful observer that where the prairies occupy the surface, the
soil and superficial material have been so finely comminuted as to be almost in a state of an
impalpable ponder. This is due, partially, to the peculiar nature of the underlying rocks and
the fiieility with which they undergo complete decomposition, and partly to the mechanical
causes which have acted during and since the accumulation of the sedimentary matter from the
prairie soil.
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882 HISTORY OF VAN BCTREN COUNTY.
If we go to the thioklj-wooded regions, like those of the northern peninsula of Miehigaa.
and examine those portions of the surface which have not been invaded by the forest, we shall
observe that the beds of ancient lakes which have been filled up by the slowest possible accumu-
lation of detrital matter and are now perfectly dry, remain as natural prairies and are not
trespassed upon by the surrounding woods. We can conceive of no other reason for this than
the extreme fineness of the soil which occupies these basins, and which is the natural result of
the slow and quiet mode in which they have been filled up. The sides of these depressions,
which were lakes, slope very gradually upward, and being covered with a thick growth of vege-
tation, the material brought into them must have been thus caused. Consequently, when Qie
former lake has become entirely filled up and raised above the level of overflow, we find it cov-
ered with a most luxuriant crop of grass, forming the natural meadows ' from which the first
se'ttlers are supplied with their first stock of fodder.
Applying these facts to the case of the prairies of larger dimensions farther south, we infer,
on what seems to be reasonable grounds, that the whole region now occupied by the prairies of
the Northwest was once an immense lake, in whose basin sediment of almost impalpable fineness
gradually accumulated ; that this basin was drained by the elevation of the whole region, bat,
at first, so slowly that the finer particles of the deposit were not washed away, but allowed to
remain where they were originally deposited.
After the more elevated portions of the former basin had been laid bare, the drainage
becoming concentrated into comparatively narrow channels, the current thus produced, aided,
perhaps, by a more rapid rise of the region, acquired sufScient velocity to wear down through
the finer material on the surface, wash away a portion of it altogether, and mix the rest so
«ffectually with the underlying drift materials, or with abraded fbigments of the rocks in places
as to give rise to a different character of soil in the valleys from that of the elevated land. The
valley soil being much less homogeneous in composition and containing a larger proportion of course
materials than that of the uplands, seems to have been adapted to the growth of forest vegetation ;
and in consequence of this we find such localities covered with an abundant growth of timber.
Wherever there has been a variation from the usual conditions of soil, on the prairie or in
the river bottom, there is a corresponding change in the character of the vegetation. Thus on
the prairie we sometimes meet with ridges of coarse, material, apparently deposits of drift, on
which, from some local cause, there tfever has been un accumulation of tine sediment. In such
localities we invariably find a growth of timber. This is the origin of the groves scattered over
the prairies, for whose isolated position and peculiar circumstances of growth we are unable to
account in any other way.
The condition of things in the river valleys themselves seems to add to the plausibility of
this theory. In the district which we have more particularly examined, we have found that
where rivers have worn deep and comparatively narrow valleys, bordered by precipitous bluffs,
there is almost always a growth of forest ; but where the valley widens out, the bluffs beeome
less conspicuous, indicating a less rapid erosion and currents of diminished strength ; there
decomposition takes place under circumstances favorable to the accumulation of prairie soil, and
the result has been the formation of the bottom prairie, which becomes so important a feature of
the valleys of the Mississippi and Missouri below the limits of Iowa. Where these bottom
prairies have become, by any change in the course of the river currents, covered with coarser
materials, a growth of forest trees may be observed springing up, and indicating by their rapid
development a congenial soil.
This theory is noticeably substantiated by the formation and condition of
the valley of tne lower Des Moines.
DESCRIPTIVE GEOGRAPHY.
Van Baren County is bounded on the east by Lee and Henry Counties, on
the north by Jefferson County, on the west by Davis County, and on the south
by the Missouri line. It embraces a fraction over thirteen townships, or about
four hundred and eighty square miles of surface, and is one of the best timbered
counties in this part of the State. The Des Moines River runs diagonally
through the county from northwest to southeast, affording a considerable belt of
timber and an abundant supply of stock-wftter in ordinary seasons. The
country lying north of the river is marked with Crooked, Lick, Coates,
Reed and Cedar Creeks, each skirted with timber from their source to their
outlet.
The prairies are generally small, with a rolling surface and a soil fully equal
to the average prairie soil of the West. The upland timber consists of black
and white oak, hickory, elm, linden and cherry, while upon the Des Moines
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HISTORY OP VAN BUREN COUNTY. 888
bottom may be fonnd black and white walnut, sugar and white maple, ash, hack-
berry, Cottonwood, sycamore, honey-locust and mulberry.
At least three-fourths of the superficial area of this county is underlaid by
depoBist belonging to the coal formation, but it is not probable that a workable
coal-Beam will be found to extend over more than one-half or two-thirds of the
territory so underlaid.
At least two workable coal-seams outcrop in the coutity, varying in thick-
ness from two to five feet. The upper one is exposed in the vicinity of lowa-
ville, on the south side of the Des Moines, and at Business Corners and vicin-
ity, on the north side of the river. The lower seam, where it occurs of suflB-
cient thickness to afford a profitable bed, seems to have been deposited in basins
or depressions in the limestone. The coal at Farmington, both at Williams and
Johnson's bank, occurs in a basin of this kind, and is about two miles in width
firom east to west, and extends south a half mile beyond the Des Moines River,
varies from two to three feet in thickness.
On the prairies, good wells of living waters are obtained from twenty to
thirty feet below the surface. But along the river-bluff's and on the timbered
lands generally, considerable difficulty is experienced in procuring good water,
and cisterns are in general use.
Quarries of the best building material abound in the bluffs of almost every
stream. On Chequest Creek is a fine-grained, compact limestone of a light
gray or dove color, and susceptible of a fine polish. The rock seems well adapted
to many purposes for which an ornamental stone is required, and has acquired
some reputation as Chequest marble. Tin, copper and iron have been discov-
ered, and, excepting the mineral productions of Dubuque and Jackson Coun-
ties, Van Buren County contains more variety in its geological features than any
other in the State.
For beauty of scenery, extent of cultivation and fertility of soil, the county
stands unrivaled.
So much for generalizing. Now for a more definite dwelling upon the min- ,
eral products.
The full thickness of the coal-bearing strata in this county is not accurately
known. Some of the oldest mines in the State are located here. The strata,
however, probably nowhere exceeds one hundred and fifty feet, and is known to
be usually much less. The number of different beds of coal has not been fully
made out, but there are probably three, only one of which is usually of suffi-
cient thickness for purposes of working. This bed, if it be always the same
one in which the mines are opened, is of very considerable importance and
from it large quantities of coal have been, and very much more may yet be
obtained. A mine has for a long time been opened in a three-and-one-half-foot
bed of coal, a little below the town of Independent, in the extreme northwest
comer of the county. About two and a half miles eastward from the same
town, a mine has been opened in a four-foot bed. About half a mile up the
same creek valley in which Ijjie latter is located, another opening has been made
in a four-foot bed, which appears to be a separate bed from the others, being
qiiite above it. Half a mile south of Burnes* Comers, is one of the oldest
mines in the county, situated in a half-foot bed. A little south of this, near
Doud's Station, some mines were formerly successfully operated and they mtay,
doubtless, be re-opened. At and in the vicinity of Keosauqua, several openings
We been made in a bed of coal about three feet thick, which have for many
years been worked to supply local demand. A three-foot bed of coal. has also
been opened in the same township.
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884 HISTORY OP VAN BUREN COUNTY.
At Farmington, large quantities of coal were formerly mined. These mines
were successfully worked. In the northeastern corner of the county some mines
have been profitably worked for many years, to supply a local demand. There
have been also other openings made in coal-beds in this county.
The clay associated with the coal-bearing strata of this county has been
extensively used at Vernon for the manufacture of stone pottery.
An artesian well 705 feet deep has been bored at Farmington, and a fuU
flow of water was the result. The water, as analyzed by Prof. Emery, is proved
to contain, per liter, 1.12 grains of ferruginous sediment, and 8.18 grains of
solid matter in solution, making a total of 9.3 grains of solid matter per liter.
Its principal constituent is ferric sulphate. It also contains considerable gyp-
sum, sodium and hydrochloric acid. A portion of the sulphuric acid is free ;
the amount, per liter, contained in the water being 3.306 grains. The matter
also contains 1.58 grains of ferric oxide and 0.403 grains of calcium oxide, per
liter.
The following is a list of timber found within the county : White-maple,
sugar-maple, bucKeye, water-birch, hickory, pignut-hickory, pecan, hackberry,
black wild-cherry, white-ash, honey-locust, Kentucky coffee-bean, butternut,
white-walnut, black-walnut, box-elder, button, sycamore, cotton-wood, aspen,
white-oak, burr-oak, black- oak, linden bass-wood, common elm and slippery-
elm.
THE UNKNOWN RACE.
The cession of the lands once owned by the Indians, opened up this region
to the whites, and brought the county of Van Buren within the limits of settle-
ment. In 1836, the last traces of resistance to a superior power disappeared
from the Indian bands, and impetus was given to progression. Piece by piece
the lands of Iowa had been wrested from the aborigines, until a t last there
remained but one step between them and utter rout. The time was fast approach-
ing when the voice of authority should cir "depart,'' and the vanguard of the
-pale-faced invaders on the hunting-grounds and homes of the natives was fret-
ting in the invisible chain which held it back.
The legends of this fated people are rich with unwritten poetry and romance.
The spectacle of fallen greatness is sad in any case, and invests the victims of
adverse fate with a halo, perhaps inconsistent with reality, but nevertheless
worthy of a passing thought.
But, before we reach me era of Indian occupancy, there is encountered that
which gives pause to the prosecution of research in that direction, and opens
up a fruitful field for speculation. The history of Van Buren County is so
much older than the period embraced even by Indian legends, that we stand in
grave silence before the evidences of those who have gone before. The red
man alone is not the only denizen of these groves, these hills and vales. Long
before the war-whoop of the Indian awoke echoes in the silent watches of the night,
or the plaintive song of Indian lover aroused the dusky maiden to the thought
of love, there lived a race of men with passions, ambitions and desires perhaps
akin to those we know. The march of time destroyed these primitive dwellers
of the earth, leaving but vague traces of their existence for us to ponder over.
A broken flint, an arrow-head, a bit of crudest pottery — what are these?
Traces of a lost people, of whom even legends have become extinct for-
ever.
Such sights as these suggest the thought that Nature but reproduces her grand-
est works in eras marked by aeons of ages.
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HISTORY OF VAN BUBEN COUNTY. 386
Those who stmck the first blows, in the name of Improvemeut, npon
the banks of the Des Moines, have beheld a ruined nation depart, never to
return. May it not be that our race, too, most some day stand before a saper-
ior power, and watch its noblest eflForts grow pale before the light of other
minds?
In the womb of centuries may there not be those who will repeople what are to
become the vast solitudes of these broad acres, i!OW so busy with teeming millions,
and read with curious eyes the evidences of ourselves — a forgotten race ? Perhaps
beneath the sea there slumbers now a continent that will some day grow rank
with life, and send forth pioneers to seek new worlds. The record of the
rocks tells us that these things have been ; and what was once performed may
be again accomplished. The mold of centuries may rise above our streets.
The wash of waves may erode our noblest monuments. Ruin and decay give
birth to youth and grandeur. A language strange to ears in being now, may
portray the marvels of a land in which primeval forests thrive ; where stores of
virgin wealth lie deep within the bowels of the earth; where fertile plains wave
witti luxuriant vegetation; where the ax was never heard, and where the
ground was never trodden by human foot. Then will the husbandman's imple-
ment reveal the broken columns which centuries have concealed beneath their
accumulation of waste, and the archaeologist wax wise over the fragments of
our vaunted might.
As these things may be, let us, while now we can, pay to those who have
preceded us the passing tribute of a si^.
That these broad lands were once the home of a people now no longer num-
bered among the living, there can be no doubt. Evidences of their existence
are at the very doors of those who dwell in the fertile valley of the Des
Moines.
The Mound-Builders, as modem tongue is pleased to term them from
lack of a better name, have left traces of their presence here which admit of
no dispute. Who they were and from whence they came, the wisest archaeol-
ogists are puzzling their brains to determine. The secret of their lives has
perished with their mortal frames, leaving naught but food for speculation
behind. Some future generation, it is true, may chance upon a hidden tablet
or a source of light which will illumine the darkness of the present respecting
the prehistoric race. Even here, where such lavish manifestations of
thrir sojourn exist, there may be stored the key to the vast mystery.
Some day the truth may be made clear, but now we can only record the
hc\s made patent to us, and hope for the dawn of that eventfril mom when
the cabalistic signs on table and on rock shall become like opened books before
our eyes.
Among the numerous gentlemen resident in Ottumwa, or in the Des Moines
Valley, who have given intelligent thought to the investigation of this absorbing
topic, we first name Mr. Samuel B. Evans, of the Ottumwa Democrat^ as an
authority upon the subject of the local mounds. Mr. Evans has acquired a
r^utation as a patient worker in this broad field, and has prepared many arti-
cles for the press, pertaining to the mounds in Wapello and Van Buren Coun-
ties. A paper was requested of him by the Smithsonian Institution, elaborat-
ing the location and character of the ancient works in this section of the State,
and, through the kindness of Mr. Evans, we are permitted to illustrate this
bridf chapter with copies of diagrams prepared by him for the paper referred
to. These outUne cuts will convey to the reader a better idea of the position
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386 HWTORY OP VAN BUREN COUNTY.
of the mounds, and, what is even more important, they will preserve a record
of their topo^phy in the event of their destruction by the rapid encroadi-
ments of modern improvements.
DIAGRAM A.
Mounds near Ottumwa, Wapello Co., on the Des Moines River and adjacent thereto.
RirfiBBNCE.
No. 1 M oand. on Section 13, Towntblp 72, Bange 14, it known as the " Oaldwell Monnd.**
On the highest lands in Wapello County, about a quarter of a mile south or the Oaldwell Mounds, are the Hed-
rick Mounds, not shown on diagram. These latter are doubtless mounds of observation.
No. 2, on Section 21, Township 72, Range 13, are known as the " Sugar Creek Mounds.'*
Nos. 3 and 4, on Section 29, Township 78, Range 13, are known as the "Trowell ** and the ** Stiles** Monodi^ re*
spectiTely. ' ^
Nob. 5 and 6, on Sections 7 and 8, Township 71, Range 13, are known as the "Village Creek Mounds,** tmm the
stream which flows by them.
Scale of diagram, flTe>eighthf of an inch to the mile.
It* is the purpose of this article to deal solely with facts ; to confine the
range of topic exclusively to a description of the location, character and con-
tents of the mounds in the counties of Wapello and Van Buren, so fitf a^
research has furnished data for the perfection of this design. We leave to oar
readers the interesting work of solving the origin of the tumuli^ the habits of
the strange people who constructed them, and the fate of the race which dof
excites our profoundest curiosity. If this imperfect sketch serves to stimulate
latent forces to action in the direction of study, its purpose will be fully
accomplished.
The diagram herewith given, and marked "A,'* exhibits all the mounds in
the vicinity of Ottumwa which have been explored, and may be said to embrace
all that are known to exist. Future investigation may reveal mounds at pres-
ent unknown, but that is scarcely probable. The examination of all the mounds
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HISTORY OF VAN BUREN COUNTY. 887
herein referred to has been conducted by Mr. Evans, in company with 'the
several gentlemen named, in the following order:
Sugar Creek— Capt. W. H. Kitterman, S. H. Burton and D. T. Mil-
ler.
The Stiles, by Hon.. E. H. Stiles. The Trowell has not been opened, so
&r as can be' ascertained.
Village Creek, by Mr. Richard Williams and Mr. A. T. Holly.
Keosauqua, or Ely Ford Group (shown here in diagram "B"), by Judge
Robert Sloan, Mr. J. J. Kinnersly, Mr. D. C. Beaman, Messrs. Robert N. and
Charles L. Dahlberg and Ben Johnson, Esq.
The names of these gentlemen are ample guaranty of the thoroughness and
intelligence of the search made. Capt. Kitterman, Mr. Williams, Mr. Holly
and Judge Sloan are especially qualified to prosecute so important an under-
taking.
The Sugar Creek Mounds (Sec. 21, T. 72, R. 13) are simple tumuli. The
first one opened stands upon a high elevation, and mav be termed a mound of
observation. From it, those lying to the southwest, the Trowell Mounds, are
visible, although a mile and a half distant. From this post, a series of com-
munication might be maintained with a person stationed on the Trowell hillock,
if the intervening growth of young trees was removed. From this mound,
nothing of value was obtained save bits of charcoal and decomposed ashes.
This £EK;t goes to confirm the theory that it was designed as a station of survey.
The second of the Sugar Creek group contained a few decayed bones, but no
estimate of their chiuracter was possible.
From the Trowell Mound the Stiles tumuli are plainly seen. These mounds
lie in the suburbs of Ottumwa. When they were opened, in the spring of
1878, no traces of human burial were found. There were but few, and those
unsatisfactory, evidences of cremation. In one of the largest, a small hatchet
was obtained, which was made of green stone, highly finished. The character
of this hatchet led the explorers to believe that its deposit was accidental. No
other implements in entire form were discovered, but several bits of broken
arrow-hc^s and a few chips or cherts of obsidian were taken. This flint is
exceedingly rare. If the valley and intervening ridges were denuded of the
growing young timber, one group of the Village Creek mounds could be seen
from this mound, although the Creek groups are more than three miles
distant.
In the fell of 1877, three of the Village Creek mounds were carefully
examined. A reference to diagram "A" will show that there are two groups,
each composed of seven or eight individual mounds, lying in line. The groups
are about one mile apart. Those which were opened contained evidences of
cremation. Successive lavers of ashes and charcoal, intermingled with calcined
bones. No implements of any kind were discovered in a complete state, and
but few broken arrow-heads.
From this record it will be seen that the mounds removed from the river —
the Sugar Creeks — are in line of direct communication with those on the
stream, by means of signals. This fact is mentioned merely as an incidental
one, perhaps worthy of consideration. Recent examination of the Caldwell and
Hedrick Mounds resulted in nothing important. They contained no remains,
human or otherwise, but were doubtless mounds of observation solely. Still,
subsequent research may reveal relics, and it is to be hoped that the investiga-
tion will be carefully made at an early day.
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888 HISTORY OF VAN BUREN COUNTY.
DIAGRAM B.
Mounds near Keosauqua and Pittsburg, Van Buren County.
RErKaSNOBt.
A blaff extends orer Sections 2 and 3, Township 68, Bange 10.
Mounds on Section 3 are known as " Ely Ford Hounds," because of creek and old ford.
The square on right of creek, near mouth, is the Shell Heap, referred to herein.
The stream running through Pittsburg is Gheqneet Creek.
The dotted line around the southern shore indicates where the chain of mounds exists.
Scale, fire-eighths inch to the mile.
In July, 1878, the Ely Ford Mounds in Van Buren County were opened.
The location of these tumuli is as follows : Counting from the left bank of the
creek northwestward. No. 1 is 20 rods north, 55° west from mouth of creek ;
20 feet above river-bed ; 40 feet from water's edge. There is no timber. In
this were found fresh-water muscle-shells in large quantity, and pieces of
pottery, arrow-heads, bones (probably animals'), part of a human jaw with teeth,
and foot and leg bones of a human skeleton in fair state of preservation. There
was a surface deposit of about two feet ever these remains.
No. 2 was 10 rods north, 60° west from No. 1, on Bluff Point, 100 feet
above river-bed, 200 feet from water's edge. On this mound were the decayed
remains of a large white-oak tree, which was two feet in diameter ; also young
oak growing. In the mound was found
A HUMAN SKULL
entire, except the lower jaw. A portion of the upper jaw was decomposed,
but one tooth remained. The leg-bones were also discovered. The position of
the skeleton was two feet beneath the surface, with head southeast, horizontal.
The same pottery as in No. 1. The dimensions of this skull are as follows:
horizontal circumference, 20 inches ; longitudinal arc, from nasal depression,
along middle line of skull to occipital protuberance, 13 inches ; transverse
measurement, 5 inches ; vertical height, 3 75-100 inches ; longitudinal meas-
urement, 8 inches. This skull approaches very nearly to the famous^eander-
thal, or Cave skull, of Prussia.
No. 3 is half-moon shaped, 15 rods north, 550 west from No. 2, on same
bluff, 120 feet above the river-bed, and 200 feet from water's edge. In it were
found thigh-bones.
No. 4 was 15 rods north, 45° west from No. 3, but contained nothing valu-
able, and may be modem.
No. 5 was a large mound, 50 feet in diameter and 5 feet in height ; located
30 rods south, 45° east from mouth of Ely's Creek, on high bluff point, 100
feet above river-bed, and 20 rods from water's edge. Upon it was a decayed
white oak stump, 24 inches in diameter, located 12 feet north, 10° west from
Digitized by VjOOQIC
HISTORY OP VAN BUBEN COUNTY. 889
the center of the mound, and another stump of similar character 16 inches in
diameter, 4 feet north from center. In this mound were discovered human
thigh-bones under the south side of the large stump, five feet from the surface,
and subsequent investigation revealed
TWO SKELETONS
in excellent state of preservation. The wood of the oak crumbled in the hand,
because of its exceedingly rotten condition. There were fragments of the arm-
bone, and the position of the body must have been horizontal, with head toward
the west and leg doubled under. Quantities of shells were found, as in No. 1.
Later research revealed the best preserved skull ever found in this country. It
is now in the possession of Mr. EvauQ, of Ottumwa, and is a proper object of
elaborate study and comparison. The region about Keosauqua is evidently rich
in evidences of ancient sepulture.
The river-bank is thickly covered with these mounds. The diagram does
not show the twentieth part of the tumuli in Van Buren County. Nearly fifty
have been discovered in the immediate vicinity of Keosauqua. We aim to
locate only those which have been explored by Mr. Evans, or some one skilled
in the detection of relics.
Judge Sloan has devoted a considerable portion of the leisure which his arduous
professional duties grudgingly gave him to the contemplation of this subject. From
him we leart that ne is aware of the existence of some forty-five mounds, be-
sides many "pockets," or places of deposit in the bluffs, where shells, bits of
bone — ^probably of animals that served as food — ^and fragments of pottery are
placed, and slightly covered with earth.
The most valuable discovery yet made in the Des Moines Valley is the skull
which we have described. It is the remains of a race the like of which does
not exist on earth at the present time. The doubts created as to the antiquity
of the stone implements found are natural and reasonable. Any race of stone-
workers might have produced them ; but the irrefutable evidence of the skull
silences comment and arouses profound conjecture. The modem Indian pos-
sesses no characteristics like those which must have been the portion of this
man, whose gapins sockets mock us as we gaze into them. Gould the tongue
which once formed syllables of command beneath that moldering jaw be re-in-
vested with the power to speak, what tales it could unfold !
The race of which this is a type was easily led, low in intellect, and not far
different from the patient toiler on the Pyramids of Egypt.
Messrs. Robert N. and Charles L. Dahlberg, explored the region of the
mouth of Chequest Creek, at Pittsburg, Van Buren County, with satisfiwtory
results, on the 31st of July, 1878. Ancient pottery was discovered. A descrip-
tion of the ware, prepared by the gentlemen who unearthed it, is herewith
appended :
The pieces of pottery found are composed of clay and sand, mixed with smaU pebbles, form-
ing a cement which appears to be baked rather than burned. The most of the pieces found show
that the heat applied in their construction was not sufficient to melt the sand or pebbles, or in
any way to affect their original condition. No glazing appears on the pottery, and yet it is of a
wd, firm, durable substance which is impervious to water. One piece of pottery is about four
inches square, but of an irregular shape. At one point it is shown to be a part of the top of a
vide-mouthed vessel, evidently about two inches less in diameter at the neck than at the top.
Jndging by the arc described by the piece in question, the neck of the piece must have been at
lH8t 18 inches in diameter.
This piece also shows attempts at ornamentation, having a horizontal row of dots, or beads,
ftbout an inch and a half from the top of the vessel ; these have the appearance of having been
njade by punctures fh)m the inside of the vessel, and are about half an inch apart, or seven-
^'ighths from center to center.
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840 HISTORY OP VAN BUREN COUNTY.
There are also parallel lines running about it horizontally, about half an inch apart, wfaieb
were evidently made by some blunt instrument about one-eighth of an inch square, pressed into
the clay, leaving little ridges between each impression of the instrument that would aTcraf^
about one-sixteenth of an inch thick. There are a number of small pieces, one showing dis-
tinctly that the neck and rim of the vessel above it were quite flaring, Uiough this rim does not
show entire. The rim is ornamented by diamond-shaped figures made by lines crossing each
other, which lines are formed very much like the parallel lines in the larger piece.
Another piece shows parallel lines. One small piece is corrugated as the Ely Ford pottery;
and shows distinctly the application of heat sufficient to fuse the silex in the composition of the
pottery, making it a very hard and firm substance ; this piece is thinner than the baked pieces.
Another piece shows bead- work distinctly about an inch from the top of the vessel ; the body of
the vessel is ornamented with parallel lines running at right angles with the top of the ve^el,
made as in the first piece described, and the top ornamented very much as our mothers used to
ornament the edge of a pie.
Several other pieces show the application of heat sufficient to fuse the silex in their compo-
sition. Several, including the larger piece described above, show on the edges and upon both
surfaces glittering particles, which appear to be small pieces of isinglass. This pottery was
nearly all found upon the surface of the ground, having been washed out by the action of the
water; some were found on the creek-bank, and some on the river-bank near the edge of
the water, but all at the mouth of Ghequest, which empties into the river at Pittsburg. In the
river-bank in front of the village is also a bed of ashes and charcoal, about three inches in
depth, and about two feet from the surfftce of the ground.
Mr. Evans recently contributed to the Chicago Timei a series of letters
descriptive of the mounds in this locality, and speculative as to their origin.
We quote so much of the contributions as treats of the appearance of the tumuli:
The mounds which I have examined on Village Creek presented the following conditions ,
They are found on natural elevations, the highest in the vicinity. They are regular in shape
and regular in the arrangement of the materials which compose them. The second stratum of
earth composing them, immediately beneath the natural soil, accumulated by the decay of vege-
tation, is very often foreign to the surroundings. Then succeed strata of ashes, charcoal and
earth, averaging about five inches in thickness. Human remains are found in these mounds,
but not always, which indicates that they were not originally made for burial places, and give
color to the idea that they were utilized by succeeding populations for uses foreign to the design
of the builders. But in Iowa they are not numerous enough to encourage the supposition that
they were merely sites of dwelling-places, because of the labor to build them. It is not reason-
able to believe that any people, whether civilized or barbarous, would build a mound which
would require the labor of ten men for fifty days, on the top of which a wooden building could
be constructed less than twenty feet in circumference.
In Wapello Ck>unty we have a range of mounds about two miles from the river, on a ridge
running parallel with the Des Moines, on the southern side which overlooks the plateau or bot-
tom land of the stream, and is in plain view of a corresponding range of moundH situated on a
high hill north of the river. These mounds are similar in shape, and having examined many of
them on each side of the river, I find their interior composition to be very much alike. The
layers of ashes, charcoal and earth are the same, and in some of them human remains were
found. In a few of them I have discovered flint implements. I must confess, however, that
after all my examinations I cannot settle down on any well-grounded opinion as to the objects
for which these mounds were created, except to disagree with all the theories so for advanced.
The ashes and charcoal and human remains showing the action of fire, have at times induced me
to believe that the Mound- Builders practiced cremation, and that after the rites were performed
the remains were covered with earth, each succeeding funeral pyre adding to the height of the
mound. Yet, while this theory has in my mind more proofs than any other yet advanced, I am
not prepared to accept it without additional evidence.
Archaeologists have determined that the mounds of America may be prop-
erly classed under three general heads, viz.: Mounds of Observation, Mounds
of Sacrifice and Mounds of Burial. The first were doubtless used as posts of
communication between distant bands. They are always found on elevated
lands, from which wide areas of territory may be seen, if modem timber or
edifices do not intervene. From one to another a signal fire or flag might
have conveyed intelligence of invasion, of joy or of distress. This class of
works is found in Wapello County, in an excellent state of preservation. The
larger groups present evidences of having been erected for such purposes, rather
than for sacrificial observances, or even for the disposal of the dead ; although
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HISTORY OF VAN BUREN COUNTY. 841
some of the tumvli^ undoubtedly, were devoted separately to each of the three
purposes.
In Van Buren County, the dwelling-places of the Mound-Builders are more
distinctly marked. While observation hills are found there, also, the larger
number of mounds bear striking testimony of other uses. The unearthing of
the skeletons from Mounds ITos. 2 and 5, are events worthy of the considera-
tion of scientists the world over. The fragments of pottery, the stone imple-
ments and the heaps of shells and animal bones, furnish food for deepest
thought. The ground is rich in remains of every character, and should be
thoroughly investigated.
From far above Pittsburg to a point several miles below Keosauqua, a con-
tinuous chain of works is to be seen. The diagram of the great bend in the
liver, near Keosauqua, shows but a faint outifine of the place where future
archseologists will delve with satisfactory results.
It is not within the province of this chapter to enter into an elaborate dis-
cussion of the subject, but, as has already been intimated, merely to suggest
where the labor should be undertaken. Van Buren County should be made
the theater of exhaustive research, and if this paper prepares the way for such
enterprises, its mission will be fully accomplished.
HISTORY OF THE ABORIGINES.
From the contemplation of this primordial race— a people which must be
termed the originals, so far as our imperfect knowledge extends, but which may,
after all, have been but the last fragments of a nation greater even than our
own — \ei us pass to the consideration of those tribes which are not mythical.
Human improvement, rushing through civilization, crushes in its march all
who cannot grapple to its car. This law is as inexorable as Fate. " You
colonize the lands of the savage with the Anglo-Saxon," says Stephen Mon-
tague ; '^ you civilize that portion of the earth ; but is the savage civilized ? He
is exterminated ! You accumulate machinery, you increase the total of wealth ;
but what becomes of the labor you displace ? One generation is sacrificed to
the next. You difiuse knowledge, and the world seems to grow brighter ; but
Discontent at Poverty replaces Ignorance happy with its crust. Every Im-
provement, every advancement in civilization, injures some to benefit others,
and either cherishes the want of to-day or prepares the revolution of to-mor-
row."
It is, as it were, but yesterday since the hills and valleys of the. Des Moines
re-echoed the mournful dirge of the departing red man. The years are few in
number since the sorrowful coHege passed slowly toward the setting sun, leaving
behind the noble dead, sleeping in the cold embrace of the grim monarch, by
the side of their beloved white father ; leaving the homes they had been taught
to claim as their own ; leaving all, even hope, behind. There still live many
persons who beheld the strange sight of a remnant of a race departing forever
from the scenes of their early life, and such will, doubtless, be disposed to
sneer at the pen which finds a source of sadness in the contemplation of this
event. But worthy hands have written lines of living power upon the theme,
nor can the harsh character of fact denude the subject of a glamour which
poetry and romance have cast around the dusky subject and his fate. There is
a grandeur in the record of the race which the stem force of truth is powerless
to dispel.
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342 HISTORY OF VAN BUREN COUNTY.
Those men who Were compelled to meet the groveling band which had sur-
vived the first shock of defeat, saw only the ruin which the strong had wrought
upon the weak. The native power had fled ; a subjugated race was subsisting
in its helplessness upon the bounty of its conquerors. There was no spot on
earth left for them. Foot by foot their mighty possessions were taken firom
them, not in the din and whirl of battle, but by the humiliating processes of
peace. Here, at last, they stood, with bowed heads, meekly awaiting the decree
which should compel them to resume their endless march. Behind them was
the tradition of their strength ; before them, annihilation of their clans. Even
their warlike instincts were dwarfed in the presence of their masters. Had
they disputed titles with the whites, the memories clustering about them now
would be far different. But that resort to arms, that defiant struggle to the
end, that disappearance in dramatic furor — all was denied them. Had they
been other in nature than they were, this placid surrender to fate would seem
less pitiful. Once fierce and bloody, then subdued, their stolid acceptance of
destiny carried with it a mournful air that will be breathed through history's
pages while our race shall live.
The Indian is the embodiment of the dramatic, and when the curtain is
rung down upon a scene so spiritless and tame as this of which we write, the
admiration which is his due is turned to pity. The actual spectators of the
drama find it impossible to forget the sordid character of the players, it is true ;
but at even so short a remove of time as this which has already elapsed since this
county was the theater of the play, a shade of romance is imparted and the
events become absorbing in their interest.
KEOKUK, THE ORATOR CHIEFTAIN.
The soil of Van Buren County has been trodden by two of the greatest red
men of recent times. Keokuk, the Chief, and Black Hawk, the Brave, both
found thereon a resting-place, while within the limits of the region were enacted
many of the most important scenes of their eventful lives.
£[eokuk, the grand sachem, was a man of tall, commanding presence,
straight as an arrow, and, when aroused, could make an eloquent speech to bis
tribe. He was selected by the United States Government to distribute the
annuities to the Sacs and !roxes — ^not only for his energies when opposed to the
nation in battle, but for his influence among the red men everywhere. But he
was avaricious and intemperate, putting any amount o^ whisky under his royal
toga, and stealing from his red brothers the hard silver so kindly given them by
the Great Father at Washington. He had a chronic quarrel with Hardfish's
band, that lived in Edshkekosh, near Eddyville, and receiving a severe wound
from one of this tribe, he died soon after reaching Kansas, in 1845.
From a sketch of Keokuk, published in the ''Annals of Iowa," 1865, by
Uriah Biggs, one of the pioneers of Van Buren, the following interesting
extracts are made :
'' Keokuk is deserving of a prominent page in the history of the country,
and a truthful history of his life would be read and cherished as a memento of
one of nature's noblemen. As an orator, he was entitled to rank with the most
gifted of his race. In person, he was tall and of portly bearing, and in his
public speeches^ he displayed a commanding attitude and graceful gestures. He
spoke rapidly, but his enunciation was clear and distinct and very forcible,
culling his figures from the stores of nature, and basing his arguments in skill-
ful logic. He maintained in good faith the stipulations of treaties with the
Unit^ States and with the neighboring tribes. He loved peace and the sooiid
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HISTORY OP VAN BUREN COUNTY. 843
amenities of life, and was fond of displaying those agreeable traits of character
in ceremonious visits to neighboring chiefs, in which he observed the most
pnnctilions etiquette and dignified decorum. He possessed a ready insight
into the motives of others, and was not easily misled by sophistry or beguiled
by flattery; and in the field of wit, he was no mean champion. It is not my
purpose to write a history of his life, but I will give one anecdote in illustration
of these traits of his character.
" While residing near Ottumwah-noc, he received a message from the Mor-
mon Prophet, Joe Smith, inviting Keokuk, as King of the Sacs and Foxes, to
a royal conference at his palace at Nauvoo, on matters of the highest impor-
tance to their respective people. The invitation was readily accepted, and a
train of ponies was soon wending its way to the Mormon city, bearing Keokuk
and his suite in stately procession and savage pomp.
" Notice had circulated through the country of this diplomatic interview,
and a number of spectators attended to witness the denouement. The audience
was given publicly in the Mormon temple, and the respective chiefs were
attended by their suites, the Prophet by the dignitaries of the Mormon Church,
and the Indian potentate by the hisn civil and military functionaries of his
tribe, and the gentiles were comfortably seated as auditors.
" The prophet opened the conference in a set speech of considerable length,
SVing Keokuk a brief history of the children of Israel, as detailed in the
ible, and dwelt forcibly upon the story of the lost tribes, and of the direct
revelation he had received from a divine source, that the North American
Indians were these identical lost tribes, and that he, the prophet of God, held a
divine commission to gather them together and to lead them to aland * flowing with
milk and honey.' After the prophet closed this harangue, Keokuk 'waited for
the words of his pale-faced brother to sink deep into his mind,' and, in making
his reply, assumed the gravest attitude and most dignified demeanor. He
would not controvert anything his brother had said about the lost and scattered
condition of his race and people, and if his brother was commissioned by the
Great Spirit to collect them together and lead them to a new country, it was
his duty to do so. But he wished to inquire about some particulars his brother
had not named, that were of the highest importance to him and his people.
The red men were not much used to milk, and he thought they would prefer
streams of water, and in the country where they now were there was a good
supply of honey. The points that they wished to inquire into were whether
the new government would pay large annuities, and whether there was plenty oi
whisky. Joe Smith saw at once that he had met his match, and that Keokuk
was not the proper material with which to increase his army of dupes, and
closed the conference in as amiable a manner as possible. *
" He was gifted by nature with the elements of an orator in an eminent de-
gree, and as such is entitled to rank with Logan, Ked Jacket and Tecumseh ;
but, unfortunately for his fame among the white people and with posterity, he
was never able to obtain an interpreter who could claim even a slight acquaint-
ance with philosophy. With one exception only, his interpreters were unac-
quainted even with the elements of their mother-tongue. Of this serious
hindrance to his fame, Keokuk was well aware, and retained Frank Labashure,
who had received a rudimental education in the French and English languages,
until the latter broke down by dissipation 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, was beyond their
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844 HISTORY OF VAN BUREN COUNTY.
powers of reproduction. He had sufficient knowledge of the English tongue to
make him sensible of this bad rendering of his thought, and often a feeling of
mortification at the bungling efforts was depicted upon his countenance wnile
he was speaking. The proper place to form a due estimate of his ability as an
orator was in the Indian council, where he addressed himself exclusively to
those who understood his language, and where the electric effects of his elo-
quence could be plainly noted upon his audience. It was credibly asserted that
by the force of his logic he had changed the vote of a council against the
strongly predetermined opinions of its members. A striking instance of the
influence of his eloquence is related as occurring while the forces under Black
Hawk were invading Illinois, in 1832.
"Keokuk knew from the first that this reckless war would result in great
disaster to the tribe, and used all diligence to dissuade warriors from following
Black Hawk, and succeeded in retaining a majority with him at his town on the
Iowa River. But, after Stillman's defeat, the war-spirit raged with such ardor
that a war-dance was held, and Keokuk took part in it, seeming to be moved
with the current of the rising storm, and when the dance was over, he called a
council to prepare for war. In his address he admitted the justice of his
complaints against the white man, and to seek redress was a noble aspiration of
their natures. 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, ifi after folly
considering the matter you are determined to go. But, before you take this
important step, it is wise to inquire into the chances for success.' He then
represented to them the great power of the United States, against whom they
would have to contend — that their chances of success were utterly hopeless.
* But if you now determine to go upon the war-path, I will agree to lead
you upon one condition — that before we go we kill all our old men and our
wives and children to save them from a lingering death bv starvation, and that
every one of us determine to leave his bones on the other side of the Mississippi.'
** This was a strong and truthful picture of the project before them, and was
presented in such a forcible light as to cool their ardor and to cause them to
abandon their rash undertaking. Many other incidents are related of his elo-
quence and tact in allaying a rising storm, fraught with war and bloodshed, not
only in his own tribe, but also among neighboring tribes, where his people had
been the aggressors. Some of these incidents have been preserved by writers
on Indian research, but many will be lost to history. He delivered a eulogy
upon Gen. Harrison at the Sac and Fox Agency, which was interpreted by Mr.
Antoine Le Claire, and considered ty many who heard its delivery, as one of
his best efforts. This speech, however, was not written down and is lost to his-
tory ; but enough of the incidents of his career as an orator have been saved
from the wreck of time to stamp his reputation for natural abilities of the high-
est order, and fornish another positive refutation of Buffon's theory on the
deterioration of men and animals on the American Continent.
"We have thus far portrayed the bright side of Keokuk's character; but
like most, if not all, great intellects, there is a dark background which the
truth of history demands shall be brought to view. His traits of character,
thus far sketched, may not inaptly be compared to the great Grecian orator;
but here the similitude ends. The great blot on Keokuk's life was his inordi-
nate love of money, and, toward its close, he became a confirmed inebriate. His
withering reply to the Mormon prophet was intended by him as a pure stroke
of wit ; it, nevertheless, expressed his ruling passions.
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HISTORY OF VAN BURBN COUNTY. 845
*^ -A. bitter and incurable feud existed in the tribe during their time of resi-
dence on the Des Moines River, between what was denominated 'Keokuk's
band' and ^ Black Hawk's band,' the latter recognizing Hardfish as their
leader. This distrust, and, indeed, hatred were smothered in their common inter-
course when sober ; but when their blood was fired with whisky, it soinetimes
assumed a tragic feature amongst the leaders of the respective bands. An
inst&nce of this character occurred on the lower part of the Des Moines, on a
return of a party making a visit to the 'half-breeds' at the town of Keokuk,
on the Mississippi. In a quarrel, excited by whisky, Keokuk received a dan-
gerous stab in the breast from a son of Black Hawk. The writer of the pres-
ent sketch sawlim conveyed by his friends homeward, lying in a canoe, unable
to rise.
'^ Hardfish and his coadjutors lost no occasion to find fault with Keokuk's
administration. The payments were made in silver coin, put in boxes, contain-
ing $500 each, and passed into Keokuk's hands for distribution. The several
traders received each his quota, according to their several demands against the
tribes admitted by KeokuK, which invariably consumed the far greater portion
of the amount received. The remainder was turned over to the chiefs, and dis-
tributed among their respective bands. Great complaints were made of these
allowances to the traders, on the ground of exorbitant prices charged on the
goods actually furnished, and it was alleged that some of these accounts were
spurious. In confirmation of this last charge, over and above the character of
the items exhibited in these accounts, an affidavit was filed with Gov. Lucas by
an individual, to which the Governor gave credence, setting forth that Keokux
had proposed to the maker of the affidavit to prefer a purely fictitious account
against the tribe for the sum of $10,000, and he would admit its correctness,
and when paid, the money should be divided among themselves, share and share
alike. To swell the traders' bills, items were introduced of a character that
showed fraud upon their face, such as a large number of ' blanket coats,' arti-
cles which the Indians never wore, and 'telescopes,' of the use of which they had
no knowledge. This shows the reckless manner in which these bills were
swollen to the exorbitant amounts complained of, in which Keokuk was openly
charged with being in league with the traders to defraud Hardfish's band. At
this time, the nation numbered about two thousand three hundred souls, and
only about one-third of the whole number belonged to Keokuk's party. Gov.
Lucas warmly espoused the popular side in the controversy that arose in rela-
tion to the mode and manner of making the annual payment, and the matter
was referred to the Indian Bureau, and the mode was changed, so that payments
were made to the heads of families, approximating a per-capita distribution.
This method of making the payments met the unqualified disapprobation of the
traders, and after one year's trial, fell back into the old channel. Keokuk led
his tribe west to the Kansas country, in 1845, and, according to reports, died
some years after of delirium tremens."
Mr. James Jordan relates the following anecdote of Keokuk : " In 1837,
the chief's son was prostrated with fever. Keokuk was absent at the time,
but there chanced to be in the camp an old squaw, who was alleged to be
invested with supernatural powers. When Keokuk returned, his valiant heir
informed him that the witch had cast an evil spirit into the settlement, which
had increased the fever and rendered it impossible to overcome disease while
she lived. Thereupon Keokuk took the old woman without the settlement and
deliberately cut ofi* her head with a cleaver. This summary act was witnessed
by Mrs. Phelps, wife of Billy Phelps, one of the original locators of that sec-
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346 HISTORY OF VAN BUREN COUNTY.
tion." The scene of this sacrifice was near Independent, adjacent to Jordan's
farm.
Keokuk's son is at the head of the Sac and Fox Nation, in the Indian Ter-
^^' . BLACK HAWK, THE BRAVE.
The most conspicuous figure in the list of noted Indians of the Northwest
is Black Hawk. This remarkable man was more like a white man in bis
domestic tastes and instincts than any of his cotemporaries ; but was, withal, a
warrior of the true savage type. During his sojourn in Van Buren County,
probably no one was more intimately acquainted with Black Hawk than James
Jordan was. Mr. Jordan's opportunities for knowing the Indilkn, and also fcNr
acquiring a thorough knowledge of the language in which he spoke, were
unusual. For years, the two fistmilies lived side by side, and maintained a degree
of intimacy peculiar and incidental to the isolated life then led. A feeling
of friendliness sprang up between the native and the pioneer resident, which was
but little removed from that of brotherhood. Hence it is that the statements
of Mr. Jordan relative to Black Hawk and his life are accepted without reser-
vation by all who hear them.
In personal appearance. Black Hawk was distinguished. He was five feet axid
eleven inches tall ; weighed about one hundred and forty to one hundred and
fifty pounds, and had an eye black and piercing as a wild beast.
Many errors have crept into history concerning Black Hawk. The moat
important one is that which fixes his birth in 1767. It will be observed in the
State history, which precedes this sketch, that he was born in the Sac village*
about three miles from the junction of Rock River with the Mississippi, in
Illinois, in 1767. Mr. Jordan pronounces the date an error. From Blade
Hawk's own lips he learned that the time of his birth was 1775, but the day is
not given.
As to the Indian orthography of the name, Mr. Jordan gives Mu-ca-tah-
mich-a-ka-kah, and this is confirmed by several other well-posted persons. Maj.
Beach, in his admirable papers on the Indian Agency in Wapello County, a
subject he was well fitted to write about, because of his having been Agent after
Gen. Street's death in 1840, gives a slightly different spelling ; but only such as
might naturally arise from an attempt to spell an Indian word bv sound. The
Major spelled the name Muck-a-ta-mish-e-ki-ak-ki-ak, and the reader will
observe the general similarity in the two methods. Probably Mr. Jordan's way
is the correct one. The literal translation of the name into English is a block
hawk.
Another error exists concerning the oflScial position of the man. He was
not a chief, either by inheritance or election. His father was a leading spirit,
perhaps a prophet or a man of commanding influence in the councils of the
Sacs. At an early age, Black Hawk was allowed to don the war-paint, because
of his having slain an enemy of his tribe. This rather traditionary statement
comes unsupported, but is given for what it is worth. The story runs that th«
youth was but sixteen years old when he hung his first scalp upon his wigwam.
In character the Indian boy was brave, cautious and ambitious. He aspired
to rank and sought the gratification of his passion for power by stealthy means.
He possessed marvelous oratorical abilities, in that gift equaling the great
speaker Keokuk. As a warrior, he was dependent more upon strategy than
upon the qualities which white men deem essential to military prowess ; but
Black Hawk was not a cruel or blood-thirsty man who slew merely for the sake
of slaughter. He was a paradox in some characteristics, and the report giv^n
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HISTORY OF VAN BUftEN COUNTY. 847
by Mr. Jordan, of his latter days, contradicts the generally believed accounts of
his early methods of self-promotion. However, one can accept the statements
of his friend without too great a tax on one's credulity, when it is remembered
that the last years, and not the first, were spent in this vicinity. Black Hawk
the youth was very different from Black Hawk the old and defeated man.
History teaches that Black Hawk's efforts, at generalship were failures,
^hen military method was required. His power lay in sudden and fierce
attacks, with dramatic strategy and rush of mounted braves. It was by such
means, and the employment of his great eloquence in council, that he gained
hia eminence as a leader. He assumed the place of authority over Keokuk, his
ranking officer, and maintained his hold upon his men without ever claiming to
be a chieftain. He called himself a Brave, and delighted in the title.
The Sacs and Foxes, according to their traditions, once dwelt upon the
shores of the great lakes. Gradually they were pushed westward, until in time
they came to occupy a large portion of Northern Illinois. In spite of the press-
ure of the whites, this band occupied a site on the east shore of the Missis-
sippi, near Rock River. Here Black Hawk was, in 1832, the controlling spirit.
" He was never a chief, either by inheritance or election," declares Major
Beach, " and his influence was shared by a wily old savage, of part Winne-
bago blood, called the Prophet, who could do with Black Hawk pretty much as
he pleased ; and also by a Sac named Na-pope, the English of which is Soup,
and whom the writer found to be a very friendly and manageable old native, as
was also Black Hawk."
As relevant to the history of the Indian occupation of Van Buren County,
we quote from a paper prepared by Uriah Biggs, and published in the "Annals
of Iowa," the following authentic account oiBlack Hawk's first battle. The
battle-field was on the present site of lowaville, which was long ago the prin-
cipal seat of the Iowa nation of Indians, and was where Black Hawk after-
ward died. At the time of the massacre, Black Hawk was a young man, and
the graphic account of his first steps toward leadership, as related by Mr.
Biggs, is made up of the details given* by the Indians who participated in the
battle :
"Contrary to long established custom of Indian attack, this battle was
brought on in daytime, the attending circumstances justifying this departure
from the well-settled usages of Indian warfare. The battle-field is a level river-
bottom prairie, of about four miles in length and two miles wide, near the
middle, narrowing down to points at either end. The main area of the bottom
rises perhaps twenty feet above the river, leaving a narrow strip of low bottom
along the river, covered with trees that belted the prairie on the river-side with
a thick forest, and the river-bank was fringed with a dense growth of willows.
Near the lower end of the prairie, and near the river-bank, was situated the
Iowa village, and about two miles above the town and near the middle of the
prairie, is situated a small natural mound, covered at that time with a tuft of
small trees and brush growing on its summit.
" In the rear of this mound lay a belt of wet prairie, which, at the time
here spoken of, was covered with a dense crop of rank coarse grass ; bordering
this wet prairie on the north, the country rises abruptly into elevated and
broken river-bluffs, covered with a heavy forest for many miles in extent, por-
tions of it thickly clustered with undergrowth, affording a convenient shelter
for the stealthy approach of the cat-like foe. Through this forest the Sac and
Fox war-party made their way in the night-time, and secreted themselves in
the tall grass spoken of above, intending to remain in ambush through the day.
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348 HISTORY OF VAN BUREN COUNTY.
and make such observations as this near proximity to their intended victims
might afford, to aid them in the contemplated attack on the town during the
following night. From this situation their spies could take a fall survey of the
situation of the village, and watch every movement of the inhabitants, by
which means they were soon convinced the lowas had no suspicion of their
presence.
" At the foot of the mound above noticed, the lowas had their race-course,
where they diverted themselves with the excitements of the horse, and skilled
their young warriors in cavalry evolutions. In these exercises, mock battles are
fought, and the Indian tactics of attack and defense, of victory and defeat, are
carefally inculcated, by which means a skill in horsemanship is acquired which
is rarely excelled. Unfortunately for them, this day waa selected for these
equestrian sports, and, wholly unconscious of the proximity of their foes, the
warrio^3 repaired to the race-ground, leaving the most of their arms in the
village, and their old men and women and children unprotected.
'* Pashapaho, who was chief in command of the enemy's forces, perceived
at once the advantage this state of things afforded for a complete surprise of
his now doomed victims^ and ordered Black Hawk to file off with his young
warriors through the tall grass, and gain the cover of the timber along the
river-bank, and, with the utmost speed reach the village and commence the
battle, while he remained with his division in the ambush, to make a simulta-
neous assault on the unarmed men, whose attention was engrossed with the
excitement of the races. The plan was skillfully laid and most dexterously
prosecuted. Black Hawk, with his forces, reached the village undiscovered and
made a furious onslaught upon its defenseless inhabitants, by firing one general
volley into their midst, and completing the slaughter with the tomahawk and
scalping-knife, aided by the devouring flames with which they engulfed the vil-
lage as soon as the fire-brand could be spread from lodge to lodge.
" On the instant of the report of fire-arms at the village, the forces under
Pashapaho leaped from their couchant position in the grass, and sprang tiger-
like upon the astonished and unarmed lowas in the midst of their racing sports.
The first impulse of the latter naturally led them to make the utmost speed to
reach their arms in the village, and protect, if possible, their wives and children
from the attacks of the merciless assailants.
^^ The distance from the place of the attack on the prairie was two miles,
and a great number fell in the flight by the bullets and tomahawks of their
adversaries, who pressed them closely with a running fire the whole way, and
they only reached their town in time to witness the horrors of its destruction.
Their whole village was in flames, and the dearest objects of their lives lay in
slaughtered heaps amidst the devouring element, and the agonizing groans of
the dying mingled with the exulting shouts of a victorious foe, filled their hearts
with a maddening despair. Their wives and children who had been spared the
general massacre were prisoners, and, together with their arms, were in posses-
sion of the victors, and all that could now be done was to draw off their shat-
tered and defenseless forces and save as many lives as possible by a retreat
across the Des Moines River, which they effected in the best possible manner,
and took a position among the Soap Creek hills.
" The complete success attending a battle does not always imply brave action,
for, as in the present instance, bravery does not belong to a wanton attack on
unarmed men and defenseless women and children. Yet it is due to Pasha-
paho, as a commander of an army, to give him full credit for his quick per-
ception of the advantages circumstances had placed within his reach, and for
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HISTORY OP VAN BUREN COUNTY. 849
liis sagacity in at once changing the programme of attack to meet occurring
-events, and the courage and intrepidity to seize these events and insure his suc-
cess. The want of these essential qualities in a commander has occasioned the
lo^ of many a battle in what is courteously termed civilized warfare.
" The loWas, cut oflF from all hope of retrieving their loss, sent a flag of truce
to Pashapaho, submitting their fate to the will of their conqueror, and a parley
ensued which resulted in the lowas becoming an integral part of the Sac and Fox
nation ; but experiencing the ill-usage that is the common fate of a conquered
people, they besought the United States authorities to purchase their undivided
interest in the country and thus allow them to escape from the tyranny of their
oppressors. The purchase was accordingly made in 1825, and they removed to
the Missouri River, and have so wasted in numbers as to scarcely preserve their
existence as an independent tribe. The sole cause of this war was the insatiable
ambition of the Sao and Fox Indians, as this was their first acquaintance with
the Iowa nation or tribe."
Mr. Biggs differs from other writers concerning some points in Black Hawk's
character. We give the following description from his pen :
" My first and only interview with Black Hawk was at Rock Island, at the
time of the treaty for the Iowa Reserve, in 1836, about one year before his
death. I was introduced to him by his intimate acquaintance and apologist,
the late Jeremiah Smith, of Burlington. He asked where I resided, and being
told on the Wabash River, in Indiana, he traced on the sand the principal
Western rivers, showing their courses and connections, and exhibiting a general
knowledge of the prominent features of the topography of the Western States.
" The interview occurred after his first visit to Washington, where he was
taken by way of the Ohio River to Pittsburgh, and returned by Philadelphia,
Baltimore, Albany, Buffalo and Detroit, affording him a good opportunity to form
a salutary impression of the military resources of the United States, and also
to acquire a general knowledge of its geography. Its great military strength
seemed to arouse his keenest observation, and furnished the main topic of his
remarks upon the country as he passed through, as well as on his return to his
tribe. The colloquy at this interview afforded an occasion to express his bitter
reflections upon this painful theme. Mr. Smith, unfortunately for the repose
of Black Hawk's feelings, and unconscious of its effect, mentioned the writer
of this sketch as a surveyor of public lands, a character always unwelcome
among the Indians. This remark I much regretted, as Black Hawk's counte-
nance was instantly covered with gloom, and he rather petulantly said : * The
Shomokoman was strong, and would force the Indians to give up all their lands.'
" The colloquy here ended, as this barbed arrow, inadvertently thrown by
Mr. Smith, had occasioned a tumult in Black Hawk's mind that rendered fur-
ther conversation on his part disagreeable. The impressions of the writer in
regard to Black Hawk's personal appearance were those of disappointment. He
was attired in a coarse cloth coat, without any semblance of fit or proportion,
with his feet thrust into a pair of new stoga shoes that were without strings,
and a coarse wool hat awkwardly placed on his nearly bald pate, and present-
ing a very uncouth and rather ludicrous personal bearing.
" This toggery, perhaps, had its share in lowering my previously-estimated
claims of Black Hawk to distinction among the celebrated men of his race.
*The fine head, Roman style of face, and prepossessing countenance,' that so
fevorably impressed the distinguished author of the ' Sketch Book,' on visiting
him while a prisoner in Jefferson Barracks, were no longer apparent to my dull
eomprehension.
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350 HISTORY OF VAN BUREN COUNTY.
'' It would, indeed, be diflBcult to find a name in history that attained so
great a notoriety, associated with such limited mental endowment and true mili-
tary skill. Every prominent act of his life gare evidence of the lack of sound
discretion and prudent forethought. We find him as early as 1804 visiting
the Spanish' Governor at St. Louis, at the time the United States' ^ents call^
to accept the transfer of the authority of the country. Black Hawk being
informed of the purpose of their visit, refused to meet these agents of the new
government, he passing out of one door as they entered at the other, and
embarking with his suite in their canoes and hastening away to Rock Island,
saying he liked his Spanish father best. This was a mere whim, as he
had, as yet, no acquaintance with the Government and people of the United
States. He, however, at once determined on hostility to both ; and this ill-ad-
vised and hasty determination was his ruling passion while he lived.
" Lieutenant Pike, on behalf of the Goveiaiment, made him a friendly visit to
Rock Island, the following year, and, as a token of friendship, presented Black
Hawk with an American flag, which he refused to accept. He embraced the
first opportunity that offered to form an alliance with the British authorities in
Canada, and eagerly attached himself and 500 warriors of his tribe to die
British standard, at the commencement of the war of 1812. Here, his lack of
capacity to command an army, where true courage and enduring fortitude were
requisite to success, was fully demonstrated. His warlike talents had hitherto
been only tested in stealthy and sudden onslaughts on unprepared and defense-
less foes : and, if successful, a few scalps were the laurels he coveted, and he
retired, exulting in the plunder of a village and these savage trophies. His
campaigns against the Osages and other neighboring tribes, ladted only long
enough to make one effort, and afforded no evidence of the fortitude and patient
skill of the able military leader. His conduct under the British flag as * Gen-
eral Black Hawk * showed him entirely wanting in the capacity to deserve that
title. He followed the English army to Fort Stephenson, in expectation of an
easy slaughter and pillage ; but the signal repulse the combined forces still met
by the gallant Col. Croghan, completely disheartened him, and he slipped away
with about twenty of his followers to his village on Rock River, leaving his
army to take care of themselves.
'^ He entertained no just conception of the obligations of treaties made
between our Government and his tribe, and even the separate treaty by himself
and his ' British Band,' in 1816, was no check on his caprice and stolid self-
will, and its open violation brought on the war of 1832, which resulted in his
complete overthrow, and ended forever his career as a warrior.
" The history of his tour through the United States as a prisoner, is a severe
reflection upon the intelligence of the people of our Eastern cities, in r^ard
to the respect due to a savage leader who had spent a long life in butchering
his own race, and the frontier inhabitants of their own race and country. His
journey was, everywhere throughout the East, an ovation, falling but little short
of the respect and high consideration shown to the nation's great bene&ctor,
La Fayette, whose triumphal tour through the United States happened near the
same period. But as an offset to this ridiculous adulation in the East, when the
escort reached Detroit, where his proper estimate was understood, Black Hawk
and his suite were contemptuously burned in eflSgy. But due allowance shonld
be made for the ignorance concerning true Indian character, among the Eastern
people, as their* conceptions are formed from the fanciful creations of tiie
Coopers and Longfellows, immensely above the sphere of the blood-thirsty War
Eagles and the filthy, paint-bedaubed Hiawathas of real savage life.
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HISTORY OF VAN BUREN COUNTY. 351
" Black Hawk died in the fall of 1838, near lowaville, the scene of his
-triumph, under Pashapaho, over the lowas in the early part of his warlike
oareer. He was buried in a sitting posture, in a frail tomb made of wooden
slabs set upon the ground in the form of an inverted Y. His war-club, a
shaved post four or five feet high, was placed in the front of his rude tomb, upon
iirhich a great number of black stripes was painted, corresponding with the
xramber of scalps he had taken during life. Openings were left in his tomb so
that his friends and curious visitors CDuld witness the progress of decay. Some-
tune after the removal of his friends higher up the river, and after the flesh had
^ast^ away, a Dr. Turner, of Van Buren County, removed his skeleton to
Alton, HI., and had the bones handsomely polished and varnished, preparatory
to connecting them by wires in the skeleton form. When Black Hawk's wife
heard of the exhumation, she afiected great and incontrollable grief, and poured
out the burden of her sorrows to Robert Lucas, Governor of the Territory, and
ex officio Superintendent of Indian Affairs, who promptly recovered the bones
and placed them in a box in his office at Burlington, and dispatched a message
to the bereaved family, then staying on the Des Moines, some ninety miles dis-
tant. A cavalcade was soon in motion, bearing the disconsolate widow and a
retinue of her friends to Burlington. On the evening of their arrival, the Gov-
ernor was notified of their readiness to wait upon him, who fixed the audience
for 10 A. M. the next day. Several visitors were in attendance. The box
containing the august remains opened with a lid, and when the parties were all
assembled and ready for the awful development, the lid was lifted by the Gov-
ernor, fully exposing the sacred relics of the renowned chief to the gaze of his
sorrowing friends and the very respectable auditors who had assembled to wit-
ness the impressive scene.
" The Governor then addressed the widow, through John Goodell, the inter-
preter of the Hardfish band, giving all the details of the transfer of the bones
from the grave to Quincy and back to Burlington, and assured her that they
w^e the veritable bones of her deceased husband ; that he had sympathized
deeply with her in her great affliction, and that he now hoped she would be
consoled and comforted by the return of the precious relics to her care, under
* a strong confidence that they would not again be disturbed where she might
choose to entomb them. The widow then advanced to the lid of the box, and,
without the least seeming emotion, picked up in her fingers bone after bone,
Mdd examined each with the seeming curiosity of a child, and, replacing each
bone in its proper place, turned to the interpreter, and replied that she fully
believed they were Black Hawk's bones, and that she knew the Governor was
a good old man, or he would not have taken the great pains he had manifested to
oblige her, and, in consideration of his great benevolence and disinterested
friendship, she would leave the bones under his care and protection. The con-
ference then closed, and the distinguished visitors took leave of the Governor
and the assembled auditors. This scene was detailed by the Governor to the
present writer while standing at the side of the famous box soon after its
occurrence.
" On the accession of Gen. Harrison to the Presidency, Gov. Lucas was
removed from the gubernatorial office of the Territory, and removed his private
office into the same room with Dr. Enos Lowe, now of Omaha City, Nebraska.
An historical society was organized in Burlington about this time, and an effort
was made to get these relics into their cabinet and under the control of their
society. This arrangement was never formally effected ; but, in the course of
events, they happened to be in the same building with the society's collection.
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352 HISTORY OF VAN BUREN COUNTY.
and the whole were consumed in the burning of the building, which occurred
later."
On page 74 of this volume is given the generally accepted version of the
causes which led to the Black Hawk war of 1832 ; but that story is vague and
unsatisfactory. On page 157 another, and in the main a correct, account is
given. From Mr. Jordan we learn facts of more than local interest in this dis-
puted case, and give them here.
Somewhere about 1828-29, a man named Watts, while driving cattle through
this region, about where lowaville now is, was beset by Indians. Watts had
with him a man whose name is not remembered now. This man was killed by
a savage. The murder was committed on Indian territory, and a demand was
made on Black Hawk for the criminal. He was delivered up to the United
States authorities and taken to St. Louis, where he was tried and condemned.
Some of the tribe went to St. Louis to intercede for their companion, but did
not accomplish their purpose. The Indian was hanged. However, while the
Indians were in St. Louis they fell victims of sharpers, who obtained a professed
title to Black Hawk's village, on the Rock River, by presents of less value than
the Government price of the land. When the embassy returned with their ill-
gotten trinkets. Black Hawk was wroth, and denounced the fitkud. Subse-
quently, probably the next spring, on the opening of the season of 1830, the
men who had obtained such title to the land came on, and drove the Indian women
and children from the village, during the temporary absence of the braves.
Black Hawk made issue with the frauaulent possessors of his home, and offered
to stake thirty of his braves against thirty white soldiers to test the question of
title by a fight. This offer was declined by the militair^ but tne whites
said they would pit the United States army against the Indians of his tribe.
Black Hawk took up the gauntlet, and hence the famous, but disastrous, Black
Hawk war.
This version, it will be seen, substantially corroborates the story obtained by
research in Illinois.
Of the Black Hawk war it is not within the province of this sketch to speak ;
it belongs to the history of Illinois, and has been repeatedly written up. After
the defeat of Black Hawk, in 1832, he was captured and taken to Prairie du
Ohien. After an imprisonment in Jefferson Barracks, and, subsequently, in
Fortress Monroe, whither he was taken, he was returned at the intercession of
Keokuk to this region. In his old age. Black Hawk sought the company of
the garrison, his band was broken up, and the once great man was left sdone in
his declining years. Maj. Beach relates the following incident derived from
personal observation :
''Black Hawk's lodge was always the perfection of cleanliness, a quite unu-
sual thing for an Indian. The writer has seen the old woman busily at work
with her broom, by time of sunrise, sweeping down the little ant-hills in the
yard that had been thrown up during the night. As the chiefs of the nation
seemed to pay him but little attention in the waning years of his life, Gen.
Street, the Agent, looked out for his comfort more carefully than otherwise he
would have thought it needful to do, and, among other things, gave him a cow
— an appendage to an Indian's domestic establishment hitherto unheard of.
The old squaw and daughter were instructed in the art of milking her, and she
was held among them in almost as great reverence as the sacred ox Apis was
held among the ancient Egyptians.
" This was in the summer of 1838, when the Agency was in process of
erection, and Black Hawk had established his lodge on the banks of the Des
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HISTORY OF VAN BUREN COUNTY. ^ 363
Moines, about three miles below Eldon. Close by was the trading-house of
Wharton McPherson, with whom the writer stayed one night in August of said
year (1838), and, as he rode past the lodge, Mme. Black Hawk was compla-
cently sitting upon a loe by the side of her cow, under a heavily-branched tree,
industriously brushing the flies and mosquitoes from the bovine with a rag tied
to the end of a stick. Mr. McPherson said this was her daily occupation in
fly-time, often following the animal around as it grazed at a distance. This
was the last occasion that ever the writer had for an interview with Black Hawk,
as he died within two months of that time (September 15, 1838), and was even
then so infirm that he could barely move about his wigwam."
Still another mooted question is that concerning the death, burial and resur-
rection of Black Hawk, for the old brave was not permitted to rest in his tomb
after his fitful life-fever was over. The best authority on this subject is Mr. Jor-
dan. From him the^ following statement was obtained :
On the 1st day of September, 1838, Mu-ca-tah-mich-a-ka-kah sickened with
fever. The old brave requested Mr, Jordan to send to Fort Edward (now
Warsaw) for Dr. Peel. A letter was duly dispatched, in which the doctor was
promised the sum of $300 if he would attend the summons. The message was
slow in going, and before a response could be made the soul of the brave old
Indian had passed to the happy hunting-ground.
Black Hawk died September 15, 1838, in the sixty- third year of his life. Be-
fore he died, he requested Mr. Jordan to observe certain ceremonies in his burial.
His body was to be clothed in full uniform, a suit of military clothes presented him
by Oen. Jackson, upon which was a pair of epaulets valued at $500. Three med-
als, which had been given him by the British, the French and the American
G-ovemments, respectively, and valued in the aggregate at $1,200, were to be
placed upon his breast. He was to be buried in a sitting posture, and a mound
of earth erected above him in such a manner as to leave an unobstructed view
of the interior, through orifices left for the purpose. The locality was designa-
ted by Black Hawk himself, as the site of his last friendly council with the
Iowa Indians. This point was upon Mr. Jordan's farm, on Section 2, Town-
ship 70 north. Range 12 west.
The injunction was faithfully carried out. The body was dressed as the
brave had directed, and blankets and gloves were added. Sometime later,
Mrs. Black Hawk came to Mr. Jordan with the alarming story that her hus-
band's head had been stolen. Upon investigating the sepulcher it was found
that the head had dropped over from its own weight. Mr. Jordan replaced
the member and repaired the tomb.
The alarm thus given was not entirely groundless, however, for on the 3d
of July, 1839, Dr. Turner stole the head and made off with it. In February,
1840, the act of desecration was completed, when the entire body was removed.
It was taken to Alton, HI., and there the bones were cleaned and wired by a
professional anatomist. Mrs. Black Hawk and her sons made a disturbance
over the afi^air, and the matter was taken up by Gov. Lucas. The widow
painted her face with black, in spots, and passed two days without food, in
mourning, walking up and down the river-bank. When at last the bones were
discovered, the family was notified and visited Burlington. They saw that
the skeleton "was in a good, dry place," and concluded to let it remain there.
Maj. Beach said that he notified the widow of the willingness of the authori-
ties to surrender the bones, but that she seemed indifierent to the matter. At
til events, nothing was done by the family to secure a re-interment of the
remains. Subsequently, the State building in which the remains were placed,
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354 HISTORY OF VAN BUREN COUNTY.
at Burlington, was consumed by fire. One report says that the skeleton was
destroyed therein ; but another story is that some physician had borrowed the
bones to exhibit them before a class in anatomy,- and that they were not in the
building when it burned. The latter report is wholly improbable; for if it was
true some one would know of the fact, and publicly acknowledge the existence
of the skeleton. It is also said that the skull is in the Smithsonian Institution,
at Washington ; but that is more unreasonable than any of the wild inventions.
The truth is, probably, that Black Hawk found a final earthly resting-place
amid the ashes of the ruined structure, and that the last act of his eventful
career was not less dramatic than the first public appearance of the brave.
Literally and truthfully may we say, dust to dust, ashes to ashes ; and may
they rest in peace.
Black Hawk's wife and sons are dead. A daughter is living with the Sac
and Fox nation, near Fort Sill. An incident or two will not be out of place
here: It is asserted that, during the troubles of 1812, the British Government
offered Black Hawk a medal and $5,000 worth of blankets to fight for them.
He accepted the oflTer, for he never liked the United States Government over-
well, and signified his readiness to move his men. He then found that the
British commander insisted upon his giving up his authority over his own brav»
and intrusting it to an English oflScer. This arrangement he scorned, and giv-
ing the order of stampede to his men, they dashed away like shot from a can-
non's mouth. This scene is located at Maiden, near Detroit.
Black Hawk used to boast that he never killed a prisoner. He had capt-
ured many, but had treated them magnanimously. This, we infer, relates to
white prisoners.
ADVENT OF THE WHITE MAN.
Having traced the existence of the two preliminary races — ^the Mound-
Builders and the Indians — ^which dwelt within the region of the Des Moines,
we introduce, in regular order, the pale-faced intruder on the domain of the
savage. The first settlement in Southern Iowa was made in the vicinity of
Burlington, and through that gate entered the vast army that has worked such
wonders in the way of improvement. A brief description of who began the
labor of developing Iowa, and how it was performed, is necessary to perfect the
thread of this narrative of feet. From the pen of Dr. William R. Ross is
gathered the following interesting record :
" It may not be uninteresting," observes the Doctor, " to give some of the
names of those who first explored Southern Iowa, in 1832, prior to making
a permanent settlement in 1833. First, among others, were Maj. Joseph B. Teas
and Joseph Morgan, afterward citizens of Albia; Col. William Morgan, William
Stewart, John Ward, Isaac Canterberg, Lewis Watters, Isaac Cranshaw, Ben-
jamm Tucker, Ezekiel Smith and sons Paris and Lineas, John Bullard,
Richard Sand, Thomas Dovrell, David Tethro, S. S. White, M. M. McCarver,
Berryman Jenkins, William Wright, John Harris and Charles Teas, with others
that were in Iowa when I came in July, 1833. Mrs. Sarah Hilleary, wife of
Alexander Hilleary, near Burlington, came with her father. Col. William Mor-
gan, in February, 1832, to do the domestic work, while her fether was improv-
ing his claim and building a house preparatory to moving his fimiily, and was
one of the families driven on the big island just below Burlington, by soldiers
from Rock Island, as the Indian title had not been extinguished.
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HISTORY OF VAN BUREN COUNTY. 856
" The title remained in the Indians until June, 1833. At this time, Rich-
ard Chaney resided at Fort Madison, and Dr. Garland and Mr. Campbell, and,
perhaps, a few others on the half-breed tract. After June 1, 1833, the country
was settled very rapidly ; as every one then had the liberty of taking to them-
selves a claim of half a section of land, one-quarter of timber and one of prairie,
and the right to purchase as many claims as he had the money for. This rule
occasioned much disturbance by new immigrants coming into the country and
finding one man holding more than one claim. It drove them back into the
new region against their will. In the winter of 1883-34, we were attached to
Michigan Territory for judicial purposes, and the laws, with instructions, were
sent nae by the Legislature of Michigan to organize Des Moines County, by
appointing special elections to be held to elect officers to discharge the duties of
an organized county. Col. William Morgan was elected Superior Judge, and
Henry Walker and Young L. Hughes, Assistants, of Circuit Court, which was
the highest court we had in Iowa at that time. Col. W. H. Chapman was
Prosecuting Attorney; W. R. Ross, Clerk; Solomon Perkins, SheriflF; John
Barker, Justice of the Peace ; W. R. Ross, Treasurer and Recorder, and, at
the time, acting Postmaster in the only post oflBce' in the Territory. He was
the only practicing physician in that part of the Territoir, meanwhile carrying
on a dry goods and drug store. In addition to this, Mr. Ross inclosed, in 1834,
160 acres of prairie land with a stake- and- rider fence, grew eighty acres of
com, on another claim, and improved still another forty acres back of Burling-
ton. He also improved some twenty acres, and erected buildings for a private
residence.
'^ There was a settlement from near the mouth of Long Creek, northeast of
Augusta, made by six or seven families from Indiana, in July, 1833, eight miles
west of Burlington.
" In regard to public improvements, in the fall of 1833, Mr. Ross built the
first schoolhouse, on his claim just back of the public square, at his own expense,
and, in the spring of 1834, Z. C. Ingraham was employed to teach. Mr. Ross
boarded him free of cost. This was the first English school taught in Iowa.
In 1834, Mr. Ross organized the first Sunday school in Iowa, furnishing a
library from Cincinnati, at a cost of $12.50, and taught the school himself. As
the population increased, a new library was needed ; the old one was donated to
Mt. Pleasant, where a school had been organized, and a new lot of books, cost-
ing §25, was put in. Of those denominations who joined in the work of main-
taining the school, Mr. Ross remembers: Mr. and Mrs. J. Edwards, W. H.
Starr (then a lawyer, of the Congregational faith) ; George Partridge (who
became a wholesale merchant of St. Louis), of the Unitarian faith ; David
Rover, of the Presbyterian faith ; John B. Gray, of the Baptist faith. Mr.
Newhall and Dr. John Campbell are warmly spoken of in this connection,
also.
" The day school was taught by Mrs. Shelton and Mrs. Mayfield; and after
the old Zion M. E. Church was built. Rev. £. M. Scott, the tallest man in the
neighborhood, lived in the basement of the church and taught school therein.
Afterward a man named Townsend taught.
"Dr. Crawford, from Brooke County, Va., settled in Burlington in 1833;
he practiced during the winter, and then moved to Texas. In the* spring of
1834, Drs. Shuff", of Kentucky, and Center of Indiana, located in Burlington,
and formed a partnership. Center died within the year, and Shuff returned to
Kentucky. Dr. Teas practiced in 1835. Dr. D. W. Hickock, of New York,
located there in 1835, and remained until his death. Dr. S. S. Ransom, of
Digitized by feOOgle
366 HISTORY OF VAN BUREN COUNTY.
Yermont, settled there about the same date. Dr. E. Lowe, of , Indian, came in
1836 ; he afterrvard removed to Omaha.
*' The first court ever held in Southern Iowa, convened at the house of Mr.
Ross, on the block immediately east of the public square, in the spring of
1835. Judges presiding: William Morgan, Henry Walker and Young R.
Hughes. Resident lawyers: W. W. Chapman, Robert Williams, Isaac L^er,
Joseph B. Teas. Visiting lawyers: Mr. Little, of Carthage, 111., and James
W. Woods, usually called ''Old Timber.'* Mr. Ross owned the only law
library then in Burlington, and that was a small one. In the spring of 1836,
David Rover began the practice of law; in 1836-37, M. D. Browning and J.
W. Grimes, also. In 1836-37, Joseph B. Teas and Jeremiah Smith, Jr., rep-
resented Des Moines at the Legislature which organized the Territory of Iowa.
In the spring of 1838, Charles Mason moved to Burlington and began the
Sractice of law. There was an exodus of lawyers from that place about then.
. C. Hall, William Thompson, J. B. and G. W. Teas and Van Allen located
at Mt. Pleasant; Thomas and Springer, at Wapello, Louisa County; Daniel
Miller and Rich, at Ft. Madison.
*'In 1837-38, the TeiYitory was established, and Burlington made the
capital. The first session was held in the old Zion Church.
"In March, 1834, Barton H. Cartright preached in Burlington. Asa
McMurtry preached for two weeks, shortly after. W. D. R. Trotter followed.
In May, 1834, Peter Cartright held two days* camp-meeting near the public
square. In the winter of 1834-35, Seamen B. Stateter, of the Missouri Con-
ference, formed the Burlington Circuit, and appointed John H. Ruble preacher
in charge. This Circuit included all the territoir south of Rock Island to the
southern boundary, and west to the Missouri River. In 1835-36, Andrew
Monroe held quarterly meeting. In May, Mr. Ruble died, and Peter Brown,
of Quincy, 111., preached his funeral sermon. Wilson Pitner supplied the
place for a short time. Nicholas S. Barton next preached, and in 1837, Moses
McMurtry had charge. In 1839, Asa West followed, and, in 1840, J. Ar-
vington, as preachers on the Circuit. Isaac S. Stewart was located preacher in
charge of the Burlington Church.*'
In 1838, Gen. Joseph Street was transferred from the Agency of the Win-
nebagoes at Praire du Chien, Wis., to Iowa, for the purpose of establishing a
military outpost for the protection of the general interests of the Government.
He made a barrack at Agency City, in Wapello County, and may be esteemed
the first white man to open the onward march of the pale-faces toward Monroe
County.
In a dense wilderness he built up for himself a home of as comfortable a
character ns the times and circumstances would permit. He improved a farm
and availed himself of such opportunities as lay within his reach. Joseph
Smart, the interpreter, and a man named Baker, who was a blacksmith by
trade, were the only white persons, beside the garrison, in the settlement. A
trading-post was soon established by Messrs. Ewings & Phelps, near the
Agency.
In 1841, J. P. Eddy, from St. Louis, opened a trading-post where Eddy-
ville now stands, near the northeast corner of Monroe County. He at once
secured tlie friendship of the Indians.
Wabekeshiek, the prophet of the Sacs and Foxes, built his village on the
right bank of the Des Moines, a mile above Eddy's post. The Indians grew
corrupt after the passage by Congress of the bill granting annuities, growing
out of the Black Hawk treaty of peace. They would not hunt or fish, and
Digitized by VjOOQIC
HISTORY OF VAN BUREN CODNTY. 857
subsisted on their grants from the Great Father. The Indians became so
demoralized by the freedom from labor thus secured that the mortality of the
tribe was greatly increased. The prophet told them that the cause of all their
woes arose from the relinquishment of their lands to the Government. There
is something sad in the spectacle of a once powerful race of men thus driven
to the extremity of extinction. In 1845, the Indians were removed entirely
firom the State, to reservations in Kansas.
John Goodell, the interpreter of Hardfish's band, was the next to move
to-ward Monroe County. He improved a farm not far from the line "between
Wapello and Monroe, known as the Ogden place, located some four miles below
Eddy's post.
"In 1843," says Dr. Ross, "I visited the country as far up as where
Eddyville now stands, at that time an Indian village called Hardfisher. J. P.
Eddy was located there as a trader with the Indians. I found a few old
firiends, who had made claims on both sides of the river ; among them, John B.
Gray, who had located about three miles west, on Gray's Creek, in Kishkekosh
^'"^V- rpHB PIONEERS OF VAN BUREN COUNTY.
The first appearance of white men in Van Buren County occurred long
before local boundaries or a name marked the geographical existence of the
county. As is shown by the preceding chapters relative to the trading-posts
on the Des Moines, and as will be, further on, confirmed by extracts from
Jndge Wright's address before the Pioneer Association of Van Buren County,
the first white men came into this region in 1832. There were Capt. William
Phelps, Peter Avery, and possibly one or two others (but that point is not
clear, and the names of those men alone are positively correct) in the trading
movement. It is believed that they arrived at their destination in November,
1832. Avery spent the winter of 1832-33, opposite the site of Kilbourne, at
the mouth of Lick Creek.
The first settlements for purposes of actual improvement were made near
the site of Farmington. The first man, it is claimed, to locate in the county,
however, was Abel Cralland, who made a claim near the site of Farmington,
some time in 1833 ; but the date is not definitely given.
We here give, in the way of general credit, the authorities upon which these
and subsequent statements are made ; for the purpose of this work is to weave
into consecutive order all information relative to the early life of this county.
First, we shall hereafter quote freely, and in many places literally, from Judge
George G. Wright's address, delivered August 28, 1872, before the Pioneer
Association, at Keosauqua; from the speech of A. H. McCrary; from the
speech of Edwin Manning ; from the speech of Charles Baldwin, and from
other sources, obtained from Mr. Ed. Goddard, Secretary of the Pioneer Asso-
ciation. Where such quotations are made, we shall omit special credit or quota-
tion marks ; for this is not claimed as an original composition, but merely as a
compilation of reliable data. With this explanation, let us proceed :
Abel Galland and William Jordon, in the spring of 1833, settled at Farm-
ington ; and William Avery (brother of Peter) and James Jordon, the same
spring, established a small trading-post at the mouth of the stream before
named (Lick Creek) ; and James Lamb (who afterward, it will be remembered,
was among the first of those who made the overland trip to Oregon), in 1835,
settled jufit above where Kilbourne now is. The same year, or, at least, about
this time, James Alfrey came to Farmington, and found there and and in that
vicinity, in addition to those above named, John Fretwell, Jonaa F. Denny,
Digitized by VjOOQTIc
858 HISTORY OF VAN BUREN COUNTY.
Zeke McCarty, John Maxwell and Samuel Maxwell. Soon thereafter, wo find
the Swazeys, Houghtons, Crows, Henry Bateman, John Newport, H. G. Stuart,
Tilford Reed, William Brattain, and above there, on the river, Dr. R. N. Crenp
and Samuel C. Reed.
THE FIRST BIRTH.
There are, naturally, several claimants to the distinction of being the first-
born in Van Buren County. February 14, 1836, John M. Whitaker located
in Union Township. His son, Samuel V., was bom May 9, 1837. By some,
this is regarded as the first birth ; but it is manifestly not so, sinc« Jacob
Alfrey was born, near Farmington, January 17, 1834. Charles Johnson, son
of Abington Johnson, was born February, 1836. Humphrey Brittain, son of
William Brattain, Sr., was born June 8, 1836. Mrs. Lorenzo Dow Borden,
daughter of John Newort, waa bom, near Farmington, July 31, 1835. From
these dates of the several claimants, there is no altemative but to place Jacob
Aifrey as the first boy and Mrs. Borden as the first girl born in the county.
If this conclusion is wrong, then the source from which the information is
obtained is alone responsible. The only person who has seriously disputed this
statement is Mr. A. W. Harlan, who gives a son of Jonas F. Denny the preced-
ence; but does not furnish the necessary date. This Denny was quite a
character. He went to Califomia, at an early day, and there became the sub-
ject of a novel. Mark Twain also wrote of hin^ in " Innocents Abroad," as
Denny was of that famous party.
THE FIRST DEATH.
The first death in the county occurred near Farmington, but the exact date
is not obtainable. It was, probably, as early as 1833. A man named
Williams, a stranger, whose Christian name is unknown, was traveling through
on horseback. He was prostrated with fever and died. He was buried in a
rough puncheon box.
THE FIRST MARRIAGE.
The first marriage license recorded, and the first that was celebrated in the
county, so far as any reliable data shows, was that of Norris Steier and Lethe
M. Reed; married June, 15, 1837, by Samuel C. Reed, Justice of the Peace.
ANECDOTES OF THE TRADINO-POSTS.
As incidental to the settlement of the region, we quote from Maj. Beach's
history of the Agency such portions as refer to well-known settlers in Van Bu-
ren and the Indian territory immediately adjacent thereto :
" On the Des Moines, a mile or so below the County Farm, where the bins'
approaches nearest to the bank, was the trading-post of P. Chouteau, Sr., k
Co., but later more familiarly known as the 'Old Garrison.* This was usually
superintended by Capt. William Phelps. And just above the mouth of Sugiur
Creek, on the creek-bank, at the old road crossing, lived the miller, Jeremiah
Smith, Jr., with hjs family. This embraced all the whites lawfully living in the
country at the time.
" Through some unfortunate misunderstanding in regard to the boundary
line, several persons had intruded upon the Indian land upon the lowaville
bottom, and the ridges in the rear, as well as upon the south side of the river,
and as the Indians made complaint to the Government, it had no altemative
but to remove them. This duty fell upon the writer to execute, and was a very
unwelcome one, if only for the reason that several of the intruders were per-
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HISTORY OP VAN BUREN COUNTY. 369
sons who would not willingly have violated any law. Among them was that
fine old specimen of West Virginia hospitality, Van Caldwell ; but by reason of
his location, and his readiness by any reasonable arrangement to escape the
terrors of fire and sword, the writer obtained permission from the Department
that he should remain, upon the condition of his maintaining a ferry for access
to Soap Creek Mills during high water.
" For some years previously to the writer's appointment as Agent, Messrs.
P. Chouteau Jr. & Co., of St. Louis, had been the only traders among the Sacs
and Foxes, and the magnitude of their interests was enough to excite any
rivalry. Col. George Davenport, of Rock Island, had been admitted as partner
to their trade with that particular tribe, and he was looked to to reside among
them and to carry it on. S. S. Phelps, Esq., of Oquawka, in connection with
his brother, Capt. William Phelps, of jovial memory, had been gaining a foot-
hold on trade for two, three, or perhaps, four years before the treaties of 1836
and 1837, and, after the removal of the Agency from the island, and its conse-
quent effect of rendering a change in the location of the chief trading-post
inevitable, Col. Davenport, who had already acquired a comfortable fortune,
concluded to withdraw. Mr. S. S. Phelps fell into the position thus made
vacant in the company, although he relied upon his brother to reside in the In-
dian country and maintain personal oversight of the company's affairs. A new
trader now appeared in the field, with at least means enough to prevent the old
company from being its monopolists. Of course, rivalry of feeling and interest
would now spring up, and every occasion be employed by each rival to gain and
secure what advantage he could. The writer is not intimating any idea of his
jown that any unfair or dishonorable appliances would be used by the gentlemen
beads respectively of the rival establishments ; but their employes, or others
hoping advantage to themselves in the success of either party, might be less
scrupulous.
"It was probably through some such strategy that Gov. Lucas became im-
pressed with the most sincere conviction that the Chouteau Company supplied
whisky, with their other merchandise, to the Indians, and a conviction once
fixed with the Governor was pretty apt to stay. So persuaded was he of the
truth of his belief, that he was never disposed to the least reticence upon the
subject; and it was generally believed in Burlington that if the Trading Com-
pany could be caught, flagrante delicto^ it would prove a pretty good haul for
the catcher — certainly not less than the transfer to his own pocket of the half
value of a large stock of goods.
" As the writer soon saw that any effort of his own, however reasonable, to
lead the Governor to a different opinion was opening the way to suspicions
against himself of some personal interest in the company's affairs, prudence
naturally admonished him to desist. One morning, Mr. S. S. Phelps, to whom
the Governor's belief — and propensity to express it — was no secret, being in
Burlington, stepped into a place where the Governorhappened at the moment
to be engaged in his favorite pastime of denouncingMr. Chouteau's establish-
ment, etc., and the Governor, totally unacquainted with Mr. Phelps, still kept
up in his presence his conversation on the subject.
" Now, if there was anything Capt. Billy Phelps loved better than another,
it was to play off a trick; or if anything he knew better than another, it was
how to plan and play it. The company had on its license a man named Simp-
son Vassar, who was better known at the Agency and its various dependencies
under the sobriquet of * Suggs.* When any deviltry lurked in Capt. Billy's
mind, ' Capt. Suggs ' was his most reliable assistant in getting rid of it So a
Digitized by VjOOQIC
860 HISTORY OF VAN BUREN COUNTY. '
scheme was planned. Suggs was sent over on pretext of some message to
Phelps, at Oquawka, with instructions not to leave Burlington until he had exe-
cuted his part of the programme.
" A person, who was either the City Marshal or attached to his official reti-
nue, soon heard of Suggs in Burlington, and became so ambitious of his
acquaintance as to introduce himself without delay. He learned from Suggs
that the latter lived out in the Agency neighborhood ; that he knew the Trading
Company, in fact, sometimes worked for them when an extra force was needed
—clever people ; good paymasters, with the cash always in hand ; knew noth-
ing of their dealing in whisky ; had never seen them supply it to the Indians ;
and, even if he had, as he had heard they were accused of it, a dollar, when
needed, was not so easily made out there that a man could afford to make ene-
mies out of good-paying employers ! After several interviews, Suggs embarked
upon the ferrv-boat. But his newly-made friend was not long in joining him,
and during the crossing Suggs yielded to the potent arguments and promises
that had already shaken his sense of personal honor and interest. He admit-
ted that he had seen a large lot of kegs, and these not empty, landed by night
at the trading-house from a boat, not long before, and immediately buri^ upon
the bank, where most of them were; and if he could be guaranteed against
suspicion as the informer, and terms arranged to suit — as he expected to
remain about the place some time after his return — he would put his friend
upon the righc track. The boat having landed them, and all details being ad-
justed^ each party went on his way rejoicing — Suggs* way being to Oquawka,
and at once back to the trading-house to report to Capt. Phelps.
*' Not many days later, an hour or so before dinner time. Col. Jesse Will-
iams— ^later of Henn, Williams & Co., of Fairfield, but then Private Secretary
to Gov, Lucas — rode up to the Agency. Being doubtless himself disposed (as
indeed the Agency hospitality would suggest) to consider that an expedition
which would demand a three-mile ride and several hours of time, could be more
satisfactorily completed as a post-prandial duty, he made no mention of his
business. But as soon as the meal was over, he handed to the Agent a pack-
age from the Governor, containing a deposition in full form, taken before Judge
Mason, of the Territorial Supreme Court, by Suggs* Burlington firiend, to the
eflFect that so many kegs of whisky, etc., etc., and were then secreted, etc.,
etc., in violation of the statute, etc., by the said P. Chouteau Jr.*s Company,
traders, etc., as aforesaid. And there was also a line to the Agent, that, in the
execution of so delicate a duty, which must involve judicial process, he had
deemed it best to send out Col. Williams to assist the Agent. Whatever the
motive may have been, it is certain that until both were in their saddles, Col.
Williams proved himself able to watch the Agent with untiring eye.
*' Reaching the trading-house, the person who took the deposition and a
companion were found there waiting, they having ' forked off * by another trail
so as not to be seen. Suggs was on hand, having taken the opportunity to post
the Burlingtonians about the locality. And also Capt. Billy Phelps, (^ed by
the Indians Che-che-pe-qua, or the ' Winking Eyes,* was there, those visuals
fairly gleaming with joy over the anticipated fun.
" The Agent proceeded at once to business, expressing to Capt. Phelps his
regret that so unpleasant a duty should have devolved upon him ; his hope that
it would prove that so serious a complaint had originated in some error, but sug-
gesting that, if true, admission of the fact and production of the contraband
article would be more apt to temper subsequent proceedings with leniency than
efforts to conceal it would do. The Captain vehemently denied the impeach-
Digitized by VjOOQIC
HISTORY OF VAN BUREN COUNTY. 361
ment, stating that it would require a much wiser man than himself to discover
where such an article then was, or ever had been kept upon their premises. The
complainant was now appealed to, who led the party a short distance to a spot
where, with a triumphant air, he pointed to an X that the edge of Suggs* boot-
sole had made in the sandy bank.
'* They began digging, and soon reached some matting that was removed,
and thus uncovered a lot of lard kegs, too greasy to suggest a thought of any
other article being contained within them. The immediate ' sold, by thunder ! *
of one of the moiety gentlemen, and in accents too lugubrious to be listened to with-
out exciting a sense of sadness. Suggs, meanwhile, had come up missing, and
the * Winking Eyes ' walked off with a most disdainful air, leaving the Agent and
his party on the spot, whence they soon returned to the Agency, where the
Agent made his report that the informer had pointed out a place, where, by
digging, a large quantity of lard in kegs was found that had been buried to
avoid loss by heat, and in the night to conceal the fact from vagabond whites
and Indians. The disappointed informer and his companion hastened home-
ward ; but Col. Williams remained until next morning, and then returned, bear-
ing the Agent's report.
'^ But the unkindest cut of all was six months later, when, about the last of
February, Capt. Phelps addressed a letter to Gov. Lucas in the most respectful
and official form, saying, that having heard he had declared his determination
not to continue in office under such an old Tory as Gen. Harrison, and fearful
that whoever his successor would be, he might not feel so friendly toward the
company as he had proved in the matter of exhuming their lard, and as they
would soon be much in need of some, and the ground was then very hard frozen,
the company would be under great obligations if he would at once send some
one out to dig up the rest of it.
'* Previous to the treaty of 1842, some few changes were made in their
location, both by the Indians and among the whites. The house at the ' Old
Garrison * was broken up, and one established in its stead up in the Red Rock
region, near the mouth of White Breast ; and Keokuk, also, moved his village
into the same neighborhood."
ORGANIZATION OF THE COUNTY.
The successive steps of organization which led to the independent division of
Van Buren as a county may be summarized thus : Originally, this vast area
was included in the Louisiana Purchase, approved by Congress in 1803. In
1807, Iowa was included in the Territory of Illinois ; in 1812, in the Territory
of Missouri ; in 1834, the Black Hawk Purchase having been made, all of the
territory west of the Mississippi and north of the northern boundary of Mis-
souri was made a part of the Territory of Michigan. In September, 1834, the
Legislature of Michigan established two precincts, or counties, in Iowa, as it is
now called. These counties were Dubuque, including all territory north of a
line drawn westward from the foot of Rock Island, and Des Moines, including
all territory south of that dividing line. The Territory of Wisconsin was
organized in 1836, and Iowa was a part of that political division. The third
act of the first Legislature of the Territory of Wisconsin, which met in Octo-
ber, 1836, at Belmont, was an act dividing Des Moines County into Lee, Van
Buren, Des Moines, Henry, Louisa and Muscatine Counties. The limits of
Van Buren, thjen the most westerly district, were not defined on the west, but
Digitized by VjOOQIC
862 HISTORY OF VAN BUREN COUNTY.
extended, as was the custom; to the farthest boundary of the territory possessed
by the United States. Henry, Louisa and Muscatine Counties were each thus
unbounded within lines drawn from their northern and southern extremities.
Farmington was fixed upon as the county seat of Van Buren County. The
Representatives from Southern Iowa at this Legislature were : Council,
Jeremiah Smith, Joseph B. Teas and Arthur B. Ingram ; House, Isaac Leff-
ler, Thomas Bean, Warner L. Jenkins, John Box, George W. Teas, Eli Rey-
nolds and Daniel R. Chance.
THE FIRST COURT.
The first court was held at Farmington, beginning April 10, 1887, with
Hon. David Irvin on the Bench. Henry G. Stewart was appointed Clerk,
but was succeeded by Fry B. Hazletine, and he, in turn, by Elisha Cutter, Jr
There was a grand jury, but no petit jury. The former was composed of the
following men : Isham Keith, Foreman, Alexander Keith, Samuel Clayton,
Elijah rurdon, Sr., John Whittaker, Joseph Hill, Charles H. Price, James
Smart, Abington Johnson, Jonas F. Denny, William Jordon, Obediah Cook,
William Judd, Thomas Summerlin, John Moffatt, A. V. Syhawk, J. G. Me*
Cutchen, William Brattain, Sr., Abel Galland, John Crow, Lewis Crow, Joseph
A, Swazey and John Patchett. This grand jury found an indictment against one
Doose, for exercising the oflBce of Constable within our territory under the laws
of Missouri ; and in this it is believed we have the first judicial assertion of
jurisdiction over a territory afterward the theater of a most bloodless war, and
yet fraught with the very greatest results and importance to this and every part
of the State.
Isaac J. Nowell, who was among the first, if not the first, settler on Indian
Creek, was the officer who, as Sheriff, first opened our courts and arrested those
violating the law. Isaac carried no sword or other insignia of office, bat he
had a well-tanned and closely-fitting suit of buckskin, which was quite as much
a terror to all evil-doers and those not having the fear of the law before their
eves as the heaviest baton or loudest or most formal proclamation of " God save
the Court." He was succeeded by Henry Heffleman, and he by that acknowl-
edged prince of good men, Capt. J. H. Bonney — who still lives, believing in
acting as he has through life, upon the elevating maxim that '*• it is more blessed
to give than receive."
The second term was held at the same place, commencing April 14, 1838,
and a petit jury impaneled to try a member of the first grand jury, who, at the
first term, was indicted for house breaking. The members of this jury were
Thomas L. Pickett, William Minear, Thomas Keith, B. F. Anderson, James
Sanders, Leonard Whitcomb, William Williams, John Newport, Henry Hamp-
ton, Charles Graves, H. D. Swazey and Robert Ewing.
The member of the legal profession who first settled in the county was H.
H. Buckland. He was from New England — settled in Bentonsport, and, after
remaining a year or more, returned to his former home. Isaac N. Lewis, sub-
sequently a member of the Third Territorial Legislature (he was also a member
of the Fifth), was the second. He was the first attorney admitted to practice
^ovember 12, 1838) in the county. Following him and very soon were S. W.
Summers, Richard Humphreys and Oliver Weld, who died in October, 1843.
He was Judge Wright's partner at the time of his death. He was an honest
man, and in his death the State lost a citizen of rare ability, the profession a
sound lawyer, and society one of big heart, and, if eccentric, as able as
eccentric.
Digitized by VjOOQIC
HISTORY OF VAN BUREN COTJNTY. 363
The record of the court held at Farmington shows that, in April, 1837,
Samuel McBrice was granted a license to keep a ferry across the Des Moines,
at that place, for one year.
The first case of record was that of Simeon Rider (or Ryder) and Charles
L. Frost, of Alton, III., doing business as merchants, under the firm name of
S* Rider & Co. vs. Achemiah Barber. Action for debt. Judgment for plain-
tiff for the sum of $2,232.50.
There were four assault and battery, two gaming, one house-breaking, three
debt and one attachment suits on the docket, and also a petition for prohibition.
There were eight indictments and five suits commenced.
The first petit jury was impaneled at the April term of court, 1838, and
was composed of Henry King, John Maxwell, W. Job, Robert Kent, Lucius
Lee, Uriel Neal, John Kennedy, Hiram Brown, William Matthews, John
Browning, Martin A. Britton, Noah Franklin, William Welch, R. N. Cresap,
H. D. Swazey, V. F. Jones, A. Mahnrou, R. Jordan, A. Galland and Jacob
Crow.
John Crow was naturalized at this term, the first foreigner to assume such
relations in the county. He was a subject of Great Britain.
FIRST MILITIA.
By referring to the records of the Secretary of State, I find that on the 9th
of January, 1830, Gen. E. A. M. Swazey was appointed Brigadier General of
the First Brigade, First Division of the Territorial Militia. Many of you
remember the times and scenes when, on the IJtica Prairie, the General, with
Col. Giles Wells, Maj, Henry King, Capt. Finess Killebrew, and other officers
marshaled their forces, and had those remarkable and most imposing regimental
trainings.
On the 18th of the same month, the Governor appointed the following Jus-
tices of the Peace for the county : Wilson Stanley, Sewall Kenney, John Coch-
ran, Thomas J. Cox, David Tade, James Robb, Silas Stone, James Mofiett,
James £. Rickey, John Whittaker, John Groom, Robert Gardner, Benjamin
B. Throop, Martin A. Britton, William Kendrick, Samuel C. Reed, George
Reynolds, William Miller, Jesse Sutton, Alexander Woods, Joel Knight, David
Casebar, John Marshall, Bushrod W. Cravens and John Taylor.
FIRST RECORDS.
The first Recorder was William Welch, and the first instrument of record in
that office is a " quitclaim " deed, from William Clift, dated February 23, 1837,
to Joseph A. Swazey and Vincent M. Jones, the consideration $35(>^ — ^premises
on Des Moines River, between the claims of E. A. M. and H. D. Swazey and
T. A. Martin, as is inferred from subsequent knowledge of the parties, near
Farmington ; but there is nothing in the deed to indicate definitely either the
location or the size of the premises. This deed was filed for record March 20,
1837, and witnessed by E. A. M. Swazey and H. King. The oldest instru-
ment in date of record, however, is a bond from J. T. Holmes and Henry
Bateman to John Crow, dated August 25, 1836, and filed for record November
6, 1837, for Lot 5, Block 3, Farmington. This was before the land sales ; for
Farmington, it is proper to say, like many of the towns of the West, was laid
out, lots sold, and improvements made long before the Government title was
obtained. With faith in the Government, full of enterprise and "goaheadative-
ness/' with a spirit adventure and pluck, fortunes were made and lost on mere
promises and hope; and thus the pioneers of this rich valley and the West gen-
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364 HISTORY OF VAN BUREN COUNTY.
erally invited emigrants, and rapidly developed its resources. It will be found
that the first warranty deed of record is for lots in Pittsburg, from Abiathar
Buck, Williams and wife, and John Groom and wife, to Lemuel Mussetter,
while the oldest deed of the kind is from David Taylor to Edward Nance, for
twenty acres, in Section 32, Township 69, Range 8 (Harrisburg), dated Novem-
ber 22, 1838. Abram Foster made the first entry of land, his entry being
October 2, 1838 (ninety-seven acres, in Section 6, Township 69, Range 10 —
Van Buren), and he was followed on the 6th of October, 1838, by Robert J.
Sturdivant, of 160 acres, in Section 35, Township 69, Range 8 — Harrisburg.
During the same month (October, 1838), James F. Westcott entered the
quarter section adjoining Keosauqua, which to this day is known as the West-
cott quarter. James Bell made his entry of his farm in Washington Township
the same month. When he crossed the Des Moines River at Keosauqua, a few
months before with his family, he borrowed monev from Capt. James Hall to pay
his ferriage, and he thus reached his claim without a cent in money, but with
pluck and courage that carried him through. James N. McCutchen, Thomas
Anson, Peter Gillis and Thomas Beer bought their lands in this township the
same month.
In Cedar Township, Samuel Huddleston ; in Union, John M. Whittaker ;
in Farmington, Richard Cave, William Williams, James Rhodes, John New-
port ; in Vernon, Alexander Davis (whose wife hauled the rails with one horse
to fence the improvement, while he split them), Nahum Sargent ; in Des Moines,
Delaney Dillingham; in Jackson, William and Jonathan McClure, William
Brooks, Martin Tate, George Reynolds and John Cantrel ; in Village, Riley
Gilbert and John D. Walker ; in Lick (Jreek, William S. Whittaker and Hiram
Hill ; in Chequest, Stiles S. Carpenter, Sylvester Riley and Asheel Lane, made
among the first entries.
OFFICIAL ROSTER OF THE COUNTY.
Appended is a roster of the ofScers who have held places of trust under the
State and county, from Van Buren County :
Representatives in United States Congress, — 1855-57 — Augustus Hall,
Keosauqua ; George W. McCrary, formerly of Van Buren.
United States Senator, — George G. Wright, from 1871 to 1877.
Chief Justice Supreme Court of Iowa, — George G. Wright.
Representatives in Third Constitutional Convention, — 1857, Squire Ayers,
Timothy Day.
Representatives in the Legislature, — Senate — 1846-48, John M. Whitaker,
JohnF. Sanford; 1848-49, John F. Sanford, George G. Wright; 1850-51,
George G. Wright, John B. Specs ; 1852-53, John B. Specs, George
Schramm ; 1854-56, George Schramm, A. H. McCrary ; 1856-57, David T.
Brigham, A. H. McCrary; 1858, David T. Brigham, Gideon S. Bailey;
1860-61, Gideon S. Bailey; 1862-64, A. H. McCrary; 1866, Eliab Doud;
1868, Ja<5ob G. Vale; 1873, James B. Pease. J?oi^e— 1846-48, George
Montague, Anderson McPherrin, Dudley Hardy, R. B. Willoughby ; 1848-49,
John Alexander, J. W. McManaman, A. H. McCrary, Willard Elmer;
1850-51, A. H. McCrary, George C. Allender, C. G. Dibble; 1852-53,
Anderson McPherrin, Lewis Fordyce, Jacob Ream, Robert Russell ; 1854-56,
George N. Rosser, Joseph Barker, Robert Meek, Henry Weatherington ;
1856-57, David Doud, Jr., R. H. McDow, Dudley Harvey ; 1858, Squire
Ayers, J. J. Cassady; 1860-61, John M. Whitaker, Henry Clay Caldwell;
1862, George Schramm, Joshua Glanville; 1864, W. C. Garrett, J. W.
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HISTORY OF VAN BUREN COUNTY. 865
Latham; 1866, Joel Brown, Jonathan Thatcher; 1868, Joel Brown, Seth
Craig ; 1870, Joel Brown, George N. Rosser ; 1872, Samuel Whitten, John
R. Wright; 1874, Joseph Work; 1876, Thomas Christy; 1878, Oliver
Hazard, Perry Scott.
District Judges, — The first appointment of District Judge was under the
Territorial law. Hon. David Irvin was the first to serve, in 1838. He
appointed Henry G. Stewart as Clerk.
Charles Mason succeeded Judge Irvin and served until 1847. Stewart
acted as Clerk until the appointment of Frye B. Hazeltine. Elisha Cutler, Jr.,
also acted as Clerk. This ended the Territorial District Judgeship, and in the
spring of 1847, Cyrus Olney was elected. He resigned in the spring of 1861,
and Judge Joseph C. Enapp was appointed to fill the vacancy, which he did
until the election of William H. Seevers in 1852. In the fall of 1856, Seevers
resigned and Caleb Baldwin was appointed to fill the vacancy. In the spring
of 1856, H. B. Hendershott was elected, and, owing to a change in the limits
of the district, his term expired in the winter of 1859, when Jonn S. Townsend
became Judge of this district.
The following, therefore, would be the roster from the beginning down to
the present: 1838, David Irvin; 1839, Charles Mason; 1847, Cyrus Olney ;
1851, Joseph C. Knapp; 1852, William H. Seevers; 1856, Caleb Baldwin;
1866, H. B. Hendershott; 1859, John S. Townsend; 1863, Henry H.
Trimble; 1867, Harvey Tannehill; 1871, Morris J. Williams; 1875, Joseph
C. Knapp; 1879, E. L. Burton. ^
Circuit Court Judge. — In 1868, the Circuit Court was established, and Hon.
Robert Sloan was chosen to the Bench. He has been re-elected twice since
then, and is still filling the office.
District C7erA«.— 1838, Henry G. Stewart ; 1840, Frye B. Hazeltine; 1841,
Elisha Cutler, Jr.; 1846, D. C. Bonney ; 1848-50, Seth Millington ; 1852,
Charles Baldwin ; 1854-56, Alexander Bums ; 1857, William J. Johnson ;
1858-60, L. D. Morris; 1861-66, John A. Miller; 1868-70, J. W. Latham;
1872-74, Russell Johnston; 1876, W. A. Gebhardt; 1878, James Gilles-
pie.
Prosecuting Attorneys. — 1846, George G. Wright; 1848, Henry M.
Shelby; 1850, Henry M. Shelby ; 1852, Charles C. Nourse; 1854, Samuel M.
MiUs ; 1856, H. C. Caldwell.
The office of District Attorney was instituted in 1856-57, which took the
place of the Prosecuting Attorney. The list ran :
District Attorneys, — 1858, Amos Harris; 1862, Amos Harris ;" 1866,
James B. Weaver; 1870, Maston H. Jones; 1874, Thomas M. Fee; 1878,
R. B. Townsend.
County Judges, — 1851-55, Emanuel Mayne; 1857, Thomas Rankin; 1859,
Joshua S. Sloan ; 1861-65, H. Strickling ; 1867, Alexander Brown.
The County Judge system was superseded by the election of Auditor.
Auditors,— l^Q^-li, Alexander Brown; 1875-77, Bernard F. Reh-
koph.
Assessors,— l^ZQ, Obediah Selby ; 1840, S. S. Carpenter; 1857, Cranston
Allen.
Sheriffs, — The first Sherifi" of Van Buren County was a Mr. Knowles. He
was appointed by the Governor of Wisconsin. The year is not certain, but he
served until 1838, when Henry Hefflemen was appointed, and served from
1838 to 1840. J. H. Bonney was in office from 1840 to 1842. Alfred M.
Lyon was in office from 1842 to 1844, after which, by an act of Congress, the
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866 HISTORY OF VAN BUREN COUNTY.
office of Sheriff became an elective one. The list of names from that time until
the present was as follows :
1844-46, J. H. Bonney ; 1846-48, James Johnston ; 1848-60, Seth St.
James ; 1850-52, Benjamin B. Marlow ; 1852-54, Thomas Christy ; 1854-56,
James M. Tuttle; 1856-58, Joseph Barker; 1858-60, Robert B. Rutledge;
1860-62, Robert B. Rutledge; 1862-63, John T. Stuart; 1863-65, John T.
Stuart; 1865-67, J. C. McCrary; 1867-69, George W. Sommerville;
1869-71, John W. Shane; 1871-73, John W. Shane; 1873-75, John W.
Shane ; 1875-77, John W. Shane ; 1877-79, Francis Johnston.
Recorders, — 1839, Jacob Lane; 1841, Jacob Lane; 1850, Edwin R. Cut-
ter ; 1851, George Parker ; 1853-55, Thomaa Rankin ; 1857-59, James M.
Tuttle; 1861-63, Joshua S. Sloan; 1864, Edwin Goddard; 1868-70, Russell
Johnston ; 1872-78, D. K. Kittle.
Surveyors— 19>^\, Ira Claflin; 1851, Nathaniel Myer ; 1852, WilUMa
Munroe ; 1853, ta Claflin ; 1854-55, Isaac Connelly ; 1857, Seth Milling-
ton ; 1858, Erastus Hoskins ; 1859, George R. Graves ; 1861, W. C. Black-
stone; 1862-67, Ira Claflin; 1869-71, E. B. Kirkendall; 1873, George E.
Graves ; 1875-77, Ira Claflin.
County Treasurers. — 1857, Roger N, Cresap ; 1838-41, James H. Jen-
kins; 1842, Edward R. Tyler; 1843, Philip HartzeU; 1844-48, Gideon B.
Alexander; 1849-50, Edwin R. Cutter; 1851, George Parker; 1858-65,
Thomas Rankin; 1857-59, James M. Tuttle; 1861-69, Joshua S. Sloan;
1871-77, Robert L. Clark.
Coroners.— 1S51, John W. Gale; 1852, L. H. Riley; 1853, George C.
AUender ; 1855, Cranston Allen ; 1857-59, George C. Allender ; 1861, John
Barnes; 1863-67, L. W. Thornburg; 1869, Silas Tolman; 1871, Georee
Stidger; 1878, Robert Hunter; 1875, W. P. L. Muir; 1877, Dr. D. W.
Stutsman.
School Fund Commissioners. — 1847, Samuel Clayton ; 1852, Henry Whe-
len ; 1854, Henry Whelen ; 1856, Lorenzo Dow Morris.
Superintendents of Schools^ — 1858, Anderson McPherrin ; 1859, M. H.
Cooley ; 1861-65, D. G. Perkins; 1866-69, George B. Walker; 1871, Fran-
cis Miller ; 1873, Archie McDonald ; 1875-77, John W. Rowley.
Moad Supervisors. — 1851, George Whitall ; 1852, Madison Dagger.
Supervisors. — The following is a complete list of the names of County Su-
pervisors since the organization of the Board in 1837, then termed Boiurd of
Commissioners :
1837 — John Bending, Isham Keith, Enoch P. Blackburn.
1838— Isham Keith, John Whitaker, Enoch P. Blackburn.
1839 — John Carnes, Charles Davis, John Sailor (or Maryland Jones, the
record contains both names).
1840 — John Whitaker, James McCrary, Joseph Miles.
1841 — William Whitaker, David Ferguson, Frye B. Hazeltine.
1842— David Ferguson, W. S. Whitaker, Jesse Wright.
1843— David Ferguson, W. S. Whitaker, Jesse Wright.
1844 — Robert Meek, John Alexander, David Ferguson.
1845 — John Alexander, Rezin B. Willoughby, Robert Meek.
1846 — John Alexander, Ira Claflin, Robert Meek.
1847 — John Alexander, Obadiah S. Freeman, Ira Claflin.
1848 — John D. Woodworth, Obadiah S. Freeman, Ira Claflin.
1849 — Ira Claflin, Obadiah S. Freeman, Robert Green.
1850— Ira Claflin, Joel Knight, Robert Green.
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HISTORY OF VAN BUREN COUNTY. 367
In 1851, the "Judge system" was made to prevail over that of County
Commissioners. This system ran until 1861. The last meeting of the Board
of Commissioners was held July 29, 1851. The last official act was to assign
each member $5 for fees. An adjournment was then taken sine die. The first
Judge elected was E. Mayne. His first official act was to approve the bond of
B. B. Marlow, as Sheriff". This, August 18, 1851. Judge Mayne served until
1857, and on August 12 of that year, Judge Thomas Rankin succeeded him.
His time expired the latter part of 1859, and on January 3, 1860, Judge Joshua
S. Sloan took his seat. He served until 1861, when a new twist of the law
threw the county again under the control of a Board of Supervisors, one from
each township. The appended list is official.
1861 — John D. Baker, Matthew Creswell, Lorenzo Ellis, Seth Fordyce,
Erastus Hoskin, J. A. Hughes, L. J. Mason, E. Mayne, J. G. Newbold, John
Perry, Joseph Rabb, Harvey Robb, Jacob Silvers.
1862— George C. AUender, W. H. Alexander, J. D. Baker, C. L. Bonney,
J. D. Elbert, Lorenzo Ellis, William Huber, Onias Hale, Joseph Kean, L. J.
Mason, S. M. Morris, John Perry, William J. Parker.
1863 — George C. Allender, William H. Alexander, C. L. Bonney, John D.
Elbert, L. Ellis, William Huber, Onias Hale, J. A. Kean, L. J. Mason, A.
McCullough, W. J. Parker, E. B. Sample, W. H. Turton.
1864 — W. H. Alexander, C. L. Bonney, Lorenzo Ellis, Onias Hale, L. J.
Mason, A. McCullough, R. N. McLeland, B. F. Miller, Uriel Neal, W. J.
Parker, E. B. Sample, W. H. Turton, Joseph Warren.
1865 — W. H. Alexander, C. L. Bonney, Milton Chalfaut, Lorenzo Ellis,
Onias Hale, R. N. McLeland, A. McCullough, B. F. Miller, Alexander New-
bold, Uriel Neal, Joseph Warren, Jacob Wagner.
1866 — W. H. Alexander, C. L. Bonney, Milton Chalfaut, Jonathan Ferris,
William Huber, Onias Hale, L. J. Mason, Andrew McCullough, R. N. Mc-
Leland, Uriel Neal, Ralph Peterson, Jacob Wagner.
1867 — W. H. Alexander, Milton Chalfaut, Jonathan Ferris, William Huber,
Onias Hale, L. J. Mason, R. N. McLeland, W. S. Mayne, J. H. McVeigh,
Uriel Neal, Isaac Nelson, Ralph Peterson, Jacob Wagner.
1868 — 0. B. Brown, John Brooks, James Elerick, Thomas H. Hopkins, S.
S. Henry, Edmund Hilles, Onias Hale, James H. McVeigh, B. F. Miller, W.
S. Mayne, Isaac Nelson, John T. Stewart, Jacob Wagner.
1869— John Brooks, James Elerick, James Green, Onias Hale, S. S. Henry,
Thomas H. Hopkins, Edmund Hilles, J. H. McVeigh, B. F. Miller, John A.
Miller, John T. Stewart, John Perry, Samuel Whitten.
1870 — John Brooks, W. W. Byers, Harrison Blackledge, Matthew Cres-
weU, James Green, Onias Hale, S. S. Henry, Thomas H. Hopkins, J. H. Mc-
Veigh, J. S. Miller, John A. Miller, John Perry, Samuel Whitten, W. P. L. Muir.
Again, in 1871, was the law changed, and the "legislative system'' driven
out to give place to the Board of three members. The latter system prevails
at present. Those who have served may be found after :
1871 — Onias Hale, Isaiah Meek, Erastus Pitkin.
1872 — Onias Hale, Isaiah Meek, Erastus Pitkin.
1873 — Onias Hale, Thomas Christy, Erastus Pitkin.
1874 — Samuel Nixon, Benjamin Wagner, Erastus Pitkin.
EARLY POLITICS.
" Prior to 1840, but little attention was paid to the political preferences of
candidates,'* observes Judge Wright, "as witness the election of Esq. Keith
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368 HISTORY OP VAN BUREN COUNTY.
and Gen. Swazey to the first Council, both Whigs, while Bailey and Barker,
in the House, were both Democrats, and their colleague, Hail, a Whig. It was
in 1840 that our Democratic friends in the county were called upon to rally by
that man of irrepressible and versatile genius, tfohn Games, known then and
somewhat since as ' Pious John ; ' and rally they did. An organization was
eflFected, *and soon those figuring lived to enjoy the fruits; and others, I
remember, as, for instance, the so-called * Union Tear * of 1842, when Bailey
and Whittaker were defeated for the Council by Elbert and Jenkins; Bonney
by Lyon, for SheriflF, to say nothing of others, who were occasionally led to
realize that a dominant party is not always successful under the most vigorous
party drill. That year of 1842, by the way, was about my first active recol-
lection of a political contest. It was peculiar, it will be remembered by the
voters, some of whom I see here to-day, as having a so-called religious etemerU
in it. Dr. Bailey, Capt. Bonney, Ezra M. Jones, and their colleagues on the
Democratic ticket, we hungry Whigs styled the infidel party. Many amusing
incidents might be related. I remember one in connection with A. J. Davis,
who was known as a most indefatigable worker in politics, as in everything
else. While talking with John Workman, a Democrat and a Methodist, who
lived on the place where ' Uncle * Isaac Barker lived so long, Davis warned
Barker of the danger to the cause of holiness if such infidels were elected, and
finally concluded by saying that ' hed be damned if our holy religion was not
in danger if the Democrats succeeded.* **
REMINISCENCES.
From the speech of Mr. A. H. McCrary, we quote the following descrip-
tion of the days of 1836 :
When I first stood on the bank of the Des Moines Riyer, in the fall of 1886, the spot where
we are now assembled was coyered with the foliage of forest-trees ; and down on the bank of the
riyer, yery near to where Mr. Manning's store is now situated, there were two or three small build-
ings being erected. Immediately above the then projected town was Father Purdom's cabin, and a
few acres of ground cleared. Father Purdom's was a kind of headquarters and boarding-house
for all who came along. The next cabin aboye was David Ely's, whose name that ford still
bears. With Mr. Ely lived a brother-in-law, John Goodin. John was a fine, jovial young man,
large and handsomely formed, and Father Purdom had some very excellent daughters. John
was then very much like the young men are now, and while Father P. was very much opposed
to young gentlemen decoying his daughters away from his humble cottage, John, not always
having the fear of that good old gentleman before his eyes, wooed and gained the hand of Bliss
Purdom, and marriage-pledges were doubtless exchanged. But Father P., not having all the con-
fidence in John that was necessary to give his consent, tiierefore most positively refused, waxing
wrathy. At this, John's ambition became somewhat aroused, and so began to plot treason
against the old gentleman's rights, and, in order to carry out his treasonable purpose, he hired
Aaron W. Harlan, the hero of the Des Moines, to assist him. Aaron was an Aaron of old.
Mighty in words, and still more powerful in deeds, he procured an Indian canoe, and, just as
the moon was showing her broad face in the east, it was quietly landed at a suitable landing,
and, while the unsuspecting father was quietly reposing, naughty John and crafty Aaron were
stealthily assisting Miss P. to get her necessary apparel and herself safely conveyed to the land-
ing. All safely on board, Aaron loosed the cable, and, there being no dams in the river (and the
old gentleman being too pious to use any of the other kind), they glided smoothly down to the
town of Sweet Home, in Missouri, where Esq. Beedle officiated, making the late Miss Pur-
dom Mrs. Goodin. Subsequently, other young gentlemen, being encouraged by John's success,
made raids upon the old gentleman's household, until he was compelled to succumb and submit
to an inglorious defeat. This old gentleman's cabin was one of the most public places in the
county at that time. Besides its being the home of his family; it was used as public boarding-
house, church, and I am not sure but it was sometimes used as a Court House. While old
Father Purdom may have had traits in his character peculiar to himdelf, he was one of God's
noblemen, an honest man, and he has long since gone to his reward.
In looking back to the early settling, I regard the winter of 1837-38 ss the hardest times
we ever endured. Crowds of people had located during the summer, and many were in very
uncomfortable cabins when winter came on. Some had raised a little com, but there were no
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HISTORY OF VAN BUREN COUNTY. 369
mills in the country nearer than Waterloo, Mo., to grind it, and a very sejere winter upon us.
For weeks, many of us subsisted on boiled corn or beat meal bread. That beating process could
be endured for the sake of a change, but very soon we would fall back to hominy again. Those
mortars, in which we would beat the corn into meal, were worked by hand, and were called
"Armstrong's mill." In some localities, horse-mills were erected. That class of machinery
was only temporary, and I consider a description of them more tedious than profitable ; and yet
they afforded a temporary relief, and were regarded an improvement on the beating or hominy proc-
ess. About the year 1837, William Duncan commenced the erection of a mill on the Des Moities
River, just where Einnersly's mill now stand ; and, about the same time, William Meek & Sons
commenced building a mill at Bonaparte. Duncan threw out a wing-dam about half-way across
the river, and constructed a singular kind of wheel, which was called a screw wheel. The
rushing of the water through the wheel gave it motion, to which the machinery was attached.
While its likeness was never seen before or since, yet, by wallowing in water, we were able to
get our com ground, and we were so highly elated that I believe some of us tried to send Mr.
Duncan to the Legislature. But I believe we failed.
From the speech of Mr. Edwin Manning we quote the following concise
and admirable record of his experiences from 1837 :
In the winter of 1837, 1 was sojourning in Missouri, and fell in with Capt. Hall, Fairman
and Games, all looking for homes in the West. The Captain and myself engineered a jumper-
ride on the Des Moines River Arom St. Franoisville to the rapids, in January, 1887 (now Mr.
Einnersly's famous water-power). How we were delighted, first with our ride up the river on
the smooth ice, blanketed with pure snow, and next with the little water-fall that we imagined
wss an embryo fortune for some ingenious Yankee to develop into hydraulic powers. Hence
the location of the county town here. But this was not all of our sight-seeing. Mr. Fairman
and I made a trip across the half-breed tract to Fort Madison, and on our way we visited old
Black Hawk in his camp, then located on Devil Creek, just below Fort Madison. I shall never
forget the peculiar look and air of the old fallen chief. He received us kindly, but was
extremely reticent, and would not encourage conversation to much extent. The country, at this
time, was ntorly all vacant, the settlements being confined to the streams. Claims had been
made along and up the " Demoin '' for nearly one hundred miles, or as far west as the first
purchase reached. My first trade in Iowa was for a ** half-breed " claim. This consisted of
several hundred acres of land and some twenty-five town lots in Keokuk, costing me some $500.
I then left the country, and returned in 1838, and attended the first land sale held in Burling-
ton, in November, 1888. In the spring of 1839, I opened out the best stock of goods in the val-
ley. I continued my business prosperously, and, in 1841, I contracted to supply the Government
fort at the Raccoon Forks with provisions. This I did by chartering # steamboat at 5t. Louis
and delivering my goods by steam. The upper country in and about Raccoon Forks was then
peopled wholly by the red men. In honor of my bringing a boat from St. Louis, and giving the
officers and Indian chiefs a free ride upon the river, Capt. Allen sent his couriers to the head
men of the nation to come and pay their respects to us and give us a war-dance. This was done
on a magnificent scale. Not less than three hundred of the best braves, Sacs and Foxes, assem-
bled and gave one of their best performances, with all their paraphernalia, bells, feathers and
paint. Altogether, it was the greatest feat I had ever witnessed in my Western life, thus far.
Soon after this, the fort was moved further west, and the Indians went to their new home south
of the Missouri. In 1843, the country was opened up for white settlement on the new purchase,
and great and rapid emigration commenced Arom all parts of the Western States, and many from
the East.
The navigation of the river was obstructed by occasional mill-dams, and the steamboat men
of those days were too timid to risk their fortunes on the Des Moines to fight mill-dams. The
next great era in enterprise in the valley was flatboating, and in this particular vocation, per-
haps, your speaker was one of the most successful men in advancing and practically demonstrat-
ing the Des Moines River to be a natural channel for commerce.
Other operators in the valley followed in quick pursuit, and soon the river navigation was
fully appreciated. My peculiar forte was to build but few, but those were good and seaworthy
crafts. In this I was successful, but nevertheless my fate was to sink one boat two times — first,
at Bentonsport dam, and next at Croton — and finally got it into market and realized more
money for it than it could have brought if it had reached the market without delay. The moral
of this act teaches *• help yourselves, and good surely follows." Such was the experience of
your speaker. Now, to give you another page of this history, transpiring at the same time,
illustrates more fully the subject in question. My neighbor embarked in the same enterprise.
He built cheap and frail boats, and hired men to run them, and out of a dozen or more started
for market but one single craft lived through the voyage, and that was lost in damages. Thus,
you see, what I inaugurated as a good enterprise my neighbor destroyed. This ended all flat-
boatiug on the beautiful Des Moines. Finally, the navigation was suspended until 1857. At
this period, the valley had become rich in cereals, and a great demand came for navigation. It
was not forgotten that, in 1841, Manning reached Raccoon Forks with a steamer, and hence why
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370 HISTORY OF VAN BUREN COUNTY.
not again ? This was the cry, '* Out with the dams.'* This was the alarm sounded through the
▼alley. Your speaker was not hard to understand what was most needed in the carrying-on of
trade in the Talley. Aocording'ly, he oanyassed the matter with due consideration, and Tentured
upon another commercial enterprise. I proceeded to St.'Louis, contracted with Capt. Allen at
once to load the ** Jennie Lind" and barge for KeoBauqua and Eddyyille. Arriving at Keokuk
in due time, and having favorable water, my ambition was up to fever heat. But, to my utter
astonishment, the Captain had learned through the skillfiil boatmen at Keokuk that they could
not navigate the beautiful Des Moines. This brought dismay and trouble fpr a short time: but
my perseverance and indomitable will-power to make the effort a success, if possible, overcame
the embarrassment. The Captain was an old and good waterman. He became convinced that
my heart was in the enterprise, and the more we argued the case the better he liked my logic.
We became familiar boating companions for the trip, and finally we ca«t off 'the lines and set oar
face for the " Diamond Navigation.** Arriving at Farmington in a few hours, our steam and
whistle made the village alive, and in a few minutes the whole town was on the bank of the river
admiring the beautiful " Jennie Lind.'* All was sunshine and glory to everybody except the
mill-owners. Here again came the tug of war. It was fight or die. It would never do to stop
here. The gates were closed, and apparently there was no entrance possible, being too old and
weak to open ; hence the trouble.
Finally, says I to Capt. Allen : *' I brought you here to do my work ; my order is that you
at once remove these gates, at my risk and expense, and go ahead. * No sooner said than all
hands laid hold and demolished the gates and sent them floating down stretim. This brave act of
Capt. Allen at an opportune time opened up commerce throughout the valley, and it was never
closed until superseded by rail. In this little enterprise, I was more than compensated in mj
own limited business, and what it did for me it did for the whole valley. I did not stop to
calculate its importance, nor did I realize it fully till its development almost overwhelmed us, of
such value was commerce brought to our doors by this great natural channel.
Our next great hope was the Des Moines improvement. In this we all expected to be
enriched and made happy for the rest of our days. The great river grant was procured through
Gten. Dodge, a veteran pioneer and popular politician in the State in those palmy days of Bour-
bon Democracy. With this munificent land grant for a great and good special object, the State
accepted, but finally limited, and failed to aid and foster the enterprise. The magnitude of the
work contemplated State indorsement ; failing to obtain this, the work languished, and wts
finally abandoned as being behind the age and progress of the times at that period. In approx-
imating its final adjustment with contracting parties, your speaker occupied a responsible posi-
tion, having been appointed by Gov. Grimes, and subsequently elected. Commissioner of the
Improvement. I was let into the secret of fat internal improvement contracts. It was not
unfashionable in those days to carry a good supply of old Bourbon, and when the wheels got
slow to use a little for propelling power. It so happened, in one of my sittings, criticising the
accounts of Improvement expenditures, we all become very jolly ; but it was a habit of mine not
to sign papers without understanding their full import This kind of sharp practice had been
indulged in of occasionally asking a Commissioner to certify lands before they were Ailly paid
for, and it was considered quite courteous to obtain an accommodation of this kind ; but I wu
always so slow to understand such things that they did not get my name as often as they wanted
it to such papers.
But in one grand levee we held over a settlement, the Company limbered up with Bourbon,
and gave me the snug little sum of $75,000 discount on their regularly-entered charges against
the State improvement. This was an eye-opener to all the people. The State at once proceeded
to make a final settlement with the New York company. Subsequently, the remaining lands of
the grant were negotiated for by the Valley Railroad. Thus ended the great farce of the first
land grant to the Des Moines Valley.
From the speech of Mr. Charles Baldwin, we quote:
In coming to this new country, we came poor, most of us. We came to better our condi-
tion, to make homes which* we were too poor to do in the older States. In making these homes,
we had to struggle with the hardships of a new country, as well as with poverty. With good
luck, it took eight or ten days to get a load of provisions. The great river could only be crossed
by row-boat. If the river or wind was high, the poor settler had to wait often for days before
he could cross. In the mean time, the good mfe and the little ones were alone, nestled in the
little cabin behind some far-off point of timber, hourly, hungrily scanning the wide prairie as
fSEir as the eye could reach, anxiously looking for husband and father with something to eat
Brave wives, noble mothers! right well have you earned your homes. May you long live to
enjoy them.
Mark the contrast of to-day. Over the same routes we then traveled, we now send food
for thousands upon thousands of hungry people. And we can go to Illinois and back in as
many hours as it then took us days, crossing the great river on strong iron bridges that defy
wind and waves, ice and floods. In the same time that it then took us to reach the banks of
the Mississippi on Nature's roads, we can now reach the shores of the Atlantic Ocean on the
one hand, or repose in the shade of the Rocky Mountains, capped with eternal snow, on the other.
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HISTORY OF VAN BUREN COUNTY. ST8
In those days, too, we had a weekly mail, if the season and the roads were good, bringing us
newspapers and letters from our friends. Perhaps they had been weeks on the way, but they were
always fresh. For the coveted letters we had to pay 26 cent« postage, and it was freely given. Now
for 1 cent we send our letters to Maine or Georgia, or the far-off States of the Pacific ; and we
are not satisfied unless we have mail twice a day. If, impatient of this delay, we can, by the
ma^c wire, talk with our friends thousands of miles away, almost as if we were face to face.
Then it took two bushels and a half of corn to pay postage on one letter. Now for one
bushel we can pay postage on fifty letters.
Then it took six dozen of eggs to get a letter from mother or sister. Now we can get from
ten to twenty for one dozen of eggs.
When we remember that the usual time for our letters and papers to reach us was ten to thirty
days, we can hardly realize the fact that the ftill proceedings of this meeting of Iowa Pioneers, to-day
can be printed and read by the people of San Francisco, 2,000 miles away, before the sun goes down.
My friends, your thoughts go back to-day to your old log cabins, claim-pens, as they were
sometimes called. But little and mean as they looked, they held all that was dearest and
brightest to you — your wives and little ones — While the bright halo of hope shed its rays around
them, gilding, with its glory, the horizon of all your future. And I appeal to you, venerable
pioneers, if in .those little log cabins you did not spend the happiest days of your lives, the
brightest hours of your existence.
As I have before stated, immigration flowed into this county rapidly from 1886 to 1848.
In 1838. the population of the county was about 3,000. In 1840, it was 6,140. In 1840, the
New Purchase was opened to settlement, and many who had stopped in this border county only
until they could get a chance to '*go West,'* moved on into the new country.
The first assessment of property for taxation in the county, that I can find on record, was
in 1839, on about $152,836 of property; and the Ux collected was $878.88. In 1840. there
were sixteen towns recorded in the county, and the town property was assessed at $59,550.50.
Their names were Rising Sun, Rochester, Philadelphia, Birmingham, Harrisburg, Des Moines
City, Watertown, Keosauqua, South Keosauqua, Hedvolant, Winchester, Farmington, New Lex-
ington, Columbus, North Bentonsport and South Bentonsport ; each town looking grandly on
paper, and in the estimation of their founders, the embryo of great cities; all blowing their
trumpets and making a great noise in the world on an average capital of $8,722.22 each.
The annual assessment of property shows our progress in wealth, while the National
census shows our increase in population. But time will not permit a statement of the assess-
ment of each year. I will therefore take periods that sufficiently illustrate our advancement
in wealth and population.
In 1850, our population was 12,270, an increase of 100 per cent in ten years, 10 per cent
per annum. Our property was assessed that year at $1,853,671. In 1860, our population was
17.081, an increase of about 40 per cent in ten years, or 4 per cent per annum. The assess-
ment that year was of farms, $2,811,859; of personal property, $964,661; of town property,
$386,070; total, $8,662,590, showing an increase in ten years, of about 170 per cent, or 17 per
cent per annum. In 1870, our population was 17.672, an increase in ten years of only 591,
about j^ of 1 per cent only, in that time. The assessment for that year was: farms, $8,264,862;
personal property, $1,623,887; towns, $552,804; total, $5,440,558; showing that, while from
1860 to 1870, our population increased only about | oi 1 per cent, our property increased in
the same period about 50 per cent, or at the rate of 5 per cent per annum.
For this year, 1875, the assessment is: farms, $3,827,543; personal property, $1,501,402 ;
towns. $530,780; railroads, $261,890; total, $5,621,565. There are 65 miles of railway in
the couuty. They were not assessed in 1870, nor at any time before that year. Showing that
the assessed value of our property has increased in five years only $181,012, about 8«^ per cent
in five years. Deduct the railroad property, and our other property has gone back in valuation
since 1870, $90,878.
To form a just idea of the progress we have made, we will take a view of the revenues of
the county from time to time. As I have said, the taxes collected in 1889 were $878.83 ; in
1850, the levy was $10,581.70; in 1860, $26,996.82; in 1870, $78,717.
About 1850, is, perhaps, the period when the increase of our population and the development of
our county settled into something like a nofmal condition. It will be observed that the value of the
property of the county has increased about ten times as fast as our population. This increase is
almost entirely the result of the labor of its citizens. It will also be observed that the annual in-
crease in the value of property has not kept pace with the rate of interest upon money. And it
will be further observed that the increase in direct taxes is about twice as great as the rate of
property increase.
ALVAH CLAYTON'S ADDRESS.
From an address delivered by Mr. Alvah Clayton, of St. Louis, before the
Pioneers' Association, in 1878, we take the following extract :
The incidents of which I propose to speak are necessarily of a personal nature, and I must
aak you to excuse the seeming egotism in mentioning them. My only motive is to illustrate to
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87i HISTORY OF VAN BUREN C50UNTY.
the younger portion of this audience the trials, privations and self-sacrificing labors of the etrij
settlers of this county, and to give them an insight into the state of society as it then existed.
The experiences of our own family were no doubt very similar to those of the other pioneers.
My father, leaving his family in the State of Ohio, came into this valley in the spring of 1836,
and laid his claim, as I have before said, at the mouth of the Chequeat Creek, just above the
present village of Pittsburg. His claim embraced a frontage of half a mile on the river, and
extended up the creek about a mile, and included what he regarded at the time as an excellent
site for a water-mill ; and there he subsequently erected one of the first mills ever erected in this
county. Alone and unaided, he built him a cabin on the bank of the river, and cleared ofiT the
timber and brush from five acres of the ground, preparatory to planting a crop of com and other
vegetables. By this time the season was well advanced. He had no team, except a poor old ox,
which he had purchased of Mr. Peter Gillis, who had already settled a short distance below the
site of the city, on the opposite side of the river. For this ox he made a single yoke, with ropes
attached for traces. But, unfortunately, he had no agricultural implements — no plow, no har^
row, nor even a hoe. The nearest point where such articles could be secured was the then vill-
age of Quincy, HI. Thither he determined he would go, late as was the season. Taking his
Indian canoe, which was his only means of transportation, he paddled his way to the month of
the river, where he was fortunate enough to meet a steamboat, on which he took passage to Quincy.
Procuring the irons for a plow, and other implements which he needed, he returned by steamer
to the mouth of the Des Moines River, whose rapid current he ascended in his canoe, by the toil-
some process of paddling, poling and towing. Finally, after a wearisome voyage of many days,
he reached home— hastily constructed a stock for his plow, hunted up his old ox, which had by
this time become fat and strong fh)m feeding upon the luxuriant grass of the rich bottom land,
and was ready to commence plowing. But the middle of June had. now arrived ; the g;ra88 and
weeds had grown up nearly as high as the back of his ox, and all he had time to do wa« to ran
single furrows in which to plant his com. He afterward plowed out the intervening spaces, and
thus, by dint of hard work and perseverance, succeeded in raising a fine crop of com. Mean-
while, he had written back to my brother, who was in charge of the family in Ohio (the brother
who has been a resident in your midst during the last forty-two years), to bring the family on
as soon as possible. This he hastened to do, making the long and tedious journey overland,
through the black swamps of Indiana and the seemingly boundless prairies of Illinois. Crossing
the Mississippi at what is now the city of Nauvoo, we made our way through the trmokless
prairies without seeing any signs of a white settlement until we arrived on the bank of the Des
Moines, opposite my father's cabin, in the month of November, 1836, after a toilsome journey of
five weeks. Then commenced our long and laborious straggle for a subsistence in this wild bat
fertile valley. The obstacles and discouragements were met and overcome, not without the sorest
trials, both mental and physical. Of the luxuries of life, which you now enjoy so abundantly,
we were wholly deprived. For a time, it was with the utmost difficulty that we could obtain even
those things which now seem absolutely necessary.
It is trae, we never suffered for the want of food and clothing, though what we had was
necessarily of the plainest and coarsest kind. At first the rifle supplied our table with meat,
and for bread we were limit^l to corn and buckwheat. But even these we had no means of
grinding. Forty miles away in Missouri was the nearest mill, and thither, occasionally, woold
my father and brother go with a wagon-load of com to be ground into meal. When it was incon-
venient to make this long journey, we had to resort to the expedients of the tin " grater,** the
woodin mortar and the coffee-mill. With the manner of using these implements many of you are
doubtless familiar.
At first the Indians were our most numerous neighbors. They were constantly passing up
and down the river, sometimes on foot, but generally in canoes. They seldom passed our door
without stopping to beg or steal — and you can readily imagine that their visits were not cordially
welcomed. A few white people soon settled around us, and we hailed their coming with joy.
To show you how gladly we welcomed new-comers, I will mention an incident which occurred
in the spring of 1837 — the spring following our own arrival. In April, there arrived on tbe
bank of the river opposite our residence, two large families ftrom Tllinois, both well provided
with teams, wagons and stock cattle. They were to be our neighbors, and we rejoiced to see
them. We assisted them in getting their teams and effects across the river by lashing two canoes
together and placing planks across to form a platform. On this rudely and hastily constructed
boat, all were safely ferried over.
If I mistake not, each family consisted of ten persons, making twenty in all. They hid
come without any previous preparations for houses in which to dwell. Although our cabin con-
tained but one room, sixteen feet square, yet we took them all in, and sheltered them as best we
could for about two weeks, until they had erected cabins for themselves, on claims they had pre-
viously selected not far from our own homestead. Just how we sucoeeded in accommodating so
many people in so very small a space, I am utterly unable to tell you. I remember, however, that at
night beds were spread all over the floor, under our bedsteads, and in the low attic overhead.
Even these could not accommodate all, and a number of larger boys had to sleep in the wagons
out-of-doors. At meal time, those who could not be accommodated at the first table had to watt
for the second or third. This was rather a rough way of entertaining visitors, but it was the
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HISTORY OF VAN BUREN COUNTY. 875
l>eei we oouM do under the ciroumstanoee, and it is but just that I should saj that our guests
meoeptad the rude hospitality we had to offer with thankful hearts. And now, it would hardly be
proper for me to close this narrative without saying that these two fSunilies bore the honored
names of Duffield and Swearingen. The heads of these families, with (he exception of the aged
Mrs. Duffield, have long since been called to their last reward ; but they have left behind them
a numerous progeny, many of whom are now respected and influential citizens among you.
I might detain you a long time by the recital of interesting incidents connected with early
times in this county ; but. lest I weary you, I will ask your attention only a few minutes longer.
At the early date at which my father arrived here, this territory was nominally under civil
jurisdiction of the Territory of Michigan ; but no courts had been established, or officers
appointed to execute the laws. Practically, we had no laws except such rules as the settlers
found it necessary to establish for their own protection. Every man was, to a limited extent, a
law unto himself, and was not molested in the exercise of his own f^ee will, unless he infringed
upon the rights of his neighbors. Hence, many things were done which would hardly be con-
sidered proper in the present advanced state of society. To illustrate, I will mention one inci-
dent, and then I will close.
There lived in our neighborhood a man having a wife and two children —a boy and a girL
There was another lady, somewhat advanced in years, who had been a member of his family for
some considerable length of time. He also had in his employment an unmarried man, on the ,
shady side of thirty. It happened that the husband and wife did not dwell together as harmoni-
onjtly as husband and wife ought to. Just what was the cause of the trouble I never knew ; but in
order to settle the difficulty, a mutual agreement was entered into of the following nature : The
husband transferred his wife to his hired man, and himself took the other woman for a wife. As
the arrangement was agreeable to the ladies, all parties were satisfied. The mother took the
daughter and the f&ther retained the son. There was also some agreement as to the division of
property ; and to give the whole transaction a show of legality, some neighbors were called in to
witness the contract.
JUDGE WRIGHT'S PERORATION.
The address referred to in the foregoing pages, delivered by Judge Wright,
was concluded with the following personal mention, which is too valaable to be
omitted :
1 have purposely omitted any reference to Keosauqua and its settlement for the reason that
I told what I knew on that subject in an address before its Library Association, March 4, 1856,
and as the collection and preservation of facts connected with the early settlement of the county
is one object of the Association, that being published can be used, and I have hence for the most
part devoted my attention to other localities. To other towns and neighborhoods and individuals
I should with pleasure have referred, if I had been successful in gathering the material, or if
time permitted. Indeed, I feel that I am not to be excused for passing over many others. Thus
I would like to refer at length to my early and warm friend, Isaac N. Lewis, who had so much to do
with laying the foundations ; who struggled with the rest of us amid the trials of a fW>ntier life ;
and who, to use his own energetic method of profanity, **by gum!'' could do anything else but
drink whisky with the best of us. And he that, with the rest of us, Isaac was accustomed to
call his competitor, now Ck>l. Summers, who it were hard to tell whether he loved congenial eom-
pony, a fine horse or a biff fee best. And to Uncle Jonny Seaman* (I wonder if he rides a *' blue
buck ** yet?). And to Uncle Tommy Beer, honest, quaint and ever inoffensive. And that other
Unde Tommy (Heam), loving Maryland first and Iowa last and best. And Uncle Ira Claflin,
from the Land 9f Steady Habits, and whose habits are always steady, with his good wife with her
good black eyes ; and once again to Capt. Josiah Bonney, with his big heart, and by his side
Orpha, whom he found at Rochester when he and I were young — once more afflicting Father
Stannard with a Democratic son-in-law ; and George W. Qames, and Eliza, too, who were the life
of the social circle years long gone, but now, alas ! the ** weight of years,'' just a little, is upon
them ; and John, of the tribe of Goodall — good old Kentucky stock — among our best and truest
citizens — most of them ''across the River'* now, the Great River — but those remaining, as were
those gone, worthy and respected by all ; and that enthusiastic friend and Whig, his brother-in-
law, Isaac W. McManaman, who did nothing by halves, and whether at home or in a political con-
vention, or the Legislature, by his very earnestness and whole-souled manner, won the esteem and
respect of all ; and up the Des Moines, just below lowaville, that man of positive character and
Baptist proclivities, Benjamin Saylor, and his long line of boys, John, Conrad, Hiram, Jehu, and
perhaps a dozen others, who made big farms in this and Polk County, and who, by his force of
character, commanded attention in all circles.
And again, the long line flrom near Posey County, Ind. — they of the tribe of McCrary — James
and Abner and John C, and their relatives and descendants — for have they not given us Esquires,
and Senators, and Representatives, and Sheriffis. and M. C.'s, filling all with admirable ability ?
and Andrew (he of altitude — Merideth), who, with his industrious wife, the best housewife with
«INed August 6, 1873.
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876 HISTORY OF VAN BUREN COUNTY.
the best home of the early days, which I shall neyer forget, for at their table more than onee I
have been cared for when tired and hungry ; and that woman of marked character, the wife of
Obed, who was the son of William Stannard, for she and her husband truly made their impren
upon the country, and all remember them to praise; and Russo (of the royal f&mily of Kuigs),
who made our mills, built our houses, and at the same time builded, as he deserved, well for hiai-
self and family ; and Roger N. Cresap, with that wife who has accomplished more and with mwt
life and good-humor than any one that liyes— he I should not forget ; for whether in Louisimiia
or Texas, wherever- thrown by fate or fortune, he still turned to the same beautiful and rich land
where he now lives as the brightest and most pleasant spot on earth ; and then, there is Harrey
— of the long tribe of Alexanders — irrepressible in his politics, endless in his story-telling, never
exaggerating in the least, whether on the block or ofif, and is still goinffy going, going, and will be
till he's gone; and my old friend Robert Forbes, who never had but a ''mere whang of Apples,'*
which meant more than all his neighbors, and who never let any poor Whig or Radical rest if
he could get a chance to punch him in the ribs ; and those pioneers of large personal, poliUeal
and social influence, Capts. Hancock and Sanford ; and that blessed good man. Sheriff Johnson,
with his son-in-law, McPherrin — twice amember of the General Assembly — and of whom to say that
he is as good and honest as the father-in-law, is but simple truth and no faint praise ; and that fine
specimen of manhood and old-fashioned Methodism, Uncle Johnny Spencer, and his good and solid
> neigh bors,Groom and Warren; and that jolly Democrat from Delaware, Billy Holland, and his eqoslly
jolly neighbor, Onias Hale, and scores of others in the same vicinity, from the land of Rush, in
the much-abused State of Indiana ; and then, too, he that was among our earliest and tmsst
men, Mark C. Thatcher, of Quaker stock, and that quiet wife of his, and their boys almost num-
berless, Jonathan, Isanc, Thomas, Aaron, Amos, Ezekiel, and how many more I cannot tell; and
his old neighbors, whose influence was fiilly equal to any others in their vicinity, Lippinoott,
and Muir, and Burns ; and Ralph, of the house of Peterson, than whom no county ever had
truer men ; and of course Dr. Nathan Shepherd, always fighting for the right and peddling pills ;
while James, of the same name, dealt in politics ; and Benjamin F. Pearson, also, who kept public
house in Pittsburg at the time of the Young Mormon war there, in the winter of 184(>-41, and
which I shall never forget, and who did build our houses, fought for his country, and estsems
Republicanism next to Methodism ; and Ashahel, who went home within the last few years, who
owned those rich acres just down the river from where we now are, a good citizen, and his chil-
dren do follow him; and Bei^amin, of the numerous tribe of Barkers; and that other Baricer
(Esq. Joseph), who started in the woods, but woods no longer, and who has more children to
love than any man in the county, for he beats Dr. Sturdivant, having, as I am told, eighteen, the
Doctor only fourteen ; and Joel and Wesley Walker, from the land of Penn, who haye had as
much to do with Keosauqua and its growth as most others, perhaps any, unless it be one I should
not forget, Edwin Manning, of the strong frame and marked face, rather slow of speech and
movement, and yet never idle, and who holds the largest purse and more lands than any other,
save his friendly rival, Seth, of the land of Bentonsport, both of them still New Englanden
somewhat in manners and habits, notwithstanding their many days in the West; and the neigh-
bor of Seth, Dr. Cowles, recognized among the best physicians of the early days, and, perhaps,
still so ; and Timothy, whose other name is Day, that never tires, with energy and good sense
enough to govern a nation, and who has added more to the (stock \ wealth of the county than sU
others; and Harvey Robb, who goes (or did) to <New York, Albany, Chicago and Philadelphia,
with more cattle and hogs than any man in the county, and who, if not the handsomest man, ia
as good and energetic as many claiming better looks. (He and 'Squire Neal can settle the ques-
tion of good looks, and if it should be a tie, they might divide honors with Billy Holland, or
with John R. Wright, who I know belongs to a good-looking family) ; and that most devoted of
all Methodists, Father Thomas Miller, and I must not forget him or them, James J. (the White
Pigeon) and Margaret, his wife, for they were the friends of everybody, good to the sick, always
well and happy ; and John Lyon, the man of inventive genius, and whose shop and name are
known all over this and adjoining counties; and that stern old Presbyterian, James A. Brown, of
Bear Creek first, then of Bentonsport, could I forget him and his true friendship I should be
indeed most ungrateful ; and I must not piss by Samuel of the red hair — Robinson ; John of
Irish Bend — Parks, who has ** awful" nice apples, an *<awf\il" good farm, is an <* awful'' good
man, and has an *<awfuller" good wife; and then, too, his old neighbors, the Johns, Steeves,
Baggs and McKibben ; and Miner, in name merely, always old enough to take care of himself
since I knew him ; Easling, of the brick house in Harrison, and perhaps the first in the town-
ship; and the sons-in-htw of Jacob Ream, Mussetter and Smith ; and their neighbor and friend,
Lorenzo Ellis; and Brad Ellis, too, and his late neighbor Langford. as good men as we have:
and the taller boys; and Benson and Thomas, of Parmington; John Besecker, Billy Johnson
and George Huffman, of Bonaparte ; and the Rutledges and Penetts — I hope they will live for-
ever ; and Esq. William Hackney, bless him, how he and that other good soul, Sam Merritt,
used to work for old-fashioned Whiggery ; and \Iiles McSurley, who, when last I met him, was
as jolly and hearty as ever, and I believe wealthy ; and why should I forget, for T cannot, that
personification of jollity iuid good cheer, the genial, bluff and rotund Esq. Jonathan Nelson, and
his equally good brother Isaac ; and from the same vicinity the Averys and the Walkers, who
always walked well in Methodist and political paths; that emphatic and truly hospitable pioneer.
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HISTORY OF VAN BUREN COUNTY. 377
Jordan ; and Father Brewster and his well-brought-up family ; and Henry Anson, now gone, but
his boys still among you, of good habits and growing prosperity; and Isaac Yi. McCarty, the
politiGian of the first years, still of Appanoose County, able to use more tobacco than any man
in bis neighborhood; and Dudley Hardy, twice a member- of the General Assembly; and Charles
Jackson, who kept the big hotel at Utica, where we had those big musters; and Father Dibble,
wbose name I mention with reverence, a member of the Second Constitutional Convention, and
a man of as clear a head and honest a heart as ever lived in this or any county ; and that decided
genius of irrepressible TVhig faith, Samuel Hclcomb, near Portland, and the large family of that
name; and those pioneer preachers, Samuel Clark and Milton Jameson, possessing an unction,
eloquence and power seldom found now or at any time in the State or elsewhere; and he of com-
manding presence, big heart, great energy and fine ability in his profession, Dr. J. D. Elbert;
and those men of prowess, Amos Strickland, Theodorus Davis, John and Josephus Medley,
Cbarles Davis, Jehiel Smith; the Billaps, who knew no fear, and many of them preferring a
square fight to a square meal; and those men who have performed so important apart in the well-
being and good name of their respective neighborhoods, Barger, the Watsons and Morrises, of Cedar,
Fordyoes of Union, Wells and Cassady and McTntire of Jackson, Moore and Vanfleet of Chequest,
and Henry, Dodson, Ellis and Thompsons of Vernon ; and I should be thought most remiss if I
should pass Chandler E. Yeager, whom I met at Father Furdom's, as I remember, the first meet-
ing I ever attended in this place, November 16, 1840, who still lives to love his Church and to be
respected by all ; and those physicians of quick movement and great practical sense in their pro-
fession, Ober and Barton ; and the brother of the latter, William H. Barton, and his long-tried
friend and associate, William B. Willes, who, like all of us, is getting old, but who believes, as we
should, in driving dull care away ; and that pioneer Abolitionist, Charles Gardner, at Business
Comer, who was as fearless in the defense of his principles as he was straightforward in his
business habits; and his near neighbor, Riley, who has gone to the old brick structure (Mt. Mo-
riah) regularly each Sabbath for these many years, who throttles vice wherever he sees it, and
has given to his honest father-in-law, Malachi Vinson, over on Indian Prairie, a bevy of grand-
children of which we know neither of them are ashamed ; and then again, James H,, the son of
Samuel Clayton, before named, and his unequaled helpmeet, and where the young people always
loTS to go, and whose invitations to their good cheer and happy home we seniors always accept
irith pleasure ; and, too, the widow of James, who passed to his rest years long gone, known to
us all as Mother Daughrity,* the godmother or grandmother of all the children hereabouts, who
delights in the ofiSces of administering to the woes and sufferings of others, and not less in ex-
pressing her mind most freely if necessity demands it ; and Titus Moss, the father, whose benev-
olent fiuje made you love humanity; and his son, Lloyd, the stillest and quietest, and yet busiest, man
in your county ; and away over by the long-known ** Brattain's Grove," Joseph, of the Children
of Ifirael; and, a little further away, Alexander of the Christian tribe, who, though they take
radically different routes politically, agree in iViendly competition as to which shall have the
tsllest com, the most wheat, and the best farms ; and Father John Goddard, whose name was
the synonym for honest and blunt fti^nkness, whose children bless the name of fSeither, and to
one of whom (Edwin Goddard, Esq.), I most cheerfully acknowledge my great obligation for
many of the facts herewith presented. I say, to these and scores of others whose names, faces
and deeds come trooping into my mind, I should like so much to refer ; but you know and I
know I cannot, for I must hasten on to that conclusion which I am sure you think I should have
reached long since. And with a few more words you shall have it.
I have been frequently asked, as you have, doubtless, why Van Buren County has not
increased more rapidly in population. I will give you one or two reasons. It is certainly not
because the location is undesirable, nor yet because the soil is not fertile. But, in the first
place, there is no large town or city in the county. It is emphatically an agricultural county.
And, in the next place, it is a noticeable fact that it filled up very rapidly at its first settlement.
Thus, in 1838, it was the second county in population, having 8,174, Des Moines being first, and
Van Buren being in advance of Lee or Dubuque. In 1840, it had the largest population, 6,166,
Lee being next and Des Moines third. In 1844, it was third, having then over 9,000. Other
counties just as large did not fill up so rapidly at first ; and hence the subsequent years show a
greater relative increase. This county, it will also be remembered, was the seat of empire — the
capital, so to speak, for several years, of the far-famed Des Moines Valley or Republic. Until
the new settlements west of us opened up, it was the place sought for by those coming into the
Territories. Then most emigrants wanted to get as far south as possible, and this was the " Eldo-
rado." In course of time we had a country west and north, the notions of people as to climate
changed, and this county did not, therefore, get the same proportion as at first of emigrants,
nor could it retain, of course, all those here ; and while the growth has been healthy, and the
advance in wealth very satisfactory, there was no room or ohiince for that marked increase as in
other counties where the settlements were at first sparse. And yet, if you leave out the large
cities in the old counties, such as Keokuk, Burlington, Davenport and Dubuque, you will find
thai this county has kept pace with any other.
However this may be, it is a matter of congratulation that few counties, if any, have been
better managed in their finances, or had better officers. While it may not have as many miles of
•Died at her reddenoe in Keoiauqua, May 6, 187S.
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878 HISTORY OF VAN BUREN COUNTY.
railway, or endeayored by township taxation and county bonds to build railroads, neither hat
it as many ouUianding bonds nor as many masters as some others. It may not haVe as expendTe
public buildings, nor manifest as much so-called public spirit in its improyements ; yet it is a
matter of pride that it had the first organized County Agricultural Society, dating back to 1B41 ;
that the county is surpassed by few in the natural adyantages of coal, stone, water and rich
lands, and has never been afflicted with defaulting public officers, neyer been compelled to hawk
its securities in the market to raise reyenue, seldom haye its warranta been below par, and, as ta
as I know, neyer a dollar lost by an officer's dishonesty. Its schools and churches haye eon-
stantly increased in number, and I doubt whether any county responded more promptly or
nobly to the call of the country for the defense of the flag, or was more generous or liMral in
caring for the soldier's family and children while he was in the field or after he fell in maintun-
\TL% the nation's honor and unity. It has performed no small part in the history of the State.
THE DISTINGUISHED MEN OF VAN BUREN.
No county in the State has sent out a greater number of noted men than
has Van Buren. Appended is a list of those who now come to mind :
George G. Wright, State Senator, Judge and Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, and United
States Senator.
Dr. J. D. Bailey, United States Marshal four years.
Dr. J. D. Elbert, President of the Territorial Council two sessions.
Samuel Elbert (son). Territorial Secretary of Colorado and Acting (}oyemor for a time — since
then appointed Goyernor and elected Supreme Judge of the State.
Elisha Cutler, Jr., Secretary of State two years.
Josiah H. Bonney, Secretary of State two years, and Commissioner of Des Moines Riyer
Improyement for some time.
Paul Brattain, Treasurer of Des Moines Riyer Improyement.
Samuel Parker, President of Oregon Territorial Council.
Edwin Manning, Commissioner of Des Moines Riyer Improyement for oyer two years, and
first successftil nayigator of the riyer to Des Moines City.
Dr. Brainard, Member of the first Board of Education from Harrison County, in the Fourth
Judicial District.
J. C. Knapp, United States District Attorney and District Judge. •
Augustus Hall, Member of Congress, and United States District Judge of Nebraska.
C. C. Nourse, Chief Clerk House of Representatiye, Secretary of Senate, Attorney GeBeral
of the State, and District Judge.
J. B. Howell, United States Senator, and Member of Claims Committee.
H. C. Caldwell, Colonel Third Cayalry, and United States District Judge in Arkansas.
B. F. Elbert, Member of House of Representatiye from Monroe County, Thirteenth General
Assembly.
S. W. Summers, Colonel of Eighth Iowa Cayalry.
P. M. Cassady, Recorder of Public Moneys, and Judge of State District Court, and Member
of State Senate, Polk County.
Madison Dagger, Major and Ciyil Engineer, connected with Des Moines Improyement
Company.
George F. Wright, State Senator from Council Bluffs.
Aaron W. Harlan, in the United States Secret Seryice during the Rebellion.
Paul C. Jefferies, Register Des Moines Improyement Company, and a leading man in Wapello
County at an early day.
J. G. Newbold, Speaker of House of Representatiyes, Lieutenant Goyernor, and at one time
Acting Governor of Iowa.
E. K Valentine, Judge in Nebraska; elected, in 1878, to Congress from there.
J. S. Porter, Lieutenant Colonel Fifteenth Iowa Infantry, County Judge of Wapello County,
and Mayor of Ottumwa.
Hugh Brown, Breyet Lieutenant Colonel of Volunteers, and now in regular army on Gen.
Ord's Staff'.
J. M. Tuttle, Colonel Second Iowa Infantry, Brigadier General United States Volunteers, and
Member of Legislature Fourteenth General Assembly. «
Henry Ford, District Attorney and Judge of District Court, Fourth Judicial District, for
ten years.
Robert Sloan, Judge Circuit Court, now (1878) serving his third term — elected without
opposition.
Wareham G. Clark, Member of Second Constitutional Convention froip Monroe County.
James B. Weaver, Colonel Second Iowa Infantry, General United States Volunteers, Unitjbd
States Assessor, District Attorney, and Member of Congress..
Seth Craig, Warden of Penitentiary, and Member of Assembly.
R. B. Rutledge, Provost Marshal.
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HISTORY OF VAN BUREN COUNTY. 879
N. B. Preeton and John Clark, Members of the General Assembly Arom Monroe Countj.
Henry Stewart and Timothy Day, Members of State Agricultural College Board, and long
■nost prominently connected with State Agricultural Society.
John W. Jones, County Judge of Hardin County, and State Treasurer for four years.
George W. Jones, Member of Thirteenth General Assembly from Polk County.
JosiflSi Clifton, Member qf First State General Assembly ffom Lee County.
George W. McCrary, Member of House and Senate of the State, three times elected to Con-
gress from this District, and Secretary of War under President Hayes.
Edwin 0. Stannard, Lieutenant Goyernor of Missouri, and most prominently connected with
the trade and commerce of St. Louis.
R. T. Dibble, Member of the Missouri Legislature two terms.
Delazon Smith, a prominent politician in Oregon and United States Senator from that State.
H. W. Sample, Commissioner Des Moines Riyer Improyement, and a leader whereyer he
went.
John F. Dillon, Judge of State District and Supreme Courts, and Judge of United St%tes
Oirouit Court.
John F. Sanford, a celebrated surgeon.
Stiles S. Cai^enter, Prosecuting Attorney and District Clerk of Dayis County.
Uriah Biggs, United States Surveyor.
Alexander Henry, Sheriff of Dale County. Mo
Lieut. 0. W. Claflin, graduate of West Point, in regular army.
Capt. L. S. Cutter graduate of West Point, ofiScer in regular army.
S. M. Clark, editor Oate Cdu, Keokuk.
J. H. Gear, Speaker House of Representatiyes, wholesale merchant in Burlington, and Goy-
ernor of the State of Iowa.
Abner Kneeland, one of the scholars and thinkers of his day.
S. T. Caldwell, a member of the Twelfth and Fourteenth General Assemblies fh)m Wapello
County.
J. B. Miller, County Judge and County Auditor of Polk County.
Dayid Ferguson, Member House of Representatiye, Ninth General Assembly from Dayis
County.
Andrew Leach, Member of House of Representatiyes First General Assembly, ftrom Davis
Coonty.
Israel Kister, State Treasurer in 1850 and 1852.
John J. Selman, Member of Second Constitutional Convention, Senator and President of the
First and Senator of the Second General Assembly.
So far as known, the State never lost a cent by the fraud, dishonesty, or
mismanagement of any of these officers, nor the world made worse by their acts
or omissions. There is here an honest population, and they have sent out, as a
role, if not always, honest representatives to fill places of trust.
In addition to the above list there are seventeen editors, nine ministers, five
lawyers, and an endless number of active, leading men in various parts of the
country claiming birth or residence at one time in Van Buren County.
HOW PIONEERS LIVED.
In choosing his home the pioneer usually had an eye mainly to its location,
and for that reason settlers were oftener than not very solitary creatures, with-
out neighbors and remote from even the common conveniences of life. A desir-
able region was sure to have plenty of inhabitants in time, but it was the
advance guard that suflFered the privation of isolation. People within a score of
miles of each other were neighbors, and the natural social tendencies of man-
kind asserted themselves even in the wilderness by eflForts to keep up communi-
cation with even these remote families.
The first business of a settler on reaching the place where he intended to
fix his residence, was to select his claim and mark it off* as nearly as he could
without a compass. This was done by stepping and staking or blazing the lines
as he went. The absence of section lines rendered it necessary to take the sun
at noon and at evening as a guide by which to run these claim lines. So many
steps each way counted three hundred and twenty acres, more or less, the then
le^ area of a claim. It may be readily supposed that these lines were far
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880 HI8T0RY OF VAN BUREN COUNTY.
from correct, but they answered all necessary claim purposes, for it was under-
stood among the settlers that when the lands came to be surveyed and entered,
all inequalities should be righted. Thus, if a surveyed line should happen to run
between adjoining claims, cutting off more or less of the other, the fraction was to
be added to whichever lot required equalizing, yet without robbing the one from
which it was taken, for an equal amount would be added to it in another place»
The next important business was to build a house. Until this was done,
some had to camp on the ground or live in their wagons, perhaps the only shel-
ter they had known for weeks. So the prospect for a house, which was also to
be home, was one that gave courage to the rough toil, and added a zest to the
heavy labors. The style of the home entered very little into their thoughts —
it was shelter they wanted, and protection from stress of weather and wearing
exposures. The poor settler had neither the money nor the mechanical appli-
ances for building himself a house. He was content, in most instances, to have
a mere cabin or hut. Some of the most primitive constructions of this kind
were half- faced, or as they were sometimes called *' cat- faced ** sheds or " wike-
ups,'* the Indian term for house or tent. It is true, a claim cabin was a little
more in the shape of a human habitation, made, as it was, of round logs light
enough for two or three men to lay up, about fourteen feet square — perhaps »
little larger or smaller — roofed with bark or clapboards, and sometimes with the
sods of the prairie ; and floored with puncheons (logs split once in two, and the
flat sides laid up), or with earth. For a fire-place, a wall of stone and earth —
frequently the latter only, when stone was not convenient — ^was made in the
best practicable shape for the purpose, in an opening in one end of the build-
ing, extending outward, and planked on the outside by bolts of wood notched
together to stay it. Frequently a fire-place of this kind was made so capa-
cious as to occupy nearly the whole width of the house. In cold weather,
when a great deal of fuel was needed to keep the atmosphere above freezing
point — ^for this wide-mouthed fire-place was a huge ventilator — ^large logs were
piled into this yawning space. To protect the crumbling back wall against the
effects of fire, two back logs were placed against it, one upon the other. Some-
times these back logs were so large that they could not be got in in any other
way than to hitch a horse to them, drive him in at one door, unfasten the log
before the fire place, from whence it was put in proper position, and then drive
^ him out at the other door. For a chimney, any contrivance that would conduct
the smoke up the chimney would do. Some were made of sods, plastered upon
the inside with clay ; others — the more common, perhaps — ^were of the kind we
occasionally see in use now, clay and sticks, or "cat in clay,** as they were
sometimes called. Imagine of a winter's night, when the storm was having its
own wild way over this almost uninhabited land, and when the wind was roar-
ing like a cataract of cold over the broad wilderness, and the settler had to do
his best to keep warm, what a royal fire this double-back-logged and well-filled
fire-place would hold ! It must have been a cozy place to smoke, provided the
settler had any tobacco ; or for the wife to sit knitting before, provided she had
needles and yarn.. At any rate it must have given something of cheer to the
conversation, which very likely was upon the home and friends they had left be-
hind when they started out on this bold venture of seeking fortunes in a new land.
For doors and windows, the most simple contrivances that would serve the
purposes were brought into requisition. The door was not always immediately
provided with a shutter, and a blanket often did duty in guarding the entrance.
JBut as soon as convenient, some boards were split and put together, hung upon
wooden hinges, and held shut by a wooden pin inserted in an auger hole. As
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HISTORY OF VAN BUREN COUNTY. 381
substitute for window glass, greased paper, pasted over sticks crossed in the
shape of a sash, was sometimes used. This admitted the light and excluded the
air, but of course lacked transparency.
In regard to the furniture of such a cabin, of course it varied in proportion
to the ingenuity of its occupants, unless it was where settlers brought with them
their old household supply, which, owing to the distance most of them had come,
was very seldom. It was easy enough to improvise tables and chairs ; the for-
mer could be made of split logs— and there were instances where the door would
be taken from its hinges and used at meals, after which it would be rehung —
and the latter were designed after the three-legged stool pattern, or benches
served their purpose. A bedstead was a very important item in the domestic
comfort of the family, and this was the fashion of improvising them : A forked
stake was driven into the ground diagonally from the comer of the room, and
at a proper distance, upon which poles reaching from each wall were laid. The
wall ends of the poles either rested in the openings between the logs or were
driven into auger holes. Barks or boards were used as a substitute for cords.
Upon this the tidy housewife spread her straw tick, and if she had a home-made
feather bed, she piled it up into a luxurious mound and covered it with her
whitest drapery. Some sheels hung behind it, for tapestry, added to the cozi-
ness of the resting-place. This was generally called a '' prairie bedstead,'* and
by some the " prairie rascal.'* In design it is surely quite equal to the famous
Eastlake modek, being about as primitive and severe, in an artistic sense, as one
could wish.
The house thus far along, it was left to the deft devices of the wife to com-
plete its comforts, and the father of the family was free to superintend out-of-
door affairs. If it was in season, his first important duty was to prepare some
Sound for planting, and to plant what he could. This was generally done in
e edge of the timber, where most of the verv earliest settlers located. Here
the sod was easily broken, not requiring the heavy teams and plows needed to
break the prairie sod. Moreover, the nearness to timber offered greater conven-
iences for fuel and building. And still another reason for this was, that the
groves afforded protection from the terrible conflagrations that occasionally
swept across the prairies. Though they passed through the patches of timber,
yet it was not with the same destructive force with which they rushed over the
prairies. Tet by these fires much of the young timber was killed from time to
time, and the forests kept thin and shrubless.
The first year*s farming consisted mainly of a " truck patch,** planted in
com, potatoes, turnips, etc. Generally, the first year's crop fell far short of
supplying even the most rigid economy of food. Many of the settlers brought
with them small stores of such things as seemed indispensable to frugal living,
such as flour, bacon, coffee and tea. But these supplies were not inexhaustible,
and once used, were not easily replaced. A long winter must come and go
before another crop could be raised. If game was plentiful, it helped to eke
out their limited supplies.
But even when corn was plentiful, the preparation of it was the next diffi-
culty in the way. The mills for grinding it were at such long distances that
every other device was resorted to for reducing it to meal. Some grated it on
an implement made by punching small holes through a piece of tin or sheet
iron, and fastening it upon a board in concave shape, with the rough side out.
Upon this the ear was rubbed to produce the meal. But grating could not be
done when the corn became so dry as to shell off when rubbed. Some used a
coffee-mill for grinding it. And a very common substitute for bread was
Digitized by VjOOQIC
882 HISTORY OF VAN BUREN COUNTY.
hominy, a palatable and wholesome diet, made by boiling corn in weak lye till
the hull or bran peels off, after which it was well washed, to cleanse it of the
lye. It was then boiled again to soften it, when it was ready for use as occa-
sion required, by frying and seasoning it to the taste. Another mode of
preparing hominy was by pestling.
^ A mortar was made by burning a bowl-shaped cavity in the even end of an
upright block of wood. After thoroughly clearing it of the charcoal, the com
could be put in, hot water turned upon it, when it was subjected to a severe
pestling by a club of sufiScient length and thickness, in the large end of which
was inserted an iron wedge, banded to keep it there. The hot water would
Boften the corn and loosen the hull, while the pestle would crush it.
When breadstuffs were needed, they had to be obtained from lonff distances.
Owing to the lack of proper means for threshing and cleaning wheat, it was
more or less mixed with foreign substances, such as smut, dirt and oats. And
ss the time may come when the settlers' methods of threshing and cleaning
may be forgotten, it may be well to preserve a brief account of them here.
The plan was to clean off a space of ground of sufficient size, and if the earth
was dry, to dampen it and beat it so as to render it somewhat compact. Then
the sheaves were unbound and spread in a circle^ so that the heads would be
uppermost, leaving room in the center for the person whose business it was to
stir and turn the straw in the process of threshing. Then as many horses or
oxen were brought as could conveniently swing round the circle, and these were
kept moving until the wheat was well trodden out. After several " floorings "
or layers were threshed the straw was carefully raked off, and the wheat shoveled
into a heap to be cleaned. This cleaning was sometimes done by waving &
sheet up and down to fan out the chaff as the grain was dropped before it ; but
this trouble was frequently obviated when the strong winds of autumn were all
that was needed to blow out the chaff from the grain.
This mode of preparing the grain for flouring was so imperfect that it is
not to be wondered at that a considerable amount of black soil sot mixed with
it, and unavoidably got into the bread. This, with the addition of smut,
eften rendered it so dark as to have less the appearance of bread than of mud ;
yet upon such diet, ftie people were compelled to subsist for want of a
better.
Not the least among the pioneers' tribulations, during the first few years of
settlement, was the going to mill. The slow mode of travel by ox-teams was
made still slower by the almost total absence of roads and bridges, while such a
thing as a ferry was hardly even dreamed of. The distance to be traversed was
oft;en as far as sixty or ninety miles. In dry weather, common sloughs and
creeks offered little impediment to the teamsters ; but during floods, and the
hreaking-up of winter, they proved exceedingly troublesome and dangerous.
To get stuck in a slough, and thus be delayed for many hours, was no uncom-
mon occurrence, and that, too, when time was an item of grave import to the
comfort and sometimes even to the lives of the settlers' families. Often, a
swollen stream vrould blockade the way, seeming to threaten destruction to
whoever should attempt to ford it.
With regard to roads, there was nothing of the kind worthy of the name.
Indian trails were common, but they were unfit to travel on with vehicles.
They are described as mere paths about two feet wide ; all that was required to
accommodate the single-file manner of Indian traveling.
An interesting theory respecting the origin of the routes now pursued by
many of our public highways is given in a speech by Thomas Benton many
Digitized by VjOOQIC
HISTORY OP VAN BUREN COUNTY. 383
jears ago. He says the buffaloes were the first road engineers, and the paths
trodden by them were, as a matter of convenience, followed by the Indians, and
lastly by the whites, with such improvements and changes as were found neces-
BATj for civilized modes of travel. It is but reasonable to suppose that the
buffaloes would instinctively choose the most practicable routes and fords in
their migrations from one pasture to another. Then, the Indians following,
possessed of about the same instinct as the buffaloes, strove to make no improve-
ments, and were finally driven from the track by those who would.
When the early settlers were compelled to make those long and difficult trips
to mill, if the country was prairie over which they passed, they found it com-
paratively easy to do in summer, when grass was plentiful. By traveling until
night, and then camping out to feed the teams, they got along without much
difficulty. But in winter, such a journey was attend^ with no little danger.
The utmost economy of time was, of course, necessary. When the goal was
reached, after a week or more of toilsome travel, with many exposures and risks,
and the poor man was impatient to immediately return with the desired staff
of life, he was often shocked and disheartened with the information that his
turn would come in a week. Then he must look about for some means to pay
expenses, and he was lucky who could find some employment by the day or
job. Then, when his turn came, he had to be on hand to bolt his own
flour, as in those days, the bolting machine was not an attached part of
the other mill machinery. This done, the anxious soul was ready to en-
dure the trials of a return trip, his heart more or less concerned about the
affairs of home.
These milling trips often occupied from three weeks to more than a month
each, and were attended with an expense, in one way or another, that rendered
the cost of breadstuffs extremely high. If mads in the winter, when more or
less grain feed was required for the team, the load would be found to be so con-
siderably reduced on /reaching home that the cost of what was left, adding other
expenses, would make their grain reach the high cost figure of from three to
five dollars per bushel. And these trips could not always be made at the most
favorable season for traveling. In spring and summer, so much time could
hardly be spared from other essential labor ; yet, for a large fAmilj it was almost
impossible to avoid making three or four trips during the year.
Among other things calculated to annoy and distress the pioneer, was the
prevalence of wild beasts of prey, the most numerous and troublesome of which
was the wolf. While it was true in a figurative sense that it required the ut-
most care and exertion to ^^ keep the wolf from the door," it was almost as true
in a literal sense.
There were two species of these animals — the large, black timber wolf, and
the smaller gray wolf, that usually inhabited the prairie. At first, it was next
to impossible for a settler to keep small stock of any kind that would serve as a
prey to these ravenous beasts. Sheep were not deemed safe property until
years after, when their enemies were supposed to be nearly exterminated.
Large numbers of wolves were destroyed during the early years of settlement
— as many as fifty in a day in a regular wolf-hunt. When they were hungry,
which was not uncommon, particularly during the winter, they were too indis-
creet for their own safety, and would often approach within easy shot of
the settlers' dwellings. At certain seasons, their wild, plaintive yelp or
bark could be heard in all directions, at all hours of the night, creating in-
tense excitement among the dogs, whose howling would add to the dismal
melody.
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884 HISTORY OF VAN BUREN COUNTY.
It has been found, by experiment, that but one of the canine species, the
hound, has both the fleetness and courage to cope with his savage cousin, the
wolf. Attempts were often made to capture him with the common cur ; but
this animal, as a rule, proved himself wholly unreliable for such a service. So
long as the wolf would run, the cur would follow ; but the wolf, being appar>
rently acquainted with the character of his pursuer, would either turn and place
himself in a combative attitude, or else act upon the principle that " discretion
is the better part of valor,'* and throw himself upon his back, in token of sur-
render. This strategic performance would make instant peace between these
two scions of the same house ; and not infrequently, dogs and wolves have been
seen playing together like puppies. But the hound was never known to recog-
nize a flag of truce ; his baying seemed to signify '^ no quarter,*' or at least so
the terrified wolf understood it.
Smaller animals, such as panthers, lynxes, wildcats, catamounts and pole-
cats, were also suflSciently numerous to be troublesome. And an exceeding
source of annyoance were the swarms of mosquitoes which aggravated the
trials of the settlers in the most exasperating degree. Persons have been driven
from the labors of the field by their unmerciful assaults.
THE COUNTY SEAT QUESTION.
Farmington had numerous rivals for the honor of being the county seat. For
two years, or thereabouts, the archives were retained where placed by the orig-
inal act ; but soon an effort was made in behalf of Rochester, Keosauqua and
other points. The Legislature did pass a bill selecting Rochester as the future
seat, but the Governor refused to approve of the act. Finally, the contest was
ended by the adoption and approval of the following bill, in January, 1839 :
Ah Act to relocate the County Seat of Van Buren County ^ and for other purpotet,
SfCTiON 1. Bt it enacted by the Council and House of Representatives of the Territory of
lowa^ That BeDJamin F. Chastain, of Jefferson County, Michael H. Walker, of Lee County, and
Stephen Gearheart, of Des Moines County, be and they are hereby appointed Commissioners to
relocate the county seat of Van Buren County, whose duty it shall be to meet (or a majority of
them) at the town of Keosauqua, in said county, on the first Monday of May next, and prooeed
forthwith to locate a suitable place for the seat of justice of said county, having reference to the
geographical center, convenience and welfare of said county.
Sec. 2. The Commissioners, or a majority of them, shall, within ten days after their meet-
ing at the aforesaid place, make out and certify to the Clerk of the County Commissioners of
Van Buren, under their hands and seals, a certificate containing a particular description of the
situation of the location selected for the aforesaid county seat, together with the deed or deeds
of any grant of land or lands, or bond or hoods for the payment uf money, that may have been
made by any individual or individuals for the benefit of the county.
Sbc. 3. The Commissioners aforesaid shall, before they enter upon their duties, severally
take and subscribe an oath before some person legally authorized to administer the same, viz. :
" I, A. B., do solemnly swear [or affirm] that I am not, either directly or indirectly, interested
in the location of the seat of justice of van Buren County, nor do I own any property in lands
or claims within the said county of Van Buren. So help me God."
Sec. 4. If it shall be shown at any time within one year that the said Commissioners, or
any of them, received any present, gratuity, fee or reward, in any form other than that allowed
by law, or, before the expiration of six months from the time said location was made, becomes
interested in said town, or in any lands in its immediate vicinity, the Commissioner or Commis-
sioners shall, upon conviction thereof, by indictment in the District Court of the county in
which he or they may reside, be guilty of a high misdemeanor, and be forever after disqualified
to vote at any election, or of holding any office of profit or trust within this Territory.
Sec. 5. It shall be the duty of the Commissioners aforesaid to receive, in the name of the
Board of County Commissioners for the county of Van Buren, for the use of the county, any
bond for the payment of money, or deed of land that may be made by any individual or indi-
viduals for the purpose of building public buildings at the said seat of justice. And they shall
receive the sum of |3.00 a day for their services during the time Uiey may be necessarily
employed in making said location ; and also the sum of $3.00 for every twenty miles, going f^m
and returning to their respective homes.
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HISTORY OF VAN BUREN COUNTY. 886
Sec. 6. The District Court of the county of Van Buren shall be held, for the first term
after the passage of this act. at the town of Keosauqua, but forever thereafter at the place
selected as the seat of justice for said county by the provisions of this act.
Sbo. 7. The Commissioners created by this act shall receive pay for their services upon a
presentation of a certificate to the County Commissioners of their services, signed by said
Commissioners, out of any money in the County Treasury not otherwise appropriated.
SkC. 8. Be it further enacted^ That the proprietors of the town of Keosauqua shall, on
or before the Ist day of April next, enter into good and sufficient bonds, with security to be
approved of by the County Commissioners, to the County Treasurer* for the benefit of the said
county, for the sum of $5,000, payable in town lots in the said town of Keosauqua, or other
real estate, at a fair cash value, or cash, or such other materials as the County Commissioners
may deem proper to receive, for the purpose of carrying on or completing the public buildings
in said county.
Sec. 9. The payments to be divided into three equal parts, and paid annually in one, two
and three years.
Sbo. 10. Be it further enacted. That if the said proprietors shall enter into bonds, as pro-
Tided for in the eigthth section of this act, then this act to be null and void, otherwise to remain
in ftiU force and value.
Approved January 26, 1839.
The terms of the bill were complied with, and Keosauqua became and has
ever since remained the seat of justice. Substantial county buildings were
erected in 1839-40, as is shown by the abstract of the proceedings of the Board
of Commissioners given elsewhere.
The apparent conflict of dates between the approval of the bill locating the
seat at Keosauqua and the records of the Board, is explainable on the ground
that the Board Knew of the nature of the bill, and acted rather in anticipation
of its approval by the Governor. It is a well-known fact that all bills are not
signed immediately, through a pressure of business, but sometimes lie for days
awaiting executive action, of which they are certain. The vote of the people
had decided the question of location in 1838, and the passage of the bill was
bat a formality. Hence, when we read that the Board met at Keosauqua Jim-
uary 7, 1839, while the bill was not approved until the 26th of that month, the
inference is that the Board acted advisedly in anticipation of the Governor's
approval.
THE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS.
The first Board of Commissioners met in Farmington. It was composed of
the following members : John Bending, Isham Keith and Enoch P. Blackburn.
The first session was held May 4, 1837. The first work done was to elect
the following ofiScers : Recorder, William Welch ; Clerk, Enoch P. Blackburn ;
Collector, Isaac J. Nowell ; Coroner, Roger N. Cresap ; Assessors, Giles 0.
Sullivan, William Nelson, William Judd ; Road Commissioners, Sanford Burling-
ham, James Hall, Truelove Sparks ; Overseers of the Poor, Asbil Van Sivauk
Robert McElhany ; Fence Viewers, John Newport, Charles Davis, William
Duncan ; Poundmaster, Robert W. Magruder.
On June 17, 1838, the Board allowed " Lewis Alfrey J6 for guarding Isaac
Hcndershott while a prisoner," for the alleged murder of Nathaniel Knapp.
Among the records of the Supervisors is the following quaint piece of work
bearing date of entry April, 1838. The ill-spelling and capitalization are as
per copy :
Kbntdckt, Ciiristain County.
At the Solem GaU of the Baptist Church of Christ Sinking Fork of Little River we have set
apart and ordained oUr Beloved Brother William Bradley By the imposition of hand to Preach
the Gospel and to administer the ordinancis agreeable to the Word of God Wherever his Lot is
OmL
Oct. 22, 1801. FIELDING WOLF
MICAJAH B. ROWLANG—
Pretbatry.
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886 HISTORY OF VAN BUREN COUNTY.
Another is dedicated to '' MicajahB. Rowland, May 25, 1801," and signed
at "Kentucky, Caulwell Co. Fielding Woolf, James Kucker, Presbitry."
The first election ordered by the Board was August 7, 1838, for September 10,
1838, when one delegate to Congress, members of the Council and House of
Representatives of the Legislature of Iowa Territory, one Coroner, one Treaa-
urer, three County Commissioners, one County Assessor, one Recorder and
Constables of the county were to be chosen.
Meanwhile, a contest had arisen over the location of the county seat. B^i-
tonsport, Pittsburg, Rochester, Keosauqua and perhaps, other points labored
for the prize. The question became a political one.
The election referred to was held at Farmington, ^' agreeable to provisions
of the Council and House of Representatives of the Territory of Wisconan,
passed June 22, 1838 ; the two places contending for the seat of justice of the
county of Van Buren, or what was then the Territory of Wisconsin (now Iowa)
being Bentonsport and Keosauqua (this being the name given to the towns of
Van Buren and Des Moines City united), and at that election Keosauqua received
a majority of the whole number of votes given by the people of said county as
the seat of justice (county seat) thereof." The election returns were certified
to by the Board January 9. It is claimed that Pittsburg also contended for the
county seat at that time (Mr. Goddard thinks so). Bentonsport recently clam-
ored for it.
On October 12, 1838, Maryland Jones, one of the Board, was empowered
to take measures toward " securing to this county the quarter-section on which
the seat of justice for said county is located, agreeable to an act of Congress,
granting the right of pre-emption on said quarter to said county.*'
An adjournment was then taken until Monday, January 7, 1839, when the
Board met at Keosauqua.
On Thursday, June 13, 1839, the Board authorized that lots be laid off on
the county quarter and sold at auction, the proceeds of the sale to be applied
toward the erection of public buildings ; the terms of the sale to be one-fourth
cash, one-fourth in six months, one-fourth in twelve months and one-fourth in
eighteen months.
Prior to this, a square building of hewed logs had served as the Jail, ^e
Sheriff's portion being of frame, over which was located the District Court room.
The building, what remains of it, is now used as a wagon-shop.
The superin tendency of the new Jail was given to William Stanley on August
7, 1839, and Henry King was the builder.
The contract for building the Court House was giVen to John Fairman and
James Hall, with the understanding that it should be finished for $6,000, and
within two years from June 1, 1840.
An auspicious event was that which was ushered in August 10, 1840, but
the beginning of the end of which was not until 1846.
On the first date mentioned, the Board ordered that a vote be taken to ascer-
tain whether a convention was desired by the people to discuss the question of
admitting the Territory of Iowa into the Union as an independent State. The
convention was called according to the necessary form of procedure, and dele-
gates were sent to consult with the Members of Congress ; but the scheme fell
through on account of the non-acceptance by Congress of tbB proposition made
with regard to the boundary lines.
In 1841, Union, Hedvolante (now Des Moines), Lick Creek, Van Buren,
Jackson, Farmington, Vernon, Washington, Chequest and Village Townships
were created.
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tizedbyOOOQ
le
HIOTORy OF VAN BUREN COUNTY. 387
The first reward offered for wolves' scalps was made in January, 1841.
This law was rescinded February 11, 1841. Ifotwithstandine the latter action^
Isaac Sutherland, as late as April 6, 1841, ^^ was allowed f2 for two wolves'
Bcalps, killed by him on or about the 20th of February, 1841," ten days after
the repeal of the law.
An action of the Board, Wednesday, January 6, 1847, altered the boundary
line of Lick Greek Township. The change affected the line so as to make it
^^ extend from the east boundary south to the southeast corner of Section 1,
in Van Buren Township ; thence west along the line between Sections 1 and 12,
until the said line intersected the left bank of the Des Moines River ; thence
up the left bank of the said river to the point where the present southern bound-
ary of Lick Creek Township intersected the said river. And further, that the
portion of Van Buren Township included within the boundaries as above altered,
be taken from said Van Buren Township and attached and made a part of Lick
Creek Township."
The first record made of an inquest was May 14, 1856, when the body of
an unknown child was found. The verdict of the jury was that the child came
to its death through felonious means, a string having been tied about its neck.
The jury was composed of John Douds, Daniel McCoy and Simeon Martin.
Ambrose Fitzgerald was the Justice before whom the inquest was held.
EARLY CRIMINAL BVENTS.
The criminal record of Van Buren County is not burdened, either of early
or late years — ^in fact, there is little to make a record from. ' There have been
but few high crimes. The first arrest made to compensate for the shedding of
innocent blood, was that of Lithelus Gillespie, who was arraigned before the
Court, the first of the April term, 1837, on the charge of manslaughter. The
result of a trial was '^ we, the jury, find the prisoner not guilty.' This was
case No. 42 on the calendar.
Then came a case that caused a creat deal of trouble, and finally wound up
in smoke. In April, 1838, Isaac Hendershott was taken into custody on the
charge of allied murder. Read the summing-up of the grand jurors' report:
" Isaac Hendershott, not having the fear of God before his eyes, but being
moved and seduced by the instigation of the devil, on the 11th day of July, in
the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty-seven, at Colum-
bus, upon one Nathaniel Knapp, feloniously, willftilly, and of his malice afore-
thought, did make an assault on the said Nathaniel Knapp (with a certain drawn
sword made of iron and steel, of the value of 50 cents, which he, the said Isaac
Hendershott, in both his hands then and there had and held), in and upon the
left side of the body between the ribs of him, the said Nathaniel Knapp ; and
then and there feloniously, willfully and of his malice aforethought did strike and
thrust, giving the said Nathaniel Knapp, then and there, with the sword afore-
said, in and upon the aforesaid Nathaniel Knapp, one mortal wound of the
breadth of one inch and of the depth of six inches, of which mortal wound the
said Nathaniel Knapp then and there instantly died."
The cause of the afiray is said to have been a dispute which arose between
the two men as to their sleeping apartments. Knapp made a sarcastic remark
to which Hendershott took exceptions and the finale was as related. It is
claimed, however, that the " sword " in question was a cane-sword, or piece of
steel used ii^ the head of a cane.
Hendershott escaped from prison and fled toward Mexico City, but when
twenty-three miles west of Lexington, Mo., report says, he was taken sick and died.
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888 HISTORY OF VAN BUREN COUNTY.
There was also tried a man named John G. McCutchen, during November,
1838, term of the Court, the charge being that he was criminally guilty of de-
stroying written instruments. He was adjudged guilty, and compelled to pay a
fine of $30.
The first indictment found for larceny was against John G. McCutchen,
John Burton and Stephen Baldwin, in April, 1839. The verdict of the Court
was, as per entry on the docket, " Prosecution severed."
The first case of kidnapping was in 1839, when indictments for the alleged
crime were found against Shapely P. Ross, Shapely Walkfork, Benjamin B.
Throop and Giles 0. Sullivan.
A number of indictments were found in those "by-gone" days against
parties for selling liquor to the Indians.
Probably the most notable happening in the annals of Washington and Van
Buren County crime, was in 1845 ; so, because the hissing ball that robbed
a man of his blooming life came but a hair's-breadth of nipping the bud that
the father held in his arms ; so, because in that instance the law would not
allow outsiders to insult its dignity, and the consummation of the chilling crime
came quickly by trial, judgment, sentence, the rope. And, inasmuch as this
was the only execution ever effected in this county, the fact rightly claims a few
lines in history.
The summer of 1845 was the date of the deed, the date in which a young
man named William McCoUy, shot and instantly killed Mr. Don Ferdanand
Coffman, who, with his wife, and carrying a child in his arms, was passing a
cornfield. The crime was committed in Washington County, but a change of
venue was taken and the case came up for a hearing in the Van Buren County
Court, then being held at Keosauqua. The prisoner's plea of *'not guilty " was,
at his request, withdrawn, and he pleaded "guilty." Upon which the Court
sentenced him to be hanged ; which was done on Tuesday, the 13th day of
May, 1845, in the jail-yard.
The diflSculty grew out of domestic troubles. Coffman 's wife and McColly
had eloped together. Coffman had induced her to return ; at which McColly
became offended.
LEGISLATIVE ENACTMENTS.
From the session laws of 1840-47, the following abstract of enactments is
made, showing all of the essential bills passed which affected Van Buren County,
or all of those not given in proper form in other portions of this volume :
January 17, 1840, a bill was approved by the Qx)vernor of the Territory of
Iowa, providing for the settlement of the claim that Des Moines County had
upon the counties of Lee, Van Buren, Henry, Slaughter (Washington), Louisa
and Muscatine, in accordance with an act of the Legislature of Wisconsin Ter-
ritory held at Belmont in 1836. The sentiment was based upon the assess-
ment of property in the several newly-created counties.
The old Territorial road from Black Hawk, Louisa County, to the Missouri
line, through Van Buren County, was relocated, or so much of it as lay between
Bentonsport and the residence of James Robbs in Van Buren County. Syl-
vester Henry, John B. Smith and James A. Brown, Commissioners. Approved
January 16, 1841.
An act approved January 15, 1841, changed the name of Rising Sun to
Pittsburg. The town was surveyed by Uriah Biggs. By a special act, approved
February 17, 1842, that part of the plat " above the mouth of Chequest Creek,
known as Clayton's Addition," was also changed in name to agree with the
main plat. ^
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Gpogle
BISTORT OP VAN BUREN COUNTY. 889
A Territorial road was relocated in July, 1841, from Keosauqua via Rising
Sun (Pittsburg) and Philadelphia, to Fairfield, Jefferson County, or so much as
paased through the estate of James F. Westcott. William D. McBride, Elijah
I^irdom, Sr., and Sewall Kenney, Commissioners.
An act, approved January 2o, 1842, reads :
Be it enacted f ete.^ That the County Commissioners of Van Buren County be, and thej are
hereby authorized and directed, to grant a license to Jesse Wright and Henry Bateman, of said
county, for the term of five years, to keep a ferry across the Des Moines Riyer, opposite Water-
town ; provided^ said Wright and Bateman shall, in all cases, be subject to the laws regulating
ferriee in this Territory.
The bill expressly proyided that this act should not interfere with L. P.
Harris' right to obtain a similar license at any time.
Febraai^ 2, 1842, a Territorial road from Keosauqua to the southern
boundary of the Territory, yia Hale's bridge, on Fox River, and a quarter of a
mile north ,of William Wooden's, on the Wyaconda, was established. John
Cantrel, William Cassady and William Brooks, of Van Buren County, Com-
missioners.
The road from the southeast comer of Section 7, Town 27, Range 8 west,
to Keosauqua, ordered July, 1841, was authorized by special act, January 3,
1843, to be established by the County Commissioners of Van Buren County.
February 6, 1843, the Judge of Probate of Van Buren County was author-
ized to have the records of his office retranscribed, or so much of them as were
written prior to August, 1841.
A Territorial road was established from the north boundary of Missouri, at
the southwest comer of Section 9, Town 67 north. Ranee 8 west; thence west
to southeast comer of Section 36, Town 68, Range 9 ; thence west eighty rods ;
thence to James Burns' smith-shop ; thence the shortest and best route to Keo-
sauqua. Charles Dailey and Thomas Cox, Commissioners. Samuel Gilland,
Surveyor.
February 13, 1843, a Territorial road was established from Birmingham, via
the Colony in Jefferson County, to Indian Agency. William Shepherd, Rob-
ert Rutlidge and John I. Mudget, Commissioners.
In 1843, that part of the road from Fort Madison, Lee County, to lowa-
ville, between Hiram Holmes' and the latter place, was resurveyed by E. A.
Boyer, John Saylor and William Meacham.
The Farmington Insurance Company was incorporated February 17, 1842,
with a capital of not less than $50,000, nor more than $500,000, on the stock
plan. Jonas Houghton, Isaac A. Le Fever, Jesse Wright, Lawrence Scott and
Solomon Beckley were designated Commissioners to open the stock subscription-
books. The Company was empowered to write all varieties of risks, on sea or
land, loan money at not more than 10 per cent interest, and re-insure their risks,
as is customary. The business was placed under the management of a Board of
Directors, consisting of five. In short, the Company was a regularly organized
and full-fledged concern.
By an act approved February 17, 1842, all that tract of land recorded by
James Hall k Co. as the town of Keosauqua, and described as the northwest
quarter of Section 36, Town 69, Range 10, was duly incorporated as the " City
of Keosauqua." It was the usual incorporating act, defining the powers of the
Mayor and Councilmen.
By an act approved December 19, 1843, John Godard and Jesse Wright, of
Van jSuren Countv, and Van Caldwell, of Wapello County, were appointed
Commissioners to locate a Territorial road from Farmington, via Hartford,
B
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890 HISTORY OP VAN BUREN COUNTY.
Green's mill and Wood's mill to " Autumwa " (the old way of spelling the
name). The Commissioners were ordered to meet at Farmington on the fiist
Tuesday in April, of that year, and were duly cautioned as to observing the best
interests of the settlers in the two counties.
A special act, approved January 25, 1844, ordered the County Commis-
sioners of Van Buren to allow Thomas Summerlin, Collector for said county,
^' such time as they may deem reasonable for said Collector to make return of
the tax-list of said county, placed in his hands for collection, for the year 1843,
provided that the time did not extend beyond January 1, 1845." The Board
was authorized to postpone the sale of lands or lots in the county, for delinquent
taxes of 1843, not to extend bevond the first Monday in December, 1844. The
act also provided for the Board s fixing the date of the tax sales for that year.
February 5, 1844, Robert Merchant and Levin N. English, of Davis County,
and James Jordan, of Van Buren County, were appointed Commissioners to
locate a Territorial road from lowaville, on the Des Moines River, " to a point
on the line of the State of Missouri, where the Mormon trace crosses said Une.''
The Commissioners met at lowaville on the first Monday in May, 1844. The
road was ordered to be laid out " via the residences of William Wooden and L.
N. EngUsh."
February 7, 1844, James Hall, of Van Buren, William Ingersoll, of Jefferson,
and Jacob Marshall, of Wapello, were appointed Commissioners to lay out a
Territorial road from lowaville to Autumwa. They were ordered to meet on
the first Monday in May, of that year.
February 13, 1844, John Godden, Samuel Clark, John Groom, Archibald
McDonald and P. M. Janney were given two years additional time in which to'
construct a dam and lock at Pittsburg across the Des Moines River.
February 14, 1844, Samuel Morton, St. Clair GriflBn and John Arrowsmith,
of Van Buren County, were appointed Commissioners to locate a Territorial
road from Keosauqua to the county seat of Davis County ; thence to the county
seat of Appanoose County, or as near the center of that county as practicable ;
thence to the west line of that county. The Commissioners were ordered to
meet at the house of Solomon Richardson on the first Monday in June, and
begin the road at his place. The road already established out of Keosauqua,
via Ely's Ford, on the Des Moines River, between Keosauqua and Richardson's,
was to form that portion of the new road.
The old road from Fort Madison, in Lee County, to lowaville, was ordered
reviewed and established in August, 1844. Benjamin Saylor and Joel Avery
were appointed Commissioners.
February 15, 1844, the name of Hartford was changed to that of Fleming.
A joint resolution was passed by the Legisluture February 14, 1844,
requesting the establishment of numerous weekly mail-routes in the State.
Among them one from Fox Post Office, Van Buren County, to Davis Court
House, thence to center of Appanoose County.
Uriah Biggs, of Van Buren, was appointed, by the Legislature, Subagent
for that county of the University lands.
In 1845, a Territorial road was established by Samuel Swearingen and
Israel Kister, of Davis County, and John B. Wilson, of Van Buren, from the
Sullivan line of Missouri, where the road from Keosauqua to Churchville
crossed ; thence on the divide between Fox River and Indian Creek via Fox
Post Office, Sabastian Streeter's and L. A. Nelson's, keeping the divide between
Fox River, Cherrynest and Soap Creeks, to the western line of Davis County.
The Commissioner were ordered to meet on the first Monday of July.
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HISTORY OF VAN BURPN COUNTY. 391
January 15, 1846, Elisha Center, Jr., Clerk of the District Court for Van
Buren County, was authorized to refile, transcribe and arrange all papers, books
and documents in his ofiSce.
In 1847, a State road was laid out from West Point, in Lee County, to
Bonaparte. Jacob Henkle, Sr., and Jacob Grewell, of Lee County, and Giles
Wells, of Van Buren, Commissioners. Ordered to meet the second Monday in
April.
A State road was established, in 1847, from Wood's Mills, in Van Buren
County, to Bloomfield, in Davis County. John Hale, of Van !Buren, James
Hawkins and Reason Wilkerson, of Davis County, Commissioners. Ordered to
meet the first Monday in May.
A State road was laid out between lowaville to Lancaster, Keokuk Co.,
by way of Creaseville, in 1847. Michael Peibler and Jacob L. Sears, of Jeffer-
son County, and Joel Skinner, of Keokuk County, Commissioners. Met in
April.
A State road was laid out, in 1847, from Portland to Bloomfield. Banks
Winton and Adam Row, of Davis, and James S. Parks, of Van Buren, Com>
missioners.
David Ferguson was appointed agent to select two townships of land for the
State University, and was allowed $2 per day for his actual time thus employed.
The ci^ of Farmingtan was incorporated, by act of the State Legislature,
approved February 22, 1847.
INCIDENT IN THE LIFE OF WAREHAM G. CLARK
The sketch here given serves to illustrate the dangers and hardships attend-
ing the settlement of this region, even as late as 1842.
In the year 1840, William W.- Rankin emigrated from La Fayette, Ind.,
and located on a temporary or small claim near the extreme western line of the
then defined Government lands. The treaty of 1837 opened up to claimants
a large area of lands which had been, prior to that date, the stamping-grounds
of the Indians. It is necessary to merely allude to this limit here, as the sub-
ject is properly treated in another portion of the work.
When Van Buren County was geographically defined, the western boundary
extended to a point within the ceded territory. A strip of land was still left
west of the county about a mile and a half in width. This strip lay in what
afterward became, subsequent to the Indian treaty of 1842, the county of Davis.
The strip was attached to Van Buren County for all judicial and ofiScial pur-
poses, iut at the period of which we write was without distinctive title.
The year 1840, was a comparatively late one in the settlement of Van
Buren, but the attached wild lands had not received much benefit from the
civilizirig influences of the influx of pioneers in the eastern and central part of
Van Buren. West of the county line all was a wilderness.
It will be remembered by the early settlers that the general laws of the
country forbade encroachments on the Indian lands by white men. Location
of claims could not be made except at the hazard of loss of property, if not at
the peril of life. Timber could not be cut, nor could game be pursued by
whites without risking severe punishment. It is follv to assert that the laws
defensive of the rights of the red man were fully observed ; for it is a known
fact that timber was stripped from the eastern boundary, and that many a vent-
uresome hunter added to the zest of his sport by combining the excitement of
the chase with a vigorous watchfulness for the steal thv red man. Had an
Indian detected a poacher on his domain, the latter would have been summarily
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892 HISTORY OF VAN BUREN COUNTY.
diflposed of. This fSsict is corroborated by the stories told of hair-brtadth escapes
of hunters under such circumstances.
Nor were hunters the only violators of the law of trespass. Some men,
foreseeing the advantages of early possession, were reckless enough to make
settlers' claim to some of the best locations, just across the boundary, and erect
thereon log cabins. The class which carried matters to such an extreme,
encountered more than the hostility of outraged Indians ; for at that time the
Government made a show of protecting poor Lo in his rights. A system of
espionage was maintained after a fashion commensurate with the importance of
the case and the crudity of the times. It is not to be supposed that the most
thorough watchfulness was observed, for that would be attributing to the Gov-
ernment a higher degree of paternal feeling than it has ever manifested ; but
the appearance of authority was kept up by the appointment of agents and the
occasional visitation of suspected localities by those properly empowered repre-
sentatives of the Great Father at Washington.
The men who actually made claims on the Indian territory were, very
naturally, persons of the most heedless disposition. The pleasure of making
locations there consisted fully as much in the consciousness of law violated, as
it did in the sense of semi-proprietorship. It is likely that some of these men
were connected with the organized gangs of horse-thieves and counterfeiters
which infested the West at that time, and found more freedom there for the
prosecution of the latter part of their nefarious trades, as well as a greater
immunity from the law of the better settled counties of the Territory. The
cabins of such '^ claimants " may have been places of refuge for dangerous men,
when pursued by the oflBcers of the law. A sort of friendship may have
existed between some of the white renegades and the Indians, which served as
a protection to them. At all events, whether these conjectures be reasonable
or not, it is certain that the squatters on Indian lands dreaded the white men
more than the Indians, and were always ready to defend their wilderness homes
from the agents of the Government.
When Mr. Rankin located in the narrow strip of land adjacent to Van
Buren County, he did so with the intention of seeking a better site as soon as
it was possible to do so with safety. He was residing on his claim, which was
three miles of the present village of Drakeville, in the year 1842.
In 1840, W. G. Clark, who figured so largely in the early history of Mon-
roe County, cave up the idea of spending his life in New York City, where he
had resided ^r some ten years, and concluded to seek his fortune in the West.
The Territory of Iowa was regarded by the young New Yorker as the further-
most limit of the desirable country, or, at all events, far enough away from the
whirl of the metropolis to be an available prospecting-ground. He prepared to
shake Eastern dust from his feet and join the great army of emigrants which
was then moving westward. Among the supplies purchased by him, as a neces-
sary preliminary to fortune-hunting, was a pair of very fine bay horses. The
team was not only a particularly good one, but it was also a decidedly notice-
able pair, because of size and marks. They stood eighteen hands high, were
very speedy travelers, and, more remarkable than all else, had been treated
to the " docking process.** Their tails were cut short after the fashion of that
time. In the West, the few teams met with were allowed their normal quantity
of caudal appendage, and the introduction of a pair of big '^bob-tailed ** bays
caused considerable comment among the pioneers of the new country.
Mr. Clark came on to Iowa, ana entered the southern portion of the Terri-
tory. He was in no special haste to locate permanently, and devoted his time
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\
' to going about from settlement to settlement. Wherever he went, his fine tyeam
excited remark, and he was soon known throughout Van Buren County. His
horses were also known in the entire region.
During the course of his investi^tion of the country, Mr. Clark went into
the attached portion of Van Buren County, and there formed the acquaintance
of Mr. Rankin, wife and daughter. The year 1842 found Mr. Clark not only
a friend of the Ranlcins, but a still more particular guest at their house, for he
had become engaged to the daughter. The marriage day was not decided upon
at once, as it was deemed essential to first select a site for a home. Thus the
spring of 1842 beheld Mr. Clark more eager than ever for a speedy termination
of his protracted search for a claim. The Indian treaty of 1842 was pending,
but no locations could then be made on the beautiful lands contained in the
reserve. The sight of the rolling prairies and beautiful groves was too tempt-
ing to be withstood, and Mr. Clark determined to make a tour of examination
in anticipation of the time when he could legally lay claim to a farm site
thereon.
One day in the late spring, Mr. Clark persuaded the Rankins to join
him in a short excursion over the Indian lands, with the view of aiding
him in his ultimate choice of a home. The famous team was hitched to
a comfortable spring-wagon, and the two ladies, Mrs. and Miss Rankin^
were snugly seated for a genuine camping-out trip. The party was provided
with necessaries in the way of blankets, etc., but only a limited amount of
provisions were taken, as it was not intended to remain out more than two or
three days.
The first day's journey was a delightfril one. The party had driven about
sixteen or seventeen miles through a region in a perfect state of nature, and at
one of the most charming seasons of the year. Night overtook them just as
they came in sight of a deserted log cabin. The discovery of such a building,
where reason and law taught them to suppose no building stood, was a surprise
indeed. The men made a careful inspection of the premises, and concluded
that some* squatter had ventured on the reserve, but had become tired of his
claim and had forsaken it. Mr. Rankin made the most of their apparent good-
fortune, and proceeded to arrange a snug sleeping-place in the cabin for the
women. He and Clark fitted up a bed in the wagon for themselves. The
horses were tied in a clump of trees some twenty rods from the wagon, and
there left in supposed security for the night.
The weary travelers were soon fast asleep. Mr. Clark says that he has no
idea just how long he slept, but he was awakened in the night by the restless-
ness of his horses. He thought nothing of the disturbance, however, and pro-
ceeded to compose himself for another nap. Later in the night he was again
aroused, but this time by hearing one of his horses break his halter and dash
off over the prairie at high speed. Even then his suspicions of evil were not
aroused, because he was firm in his belief that no human beings, save them-
selves, were within miles of his team. Again he laid his head down, but could
not sleep soundly. For a short time all was quiet, when suddenly the remain-
ing horse broke loose and scudded away to join its mate. The night was so
dark that search was impossible then, and Mr. Clark concluded that he would
wait until daylight before beginning his tramp. He thought his horses had
tone but a short distance out on the prairie, where they would soon eat their
11 and remain quietly until he could capture them. He noticed that neither
Mr. Rankin nor the women had been awakened by the disturbance, and that
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394 HISTORY OF VAN BUREN COUNTY.
confirmed him in his determination to await until he could reasonably call upon
Mr. R. for assistance.
Mr. Clark did not sleep again that night, and as soon as it was daybreak
he silently arose, without awakening Mr. Rankin, and went over to where his
team haa stood. The high grass was trampled down in one direction, and
thither he went until he could obtain a commanding view of the surrounding
country.
He could see that the horses had gone eastward, and the first idea that
occurred to him was that they had started back toward the settlement from
whence they had come. Mr. Clark felt that every moment was precious, and
that he could scarcely afford the time required to return to camp and arouse
his friends. If he kept on at once, he might soon overtake the team and get
back before the camp was awake. He had taken no food with him, however,
and a long tramp was imprudent ; but he would go a short way further and
then, if he saw no traces of his horses, he would so back to camp and prepare
for a thorough search. So on he pushed, through the wet, harsh prarie grass
for some distance. The heavy tread of the horses had left a deep impress in the
sod and the rank vegetation was bent and twisted by their rapid movements.
Along this trail Mr. Clark hurried, expecting every moment to reach some point
from which he could discover more encouraging prospects. Suddenly he came
upon a blind track over the prairie. The newly-made trail of his horses ceased,
but along the older path he saw the hoof-marks of his team. But that was
not all. Side by side with his own horses, another animal had ran from this
point on. From the size of the track, Mr. Clark concluded that it must have
been an Indian pony.
The discovery of this alarming evidence of the cause of the stampede did
not create any unpleasant feelings in Mr. Clark's mind. A more experienced
Westerner would have retraced his steps at once and aroused the camp ; but Mr.
Clark was new to the ways and dangers of the West. He had come from a
region where crime was guarded, regulated and spied, upon by professionals ;
where it was not incumbent upon every citizen to play many parts in turn.
He did not understand woodcraft or know that detective work w&s a part of a
pioneer's duty. He was not a Leatherstocking, or to the wilderness bom.
Hence, when the third hoof-print was discovered, he merely surmised that some
Indian had gone that way the day before. He did not associate the contiguity
of tracks as cause and effect.
By this time, Mr. Clark had gone so far that returning without his team
seemed impossible. So, on he went. On and on he pushed, now losing the
trail and anon finding it, until it became broad day. High noon found him
still rambling on, hungry and footsore, but determined to work out the salva-
tion of his favorite animals.
When the meridian of day was passed, and the sunlight fell from the west-
ward, stray patches of cloud occasionally obscured the rays. These shadows
were grateful to the weary man, who did not then realize the awftil danger of
becoming hopelessly lost on the trackless prairie or in the wild growth of trees
that bordered some stream.
As night settled down, the clouds increased in density and concealed the
sun entirely. The inexperienced young man, deprived of the only sure director,
was left in total ignorance of his whereabouts. His long fast of nearly twenty-
four hours, began to telf upon his unaccustomed muscles. A man bred in city
ways cannot endure the privations of wild life like those who are inured to such
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HISTORY OP VAN BUREN COUNTY. 895
hardships. The comparative inactivity of mercantile life had made Mr. Clark,
'who was not thirty years of age at the time of which we write, little fitted for a
protracted tramp through the woods. He naturally could not husband his strength,
nor could he practice any of the many physical economies known to
Kunters.
In this pitiable plight, night found the wanderer. He had long before that
given up search for the trail of his horses, for he had learned that self-preser-
vation was Nature's first law. At last, exhausted and half-despairing, he set
down upon an old log and turned his coat collar about his neck. Compressing
Iiimself into as small a compass as possible, he tried to pass the night. Imagine
the scene! A young man, who but a day before saw life stretching out
pleasantly in anticipation before him, sound in mind and body, and with every
reasonable expectation of prosperity, now lost in the wilderness, without the
slightest ray of hope, alone in the darkness and the rain, with the prairie
winds whistling and groaning around him as though to aggravate his sense of
terror at his situation, and chilling him to the marrow as it drove the gusts of.
rain upon his unprotected head. Think of that long, dreary night, which
seemed interminable to him. Added to all the imaginary dangers, were the
ever-present pangs of hunger, gnawing at his vitals and weakening him minute
by minute.
If ever the daylight was welcomed by mortal in distress, surely that which
told the hero of this sketch the east from the west was. The long hours which
succeeded the rising of the sun behind a gray and crimson bank of clouds were
but repetitions of those of the preceding day. Early in the morning, the rain
began to fall, and continued ceaselessly day and night. The tall prairie grass,
which cut like knife-blades, soon wore away the fine cloth pants which Clark
then wore, leaving the flesh naked to their cruel teeth. In self-protection, he
bound leaves about his le^s, and plodded on, not knowing whither. More than
once, a bird, startled by the strange apparition of an unknown being, flew from
her nest, revealing the brood of unfledged young within. The instinct to
devour those little birds was strong ; but the force of civilized habits overcame,
for the time, the sava(i;e nature of man. Now and then, an elm-tree was found,
and from the inner bark of it the famished man ate greedily. Wild strawberry
leaves, and such vegetation as was known to be edible, formed the staple of his
unsatisfactory diet.
Again night shut down upon him, and despair hovered over the
almost desperate man. In the darkness he heard the weird cry of noc-
turnal birds. His cars were keen to detect unnatural sounds. Above his
hard resting-place rang out the terrifying shriek of a panther, and in the
distance the barking of wolves could be distinctly heard. In the darkness he
arose and moved cSK)ut, impressed with a sense of greater security if in
motion.
Day succeeded night. Another weary' march, another fruitless search
for traces of human habitation. Again the sun sank and shut out the
monotonous landscape. The wanderer gathered boughs and made a rude
shelter from the piercing wind. Sleep forsook him, and a long watch for light
b^an.
Three days had passed since he had eaten Christian food. The
fearful thought that he had gone from his friends without acquainting them
of his purpose intensified his agony of mind and body. The horses gone
and he himself missing must have aroused the strangest thoughts among
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896 HISTORY OF VAN BUREN COUNTY.
his friends. The morning came at last, but it found him in nearly an ex-
hausted frame.
Fortune at last smiled upon the persistent efforts made by Mr. Clark. Had
the last day of his experiences in the wilderness ended like those which pre-
ceded, this story would have been far different in character. A tale of secret
disappearance, a few bleached human bones, discovered by some settler on the
spot, and an unraveled mystery, would have been the leading points. As it
proved, the search made for a habitation led to the discovery of a cabin on the
plains, ii fierce dog bounded out to attack the poor, tattered man, as he stag-
gered up to the door and called for aid. The settler came to his rescue, and
soon supplied him with food. His life was saved.
Mr. Clark remained a short time at the cabin, and then pushed on toward
where he learned the campers must be. The settler aided in the work of
re-uniting the separated friends. As good luck would have it, Mr. Rankin waa
soon seen coming toward them, and the story of Mr. Clark's bewilderment and
escape was speedily told.
It was afterward ascertained that Mr. C. traveled some twenty miles or
more from the camp, and that at least three times that distance must have been
traversed by him in his wanderings.
The sequel to this storv is fully sa interesting as the account here given
of the experiences of Mr. C. The pony-track seen in the grass on the first
day satisfied the settlers that Mr. Clark's horses had been stolen. The amateur
detectives took up the clue from the known occupants of the cabin where the
partv camped, the fact of the absence of the men, etc., and followed the trail
south, into Missouri. The peculiar docking of the horses' tails, the large size
and fine appearance made it an easy task to trace the animals out. Near Lan-
caster, Mo., the team was recovered, and a man named Shaffer was arrested by the
posse, charged with the crime. A fellow named Wooden was suspected of
complicity in the matter, but he was not proved guilty.
chaffer was taken by force and brought into Van Buren County. As the
posse had no warrant to take him in Missouri, he was allowed to go free on
Van Buren soil, and then immediately arrested on a l^al process. The crime
for which he was taken having been committed on Indian territory, which
was not within the jurisdiction of the Van Buren District Court, necessitated
his trial at Fort Madison, in the United States District Court. Shaffer was
confined at Keosauqua pending the required preliminary proceedings, and
thence taken to Fort Madison. There the trial resulted in a verdict of
guilty. The law did not provide incarceration for such offenses, but it did not
allow a total relinquishment of a prisoner proven guilty. The verdict, in com-
pliance with the general statute, was the infliction of twenty-odd lashes upon
the bare back. Accordingly, the proper oflBcer proceeded to carry out the
finding of the Court. Shaffer was stripped, and the ^lash was heartily laid on
his quivering flesh. This was probably the last public whipping ever adminis-
terea in the Territory under orders of a lawful court. Judge Lynch often
ruled such punishment ; but the more civilized ofiScers of the regular judiciary
adopted a less summary method of punishment. The whipping was done in
1843.
The place where Mr. Clark was lost is now known as Hacklebamey, in
Davis County.
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HISTORY OP VAN BUREN COUNTY. 897
POEM.
rritt«n for and rettd httlon the Old Settlers of Van Baren CouDty, at their Annual Meeting, at Keoeanqna, Iowa
Aagatt 19, 1874.
BY KATE HARRINGTON.
Kind friends, 'twas something new for me to say
I'd meet the dear Old Settlers here to-day.
*Tis passing strange I should consent to oome.
To leave the .privacy of hearth and home,
And thus present a paradox to you —
A maiden effort at full forty-two.
Yet 'tis appropriate — I mean the age —
For veteran soldier, nor yet gray-haired sage,
K' er looks for fresh young spring to re-appear
When autumn strews the ground with leaflets sere.
Life's soft October, with its golden glow,
Brings back to us the vanished long ago.
The eyes that followed us, the hands we prest.
The smile that thrilled us and the voice that blessed.
From countless homes. Old Settlers, have there passed
Lives all too beautiful and bright to last ;
The dear ones cherished in our bosom's core
Who wait for us till life's brief dream is o'er.
This ground is hallowed. Though our mortal sight
May not behold the ladder from yon height
Let softly down, that shining ones may stream
Along its path, as in the patriarch's dream.
Still do they come, their white robes gleaming there
The sunlight shimmering through their golden hair ;
All silently they join your waiting throng,
Axkdf hushed and solemn, list to prayer and song.
Go with me first to quiet Farmington.
From my old home my flight shall be begun,
And ere my foncy takes its circling round
Kneel with her there on consecrated ground.
With the low murmur of the near Bes Moines,
In solemn requiem let our voices join ;
Our footfalls, too, must take a softer tread
Above the sacred sods that hold our dead.
"Us most like home — that city on the hill.
Whose inmates sleep so peaceiVilly and still.
'Tis there the oldest settler calmly rests.
With still hands folded on his pulseless breast.
Upon the marble, gleaming pure and white,
We read the names of Alfrey, Dickey, Wright,
Swaiey and Kelley, Bolter, Good and Shreeves,
From slumbers roused not by the whispering leaves ;
AH undisturbed by the green boughs that moan
Their ceaseless miserere o'er each stone.
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598 HIHTORY OP VAN BUREN COUNTY.
Oh ! stout the hearts beyond the ocean's wayes,
Who left, on England's shores, their fiitthers' grayes ;
Who oame, Columbia's wilderness to tread
Without the sacred ashes of their dead ;
Who felt that neyermore might lips be pressed
To flowers that bloomed aboye a mother's breast.
Who left behind, mid throes of anguish wild,
The consecrated mound that held a child.
'T would matter little where my steps might rove
» Did not this magnet draw — the gravet I love.
In Farmington, a score of years ago,
* When times were easy— locomotion slow —
We used to be so quietly content :
We wondered what life's hurried action meant.
'Twas Smith and Barton through that peaceful calm,
But when the action came 'twas Smith and Schramm,
For, with the railroad came a change of work,
And pills and powders must gtye way to pork.
There's many a sturdy farmer here to-day
Who took his porkers there with loud display,
And, home returning with his merchandise.
Displayed to wife's and daughter's wondering eyes
The lovely dresses, they had oft been told
Would surely come the day the pork was sold.
Republicans I if any man you seek
To prove your doctrine, take old Dr. Meek !
I heard him at the opening of the war.
When every word he uttered left a scar.
You see, just then, we didn't quite agree.
And so he made his opening charge on me.
Am I disloyal ? Wait, and hear me through,
And then pass sentence, ye who donned the blue.
The upward growth of Farmington was planned
When Charley Gleckler left the Fatherland ;
For her it were indeed a sad afi^r
Had he not settled permanently there,
And with him all such men as Tuttle, Bower,
Perry and Whitlock, Anderson and Tower,
Cooley and French, with Campbell, Browning, Rioe,
Stoddard and Miller, Thompson, Ringer, Price,
Manning and Batenian, Church and Kings the twain,
Ooodin and Davidson, Flood, Willis, Hayne,
And dear old Deacon Smith, whose blindness here
Will make Heaven's cloudless radiance dawn more dear.
If Henry Benson e^r moves away,
^ Twill be for Farmington a sorry day.
This much I prophesy ; and, more than that,
'Twill be a blow to every Democrat.
The party, too, would feel a heavy shook
Were they compelled to lose the old man Brock.
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HISTORY OF VAN BUREN COUNTY. 399
George Whittall would be apt to miss hinl most.
But, crowded with the duties of a host,
He might not grieve as men of leisure do,
But, rushed with business, work his sorrow through.
Hail to inventor — Dibble is the man
With hand to fiMhion and with brain to plan.
Like old Qoliath, tallest of the braves.
Van Byren cries, ** Gomest thou to me with staves ? "
And Dibble answers, wiih triumphant shout,
'' I come ; just see how fast I turn them out.
My last improvement you have not yet seen ;
It crowns mine as the Model Stave Machine."
A passing glance is all my space allows
Of Jimmy Thomas, driving home his cows.
And dear old Aunty, weak and pale to-day,
Straining the milk, and bearing it away
To cellar cool, where cream would shortly rise
As golden as our glorious sunset skies.
And Frederick Rueckmeyer's kindly hand appears ;
I've watched it oft, through bitter, blinding tears;
For when, each time, the coffin's sable lid
dosed o'er, and a white face in darkness hid.
That sympathizing hand would tremble so
I knew one pitying heart could feel my woe.
If upon Seth Craig you wish to call.
You'll have to venture near a prison-wall.
Ah ! Good Samaritan, your kind heart grieves,
Perchance, for him who fell among the thieves.
Yet, spare your sympathy, or else divide
With Pharisee, who seeks the other side.
He's only Warden of the thieving clan —
An honest, upright, generous-hearted man.
Who puts their deeds of infamy to shame
By pointing to his own untarnished name.
Come,' Harvey Adams, make the closing prayer,
And then dismiss the group assembled there.
The Reaper has not passed his golden grain,
Some ripened shocks, though scattered, yet remain ;
They, with the aged Sower, waiting stand
For their ingathering to the better land.
Never be Lawrence by the brave forgot,
While she can claim as hers O. H. P. Scott !
Like ancient kinsman, when the pibroch rung.
With sword in belt, carbine ftrom shoulder flung,
Calling young Strawn — the eldest of his clan,
He went as Captain — every inch a man I
He fought as heroes fight, while near him stood
The son, whose valor showed his father's blood.
He rose to Colonel's rank, nor asked release.
Furlough nor rest, until the dawn of peace.
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400 HISTORY OF VAN BURBN COUNTY.
But, ah! I know who suffered most I ^Twas she.
The wife and mother, who so silently
Waited and watched in her deserted home
With bursting heart, and lips all white and dumb,
Fearing when battle's roar had died away,
To read their names coupled with " killed to-day."
1 watched her through those years of dread suspense^
And when, at last, there came a recompense —
The glad return of husband and of son —
I felt her share of victory had been won,
Her faith been tried by sacrifice as grand
As heaven required at the old patriarch's hand.
And hers but one of twice ten thousand hearts
Wounded and tortured by those barbed darts —
The arrows of suspense that rankled there,
The spears of doubt, the wounds of black despair.
Oh, mothers, daughters, wives, your country's weal
Was purchased not alone by shot and steel !
Stand forth, ye braves I Speak out, each dauntless soul !
Answer, if present, as I call the roll I
Are Wilkins, Johnson, and brave Cutler here?
Do Cy. and Tillman Langford reappear.
As, after fourteen days of travel sore,
They stood within the Union lines once more ?
If he be absent, soldiers, search the pnurie,
And bring old trusty Major John McCrary !
He flinched not 'neath the rain of shot and shell.
Had more engagements than a modem belle.
Fulfilled them all, yet never once was stung
By questions of his faith in Brigham Young.
Captain Leroy S. Elbert answers not.
Yet never by his bravery forgot !
Entwined with laurel and embalmed with bay.
Our memories fold it tenderly away.
If Hoskins and the Messrs. Brown are here.
Let them arise ; and brave Lieutenant Muir^
Receive your share of glory with the rest,
You, who with Sherman to Atlanta pressed !
And Thatcher, too, who joined that living wall,
Built of the bravest hearts the North could call.
A little east of old Van Buren's heart,
You strike against a rib— a bony-part (Bonaparte) —
And there, Old Settlers, you may fondly dwell
Upon the memory of Van Caldwell.
The Old Dominion gave his great heart birth,
Van Buren cherished his exalted worth.
And Iowa, to consecrate her trust,
Unveiled her boson to receive his dust.
With pride and pleasure do we turn to view
What persevering energy will do.
The Meek are blessed, and for their quiet worth,
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HISTORY OP VAN BUREN COUNTY. 401
Says prophecy » ** they shall inherit earth."
Their flMtory, with loom and flying-wheel,
Attests their industry, while years reyeal
What patient, unremitted toil may claim
The title to an honest, upright name.
Good Dr. Cresap rises at my call,
His dapple gray, old saddle-bags and all ;
His finger on the pulse, his solemn guise,
For which you all pronounce him wondrous wise.
Josiah Clifton with the brothers Scott,
The Keiths and Reeds can neyer be forgot.
And Wrigglesworth and Singleton and Lee,
With Warner, Smith, Ray, Richardsons the three,
And Doans, Ellis, Langford, Boston, Stotts
{To saye the time, I give them thus in lots),
And Reynolds,' Bo^er, Claflin Enerick,
Johnson and Stewart (Christian name was Dick),
And Judd and Welch, who near old Jordan stand
To test the riches of their promised land ;
While Slaughter, Nelson, Cave, propose to show,
How red men fled and left their Jericho ;
How yaliant to the core, and braye of heart,
The *< pale-face " met, and called it Bonaparte.
Would see a specimen — a matchless job
Of nature's handiwork? — take Haryey Robb;
His generous nature, unassuming worth
Can scarcely claim a counterpart on earth.
You'll find more wisdom, he makes no pretense
To erudition ; but for common sense,
Plain go-ahead-a-tiye-ness, bring your man
And proye you haye excelled him — if you c«n.
Benton, I stood in cool Bellefontaine's shade
And saw thy graye, before thy form was laid
Beneath the mold, and said, with tearftil eye :
** 'Twill hold as much of greatness as could die."
Yet there I erred ; 'twas but thy feeble frame
They hid that day ; thy glory and thy fiime
Liye after thee — e'en from yon distant hill
We hear thy honored name re-echoed still.
'Twas not Seth Richards (this you know, of course)
Proposed to giye his kingdom for a horse.
He earned it all, and knows its yalue well,
And therefore is not keen to trade or sell.
It took some people of the queerest sort.
In early days, to settle Bentonsport.
The name of Green, for instance, brings to yiew
Actions and manners of a kindred hue.
We neyer deem its bearers sharp or tough,
But yerdant, innocent, not ** up to snuff; *'
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402 HISTORY OF VAN BUREN COUNTY.
Yet does our neighboring psper-mill proclaim
Its builders were not green, except in name,
But men, whose judgment ripe and honor rare,
Made ftiends throughout the country everywhere.
And then the man who boasted least was found
To be one Bragg — called so the country round,
While Brown was whiter than his neighbor Snow,
Moore long enough, and Long extremely low.
Sanford and Sulliyan and Ross can tell
How much it cost to keep a good hotel.
In early days, when men, without pretense.
Lived by their labor and plain common sense.
Does Dr. Bailey feel content, repaid.
For building such a home in Vernon's shade ?
It must be satisfying thus to dwell
With fHends he's known so long and proved so well.
I tell you what, (here's not a bit of sham
In the school founded up at Birmingham.
It does the county credit, and you'll see
How wonderflil its fiiture growth will be.
Descendants of such men as Cameron,
Rut ledge and Norris — (I mean Dr. John),
Of MiUer, PlaskeU, Bryant, Christy, Crumb,
Will prove by this their ancestors were ** some,"
A Western phrase you doubtless comprehend.
At least you do. Old Settlers of this Bend.
Hill, Holcomb, Johnson, and the Tollmans, too,
Belong to Portland, where Jo Dickey grew
Into a merchant — a suocessftil one,
And then moved down and sold at Farmington.
Whitten and Walker, Moreton, Belknap, Dowd,
Remained behind at Portland with the crowd.
If ever Milton's citizens feel sick.
They straightway send for Doc Qillfiiillin quick !
So at Mt. Sterling, when they feel the need
Of counsel in their town affairs, with speed
They seek James Alcorn, who, by prompt advice,.
Settles disputes and discords in a trice.
Mechanics, you have reason to rejoice,
For, lo, a Carpenter, the people's choice.
Stands at your head ; and right before you, here,.
A Mason, whom you honor and revere.
Judge Hendershott should not be far away
When to the honored we our tribute pay ;
And not our county only, but our State
Enrolls Charles Negus with her truly great.
Though the machinery of sister States
By party friction weakens till it breaks,
Your running Gear, though lately set aside.
Will serve in future, for 'tis strong and tried.
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HISTORY OP VAN BUREN COUNTY. 40S
Our Miller's strength we surely, too, should know,
Because he served in Congress years ago.
You take no risks, though, for McCrary's known,
And Palmer's latent force may yet be shown.
The welcoming shouts will scarce have died away
From this fidr valley where you meet to-day
Until there rises, jubilant and tree.
An answering chorus ftrom the plains of Lee.
Then unto you will flash, as from afiur,
E'en as the golden beams of star to star,
The light of Intellect, of Genius true.
That warms, electrifies and thrills you through.
You know that Lee has heroes of her own;
Old Settlers some, some ripe in wisdom grown,
Though not in years, for Craig, McCrary, Browne,
Rice, Howell, Qillmore have achieved renown.
And Homish, Lomax, Anderson can claim
The foremost ranks upon the rolls of fame.
Then Marshall, Gibbons, Lowry, Sprague are found
High up the ladder, on the topmost round.
While Cochran, Ballinger and Edwards stand
With Hagerman and Collier on each hand,
Each weaving in the galaxy of fame
The glorious sheen of an immortal name.
At Keokuk no stranger need to wait.
If he would enter, open is her "Gait;"
Its keeper ne'er extorts an extra toll,
He even '* dead-heads" those who wish to stroll.
When he discovers that his favored man
Is a stanch, out-and-out Republican.
Another editor (Old Settler, too),
Asserts his health has proved this statement true.
That fearless, bold attacks on party wrong
Have made his Weekly OonttUution strong.
With the Old Settlers' early hopes and fears
Came thoughts of John F. Sandford's former years;
And with these thoughts the labor he has done.
The wide-spread reputation he has won.
And wondering what experience and skill
Might yet, in future, lead him to fUIfiU,
My ear was startled when the words were said :
** His work is finished — Sandford's soul has fled I "
And can it be ? Has Science lost so soon
The life that had not reached its brilliant noon ?
Have the hands fallen, pulseless, at his side.
Whose matchless skill was tested far and wide ?
Van Buren, 'tis a loss you may deplore ;
< Where will you turn since Sanford is no more ?
'Twas D. F. Miller, friends, who bade me say
His heart and prayers were with you here to-day.
When first he came, your State was new and wild.
She claims him as her own adopted child.
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404 HISTORY OP VAN BUREN COUNTY.
He linked his fate with hers, and near and fttr
Is justly called the Nestor of her Bar.
Can I refer to David, Jesse's son,
Without a word of praise for Jonathan ?
Can Damon's constancy through memory pass
Without a thought of fiuthfUl Pythias?
Miller and Viele ? Death will not diyide
Their Mendship on the golden other side.
Beyond the darksome river they will melt,
And through Eternal Day hold converse sweet.
What sister State, fVom Oregon to Maine,
Can fairer record than our own sustain ?
Explore ihe continent ! Its crowded mart
Yields not for our own Dean his counterpart.
What brighter history can you wish to boast
Than Delazon has left Pacific's coast?
Look north and south with persevering ken.
And show, if you can find them, nobler men.
Qo back through all the years and search in vain
For minister that graced the court of Spain,
Whose native dignity and courtly mien
Entranced the eyes of an admiring Queen,
, As did our own, who, with his modest ways,
Would Dodge, could he escape a word of praise.
Then on to Washington ! (not Richmond now),
Count, when you reach it, each familiar brow,
Looming ahead, like a resplendent star.
Behold our Secretary, first, of War,
See Williams, Miller and McCrary there.
Of honors reaping an adundant share.
Then back returned, perhaps within your sight
Search out the man you know is always Wright.
Each thistle of your prairie he has trod ;
His intellect expanded on your sod ;
Be true to him, your champion and guide,
Even though politics your views divide.
Many the vessels wrecked upon life's sea.
But squadron-like your own can never be.
* Twill steer aloof of breakers and the shore
With matchless Baldwin for its Commodore.
Was ship e'er known to sink or yet to strand
When she a Bonney Captain could command ?
What dauntless courage, vigilance and skill
Are there to ward oflf every coming ill.
When, with a Pilot's ever- watchful eye,
Goddard the far-off danger can espy.
The old ** Van Buren" weathering each gale,
Safe into port, at last, will proudly sail ; .
Safe into port with all her gallant crew
Gathered on deck to catch the passing view.
Manning's grand convoy foremost in the van,
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HISTORY OF VAN BUREN COUNTY. 405
Marlow its oaptain, Brown its leading man ;
While other ships hold Kinnersly and Moore,
Parker and Pittman, Millers three or four ;
Morris and Christy, Ober, Barton, Gaines,
Mills and St. John — ^both good Old Settler names ;
Smith, Hall and Wood, with Jackson, too, appear,
And young George Wright (whose starting-point was here);
Cowles, Moss and Rankin (once a fororite beau).
The D'Orsay of this region long ago ;
And last, because the eldest of the crew,
.** Pap ** Shepherd's kindly Amjc is held to iriew.
It often takes a superhuman rap
To wake a man from a continuous nap (Knapp),
But when aroused, his full expanded soul.
Longing for action, will not brook control.
It is not needful that a man depart
From jurist's bench to manifest a heart
Of generous fHendshlp and a mind of grace.
For, in his dally life, in honored place,
Judge Sloan shows both, on the broadest plan —
An upright Judge, a Christian gentleman.
I had a friend, 'twas in those earlier days.
Whose giant efforts won him highest praise ;
He shone in magnitude the first, a star,
Illumed with brightness Keoeauqua's bar.
And yet he shines ;. and yet his radiance gleams,
In meteor flashes, yet with purer beams ;
For in one rapturous, penteoostal hour.
The Holy Spirit came with might and power
And thus renewed, he dares not pause and shrink.
But cries to all that thirst, *< Ho I come, and drink."
Israel was ruled by Judges, till her call —
« A king I a king ! " (her trouble came with Saul)
And they who judged found succor eyer nigh,
Because they trusted in the Lord Most High.
The age repeats itself; in its adyance.
Weak, timid woman clamors for a chance.
And man looks on and thinks it wondrous strange
That we should dare demand a little change.
Yet, years ago, here, ere the *' moye " began
The nurse (Nourse) you called and trusted vtae a man;
And, wondrous to relate, wheneyer tried.
Success attended ; all were satisfied.
Clark, Lane and Jewett, names that we reyere,
Good Shepherds, are your flocks now gathered here ?
The fields beyond the blue are firesh and green,
The waters cool that gently flow between.
Not long your sheep o'er earthly steeps will roam.
But to the Fold aboye will hasten home.
Before me gathered, Keosauqua, here
The members of thy far-famed Bar appear ;
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406 HISTORY OF VAN BURBN COUNTY.
Here thy phjsiciftns, men of Judgment sound ;
Thy ministers to hallowed labor bound ;
Soldier or citizen whiche'er you be, ^
Each seems alike a cherished friend to me.
Were I a priestess 'neath this yaulted dome,
I'd pray that Israel's tribes be gathered home I
And, when each solemn rite was softly said, •
Would breathe my benediction on thy head.
Yet, after that, 'neath the shekinah's glow
I'd proceed alone, and there in whispers low
Would plead that, most of all, kind heayen would bless
For auld lang syne the heroes of thy Prest,
As some lone pilgrim, weary, faint and worn,
Musing on what may neyermore return.
Sees suddenly the yanished years come back,
And finds herself returned to childhood's track,
So I, with faithful hand and heart, haye come
To pay this tribute to my early home ;
To kneel, as at a sainted mother's knee.
And breathe my prayer, Keosauqua, to thee.
Van Buren, one Old Settler proudly stands
Pledged unto thee with loyal heart and hands.
And by these furrowed cheeks, these locks of gray,
Through which the loyal winds now fondly play.
She feels that unto thee, through woe and weal.
Are pledged, till death, ten thousand hearts of steel.
Our banner, foremost in the ranks of war,
With shattered staff and many a yeteran scar,
Snatched fh>m the thickest of the deadly fray,
Is seen within our Capitol to-day.
'Twas old Van Buren sent that banner out.
With many a jubilant, triumphant shout ;
'Twas old Van Buren sent the young Voltaire,
Who held the colors firmly, proudly there ;
'Twas old Van Buren sent the Colonel, too,
Who led to yictory the Boys in Blue.
The Boys in Blue ! Oh, mothers, most of all
Be yeurs the praise whose heroes went — to fall I
Who, after weary waiting, prayers and tears,
Felt blight and desolation crown your years.
But yet, remember, 'twas your country's call,
You bravely answered when you gaye your all.
And ask no brighter, more enduring fame
Than what, through them, still glorifies your name.
Old Settlers, when the final debt is paid,
Here in Van Buren's arms may you be laid.
Be this our Mecca — sanctified this sod
By the sweet thought, you mounted thence to €k>d !
And, nh^, if seraphs in that loftier sphere
May guard and guide the feet still lingering here.
When we return to take each yacant chair.
May you, unseen, be waiting, hovering there I
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HISTORY OP VAN BUREN COUNTY. 407
THE STATE BOUNDARY DIFFICULTY.
Hon. Charles N^as is the author of the following history of the Missouri-
Iowa boundary difficulty. The story as here told contains none of the per-
sonal incidents of the " war/' but must be accepted as a reliable record, worth
preserving and fiedr in every particular. He says :
" Soon after the organizing of the territorial government of Iowa, there
arose a dispute between Missouri and Iowa about the jurisdiction of the State
and Territorial authorities over a tract of country in the southern part of Iowa,
which Missouri claimed as being within the boundary of that State as defined
by Congress.
" The act of Congress, passed March 6, 1820, authorizing the Territory of
Missouri to form a State government, provided that (if the State should ratify
the boundaries) the State of Missouri ^ should consist of all the territory within
the following boundaries : Beginning in the middle of the Mississippi River,
on the parallel of 36^ north latitude ; thence west, along that parallel of lat-
itude, to the St. Francis River ; thence up and following the cout^ of that
river, in the middle of the main channel thereof, to the parallel of 36^ 30^ ;
thence west along the same to the point where the said parallel is intersected
by a meridian line passing through the middle of the mouth of the Kansas
River, where the same empties into the Missouri River ; thence, from the point
aforesaid, north along the west meridian line, to the intersection of the parallel
of latitude which passes through the rapids of the river Dea MoineSy making
said line to correspond with the Indian boundary line, etc. ; thence east, from
the point of intersection last aforesaid, alon^ the said parallel of latitude to the
tniddle of the channel of the main fork of me said River Des Moines ; thence
down and along the middle of the said River Des Moines, to the mouth of the
same, where it empties into the Mississippi,* etc. These boundaries, as defined
by Congress, were adopted by Missouri through the Convention which formed
the State Constitution.
" The northern boundary of the State, which was defined as ' the parallel
of latitude which passes through the rapids of the river Des Moines^* though
it might have been well understood at the time, was vague and uncertain, and
subsequently gave grounds for an open dispute.
'' in the treaties made with the Sacs and Foxes and the Iowa Indians on
the 4th of August, 1824, for the purchase of a portion of their lands, it is set
forth that they sold to the United States all their lands within the limits of the
State of Missouri, whic^ are situated, lying and heinst between the Missis-
sippi and Missouri Rivers, and a line running from the Missouri at the mouth of
the Kansas River, north 100 miles to the northwest corner of the State of Mis-
souri, and thence east to the Mississippi. The line, as defined in this treaty,
commencing at the mouth of the Kansas River, thence running 100 miles due
north, and thence east until it strikes the Des Moines River, nad been run in
1816, by John C. Sullivan, and duly marked by blazing trees, driving stakes
and erecting mounds.
" But in a period of between twenty and thirty years, those marks had be-
* come so obliterated that they were not easily to be founa, and the rapids of the river
Des Moines was so uncertain a place that it was hard for those first settling the
country at the time Iowa was first opened for white settlement, to designate
where the northern boundary of Missouri was located. There being several
rapids in the Des Moines River, and one of considerable fall, near Keosauqua,
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408 HISTORY OP VAN BUREN COUNTY.
in Van Buren County (a fall in eighty rods of twenty-one inches), the Missou-
rians claimed that the latter were the rapids referred to, in the act of Congress
authorizing Missouri to form a State Constitution, as a point in defining their
boundaries. And in 1837, the authorities of Missouri, without the co-operati<»i
of the United States, or of the Territory of Iowa (then Wisconsin), appointed
Commissioners to run and mark the northern boundary.
'^ The Commissioners so appointed, instead of commencing to run the line upon
the parallel of latitude which passes through the rapids of me river Des Moines
in the Mississippi, proceeded to search for rapids in the Des Moines Riyer itsdf^
from which to commence. They finally fixed upon the ripples in the great
bend in the Des Moines River, in Van Buren County, which they assumed to
be the rapids of the Des Moines River named in the act of Congress of 1820,
and in the Constitution of Missouri, notwithstanding those ripples had never
been known as ^the rapids of the river Des Moines.' From this point, the
Commissioners proceeded to run and mark a line, which the authorities of
that State claimed was the northern boundary, while the early history of tJie
West showed, and it was subsequently decided by the Supreme Court of tie
United States, that the rapids of the river Des Moines were in the Mississippi
River.
^^ Gen. Pike, who first explored the Upper Mississippi, after the acquisition
of the Louisiana Purchase by the United States, in his journal, kept while
ascending the river in 1805, says he 'arrived at the foot of the rapids Des
Moines at 7 o'clock,' and thus goes on to give an account of the difficulties he
had in getting over those rapi(U with his boat, on his way up the Mississippi
River. And, after passing the rapids, in writing to Gen. Wilkinson, he dates
his letter, ' Head of the Rapids Des Moines.* Also, in his map of the Upper
Mississippi, Pike lays down the Rapids Des Moines as being in the Mississippi
River, a short distance above the mouth of the Des Moines River. And, before
the United States acquired possession of this territory in 1779, Zenon Tendeaa,
acting as Lieutenant (jovernor of Upper Louisiana, in one of his official acts, says :
' It is permitted to Mr. Lewis (Fesson) Honore to establish himself at the head
of the rapids of the river Des Moines.' Upon this grant, Honore made an
actual settlement and improvement immediately upon the banks of the Missis-
sippi River, at the head of the Des Moines Rapids in that River, some eighteen
or twenty miles above its mouth,
'' These, with other references, go to show that, at an early day, the rapida
in the Mississippi opposite the southern extremity of Iowa, were known as the
^rapids of the river Des Moines,' but the authorities of Missiouri claimed and
contended for many years that the rapids referred to by Congress, and in their
Constitution were in the Des Moines River and near Keosauqua. The north-
ern boundary of that State, as long as there were no settlements there, was a
matter of little consequence to her citizens, and there was no one to dispute
their claims until after the Black Hawk Purchase, which was made in 1832.
" The Territory of Wisconsin, in organizing the county of Van Buren, made
her southern boundary extend to the southern line, and the same boundaries were
claimed by Iowa as soon as she assumed a territorial government. The territoriil
government of Iowa went into operation on the 4th day of July, 1838, and at
that time the boundaries between Missouri and Iowa had not been settled, and
there was a strip of Government land about ten miles wide which both govera-
ments claimed. The county of Van Buren, as organized by the Legislature of
Wisconsin, before Iowa assumed a territorial government, embraced within her
boundary a portion of this disputed tract of land.
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HISTORY OP VAN BUREN COUNTY. 409
" The County Court of Clark County, Mo., in levying the taxes for that
eounty, enrolled the settlers on this disputed tract, as being citizens of that State
and belonging to that county, and, having placed their names upon the tax-list,
ordered Uriah S. Gregory, the Sheriff of that county, to collect the taxes.
Accordingly, the Collector of Clark County went on the disputed tract to collect
the taxes, but the tax-payers refused to pay, and the ofScer undertook to collect
thetn by levying upon their property ; but while endeavoring to do this, some
of the citizens of Van Buren County sued out a warrant from a magistrate
and placed it in the hands of Henry Hef9eman, the Sheriff of Van Buren County,
-who arrested the Missouri oflBcer, and, there being no jail suitable for retaining '
prisoners nearer than Muscatine, he was taken to that county and there lodged
in jail.
^^ This act aroused the citizens of Clark County, and an application was made
to Gov. Boggs, of Missouri, for the military power of the State to aid the civil
officers in maintaining their authority, and to enforce the law of Missouri over
the disputed tract. He accordingly dispatched Gen. Allen, with a thousand men,
to the place of contention.
" Gov. Lucas, of Iowa, was as determined and fixed in his purpose to main-
tain the rights of his State as the authorities of Missouri were to exact theirs,
and for this purpose ordered Maj. Gen. J. B. Brown to call out the militia and
march with his forces to Van Buren County to protect the citizens.
" At this time, the militia of Iowa was poorly organized ; but Gen. Brown
gave orders to his subordinates to beat up for recruits, and the citizens were not
backward in enrolling themselves by voluntary enlistment, and, in a short time,
about five hundred men, with arms, were assembled in Van Buren County, and
others were on their way, amounting, in all, to about twelve hundred men,
and the gathering of military forces had all the appearance of a fierce and
bloody civil war. But before there was any collision between the two forces.
Gen. Brown, from his oflBcers, selected Gen. A. C. Dodge, of Burlington, Gen.
Churchman, of Dubuque, and Dr. Clark, of Ft. Madison, as an embassy to the
enemy to try to negotiate a peace.
" On arriving at Waterloo, the county seat of Clark County, they found that
the County Court of that county had rescinded the order to the Sheriff to collect
the taxes on the disputed tract, and had sent a special delegation to wait upon
Gov. Lucas and the Legislature of Iowa, then assembled at Burlington, for the
purpose of making some amicable adjustment of the di£Bculties, and that Gen.
Allen, with his forces, had withdrawn from the contest. Upon receiving this
information, the embassy returned to their headquarters, and the Iowa forces
were disbanded and permitted to return to their homes.
" Col. McDaniels and Dr. Wayland, the representatives of Clark County,
came to Burlington and waited upon Gov. Lucas, who, not evincing much dispo-
sition to adjust matters, they then went before the Legislature, which body, after
hearing their proposition, passed a set of resolutions, with a preamble, express-
ing their views. In the preamble, they set forth the diflSculties existing between
Iowa and Missouri, and that Iowa, under any circumstances, deprecated any
military collision between the forces of the State of Missouri and the Territory of
Iowa, and reciprocated the kind feelings evinced by the delegation from the
County Court of Clark County, and Besolvedy That the oflScers now on the part
of Missouri be respectfully requested to suspend all further military operations
on the part of said State until these resolutions can be submitted to His Excel-
lency, Gov. Boges ; that His Excellency, Gov. Boggs, be requested to authorize
a suspension ofhostilities on the part of the State of Missouri until the 1st day
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410 HISTORY OF VAN BURBN COUNTY.
of July next, with a view to having the unfortunate difficulties now existing
between the State of Missouri and the Territory of Iowa adjusted by the act of
Congress ; that His Excellency, the Governor of Iowa, be requested to suspend
all further military operations until the decisions of his Excellency, Gov. Boggs,
may be obtained relative to the proposition hereiii contained ; that the Governor
be requested forthwith to forward a copy of these resolutions to the Governor of
Missouri, one to the County Court of Clark County and copies to the officers in
command on the disputed grounds, to be by them presented to the officers of the
Missouri forces.
'' These proceedings on the part of the Legislature had a tendency to quiet
things for a time. The Sheriff of Clark County was, however, indicted at the
next term of the court in Van Buren County for his attempt to collect taxes in
the disputed tract ; but the Prosecuting Attorney entered a noUe prosequi, and
he was discharged from custody.
" On the 10th of November, 1841, Thomas Reynolds, Governor of Missouri,
who was the successor to Gov. Boggs, addressed a letter to John Chambers, who
was at that time Governor of Iowa, in which he informed him that the Legisla-
ture of Missouri, at their last session, passed an act directing the Governor of
Missouri to bring a suit on behalf of Uriah S. Gregory, the late Collector of
Clark County, against Henry Heffleman, the Sheriff of Van Buren County, for
the purpose of having the question of boundary between Iowa and Missouri
finally adjusted in the Supreme Court of the united States. As Heffieman
and others who arrested Gregory resided in Iowa, such a suit should have been
commenced in Iowa. Gov. Reynolds wished to know if suit was thus commenced
whether the authorities of Iowa would consent to make such an agreed case on
the record as would insure a decision of the Supreme Court of the U nited States
on the question of boundary.
^' To this Gov. Chambers replied that this question, as it appeared to him,
was one over which the Territorial authorities had no control ; for, ' by an
express reservation in the laws organizing the Territory of Iowa, the boundary
remained subject to the future control of Congress.' And Gov. Chambers also
expressed his doubts whether, under the Constitution of the United States, the
Supreme Court, even upon an agreed case and by consent of parties, would take
jurisdiction pf an alleged controversy between one of the States and a Territory
remaining subject to the laws of Congress. But he assured Gt)v. Reynolds
that he would lay his communication before the next Legislature of the Territory,
and if that body should differ from the views he had entertained upon the sub-
ject, their decisions should immediately be made known to him. But it appears
that the Legislature concurred with the views of Gov. Chambers, for there were
no steps ts^en to comply with the request of Missouri as made by Gov.
Reynolds.
^' The expenses of Iowa in calling out the militia to maintain her rights and
enforce the laws on the disputed tract were upward of $13,000. Some of
those expenses were borne by individuals whose circumstances were such that
they could not Vrell afford to lose the amount justly due them. Congress was
memorialized by the Territorial Legislature to make an appropriation to meet
these expenses, and on two occasions a bill was passed through the House pro-
viding for their payment, but both bills failed to pass the Senate.
" Samuel C. Reed, of Van Buren County, who lived near where the troops
were rendezvoused to defend and maintain the rights of Iowa against the intru-
sion of Missouri, having furnished to them provisions to the amount of nearly
$200, being a man in limited circumstances, and having waited several years
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HISTORY OF VAN BUREN COUNTY. 411
with the hope of getting something from the General Government, and not
succeedinj?, petitioned the Territorial Legislature to allow and make an appro-
priation U>T his claim.
^^ Reed was regarded as a patriotic and generous man, and he did all he could
to sustain the rights of Iowa in her troubles with Missouri, and having met
with misfortunes, and being much reduced in his circumstances, his appeal to
the Legislature elicited their sympathy, and they passed a bill allowing his
claims, with 6 per cent interest, and made an appropriation for paying it ; but
this did not meet with the approbation of Gov. Clark, at that time Governor of
the Territory, and he returned the bill with his veto. His objections were that
the Legislature should make no discrimination among those who aided the au-
thorities in the troubles with Missouri ; if the Territorv undertook to pay one
they should pay all; that if Iowa should assume these debts the United
States, which was in duty bound to pay them, would not ; that Iowa was soon to
become a State, when she would have a representation and vote in both branches
of Congress, and then, in all probability, would be able to get an appropriation
to defray those expenses. But for one cause or another, neither Reed nor any
of the others who furnished means or rendered services in the war with Missouri,
got pdkY for that which was justly their due.
'* For the purpose of ascertaining and defining the southern boundary of
Iowa, Congress, on the 18th of June, 1838, passed an act in which it was pro-
vided that the President should cause to be surveyed, and distinctly marked,
the soathem boundary line of Iowa ; and for that purpose he was required to
appoint a Commissioner on the part of the United States, who, with the neces-
sary surveyors, was to act in conjunction with a Commissioner to be appointed
by the State of Missouri, and one to be appointed by the Governor of Iowa, in
^ running, marking and ascertaining* the boundary line ; and it was made the
duty of the Commissioner who was to be appointed by the President, to prepare
three plats of this survey, one of which was to be returned to the Secretary of
State of the United States, one to the oflSce of the Secretary of State of Mis-
souri and one to the Secretary of the Territory of Iowa.
*' And it was ako provided that if the Commissioner on the part of Missouri,
or of Iowa, should fail to attend, or if either or both the State of Missouri or
the Governor of Iowa should fail to appoint, then the Commissioner of the
United States, by himself, or such Commissioner as did attend, should proceed
to run the boundary line between Missouri and Iowa. But the line so run
and marked was not to be fully established until the survey should be submitted
to, and the boundary thus ascertained and marked be approved of and ratified
by Congress.
" In pursuance of this act, the President appointed Md. A. M. Lee as
Commissioner on the part of the United States, and Dr. /ames Davis was
appointed for Iowa, but Missouri failed to make any appoinment. Maj. Lee,
in company with Dr. Davis, proceeded to make the survey as required by Con-
gress, and made their report to the Secretary of the Territory of Iowa, on the
15th of January, 1839, about the time the diflSculty was taking place on the dis-
puted tract in Van Buren County. But it seems that the line surveyed by Lee
and Davis was never approved of by Congress, and consequently didnot become
the boundary between Missouri and Iowa.
" Soon after the troubles in Van Buren County, the Legislature of Iowa
passed a law that if any person should exercise any official function within the
jurisdiction of the Territory, or within the limits of any of the counties therein,
by virtue of any commission or authority not received from the Territory or Gov-
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412 HISTORY OF VAN BUREN COUNTY.
ernment of the United States, every person so offending should be fined, not
exceeding $1,000, or be imprisoned not exceeding five years. That if any per^
son resimng within the limits of the Territory should accept of any office or
trust from any State or authority other than the United States or the Territory
of Iowa, erery person so oSianding should be fined not exceeding $1,000, or be
imprisoned not exceeding five years.
" Soon after the organization of the county of Davis, this law was cdled
into requisition. The county of Adair, as it was then organized, embraced
within its boundaries a portion of what now composes Davis Gountv. The Sheriff'
of Adair County, Preston MuUinix, and his Deputy, William r. Linder, were
indicted in Davis County ; the Sheriff" for exercising his office within the bound-
aries of Iowa, without legal authority and contrary to the statutes, and the Dep-
uty for an assault and battery and kidnapping and falsely imprisoning one
Frederick Acheson, a citizen of Iowa, which acts were done on the disputed
tract.
'^ Mullinix and Linder were both arrested and held under bail to answer to
the indictment at the next term of court. At that time they both appeared
and Linder went to trial, which resulted in his conviction and a sentence of
a fine and ten days' imprisonment in the Penitenitiary. The trial of Mullinix,
the Sheriff', was continued to the next term of Court, and he was required to enter
into a recognizance (without security) for his appearance, which he refused to do,
and the Court ordered him to be committed to prison.
^' As soon as these transactions were made known to Gov. Chambers, he par-
doned Linder and remitted his fine, and also pardoned Mullinix for the offense
for which he stood committed, and ordered him to be discharged from prison.
After the arrest of Mullinix and Linder, the county of Adair was divided^, and
the territory adjoining Davis County was embraced within the limits of Schuy-
ler County.
"After the county of Schuyler, Mo., was organized, about the 1st of Janu-
ary, 1846, Samuel Riggs, the Sheriff' of Davis County, Iowa, had put into his
hands a writ of attachment against the property of an individual on the tract
of land in dispute, and while attempting to serve the writ, he was arrested by
the Sheriff* of Schuyler County, on a charge of attempting to execute the
functions of his office in Missouri, and was required to give security for his
appearance at the next term of the Court in that county. A few days after
this, another attempt was made by a large number -of men from Missouri to
resist the execution of a process in the hands of the Sheriff" of Davis County,
but without success ; for the Sheriff" and his posse, though inferior in numbers,
executed the writ, and secured the property attached. This dispute, as to who
had jurisdiction over this country, had a bad influence in the community, and
caused many reckless and desperate characters to rendezvous in that vicinity,
with the hope that in the contest with the authorities they might escape the
punishment justly due their crimes.
" The arrest of the Sheriff" of Davis County called forth a special message
from Gov. Clark, then Governor of the Territory, to the Legislature of
Iowa, which was then in session, and they passed a special law authorizing the
Governor to draw upon the Territorial Treasurer for the sum of Jl,500, and
that the sum, or any amount thereof, which he might think proper, should be
placed at his discretion for the employment of counsel to manage and defend
all cases growing out of this difficulty, in which the Territory, or any of the
citizens thereof, should be a party on the one side, and Missouri, or the authori-
ties of that State, upon the other. The court of Schuyler County convened at
Digitized by VjOOQIC
HISTORY OF VAN BURENvCOUNTY. 418
Lancaster, the county seat, on the 9th of May, and an indictment was found
against Riggs, who immediately appeared and answered thereto in discharge of
his bail.
'* David Rorer, of Burlington, a gentleman of high legal talents, was em-
ployed by Gov. Clark, on behalf of Iowa, to defend Riggs. Rorer attended
this term of Court for the purpose, of defending him, but from a desire on the
part of both parties to defer judicial action in the case until an adjustment of
the disputed boundary question could be effected, the case was continued until
the next term of Court, and Riggs was discharged upon his own individual
recognizance, and he was subsequently discharged entirely. To compensate
him for his trouble and expense, the Iowa Legislature passed a law authorizing
him to file his petition in the District Court of Davis County, claiming com-
pensation for his time and expenses in defending himself against all prosecu-
tions which had been commenced against him by the authorities of Missouri,
for exercising his ofiice on the disputed territory ; and they provided that the
Court should hear the case and determine the amount which was justly due
Riggs, and the amount so determined was directed to be paid out of the State
Treasury.
** On the 17th of June, 1844, Congress passed an act respecting the north-
ern boundary of Missouri, in which it was provided that the Governor of Iowa,
by and with the advice and consent of the Council of the Territory, should
appoint a Commissioner to act in conjunction with a Commissioner to be
appointed by the State of Missouri, and the two were to select a third person,
and it was made their duty to ascertain, survey and mark out the northern
boundary of Missouri, and to cause plats of their survey to be returned to the
Secretary of the United States, and to the Secretary's ofiice of Missouri and
Iowa — ^which plats were to be accompanied with their proceedings in the
premises. The Commissioners were empowered to employ surveyors and other
hands necessary to accomplish the survey, and the line established and ratified
by them, or any two of them, was to be final and conclusive, and to be and
remain as the northern boundary line of the State. But it was provided that
this act should not go into effect until it should be assented to by Missouri and
Iowa. Iowa was willing to accede to this proposition, and the Legislature of
Missouri passed an act assenting to this mode of settling the difficulty ; but the
Governor of Missouri, John C. Edwards, placed his veto on the bill, and it
failed to become a law. The Governor's objection to this mode of settling the
difficulty seemed to be, that it involved legal rights, and should be adjudicated
by a judicial tribunal.
" After this, application was made by both contending parties to Congress
to pass a law authorizing them to institute a suit in the Supreme Court of the
United States and have the controversy judicially settled. This application
was made on the part of Missouri by an act passed by the Legislature, on the
25th of March, 1845, and on the part of Iowa by a memorial of her Council
and House of Representatives, passed on the 17th of January, 1846, in which
both parties asked for ^ the commencement and speedy determination of such a
suit as might be necessary to procure a final decision by the Supreme Court of
the United States, upon the true location of the northern boundary of the
State.' Congress respected these requests and passed the necessary law.
'* After the passage of the law by Congress, authorizing the settling of the
dispute in the Supreme Court, the Legislature of Iowa passed an act empower-
ing the Governor to agree with Missouri for the commencement of such a suit
as might be necessary to procure from the Supreme Court of the United States
Digitized by VjOOQIC
414 HISTORY OP VAN BITREN (X)UNTY.
a final decision upon the true location of the southern boundary of the State.
This act made it the duty of the Governor to cause to be procured all evidence
which might be necessary to the legal and proper decision of such a suit^ and to
employ counsel and do whatever else might be necessary to maintain the rights
of the State. Charles Mason was employed on the part of Iowa, who hunted
up and prepared the testimony of the trial, and he got Thomas E¥ring, of
Ohio, to assist him in arguing the case before the Court. The State of Mis-
Bouri filed the original bill against the State of Iowa, and Iowa filed a cross bill
against Missouri.
'^ This case was tried at the December term of 1848, and the Supreme
Court decided that the line as surveyed by Sullivan was the northern boundary
of Missouri, which decision gave Iowa all the territory she claimed. The Court
appointed Henry B. Hendershott, of Iowa, and Joseph C. Brown, of Missouri,
Commissioners to run out and mark the boundary line. Brown having died
before the work was commence!, Robert W. Wells was appointed in his place,
but he resigned the trust, and William Or, Minor received the appointment on
the part of Missouri.
*' The Commissioners, for the purpose of making the necessary arrange-
ments for the survey, met at St. Louis in March, 1850, and selected their sur-
veyors. William Dewey was selected on the part of Iowa, and Robert Walker
for Missouri. The Commissioners made their arrangements to meet with their
surveyors and other parties, at the point where Sullivan had established the
northwest comer of Missouri. They left their respective homes on the 10th of
April and met on the 28th. To aid them in their work before they sturted,
they obtained from the office of the Surveyor General at St. Louis a copy of
the field-notes of Sullivan's survey ; but the space of nearly thirty-four years
having elapsed since this work was done, the marks of the survey being nearly
all obliterated, they could not readily find the spot they sought. No precise
traces of the old northwest comer remained ; the witness-trees to it were on the
margin of a vast prairie, and had apparently been destroyed years before ; con-
sequently its exact position could not be ascertained from anything visible near
the spot.
" The point known as the old northwest corner of Missouri was the northern
termination of Sullivan's line, running north and south, run by him in 1816, and
wajs 100 miles north of the mouth of the Kansas River, and the point at which
he turned east run to the Des Moines River. His field-notes showed that his
miles were numbered north from»the Kansas River, and east from the northwest
corner of the State, beginning anew at that comer. Finding no conclusive evi-
dence of the exact site or the required corner, they undertook to trace those lines
for the purpose of finding some evidence of the old survey.
"Near the supposed spot of the location of the ninety-ninth mile-comer, on the
north line, they found a decayed tree and stump, which corresponded in course,
distance and description with the witness-trees to that comer, and cutting into the
tree they saw what they supposed to be the remains of an old blaze, upon which was
preserved a part, apparently, of the letter M. This supposition was verified by
their measuring two miles further south to a point which they found to be Sulli-
van's ninety-seventh mile-corner, from one witness-tree, which was perfectly
sound ; the marks upon it two or three inches beneath the bark were plain and
legible. On the east line they found the witness-tree to the third mile-comer ; the
wood upon which the marks had been inscribed was decayed, but their reversed
impression appeared upon the new growth which covered the old blaze, and was
cut out in a solid blocK. Prolonging these lines three miles from the points
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HISTORY OF VAN BUREN COUNTY. 415
thus determined, their intersection wcus assumed as the required corner, and at
that point was planted a monument designating the northwest corner of Missouri
as the boundary existed before acquiring that tract of land known as the ' Plat
Purchase,' lying between the old west line of that State and the Missouri River,
i^hich point was found to be in the northeast quarter of Section 35, in Town-
ship 67 north. Range 33 west, in latitude 40°, 34', 40" north, and in longitude
about 94° 30' west from Greenwich.
" At this point they planted a large cast-iron pillar, weighing between fifteen
and sixteen hundred pounds, four feet six inches long, twelve inches square at
the base and eight inches at the top. This pillar was legibly marked with the
words * Missouri * on the south side, * Iowa * on the north side, and ' State Line '
on the east. From this corner they ran one west, keeping on the same parallel
of latitude on which the pillar was erected, till they reached the Missouri River.
They commenced the survey on the 24th of May, and reached the river, a
distance of sixty miles and sixty -one chains, on the 12th of July. At the ter-
minus of the sixtieth mile, as near the bank of the Missouri River as the per-
ishable nature of the soil would permit, they planted a monument similar to the
one erected at the old northwest corner of Missouri, the words ' State Line '
facing the east.
'* The Commissioners then returned to the old northwest comer, and com-
menced to run the line east, and, by close examination, they were enabled to
discover abundant blazes and many witness-trees of the old survey, by which
they easily found and re-marked the line run by Sullivan in 1816. The sur-
veying of the eajstern portion of the line was commenced on the 13th of
August, and terminated on the 18th of September, it being a distance of one
hundred and fifty miles, fortv-one chains and eight links, which, with the sixty
miles and sixty-one chains first surveyed, makes the southern boundary of the
State between the Missouri and Des Moines Rivers two hundred and eleven
miles, thirty-two chains and eight links.
"Near the west bank of the Des Moines River, where the boundary termi-
nates, on the line was planted a cast-iron pillar similar to the other two, with
the words " State Line ' fronting the west. The line was also designated by
cast-iron pillars four feet long, eight inches square at the base and five inches
at the top, placed at intervals of thirty miles apart ; and one four feet long,
seven inches square at the base and four at the top, at intermediate spaces of
ten miles apart, all of which pillars mark in iron monument every ten miles the
whole length of the boundary line.
^^ Sullivan's line was found in some places to deviate from a true east and
west line, which was corrected by the surveyors. The iron pillars were planted
in Sullivan's line as found at the particular points ; but as the line was bending
in the ten-mile spaces between the pillars, it was found necessary to erect
wooden posts at the termination of each mile in order to mark the line with
more accuracy. In the prairies the mile-posts were marked with the letters ^ B.
L.' facing the east, the letter ^ I.' facing the north, and the letter ' M.' fia.cing
the south, and the number of miles on the west face of the post. Where tim-
ber exists, the number of the mile is marked on witness-trees, or pointers, with
letters appropriate to each stake, there being one tree marked on each side of the
line wherever it was possible to do so. The front of each witness-tree is marked
with the letters ' B. L.' In all cases where the posts are set in mounds, the
post is invariably nine links west, to designate it from other surveys. This
line, as surveyed and designated under the direction of the Commissioners
Hendershott and Minor, was adjudged and decreed by the Supreme Court to be
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416 HISTORY OF VAN BUREN COUNTY.
the true and proper boundary line between Missouri and Iowa. And thus closed
a long and vexed dispute between the two authorities about the extent of their
jurisdiction. To defiray the expenses of establishing and running this line, the
Sta.te of Iowa and the State of Missouri each placed at the disposal of the Com-
missioners the sum of $2,000. But this wcus not sufficient to meet their expenses,
for they were engaged at the work 180 days, and the Supreme Court allowed
the Commissioners each the sum of $10 per day for their services, and $2 pet-
day for their expenses, and each of the surveyors $8 per day. These allowances,
with other expenses, cost over $10,000, which left over $3,000 apiece for each
of the States to pay. The Legislatures of either State made up the deficiencies,
and that was an end to the boundary war.**
THE DES MOINES IMPROVEMENT SCHEMES.
Mr. Charles Negus, an authority in matters pertaining to the history of
Iowa, published the following interesting account of the various improvement
schemes connected with the Des Moines River, in the *' Annals of Iowa.*' We
give the entire article :
^^The river Des Moines has connected with its history many things of
interest. It is purposed at this time to notice some of the historical events
connected with this river since the land through which it passes was purchased
by the Government from the Indians.
^^ On the first settlement of Iowa, the building of railroads had just com-
menced, and but very few in the West knew anything about this mode of con-
veyance for travel and commerce. At that time, steamboats for these purposes
were the great absorbing idea. This river, in high stages of water, was
thought to be susceptible of steamboat navigation far into the interior of the
State, and those who first settled in the vicinity of this river eagerly looked
forward to the day when steamboats would move up and down these waters in
large numbers, and when from long distances from its banks, travel and com-
merce would seek a conveyance through this channel. And these expecta-
tions were apparently well-founded. In 1886, the Sacs and Foxes, having dis-
posed of their reservation on the Iowa River, where they had villages, moved
West, and settled in the valley of the river Des Moines, in what is now Wapello
County, and, as a natural consequence, trading-posts were established in this
vicinity, which had to be supplied with goods; and in the fall of 1837, the few
settlers along the banks of this river were, for the first time, gladdened with
the sound of the shrill whistle of a steamboat, making its way up the river
with supplies for these trading-posts.
"This boat was the S. B. Science, commanded by Capt. Clark, which, by
forcing its way against the swift current, passing safely over the concealed
sand-bars and hidden rocks, demonstrated that the waters of this river, at hi^
stages, was navigable, much to the joy and satisfaction of those who lived in
the vicinity, and afforded a theme for pleasant conversation for days and
months.
"By the treaty of 1842, by which the Sacs and Foxes sold all their lands
in Iowa, they were permitted to retain possession of that portion which lay
west of Red Rock for three years, and the Indians moved up the river and
located themselves near the Raccoon Fork, and the Government thou^t
proper to locate a body of troops at that point ; and for the conveyance of
soldiers and their equipage to that place, the little steamer lone was employed
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HISTORY OP VAN BUREN (X)UNTT. 417
and laden with stores, and a detachment of troops landed on the site where is
now the city of Des Moines, on the 9th of May, 1848. This is the first steam-
boat that ever ventured to disturb the waters of this river so &r from its
moatb. The lone, having made a successful trip, added greatly to the expect-
ation of the estimated importance and value of this thoroughfare, which was
brought to the attention of Congress, and on the 8th of August, 1846, a law
was enacted giving to Iowa, for tne purpose of aiding to improve the naviga-
tion of the river Dee Moines from its mouth to the Raccoon Fork, an equal
moiety in alternate sections of the public lands remaining unsold, in a strip
five miles wide on each side of the river, to be selected within the territory of
Iowa by an agent, or agents, who should be appointed by the Governor of the
Territory, subject to the approval of the U. S. Treasury.
^^ When this grant was first made, it was not supposed by any one that it
extended above Raccoon Fork, and Gov. Clark, in communicating the intelli-
gence to the Legislature, estimated the grant to amount to about three hundred
thousand acres. This part of the Governor's message was referred to a select
committee, for them to take into consideration whether it was advisable for the
State to accept the grant, and if so, to devise the method of disposing of the
lands and the mode of improving the river.
^' The committee, after having the matter under consideration several weeks,
through their Chairman, Dr. James Davis, of Wapello County, made a very
lengthy report, in which th^ took the ground that the grant was not limited
to lands below the Raccoon Fork, but extended to every alternate section for
five miles on each side of the river to the northwestern boundary of the State,
if not to the source of the river. They estimated the grant to contain 400,-
000 acres below the Raccoon Fork, ana 560,000 above, making 960,000 acres
of land. The report of the committee at first was looked upon as visionary,
and but very little calculation was made on getting any land above the fork of
the river; but a matter of so much importance was not passed over without
examination and full discussion.
" From this time on, for several years, the improvement of the river Des
Moines entered largely into the politics of the State. Politicians became inter-
ested in it ; the construction put upon the grant by the committee was the popu-
lar side, and found many advocates, and scarcely any one opposed it. The
committee reported in favor of receiving the grant, with provisos, and a bill for
ereating a Board of Public Works. On this report the Legislature passed an
act accepting the grant, with a proviso that it was not to form a part of the
500,000 acres which the State was entitled to by an act of Congress of 1841,
giving to each new State that amount of land for internal improvements. This
was conceded by the General Government, and it also permitted the State to
divert 500,000 acres from works of internal improvement to the purpose of
education. The Legislature, on the 5th of Februanr, 1847, also passed an act
creating a Board of Public Works, and providing K>r the improvement of the
river. The Board consisted of a President, Secretary and Treasurer, who were
to be elected by the qualified electors of the State, on the first Monday of the
following August. The President was to be the active agent of the work, and
was required to make monthly reports of his doinss and of the progress of his
work to the Board ; the Secretary was to record the proceedings of the Board
and to sell the lands ; the Treasurer was to receive and disburse the moneys.
The officers were required to commence the work on the Mississippi, near
Keokuk, at the mouth of Dead Slough, or of the Nassau Slough, and then up
the slough to the river. And subsequently the work was commenced by under-
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418 HISTORY OF VAN BUREN COUNTY.
taking to dig a canal from the mouth of the Nassaa Slough to St. Franciflyillev
the first place on the river where it wcus thought practicable to build a dam.
" About $160,000 was expended in the effort, but the attempt proved to be
an impracticable undertaking, and, after expending this large amount of money,
the work of digging a canal was abandoned. At the August election, Hugh W.
Sample, of Jefferson County, was elected President ; Charles Corckery, of
Dubuque County, Secretary, and Paul Braton, of Van fiuren County, Treas-
urer. The officers elected were qualified, and at first opened their offices at
Fairfield. Samuel Curtis, from Ohio, was selected by the Board as Chief
Engineer ; but there was very little done this season toward improving the
river, further than making surveys. The necessary surveys having been com-
pleted, early in the spring of 1848, the work was commenced. The canal and
three dams were put under contract, and about five hundred hands were put at
work. On t^e 21st of August, the building of ten more dams was contracted
for, and there seemed to be a fiiir prospect for the speedy completion of the
entire improvement.
^' There was at this time but very little known of the resources of the upper
valley of the river Des Moines. This year, by authority of the United States,
provisions were made for a geological survey in Iowa, and a party was sent up
the river, which explored it to its source. The report made by this party was
very flattering. They reported that coal was found for two hundred miles ©n
the Des Moines, and from indications, heavy deposits of iron were believed to
exist ; that gypsum in abundance, forming cliffs for miles, was encountered ;
and that limestone, that makes a superior hydraulic lime, existed in abundance ;
limestone, suitable for lime, clay suitable for brick, rock suitable for polishing,
for grindstones, whetstones and for building purposes, some of superior quality,
were found in abundance along the Des Moines. And Col. Curtis, in specu-
lating upon the future, in his report to the Legislature, led the people to
anticipate great results from this improvement. He said : ^ No country csm
afford like accommodations to manufacturers ; no country can produce more
agricultural wealth than that within sixty miles on either side of this river.'
And further : ^ That, taking all things into consideration, the matter is math-
ematically certain (except in times of high water in the Missouri), the trade of
Council Bluffs will incline to follow down the improvement. But it is not this
point alone that is reached ; we enter the great valley of Nebraska, and the
upper branches of the Missouri, and offer the commerce of these valleys the
cheapest and most expeditious route for their products. A country of a thou-
sand miles Extent, capable of furnishing vast and unknown agricultural and
mineral products, may, by wise and discreet energy in the prosecution of this
work, become tributary to the improvement now in progress on the Des Moines.'
" These glowing reports of the country and the advantages to be derived
from the improvement of the river excited the public mind to the highest
expectations, and the people became very anxious to secure as much of the
public lands as possible, that this great undertaking might be spedily com-
pleted ; and to ascertain the construction put upon the grant by the 6enerd
Government, application was made to the Land Department for a decision.
Richard M. Toung, the Commissioner of the General Land Office, on the 23d
day of February, 1848, in a letter addressed to the Board of Public Works,
gave it as his opinion that the State was entitled to the alternate sections
within five miles of the Des Moines River, through the whole extent of Iowa.
This decision gave assurances that the amount of land claimed would be
received. The Board of Improvement made great preparation for rapidly push-
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HISTORY OF VAN BUREN COUNTY. 419
ing on the work, and the public mind was exhilarated with the greatest hopes
of speedily realizing the great advantages represented to be derired from thi&
lUDidertaking.
'^ But, as it is the lot of man to meet with disappointments, such seems to
h&ve been the result in this case ; for it was found that the lands could not be
sold fast enough to meet the expenses of so extensive a work as had been
undertaken. To remedy this difficulty, the Board of Public Works recom-
ixkended to the Len^lature ' that bonds, bearing the sanction of the supreme
power of the State, should be issued by the Board, and pledging the proceeds
of the sales of the lands, as well as the tolls of the improvement, for their
redemption. But this policy did not meet with the sanction of some of the lead-
ing Democrats of the State, who regarded such a measure as not being in accord-
ance with Democratic principles, among whom were Ver Plank Van Antwerp.
Van Antwerp, having held the office of Receiver in the first land office estab-
lished in the Southern Iowa, and then holding the same office at Fairfield, and
also, for awhile, editor of a paper, was extensively known, and at that time
exerted much influence among the people, and he took a very active part
against the proposition recommended by the Board. He claimed that the
measure was not only Antidemocratic, but impolitic, and went to Iowa City as
a lobby member, and made himself very busy with the members to defeat it ;
and the opposition with which it met from Van Antwerp and other private
individuals had its effect with the members of the Legislature, and the measure
was defeated, much to the discomfiture of Sample. The interference of Van
Antwerp with the recommendations of the Board created a coolness between
Sample and Van Antwerp which caused some singular results in the future
political matters of the State.
^' During the summer of 1848, a portion of the land above the Raccoon
Fork was brought into the market and ofiered for sale at the land office at Iowa
City, and some of the lands which it was supposed were embraced within the
river grant were sold by the General Government. The failure of the Board
to get the Legislature to authorize them to issue bonds, and the selling of these
lands by the General Government, greatly frustrated the plans of the Board and
put a damper upon the public expectation. For the purpose of securing the
full amount of land claimed, the Legislature passed a memorial asking Congress
to enact an explanatory law confirming to the State the quantity of land claimed.
But Congress did not feel disposed to do this, and the extent of the grant was
a disputed question for several years.
" At the August election, in 1849, the officers of the Board of Public Works
were to be again elected, and the old officers were desirous of holding on to
their offices, and Sample made great efforts to have the old officers renominated
by the State Convention for candidates before the people. Those who were in
favor of issuing bonds for the speedy completion of the work were in favor of
re-electing the old Board ; those who were against this measure were opposed
to them. Among those who took an active part aeietinst the old Board was Van
Antwerp, and his opposition was particularly made against Sample, which got
up much ill-feeling between them. Van Antwerp, to accomplish his ends before
the convening of the Convention^, prepared a stricture on Sample's political acts,
which * showed him up * in no very enviable light. Van Antwerp went to Iowa
City, where the Convention was to be held, a short time before it convened, and
haa his strictures printed in handbill form, and on the morning of the Conven-
tion circulated copies all over the city, so that a copy found its way into the
hands of every delegate. This had the effect to beat Sample and the other
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420 HISTORY OF VAN BUREN COUNTY.
officers of the Board, and William Patterson, of Lee County, was nominated for
President; Jesse Williams, of Johnston, for Secretary ; and George Gillaspy,
of Wapello, for Treasurer.
" These individuals were all elected, entered upon the duties of their trust,
and with energy undertook to complete all the work which had been put under
contract. But they soon found that they could not sell lands fast enough to
meet their expenditures, and had to suspend a portion of the work. But they
did not do this until they had contracted a large amount of debts^ which they
had not the means to pay. The new board, on making settlements with the
contractors, not having the money to pay them, issued bonds or certificates of
indebtedness, pledging the lands for their payment, and binding the Board to
redeem them as soon as they had the means to do it. So the new Board, with-
out the sanction of law, did what the old Board had tried to get the Legislature
to authorize them to do by law, and for which policy they were turned out of
office and others put in their place. Those contractors who were stopped from
going on with their work claimed damages ; legal proceedings were had and
some of them recovered large amounts.
" The course pursued by the new Board met with much censure from the
public and the newspapers ; particularly the Whig press was very severe in its
strictures. The course which had been pursued by the Board of Public Works
made the improvement of the river Des Moines a prominent matter before the
Legislature, which convened in December, 1850. The issuing of bonds did not
meet with the approval of that body, and a law was passed abolishing the offices
of President, Secretary and Treasurer, and the offices of ^ Commissioner and
Register of the Des Moines River Improvement ' were created, which, instead
of being elected by the people, were appointed by the Governor, by and with
the consent of the Senate.
"As bOon as the law abolishing the Board of Public Works went into effect,
the Governor appointed Ver Plank Van Antwerp Commissioner, and George
Gillaspy Register of the Improvement, who, on the 9th of June, 1851, entered
into a contract with Bangs Brothers & Co., of New York, in which they stip-
ulated to complete the whole work, from the mouth of the river to the Raccoon
Fork, in four years from the time when for the improvement of the river a
confirmation should be secured of the extension of the ffrant of land above that
point. When the contract wan closed, Bangs Brothers & Co. and the officers of
the Improvement went to work and succeeded in getting the Land Department
of the Ueneral Government to reconsider the deciaion in which it had been held
that the erant of land only extended to the Raccoon Fork, and obtained a
decision tnat it extended to the northern boundary of the State, which gave
hopes that the river would soon be made navigable. On the first reception of
the news, there was much rejoicing, but when the details of the contract with
Bangs, Brothers & Co. were made public, it was found that the contract pro-
vided that the lands below the Raccoon Fork were not to be sold for less dian
$2.00 per acre, and those above for not less than $5.00.
'^ This gave great dissatis&ction, for a great portion of these lands was
occupied by claimants who expected to buy their claims at $1.25 per acre, as
others had done who had settled upon Government lands. This provision
stirred up much ill-feeling among the settlers ; public meetings were held, and
this part of the contract was condemneS in the strongest terms; and such were
the feelings that there were apprehensions of serious difficulties if this part of
the contract should be enforced. But when these excitements were at their
highest, news came that Bangs Brothers & Co. had &iled, and probably their
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c/?. J^-^e^-^i!
BONAPARTE
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HISTORY OP VAN BUREN (X)UNTY. 428
contract woald be annoHed, and this allayed the pablic feeling. Bangs Broth-
ers & Go. did not comply with their contract in furnishing means, and the work
on the river did not go on, and the public expectation of a speedy completion
of the proposed improvement vanished.
" The officers of the Improvement were appointed for only two years, and
at the expiration of their term of office, Van Antwerp was re-appointed Com-
missioner, and Paul C. Jeffries was appointed Register. But these last appoint-
ed officers held their trust but a short time, for during the past two years the
work on the river had progressed very slowly ; the contract with Bangs Broth-
ers & Co. had been declared forfeited, and it was understood that other sources
were to be looked to for going on with the work. . The officers appointed by the
Governor not being successful in their undertaking, the Legislature, on the 1st
of January, 1858, repealed the law authorizing the Governor to appoint, and
made these officers again to be elected by the people, and on the first Monday
in the following April, Josiah Bonney, of Van Buren County, was elected
Commissioner, and George Gillaspy, Register. And, for the purpose of aiding
the Commissioners in conducting and concluding any contract on the subject of
improving the river, the Legislature appointed George G. Wright, of Van Buren
County, and Uriah Biggs, of Wapello, his assistants, * with equal powers of the
Commissioner in making and determining such contract.'
^^ From past experience, it was not deemed advisable to parcel out the work
to many individuals, and consaquently these officers were required by the Legis-
lature not to make any contract, unless such contract stipulated for ^ at least
$1,300,000 to be faithfully expended in the payment of the debts and liabilities
of the Improvement, and its completion to the greatest extent possible.' And
to this end, if it was necessary, they were authorised ^ to sell and dispose of all
and any lands which had been or might hereafter be granted by Congress for
the improvement of the river, and, if it was necessary to effect a contract, they
were authorized to convey the right to tolls and water rents arising from the
Improvement, for the length of time and upon such terms as they might deem
expedient. But in disposing of the lands, they were not to contract them for
less than $1.25 per acre;' and if no contract of this character should be made
before the 1st of September, 1853, then the pay of all the officers connected
with the work, except the Register and one engineer, was to cease, and all
operations connected with the work, except such parts as were under contract,
were to be suspended until further action by the Legislature. The Register
was required to put all unfinished work then under contract in such a condition
as to prevent it from injury, and to see that all property of the State connected
with the work was carefully preserved. If the Register, at any time subse-
quent, should receive propositions which he deemed sufficient for consideration,
he was to submit the same to the Commissioner; and should a contract be made
on the terms required by the Legislature, then the pay of the officers should
commence and the work go on as though it had not been suspended.
'' The new Commissioner, being conscientious about the expending of money,
immediately after taking charge of the work, dismissed all the engineers, except
Guy Wells, the chief engineer, and employed no officer or other persons, except
when the necessity of the work imperatively demanded it. There were in
several places of the river snags and bowlders, which much obstructed the
navigation, and had become a source of much inconvenience and complaint; but
during the official term of Bonney, the river was 'cleared of snags, bowlders
and other obstructions to such an extent as to make the navigation of the river,
iit proper stages of the water, safe.'
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424 HISTORY OF VAN BUREN COUNTY.
'^ The Commissioner and his associates, after assuming the duties of their
trust, entered into correspondence with such persons and companies as thev
thought likely to embark in such an enterprise. And by this means they suc-
ceeded in eliciting the attention of capitalists to such an extent that a number
of persons came to the State for the purpose of investigation. These persons,
by an examination of the valley of the Des Moines personally, and making
themselves acquainted with the resources of the country, on their return East,
imparted to otners the undeveloped wealth and advantages of the valley, which
was the means of bringing many good and enterprising citizens to the State.
Among others who visited Iowa for the purpose of investigation was Henry
O'Rielly, a man who had acquired some considerable notoriety as a contractor
in putting up telegraph wires, and he proposed to undertake the work. Such
was the known reputation of O'Rielly as a contractor that the Commissioner
and his associates commenced the negotiating of a contract. And 'on the 17th
of December, 1853, Henry O'Rielly, Esq., of New York, entered into a con-
tract with the Commissioners, in which, for the consideration of the unsold lands
belonging to the Improvement, and tolls and water rents and other profits aris-
ing from the work, for the term of forty years, agreed to complete the entire
work within a period of four years from the 1st day of July, 1864, according
to the original surveys and specifications made by the engineers.'
•'Immediately upon entering upon this contract, O'Rielly returned East
and organized a company, under the laws of Iowa, called the * l5e8 Moines Navi-
fation & Railroad Company,' to which O'Rielly assigned his contract, himself
eing one of the oflBcers of the Company! On the 9th of June, 1864, by the
consent and request of O'Rielly, and with the approbation of the officers of the
River Improvement, the contract with O'Rielly was canceled, and another con-
tract was made with the Des Moines Navigation & Railroad Company. In this
contract, the Company agreed to pay all outstanding debts against the Improve-
ment within ninety days from the date of said contract, to settle and pay all
damages against tne State of Iowa, on account of the prosecution of said woric,
to mill-owners, or others who have, or might thereafter, sustain damages on
account of the same; to pay the salaries and expenses of the officers and
engineers in charge of the work ; to complete the Improvement from the mouth
of the Des Moines River to Fort Des Moines, in accordance with the original
plans and specifications of the State Engineer, by the 1st day of July, lo68 ;
and to construct the whole work in such a manner as to assure the navigation
of the same for the longest period each year practicable, and to complete at
least one-fourth of the work each and every year, commencing on the Ist day
of July, 1864.
'^ in consideration of this understanding, the Commissioner agreed to con-
vey to the Company all the unsold lands belonging to the Improvement, the use
of the work, the tolls and water rents for the term of forty-one years. And after-
ward, in consideration of the Company enlarging the works and making some
other improvements in the navigation of the river, and also on account of there
not being as large a quantity of land undisposed of below Fort Dodge as was
understood to be by the Commissioners and the Company at the time of making
the contract, a majority of the Commissioners, Bonuey and Biggs, entered into
an article of agreement with the Company, in which they promised to ex-
tend the time of the Company's use and control of the work to seventy-five
years.
" Under this contract, the public expected that the work would be immedi-
ately commenced by the new contractors and speedily completed. The great
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BISTORT OF VAN BUREN iX)UNTY. 426
expectations which at first had been raised by the contractors, under the name
of the ' Des Moines Navigation & Railroad Gompany/ soon after they under-
took the work began to diminish ; for there soon arose disagreements and mis-
understandings among themselves. The Company had been organized under
the general incorporation laws of Iowa, and, consequently, was subject to the
laws of the State. At the called session of the Legislature, in 1856, Donald
Mann, a stockholder of the Company, memorialized the Legislature to correct
the ' manifold abuses * of which he charged the Directors of the Companv to
have been guilty. In this memorial, he charged that the managers of the Com-
pany had, in various ways, ' corruptly, and for corrupt purposes,' violated the
laws of the State, ^greatly to the injury of the people thereof, and to the great
loss and damage of the stockholders,' and showed in detail wherein they had
acted corruptly and violated the laws under which the Company was incorporated.
Among other things, he stated that, ' for the purpose of deceiving the people
and individuals in relation to their means,' they had represented to the public
and to individuals that there had been paid into the treasury ^ enormous sums
of money, on account of stock sold, for much larger amounts than had been
received. And, the better to accomplish and maintain such deceptions, the
Managers (or a majority of them) caused to be issued certificates of stock to the
amount of, nominally, $630,000, or six thousand three hundred shares of
$100, for cash, of which shares they had represented to the public and individ-
uals that the holder had paid the sum of $100, amounting to $630,000, when,
as a matter of fact, there was only 5 per cent paid on each share, by which
means the public and many individuals were deceived.'
'' Henry 0*Rielly, the individual with whom the contract had first been
made, a stockholder and one of the Directors, also memorialized the Legislature
for an investigation of the affairs of the Company, in which he re-asserted the
charges made by Mann, and stated that he held himself ready, if the Legisla-
ture would order an investigation of the doings of the Company, to prove, from
the records of the Company and from other evidence, ' that there was scarcely an
important provision in the code of Iowa (applicable to corporations), scarcely an
important point in the Des Moines Improvement laws, scarcely an important pro-
vision in the contract which the Company agreed to fulfill, scarcely an essential
provision in its by-laws, or even in the charter which gave it legal existence,
which had not been violated, and violated with a recklessness that will form a
memorable feature in the history of Iowa.*
^^ A joint committee was appointed from both branches* of the Legislature,
at the called session, to investigate the alleged abuses ; but, owing to the short
time in which they had to act, it was impossible for them to make the necessary
investigation. An attempt was made to create a committee for this purpose to
act after the Legislature adjourned ; but this failed, so that the alleged abuses
passed by without examination at that time. These memorials to the Legisla-
ture and the discussion of these matters by the newspapers greatly prejudiced
the public mind against the Company ; and while these discussions were going
on, W. C. Johnson, the President of the Company, requested the Governor to
examine into its afiiEiirs, in person or by committee, and proposed to pay the
expenses of such an examination. 'The Governor did not feel disposed to com-
ply with the request, but referred the matter to the Legislature, which convened
the following December, and recommended that a committee should be appointed
with power to administer oaths, and to jsend for persons and papers, with instruc-
tions to inquire into all the transactions of the former Commissioners and Reg-
isters of the Improvement.
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426 HISTORY OP VAN BUREN COUNTY.
" This part of the Governor's message was referred to a committee of twelve,
consisting of members of both branches of the Legislature, who immediatelj
proceeded to the discharge of their duties. After a careful and thorough exam-
ination, this committee reported that they did not consider the contract made
by the Commissioners with the Company a valid contract on behalf of the State,
for the law which authorized the Commissioner and Register to make contracts
required thkt any contract made by them, to be valid, must be approved by
the Governor, and that the subsequent law, which created two Assistant Com-
missioners, did not do away with the provision requiring the Governor to approve
of such contracts. And, as the contract made with the Company had never
been approved by the Governor, they did not regard it as binding on the
State. The Committee also reported that the Company had acted in bad £uth,
and violated their charter in many ways ; and, among other things, they found
that over $1,000,000 of full-paid stock had been issued by the Company, upon
which had been received but $167,000, leaviag a deficit of $833,000, for which
certificates of full-paid stock had been issued, for which not a farthing had been
received by the Company, which had been sold to innocent purchasers for a
valuable consideration, who had purchased, believing its full value had been
paid into the treasury of the Company. The Company had come far short of
completing the amount of work which they were required to do under their
contract, and their acts gave strong' indications that their object was to expend
money enough to set possession of all the available lands, and then abandon the
work ; for more than one-half of the time which was given for completing the
entire conti^act had expired, and on a work which was estimated to cost about
$2,000,000 they had expended about $185,957.44 for an actual construction of
the work, while the Company claimed that they had expended $104,180.74 for
incidental expenses, the most part of which did not, in any manner, benefit the
Improvement. Yet the Company claimed that they were entitled to land at
$1.25 per acre in payment for the whole amount.
** On the 2d of April, 1855, William McKay, of Polk County, was elected
Commissioner, and John C. Lockwood, of Louisa County, Register; but in
November, 1856, McKay resigned, and Edwin Manning, of Van Buren
County, was appointed by the Governor to fill his place. Manning bore the
name of a good business man and a close financier, and he was not willing to
audit the claims for incidental expenses, as one for which the Company were
entitled to receive Iftnd ; and this became a matter of dispute between the Com-
pany and Commissioner, and, in order to have the matter adjusted, the Presi-
dent proposed to make an abatement of $72,000 ; but Manning did not feel
disposed to settle the matter himself, and referred the whole claim to the Legis-
lature.
^^ Manning, in his report to the Le^lature, showed that there had been sold
by the State, through tne Board of Public Works, during the six years tiiat
the State prosecuted the work, about $75,000 worth of land ; and for this sum
only ^ three stone-masonry locks' and two dams had been completed ; and there
had been certified to the Des Moines Navigation & Railroad Company, by Bon-
ney and Gillaspy, 88,853 19-100 acres of land, and by McKay and Lockwood,
116,636 4-100 acres, at $1.25 per acre, making $256,861.58 worth of land,
which had been disposed of to the present Company, a part of which amount
was for old debts which they had paid.
'^ The report of the Committee and Commissioner having been made to the
Legislature, that body, acting upon the premises that the contract which had
been made by the Commissioners with the Company was not bidding upon the
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HI8T0EY OF VAN BUREN COUNTY. 42T
State, on the 29th of January, 1857, passed an act by which there was to be a
Commissioner appointed by the Governor, who, with the regular Commissioner,
was authorized to contract for the speedy prosecution of tne work, and it was
made their duty to ascertain and pay off all just claims against the Improve-
ment ; and they were authorized to contract with any company for the sale of
all lands, tolls and water rents who would ffive satisfactory evidence and security
for the completion of the Improvement, ^ut they were not to bind the State
by any contract further than the appropriation of the land and the income of
the Improvement ; and no contract made by the Commissioners was to be valid
until approved by the Governor. And by this act, the offices of Register and
Assistant Commissioner were abolished, and the Register was required to deliver
over to the State Land Office all books and papers in his office; and the Reg-
ister of the State Land Office was required to perform all the duties which the
Register of the Improvement had done. And by thus doin^, the Legislature
Skve the Des Moines Navigation & Railroad Company to understand uat they
d not regard the contract made by them with the Commissioners as binding
upon the State, though by this act they made arrangements for auditing their
claims and paying them their just dues.
About this time, the question was brought up in the Land Department at
Washington, as to the extent of this grant of land, and the opinion was made
public that the original intention of Congress was to only give to the State the
lands below the Raccoon Fork ; but a disposition was manifested to compromise
by the department recognizing as being in the grant all lands adjacent to the
river within the State. But assumptions had heretofore met with success, and
now those interested in the land-grant claimed and contended that this grant
embraced all the lands to the source of the river. This difficulty about the
extent of the land-grant, together with the action of the Legislature, nearly
suspended all operations on the river, and much was said by the Company
about enforcing their claims by law.
'^The Commissioners appointed to audit and pay the claims against the
Improvement did not succeed in adjusting the claims of the Company, and the
matter was again referred to the Legislature; and, on the 22d of March, 1858,
there was a joint resolution passed by the Legislature, defining the basis upon
which the State would settle, and the Des Moines Navigation k Railroad
Company was given sixty days to consider whether they would accept of and
ratify this proposition ; and if they did not, within that time, then it was made
the auty of the Governor to enjoin them from further proceeding with the work
of the Improvement. Also, on the same day of adopting this resolution, there
was an act passed giving all the lands which remained after settling with this
Company, ^and also all the stone, timber and other materials turned over to the
State by the Company,' to the Keokuk, Fort Des Moines & Minnesota Rail-
road Company, for the purpose of constructing a railroad from Keokuk up the
Des Moines Valley, to the northern line of the State, except the material which
it might be necessary to use for the completion of the locks ahd dams at Cro-
tdn, rlymouth, Bentonsport and Keosauqua, which the Railroad Company were
to complete ; and also, all debts which grew out of the Improvement, which at
that time remained unsatisfied, or were, in some manner, provided for. But in
this grant there was a provision made that it should not, in any manner, con-
flict with the lands which had, previous to that time, been given to the State by
Congress for railroad purposes, which, on the 15th of July, 1856, had been
given by the Legislature to the companies formed to build the four roads desig-
nated by the grant. But it was understood that these lands, )ia^vinff been
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428 HISTORY OP VAN BUREN COUNTY.
donated by Congress for the improyement of the navigation of the river Dee
Moines, could not be diverted to the building of a railroad without the consent
of Congress, and measures were immediately taken to get Congress to sanction
the diversion ; but this attempt failed, so that the action of the Iowa Legisla-
ture did not avail the Railroad Company anything that session. The Railroad
Company determined to make another effort at the next session of Congress :
but before the time for this effort, another difficulty arose in the way of obtain-
, ing the lands for the Keokuk, Fort Des Moines & Minnesota Railroad Com-
pany.
'^Insetting up the claims that the grants for improving the river Des
Moines extended above the Raccoon Fork, the citizens 6f Iowa were united
until after the grant of lands by Congress for railroad purposes was made.
After this, the railroad companies became interested in the lands claimed for
the River Improvement, and claimed that the grant did not embrace any lands
above the Raccoon Fork, on which the citizens of Iowa were now divided, and
both sides of the question were represented. Upon this phase of the case,
the officer of the Land Department at Washington had but very little hesita-
tion in deciding against the claims of the River Improvement. After this
decision was made, the legal tribunals were resorted to, and a case was taken
to the Supreme Court of the United States, where the same decision was given
as in the Land Office.
^^ On the 3d of March, 1860, there was an act passed abolishing the office
of Commissioner of the Des Moines River Improvement, and George G. Wright,
Edward Johnson and Christian W. Slagle were appointed a Board of Commis-
sioners for the purpose of ascertaining all the liabilities against the Des Moines
River Improvement, and against the State of Iowa, growing out of the Im-
provement. They were required to meet at Keosauqua, and were clothed with
power similar to the District Court, to hear and determine all claims growing
out of the Improvement, and were authorized to sell all the interests of the
State, and all dams and improvements, and the lands appertaining thereto.
These Commissioners proceeded with their duties, and with their labors closed
all official acts, as far as the State was concerned, in applying the proceeds of
this land grant toward the improvement of the navigation of the river Des
Moines.
'^ This was a most magnificent ^rant, embracing some of the best lands in
the State ; and if the proceeds had been judiciously and properly expended,
would have made a ffreat thoroughfare for steamboats, besides affording an
immense water-power for driving machinery. But, through the incompetency
of managing the means, and the intrigues of designing men, the whole of the
lands below the Raccoon Fork, and a large quantity above, were disposed of,
and very little practical good accomplished toward the navigation of the river.'*
ORIGIN OF THE NAME DES MOINES.
In Nicollet's '^ Report of the Upper Mississippi River," made to Congress,
February 16, 1841, and published in 1843, he gives the following account of
the origin of the name of the Des Moines River :
^' The Des Moines is one of the most beautiful and important tributaries of
the Mississippi, north of the Missouri ; and the metamorphosis which its
name has undergone from its original appellation is curious enough to be
recorded.
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HISTORY OP VAN BUEEN COUNTY. 429
" We are informed that Father Marquette and M. Joliet, during their voy-
age in search of the Mississippi, having reached the distance of sixty leagues
below the mouth of the Wisconsin, observed the footprints of men on the right
side of the great river, which served as a guide to those two celebrated explorers
to the discovery of an Indian trail, or path, leading to an extensive prairie, and
which they determined to follow. Having proceeded about two leagues, they
first saw one village on the bank of the river, and then two others upon the
slope, half a league from the first. The travelers, having halted within hailing
distance, were met by the Indians, who offered them their hospitalities, and
represented themselves as belonging to the Illinois nation.
" The name which they gave their settlement was Moningouinas (or Mom*
ffonay as laid down in the ancient maps of the country), and is a corruption of
the Algonquin word, Mikouang^ signifying at the road, by their customary
eltiptical manner of designating localities, alluding, in this instance, to the
well-known road in this section of the country which they used to follow as a
communication between the head of the lower rapids and their settlement on
the river which empties itself into the Misssisippi, to avoid the rapids ; and this
is still the practice of the present inhabitants of the country.
" Now, after the French had established themselves on the Mississippi, they
adopted this name ; but with their custom (to this day also that of the Creoles)
of only pronouncing the first syllable, and applying it to the river as well as to
the Indians who dwelt upon it — ^so they would say, ' la riviere des Moines * {the
river of the Moines) : ' allez chez les Moines ' (to go to the Moines people).
But in latter times the inhabitants associated this name with that of the Trap-
pist Monks (Moines de la Trappe)^ who resided with the Indians of the Amer-
ican Bottom.
" It was then concluded that the true reading of the riviere des Moines was
ibe ^riviere des Moines,"* or river of Monks, by which name it is designated on
all the modem maps. The Sioux, or Ndakotah Indians, call the Des Moines
Inyanrsha-shawatpay or Redstone River, from inyan, stone ; sha-sha, redupli-
catiofi of sha, red ; and watpa, river. They call the upper east fork Inyan-
sha sha-watpa-sunkakuy the Brother of the Redstone River."
WAR RECORD.
If there is any one thing more than another of which the people of the
Northern States have reason to be proud, it is of the record they made during
the dark and bloody days when red-handed rebellion raised its hideous head
and threatened the life of the nation. When the war was forced upon the
country, the people were quietly pursuing the even tenor of their ways, doing
whatever their hands found to do^working the mines, making farms or culti-
vating those already made, erecting houses, founding cities and towns, building
shops and manu&ctories — in short, the country was alive with industry and
hopes for the future. The people were just recovering from the depression and
losses incident to the financial panic of 1857. The future looked bright and
promising, and the industrious and patriotic sons and daughters of the Free
States were buoyant with hope, looking forward to the perfecting of new plans
for the insurement of comfort and competence in their declining years ; they
little heeded the mutterings and threatenings of treason's children in the Slave
States of the South. True sons and descendants of the heroes of the "times
that tried men's souls" — the struggle for American Independence — ^they never
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480 HISTORY OP VAN BURBN COUNTY.
dreamed that there was even one so base as to dare attempt the destruction of
the Union of their fathers — a government baptized with the best blood the
world ever knew. While immediately surrounded with peace and tranquillity,
thev paid but little attention to the rumored plots and plans of those who lived
and grew rich from the sweat and toil, blood and flesh, of others — aye, even
trafiicking in the offspring of their own loins. Nevertheless, the war came,
with all its attendant horrors.
April 12, 1861, Fort Sumter, at Charleston, South Carolina, Maj. Ander-
son, U. S. A., Commandant, was fired on by rebels in arms. Although basest
treason, this first act in the bloody reality that followed was looked upon as the
mere bravado of a few hot-heads — the act of a few fire-eaters whose sectional
bias and hatred was crazed by the excessive indulgence in intoxicating pota-
tions. When, a day later, the news was borne along the telegraph wires that
Maj. Anderson had been forced to surrender to what had first been regarded as
a drunken mob, the patriotic people of the North were startled from their dreams
of the future, from undertakings half completed, and made to realize that
behind that mob there was a dark, deep and well-organized purpose to destroy
the Government, rend the Union in twain, and out of its ruins erect a slave
oligarchy, wherein no one should dare to question their right to hold in bondage
the sons and daughters of men whose skins were black, or who, perchance,
through practices of lustful natures, were half or quarter removed from the
color that God, for His own purposes, had given them. But they ''reckoned
without theij host." Their dreams of the future, their plans for the establish-
ment of an independent confederacy,, were doomed from their inception to sad
and bitter disappointment.
When the Southern rebels fired upon Fort Sumter, it found this vast North
unarmed, untrained in the art of war, and in a state of such profound peace as
to warrant the belief that hostilities could not be be^un by those who had,
since thi foundation of this Union, boasted loudly of their loyalty to the Con-
stitution of the United States. The rumors of disaffection that had alarmed
the more watchful had aroused but trifling fears in the breasts of the great mass
of Northern citizens. War between the States had, prior to that time, been
deemed an impossibility. The sentiments of fratemsJ unity were so deep-
abiding in the hearts of the North, that treason was regarded as an improbable
crime, and overt acts of antagonism to the Government too base in their
intent to be worthy of serious consideration.
But the hand of the aged Ruffin, as he laid the blazing torch upon the gun
within Stevens* battery, lighted a flame which spread throughout the land with
electric rapidity, and illumined the nation with a glare that revealed the truth
of rebel threats. The boom of that first gun awakened the passive people to
the dread reality of their position. From Maine to Oregon, from Superior to
the Ohio, the country arose, as with a single impulse, to respond to the demands
of the hour. There was no need of prompting them, no need of canvassing
for strength, no hesitating as to measures, no thought of compromise. But one
course could be pursued, and that the people comprehended as though inspired
by some higher mentor. The Union must be preserved. Each individual
member of society felt the urgent necessity of prompt and concerted action.
Towns did not wait to hear tidings from sister towns ; each heard in the roar
of brave old Sumter's guns a summons direct, imperative and irresistible, for
aid in the defense of the nation's honor. Rivals in business and in politics
grasped each other's hands and hurried forth, side by side, rivals no longer, save
in their eagerness to enroll first their names upon the list of citizen-soldiery.
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HISTORY OP VAN BUREN COUNTY.
481
Almost simultaneous with the news of the attack upon Sumter, came the call
from President Lincoln for troops. In the remote towns and rural localities,
where telegraphic communication had not then penetrated, the appeal and the
reeponse were recorded at the same time.
On the 15th of April, the President issued his call for 75,000 ninety-dajs
troops. The State of Iowa was particularly fortunate in having as its Chief
Sxecative Samuel J. Kirkwood, whose lojaltv and unceasing devotion to the
cause of the Union have embalmed his name forever in the annals of the State.
Within thirty days after the President's demand was made public, Iowa had a
regiment in the field.
If it was within the province of this work to relate the story of Van Buren's
loyalty, the limits of this volume would be extended far beyond those anticipated
by the publishers. Some future historian, we have no doubt, will find a fruit-
ful topic in this record of war, and lay before the people of this county a narra-
tive of unsurpassed interest. Surely the opportunity exists and awaits the
patient labors of a competent writer.
The county lay so near the line of the Slave States that party feeling r^an
high throughout all the war. Local agitations were freauent over rumored
invasions. The loyalty of the county was all the more marked because of the
hasard of entertaining such sentiments.
The long list of brave men who formed the volunteer companies from Van
Buren is here appended :
VOLUNTEER ROSTER.
TAKEN PRINCIPALLY r&OM ADJUTANT 0SNBBAL*8 RSP0BT8.
.A.BBX&B-^X.£u<rZ02TS.
Adit A4|iitaQt
Art. ArtUlwy
Bt^ « ^Battle or Battalion
OM.^....^......^................ •^ Colonel
0»p« «.. «..Oaptain
Oofpi...............» ~ Corporal
OatDBj ^.CommiMMtiy
eain....MM »..» oommiarioned
caT...»» —caralry
, „ ....captnred
.^ „..., « »....d<«erted
disabled
discharged
.,..„ ».enliited
^....« « ^exchanged
hon. diad honorably dlAoharged
lnT.....«. inralld
inf. ». influitry
L V. I ......Iowa Yoliinteer Inlanti7
kid-. « Wiled
Llent » Lientenaat
MiJ..
..Mi^r
m. o » ....mnatered oot
pnntd... promoted
prisr..... ». prisoner
B^ B^(iment
r»-e je-enllsted
rea~. ....redgned
Sergt.. .....^..Sergeant
trans ....transferred
Tet ».Teteran
y. B. 0 Veteran Beaenre Corps
wd .....wounded
SECOND INFANTRY.
[NOTK.— 7b« NOiMwteraM of tki$ regiment were mv«tor«l
m^ im ApHi, Mat imd Jme, 186U, Tk0 9§t0nm»<mdreemit$
wtM €om»oiidat4d imlo tlu Beetmd VeUnm B^amtn, wkiek «m«
tmtUafmttregimid November 8, 186A, hp ameoHdaiimg with
Om Third Veteran I^faalrf. Wa$ matierei out at LoaieeOle
Col. Jas. M. Tuttle, com. lieut. col. May
31, 1861, prmtd. col. Sept. 6, 1861, wd. Ft.
Donelson, brig. gen. U. S. Vols. June
22,1862.
Q. M. John T. Stewart, com. 2d lieut. Co.
F June. 1, 1861, prmtd. June 6, 1861, read.
Aug. 7, 1861.
Company F.
Capt. Allen T. Brooks, com. June 1, 1861,
read. Nov. 1, 1861.
First Lieut, ('has. C. Parker, e. as sergt.
May 1, 1861, prmtd. Ist lieut. May 14,
1862, wd. Corinth.
Second Lieut. \Vm. ('. Harper, e. as sergt.
May 1, 1861, prmtd. 2d lieut. Aug. 21,
1861, kid. Ft. Donelson.
Second Lieut. Wm. Browner, e. as sergt.,
frmtd. sergt. maj., prmtd. 2d lieut. Feb.
7, '62, wd. Shiloh, died Savannah, Tenn.
Second Lieut. V. P. Twombly, e. as corp.
May 1, 1861, wd. Ft. Donelson, pnntd.
2d lieut. Aug. 1, 1862, wd. Corinth.
Sergt. James Ferry, e. May 1, 1861.
Sergt. John H. Hall, e. May 1, 1861, disd.
April 6, 1862, disab.
Sergt. Wm. Miller, e. May 1, 1861.
Sergt. Wm. Sawver. e. May 1, 1861, diet!
April 4, 1862, fionaparte, Iowa.
Digitized by VjOOQIC
482
HISTORY OP VAN BUREN COUNTY.
Sergt. Geo. J. Bonney, e. May 1, 1861.
Sergt Geo. W. Morse, e. May 1, 1861, kid.
battle Ft. Donelson.
Sergt. Peter Watts, e. May 1, 1861.
Sergt Cyrus Bartow, e. Nov. 5, 1861, vet.
Dec. 28, 1868, from Ist lieut. Aug. 18,
1864, kid. in action Aug. 30.
€orp. Saml. Huffman, e. May 1, 1861, died
wds. March 28, 1862.
Corp. Benj. Wilson, e. Mav 1, 1861, died at
Keokuk Oct. 28,1862.
Corp. Jas. Schrawger, e. May 1, 1861, wd.
Ft. Donelson.
Corp. M. A. Lane, e. May 1,^1861, disd.
Aug. 25, 1861.
€orp. Jas. Carr, e. May 1, 1861, wd. Fort
Donelson.
€orp. John F. Bateman, e. May 1, 1861,
disd. Feb. 7, 1862.
Corp. Wm. C. Dicus, e. May 1, 1861, disd.
March, 1868.
Oorp. Wm. Van Fleet, e. May 1, 1861, diefl
Feb. 24, 1862.
Drummer J. N. Tutewiler, e. May 1, 1861,
disd. Dec. 2, 1862.
Wagoner Jas. Pickett, e. Aug. 1, 1861, wd.,
died Keokuk.
Armstrong, F. M., e. May 1, 1861, disd.
July 21, 1862.
Allinsworth, James, e. May 1, 1861, disd.
Sept. 6, 1862.
Brownfleld, Zadoc, e. May 1, 1861, disd.
April 2, 1862, disab.
Bakeman, Henry, e. May 1, 1861.
Bratlford, A., e. May 1, 1861, wd. Ft. Don-
elson.
Briddle, Wm. A., e. May 1, 1861.
Botkin, Oscar, e. May 1, 1861, disd. Oct. 9.
1861.
Boehm, Solomon, e. May 1, 1861.
Brewington, C, e. May 1, 1861.
Belott, L. W., e. May 1, 1861, disd. Jan. 16,
1862.
Bint, H., e. May 1, 1861, disd. Nov. 15, '61.
disab.
Baust, Wm., e. May 1, 1861, died July 24,
1862.
Brewington, L. F., disd. June 18, 1862.
€rane, Wm. M., e. May 1, 1861.
€rooks, W. S., e. May 1, 1861, kid. bat Ft
Donelson.
€aruther8, C, e. May 1, 1861, died May 16,
1862.
Coger, C. L., e. May 1, 1861, disd. July 22,
1862, wds.
Cummings, A. W., e. May 1, 1861, died Oct.
20, 1.861;
Dunlap, John A., e. May 1, 1861, died at
Memphis.
Dahlburg, John P.. e. May 1, 1861, died
Sent 28 1861
Duffield, H., e. May 1, 1861, wd. Ft. Donel-
s(m, disd. Oct 12, 1862.
Duffield, J. H., e. May 1, 1861, disd. Sept.
14, 1862.
Dannell, D. P., e. May 1, 1861.
Elrod, F. H., e. May 1, 1861, trans, to 18th
Inf. Dec. 1, 1861.
Feathers, S. G., e. May 1, 1861, wd. Corinth.
Goddard, C^ e. May 1, 1861. disd. wds. Sept.
18 1862
Hitt, Saiiil. F., e. May 1, 1861.
Hombacker, David, e. May 1. 1861, dl«d-
Dec. 6, 1861, disab.
Hilliard, Aaron, e. May 1, 1861, disd. Sept
19, 1861, disab.
Hoak, H. C, e. May 1, 1861, kid. Ft. Don-
elson.
Hoon, Wm. J., e. Mav 1, 1861.
Henry, John B., e. May 1, 1861.
Henry, T. P., e. May 1, 1861, wd. Corinth.
Hall, Jas. S., e. May 1, 1861.
Hearn, Saml., e. M!ay 1, 1861, wd. Corinth.
Krause, Henry, e. May 1, 1861.
Loring, L. H., e. May 1, 1861.
McClelland, Benj. A., e. May 1, 1861.
May, Chas., a May 1, 1861.
Mitchell, H. D., e. May 1, 1861, died Aug.
20, 1861.
Marriott, John a, e. May 1, 1861, wd. Ft.
Donelson.
Meltz, F. G., e. May 1, 1861, kid. Ft Don-
elson.
Mayne, Leroy, e. May 1,'1861. trans, to 8d
Cavalry, Co. G.
Mowrie, A. W., e. May 1, 1861, disd. April
2, 1862, disab.
Morrow, John, e. May 1, 1861, died June
22 1862
Nixon, Geo. W., e. May 1, 1861, died Jan.,
Perry, Jesse, e. May 1,'61, disd. Jan. 99,'68.
Parker, J. M., e. May 1, 1861, wd. Corinth.
disd. Jan. 29, 1868.
Row, Jacob, e. May 1, 1861.
Robinson, J. W., e. Mav 1, 1861, died May
5, 1862.
Skeins, T. H., e. May 1, 1861.
Sagers, Jas. H., e. May 1, 1861, deserted at
Keokuk June 1, 1861.
Spenser, E., e. May 1, 1861, disd. Oct. 14,
1861, disab.
Sullivan, John M., e. May 1, 1861.
Smith, Geo., e. May 1, 1861, wd. Ft Don-
elson and Corinth.
Sherod, M. C, e. May 1, 1861, disd. Nov.
21, 1861, disab.
Shiver, A. J., e. May 1, 1861, died, date un-
known.
Smith. Thos.. e. May 1, 1861, died July «S,
1862
Steele,' Geo. K, e. May 1, 1861, disd. Sept
19, 1861.
Shriver, G. B., e. May 1, 1861, kid. bat Ft
Donelson.
Stewart, H., e. May 1, 1861, disd. April 2,
1862.
Shepard, Jas. W.. e. May 1. 1861, disd. Oct
10. 1861.
Town, Edwin, e. May 1, 1861.
Town, S. J., e. May 1, 1861, died Nov. 14,
1861.
Tower, D. W., e. May 1. 1861, disd. Dec 14,
1861.
Vincent. W. W., e. May 1, 1861, kid. Ft
Donelson.
Digitized by VjOOQIC
HISTORY OP VAN BUREN COUNTY.
438
Vandoren, John S., e. May 1, 1861, kid. Ft
rKmelson.
Wilson, F. B^ a May 1, 1861, disd. Nov.
ao, 1862, wd.
AVare, E. W., e. May 1, 1861.
Reed, John, e. May 1, 1861.
Riffffin, R. A., e. May 1, 1861.
R<>bbmson,*R. R, e. May 1, 1861, disd.
July 81, 1862.
Company G.
Proctor, David, e. May 6, 1861,captd. Cor-
inth.
COMPANY UNKNOWN.
Fowler,. Jas. A., e. Jan. 4, 1864.
Robinson, Richard, e. Jan 4, 1864.
Stephens, Henry, e. Jan. 4, 1864.
Potter, H. C, e. March 30, 1864
Potter, Edwin M, e. Feb. 29, 1864.
SECOND VETERAN INFANTRY.
Adjt Voltaire P. Twomblv, com. June
85, 1864, wd. Aug. 31, 1864.'
Company B.
Davidson, Sarles, e. Nov. 23, 186L vet Dec.
38,1863.
Company C.
Leach, K. N., e. April 24, 1861, vet Dec.
18, 1863.
Company K.
First Lieut. Cyrus Bartow, com. Aug. 18»
1864, kid. Jonesboro, Ga.
Company H.
Fowler, James A., e. Jan. 4, 1864.
Stevens, H. S., e. Jan. 4, 1864.
Company K.
«ergt. Thos. P. Henry, e. May 1, 1^61, vet.
Dec 28, 1863.
Corp. A. C. Pickett, e. May 1, 1861, vet
Dec 28, 1863.
Corp. Edwin Towne, e. May 1, 1861, vet.
Dec. 28, 1868.
Ct>rp. John S. Marriott, e. May 1, 1861, vet.
Dec 28, 1868.
Brewington, Chas., e. May 1, 1861, vet. Dec.
28 1868.
Brooks, Alien F., e. March 21, 1864,
Feathers, Sam'l G., e. May 1, 1861, vet
Dec. 28, 1868.
Henry, John B., e. May 1, 1861, vet Dec.
28,1863.
Krause, Henry, e. May 1, 1861, vet. Dec.
28,1863.
May, Clias., e. May 1, 1861, vet. Dec. 28, '63.
McAnnulty, Jas., e. May 1, 1861, vet Dec.
28 1863
Pickett Jas. M., e. Jan. 16, 1864.
Bobbison, R. Richard, e. Jan. 4, 1864.
Rowe, Jacob, e. May 1, 1861, vet. Dec. 28,
1868.
Work, Beuj., e. March 21, 1864.
Ware, Elias M., e. May 1, 1861, vet. Dec.
28,1863.
SECOND CONSOLIDATED VET-
ERAN INFANTRY.
Company K.
Capt Voltaire P. Twombly, com. adjt.
J une 25, 1864, prmtd. capt. Nov. 10, 1864.
I FIFTH INFANTRY.
I [MoTK.— 2W« rtaimmU «ww tm^tertd <ml AuguH, 186h.
I VtUnm amd reoruUt wwr^ kran^trvd to Fi/lh Owolrf .]
! Chaplain Jas. C. Sharon, com. April 12,
I 1862, resd. Sept 3, 1862.
I Company C.
Hensley, Jas., e. July 1, 1861, disd. Dec. 10,
1861, disab.
Jenkins, G., e. July 1, 1861, wd. luka, trans.
to Inv. Corps.
Jones, Chas., e. July 1, 1861, reported kid.
Company H.
Capt. John M. Shaw, com. Julv 15, 1861,
resd. Oct 6, 1861.
Capt. Joel Brown, com. Ist lieut. July 15,
1861, prmtd. capt. Oct 6, 1861, wd. luka,
resd. March 8, 1863.
Capt. Sam*l B. Lindsay, e. as sergt. June
24, 1861, prmUl. Ist lieut Nov. 1, 1861,
prmtd. capt. March 9, 1863, kid. battle
Champion Hills while 1st lieut.
Capt Wm. C. Iluber, e. as sergt. June 24,
1861,prmtd. 2d lieut. Jan. 20, 1862, prmtd.
1st lieut. March 9, 1863, prmtd. capt
March 17, 1863, m. o. Aug. 1, 1864, term
expired.
First Lieut John W. Huffman, e. as sergt.
June 24, 1861, prmtd. 2d lieut. March 9.
1868, prmtd. fst lieut March 17, 1863,
captd. Nov. 25, 1863, disd. March 24, '65.
Second Lieut. Bowen P. Hurt, com. 1861,
resd. Jan. 19, 1862.
Second Lieut. Jas. A. Woodson, e. as corn.
June 24, 1861, prmtd. 2d lieut March 17,
1863, m. o. July 81, 1864, term expired.
Sergt. Wm. S. Hackney, e. June 24, 1861,
disd. July 12, 1861, disab.
Sergt. H. J. Foster, e. June 24, 1861.
Sergt. John Walker, e. June 24, 1861, wd.
Vicksburg.
Sergt Geo. W. Overturf, e. June 24, 1861,
captd. Missionary Ridge.
Sergt. R. B. Hughes, e. June 24, 1861. kid.
at luka.
Sergt. Robt. Cunningham, e. June 24, *61,
kid. Champion IliUs.
Corp. S. B. Culbertson, e. June 24, 1861.
Corp. Chas. Ilerriman, e. June 24, 1861.
Corp, Geo. W. Allender, e. June 24, 1861,
wd. Champion Hills, trans. Inv. Corps.
Corp. Porter Pleasants, e. June 24, 1861,
disd. Dec. 6, 1862, disab.
Corp. John II. Fenning, e. June 24, 1861.
Corp. R. Sperry, e. June 24, 1861, disd.
Sept 10, 1862, disab.
Corp. John Whitton, e. June 24, 1861,
captd. Missionaiy Ridge.
Digitized by VjOOQIC
484
HISTORY OP VAN BUREN COUNTY.
(k)rp. R. J. H. Huffmau, e. June 24, 1861,
captd. Missionary Ridge,
(^orp. Jacob T. Overturf, e. June 24, 1861,
wd. luka, disd. Jan. 19, 1863.
Corp. Wm. Sutton, e. June 24, 1861, wd.
Champion Hills, died there June 20,
186^.
Corp. Benj. Watson, e. June 24, 1861, trans.
to Inv. Corps Feb. 15, 1864.
Musican Wm. W. Miller, e. June 24, 1861.
Musican Enoch Augustine, e. June 24,
1861, disd. Sept. 2, 1862.
Armentrout, Geo. W., e. July 21, 1861,
kid. at luka.
Arrington, M. J., e. June 24, 1861, wd. at
luka.
AUender, Wm., e. Aug. 26, 1862, wd. at
Champion Hills.
Brown, Benj., e. June 24, 1861, disd. Sept.
25 1862
Barker, E. E., e. Aug. 15, 1862.
Baldwin, Geo. W^, e. June 24, 1861, wd. at
I uka, trans, to inv. Corps Feb. 15, 1864.
Coombs. Jas., e. Aug. 15, 1862.
Campbell, Jas., e. June 24, 1861, disd. Oct.
11, 1862, disab.
Cole, C. S., e. Aug. 20, 1862.
Cole, Jno. E., e. June 24, 1861.
Church, M. H., e. June 24, 1861, disd. Oct.
15, 1862.
Carson, Samuel S.. e. June 24, 1861.
Drake, H. L., e. Nov. 17, 1861, died March
30 1862
Elliott, R. G., e. June 24, 1861.
Ebbert, Wm. H.. e. Aug. 26, 1862, wd. at
Champion Hills.
Elmer, Edwin, e. June 24, 1861. disd. Oct.
24, 1862, disab.
Elmer, Adelbert, e. June 24, 1861, disd.
Sept. W, 1862, disab.
Elmer, Oliver, e. June 24, 1861, disd. Oct.
24, 1862, disab.
Estal, Thos. P., e. June 24, 1861, wd. luka,
disd. Feb. 28, 1868, disab.
Ester, M. E., e. June 24. 1861, died Aug.
24, 1862. ,
Ebbert, A. C, e. June 24, '61, kid. at luka.
Farrer, L. P., e. Aug. ll, 1862.
Penning, C. W., e. June 24, 1861.
Farrar, Jno. P., e. June 24, 1861.
Flickner, Jno., e. June 24, 1861, wd. at
Champion Hills.
Penning, Jas. M., e. June 24, 1861.
Giague, Alfred, e. Sept. 13, 1861, disd.
April 13, 1862, disab.
Garlinghouse, L., e. June 24, 1861, captd.
at Chattanooga.
Grommer, Wm- e. Si-pt. 17, 1862, disd.
Aug. 9, 1863, disab.
Gilberts, C. P., e. June 24, 1861.
Hall, Benj., e. Aug. 14, 1862, capUl. at
Chattanooga.
Huffman, FredTc, e. June 24, 1861.
Hackney, A. S., e. June 24, 1861, disd. July
26, 1862, sick.
Hall, Jas. M., e. Aug. 14, 1862.
Harress, C. M., e. June 24, 1861.
Handshaw, S., e. June 24, 1861.
Hendricks, Wm. T., e. June 24, 1861, disd.
Oct. 14, 1861, sick.
Hughes, Wm. T., e. June 24, 1861, wd. at
luka.
Hill, Wm. H., e. June 24, 1861.
Johnson, Aug., e. Jan. 1, 1862.
Jackson, C R., e. June 24, 1861.
Johnson, Henry, e. Aug. 80, 1862.
JoUey, Jno., e. June 24, 1861, died Dec.
1, 1862.
Jolley, Alex., e. June 24, 1861.
Johnson, H., e. Aug. 15, 1862.
Knapp, P. J., e. June 24, 1861, captd. at
Chattanoo^.
Knapp, Jos. W., e. June 24, 1861, wd. at
luka and Champion Hills.
Latimore, J. B., e. June 24, 1861, disd. May
12, 1862.
Lewis, J. W., e. Aug. 15, 1862, died at
Memphis.
Loynes, L. K, e. June 24, 1861, wd. at
vicksburg.
Malvin, J., e. Aug. 18, 1862.
McCall, Jno. W.. e. June 24, 1861, wd. at
Champion Hills.
McAllister, Jas., e. Aug. 19, 1862.
Miller. Wm. C, e. June 24, 1861, disd. Dec
14, 1862, disab.
Miller, F. M., e. June 24^ 1861, captd. at
Chattanooga.
Miller, D. E., e. Aug. 81, 1862.
Murphy, Wm., e. June 24, 1861, disd. Sept-
12, 1862.
McCall, Robt, a June 24, 1861.
McWiUiams, T. D., e. Aug. 2,1862, wd. at
Champion Hills.
Morris, H. F., e. June 24, 1861, disd. Oct.
2 1862
Motley. Wm. H. H., e. June 24, 1861, disd.
April 8, 1862, disab.
McClellan, Jas. A., e. June 24, 1861.
Nutt, Thomas I., e. June 24, 1861, kid.
luka.
Nelson, Wm. W., e. June 24, 1861, disd.
April 3, 1863, disab.
Pi-att, D., e. Dec. 13, 1863.
Penn, Benj., e. June 24, 1861, wd. luka,
disd. Nov. 6, 1862, disab.
Penn, Wm. R., e. Nov. 26, 1861, died at
Memphis.
Pinkerton, W. H. H., e. June 24, 1861.
Pleasants, C. H., e. Aug. 14, 1862.
Pierse, Jno. A., e. June 24, 1861, wd. luka,
disd. Nov. 8, 1863, disab.
Ratcliff, Jacob, e. Nov. 26, 1861, disd. Oct.
12. 1862, disab.
Rodgers, Hamilton, e. June 24, 1861, kid.
luka.
Roberts, Elijah, e. June 24, 1861, wd. luka
and Champion Hills.
Russell, M., e. Aug. 31, 1862.
Stookey, Jno. H., e. June 24, 1861, died
Syracuse, Mo.
Sutton, S., e. Aug. 31. 1862, captd. at
Chattanooga.
Smith, N. L., e. June/ 24, 1861, disd. Jan.
19. 1863, disab.
Still, Jno., Aug. 31, 1862.
Digitized by
Google
HI8T0EY OP VAN BURBN COUNTY.
435
i^tout, Cbas., e. June 24, 1861, died Oct
13 1862
Sutton. J*, e. Aug. 81, 1862.
Sheppard, J. W.. e. Sept. 1, 1862, died at
Iluntsville, Ala.
Sutton, W., e. June 24, 1861, disd. Sept
2 1862
Shebby,*H.E.,Sept 1,1862.
Smith, F. J., e. June 24, 1861, disd. Sept.
14, 1862.
Shaw, M. W., e. June 24, 1861, wd. luka,
captd. Chattanooga.
Sutton, A., e. June 24, 1861, wd. luka.
Troette, Jno. A., e. June 24, 1861, wd.
luka, disd. April 8, 1868.
ITmphenour, Jas., e. Aug. 1, 1862
Walden, Benj., e. June 24, 1861, disd.
April 8. 1862.
Winchell, Wm. R., e. Aug. 81, 1862, kid.
Champion Hills.
Winscott, S. K., e. June 24, 1861, wd. luka,
disd. Oct. 12, 1862, disab.
Winchell, Jesse, e. June 24, 1861.
Widger, J. K., e. June 24, 1861.
Walker, Geo. M., e. June 24, 1861.
Whittrea, e. Nov. 26, 1861.
Whitten, J. A., e. Aug. 80, 1862, wd. luka,
Champion Hills, captd. Chattanooga.
Waybill A. A., e. Aug. 81, 1862.
Company I.
Nevell, Morgan, e. June 24, 1861, died
Feb. 1, 1862.
FOURTEENTH INFANTRY.
lSon.—Tki» rtgimmd, txetpt vtUram mm! rtenttU^ «ww
— iiirtii <ml «l Dmrnport, Nov. 16, 186k. Tht mlenm$ mud
raemifi wen oomtaMated iafo iiM> oomiKMiM, eaiUd Mtmtd-
man BaUaUom FimrUmtk h^faitlnf^ wktokwummUndcmt
Awg. 8, 186S.]
Lieut Col. Joseph H. Newbold, com.
capt Co. F Nov. 4, 1861, captd. at Shi-
loh, prmtd. lieut col. March 18, 1868,
kid. at battle Pleasant Hill.
Company A.
Zink, Oeorge, e. Oct. 2, 1861, wd. at Pleas-
ant Hill, Xa.
Zink, William, e. Jan. 28, 1868.
Company D.
Sergt. William E. Ayers, e. Sept. 28, 1861,
captd. at Shiloh, trans, to V. R. C.
April 29, 1864.
Corp. Alfred M. Wilson, e. Sept. 28, 1861.
Bucher, Abram, e. Sept. 28, 1861, died at
Corinth.
Creason, W. H., e. Sept. 28. 1861, kid, at
Shiloh.
Campbell, W. H., e. Sept. 28, 1861.
Campbell, M. B., e. Sept. 28, 1861.
Henry, N. B^ e. Oct. 14, 1861, died Jan.
19, 1862.
Loofborous, J. S., e. Sept. 28, 1861.
Nixon, W. H., e. Sept. 28, 1861.
Company F.
First Lieut Wm. H. Dodds, e. as sergt.
Oct. 14, 1861, prmtd. 2d lieut. March 29,
1862, prmtd. 1st lieut March 14, 1868.
Second Liieut Cyrus Bltner, com. Nov. 4,
1861, resd. March 28, 1862.
Sergt. Robert. Hayes, e. Oct. 14, 1861, kid.
at Tupelo.
Corp. David Harlan, e. Oct. 14, 1861, de-
serted Aug. 10, 1862.
Bums, James, e. Oct. 2, 1861, captd. at
Shiloh, disd. Jan. 8, 1868.
Crist, Jacob, e. Oct. 14, 1861.
Corr, T.
Coro, Wm., e. Oct. 14, 1861.
Detwiler, Hugh, e. Oct 14, 1861.
Detwiler, J. W., e. Oct. 14, 1861, wd. at
Pleasant Hills, disd. Oct. 25, 1862.
Hill, James, e. Oct. 14, 1861, disd. April
24, 1862.
Jones, O. F., e. Oct. 14, 1861, disd. April
27, 1862, disab.
Jackson, W. F., e. Oct. 14, 1861, captd at
Shiloh.
Meller, Z., e. Oct. 14, 1861.
Miller, Chauncey, e. Oct. 14, 1861.
Pierce, Douglass, e. Oct. 14, 1861, died at
St. Louis.
Speers, William, e. Oct. 14, 1861, captd. at
Shiloh.
Speers, Irwin, e. Oct. 14, 1861.
Sfegh, Joseph, e. Oct. 14, 1861.
Sade, William, e. Oct. 14, 1861. '
Zink, George, e. Oct. 2, 1861.
RESIDUARY BATTALION FOUR-
TEENTH INFANTRY.
Connpany B«
Corr, Thomas, e. March 8, 1868.
Douthart, H. F., e. Aug. 21, 1868.
Garther, J. W., e. Dec. 1, 1868.
Isaman, La Fayette, e. Aug, 28, 1868.
Kimes, Royal, e. Dec. 14, 1868.
Wheatley, R. W., e. Aug. 28, 1868.
White, Elza, e. Aug. 28, 1868.
Walker, J. E., e. Aug. 28, 1868.
FIFTEENTH INFANTRY.
«A, 1866.]
Assistant Surgeon Wm. W. Nelson, com.
Aug. 19, 18^.
Adjutant W. C. Stidger, e. as sergt Oct.
14, 1861, wd. at Shiloh and Corinth,
prmtd. 2d lieut. Co. E, June 15, 1864,
prmtd. adjutant Oct. 26, 1864.
Sergt. Mai. Alexander Brown, e. Oct. 20,
1861, wd. at Shiloh and Corinth, disd.
Feb. 12, 1868.
Connpany E.
Capt. John P. Craig, com. 1st lieut. Dec.
1, 1861, prmtd. capt. July 9, 1862, resd-
Dec. 24, 1862.
Digitized by VjOOQIC
486
HISTORY OF VAN BUREN COUNTY.
First Lieut. Hugh G. Brown, com. 2d
lieut. Bee. 1, 1861, prmtd. 1st lieut. July
9, 1862, capt. and A. D. C, U. S. V.,
Aug. 28, 1868, brevet maj. U. S. V. Dec.
29, 1864, brevet lieut. col. March 81, '65.
First Lieut. Wm. P. L. Muir, e. as sergt.
Oct. 14, 1861, wd. at Corinth, prmtd. 2d
lieut. Feb. 2, 1863, prmtd. 1st lieut. Nov.
9, 1868, missing in action at Atlanta.
Sergt. C. W. Woodrow, e. Oct. 20, 1861,
trans, to 17th Regt.
Sergt. A. D. Thatcher, e. Oct. 14, 1861.
Corp. Wm. M. McCrarv, e. Oct. 14, 1861,
disd. Oct. 80, 1862.
Corp. James W. Henry, e. Oct. 14, 1861,
wd. at Corinth, vet. March 31, 1864,
prmtd. sergt. maj. July 1. 1864, missing
m action July 22, 1864.
Corp. Wm. W. Glanville, e. Oct. 14, 1861,
disd. May 29, 1862, disab.
Corp. Wm. H. Sellers, vet. March 15, 1864,
wd. near Atlanta.
Corp. George Harbaugh, e. Nov. 1, 1861,
vet. Jan. 1, 1864, wd. near Atlanta.
Corp. Morris A. Lane, e. Oct. 14, 1861.
Corp. George De Hart, e. Dec. 2, 1861, vet.
Jan. 1,1864.
Corp. Geo. W. Toole, e. Nov. 27, 1861.
Corp. E. G. Black, e. Oct. 14, 1861, wd. at
Corinth, died, date unknown.
Drummer Melville Davis, vet. Dec. 6, '68,
wd. at Kenesaw Mountain and Nick-a-
Jack, Ga., disd. May 19, 1865.
Anthonv, D. M., e. Oct. 14, 1861, disd. Dec.
16, 1862.
Airhart, John, e. Jan. 10, 1862.
Buckmaster, F., e. Nov. 20, 1861, trans, to
Co. K.
Beers, John, e. Aug. 80, 1862, died at
Memphis.
Burton, J. W., e. Aug. 80, 1862.
Cheney, J. W., e. March 17, 1864, wd. at
Atlanta, disd. May 6, 1865.
Cuthbirth, Benjamin, e. Dec. 20, 1861.
Doty, Joseph, e. Nov. 18, 1861, trans, to
Co. K.
Gephart, W. A., e. Oct. 18, 1861.
Hopkins, Merritt, e. Oct. 18, 1861, vet. Jan.
1, 1864, died at Vicksburg.
Ilombaker, D. R., e. March 6, 1862, vet
March 7, 1864.
Helwick. Charles, e. Oct. 14, 1861, vet.
Dec. 6, 1868.
Huff, Z. M., e. Jan. 2, 1864.
Hearn, Benjamin, e. Oct. 14, 1861, died
Aug. 6, 1862, at Bolivar, Tenn.
Hopkins, M., e. Feb. 6, 1864, died at Keo-
sauqua.
Hilliard, A., e. March 81, 1864.
HariTman, W. H., e. Oct. 14, 1861, wd. at
Shiloh, vet. Jan. 1, 1864.
Hopkins, M., Aug. 22, 1862.
Johnston, Benjamin, e. Oct. 14, 1861, vet
Dec. 6, 1863, disd. to accept promotion
as 1st lieut. in 8d Mo. A. D.
Jamison, C W., e. March 28, 1864.
Jones, J. M., e. Oct 26, 1861, vet. Jan.
1, 1864.
Jones, J. P., e. Oct. 26, 1861. disd. Jan. 16,
1868, disab.
Jameson, Josiah, e. Oct. 1, 1861, disd. Jan.
22, 1862, disab.
Locik, J. F., e. Oct. 14, 1861, viet Jan. l,'6i
wd. near Atlanta.
Minnick, S., e. Aug. 30, 1862.
Moore, Henry, e. Oct. 14, 1861, disd. Fel).
23, 1863, disab.
Miller, John, e. Nov. 4, 1861, wd. at Shi-
loh, disd. Aug. 21, 1862, wds.
McArthur, William, e. Oct 14, 1861,traii^.
to Co. K.
McArthur, H. C, e. Oct. 14, 1861, traitv
to Co. K as sergt.
Marriott, Samuel, e. March 30, 1864, wd.
at Kenesaw Mountain.
Moore, Henrv, e. Jan. 2, 1861, wd. near
Atlanta, disd. July 10, 1866.
Muir, T. 1., e. Aug. 80, 1862.
Orm, Robert, e. Jan. 18, 1861, wd. near At-
lanta.
Orm, Oliver, e. Jan. 18. 1861, wd. at Ken-
esaw Mountain.
Orm, J. F., e. Jan. 18, 1861, wd. near At-
lanta.
Piatt, Edward, e. March 28, 1861.
Phillips, Perry, e. Oct. 14, 1861, died at
Keosauqua, March 9, 1862.
Peyton, George, e. Nov. 4, 1861, kid. in
battle of Shiloh.
Paquin, Oliver, e. Nov. 4, 1861, vet. Jan.
1, 1864, diedJune 17, 1864.
Richmond, J. M., e. Nov. 14, 1861, vet
Dec. 6, 1863, wd. July 5, 1864.
Rhauey. W. H., e. March 81, 1864, captd.
near Atlanta.
Roberts, W. M., e. Aug. 81, 1862, wd. Oct.
5, 1864, disd. April 4, 1865, disab.
Shriver, C E., e. March 26, 1864.
Smith, James, e. March 81, 1864.
Scott, William, e. Aug. 30, 1862.
Smith, J. W., e. Oct. 14, 1861, died July
28, 1862.
St John, J. F., e. Oct. 18, 1861.
Shriver, Thomas, e. Oct. 14, 1861, vet Jan.
1, 1864.
Thomas, J. M., e. Jan. 2, 1864.
Thomas, Benjamin, e. Dec. 22, 1863.
Thatcher, I. B., e. Oct 14, 1861, wd. at
Shiloh and Corinth^ disd. March 21
1863, disab.
Thatcher, J., e. Aug. 80, 1862.
Vantruse, J. S., e. Oct 14, 1861, wd. at
Corinth and Atlanta.
Watson, Otis, vet. Jan. 1, 1864.
Warren, C, e. Oct 14, 1861, wd. near At-
lanta.
Westcott, C, e. Oct. 14, 1861.
Zachan, N., e. Dec. 14, 1861, disd. Ju ne 27
1862, wds. reed, near Shiloh.
Company H.
First Lieut. Henry C. McArthur, e. as
sergt Co. K Oct 14, 1861, wd. at Shiloh.
prmtd. 1st lieut. April 16, 1868, wd. at
Atlanta.
Digitized by VjOOQIC
HISTORY OF VAN BUREN COUNTY.
487
Julien, Ed. S., e. Feb. 18, 1864, kid. Atlanta.
AVilson, Thos. H., e. Oct. 10, 1861.
Company I.
Sergt. Thos. B. Coffman, e. Feb. 8, 1862,
disd. June 30, 1862.
('orp. Benj. F. Keck, e. Oct. 1, 1861, disd.
Aug.l5, 1862,wd. Shiloh.
Gould, Theo., e. Oct. 26, 1861, disd. Jan. 1,
1868, disab.
Ilalfhill, Luke, e. Dec. 27, 1861, vet. Dec.
27, 1863, wd. Kenesaw Mountain, trans.
V. R. C.
McCanna, Francis, e. Dec. 27, 1861, vet.
Bee. 27, 1868.
Mahan, Thos., e. Oct. 10, 1861.
Mahan, Jos. W., e. Nov. 10, 1861.
Xelson, Jas. F., e. March 31, 1864, wd. at
Ezra Church, Ga.
Smallwood, Elijah, e. Dec. 19, 1861, died
June 12, 1862.
Company K.
First Lieut. Jas. G. Shipley, e. as private
Aug, 21, 1862, prmtd. 1st lieut, Feb. 9,
Sergt.'Wm. A. Gephart, e. Oct. 18, 1861,
vet. Jan. 1, 1864.
Hergt. Wm. McArthur, e. Oct. 14, 1861,
disd. Jan. 6, 1863, disab.
Ooi-p. John F. St. John, e. Oct. 18, 1861,
vet. Jan. 1, 1864, wd. June 27, 1864.
Airhart, John, e. Jan. 10, 1862, died near
Vicksburg.
Buckmaster, F., e. Nov. 12, 1861, vet. Jan.
1, 1864, wd. and captd. near Atlanta,
died at Andersonville.
Bixber, Wm. W., e. Feb. 1, '62, wd. Shiloh.
Doty, Joseph, e. Nov. 18, 1861, disd. Aug.
1, 1862, disab.
Griffith, Ezekiel, e. Feb. 10, 1862, disd.
March 1, 1862. disab.
Hunt Geo. L., e. Feb. 17, 1862, wd. Shiloh.
Parker, Wm., e. Feb. 17, 1862, died June 26,
1862.
Steele, Geo. K., e. Feb. 6, 1862.
Sappenfield, Jacob, e. Feb. 6, 1862.
Sewell, Elias, e. Feb. 17, 1862.
Sappenfield, A., e. Feb. 26, 1862.
Weseott, C. L., e. Oct. 24, 1861, disd. June
6, 1862, disab.
COMPANY UNKNOWN.
Bean, A. A., e. Jan. 4, 1864.
Bish, Wm. G., e. Dec. 22, 1863.
Bumhart, Geo., e. Jan. 4, 1864.
Huff, Z. M., e. Jan. 2, 1864.
Moore, Henry, e. Jan. 2, 1864.
Thomas, Benj. T., e. Dec. 22, 1863.
Thomas, John M., e. Jan. 2, 1864.
Wyley, John, e. March 31, 1864.
SEVENTEENTH INFANTRY.
INoTS.— nUt B^gimeid wu miuterwd 9ut at LotdgwOU,
Bj,, Jmlg tS, 186.5.]
Surg. Christopher C. Biser, comd. asst.
surg. Nov. 5, 1862, prmtd. surg. June
17, 1866.
I Com. Sergt. M. A. Lane, e. Oct. 14, _ _
trans, for promotion in 11th La. Vols.
Conn pa ny A.
Carr, Wm. W.. e. March 20, 1862.
Company B.
Musician Geo. Jewett, e. March 18, 1862,.
disd. Sent. 11, 1862, disab.
Jackson, John T., e. March 26, 1862, vet.
March 27. 1864.
Company C.
Sergt. Geo. W. Tool, e. Nov. 29, 1861.
Walker, James, e. March 18, 1862.
Jackson, Wm. W., e. March 10, 1862, vet.
March 12, 1864.
Company D.
Corp. J. N. Henry, e. Feb. 25, 1862, disd.
Oct. 4, 1862, disab.
Corp. Danl. L. Howe, e. March 12, 1862,.
vet. March 26, 1864.
Corp. I. D. Nesbett, e. March 4, 1862, captd.
Tilion, Ga.
Adams, J. D., e. March 8, 1862, disd. Dec.
16, 1862.
Boyster, H. C, e. March 8, 1862, wd. luka.
Brown, Robt. D., e. March 13, 1862, vet.
Mai-ch 25, 1864. •
Belknap, F., e. March 25, 1862, captd.
Carter, Samuel P., e. Feb. 25, 1862, vet.
March 30, 1864.
Carter, Joab, e. March 7, 1862, disd. Dec.
9, 1862, captd. Tilttm, Ga.
Fisher, John, e. March 21, 1862, disd. Nov.
12. 1862, disab.
Martin, Josiah, e. March 18, 1862.
Miller, James H., e. March 23, 1862.
Morgan, Win. H., e. March 24, 1862.
Noell, M., e. March 17, 1862, wd. and died
at Champion Hills.
Nelson, Wm. P., e. March 18, 1862, vet
March 26, 1864.
Sfuiders, John L., e. March 1, 1862, captd.
Tilton, Ga.
Sailor, F. M., e. March 8, 1862.
Tolbert, F. M., e. March 10, 1862.
Company I.
Capt. Alphonso A. Rice, e. as sergt. April
1, 1862, prmtd. 1st lieut. June 27, 1862,
prmtd. capt. Nov. 20, 1862, resd. Feb.
28. 1863.
Sergt. Edward Fasnacht, e. March 7, 1862.
died Nov. 18, 1872.
Corp. John Bartow, e. March 27, 1862, kid.
Jackson, Miss.
Campbell, A. W., e. March 18, 1862.
Daughter, Samuel., e. Feb. 19, 1862.
McCarty, John, e. March 24, 1862, disd.
Nov. 18, 1863.
Maxson, G. N., e. March 28, 1862, died Aug.
20 1862
Price, Moses A., e. March 21, 1862, disd.
Sept. 27, 1862.
Sears, John, e. March 18, 1862, disd. March
6,1863.
Digitized by VjOOQIC
488
HISTORY OP VAN BUREN COUNTY.
Company K.
Cresswell, Isaac, e. Feb. 17, 1862, disd.
Oct 18, 18^.
French, Samuel R., e. March 10, 1862,
disd. Sept. 28, 1862.
NINETEENTH INFANTRY.
[Note.— TUt r^gimmU w<u mmtUnd out at MobOe, Ala^
Jn»t 10, 1866.]
Lieut. Col. Daniel Kent, com. maj. Aug.
2, 1862, prmtd. lieut. col. Dec. 8, 1862,
res. March 9, 1864.
Chaplain J. D. Sands, com. March 22, '64.
F. Mai. James Payne, e. Aug. 9, 1862,
captd. Atchafalaya, La.
Company A.
Sergt. H. L. Ethridge, e. Aug. 9, 1862, disd.
March 20, 1868, disab.
Sergt. Thos. Deal, e. Aug. 9, 1862.
Amoss, Barney, e. Aug. 9, 1862, captd.
Atchafalaya, La.
Brown, F. M., e. Aug. 18, 1862.
Cross, Jno. T., e. Aug. 9, 1862, wd., place
unknown.
Chilton. Jos., e. Aug. 12, 1862, disd. Feb.
22 1868.
Goodwin, Benj. F., e. Aug. 18, 1862, captd.
Atchafalaya.
(George, Wm., e. Aug. 13, 1862.
Johnson, Henry, e. Auff. 9, 1862.
Lyon, Jno. W., e. Aug. 13, 1862, disd. April
28, 1868, disab.
Marks, Geo. A., e. Aug. 9, 1862, captd.
Atchafalaya.
Pence, Jos. C., e. Aug. 9, 1862.
Paine, Wm., e. Aug. 22, 1862, disd. Feb.
27, 1868, disab.
West, Wm. H., e. Aug. 14, 1862.
Walker, A. R., e. Aug. 9, 1862.
Company B.
Ethridge, Henry, e. Aug. 5, 1862.
Rushton, Elam, e. April 29, 1868.
Company H.
Capt. Theo. W. Richmond, com. Aug. 21,
1862, captd. and paroled battle Prairie
Grove, res. Aug. 2, 1868.
Capt. Silas Kent, com. 1st lieut. Aug. 21,
1862 prmtd. capt. Aug. 8, 1868, kid.
(while Ist. lieut.) Sterling Farm, La.
Capt. Geo. W. Sommerville, e. as sergt.-
Aug. 4, 1862, prmtd. 2d lieut Feb. 27,
1868, prmtd. 1st. lieut. Aug. 8, 1868,
prmtd. capt Sept 80, 1868.
First Lieut. Wm. W. Buyers, e. as corp.
Aug. 14, 1862, captd. Atchafalaya, J^a.,
prmtd. 1st lieut. Sept 80, 1868.
Second Lieut. Amos A. Wood, e. as priv.
Aug. 14, 1862, prmtd. 2d lieut July 1,
1865, m. o. as 1st sergt
Sergt. Samuel Bonney, e. Aug. 2, 1862, kid.
in battle Prairie Grove.
Sergt. Samuel Baker, e. Aug. 7, 1868.
Sergt. Jas. A. Russell, e. Aug. 5, 1862.
disd. March 27, 1862, disab.
Sergt A. J. Smith, e. Aug. 4, 1862, wd.
Prairie Grove, captd. Atchafalaya, La.
Sergt. Christopher Mort e. Aug. 14, 1869.
captd. Atchafalaya, La.
Sergt. Geo. A. Paxton, e. Aug. 8, 1862.
Corp. Robt A. Alcoin, e. Aug. 5, 1862.
Corp. Wm. R. Tock, Aug. 14, 1862, kW.
battle Prairie Grove.
Corp. Jas. F. King, e. Aug. 8, 1862, captd.
Atchafalaya,. La.
Corp. Wm. W. Phillips, e. Aug. 9, 1868.
disd. Feb. 25, 1868, cQsab.
Corp. Jno. F. Daugherty, e. Aug. 2, 186a,
captd. Atchafalaya, La.
Corp. Wm. H. Smith, e. Aug. 14, 1862.
captd. Atchafalaya, La.
Musican Alfred Morris, e. Aug. 9, 1862,
died Pittsburg.
Akers, Jas. C, e. Aug. 14, 1862, captd.
Atchafalaya, La.
Byers, Marshall, e. Aug. 5, 1862, kkL
Prairie Grove.
Bennett, Jas. H., e. Aug. 6, 1862.
Boyd, Geo., a Aug. 14, 1862.
Cochrun, Albt, a Aug. 2, 1862, wd,
Prairie Grove, disd. March 16, 1868.
Cravens, L. P., e. Aug. 6, 1862, disd. May
12, 1868, disab.
Crail, Geo. P., e. Aug. 5, 1862, disd. Dec.
9,1862.
Cook, F. M., e. Aug. 6, 1862, wd. Prairie
Grove, disd. March 8, 1868, disab.
Cretcher, J. M. W., Aug. 14, 1862, wd.
Prairie Grove, disd. March 28, 1868.
Carter, D. J., e. Aug. 2, 1862.
Cochran, Alfred, e. Aug. 14, *62, disd. March
2, 1868, disab.
Clark, Wm., e. Aug. 6, 1862, di:>d. July 5,
1864, disab.
Dean, Z. C, e. Aug. 5, 1862, captd. Atcha-
falaya, La.
Drew, Wm. P., e. Aug. 14, 1862.
Drummond, J. A., e. Aug. 14, 1862.
Duley, Jas., e. Aug. 14, 1862, disd. April
4,1864.
Eaton, Wm. S., e. Aug. 5, 1862. died
Springfield, Mo.
Eaton, Robt B., e. Feb. 22, 1863, died New
Orleans.
Evans, I. D., e. Aug. 6, 1862, captd. Atcha-
falaya, La.
Fisher, C. W., e. Aug. 5, 1862, kid. Prairie
Grove.
Foster. Robt. D., e. Aug. 14, 1862, wd.
Prairie Grove.
Groom, M., e. Aug. 14, 1862, wd. Prairie
Grove and died there Dec. 9, 1862.
Groom, T. J., e. Aug. 5, 1862.
Godoun, T. J., a Aug. 5, 1862.
Green, Alfred, a Aug. 14, 1862.
Green, Henry, a Aug. 14, 1862, wd. Prairie
Grove, disd. March 14, 1868.
Garrison, N., e. Aug. 14, 1862.
Gideon, Theo., a Aug. 14, 1862, died
Springfield, Mo.
Digitized by
Google
HISTORY OP VAN BUREN COUNTY.
439
Greene, J., e. Aug. 14, 1862, died Dec. 4,
1862.
Hartson, Win. M., e. Aug. 5, 1862.
He>ame, Thos. E., e. Aug. 5, 1862, died
Ozark. Mo.
Hunter, Hugh, e. Aug. 14, 1862.
Hartson, F. M., e. Aug. 4, 1862.
Hoskins, Omar, e. Aug. 14, 1862, captd. at
Atchafalaya, La
Holmes, Wm. C, e. Aug. 14, 1862, captd. at
Atchafalaya, La.
Jones, H. C, e. Aug. 9, 1862, captd. at
Atc-hafalaya, La.
Jones, A. W., e. Aug. 9, 1862, captd. at
Atchafalaya, La.
Jones, E. H., e. Aug. 9, 1862.
Keller, L.. e. Aug. 14, '62, kid. Praire Grove.
Langford, S., e. Aug. 9, 1862, wd. Prairie
Grove, captd. at Atchafalaya, wd. at
Spanish Fort.
Langford, Fillman, e. Aug. 9, 1862, wd. at
Prairie Grove.
Liming, T. B., e. Aug. 14, 1862, kid. Prairie
Grove.
Lanum, Jos. H., e. Aug. 14, 1862, wd.
Prairie Grove, captd. Atchafalaya, La.
Murphy, Daniel, e. Aug. 2, 1862.
Morrison, Wm., e. Aug. 2, 1862, died Port
Hudson, La.
Mort, Jos., e. Aug.;9, 1862, captd. at Atcha-
falaya, La., wd. Spanish Fort.
Mcintosh, Jno. G., e. Aug. 9, 1862, captd.
Atchafalaya, La., drowned at Barran-
cas, Fla.
McCrary, Sam! R., e. Aug. 14, 1862, disd.
March 14, 1863, disah.
Nixon, J., e. Aug. 6, 1862, captd. at Atcha-
falava, La.
Naglei Jacob, e. Aug. 2, 1862, disd. April
22, 1864, disab.
Phillips, J. T., e. Aug. 2, 1862, kid. Prairie
Grove.
Prosser, H. L., e. Aug. 18, 1862, died at
Vicksburg.
Parsons, R H., e. Aug. 9, 1862, wd. at
Prairie Grove, captd. Atchafalaya, La.
Parsons, L., e. Aug. 9, 1862.
Robinson, ft. F., e. Aug. 2, 1862, wd. at
Prairie Grove, disd. March 25, 1863.
Reed, F. W.. e. Aug. 14, 1862, trans, to
Inv. Corps Feb. 15, 1864.
Strang, Jno., Jr., e. Aug. 14, 1862, died at
Rolla, Mo.
Stone, Jno. H., e. Aug. 14. 1862.
Steves, Jno. C, e. Aug. 14, 1862.
Stewart, Jno. H., e. Aug. 14, 1862, disd.
Feb. 26, 1868, disab.
Smith. David, e. Aug. 14, 1862, captd. at
Atchafalaya, La.
Taylor, E. P., e. Aug. 9, 1862, captd. at
Atchafalaya, La., wd. Spanish Ft., Ala.
Teeter, Wm., e. Aug. 9, 1862, drowned at
Round Island, Miss.
Tackaberry, Jno. S-, e. Aug. 14, 1862.
Taylor, L. W., e. Aug. iC 1862, kid. at
Prairie Grove,
l^^mphrey, Thos., e. Aug. 9, 1862, captd.
at Atchafalaya, La.
Utt, N. J., e. Aug. 14, 1862, disd. Feb. 9.
1863, disab.
Veillier, Francis, e. Aug. 8, 1862.
Vail, E. E., e. Aug. 8, 1862, died Natchez.
Woods, Jos., e. Aug. 8, 1862.
Wilber, C. P., e. Aug. 2, 1862, captd. at
Atchafalaya, La.
Woods. A. A., e. Aug. 14, 1862.
Work, Samuel, e. Aug. 14, 1862, trans, to
Inv. Corns.
Williams, W. H. H.,e. Aug. 14, 1862, disd.
March 4, 1863, disd.
Company I.
Capt. Saml. E. Paine, com. Aug. 21, 1862,
wd. bat. Prairie Grove, disd. April 1, *63.
Capt. Alonzo H. Parker, e. as sergt. Aug.
6, 1862, prmtd. 2d lieut. Dec. I, 1862,
prmtd. 1st lieut. Dec. 8, 1862, prmtd.
capt. Oct. 1, 1868.
First Lieut. Andrew C. Payne, com. Aug.
21, 1862, resd. Kov. 18, 1862.
First Lieut. Thos. JohnsoD, com. 2d lieut.
Dec. 1, 1862, prmtd. 1st lieut. Nov. 19.
1862^ kid. (while 2d lieut.) at battle of
Prairie Grove.
First Lieut. John S. Bagsdale, e. as sergt.
Aug. 6, 1862, captd. at Atchafalaya, La.,
prmtd. 1st lieut. Oct. 1, 1863.
Second Lieut. Francis Johnson, e. as priv.
Aug. 9, 1862, prmtd. 2d lieut. July 1,
1865, m. o. as 1st sergt.
Sergt. H. H. Martm. e. Aug. 6, 1862.
Sergt. D. D. Prosser, e. Aug. 14, 1862, wd.
Prairie Grove, captd. Atchafalaya, La.
Sergt. James Lawrence, a Aug. 14, 1862.
Sergt. Geo. P. Linaweaver, e. Aug. li, '62,
d&d. July 9, 1863, disab.
Sergt. Wm. A. Strong, e. Aug. 12, 1862,
wd. Prairie Grove, died Fayetteville,
Ark
Sergt Thos. E. Doan, e. Aug. 6, 1862, disd.
Feb. 6, 1863, disab.
Sergt. Jacob Nixon, e. Aug. 6, 1862, wd.
at Prairie Grove, disd. Feo. 25, 1863.
Corp. Alex. Fix, e. Aug. 14, 1862, wd. at
Prairie Grove, disd. March 28, '63, disab.
Corp. John Doujelass, e. Aug. 13, 1862,
kfd. at Prairie Grove.
Corp. S. Whittlesey, e. Aug. 14, 1862, disd.
^ferch 3, 1863, disab.
Corp. Wm. I. Bragg, e. Aug. 6, 1862, captd.
at Atchafalaya, La.
Corp. Geo. W. Merideth, e. Aug. 14, 1862,
captd. at Atchafalaya, La.
Corp. Wm. N. Holiday, e. Aug. 9, 1862,
captd. at Atchafalaya, La., kid. Spanish
Fort.
Corp. Aug. C. Rehkoff, e. Aug. 6, 1862,
kid at Prairie Grove.
Corp. Wm. P. Dunham, Aug. 14, 1862,
disd. Feb. 24, 1863, disab.
Musician Jas. M. Miller, e. Aug. 6, 1862,
captd. at Atchafalaya, La.
Musician Jas. Payne, e. Aug. 9, 1862.
Musician Mark Godown, a Aug. 9, 1862,
disd. Jan. 16, 1863, disab.
Wagoner John A. Downard, e. Aug. 9, '62.
Digitized by
CSoogle
440
HISTORY OP VAN BUREN COUNTY.
Wagoner Jesse Meridetb, e. Aug. 14, 1862,
captd. at Atchafalaya, La.
Barker, John T., e. Aug. 6, 1862, captd. at
Atchafalaya, La.
Barker, David, e. Aug. 9, 1862, captd. at
Atchafalaya, La.
Barker, Jos^h A., e. Aug. 6, 1862, died at
Lebanon, Mo.
Batchelder, Geo., e.Aug. 14, 1862, disd.
Feb. 28, 1868, disab.
Brooks, L. A., e. Aug. 6, 1862, wd. Prairie
Grove, trans, to Inv. Corps Jan. 15,
1864.
Bowles, WnL R., e. Aug. 14, 1862, disd.
Maich 27, 1868, disab.
Oaropbell, John C, e. Aug. 14, 1862.
Cupp, Geo. D., e. Aug. 9, 1862.
Calhoun, D. K., e. Aug. 19, 1862, captd. at
Atchafalaya, La.
Crawley, H. W., e. Aug. 18, 1862, disd.
Feb. 8, 1868, disab.
Collins, R. E., e. Aug. 18, 1862. captd. at
Atchafalaya, La., kid. Piercers Pt., Fla.
Chana, E., e. Aug. 21, 1862.
Douglass, A., e. Aug. 9, 1862, trans, to
Inv. Corps. Aug. 4, 1868.
Doan, Malon, e. Aug. 6, 1862.
Eastling, H. L., e. Aug. 14, 1862.
Edmondson, H. B., e. Aug. 6, 1862, wd. at
Prairie Grove.
Fo^bus, Robert, e. Aug. 9, 1862.
Fry, Jas. L, e. Aug. 21, 1862, wd. Prairie
Grove, disd. June 21, 1868, disab.
Gaddis, A. V., e. Aug. 6, 1862, kid. battle
Prairie Grove.
Gillaspie, J., e. Aug. 6, 1862.
Gaddis, I. R., e. Aug. 9, 1862, disd. Feb. 6,
1863, disab.
Gilbert, Harvey, e. Aug. 9, 1862, disd.
March 2a 1868, disab.
Homblin, J. H., e. Aug. 6, 1862.
Humbert, G. W., e. Aug. 6, 1862, trans, for
proihotion to hosp. steward 4th La.
Engineers Oct. 22, 1868.
Hughs, J. W.,e. Aug. 13, 1862, disd. Feb.
21, 1863, disab.
Houts, W. R.. e. Aug. 14, 1862.
Heraboker, M., e. Aug. 14, 1862, wd. at
Prairie Grove, trans, to Inv. Corps April
10, 1864.
John, R. H., e. Aug. 6, 1862.
Jameson, F., e. Aug. 9, 1862.
Johnson, Russell, e. Aug. 14, 1862, wd. at
Prairie Grove, disd. March 14, 1868,
disab.
Johnson, Oliver, e. Aug. 6, 1862, captd. at
Atchafalaya, La.
Johnson, J. H., e. Aug. 13, 1862, disd. Feb.
25, 1863.
Klise, Geo., e. Aug. 6, 1862, captd. at
Atchafalaya, La.
Kelley, John, e. Aug. 9, 1862.
Lonnon, F. M^ e. Aug. 18, 1862.
Lonnon, George, e. Aug. 18, 1862, disd.
Feb. 14, 1863.
I^e, J. J., e. Aug. 9, 1862, kid. at Prairie
Grove, Ark.
Long, Jerome, e. Aug. 14, 1862.
i Lorton, John, e. Aug. 12, 1862, disd. Feb.
; 25, 1868. disab.
I McKinney. Wm., e. Aug. 18, 1862, kid. at
Prairie Grove.
I McGinniss, 1^., a Aug. 14, 1862, died st
1 Keokuk.
Martin, Joseph, e. Aug. 18, 1862.
Moody, David, e. Jan. 29, 1863.
Merritt, Isaac, e. Aug. 14, 1862.
Miu-phy, Edward, e. May 7, 1868.
Newton, John, e. Aug. 6, 1862, captd. at
Atchafalaya, La.
Orr. Wm., e. Aug. 18, 1862.
O'Hara, H., e. Aug. 6, 1862, wd. at Prairie
Grove, died at PayetteviUe, Ark.
Price, S. D., e. Aug. 14, 1862, died at
Vicksburg.
Price, W. J., e. Aug. 13, 1862, disd. Feb-
23, 1863. disab.
Pender, Thomas, e. Aug. 6, 1862.
Patterson, James, e. Aug. 14, 1862, kid. at
Prairie Grove.
Patterson. H., e. Aug. 4, 1862, disd. Feb.
6, 1863, disab.
Roth, J. R., e. Aug. 6, 1862, captd. Atcha-
falaya, La.
Robb, James, e. Aug. 12, 1862, wd. Pndrie
Grove.
Row, Israel, e. Aug. 6, 1862, captd. at
Atchafalaya, La.
Robinson, R. S., e. Aug. 9, 1862, disd. Feb.
23, 1863, disab.
Smith, T. J., e. Aug. 9, 1862.
Stewart, H., e. Aug. 9, 1862.
Short, John, e. Aug. 13, 1862.
Spraker, George, e. Aug. 13, 1862.
Spraker, W. T., e. Aug. 21, 1862, captdi at
Atchafalaya, La,
Sherrod, Amos, e. Aug. 6, 1862, died at
St Louis
Swaitz, J. W., e. Aug. 6, 1862, wd. aJid
died at Springfield, Mo.
Stewart, C, e. Aug. 9, 1862.
Stevens, G. P., e. Aug. 21, 1862, captd. at
Atchafalaya, La.
Teal. F., e Aug. 9, 1862, wd. at Prairie
Grove, died on steamer •* City of Mem-
phis."
white, John, e. Aug. 12, 1862.
Weber, J. H., e. Aug. 18, 1862, wd. Prairie
Grove, captd. at Atchaf ala3ra, La.
Ward, H. S., e. Aug. 21, 1862.
THIRTIETH INFAJ^TRY.
[NoTB.— TM« nfimmd «ww nnuUnd Mf al fToaMMK
D. C, Jmu 6y 1866.]
Company D.
Capt. Wm. H. Randall, com. 2d lieut
Sept. 28, 1862, prmtd. capt March 12,
1868, died of wds. at Cherokee Sta., Ala.
Capt. Geo. W. Elerich, e. as corp. Aug. 2,
1862, prmtd. 1st lieut. March 12, 1863»
prmtd. capt. Oct 18, 1864.
First Lieut. David Leach, com. Sept 23.
1862, resd. March 2, 1863.
Digitized by VjOOQIC
HISTORY OF VAN BUREN COUNTY.
441
First Lieut, fienson H. Cross, e. as priv.
Axxtt. 16, 1862, prmtd. 2d lieut. June 6,
180^ wd. at Atlanta, prmtd. 1st lieut
Oct 18, 1864.
Sergt. Marion C. Martin, e. Aug. 15, 1862.
Sergt Jno. R. Rogers, e. Aug. 8, 1862, wd.
and died at Yicksburg.
Sergt. Bowen P. Hurt, e. Aug. 2, 1862, died
at Marietta, Ga.
Serfft I. W. Detwiler, e. Aug. 19. 1862, wd.
- at Arkansas Post, died on steamer D.
A. January.
Corp. D. P. Todd, e. Aug. 15, 1862, wd.
Ringgold, Ga., disd. May 11, lB65,disab.*
Corp. Goldson Prewitt, e. August 15,
lHfi2
Corp. Albt Herbert, e. Aug. 19, 1862, died
Oct. 27, 1862.
Corp. Jno. Cross, e. Aug. 15, 1862, died
Jan. 5, 1865.
Corp. Jas. Fowler, e. Aug. 19, 1862.
CoTp,Jas. Gianque, e. Aug. 15, 1862.
Corp. C M. Baber, e. Aug. 15, 1862.
Corp. Geo. R. Plaskett, e. Aug. 15, 1862.
Musician Jas. Prewitt, e. Aug. 15, 1862.
Musician Wm. E. Huif, e. Aug. 15, 1862,
trans, to Inv. Corps April 10, 1864.
Archer, C. E., e. Aug. 15, 1862, wd. Ar-
kansas Post.
Anderson, Benj., e. Aug. 15, 1862, died on
steamer Von Phul.
Anderson, Levi, e. Aug. 15, 1862.
Bennett, Isaac, e. Aug. 4, 1862.
Beale, Jno. W., e. Jan. 25, 1864.
Beeole, Andrew, e. Aug. 14, 1862, kid. at
Vicksburg.
Birch, JaSn e. Aug. 15, 1862, disd. May 21,
1868, disab.
Bethers, Samuel, e. Aug. 15, 1862.
Binder, Henry, e. Aug. 15, 1862, died Nov.
25, 1862.
Bonnett, Jno. M., e. Aug. 15, 1862, died
Marietta, Ga.
Bradford, L., e. Aug. 19, 1862, died Dec.
5,1862.
Bickford, Jno., e. Aug. 19, 1862.
Coulter. Wm., e, Aug. 19, 1862, disd. May
7, 1863, disab.
C^oulter. Robt W., e. Aug. 19, 1862.
Corwin, Wm. E., e. Aug. 19, 1862.
Coflfman, Thos. B., e. Aug. 19, 1862, kid.
at Manchester, Va.
Clark, David, e. Aug. 2, 1862, disd. April
' 12, 1865, disab.
(^oleman, T. M., e. Feb. 6, 1864.
(Canada, Isaac, e. Aug. 8, 1862, trans, to
Inv. Corps Dec. 27, 1868.
Crum, Jos. T., Jan. 5, 1864.
Crum, Wm. F., e. Aug. 15, 1862.
Crum, S. L., e. Aug. 15, 1862.
Clark, Jno. W., e. Aug. 15, 1862, died at
Young's Pt, La.
Casner, Jno. C, e. Aug. 15, 1862.
Camblin, Asbury, e. Aug. 15, 1862.
Doty, Wm., e. Aug. 7, 1862.
Dehart, Wm., e. Aug. 18, 1862, trans, to
Miss. Marine Brig. Dec. 81,
Fox, Geo. W., e. Aug. 14, 1862.
Gaddis, H. a, e. Aug. 19, 1862, died on
steamer Decatur.
GoodeU, J. G., e. Aug. 14, 1862.
Giles, Jno. T., e. Aug. 9, 1862, wd., disd
May 19, 1865, wds.
Hite, H. C, e. Aug. 19. 1862.
Humbert, E. B., e. Aug. 19, 1862, wd. at
Arkansas Post, disd. Oct 26, 1868. disab.
Harness, J. B., e. Aug. 15, 1862, died at
Keokuk. %
Henderson, T. M., e. Aug. 15, 1862.
Holcomb, Jno. M., e. Aug. 15, 1862, disd.
Oct 81, 1862.
Herriman, J. D. C, e. Aug. 15, 1862.
Hollen, Robt E., e. Aug. 19, 1862.
Hix. Robt. C, e. Aug. 19, 1862, died at
Memphis.
Hix, Wm. W., e. Aug. 15, 1862, died
at Vicksburg.
Harden. Saml., e. Aug. 19, 1862.
Latimer, Jas. H., e. Jan. 5, 1864.
Lichty, Cyrus, e. Aug. 18, 1862, disd. Oct
81. 186% disab.
Mallett Jno., e. Aug. 19, 1862, disd. March
14, 1864, disab.
Murnhy, A. J., e. Aug. 11, 1862, wd. at
Atlanta.
Murphy, S. Z., e. Aug. 28, 1862, wd. at
Resaca. Ga.
McCrory, A., e. Aug. 15, 1862, died at
Black River Bridge.
Martin, T. J., e. Aug. 15, 1862, trans, to
Inv. Corps Sept 29, 1863.
Newman, A. G., e. Aug. 19, 1862.
Nutt, Owen, e. Aug. 15, 1862.
Ogilbee, H. W., e. Feb. 8, 1864.
Prewitt, Z., e. Aug. 15, 1862, died at Bir-
mingham.
Paik, Wm. P., e. Aug. 15, 1862.
Ruark, Jas., e. Aug. S, 1862, wd. at Cham-
pion Hills.
Robison, Wm., e. Aug. 15, 1862, disd. Oct.
81 1862
Robison, Wm. H., e. Aug. 15, 1862.
Robertson, Wm. H., e. Aug. 15, 1862, wd.
at Vicksburg, died at Memphis.
Sherman, U. H., e. Aug. 14, 1862.
Sadler, Jacob, e. Aug. 15, 1862, kid. at
Missionary Ridge.
Swasey, H. M., e. Aug. 14, 1862.
Smith, Wm. T.,e. Aug. 15, 1862, disd. Feb.
20, 1864, disab.
Snyder, Geo. W., e. Aug. 15, 1862, wd. at
Vicksburg, disd, Dec. 16, 1863.
Sadler, Geo., e. Aug. 15, 1862.
Salter, Robt. A., e. Aug. 19, 1862, wd. at
Atlanta.
Tolman, Jas. R., e. Aug. 18, 1862, trans, to
Inv. Corps May 1, 1864.
Vanausdellen, J. L., e. Aug. 15, 1862.
Williamson, Jno. W., e. Aug. 2, 1862, died
at Young's Pt., La.
Wire, Wm., e. Aug. 11, 1862.
Walker, Jes., e. Aug. 6, '62, died Oct. 27, '62.
Weekly, F. M., e. Aug. 14, 1862, kid.
Vicksburg.
Wolmer, Jno. H., e. Aug. 15, 1862, wd. at
Resaca.
Digitized by VjOOQIC
442
HISTORY OF VAN BUREN COUNTY.
Company F.
Brumley, A., e. Aug. 18, 1863, kid. Vicks-
burg.
Conaway, R. W., e. Aug. 18, 1863, wd. at
Arkansas Post, died at St. Louis.
Company C.
F^reeman, John H., e. Aug. 13, 1863, wd.
at Atlanta.
Howard, Wm. H., e. Aug. 7, 1863, died at
Memphis.
James, Samuel E., e. Aug. 15, 1863, wd. at
Cherokee, Ala., disd. Feb. 35, 1864.
Vincent, Wm., e. Aug. 13, 1863.
Company H,
Brady, Wm. R., e. Aug. 15, 1863, wd. at
Riesaea.
Ellsworth. Wm. W., e. Aug. 15, 1863, disd.
Nov. 33, 1863, disab.
Garrison, Robert M., e. Aug. 33, 1863, died
at M illiken's Beiid, La.
Mai-sli, A. A., e. Aug. 16, 1863.
Winsell, A. T., e. Aug. 18, 1863.
Company I.
Reuben Sperry, e. Aug. 33, 1863.
Ruark, James, e. Aug. 30, 1863.
Company K.
Bartholomew, E., e. Aug. 16, 1863, kid. at
Ringgold, Ga.
Brown, James, e. Aug. 16, 1863, wd. at
Vicksburg.
THIRTY-SEVENTH INFANTRY.
[NoT&— 3%<t Btgimmt wa§ tmuUr§d amt ol Dmmiport,
Jcma. DaU not givm in A^fmlamt QmrnnT* Btporia,]
' Company C.
Capt. Ezekiel A. M. Swasey, com. Dec. 15,
1863, died at Faiinington Jan. 8, 1863.
Sergt. Alex. Hollarday, e. Oct. 8, 1863,
died at St. Louis.
CJorp. David Garrett, e. Oct 8, 1863.
Corp. T. C. Ware, e. Oct. 8, 1863.
Corp. Edward Sleigh, e. Oct. 8, 1863.
Corp. J. Oliver, e. Oct. 8, 1863, disd. Sept.
36,1864.
Alexander, J. L., e. Oct. 19, 1863, disd.
Sept. 36, 1864.
Bateman, W^ e. Oct. 8, 1863.
Brown, W., e. Oct 8, 1863.
Carr, J., e. Oct. 34, 1863, disd. Oct 38, '68.
Davis, Jas., e. Sept 34, 1863.
Fuller, John, e. Oct. 9, 1863, disd. March
6,1868.
Geabel, John, a Oct. 8, 1863.
Myers, Samuel, e. Sept 80, 1863, died at
Alton, 111.
Newsome, Stephen, e, Oct. 1, 1863, disd.
March 6, 1868, disab.
Sivil, John, e. Oct. 9, 1863, died Memphis.
Walker, Jesse, e. Oct. 8, 1863.
Company E.
Bean, Wm. W., e. Sept 19, 1868. disd. Ma?
18, 1864, disab.
Holcomb, Wm. H., e. Oct. 1, 1862.
Talbert, E., e. Oct 1, 1863.
Veasey, John H., e. Sept. 19, 1862.
Company H.
Murphy, Edw., e. Oct. 10, 1862, disd. April
13, 1868, disab.
FORTY-FIFTH INFANTRY.
[One handred days.]
[MOTC— TM« Bogimtmt wom muiltnd out of gJiohit, 8tpL
16, 186U,]
Chaplain Anson Skinner, com . May 25, 'd4.
Surg. Saml. H. Stutsman, e. May 35. 1864.
Company A.
Gableman, F., e. May 7, 1864.
Gableman, Chas., e. May 9, 1864.
Company C.
Armstrong, O. H. P.. May 10, 1864.
Green, F. M., May 10, 1864.
Company K.
Wallam, Jacob, e. May 6, 1864.
Company H.
Endersby, Jas. H., e. May 8, 1864.
Taylor, Calvin, e. May, 15, 1864.
Wheatley, Job, e. May 15, 1864.
Company I.
Sergt. Henry Moss, a May 9, 1864.
Corp. Benj. Widner, e. May 9, 1864.
Crum, C. C, e. May 9, 1864.
CaiT, T. J., e. May 18. 1864.
Faith, W. S., e. May 9, 1864.
Green, D. H., e. M^ 9, 1864.
Gurwell, Ezra, e. M!ay 9, 1864.
Hughes, J. G., e. May 9, 1864.
Hornby, John D., e. May 9, 1864.
Hurt, W. &, e. May 9, 1864.
Harness, Taylor, e. May 9, 1864.
Kelley, Samuel, e. May 9. 1864.
Knox, Nelson, e. May 9, 1864.
Low. Nathaniel H., e. May 14, 1864.
Latimer, J. B., e. May 9, 1864.
Levacy, Taylor, e. May 9, 1864.
Maddix, J. C, e. May 16, 1864
Moore, 1). H., e. May 9, 1864.
McCausland, J., e. May 9, 1864.
Moss, Edgar, e. May 17, 1864.
Oglebee, John W., e. May 7, 1864.
Stansbery, R. R., e. May 9, 1864.
Torrence, Wm. C, e. May 16, 1863.
Company K.
Capt Isaac B. Thatcher, com. May 95. '04
First Lieut Andrew C. Paine, com. May
35,1864
Second Lieut Clement Wood, com. May
25,1864.
Digitized by VjOOQIC
HISTORY OP VAN BUREN COUNTY.
448
First Serj!^. Jas. N. McCrary, e. May
1,1864.
Seri^. Jas. M. MeLane,e. May 7, 1864.
Serit. Wm. V. Si*huyler, e. May 7, 1864.
Sergt. Ed. Dibble, e. May 9, 1864.
Sergt. Henry Freed, e. May 7, 1864.
Corp. Jas. E. Michael, e. May 7, 1864.
Corp. Edw. R. Mason, e. May 9, 1864.
Corp. Oliver O. Stokes, e. May 7, 1864.
Corp. R. B. Curtis, e. May 11, 1864.
Corp. Andrew Hoffman, e. May 9, 1864.
Corp. Silas A. Jameson, e. May 18, 1864.
Corp. Perry Sutton, e. May 7, 1864.
Corp. Silas Lichty, e. May 10, 1864.
Musician Jno. W. Gilbert, e. May 7, 1864.
Cook Abraham Ford, e. May 25, 1864.
Antill, John, e. May 16, 1864
Alexander, Andrew, e. May 9, 1864.
Bell, Hugh, e. May 14, 1864.
Benson, Wm. H., e. May 11, 1864.
Brown, Ira, e. May 9, 1864.
Bond, Jno. P., e. May 9, 1864.
Bostock, Jno. W., e. Mav 11, 1864.
Colton, Erastus, e. May 9, 1864.
Cleveland, C'yrus, e. M^y 12, 1864.
Cassiday, Frank, e. May 12, 1864.
Coolidge, H. L., e. May 12, 1864.
Clark, Irus, e. May 16, 1864.
Games, A., e. May 8, 1864.
Cochrell, James, e. May 18, 1864.
Delker, Geo., e. May 18, 1864.
Duer, Jas. H., e. May 19, 1864.
Elliott, Simon, e. May 16, 1864.
Everts, A., e. May 7, 1864.
Frazee, Samuel J., e. May 18, 1864.
Fulton, O. C, e, May 9, 1864.
Franklin, Geo. W., e. May 7, 1864.
Fichey, Jas., e. May 18, 1864.
Fry, Wm. F., e. Mav 19, 1864.
Gardner, Robt., e. May 7, 1864.
Gardner, Jno., e. May 7, 1864.
Garreson, McKinza, e. May 7, '64, drowned
at Moscow, Tenn., while bathing.
Goble, Henry, e. May 7, 1864.
Goddard, T. R., e. May 8, 1864.
Gilbert, Jno. W., e. May 7, 1864.
Houghton, O. L., e. May 7, 1864.
Jack, Jno. F., e. May 28, 1864.
Kimbel, Francis, e May 7, 1864.
Kendall, Wm., e. May 7, 1864.
Lucas, Samuel, e. May 18, 1864.
Lidolph, Ernst, e. May 12, 1864.
Miller, T. C, e. May 16, 1864.
Morrill, Benj. F., e. May 3, 1864.
Michael, Jos. F., e. May 7, 1864.
McCan, Wm., e. May 16, 1864
McElfresh, Wm. H., e. May 16, 1864.
McKenny, E. W., e. May 16, 1864.
Meek, Samuel G., e. May 7, 1864.
Mitchell, Jos. E., e. May 9, 1864.
MiUer, Jos. W., e. May 12, 1864.
Park, Samuel C, e. May 7, 1864.
Phillips. E. S., e. May 7, 1864.
Bicketts, J. J., e. May 14,1864.
Ramsey, R. P., e. May 7, 1864.
Rogers, Jos., e. May 7, 1864.
Roberts, A. W.. e. May 14, 1864.
Root, E. D., e. May 6, 1864.
Richardson, W. H., e. May 11, 1864.
Sprague, Solomon, e. May 24, 1864.
Stewart, J. F., e. May 9, 1864.
Sanford, S. S., e. May 9, 1864.
Stine, Arnold, e. May 16, 1864.
Smith, W. E., e. May 12. 1864.
Sheppard. H. M., e. May 17, 1864.
Sawyer, A. W., e. May 9, 1864.
Tregloan, John, e. May 9, 1864.
Trembath, Wm., e. May 7, 1864.
Turton, H. A., e. May 14 1864.
Taylor, J. F., e. May 14 1864.
Thompson, Hiram, e. May 8, 1864.
Walker, J. R., e. May 7, 1864.
Ward, D. W., e. Mav 9, 1864.
Walker, W. M., e. May 12, 1864.
Wagers, W. M., e. May 11, 1864
Wheeler, C F., e. Mav 8, 1864
White, Robert, e. Mav 8, 1864.
THIRD CAVALRY.
[KoTB.— TMf rtgimmU ma mtuUred <mi nt AOmmla, Aug
9, 1966.]
Col. Henry C Caldwell, com. maj. Aug.
26, 1861, prmtd. lieut col. Sept. 5, 1862,
Emitd, col. May 1, 1864, appointed V. S.
district Judge Arkansas August 28,
1864
Maj. Oliver H. P. Scott, com. capt. Co. B
Aug. 80, 1861, prmtd. maj. Oct 25, 1862,
resd. Aug. 8, 1868.
Maj. John McCrdry, com. 1st lieut. Co. G
Aug. 80, 1861, prmtd. capt. Auff. 7, 1862,
?irmtd. maj. May 28, 1864 resd. Jan. 4
865.
Maj. Peter H. Walker, e. as corp. Co. H
Aug. 28, 1861, prmtd. sergt., then capt.
Nov. 20, 1862, prmtd. maj. Sept. 16, '64.
Asst. Surg. Samuel Whitten, com. March
80, 1864.
Q. M. Thomas S. Wright, com. Nov. 3^
1864, not mustered, captd. Dec. 4 1864;
m. o. as private Co. G.
Bat. Adjt. Rufus L. Miller, com. Aug. 26,
1861.
Chaplain Jas. W. Latham, com. Oct. 1, '64.
B. Q. M. S. Wm. A. Grayum, e. Aug. 30,
1861.
Company A.
Hoskins, Clark, e. Jan. 2, 1864.
Haylet, Wm., e. Dec. 29, 1868.
Holt, Randolph, e. Dec. 26, 1868.
Isaac, Griffith, vet. Jan. 1, 1864.
Murray, James, e. Jan. 21, 1864.
Park, A. B^e. Dec. 80, 1868.
Richards, Wm., e. Dec. 23, 1863.
Stephenson, J. M., e. Jan. 4 1864
Toler, J. L., e. Jan. 16, 1864, kid. At-
lanta.
Vandyke, Wilbur, e. Feb. 10, 1864
Company B.
Capt. Samuel J. McKee, com. 2d lieut.
Aug. 80, 1861, prmtd. 1st lieut. Nov. 13,
1862, prmtd. capt. Sept 27, 1864, res.
March 31 or June 19, 1866.
Digitized by VjOOQIC
444
HISTORY OF VAN BUREN COUNTY.
First Lieut. Wm. E. Forker, e. as bugler
Aug. 28, 18«1, prmtd, 2d lieut. Sept. 27,
ISHprmtd. Ist lieut July 20, 1865, m.
o. as 2d lieut.
Sergt. C. M. Ware, e. Aug. 28, 1861.
Corp. Jno. A. Perry, e. Aug. 28, 1861, disd.
Jan. 6, 1862, disab.
Con). C. Westcott, a Aug. 23, 1861.
Corp. C. Hatrick, e. Aug. 28, 1861.
Corp. W. H. Spears, e. Aug. 28, 1861, vet.
Jan. 1, 1864.
Corp. G. A. A. Dean, e. Aug. 28, 1861.
Corp. H. Enbody, e. Aug. 28, 1861, vet. Jan.
1, 1864, disd. Dec. 28, 1864.
Farrier G. Nasker, e. Aug. 28, 1861.
Wagoner Elias D. Carpenter, e. Aug. 28,
iftl, vet Jan. 1, 1864.
Amos, I.,e. Jan. 2, 1864.
Alexander, Wm., e. Aug. 28, 1861, died at
Memphis.
Bailey, D. A., e. Feb. 9, 1864.
Beeson, Jno. M., e. Aug. 28, 1861.
Bremer, A., e. Aug. 28, 1861.
CJefford, S. K., e. Dec. 81, 1864.
Carr, Jno., e. Aug. 28, 1861, disd. N«v.
20, 1862.
Carpenter, £. £., e. Aug. 28, 1861.
De Witt, Nelson, e. Dec. 1, 1868, died at
Memphis.
Dunn, Jno. T., e. Aug. 28, 1861, died at
St Louis.
Fox, H. W., e. Jan. 1, 1864, disd. Jan. 11,
1865, disab.
French, D. A., e. Aug. 28, 1861, vet. Jan.
1, 1864.
Fenechole, Chas., e. Feb. 29, 1864.
Grasser, Jacob, e. Aug. 28, 1861, died at
Hill, Geo.'w., e. Aug, 23, 1861, disd. Dec.
26. 1861, disab.
Harlen, Elihu, e. Feb. 29, 1864.
Harper; Geo. A., e. Feb. 16, 1864.
Johnson, Jno., e. March 14, 1864, died at
Memphis.
McComb, Hugh, e. Feb. 27, 1864.
McCoy, H. J., e. Dec. 28, 1863.
Leaser, Robt., e. Aug. 28, 1861, vet. Jan.
1,1864.
King, Miles, vet. Jan. 1, 1864, wd. at Osage,
Mo., died at Columbus, Ga.
Lundy, Nathan, e. Aug. 28, 1861, vet. Jan.
1,1864.
McCoy, Anderson, e. Aug. 28, 1861, disd.
March 5, 1868.
Mattox, Wm. M., e. Aug. 23, 1861, disd.
Dec. 27, 1861.
Pool, Jos. P., e. Aug. 28, 1861, vet. Jan. 1,
1864, wd. at Osage, Mo.
Proper, Wm., e. Dec. 80, 1868.
Parker, Wm. N., e. Dec. 25, 1863.
Peirson, James, e. Jan. 2, 1863? wd. at Big
Blue, Mo.
Risner, Chas., e. Jan. 2, 1864.
Rhoads, Geo. W., e. Feb. 10, 1864, killed
near Ripley, Miss.
Schneider, Wm., e. Aug. 23, 1861.
Scott, S. F., e. Aug. 28, 1861, wd., disd. July
8, 1862.
Smith, Isaac F., e. Aug. 28, 1861, vet Jan.
1,1864.
Wilson, Samuel, e. Aug. 28, 1861, vet. Jan.
1,1864.
Wright, Noah, e. Dec. 30, 1868.
Wilcoxson, H. C, e. Aug. 28, 1861, died
Oct. 26, 1861.
Company C.
Ellis. Edw., e. Jan. 4, 1864.
Gamble, Harvey, e. Dec. 28, 1868.
Miller, Nathan, e. Feb. 9. 1864.
Palmer, Wm. F., e. Jan. 4, 1864.
Pratt, E., e. Jan. 4, 1864.
Pennell, Garrett, e. Feb. 18, 1864, killed at
Osage, Mo.
Palmer, H. W., a Jan. 4, 1864.
Pratt, C. C, e. Jan. 4, 1864.
Company D.
Second Lieut. Francis M. Ross, e. as sergt.
Aug. 24, 1861, prmtd. 2d lieut. Jan. 1,
1862, resd. Feb. 14, 1863.
Corp. Edward Nelson^ e. Aug. 24, 1861.
Benning, H. S., e. Sept. 18, 1861, captd. at
• La Grange, Ark., vet Jan. 1, 1864^
prmtd. Corp., kid. at Ripley, Miss.
Bell, D. S., e. Sept. 26, 1861, captd. at La
Grange, Ark.
Crawford, Wm., e. Sept. 17, 1861, vet Jan.
1,1864.
Edwards, W. H., captd. at Oakland, Miss.,
vet Jan. 1, 1864.
Mercer, Jas. F., e. Sept. 17, 1861, kid. bat-
tle Pea Ridge and scalped by Indians.
Mercer, Elijah, e. Sept. 17, 1861, disd.
June 5, 1862, disab.
Moore, Levi J., e. Sept. 17, 1861, trams, to
Inv. Corps.
Paxton,' Jas. W., vet. Jan. 1, 1864.
Salter, Wm. F., e. Aug. 24, 1861, vet Jan.
1,1864.
Salter. G. W.„e. Feb. 22, 1864, deserted
June 22, 1864.
Company E.
Armstrong, B. S., e. Nov. 12, 1868.
Phelps, A. H., e. Oct 26. 1868.
Company F«
Granfield, L., e. Aug. 26, 1861.
Company C.
Capt Emanuel Maime, com. Aug. 88,
1861, kid. at Kirkville, Mo., Aug. 6, W
Capt Jno. S. Stidger, com. 2d lieut Aug.
80, 1861, prmtd. 1st lieut Aug. 7, 188.
prmtd. capt. Aug. 10, 1864.
First Lieut. Jas. H. Watts, e. as seigt.
Aug. 26, 1861, prmtd. 2d lieut Aug. 7,
1862, prmtd. Ist lieut Aug. 10, 1864, wd.
Independence, Mo., died Leavenworth,
Kan.
First Lieut. Chas. B. Leach, e. as sergt
Aug. 26, 1861, prmtd. 2d lieut. Aug. 10.
1864, prmtd. Ist lieut Nov. 5, 1864.
Digitized by VjOOQIC
HI8T0BT OP VAN BURSN COUNTY.
446
Seeond Lieut. Jno. F. Watkins, e. as
Corp. Aug. 26, 1861, prmtd. com. sergt.
then 2d lieut. Nov. 5, 1864.
<l. M. Sergt. Franklin Miller, e. Aug. 26,
1861, vet. Jan. 1, 1864, wd. and captd.
June 11, 1864, died Cahaba, at Ala.
5$ergt F. A. Moxley, e. Aug. 26, 1861.
cfed. April 2, 1862.
^rgt C. B. Leach, e. Aug. 26, 1861, vet.
Jan. 1, 1864.
S&rgL O. H. Graham, e. Aug. 26, 1861, vet
Jan. 1, 1864.
Sergt. David B. Smiih, e. Aug. 26, 1861,
disd. date unknown, died.
Sergt H. W. Hutton, e. Aug. 26, 1861, vet
Jan. 1, 1864, disd. Dec. 11, 1864.
Sergt James E. Miller, e. Aug. 26, 1861,
disd. Nov. 9, 1862, disab.
Sergt Jas. A. Dunnan, e. A ug. 26, 1861,
vet Jan. 1, 1864.
Sergt. R. R. Watts, e. Aug. 26, 1861, vet.
Jan. 1, 1864.
Corp. T. B. Hartzell, e. Aug. 26, 1861, vet.
Jan. 1, 1864.
Corp. David Miller, e. Aug. 26, 1861, vet.
Jan^ 1, 1864, kid. at Guntown„ Miss.
Corp. Solomon F. Baker, e. Aug. 26, 1861,
disd. April 22, 1864, disab.
Corp. J. L. Brown, e. Aug. 26, 1861, vet.
Jan. 1, 1864.
Corp. Jas. N. McCrary, e. Aug. 26, 1861,
disd. Jan. 29, 1862, disab.
Corp. Albert Baker, e. Aug. 26, 1861.
C^rp. Robert R. Watts, e. Aug. 26, 1861.
Corp. Geo. W. Tuttle,e. Aug. 26, 1861, vet
Jan. 1,1864.
Bugler Jesse Cubberly, e. Aug. 26, 1861,
<ffid. July 1, 1862, sick.
Bugler A. Van Brink, e. Aug. 26, 1861,
died at St Louis.
Bugler Geo. L. Kut^ner, e. Aug. 26, 1861,
disd. April 25, 1868, to accept prom.
Farrier €feo. M. Cox, a Aug. 26, 1861, disd.
June 26, 1862, disab.
Farrier A. H. Botkin, e. Aug. 26. 1861,
disd. Jan. 26, 1862.
Farrier Jos. Borinegar, e. Aug. 26, 1861,
vet. Jan. 1, 1864.
Saddler Wm. H. Miller, e. Aug. 26, 1861.
Saddler M. J. Bums, e. March 11, 1862.
Wagoner D. B. Smith, e. Aug. 26, 1861,
d&d. July 4, 186i disab.
Wagoner Wm. L. Thompson, e. Aug. 26,
iSl, vet Jan. 1, 1864.
Teiunster Jos. Wagner, e. Aug. 26, 1861.
Teamstei* Daniel K. Shaw, e. Aug. 26, 1861.
Aylor, Wm., e. Aug. 26, 1861, died at Lit-
tle Bock, Ark.
Bockman. J. A., e. Aug. 26, 1861, disd.
Jan. 6-7. 1868, disab.
Brooks, John, e. Aug. 26, 1861, disd. at
Keokuk, 1861.
Bums, J. W., e. Aug. 26, 1861, vet Jan.
1, 1864.
Burton, Ira, e. Aug. 26, 1861, disd. Oct.,
1861, vet Jan. 1, 1864.
Barker, A. S.. e. Aug. 26, 1861.
Bishop, Richard, e. Aug. 26, 1861.
Bailey, David, e. Feb. 18, 1864, wd.
Boston, A. R., e. Feb. 27, 1864.
Botkin, O. F., e. Feb. 26, 1864.
Baker, C A., e. Nov. 5, 1861, died at Lit-
tle Rock.
Bums, M. S., e. Feb. 25, 1864, died May
11, 1864.
Bingaman, W. H., e. Dec. 25, 1868.
Barker, J. H., e. Dec. 25, 1863.
Cocherell Alpheus, e. Feb. 29, 1864.
Carter, James, e. Feb. 16, 1862.
Crandall, J. N., e. Feb. 20, 1864.
Cochrun, T. H., e. Aug. 26, 1861, died Dec.
24,1861.
Clark, W. W., e. Aug. 26, 1861, vet Jan.
1.1864.
Carter, M. D., e. Aug. 26, 1861, vet. Jan.
1.1864.
Carter, James, e. Aug. 26, 1861.
Dunlapp, R. E.. e. Aug. 26, 186e, vet. Jan.
Edmonston, J. G., e. Aug. 26, 1861, vet
Jan. 1, 1861.
Fray, George, a Aug. 26, 1861, vet. Jan. I.
1864.
Fletcher, H. N., a Aug. 26, 1861, vet. Jan.
1 1864.
Gnash, T., e. Dec 81, 1863.
Goughmour, J., 6. Aug, 26. 1861, vet. Jan.
1,1864.
Gillett, N. H., Feb. 17, 1864.
Grayum. W. A., e. Aug. 30. 1861, prmtd.
bat. Q. M. sergt. Sept. 10, 1861, disd. Oct
3 1862
Hamlin, H. C. e. Aug. 26. 1861, disd. April
7, 1862, disab.
Hamilton, W. B., e. Aug. 28, 1862.
Hunter, E.,e. Aug. 26, 1861, vet Jan. 1, '64.
Hathaway, S., e. Aug. 26, 1861, vet. Jan.
1, 1864.
Henry, Volney, e. Aug. 26, 1861, vet Jan.
1, 1864, disd. June 29, 1865.
Hollingsworth, W. J., e. Dec. 31, 1868.
Hollingshead, G. S., e. Jan. 4, 1864.
Hamilton, W. M. B., vet Jan. 1, 1864.
Hines, John. e. Feb. 29, 1864.
Hardin, J. M., e. Dec. 26, 1868.
Jones, J. A., e. Jan. 4, 1864.
Jewitt Grin, e. Aug. 26, 1861, vet. Jan.
1, 1864.
Jones, Isaac, e. Aug. 26, 1861, vet. Jan.
1,1864.
Jewett F. D., e. Aug. 26, 1861, vet. Jan.
1,1864.
Kutzner, George L., e. Sept. 6, 1861.
Kimball, S. C, e. Aug. 26, 1861.
Kerwin, Thomas, e. Aug. 26, 1861, trans.
to gunboat service Feb. 17, 1862.
Kent E., e. Feb. 16, 1862.
Knox, James M., e. Aug. 26, 1861, died at
Rolla, Mo.
Knox, Xerxes, e. Aug. 26, 1861, captd.
May 1, 1864.
Lane, A. H., e. Nov. 11, 1868.
Loring, L. H., e. Aug. 26, '61, vet Jan. 1, '64.
Linn, Isaac, e. Aug. 26, 1861.
Livingston, H. K., e. Aug. 26, 1861. vet.
Jan. 1, 1864.
Digitized by
Google
446
HISTORY OP VAN BUREN COUNTY.
Leeper, James, e. Aug. 26, 1861, vet. Jan. 1,
1864, trans. V. R. C Nov. 22, 1864.
Lowe, John E., e. Dec. 29, 1868.
Long, George, e. Feb. 20, 1864.
Lane, Alden, e. Feb. 29, 1864.
Murray, James, e. Feb. 16, 1862.
MathiesoD, James L., Jan. 4, 1864.
Miller, John, e. Aug. 22, 1862.
Miller, J. J., e. Feb. 22, 1864.
McCrary, A. N., e. Feb. 20, 1864.
Mayne, Leroy, e. May 1, 1861, trans, for
Srmf n. 2d lieut. Marine Brigade March
) 1868
Miller, Rufus L., e. Aug. 26, 1861.
Miller, Benjamin, e. Aug. 26, 1861, disd.
Sept. 27, 1862, disab.
Miller, J. S., e. Aug. 26, 1861, disd. Feb.
26, 1862, disab.
Miller, W. H., a Aug. 26, 1861.
McCue, B., e, March 11, 1862.
McSurley, Benjamin, e. Aug. 26, 1861, died
Aug. 26^862.
Madtkin, W . fl., e. Aug. 26, 1861, missing
in action at Harrisburg, Miss., died at
Louisville, Ky.
Mast, I. W., e. Aug. 26, 1861, vet. J an. 1, '64.
Norris, John, e. Aug. 26, 1861, disd. March
28, 1868, disab.
Nagle, Volney, e. Dec. 1, 1863.
Owmgs, D. C, e. Aug. 26, 1861.
Owings, John W. e. Aug. 26, 1861, disd.
Feb. 25, 1862. /
Pace, james W., e. Aug. 26, 1861, vet. Jan.
1,1864.
Parker, Robert M., e. Aug. 26, 1861, kid.
battle Moore's MUls, July 28, 1862.
Peterson, Jacob R., e. Dec. 11, 1868.
Paine, Thomas, e. Aug. 26, 1861, disd.
April 16, 1862.
Piatt, Isaiah, e. Jan. 2, 1864.
Palmer, L W., e. Aug. 26, 1861, vet. Jan.
1,1864.
Peterson, W. H., e. Dec. 7, 1868.
Pierce, W. W., e. Aug. 26, 1861, vet. Jan.
1, 1864, disd. July 10, 1865.
Row, John, e. Aug. 26, 1861.
Ricketts, James M., e. Aug. 26, 1861.
Reed, Andrew, e. Aug. 26, 1861.
Smith, H. H., e. Aug. 26, 1861, vet. Jan.
1,1864.
Shane, John W., e. Aug. 26, 1861, vet. Jan.
1,1864.
Sadler, Samuel, e. Aug. 26, 1864.
Shuey, A. J., e. Aug. 26, 1861, vet. Jan.
1,1864.
Sammons, Thomas, e. Aug. 26, 1861, vet.
Jan. 1, 1864.
Stull, F., e. Aug. 26, 1861, vet. Jan. 1, 1864.
Smith, John £., e. Aug. 26, 1861, disd.
March 20, 1862.
Snyder, James T., e. Jan. 4, 1864.
Stock, James A., e. Dec. 28, 1868.
Stiger, George A., e. Feb. 22, 1864.
Stone, James Y., e. Feb. 24, 1864.
Sullivan. William J., e. Sept 80, 1864. vet.
Jan. 1. 1864.
Shepherd, C. W., e. Aug. 26, 1861, vet
Jan. 1, 1864, disd. to accept promotion.
Thurber, William H., e. Aug. 22, 18M.
Thompson, J. G., e. Aug. 26, 1861. vet.
Jan. 1, 1864.
Tuttle, George W., e. Aug. 29, 1861.
Tackerberry, John, e. Aug. 26, 1861, disd.
Feb. 25, 1862, disab.
Vandyke, W., e. Aug. 26, 1861, disd. Jan.
25, 1868, disab.
Wilson, James, e. Aug. 26, 1861, vet Tan.
1,1864.
Wilson, Omer, e. Jan. 4. 1864.
Wright, John W., e. Feb. 28, 1864.
Wright, T. S., e. March 18, 1864, prmtd
adjt. Nov. 8, 1864, captd. Memphis.
Whitelsey, L. H., e. May 9, 1868, died at
Memphis.
Company H.
Capt Jas. Hughes, com. Sept. 10, 1861,
resd. Nov. 18, 1862.
Capt. Jas. R. Grousbeck, e. as priv. Aug.
28. 1861, prmtd. 2d lieut. March 8. 1868,
captd. near Fulton, Mo., prmtd. 1st
lieut April 28, 1864, prmtd. capt. Jan.
22, 1865.
First Lieut Hiram Barnes, com. Sept 10,
1861, resd. March 7, 1868.
First Li^ut. Geo. W. Newell, com. ad.
lieut Sept/ 10, 1861, bat Q. M. Sept 20,
1861, returned to Co., prmtd. 1st lient
March 8, 1868, m. o. April 22, 1864.
First Lieut. Samuel A. Young, e. as priv.
Aug. 28, 1861, prmtd. 2d lieut April 2S,
1864 prmtd, 1st lieut. Jan. 22, 1865.
Second Lieut. Mitchell I. Birch, e^ as
sergt. Aug. 28, 1861, prmtd. 2d lieut
Dec. 10, 1861, resd. July 24, 1862, errone-
ously ^ptd.
Second Lieut Wm. Wycoff, e. as corp.
Aug. 28, '61, prmtd. 2d Ueut Jan. 22, '65.
Q. M. Sergt. John D. Gibson, e. Aug. 28,
1861, disd. Dec. 25, 1862.
Com. Sei-gt. Newton L. Calhoun, e. Aug.
28 1861
Sergt. Wm. Birch, e. Aug. 28, 1861, disd.
May 27, 1868, disab.
Sergt Hiram Coffman, e. Aug. -28, 1861,
disd July 8, 1865.
Sergt. I. C. Gillett. Aug. 28, 1861.
Sergt. Wm. Wycoff, e. Aug. 28, 1861, vet.
Jan. 1, 1864.
Sergt. Miles N. Newman, e. Aug. 28, 1961,
vet Jan. 1, 1864.
Corp. N. J. Moore, e. Aug. 28, 1861, vet
Jan. 1, 1864.
Corp. M. V. B. Sigler, e. Aug. 28, 1861.
Corp. Jas. P. Beale, e. Sept 9, 1861, captd.
at Whitewater^o., vet. Jan. 1, 1864.
Corp. James A. Barnes, e. Aug. 28, 1861,
dfed. April 80, 1862, disab.
Corp. Thos. Lonnon, e. Aug. 28, 1861, died
Dec. 28. 1861.
Corp. John D. Maddix, e. Sept 2, 1861,
vet Jan. 1, 1864.
Corp. Marion Bechtel, e. Aug. 20, 1862,
died at Winchester. '
Corp. Chas. A. Skinner, e. Sept 7, 1861,
vet Jan. 1, 1864.
Digitized by
Google
HISTORY OF VAN BUREN COUNTY.
44T
i'orp. Bazwell Gurwell, e. Sept 11, 1861,
vet Jan. 1, 1864.
Bugler Jacob C. Boon. e. Aug. 28, 1861,
captd. at Whitewater, Mo., kid. at Ca-
rondelet. Miss.
Farrier M. B. Stewart, e. Aug. 28, 1861.
Farrier H. A. Standish, e. Aug. 28, 1861.
Farrier John L. Kirkhart, e. Oct. 16, 1861,
di8d.*Nov. 18, 1862, disab.
Teamster Wm. Robi?rtson, e. Sept. 7, '61,
vet Jan. 1, 1864.
Anderson, J., e. Feb. 15, 1864.
Saddler Wm. F. James, e. Aug 28, 1861,
wd. at Whitewater, Mo.
Allen, DanieL e, Feb. 1, 1864.
Brown Geo. W., e. Aug. 28, 1861.
Butler, Wm., e. Sept. 2, 1862, vet Jan. 1,
1864, disd. May 17, 1865, disab.
Butterfield, E., e. Sept. 9, 1861, captd. at
Whitewater and Camden, Ark.
Balback, Andrew, e. Sept. 11. 1861, captd.
at Whitewater, and again Nov. 11, 63.
Barker. Arnold C, e. Sept 10, 1862, wd. at
Mooi-e's Mills, Mo., vet. Jan. 1, 1864.
Boon, Robert L., e. Feb. 1, 1864.
Borden, Harmon, e. Dec. 26, 1868.
Culbertson, John R., e. Feb. 1, 1864.
Calhoun, Saml., e, Feb. 1, 1864, died May
1. 1864.
Clark, W. M., Feb. 15, 1864, died May 23,
1864, at Memphis.
Curtis, Anson, e. Dec. 29, 1868.
Campbell, F. W., e. Aug. 28, 1861, wd. at
Moore's Mills, captd. at Whitewater.
Cluq>man, Wm., e. Aug. 28, 1861, captd. at
Camden, Ark.
Deahl, Wm. R,' e. Aug. 28, 1861, disd.
July 26, 1863.
Baler, C, e. Sept 18, 1861.
Estle, Geo., e Sept 18, 1861, disd. March
18, 1862, disab.
Freshwater, A., e. Feb. 1, 1864.
Faler, a A., e. Aug. 2, 1862, vet. Jan. 1, 1864.
Freshwater, Darnel, e. Feb. 1, 1864.
Gleason, C. W., e. Sept. 18, 1861, wd. at
Moore's Mills, Mo„ disd Oct 17, 1862.
Groesbeck, D. L., a Feb. 15, 1864.
Gibson, John D., e. Jan. 4, 1864.
Hope, Wm. H., e. Feb. 15, 1864.
Haney, Samuel J., e. Dec. 4, 1864.
Haney, Jas., e. Dec. 25. 1864, captd. near
White's Station, Tenn.
Harker, Clayton, e. Feb. 8, 1863, captd.
near White Station, Tenn.
Hurlbut, D. S., e. Dec. 19, 1868.
Hesket, £., e. Sept. 18, 1861, disd. Nov. 18,
1862, disab.
Howard, John F., e. Sept 18. 1861, vet
Jan. 1, 1864.
Hurlbut E. C, Sept 9, '61, vet. Jan. 1, '64.
Johnston, David, e. Feb. 1, 1864.
Johnston, Russell, e. Feb. 27, 1864.
Khrkhart S. D„ e. Sept 9, '61, vet. Jan. 1 '64.
Light, Jas. A., e. Sept 9, 1861.
Lane, Saml. £.,e. Sept. 9, 1861, vet Jan. 1,
1864
Masterson, John H., e. Aug. 28, 1861, died
Oct. 25, 1861.
McGuire, John A., e. Sept. 2, 1861, kid. at
Mexico, Mo., by Bushwhackers.
Moss, Martin, e. Feb. 29, 1864.
Miller, John W., e. Dec. 29, 1868.
Maddox, Jos.
McLanahan, Thos, e. Feb. 12, 1864.
Moore, Orrin P., e. Nov. 20, 1868.
Newell, Wm., e. Feb. 1, 1864, captd. at
White's Station, Tenn.
Norris, Samuel C, e. Feb. 15, 1864, captd.
at White's Station, Tenn.
Newell, Leonidas, e. Dec. 80, 1868.
Norton, N. 0., e. Sept. 2, 1861, disd. March
18. 1862.
Patterson, John F., e. Aug. 28, 1861, disd.
March 13, 1862.
Pratt O. A., e. Aug. 28, '61, vet. Jan. 1. '64.
Pratt, Robert, e. Aug. 28, 1861, disd. Sept
12. 1863.
Pettit Daniel C, e. March 15, 1861, vet.
Jan. 1, 1864.
Parker, O. B., e. Feb. 22, 1864.
Rand, Jas. M., e. Feb. 15, 1864.
Ready, Chas. G., e Feb. 15, 1864.
Swartz, D. H^ e. Feb. 22, 1864.
Simon, F., e. Feb. 25, 1864.
Stump, David J., a Dec. 29, 1863, captd.
at White's Station, Tenn.
Stump, Jas. W., e. Jan. 4, 1864.
Sperry, Walter I., e. Feb. 6, 1864.
Shaw, J. R., e. Aug. 28. 1861, vet Jan. 1.
1864.
Sutton, J., vet. Jan. 1, 1864.
Simmons, T. A., e. Aug. 28, 1861, vet Jan.
1,1864.
Saddler, Josiah, e. Aug. 2, 1861, vet. Jan.
1 1864.
Smith, W. R., e. Sept. 7, 1861, disd. May
20, 1863, disab.
Sanders, Z. W., e. Aug. 28, 1861, vet Jan.
1, 1864.
Trotter, C. D.,e. Aug. 28, 1861.
Vansickle, S., e. Aug. 28, 1861, captd. at
Whitewater, Mo.
Vansickle, Harrison, e. Aug. 28, 1861,.
captd. at Whitewater, Mo., wd. Tupelo.
Walters, M. W.,e. Aug. 28, 1861, disd. Jan.
13, 1862.
Work, Wm., e. Aug. 28, 1861, captd. at
Camden.
Whitaker, F. G., e. Aug. 28, 1861, disd.
April 80, 1862, disab.
Wycoff, Jos., e. Aug. 20, 1862, vet. Jan-
1, 1864.
Company I.
Linn, Isaac, e, Aug. 26, 1861.
Stantlish, H. A., e. Aug. 28, 1861, disd.
Company K.
Homer, Johnson, e. Sept 3, 1861.
Company M.
Lane, F. M., e. Feb. 24, 1864.
COMPANY UNKNOWN.
Abbott, J. H., e. Dec. 5, 1868.
Amos, Isaac, e. Jan. 2, 1864.
Digitized by
Google
448
HISTORY OF VAN BURBN OOUNTY.
Brooks, E. M., e. Feb. 28, 1864.
Borden, H., e. Dec. 26, 1868.
Brooks, E. C, e. Feb. 29, 1864.
Blngman, W. H., e. Dec. 26, 1868.
Barker, J. H., e. Dec. 25, 1868.
Clifford, S. K., e. Dec. 81, 1868.
Cowen, G. H., e. Feb. 8, 1864.
Curtis, A. L., e. Dec. 29, 1868.
Crandall, J. K., e. Feb. 20, 1864.
Calhoun, Hugh, e. Jan. 4, 1868.
Dewight, Nelson, e. Dec. 1, 1868.
Ellis, Edward, e. Jan. 4. 1868.
Fox, H. W^ e. Jan. 1, 1863.
Gibson, J. D., e. Jan. 4, 1868.
Gamble, Harvey, e. Dec. 28, 1868.
Gnash, Allen, e. Dec. 81, 1868.
Gnash, Thomas, e. Dec. 81, 1868.
Hagler, Wm., e. Dec. 29, 1863.
Hannan, G. T., e. Dec. 1, 1868.
Hawk, R. T., e. Jan. 28, 1864.
HoUingshead, G. S., e. Jan. 4, 1868.
Hollingsworth, W. J., e. Dec. 21, 1868.
Haskins, Clark, e. Jan. 2, 1868.
Hardin, J. M., e. Dec. 26, 1868.
Holt, Randolph, e. Dec. 26, 1868.
Hurlbert, D. S., e. Dec. 19, 1868.
Jones, J. A., e. Jan. 4, 1868.
Lowe, J. E., e. Dec. 29, 1868.
Moore, O. P., e. Nov. 20, 1858.
Mattocks. J. L., e. Dec. 29, 1868.
McCoy, H. J., e. Dec. 28, 1868.
Miller, J. W., e. Dec. 29, 1868.
Mathieson, J. L^ e. Jan. 4, 1868.
Mercer, Elijah, e. Jan. 4, 1868.
Nagle, Volney, e. Dec. 1. 1868.
Newell, Leonidas, e. Dec. 80, 1868.
Norton, N. D., e. Dec. 29, 1868.
Ormsby, A. W., e. Nov. 10. 1868.
Palmer, W. F., e. Jan. 4, 1864.
Prall, C. C, e. Jan. 4, 1864.
Phillips, H. F., e. Feb. 15, 1864.
Prall, E., e. Jan. 4, 1864.
Palmer, H. W., e. Jan. 4, 1864.
Piatt, Isaiah, e. Jan. 2, 1864.
Park, A. B., e. Dec. 80, 1868.
Peterson, J. R., e. Dec. 11, 1868.
Peterson, W. H.. e. Dec. 7, 1868.
Piei-son, James, e. Dec. 25, 1868.
Parker, W. N., e. Dec. 80, 1868.
RuU, J. A., a Nov. 9, 1863.
Richards, Wm., e. Dec. 28, 1868.
Risner, Charles, e. Jan. 2, 1864.
Roberts, F. J., e. Jan. 4, 1864.
Robinson, W J., e. Dec. 11, 1868.
Rigsby, Benjamin, e. Dec. 1, 1868.
Seells, W. H., e. Dec. 10, 1868.
Smith, J. E.. e. Dec. 21, 1868.
Stephenson, J. M., e. Jan. 4, 1864.
Stump, J. W., e. Jan. 4, 1864.
Stuck, J. A., e. Dec. 28, 1864.
Scott, S. F., e. Jan. 4, 1864.
AVilson, Omer, e. Jan. 4, 1864.
White, O. J., e. Dec. 25, 1864.
Wright, Noah, e. Dec. 80, 1864.
Wettge, Austin, e. Dec. 1, 1864.
White, J. H.. e. Dec. 27, 1864.
White, U. D., e. Dec. 2, 1864.
Walters, Joseph, e. Dec. 1, 1864.
SE\T:NTH CAVALRY.
Company A*
[Mots— TUi rmimmd woa mmt^nd md d fiwiiii^,
JDm., JToy 17, ms, tmd Jmm tg, ISSe.]
Corp. Wm. H. Boyd, e. Nov. 18, 1868.
Corp. David Huddleston, e. Nov. 18» 1811
Campbell, E., e. Nov. 18, 1862.
Gardner, J., e. Nov. 7, 1862, drowned at
Ponca, N. T.
Harrell, Peter, a Nov. 18, 1862.
Lewis, Dempster, e. Feb. 12, 1862.
Lemmon, Jno. A., e. Oct. 17, 1862.
Powell, Ancil, e. Nov. 18, 1862.
Robison, James, e. Nov. 18, 1869.
Company C,
Corp. J. J. Nelson, a Jan. 20, 1868.
Saddler Jas. M Knapp, a March 2, 1868.
Wagoner S. A. Brown, a Feb. 1, 1868.
Abenathy, Wm. T., a Dec. 27, 1863.
Brown, Smith A., Jr., e. Feb. 1, 1868.
Bean, Wm. W., e. March 2, 1868.
Canterbenr, Q. A., a March 7, 1868.
Cackley, C. J., a March 7, 1868.
Spurbeck, W. E., e. March 81, 1864.
Ryan, Chas., e. March 81, 1864.
Smith, Jno. T., e. March 81, 1864.
Climie, Robt., a March 19, 1862.
Coon, Jas. W., March 28, 1864.
Coon, John, e. Jan. 1, 1868.
Hix, Robt. M., a Dec. 15, 1862.
Miller, Hiram, a Dec. 10, 1862.
Penrod, E., a March 28, 1864.
Riffle, Lemuel, a March 12, 1868.
Torrence, Robt., a Jan. 1, 1868.
Tompkins, Jas. H., a March 18, 1868.
Tutwiler, Jos. N., a March 16, 1868.
Company D.
Corp. Wm. Bryan, a April 1, 1868.
Corp. Reuben Sperry, e. March 20, 1863.
Atkins, Benj., a April 20, 1868.
Brown, Wm. N., a April 1, 1868, died at
Davenport.
Colson, Wm., a March 18, 1868.
Daniels, J. E. O. A., a Feb. 22, 1868. .
Lewis, Samuel, a April 1, 1868.
Mercer, Jacob N., e. April 18, 1868.
Monison, Wm. H., a April 1, 1868.
Trout, Jno. W., a March 20, 1868.
Company K.
Conn, Jas., a May 20, 1868.
Frazer, Jno. J., a May 11, 1868.
Rice, Philip, a May 20, 1868.
Company H.
Bonner, Crawford, e. June 18, 1868.
Elmer, Adelbert, a June 17, 1868.
Company L.
Russell, Jno. E^ a Feb. 22, 1864.
COMPANY UNKNOWN.
Moore, Samuel, March 81, 1861
Salter, Ezra, April 4, 1864.
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HISTORY OP VAN BUREN COUNTY.
449
EIGHTH CAVALRY.
IMOTB.— TUi rytmmt wa» imultnd omI oI JTcopn, (7«^
^m^utt IS, 1866.]
Maj. Jas. W. Moore, com. 1st lieut CJo. C
Sept. 80, 1868, prmtd. capt April 8, 1864.
captd. at Newnan, Ga., prmtd. maj. May
22, 1865.
Company C,
Capt. Edgar Pickett, com. Sept 80, 1868,
reed. April 7, 1864.
Capt. Geo. W. Detwiler, e. prmtd. 2d lieut.
March 12, 1864, prmtd. 1st lieut April 18,
1864, prmtd. capt June 24, '65.
Q. M Sergt H. A. Hamlin, e. July 28, '68.
Sergt. Jno. B. Loomis, e. July 29, 1868.
Sergt. Geo. A. Jimk, e. July 80, 1868, wd.
and captd. near Palmetto, Ga., died at
AndersonviUe.
iSergt. M. Lyon, e. July 29, 1868, capW. at
Newnan, Ga.
Ck)rp. H. C. Miller, e. July 29, 1868.
Corp. Jno. P. Campbell, e. July 21, 1868.
Corp. Jno. 1. Fulton, e. July 29, 1868.
Corp. Albert Raney,e. July 29, 1868, killed
near Tilton, Ga.
Corp. A. R Smith, e. Aug. 8, 1868.
Trumpeter H. R. Hayden, e. July 80, 1868.
Farrier E. Longley, e. June 16, 1868.
Farrier A. Dunn, e. July 25, 1868.
Wa|^)ner Wm. A. Sherod, e. July 28, 1868,
died at Evansville, La.
Arrington, Albert, e. July 29, 1868.
Belknap, Aug. J., e. Aug. 15, 1868.
Benning, C, e. Aug. 15, 1868.
Corns, Ruf us, e. Ji3y 28, 1863.
Coughnour, B. P., e, July 29. 1868.
Day, Giio. S., e. July 31, 1863.
Findlay, Hugh, e. July 29, 1863, captd. at
Newnan, Ga.
Graham, Jos., e. Julv 25, 1863.
Green, Rufus, e. July 29, 1863.
Gill»ert Harvey, a July 29, 1868.
Gleeaon, Wm. H., e. July 29, 1868.
Hoverstock, Geo. H., e. July 28, 1868.
Henrj', Benj. F., e. July 24, 1868, captd.
near Pleasant Ridge, Ga., killed at
Kingston, Ga., by bushwhackers.
Hunter, Cyrus E., e. July 29, 1863.
Hudson, Lemuel, e. July 20, 1863.
1 jetty John, e. Aug, 15, 1863, disd. June 15,
1864, disab.
Miller, Eli, e. July 20, 1863.
Metlaugh, John, e. July 20, 1863.
Miller, Jacob, e. July 23, 1863, captd. near
Pleasant Ridge, Ga.
Moore, John, e. Julv 29, 1863.
McClurg, D. S., e. Aug. 8, 1868, disd. June
12, 1865, disab.
McMillen, David, e. Aug. 5, 1868.
Marshall, Chas., e. Aug. 8, 1863.
Nixon, Jos., e. July 20, 1863, killed at
Franklin, Tenn.
Pace, Jos. C, e. July 29, 1863, died Oct
10, 1868.
Park, P. H., e. .\ug. 28, 1868, captd. at
Newnan, G&.
Ratcliff, A. L., e. Aug. 4, 1868.
Rodabaugh, C, e. July 29, 1868.
Robertson, Jno. C., e. July 27, 1868.
Rutledge, Wm. B., e. July 29, 1868, disd.
Dec. 12, 1868, to rec. prom, in pro. mar.
dep.
Sample, Alex., e. July 28, 1863, captd. at
Newnan, Ga.
Stansburg, Jno. S., e. July 18, 1868, trans.
to V.R. C.Jan. 15. 1865.
Smith, D. C, e. July 18, 1863, captd. at
Pleasant Ridge.
Stevens, H. R, e. July 28, 1868.
Smith, D. M., e. July 80, 1868, captd. at
Newnan, Ga.
Sadler, Simon, a Aug. 1, 1868.
Sears, Jas. W., e. Aug. 15, 1868.
Skinner, Jno. B., e. July 28, 1868.
Thompson, Harvey, e. July 29, 1868.
Company K.
Bradford, Leander, e. July 11, 1863.
Batchelor, Geo. H., e. July 15, 1868, captd.
at Newnan, Ga., died at Baltimore, Md.
Dewit Elisha, e. Aug. 10, 1868.
Ehrman, Henrv, e. Aug. 10, 1868.
Grimsley, H. At., e. July 8, 1868.
Hart Wm. H., e. July 15, 1868, captd. at
Newnan, Ga.
Hillard, Samuel A., e. July 8, 1863, captd.
at Newnan, Ga.
Jennison, John, e. June 25, 1868.
Leonard, A. L., e. July 80, 1868.
McCoy, Laben, e. July 18, 1863.
Turton, E. J., e. July 20, 1868.
FIRST INFANTRY (A. D.)
(60 U. 8. F., A. D.)
[MoTB.— TM« Ttabmmi wtu mmtl§nd omI oI Du9aW$ BhJT
Oei. 16, 1866.]
Lieut Col. G. A. A. Deane, com. capt. Co.
B from Bugler Co. D, Third Cavalry,
prmtd. lieut col.
Company A.
Patton, Hayden, Aug. 19, 1868.
Company B.
Capt. G. A. A. Deane, Auff. 28. 1861, from
musician Co. B, Third Cavalry.
Bivans, Enoch, Aug. 28, 1868, died Helena,
Ark.
Biggs, Jackson, e. Aug. 23, 1868.
Caldwell, Daniel, e. Aug. 28, 1868, died
Dec. 22, 1868.
Green, Geo. W., e. Aug. 19, 1868.
Matson Henry, e. Aug. 28, 1868, died Dec.
16, 1863.
McCracken, Merit e. Aug. 19, 1868.
Morgan, Albt, e. Aug. 28, 1868, died at
Helena, Ark.
Nichols, Samuel, e. Aug. 28. 1868.
Orrison, Jas., e. Aug. 20, 1868, disd. June
23, 1865, disab.
Templeton, Robt., e. Aug. 28. 1868.
Sales. Wm., e. Aug. 22, 1868, died at
Helena, Ark.
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450
HISTORY OF VAN BUREN COUNTY.
Sanders, Jas., e. Aug. 22, 1863.
White, Kobt., e. Auj(. 19, 1863.
Company H.
Williams, Robt., e. Sept. 25, 1863.
SOUTIIEliN BORDER BRIGADE,
FI^RST BATTALION.
[JHorm-'A4jutaiU G^^gmTt Report givm no daU of m. o.
of Ud» ngimtrtt.}
Company B,
Capt. Jos. Dickey, com. Oct. 11, 1862.
Lieut. Silas S. Boner, com. Oct. 11, 1862.
O. Sergt. C. A. Manning, e. Oct. 11, 1862.
Bugler Adam Burkheiser, e. Oct. 11, 1862.
Armstrong, C. A., e. Oct. 11, 1862.
Bell, Elias, e. Oct. 11, 1862.
Blackledge, H., e. Oct. 11, 1862.
Blackledge, E., e. Oct. 11, 1862.
Bateman, M. W., e. Oct. 11, 1862.
Bailey, Geo. W., e. Oct. 11, 1862.
Cook, L. C, e. Oct. IL 1862.
Curtis, Adolphus, e. Oct 11, 1862.
Curtis, R. B., e. Oct. 11, 1862.
Camblin, Jno. L., e. Oct. 11, 1862.
Dodson, T. C, e. Oct. 11, 1862.
Dickey, John, e. Oct. 11, 1862.
Dickev, A. L., e. Oct. 11, 1862.
Gleckler, Cbas., e. 11, 1862.
Goodin, Asa., e. Oct. 11, 1862.
Good, Geo. W., e. Oct. 11, 1862.
Gwinnus, John, e. Oct. II, 1862.
Harness, M., e. Oct. 11, 1862.
Jenkins, Geo. W., e. Oct 11, 1862.
King, Geo., e. Oct. 11, 1862.
Morse, M. H., e. Oct. 11, 1862.
McHenry, M., e. Oct. 11, 1862.
Pettit, Isaiah, e. Oct. 11, 1862.
Ross, Abram, e. Oct. 11, 1862.
Roberts, Wm., e. Oct. 11, 1862.
Rhodes, Geo., e. Oct. 11, 1862.
Stoddard, A., e. Oct. 11, 1862.
Sorge, Oscar, e. Oct 11, 1862.
Stemmyer, F., e. Oct. 11, 1862.
Simmons, D., e. Oct 11, 1862.
Spencer, John, e. Oct. 11, 1862.
Shrewe, Samuel K., e. Oct. 11, 1862.
Schmidt Jno. P., e. Oct 11, 1862.
Templeton, H., e. Oct 11, 1862.
Van Anken, H., e. Oct 11, 1862.
Willbaum, Benj., e. Oct. 11, 1862.
Woolen, Josiah, e. Oct 11, 1862.
Walker, Addison, e. Oct 11, 1862.
Williamson, John, e. Oct 11, 1862.
White, Robt., e. Oct 11, 1862.
Wagoner, Gustavus, e. Oct. 11, 1862.
Wolf, Geo., e. Oct. 11, 1862.
Wliitlock, H., e. Oct. 11, 1862.
SEVENTH MISSOURI CAVALRY.
Company A.
Q. M. Sergt G. W. Alphin, e. Aug. 9, 1861,
disd. Feb. 10, 1863.
Sergt G. N. Holder, e. Aug. 9, 1861.
Sergt. S. H. Crowded e. Aug. 9. 1861,
deserted Sept 16, 1862.
Corp. A. S. Wells, e. Aug. 9, 1861.
Corp. George W. Hagler, e. Aug. 9, 1861,
went into ranks.
Corp. Jefferson Sevier, e. Aug. 9, 1861,
went into ranks.
Bugler Samuel J. Backus, e. Aug. 9, 1861.
Allender, A. T., e. Sept 25, 1861, deserted
Feb. 18, 1862.
Brown, George, e. Aug. 9, 1861, wd.
Brown, David J., e. Sept. 24, 1861.
Brown, H. C, e. Sept. 12, 1861.
Bailey, George W., e. Oct. 18, 1861.
Bamett A. S., e. Sept. 9, 1861, kid. at battle
Lone Jack.
Collins, James, e. Oct 19, 1861.
Christian, John L., e. ifept 19, 1861.
Christian. Samuel, e. Oct 12, 1861.
Eakis, D. B., e. Nov. 1, 1861.
Fisher, John T., e. Aug. 9, 1861, wd. at
Lone Jack.
Fisher, Robert T., e. Aug. 9, 1861.
Franklin, Thomas T., e. Aug. 9, 186L
Gruber, T. C, e. Aug. 9, 1861, prmtd.
Q. M. sergt.
Hart. J. W., e. Sept 10, 1861, deserted Oct.
10, 1861, from corp.
Holder, George W., e. Aug. 9, 1861.
Huddleston, C., e. Aug. 9, 1861.
Hancock, Paul, e. Sept 25, 1861.
Harrington, Simeon, e. Dec. 16, 1861.
Jamison, Henry, e. Sept. 9, 1861.
Jones, Thomas, e. Aug. 9, 1861.
La^e, James A., e. Aug. 9. 1861.
McCrary, James C, e. Aug. 9, 1861.
Murray, Wm., e. Feb. 16, 1861.
Montgomery, James, e. Aug. 9, 1861, disd.
O'Hara, Samuel, e. Aug. 9, 1861.
Shuster, Isaac, e. Sept 9, 1861.
Woodruff, D. G., e. Aug. 9, 1861.
Woodruff, Mark, e. Sept 9, 1861.
Wortman, W. G., e. Aug. 9, 1861.
Company C.
Gallop, DeW. Clinton, e. Feb. 5, 1862
Company D.
Polack, L. O., died at Hudson City, April
19 1862
Walker, Thomas, e. Aug. 13, 1862, m. o.
by special order, Aug. 57, 1862.
TWENTY-FIRST MISSOURI IN-
FANTRY.
Company F.
Musician Joseph May, e. Nov. 15, 1861.
Company C.
Williford, Martin, e. Sept 24, 1861.
Company H»
Corp. Franklin Blackledge, e. Oct 1,1861.
Corp. C. M. Bryant e. June 17, 1861^
deserted.
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HISTORY OP VAN BUREN COUNTY.
451
Brvant, Thomas, e. June 17, 18(J1, disd.
Sept. 4, 1862, disab.
Elican, Israel, e. Nov. 6, 1861.
Fuqua, James W.^e. Dee. 26,1861, diwd.
Feb. 28, 1862, disab.
Glasgow. W. H^ e. June 17, 1861.
Kinton, T. B., e. Oct. 14, 1861.
Pollock, William C, e. Nov. 14, 1862.
Postlethwait, Chas., e. Aug. 20, 1861.
Wilson, George, e. Oct. 14, 1861, captd. at
ishiloh.
Company I.
Thorington, Oscar, e. Sept. 28, 1861.
MISCELLANEOirs.
Fourth Infantry.
Simmons. Cornelius, e. July 10, 1861, m. o.
July 24, 1865.
Sixth Infantry.
Cleveland, E. A., eT Aug. 15, 1861, m. o.
July 21, 1866.
Ware, Isaiah, e. July 12, 1861, vet. Jan. 1,
1864, m. O.July 21, 1865.
Carter, J.,e. Aug. 8, 1861, prmtd. to sergt.,
wd. and trans, to V. R. C.
Wentworth, A., e. July 12, '61, wd. Shiloh.
Yates, Jacob, e. July 12, 1861, disd. Jan.
12, 1862.
Quillen, Thomas, e. Aug. 6, 1861, m. o.
July 21, 1865.
Cassday, Jos., e. March 81, 1864, m. o.
July 21, 1865.
Seventh Infantry.
Corp. David Thomas, disd. Dec. 2, 1862.
Eighth Infantry.
Frenk, Cyrus, e. Aug. 15, 1861, died. April
26, 1862, disab.
Ninth Infantry.
Huffnie, John, e. Nov. 15, 1864, m. o. July
18, 1865.
Jolly, Beaden B., e. Nov. 10, 1864, m. o.
July 18, 1865.
Newman, James H., e. Oct. 25, 1864, m. o.
July 18. 1865.
Eleventh Infantry.
Corp. Bawley Shaw, e. Sept. 17, 1861, disd.
June 18, 1862, disab.
Alvey, James M« e. Sept. 28, 1861, disd.
Oct. 81, 1862. wds.
Black, Wm.. e. Sept. 14, 1861, kid. April
6, 1862, at Shiloh.
Crooks, Lawson, e. Sept. 28, 1861, trans, to
Miss. Marine Brigade.
Merialt, David, e. Sept. 28, 1861, m. o.
July 15, 1865.
Newman, A. G., e. Sept. 26, 1861, disd.
Feb. 11, 1862, disab.
Kenedy, Daniel, e. Sept. 4. 1861, vet. Jan.
1, 1864, m. 0. July 15, 1865.
Bichardson, James, e. Sept. 4, 1861, wd. at
Atlanta.
I Shipley, S. H., m. o. July 15, 1865.
' Shaw, Wm., e. Nov. 7, 1861, m. o. July
• 15, 1865.
i Stults, G. F., e. March 16, 1864, wd. at
I Atlanta
Wxly. George, e. Sept. 16, 1861. m. o. July
15, 1865.
Thirteenth Infantry.
; Amos, John, e. Oct. 26, 1864.
I Ayler,Geo. H.,e. Oct.25, 1864.
I Abbott,N. R.,e.Oct.25, 1864.
Abernathy, J as. T., e. Oct. 25, 1864.
! Alden, Geo. W., e. Nov. 10, 1864.
Brown, Jas. H., e. Oct. 25, 1864.
Bickle, Jacob, e. Oct. 25, 1864.
Bennett, Daniei; e. Oct. 6, 1864.
Bennett, Wm. J., e. Nov. 14, 1864.
Casey, John, e. Oct. 25, 1864.
Curry, W. L., e. Oct. 25, 1864.
Clark, John A., e. Oct. 25, 1864.
Campbell, E. B.. e. Oct. 25, 1864.
Corsen, Lewis, e. Nov. 10, 1864.
Drew, Wm., e. Oct. 25, 1864.
Douthart, I. W., e. Nov. 10, 1864.
Fulton, Henry, e. Oct. 25, 1864.
French, Samuel T., e. Oct. 25, 1864.
Harbin, John C, e. Nov. 4, 1864
Heddleston, Willis, Oct. 25, 1864.
Hosmor, L., e. Oct. 25, 1864.
Knowles, George, e. Oct. 25, 1864.
Lane, Wm., e, Oct. 25, 1864.
Marshall, Jas., e. Oct. 24, 1864.
Nicholas, Jos. E., e. Oct. 25, 1864.
Seetz, George, e. Oct. 25, 1864.
Sphon, Henry, e. Nov. 8, 1864.
Sage, James, e. Oct. 25, 1864.
Smith, Simon, e. Oct. 25, 1864.
Stark, John, e. Oct. 25. 1864.
Speers, James W., e. Nov. 10. 1864.
Sympkins, James D., e. Nov. 10, 1864.
Triggs, John F., e. Oct. 25, 1864.
Unwin, John, e. Oct. 25, 1864.
Welsh. Lawrence, e. Oct. 25, 1864.
Winney. John J., e. Oct. 25, 1864.
Sixteenth Infantry.
Pickett, J. C, e. Dec. 10, 1861, died Jan.
28, 1862.
Eighteenth Infantry.
Gregg, John, e. July 7, 1862, died Nov.
5, 1862.
Twenty-third Infantry.^
Powers, M. S., e. Aug. 11, 1862, m. o. July
26, 1865.
Thirty-fifth Infantry.
Assistant Surgeon Charles Fitch, comd.
Oct. 26, 1868, com. canceled Jan. 14, '64.
Thirty-elxth Infantry.
Custer, John W„ e. Aug. 11, 1862, m. o.
Aug. 24, 1865.
Custer. W. N., e. Aug. 11, 1862, m. o. Aug.
24,1865.
Digitized by VjOOQLC
452
HISTORY OP VAN BUREN COUNTT.
Custer, B. O^ e. Aug. 11, 1862, kid. at
Mark's Mills.
Barker, Peter N., e. Aug. 9, 1862, m. o.
Aug. 24, 1865.
Henderson, James, e. Aug. 0, 1862, m. o.
Aug. 2^1^1865.
Pearson, P. A., e. Feb. 24, 1864, m. o. Aug.
24,1865.
Forty-fourth Infantry.
Baldwin, W. W., e. May 4, 1864, m. o.
Sept. 15, 1864.
Calhoun, Ross. e. May 18, 1864, m. o. Sept.
15, 1864.
Forty-olghth Infantry.
Lieut. Col. Oliver H. P. Scott, comd. June
7, 1864, m. O.Oct. 21, 1864.
First Cavalry.
Adjt. Henry L., Morrill, e. as orp., prmtd.
sergt. maj., prmtd. adit. Dec. 1, 1864,
brevet capt. and maj. U. " " '
Feb. 15, 1866.
Chaplain James W. Latham, comd. Aug.
20, 1862, resd. Feb. 5, 1868.
Sergt. H. L., Morrell, vet. Jan. 1, 1864, m.
o. Feb. 15, 1866.
Farrier F. Torrenee, m. o. Feb. 15,1866.
Farrier Aaron A. Thatcher, m. o. Feb.
15, 1866.
Carter, Alex., e. July 18, 1861, m. o. Feb.
15, 1866.
Carter, William, e. July 18, 1861, m. o. Feb.
15 1866
Lyon, John C, e. Feb. 28, 1864, m. o. Feb.
15, 1866.
Lyons, C H., vet. Jan. 1, 1864, m. o. Feb.
1866.
Morrell, Charles L., e. March 21, 1864, died
Sept. 18, 1864.
Williams, O. G., e. Aug. 20, 1862, kid. Sept.
27. 1864, murdered by guerrillas.
McBronn, A. J., e. March 14, 1864, died
Sept. 20, 1864.
Cooke, Tracy W., e. March 15, 1864, m. o.
Feb. 15, 1866.
Fourth Cavalry.
Asst. Surg. Charles Fitch, comd. July 6,
1868, not mustered, m. o. Aug. 10, 1865.
First Lieut. John S. Keck, e. as private
Oct. 6, 1861, prmtd. Ist lieut. June 25,
1863, m. o. Aug. 10, 1865.
Second Lieut. Peter R. Keck, e. as private
Oct. 6, 1861, prmtd 2d lieut. Dec. 5,
1864, m. o. Aug. 10, 1865.
Kelly, John L., vet. Dec. 11, 1868, m. o.
Aug. 10, 1865.
Fifth Veteran Cavalry.
Jolley, Alexander, e. June 24, 1861, vet.
Feb. 8, 1864, m. o. Aug. 11, 1865.
Pratt, Daniel, e. Dec. 30, 1863, m. o. Aug.
11. 1865.
Widger, J. D., e. June 24, 1861, vet. Jan.
5, 1864, m. o. Aug. 11, 1865.
Whitten, J. A., e. Aug. 30, 1862, captd.
Nov. 25, 1868, m. o. Aug. 11> 1865.
Sergt. Thomas L. Bennett, e. Sept. 1,1861,
m. o. Aug. 11, 1865.
Corp. John L. Eager, kid. in battle July
8(^1864.
Ninth Ciivalry.
Trumpeter John. C. Harriman, e. Oct 8.
1863, m. o. March 15, 1866.
flagler, T. L., e. Oct 26, 1863, disd. Aiig.
19. 1864, disab.
Walters, Matthew, e. Sept. 80, 1863, died
at St Louis.
Buckner, Calvin, e. Dec. », 1864.
First Battery Light Artillery.
Sergt. Levi. Amoss, m. o. July 5, 1865.
Second Battery Light Artillery.
Baxter, Samuel B. e. Jan. 2, 1864^ m. o*
Aug. 7, 1865.
Brown, James D., e Dec. 22. 1863, m. o.
Aug. 7, 1865.
Brown, C. H., e. Dec. 29, 1863, m. o. Aug-
7 1865
Crown, William H., e. Dec. 29, 1863, m.o.
Aug. 7, 1865.
Lewis, Abner, e. Nov. 28, 1863, died Feb.
12, 1863, at Memphis.
Rhoades, John H., e. Jan. 5, 1864, m. o,
Aug. 7, 1865.
Rateciiff, Jaco, W., e. Feb. 6, 1864, m. o.
Aug. 7, 1865.
Fourth Battery Light Artillery.
First Lieut Jr. Francis W. McClellan,
comd. Nov, 23, 1868, m. o. July 14. 1865.
Boon, George D.,e. Oct. 3, 1863, m. o. July
14. 1865.
Christie, I. D., e. Aug. 7, 1863, m. o. July
14. 1865.
Harlan, Elihu, e. Aug. 25, 1863, m. o. July
14, 1865.
Harlan, H. A., a Nov. 2, 1863, m. o. July
14, 1865.
Robison, William, e. Oct 9, 1863, m. o. July
14, 1865.
Smith, J. H., e. Aug. 17, 1863, m. o. July
14,1865.
Second Cavalry Mieaourl J&tmtm
Militia.
Gilbert, Joseph S., e. March 10, 1862.
Ambrose, Martin, e. March 5, 1862, disd.
Sept 19, 1862.
Sixteenth Illinois Infantry.
Arrington, Wm., e May 24, 1861.
Thirty-third Illinois Infantry.
(Vetorant.)
Lee, Jefferson, e. Jan. 1, 1864.
Digitized by VjOOQIC
HISTORY OF VAN BUREN COUNTY. 468
Fiftieth iiiinois infantry. U. 8. infantry (Ooiored).
Lawson, James F., e. Oct. 8, 1861. I Foutz, S. J., e. Oct. 81, 1864.
., , _^ ^ ^ ^ Jackson, Wyatt,e. Nov. 2, 1864.
Sixly-flrat iiiinois infantry. j Washington, James, enlisted November 2.
TliillipB, Theo., e. March 28, 1862, vet. 1864.
Apnl 80, 1864. '
IN MBMORIAM.
An elaborate monument was erected in 1868, dedicated July 4, in memory
of thoBe soldiers whose enlistment carried them down to death and crowned
their names with a wreath of honor, although the men lived not to herald the
announcement of the nation*s victory. Among the active citizens who man-
aged the enterprise, an association was formed,' with J. G. McCrary, President ;
Joshua J. Sloan, Treasurer, and John A. Miller, Secretary. The dedicatorial
address was delivered by Rev. Isaac P. Teter.
The monumental list of names follows :
Second Iowa Infantry. — Company A, Georee Reisner ; Company E, Oliver
H. Miller, Cyrus Bartow, Samuel Hoflfman, Stillman J. Town, tfames F. John-
son, William Browner, John Dunlap, William Baust, William C. Harper, Oeoree
W. Nixon, Franklin G. Metz, John P. Dahlbere, Henry Houk, Benjamin F.
Wilson, John Morrow, Cornelius Caruthers, John Van Dom, Levi Mitchell,
George W. Morse, John W. Robinson, Wilson Crooks, A. ^. Cummings, Edwin
M. Potter, Henry C. Potter, Andrew J. Shriver, George B. Shriver, William
Van Fleet, Wesley W. Vinson, Augustus Mitchell ; Company G, Solomon W.
Bunner, Joel Lichty.
Mfth Infantry. — Company H, John Jolley, Alvin Ebert, Milton Shaw,
Reason B. Hughes, Hamilton Rogers, Robert Cunningham, Samuel Lindsey,
John Stookey, Milton Easter, R. J. H. Huffman, Thomas P. Nutt, Charles Stout,
G. W. Armentrout, George W. Overturff, Henry L. Drake, Hannibal Johnson,
Francis M. Miller, William R. Penn, William H. Pinkerton, John W. Shep-
herd, Josiah A. Whitten.
Sixth Infantry. — Company D, George Black ; Company K, George H.
Martin.
Seventh Infantry. — Company E, Socrates Pyle, Henry McDougal ; Com-
pany I, Joseph R. Moore.
Eleventh Infantry. — Company G, William Black.
Twelfth Infantry. — Company G, Strawder Ballard ; Company K, Benja-
min Cackley, James Cackley, James W. Miller.
Thirteenth Infantry. — Company A, Henry Spohn ; Company F, William T.
Stanley, James D. Simpkins, John C. Harbin, Murray Jackson, James Spear.
FourteerUh Infantry. — Company D, Joseph H. Newbold, Abram Bucher,
William H. Creason, Napoleon B. Henry, Edward Endersby ; Company F,
Samu^ J. Lane, William A. Sunitz, David fl. Grim, Henry J. Chapman, James
Hill, William S. Percival, Robert Hays.
Fifteenth Infantry. — Company E, John W. Smith, George Peyton, Benja-
min Heam, John Beers, John Miller, Albert Bean, Merritt Hopkins, Milton
Hopkins, Milan Hopkins, Eldridge Black, Perry Phillips ; Company H, E. S.
Julien ; Co. K, John Airhart, Fred A. Buckmaster.
Seventeenth Infantry. — Company A, C. C. Biser, William A. Carr ; Com-
pany I, John Barton, Edward Fasnacht.
Nineteenth Infantry. — Company D, Adam Stump ; Company H, Jefferson
Green, Theodore Gideon, Charles W. Fisher, William Kennion, Thomas E.
Beam, Samuel Bonney, Silas Kent, Alfred Morris, H. L. Prosser, Moses Groom,
Digitized by VjOOQIC
464 HISTORY OF VAN BUREN COUNTY.
William Morrison, Francis M. Cook, William Peter, Levi W. Taylor, Levi
Keller, Samuel M. Byres, Joshua T. Phillips, Eli Vale, William R. Lock, John
O. McIntQsh, Robert B. Eaton, William S. Eaton, Thomas B. Lining, John
Strong, Jr., Volney R. Bunner ; Company I, William Short, Amos Sherrod,
Furguson Peal, George Lemon, John W. Swartz, William A. Strong, Stephen
Price, James Patterson, Jonathan J. Lee, William N. Holliday, John Douglas,
Lawrence McGinnis, Harrison O'Harra, Henry V. Gaddis, Augustus B. Reh-
koph, Thomas Johnston, William McKinney, Rufus Collins, Joseph A. Barker.
TwerUy-Fifth Infantry. — Company C, Hadley Fry, Robert Shields, Harry
Cade, Stephen D. Alton, William Simons, Andrew J. Standley, George W.
Standley, Henry Boley.
Thirtieth Infantry. — Company B, Henry H. Haney, John Henderson ;
Company D, Henry Binder, John R. Rogers, Albert Herbert, Isaac W. Det-
wiler, Thomas Smith, Andrew Beadle, Thomas B. Coflman, Jesse Walker, Jr.,
Francis M. Weekly, W. H. Randall, John M. Bennett, Benjamin Anderson,
William M. Robertson, Bowen P. Hurt, John Work, J. W. Williamson, Howard
C Gaddis, George Saddler, Jacob Saddler, John B. Harness, Zachariah Prewett,
Thomas Martin, James Birch, John W. Clark, Robert C. Hix, William H. Rob-
ison, Andrew McCrary ; Company F, Lester Bradford ; Company G, William
H. Howard ; Company H, Samuel S. Culbertson ; Co. K, Ezra Bartholomew,
Fernando C. Robertson.
Thirty-Fifth Infantry.— Com fs^nj D, Ewalt Pool.
Thirty-Seventh Infantry. — Company C, E. A. M. Swasey, Samuel Myers,
James Davis.
F(yrty-Fifth Infantry. — Company K, McKinsey Garrison.
Fifteenth U. S. Infantry. — Company H, James B. F. Adams.
Engineer Corps. — Thomas D. Simpkins.
Af. M. Brigade. — Lee Roy Mayne, G. P. Holder.
Second Iowa Battery. — Abner Lewis.
UniUd States iVaiy.— Charles S. Wells.
First Cavalry. — Company A, Charles L. Morrill.
Third Cavalry. — Company A, William W. Hagler, John Toler ; Con^any
B, Miles King, Jacob Grasser, John Carr, GeoretfKhoads, Noah Wright, Hiram
W. Fox, William Alexander, Wesley Love, John Brown, Frederick Lundy ;
Company C, Pennel Garrett ; Company D, James F. Mercer, Henry S. Ben-,
ning ; Company G, David Thompson, William C. Tedlock, James M. Enox,
L. L. H. Whittlesey, Joseph Walters, Allen Gnash, E. Blanchard, George H.
Cowan, Emanuel Mayne, Albert Baker, Charles Baker, Franklin Miller, David
Miller, William Matkin, Robert M. Parker, Douglas C. Owings, James H.
Watts, S. Mi Bums, Thomas Cochran, Andrew Van Brink, Benjamin McSureW,
Hiram Dehart, F. J. Roberts, Thomas Coleman, William Aylor; Company H,
Nathan Norton, Widdons M. Clark, John H. Masterson, Marion Bechtel,
Samuel Calhoun, Franklin Whitaker, Thomas Lemon, John A. McGuire, Perry
A. Newell, Jacob C. Boon, William Deal, William Chapman, Robert Crons-
beck, James Cronsbeck ; Company I, James M. Monroe, John Hines.
Seventh Cavalry. — Company A, David Huddleston, William Gallahar, Cal-
vin Gallahar ; Company C, John Coon, Thomas C. Torrence, Henry F. Tan-
nahill, William N. Brown.
ikghth Cavalry. — Company C, George Junks, Joseph Nixon, David I. Mc-
Clurg, William A. Sherrod, David M. Smith, Albert Raney ; Company E,
Francis A. Chapman, Lemuel W. Bennett, George Batchelor.
Ninth Cavalry. — Company I, Matthew Walters.
Digitized by VjOOQIC
HISTORY OF VAN BUREN COUNTY.
456
Eighteenth Misiouri Infantry. — Company C, David M. Aylor.
Twenty-First Missouri Infantry, — Company H, Israel Elican, Gustavo
Burner ; Company I, Revel A. Park, George W. Drew.
Second Missouri Cavalry. — Company C, John Wire.
Seventh Missouri Cavalry. — Company A, Joseph Harridge, James R.
Seiver, Lafayette Bunner, George N. Holder, Lathon 0. Pollock, George
Brown, Thomas P. Frankin, Paul Hancock, Henry C. Brown, Amos S. Bar-
nett, Samuel Christian, Robert Fisher, Samuel O'Harra ; Company E, Ernst
Hagelstange.
Tenth Missouri Infantry. — Company D, Stephen Holcomb.
Eleventh Illinois Infantry. — Company E, James J. Edwards.
One Hundred and Seventeenth Illinois Infantry. — Company D, Benjamin
Brown.
One Hundred and Forty-Eighth Illinois Infantry. — Company G, John A.
Smith.
Third IlUrwis Cavalry. — Company B, Simeon D. Yates.
Twelfth Kansas Infantry. — Company C, John M. Byers.
Second Colored Cavalry. -^Commnj K, James W. Shepherd.
First Pennsylvania Cavalry. — Samuel Holsworth.
Not Assigned. — Nathan Abbott.
The monument grounds are beautifully arranged.
The monument and grounds are unaer charge of Edwin Gtnldard, such
charge having been bestowed by action of the Board of Supervisors of Van
Buren County.
POPULATION AND GENERAL STATISTICS.
The Census of 1875, the last one taken in the St^ite, shows Van Buren
County to have been populated, at that time, as follows :
TOWNS AMD TOWNSHIPS,
Bentonsport, town of.
BirminghMD, town of.
Bonftp«rt«
O^ntnl, town of
Cedar
Oheqnest
Des Moines
Fftrmington
Farmington, town of.
Harrisburg..
Henry
Jaekson, except Cantril
Keoeauqua .'
Liek Creek..
Unkm, except Birmingham
Tan Buren, except Keosauqua.
Temon
VUlage
Washington, except Bentonsport.
Total
Colored
Total of County
MalM.
Total.
169
'296
668
94
490
516
561
425
845
482
810
845
841
508
459
726
482
784
242
8628
60
175
291
671
98
427
480
502
418
881
478
829
787
874
450
428
702
890
705
214
8280
62
884
587
1889
187
917
996
1068
888
676
955
689
1682
715
958
882
1428
822
1489
456
16858
122
16980
Digitized by
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466 HISTORY OF VAN BUREN COUNTY.
The first assessment of property in the county was made in 1839. The
total value was estimated at (152,336, and the total tax levied was $837.83^.
The population under the several census enumerations was as follows : 1838,
3,174; 1840,6,166; 1844,9,019; 1846, 9,870 ; 1847, 10,208 ; 1849, 11,-
577 ; 1850, 12,269 ; 1851, 13,000 ; 1854, 13,843 ; /1856, 15,921 ; 1860, 17,-
081; in 1863, the war made a perceptible decrease, the population being
reduced to 15,862; 1870, 17,672 ; 1875, 16,980.
The church statistics for 1876 showed 8 pastoral charges; 1,296 members;
24 church-buildings ; 5 Sunday schools and 1,400 scholars ; and ^1,800 worth
of property.
EDUCATIONAL.
While the question of how to ^et a living was the foremost one in the minds
of the pioneers, the less direct ^ough none the less important one of how to
educate their children was not overlooked. Almost cotemporaneous with their
own dwellings, they began the building of such schoolhouses as they could,
crude and primitive in the extreme, for such only would their appliances adroit,
and put together without regard to externals.
These same pioneer schoolhouses will, in the future, be a theme for the
artist — quite equal in every way to those supplied by the peasantry in the old
world — with their quaint, simple fashions and unperverted lives. The eye of
the connoisseur delights in those realistic representations of still life — the white-
haired old grandfather, whose toil of years has Only brought him his cottage
and bit of land; the still hard-working *'gude wife,*' with bent body and
withered but cheerful old lace ; the next generation just in the prime of labor,
rough, uncouth, and content to have for recreation a pipe and a mug of ale; and
the children, with rosy cheeks and stout limbs, dressed in veritable costumes
their grandmothers wore before them. And no wonder such a picture pleases
and charms the jaded senses of the worn-out worldling. But even that is not
more fresh and unaccustomed than this log shanty, with its one small room, a
window of but few panes of glass, and possibly a dirt floor ; and with rough-
hewn benches ranged round the walls for seats, over which the pupil made a
fine gymnastic flourish whenever he felt it necessary to reach his teacher, with
his forefinger firmly planted on the knotty word or sum that puzzled him.
These are the picturesque features for the artist's pencil. And what ^^ learn-
ing " there was, must have been a " dangerous thing," for it was certainly
'^ little ; ** the grading was far from exact ; the system was a kind of hit-or-miss
affair; but, nevertheless, it was ''school," and from the first there was a deeply-
rooted prejudice among the Iowa settlers in favor of schools. School for wedt-
days and a meeting-house for Sunday ! this same little pen of a house served
two purposes. And could anything except the groves themselves — " God's
first temples " — be nearer to nature as a tabernacle than was this, where some
chance circuit preacher would have for his congregation every man, woman and
child in the entire settlement? None of those hypercritical listeners there, yoa
may be sure, who gauge the preacher by his " intellectuality," his " magnetism"
or his "culture." It was the Word preached — welcome, pure and life-giving
always — and not the preacher, which these listeners crowded to hear. If he
but had the good Methodist zeal, then he was sure of devout hearers. He did
not need to have " traveled," except upon his lone circuit over the prairie ; nor
did Tie feel it necessary to use his pulpit in the interests of politics — if he knew
his Bible he was qualified ; nor did his flock feel called upon to put their hands
Digitized by VjOOQIC
HISTORY OF VAN BUREN COUNTY. 467
into their pockets and contribute toward sending their Pastor on a summer
vacation to the sea-side or to Europe. All these improvements have come in
frith better churches and more advanced ways of thinking. That was the old
way, and a direct contrast to the new. -
Now, nothing which the architect's taste can devise is too good for school-
honae or for church. Look at the plenitude of tidy, commodious buildings in
every county, and not designed for double service, either, but dedicated solely
to the use of the schoolma'am, who hereabouts is thoroughly skilled in her pro-
fession. She has had, aside from such education as her means have enabled
her to obtain, good, practical drill in the normal institutes. She not only
^nows her text-books, but she knows how to teach. And then, the ingeniously-
devised school-books, in which every point of information is adjusted to such a
nicety that they are rather works of art and books of entertainment than but
the doll means to a desired end.
The little flocks of children who run along the country roads in their bare
feet and sun-bonnets, and chip hats, do not have to squirm and twist their
uneasy \e& all day over a page in the English reader which they cannot under-
stand, ^ey begin their morning's work with a chorus, which put& them all
in good humor to start with. Then they come to timed classes, at the tinkle of
the bell ; they are entertained and diverted as well as instructed at every step.
Before there is any possibility of restlessness, they go through a five-minutes
round of calisthenics, which puts a wholesome quietus upon their muscles and
their mischief. Wise play is so mixed with teaching that they never really dis-
cover which is which until they find themselves ready to teach school them-
selves in turn.
This is the ease of the present compared with the labor of the past. And
in this way is the generality of education secured. The ways are smoothed,
the tediousness beguiled and the deprivation supplanted by an affluence of aids.
In 1854, Gov. Grimes, in his inaugural message, said : '' The safety and
perpetuity of our Republican institutions depend upon the difiPiision of intelli-
gence among the masses of the people. The statistics of the penitentiaries and
alms-houses throughout the country show that education is the best preventive
of crime. They show, also, that the prevention of these evils is much less
expensive than the punishment of the one and the relief of the other."
So, with all our new-fangled methods, our ornamental, well-ventilated and
well-fumished schoolhonses, our accomplished instructors with modern notions,
we are not extravagant. We are simply taking from the expenses of crime and
pauperism and putting it into enduring and beautiful shape. We are helping
to sustain the Government by rearing up in every town and in every country
neiffhborhood a generation of enlightened and intelligent people, cosmopolitan
in die sense of schools, if not in that wider cosmopolitanism which comes alone
from actual contact with the great world.
The following statement is compiled from the last annual report of the
County Superintendent of Schools, J. W. Rowley :
Number of district townships 8
Number of subdistricts 66
Number of independent districts 45
Total number of school districts 118
Number of ungraded schools.. .« 104
Number of graded schools 7
ATerage number of months taught 6.90
Number of male teachers 83
Number of female teachers 161
Digitized by
Google
458 HISTORY OF VAN BUREN COUNTY.
Ayerage compensation per month to male teachers $86.73
ATerage compensation per month, to female teachers 29.11
Number of male pupils between 5 and 21 years of age 8,431
Number of female pupils between 5 and 21 years of age 8,173
Number of pupils enrolled 5,877
Total average attendance 8,113
Average cost of tuition for each pupil, per month $1.42
Number of frame schoolhouses 89
Number of brick schoolhouses 17
Number of stone schoolhouses i 8
Number of log schoolhouses I
Total value of school-buildings $116,080
Total value of apparatus 178
SOHeOLHOUSE FUND.
Total receipts during the year $14,818 08
Paid for schoolhouses and school sites 4,770 92
Paid on bonds and interest' 4,944 62
Paid for libraries and apparatus 1,139 57
Amount on hand 8,457 97
CONTINGENT PUND.
Total receipts during the year „ $ 8,787 98
Paid for repairing schoolhouses , 985 58
Paid for fuel 1,688 08
Paid secretaries 864 97
Paid treasurers ^ 218 25
Paid for records and apparatus 68 65
Paid for various purposes 2,008 51
Amount on hand 8,563 99
TKACHIBS' FUND.
Total receipts $48,651 97
Paid teachers 25,226 74
Amount on hand 18,425 28
THE MILLER-THOMPSON CONTESTED ELECTION.
The most interesting contest over an election which has ever transpired in
this region is that of the Miller-Thompson case. The peculiar character of the
circumstances attending the aflair, which can never be reproduced in this State,
and the closeness of the vote, as well as the bitterness of party feeling at the
time, conspire to render this case an exceedingly entertaining topic for intro-
duction here. It is not the purpose of this sketch to indulge in strictures upon
the methods employed by either faction, but it is designed to give as impartial
a statement of the matter as careful research enables us to do. The heat of the
contest has long since passed away, and we have no doubt that the survivors of
the fight will r^ this chapter with a feeling of enjoyment, as it revives recol-
lections of the days gone by. The authorities from which these &cts are gath-
ered are perfectly reliable, being the official documents of Monroe County
(examined expressly for .the purpose), numerous files of the leading journals of
the time, among which are the l)e8 Moines Courier and the Burlington Hawk-
Eye^ and personal interviews with some of the most prominent men connected
with the afiiEtir.
The contest arose over the alleged election of William Thompson to a seat in
the Thirty-first Congress. In 1848, the candidates for the honor of represent-
ing the southern half, or First District, of Iowa, were William Thompson (Dem-
ocrat), of Mt. Pleasant, and Daniel F. Miller (Whig), of Fort MacUson. ' The
election was held on August 7.
Digitized by VjOOQIC
HISTORY OP VAN BUREN COUNTY. 469
In 1848, the Democratic managers were greatly agitated over the apparent
growth of Whig sentiments in this district. The eastern counties were fast
becoming uncertain territory, and some expedient was essential to the life and
prosperity of the party. The leading spirits among the Democrats were men
of fertile resources, thoroughly posted in the ways of politics, and full of
shrewd energy. A plan presented itself to their inventive minds, nor were
they slow to avail themselves of it. The machinery of the party was set to
work at once to secure the needed strength so opportunely, but accidentally,
proffered them, as they sincerely believed.
It is necessary to revert to historic events of an earlier date, and in other
localities, to explain the proceedings recorded hereafter. The Mormons, who
figure conspicuously in this chapter, had suffered overthrow in their stronghold
at Nauvoo, 111., in 1846. The misdeeds of the leader, Joseph Smith, had
resulted in the violent death of that head of the sect, and the ascension to
power of Brigham Young. The latter saint and ruler had decreed that the
society should separate into numerous bands and travel westward in search of
freedom. The exodus of the Latter-day Saints'began in the year 1846. Iowa
was the scene of unwonted activity occasioned by the flight of the refugees
from the law. Some bands moved through the State on the line of the forty-
second parallel: some went through the southern tier of counties, and some
passed over the territory now composing the range in which Monroe is located.
The ultimate destination of all these parties was Eanesville, or what is now
known as Council Bluffs. Many of the Mormons did not reach the river in
1846, nor even in 1847. Hundreds camped in Marshall County during that
year, and scores of the poor wretches died from actual starvation. Women
were confined in the open country during the long, cold season, and filled
unmarked graves. The suffering of those people in camp, during the winter
of 1846-47, will never be described by human agency, and can be but faintly
realized by the comfortably sheltered readers of this brief sketch.
This chapter, however, has to deal with but one division of the Mormon
party. Those who passed through this tier of counties reached Lucas County
in the winter of 1846-47, and located a few miles southeast of the present
town of Chariton. There rude huts were erected, and the party sojourned for
several months. Subsequently, they passed on to the Missouri River, where
they also tarried for a time. They were the first white '^ settlers" in Lucas
County.
A portion of the band of Mormons did not remain in Lucas that year, but
pushed westward in hopes of gaining the place of rendezvous designated by
Young. Their hopes were blighted, however, for the weather was so inclement
that they could not proceed. They did not reach a point beyond Clarke
County. Three men, John Conyer, James and John Longley, became separated
from the party and lost their way. They concluded to encamp for the winter
(of 1846-47) where they were, and constructed a log hut. In this they lived,
and attached to it the name of ''Lost Camp," a title- by which the locality is
still known and pointed out. In the spring, these men found other Mormons
out a few miles from them, in the same county. The village of Kanesville
became tjje headquarters of the faithful to the creed of the Golden Book, and
was the resting-place of the weary bands. There they recruited their wasted
forces, and prepared to encounter fresh terrors in the slow march across the
plains to Salt Lake City.
It was thus that the year 1848 found a settlement of white men in the ter-
ritory supposed to be attached to Monroe County for election and judipial pur-
Digitized by VjOOQ IC
4t50 HISTORY OP VAN BUREN COUNTY.
poses, and it was by virtue of their forced residence in Iowa that the Mormons
became, under the general statutes, legal voters in the State. Had it not been
for the expulsion of the saints from Nauvoo and the unusually early winter
which followed their exodus ; or, had it not been for the accident of circum-
stances, this somewhat singular history could not now be written.
At the time of the occurrence of the events written above, the county of
Monroe was composed of all the territory from the west line of Wapello County
to the Missouri River. The unorganized counties of Lucas and Clarke were
at that time defined in a manner preliminary to permanent establishment, the
latter, however, being entirely unsettled by white men. The former contained
not more than eight or ten families.
The August election, 1848, was an important one to the people of Southern
Iowa, as has already been observed. The office of Representative in Congress
was to be filled, and the two parties in contest, Democrats and Whigs, were
violent in their determination to win the prize. The Whigs were gaining
strength, and it was all-essentii^ that the county of Monroe, then a Democratic
region, should give a large majority to overcome the Eastern vote.
The investigation of old records impresses one with the fact that politicians
of the old school, in the early days, were intensely shrewd ; possibly no more
so than those of to-day, but the methods of working were very different then,
and it may be that the apparent boldness was the result of a lack of means to
^^ cover up the tracks.'* At all events, it seems to one who carefully looks at
the matter that more summary ways and means were then in vogue than could
be successfully employed now.
The opposing factions in 1848 were exceedingly jealous of one another.
Every possible opportunity was improved to win the day. Because of this vig-
ilance, perhaps, the Argus-eyed Democracy discovered a grand chance to effect
the defeat of their hated rival. The Mormon vote was not only desirable, but
was available ! Happy thought ! Golden possibility !
Who first conceived the plan of wheeling the Mormons into line is not
clearly established. Judge Mason, J. C. Hall, and, possibly, a well-known
jurist, who still lives in Wapello County, might have been the authors of the
shrewd scheme ; but that is immaterial.
In 1847, the region lying upon the Missouri River, in a line supposed to be
due west of Wapello County, was thickly inhabited, for so westerly a point,
thanks to the Mormon colony, and naturally asserted its right of independence.
A party of representative men came east and waited upon influential men at
Iowa City, when the scheme was discussed. Gen. Dodge became much inter-
ested in the matter, foreseeing the possible strength such an organization might
bring them. Nothing was then done, however, to effect the formation of the
county, but the Democrats did not lose sight of the tide of Mormons moving
westward, and halting for breath on the shores of the river. In Nauvoo, the
Mormon vote had been a powerful ally to the Democrats at general elections,
and a continuance of their support was both desirable and reasonable, according
to the logic of Gen. Dodge.
Tho organization of the new county rested with Judge Carleton, of the then
Fourth Judicial District, and there is evidence which warrants the belief that
the Judge counseled with the General in this matter.
As early as 1847, the Whigs claimed to know to a certainty that the Mor-
mons were weakening in their political affinities, and the young party was not
backward in aiding a change of belief in its own favor. Elder Orson Hyde
was in command of the refugees, and his will was practically a. law unto them.
Digitized by CnOOgle
HISTORY OP VAN BUREN COUNTY. 461
Ool. Warren, in a speech delivered in Burlington, in September, 1848, after the
^eetion had been held, made what the Hawh-Eye termed a full explanation of
the affair, and from that address is gathered a portion of the data relative to
this part of our sketch.
The time elapsed by which it was necessary to create a new county at the
river, prior to the election of 1848, but there still remained an opportunity to
form a polling precinct there and thus secure the vote. The only question to
be decided was that of the political complexion of the district If the Demo-
orats could be assured of support, the necessary formalities would be proceeded
with at once.
Now ensued a sharp encounter of wits. tien. Dodge felt that he held the
key to the situation, since through him alone could the desired organization be
<x)mpaa8ed. The Whigs, on the other hand, apprised themselves of the fact
that the Mormons were becoming anxious to show their ill-will toward the Demo-
eratic party, as a means of avenging themselves for their expulsion from
Nauvoo.
Messengers were dispatched from both camps to feel the pulse of the people
in the West, and each faction returned bearing metaphorical bunches of huge
grapes, while their reports were that the land flowed with oil and honey for
their respective candidates. In all this bartering there was evidently an under*
standing between the Whigs and the Mormons ; for a flat refusal on the part
of the Tatter to vote the Democratic ticket would certainly have prevented
their voting at all. The powers that were had to be mollified, and a go-between
was found to represent to the Democrats the solidity of the Pottawattamie
precinct.
When the character of the vote was satisfactorily determined, there still
remained the question of its legality. If the territory lay west of the last
organized county, which was then Monroe, that county had the power to create
a precinct. If it did not, then there was an opportunity to contest the validity
of returns from the river precinct. The Democrats believed that Kanesville, as
the Mormon settlement was called, did lie within the legal territory of Monroe,
but a survey was deemed necessary to settle the point. In accordance with that
idea, a party was engaged to ascertain the geographical whereabouts of the vil-
lage, and a random line was run. Subsequent surveys have shown that the line
was, indeed a random one, but that point did not come up in the contest which
followed. For all practical purposes, the place lay west of Monroe. In the
decision of this question, the Whigs wisely submitted to the Democrats, and
the work of establishing the locality was performed by ^ such means as the
Democrats could, under no circumstances, thereafter dispute. It was highly
important for the Democrats to locate Kanesville in Monroe territory, because
Monroe was then Democratic, and they feared Hhat the Whigs would oppose
the organization of so strong a' precinct, if they had it in their power so to
do.
The Whigs, meanwhile, confident of the victory they were to win, offered
no objections to the formation of the precinct, but seemed quiescent in the matter.
On the 3d of July, 1848, the Monroe County Commissioners issued the follow-
ing order :
Ordered^ by said .Board, that that portion of country called Pottawattamie County, which
lies directly west ef Monroe County, be organized into a township, and that Kanesville be a
precinct for election purposes in said township, and that the election be held at the Council
HoQse in said Tillage; and that Charles Bird, Henry Miller and William Huntington be
uppoiBted Jndges of said election ; and that the boundaries of said township extend east as fkr
as the East Nash-ma-bat-na.
Digitized by VjOOQIC
462 HISTORY OF VAN BUREN COUNTY.
This public announcement of the plan warned the Whigs to work. Gre^
met Greek. It was known that the Board, then consisting of Andrew Eiswick,
William McBride and George R. Holliday, and Dudley C. Barber as Clerk,
was Democratic. The latter officer made out the poll-books and sent them to
the new precinct. Both parties sought the field of battle, and, for a time, the
Mormon element became the favorites of the politicians, since they held the
balance of power. The Mormons at home in Nauvoo were Democratic in sen-
timent, it was argued, and the Democrats were confident of their co-operation
in the time of need.
The election took place on the 7th day of August. To the consternation of
the Democrats and the joy of the Whigs, the vote of the new precinct was cast
almost solidW for Daniel F. Miller, the Whig candidate, and the Democratic
candidate, William Thompson, was left out in the cold. *
No sooner was the result of the election made known, than the Democratic
leaders took counsel, one with another, what to do. J. C. Hall went to Albia
from Mt. Pleasant, and it is asserted that he and others advised the rejection of
the poll-books. The messenger with the returns arrived in Albia, and Uie can-
vass of the votes was held on the 14th day of August. Dudley C. Barber, as
Clerk of the Board, had a deciding voice in the matter. The canvass was made
at his log cabin, one of the three or four buildings then standing on the town
plat.
Among the prominent men at Albia at that time, was Dr. Flint, who sub-
sequently removed to Wapello County, and there became County Judge, and
also State Senator from that county. He was brother-in-law to Barber, the
Clerk who made out the poll-books, and who was authorized to pass upon their
acceptance for canvass. Dr. Flint exercised a strong influence over Barber,
and was an intense partisan. He urged the arbitrary rejection of the books.
The little cabin was filled with excited men, and the canvass could not proceed.
Among the Democrats were Mr. Hall and Israel Kister, of Davis County, who
subsequently was elected State Treasurer on that ticket.
The Whigs were determined to see the Pottawattamie vote counted, since
they had beaten the Democrats at what they considered their own game:
Among those men was Mr. Mark, who was Postmaster at Albia at a later date.
He stood directly behind Barber when the latter decided to reject Uie books.
Mr. Mark inquired :
" Do you really intend to reject the returns made out on poll-books pre-
pared by yourself, and in legal form, Mr. Barber ? '*
" Yes, sir, I do ! ** responded the Clerk.
At this juncture, further examination of the books was to be made, when
the disputed volumes could not be found. Search was instituted and vigorously
prosecuted, but to no effect. The books were gone from the table where they
had lain but a moment before. It was announced that the books had been
stolen, and could not, therefore, be used as returns.
It is reported by an eye-witness of the scene that pistols were drawn and a
general riot seemed imminent ; but no serious outbreak followed the coup d'etat
of the Democrats. Of course it was clear that the Whigs had not stden the
books, since it was for their interest to retain them. It rested, consequmitly,
with the opposing faction to explain the mysterious disappearance of the docu-
ments.
The evening of that day, Barber called to his aid two Justices, and, it is
said, with locked doors, made a ^canvass of the vote of Monroe, throwing oat
the vote from Pottawattamie entirely. This rejection of the western vote
Digitized by VjOOQIC
HISTORY OP VAN BUREN COUNTY. 463
secared the election of Thompson, and he accordingly took his seat in the first
session of the Thirty-first Congress.
If we may be allowed to parody a classic quotation, uneasy sits the Con-
gressman who is not soundly elected ! No sooner was he there than the Whigs
made an effort to oust him. The case was laid before a proper committee, and
voluminous discussion ensued. Finally, the case was remanded to the District
Court at Keokuk. Before a decision could be reached, an election took place
in the State for State oflBcers and member of the Thirty-second Congress. The
campaign was a * hot one. During the stump-speech season, and just prior
to the election in August, a meeting was held at Albia^ at which A. C. Dodge,
Mr. Baker, et al., addressed the Democracy. At this meeting, cheers were
proposed for Mr. Barber, on the grounds that he had defeated the election of
Miller.
It may be here incidentally remarked that the August election resulted in
the seating of Bemhart Henn, of Fairfield, in the Thirty-second Congress from
this district, his term beginning in 1851.
There still remained one session of the Thirty-first Congress, and after the
August election referred to, the Miller-Thompson fight waa renewed. During
the controversy, Mr. Miller, or one of his friends, desired certain papers of
Judge Mason, who was a strong counsel on the Democratic side. By mistake,
the missing poll-books were handed to the Whig, who immediately announced
the fact with an appropriate demonstration.
This startling denouement completely upset the Democratic case, and a new
election was ordered to*' fill vacancy ** in the First District. The election took
place September 24, 1860, and resulted in the choice of Mr. Miller, who filled
the seat in Congress one session.
The question reverts to the cause of the Mormon change of front in 1848.
All manner of rumors were afloat at the time, some of them even charging that
the Democrats had offered but $1,000, while the Whigs had paid $1,200 for the
vote. On the authority of one who admits that he was a party to the barter,
we state as fact that the only gift presented to Elder Hyde by the Whigs was a
printing olBce and some ten reams of printing-paper and a keg of ink. Hyde
wanted an office, and the Whigs were willing to give him one. The materials
for the office were shipped to him by the Whigs prior to the casting of the vote.
Hyde had a grudge against the Democrats, which he desired to pay, and there-
fore refused to listen to overtures of a financial character from them. It was a
case of diamond cut diamond, in which the Whigs proved the hardest.
As to the missing books : it is a matter of evidence that Israel Kister placed
them in Mr. Hall's saddle-bags, during the heated discussion, probablv with no
real intention to steal them at the time, but supposing that they would be dis-
covered before Hajl left. They were not detected, and the lawyer rode away
with them. It was then too late to acknowledge the error, and so the case stood
until accident brought them to light.
The Whig papers made furious onslaught against the Democrats over the
afiiur, and there is but little doubt that it caused a decidedly good political war-
cry during those days. Dr. Flint was openly charged with having burned the
books, and Barber was figuratively drawn and quartered continuously. The
vigorous attacks upon Barber finally undermined his health and he died, a victim
of mistaken sense of duty. Dr. Flint's career in the county of Wapello was
one of considerable importance, until he was guilty of eloping, it is alleged,
with a lady of his acquaintance, although he was an old man at the time. It is
believed that he died, some years since, in Canada.
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464 HISTORY OF VAN BURBN COUNTY.
THE KNEELAND MOVEMENT.
In January, 1834, Abner Eneeland, a former Orthodox minister, who bad
become an unbeliever, established himself at the head of a society in Boston
called the ^' Free Inquirers." The organ of this society was called the InvtM-
tigator. Of course, this departure from the good old ways aroused popular
resentment, and Eneeland was indicted December 20, 1833, on the grounds of
publishing: 1. A scurrilous extract from Voltaire ridiculing the miraculous
generation of Jesus. 2. An article declaring the practice of addressing prayers
to God to be absurd. 3. A letter to the editor of the Tempest^ in which be
says : " Universalists believe in a god (sic) which I do not ; but believe that
their god (sic), with all his moral attributes (aside from nature itself), is nothing
more than a chimera of their own imagination."
On this indictment Kneeland was tried, found guilty and sentenced to three
months' imprisonment. From this he appealed, but he was finally sentenced
for two months A petition for his release was drawn up and signed by
William Ellerv Channing and 167 others ; but this was rejected.
In 1837-38, a scheme was set on foot by the Investiffotor to found a colony
at Salubria, about two miles south of Farmington, in this county. A levy of
910 was made upon each member of the society, to further this scheme, and
among the first commissioners sent out were Abner Kneeland, E. Cutler, S.
Smith, James W. Rice and Mr. Tower. But disagreements arose in the soci-
ety, and the scheme fell through, the colony in the mean time going to rain.
During its existence, however, it had some political influence, but now it bas
few survivors. The town of Salubria was a regular lithographed town, and was
laid out by Mr. Kneeland, in Boston, and was mostly owned there. Its site is
now only the common open country.
Mr. Kneeland died August 27, 1844, aged seventy years, and is buried on
his own soil, with his wife beside him. She was the mother of James W. Rice,
one of the same band who came out originally from Boston. Mr. Kneeland
was a man of more than usual ability, a radical and individual tliinker, and
one whose strong opinions amounted to positive convictions. At that period,
there was less latitude in religious matters than at the present day, and a liber-
alist, by an open avowal of his lack of belief, placed a wider chasm between
himself and the people at large than it would be possible to do in modem times.
But Mr. Kneeland*s sincerity, which is conceded, has gone far toward softening
the severity of judgment which at one time, set in heavily against him, and
what was sterling in his character is respected in his memory.
^THE VAN BUREN COUNTY PRESS.
The first paper, ever published in Van Buren County was at Keosauqua.
It was called the Iowa Democrat and De% Moines River Intelligencer.
In July, 1843, James Shepherd started from Springfield, 111., for the West,
and on his way to Iowa was met by Cyrus Walker, who recommended Keosao-
qua as a good point to start a newspaper. Mr. Shepherd arriving at this place,
a meeting was called, and the prospectus left with William Steele, a merchant,
old citizen and Democrat of Keosauqua, to procure subscribers. It was the
intention of Mr. Shepherd to have the paper advocate the Democratic principles
of the day, and run it under the name of the Democratic Union,
Digitized by VjOOQIC
HISTORY OP VAN BUREN OOUNTr. 405
On his return to Springfield, he sent the material and printing press West
1>y means of an ox-team and wagon, in care of his son, Jesse M. Shepherd, and
jr. L. T. Mitchell, a yoang man who was to receive one-half the profits of the
<M>ncem to compensate for his labor. Mr. Shepherd instructed his son not to
allow any person the control or dictation whatever over the policy of the paper.
*rhi8, Mr. Steele did not like, and threw the prospectus into the fire.
Mitchell being a Whig and young Shepherd a Democrat, thev, upon the
action of Steele, agreed to balance their political opinions and run the paper as
a neutral sheet.
A copy of the paper was sent to Springfield, and this was the first notice
that Mr. Shepherd had received of the neutral policy.
In the spring of 1844, he came out acain, and immediately made arrange-
ments to purchase Mitchell's share, for which he (Shepherd) was to pay $25,
^knd Mitchell to step out at the end of one year. This sum was given, and a
horse in the bargaih.
There was a valedictory written by Mitchell and published in the last num-
ber of the paper of which he wits partner that is worth preserving. It ran as
follows: "We (Shepherd, Jr., & Mitchell) both knew, by observation, that
there was a certain set who would take the lead in acting for the people, and,
when opportunity offered, cut from the loaf the largest slice for themselves.
To these we gave our decided opposition, no matter what their fiiith or belief.
Herein, then, consists our neutndity— determined opposition to demagogues ;
a set that may be found in every community and in every party, and who
deserve the contempt of every honorable and high-minded man.''
Upon Mitchell's withdrawal from the Intelligencer^ he established a Whig
paper, known as the Border Pioneer. It was run but a short time.
At the expiration of one year, party spirit began to manifest itself among
the people, and party lines were drawn at the approaching Presidential canvass
between Henry Clay and James Polk. Besides this, what was denominated
the American system bank tariff and other measures were put into issue before
the people, and they began to choose sides. The Intelligencer was then changed
to a political paper, advocating Democratic principles. James and Jesse M.
Shepherd assumed the editorship. They continued it until 1850, when they
sold to Ezra M. Jones. James Shephera says upon this subject :
" During the next ten years, the office of the Democrat changed owners
several times, the proprietors being the father of S. M. Mills, Seth Millington,
Daniel Morris (who changed it to a Whig paper), J. M. Estes (who changed it
l>ack to the Democratic side) ; then Oliver J. Taylor run it into the De% Moines
New$^ and in 1860, James and Jesse M. Shepherd purchased it and continued
the publication under the name of the Des Moines News^ on the same press and
fixtures. It was Democratic in politics up to 1866, when they sold to G. S.
Bailey, and he moved the press and fixtures to Albia, Monroe Co., Iowa, and
published a paper there. In 1843, when the publication of the Democrat was
<;ommenced, it was the sixth in the Territory of Iowa. I recollect very well
the notice given of its advent by J. Russell, who published a paper at tfloom-
ington (now Muscatine), Iowa. It was as follows : ' Two more candidates for
the Poorhouse.* "
In 1845-46, the Des Moines Valley Whig was published at Keosauqua, by
Howell & Cowles. No files exist from which to gain any correct information
<conceming this paper, and from the fact that it had passed out of mind, until
revived through the research of the writer, it is safe to say that it did not long
survive the shocks of adversity.
Digitized by VnOOQlC
466 HISTORY OF VAN BUREN COUNTY.
Beginning with the year 1850, the newspapers of the county have appeared
as follows :
Keosauqua Jeffersonian April 29, 1850, by Arlando E. Jones, to May -6,
1861.
Western American, by L. D. and H. Morris, July 5, 1851, to July 3, 1852.
Motto, " Distinct, like the billows — one, like the sea." Introductory : " Our
watchword is Union now and forever, one and inseparable.'*
Democratic Union (purchased of H. and L. D. Morris), H. and S. M. Mills.
Issued July 17, 1852 ; run to January 15, 1853. Motto: " A jealous care of
the rights of the people. Absolute acquiescence in the decision of the majority."
Seth Millington, editor, and Rufus Summerlin, publisher, came into posses-
sion of the Union^ January 29, 1853. Their first issue was No. 27 of Vol. I,
Democratic Union, Vol. Ill, No. 1, R. Summerlin, editor and proprietor, was
the next step. This continued until August 5, 1854.
November 25, 1854, James Shepherd became editor of the Union and Sum-
merlin, publisher. This until Vol. Ill, No. 17.
The Democratic Mirror was named by John M. Estes, editor and proprietor,
Jesse M. Shepherd, publisher, December 6, 1855. The paper was purchased
from Millington. The motto was " See Ahead.*'
Oliver 0. Taylor, editor and proprietor of the Des Moines News, published
the next paper in this line under the motto, ^' Constitutional Liberty/' the
change in names being made with No. 18 of Vol. I, on May 7, 1868. His
salutatory was " The harmonious blending of freedom and restraint, upon which
the whole fabric of our Republic rests, and upon which it must continue to
flourish, or perish.'' He continued it until March 31, 1860, when James Shep-
herd became editor and Jesse M. Shepherd publisher. The -first issue was
Saturday, April 7, 1860.
The Shadt/ Side was the title of another paper published at Keosauqua. It
was Republican in politics. Vol. I, No. 1, was published Friday morning.
October 27, 1871, by Joel Mayne, editor and proprietor. With No. 16 of
Vol. I, Mayne withdrew and D. H. Burton became possessed of it. He issued
No. 17 on Friday morning, March 8, 1872, and continued until No. 27, the*
last number being published July 26, 1872.
The Keosauaua Republican was established September 12, 1864, by W. C.
Worden and by him sold to L. D. Morris in 1856, the latter transferring to
John S. Stidger in 1856. Stidger sold to L. D. Morris in 1858, and Morris
sold to Joel Mayne in 1859. In 1868, he sold to George E. Henry, who, on
February 12, 1877, sold one-half interest to W. H. Bleakmore, and, on August
30, 1877, the other half to J. M. Strong. Mr. Strong transferred his interest
December 27, 1877, to Judge Joshua S. Sloan. The firm is now known as
Sloan & Bleakmore.
The Democrat was established at Bonaparte, January 19, 1870, by George
F. Smith and R. I. Holcomb. After three months, Holcomb retired. Smith
continued the publication until December 1, 1876, when he removed the paper
to Keosauqua, where it is still published.
Vernon cradled one of the first papers in the county. It was known as the
Democratic Mirror, John M. Estes, being the editor and proprietor, and J. S.
Shepherd, publisher. The motto of the paper was " Submission to the will of
majorities when constitutionally expressed.*' The first number was published
Friday, December 7, 1855. The paper was continued until No. 42 of Vol. I.
Then it was removed to Keosauqua. On October 17, 1856, No. 43 was issued.
The paper was run until December 18, 1857, Vol. II, No. 50, and took the name
■ - Digitized by VjOOQIC
HISTORY OF Va N BUREN COUNTY. 467
of the Valley Weekly New»^ and the motto, " Devoted to general intelligence,
the best interest of Southern Iowa, the Dep Moines Valley, and of Van Buren
County." John M. Estes continued as editor and proprietor. The first issue
under the new name was January 1, 1858. The publication continued until
April 30, 1858.
The Bonaparte Signal was the first newspaper published at Bonaparte. A.
C. Bailey was editor and proprietor. The date of the beginning was January
31, 1866. Wednesday was the publication day, but it was subsequently changed
to Thursday. The paper was Democratic in politics. The motto was " The
affections of the people the only solid cement of union.*' The last number was
issued Thursday, July 30, 1868, No. 27 of Vol. III.
The DeB Moines Valley Reporter^ Republican in politics, was established
January 18, 1872, by H. C. Ashbough. The paper bade the word good-by
with Vol. I, No. 27, July 18, 1872.
On April 5, 1877, J. W. and John H. Sherman, started the Bonaparte
Journal^ a weekly publication, independent in politics. The firm is known as
Sherman Brothers. They are the youngest editors in the county.
The Birmingham Enterprise was established in October, 1869, by W. J.
Moore. He continued in charge one and one-half years, and sold to J. A. T.
Hull, who continued as proprietor eighteen months, and then transferred the
paper to J. S. Ragsdale. This arrangement continued one year and a half,
when W. R. Parker came into possession of it. He bad charge of it six months,
when he sold one-half of his interest to C. L. Sheward. The firm is now
known as Sheward & Parker. The politics of the paper is Republican.
The history of the press of Farmington, dates back only to the month of
February, 1874, when M. L. Mooers started the Oazette. The paper was pub-
lished under that management until February 18, 1876, Vol. Ill, No. I, Mr.
Mooers then being succeeded by A. Ditson, who published No. 2 of Vol. Ill, on
February 25, 1876. J. M. Elliott came in possession of the Gazette soon after
that, but the. exact date is not known. He published the paper until the sum-
mer of 1878, when it wjs discontinued. .
George W. Baer established the Record^ in 1878, the first number being
published November 8. Its tone is neutral.
The Milton Headlight was established in October, 1876, by Allen Ditson.
He run it three months and sold it to Marsan & Baxter. They continued until
October, 1877, when Marsan became sole owner. He run it until March, 1878,
and then suspended.
The Milton Herald was started in April, 1878, and is now run by McNeill
k Baxter.
KEOSAUQUA.
Some Frenchmen, in an early day, inhabited the bend of the river Des
Moines, in the pocket of which lies the village of Eeosauqua. Around the bend
dwelt a number of monks. The Indians, discovering these places of habitation,
named the section where now lies the city, Eeosauqua, the meaning of which is
in Indian parlance, " The river of monks."
EeosauQua was laid off in April, 1839, by John Games, James Hall, James
and Edwin Manning, John J. Fairman and Robert Taylor, these composing the
" Van Buren Company.**
Two triangular pieces of ground, or, more properly, fractions, first composed
the town ; the south fraction or triangle being known as Van Buren and the
Digitized by VjOOQIC
468 HISTORY OF VAN tURBN COUNTY.
north triangle as Des Moines. Later^ a diamond-shaped piece of land wa»
entered (one-fourth section lying obliquely been the triangles) and toother
with the Van Buren triangle assumed the name Keosauqua. Des Moines
refused to come under the yoke or in any way aflSliate with its neighbor. Both
began contending for the county seat. In time, the settlers assembled (it waa
one Sunday night) and talked over a name under which both the triangles and
diamond might be known. John Games suggested Port Oro (a Spani^ name,
meaning "' rort '* or ^' Land of Gold "). There was some objection to this, a»
being a too high-sounding title for the place. Finally, Judge Irvin asked how
they would like to have their three towns known under the name of Keosauqua.
All agreed to it, and the matter was settled then and there.
Down to the year 1846, the town had been growing steadily, and the country
around, having become thickly settled, afforded the advantages of a large trade.
This will be shown by the accompanying directory of Keosauqua, giving the
places of business, etc., that the place then counted as its own :
Dry Goods^ Groceries^ Hardware^ etc. — Manning & Wasky, B. P. Mar-
low & Co., John Games, A. J. Davis, William Steel.
Druggists, — Henry Whelin, Benjamin Barker.
Phmicians.—F, W. Taylor, C. H. Ober, H. H. Barker, John D. Elbert,
D. Peck, J. Tarbell.
Lawyers. — James B. Howell, H. M. Shelby, George G. Wright, J. C.
Knapp, S. E. Seargent, Richard Humphreys, Augustus G. Hall, S. W. Sum-
mers, J.D. Devine.
Carpenters. — Jamison & Gilchrist, Walker & Hartzell, & Jamison,
Dugon \ Servicer.
Cabinet-Makers. — Ruple & Thornburg, Green B. Morton, Russo King.
Coopers. — E. F. Burton, Anderson.
Tailoring Ustablishments. — J. J. Kinersly, Robert Orr.
Shoimakers. — William Hoker, A. B. Moore.
Jewelry. — E. J. Harper.
.^ Blacksmiths. — Hinkle & McGrary, Richard Benjaman.
Saddle and Harness Makers. — George W. Games, Joseph Barker.
Wagon^Makers. — Benson Hinkle, Philip Hartzell.
Brickmasons. — Jesse Winn, B. F. Pearson.
Bakery.— E. F. Burton.
Tanneries. — G. Baldwin & Go., G. W. Grames, Anson.
Groceries and Coffee-Houses. — Julian & Billops, Griffiths & Livingston,
David & Pease. ^
Mills. — Steam flouring and saw mill, G. W. Games ; ditto, Hugh Brown ;
ditto, D. Maguire.
Printing Offices. — Des Moines Valley Whig, published by Howell & Gowles,
editors and proprietors ; Iowa Democrat, published every Friday by J. & J. M.
Shepherd, editors and proprietors.
Lodges. — Keosauqua Lodge, No. 10, Free and Accepted Masons ; Keosau-
qua Lodge, No. 3, Independent Order of Odd Fellows ; Keosauqua Lodge, No.
1, Iowa Hunters.
Hotels. — Keosauqua Hotel, J. Bruyet ; Des Moines House, Clymer.
Churches. — Methodist, Gongresational, and several other denominations.
Gompared with 1878, the 1846 directory was small. There are now five
dry goods and grocery stores, one groceries and hardware, one furniture, one
drug, three groceries, one band, a military company, one bank, two gunsmiths,
two jewelers, two harness-shops, two boots and shoes, two hotels, two tailors,
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HISTORY OF VAN BUREN COUNTY. 46»
musical iostruments, one market, three millinery, one tinware, one artist,
one marble-diop, opera-house, one baker, one lumber-yard, two livery, three
wagon-makers and blacksmiths, seven attorneys, four physicians, one dentist,
two barbers, two agencies, two printing offices, two mills, six builders, one
oooper, three painters, county buildings, churches and school.
KeoBauqua was incorporated as a city under a general act of the Legislature,
February 17, 1842. This act not being sufficient to cover the ground, a special
aot was passed in 1846. It was as follows :
Am Act to amend an act entitled '* An act to incorporate the city of Keosauqua,^^
Skction 1. Be it enacted by the CouncU and Hotue of Representapves of the Territory of lowa^
That in case it shall become necessary to sell real estate in said city, for the payment of taxes,
the same shall be sold in the manner, and under such regulations, as the Mayor and Aldermen
may hare ordained ; and at the time and place when and where the Mayor and Aldermen may
order and direct ; Provided^ four weeks' notice shall be giren of such side by adyertisement in
any newspaper published in said city, and by posting on the Court House door of said city a
written notice of such sale, for' the space of four weeks.
Sic. 2. Such real estate shall be sold to the bidder who will pay the taxes, costs and expenses
of such sale, for the lowest quantity of such real estate, to be taken off of such part of such real
estate as the Mayor and Aldermen may direct.
Sic. 8. Such real estate may be redeemed from such sale at any time within two years from
the time of such sale, by the owner paying to the purchaser, or Recorder of said city, for t he-
use of such purchaser, the amount for which such real estate shall have been sold, and costs, with
fifty per centum per annum until paid.
Sic. 4. The Mayor and Aldermen shall, at the expiration of two years from such sale, exe-
cute, in their corporate capacity, a deed for any real estate so sold and not redeemed to the pur-
chaeer or his assigns ; which deed shall be sufficient to convey the estate in fee to such pur*
chaser, and shall be prima-faoie eyidence of the regularity of the proceedings ; and no person
shall ever question the title under such deed, either in a court of law or equity until such person
shall have paid to or tendered to the purchaser the amount for which such real estate may
have been sold, Vind fifty per centum per annum and the costs of sale.
Approved January 19, 1846.
The first meeting was held January 7, 1843, with James Hall, Mayor ,
William Kemp, Recorder ; James B. Howell, Deputy Recorder.
Nothing was done, however, until the meeting of May 13, 1844, for which
the people had elected a City Council composed of Elisha Cutler, Jr., Mayor ;
Edward R. Tyler, Recorder; and James J. Kinersly, Henry M. Shelby,
Richard Humpheries, Benson Henkle and Stephen Livingston, Aldermen.
With this meeting the work of the city fathers commenced.
The present city government is cared for by William Moore, Mayor; Solon
Nourse, James Shepherd, William Ford, Edwin Walker, W. H. Monroe and
Samuel Fasnacht, Aldermen.
The first} marriage solemnized at Keosauqua was between Lewis Le Plont
and Nancy Hill, on January 27, 1889, the ceremony having been performed
by William Stanley, Justice of the Peace.
The first claimant or squatter on the site of the present town was John Sil-
vers, who built, in the winter of 1836 and 1836, a small claim-pen of round
logs, on the bank of the river, near where the Keosauqua Hotel now stands.
This pen was perhaps eight or ten feet square. At that time, or soon after, E.
Purdom, Sr., had taken the claim immediately above town.
Mrs. Sigler is believed to be the first white woman who ever made her home
no the site now occupied by Keosauqua.
In the fall of 1886, Silvers was bought out by Mesonhack Sigler for $800,
who came here at that time with his father-in-law and brother-in-law, Eph.
and William D. McBride. The elder McBride and Sigler returned to Indiana
die same ftll.
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470 HISTORY OF VAN BUREN COUNTY.
The first house (after the Silvers* claim-pen) was built in 1837 by the Van
fiuren Company. In this Messrs. Games & Fairman kept the first store.
About this time, Fairman was appointed the first Postmaster of the place — ^the
name of the oflSce being Port Oro.
In the year 1839, the first brick house was erected, by Edward R. Tyle«.
The same year, Elias Elder erected a part of what is now known as Alexander's
brick or barracks.
T. Lane opened the first tailor-shop, in the upper room of the building now
occupied by Burton & Minich. During the next year, he formed a partnership
with J. J. Kinersly.
The first physician was Cyrus H. Ober, followed soon after by the late H.
H. Barker.
The first attornev was Isaac N. Lewis, now of Missouri, who soon afl^r
hid a competitor (as he often facetiously expressed it), in Samuel W. Summers,
now of Ottumwa.
A. Myon and George W. Games located here in 1839, and started the first
tan-yard, at the point below town. It was later on owned by the junior part-
ner of the firm, who successfully run it until within a few years past, when it
was closed.
The first tavern waa kept by Elisha Puett, in a one-story log house, on or
near the ground now occupied by the tin-shop of Mr. Grayum. He is said to
have been a rough specimen of border life, and to have kept a house character-
istic of the man. He also, it is believed, kept the first grocery in the place.
The first blacksmith was David Smith. He put up a frame shop.
The first political convention of the county was held by the l)emocratic
party, in the spring of 1840, in the District Court room.
Of the first alleged ''duel," Judge George G. Wright speaks as follows :
''About this time (1836 or 1837), two of our citizens appealed to the code
of honor for the settlement of their grievances. The parties were Aaron W.
Harlan and one Bushnell. Their seconds were Russo King and M. Sigler —
the place of meeting near where the Odd Fellows' Hall now stands. They had
pistols without the cofiee, and I am happy to state, that their friends reconciled
the belligerents without the shooting. In the settlement, blows ensued, bow-
ever. Harlan came off victor, and thus ended the first, and it is hoped the
last, appeal to the bloody code in our law-abiding and peaceable community."
Wilson Stanley and Sewall Kenney were t£e first Justices in the place.
They were appointed by the Governor.
Alfred Vertrees is believed to have been the first Constable.
The first white child bom in the place was a daughter to William Billups.
William Billups was the first ferryman.
The District Court was first held in this place in April, 1839 — ike Hon.
Charles Mason (afterward Commissioner of Patents) presiding. Mr. Duncan,
before n^med, was Foreman of the grand jury, and the first trial by jury was
that of the United States vs. Blankenship and Helms, for riot.
Judge Wright, in an address speaks of Van Buren Company, and in one
place, of a member, he says :
"John Cames might be called appropriately the talking, bragging member
of the firm. It was his peculiar province to dwell on the advantaffes of the
place and its, high destiny in the future. He originated the flaming handbills,
and magnified the hydraulic privileges connected with our location at the Dee
Moines Rapids. And one person assures me that to these handbills, and
Cames' exaggerated statements as to the amount of water-fall and character of
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KEOSAUqUA
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KHE NEW YORK
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HISTORY OP VAN BUREN COUNTY. 473
the Rapids at this point, may be traced the idea in the minds of the Missourians
that these Rapids were those meant in their State Constitution.
In 1850, a private bank grew out of the saving of a number of citizens,
Among them J. H. Bonney, G. G. Wright, J. J. Kinerslv, Joel Walker and
George W. Grames; each of whom deposited $1 originally, and afterward
twenty-five cents per week, with the condition that it was not to be drawn
excepting for loans and purchases of notes. At the length of four or five years
the amount depobited had grown to $5,000, and was divided jEimong the
depositors.
^ EARLY AND LATE EDUCATORS.
The pioneers of Van Buren County commenced their work by preparing
themselves and their successors for the work before them, by the institution of
a good system of popular education. But, as their means were limited, their
first seminaries were like their dwellings— of logs ; the seats were benches
made by splitting small logs, mostly of basswood, with very little polish, and
that little done with an ax ; their desks were made by boring into the wall with
a large auger, and inserting strong pins, inclining to the front, on which was '
fSEistened a plank, if any was to be had ; if not, what was called a ^^puncheon,"
hewed on one side. The windows, instead of being perpendicular were hori-
zontal. And to these rude cabin-schools do Hon. G. W. McCrary, Hon. H. 0.
Caldwell and many other men of prominence owe their primary education.
As the above mention applies to Van Buren County at large, it may, with
propriety, be localized so as to apply to Keosauqua.
Tom Wilkinson kept the first school at the (now) county seat in 1839. He
taught in a log cabin standing in a lot now owned bv Judge Sloan. Wilkinson
left in 1842, and married a half-breed of the Cherokee nation.
Caroline McBride taught at Keosauqua about 1840.
Necessity brought into vogue the private subscription schools, and these
continued from fifteen to twenty years. Mr. Lane tauglit one of these schools
in 1851, in the Odd Fellows' rooms. The system of private schools was con-
tinued as late as 1866, during which time a small brick schoolhouse was put up.
The independent school system was introduced about the year 1866.
Keosauqua now has one of the finest graded school buildings in the county.
There are five departments. The Principal of the school is Mr. John R. Lan-
des. The teachers are, Miss Mary E. Brown, First Primary ; Second Primary,
Miss Ada Redd; Intermediate, Clara Hartson; Grammar School, Emma
Layton.
The report for November, 1878, showed the names of two hundred and
seventy-nine scholars on the roll.
The schoolhouse was erected in 1866, at a cost of 818,000.
In 1839, a literary lyceum was established, the following being the act of
incorporation :
Ah Act to mcorporaU the Keotauqua Lyceum.
SEcnoM 1. Be it enacted by the Council and House of Repretentatives of Territory of Iowa,
That James Hall, John Fairman, S. W. Summers, S. N. Lewis, Elisha Puell, John Carnes, Rich-
ard Billnps, Simon DrouiUard, Jacob Lane, John Goodwin, John Purdon, Sewell Kinney, C. Ste-
Tenson, John Steyenson, M. Sigler, John Sigler, Cyrus H. Ober. Wilson Stanley, RusseU King,
Thomas Wilkinson, Alfred Vesters and such other persons as shall Arom time to time, become
members of said corporation, shall be and are hereby ordained, constituted and declared to be one
body corporate and politic, in deed, fact and name, by the name and style of *' The Keosauqua
Lyceum ;** and by that name they and their successors shall haye succession, and shall be per-
sons in law capable of suing and being sued, pleading and being impleaded, answering and being
answered, defending and l^ing defended in all suits and complaints, matters and cases whatso-
«yer ; and that they and their successors, by the same name, shall be persons in law capable to
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474 HISTOEY OP VAN BUREN COUNTY.
purchase, take, receiye, hold and eigoy, to them and their suooeMors, any real estate, in fee
simple, or for term of life or liyes, or otherwise, and any goods, chattels, or any per-
sonal estate, for the purpose of- enabling them the better to carry into execution, encourage and
promote such measures as may tend to the advancement of science and literature, and also u>
whateyer else that may tend to the promotion of education, the adyancement of knowledge, mnd
the deyelopment of truth in the sciences : Provided, the clear yearly value of such real and per-
sonal estate shall not exceed the sum of $5,000. And that they and their successors shall have
full power and authority to give, grant, sell, lease, devise and dispose of the said real and per-
sonal estate, oi* any part thereof, at their will and pleasure; and that they and their successors,
shall have power from time to time to make, constitute, ordain and establish such by-laws, or-
dinances and regulations as they shall judge proper, for the election of their officers, for the elec-
tion and admission of new members of said corporation, and the terms and manner of buch
admission, for the better government of their officers and members, or fixing the time and place
of the meetings of said corporation, and for regulating all the affairs of said corporation, : /Ve>-
vided, such by-laws and regulations shall not be repugnant to the Qonstitution or Ihws of the
United SUtee or of this Territory.
Sbc. 2. And for the better carrying on the affairs of said corporation, there shall be a
President, Vice President, Treasurer and Secretary of the corporation, who shall hold their offices
from the time of their appointment, or election, until the first Monday of March then next, or
until others shall have been chosen in their places. And that the said J. N. Lewis is hereby
appointed President, the said Wilson Stanly , Treasurer, and the said John Games, Secretary, until
the first Monday of March next ; and that said officers shall, on the first Monday of March next,
and always thereafter, be chosen by the members of the said corporation in such manner, and
afterward at such time and places, as shall be directed by the by-laws of said corporation to be
made for that purpose ; and that the President or Vice President, and any seven members of said
corporation, shall be sufficient to constitute a legal meeting for the transaction of business.
Sec. 3. This act shall be subject to amendment by any Aiture Legislature.
Approved, January 24, 1839,
There was, during a period encircling the year 1851. an academy at this
place. It ran a successful race with other schools of learning.
In 1842, a lyceum was started under the management of Hon. Greorge G.
Wright, Hon. J. B. Howell, J. J. Kinersly, C. Baldwin, J. H. Bonney, Elisha
Cutler, James Hall, Samuel Summers and others. It was carried on with spirit
for about two years, when it was discontinued.
THE CHURCHES.
Father Purdom's was where the minister first found a home and a place to
preach. The house was a double log cabin, with an entry between, and stoo d
on the bank of the river, about three hundred yards above the town. Preach-
ing was heard but seldom, and as late as 1840 the Methodist minister preached
once a month. Even then, one of these rooms would scarcely be filled. Bryant,
Hawk, Summers, Arrington, Shinn, of the Methodist ; Bell and the two Kan-
kins (the uncle and nephew), of the Presbyterian, and Post, of the Baptist Church,
if not the first, were among those who first taught the way of life to those attend-
ing upon their ministry at this place. They preached at the house in the winter,
and frequently in the grove in the summer. The congregations were not large,
but uniformly attentive, manifesting an appreciation of the moral lessons incul-
cated. Father Purdom was a Kentucky Methodist. His house was always
open, however, to the traveling ministry of all denominations.^ While he had
strong prejudices and great quaintness of character, he was a warm friend and
as warm an enemy. He had a very strong attachment for his church, his home
and his family. In 1848, he departed this life, much respected and lamented —
and sleeps in the grave-yard — a tract which he gave from his premises for the
town burying-ground. He left a large family, all of whom left and settled in
Western Missouri.
The first church organization was by the Methodists, under the leadership
of Leonard B. Statler, a son-in-law of Elijah Purdom, who was appointed Class-
Leader.
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HISTORY OP VAN BUREN COUNTY. 476
Mr. Hadden built the first church at Keosauqua, in 1840. It was used by
all denominations.
The Rev. Daniel Lane has furnished the following descriptive article of the
history of the Congregational Church:
The first Congregational ministers who made a settlement with the people of Van Buren
County were mvself and Rey. Haryej Adams, the latter settling at Farmington, and mjself at
Keosauqua. This occurred in November, 1843. We were IVom Andover Theological Seminary,
graduates of the same year of our arrival . There were seven other Congregational ministers,
young men, who came to the then Territory of Iowa, with us, and two more followed us the next
year, making in all a company of eleven young men, all of whom were from the Seminary at
Andover, Mass., and all belonging to the same theological class — all classmates.
One of the two who joined us in 1844, Rev. Eraistus Ripley took for his ministerial fields
Bentonsport and its surroundings.
At this early period, Van Buren County was considered one of the most important counties
in the Territory, made so by both the number of its inhabitants and by the fact that it was the
borne of Abner Kneeland, and his infidel colony. Mr. Eeeland often lectured in Farmington, Bona-
parte, Bentonsport and Keosauqua in the interest of his peculiar views, and, of course, in oppo-
sition to Christianity. He had many converts — so many that in 1841 or 1842, an attempt
was made to carry the county, politically, by an infidel ticket. The effort, however, was a
failure.
In entering upon my ministerial work in Keosauqua, however, I very soon made up my
mind that the ftindamental truths of the Gospel, and their practical beiring and influence in soci-
ety, were what the people needed more than any discussion upon infidelity. This decision I saw
no reason for reversing during my ten years of ministerial labor in the town.
The Congregational Church was organized in a little more than one year after my arrival in
Keosauqua. The membership consisted only of five persons — two males and three females. Two
of the five lived four miles from town. Only Mrs. Lane, my wife, lived in town, and the other
two at a distance of two miles out. There was no church edifice in the place finished and ded-
icated until December, 1847, at which time the brick church in which the Congregationalists
now worship, was completed and occupied.
The effort in building that church edifice, and the sources whence came the fUnds for the
payment of the bills, were somewhat peculiar. Being satisfied that a church edifice had become
an actual necessity, in order to secure efficiency to my labors as Pastor of the Congregational
Church, I called a meeting of those interested in such an enterprise, and laid before them my
views of the whole matter. All present felt the importance of having a house of worship, but
whence the money to secure it? This was the practical question. In those early days in the
county, there was but little money in anybody's pocket.
Estimates were made of the cost of the house in question. About $140 must be raised at
once, in payment for the brick. To raise this in cash, and to do it immediately, was an obstacle
which seemed to those present insurmountable. The deliberations were closed with the convic-
tion that the erection of a *< meeting-house*' must be deferred until another year.
I went home ftrom that small gathering of six or seven persons with feelings in close
proximity to discouragement. I had already labored some three jears in Keosauqua, and only
about one-half of that time had our Church been favored with any place for regular preaching
each Sabbath. To continue this was contrary to all my ideas of ministerial usefulness. My
salary, at this time, was $400, the greater part paid in cash by the American Missionary Society,
of New York. On reaching home, I unburdened my mind to my wife, and a long conversation
ensued. I finally asked her if she thought we could possibly get along with f&mily expenses if I
should make myself responsible for the payment for the brick which would be requii^ for the
house in contemplation. To take $140 out of $400, when we had no other pecuniary resource
whatever, seemed, at first, like opening the door to financial helplessness. After a long talk, we
came to the conclusion that our Mends in Keosauqua would not aUow us to die of starvation in
any event which might result from the diminished salary. And so, under the quieting thought,
wife says : " Yes, we will try to do without the $140, if, by so doing, we can have a house of
worship of our own." This answer given, my plan was at once determined upon, and I was at
rest. I slept soundly that night, and the next morning, was ready for further action.
There was a brickmason then living in Keosauqua, of the name of Jesse Winn. He had
always promised me that when we were ready to build a church, if we would put one up of
brick and give him the job, he would do a good thing for us. The first thing to be done was to
see him. I found him finishing the cornice of a smiUl brick building. Ascending the ladder to
where he was standing, in the familiar language of Iowa's infancy, I 8aid to him : ** Jesse, if I
will fiimish the brick f^om my own purse for a church edifice, will you lay them up ft;^se of
charge?"
He looked at me to see if I was in earnest. That question settled, he laid his trowel upon
the bricks, btraightened himself up with folded arms, and said: **I don't know, Mr. Lane;
that is a temptation. A moment intervened, and then he added: ** I owe Jesse Elder $50 on
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476 HISTORY OF VAN BUREN COUNTY.
an election bet. I lost the bet and gave him my note for $50. If you will go to him and get hin
to giye me that note on condition that I do the brick work of the church, I will do it.**
I was at the bottom of the ladder. I had descended in quicker time than I went ap ; And
my next man was Jesse Elder, and I said to him : " Jesse, if I will ftirnish the brick for a chareli
of 30x40 feet, and 14-foot post, and Jesse Winn will lay them up on condition that you will sur-
render to him that election-bet note which you hold against him, will you do it? ** He replied
without a moment's reflection: **Tell Jesse Winn if he will do that, there will be no trouble
about his $50 note."
The house of worship, in my enthusiasm for the moment, was built. That was one of t^e
best mornings of my life. He who makes <'the wrath of man praise Him'* was now eztoUed
by an election bet ! This was something that no theologian, howeyer learned . had thought of.
But there was something else to be done. Another meeting was called of the six or serea
who had met the previous night and decided adyersely. Now, at their second deliberation^ the
whole face of the enterprise was so changed that all were encouraged to rise up and build. A
subscription — including the gift of a lot for the site of the church — was raised, of |600; the
Pastor, howeyer, subscribing only $100, instead of $140. Against his paying the latter sum,
there was such an earnest protest from those present that, instead of carrying out his first deci-
sion, he diminished the sum by $40. Afterward, howeyer, before the building was finished, he
paid $20 more.
But the brick, the brick work and the subscription, including the church lot, being secured,
the next thing was proyision for the foundation of the house. There was a stone-quarry near,
and from its owner I gained permission to get all the necessary stone free of charge. Then, mount-
ing my horse, I rode to the two members of my Church living four miles fh>m town. They were hus-
band and wife ; the husband was a stone-mason. Telling him my errand, he immediately agreed to de
the foundation work for his share in the enterprise. But both the stone and the brick must be trans-
ferred to the church lot before either the stone or the brick-masons could enter upon their work.
There were living then two fHendly*families, the one six and the other seven miles frtMB
town. Both had good double teams, with accompanying wagons. To think of those friends was
equivalent to immediate action. Again I was on my horse, bound for their prairie homes. Find-
ing the men and telling my errand, they agreed at once to see the stone and brick in their, proper
place on the church lot ; and all this free of charge.
Triumphant moment that, under responses so favorable ! Again, in imagination, the house
was built. Perhaps it was ministerial which prevented a victorious "hurrah !" with the usual
swinging of the hat. Be this as it may, there was at that moment, as I hope, some gratitude to
the Author of sanctuary worship for this preliminary success.
And now, strange to say, it took us about one y^r and a half to complete the building, not-
withstanding our auspicious beginning. The times were hard, lumber was dear, carpenter work
was costly, ^nds came in slowly, and many were the obstacles causing delay of the work.
Finally it was done, except a few last things, the cost of which would be some $80 — a small
amount ; but how to raise it at first was not very apparent, for it seemed to me the members of
the church had given the last cent they could spare. The building had now cost us about $1,000.
At length, a happy thought, as it afterward proved, oocurred to me, and I went into my
study — which was originally a smoke-house, but now finished for a theolo^cal sanotum—eaoght
up a slip of paper and wrote upon it the name of every man in town outside of our Church mem-
bership who, I thought, would be willing to give me $1 toward the $30 needed. I then sallied
forth to try success in this new direction. It is enough here to say that, with only one exception,
I secured the dollar of every man whose name I had written upon that paper.
All was now ready for the final finish of the building, which was soon done, and the house,
with thankful hearts, was then dedicated, free of debt and with no solicited aid from abroad, to
the God of sanctuaries and sanctuary worship.
The church in which the Methodist denomination now worship wa« built in
1851. Rev. Henry Clay Dean was the Pastor at that time. The membership
is, perhaps, two hundred. Rev. S. S. Murphy is Pastor. The church was
remodeled in 1874.
The colored people have two churches here. The Baptists use the building
on the hill formerly occupied as a schoolhouse, while the Methodists worship in
the little brick church near the river-bank.
THE AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY.
In conformity with an act of the Territorial Legislature of Iowa, approved
December 19, 1§38, a meeting of the citizens of Van Buren County was held
in the town of Keosauqua on Saturday, September 11, 1841, for the purpose
of organizing a county agricultural society.
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HISTORY OP VAN BUREN COUNTY. 477
Obed Stannard was elected President, George Wright, Secretary, and J.
H. Bonne J, Treasurer. There were seven Directors chosen.
The first fair held was in the fall of 1842. Col. Stiles S. Carpenter
delivered the address. It was the first agricultural address in the county, and
probably the first ever delivered in the State of Iowa. A. W. Harlan, James
H. King, William Hadden, W. S. Wright and William Duncan took part in
the first meeting.
There were one or two fairs held, after which the interest seems to have
lagged, until September 27, 1851, when a meeting was held "for the purpose
of forming an agricultural society." Dr. J. B. Elbert was appointed Chair-
man and L. D. Morris, Secretary.
A committee of seven were appointed to draft Articles of Incorporation.
Those seven were Capt. J. E. Miller, A. H. McCrary, I. W. McManaman,
Seth Millington, H. C. Caldwell and L. D. Morris.
A vote was then taken for officers and Directors of the Society. The
result was: Dr. J. D. Elbert, President; Robert Meeks and Capt. J. E.
Miller, Vice Presidents ; H. C. Caldwell, Recording Secretary ; L. D. Morris,
Corresponding Secretary ; Seth Millington, Treasurer ; I. W. McManaman,
A. H. McCrary, James Bums, John M. Whitaker, C. H. Bonner, A. Phillips,
Nathanal Myer, E. Mayne and Seth Fordyce, Directors.
The first fair was held Tuesday, October 28, 1851.
The Society has held successful meetings each fall since.
There was a historical society formed at Keosauqua in 1838, which had a
successful and protracted life. The society is now defunct.
PIONEER ASSOCIATION.
One of the institutions at Keosauqua (belonging equally to all sections of
the county) is the Pioneer Association.
The call for a meeting of the citizens was made in June, 1871. The call
was signed by Edwin Manning, Charles Baldwin, J. J. Kinersly, Thomias
Rankin, James Bell, Bertrand R. Jones, Joel Walker, Russo King, George W.
Games and James Shepherd.
The first meeting was held Saturday, July 22, 1871. On motion of
Charles Baldwin, Dr. N. Shepherd was called to the chair, and Bertrand R.
Jones was appointed Secretary. The Chairman stated the object of the
meeting.
The following resolutions were adopted : ♦
^^ Mesolved^ That this meeting do now adjourn to meet again the 5th
day of August, and that a committee of five be. appointed by the Chair,
whose duty it shall be to give notice of the adjourned meeting in the-
county papers, and to invite all the old settlers of Van Buren County to
attend said adjourned meeting, for the purpose of organizing an Old Settlers'
Association."
The Chair appointed as such committee, Charles Baldwin, James Shepherd,
Dr. R. N. Cresap, Capt. F. Hancock and Maj. J. C. McCrary.
In accordance with the resolution of the previous meeting, the Association
met August 5, 1871, Dr. N. Shepherd in the chair.
It was resolved that all persons who had resided in Van Buren County
thirty years be entitled to become members of the Association.
The first permanent members were :^ Abner H. McCrary, President ; Capt.
Frederick Hancock, Vice President ; B. R. Jones, Secretary, and Jonathan
Thatcher, Treasurer. Digitized by GoOglC
478 HISTORY OF VAN BUREN COUNTY.
SuccessiTe meetings were held, and to-day the Association is in a proeper-
ous condition.
The present oflScers are as follows : Capt. Frederick Hancock, Preeidoit;
Charles Baldwin, Vice President ; Edwin Goddard, Secretary ; Harvey Duf-
field, Treasurer; Jonathan Thatcher, Marshal. Board of Control — Cedir
Township, William C. Morris ; Union Township, George Parker ; Lick Creek
Township, Charles Porter ; Village Towi^hip, Jonathan Nelson ; Chequest
Township, Ira Claflin ; Van Buren Township, Stephen Fellows ; Washington
Township, Mrs. Marguerite Sanford ; Harrisburg Township, Robert Sturdi-
vant ; Farmington Township, Robert Gray ; Bonapaite Township, Isiah Meek ;
Vernon Township, Aaron H. Thatcher ; Henry Township, Sylvester S. Henry;
Des Moines Township, Hyram Baird ; Jackson Township, J^ohn C. Holland.
The members of the Association number about five hundred.
KEOSAUQUA INCIDENTS.
A bridge across the river at Keosauqua was commenced in 1850, bif.neYer
completed. It fell down when partly erected, in 1851. The ferry wastken
used until the new bridge was built. The bridge enterprise cost the citiois
about $6,000, for which they received nothing in return.
The first, and probably only, flatboat from Keosauqua direct to New Orleai^
was built by Samuel Morton, two miles below town, in the spring of 1841. l\
was loaded with pork by Manning & Steeles. A. W. Harlan, was the com-
mander and pilot. It reached the port in May.
William Duncan commenced erecting a mill in the fiftll of 1887, below
town.
Mr. Kinersly tells that, in 1838, there were but three or four women here,
and, in 1842, the number of old bachelors had increased to thirty-five. Edwin
Manning was the first to leave the ranks of single blessedness.
Kinersly was the only man who had a stove in those days. Quail w^e
worth $1 apiece ; and, although an expensive luxury, the rush to get a meal of
quail cooked over Kinersly 's stove was great.
In 1845 and 1846, there were but three families out of the seven hundred
people who were not ill. Bilious and intermittent fevers raged, and there
was a heavy mortalitv list in consequence.
A story is told of Lorenzo Ellis. He went to Des Moines in an early djjr
to purchase a grindstone. He Jbound it to his back and started home. He
wandered around until lost, and did not find his way home for ten days.
In ** Tyler's time,*' the Rev. Delazon Smith was sent to Ecuador as Com-
mercial Agent, at a salary of $8 per day and expenses. He was called home
several times, but could never be induced to come until the Government stopped
his salary. This circumstance earned him the nom de plume of " Lost Smith,"
or " Tyler's Lost Minister."
As an interesting incident, it may be well to mention that Keosauqua has
paid in hard cash $25,000 for railroad schemes, the consummation of which was
never known.
MILLING INTERESTS.
It has been mentioned elsewhere that, in 1837, Dunken, Weatherly k King
built a saw-mill. Prior to 1839, the people had been obliged to go thirty-five
miles to get their milling done. In 1839, the company in question added a
small run of buhrs to their mill and began grinding corn. In 1842 or 1843, a
flour-mill was erected by William Hadden, Beesucker & McQuire,! The mill
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HISTORY OF VAN BUREN COUNTY. 479
finally run into the hands of McGhiire, and he sold it to J. J. Einersly and
Elisha Cutler in February, 1849. Cutler died in July of that year, and Kin-
ersly became sole proprietor. He improved it in 1850, and, in 1852, put up
an additional building at a cost of $5,000, the improvement embracing a saw-
mill, carding machine, turning-lathes, and circular saws. In 1854, the State
commenced making improvements along the rivep. A lock and part of a dam
were built. In February, 1857, the ice-gorge knocked the mills from their
foundations, and they floated down the stream. The State improvement was
abandoned in 1858, and, in I860, Mr. Kinersly began the erection of his pres-
ent mill, which was completed in February, 1862.
Mr. Kinersly has now in process of building a new twelve-foot dam. The
-water-power at this point is highly valuable, there being a fall of twelve feet in
the river, commencing above Pittsburg.
There was a steam saw-mill put up in 1845 by Johnson & Brown. The
former died, and, in 1854, the structure was torn down.
There was a pottery established here in 1846. It was run five or six years
and closed out. Br. Strickland started one in 1871, which, after two or three
years, shared the fete of its former sister-pottery.
McNeal & St.^ John had a plow-factory here in 1865, and they operated it
until 1870, when it was closed.
THE BRIDGE.
Keosauqua has a bridge. It was commenced in February, 1873, and com-
pleted by October 1, 1873, at a cost of ^5,000.
The bridge has 4 spans of 153 feet each, making the total length of the
superstructure 612 feet. There are 3 piers and 2 abutments. The distance
from low-water mark to the floor of the bridge is 32 feet. The arches are 17
feet high. The bridge is built to accommodate 2,000 pounds to the lineal foot,
using one-fourth the entire capacity.
THE LODGES.
Keosauqua Lodge, No. 3, I. 0. 0. F., was organized July 22, 1845. It
was the first Lodge in the county and third in the State. The org&nizers were
W. H. Mauro, N. G. ; David Roroer, V. G. ; Richard Manslv, William Gar-
rett. Petitioners — Frank Bridgeman, J. Johnson, B. P. Marlow, J. J. Kin-
ersly, George Montague.
The Degree of Rebekah was introduced into the Lodge in the summer of 1852.
The present officers of the Lodge are Lee R. Merideth, N. G.; J. C. Mc-
Crary, B. T. ; M. 0. Ketchum, Sec. ; J. H. Duffield, F. S. ; Solon Nourse,
Treas.
There is a benevolent feature of the Lodge worth mentioning. During
thirty years, there has been paid in $10,000, and the contributions for relief
have been generous.
In 1845, a literary organization was started, and the effort supplied the
Lodge with a library. The movers in this direction were George A. Chitten-
den, Judge Wright, J. P. Howell, Judge Knapp, J. H. Bonney, Charles Bald-
win, H. M. Shelby and J. J. Kinersly.
The Lodge now numbers eighty members, and has property valued at
$2,500.
There is a Grange in the county of Van Buren, with thirty branch granges.
There is a membership of 1,511. The society was organized in 1872.
The date of dispensation of the Keosauqua Lodge, No. 10, A., F. & A. M.,
was 1845, and, in 1846, the charter was cranted. ( v^^^i^
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480 HISTORY OF VAN BUREN COUNTY.
The charter oflScers were : James Shepherd, W. M.; Isaac Reed, S. W.;
Frederick Hancock, J. W.; John Carnes, Tiler and Treasurer ; Moses Big-
ford, Noble Barron, James H. Boon, Master Masons.
This Lodge was second in the county until the charter of the Farmington
Lodge, No. 9, was surrendered, which places Keosauqua Lodge first on the
roll.
The Lodge possesses the charred remains of Black Hawk's sword. The
lodge-building was burned November 24, 1871, and the charter was destroyed.
A new charter was granted the following year.
The present oflScers of the Lodge are : Stephen D. Fellows, W. M.; James
Shepherd, S. W.; Robert Dolburg, J. W.; H. G. Miller, Secretary; Joshua
S. Sloan, Treasurer; John Vamer, S. D.; Abe Wilkin, J. D.; J. J. Kinersly,
Tiler.
Kniffhts Templar Lodge, Eli Chanau, No. 28, was chartered in October,
1875. It was constituted February 4, 1876. The grand oflficers were : 0. P.
Waters, G. C; Robert F. Bower, T. G.; John C. Parish, D. G. C. The first
appointed oflScers were : Robert L. Clark, E. C; George 0. Gebhardt, Gen.
The present oflScers are : I. D. Pergrin, C. G.; R. Lea, S. W.; Abe Wilkin,
J. W.; 0. B. Brown, P.; L. L. Therme, Treasurer; C. A. Gleckler, Recorder-
A dispensation was originally issued for Moore Chapter, No. 28, at Farm-
ington, July 18, 1857, but, before the charter was granted, the Order was
moved to Keosauqua, and a charter granted September 8, 1859. The charter
oflScers were: George C. Gebhardt, H. P.; James Shepherd, King ; Henry
King, S. The present oflScers are: Benjamin Johnston, H. P.; James S.
Shepherd, King ; D. C. Beaman, S. The membership of the Lodge is forty-
three
SOUTH KEOSAUQUA
was laid out February 19, 1840, by James Hall, proprietor. Nothing ever
came of the town, except a few dwelling-houses.
PLEASANT HILL.
Just across the bridge from Keosauqua, lies the hamlet of Pleasant Hill,
with perhaps one hundred dwellers. It was laid out March 20, 1850, by John
Purdom. There is a hotel and blacksmith-shop there. Also, the Christian
Church, erected in 1866, and one small schoolhouse. There was once a store
in the town.
FARMINGTON.
Farmington was laid out in 1839 by Henry Bateman. At this village, the
county seat was first located, and two sessions of court were held.
At that time, the ^^ Jail *' for the holding of prisoners was a stump to which
prisoners were chained. Finally, an 8x10 pine Jail was put up. The story
goes that, once upon a time, a man was incarceeated here who worked a pecul-
iar escape. He lifted the Jail on his shoulders by getting under the rafters
and carrying it to a trench or hollow, over which he set the building, and then
crawled out by way of the hollow.
The early settlers here were Jesse Wright, John Petra, T. J. Wright, Col.
Davidson, Rnodes Westcoat, 0. Tower, 0. Stoddard, Daniel Jewett, James
Alfrey, Jonas Denny, Bill Jordan, John Maxwell, Crit. Porquraen, Able
Garland and John Fretwell.
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HISTORY OF VAN BUREN COUNTY. 481
Jaues Burns was here in that early day, and kept the first hotel, and Jame»
F. Death had the first mill here, and in the county as well.
Jacob Alfrey, a son^of James and Maggie Alfrey, was the first child bom
at Farmington.
A Mr. Williams, a stranger in the county, was the first one to die at Farm-
ington. At that time, there were no coffins in this part of the county, and the
death of Mr. Williams compelled the pioneers to make a rude coffin of linn
puncheons.
WiUiam Brattin and Miss Croxwell were the first couple married at Farm-
ington.
Dr. Miles was the first physician.
The first Justice of the Peace was Henry Bateman.
Dr. R. D. Barton was the first Postmaster, and for a time kept the office in
his hat.
CITY GOVERNMENT.
The population of Farmington is about one thousand inhabitants. It is an*
incorporated city, having become so during the General Assembly of the Iowa
Legidature in 1846-47. The first election of officers was held on the second
Saturday of March, 1847. Henry Benson was elected Mayor. The Alder-
men were Festus Dunning, H. D. Swasey, Jehu Stewart and James Oraig.
The present city government consists of A. J. Shaw, Mayor ; John Whit-^
ten, Rc^ster ; William Goodin, Treasurer ; George Miller, Ma*rshal, and J. T.
Oroes, William Bank, Busiel Boyer and James Carr, Aldermen. Henry Ben-
son and A. J. Shaw are Justices of the Peace.
Farmington to-day supports one printing office, four dry goods stores, two
drug stores, three grocery stores, three millinery establishments, three hotels,
one livery stable, three commission and two agricultural houses, two agencies,
three hardware stores, one harness-shop, three wagon-shops, two blacksmith-
shops, one cigar manufskctory, two shoe-shops, two furniture houses, one grist-
mill and one saw-mill. The place supports three lawyers, five physicians and
two Justices of the Peace.
THE MANUFACTURES.
The noticable branch of manufacturing done here is the Farmington Wagon
and Carriage Works, owned by Lewis Burg. Mr. Burg learned his trade and .
then worked seven years, during which time he saved $1,400. With that he^ yV
erected a shop 20x40 and started with three hands. That was in 1865, and in
the following fall, he built a new shop, and the year after that, he added to it
and employed seven hands. His business has grown until his works cover one-
quarter of a block. He employs sixteen to eighteen hands, and makes 250
wagons and 40 buggies each year.
The Burlington & Southwestern Railroad Company have a portion of their
shops here, and employ from ten to twelve hands.
In the spring of 1844, James F. Death put up the first steam flour-mill in
the place. That was soon closed and, in the year of 1852, Week & Stoddard
built a new mill. This was run until 1866, when the ice-gorge carried it down
the stream. Joseph Dickey then built one, and operated it until* 1875, when
S. M. Hurd & Son bought it and built the Diamond Mill. They run it until
April, 1878, when C. A. Gleckler purchased it. The capacity of this mill is
200 bushels in twelve hours.
THE LODGES.
I
The first meeting held for the organization of a Masonic Lodge at this place^
was in the Gault House, then kept by F. Brock. The charter was granted
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482 HISTORY OF VAN BUREN COUNTY.
January 8, 1846, and the Order called Farmington Lodge, No. 9. The chaito-
members were J. W. Creal, Lewis Teuischer, U. G. Dibble, T. Heaight The
officers under the charter were J. W. Baker, W. M.; T. S. Crooks, S. W.; M.
A. Britton, J. W.; Ira Babcock, Treas.; R. D. Barton, Sec.; Silas Salsbory,
S. D.; Alfred Forbes, J. D.; A. Collingswood, Steward, and 0. Tower, Tiler.
The charter was surrendered on Wednesday, June 4, 1851. Since that
time, No. 9 has remained blank.
On the same day as surrendered, the Grand Lodge granted a charter for
Mt. Moriah Lodge, No. 27, to be located at Farmington. The following were
officers under the new charter : Lewis Teuischer, W. M.; R. D. Barton, S.
W.; Samuel Schreve, J. W.; H. H. Slaughter, Treas.; C. F. Schramm, Sec.;
George W. Ringler, S. D.; William R. Osmond, J. D.; Hiram Bolton, Tiler.
Oeorge Schramm and George Johnston were Master Masons. The present
officers are G. W. Good, W. M.; John Whitten, S. W.; James Moreland, J.
W.; J. A. Campbell, Sec.; William Gooden, Treas.; ' George Beason, S. D.;
John Mackleroy, J. D.; J. C. Martin, Tiler.
Wildey Lodge, No. 17, L 0, 0. F. was organized by R. W. G. M. Gar-
ner. The charter was granted August 8, 1858. The charter officers were : A.
W. Sweet, N. G. ; R. H. Wyman, V. G. ; J. C. Elbert, Secretary ; J. H.
BeU, Treasurer. It is at present officered by Linden H. Cooley, N. G. ; J. A.
Campbell, V. G. ; Bunyan Turton, Secretary, and Daniel Texter, Treasurer.
The EncampmenU — On July 8, 1852, Farmineton Encampment, No. 8, I.
O. 0. F. was instituted at this place by J. M. Tuttle, M. H. Cooley, C. H.
King, George Green, James Myers, R. D. Barton, Joseph A. Smith, O. H.
Brewer and John Folz. The charter officers were : J. M. Tuttle, C. P. ; J. A.
Smith, S. W. ; M. H. Cooley, H. P. ; R. D. Barton, J. W. ; C. H. King, G.
J. ; J. Fola^ S. ; 0. H. Folz, Scribe ; J. Myers, Treasurer.
September 1, 1875, the Order was re-instituted, and, on October 20, of the
same year, a new charter was granted, with the following officers : Herman
Black, G. P. ; William Ganes, Q-. S. The charter members were C. A. Gleck-
ler, J. A. Campbell, George Whittally, B. F. Hill, D. E. Millard, E. H. Wick-
^rsham and if. H. Cooley. On December 18, 1877, proceedings for the
removal of the Encampment to Bonaparte were commenced, and, on February
5, 1878, the object was consummated, and the Encampment taken to Bonaparte,
Lodge, No. 22, I. 0. 0. F.; W. W. Entler and Samuel Spurgeon were the
committee on removal.
Farmington has a small lodge of Good Templars, that was organized in
June, 1876.
THE CHURCHES.
The first minister who preached at Farmington was Richard Jones. He
had a house on the island, where he held forth for a considerable time. He
belonged to the Christian order.
There are now five denominations at Farmington, the first formed being the
"Congregational. An extract from the record of the Church, says :
** On Sunday, June 14, A. D. 1840, several individuals convened at the
house of M. A. Britton, Esq., who were desirous of forming themselves into a
-church in Farmington. Present, Rev. Asa Turner, of Denmark, and the Rev.
Clark, of Fort Madison. Rev. W. F. Barnes was chosen clerk, pro tem.
Whereupon the following persons ^ve in their names as favorable to the object
of the present meeting, viz.: John Fenwell, and Ellen, his wife, from the Pres-
byterian Church in Rushville, Ohio ; W. F. Barns, from the Congregational
Church at Warlane, 111., and Maria M., his wife, from the Presbyterian Church
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HISTORY OP VAN BUREN COUNTY. 488
St Maysville, Ky. ; A. J. Houghton, of the Congregational Church at Berlin,
Mass. ; John C. White, from the Congregationsu Church Mission Institute,
near Quincy, HI. ; Edward T. Colton, and Mary, his wife, from the Congre-
gational Church at Quincy, 111. ; Eli Millard, and Phoebe, his wife, from the
Congregational Church at Manchester, Conn., and Marcia Colton.'*
The denomination built their church in 1848. Rev. Harvey Adams served
as their Pastor from 1843 to November 11, 1866. The society have 181 mem-
bers. They are without a minister ^ow.
The Baptist society of Farmington was organized Saturday, August 28,
1841, at 2 o'clock P. M., by Elder Daniel Jewett. The society struggled
along, meeting at the houses of the Church members until 1851 and 1852,
when they erected a church, the Pastor of which was Rev. W. H. Turton. The
present Pastor is Rev. William Young, assisted by Rev. Mr. Turton.
The German Methodist society of this place was organized in 1853, by Rev.
H. Ellback, and a church was erected, ana dedicated the last Sunday in May,
1855. The Rev. William Cuppen is present Pastor.
In 1862, the German Lutherans, under the leadership of Rev. Oswald Mer-
bitz, organized a society and built a church. The society is still in a prosperous
<;ondition.
The Catholic Church of Farmington was built in 1863-64. Rev. Father
Hayes was first Pastor, and has been succeeded by three or four clergymen, until
Father O'Brien was assigned to the charge. He continues at Farmington at
present.
In 1875, the society of the Latter Day-Saints was formed by Rev. James
McKiernan and has continued since that time.
The Methodist society of Farmington was formed as early as 1840. In
1845, a church was erected, which has served the worshipers since.
THE SCHOOL.
Prior to the building of the public schoolhouse, in 1870, the city of Farm-
ington educated her children in rented houses and other places of convenience.
There is no record of who the first teacher was, or where the school was kept.
In 1866, the district became independent. The schoolhouse cost $10,000 and
is used as a graded institution. The first teacher in the house was L. M. Moores.
Among the earlv legislative records is found the following bill, incorporating
the first high school or academy ever instituted in the county. The appearance
of this document will doubtless serve to refresh the memories of some of the
early settlers of Farmington, and may serve to stimulate research for school
records among the members of the Pioneer Association.
An act to incorporate the Farrmngton Academy and High School.
Sbotion 1. Be it enacted by the Council and House of Repreeentativee of the Territory of lowa^
That there shall be established in the town of Farmington, in Van Buren Countj, an institution
of learning to be known and designated as the ** Farmington Academy and High School," and by
that name may sue and be sued, contract and be contracted with, use a common seal, purchase,
receive by gift or devise, hold, control, enjoy, sell and convey, any property, real, personal or
mixed, for the use and benefit of said institution.
Sec. 2. The design of the institution hereby created is declared to be for the instruction of
youth in the arts and sciences, and to advance learning and sound morals, by the establishment
of good schools, procuring competent teachers, a library, scientifie instruments and apparatus,
and the collection of cabinets of minerals, plants, etc. •
Sbc. 8. Festus Dunning, Russel Smith, Jonas Houghton, 0. Town and H. G. Stewart are
constituted Trustees of said Academy and High School, a majority of whom shall be a quorum,
open books and receive subscriptions to the stock of said institution, elect their successors and
make and ordain all needful by-laws, rules and regulations.
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484 HISTORY OF VAN BUREN COUNTY.
Sic. 4. The Trustees may divide the capital stock into as many shares as they deem lit.
setting out the ownership of each share upon the books of Trustees and stockholders, each
share being $5.
Seo. 6. All books, maps, medals, scientific apparatus, cabinets of minerals, plants and
curiosities belonging to said corporation shall be foreyer free and exempt from taxation by the
laws of this Territory.
Sbc. 6. That any future Legislature may amend, alter or repeal this act.
Skc. 7. This act to take effect and be in force from and afl^r its passage.
, Approved January 27, 1844.
INCIDENTAL AND ACCIDENTAL.
There was an ice-freshot at this point in 1832, when the water stood four
feet over the territory now occupied by the village of Farmington. The overflow
extended as far north as Bonaparte.
The high water of 1851 did not seriously affect this village.
In the winter of 1866, Farmington was bothered with an ice-gorge, which
commenced at Athens and extended up the river five miles. The flow of the
tide did considerable damage. Meek &; Stoddard's flour-mill was washed away,
and also a number of small houses between Front street and the river.
About ten years ago, occurred the only murder that ever happened at
Farmington. A prisoner named Cockley shot and killed Constable Feuste-
maker, while the latter was in the performance of his duty transferring the
prisoner to the Jail for a thieving offense. Cockley made his ^escape and was
never found.
In the autumn of 1874, occurred the only fire of note ever happening at
Farmington. The flames licked up the stores of L. L. Therme & Son, drugs ;
Charles Doeling, cigar manufacturer ; Charles Kessler, dry goods ; George
Perry, hardware ; mil Grooden, groceries. The Masonic lodge-room, in the
third story of Therme's building, was also destroyed. The loss caused was
$20,000, on which there was a partial insurance. The fire is supposed to have
originated from a lamp explosion.
BONAPARTE.
The village of Bonaparte was commenced in the year 1837, by Messrs.
Meek & Sons and Dr. R. N. Cresap, whose initiatory step embraced the build-
ing of a dam across the Des Moines River. The early settlers, whose presence
was marked by the year in question, were P. R. Rice, Joseph Rabb, Erwin
Wilson, David Sewell, Lewis Christian and William Welch. A few cabins were
built about the wild country, and from the rude hut-town the place has grown
until the din of machinery and clang of the mills is heard by 1,200 people, who
constitute the present population of the place.
This population support four dry goods stores, two drug stores, four grocery
stores, one harness-shop, one jewelry house, two boot and shoe stores, one cloth-
ing house, one general store, three millinery establishments, two furniture stores,,
three tailor-shops, two commission houses, two agricultural marts, two butcher-
shops, two hotels, and a photograph establishment ; while the following branches
of manu&cturing also thrive : a woolen-mill, wagon-factory, brick-yard, pottery,
blacksmith-shop, flouring-mill, saw-mill and glove-factory. There is one printing
office in the place ; also, three churches, one schoolhouse, Masonic and Odd
Fellows* Halls and a livery firm. There are four physicians and two Justices
of the Peace in the place.
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HISTORY OF VAN BUREN COUNTY. 485
The following legislative enactment will be read with interest by the people
^ho first settled near Bonaparte :
Ak Act to authorize William Meek 4" Sons to erect a dam acrota the Det Moines River.
Skctiom 1. Be it enacted by the Council and House of Representatives of the Territory of lowa^
That William Meek & Sons be, and they are hereby authorized to construct a dam across the Des
Moines River, in Van Buren County, in said Territory, between Sections 8 and 17, in Township
68 North, Range 8 west of the fifth principal meridian, which said dam shall not exceed three
feet in height above common low-water mark, and shall contain a convenienf lock, not less than
one hundred and thirty feet in length and thirty-five feet in width, for the passage of steam, keel
and flat boats, rafU and other water-craft, provided said water-craft will bear two tons burthen.
Sec. 2. It shall be the duty of the persons authorized in the preceding section of this
act to build said dam, at all times to keep the lock in the same in good repair, and they shall, at
all reasonable times, pass any water-era^ above-mentioned, through, tree from toll, without any
unnecessary delay. And any person who shall be unnecessarily detained, shall be entitled to
recover of said owners double the amount of damages they shall prove to have sustained by
reason of such detention.
Sec. 8. Any person who shall destroy or in anywise injure either said dam or lock, shall
be deemed to have committed a trespass, and shiUl be liable accordingly. And any person who shall
willfully or maliciously destroy or injure said lock or dam shall be deemed guilty of misdemeanor,
and, on conviction thereof, shall be fined treble the amount of damages the owners may have
sustained, or be imprisoned, at the discretion of the court.
Sec. 4. Nothing herein contained in this act shall authorize the individuals named in this act,
their heirs or assigns, to enter upon and flow the lands of any person, without the consent of such
person ; and they shall remove all such nuisances as may be occasioned by the erection of said
dam, which may endanger the health of the vicinity.
Sec. 5. The Legislature of this Territory (or State) may at any time alter or amend this
aci so as to provide for the navigation of said river.
Sec. 6. The dam and lock specified in the first section of this act shall be completed
within three years from the 1st day of May next.
, Sec. 7. The right of constructing and continuing the aforesaid dam and lock across the
Des Moines River shall be vested in the said William Meek & Sons for the term of fifty years
f^om the 1st day of May next.
Sec. 8. This act to take effect ft*om and after its passage.
Approved January IT, 1839.
John Bundy and William Meek, Sr., are both credited with having kept the
first store in the villace. Dr. R. N. Cresap kept the first hotel. The first
blacksmith was R. B. Willoughby, and Hamilton Keams was the first wagon-
maker.
Jackson Myers is said to have started the first fiouring-mill, although William
Meek & Sons put up one in 1844, which served until the fall of 1878, when
Robert Meek k Brothers erected a new one, at a cost of ^15,000. The struct-
ure is of brick, size 40x50 and four stories in height. The mill has six runs of
buhrs.
Meek & Brothers also erected a saw-mill in 1860, which has run since that
time.
The manufikcturing interests of this place are nearly all centered in the
woolen-mill, and manu&cturing has received a healthy start, and the life instilled
into this branch of industry at the beginning, instead of growing less, has been
&nned into a noticeable flame, which spreads with the tr€»ad of time.
One of the most extensive and successful woolen-factories of the State is
situated at Bonaparte. It was built in the summer of 1853, by William Meek
k Sons, who run it at a paying rate until 1863, when it was burned down, caus-
ing the firm a loss of $20,000.
Robert F. Meek k Brothers immediately commenced rebuilding, and, at a
cost of $50,000, made of brick a structure 50x85, and four stories high. The
machinery is propelled by water-power. The firm employ seventy-five hands.
The capacity of the mill is a matter worthy of mention. There are 1,640
spindles in use, six sets of carding machines and two shearing machines. The
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486 HISTORY OF VAN BUREN COUNTY.
mill hands turn out 22,000 yards of cloth every four weeks and from 1,600 to
1,800 pounds of stocking-yarn.
A pottery was started in 1866 by Parker & Handback. This firm con-
tinued in business five years, when Mr. Wilson succeeded Mr. Parker and became
known as the junior partner. The firm are now known as Handback & Wilson.
In November, 1876, the pottery building was burned, at a loss of $1,200. It
was rebuilt at once, the outlay being $l,oOO. The firm now employ ten hands
and make 75,000 gallons of pottery per year. A new feature has been added
recently. It is a tile-factory, with a capacity for turning out 6,000 feet of tile
per day. The machinery throughout is run by steam-power.
THE BONAPARTE BRIDGE.
There are two bridges in the county of Van Buren over the Des Moines
River, for the accommodation of the general public — that is, foot-travelers and
teams. The larger of the t^o is at Bonaparte, it having 5 piers, 6 spans
of 150 feet each, 23-foot truss and an 18-foot roadway.
This structure was commenced November 25, 1877. On Tuesday, January
29, 1878, the bridge was tested and formally accepted.
Word was sent to the farmers in the neighborhood that teams and men would
be required to fix the approaches and test the strength of the bridge. The test
consisted of twenty-two heavily -loaded wagons, averaging fifty hundred weight,
besides horses, mules and men. The aggregate burden on each span was recorded
at seventy-five tons, and in but one puice did the settle exceed one-eight of an
inch. The superstructure is 900 feet long. Each span weighs 60 tons.
The bridge stands 35 feet above low-water mark »nd from the bed of the
river to the top of the truss the distance is 60 feet. The capacity of the
bridge is 11,440 pounds per lineal foot. The approaches of the bridge are
protected by a wing-wall and two abutments. The piers are 10 feet by 30
at their base. The cost of the superstructure was $35,000.
The following gentlemen composed the executive committee at the date of
acceptance: Isaiah Meek, Thomas Christy, Uriel Neal, A. Whitlock, T. W.
Boyer and Dennis Haney.
THE CHURCHES.
The date of chui'ch organizations at Bonaparte does not run back far. The
earliest move made in the direction of establishing churches was in 1853, when
the Baptists, under the pastorate of Rev. William Sutton, began building a
church, which was finished in the year 1857. Prior to that, however — 1851 —
the same society had been organized at Mt. Zion, where they worshiped until
1853, when they removed to Bonaparte. The second Pastor was Rev. William
Eggleston ; the third, Rev. Mr. Burkholder ; the fourth, Rev. Mr. Inskeep ;
the fifth was Rev. William Johnson ; the sixth. Rev. Mr. Trevitt, and the
seventh. Rev. W. C. Pratt. At present the society are without a Pastor. They
have one hundred and twenty-five members and a house of worship that cost
82,800.
The date at which the Methodist society of this place was organized is not
known, neither are there any records of early work. For a time, however, the
Methodists used the schoolhouse, where they worshiped until that building was
burned down, when they rented the Baptist Church, which served them down
to the year 1862, when they built a new church, at a cost of 8700. The society
numbers about fifty members. Who organized it is not known. Rev. Mr.
Johnson preached for a while — the first — in the new church, but who led the
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HISTORY OP VAN BUREN COUNTY. 487
flock in the olden day memory does not reveal. The Rev. Charles W. Shepherd
is the present Pastor.
In 1869, the Presbyterian society was organized, and, in 1871, they built a
$2,800 church, of which Rev. H. R. Lewis was the first Pastor. Next came
Rev. H. K. Heighney, followed by Jlev. James Welch, who is the present one.
There are fifty members belonging to the Church.
THB SCHOOLS.
Bonaparte has quite a school history. The first district schoolhouse was put
up in 1844. Thomas Charlton was the first teacher in the village. The house
stood until 1869, when it was burned down. However, in the mean time,
schools were kept in the building at present occupied by Mr. Carr as a
shop, and in what is now Mr. King's house. After the old schoolhouse
burned, the district rented schoolroom until the Directors purchased the academy
in 1871.
The academy in question was erected in 1865, 1866 and 1867, by the Bona-
parte Academy Association, at a cost of $20,000. The Association used it as
an academy from 1867 to May 26, 1871, when they sold it as above stated for the
sum of $12,000. The Association was an incorporated body. The following lines
are extracted from the beginning of the articles of agreement or incorporation :
" We, Isaiah Meek, Thomas Christy, Joseph A. Keen, J. G. Vale, Benjamin
Wagner, John T. Stewart, George W . Sturdevant and A. H. Leach, do hereby
incorporate ourselves, and all o3ier persons who may become members of the
corporation hereby created, into a body corporate and politic, by the name and
style of the ^Bonaparte Academy Association.'"
The purpose of this institution was *' the promotion of literature, science
and art." The articles of agreement further provided that the capital stock
must not run below $10,000.
The first Principal of the Academy was E. P. Howe.
One year prior to the purchase of the A6ademy, the Bonaparte district
became independent. The October, 1878, report showed that the total enroll-
ment in all the departments of the school was 168, and the average dailv attend-
ance about 126. The school is divided into four departments. Annie E.
Packer is the present Principal.
CITY GOVERNMENT.
Bonaparte is not an incorporated town. The officers embrace two Jus-
tices of the Peace and a Constable. The first Justice was Samuel Reed,
who lived two and a half miles from town ; but the first in the village proper
was R. B. Willoughby. A. J; Myers was the first Constable. The present
Justices are W. W. !Emtler and Joseph Perkins. Samuel Spurgeon is Con-
stable.
The village Postmaster is J. P. Davis. When the place was introduced to
a mail-route, Thomas Charlton had the honor of being the first Postmaster.
R. Moffit was the first Postmaster at Lexington, just above town.
The first physician in the village was Dr. R. N. Cresap.
William Willoughby, son of R. B. Willoughby, was the first child born at
Bonaparte. The first death was in the person of Mrs. Angeline, wife of Dr.
Cresap.
The first marriage that took place was April 8, 1841, when James A. Kearn
and Elizabeth Williamson were joined in the holy bonds of wedlock.
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488 HISTORY OF VAN BUREN COUNTY.
SECRET ORDERS.
Of the Orders akin to secrecy in the village of Bonaparte, the Bona
parte Lodge of Independent Order of Odd Fellows, No. 22, is the moBt
ancient, its charter having been granted November 8, 1849. The charter
members were R. H. Wyman, L. R. Beckley, John H. Bell, W. E. Kurtz
and W. Cassiday. The charter oflScers were R. H. Wyman, N. G.; J.
H.Bell, V. G. ; L. R. Beckley, Secretary ; and J. B. Cave, Treasurer. The
Lodge now numbers fifty members. They have a library consisting of 200
volumes.
The present oflScers are Joseph G. Whitely, N. G.; Jacob Mueller, V. G.;
W. A. George, Secretary ; and Joseph A. King, Treasurer.
In connection with this lodge-room is the society known as the Farmington
Encampment, No. 8, I. 0. 0. F. This Order was instituted at Farmington,
July 8, 1852, by J. M. Tuttle, M. H. Cooley, C. H. King, George Green,
James Myers, R. D. Barton, Joseph A. Smith, 0. H. Brewer and John
Folz.
The charter oflScers were J. M. Tuttle, C. P.; J. A. Smith, S. W.; M. H.
Cooley, H. P.; R. D. Barton, J. W.; C. H. King, G.; J. Folz, S.; O. H.
Brewer, Scribe ; J. Myers, Treasurer.
At Farmington, September 1, 1875, the Order was re-instituted, and, on
October 20 of that year, a new charter was granted, with Herman Block, G.
P., and William Ganes, G. S. The following were charter members : C. A.
Gleckler, J. A. Campbell, George Whittally,B. F. Hill, D. B. Millard, E. H.
Wickersham and M. H. Cooley.
Proceedings for the removal of the Encampment from Farmington to Bona-
parte, were commenced December 18, 1877, and on February 5, 1878, the
Encampment was moved to the hall of Bonaparte Lodge, No. z2, 1. 0. 0. F.
The committee on removal were W. W. Entler and Samuel Spurgeon.
The present oflScers of the Encampment are these: Samuel Spurgeon, C. P.;
Jacob Mueller, H. P.; C. W. Wilson, S. W.; C. Hassler, J. W.; W. W. Entler,
Scribe; A. W. Steadman, Treasurer.
The Masonic fraternity of this place number about seventy-one. The char-
ter for Bonaparte Lodge, No. 73, F. & A. M. was granted June 2, 1856.
The charter oflScers were : Oliver George, W. M.; John H. Bell, S. W.; S. F.
Bradley, J. W.
At present, the oflScers are as follows : Dr. D. W. Stutsman, W. M.; Hugh
Bell, S. W.; William Sivil, J. W.; R. F. Meek, Treasurer; Robert Wilson,
Secretary ; James Humphrey, S. D.; William Wilson, J. D.; E. W. Corwin,
Tiler ; Joseph A. Keen, S. S.; J. W. Whitely, J. S. The Lodge has a library
of 800 volumes.
There is also identified at this Lodge, the Lafiaiyette Chapter, No. 61. The
first meeting under the dispensation was held November 10, 1870. The dis-
pensation officers were George Reason, H. P.; Benjamin Walker, King ; and
H. F. Greef, Scribe.
On November 2, 1871, the Chapter was chartered with these oflScers:
George Beason, H. P. ; H. F. Greef, Kin^ ; Thomas H. Hopkins, S. ; J.
W. Whitely, Treasurer ; and R. D. Ryland, Secretary.
The Chapter now numbers thirty-four members, with the following oflScers:
I. D. Pergrin, H. P.; William Sivil, King; George W. Jack, Scril^; Julius
Greef, Treasurer; Dr. D. W. Stutsman, Secretary.
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HISTORY OP VAN BUREN COUNTY. 489
BENTONSPORT.
In the year of 1889, John Bending, as President of the Company, and
Charles 0. Sanford and H. P. Graves as associates, laid out the town of Ben-
tonsport.
This town had a healthy start, and the little neighborhood of people who
had come to settle there were loyal, too, and did not forget or turn their backs
apon the good old-fashioned way of celebrating Independence Day, In the
same year the town was laid out, the hearts of the stalwart pioneers and their
fiunilies, clubbed together and prepared for a grand Fourth of July celebnir
tion.
In connection with the other preparations, a barbecue had been determined
upon, and when word to that effect went out, " everybody in the county and
miles and miles outside " (to use the language of Mrs. John D. Sanford) began
to fix up for the event, and when the time came, all were in attendance. Capt.
James Hall was the orator of the day.
H. P. Graves and Alva White were keeping a store at this time— the first
at Bentonsport.
John Burton and his mother kept the first hotel in the village.
The first shoemaker is said to have been A. W. Harlan, Sylvester S. Henry
also claims to be first.
Moses Springston was the pioneer blacksmith.
McHenry & Slagle kept the first harness-shop.
The first wagons made here were by John and Marshall Cottle.
Seth Richards was the first Postmaster.
The first minister was a Cumberland Presbyterian named Williams.
A Mr. Conner was the earliest Constable.
The first Justice of the Peace was David Tade.
William Sample kept the first school.
Dr. C. W. Cowles was the pioneer physician.
H. H. Bucklin was the first lawyer.
The first child bom in Bentonsport was Henry Sullivan.
The first death recorded was of a colored woman with a slave name, '' Aunt
Moumin." She was brought here as a slave by Shapley Ross.
Greef & Company were the first bankers, having conducted this business on
a private plan for about six years past.
Bentonsport now has a population of 600 inhabitants. The place affords
three general stores, one millinery establishment, one shoemaker, one black-
smith, one wagon-shop, one tailor-shop, one stove and tinware and one butcher-
shop, and four insurance agencies.
The first paper-mill buut in the State of Iowa was at Bentonsport, by Green
Brothers, in 1852. The concern was run until 1874, when it was closed up,
and the machinery taken to Blue Rapids, Kan.
In 1843, Hitchcock & Noble built a flouring-mill and a saw-mill on the bank
of the river. A new flouring-mill was built in 1854 by James A. Brown, which
Berves the community at present. The building is of brick, four stories in
height. It has three runs of buhrs. The saw-mill was run until 1866, when it
was stopped.
An oil-mill was put up in 1865 by James A. Brown, which served until
1867. This was the first linseed-oi] mill built in Southern Iowa. It did a
prosperous trade down to the year mentioned, when it was converted into a
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490 HISTORY OF VAN BUREN COUNTY.
woolen-mill by Brown- & Moore. They continued the manufacture of cloth
until 1676, since which time the mill has stood idle.
The first fiatboat loaded with produce that ever went out of the Dee Moines
River started from Bentonsport. The boat was owned by Hugh W. Sample.
THE SCHOOLS.
The school district of Bentonsport is an independent one. It is not within the
memory of man where the first school was taught — other than that it was in a log
cabin — neither the date in which teaching began. The district struggled along,
however, using a building here and there, until 1870, when the Directors pur-
chased die academy for school purposes, for which it is still used.
This academy was an individual enterprise, and erected in 1851, by John
D. Sanford, H. F. Greef, James A. Brown, Seth Richards and Dr. C. W.
Cowles. It cost them $3,000, and they sold it for $1,000. The district had
used it before the date of purchase. The first Principal of the academy was
John W. Allen.
The number of scholars enrolled in this district is ninety-one, there being
thirty-five in the first department and fifty-six in the secona. This, as shown
by the November, 1878, report.
CITY GOVERNMENT.
Bentonsport is an incorporated city, having become so under the Iowa code
of 1851. The first Mayor of the city was Qeorge Green. The Councilmen
were James A. Brown, M. 0. Cresswell, C. E. Newlon, G. W. Marley and
W. N. Bragg. The first meeting of which the records tell, was held January
21, 1854.
The present city oflScers are : William Gregson, Mayor ; and Joseph Mont-
gomery, A. C. Rehkoph, Alexander C. Harlan and John F. Stewart, Aldermen.
SECRET ORDERS.
Bentonsport Lodge^ No. 47 ^ A.y F. ^ A. M. met under dispensation, June
9, 1854, and on June 5, 1855, the charter was granted.
The charter oflScers were : William Quaintance, W. M.; W. N. Bra^, S.
W,; Benjamin Walker, J. W.; H. A. Rehkoph, Tiler ; F. Hancock, Secre-
tary. James Johnson and B. F. Sims were members.
The Lodge numbers fifty -^ve members. The names of the officers follow :
I. D. Pergrin, W. M.; J. F. Stewart, S. W.; R. Walters, J. W.; Julius Greef,
Treasurer; N. G. Brown, Secretary; G. W. Jack, S. D.; H. Hart, J. D.; W.
H. Carter, Tiler.
I)e% Moines Valley Lodge, No. 238, I. 0. 0. F. was instituted May 18,
1872, and charter granted October 20, 1873. The charter members were :
Stephen Newson, Frank Eberhardt and John Drake. The officers under the
charter were : C. Heinz, P. G. ; Jacob Leffler, V. G. ; and James Leffier,
Secretary.
The present officers are : J. M. Tracy, N. G.; John Grinsley, V. G. ; Joe
Montgomery, Treasurer ; and William Gregson, Secretary.
THE CHURCHES.
The people of Bentonsport be^n to incline religiously as early as 1841,
when meetings were held about in the houses. Mrs. Sanford says : ^^ The first
people who knocked at the door when they came to church were around in
1844."
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HISTORY OP VAN BUREN COUNTY. 491
The first church organization was in 1843, when the Congregational society
was cemented under the leadership of the Rev. Harvey Adams. Their first
regular Pastor was Rev. Erastus Ripley. The denomination erected their
church in 1856.
This society had the first church-bell, and conducted the first Sabbath school
in the place. It was a union school, yet under Congregational leadership.
The society have no regular Pastor now.
The date of organization of the Methodist society is not known, beyond the
fact that, in the early days, Bentonsport, like all other places, was visited by
various itinerant ministers, and it is not at all unlikely the seed was planted as
&r back as 1840.
The society built their first church in 1857. The flock of the fold, which
is quite numerous, is watched over by the Rev. Charles W. Shepherd.
The first Pastor of the Presbyterian Church was Rev. William Harsha.
The society was organized in 1853, two years after the Church erected an
edifice, in 1851. There is no Pastor now.
There was a Universalist society formed at Bentonsport in about 1858, and
a church-building was erected. The prime movers in this cause were Henry
Clay Clinton, H. F. Greef and William Quaintance. The pioneer Pastor was
Rev. Mr. Ballinger. The society was continued but a few years, when it
disbanded.
The Universalist Church is now occupied by the Seventh-Day Adventists, who
established a society in the summer of 1878. Rev. Mr. McCoy, a missionary,
is the Pastor.
VERNON.
By crossing the ferry from Bentonsport, one is landed on the levee of the
little village of Vernon. This town was laid off June 12, 1837, by Henry
Smith, John Smith, S. C. Reed and Isaac Reed. It was for a time called
South Bentonsport.
John Allender had the first store at Vernon, and Henry Smith kept the
first hotel.
The first Postmaster was John M. Estes.
John Allender was the first miller.
Andrew Swings had the first blacksmith-shop.
The first Justice of the Peace was James Rabb.
Dr. G. S. Bailey was the first physician.
The first teacher in the place was John M. Estes.
Samuel Clark was the pioneer minister.
A daughter of Dr. Bailey has the honor of being the first child bom at
Vernon.
The first marriage was between Dortha Smith and a Mr. Les Prouse.
John Smith was the first to die within the precincts of Vernon.
The village now has three dry goods stores, one general store, one drug
store, one hotel, one shoe-shop, one harness-shop, two blacksmith-shops, and
supports two lawyers and a physician.
There is a flouring-mill at Vernon that owns quite a scrap of history. The
mill was put up in 1845 by George C, Ed. and John M. Allender. It was
used as a grist-mill until 1851, when the high water washed a channel through
and left the old mill on an island. In 1852, the mill was brought to the shore.
It was repaired, and, in 1857, George C. Allender started it as a^woolen-mill.
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492 HISTORY OP VAN BUREN COUNTY.
It was succesefiilly used for a few years and then allowed to stand idle until die
fall of 1878, when a Mr. Gillett secured a contract to manufacture woolen for
the Government, and began putting the old mill into condition to manu&ctnre.
George C. AUender and Freeman, in 1858, built a flour-mill which has
served until the present time, with some changes in ownership. Freeman
transferred his share to John D. Sanford in 1861, and Allender & Sanford
was the style of the firm until 1870, when Allender sold to Benjamin Eyee.
The latter sold to William Moore in 1875, and Sanford went out in die same
year, transferring to B. 0. Nelson. The latter sold to Doudy, who, in the fall
of 1878, released his hold and Whiting took it. The mill filrm is now Whit-
ing & Moore.
Vernon had a pottery as early as 1848, James Clark coming to the place
and starting a log kiln and mud oven. In April, 1852, R. M. Dixon and
J. Calinboum came and put up a new shop and the next summer a new oven.
In tfovember, of 1852, Calinboum was drowned in the river. Dixon run the
pottery alone until 1868, when he took as a partner J. C. Grinsley. This pot-
tery was the first in the county. It has been a very successful enterprise. The
capacity of the factory is 240,000 gallons per year.
THB SCHOOL.
The first school at the village of Bentonsport was taught in John M. Estes*
house in 1852. In a few montns, a brick schoolhouse was erected which stood
until 1869, when a new one was built. It has served until the present. The
school district is independent.
RELIGIOUS.
The structure used for the Methodist Episcopal Church of Vernon — the
onlv church here — was erected, in 1852, for a dwelling-house by Able Choate,
and was converted into a church in 1856. The Rev. I. P. Teeters was the first
Pastor.
Years before that, however, the faithful had worshiped in the houses of citi-
zens who kindly donated space for that worthy object, and the members of the
society increased until the Church in question was prepared to accommodate
the congregation. The present Pastor is Rev. Charles W. Shepherd.
BIRMINGHAM.
John Harrison, the proprietor of Birmingham, laid the place out in June,
1889. The place has grown to contain peniaps seven hundred inhabitants,
and, although a railroad never belted this town with any other, there is a deal
of business dono here. There are three stores here, each doing a general line
of business. The place is an incorporated city. The first charter was dated
June 1, 1856. The first meeting was held June 8. The first oflScers were :
President, Joseph Talbott. Councilmen — J. B. Spears, J. N. Norris, E. Pit-
kin. Recorder, Robert Porter. Treasurer, George Parker. A second charter
was granted June 1, 1869, with H. Clay Clinton, Mayor; Robert Perter,
Recorder ; Joseph Graham, S. A. Bogle, C. C. Pleasant, F* B. Huffman and
J. N. Smith, Councilmen. The present oflScers are : Samuel Wilson, Mayor ;
Robert Porter, Recorder ; Joseph Graham, Treasurer ; George Deahl, Marshal ;
F. Eichelberger, H. Barnes, D. McMillen, George Clinkenbeard and Newton
Calhoon, Councilmen.
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HISTORY OF VAN BUREN COUNTY, 498
A man named Berry was the first settler in the town, although Dr. I. N.
Norris passed over the land where the city now stands when that plat was all
grass-grown. That was in 1839. James Steel kept the first hotel here. The
man Berry referred to was the first blacksmith.
The first physician was William Miller, and H. C. Clinton was the first
lawyer.
A daughter of Dr. Norris was first to be bom, while the first death was of
a child of Titus Moss.
Jacob Lawton was the first Postmaster, and carried the mail to Winchester.
THB SCHOOLS.
The school district of Birmingham has been independent since 1860. Dr.
Norris taught the first school here, in 1888-89. The term was worried through
in a log hut, which soon gave way to a frame schoolhouse. In 1872, a public
schoolhouse was erected, and the district is now a prosperous one, employing
four teachers.
There is a public academy here, too. It was built in 1867, and styled the
^' Birmingham Collegiate Institute." The enterprise was started by the Rev.
Mr. McArthur, a United Presbyterian. He raised a stock company. This
company at length sold the building, Rev. G. P. Bergen taking it in the inter-
est of the Presbyterians, who later sold it to Prof. J. W. Wolf, the present
o¥mer. The institution is a very successful one, having half a hundred schol-
ars on an average throughout the year.
THE CHURCHES.
There are four churches at Birmingham. The Presbyterians and Method-
ists came in 1889. Rev. Joel Arrington was the first minister who came here.
He was a Methodist, and in the service of the Missionary Society. He preached
in the old log schoolhouse first in 1888. He was an eloquent man, and won a
wide reputation in those early days. The socie^ of Methodists was formed in
1889. They worshiped in the log house until lo47 or 1848, when they built a
firame church. That served until 1857 or 1858, when it was vacated and a
larger church built.
The Rev. Solomon Coles organized the Presbyterian society in 1889, the
first meeting being in a bam. A church was buUt in 1850, and, in 1854, a
new one was erected to take the place of the first one, that had been sold for a
bam. The building is still stancUng.
The United Presbyterians, at first called the '^ Seekers." established their
society in 1839. They built a church in 1848. Rev. Mr. Vincent was the
first Pastor.
The Free Methodist society was organized in 1874, by the Rev. Mr. Douty.
The church was built in the same year.
Next to the village of Bonaparte, Birmingham is probably the most impor-
* tant town in the county of Van Buren for, extensive manufacturing.
The plow and wagon &ctory of Shott & Hope is situated here. The works
were established in 1866, under the name of Shott & Brown, aftier which the
firm became known as Moss, Shott & Brown. Then Moss went out. Finally,
Brown sold his interest, and the firm became Shott & Hope.
In 1856, D. C. Cramer & Co. (Cramer, Moss & Cramer) built a woolen-
fiictory. It was not put into operation, however, until about 1861. The &ctory
was mn successfully until 1870. ^
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494 HISTORY OF VAN BUREN COUNTY.
The saw and grist mill of Gwinn k Bott was erected in 1850. It was
burned in the spring of 1864, and soon rebuilt. This, by the way, with the
burning of John Barnes' house, was the only fire that ever occurred at Bir-
mingham.
There was a cheese-factory put up in 1871, by C. L. Moss. This is still in
successful operation.
Birmingham had a tannery in 1868, under the management of James
Glanden, Joseph Porter, ^'Tanner" Ross and John Park. The tannery run
one year, when Benjamin Smith took the building and converted it into a pork-
packing house. He run it two seasons and then moved his business to Keokuk.
The only sensation ever occurring at this place was the suicide of William
Winny in 1858. He was walking with his sisters one day, in the country, and,
when near a clump of hazel bushes, he stepped behind them and shot himself.
There was no cause assigned for the deed.
THE LODGES.
Birmingham Lodge^ No. 36 ^ I. 0, 0. jP., was chartered October 27, 1852,
W. H. Tuthill, G. M., and Joseph Bridgman, G. S. The charter members
were Samuel Fasnacht, G. A. Chittenden, Samuel Taylor, Zion Rains and
Jonathan W. Sage. The membership of the Lodge is about sXxtj. The pres-
ent oflScers are John W. Ferrell, N. G.; J. S. Skinner, V. G.; William Hope,
R, S.; D. C. Petit, P. S.
Birmingham Lodge^ No, 56^ F. ^ A. M., was organized June 6, 1855,
Simon Graham, W. M.; H. Huffinan, Secretary. The charter members were
Moses Bigford, J. A. Archer, J. L. Gwinn.
There is a membership of forty belonging to this Lodge.
The present oflScers are Simon Graham, W. M.; S. B. Shott, S. W.; C. L.
Sheward, J. W.; J. S. Miller, Treasurer; H. Huffinan, Secretary.
lOWAVILLE.
The village of lowaville was laid out by a company in 1838. The Sac and
Fox Indians bad sold 1,250,000 acres of land in this vicinity, and reserved
two years' time on the land, after which, James Jordan, William Phelps and
John Tolman bought the Indians' time for $3,000. The sale of time was made
in the fall of 1837, and, in 1888, the Indians vacated, and the spring of that
fear, the place now known as lowaville was laid off. Black Hawk and a few
ndians remained. Phelps and Jordan were the earliest settlers, they having
come in the fall of 1837. Jordan had the first trading-post.
The next settlers to arrive were Joel T. Avery, John Newport, Job Carter
and Crittenden Forquraen and their families, and Peter Avery, William Avery
and William McMuUen, bachelors.
William Avery was the first Postmaster, the mail being brought in on horse-
back. 4
Lausdn Smith, who came later, was the first physician.
The first blacksmith was Robert Rathbum.
The first boat up the river as fistr as this point was the " Pavilion," belong-
ing to the American Fur Company. This boat was piloted up in the year 1888.
Traders' keelboats were sent down about this time.
The demise of Daniel McMuUen was the first in the place.
Minerva Forquraen was the first child born.
Digitized by VjOOQIC
HISTORY OP VAN BUREN COUNTY. 495
Tom Grardner and Cerilda Moodv were the first couple to submit to the darts
of Cupid to that extent which ended, in matrimony.
William Avery was the first Justice and Bill Kirkham the first Constable.
All now remaining of the once brisk village of lowaville is a few houses
mnd one or two stores.
An effort was made in 1841 to build a church here, but the object was never
consummated. The first preaching was by a missionary, in 18^4. He came, and
promised an interpreter named Frank Lavish $50 to aid him. He preached
three sermons, after which the Brave of the tribe ordered him to stop ; and he
did. Rev. Mr. Rowlander, a Methodist, was one of the earliest ministers who
oame here. The village to-day has no church.
The educational plans of the neighborhood were first unfolded in 1843, the
teacher being a Mr. Clark, who held forth in a log schoolhouse put up in the year
mentioned. In 1857, the district became independent, and a new schoolhouse
was built, which has served until the present.
INOIDENTAL.
James Jordon tells of a rain of seventy-two consecutive days and nights in
1831, when nearly all the soldiers and a great many Indians died of cholera.
He tells of the "roll-call** of 1846, when, every morning, the "grand
round" was made to ascertain if any of the settlers had been kidnapped, or
deserted. He says the roll always began with " Robert Rathburn," and the
" R*s*' were rolled out like the long beat of the snare drum.
There were no mills in those days, and for a year the settlers ground their
buckwheat in a coffee-mill. This continued for a year or more, when the incon-
venience was relieved by the puttin^-up of & corn-cracker and the flouring-mill
by Samuel Clayton, near the moutn of Chequest Creek, and Foster's mill on
Lick Creek.
THE LODGES.
On the 18th day of August, 1850, at the town of Black Hawk, on the Des
Moines River, opposite lowaville, in Van Buren County, Pulaski Lodge, No.
28, was instituted, with twelve charter members.
The location remained here until October 27, 1852, when it was removed to
lowaville and the name changed to lowaville Lodge, No. 28.
It remained in active operation here until September 27, 1863, when it sus-
pended work and remained in this condition until May 26, 1872. Then thirteen
members— W. H. Cross, J. E. Alverson, B. T. Welch, T. M. Taylor, T. P.
Kelley, T. Barnes, T. B. Allen, J. Beatty, E. T. Roland, D. Yeoder, J. C.
Nelson, J. W. Nicholas and W. H. Nicholas — of Magnolia Lodge, No. 24,
located at Agency City, on petition, were granted the privilege of removing the
Lodge to Eldon and changing the name to Eldon Lodge, No. 28.
The charter, in accor£knce with the above, was granted on the 17th of
October, 1872 ; and, on the 27th of December, 1872, the Lodge was removed
to Eldon, where it occupied a rented hall until 1876, when it built a hall, which,
with the fixtures, is valued at $1,400.
Since the removal of the Lodge to Eldon, members have withdrawn to start
Floris Lodge, No. 272, and Van Buren Lodge, No. 350.
The Lodge now has a membership of ninety-five, all in good standing ; and
has paid out in benefits $1,586.65, and has buried three of its members.
On the 19th of October, 1876, Rebecca Lodge was organized, with a mem-
bership of eleven, and now numbers thirty-one members.
Digitized by VjOOQIC
496 HISTORY OP VAN BUR£N COUNTY.
PITTSBURG.
The village now known as Pittsburg was formerly called RisingSun. This
place was laid oflF in Ms^ch, 1839, by Ephraim Warner, A. B. Williams and
John Groom. In the vicinity at that time, lived John Spencer, James Duffieldy
Elisha Morris and Samuel Clayton.
John Purdham ha^ made the first claim in this region, and sold to Peter S.
Wood, John Goodwin and D. A. Ely.
A. B. Williams kept the first store, and Cyrus Gibson was Postmaster.
The first blacksmith was Frank Mauk.
John Groom was the first Justice, and Gain Robinson the earliest physician.
James Hanshaw made the first wagons in the place.
The first death was Mrs. Goodwin, daughter of Elisha Purdham. David
Deffenbaugh and the widow Judd were the first couple married. The husband
was a iarm hand of Samuel Clayton ; the lady was a Mormon. After the mar-
riage, the couple went West ana joined the Mormons.
The first child bom in this town was Ed. Janney, who is still living there.
There have been several efforts made to force manu&cturing interests into
the throat of Pittsburg, but without success. The only business now done in
the place is by one flour-mill and one store.
Samuel Clayton built the first flour-mill ever put up in this vicinity, in 1886
and 1837, near the mouth of Chequest Creek. A steam mill, by William Funk,
followed in 1864. In 1860, a saw-mill was added to the enterprise ; and in
1875, Mr. Funk rebuilt the mill throughout.
In 1861, William Funk erected a distillery, which run three or four jemrsy
and was then closed.
The following bill will serve to revive old memories :
An Act to allow John Oodden, Samuel darky John GrooMy Archibald McDonmld and P. M. Jatt-
ney, of Van Buren County^ further time to conttrucl a dam and lock across the Des MoineM
River, at PUttburgy in the above-named county.
Sbctiom 1. Be it enacted by the Council and Uouse of Rqtreeentatives of the Territory of lowa^
That John Qodden, Samuel Clark, John Groom, Archibald McDonald and P. M. Janney be and
are hereby allowed two years' additional time to complete a dam asd lock as aboTe specified, and
a required in the sixth section of an act entitled '* An act to authorize John Oodden, his heirs
and assigns, to build a dam across the riyer Des Moines."
Sbc. 2. That the eighth section of the aboye niuned act, to which this act is amendatory, is
hereby amended so as to constitute the said John Godden, Samuel Clark, John Groom, Archibald
McDonald and P. M. Janney tenants in common, and yest in the said tenants in common, their
heirs and assigns, an equal undiyided interest in said dam, and the priyilege thereto appertain
ing.
Sbc. 8. This act to take effect and be in foroe ftrom and after its passage.
Approyed 18th of February, 1844.
The earliest school taught at Pittsburg Subdistrict No. 2, was in 1842, by
George N. Rosser. The place was a round log cabin, and after one term a
brick schoolhouse was put up, which served until 1854, when the present frame
building was erected.
The first minister in this vicinity was Rev. Newton Smith, a Methodist mis-
sionary. Rev. Mr. Summers was the first Presiding Elder of this circuit.
There is but one society here — Methodist. It was formed in 1838. The
schoolhouse was used as a house of worship until 1871, when the church was
built, the Pastor at that time being Rev. Mr. Thomas. The present Pastor is
Rev. Jesse Craig.
There are no secret orders at this village. A Good Templar lodge was
organized in 1855, but, after three years, it became defunct.
Digitized by VjOOQIC
HISTORY OP VAN BUREN COUNTY. 497
MT. STERLING.
Mt. Sterling, with its 300 people, keeps alive four dry goods and general
stores, one harness-shop, one hotel, one shoemaker, two blacksmiths, one wagon-
shop, a lumber-yard and a hoop manufactory.
The village is universidly known as Dogtown, and the inhabitants relate
how it gained its name. They say that shortly before 1840, the first arrivals
in the (now) village were Horace and George Wood, who saw in the distance the
rapid growth of a town, and they therefore built a saw-mill and corn-cracker
near by, and awaited the result. Horace had three hounds that would devour
the meal as it came from the buhrs. Nearly every man who came to mill
brought two or three dogs with him, and the result was a row. At the height
of a dog rumpus one day, before the town had been named, a stranger rode in.
** What do you call this place?" he asked. " It has no name," was the reply*
*'*' I think it is dog town," came the self-answer. And by that name it has gone-
ever since, although an attempt was once made to name it ^' Wood's Mill," then
*' Union Comers,^' and later, '' Mt. Sterling."
A steam saw and flour mill was put up in 1855 by Hayes, Kirlin & Kirk.
The mill run until 1861, when it was torn down and the works taken U>
Keokuk.
Henry Lockhart built a distillery and saw-mill in 1851, and, after operating
four years, tore the building down.
A barrel-hoop manufactory was started at Mt. Sterling two years ago by
J. Holingshead, and has prospered since that time.
The first store at this place was kept by a man whom customs had nick-
named ''Yankee" Andrews; and, although the last name was correct, tho
man's first name was never known.
George Wood, and Mary, his sister, were keepers of the first inn.
George Wood was also first Postmaster. The present one is H. E. Bradford.
The first blacksmith was Reuben Pfoutz.
M. C. Thatcher was first Justice. James A. Alcorn is the present one.
Pamic George was the first wagon-maker.
The first child bom in the town was in the fiunily of Dr. Joel Knight.
And diis same Joel Knight was the first physician who came to town. He
pat up in a bark tent down in what is now Thatcher's pasture. He had a
'' specialty " with him which he advertised as the panacea for all diseases. The
m^cine in question he labeled ^^ Dr. Joel Knight's celebrated Screw Auger
Pills, one hundred in a box, one dollar per box."
I. B. Thatcher had the first lumber-yard in the place.
THB SCHOOL.
Mt. Sterling began to educate its young in 1841, when Freeman Spaulding
taught the first school in Games' log cabin, in (now) Sample's field. The next
school was in a log cabin one mile southeast of town. The next was in a
private cabin in town. Then one was taught on (now) James Cavitt's place,
one and a quarter mile northeast of the place. The next step was the build-
ing of a log schoolhouse in 1850, Harry Hill being teacher. This house was
burned in the winter of 1855-^the fire said to have resulted fi^m an over-
heated stove, while '^the boys" were playing poker. School was afterward
kept in private houses until 1861, when the house now standing was built.
Carlos S. Baker was the first teacher in this house.
Digitized by VjOOQIC
498 HISTORY OP VAN BUREN COUNTY.
THE CHURCH.
There is but one church-building at Mt. Sterling. This was erected jointly
by the Methodists and United Presbyterians in 1870. There had been preach-
ing long before this. Rev. Newton Smith and Rev. Daniel Lane, the former a
Methodist, the latter a Congreffationalist; both preached at an early day, bat
there is no record of the date of society organization, and it is supposed these
were the pioneer representatives of their respective denominations. Sermons
were preached in the private house, since a hotel, but now used as a blacksmith-
shop. The Rev. Mr. Smith was the first Methodist Pastor in the new church*
Rev. Father Amos Yeager is the present Pastor.
The United Presbvterian society was organized in 1861, Rev. James Boyce
being first Pastor, llie Church has no Pastor now.
GOOD TEMPLARS.
The largest lodge of Good Templars in the State of Iowa is located at Mt.
Sterling. There are 650 members on the roll. The society was organized
December 19, 1873, the originators being John A. Alcorn, John Gwinnop,
Isaiah Pedat, A. H. Thatcher, D. W. Furgeson. The first President was
Mr. Pedat ; Ferguson, Vice President, and Alcorn, Secretary.
The oflScers now are: Elisus Bee, President; James A. Alcorn, Vice Presi-
■dent, and Mattie Gwinnup, Secretary.
INCIDENTAL.
Horace Wood has the credit of being a peculiarlv liberal man. He would
refuse to supplv a man with meal, who offer^ or had money to pay for it; but
a poor man, who had none, would receive all the meal he wantea, for the mere
asking.
ONE MURDER.
There was but one murder ever committed at Mt. Sterling. That was in
1873, the winter of which Morgan Rupe was killed during a drunken row.
James Algire was arrested for tne crime, but fled before the trial came off.
Thus the crime was never avenged.
TRADING WIVES.
^' Peter Wood was a peculiar man," remarked a citizen of the Mount, one
<iay, while conversing over old-time matters. " III the year of 1840," he con-
tinued, " Peter Wood and John Scalf traded wives, or, rather, Wood got rid of
^ne of his. Wood had brought with him another man's wife irom Illinois
{a Mrs. Annie Tyrrell), and, after the first two, came Wood's first wife. Scalf
was a single man, and for the consideration of $200 in lands. Wood induced
Scalf to take Midinda, his (Wood's) first wife, off his hands."
mi£ton.
This place was settled by Dr. Logan Wallace in 1847. The town was l^id
off in 1851. For years the place consisted of a post oflSce, dry goods store,
Wacksmith-shop, shoe-shop and hotel. It was not until 1865 that the town
took a start, and, in 1872, the extension of the Burlington k Southwestern
Railroad to this point gave it another impetus.
Digitized by VjOOQIC
HISTORY OF VAN BUREN COUNTY. 499
There was a Fourth of July celebration at Milton in 1854. Judge Hos-
kins and Dr. Elbert were the orators. The music consisted of a -drum and
violin.
G. Wandel and Levi Hayes are both claimants for the honor of having kept
the first store at Milton.
H. D. Wallace was the first Postmaster.
Logan Wallace was the first physician, and Thomas Hollinsworth was the
first Justice.
The first marriage contract was performed between Richard Abemathey
and Ann Cassaday.
Milton has now two drug stores, five dry goods stores, three hotels, one
grocery store, one hardware store, one cabinet-shop, one harness-shop, one shoe-
shop, three wagon and three blacksmith shops.
C. Wandel was the first cabinet-maker here.
C. Feath established a successful wagon and carriage factory at this city in
1872. The capacity is about one hundred vehicles per year.
CITY GOVERNMENT.
Milton is an incorporated city, and has been since the summer of 1878.
The first Council are now serving their term of oflSce. The Mayor is Freeman
Bell ; the Hecorder is R. M. McNeal. The Council is composed of five Trust-
ees— A. W. Carr, J. C. Hegler, H. M. Dysart, E. Campbell, Z. Cannon and
H. D. Wallace.
THE CHURCHES.
Rev. Mr. Post, the Baptist itinerant missionary, was the first to preach at
Milton. But the Methodist society was the first organized, in 1840'. The name
of the first minister is uncertain, although Rev. Mr. Bryant was among the
earliest who came. The Methodists built a church in 1867, at which time Rev.
Mr. Coddington was Pastor. The present minister is Rev. William Patterson.
The Baptists organized their society in 1841, Rev. Mr. Post ofiBciating.
Their first regular Pastor was Rev. Calvin Daughters. They built a church in
1866, and have worshiped there ever since, although they have no Pastor now.
The Protestant Methodist society was organized in 1870, by Rev. J. S. John-
son. They use the Baptist Church to hold service in. Their Pastor is Rev.
A. W. Williams.
THE SCHOOL.
The first school taught at Milton was in a log cabin owned by L. Wallace.
The teacher was Miss Susie Chittenden. A schooThouse was built in 1849, and,
in 1867, the house was moved back and a larger building put up. The district
became independent in 1867.
There is a flour-mill at Milton, in connection with a saw-mill. C. Miller is
the proprietor. He came in 1852, and erected a corn-cracker and saw-mill, and,
in 1873, he built a large flour-mill with three runs of buhrs.
The only notable crime ever committed here was the shooting of Charles Brewer
by Garrett Thompson, in November, 1856 or 1857. The affray grew out of a
debt. Thompson had dunned Brewer, and the latter, becoming incensed, fol-
lowed him, and Thompson shot him, claiming self-defense. He was sentenced
to a term of years in the State Prison, and, after serving six months, was par-
doned by the Governor. Thompson was hanged a few years after that in Monroe
County, for horse-stealing.
Digitized by VjOOQIC
oOO HISTORY OF VAN BUREN COUNTY.
THE LODGES.
There are five sect-et Orders at Milton. The oldest Order is that of the-
Masons. The Lodge was organized at Mt. Sterling, and was knovm as Bi£t*
Sterling Lodge, No. 50. The charter was granted June 6, 1865. Henry Kin^
was W. M. ; W. J. Clark, S. W. ; J. W. Kirk, J. W.
On October 3, 1857, the order was moved to Niles.
February 16, 1867, the Lodge was again moved, this time to Milton, wheri
it has since remained. The charter ofScers were : James McCance, W. M. ; Aj
Holder, S. W. ; H. T. Patten, J. W. ; J. Cassada, Treas. ; Ed. Hillis, Sec.
The present oflScers are as follows: J. C. Holland, W. M. ;'J. Q. Hargrov^ej
S. W. ; S. L. McClean, J. W. ; J. W. Carr, Treas. ; R. A. McNeal, Sec ; Ol
Bauch, Tiler.
There is a Good Templars' Lodge at this place. It was organized Septem-
ber 20, 1872.
Jackson Lodge, No. 28, K. of P., was instituted in March, 1876. The^
charter was granted February 8, 1876. The charter ofScers were Z. Cannon^
P. C. and D. D. G. C. ; William Gnash, C. C. ; S. L. McClean, V. C. ; J. D.
Wallace, P. ; Conrad Feath, M. of Ex. ; William Murry, M. of F. ; W. B.
Flemming, K. of R. S. ; R. A. Gibson, M. at A. ; V. Wescott, I. G. ; Will-
iam Crockett, 0. G.
The present ofiBbers are Z. Cannon, D. D. S. C. ; L. F. Lummen, P. C. ;
R. A. Gibson, C. C. ; V. Wescott, V. C. ; S. L. McClean, P. ; George Pen-
nington, M. of Ex. ; W. B. Flemming, M. of F. ; Z. Cannon, K. of R. S. ; S.
W. Cooper, M. at A. ; C. Feath, I. G. ; L. F. Summers, 0. G.
The members of the Lodge number about forty.
Milton Lodge, No. 155, I. 0. 0. F., was chartered October 17, 1867.
The charter members were A E. McNeal, N. G. ; William Matthews,
Jacob Miller, Joshua Marsan and William Gnash.
The oflScers at present are A. Smith, N. G. ; G. R. Graves, V. G. ; N.
Henthame, Sec. ; G. A. Pittman, P. S. ; T. Bell, Treas.
The Order of the Daughters of Rebekah was organized here on October 27,
1874. The Order are occupying the I. 0. 0. F. Hall.
CANTRlfi
is one of the most sprightly towns in Van Buren County. Its appearance is
bright and speaks of life and vigorous push. It was laid out partially in
November, 1871, and finished in the spring of 1872, L. W. Cantril being the
proprietor.
It is the smallest incorporated city in the county, numbering but 210 inhab-
itants, yet having been under city legislation four years. It is the oldest new
town in Southern Iowa.
L. W. Cantril kept the first store here, the first bill of goods ever sold in
the place being January 31, 1872. L. W. Cantril was also the first Postmaster.
D. D. Wilburn was the first and R. D. Wilbum is the present Justice.
A child of William Drew was the first bom, and also the first to die. lola
Nagle and Andrew Reed were the first couple married.
C. L. Crooks was the first physician. His child was the one-hundredth bom
in the city.
W. J. Price was the first Constable.
Digitized by VjOOQIC
HISTORY OP VAN b(jREN COUNTY. 501
The place now contains three dry goods stores, one grocery store, three drug
stores, two miUinery establishments, one harness, one shoe, two wagon, one tin
and two blacksmith shops, one hardware store, one butcher-shop, two hotels,
one restaurant, three agencies, one barrel-hoop factory and one lumber-yard.
The first blacksmith in the city was Joseph Boyer.
Cantril has one graded school. The first schoolhouse was built in 1873, with
I>8car Cooley as teacher. But the district began to grow and the demand for
nore room had to be supplied. Hence, in 1878, a commodious house was
erected at an outlay of $1,700. The district has 100 scholars. The present
eachers are Mr. McLane and Ella Stonebreaker,
THE CHURCHES.
The first sermon preached was by John Sexsmith, a Protestant Meth-
odist.
However, the Methodist Episcopal Church society was organized first of all,
in 1872, and a church built. Rev. John Orr was the first Pastor of the Church.
Rev. Mr. Patterson is the present.
The Protestant Methodist society has disbanded, but while they lasted used
the Methodist Episcopal Church.
The Presbyterians organized a society in 1875, under the Rev. Mr. Van
Ammond. They have no church, although preparations are being made to
build one. The present Pastor is the Rev. Mr. Young.
A corn-grinder and saw-mill combined is the only form of milling done at
Cantril. fliis was built in 1873, by E. E. Cantril.
CITY GOVERNMENT.
Cantril was incorporated April 16, 1874, and the first election was held May
20, of the same year. For the years since the incorporation the official roster
has run as follows :
1874 — M^or, E. E. Cantril ; Recorder, Dr. C. L. Crooks ; Marshal, F.
M. Lanam. Trustees — L. W. Cantril, A. F. Holder, C. Isenhour, N. Pritchet,
C. L. Crooks.
1876 — Mayor, E. E. Cantril ; Recorder, W. M. Robertson ; Marshal, F.
M. Lanam. Trustees— A. P. Holder, W. J. Price, L. T. Holder, J. H. Will-
iams, L. W. Cantril.
1876 — Mayor, M. R. Hosick ; Recorder, W. 0. Brooks ; Marshal, J. H.
Beuchler. Trustees — A. F. Holder, E. E. Cantril, J. Beuchler, L. T. Holder,
C. K. Hall.
1877 — Mayor, F. L. Frazey ; Recorder, John D. Swartz ; Marshal, M. A.
Miller. Trustees — ^N. Pritchet, W. J. Price, A. J. Smith, J. E. Johnson, K. L.
Wilboum.
1878 — Mayor, E. E. Cantril ; Recorder, J. R. Stevens ; Marshal, M. A.
Miller. Trustees — C. M. Gray, G. L. Norris, A. Cassada, William Price, J.
M. Linn.
Prairie Gem Lodge, No. 288, I. 0. 0. F., was organized and the charter
f ranted August 21, 1874. The charter members were D. H. Kettle, W. J.
^rice, J. R. Gray, J. M. Hosick, F. M. Lanam, J. Holland and C. K.
HaU.
The charter officers were C. K. Hall, N. G.; W. J. Price, V. G.; J. R. Gray,
Secretary ; F. M. Lanam, Treasurer.
The present officei-s are R. L. Welbourn, N. G.; A. Cassada, V. G.; W. H.
Creath, Secretary ; E. F. Cheadle, P. S.; E. E. Cantril, Treasurer.
Digitized by VjOOQIC
502 HISTORY OF VAN BUREN COUNTY.
INDEPENDENT
is commonly known as '' Stumptown." This from the fact that George Stump
was proprietor of the place. It was laid out in the fall of 1851.
The old settlers were Capt. Miller, John Sommerlot, John Saylor, William
McHue, Jerre Black, John Black and Samuel Black.
George Stump kept the first store in the place.
The first blacksmith was Alex. Nedrow.
Ely, a son of Adam Young, was the first child bom ; George Stump, a son
of Frederick, was first to die, and the first marriage contract was between Rob-
ert Gardner and Rachel Kempson. •
George Stump was the first Surveyor and the first Postmaster.
Jerry Black was the first Justice, and Capt. Henry Miller the earliest
Constable.
Subdistrict No. 2, Independent Village, built its first schoolhouse of logs in
1852. William Monroe was the pioneer teacher. In 1865, a new frame house
was put up in place of the log.
There are three church societies at Independent, and two churches. Rev.
John Walker was the pioneer minister, and after him, in 1869, the Rev. Mr.
Condit was assigned here, and he organized the Methodist Episcopal Church
society, which built the church. Rev. L. Carl is the present Pastor.
The Protestant Methodist Church society was organized in 1872. They
have no church-building, using that gf the Methodist Episcopal. The Pastor is
Rev. Mr. Tolbert.
There was a small body of Presbyterians, who organized a society in 1873
and built a chuach. But the project was not very prosperous, and, in 1874, the
church was leased by the Moravians, a few of whom came to the surface, and
have continued until the present, by the aid of itinerant ministers.
ODD FELLOWS.
Van Buren Lodge, I. 0. 0. F., No. 360, was organized July 16, 1876, and
chartered July 9, 1876. The original officers were G. B. Walker, N. G. :
Rankin Smith, V. G. ; George Earheart, Sec. ; William M. Walker, P. S. ; C.
T. Gardner, Treas. The present officers ar« W. M. Walker, N. G. ; David
Stump, V. G. ; W. M. Davidson, Sec. ; Isaac N. Davis, P. S. ; R. Ritz, Treas.
Sutton & Mix are owners of the steam saw-mill that was put up in 1867 by
John M. Walker.
There is a steam grist-mill at Independent, that was built in 1868, by G.
W. Elerick & Co. In 1872, the property changed hands, coming into the pos-
session of S. H. Huckleberry, the present owner. The property is known as
the Van Buren Mills.
The village of Independent has for its officers Jonathan Nelson, Justice of
the Peace, and Perry Gilbert, Constable.
PORTLAND. .
Portland was another town for which great things were predicted, but noth-
ing ever came of it. The place was laid out in 1834, by Samuel Holcomb,
Robert Leggett, David Maggard and others, and, in 1847, the. plat was entered
by John Alexander, Ira Claflin and 0. S. Freeman, County Commissioners.
Digitized by VjOOQIC
HISTORY OF VAN BUREN COUNTY. SOS
James Pork was the first Postmaster of the town.
The first physician wa« David Truit.
James Adams was the first blacksmith, and Jesse Sutton kept the first store.
There is a schoolhouse here (Subdistrict No. 9). The original house was of
logs, built prior to 1850. A new frame was built in 1850, and, in 1873, a third
one was bmlt. Caroline Lewis taught the first school here.
There was a saw and grist mill put up in 1854. It was blown up in 1876,
the accident causing the death of a Mr. Yarnel and the serious injury of Robert
Green, who was severely burned.
Portland has had one sensation. A man named Tom Way was unceremo-
niously taken from that place in an early day, for the crime of horse-steaJing,
and sent to the Territory of Wisconsin, where the prison authorities dealt with
him according to the law.
WINCHESTER.
John Reynolds and Jefierson Cox were the proprietors and laid out the
town of Winchester, on February 29, 1840.
A man named Barnes kept the first store. There are now two stores here
and a blacksmith-shop.
A graded school was built in 1S73, prior to which the district had used the
old log schoolhouse, put up about 1840, and which had served until about 1860,
when a frame house was built and lasted until the new house was built.
The Methodist society, formed during the early settlement of Winchester,
did not build a church until 1860. The building still serves.
The Presbyterians organized a society in 1851, but disbanded in 1856.
They had a church-building, but sold it to Steven Bextle, who tore it down and
built a house with the brick.
The Lutherans had a church and society in 1854, but soon disbanded. A
Mr. Belnap bought the church and moved it away for use.
A Masonic Lodge was established here in 1850, with Moses Bigford, W. M.
A. Gregory, N. Davis, George Cupp and Jacob Archie were charter members.
The present oflScers are : Richard Workman, W. M. ; William Whittaker,
S. W. ; John Arnold, J. W.; Will Hastings, Secretary, and Christopher Carr,
Treasurer.
SUMMIT.
" Mt. Zion " is the more modern term for the station known as Summit.
This place was laid out in March, 1860, by John and Alexander Taylor.
Seth Richards kept the first store here. The first hotel-keeper was A. J.
Perviance.
All that now remains of the town is a few dwellings, a hotel, store, church
and depot.
The original location of the railroad, after leaving the depot, ran from one-
fourth to one-half mile south of th^ present location. It was laid over six
lengths of trestle-work, from nineihr to one hundred feet high, and seventy-
five to two hundred yards long. This continued to Kilbourn. But one acci-
dent ever happened here, and that was near Summit. A train of cattle-cars
was passing along, wh^n two were capsized, one falling the distance of ninety
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504 HISTORY OF VAN BURBN COUNTY.
feet and killing all the stock excepting one steer, and he got out of the car sn^
ran to Keosauqna. The other car was whirled across the track.
There is a Methodist Episcopal Church here. The society was organized
in 1870, and the church built two years later.
The village chool children patronize the district school, one mile north of
town.
There is a well at this place one hundred and seventeen feet deep, the dig-
ging of which disclosed something of interest. At a depth of one hundred
feet, solid timbers were struck, and the further investigation brought up grape-
vines and leaves in a perfect state of preservation. Seventeen feet rarther
down, a vein of water was struck, and the stream burst forth three feet above
the surface.
Summit has had a blood-curdling sensation. It occurred January 23, I860,
when an Irishman named Mike Welch nearly chopped off the head of Malachy
Ourry, another man with whom 4ie had been working on the railroad. The
trouble arose over whisky— or, more properly, out of a drunken row. Welch
was tried, and in September, 1860, Judge Townsend sentenced him to a term
of imprisonment for twenty-five years. Welch served until about 1865, when
he became insane. He was sent to the Asylum, where he died about 1870.
DOUD S STATION.
David and Eliab Doud laid out what is now the village of Doud, in the
year 1866. The settlers at that time we Samuel Holcomb, Nathan Tolman,
David, Doud, Jr., Eliab Doud, Jack Walker, Dr. Peter Walker, John Walker,
David Shelby, William Toune, David Drake, William Schuyler, Moses Starr,
John D. Baker, John Hill, William C. Adams, James Johnson, Eliott Baker
and Dr. Bover.
W. S. marker kept the first store.
The first blacksmith was M. Martin.
Eliab Doud was the first Justice, and Archable Freshwater was the first
Constable.
Mary A. Doud was the first Postmistress.
The first physician was James Crawford and Eliab Doud was the earliest
lawyer.
Andrew Fink's child was the first one to die in the place ; David Doud was
the first person born, and the first marriage performed between Thomas Doud
and Mary Sherer.
The village government of Doud is controled by a Justice of the Peace —
Eliab Doud — and a Constable — William Crawford.
There is no form of manufactory at this place. There was a saw-mill and
com-cracker put up in 1863, by Fred Benning & Brother. The mills never
did a prosperous business and were closed in 1866.
The village supports one church-building, put up in 1869, by the Baptist
denomination. The church was opened in 1870, Rev. Mr. Wilson being the
first Pastor. Subsequently, the Methodist denomination joined with the Bap-
tists, and since that time the church has served both societies.
A log cabin, owned by Eliab Doud, was pressed into service as the first
schoolhouse at Doud's Station, and Mary A. Doud was the first teacher. A
new schoolhouse was put up in the fall of 1869 and during 1870. The build-
ing still stands. The district is known as Subdistrict No. 10.
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' HISTORY OF VAN BUREN COUNTY. 507
A lodge of Odd Fellows was organized July 17, 1878, with A. Bott, N.
G. ; W. L. Reiter, V. G. ; 0. 0. Stakes, R. S. ; G. B. Walker, P. S. ; C. T.
€rardner, Treasurer; and, in addition to those gentlemen, were the following
charter members : James Crawford, D. Wiesenberger, A. L. Ratcliff, W. H.
Morrison, W. H. Bott, J. C. Beale, A. Benning, E. Sawvel, John Pearson, F. M.
Tannehill. The Lodge is named Custer Lodge, No. 381.
PLYMOUTH.
Had the expectations of an ambitious company been realized, Plymouth
might to-day have been one of the most prominent places in the county. Ed-
ward and John Colton laid the place off on April 26, 1842. Further on, an
effort was made to build a dam across the river at this point, the State taking
the improvement in hand. Thousands of dollars were expended on the enter-
prise, but it fell through. The site was just north of Farmington.
A company, with 0. H. P. Scott at the head, built a fine brick hotel and a
half-dozen tenement houses, at a cost of $15,000 ; but no one came to inhabit
iJiem, and together with the few stones that were put in to start the dam, the
improvements crumbled, until to-day the entire enterprise is a tottering wreck.
BLACK HAWK CITY.
Across the river from lowaville, in the year 1848, H. A. Davis laid off the
now wreck of a town known as Black Hawk City or New Market. He put up
a merchant flouring-mill, carding-mill, a distillery, store, cooper-shop and black-
smith-shop. The place remained above-board until 18^)1, when aJl the build-
ings were torn down.
This village had its sensations, though, even to a greater extent than, did
some of its larger sister-towns.
In the spring of 1851, during the high water. Job Carter was drowned
while swimming from his house to the distillery.
In the winter of 1854, Mary Washington, the wife of George, cut her throat.
No reason was assigned for the suicide.
COLUMBUS.
This was another attempt upon the part of capitalists to build up a mighty
city, but the effort failed. John B. Thompson and John R. Sparks were the
proprietors of the town.
ROCHESTER.
This village might have become notorious, had not a little incident occurred
to render it otherwise. The place was laid off in 1837, by M. D. Strong, J. S.
Wells and William W. Corrill. On March 21, 1837, a competition began by
the citizens of the place for the county seat. By the passage of an act by the
Wisconsin Legislature and through the influence of certain men, Rochester was
declared the county seat. Only one night was this state of affairs allowed to
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608 HISTORY OP VAN BUREN COUNTY.
exist. Keosauqua put in an oar, and, through the influence of Gov. Henry
Dodge, the right was wrested from Rochester.
The town is now defunct.
BUSINESS CORNERS.
Ami Adams laid out the nucleus of this business stand in 1846. There set-
tled around the corners at that early day Silas Gorbingham, Walter Whitten,
Reuben Sperry, Wesley H. Van Osdel, Charles T. Gardner, Henry Drake,
Julius Clark, Nero Herington, John Clark and William Boggs.
P. Allison was the pioneer store-keeper.
The first Postmaster was Charles T. Gardner.
The first physician was Dr. Crawford.
William Schuyler was the first Justice of the Peace.
Silas Garlinghouse was the first blacksmith.
The first death was that of a child-girl of David Drake ; Peter Walker and
Christy Schuyler were the first couple married, and a little girl of David Drake
was the first child bom.
There is but one church here — Union Church. This was built in 1874.
Rev. Mr. Ridenhour was the pioneer minister, having taken charge of the
church when put up.
The first schoolhouse erected was in 1869, but, prior to the building, a school
was taught in Clark's wagon-shop. The district is known as Subdistrict No. 2.
OAKLAND.
This town was laid out September 9, 1857, and joined Bentonsport on tfie
south. Samuel E. and Mercy C. Payne were the proprietors. The place
never grew.
UPTON.
On April 14, 1852, John Upton laid out this place, on the line dividing
Iowa and Missouri. The only sign of a town now is a store and blacksmith-
shop. The place is a sort of trading comer.
UTICA.
John Whetsel laid out Utica June 9, 1857. From .that time until the pres-
ent, one store and a blacksmith-^hop are the only advance the place has made
toward a town.
KILBOURNE.
A place formerly called Philadelphia, and afterward named Kilboume, was
laid ofi" in July, 1839, by John Patchett. Nothing ever became of the place
outside of a " paper " town — that is, a drawing of the shape and dimensions of
the lots on paper.
PIERCEVILLE
was laid out August 26, 1855, by Roswell T. Dibble and Horace Dibble. Like
others mentioned, the town is but a remembrance.
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HISTORY OF VAN BUREN COUNTY. 509
WATERTOWN.
Watertown was the name of a locality laid off May 26, 1837, by John
Crow, Surveyor. There is nothing left of the place.
WILLETS
igton & Soul
a stopping-place in the county. The spot was never platted
Willet*8 Station, on the Burlington & Southwestern Railroad, is the name of
. Th(
OAK POINT,
in Van Buren County, is but a. post-oflSce junction at a farm-house. It was
never platted.
LEBANON.
This place, although containing a post oflSce, two churches, a school, store
and blacksmith-shop, was never platted. It is but " four comers," laid out on
the farm of William Brooks and others.
SALUBRIA
has gained a history, owing to the " Kneeland Settlement *' which occupied the
plat. And although now in this county, it was not at the time the survey was
made. All that remains of the once famous SaJubria is a half-dozen farm-
houses, browned by the blight of years.
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BIOGRAPHICAL DIRECTORY.
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VAN BUREN TOWNSHIP.
ANSON, FLORA CE, far., S. 31 ; P.
0. Keosauqoa.
Adsod, G., fiup., S. 31 ; P. 0. Keosauqua.
BAIRD, NATHAN, far., S. 18 ; P.
0. Pittsburg.
BAKES, II. li.y merchant tailor,
Keosauqua; bom Sept. 27, 1825, in
Fleming Co., Kj. ; parents moved to
Monroe Co., Ind., in 1827, and became
from there to Bloomfield, Davis Co.,
Iowa, in 1855 ; followed his trade there
till May, 1851, when he enlisted in his
countiT*8 service in Co. A, of the 3d
Iowa Cav. ; was elected as first Lieuten-
ant of his Company and was promoted
to Captain June 24, 1862 ; resigned
Aug. 10, 1863 ; was a participant in
the battle of Pea Ridge, Ark., and
many skirmishes. Returned to Keosau-
qua, having had his family removed to
this place after he had entered the serv-
ice ; has followed his present business
principally ever since. He was married
to Isabella Hardesty Oct. 22, 1852, in
Indiana; she was bom Sept. 3, 1834,
in Indiana; have seven children —
Charles A., Willie E., Frank, Mark M.,
George D., Samuel H. and Mary.
Members of Christian Church ; Dem-
ocratic.
Baker, S. T., saloon, Keosauqua.
Baldwin, Charles, attorney at law, Keo-
sauqua.
/•
BARKER, A. C, far.,S. 17 ; P. O.
Mt. Zion ; owns 207 acres of land, valued
at $25 per acre ; was bom March 18,
1842, in this county, where he spent his
boyhood days, and at his country's call
enlisted in Co. H, 3d Iowa Cav. Sept.
8, 1861 ; participated in the battle of
Moore's Mill, Mo., where he was wound-
ed by a ball passing through the side of
the jaw and under the jugular vein,* and
lodging in the back of the neck, from
which he recovered and afterward par-
ticipated in the battles of Little Rock,
Ark., Tupelo and Guntown; Miss. ; was
also with Gen. Wilson, in his raid
through Alabama and Georgia ; was
discharged Aug. 25, 1865. Returned
home and was married to Miss Martha
M. Van Emmons, of this county ; she
was bom in Missouri in October, 1853;
have 5 children — George V., John H.,
Maud, Nellie and William R. Moved
on his farm in 1871. Is a member of
the Presbyterian Church ; Republican.
Barker, B. J. & Eli, fars., Sec. 35 ; PO.
Keosauqua.
BARKEIL BENTON H., far., S.
35 ; P. O. Keosauqua ; born Sept. 13,
1837, in Decatur Co., Ind.; came with his
father, B. J. Barker, to this county in
June, 1840, and purchased his present
farm of 320 acres, near Keosauqua, in
this county, with his brother, Eli
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612
DIxtBCTORY OF VAN BUREN COUNTY:
Barker, an unmarried brother, who
makes his home with him; their
father, B. J. Barker, was born Oct. 20,
1803, in Monongalia Co., W. Va.,
and was married to Margaret McCoy in
Indiana, June 12, 1834 ; she was bom
Nov. 25, 1817, in Ohio; they have
eight children — Lovina L., Benton H.,
Mary L., Augustus D., Jennet, Dolly
E., Julia and Eli. Benton H. went to
Montana in 1869, and subsequently to
Idaho, Oregon, California and Nevada ;
returned home in 1876 ; is now stop-
ping with his father ; has no family.
BARKER. WUililAn A., far..
Sec. 1 ; P. O. Mt. Zion. Owns 685
acres of land, valued at $30 per acre ;
born July 3, 1833, in Carroll Co., Ohio ;
came with his parents to this county in
the fall of 1839, since which time it
has been his home, with the exception
of being in California from 1854 till
the fall of 1859, when he returned, and
was married to Rebecca True, of this
county, in September, 1860 ; she was
bom in 1844, in Carroll Co., Ohio;
have seven children living — Zora E.,
Mtu9L L., Delia G., LeliaO., Bessie L.,
Wilda A., and an infant son; lost two —
Frank and Geary. Mr. Barker is one
of the leading farmers of his township.
Members of the Presbyterian Church ;
Republican.
REAMAN, DATID CRICH-
TON9 bom in Burlington, Lawrence
Co., Ohio, Nov. 22, 1838 ; his parents
were Rev. Gamaliel C. and Emelia G.
Beaman ; is a lineal descendant of Ad-
mirable Crichton, through his mother,
whose family name is Crichton ; re-
moved to Montrose, Lee Co., Iowa, in
1846, and resided there during the
Mormon troubles there, and the destruc-
tion of the Mormon temple at Nauvoo,
just across the river ; moved to Croton, on
the Des Moines River in the same county,
in 1852; was educated at Denmark,
Iowa, and Oberlin, Ohio ; went to work
at Croton as a railroad station agent in
1859. Was married Dec. 31, 1860, at
Athens, Mo., to Miss Luella A. Smith,
daughter of Dabzell and Mary Smith,
of St. Louis; his wife was born in
Augusta, Ky., Feb. 13, 1839. As a
member of Col. Moore's command,
which was composed in part of Iowa
companies, participated in the batde of
Athens, Mo., on the 5th of August,
1861, being one of the first battles of
the rebellion. Removed to Independ-
ent, Van Buren Co., in January, 1862,
still bnng in the employ of the railroad
company ; continued in railroad em-
ployment at that place, until 1866;
went into general merchandising at the
same place in 1867, and continued
about two years; began the study of
law in 1866, at home and in connection
with other business, but under the
tutorship of Hon. Robert Sloan ; ad-
mitted to the bar at Keosauqua, in Sep-
tember, 1869, and at once commenced
practice in Independent, going into the
courts of Van Buren, Davis, Jefferson
and Wapello Counties ; has been prac-
ticing ever since ; removed to Keoeau-
qua in October, 1874, and formed a
law partnership with Rutledge Lea, un-
der the firm name of Lea & Beaman, in
the office formerly occupied by J. C.
Knapp, who was that year elected to
the District Judgeship. Was Repub-
lican candidate for the Legislature in
1875, but was defeated by a small ma-
jority. They have four children —
James L., born March 23, 1862;
George C, born July 5, 1863 ; Alice
M., born May 5, 1865 ; Arthur D., born
May 11, 1871. Father, Rev. G. C.
Beaman, was one of the pioneer Pres-
byterian ministers of Iowa, having
been a minister over forty years.
Beer, James Madison, far.. Sec. 30 ; P. 0
Keosauqua.
Beer, Jas. Monroe, teamster, Keosauqua.
BEIili, Elil D., former. Sec. 19;
P. 0. Mt. Zion ; he is a son of James
and Barbara Bell ; his father being, a
native of Virginia, and his mother of
Kentucky; was born June 11, 1835,
in Campbell Co., Ky. ; parents moved
to Hancock Co., 111., in 1836, and to
this county in the spring of 1837, and
settled in this township, where he spent
his boyhood days. Was married to Miss
S. A. Matthews Feb. 12, 1857; she
was bom Nov. 10, 1832, in Ohio. In
1858, moved to Oregon Tp., Washington
Co., Iowa ; and in the spring of 1860,
went to Kansas and retumed the follow-
. ing fall and stopped in Dutch Creek Tp.,
and, in the spring of 1865, came on his
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VAN BUREN TOWNSHIP.
618
preient farm ; bave, two children living
— James W. and Edna L. ; lost two —
Oatherine C. and Elizabeth D. His
father died in this county April 16,
1872, and his mother died Oct. 8, 1862.
Member Presbyterian Chorch ; Demo-
crat.
BGIili, JOHN R., farmer, Sec. 19 ;
P. 0. Mt. Zion ; is a son of James and
Barbara Bell ; owns 115^ acres of land,
valued at $40 per acre, it being the old
homestead of his parents ; bom Nov.
.14, 1836, in Hancock Co., 111., and, in
the spring of 1837, his parents moved
to ihls county, which has been his home
ever since. He was married to Sarah
A. Bridell March 17, 1859 ; she was
bom March 17, 1840, in Indiana, and
died July 11, 1871 ; was again married
to Almira Bell, maiden name Kimmel,
January 24, 1872 ; she was bora
Sept. 28, 1847, in Iowa, and died Sept.
16, 1876 ; was again married to Mary
C. Miller Oct. 3, 1877 ; she was bom
Aug. ^4, 1842, in Indiana ; have three
children by first wife — Marietta, Har-
riet F. and Addie B., and one by second
wife— Don S. Member of M. E. Church ;
Democratic.
Bennett, Benjamin, far.. Sec. 35 ; P. 0.
Keosauqua.
Bennett, W. S., far., S. 35 ; P. 0. Keo-
sauqua.
Black, John, laborer, Keosauqua.
Bleakmore, J. B., druggist, Keosauqua.
BLEAKHORE, WYLIE H.,
publisher of the Keosauqua Repvhlicanj
Keo6au(|ua, with J. S. Sloan ; bom July
17, 1847, in Marshall Co., W. Va. ;
came from there to Jefferson Co. in the
spring of 1857 ; in 1860, went into the
office of the Fairfield Ijedger^ to leam
the printer's trade; and, in 1862, went
into the office of the Burlington Go-
zttte; in 1863, went to Denver, Col.,
and worked in the Denver NeicB office
till the latter part of 1864; he returned
to Jefferson Co., and went into the Fair-
field Democrat office, where he remained
till he came to Keosauqua in February,
1877, and went into his present office.
He was married to Mary E. Goddard of
Jefferson Co., Iowa, in September, 1868;
she was born in 1847, in St. Louis, Mo. ;
have two children — Willard M. and
John B. Republican.
Bonner, A., far., Sec. 28 ; P. 0. Pittsburg. ,
Bonner, G., far., Sec. 28 ; P. 0. Pittsburg.
Bonney, A. L., retired, Keosauqua.
BOIOTEY, J. H., retired merchant
and farmer, Keosauqua ; born Feb. 14,
1817, in Steuben Co., N. Y. ; his father
died the following summer ; soon after, his
mother moved to Tioga Co., N. Y. ; at
the age of 14, he went to Elmira where
he clerked in the dry goods business
about four years ; in the fall of 1838,
he emigrated West; stopped in Cass Co.,
HI., till the spring of 1839, when he
came into this county and settled about
three miles below Keosauqua at a place
called Rochester ; engaged in the mer-
cantile business. In August, 1840, he
was elected Sheriff of the county, being
the first elected by the people ; he then
came to Keosauqua; after his term of
office expired, he clerked in a general
store about a year. At the August elec-
tion in 1843, he was elected a member
of the Legislature ; was again elected
Sheriff of the county in 1844; and,
in 1846, was elected County Clerk,
which was the first elected by the people.
In fall of 1848, was elected Secretary
of State. In 1 85 1 , he again commenced
the mercantile business, which he con-
tinued about five years. In 1853, he
was elected as one of the Commissioners
for the improvement of the Des Moines
River ; was also one of the contractors
for the improvement in Keosauqua.
He opened an exchange business in
1855^ which he continued till 1860 ;
since that time he followed clerking,
farming, etc., till Febraary, 1871 ; he
was appointed Steward of the Poor-
Fafm of this county, which he held till
Febmary, 1878. He was married to
Orpha F. Stannard, in this county. May
lO, 1841 ; she was bom Sept. 16, 1822,
in Newport, N. H. ; have six children
living — Mary J., Anna A., Arma F.,
Orpha, Estella R., C. Hinman ; lost two
— Sarah J., Laura C. Democrat.
Brill, D. 0., far. ; P. O. Pittsburg.
Brooks, W., far., Sec. 8; P. 0. Pittsburg.
BROWN, ALEXANDER, attor-
ney, Keosauqua ; son of Hugh and
Mary Brown ; born May 3, 1837, in
Luzerne Co., Penn. ; parents came to
this county in fall of 1842 ; commenced
the study of law under Judge Wright
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514
DIRECTORY OF VAN BUREN COUNTY :
in 1858, and was admitted to tbe bar in
September, 1859 ; he then went to Mag-
nolia, Harrison Co., Iowa, and practiced
law till in the year 1861. He letumed
to this county and enlisted in Co. E, of
the 15th I. V. I., Oct 20, 1861 ; was
promoted as Sergeant Major of the
regiment, March 1, 1862 ; participated
in battle of Pittsburg Landing, where
he was wounded, and afterward, at the
battle of Corinth, from the effects of
which wound he was discharged Feb.
12, 1863. Returned home, and was
clerk in Provost Marshal's office at Bur-
lington till fall of 1865 ; then, returned
to Keosauqua, and was elected County
Judge the fall of 1865, which office was
changed to Auditor after first year, and
he was elected Auditor three successive
terms ; after which, he commenced the
practice of law with his present partner
— W. A. Work. He was married to
Mary Rankin, of Keosauqua, June 9,
1870 ; she was bom June 16, 1848, in
this county ; have one son — Ord, bom
Feb. 22, 1876. Republican.
Brown, John G., banker, Keosauqua.
BBOWNE^ JOBDT, farmer. Sec.
10 ; P. 0. Kilbourne; son of Wm. and
Elizabeth Browne (nee Alexander) ;
was bora May 4, 1833, in West Meath,
Ireland ; father came to this county in
1847, and settled on the farm where
John Browne now lives, his mother
having died b Ireland Jan. 1, 1827,
and his father here Nov. 12, 1854. Was
married to Eliza Craig Feb. 22, 1860,
in this county ; she was born in Ireland
in 1831 ; have six children — James R.,
bora Dec. 13, 1860; Eliza, bom Dpc.
23, 1862; Mary J., born Sept. 11,
1865; Sarah, born March 28, 1868;
Hester, bora Oct. 10, 1870 ; William,
bora May 26, 1873. Mr. Browne, owns
the homestead farm of 135 acres, valued
at $25 per acre. Politics, Republican.
BURTON, E. F., Keosauqua, pro-
prietor of restaurant and dealer in gro-
ceries ; born Sept. 1, 1812, in Freder-
icksburg, Va. ; in 1833, came to Greene
Co., Ohio; worked at millwright busi-
ness and coopering till he came to this
county in August, 1841 ; settled in Keo-
sauqua and has followed his present
business most of tjie time. He was mar-
ried to Elizabeth McDill, of Virginia,
March 1, 1838 ; she was bora in Penn>
sylvania in 1807 ; have six children liv-
ing— Julia, Elizabeth, Margaret A.^
John, Daniel H., Edward F. ; lost three
— Mary A., William and Ira. Bepob-
lican.
OAHILL, TIMOTHY, retired phyai-
cian, 'Mt. Zion.
CAmiili. JOHUr, proprietor of a
saloon, ana dealer in groceries, notions,
etc.; born June 24, 1832, Mt. Zion;
in County Kerry, Ireland ; came to the
United States in the fall of 1851 ; fol-
lowed railroading in New Hampshire
and Massachusetts till the spring of
1857 ; came to Jefferson Co., Iowa, and,
the following fall, came to Van Bnren
Co., which has been his home since, with
the exception of some travelbg through
Missouri and elsewhere. He was mar-
ried to Maiy Breen April 8, 1856, in
New Hampshire ; she was bora in Connty
Kerry, Ireland, in 1830; have three
children — Mary, bora Jan. 3, 1859 ^
James, born Dec. 2, 1864; Catharine,
born May 16, 1867 ; lost two — Julia
and Margaret Member of the Catholic
Church ; Democratic.
CAMPBEIili, BETHEL, far-
mer. Sec. 8 ; P. 0. Mt. Zion ; owns 200
acres of land, valued sJt $30 per acre ;
bora March 24, 1833, inB rooke Co.,W.
Ya. ; came with his parents to this
county in 1840, and settled on the fitrm
where he now lives ; went to Idaho in
the spring of 1862, and returaed in the
fall of 1866. Married Mary B. John-
ston Nov. 28, 1 867 ; she was bora in
Ohio July 27, 1843 ; have three chil-
dren— Thos. E., Charles A. and Myrtes ;
lost Ira W. Democratic.
Carrathers, J., far., S. 17 ; P. 0. Pitts-
burg.
Cheney, E. J., carpenter, Keosauqua.
CLARKE, BOBT. L., Coumy
Treasurer, Keosauqua; bora April 2,
1838, in Portage Co., Ohio; parents
moved to White Co., Tenn., in 1854,
and came from there to this county in
the spring' of 1856, and settled in Ver-
non Tp. ; the second year after arriving
here, he moved into the village of Ver-
non, in Henry Tp., and taught school
there one season ; before coming to this
State, Mr. Clarke had spent three yearr
at the Western Reserve Coll^ at Hnd-
Digitized by VjOOQIC
VAN BUREN TOWNSHIP.
515
son, Ohio ; during the winter of 1 859, '
he moved into Bentonsportand engaged
in the drag business for about three
years ; then went into the office of the
K. & D. M. R. R. Co., as Station Agent,
which he filled for nine years. In the
&11 of 1871, he was elected as County
Treasurer, which he has filled up to the
present time. Mr. Clarke organized the
A., F. & A. M. Chapter in Keosauqua,
and has held the position of High Pnest
for five years. He was married to Miss
Jennie M. Yeager, of this county. Nov.
30, 1858 ; she was bom in Pennsyl-
vania in 1840 ; have five children —
Carrie A., Ellen B., Kate O., Libbie B.
and Leora B. Member of the Congre-
gational Church; Republican.
CliATTON, JAHES H., fiur., S.
27 ; P. 0. Pittsburg ; owns 110 acres
of land, valued at $35 per acre ; son of
Samuel Clayton ; was born Sept. 30,
1816, in Perry Co., Ohio; parents
moved to Washington Co. in 1832 ; in
the winter of 1836, his father came to
this county and made his claim at the
mouth of Chequest Creek, he being the
first settler in the township west of the
Des Moines River ; the following fall,
James H. came out and stopped with
his parents ; his mother died in 1848 ;
father died August 27, 1872. Was
married to Mary A. Bowers (maiden
' name Saunders) Sept. 28, 1843; she
was born Oct. 22, 1813, in Ohio; died
July 17, 1878, leaving her husband
alone in the world, they having no chiK
dren. Mr. Clayton is a member of the
M. E. Church and a Republican.
Clark, W., far., S. 29 ; P. 0. Pittsburg.
Clemmens, J., far. ; P. 0. Pittsburg.
Clemens, 8. O., far., S. 28 ; P. 0. Pittsburg.
Cocherell, Alpheus, lab., Mt. Zion.
Cocherell, Henson, far. ; P. 0. Keosauqua.
Cocherel, W. H., lab. ; P. 0. Keosauqua.
Cook, J. D., far., S. 14; P. 0. Pittsburg.
Cowan, A. H. far., S. 32 ; P. 0. Pittsburg.
Craig, A., far., Sec. 15 ; P. 0. Pittsburg.
CBAIO, WUililAH, Keosauqua.
born July 29, 1817, in Westmoreland
Co., Penn ; parents moved to Indiana Co.
in 1824, and, in 1833, he went into
Jefferson Co*, and to Clarion Co. in 1837,
and commenced the study of medicine
under Pr. James Ross, of Clarion, and
during the time attended lectures at
Geneva, N. Y. ; in 1845, he went into
Somerset Co., and commenced the prac-
tice of medicine, and subsequently at-
tended the Cleveland Medicid Collie ^
Ohio, where he graduated in 1850 ; and,
in the fall of 1851, came to Keosauqua,
of this county, where he has practiced
medicine more or less ever since, and in
connection therewith has carried on the
the drug business some ten or twelve
years; owns a farm of 115 acres near
town. He was married to Miss Anna
Brown, of this place, Nov. 24, 1858 ^
she was born in Pennsylvania ; have five
children — Jean, Hugh B., Colin S., Wm.
G., and James A. ; lost one — Mary.
Member of Congregational Church ;
Republican.
Craig, Wm., far., S. 11 ; P. 0. Pittsburg.
Creasy, Jacob, far., S. 17; P. O.Pittsburg.
Cresap, J. T. B., engineer; P. 0. Pittsburg.
CUBBERIiET, JESSE, farmer
and blacksmith, Keosauqua; born
Jan., 15, 1820, in Licking Co., Ohio;
learned the blacksmith's trade in early
life ; came to Keosauqua in the spring
of 1849, where he has made his home
ever since. In August, 1861, he enlisted
in the service of his country, in the 3d
I. V. C, Co. G, and was honorably dis-
charged July 1, 1862, for disability ;
his service was in detached service,
skirmishing, etc., in Missouri. He was
married to Miss Lydia W. Lewis, of
Washington Co., Ohio, Sept. 24, 1846 ;
she was born in same State Nov. 6, 1818 ;
have four children — Mary, born July 31 ,
1847, in Ohio; James, born Deo. 6,
1849, in Iowa; Edward H., born Sept.
1, 1852, in Iowa ; and John M., bom
March 4, 1855, in Iowa. Member of
the Congregational Church ; Republican.
DOUGHERTY, JOHN F., merchant,
Keosauqua.
Dougherty & Shane, mer., Keosauqua.
Davis, H., far., S. 30 ; P. 0. Pittsburg.
Davis, A. F., clerk, Keosauqua.
Dawson, N. R., tailor, Keosauqua.
De Gallyer, James, laborer, Keosauqua.
Denning, Jonathan, far.; P. O. Portland.
Dewey, J. C, far., S. 22 ; P. 0. Pittsburg.
Disbrow, H. H., artist, Keosauqua.
Downing, John, far.; P. 0. Portland.
DUFFIEliD, GEO. C, farmer and
stock-raiser; P. O. Pittsburg; own*
about 500 acres of land, vali:ied at $2&
Digitized by VjOOQIC
516
DIRECTORY OF VAN BURBN COUNTY:
per acre ; son of James and Margaretta
(Bierlj) 'Buffield; his father was a
native of MarjlaDd, and his mother of
Pennsylvania; they were married in
Franklin Co., Penn., in 1815; moved
to Jefferson Co., the same year; he
was bom in that county May 13, 1824 ;
in the fall of 1834, moved to Fulton
Co., m.; his &ther and brother John,
in December, 1836, made claims of
land in Van Buren Tp.; the following
spring, moved on the claim ; their
wagon-track was the first west of the
Des Moines River in this township ;
when young, Mr. Duffield spent some
dme in Louisiana ; in St. Paul, Minn.,
then a small trading-post, in 1849,
.assisted in unloading the first printing
press brought to that place ; in 1849,
went to California; in the spring of
1 853, returned ; has been engaged in
.the stock business extensively ; went to
Texas, purchased 1 ,500 head of cattle,
.and drove them to market; has been
Superintendent of the stock, hog and
sheep department for the State Agri-
<5ultural Society for twelve years, and
one of the Directors the last three
years. Served as a scout for the 3d
Iowa Cavalry, about one year. Married
JServia Stannard April 17, 1856 ; she
•died March 4, 1857 ; was married
again to Addie Stidger, March 18,
1867 ; she was bom Jan. 4, 1843, in
this County ; have three children living
— Glenn S., Mary C. and Ada E.; lost
one — Howe H. Mr. Duffield's father
died Jan. 20, 1875 ; his mother is liv-
ing at his brother James' ; she is in her
84th year. Republican.
Duffield, H. P., retired merchant, Keo-
sauqua.
DUFFIELD, JOBDV, far., S. 21 ;
P. 0. Pittsburg ; owns 144 acres of land,
valued at $35 per acre; he is a son
of James Duffield, Sr. ; born Sept. 1,
1820, in Jefferson Co., Ohio; hisfether
moved to Fulton Co., 111., in the fall of
1833, and, in the fall of 1836, he, in
company with his father, came to this
county and located the land upon which
he now lives, and returned to Illinois ;
the following spring of 1837, the family
came, they driving the first wagon ever
•driven west of the Des Moines River in
xhis part of the county, which was then
a wild, uninhabited region, except bj
the red men of the forest, wild animals,
frame, etc. He was married to Jane H.
McKibben, of this county, April 27,
1848 ; she was bom January 2, 1829 ;
have five children — Margaretta J.,
George W., Zervie A., Orion J. aad
Henry — two of whom are married,
Greorge W. and Margaretta. Mr.
Duffield holds the position of Elder in
the. Presbyterian Church ; Democrat.
Duffield, J., far., S. 21 ; P. O. Pitteburg.
DIJFFIEIiD, J. H«, Postmaster,
Pittsburg; dealer in dry goods and
general merchandise; bom Jan. 27,
1835, in Fulton Co., 111.; his parents
moved to this county in the fall of
1837 ; settled west of the Des Moines
River in what is now known as Van
Buren Tp., of this county ; he attended
the Iowa Wesleyan University at Mt.
Pleasant from 1859 to 1861. He then
enlisted in his country's service in Co.
F, 2d Iowa Inf ; participated in the
battle of Ft. Donelson, where he was
wounded by a minie-ball striking him
in the neck and passing under the jugu-
lar vein and through the shoolder-
blade, which wound disabled him so
that after his recovery he was dis-
charged, and came home in the spring
of 1865. In the spring of 1866, he
came to Pittsburg, where he continued
four years, then returned to Keosauqua,
and was in partnership with a Mr.
Harrison two years, and with J. S.
Sloan, four years; bought out Mr.
Sloan's interest in the fall of 1877, and
removed to Pittsburg. He was married
to Melissa M. Stannard April 18, 1875 ;
Hhe was born in March, 1842, in this
county; they have three children liv-
ing— Mary E., Ida M. and James B. ;
los& one, Charles S. Members of the
Presbyterian Church ; Republican.
TT^NO, N. G., physician, Keosauqua.
En tier Bros., hardware, Keosauqua.
FASMACHT, LEWIS E., artist,
Keosauqua.
Fasnacht, S., butcher, Keosauqua.
Fellows, E., far., S. 20 ; P. 0. Pittsburg.
Fellows, W. M. V. B., far.. Sec. 4 ; P. 0.
Pittsburg.
FELLOWS, STEPHEN D.,
farmer. Sec. 31 ; P. O. Keosauqua ; bom
Digitized by VjOOQIC
VAN BUREN TOWNSHIP.
517
. Oct. 3, 1833, in Luzerne Co., Penn;
his parents emigrated West in 1836 ;
stopped in Micb^^ till spring of 1837,
then came on to Van Buren Co., and
settled on the farm upon which he now
lives; his father, Asahel Fellows, died
bare March 19, 1869; his mother is
still living and makes her home with
her children. Mr. Fellows married
Ann Bo wen, of this county, in 1862 ;
she was bom in Wales, in 1842 ; have
six children — Asahel G., Allen D., Sher-
man G., Thomas H., Chloe and Stephen
L. Member of the Christian Church ;
is also member of A., F. & A. M., and
I. 0. 0. F. Democrat.
VELLOWS, WHITING A.,
farmer, Sec. 8 ; P. 0. Pittsburg ; son
of Asahel and Susanna (Harrison) Fel-
lows; bom May 22, 1828, in Luzerne
Co., Penn; his parents moved to Kala-
mazoo Co., Mich., in the spring of
1836, and, in the fall of the same year,
be came to this county, and located his
<;laim just below Keosauqua, and the
following spring of 1837, moved his
£unily, where he lived till March 19,
1869, when he departed this life for
that country from whose bourn no trav-
eler returns. Mr. Fellows pre-empted
his present farm of 180 acres, from the
Oovemment, and came on to it in 1858.
He was married to Miss Susan E. Dod-
8on, in Luzerne Co., Penn., March 12,
1862 ; she was born in this county,
Febraary 27, 1843 ; her parents having
moved to this county in 1837, her
father died in 1847, and her mother re-
turned to Pennsylvania in 1848, but is
now living with her daughter Susan.
Mr. and Mrs. Fellows have but one son,
Harry D., born Jan. 16, 1863. Demo-
crat.
Forbes, A., far.. Sec. 13 ; P. 0. Pittsburg.
Forbes, B., far., Sec. 9 ; P. 0. Pittsburg.
Forbes, R., Sr., far., S. 18 ; P. 0. Mt. Zion.
Forbes, R., Jr., far., S. 14; P. 0. Pittsburg.
Forbes, T., far., S. 5 ; P. 0. Mt. Zion.
Ford, Wm. H., mechanic, Keosauqua.
Forman, Daniel, lab., Keosauqua.
Frazee, S. C, far., S. 12; P. 0. Kilboura.
FRY, ISAAC, far., S. 24; P. 0.
Keosauqua; owns 233 acres of land,
valued at $40 per acre ; bora June 28,
1813, in Washington Co., Penn. ; par-
ents moved to Delaware Co., Ohio, in
1828 ; were there a few years, then
went to Union Yale and Little York,
where he was engaged in the manufact-
ure of threshing machines for about nine
years ; afterward, went to Cincinnati,
Ohio, where he was engaged in a planing
and saw mill about ten years ; came to
this county in 1854, and settled near
Winchester ; moved to Missouri in the
spring of 1864, and returned and pur-
chased his present farm in 1872. He
was married to Margaret Allen March
13, 1832, in Ohio; she died in 1842;
was again married to Charlotte Roach
March 23,^843 ; she was bom Jan. 8,
1822, in Jefferson Co., Ohio ; have three
children living by first wife — Abiah,
Josephusand Caroline; lost one — Ange-
line, and by second wife eight — Thomas
A., Johnson F., William B., Sarah A.,
Margaret L., Cassius M. C, John C. F.
and Abraham L. ; lost two — James L.
and Harry H. His son, William H.,
was admitted to the bar as attorney at
the August term of the District Court,
1878. Republican.
Funk, Wm., mill-owner, Keosauqua.
aAYLORD, EDWARD, teamster,
Mt. Zion.
Gebhardt, G. C, retired, Keosauqua.
OEBHARDT, W. A., County
Clerk, Keosauqua; born Dec. 10, 1840,
in Pickaway Co., Ohio; came to this
county in 1866. Enlisted April 16,
1861, in the 11th Indiana Zouaves for
ninety days, after which he returned to
Iowa and enlisted in Co. K, of the 15th
Iowa Inf., and re-enlisted as a veteran
in 1864; was discharged in October,
1864, and promoted to First Lieuten-
ant of the 70th U. S. C. Inf; was mus-
tered out of the service March 4, 1866 ;
he participated in the battles of Shiloh,
siege of Corinth, luka, siege of Vicks-
burg; was also with Sherman in his
march to the sea. At the close of the war,
returned to Keosauqua and went into
the County Treasurer's office, and sub-
sequently into the County Judge's of-
fice and County Clerk's office, in which
last he acted as deputy eight years and
was elected to the office in the fisdl of
1876, by the largest majority ever given
to any Republican candidate in the
county; he commenced the study of
. aw in 1869 , and was admitted to the
Digitized by VjOOQIC
618
DIRECTORY OF VAN BUREN COUNTY:
bar in August, 1874 ; he has recently
been commissioned as Lieut Colonel
and Aide-de-camp on Gov. Ckar's
staff. He married Harriet E. Silver in
Ohio April 16, 1869; she was bom
Nov. 8, 1841, in Ohio; have four chil-
dren— Bessie L., Fred L., George C.
and an infant daughter. Republican.
60DDABD, EDWIN, abstract
office and Notary Public ; Keosauqua,
bom June 12, 1821, in Champaign Co.,
Ohio ; came to this county in the fall of
1 840 ; settled in Chequest Tp. ; in 1849,
came to Pittsburg ; the following Jan-
uary, in company with Geo. Duffield and
Jesse Elder, started for California ; fol-
lowed mining there most of the time
near Sonora ; returned to this county
in May of 1853, and remained at Pitts-
burg most of the time till 1859 ; then
bought a farm about three miles south
of Keosauqua and commenced improv-
ing it. At his country's call, he enlisted
in Co. P, 2d I. V. C, in May, 1861 ;
was wounded at Ft. Donelson, which
disabled him for j^rther duty, and was
finally discharged at St. Louis Sept. 13,
1862. He then returned home; in the
fall of 1864, he was elected County
Recorder, and re-elected in 1866 ; he
was elected Secretary of the Old
Pioneer Society, at their second annual
meeting, in August, 1872, which posi-
tion he has filled up to the present time
with credit to himself and the satisfaction
of the Society. Mr. Goddard has taken
great pains in preserving reminiscences
of the early history of Van Bui'en Co.
Republican.
Groon, W. S., far. ; P. 0. Lebanon.
HANEY, MOSES, farmer, Sec. 34;
P. 0. Pittsbui^.
Harrington, John, R. R. employe ; P. 0.
Mt. Zion.
Harrison, Wm., agent, Keosauqua.
HEABN, JOHN !¥., farmer, Sec.
9 ; P. 0. l)oud*s Station ; owns a farm of
173 acres, valued at $20 per acre; is a
son of Thomas Heara, deceased ; bom in
this county July 8, 1849 ; his father
died Sept. 4, 1877. Was married to
Anna Jamison, daughter of D. S. Jami-
son, Sept. 21, 1876 ; and came on to his
present farm the same month ; wife was
bom June 9, 1852, in this county; have
one daughter — Florence M., bora July
31, 1877. Member of the M. E. Church;
Republican.
HE ABN, PERRY, former, Sec. 23 ;
P. O. Keosauqua ; son of Thomas and
Nancy Heara ; was bora in this oounty
May 13, 1857 ; his father was born in
Maryland March 11, 1805, and mother
Aug. 30, 1812, in same State, and were
married Dec. 30, 1833, and emigrated
to this county in 1836, and settled on
the farm where they are still living ; his
father died Sept. % 1877 ; there are four
other children in the family — Martha,
Samuel, John W., and .Rachel ; Perry
being the youngest, who is living with
his mother on the homestead.
Heara, Samuel, fer., S. 9 ; P. 0. Pittsburg.
Heara, William, farmer.
Hellyer, M., far., S. 7 ; P. O. PorUand.
Holbert, William, brickmason, Keosauqua.
HOOTKAKT, HENRY, fiir., See.
5 ; P. O. Mt. Zion ; bora May 1, 1827,
in Harrison Co., Ohio; came with his
parents to this oounty in the fall of
1839. He was married to Miss Mary
Barker, of this county, Oct. 17, 1850 ;
she was bora in Carroll Co., Ohio, Jan.
25, 1830 ; have ten children— Martha
L., Mary C, Anna M., Jacob G., Maria
C, Ezra J., Ada D., Joseph T., Henry
H. and Orpha 0. He owns 320 acres
of land, valued at $40 per acre. Is
a member of the Presbyterian Church ;
Democrat.
Hora, W. H., far., S. 6 ; P. 0. Pittsbui^.
Hortman, Augustus, carpenter, Mt. Zion.
HOUR, JACOR, fer.,Sec. 18; P.
0. Mt. Zion ; owns 125 acres of land,
valued at $30 per acre ; bora April 8,
1810, in Tuscarawas Co., Ohio ;
came from there to this county in
the spring of 1839, and settled in
Washington Tp., and came on to his
present farm in 1 858. Married Nancy
Campbell in Ohio, in October, 1829;
she was bora in 1811, and died
in May, 1840 ; was again married to
Lucinda Barker April 5, 1843 ; she was
bora in Ohio in 1822 ; have two chil-
dren by first wife, living — David and
Mary; lost two — Clarissa, and Harry,
who was killed at the battle of Fort
Donelson ; by second wife has six
children living — Rodolphus T., Alice,
Catherine, William A., Melissa J. and
Anna S. ; lost one — Eva, who was the
Digitized by VjOOQIC
VAN BUREN TOWNSHIP.
519
wife of William Price. Members of
* the Presbyterian Church ; Republican.
House, Thomas, far. ; P. 0. Portland.
HOWARD, SAHVEIi, dealer in
dry goods and general merchandise, Mt.
Zion ; bom Jan. 13, 1836, in Montgom-
ery Co., Mo. ; parents moved to Taney
Co. in 1845; lefl there in 1848 and came
to Decatur Co., Iowa, where he made
his home mostly till 1866 ; during that
time, however, he spent a couple of
years in Oregon, Idaho and Montana ;
also spent three summers in Kansas;
came to this county in 1866, and com-
menced his present business in 1873.
Married Miss Margaret J. KLsliog Jan.
6, 1859; she was bom in 1839 in In-
diana; have six children — George P.,
Florence M., William C, Adolphus,
Leonard and an infant. Independent
in politics.
HUNTER. JOSEPH, farmer. Sec.
24; P. 0. Mt. Zion; owns 120 acres
of land, valued at $40 per acre ; bom
May 2, 1833, in Perry Co., Penn.;
came from there" to this county in the
spring of 1844 ; he went to California
in the spring of 1855, by overland
route, and returned home in 1858, via
New York. Was married to Mary
Trebilcock May 4, 1859 ; she was bora
in Decembbr, 1835, in Ohio, and died
March 23, 1873 ; was again married to
Mrs. Sarah Massey March 26, 1874 ;
her maiden name was Price; she was
bom July 21, 1848, in Iowa; has five
children by first wife — Francis M.,
Ann, Joseph W., Ella and Eva M.; by
second wife — James E. and Virginia;
lost two, Theodore and Udora. Mem-
ber of the Presbyterian Church.
Hunter, R., clerk, Keosauqua.
IRISH, J. D., farmer and merchant,
Keosauqua.
TACKSON, J., retired far., Keosauqua.
JACKSON, JONATHAN,
farmer, Sec. 23; P. 0. Keosauqua;
owns 113 acres of land, on the banks
of the Des Moines River, which is very
pleasantly located, being above high
water; his father, Jeremiah Jackson,
came ^om Maryland to this county in
1837, he being among the earliest set-
tlers of the county; the subject of
this sketch was bora May 29, 1845, in
this county, and lives on the old home-
stead farm. He was married May 5,
1875, to Minnie M. Short, daughter of
Benjamin and Rhoda Short, of lick
Creek Tp., of this county ; have one
son — £enjamin, born Dec. 11, 1876.
Member of the M. E. Church. Demo-
crat.
JACKSON, T. C. station agent
on K. & D. M. R. R.,Mt. Zion ; son of
William Jackson who came from Bel-
mont Co., Ohio, to this county in 1850,
and settled in Village Tp., near Doud's
Station, where he still lives ; the sub-
ject of this sketch was born July 2,
1851, in this county, where he spent his
boyhood days; at the age of 15, he
commenced to learn railroading in the
Des Moines office of this company and
alter one year's service was appointed
agent at Doud's Station, where he con-
tinued about five yeard ; then went into
the County Treasurer's office at Keosau-
qua a short time ; was then appointed
agent at the station where he now is. He
was married to Miss Sadie E. Arnold, of
Lee Co., Iowa, June 3, 1873 ; she was
bora in September, 1851, in Ohio ; have
one daughter — Orpha L., born April 9,
1876. Republican.
JABLISON, DANIEL S., far., S
29 ; P. O. Keosauqua ; owns ninety-
three acres of land, valued at $35 per
acre ; bora Aug. 25, 1822, in West-
moreland Co., Penn. ; came from there
to this county in the spring of 1844,
and settled in Keosauqua ; followed his
trade of carpenter and joiner work till
he came on to hb present farm in the
spring of 1853. Was married to Mar-
tha E. Alexander, of this county, Nov.
13, 1845 ; she waa bora Oct. 14, 1825,
in Missouri, and died Jan. 19, 1858 ;
waM again married to Louisa Broadwell
Feb. 21, 1861 ; she was born Aug. 27;
1836, in Sangamon Co., 111. ; have three
children by first wife — Marian, Florence
L. and Ann A. ; and by second wife
five— Charles E., Cora M., Hugh S.,
Bob S. and Ralph L. Mr. Jamison
has been Assessor for Van Buren Tp. for
ten years. Republican.
Jameson, Wm., lab., Keosauqua.
Johnson, Daniel, lab., Keosauqua."
Johnson, David, carpenter, Mt. Zion.
Johnson, John, lab., Keosauqua.
Digitized by
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DIRECTORY OP VAN BUREN COUNTY:
Johnson, Richard, lab., Keosauqua.
JOHBriM>N, W. B., proprietor of
portable steam saw-mill and millwright,
Keosauqua; bom July 13, 1831, in
Newark, Ohio ; parents moved to Rich-
mond, Ind., in 1841 ; while there he
was apprenticed to a millwright and
learned the trade, and from there he
came to Northern Missouri in 1859,
where he followed building mills princi-
pally. In the spring of 1861. enlisted
in the Home Guards, and subsequently,
in Co. G, of the 2d Mo. Y. 0. ; worked
mostly with construction train, was with
Gen. Banks in the Red River expedi-
tion ; was discharged in 1863, for disa-
bility. Returned home and engaged at
his trade, contracting, building, etc.,
putting up thirty-two mills west of the
Mississippi River ; in 1869, he came to
Keosauqua and put up sixty-three
buildings the first year. He was mar-
ried to Laura M. Marine Oct. 31, 1850,
in Indiana; she was bom Dec. 10,
1832 ; have three chidren — Martha C,
James H. and Christopher C. Repub-
lican.
JOHNSTOBT, BENJAMIN, at-
tomey, Keosauqua; bom March 9, 1845,
in Keosauqua ; his parents came from
Luzerne Co., Penn., in 1842. At his
country's call, he enlisted in Co. E, of
the 16th Iowa V. I., Oct. 13, 1861, and
re-enlisted as veteran, in December,
1863, and, the following March was
promoted as 1st Lieutenant of Co. G,
in the 67th U. S. C. Regiment ; he was
mustered out at Baton Rouge, La., Aug.
14, 1865 ; returned to Keosauqua and
engaged in the drag business, which he
continued till 1869, and the following
two years he traveled for a Burlington
book and stationery house ; in 1872, en-
gaged in the dry goods business and con-
tinued for one year ; he then assumed
the charge of the engineer corps for the
St. L., K. & St. P. R. R., after which he
traveled through Kansas ; retumed and
clerked for Mr. Ed. Manning one winter;
in 1875, again commenced the drag
business; sold out in 1877, and com-
menced reading law with Judge Robert
Sloan ,and was admitted to the bar in April,
1878 ; he was recently commissioned as
Captain of the military company of Keo-
sauqua ; is also member of the A., F. &
A. M. Order; is Generalissimo in the
commandery. Was married to MIm
Anna Purviance Nov. 7, 1867 ; she wbs
bom in August, 1845, in Jefferson Co ,.
Ohio; have four children — Margaret,
James A., Mary B., and Ella C. Mem-
ber of the Episcopal Church ; Repab-
lican.
Johnston, Francis, Sheriff, Keosauqna.
Jones, Leander, far. ; P. 0. Keosanqna.
Jones, Wm., far., S. 30 ; P. 0. Keosauqna.
Jones, J., far.. Sec. 30 ; P. 0. Keosauqaa.
KELLER, A., farmer. Sec. 19 ; P. O.
Pittsburg.
Keller, J., far.. Sec. 19; P. 0. Pittsbui^.
Kerr, S., far.. Sec. 10; P. 0. Pittsburg.
KITTIiE, D. K., County Recorder
and proprietor of the Shepherd House ;
Keosauqua ; son of Phineas W. and
Margaret (Luke) Kettle; born Aug.
2, 1826, in Hamilton Co., Ohio;
his parents moved to Dearborn Co.,
Ind., in 1829 ; went to Knox Co.,
in 1839; in the spring of 1841, his
fiither retumed to Dearborn Co.,
and died there. In the summer of 1841,
D. K. was attacked with a white swell-
ing, with which he has been afflicted
ever since. In the spring of 1842, he
returned to Dearborn Co., on bis
uncle's invitation, to live with him and
go to school, which he did some three
years, supposing it was through big
uncle's generosity, but learned a few
years ago that it was his brother John
who paid the expense; commenced
teaching school in 1845 ; in the spring
of 1854, he came to lowaville, of this
county, and followed teaching until
1872; filled several official posi-
tions in his township — Justiee of
the Peace, Township Clerk, As-
sessor, etc.; in the fall of 1872, was
elected County Recorder, and for four
successive terms. Married Lovina
McCullough, of this county, Nov.
26, 1854 ; she was bom Oct. 30, 1837,
in Indiana ; have four children living —
Dora, Delia, Roger and Oeorge ; lost
three, Edgar, Ida and Carrie. Mem-
ber of the M. E. Church ; Republican.
Kettle, S., far.; P. 0. Portland.
KUnSBSIiY* J. J., proprietor of
Orion Mills; r. 0. Keosauqua; bOTD
in Staffordshire, England, May 4, 1813 ;
he leamed the tailor's trade there, and
Digitized by VjOOQIC
VAN BUREN TOWNSHIP.
521
emigrated to the United States in 1835 ;
stopped at Manayunk, Pa., where he re-
mained till the summer of 1837, then
went to Martinsburg, in Belmont Co.,
Ohio , and remained about a year ; from
there he went to Princeton, in Butler
Co., Ohio, and in the spring of 1839,
started for Iowa, and came to this
county, and stopped about a month
at a place on the Des Moines
River, in Farmington Tp., called Sa-
labria, a paper town ; he then came
to Keosauqua; followed tailoring till j
1845, when he commenced the bus-
iness of selling dry goods and general
merchandise, which he continued till
1862. He purchased the mills built
by Maj. King and others, in 1849,
which were destroyed by the ice in 1857 j
he commenced building his present mill
in 1860, which was completed in 1861.
He was married to Mrs. M. D. Pratt, of
this place, whose maiden name was Ken-
dall, on the 15th of June, 1843 ; she
was bom Dec. 11, 1812, in Boston,
Mass.; she had two children by her first
husband, and eight by Mr. Kinersly,
four of whom are living — Charlotte A.,
Edwin R., Lucy A. and Orion ; those
dead are Volney, Robert, Ruthbin and
Ainsworth. Mr. Kinersly can say what
but few persons can, that he was never
sick a day in his life, with the exception
of a little ague in 1839, and his wife
about the same. He was brought up a
Catholic, but after coming to this coun-
try, changed his views. He has made
it a point to live uprightly in his dealings
with all mankind, but has never been
identified with any church. Democrat.
KINO^ BIJSSO, farmer, formerly
millwright ; P. 0. Keosauqua ; owns a
farm of 200 acres adjoining the town of
Keosauqua; bom June 11, 1811, in Lu-
«enie Co.,Penn. ; in the spring of 1834,
emigrated to Kalamazoo, Mich. ; and, in
the spring of 1837, to Van Buren Co.,
and settled on his present farm ; Keosau-
qua was then in its infancy, there being
but few families here and plenty of na-
tive Americans in the vicinity ; he fol-
lowed his trade, that of millwright, for
several years; he, in company with
others, put up the first grist and saw
mill here, just below where the present
mill stands. He was married to Miss
Elizabeth McGuire, of this place, Id
1842 ; she died within one year there-
after ; was again married to Margaret J.
Nixon in August, 1845 ; she was bo*ro
July 11, 1815, in Belmont Co., Ohio;
have three children living — Stephen,
Virginia and Adelia; lost two — Eliza-
beth and Franklin. Democrat.
Kirkendall, E. B., far., S. 6 ; P. 0. Doud'a
Station.
Knapp, J. C, Hon., Judpi^ District Court,
Keosauqua.
LEACH, MATTHEW, far.. Sec. 11 ;
P. O Pittsburg.
liE A, BUTIiEDOE, attorney, Keo-
sauqua ; bom Nov. 4, 1843, in Adams Co.,
Ohio ; parents moved to Fairfield, Jeffer-
son Co., Iowa, in the spring of 1855, and
to Keosauqua, of this county, in April,
1856 ; commenced the study of law in
1860, in the office of Judge Knapp &
Wright, and was admitted to the bar
Sept. 5, 1864. Was married to Victoria
Henry, of Keosauqua, April 9. 1868;
she was born July 2, 1851, in Johns-
town, Penn. ; have three children — lola,
born Nov. 9, 1872; Henrietta, bom
May 11, 1875; Mamie, born Jan. 20,
1877. Mr. Lea was appointed as one
of the United States Circuit Court Com-
missioners in May, 1871, which office
he resigned in 1876, and was elected as
one of the Republican Presidential
Electors for that year.
Leach, Wm., far., S. 11 ; P. 0. Pittsburg.
Lenager, R, far., S. 29; P. O Pittsburg.
Lewis, George W., far. ; P. 0. Pittsburg.
Long, George, carpenter, Keosauqua.
Lowe, C, far., Sec. 30 ; P. 0. Pittsburg.
Lowe, J. E., far. ; P. O Pittsburg.
MCCARTY, JOHN, R. R. employe ;
P. 0. Mt. Zion.
HcCRARY, a. H.9 retired farmer ;
P. 0. Keosauqua; bom July 23, 1814,
in Vanderburgh Co., Ind. ; emigrated
West in 1835 ; stopped in McDonough
Co., III., till fall of 1836 ; then, in com-
pany with his brother J. C. McCrary
and A. W. Mangum came to Van Buren
Co., and made their claims just below
Keosauqua on the south side of Des
Moines River ; returned and moved
their families out in the spring of 1837.
The following July, Iowa was organized
as a Territory ; Mr. McCrary was elected
Justice of the Peace of his township
Digitized by VjOOQIC
522
DIRECTORY OF VAN BUREN COUNTY :
(YernoD) in 1841, which office he filled
till 1848, when he was elected to repre-
sent his coantj in the House of Repre-
sentatives of Iowa, and was re-elected
in 1850, and, in 1852, was elected as
State Senator, and again in 1860 ; at
the expiration of this term he retired
to private life upon his farm ; in 1876,
lefl his farm and moved into Keosauqua
on south side of the River, where he
now lives. He was married to Miss
Nercissa Mangum of Gibson Co., Ind.,
Feb. 6, 1834 ; she was bom April 1,
1816, in Indiana; have six children —
William M., Marietta, James N., Alvin
J., Curtis R. and Ira C. Members of
Christian Church ; Republican.
McPherrin, A., fax., Sec. 29 ; P. 0. Keo-
sauqua.
Maltbie, M. B., wagon-maker, Keosauqua.
HAN6U1E, A. IV., retired farmer ;
P. 0. Keosauqua ; bom Feb. 5, 1813,
in Gibson Co., Ind. ; came to McDon-
ough Co., 111., in fall of 1836 ; stopped
a short time there; came on to this
county in company with A. H. and J.
C. McCrary, and selected their claims
on the south side of Des Moines River,
below Keosauqua ; returned to MoDon-
ough Co., and brought their ^milies
out in the spring of 1837 ; Mr. Man-
gum followed teaching some before com-
ing here, and continued for a time after
coming to this county. He was mar-
ried to Miss Minerva McCrary, Dec.
19, 1836, in Illinois ; she was bom in
1811, in Indiana, and died in this coun-
ty March 25, 1849 ; was again married,
to Jane Irvine, Dec. 29, 1850; she
died March 2, 1862 ; was again married,
to Mary E. Taylor Nov. 13, 1864 ; she
was born Nov. 31, 1837, in Ohio; Mr.
Mangum has had eighteen children —
six by each wife, two by first wife are
living — Ruth E. and Rebecca J. ; lost
four—Silas M., Leander F., Finis C, and
an infant ; by second wife, three living —
Samantha C, Mileta E. and Clara ; lost
three — Lysander F., Alice J. and Mary
0. ; by third wife, five living — Edwin
C, Charles A., Alcephas F., Patience I.
and Lena ; lost one — Willie. Members
of Christian Church ; Republican.
MANDTING, EDWIN, banker and
dealer in general merchandise and real
estate, Keosauqua; has branch stores at
Vernon, Doud's Station, Portland and
Indedendent, of this county ; also, half-
owner of bank at Chariton and is Pres-
ident of the same ; Mr. Manning is one
of the leading business men of Southern
Iowa, and estimated to be wort^ over
$1,000,000, which he has accumulated
by his own industry and fkr-seeiDg bus-
iness qualifications ; he is of Engtish
descent and son of Calvin and Desire
(Gurley) Manning, and was horn in
South Coventry, Tolland Co., Conn., Feb.
8, 1810 ; was ndsed on a fiirm and educa-
ted in the common schools until he was
16 years old; he then started out in
the world for himself; went to New
York and caught his first glimpse of (he
great metropolis, after which he went to
Bethany, Penn., and entered his uncle
James Manning's store as clerk, at a
salary of $10 per month; afW four
years, he was taken in as a partner, with
a one-third interest in the business ; in
the summer of 1831, he took his uncle's
family horse and made a tour through
the northern counties of Penni^lvania,
and finally located at Canton Comers,
in Bradford Co., where he oommence«i
mercantile business with a Mr. J. C.
Rose under the firm name of Manning
& Rose, which was carried on sucoess-
^lly till the autumn of 1836; he sold
out his interest and in accordance
with a subsequent suggestion made by
Horace Greeley, concluded to go West ;
ac<x)rdinglY, he came to St. Louis, Mo.;
and was advised by Col. Benton that;
there was the place to make a start t
but he concluded that his purse was not
heavy enough for that place ; he wen ,
on West as far as Lexington, Mo.
where he made some purchases of land ;
but not liking the system of slavery, hcj
with others, came on up the Mississippi
and Des Moines Rivers to St Francis-
ville, Lee Co., which was in December,
1836; made some invesments in half-
breed tracts ; went on up to Fort Mad-
ison and visited the wigwam of the noted
chief Black Hawk, who appeared rather
reticent, though friendly, seeming to fully
realize his lost power ; in January, 1837,
Mr. Manning, with James Hall and
others made the claim of the land and
laid out the town of Keosauqua, that
being the Indian name of the river,
Digitized by VjOOQIC
VAN BUREN TOWNSHIP.
528
after which he returned to PenDsylvania,
and, in 1838, returned to Iowa and at-
tended the first land sale at Burlington,
and purchased several small tracts
for himself, with quite a large amount
for others ; in 1839, he purchased in
New York the first stook of merchan-
dise ever brought to Keosauqua, and
shipped them via ocean and Mississippi
and Des Moines Rivers to Keosauqua ;
they were seven weeks on the way ; he
also built the first flatboat that ever
passed out of the Des Moines River ; in
1851, he ran a loaded steamer from
St. Louis to Des Moines ; he was also
CJommissioner of the Des Moines River
Improvement from 1856 to 1859 ; dur-
ing the late civil war, he was a firm sup-
porter of the Government, having un-
bounded faith in its perpetuity, taking
♦10,000 of the first 5-20 bonds and sub-
sequently many thousands more ; he is at
present owner of about 8,000 acres of
land in this and adjoining counties;
also a fine farm and residence in his
native State. He was married to Sarah
J. Sample, of Lee Co., March 8, 1842 ;
she was born in Pennsylvania July 21,
1816, and died June 1, 1857; was
again married, to Nannie Bryant, an
adopted daughter of the late Joseph A.
Wright, Nov. 3, 1859; she was born
Feb. 3, 1832, in Indiana; has three
children by first wife living — Hannah
O., Calvin and William S. ; lost two —
Mary and Edwin ; by second wife, five
children— Edward B., Albert W., Kate
W., Stanley W. and Craig I. Is a lib-
eral supporter of the churches ; Repub-
lican.
MABIiOW, B. P., clerk in the dry
goods store of Edwin Manning, Keo-
sauqua; bom Aug. 2, 1819, in Ohio
Co., Ky. ; came to Vermilion Co., Ind.,
in the fall of 1829, and to Burlington,
Iowa, in the spring of 1836, and to
Keosanana in 1845 ; has been engaged
in the dry goods business most of the
time since ; was in the wholesale house
of M. Seaton & Sons, in Keokuk, from
1855 to 1857 ; was Deputy Sheriff of
^is county under Robert Rutledge.
during 1858-59, after which he engagea
in the mercantile business till 1867 ;
spent one season since in a wholesale
boot and shoe house of St. Louis ; he has
been in the employ of Edwin Manning
since 1871. Was married to Miss
Hannah W. Hinkle in Bur^ngton Nov.
21, 1844 ; she was bom in 1819, in
Pennsylvania ; have two children living
— Hinda W. and Isabell ; lost three —
Alice, Virginia and Milton H. Repub-
lican. I
Martin, Abner, far., Sec. 17 ; P. 0. Mt.
Zion.
Mathias, J. J., far., S. 7 ; P. 0. Pittsburg.
Mathias, T., farmer; P. O. Pittsburg.
May, M., far., Sec. 34 ; P. 0. Pittsburg.
McGrath, H. M., farmer ; P. 0. Pittsburg.
HEBIDETH, LEE BOY, farm-
er; P. 0. Keosauqua; owns 260 acres
of land, valued at $25 per acre ; born
Dec. 31, 1833, in Washington Co., Ind.;
came with his parents to Mercer Co.,
111., m 1836, and, in the fall of 1837,
came to Van Buren Co. and settled in
Bentonsport ; came from there to Keo-
sauqua in 1840, and has lived in this
vicinity ever since. Married Miss Su-
sannah Mullen, of St. Clair Co., lU.,
March 21, 1858; she was bom Aug.
21, 1828, in West Virginia; have four
children living — Harvey E., Abbie L.,
Anna B. and Lizze V. ; lost two — Henry
A. and David W. Members of the M.
E. Church ; Republican.
Miller, Daniel, fi inner; P. 0. Pittsburg.
Miller, Geo. W., Postmaster, Mt. Zion.
BLIIiliEB, HENBY, far.. Sec. 18 ;
P. 0. Mt. Zion; owns 194 acres of
land, valued at $35 per acre ; bom Oct.
30, 1831, in Columbiana Co., Ohio ; his
parents moved to Perry Co. when he
was a small boy, and came from there
to this county in 1839, and settled on
the farm he now owns; in 1850, he
went to California by overland route in
1853, and returned home in 1856.
Married Lucinda Hunter May 21,
1857 ; she was born Feb. 14, 1841, in
Pennsylvania ; have four children liv-
ing— Isadora, Curtis M., Mary E. and
Craig; lost three — William P., John
S. and Ella T. Members of the M. E.
Church; Republican.
Miller, Jacob, farmer ; P. 0. Pittsburg.
mLIiEB, JOHN A., Deputy Au-
ditor, Keosauqua; bora Dec. 12, 1831,
in Perry Co., Ohio; came to this county
in the spring of 1847, and settled in
Keosauqua ; in 1853, engaged in the
Digitized by VjOOQIC
524
DIRECTORY OF VAN BUREN COUNTY :
drug business with Dr. Craig, which he
continued till 1859, when he was ap-
pointed Deputy County Clerk, which he
held for two years ; in 1869, he was
again appointed County Clerk, and was
elected to the office for three successive
terms, since which time he has acted as
♦Deputy Auditor. He was married to
Amanda J. Hartzcll, of Keosauqua,
Oct. 23, 1856 ; she was bom Oct. 23,
1837, in Indiana; have six children —
Mary, George, Craig, Maud, Paul and
£d. Republican.
niliLKB, J. J., far., Sec. 17 ; P. 0.
Doud's Station ; owns 160 acres of l^nd,
valued at $30 per acre ; is a son of Dan-
iel and Margaret (Jackson) Miller ; was
born Oct. 15, 1833, in Perry Co., Ohio;
came with parents to this county in the
fall of 1841, and settled on the farm
where he yet lives. He enlisted in the
service of his country in February, 1 863,
in Co. G, of the 3d Iowa V. C; partic-
ipated in the battle of Guntown, Miss.;
was also with Gen. Wilson in his raid
through Alabama and Georgia, at the
capture of Selma and Columbus ; was
discharged at Atlanta in August 1865.
He was married to Sarah E. Tolman, of
this county, May 1 , 1856 ; she was bom
in Ohio April 1, 1835 ; have seven chil-
dren—Clifton T., Edwin, Charles, Al-
pha, Mary I., Nettie and Frederick ; lost
one — Fannie T. Member M. E. Church ;
Republican.
Miller, T., retired farmer, Keosauqua.
Minnich, S., carpenter, Keosauqua.
Moore, H., far., S. 30; P. 0. Pittsburg.
HOOBE, HENRY H., Postmaster,
Keosauqua; born March 22, 1835, in
Bedford Co., Penn.; came with parents
to Perry Co., Ohio, in 1838, and to this
county in the spring of 1846, and set-
tled in Keopauqua ; he served as Deputy
Postmaster dunng President Polk's ad-
ministration ; was appointed Postmaster
in October 1862, which office he has
filled since, with the exception of ten
months in 1870 and 1871. He was
married to Adeline M. Walker Dec. 23,
1858, in Keosauqua; she was born in
June, 1837, in York Co., Penn.; have
four children — Frank, Effie, Lida and
Edna. Mr. Moore owns a farm of 124
acres, valued at $40 per acre. Repub-
lican.
Moon, Samuel, teamster, Keosauqua.
Mort, C, far., S. 15 ; P. 0. Pittsburg.
Mort, J., far., Sec. 28 ; P. 0. Pittsburg.
Morton, John N., merchant, Keosauqua.
Moore, Wm., attorney and mayor, Keosau-
qua.
Mullen, Amandus, painter, Keosauqua.
Murphy, Daniel, merchant, Keosauqua.
Murry, J., far., S. 32 ; P. 0. Pittsburg.
Myers, M. M., farmer, Keosauqua.
NIXON, JONATHAN, lime burner;
P. O. Keosauqua.
Norris, Samuel, far. ; P. 0. Keosauqua.
NOVBSE, SOIiOBT, professor of
music, Keosauqua ; owns a farm of
85 acres valued at $25 per acre; was
born June 8, 1817, in Sullivan Co., N.
H. ; came to Cincinnati in 1844, where
he followed his profession till 1859 ; then
came to Van Buren Co.. and settled in
Keosauqua, where he still follows his
profession. He was married to Amanda
A. Hodgman, of Stillwater, N. Y., in
July, 1852 ; she was bom in 1817, and
died at Fort Edward, N. Y., May 19,
1854 ; was again married, to Mrs. Car-
dine E. McBride, whose maiden name
was Abbott, Dec. 14, 1859; she was
bom June 20, 1827, in Athens Co.,
Ohio ; have had one daughter, by second
wife — Carrie B., who is dead ; his wife
has one son by first husband — Wm. E.
McBride. Member of Presbyterian
Church ; Independent.
,RTH, WM. H., butcher, Keosauqua.
O'
Overman, James, Keosauqua.
PACE, THOMAS, former; P. O.
Keosauqua.
Parker, Alfred, far. ; P. 0. Pittsburg.
Parker, Calvin S., for. ; P. O. Pittsburg.
Parks, John, far., S. 15 ; P. 0. Pittsburg.
Payne, Jordan, laborer, Keosauqua.
Peacock, James, fiir., Sec. 30; P. 0.
Pittsburg.
Pearson, F. A., Keosauqua.
Pfouts, Reuben, blacksmith, Keosauqua.
Phillips, J. W., wagon-maker, Keosauqua.
RICKETTS, JOSHUA, farmer; P.
0. Doud's Station.
BADTKIN, THOMAS, retired mer-
chant, Keosauqua; bom January 16,
1821, in Licking Co., Ohio; came to
this county in 1842; commenced the
mercantile business in Keosauqua in
1850, which he continued till 1853,
Digitized by VjOOQIC
VAN BURBN TOWNSHIP.
525
when he was elected County Treasurer,
which office he filled for two terms ; in
1857, he was elected County Judge,
and, in 1859, commenced the mercantile
business, which he continued till 1875 ;
since that time has been interested in
the business at Davis City, Decatur Co.,
with his sons, J. C. and A. T. He was
married to Amanda Bonner, of this
county, Oct. 8, 1846 ; she was bom in
July, 1821, in Greene Co., Ohio;
they have four children living
— James C, Mary E., Archie T.
and George A.; lost two — Martha and
Samuel. Members of the M. E.
Church; Democrat.
Ream, B., far., Sec. 20, P. 0. Pittsburg.
BKHKOPF, B. F.. County Auditor,
Keosauqua ; born July 26, 1846, in
Galveston, Texas ; came with his parents
to St. Louis, Mo., in 1849 ; and, in the
spring of 1852, came to Bentonsport, of
this county ; he succeeded his father in the
harness business there in 1867, which
he followed till 1 877 ; he was elected to
the office of County Auditor in 1865,
and re-elected in 1877. He married
Aralda J. Cheney, of this county, Feb.
12, 1874; she was born Feb. 8, 1850,
in this county ; have two children —
Laura R. and Ned B. Member of the
Congregational Church ; Republican.
Ricketts, James, far., P. 0. Pittsburg.
Roberts, A. W. far. ; P. 0. Keosauqua.
BOBEBTSL WYATT, far., Sec.
6 ; P. 0. Keosauqua ; son of Isaiah
Roberts; bom July 16, 1849, in High-
land Co., Ohio; came with his parents
to this county in 1859, and settled on
the farm upon which he now lives, his
father having died Jan. 6, 1870 ; was
bom Feb. 16, 1805, in Ohio ; his mother
is still living with him on the home-
stead ; she was bom March 20, 1809, in
Ohio. Mr. Roberts was married to Car-
rie Gustin Oct. 15, 1874; she was
born in 1851, in Ohio ; have two chil-
dren— Albert and Roy. Member of
the Christian Church. Republican.
BOBEBTSON, D. W. B., physi-
cian and surgeon, Keosauqua; born
Feb. 23, 1844, in Muskingum Co.,
Ohio; his parents moved into
Holmes Co., in 1852, and from there to
this county in 1858, and settled in the
' western part of the township ; he com-
menced the study of medicine under
Dr. Whitton, of Doud*s Station, in
1867, and subsequently attended lect-
ures at the medical college of Keokuk,
where he graduated Feb. 2, 1870 ; com-
menced practicing at Newbern, Marion
Co., Iowa, in the spring of 1870 ; re-
turned to Cantril in 1872, and went to
El Paso, Colo., in 1874, where he
remained till June, 1877, and then
came to Keosauqua. Mr. Robertson, at
his country's call, enlisted in Co. H,
of the 3d Iowa V. C; was at the bat-
tles of Mooresville and Kirksville, Mo.,
Little Rock, Ark., Guntown and Tupelo,
Miss., Pea Ridge, Ark., Selma, Ala.;
was discharged in the fall of 1865. Was
married to Mary A. Park, of this coun-
ty, Oct. 11, 1870 ; she was bom Feb.
26, 1846, in Guernsey Co., Ohio ; have
two children living — Hugh L. and an
infant ; lost one, Clarence A. Member
of the United Presbyterian Church ; Re-
publican.
Robinson, J., blacksmith, Keosauqua.
Robinson, S., Sr., far.. Sec. 5 ; P. 0. Pitts-
burg.
Root, A. R., gunsmith, Keosauqua.
Roush, A., far., Sec. 8 ; P. 0. Pittsburg.
BlJSSEIiL, AliliEN, farmer, car-
penter and joiner. Sec. 32 ; P. 0.
Lebanon ; owns 95 acres of land, valued
at $25 per acre ; bom June 2, 1829, in
Venango Co., Penn.; moved from there
to Erie Co., in 1848, and to Living-
ston Co., Mo., in 1855, and to Davis Co.,
Iowa, in 1861, and to this county in
1862, and, in 1864, retumed to Erie Co.,
Penn., and from there to Venango
Co., in 1865, and, in the fall of
1866, returned to Van Buren Co.
He was married to Louisa Perry, in
Pennsylvania, July 4, 1853 ; she was
bor* in New York Dec. 15, 1834, and
died April 2, 1859 ; was again married
to Nancy E. Brent, June 26, 1859;
she was bom Dec. 5, 1834, in Kentucky ;
has two children by his first wife — Perry
and Wilson A.; by his second wife, five
— Elizabeth, Sarah L., Aaron, Simon
G. and Allen. Member of the M. E.
Church.
SANDERSON, H., far.. Sec. 7 ; P. O.
Mt. Zion.
Sanderson, J. F., far.. Sec. 7 ; P. 0. Mt.
Zion.
Digitized by VjOOQIC
524
0,KBCrOK.OFVA«B.TKBNCO«.TV
continued nil 1^°^^' ^cierk.vehich he
pointed Deputy County^Uie. ^^ ^^
Qd for ^^MX'ntT Clerk and v^as
^n appo^^^^^f"? three successive
Xted to the office for three J ^^ ^
terms, since which time hej^^^.a to
Oct. 23, 1856 •, she was ^on. ^^^^^n-
1837,inlnd.ana^^ave^B« Paul and
Mary, George, traig,
Ed. Republican. p 0.
Doud'8 Station ; o'"* ^.^V ^'^^^ of Dan-
valued atS30 per acre , »«»«^^j ^,8
iel and MargareUJaekson^lJ ^^^
born Oct. 15, l^f • »°A*'2iaty in the
camewithparenutothwcwnj ^^
fall of 1841, and settled on^.^,^e
where he yet lives. »«*"'*„„ i863,
service of his T''^^iI^\C]V^'>
;., Pn ft of the 3d lowa V . v^-) V .
TpaS^d S'the battle of .G-town ^^
^as also with Gen. Wil«o«J» %t ^^^
through Alabama and Geo^- ^^^
capture of Selma and CotoaO« ,
discharged at Atlanta in A«^« ,
He was married to Sarah E- ij>J^,,.
one^FannieT. Member M. Ji^^
Moore, H., fe^S. 30; P.O. i;
Keosauqua-, born March -
Bedford Co., Penn.; cwnc
to Perry Co., Obio, m 1^
county in the spring ot
tied in Keoeauqua ; be ^
Postmaster during Pr<
ministration; wasapi'
io October 1862, ^^
filled since, with i
months ir
married ^ ^_5,
1858, ^'
JTixne,
foixr
EH-
Moon, Samuel
Mort, C, far., -
Mort, J., fef- \
Morton, John >
Moore, Wm, •'
qua.
Mullen, Ania-
Murphy, I> '^
Mnrry, J , \
Myers, M-
Norris, ^:
MOV\B
musl«
85 -^
born
H.
W
Digitized by VjOOQIC
TOWNSHIP.
627
A
of law in tbe office of Hon.
,> George G. Wright, of Keosau-
; was admitted to the bar in March,
1 ; soon after commenced the prac-
p of law in partnership with Mr.
viUiam Webster; in 1868, he was
. lected Judge of the first circuit of the
Second Judicial District; at the
close of the t^rm, was elected J^.^^f «^
STsecond Judicial Dismct wh^h h
bas filled since; his pr^nt tenn^-
pires in December, !»»"• .
Slary Brown, of tb^ --ft tJls'fn
1863; she was bom «'»°»^^' __Stella
1855- in 1863, he went mto the Mt.
Mo^ 1-az/office toj-rn the pnn^
er'8 trade; remained »»>outa /ear. then
I called College Items; «une to Bona
1 parte, this county, in {•'""''^L Tn
, LdiUued the fi«t number of the Fan
Buren Democrat the Ayin "^
, montS, in company with R I. Ho^^^^^^
! whose interest he purcba^W the follow
1 ing spring; in Decemj
I came to Keosauqua wi
1 Married Carrie J. Johi
I parte, Feb. 22, 1871 ;
, January 11, 1849, in th
! two children— Pussie li
i Democrat. _^^ „
I SMITH, JAMES, ^*
! 0. Lebanon ; owns 170
' valued at $30 per acn
1805, in Albemarle C(
to Logan Co., Ohio, in
there to Washington
1837, and to Greene Cc
of 1838; the same fi
Washington Co.; from 1
this county in the fall c
ried Elizabeth Garber I
she was bom Oct. 9, 1
Co., Va.; have t«n c
Benjamin F., Sarah
Barbara A., Andrew
John C, Silas T.,
Digitized by VjOOQIC
526
DIRECTORY OF VAN BUREN COUNTY:
Sobreckengast, J., far., Sec. 25 ; P. 0.
Kcosauqua.
Sohreokengast, W., far., Sec. 25 ; P. O.
Keosauqua.
Soott, Wm., laborer, Keosauqua.
Seaman, R., far.; P. 0. Keosauqua.
Seawrigbt, D. J., barness-maker, Keo-
sauqua.
SHJKPHEBD, JAHES, Justice
of tbe Peace, Keosauqua ; bom Marcb
15, 1800, in Allegbany Co., Md. ;
bis parents moved to Fayette Co.,
Penn., in 1801, and to Cincinnati, Obio,
in 18o4. He subsequently lived in
Warren and Clinton Counties, till 1827 ;
be tben moved to Sangamon Co., III.,
and in tbe spring of 1843, came to Ke-
osauqua and issued tbe first newspaper,
called tbe Iowa Democrat^ July 1,
1843 ; in 1844, be brougbt bis family;
be continued tbe publication of said
paper in tbe county, witb bis son, J. M.
obepberd, till 1850 ; be also commenced
running tbe Keosauqua House, in 1847,
wbicb be run for several years. In 1860,
be bongbt tbe Iowa Democrat^ and run
it till 1865 ; be tben engaged in tbe
botel business up to 1874, since wbicb
time be bas rented bis botel. Mr. Sbep-
berd was elected Colonel of tbe 3l8t
111. Regt., in 1830 ; be was also tbe first
Master of Keosauqua Lodge, No. 10,
A., F. & A. M., wbicb was organiased
in 1845, and for several years tbere-
afler ; be is one of tbe honored and re-
spected members of tbe Order; be is
also a member of tbe M. E. Cburob, and
bas been a licensed minister for five
years. Mr. Sbepberd was married to
Jane Sberman, of Clinton Co., Obio,
Marcb 7, 1821 ; sbe was born Feb. 20,
1806, in Nortb Carolina, and died Sept.
20, 1870; bave six children living —
Jesse M., Elizabeth, James S., Charles
W., Lewis C. and Stephen H.; lost five —
^ary, Rebecca, Jane, Elvira and Helen
C. His sons, Jesse M. and Stephen
H., are publishing a paper in Baker Co.,
Oregon, and Charles W., a Methodist
minister, is now at Bentonsport, of this
coun^.
SHEPHERD, J. S., fire and life
insurance agent; Keosauqua; born Dec.
4, 1834, in Sangamon Co., 111. ; came
witb bis father, James Sbepberd, to this
county in 1844 ; commenced work in
the office of the Iowa Democrat, pub-
lished by bis father and brother, which
office be continued to work in till 1855 ;
was Postmaster in Keosauqua offioe
from 1856 to 1861 ; tben oommenoed
to work on the Des Moines News, pub-
lished by himself and father, till 1865,
when be sold out, and worked in the
Republican office a short time, and tben
worked in tbe office of tbe Des Moines
Rettery a short time ; since 1868, has
been engaged in tbe insurance business.
He was married to Mary Moore Jan.
9, 1862 ; sbe was bom Aug. 25, 1838,
in Obio; bave four children — Minnie
E., Littie J., Alva C. and George S.
Member of A., F. & A. M., and of tbe
M. E. Church ; Democrat.
SIOIiEB, ANDREW, proprietor
of livery and express, witb William M.
Stewart ; P. 0. Keosauqua ; bom Feb.
14, 1846, in Putnam Co., Ind. In the
fall of 1855, bb parents immigrated to
this country, and tbe following spring
went to Wayne County. Enlisted in Uie
Gt)vemment service as wagoner, Aug.
12, 1861, in Co. B, of the 6tb Kansas
Cavabry, witb rank as Sergeant; was
mustered out Oct. 17, 1864. Returned
to Wayne County and came to Keosaii-
qua in 1866, and followed butcheriDg
one year, then fiurmed till 1874, when
he went into tbe hardware business, in
Milton, till the spring of 1877, then en-
gaged in tbe lumb^ business tiU the
November following, then came to Ke-
osauqua and bought out Mr. F. John-
son's interest in the livery and express
business. Married Emma C. Orth
April 10, 1865 ; sbe was bora in this
county in 1844; have three children
— lola, Lnella and Alva W. Green-
backer.
SliOAN , J. S., publisher of Keosau-
qua Repvhlican, witb W. H. Bleak-
more; Keosauqua: bom Jan. 29,
1822, in Chester Co., Penn.; his
parents moved to Columbiana Co., Ohio,
m 1823, where his early years were
spent; by his own perseverance he
gained a thorough knowledge of the
common branches from tbe common
schools, and followed teaching in Ohio,
about twelve years; in the spring of
1853, came to Iowa, and stopp^ at
lowaville, of this ooonlj, his
Digitized by VjOOQIC
VAN BUREN TOWNSHIP.
627
Robert Sloan, settliB^^ near there, in
Davis Co.; he remained there but
a short time, and then went into Davis
Co. ; was there only a few months;
he then went to Agency City and taught
school there one year, and then returned
to Village Tp., of this cdunty ; served
as Justice of the Peace there two years ;
in 1859, was elected County Judge of
this county, which office he filled till
1861 ; he was then elected County
Treasurer, and for four successive terms
thereafler, at the close of which he was
appointed County Clerk for one year, to
fill the vacancy caused by the death of
the County Clerk. In 1 873, he engaged
in the mercantile business, in which he
continued till the fall of 1877 ; he then
came in as a partner in the Republican
office, with Mr. Bleakmore, and the
same fall was elected as County Super-
visor, and at the first meeting of the
Board, was elected Chairman. He mar-
ried Sarah A. Sinclair April 14, 1853,
in Ohio; she was born Nov. 12, 1827,
in Allegheny Co., Penn.; have five
children living — Fanny, Maggie E.,
George S., Rutledge and Hattie C;
lost two, Ida B. and Robert. Member
of the Congregational Church; Repub-
lican.
HliOAN, ROBERT, Keosauqua;
Circuit Judge for Second District ; son
of Robert and Elizabeth (Steapleton)
Sloan; born Oct. 21, 1835, in Colum-
biana Co., Ohio ; the Sloans are of
Scotch-Irish descent; his great-grand-
father, Robert Sloan, was an officer un-
der Gen. Braddock, and subsequently a
Captain in the Revolutionary war.
Judge Sloan was employed on a farm
till 17 years of age; received a common -
school education, with one year's attend-
ance at New Lisbon, Ohio ; came with
his parents to Davis Co. in the spring
of 1853, and settled near lowaville ; he
followed teaching, principally, from that
time till in 1860 he commenced the
study of law in the office of Hon.
Judge George G. Wright, of Keosau-
qua ; was admitted to the bar in March,
1861 ; soon after commenced the prac-
tice of law in partnership with Mr.
William Webster; in 1868, he was
elected Judge of the first circuit of the
Second Judicial District; at the
close of the term, was elected Judge of
the Second Judicial District, which he
has filled since; his present term ex-
pires in December, 1880. Married
Mary Brown, of this county, July 15,
1863; she was bom Jan. 11, 1838, in
Ireland; have seven children — Stella
B., Hugh B., Lizzie, Mary E., Delia,
lo G. and Robert E. Members of the
Congregational Church ; Republican.
SHITH, «EOR«E F., publisher
of the VaJ^ Buren Democrat] bom
April 27, 1847, in Jefferson Co., N. Y.;
in 1850, his parents moved into St.
Lawrence Co., and, in 1854, came to
La Salle Co., 111. ; to Grundy Co. in
1855 ; in 1863, he went into the Mt.
Morris Herald office to learn the print-
er's trade ; remained about a year, then
went into the Chicago Tribune office
about a year, and, subsequently into
the TYmes office six months ; he com-
menced attending the Jennings Semi-
nary at Aurora, 111., in 1866 ; subse-
quently attended Lombard University,
at Galesburg, three years, three months
of which time he published a paper
called College Items] came to Bona-
parte, this county, in January, 1870,
and issued the first number of the Van
Buren Democrat the 19th of that
month, in company with R. I. Holcomb,
whose interest he purchased the follow-
ing spring ; in December, 1876, he
came to Keosauqua with his paper.
Married Carrie J. Johnson, of Bona-
parte, Feb. 22, 1871 ; she was bom
January 11, 1849, in this county: have
two children — Pussie E. and M. Irene.
Democrat.
SmTH, JAMES, fiir.. Sec. 32 ; P.
0. Lebanon ; owns 170 acres of land,
valued at $30 per acre ; born May 4,
1805, in Albemarle Co., Va.; moved
to Logan Co., Ohio, in 1833, and from
there to Washington Co., Tenn., in
1837, and to Greene Co , in the spring
of 1838; the same fall, returned to
Washington Co.; from there he came to
this county in the fall of 1853. Mar-
ried Elizabeth Garber Sept. 27, 1827 ;
she was bom Oct. 9, 1809, in Augusta
Co., Va.; have ten children living —
Benjamin F., Sarah F., Thomas J.,
Barbara A., Andrew J., William H.,
John C, Silas T., Martha T. and
Digitized by VjOOQIC
628
DIRECTORY OP VAN BUREN CX)UNTY:
Elizabeth J. Members of the M. E.
Church.
SniTH, JOSEPH F., attorney at
law, Keosauqua ; bom April 26, 1823,
in Selby, Yorkshire, England ; came to
Springfield, Ohio, in 1841 ; entered
Kenyon College at Gambier, Knox Co.,
the next year ; continued till 1846 ; then
went to Columbus, and commenced the
study of law in the office of Judge
Swan ; was admitted to the bar at the
sitting of the Supreme Court in 1849 ;
followed his profession a£ Columbus till
1854; then moved to Ottumwa, Iowa;
in 1855, came to Keosauqua; continued
law practice until four years ago, when an
inflammation of the eyes produced blind-
ness ; within the last few months has
been recovering his sight. Married
Miss Francis A. Mills, of Licking Co.,
Ohio, April 30, 1850 ; she was born
Feb. 20, 1828, in Jefferson Co., N. Y.;
have four children living — Carrie H.,
Fanny H., Josephine and Samuel M.; .
lost three — Mary H., George C. and
Helen F. Members of the Protestant
Episcopal Church ; Republican.
Smith, W. D., jeweler, Keosauqua.
Snead, Egbert, laborer, Keosauqua.
Snider, Jacob, fiir.; P. 0. Keosauqua.
Spencer, Elburt, fkr.; P. 0. Pittsburg.
Spencer, Thos., far.; P. 0. Lebanon.
STANNABD, O., UBS., Keosau.
qua, widow of Obed Stannard ; bom
May 2, 1808, in Sullivan Co., N. H.,
and was married to Mr. Obed Stannard
June 18, 1828, in same county ; he em-
igrated to Beardstown, 111., in the fall of
1836, and, in the spring of 1837, went
to Rushville, of same county, and, Feb.
20, 1838, arrived in Van Buren Co.;
settled about three miles below Keosau-
qua, on the Des Moines River ; moved
into a log cabin, and over the places for
windows were pasted greased paper to
let the light shine through ; there were
but few white neighbors, but plenty of
the native Americans; came into the
town of Keosauqua in 1 849. Mr. Stan-
nard was Deputy Sheriff of this county
for several years ; he died in Keosauqua
Sept. 28, 1869, leaving his wife and three |
children to mourn his loss — Alfonso W.,
bom April 24, 1829, and Edwin, born
Jan. 5, 1832, in New Hampshire, and
Melissa, born Nov. 3, 1840, in this
county ; lost three — Zeriah A., WiBmm
H. and Sarah E. Her son Edwin went
to Missouri soveral years ago ; has
served the State as Lieutenant Governor,
Member of Congress and is at present
President of the St. Louis Board of
Trade. Mrs. Stannard is a member of
the Free- Will Bi^ist Church.
Starr, R. H., attorney, Keosauqua.
Steves, Morris, fiir.; P. O. Pitteburg.
Stewart, G. W., retired liveryman, Keosau-
qua.
STEWART. W. H., Keosauqua,
proprietor of livery and express, with
A. Sigler; born Dec. 17, 1852, in
Keosauqua ; he, in company with his
brother-in-law, Frank Johnson, suc-
ceeded his father, J. W. Stewart, in the
livery and express business in 1875, and
in November, 1877, Mr. Johnson sold
his interest to A. Sigler. He was mar-
ried to Delia King, daughter of Russo
King, of this place, April 19, 1877 ;
have one infant daughter.
Steves, J., far., S. 15 ; P. 0. Pitteburg.
Stidger, Geo., physician, Keosauqua.
STIDGEB, T. F.9 dentist, Keosau-
qua, son of Dr. George Stidger, of
this place ; born Sept. 20, 1854, in
Marshall Co., W. Ya.; came with his
father to this county in 1858 ; com-
menced the study of dentistry at Wash-
ington, Iowa, in 1873, under a Dr.
Rowk, where he continued until 1875,
when he returned to Keosauqua and
commenced the practice of dentistry.
Republican.
STRAIT, SAHVEIi, &r., S. 18 ;
P. 0. Doud's Station ; owns 678 acres of
land and his wife 156 acres, valued at
$25 per acre ; he was bom Aug. 5,
1820, in Perry Co., Ohio, where he
lived till he came to this county in the
spring of 1877. He was married to
Miss Cordelia Hitchcock, of same coun-
ty, March 4, 1847 ; she was bom Nov.
14, 1820 ; have five children livi^ —
Mary J., Leonidas H., Israel H., War-
ren B. and William C; lost three —
Clarissa F., Thomas E. and Charles.
Member M. E. Church.
STBICKIilBTG, HEUnSY, phy
sician and surgeon, Keosauqua; bom
Sept. 27, 1824, in Frederick Co., Va.;
came with his parents to Belmont Co.,
Ohio, in 1838 ; commenced the study of
Digitized by VjOOQIC
VAN BUREN TOWNSHIP.
529
medicine in 1844 with a Dr. Walker, of
St. Clairville, of said county; in 1848,
commenced practicing medicine; re-
moved to Ouemsej Co., Ohio, in 1860 ;
came to Iowa in the fall of 1854,
stopped in Henry Co. till the spring of
1855 ; then came to Winchester, of this
county, and to Corydon, Wayne Co., in
1857 ; returned to Winchester in 1858;
in the fall of 1861, was elected County
Judge; he then came to Keosauqua;
was elected two successive terms ; while
he was acting as Judge, he commenced
the study of law, and was admitted to
the bar in 1867 ; engaged in the gro-
cery business in 1868, and, shortly
afler, in the boot and shoe business, and,
still later, in the pottery business, which
did not prove very successful; he re-
sumed the practice of medicine in 1873.
He was married to Sarah A. Kinkead,
of Guernsey Co., Ohio ; she was bom
Dec. 1, 1830, in Ohio, and died March
11, 1877; have five children living —
Beatrice, Joseph C, William J., Lydia
and Evalina; lost three — Maria E.,
Henry and Harley. Member of M. K.
Church; Republican.
Strickling, Joseph C, clerk, Keosauqua.
Stout, Moses, far., Sec. 6; P. 0. Pittsburg.
Stull, Francis, fanner, Keosauqua.
Sniers, John, farmer, Sec. 19 ; P. 0. Pitte-
burg.
Sniers, Wm., farmer, Sec. 5 ; P. 0. Pitts-
burg.
TRBBELCOCK, JOHN, farmer. Sec.
30; P. 0. Keosauqua.
TAYIiOB, PATIEBTCE; P. 0.
Keosauqua ; owns one-third interest in
the farm of 230 acres, the estate of her
deceased husband; maiden name, Fry-
barger; born Dec. 12, 1816, in Warren
€o., Ohio; married to Samuel Taylor
Oct. 6, 1836, of same county; he was
bom May 22, 1817 ; came to this coun-
ty September, 1863; settled on the
form upon which she now lives ; be died
Sept. 26, 1875, leaving herself and nine
children to mourn his loss — Mary E.,
John E., Catharine E., Henry J., Jacob
F., Caleb W., William G , Samuel A.
and Harriet L.; her son Jacob F. served
in the lOO-days service, in Co. K, 45th
I. V. I., under Capt. I. B. Thatcher.
Mrs. Taylor is a member of the Chris-
tian Church.
THATCHER, JONATHAN,
farmer and nurseryman, Sec. 1 ; P. 0.
Keosauqua ; owns forty-three acres, val-
ued at $25 per acre; born April 8,
1824, in Berkeley Co., W. Va.; in 1826,
came with parents to Wayne Co., Ohio,
and in 1827, removed to Clinton Co.,
Ohio, and ^m there to this county in
the spring of 1839, and settled near Mt.
Sterling. Was married to Miss Malinda
Say?e, of Scotland Co., Mo., Jan. 30,
I 1847 ; she was bom in West Virginia ;
the same year of his marriage, came to
Keosauqua ; followed millwright work,
^ also carpenter and joiner business , he
I also followed running a stationary en-
I gine for several years ; upon the break-
I ing-out of the rebellion, he enlisted
' Aug. 26, 1862, in Cck E, 15th I. V. I.;
i the following January, was detailed as
engineer on the tugboat Rollins, in the
• Mississippi River, near Vicksburg, till
June, 1863, when he was transferred to
( the Pioneer Corps under Capt. Davis ;
; participated at the siege of Vicksburg ;
I was also with Sherman's army in its
I march to the sea. He was discharged
I Aug. 3, 1865, returned home, and the
following fall was elected Representative
' of the Eleventh Assembly, and was ap-
pointed Postmaster of the Twelfth As-
I sembly ; since that time has been engaged
j in nursery and fruit-growing business.
I He has five children living — Florence*
I Hannah^ Tamzin, Isaac A., Stella; lost
one — Mary F. Republican.
, THOMPSOir, J. «., fkr.. Sec. 1 ;
I P. 0. Keosauqua; owns 159 acres of
I land, valued at $30 per acre; bom
I Nov. 13, 1841, in Clermont Co., Ohio ;
I his parents moved to Highland Co. the
following year — 1842 ; came from there
I to this county in the spring of 1857,
and settled on his present farm in the
' fell of 1875. Enlisted in the service
of his country in July, 1861, in Co. G,
of the 3d Iowa Cav.; participated in
the battles of Tupelo, Miss., Memphis,
Tenn., and Little Rock, Ark. ; also
i many skirmishai with bushwhackers ; at
I the close of the war, was mustered out,
I June 26, 1865, returned home, and the
j following year, June 8, 1866, was mar-
ried to Miss P. A. Haines, of this
county ; she was bom March 4, 1844,
I in New Jersey ; have four children —
Digitized by VjOOQIC
630
DIRECTORY OF VAN BUREN COUNTY:
Isaac N., Bessie M., Lavina and Phoebe
M. Members of the Christian Church ;
Republican.
TBIMBIiE, D. P., manufacturer
and dealer in harness, saddles, etc.,
Keosauqua; born April 12, 1837, in
Preston Co., Va. ; his parents came to
Burlington, this State, in the spring of
1842 ; the following fall, moved into
Henderson Co.^ 111. ; learned the har-
ness-maker's trade while there; was
also engaged in carrying the mail be-
tween Oquawka and Rock Island.
Enlisted at St. Louis in a New Mexico
brigade, in November, 1861 ; the fol-
lowing winter, was transferred into Co.
K., of the 8th Kansas Infantry, was
promoted from a private to all the in-
termediate offices up to First Lieutenant
and Sergeant Major; participated in
the battles of Mission Ridge, Chicka-
mauga, Perrysville, Ga., and Nashville;
was mustered out Jan. 12, 1866. The
following spring, engaged in the mer-
cantile business at Sagetown, HI., up to
1869, and at his trade at Oquawka till
1870 ; then came to Keosauqua and
commenced his present business. Mar-
ried Eliza Carl, of Illinois, Dec. 18,
1867 ; she was bom in 1848, in Bangor,
Me. ; have three children living — Han-
nah E., Virginia E. and Gertrude I. ;
lost one — May A. • Democrat.
Trites, G. L., far. , S. 30 ; P. 0. Keosauqua.
TWOMBIiY, V. P., dealer in dry
goods and general merchandise, Keosau-
qua ; born Feb. 21, 1842, in Farming-
ton Tp., this county ; his father died the
following summer, and his mother
moved to Keosauqua in 1844, and mar-
ried Dr. H. H. Barker the same year,
who has since died. In May, 1861, he
enlisted in Co. F, of the 2d Iowa Inf. ;
was chosen one of the color bearers in
the first charge on the rebel works at
Fort Donelson, and the only one that
escaped; he also participated in the
battle of Shiloh, siege of Corinth, bat-
tle of Corinth, and with Sherman in
his march to the sea; in August, 1862,
he was promoted as Second Lieutenant,
and as First Lieutenant, in the early
part of 1864, and the following &11, as
Captain ; was honorably discharged
July 20, 1865, at Davenport, Iowa.
He then returned home and attended
commercial college at Burlington ; after
which he went to Ottumwa and engaged
in the grain, flour and grocery business^
for two years ; then came to Pittsburg,
this county, and followed milling about
nine years; then came to Keosauqua
.and commenced his present business.
Married Miss Chloe A. Funk, of this
place. May 1, 1866 ; she was bom Feb.
9, 1845, in Ohio ; have one son — Wil-
lie T., born Feb. 16, 1871 ; lost three
— Cora, Gracie and Henry. Members
of the Congregational Church ; Repub-
lican.
VALENTINE, L., furniture dealer.
Keosauqua.
Varner, J., shoemaker, Keosauqua.
WALKER, C. L., telegraph operator,
Keosauqua.
Walker, E. H., far. ; P. 0. Keosauqua.
Walker, J., ret, far. ; P. 0. Keosauqua.
Walker, Josiah, far. ; P. 0. Keosauqua.
WALKER, WESIiEY, fkrmer.
Sec. 1 ; P. 0. Keosauqua ; owns 120
acres of land in this county, valued at
$40 per acre, and 100 acres in Missouri ;
born June 11, 1820, in York Ca, Peon.,
came to Keosauqua in the spring of
1839 ; followed house-building and car-
penter work for several years ; went to
California in 1849 via Panama and a
sail vessel, which, after about three
months, landed at Monterey, Cal., and
nearly starved to death ; followed min-
ing till he returned home in December,
1850 ; bought his present fknn. in 1851
and moved on it in 1868. Married
Rosa A. Robbins June 17, 1846 ; she
was born Dec. 19, 1828, in Lebanon
Co., Penn., and died Aug. 27, 1873.
Have five children living — Mary, Will-
iam, Flora, Emma and Morris; lost
one — Alice. Is a member of the Chris-
tian Church ; Democrat.
WAIiliS, P. B., dealer in lumber,
lath, shingles, etc., Keosauqua; born
March 12, 1808, in Danville, Ky. ; m
fall of 1831, came to St. Louis, Mo.,
^here he followed dealing in stock, run-
ning hotel and farming till the fall of
1846, came to Keosauqua, from which
time he followed the dry goods business-
most of the time till 1871, since which,
time he has been engaged in his present
business. He was married to Fra\»oes
Ramsey, of Kentucky, Aug. 28, 1828;
Digitized by VjOOQIC
VAN BUREN TOWNSHIP.
531
she was bom in 1808, and died Dec. 20,
1842, in St. Louis ; was again married
to Mrs. E. J. Collins (whose maiden
name was Kinkead) Jan. 2, 1868 ; she
was bom in Ohio ; have bat one child
living — Priscilla J. : lost three — John
A., Mary A. and B. F. P. Repub-
lican.
Whitney, Mark, proprietor marble works,
Keosauqaa.
Whorton, J. W., minister, Pittsburg.
Wiley, J. C, far.; P. 0. Pittsburg.
WILKIN, ABE, CAPT., farmer;
P. 0. Ke^osauqua; bom Nov. 20, 1837,
in Greene Co., Ohio ; moved to Edgar
Co., HI., in 1852, and to Steams Co.,
Minn., in 1855, and to Burlington,
Iowa, in 1856, and came to this county
in 1859. Enlisted in the service of
hb country in April, 1861, in Co. P,
2d Iowa V. I., find was elected as Sec-
ond Lieutenant by the company, and,
the following October, was promoted as
Captain of the company ; participated
in the battles of Fort Donelson and
Shiloh, at which latter place he was
wounded ; recovered so as to be with
Sherman in his march to the sea ; was
mustered out in Febroary, 1 866. After
returning home, spent four years in the
mercantile business in Keosauqna, and
for a few years has followed farming or
carrying on his farm of 160 acres. He
was married to Jennie Roberts Feb. 4,
1 864, in this county ; she was bora
April 12, 1843, in Highland Co., Ohio;
have two children living — Carrie A. apd
Minnie M.; lost two — Vinnie and Neal.
Member Christian Church ; Repub-
lican.
WHililAMSON, THOMAS A.,
proprietor Russell House, Keosauqua;
born Oct. 11, 1826, in Harrison Co.,
W. Va.; came from there to this county
in 1854 ; stopped at Winchester a short
time ; then purchased a farm lying on
the county Hue, being in Jefferson and
this county, on which he lived about
one year ; then sold, and purchased a
farm near Winchester ; remained there
and at Birmingham till 1862 ; he went
to Califomia, Montana and Oregon ; re-
turned home in 1865, and, in 1868,
moved into Birmingham, and, in 1870,
came to Summit; in July, 1874, came
to Keosau(|ua and purchased the Rus-
sell House, which he is still ranning.
He was married to Miss Harriet Kin-
nard, of Taylor Co., W. Va., June 28,
1848 ; she died in this county in 1855.
He was again married to Barbara Wal-
ter Feb. 3, 1857 ; she was born March
24, 1833, in Randolph Co., W. Va.-
have two children living by first wife —
Mary J. and James K., and three by
second wife — Hattie, A., Thomas R. and
Qeorge M.; his oldest son, William H.,
died at Birmingham ; had previously
been admitted to the bar as an attorney.
Democrat.
Wilmot, H. H., far.; P. 0. Pitteburg.
IVHiSOBT, BENJAMIN, Keosau^
qua; bom Nov. 23, 1804, in Cheshire
Co., N. H. ; parents emigrated to Guern-
sey Co., Ohio, in 1815, and from there
to Morgan Co. in 1817, where he
remained until 1822 ; he then left
home and went into Washington Co.^
Ohio ; followed boating on the river to
New Orleans, and, latterly, in the dry
goods business till the spring of 1845 ;
he then came to Keosauqua ; followed
farming till 1850, then engaged in the
dry goods and general merchandise
business, which he continued till the
fall of 1870. He was married to Miss
Elizabeth Abbott, of Athens Co., Ohio,
Dec. 8, 1836 ; she was bom Nov. 4,
1813, in Ohio; have four children liv-
ing— Boyleston S., Alice M., Flora A.
and Lizzie L. ; lost three — Frances J.,
Caroline E. and Solon N. Members of
the Congregational Church ; Republican.
WIIiSON, E. O., farmer and pro-
prietor steam thresher; P. 0. Kil-
bourn ; owns 123 acres of land, val-
valued at $30 per acre; son of Adam
B. and Sarah M. (Dean) Wilson; was
bom Nov. 8, 1826, fn Highland Co.,
Ohio ; his father was a native of North
Carolina, and mother of Ohio. Mr. E.
G. Wilson followed the business of buy-
ing and driving stock to the New York,
Philadelphia and Baltimore from 1840
to 1850 ; came to this county in the
spring of 1855, and settled on his
present farm in 1857. Married Mary
A. Lea Nov. 3, 1852, in Ohio ; she was
bom Sept. 26, 1830; have six children
living — Herbert L., Sarah M., Adam
C, Amy E., Ettie S., William C. ; lost
three — Lenora, Delia and Fanny. Mem-
Digitized by VjOOQIC
532
DIRECTORY OF VAN BUREN COUNTY :
here of the Presbyterian Church ; Re-
publican.
WOBDEUr, HENRY J., farmer,
Sec. 21; P.O.Pittsburg; owns 130
acres of land, valued at $25 per acre ;
he was born May 19, 1846, in Lorain
Co., Ohio ; parents moved to Kelly *s
Island, in Lake Erie, in 1856 ; they
were engaged in the grape culture, his
father working at carpenter and joiner
work during winters, in which he also
engaged. He enlisted in Co. K, 130th
O. V. I., in May, 1864, and was dis-
charged in the fell of 1864; was em-
ployed principally in and about fortifica-
tions near Richmond and Petersburg,
Va. Married Mary Ward, of Kelly's
Liland, Aug. 10, 1868; she was born
Jan. 19, 1849; in the fell of 1872,
came to this county, and settled where
he now lives; have four children —
Harry, Albertie, Grace and Edna.
Members of the Presbyterian Church ;
Republican.
WORK, WIJLIilAH A., attorney,
Keosauqua; bom Dec. 25, 1844, in
Jefferson Co., Iowa ; parents moved into
Union Tp., in 1845, and settled on a
farm adjoining Birmingham, part of
which was platted in the town. Served
his country in the United States navy,
on board the gunboat Benton, in the
lower Mississippi, from 1863 to 1864.
He had previously attended the Iowa
Wesleyan University at Mt. Pleasant
one year, and on returning from the
navy he again entered the university
and graduated in 1867 ; then came to
Keosauqua and commenced the study
of law under Judge Robert Sloan, and
/
was admitted to the bar in January,
1869 ; he was Principal of the Keosau-
qua school nine months. Married Hin-
da H. Marlow, of this place, Oct. 9,
1869; she was bom April 28, 1849;
have three children — Craig M., Benja-
min M. and Emmett A. Member of
the M. E. Church ; Republican.
Workman, John, fermer ; P. 0. Mt. Zion.
Wright, William, far.; P. 0. Pitteburg.
Y EAGER, C. E., retired fermer;
P. 0. Keosauqua; born March 5,
1814, in Columbia Co., Penn.; learned
the carpenter and joiner tr^de in Penn-
sylvania, and, in 1831 went to Lockport,
N. Y., and worked at his trade there ;
from there he went to St. Joseph Co.,
Mich., in 1833, and from there to this
county in 1837 ; theie were then but a
few log cabins in Keosauqua, a Mr.
Harlan and one other man had small
stores ; there were also plenty of the na-
tive Americans in the vicinity; Mr.
Yeager worked at his trade principally
for twenty-five years after coming here,
since which time he has followed farm-
ing most of the time. He was married
to Minerva Dodson, of this county, May
31, 1840 ; she was bom in 1819, in
Pennsylvania, and died Aug. 31, 1875.
Was again married to Mrs. Sarah Cook,
whose maiden name was King, Deo. 2 1 ,
1876 ; had two children by first wife —
William and Eliza A., both of whom
are dead; his second wife has three
children— Jesse, Mary and Maggie. Mr.
Yeager is a member of the M. E.
Church; Republican.
ZACHAN, NICHOLAS, furniture
dealer, Keosauqua.
Digitized by
Google
VILLAGE TOWNSHIP.
533
VILLAGE TOWNSHIP.
ADAMS, DAVID, far., S. 24 ; P. O.
Doud's Station.
^DAHSI^ F. 0-*9 Postmaster at Inde-
pendent ; P. 0. Hickory ; born in Bowl-
ing Green, Wood Co., Ohio ; in 1835,
moved to Holmes Co., Ohio, with his
parents ; in October, 1846, moved to Un-
ion Tp., Van BurenCo.,Iowa; in March
following, they moved to Business Cor-
ner ; he was engaged in farming until
1865, when he moved to Independent
and engaged in mercantile pursuits with
his brother, S. A. Adams, until 1876.
In September, 1874, was appointed
Postmaster^ which position he now holds.
He married Elizabeth Reniker Aug.
28, 1859 ; she was bom in Harrison Co.,
Ohio, Aug. 25, 1841; they have three
children — Leanah, Rosetta and Allen
B. Adams.
Adamson, S., far., S. 32; P. 0. Hickory.
ABHENTROUT, MICHAEL,
far., S. 16; P. 0. Hickory; bom Sept.
30, 1807, in Rockingham Co., Va. ; in
1836, moved to Buder Co., Ohio; in
in 1840, moved to Van Buren Co. ;
farming has been his business, but has
given some of his time to the public,
having held several township offices.
He married Diana Potram Sept. 25,
1828 ; she was a native of Rocking-
ham Co., Va., and died in April, 1832 ;
they had one child which died in in-
fancy; on Nov. 30, 1832, he married
Mary A. Detamore ; she was bom June
20, 1814, in Rockingham Co., Va. ;
they have had eleven children ; two are
dead ; one died in infancy and the other,
named George, was killed at the battle
of luka ; the living are Henry, Diana,
David, Amanda D., Lydia A., Thomas
J., Christy A., Peter and Lucinda.
Mr. and Mrs. Armen trout are members
of the Christian Church. He has 160
acres of land, valued at $5,000.
AVEBY, jrOEJL T., far., Sec. 16;
P. 0. Hickory; born Sept. 9, 1808, in
Blount Co., Tenn.; moved to Spencer's
Hill,Tenn., in 1812 ; in 1814, to Jack-
son Co., Tenn.; two years after, to White
Co., Tenn.; September, 18.^0, moved to
Sangamon Co., Ul.; in 1832, to Jackson
Co., LI., and worked at bricklaying
I about two years, being also interested in
I trade ; followed mercantile pursuits ez-
' clusively two years ; Mr. Avery came to
I Van Buren Co. prospeding in fall of
I 1838, and remained one month ; re-
turned to Illinois; in April, 1839, moved
I to Village Tp. in this county, where he has
I followed farming since ; went to Texas
. in winter of 1860 ; returned in July,
1865 ; spent the winter of 1875-76, in
I Oregon. Was Justice of the Peace in
Village Tp., from 1843 to 1847. Mar-
I ried Sarah Campbell Feb. 22, 1838, in
Jackson Co., 111.; she was bom in Mercer
Co., Tenn.; died March 4, 1843 ; had
I three daughters, all of whom are dead.
He has 440 acres of land, valued at
I $12,500.
BACON, T., fer., S. 27 ; P. 0. Doud's
Station.
I Baker, G. A., physician, Hickory.
' Baldwin, E. T., far., S. 2 ; P. 0. Doud's
I Station.
! Bean, Wm. W., lowaville ; P. 0. Hiokoiy.
i Beitle, Joseph E., far.. Sec. 21 ; P. 6.
I Hickory.
I Berger, A., far., S. 29 ; P. 0. Hickory.
j BICKFOBD, G. W., merchant,
Independent ; P. 0. Hickory ; born in
Hamilton Co., Ohio, March 10, 1828 ;
went to Sangamon Co., 111., in 1830 ;
eight years later, to Lee Co., Iowa ; re-
mained one year, then to Van Buren Co.;
when 18 years old,went to Mt. Veraon,Po-
sey Co., Ind ; remained five years and re-
turned to Van Buren Co.; a year after,
went to Appanoose Co. and remained
one year ; moved to Prairie City, Deca-
tur Co., and engaged in agricultural and
mercantile pursuits for eight years; then
moved to Columbia, Marion Co., and en-
gaged in meacantile pursuits for five
years ; came to Independent, his present
home, in January, 1870. In 1849, he
married Mary Ann Way; she was a
native of Indiana ; they had two chil-
dren, a boy and a girl, both dead ; his
wife died March 25, 1853; July 4,
1854, he married Tacey A. Sherrow ;
she was born in Harrison Co., Ohio ;
died April 20, 1863 ; had six children,
two living — Dennis R. and James M.;
Jan. 3, 1864, he married Sarah M.
Digitized by VjOOQIC
534
DIRECTORY OP VAN BUREN COUNTY;
Gardner; she was bom Oct. 6, 1836,
in Charlotte Co., Maine; had five chil-
dren, two living-^ Amzy, aged 12,
and Harvey A., aged 6. Members of
the Methodist Church. Owns eighty
acres of land, valued at $1,800.
Birch, Wm., far., Sec. 2 ; P. 0. Doud's
Station.
Bishop, B. J., far., S. 4; P. 0. Hickory.
Bishop, Paton, far., S. 4 ; P. 0. Hickory.
Black, M. E., far., S. 18 ; P. 0. Hickory.
Black, S., far., lowaville ; P. O. Hickoir.
Breckenridge, Newt., far.. Sec. 31 ; P. 0.
Hickory.
Brewster, Norman, far.. Sec. 14; P. 0.
Doud's Station.
Brewster & Ritz, merchants, Portland ; P.
0. Doud*s Station.
Brown, G., far., Portland ; P. 0. Doud's
Station.
Brown, Lloyd, for., S, 28 ; P. 0. Doud's
Station.
Bryan, A., far., Sec. 22; P. 0. Doud's
Station.
Bryant, M., Business Corner ; P. 0. Doud's
Station.
CAMPBELL, J. P., far. S. 29 ; P. 0.
Hickory.
CAHPB^Ii, ABCHIBAIiD,
farmer, S. 26 ; P. 0. Doud's Station ;
bom May 11, 1806 ; in Brooke Co., Va.;
in 1842, he moved to Summit, Van
Buren Co.; in 1867, he moved to his
' present home in Village Tp.; farming
has been his occupation. Married Cath-
erine Houk June 17, 183^; she was
bora in Tuscarawas (now Carroll) Co.,
Ohio, April 15, 1813; have had twelve
children, two are dead, one in infancy
and the other (John C.) from dis-
ease contracted in the army March 13,
1875; ten living — Alexander, Bethyel,
Henry, James, Margaret J., Martha E.,
Mary A., Nancy C, A. Pierce and Alice
J.; two were in the army. He owns 100
acres of land, valued at $3,000.
Campbell, W., far., S. 19 ; P. 0. Hickory.
Camblin, A. S., Notary Public, Inde-
pendent, Hickory.
C AHBJLIBT, CEPHAS D., farmer.
Sec. 15 ; P. 0. Hickory ; bom March
3, 1809, in Washington Co., Penn. ; in
1811, moved to Warren Co., Ohio; in
1828, moved to Montgomery Co., Ohio ;
in 1854, moved to Village Tp., Van
Buren Co., where he now resides;
farming has been his occupation. He
married Delilah Ball Oct. 25, 1832 ; she
was born Sept. 12, 1811, and died Feb.
23, 1837 ; they had two children ; both
are dead. On Dec. 5, 1840, he mar-
ried Hannah Briney; she was born
Dec. 7, 1821, in Warren Co., Ohio;
they have had eleven children ; two are
dead ; the living are Sarah C, Asbury,
Mary, Jane, Martha, Delilah, George,
John and Alice M. Members of the
M. E. Church. He has 320 acres of
land, valued at $10,000.
Carr, S., laborer. Independent; P. O.
Hickory.
Casner, B., far., S. 15 ; P. 0. Hickory.
Clifford, J., far., S. 34; P. 0. Doud's
Station.
Colton, G., laborer, Independent; P. 0.
Hickory.
Crandall, C, far., S. 27; P. O. Doud's
Station.
CRAWFORD, JTAfflESL physi.
oian, Doud*s Station; bora Dec. 28,
1828, in Perry Co., Ohio; in 1844, he
moved to Washington Co., Iowa; he
attended the Washington Seminary two
years, then began the studv of medicine
under Dr. William McClellan ; went to
California in the spring of 1849 ; two
sears after, returaed to his home and
b^an the practice of medicine with
Dr. Robert McCall in Crawfordsville
in the fall of 1851, he moved to Busi-
ness Coraers and entered practice alone
in 1868, he moved to Doud's Station
He married Candace Whitten No^- 18
• 1852; she was born Feb. 5, 18^, in
Lawrence Co., Ohio; they have three
children — Walter D., Ella R. and
James G.
Crandall Robert, far., Sec. 32; P. O.
Doud*s Station.
Crawford, William B., hotel ; Doud's Sta-
tion.
Creek, Samuel, far., S. 13 ; P. 0. Doud'»
Station.
Countrym^an, J., far., S. 11 ; P. 0. Doud's
Station.
Culbertson, William, far., S. 1 ; P. O.
Doud's Station.
DOUD, S. M., farmer, S. 35 ; P. O.
Doud's Station.
DOVD, DAVID, far.. Sec. 26 ; P.
0. Doud's Station; bora Oct. 15,
1807, in Luzerae (now Bradford) Co.,
Digitized by VjOOQIC
VILLAGE TOWNSHIP.
535
PenD. ; moved to Hamilton Co., Ohio,
in 1818; moved to Clark Co. in
1820 ; in 1823, he moved to Licking
Co. ; he was there engaged in farming
And collecting ; he bought his claim in
Van Buren Co. in 1841, and moved his
family in 1844 ; his principal business
lias been farming ; he acted as Justice
-of the Peace seven years ; he was
elected to the State L^islature in 1856,
for two years, but on account of the
changing of the State Constitution at
that time, he only served one year. He
married Nancy B. Blood April 10, 1832,
in Licking Co., Ohio; she was bom
August 9, 1810, in Massachusetts;
«be died March 23, 1834; they had
one child — Nancy B. On Oct. 14,
1840, he married Ann M. Schuyler; she
was bom Oct. 8, 1821, in Montgomery
Co., N. Y. ; they have had four child-
ren, one dead — Upton A. J., and three
living — Thomas P., Lewis K. and Sey-
mour McC. He has 410 acres of land,
valued at $12,500.
DOUD, ElilAB, fkr.; P.O. Doud*s
Station; bora Oct. 16,1812, in Lu-
xeme (now Bradford) Co., Penn. ;
moved to Hamilton Co., Ohio, in 1818 ;
moved to Clark Co., Ohio, in 1820;
in about three years, moved to Licking
Co., Ohio. He was educated at Gran-
ville College; in 1837, he went to
Bourbon Co., Ky., and engaged in
teaching; in 1843, came to Van Buren
Co. He has devoted much of his time
to the public service ; he has acted as
Justice of the Peace ten years; re-
elected in 1878 for two years more ; has
held other township offices; in 1865, he
was elected State Senator for four years,
and prides himself as being able to as-
sist by his vote the passage of the bill
indorsing the national bill forbidding
slavery in the United States. He was,
also, the author of the *' Doud Amend-
ment " to the bill empowering the State
to regulate raihroad tariffs. He married
Mary J. Whitten Jan. 2, 1847 ; she
was bora in Lawrence Co., Ohio, Jan.
19, 1829 ; they have had eleven chil-
dren, ten living — Mary A., Winfield S.,
Fletcher W., Harriet I., Eliab E., A.
Lincoln, Candaoe R., Elizabeth 0., Me-
lissa M. and Walter D. Mrs. Doud is a
member of the Baptist Church. He
owns 400 acres of land, valued at
$12,000.
Doud, Stanford, far., S. 21 ; P. 0. Doud's
Station.
Doud, Thomas P., far.. Sec. 28 ; P. 0.
Doud's Station.
Dooley, Wm., far., S. 19; P. 0. Hickory.
Drake, Francisco, far., Sec. 13; P. 0.
Doud*s Station.
Drake, Henry, far., Sec. 13; P. 0. Doud's
Station.
Dyer, W. G., far., S. 32 ; P. 0. Doud's
Station.
ELERfCK, G. W., physician, Port-
land, P. 0. Doud's Station.
EliERICK, JAUES, CAPT.,
shipper of grain and stock; Doud's Sta-
tion ; born April 6, 1838, in Belmont Co.,
Ohio ; came to Van Buren Co. first in
1849; returned to Ohio that year; in
1854, returned to Iowa and settled per-
manently. In 1856, in company with
Benjamin Casner, he purchased a saw-
mill, which they operated until 1861.
On the 15th of June, he enlisted
in Co. A, 59th 111. V. I., as a
private ; served in that regiment near-
ly five years ; he was engaged in the
battles at Pea Ridge, Prairieville,
Ky., Stone River, Chickamauga, Look-
out Mountain, Mission Ridge, Dalton,
Resaca, Bumt Hickory, Kenesaw Moun-
tain, Atlanta, Jonesboro and Nashville ;
he was appointed 1st Sergeant in the
fall of 1861 ; 1st Lieutenant in Novem-
ber, 1862, and Captain in December,
1863. He married Margaret Short
Jan. 1, 1873; she was bom March 23,
1849, in Van Buren Co., Iowa ; they
have had three children — two are dead,
Weltha M. remains. Mrs. Eleriok is a
member of the M. E. Church. He
owns 305 acres of land, valued at
$6,000.
FELMLEE, DORCAS W., farmer,
Sec. 14 ; P. 0. Doud's Station.
Felmlee, Peter, far., Sec. 14 ; P. 0. Doud's
Station.
FERRIS, JONATHAN N., fer.
ryman, Portland ; P. 0. Doud's Station ;
bora in Richland Co., Ohio, April 18,
1843 ; in 1848, moved to Chcquest Tp.,
Van Buren Co.*, and engaged in farming
with his ^ther ; spring of 1862, went to
U. T. ; a year after, went to M.
T., where he remained nine years;
Digitized by VjOOQIC
586
DIRECTORY OP VAN BUREN COUNTY:
while there he was mining and farming ;
in the fall of 1872, he returned to his
home in Iowa ; farmed two years ; in
1875, bought a half-interest in the ferry
crossing the river between Portland and
Bond's Station, and began operating it ;
in 1877, he bought the other half-inter-
est, and now has full control. Married
Mary A. Doud, April 23, 1876;
she was born Oct. 14, 1847, in Vil-
lage Tp. ; they have one child — Mary
F. His wife is a member of the M. E.
Church. He owns eighty acres of land,
valued at $1,200.
FINDIiAY, AliEXABTDER,
fiumer and coal operator, Sec. 24. Busi-
ness Corners ; P. O.Doud's Station; born
December 28, 1828, in Ayrshire,
Scotland ; when quite young, his parents
left the fkrm and moved into the town
of Catherine; in about two years, he
moved to Kilmarnock, where ho went
into a confectionery manufactory, and
remained two and a half years ; he then
commenced mining, which he has fol-
lowed principally through life. In the
spring of 1837, he was engaged by a
coal company, and went to Pictou, Nova
Scotia ; remained there six months, and
then went to Bathurst, Bay de Chaleur,
N. B. ; remained there about six
months, and went to Pottsville, Penn.,
where he remained four weeks, and
went to Alleghany Co., Md.; in 1855,
he moved to Jefferson Co., Iowa ; in
1856, moved to Van Buren Co. Mar-
ried Margaret Whitfield April 22,
1841, at Mount Savage, Md.; she was
born in Ayrshire, Scotland, April 23,
1824; have had twelve children, nine
living — Margaret, Hugh, Mary, Janet,
Agnes, Helen, Alexander, Sarah N. and
George W. Mr. and Mrs. Findlay are
members of the M. E. Church. He has
80 acres of land, valued at $2,500.
Fulton, J., far., Sec. 5 ; P. 0. Hickory.
r^ ARDNER, J., for., Sec. 28; P. O.
VJT Doud*s Station.
GARDNER, CHARLES T.,
fiirmer, Sec. 13, Business Comers ; P. 0.
Doud's Station ; born May 4, 1815, in
Rutland, Meigs Co., Ohio ; there he
learned the tanner's trade, finishing in
1836 ; traveled as a journeyman work-
man about two years, when he went to
Albany, Athens Co., Ohio, and entered
into business for himself; in 1846, he
moved to Business Comers, and engaged
in the mercantile business; in 1852^
sold his stock and went to Ohio, where
he remained a year; returned and
entered business again ; in 1868, he
sold his stock and began farming, which
he has followed since. Married Mar-
garet M. Schuyler Nov. 10, 1853 , she
was bom in Licking Co., Ohio, Jan. 1 9,
1834; have had nine children, seven
living — Amanda E., Charles S., Ada
M., May, Oscar S., Perry S. and Otis^
A. Mr. and Mrs. Gardner are mem-
bers of the Universalist Church. He
has 245 acres of land^ valued at $6,500.
Gardner, R., far., Sec. 9 ; P. 0. Hickory.
Gilbert, C: P., painter. Independent;
P. 0. Hickory.
Gilbert, D., for.. Sec. 20 ; P. O. Hickory.
Gilbert, P., far.. Sec. 10; P. 0. Hickory.
Gilbert, Riley, farmer, Sec. 14; P. O.
Doud's Station.
Gilbert, Wm. A., farmer. Sec. 28 ; P. O.
Doud's Station.
Green, Henry, fiumer, Sec. 36; P. O.
Doud^s Station.
Green, Robert, farmer, Sec. 36 ; P. O.
Doud's Station.
Green, William, farmer, Portland ; P. O-
Doud*s Station.
Grimsley, W. F., fiurmer, Sec. 35 ; P. O.
Doud's Station.
HANEY, G. W., far.. Sec. 31 ;
P. O. Hickory
Haney, James H., far., Sec. 12; P. O.
Doud's Station.
Haney, James, Jr., far.. Sec. 12 ; P. O.
Doud*s Station.
Haney, Robert, farmer, Sec. 28; P. O.
Doud's Station.
Haney, T., far.. Sec. 31 ; P. 0. Hickory.
Hamm, H., far.. Sec. 30 ; P. 0. Hickory.
Harlan, G. W., station agent, inde-
pendent; P. 0. Hickory.
Harlan, J. B., station agent. Independent ;
P. 0. Hickory.
Harrington, D., far., S. 31 ; P. 0. Hickory.
Hein, F., Jr., far.. Sec. 30 ; P. 0. Hickory.
Hein, J., far.. Sec. 30; P. O. Hickory.
Hewitt, P. C, far.. Sec. 28; P. O. Bond's
Station.
HINKIiE, ARRAIL CAPT.,
farmer and stock-breeder, See. 17 ; P. 0.
Hickory; bora in Pendleton Co., Va..
July 1, 1835 ; raised on a farm ; at the
Digitized by VjOOQIC
VILLAGE TOWNSHIP.
587
age of 19, left Virginia and took a tour
of two years through the Western States ;
returned to Virginia, and, in the fall of
1859, went to Pike's Peak; in the
spring of 1861, again returned to Vir-
ginia ; found all his fiiends and relatives
in the Southern army ; offered his serv-
vices to Gen. Rosecrans immediately
after the hattle of Rich Mountain,
August, 1861; was assigned duty under
Gen. Milroy ; he continued in the serv-
ice until the close of the war ; then en-
gaged in mercantile pursuits in Mt.
Freedom, W. Va., until 1871. During
that time, was a member of the Board
of Supervisors ; served one term in the
State Legislature; in 1871, moved to |
Van Buren Co., on his present farm, \
and engaged in farming and breeding
fine stock. Married Sarah F. Jordon
Dec. 25, 1866 ; she was born Feb. 8,
1844, in Van Buren Co.; have had six
children, five living — Lora, Arthur E.,
Harry, Nellie and May. Has 700 acres
of land, valued at $2,500, and 80
acres in Kansas, valued at $1,000.
Hix, Alva, far., Sec. 29 ; P. 0. Hickory.
Hix, J. L., Sr., far., S. 30 ; P. 0. Hickory.
Hix, R. M., far.. Sec. 32 ; P. 0. Hickory-
Huckleberry, S. H., miller, Independent;
P. 0. Hickory.
Hollen, G. W., far., S. 20 ; P. O. Hickory.
Hull, A. N., far.. Independent; P. O.
Hickory.
Hunt, J. H., harness-maker, lowaville ;
P. 0. Hickory.
JACKSON, JOHN T., far.. Sec. 16 ;
P. O. Hickory.
Judd, H. W., far., Sec. 34; P. 0. Doud's
Station.
KIMBALL, F. W., laborer, lowaville ;
P. 0. Hickory.
Kimball, J. P., laborer, lowaville ; P. 0.
Hickory.
Kindall, W., lowaville ; P. 0. Hickory.
Kungman, G., far.. Sec. 29 ; P. 0. Hickory.
LEFEVER, JACOB, far.. Sec. 17 ; P.
O. Hickory.
Lefever, Ellis, far.. Sec. 20 ; P. 0. Hickory.
Lefever, Eli, far.. Sec. 20 ; P. 0. Hickory.
Lewis, S., far.. Sec. 22; P. 0. Doud's Sta-
tion.
Lewis, W. A. E., fiir., Sec. 11 ; P. 0.
Doud's Station.
Liming, L. C, miller, Portland; P. 0.
Doud's Station.
Loar, L., physician, Portland ; P. 0. Doud's
Station.
Loomis. G., blacksmith, Portland ; P. 0.
Doud's Station.
MoCOLLOM, JOHN, &r.. Sec. 34:
P. 0. Doud's Station.
McClure, T. G., physician ; P. 0. Doud's
Station.
McCormack, G. J., far., Sec. 29 ; P. 0.
Hickory.
McCullough, A., far.. Sec. 23; P. 0.
Doud's Station.
Hc«iRE W, FINIiE Yli., RET.^
far., S. 24 ; P. 0. Doud's Station ; bom
in Allegheny Co., Penn., April 7, 1843 ;
in 1851, moved to Wapello Co., Iowa ;
in 1863, he went to Oskaloosa, to at-
tend college ; graduated in 1867 ; then
taught in the high school there and fol-
lowed teaching several years; in 1868.
moved to Van Buren Co. and engaged
in farming ; during the years 1872-73,
acted as an itinerant minister ; is now a
local minister. Married Sarah E. Brewer
Dec. 25, 1867 ; she was bom in Van
Buren Co. Feb. 24, 1845 ; hav^ five
children — Harry L., George E., James
E., William R. and Helen B. Mem-
bers of the M. E. Church. He has 192
acres of land, valued at t5,800. He is
now Township Clerk and was elected
Assessor Oct. 8, 1878.
McGill, J., far., Sec. 12 ; P. O. Doud's
Station.
McGill, S., far., Sec. 12 ; P. 0. Doud's
Station.
McKeown, A. J., far., S. 2 ; P. 0. Doud's
Station.
IIAJLCOHSON, JTOHUr, fkr., S.
36 ; P. 0. Doud's Station ; born iu
County Down, Ireland, in April, 1810 ;
farming was his occupation ; in 1840,
he moved to Peterboro, Upper Canada ;
thence to Cincinnati, Ohio ; in 1849, he
moved to his present home, in Van Bu-
ren Co., and has been engaged in farm-
ing since. Married Mrs. Helen Water-
fall (nee Thomson) in October, 1847;
she was bom in Febraary, 1806, in Glas-
gow, Scotland, and died Sept. 25, 1878 ;
they had no children ; Mrs. Malcomsou
had five children by former marriage,
one living — Margaret. He has 109
acres of land valued at $3,500.
Manning, E., merchant, Portland.
Manning, £., merchant, Independent.
Digitized by VjOOQIC
588
DIRECTORY OF VAN BUREN COUNTY:
Manning, E., mer., Doud's Station.
Martindale, W., far., S. 32 ; P. 0. Doud's
Station.
Marshall, J, far., Sec. 18 ; P. 0. Hickory.
Martin, J., far., Sec. 18; P. 0. Hickory.
Meek, Jacob, grocer, Bond's Station.
Meekfi, William, far., S. 27 ; P. 0. Doud's
Station.
Meek, William, fer., S. 27 ; P. 0. Doud's
Station.
Michael, J. H., far., 8. 7 ; P. 0. Hickory.
Miller, George, far.. Sec. 36 ; P. 0. Doud's
Station.
HIL.LER, JTOHUr, far., Sec. 25 ;
P. 0. Doud's Station ; bom March 14,
1840, in Van Buren Tp., Van Buren
Co.; liyed on a farm until 1862, when
he enlisted in Co. G, 3d Iowa V. C,
for three years ; at the end of eighteen
months his regiment was furloughed
■and re-enlisted for the war ; discharged
Sept. 19, 1865; was in the battle of
White River, Little Rock, Harrison
Station and various smaller battles ; was
wounded at Harrison Station. The
spring after his discharge, moved on his
present farm in Village Tp., and en-
gaged in farming. Married C. Rodg-
ers May 11, 1869; she was bom
in Washington Co., Ohio, Dec. 25,
1850, and died March 7, 1871 ; Oct.
1, 1874, he married Rettie 6. McCul-
lough ; she was born in Village Tp.,
Dec. 16, 1855 ; by his first marriage ne
had one child — Theodore E. ; by second
marriage two children — Nellie F. and
Ethel L. He has 230 acres of land,
valued at $7,000.
Miller, William, laborer, Independent;
P. O. Hickory.
Moore, James R., far.,S. 33 ; P. 0. Doud's
Station.
Morrison, William H., far., Sec. 4 ; P. 0.
Hickory.
Morrison, W. H. H., harness-maker, Port-
land ; P. 0. Doud's Station.
nORROW, BICHABD, farmer,
Sec. 21 ; P. 0. Hickory ; bora Dec. 3,
1826, in Belmont Co., Ohio ; lived on a
farm; learaed the carpenter's trade,
which he followed several years before
oomine to Iowa in 1851, when he settled
in Vilkge Tp., Van Buren Co. ; was a
carpenter twelve years in this county ;
then b^an farming. Married Elisabeth
A. Schuyler Nov. 23, 1853 ; she was
bom in Kentucky Sept. 30, 1827, and
died Feb. 11, 1873 ; they had one child,
which died in in&ncy ; he married Sarah
' J. Parson Nov. 22, 1873 ; she was bom
in Athens Co., Ohio, Nov. 27, 1837,
died June 11, 1877 ; have two children,
one living — Edward, bom March 29,
1876. Mr. Morrow and his first wife
were members of the M. E. Church ;
his second wife was a member of the
Lutheran Church. He ha^ 123 acres of
land, valued at $3,700.
nVTEDROW, ALEX., blacksmith. Sec.
±M 5 ; P. 0. Hickory.
Nellis, Rev., Business Comers ; P. 0.
Doud's Station.
Nelson, A., far., Sec. 33 ; P. O. Doud's
Station.
Nelson, I., fisir.. Sec. 6 ; P. 0. Hickory.
Nelson, J., far.. Sec. 6 ; P. 0. Hickory.
Newell, D. C, carpenter, Portland; P. O.
Doud's Station.
Nicklin, W. V., far., S. 19 ; P. 0. Hickory.
Nutt, 0., farmer. Sec. 13 ; P. 0. Doud's
Station.
OVERTURFF, ALEN, farmer. Sec.
10 ; P. 0. Hickory.
OYERTUBFF, J. T., ferryman.
Independent ; P. 0. Hickory ; bora in
Brownsville, Fayette Co., Penn., Sept.
13, 1835 ; mov^ to Van Buren Co., in
1850, and settled in Village Tp. ; en-
gaged in farming two years ; went to
Kansas ; a year, after returaed to this
county; in 1857, went to Califoraia
overland ; in 1860, went to New Orieans ;
in April, 1861, came up the Mississippi
to his home in Van Buren Co. ; the last
boat allowed to pass without seisure.
June, 1861, enlisted in Co. H, 5tb Iowa
V. I. ; was engaged in the battles at
Island No. 1 0, New Madrid, luka and
various smaller battles ; at luka received
wound in right thigh, from which he is
crippled; discharged in 1863. In 1865,
engaged in the grocery business with D.
C. Bcaman, and remained in business
about two years, when he engaged in
buying and shipping stock ; left that
business in February, 1876, when he
bought the ferry at Independent, which
he now controls. Fall of 1866, he mar-
- ried Miss S. J. Walker ; she was born
in Village Tp. Sept. 6, 1844; they have
five children — Georgd E., Amaretta L.,
Ola R., Clyde D. and Ditta N. Mrs.
Digitized by VjOOQIC
VILLAGE TOWNSHIP.
539
Overturff is a member of the Methodist
Church.
■pARSONS, ANDREW.
PABK, STEPHEN, far., Sec. 26;
P. 0. Doud*8 Station ; born in Licking
Co., Ohio, Aug. 12, 1823; in 1844, he
moved to Van Baren Co. ; he went to
California in 1849, and remained there
twelve years ; went to Nevada and re-
mained seven years, then returned to his
home in V$in Buren Co. While on the
<x>a8t, was engaged in farming, mining
and teaming. He married Mrs. Matilda
Oarrison, nee Jackson, March 25, 1869;
fihe was bom Sept. 17, 1843, in Jeffer-
son fJo., Iowa ; they have four children —
Martha M., Lucien F., Samuel W. and
Homer 0. Parks. Mrs. Parks had one
child by former marriage — Ida L. Gar-
rison. Mr. and Mrs. Parks are mem-
bers of the M. E. Church ; he has 220
acres of land, valued at $6,000.
Parsons, Miller, far., S. 33 ; P. 0. Doud's
Station.
Patum, William, chairmaker, Portland,
P. 0. Doud's Station.
Pearson, Sampson, farmer. Sec. 11 ; P. 0.
Doud's Station.
Pearson, Young S., far., Sec. 3 ; P. 0.
Hickory.
Perry, Daniel, far., S. 30 ; P. 0. Hickory.
Perry, WiUiam, far., S. 31 ; P. 0. Hicko^.
Penn, Joseph, Sr., farmer, S. 12 ; P. 0.
Doud's Station.
Pettet, Samuel, wagon-maker, Portland;
P. 0. Doud's Station.
Plowman, Jasper, farmer, Sec. 36 ; P. 0.
Doud's Station.
Puryear, Thomas W., far.. Sec. 2 ; P. O.
Hickory.
ROSSER, GEORGE, far.. Sec. 30;
P.O.Hickory.
Ratcliff, Aaron, far., S. 27 ; P. 0. Doud's
Station.
RatcUff, Jesse, far., Sec. 23 ; P. 0. Doud's
Station.
Ratcliff, S. Z. T., far., Sec. 29 ; P. 0. Hick-
ory.
Reiter, W. L., station agent, Doud's Star
Station.
Ritz, J. U., shoemaker, Portland; P. O.
Doud's Station.
BITZ, BEINHABT, of the firm
of Rits k Earhart, merchants, Independ-
ent ; P. 0. Hickory ; bom Sept. 14,
1844, in Switzerland ; moved to Greene
Co., Ohio, in 1851 ; to Bloomfield, Davis
Co., Iowa, in 1854 ; then to Chequest
Tp., Van Buren Co., in 1856 ; to Port^
land in 1872 ; up to that time he was
fanning; then engaged in mercan-
tile pursuits; in December, 1876, h
sold his stock ; was farming until the
&11 of 1877 ; then moved to Independent
and engaged in mercantile pursuits.
Oct. 24, 1867, he married Margaret
Mcintosh ; is a native of Van Buren
Co. ; had four children, three living —
Clarence, Ira and Henry. He owns 160
acres of land, valued at S4,000.
Robinson, Joseph, far., S. 1 ; P. 0. Doud's
Station.
Ryan, Jacob, far.. Sec. 27 ; P. 0. Doud's
Station.
SALTE»S, ASA, blacksmith and farm-
er, Sec. 27 ; P. 0. Doud's Station.
Schiveley, T. C, carpenter, Independent ;
P. 0. Hickory.
Schuyler, Phillip, hotel, Doud's Station.
SCHUYIiEB, WILIilAlE (de-
ceased); bora in New Jersey July 5,
1795, and died Sept. 18, 1875; when
about 8 years old, he moved to Elssex Co.,
N. Y., and settled near Elizabeth town ;
when about 25 years old he went to Ken-
tucky, and eng:iged in land speculation
and contracting ; eleven years after, he
moved to Licking Co., Ohio, and followed
farming and contracting; in 1841,
moved to Van Buren Co., where he died.
Married Elizabeth Sharpensteen in New
York, June 11, 1818 ; she was born in
New Jersey Nov. 21, 1794, and died
June 15, 1859. They had seven chil-
dren, two living — William V. and Marga-
ret M. April 28, 1861, he married Mrs.
Mary Featherson (nee Siddorn) ; she
had four children by former marriage,
two living — Sarah and Elizabeth ; she
was born in Cheshire, England, Sept.
11, 1819. Mr. Schuyler and both wives
were members of the M. E. Church.
William V. Schuyler was bora Dec. 16,
1839, in Licking Co., Ohio, and came
to Iowa with his father in 1841. May
28, 1864, enlisted in Co. K, 45th I. V.
I., for 100 days ; discharged at the end
of his term ; farming has been his oc-
cupation. He married Sarah Feathers-
son Sept. 24, 1870 ; she was bora Feb.
24, 1848. in Cheshire, England.
2
Digitized by VjOOQIC
540
DIRECTORY OF VAN BUREN COUNTY
Shearer, J. V., farmer, Portland; P. 0.
Doud's Station.
Shearer, M., far., S. 35; P. 0. Doud's
Station.
Shelby, D., fer., S. 3; P. 0. Hickory.
Spurbeck, W., far., S. 28; P. 0. Doud*8
Statiidn.
Snelling, G., far., S. 32; P. 0. Doud*s
Station.
Stamm, J. W., far., S. 12; P. 0. Doud's
Station.
MTOKES, JOSE N., far., S. 1 ;
P. 0. Doud's Station; bom July 23,
1822, in Logan Co., Ohio; in the fall
of 1843, he moved to Village Tp., Van
Buren Co., where he now resides; farm-
ing has been his occupation through
life. On July 25, 1844, he married
Mary D. Walker ; she was bom May 6,
1822, in Fairfield Co., Ohio; they have
had six children, four living — Oliver O.,
bom Aug. 27, 1845; John W., bora
June 5, 1847 ; Mary A., born June 14,
1849, and George N., born April 7,
1856. Mrs. Stokes is a member of the
M. E. Church. He has 200 acres of
land, valued at $6,000.
Stokes, J. W., far., S. 1 ; F. 0. Doud's
Station.
Stokes, 0. 0., far., S. 1 ; P. 0. Doud's
Station.
STOOPS, JESSE T., farmer; P.
0. Hickoir; born March 6, 1820, in
Hamilton Co., Ohio ; in 1823, moved to
Switzerland Co., Ind. ; at the age of 17,
he went to the village of Harrison ; re-
mained about five years ; moved to Van
Buren Co. in the fall of 1849 ; the fol-
lowing spring, he went to California;
returned in the spring of 1853, and
located in Village Tp., where he now
resides. Married Elmira McCullough
in Switzerland Co., Ind., Feb. 10, 1846;
she was bora in that county May 17,
1821 ; had seven children, six living —
Eugene T., Obid F., Ida A., Mary M.,
Albia I. and George M. Mrs. Stoops is
a member of the M. E. Church. He
has 197 acres of land, valued at $8,000.
Strang, John, Sec. 26 ; P. 0. Doud's Sta-
tion.
TANNAHILL, W., far., S. 21 ; P. O.
Doud's Station.
TOOIi, GEORGE W., CAPT.,
manager of stores for Mr. E. Manning,
at Doud's Station, Portland and Inde-
pendent ; bora in Posey Co., Ind., Sept.
6, 1838 ; moved to Keosauqua in 1851 ;
in 1858-61, clerked in a grocery store.
Nov. 27, 1861, enlisted as private, Co.
C, 17th I. V. I., for three years ; was
gradually promoted to Orderly Sergeant;
July 18, 1863, was discharged for pro-
motion and transferred to the 50th U. S.
C. I., with the rank of Captain of Co.
C, which he organized ; while in the
Iowa regiment, he was in the first and
second battles of Corinth, and at Jacinto,
luka, Jackson, Champion Hills and
the seige of Vicksburg ; afterward, in
the battles at Port Gibson, Grand Gulf,
Mobile and various smaller engagements ;
mustered out of service March 12, 1865.
Came home and was in the grocery bus-
iness about two years, and then sold hi»
stock ; June 20, 1868, he entered the
store of Manning & Parker at Doud's
Station, as clerk; in 1870, Mr. Manning
became sole proprietor and appointed
Capt. Tool manager; in 1875, another
store was started at Portland, and in
1877, one at Independent, both of which
Capt. Tool has the management. Mar-
ried Fanny J. Scott Dec. 12, 1865 ; she
was bora in Indiana ; they have four
children — Flora S., George S., Mary M.
and Hattie S. Members of the M. £.
Church. He has forty acres of land,
valued at S500.
Tatum, W. A., far. and chairmaker, S. 21 ;
P. 0. Doud's Station.
Taylor, I., lab., Doud's Station.
Trout, John, Sr., far., S. 1 ; P. 0. Doud's
Station.
UTTER,A.,far., S. 4; P. 0. Hick-
ory.
YAN SEGGEN, T. W., blacksmith,
Doud's Station.
Van Antwerp, H., far.. Sec. 27 ; P. O.
Doud's Station. '
WAINSCOTT, M., far., S. 34 ; P. O.
Doud's Station.
Walker, G. B., far., S. 14 ; P. 0. Doud's
Station.
WAJLKER, JOHN H., fkr., S. 4 ;
P. 0. Hickory ; born Dec. 4, 1837, in
Champaign Co., Ohio; in 1841, moved
to Van Buren Co.; he was raised on a
farm, and farming has been his princi-
pal business ; from 1861 to 1868, he was
engaged in operating a saw-mill in part-
nership with his ^ther^ Zachariah Walk-
Digitized by VjOOQIC
VILLAGE TOWNSHIP.
541
er ; the mill was first a mile below Doud's
Station ; afterward, moved to Independ-
ent. Married Elizabeth W. Camblin
Dec. 17, 1863 ; she was born Feb. 10,
1842, in Montgomery Co., Ohio; have
had seven children ; five living — Anna
L., John A., Mary V., Charles R. and
George. Members of the M. E.
Church. He owns 209 acres of land,
valned at $5,300.
WAIiKBR, PETER, BET.,
M. D. (deceased); born April 21,
1814, in Ross Co., Ohio; moved to
Champaign Co., Ohio, in 1823 ; about
the year 1834, began the study of
medicine in West Middlebury ; in 1843,
moved to Village Tp., Van Buren Co.,
and engaged in farming and practicing
medicine ; also acted as local preacher ;
in the fell of 1854, moved to Liberty-
ville, Jefferson Co., where he continued
practicing. In October, 1861, he was
elected Representative for Jefferson Co.
for two years ; at an extra session in
September, 1862, he was commissioned
by Governor Kirkwood as First Assist-
ant Surgeon in the 30th Iowa V. I. ; re-
signed his seat in the Legislature, re-
joined his regiment at Keokuk, and was
mustered in Sept. 12 ; on account of
sickness, he was obliged to resign his
commission, which he did Dec. 26,
1862, and returned to his home in
Libertyville, where he died Jan. 13,
1863. He married Sarah G. Stokes
March 29, 1838 ; she was born Nov.
15, 1818, in Logan Co., Ohio, and died
Jan. 3, 1850; they had six children,
two living — Moses B. and John R. On
May 23, 1850, he married Christiann
Schuyler; she was born Nov. 25, 1830,
in Licking Co., Ohio, and died April
6, 1859 ; they had four children, three
living — William M., Peter E. and
Francis E. On Jan. 6, 1860, he mar-
ried Mrs. Mary Drake (nee Brewer);
she was bom Jan. 18, 1818, in New
York. Mr. Walker was a prominent
member of the Masonic and Odd Fel-
lows f^temities ; he was Master Mason,
Royal Arch Master, and Knight Tem-
plar.
WAIiKER, ZACHABIAH,
deceased; bom July 15, 1811, in Pick-
away Co., Ohio, and died March 4, 1875 ;
moved to Champaign Co., Ohio, in
1823. There married Lydia A. Thomas
June 12, 1834. He came to Van
Buren Co. in 1839 ; made three olaims
for himself and brothers ; reUirned to
Ohio and moved his family to Iowa in
, 1840 ; in 1850, he went to California;
retumed in 1851 ; he was chosen Cap-
tain of the company taking the trip ;
they suffered considerably from cholera
during the trip, from which many of the
party died : were, also, attacked by In
dians, on Humboldt River, but no lives
lost ; a bullet tore a lock of hair from
Mr. Walker's head, but he was not
otherwise injured ; farming was his oc-
cupation through life. He served as
Justice of the Peace about twelve suc-
cessive years. Mrs. Walker was bom Jan.
6, 1815, in Champaign Co., Ohio; they
had ten children, eight living — Harriet
E., John M., Mary E., Sarah J., Moses P.,
George A., Joseph E. and Francis R.
G. Mr. Walker was and his wife is a
member of the M. E. Church. The
farm contains 200 acres of land, valued
at S5,500.
Wear, John T., far.. Sec. 26 ; P. O. Doud*s
Station.
Whetsel, Emory, grain dealer. Independ-
ent ; P, 0. Hickory.
Wiley, Clark, far.. Sec. 33 ; P. 0. Doud's
Station.
Williams, Henry, iarmer. Sec. 31 ; P. 0.
Hickory.
Williams, Joshua, far., Sec. 1 ; P. 0. Doud*s
' Station.
Willis, John S., merchant; Doud's Station.
Willis, John A., farmer. Sec. 35 ; P. 0.
Doud's Station.
Wirt, David B., farmer and molder. Sec.
21 ; P. 0. Doud's Station.
Weissenburger, David, laborer ; P. 0.
Doud's Station.
yOUNQ, J. T., far., Sec. 3; P. 0.
Hickory.
Young, William, farmer. Sec. 3; P. 0.
Hickory.
Digitized by
Google
642
DIRECTORY OP VAN BUREN COUNTY:
WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP.
\
BAKER, HIRAM, shoemaker, Ben-
tonsport.
BAILEY, JTAHES F., far., Sec.
26; P. 0. Bentonsport ; owns 252
acres of land, valued at $40 per acre.
Born Aug. 23, 1825, in Belmont Co.,
Ohio ; parents moved to Morgan Co. in
1835 ; from there to this county in the
spring of 1850 ; lived in Bonaparte till
the fall of 1851, then went to Cali-
fornia via New Orleans; from there
to the Isthmus hj steamer; from
there to San Francisco in a sailing-ves-
sel ; came near perishing for want of
food and water, being out seventv-seven
days ; while there, waa engaged m min-
ing, and on the public works; returned
in 1855, and married Celestine David-
son July 25, 1855 ; she was born April
10, 1835, in Illinois; came on to his
present fkrm in January, 1855; have
one daughter — Ella, married to H. T.
Shepherd Nov. 12, 1872. Mr. Bailey
served in the Mexican war in Co. H,
3d Ohio Inf. ; was in the service about
one year. Member of the M. E. Church ;
Republican.
Barber, Alonso, painter. Bentonsport.
BARKER, JTAltES C, farmer,
Sec. 9; P. 0. Mt. Zion; owns 157
acres of land, valued at $30 per acre ;
son of John and Elizabeth Barker;
bom in this county July 12, 1844; his
father died the following October; his
mother subsequently married a man of
the name of Robinson, and died Jan.
29, 1874. Mr. Barker married Miss
Jane Agnew May 7, 1873; she was
born March 17, 1848, in county of
Antrim. Ireland ; have three children —
Elizabeth J., Robert J. and Mary A.
Members of the Presbyterian Church ;
Republican.
Barker, J., far.. Sec. 4 ; P. 0. Mt. Zion.
Barr, Jas., railroad engineer, Bentonsport.
Boenstfer, Daniel, farmer, Sec. 12; P. O.
Pierceville.
Bragg, W. N., paper-maker, Bentonsport.
Brooks, L. A., carpenter, Bentonsport.
BBO WBT, NOAH O., station agent
on the K. & D. M. R. R.; P. 0. Ben-
tonsport ; son of James A. and Rachel
Brown; was bom Jan. 1, 1836, in
Westmoreland Co., Penn. ; came with
parents to this county in April, 1840 ;
stopped on a &rm two miles south of
Vernon ; afcer two years, came to Ben-
tonsport, where his father commenced
building the Bentonsport Mills ; worked
in the mills till 1859, then went to
California via overland route with an ox-
team; followed the milling business at
lone City in Amador Go. till 1865,
when he retumed to this county; fol-
lowed the milling business here and two
years at Oskaloosa ; took charge of the
railroad office in 1870. Married Lutitia
Freeman Feb. 5, 1857 ; she was bom
June 7, 1832, in Ohio; have three
children — Cora, Harriet and Elbert;
lost one — James A. His father died
Nov. 21, 1865. Members of the Pres-
byterian Church ; Republican.
Burton, J. W., far., S. 34 ; P. 0. Bentons-
port.
CARTER, C. A., butcher, Bentons-
port.
Carter, Heziah, Bentonsport
Carter, R, S., dealer in rags, Bentonsport.
Carter, R. F., coal-miner, Bentonsport
Cochenour, H., farmer; P. 0. Bentonsport
Colton, E., farmer and cloth-dresser, S. 36 ;
P. 0. Bentonsport.
Corns, Ira M., millwright and fiurmer ; P.
0. Bentonsport.
COWJLES. C. W^ H. D., retired
physician, Bentonsport; was bom March
10, 1808, in Hampshire Co., Mass. ; at
the age of 17, he started out for himself;
came to Lexington, Ky., where he
taught school about one year; taught
two years at Elizabethtown, then re-
tumed to Massachusetts and finished
hb studies at Amherst College ; gradu-
ated in August, 1831; he aJ^rward
entered Berkshire Medical College;
graduated in the winter of 1835 and
1836 ; the following spring, came to
Crawfordsville, Ind. ; practiced medi-
cine there till he came to Bentonsport,
in this county, in the spring of 1838,
he being the first physician so far west.
Dr. Cowles has followed his profession
ever since till within the last three
years; also dealt some in real estate,
and was a partner with a Mr. SMi
Digitized by VjOOQIC
WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP.
543
D
Bichards about six years; owned a
store at Chariton, Lnoas Co., several
years. Married Miss Martha Howe in
July, 1846; she was bom Feb. 26,
1825, in Massachusetts; have three
children living — George H., Hester W.
and Sarah I. ; lost one — Arad. George
H. is engaged in the banking business
at Osceola, Clark Co., Iowa. Members
of the Congregational Church ; Repub-
lican.
INGS, C, far.; /P. 0. Bentonsport.
Drumm, C, painter, Bentonsport.
Dunn, A., far. and minister, Bentonsport.
TpATON, W., laborer, Bentonsport.
Edmondson, H. B., far., Sec. 26 ; P. 0.
Bentonsport.
■j^ULTON, A., teamster, Bentonsport.
Fulton, H., railroad engineer, Bentonsport.
Fulton, W. S., railroad section-hand, Ben-
tonsport.
G ADDIS, W., fer., Sec. 12; P. 0.
Pierceville.
Oast., J. D., retir'd far. ; P. 0. Pierceville.
Greyson, W., carpenter, Bentonsport.
Greef, C. E., ferryman, Bentonsport.
Greef, J., merchant, Bentonsport.
TZTART, W., blacksmith, Bentonsport.
HANCOCK, FREDERICK,
P. 0. Bentonsport ; Justice of the Peace
and Notary Public; bom Dec. 13,
1815, in Luzeme Co.,Penn.; at the age
of 12, he went to Philadelphia; came
to Van Buren County in the fall of
1838 ; took his claim about four miles
north of Bentonsport ; commenced the
mercantile business in Bentonsport, in
1848, and continued till the spring of
1864. Was appointed Captain and
Quartermaster in the Military Depart-
ment of the Southwest; received his
discharge in 1866 ; returned home and
engaged in the lumber business until
1875. Was married to Ann P. Collins,
of Delaware, in September, 1837 ; she
died in January, 1864; was again mar-
ried to Martha Brown, May 1, 1873;
she was bom Sept. 23, 1840, in Penn-
sylvania ; have four children living —
Fanny, married to Andrew Alexander ;
lives at Wacsonville, Cal.; Sally, mar-
ried to E. A. Robinson, is living in j
Boston, Mass.; Mary, married to J. S.
Keck, of this county^ and Frederick,
who is in Kansas; lost two; his son,
Paul, enlisted in Co. H, of the 7th
Missouri Cavalry ; was discharged in
October, 1864, and died on the cars,
at Keokuk, while on his way home; and
Mattie died Oct. 4, 1878, at her sister's,
in Califomia. Mr. Hancock represented
his county in the Legislature, in 1844-^5.
Member of the Congregational Church ;
Republican.
Harwood, T., far.. Sec. 3 ; P. 0. Utica.
Heinz, C, tailor, Bentonsport.
Hooper, Chas., far., S. 12 ; P. 0. Pierce-
ville.
Hooper, S., fer.. Sec. 12; P. O. Pierce-
ville.
JOHNSTON, S. B., far.. Sec. 1 ; P. O.
Utica.
JTACK, OEOROE W., dealer in
general merchandise, drugs, etc., Ben-
tonsport ; bora Nov. 2, 1 834, in Morgan
Co., Ohio ; came to this county in 1856,
and settled in Yemon, where he engaged
in stone-cutting and selling paper for
the mills ; came to Bentonsport in the
spring of 1861 ; in 1867, he opened
his present business. Married Elizabeth
Hart Feb. 24, 1859 ; she was born July
31, 1838, near Dayton, Ohio; have
seven children — Delbert A., John W.,
Edward, Gkorge L., Clara, Chester C.
and Albert ; lost one — Ella L. Has
held the offices of Mayor and City Treas-
urer, and member of the School Board.
Member of the M. E. Church ; Repub-
lican.
KECK, P. R., far.. Sec. 34 ; P. O.
Bentonsport.
Kisling, S., far., S. 3 ; P. 0. Mt. Zion.
McCRACKEN, I., stone-mason and
farmer, Bentonsport.
McCUNE, ALEXANDER S.,
farmer and stock-raiser; P. 0. Pierce-
ville ; owns about 1,000 acres, valued at
$50 per acre; bora Oct. 6, 1817, in
Cumberland Co., Penn. ; came to Van
Buren Co., in April, 1857, and settled
in Harrisburg Tp. ; engaged in mercan-
tile business in Pierceville in 1866, but
did not move his family till 1869 ; con-
tinued in the business till 1873 ; is, at
present, Justice of the Peace, an office
which he has held ten or twelve years.
Married Mary A. Walker, daughter ^f
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644
DIRECTORY OF VAN BUREN COUNTY:
Benjamin Walker, Nov. 25, 1857; she
was born Oct. 25, 1829, in Cincinnati,
Ohio ; have three children — Eleanor S.,
Hester F. and Minnie B. Demo-Green-
back.
McCutcheon, Robert, Par., Sec. 15 ; P. 0.
Bentonsport.
McSurley, James H., far., Sec. 9 ; P. O.
Mt. Zion.
HcSUREIiY, mJLES, far., Sec.
9 ; P. 0. Mt. Zion ; owns 180 acres of
land, valued at $30 per acre ; born Feb.
1 , 1809, in Mason Co., Ky. His father,
James McSurely, moved to Adams Co.,
Ohio, fall of 1809, where he died in
1840 ; his mother, Maria, died in 1833 ;
he went to Scioto Co. in 1830 ; was
married there to Catharine McCan Jan.
24, 1833 ; she was bom in same county,
Nov. 28, 1816; moved to Fulton Co.,
111., fall of 1836 ; the following spring
to Van Buren Co. ; made his claim
about three miles west of his present
farm ; moved his family out in the
spring of 1838 ; he is among the early
settlers of this county, and, by his own
industry and economy, has acquired a
handsome property. Has seven children
living — Mary J., William, Anderson,
Hannah, James, Kate and John M. ;
lost two — Benjamin and Margaret.
Anderson and Benjamin were in Co. G,
of 3d Iowa Cavalry ; while there, Ben-
jamin died Aug. 26, 1862 ; his son
James yet single, remaind at home ; and
owns 120 acres of land ; his other three
sons are in California. Republican.
McVity, John, shoemaker, Bentonsport.
McVity, Thomas, shoemaker, Bentons-
port.
HASOBT, 6EOROE H., Bentons-
port, proprietor of Ashland House ; son
of Lewis J. and Nancy Mason (nee
Winslow) of Chenango Co., N. Y. ; he
was born in Cattaraugus Co. Feb. 18,
1842; came with his friends to this
county in 1857; his father bought an
hotel, and the following year traded for
the one now occupied by George H. ;
his father died in September, 1868, and
mother in May, 1875. Married Re-
becca Williamson May 1, 1861 ; she
was bom July 18, 1842, in Oxford Co.,
Maine. Went to Keosauqua Co. and run
the Russell House during the years 1865
and 1866 ; he then returned to Bentons-
port, and, in 1876, moved to Des
Moines, where he was foreman in Mason
& Co.'s wholesale tinware manu&ctory ;
returned and took charge of the Ash-
land House. Have four children — Har-
ry C, Mary F., Nellie and Wm. E. ;
has five brothers and two sisters living,
six dead — Frank and Edward R., at-
torneys, are of the firm of Mason Bros.,
Des Moines, Edward being Clerk of the
U. S. Court, and Wm. E. is practicing
law in Chicafi^o; Linn W. is in Penn-
sylvania ; and James L. is in Memphis,
Tenn.
HOORE, 6EOBOE L.; P. 0.
Bentonsport ; dealer in dry goods and
general merchandise ; son of Robert and
Elizabeth Moore ; bora April 4, 1826,
in Dearborn Co., [nd. ; came with his
parents to thb county in the spring of
1837, and settled in Harnsburg Tp. ;
went to California in the spring of 1850,
followed mining and dealing in stock ;
returned in the spring of 1854; the
same year, engaged in the mercantile
business at Leon, Decatur Co., which
he continued till 1857, when he returned
to Bentonsport and engaged in his pres-
ent business. He owns a farm of 107
acres adjoining the town ; is one of the
leading business men of Bentonsport.
Married Hannah A. Brown, Aug. 29,
1854, of Bentonsport ; has seven chil-
dren living — Geor^a A., Seth R., Mary
L., Rachel E., Sarah C, Robert P. and
James B. ; lost three — Johnson, Benja-
min and James A. Georgia A. was mar-
ried to 0. S. Hurd, Sept. 13, 1877 ; is
living at Atchison, Kan. Father died
in 1861, and mother in 1859. Mem-
ber of Presbyterian Church.
HORRIS. SAHlJEIi IE., farmer,
Sec, 24 ; P. 0. Bentonsport ; owns 352
acres of land, valued at $25 per acre ; son
of Henry and Jane Morris ; bora Jan.
14, 1827, in Harlan Co., Ky. ; came
with parents to this county in June,
1838; settled in Cedar Tp., where his
father died Feb. 18, 1871, and mother
the 24th of same month. Mr. Morris
was married to Charlotte A. Robbins
May 21, 1854 ; she was bom April 7,
1834, in Chautauqua Co., N. Y. Hav«
four children living — Edmund, John
Q., Livingston and William W, ; lost
one — Henry. Republican. ^
Digitized by CjOOgle I
WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP.
545
mONTOOHERY, JTOS., propri-
etor of Bentonsport Mills, Bentonsport ;
born Nov. 14, 1826, in Washington,
Co., Penn. ; came with parents to this
county in 1842; settled in Washington
Tp. ; commenced to learn the trade of
miller in Pennsylvania; worked in the
mill at Bentonsport several years prior
to 1852 ; then went to Calfornia ; was
there several years engaged in farming,
brickmaking, house-building and team-
ing; returned in 1859, and went to
work in the mill again, of which he is
• now half-owner with Joseph Scott, hav-
ing recently purchased it. Married Mary
A. Miles Jan. 4, 1849 ; she was bom in
Kentucky in 1832; have one son —
John C, born Feb. 19, 1851. Members
of Presbyterian Church ; Republican.
Montgomery & Scott, millers, Bentonsport.
Morrill, B. F., retired far., Bentonsport.
"'^TEWLON, C. E., carp., Bentonsport.
INEL^ON, JOHBT W., far., S. 4;
p. 0. Mt. Zion ; owns 500 acres of
land, valued at $35 per acre ; son of
William and Elizabeth Nelson ; born Sept.
25, 1832, in Wayne Co., Ohio; parents
moved into Richland Co., in 1836; to
this county in the fall of 1845 ; his
mother died Oct. 17, 1857, and father
Sept. 24, 1860; Mr. Nelson has two
brothers and one sbter living ; five have
died. He was married to Eliza Boner,
-of this county, Jan. 12, 1860 ; she was
bom Nov. 27, 1838, in Sangamon Co.,
IlL ; have six children living — Minnie,
Marietta, Ethel N., Nellie M., Edna M.
and John E. Republican.
Nichols, Seba ; P. 0. Pierceville.
PARKER, MARLOW, coal-digger,
Bentonsport.
Patten, B. M., far. ; P. 0. Bentonsport.
Payne, B., far., S. 10 ; P. O. Mt. Zion.
Pender, Henry, far., P. 0. Mt. Zion.
Perkins, A., far., S. 1 ; P. 0. Mt. Zion.
QUAINTANCE, WM., plasterer, Ben-
tonsport.
RALSTON, J. H., physician, Bentons-
port.
Behkopf, A. C, cabinet-maker, Bentons-
port.
Row, O., far., 8. 13; P. 0. Pierceville.
SANFORD, JOHN D , retired, Ben-
tonsport.
Schriever, L., blacksmith, Bentonsport.
SCOTT, JTOS. W., proprietor, with
Joseph Montgomery, of Bentonsport
Mills, Bentonsport; born Oct. 1, 1840,
in Columbiana Co., Ohio ; came with
his parents to Lee Co., Iowa, in 1846 ;
in 1847, to this county ; setUed in Ver-
non, and commenced learning the trade
of miller, in 1850, in the Vernon Mills.
Enlisted, Aug. 7, 1861, in Co. A, of
the Black Hawk Cavalry; was trans-
ferred to 7th Mo. Cav. ; was in the
battles of Lone Jack, Prairie Grove,
Van Buren, DuvalFs BIu&, Little
Rock, Pine Bluffs and Saline; dis-
charged in October, 1864. Returned,
and again engaged in the milling busi-
ness; in 1869, went to Knoxville,
Marion Co., Iowa; in 1877, to Creston,
Union Co., returning to Vernon in
1878; and, in September, purchased,
with his partner, the Bentonsport Mills.
Married Amelia G. Barnett Feb. 28,
1865 ; she was born Sept. 14, 1846, in
Ohio; have four children living — Cyn-
thie C., Grant C, Cora and Roy; lost
one — Amos S. H. Republican.
Shepherd, F. 0., far.. Sec. 22; P. 0.
Bentonsport.
Shepherd, Henry T., far.. Sec. 27 ; P. 0.
Bentonsport.
Shepherd, N., far., Sec. 27 ; P. 0. Ben-
tonsport.
SHART, JTAHES, far., Sec. 2 ; P.
0. Utica ; owns 174 acres of land, val-
ued at $30 per acre; bom Dec. 7, 1803,
at Barren Co., Ky.; parents moved into
Robinson Co., Tenn., in 1805 ; to Mor-
gan Co., III., in 1823. He was married
there to Tabitha Carter March 17, 1825 ;
she was born March 13, 1807, in Nel-
son Co., Ky. Came to this county in
October, 1835 ; made his claim at the
mouth of Copperas Creek ; cleared off
nine acres the following spring, put it
in com, the next fall sold his claim and
moved on his present farm ; Mr. Smart
is one of the oldest pioneers of Van
Buren Co., having been here forty-five
years, and will soon pass to that '' undis-
covered country from whose bourn no
traveler returns." He has seven chil-
dren living — Jackson, Greenberry^ Will-
iam, Jahanon, Mary, Martha and Me-
linda ; lost three — Silas, Eliza and James.
Member Protestant Methodist Church ;
Democrat.
Digitized by
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646
DIRECTORY OF VAN BUREN COUNTY :
Stevens, A. N., retired far., Bentonsport.
Stewart, J. F., fanner, Bentonsport.
Stewart, R., miller, Bentonsport.
Strunk, H. C, fanner, Bentonsport.
Syfert, Benjamin, far., Sec. 16; P. 0. Mt.
Zion.
rpUSSEY, M. L., Bentonsport.
TRANCE, A., far., S. 1 ; P. 0. Utica.
TTTALSH, L., lab., Bentonsport.
WALKER, BEHrjAMIN. ikr.,
Sec. 24; P. 0. Bentonsport; owns 320
acres of land, valued at $30 per acre ;
born Nov. 4, 1802, in Butler Co., Ohio ;
served an apprenticeship at bricklaying
and followed the business at Cincinnati,
Ohio, about thirteen years ; returned
to Butler Co., in 1833 ; engaged in*
farming till the fall of 1850, when he
came to this county and settled on his
present farm. Married Hester A. Reese
Jan. 1, 1829; she was bom April 9,
1808, in Virginia; died March 7, 1834;
has two children — Mary A., married to
Alexander S. McClune Nov. 25, 1857 ,.
and Frances E., married to Allen W.
Stevens Oct. 20, 1858; the latter residofr
with Mr. Walker. Democrat.
Ward, W. W., far., Sec. 36 ; P. 0. Ben-
tonsport.
Warner, H., far., S. 13 ; P. 0. Pieroeville.
Warner, S., fkr., S. 13 ; P. 0. Pierceville.
Weaver, Q^o., far., S. 36 ; P. 0. Bentons-
port.
Wood, C, mail-carrier, Bentonsport.
Work, J., iar., S. 4 ; P. O. Mt. Zion.
VERNON TOWNSHIP.
ALCORN, JAMES A., merchant,
Mt. Sterling.
Aldred, Stephen, fer. ; P. 0. Vernon.
Aldridge, S, G., far. ; P. 0. Vernon.
Algire, G. W., far. ; P. 0. Willits.
Anderson, A.,fer., Sec. 12 ; P. 0. Willite.
Anderson, L., far. ; P. O. Willits.
BELL, ELIAS, far.. Sec. 7 ; P. O.
Mt. Steriing.
Blackledge, F., far. ; P. 0. Mt. Steriing.
Blackledge, S., far.. Sec. 10; P. O. Mt.
Sterling.
Bradford, H. E., merchant and Postmaster,
Mt. Sterling.
Bradford, L., far. ; P. 0. Vernon.
Brewster, H., far.. Sec. 20 ; P. 0. Keosau-
qua.
Brown, DanieK far. ; P. 0. Keosauqua.
Burns, J. W., far.. Sec. 24 ; P. 0. Vernon.
Butler, N., far., Sec. 5 ; P. O. Vernon.
CACKLEY, W. C. C, far.. Sec. 23 ;
P. O. Vernon.
Calahan, H. J., merchant, Mt. Sterling.
Cariston, A. S., far. ; P. 0. Mt. Steriing.
Cavitt, J. H., far.. Sec. 9 ; P. 0. Mt.
Sterling.
Clark, J., physician, Mt. Sterling.
Cox, A., far.. Sec. 17 ; P. O. Keosauqua.
COX, RANDOLPH, fer., Sec. 17 ;
P. O. Keosauqua; owns 271 acres of
land, valued at $30 per acre ; born April
7, 1821 , in Jefferson Co., Ind. In 1827,
parents moved to Sangamon Co., 111. ;
he went into Menard Co. in 1838 ; while
there learned the trade of stone and
brick mason. Enlisted during the Mexi-
can war in Co. F, 4th Illinois VolunteerSy
in May, 1846 ; was under Brigadier
Gen. Shields, in Taylor's army ; while be-
low Matamoras was taken sick, finally
discharged and returned home via New
Orleans and the Mississippi River.
June, 1847, came to this county. Mar-
ried Sarah Mcintosh April 22, 1849 ;
she was bom Feb. 10, 1826, in Taze-
well Co., W. Va, ; her parents came to
this county in 1838 ; have nine children
— Juliette, Alonzo, Harvey R., Agnes,
Clarinda, Florence, Eudora, Carrie and
Alice. Mr. Cox settled on his present
frame in 1 849. Member M. E. Church ;
Independent.
Cresswell, R., Jr., far., Sec. 25; P. 0.
Vernon.
Currier, Sargent, far. ; P. O. Vernon.
DAVIS, EXTINE, far.. Sec. 22 ; P.
O. Vernon.
DeHart, G., far., S. 29 ; P. O. Mt Steriing,
ENGLEBRIGHT, A., far.. Sec. 36;
P. 0. Vernon.
ElililS, OEOROE, farmer, S^x;.
22 ; P. 0. Vernon ; son of Jeremiah
Digitized by VjOOQIC
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VERNON TOWNSHIP.
54T
3iid Rebecca ,( Miller) Ellis; born
March 26. 1825, in Sullivan Co., N. Y.;
liis father and mother were bom in
New York; his mother died in this
county Oct. 15, 1853; his father is
living in Keosanqna, with a widowed
daughter, Eleanor Anderson. Mr.
Elllis' parents moved into Tompkins Co.,
N. y., in 1827 ; to Hamilton Co., Ohio,
in the fall of 1837 ; to this county in
the spring of 1839; settled near Keosau-
qua, where his early days were spent ;
he moved on the farm now owned by
D. Rockafellow; in 1855, he sold that,
and came on to his present farm in
1869. Was married to Rnth A. Gale,
March 31, 1850, a daughter of John
W. and Rebecca G. (McCraiy) Gale;
she was bom Jan. 18, 1830, in Gibson
Co., Ind.; have no family; his wife's
father died Feb. 1, 1854, aged 48
years; his mother died April 12, 1869,
aged 62 years. Her grandfather, John
McCrary, was an able and lealous min-
ister of the Christian Church ; died at
the residence of his son, Maj. J. C.
McCrary, Sept. 19, 1857, at the age of
86, and his wife, Ruth, died Dec. 12,
1859, at the same place, aged 84 years.
Mr. Ellis owns a farm of 241 acres,
valued at $35 per acre. Republican.
Evans, A., far.; P. 0. Vemon.
FITZGERALD, J., far.. Sec. 26; P.
0. Vemon.
FOWLEB^ JAHES A., fkrmer
and Township Assessor, Sec. 9 ; P. 0.
Mt. Sterling ; son of Henry and Mary
Fowler; bora June 14, 1842, in Indi-
ana ; his parents came to this county in
the spring of 1843, and settled in Ben-
tonsport; his father was drowned in
tJie Des Moines River the same spring ;
his mother died in Febmary, 1855;
from that time till 1862, he lived with
the Meek Brothers, of Bonaparte. In
August, 1862, he enlisted in Co. D, of
the 30th Iowa V. I.; was at the siege
of Vicksburg, Resaca, Dallas, Lookout
Mountain, Mission Ridge, Atlanta,
Macon, Ga., and with Sherman in his
march to the sea ; mustered out in
June, 1865. Married Amanda Per-
kins, of this county, Feb. 12, 1867 ;
she was bom in this county, Jan. 26,
1848; have three children — William
H., Anna M. and an infant daughter.
Came on to his present farm of 105-
acres, in 1874. Republican.
Fowler, L., far., S. 29 ; P. O. Mt. Sterling.
GASTON, J. W., far.. Sec. 5 ; P. 0.
Sterling.
OWIWUnUP, JOHN, farmer, P. 0.
Mt. Sterling ; owns about 700 acres of
land adjoining Mt. Sterling ; the eastern
addition to the town was laid out by
him; bom Feb. 13, 1823, in Clermont
Co., Ohio; came to Iowa in 1849, pur-
chased part of his present farm, and re-
tumed to Ohio. Was married to Isabel
Jones Feb. 13, 1850 ; she was bora
March 28, 1829 ; in the spring of
1850, moved to his present farm, since
which time firming and stock-raising
have been his business ; has sevea
children — Martha J., Francis M.,
Alice C, Mary E., Juliette E., John L.
and Temperance B. Democrat.
HALES, JOHN, far.. Sec. 29; P. 0.
Vemon.
Hales, Thomas, Sr., far., Sec. 21 ; P. O.
Mt. Sterling.
Hanna, S., far. ; P. 0. Mt. Sterling.
Hardin, Geo. L., far. ; P. 0. Mt. Sterling.
Harvey, Norman B., far.. Sec. 6 ; P. 0.
Mt. Sterling.
Heminger, VaJentine, far., S. 17 ; P. O.
Keosauqua.
Hunter, Wm., far.; P. 0. Vemon.
Huston, John R., far.. Sec. 6; P. 0. Mt.
Sterling.
JOHNSON, JOHN F., far., S. 12 ; P.
O. Mt. Sterling.
LANAM, JACOB, farmer; P. O.
Vemon.
Lanam, Joseph, farmer ; P. 0. V«raon.
Lineweaver, Geo. P., far., Sec. 26 ; P. O.
Vemon.
Lineweaver, John, Sr., far.. Sec. 22 ; P.
0. Vemon.
Lippincott, Wm. P., far.. Sec. 27 ; P. O.
Vernon.
Long, Henry, far.. Sec. 34 ; P. O. Willite.
Long, Titus, far. ; P. 0. Mt. Steriing.
Lundberg, Frederick, far. ; P. 0. Willits.
MCELROY, A. J., farmer; P. 0.
Mt. Sterling.
HcINTOSH, THOS. B., far., S.
17 ; P. 0. Keosauqua ; owns 280 acres of
land, valued at $25 per acre ; son of
George and Isabella Mcintosh, born
Sept. 12, 1817, in Tazewell Co., W.
Va. ; came with parents to this county
Digitized by VjOOQIC
M8
DIRECTORY OF VAN BUREN COUNTY :
in the fall of 1839, and settled on the
farm part of which he now owns ; his
father died Nov. 26. 1863, mother died
Sept. 9, 1865. Was married to Re-
becca E. Fitzgerald June 13, 1852 ;
she was bom May 4, 1831, in Kala-
mazoo Co., Mich. ; her parents came to
this county in July, 1837, and settled
near Keosauqua ; have eight children —
James M., George S., John W., Mary
L., Thomas A., Jane E., Catharine I
and Rosa M. Members of the M. E
Church; Independent.
McManaman, Isaiah W., far.; P. 0. Wil
lits.
Madden, Thomas, far. ; P. 0. Mt. Sterling,
Matlock, David, far.. Sec. 23; P. 0.
Bonaparte.
Miller, David, far. ; P. 0. Mt. Sterling.
Miller, Samuel, retired farmer ; P. 0. Mt.
Sterling.
Muir, W. P. L., far. ; P. O. Vernon.
■VrELSON, JOHN E., far.. Sec. 12;
JLM p. 0. Willits.
OWING, J. W., farmer; P. 0.
Willits.
PETTIT, GILES, far., S. 9 ; P. 0.
Mt. Sterling.
PETERSON, BALPH, far., S.
19 ; Keosauqua ; owns 250 acres of land,
valued at $30 per acre ; bom Sept. 29,
1808, in Adams Co., Ohio. Married
there to Mary Grove, March 2, 1830 ;
she was bom Jan. 28, 1811 ; moved to
Fountain Co., Ind., in the fall of 1834,
and from there to this county in Octo-
ber, 1839. Mr. Peterson has served his
Township as Trustee, and his county as
Supervisor, for the years 1866 and
1867. Have eight children living —
John G., Jacob R., William H., Mary
E., Martha E., Ralph B., George A.
and Edwin 0 ; lost three — Thomas R.,
Matilda A. and Henry C. Members
of the Christian Church ; Republican.
His son Edwin was bom June 25,
1866; is running the home farm; was
married to Flora J. Walker, daughter
of Wesley Walker, of Pleasant Hill,
Oct. 10, 1877; she was born Dec. 1,
1856, in this county ; have one daugh-
ter— Mary E.
KEITH, JOHN, far.. Sec. 32; P. 0.
Mt. Sterling.
Rogers, J. M., farmer; P. 0. Mt. Ster-
ling.
Ross, Abraham, far., Sec. 10 ; P. O. Mt.
Sterling.
SAMPLE, JEREMIAH, far., Sec. 6 ;
P. O. Mt. Sterling.
Skriver, William, far.. Sec. 5 ; P. O. Mtw
Sterling.
Simmons, D., far., Sec. 26 ; P. 0. Yemon.
Simmons, J., far., S. 26,; P. 0. Vernao-
Simmons, M., far., S. 36 ; P. O. Vemon.
Simmons, R., far., S. 32 ; P. O. Votooii.
Simmons, T., far.; P. O. Vernon.
Snare, G., far., S. 31 ; P. 0. Mt. Sterling.
Snare, Robert, far.; P. 0. Mt. Stirling.
Snare, Wm. M., far.; P. O. Mt. Sterling.
Spencer, John, far.; P. O. Vernon.
Stewart, S. M., merchant, Mt Sterling.
Stone, Crawford, laborer, Mt Sterling.
Story, J., far., Sec. 25 ; P. 0. Vernon.
Swanson, G., far.. Sec. 12 ; P. O. WUHts.
Swanson, G. E., far., S. 12 ; P.O. Willits.
Sutton, S. S., far., S. 8 ; P. O. Mt Ster-
ling.
TAYLOR, FREDERICK, farmer and
physician, S. 19; P. 0. KeosauquA.
Thatcher, A. H., blacksmith, Mt Sterling.
THATCHEB, I. B., dealer in
grain, lumber, etc., Mt. Sterling; son
of Mark C. and Hannah P. Thatcher ;
born Nov. 2, 1836, in Clinton Co.,
Ohio ; came with his parents to this
county in the spring of 1839 ; settled
in this township. Enlisted in Co. E,
of the 15th Iowa Inf , Oct 5, 1861 ;
in the battle of Pittsburg Landing was
wounded in the right arm ; was also in
battles of luka and Corinth, Miss. ; at
the latter place, was wounded in the
right hand; taken to the St Louis
Hospital ; came home ; was discharged
for disability in March, 1863; in the
fall of 1864, assisted in recruiting Co.
K, of the 45th Iowa Inf; was elected
Captain of the company ; was out abont
four months, having enlisted in the 100-
days service. Married Mary W. S.
Morse March 12, 1868 ; she was bom
April 17, 1844, in Essex Co., Mass.;
have three children — Charlie E., Frank
H. and Harry M. Followed forming
after the war, till the railroad was built
through Mt Sterling, since which time,
he has been engaged in his present
business ; is also proprietor of the grain
scales of the town. Republican.
Thatcher, M. C, retired far.; P. O. Mt
Sterling.
Digitized by VjOOQIC
VERNON TOWNSHIP.
549
TThompson, Hiram, far., Sec. 25 ; P. O.
Bonaparte.
Tliompson, Otis, farmer, Sec. 26; P. O.
Bonaparte.
"^T-ANAUKEN, M. P., far.. Sec. 3;
V P. O. Mt. Sterling.
"TTTALTER, JAMES F., far. ; P. 0.
VV WiUita.
^ard, Alfred, far.; P. 0. Vernon.
^ard, Calvin, far.; P. O. Vernon.
IVarren, Christopher, far,. Sec. 30 ; P. O.
Mt. Sterling.
WABBEN, JOSEPH, retired
farmer, Sec. 30 ; P. O. Keosauqua ; is
of English descent ; was bom July 12,
1814, in the connty of Wexford, Ire-
land ; came to this county in the spring
of 1854 ; served the connty as one of
the Board of Supervisors, in 1863-64,
and his township as Justice of the
Peace, one term, and at present makes
a specialty of administering upon es-
tates, etc. He was married to Ann
Pierce Oct. 17, 1840, in Ireland ; she
was bom May 8, 1817 ; have four chil-
dren living — Christopher, Ellen, Sarah
and Jane ; lost three ; Susan and Maggie
dying on the way from Ireland here,
the first on the ocean, and the second
in St. Louis, Mo., and Maggie, No. 2,
since ; his youngest daughter, Jane, was
married to a distant relative of the
name of Samuel Warren, Sept. 12,
1876; he was bora July 31, 1840, in
the same county, Ireland, and came to
the United States in 1848 ; stopped at
Sandusky, Ohio, till 1854, and then
went to Dunleith, 111., and from there
to Kansas, in 1857, where he still has
a farm. Mr. Joseph Warren has given
the homestead farm of 310 acres, to his
wife Jane, the parents living with them.
Mr. Warren is a member of the M. E.
Church ; Republican.
Warren, S. H., far.. Sec. 30 ; P. 0. Mt.
Sterling.
White, David, far.; P. 0. Mt. Sterling.
WIL.IiITS, AliBEBT S., Post-
master of Willits P. 0., and farmer ;
brother of E. W. Willits; born Dec. 14,
1840, in Wayne Co., Ind. ; came with
his parents to this county in fall of 1842.
Married Jane Beck Dec. 19, 1861;
she was bora January 14, 1839, in
Perry Co., Ohio ; her parents came to
this county in the fall of 1853 ; came
on to his present farm in the spring of
1863; have four children — John B.,
Robert E., Oeorge L. and Sarah M.;
lost two, Mary S. and an infant. Dem-
ocrat.
WIIililTS, E. W., former. Sec. 1 ;
P. 0. WUlits; son of Robert and Sarah
(Beard) Willits; born Oct. 17, 1838, in
Wayne Co., Ind.; his father was a native
of Pennsylvania, his mother of South
Carolina; his parents came to this
county in the fall of 1842, and settled
on Sec. 28, of this township, where his
father died Sept. 27, 1869. He pur-
chased his present farm of 280 acres,
in 1862, since which time the B. & S.
W. R. R., ranning through it, has
made Willits' Station. He was mar-
ried to Nancy Craig, of this county,
Sept. 13, 1870 ; she was bom Aug. 8,
1850, in Clarion Co., Penn ; have one
daughter — Delia B. Democrat.
WIIililTS, I. N., far., S. 28; P. O.
Vernon ; son of Robert and Sarah Wil-
lite (nee Beard) ; born Oct. 26, 1836, in
Wayne Co., Ind. ; parents came to this
county in 1842, and settled upon the
farm on which he now lives in April,
1843. He was married to Nancy Beck
Nov. 27, 1856; she was born Jan. 8,
1838, in Perry Co., Ohio ; haVe seven
children living — Frank L., Hiram S.,
Anstis J., James, George B., Charley
L. and Ella; lost one — Norine. In
1864, Mr. Willits moved to Story Co.,
Nevada ; fall of 1 865, went to Mendo-
cino Co., Cal. ; his father died Sept. 27,
1869, and at the solicitation of his
mother, he retumed to the old home-
stead in the fall of 1872.
Wilson, Christ., far. ; P. 0. Mt. Storling.
Wilson, John, far. ; P. 0. Mt. Sterling.
Wolf, Alfred, far. ; P. 0. Vernon.
Wolf, David M., far.. Sec. 27 ; P. 0. Mt.
Sterling.
Wolf, Jacob, far., S. 21 ; P. 0. Vernon.
Wolf, James M., far.. Sec. 34 ; P. 0. Mt
Sterling.
Wollam, Henry, far.. Sec. 9 ; P. O. Mt.
Sterling.
Wollam, John G., far.. Sec. 4 ; P. 0. Mt.
Sterling.
Wollam, John, far., Sec. 11 ; P. 0. Mt.
Sterling.
Woods, R., farmer. Sec. 24 ; P. 0. Bona-
parte.
Digitized by
Google
550
DIRECTORY OF VAN BUREN COUNTY:
LICK CREEK TOWNSHIP.
ARBAUGH, J., far., Sec. 19 ; P. O.
Doud*8 Station.
Arbaugh, A., far., Sec. 19 ; P. 0. Doud's
Station.
Anson, H., Sr., far., Sec. 3; P. 0. Kilbourn.
Arbaugh, J., far.. Sec. 7 ; P. O. Doud's
Station.
Anderson, L., far., S. 34 ; P. 0. Kilbourn.
BALDWIN, J., far.. Sec. 3 ; P. O.
Birmingham.
Barthelow, J. M., far., Sec. 5 ; P. 0.
Doud's Station.
Beale, J. W., far., Sec. 6; P. 0. Doud*s
Station.
Beale, P., far., S. 6 ; P. 0. Doud's Station.
BEIflf ETT, JOHIf , farmer. Sec.
10 ; P. 0. Birmingham ; born in Brad-
ford Co., Penn., Jan. 21, 1798; in
1836, he moved to Franklin Co., Ohio,
a year after to Van Buren Co.,
which has since been his home ; farm-
ing has always been his occupation.
Married Sarah Bagley Nov. 11, 1824;
she was bom in Bradford Co., Penn.,
Dec. 4, 1804; had fourteen children,
thirteen now living — Harriet A., R.
Durinda, William J., M. Orris, Celinda
0., A. Matilda, L. Thomas, Sarah A.,
Esther A., Nancy A., Emily M. and
Eliza J. (twins), and Edwin M. Mrs.
Bennett is a member of the Baptist
Church. Their son, William J., was
bom in Bradford Co., Penn., March 14,
1829 ; in the spring of 1850, he went
to California and engaged in mining ; re-
turned in August, 1852 ; in 1853, he
moved to Davis County, and engaged in
farming; in 1857, he traded his farm
for goods, and entered the mercantile
business with M. Shively, a year ; dis-
solved partnership, and Mr. Bennett
continued in business one year, then trad-
ed his stock for a farm in Schuyler Co.,
Mo. In 1861, he enlisted in Co. B,
Missouri State Militia, for 100 days;
in 1862, he traded his farm for land in
Van Buren Co., and moved on it.
On Nov. 14, 1864, he enlisted in C^.
B, 13th Iowa V. I.; discharged July
21, 1865; was in the battle at Nash-
ville, and several smaller engagements ;
since, has been farming. Married Har-
riet C. Latimer Dec. 16, 1852 ; she
was bom in Mercer Co., Ky., May 27,
1833, and died Aug. 12, 1876; bad
eight children — Thomas, Mary K.,
Lawrence, Spencer, James, Orlando,
Minnie and Oeorge A.; married Mrs.
Lucy Yaraall (nee Mattox), June 28,
1877 ; they have one child from this
marriage, Eva M. Mrs. Bennett had
seven children from her former mar-
riage— Leora G., Mary O., Emma J.,
John F., Charles L., Eli E. and Debby
L. He owns 210 acres of land, valued
at $7,000.
Birch, W., far., S. 1 ; P. O. Birmingham.
Bonnett, O. W., far., S. 34; P. O. Kil-
bourn.
Bott, A., far., S. 32 ; P. 0. Doud's Sta-
tion.
Bott, W. H., far.. Sec. 33 ; P. 0. Doud's
Station.
Boyd, S., far., S. 22 ; P. 0. Birmingham.
BBY AN, WIIililAH, fkrmer. Sec.
28; P. 0. Doud's Station; bom Jnne
8, 1815, in Bandolph Co., Va.; moved
to Van Buren Co., in 1838, and settled
in Lick Creek Tp.; farming has always
been his occupation. He married Nancy
Christie Sept. 12, 1844 ; ^e was bom
in Harrison Co., Ohio, Aug. 21, 1818;
died May 2, 1873 had eight children,
five living — James, Mary J., Thomas
N., John L. and Milton. He married
Milly Price (nee Farrell) March 24,
1878; she was bom in Athens Co.,
Ohio, June 6, 1833 ; she had four chil-
dren by former marriage, one living —
Ettie J. Members of M. E. Church.
He owns eighty acres of land, valued at
$1,500.
Buckey, C, S. 13 ; P. 0. Birmingham.
Buckmaster, J., far., S. 35 ; P. O. Kil-
bourn.
CARL, H. {jt,, farmer, Sec. 8 ; P. O.
Birmingham.
Carr, A., far., S. 8 ; P. 0. Doud's Station.
Carson, W. G., far., S. 9 ; P. 0. Birming-
ham.
Catcott, S. v., far., S. 36 ; P. 0. Kilboarn.
Chalfant, M., far , S. 19 ; P. O. Doud's
Station.
CHAMNELIi. OEOBGi:, fkrm-
er, Sec. 30 ; P. 0. Doud's Station ; bom
in Harrison Co., Ohio, April 30, 1819;
Digitized by VjOOQIC
f
LICK CREEK TOWNSHIP.
551
ilD 1820) moved with hiB parents to Car-
toll Co., Ohio; in 1845, moved to Van
Boren Co., and settled on his present
farm. Held several township offiote;
now serving second term as Trustee.
Married JEUchel Hendricks Jan. 17,
1844 ; she was horn in Carroll Co., Ohio,
Sept. 24, 1824; have had ten children,
nine living — Edward, William, Mary
M., John W., George W., Jeremiah,
Samnel R., Andrew J. and Margaret E.
He owns 164 acres of land, vidued at
$4,000.
Christy, M. A., fer.. Sec. 29; P. 0.
Doud's Station.
€linkinbeard. Mace, far., Sec. 10 ; P. O.
Birmingham.
Coleman, Joseph, fiur., Sec. 10; P. 0.
Birmingham.
Gande, Samuel, far., Sec. 2 ; P. O. Bir-
mingham.
Cook, Moses B., far., Sec. 19; P. 0.
Doud*s Station.
Countryman, Noah, fiur.. Sec. 18 ; P. O.
Doud's Station.
Countryman, M. L ., far., Sec. 17 ; P. O.
Doud's Station.
Cox, J., far., Sec. 27 ; P. 0. Kilboum.
Crane, S., for.. Sec. 3 ; P. O. Kilbourn.
Crumrine, William, for., S. 23 ; P. 0.
Doud's Station.
Crum, I., far., S. 3 ; P. O. Birmingham.
Crum, William F., fiur., Sec. 9; P. O.
Birmingham.
DEAHLE, S., far.. Sec. 11; P. O.
Birmingham.
ELERICK, L. C, &r., Sec. 22; P.
O. Birmingham.
Elliott, W., far., S. 1 ; P. 0. Birmingham.
Enlow, William H., fiur.. Sec. 1 ; P. 0.
Birmingham.
FERRELL, JAMES, far., Sec. 8 ; P.
0. Birmingham.
Fleming, W. J. B., far., S. 30 ; P. 0.
Doud's Station.
GILBERT, JAMES, hkcksmith, KU-
bourn.
Oilchrist, J., far.. Sec. 16 ; P. 0. Bir-
mingham.
Oire, G., far., S. 16; P. O. Birmingham.
Glotfelty, N., far.. Sec. 1 ; P. O. Birming-
ham.
Goodall, J., far., S. 1 ; P. O. Birmingham.
Goodall, L. E., fiur., S. I ; P. O. Birmmg-
ham.
Onaham, J., Jr., merchant, Birmingham.
Graham, S., far., S. 12 ; P. O. Birming-
ham.
Green, C. L., for., S. 5 ; P. 0. Birming-
ham.
Greenfield, J., far., S. 6 ; P. O. Doud's
Station.
HANSHAW, S., far. S. 20 ; P. O.
Doud's Station.
Harness, H., far., S. 11; P. 0. Birming-
ham.
Harness, S., far., S. 2 ; P. 0. Birmingham.
Hendricks, E., far., S. 17 ; P. 0. Doud*8
Station.
Herriman, J. C, blacksmith, Kilboum.
HOOTKAN, CHBISTO-
PHER, fimner. Sec. 1, T. 69,.R. 10 ;
P. 0. Mt. Zion ; born in Harrison Co.,
0., Oct. 19, 1813 ; fiiU of 1839, moved
to Van Buren Co. and settled on his
present farm. During the earlier settle-
ment of the country, his mechanical ge-
nius brought him in general demand for
all kinds of repairing ; served his town-
ship one year as Trustee. Married El-
mira Dyer in September, 1839 ; she was
born in New York March 17, 1819;
died Nov. 8, 1856 ; they had eight chil-
dren, six living — Joseph M., Mary C,
Jacob, David C., Eliza J. and Hannah
A.; he married Jane Ager Sept. 19,
1859; she was bom Aug. 11, 1825, in
Montgomery Co., Ohio; have had three
children ; Oscar A. is still living. Mr.
Hootman is a believer in the Lutheran
faith. He has 1651 acres of land, val-
ued at $4,500.
Hootman, D. C, far.. Sec. 36 ; P. O. Bir-
mingham.
Hootman, Jacob, far.. Sec. 29; P. 0.
Doud's Station.
Hootman, James H., fiir., Sec. 34; P.O.
Kilboum.
Horton, John, fiir.. Sec. 36 ; P. 0. Kil-
boum.
Huffman, Fred B., far.. Sec. 13 ; P. O.
Birmingham.
Hull, Daniel L., far.. Sec. 31; P. O.
Doud's Station.
JOHNSON, ZACHARIAH, farmer,
Sec. 8; P. O. Birmingham.
Jones, James L., far., S. 7 ; P. O. Doud's
Station.
Jones, Jasper, fiur., Sec. 35 ; P. O. Kil-
boum.
KENNEDY, AMBROSE, fimner.
Sec. 12 ; P. O. Birmingham.
Digitized by VjOOQIC
552
DIRECTORY OP VAN BTTREN COUNTY :
Kimmel, Henry, far., Sec. 25 ; P. 0. Kil-
bourn.
Knox, Davidj far., 8. 10 ; P. 0. Birming-
ham.
Knox, Nelson, far., Sec. 17 ; P. O. Bfr-
mingbam.
Kimmel, Jacob, far., S. 26 ; P. 0. Bir-
mingham.
LAUGHLIN, WILLIAM G., farmer,
Sec. 30 ; P. 0. Bond's Station.
McCAUSLAND, HENRY, farmer,
S. 10 ; P. 0. Birmingham.
McCausland, Jonathan, far., S. 11 ; P. 0.
Birmingham.
McGraff, M., far., Sec. 35 ; P. 0. Kilbourn.
Martin, John, far., S. 8; P. 0. Birming-
ham.
Mathias, Simon P., far.. Sec. 17 ; P. 0.
Birmingham.
Maxwell, R., far., S. 34 ; P. 0. Kilbourn.
Mercer, J., far., S. 28 ; P. 0. Kilbourn.
Mesecher, W. A., far., S. 20 ; P. 0. Doud*8
Station.
Minear, George W., far.. Sec. 2; P. O.
Kilbourn.
Monahan, H., far., S. 1 ; P. 0. Kilbourn.
Moore, W., far., S. 14 ; P. 0. Birmingham.
Morrow, A., far., S. 19; P. 0. Doud's
Station.
Morrow, E., farmer and carpenter, Sec. 6 ;
P. 0. Doud's Station.
nOBBO W, eEOB«E B., fkrmer,
S. 32 ; P. 0. Doud's Station ; bom in
Belmont Co., Ohio Oct. 15, 1817 ; in
1858, he moved to Van Buren Co., and
settled in Village Tp. ; in 1876, moved
to his present farm in Lick Creek Tp. ;
farming has been his business; from
1838 to 1840, followed butchering in
Wheeling, W. Va. Married Elizabeth
Guthrie Dec. 27, 1839; she was bom
in Harrison Co., Ohio, June 16, 1818 ;
have had six children, one died in in-
fancy ; living — Sylvester, Samuel Thom-
as D., Jane, Richard and George W.
Mrs. Morrow is a member of the Pres-
byterian Church. He owns 603 acres
of land, valued at $15,000.
Moyer, T. G., far., S. 16 ; P. 0. Doud's
Station.
NELSON, W. W., former and physi-
cian, S. 13 ; P. 0. Birmingham.
NEDBOW. eEOB«}E, far., S.
20 ; P. 0. Doud's Station ; born Sept.
24, 1807, in Somerset Co., Penn; in
1832, moved to Tuscarawas Co., Ohio;
in 1844, to Van Buren Co. ; wbilq m
Pennsylvania, he followed milling, after-
ward farming, which has been his oora-
tpation since. Married Mary Nedrow
Bi Jnaa, 1832 ; she was bora in Som-
erset Co., P^DiT., m Ihnihj 1812, and
died Oct. 17, 1856; had ten cfciWfcia.
three- living — Margaret, Simon P. and
Sarah A. Members of the Lutheran
Church. He owns 120 acres of land,
valued at $3,500. His son Simon P.
was born on their present hxin Sept. 5,
1848, and is now working the farm.
He married Rosannah J. Arbaogh
Sept. 19, 1872 ; she was bora in Van
Buren Co., Sept. 9, 1854 ; had two
children, one living — Irvin L. Mem-
bers of the Lutheran Church.
IfEDBOW, mCHAEIi (de^
ceased); bora in Somerset Co., Penn.,
Sept. 10, 1802, and died Oct. 25,
1875 ; in 1832, moved to Tuscarawas
Co., Ohio ; while in Pennsylvania, was
engaged in farming and milling ; since
then, in farming, alone ; while in Ohio,
filled the office of Justice of the Peace
six years ; came lo Iowa in 1844, and
settled in Lick Creek Tp. Married
Sarah Nedrow, May 13, 1827; she
was born in Somerset Co., Penn., Oct.
15, 1805; had nine children, seven
living — Adaline, George, Michael, Sarah
A., Mary, Aaron and David. Members
of the Lutheran Church. The farm
contains 200 acres, valued at $6,000.
PLATT, EDWARD H., wagon-
maker, Kilbourn.
PEBBINE, SAMIJEI., fkr., Sec.
15 ; P. 0. Birmingham ; bora in Wash-
ington Co., Penn., Nov. 15, 1820;
when about 2 years old, moved with
his parents, to Wayne Co., Ohio; in
1845, moved to Van Buren Co., and
settled in Lick Creek Tp., his present
home ; went to California in the spring
of 1850 ; returaed in June, 1853 ;
while there, he was mining and garden-
ing on the Sacramento River ; also kepi
a wood-yard ; has been Justice of the
Peace three years; Trustee one year.
Married Phidelia E. Shankland Sept
25, 1845 ; she was bora in Wayne Co.y
Ohio, Aug. 25, 1823, and died June
2, 1873; had five children — Selucia A.,
Millard W., Samuel W., Harriet E. and
Emma A. Married Minerva A. CUe^
Digitized by VjOOQIC
LICK CREEK TOWNSHIP.
653
ijoao, Oct. 8, 1874; she was born in
Van Bturen Co. Sept. 29, 1838; have
two childreD — Lilly M. and John M.
He owns 265 acres of land, valued at
$7,500.
Pool, B., for., Sec. 33; P. O. Kilbourn.
Pool, E., far., S. 28 ; P. 0. Dond*s Station.
Porter, C, far.; P. 0. Kilbonrn. •
Prewitt, T., far., S. 2; P.O. Birmingham.
RAIL, ADAM, farmer, Sec. 25: P.
O. Birmingham.
BAHi, JOSEPH, farmer, Sec. 24;
P. 0. Birmingham ; bom in Dauphin
Co., Penn., Nov. 1 2, 1817 ; when 6 years
old, moved with his parents to Seneca
Co., N. Y.; in 1826, moved to Yates
Co., N. Y.; September, 1838, to Fort
Madison, Iowa ; the following spring, to
Van Buren Co., and settled in Lick Tp.;
farming has been his principal occupa-
tion ; worked six months in 1841 as a
tanner in Keosanqua; moved to Bir-
mingham ; followed that business alone
about four years. Married Sarah Hoot-
man Nov. 23, 1843 ; she was bom in
Harrison Co., Ohio, Feb. 10, 1824;
have had twelve children, eight living —
George H., Mary S., Jay, Sarah C,
Margaret A., John B., Adam 6. and
Martha E. Members of M. E. Church.
He has 160 acres of land, valued at
$5,000.
Reniker, D., for., S. 33 ; P. 0. Kilbourn.
Reniker, E., far., S. 8 ; P. 0. Birmingham.
Reniker, Jacob, far., S. 33 ; P. 0. Kil-
bourn.
Reniker, J., far., S. 33; P. 0. Kilboum.
Robertson, M., far., S. 4 ; P. O. Binning-
ham.
BOBISON, JAKES, farmer. Sec.
25 ; P. 0. Birmingham ; bora in Wayne
Co., Ohio, April 5, 1818; in 1834,
moved to Harrison Co., Ohio ; in 1839,
to Van Buren Co., and settled on his
present farm. He served his township
one year as Trustee. Married Sarah A.
Wilbur April 18, 1844; she was bom
in Campbell Co., Ky., July 21, 1825 ;
have had eleven children, eight living —
George W., Isaiah W., Lorena E., Le-
mira S., James T., Mary A., Sarah B.
and William R. Members of the Pres-
byterian Church. He has 425 acres of
land, valued at $8,500.
Rijitledge, John M., far., Sec. 3 ; P. O.
Birmingham.
SADLER, JACOB, farmer, Sec. 7;
P. 0. Doud's Station.
SADIiEB, OEOBGE (deceased)^
bora in Harrison Co., Ohio, March 2,
1828 ; moved to Tuscarawas Co., Ohio ;
in 1847, to Van Buren Co., where he
engaged in farming. In August, 1863,
enlisted in Co. D, 30th Iowa Vol. Inf ;
died of lung fever in the hospital at
Charleston, Tenn., Jan. 20, 1865.
Married Adaline Nedrow Jan. 17, 1849 ;
she was bora in Somerset (]!o., Penn.,
April 21, 1828; they had eight chil-
dren, seven living — Martin L., Francis
M., Michael N., Mary A., Jacob S.,
Henry C. and St. Valentine. Mrs. Sad-
ler is a member of the Lutheran Church.
The farm contains 125 acres, valued at
$2,500.
Sanford, B., far., S. 21 ; P. 0. Birming-
ham.
Scott, D., far., S. 27; P. 0. Kilbourn.
Scott, J. P., far., S. 23 ; P. O. Birming-
ham.
SHAEFFEB, eEOB«E (de-
ceased) ; born April 14, 1791, in Bed-
ford Co., Penn.; died May 18, 1875;
in early manhood, moved to Harrison
Co., Ohio ; in 1845, to Van Buren Co.;
up to that time, his business was that of
carpenter ; aflerward, farmer. Married
Margaret Saulsgiver in the year 1823 ;
she was a native of Adams Co., Penn.;
had ten children, nine living — Mary,
Hiram Q., Henry I., John A., Sarah
Jane, Jacob L., S. Peter, Elizabeth and
Matilda. Were members of the Lu-
theran Church ; later in life, he joined
the U. P. Church. His son Hiram Q.
was bora in Harrison Co., Ohio, March
21, 1826, and moved to Van Buren Co.
with his parents in 1845 ; farming has
been his occupation ; followed threshing
about ten years. Married Nancy J.
Johnson May 5, 1853 ; she was bora in
Westmoreland Co., Penn., March 16,
1833. Are members of the Lutheran
Church. Have one child (adopted) —
Stephen A. Owns 263 acres of land,
valued at $6,000.
Short, B., far., S. 3 ; P. O. Kilboura.
Short, C. R., far., S. 34 ; P. 0. KUboura.
Siemon, F., far., S. 27 ; P. 0. Birming-
ham.
Skinner, C. A., far., S. 25; P. 0. Bir-
mingham.
Digitized by VjOOQIC
554
DIRECTORY OP VAN BUREN COUNTY:
Smith, R., far., S. 16 ; P. 0. Binningham.
Sowvell, B., far., S. 7 ; P. 0. Doud's Sta-
tion.
Spohen, J., far., S. 7 ; P. 0. Doud's Sta-
tion.
Stagers, J., far., 8. 19 ; P. O. Doud's Sta-
tion.
Stansburj, G., far., S. 3 ; P. 0. Birming-
ham.
Stansbery, R.. far., S. 7 ; P. 0. Doud's
Station.
Stewart, T., for., S. 28 ; P. 0. Birming-
ham.
Strong, J., merchant, Kilboum.
TAYLOR, J., far., S. 11 ; P. 0. Bir-
mingham.
Taylor, S., carpenter, Kilboum.
TOBIA8L mCHAEIi B., farm-
er. Sec. 32; P. 0. Doud's Station;
bom in Lebanon Co., Penn., Dec. 15,
1807 ; when quite young moved with
his parents to Berks Co., Penn, in 1829
to Montgomery Co., Ohio ; followed the
<x)oper trade until 36 years old, the lat-
ter part of this time also engaged in
&rming ; in 1851, moved to Van Buren
Oo. ; ^ming his occupation since. Mar-
ried Sarah Good Nov. 12, 1835 ; she
was bora in Montgomery Co., Ohio,
Nov. 6, 1817 ; had two children; Will-
iam Y. is still living. He has 375
acres of land, valued at $12,000. His
flon William V. was bom in Montgom-
ery Co., Ohio, Nov. 12, 1847, and
to Van Buren Co., with his parents in
1851 ; when 18, he began selling lunW
and machinery; continued three yeis,
then engaged in the mercantile bnniimn
about nine months ; afterward purchased
a saw-mill, which he has operated in
connection with farming since. Married
Martha E. Short Dec. 1, 1868 ; she w»
born Aug. 30, 1850, in Van Buren Co.
Have three children — Charles R., Guy
0. and William O.
Tobias, M. B., far., S. 32 ; P. O. Doad's
Station.
Torrence, H., fiu-., S. 11 ; P. O. Birming-
ham.
Tower, J. H., far., S. 6; P. O. Bond's
Station.
Towne, E., station agent, Kilboum.
Towne, 0., carpenter, Kilboum.
VAN EMAN, G-., farmer and preacher,
Sec. 1 ; P. 0. Kilboum.
WELLS, J. C, fer.,S. 13; P. O.
Birmingham.
Wiley, Hans, far.. Sec. 20 ; P. O. Dond's
Station.
Wiley, W. J., far.,* Sec. 15; P. 0. Bir-
mingham.
WiUiams, T., far., S. 26 ; P. O. Kilbonra.
Woodrow, A., far.. Sec. 2 ; P. O. Bir-
mingham.
YAST, A., far.. Sec. 6 ; P. O. Bir-
mingham.
Digitized by VjOOQIC
I
[
CHEQUEST TOWNSHIP.
CHEQUE8T TOWNSHIP.
555
AYLOR, JOHN M., fanner ; P. 0.
Lebanon.
BARKER, JAMES H., farmer, Sec.
25; P.O.Lebanon.
Benjamin, A., far., S. 8 ; P. 0. Portland.
BEIf JAniN, JOSEPH I..,
farmer, Sec. 11 ; P. 0. Doud's Station ;
bom in Vigo Co., Ind., July 20, 1820 ;
when about 2 years old, moved with
parents to Warren Co., Ind.; in 1834,
moved to Du Page Co., HI.; in 1853, to
Van Buren Co., and settled on his pres-
ent farm. Married Calista E. Lawson
Jan. 16, 1851; she was bom in Penn-
sylvania; died Nov. 26, 1854; they
had one child, which died in infancy.
He married Rose A. Crandel Aug. 27,
1856 ; she waer bom in Caldwell Co.,
Mo., Oct. 4, 1837 ; had one child who
died in infancy. He owns eighty acres
of land, valued^t $2,000.
BEBOER, JASPER, farmer, Sec.
36 ; P. 0. Lebanon ; bom in Hunter-
don Co., N. J., Aug. 27, 1813; in
1833, moved to Franklin Co., Ohio ; in
1853, to Van Buren Co., and settled on
his present farm ; in early life, he fol-
lowed milling, of late years, farming.
Married Susan A. Clickinger July 3,
1849 ; she was bora in Hunterdon Co.,
N. J., AprU 15, 1819 ; had five chU-
dren ; Rachel A. only is living, and mar-
ried to W. A. Winn. Members of the
M. E. Church. He owns eighty acres
of land, valued at $4,500.
Bowen, R. M., far., S. 2 ; P. 0. Portland.
Brooks, G., far.; P. 0. Troy, Davis Co.
Brown, D., far., S. 35 ; P. O. Lebanon.
Buckls, A. J., far., S. 20.
CAMBRIDGE, JOHN, far., S. 31 ;
P. O. Milton.
€arpenter, H; M., for., S. 18 ; P. O. Troy,
Davis Co.
CanfieW, H. M., far., S. 33 ; P. O. Leba-
non.
CliAFLHf 9 IBA, fanner and Coun-
ty Surveyor, Sec. 36 ; P. O. Lebanon ;
bom in Addison Co., Vt., March 12,
1808; in November, 1838, moved to Van
Buren Co. and settled in Van Buren
Tp.; in 1841, to Checjuest Tp. ; Arm-
ing has been his principal occupation ;
^fler coming to Iowa, in 1840, he was
engaged as assistant under Judge Biggs
on the Government surveys ; he showed
such an aptitude for the business that
the Judge encouraged him to fit himself
for a surveyor, which he did and wfui
elected County Surveyor, which office he
has held eighteen years; was also en-
gaged, as principal or assistant, in Gov-
emment surveys for a number of years ;
in 1845, he was elected County Com-
missioner, and held the office uutil 1851 ;
he has also held several township offices.
Married Hannah W. Richardson March
7, 1833 ; she was born in Windsor Co.,
Vt., June 8, 1814 ; have had eight
children ; one died in infancy ; another,
Ira W., graduated at West Point in
1857, entered the service as Second
Lieutenant in the U. S. Mounted Rifies,
and was assigned to duty in New Mex-
ico ; in 1862, was assigned to duty
under G^n. McClellan, as Captain in the
6th U. S. Cav., and served through the
war; at Gettysburg, he was wounded
through the lungs; after the war he
was appointed a tutor at West Point ;
he served as such a short time, when,
with the rank of Majot, was assigned
to duty in Texas, where he died in No-
vember, 1867 ; the remaining children
are Hannah E., Mary F., George A.
and Julia A. (twins), Emeline and
Charles. He owns 160 acres of land,
valued at $4,000.
Clark, C. C, far., S. 3 ; P. 0. Portland.
Clayton, A., for., S. 27 ; P. O. Lebanon.
Clayton, Geo. W., far. ; P. O. Lebanon.
Covault. J. A., far. ; P. O. Lebanon.
. Cressweil, J., for., S. 7 ; P. 0. Troy.
AVIS, A., far., S. 24 ; P. O. Lebanon.
D'
Davis, D., Sr., far., S. 24 ; P. 0. Lebanon.
Davis, R., far., S. ll ; P. O. Porthind.
Denning, W. P., far., S. 9 ; P. 0. Portland.
Downing, L., fer. ; P. O. Portland.
Downing, R., fisur. ; P. O. Portland.
EMERICK, J., far., S. 35; P. 0.
Lebanon.
Emery, W., far., S. 18; P. O. Lebanon.
Erickson, J. A., &r., S. 9 ; P. 0. Portland.
FRIBERG, 0., far.,S. 9; P. 0. Port-
knd.
Fenris, A. H., far. ; P. 0. Troy.
Digitized by CjOOQIC
656
DIRECTORY OF VAN BUMIN COUNTY:
FEBBIS, JONATHAN, farmer,
Sec. 17; P. 0. Troy; born in Loudoun
Co., Va., Feb. 17, 1804; his mother
died when he was about 6 years old,
and his father died a soldier in the war
of 1812; during that war, Jonathan
was employed in a woolen factory,
which was closed at the termination of
the war, throwing him out of employ-
ment; being an orphan and poor, the
authorities bound him as an apprentice
to a wagon-maker for over six years,
until about 14 years old ; he ran away
at 17, and went to Franklin Co., Penn.,
where he apprenticed himself to another
wagon -maker for two and a half years ;
he then went to Bedford Co., Penn.,
and engaged in the business for himself;
in 1834, moved to Richland Co., Ohio,
and bought a farm; in 1848, to Van
Buren Co., and settled where he now
lives. He was County Supervisor one
term ; was elected Township Trustee in
October, 1878. Married Mary Lang-
ham May 14, 1826; she was bom in
Bedford Co., Penn., and died June 6,
1 836 ; married Charlotte Fullmer March
11, 1838; she was bom in Luzeme
Co., Penn., Jan. 21, 1812, and died
March 11, 1871; had ten 'children,
seven living — James L., John S., Jona-
than N., William A., Samuel F., Alvius
H. and Maria S.; married Elizabeth
Baker, nee Parks, Sept. 1, 1874; she
was bom in Claiborne Co., Tenn., July
29, 1825; is a member of the Baptist
Church. Mr. Ferris is a member of
the M. E. Church. He owns 384 acres
of land, valued at S7,000.
Fritz, Levi, farmer; P. 0. Doud*8 Station.
GLANVILLE, J. B., farmer; P. 0.
Lebanon.
Goff, J. M., farmer ; P. 0. Portland.
Groves, Thomas M., far.. Sec. 22 ; P. 0.
Lebanon.
HANEY, FRANCIS M., farmer; P.
0. Doud's Station.
HANEY, THOMAS, far., Sec. 6 ;
P. O. Doud*8 Station ; born in Belmont
Co., Ohio, Nov. 20, 1819 ; in thefaU of
1839, moved to Van Buren Co., and set-
tled in Chequest Tp. ; moved to his pres-
ent farm in December, 1865; in the
spring of 1850, went to California ; re-
tumed in the fall of 1851 ; in the
spring of 1853, he returned to Cali-
fomia, and remained eleven monthsl
gaged in mining. Married Eliza t
Dickerson Aug. 15, 1838; she was
born in Morgan Co., Ohio, Feb. 13,
1821 ; had nine children — seven living
—Francis M., Thomas W., Edward R.,
George B., Leroy H., John W., and
Laura E. Mrs. Haney is a member of
the Missionary Baptist Church. He
owns 120 acres of land, valued at
$2,500.
Hanshaw, W.,far., S. 10; P.O. Portland.
Harmon, William H., far., Sec. 11 ; P. O.
Portland.
Harrington, G. W., farmer; P. O. Troy.
Hartley, M., far.. Sec. 7 ; P. 0. Troj.
Hastings, W. S., farmer; P. O. Lebanon.
HISSEH, ABNER, farmer. Sec. 5 ;
P. O. Doud*s Station; bora io Tyler
Co., W. Va., Jan. 8, 1830 ; fall of 1850,
moved to Meigs Co., Ohio ; spring of
1865, to Van Buren Co., and settled on
his present farm; in the years 1863
and 1 864, he owned and operated a saw-
mill in Meigs Co., Ohio. He married
Serene Sayre Feb. 29, 1852, a native of
Ohio ; died April 9, 1861 ; had two
children — Serene J., still living ; he
married Caroline Walker AprU 27, 1862 ;
she was born in Meigs Co., Ohio, June
29, 1832; have one child— Arthur
W. Mr. Hissem has 240 acres of
land, valued at $8,000.
Hissom, T., far., Sec. 5 ; P. O. Portland.
Holtz, H., far.; P. 0. Portland.
Hootman, D., far., S. 15; P. 0. Portland.
Hull, H., far. and wagon-maker, Portland.
Humphrey, G. B., merchant, Lebanon.
"TONES, J., farmer, Doud's Station.
KENNEDY, D., far., Sec. 10 ; P. O.
Portland.
Knight, F., far.; P. O. Doud's Station.
r EE, J., far., Sec. 6 ; P. O. Portland.
Liming, J., far.. Sec. 13 ; P. 0. Lebanon.
MARTIN, P., far., Sec. 24;* P. O.
Lebanon.
Mathias, W., far., Sec. 6 ; P. O. Troy,
Davis Co.
Miller, Francis, far., Sec. 6 ; P. O. Troy.
Moore, J., far., Sec. 4 ; P. 0. Lebanon.
nOOBE, MICHAEL, fkrmer and
stock raiser, Sec. 31 ; P. 0. Troy ; bom
in Lebanon Co., Penn., Oct. 9, 1809;
in 1833, moved to Franklin Co., Ohio;
Digitized by VjOOQIC
CHEQUE8T TOWNSHIP.
557
ill 1848, to Van BnreD Co., and settled
on his present farm ; he was raised on
a farm, but at the age of 17, began to
learn milling, which trade he followed
about twelve years ; since then his occu-
pation has been farming. Married
Abigail Lisle Feb. 7, 1841 ; she was
born in Franklin Co., Ohio, Jan. 6,
1822 ; had ten children, nine living —
Jacob, John H., Samuel H., Mary R.,
Angie A., Emma, Sarah C, Ettie and
Michael. Members of the Lutheran
Church. He owns 560 acres of land,
valued at $12,000.
Morris, Thomas, far., P. O. Portland.
Morris, Wm., far., P. 0. Portland.
Mussetter, H., far., S. 23 ; P. 0. Lebanon.
^TASON, JAMES, farmer. Sec. 6 ; P.
±N O. Portland.
Nason, P. S., far. ; P. 0. Doud's Station.
Nelson, John, far. ; P. 0. Doud's Station.
Nicklin, F. A., far.; P. 0. Pittsburg.
PALMER, DAVID M., farmer ; P.
0. Portland.
Paris, M. S., fer., S. 12 ; P. O. Portland.
Paxton, Thomas, far., S. 30 ; P. 0. Troy.
Pickens, H. C, far., S. 11 ; P. 0. Portland.
Plowman, F., far.; P. O. Portland.
Plowman, C. J. & G. H., fars., Sec. 4 ; P.
0. Portland.
PoKng, M., fer., S. 11 ; P. 0. Portland.
Pollock, J., far., Sec. 17 ; P. O. Troy.
Pugh, A. H., fer., S. 22 ; P. 0. Lebanon.
RAMBO, G. W., far., Sec. 12; P. O.
Portland.
Roush, J., fer.. Sec. 6 ; P. 0. Portland.
Roush, J. A., far., S. 23 ; P. 0. Lebanon.
SAMPLE, E. B., far.. Sec. 25 ; P. 0.
Lebanon.
Seitz, 6., Sr., far., S. 3 ; P. 0. Portland.
Shafer, D., far.; P. 0. Portland.
Silvens, A., fer.; P. O. Troy.
Slatfr, J. M., fer., S. 24 ; P. O. Lebanon.
Smith, S. T.,far., Sec. 13 ; P. O. Portland.
Stewart, J., far.; P. 0. Ijcbanon.
Stott, J., far., Sec. 8; P. 0. Lebanon.
Stott, J. A., far.. Sec. 8 ; P. O. Lebanon.
Stover, N, far. ; P. O. Hickory.
TEN EYCK, 6. K., farmer. Sec. 36 ;
P. 0. Lebanon.
Thomas, B., far., P. 0. Pitteburg.
Thompson, J., far. ; P. 0. Lebanon.
YANFLEET, A., far., Sec. 35; P.
0. Lebanon.
TAN FLEET, ABBAHAH,
farmer and stock-raiser. Sec. 35 ; P. 0.
Lebanon ; bom in Hunterdon Co., N. J.,
March 4, 1817; in 1836, moved to
Franklin Co., Ohio; in 1842, to Iowa,
and settled on his present farm. Mar-
ried Mattie Berger October, 1835 ; she
was bom in Hunterdon Co., N. J., Aug.
1, 1811, and died Sept. 16, 1870; had
six children ; one died in infancy ; an-
other, William, was a member of Co.
F., 2d Iowa V. I., and died of typhoid
fever in the hospital at Mound City, Dl.,
Feb. 24, 1862 ; the living are Getty M.,
Aaron, Mary, Julia and Thomas. He
married Alvira Van Treese June 15,
1871. She was bora in Franklin Co.,
Ind., Deo. 22, 1840 ; had four children ;
three living — George, Jerry and Clar-
ence. He owns 180 acres of land, val-
ued at $6,000.
Vernon, J. G., far., S. 24; P. 0. Leba-
non.
Vinson, C, fer. ; P. 0. Lebanon.
Vinson, M., fer., S. 36 ; P. 0. Lebanon.
TTTEBSTER, S. B., fer.; P. 0. Troy.
Webster, W. J., fer.; P. O.Lebanon.
Weyer, J. A., fer., S. 31 ; P. 0. Troy.
Wilson, E., far., Sec. 33 ; P. 0. Lebanon.
Wilson, P., fer.. Sec. 34 ; P. 0. Lebanon.
Wilson, v., far.. Sec. 36 ; P. 0. Lebanon.
Winey, G., fer.; P. O. Oak Point.
Digitized by VjOOQIC
568
DIRECTORY OF VAN BUREN COUNTY :
HENRY TOWNSHIP.
ANSOIf, THOHAS, fanner,
Sec. 20; P. 0. Keosauqua;
son of Henry and Elizabeth Anson
(nee Pierly) ; bom July 24, 1826, in
Pike Co., Mo. ; his father, in company
with a Mr. Linzey, came to this county
in the fall of 1835, prospecting, and the
following spring his &ther came and
located /the land upon which Thomas
now lives, and in December, 1836,
moved his family on it, where he lived
till he died, April 5, 1850, his wife hav-
ing died April 10, 1847. Thomas went
to California in the summer of 1850,
with an ox-team ; he followed mining
mostly till the spring of 1853 ; he came
home via New York City ; he has four
brothers and three sisters living — Henry,
George, William, Flerious, Kesiah,
Catherine and Eliza, the last is keeping
house for him ; Peter, Francis, John and
Christina have died. He owns 297
acres of land, individually, and one-half
interest with his brother William in
880 acres. Republican.
ANSOIf , WlLlilAH, ikrmer. Sec.
8 ; P. 0. Keosauqua ; son of Henry and
Elizabeth Anson (nee Pierly) ; was bom
Sept. 8, 1828, in Pike Co., Mo. ; parents
came to this county in the spring of 1836 ;
his father made his claim on the side
of the Pes Moines River below Keosau-
qua ; built a cabin and put in some com,
and returned and brought his &mily in
December following ; father died April
5, 1850, aged 77 years, and mother
died April 10, 1847, aged 63 years.
Mr. Anson was married to Charlotte
Martin, of this county, June 15, 1862;
she was born in this county April 25,
1840; have five children — Isabel, Ab-
ner 0., Iowa, Curtis and Fred ; lost one
— Grant. He owns one-half interest
with his brother Thomas, in 880 acres
of land, valued at $35 per acre. Repub-
lican.
BATCHELOR, GEORGE, farmer, S.
23; P.O. Vernon.
BAILEY, eiDEON S., H. D.,
farmer, Sec. 1 ; P. 0. Vernon ; own 320
acres of land adjoining the village of
Vernon ; was bom June 3, 1809, near
Loubville, Ky. ; parents moved to
Lawrence Co., Ind. ; he read niwjpine
while there one and a half years ; weot
to Shelby Co. in 1832, finished reading
mediciue there, and went to Charleston,
Coles Co., lU., in 1834, and began the
practice of medicine, which he continued
till the summer of 1837, when he came
to this county, and took up the farm up-
on which he is still living ; practiced
medicine about two years; he was
elected to the Legblature in 1839, and
again in 1841, and, in 1843, as member
of the Council, same as Senator now ;
he wa£ appointed United States Marshal
by President Polk, which position he
held four years ; was elected as one of
the deligates to the first Constitutional
Convention, and, in 1858, was elected as
State Senator, also, for the successsive
term. Married Julia Jones, whose
maiden name was Manwarring ; she was
born in Connecticut in 1797, and died
Feb. 16,1865; was again married to
Anna M. Sprecht, whose maiden name
was Schneck ; she was bora Nov. 6,
1834 ; had two children by first wife —
Augustus C. and Julia, the daughter
being dead ; by second wife, one son —
Gideon. Democrat.
Beashor, D., far., S. 10 ; P. 0. Vernon.
Bennett, S. M., far.; P. O. Vernon.
Blount, E. C, woolen manfir., Vernon.
Booth, E. C, merchant, Vernon.
Boyer, Isaac, farmer ; P. 0. Vernon.
BOYER, JACOB, farmer, Sec. 3 ;
P. O. Vernon ; owns 160 acres of land,
valued at $40 per acre ; born Feb. 26,
1817, in Adams Co., Penn.; went to
Indianapolis, Ind., in 1837, where he
remained till the Spring of 1842 ; then
went in company with Robert Greer
and Jacob Landis with a load of liquors
on a flatboat to New Orleans, aad from
there he came up the Mississippi River
and the Des Moines to Farmington,in this
county. Was married there to Elvin
Davidson Dec. 13, 1844; she was bora
Dec. 9, 1826, in Lawrence Co., Ohio;
her parents came to Bentonsport, in this
county, in 1838, and subsequently
moved to Farmington, where her father
died in the spring of 1840. Mr. Bofer
came on his present farm in 1854 ;
Digitized by'
31 io*u. iur. j>Ofer
t farm in 1854 ; have
.Google I
HENRY TOWNSHIP.
559
ftour children living — Isabel, Clara, Al-
bert and Charles; lost one — Joseph,
who died of disease contracted while in
the army ; he was in Co. G, 3d I. V. C.
Bradford, Albert, ifaerchant, Vernon.
Bradford, Anthony, far. ; P. O. Vernon.
CHRISTIANS, JOHN, brickmaker,
Vernon.
Coffman, D. S., teamster, Vernon.
DANIELS, BERNARD, laborer,
Vernon.
Davis, Charles, fer., S. 4 ; P. 0. Vernon.
Davis, D., teamster, Vernon.
DATIS, ENOCH, farmer. Sec. 2j
P. O. Vernon ; is a son of Isaac and
Sarah (Baker) Davis; they are both
natives of Kentucky ; his father was
born April 9, 1808, and his mother
in February, 1814 ; and he was bom in
Madison Co., Ky., Feb. 28, 1835;
parents emigrated to this county in the
tall of 1836. Mr. Davis is not married;
owns 174 acres of land adjoining his
father's on the east ; he has five brothers
and three sisters living — Isaac, David,
Henry, Joshua, Perry and Martha J.,
Margaret A. and Mary E.; lost two
brothers — Peter and William. Demo-
crat.
Davis, Isaac, Sr., iar., S. 3 ; P. 0. Vernon.
Davis, P., far., S. 3; P. O. Vernon.
DE HABT, EDWABD, farmer.
Sec. 34; P. 0. Vernon; owns eighty-five
acres where he lives, and 160 acres in
Vernon Tp., valued at $30 per acre ; son
of Eli and Hannah De Hart; was born
Feb. 14, 1835, in Canada West; in
September, 1838, his parents left there
and came via the Ohio, Mississippi &
Des Moines River to Bentonsport, in this
county, where they arrived in April,
1839, and, in 1840, his parents moved
to Hancock Co., 111., where they re-
mained till 1844, then returned to this
county, where they still live; this
county has been Mr. De Hart^s home,
although for the benefit of his health, he
took a trip to California in the fall of
1873, and returned the following spring.
Was married to Martha J. Hanan Feb.
13, 1862; she was bom in this county
Aug. 5, 1844; have five children —
Harvey L., Marion H., Mary A., John
John E. and Bebe W. Republican.
Dc Hart, E., far., S. 3 ; P. 0. Vernon.
De Hart, Wm., blacksmith, Vernon.
Dickson, Grimsley & Co., pottery, Vernon.
DICKSON, B. M., proprietor Ver-
non Pottery, Vernon; bom March 13,
1826, in York Co., Penn. ; parents
moved to Muskingum Co., Ohio, in
1832, where they both died a few years
after; he came to Scott Co., 111., in
1851, and was married there to Melinda
J. Han back April 4, 1852 ; the next
day started for Iowa ; arrived at Vernon
the 1 3th of April, bought an old pottery
building, and commenced business the
17th, since which time he has continued
the business to the present ; was burned
out in 1869, after which he associated
himself with J. C. Grimsley, who is a
present partner. Have four children liv-
ing— Mary A., Charles T., Anna V.
and Blanche; lost three. Robert L.
was killed in the pottery in 1863, and
William C. died the same year. John
H. was killed on the U. P. R. R., near
Wolcott's Station, in 1874. Mr. Dick-
son is an. Elder in the Presbyterian
Church.
imHRMAN, H., laborer, Vernon.
Ervin, I., far.; P. 0. Vernon.
Ervin, J. H., laborer, Vernon.
Evans, L. J., attorney, Vernon.
GASTON, G. W., far., S. 15 ; P. O.
Vernon.
Gaston, W., far., S. 15 ; P. 0. Vernon.
Glasscock, C., laborer, Vernon.
Grages, H. B., far., S. 8; P. O. Vernon.
Grimsley, J. C, potter, Vernon.
HALLETT, A. M., far., S. 9 ; P. 0.
Vernon.
HARDY, AliHEDA; P. O.Ver-
non; she was born Dec. 27, 1818, in
New York ; her maiden name was 01-
ney; her parents came to this county
in 1838. She was married to Mr. Dud-
ley Hardy March 21, 1839, in this
county; he was born Oct. 5, 1803, in
New Hampshire, and came to this county
in 1837, and served his county as a
member of the Legislature, in its early
days; came on to his present home-
stead in 1852. Mr. Hardy is at
present quite sick, and unable to tran-
sact business. In the home farm there
are 362 acres, and 171 acres elsewhere.
Have ten children living — Louis A.,
Charlotte H., William D., Nathan 0.,
Mary J., Charles M., Harriet E., James
Digitized by VjOOQIC
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DIEECTORY OP VAN BURBN COUNTl':
F., Ettie and Stephen A. D.; lost one,
Sarah A. William D. served in Co.
C, of the 17th Iowa V. I., about three
years. Mr. Dudley Hardy died Sept.
30, 1878.
Henry, T. P., far.; P. 0. Vernon.
Henry,Volney, far., 8. 10; P. O. Veron.
Hornbaker, M., far., S. 24; P. O. Bona-
parte.
Hombaker, R. R., far., S. 24 ; P. 0. Bon-
aparte.
T EWIS, GEORGE, laborer, Vernon.
Lewis, John C, stone-mason, Vernon.
Lewis, R. M., laborer, Vernon.
LIPnWCOTT, A. ©..farmer and
stock-raiser, S. 32 ; P. 0. Vernon ; owns
1,220 acres of land in this county, and
80 acres in Davis Co. ; son of Allen
and Sarah Lippinoott; was bom March
19, 1833, in Richland Co., Ohio; his
father was a native of New Jersey, and
his mother, of England ; they came to
this county in September, 1839, and
settled on the farm now occupied by A.
G. ; his father died March 4, 1864;
his mother, Oct. 9, 1873. He was
married to Sarah A. Davis Jan. 29,
1857 ; she was born May 27, 1836, in
Kentucky; her parents came to this
county in 1836 ; have two children —
May and Sarah. Democrat.
McCRARY, JAMES, Sr., wheel-
Wright, Vernon.
SeCBABY, J. C, far., S. 5 ; P. 0.
Keosauqua; owns 160 acres of land
valued at $40 per acre ; was bom June
7, 1817, in Vanderburgh Co., Ind.;
moved to McDonough Co., 111., in the *
fall of 1835; in January, 1837, came
to this county and made a claim of the
land he still owns ; the country was then
a wild waste, inhabited principally by
the red men of the forest and wild
game. On the 1 5th of August, 1839,
he was married to Kerren Leach, of
this county; she was bom Dec. 15,
1820, in West Virginia; have five
children living — Margaret A., Abner N.,
Amanda, Oscar and Oran ; lost one —
John L. At his country's call, Mr.
McCrary enlisted in Co. G, of the 3d
Iowa Cav. ; in the summer of 1861,
he recruited for the company ; was
elected 1st Lieutenant; at the battle of
Kirksville, Mo., the Captain was killed ;
he was then promoted as Captain, aid,
in June, 1864, was promoted as Maier,
but did not assume the duties of Mt^
till the last of July; participated in
the battle of Tupelo, Miss., and Little
Rock, Ark. ; the post was surrendered
to his raiment, which was in command
of Lieut. Col. Duffield; was mustered
out Jan. 28, 1865, for disability. The
following fall, he was elected Sheriff of
the county, and re-elected in the fall of
of 1867. Republican; member of the
Christian Church.
Mallett, N., druggist and PosUnaster, Ver-
non.
Marriott, I., far., S. 2 ; P. 0. Vernon.
Marriott, Wm.. far., S. 2 ; P. O. V»noD.
Meredith, G. W., farmer and stock dealer,
Sec. 15 ; P. O. Vemon.
Merredith, J., far., S. 13 ; P. O. Vemon.
Mohler, Levi, far.; P. 0. Vemon.
"^EAL, ABEL, farmer. Sec. 13; P.
JJN 0. Vemon.
" 3 ACE, E. H., miller, Vemon.
Pexley, W. B., merchant, Vernon.
Phillips, A., far., S. 7; P. 0. Keosauqua.
RIGSBY, BENJAMIN, farmer ; P.
O. Vemon.
Rinebarger, H., far., S. 9 ; P. 0. Vemon.
Rinebarger, W., far., S. 6 ; P. 0. Vemon.
BOBB, THOHAS, farmer; P. 0.
Vernon ; owns 160 acres of land, val-
ued at $45 per acre ; son of Harvey and
Rachel (Christie) Robb ; was bom Jan.
16, 1849, in this county ; parents came
from Jefferson Co., Ind., to this county
in January, 1838, and are now living in
Bonaparte. Thomas Robb was married
to Amanda Brewster March 31, 1870 ;
she was born in this county Sept 25,
1849 ; have two children — Mary B. and
Bertha J. Democrat.
Robinson, A., far., S. 10 ; P. O. Vernon.
Robinson, H. J., manufacturer, Vemon.
BABB. SAHIJEL, farmer, Sec 14 ;
P. 0. Vernon ; owns 405 acres of land,
valued at $40 pfer acre ; born June 7,
1818, in Warren Co., Ohio ; parents
moved to Fountain Co., Ind., in the fidl
of 1828, and came to this county in
1839, and settled near Bonaparte. Mar-
ried to Melinda Willetta Oct. 1, 1846,
in this county ; she was bom Sept. 20,
1828, in Wayne Co., Ind ; came on to
his present farm in 1847 ; have one aoi
Digitized by VjOOQIC
DES MOINES TOWNSHIP.
661
jliying — Monroe ; lost two — Allison and
Kerry. His father, Joseph Rabb, was
l>om in Fayette Co., Penn., and mother
in New Jersey ; she died in September,
1848, and father in June, 1865.
SARGENT, A., far., S. 14 ; P. O. Ver-
non.
Sargent, L.. far.. Sec. 14; P. O. Vernon.
Shepherd, J. W., teamster. Vernon.
Sbuster, I., laborer, Vernon.
Stadler, M., laborer, Vernon.
STEPHENS, eEO. P., far.. Sec.
33; P. 0. Vernon; son of Nathaniel
Stephens, of Pennsylvania; was born
Nov. 4. 1830, in Fayette Co., Penn. ;
parents moved into Allegheny Co. in
1831 ; from there he came to Iowa in
1854, and stopped in Henry Co. till
1856, then came to Cedar Tp. of this
county, where he remained till the fall
of 1873, when he came into Henry Tp.,
where he now lives ; he enlisted at his
country*s call in Co. F, of 14th I. V. I.
in November, 1861 ; was at the battles
of Fort Donelson, Shiloh and Corinth,
j etc. ; was mustered in oat fall of 1865.
j He was married to Elizabeth Newbold,
! of Pennsylvania, March 30, 1853 ; she
dind Sept. 10, 1854 ; was again married, to
I Susan Salmons, July 1, 1855 ; she died
March 6, 1875 ; was again married, to
Margaret A. Cupp, Dec. 20, 1875 ; she
was born March 5, 1850, in Ohio; have
eight children bv second wife living —
I Nathaniel F., Eliza M., Margaret A.,
I Emma G., Mary E., Flora A., John W.
and Ida M. ; bv third wife two — Katie
I and Clyde B. Mr. Stephens has charge
I of a farm of 286 acres, valued at $30
per acre, the title of which is in his
father's name. Republican.
Stephenson, J. Y., far.,S. 3 ; P. 0. Vernon.
W "ALTERS. RAWLEY, far., S. 11 ;
P. 0. Vernon.
' Waterman, H., carpenter, Vernon.
I Wilkinson, H., attorney and Justice of the
Peace, Vernon.
; Wright, C, far. ; P. 0. Vernon.
Y EAGER, AMOS, &rmer and min-
ister, S. 12; P. 0. Vernon.
DES MOINES TOWNSHIP.
ALLEN, A. J., far., Sec. 23 ; P. 0.
Keosauqua.
Arnold, B. H., far., S. 4 ; P. O. Pittsburg.
"D AIRD, A. J., far.; P. 0. Cantril.
Baird, B. P., far.; P. O. Cantril.
BeaUy, H., far., S. 26; P. 0. Keosauqua.
Beard, J., far.. Sec. 28 ; P. 0. Cantril.
Beatty, W., far.. Sec. 26; P. O. Mt.
Sterling.
Beer, T. J., fer.; P. O. Keosauqua.
Bink, D., far.; P. 0. Lebanon.
Blackledge, E. C, far.. Sec. 10; P. 0.
Mt. Sterling.
Blackledge, E., far., Sec. 35 ; P. 0. Mt.
Sterling.
Blackledge. H., far.. Sec. 35 ; P. 0. Mt
Sterling.
Boal, J., far.; P. 0. Mt. Sterling.
Boyd, J. J., far., S. 29 ; P. 0. Cantril.
Boyd, W. H., far.; P. 0. Home.
Brodrick, D. S., physician ; P. 0. Cantril.
Bums, R., far., S. 23 ; P. 0. Keosauqua.
CAMPBELL, JOSEPH, far., S. 6;
P. 0. Lebanon.
Carnes, A., far., S. 10 ; P. 0. Mt. Ster-
ling.
Channel, W. J., far., 8. 8 ; P. 0. Upton.
€IiABK, JAHES, f^., S. 7 ; P. 0.
Keosauqua; owns 196 acres of land,
valued at about $25 per acre ; bom in
Greene Co., Ohio, Jan. 27, 1834 ; left
that State with his parents in August,
1840, and came to this State and county
the same year. His wife, Eudora
Wright, was born in Harrisburg Tp., in
this county, Dec. 2, 1841; they were
married Aug. 9, 1866 ; have four chil-
dren— Samuel M., Sofii, John W. and
Elizabeth 6., all living. Republican;
Methodist.
COWEN,A.H.,far.,S.5; P.O.Leb-
anon ; owns 75 acres, valued at about $35
per acre ; bom in Philadelphia June 12,
1810, and came to this county in 1853 ;
he was on the first train that went
through on the Baltimore & Ohio Rail-
road from Baltimore to Frederick town.
His wife, Cornelia M. Smith, was boru
m Washington, D. C, Oct. 25, 1819 ;
Digitized by
Google
562
DIRECTORY OF VAN BUREN COUNTY :
they were married Feb. 5, 1846 ; John
T., is their only child liviDg ; have lost
Nancy M., George H. and Edward B.
Member of the Methodist Church ; Re-
publican.
Craden, M., far., S. 34 ; P. 0. Home.
Craney, J., far., S. 28; P. 0. Cantril.
Cumminrrs, 0. H. P., far., S. 32 ; P. O.
Cantril.
Cretcher, J., far. ; P. O. Upton.
CBETCHEB, MATHEW q.,
farmer, Sec. 11 ; P. 0. Mt. Sterling;
owns a farm of 400 acres, valued at
about $30 per acre ; also owns 300
acres in Missouri and eighty acres in
Hancock Co.; bom in Logan Co., Ohio,
April 20, 1821 ; left that State in 1843,
and came to this county same year.
His wife, Lucinda Sayre, was bom in
Preston Co., Va., May 3, 1827, and em-
igrated with her parents to Ohio in
1836 ; came to this county in 1841 ;
were married Jan. 30, 1846 ; have nine
children — William, Lycurgus, Anna,
Daiel, Lucy Jane, Ida May, Mary F.,
Lucinda and Q. Mr. Cretcher was an
old-school Democrat, but when the party
left the ancient landmarks of the fathers,
he became identified with the Republican
party, and, in 1856, supported Fremont.
In religion. Liberal.
Cretcher, W., far., S. 9 ; P. 0. Upton.
DbFORD, JOHN H., farmer. Sec.
27 ; P. 0. Keosauqua.
Dodson, T. C, far., S. 14 ; P. 0. Keosau-
qua.
Downs, A. B., far., S. 3 ; P. 0. Mt. Ster-
ling.
Dudly, E. C. far., P. 0. Upton.
^^LLIS, WILLIAM, farmer.
E'
EliLIS, BRADFORD, farmer.
Sec. 9 ; P. 0. Keosauqua ; owns 280
acres of land, valued at about $30 per
acre ; bom in Bourbon, Co., Ky., March
11, 1812; left Kentucky in 1815, and
came with his parents to Harrison Co.,
Ind.; left that State in 1836, and ar-
rived in this county in April, of the
same year. The name of his first wife
was Elizabeth Ellis, who died Dec. 4,
1859. On Oct. 14, 1860, he married
Miss Mary Sellers, who was born in
Dearborn Co., Ind., May 16, 1825 ; his
family consists of twelve children, eight
of whom are now living — Martha, Ed-
ward, Eliza J., John J., Wesley,
iam, Nancy and Nelson. Democrat;
Religion, Liberal.
FATHERSON, GEORGE, faronr.
Sec. 34; P. 0. Mt. Sterling.
Fatherson, Thomas, far., Sec. 16 ; P. O.
Keosauqua.
FERGUSON, D. W., farmer, Sec.
12; P. 0. Mt. Sterling; owns a farm
of 476 acres, valued at $30 per acre ;
was born in Lawrence Co., Penn., Sept.
2, 1835; lefl that State in 1856, and
arrived in this county in the autumn of
the same year. His wife, Sarah Alcorn,
was bom in Lawrence Co., Penn., July
28, 1834 ; they were married Nov. 2,
1858 ; have had three children, two of
whom are living — John Adams and Liz-
zie Bell; Alexander P. died Sept. 4,
1862, aged 16 months. Mr. FeigusoD
is one of the heavy and successful stock-
dealers of Van Buren County. Kepnb-
lican ; United Presbyterian.
Fix, Alexander, far.. Sec. 3 ; P. O. Mt,
Sterling.
GARRET, OLIVER P., farmer; P.
0. Keosauqua.
Gibson, W. W., far., S. 16 ; P. O. Keo-
sauqua.
Gilfillan, J. F. 0., far., S. 5 ; P. 0. Cantril.
Gray, Frank, farmer ; P. 0. Lebanon.
Gray, Herbert, farmer ; P. 0. Pittsburg.
XT ANNA, ROBERT A., farmer, See,
JlI 25 ; P. 0. Mt. Sterling.
Helwig, H., far.. Sec. 19 ; P. O. Cantril.
HIIiLES, EDJHOND, farmer. Sec.
4; P. 0. Cantril; owns 160 acres,,
valued at about $25 per acre ; bom in
Washington Co., Penn., Nov. 24, 1817 ;
left that State in 1843, and came to^
this county the same year. Mr. Hillis
enjoys the confidence of his neighbors
to an eminent degree, having occupied
some office nearly all the time, while in
the county ; was elected to the office of
Supervisor in 1868, and again in 1877,
which office he now holds. His wife,.
Mary J. Woods, was bom in Logan Co..
Ohio, Nov. 7, 1832; came to this coun-
ty in 1841. Married Sept. 15, 1850;
their ^children are Hugh P., Martha^
Frances A., Jessie and Annie. Liberal ;
Republican.
Hogue, J., far.. Sec. 9 ; P. 0. Keosauqua.
Haskin, H., far., Sec. 16 ; P. O. Keoaau-
qua.
Digitized by VjOOQIC
DES MOINES TOWNSHIP.
56»
% IFd:^kin, W. S., far., 8. 17 ; P. 0. Keo-
ocrr sauqua.
Hull, A., far,, Sec. 19 ; P. 0. Cantril.
m- Hull, C, far.; P. 0. Cantril.
Humphrey, C. C, far.. Sec. 7 ; P. 0.
LebaDon.
JONES, Ira, far., S. 15; P. 0. Mt.
Sterling.
Jones, I., far., S. 22 ; P. 0. Keosan<iaa.
KILMORE, C, fknner.
Knox, W., far., S. 4 ; P. 0. Upton.
LANUFORD CHAS., farmer, Sec. 11 ;
P. 0. Mt. Sterling.
liANGFOBD, ANDERSON,
farmer. Sec. 15; P. 0. Keosauqua;
owns 410 acres, valued at about $30
per acre; he was born in Albemarle
County, Va., December 18, 1802; left
Virginia in 1814, and came with his par-
ents to Harrison Co., Ind., while that
State was yet a Territory ; came to Illi-
nois in 1835, and landed in Burlington
in this State in March, 1836 ; made his
claim to the iarm on which he now
lives the same month. On May 4,
1822, he married Miss Nancy Boston ;
she was bom in Harrison Co., Ind., Aug.
30, 1810, and died June 14, 1870 ;
his family consisted of twelve children,
ten of whom are now living — ^Thorn-
ton, Turner, Perry, Harmon H., Silas,
Tillman, Charles, Arraminta, Martha
and Ida. In 1873, Mr. Langford mar-
ried Lucy Rine; she was born in
Trumbull Co., Ohio, May 13, 1825,
and came to this State in December,
1850. Republican; religion. Liberal.
ANOFOBD, H. H., farmer, Sec.
20; P. 0. Cantril; owns a farm of 70
acres, valued at $25 per acre; born
May 1, 1834, in Harrison Co., Ind. ;
came with parents to McDonongh Co.,
HI., in 1838, and from there to this
county in 1842, and settled in Des
Moines Tp. He was married to Miss
Charlotte Drew, of this county, March
19, 1857; she was bom April 10,
1836, in Tennessee; have four children
living — Albert, Thornton, George and
Sherman ; lost one — James H. Mr.
Langford has held several offices of
trust in his township, and is at pres-
ent serving his second term as grand
juryman in his county.
Langford, Perry, far., Sec. 21 ; P. 0. Ke-
osauqua.
I Leaverton, J., fiir., S. 17 ; P. 0. Keosau-
, qua.
i Linn, A., Sec. 28 ; P. 0. Cantril.
Linn, Alonzo, far. ; P. 0., Cantril.
' Linn, Milton, far.,S. 20 ; P. 0. Cantril.
I Lock, Charies M., far., S. 4 ; P. 0. Mt.
I Sterling.
Long, James, farmer; P. 0. Keosauqua.
McCLELAND,J.,&r.,Sec. 4; P. O.
Upton.
j McCrary, Samuel, far., S. 12; P. 0.
Keosauqua.
McDonald, John & Mary, farmers ; P. O.
Keosauqua.
McDonald, W. A., far., S. 35 ; P. 0. Mt.
Sterling.
Mason, E., fkr., S. 10 ; P. 0. Keosauqua.
Miller, John, far, S. 25 ; P. 0. Mt. Sterling,
t Miller. Samuel, Jr., far.. Sec. 35 ; P. O.
I Mt. Steriing.
NICHOLSON, JOSIAH, fanner ; P.
O. Cantril.
OWENS, LEWIS, far.. Sec. 7 ; P. 0.
Cantril.
PARSONS, JAMES R., far., S. 36;
P. 0. Mt. Sterling.
Pitman, S. D.; P. 0. Cantril.
Poling, R., far., S. 36 ; P. 0. Mt. Steriing.
Pollock, George, Upton.
Pollock, T. C, far. ; P. 0. Upton.
Potter, L., farmer and Postmaster, S. 20 ;
P. 0. Home.
Prall, E., fer., S. 3 ; P. 0. Mt. Sterling.
PBALL, ROBERT, farmer, Seo.
24 ; P. 0. Keosauqua ; owns a farm of
260 acres, valued at about $30 per
acre ; born in Zanesville, Ohio, Aug. 7,
1833 ; left that State with his parents in>
1843, and came to Clarke Co., Ind.,
where he resided until he came to this
county in September, 1852. In October,
1855, he married Miss Eliza Singleton ;
she was born in Carroll Co., Ohio, in
November, 1831 ; they have four chil-
dren— Asa W., Frances M., Carrie and
Delia. Republican; Liberal.
Prall, T., far.,.S. 14; P. 0. Keosauqua.
■JpiDER, E., far.; P. 0. Mt. Sterling.
Roberts, 0., far. ; P. 0. Home.
Ruddle, A., far., S. 9 ; P. 0. Keosauqua.
Q1 AAR, J., far., S. 6 ; P. 0. Cantril.
Searight, E., merchant, Upton.
Scotten, W., far., S. 25 ; P. 0. Mt. SUjr-
ling.
Digitized by VjOOQIC
^64
DIRECTORY OF VAN BUREN COUNTY:
Shipley, S., far., S. 24; P. 0. Keosauqua.
Shatten, P., far., S. 32 ; P. 0. Caotril.
Silvers, D., far., S. 18 ; P. 0. Home.
Silver, J. M., far., 8. 20 ; P. O. Home.
Silvers, Wm., far., S. 30 ; P. 0. Home.
Smith, G. W., farmer and stock dealer ;
P. 0. Cantril.
Smith, J., far., S. 8 ; P. O. Lebanon.
Smith, John, far., S. 19; P. 0. Home.
*2mith. P., far., S. 9 ; P. 0 Keosauqua.
Smith, W. M., far., S. 16; P. 0. Home.
Sparks, J., far., S. 31 ; P. 0. Cantril.
Stott, C, far., S. 22 ; P. 0. Home.
Stott, G., far., S. 11 ; P. 0. Keosauqua.
Stott, J., far., S. 17 ; P. 0. Home.
Struble, A., far., S. 28 ; P. 0. Home.
Struble, J., far., S. 17; P. 0. Home.
Struble, P., far.; P. 0. Cantril.
Struble, Wm., far. ; P. 0. Home.
TACK A BERRY, TASSEY J., far.,
Sec. 24 ; P. 0. Keosauqua.
Taylor, S., far., S. 15 ;. P. 0. Keosauqua.
Teter, Adam, far., Sec. 8; P. 0. Upton.
Teter, Andrew J., for., Sec. 8; P. O.
Upton.
THORP, WILLIAM M., for,
Sec. 1 ; P. 0. Mt. Sterling; owns 1,500
acres, valued at $25 per acre ; bom in
^ Lewis > Co., W. Va., Jan. 28, 1842;
came to this State and county in 1853 ;
he is one of the heaviest farmers in
Southern Iowa. His wife, Martha M.
Withem, was bom in Jefferson Co.,
Iowa, Nov. 15, 1847 ; they were mar-
ried Jan. 18, 1863 ; they have two chil-
dren— John Timothy and Adda Bell.
Liberal ; Democrat.
Thomos, D. M., far., Sec. 4 ; P. 0. Keo-
sauqua.
Thomas, R., far.; P. 0. Keosauqua. I
Tiffey, I., far.. Sec. 20 ; P. 0. Home. '
Tulley, Wm., far., Sec. 27 ; P. 0. Home.
W"ILEY, JAMES, farmer, Sec. 27;
P. 0. Mt. Steriing.
WARNER, mCHOLAS, fkr.,
Sec. 6 ; P. 0. Lebanon ; owns 430 acres
of land, valued at about $35 per acre ;
bora in Schoharie Co., N. Y., Aug. 30,
1799 ; left that State and came directly
to this county in 1837, making his
present location in December of that
year. Feb. 3, 1820, he married Mias
Rebecca Warner, who was born March
28, 1801, and died Sept. 9, 1845 ; at
that time, his family consisted of seven
children, three of whom are now living
— Sylvester, Isaac and John ; his pres-
ent wife was Miss Elisabeth Hosford ;
she was born in Rutland Co., Vt., April
. 29, 1818; they were married Oct. 30,
1848, and have had six children, five
of whom are now livirg — Mary E.,
Catharine, Harriett N., Harlow H. and
and G«orge N. Democrat; religion,
Liberal.
Wallam, J., far., S. 4 ; P. 0. Upton.
Wooden, H., far., S. 16; P. O. Home.
Work, Andrew, far., S. 18; P. 0. Home.
Workman, Noali J.
Waraer, John, farmer. Sec. 6 ; P. O. Le-
banon.
^■r ALE, AMOS, farmer ; P. 0. Can-
V tril.
Vale, Johns, far.. Sec. 30 ; P. O. Cantril.
Vance, B., far.. Sec. 15 ; P. 0. Keosau-
qua.
"XT EAGER, W. L., farmer; P. O.
X Upton.
Digitized by VjOOQIC
FARMINGTON TOWNSHIP.
566
FARMINGTON TOWNSHIP.
ALFREY, JACOB, fanner and coal-
miner ; P. 0. Farmington.
Amos, Levi, Farmington. '
Allen, A. B., mechanic, Farmington.
Anderson, Ira, blacksmith, Farmington.
Anderson. J., far., S. 1 ; P. 0. Farmington.
BANK, WILLIAM, cooper. Farming-
ton.
Bante, Louis, blackmith, Farmington.
Barger,M.L.,£ar.,S.25; P.O. Farmington
Barton, W. H., carpenter, Farmington.
Beeson, George, grocer, Farmington.
Behm, Anton, retired, Farmington.
Benson, H., Justice of the Peace, Farm-
ington.
Bedell, J. S., merchant, Farmington.
Beeson, Geo. 8r., grocer, Farmington.
Benson, Henry, attorney, Farmington.
Bowers, J., far., S. 36 ; P. 0. Farmington.
Bowles, W., far., S. 7 ; P. 0. Boyers Sta.
Bowman & Boyer, dealers in agricultural
implements, Farmington.
Bowman, H. E., merchant, Farmington.
Boyer, Adam, far.. Sec. 5 ; P. 0. Boyers
Station.
BO YEB, BASIEIi, farmer, Farm-
ington; born in Muskingum Co., Ohio,
June 20, 1830 ; at the age of 10, came
to this county, and has made this his
home since ; was in California for three
years, gold-mining; he has followed
farming the rest of his life. Married
Miss Margaret Overhouse; she was
born in Ohio, Darke Co., May 20,
1838; has had six children, five living
—Alice B., William T., Adda L., Geo.
B. and Glenn E., aged respectively 20,
17, 13, 10 and 3. Mr. Boyer is a
Free Thinker and a Greenbacker ; he
owns 640 acres of land, valued at $25
per acre, and house and two lots in
town, and raises considerable stock.
Boyer, John P., farmer, Boyers Station.
Bradford, Ira, farmer ; P. 0. Farmington.
Brock, Fenton, propr. State Line House,
Farmington.
Buckholz, H., blacksmith, Farmington.
BUBO, L£ WIS, wagon and buggy
manufacturer, Farmington ; bom Feb.
10, 1843, in Rhinephaltz, Bavaria;
came to the United States in 1853;
f went directly to Burlington, Iowa, and
, remained there for twelve years ; then
came here and establbhed his present
business. Married, Feb. 14, 1867, to
Miss Cordelia Behme ; she was bom in
Prussia May 2, 1846 ; had five chil-
dren, four living — Albert H., Lewis
W., Carrie C. and Oscar F., aged re-
spectively 8, 6, 4 and 2. Is a member
of the German M. E. Church; poli-
tics. Independent. Mr. Burg is known
as a live, energetic business man ; came
here with but little capital, but, by fru-
gaUty and praiseworthy enterprise, has
succeeded in establishing a business of
which himself and the county may well
be proud.
Burner, Iowa H., far., P. 0. Farmington.
OAPPLEMAN, PETER, capitalist,
Farmington.
Campbell, J. A., grocer.
Carter, G. W., far., S.4; P. 0. Farm-
ington.
Carr, James, coal dealer, Farmington.
Carr, Peter C, far., S. 1 1 ; P.O. Farmington.
Carter, Josiah.
Chick, Jas., prop, boarding-house, Farm-
ington.
Church, A. T., depot agent, Farmington.
Clancy, Jas., fkr. ; P. 0. Boyers Station.
Cooley, L. H., dep't P. M., Farmington.
COOLET, JHOSESl H., Postmas-
ter, Farmington ; bom March 19, 1814,
at Whately, Franklin Co., Mass. ; lived
there until he was 22 ; moved to Brown-
helm, Lorain Co., Ohio ; lived there four
years; went to College at Hudson,
Portage Co., Ohio ; was there two years ;
taught school in different places, both in
Ohio and Mississippi ; was made an Odd
Fellow in 1847 ; has passed the chair,
was Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of
the State in 1862-63; Grand Patriarch
in 1861-62 ; Representative to the
Grand Lodge of the United States in
1864, and in 1865; came to Iowa in
1847, and to Farmington in 1848; was
Town Superintendent in 1860-61 ; was
Postmaster from 1864 to 1870, re-ap-
pointed in 1871, and been Postmaster
since. Married Aug. 3, 1848, to Selene
C. Hammond ; she died May 10, 1859 ;
married again, April 21, 1850, to Eliza
J. Thome; she died July 28, 1851 ;
married again, Sept. 10, 1854, to Lucy
Digitized by VjOOQIC
566
DIRECTORY OF VAN BUREN COUNTY :
H. iDgram ; she died Dec. 28, 1869 ;
married again, May 18, 1870, to Miss
Nancy S. McCrary, of Vernon ; has two
children by third wif© — Lyndon H. and
Clara Ida, aged 22 and 20, r^pectively.
Republican. Made a Mason in 1862,
and has held positions of trust in the
Lodge every year but one; is also a
member of Chapter. United with the
Congr^ational Church in 1836» and is
still a member.
Coleman, John S., far.. Sec. 35 ; P. O.
Farmington.
Coombs, John, bridge-builder on B. & S.
W. R. R., Farmington.
Cough liti, Daniel, trackmaster B. & S. W.
R. R.; P. 0. Farmington.
Coulter, Samuel, Postmaster and merchant,
Boyers Station.
Crooks, Henry, section boss, B. & S. W.
R. R.; P. 0. Farmington.
Cross, John F., Dr., druggist and physician,
Farmington.
Cronn, John C, laborer, Farmington.
Cronn, W. S., laborer, Farmington.
Curtis, Adolpheus, far., Sec. 27 ; P. O.
Farmington.
DAVIDSON, JOHN W., mmister,
Farmington.
Dibble, C. G., patent-right man, Farming-
ton.
Dice, Jacob, laborer, Farmington.
Dibble, C. G., Farmington.
Deane, E. C, Gen. Agt. J. I. Case & Co.,
Farmington.
Doeling, Charles, cigar manufacturer, Farm-
ington.
Dray, H., coal-miner ; P. 0. Farmington.
Dray, Obadiah, teamster, Farmington.
Dray, Wm., laborer, Farmington,
Duffey, James, coal-miner; P. 0. Farm-
ington.
EATON, S. D.
Ebarling, Conrad.
Ebeling, C, far., Sec. 12; P. 0. Farmington
Eddy, J. A., merchant ; Farmington.
F ARRIS, ROBERT, Sr., Mississippi
River pilot, Farmington.
Fichtermueller, P., tinware.
Flood, George, far., Sec. 1.. P. 0. Farm-
ington.
Flood, Stephen, far., Sec. 1 ; P. 0. Farm-
ington.
Folker, Cyrus, far.; P. 0. Farmington.
Folker, John, far.; P. 0. Acasto.
Foregraves, J., laborer, Farmington.
Freed, Henry, far., P. O. Farmington.
French, E., far., S. 6 ; P. 0. Farmingtoi
Frow, B., for., S. 28 ; P. 0. Farmingtoi
GABLEMAN, F., lumber deale
_ " Farmington.
Gable, John, Sr., retired, Farmington.
GAFFOBD, SAVLSBIJJtT
B.* firm of Gtifford & Co., grain and
agricultural implement dealers, Farming-
ton; born in Baltimore, Fairfield Co..
Ohio, May 27, 1846 ; lived there until
1860; went to Keokuk; lived there
five years ; then came here, and, with
the exception of two years in Centerville,
Iowa, has lived here since. Married in
January, 1867, to Miss Lucy A. Norria ;
she was born in Coshocton Co., Ohio, in
1845 ; they have four children — Jarvis
J., aged 9 ; Abner, 7 ; Jessie, 5 ; Mam-
mie, 2i. Does not belong to any
secret society of any kind. Politics,
Democrat. Mr. Grafford began business
here with very little capital, but, by
strict and close attention and economy,
combined with enterprise, has established
a large and increasing business.
Giles, S., Farmington.
Gillie, John J., proprietor machine-shop.
GliECKIiEB, CHABIiES A.,
general merchandise and proprietor of
Diamond Mills, Farmington ; born in
Wurtemberg, Germany, April 16, 1835 :
came to the United States in 1852 *,
lived in Newark, Ohio, three years ;
moved to Keokuk, Iowa ; was there one
year; clerked for Ogden & Brownell.
book publishers; then came here, and
has been living here since ; engaged in
the bakery and confectionery business
two years, and one year in the hardware
business ; then entered into the firm of
Sims & Gleckler, general mercantile
business, which continued two years ;
then followed the same line of business
alone up to the present time. Married,
in 1860, to Miss Cordelia L. Sims ; had
two children, one living — Clara, aged 17
years. In religion, Protestant. Mr.
Glecker manufactures large quantities of
flour, which finds a ready market
throughout the State ; he was one of the
principal promoters of the old State
Line R. R., now B. & S. W. Is a
member of the Masonic fraternity. Has
been City and School Treasurer for twelves
years. Politics, Republican.
• Digitized by CjOOgle f
FARMINGTON TOWNSHIP.
5t)7
Q leckler, J. 6., one of the proprietors of
grist-mill, Farmington.
Glover, J., far., S. 34 ; P. 0. Farmington.
Good, G. W., physician, Farmington.
Goodall, George, laborer, Farmington.
Goodell, Jethro G., laborer, Farmington.
«OODEIVOV«H, C. «., minis-
ter, Farmington.
€}OODIN, IflLLIAM, whole-
sale and retail grooeries, Farmington;
bom in November, 1838, in Perry Co.,
Ohio ; came to this county in 1844, and
has lived here since, with the exception
of three or four years* residence in Lee
Co., Iowa. Married, in 1864, to Miss
Matilda Rogers ; she was born in Ohio ;
two children living — Inez, aged 10 ;
William C, aged 3. In religion is a Bap-
tist ; politics. Democrat. Is Treasurer
of the Masonic Lodge and member of the
Chapter. Is also City Treasurer. Served
three years in Co. A, 1st I. V. C. ; par-
ticipated in the battles of Prairie Grove
and Little Hock. Ark., and all the en-
gagements in the vicinity of Little Rook
and others throughout the West.
Gray, R. B., far., S. 12 ; P. O Farmington.
Grubb, W. F., homeopathic physician,
Farmington.
HARBISON, WESLEY, blacksmith.
Hartrick, B., carpenter, Farmington.
Hartrick, C, wagon mfr., Farmington.
HARTRICK, HENRT, wagon
manfr., Farmington ; bom in Hanover,
Germany March 27, 1844 ; came to the
United States in 1867, and came di-
rectly to Farmington, and has lived here
since. Married in April, 1871, to Miss
Minna Hartrick; have three children —
Ida, Alma and Albert aged respectively
3, 5 and 1 years. Member of the M.
E. Church ; in politics, is a Republi-
<jan. By frugality and economy, Mr.
Hartrick has succeeded in gathering the
means to establish the present increas-
ing business.
Hartrick, Henry, carpenter, Farmington.
Hassler, J., Sr., saloon-keeper, Farmington.
Hassler, Jos., saloon-keeper, Farmington.
Hassman, George, carpenter, Farmington.
Huntzell, Christian.
HeUwig, G. v., far., S. 29 ; P. 0. Boyers
Station.
Pommelke, F., furniture dealer, Farmington
rOSMER, JAKHB, S. 9; P. 0.
Boyers Station ; bom in Clark Co., Ky.,
in 1820; left there at the age of 14,
and came to this county, and, with the
exception of three years passed in Ohio,
has lived here since ; she has lived in
this township for forty years. She mar-
ried, in 1839, to George Hosmer ; he
was born in Massachusetts in 1807, and
died in 1846 ; has three children living
— George, Lorenz and Amanda, aged
respectively 37, 35 and 31. Mrs Hos-
mer owns 160 acres of land, valued at
$30 per acre.
KOSHER, GEORGE, far. S. 9 ;
P. 0. Boyers Station ; bom March 4,
1841 ; lived in Ohio for three years.
Enlisted in Co. B, 13th U. S. Inf ;
participated in the battles of Chicka-
saw Bayou, Champion Hills, Jackson,
Miss. , capture of Arkansas Post and the
battles and siege of Yioksburg ; served
three years with credit to himself and
his country.
House, G. H., far., Sec. 32 ; P. 0. Boyers
Station.
House, J. W., far., S. 30 ; P. O. Boyers
Station.
HUHMELKE, FREDERICK,
hardware, stoves and tinware, Farming-
ton; bom in Hanover, Germany, in
1843 ; came to the United States in
1855 ; went to Warsaw, DL, and re-
main^ there until 1861 ; then went to
California and was there until 1867, en-
gaged in gold-mining; then went to
Hancock &)., lU., and lived there until
1874, engaged in farming; then came
here and established this business, and
has been here since. Is a member of
German M. E. Church; is Independent
in politics. Married Miss Henrietta 0.
Thero Jan. 29, 1868 ; she was bom in
Hanover, Germany, March 13, 1848.
Mr. Hummelke came here with little
capital, but by strict and close atten-
tion he has succeeded in building up a
large and growing business.
JOHNSON, JOSEPH A., far., S. 30 ;
P. 0. Bonaparte.
KAHOE, PATRICK, far., S. 1 ; P.
0. Farmington.
Kellogg, Chas., retired; P. 0. Farmington.
Kelley, A. C, far.. Sec. 35 ; P. 0. Farm-
ington.
Kelley, D., capitalist, Farmington.
Kelley, J. L., far., Sec. 35 ; P. 0. Farm-
ington.
Digitized by
Google
56S
DIRECTORY OF VAN BUREN COUNTY:
King, A., wagon manufacturer, Farm-
ington.
King, G., laborer at B. & S. W. shops,
Farming! on.
King, L., prop, hack line, Farmington.
Knouff, S. J., boot and shoe maker,
Farmington.
Knott, W., far.. Sec. 36; P. 0. Farm-
ington.
LEWIS, R., far.; P. 0. Farmington.
Litzrodt, F., minister, Farmington.
Lorton, J., far.; P. 0. Bojers Station.
Lowery, T. J., far.; P. 0. Boyers Station.
Lyman, G., barber, Farmington.
McKINZIE, J., far.. Sec. 27 ; P. O.
Farmington.
Manhardt, E., far.; P. 0. Farmington.
Manhardt, P., far.. Sec. 26 ; P. 0. Farm-
ington.
Mantz, J., far.; P. 0. Farmington.
Martin, J. C, ferryman, Farmington.
Mathias, J. W., far.; P. 0. Farmington.
Meek, S. G., retired physician. Farming-
ton.
Michael. J. F., shoemaker, Farmington.
Miller, E., merchant, Farmington.
Miller, J., merchant, Farmington.
Moore, D. B., saloon, Farmington.
Moore, J., prop. Gait House, Farmington.
Moreland, J., plasterer, Farmington.
Moreland, E. W., carpenter, Farmington.
Moreland, R., plasterer, Farmington.
Morse, H. T., boot and shoe maker, Farm-
ington.
Moss, G., Farmington.
JHVEIiLEB, GEORGE, cabinet-
maker, firm of Reckmeyer & Mueller,
Farmington ; born in Province Hessen-
Nassau June 3, 1835; came to the
United States Oct. 31, 1855 ; went to
Lee Co., Iowa; was there a year ; then
came to this place, and has been here
since ; followed his trade fornine years ;
then formed the above partnership,
which has continued up to the present
time ; Mr. Mueller has, by close appli-
cation to business, secured a competency
and increasing business. Married in
1863 to Miss Elizabeth Schimbeno ; she
was bom in Lee Co., Iowa, Feb. 7,
1 843. Belongs to the Lutheran Church.
Has held several responsible positions in
the township for several years.
MulvihiU, H., blacksmith, Farmington.
Murphy, C, far., S. 9; P. O. Boyer
Station.
Myers, J. D., painter, Farmington.
ASH, T. J., retired, Farmington.
N'
Nelson, L. D., shoemaker, Farmington.
Newman, A., far., S. 8 ; P. 0. Farmingtoi-
Newman, H., far. ; P. 0. Farmington.
Newman, L., far., S. 8 ; P. 0. Farmington -
Noske, G., harness-maker, Farmington.
O'BRIEN, JOHN J., RET.^
Farmington; born in Tipperarj,
Ireland, Aug. 14, 1846; came to
the United States in July, 1865 ;
resided in Providence, R. I., two
years, then went to St. Charles College,
Md.; in the fall of 1866, began his
classical studies there; owing to the
climate, which was unsuitable to him, in
1867, went to Canada to St. Hyacinthe
College; remained there two years,
then went to L* Assumption College ; in
1870, graduated at this college; in
1872, was ordained at Niagara Falls at
the Seminary of Our Lady of Angels ;
on the 23d of December, 1876, for the
the Diocese of Dubuque, Iowa, under
the Right Rev. John Hennessy, Bishop
of Dubuque ; entered on his first Mission
on the 9th of February, 1877, at Farm-
ington, and the Missions connected
therewith.
"pENDLETON, WILLIAM.
Perry, G., tinner, stoves and tinware, Farm-
ington.
Perry, J., carpenter and joiner, Farming-
ton.
Perry, John, retired, Farmington.
Peterie, A., far.; P. 0. Farmington.
Poale, B., far., S. 25 ; P. O. Farmington.
Preen, C, far., S. 31 ; P. 0. Willitts.
RECKMEYER, FREDERICK, cab-
inet-maker, Farmington.
Reckmeyer & Mueller, dealers in furni-
ture, etc., Farmington.
Reese, H., far.. Sec. 25 ; P. 0. Farming-
ton.
Reesman, J. T., limekiln, Farmington.
Reineka, C, far., S. 28 ; P. 0. Boyers Sta-
tion.
Reisner, H., employe of R. R. Co., Farm-
ington.
Rhoades, J., far., S. 27 ; P. 0. Boyers Sta-
tion.
Rice, A. A., far., S. 36; P. 0. Farmington..
Rice, J. W., undertaker and dealer in fur-
niture, Farmington.
Digitized by VjOOQIC
\
FARMINGTON TOWNSHIP.
5^9
Itider, J., coal-miner ; P. 0. FarmiDgtoD.
Ringer, G. W., attorDej, Farmington.
Risser, A., coop«r, FarmingtoQ.
Risser, Peter, ceoper, Farmington.
Roberts, K H., carpenter and joiner,
Farmington.
Roberts, R. S., blacksmith, Farmington.
Robertson, J.W., grain dealer, Farmington.
Robertson, J. W., livery, Farmington.
Robinson, George, far., Sec. 5 ; P. 0.
Boy ere Station.
Roush, L., machinist, Farmington.
SCHAAD, CHRISTIAN, larmer; P.
O. Boyers Station,
Schau, Michael, far., Sec. 28 ; P. 0. Farm-
ington.
Scott, S. F., retired grocer, Farmington.
SCOTT, OlilYEB H. P., farmer,
Sec. 36 ; P. 0. Farmington ; bom in
Washington Co., Ohio, March 3, 1815;
lived there eleven years ; moved to Mor-
gan Co., Ohio, and lived there thirty
yeare; while there was contractor of
public works, canal, railroad and
river improvements, he then came to
this county ; was engaged in the improve-
ment of the Des Moines River, at Cro-
ton, Bentonsport and at this place ; owns
700 acres of land in this and Bonaparte
Tp.; 400 acres of this land is underlaid
with coal ; raises considerable stock ;
owns the right to the water-power of
the Des Moines River at this point. Is
a member of the Legislature to the Sev-
enteenth General Assembly. Served in
the late war as Captain of Co. B, 3d I.
V. C; was soon promoted Major of the
regiment, and served as such until the
surrender of Vicksburg ; was promoted
to the colonelcy of the 48th I. V. I.;
participated in thirty-one engagements,
was requested to take charge of Govern-
ment works at Nashville, Tenn., employ-
ing 1,500 men ; was appointed Assessor
of Internal Revenue of First Iowa Dis-
trict. Married May 16. 1843, to Miss
Ellen D. Fay ; she was bom in Water-
town, Jefferson Co., N. Y., May 16,
1822; they have three children —
Straughn F., Charles H. and George D.,
aged respectively 34, 28 and 26. Col.
Scott was one of the contractors for the
foundations of the Illinois and Iowa
State-houses.
Shaeffer, G., wagon-maker, Farmington.
Shaw, A. J., Mayor, Farmington.
Shockley, A. J., stone-mason, Farmington.
Shreeves, S. K., clerk, Farmington.
Smith, Russell, retired, Farmington.
SMITH, JESSIE, bom in Smith-
field, near Providence, R. I., Nov. 9,
1 "797 ; lived there until be was 25 years
old, and then went to Knox Co., Ohio,
and lived there for forty-three years;
followed farming during that time ; then
went to Clarke Co., Mo., and lived there
about four years, and then came here,
and has lived here since. Married Feb.
17, 1820, to Miss Polly Jenks; shewas^
bom in Smithfield, R. I., in 1800 ; she
died in Knox Co., Ohio, July 21, 1864.
Married again in 1872, to Miss Eliza-
beth Fenstermaker ; she was born in
Indiana Aug 19,1836; has six child-
ren by first wife, all living — Harriet,
Rufus, Thomas, Mary, Anna and Sarah^
aged 58, 53, 49, 46, 42, 38. Two by
second wife — Ellen and John, aged 20
and 18. Owns town property ; does
not belong to any church or society of
any kind. Politics, Republican. Served
in Capt. Whipple's Company of Militia
at Newport, R. I., during the war of
1812. Mr. Smith was Captain of a
vessel for ten years ; lost two vessels by
shipwreck and was shipwrecked twice.
Smith, George W., far., S. 1 ; P. 0. Farm-
ington.
Spurgeon, Frank, butcher, Farmington.
Spurgeon, T., carpenter, Farmington.
Stephens, H., far.; P. 0. Farmington.
Stoddard, M., &rmer and coal dealer, Se<-.
1 ; P. 0. Farmington.
Stoddard, R., far., Sec. 1 ; P. a Farm-
ington.
Sirau, P., far.. Sec. 8; P. 0. Farmington.
TEXTER, D., boot and shoe manufact-
urer, Farmington.
Thero, C, butcher and shipper of stock,
Farmington.
Therme, L. L., grocer, Farmington.
Theurer, J., far., Sec. 28 ; P. 0. Farm-
ington.
THOMAS, JAIIES : P. 0. Farm-
ington ; born in Huntingaon Co., Penn.,
June 30, 1804 ; lefl home on the 19th
of October, 1838, to attend the first land
sale that took place in Iowa, which oc-
curred in November, 1838, at this
point, but Mr. Thomas did not get here
until March, 1839, being detained by
low water in the Ohio River, and ice in
Digitized by VjOOQIC
570
DIRECTORY OF VAN BUREN COUNTY :
the Mississippi. Mr. Thomas has made
this i\a home since 1839. Married in
Center Co., Penn., to Miss Hannah
Bateman, on the 5th of April. 1831.
Mrs. Thomas was horn in Center Co.,
Penn., on the 16th of September, 1804.
Mr. Thomas is a Democrat. Has been
Township Trustee, and served in other
public positions ; he has passed thirteen
or fourteen years of his life in iron, coal
and gold mining, both in Pennsylvania
and California.
THEBJHE. JOHN L., druggist
and bookseller, Farmington ; born in
France, Jan. 11, 1853; came to the
United States in 1856; came to
Keokuk, and lived there twenty years ;
moved to this town in 1873, and has
been here, engaged in business, ever
since. Married here Oct. 25, 1875, to
Miss Lucia Meek ; she was born in this
town Oct. 25, 1855 ; has one child —
Edna M., aged 2 years. Member of
Masonic fhitemity ; Republican.
n^OWNSEND, A. E., merchant tailor,
JL Farmington.
Turton, W. H., Bap. minister, Farmington.
YAUSEGGEN, FREDERICK, far.,
Sec. 33 ; P. O. Farmington.
Yanzant, Kincaid, carpenter, Farmington.
WAGERS, WM. M., carpenter and
joiner, Farmington.
Wagner, J., far., S. 2 ; P. 0. Farmington.
Ware, Isaac.
Warnock, W., far.; P. 0. Farmington.
Warren, C, far., S. 3 ; P. 0. Farmington.
Warren, J., far.; P. 0. Farmington.
Weekly, S. G., fer.. Sec. 2 ; P. 0. Farm-
ington.
Weur, F., for., S. 31 ; P. 0. Farmington.
Wells, A., far., 8. 10 ; P. O. Farmington.
WeUs, J., far., S. 10 ; P. O. Farmington.
White, James, far., S. 33 ; P. 0. Boyers
Station.
Whittall, Fred, millwright and carpenter,
Farmington.
WHITLoCK, FREDERICK,
W* DR.; bom in Pyrmont, Ger-
many, Nov. 8, 1823 ; came to the
United States in August, 1837; came
direct to this county, and has lived here
up to the present time ; he graduated
at the Homeopathic College of Mis-
souri in 1868, and has practiced medi-
cine since. Dr. WhiUock has had a
very peculiar experience as a physician.
Physics came natural to him, and he
practiced medicine ten years before he
graduated, being urgently requested by
his neighbors to do so. Married Mias
Catherine Reckmeyer in St. Louis in
1849 ; she was born in 1830, and died
April 13, 1861 ; has had four children,
three living — Edward A., Albert and
Emma C, aged 24, 22 and 18. Ed-
ward and Albert are graduates of the
Pulte*' Medical Coll^, Cincinnati,
Ohio, and follow their profession here.
Dr. WhiUock married again, Chris-
tina Behme, July 6, 1862. Is a mem-
ber of the German M. E. Church ; b a
Republican. He is one of the first
settlers of this county; owns consider-
able town property, and eighty-five acres
adjoining the town, valued at $40 per
acre.
Whitall, Geo., millwright, Farmington.
Whitten, John, express agt., Farmington.
Wilson, W., far., S. 30; P. 0. Bonaparte.
Woltje, C, far., S. 28 ; P. 0. Farmington.
Wood, Zachariah, far.; P. 0. Farmington.
WEEKLY, STEVEN G., Farm-
ington ; born in Shenandoah Co., Ya.,
Dec. 2, 1804 ; lived there until 3 years
old; moved to Muskingum Co., Ohio,
and lived there for thirty-three years;
then came to this county, and has lived
in this and Clark Co., Mo., ever since ;
has followed farming all his life; lived in
Clark Co., Mo., for nineteen years, and
the same length of time in this county.
Was married Feb. 20, 1834, to Mira
Lydia Vamer; she was bom in Mus-
kingum Co., Ohio, Feb. 15, 1814; has
had ten children, five living — Talitha J.,
Emily V., James A., Orthelia A., Mar-
rietta, aged, respectively, 43, 32, 29,
27, 23. Independent in poUtios, and
does not belong to any secret organisa-
tion. Owns five acres of land in the
city limits, valued at $400 per acre, and
other property in this township.
Digitized by
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BONAPARTE TOWNSHIP.
571
BONAPARTE TOWNSHIP.
ABMS(TBON«. JAMES A.,
farmer, S. 23 ; P. 0. Farmington ;
owns 1 50 acres of land, valued at $25 per
acre; bom Feb. 22, 1801, in Bucki
Co., Penn.; parents moyed to Pittsburgh
in 1805 ; commenced clerking in a drug
fitore when about 13; when about 19,
oommenoed the business on his own ac-
<50unt; spring of 1825, went to Clinton,
Ohio. Married there Miss Hattie Dris-
ikill Dec. 27, 1825 ; she was born in
Maryland June, 1806; moved to Mc-
Lean Co., Dl., in 1831 ; to DeKjilb Co.,
111., in 1832 ; spring of 1836, came to
Van Buren Co. ; same fall, purchased
the claim of land he still owns. Mr.
Armstrong is a man of real personal
worth and integrity, and of good, sound
judgment ; has raised a family of eleven
children, all living — Charles A., Han-
nibal H., Lucien C, Cyrus E., William
A., Gilbert M., Clara L., James H.,
Fridley M., Oliver H. P., Zachary T.
and Dora G., an adopted daughter.
Five of his sons served their country
during the war, one only was wounded.
Armstrong, William A., far.. Sec. 14; P. 0.
Bonaparte.
BABER, CHARLES M., laborer,
Bonaparte.
Bailey, James, far.; P. 0. Bonaparte.
Barber, G. W., employe of Meek Bros.,
Bonaparte.
Barr, J. H., far.; P. 0. Bonaparte.
Beard, William, laborer, Bonaparte.
Beck, Hellen, Bonaparte.
Besecker, John, clerk, Bonaparte.
BOTEB, D. W., farmer. Sec. 16 ; P.
O. Bonaparte ; owns eighty-three acres of
land, valued at $25 per acre ; bom Feb.
22, 1806, in Fredenck Co., Md. ; came
to Lee Co., Iowa, in 1854 ; to this
county in 1865. Married Maria Francis,
Nov. 8, 183(^ in Maryland; she was
bom in Loudoun Co.,Va., Nov. 4, 1811 ;
have thirteen children living — Wm. F.,
Dewitt C, Thos. W., Samuel A., Timo-
thy T., John M., Lewis M., Mary C.,
Alvin 0., Nancy J., James F., Benjamin
O., Maria I. ; lost three — Mariella,
Jjevin and Reuben ; his son Lewis
( served his country during the war.
I Member of the Baptist Church.
Boyer, G. F., far., S. 24 ; P. 0. Farming-
ton.
Boyer, John M., Farmington.
BOTEB, T. W.. dealer in dry goods
and general mercnandise, Bonaparte;
born July 26, 1846, in Musking-
um Co., Ohio; came to Lee Co., Iowa, in
the fall of 1854 ; received his education
at the public schools of Denmark ; went
to St. Joseph, Mo., in 1859 ; spring of
1860, came to Bonaparte and commenced
the study of medicine, with a Dr.
Oliver George ; attended lectures at the
Keokuk Medical College, where he
graduated in Febraary, 1863; practiced
till 1870, when he engaged in his present
business. Married Miss Nancy A.
Meek, daughter of Isaiah Meek, May
1, 1865 ; she was bom Feb. 8, 1847, in
this county ; have three children — Flora
N., Edson I. and an infant not named.
Democrat.
Bridge, James, employe of Meek Bros. ; P.
0. Bonaparte.
Brooker, Wm. H., marble dealer, Bona-
parte.
Brower, David, far. ; P. 0. Bonaparte.
Brown, Suphana ; P. 0. Bonaparte.
Bumett, Thos., ikr. ; P.O. Bonaparte.
Bushell, Dan., plasterer. Bonaparte.
CALHOUN, JAMES, farmer; P. 0.
Bonaparte.
Cassady, M., far. ; P. 0. Bonaparte.
Chapman, Alfred, butcher, Bonaparte.
Chapman, H. H., grain dealer, Bonaparte.
Chapman, Samuel, Sr., far.. Sec. 3 ; P. 0.
Bonaparte.
Christian, A. L., carpenter and joiner,
Bonaparte.
CHBISTT, THOHASI, dealer in
dry goods and general merchandise, firm
of Christy & Johnson, Bonaparte;
born Nov. 16, 1829, in Harrison Co.,
Ohio ; came to this county spring of
1842, and settled one and a half miles
above Bonaparte, then called Lexington ;
two years after, moved to Lick Cre<ik
Tp. ; fall of 1848, came to Bonaparte
and engaged upon public works ; spring
of 1850, went to Califomia and followed
mining ; the spring of 1853, returned
to Bonaparte ; the following fall, elected
Sheriff of the county, and moved to Keo-
4
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672
DIRECTORY OF VAN BUREN COUNTY:
sauqua; at the expiration of his term
of oflfice, returned to Bonaparte and
commenced his present business, firm of
Gregory & Christy, which was changed
to 'the present firm in 1857. Fall of
1855, was elected member of the Legis-
lature from this county; fall of 1872,
was elected a member of the Board of
Supervisors. Married Miss S. C. John-
nson July 24, 1853 ; she was bom
June 7, 1835, in Indiana; have five
children living — Gertrude E., Hattie
£., Jennie A., Thomas H. and Dora;
lost four — Mary B., Anna, Emma
and Maggie ; his sister Elizabeth has
been a member of his family since his
marriage. Democrat.
Clark, W., far.. Sec. 6 ; P. 0. Bentonsport.
Collins, H., retired; P. 0. Bonaparte.
Coolidge, H., merchant, Bonaparte.
Coolidge, H. L., merchant, Bonaparte.
Corwin, J., canvasser, Bonaparte.
CBESAP, JONATHAN, dealer
in agricultural implements and furni-
ture, also proprietor of planing-mill,
Bonaparte; born March 9, 1835, in
Alleghany Co., Md.; came to this coun-
ty in the spring of 1856, and settled in
Bonaparte ; has been in the employ of
Meek Brothers about fifteen years — two
. years with Joseph Meek, in the planing-
mill ; commenced ruuDing the business
on his own account in the fall of 1877.
Married Mary Washington in April,
1858; she was born in June, 1841, in
Pittsburgh, Penn ; have five children —
George, Orion, Lulu, Delia and Jeff.
His wife is a member of the Baptist
Church ; Democrat.
Cresap, J. H., saloon-keeper ; Bonaparte.
CBESAP,BO«EBN., DlL,phy-
sician, and a partner of J. P. Davis in
the hardware business, Bonaparte ; born
Sept. 26, 1809, in Alleghany Co., Md.;
went to Hampshire Co.,ya.,in 1826, and
commenced the study of medicine there
vrith his brother-in-law. Dr. John Tem-
ple ; in the fall of 1 829, he moved to
Marysville, Tenn., and completed the
study of medicine, and graduated at the
Knoxville Medical College, in 1830;
came to Keokuk, Iowa, in the spring of
1833, and engaged in the grocery and
drug business ; in the faU of 1834, he
and Messrs. Blackburn and Coates came
here and made claims in the vicinity of
what is now the village of Bonaparte
Dr. Cresap's claim embraced a part ji
the plat of Bonaparte, which he, in com-
pany with Mr. William Meek, laid out
m 1837 ; he followed farming and prae-
ticing medicine; also kept a hotel id
Bonaparte, about twenty-five years.
Married Angeline Thompson in October,
1830, in Tennessee ; she died in the full
of 1835, leaving one son — John B., a
little daughter, Mary, having gone be-
fore; he was again married to Mary S.
Keith, Oct. 3, 1836 ; she was bom Nov.
19, 1813, in Culpeper Co., Va.; have
had one daughter — Angeline, who also
passed away. Mr. Cresap owns several
hundred acres of land in the county ;
hafl also served as Postmaster several
years. Bepublican.
CRESAP, JEL T., proprietor of two
billiard-halls and saloons, Bonaparte;
bom April 9, 1837, in AU^hany Co.,
Md.; worked on a farm and attended
school till he was 15, and then went to
the carpenter trade; in the spring of
1856 he came to Bonaparte, thence to
Keokuk; in the fall of 1857, he went
to Kansas City, Mo.; in June, 1860, he
retumed to Maryland on a vi^it ; oame to
Bonaparte in Feb., 1861 ; worked at hi»
trade five years; in Meek Brothers' woolen
mills three years; also in the planing-
mills ; in 1874, he had the misfortone
of having a thumb and two fingers cut
off from his right hand, afler which he
engaged in his present business. Mar-
ried Mariam W. Slaughter Dec 25,
1862, of this county ; e^e was bora in
Febraary, 1845 ; have five children —
Anna L., Byron E., Charles P., Eddie F.
and Jessie M. Member of A., F. &A.
M.; Democrat.
Cresap, V., Bonaparte.
Cullen, W. C, far.; P. 0. Bonaparte.
CIJ9IMINGS, AliEXANDEB,
farmer, S. 20 ; P. 0. Bonaparte ; owns
350 acres of land, vak^ed at 930 per
acre ; born May 20, 1823, in Don^al
Co., Ireland ; came to Chester Co.,
Penn., in 1842; in the spring of 1851
came to Van Buren Co., Iowa, and pur-
chased eighty acres of his present hxm \
following fall went to Califomia; re-
turned in 1853. Married Harriet Cor-
win July 14, 1854 ; she was bom
Jan. 31, 1837, in Scioto Co., Ohi6;
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BONAPARTE TOWNSHIP.
573
have seven cLildren — William, Robert,
Mary, Eliza, James, Thomas and Alex-
ander. Mr. Cummings has, by his own
industry and economy, accumulated a
handsome property. Independent.
Cummins, Wm., far., S. 21 ; P. O. Bona-
parte.
Custer, J. L., patentee and far., Bona-
parte.
"TSaUBER, FERDINAND, farmer,
JL/ p. 0. Bonaparte.
Davidson, G. W., fer. ; P. 0. Bonaparte.
DAVJLS^ J. P*9 dealer in hardware,
groceries, etc., also Postmaster of
Bonaparte ; bom Feb. 11, 1844, in
Wheeling, W. Va. ; emigrated with his
parents to Burlington, Iowa, the follow-
ing spring; in the fall of 1858, went to
Edina, Mo ; was educated at the high
school there; commenced reading law
in 1864 with Hollister & Perry of that
place ; admitted to the bar in 1868 ; fol-
lowed his profession till fall of 1870 ;
went to Kahoka, Mo., thence to Bona-
parte in 1873; was JPrincipal of the
school here until he commenced his
present business, July, 1877, in company
with Dr. R. N. Cresap ; appointed Post-
master July, 1877. Married Alice Sul-
livan, of Lewis Co., Mo., April 14,
1864 ; she was born in same county,
Feb. 10, 1840; have two children-
Winnie G. and Lola G. Mr. Davis is
an Elder in the Presbyterian Church,
Republican.
DEIIPEL, HOBBIS, cabinet-mak-
er, Bonaparte; born May 3, 1819,
in Bavaria, Germany ; came to Amer-
ica in* October, 1847, and settled in
Harrisburg Tp. ; moved to Farming-
ton in the spring of 1851, soon after to
Bonaparte ; worked as millwright a year,
cabinet work about a year, then for
Meek Bros. ; in 1866, commenced pres-
ent business. Married Mary A. Rigler
- Nov. 22, 1849 ; she was born Nov. 8,
1825, in Gjgrmany ; have five children
living — Mary A., Anna, Louisa, George
and Eugene ; lost one son — Charles,
who was murdered at Osceola, Ark.,
May 27, 1878. Member of the Cath-
olic Church.
Derr, Davis, teamster, Bonaparte.
Derozer, William, far.; P. 6. Bonaparte.
Detwiler, S. C, tel^raph operator, Bona-
I parte.
Dofflemeyer, Joseph, blacksmith, Bona-
parte.
Dutton, Frank E., fer.; P. 0. Bonaparte.
Duer, James H., plasterer, Bonaparte.'
TpRVIN, THOMAS, Bonaparte.
EASON, E. W. A IIABY A.,
proprietors of Eason Hous^, Bonaparte;
Mary A. Eason, daughter of Michael
S. and Sarah A. Cresap ; was born Oct.
1, 1839, in Alleghany Co., Md. Parents
moved to Somerset Co., Penn., in 1843,
and Fayette Co. in 1851 ; thence to
Bonaparte June, 1856 ; was engaged
in the employ of her uncle, R. N. Cre-
sap, then proprietor of the hotel now
known as Eason House; she married
Eli W. Eason March 22, 1865 ; he was
bom in 1833 in Vermont; came into
this hotel in spring of 1873; have two
children living — French L. and Clyde
M. Lost two — George and an infant.
ENTIiER, JOHN 8., dealer in
stoves and tinware, Bonaparte; son
of W. W. and Sarah E. Entler;
bom in Harrisburg Tp., of thb county,
Jan. 17, 1852 ; lived on a farm till his
father moved into Bonaparte in 1867 ;
in 1864, his brother commenced the
stove and tinware business ; he learned
the trade with him, and bought him out,
but now are partners. Married Jen-
nette R. Sherman Oct. 1, 1874; she
was born May, 1853, in Bonaparte; have
one daughter — Myrtle. Independent.
ENTIiEB, W. W., Justice of the
Peace, Notary Public, insuring and
real estate agent, Bonaparte ; born
Jan. 29, 1819, in York Co., Penn.
Parents moved into Adams Co.,
.in 1826; in 1831, went to Baltimore,
Md., to live with an uncle ; learned the
carpenter and joiner's trade; in 1839,
returned to Adams Co. ; engaged in
mercantile business about four years. Mar-
ried Sarah E. Bod^nhamer Feb. 2, 1841 ;
she was born Dec. 25, 1822, in Jeffer;
Co., Va. Fall of 1844, came to Iowa,
and settled in Harrisburg Tp., of this
county ; served as Justice^ of the
Peace there four years; spring of 1867,
moved to Bonaparte ; has since worked
at his trade, besides attending to official
business ; for the last two years has de-
voted his time to his present business.
Has six children living — George W.
Digitized by VjOOQIC
574
DIRECTORY OF VAN BUREN COUNTY:
William H., Phillip J., John S., Jacob
F., Catherine J.; lost three — Edward
J., Mary A. and Franklin P. Member
German Reformed Church ; Democrat.
Etb ridge, Charles, laborer, Bonaparte.
THLICK, ISAAC, laborer, Bonaparte.
Foster, W. L., far. ; P. 0. Bonaparte.
Frankle, Louis, clothing merchant, Bona-
parte.
Fridley, W. H., lumber dealer, Bonaparte.
GABBY, JAMES B., farmer,Sec. 11 ;
P. 0. Bonaparte.
George Bros., druggists, Bonaparte.
«EOR«E, WILLIAM A., phy-
sician and surgeon, Bonaparte ; bom in
Bonaparte, Iowa, Jan. 6, 1853; educa-
ted under Profs. Mowath and Howe,
and,at 1 8, commenced his medical studies
with his father, the late Dr. Oliver
George, of Bonaparte ; continued one
year, then placed himself under the in-
structions of the eminent surgeon, Lewis
A. Sayre, of New York City ; graduated |
from Bellevue Medical College in the i
class of 1876, with distinction, being one I
of nine, who received honorable mention ,
in a class of 165 ; frequently contributed |
verbatim reports of lectures to the van- i
ous medical journals, and in addition to . |
the labors of graduation year, revised, |
corrected and satisfactorily carried |
through the press for his preceptor, a |
500 page 8vo surgical work, besides |
much other labor in the way of reports |
and proof-reading. He had made every
arrans^ement for publishing a medical |
journal in New York, having been prom- \
ised the support of the ablest practi- i
tioners of that city, when his health
broke down from the eflfects of a severe
accident and overwork combined, .
and he was compelled to return i
to his home in Van Buren Co., |
where his widowed mother resides I
and where his deceased father was .
widely known, and his rare medical skill j
generally appreciated Dr. Oliver George, I
who died April 7, 1874, was a man of i
\reat intellectual endowments, of fine
social qualities, one, whose extensive in-
formation, and almost faultless memory, I
gave his opinions weight not only in i
matters of medical science, but on all the
current topics of the day ; born in West-
moreland Co., Penn., Sept. 1, 1820 ; he i
graduated after due preparation, at
the Pennsylvania Medical University at
Philadelphia, at that time the best
medical college in the United
States ; he subsequently . received
an ad eundem degree from Keo-
kuk Medical College, and upon the or-
ganization of the Iowa State Medical
Association, was made Chairman of its
Committee on Correspondence with other
medical societies ; after seven years'
practice in Olney, Dl., he removed to
Van Buren Co., in 1861, where he was
actively engaged in his profession until
his death, having devoted thirty-three
years of his life to medical practice.
During his residence in Olney, in the
summer of 1845, he married Miss N. M.
Powers, cousin of the eminent sculptor,
Hiram Powers. Was a member of the
Masonic farternity for many years; he
organized Bonaparte Lodge, No. 73, and
was for eight consecutive years its Mas-
ter ; was also High Priest of the Moore
Chapter. A Knight of Malta, Knight
of the Red Cross, Knight Templar and
Deputy Grand Master of the Grand
Lodge of the State of Iowa,
devoting some of the best years
of his life to the interests of the
fraternity. He was a devout believer
in natural religion; took an intense de-
light in the works of creation ; was a
true worshiper of the beautifiil and true,
not only in the physical world, but also in
the kingdom of mind.
Grimsley, H. M., employe of Meek Bro«.,
Bonaparte. , |
Guess, Elisha, sawyer, Bonaparte.
HALL, CH AS. L,, book-keeper, Bona-
parte.
HANBACK, THOS., proprietor of
Bonaparte Pottery, in company with
Robert Wilson ; Bonaparte ; bom
Aug. 13, 1838, in Scott Co,, 111. ; spring
of 1867, came to Vernon of this county ;
worked in the pottery and learned
the trade; in 1866, came to Bonaparte
and established a pottery, in company
with Mr. S. Parker, who sold his in-
terest to Mr. Wilson in 1873. Married
Jennette Herryman Nov. 25, 1858;
she was born June 17, 1843, in Posey
Co., Ind. ; have two children — Marj
and Alice ; lost two — Florence and Car-i
rie. Republican. ^
Digitized by
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BONAPARTE TOWNSHIP.
575
MANEY, DEHrmS, fanner, Sec.
7 ; P. 0. Bonaparte ; owns about 500
acres of land, valued at $30 per acre ;
born in November, 1822, in County
Derry, Ireland; in 1842, came to Phila-
delphia, Penn.; in 1845, returned to
Ireland and remained nearly a year ;
cauie over to Boston in the spring of
1846. Enlisted in the general service of
the United States Army ; went on a re-
cruiting tour to Chesap^e, Fort Mc-
Henry, New York, where he was
attached to Co. L, of the U. S. 3d Ar-
tillery ; went to Mexico in Gen. Worth's
Division ; was promoted to 2d Sergeant ;
was in the battles of Vera Cruz, National
Bridge, Cerro Gorde, Molino del Rey,
Chapul tepee and at the capture of the
City of Mexico ; was detailed as guard
of a chain gang from Vera Cruz to Fort
Monroe and Old Point Comfort, Md.,
where he was discharged. Went to Wash-
ington and got his land warrant ; in Sep-
tember, 1848, came to Iowa and located
his land in Monroe Co. ; came to Bona-
parte and went to work for Meek &
Son; in the summer of 1849, went to
California, overland ; in 1 852, returned
to Bonaparte, and purchased the farm
upon which he still lives. Married Su-
sanna McClure Feb. 22, 1854; she was
born in 1831, in Indiana; have four
children living — Elizabeth, Lulu, Robert
A. and William ; lost two — Rachel and
Mary. Mr. Haney was one of the first
Directors of the Bonaparte Academy,
afterward purchased by the district ; he
has served his township as Trustee sev-
eral years ; is the owner of several
buildings in Bonaparte, including the
Masonic Hall, he being a member of the
Order.
Henry, Levi, photographer, Bonaparte.
Henneigh, H. K., retired Presbyterian
minister, Bonaparte.
HOPKOfS, T. H., dealer in and
manufacturer of boots and. shoes, Bona-
parte; bom Dec. 24, 1822, in Sussex
Co., Del. ; his father died when he was
li year old, and his mother, when 9
years old; lived with Mr. B. H. Marvel
till he was 17 ; came to Champaign Co.,
Ohio, in the fall of 1834; in 1839,
went to Baltimore, Md. ; learned the
I shoemaker s trade ; was there five years,
after which he worked at journey
work in difiPerent cities along the sea-
coast; in 1847, returned to Champaign
Co., Ohio. Married there Miss Hannah
Jones Oct. 28, 1848; she was born in
Ohio, March, l6, 1824 ; they moved to
Bonaparte in the spring of 1850; in
1851, to Mt. Sterling, this county; in
1855, returned to Bonaparte and com-
menced his present business ; have five
children living — Fidelia, who lives in
Kansas; Josephine, in Colorado, and
Ida M.; Thomas H. and Charles B. are
yet at home; lost three — William,
Henrietta and an infant, not named.
Mr. H. has been \i member of the
Masonic fraternity since 1848. Demo-
crat.
HOBNBAKEB, DATID, fkr.,
Sec. 18; P. O. Bonaparte; owns 140 acres
of land, valued at $40 per acre; born
Nov. 11, 1841, in Preble Co., Ohio;
came with his parents to this county in
the full of 1845, and settled about a
mile west of his present residence.
Enlisted May 1, 1861, in Co. F, 2d
Iowa Inf ; discharged in January fol-
lowing for disability; in March, 1862,
re-enlisted in the same company and
regiment ; and again, as a veteran, in
March, 1864, participated in the battles
of Pittsburg Landing, Shiloh, luka,
siege and battle of Corinth, and siege
of Vicksburg, also with Sherman in his
march to the sea, and all the battles
during that campaign ; was discharged
at Davenport, Iowa, August 1, 1865.
Married Mary A. Bachelor, of this
county, March 11, 1867; she was born
Aug. 14, 1843, in London, England ;
parents came the same fall to New York
City, and, to Cincinnati, Ohio, in 1851,
and to this county in 1852; have six
children — Willie H., Carrie B., Benja-
min F., David R., James G. and John
R. Republican.
Hombaker, Martin, far.; P. 0. Vernon.
Huffman, Geo., merchant, Bonaparte.
Humphrey, H., employe of Meek Bros.,
Bonaparte.
Humphrey, J. T., boot and shoe dealer,
Bonaparte.
Humphrey, W., painter, Bonaparte.
JOHNSON, WILLIAM, J., merchant
and farmer, Bonaparte.
JOHNSON, T. B., far., Sec. 18 ; P.
0. Bonaparte ; owns ninety-five acres ot
Digitized by VjOOQIC
576
DIRECTORY OF VAN BUREN COUNTY:
land, valued at $35 per acre ; born Aug.
12,1 842, on the farm where he now lives ;
Bonaparte ; owns ninety -five acres of land,
his father, William Jphnson, came from
Fountain Co., Indiana, in 1838 ; died
Sept. 25, 1845 ; spring of 1864, Mr.
Johnson went to Montana ; June, 1866,
returned. Married Miss Rebecca J.
Perkins, daughter of J. F. Perkins,
Feb. 18, 1873 ; she was born Nov. 11,
1851, in this county ; have two children
— Hattie and Barton. Democrat.
KEAN, JOSEPH A., carpenter and
joiner, Bonaparte.
Keasling, F., farmer; P. 0. Bonaparte.
Kelley, John, far. ; P. 0. Bonaparte.
Kerr, W. B., dealer in lumber, Bonaparte.
KETCHAH, BENJAIUN, far..
Sec 1 ; P. 0. Bonaparte ; owns 600
acres of land, valued at $30 per acre ;
born Nov. 19, 1829, in Allegheny Co.,
Penn. ; came to Van Buren Co., Iowa;
spring of 1855, purchased a part of his
present farm in February, 1856, which
he improved and rented out for eight
years, working on it part of the time ;
spent some time in Pennsylvania in
farming. Married Miss Mary Lightfoot,
of Lee Co., Iowa, Oct. 27, 1863; she
' was born in Manchester, England, Oct.
25, 1843 ; came with parents to St.
Louis, spring of 1846 ; to Lee Co., in
1847. Mr. Ketcham moved on his
farm the fall be married ; have six chil-
dren living — Minnie B., Joel, Lizzie J.,
George, Frank, and one infant not named.
Has been Justice of Peace and Town-
ship Trustee. Member of Presbyterian
Church ; Democrat.
LANSHAW, W., far.; P. 0. Bona-
parte.
Leng, J., gardener, Bonaparte.
Lumb, L., employe of Meek Bros., Bona-
parte.
"VyTcDANIEL, J., far. ; P. 0. Bona-
McDaniel, M., far. ; P. 0. Bonaparte.
McKassou, G., far. ; P. 0. Bonaparte.
Medlock, D., far. ; P. 0. Bonaparte.
MEEK, H. H., book-keeper for the
firm of Meek Bros., Bonaparte ; son of
Isaiah Meek; born June 4, 1851, in
this town ; was educated here ; has been
connected with the business of the firm
from boyhood ; acted as salesman on the
road for the last seven years ; recently
assumed the management of the book;>
of the company. Married Miss Msrj
C. Shang Nov. 29, 1870 ; she was bom
in Virginia; died June 20, 1871 ; again
married Nannie E. Duncan Nov. 22,
1875 ; she was bom April 18, 1853, in
Mercer Co., Mo.; have no family.
Democrat.
JHEEK, ISAIAH, of the firm of
Meek Bros., proprietors of the Bona-
parte Grist, Saw and Woolen Mills, Bo-
naparte; bora Jan. 31, 1821, in War-
ren Co., Ohio; parents moved to St.
Joseph Co., Mich., in 1829; to Bona-
parte in the spring of 1837 ; his father,
William Meek, in company with Dr. R.
N. Cresap, laid out the town of Booa-
parte the same year; in 1844, William
Meek & Sons built the grist-mills, and,
in 1853, the woolen-nulls; the latter
burned in 1863 ; were rebuilt by Meek
Bros, the same year. Mr. Meek mar-
ried Cynthia A. Ingels in December,
1844; she was bora in 1827 in Ohio;
have six children — Nancy A., Phoebe
L., Hugh H., Mary E., Byron and
Kirk. Mr. Meek owns, individually,
540 acres of land, valued at $25 per
acre, and about 2,000 acres in com-
pany with his brother Robert, and 500
acres with Robert and Joseph. The
Meek Brothers are among the leading
business firms of Van Buren Co. ; are
now building a fine new grist-mill, to
contain six mns of stone, at a cost of
•15,000. Democrat.
JHEEK, JOSEPH, one of the firm
of Meek Brothers, Bonaparte ; bora
June 9, 1830, in St. Joseph Co., Mich.;
came with parents to this county in the
spring of 1837 ; settled in Bonaparte;
has been one of the firm of Meek
Brothers since the death of his fiither.
Married Mary Ward, of this county.
May 18, 1852 ; she was born Nov. 19,
1832, in Indiana; died July 12, 1853;
was again married, to Mary A. King
Nov. 2, 1856 ; she was bora June 23,
1838, in County Galway, Ireland ; has (
seven children living, all by second wife
— Eliza, Kate, Mary A., Robert, Mag- i
gie, Priscilla D. and Alice ; lost one — .1
Ann E., by first wife. Mr. Meek owns ■]
individually about 140 acres of land, ' i
besides one-third interest with his
brothers in 500 acres.
Digitized by CjOOgle [ '
/
BONAPARTE TOWNSHIP.
577
MEEK, RAIiPH F., proprietor
Hvery stable, Bonaparte ; sod of Robert
and Nancy (Flint) Meek ; born Aug.
11, 1851, in Bonaparte; was educated
in the public schools of his native town ;
served as clerk and book-keeper in the
office of Meek Bros, for several years ;
commenced his present business in the
Hpring of 1 878. Married Miss Gertrude
E. Christy, daughter of Thomas Christy ;
she was bom Nov. 26, 1854, in Keosau-
rjua ; have two children — Carl E. and
Harry C. Democrat.
MEEK, ROBERT, of the firm of
Meek Brothers, proprietors of Bonaparte
Grist, Saw and Woolen Mills, Bonaparte;
born Jan. 25, 1815, in Wayne Co.,
Ohio ; his father, William Meek, moved
to St, Joseph Co., Mich., in 1829 ; to
Lee Co., Iowa, in the fall of 1836 ; the
following spring, to this county; his
father purchased the claim of a Mr.
Moffatt, the land upon which he and
Dr. R. N. Cresap laid out the town of
Bonaparte in 1 837 ; the grist-mills were
built by William Meek &Sons in 1844 ;
the woolen-mills in 1853; the latter
were burned in 1863; rebuilt by Meek
Brothers the same year ; the father died
Aug. 9, 1863 ; the mother Jan. 25,
1855 ; the Meek Bros, assumed control
of the mills about 1859. Mr. Meek
married Mary A. Allen, of Lee Co.,
Iowa, April 23, 1838; she was bom
April 10, 1819;. died Oct. 3,1845;
again married, Nancy Flint Oct. 10,
1847 ; she was bom May 24, 1815 ;
died June 1, 1853; again married,
Abigail P. Barber Oct. 12, 1856; she
was bom Oct. 24^1822; have nine chil-
dren living, three by each wife — first,
Elizabeth A., Sarah and Alvia ; second,
Alinda P., William and Ralph F.; third,
Lewis C, Robert E. and Oscar L.; lost
two of second wife's children and one of
third. Mr. Meek owns individually
about four hundred acres of land and
one-half interest in about two thousand
acres and one-third inteiest in about five
hundred acres. Member of the Baptist
Church ; Democrat. The firm of Meek
Brothers are among the most solid and
enterprising business men of South-
eastern Iowa.
Meek & Kerr, lumber dealers, Bonaparte.
Merrick, Legrand, fiir.; P. 0. Bonaparte.
HEEK, WIIiLiIAllI, clerk and
salesman in the office of Meek Brothers,
Bonaparte ; son of Robert and Nancy
(Flint) Meek ; born in Bonaparte Sept.
29, 1849 ; educated in the schools of
his native town. Married Alice Sharp,
of Bonaparte July 3, 1870 ; she died
Sept. 12, 1873; again married. Ma-
gic M. Johnson March 5, 1874; she
was bora Oct. 27, 1851, in Bonaparte;
has four chileren, two by first wife and
two by second wife — Alden H. and
Effie, and Shirley R. and Carlotta C.
HIIiLER, E. E., farmer; P. 0.
Bonaparte; son of Peter and Mary
Miller; bora Dec. 18, 1831, in West-
moreland Co., Penn.; came with parents
to Van Buren Co., Iowa, in the spring
of 1854, and settled in this township;
in the spring of 1859, went overland
to Califoraa; in the spring of 1866,
went to Montana ; remained till the fiUl
of 1872; returned to Van Buren Co.
and purchased his present farm of 228}
acres, valued at $35 per acre ; his father
died April 6, 1873. Married Miss
Martha W. Ryland, of this county,
Dec. 14, 1875; she was born Feb. 4,
1853, in this township; have two chil-
dren— Glen A. and one infant not named.
Republican.
Miller, John A., far.; P. 0. Bonaparte.
Miller, Joseph, far.; P. 0. Bonaparte.
Miller, Simon, teamster, Bonaparte.
Miller, Solomon, far.; P. O. Bonaparte.
SnTCHELL, J. P., farmer; Sec.
6; P. O. Bonaparte; son of John and
Liddich Mitchell; born July 1, 1831,
in Perry Co., Penn.; came with parents
to this county in the spring of 1839,
and settled in Bonaparte Tp.in the fall of
1842; returned to Pennsylvania and
remained till the spring of 1856, then
returned to their old farm in Van Buren
Co., where his father died July 29, 1875,
in the 78th year of his age ; he was a
native of Armagh Co., Ireland, and
emigrated to the United States in 18p8 ;
Mr. J. P. Mitchell to California in the
spring of 1 864, and followed mining ;
in the spring of 1869, returned and
took charge of his father's farm of 165
acres, of which he still has charge and
an interest as one of the heirs; his
mother is still living on the farm. Mr.
Mitchell was never married. Republican.
Digitized by VjOOQIC
678
DIRECTORY OF VAN BUREN COUNTY :
Murphy, Samuel, coal-miner, Bonaparte.
HYEBS, LEWIS, far.. Sec 16 ; P.
O. Bonaparte; owns 120 acres of land,
valued at $35 per acre ; born Oct. 22,
1808, in Gailipolis, Ohio; parents
moved into Virginia in 1811, and in
1814, into Kentucky, opposite the
mouth of the Scioto River ; in 1817,
moved to Scioto Co., Ohio; in the
spring of 1839, came to Van Buren
Co., Iowa, and purchased the farm upon
which he lives. Married Mary Milford,
of this county, in November, 1847 ;
she was a native of Pennsylvania; she
died Dec. 29, 1848, leaving one child
— Mary, who died when about 3 years
of age; again married, Mary A. Cack-
ley Sept. 2, 1852 ; she was bom Oct.
23, 1819, in Pocahontas Co., Va.; have
four children living — Clarinda, Hugh,
John and Alva ; lost two — George and
James; his wife's mother, Frances
Cackley, lives in the family. Mr.
Myers is a member of the Masonic
Order, both Blue Lodge and Chapter, at
Farmington.
VTEAL, UBlEIi, farmer, P. 0.
JJN Bonaparte; owns 240 acres of
land, valued at $40 per acre ; born Oct.
11, 1810, in BooUe Co., Ky. ; in the
fall of 1830, parents moved into Dear-
bom Co., Ind. ; in the summer of 1835,
came to Illinois, twenty miles east of
Burlington ; in the spring of 1836,
came to Van Buren Co., Iowa, and
located a part of the farm upon which
he lives. Married in Indiana Catherine
Brokaw Sept. 7, 1834 ; she was born
in Pennsylvania April 24, 1810 ; have
but one daughter — Rachel, who lives at
home. Mr. Neal has filled the offices
of Supervisor, Justice of the Peace,
Assessor and Trustee for his township
several years. Member of the Masonic
and Odd Fellows Orders. Democrat.
kGLB, J., far. ; P. 0. Bonaparte.
O'
PAGE, W. H. H., far. ; P. O. Bona-
parte.
Parker, S., potter ; P. 0. Bonaparte.
Patterson, C. F., far. ; P. 0. Bonaparte.
PERKUVS, JOSEPH F., farm,
er; P. O. Bonaparte; owns 333 acres of i
land, valued at $30 per acre ; born July i
21, 1816, in Pocahontas Co., W. Va.; |
parents moved to Logan Co., Ohio, in i
the fall of 1833 ; in 1834, went to Indi-
ana, and stopped near Lima; in the
spring of 1836, came to Iowa, and made
his claim on the south side of the Des
Moines River, opposite where Bona-
parte now stands ; his parents and the
family came the same year; subse-
quently went on to California, except
his brother William. Married Eliza
Maxwell in January, 1837 ; she died
Oct. 4, 1844, leaving two children — Jo-
seph and Mary ; again married, Eliza
Myers April 1, 1847; she was bom in
March, 1820, in Ohio; have seven
children — Sarah, B4)bert, Wm. H., Jane,
James C, Ellen and Allen. Mr. Per-
kins is among the well-to-do farmers of
his township, has accumulated property
by his own industry and economy, filled
several official positions in his township,
and is present Justice of the Peace.
Democrat.
Perkins, Kobert, Franklin and George,
farmers ; P. O. Bonaparte.
Perkins, M.; P. O. Bonaparte.
Perkins, W., far. ; P. O. Bonaparte.
RADISTOCK, CHARLES, former;
P. O. Bonaparte.
Reese, Richard, wagon-maker, Bonaparte.
Rigler, Frederick, far., Sec. 6; P. O.
Bonaparte.
ROBB, SLOtTEY, retired fiu--
mer ; P. O. Bonaparte ; son of
James and Isabella Robb; bom
Dec. 10, 1819, in Clark Co., Ky.; in
the spring of 1820, his parents moved
to Jefferson Co., Ind; in 1834, went
into Fountain Co.; in February, 1838,
Mr. Robb came to Van Buren Co.; pur-
chased several hundred acres of land in
Henry Tp., of which he still owns 578
acr^, valued at $40 per acre. Married
Rachel Christy, of this county, Aug.
31, 1843; she was born Sept. 8, 1824,
in Harrison Co., Ohio. Has followed
fanning and stock-raising, also buying
and shipping to some extent; in the
fall of 1875, he left his farm and moved
to Chicago, and engaged in tne stock
commission business at the Union Stock-
Yards ; his health failing, he returned,
and located in Bonaparte in 1876. Has
three children living — Mary I., now
Mrs. G. W. Meredith ; Sarah J., now
Mrs. W. C. Cackley; and Thomas,
who married Amanda Brewster ; all u%
Digitized by VjOOQIC
BONAPARTE TOWNSHIP.
519
living in this county. Members of the
Presbyterian Church ; Democrat.
Robinson, Francis, far. ; P. O. Bonaparte.
ROBISON, J. K., barber and pro-
prietor of Robison Block, Bonaparte; son
of James and Milley Robison ; born in
Petersburg, Va., July 5* 1853 ; the year
1862, his parents spent in Woodville,
Miss.; returned to Petersburg, Va.,
he going to New Orleans in company
with his brother; remained a short
time, then went up the Mississippi
River to Cairo, 111., where his brother
remained; he came on to Duquoin,
thence to Keokuk, Iowa ; to Bonaparte
in the fall of 1863, and engaged in the
employ of Dr. R. N. Cresap ; then pro-
prietor of what is now the Eason
House ; remained with him about five
years ; then went to Mt. Pleasant and
attended school about six months; re-
turned, went to Keosauqua and attended
school about six months, then went to
Keokuk, and with G^rge Caves learned
the barber*s trade; returned to Bona-
{^te and engaged in his present busi-
ness; by close attention to business
saved his surplus earnings, and pur-
chased the block in which he carries on
his business, and rents the store-rooms
for other business. Republican.
Ryan, A. S., miller, Bonaparte.
Ryland, B. D., miller, Bonaparte.
'^lAGE, J. R.. tailor, Bonaparte.
S'
Sanders, J., far., S. 16; P. O. Bonaparte.
Sedgwick, D. E., jeweler, Bonaparte.
Schleter, H., far. ; P. O. Bonaparte.
SHERHAN BROTHERS, pro-
prietors of the Bonaparte Journal, Bo-
naparte ; J. W. was born Sept. 8, 1852,
in Washington Co., III. ; parents came
to this town in 1856; he commenced
learning the printer's trade in 1870 in
the oflBce of the Van Buren Deinocrat^
published in the room they now occupy ;
went to Leon, Decatur Co., Iowa, in
September, 1875 ; was a partner in the
L€K)n Reporter ; sold out the following
spring and went to Newton, Jasper Co.,
Iowa; was a partner in the Ja^sper
County Independent; sold out in the
spring of 1877, and returned to Bona-
parte, and, in company with his brother,
started the Bonaparte Journal. Married
Jennie Brooker Feb. 19, 1874; she
I was bom in June, 1856 ; have one sod
— Joseph A. John H. was bom Jan.
12, 1857, in Bonaparte; commenced to
learn the printer's trade with his brother
at Leon in 1875; was with him as a
partner at Newton, Jasper Co., Iowa,
and is a partner in the Journal office.
Sherman, N. E., Bonaparte.
Smith, N. H., carpenter and cooper, Bona-
parte.
Smith, 0., stone-mason, Bonaparte.
Smith, W., employe of Meek Bros., Bona-
i parte.
i Spence, A., employe of Meek Bri>s., Bo-
, naparte.
Stark, J., far. ; P. O. Bonaparte.
Steadman, A., stone-cutter, Bonaparte.
Steadman, Jas., stone-cutter, Bonaparte.
Sterling, Wm., employe of Meek Bros. ;.
P. O. Bonaparte.
STIRLUVG, JOHN, Superintend-
ent of the Meek Bros.' Woolen- Mills,
Bonaparte; bora Nov. 15, 1824,.
in Stirlingshire, Scotland; commenced
working in the Cambusbarron Mills when
he was about 10 years old. He was
married to Jessie Reid Nov. 20, 1846 ;
she was bora in March, 1825 ; came to
I Littleton, N. H., in 1857 ; and, in the
summer of 1866, to Warren, 111., where
he remained till January, 1868 ; when^
he came to Bonaparte, and engaged in
the employ of Meek Bros., in their
woolen-mills, as Superintendent of the
weavers' department, which position he
' held till 1872 ; since that has been
Superintendent of the mills, except a
year spent in visiting in the old country.
He has nine children living — John,
William, Joseph, Mary, Janet, Ellen,
George, Martha and Jean ; lost four —
James, Alexander, Mary and Euphemia.
Member of the Presbyterian Church.
Stienmeyer, F. A., physician, Bonaparte.
STUTSMAN, D. W., DR., Ho-
meopathic physician and surgeon ;
Bonaparte; bora Feb. 12, 1839, in Mor-
gan Co., Ind. ; came with his parenta
to Lee Co., Iowa, in 1843, where, two
years later, his father died ; went to
Chariton Co., Mo., in 1857; in 1864,
came to Bentonsport, in this county,
engaged in the dmg business ; while
I there he commenced the study of medi-
cine. In January, 1865, was appointed
I Commissary Steward in the 60th U. S.
Digitized by VjOOQIC
580
DIRECTORY OF VAN BURBN COUNTY:
Colored Regiment; discharged in No-
vember, 18t>5. He returned home and
attended lectures at the College of
Physicians and Surgeons, at Keokuk;
graduated in the spring of 1867 ; then
•camo to Bonaparte and commenced prac-
tice. Married Emma A. Lewis, July
3, 1^73 ; she was born in Illinois, Jan.
24, 1850; have one daughter — Xan-
•tippe. Dr. Stutsman is the present W.
M. of Bonaparte Lodge, No. 73, A., F.
& A. M. Republican.
iSTVRDITANT, WM. C, farmer,
dealer and shipper of stock. Sec. 2 ; P.
O. Bonaparte ; son of Dr. R. J. Sturdi-
vant; owns 180 acres of land, valued
at $30 per acre ; bom in this county
Aug. 6, 1848. Married Jennie Mon-
roe, of this county, Jan. 27, 1870; she
was born in London, England, in Janu-
ary, 1848; have five children — Guy,
Leslie, Audley, J., William C. and
Clyde. Mr. Sturdivant owns the Eason
House in Bonaparte. Democrat.
rpOMPKINS, S. V. ; P. O. Bonaparte.
Thompson, Otis, Bonaparte.
Troutman, G. W., retired far., Bonaparte.
VAN DORN, WILLIAM, grain deal-
er, Bonaparte.
Vauseggen, Charles H., far.. Sec. 21 ; P. 0.
Bonaparte.
Vauseggen, John W., far.. Sec. 21 ; P. 0.
Bonaparte.
WATTS, ISAAC, far., S. 19 ; P. O.
Bonaparte.
WAGNER, BENJABEim, far.,
P. O. Bonaparte ; owns 254 acres of
land, valued at $30 per acre; born Nov.
10, 1817, in Montgomery Co., (*hio.
Married Margaret Shrayer Jan. 12,
1843; she was born Sept. 28, 1825, in
same State; came to Mt. Pleasant,
Iowa, in 1855; spring of 1860, came
to Van Buren Co., and purchased his
present farm ; has served his Township
as Assessor several terms ; has six chil-
dren living — America A., William S.,
Mary, Charles E., Kate E. and Ben-
jamin P.; lost two — Mar^ret E., and one
infant. Is a member of A., F. & A.
M. Republican.
Welch, James, minister, Bonaparte.
White, Nathan, far.; P. 0. Bonaparte.
WHITELEY, J. W.; P. O.Bona-
parte, dealer in groceries, stationery,
notions, sewing machines and attach
ments, etc., also, Superintendent of the
wool-sorting room, in the Bonaparte
Woolen-Mills; bom April 28, 1826, in
Yorkshire, England ; came to the United
States via New Orleans, and went to
Cheshire Co.; N. H. ; the foUowiog
year to Connellsville, Penn. ; married
there Sarah A. Giles April 25, 1852 ;
same year moved to Belmont Co., Ohio ;
next year, returned to Pennsylvania ;
fall of 1856, came to Mt. Pleasant,
Iowa; spring of 1857, to Bonaparte,
and engaged in the employ of Meek
Bros., in the woolen -mills ; commenced
the grocery business in 1870. His
wife died Feb. 20, 1872; again mar-
ried, Hattie A. Johnson Aug. 18, 1878 ;
have six children living — Thomas C,
an attorney, in Burlington; Jor. G.,
at home; Mary R., married to W. I.
Allender, of Pella, Iowa ; Sarah K,
married to Harry Mitcheler; Oeorge
A., who is studying law with his brother
in Burlington, and Phill S., at home ;
lost one daughter — Emma G. Independ-
ent.
Whitloek, A., dealer in agricultural imple-
ments, Bonaparte.
Whitmore, B. F., laborer, Bonaparte.
Williamson, J., far.-. Sec. 1 ; P. O. Bona-
parte.
Wilson, E., laborer, Bonaparte.
Wilson, E. A., laborer, Bonaparte.
WHiSON, ROBERT, proprietor
of Bonaparte Pottery with Thomas Han-
back, Bonaparte; bom Feb. 17, 1827,
in Staffordshire, England. In Decem-
ber, 1845, enlisted in H. M. 24th Foot,
and sailed for India the following May ;
served through the campaign of Pun-
jaub, in 1848-49 ; received a medal
and two clasps of recognition for service ;
was under Lord Gough, Sir Colin
Campbell, and Sir Charles Napier ; re-
turned to England in August, 1856 ;
same fall came to Boston, Mass. ; fol-
lowing summer, to Peoria, 111. In
April, 1861, enlisted in Co. £, of the
8th Illinois Infantry for three months ;
was Second Sergeant ; afterward elected
Captain, Co. I ; wounded at the battle
of Fort Donelson, and left for dead on
the battle-field over night ; recovered, and
participated at siege of Corinth, after
which, resigned. Came to Farmington ;
Digitized by VjOOQIC
BONAPARTE TOWNSHIP.
581
•engaged in the pottery business. Fall
of 1863, was tendered the captaincy of
the 5th U. 8. Heavy Artillery, accepted,
^nd again went into service ; was en-
gaged principally in garrison duty ; pro-
moted to Major and Lieut-Colonel by
brevet, for gallantry at Fort Donelson ;
mustered out fall of 1865. Came to
Peoria, 111., and engaged in the pottery
l)usines8 ; December, 1866, came to
Farmington; in 1871, to Bonaparte and
engaged with Messrs. Hanback &
Parker ; in 1873, bought Mr. Parker's
interest. Married Miss Sarah J. Miles,
of Tazewell Co., 111., June 9, 1863 ; she
died December, 1868 ; again married,
Anna M. Atkinson, of Dlinois, Dec. 9,
1869 ; she was born in Wicklow Co.,
Ireland, Nov. 26, 1839 ; has two chil-
dren by second wife — Thomas W. and
Fanny H. ; his wife had two children by
former husband — Carrie M. and Cora
D. Republican.
Wilson, W. C, far., Sec. 16 ; P. 0. Bona-
Wmrte.
OliF, HICHAEL, far.. Sec. 12 ;
P. 0. Bonaparte ; owns 242 acres of
land, valued at $25 per acre ; bom Feb.
3, 1820, in Butler Co., Ohio; parents
moved to Wayne Co., Ind., in 1831.
■ Married Melvina Tilson, of Darke Co.,
Ohio, July 2, 1842 ; she was bom in
same county in 1827; fall of 1844,
moved into Darke Co., Ohio ; his wife
died the same fall, leaving a daughter —
Mary A., who died the fall of 1845.
Went to Williamsburg, Ind., and worked
at hi8 trade of blacksmithing nine
months ; then, went to Hollandsburg,
Ohio, and married Lucinda Harlan
March, 1846 ; she was born in April,
1830 ; sprinoj of 1847, moved to Bethel,
Ind. ; in 1849, retumed to Hollands-
burg, Ohio ; fall of 1850, came to Lee
"Co., Iowa ; then, to Oskaloosa, Iowa,
and worked at his trade ; in 1852, came
to Harrisburg Tp., of this county ;
worked at his trade and farming ; his
(wife died there Dec. 31, 1859 ; again
married, Narcissa Brown, of Lee Co. ;
she was born March 12, 1844, in High-
land Co., Ohio; moved to Bonaparte
fall of 1866 ; worked at his trade till
1869; in the hardware business till 1871 ;
then came to his present farm. Had seven
children by second wife — Amanda J.,
Elizkbeth A., Norman H., Jacob D.
Mary E., Rosella B. and Josephine ; the
last five are dead ; by third wife five —
Sarah F., William M., David C, Effie
B. and Calvin M. ; the last three are
dead. Members Baptist Church ; Re-
publican.
W YER, JOHN, farmer. Sec. 2 ; P.
O. Bonaparte; owns 110 acres of land,
valued at $35 per acre ; bom July 22,
1830, in Warren Co., N. J.; parents
moved to Licking Co., Ohio, thence to
Van Buren Co., Iowa, in the fall of
1852, and settled on the farm where he
now lives; his father died in November,
1854, and his mother March 5, 1864.
Married Mary E. Miller, of this county,
Nov. 15, 1855 ; she was born Oct. 1,
1833, in Pennsylvania ; have five chil-
dren living — Mary A., Henrietta, Emma,
William and Frank; lost one— Sarah
E. Members of the Baptist Church;
Republican.
Wyer, A., far., S. 20; P. O. Bonaparte.
XT^OUNO, B. H., far. ; P. O. Bonaparte.
Young, C. P., carpenter, Bonaparte.
ZAIilB, LETI, farmer. Sec. 14;
P. 0. Bonaparte; owns about 300
acres of land, valued at $30 per acre ;
bom Nov. 27, 1820, in Salem Co., N.
J.; came to Lee Co., Iowa, in the
spring of 1851; to Van Buren Co.
in Febmary, 1854. Married, in New
Jersey, Miss Mary A. Justice Feb. 28,
1847; she was born June 16, 1821;
have only one son living — Wilbert,
born April 21, 1865; lost five children
— Levi J., John, Justice, William and
Hannah ; are raising an orphan child —
Adalino Fox. Members of the M. E.
Church.
Digitized by
Google
582
DIRECTORY OF VAN BUREN COUNTY :
CEDAR TOWNSHIP.
ALVRY, J. M., far., S. 8 ; P. O. WU-
sonville.
Alvey, J. M.
Anderson, J., far., Sec. 5 ; P. O. Wilson-
ville.
Askew, Wm., far., S. 33 ; P. O. Utica.
BAILEY, JOSIAH, far., S. 11 ; P. O.
Wilsonville.
Bailey, W. A., far., S. 10; P. 0. Wilson-
ville.
Barger, D., far. ; P. 0. WilsonvUle.
Berry, John, coal-miner, Wilsonville.
Boley, George, far. ; P. O. Wilsonville.
Boley, J. S., far. ; P. O. WUsonville.
Boley, N., far., S. 34; P. O. Hillsboro.
Bradford, 0. W., far., S. 19 ; P. O. Utica.
Brooks, J. T., far. ; P. O. Vega.
CAMPBELL, E. B.,far.,S. 35; P. O.
Hillsboro.
CARBEEAN. CURTIS, far., S.
25 ; P. O. Hillsboro, Henry Co. ; owns
274 acres of land, eighty acres being in
Wayne Co. ; home farm valued at about
$7,000 ; bom Oct. 3, 1806, in Sussex
Co., Md. ; in 1814, parents moved to
Ross Co., Ohio ; in 1830, to Tippecanoe
Co., Ind.; to Fountain Co., in 1832;
thence to Vermilion Co., 111., in 1833,
and to Macon Co., in 1835 ; in the
spring of 1839, came to Henry Co.,
Iowa; in the 'spring of 1841, to Van
Buren Co. Married Mary Coddington, of
Tippecanoe Co., Ind., Nov. 7, 1830 ; she
was bom in Gallia Co., Ohio, Nov. 20,
1809 ; have six children living — Josiah,
Mary C, Sarah C, Maria, Elvina and
Henrietta; lost three — Martha, an infant
and Cyrene (wife of Lieut. Col. Joseph
H. Newbold, who was killed at the battle
of Pleasant Hill, La.) ; in October, 1 872,
she went to St. Louis, Mo., with a sis-
ter, who lefl her at a private boarding-
house on Thursday, she designing to
remain only till the following Monday,
since which time to trace of her where-
abouts has been ascertained, everything
indicating that she has been foully mur-
dered. Mr. Carmean has held the of-
fice of Justice of the Peace in this
township two terms. Democrat.
Christie, J., far., S. 29 ; P. O. Utica.
Clark, J., far., S. 13; P. O. Hillsboro.
Cochran, A., far.; P. O. Hillsboro.
Caltraine, J., far. and mill-owner, Sec. 2 ;
P. 0. Vega.
Caltraine, W. C.,far., S. 1 ; P. O. Wilson^
ville.
Cox, D., far., S. 24 ; P. O. Hillsboro.
Cuddy, M. T., far.; P. O. Wilsonville.
Davidson, Richard, fkr.; P. O. Hillsboro,
Henry Co.
DAVIDSON, R., fkr., Sec. 21 ; P. O.
Wilsonville.
D AY« A. II.. farmer and stock-niser.
Sec. 82; P. 0. Utica; owns, in ooid-
pany with his brother, Ira B., 1,040 acres,
valued at $45 per acre; bom May 14,
1838, in Hamilton Co., Ohio; cune
with his parents to this county in the
spring of 1844. Married Anna Fox,
of this county, Feb. 16, 1864 ; she was
bora March 9, 1842 ; have five children
living— Rhoda F., William R., Oliver
L., Carrie E. and Timothy ; lost two —
Ella and Nannie. His father, Timothy
Day, waa born Feb. 23, 1803, in Ham-
ilton Co., Ohio; married there Eliza-
beth Edwards March 27, 1825; she
was bom March 20, 1809 ; in the year
1839, came to Van Buren Co., and
entered 3,700 acres from Government,
in Union and Cedar Tps. ; returned and
brought his family out in 1844, and
located in Union Tp.; waa a member of
the convention that framed the Consti-
tution of 1856 for the State of Iowa;
also one of the Trustees of the State
Agricultural Collie; has also been a
member of the State Agricultural So-
ciety about twelve years. Is a success-
ful breeder of thorough-bred stock ; sold
his farm in Union Tp. in 1877, and
came to live with his son, A. H. He
still owns about 600 acres of land.
Democrat.
DAY, IRA B., farmer and stock,
raiser. Sec. 32; P. 0. Utica; son of
Timothy and Elizabeth Day ; born Jan.
22, 1842, in Hamilton Co., Ohio ; came
with his parents to Van Buren Co.,
Iowa, in the sgringof 1844, and located
in Union Tp. Married Miss Hollie
Robinson, of Des Moines Co., Iowa,
Oct. 9, 1867; she was bora in same
county Oct. 9, 1846; have five childreo
living — Mary L., Anna L., Frances E.,
Digitized by CjOOgle 1
CEDAE TOWNSHIP.
588
William E. and an infant not named.
Mr. Day owns, in company with his
l)rother, A. H., 1,040 acres of land,
valued at $45 per acre. Democrat.
I>oanard, Ephraim, far. ; P. O. Utica.
I>ounard, J., far., Sec. 31 ; P. O. Utica.
Oouglas, Albert J., far. and mill-owner,
S. 8 ; P. 0. Wilsonville.
I>outhart, R., far., S. 27; P. 0. Hillsboro.
Dow, C. W., farmer ; P. 0. Wilsonville.
ENDERSBY, EDMOND, far.. Sec.
26; P.O. Hillsboro.
Endersby, F., for., S. 22 ; P. O. Hillsboro.
FARMER, SAMUEL, far.. Sec. 10 ;
P. O. Wilsonville.
Fender, Jacob J., far.; P. 0. Utica.
Fickle, Samuel, far.; P. O. Hillsboro.
GIAUQUE, A. T., far., Sec. 11 ; P. O.
Hillsboro.
Oraber, C, far., S. 15 ; P. 0. Wilsonville.
Grim, J., far.. Sec. 36 ; P. 0. Hillsboro.
HARLAN, ELIHU, far.. Sec. 3 ; P.
O. Wilsonville.
Harlan, J., far., S.. 10 ; P. O. WUsonvUle.
Harlan, Levi, farmer and merchant. Sec.
9 ; P. O. Wilsonville.
HARLAN, NATHAJT, farmer.
Sec. 17; P. 0. Wilsonville; owns 340
acres of land, valued, at $30 per acre ;
born Jan. 20, 1821, in Union Co., Ind.;
came to Lee Co., Iowa, in the fall of
1849. Married there to Nancy McGreer,
March 18, 1852; she was born in
Fayette Co., Penn., Aug. 16, 1833;
the same spring, came to Van Buren
Oo., and located on the farm upon which
he still lives ; have five children living
— Albert, Ann M., George W., Sarah
J. and John B.; lost two — Samantha
and Ada. Member of the Christian
Church ; Republican.
Harlan, S. A., far.; P. O. Wilsonville.
HELTERBRAM, D. K., farmer.
Sec. 27 ; P. 0. Hillsboro, Henry Co.,
Iowa ; owns 160 acres of land, valued
at $40 per acre; bom Nov. 22, 1831,
in Westmoreland Co., Penn.; went
into Fayette Co. in 1852. Married
there to Mary Farquhar Jan. 10, 1856 ;
she was bom Dec. 5, 1835, in the same
couiity; came to this county in the
spring of 1856, and settled on his pres-
ent farm; during the year 1863, he
was in a dry goods store in Hillsboro,
j Henry Co.; held the office of Justice of
I the Peace in his township six years ;
also Assessor ' and Trustee ; have two
children — Joshua A. and Aaron F.
Members of the Free-Will Baptist
Church; Republican.
Holliday, F. E. and C. D., fars., Sec. 26 ;
P. O. Hillsboro.
Howard, L L.V.. far., Sec. 16; P. CWU-
sonville.
Huff, J. P., far.; P. 0. Wilsonville.
Huffman, J. R., far., S. 30; P. O. Utica.
XOHNSTON, R., far.; P. 0. Utica.
JACOBS, A. J., farmer. Sec. 21 ;
P. 0. Wilsonville; owns 150 acres of
land, valued at $5,000; bom Feb. 8,
1829, in Fayette Co., Penn.; his early
life was spent on a farm ; in the fall of
1855, he engaged in the mercantile bus-
iness ; in the summer of 1856, he came
to Iowa to see the country, returned
home, and in the spring of 1857, came
with his family and located on the farm
upon which he still lives. Married
Anna M. .Jordan, of Pennsylvania, Dec.
18, 1851 ; she was born Feb. 1, 1832 ;
died May 5, 1871 ; was again married,
to Mrs. Clarinda Junk (nee Nixon),
Oct. 19, 1876 ; she was bora in Fayette
Co., Penn., Sept. 27, 1841 ; had seven
children by first wife, living — William
R., Oscar J. A., Joseph B., Ida R.,
Edson C. and Anna M.; lost one — Ella
H., by his second wife ; has one son by
former marriage — Leroy Junk. Mr.
Jacobs has acted as Township Clerk
five years, Assessor four years, and
Treasurer of his School District five
years. Member of the Free-Will Baptist
Church; Republican.
Johnston, Smith, far. ; P. 0. Wilsonville.
KNOWLS, VIRGIL, farmer; P. O.
Wilsonville.
KECK, J08. A., farmer, stock
dealer and shipper, Sec. 32; P. 0.
Utica ; owns 420 acres of land, valued
at $40 per acre; bora Dec. 9, 1827, in
Westmoreland Co., Penn. ; came with
parents to this county in the spring of
1846, and settled in Harrisburg Tp., on
the farm now owned by his brother Hen-
ry Keck ; in the spring of 1850, went,
with his brother Henry, to California
overland with an ox-team ; engaged in
mining; returned in the summer of
1852 by water ; the cholera broke out
among the crew and paasengers while
Digitized by VjOOQIC
584
DIRECTORY OF VAN BUREN COUNTY :
near the West Indies, destroying them
in great numbers. Married Ingaba
Ebert May 5, 1853 ; she was born Dec.
2, 1835, in Fayette Co., Penn. ; have
eleven children living — Mary A. E.,
Hugh G., Catharine B., Rose E.,
George C, Lida N., John H., James
£., Allie J., Charles R. and Robert R. ;
lost one son — Willie. Settled on his
present farm in 1853. Member of M.
E. Church ; RepubUcan.
LANE, F. H., farmer, Sec. 16; P. O.
Wilsonville.
Lane, Wm., far., S. 3 ; P. 0. Wilsonville.
Laaenby, R., far., Sec. 23; P. 0. Hills-
boro.
liOOFBOURROW, JAS. H.,
farmer. Sec. 21 ; P. O. Hillsboro, Henry
Co. ; owns 252 acres of land, valued at
$40 per acre ; bom June 22, 1837, in
Fayette Co., Penn. ; parents moved to
Jefferson Co., Ohio, in 1840 ; thence to
this county in the spring: of 1855, and
located in Harrisburg Tp. Enlisted in
Co.; D, 14th Iowa V. I., September,
1861 ; participated in the battles of
Fort Donelson, Pittsburg Landing,
Shiloh, Pleasant Hill and Old Oak, La. ;
was with Banks in his Red River ex-
pedition, and G^n. A. J. Smith, in his
raid through Mississippi, at the battle of
Holly Springs and Pilot Knob ; was dis-
charged at Davenport, Iowa, Nov. 5,
1864. Married Mary Syfert April 24,
1866 ; she was born Dec. 29, 1845, in
Fairfield Co., Ohio ; have three children
living — Irvin, John and Ella ; lost one
— Laura. Member of F. W. Baptist
Church ; Republican.
liEFFLEB, A. J., farmer. Sec. 28 ;
P. O. Utica ; owns 270 acres of land,
valued at $35 per acre ; also owns one-
third interest in 160 acres of land in
Harrisburg Tp. ; bom Feb. 6, 1847, in
this county ; was educated at the dis-
trict school and at the graded school of
Bonaparte. Married Lydia A. Vale,
daughter of Jacob G. Vale, deceased,
Jan. 1, 1878 ; she was born Nov. 8, 1853,
in Lee Co., Iowa; educated at Mon-
mouth College, Illinois, of which she is
a graduate. Member of Baptist Church ;
Democrat.
Lyon, James, farmer; P. 0. Utica.
\ /Tc CLELLAN, B. A., far., Sec. 3 ; P.
jyJL 0. Wilsonville.
McVeigh, J. H., far., S. 21 ; P. O. WU
sonville.
Marshall, John, far., S. 33 ; P. 0. Utic^
Marshall, W. G., far.; P. 0. Utica.
Marriott, Jas. L., far.; P. O. Wilsonville-
Martin, Alexander, retired farmer, S. 15 ;
P. 0. Wilsonville.
MilHkin, C. & O. L., farmers; P. O.
Wilsonville.
HORR18, A. H., fiir., S. 7 ; P. O-
Wilsonville; owns 400 acres of land,
valued at $35 per acre ; bom Nov. 1 ,
1833, in Harlan Co., Ky. ; came with
his parents to Van Buren Co., Iowa, io
the fall of 1838, and settled in Cedar
Tp. ; fipom the spring of 1863 till the
fall of 1866, he lived near Monroe, in
Jasper Co., Iowa; then returned to the
farm upon which he now lives. Mar-
ried Harriet Ebert, of this county, Nov.
12, 1857 ; she was born in Fayette Co.^
Penn., Nov. 12, 1839; have eight
children—Rebecca E., Ellen J., Belle
C, Asbury D., Margaret A., Emma^
Winfield L. and Mary E. Mr. Morris
has served his township as Trustee-
Member of the M. E. Church ; Re-
publican.
Morris, George F., far., S. 17 ; P. O. Wil-
sonville.
HORKIS, HENRY T., far., Sec.
17; P. 0. Wilsonville; owns 320 acres
of land, valued at $30 per acre ; bora
March 16. 1837, in Harlan Co., Ky. ;
came with his parents to Van Buren Co.,
Iowa, in the M\ of 1838, and settled
in Cedar Tp. Enlisted in July, 1861,
in Co. H, of the 5th Iowa Inf ; was in
Gen. Pope's division in Missouri; on
acount of disability, was discharged in
October, 1862 ; returned home. Mar-
ried Sally A. Spencer Jan. 28, 1864;
she was born in this county April 11,
1842 ; have six children living — Sher-
man, Frank, Charles, John H., Arthur
and William. Settled on his present
farm in 1870. Republican.
MORRIS, WM. C.,.far.,S. 17; P.
0. Wilsonville; owns 160 acres of land,
valued at $35 per acre ; son of Henry
and Jane (Mark) Morris; was boro
March 9, 1825, in Harlan Co., Ky.;
came with parents to Lee Co., Iowa, in
June, 1838; the following September,
came, into Van Buren Co., and settled
in Cedar Tp.; father died Feb. 16,
Digitized by VjOOQIC
CEDAR TOWNSHIP.
585
1871, and mother died Feb. 24, 1871.
Mr. Morris entered his present farm
from the Government in 1846. Mar-
ried Sarah J. Evans June 25, 1848 ;
she was bom March, 1830, in Clark
Co., Ky.; died Aug. 10, 1872; again
married, Esther L. Culbertson May 24,
1874 ; she was bom in this county
Aug. 25, 1841 ; has ten children living
by first wife — Wilburn, George L.,
Amanda, Margaret M., Thomas N.,
John A., William G. B., Laura B.,
Mayberry L. and Sarah B. ; lost three
— Henry C. C, Joseph T. and Evans ;
by second wife has two — Lloyd C. and
Grace E. Mr. Morris has been identi-
fied with the business of his township
officially most of the time since its or-
ganization, filling most of the offices.
Member of the M. E. Church; Repub-
lican.
Murdock, J. F., far. ; P. 0. Wilsonville.
NEWBOLD, ALEX, far.,S. 35; P.
0. Hillsboro.
Newbold, C, far. ; P. O. Hillsboro.
NIXON, SASniEL, farmer, stock-
raiser and breeder of the choicest varie-
ties of Poland-China hogs and fancy-
bred sheep, S. 31 ; P. 0. Utica ; owns
a farm of 420 acres, valued at $40 per
acre; bora June 13, 1820, in Wayne
Co., Ohio. Married there Rachel Webb
March 25, 1841 ; she was bom in Penn-
sylvania April 15, 1821 ; he came to
Van Buren Co. in the spring of 1848,
and settled upon the farm on which he
is still living ; Mr. Nixon ranks among
the best farmers of Van Buren Co. ;
has taken an active part in the County
Agricultural Society. Served as a
County Supervisor. Has nine children
living — Jacob, Emily J., Harriet A.,
George, Moses, Alonzo, Ezra, Clemenza
A. and Julius G. ; lost one daughter —
Maria, who was the wife of R. S.
Wherry; died Sept. 24, 1878. Wife
is a member of the Baptist Church ;
Republican.
PHILLIPS, CLEMENT, farmer; P.
O. Wilsonville.
PliUMER, WlIiLIAH F., farm-
er, Sec. 34, P. O. Utica; owns 180
acres of land, valued at $7,000 ; bora
Feb. 4, 1832, in Washington Co., Ohio ;
educated at Marietta College, where he
, learned the business of land surveying,
which he has followed to some extent ;
moved to Knox Co., Mo., in 1856 ;
served while there in the State Militia
three years, also as County Judge six
years , came to Van Buren Co. in 1870 ;
located on his present &rm. Married
Sarah F. Beswick, of Washington Co.,
OhioT, Deo. 21, 1856 ; she was bora Nov.
18, 1834; have six children living —
Happy M., John J., Augusta, K., Fanny
G., William P. and George G. ; lost one —
Jane E. Democrat.
Priestly, J., far., S. 26 ; P. 0. HUlsboro.
"DOCKEY, E. & J. ; P. 0. Hillsboro.
Rockey, F., fer., S. 27 ; P. 0. Hillsboro.
Rowley, T. B., far., S. 19 ; P. Or Utica.
ROWIifiY, JOHN W., County
Superintendent of Schools ; P. O. Utica ;
son of Theodore and Emiline (Watson)
Rowley ; was born July 23, 1846, in
Columbiana Co., Ohio ; parents came
from there to Cedar Tp., of this county,
in December, 1854. Mr. Rowley was
educated at the common schools, and the
Bentonsport and Davenport (Iowa)
graded schools, and the commercial college
of Davenport. Was elected as County
. Superintendent of this county in the fall
of 1865, and re-elected in 1867, which
position he still fills ; is also President
of the State and County Superintend-
ents' Association, and of theSoutheastera
Iowa Educational Association, composed
of thirteen counties ; also one of the Vice
Presidents of the State Teachers' Asso-
ciation, and one of the editors of the
Central School Journal^ of Keokuk.
Was married to Melvina Thompson,
daughter of the Rev. David Thompson,
of Bonaparte, Oct. 27, 1868 ; she was
bora Oct. 27, 1849, in Highland Co.,
Ohio ; have three children — Roland B.,
Frank W. and Clinton C. Member of
Christian Church and Republican.
Ruby, J. H., far., Sec. 16 ; P. 0. Wilson-
ville.
Runyan, A., far. ; P. 0 Wilsonville.
Runyon, J. H., far.; P. O. Hillsboro.
Runyon, J. W., for.; P. 0. Wilsonville.
SAVAGE, WILLIAM, farmer ; P. O.
Wilsonville.
Shelman, W. H., far., S. 12 ; P. 0. Hills-
boro.
Siviter, T., far.. Sec. 11; P. O. Wilson-
ville.
Digitized by
Google
,586
DIRECTORY OF VAN BUREN COUNTY :
{
Simpkins, T. J., fer., Sec. 17; P. 0. Wil-
sonville.
Smutzu B. R., far., S. 22 ; P. O. Hills-
boro.
Snider, G. W , far., S. 18; P. 0. Wilson-
ville.
SmDEB, J. SI., farmer. Sec. 18 ; P.
O. Wilsonville; son of William C. and
Elizabeth Snider ; born Feb. 10, 1849,
in Highland Co., Ohio ; in the fall of
1850, his parents came to Des Moines
Co., Iowa ; in the spring of 1852, to
Van Buren Co. ; his mother died
May 3, 1876 ; father is living with him ;
18 in his 79th year ; lives on the old
homestead of 130 acres, valued at $35
per acre. Married Mary A. Archibald,
Feb. 10, 1869 ; she was born in Jeffer-
son Co., Iowa, in May, 1853 ; have only
one child living — Edward J ; fost four
—Charles W., Alta M., Benton W.
. and an infant daughter, all of whom
died in 1876, within a space of thirty-
nine days, from diphtheria. Member of
M. E. Church ; Republican.
Spencer, J. M., far., S. 8 ; P. 0. Wilson-
ville.
SPENCEB, WHiLIAS, farmer,
Sec. 6 ; P. O. Birmingham ; owns 360
acres of land, valued at $30 per acre ;
bom Oct. 5, 1823, in Kentucky; in
1824, parents moved to Jefferson Co.,
Ind., where they remained till the fall
of 1841, when they came to Van Buren
Co., Iowa, and settled upon the fann
where he now lives ; his father, Absa-
lom Spencer, died Sept. 14, 1873, and
his mother, Nancy Spencer, died Oct.
6, 1870. Married Sarah J. Walker
March 18, 1865 ; she was bom in 1835,
and died March 23, 1870 ; was again
married, to Susan Shott Jan. 24, 1875 ;
she was bora Nov. 8, 1834 ; have two
children by his first wife-^Martin N.
and Isabella ; and, by second wife, one
son — William H. Democrat.
Stewart, J., sawyer, Utica.
Stanley. W. M., fax., S. 11 ; P. 0. WU-
sonville.
Syphere, J., far., Sec. 14 ; P. 0. Wilson-
ville.
TAYLOR, C. G., fer.; P. O. Wilson
ville.
Taylor, 0. P., far.; P. O. HilJsboro.
Taylor, T. E., far., S. 15 ; P. 0. Wilson-
ville.
Taylor, W. A., far.; P. 0. Wilsonville.
Thomas, E. A., far., S. 36 ; P. O. Hills-
boro.
VEACH, SAMUEL, far.. Sec. 9;
P. 0. WDsonville.
W"ATSON, JAMES A., far., S. 25;
P. O. Hillsboro.
Watson, James L., fer., S. 25; P. 0.
Hillsboro.
Watson, John H., far., S. 28; P. 0.
Wilsonville.
Watson, William, far., S. 27; P. O. Hilb-
boro.
Watson, W. H. H., far.; P. O. Hillsboro.
Westover, Oliver, far. ; P. O. Wilsonville.
Wheatley, Caleb.
WHR ATLET, JOB, farmer, car
penter and joiner. Sec. 27 ; P. O. Hills-
boro, Henry Co. ; son of Caleb and
Margaret Wheatley ; bom June 9, 1848,
in Athens Co., Ohio ; came with parents
to Van Buren Co. in the spring of 1857,
and settled on the farm (comprising 150
acres) where he now resides. His mother
died Deo. 15, 1874 ; his father living
with him. Though a boy, he enlisted
in Co. H, of the 45th Iowa Infantiy;
May, 1864, he went to Tennessee and
participated in the battle of Memphis
against the rebel Gten, Forrest ; was in
the 100-day service service ; discharged
at Keokuk October, 1864. Returned
home and engaged with John Ayres to
learn the carpenter and joiner's trade,
which he followed till 1872, since which
time he has farmed. Married Nancy Tay-
lor June 29, 1873 ; she was born in this
county April 13, 1853; have two chil-
dren— John W. and Eliza M. Wift
member Christian Church ; Republican.
Wheatley, Ross M., far., S. 16 ; P. 0.
Wilsonville.
Whitaker, S., far. ; P. O. Utica,
Whitlam, Tilghman, far.; P. O. Wilson-
ville.
Wise, William, fiir., S. 33 ; P. 0. Utict.
Digitized by VjOOQIC
JACKSON TOWNSHIP.
587
JACKSON TOWNSHIP.
ABBRNATHY, IRA, far. ; P. 0.
Milton.
Abeniathy, W. M., far. ; P. 0. Milton.
Anderson, W. T., laborer, Milton.
T3 AUCH, C, cabinet-maker, Milton.
Bauch, H. E., cabinet-maker, Milton.
BAXTER, CYRUS D., publisher
of the Milton Herald^ with Richard
McNeal, Milton; was bom Aug. 27,
1853, in DeKalb Co., Ind.; in 1869,
he engaged in the office of the Waterloo
/VcM, of that county, to learn the
printer's trade ; in the spring of 1874,
went to Toledo, Ohio, and engaged in
the office of the Daily Democrat; the
following fall, returned to Waterloo, and,
in the spring of 1875, visited the
Southwest ; went to Texas and engaged
in the office of the Dallas Commercial a
short time, and visited the different
parts of the State prospecting, hunting,
«tc., till in the fall of 1876 ; came to
Milton in January, 1877, and engaged
with A. L. Morrison in publishing the
HeadliglU ; sold out the following fall,
and in the spring of 1878, in company
with Mr. McNejBil, purchased the office
and commenced publishing the Milton
Herald, Mr. Baxter has no family.
Baxter, M. D., photographer, Milton.
Beard, W., Baptist minister, Milton.
Beeler, Joseph, far. ; P. O. Milton.
Bell, F., superintendent hoop-pole shop,
Milton.
Bell, R. P., far., S. 8 ; P. 0. Milton.
Bell, T., blacksmith, Milton.
Beuchler, J. H., blacksmith, Cantril.
Blanchard, A. 8., far., Sec. 29 ; P. 0.
Milton.
Blanchard, G. B. W., laborer, Milton.
Blanchard, W. F., far., Sec. ^9 ; P. 0.
Milton.
Boyd, Solomon, laborer, Milton.
CAMPBELL, A. S., far., S. 4; P. 0.
Lebanon.
Campbell, E., lumber and grain dealer,
Milton.
\W Campbell, William S., far.. Sec. 5 ; P. 0.
^ Oak Point.
Canfield A., far., S. 2 ; P. 0. Lebanon.
Cannon, Z., produce merchant, Milton.
Cantril, E. E., prop, saw-mill, Cantril.
CANTRIL, Li. W., attorney and
collecting agent, Cantril; owns 116
acres of land adjoining the town, be-
side most of the vacant lots ; came with
his parents to Van Buren Co., Iowa, in
September, 1839, and located near
Lebanon, in this township ; his early
life was spent on a farm, and learning the
carpenter and joiner's trade, which latter
business he followed principally for
eighteen years ; commenced reading law
in 1848, which he practiced some in
connection with his other business ;
finally completed reading in the office
of Work & Main, in Keosauqua, and
was -admitted to the bar in 1870 ; com-
menced the mercantile business in Keo-
sauqua in 1866, which he continued
successfully about five years purchased
the land upon which Cantril is now
located, in 1870; after the railroad
reached the place, in 1872, laid out the
town, and gave it his name ; commenced
the mercantile business the same year,
which he continued till the fall of 1877 ;
spld out to S. N. Norris & Son, and the
same fall went to Castle Rock, Col., for
his health ; followed mercantile business
there; retumel in the fall of 1878,
satisfied to remain in Van Buren Co.,
expecting to devote his time princi-
pally to the practice of his profession.
Married Lydia Roberts, of this county,
March 1, 1846, and she died Sept. 10,
of the same year ; again married, Han-
nah Roberts April 5, 1848, and she
died March 27, 1869 ; was again mar-
ried, to Harriet E. Brooks Jan. 2, 1870 ;
she was born in Ohio Dec. 8, 1834 ;
have five children living, three by sec-
ond wife, and two by third wife —
' Melissa, Newton, Charley, Elmer and
May ; lost five of second wife's chil-
dren— Mary L., Lydia, Nelson, Clarujsa
and John. Mr. Cantril's father died at
Aflon, Iowa., March 27, 1869, and hit
mother, Oct. 13, 1875. Member of the
M. E. Church ; Republican.
Carmine, Allen, retired, Milton.
CARR, J. W., dealer in dry goods
and general merchandbe, Milton ; bom
Nov. 14, 1836, io Franklin Co., Ohio;
his parents moved to Madison Co., Ul.,
Digitized by VjOOQIC
688
DIRECTORY OF VAN BUREN COUNTY :
in 1844, where his father died in Octo-
ber, 1845 ; his mother returned to Ohio ;
in the spring of 1853, he came to Van
Buren Co., and located in Jackson Tp.,
where he followed farming summers
and teaching school winters, till July,
1860 ; commenced the mercantile bus-
iness in Milton, in company with George
Smith and Robert Russell, coming in as
a partner in 1862 ; in 1864, they pur-
chased Smithes interest, and, in 1867, he
purchased Mr. Russell's interest; in
January, 1875, his father-in-law, Joseph
Moore, came in as a partner. He was
married to Henrietta Moore Dec. 20,
1860 ; she was born July 21, 1840, in
Franklin Co., Ohio; her parents emi-
grated to Iowa in 1842. Mr. Carr has
the reputation of being a thorough and
successful business man, and the leading
merchant of Milton. Democrat.
CASADY, AliliEN. farmer and
stock -raiser. Sec. 23 ; P. 0. Cantril ;
born June 10, 1823; came to ^his
county in 1837 ; owns 142 acres of
land, valued at $3*000 ; belongs to the
Universalist Church. Married Betty
Ann Harrison ; she was born in Octo-
ber, 1826; mother of two living chil-
dren— William C. and John J ; emi-
grated direct from Indiana with his
father, when he was 14 years old, and
has resided on the same farm since;
moved into a little double shanty of two
rooms, 12 feet square, each with a dirt
floor, where thirteen persons stayed
through the winter ; had a chimney on
each end, made out of sticks and mud ;
used Jackson bedsteads at that time;
had never seen a stove ; there were only
three families in the township when he
first came ; the oldest building standing
in the county is on his place ; the first
winter they had to boil com, and grated
it on a grater for thirteen persons about
a month.
Casady, E. P., far.. Sec. 19; P. O.
Milton.
Casady, J. J., far.; P. 0. Cantril.
Casady, Wm., wagon-maker, Milton.
Casady, Wm. P., far., S. 20 ; P. O. Can-
tril.
Clark, G. P., carpenter, Milton.
Cloat, Henry, farmer ; P. 0. Milton.
Conwell, G. W., carpenter, Milton.
Cooley, F., far.; P. O. Milton.
Cooper, S. W., carpenter, Milton.
Cowan, J. T., far., S. 2 ; P. 0. Lebanon.
Creath, J. W., far., S. 36; P. 0. CantriL
Creath, M. C, far., Sec. 26 ; P. 0. Cantril.
Creath, W. H., far.. Sec. 35 ; P. O. Can-
tril.
"JpvAY, JOHN, miUer, Cantril.
De Hart, J. M., far., Sec. 15 ; P. 0. Can-
tril.
Downes, J., retired ; P. 0. Milton.
Duff, T.,far., Sec. 6; P. O. Oak Point.
Duncan, D. E., far., Sec. 34 ; P. O. Can-
tril.
Dye, T., dairyman, S. 3 ; P. 0. Milton.
Dysart, H. M., Postmaster, Milton.
ELWELL, JACOB, fer.; P. 0. Oak
Point.
Emenpk, J., far.; P. 0. Lebanon.
Evans, L. C, far., S. 4; P. O. Oak Point.
FAETH, CONRAD, wagon manufmct^
urer, Milton.
Fisher, Thos M., far. ; P. O. Cantril.
Fleming, W. B., Deputy County Clerk,
Reosauqua.
Foster, H.,far., S. 10 ; P. 0. Cantril.
GIBSON, R. A., harness-maker, Mil-
ton.
Gilfillan, G. W., physician, Milton.
Gnash, Wm., druggist, Milton.
Grady, John W., far.; P. O. Lebanon.
Gray, C. M., cabinet-maker, Cantril. .
Gray, T., far., S. 17 ; P. O. Milton.
Gray, Wm. J., far. ; P. 0. Lebanon.
Guthrie, Wm., far., S.7 ; P. 0. MUton.
HAGLER, D. B., far., Sec. 28; P. 0.
Milton.
Hagler, G. W., &r., S, 6 ; P. O. MUtoo.
Harris, Isaiah, butcher ; P. 0. Milton.
HAGIiEB, J. €.9 farmer, stock deal-
er and shipper ; P. 0. Milton ; owns
400 acres of land in this county and
240 in Greene Co., near Rippey, and
eighty acres in Woodbury Co. ; he was
bom March 19, 1814, in Stewart Co.,
Tenn. ; parents emigrated to Madison
Co., Dl., in the spring of 1832, and, in
the fall, to Warren Co. ; he then came
to Iowa, made a claim near where Bur-
lington now stands ; there was then only
one log cabin there; remained there
till the spring of 1833 ; then returned
to Illinois ; the winter following went up
to Dubuque, then a small town; fol-
lowed teaming with ox-team from Ga-
lena to Mineral Point, Platteville and!
Digitized by VjOOQIC
JACKSON TOWNSHIP.
589
Dnbnqiie; in the fall of 1833, re-
turned to Illinois. Married there Ra-
chel Baker Nov. 30, 1837 ; she was
bom May 10, 1817, in St. Clair Co.,
111. ; in the spring of 1843, he came to
Jackson Tp., this county, and located on
his farm near Milton ; his brother,
Amos Hagler, in company with two
other families, were the earliest settlers
in this township, they having located
here in the spring of 1838 ; his brother
died Nov. 10, 1864. Mr. Hagler has
followed the stock and shipping business
for the last twenty years. Has five chil-
dren living — George W., Nancy B.,
Fletcher, Susannah and David M. ; lost
two — Elisha and Mary. Has served as
Notary Public several years ; also as
Trustee, member of School Board, etc.
Member of M. E. Church ; Republican.
HA<}liER, J. H., proprietor of MU-
ton Steam Mills with Julius Miller, Mil-
ton ; bom May 4, 1833, in Warren Co.,
Dl. ; in the summerof 1853, he went with
an ox-team by overland route to Cali-
fornia; foUowed mining there till the
spring of 1860 ; then went to Silver
City, Nevada ; mined there ; in the fall
of 1861, came to Van Buren Co., and
purchased a farm near Milton. Married
Sarah A. Price Aug. 14, 1862; she
was bom Feb. 18, 1843, m Rush Co.,
Ind. Followed farming till Jan. 1,
1877 ; he purchased one-half interest in
the Milton Mills. Has seven children
— Emma H., Addie K., Jane C, David
F., Marietta, Alvin A., Fletcher A. ;
lost one daughter — Lois A. Member
of the M. E. Church ; Greenbacker.
Hahn, E. E., far.,S. 32; P. 0. Milton.
Hale, O., far., S. 29 ; P. 0. Milton.
Halstead, I., far. ; P. O. Milton.
Harbin, S., far. ; P. 0. Milton.
Harbin, Wm., far. ; P. 0. Cantril.
Hargrove, J. Q., for., S. 17 ; P. O. MUton.
Hargrove, W. L., retired, Milton.
Harman, Henry, far. ; P. 0. Cantril.
Harrel, D., hardware merchant, Milton.
Harrel, H., merchant, Milton.
Harrel, Hiram, far., 8. 19; P.O. Milton.
Harrel, J. R., far.; P. 0. Milton.
Harrel, S., merchant, Milton.
Helsel, T., far., S. 6 ; P. O. Oak Point.
Henthora, N., laborer, Milton
Herring, B., far., S. 7 ; P. O. Milton.
, Hitt, D. A., far., S. 1 ; P. O. Lebanon.
Holder, A. F., stock dealer, Cantril.
HoUand, E., far., S. 20 ; P. 0. Milton.
HoUand, J. C, far., S. 8; P. 0. Milton.
HOLIiAND, WIL.L.IABE W.,
retired farmer ; P. O. Milton ; born in
Sussex Co., Del, June 5, 1809 ; came
to this county in 1840, bought his land,
and, in 1842, moved his family ; has 700
acres of land, valued at $15,000. Mar-
ried Sarah Robbins ; she was bora in Sus-
sex Co., Del., Oct. 20, 1811 ; mother of
seven children ; four living---John C,
Hannah, Elisha, Lydia; emigrated di-
rect from Delaware to the land where
he now lives ; moved into a shanty 14x
16 with a man of the name of Downs ;
there were ten persons in the two fami-
lies ; next season built a log shanty 18
x20 ; used Jackson bedsteads — one
post and two poles ; went to Bonaparte
to mill ; had to eat flour without bolt-
ing ; came here in limited circum-
stances; could not get credit for a
scythe ; was not a man that wanted
much credit ; was trusted by a man of
the name of Thomas Downs for $1.37} ;
demanded a note, or what was called a
due bill, the only one he has ever paid
for a store debt. Mr. H was among
the earliest settlers, and is one of the
wealthiest in the township ; there were
at the time he first came here plenty of
Indians passing through the county.
De^, wolves, and all kinds of game
were in abundance. Burnt the first
brick that was burnt in the county;
when he first came here, walked most of
the way from Cincinnati, over 600
' miles, also looking at land in Michigan,
walking on foot 800 miles.
HoUingsworth, W. J., plasterer, Milton.
Holmes, H. F., farmer, Sec. 14; P. 0. Le-
banon.
Holmes, W. C, far. ; P. 0. Lebanon.
Hoskins, John, far. ; P. O. Cailtril.
Huddleston, C. W., far., S. 6 ; P. 0. Mil-
ton.
Hull, Joseph A., fax. ; P. 0. Milton.
Humbert, E. B., far., S. 9 ; P. 0. Milton.
Humbert, Isaiah, retired farmer; P. 0.
Milton.
Humbert, P., far., S. 8 ; P. 0. MUton.
Humphrey, Isaiah, blacksmith, Lebanon.
Hunter, G., far., S. 3 ; P. O. Milton.
ISENHOUR, CALEB, far., Sec. 23;
P. 0. Cantril.
Digitized by
Google
590
DIRECTORY OF VAN BUREN COUNTY :
TONES, W. A., physician, Cantril.
KENNEDY, WM., far., S. 6 ; P. 0.
Oak Point.
Kittle, John, former ; P. 0. Milton.
Klate, A., far., Sec. 18 ; P. O. Milton.
LARKIN, A. B., farmer, Sec. 29 ; P.
O. Milton.
Leaverton, J., far., S. 15 ; P. 0. Milton.
Lewis, N., far., S. 6 ; P. 0. Oak Point.
Lightfoot, E., far., S. 11 ; P. O. Cantril.
L.INN, ALEXANDER, retired
farmer ; P. O. Cantril ; owns a farm in
Des Moines Tp., of 300 acres, valued
at S40 per acre ; bom Feb. 8, 1808, in
Crawford Co., Penn. Married there to
Sarah Cunningham Sept. 13, 1836 ; in
the spring of 1845, emigrated to Iowa,
and located in Franklin Tp., Lee Co.,
where he remained till the spring of
1865; then moved into Des Moines Tp.,
this county ; left his farm and moved to
Cantril in February, 1878 ; has five
children living — Ebenezer, Alonzo, Mil-
ton, John M. and Amelia A.; lost one—
Jerusha. Ebenezer served his country
three years, in Co. E of the 19th Iowa \
V. I., and John M. is now in the |
mercantile business in Cantril, having
commenced in 1875 ; he was bom Oct.
23, 1849, in Lee Co. ; married to Emma
H. Morris, of this county, Dec. 25,
1873 ; they have one daughter — Bertha
M. All are members of the Presbyte-
rian Church: Republican.
Lyon, Jas. R., far. ; P. O. Oak Point.
Lyon, Wm. N., far. ; P. O. Milton.
\ yr cBRIDE, JOHN, far., Sec. 24 ; P.
jyL 0. Cantril.
McBride, Wm., far., S. 13 ; P. 0. Cantril.
McGrath, J. Q. A., far., S. 1 ; P. 0.
Lebanon.
McLean, A. A. & Son, hardware mer-
chants, Milton.
McManus, B., far.. Sec. 20 ; P. O. Milton.
MoManus, J., prop, hotel, Milton.
McManus, Jasper, farmer ; P. O! Milton.
McManus, John, farmer; P. 0. Milton.
McManus, Milton, far., Sec. 29 ; P. O.
Milton.
McManus, Frank, farmer ; P. 0. Milton.
McManus, William, farmer ; P. 0. Milton.
McNeil, A. E., liveryman, Milton.
HcNEHi A BAXTER, publishers
Ileraldy Milton.
McQuoid, J., far.. Sec. 2; P. O. Lebanon.
Manson, H. L., farmer ; P. O. Milton.
Manson, John B., farmer ; P. 0. Milton.
Manson, R., carpenter, Milton.
Marston, A. L., far., S. 5 ; P. O. Oak
Point.
Martin, G. W., far., S. 18 ; P. O. Milton.
MatUiews, W., far.; P. 0. Milton.
Messer, F., butcher, Milton.
Miller, C, miller, Milton.
MUler, E., far., S. 5 ; P. 0. Milton.
Miller & Hagler, proprietors grist-mill,
Milton.
Moore, A., far.. Sec. 5; P. O. Milton.
Moore, H. L., plasterer, Milton.
Mosher, C. E., far., S. 12 ; P. 0. Lebanon.
Mown, J. A., plasterer, Milton.
Munsell, A. H., far., S. 21 ; P. O. Milton.
Munsell, J., fkr.; P. 0. Milton.
Murray, Wm., shoemaker, Milton.
N ORRIS, !$• N*, farmer and mer-
chant ; P. 0. Cantril ; owns a
&rm of 730 acres, near Cantril, valued
at $30 per acre ; he was bom Dec. 21,
1815, near Lawrenceburg, Ohio ; par-
ents moved to Franklin Co., Dl., in
1820, and to Vigo Co., Ind., in 1824;
thence to Van Buren Co., Iowa, in
September, 1842, and located near
Pieroeville. Married there Rachel
Moore Deo. 28, 1844 ; she was bora in
1821, in Harrison Co., Ind; in the
spring of 1866, he moved on to his pres-
ent farm ; in the fall of 1877, he, in
company with his son, Oeorge L., com-
menced the mercantile business, suc-
ceeding Cantril & Brooks. Have five
children — Sarah, George L., Des Moines,
Frank H. and Robert M.; lost two —
John W. and Elizabeth. Member M.
E. Church ; Republican.
"DATTON, S., far., S. 2 ; P. 0. MUton.
Peterson, J. G., far., R. 34 ; P. O. CantriL
Pickett, J., far. ; P. O. Lebanon.
Pitman, G. A., far. ; P. 0. Cantril.
Pitman. 8. B., &r. ; P. O. Cantril.
Pennington, G., proprietor hotel, Milton.
Powell, B., far., S. 13 ; P. 0. Lebanon.
Price, S. W., far. ; P. O. Milton.
Price, T. J., far., S. 28 ; P. 0. MUton.
Price, Thomas J., far., 8. 33 ; P. O. MilUm.
"D AY, SAMUEL, far. ; P. O. Lebanon.
Reininghaus, J. E., merchant, Cantril.
Renfro, T. A., plasterer and fkrmer; P. 0.
Milton.
Digitized by VjOOQIC
JACKSON TOWNSHIP.
591
Rhoades, J., far. ; P. 0. Milton.
Riley, Mao, far. ; P. 0. Milton.
Rinebargar, G., teamster, Milton.
Rinabargar, H., far. ; P. 0. Milton.
Rinebargar, J., far.; P. 0. Milton.
Rinebargar, W. P., far.; P. O. Milton.
Roberta, B., far.; P. O. Cantril.
Roberts, J. F., far.; P. 0. Milton.
Robinson, D. A., far.; P. O. Cantril.
Roby, C, far.; P. 0. Milton.
Rowland, R., dry goods merchant, Milton.
Rowland, S. P., far., S. 19 ; P. O. Milton.
Russell, J. A., far.; P. 0. Milton.
Russell, J. C, merchant, Milton.
Russell, John, far.; P. O. Milton.
Russell, R., retired; P. 0. Milton.
Russell, W. D., merchant, Milton.
SALYARDS, W. L., retired; P. 0.
Milton.
Saylor, R. B., far., S. 5 ; P. 0. Oak Point.
Schwachheim, T., blacksmith, Cantril.
Simpson, A. H., far. ; P. 0. Milton.
Smith, G. W., fax., S. 1 ; P. 0. Cantril.
Smith, J. C, butcher, Cantril.
Smith, J. P., far., S. 8 ; P. 0. Oak Point.
Smith, 0., painter, Milton.
Smith, R., far. ; P. 0. Cantril.
Snider, J. T., far.; P. 0. Cantril.
Spencer, B., far., S. 29 ; P. 0. Milton.
Stephens, C, far., S. 3 ; P. 0. Lebanon.
Stewart, M., far., S. 34 ; P. 0. Cantril.
Stonebreaker, A., far.,S. 1 ; P. 0. Cantril.
Stott, C., Jr., far. ; P. O. Lebanon.
Stump, J. P., far., S. 5 ; P. 0. Oak Grove.
Summers, L. F., physician, Milton.
Swartz, J. D., merchant, Cantril.
T ALLEN, M., far.. Sec. 21 ; P. 0.
Cantril.
Tallen, T., far.. Sec. 23 ; P. 0. Cantril.
Tavlor, N. J., farmer; P. 0. Milton.
Thompsom, W., far., S. 2 ; P. O. Cantril.
Townsend. L. A., far., Sec. 10; P. 0.
Cantril.
Treblecock, J. H., far., Sec. 8 ; P. 0. Mil-
ton.
VANFLEET, AARON, far., S. 14 ;
P. 0. Lebanon.
TINSON, H. B., prop, of Nagle
House and Livery; owns a form of 85
acres near town, valued at $35 per
acre ; bom Oct. 23, 1833, in Mercer
Co., Ohio ; came with his parents to this
county in the fall of 1841, and located
near Lebanon, in Chequest Tp., where
his father still lives. Married there.
Virginia Robertson Oct. 24, 1858 ; she
was bom Dec. 8, 1835 ; moved into
Vernon Tp. in 1861, where he re-
mained till 1863, then went to Taylor
Co. Iowa ; in 1866, returned to this
county, and, in 1868, located on his
farm in Jackson Tp.; rented his farm,
and came into the Nagle House in
Cantril, in 1876 ; in Febmary, 1877,
commenced the livery business. Has
six children living — Emma I., who
married Henry Brooks in August, 1878 ;
Libbie A., Alice M., Nora B., Cath-
arine M. and Arthur M. ; lost one —
Charles. Member of the M. E. Church ;
Republican.
ALLIS, H. D., clerk, MUton.
w
Warner, David, farmer ; P. 0. Cantril.
WARNER, ISAAC N., fkr . Sec.
26 ; P. O. Cantril ; owns 320 acres of
land, valued at $30 per acre; son of
Nicholas and Rebecca Warner; was
born April 21, 1829, in Schoharie Co.,
N. Y.; came with his parents to this
county in the fall of 1838, and located
in Des Moines Tp., where they still re-
side. Married Louisa A. Vinson, of this
county, Aug. 18, 1853 ; she was bora
April 9, 1835, in Ohio, and died Sept.
30, 1861 ; again married, Minerva Vin-
son, sister of first wife, March 3, 1862 ;
she was bora Jan. 1, 1838. Came on
his present &rm in the fall of 1856.
Mr. Warner has served his township as
County Supervisor, also some minor
offices. Has two children living, by his
first wife — Francis and Charles; lost
one daughter — Anna ; by second wife
has four children — May, Minerva,
Addie and Bertram. Republican.
Warning, John, farmer ; P. O. Cantril.
Weatherington, John, far.; P. O. Cantril.
Wellborn, S., hardware merchant, Cantril.
Wilson, D. L., farmer ; P. 0. Milton.
WUson, George W., far.. Sec. 9 ; P. O.
Milton.
Wilson, Omar, farmer ;, P. 0. Milton.
Wolf, Andrew S., far.; P. 0. CantrU.
Worley, A. H., retired farmer; P.
0.
Milton.
Y EAGER,
Cantril.
Young, Jacob.
W. L., farmer; P. O.
Digitized by VjOOQIC
592
DIRECTORY OF VAN BUREN COUNTY:
UNION TOWNSHIP.
ARCHER, J. A., far., S. 19; P. 0.
BirmiDgham.
ARNOLD, JOHN BALDWIN,
former, Sec. 34 ; P. 0. Winchester ; son
of George and Rachel (Wright) Arnold ;
born Jan. 5, 1827, in Fairfield Co.,
Ohio. Married Louisa Cupp Sept. 10,
1848 ; the same fall, came to Van Buren
Co. ; the following spring, returned to
Ohio ; in the fall of 1855, came here
and purchased 160 acres, where he now
lives ; by industry and economy, he has
added to it till he now has 500 acres of
land, valued at $35 per acre, which he has
well stocked. His wife was born June
20, 1828, in Ohio; have six children
living— Emeline F., Mary A., John L.,
Clara A., Alpha N. and Ada C. ; lost
two — George W. and Rachel L. Mem-
ber of A., F. & A. M. Democrat.
BARKER, MATTHEW, farmer. Sec.
32 ; P. 0. Winchester.
BARNES, HIRAH, farmer and
livery ; P. 0. Birmingham ; owns 160
acres of land, valued at $40 per acre ;
born March 18, 1818, in Harrison Co.,
Ohio ; parents moved to Tuscarawas Co.,
in 1820; in 1834, to McLean Co., and
from there to this county in the fall of
1 839, and settled near Birmingham ; he
learned the carpenter and joiner's trade
in early life, which he followed till he en-
listed in 1861, in Co. H, of the 3d Iowa
V. C. ; was eleyted Second Lieutenant,
and soon promoted to First Lieutenant ;
was discharged in March, 1863, for disa-
bility ; returned home, and soon after
engaged in his present business. Was
married to Hannah B. Loomis, of Jeffer-
son Co., Iowa, Aug. 26, 1846 ; she was
bom July 3, 1822, in Chautauqua Co.,
N. Y. ; children — Louisa, William A.,
Belle, Virginia, Mary and Tola ; lost two
— Lester and James A. Member of the
M. E. Church ; Republican.
Bechtel, A. K., far., S. 15; P. 0. Win-
chester.
Bechtel S., far.. Sec. 15 ; P. 0. Winches-
ter.
Belknap, E. B., far.. Sec. 21 ; P. 0. Win-
Chester.
Beswick, J., Sr., retired &r. ; P. 0. Win-
cheater.
BERWICK, JAMES, Jr., &rm.
er. Sec. 26 ; P. 0., Winchester ; owns
320 acres of land, valued at $40 per
acre ; son of James and Augusta Bes-
wick ; bom March 13, 1832, in Wash-
ington Co., Ohio; his father came to
that county from Cheshire, England,
in 1818, and married there Dec. 10,
1826 ; the family came to this oonnty
in the spring of 1850, and settled in
this township. Mr. Beswick married
Mary E. Whittlesey Oct. 21, 1858 ; the
was bom Aug. 18, 1840, and died Sept.
4, 1 868 ; he again married Viola Racer,
Nov. 25, 1869; she was born Sept. 6,
1849, in Washington Co., Ohio ; have
four children by first wife — Agnes V.,
Alice M., Wilson S. and Lena R., and
one by second wife — W. Lloyd. Dem-
ocrat.
Beswick, T. T., far., S. 23 ; P. 0. Win-
chester.
Beswick, W. S., far.; P. 0. Winchester.
Bickford, M., retired far. ; P. 0. Birming-
ham.
Birch, M. I., mechanic. Birmingham.
Blackford, J. W.
Bogle, S. A., feather renovator, Birming-
ham.
Bonar, D. B., plasterer, Birmingham.
Bonnett, H., far., S. 8 ; P. 0. Birmingham.
Bonnett, L., far., S. 9 ; P. 0. Birmingham.
Bonnett, S. J., far.. Sec. 9 ; P. O. Bir-
mingham.
Bowers, W. F., far.. Sec. 34 ; P. 0. Win-
chester.
Bradford, A. H., far., Sec. 29 ; P. 0. Win-
Chester.
Beans, J. F., wagon-maker, Birmingham.
Bryant, J. M., retired far., Birmingham.
Byers, I., far, S. 20 ; P. 0. Winchester. *
r><ALHOUN, JOHN, Sb., farmer; P.
\J 0. Winchester.
CALHOrN. DATID K., fkrmer.
Sec. 15 ; P. 0. Winchester ; owns 245
acres of land, valued at $30 per acre ;
born March 9, 1844, in Westmoreland
Co., Penn. ; came with his parents to
this county in 1855, and to his present
farm in 1858. Enlisted in Co. I, 19th
I. V. I., in August, 1862; participated
in the battles of Springfield, Mo. ;
Vicksburg, Miss.; Port Hudson and
Digitized by VjOOQIC
UNION TOWNSHIP.
598
Sterling Farm, La.; in the latter, he
was taken prisoner, and was confined at
Shrevesport, La., and Tyler, Tex., for
nearly ten months ; was exchanged and
returned to his raiment, and was at the
l)attle6 of Spanish Fort and Mohile,
Ala. ; discharged at the close of the war
and returned home. Married Emma
Travis, of this county, Nov. 9,1868;
she was bom June 12, 1849, in Penn-
sylvania; they have three children —
Elvina B., Mary L. and Jolinson B.
Members of the Presbyterian Church ;
Republican.
Calhoun, J., Jr.. far.; P. 0. Winchester.
Calhoun, V. S., far., S. 22 ; P. 0. Win
Chester.
•CALHOriV, MEWTOW, retired
farmer ; P. 0. Birmingham ; owns 368
acres of land, valued at $30 per acre ;
bom in Beaver Co., Penn., May 19,
1809 ; parents moved to Holmes Co.,
Ohio, when he was small ; he came to
Van Buren Co. in the spring of 1839,
and settled near Birmingham, there be-
ing but few settlers in this vicinity ; in
the spring of 1850, he went to Califor-
nia, and returned in the spring of 1852;
lefl his farm and came into Birmingham
in 1870. Was married to Matilda San-
ders April 8, 1830 ; she was bora Oct.
16, 1811, and died Feb. 12,1836;
married her sister, Esther Sanders Oct.
18, 1836 ; she was boru April 5, 1815,
and died Sept. 17, 1878 ; has two chil-
dren living by first wife — George C. and
Thomas E.; lost one — Thomas E., by first
wife and six by second wife — Vernum S.,
Newton L., Ross, James F., Nathan S.
and Kosetta M.; lost three — Orange S.,
Smith C. and John C. His sons Newton
and Ross served their country in the late
rebellion. Mr. Calhoun is a member of
the M. E. Ohurch, and a Republican.
•Campbell, J., far., g. 11 ; P. 0. Birming-
ham.
■Cbristler, H. G., far., S. 28; P. 0. Win-
chester.
Christler, M., far. ; P. 0. Winchester.
Clark, A. S., far.; P. 0. Winchester.
Cole, A., hotel man, Birmingham.
COIiE, J. W,, proprietor of Birming-
ham Marble Works with E. M. Talbott,
Birmingham ; bora June 25, 1826, in
Norfolkshire, England ; came with par-
ents to Chautauqua Co., N. Y., in 1832 ;
moved to Butler Co., Penn., in 1836 ;
went to Pittsburgh in 1838, and worked
at the marble business till 1843 ; went
to Brownsville, Fayette Co., Penn., in
1847 ; went to Monongalia Co., W. Va. ;
came to Keokuk, Iowa, spring of 1851 ;
to Quiucy, Illinois, in 1853; to Village
Tp., in 1854 ; in 1859, moved to Davis
Co. ; came to Birmingham in 187^;
established the Birmingham Marble
Works, with Mr. E. M. Talbott, as
partner spring of 1878. Married Ever-
ella Overturf, of Brownsville, Penn.,
April 25, 1850 ; she was born Jan. 10,
1831, in Pennsylvania ; have three chil-
dren— Malzena B. C, M. Georgie, Maud
D. Republican.
COBBY, JAMES, Jr., far.. Sec.
18 ; P.O. Birmingham; son of James and
Isabella Corry ; born in Allegheny Co.,
Penn., in 1832 ; his parents were natives
of Ireland ; came to the United States
in 1818 ; settled in Allegheny Co.,
Penn. ; his father was bora in 1797,
and is still living; mother died in 1841,
in Pennsylvania; came to. Van Buren
Co., spring of 1855 and stopped in
Harrisburg Tp. ; in 1858, moved just
north of Birmingham, and came to his
present farm in 1868. Married Ellen
M. Redman of this county, Nov. 4,
1858 ; she was bora in this county
died Aug. 8, 1863. Married Laura E,
Hiatt, of Lee Co., Iowa, Sept. 23, 1875
she was bora Feb. 19, 1850, in Iowa
have one son by first wife — Chester E.
and one by second wife — Clyde L. ;
owns a farm of 306 acres of land, valued
at J(40 per acre. Is a member of Pres-
byterian Church ; Republican.
Countryman, G. W., furniture dealer, Bir-
mingham.
Creamer, D. C, prop. Woolen MilUi,
Birmingham.
Culbertson, J. S., retired farmer, Bir-
mingham.
Cupp, George, retired far., Birmingham.
DUNN, ADESON, far. ; P. 0. Bir-
mingham.
Daniels, T., farmer; P. 0. Winchester.
Day, C. V. B., far., Sec. 24 ; P. 0. Win-
chester.
Deahl, George, carpenter and joiner, Bir-
mingham.
Deahl, Samuel, carpenter and joiner, Bir-
mingham. ^
Digitized by
Google
694
DIRECTORY OP VAN BUREN COUNTY :
Dill, J., far., Sec. 10 ; P. 0. Birmingham.
Donnell, D., far., Sec. 11 ; P. 0. Birming-
ham.
EBERT, T. D., stock dealer, Binning-
ham.
Bichleberger, F., ret. fkr., Birmingham.
Evans, J. B , far.. Sec. 2 ; P. 0. Birming-
ham.
Evans, W. A., far., S. 2 ; P. 0. Birming-
ham.
Evans, W. C, far., S. 2 ; P. 0. Binning-
ham.
FERRELL, JOHN W., wagon-maker,
Birmingham.
PAST, WILIilAH, fanner. Sec.
5 ; P. 0. Birmingham ; son of Jesse
and Rebecca (Gans) Fast ; bom Sept.
23, 1824, in Greene Co., Penn. ; parents
moved to Jefferson Co., Ohio, in 1827,
where his early life was spent ; was edu-
cated at the Richmond Academy in the
same county, and followed teaching and
farming for several years. Married
Mary A. McOuUough, of Jefferson Co.,
Oct. 11, 1849 ; she was born May 17,
1828 ; in the spring of 1857, moved to
Clark Co., Mo., same fall to Davis Co.,
Iowa, and to his present farm in spring
of 1863 ; have five children living— Jno.
M., Francis D., William, Abe Lincoln
and George M. ; lost two — Homer J. and
an infant. Mr. Fast's great-grandfa-
ther, Nicholas Fast, was of German de-
scent ; grandfather was Francis Fast, of
Pennsylvania, and on the side of his
mother his great-great-grandfather was
Jacob Gans, of Holland, and great-
grandfather was George Gans, of Mary-
land, and grandfiither, Benjamin Gans,
of Pennsylvania. Mr. Fast is a mem-
ber of the M. E. Church ; republican.
FICK£L, JOSIAS. far., S. 36; P.O.
Utica ; owns 390 acres of land, valued at
$30 per acre ; born Dec. 22, 1819, in
Perry Co., Ohio ; came to this county in
fall of 1846, and settled on his present
farm. Married Julia A. Warner June
16, 1841 ; she was bom Jan. 8, 1821,
in Fairfield Co., Ohio; have eight
children living — Susannah, Mary, Sam-
uel, Darius, Jeremiah, LeRoy, Julia A.
and Josias. Democrat.
Ford, B. F., far.. Sec. 28 ; P. 0. Winches-
ter.
Fordyoe, Lewis F., far., S. 14 ; P. 0.
Winchester.
FOBDYCE, »ETH, fanner, S. 25,
P.O.Winchester; owns 390 acres of land,
valued at $40 per acre; bom March 6,
1819, in Wabash Co., 111. ; came to
Iowa in fall of 1837; to Van Buren
Co. in February 1839, and settled on the
farm where he still lives ; his father,
Jairus Fordyce, died here July 22, 1840 ;
his mother, Susan Fordyce, died March
12, 1855. Married Harriet J. Alexan-
der, daughter of John and Elizabeth
Alexander, of this county, Jan. 24,
1844; she was bom Aug. 19, 1821, in
Warren Co., Tenn. ; have three children
livinji: — Lewis F., Laura and Martha E.,^
the first two are married ; lost two-
Mary J. and Louisa A. The mother of
Mrs. F. is living with her; is upward
of 80 years old. Members of Christian
Church; Republican.
Fry, A. A., merchant, Winchester.
GIANQUE CHARLES, for., 8. 9;
P. 0. Birmingham.
Gould, E. S., far., S. 19 ; P. 0. Binning-
ham.
Griffith, J., far., S. 1 1 ; P. O. Birmingham.
Grousbeck, P., retired farmer ; P. 0. Bir-
mingham.
Gurwell, L., carpenter and joiner. Binning- ,
ham.
GBAHAH, JOSEPH, dealer in
dry goods and general merchandise, Bir-
mingham ; owns eighty acres of land,
valued at $40 per acre ; born April 21,
1832, in Guernsey Co., Ohio; came to
this county in the fall of 1849 ; located
in Village Township ; in 1852, moved into
Lick Creek Tp.; to Birmingham in
1870, and commenced his present busi-
ness. Married Margaret Walter Oct.
30, 1856 ; she was bom in September,
1835, in Barbour Co., W. Va.; have
three children living — George W., El-
mer E. and James H.; lost one — Letetia.
Member Free Methodist Church; Re-
publican.
HARBAUGH, JOHN, shoemaker,
Birmingham.
HASTINGS, WIIiL, fkrmer. Sec.
27 ; P. 0. Winchester ; owns 100 acres
of land, valued at $40 per acre ; son of
John C. and Mary E. Hastings; bom
Nov. 23, 1844, in Hardin Co., Ohio;
his mother died in 1846 ; the same year,
his father came to Van Buren Co., \
Iowa, leaving him in Ohio ; his father
Digitized by VjOOQIC
UNION TOWNSHIP.
695
again married Mary E. Purdum, of
Keosauqua, Iowa, and settled on the
farm upon which his son now lives ; he
came to this county in 1858, and made
his home with his father, who died Dec.
24, 1875 ; Tie taught school during the
winters and farmed in the summers for
several years ; taught fourteen terms in
one district and three in another. Was
Township Clerk and Secretary of the
School Board several terms, hoth of
which he is now filling. He has no
family. Democrat.
Henderson, J., shoemaker, Birmingham.
Hoagland, F. L., clerk, Birmingham.
Holmes, J. S., far., S. 24 ; P. 0. Bonaparte.
Hootman, Wm., far., Sec. 32; P. 0. Mt.
Zion.
Hootman, Wilson, far., Sec. 32; P. 0.
Mt. Zion.
Hope, Jas., retired far., Birmingham.
Howard, Wm., far.; P. 0. Winchester.
HufFstedler, J. H., ins. agt., Birmingham.
Hufiman, H., ret. mer., Birmingham.
Hughes, J., far., S. 1 ; P. 0. Birmingham.
Huff, W. E., harness-maker, Birmingham.
HOPE, ^I.I'I' H., stock dealer
and shipper, Birmingham ; son of James
and Margaret Hope ; horn June 6,
1842, in Westmoreland Co., Penn. ;
came with parents to this county in the
spring of 1852; settled near Birming-
ham. Enlisted in Co. H, 3d I. V. C, in
February, 1864; was in the battle of
Guntown, Miss., the battles of A. J.
Smith's campaign, and with Gen. Wilson
in his raid to Macon, Ga. ; was honora-
bly discharged Aug. 21,1 865. Returned
home and engaged in the agricultural
implement business in Birmingham ; in
the summer of 1866, went into the
drug business; in 1873, sold out and
commenced his present business. Mar-
ried Frances McDonald Jan. 17, 1867;
she was born in Ohio in December^
1848; have four children — Doc, Dap
C, Clarence and Lida. Republican.
JAMESON, R., fer., S. 21 ; P. O. Win-
Chester.
Jefferson, T., laborer, Birmingham.
JOHNSTON, H. S., far., S. 36; P.
0. Utica ; owns 176 acres of land, valued
at $45 per acre; bom June 14, 1817,
in Giles Co., W. Va. ; parents moved to
Decatur Co., Ind., in the fall of 1827 ;
in October, 1849, he came to Van
Buren Co., Iowa, and settled on his^
present farm. Married Margaret Brown-
field Oct. 17, 1844, in Indiana; she
was born in 1822 in Fayette Co., Penn. ;
have six children living — Robert M.,
Mary E., Lucretia A:, Ida B., Charles
W. and John F. ; lost one — James F.,
who was in Co. H, of the 2d I. V. I. ;
died at Chattanooga, Tenn., in 1863.
Republican.
Johnston, P. R., far., S. 23 ; P. 0. Win-
Chester.
Jones J., far., S. 20; P. 0^ Winchester.
JULIAN, JOmr, far., Sec. 21 ; P.
0. Winchester ; owns a farm of 268^
acres, valued at $30 per acre; bom
March 28, 1814, in Cornwall, England,
and came to the United States in 1842,
and settled in Coshocton Co., Ohio. Mar«
ried there to Jane Crawford. July 6,
1843 ; she was born July 28, 1816,
in County Antrim, Ireland, and came
to the United States in 1818; they
came from Ohio to this county in the
fall of 1852, and settled in Union Tp.;.
have had two children — Mary, born
June 16, 1847; married Ross Cal-
houn Nov. 16, 1865; died May 27,
1874; and Margaret J., born Nov. 7,
1849, and died Dec. 2, 1854. Mem-
bers of the M. E. Church ; Repub-
lican.
KERR, CHRISTOPHER, far.. Sec.
16; P.O. Winchester.
Kirkpatrick,G. 0., blacksmith, Birmingham
LAWRENCE, A. A., farmer; P. 0.
Winchester.
Lundy, N., far., S. 12; P. 0. Bonaparte.
McCOY, J. A., ret. far.; P. O. Bir-
mingham.
Madden, J., ret. far.; P. 0. Birmingham.
Manning, A., far., S. 1 7 ; P. 0. Birmingham.
Mercer, H., far.; P. 0. Winchester.
Miller, J. S., far.; P. 0. Winchester.
Moore, J. P., carpenter, Birmingham.
Moore, N. J., far.; P. 0. Winchester.
Moore, D., far. ; P. O. Birmingham.
Moss, C. L., far. and proprietor cheese-fac-
tory, Birmingham.
Moss, T., far. ; P. 0. Birmingham.
Morse, J., miller, Birmingham.
Murphy, E., far., S. 36; P. 0. Utica.
NELSON, H., fer., S. 18; P. 0. Bir-
mingham.
Newell, J., far., S. 30; P. O. Birmingham.
Newell. W., far. ; P. 0. Birmingham.
Digitized by VjOOQIC
596
DIRECTORY OP VAN BUREN COUNTY:
Newman, J. D., fer., S. 1 ; P. 0. Bir-
mingham.
JIEIiSON, W. W., M. D., phy-
sician and surgeon, Birmingham ; bom
Nov. 30, 1834, in Wayne Co., Ohio ;
came with his parents to this county in
the fall of 1845, and settled in Wash-
ington Tp., where he was employed on
his father's farm till of age ; then went
to Washington College two years ; after,
to Wooster, Ohio, and commenced read-
ing medicine with Dr. Dane Wilson, and
subsequently attended lectures at the
Iowa State University, Medical Depar*/-
ment, and at Jefferson Medical Collie,
Philadelphia, Penn., where he gradu-
ated in the spring of 1860 ; returned to
this county, and commenced practicing
at Pierceville. Was commissioned as
Assistant Surgeon in 1862 in the 15th
Iowa v. I., which position he held till
the close of the war. Located in Bir-
mingham in 1865 ; he owns a farm of
100 acres, valued at $3,500. Married
Abnira Matthews March 20, 1860, in
Lawrence Co., Penn.; she was bom July
22, 1839 ; have five children living —
Meldon W., Nellie X., Minnie A., Aud-
lev E. and Mary L.; lost two — Anna
M.. and Elizabeth S. Dr. Nelson moved
to Sonoma Co., Cal., in 1874, and re-
turned the following year. Member of
the U. P. Church ; Republican.
JIOBBIS, J. N., JH. D., physician
and surgeon, Birmingham ; born June
7, 1816, in Steuben Co., N. Y.; went to
Millersburg, Ohio, in 1836; commenced
the study of medicine with his brother-
in-law. Dr. Wm. Miller ; came with him
to Iowa in the M\ of 1837, and located
at the crossing of two Indian trails,
where he subsequently assisted John
Harrison in laying out the town which
he gave the name of Birmingham ; con-
tinued the study and practice of medi-
cine and attended medical lectures at the
Iowa State University, medical depart-
ment, of Keokuk, wnere he graduated
in 1853, and has continued the practice;
he has had eighteen students under his
supervision, fifteen of whom have gradu-
ated and become successful practitioners ;
Mr. Norris is associated at present with
his son, William P. Norris. He was
married to MargrettaS. Culbertson July
24, 1842; she was bom in December,
1822, in Ohio, and died Sept. 30, 1847.
Was again married, to Barbara Miller
Oct. 26, 1848 ; she was born Deo. 22,
1823, in Ohio; had two children by
first wife — Hattie F. and Samuel C, the
latter dead ; have five children living by
I second wife — Isora M., William P.,
Henry W. B., Jay C. M. and Wihnot
I Proviso ; lost John M. Or. and Claud S.
Member Presbyterian Church ; Repub-
lican.
OQILBEE, A. W., dealer in butter and
eggs, Birmingham.
PATTISON, ALEX., Rev., minister,
Birmingham.
PARKER, GEORGE, retired
merchant and farmer, Birmingham ;
bom in Lewb Co., W. Va., Dec, 22,
1814; came to Adams Co., 111., in the
fall of 1835, and from there to this
county in the summer of 1836, and
made his claim adjoining what is now
Birmingham ; spent the time improving
hie land and traveling in the Southern
States to Memphis, Vicksburg, New
Orleans, etc., till 1844 ; engaged in the
mercantile business, which he continued
till 1861 ; sold out and engaged as clerk
for Pitkin & Moss for about ten years,
and for others afterward till 1874 ; went
to California on a visit for about seven
months. Mr. Parker was County Treas-
urer during 1 85 1-52. Married Hannah
C. Calhoun, of this county, Dec 23,
1847 ; she was bom Dec. 25, 1825, in
Holmes Co., Ohio ; have two children —
William R. and Jesse F. Member M.
E. Church ; Republican.
PARKER, W. R., publisher and
editor, with C. L. Sheward, of the Bir-
mingham Enterprise ; son of George and
Hannah C. Parker ; born in Keosauqua.
Aug. 12, 1852 ; conmienced learning
the printer's trade in 1873, in the Enter-
prise office ; in January, 1875, became
a partner in the office. Was married
to Mamie Randall June 10, 1877 ; she
was born April 5, 1858, in Illinob.
Republican. Mr. C. 1^. Sheward, part-
ner of W. R. Parker, was bom April 3,
1845, in Morgan Co., Ohio; came with
parents to Fairfield, Jefferson Co., Iowa,
in December, 1851 ; commenced to leara
the printer's trade in the office of the
Faii^eld Ledger in the spring of 1859,
and subsequently in Burlington and
Digitized by VjOOQIC
UNION TOWNSHIP.
597
Milwaukee, where he enlisted Id Co. E,
17th Wis. Regt., in December 1863;
participated in all the battles in Sher-
man's march to the sea ; mustered out
^in July, 1865, and returned home, and
worked at ipumey work in different
offices, including eighteen months in the
* Times office at St Louid : became a
partner in the Enterprise office in July,
1875. Was married to Margaret Skin-
ner, of Fairfield, Iowa, June 30, 1870 ;
she was born July 11, 1845, in Pennsyl-
vania ; have one daughter — Stella A.
Republican.
Pepper, J. S., broom-maker, Birmingham.
Pettit, D. C, laborer, Birmingham.
Pettit, G. R., laborer, Birmingham.
Phillips, M., far., S. 22 ; P. 0. Winches-
ter.
Pitkin, E., merchant and banker, Birming-
ham.
Pitkin & Skinner, merchants.
Pleasant, C. C, painter, Birmingham.
Porter, Robert, photographer. Birmingham.
"DIDDINGTON, D.; P. 0. Winches-
BAGSDALE, J. N., Postmaster
and dealer in drugs and stationery, Bir-
mingham ; bom May 12, 1840, in Owen
Co., Ind.; came with parents to this
county in the spring of 1850 ; stopped
in Harrisburg Tp. in 1852 ; moved to
Lucas Co., where they still reside ; he
returned to this county in August, 1 862.
Enlisted in Co. I, 19th I. V. I.; went
as 1st Sergeant; was at the battle of
■Springfield, Mo., siege of Vicksburg,
Miss., and Morganza, La., where he was
captured and taken to Tyler, Tex.; kept
there three months; taken to Shreve-
port, La,; was there about three months,
when he, with six others, made his es-
cape ; after nineteen days of fatigue and
hardships, reached the Union lines ; on
return to his regiment, was promoted
Ist Lieutenant; discharged Aug. 18,
1 865. Returned home ; moved to Hick-
ory Co., Mo.; returned to this county in
1869; settled near Birmingham; in
1872, moved into Birmingham and took
charge of the Enterprise office ; two
years after, sold out and commenced his
present business. Was appointed Post-
master in 1875. Married Rachel A.
Cupp March 13, 1860; she was born
Jan. 5, 1841, in Ohio; have five chil-
dren—George W., Elmer E., Olive M.,
Cora B. and Ella I. Member of M. E.
Church ; Republican.
RA:NDALL, J. Jm clealer in dry
goods and general merchandise, Birming-
ham; born Aug. 27, 1828, in Clark
Co., 111.; came from there to Birming-
ham, this county, in October, 1846 ;
purchased a farm near town and followed
farming till 1855, when he engaged in
the general merchandise business, which
hehas continued till the present. Married
Miss Adaline E. Marquis, of Marshall
Co., 111., Jan. 9, 1856; she was born
Sept. 23, 1835, in Ohio; have eight
children living — William M., Harry E.,
Marion R., Emma J., James N., Frank
W., Mabel and Herbert R.; lost one —
Jessie. Member Presbyterian Church ;
Republican.
RICHE Y, ISAAC P., farmer. Sec.
19 ; P. O. Winchester ; son of Jas. E.
and Elizabeth TParker) Richey ; bom
in Van Buren Co. April 28, 1846 ;
his parents were natives of Lewis Co.,
W. Va. ; came to this county in 1836 ;
his father died March 19, 1874. Ipaac
P. married Abagail Matthews Feb. 14,
1868 ; moved to Scotland Co., Mo., the
same spring ; returned the following fall,
and lives on the home farm ; has four
children — Ison E., Dallas N., Shannon
D. and an infant. Republican.
SEWARD, MATTHEW ; P. O. Win-
chester
Sbagley, J., far., S. 15 ; P. 0. Winchester.
SHEPPABD, J. IL, dealer in
)3tock and proprietor of meat market;
P. 0. Birmingham ; born Jan. 1, 1842,
in Monroe Co., Ind.; came with his
father E. D. Sheppard, to Keosauqua,
of this county, in the fall of 1854. In
the spring of 1861, enlisted in Co. F,
2d Iowa y. I., and was discharged for
disability in October, 1861. Returned
to Keosauqua and engaged in the grocery
business for one year ; went to Indianapo-
lis, and engaged in the same business ;
a year afler, returned to Bentonsport,
this county, where he kept a harness-
shop for two years ; then went to
Quincy, 111., and followed the same
business one year ; returned to Keosau-
qua; in the spring of 1867, came to
Birmingham and engaged in the manu-
&cture of harness, which he continued
Digitized by VjOOQIC
598
DIRECTORY OF VAN BUREN COUNTY:
till January, 1878; commenced the !
stock trade in the fall of 1877. Married •
Adda Arington Dec. 6, 1869 ; she was |
bom in March, 1846, in New York.
Have one child — Mark ; lost two — Stella
and Walter. Republican.
Sherod, M. C, far., S. 33; P. 0. Win-
Chester.
SHEROD. Wn. N., fkrmer, Sec. 33 ;
P. 0. Mt. Zion; owns 167 acres of land,
valued at $35 per acre; son of Amos
and Mary (Carnes) Sherod; bom March
9, 1829, m CarroU Co., Ohio; came
with parents to this county in the spring
of 1854, and settled on the farm he now
owns; his father died July 26, 1854, at
the age of 67: he was the first white
child bora in Jefferson Co., Ohio; his
mother, a native of Pennsylvania, died in
this county Sept. 8, 1868. Married Han-
nah Barker, of this county, June 10,
1858; she was bom Jan. 28, 1835;
died March 26, 1863; he married
Elizabeth Barker Jan. 19, 1865; she
was bora in this county Nov. 18, 1840 ;
have one child by first wife living —
Henry B.; lost two — Joseph P. and
Ethelinda; and six by second wife —
Zaida E., Mary R., Charles 0., Martha
E., Rosanna, Amos R. ; lost one — Will-
iam A. Members of M. E. Church ;
Republican.
Sheward & Parker, publishers of the
Birmingham Enterprise.
SHOTT, SAMUEL B., proprietor
of Birmingham Wagon and Carriage
Works, Birmingham ; . is now procuring
a patent for a very valuable improve-
ment in drop end -board for lumber
wagons, which he will use in his manu-
facture of wagons; bora in Tuscarawas
Co., Ohio, May 4, 1826; commenced
learaing his trade in 1846; came to
Iowa in the fall of 1854, and stopped
at Fairfield, Jefferson Co., till the fol-
lowing spring; came to Birmingham and
engaged in his present business. Was
married to Isabella Croft, in Ohio, April
30, 1851 ; she was born June 4, 1834,
and died Sept. 8, 1858 ; was again .
married to Alviza Skinner, Dec. 14, |
1859; she was bora in Iowa Aug. 30, \
1841 ; have two children by first wife
living — Mary E. and Isabelle, and lost
two — William and Emma ; and by sec-
ond wife seven — Samuel B., Margaret,
Charles A., Austin B., Franklin, Will-
iam and Alviza; lost one — Maggie. Mr.
Shott is among the leading and enter-
prising men of Birmingham.
Silvis, A., mechanic, Birmingham.
SKINNER. J0HN;S., fkrmer, Sec.
19; P. 0. Birmingham; son of Addi
Skinner; was bora March 20, 1812/in
Steuben Co., N. Y.; same year, his par-
ents moved to Seneca Co. ; he remained
at home till his father died, in April,
1830; from that time, till he was mar-
ried, followed boating on Seneca Lake
and the canal. Married Catharine A.
RaU, of Yates Co., N. Y., Feb. 22,
1836; December, 1838, moved to Iowa;
stopped at Fort Madison; spring of
1839, came to his present farai; have
five children living — Joseph V., Charles
A., George N., Dick and Walrade A.;
lost five — Peter, Samuel, Franklin and
two infants not named ; his son Joseph
served in Co. H of the Ist Colo. V. I.,
and Charles A. in Co. H of the 3d
I. V. C. Republican.
Smith, F. J., far., Sec. 9; P. O. Birming-
ham.
SniTH. HUGH, fiir., Sec. 9 ; P. 0.
Birmingnam ; owns 470 acres of land,
valued at $30 per acre; son of John
Smith; born Dec. 20, 1820, in BarreD
Co., Ky ; his parents moved to Fulton
Co., 111., in 1834 ; thence to this county
in the spring of 1838, and settled on
the farm he now owns ; his father died
in October, 1874; his mother in Febra-
ary, 1872. Married Martha Redman
Jan. 14, 1842 ; she was bora Oct. 20,
1813, in Morgan Co., Dl. ; they have
four children living — Fulton J., Rolla
W., Gkorge L., Minnie B. ; lost three —
Amanda L., Fanny J. and an infant.
He is among the leading and influential
farmers of his township. Republican.
Spees, J. B., M. D., far., Birmingham.
Spitler, L. S., far, S. 5 ; P. 0. Biraaingham.
Stansberry, R. R., stone-mason, Biraaiog-
ham.
Still, D. N., far., S. 8 ; P. 0. Birmingham.
Stonebraker, Samuel M., far., S. 2 ; P. 0.
Birmingham.
TEAL, JOHN, far., Sec. 36 ; P. 0.
Utica.
TALBOTT, E. M., partner with
J. W. Cole of Birmingham Marble
Works, Birmingham ; son of Joseph i
I
Digitized by VjOOQIC
UNION TOWNSHIP.
699
^nd Mary J. Talbott ; was born Sept. 6,
1856, in Birmingham ; his father was a
practicing physician here, and died of
cholera Nov. 27, 1876; Mr. E. M.
Talbott learned the marble business in
D^ Moines; was there about three
years; commenced working with Mr.
Cole in January, 1878 ; and, in the
spring, engaged as a partner in the
business. Is a member of the M. £.
Church; Republican.
Teal, Thomas, far., Sec. 35 ; P. O. Utica.
Thompson, W. H., cabinet-maker, Bir-
mingham.
TOPPING, JOHN, farmer. Sec.
32 ; P. 0. Winchester ; son of Robert
and Esther (Rowen) Topping; bom
Dec. 23, 1823, in County Cavan, Ire-
land ; came to the United States in the
spring of 1847, to Fairfield Co., Conn.,
and engaged in a wrought-iron foundry ;
in June, 1851, went to California, and
followed mining ; returned in the spring
of 1855, and worked in same foundry ;
in the spring of 1856, came to Iowa;
settled in Union Tp., Van Buren Co.
Married Margaret Addy, of Orange
Co., N. Y., Sept. 1, 1855; she was
bom Jan. 26, 1832, in Monaghan Co.,
Ireland; have nine children — Robert
J., John W., Homer R., George S.,
Maggie E., Hugh A., Samuel F., Mary
E. and Catharine A. Owns a farm of
246 acres, valued at $35 per acre.
Member of the Presbyterian Church ;
Republican.
TOBBENCE, F. G., dealer in
drags, books, stationery, etc., Birming-
ham; born Jan. 14, 1843, in West-
moreland Co., Penn.; came with parents
to this county in June, 1851, and lo-
cated in Birmingham, his father carry-
ing on the cabinet business ; was edu-
<!ated at the Birmingham Academy.
Enlisted June 13, 1861, in Co.vA., 1st
I. V. C; was in the battles of Black-
water, Silver Creek, Mo., and Prairie
Grove, Little Rock and Camden, in
Arkansas ; mustered out at Davenport,
Iowa, Sept. 19, 1864. Retumed home
and commenced reading medicine with
Dr. Joseph Talbott ; practiced two years,
but, on account of ill-health, engaged
in his present business in 1869. Mar-
ried Belle Hoverstock, of this* county,
Sept. 6, 1866; she was born in this
county Oct. 17, 1848 ; have three chil-
dren— Samuel G., Kitty L. and William
C. Republican.
Torrance, S. G., cabinet-maker, Birming-
ham.
Trumbo, J. H. far.. Sec. 36 ; P. 0. Utica.
XTALE, B. R.
Valentine, E. F., bkcksmith, Birming-
ham.
Vincent, Wm., far.; P. 0. Winchester.
W-ALKER, J., far., S. 22 ; P. 0.
Winchester.
Walker, E., far., S. 22 ; P. 0. Winchester.
Walmer J., retired far. ; P. 0. Birming-
ham.
Walters, I. N., far., S. 21 ; P. 0. Win-
Chester.
Warner, F., far., S. 36 ; P. 0. Utica.
WEBBEB, JOHN H., far., S. 1 ;
P. 0. Birmingham ; owns eighty acres
of land, valued at $30 per acre ; son of
John Webber ; born Jan. 20, 1838, in
Somersetshire, England ; parents moved
to Winnebago Co., HI., in 1850 ; and to
Van Buren Co., in October. 1857 ; his
father died in April, 1858, and mother
died Oct. 12, 1877. Enlisted in Au-
gust, 1862, in Co. I, 19th Regiment
Iowa Vols., and spent three years in
fighting under the stars and stripes,
except over nine months in rebel pris-
ons ; in the battle of Prairie Grove,
Ark., was wounded in the left thigh,
and had six bullet-holes in his clothing ;
in his next battle. Sterling Farm, La.,
he was taken prisoner, sent to Shreve-
port. La., and from there to Tyler, Tex-
as ; after his exchange, was at the battle
of Vicksburg, Spanish Fort and Mobile,
Ala. Married Hannah E. Newman
Dec. 9, 1869 ; she was bom Jan. 20,
1851, in this county ; have two children
living — Ella G. and Alta N. ; lost one
— Frankie B. Republican.
Webber, P. C, far., S. 2 ; P. 0. Birming-
ham.
WEBBEB, WH. H.,fkr., S. 2 ; P.
0. Birmingham; owns 144 acres of
land, valued at $25 per acre ; brother of
John H. Webber ; bora Oct. 15, 1841 ;
in Somersetshire, England ^ came with
parents to Winnebago Co., 111., in 1850 ;
thence to this county in October, 1857,
and settled on farm adjoining the one
he now owns. Married Kmma L. Mal-
Digitized by VjOOQIC
600
DIRECTORY OP VAN BUREN COUNTT:
lory, of Chicago, 111., April 1, 1872;
she was born June 28, 1852, in town of
Moscow, Hillsdale Co., Mich. ; have
two children — Charles H. and Susan
M. Member of the M. E. Church ;
Republican.
West, A., far., 8. 21 ; P. 0. Winchester.
WHITAKEB, WM. W., farmer;
P. 0. Winchester; son of John M. and
Jane (Phillips) Whitaker; bom Sept.
17, 1826, in Hamilton Co., Ohio; par-
ents moved to La Porte Co., Ind., when
he was a boy, thence to Illinois in the
fall of 1835; the following January,
came to Van Buren Co. and settled on
the fa'rm where he now lives ; his father
was one of the delegates to the Consti-
tutional Convention which framed the
• first Constitution of Iowa; also repre-
sent-ed the county in the State Legisla-
ture at Burlington several successive
terms, the last in 1861 and 1862; in
1862, moved to California, where be
still lives. Mr. Whitaker married Miss
N. C. Newell, of ihis county, Dec. 5,
1858; she was born Dec. 5, 1833, in
Kentucky ; have three children living —
Carrie, Charley and Walter; lost one
infant. Owns a farm of 200 acres, val-
ued at $35 per acre. Democrat.
Whittlesey, A. P., far. ; P. 0. Winchester.
Wilkerson, J. S-, painter, Birmingham.
Williams, B. F.. far., S. 1 ; P. 0. Bir-
mingham.
WILSON, SASIfJEIi, retired
farmer, and Mayor, Birmingham ; owns
190 acres of land, valued at $25 per
acre ; bom May 20, 1820, in the county
of Donegal, Ireland; came to the
United States in the spring of 1832,
and settled in Butler Co., Penn., and to
this county in the spring of 1846, and
purchased a farm adjoining the town of
Birmingham, part of which was subse-
quently 4>latted in the town ; he is the
present Mayor of the town, and has
served the people as Justice of the
Peace about ten years; also as Mayor
eight years. He was married to Mag-
dalena Shults, of Keosauqua; she was
born in 1834 in Westmoreland Co.,
Penn. ; have four children living — Mar-
gretU, Mary A., James L. and WilUird
A. ; lost one infant. Members of the
Presbyterian Church; Republican.
WOLF, J. WESLEY, proprietor
and principal of the Birmingham Acad-
emy and Boarding-School ; son of Will-
iam C. and Rhoda (Clutter) Wolf; borD
Oct. 4, 1842, in Washington Co., Penn ;
m the spring of 1851 , came with parent*
to Lee Co., Iowa ; his early life was
spent on the farm in summers, and at-
tending school in winters; oommenoed
teaching in 1862 ; was a student at
Howe's school, Mt. Pleasant, and at the
Iowa State University, of Iowa City,
normal 'department, where he gradua-
ted in June, 1867 ; taught at Cbaries-
ton, Lee Co., Boyleston, Henry Co., and
Birmingham and Farmington, of this
county; purchased the Birmingham
Academy in the fiall of 1871. He waa
married to Miss Maggie Hiatt July 26,
1872, of Lee Co., Iowa ; she was bom
Jan. 1« 1848, in Iowa; she is aetisg as
one of the teachers of the Academy.
Wolgamot, J. B., cabinet-maker, Birming-
ham.
Woods, Alexander H.
Work, S., far.. Sec. 7 ; P. 0. Birming-
ham.
WOBKH AN, RICHARD, ikrm.
er, Sec. 24 ; P. 0. Winchester ; owns
240 acres of land, valued at $40 per acre;
bom Jan. 7, 1818, in County of London-
derry, Ireland ; came with parents to the
Western Continent in 1834 ; arrived at
Quebec, where his father was attacked
with the cholera and died, and his
mother the day following of same disease,
leaving him, a brother and sister orphans ;
the following year, he went to Buffalo,
N. Y.; spring of 1838, went to HamU-
ton Co., Ohio. Was married there to
Mary A. Bowers Dec. 12, 1841 ; in
1842, came to this county and settled
in Union Tp. ; his wife was bom Sept.
26, 1822, in Pennsylvania; have one
son living — Girard W. ; lost nine chil-
dren— William B., William L., Maria A.,
Mary R., Oliver P., Joshua, Oirard,
Lizzie and Richard A. Mr. Workman
is among the most influential men of
his township. Democrat.
Digitized by VjOOQIC
HARRISBURG TOWNSHIP.
601
ftbe
tor
HARRISBURG TOWNSHIP.
j. A LEXANDER, W. H., fanner, Sec.
x\- 20 ; P. 0. Bentonsport.
BARR, ROBERT, far., S. 1 ; P. 0.
Hillsboro.
Barger, L., merchant, in Harrisbnrg Tp.
Baugher, J., iar., 8. 26 ; P. 0. Big Mound.
Bell, J. H., far., S. 33 ; P. 0. Bonaparte.
Bennett, J., far., Sec. 25; P. 0. Big
Mound.
BLACKFORD, J. W., Bonaparte.
BOON, B. li.. DR., physician ^d
surgeon ; Utica ; son of Samuel and
Sarah (Crawford) Boon ; was born
Jan. 1, 1850, near Birmingham in this
county, where his father still lives ; his
mother died Aug. 26, 1856; parents
emigrated to this county in July, 1845,
from Wayne Co., Ohio. Dr. Boon was
educated at the Birmingham Academy
and at Monmouth College, Illinois ; com-
menced the study of medicine in 1873,
under Dr. J. N. Norris, of Birmingham,
and subsequently attended Rush Med-
ical College, of Chicago, 111. ; commenced
the practice of medicine in Bonaparte
in 1876, and, in 1877, came to Utica,
where he is now located. Republican.
BBOWNFIELD, E. P., M. D.,
&rmer and physician ; P. 0. Bentons-
port ; owns 350 acres of land, valued at
$35 per acre ; son of Robert and Sarah
Brownfield; bom Aug. 20, 1832, in
Fayette Co., Penn. ; parents moved to
Union Co., Ind., in 1834 ; and to Deca-
tur Co., in 1839 ; to Van Buren Co.,
Iowa, spring of 1846, and located near
Utica, in Cedar Tp., where his father
died Sept. 10, 1857, in the 64th year
of his age, having served in the war of
1812 ; his mother is living on the home
farm in her 83d year. Mr. Brownfield
married Mary A. Stevens, of this county,
March 24, 1853 ; she was bom May 12,
1834, in Ripley Co., Ind. In the fall
of 1853, he moved into Wapello Co. ;
. returned to this county in the spring of
of 1855 ; in the fell of 1858, moved to
Sullivan Co., Mo., and, in February,
I860, returned to Van Buren Co. and
commenced the study of medicint with
Dr. Allen, of Bentonsport ; since, he has
followed the stock business, continuing
his studies and the practice of medicine;
he graduated at the Collie of P^si-
cians and Surgeons, in Keokuk, Feb.
14, 1878; purchased his present farm
in 1873 ; has accumulated all his prop-
erty since 1860, by economy, industry
and perseverance. Has been Justice of
the Peace about four years. Has nine
children living — Sarah A., Rebecca R.,
William A., George B., Herman G.,
Carrie A., John F. A., Mary E. and
Charles P. ; lost two-^Andrew A. and
Robert V. Member of the Missionary
Baptist Church ; Democrat.
Buragroff, J., far., S. 27 ; P. 0. Bonaparte.
CAHPBELIi. liEWIS, far., S
10; 0. P. Bonaparte; owns 100
acres of land, valued at $40 per acre ; he
was born Jan. 2, 1834, in Fayette Co.^
Penn. ; came with parents to this coun-
ty in the spring of 1855. Married
Minerva McDow Dec. 15, 1859 ; she
was. bom Sept. 25, 1832, in Illinois;
have five children — Albert D., bora Feb.
9,1861; Elliott B., Feb. 27, 1863-
Exavera, April 28, 1866; Julia L.,
Aug. 30, 1872 ; Hattie T., March 9,
1874. His wife is a member of the
church. His father died in March,
1874 ; mother still lives with brother in
Jefferson Co., Iowa. Republican.
Cass, L.. fer., S. 18 ; P. 0. Bentonsport.
Cheney, L. C, far., S. 33 ; P. 0. Bona-
cJutiSTIAN, A. J^ fir.,S. 13;
P. 0. Bonaparte ; owns 200 acres of
land, valued at $50 per acre ; born Nov.
17, 1814, in Hawkins Co., Tenn. ; par-
ents moved into McMinn Co., in 1826.
He married there Sarah McKeehan Feb.
12. 1832. Moved into Marshall Co. in
1834 ; in the fall of 1838, he came to
Van Buren Co., Iowa ; lived near Bona-
parte till 1840, when he purchased the
fSu-m now owned by Jacob Fritsinger ;
in the fall of 1841, had the misfortune
of having his house bumed with all its
contents ; sold and purchased the i'arm
now owned by W. C. Sturdivant; re-
mained there a few years ; then sold and
came on his present ferm. His wife
died Sept. 22, 1864 ; again married, to
Elisabeth Calhoun June 18, 1865; she
was born Jan. 9, 1843, in Philadelphia,
Digitized by VjOOQIC
«02
DIRECTORY OP VAN BUREN COUNTY :
Penn. ; has seven children hy first wife I
living — Charles W., Asbury L., Naomi ;
E., Mary J., Sarah J., Eliza A., Mar-
tha I. ; lost one — William A. ; by second
wife — Edwin E. and Lottie M. Democrat
Oline, A., far., Sec. 34 ; P. 0. Bonaparte.
donnor, P., far., Sec. 28 ; P. 0. Bonaparte.
€re6swell, Mathew, far., S. 11; P. O.
Bonaparte.
Ouster, John L., Bonaparte.
npvODD, D. J., far., Sec. 9 ; P. 0. Utica.
Dodds, J., far., S. 16; P. 0. Pierceville.
l>ODD», W. H., farmer; P. O.
Pierceville ; owns 130 acres of land,
valued at $35 per acre; bom Sept.
19, 1838, in Jefferson Co., 111. ; came
with parents to Iowa in the spring of
1851, and located in Lee Co. ; in 1854,
came to Van Buren Co. ; made his home
at his fathers till he enlisted in Co. F,
14th Iowa Inf , in October, 1861 ; par-
ticipated in the battle of Fort Donelson ;
also at Pittsburg Landing ; at the latter
place was taken prisoner ; sent to Mont-
gomery, Ala. ; thence to Macon, Ga. ;
then to Olivia, Va., where he was pa-
roled and exchanged, after being in
prison over nine months ; re-entered the
service in April, 1862 ; was promoted
to Second Lieutenant ; in the spring of
1863, to First Lieutenant; was with
Oon. Banks in his Red River expedi-
tion ; also with A. J. Smith in his raid
through Mississippi ; mustered out in
November, 1864, and returned home.
Married Catherine S. Geddis, of this
county, June 1, 1865 ; she was born in
1847, died in November, 1868; he
again married, Ellen M. Perry March
1, 1872 ; she was born in 1854, in
Ohio ; had two children by first wife —
Lydia W. and William V., and two by
second wife — John D. and Homer.
Mr. Dodds went to California in Febru-
ary, 1 870 ; returned the following fall.
Is a member of the Missionary Baptist
Church ; Greenbacker.
DRAKES, JOSEPH, far., S. 3 ;
p. 0. Utica ; owns ejghty acres of land,
valued at $45 per acre ; born March
15, 1809, in Lincolnshire, England;
followed the occupation of coachman ;
came to New York City in April, 1830 ;
remained there and in vicinity about
three years as coachman ; then went to
Boston and engaged at same busineas ;
in 1835, went to Philadelphia; thence
to Baltimore. Md., and was a driver on
the Good Intent line of stages ^[>etween
Baltimore and Wheeling, W. Va. ; a
year after, went to Cincinnati, Ohio;
drove stage on the line between there
and Springfield; then engaged with a
man of the name of Basey as horseman
at Hamilton City ; afterward in a livery-
stable in Cincinnati, after which he
went to Louisville, Ky., a short time,
then to Vicksburg and to New Orleans ;
retruned to Cincinnati and engaged in
the livery business ; went to Uniontown,
Penn., and engaged in the stage-driving
business again. Married, while there,
Jane Nixon April 1, 1841 ; she wis
bom March 12, 1819. In the fidl of
1848, he immigrated to Van Buren Co.,
Iowa, and located on his present fium.
Have no children. Republican.
EASLING, H. L.,far., Sec. 15; P.
0. Bonaparte.
Easling, M., far., S. 22 ; P. 0. Bonaparte.
EICH9 JACOB, farmer. Sec. 28;
P. 0. Bonaparte; son of Phillip and
Catherine (Swigert) Eich ; was born
Nov. 5, 1830, in Adams Co., Penn.;
came with his parents to this county in
the spring of 1844 ; in the spring of
1850, went to California by overland
route ; remained there till the spring of
1854, and then returned to Iowa. Mar-
ried Agnes Beck, of this county, May
31, 1855 ; she was bom Oct. 17, 1834,
in Adams Co., Penn.; have eight chil-
dren— Anna, Phillip, Alice, Thomas,
Charles, Hattie, Katie and George. In
1860, moved into Bonaparte* and en-
gaged in the employ of Meek Brothers,
in the grist-mill, till 1872, and then en-
gaged in the grain business with Mr.
Chapman till 1874, then in the mercan-
tile business tiU 1876, when he came on
his present farm of 240 acres, owned by
him in company with the other heirs of
Mr. George Beck, his father, who died
March 4, 1854, and his mother Feb.
22, 1859. Mr. E. has served his town-
ship as Clerk and Trustee several years,
also as Assessor of Bonaparte Tp. Uem-
ocrftt.
ENDEBSBY, ABTHVB, farm-
er. Sec. 12 ; P. 0. Hilbboro, Henry
Co.; owns 280 acres of land, valued at
Digitized by VjOOQIC
HARRI8BURG TOWNSHIP.
. $40 per acre ; born March 11, 1835, in
Bedfordshire, Eng.; his parents immi-
grated to the United States in 1841,
and located near Hillsboro, Henry Co.;-
in 1843, came into Van Buren Co.; in
1857, went to Calitbrnia, and, in 1859,
returned to Van Buren Co.; his
father died in 1860. Married Anna
M. Smith, of Lee Co., Iowa, May 16,
1860 ; she was born in 1841, near
Zanesville, Ohio; haye nine children
living — Elizabeth S., Alvadus 0., Ar-
thur E., Ulysses S., Vincent C, Will-
iam, Alonzo, Robert L. and Lorenzo
D. Oreenbacker.
Ely, J. W., for., Sec. 7 ; P. 0. Picrceville.
Enj?le, S., far., Sec. 22 ; P. 0. Bonaparte.
FARNUM, FREDERICK, far.. Sec.
23; P.O. Bonaparte.
Fletcher, WUliam, far., S. 26 ; P. 0. Big
Mound.
FBITSINGER, JACOB, far.,
Section 34 ; P. 0. Bonaparte ; owns
290 acres of land, valued at 840 per
acre; born March 26, 1822, in Wayne
Co., Ohio. Married there Catherine
Ebe March 12, 1846; she was bom
Sept. 16, 1824 ; in the summer of 1848,
emigrated to Iowa; stopped first at
Mahaska Co., a short time, then went
to Lee Co., near West Point; in the
sprbg of 1849, came to his present
farm. Have one son — John W., bom
Nov. 9, 1839. Member of the Mission-
ary Baptist Church ; Democrat.
GILBERT, H., far., S. 31 ; P. 0.
Bentonsport.
HARLAN, CYRUS, far., S. 1 ; P. 0.
Hillsboro.
Harlan, N. B., far., S. 2 ; P. 0. Hillsboro.
Harr, H. W., fer., S. 35 ; P. 0. Bona-
parte.
Harris, G., iar., S. 29 ; P. 0. Bonaparte.
Heller. J. A., far., S. 15 ; P.O. Bonaparte.
Henry, T., far., S. 8 ; P. 0. Pierceville.
HORN. HUGH N^ farmer. Section
1 ; P. 0. Hillsboro, Henry Co., Iowa ;
owns a farm of 300 acres, valued at
$40 per acre; born Nov. 17, 1830,
in Washington Co., Penn. In early
life, he learned the carpenter and joiner's
trade ; came to Van Buren Co., 'Iowa,
in 1857, and remained till the fall of
1860 ; returned to Pennsylvania, and,
in the spring of 1861, enlisted in an in-
dependent cavalry company, from Wash-
ington Co., Penn., in which he con-
tinued two years' and eight months,
when he was transferred to Co. B, of
the 22d Penn. Cavalry ; participated in
the battle of Winchester, Va.; also
many of the battles of Hunter's raid to
Lynchburg, Va.; part of the time under
Sheridan in his raid in the Shenandoah
Valley ; discharged in the fall of 1864.
In the fall of 1865, returned to this
county and foUowed his trade ; in 1873,
bought his present farm. Married Su-
sannah Grim Nov. 17, 1874 ; she was
bora in 1843, in Pennsylvania; died
Aug. 8, 1876. Republican.
Ii§(BAEL, J. D., fiu-mer. Sec. 4;
P. 0. Utica ; owns 710 acres of land,
valued at $40 per acre ; bom Sept. 14,
1818, in Butler Co., Ohio; parents
moved to Decatur Co., Ind., in 1830 ;
in the fall of 1843, he came to Wash-
ington Co., Iowa; in the spring of
1850, went by overland route to Cali-
fornia; returned in the spring of 1851,
and located in Harrisburg Tp. Married
Julia Nixon, daughter of Isaac Nixon,
Sept. 14, 1851 ; have six children liv-
ing— John I., Clara B., Oeorge H.,
Lanssa, Nettie and Joseph ; lost two —
Mary J. and Emma. Mr. Israel has,
by his own industry and economy, accu-
mulated a handsome property, which
will enable him lo pass down the decline
of life in peace and comfort. Memben
of the Missionary Baptist Church ; Re-
publican.
TEWETT, A., &r., S. 5 ; P. 0. Utica.
Jewett, 0., fer., S. 5 ; P. 0. Utica.
Johnson, B., far., S. 1 ; P. 0. Hillsboro.
Johnson, C. P , far.,S. 2 ; P. O. HUlsboro.
KING, M., far.. Sec. 34 ; P. 0. Bona-
parte.
KECK, HENRY, farmer. Sec. 5;
P. 0. Utica; owns 420 acres of land,
valued at $40 per acre; bom Dec. 4,
in 1823, Westmoreland Co., Penn.; went
to Cincinnati, Ohio, and engaged in a
wholesale and retail grocery store for his
uncle; in the fall of 1849, came to
Van Buren Co. ; in the spring of 1850,
went by overland route to Califomia;
returned in 1851 ; in 1852, again went
to California; in 1855, returned and
settled on the farm where .he now lives.
He married Mary Nixon, daughter of
Digitized by VjOOQIC
604
DIRECTORY OP VAN BUREN COUNTY:
Isaao NixoD, of this oonntj, Deo. 13,
1855 ; she was born May 28, 1830, Id
Fayette Co., Peon. ; have four childreft
living — Anna B., Elmer E., Sallie C,
Henry J. ; lost one daughter — Ella J.
Mr. Keck*s &ther died here June 10,
1863, at the age of 59, and his mother
died May 20, 1874, at the age of 64.
Member of the M. E. Church ; Repub-
lican.
Klise, a, far.. Sec. 8 ; P. 0. Utica.
Klise, John, far., Sec. 6; P. 0. Utioa.
LBFFLER, M.,far., Sec. 17; P. O.
PiercevUle.
Lyon, F. M., iar. and blacksmith. Sec. 7 ;
P. 0. Pieroeville.
Lyon, J., far.. Sec. 7; P. 0. Pieroeville.
MAHLER, M., far., Sec. 32; P. 0.
Bonaparte.
Mannin^r, A., far., S. 17; P. O. Birming-
ham.
Martin, A., far., S. 11 ; P. 0. Bonaparte.
Masdon, J., far., S. 1 ; P. 0. HUlsboro.
McGullough, D. C, far., S. 4; P.O. Utica.
McGoun, T. S., far., S. 25; P. 0. Big
Mound.
McGrear, G., fiur., S. 2; P. 0. Utica.
McLain, R., fer., S. 8; P. 0. Pierceville.
Meredith, J., far.; P. 0. Bonaparte.
Miller, A., far., S. 32; P. 0. Bonaparte.
Miller, A., far., S. 22; P. 0. Bonaparte.
MiUer, C. 0., far., 8. 34; P. 0. Bonaparte.
Miller, G. W., for., S. 26 ; P. O. Bonaparte.
Miller, J. A., far., S. 22 ; P. O. Bonaparte.
Miller, J. H., far.; P. 0. Bonaparte.
MUler, W., fat., 8. 34; P. 0. Bonaparte
JHIIiliER, SAHfJEIi Hi, far..
Sec. 15; P. 0. Bonaparte; owns 240
acres of land, valued at $40 per acre ;
born Feb. 24, 1826, in Hardy Co.,
W. Va. Married there Amelia Miller
October 11, 1847 ; she was bom March
4, 1829; came to Iowa in the fall
of 1852, and settled in Appanoose Co. ;
in the fall of 1854, he moved to Cali-
fornia; in the fall of 1858, returned
to Iowa and settled upon his present
farm in Harrisburg Tp.. Van Buren
Co. ; has one daughter living, who mar-
ried W. A. Christian in February,
1870, who died in May, 1877 ; she now
lives at her Other's ; lost two children —
Susannah and America. Democrat.
Moore, H., former. Sec. 25; P. O. Big
Mound.
Moore. J., far., S. 13; P. 0. Big Mound.
PERCIVAL, J. B., far., S. 12 ; P. O.
Hillsboro.
PEASE. J. B., fanner. Sec 24; P.
0. Big Mound, Lee Co., Iowa; owns
215 acres of land, valued at $55 per
acre ; bom Jan. 24, 1817, in Washing-
ton Co., Penn. ; in the spring of 1851,
came to Iowa, and located in Marion
Tp., of Lee Co. ; in the spring of 1865,
moved into Washington T^., same
county; thence to his pres^it fiurm in
Harrisburg Tp. in the spring of 1866.
Married Elisabeth McCullough Sept.
24, 1844, in Pennsylvania; she was
born in November, 1820, and died Dec.
25, 1856 ; again married, Catharine L.
Crawford in Pennsylvania Nov. 24,
1859 ; she was bom in 1827, and died
Dec. 29, 1865 ; again, married Catharine
C. Brownlee Oct. 17, 1867; she was
bom in 1827 in Pennsylvania; had
four children by first wife — Frances M.,
Anna M., John M. and Samuel G., who
died in Tennessee in the army; had
four children by second wife, all of
whom died in infancy. Mr. Pease was
elected to the House of Representatives
from Lee Co. in the fall of 1856, and to
the Senate from Van Buren Co. in
1873. Is a member of the Presbyte-
rian Church ; Democrat.
Piper, John, far., 8. 12; P. 0. HUlsboro.
Proper, L. W.,fer., 8. 15 ; P. 0. Bonaparte.
PROPER, O. C, farmer, Sec. 14; P.
0. Bonaparte ; owns 805 acres of land,
valued at $45 per acre ; bom March 7,
1825, in Tompkins Co., N. Y. ; in Uie
fall of 1845, went to Mason Co., Ky.;
in the fall of 1846, came to Van Buren
Co., Iowa; thence to Tennessee, and
there appointed Assistant Quartermaster
in the U. S. A., and went to Mexico
during the Mexican war ; in the &11 of
1847, returned to Van Buren Co., and
purchased a part of the farm which he
now owns. Married to Caroline C. Sedg-
wick, of Tompkins Co., N. Y., May 1,
1851; she was bom Jan. 12, 1831;
have six children living — Alice M.,
Hena M., Clinton L., Mfutsus 0., Elmi-
ra and Carlton C; lost one— Charlotte.
Mr. Proper is the owner of one of the
best fimns in his township. Repub-
lican.
ROBBINS, W. C&r., 8. 6; P. O.
Utica.
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HARRI8BURG TOWNSHIP.
605
Rodestock, F., far., 8. 29; P.O.Bentons-
port.
BouDkles, J. P., ftr., 8. 27 ; P. 0. Bona-
parte.
Ruaaell, S.,far.,8ec. 27; P. 0. Bonaparte.
SCHMIDT, JOHN P., farmer. Sec. 32 ;
P. O. Bonaparte.
Sdimidt, C. W., far., S. 32 ; P. 0. Bona-
parte.
Smith, M., far. ; P. 0. Bonaparte.
SIVTDER, ADAH, farmer; P. 0.
BentODsport ; owna 102 acres of land,
yalued at $35 per acre; bom Aug.
10, 1816, in Chester Co., Peno.; worked
at fanning till about 30 years of age,
then worked on the P. C. R. R. abont
ten years, till he came to Van Buren
Co., Iowa, in the spring of 1859, and
settled upon the farm upon which he
is still living. Married Anna M. Tus-
sey March 11, 1^7, in. Pennsylvania ;
she was born April 8, 1^22 ; have two
ohildren — Adelaide Y., bom Feb. 29,
1848, and William M., bom April 29,
1858 ; son was married to Rebecca R.
Brownfield, May 4, 1876; daughter
was married to Harris Ejasling, who is
in Kansas. Members of the M. E.
Church; Democrat.
8PROTT, SAJHUEIi J., fhrmer.
Sec. 3 ; P. O. Utica ; owns 186 acres of
land, valued at $40 per acre ; son of
Thomas and Elizabeth Sprott; bom
Dec. 9, 1829, in Beaver Co., Penn.;
came with parents to Lee Co., Iowa, in
the M of 1845 ; in 1853, came to Van
Buren Co., Iowa ; his father died Aug.
23, 1876, and mother March 13, 1869.
He married Sarah E. Straight Sept. 15,
1857; she was bom March 16, 1836,
in Tyler Co., W. Va., and came to Iowa
in 1855 ; have six children living —
Samuel D., Ida, Fred, John, Frank and
Fanny K. ; lost five— Joseph T., May
B., Charlie, Miriam and Willie. Mr.
Sprott has filled the offices of Trastee
and Assessor of the township. Demo-
crat.
Spraker, J., mer., Sec. 6; P. 0. Utica.
Sprankle, W. U., far.. Sec. 34 ; P. 0. Bo-
naparte.
Steele, H., far.. Sec. 3; P. 0. HUlsboro.
STEPHENSON, J. H., farmer.
Sec. 24 ; P. 0. Big Mound, Lee Co.;
owns ninety acres of land, valued at $50
per acre; born Dec. 11, 1826, in Wash-
ington Co., Penn.; came to Van Buren
Co., Iowa, in the spring of 1854, and
settled on the fiurm where he now
. resides ; during the year 1875, he lived
in Fort iMadison. Married Miss Sarah
J. Sutherland, of Jefierson Co., Ohio,
July 27, 1848; she was born Jan. 10,
1826 ; have one daughter — Rebecca L.,
bora July 15, 1849 ; married John H.
Kinsley, of Fort Madison, Iowa, Nov.
12, 1873. Members of the Presbyte-
rian Church. Democrat.
Stephenson, J. H., far., S. 24 ; P. 0. Big
Mound.
Stevens, D. F., fiir.. Sec. 21 ; P. 0. Bo-
naparte.
Stonehouse, Richard, far.. Sec. 12 ; P. O.
Hillsboro.
Sturdivant, R. J., far.. Sec. 35; P. 6.
Bonaparte.
Sutherland, David, far.. Sec. 26; P. 0.
Big Mound.
TADE, WM. A., ftr.. Sec. 4; P. O.
Utica.
TUIiliY, S. JH., fiumer. Section 24 ;
P. O. Big Mound; owns 143 acres
of land, valued at $40 per acre ; bora
Jan. 28, 1825, in Frederick Co., Md. ;
went with his parents to Pickaway Co.,
Ohio, in the spring of 1853; in 1856,
went to New York City, and shipped
on board a sailing-vessel for Melboume,
Australia; was eighty-one days making
the trip ; followed mining, carpenter
and joiner work ; in 1859, left for home
in a sailing-vessel to Liverpool, and
steamer thence to New York City ; in
the fall of 1859, came to Iowa ; stopped
at Farmington, in Harrisburg Tp., and
purchased his present farm. Married
Margaret Baugher Dec. 25, 1859 ; she
was bom in March, 1841, in Penn-
sylvania; have five children living —
Mary C. Alice A., William H.. Re-
becca L. and Albert M ; lost four — lane
£•, Thomas, Alonzo and George. Mem-
ber of the Christian Church ; Democrat.
VALE, BENJAMIN R.,
farmer and stock-raiser, makes a
specialty of Mambrino horses. Sec. 15 ;
P. 0. nonapfrt-te ; son of Jacob G. and
Anne Yale ; born Juno 4, 1848, in
Jefferson Co., Ohio; his parents emi-'
grated to Iowa in the spring of 1850, and
located near Primrose, Lee Co.; in the
spring of 1856, he came into^Harrisburg
Digitized by VjOOQIC
.%
606
DIRECTORY OP VAN BURBN COUNTY.
, Tp., Van Buren Co.; where hia father
died Feb. 17, 1875, in the 54th year of
his age, leaving a wife and three chil-
dren— Benjamin R., Lydia A. and Mar-
tha. Mr. Vale was a man of ability,
haying served as Senator, and iq other
official capacity ; was one of the leading
farmers of the county, owning, at the
time of his death, nearly 2,000 acres of
land, 845 acres in the home farm, of
which B. R. has charge ; since the
death of Mr.Vale, there have been added
to the estate, so that now there are 2,080
acres of land. Mr. B. R. Vale attended
the Birmingham Academy, of this coun-
ty ; finished his education at Monmouth
College, Ul.; graduated in June, 1873.
Married Nancy V. J. Biddle, of Kirk-
wood, Ul.,Feb. 12, 1874; she was bom
Nov. 2, 1849, in Mercer Co., Penn.;
have three children — Anne R., Mary
B. and an infant. Members of the
Union Presbyterian Church; Repub-
lican.
WHEATLEY, T., far., S. 11 ; P. 0.
Hillsboro.
WAIililNOFOBD, HENRY,
farmer. Sec. 36 ; P. 0. 6onaparte ; owns
160 acres of land, valued at $40 per
acre; born March 5, 1855, in Warren
Co., 111.; his parents moved to Henry
Co., Iowa, in January, 1>^66; the fol-
lowing fall he came to Van Buren Co.
He married Elizabeth Miller, of this
county, in September, 1875 ; she was
born April 23, 1860, in Fayette Co.,
Penn.; have one son — Harry, born May
18, 1878. Democrat.
WAIiliOrGFORD, JAHRS
M.mj farmer, Sec. 22 ; P. O. Bonaparte ;
owns 160 acres of land, valued at $40
per acre ; bom July 9, 1857, in Warren
Co.,' 111.; his parents moved to Henry
Co., Iowa, in January, 1866 ; the fol-
lowing fall, came into Van Buren Co.,
and settled on the farm now owned bj
his brother Henry, where his parents
both died June 9, 1872. Married Fan-
ny Talbott, of Clarke Co., Mo., Sept 19,
1878 ; she was bom Oct. 23, 1859, in
Keokuk, Iowa. Member of Baptist
Church; Democrat.
WhUhelm, D., far., S. 29 ; P. 0. Bona-
parte.
White, S., far., S. 34 ; P. 0. Bonaparte.
WOODS, A. H., farmer, Sec. 31 ;
P. 0. Bentonsport ; owns 700 acres of
land, valued at $40 per acre ; born Aug.
11, 1808, near Wheeling, W. Va.;
his parents moved to Wayne Co., Ohio,
in 1816; in 1829, he^went to Constan-
tino, St. Joseph Co., Mich., and pur-
chased land there, but engaged in mill-
ing for William Meek. Married his
daughter Elizabeth Meek, in 1834; she
was born April 8, 1813, in Ohio. Came
to Van Buren Co., Iowa, in « the spring
of 1837, and settled on a part of the
land he still owns, where, by careful
management and economy, he has one of
the best farms in his township, and well
improved. Has eight children living —
William, Robert, Ellen, Elizabeth,
Sarah, Henrietta, Mary and Jesse ; lost
three — Margaret J., Mary A. and
Nancy. Democrat.
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