Full text of "Past and present of Guthrie County, Iowa : together with biographical sketches of many of its prominent and leading citizens and illustrious dead"

NYPL RESEARCH LIBRARIES

3 3433 08192037 7

Btr;:.%.V

■;;^'^li|;'

rvo

past

-Pa-

GUTHRIE COUNTY COURT HOUSE

PAST AND PRESENT

GUTHRIE COUNTY, IOWA

TOGETHER WITH

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES

OF MANY OF ITS PROMINENT AND LEADING CITIZENS AND

ILLUSTRIOUS DEAD

ILLUSTRATED

CHICAGO:
THE S. J. CLARKE PUBLISHING COMPANY

1907

THE h£W YORK I

PUBLIC IIBRAIiY

99234R

ASTOK, LE.NOX AM;

iiwm KoUiNi)AT:oi\s

B 1941

HISTORICAL

INTRODUCTION.

Sixty years ago all that part of
the great and beautiful state of Iowa
of which the county of Guthrie is
a part was practically terra incognita,
a. vast wilderness, given over by the
Almighty to wild beasts, birds of the air and
their masters, the Indians, who roamed the
plains and forests at will, claiming and se-
curing an existence from the bounteous hand
of nature. Here the deer, buffalo and other
fur-bearing animals found a habitat, and the
many streams gave generously of the pal-
atable fish. The red man had no care for
the morrow. No thought came to him that
his possessions would ever be disturbed by
the pale face. So he continued on in his
dreams. The hunt was his daily avocation,
broken in upon at intervals by a set-to with
a hostile tribe of aborigines, that was always
cruel and bloody in its results and added
spoils to the victor and captives for torture.
He knew not of the future and cared less.
But the time was coming, was upon him,
when he was called upon to make way for a
stronger and a progressive race of men;
when the fair land, that was their birthright
and their hunting grounds, resplendent with
the gorgeous flower and emerald sod, must
vield to the husbandman. The time had

come for the buft'alo, deer and elk to seek
pastures new, that the alluvial soil might be
turned to the sun and fed with grain, to
yield in their seasons the richest of harv'ests.
It is hard for the present generation to
realize the rapid pace of civilization on the
western continent in the past one hundred
years; and when one confines his attention
to the advancement of the state of Iowa in
the past sixty years, his amazement is all
the more intense. Evidences of progress
are on every hand as one wends one's way
across the beautiful state. Manufacturing
plants are springing up hither and yon;
magnificent edifices for religious worship
point their spires heavenward ; schoolhouses,
colleges and other places of learning and in-
struction make the state stand out promi-
nently among her sisters of this great re-
public. Villages are growing into towns
and towns are taking on the dignity of a city
government, until today Iowa is noted
throughout the Union for the number,
beauty and thrift of her towns and cities.
The commonwealth is cobwebbed with her
telegraph, telephone and railroad lines, and
all these things above-mentioned have been
made possible by the thrift, determination
and high character of the people who claim
citizenship within her borders.

J t »

3 * '

PAST AND PRESENT OF

THE INDIAN AND HIS FATE.

It is conceded by historians who have
given the subject deep thought and careful
research that this country was inhabited by
a race of human l)eings distinct from the
red man. But that is beyond the province
of this work. The men and women who
opened up the state of Iowa and the county
of Guthrie to civihzation had only the red
man to dispute their coming and obstruct
their progress ; and in that regard some-
thing should be recorded in these pages.

So far as the writer can ascertain the In-
dians were the first inhabitants of Iowa. For
more than one hundred years after Mar-
quette and Joliet had trod the virgin soil
of Iowa and admired its fertile plains, not
a single settlement had been made or at-
tempted ; nor even a trading post established.
The whole country remained in the undis-
puted possession of the native tribes. These
tribes fought among themselves and against
each other for supremacy and the choicest
hunting grounds became the reward for the
strongest and most valiant of them.

When Marquette visited this country in
1673, the mini were a very powerful people
and occupied a large portion of the state.
But when the country was again visited by
the whites, not a remnant of that once pow-
erful tribe remained on the west side of the
Mississippi, and Iowa was principally in
the possession of the Sacs and Foxes, a war-
like tribe which, originally two distinct na-
tions, residing in New York and on the wa-
ters (^f 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 Pon-
tiac, a famous Sac chieftain, was made the
pretext for war against the Illini, and a fierce
and bloody struggle ensued, which contin-
ued until the Illini were nearly destroyed,
and their possessions went into the hands of
their \iclorious foes. The lowas also occu-

pied a portion of the state, for a time, in
common with the Sacs, but they, too, were
nearly destroyed by the Sacs and Foxes and,
in the ''Beautiful Land," these natives met
their equally war-like and blood-thirsty
enemies, the Northern Sioux, with whom
they maintained a constant warfare for the
possession of the country for a great many
years.

In 1803 when, under the administration
of Thomas Jefferson, then president of the
L^nited States, Louisiana was purchased
from Napoleon Bonaparte, emperor of
France, the Sacs, Foxes and lowas possessed
the entire state of Iowa and the two former
tribes, also, occupied most of Illinois. The
Sacs had four principal villages, where most
of them resided. Their largest and most im-
portant town, from which emanated most
of the obstacles encountered by the govern-
ment 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, llie Foxes
had three principal villages. One was on
the west side of the Mississippi, six miles
above the rapids of Rock river ; another was
about twelve miles from the river, in the rear
of the Dubuque lead mines ; and the third
was on Turkey river.

The lowas, at one time identified with
the Sacs, of Rock river, had withdrawn
from them and become a separate tribe.
Their 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 lowas was fought, in which Black
Hawk, then a young man, commanded one
division of the attacking forces. The fol-
lowing account of the battle has been given:

"Contrary t(^ long established custom of
Indian attack, this battle was commenced in

GUTHRIE COUNTY, IOWA.

the daytime, the attending circumstances
justifying this departure from the well-set-
tled usages of Indian warfare. The battle-
field was a level river bottom, about
four miles in length and two miles
wide 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
river was fringed with a dense growth of
willows. Near the lower end of this prairie,
near the river bank, was situated the Iowa
village. About two miles above it and near
the middle of the prairie is a mound, covered
at the time with a small clump of 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. Bor-
dering this wet prairie on the north, the
country rises abruptly into elevated broken
river bluffs, covered with a heavy forest for
miles in extent, and in places thickly clus-
tered with undergrowth, affording conve-
nient shelter for the stealthy approach of an
enemy.

"Through this forest the Sac and Fox
war party made their way in the night, and
secreted themselves in the tall grass spoken
of above, intending to remain in ambush
during the day and make such observations
as this near proximity to their intended vic-
tims might afford, to aid them in their con-
templated attack on the town during the fol-
lowing night. From this situation their spies
could take a full 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.

"At the foot of the mound above men-
tioned the lowas had their race course, where
they diverted themselves with the excitement
of horse racing, and schooled their young

warriors in cavalry evolutions. In these
exercises mock battles were fought, and the
Indian tactics of attack and defense care-
fully inculcated, by which means a skill in
horsemanship was acquired that is rarely ex-
celled. Unfortunately for them, this day
was selected for their equestrian sports and,
wholly unconscious of the proximity of their
foes, the warriors repaired to the race-
ground, leaving most of their arms in the
village, and their old men, women and chil-
dren unprotected.

"Pash-a-popo, who was chief in command
of the Sacs and Foxes, perceived at once
this state of things afforded for a complete
surprise of his now doomed victims, and or-
dered 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
simultaneous attack on the unarmed men
whose attention was engrossed with the ex-
citement of the races. The plan was skill-
fully laid and dexterously executed. Black
Hawk with his forces reached the village
undiscovered, and made a furious onslaught
upon the defenseless inhabitants by firing
one general volley into their midst, and com-
pleting the slaughter with the tomahawk and
scalping knife, aided by the devouring flames
with which they enveloped the village as soon
as the fire-brand could be spread from lodge
to lodge.

"On the instant of the report of firearms
at the village, the forces under Pash-a-popo
leaped from their coucliant position in the
grass, and sprang, tiger-like, upon the un-
armed lowas in the midst of their racing
sports. The first impulse of the latter nat-
urally led them to make the utmost speed
towards their arms in the village, and pro-
tect, if possible, their wives and children
from the attack of their merciless assail-
ants. The distance from the place of at-
tack on the prairie was two miles, and a

PAST AND PRESENT OF

great number fell in their flight by the bul-
lets and tomahawks of their enemies, who
pressed them closely with a running fire
the whole way and the survivors only
reached their town in time to witness the
horrors of its destruction. Their whole vil-
lage was in flames and the dearest objects
of their lives lay in slaughtered heaps
amidst the devouring element, and the ag-
onizing groans of the dying, mingled with
the hideously exulting shouts of the enemy,
filled their hearts with maddening despair.
Their wives and children who had been
spared the general massacre were prisoners,
and their weapons in the hands of the vic-
torious savages ; all that could now be done
was to draw off their shattered and defense-
less forces, and save as many lives as pos-
sible by a retreat across the Des Moines
river, which they eft'ected in the best pos-
sible manner, and took a position among the
Soap creek hills."

The Sioux located their hunting grounds
north of the Sacs and Foxes. They were
a fierce and warlike nation, and often dis-
puted possession in savage and fiendish war-
fare. The possessions of these tribes were
mostly located in Minnesota, but extended
also 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 col-
lision with the Sacs and Foxes and after
many a sanguine conflict, a boundary line
was established between them by the gov-
ernment of the United States, in a treaty
held at Prairie du Chien in 1825. Instead
of settling the difficulties, this caused them
to quarrel all the more, in consequence of al-
leged trespasses upon each other's side of
the line. So bitter and unrelenting became
these contests that, in 1830, the government
l)urchased of the I'espective tribes of the Sacs
and Foxes, and the Sioux, a strip of land
twenty miles wide on both sides of the line,
thus throwing them forty miles apart by cre-
ating a "neutral ground," and commanded

them to cease their hostilities. They were,
however, allowed to fish on the ground un-
molested, provided they did not interfere
with each other on United States territory.

Soon after the acquisition of Louisiana
the United States government adopted meas-
ures for the exploration of the new terri-
tory, 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 Amiy of the
West, General Wilkinson commanding, had
its headquarters at St. Louis. From this
post Captains Lewis and Clarke, with a suf-
ficient force, were detailed to- explore the
unknown sources of the Missouri, and Lieu-
tenant Tebulon M. Pike to ascend to the
headwaters of the Mississippi. Lieutenant
Pike, with one sergeant, two corporals and
seventeen privates, left the military camp,
near St. Louis, in a kiel boat, with four
months' rations, August 9, 1805. On the
20th of the same month the expedition ar-
rived within the present limits of the state
of Iowa, at the foot of the Des Moines rap-
ids, where Pike met William Ewing, who
had just been appointed Indian agent at this
point ; a French interpreter, four chiefs, fif-
teen 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, wishes to be more acquainted
with the situation and wants of the different
nations of red people in our new-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 af-
ford the satisfaction required."

At the close of the council he presented
the red men with some knives, tobacco and
whisky. On the 23d of August he arrived
at what is supposed, from his description, to^

GUTHRIE COUNTY, IOWA.

be the site of the present city of Burhngton,
which he selected as the location for a mili-
tary 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 forty degrees twenty-
one minutes north. The channel of .the
river runs on that shore. The hill in front
is about sixty feet perpendicular, and nearly
level at the top. About four hundred yards
in the rear is a small prairie, fit for garden-
ing, and. immediately under the hill is a
limestone spring, sufficient for the con-
sumption 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 Madi-
son, but from the distance, latitude, descrip-
tion and map furnished by Pike, it could
not have been the place selected by him, while
all the circumstances corroborate the opinion
that the spot he selected was the place where
Burlington is now located, called by the
early voyagers on the Mississippi "Flint
Hills." In company with one of his men
Pike went on shore on a hunting expedition,
and following a stream which they supposed
to be a part of the Mississippi, they were led
away from their course. Owing to the in-
tense heat and tall grass, his two favorite
dogs, which he had taken with him, became
exhausted, and he left them on the prairie,
supposing they would follow him as soon
as the}^ should g"et rested, and went on to
overtake his boat. After reaching the river
he waited some time for his canine friends,
but they did not come, and as he deemed it
inexpedient to detain the boat longer, two
of his men volunteered to go in pursuit of
them. He then continued on his way up
the river, expecting the men would soon
overtake him. They lost their way, how-
ever, and for six days were without food,
except a few morsels gathered from the

not accidentally met a trader from St. Louis,
stream, and might have perished had they
who induced two Indians to take them up
the river, overtaking the boat at Dubuque.
At the latter place Pike was cordially re-
ceived by Julien Dubuque, a Frenchman, who
held a mining claim under a grant from
Spain. He had an old field piece, and fired
a salute in honor of the advent of the first
American who had visited that part of the
territory. He was not, however, disposed
to publish the wealth of his mines, and the
young and evidently inquisitive officer ob-
tained but little information in that regard.

Upon leaving this place Pike pursued his
way up the river, but as he passed beyond
the limits of the present state of Iowa, a de-
tailed history of his explorations does not
properly belong to this volume. It is suf-
ficient to say that on the site of Fort Snel-
ling, Minnesota, he held a council with the
Sioux, September 23d, and obtained from
them a grant of one hundred thousand acres
of land.

Before the territory of Iowa could be
opened to settlement by the whites it was
first necessary that the Indian title should
be extinguished and the aborigines removed.
The territory had been purchased by the
United States, but was still occupied by the
Indians, who claimed title to the soil by
right of , possession. In order to accomplish
this purpose, large sums of money were ex-
pended, warring tribes had to be appeased
by treaty stipulations and oppression by the
whites discouraged.

BLACK HAWK.

WHien the United States assumed control
of the country, by reason of its purchase
from France, nearly the whole state was in
possession of the Sacs and Foxes, a power-
ful and warlike nation, who were not dis-
posed to submit without a struggle to what
thev regarded the encroachment on their
rights of the pale faces. Among the most

PAST AND PRESENT OF

noted chiefs, and one whose restlessness and
hatred of the whites occasioned more tron-
ble 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 energy and am-
bition he became the leading spirit of the
united nation of the 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 distinction as
a fighting chief, having led campaigns
against the Osages and other neighboring
tribes. About the beginning of the nine-
teenth century he began to appear prominent
in affairs on the Mississippi. His life was
a mangel. He is said by some to have been
the victim of a narrow prejudice and bitter
ill-will against the Americans.

November 3, 1804, a treaty was con-
cluded between William Henry Harrison,
then governor of Indiana Territory, on be-
half of the United States, and five chiefs of
the Sac and Fox nation, by which the lat-
ter, in consideration of two thousand two
hundred thirty-four dollars' worth of goods
then delivered, and a yearly annuity of one
thousand dollars to be paid in goods at just
cost, ceded to the United States all that land
on the east side of the Mississippi extending
from a point opposite the Jeft'erson, in Mis-
souri, to the Wisconsin river, embracing an
area of fifty-one million acres. To this
treaty Black Hawk always objected and al-
ways refused to consider it binding upon his
people. He asserted that the chiefs and
braves who made it had no authority to re-
linquish 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 impris-
oned at St. Louis for killing a white man.

In 1805 Lieutenant fMke came up the
river for the purpose of holding friendly
council with the Indians and selecting sites

for forts within the territory recently ac-
quired from France by the United States.
Lieutenant Pike seems to have been the first
American whom Black Hawk had met or
had a personal interview w^th, and was very
much impressed in his favor. Pike gave
a very interesting account of his visit to the
noted chief.

Fort Edwards was erected soon after
Pike's expedition, at what is now Warsaw,
Illinois, also Fort Madison, on the site of
the present town of that name, the latter be-
ing the first fort erected in Iowa. These
movements occasioned great uneasiness
among the Indians. When work was com-
menced on Fort Edwards, a delegation from
the nation, headed by their chiefs, went
down to see what the Americans were doing,
and had an interview with the commander,
after which they returned home and were
apparently satisfied. In like manner, when
Fort Madison was being erected, they sent
down another delegation from a council of
the nation held at Rock river. According
to Black Hawk's account, the American
chief told them he was building a house for
a trader, who was coming to sell them goods
cheap, and that the soldiers were coming
to keep him company — a statement which
Black Hawk says they distrusted at the
time, believing that the fort was an en-
croachment upon their rights, and designed
to aid in getting their lands away from them.
It is claimed, by good authority, that the
building of Fort Madison was a violation
of the treaty of 1804. By the eleventh ar-
ticle of that treaty, the L^'nited States had
the right to build a fort near the mouth
of the \\'isconsin river, and by article six
they had bound themselves "that if any citi-
zen of the L'nited States or any other white
person should form a settlement upon their
lands such intruder should forthwith be re-
moved." Probably the authorities of the
United States did not regard the establish-
ment of military posts as coming properly
within the meaning of the term "settlement,"

GUTHRIE COUNTY, IOWA.

as used in the treaty. At all events, they
erected Fort Madison within the territory
reserved to the Indians, who became very in-
dignant. Very soon 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 march-
ing out of the fort every morning and even-
ing for parade, and the plan of the party
was to conceal themselves near the fort, and
attack and surprise them when they were
outside. On the morning of the proposed
day of the attack five soldiers came out and
were fired upon by the Indians, two of them
being killed. The Indians were too hasty
in their movements, for the parade had not
commenced. However, they kept up the
siege several days, attempting the old Fox
strategy of setting fire to the fort with blaz-
ing arrows, but finding their efforts unavail-
ing, they desisted and returned to their wig-
wams on Rock river. In 1812, when war
was declared between this countiy and Great
Britain, Black Hawk and his band allied
themselves with the British, partly because
he was dazzled by their specious promises,
but more probably because they were de-
ceived by the Americans. Black Hawk him-
self declared thev were forced into the war
by having been deceived. He narrates the
circumstance as follows : "Several of the
head men and chiefs of the Sacs and Foxes
were called upon to go to Washington to see
their great father. On their return they re-
lated what had been said and done. They
said the great father wished them, in the
event of war taking place with England, not
to interfere on either side, but to remain
neutral. Fie did not want our help, but
wished us to hunt and support our families,
and live in peace. He said that British trad-
ers would not be permitted to come on the
Mississippi to furnish us with goods, but
that we should be supplied by an American
trader. Our chiefs then told him that the
British traders always gave them credit in

the fall for guns, powder and goods, to en-
able us to hunt and clothe our families. He
repeated that the traders at Fort Madison
would have plenty of goods ; that we should ,
go there in the fall and he would supply us
on credit, as the British traders had done."
Black Flawk seems to have accepted the
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. In
vain they pleaded the promise of their great
father at Washington; the trader was inex-
orable. Disappointed and crestfallen, the In-
dians turned sadly to their own village.
Says Black Hawk: "Few of us 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
filled with goods, and requested us to come
up immediately, because he had good news
for us and a variety of presents. The ex-
press presented us with pipes, tobacco and
wampum. The news ran through our camp
like fire on a prairie. Our lodges were soon
taken down and all started for Rock Island.
Here ended all our hopes of remaining at
peace, having been forced into the war by
being deceived." He joined the British,
who flattered him, and styled him "General
Black Hawk," decked him with medals, ex-
cited his jealousy against the Americans and
armed his band ; but he met with defeat and
disappointment, and soon abandoned the
service and returned home.

There was a portion of the Sacs and Foxes
whom Black Hawk, with all his skill and
cunning, could not lead into hostilities
against the United States. With Keokuk,
"the Watchful Fox," at their head, they were
disposed to abide by the treaty of 1804, and
to cultivate friendlv relations with the Amer-

PAST AND PRESENT OF

icaii people. So, 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. Thus the nation was divided
into the "war party" and "peace party."
Keokuk became one of the nation's great
chiefs. In person he was tall and of portly
bearing. He has been described as an ora-
tor, entitled to rank with the most gifted of
his race, and through the eloquence of his
tongue he prevailed upon a large body of his
people to remain friendly to the Americans.
As has been said, the treaty of 1804, between
the United States and the Sac and Fox na-
tions was never acknowledged by Black
Hawk and, in 183 1, he established himself
with a chosen band of warriors upon the dis-
puted territory, ordering the whites to leave
the country at once. The settlers complain-
ing, Governor Reynolds, of Illinois, de-
spatched General Gaines, with a company of
regulars and one thousand five hundred vol-
unteers, to the scene of action. Taking the
Indians by surprise, the troops burnt their
village and forced them to conclude a treaty,
by which they ceded all their lands east of
the Mississippi, and agreed to remain on the
west side of the river.

Necessity forced the proud spirit of Black
Hawk into submission, which made him
more than ever determined to be avenged
upon his enemies. Having rallied around
him the war-like braves of the Sac and Fox
nations, he recrossed the Mississippi in the
spring of 1832. Upon hearing of the in-
vasion. Governor Reynolds hastily gathered
a body of one thousand eight hundred volun-
teers, placing them under Brigadier-General
Samuel ^Vhiteside. The army marched to
the Mississippi and, having reduced to ashes
the village known as "Prophet's Town,"
proceeded several miles up Rock river, to
Dixon, to join the regular forces under Gen-
eral Atkinson. They formed, at Dixon, two
companies of volunteers, who, sighing for
glory, were dispatched to reconnoiter the

enemy. They advanced, under command of
General Stillman, to a creek, afterwards
called "Stillman's Run," and, while encamp-
ing there, saw a party of mounted Indians
at a distance of a mile. Several of Still-
man's men mounted their horses and charged
the Indians, killing three of them; but, at-
tacked by the main body, under Black Hawk,
they were routed and, by their precipitate
flight, spread such a panic through the camp
that the whole company ran off to Dixon as
fast as their legs could carry them. On
their arrival it was found eleven had been
killed. For a long time afterward Major
Stillman and his men were subjects of ridi-
cule and merriment, which was as undeserv-
ing as their expedition was disastrous. Still-
man's defeat spread consternation through-
out the state and nation. The number of
Indians was greatly exaggerated and the
name of Black Hawk carried with it associa-
tions of great militaiy talent, cunning and
cruelty. He was ever active and restless
and was continually causing trouble.

After Black Hawk and his warriors had
committed several depredations and added
more scalp-locks to their belts, that restless
chief and his savage partisans were located
on Rock river, where he was in camp. On
July 19th, General Henry being in command,
ordered his troops to march. After having
gone fifty miles, they were overtaken by a
terrible thunderstorm, which lasted all night.
Nothing cooled in their ardor and zeal, they
marched fifty miles the next day, encamping
near the place where the Indians encamped
the night before. Hurrying along as fast
as they could, the infantry keeping up an
equal pace with the mounted men, the troops,
on the morning of the 21st, crossed the river
connecting two of the four lakes, by which
the Indians had been endeavoring" to escape.
They found, on their way, the ground strewn
with kettles and articles of baggage, which,
in the haste of retreat, the Indians were
obliged to abandon. The troops, imbued
with new ardor, advanced so rapidly, that

FIRST BUSINESS HOUSE IN GUTHRIE CENTER, 1856

GUTHRIE COUNTY, IOWA.

at noon they fell in with the rear guards
of the enemy. Those who closely pursued
them were saluted by a sudden fire of mus-
ketry from a body of Indians who had con-
cealed themselves in the high grass of the
prairie. A most desperate charge was made
on the four, who, unable to resist, retreated
obliquely in order to outflank the volunteers
on the right ; but the latter charged the In-
dians in their ambush and expelled them
from the thickets at the point of the bayonet,
and dispersed them. Xight set in and the
battle ended, having cost the Indians sixty-
height of their bravest men, while the loss
of the Illinoisans was but one killed and
eight wounded. Soon after this battle Gen-
erals Atkinson and Henry joined forces and
pursued the Indians. General Henry struck
the main trail, left his horses behind, fornied
an advance guard of eight men and marched
forward upon the trail. When these eight
men came in sight of the river, they were
suddenly fired upon and five of them killed,
the remaining three maintaining their
ground until General Henry came up. Then
the Indians, charged upon with the bayonet,
fell back upon their main f(jrce. The battle
now became general ; the Indians fought with
desperate valor, but were furiously assailed
by the volunteers with their bayonets, cut-
ting many of the Indians to pieces and driv-
ing the rest of them into the river. Those
who escaped from being drowned found ref-
uge on an island. On hearing the frequent
discharge of musketry, General Atkinson
abandoned the pursuit of the twenty Indians
imder Black Hawk himself and hurried to
the scene of action, where he arrived too late
to take part in the battle. He immediately
forded the river with his troops, the water
reaching up to their necks, and landed on
the island where the Indians had secreted
themselves. The soldiers rushed upon the
Indians, killed several of them, took the
others prisoners and chased the rest into the
river, where they were either drowned or
shot before reaching the opposite shore.
Thus ended the battle, the Indians losing

three hundred, besides fifty prisoners; the
whites but seventeen killed and twelve
wounded.

Black Hawk, with his twenty braves, re-
treated up the Wisconsin river. The Win-
nebagoes, desirous of securing the friendship,
of the whites, 'went in pursuit and captured
and delivered them to General Street, the
United States Indian agent. Among the
prisoners were the son of Black Hawk and
the prophet of the tribe. These,- with Black
Hawk, were taken to Washington, D. C.,
and soon consigned as prisoners to Fortress
]\Ionroe. At the interview Black Hawk had
with the president he closed his speech de-
livered on the occasion in the following
words : "^^'e did not expect to conquer the
whites. They have too many houses, too
many men. I took up the hatchet, for m}'
part, to re\'enge injuries which my people
could no longer endure. Had I borne them
longer without striking my people would
have said : 'Black Hawk is a woman ; he
is too old to be a chief ; he is no Sac' These
reflections caused me to raise the war whoop.
I say no more. It is known to you. Keo-
kuk once was here; you took him by the
hand, and when he wished to return to his
home you were willing. Black Hawk ex-
pects, like Keokuk, he shall be permitted to
return, too."

By order of the president. Black Hawk
and his companions, who were in confine-
ment at Fortress Monroe, were set free on
the 4th day of June, 1833. After their re-
lease from prison they were conducted, in
charge of Alajor Garland, through some of
the principal cities, that they might witness
the power of the United States and learn
their own inability to cope with them in war.
Great multitudes flocked to see them where-
ever thev were taken, and the attention paid
them rendered their progress through the
country a triumphal procession, instead of
prisoners transported by an officer. At
Rock Island the prisoners were given their
liberty amid great and impressive ceremony.
In 1838, Black Hawk built him a dwelling

PAST AND PRESENT OF

near Des Moines, this state, and furnished
it after the manner of the whites and en-
gaged in agricultural pursuits, together with
hunting and fishing. Here, with his wife,
to whom he was greatly attached, he passed
the few remaining days of his life. To his
credit, it may be said, that Black Hawk re-
mained true to his wife and served her with
a devotion uncommon among Indians, liv-
ing with her upwards of forty years.

At all times when Black Hawk visited
the whites he was received with marked at-
tention. He was an honored guest at the
Old Settlers' reunion in Lee countv, Illinois,
and received marked tokens of esteem. In
September, 1838, while on his way to Rock
Island, to receive his annuity from the gov-
ernment, he contracted a severe cold, which
resulted in an intense attack of bilious fever,
and terminated his life October 3. After
his death he was dressed in the uniform
presented to him by tlie president while in
Washington. He was buried in a grave six
feet in depth, situated upon a beautiful emi-
nence. The body was placed in the middle
of the grave, in a sitting position upon a
seat constructed for the occasion. On his
left side the cane given him by Henry Clay
was placed upright, with his right hand rest-
ing upon it. His remains were afterwards
stolen and carried awav, but thev were re-

ml ■ V

covered by the Governor of Iowa and placed
in the museum at Burlington, of the Histor-
ical Society, where they were finally de-
stroyed ])y fire.

IXDIAX TREATIES.

The territory known as the "Black
Hawk Purchase," although not the first
portion of Iowa ceded to the United States
by the Sacs and Foxes, was the first opened
to actual settlement by the tide of emigra-
tion which flowed across the Mississippi as
soon as the Indian title was extinguished.
The treaty which provided for this cession
was made at a council held on tlie west bank

of the Mississipppi, where now stands the
city of Davenport, on ground now occupied
by the Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Rail-
road Company, September 21, 1832. This
was just after the Black Hawk war and the
defeated savages had retired from east of
the Mississippi. At the council the govern-
ment was represented by General W'infield
Scott and Governor Reynolds, of Illinois.
Keokuk, Pashapopo and some thirty other
chiefs and warriors were there. 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 Ijoundary of Missouri to the mouth
of the Upper Iowa river, containing about
six million acres. The western line of the
jHUxhase was parallel with the Mississippi.
In consideration for this cession the United
States agreed to pay annually to the con-
federated tribes, for thirty consecutive years,
twenty thousand dollars in specie, and to
pav the debts of the Indians at Rock Island,
which had been accumulating for seventeen
vears, and amounted to fifty thousand dol-
lars, due to Davenport & Farnham. Indian
traders. The government also 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.

1'hc treaty was ratified February 13.
1833, and took effect on the first 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 four hundred square
miles of land, situated on the Iowa river,
and including within its limits Keokuk vil-
lage, on the right bank of that river. This
tract was known as Keokuk's reserve, and
was occupied by the Indians until 1836,

GUTHRIE COUNTY. IOWA.

whereby a treaty made in September be-
tween them and Governor Dodge, of Wis-
consin territory, it was ceded to the United
States. The council was held on the banks
of the Mississippi, above Davenport, and
was the largest assemblage of the kind ever
held by the Sacs and Foxes to treat for the
sale of land. About one thousand of their
chiefs and braves were present, Keokuk
being the leading spirit of the occasion and
their principal speaker.

FIRST LAND TITLE IN IOWA.

By the terms of this treaty the Sacs and
Foxes were removed to another reservation
on the Des Moines river, where an agency
was established at what is now the town
of Agency, in Wapello county. The gov-
ernment also gave out of the "Black Hawk
Purchase," to Antoine LeClaire, 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.

General Joseph M. Street established an
agency among the Sacs and Foxes very soon
after the removal of the latter to their new
reservation. He was transferred from the
agency of the Winnebagoes for this purpose.
A farm was selected, upon which the nec-
essary 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
superintend the farm and dispose of the
crops. Two mills were erected — one on
Soap creek and the other on Sugar creek.
The latter was soon swept away by a flood,
but the former did good service for many
years.

Connected with the agency were Joseph
Smart and John Goodell, interpreters. The
latter was interpreter for Hard Fishes' band.

Three of the Indian chiefs — Keokuk,

Wapello and Appanoose, — had each a large
field improved, the two former on the right
bank of the Des. Moines, and back from the
river, in what was "Keokuk's Prairie," and
the latter on the present site of the city of
Ottumwa. Among the traders connected
with their agency was J. P. Eddy, who es-
tablished 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 excitements and many of them
plunged into dissipation. Keokuk himself
became dissipated in the latter years of his
life and it has been reported that he died
of delirium tremens after his removal with
his tribe to Kansas. In May, 1843, most
of the Indians were removed up the Des
Moines river, a1)ove the temporary line of
Red Rock, having- ceded the remnants of
their land in Iowa to the United States, Sep-
tember 21, 1837, and October 11, 1842.
By the terms of the latter treaty, they held
possession of the "New Purchase" until the
autumn of 1845, '^vhen most of them were
removed to their reservation in Kansas,
the balance being removed in 1846.

Before any permanent settlement was
made in the territory of Iowa, white ad-
venturers, trappers and traders, many of
whom were scattered along the Mississippi
and its tributaries, as agents and employes
of the American Fur Company, intennarried
with the females of the Sac and Fox In-
dians, producing a race of half-breeds^
whose number was never definitely ascer-
tained. There were some respectable and
excellent people among them, children of
some refinement and education.

EARLY SETTLEMENT.

The first permanent settlement made by
whites within the limits of Iowa, was by
Julien Dubuque, in 1788 when, with a small
party of miners, he settled on the site of the
city that now bears his name, where he
lived until his death, in 18 10. What was

PAST AND PRESENT OF

known as the Girard settlement, in Clayton
county, was made by some parties prior to
the commencement of the nineteenth cen-
tury. It consisted of three cabins in 1805.
Louis Honori settled on the site of the pres-
ent town of Montrose, probably in 1799,
and resided there probably until 1805, when
his property passed into other hands. In-
dian traders had established themselves at
other points at an early date. Mr. Johnson,
an 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 came into pos-
session of Louisiana. In 1820, Le Moliese,
a French trader, had a station, at what is
now Sandusky, six miles above Keokuk, in
Lee county. The same year, a cabin was
built where the city of Keokuk now stands,
by Dr. Samuel C. Muir, a surgeon in the
United States army. His marriage and
subsequent life were very romantic. \\'hile
stationed at a military post on the LTpper
Mississippi, the post was visited by a beauti-
ful Indian maiden — whose native name un-
fortunately has not been preserved — who. in
her dreams, had seen a white Ijrave unmoor
his canoe, paddle it across the river and
come directlv to her lodge. She felt as-
sured, according to the superstitious belief
of her race, that in lier dreams she had
seen her future husband, and had come to
the fort to find him. Meeting l^r. ^luir,
she instantly recognized him as the hero of
licr dream which, witli cliild-like innocence
and simplicity, she related to him.
Charmed with the dusky maiden's beauty,
innocence and devotion, the Doctor took her
to liis home in honoral)le wedlock; but,
after a while, the sneers and jibes of his
brother officers — less honoral>le tlian he —
made him feel ashamed of his dark-skinned
wife, and wlicn liis regiment was ordered
down I lie ri\er to Piellefontaine, it is ^aid.
he embraced the opportunity to rid himself
of her, nexer ex])ecting to see her again, and
little dreamini'- that she would have the

courage to follow him. But, with her in-
fant, this intrepid 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
afterwards 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 his heart and ever after, until his
death, treated her with marked respect. She
always presided at his table with grace and
dignitv, but never abandoned her native
stvle of dress. In 1819-20 he was stationed
at I'\)rt Edwards, now Warsaw, but the
senseless ridicule of some of his brother offi-
cers on account of his- Indian wife induced
him to resio-n his commission. He then
built a cabin, as above stated, where Keokuk
is now situated, and made a claim to some
land. This land he leased to parties in the
neighborhood and then moved to what is
now (lalena, where he practiced his profes-
sion for ten vears, when he returned to
Keokuk. His Indian wife bore him four
children : Louise, James, Mary and Sophia.
Doctor IVIuir died suddenly, of cholera, in
1832, but left his property in suCh condition
that it was wasted in vexatious litigation
and h.js brave and faithful wife, left friend-
less and penniless, became discouraged ; so,
with iier two younger children, she disap-
peared. It is said she returned to her people
on the I'pper Missouri.

ClVir, «GO\'ERXMEXT FOR TERRITORY AXD

STATE.

After the "Black Hawk Purchase" im-
migration to Iowa was rapid and steady,
and provisions for civil government became
a necessity. Accordingly, in 1834 all the
territory comprising tlie present states of
Iowa. \\'isconsin and Minnesota, was made
sul)ject to the jurisdiction of ^Michigan ter-
ritory. Up to this time there had been no

GUTHRIE COUNTY, IOWA.

county or other organization in what is now
the state of Iowa, although one or two jus-
tices of the peace iiad been appointed, and a
postoffice was estabhshed at Dubuque, in
1833. In September of 1834, therefore, the
territorial legislature of Michigan created
two counties on the west side of the Missis-
sippi river — Dubuque and Des Moines —
separated by a line drawn westward from
the foot of Rock Island. These counties
were partially organized. John King was
appointed chief justice of Dubuque county
and Isaac Leffler, of Des Moines county.
Two associate justices, in each county, were
appointed by the governor.

In October, 1835, General George W.
Jones, in recent years a citizen of Dubuque,
was elected a delegate to congress. April
20, 1836, through the efforts of General
Jones, congress passed a bill creating the ter-
ritory of Wisconsin, which went into opera-
tion July 4th, of the same year. Iowa was
then included in the territory of Wisconsin,
of which General Henry Dodge was ap-
pointed governor; John S. Horner, secre-
tary ; Charles Dunn, chief justice ; David
Irwin and William C. Frazer, associate
justices. September 9, 1836, a census of
the new territory was taken. Des Moines
county showed a population of six thousand
two hundred and fifty-seven, and Dubuque
county four thousand two hundred and sev-
enty-four.

ORGANIZATION OF THE TERRITORY OF IOWA.

The question of the organization of the
territory of Iowa now began to be agitated
and the desires of the people found expres-
sion in a convention held November ist,
which memorialized congress to organize
a territory west of the Mississippi river, and
to settle the boundary line between Wiscon-
sin territory and Missouri. The territorial
legislature of Wisconsin, then in session in
Burlington, joined in the petition. The act
was passed dividing the territory of Wis-

consin, and providing for the territorial gov-
ernment of Iowa. This 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
west of the Mississippi river, and west of a
line drawn due north from the headwaters
or sources of the Mississippi river to the
territorial line." The organic act provided
for a governor, whose term of of-fice should
be three years ; a secretary, chief justice,
two associate justices, an attorney-general
and niarshal, to be appointed by the presi-
dent. The act also provided for the elec-
tion, by the white citizens 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 five thousand dollars for
a public library, and twenty thousand dol-
lars for the erection of public buildings. In
accordance with this act, President Van
Buren appointed ex-Governor Robert Lucas,
of Ohio, to be the first governor of the new
territory. William B. Conway, of Pittsburg,
Pennsylvania, secretary; Charles Mason, of
Burlington, chief justice; Thomas S. W^il-
son, of Dubuque, and Joseph Williams, of
Pennsylvania, associate justices. Mr. Van
Allen, of New York, attorney; Francis Ge-
hon, of Dubuque, marshal; Augustus C.
Dodge, register of the land office at Bur-
lington ; and Thomas C. Knight, receiver of
the land office at Dubuque.

On the loth of September, 1838, an
election w^as held for members of the legisla-
ture and on the 12th of the following No-
vember the first session of that body was
held at Burlington. Both branches of this
general assembly had a large democratic
majority, but, notwithstanding that fact.
General Jesse B. Brown, a whig, of Lee
county, Des Moines and Dubuque counties
having been previously divided into other
counties, was elected president of the coun-
cil, and Hon. William H. Wallace, of Henry

PAST AND PRESENT OF

county, also a whig, speaker of the house.
The first session of the Iowa territorial leg--
islature was a stormy and exciting one. By
the organic law the governor was clothed
-with almost unlimited veto power. Gover-
nor Lucas was disposed to make free use
of this prerogative, and the independent
Hawkeyes could not cjuietly submit to arbi-
trary and absolute rule. The result was an
-unpleasant controversy between the execu-
tive and legislative departments. Congress,
however, by act approved March 3, 1839,
amended the organic law by restricting the
veto power of the governor to the two-thirds
rule, and took from him the power to ap-
point 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 appro-
priated twenty thousand dollars. Governor
Lucas, in his message, had recommended
the appointment of commissioners, with a
view to selecting a central location. The
extent of the future state of Iowa was not
known or thought of. Only a strip of land
fifty miles wide, bordering on the Missis-
sippi river, was alienated by the Indians to
the general government, and a central loca-
tion meant some central point within the
confines of what was known as the "Black
Hawk Purchase."

The friends of a central location favored
the governor's suggestion. The southern
members were di\'ided between Burlington
and Mount Pleasant, but finally united on
the latter, as the proper location for the
seat of government. The central and south-
ern parties were very nearly equal and. in
consequence, much excitement prevailed.
The central party at last was triumphant
and. on January 21. 1839. an act was passed
appointing commissioners to select a site for
a permanent seat of government within the
limits of Johnson county. All things con-
sidered, the location of the capitc^l in John-
son county, was a wise act. Johnson count v

was. from north to south, in the geograph-
ical center of the purchase, and as near the
east and west geographical center of the
future state of Iowa as could then be made.
The site having been determined six hun-
dred and forty acres were laid out by the
commissioners into a town, and called Iowa
City. On a tract of ten acres the capitol
was built, the corner-stone of which was
laid, with appropriate ceremonies, July 4,
1840. Monday, December 6. 1841, the
fourth legislature of Iowa, met at the new
capitol. Iowa City, but the capitol building
not being ready for occupancy, a temporary
frame house, erected for the purpose was
used.

In 1 84 1. John Chambers succeeded Rob-
ert Lucas as governor and in 1845, ^^ gave
place to James Clarke. The territorial leg-
islature held its eighth and last session, at
Iowa City, in 1845. James Clarke was the
same }'ear appointed the successor of Gover-
nor Chambers, and was the third and last
territorial governor.

THE TERRITORY BECOMES THE STATE OF

IOWA.

'I'he territory of Iowa was growing rap-
idly in its population and soon began to
look for greater things. Her ambition was
to take on tlie dignity and importance of
statehood. 1'o the furtherance of this laud-
able ambition the territorial legislature
])assed an act. which was approved Feb-
ruary 12. 1844, providing for the submis-
sion to the people the question of the for-
mation of a state constitution and providing
for the election of delegates to a convention
to be convened for that purpose. The peo-
ple voted on this at their township elections
the following April. The measure was car-
ried I)}' a large majority and the meml)ers
elected assembled in convention at Iowa
City. October 7. 1844. On the ist day of
November following, the .convention com-
l)leted its work, and adopted the first state

GUTHRIE COUNTY, IOWA.

constitution. By reason of the boundary
lines of the proposed state being unsatis-
factorily prescribed by congress, the consti-
tution was rejected, at an election held
August 4, 1845, by a vote of seven thousand
six hundred and fifty-six to seven thousand
two hundred and thirty-five. May 4, 1846,
a second convention met at Iowa City, and
on the 1 8th of the same month another con-
stitution, prescribing the boundaries as they
now are, w-as adopted. This w^as accepted
by the people. August 3d. by a vote of nine
thousand four hundred and ninety-two to
nine thousand and thirty-six. The new
constitution was approved by congress and
Iowa was admitted as a sovereign state in
the Union, December 28, 1846, and, the
people of the territory, anticipating favor-
able action by congress, held an election for
state officers, October 26, 1846, which re-
sulted in the choice of Ansel Briggs for gov-
ernor, Elisha Cutler, Jr., secretary, James
T. Fales, auditor, Morgan Reno, treasurer;
and members of both branches of the legis-
lature.

The act of congress which admitted Iowa
into the Union as a state gave her the six-
■eenth section of every township of land in
the state, or its equivalent, for the support
of schools. Also, seventy-two sections of
land for the purposes of a university ; five
sections of land for the completion of her
public buildings; the salt springs within
lier limits, not exceeding twelve in number,
with sections of land adjoining each ; also,
in consideration that her .public lands should
l^e exempt from taxation by the state. The
state was g"iven five per cent, of the net
proceeds of the sale of public lands within
the state.

The constitutional convention of 1846
was made up largely of democrats and the
instrument contains some of the peculiar
tenets of the party of that day. All banks
of issue were prohibited within the state.
The state was prohibited from becoming a
:stockholder in any corporation for pecuniary

profit, and the general assembly could only
provide for private corporations by general
statutes. The constitution also limited the
state's indebtedness to one hundred thou-
sand dollars. It required the general as-
sembly to provide for schools throughout
the state for at least three months during
the year. Six months' previous residence
of any white male citizen of the United
States constituted him an elector.

At the time of the organization of the
state Iowa had a population of one hundred
sixteen thousand six hundred and fifty-one,
as appears by the census of 1847. There
were twenty-seven organized counties, and
the settlements were being rapidly pushed
toward the Missouri river.

The western boundary of the state, as
now determined, left Iowa City too far
toward the eastern and southern boundary
of the state. This w^as conceded. Congress
had appropriated five sections ol land for
the erection of public buildings, and toward
the close of the first session of the p-eneral
assembly a bill was introduced providing
for the relocation of the seat of government,
involving to some extent the location of the
state university, which had already been dis-
cussed. This bill gave rise to much discus-
sion, and parliamentary maneuvering almost
purely sectional in its character. February
25, 1847, an act was passed, to locate and
establish a state university, and the un-
finished public buildings at Iowa City, to-
gether with the ten acres of land on which
they were situated, were granted for the
use of the university, reserving their use,
however, for the general assembly and state
officers, until other provisions were made bv
law.

Four sections and two half sections of
land were selected in Jasper county by the
commissioners for the new capital. Here
a town was platted and called Monroe City.
Tlie commissioners placed town lots on sale
in the new location, but reported to the
assembly small sales at a cost exceeding the

PAST AND PRESENT OF

receipts. The town of Monroe was con-
demned and failed of becoming the capital.
An act was passed repealing the law for the
location at Monroe, and those who h^d
bought lots there were refunded their
money.

By reason of jealousies and bickerings
the first general assembly failed to elect
United States senators, but the second did
better and sent to the upper house of con-
gress Augustus Ciesar Dodge and George
Jones. The first representatives were S.
Clinton Hastings, of Muscatine, and Shep-
ard Leffler, of Des Moines county.

The question of the permanent seat of
government was not settled, and in 185 1
bills were introduced for its removal to Fort
Des Moines. The latter locality seemed to
have the support of the majority, but was
finally lost in the house on the question of
ordering it to a third reading. At the next
session, in 1853, -a bill was again introduced
in the senate, for the removal of the seat of
next session, however, the effort was more
final vote, was just barely defeated. At the
next session, however, the effort was more
successful, and on January 15, 1855, a bill,
relocating the capital of the state of Iowa
within two miles of the Raccoon fork of the
Des Moines river, and for the appointment
of commissioners, was approved by Gover-
nor 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
]^Ioines. An association of citizens erected
a temporary building for the capitol, and
leased it to the state at a nominal rent.

THE STATE BECOMES REPUBLICAN.

The passage by congress of the act organ-
izing the territories of Kansas and Ne-
braska, and the provision it contained ab-
rogating that portion of the Missouri bill
that prohibited slavery and involuntary
ser\'itude north of thirty-six degrees and

thirty minutes was the beginning of a po-
litical revolution in the northern states, and
in none was it more marked than in the state
of Iowa. Iowa was the "first free child
born of the Missouri Compromise." In
1856, the republican party of the state was
duly organized, in full sympathy with that
of the other free states, and at the ensuing
presidential election the electoral vote of the
state was cast for John C. Fremont.

Another constitutional convention as-
sembled at Iowa City in January, 1857.
One of the most pressing demands for this
convention grew out of the prohibition of
banks under the old constitution. The
practical result of this prohibition was to
flood the state with every specie of "wild-
cat" currencv. The circulating medium
was made up in part of the free-bank paper
of Illinois and Indiana. In addition to this
there was paper issued by Iowa brokers,
who had obtained bank charters from the
territorial legislature of Nebraska, and had
their pretended headquarters at Omaha and
Florence. The currency was also variegated
with the bills of other states, generally such
as had the best reputation where they were
least known. This paper was all at two, and
some of it from ten to fifteen per cent, dis-
count. Every man who was not an expert
at detecting counterfeit bills and who was
not posted in the methods of banking in-
stitutions, did business at his peril. The
new constitution adopted at this convention,
made ample provisions for house banks un-
der the supervision of laws of the state, and
other changes in the old constitution were
made that more nearly met the views of the
people.

The permanent seat of government was
fixed at Des Moines and the university at
Iowa City. The qualifications of electors
remained the same as under the old con-
stitution, but the schedule provided for a
vote of the people upon a separate proposi-
tion to strike out the word "white" from
the suffrage clause. Since the early organ-

REES' MILL

GUTHRIE COUNTY, IOWA.

ization of Iowa there had been upon the
statute books a law providing that no negro,
mulatto or Indian should be a competent
witness in any suit at law or proceeding to
which a white man was a party. The gen-
eral assembly of 1856-7 repealed this law,
and the new constitution contained a clause
forbidding such disqualification in the fu-
ture. It also provided for the education
of "all youth of the state" through a system
of common schools.

THE CAPITAL REMOVED TO DES MOINe's.

October 19, 1857, Governor Grimes is-
sued a proclamation declaring the city of
Des Moines to be the capital of the state
of Iowa. The removal of the archives and
officers was commenced at once and con-
tinued through the fall. It was an under-
taking 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 in-
creased the difficulties, and it was not until
December that the last of the effects — the
safe of the state treasurer, loaded on two
large "bob-sleds," drawn by ten yoke of
oxen, — was deposited in the new capitol.
Thus, Iowa City ceased to be the capital of
the state after four territorial legislatures,
six state legislatures and three constitutional
conventions had held their regular sessions
there.

In 1870, the general assembly made an
appropriation and provided for a board of
commissioners, to commence the work of
building a new capitol. The corner-stone
was laid with appropriate ceremonies No-
vember 23, 1871. The estimated cost, of
the building was two million five hundred
thousand dollars, and the structure was
finished and occupied in 1884, the dedicatory
exercises being held in January of that year.
Hon. John A. Kasson delivered the prin-
cipal address. The state capitol is classic in
style, with a superstructure of buff lime-

stone. It is three hundred and sixty-three
feet in length, two hundred and forty-seven
feet in width, with a central dome rising to
the height of two hundred and seventy-five
feet. At the time of completion it was only
surpassed by the capitol building of the state
of New York, at Albany.

CLIMATE.

In former years considerable objection
was made to the prevalence of high winds
in Iowa, which is somewhat greater than
in the states south and east. But climatic
changes have lessened that grievance. The
air, in fact, is pure and generally bracing;
so during the winter. Thunderstorms are
also more violent in this state than in those
of the east and south, but not near so much
so as toward the mountains. As elsewhere in
the northwestern states, easterly winds bring
rain and snow, while westerly ones clear
the sky. While the highest temperature oc-
curs in August, the month of July averages
the hottest, and January the coldest. The
mean temper^ature of April and October
nearly corresponds to the mean temperature
of the year, as well as to the seasons of
spring and fall, while that of summer and
winter is best represented by August and
December. "Indian Summer" is delightful
and well-prolonged.

TOPOGRAPHY.

The state lies wholly within and com-
prises a part of a vast plain. There are no
mountains and scarcely any hilly country
within its borders; for the highest point
is but one thousand two hundred feet above
the lowest point ; these two points are nearly
three hundred miles apart, and the whole
state is traversed by gently-flowing rivers.
We thus find there is a good degree of pro-
priety in regarding the whole state as be-
longing to a great plain, the lowest point
of which within its borders, the southeast-

PAST AND PRESENT OF

ern corner of the state, is only four hun-
dred and forty-four 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 over
a thousand miles from the nearest ocean.
These remarks are, of course, to be under-
stood, as only applying to the state at large,
or as a whole. On examining its surface
in detail, we find a great diversity of surface
by the formation of valleys out of the gen-
eral level, which have been evolved by the
actions of streams during the unnumbered
years of the terrace epoch. These river
valleys are deepest in the northwestern part
of the state, and consequently it is there
that the country has the greatest diversity
of surface, and its physical features are
most strongly marked.

It is said that ninety-five per cent, of the
surface of Iowa is capable of a high state of
cultivation. The soil 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.

LAKES AND STREAMS.

The largest of Iowa's lakes are Spirit and
Okoboji, in Dickinson county. Clear, lake,
in Cerro Gordo county, and Storm lake, in
Buena Vista county. Its rivers consist of
the Mississippi and Missouri ; the Chariton.
Grand. Platte, One Hundred and Two, No-
daway, Nishabotany, Boyer, Soldier, Little
Sioux, Floyd, Rock, Big Sioux, Des Moines,
Skunk, Iowa, Cedar, Wapsipiunicon, Tur-
key and Upper Iowa.

IOWA AND THE CIVIL WAR.

Iowa was born a free state. Her people ab-
horred the "peculiar institution'' of slavery,
and by her record in the war between the
states proved herself truly loyal to her in-
stitutions and the maintenance of the Union.

By joint resolution, in the general assembly
of the state in 1857, it was declared that
the state of Iowa was "bound to maintain
the union of these states by all the means
in her power." The same year the state fur-
nished a block of marble for the Washing-
ton monument at the national capital and
by order of the legislature there was in-
scribed on its enduring surface the follow-
ing : "Iowa — Her affections, like the
river of her borders, flow to an inseparable
Union." The time was now come when
these declarations of fidelity and attachment
to the nation were to be put to a practical
test. There was no state in the Union more
vitally interested in the question of national
unity than Iowa. The older states, both
north and south, had representatives in her
citizenship. lowans were practically immi-
grants bound to those older communities by
the most sacred ties of blood and most en-
during recollections of early days. The posi-
tion of Iowa as a state — geographically —
madethe dismemberment of the Union a mat-
ter of serious concern. Within her borders
were two of the great navigal)le rivers of
the country, and the Mississippi had been for
years its highway to the markets of the
world. The people could not entertain the
thought that its navigation should pass to
the control of a foreign nation. But more
than this was to be feared. The consequence
of introducing and recognizing in our na-
tional system the principal of secession or
disintegration of the states from the Union.
"That the nati(^n possessed no constitutional
power to coerce a seceding state" as uttered
In- James Buchanan in his last annual mes-
sage, was received by the people of Iowa
with humiliation and distrust. And in the
presidential campaign of i860, when Abra-
ham Lincoln combated, with all the force
of his matchless logic and rhetoric this mon-
strous political heresy, the issue was clearly
drawn between the north and the south, and
it became manifest to many that in the event
of the election of Lincoln to the presidency

GUTHRIE COUNTY, IOWA.

war would follow between the states. The
people of Iowa nursed no hatred toward
any section of the country, but were de-
termined to hold such opinions upon ques-
tions of public interest, and vote for such
men as to them seemed for the general good,
uninfluenced by any threat of violence or
civil war. So it was, that they anxiously
awaited the expiring hours of the Buchanan
administration and looked to the incoming
president as to an expected deliverer, that
should rescue the nation from the hands of
traitors, and the control of those whose re-
sistence in\-ited her destruction. The firing
upon the flag at Fort Sumter aroused a
burning indignation throughout the loyal
states of the republic, and nowhere was it
more intense than in Iowa. And when the
proclamation of the president was published.
April 15. 1861, calling for seventy-five thou-
sand citizen soldiers to "maintain the honor,
the integrity, and the existence of our nation-
al union, and the perpetuity of popular gov-
ernment," they were more than willing to
respond to the call. Party line ga\e way
and for awhile, at least, party spirit was
hushed and the cause of our common country
was supreme in the affections of the people.
Fortunate indeed was the state at this crisis
in having a truly representative man as
executive of the state. Thoroughly honest
and as equally earnest, wholly imbued with
the enthusiasm of the hour, and fully aroused
to the importance of the crisis and the
magnitude of the struggle upon which the
people were entering, with an indomitable
will under the control of a strong common
sense. Samuel J. Kirk wood, was indeed, a
worthy chief to organize and direct the en-
ergies of the people in what was before them.
Within thirty days after the date of the
president's call for troops, the first Iowa
regiment was mustered into the service of
the United States, a second regiment was in
camp ready for the service, and the general
assembly of the state was convened in special
session and had. by joint resolution, solemn-

h" pledged every resource of men and money
to the national cause. So urgent were the
offers of companies that the governor con-
ditionally accepted enough additional com-
panies to compose two regiments more.
These were soon accepted by the secretary of
war. Near the close of May, the adjutant-
general of the state reported that one hun-
dred and seventy companies had been ten-
dered the governor to serve against the
enemies of the Union. The question was
eagerly asked: "Which of us will be
allowed to go?" It seemed as if Iowa was
monopolizing the honors of the period, and
would send the largest part of the seventy-
five thousand wanted from the whole north.
There was much difliculty and considerable
delay experienced in fitting the first three
regiments for the field. For the first regi-
ment a complete outfit of clothing was ex-
temporized, partly by the volunteer labor of
loyal women in the different towns — from
material of various colors and qualities ob-
tained within the limits of the state. The
same was done in part for the second infan-
trv. Meantime, an extra session of the gen-
eral assembly had been called, by the gover-
nor, to convene on the 15th of May. With
but little delay, that body authorized a loan
of eight hundred thousand dollars to meet
the extraordinary expenses incurred, and to
be incurred, by the executive department, in
consequence of the emergency. A wealthy
merchant of the state, ex-Governor Merrill,
immediately took from the governor a con-
tract to supply a complete outfit of clothing
for three regiments organized, agreeing to
receive, should the governor so elect, his pay
therefor in the state bonds at par. This
contract he executed to the letter, and a por-
tion of the clothing was delivered at Keokuk,
the place at which the troops had rendez-
voused, in exactly one month from the day
in which the contract had been entered into.
The remainder arrived onlv a few davs later.
This clothing was delivered to the soldiers,
but was subsequently condemned by the gov-

PAST AND PRESENT OF

ernment, 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 had also clothed their troops, sent for-
ward under the first call of President Lin-
coln, with gray uniforms, but it was soon
found that the Confederate forces were also
clothed in gray, and that color was at once
abandoned for the Union soldier.

At the beginning of the war the popula-
tion of Iowa included about one hundred
.fifty thousand men, presumably liable to
render military service. The state raised for
general service thirty-nine regiments of in-
fantry, nine regiments of cavalry, and four
companies of 'artillery, composed of three
years' men ; one regiment of infantry com-
posed of three months' men, and four regi-
ments and one battalion of infantry composed
of one hundred days' men. The original
enlistments in these various organizations,
including one thousand seven hundred and
twenty-seven men raised by draft, numbered
about sixty-nine thousand. The re-enlist-
ments, including upwards of seven thousand
veterans, numbered nearly eight thousand.
The enlistments in the regular army and
navy, and organizations of other states will,
if added, raise the total to upwards of eighty
thousand. The number of men who, under
special enlistments, and as militia, took part,
at difterent times, in the operations on the
exposed borders of the state, was probably
five thousand.

" Every loyal state of the Union had many
women who devoted much time and great
labor toward relieving" the wants of our
sick and wounded soldiery, but for Iowa can
be claimed the honor of inaugurating the
great charitable movement, which was so
successfully supported by the noble women
of the north. Mrs. Harlan, wife of Hon.
James Harlan, United States senator, was
the first woman of the country among those
moving in high circles of society, who per-
sonally visited the army and ministered to

the wants of the defenders of her country.
In many of her visits to the army, Mrs.
Harlan was accompanied by Mrs. Joseph
T. Fales, wife of the first state auditor of
Iowa. No words can describe the good
done, the lives saved, and the deaths made
easy by the host of noble women of Iowa,
whose names it would take a volume to print.
Every county, every town, every neighbor-
hood had these true heroines, whose praise
can never fully be known, till the final ren-
dering of all accounts of deeds done in the
body. The contributions throughout the
state to "sanitary fairs" during the war
were enormous, amounting into the hun-
dreds of thousand dollars. Highly success-
ful fairs were held in the principal cities and
towns of the state, which all added to the
work and praise of the "Florence Nightin-
gales" of Iowa, whose heroic sacrifices have
won for them the undying gratitude of the
nation. It is said, 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 for the purpose
of fullilling their obligations to the general
government, Iowa, while she was foremost
in duty, while she promptly discharged ill
her obligations to her sister states and the
L'nion, found herself at the close of the war
without any material additions to her pecu-
niary liabilities incurred before the war com-
menced. Upon final settlement after resto-
ration 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 h^r troops sent into
the field, and to meet the inevitable demands
upon her treasury in consequence of the war.
It was in view of these facts that Iowa had
done more than her duty during the war,
and that without incurring any considerable
indebtedness, and that her troops had fought
most gallanty on nearly every battle-field
of the war, that the Newark (New Jersey)

GUTHRIE COUNTY, IOWA.

Advertiser, and other prominent eastern
journals, called Iowa the "Model State of
the Republic."

EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS.

School teachers were among the first im-
migrants to Iowa. This gives point to the
fact that the people of Iowa have ever taken
a deep interest in education, and in this di-
rection no state in the Union has a better
record. The system of free public schools
was planted by the early settlers, and it has
expanded and improved until now it is one
of the most complete, comprehensive and
liberal in the country. The lead-mining re-
gions of the state were the first to be settled
by the whites, and the hardy pioneers pro-
vided the means for the education of their
children even before they had comfortable
dwellings for themselves. Wherever a little
settlement was made, the schoolhouse was
the first thing undertaken by the settlers in
a body, and the rude, primitive structures of
the early times only disappeared when the
communities increased in population and
wealth, and were able to replace them with
more commodious and comfortable buildings.
Perhaps in no single instance has the magni-
ficent progress of the state of Iowa been
more marked and rapid than in her common
school system and in her schoolhouses. To-
day the schoolhouses which everywhere dot
the broad and fertile prairies of Iowa are
unsurpassed by those of any other state in
this 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 modern improvements,
and costing from ten thousand dollars to six-
ty thousand dollars each. The people of the
state have expended more than twenty-five
million dollars for the erection of public
school buildings, which stand as monuments
of magnificence.

THE FIRST SCHOOL BUILDING AT DUBUQUE.

Dubuque saw within* its limits the first
school building erected in the state of Iowa,
which was built by J. L. Langworthy, and
a few other miners in the fall of 1833.
When it was completed, George Cabbage
was employed as teacher during the winter
of 1833-4, and thirty-five pupils answered
to his roll-call. Barrett Whittemore taught
the school term and had twenty-five pupils
in attendance. Mrs. Caroline Dexter com-
menced teaching in Dubuque in March, 1836.
She was the first female teacher there, and
probably the first in Iowa. In 1839, Thomas
. H. Benton, Jr., afterwards 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. A commo-
dious log schoolhouse was built at Burling-
ton in 1834, and was one of the first build-
ino-s erected in that settlement. A Mr.
Johnson taught the first school in the winter
of 1834-5. In Scott county, in the winter
of 1835-6, Simon Crazen taught a four-
months' term of school in the house of J.
B. Chamberlin. In Muscatine county, the
first term of school was taught by George
Baumgardner, in the spring of 1837. In
1839, a log schoolhouse was erected in
Muscatine, which served for a long time as
schoolhouse, meeting house 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.

Johnson county was an entire wilderness
when Iowa City was located as the capital of
the territory of Iowa, in May, 1839. The
first sale of lots took place August 18, 1839,
and before January i, 1840, about twenty
families had settled in the town. During the
same year Mr. Jesse Berry opened a school
in a small frame building he had erected
on what is now known as College street.

In Monroe county the first settlement was

PAST AND PRESENT OF

made in 1843, by John R. Gray, about two
miles from the present site of Eddyvihe,
and in the summer of 1844 a log school-
house was built by Gray and others, and the
first school M^as opened by Miss Urania
Adams. About a year after the first cabin
was built at Oskaloosa, a log schoolhouse
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 Pottawattamie county
was opened by George Green, a Momion, at
Council Point, prior to 1849; and until about
1854 nearly all the teachers in that vicinity
were Mormons.

The first school in Decorah was taught in
1855, by Cyrus C. Carpenter, since governor
of the state. During the first twenty years
of the history of Iowa the log schoolhouse
prevailed, and in 1861 there were eight hun-
dred and ninety-three of these primitive
structures in use for school purposes in the
state. Since that time they have been grad-
ually disappearing. In 1865 there were sev-
en hundred and ninety-six; in 1870, three
hundred and thirty-six; in 1875, one hun-
dred and twenty-one, and today there is
probably not a vestige of one remaining.

In 1846, the year of Iowa's admission as
a state, there were twenty thousand pupils
of schools, out of one hundred thousand in-
habitants. About four hundred school dis-
tricts had been organized. In 1850 there
were twelve hundred and in 1857 the num-
ber had increased to three thousand, two
hundred sixty-five. The system of graded
schools was inaugurated in 1849 and now
schools, in which more than one teacher is
employed, are universally graded. Teach-
ers' institutes were organized early in the
history of the state. The first official men-
tion of them occurs in the annual re|)ort of
Hon. Thomas H. T'cnton, Ir., made Decem-

ber 2, 1850, who said: "An institution of
this character was organized a few years
ago, composed of the teachers of the min-
eral regions of Illinois, Wisconsin and Iowa.
An association of teachers has also been
formed in the county of Henry, and an ef-
fort was made in October last to organize
a regular institute in the county of Jones."
Funds for the support of public schools
are derived in various ways. 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 in the state. The minimum
price of all these lands was fixed at one dol-
lar and twenty-five cents per acre. Congress
also made an additional donation to the state
of five hundred thousand acres and an ap-
propriation 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 lic[uor and
criminal laws. The money derived from
these sources constitute the permanent
school fund of the state, which cannot be
diverted to any other purpose. The penal-
ties collected by the courts in fines and for
forfeitures go to the school fund in the coun-
ties according to their request, and the coun-
ties loan the money to individuals, for long
terms at eight per cent, interest, on security
of lands valued at three times the value of
the loan, exclusive of all buildings and im-
])rovements thereon. The interest on these
loans is paid into the state treasury, and be-
comes the available school fund of the state.
The counties are responsible to the state for
all money so loaned, and the state is like-
wise responsible to the school fund for all
money transferred to the counties. The in-
terest on these loans is apportioned by the
state auditor semi-annually to the several
counties of the state, in proportion to the
number of persons between the ages of five
and twenty-one years of age. The counties
also levy a tax for school ]-)urposes, which is

GUTHRIE COUNTY, IOWA.

apportioned to the several district townships
in the same way. A district tax is also lev-
ied for the same purpose. The money aris-
ing from these several sources constitutes
the support of the public schools, and is suf-
ficient to enable every sub-district in the
state to afford from six to nine months'
school each 3'ear. The burden of district
taxation is thus lightened, and the efficiency
of the schools is increased. The taxes levied
for the support of the schools are self-im-
posed. Under the admirable school laws of
the state, no taxes can be legally assessed
or collected for the erection of schoolhouses
until they have been ordered by the election
of a school district at a school meeting le-
gally called. The teachers and contingent
funds are determined by the board of direct-
ors, under certain legal instructions. These
boards are elected annually. The only ex-
ception to this method of levying taxes for
school purposes is the county tax, which is
determined by the county board of supervis-
ors. In each county a teachers' institute
is held annually, under the direction of the
county superintendent, the state distributing
annually a sum of money to each of these
institutes.

STATE UNIVERSITY.

By act of congress, approved July 20,
1840, the secretary of the treasury was au-
thorized to "set apart and reserve from sale,
out of any public lands within the territory
of Iowa not otherwise claimed or appropri-
ated, a quantity of land not exceeding two
entire townships, for the use and support of
a university within said territory when it
becomes a state." The first general assem-
bly, therefore, by act approved February
25, 1847, established the "State University
of Iowa," at Iowa City, then the capital of
the state. The public buildings and other
property at Iowa City were appropriated to
the university, but the legislative sessions
and state offices were to be held in them un-
til a permanent location for a capital was

made. The control and management of the
university were committed to a board of fif-
teen trustees, to be appointed by the legisla-
ture, and five were to be chosen every two
years. The superintendent of public instruc-
tion was made president of this board. The
organic act provided that the university
should never be under the control of any re-
ligious organization whatever ; and that as
soon as the revenue from the grant and do-
nations should amount to two thousand dol-
lars a year, the university should commence
and continue the instruction free of charge,
of fifty students annually. Of course the
organization of the university was imprac-
ticable so long as the seat of government
was retained at Iowa City.

In January, 1849, two branches of the
university and three normal schools were es-
tablished. The branches were located at
Fairfield and Dubuque, and were placed upon
an equal footing, in respect to funds and
all other matters, with the university at Iowa
City. At Fairfield the board of directors
organized and erected a building at a cost
of two thousand five hundred dollars. This
was nearly destroyed by a hurricane the fol-
lowing year, but was rebuilt more substan-
tially by the citizens of Fairfield. This
branch never received any aid from the state
and, January 24, 1853, at the request of
the board, the general assembly terminated
its relations to the state. The branch at
Dubuque had only a nominal existence. The
normal schools were located at Andrew, Os-
kaloosa and Mt. Pleasant. Each was to be
governed by a board of seven trustees, to
be appointed by the trustees of the univer-
sity. Each was to receive five hundred dol-
lars annually from the income of the uni-
versity fund, upon condition that they should
educate eight common school teachers, free
of charge for tuition, and that the citizens
should contribute an equal sum for the erec-
tion of the requisite buildings. The school
at Andrew was organized November 21,
1849, with Samuel Ray as principal. A

PAST AND PRESENT OF

building was commenced, and over one thou-
sand dollars expended on it, but it was never
completed. The school at Oskaloosa was
started in the courthouse, September 13,
1852, under the charge of Professor G. M.
Drake and wife. A two-story brick building
was erected in 1853, costing two thousand,
four hundred seventy-three dollars. The
school at Mt. Pleasant was never organized.
Neither of these schools received any aid
from the university fund, but in 1857 the
legislature appropriated one thousand dol-
lars for each of the two schools, and repealed
the laws authorizing the payment to them
of money from the university fund. From
that time they made no further effort to con-
tinue in operation.

From 1847 to 1855 the board of trustees
of the university was kept full by regular
elections by the legislature, and the trustees
held frequent meetings, but there was no
actual 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 presi-
dent, but he never fully entered into its du-
ties. The university was again opened in
September. 1855, and continued in operation
until June, 1856, under Professors Johnson,
Van Valkenburg and Griffin. The faculty
was then reorganized, with some changes,
and the university was again opened. o)i tin-
third A\'ednesday of September. 1856. There
were one hundred and twenty-four students
(eighty-three males and forty-one females)
in attendance during the years 1856-57, and
the first regular catalogue was published.
At a special meeting of the board. Septem-
ber 22. 1857, the honorary degree of bach-
elor of arts was conferred on D. Franklin
^^'>lls. This was the first degree conferred
by the university.

By the constitution of 1857, it was pro-
vided that there be no branches of the State
University. -In December of that year, the
old capital building was turned over to the

trustees of the university. In 1858, ten
thousand dollars were appropriated for the
erection of a students' boarding hall. The
board closed the university April 27, 1858,
on account of insufficient funds, and dis-
missed all the faculty with the exception of
Chancellor Dean. At the same time a reso-
lution was passed excluding females. This
was soon after reversed by the general as-
sembly. The university was re-opened Sep-
tember 19, i860, and from this time the
real existence of the university dates. Chan-
cellor Dean had resigned before this, and
Silas Totten, D. D. LL.D., was elected pres-
ident, at a salary of two thousand dollars.
August 19, 1862, he resigned, and was suc-
ceeded by Oliver M. Spencer. President
Spencer was granted leave of absence for
fifteen months to visit Europe. Professor
Nathan R. Leonard was elected president
pro tcm. President Spencer resigning,
James Black, D. D., vice-president of Wash-
ington and Jefferson College, of Pennsylva-
nia, was elected resident. He entered tipon
his duties in September. 1868.

The law department was established in
June. 1868, and, soon after, the Iowa Law
School, at Des Moines, which had been in
successful operation for three years, was
transferred to Iowa City and merged in the
department. The medical department was
established in 1869, and since April 11. 1870,
the government of the university has been in
the hands of a board of regents. The uni-
versity has gained a reputation as one of
the leading educational institutions of the
west and this position it is determined to
maintain.

STATE NORMAL COLLEGE.

Cedar Falls, the chief city of Black Hawk
county, holds the State Nonnal school,
which is an institution for the training of
teachers and is doing most excellent work.

GUTHRIE COUNTY, IOWA.

STATE AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE.

By act of the legislature, approved March
23, 1858, the State Agricultural College and
Farm was established at Ames, in vStory
county. In 1862, congress granted to Iowa
tAvo hundred and forty thousand acres of
land, for the endowment of schools of asfri-
culture and the mechanical arts. In 1864,
the general assembly voted twenty thousand
■dollars for the erection of the college build-
ings. In 1866, ninety-one thousand dollars
more was appropriated for the same purpose.
The building was completed in 1868, and
the institution was opened the following
year. The institution is modeled to some ex-
tent after the Michigan Agricultural Col-
lege. In this school of learning admission is
free to all students of the state over sixteen
years of age. Students are required to work
■on the farm two and a half hours each day.
The faculty is of a very high character and
the college one of the best of its kind. The
;sale of spirits, wine or beer is prohibited
within three miles of the farm. The cur-
rent expenses of this institution are paid by
the income from the permanent endowment.
Besides the institutions here mentioned are
many others throughout the state. Amity
•College is located at College Springs in
Page county, Burlington University at Bur-
lington. Drake University at Des Moines,
Iowa College at Grinnell, etc.

STATE INSTITUTIONS.

SCHOOL FOR THE DEAF.

The legislature established the institution
for the deaf and dumb January 24, 1855,
and located it at Iowa City. A great effort
was made for its removal to Des Moines, but
it was finally located at Council Bluffs. In
1868 an appropriation was made, by the leg-
islature, of one hundred and twenty-five
thousand dollars, for the erection of new
louildings, and ninety acres of land were se-

lected south of the city. October, 1870, the
main building and one wing were completed
and occupied. In Februarys 1877, fire de-
stroyed the main building and east wing.
About one hundred and fifty students were
in attendance at the time. There is a regu-
lar appropriation for this institution of
twenty-two dollars per capita per month, for
nine months of each year, for the payment of
officers' and teachers' salaries and for a
support fund. The institution is free to all
of school age, too deaf to be educated in the
common schools, sound in mind, and free
from immoral habits and from contagious
and offensive diseases. No charge for board
or tuition. The session of the school be-
gins the first day of October and ends the
last day of June of each year.

COLLEGE FOR THE BLIND.

In 1852, Professor Samuel Bacon, him-
self blind, established a school for the in-
struction of the blind at Keokuk. He was
the first person in the state to agitate a pub-
lic institution for the blind and in 1853 the
institute was adopted by the legislature, by
statute, approved January 18, 1853, ^^^^^ ''^"
moAcd to Iowa City. During the first term
tvrenty-three pupils were admitted. Profes-
sor Bacon was a fine scholar, an economical
manager and in every way adapted to his
position. During his administration the in-
stitution was. in a great measure, self-sup-
porting by the sale of articles of manufacture
l)y the blind pupils. There was also a charge
of twenty-five dollars as an admission fee
for each pupil. In 1858. the citizens of Vin-
ton. Benton county, donated a quarter sec-
tion of land and five thousand dollars for
the establishment of the asylum at that
place. May 8th, of the same year, the trus-
tees met at Vinton and made arrangements
for securing the donation, and adopted a plan
for the erection of a suitable building. In
i860 the contract for the building was let
for ten thousand four hundred twenty dol-

PAST AND PRESENT OF

lars, and in August, 1862, the goods and fur-
niture were removed from Iowa City to Vin-
ton and in the fall of the same year the school
was opened with twenty-four pupils. There
is a regular appropriation of twenty-two dol-
lars per capita per month for nine months of
each year,- to cover support and maintenance.
The school term begins on the first \Vednes-
day in September and usually ends about
the first of June. They ma}' be admitted at
any time and are at liberty to go home at
any time their parents may send for them.
The department of music is supplied with
a large number of pianos, one pipe organ,
several cabinet organs, and a sufficient num-
ber of violins, guitars, bass viols and brass
instruments. Every student capable of re-
ceiving it is given a complete course in this
department. In the industrial department
the girls are required to learn knitting, cro-
chetting, fancy work, hand and machine sew-
ing ; the boys, netting, broom making, mat-
tress making and' cane seating. Those of
either sex who desire may learn carpet weav-

ing-

HOSPITAL FOR THE INSANE.

The hospital for the insane was estab-
lished by an act of the legislature. January
24, 1855. The location for the institution
was selected at Mt. Pleasant. Henry county,
and five hundred thousand dollars appro-
priated for the buildings, which were com-
menced in October of that year. One hun-
dred patients were admitted within three
months after it was opened. The legisla-
ture of 1867-68 provided measures for an
additional hospital for the insane, and an
appropriation of one hundred and twenty-
fi\'e thousand dollars was made for the pur-
pose. Independence was selected by
the commissioners as the most desirable
location and three hundred and twenty
acres were secured one mile from
the town on the west side of the Wapsipin-
econ river and about a mile from its banks.
The hospital was opened May i, 1873. The

amount allowed for the support of these in-
stitutions is twelve dollars per month for
each patient. All expenses of the hospital
except for special purposes are paid from
the sum so named, and the amount is
charged to the counties from which the pa-
tients are sent.

soldiers" orphans" home.

The Soldiers' Orphans' Home is located
at Davenport, and was originated by Mrs.
Anne \Miittenmeyer, during the late rebel-
lion of the states. This noble-hearted wo-
man called a convention at Muscatine, Sep-
tember 7, 1863, for the purpose of devising
means for the education and support of the
orphan children of Iowa, whose fathers lost
their lives in the defense of their country's
honor. The public interest in the movement
was so great that all parts of the state were
largely represented, and an association was
organized, called the Iowa State Oi"phan
Asylum. The first meeting of the trustees
was held February 14, 1864, at Des Moines,
when Governor Kirkwood suggested that a
home for disabled soldiers should be con-
nected with the asylum, and arrangements
v.ere made for collecting funds. At the next
meeting, in Davenport, the following months
a committee was appointed, to lease a suit-
able building, solicit donations, and procure
suitable furniture. This committee ob-
tained a large brick building in Lawrence,
Van Buren county, and engaged Mr. Fuller,
of ]\It. Pleasant, as steward. The work of
preparation was conducted so vigorously
that July 13th, following, the executive com-
mittee announced it was ready to receive
children. Within three weeks twenty-one
were admitted, and in a little more than
six months seventy were in the home.
The home was sustained by voluntary con-
tributions until 1866, when it was taken
charge of by the state. The legislature ap-
propriated ten dollars per month, for each
orphan actually supported, and provided for

GUTHRIE COUNTY, IOWA.

the establishment of three homes. The one
in Cedar Falls was organized in 1865; an
old hotel building was fitted up for it, and
by the following January there were ninety-
six inmates. In October, 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 legislature devoted this building to the
State Normal school. The same year the
legislature also devoted the buildings and
grounds of the Soldiers' Orphans' Home, at
Glenwood, Mills county, to an institution for
the support of feeble-minded children. It
also provided for the removal of the soldiers'
orphans at Glenwood and Cedar Falls homes
to the one located at Davenport. There is
in connection with this institution a school
building, pleasant, commodious and well-
lighted, and it is the policy of the board to
have the course of instruction of a high
standard. A kindergarten is operated for
the very young pupils. The age limit be-
yond which children are kept in the home is
sixteen years. Fewer than twenty per cent,
remain to the age limit. A librar}' of well-
selected juvenile literature is a source of
pleasure and profitable entertainment to the
children, as from necessity their pleasures
and pastimes are somewhat limited. It is
the aim to provide the children -with plenty
of good, comfortable clothing, and to teach
them to take good care of the same. Their
clothing is all manufactured at the home,
the large girls assisting in the work. The
table is well supplied wath a good variety
of plain, wholesome food and a reasonable
amount of luxuries. The home is now sup-
ported by a regular appropriation of twelve
dollars per month for each inmate, and the
actual transportation charges of the inmates
to and from the institution. Each county is
liable to the state for the support of its chil-
dren to the extent of six dollars per month,
except soldiers' orphans, who are cared for
at the expense of the state.

FEEBLE-MINDED CHILDREN.

An act of the general assembly, approved
March 17, 1878, provided for the estal)lish-
ment of an asylum for feeble-minded chil-
dren at Glenwood, Mills county, and the
buildings and grounds of the Soldiers-
Orphans' Home were taken for that pur-
pose. The asylum was placed under the
management of three trustees, one of whom
should be a resident of Mills county. The
institution was opened September i, 1876.
By November, 1877, the number of pupils
were eighty-seven. The purpose of this in-
stitution is to provide special methods of
training for that class of children deficient
in mind or marked with such peculiarities
as to deprive them of the benefits and priv-
ileges provided for children with normal
faculties. The object is to make the child
as nearly self-supporting as practicable, and
to approach as nearly as possible the move-
ments and actions of normal people. It
further aims to provide a home for those
who are not susceptible of mental culture,
relying wholly on others to sujDply their
simple wants.

INDUSTRIAL SCHOOLS FOR BOYS AND GIRLS.

The industrial school for boys is estab-
lished at Eldora. By act, approved March
31, 1868, the general assembly established
a reform school at Salem, Henry county,
and provided for a board of trustees from
each congressional district. The trustees
immediately leased the property of the Iowa
Manual Labor Institute, and October 7th
following, the school received its first inmate.
The law at first provided for the admission
of both sexes under eighteen years of age.
The trustees were directed to organize a
separate school for girls. In 1872 the school
for boys was permanently located at Eldora,
Hardin county, and some time later the one
for girls was established at Mitchellville.

PAST AND PRESENT OF

There is appropriated for these schools and
their support the sum of thirteen dollars
monthly for each boy and sixteen dollars
monthly for each girl inmate. The object
of the institution is the reformation of juve-
nile delinquents. It is not a prison. It is a
compulsory educational institution. It is a
school where wayward and criminal boys
and girls are brought under the influence
of Christian instructors, and taught by ex-
ample as well as precept, the better ways
of life. It is a training school, where the
moral, intellectual and industrial education
of the child is carried on at one and the
same time.

PENAL INSTITUTIONS.

The governor, by an act approved Jan-
uary 25, 1839, was authorized to draw the
sum of twenty thousand dollars, appropri-
ated by a act of congress in 1838, for public
buildings in the territory of Iowa, and es-
tablish a state penal institution. The act
provided for a board of directors, consisting
of three persons, to be elected bv the legis-
lature, who should superintend the build-
ing of a penitentiary to be located within
a mile of the public square, in the town of
Fort Madison, Lee county, provided that
the latter deeded a suitable tract of land
for the purpose, also a spring or stream of
water for the use of the penitentiary. The
citizens of Fort Madison executed a deed of
ten acres of land for the building. The
work was soon entered ui)on, and the main
building and warden's house were completed
in the fall of 1841. It continued to meet
with additions and improvements until the
arrangements were all completed according
to the designs of the directors. The labor
of the convicts is let out to contractors, who
pay the state a stipulated sum for services
rendered, the state furnishing shops, and
necessary supervision in preseiwing order.
The Iowa Farming Tool Company and the
l''ort Madison Chair Company are the pres-
ent contractors.

PENITENTIARY AT ANAMOSA.

The first steps toward the erection of a
penitentiary at Anamosa, Jones county, were
taken in 1872, and by an act of the general
assembly, approved April 23, 1884, three
commissioners were selected to construct and
control prison buildings. They met on the
4th of June, following, and chose a site do-
nated by the citizens of Anamosa. . Work on
the building was commenced September 28,
1872. In 1873, a number of prisoners were
transferred from the Fort Madison prison
to Anamosa. The labor of the convicts at
this penitentiary is employed in the erection
and completion of the buildings. The labor
of a small number is let to the American
Cooperage Company. This institution has
a well-appointed and equipped department
for female prisoners; also a department for
the care of the criminal insane.

STATE HISTORICAL SOCIETY.

A State historical society in connection
with the university was provided for by act
of the general assembly January 25, 1857.
At the commencement an appropriation of
two hundred and fifty dollars was made, to
be expended in collecting and presenting
a library of books, pamphlets, papers, paint-
ings, and other materials illustrative of the
history of Iowa. There was appropriated
five hundred dollars per annum to maintain
this society. Since its organization the so-
ciety has published three different quarterly
magazines. From 1863 to 1874 it published
the Annals of Iowa, twelve volumes, now
called the first series. From 1885 to 1902,
it published the Iowa Historical Record,
eighteen volumes. From 1903 to 1907, the
society has published the Iowa Journal of
History and Politics, now in its fifth volume.
Xumerous special publications have been is-
sued by the society, the most important
of which are the Messages and Proclama-
tions of the Governors of Iowa, in seven

GUTHRIE COUNTY, IOWA.

volumes. The Executive Journal of Iowa,
1838-1843, and the Lucas Journal of the
War of 1812.

IOWA soldiers' home.

The Iowa Soldiers' Home w^as built and
occupied in 1888, at Marshalltown. The
first year it had one hundred and forty in-
mates. In 1907 there were seven hundred
and ninety-four inmates, including one
hundred and twelve women. The United
States government pays to the state of
Iowa the sum of one hundred dollars
per year for each male inmate of the sol-
diers' home, who served in any war in which
the United States was engag'ed, which
amount is used as part of the support fund
of the institution. Persons who have prop-
erty or means for their support, or who draw
a pension sufficient therefor, will not be
admitted to the home; and if after admis-
sion, an inmate of the home shall receive
a pension or other means sufficient for his
support, or shall recover his health so as to
enable him to support himself, he will be
discharged from the home. Regular ap-
propriation by the state is fourteen dollars
per month for each member and ten dollars
per month for each employe not a member
of the home.

OTHER STATE INSTITUTIONS.

There are at Clarinda and Cherokee state
hospitals for the insane and one at Knox-
ville for the inebriate.

It is strange, but true, that in the great
state of Iowa, with more than sixty per
cent, of her population engaged in agricul-
tural pursuits and stock-raising, it was not
until the year 1900 that a department of the
state government was created in the inter-
ests of, and for the promotion of, agricul-
tural, animal industry, horticulture, man-
ufactures, €tc. The Iowa department of
agriculture was created by act of the twenty-

eighth general assembly. In 1892 the Iowa
Geological Survey was established, and the
law which provided therefor outlined its
work to be that of making "a complete sur-
vey of the natural resources of the state in
the natural and scientific aspects, including
the determination of the characteristics of
the various formations and the investigation
of the different ores, coal, clays, building
stones and other useful materials." It is
intended to co-operate with the United
States Geological Survey in the making of
topographical maps of those parts of the
state whose coal resources make such maps
particularly desirable and useful. The State
Agricultural Society is one of the great pro-
moters of the welfare of the people. The
society holds an annual fair, which has oc-
curred at Des Moines since 1878. At its
meetings subjects are discussed of the high-
est interest and value, and these proceedings
are published at the expense of the state.

THE CELEBRATION OF THE FIFTH-
TEENTH ANNIVERSARY OF
THE CONSTITUTION OF
' IOWA.

BY JOHN C. PARISH.

In the year 1907 the state of Iowa closes
the first half century of existence under the
constitution of 1857. In April, 1906, the
general assembly, looking forward to the
suitable celebration of so important an an-
niversary, passed an act appropriating sev-
en hundred and fifty dollars to be used by
the State Historical Society of Iowa in a
commemoration of the fiftieth anniversary
of the constitution of 1857. It was eminent-
ly desirable that the celebration should oc-
cur at Iowa City, for it was at that place,
then the capital of the state, that the con-
stitutional convention of 1857 was held.
And it was particularly fitting that the ex-
ercises should be placed under the auspices
of the State Historical Society of Iowa, for

PAST AND PRESENT OF

the same year. 1857, marks the birth of the
society, ^^'hile the convention was drafting
the fundamental law of the state in a room
on the lower floor of the Old Stone Capitol,
the sixth general assembly in the legislative
halls upstairs in the same building passed an
act providing for the organization of a State
Historical Society. Thus the event of 1907
became a celebration of the fiftieth anniver-
sary of the State Historical Society as well
as a commemoration of the semi-centennial
of the constitution of 1857.

In due time plans were matured for a pro-
gram covering four days, beginning on
Tuesday. March 19. and closing on Friday,
]\Iarch 22^ 1907. It consisted of addresses
bv men of prominent reputation in constitu-
tional and historical lines, together with
conferences on state historical subjects. On
Tuesday evening. Professor Andrew C. Mc-
Laughlin, of Chicag-o University, delivered
an address upon "A Written Constitution
in Some of Its Historical Aspects." He
dwelt in a scholarly way upon the growth
of written constitution, showing the lines
along which their historical development has
progressed.

The speaker of Wednesday was Professor
Eugene W^ambaugh, of the Har\'ard Law
School, one of the leading authorities in the
country upon questions of constitutional law
and formerly a member of the faculty of the
colleee of law of the Universitv of Iowa.
Professor Wambaugh. taking for his sub-
ject "The Relation Between General. His-
tory and the History of Law." outlined the
history of the long rivalry between the civil
law of Rome and the common law in their
strugg'le for supremacy, both in the old world
and the new. In closing, he referred to the
constitution of Iowa as typical of the efforts
of the American people to embody in fixed
form the principles of right and justice.

Thursday morning was givefi over to a
conference on the teaching of history. Pro-
fessor Isaac A. Loos, of the State University
of Iowa, presided, and members of the fac-

ulties of a number of the colleges and high
schools of the state were present and partici-
pated in the program. In the afternoon the
conference of historical societies convened,
Dr. F. E. Horack, of the State Historical
Society of Iowa, presiding. Reports were
read from the historical department at Des
Moines and from nearly all of the local
historical societies in the state. Methods
and policies were discussed and much en-
thusiasm was aroused looking toward the
better preservation of the valuable materials
of local history.

The history of the >\Iississippi valley is
replete with events of romantic interest.
From the time of the early French voyagers
and explorers, who paddled down the waters
of the tributaries from the north, down to
the days of the sturdy pioneers of Anglo-
Saxon blood, who squatted upon the fertile
soil and staked out their claims on the
prairies, there attaches an interest that is
scarcely equaled in the annals of America.
On Thursday evening. Dr. Reuben Gold
Thwaites. superintendent of the State His-
torical Society of Wisconsin, delivered an
address upon "The Romance of Mississippi
Valley History." He traced the lines of
exploration and immigration from the north-
east and east and drew interesting pictures
of the activities in the great river valley
when the land was young and the ways full
of wonder to the pioneer adventurer.

Friday's program closed the session. On
this day Governor Albert B. Cummins at-
tended and participated in the celebration.
At the university armory, before a large
gathering, he spoke briefly on the constitu-
tion of the L'nited States, paying it high
tribute and at the same time showing the
need of amendment to fit present day needs.
He then introduced Judge Emlin McClain.
of the supreme court of Iowa, who delivered
the principal address of the day. Judge
McClain took for his subject "The Consti-
tutional Convention and the Issues Before
It." He told of that memorable gathering

GUTHRIE COUNTY, IOWA.

at the Old Stone Capitol in Iowa City fifty
years ago when thirty-six men met in the
supreme court room to draft the fundamental
law for the commonwealth.

The members of the convention of 1857
were from various occupations. The repre-
sentatives of the legal profession led in num-
bers with fourteen members, among whom
were many men of prominence, William
Penn Clarke. Edward Johnstone and J. C.
Hall were there. James F. Wilson, after-
wards so prominent in national politics, was
a member, then only twenty-eight years of
age. J. C. Hall was the only delegate who
had served in either of the preceding consti-
tutional conventions of the state, having rep-
resented Henry county in the convention of
1844. There were twelve farmers in the
convention of 1857 — rugged types of those
men who settled upon the land and built into
the early history of the state its elements of
enduring strength. Among the remaining
members \\ere merchants, bankers and \a-
rious other tradesmen. They were a repre-
sentative group of men and they attacked the
problems before them with characteristic pio-
neer vigor.

The convention of 1857 chose for its pre-
siding officer Francis Springer, an able
farmer and lawyer from Louisa county.
Many \vere the discussions that stirred the
convention. One of the first was over the
proposition to move the convention bodily
to Dubuque or to Davenport. The town of
Iowa City it seems, had" not provided satis-
factory accommodations for the delegates;
and for hours the members gave vent to their
displeasure and argued the question of a
removal. But inertia W'On and the conven-
tion finally decided to remain in Iowa City
and settled down to the discussion of more
serious matters.

The constitution of 1846 had prohibited
banking corporations in the state. But there
was strong agitation for a change in this re-
spect, and so the convention of 1857 pro-
vided for both a state bank and for a system

of free banks. The matter of corporations
was a prominent one before the convention.
So also was the question of the status of
the negro. The issues were taken up with
fairness and argued upon their merits. The
convention was republican in the proportion
of twenty-one to fifteen. The delegates had
been elected on a party basis. Yet they did
not allow partisanship to control their actions
as members of a constituent assembly. On
the 19th of January they had come together,
and for a month and a half they remained
in session. They adjourned on March 5th,
and dispersed to their homes.

That the members of the convention did
their work well is evidenced by the fact that
in the fifty years that have followed only
four times had the constitution of 1857 been
amended. Nor did these amendments em-
body changes, the need of which the men
of 1857 could have well foreseen. The first
two changes in the fundamental law were
due to the changed status of the negro as a
result of the Civil war. In 1882 the pro-
hibitory amendment was passed, but it was
soon declared null by the supreme court of
Iowa because of technicalities in its submis-
sion to the people, and so did not became a
part of the constitution. The amendments
of 1884 were concerned largely with judicial
matters, and those of 1904 provided for
biennial election and increased the number
of members of the house of representatives.

With these changes the work of the con-
stitutional convention of 1857 has come
down to us. Fifty years have passed and
twice has the convention been the subject
of a celebration. In 1882, after a quarter
of a century, the surviving members met in
Des Moines. Francis Springer, then an old
man, was present and presided at the meet-
ing.' Out of the original thirty-six mem-
bers, only twenty responded to the roll call.
Eight other members were alive but unable
to attend ; the remainder had given way to
the inevitable reaper. This was in 1882. In
1907 occurred the second celebration. This

PAST AND PRESENT OF

time it was not a reunion of members of the
convention, for only one survivor appeared
upon the scene. It was rather a commemo-
ration of the fiftieth birthday of the con-
stitution of the state. Only one member of
the convention (John H. Peters, of Man-
chester, Iowa), is reported to be now living.

The celebration of the fiftieth anniversary
of the adoption of our fundamental law was
marked by a unique feature. There were
present and participated in the program three
aged pioneers of the state, a survivor of each
of the three constitutional conventions.
These three conventions met in 1857, in
1846, and in 1844, respectively fifty, sixty-
one and sixty-three years ago. On the open-
ing day of the celebration, J. Scott Richman
appeared upon the scene. Sixty-one years
ago he had come to Iowa City as a delegate
to the convention of 1846. Eighty-eight
years old, with patriarchal beard and slow-
step, he came as the only living member of
the convention that framed the constitution
under which Iowa entered the Union. On
Thursday there came from Marion, Samuel
Durham, a tall pioneer of ninety years of
age, the sole survivor of Iowa's first con-
stitutional convention, that of 1844. His
memory ran back to the days of Iowa's first
governor, Robert Lucas, for he had reached
Iowa from Indiana in the year 1840. On
the last day of the program these two old
constitution-makers of 1844 and 1846 were
joined by a third, John H. Peters, who had
come from Delaware county as a member of
the last constitutional convention fifty years
ago. They sat down together at the lunch-
eon on Friday noon and responded to toasts
with words that took the hearers back to
the days when Iowa was the last stopping
place of the immigrant.

Thus the celebration was brought to an
end. From every point of view it was a
success. Probably never again will the state
see the reunion of representatives of all three
constitutional conventions. Time must soon
take away these lingering pioneers of two

generations ago. But the state will not soon
forget their services, for they have left their
monument in the fundamental law of the
commonwealth.

GUTHRIE COUNTY.

The history of the people of a community
is the history of that community. \\'hen
one speaks of the characteristics of the men
and women of this county and in detail re-
lates the salient incidents connected with
their lives, he has given to the world the
things that are of the most value in relation
to this people and preserved for future gen-
erations the record of those who have con-
tributed to and made the history of the coun-
ty what it is. Before the intrepid voyagers
and hunter left his eastern home, or the hus-
bandman first cast his eyes upon the bound-
less prairies, beautiful streams and virgin
forests of Guthrie county Nature had com-
pleted her task. Everything was in readi-
ness for the man of courage, strength and
endurance, and his coming to this land of
plenty was the beginning of another epoch
in its history. The task of the historian is
to make known to the present generations
how this history became possible, and to ac-
quaint them with the men and women who
were the chief contributors thereto.

Some, but a very lew, of the pioneers,
the "first-comers" of Guthrie county, are
still here to tell the story of those early
days, when they first "stuck their stakes"
in this their land of promise and beauty.
The many and almost incredible changes
that have taken place are uppermost in their
thoughts, when their memory reverts to the
early 'fifties and a comparison is made be-
tween the then and now. In those by-
gone days the road hither was far and
tedious; the bridle-path being the only pas-
sage-way for their lumbering wagons and
the only means of crossing the many waters
that confronted them on their journey was
by fording or swimming. The "prairie

^,...««-*«-«) *'^-^^^^

FIRST FRAME HOUSE IX GUTHRIE CENTER
Built bv William Warrington

GUTHRIE COUNTY, IOWA.

schooner," with canvas-covered top was the
only means in those pioneer days of trans-
porting the family and a few articles of
household goods they possessed. With little
to begin the new life, except stout hearts and
willing and capable hands, these builders of
a new country set up their habitations on the
virgin prairie and soon the smoke might be
seen curling heavenward from a log cabin,
hastily built by the father and husband of
the family, within which the patient, cour-
ageous wife and wondering children would
gather and give thanks to the Giver of every
good and perfect gift for the blessings of a
home. In those days ''necessity was the
mother of invention" in all that the words
imply. No labor-saving machinery was ex-
tant or thought of; only with the crudest
of tools and labor of the hands were results
made possible. There were no stores, mill,
or blacksmith shop, to supply the immediate
needs of the adventurers in the wilderness
and when the crops failed Nature, in her
fields and streams, was called upon by the
hunter and fisherman to supply the defi-
ciency. The present generation has no ade-
quate realization of the trials and hardships
of the fathers and mothers who came to
this country when it was the home of naught
but the Indian and wild beasts, and made it
blossom as the rose and give up its bounties
at the touch of their magic wand. In place
of the weary journey through mud, or dust,
or drifted snow, thirty or forty miles to
mill or village for the necessaries of life,
in many cases the only beast of burden the
slow-paced oxen, or scarcely faster plodding
farm horse, now the iron steed of commerce,
with rush and roar, dashes up almost to the
door of the farmer, and towns and villages,
with stores, and mills of the best in the land,
dot these verdant hills and plains. He is
now enabled to live like a prince and by use
of the telephone, one of the mangels of the
nineteenth century, he can make his wants
known in a trice. His mail is brought to his
door daily, and now he keeps abreast of the
3

times as readily and conveniently as the
dweller in the towns, for before the sun
sets each day he sits down to read and
digest his daily paper. His home has the
modern conveniences of the "towns folks."
He has the telephone, the house is heated by
furnace or steam, with his wind-pump he
distributes water throughout his dwelling
and he enjoys the luxury of a bath in a mod-
ern tub. No longer does his family take
the weekly trip "to town" in a lumber
wagon. Today, the fanner has his buggy,
and surrey and many of them are seen in
automobiles. Compare all this to the rude
appliances of the early settler, both in the
farm implements and the domestic helps to
the labor of both man and wife ; contrast
the flail with the steam thresher and stacker;
the scvthe and cradle with the self-binding-
harvesting machine; the sewing machine and
the great factory looms with the needle and
the spinning wheel ; and, besides these, con-
sider the many makeshifts of the hardy pio-
neer and his loyal wife to help things along
in their efforts to get ahead in the new world.
These men and women whom the pres-
ent writer has in mind, were real heroes and
heroines. They braved untold hardships and
horrors to transform a wilderness into a
garden spot. To make an abiding place for
themselves and their children, so that they
might develop into worthy citizens of this
great republic. These people have earned a
place in history and to give them that place
is the object of the writer and this volume.
The annals of the lives of these "Pilgrim
Fathers" of Guthrie county, surely read like
a romance, and have within them all the
elements of tragedy or comedy : and the
storv of their conflict with nature and the
vicissitudes of pioneer life shall be the prin-
cipal theme of this history. In this connec-
tion the individual life histories of the early
pioneers and their representatives, and those
who have come to the county in later years
and have taken up the work where others
have left off, are deemed worthy of preser-

PAST AND PRESENT OF

vation, and many of them, of the living
and those passed to "the beyond,"
will be here given, that the narratives of their
life work may be read, to the end that emula-
•tion of their worthy deeds may be quickened
in the hearts of the young reader, and induce
him to strive to do as well, if not better than
the one whose history is before him. These
men and women are, or ha\'e been, factors
in the settlement and development of Guthrie
county, and by inserting these sketches, to-,
gether with other matter, is preserved, not
only the recital of historic facts, but a sub-
current of individual deeds that run through
it, like some minor chord in the grand mel-
ody, gi\ing a realism to the narrative, which
could be imparted in no other way.

PHYSICAL FEATURES OF GUTHRIE COUNTY.

"Possibly, nowhere \\ithin the limits of
the great state of Iowa, is the county of
Guthrie surpassed for its beautiful scenery ;
its hills and dales, its rolling prairies,
emerald seas Ijeneath the summer skies, in-
terspersed ])y hills and natural groves ; its
meandering streams like bright ribbons of
silver rolling their pellucid waters in banks
of richest hues. In agricultural resources
and' inherent wealth it ranks »among the fore-
most of tlie bright galaxy of sisters, that
make up the noble state of Iowa, and with
a brighter future before it, the citizen who
is happy in being an inhabitant thereof and
calls it home, may well be proud of it."

LOCATION.

Guthrie county is situated between the
forty-first and forty-second parallel of north
latitude, is twenty-four miles square, and
therefore contains sixteen congressional
townships, or fi\e hundred and seventy-six
square miles. It lies in the fourth tier of
counties from the south line of the state, and
is the fourth from the west line. It is bound-
ed on the north bv Carroll and Greene

counties, on the east by Dallas, on the south
by Adair, and on the west by Audubon
county.

This territory is divided into seventeen
civil townships, most of which consist of a
congressional township. These civil town-
ships are named as follows, commencing
with the northeast corner: Richland,
Dodge, Highland, Orange, Union, Seely,
Victory, Cass, Jackson, Valley, Baker, Bear
Grove, Grant, Beaver, Thompson, Penn and
Stuart.

TOPOGRAPHY.

The county of Guthrie stands among the
foremost in the state in general agricultural
and stock-raising resources, and fully meets
all reasonable expectations in these lines.
The surface drainage is most excellent, as
numerous streams meandering throughout
the count}' collect the surplus waters and
afford all the water that is so necessary to
the successful issue of . stock-raising. The
principal of these streams are the middle and
south forks of the Raccoon river, with their
silverv affluents, among which are Brushv,
Bear, Beaver, and Mosquito creeks, while
the Middle river has its source within the
limits of this county, and waters all the
southwestern portions of it. The larger
streams afford excellent water power, which
are, to a limited extent, utilized, but which
at some future day, will prove a source of
additional wealth to the resources of the
county. The streams are generally clear,
and roll their waters over beds of pebbly
shale, and l)eing mainly fed by springs that
percolate through the loose deposit in the
valleys, reaching the waters by subterranean
ways, they are little affected by either ex-
treme of wet or drought. Excellent well
water is obtained at little depth in most
quarters, except in the rolling uplands of
the southwestern townships, where the bluff
deposits must be penetrated to the underly-
ing gravel beds, before a permanent supply
of water is obtained. In many places this

GUTHRIE COUNTY. IOWA.

■well water is, contrary to the visual course,
quite soft, which pleases the fairer portion
of the inhabitants of the hills, valleys and
prairies of the fair county of Guthrie.

The g-eneral surface of this portion of the
state is high rolling prairie, gently sloping
toward the valleys, with some ridges along
the streams, which are considerably rough
and broken as compared with most portions
of the county, but they are all occupied and,
are considered desirable farming lands.
There is very little land that is too wet or
too sour for cultivation, nearly eveiy acre
of that reported as swamp lands in the origi-
nal surveys having been entered for agri-
cultural purposes. The valley of the Middle
river is well-defined, and like all streams that
rise in the great di\'ide, in this region, its
waters are collected by a system of ravines,
which reach up to the very crest of the w.ater-
shed. while in the western range of town-
ships bordering on this divide, which sepa-
rates the drainages of the mighty Mississippi
and muddy Missouri, the prairies are gently
undulating, presenting a marked contrast to
the country eastward. Between the South
Raccoon and Brushy fork, as well as between
the later stream and the ^Middle Raccoon,
the same physical features are exhibited,
being composed of symmetrical ridges,
flanked by graceful declivities, and culminat-
ing in broad rounded summits, from one to
two hundred feet above the valleys that
nestle at their feet, ^^'hile the valley of the
Middle Raccoon is narrow and usually
bordered by more abrupt declivities to the
eastward, the count}' wends its wa}' in long-
sweeping, gentle undulations, that are only
interrupted by the shallow prairie streams
that intersect that section and water its fertile
soil.

The soil of Guthrie county, while afford-
ing two well-marked varieties, is noted for
its fecundity and fertility. These va-
riations of the characteristics of the superfi-
cial covering of the earth, are co-extensive
with the two widely diverse deposits that

mark this region of the country. A larger
portion of the upland in the southwestern
half of the county affords a light, fine,
siliceous soil, which is derived from the
bluff deposits, while in the eastern and north-
eastern townships is found the rich, black
loam, so characteristic of the drift region.
The native timber is mostly confined to the
vallevs and ravines, though there are some
large tracts covered with a rich growth of
oak and hazel, which were formerly swept
b}- the prairie fires of early spring and late
autumn, so that not even a shrub was found
on that at the time of the earlv settlements.
Although this is emphatically a prairie coun-
try, what timber that does exist is so evenly
distributed that no considerable portion of
the county is more than five miles distant
from a supply, although the timber in Guth-
rie county, like that of the country generally,
is fast disappearing. Planted groves, of soft
species of trees, grow so rapidly, that but a
few years are required until timber for ordi-
nary purposes can be obtained from them in
paying quantities.

MATERIAL RESOURCES.

In agricultural resources Guthrie county
has hardly a superior in the state. Both
the deep black soil of the drift deposit, and
the light-colored, or mulatto, soil of the
bluff' regions, are alike noted for their pro-
ductiveness, and their warm forcing na-
ture. Com and wheat are the staple pro-
ductions, wdiile all the grains, grasses, and
vegetables common to Iowa, are grown with
a luxuriance unexcelled, amply rewarding
the industry of the husbandman. The
natural advantages of Guthrie county for
stock-raising are unsurpassed by any county
in Iowa, possessing, as it does, numerous
beautiful valleys and arable tracts of land,
on which the wild and tame grasses grow
with all the luxuriance of their native soil,
and living streams and brooklets of sparkling
water meander through nearly every section

PAST AND PRESENT OF

of the county. Before they were crushed out
by the advancing footsteps of civilization,
wild fruits in profuse variety annually yield-
ed rich harvests, showing that the more
luscious and delicately cultivated fruits need
onl}'- planting and judicious care and culture
to richly repay the labor of the careful
pomologist. As evidence of this the county
is dotted over with orchards and tracts of
small fruits, all of which grow and produce
profusely.

For building purposes stone is obtained
from the limestone beds of the middle coal
measure, although the supply of this ma-
terial is not very abundant. That on Little-
'Coon and Beaver creek furnishes an excel-
lent material for lime. Iron, in the form of
brown hematite ore, is found in limited
quantities in the coal measures, and is more
largely disseminated throughout the sand
and gravel beds, and is sometimes found in
purer condition as nodules, -in other positions
yet it is the expressed opinion of the state
geologist, that the quantity is too small ever
to have much value for economic purposes.
Good brick clay and sand are obtained in
sufficient abundance to meet any possible de-
mand of the future.

COAL.

The mining of coal in Guthrie county has
become an important industry, and lying as
it does, in the upper coal measure, this is
quite an important factor in the future de-
velopment of the county. Shafts have been
sunk in different parts of the county and
coal of splendid quality has been placed upon
the market. No greatly organized effort has
been yet made in the county toward mining,
but in time the mining of coal in the county
bids fair to become an industry of no incon-
siderable importance. The whole of Guthrie
county is underlaid with this invaluable
fuel, and it is but a question of time when
Guthrie will take its place among the fore-
most coal-producing counties of the state.

EARLY SETTLEMENT.

Guthrie county, lying as it does at the
head of the Raccoon river, had no doubt
been visited by white men prior to 1848,
when the first settlement was made, for
these fertile valleys had long been the trail
of the hunter and trapper before actual set-
tlers made their appearance. This part of
the state had been the home of the Mus-
quakie Indians who, under a chief called by
the whites "Johnnie Green," here hunted the
wild animals that then so plentifully abound-
ed. It was little they then reckoned that the
"paleface" would so soon dispossess them
of their birthright or the dav when the In-
dian would be considered the interloper.

The chapter pertaining to the early set-
tlement of a community is of absorbing in-
terest, especially to the pioneer himself, who
has witnessed the changes that have C(nne
upon him since the trackless wilderness was
transformed into a beautiful country and
filled with an enterprising and happy people.
He reads therein, slowly and critically, every
word, recalling, as he does, memories of the
past which, for ageneration have been buried
among a host of recollections, and which
now rise before him like the phantasies of a
dream. His old associations, the deeds, the
trails and battles against hunger and cold,
while the settlers were few and far between,
and wolves howled in rage before the little
log cabin, sending a chill to his heart, and the
wind driving the sifting snow through the
crevices, — all arise before him like a picture.
Often it is with pleasure he can recall these
remembrances, viewing with satisfaction the
thought that he has lived to see a thrifty and
wealthy land, dotted with schoolhouses,
churches, villages and towns. But, perhaps,
it will again be with somber sadness that
the past is recalled, as thought will spring up
unbidden, of the dark and painful side of
early days. How a beloved wife, whose
virtues, bravery and simplicity, will always
be remembered, or a child, prattling' in inno-

GUTHRIE COUNTY, IOWA.

cence, being called from earth to the eternal
home and laid away by the loving, sympa-
thetic hands of hardy pioneer neighbors.
Time has partially allayed the sting-s. but the
wounds are now uncovered by the allusions
to bygone days, and the cases are not a few
where a tear of bitter sadness will course
down a bronzed and hardened cheek in honor
of the memory of those who have left the
settlement for all time, notwithstanding the
many disadvantages and even sorrows at-
tendant upon the first steps toward civiliza-
tion, the adversities encountered, the pio-
neers led a happy life. The absence of the
aristocratic and domineering power of
wealth and position, could not but be a source
of comfort and satisfaction. Merit alone
insured equality, and this could not be sup-
pressed by traditions. The brotherhood of
man was illustrated in a sincere and practical
wa}', and hospitality was not considered so
much a Christian trait as a duty to humanity.
Prior to 1848. the territory now com-
prised in the county of Guthrie was a vast
expanse of prairie, inhabited by naught but
the nomad Indian, and scarcely less wild
hunters and trappers. The confines of civ-
ilization had but little more than extended
across the ^Mississippi and a journey through
the territory west of the "Father of Waters"
was a tedious and often a dangerous task.
All was in a state of nature, the beaytiful
velvet carpet of the wild prairie as yet un-
vexed by plow, lay in virgin loveliness, until
in the spring of 1848, when a single emi-
grant wagon, containing the household
goods of John Nevins, appeared upon the
scene, to add life to the hitherto solitary
desert. Slowly advancing across the country
making close observations as he went along,
he reached a point on section i, in township
78, range 30, now in Jackson township, and
stopped. Mr. Nevins, pleased with the
beauty of the spot and its adaptability to
culture, determined to make a claim here and
at once proceeded to put up a cabin to shelter
his family. He built this mansion about

twelve' feet square, and plowed up a little
land, planting therein the first corn in Guth-
rie county. Being of that class that nearly al-
ways precede the actual settlers, half aborig-
ine, he spent the most of his time in hunting
and fishing, depending more on the rifle and
fish-hook for the support of himself and
family than on the legitimate but more
prosy life of farming. Mr. Nevins was at
this time about twenty-five years of age and
a son-in-law of John Bennett, one of the
early settlers of Polk county. After a sum-
mer spent in this manner, he gathered his
corn in the fall and went home to the
parental roof, near Des Moines, to spend
the winter. Here he was compelled to stay
until late in the spring, on account of a
heavy fall of snow, and the formidable crust
that had formed upon the top of that ele-
ment, for this was one of Iowa's severest
winters, and tradition says that much of the
wild game perished by reason of the rigors
of that season.

Mr. Nevins had left some corn at his place,
which proved the salvation of his nearest
neighbors, in Dallas county, for they, soon
brought to the verge of starvation by the
rigors of the winter, not being able to seek
provisions with their teams, went to Nevins'
crib and helped themselves, drawing upon
handsleds the corn to their homes and mak-
ing hominy therefrom, managed to keep the
wolf from the door. Mr. Nevins left this
county in 1852 or 1853, going first to Des
Moines and from there to Kansas, where he
was still livhig some years back.

Benjamin Kunkle was the next to settle in
Guthrie county. This was in the fall of
1848. For a short time he had resided in
Van Buren county, removing to that section
from Champaign county, Ohio, in 1847. He
was a Pennsylvanian by birth, having first
seen the light of day in Perry county, in
that state, on March 12, 1806. He was the
son of Jacob and Elizabeth (Snyder) Kun-
kle, both of whom were members of old
Pennsylvania families of German descent.

PAST AND PRESENT OF

On the 1st of October, 1831, he was married
to Barbara Ehnon, a Lutheran clergyman
performing the ceremony. While in his na-
tive state he followed the trade of a black-
smith, at which he was an adept. While at
Bonaparte, Van Buren county, Iowa, he fol-
lowed his trade a short time and then took
up farming. That led him to Guthrie coun-
ty, where he came in search of a farm. So,
hitching his horses to a wagon he started on
his journey in search of a home. Of course,
he experienced the usual pleasures and hard-
ships of the home-seeker, traveling over
boundless prairies, crossing the numerous
streams that, with purling, pellucid waters
essayed to stop his course; passing the occa-
sional farm house that began to" appear on
the open plain, past the little villages and
hamlets just commencing to form, he pushed
out beyond all these into the pathless wilder-
ness, until he crossed the border line between
Dallas and Guthrie counties, when he came
to the conclusion that here he would rest
and be content. He staked out a claim on
section 36, in Jackson township. A Mr.
Parrott came with Mr. Kunkle who. also
having made a claim, returned to civilization
and never came back to settle on his land.
This left Mr. Kunkle alone and here in the
great solitude, where the silence was so
overpowering, with no companions but his
horses and dog, with no shelter but his
wagon, but with a brave heart and. willing
hands, he set to work to make a home for
his loved ones, that he had left back in the
settlements. He at once put up a cabin and
did some plowing, as was necessaiw to hold
his claim, and then went back for his family,
intending to return with them in the spring;
but high waters and other causes, delayed
him so much that it was the first day of
September when they arrived at their future
home. In his haste to complete the cabin
he had, as yet, cut neither door-way nor
windows in it, and the family had to wait
while an opening was sawed out. They
made their beds upon Alother Earth, there

being no floor in the cabin, closing the door-
way with a blanket hung on nails. Sweet
A\as that sleep in their own new home ! In
the morning they arose early and went out
to view their new possessions. The cabin
stood in a beautiful little grove, beyond
Avhich stretched the limitless prairies, the
tall, rich grass, still clothed in its summer
garb of green; dotted thickly with flowers,
many hued like autumnal leaves, while in
the distance might be beheld the graceful
deer .bounding along in native freedom.
Thankful in their hearts that their lives had
fallen in such a pleasant place, they set to
work with a will, to make of this
earthly Eden a home. The first crop
Benjamin Kunkle had was of corn,
about twelve acres, and a small
patch of potatoes, all of which delivered a
bounteous yield. On the 12th of September,
1849, a daughter was born to his household,
whom the parents called Melinda Jane, and
she was the first white child born in Guthrie
county. Mr. Kunkle remained on this farm
until April, iSSj, when he sold out to Holly
Miller, and went to reside in Bayard.

When Mr. Kunkle went after his family
he purchased twenty-four head of hogs, four
cows, a team of breaking cattle, and twelve
head of stock cattle. These, together with
his team, made quite a showing for an early
settler. Mr. Kunkle says he hunted con-
siderably the first winter of his residence in
the count}, and ^•enis()n and wild turkey
were plenty at his board. With Benjamin
Kunkle came Joseph W. Cummins, one of
the prominent men of Guthrie, and the sec-
ond permanent settler in the county, Kun-
kle being the first. He was a native of
Sangamon county, Illinois, and was born on
the 28th day of June, 1828. His father was
a native of Kentuck}^ and his mother of Vir-
ginia. Joseph's great-grandfather was a na-
ti\-e of Ireland and came to this country and
took part in the Revolutionary war, siding
with the colonists. After the revolution he
settled in Pennsylvania, where John Cum-

GUTHRIE COUNTY, IOWA.

mins, grandfather of Joseph, was born.
John was with "Mad" x\nthony Wayne on
his raid on the Indians, and served through
the war of 1812. He then removed to Ken-
tucky, where ^^^i^iam, father of Joseph, was
born. In 181 8, in company with his father,
he moved to Sangamon county, IlHnois, and
marrying, was later blessed by the appear-
ance in his home of Joseph. William was
a private in Captain Abe Lincoln's company
during the Black Hawk war ; he moved with
his family to Wapello county, Iowa, in' 1848,
where he remained until 1868, when he came
to Guthrie county, where he died in 1873.
Joseph Cummins came to Guthrie county in
1849, ^i^tl settled . on section 36, town 79,
range 30, and bought two hundred and forty
acres of land, where he built a small cabin,
in which he lived from 1850 to 1854. and
then sold to S. Mount. He then moved his
family upon section 3, while he was culti-
vating the land and building a dwelling-
house south of what is known as the Brown
farm. He sold this place and moved on sec-
tion 2. He was a whig in politics, but while
the county was democratic he was elected
sheriff three times. He assisted in the
organization of the republican party in 1856.
For a short term of service he served in the
Civil war as second lieutenant of Company
C, Forty-sixth Iowa Infantr}^ He was a
strong temperance advocate and voted for
the prohibitory law of 1855.

David and Russell Bay came into Guthrie
county in 1849 (September), settling on
what is called Bay's Branch, in section 33,
Cass township, just east of Panora. David
some years ago emigrated to Texas, where
he died; Russell returned to Illinois, and
succumbed to the "Grim Reaper"' there.

John Davis, in Januaiy, 1850, settled a
little southeast of the present site of Panora,
where he lived until 1864, when he sold out,
and following the "star of empire" removed
to Oregon.

Nicholas Hartman, in March, 1850, set-
tled a mile north of Kunkle's place. He re-

mained a resident of this county until 1879,
when he was induced to go to Oregon, where
he lived two years, but that country not
meeting his expectations, he returned to
Guthrie county and continued a citizen until
his death, which occurred in 1883.

In May, 1850, Conrad Brumbaugh, a na-
tive of Pennsylvania, of German extraction,
made a claim about a mile west of the town
site of Panora, on section 31. Here he re-
sided and tilled the soil until his death in
November, 1874.

^^*ith Mr. Brumbaugh came Jacob Wil-
son, who located upon section 9. He has
been dead these many years. Andrew Brum-
baugh also came with Conrad, in May, 1850,
and made a claim to a farm on section 7.
He moved to Oregon.

Among others who made a settlement in
the county this same year, 1850, were John
Van Order, J. Shellhart, Michael Leinhart,
Michael Mock, Daniel Messinger, Joseph
Ricks, Abraham ^loore, Samuel Moore,
Benjamin Denslow, Nathan Maynard and
McCullough.

Fred In-ey, who had his family with him,
took up the land staked out by Mr. Parrott
who, having failed to come forward and
claim it, had lost all right and title to it.
This was on section 35, in what is now
Jackson township. He came here from In-
diana and in 1852 sold out and left the coun-
try, passing out of the knowledge of those
who knew him here.

John and Jacob Van Order both made
claims, on section 32, but did not stay long,
selling out and going to Victory township.
John went to Oregon and Jacob is dead.
J. Shellhart made a claim to a farm near the
village of Panora, where he lived for several
years, when he sold out and left the country
and all trace of him has been lost.

In May, 1850, Alichael Leinhart bought a
claim of David Bay. This was on section
4, southeast of Panora. In November, of
the same year, he moved his family to the
new country and home, from Indiana. On

PAST AND PRESENT OF

his way hither he stopped with friends in
^^"c1pello county, who remonstrated with
him. trvinsr to induce him to alter his mind
about "setthng away out there," where his
chikh^en would not have the necessaiT facil-
ities for education. But all to no purpose.
He would not be dissuaded, and he soon had
his family installed in their new home. Like
all the new settlers his purse was light, but
the Leinharts had stout hearts and their pur-
pose was fixed. Their first residence was a
shanty, but the prospects of a brighter fu-
ture, and the real contentment that clustered
around their humble hearth, made it a happy
home, even among the pangs of hunger and
privations of frontier life. They did not
borrow trouble on account of the education
of their children, Valentine and Saranda.
On the 2 1 St of January another child was
born to them ; this was a daughter, called
Mary, and was the second white child who
saw the light of day for the first time in
Guthrie county, ^^'hen Mary was but fifteen
years of age. she received a first-class cer-
tificate and taught a district school, and she
had never entered a school outside of the
county at that. She became the wife of
Jesse Johnson, who kept a store at ^^'ichita,
this county.

Michael Mock made a claim in section 32,
Cass township. Mr. Mock removed to Polk
county, and is now numbered with the great
majority, who sleep the sleep of the just.

Michael and George Messinger made
claims on sections 13, township 79, range
30. They have long since left the county.
They came from Delaware county, Indiana.

Joseph Rick's land was in section 9, when
he located in the spring of 1850. Pie re-
moved from this county in 1857. after sell-
ing out to his neighbors, D. Brumbaugh and
Jacob Wilson.

Benjamin Denslow came to Guthrie coun-
ty in the fall of 1850, and made a claim on
section 4, township 79. range 30, in Jackson
township. In the spring he brought his fam-

ily, and on April 20, 1851, took another
claim, on section 35, in Jackson township..
They lived in a log cabin, with the regula-
tion prairie bed, and the house was fur-
nished with home-made tables and benches.

Abraham Moore settled on section 5, Jack-
son township, in 1850, where he lived until
his death, which occurred in 1874. His son,
Samuel, located a claim on section 35, in
Jackson township.

Nathan Maynard located on section 13,
in the lower part of Cass township, the farm
afterward becoming the property of James
^^^ Foster. In 1852, he was elected to the
then dual office of treasurer and recorder of
Guthrie county, and served two years. He
was a justice of the peace in Cass township
in 1852. In 1856, he removed to Sioux City
with his family, but came back to Guthrie
county in 1838, and remained till 1863,
when he removed to Oregon with the Mes-
singers. where he died.

It was in the spring of 1850 that a Mr.
]\IcCullogh took up a claim near where Pear-
son's mill was afterward erected, and settled
down to pioneer life. Shortly after he was
taken sick with a severe siege of biliousness.
His neighbor, Benjamin Kunkle, with the
large-heartedness for which he was noted,
called to see him and gave him some pills,
but, instead of taking them himself, he gave
them to his daughter, who was also sick,
and recovered. He was destitute of any
shelter but his canvas-covered wagon and
kind-hearted neighbors, realizing his help-
lessness, turned to and built him a "shack,"
into which he was moved. After spending
the m(3nth of August on his bed pf sickness,
he ga\e up the struggle and died. The
sympathetic and sorrowing pioneers gath-
ered together and with ready hands built
a rude casket out of oak planks, and Mrs.
Kunkle furnished a sheet for his shroud.
The hearse was an old cart, drawn l)y oxen,
and the resting i)lace chosen for his remains,
was a beautiful bluff, just east of Morris-

JOHX E. MOTZ

SAMIKL RKKI)

THOMAS C. NORTPIHOP

PAUL DE\^7TT EGE

GUTHRIE COUNTY, IOWA.

burgh, which had been picked out for a
burial ground. Slowly through the timber
and over the verdant prairie, to the place
prepared for the reception of all that re-
mained of the unfortunate adventurer, the
funeral procession wended its way. Without
a word they lowered the coffin in its last rest-
ing place, in silence they threw the clods
upon the casket, and without exchanging
a word retired to their cabins. No sermon
or funeral oration was pronounced, yet the
reverential silence, the manly and womanly
tenderness, and many silent and heartfelt
prayers, as they consigned the body of their
fellow-settler to the charge of Mother Earth,
was no doul)t as acceptable, and not one who
took part in that sad event will ever forget
it. This was the first death in the county.
The family afterwards removed to the
southland, where the widow found solace
in a second marriage.

jQuite a number came into the county in
1 85 1, among them were the following:
Theophilus Bryan, John S. Addison, Wil-
liam Cave, Aaron Hougham, J. W. York,
David Thompson, William Miller, Henry
Harper, George Rohrer, S. G. Weeks, A. G.
Weeks, Hiram Haskins, John and Daniel
Messinger, I. M. Boyles, William and Isaiah
Grames, Cornelius Vandevanter, Asa Cox.
J. J. Morris, James, Benjamin and Jesse
]\Ioore, Peter and Isaac Vandevanter. "

■Addison Cave settled on section 12, in
what is now Penn township. John S. Cave,
his father, a native of Virginia, located in
Penn township, as did also William B.
Cave. Aaron Hougham settled in 185 1 in
Jackson township, where he was elected the
first justice of the peace. In 1857 he 'As-
sumed the duties of county judge. During
his administration the townships of Center
and Thompson w'ere organized and the
boundaries of the old ones somewhat
changed. David Thompson made his choice
•of a farm in section 13 of what is now Penn
township, where he lived some time and then
moved to Nebraska.

Penn township also had William Miller
for a settler, who located on section 12.
He lived there but a year or two and then
selling out left the country.

Henry Harper located on section i, in
Jackson township, but afterwards moved
to Dallas county.

George Rohrer and Cornelius Vande-
vanter came together and chose their farms
on section 2, Jackson township. Rohrer
sold out in 1853 and is gone; Vandevanter
removed to Oregon.

Section 31, Jackson township, was taken
up by S. G. ^^'eeks, in 1851, and upon which
he built a log cabin. He w-as a native of
Kentucky and born in 1804. He came from
Warren county, Illinois, and previous to
that had lived in Parke county, Indiana,
where he married Hannah Coleman, a sister
of L. P. Coleman. He was the first clerk of
the court in Guthrie county, and in common
with other officials donated his salary to the
county, there being no money in the treasury
to pay them with. He removed to Nebraska
about i860 and died about 1889. His son,
A. G. Weeks, made a settlement on section
26, in what is now Valley township, the first
settler in that part of the county, in the fall
of 1 85 1. He eventuatly moved to Missouri.

The farm afterward finding its way into
the possession of William Swisher, on sec-
tion 3. Beaver township, was located by
Hiram Haskins, May 5, 185 1. He died on
the place in 1854.

Daniel Messinger settled on section 13,
Cass township, in 185 1, but in the early six-
ties left for Oregon.

T. ]\I. Boyles settled in Jackson township
in 185 1 and was elected the first county
treasurer. After serving in this capacity a
few months, he resigned and left for other
scenes.

William Grames and his brother, Isaiah,
settled in Cass township in 185 1.

One evening in May, 185 1. a solitary
emigrant wagon was seen slowly crossing
the prairie in the dim uncertain twilight. It

PAST AND PRESENT OF

halted at the cabin door inhabited by Conrad
Brumbaugh. A heart}' welcome from these
hospitable people caused the tired and worn-
out occupant of the wagon to alight with
alacrity. This little band of argonauts were
Asa Cox, his wife and two children, who
were kindly provided for by their cheerful
host and his amiable wife. Air. Cox had
come west in search of a home, and Mr.
Brumbaugh, who fortunately had two
cabins, generously offered him the use of
one, rent free, of which he was only too
happy to avail himself until 1853, when
he removed into the town of Panora, where
he built the second house in that town.
While the Cox family lived on the Brum-
baugh place, the two families had one cow
in common, one of them milking in the
morning, and the other in the evening. Airs.
Cox tells it, that the best relished meal she
was e\'er privileged to partake of was at the
home of a neighbor in 185 1, the fall after
their arrival in the county. She had been
eating cornbread all summer and was com-
pletely tired of it. Her neighbor who had
some wheat said she should have a change.
She therefore ground the wheat in a coffee
mill and made some gems, which. Airs. Cox
avers, were so grateful to her palate, that
she never forgot them.

J. J. Alorris became the owner of and
settled on section 35, in Jackson township,
in 1 85 1. He was a speculator, in land to
some extent, and often incurred the dis-
pleasure of the settlers. It seems that short-
ly after his coming to the county, he either
entered a piece of land claimed by another
settler, or obtained wrongful possession of
it in some way, and a crowd of angr}- men
went to his cal)in to wreck vengeance upon
him. Alorris, a big, six-footer, met his
assailants at his door-way, and drawing his
six feet, six inches, of humanity to its great-
est hight, declared he would shoot the first
man who came across the fence, and as he
held a cocked pistol in his hand and was
just back from California, the twentv men

taking a second thought, postponed their
visit of vengeance to another day. James.
Benjamin and Jesse Aloore settled on section
34 in Jackson township. Peter and Israel
Vandevanter settled in Victory township, the
pioneers of this part of the county.

Those among the settlers of Guthrie coun-
ty in 1852, were the following: A/Iichael
Hay, S. H. Gander, Alathew and James
Piper, William Redfern, Aloses Hall. John
and Benjamin Alarlenee, R. R. Henderson,.
Thomas Henderson, Lemuel P. Coleman,
Hemy Alains, J. F. Branson, G. Reynolds,
E. J. Reynolds, Alexander \\'asson, John
Jackson and his sons, Joseph, \\'illiam and
Griffin; John Anderson, Thomas Aloffitt,
Orlando Aloffitt, Peter H. Bryan, Horatio
and Ozias Shaw.

The reader who takes an interest in the
history of his country and of the people
with whom he comes in daily contact ; the
pioneer farmer, merchant, lawyer, physician,
or minister of the gospel, must know that
the early life of these people was made up
of strivings to gain a foothold in the commu-
nity, and a day-to-day conflict with hardship
and trials that tried men's souls and l)rought
to the surface the best elements in their
natures. The old settlers had much to do
jjefore they could gather around them the
comforts of life and the conveniences of civ-
ilization. The life was a hard and strenuous
one, but they met it with a bold, brave front,
and the obstacles to their success melted
as the snow beneath the sunshine. In those
da}s villages were far apart and the railroi'd
was a thing barely thought of. A slow,
plodding team was their only dependence to
bring the grist from the mill or the house-
hold necessities from the village general
store. In those days, had they a shelter to
their heads and the commonest provender,
they were contented, for it was all they
expected until their anchorage in the new
harbor was completed and the seasons and
their labors brought them a measure of pros-
perity. In their primitive cabin homes the

GUTHRIE COUNTY, IOWA.

first few nights therein the beds were made-
up on the ti(3or of the cabin, which was in
many cases of the earth. But when time
gave them the opportunity the "prairie
bunk" was the next innovation. This was
made of poles, usually hickory, crossing one
end of the cabin, from the logs of one end
to the logs of the other, with smaller poles
laid across these for slats. Some imitating
the old-fashioned "cord bed," used basswood
bark to lace the same with. This made a
double bed, the "old folks" lying with heads
one way and the youngsters with theirs the
other. Anything with smooth surface,
usual!}' a store-box when obtainable, was
made available for a table, while smaller
boxes and home-made stools took the place
of chairs. Dips made of deer fat, or
"witches" made of any kind of grease, in a
tin dish with a wick in it, was the means of
giving light in the household. Game of all
kinds was plentiful, especially deer, and veni-
son was almost always to be found on the
table of the settler. In fact, some of them
have made complaint that they "had noth-
ing to eat, no meat of any kind, no pork or
beef; to be sm-e we had some venison and
other wild game, but we soon got tired of
that and longed for more civilized diet."
;Many suffered the first year of their set-
tlement in the country by failing to bring
corn with them. For, turning over the
tough prairie sod, they had to break it up
by sowing it with sod corn, which was good
only for stock. Then another year must
elapse before they could raise any wheat.
AMnterset, in ]\Iadison county, was forty
miles away and here was the nearest mill,
from which nearly all the bread-stuffs were
hauled by ox-teams by the "first-comers."
In those days, with the means of locomotion
then in vogue, the distance was great. The
streams were unbridged, and there were no
constructed roads; to be sure, then, travel
by ox-team was slow and monotonous, and
soon an eff'ort was made to obviate the neces-
sity of taking the trip to Winterset, and "rig

up" something that would, at least, answer
the purpose of a grist mill. Benjamin Kun-
kle had one of these contrivances, built by
Jerome Page, which consisted of a large
concave stone fixed permanentlv in the
ground, and a convex one fitted into it above.
A hole was bored in the top stone, into which
a stake was driven, by which it was turned,
and ground the corn or buckwheat. An-
other was built by Abraham Moore, which
was fastened to the outside of his house. It
consisted of a hopper, of about a half-bushel
capacity, and ground like a coffee mill. A
sack was placed under it and into it the
ground corn emptied from the improvised
mill. A bushel per hour was the capacity of
this wonderful machine. This was on sec-
tion 5, in Jackson township.

Ground corn was the chief article of diet
in the pioneer home, the rifle supplying meat
from the deer and wild turkey, that abound-
ed in profusion. In "hard times" they often
lived on bread and turnips, their only luxuiy
being salt. In the various streams, which
were clear and sparkling, fish were plenty,
and the historian has it upon the authority
of Benjamin Kunkle that in an hour or so
he could ''gig" as many fish in an hour as
he could earn-, some of the pike being of
very large size.

THE BEGINNING OF THINGS.

There is always a first time for e^•erything
and this chapter is given over to the first
items of interest that have to do with Guthrie
county. John Xevins is given credit by
some as being the first settler in this county,
but as he only remained a short time, Ben-
jamin Kunkle deserves the honor, as he re-
mained in the county, grew up with its
growth and became one of its most substan-
tial citizens. Nevins, however, came to the
county, staked his claim and raised a crop
on it in 1848. He arrived in the spring of
that year and Kunkle followed him in the
fall of the same vear.

PAST AND PRESENT OF

The first couple to join hands and become
one in the county were George Messinger
and Lucinda Casteel, who were married by
Judge Bryan, March 30, 1852.

MaHnda Jane Kunkle, daughter of Ben-
jamin Kunkle, was the first white child born
in the county, on September 12, 1849. She
married George ^^^ Mount, of Bayard, this
county.

The second person born in the county
was Mary Leinhart, Januar}^ 21, 185 1. She
became the wife of Jesse Johnson, of AA'ich-
ita, Guthrie county.

The first death in the county was that of
Mr. McCullogh, which occurred in August,
1850. He was buried on the bluff near
Morrisburgh.

The first school in the county was held
in Jackson township, about two and one-
half miles northeast of Benjamin Kunkle's
place, in the winter of 1852-3. Spencer
Catlin was the teacher and he came from
Indiana with his family. The school was
held in a cabin but recently vacated by
George Rohrer. Among the pupils were
John, Jacob, William and Henry Kunkle,
several of the Cave children, and one or two
of the children of Mr. Tannehill, of Dallas
county.

The first religious ser\ices were held by
Rev. Hare, a Methodist minister of Des
Moines, in the winter of 185 1, at the home
of Benjamin Kunkle. There were present
upon this occasion the following persons:
Mr. and Airs. John AW York, Mr. and Mrs.
Joseph W. Cummins, Mr. and Mrs. Benja-
min Denslow, Air. and Airs. Benjamin Kun-
kle, Fred Frey and his mother, and David
and Russell Bay.

The first wagon-making shop was opened
by John Cline in the spring of 1856. in
Panora.

The first carpenter in the county was Tvich-
ard Gilbert, who came to Panora in 1853.

The first blacksmith was Benjamin Kun-
kle and the second was Andrew Brumbaugh.

The first crop of corn harvested by a white

man in the county was by John Nevins, in
the fall of 1848.

ANECDOTES AND REMINISCENCES.

Whatever of romance adhered to the hardy
colonist was abundantly compensated for by
hard work. Contrast the journey of that
devoted party through the roadless and
bridgeless tract between their destination
and Chicago, with a party on a like journe}^
today. Instead of weeks of labor and toil,
privation and suffering, with cold and
hunger, a seat is taken in a comfortable car
at noon in Chicago, a palatable supper is par-
taken of without leaving the train, the pas-
sengers retire upon a comfortable couch and
hx early morning awake to find themselves
clear across the state of Iowa. Those who
now enjoy these blessings would be unap-
preciative, indeed, if they were not filled with
gratitude to these early settlers who paved
the way, and actually made the present con-
dition of things possible. At that time, 1848,
the confines of civilization was on the lakes ;
Chicago had but a few thousand people;
Alilwaukee was just beginning to be a vil-
lage and Dubuque was a mere vidette, an
outpost of civilization. There was nothing
in the now great state of Iowa, except the
intrinsic merit of the location, to attract peo-
ple from their more or less comfortable
homes in the east, or on the other side of
the water. The hope as to the future was
what lured them on. and although those that
came were usually regarded by their friends
they left as soldiers of fortune who, if they
ever returned at all, would indeed be fortu-
nate. They were a sturdy race, who realized
the inequality of the stniggie in the older
states or countries, and resolved to plant
themselves where merit would not be sup-
pressed by traditions.

They were open-hearted, sympathetic men,
as a rule, who first came to this county.
They were good neighbors and being" such
created their kind b\- their habits and traits

GUTHRIE COUNTY, IOWA.

of character, and they ihustrated the idea
of the hrotherhood of man more by example
than l)y quoting creeds, with a bravery that
never blanched in the presence of the most
appalling danger. They nevertheless were
tender, kind and considerate in the presence
of misfortune, and their deficiency in the
outward manifestations of piety w^as more
than compensated by their love and regard
for humanity. And if this meed of praise is
justly due the men, and it certainly is. what
shall be said of the heroic women who
braved the dangers and vicissitudes of fron-
tier life, endured the absence from home,
friends and old associations, whose tender
ties must have wrung all hearts as they were
severed. The devotion which would lead to
such a breaking away, to follow a father, a
husband or a son into the trackless domain
beyond the Mississippi, where gloomy appre-
hensions must have arisen within the mind,
is above all praise. The value of the part
taken by the noble women who first came to
this uninhabited region cannot be overesti-
niated. Although by nature liberal, they
practiced the utmost economy, and often at
critical times preserved order, reclaiming the
men from despair during gloom}' periods ;
and their example of industry constantly
admonished him to renewed exertion, and
the instincts of womanhood constantly en-
couraged integrity and manhood. As to the
effects of frontier life upon those who have
secured homes west of the Mississippi, a few-
observations may not be inappropriate.

The Rev. Dr. Bushnell, many years ago,
preached a sermon on the barbarous ten-
dencies of civilization in the west, and on
tliis the reverend gentleman and noted di-
vine predicted an urgent — and it might be
said, frantic — appeal to Christianity to put
forth renewed and strenuous efforts to save
the west from a relapse into barbarism. This
tendency was supposed to result from the
disruption of social and religious ties,
the mingling of heterogenous elements,
and the removal of the external restraints,

so common and supposed to be so potent, in
older communities. Dr. Bushnell did not
have a sufficiently extended view of the sub-
ject, for on looking over the history of the
past, we find that in a nomadic position there
is never any real progress in refiiiement. In-
stitutions for the elevation of the race must
be planted deep in the soil before they can
raise their heads in beauty and majesty to-
ward heaven, and bear fruit for the enlight-
enment of nations. 1 he evils of which Dr.
Bushnell was so afraid are merely temporary
in their character, and will have no lasting
impression. What actually happens is this :
At first there is an obvious increase of human
freedom, but the element of self-government
everywhere largely predominates, and the
fusion of the races which is inevitable, will in
due time create a composite nationality, or a
race as unlike as it must be superior to those
that have preceded it. Even now, before the
first generation has passed away, society in
the west has outgrown the irritation of the
transplanting, and there are no more vicious
elements in society here than in the east, as
the criminal statistics will abundantly show.

The campaign of 1852 w'as an exciting
one and, although the great majority of the
people of the county at that time were demo-
crats, four men were found who voted for
General Winfield Scott, the whig candidate
for the presidency of the United States. The
names of the men w-ho stood boldly against
the majority of their neighbors and voted
for their choice are : Joseph W. Cummins,
J. H. Gander, John Anderson and David
Bay. A good story is told in regard to this
campaign that deserves and is given a place
here. Note the following :

A hickory pole had been raised in the
courthouse square at Panora, the then cap-
ital of the county, by the democratic elect-
ors to testify to their joy over the election
of their candidate, Franklin Pierce. Mrs.
Walter Tuttle, although the wife of a good
democrat, feeling aggrieved that her hus-
band was not of her way of thinking, and

.36

PAST AND PRESENT OF

piqued at his having assisted at the raising
of the pole, determined on retahation. One
midnight, accompanied by her brother,
Henry Cox, then a small boy, after borrow-
ing an auger of Henry Brumbaugh, started
on the errand of dire vengeance. Arriving"
in due time at the foot of the obnoxious pole
she commenced to bore holes in it, which,
by weakening it, would insure its fall to the
earth. She had bored three holes through
it and started the fourth, when the certainty
of success and the fear of detection, deflected
the auger from the right line, and then broke
into two pieces in her hands. Angry feelings
now surged up in her vengeful bosom, and
mortified pride rebelled at failure, but chok-
ing down her feelings she was fain to gather
up her broken tool and return home. When
the attempt at vandalism had been discovered
a reward was offered for the detection of
the offender, but in vain ; it never was found
out, but suspicion, in some way, became at-
tached to a perfectly innocent person, F.
Shellhart, who, though they could not prove
him guilty, neither could he prove his in-
nocence, so he fell under the ban of the
more active politicians. The real facts of
the case were never known until long years
afterwards, when it was only time to make
merry over the laughable incident.

An amusing incident, among the many of
those early days, is told of Thomas Roberts,
of Cass township, that will bear repetition,
although not occurring in this county. A
party of the settlers from this locality had
gone to Des Moines on business and while
there it rained so hard that the streams were
all greatly swollen. Knowing they would be
unable to cross the creeks and rivers on their
way home they purchased a -skiff with a long-
rope and loaded it into their wagon. When
they came to Walnut creek, on their home-
ward journey, they took the wagon apart
and sent it o\'er on the skiff. They then
sent one end of the rope over by W'illiam
Tracey, who landed on an island near the
west bank. The other end of the rt)j)e was
fastened to the bridle of the larger of their

mules, supposing that the smaller one would
follow. Tracey stood in the water up to his
knees, pulling in the rope hand over hand,
working like a beaver. When the mules
entered the current of the stream the rush-
ing water took the little mule down on its
onward course. "Uncle Tom Roberts" stood
upon the bank and seeing this conjured up
all kinds of imaginable trouble, a forty-mile
walk home at the best, and started down the
bank of the stream at a run, calling out,
"Bray, Tracey, bray!" But that gentle-
man totally unmoved by his cries, hauled
leisurely away at the rope with the other
mule at the end of it, while Roberts shoo'd,
called and yelled, and finally succeeded in
scaring the little "longear" across. When
all were in safety and proceeding on their
way, Roberts demanded the cause of his
friend's refusal to coax the creature over
by braying. "Well, Mr. Roberts," he re-
plied, "I am willing to do almost anything
in reason, luit from making a jackass of
myself you'll ha\'e to excuse me."

Joseph Kenworthy came to Guthrie coun-
ty in 1856 and first resided with his brother.
Enoch, until he could construct a cabin for
himself. The habitation when finished was
but eleven b}- twelve feet in dimensions and,
although built of lumber, was without any
floor. A table, the possession of Mrs. Ken-
worthy's family for forty years, had been
brought with them, and its ownership gave
them that much advantage over their neigh-
bors, and that was considerable. Chairs they
had none, and for a year they were com-
pelled to put u^) with benches. Finally,
David Tomlinson made them some chairs
out of hickory poles. Their bedstead was
the ordinary prairie bunk, but being a little
aristocratic, peeled off the bark from the
small maple poles of which the bedstead was
made. It might be added, in passing, that
few, . if an)', had more than one of these
necessities in those days. The poles of this
piece of primitive furniture were so white
and smooth as to e.xcite the envy of Mr.
Ken worthy's neighbors. Mrs. Kenworthy

GUTHRIE COUNTY, IOWA.

was very enthusiastic in her praise of the
new conntiy, and as she thought over the
novelty of the situation and congratulated
herself upon her freedom, would often in-
dulge in pleasant reveries on the future. One
evening, just after she had removed her
shoes preparatory to retiring, she was
awakened from one of these delightful mus-
ings by a peculiar noise that "struck terror
to her soul." She bade the little ones, an
adopted daughter and a little son of E.
Kenworthy, climb upon the bed. She then
called to Mr. Kenworthy, who was outdoors
at the time, to come and kill a rattlesnake.
He took the iron bar from the end of his
wagon and came into the house laughing,
expecting, not to kill a snake, but to quiet
a woman's fears. As he approached the
door, his snakeship gave him a salute that
caused him to change the tone of his laugh-
ter. He at once bade Mrs. Kenworthv to
jump upon the bed, and just as he raised the
weapon to strike, the wind blew out the light,
which was of a skillet of lard with a rag wick.
^Vhile darkness prevailed the snake vigor-
ously employed his rattles and in such close
proximity to the bed that its occupants, with
clasped hands and blanched faces, made. up
their minds to bid farewell to this goodly
land, if not from choice, of necessity. Mr.
Kenworthy struck a light in time to see the
venomous intruder start out through a chink
beside the door; he nailed him to the floor
with the iron bar or rod, wdiich his wife held
while he climbed out through the window
and with a tent pole dispatched him. Possi-
bly the family slept as peacefully that night,
but it is extremely doubtful.

The early settlers suffered extremely from
the frigid weather during the winter of
1855-6' and their small stock of cattle di-
minished exceedingly by the lack of proven-
der for them and the extreme cold. The first
heavy fall of snow had been frozen over to
a hard crust, when another snow came up
and covered this frozen surface. On a beau-
tiful, bright Sunday morning, the 6th day

of January, 1856, the tracks of some seventy-
five elks had been seen on the trail going
up the Lone Grove creek, in Baker township,
and Jesse Mock, a neighbor of Mrs. Wil-
liam Sheeder, taking a double-barrel gun,
determined to go out after them and en-
deavor to procure some venison. Brightly
shone the sun from an almost cloudless sky
making the broad, white mantle of the earth
glisten and shine with an intense light. The
young man, or youth of fifteen years, started
for the creek, but after getting some dis-
tance from home, the heavens were clouded
over, and dark angry clouds soon covered
the face of the sun. Out of the bleak, cold
northland, the sighing of the wind could
be heard, and soon a gale came down u])on
the doomed boy, that raised the light snow
in swirling masses about him. To add to
all this, one of the terrible blizzards of Iowa
set in and the boy, blinded with snow and
chilled with cold, attempted to turn home-
ward. Wandering this way,and then that,
becoming excited and confused in his ex-
tremity, he at last succumljed to the in-
evitable, the terrible storm-king, and sur-
rounded by the warring elements laid down
and died, after eveiy effort that he could
make was unavailing. Not coming home
that night, search for him was instituted
next morning, wdiich was continued from
time to time without success. Nor was the
body of that unfortunate boy found until the
loth day of May, 1862, over six years after.
His bleached bones, one boot, and his gun
were found by Elijah Bierge, about seven
miles northwest from his home, lying where
it is supposed he perished amid the howling
of the winds, and was covered by the snowy
pall that wrought his death.

As Cupid is an artful god, and lurks in
the lower as well as the upper walks of life,
playing his pranks with the susceptible heart,
the ubiquitious sprite whispered pretty
stories into the ears of a Mr. Cooper and a
fair wench. Miss Fleak, who both were in
the employ of a prominent farmer near

PAST AND PRESENT OF

Lynn Grove, and under his roof-tree. As
is usual in such cases, made and provided
for by Sir Cupid, the happy and trustful
pair agreed to tread life's rosy path together.
In short, as soon as an opportunity presented
itself, they would "get married." The op-
portunity came one day when the lo\'ing
wig'ht was working on the prairie, in buck-
skin breeches and colored shirt, and his fair
cjueen was kneading dough in the kitchen of
the humble cabin of her employer. 'Squire
Owen, one lucky day, was seen driving along
the winding road over the prairie and Miss
Fleak called to him to "light" and come into
the house, to wdiich request, or invitation,
he readily responded. She then sent one of
the little boys of the family to bring the will-
ing bridegroom to the house, wdiile she re-
turned to her kneading board. Pretty soon
the groom came in sight, entered the cabin,
wiped the perspiration from his face on liis
shirt-sleeve, while the coming bride sprin-
lled flour over her hands, rubbed the dough
therefrom, walked proudly into "the room,"
with sleeves rolled above her elbows and
frag"ments of dough clinging to her pretty
finger-nails, and took her place beside one
of the most happy of men. They were mar-
ried then and there and spent their honey-
moon, she in the kitchen, he on the prairie,
and doubtless were as happy as if the wed-
ding had been studiously planned and
elaborately arranged, and they had taken
a wedding tour.

The winter of 1849-50 was excessively
cold and stormy. As an offset to this, the
next winter was mild and pleasant. May 20,
185 1, the heavens opened their floodgates
and it commenced raining. For forty suc-
ceeding days and nights it rained, without
a single intermission of twenty-four hours.
The streams were so swollen as to become
impassable, and the crops were much injured.
In 1853, the cattle lived out-doors nearly
all of the time until the last of February,
when there was a deep snow fall that cov-
ered the ground until April. From the

Guthrie Sentinel it is found that snow fell
in December, 1856, to the depth of many
inches, drifting to the height of fifteen feet
in some places. This winter was extremely
severe, stunting the cattle to that extent that
they did not sufficiently recover to endure
the following winter of 1857, when many
of them perished.

SOME EARLY EXPERIENCES.

BY DAVID HIDLEBAUGH.

But few settlers came to Dodge township
previous to the year 1870, and these were
scattered here and there along the "Middle
Coon," and the township, at that time, was
a comparatively new country. But as soon
as there was an}- improvement there were
a number of visitors, who were well re-
ceived and made welcome to the best of our
accommodations. Neighbors, in the hospit-
able way of the pioneers, would go five or
six miles to help each other in the hard work
necessaiy to open up an undeveloped coun-
try, and all was peace, and each tried to
help one another to get along. \Mien elec-
tion time came along they would confer to-
gether and told one another how they in-
tended voting' before going to the polls. In
Arcadian simplicity they thus dwelt to-
gether and each knew his neighbor's affairs
as well as he did his own. If sickness in-
vaded any cabin, all soon knew it, and all
were willing to help care for the invalid,
and bear the burden of the inconvenience.
All our produce had to be hauled to great
distances before we could reach a market, as
there was no railroad in the northern part of
the county, and Jefiferson, Greene county,
was our nearest trading point, which w^as
twenty miles away, over terribly bad roads,
that at some seasons of the year were well
nigh impassable. The severe winter of
1872-3 will long be remembered as a very
cold one. with two feet of snow and that

MK. AND MRS. S. H. GANDER

GUTHRIE COUNTY, IOWA.

drifted into great banks, so that we could
scarcely get from one cabin to another. A
great sorrow fell upon us that winter, for
death came among us, and ten or twelve of
our little community of souls were called
hence.

"God touched them with his finger, and they
died."

William Horine, a young man of promise,
and a great favorite in the community, fell
a victim to lung fever. Then came scarlet
fever and two daughters of my brother,
William, drooped and fell beneath the stroke
of that terrible destroyer. Next Charles
Corsant was called upon to mourn the loss
of his two "little ewe lambs." Henry Sam-
ple lost one nestling, as did several others,
and mourning and the black shadow of
death were in nearly every home. Almost
every child that took sick with that disease,
that winter, laid down its life, and left its
sorrowing parents to miss its prattlings.
Our great need was the lack of medical aid,
as the physicians had to be brought from
far away centers of civilization. Drs. En-
field, of Jefferson; Bower, of Guthrie Cen-
ter ; and Reynolds, of Panora, did their best,
but, as the}^ had to stay in the neighborhood
two or three days whenever they came here,
their home patients were the sufferers, and
it was hard to draw them to us. But now
there is a great change in the county; it is
all settled up now and fenced; groves and
orchards planted. We have a good railroad
through our township and we now feel we
are well settled and happy.

cousin, Peter Dierdorf, were doing up the
necessary work about the barnyard and. at
the particular moment, were watering their
team of mules, when a nephew cried out : —
"Oh, uncle, see that storm coming!" They
looked, of course, but paid no attention to it
and had no fear, as they had never had any
experience of the power wrapped up in a
windstorm. They finished their "chores,"
put the mules back in the stable and pro-
ceeded to the house, which they reached just
as the storm came down and around about
them with a terrible rush and roar. Every-
thing that was loose flew before the blast,
and the trees and shrubs thrashed around
in apparent agony. The men got into the
house, and it was high time, for it took their
united efforts, assisted by Mrs. Dierdorf, to
hold the door closed. The pressure of that
wall of wind slowly forced the house from
its foundation until it had moved about four
feet, when the storm passed on, leaving the
building careened on to the north side of it.
A neighbor of Mr. Dierdorf 's, by name Mil-
ton Garber, did not come off so well. Mr.
Garber, was at that time living on the
farm later occupied by Mr. Dierdorf, and
when the storm struck his house it met a
certain amount of resistance until the wind,
in its wild fury, tore it all to pieces, scat-
tering the contents to the four quarters of
the earth and seriously injuring Mrs. Gar-
ber. Nothing was left to mark the spot
where once had been a happy home, even
the stove being moved some three hundred
yards away.

' A RETROSPECT.

TELLS OF A CYCLONE.

BY JAMES CARBERRY.

John Dierdorf, of Richland township, re-
lates the experience of himself and family
and that of a neighbor, in a windstorm that
almost assumed the proportions of a cyclone.
On Sunday, June i8, 1871, about six
o'clock in the evening, Mr, Dierdorf and a
4

I came to Guthrie county with my father
in 1855, when I was some twenty-one years
of age, and we settled in Jackson township.
We came as did all the immigrants of those
days, by teams, and from the time we left
Iowa City, on our way westward, we found

PAST AND PRESENT OF

no roads laid out, nor bridges spanning the
numerous streams. All was as wild as when
first made. The mode of crossing the shal-
low creeks and rivers was by fording, while
primitive ferry-boats were our means of
getting over the deeper ones. These ferry-
boats were constructed in the rudest manner.
Rough logs were split in two and placed one
on another in boat fashion, were so pinned
by wooden pins and then daubed with clay.
No nails entered into their construction.
They were then swung across the river by

a rope.

The homes of the settlers were all log
cabins, rudely constructed, made of logs,
large enough for three or four men to
handle, and daubed with mud between to
keep out wind, snow and rain. The floors,
where we had any, were made of puncheons,
split from the logs by the woodman's ax,
and had what was called a shake roof. Logs
in everv part, sills, joist, roof fastened with
logs, in fact a house of native timber, no
nails, the door often of shakes, with wood-
en pins and hinges. Our fire-places were
built of rough stone, large enough to hold
a whole load of wood.

The cabins were Imt fourteen by sixteen in
most instances, and yet they were made to
accommodate as many as three or four fam-
ilies, or twelve to fifteen individuals, and
have room for strangers and visitors. These
buildings had, often, no windows, but in
the winter time, we could see daylight
through the roof, and many is the time we
have found in the morning upon awakening
some three or four inches of snow upon the
covering of the bed.

RECOLLECTIONS OF THOMAS M. COLEMAN.

Of the hardships, privations, toils, trials,
hoi)es and fears of the first settlers of a new
country, the i)en can give but an imperfect
idea. There were dangers those coming in
later years never think of having been en-
countered by those who led the way, and laid

the foundation for our present prosperity.
But, notwithstanding all oppositions, the
progress has been far beyond the most san-
guine expectations. But we live in an age
of most wondrous changes, and when we
look back at the great difference between
the present and when we started in life, we
cannot realize how^ it came. Very few can
grasp hold of the car of progress and keep
up, without getting dizzy, as they look back
into the receding past.

And while we rejoice in the grand achieve-
ments of today, we wonder that we set so
much store on what we once temied a
splendid success, now that we see it so far
surpassed by the progress of the present.

I feel at a loss for words to describe the
past, so it may be understood now; and I
feel inclined to lay down my pen, but my
friends and the publishers are so urgent, I
will trv, although it seems so much like
writing of myself, so much of what I have
seen is so closely connected with my own

histor}-.

Coming into Guthrie county the 5th of
November, ICS52, I have witnessed nearly all
the changes it has undergone, from an In-
dian hunting ground, the home of wild ani-
mals, to the beautiful farms, the pleasant
homes, the thriving villages and towns, with
which it is now dotted all over: but how
can I tell it?

The changes of races of men and animals
are not much greater than the changes in
methods and facilities for work, business,
and education, as I saw them thirty to
fifty years ago.

My father and grandfather before me
were pioneers, always in advance of con-
veniences and benefits of older settlements;
always deprived of many advantages we
prize so highly now ; but they were always
looking and working for the better things.
The promotion of religion, morality, and
•rood o-overnment. was always of the utmost
importance to them, as they have been to me.
vet I feel a regret that no more has been

GUTHRIE COUNTY, IOWA.

accomplished, and that I cannot give a bet-
ter account of things I have known to be
going on around me. I built the fourth
house in Beaver township ; and like all other
houses of that day, it was made of logs,
covered with "clap-boards" and floored with
^'puncheons." The roof was split out of oak
and the floor basswood, smoothed with an
ax. Our chimneys were built up of "sticks
and mud" or tough sods. Our fire-places
were always broad enough for a friend or a
stranger, althougli we always cooked and
warmed by it, when cold enough to need
fire to sit by ; and it seems to me our food
was more savor}' then than now, but maybe
our appetities were sharpened by watching
the broil or roast so long before it was
ready for the table. Our first crops of wheat
were "tramped" out. or beaten out with a
flail, on the ground, and cleaned by the wind,
or by two men taking a sheet and fanning
it. while another would hold it as high as
he could and let it fall so as to blow the
chaff out : but there was enough dirt in it
to keep most people from chewing it ver\'
fine. The mill then had no smut machines,
and with the dirt and smut. I have seen
bread as black as most of our Iowa soil ;
and this accounts for the eating of a great
deal of com bread, b}' the first settlers, as
their wheat crops were not very good.

Until Anderson's mill was built, it looked
very much as if stan'ation was in sight some-
times, to the fattest of us. In the summer
of 1852. after failing to get anything to
make bread at any of the mills east of us,
Henry Mains and one of his little boys went
west and started south in Cass county and
went into Missouri, about one hundred and
fifty miles from home. Two nights and
three days he w'as out of sight of human
habitation, with no road or track to guide
him ; and he says, as he lay in his wagon at
night and listened to the snuffing and snap-
ping of the wolves around him, "It was a
little lonesome." and the thought of those
at home with a short allowance of food did

not help it any. He staid so long the other
settlers were fearful of some accident to him.
but he came at last and brought bread and
gladness to the little settlement. After we
had a mill in our county it was often diffi-
cult to get to it from our side, as we had
two rivers to cross and no bridges or ferries ;
so in time of high waters we would take our
grain across in a canoe and swim our horses
and wagons across the best we could, and
often had a bit of fun as well as danger in
doing so.

Our trading was done at Des Moines, for
several years, and I am satisfied I made one
hundred trips there and back in the first
fifteen years, and had many a narrow es-
cape in crossing rivers, sometimes on poor
ice, or swimming or fording deep water, or
in terrible storms, and houses few and far
between ; sometimes alone and sometimes
with those whose presence increased the
dread of peril. But whatever had to be
met by pioneers, as a rule, was met with all
the force of mind and muscle at command;
they were not men to sit down and wait for
something to turn up ; and the expedients
resorted to under adverse circumstances,
often showed the ingenuity of men whose
wits were put to the test to provide food
and clothing for themselves and families.
And the vein of humor that said : "Make the
best of a bad job," often gave merriment at
the jokes a man would get off at the gro-
tesque appearance of his own team, imple-
ment, or whatever it was that showed a
departure from usual methods or fashion.
Quaint-looking teams, wagons, plows, or
even clothes, were often met with. One of
our first county officers had a pair of panta-
loons that no one of the family or neighbors
could tell what kind of fabric or original
color they had been ; they had been patched
with so many different kinds and colors of
cloth, but they kept the cold out: and so did
the wolf or coon-skin cap or coat, or buck-
skin "breeches." And, as Lord Kame's
idea of beauty, "the most perfect adapta-

PAST AND PRESENT OF

bility to the use intended," was accepted
then, none of these things lessened the re-
spect for the man, as the best each one could
afford was the top of the standard of fashion
and made all so attired equal, whether it
was broadcloth, homespun, or buck-skin.

We had no railroads, and so had to trans-
port everything with teams, and it would
be an incurable case of the blues that would
not be driven away, by sitting around the
campfire with a squad of teamsters on a
pleasant evening, as they halted on their
journey, to or from market, two hundred
miles from their homes. This writing re-
vives the recollection of many a pleasant
trip, with jokes, anecdotes, and pleasant
converse, giving rest to mind and body ; but
it also revives the thoughts of mud, and cold,
stormy trips, trying to the utmost both men
and teams ; and I think what a grand, good
thing a railroad is.

The early settlers of Guthrie county, it
seems to me, were a remarkably pleasant,
neighborly, hopeful, energetic set of luen,
ever ready to lend a helping hand, or give
words of cheer to those who needed them
or happened to be despondent. To most of
us coming from heavy-timbered states, the
lack of timber was alarming, and the force
of the winds and furious storms gave ter-
ror to those who had never witnessed such
things before. The winter of 1856-7 was
of unusual severity and the cause of much
privation. The snow drifted terribly, and
teams could not pass up and down Beaver
from early in December until about the 20th
of March. We had to go out on the ridges
to the "Old Divide Stage road," which was
kept open part of the time, but there was
very little travel across the country — only
one team, I believe, from our neighborhood
to Panora, the county seat, all winter; and
it was a fearful journey, over snowdrifts
and crushed snow, that broke down with
the horses so their legs were bruised until
it was very hard to get them along at all.
I often wonder how it was so few persons

w^re frozen, with long journeys often made,
and houses so far apart. Our Iowa blizzards
were then a source of real danger ; no houses,
fences or anything else to show where the
roads were. So there was great danger of
getting lost, and but little prospect of getting
to a place of shelter. Garrett Miller was lost
on a very bad, stormy night, coming home
from the Panora mill, and laid out, but,
fortunately, he had a quilt, and enough
presence of mind to get under the snow and
escaped with frozen ears and fingers. Some
were frozen to death. I think one among
the best men we ever had, Elza Lank, per-
ished in this way ; and though I used to say
I enjoyed a battle with the "storm king,"
there is to this day a sadness that comes over
me whenever I see or hear of such a winter
storm, for it awakens memories of one I
loved, who perished by the cold monster.
He certainly was a true friend of mankind,
and the first temperance talker I ever listened
to. But after all his hard work for our first
prohibitory law, he was taken away before
it was fairlv tried.

Dang'er and privation were leagued, or
at least, were very close together ; and it
may sound strange to people who are crowd-
ing each other, but I know of no privation
harder to bear in early times, than the great
lack of human faces. As we gazed about us
in our loneliness and saw so few of our
kind, many a time at the sight of a stranger
a tear has stolen down the cheek, half of
joy for the added presence of another hu-
man being, and half regret that far away
friends were not with us. And as friend
longed for friendship, and enjoyed the con-
verse of even a stranger, with added force
did Christian hearts yearn for the fellow-
ship and love of brethren and sisters, and
to hear the gospel preached, to buoy them
up on their lonely pilgrimage. But I think
good was wrought out of the rough ex-
periences and privations many of us passed
through. In my journey to this country T
learned the need of shelter, by being often

GUTHRIE COUNTY, IOWA.

refused food or lodging, and with firm re-
solve I determined never to turn any one
away from my door that needed or deserved
shelter and food, and have sacredly kept the
resolution.

It was on the lone prairies of Guthrie
county, with a thirty miles space between
me and my next neighbor on the west, and
no one knew how far north or south to the
next one, that I learned how broad the great
bond of human brotherhood was; and here
the roof, if not the warp, of the mantle of
Christian charity was so woven into my be-
ing, that creeds and churches made no differ-
ence as to the protection and waiTnth of
affection it fostered, or the aid it afforded.
As proof of how we wanted to see our
county settled up, I might say, but for the
work of two or three men, our swamp land,
that afterwards yielded over thirty-five thou-
sand dollars, would have been given for a
one-thousand-five-hundred-dollar bridge,
and the settlement of one hundred and fifty
emigrants in our county.

As to the political affairs of Guthrie coun-
ty in early times, I suppose there are others
who are better able to give them than I am.
In those days I was a democrat, but was
called an "off-ox," because there were so
many things in the republican platform that
I believed in, and so many things in the
other that I would not swallow; and when
I voted as a member of our board of super-
visors to give one hundred and fifty dollars
to our first company of soldiers in the war
of the rebellion, it was, to say the least,
the "last hair that broke the camel's back,"
and made one of the liveliest political storms
I ever witnessed in Beaver, and I have seen
several. Our old county seat fight drew out
everything that ever enters into a political
contest, excepting only shotguns and brute
force; and there were many laughable and
droll things occurred to relieve the monotony
of our pioneer political contests.

But there is one thing my mind keeps re-

curring to of which I must speak. I told
you, kind reader, how we felt the lack of
faces to look upon, and regretted the ab-
sence of friends, so you can see the thinning
of our ranks by death would be doubly sor-
rowful.

The scarcity of numbers made our loss
more severe, and added to the fears of some
that this country was not suited to the set-
tlement of the white race, and that disease
would yet depopulate it. Many a mother
has shuddered at the recital of the story^ of
some old Indian who said Iowa would raise
no children; and as victim after victim,
young and old, fell beneath the stroke, many
a heart burdened with sorrow entertained
fears that our settlement here was a mistake
and in the end might prove a failure. Sev-
eral, urged by such fears, left the country;
and wdien I landed on the west side of the
South Coon, at the house of my father, who
had come the spring before, and found eight
sick ones, and only one little girl able to
wait on them, — if they had been able to
travel and we had had money to go on, —
we would all have left the country, and hur-
ried away from the scenes of so much sick-
ness and privation, with so little we could
see to repay us.

In 1853 there were several additions to
our settlement, among them Christian
Miller, my wife's father, a man we had all
known for years, and known to honor and
many of us to love and look to for counsel.
No man, probably, that ever came here be-
lieved stronger in the future of Iowa than
he. He was delighted with the country, and
we rejoiced in his words of encouragement
and Christian exhortation; but in a few
months he was gone ; and although we sor-
rowed with our burden lightened by his
consolation and "hope in his death." yet
words cannot tell of our loneliness and sor-
row, as we realized the loss of one we looked
to as our leader. His father had died a few
days before, and another, the one it seemed

PAST AND PRESENT OF

we needed most, to be taken so soon from
our little band, pressed a deeper grief on
every heart.

There were others yet to follow soon, and
one by one we have witnessed the departure
of so many for a better country, and such
a host of our dearest friends are "over
there," that notwithstanding the great faith
we have in what we often call the "grandest
and noblest state of its size on this green
earth," we look forward with anticipations
of joy to a settlement in "that better coun-
try," a city paved with gold, where priva-
tion and toil is over, and joy and peace and
rest will so fill the soul that these light afflic-
tions, which are but a moment,, shall work
for us a far more exceeding and eternal
weight of glory. But while here we expect
to do that which our hands find to do with
our might. Labor makes rest the sweeter,
and as in the past, Guthrie pioneers did not
sit repining, in hopeless sorrow, but worked
with might and main to achieve success, so
may we hope that the}' may ever go on,
endued with that courage and fortitude that
has conquered so many opposing elements,
surmounted so many obstacles, with hope
as an anchor to the soul, guided by divine
wisdom, until grander victories may yet be
achieved, and still more of the structure of
our Christian civilization bear the impress
of our workingmen and women, who laid
its foundations years ago in Guthrie
county.

Many a time we never knew whether
good would come of our labors or not, but I
feel more than repaid for the humble part
I have been permitted to perform, and the
grand results shown today in our country
make me wonder at the success, although
I have watched it growing for over thirty
years. But my paper is too long for one so
imperfect and I will quit, regretting that I
have not been able to write more of interest
to the reader^ of this history of Guthrie
county.

The writer o\ the article given above was

the fifth settler in Beaver township. Was
one of the prominent and influential men of
that township and had a name that stood
for probity, sobriety and Christianity. He
became prosperous and a leader among his
neighbors. He died June i6, 1904, after
passing his seventy-fourth year. A more
extended notice of this hardy pioneer is
given in the chapter devoted to Beaver
township. The article of Mr. Coleman's
was written for a histoiy of the county pub-
lished in 1883, and it is reproduced in this
volume on account of its merits, and interest,
to the many readers of this history.

MEMORIES BY MRS. G. W. HARLAN. OF TWIN

LAKES, COLORADO.

The following article came from the pen
of Mrs. G. \V. Harlan, formerly a resident
of Guthrie county and published in 1883:

It is with scruples of delicacy the writer
takes up her pen to attempt an autobiogra-
phy. How few of us are satisfied with our
incomplete life! Comparatively speaking,
there are a few luminaries who seem t(^ shape
their own destiny, but the great bulk of man-
kind are more or less controlled by circum-
stances. We seem but indifferent barks,
floating to that unknown sea, which sooner
or later swallows up all humanity. We drift
along conscious alike of our own weaknesses,
and our seeming inability to sumiount them.
But not to 1)e tedious it will, perhaps, not be
out of place to go on with the "short and
simple annals of the poor," of our own com-
mon-place history. G. W. Harlan was born
and raised in Lancaster county, Pennsyl-
vania. 11ie writer was born in Cecil county,
Maryland, but was brought up in the former
county ; am of Quaker extraction and my
husband partially Presbyterian. Were mar-
ried in 1849, when I was seventeen years old.
Mr. Harlan's occupation from that time
until we moved west was a dry-goods mer-
chant and dealer in live stock. Losing heav-
ilv in the latter, we concluded to try our

GUTHRIE COUNTY, IOWA.

fortunes. in Iowa. We moved into Guthrie
county in the spring of 1857, along with my
jmrents. We joined farms and located on
the raw prairie; Elwood Brown, my father,
along Brush Fork, and Air. Harlan along
the Coon, down past where the two streams
meet. Here for twenty-two years we spent
our li^■es and brought up our large family,
some of whom are still residents of the
county. The principal part o'f my father's
family were grown up l^efore he left Penn-
sylvania.

I often think how verdant people were
and arc in the practical realities of a prairie
pioneer's life. But by experience, the dullest
scholar will in time learn something. I
well remember our first garden, chosen in
an opening along the river which was soft
and easily cultivated. We made ou;- potato
patch on a rich bank out from among great
weeds, which at that time grew thick for
miles up and 'down the Coon. They grew
higher than a man's head. There was a man
who' li^'ed three or four miles down the
river, who had a large drove of hogs he let
loose in summer, to forage wherever suited
them best. They lived principally on those
large weeds which w^e called "pig" weeds,"
not being acquainted with their botanical
name. One August Sabbath we hitched up
our "one-horse shay" and went out on a
prospecting tour around the little hamlet of
Guthrie Center, which in those days was
very modest and made few- pretensions.
While we were gone*" Wiley's hogs." per-
haps partaking of the same curiosity, mi-
grated into our potato patch, and did some
plowing in their own interest. They me-
andered still further up the river into new
patches. This got to be such a nuisance that
it caused our men to use many epithets not
in accordance with scripture. These wild
hogs were quite ferocious if they were not as
noisy as coyotes, and one day after they had
been making their usual raids, Mr. Harlan
went out with his dog and javelin in mighty
wrath, intent on some desperate victory. He

flung his javelin (a pitchfork) right into the
old leader's back. She and all her follow-
ers turned upon him, and made him feel that
prudence was the better part of valor : he
climbed the first tree he came to, and he
didn't climb slow either. While making the
dog beat an inglorious retreat they kept their
eyes up the tree, and with erected bristles
and other demonstrations, gave him to un-
derstand that it would not be wholesome for
him to come down among them. B}- and by
they got tired and trotted off, leaving him
alone in his glory. He concluded, therefore,
the only way to head off those "porkers"
was to fence. Elm was the material to be
used, and anyone acquainted with it knows
that it was not an easy task to split those
rails in the middle of the summer. For sev-
eral years our experience was very much
as other settlers. Our tables were not
graced with luxuries. Sugar and coffee
were not an everyday affair. Our pump-
kin pie for the first winter or two was made
out of dry squashes, without sugar. Our
pumpkin sauce was made by boiling down
in watermelon juice. But our greatest sup-
port was our cow, which really kept "the
wolf" away. My husband would never kill
"Old Red," and she died of old age. She
was always a privileged old character, and
could lay down a fence equal to a man.
Somehow, in those old days, our appetities
accorded with the times, and everything
tasted palatable. \Mien we commenced to
cultivate sorghum, we stepped into quite a
luxury. What good plum and pumpkin but-
ter we old settlers used to make of it! It
was several years before we could use coffee
as an everyday luxury, even on through war
times. My father's family were our nearest
neighbors, and we used to pass away the
winter evenings very pleasantly in each
other's cabins — playing chess, reading his-
tory or stories. How those cold blasts used
to howl around our homes before the "cot-
tonwoods" were large enough to shelter!
But some strange comfort every state at-

PAST AND PRESENT OF

tends, and we had our mercies to count.
Friends from the east sent us the "Atlantic"
and "Harper's" for several years, and one of
our nearest neighbors, Derwin Willey, used
to lend us the New York Tribune, until we
were able to renew our subscription. In those
days we thought we could not live without
the Tribune, and the other periodicals. Mr.
Willey died in '63 and we missed him very
much as a neighbor. His widow, Mrs. Cla-
rinda Willey, remained on the home place
many years. She was a noble type of wom-
anhood, modest and unassuming, but with
those sterling qualities of mind and heart
which endeared her to all who knew her.

, Mrs. Thomas Seeley was another neigh-
bor, who was a lovely, gifted woman. Re-
fined and cultured, she kept herself posted on
the best literature of the day, and had a hap-
py faculty of imparting her knowledge to
her friends. Isolated as we then were from
the advantages of large towns, the society
of these two neighbors was a companion-
ship that cheered many a weary and dis-
couraging hour, when we used to "boil and
broil and toil, and mend the frock, and
knit the sock, and the cradle did rock, all
for the good of the home;" while our men
"did sow, and mow, and hoe, all for the
good of the land." Hours long since passed
away, but still replete with pleasant memo-
ries. In those days. Captain Thomas Seeley
was opening up his fine farm ; B. Levan, his
orderly arranged home ; George Headley,
William Hellyer, were all breaking up large
farms. Also Captain Snedaker and James
McCluen up Brush Fork were opening up
theirs. All these men were good neighbors.
Captain Seeley is well-known all over the
county as one of the old leaders of the
republican party in Guthrie county. Further
down the Coon there was a tract of land
called the Going's settlement, since divided
up into splendid farms, the greater part of
which is now owned by Harmon Reed and
others. Time and space will not permit to
tell all the little anecdotes and incidents that

happened to us all, and our jokes at one
another's expense. One of them at Billy
Revell's, is too good to keep. He kept bach-
elor's hall in those days where he now lives.
The winter before the war broke out, he and
one of his hands bunked together: One
cold, winter day, they killed a hog and
shoved it under their bed, where it froze
solid. Whenever they felt a little "lank" for
pork they would haul out the frozen swine,
cut out their slices, and shoved it back in
its covering, which, by the way, was its
own hide and bristles. It lasted them this
way pretty much all winter; and quite an
unique and economical plan. Reason C.
Darby was the man's name who marched off
the next summer with Billy to the war, and
died a hero's death at Pea Ridge. He was
respected and honored by all his comrades.
I well remember one of our first winters,
when we made a quarter of beef last us
all through the winter, by cutting it in small
pieces, pickling it a few days, then hanging
the pieces to the joists. Once, in the middle
of the week, we boiled a piece with beans.
On Sunday we would have biscuit, 1)^^ this
way making a hundred weight of flour last
as long as the meat. Oh ! those tough,
rough, happ)^ old days, when youth and
strength surmounted every care! Soon the
war times came, ushering in new and all-
engrossing topics. Never, can anyone of
us forget those thrilling days when our
country called for our loved ones to go. The
first company of men was soon organized
from all parts of the county. Company C,
of the Fourth Iowa, was destined to per-
form a brilliant part in the history of the
w-ar. When this company was organized,
the ladies of Guthrie Center sent forth an in-
vitation to other ladies from other parts of
the county, to meet at the county-seat and
prepare uniforms for the boys. The moth-
ers, wives, daughters, and sweethearts,
flocked from all parts of the county, and a
uniform was soon improvised of g'ray flan-
nel shirts, white pants with blue stripes, and

GUTHRIE COUNTY, IOWA.

black glazed caps. HoW proud we were of
our white-panted heroes, so soon to meet
the blood}' realities of terrible battle. In
those trying times what acquaintances were
formed; friends never to be forgotten. How
many pass before my vision as I write. I
see the sweet face of Mrs. Colonel Nichols,
who with Mrs. Dr. Gustine and Mrs. Charles
Hayden. wore the palm of beauty in those
war times. What added to their charms,
they never seemed to know it.

Other sweet, womanly faces pass before
me. Mrs. Thomas Roberts, Mrs. Philip Rob-
erts. Mrs. Hanyan, Mrs. and Miss Camp-
bell. iMrs. Gilbert, Mrs. Bluw, Mrs. Dyson,
of Cass: Mrs. Kenworthy. Mrs. Lonsdale,'
Mrs. Cummins, Mrs. McClary, Mrs. Wells'
McCool. Miss Jennie Mount, Miss Ellen
Leech (now Mrs. Hubbard, of Stuart),
from Jackson township. From Beaver
Grove. Mrs. Perry Crooks and Miss Maggie,
her daughter; also Miss Beck. From
Thompson, the two Misses Porter. From
Center. Mrs. AVilliam Mann. Miss Harriet
Bike (now Mrs. Alanson Hill, of Menlo),
Mrs. Seeley, Mrs. Samuel Reed, Mrs. \Vil-
liam Tracey and her daughter. Miss Belle.
Miss Hester Reed (now Mrs. Luther Matz)^
Mrs. Culbertson, Mrs. Theodore Reed, Mrs.'
Charles Huxley and her daughter, ' Miss
Clev, .Airs, and Miss Ewing, and the Misses
Levan and Miss Julia Holsman. all of whom
became familiar faces, and were loval, pa-
triotic women during the war. Among the
many good women of those davs, was Mrs
William A. Mann, a noble, queenlv woman,
who. with her husband, made thei'r home a
place of welcome and hospitalitv. He en-
listed in Company G, Twenty-ninth Iowa,
and died in a hospital at Keokuk. He was
brought home and buried. His ^vife soon
followed him to the grave. How we missed
them, no words can tell.
_ Never will we forget our flag presenta-
tions to our two companies, Companv C, and
Company G, at Panora, and our young
ladies, beauteously arrayed in the national

colors. The writer had the honor of read-
ing the address and presenting the flag to
Company C. Though we all, soldier Imd
friends, -were but a small part in integral
numbers, yet that grand, old hymn, "Amer-
ica," sounded just as sweet to us as in more
pretentious places, and we felt just as deeply
the terrible realities so soon to come upon
us. and our adieus were just as heartfelt.
We worked just as hard in our sanitary
meetings, where we interchanged socialty
and devised ways and means for the comfort
of "our boys." If what we sent did not get to
them, somebody else's dear ones might get
the articles ; anyhow, like bread cast upon The
waters, we would send them. Our heroes we
had dedicated were. like every place else, the
flower of our youth; we knew they either
had to die for their country, or come back
crowned with honor. Glorious and sweet
IS the memory of those who died, and still
cherished in our friendship are those who
came back crowned with honor. It is an
honor to be called their friends, and the
pleasantest thought to husband and self
wherexer we may go is, that those old
friends in Guthrie county may still think us
worthy of their regard.

MEMORIES OF AN OLD SETTLER.
BY JOSEPH W. CUMMINS.

This article was written by Mr. Cum-
mins in 1883. He was the second perma-
nent settler in Guthrie county, his father-in-
law, Benjamin Kunkle, being the first.
They chose Jackson township for their new
home. Mr. Cummins died December 31,
1903. The following is of his eariy recol-
lections :

The first cabin was erected in Jackson
township. Guthrie county, by John Nevins,
on lot 15. section i. town 78. range 30. In
the spring of 1848. he broke up a portion
of said lot, and planted it to corn, which
yielded well that season, for sod ground. At
the proper time he gathered in his little crop

PAST AND PRESENT OF

of corn, snugly housed it in a rail pen, cov-
ered with long slough grass (which, by the
way, makes a very good covering), and hav-
ing their fall work all done concluded that
they would visit a brother-in-law, Mr. Ben-
jamin Bennett, who lived near Fort Demoin,
as it then was called. By so doing they
could kill two birds with one stone, to-wit :
Visit their friends and also purchase their
winter's supply of clothing, groceries, etc.
Had they known what was in store for them
in the near future, they no doubt would
have remained in their little cabin. The
fall of 1848 was what would be termed a
wet fall. More than the usual amount of
rain had fallen, when on the 7th day of
November, it commenced to snow great,
big, old-fashioned flakes, none of your little,
fine drifting stuff, and it continued to fall
until it reached the very unusual depth of
four feet upon the level. The wind came from
the northeast during the time it was snow-
ing; wind changed to the northwest and
turned very cold. The snow was wet and
heavy, and froze at once, so that the crust
would bear the weight of a man. Hundreds
of deer and elk perished that winter. Shut in
by the deep snow, they easily became the
prey of wolves, which at. that time were
abundant, and almost exterminated these
meat-producing animals.

Mr. Nevins remained at Mr. Bennett's
until the next spring, sometime in April, be-
fore he could return to his claim. He re-
turned with the full determination of selling
his claim the first opportunity that presented
itself, and go where such deep snows were
unknown.

In the fall Mr. Nevins sold his claim to one
Conner Harper, of Indiana. Mr. Nevins
moved southwest, and settled in Missouri or
Kansas, where he soon dropped his burden
and passed over to that other shore where
the barking of the pesky "coyotes" and the
recollection of musty corn bread would no
more disturb him. In the spring of 1849 the
hardships through which the pioneers had

passed had disheartened them to a great ex-
tent, and being the first winter that many of
them had passed in lo.wa, they feared that
the same kind of winters would be very com-
mon in this climate, so, many of them pulled
up stakes, as the saying is, and left the
country, some going to Missouri, others to
Illinois. One old lady, who was interviewed
upon the subject, declared that the "lowas"
was too cold for her, and she was going back
to "Elinois, where the horns and tails of
oxen wouldn't freeze off. Strangers, I tell
you that Iowa is a hard place; it's hell on
women and oxen.."

Those that remained worked with a will,
saying that they had seen such hard times
that they would endeavor to get even for the
hardships they had experienced. In this
they succeeded beyond their most sanguine
expectations, for everything they planted
seemed to grow almost to perfection, far
exceeding anything they had ever seen where
the}' had come from. Soon they became per-
fectly reconciled to their new homes with
their wild surroundings. The settlers of to-
day cannot form even a faint idea 0/ the
beautiful scene that the prairies presented
in their original and natural state,^, from
what they can see around them now. On
the right hand and on the left, all around,
far and near, was this beautiful panorama of
nature spread out before them.

Guthrie county was organized in the
spring of 1851. The first election held in
the township was on the first Monday in
August following, at the cabin of one Fred
Frey. At this time the population of the
county was two hundred and twenty-tw(.> ;
the number of votes cast was thirty-nine.
The names of those who voted at the first
election in Jackson township are as follows :
Abraham Moore, James Moore, Samuel
Moore, Benjamin Moore, Fred Frey, H.
Haskins, James Haskins. S. G. Weeks,
Aaron Hougham, J. W. York, Benjamin
Denslow, Benjamin Kunkle, G. W. Rohrer,
Jolm Nevins, Henry Harper, Matthew Piper.

^ 9^-

JOSEPH W. CUMMIN8

GUTHRIE COUNTY, IOWA.

J. \y. Cummins. David Daily and Jerome
Paige ; the two last named lived in Dallas
count}', but it was more convenient for them
to vote in Guthrie. Mr. Paige was elected
constable and served in that capacity for
some time — nothing irregular about that in
those days. At this election Aaron Houg-
ham and J. W. Cummins were elected jus-
tices of the peace for Jackson township.

At the second election held, which was
the presidential, in 1852, there were but four
votes in the county given to General Scott,
the whig candidate, which were as follows :
In Cass township, John /\nderson and
David Bay; in Jackson township, S. H.
Gander and J. W. Cummins. The first mar-
riage in the township was that of Israel
Vaudevanter and Rachel Moore, in the
spring of 1852, married by J. W. Cummins,
justice of the peace. The first marriage of
persons living- in the township was that of
James Haskins and Lucinda Weeks ; they
were married in July, 185 1, before the mar-
riage mills of Guthrie were ag'oing. The
first white child born in the township was
Malinda Kunkle, September 12, 1849, who
married George W. Mount, of Bayard. The
first death in the township was a small child
of a Mr. Osander, who lived but a short
time in the township. It was in the fall of
185 1 that the ruthless hand of death was
laid upon the sweet, little innocent babe, and
Mr. and Mrs. Osander, strangers in a
strange land, were compelled to consign to
Mother Earth the mortal remains of their
dear babe. It was buried on a beautiful bluff,
near the old town of Morrisburg, nearby the
grave of McCullogh. Though no stone
marks their resting place, and their graves
are annually plowed over, as long as memory
lasts with some of the old pioneers, they
will not be wholly forgotten.

In the spring of 1855 a cemetery was
opened near the town site of Morrisburg.
The land was given by James Moore for
that purpose. Soon after being laid off, the
mortal remains of all those buried on the

bluff' were removed by kind friends, and
placed in the new cemetery, save that of
McCullogh and the child of Mr. Osander,.
When the last trumpet shall call, no doubt but
that they shall come forth as readily as if
their graves had been marked by stones and
flowers. As before stated, in the fall of
1 85 1. Conner Harper moved onto the place
vacated by Mr. Nevins. He remained but
a short time ; became dissatisfied with the
country, sold his place to a brother, Charles
Harper, who came to the county in 1852,
and remained on the place until his death,
which sad event took place in Alarch, 1863.
His wife, Nancy Harper, staid on the place
after his death. There were some three
hundred acres in the original Nevins tract.
Nancy Harper was a daughter of John Mc-
Dowell ; was born September 28, 181 5, in
I* Pulaski county, Kentucky; moved to In-
diana in 1822, married to Stephen Moon,,
moved to Iowa in 1841. August, 1847, ^^'^
Moon died, leaving her the care of three chil-
dren, the oldest, Sarah Jane, aftei'wards
the wife of S. F. Stults, of Menlo; John
and James Moon, enlisted in Company H,
Thirty-ninth Iowa Volunteer Infantry in
1862; Mrs. Moon was married to Charles
Harper, October, 1852. By that union was
one son, A. J. Harper.

DIED IN ANDERSONVILLE PRISON.

James McMullen. of Company C, Fourth-
Iowa Infantry, and John and James Moon,
of Company H, Thirty-ninth Infantry, in
the language of Governor Carpenter, would
say these men need no eulogy ; their records
are made ; their place in the hearts of their
countrymen is secure. It is our duty to
gather their ashes into "history's golden
urn," as an example and inspiration to the
living. Captain W. S. Winder said when
he was laying out the "stockade," "I am
going to build a pen here that will kill more
d — d Yankees than can be destroyed at the
front." Further comment is unnecessary.

PAST AND PRESENT OF

"Let eternal infamy pursue the wretch, to
naught but his ambition true."

The first postoffice in the township was
Allen, named in honor of Captain Allen,
United States army. J. W. Cummins was
appointed postmaster, his commission bear-
ing date, August i6, 1852. The office was
kept in his cabin, where he first settled, on
the southwest quarter of section 36, town
79, range 30. In the spring of 1854, Mr.
Cummins resigned, and Wesley Mount was
appointed after Fairview was laid off. The
office was removed to that place, and the
name changed to Faii-view. This was in
1855. The ofiice was afterwards removed
to Dale City, where it still remains.

Rather an amusing incident occurred pre-
vious to the establishment of this ofiice. The
democrats being in the ascendency, desired,
of course, that one of their number, a simon-
pure democrat, should be appointed ; there-
fore, petition after petition was forwarded
to the postoflice department, but no appoint-
ment came; finally they demanded an expla-
nation why their petition was not granted,
and were told that under the whig admin-
istration of Millard Fillmore. "Loco Focos"
were not appointed to ofiice. Fitz Henry
Warren, was then acting as assistant post-
master-general, and George B. Warden, one
of the pioneers of Dallas county, and by the
way, a radical whig, was postmaster of Adel
at that time. Through this office all their
petitions passed. Warden being well ac-
quainted with the political antecedents of the
applicants, kept Fitz Henry Warren posted,
so finally they were driven to the extremity
of recommending the only whig in the town-
ship. The petition was promptly forwarded
to the department, marked "O. K." by War-
ren, and in a very short time the appoint-
ment came all right. Some of the men who
made their mark on that petition thought
Jack.son was still president.

Such is the history of the first post-
office.

ORGANIZATION OF GUTHRIE COUNTY.

All that portion of Iowa lying west of
Johnson county, comprised within the limits
of townships yj, 78, 79, 80 and 81, to the
Missouri river, by an act approved Decem-
ber 21, 1837, was formed into one county
under the name of Keokuk, or, as the name
was generally spelled at that time, Kee-o-
kuck, after the noted chief of the Sacs, or
Sauks. This name is translated in the treat-
ies with that celebrated aboriginal as
"Watchful Fox," but has been later given
the interpretation' of "He who has been
everywhere." Within this tract lay all of
the present county of Guthrie. In 1840
Keokuk county was abolished and this part
of the state lay undivided until 1851, when

Guthrie county was established and named.
* *

The countv as originallv formed had its
eastern and western boundary lines six miles
to the eastward of the present lines re-
spectively. But, however, the legislature,
at the same session, established the present
boundaries. Its organization was ordered
at this session and Hon. William McKay, at
that time judge of the fifth judicial district,
delivered the necessary papers to Theophilus
Br}'an, with directions to proceed to the
proper perfection of the organization there-
of. Isaac H. Walters, David Bishop, and
Lewis Whitten, by the same bill that set off
the county, who were respectively of the
counties of Marion, Madison and Polk, were
appointed commissioners to locate the coun-
ty-.'^eat.

Preserved in the record books of the coun-
ty the hunter for details will find the follow-
ing account of the proceedings of the organ-
ization :

Theophilus Bryan, who had been appoint-
ed organizing sheriff of Guthrie county,
after duly qualifying according to law, on
the 8th of July, 1851, proceeded to lay off
the said county into townships for election
purposes. By this division Guthrie county

GUTHRIE COUNTY, IOWA.

was made to contain but two townships,
Jackson and Cass.

Jackson township was bounded as fol-
lows : "Begining- at the east line of Guthrie
county, where the Middle Coon river crosses
the same, thence up that stream, with the
meanderings thereof to the section line run-
ning east and west between sections 9 and
16, in township 79 north, range 30 west,
thence west, with said section line to the
west line of the county, thence south to the
southwest corner of said county, and thence
back to the place of beginning, along the
east line of the county."

The township of Cass was larger and in-
cluded all of the remaining or north two-
thirds of the county.

At the same time this was being done pub-
lic notice was given that an election of offi-
cers of the new county would be held in
the township, on the first Mondav in Auo-ust
1851. - ^ -

The polls in Jackson township were lo-
cated at the cabin of Fred Frey, and the
polls of Cass township at the home of An-
drew Brumbaugh.

The election took place, pursuant to the
notices given, on the date and at the places
herein mentioned, and the following officers
were chosen to administer the afifairs of the
county: Theophilus Bryan, county judge;
Silas G. W^eeks. clerk of the district court '
Thomas M. Boyles, treasurer and recorder •
Michael Messinger. sheriff ; James Moore
supervisor; Alderson G. \\'eeks, sun^evor,'
William Carson, prosecuting attorney.

The commissioners appointed to decide the
location of the future county-seat of Guthrie
county, Isaac H. Walters, David Bishop and
Lewis Whitten. acted in that capacity, with
the exception of Mr. W^alters, who, for some
reason, did not serve. After the commis-
sioners had viewed the ground they made
the following report:

That having taken the requisite oath, and
having been qualified as the law requires
we proceeded to select the following site

as the proper location and seat of justice
of the said county of Guthrie, in the state
of Iowa : The southeast quarter of section
32, 111 township 80, north of range 30 west,
as the said seat of justice of Guthrie county,'
and the name given, by which said seat of
justice is to be designated, is Panora.

Signed by us this 25th dav of September
1851. •

David Bishop^
Lewis Whitten,
Locating Commissioners.
This interesting and historic document is
further authenticated by the authority and
signature of Theophilus Bryan, county
judge.

Of date October 16, 1851, appears the
following entry upon the record of the coun-
ty court :

It was ordered that a town be laid out
on the southeast quarter of section 32, in
township 80, north of range 30 west, of'the
following dimensions :

Nineteen blocks, exclusive of the public
square, the blocks twenty rods or three hun-
dred and thirty feet square, with all alleys
passing through them both ways, sixteen
and one-half feet wide. Each block to be
divided into eight lots, and each lot to be
seventy-eight feet and one-half inch wide,
and one hundred and fifty-six feet and nine
inches in length. Each and every street to
be eighty feet wide, except West street,
which is to be forty feet wide. The streets
and alleys running north and south and east
and west at a variation of ten degrees, and
crossing each other at right angles.

T. Bryan,
County Judge.
In that year the personal property of those
liable to assessment was pitiably small, when
compared with the assessor's returns of
1907. The realty assessed was but one
thousand three hundred and sixty acres of
land, less than the possessions in the county
of single individuals at the present day. .
Forty-eight head of horses were returned, at

PAST AND PRESENT OF

a valuation of one thousand seven hundred
and ninety-five dollars. Hogs, four hun-
dred and six head, valued at three hundred
and forty-five dollars, less than a dollar
apiece. The total valuation of all the fur-
niture in Guthrie county at that time was
one hundred and fifty-six dollars, less than
the price of the ordinary piano of today.
When one remembers that the housewife
had no bureaus, bedsteads, chairs, carpets,
curtains, lounges, pianos, graphaphones,
paintings, etc., this small value of personalty
is not so remarkable. Money was certainly
scarce, as note the sum of two thousand
three hundred and sixty-three dollars as-
sessed as the moneys and credits of Guthrie
county for the year 1852. Hence, Alichael
Messinger, sheriff and cx-officio assessor of
Guthrie county, had little to do in the per-
formance of his duties, in procuring a list
of the assessable prnpert}-, both real and
personal, of the newl}' made and newly
organized county. He knew e\'ery man in
the county personally and. no doubt, before
lie arrived at each cabin and hailed the
owner before him in his official capacity, he
knew exery dollar the settler was worth.
On the 29th of May, 1852, he returned
his assessment roll for that year, and the
aggregate for the diff'erent species of pro])-
erty in the county, and the value thereof,
was as follows :

Land, 1,360 acres $ 3.200

Horses, 48 head i .795

Cattle, 248 head 3.- 14

Sheep, 108 head 134

Swine, 406 head 345

Carriages and vehicles, 41 I.-93

Moneys and credits 2,363

Household furniture 156

Propert}^ not enumerated 447

Total value of taxables $12,497

Number of those lial^le to poll tax, 49.

On the 26th of Julv. 1862. the county

judge made an order levying the first taxes
of the county on the above valuation ; the
amount to be divided as follows : For state
revenue, one and a half m-ills on the dollar;
county fund, including support of the in-
digent, six mills : school fund, one mill ;
road fund, three mills and two dollars road
poll tax ; and a general county poll tax of
fifty cents. In these early days it w^as a hard
struggle to keep the wolf from the door,
and the county treasury was seldom over-
flowing with wealth. On the 6th of Sep-
tember, 1852, there being nothing whatever
in the hands of the treasurer, the various
officers of the county put their names to the
following document, -which is unique of its
kind :

Idle undersigned, county judge, clerk of
the district court, treasurer and recorder,
sheriff, and other officers and persons who
are entitled to compensation from the county
treasury, for our salaries and compensation
for the services by us rendered to said coun-
ty ; in \iew of the depressed state of the
treasury of said county, do mutually agree
to relinquish all claims for which we would
be entitled to pay from the county treasury
for services heretofore rendered, up to and
including the first Monday in August, 1852.
Witness our hands this 6th day of Sep-
tember, 1852.

Theopiiilus Bryax,
Organizing Sheriff' and County Judge.
Silas G. Weeks,
Clerk of District Court.
Michael Linehart,
Treasurer and Recorder and Township
Trustee.

Michael Mack,

Township Trustee.
Benjamin Kunkle,

Township Trustee.
Benjamin Denslow.
Township Trustee.
Joseph W. Cummins,

Clerk of Elections.
The treasurer, shortly after, on Septem-

GUTHRIE COUNTY, IOWA.

ber 9, 1852, made the following report
to the county court: "No revenue of any
kind received since the 26th of jVIarch pre-
vious, but had received five dollars for fees,"
whereupon the court ordered that the treas-
urer ha\'e the authority to appropriate the
said five dollars to his own use.

Now that the government of the county
had been started and was in running order,
it becamd necessary for the proper transac-
tion of the public Ijusiness that a suitable
courthouse should be erected. Accordingly
the count}- judge made the following order,
under date of June 6, 1853 : 'That a court-
house be erected on the public square in the
town of Panora, for the use and benefit of
the county of Guthrie, of the followino-
size and dimensions: A good, substantial
frame building, forty feet square and two
stories high, to ])e built of good material,
to be placed under contract as soon as prac-
ticable, and to be completed on or before
the first day of November, 1854; and that
the funds arising from the sale of lots, in
Panora. the seat of justice of said county,
be appropriated to pay the expenses of erect-
ing said courthouse, after paying the inci-
dental expenses of locating and surveying
said seat of justice."

James Henderson succeeded Judge The-
ophilus Bryan as county judge at the election
held in August. 1854, and took up the reins
of government when laid down bv the
latter.

On the 1st of September, 1857. Aaron
Hougham assumed the duties of county
judge. During his administration the town-
ships of Center and Thompson were organ-
ized and the boundaries of the old ones
somewhat changed.

May 10, 1858, the first board of equaliza-
tion of Guthrie county w^as convened. This
assembly was in accordance with a law of the
state, approved by the governor March ^^
1858.

In 1859, at its opening, the contest for the
county-seat, that so often convulsed Guthrie

county, commenced, as detailed in another
part ot this work.

T. E. Harbour entered the office of county
judge, as its incumbent, January i i860
and held the position of supreme arbitra:
tor ot the county's affairs until January,

f ^^; "f "^ '^'^ P^-"^^'Pal part of his duties
devolved upon a

BOARD OF SUPERVISORS.

The first meeting of the board of super-
visors of Guthrie county was held at Guthrie
Center, then the county-seat, on the 7th day
of January, 1861. There were present the
following members: Thomas M. Coleman
Bea^•er; Joseph Dyson, Cass; Nathan Davis'
bear Grove: S. H. Hammond, Orange- K
Lmlejohn, Highland; Collin Marshall;
Penn; Jesse B. Moore. Jackson; D B
Keese, Ihompson; Thomas Seelev. Center '
Isaac H. Sutton. Dodge. After assembling
the board proceeded to organize, first de-
termining by lot the respective terms of
office, which resulted as follows- T AI
Coleman, Joseph Dyson. Nathan Davis ^s'
H. Hammond, and Thomas Seelev drew'the
two-years' term, and the balance for the
one-year term. Collin Marshall was elected
chairman for the ensuing vear, and rules
of order were then adopted. The first war-
rant tor the payment of monev under the
supervisor system was granted to Theodore
Parrish, clerk of the board, to defray his ex-
penses to Des Moines, whither he was sent
to purchase books, stationery, etc., for the
use of the county, and was for ten dollars
In September. 1861. however, Thomas See-
ley resigned his position as a member of
the board, and \\'illiam Holsman, of Center
was appointed to fill the vacancy, which he
held until the 14th of October, when John
Parrish presented his credentials to fill the
same office and was duly sworn in.

Ihe board of supervisors for 186^ first
con^•ened upon the 6th of January and ^^-as
composed of the following members:

PAST AND PRESENT OF

Thomas M. Coleman, Beaver; Nathan
Davis, Bear Grove; Joseph Dyson, Cass;
S. H. Hammond, Orange; A. Littlejohn,
Highland; John Parrish, Center; D. B.
Reese, Thompson; Addison Cave, Penn;
Jacob Cnlbertson, Dodge ; Benjamin Mar-
lenee, Jackson; William Ivers, Union.
The board organized and elected Thomas
M. Coleman, chairman.

A petition having been presented to the
last board for a vote on the relocation of the
county-seat at Panora, they granted the
prayer and ordered the election, which took
place in April, 1862, and resulted in Panora
as the seat of county government, and this
board, on a due canvass of the rates, or-
dered the removal thither of the records
and offices. The May session of the board,
therefore, was held in Panora. At this
meeting of the board a petition was presented
by the American Emigrant Association, em-
bodying a proposition for the purchase by
that company, of all the interest of (iuthrie
county in and to the swamp lands of the
county. This, after mature deliberation,
was denied, and the proposition declined.

Jacob Culbertson resigned his position as
a memljer of the board of supen'isors on
the /th of June, 1862, and that body appoint-
ed David Vanguilder, as a supervisor from
Dodge township, to fill the vacancy. In
Septem1:>er, Joseph Dyson also resigned from
the l)()ard. and was succeeded by W. Gustine.
The board held a meeting in November,
1862. and on the 29th of that month the
following resolution was presented by Mr.

Gustine :

Whereas, It appears from the report of
his Excellency, Governor Kirkwood, in re-
gard to the several quotas of men, furnished
for the war by the several counties of the
state of Iowa, that Guthrie county is credited
for only one hundred and twenty-eight men.
leaving a deficit to be filled of ninety-six

' men, and

Whereas, It appears from the enroll-
ment lists for said Guthrie county, as re-

turned by Mr. Hanyan, the drafting com-
missioner of the United States for said
county, and the report issued by the adju-
tant-general, that said county has sent into
the service one hundred and three men, and
that since the call for six hundred thousand
additional volunteers, this county has sent as
volunteers, one hundred and forty-seven ad-
ditional men, making the aggregate of two
hundred and fifty volunteers from Guthrie
countv, therefore be it

Resolved, By the board of supervisors of
Guthrie county, that to require a draft of
ninety-six men additional, after it has so
promptly responded to the call of the coun-
try, sending, according to just calculation,
two hundred and fifty men, twenty-six more
than the quota, would be doing injustice to
the citizens and an injury to the industrial
interests of the county.

Resolved, That we believe, when his Ex-
cellencv is apprised of this mistake, that he
will rectify it.

Resolved, That the clerk of the county
court forward to the governor a copy of
these resolutions, respectfully soliciting him
to rectify the mistake, and to do justice to
the citizens of Guthrie county.

The first meeting for the year of 1863
occurred on the 5th of January, at which
assembly the following members took their
seats: T. M. Coleman, Beaver; T. Moffitt,
Dodge; Charles Smith, Orange; David
Bailey, Center; J. W. Gustine, Cass; Addi-
son Cave, Penn ; Nathan Davis, Bear Grove :
William Ivers, Union: Benjamin Marlenee,
Jackson; D. B. Reese, Thompson; A. Little-
john, Highland. On proceeding to organ-
ize T. M. Coleman was chosen chairman.
But little was accomplished by this board
except the regular routine business of the

county.

The new board for 1864 met at the court-
house in Panora. It was composed of the
following members : David Bailey, Center ;
T. M. Coleman, Beaver; Nathan Davis,
Bear Grove; J. W. Gustine, Cass; Charles

CHARLES HADEN

GUTHRIE COUNTY, IOWA.

Smith. Orang'e ; William Ivers, Union, who
was made chairman; Joseph Lisle, High-
land ; Enoch Kenworthy, Penn ; R. H.
Davidson, Dodge ; David Vanguilder, Jack-
son ; J. S. Gifford, Thompson. One of the
first Actions of this board was to pass the fol-
lowing resolution :

Rcsok'cd, By the board of supervisors of
Guthrie county, and state of Iowa, that we
will appropriate out of the county treasury,
of said county, the sum of one hundred dol-
lars to each volunteer from this county, un-
der the last call of the president for vol-
unteers, to be paid as follows : Twenty-five
dollars on his being mustered into the United
States service,! twenty-five .dollars in six
months thereafter, and the balance at the
expiration of twelve months from the date
of mustering into the service, to be paid to
said soldier on his order.

Resolved, That as soon as any person
is mustered into the United States service
from Guthrie county, and produces a cer-
tificate from the mustering officer for the
state of Iowa, to the clerk of Guthrie coun-
ty, Iowa, that he be authorized to issue war-
rants for the amounts specified.

At the June session of the board, the above
resolution was made retro-active, so as to give
the same bounty to all volunteers that had
been credited to this county, under the call,
whether they had enlisted prior to the pas-
sage of the resolution or not.

Enoch Kenworthy resigned as a member
of the board, at the November meeting and
November 14, 1864, W. J. Haines was ap-
pointed to represent Penn township in his
place.

The new board of supervisors, meeting
on the 2d of January, 1865, was made up
of the following members : William Ivers,
Union; Joseph Lisle, Highland; J. S. Gif-
ford, Thompson; David Vanguilder, Jack-
son; R. H. Davidson, Dodge; James Cline,
Cass; Samuel Reed, Center; E. W. Moore,
Beaver; Joshua Prior, Bear Grove; S. H.
Hammond, Orange; W. J. Haines, Penn.
/ 5

On organization R. H. Davidson was chosen
chairman.

William Ivers and James Cline having re-
moved from the county, at the regular ses-
sion of the board held in June, vacancies
were declared, and that body, by a unani-
mous vote, elected Levi Bailey, of Union
township, and Jacob Wilson, of Cass, to
fill their places. On the 4th of September,
1865, this board passed the -following resolu-
tion by a unanimous vote:

Resolved, That a bounty of one hundred
dollars be paid to each soldier, who has not
hitherto been paid the same, and who volun-
teered from Guthrie county, into the service
of the United States, and was credited to
this county, and who has served the term
of one year in said service, and to all soldiers
of this county who have died in said service,
by reason of disease contracted in said serv-
ice, or from wounds received; and that the
clerk of the board of supervisors be in-
structed to issue warrants, as above indi-
cated, after a vote of the people is ascer-
tained upon the question of a special tax
for the payment of the persons above alluded
to.

The question of the special tax for the
payment of this soldier's bounty, was
ordered to be one of the points to be decided
at the regular election in October. At that
time the people indorsed the action of the
board, and by a majority of two hundred
and eighty- four, ordered the levy of the
special tax.

The board met at Panora on the ist of
January, 1866, and was made up of the
following members : E. W. Moore, Beaver ;
Joshua Prior, Bear Grove; Samuel Reed,
Center; S. H. Hammond, Orange; William
Ivers, Union; Thomas Moffitt, Dodge; D.
L. Chantry, Thompson; R. J. Patterson,
Highland; Levi Brumbaugh, Cass; A. W.
Leach, Jackson ; J. W. McPherson, Penn.
The organization of this board was per-
fected by the selection of William Ivers as
chairman.

PAST AND PRESENT OF

The first meeting of the board in 1867 was
held at Panora on the 7th of January, at
which time the following gentlemen took
their seats as members thereof: D. L.
Chantry, Thompson ; William Ivers, Union ;
R. J. Patterson, Highland; Thomas Moffitt,
Dodge; A. W. Leach, Jackson; J. W. Mc-
Pherson, Penn; E. L. Prior, Bear Grove;
Thomas L. Coleman, Beaver; Levi Brum-
baugh, Cass; John Teter, Orange; G. W.
Bike, Center; Thomas Mofifitt, chairman.
The board for 1868 was composed of Levi
Brumbaugh, Cass; G. W, Bike, Center;
T. M. Coleman, Beaver; John H. Teters,
Orange; John P. McEwen, Bear Grove;
Silas Morgan, Union; John Clark, Dodge;
John Nation, Jackson ; Jacob Smith, Penn ;
James Ewing, Thompson; R. J. Patterson,
Highland. John P. McEwen, chairman.

At the session of the board in June, Joshua
Prior was sworn in, from Center, in place
of G. W. Bike, resigned. Edmund Pickett,
of Bear Grove, was also sworn in as a
member, vice John P. McEwen, resigned.
As Mr. McEwen was the chairman, his
place was taken, under vote of the board,
by Thomas M. Coleman.

The first session of the board of 1869 was
held at Panora, January 4, at which time
the following members, after cjualilication,
took their seats : R. J. Patterson, Highland ;
John Nation, Jackson; John Clark, Dodge;
Levi Brumbaugh, Cass ; John IMitchell,
Richland ; Charles Smith, Orange ; Edmund
Pickett, Bear Grove; J. W. Haines, Penn;
E. W. ]\Ioore, Beaver ; Joshua Prior, Center ;
William Ivers, Union ; J. Ewing, Thompson.
L. Brumbaugh occupied the presiding offi-
cer's chair. As Mr. Ivers, in June, was
elected county auditor, to fill the vacancy
made by the retirement of William Elliott,
C. C. Nesselroad was elected to represent
the township of Union on the board.

The following gentlemen, after duly (|ual-
ifying, entered upon the duties of supervi-
.sors at the meeting of that body held Jan-
uary 3, 1870: L. Brumbaugh, Cass; J. S.

Mitchell, Richland; C. Smith, Orange; E.
Pickett, Bear Grove; E. W. Moore, Beaver;
Joshua Prior, Center ; James Truax, Dodge ;
A. Sutton, Grant; R. J. Patterson, High-
land ; Eli Boots,' Jackson ; W. J. Haines,
Penn; C. C. Nesselroad, Union; J. A. Jef-
ferson, Thompson. L. Brumbaugh, chair-
man.

The matter of the county seat would not
down. It could only be put to sleep for a
short time. So, to keep up the interest in
the question a petition was presented to the
board, at its meeting in June, 1870, signed
by Joshua Prior and others, praying the
supervisors to order a vote to be taken on the
question of re-locating the countyseat at
Guthrie Center. After due deliberation the
''solons" of the county granted the petition,
and ordered the election by an unanimous
vote. It was defeated, however, at that
time.

At the September session, W. A. Bas-
com presented himself as a member of the
board, in place of A. Sutton, of Grant, who
had removed from that subdivision of the
county, and after being sworn, took his seat
with his colleagues.

The board met at the courthouse in
Panora, on January 2, 1871, and the follow-
ing members answered to their names : R.
J. Patterson, T. E. Harbour, and J. A.
Jefferson. Mr. Patterson was elected chair-
man. From there being only three members
elected, it shows that the township organiza-
tion of the county had been abandoned and
a board of supervisors, consisting of three
members, to represent the county, was adopt-
ed, and continues to this day.

The members of the board of supervisors
for the succeeding years to the year 1907
were as follows :

1872— R. J. Patterson, A. J. Cave. T. E.
Harbour. Mr. Patterson, chairman.

1873 — R. J. Patterson, A. Cave and D.
L. Chantry. Mr. Patterson, chairman.

1874 — A. J. Cave. D. L. Chantry and
\\'illiam S. Mount. A. J. Cave, chairman.

GUTHRIE COUNTY, IOWA.

1875 — D. L. Chantry, W. S. Mount and
T. M. Coleman. Chantry, chairman.

1876— W. S. Mount, T. M. Coleman and
William Anderson. Mount in the chair. .

1877 — T. M. Coleman, -William Ander-
son and W. S. Mount. Coleman in the
chair.

1878 — William Anderson, W. S. Mount
and H. L. Miller. Mount, chairman.

1879— W. S. Mount, H. L. Miller and W.
W. Bailey. Mount, chairman.

1880— H. L. Miller, W. W. Bailey and
Jonathan Stevens. Miller, chairman.

1 88 1 — W. W. Bailey, Jonathan Stevens
and H. L. Miller. Bailey, chairman.

1882 — The same as the previous year.

1883— J. R. Bates, W. W. Bailey and T.
P. Reed. Bates, chairman.

1884— W. W. Bailey, T. P. Reed and J.
R. Bates. Bailey, chairman.

REMINISCENCES OF GUTHRIE
COUNTY.

BY A. m'cLARAN.

In the year 1848 John Nevins settled in
Guthrie county. He was the first white set-
tler in the county. He stopped on what is
now section i, township 78, range 30, hy
a beautiful spring, since knowii as the
Harper farm. He raised the first crop in
Guthrie county.

Benjamin Kunkle, of Champaign county,
Ohio, was the next settler. He took up a
claim in what is now section 3, township 78,
and on the first day of September, 1849,
Mr. Kunkle and family moved into their
cabin, and on the 12th day of the same
month, Mrs. Kunkle gave birth to the first
white child born in Guthrie county. This
child is now the wife of G. W. Mount.

In February, 1850, John Davis made a
claim of what is now the Culbertson farm.
In 1864 he removed to Oregon. In the

same year came Conrad Brumbaugh and
made a claim a half mile west of Panora,
where his son Henry now lives.

Jacob VanOrder, J. Shelhart, Michael
Leinart, David Bay, Michael Mock, Daniel
Messenger, George Messenger, Joseph
Ricks, Nicholas Hartman, T. Bryan, An-
drew Brumbaugh, Nathan Maynard, these
are the names of some who came to Cass
township prior to 1850. Serinda Leinart,
now Mrs. S. A. Young, and Henry Brum-
baugh, children, are all that remain of those
who came here prior to 185 1.

The first year of the early settler was de-
voted to preparing the ground for the next
year's crop. Some raised a crop of sod corn,
which was good only for stock. The next
spring they put in a crop of wheat and corn.
So they had to wait over a year to realize
anything of their own raising. Those who
brought flour and meal with them fared
well while that lasted. The nearest mill
was south of W^interset, in Warren county,
from which all their breadstufi^s were hauled
by ox teams. It took about two weeks to
make the trip. The settlers soon constructed
something which answered the purpose of
a mill. One made by Mr. Kunkle consisted
of a large concave stone fixed permanently
in the ground and another convex stone
made to revolve on this by horse power.
Another one was made by Andrew Brum-
baugh, which differed from the other in that
it was operated by men and women. A
pole was fixed, one end in the upper stone
and the other in the ceiling, by which they
turned the mill. Some ground their corn,
wheat and buckwheat upon the ordinary
family coffee mill.

The experience of one old settler is the
same experience of all old settlers. You
talk with them today. "Oh," they will say,
"it is all over now,' and we can afford to
laugh, but I tell you it looked pretty hard
sometimes. I wish you could have lived
here in the early days of our county, you
would be ashamed to sav hard times now.

PAST AND PRESENT OF

Why ! there were times when we were fortu-
nate if we had half a bushel of corn or a
bushel of potatoes in the house."

The winter of 1849-50 was very se\ere
and feed scarce. Many cattle died ; those
that lived through were so reduced as to be
unable to draw the plow. The settlers, many
of them, were obliged to go out to the weed
bottoms along the Coon river and plant a
sufficient quantity of corn to keep them until
they could open up their claims.

In 1850 the land in the western part of
the state was surveyed and platted which
came into market the following year. The
Indian moccasin tracks were scarcely ob-
literated when the first settlers arrived.
Some still remained, Indian like, begging
and stealing what they could. A band of
Musquakees camped west of Panora. They
would go through town stopping at every
house to beg.

Previous to this a lady who lived near
Panora, said she would like nothing better
than to have a negro family on one side
and and Indian family on the other. She
would take so much pleasure in civilizing
them. But when the ^lusquakees came to
her house they did not knock. They entered
without permission and demanded some-
thing to eat. With fear and trembling she
collected everything she had prepared for
her family and gave them, but this did not
satisfy them. A red and green (|uilt was
upon the bed, a squaw marched up and de-
liberately helped herself to it. The woman's
heart sank within her. After they had de-
parted WMth her (|uilt and other things she
simply said with a sigh, "Surely distance
gives relief."

To the first settler nearly two years had
rolled peacefully away, though not without
hardships and privations, and in August,
1850, this handful of people were called
upon to perform the last sad rites over the
remains of their neighbor, Mr. McCullough.
who died in a cabin near the old Pearson

mill site. A rude box was his coffin, a sheet
was his shroud, the hearse an old cart drawn
by a yoke of oxen, and his body was the first
one laid away to rest in the old Morrisburg
cemetery. No stone marks his last resting
place, and it is wholly forgotten. This cem-
etery is the oldest one in the county.

Among those who were added to the Lein-
art and Brumbaugh settlements north of
Middle Coon river in 185 1 were John and
Michael Messenger. T. M. Boyles, William
Grames, and Asa Cox.

Frequently two families would possess one
cow in common, one would milk her in the
morning and the other in the evening.

One old settler says the best meal he was
ever privileged to partake of was at the
house of a neighbor in 185 1. He had been
eating corn bread all summer long. His
neighbor said he had some wheat and they
would ha\e a change. They ground the
wheat upon a coffee mill and the good wife
made graham gems, which were excellent,
and were so grateful to his palate that he
never forgot them.

All the summer long thev lived on their
claim without seeing a single traveler. In
October, they looked away to the east and
there, oh, joyful sight ! was a covered wag"on,
and they did not wait to see who were its
occupants, but ran to meet it. It contained a
solitary man, a stranger. He was welcomed
with as much joy as would have been the
dearest friend. Said one of these pioneers
in relating this incident: "If I ever we])t
for joy it was then. The first train of cars
I ever saw was not so grand- a sight as was
that covered wagon. Never before nor since
ha\'e I felt such emotic^ns of joy."

The old settlers lived peacefully without
political contentions or dissensions until the
summer of '51, when the legislature grati-
fied their desires for self-government. The
organization of Guthrie county was cam-
menced in the winter of 1850-51, the legis-
lature, then in session in Iowa Citv, divided

GUTHRIE COUNTY, IOWA.

the territory west of Dallas county into coun-
ties, and named our county after a demo-
cratic statesman of Kentucky, "Guthrie."
Judge McKay, who was then judge of the
fifth judicial district, appointed Theophilus
Bryan organizing sheriff for Guthrie county.
On the 8th day of August he proceeded to
divide the county into two townships, the
line dividing them commencing where Mid-
dle Coon river crosses the east line of the
county and running along said river to the
section line between sections 9 and 16, town-
ship 79, range 30, thence west to the west
line of the county. The north township was
called Cass, the south, Jackson.

The next thing in order was to call a
county convention to nominate candidates
for different county officers, to be voted for
on the first Monday of August following.
The convention was held and the following
nominations were made: County judge, T.
Bryan; clerk. S. G. Weeks; treasurer and
recorder. T. M. Boyles ; county assessor,
James Moore; prosecuting attorney, Fred
Frey ; county sun-eyor, A. G. Weeks; com-
missioner, Aaron Hougham ; inspector of
weights and measures. Samuel Moore ; sher-
iff". M. Messinger. At the August election
they were all elected, and later qualified
according to law. At this time the popula-
tion of the county was two hundred and
twenty-two. The number of votes cast
thirty-nine, all democratic. At the second
election there were four whigs in the county,
J. W. Cummins, S. H. Gander, John An-
derson, and David Bay, a hopeless minority.
They had no ticket in the field. The first
ballot box used in Cass township was Aunt
Hannah Bryan's, teapot. The county being
properly officered, the next thing was to
have a county-seat, wdiich was selected and
reported on the 25th day of September,
185 1, by the commissioners appointed for
that purpose by the legislature of 1850-51.

After looking over and discussing the
relative merits of the different localities for
the countv-seat, the commissioners finallv

selected the southeast quarter of section 32,
township 80, range 30. The original plat
contained one hundred acres with streets
eighty feet wide. With regard to naming
the place there is one story running like
this : The commissioners, Mr. Bishop and
Mr. Whitten, were standing on the hill,
southeast of Panora, and as they took in the
beautiful landscape, the wide-spreading
prairie to the north and east, the wood-
covered bluffs, one of them exclaimed,
"What a beautiful panorama !" The expres-
sion, with a slight abbreviation, suggested it-
self as an appropriate name for the new
county-seat. This was about the 25th of
September, 1851, when the county-seat was
christened Panora.

The first building erected in Panora was
near the residence of the late Lewis Har-
vout and Asa Cox, now deceased. Some
claim the precedence should be given to the
log cabin which stood on the lot now owned
by Mrs. Boblett, as the logs were drawn on
the ground in the early part of 1851 by
Michael Leinart. Abram Hursche, a
Frenchman, bought the logs and built the
cabin one afternoon. The cabin was oc-
cupied by Abram Hursche and Thomas Tur-
ner as a general storeroom, the first in the
county, which consisted of a general stock
of goods for that day, including tobacco,
which was called groceries.

The first carpenter in the county was
Richard Gilbert, who came to Panora in the
spring of 1853. The first schoolhouse was
built by him in 1853. The first pennanently
located blacksmith shop was Lucien Hog-
lin's, who came to Panora in 1853. John
Anderson, father of Rev. Samuel Anderson,
now a resident of California, built the first
mill in the state west of Des Moines, in
the autumn of 1852, sawing the lumber
there with a whip saw. The same year it
was converted into a flour mill, and as
soon as it was put in operation, and the
water in the stream had fallen sufficient to
ford it, teams came from Council Bluffs,

PAST AND PRESENT OF

Winterset, and from all the adjoining" coun-
ties, being frequently obliged to remain sev-
eral days before they could be served. We
nov^ had a mill but we did not always have
the corn and wheat, especially during the
first year of residence here. To illustrate
how some of the old settlers managed in the
early days, I will tell you how Mr. Van Order
obtained his bread. He made shingles and
hauled them to Mr. Boone, near Boones-
ville, a trading point on this side of Des
Moines, and traded them for wheat; and
previous to the erecting of the Anderson
mill, he took his wheat to Grisner's mill ten
miles below Des Moines. Previous to 1852
the few pioneers of Guthrie county received
their mail at Pennock and McKav, Dallas
county. In 1852 the postoffice department
established a postoffice at Panora, and John
Anderson was appointed postmaster, the cit-
izens paying the expenses of carrying the
mail, which was done by any person who
might be going either way. The postoffice
was an old straw hat suspended by a piece of
twine from the rafters of the cabin, and
when an)' one wished to ascertain if anyone
remembered him whom he had left behind,
he hail only to tip the hat and examine its
contents. Mr. Anderson was living on the
Russell Thompson place, now owned by a
Mr. Ritchie. At the expiration of the year,
or in 1853, Judge Bryan was appointed post-
master and kept the office at his cabin. Val-
entine Leinart, a lad of about eleven years
old, carried the mail weekly to and from
Redfield, at twenty-five cents a trip.

The first church was built in 1856 by the
Presbyterian Mission Society, of New York,
that sent one Harmon out here "to preach
to the heathen." The church stood on the
east side of the courthouse square. It was
used as a church and courthouse. Here is
where Judge McFarland held his famous
courts for two or three years, when it was
converted into a dwelling, then a wagon
shop and finally a blacksmith shop.

Lewis Harvout, a real-estate dealer, came

to Panora in the spring of 1854, and the
same year was appointed treasurer and re-
corder of Guthrie county to fill a vacancy.
At the same time he taught the school, the
second time he taught in Panora, at the
salary of twelve dollars and fifty cents per
month. He taught the school for two or
three years.

John Cline started the first plow and
wagon shop in the county in the spring of
1856. In the autumn of the same year he
succeeded Judge Bryan. He is now a resi-
dent of Des Moines.

Among the first settlers not already men-
tioned, who came to this county prior to the
year 1854, are the Reynolds, Knowltons,
Harpers, Hendersons, McClarans, Jacksons,
Campbells, Mitchells and Joseph Roberts.
The latter was here in 1853. He purchased
his land and built a cabin and moved his
family later. They later landed on the
prairie, where they waited for some time
until a door was sawed out. The door was
a bed quilt, their windows the cracks in
the walls, and their bedsteads the floor. A
few days after their arrival, a terrible storm
came up after dark. The wind blew the
lights out as fast as they could be lighted,
the lightening glared terribly and the
thunder was terriffic. There Avere about
eighteen persons in the cabin at the time.
One Smith, who had been very brave with
his tongue, was seen crouched down on one
hand and knee, while with the other hand
he endeavored to ward off the lightning's
fierce darts.

In the fall of 1853 Plugh Campbell came,
as before mentioned, to this county. H«
settled on Bay's Branch, and in the follow-
ing June Mr. Campbell died, leaving a wife
and eleven children in a new, wild, lone-
some country, bereft of a husband's and fa-
ther's love and care. Great must have been
her courage to rear so large a family. In
the rebellion she gave the first sacrifice of
this county on the altar of patriotism in the
person of her son, Hugh, in Company C,

GUTHRIE COUNTY, IOWA.

Fourth Iowa Infantry, at Rolla, Missouri.
In 1852 the Reynolds came to this county
and settled on the hill where Mr. Beller now
lives, boys then, but now old men. In De-
cember of that year, before the Anderson
mill was completed, they went to the mill
near Winterset, remained over night and
started back in the morning. It was al-
ready snowing and blowing and continued
all that day and night. It was with diffi-
culty they traveled at all. They went all
that day long blinded by the snow, hungry
and almost frozen. They were about giving
it up in despair, when they heard a dog
bark. They followed the sound, which led
them back a short distance and then up to a
cabin. They went to the door to beg permis-
sion to stop, when to their surprise they
found themselves at home. It was then
midnight. They had passed the house and
were only saved by poor old Towser.

The Methodist Episcopal church was
organized in 1852, with a membership of
about twelve. Services were held at the resi-
dence of the members until the completion
of the schoolhouse. Their first church
building was erected in 1857, on Church
street, being afterwards sold to J. Swartz
for a dwelling. Their first minister was
a Mr. Mason. In 1869, the society erected a
brick, building on Main street but are now
occupying a second building.

The United Brethren church was organ-
ized in Panora, in 1861, and on account of
its anti-secret principles and some other
causes, the church went down and the house
was sold, and is now used as the town hall.

The church of Christ, at Panora, was
organized in 1854, Benjamin Mitchell and
Alex Wasson were chosen as elders and
William C. Jones, deacon. About the year
1858, the church was divided and the place
of holding meeting was in the McClaran
schoolhouse, near Fansler, for a time, when
it was changed back to Panora, and in 1874
they erected a second one, and in 1897 the
present one.

The Baptist church was organized in 1858
and in 1871 commenced the erection of a
church house, but the hurricane on the i8th
of June that year blew it down. The so-
ciety being small, and financially weak was
unable to rebuild, so they sold it to the
Cumberland Presbyterians, who rebuilt the
house and afterwards changed their organi-
zation to that of the Presbyterians, who now
own it.

The Catholics attempted to build their
first church in Panora and in the count}- on
the lots just north of Jasinkey's residence,
and had their house up and enclosed when
that same storni, on the i8th of June, 1871,
leveled it to the ground. The church is
now in process of rebuilding.

Thomas Roberts came to Guthrie county
in 1856 and purchased a farm two miles east
of Panora, which is now one of the most
desirable homes in the county. "Uncle
Tom" is noted for his hospitality and so-
ciability. He has been extensively eng-aged
in stock-raising and has been successful in
all his undertakings, unless we except his
effort in his fourteen-mile run and to make
his friend, William Tracy, bray, in swim-
ming a mule across Walnut creek, this side
of Des Moines. \\'hen the mules reached
the middle of the stream the current took
the least one down stream. "Uncle Tom,"
who had remained to see them into the
water, became excited and ran down the
bank on a run calling out to Tracy, "Bray,
Tracy, Bray!" Tracy never heeded, and
when all were safely over he demanded the
reason of Tracy's refusal to bray. "Well,
Mr. Roberts," replied Tracy, "I am will-
ing to do anything in reason, but making a
mule of myself; you will have to excuse
me."

D. W. Harper came to Guthrie county in
1853, and settled on the south side of
Panora. He died an old, respected citizen
of this town. Peter Batchelett, now dead,
came in 1853, purchased a home of Judge
Bryan. He was a good-natured and es-

PAST AND PRESENT OF

teemed citizen and lived just outside the cor-
poration of Panora.

Among those who came in 1854, were Dr.
Gustine, Peter and John Boblett, Robert
Wasson. Joseph, James and Thompson
Qine. The former was a doctor in PanOra
for many years. A story is told of his visit
to a man who was suffering from nervous
prostration. In diagnosing the case, among

other things he said : "Mr. , you have

been overdoing. You are a veiy energetic
man." "Oh. yes, I know. Doctor, Fve had
'em for five or six years." "Had what?"
"Why the energetics." This was only one
of the Doctor's laughable as well as sorrow-
ful scenes of the old settler. The Doctor
and his wife both have been dead for several
years.

The experiences of one old settler in all
that pertains to the privations and hard-
ships of pioneer life, is the experience of
all. They all saw hard times, were lonely
and sometimes hungry. Imt they all agree
that there was some pleasure mixed up with
the hardships endured. They lived on corn-
bread and game, and enjoyed good health.
The young folks went twenty and thirty and
sometimes forty miles to attend dancing
parties and Fourth of July celebrations.
One old settler relates his experience in
going to see his best girl in 1853-4. He
went ten miles on foot. There were no
buggies in thnse davs, and he doubts wheth-
er there was one in the western i)art of
Iowa at tliat date. At that date the cabins
had but one room, generally sixteen feet
square, wliicli served the family for a kitch-
en, (lining liall. sittingroom and bedroom.
At midnight w hen it was time to go to bed
or go home, he had his choice, he could
Ije one of three persons in one l)ed, or run
up the ladder to a pallet in the lott, or strike
out for home over the lonesome prairie road
without a house along it. He chose the lat-
ter, and still he says he was nf)t lonesome.
Along tlie road the wolves keep a reveille on
every hill with their Ijarking and snarling,

which at times would make the hair stand up
on his head. What made it worse for him,
when young, he used to hear his parents talk
about the wolves in the early settlement of
Ohio. How they would chase people,
and they would be forced to climb a
tree or get on the roof of some cabin. These
thoughts came rushing through his brain,
but where was the tree or cabin? He de-
cided then and there that if he got through
all safe this time, the next time he would
keep the girl up all night or he would take
any accommodations offered.

The first term of the district court held
in this county was in September, 1853.
Judge Badford presided. S. G. \\'eeks was
the clerk, and J. W. Cummins, sheriff.
Court w'as at that time held in the Cline
Hotel, then belonging to Theophilus Bryan.
The arrival of the judge was unexpected.
The clerk and sherifi^. not anticipating court,
had gone to their homes several miles away.
The judge sent for the recreant officers and
opened court. There was but one case tried
at this term of court : Dr. Goff vs. A.
Moore. A jury was impaneled, consisting
of Richard Gilbert. Asa Cox, Alex Wasson,
Joseph Ricks, the onh- ones (^f the venire
that responded to their names. After the
case had been heard and handed over to
the jurv it was compromised. This was the
first law suit in the county. At this trial,
the judge paid the witness fees.

The next temi of court was held in the
spring of 1854, at which time the first grand
jurv was impaneled. This consisted of the
following named persons: Eli Grandstaff,
foreman : Solomon Messinger. Jacob Mes-
singer, \\'illiam Frazier, William Queen,
loseph Cron, Daniel Messinger. T. C. S.
X'icholson, James Rhodes, Jonathan Morris,
A. AlcClaran, I. W. York, Michael Mes-
singer, Robert Robertson and Henry
^laines. It is said the judge swore them
upon the P)ible requiring every juryman to
kiss the book. At this term of court was
the first criminal suit, the prosecution be-

G. E. PRICE

JOHN LONSDALE

PETER HARVEY

S. B. GILLESPIE

GUTHRIE COUNTY, IOWA.

ing- for larceny, preferred against William
Rhodes and Xora Trog'ler. At this trial
Trogler was liberated. Rhodes took a
change of \'enue to Cass county. At this
term of court three old settlers from Beaver
township came to see what was going on.
It was raining and they rode into town at
a breakneck speed. Sheriff Cummins came
to the door and called their names to serve
as jurors, but they, not understanding- it,
supposed they were to be punished for run-
ning their horses. One of them hid behind
the schoolhouse while the others went trem-
bling before the court. The judge, on ac-
count (jf a recent pummelling he had re-
ceived at the hands of some landowners in
Fremont county, where he dealt in real es-
tate, could not make himself understood by
words, pointed to the men who had been
called up to be sworn as jurors, but sup-
posing he was to be examined as a witness
called out, "I don't know him! I never
saw him ! I don't know anything about
him."

The judge held another term of court the
next fall in this county, but on account of
land difficulties in Fremont county, he re-
signed and removed to Nebraska, where in
some other trouble about land, he was shot
by some indignant squatter, whom he had
defrauded out of his Iowa land. In 1855
E. H. Seres was appointed to fill the vacancy
and he held two terms of court that year.
It is claimed that the records of these terms
of court are the oldest in possession of the
county, the earlier ones being destroyed at
the time of the blowing up of Edward
Searey. the clerk of courts at that time. In
1856, Judge Seres held two more terms of
court without incident.

In the spring of 1857 Judge McFarland
held his first term in this county. Of him
there is an endless number of stories, all
more or less of a humorous nature. He
would often get inebriated. His first charge
to the grand jury was after this fashion, —
"Gentlemen, we have in Iowa a prohibitory

law. If you know of any man in the county
who sells liquor without license, indict him,
and I will fine him like the devil." Later
on the judge died with "snakes in his boots."

The first Fourth of July celebration in
the county was held in Panora in 1857.

Among the old settlers in Jackson town-
ship, not already mentioned, are J. J. Morris,
Stephen Mount, T. E. Harbour, D. A. Lilly,
A. Swisher, J. A. Trent, M. Mount, J. A.
\\'hite, Joseph Kenworthy, John Lonsdale,
S. Moore, Benjamin Marlenee, Samuel Wil-
liams and others whose names have slipped
our memory. In 1855, J. J. Morris and James
Moore laid out Morrisburg. The town was
called Fairview, but it was discovered that
there was another Fairview in the state, so.
the name was changed to Morrisburg. The
postoffice was kept there, and in 1856 there
were several business houses. A dry-goods
store, a drug store, a blacksmith shop, a
hardware store, one saloon, a hotel, a school-
house and a church were in the village.
After the stages were withdrawn from this
route, the occupation was gone and now all
that remains of Morrisburg is the school-
house. In 1865 the stage route was changed
to Adel and Panora. which route was used
until the railroads north and south of us
were built far enough west to change it.
Dale City was laid out in 1862, by John
Lonsdale. It- contains a woolen factory, a
store, a blacksmith shop, a hotel, school-
house, and church and at one time a saddler
shop. Joseph Kenworthy came to this coun-
ty in 1856 and stopped with his brother near
the Hollingsworth farm, until he could build
his cabin just south of Dale City. This
cabin was without a floor, except a tem-
porary one of a carpet. Their chairs were
made from hickory poles, the only tools used
being a shaving knife and shaving horse.
Their bedsteads were the prairie bunk. Mrs.

PAST AND PRESENT OF

Kenworthy was very enthusiastic in her
praises of the new country, and often in-
dulged in pleasant dreams for the future.
One evening just after she had removed her
shoes preparatory to retiring, she was
frightened by a peculiar noise in the room
tliat struck terror to her soul. She called
to the little ones to climb upon the bed.
She then called to Mr. Kenworthy to come
and kill a rattlesnake. He came with an
end-gate rod of his wagon, expecting no
snakes, but to quiet a woman's whim. As
he approached the door his snakeship gave
him a salute that made him jump. He told
his wife to jump upon the bed, and as he
raised his weapon to strike, the wind blew
out the only light, which was a skillet of
lard and a rag wick. While darkness re-
mained the snake rattled so fiercely and close
to the bed that its occupants were terror-
stricken. As soon as a light was struck the
intruder started out through a chink. Mr.
Kenworthy fastened him to the floor with
his weapon, which his wife held while he
climbed out of the window and with a pole
soon dispatched the enemy, yiv. Kenworthy
and family have since moved farther west,
and now live at Spokane, Washington.

The Mormon trail was through Guthrie
county, by Dale City and Dalmanutha, and
until the year 1856 the Mormon emigrants
made the journey on this route with o.x-
carts, under the charge of some elder. In
order to reduce expenses, Brigham Young
hit upon a plan to have them cross the
plains in hand carts. Accordingly the hand
carts were built in which to take these con-
verts to the new zion. At Iowa City they
took up their weary march by companies,
going through Morrisburg, Dale City and
Dalmanutha. The carts were drawn by one
man and two women. Some, however, were
drawn by women only. A strap was passed
over one shoulder and under one arm and
fastened back to the cart, one on each side
of the tongue, with one hand holding it and
one person behind to push. This was the

team for each cart, and when they came to
bad places they doubled team. In one of
these expeditions, near the west line of the
county, one of the women stepped to the side
of the road a few rods and gave birth to a
child, and in a short time, yet that day, she
took her place in the train. They were
scantily provided with provisions, yet were
nevertheless content to endure these hard-
ships, because it was in the name of their
religion. Occasionally one of these teams
would go through as late as 1858.

In 1855-6 was the great land rush in
Iowa, which seemed to be the Eldorado to
the people of Indiana, Illinois and Ohio.
Guthrie county received her share of them.

Previous to 1855, Guthrie county had but
two townships, Cass and Jackson. In April
of that year Bear Grove was organized and
embraced the west half of the county. In
1853, Nathan Davis was the first settler in
what is now Bear Grove township. He
has since moved to Oregon. In 1854 a hotel
was built, known as Middle River station,
the stages run from Morrisburg to Hamlin's
Grove, in Audubon county, a distance of
thirty-five miles, without a house in sight,
one continuous stretch of prairie, before
they could change horses or get a bite to
eat. Travelers and drivers were obliged
to carry lunches. After this station was
built and Mr. Davis installed as landlord,
two of his friends came to visit him. The
bed was of the sapling variety and a double
one extending entirely across one end of
the house. They slept feet to feet, the guests
in one end, and the host in the other. One
of the guests, in relating his visit, said, when
they stretched out they lapped knee-deep,
but with all the inconveniences, they en-
joyed their visit more than some made in
subsequent years.

The first school in Bear Grove township
was a subscription school taught by Mrs.
Saxton. at her residence in the grove. Both
she and her husband are now dead. After )
the organization of the township, Miss Mary

GUTHRIE COUNTY, IOWA.

Cram taught the first pubHc school. Old
settlers in that township used to tell stage
coach passengers that Bear Grove was so
healthy that they were going to send east fo^
a poor old man to come out and settle
among them, so they could start a grave-
yard. This was prior to i860, at the begin-
ning of the terrible snow storm, that caused
so much suffering in the winter of 1856 and
1857 and which is remembered by the old
settlers. A lad, a nephew of Mrs. Sheeder,
then residing on Seely creek, and now Baker
township, went out to follow up a herd of
elk tracks which led up a ravine. When he
left home there were no signs of a storm,
but before night one of Iowa's sudden
changes and the worst storm ever expe-
rienced by white man in this county ensued,
lasting about three days. The young man
did not return, search was made and con-
tinued for some time, but without success.
The next summer his bones and gun were
found twelve miles northwest of home,
where he perished in that terrible storm.

Among the early marriages in that town-
ship Avas that of a ^Ir. North, afterwards
a resident of Casey, to a Miss Betts. They
were married by Squire Owens (we are un-
able to say whether it is our present mem-
ber of supervisors or not, who was left-
handed) . When the couple joined their right
hands, the 'Squire called out, "other hands,
if you please, that's wrong." This, of
course, caused a little confusion, when he
was heard to remark afterwards, "Dog my
cats, if I havn't used my left hajid so long
I thought everybody was left-handed." A
story of another early marriage in this
township, or near Linn Grove, is worth re-
peating. A Mr. Cooper and Miss Fleak
were both hired to work for a farmer near
the grove, and as usual, they agreed to tread
life's rosy path together, and as soon as an
opporcunity presented itself, they would get
married. The opportunity came one day.
Mr. Cooper was working on the prairie and
Miss Fleak was doing work in the kitchen.

This same 'squire was seen coming along
the road, and when he got opposite the
house, he was called to come in. The pros-
pective groom was sent for. Pretty soon
he came in, wiped the sweat from his face,
while the soon-to-be bride rubbed the doup-h
from her fingers, and took her place beside
the groom. They were married without
further ado, and spent their honeymoon, she
in the kitchen, and he on the farm, and were
as happy as if they had taken a trip.

In Bear Grove township, in 1855, the
Crooks and Captain John McEwen landed
on Bear creek. This creek secured its name
on account of several bears having been
killed on its banks by a band of government
surveyors. The first thing they did was to
build a cabin or shed, nine by fourteen feet.
This constituted the various apartments of
the family except the kitchen, which was
out of doors under the blue canopy of
heaven. The characteristic hospitality of
the family discovered itself even here, as a
little incident will illustrate. One nidit
after the family had retired, two men, who
had lost their way, stumbled on this cabin
and asked for shelter. A spare bed was
lacking, but Captain McEwen's generous
heart at once suggested a way. He told his
aunt to make him a bed under the bed and
they could have his, and in the dispensation
of true hospitalit}', the proud, noble-hearted
man crept under the bed that two fellow
mortals might have rest. The Captain after-
ward married and moved to Ohio. We al-
ways regretted this, for there was not a
nobler-hearted man in Iowa than he. who is
now deceased.

The hard winter of 1856-7, already men-
tioned, was destructive to all kinds of game.
Wolves, deer, elk and Avild turkeys were
abundant at that time. The snow was so
deep and a heavy crust on it so that deer
could not travel and were an easy prey for
the wolves and hunters. To illustrate how
easy they could be caught, a lad of fifteen
years went to the barn to do his feeding,

PAST AND PRESENT OF

the men having gone to Panora; in a few
minutes he was heard loudly calling for the
butcher knife. The girls ran out with the
knife and found the boy astride of a deer
and holding on by the antlers. He told the
girls to cut its throat while he held it. They'
commenced sawing away and finally the boy
had to take turns with them until the desired
end was accomplished. How did the boy
catch the deer ? The snow was so deep, and
a crust on top hard enough to bear the chil-
dren, but not the weight of the deer. In its
struggles to escape the deer would break
through at every step and finally, through
exhaustion, surrendered to its captors.

Dodge township was organized in the-
spring of 1855. It then embraced the terri-
tory now known as Dodge. Highland,
Orange and Victory townships. The first
election was held at the residence of John
Clark, father of Isaac Clark, a member of
tlie board of supervisors. The first settlers
in this territory were John Van Order.
Thomas and Orlando Aloffitt. Horatio and
Ozias Shaw. Peter Bryan. Sam McClaran.
William Hill, Dr. Sutton. Jacol) Dubbs,
Richard Squires, John Arrowsmith. Ale.x
Littlejohn. James Clearwater, R. J. Patter-
son. Charles Smith. John. Peter and Israel
Vandeventer. Benjamin and Joseph Tuttlc. In
the spring of 1856. the school fund commis-
sioner. Aaron Hougham. formed a school
district at ]\Iofiitt's Grove, and the first pub-
lic school taught in this territorv was in the
winter of 1856-7. A. McClaran was the
teacher, and he used his own residence for
the schoolhouse.

The first saw-mill built in Dodge, as then
organized, was by Thomas Harris. It was
run a few years and then went down. Mr.
Harris is now deceased.

Often stories are told of some early set-
tlers who were afraid of Indians. A neigh-
l)or to one old settler came to see him and
stay all night. He had come about ten
miles, arriving just at dark. The door was
closed and barred, which took some time

to open so as to let him in. He made out
that the wind blew so strong he had to prop
it. He could never get reconciled to the
country and sold out at the first opportunity
and took the back track to his native state.
Another story is told of an old settler who
was afraid of Indians. One day he heard
a noise he did not understand and thought,
of course, it was Indians. He crept up the
chimney to hide, telling his wife to sit still,
they wouldn't hurt a woman.

As the country became more thickly set-
tled a school was taught in nearly every,
neighborhood. Sometimes at the cabin of a
settler, and sometimes a schoolhouse was
built. In order to show what advancement
we have made in educational matters, the old
settlers will please allow me to relate an
anecdote or two illustrative of the manner
in which some of our early schools were ^
conducted. When Highland was made a
district township it was not divided into sub-
districts for some time. There was only one
schoolhouse in the township for several
years, though several schools. The first
school was taught by one who was habitual-
Iv tired and slept most of his time. When
the children thought it time to recite, they
would wake him up and tell him their les-
sons were ready, .\nother school was con-
ducted in an entirely different manner. The
applicant was also subdirector. and sent by a
friend to the county superintendent for a
certificate. The friend secured it for him.
He hired himself and taught by proxy, his
wife doing the teaching in their cabin. In
another district lived a family, the man be-
insr director. In contracting with the school
board, he was t(^ furnish the room, and the
board and a new stove. He bought a ne\V
cook stove, which heated the school room
and did the family cooking. The pipe ran
up through the ceiling and through a low.
upper room, a drum being placed upon it
This ro(Mn was the schoolroom. He hired hi:=
wife to teach and two or three times a da}
.she climbed up a ladder to the schoolroom

GUTHRIE COUNTY, IOWA.

Of course, she charged for fuel, rent and
i wages. One other story from another town-
ship is told. A district contained but one
family, yet the township furnished them a
schoolhouse. As in the other cases, he hired
his wife as teacher, which was composed of
her own four or five little ones. The wasres
at that time were thirty dollars a month.
One day she took a basket of wool to scho!)l,
I (it was not wool from Mary's little lambj
and set the pupils to picking it. The work was
progressing finely when a shadow fell across
the floor. Great heavens! There stood the
superintendent. Tradition does not say
whether he drilled the school in the art of
wool picking, or if any of those scholars
went to congress.

In 1856, there were only four townships,
Cass, Jackson, Bear Grove and Dodge.
, - Guthrie county was the only county in the
' state to comply with the act of the legisla-
ture in its session of 1874, creating county
high schools.
I The swamp land fund of Guthrie county
' originated from a donation of the swamp
and overflowed lands of the state by the
United States under act of congress passed
in 1850. The legislature of Iowa conveyed
to the different counties of the state, such of
those lands as lay within the limits of each
county. In the spring of 1855, the agent,
Thomas Seeley, made a return to the com-
missioner of the general land ofiice of eleven
thousand seven hundred acres. From this
land the county has realized a total of twen-
ty-seven thousand dollars. The county has
still a claim of one thousand eight hundred
and forty acres for which the government
has not given indemnity, there being no
land in the state subject to entry. In Feb-
ruary, 1876, by vote of the people, this fund
was donated to be used in the construction
of a courthouse and county high school.
The contract to build the high school was
let to Jackson & Garlow. The school was
[organized in the winter of 1876. with M.
M. Wagner, as principal. A further histoiy

of the school is not necessary, as the people
of the county are familiar with it.

In 1875, the board of supei*visors ordered
that the township boundaries be changed to
conform with the congressional townships.
Cass and Jackson were dissatisfied with the
change, and later on, their boundaries were
changed back to. their present lines.

In Valley township, the first settlement
was made by A. G. Weeks, in 1851, being
a part of the farm of Mrs. Willy. Mr. Willy
and wife settled in this township in 1855,
on one of the most desirable locations in the
county. Among the other early settlers in
this township were Isaac and John Parrish,
Charles Huxley, William Tracy, E. B. and
W. \\\ Newton, W. J. Ra\elle, George
Headley, Captain Thomas Seeley, Elwood
Brown, G. W. Harlin and Mayor Farns-
worth. Air. Huxley came to the county in
1855, and existed, in a shanty twelve feet
square, for some time with his family. The
shanty had no floor, and was so low that
the wolves, which were plenty, ran over the
roof, making anything but pleasant music.
When \lr. Huxley built a chimney, which
was necessary to the hut, he lacked tools.
A horse shoe was used as a hammer and a
clap-board for a trowel, for mortar he used
clay and instead of the ordinary sticks he
used stone. While getting the stone out of
the ground, two large wolves jumped over
his head. Of course, we are not accountable
for what we think, when frightened.

In the spring of 1856, Guthrie Center was
laid out, by E. B. Newton, on the east
half of the northwest quarter of section 6,
township 79, range 31. The first building
erected was that of Mr. Huxley, on the
corner of Fifth and State streets. He oc-
cupied the same in the spring of 1856. The
next building was that of Mr. Warrington,
a blacksmith shop. This was built of buck-
eye logs. In the meantime, Mr. Warrington
built a log house and moved his family into
it. Mr. Newton had also erected a frame
building, the use of which he donated to

(>)

PAST AXD PRESENT OF

tlie citizens tor church and school purposes, kept her feet on the top round of the ladder.

The th-st religious service was held in the Mr. Tracy entered the land upon which

following September, bv a Rev. Meek, who Guthrie Center stands and sold it to E. B.

came on Saturday nights, stopping with Mr. Newton in the spring of 1856. The same

Warrington. He brought with him his own year he built the first saw-mill in the

robe and pillow and made his own bed on township, which was afterward made a flour

the ground in the cabin. While the minister mill, near the present site of the old Mitchell

preached to the sinners at church. Mi'. War- mill.

rington shod his horse, which had to be In May, 1856, a postoffice was established

picketed on the prairie. The divine found at Guthrie Center, and Charles Huxley was

this such a convenient arrangement, saving appointed postmaster. This office was kept

so much time and expense, that he repeated up by private means, the citizens, Captain

the practice whenever it was necessary. Seeley, E. B. Newton, W' illiam Tracy, and

The first school was taught by Louis A. Charles Huxley, hiring a man to carry the
Reno, in 1857. Of course, Guthrie Center mail to and from Allen postoffice, at Fair-
was not then as it is today. It w-as then view, a distance of fifteen miles. Mr. Hux-
wild and new. Deer and elk were no un- ley carried the mail on horseback, when a
common sight. A few days after the open- horse could travel, and upon his own back
ino- of this school some four or five deer when the roads were too bad for a horse,
came up near the door, and the scholars, In 1856, a mail route was established from
(Dr. Huxley was among them), all jumped Adel, by the way of Panora and Guthrie
up and ran to the door to see them. The Center to Magnolia. The contract for car-
teacher, though not a profane man, re- rying the mail was awarded to W. W. and
marked : "I be dod-blasted, if I don't wish E. B. Newton. They carried the mail on
I had my gun." this route up to 1862, when the stage coach

The next building erected in Guthrie was changed from Morrisburg and Dalma-

Center was a frame dwelling by George nutha. It now ran from Adel by way of

Bike, in 1858, and though not intended for Panora, Guthrie Center to Hamlin's Grove,

such use, was kept for a hotel. There being The old settlers thought when we got the

no hotel in that neighborhood, travelers mail twice a week we were making gigantic

would come and beg permission to stop. He strides toward civilization. Today we can

could not turn them away, so the first thing read the morning daily, printed at the capital

he knew he w^as keeping hotel. of the state every morning, not only in town,

William Tracy, as before mentioned, came but on the farm also,
to Guthrie county in 1855. He and his wife The first settlement in Baker township
have since died. \Vhen they came here, was made by Mr. Newton, in 1854, who en-
there was no house to rent. It was cold and tered the southeast quarter of section 18,
bleak and during a driving snow storm, wife township 80, range 32. There were but
and children weeping. \¥hat was he to do? three families living on South Coon, a lone-
AV. \y. Newton, who lived a short distance ly outlook. Mr. Newton was the first tow^n-
northwest of town, where Jud Newton now ship clerk ~ of the township, then known as
lives, kindly offered him the use of his loft Center township. The first election was
in the cabin until he could do better. The held in 1858.

offer was gladly accepted and they climbed In 1856, William Holsman came to the

a ladder to their "place, Mrs. Tracy going county and settled in Orange township. In

last; w-hen she reached the top round the 1858 he removed to Panora, and being a

loft was so full she sat down on the floor and shoemaker by trade, he engaged in that occu-

GUTHRIE COUNTY, IOWA.

pation with Anthony Saltzman. In 1862^ he
removed to Lynn Grove, where he owned a
large farm. Mr. Holsman was extensively
engaged in stock-raising. His farm is tim-
bered and watered and one of the best im-
proved in the county. In 1858, he was ap-
pointed sheriff to succeed Lee Brumbaugh.
He served five years and subsequently was
elected a member of the board of supervis-
ors for two terms. He passed the eighty-
second mile-stone in his age and died on his
farm, July 25, 1895.

Every new settlement or community not
under an organized form of government has
its period of transition from first settlement
to a condition of law and order. Though
our old settlers were with very few excep-
tions peaceable and honest men, yet as men
will dift'er in opinions of right and wrong,
it was thought best to follow the example
of other counties in the state and make
laws whereby they might protect themselves
against speculators and others, who might
be disposed to dispute their claims. The
laws governing the first settlement of gov-
ernment lands, we will explain their main
features. The pre-emption act passed by
congress for the benefit of those settling
upon government lands provided that the
heads of families should each have the rig^ht
to take one hundred and sixty acres of land,
and by living upon it the same should be
exempt from entry for the period of twelve
months from the date of first settlement.

Claim laws were enacted by the people
for mutual protection and gave to each
head of families the right to claim three
hundred and twenty acres of land. If a man
wished to take a claim he was obliged to
build him a habitation, usually of logs, and
stay in it one night. He then could file his
intentions to make claim with the ofircers
of the club, and if the settler absented him-
self at anv one time to exceed six months,

his claim would be jumped by another, who
wished to become a bona-fide resident. The
government allowed the claim-holder one
hundred and sixty acres. So the club would
defend his right to the other one hundred
and sixty acres until he could enter it, by
which time if was expected he would have
the requisite sum saved up. All claim hold-
ers were members of the club. The old set-
tlers of Guthrie county organized a club in
1850, and adopted rules and regulations. A
violation of the rules was promptly reported
and a meeting was called and they would
turn out to a man. The following is one of
the resolutions :

Resolved, That no person shall be allowed
to pre-empt or purchase in any fonn from
the government, any land which shall be
held as a claim, and that it shall be the duty
of the committee to notify any person, who
shall pre-empt or attempt to do so, the claim
of any other person, to leave the county, and
that they have authority to enforce a com-
pliance with said notice.

Beaver township was organized in 1857,
and in the following year was made a school
district township, and, in 1862, this town-
ship bought a library of one hundred and
seventy volumes, which was the first district
library in the county. The first settlement
in the township was made by Lemuel Cole-
man in 1852, and among the other early
settlers in this township were Henry Maines,
Thomas Coleman and the Millers. Grain
and provisions were scarce and mills almost
inaccessible. With what fortitude they en-
dured the hardships of pioneer life, Mr. Cole-
man tells in his o\f n words : "The priva-
tions endured are known only to those who
have tried a new home in a new country in
the far west. By honest toil and God's bless-
ings, we have always had something to live
on. Now my fondest expectations on leav-
ing my native state are more than realized.
^^''hen I look back I see much for which we
should be truly thankful."

Thomas Coleman taught the first school.

PAST AND PRESENT OF

in 1857. in a private dwellins^. In tliis
school there were from one family, a father
and two sons, all learning their "a b c's" to-
gether.

The first religious meetings were held in
1853. by the church of God, or Winebre-
narians. The same organization is still kept
up.

In 1832. Henry Maines settled in Beaver
township, with two or three families near
him. He went to Missouri to mill, swim-
mintr his team across streams, and to Coun-
cil Bluffs, for groceries. His two sons, John
and Jesse, are now well-to-do citizens.

Menlo, a tow-n on the Rock Island, was
laid out in 1868, but did not grow so rapidly
as the other towns on the road. The title
to the land on which the town was built
had been at that time in litigation for some
years, retarding its growth. Men were
afraid to buy. But now the ditficulty has
been overcome and it is a business place,
containing a bank, grain elevators, business
houses, hotels, churches, graded schools and
a newspaper.

Thompson township w^as organized in
1858. The first settlement was made in
1853. ^^y Aaron Cappoc and A. E. Porter.
In 1854 the town of Dalmanutha w'as laid
out and John Betts kept the first stage sta-
tion. The site of Dalmanutha is on high
rolling ground, on the old stage route, which
was the original Mormon trail. Since the
railroads have passed through the county,
this town has gone to decay, nothing being
left but the old residence of Mr. Porter. It
once contained three hotels, a blacksmith
shop, a dry-goods and grocery store.

Casey is situated on the Rock Island. It
was laid out in 1868, on the south line of
the county, part in Guthrie and part in
Adair. It is a thriving town of about seven
hundred inhabitant's, and is noted for the
enterprise and industry of her citizens.

There was one poor, unfortunate man
here who came west to look for work. Al-
though somewhat ridiculous, a German, by

the name of Kalkofen, left his wife some-
where in Pennsylvania to visit with friends,
while he came w^est 'on the hunt of work.
He brought one little boy with him, and
his wufe kept one with her. When he was
ready to send for her, he found he had for-
gotten where he had left her and the poor
fellow had never been able to find her. This
was six years after he came.

Grant is the southw^est corner towaiship
and its congressional boundaries are town-
ship yS, range 33. The grand divide of the
state passes diagonally through this terri-
tory. The waters that fall on the surface
are shedded into the two great rivers, the
Mississippi and Missouri. The first settler
in this township w'as John W'ickersham.
The next to make settlement in this town-
ship was Joel James, who settled there in
1858. Emigrants passing through would
lose a cow^ or an ox. which Mr, James w'ould
skin and dry the hide. These skins dried
and stretched on pole rafters made an excel-
lent rain and wand-proof roof. L'p to 1868
this township had but four settlers.

The two Mormon trails, one through
Madison and Adair counties, the other
through Guthrie county, came together and
merged into one road near the west line
of this township.

Penn township was organized in 1857.
The surface is principally undulating, in
some parts rough and hilly. Underlying the
surface are beds of coal, mines of which
have been opened, four miles north of
Stuart. The first settlement in what is now
Penn township, then a part of Jackson, was
made in 1850. by Addison Cave, who settled
in below the old Pearson mill site. The first
death in the township was also the first in
the county, being that of Mr. McCullough
in 1850, w-ho died in a cabin near the old
Pearson mill site. The first religious serv-
ice was held at the Pioneer schoolhouse
under the auspices of the Methodist Episco-
pal church, in 1855. The first school w\as
taught in this schoolhouse, then in the

E. B. NEWTON

JAMES W. FOSTER

WILLIAM HARA^EY

992341]

WILLIAM J. RE^^ELL

GUTHRIE COUNTY, IOWA.

lOI

Thompson neighborhood. The first church
erected in the township was the Summit
Grove or Quaker meeting-house, near Stuart,
in 1856. The first postoffice was estabhshed
in 1858, at the residence of J. W. McPher-
son, near Dexter, and was called Macksville,
which, upon the location of Stuart, was re-
moved there and the name changed to
Stuart. J. W. McPherson was postmaster
at Macksville and A. L. McPherson, the
first after the removal to Stuart.

In 1854, Cyrus and David Bowles came
to the county. The only habitation within
several miles of them was an Indian wig-
wam. The}' all camped out for some time,
sleeping in a wagon, when finally they built
a cabin and it was the only habitation on or
near the Mormon trail for a distance of ten
miles, east or west. In the next two years
several more pioneers were added to this
settlement, among these were A. Lamb, Reu-
ben Griffith, T. C. McCollum, Elias Hadley,
C. Carson, Mary Mills, Levi Kivett and
John Pearson. The latter in the same year
of his arrival commenced the erection of
his flour mill, in section 10. township 78.
range 30, on South Coon river, which was
not in operation until in 1857. This was
one of the best flour mills in the state. Mr.
Pearson owned this mill for twenty years,
and then sold out to his son, T. J- Pearson,
and David Chantiw, who continued to op-
erate it for some years, when Mr. Chantr}^
became the sole owner and ran it for some
time as a merchant and custom mill. After-
ward he got dissatisfied with his situation,
tore down his mill, removed the frame and
machinery to Casey, there rebuilt the frame
and put in the old machiner}^ and attached
to it steam power. He operated it there for
a few years, when it became a financial fail-
ure. So this was the ending of once the best
property in the county.

The first manufacturing establishment of
any kind in the county was a carding ma-
chine of the Cave brothers, on South Coon,
6

two miles below the Pearson mill site. This
afterw^ards was swept away by the floods.

West Milton was laid out by John Pear-
son on his farm near his mill, in the fall of
1855. About twenty acres was laid out in
blocks and lots. A blacksmith shop and
store were started here. A postoffice known
as West Milton was established in 1856.
Thus the village, the embryo city, which the
proprietor beheld in his eyes, in his dreams
as thronged with the tramp of busy mer-
chants, the clatter of machinery and the
hum of commerce, has passed away and like
many others of like nature, into oblivion.
The railroad, which was expected to connect
this place with the market of the world,
failed to come and the dream of a prospect-
ive town melted away like the spider web,
that a breath of summer air destroys and
wafts away.

Stuart township is a subdivision or part
of Penn township, including the city of
Stuart, and outside of the city of Stuart it
has about sixty voters, and is made one
school district, called Stuart Independent,
which also includes the city of Stuart — that
part in Guthrie county.

The Chicago. Rock Island & Pacific Rail-
road was built through the county, or rather
at this point, on the line between the two
counties. Guthrie and Adair, in the latter
part of 1868, and in December of the same
year, and January of 1869, Mr. Charles
Stuart laid out the original plat of Stu-
art, after whom the town was named.
The plat of the town was filed for record
in September, 1870. The dedication con-
tains the names of Charles Stuart, B. F.
Allen, Joseph Kenworthy and John F.
Tracy, as proprietors. Some twelve or more
additions have been added to it since then.
To Captain Charles Stuart, A. L. McPher-
son and George Gray, for their liberality,
energy and enterprise, the citizens of the
city are deeply indebted for the foundation
of a rapid development of Stuart. Before

I02

PAST AND PRESENT OF

the plat was put on record, Doctor Hoston
erected the first building on Division street,
near where the Congregational church now
stands. The next building was built by A.
L. McPherson. The freight division and
round-house on the Rock Island Railway is
located in Stuart. At one time, before the
advent of the narrow gauge railroad, Stuart
was a commercial point for a large area of
country in the central and eastern parts of
Guthrie county, wdiich is now tributary to
the Des Aloines & Northwestern Railway.
Stuart has a large country around it, which
is tributary to it. It is the largest town in
the county, with a population of about two
thousand eight hundred. It is noted for its
large business and enterprising citizens. It
contains two banks, three school buildings,
seven churches, hotels and flour mill, and at
one time it contained a brewery, which did
an immense business. After the passage of
the prohibitory law, it was closed and ma-
chinery taken away.

Richland township was organized in
1858, and is the northeast corner township
in the county. The surface consists mainly
of a beautiful, undulating prairie, with an
excellent soil. There are two lines of rail-
roads traversing this township, the Chicago,
Milwaukee & St. Paul and the Des Moines &
Northwestern ; the former runs directly west,
on the north tier of townships, the other
traverses the township north and south near
the center. At the junction with the Mil-
waukee, the town of Herndon is situated.
Josiah Black, James Measures, Miles I. God-
frey, and Hiram Wisner were the first set-
tlers in the township, settling on sections
one, two and eleven. These old settlers have
since passed away, but many of their chil-
dren are vet living, some on the old home-
steads. Among those that settled in this
townsliip later, were James and William
Thompson, Ira White and William Black-
man, now of Pandora. Peter D. Neis-
ter since has nu)ve(l west, John Ellis,
T. V. Shory, E. D. Lockwood, Job Baily, A.
Kirki)atnck, George W. King, W. W. Lair.

D. P. Galbreath, since died, M. N. Shade,
since moved away, Latmore since died, Ira
R. Shipley, deceased, and \\'. F. Cardell.
Both of the latter named served the county
as representatives, Mr. Cardell one term, as
a greenback, and Mr. Shipley two terms
as a republican.

In the* early sui"veys, or subdivisions of
sections in this township, we wish to note
one incident that occurred. The county sur-
veyor was called to survey sections i and 2.
There being but one original corner in the
township, that was witnessed by trees or any
natural monument, and that corner was the
southeast comer of section i, and the stake
was lost. The surveyors directed the chain-
man to measure so far from a tree that he
noticed the original mark on, and so far
from another, and set the stake for the cor-
ner. He directed the ax man to chip out a
block of one of the trees where the original
mark had grown, and while this was being
done, two of the parties were standing off to
one side, laughing and wondering what that
fool surveyor was now going to do. When
the block was chipped out, the original sur-
veyor's mark was plain to be seen. These
fellows dropped their heads, expressing
themselves surprised. It was something
they never knew before.

Herndon, as before stated, is at the junc-
tion of the two railroads that traverse the
township. It was laid out in 1881. It was
once noted for its natural gas wells. It has
not built up as rapidly as some other towns.

It contains one hotel, one elevator,
churches, schools and business houses, and
other interests. Jamaica is on the line of
the Milwaukee Railway, two miles and a half
east of Herndon. It has all the elements to
make it quite a flourishing business town.

This chapter has been mostl\' gathered
from the official records of the county. .\1-
though some have been gathered during
interviews with those familiar with the sub-
ject.

We wish to say something about the early
marriages which will be interesting to the

GUTHRIE COUNTY, IOWA.

103

young-er portion of the community who,
their time not 3^et come, still walk in maiden
meditation, dreaming of the prince that will
"a-wooing come," or picture the charms of
the future mistress of their 'household.

In different lands the marriage rite is
solemnized in different ways. In all the acts
.of the contracting parties must be under-
stood by each as a mutual agreement to hold
the relations to each other as man and wife.
In this state a license has always been re-
quired.

The first marriage in Guthrie county oc-
curred March 30, 1852. The contracting
parties were George Messinger and Lucinda
Casteel by his honor, Theophilus Bryan,
county judge.

In early days young men and maidens
were not married in the grand style which
characterizes the marriages of the present
day. They did not wait till riches came
before they married, as is too often the case
nowadays, but chose their mate without re-
gard to this point, and settled down to live
in a simple, comfortable style, and they gen-
erally lived happy and made good neighbors
c!.nd citizens. The old folks at home were
plain, economical and hospitable people, and
ib:e young folks were imbued with the same
attributes, were willing to commence house-
keeping in a style corresponding with their
means, trusting to the future for larg'er and
more expensive things.

There are some rich anecdotes of the
early marriages. How, when the time came,
the blushing maid would drop her milk pails,
throw olf her apron and. donning her sun-
bonnet, clamber in the lumber wagon, while
Charley in his overalls and plow shoes,
would take up the whip and the oxen would
move off Avith the bridal couple, to the
'squire's who did the "jining of the knot."

In an early day a young couple fresh
from the frontier, came into one of the near-
fst villages, a store, and confronting the pro-
prietor, told him that they wanted to get
married. "Why," said he, "I — I can't mar-

ry you." "Well, who can? We are goin
to get married, you bet." "I'll tell you,"
said the merchant, "you go over to the post-
master. I think he can do the job for you."
The young couple started off with joy to find
the man who could marry them. They
found the postmaster and told him they had
come to get married. This rather dazed
the postmaster, who told them he couldn't
marry them. "But," said the bridegroom,
"the man over in the store said you could
and I guess he ought to know." "Well, I
guess that's so," said the postmaster, "that's
all right." Accordingly the couple were
arranged in front of him and in the most ap-
proved style he pronounced them man and
wife, as approved by the Ignited States postal
regulations. "Go your way. keep your
mouths shut, and you'll be happy." As they
turned to go he remarked. "Only a dollar
apiece."

The following is a list of all the marriages
that occurred in the county from its organi-
zation up to the end of the year 1854:
George Messinger and Lucinda Casteel;
Isaac Vandervanter and Rachel Moore; Wil-
liam Queen and Rachel Anderson; Walter
Tuttle and Sarah Cox; Elijah Reynolds and
Eliza Anderson; Henry Brumbaugh and
Matilda Stanton ; F. C. Coleman and Deb-
orah Haskins ; Richard Gilbert and Isabel
M. Campbell; William B. Cave and Mary
Hougham ; Thomas Turner and Mar\^
Elizabeth Mitchell ; Jonathan Morris and
Sarah A. Reynolds; James Harris and
Xancy Jane Ritz ; Isoni l\. Reynolds and
Mary Ann Anderson; Artemas McClaran
and Wealthy E. Reynolds; Benjamin Davis
and Sarah A. Martin ; Samuel Anderson
and Nancy J. McClaran; John W. Woody
and Clariss Henderson ; Hiram Mason and
Eliza Falton; James Ricks and Sarah J.
Wasson. .

It is curious to note the fluctuations in
the number of marriages, how the state of
the times causes a falling off or an increase
of the number. In 1856 and 1857. when

I04

PAST AND PRESENT OF

the tinancial panic swept like a wave over
'the country, tlie number dropped down, only
to rise again in the next three years. In
1 86 1, the war caused a depression in the
number of marriages and kept so until the
boys came marching home in 1865, when it
jumped to an abnormally high rate, and
has been steadily on the increase ever since,
with the exception when there was a failure
of crops or some short-comings of the
money market.

One of the coming judges in an early day
was accustomed to make an entry upon the
record, the granting- of marriage licenses
after this form, which is copied from the
county records as follows : "Now comes
Jack Jones and Susan Smith and ask that
a marriage license be granted to them, and
they being, known to me and in good condi-
tion, the same is hereby granted."

Panora was the first town laid out in the
county and the plat filed for record on the
i8th day of November, 185 1. There have
be6n nine additions made to it since then.
In 1855, Panora had four dry-goods or gen-
eral stores, kept by Bryan, Craig, Boblett,
and Powell. The latter kept store in the
old shingle house, which was made of
boards or shingles, split out of the timber
with an ax. In the subsequent years that
followed, Panora had numerous business
men. Among those that we now recollect
were John Cline, now of Des Moines; Sam
Zinn, now of Seattle. Washington ; Charles
Zinn, now of New York city; James Dyson,
since died ; V. M. Lahman, now deceased ;
Charles Woodworth, of Des Moines; Miles
Woodworth, now of Des Moines; J. J.
Jones, deceased ; Peter Hamilton, since died ;
James Thompson, now of St. Joseph, Mis-
souri; A. Saltzman, since died; C. Lahman.
now deceased; and Joseph Saltzman, now of
Des Moines; Lee Brumbaugh, since died:
Trent Brothers, since retired from the busi-
ness ; W. H. Bumes, now deceased ; J. L.
Grace, now of Perry; Maxwell has since
died and Mr. Brumbaugh, deceased; Jack-

son and Garlow, both now of Harlan, Iowa;
and Abe McGrew, now of Des Moines.

Phillip Roberts, since dead; Pentecost &
Hayden, both of Tacoma; S. M. Curtis, de-
ceased ; Dr. Gustine, since dead ; Hart Rob-
erts, of Fonda ; J. E. Wagner, a retired resi-
dent of Panora; Josiah Deardorff, of Den-
ver ; Dave Wilson, of Valley township ;
Lyons Brothers, resident farmers of Cass;
S. A. Young, deceased; Diehl & Swaim, re-
tired ; Ira White, retired ; S. G. Funk, of
Panora ; Howard and Harry Plaine, How-
ard, a resident of Pancn-a. Harry, of Des
Moines.

The Guthrie County Bank was organized
in 1875, '^^'^th S. D. Nichols, president; L.
J. Pentecost, cashier ; George H. Moore, E.
J. Reynolds and O. B. Hayden, directors.
Since the above date it has become a national
bank, and M. M. Reynolds is president :
\\'ade Spurgeon, cashier; A., J. Reynolds,
vice president.

There are twr) elevators; one tile factory,
capacity ten hands ; two water power flour
mills; one coal mine, best in this part of
Iowa ; and two newspapers, the Guthrie
County Patriot and Panora Vedette. The
latter is the oldest paper in the county. It
was established in 1864. S. H. Springer
was its first editor. Panora has three
churches. School privileges are not ex-
celled by any other town in this part of Iowa.
The county high school is located here.

THE CIVIL WAR.

In April, 1861, the whole country was
thrilled to the heart by the news of the
firing on Fort Sumter, its surrender and
the subsequent call l)y the president of the
United States for troops to enforce the laws
of the LTnited States. The war news was
carried throughout the whole n(M-th and
thousands of brave hearts sprang to arms
at the call of duty. In no state in the Union

GUTHRIE COUNTY, IOWA.

lO:

were the inhabitants more intensely loyal
than in loAva. Soon call succeeded call, and
men poured to the front from the Hawkeye
state, until it has been said that in all the
important movements of the four years of
war, Iowa troops took an active part. The
drum-beats of the brave Iowa boys were
heard on the banks of every large river of
the south, from the Potomac and Missis-
sippi, to the Rio Grande, and on the many
fields where they served, won for them high
praise in circles both military and civil. The
Iowa troops have been heroes among heroes.
The people who loved their whole country
could not give enough. Patriotism thrilled
and vil^rated and pulsated through every
heart. The farm, the work shop, the office,
the pulpit, the bar, the bench, the college,
the school, every calling offered its best men,
their lives and their fortunes, in defence of
the government, honor and unity. Party
lines were for a time ignored. All joined
hands in a common cause, repeating the oath
of America's soldier statesman, "By the
great eternal, the Union must and shall be
preserved."

Guthrie county was behind no county in
the state in the exhibition of patriotism. In
every call it responded with its best men,
some of wdiom went forth never to return.
The record of the county is a noble one. It
furnished two full companies. Company C,
Fourth Iowa Infantry ; Company I, Twenty-
ninth Iowa Infantry, besides numerous men
for other Iowa regiments. Company C,
Fourth Iowa, was organized in July, 1861,
and mustered into the United States service
on the 8th of August, in response to the
first call for three hundred thousand men.
Company I, Twenty-ninth Infantry, was
organized in August, 1862, and w^as mus-
tered into the United States sei-vice, De-
cember ist, in response to the second call for
three hundred thousand men. In giving the
roster and the names of the patriots of
Guthrie county who left their homes, their
wives and little ones, manv never to re-

turn, I am unable to give or designate those
that are living today, except those of Com-
pany I, which I am acquainted with, and if
any are omitted it is entirely unintentional.
The following is believed to be a full and
complete roster of Company C, Fourth'
Iowa :

COMPANY c.
Captains.

Seeley, Thomas. McEwen, John P.

Nichols, Samuel D. Campbell, Wm. H.

First Lieutenants.

Nichols, Samuel D. Baker, Charles W.
McEwen, John P. Hill, Charles W.

Campbell, Wm. H. Tracy, William.
Harlin, George W.

Second Lieutenants.

McEwen, John P.
Hill, Charles W.
Reed, Benjamin F.

Campbell, Wm. H.
Baker, Charles W.
Mount, E. C.

Sergeants.

Harlin, George W.

Beck, W. P.
Craig, Marshall H. Revell, William J.
Campbell, Wm. H.

Corporals.

De Huxley, Wm.
Motz, Daniel L.

Reed, J. J.

Cox, Benjamin F.

Musicians.

Reno, Lewis A.

Stowell, Charles S.

Privates.

Bailley, Levi W'.
Bailley, Robert L.
Baker, Charles W.
Bennv, William B.

Campbell, Wm. H.
Chambers, Job.
Clark, Corneline C.
Clark, Isaac.

io6

PAST AND PRESENT OF

Bike, George W.
Benns, William H.
Burden, Leu.
Burnham, Wm. N.
Bust, Willard H.
Butler, Zep.
Cabe, J. F.
Cox, James H.
Cornell, William.
Curtis, Lock A.
Banner, \\^illiam H.
Darby, Reason C.
Davis, Wm. W.
Dilly, Robt. A.
Tingle, George E.
Campbell, Hugh.
Haskins, H. C.
Hill, Charles W.
Hibbs, Joseph.
Hibbs, Robt. H.
Hellyer, William.
Hubbard, Lewis.
Hibbs, Armstrong.
Robinson, James.
Shaw, Jared.
Stiles, Oliver.
Strain, John S.
Towles, Thomas.
Wasson, John A.
.Watkins, Riley.
Weeks, Wm. S.
Wilson, George M.
Baily, Joseph A.
Brown, Francis.
Blakemore, John.
Donavine, Dennis.
Gilbert, Obed F.
Howell, Joshua W.
Lamb, Wilson H.
Lenon, Henry H.
Lukinbill, Thos.
Rhoads, Abyah.
Morris, Abram.
Turner, Thomas.
Haskins, James.
Carrick, Albert.
Wasson, William.
Hackley, Samuel.

Clark, John S.
Clark, Moses.
Clark, Abram.
Clearwater, Jesse W.
Codd, William.
Cox, Alfred.
Huffman, Joseph.
Hummer, Wm. PL
Levan, Benjamin.
Linscott, Chas. N.
Madison, Wm. O.
Marlenee, Samuel.
Ewing, Wm. A.
Fainsworth, Robt.
Gifford, Silas B.
Hager, James.
McMullen, James.
McCool, John W.
Moffitt, Walter A.
Monroe, Joseph.
Mount, W. S.
Mount, Cyrus.
Mowry, Abram.
Parrish, LaFayette.
Reed, B. F.
Reed, Thomas L.
Robinson, W. F.
Sivey, John W.
Slaughter, Leroy S.
Stiles, Joshua L.
Sutton, Elijah.
Tracy, John \\\
Wasson, James W.
Wetts, Roswell S.
Walford, William.
Tracy, William.
Brown, Webster.
Conner, Thomas.
Davis, Squier A.
Gibson. William S.
Haye, Lawrence.
L'ers, Lawrence.
Lamb, William R.
Lookinbill, George.
Crooks, Henry.
Rhoads. Cyrus.
Herrington, John.
Wilson, John.

Roster of Company I, Twenty-ninth
low'a Infantry :

COMPANY I.

Captains.

Joseph Dyson, deceased; Ed. Sheldon,
Dakota; P. H. Lenon, Guthrie Center,
Iowa.

First Lieutenants.

W. C. McCool, lives in Nebraska ; P. H.
Lenon ; A. McClaran. Panora, Iowa.

Second Lieutenants.

P. H. Lenon ; ^^^ V. Huxley, deceased.

Sergeants.

^^'illiam Kimbrell, died at Helena. Ar-
kansas ; A. McClaran ; D. H. Brumbaugh,
deceased; Robert Henderson, killed in bat-
tle. Saline river, Arkansas ; F. C. Barker,
\\'ashington, D. C. ; Jacob Robinson, de-
ceased; Lee Hamilton, deceased; J. \\'.
^^'oody, Guthrie Center, Iowa ; C. C. Nes-
selroad, Guthrie Center, Iowa; F. A. ^^Tann,
died at Keokuk, Iowa.

Corporals.

Aaron Hougham, Panora, Iowa ; I. M.
Hummer, Panora, Iowa ; Daniel Hardy, de-
ceased ; J. D. Nichols, Tacoma, Washing-
ton ; J. A. Dubbs, Denver, Colorado ;
George Kautzman, Stuart, Iowa ; D. R.
Minnich, Coon Rapids, Iowa ; S. H. Phil-
lips, Nebraska ; Hal Coal, Nebraska ; E. J.
Trent, Saylorville, Iowa.

Musicians.

James Grandstaff, Iowa; G. \\'. Smith,
Coon Rapids, Iowa.

GUTHRIE COUNTY, lO^VA.

107

Privates.

William Wickersham, Kansas; William
Babcock, died at Little Rock, Arkansas ; Ja-
cob Barnheart, Missouri ; Messrs. Jackson,
Panora, Iowa, deceased ; Albert West, Stu-
art, Iowa ; William A. Reed, Council Bluffs,
Iowa; Solomon Johnson, died at Little
Rock, Arkansas; James Butler, Duvall's
Bluffs, Arkansas; Charles Bower, Coon
Rapids, Iowa ; H. C. Cox, deceased ; Albert
Crosby, Des Moines, deceased ; Patrick Car-
berry, Nebraska ; Noah Dudley ; C. G. Gil-
bert, deceased; J. W. Hunter, died at Hel-
ena, Arkansas; P. G. Hummer, killed in
battle Jenkens Ferry, Arkansas ; G. Farrow,
deceased ; O. F. Heasley, Panora, Iowa ; G.
H. Harris, died at Columbus, Kentucky;
Silas Harper, deceased; Lewis Harvout, de-
cea.sed, Panora, Iowa; H. W. Kunkle, Des
Moines, Iowa ; William Kunkle, died at
Memphis, Tennessee : Valentine Leinart,
deceased, Panora, Iowa ; Isaac Boblett, died
at Memphis, Tennessee; \\'illiam Brown, ac-
cidentally killed at Duvall's Bluffs, Arkan-
sas ; Asher Egerton, Kansas ; Thomas Man-
ning, died at Little Rock, Arkansas ; R. F.
Squires, died from wound received at Jenkens
Ferry, Arkansas; John Caskey, deceased,
Yale, Iowa ; Harrison Barmore, deceased ; E.
B. Berry, deceased ; Thomas Burges, died at
Helena, Arkansas ; J. T. Cox, died at Mem-
phis, Tennessee; George Campbell, Panora,
Iowa; E. M. Corner, died at Helena, Arkan-
sas; G. \\\ Frances, deceased; S. H. Fra-
zier, Pattensburg, Missouri; S. H. Gander,
deceased, Panora, Iowa ; John Marlenee, de-
ceased ; G. W. McGeorge, Iowa ; S. Minnick,
Nebraska, deceased ; G. W. Murman, died
at Little Rock, Arkansas ; Joseph Ricks, died
at Helena, Arkansas; E. Sharkey, Panora;
J. W. Trent, died wounds, battle of Helena,
Arkansas; John Walker, Culbertson, Ne-
braska ; James Cook, Soldier's Home, Iowa ;
G. W. Reed, Guthrie Center, Iowa; James
Hager, Casey, Iowa ; Joseph Grandstaff,
Missouri ; James Trent, Bear Grove, low'a ;

John Pearson, died at Helena; Hullibarger,
deceased, Blaine, Washington ; J. \\'. Hum-
mer, deceased; F. ]\I. Haskins, deceased,
Stuart, Iowa; J. W. Hall, died at Little
Rock, Arkansas; B. M. Hook, died at Hel-
ena, Arkansas; J. I. Hutchins, deceased; Ja-
cob Kunkle, deceased; L. Lenard, died at
Memphis, Tennessee; Israel Le\'an, de-
ceased, Nebraska; J. H. Lee, died from
wounds at Helena, Arkansas ; A\'. D. Leach,
Nebraska; O. P. ]>^Iiller, Glendon. Iowa; M.
AIcDonald, Bayard, Iowa ; J. E. ]^Iarlenee,
died at Helena, Arkansas; William A. Mar-
lenee, Nebraska; Isaac Morris, Snohomish,
Washington ; A. P. Robertson, died at Hel-
ena, Arkansas ; James Rhodes, died at Hel-
ena, Arkansas; N. J. Squires, Nebraska; J
M. Sexton, died at Helena. Arkansas ; T. J
Smith, Coon Rapids, Io\va; Lewis Williams
Menlo, Iowa; H. H. Williams, Missouri; J
H. Williams, Missouri; William G. W^ine
Lake City, Iowa; G. W. Wine, Pansier
Iowa; James S. Lattin, died at }^[emphis
Tennessee; E. S. Miller, Glendon, Iowa; J
K. Miller, Menlo, Iowa ; L. \\\ Mingus, died
at Memphis, Tennessee; J. \\'. Trent, died
from wounds, battle of Helena. Arkansas;
Samuel Babcock, died at Little Rock, Ar-
kansas ; George Moore, discharged at Coun-
cil Bluffs; William Queen, discharged at
Council Bluffs ; Thomas Wilson, discharged
at Council Bluffs.

COMPANY K.

A. J. Chantry
Thomas McCann
J. R. Fleak
Amos Hunter
Joseph McGaffey
J. B. Root ,

Stanfield

G. W. Marlenee
I. D. Ricks.

L. H. Bailey

G. W. Holsman (d.)

S. Johnson

William Pearson

Leander Smith

W. H. A. A\'illiams

W. H. Pitts
W. S. Martin

THIRTY-NINTH .IOWA — -COMPANY 11.

Aaron Smith

— Bennett

io8

PAST AND PRESENT OF

John Dickerson
Martin S. Boots
A. Burden
F. B. Haines
John Moon
John Megeath
Joseph Smith
Joseph Thornburg

F. M. Barnett
F. J. Brown
Nathan Dodwin
Milton Harber
James Moon
Thomas Redman
Henry Frazier
\\'m. Vermilhon

FOURTH CAVALRY COMPANY A.

Jerry J. Harris.

COMPANY I.

COMPANY F.

James \\ . ]\Iount Edward 2^Iount

David Wasson.
The Forty-sixth Iowa one hundred day
men was organized and mustered into the
service of the general government at Du-
buque, Iowa, June lo, 1864, who might do
guard and garrison duty, thus relieving the
veteran regiments on active service in the

Lewis J. Mosker
Alfred Hartman
Hiram McClaran
James Webb
William Kirtlev

D. J. Vermillion
Henrv Hartman
^^^ AV. VanCleve
Riol Roberts
George Roberts

NINTH CAVALRY COMPANY H.

James Burnham

George Roberts

field.

'he following' named members (jf

said regiment were from Guthrie county :

FORTY-SLXTH IOWA COMPANy .

Jos. W. Hummers,
David Chantry
J. R. Sheeley
Bish Sampson
William Dudley
Walter France
Hiram Johnson
George Blount
Hadley ^lills
George Nation
John Smith

First Lieutenant.
John Blackman
Albert Burnham
David Bingham
F. B. Denslow
Harvey Hunter
John Kunkle
George McClary
James Newman
Deloyed Whitmarsh
Benjamin William

FORTY-SEVENTH IOWA COMPANY H.

Robert F. Fleak.

FIRST CAVALRY— COMPANY 1).

Thomas Black.

•HTRI) CANAI.RY.

lames H. Th()rs1)erg.

FIR.ST BATTERY.

No words can describe the good done, the
lives saved, and last hours made easy by the
host of noble women of Iowa, of whom it
would take a xolume to speak. Every
county, every town, every neighborhood in
the state had these true heroes, whose praise
can never l)e fully known till the hnal ren-
dering of all accounts of deeds done in the
body. The contributions of sanitary fairs
during the war were enormous, and to this
must be added the work of the noble women
of Iowa, whose heroic sacrifices should ha\e
the undying gratitude of the people.

The political history of Guthrie county,
the principal issues of which occupied the
attention of the people during the various
campaigns since the organization of the
county, l)oth general and local, is of much
interest. Already the lirst election has been
mentioned.

Unfortunately, the records of the elections
from August, 1851. to August, 1856, have
been lost and cannot be given. In 185^) new
issues were being formed. The old whig
party had ceased to e.xist and upon it^ ruins
were erected two other ])arties, one having
for its central truth op])osition to ihc fur-
ther extension of slaxery : and the other, that
native-born American citizens mu^t and

WALL NEWTON

CAPTAIN WILLLVM TRACY

GUTHRIE COUNTY, IOWA.

Ill

should rule America. These parties of
course took many members from the old
democratic party. The American part}' not
being opj^osed to slavery was in favor of the
Missouri Compromise, had become a numer-
ous body in the south, with many adherents
in the north. The republican part}', basing-
its claims for popular suffrage upon ad-
vocacy of freedom in the territories, and, of
course, was confined to the free states.

The first state convention of the newly or-
ganized republican party was held at Towa
City, February 22d. and placed a ticket in
the field for state ofificers and adopted a ])lat-
form in accordance ^\■ith the principles of
equal rights, and a firm opposition to slav-
er}'. The democrats also nominated a ticket
and adopted a platform with the national
convention at Cincinnati. James Buchanan
and John C. Breckenridge were the demo-
cratic nominees. John C. Fremont was the
republican candidate for president, and Mil-
lard Fillmore for the Xati\'e American
party.

In Guthrie county there was but little ex-
citement. Issues before the people were set-
tled b}' fair majorities. The total \'ote at
this time reached three hundred and one.
In the elections in 1857-58 no special in-
terest moved the people as the total vote was
only four hundred and forty-eight and on
some officers less than foi^r hundred. The
■elections resulted in a ^'ictory in most cases
for the democratic party.

In March, 1859, a petition was presented
to Aaron Hougham, county judge, bearing
the names of three hundred and twelve citi-
zens of the county, asking the submission,
to the f|ualified electors of Guthrie county,
of the question of locating the county seat
at Guthrie Center, alleging the fitness of the
place for the seat of government. The court
made the order for the election, which was
Feld on the first day of April, 1859. This
was the beginning of a long contest between
the two ri\'al towns. Of course, in the
meantime, some ludicrous incidents oc-

curred. When the day of election came
everybody was excited and the crowds
around the polls were quite large and ani-
mated. Each had his choice for the seat
of government, and tried hard to induce
■ his friends to see as he did. When the
vote was counted out it was found that Pan-
ora had five hundred and ninety-seven and
Guthrie Center five hundred and seventy-
seven, leaving a majority of twenty in favor
of Panora and against the removal of the
county seat.

In October, the same year, there were both
state and county officers to elect, and in those
days there were two elections each year,
spring and fall. The contest at this election
was sharp and long to 1)e remembered b}^
those who participated in it. All along the
line the election was strongly contested, the
democrats having a majority of only six
votes on the state ticket. The whole vote
polled was five hundred and twenty. T. E.
Harbor, republican, was elected county
judge by a majority of thirteen.- B. M.
Hook, republican, was elected treasurer over
his opponent, H. C. Bobb, by a majority of
thirty-four. \\'^illiam Holsman, democrat,
was elected sheriff, and E. B. Fenn, county
superintendent, by a majority of eighty-four.
The other officers were all closely contested.

This now brings us to the second contest
for the removal of the county seat. Guthrie
Center, rallying from her defeat, set to work
again to carry her ends. Under date of
March 5, t86o, Albert Crosby appeared in
court with a petition signed by three hundred
and twenty-eight legal voters of the county,
asking that the (juestion of the removal of
the county seat to Guthrie Center be again
submitted to the people of the county. At
the same time a remonstrance by three hun-
dred and forty voters was presented, against
the submission of the (juestion at all. For
some cause, which we have forgotten, the
court overruled the remonstrance and or-
dered an election to be held the 2d of April,
i860, as the eventful day. Another month

112

PAST AND PRESENT OF

of fierce excitement that grew from day to
day and culminated on the day of election.
Each town once more worked its hardest.
A canvass of the votes cast at this election
disclosed the fact that Guthrie Center had
a total vote of three hundred and twentv-
seven, while Panora had but three hundred
and eight, giving a majority of nineteen in
favor of Guthrie Center. Therefore, it was
decreed that Guthrie Center was the legal
county seat, and thither were removed all the
books, papers, etc., of the county. Both par-
ties had prepared for triumph, for each an-
ticipated a victory. ^Material for bonfires,
anvils were gotten ready and powder pur-
chased for a grand jollification. Guthrie
Center jubilated in earnest, and Panora made
herself believe that she did not care, but it
was on the principle of the boy who whistled
to keep up his courage, while he passed
through the gra^•eyard.

Guthrie Center, now anxious to hold the
results of her labors, and desirous to take
possession, started out in full force, with a
wagon drawn by a ten-ox team for the safe
and a carriage for the county judge, T. E.
Harbor. These were followed by a proces-
sion of a dozen teams or more. After load-
ing the safe and other materials they set
out on their homeward march. On their
way the}' were reinforced by another team
of oxen, which were attached to the wagon
containing the safe. Thus they marched in
triumph into the newly-made county seat,
with all the pride and pomp of glorious vic-
tory.

There was still another election that vear,
which was the presidential election, in No-
vemljer. The countrv was now becominsf
deeply moved over questions which had been
rising for some time, which stirred the pop-
ular heart as never before. The storm had
been gathering ever since the repeal of the
Missouri Compromise. The questions di-
viding parties were thus chiefiy sectional,
and pointed directly to war. Tn this state
(tf i)ul)lic luind. the republican party in the

national convention, in Chicago, nominated
Abraham Lincoln for president, and the dem-
ocrats, north, nominated Stephen A. Doug-
las. The democrats, south, nominated John
C. Breckenridge, and the conseiwative con-
A'ention nominated John Bell.

With four candidates in the field, the ex-
citing questions growing out of the insti-
tution of slavery and the threats of disunion
by a portion of the south in the event of the
election of Lincoln, tended to make the cam-
paign one of great interest. Both the repub-
licans and democrats nominated state tick-
ets. In this county the strife was as wann
and the contest as close as anywhere in the
state. There was but one county officer to
be elected, clerk of courts, consequently there
was but little to distract from the great na-
tional questions. Abraham Lincoln received
three hundred and twenty-six votes in Guth-
rie county, Stephen A. Douglas three hun-
dred and two. The various state officers re-
ceived just the same votes, scoring the first
decided victory for the dominant party.
Theodore Parish, on the county ticket, was
elected clerk of courts, having three hun-
dred and twelve ballots, against his op-
ponent's, William E. Houston, three hun-
dred and one.

The irrepressible conflict had come and
war for the union was in progress, and in
the political campaign of 1861 and the issues
growing out of the war were rapidly formed.
The campaign in Guthrie county was in-
tensely interesting, the almost equal balance
between the two parties calling forth all the
energies of each. For county officials tiie
matter of political bias was disregarded in
several cases and personal worth and ac-
quaintance weighed more with the voter than
party dictates. James Berry was elected
county judge, defeating C. Haden by a ma-
jority of ninety-five. T. E. Harb(^ur suc-
ceeded in getting the office of treasurer, E.
A. Porter defeated Phil Roberts f(»r sheriff
by two votes. The number of votes cast
was five hundred and sixtv-seven.

GUTHRIE COUNTY, IOWA.

113

Again at a special election held April 7,
1862, the question of a county seat came to
the front. Panora, still brooding over her
defeat, meditated vengeance against the in-
terloper that had stolen her laurels and was
preparing a surprise for her.

At this time the friends of Panora mus-
tered to the number of three hundred and
fifty-five, while for some reason those of
Guthrie Center were but two hundred and
seventy-eight, and thus by a majority of sev-
enty-five the seat of the county was carried
back to Panora. Therefore the court decreed
that Panora was the legal county seat and
directed the removal thither. Panora now
jubilated in earnest and Guthrie Center now
like Panora in her first defeat made her-
self believe she did not care, on the principle
of the boy "whistling to keep his courage
up while passing through a graveyard."
After the removal of the safe, books, papers,
etc., to Panora, quiet reigned for a few years.

The union army had met with several re-
verses during the year 1862 and a growing
feeling of alarm pervaded the minds of the
people, having its effect upon the canvass for
state officers. The democrats met in con-
vention at Des Moines, Iowa, and adopted
a platform, in which they expressed them-
selves as in favor of using means for the
suppression of the rebellion, and opposed to
any suspension of the writ of "habeas cor-
pus," declaring the superiority of the white
race over the black. The republicans in their
platform adopted and resolved that it was
the duty of every man to help maintain the
government, condemned the course of seces-
sion, and asked all to give the national ad-
ministration honest support to co-operate
with them.

In Guthrie county the vote was lighter
than the previous year. The republican state
nominees received in the county two hundred
and thirteen votes and the democrats two
hundred and fifty. Theodore Parish was
.again elected clerk of courts, receiving three
hundred and fifty-eight votes, while J. AA .

AlcPherson had but thirty-six. Thomas
Coleman, democrat, was elected county sur-
veyor, having no opposition.

In 1863 the issues were about the same as
in the previous year. In Guthrie county the
republicans laid their forces, capturing every
ofiice by majorities ranging from fifty to
ninety votes.

In 1864 was again the presidential year.
Abraham Lincoln was renominated by the
republicans and George B. ]\IcClellen by the
democrats. In Guthrie county the vote on
the general ticket was about the same as the
previous year, but on county officers there
was a large increase, reaching as high as six
hundred and sixty-seven votes. Lincoln re-
ceived two hundred and eighty votes and
^vlcClellan two hundred and seventy-three.
William ^Maxwell had four hundred and
sixty- four votes for the office of clerk of
courts, and Theodore Parish three hundred
and twenty-two, giving the office to Max-
well. Charles Haden was elected recorder,
l)y a majority of one hundred and twenty-
three votes over his opponent, Aaron Houg-
ham.

In 1865 the war closed. Xot much inter-
est was taken in the campaign in Guthrie
county compared with some other years.
Both democrats and republicans had full
tickets in the field. The latter were success-
ful by small majorities. The vote for gov-
ernor stood : William M. Stone, republican,
three hundred and twenty-nine; T. H. Ben-
ton, Jr., colonel of the Twenty-ninth Iowa
Infantry, democrat, two hundred and sev-
enty-five votes.

In 1866 the campaign was fought on is-
sues of reconstruction of the southern states.
In county affairs nothing of importance oc-
curred. There were at this time some four
county offices to fill. William Maxwell was
elected clerk of the courts, Howard Brown,
recorder, Elwood Brown, superintendent,
and J. W. Nation, county surveyor.

In 1867 the general issues were the same
as in the preceding year. The year 1868

114

PAST AND PRESENT OF

brought with it another presidential cam-
paign. The repnbhcan convention met at
Chicago and nominated the leader of the
Union armies, Ulysses S. Grant, the victo-
rious general, for president. The democrats
nominated Horatio Seymour for president.
At this date the financial cjuestion began to
be a leading one. Full state and county
tickets were nominated, and in Guthrie coun-
ty the total vote was nine hundred and sixty-
one. The republicans carried the county
by a majority of one hundred and thirty-
three. There were l)ut two county offices to
be filled, clerk and recorder. C. \A\ Hill was
elected clerk over F. A. ]\Iann, and Godfrey
Jarue over Eli Berry for recorder.

In 1869 ^^^illiam Elliott was the last coun-
ty judge and should have been c.v officio
county auditor, but failed to give bond for
the new office and ^^'illiam Ivers, a mem-
ber of the board of supervisors, was ap-
pointed to fill the vacancy until the next
election. E. C. Alount was nominated by
the republicans and succeeded in being elect-
ed to fill it, defeating his opponent, William
Ivers, democrat. Joseph Kenworthy, re-
publican, was elected treasurer by a major-
ity of twenty over J. D. Lenon.

The campaign of 1870 was devoid of in-
terest so far as regards state offices, but in
the county an intense feeling was developed
ONcr the subject of relocating the countv-
seat. Both Panora and Guthrie Center again
joined issue. Nearly every voter in the
county was inter\-ie\ved on the matter. Both
towns were sure of success, but Panora
flanked Guthrie Center by sending a com-
mittee to Orange township the day of elec-
tion. On the day preceding the election it
rained near!}- all day. The streams were all
up and unfordable, but this committee sur-
mounted all difficulties and was on the
ground early and found no opposition or no
one advocating the cause for the removal
of the county-seat. It was evident the storm
had kept the enemy away and this committee
had its own way carrying the townshi]) for

Panora, giving a majority of nineteen in the
county against removal.

The campaign of 1871 was not of much
interest, either general or local. E. J. Rey-
nolds (democrat) was elected treasurer,
Joshua Prior, auditor, and AI. McDonald
(democrat) sheriff.

The movement known as the Liberal Re-
publican had a large influence politically in
1872, and virtually dictated the democratic
nomination for the presidency. The democ-
racv in convention ratified the nomination of
Greeley for president and Brown for vice
president. The straight republicans renomi-
nated President Grant, and Henry \\'ilson
for vice president. The opposition to Horace
Greeley, a life-long political enemy to the
democratic party, was so great that a third
ticket was nominated, at the head of which
was Charles O'Conner. The liberal ticket
in this county met with but little encourage-
ment, receiving less than the usual demo-
cratic vote. The total vote was one thou-
sand five hundred and fifteen. The repub-
lican majority was about six hundred. C.
\\'. Flill was re-elected clerk of the county,
Benjamin Levan, recorder, and D. L. Chan-
try, member of board of supervisors.

In 1873 t^""*^ campaign verged into the
question of capital versus labor. In Guthrie
county the result was the same as usual, the
republicans sweeping all the field, leaving
the "anti-monops" in the rear. The total
\ote this year was about one thousand seven
hundred and forty-seven. E. J. Reynolds
( democrat ) was re-elected treasurer, H.
K. Dewey (republican) auditor. M. McDon-
ald (greenback) sherifl^. W. S. Mount (re-
])ublican) member of board of supeiwisors,
J. p. Nichols (democrat) surveyor. John
Boblett (republican) coroner.

Again in June, 1873, at the June session
of the board of supervisors, the (|uestion of
the removal of the county-seat came to the
front. The board of supervisors in am-
formity with law, ordered the vote to be
taken at the regular election in Octolier.

GUTHRIE COUNTY, IOWA.

115

This time Guthrie Center's workers were
re-enforced by the help of Rev. Charles
Ashton. For the truth of this ask about it.
Panora seemed to lag in this matter. The
election resulted in favor of Guthrie Center,
which was then declared the seat of govern-
ment of the county, where it is retained to
the present day. Thus ended a long aiid
bitter contest, lasting about fifteen years.

Guthrie county's courthouse and jail, and
her poor farm will compare favorably wit.li
those of any other county in the state with
her population, at this date, about eighteen
thousand.

EXPL.\XAT0RV.

The reader's attention is called to the
fact that a great mass of data for this work
was secured, compiled and published by the
late Charles Ashton, who, for twenty years,
w^as the strenuous and versatile editor of the
Guthrian. His articles, herein republished,
were placed before the reading public dur-
ing' his journalistic life, which ceased in the
year 1899. All matters of history treated
by him. therefore, come between the periods
of the first settlement of Guthrie county
and the time he laid down his pen in an
editorial capacity. The same explanation is
made of Arthemus McClaran's articles,
which were brought up to 1894. The com-
piler of this history has endeavored to bring
the narrative up to date from where these
writers left of¥.

FROM THE PEX OF CHARLES ASHTOX.

\\"hile editor of the Guthrie Center Guth-
rian Charles Ashton wrote for that paper,
when the mood was on. graphic and inter-
esting reviews, interspersed with reminis-
censes of Guthrie county histon,-. Many
of the citizens of the county who read those
articles have expressed a strong desire to
see them embodied in this work, that thev

may be preserved intact in the history of this
community. As it is the aim and purpose
of the writer to cover the field as closely and
accurately as possible, together with an
ardent desire to please, the articles of Charles
Ashton are herein given repetition, and are
"commended to the attention of everv eood
citizen in this bailiwick."

(iuthrie county, located in the central por-
tion of the western half of the state of Iowa,
embraces sixteen congressional townships.
Being twenty-four miles from east to west
and twenty-three and three-quarters miles
from north to south, it includes an area of
five hundred and ninety-four square miles,
or three hundred and eighty thousand one
hundred and sixty acres of land. The par-
allel of forty-one degrees and thirty minutes
north latitude is the north line of the south
tier of townships in the county. Until the
completion of the Chicago, Rock Island &
Pacific Railroad along its southern border,
in 1 858, the county had been distant from
railroad facilities ; Des Moines, Council
Bluffs and Sioux City had been its market
places. Its settlement began in 1848.
Messrs. Benjamin Kunkle and Joseph Cum-
mins, its two first permanent settlers, came
in 1849; both gentlemen are yet citizens of
the county, Mr. Cummins serving as grand
juror in the present term of court. The
county was established by act of the third
general assembly, in 1851, and was organ-
ized the same year. The county seat was
first located but four miles from the east
line of the county, a mislocation, injurious
to its prosperity and fruitful of sectional
strife, bitter feelings and frecjuent and
heated contests. The first struggle for its
removal resulted in a special election April
4. 1859. at which five hundred and seventy-
four votes were cast; Panora holding the
prize by a majority of twenty votes. The
second county-seat election was held April 2,
i860, at which six hundred and thirt3^-five
votes were cast. Guthrie Center winning
bv nineteen majority, and the records were

ii6

PAST AND PRESENT OF

moved to this place. April 8, 1862, a third

county-seat election was held at which six

hundred and thirty-three votes were cast;

Panora regaining the prize by seventy-seven

majority. The question now rested until

1870. October nth of that year, the fourth

<:ounty-seat election occurred, at which one

thousand five hundred and eighty-one votes

were cast, Panora holding the prize by

Iwenty-nine majority. In the fall of 1873

the final struggle occurred. One thousand

£ight hundred and two votes were cast with

a majority of one hundred and eighty-two

'in favor of Guthrie Center. This election

iinally settled the question by the permanent

location of the county seat at Guthrie Center,

the exact geographical center of the county.

TOPOGRAPHICAL.

Guthrie county has a diversified topogra-
phy. Its surface in the northeastern part of
the county is quite level ; in its primal con-
edition fine groves of timber existed along the
Middle Coon river, in the South Coon valley
below the mouth of the Brushy fork, and ou
the heads of Seeley and Bear creeks. Build-
ing stone is plentiful in some parts of the
ccounty, and good veins of coal exist and
are worked in six of the sixteen townships
of the county. The principal streams of the
^county flow perennially and furnish perm.i-
nent and valuable water power. There are
four grist mills in operation on Middle
Coon river and two grist mills on South
Coon and one large factory, the Lonsdale
woolen mill, at Dale City. There are many
valuable mill sites in the county unimproved.
Natural gas is found at Herndon and in its
vicinity at an easy depth and in serviceable
quantities. By deeper borings more abund-
ant finds will be reached. In Dodge, Rich-
land and Cass townships fine flowing wells
of water have been struck. The soil is un-
excelled for fertility and numerous springs
of purest water flow in all parts of the coun-
ty. There are no stagnant waters in the
<countv and no local itv is more healthful.

POPULATION.

The following table will show the growth
of the county in population :

Year. Population.

1851 222

1852 299

1854 17^

1856 2,149

1859 2,754

i860 3,058

1863 3,205

1865 3,239

1869 5,219

1870 7'06i

1873 8,0:7

1875 9,685

1880 14,394

1885 16,439

1890 17,380

1895 17.958

1900 18,729

1905 18,013

RAILROADS.

About the time of tlie beginning of the
'settlement of Guthrie county, railroad build-
ing was being fairly commenced in tlie
United States. The Lake Shore and Penn-
sylvania lines were heading towards Chi-
cago and railroad lines were projected from
that city into the west, the Missouri river
being the objective point. In 1853 the
Dodge survey for the old Mississippi and
Missouri river, now Chicago, Rock Island
& Pacific Railroad was made through this
county, entering it in the South Coon val-
ley, thence up Beaver, crossing the divide be-
tw'een Beaver and Middle river south of the
old town site of Dalmanutha and the sum-
mit divide near Indian Grove. The railroad,
however, unfortunately for the county, ma-
terialized on its present line, up Bulger from
Van Meters mill and the Quaker divide, but
was not built until 1868. S(t there were fit-

GUTHRIE COUNTY, IOWA.

117

teen years of waiting and watching by the
pioneers for the enchantments of its boom-
ing whistHng. Before it came the North-
western had reached Jefferson and passed
westward, and the Newtons and other en-
terprising citizens had secured the laying-
out of the old road from this place to Jef-
ferson via the Lydick bridge. On this road
a good deal of hauling was done in 1867 and
1868. In the fall of the latter year the Chi-
cago, Rock Island & Pacific line reached
the Mabe Marshall farm and Dexter sprang
into existence. Soon the road, pushing on,
reached Middle river and Stuart, Guthrie
(now Menlo), and Casey sprang into exist-
ence and the south part of the county
boomed. Its effect was felt even in the clus-
ter of shanties and prairie stables then called
Guthrie Center and in the summer of 1870
four small frame store rooms were built
therein l)ut were turned to ashes by the fires
of February 17, 1878, and March 6, 1879.

The building of the Rock Island soon
incited other railroad schemes, and a narrow
gauge line was planned from Des Moines
northwestwardly via Adel and Panora.
Taxes were voted through Dallas and Guth-
rie counties to aid it. The tax of Cass town-
ship was largely worked out in the fall of
1872, then the project flattened out. It was
revived in 1879 and the narrow gauge was
built A'ia Panora and Herndon. In January,
1879, the scheme for the building of the
Guthrie Center branch was originated and
on the 28th of July, 1880, it was opened for
business. In the fall of 1880 a corps of sur-
veyors, unheralded, entered the county, run-
ning a railroad survey through the north
tier of townships and the next year the Chi-
cago, Milwaukee & St. Paul line was built
thereon.

These railroads have resulted in the es-
tablishment of railroad depots in nine of the
sixteen congressional townships of the coun-
ty, and on sections adjoining five others, so
that there are only two of the congressional
townships of the county but what have rail-

road depots either within their area or with-
in one mile of it. The other two townships
have depots but seven miles from their
boundary lines. There are but few counties
in Iowa superior to Guthrie in the great ad-
vantage of railroad facilities and railroad
markets.

POSTOFFICES.

In this day of rapid transit and quick
communication, postal facilities are impor-
tant alike to the farmer in the country and
the merchant in town. Guthrie county con-
tains within its borders fifteen postoftices at
which mails are delivered daily, and five
others with tri-weekly mails. There are but
two congressional townships in the county
without a postoffice. Grant and Baker, and
these each have mails delivered daily
at two different postofiices within a half
mile of their lines. Mail is delivered daily
at three offices within a mile of the county
line.

EDUCATIONAL.

This county has long been noted for its
interest in educational work. The first
school in the county was taught by Spencer
Catlin in the winter of 1853-4 at his cabin
on lot 12, section i, Jackson township.
Some of his scholars were from Dallas coun-
ty. The first schoolhouse was built at Mor-
risburg in 1855, thirty-two years ago. The
building is still used as a granary on the
farm of J. J. Morris. In 1876, eleven years
ago, the seed thus planted had produced a
crop of thirteen district townships, eighteen
independent districts and one hundred and
three sub-districts, in which one hundred
and twelve male and one hundred and twen-
ty-six female teachers w^ere employed ; with
a school population of two thousand two
hundred and ninety-five males, and two
thousand and eighty- four females ; one hun-
dred and twelve frame and four brick
schoolhouses, valued at sixty-seven thousand
six hundred and seventv-five dollars.

ii8

PAST AND PRESENT OF

The growth of educational interests with-
in the county in the past decade is shown by
the following figures, which we glean from
Superintendent Miller's report for 1886. In
the past year there were fourteen district
townships, twenty independent districts, one
hundred and twenty-five sub-districts,
eighty-five male, and one hundred and nine-
ty-four female teachers employed. There,
w-ere three thousand and fifty-three male and
two thousand eight hundred and twenty-
eight female scholars between the ages of
five and twenty-one years ; an increase of
one th(jusand five hundred three in the ten
vears. There were one hundred and thirty-
nine frame and six brick schoolhouses
within the county, an increase of
twent) -seven frame and two brick buildings,
total twenty-nine, within the ten }-ears.
The \alue reported last year was one hun-
dred and thirteen thousand nine hundred and
twent}' dollars, an increase of forty-six
thousand two hundred and forty-five dollars.
The day of cheap, small, ill-finished and un-
invitino schoolhouses in Guthrie county is
gone forever. Of the district townships.
Baker and Union contain each but seven
schoolhouses; Dodge. Orange and Thomi)-
son contain in addition the independent dis-
trict of Bagley, while a part of Baker town-
ship is in the independent district of (iuthrie
Center. Full provision is made in all the
townships for the accommodation of all tlie
children of school age.

The following schedule shows the pay-
ments made last year for educational ex-
penses, and proves that the citizens of Guth-
rie county support their schools, with a
liberal hand :

For schoolhouse sites and school-
houses $ 6.338.59

For library and apparatus 2.84

Paid on bonds and interest.... 5.771.75

For other purpo.ses i. 769. 15

For rent and repairs 2.298.69

For fuel 3,581.10

Paid salaries, secretaries and

treasurers 1,196.62

For records, dictionary and ap-
paratus 633.31

For insurance and janitors 2,041.68

For supplies, brooms, chalk, etc. 1,207.15

For other purposes 3,971.82

Paid teachers 43,045,24

Total expense schools ^7^>^57-95

Total expense schools in 1876. 52.734.78

Increase $19,123.17

THE GUTHRIE COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL.

A review of the educational facilities and
work of Guthrie county would not be com-
plete without mention of this unique institu-
tion, the Guthrie county high school. .V
fine .structure was built especially for this
county institution, the only high school in
the state of Iowa, supported by county taxa-
tion. Its students have taught in the schools
of the county, and it has graduated several
classes of worthy young gentlemen and
ladies, who have gone from its halls to
benefit others by the education they have
received in its halls.

TOWN SCHOOLS.

In addition to the county high school
there are a number of graded schools in the
county, affording excellent facilities for an
education advanced beyond the possilDilities
of the common district school. Of these
we name especially Stuart, Panora, Guthrie
Center. Menlo and Casey. These have their
published, curriculum, graduate their classe.>,
and are doing fine educational work. The
independent districts of Bagley, Bayard.
Herndon and Jamaica will so(^n push for
honorable place in the list of graded town
schools.

MK. AND MRS. DAVJD LILLIE

MR. AND MRS. R. J. PATTERSON

GUTHRIE COUNTY, IOWA.

121

CHURCHES.

In the resume of the social, historical and
commercial development of Guthrie county^
we should fail in duty, were we to make no
mention of the religious privileges of the
people. The first family to make permanent
settlement in the county was Methodist. The
first public religious services in the county,
was held by Rev. Michael Hare, a Methodist
itinerant, at the home of Benjamin Kunkle,
the first permanent settler of the county, in
the winter of 185 1. Now the Methodist
church has the following pastoral charges
in Guthrie county : Panora, Guthrie Cen-
ter, Stuart, Casey, Menlo, North Branch,
Guthrie circuit, Jamaica and Bayard.

The United Brethren denomination found
early place in the settlement of the county.
That denomination has one pastoral charge
in the county.

The Presbyterian bodies have had organi-
zation from an early day in the history of
Guthrie county. There are now three
United Presbyterian churches and congre-
gations within the county, and four other
Presbyterian churches and congregations
within its area.

The Baptists (Missionary, German, and
Predestinarian) have organized churches
within the county. We believe there are five
Missionary Baptists, two German Baptists,
and one Predestinarian Baptist organiza-
tions within Guthrie county.

The Christians (Disciples) have organiza-
tions in the county, and have been active in
Christian work for many years. We cannot
give statistics. They have beautiful church
buildings and strong congregations at
Panora and Guthrie Center.

The Christians, sometimes called New
LightSj have organizations within the coun-
ty. The congregation of this denomina-
tion in Jackson township, is one of the oldest
church organizations in the county.

The Catholics have buildings in Bayard,
Guthrie Center and Stuart, also in Panora.

Many of the active business men and solid
farmers of the county are Catholics. Many
of these families give careful attention to
the education of their children, and are num.-
bered with our best citizens.

The Free Methodists and Wesleyam
Methodists have church organizations with-
in the county, and are doing good Christian
work. These organizations exist in Bear
Grove, Highland, Seeley, Valley, Union,
and Orange townships.

The Friends had organization in the
southern and eastern parts of the county at
an early period in its settlement, and their
settlement gave name (Quaker) to one of the
most beautiful divides of the county. They
have churches at Stuart and Casey, and are
an excellent body of citizens. They are not
aggressive as are some other bodies, but
they have permanent organizations and
good influence in society, favoring temper-
ance, education, good morals, honest gov-
ernment and good order. They are a most
worthy class of society.

In 1852 the total taxable valuation of the
county was five thousand four hundred and
eighty-eight dollars. In 1886 its taxable
valuation was six million seven hundred
thousand nine hundred and seventy-one
dollars.

From 1855 ^o the present day, whenever
opportunity presented, its people have voted
unmistakably for prohibition, giving thirty
majority on the question in 1855, eighty-
four in 1870 and one thousand one hundred
and twenty-two for the constitutional amend-
ment in 1882. Steadily it has progressed in
the development of wealth, population, social
excellence and domestic comfort, until none
of its neighbors are its superiors.

HOW THE COUNTY GOT ITS NAME.

Guthrie county was originally a part of
old Keokuk county, which comprised ap-
proximately the western two-thirds of the
state of Iowa. Later on Keokuk county,

122

PAST AND PRESENT OF

with its present boundaries, was organized,
and Guthrie county was left a part of a
vast unorganized region in the western and
northwestern part of the state, which was
represented in the senate of the third gen-
eral assembly by Hon. P. M. Casady, then
and now of Polk county. Mr. Casady pre-
pared and pushed through that legislature
a bill dividing this territory into counties,
one of which is Guthrie. Mr. Casady gave
much time to the bill, and his name is in-
separably connected with this piece of the
most important and historical legislation
ever enacted by bur general assembly. The
bill required much time, and there was a
good deal of controversy over the naming
of the counties. All differences were finally
harmonized, and fifty new counties were
named and boundaries defined. Few were
named after military heroes. Guthrie coun-
ty, however, was so named in honor of Cap-
tain William Guthrie, formerly of Keokuk,
who was captain of the only company Iowa
furnished to the Mexican war. Captain
Guthrie was mortally wounded in battle, and
Guthrie county is his state memorial. Judge
Casady is still living in Des Moines, where
he has been a commanding figure for half
a century, and for more than a quarter of a
century he has been president of the Des
Moines Savings Bank, which is the largest
banking institution in the state. He is now
over eighty, and remarkably well preserved
for one of his age, and gives promise of
many more years of useful life.

TOWNSHIP DESCRIPTION^ ETC.

Guthrie county was established by act of
the fourth general assembly, during its ses-
sion in 185 1. By that act it was composed
of the townships numbered 78, 79, 80 and
81 north, in ranges 30, 31, 32 and 33 west
of the fifth principal meridian, that is, those
ranges of townships comprised in Guthrie
county are west of the meridian lines at
which the numbering of the ranges begins.

How far west is shown by the fact that
there are twenty-nine ranges of townships,
or one hundred and seventy-four miles east
of the east line of Guthrie county to that
meridian line, which is the line of the four-
teenth degree of longitude west from Wash-
ington. It runs across the state, crossing
the Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Railway
at the town of Durand, and is the west line
of Scott, Clinton and Jackson colinties.
There is in Iowa, owing to the great east-
wardly curve of the Mississippi river, six
ranges of townships, numbered i, 2, 3, 4, 5
and 6 east of that fifth principal meridian
line. There are forty-three ranges west of
it, but as all will see by a glance at any map
of Iowa, the east and west lines of the state
are not straight lines, and do not run at
right angles with the parallels of latitude.
In the extreme length of the state from east
to west there are fifty-four ranges of town-
ships. In the range in which Guthrie Cen-
ter is located, range 31 west of the fifth prin-
cipal meridian, townships from sixty-seven
to one hundred. There are fifty townships
in Iowa numbered 78, five numbered east of
the fifth principal meridian and forty-five
west. Those are situated in fifty-five differ-
ent ranges, so that there is but one town-
ship of the same number in any one range.
All will observe that there can be but one
township, 78, in any one of the four ranges
within the county, so there can be but one
township of any number in any of the fifty
ranges of townships of the state.

Thomas Jefferson is said to be the author
of the system of surveys, dividing the public
lands, and numbering by ranges, townships
and sections. After the purchase 01
Louisiana territory, when it became neces-
sary to open up the territory, now embraced
in the states of Arkansas and Missouri, for
settlement, this system of dividing and de-
scribing the public lands was applied there-
to, and a base line for the surveys of the
lands embraced in the "Louisiana Purchase,"
was established, and the thirty-fifth parallel

GUTHRIE COUNTY, IOWA.

123

of north latitude was made the base Hue.
This thirty-fifth parallel line crosses the Mis-
sissippi river near the mouth of the St.
Francis river, and passes immediately south
of the city of Little Rock. The surveyed
townships number south from that base line
to the south line of the state of Arkansas,
and numbering nineteen to the Louisiana
line; they are numbered north from that
base line, the thirty-fifth parallel of north
latitude, through the states of Arkansas,
Missouri, Iowa, Minnesota and the two Da-
kotas, to the British possessions, numbering
up to one hundred and sixty-three north, on
the line of North Dakota; the system of
numbering covering Iowa, covers the six
states named, save a small portion of Dakota
about the Black Hills. In its greatest ex-
panse, this system of numbering from the
thirty-fifth parallel of north latitude as a
base line, and the fourteenth meridian line
west from Washington, covers an expanse
of seven hundred and thirty-two miles from
east to west, and one thousand and ninety-
two from north to south. It will be seen,
when we speak or read of township 79 or 80
north, we are to understand that they are
north of the thirty-fifth parallel of north
latitude, which is the base line at which the
order of numbering the townships begins
in this survey. When we hear or read of
range thirty or thirty-one west of the fiftli
principal meridian we are to understand that
their ranges are numbering in regular
order of ranges of townships west, from the
fourteenth meridian line of west longitude,
from Washington city. A little study will
make the matter plain to any one who will
give it attention. Any one who will become
acquainted with the system can correctly cal-
culate the distance between any two points
in the survey, of which is given section,
township and range ; the pioneers of a coun-
try became adepts in these descriptions, and
knew the lands around them by their num-
bers ; but as settlement becomes more dense, •
and the country improves, the most of the

people .lose knowledge of the matter; yet
to land agents, abstractors, county and town-
ship officials, and many others, a knowledge
of this system of numbering is important,
and to many indispensable. Landowners
should understand this simple matter.
School teachers in country schools should so
understand it, as to be able to illustrate it
to their pupils. In all townships, the num-
bering of the sections begins at the north-
east corner of the township, the northeast
comer section being numbered on the north-
west, the southwest thirty-one, the south-
east tliirty-six, the sections numbering in
regular form, east to west, and west to east.
It certainly is as important for Iowa people
to have knowledge of such civil geography
of their own surroundings, as it is to have
knowledge of the location of the rivers of
Africa, or the deserts of Asia.

BEAR GROVE TOWNSHIP.

Bear Grove township was the third
formed in the civil government of Guthrie
county. It lies on the western line of the
county and is crossed by the Summit divide,
so that it drains into the two great rivers, the
Mississippi and the Missouri. Troublesome
creek, having its source in this township,
flows southwestwardly into the Nishnabota-
ny, which it reaches at Atlantic. The See-
ley and Bear creeks both have their sources
in this township and flow eastwardly into
the South Coon. There are no finer farm
lands to be found than the western two-
thirds of Bear Grove township. The eastern
third is more hilly, some of it quite broken,
rising in high hills rapidly from the creek
valleys, yet in its rugged parts are manv
fine farms, the rougher lands being most
healthful and valuable pasturage and large
portions of them being very fertile. In its
early settlement Bear Grove was one of the
most valuable bodies of timber in the area
of the county, furnished valuable supplies to
the pioneers, for fuel, fencing and building

124

PAST AND PRESENT OF

purposes. The state road from Adel to
Magnolia, the then county-seat of Harrison
county, was run through this township. A.
road from Boonesboro via Panora to Coun-
cil Bluffs and the stage road from Des
Moines to the bluff city by the Missouri
also crossed Bear Grove township, the di-
vides on which they were laid, furnishing
the finest natural road-beds possible.

The first settler to invade the wilds of
Bear Grove for the purpose of conquering
them to civilization, was Nathan Davis.
With him came Thomas Seeley, then a
young man, unmarried, and with ambitions
to work out such fame as was possible in
the settlement and formation of society in a
new country. Mr. Seeley was not unac-
quainted with the privations of a new settle-
ment: His father was an early settler in the
wooded wilds of Michigan. The name of
Mr. Seeley will live in the histoiy of the
county. Seeley creek and Seeley township
will deservedly perpetuate his name. He
now lives at Guthrie, Oklahoma. His fam-
ily is scattered, two of his daughters, we
believe, have their homes in the state of
Washington. Horace Seeley, a son, has a
very responsible and well-salaried position
in the management of the Wabash Railroad.
Mr. Davis, we believe, many years ago went
west where rolls the Oregon. The settle-
ment of Bear Grove was begun in 1853; S.
R. Saxton, a gentleman yet living, being one
of its oldest persons, moved into the new
community that year and is still a resident.
A stage station was early located in tlie
township. The hotel accommodations were
mos1- primitive but then people got along.
The Priors, Perry Crooks, Henry North,
W. R. Grow and the Merrill family were
among the earliest settlers of the vicinit}-.
Three of the Merrill sons are yet residents.
The Prior, Crook, Davis and Grow fami-
lies have gone from the vicinity. The set-
tlement of Bear Grove progressed slowly,
until the completion of the Rock Island Rail-
road through the county and the establish-

ment of the county-seat at Guthrie Center.
Then its fertile lands being made accessible,
they attracted the best class of citizens, and
the township filled up rapidly with a worthy
people.

Bear Grove, being the third civil town-
ship formed in the county, was organized in
1855, the order for its organization being"
granted by Theophilus Bryan, county judge,
on the 27th of February. The township
was taken from parts of Jackson and Cass
townships. Its boundaries were stated so
as to include the following territory: Be-
ginning at the southeast corner of Thomp-
son township with the line running west
with the county line to the southwest corner
of the county, thence north with the west
line of the county to the northwest corner
of section 19, in what is now Union town-
ship, the comer on the county line between
the Taggart and Gilbert farms, thence east
with the section line to the northeast cor-
ner of section 20, Victory township, thence
south with the section line to the place of
beginning. This area, it will be seen, in-
cluded more than one-fourth of the county.
A warrant for the organization was di-
rected to Aaron Coppick, then residing on
the Coltrider farm in Thompson. Mr. Cop-
pick, was a cousin to the Coppicks who were
with John Brown in his Harper's Ferry
crusade. J. J. Owens was charged with the
duty of effecting the organization, and the
election, which was ordered for the first
Monday in April, was held at his house.
There was no Guthrie Center then ; the
town-site being in the newly devised town-
ship of Bear Grove, was not staked off
until the following year.

Mr. Owens lived on a forty-acre tract in
section i, now in Baker township, on what
is now a part of the Stovey Brothers iK-.
Motz farm, southwest of Jack Hupps. His
cabin stood on the slope in the field south
of the old solitaiy cottonwood that blew
down a couple of years ago, the stump of
which is still seen in the road. William

GUTHRIE COUNTY, IOWA.

125

Tracy purchased the Owen tract, when he
•came to this vicinity to lay out Guthrie Cen-
ter, and in that cabin in January, 1856, he
printed the first newspaper ever printed in
this county. So that the first newspaper
printed in Guthrie county was printed in
what was then Bear Grove township. In
that cabin the first election ever held in the
west half of this county took place. Ac-
cording to the best information we have
been able to gain, eleven votes were cast.
Nathan Davis and S. R. Saxton assisted
in conducting it. There was "plenty of good
whiskey" at that election, we were assured
by a worthy citizen of Baker, who attended
it, for he assures us that he had a "smell of
it." Three trustees and a clerk for the
township and two "squires" and two con-
stables, according to the warrant, were
elected. Bear Grove township was reduced,
finally, to its present size, on the constitution
of Baker township in 1875.

The first census of Bear Grove township
was taken in 1856. This enumeration em-
braced the population of the territory in-
cluded in Bear Grove as first constituted,
and numbered three hundred and thirty-four
persons. There were then not more than
seventy families in the entire area of the
township, which then covered the four
southwestern townships of the county, the
southern halves of Union and Seeley and
the western twelve sections from both Vic-
tory and Valley townships. That was but
thirty-five years ago. In 186 1, Bear Grove
township was cut down to its present limits
and the western half of Baker. The first
census of the township in that form was
taken in 1850. It retained that form until
1875, its several enumerations of popula-
tion showing as follows :

1850 132

1863 167

1865 201

1867 242

, 1869 304

1870 416

1873 484

1875

In 1880, the township, with its present
boundaries, contained a population of four
hundred and eighty-eight persons; in 1885,
five hundred and forty-one; in 1890, seven
hundred and seventy.

The population of the township in the pres-
ent census embraces one hundred and sixty-
one families, aggregating eight hundred and
four persons. There is one family of twelve
and three of ten persons. These are the four
largest families in the township. Of its
population, four hundred and seventeen per-
sons were bom in Iowa, one hundred and
two in Illinois, seventy-two in Ohio, thirty-
two in. New York, twenty-one in Indiana,
twenty in Pennsylvania, twelve in West Vir-
ginia, eight in Kentucky, and eight in Mich-
igan. Fourteen other states contribute to its
population wdiile Canada contributes four,
Switzerland four, Ireland four, England
eleven and Gennany twenty-one. Religious-
ly, two hundred and fifty-eight of its people
give their preferences and denominational
affiliations : One hundred and twenty-three
are Episcopal Methodists, nineteen are Free
Methodists, two Protestant Methodists,
thirty-six are Baptists, twenty-three Luth-
erans, fifteen Disciples, ten Friends, four-
teen Presbyterians, two Church of God, one
United Brethren, two Church of England,
five Roman Catholic, one German Reformed,
one Church Reform, two Evangelical and
three Spiritualists.

The township this year returns a taxable
valuation of one hundred ninety-four thou-
sand two hundred and eighty-five dollars, a
reduction from two years ago of forty thou-
sand dollars. Its taxable lands aggregate
twenty-two thousand eight hundred and
seventy-seven acres. The highest valuation
of farm land per acre is ten dollars, the low-
est four dollars, the average seven dollars
and twenty-one cents per acre. There are

126

PAST AND PRESENT OF

farms in Bear Grove which could not be
bought for forty dollars per acre that are
assessed at less than nine dollars; but that
rate of assessment is quite common in the
count)^ Eight hundred and thirty-two
horses are assessed at an average of nine dol-
lars and thirty cents per head, an aggregate
of seven thousand seven hundred and sev-
enty dollars; one thousand seven hundred
and sixty head of cattle are assessed at an
average value of six dollars and twenty-two
•cents, aggregate ten thousand nine hundred
and eighty-five dollars; two thousand five
hundred and eighty-nine head of swine are
assessed at an aggregate value of two thou-
sand nine hundred and seventy dollars, aver-
age one dollar and eleven cents per head.

In politics Bear Grove is republican. The
township contains ten schoolhouses. It has
two church buildings, Bowman chapel and
the Disciple's church at the Bear Grove cor-
ners, both good frame structures and well
cared for. Bowman chapel (Methodist
Episcopal) is one of the best-kept country
churches. The resident pastor resides in a
fine parsonage property at North Branch,
a business center of the township, having
daily mail facilities. The membership of
this church numbers seventy-two. The
Methodists maintain worship also at the
Bethel schoolhouse, where a successful Sab-
bath school has been run for several years
past. The Bowman chapel is valued at
one thousand two hundred dollars, the
Christian church, at Bear Grove, at one thou-
sand dollars, and the Methodist parsonage,
at North Branch, at one thousand dollars.
The Christian church at Bear Grove is a
recent organization, but reports a member-
ship of twenty-five.

The first settlement of the county was
formed at and near the present site of the
Bear Grove postoffice. This is situated on
the high summit between Bear and Seeley
creeks. Here there was fine prairie at hand,
and an abundance of timber to meet all the
needs of the pioneers, to be had in the ra-

vines about them. Then the divide between
Bear and Seeley creeks offered a most in-
viting route for an east and west road, to
come along that high summit, and soon a
cluster of families was founding homes about
that well known locality. The place soon
won the cognomen of "Huddleville." Some
twenty-three years ago, a principal citizen
gave til is information about the selection of
that name for that settlement. The families
settling there had come from distant places
and were destitute of means, and had but
one coffee mill among them. This fact
made it necessary for them to locate near one
another, as all had to use that one coffee
grinding machine, and for this reason they
huddled together, and so the Bear Grove
settlement become known by the name of
Huddleville.

There are forty-two persons in the town-
ship of sixty years of age and upwards. Of
these fourteen are seventy years and up-
wards. Mr. A. R. Saxton, eighty-one years,
is the oldest person in the township. Mr.
W. P. Welsh is seventy-eight. Mrs. Mary
Brown is seventy-nine, Mrs. Mary Hays sev-
enty-nine, J. W. Leek is seventy-seven, Fred
Shaffenberg, A. B. and Elizabeth McCon-
nell and John Richards are seventy-three.

BAKER TOWNSHIP.

In 1875 the board of supervisors of Guth-
rie county set off a portion of Bear Grove
and Center townships into a separate civil
township, to be thereafter known as Baker.
This is a full congressional township and
comprises all of township 79 north, range
32 w^est, and is bounded as follows : On the
north by Seely township, on the west by
Bear Grove, on the east by Valley and on
the south by Grant and Thompson. Many
small streams and branches traverse this
township, among the principal ones of which
are : Lone Grove, Mason, Seeley. Bear and
Spring creeks and Cooper run. These
streams, together with numerous smaller

'•*-i\ tt-mnr-

>■-

L^i^ <i

r¥^'

%i.

SCENE ON JOHN W. FOSTER FARM IN BAKER TOWNSHIP

GUTHRIE COUNTY, IOWA.

129

affluents, supply this territory with an abund-
ance of good water for all stock purposes,
and renders fertile the whole district.

The surface of this township consists
mainly of a beautiful, rolling prairie, in some
places rather abrupt in character, but not to
such a degree as to unfit the land for agri-
cultural purposes. The soil is of a general,
productive kind, rich, wami, dark, sandy
loam, with a clayish subsoil. There is a
good grove of natural timber in the south-
western portion of the township, covering
parts of sections 19, 30, 29, 31 and 32, called
South Bear Grove; another on section 26,
called Linn Grove; one in sections 7 and
13, called North Bear Grove; and one small-
er one on sections 4 and 9, called Lone
Grove.

The township is peopled by an industrious,
energetic class of citizens, and has many
beautiful farms and desirable homes, and
compares favorably with any township in the
county. There is no railroad in the town-
ship at present, and no town within its limits,
the inhabitants, of which there were four
hundred and fifty-nine in 1880, devoting
themselves to agriculture and stock-raising.

EARLY SETTLEMENT.

The first person to make a claim here was
Josepli Fleak, who located at Linn Grove,
on section 24, in 1853. He came from In-
diana, and put on his claim a log cabin,
the first dwelling in the township. About
a year ago he left Guthrie county, and is
at present living in Indian territory.

David Bailey, the next settler, located
upon section 26 in the timber in the spring of
1854. He^ too, was a native of Indiana, and
sometime since left the county, going to
Dallas, and settling near Redfield.

The next parties to mention in this con-
nection are E. B. Newton and John J.
Owens, who, during the autumn of 1854,
made claims on section i. E. B. Newton
took up a farm on the northeast quarter of

the section, where he resided for some years.
John Owens came from the state of Mis-
souri, whither he has returned "land syne."
Mr. Owens located on the south half of sec-
tion I, where he lived for many years.

In the spring of 1855, William Sheeder
left his home among the hills of Chester
county, Pennsylvania, and came west in
search of a home in the then wild west. He
came as far as Guthrie county, and found
the land to his liking, and on the 17th of
June of that year, took up a claim on the
east half of section 5, where he has re-
mained ever since. He has since purchased
many acres until he is probably the largest
landowner in the county.

Michael Waters settled upon the northeast
quarter of the northwest quarter of section
24, in the summer of 1855.

Joseph J. Groom was the next to take up
a claim here. In the fall of 1855 he, with
his family, left La Salle county, Illinois, and
started westward. After wandering around
for some time, in the spring of 1856 he came
to this locality and settled on the northeast
corner of section 6, where he lived many
years. Among the settlers of 1855 were
James Ewing and his son, William A. They
were originally from Greene county, Ohio,
but for years had resided in Indiana. They
located on section 13.

In the spring of 1856, Andrew White set-
tled on the southeast quarter of section 6,
and rolled up logs with which to build a
home, but before its erection J. J. Groom,
purchased his claim and razed the house.

Charles Flannery came to the township
in 1856, but shortly afterward removed to
Victory.

In the fall of 1856, Reuben Simmons
came from La Salle county, Illinois, and set-
tled on the southwest quarter of section 7.

Phanuel Davis made a claim to the north-
west quarter of the southeast quarter of sec-
tion 19, in 1857, and located thereon. He
resided there some time and then went to
Kansas, where he died.

136

PAST AND PRESENT OF

Edmund Picket, a native of New York
state, located on section 6, in 1857. Became
a prominent citizen of the county. Was a
member of the board of supervisors.

Henry Burton settled on section 29, in
1857. He was a native of New York.

A Mr. Reno settled on section 9, in 1857,
but soon after went to Colorado and found-
ed the town of Reno.

Joseph Pixler settled on section 30, in
i860.

During the summer of 1856, Perry
Crooks and John McEwen erected a saw-
mill, the second one in the county, on Bear
creek.

A. J. Newton came to Baker township
with his father, Eber B. Newton, in 1854.
(See sketch in another part of this book.)

ORGANIC.

Baker township was organized in 1875,
the first election taking place at the Hols-
man schoolhouse, when the following officers
were elected: William Ewing, W. W.
Bailey and Joshua Simmons, trustees;
George E. W. Holsman, clerk; G. E. Price,
assessor; James Ewing and V. B. Hellyer,
justices, and G. W. Rose and J. W. Har-
rington, constables.

EDUCATIONAL.

The first school in Baker township was
taught by William De Huxley, in a frame
dwelling-house built by John Harkins. This
was then district No. i of Bear Grove, and
the building stood on the northeast corner of
the northwest quarter of section 7. Mr.
Harkins erected this for a residence, but
shortly after he had put it up he returned to
Illinois, and this school was opened. This
was in 1858. This is in district No. 3 at
present.

District No. i, as at present constituted,
embraces sections i, 2, 11 anrl 12. The
schoolhouse, which was built in 1874, is a

neat frame building, eighteen by twenty-six,
and stands on the southeast corner of sec-
tion 2. Miss Angie Porter was the first
teacher.

District No. 4. — The schoolhouse in this
district was erected during the year i860, on
the southwest quarter of section 13, but in
1876 it was removed to the northwest
quarter of section 24, and now stands in the
northwest corner of that section. It is a
good frame building, built of native lumber,
twenty feet square. Miss Cynthia Haines
of Dallas county, was the first lady to "teach
the young idea how to shoot" within these
classic walls.

District No. 2. — This district embraces
sections 3, 4, 9 and 10, and the school edifixe
is built upon the southeast comer of section
4. This building was erected in 1876, and is
a good substantial frame, eighteen by twen-
ty-two. The first teacher was Miss Amanda
McConnell, who taught here in the winter of
1876.

District No. 3, embracing section 5, 6, 7
and 8, has the honor of being the pioneer
district, as detailed heretofore. In 1863,
a brick schoolhouse was erected here, (wen-
ty by twenty-four, in which the first teacher,
Benjamin Levan, opened a school. This
was afterward torn down and the brick soldj
and the present building erected.

District No. 6. — A schoolhouse was built
here in 1858, on section 29, and was a frame
edifice, twenty feet square. Miss Mary Jo-
sephine A\"arden. now Mrs. George Merrill,
was the first teacher.

District No. 7 consists of four sections,
17, 18, 19 and 20, and the schoolhouse stands
on the northeast corner of section 19. The
land, one acre, was purchased of J. W.
Moore, and a building erected in the fall of
1882, twenty by twenty-eight in size, at a
cost of six hundred dollars. During the
winter of that year the first school was
opened here under the tuition of Miss Belle
Britten. Baker township now has nine dis-
trict schools.

GUTHRIE COUNTY, IOWA.

131

CHALYBEATE OR MINERAL SPRINGS.

A spring of natural mineral water has
been discovered upon the farm of Ezra Por-
ter, near the south line of the northwest
quarter of the southeast quarter of section
13, which is pronounced to have fine me-
dicinal qualities. It is only necessary for its
prescriptive character to become known for
it to become famous.

HISTORIC ITEMS.

The first religious services were held at
the cabin of John J. Owen, during the year
1855, by a Mr. Knott. Among the audience,
besides the family of Mr. Owen, were Wil-
liam Sheeder and S. R. Saxton and their
W'ives.

The first frame house was erected by John
Harkins in 1856.

The first land was broken and the first
corn and wheat committed to the soil by
Joseph Fleak in 1853.

The second religious services were held
at the house of Edmund Pickett, on sec-
tion 6, in the fall of 1859, by Rev. Mr.
Carrier, of the Methodist denomination.

The first log house was built by Joseph
Fleak in 1853, on section 24.

The first death was that of the wife of
Joseph Fleak, who passed from this earth in
the latter part of the year 1855.

The first birth was that of George Sheed-
er, born December i, 1857.

The first marriage took place at the house
of E. B. Newton, on section i, and was that
which united Grant Parkerson and Miss
Fannie Comstock, on the 9th of July, 1856.
The ceremony was performed by the Rev.
Fisk Harmon.

DODGE TOWNSHIP.

Dodge township was organized in April.
1866. The election to thoose its first offi-
cers was held at the residence of John Clark,

father of Isaac Clark, one of the members
of the present board of supervisors. As
constituted at present it embraces the thirty-
six sections forming the surveyed township
known as township 80, range 3 1 west of the
principal meridian. The flourishing village
of Bagley is located on section 11. The
Council Bluffs line of the Chicago, Milwau-
kee & St. Paul Railroad crosses the township,
entering it on the northeast one-quarter of
section 12 and leaving it on the southwest
one-quarter of section 6. This line of road
furnishes the best of market facilities to the
fanners of the township. Bagley has rail-
road depot, express office, daily mail and
other business facilities.

John Clark, a native of Virginia, but who
came to Iowa in the spring of 1853, and
then settled in Victory township, was the
first person to make settlement in this town-
ship. Coming from Victory township early
in April. 1854, locating upon section 32, his
son above named, we believe, abides upon
that early-chosen homestead tract. Mr.
Clark, although born in the Shenandoah
Valley, in his manhood became an ardent
abolitionist.

David Van Guilder, James Cox, David
Xeal and others, followed Mr. Clark, and
population increased, improvement was
pushed by the few pioneers, though the in-
crease was slow for the first twenty-five
vears. In 188 1, a corps of railroad en-
gineers entered the township and without
asking aid, or public consent, the company
employing them followed the survey so made
with a construction corps and, in 1882, the
Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railway was
pushed through the township.

With the completion of the railroad came
a boom in settlement, and the township im-
proved rapidly. Its area had been reduced
to its present size in 1872, by the organiza-
tion of Victory township.

At its organization, there were a number
of shallow lakes and many ponds and some
broad, marshy sloughs. In the southwest

132

PAST AND PRESENT OF

corner of the township there were some
rough lands. The northeastern portion of
the county was flat and wet and in the early
settlement of the county was uninviting only
to hunters of ducks or wild geese in their
season. The ditching plow and spade has
worked miracles, in transforming these wet
lands into most valuable farm properties.
Now Dodge is recognized as one of the
finest agricultural townships of the county.
As the township was first established, it
covered the area now embraced in Highland
and a portion of Victory township. In
i860, Highland was formed and Dodge was
so much reduced in its area.

In 1856, its population three hundred and
fifty-six, in i860, two hundred and sixty-
eight, in 1873, cut down to its present area,
its population ^v*as only one hundred and
sixty- four, in 1880 it ran up to four hundred
and sixty. By 1890, the census showed it to
have run up to nine hundred and fort}--two ;
with this increase of population there was
corresponding increase of wealth. The cen-
sus this year, 1895, reports its population
nine hundred and fifty-one.

The population of the township given
above includes the population of Bagley.
The population proper of Bagley in the cen-
sus of the present year is reported as three
hundred and fifty-one. The township out-
side of Bagley, five hundred and ninety-five.
In the township there are one hundred and
thirty-six families, in Bagley eighty-one
families and eighty-one dwellings. In
the township there is one church edifice.
United Brethren, valued at one thousand
six hundred dollars, with ninety-two mem-
bers. In Bagley there are three church
buildings, of the reported value of five thou-
sand two hundred and sixty dollars, with
two hundred and five members.

The late census returns show that the pop-
ulation of the township outside of Bagley
is a mixed people, twelve foreign coun-
tries, twelve states of the Union, and twenty-
eight of the counties of Iowa, contributing

to the population. Five were bom in Bo-
hemia, thirteen in England, two in Austria,
three, in Sweden, two in Scotland, three in
Germany, three, in Canada, two in Norway,
two in Ireland and one in each, Denmark,
Wales and the Isle of Man. The twenty-
eight counties of Iowa, including Guthrie,
have furnished two hundred and seventy-five
of the township's population. Ohio fur-
nished eighty-one, Illinois eighty-one. New
York eighteen, Indiana twenty-four, Ne-
braska. Kentucky two, Pennsylvania twen-
ty-five, [Michigan seven. New Jersey nine,
Missouri nine, Virginia eight, Wisconsin
six. West Virginia, Maryland, South Da-
kota and North Carolina three each.

In relisfious belief fifteen denominations
are represented in the township. The Meth-
odists, Disciples and United Brethren are
the most numerous. The census showing
one hundred and six of that belief, forty-
six of the Christian and fifty-two United
Brethren. The Dunkards number twenty,
the Presbyterians fifteen, Roman Catholic
nine and Lutheran seven. There are a few
Adventists, Episcopalians, Friends, Congre-
gationalists" and Baptists and one Univer-
salist and one Mennonite.

We notice that there are in the township
twenty-seven persons upwards of three score
years of age and eleven having reached the
three score and ten or passed that line
namely :

Reason R. Phipps, born in Kentucky, age
seventy.

Ira Stevens, born in Illinois, age seventy-
three.

Melinda Stevens, born in Illinois, age sev-
enty-one.

Booth, born in Ohio, age sev-
enty-two.

Mercenay Hannaford, born in Ohio, age
seventy-three.

Samuel Horrine, born in Maryland, age
seventy-three.

Daniel Mane, bom in Ohio, age seventy-
four.

GUTHRIE COUNTY, IOWA.

133

Aner Mane, born in Ohio, age eighty-
four.

Charles Wilson, age seventy-five.

Isaac S. Miller, born in New York, age
seventy-six.

Mar}' M. Buck, born in Virginia, age
seventy-eight.

We find only three families of ten or up-
ward in the township, one of ten persons,
one of eleven and one of twelve.

The following citizens of the township
have served their country in the army :

IN THE MEXICAN WAR.

Reason R. Phipps, Second Indiana Regi-
ment.

Ira Stevens, Second Illinois Regiment.

THE REBELLION.

Meredith McGhee, Twenty-seventh Iowa
Infantr}^

Henry Cook, Forty-second Indiana In-
fantry.

David Crippen, Third Ohio Cavalry.

James Howaath, Third Ohio Cavalry.

Thomas Porter, Twenty-fourth Iowa In-
fantr}'.

Samuel Keester, Seventh Pennsylvania In-
fantry.

Walter ^^'atkins, Eighty-eighth Indiana
Infantry.

John Cornish, First Missouri Artillery
and Fifth Illinois Infantry.

John H. Boone, Tenth Tennessee Cavalry.

Burnell Booth, One Hundred Thirty-
eighth Illinois Infantry.

Nathan Ewing, Forty-sixth Wisconsin
Infantry.

Benjamin Corsaut, Third New York
Cavalry.
. Job Chambers, Fourth Iowa Infantry.

Isaac Clark, Fourth Iowa Infantr}^

Isaac H. Stover, Two Hundred Fifth
Pennsylvania Infantry.

F. W. Rairden, One Hundred Fifty-first
Indiana Infantry.

GRANT TOWNSHIP.

The civil township of Grant, in Guthrie
county, was organized in the fall of 1869.
It is formed of township 79, range 33, and
is the southwest corner township of this
county, containing no native timber. It was
the last of the sixteen cong'ressional town-
ships, composing the county, to invite set-
tlement. John Wickersham settled in its
area in 1857, but soon moved away. Joel
E. James moved in the next year, built a
cabin and began to make a farm home. He
is still a resident of the township, a hale, ac-
tive man, and witness of the triumph of the
breaking plow, the saw, the plane, the ham-
mer, in turning a wild waste into homes of
comfort and a realm of plenty. He located
on section 14.

E. A. Porter settled on section 11, in 1866.
The same year David Hammond settled on
section 3, and James S. Abbott on section
12. Messrs. Hammond and Abbott are yet
respected citizens of the now prosperous
township.

Shortly after Mr. James built his cabin a
train of Mormons, heading for the Salt
Lake Canaan, passed through the township,
dragging along in their weary march with
their hand-cart conveyances, and Mr. James
saw something of the toil and suffering of
the deluded host. For a time a daily line of
stages, running from D^s Moines to Coun-
cil Bluffs, traversed the township, and Dal-
manutha was the trade center of the pioneers
of Grant. In 1868 the Chicago, Rock Island
& Pacific Railroad was built through the
southeast corner of the township, the shrill
whistle of its engines quickened the step of
the pioneer and induced new settlers. The
establishment of the station and the starting
of the town of Adair on its summit location,
midway east and west on the south line of

134

PAST AND PRESENT OF

the township, brought the inviting advantage
of railroad market faciHties to settlers in
Grant, and the rapid improvement of its
fertile prairie breadth resulted.

TOV^NSHIP ORGANIZATION.

In 1868, but four families had residence
within the present boundaries of the town-
ship. June 8, 1869, "the petition of Hutch-
inson and others," in the laconic words of
the record, was presented to the board of
supervisors of Guthrie county, "praying for
the division of Thompson township" and
that the "new township be named and identi-
fied as Grant township." The record informs
us that "the prayer of the petition was grant-
ed and a motion was made and adopted in
the words following, to-wit :"

"Resolved, That the prayer of the peti-
tion be granted and George Britton be ap-
pointed a commissioner to organize said
township in accordance with the prayer of
said petition, and that the first election be
held at the schoolhouse in sub-district No.
4, on the day of the next general election
fixed by law."

For the year 1869. that day was the sec-
ond Tuesday in October, and Grant on that
day became the thirteenth civil township in
Guthrie county.

At the election of 1870, Grant cast its vote,
twenty-two solid, for the removal of the
county seat from Panora to Guthrie Cen-
ter. In the final contest for county seat re-
moval, it cast its thirty-nine votes solid for
Guthrie Center.

At the special election on the prohibitory
amendment, on June Z'j , 1882, it gave sixty
votes for the amendment and fifty-three
against amendment. Majority for the
amendment, seven.

POPULATION.

The first separate enrollment of the pop-
ulation of Grant township was made in the

national census of 1870. That year the
township was found to contain a popula-
tion of one hundred and four persons, sev-
enty-three of native birth and thirty-one of
foreign birth.

At the state enumeration of 1873, the
population of Grant had increased to one
hundred and forty-one, divided into thirty-
one families and occupying thirty-one dwell-
ings. Seventy-eight were male persons and
sixty-three females. It contained one thou-
sand eight hundred and twenty-five acres of
improved land, reporting a production of
six thousand, .seven hundred and sixty-nine
bushels of wheat, seventeen thousand, six
hundred and seventy bushels of corn, nine
thousand seven hundred and forty bushels
of oats and twenty bushels of barley. There
was not an acre of tame grass reported in
the township, but then there was an immen-
sity of the wild grass of the prairies in
Grant.

In the state enumeration of 1875. Grant
had a population of two hundred and
twenty-two persons, one hundred and eight-
een males and one hundred and four fe-
males. Seventy of its population were born
in Iowa, one hundred eighteen were born in
the United States but not in Iowa, and thirty-
three were born in foreign countries. The
number of births in 1874 were eleven, of
deaths five. There were forty-five families
residing in forty-five dwellings in the town-
ship. Two thousand, seven hundred and
forty-six acres of improved land were re-
ported, with seven thousand eight hundred
and fifty rods of fence. One thousand, si.x
hundred and forty acres were sown to spring
wheat ; one thousand one hundred and" sev-
enth-two acres were planted to corn, and one
hundred and fifty-five acres were sown in
oats, but not an acre of tame grass was re-
ported, One hundred and seventy-five acres
of natural and fourteen acres of planted tim-
ber were reported in the township. Ten
plum and one cherry were the only l)earing
fruit trees reported.

GUTHRIE COUNTY, IOWA.

137

In the national census of 1880, the town-
ship had a population of six hundred and
sixty-two persons.

In the state enumeration of 1885, Grant
township showed a population of seven hun-
dred and fifty-nine persons, divided into
one hundred and thirtv-nine families resid-
ing in one hundred and thirty- four dwell-
ings; four hundred and seven were males,
three hundred and fifty-two females. Eight
of its population were born in England,
thirty-four in Ireland, three in Scotland,
eight in Canada, ninety-four in Germany,
five in Denmark and five in other foreign
countries, a total of one hundred and fifty-
seven of foreign birth. Si.x hundred and
two were of native birth, two hundred and
fifty-eight were married, four hundred and
eighty-five were single, sixteen were wid-
owed, but none were reported divorced.

TAXABLE VALUATIONS.

W'e here give the assessment of live stock
and assessed valuation of property in Grant
township, for the several years named, and
covering the entire history of the township.

In 1870, G. W. Britton, assessor, forty-
five head of cattle, fifty-seven head of horses,
eight mules, sixty-seven sheep, and thirty-
one swine were assessed. The largest own-
ers of cattle in the township were John
Thaler and J. J. Vandemeyere, each having
five head.

In 1 87 1, G. W. Britton, assessor, the as-
sessor's book shows that eighty-three head
of cattle, seventy-eight horses, five mules,
sixty-one sheep and eighty-one swine were
assessed. The total value of taxable per-
sonal property was four thousand nine hun-
dred and ninety- four dollars, of lands ninety-
nine thousand two hundred and twenty-one
dollars. Total value of all property one
hundred three thousand two hundred and
fifteen dollars.

In 1875. Delos Brainard, assessor, two
hundred and twenty-six cattle, one hundred

and fifty-three horses, seven mules, thirty
sheep and three hundred and sixteen swine
were assessed. The taxable valuation of
personal property was nine thousand seven
hundred and twenty-seven dollars ; of lands,
one hundred seventeen thousand seven hun-
dred and forty-nine dollars. Total taxable
valuation one hundred and twenty-one thou-
sand four hundred and sixteen dollars.

In 1877, W. W. Spangler assessed the
township. He reported three hundred and
forty-two cattle, two hundred and fifty-six
horses, twenty-three mules, and four hun-
dred and seven swine. Value of personal prop-
erty twelve thousand three hundred and
fifty-nine dollars, of land one hundred twen-
ty-one thousand three hundred and eighty-
four dollars. Total taxable valuation one
hundred thirty thousand five hundred and
forty-nine dollars.

In 1879, J. M. T rumble assessed the
township and returned fi\-e hundred and
thirty-two cattle, three hundred and forty-
two horses, twenty-three mules, four sheep
and eight hundred and ninety swine, value
of personal property twenty-two thousand
seven hundred and twenty-five dollars, of
lands one hundred and fifty-six thousand
eight hundred and seventy-five dollars.
Total valuation one hundred seventy-eight
thousand six hundred and eighty-one dollars.

In 1881, William C. Kruzer, assessor,
eight hundred and nineteen cattle, three hun-
dred and eighty-three horses, thirty-one
mules, and nine hundred and ninety-two
swine were returned. Taxable valuation of
personal property twenty-five thousand and
thirty dollars, of lands one hundred and six-
ty-two thousand three hundred and seventy
dollars. Total, one hundred eighty-seven
thousand four hundred dollars.

The assessment of 1883 was made by P.
J. Fett. He returned one thousand two hun-
dred and seventy-two cattle, four hundred
and thirty-seven horses, twenty-five mules,
fifty-six sheep and eight hundred and seven-
ty-two swine. Valuation of personal prop-

I30

PAST AND PRESENT OF

erty thirty-nine thousand nine hundred and
fifty dollars, of realty two hundred two
thousand three hundred and ninety dollars.
Total two hundred thirty-three thousand
thfee hundred and forty dollars. This is the
highest assessed valuation yet returned for
the township.

In 1885, P. J. Fett again assessed the
township, and that year returned one thou-
sand three hundred and eighty cattle, five
hundred and seven horses, twenty-seven
mules, fifty sheep and one thousand three
hundred and eleven hogs. Valuation of per-
sonal twenty-eight thousand one hundred
and sixty dollars, of land one hundred nine-
ty-four thousand nine hundred and ninety
dollars. Total two hundred and twenty-
three thousand one hundred and fifty dol-
lars.

In 1887, William Dolan, assessor, one
thousand eight hundred and twenty-four
cattle, five hundred and thirteen horses,
twenty-three mules and one thousand four
hundred and twenty-six swine were listed.
The personal property was valued at thirty-
three thousand eight hundred and eighty
dollars, the lands at one hundred ninety-four
thousand eight hundred and forty dollars.
Total two hundred twenty-eight thousand
seven hundred and twenty dollars.

J. F. Rees made the assessment for 1889,
and returned two thousand two hundred
and sixty cattle, five hundred and thirty-
six horses, thirty-five mules and one thou-
sand three hundred and five swine. Value
of personal property thirty-six thousand
three hundred and thirty dollars, of lands
one hundred ninety-four thousand eight
liundred and sixty dollars. Total two hun-
dred thirty-one thousand one hundred and
ninety dollars.

By a comparison of the assessment of
1871 and 1889, any one can see the vast
growth of property values in the township ; a
growth that sets forth unmistakably the in-
dustry, economy and prosperity of the cit-
izens of Grant; the personal valuation in-

creasing from four thousand nine hundred
and ninety- four dollars in 1871 to thirty-
six thousand three hundred and seventy dol-
lars in 1889. The total valuation from one
hundred three thousand two hundred and
fifteen dollars in 1871 to two hundred and
twenty-one thousand nine hundred and fifty
dollars in 1889. The growth of property
values is not fully shown, however, by the
comparison. The acreage of lands assessed
for taxation has varied but slightly since
1870. Then the realty of Grant was as-
sessed at a greatly higher proportion to its
real value than it is at the present time. It
is safe to say that the real property valua-
tion of Grant township, taxing roads,
bridges, schoolhouses and all other valuable
property that escapes taxation into the ac-
count, would reach upward of three times
the assessed valuation, or seven hundred
thousand dollars.

Beginning with its settlement by Mr.
James, with his scant outfit and humble
home in 1858, the township has made grand
strides in its march to comfort, wealth and
prosperous estate.

Grant township is crossed from north to
south by the summit divide, running west-
wardly from the southwest corner of the old
Grow farm in Bear Grove to the vicinity of
the Jobes postofiice; the great ridge divid-
ing the affluents of the Mississippi and Mis-
souri runs thence southwardly to the town
of Adair, dividing the waters of the Trou-
blesome, Crooked and Turkey creeks from
the heads of Middle river. The streams of
Grant are all relatively mere brooklets, but
all have rapid currents.

The surface of the township is all finely
undulating, and there are no marshes or
swamps to breed miasma and miasmatic
diseases within its area or surroundings.
No region can be more healthful and few
areas offer a deeper, richer, more friable,
easily worked or productive soil. It con-
tains no mineral deposits as yet known. Its
brooks are mostly perennial, its fertile soil

GUTHRIE COUNTY, IOWA.

135

produces rich grasses with luxuriant growth,
hence it is inviting to stock-raising and
dairying, as well as other agricultural in-
dustries. These facts account for the gen-
eral prosperity of the enterprising people,
who braved privations in their poverty and
settled within its borders. Its landscapes
are undulating, ever varying, affording ex-
tensive views and always delighting to the
eye. Hence, the persons who own farm
homes in Grant are in enviable condition.

EDUCATIONAL INTERESTS.

These are of vast importance in this age
of the universal diffusion, social refinement,
to the very highest interests of society.
Every intelligent man seeking a new loca-
tion will look to this important matter, and
a niggardliness in the support of educational
facilities is damaging to all property inter-
ests by tending to reduce property values.

Grant township is permanently arranged
in nine sub-districts for educational purposes.
The maximum fraction of three-fourths of
a mile to each section, in the north tier of
sections, has necessitated in the arrangement
of the nine districts a somewhat irregular
form.

The first school held in the township was
taught by Miss Jane Coleman, at the resi-
dence of Joel James, in 1865. The follow-
ing year the first schoolhouse was built with-
in the present area of the township, namely,
on section 21. The first teacher therein
was Miss Nisha A. Ward. The subsequent
arrangements of the districts developed as
the necessities of the settlers demanded.

The first schoolhouse in district No. i
was built in 1870. The first in district No.
2 in 1869. This was succeeded by a better
house in 1883. The first school building
in No. 3 was erected in 1876 and was fol-
lowed by a better building in 1883. The
first schoolhouse in district No. 4 was built
in 1872 and was follwed by a new one in

1883. District No. 5 was set ofif from No.
4 in 1883 and its schoolhouse was provided
for that year. No. 6 built its first school-
house in 1877. No. 7 built its first house in
the same year. In No. 8 the first schoolhouse
was built in 1879 — two terms of school were
previously taught in the district at the resi-
dence of W^illiam Hough. District No. 9
built its first house in 1870.

In 1869, the Bascom family settled in
Grant. Mr. and Mrs. Bascom had enjoyed
educational advantages in advance of many
and they brought with them an affinity for
educational work. They have rendered, in
that line of duty, valuable sei-vice in their
surroundings, both having taught numerous
terms in the districts around them. The
Cowdens have won good reputations in the
teaching profession. The Trumble, Gal-
breath, Kelsey, Rowland and other families
have furnished excellent teachers for the
schools of Grant, who have stirred an en-
thusiasm in educational work.

When we remember that but a little more
than twenty years have elapsed since the
' organization of the first school district with-
in its area, we can see the vast growth of
the important interests of education in Grant
township.

To show more clearly the development of
these interests, we give the following state-
ments and figures which we compile from
the reports of the secretary of the school
board for the district township for the years
named. In the burning of the courthouse,
March 3, 1882, the papers in the county
superintendent's ofiice were mostly de-
stroyed, and we find the reports made
previous to that event are not now to be
found.

September 20, 1882, J. M. Howell, dis-
trict township secretary, reported eight
schools in Grant, kept an average of eight
months in the year, taught by nine male
and thirteen female teachers. The school
population then numbered two hundred and

138

PAST AND PRESENT OF

eighty-five; males one hundred and forty-two,
females one hundred and forty-three; total
enrollment two hundred and eighty- four;
average daily attendance of the schools one
hundred and sixty-one and forty-two hun-
dredths ; average cost of tuition of the pupils
per month one dollar and eighty-five cents;
reported value of the eight schoolhouses
two thousand dollars, the lowest valuation
one hundred and fifty dollars, the highest
four hundred dollars.

In 1885, Mr. Howell was still secretary
and reported nine schools in the township;
average number of months taught in the
year seven and two tenths ; teachers em-
ployed, males four, females fourteen ; school
population enrolled, males one hundred and
fifty-four, females one hundred and fifty-
nine, total three hundred and thirteen ; en-
rollment of school attendance two hundred
and eighty-four; average daily attendance
for the school year one hundred and thirty-
six and four-tenths; average cost of tuition
per scholar per month two dollars and twen-
ty-four cents ; number of schoolhouses nine ;
total valuation three thousand three hundred
and fifty dollars ; average valuation three
hundred and thirty-five dollars.

In 1887, J. F. Rees, secretary, reported
nine schools in the district township; aver-
age number of months taught seven and sev-
enty-seven hundredths ; teachers employed,
males five, females sixteen ; enrollment of
school population, males one hundred and
eighty-seven, females one hundred and fifty-
eight ; total three hundred and fifty- four ; en-
rolled in school attendance two hundred and
seventy-two ; average daily attendance one
hundred and fifty-six and three-tenths ; cost
per month of tuition per pupil one dollar and
seventy-seven cents ; number of schoolhouses
nine ; total valuation three thousand five hun-
dred and ninety-eight ; average value four
hundred dollars.

The report of the present year is made
1)v T. F. Rees, secretary; nine schoolhouses

are reported ; teachers employed during the
year, seven males and nineteen females ;
average compensation per month, males
twenty-six dollars and fourteen cents, fe-
males, twenty-seven dollars and thirty-six
cents; total enrollment of persons of school
age three hundred and three, one hundred
and sixty-four males, one hundred and
thirty-nine females ; enrollment in school at-
tendance two hundred and seventy-two;
average daily attendance one hundred and
twenty-eight ; average cost of tuition per
month one dollar and eighty-seven cents ; re-
ported value of schoolhouses, same as in
1887.

The law requiring "effects of stimulants
and narcotics,'' to be taught is observed in
all the public schools in Grant township.

There has never been a log schoolhouse
built in Grant township.

The schoolhouses of least value now
standing in the township are found in dis-
tricts 6 and 7, two hundred and fifty dollars
each. Those of the highest value are found
in districts i and 4, five hundred dollars
each.

MATTERS ECCLESIA.STICAL.

There are four dift'erent religious bodies
having organization in Grant township,
namely, the Methodist Episcopal, Free
^Methodist, United Presbyterian and Evan-
gelical German Lutheran.

THE METHODIST EPISCOPAL.

The ^Methodist Episcopal church was
most likely the first body to hold regular
services in this township, the pastor travel-
ing the Casey circuit some time about 1871
held services in the Bascom schoolhouse.

An organized society now exists in con-
nection with the North Branch circuit. Rev.
Mercer, pastor, and holds its meetings in the
United Presbyterian church. It has never
had large growth. Several families, resi-

LENON'S MILL

GUTHRIE COUNTY, IOWA.

14]

dents of Grant township, attend services in
Adair, others at the Bethel schoolhouse, Bear
Grove township.

THE FREE METHODIST.

This body has an organization in the
township which holds its pubhc sei'vices in
the schoolhouse. The society exists in con-
nection with the Bear Grove circuit.

THE UNITED PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.

Several worthy families afifiliating with
the United Presbyterian body were earl}-
settlers in Grant, and in October, 1878, Rev.
O. I. Morrow, pastor, a congregation of fif-
teen members was organized. This we
think was the first United Presbyterian
church ever organized in this county. W.
P. Cowden and J. B. Galbreath, elders; D.
A. Hammond and E. S. Brownlee, trustees ;
J. B. Galbreath, clerk.

A roomy, inviting church building was
erected, at a cost of about one thousand six
hundred dollars, which was formally dedi-
cated to divine service June 22, 1884. W.
P. Cowden, W. A. Cowden, D. J. Cow^den,
M. Cowden, J. B. Galbreath, N. A. Gal-
breath, Jennie B. Galbreath, E. S. Brownlee,
Mary A. Brownlee, N. A. Cowden, John
Grove, David Hammond, C. Hammond and
E. Britton were the original members. Revs.
Harris, Martin and Morrow^ have served
as pastors.

ST. John's evangelical German Luth-
eran CHURCH.

Early in the seventies several German
families located in the western part of Grant
township, and the adjoining township of
Audubon county. They brought with them
to their new home an honorable regard for
their religious principles and convictions.

In 1875, a minister visited them, and
meetings were held in their private houses
8

and in the schoolhouse. No. 3. Revs. Mer-
lin and Horn served the little band in the
pastoral ofiice, until Rev. Fred Ehler, their
present able and gentlemanly pastor, came
to that ofiice in 1880, when a beautiful site,
central to the several families of the congre-
gation, was secured on the west line of sec-
tion 7, and a fine, roomy church building,
sixty-three by thirty- four feet, with spire,
was erected under the efiicient management
of Messrs. George Faga, Henry W'esack.
Henry Gerhart and F. Zimmerman,
trustees. A solid, comfortable parsonage
was also built, and ground for a cemeteiy
provided.

This year a parochial schoolhouse has
been erected and the youth of the several
families are carefully instructed in both secu-
lar knowdedge and the principles of their re-
ligious faith. The families residing con-
venient to the school provide entertainment
for those residing at inconvenient distances.
The congregation, we understand, now em-
braces thirty-four persons, and their com-
mendable fidelity to their religious principles
is shown by their liberal expenditures of
means to support their religious services and
their pastor. Rev. Ehler is a skillful mu-
sician and the church has excellent music
in connection with its sen'ices, and enjoys
the full service of its pastor.

postal facilities, roads, etc.

Grant has no postofiice within its bounda-
ries, but the Adair postofiice, located cen-
trally on its south line and the Jobes post-
ofiice, immediately at its northwest comer,
both having daily mails, bring postal facil-
ities quite convenient to the people within
the township. Its roads are laid out mostly
on the section lines, are now becoming well
\vorked, the streams well bridged, so that
travel is facilitated throughout the township.

stock-raising.
This is becoming, evidently, from the

142

PAST AND PRESENT OF

figures already given, an important industry
in Grant and a number of its enterprising
farmers are now giving attention to the
breeding of good stock. J. M. Trumble has
a herd of nine thoroughbred short-horns;
George Plested has a fine short-horn at the
head of his herd; S. Sulhvan on the J. S.
Heater farm has recently received eight
registered short-horns from a famed West
Liberty herd. Other farmers are also ex-
hibiting commendable enterprise in this line
of farm industry. Mr. Bristlin has a thor-
oughbred polled Angus — he prefers the
hornless variety. E. Spangler gives especial
attention to dairs'ing and finds that line of
industry profitable.

Many farms in this township are being
greatly improved by new and fine buildings,
the dwelling of E. Spangler and his large
barn and the new and large barn of G.
W. Cox may be cited in point.

The firm of Cox & Daniels and J. M.
Trumble are large dealers and shippers of
live stock.

J. F. Rees manages the fine tract of land
owned by Barlow Granger and John Tor-
rence operates the fine farm of G. H. Wet-
more, covering all of section i6. We would
gladly speak in detail of the numerous fine
farm homes that grace the beautiful undu-
lations of that fine township but we must
desist for want of space. William Dolan
this year raised a small patch of tobacco.
Its luxuriant growth indicated that the deep
friable soil of Grant is favorable to the pro-
duction of paying crops of the famous weed.

ORANGE TOWNSHIP.

This is a full congressional township,-con-
taining an area of thirty-six sections of land.
It is the northwestern sub-division of the
county, being known as township 8i, range
33 west, and is bounded on the north by
Carroll county, and the west by Audubon,
on the south by Union township, and on the
east by Highland. Brushy creek traverses

this territory, running diagonally across it.
Entering on section 6, it pursues its meander-
ing course through sections 7, 8, 17, 20,
21, 22, 27, 26, 35 and 36, leaving the town-
ship on the southeast corner of the latter.
The south fork of the Raccoon river, also
crosses the southwest portion of this town-
ship, watering on its way sections 29, 30,
32 and 33. The Middle Raccoon river, ris-
ing in Carroll county, enters Orange town-
ship on the north line of section 3, and in
its general southeasterly course, crosses sec-
tions 2, II, 14, 23 and 24, passing into
Highland township on the east line of the
last mentioned. These streams, with their
numerous affluents, water and drain this
whole territory and make it to take rank
as one of the best agricultural townships in
the county. The soil is generally a sandy
loam, and although rough in some parts is
nearly all arable. The light warm ground
is quickly productive, and nearly everything
planted makes active, vigorous growth. The
surface is neither level nor hilly, except in the
neighborhood of the streams, but is just
enough rolling to secure adequate drainage.
The population is mixed, but the native
Americans predominate largely, and they
are generally an enterprising, thrifty people.

EARLY SETTLEMENT,

The first settlement made in this township
was in November or December, 1853, by
Benjamin and Joseph Tuttle, who settled
on section 20, in what is now known as Tut-
tle's Grove. These parties came to this
county from Hancock county, Illinois, biit
being chiefly hunters, they, after a short so-
journ in this county, went west, following
the game.

George Mingus settled upon the same sec-
tion in the fall of 1854, buying out the
claim of Joseph Tuttle. He was a native
of Cherokee county. North Carolina. He
was a very active, energetic man, who fol-
lowed the varied businesses of farmer, car-

GUTHRIE COUNTY, IOWA.

143

penter, millwright and bridge builder. He
died at his home in this township on the
1 2th of January, 1859, having hurt himself
a short time previously, lifting heavy tim-
bers while building a bridge over the Middle
Coon in Carroll county.

Samuel Wilson and his family came to
Guthrie county in October, 1854, and lo-
cated on section 6, in Orange township, at
a place now known as Wilson's Grove,
where a son now resides. No settlers ap-
peared in this locality after this until the
year 1856; but in that year quite a number
made claims and located in this township.
Among these were the following named :
Albert Brutsche, Lawson Mingus, Z. B.
Titus, William P. Hopson, Joel B. Younker,
"Coot" Malloy, James Moore, Charles
Smith, T. J. Smith, and Charles Bower.

Lawson Mingus was a native of Cherokee
county. North Carolina. He made his claim
in this township, where he arrived in. May,
1856, settling on section 21. Here he re-
sided until 1870, when he removed to High-
land township.

William P. Hopson, another settler of
the spring of 1856, came from Illinois, and
located, on his arrival, on section 17, in this
township. He was married on the 5th of
December, 1847, in Hancock county, Illinois,
to Miss Lydia A. Hopson, previous to his
coming to this state. This lady, one of the
old settlers, also, was born near Danville,
New York, December i, 1825, but while
yet a child her parents removed to Girard
county, Pennsylvania, where she resided
until 1835, when the family emigrated to
Hancock county, Illinois. Here she was
married, as above stated, to W. P. Hopson,
who was a son of Thomas and Sophronia
(Pierce) Hopson, and was born in Ohio.
W^illiam was at the time of his marriage,
a plasterer, and on the first of June, 1856,
on his arrival in Orange township, took up
the same trade and followed it for some
time. He also did some general farming,
and was for many years quite prominently

identified with the interests of the township.
Mr. Hopson left this world of troubles,
journeying to "that land from whose bourne
no traveler ever returns," on the 12th of
February, 1872.

Joel B. Younker, commonly known by the
name of "'Squire," located on section 17 in
the spring of 1856. He was a native of
Ohio, but came here from Hancock county,
Illinois, where he had been engaged in farm-
ing. Although he remained here but about
two or three years, he was quite prominent
in those early days, having been elected the
first treasurer of the school district.

"Coot" Malloy, whose nickname has en-
tirely supplanted his real one in the remem-
brances of the pioneers, settled on section
20 in 1856. He was a native of Dublin,
Ireland, and died in Carroll county, whither
he had moved, in 1869 or 1870.

Z. B. Titus located upon section 2, in
Orange township, in April, 1856. Z. B.
Titus, son of Samuel and Susanna (Bar-
rett) Titus, was born in Jefferson township.
New York, October 28, 1814. In 1820,
he went with his parents to Harpersfield,
New York, and, remaining there five years,
they went to Davenport, New York. In
1832, he, by himself, went to Orleans coun-
ty, same state. He was engaged there in
farming until 1833, when he removed to
Illinois, where he remained but a short time.
He returned to Orleans and was married
to Miss Mary Anne Foster, daughter of
James and Polly (Hicks) Foster. In 1840,
they left Orleans county and went to Illi-
nois, and remaining there until 1855, came
to Guthrie county, Iowa, locating on section
2. They have seven children : Elmira mar-
ried Albert Brutsche ; James married Paulina
Smith; Cassandra married Frank Endicott;
Samuel Z. married Ella Howell; Nancy J.
married Abram George; Francis married
Lydia Howell; and Ellis married Nellie
Bryan. Mr. Titus has held the position of
trustee and director. He was one of the
first settlers in the county.

144

PAST AND PRESENT OF

Charles Smith came from Ohio, and in
the spring of 1856 arivecl in Orange town-
ship and made a settlement on section 26.
Here he lived until April, 1875, when, while
serving on the grand jvu^y at Gnthrie Cen-
ter, he took cold and brought on an attack
of lung fever, from which he died, at the
advanced age of seventy years.

James Moore, a native of Ohio, made a
settlement in this township in the fall of
1856, where he remained, farming and
teaching school, until 1880, when he re-
moved to near Panora.

T. J. Smith, in the spring of 1856, made
a claim on section 25. He was township
clerk from 1878 to 1882, and a township
trustee. Mr. Smith was another of the
brave patriots who, in the time of the coun-
try's peril, shouldered his musket and
marched to the front. He enlisted, on the
13th of August, 1862, in Company I, 29th
Iowa Infantry, and served three years, par-
ticipating in six general engagements and
several skirmishes. He w'as mustered out
on the loth of July, 1865.

Charles Bower, a native of Yorkshire,
England, located in the eastern part of this
township in August, 1856, but in the spring
of 1857 removed across the line into High-
land township.

Albert Brutsche came to Orange town-
ship, October, 1856, where he married Miss
Elmira Titus, daughter of Z. B. and Mary
Anne (Foster) Titus. He has held different
toW'Uship offices, and has always taken a
prominent part in the tow^nship affairs. He
is one of the early settlers of the tow'nship.

In the month of September, 1857, ^^i^"
liam Bower came to Orange township and
made a settlement.

\\'illiam Minnich, with his family, in De-
cember, 1857, amid the storms of winter.
settled upon section 17, where he afterward
laid out a farm, now owned bv D. Cret-
singer. He was a farmer, carpenter and
bridge-builder, and excellent in all.

John I. Minnich, son of \\niliam and

Catherine (Shelter) Alinnich, was born in
Tuscarawas county, Ohio, July 9, 1846. He
moved with his parents to Orange township,
December, 1857, settling on section 17,
where he was reared to manhood. !Mr.
]\Iinnich started to Nevada, May 6, 1867,
with just seventy-five dollars in his pocket.
The Union Pacific Railroad was then built
only to what was known as the North Platte.
AMien he arrived there he could only get to
his destination by stage, and the cost was
too great for his pocket, so he hired out to a
train which was loading with government
supplies for Fort Phil Kearney and arrived
at that point July 25, 1867. He then hired
out to a contractor, for the government,
cutting wood and digging coal. ^^'hile
working there they were attacked by the In-
dians, on the second day of August. The
camp consisted of some forty men, citizens
and soldiers, while the Indians numbered
two thousand. Fighting continued all day,
the whites retreating to the mountains,
where they entrenched themselves and suc-
ceeded in keeping the Indians at bay for some
five hours, when the Indians left the party to
gain their main force, which was fighting
at another point, when Mr. Minnich and his
party succeeded in reaching the Fort. Six
whites and twenty-seven Indians were killed
in the fight. He remained there all that
w^inter, having several fights with the In-
dians. In July, 1868, he left Fort Kearney.
for Fort Steele, on the Union Pacific Rail-
road, with a train which had been aban-
doned. They loaded the train there for
Echo Canyon, Utah, and Salt Lake City.
where he arrived September i. He then
formed a party of five men and started for
White Pine, Nevada, reaching that place
in October, 1868, when the silver fever was
at its height. He worked there at several
occupations until February, 1869. when he
went to Austin, Nevada. He came back
in June, 1869, to White Pine, where he re-
mained one year. He then moved to
Eureka. Nevada, in 1870. where he staved

GUTHRIE COUNTY, IOWA.

145

two years, following mining. He came back
to this township arriving here October 13,
1872.

John H. Teter, one of the best known
residents of this township, made his first
settlement here in March, 1858, on section
2 1 , althongh a resident of the- county since

1855-

John H. Teter, son of Samuel and Mary
Anne (Kuntz) Teter, resides on section 21.
He was born in Morgan county, Ohio, Feb-
ruary 8, 1827. In 1846, he came to Lee
county, Iowa, and stayed mostly in the
neighborhood of Keokuk. In the fall of
1846, he returned to Morgan county, Ohio,
and remained there during the winter. In
September, 1847, he went to Marietta, Ohio,
where he remained five years. During this
time he was engaged in farming and stone-
cutting. In 1852, he went to Pickaway coun-
ty, Ohio, remaining there until 1855, w'hen
he came to Guthrie Center, when the town
had just been laid out, but no one was as
yet living there. He followed carpentering
here for a while, helping to build a house
for William Tracy, which was the first
dwelling built in the neighborhood. This
w'lS of logs, and stood near the site of the
prci^ent town. Charles Huxley built the
first log house on what is the town plat of
Guthrie Center, Mr. Teter helping in its con-
struction. The fourth house built in the
Center was erected by Mr. Teter for him-
self. He remained in the Center until
March, 1858, when he removed to this town-
ship. He was married September 10, 1848,
in Meigs county, Ohio, to Miss Keziah
Mount, daughter of Edmund and Eliza
(Nolan) Mount. Mrs. Teter w-as born in
Monroe county, Ohio, February 14, 1832,
and moved to Meigs county, September,
1847. They have raised two children, Curtis
^vlorgan, who married Hattie Hopson,
March 29, 1883 ; Josephine Rose, an adopted
child.

Basil Tracv made a settlement in the

township in the spring of 1858, building
himself a frame house.

David Miller located upon section 22, in
October, 1863, having been a resident of the
county since 1861.

Jacob Shane, one of the pioneers of the
county, came to Orange township in 1864,
he having been a resident of the county,
however, since December, 1854.

FIRST ITEMS.

The first birth was that of Amanda,
daughter of George and Susan Mingus, born
in December, 1855. She is now Mrs. Banks
and is living in Dakota, whither she moved
in the fall of 1883.

The first solemnization of the marriage
ceremony occurred at the house of Benjamin
Tuttle in the fall of 1885. At that time
'Squire Mofiitt united in wedlock Luther
Straight and Miss Lydia Tuttle, who, after
the usual questions, closed with the follow-
ing words: "By the laws of Iowa, and the
authority that I have, I pronounce you man
and wife." Both of these parties are now
dead.

The first death was that of Archibald, son
of William P. and Lydia A. Hopson, who
departed this life on the 28th day of Sep-
tember, 1857.

The pioneer log house was erected by
Benjamin and Joseph Tuttle, in the fall of
1853, in Tuttle's Grove. This was after-
ward used as a schoolhouse.

The first frame house was put up by
Charles Smith, in the summer of 1856. This
was rather primitive in style, being built of
plank set up on end.

The first frame house sided up properly
was erected by Basil Tracy, in 1858.

The first religious services held in the
township were conducted by Joseph Dyson
and Marcus Kane, in April or May, 1858,
at the house of William P. Hopson, on sec-
tion 17. These were all of the United
Brethren church.

146

PAST AND PRESENT OF

The first school was in the log cabin of
W. P. Hopson, in the summer of 1857,
taught by a Miss Heller.

The first ground was broken for agricul-
tural purposes, by George Mingus, in the
spring of 1855.

The first wheat was sown and corn planted
by the same person, the latter in 1855, the
former in 1856.

The first saw-mill was not built until in
March, 1883, when A. N. Wilson erected
one at Wilson's Grove, on section 6.

ORGANIC.

Orange township was organized in the
spring of 1857, but as the records of those
early days are inaccessible it is impossible
to give the first officers. William P. Hop-
son gave the township its name, and was
prominently identified with its official life.

EDUCATIONAL.

In the summer of 1857^ a few urchins
gathered together in the log cabin of WW-
liam P. Hopson, on section 17, and were
instructed in the three R's, "Reading. 'Rit-
ing, and 'Rithmetic." This was the first
school, and was presided over bv Miss
Heller.

In 1858, Orange was organized as a dis-
trict township with the following school
board : Stephen Hammond, president ; J.
B. Younker, treasurer; Mr. Rude, secretary.
There are now nine sub-districts in the town-
ship.

■> RELIGIOUS.

To the United Brethren is due the credit
of being the first to unfold the standard of
Christ in Orange township. A meeting of
this denomination, conducted by Joseph Dy-
son and Marcus Kane, was held at the house
of W. P. Hopson in the spring of 1858, the
first religious services in the section.

In the summer of 1858, Rev. Samuel An-
derson organized a class of the Methodist
Episcopal church, holding their meetings at
the houses of George and Lawson Mingus,
dn section 21.

In the fall of 1858, the good seed sown by
Brothers Dyson and Kane bore rich fruit,
and a church of the United Brethren was
organized. The first members of this were
William P. Hopson, Lydia A. Hopson and
Keziah Teter. No officers were elected, and
Brother Perkins was appointed to preach to
the little congregation, which he did for
some two years, when services were dis-
continued.

POSTOFFICES.

A postoffice was established on the south-
west quarter of the northwest quarter of
section 35, in 1875, which was called Ava.
Neri Conner was commissioned the first
postmaster. This office has been abandoned.

The Tuttle's Grove postoffice was insti-
tuted about the same time and James F.
Moore installed as postmaster. The office
was held at the house of Mr. Moore, on
section 20. This office was discontinued in
1877.

CEMETERY.

The first cemetery in the township was
deeded to the same by William P. Hopson,
in December, 1870, but his son Archibald
had been previously buried on the site. This
burial had taken place in September, 1857,
and was the first in the township. The sec-
ond was that of George Mingus, on the 12th
of January, 1859, and two others being in-
terred therein before the donation of the
ground. This beautiful "God's acre" is a
portion of the northwest quarter of section
20.

RICHLAND TOWNSHIP.

The civil township of Richland, the
twelfth civil township organized in the coun-

GUTHRIE COUNTY, IOWA.

147

ty," was constituted and organized in 1868.
It embraces about twenty-three thousand
acres of land and covers the congressional
township numbered 81, in range 30. It is
watered by the Mosquito and Greenbrier
creeks and some of their small branches;
Greenbrier runs through sections 3, 2 and i,
Mosc|uito enters the township in section 6
and running a southeastern course enters
Dallas county, near the southeast corner of
the township. Near the Mosquito is a tim-
berless stream, but on Greenbrier, in the
northeastern portion of the township, there
were small groves of native timber which,
lying near to the larger groves of North
Coon river, offered inviting advantages to
the early settlers.

In 1854, Josiah and Rachel Black settled
on section i, and resided in their home, then
located, sixteen years. James Measures set-
tled on the same section the next year. The
Godfrey family settled on section 2 in the
spring of 1856, so that Richland township,
though not organized with civil functions
until 1868, was really among the early set-
tled townships of the county. Fifteen miles
of distance, crossing a timberless spread of
broad sloughs and a multitude of ponds,
separated the few settlers along Greenbrier
from the pioneers on Bay's Branch and the
Middle Coon, and there seems to have been
but little association between the settlers on
those streams for many years.

The construction of the Chicago, &
Northwestern Railway to Jefferson in 1866,
turned the attention of home-seeking set-
tlers to the open fertile prairie in the town-
ship of which we write. The earlier set-
tlers had waited long for the incoming emi-
gration, but after 1866, it began to come and
in 1868, the population having increased
to forty-seven persons, its civil organiza-
tion was ordered by the county board.

THE RECORD.

In the minutes of the board of supervisors

for Monday, September 7, 1868, we find
this entry:

"The clerk presented the petition of thir-
teen persons, citizens and residents of town-
ship 81, range 30 west, asking that the said
township be stricken off and organized as
a township. The board being fully advised
in the premises on motion and by an unani-
mous vote, granted the prayer of the peti-
tion and appointed Hiram Wisner to organ-
ize the. same, and designated November — ,
1868, as the time, and the schoolhouse dis-
trict No. — , as the place for holding the first
election for officers of said township. Its
boundaries shall be the boundaries of town-
ship 80, range 30 west, of fifth principal
meridian, Iowa. Said township shall be
called Richland."

We have not been able yet to find any
record of the elections of 1868 or 1869, or
any further record of the organization of the
township or the names of its official board,

POPULATION.

As stated, in the summer of 1868, the
township contained a population of forty-
seven souls. In 1870, this population had
increased to two hundred and eighteen, as
shown by the national census, two hundred
and ten of this population were American
born, eight only of foreign birth. The im-
provement of the township may be said to
date from its organization as a civil township
in 1868. Then the Northwestern was mov-
ing through Greene county, and the Des
Moines Valley was being completed through
Boone, and the market facilities were
brought within reach of the fertile prairies
of Richland, and settlers began to turn
toward the township.

In 1875, according to the state census,
there were eighty-one dwellings in the town-
ship, occupied by eighty-one families, in-
cluding two hundred and sixty male, and
two hundred and thirteen female persons,
a total population of four hundred and sev-

148

PAST AND PRESENT OF

enty-three. one hundred and one of whom
were born in Iowa, three hundred and nine-
teen in other states of the Union, fifty-seven
being born in foreign countries. There were
sixteen births and five deaths in the town-
ship in the preceeding year.

There were six thousand one hundred and
ninety-six acres of improved land in the
township. In 1874, one thousand two hun-
dred and forty acres were sown to spring
wheat, from which seventeen thousand two
hundred and four bushels were harvested.
There were forty-four acres tame grass re-
ported in the township, but one thousand
five hundred and seventy-two tons of wild
hay \\ere made from its fine wild meadows.
The census taken, found thirty-two bearing
apple trees, and reported a harvest of ten
bushels of apples and one thousand and ten
pounds of grapes, in 1874. The orchards
and vineyards of Richland have made vigor-
ous development, in the years succeeding to
the present.

In 1880, the tenth national census was
taken. This showed Richland to be making
rapid advance, the population having in-
creased to six hundred and twenty-four per-
sons. The Des Moines & Northwestern was
then starting into operation and the whistle
of its locomotives were voicing the inspiring
genius of the more potent influences, for the
development of the higher prosperity of its
worthy citizenship.

The state census of 1885, revealed a total
population of nine hundred and sixty-one
persons. There were twenty-eight births in
the township in 1884. Of the nine hundred
and sixty-one, two hundred and forty-nine
were found to be entitled to vote, five hun-
dred and sixteen were males, four hundred
and forty-five were females, five were born
in England, twelve in Ireland, three in
Scotland, nineteen in Canada, nine in
Sweden, forty-one' in Germany. Total
foreign l)()rn, one hundred and sixteen, na-
ti\e l)()rn. eight hundred and forty-five. The

development of the township has gone stead-
ily on since its civil organization twenty
years ago.

INCREASE OF PROPERTY VALUES.

The first assessment of the township of
which we have been able to find the record,
was made in 1870, D. H. Shorey was then
township clerk, and H. L. Miller was as-
sessor. The assessment list was filed wdth
the auditor, E. C. Mount, April 4, 1870,
and but for Mount's date of its filing, on the
outside of its cover, there is not a figure on
or in the book to show for what year it was
made. Men should always date their official
and important business papers. The town-
ship was then divided into five school dis-
tricts and two road districts. Thirty-four
persons were then found in the township
who were subject to military duty. Thirty-
seven persons were found in the township
holding taxable personal property. The
total of the personalty of the township as-
sessed for taxation was eight thousand nine
hundred and fifty-nine dollars, this property
was held by the following named persons in
the amounts given :

G. W. Austin $112

U. E. Butler m

Josiah Black 200

C. R. Campbell 120

J. M. Campbell 60

W. F. Cardell 352

(His wealth consisted largely of six
head of horses, valued at two hun-
dred and ten dollars, and three head
of cattle, \alued at twenty-five dol-
lars. )

E. B. Doty 293

G. \\\ Epperly 445

(Mr. Epperl)' had five head of horses,
valued at one hundred and eighty-five
dollars, and two mules, one hundred
dollars. He was a prince among the
princes of the Richlanders in that

AN IOWA CRAB APPLE TREE

GUTHRIE COUNTY, IOWA.

151

day, for he had two \'ehicles, vahied
at one hundred and twenty-five dol-
lars. Besides he had four head of
cattle and three pigs.)

J. S. Ellis 502

(He had six horses, valued at three
hundred and sixty dollars.)

D. S. Godfrey 185

Miles Godfrey 219

A. H. Godfrey 725

(His wealth consisted of forty-six head

of cattle, valued at four hundred and
nine dollars, an average assessment
of nine dollars per head, and five
horses at two hundred and thirty-five
dollars.)

Elizabeth Godfrey 68

J. AI. Gilson 90

G. U. Huggins 86

Samuel Hunter 455

(Of this wealth four horses were as-
sessed at two hundred and forty dol-
lars — sixty dollars each.)

B. F. Hunter 120

A. D. Haskins 330

W. W. Hale 232

Richland Howrick 165

G. W. King 185

Andrew Kirkpatrick 292

Samuel Lattimer 217

James Lattimer 160

H. L. Miller 740

(The then rich man of the township.

Of this amount three hundred and
fifty dollars was in four horses,
valued at eighty-seven dollars and
fifty cents each for taxation, and two
mules, one hundred dollars. H. L.
could not well complain of his horses
being taxed too high, as he placed the
values on them. He had two head of
swine and four head of cattle.)

J. T. Mitchell 316

W. H. Mott 210

Charles Mott 150

Joseph Montgomery 118

J. Measures 305

E. Parks 18

C. F. Shaw 160

W. Shorey 260

Hiram Wisner 308

William \\>ight .' 233

The grand totals were one hundred and
seven cattle, at thirteen dollars each; one hun-
dred and twenty horses, at forty-seven dollars
each ; six mules, at forty-seven dollars each ;
thirty-five sheep, at thirty-five dollars ; and
sixty-eight head of hogs, at one dollar and
ninety-eight cents each.

The lands of Richland were mostly in a
wild state, but veiT much of it was as-
sessed at as high figures as farms, with
comfortable improvements on them, are now
assessed per acre. There were but two or
three pieces of slough land in the township,
assessed at four dollars per acre. Much of
the wild land was assessed as high as seven
and eight dollars per acre, and but little as
low as five dollars per acre. Were property
assessed as high now in proportion to its
real value as it was in 1870, the total valua-
tion of Richland would be increased one
hundred per cent.

In 1 87 1, Andrew Kirkpatrick, assessor,
found one hundred and thirty-six head of
cattle and placed their total valuation at
one thousand two hundred and twelve dol-
lars. He also found one hundred and six
horses, six mules, thirty sheep and ninety-
nine hogs. The total assessed valuation of
personal property in the township was six
thousand two hundred and ninety-seven dol-
lars, a reduction from the previous year.
The assessed valuation of lands was one
hundred thirty-eight thousand one hundred
and nineteen dollars. Total of all property,
one hundred and forty-four thousand four
hundred and sixteen dollars.

In 1875, William Newlin assessed the
township and the total personal valuation
footed up nineteen thousand five hundred
and seventy dollars, a large increase for
four years; the cattle had increased to six
hundred and seventy-four head, the horse

152

PAST AND PRESENT OF

stock to two hundred and ninety-eight head,
the mules to eight and the swine from nine-
ty-nine to one thousand and eighty-five.
Richland farmers were beginning the on-
ward march to wealth. The lands were
valued at one hundred thirty-five thousand
and forty-eight dollars, giving a total as-
sessment of one hundred fifty-four thousand
six hundred and twenty-seven dollars.

In 1879, M. R. Slade assessed the town-
ship and reported twenty-three thousand
acres of taxable land, valued at one hundred
fifteen thousand one hundred and forty-one
dollars, value of personal twenty-seven thou-
sand seven hundred and seventy-four dol-
lars. This personal including one thousand
and seventy-one head of cattle, three hun-
dred and ninety horses, twenty-seven mules,
ten sheep, and one thousand five hundred
and fort5''-four swine. The total taxable
valuation was one hundred and thirty-two
thousand nine hundred and fifteen dollars.
This reduction of the total valuation resulted
from a large reduction in the assessed valua-
tion of the lands.

In 1883, M. R. Slade again assessed the
township. It was now crossed by the Nar-
row Gauge, and the Chicago, Milwaukee
& St. Paul Railroads, and in the four years
there had been large growth in the perma-
nent and taxable valuation of property, with-
in the township. He assessed twenty-two
thousand seven hundred and seven acres of
land at a total valuation of one hundred
forty-eight thousand six hundred and ninety-
five dollars. Town lots at a total valuation
of sixteen thousand eight hundred and nine-
ty-five dollars, and personal at a total valua-
tion of forty- four thousand one hundred and
ninety dollars, a grand total of two hundred
nine thousand seven hundred and fifty dol-
lars. The personal included one thousand
five hundred and sixty-five head of cattle,
five hundred and twenty-three horses, twen-
ty-seven mules, forty-seven sheep and one
thousand three hundred and fifty-five swine.

Richland township farmers now had some-
thing to assess.

In 1887, G. E. Lamp assessed the town-
ship, reporting twenty-two thousand seven
hundred and eighty-one acres of land at a
total valuation of one hundred seventy-
three thousand nine hundred and thirty-one
dollars, town lots valued at fifteen thousand
one hundred and fifty dollars and a personal
valuation of forty-five thousand one hun-
dred and forty dollars. His assessment in-
cluded one thousand eight hundred and
thirty-two neat cattle, six hundred and eight-
een horses, seventeen mules, sixty-three
sheep, and one thousand nine hundred and
fifty-four swine.

G. E. Lamp assessed the' township for
1889. The equalized values of the lands
is one hundred eighty-one thousand six hun-
dred and fifty dollars, lots twenty-three thou-
sand three hundred and ninety dollars, per-
sonal fifty-five thousand two hundred and
sixty dollars, total two hundred and sixty
thousand two hundred dollars. To this
must be added the railroad valuation of the
Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul, five and
ninety-seven hundredths miles, assessed val-
uation, thirty-five thousand nine hundred
and sixty-nine dollars ; Des Moines & North-
western, six miles, valuation twelve thou-
sand dollars; total railroad valuation, fifty-
seven thousand nine hundred and sixty-nine
dollars ; making a grand total of the present
taxable valuation of the township of three
hundred and nine thousand two hundred and
sixty-nine dollars. There is no doubt that
those figures do not give more than one-
third of the amount of the real value of the
property of the township, so that the aggre-
gate of the true value would fall but little
short of one million dollars. There has
been grinding times, hard seasons, financial
reverses and distress, since the organization
of the township twenty-one short years ago,
but the figures we give, the actual facts of
history, show that there has been grand ad-

GUTHRIE COUNTY, IOWA.

153

vance in the development of wealth in the
finely prospering, progressive township of
which we write.

POLITICAL.

Richland township has, with two excep-
tions, cast a majority of its votes for the
republican state and national tickets, yet
there has been strange fluctuations in its
vote. In 1872, it voted almost solidly for
Grant, and the next year it voted almost as
solidly for Vail, the democratic candidate for
governor, and the other opposition candi-
dates on the state ticket.

In 1870, Richland cast its vote, twenty-
five, solid, for Panora for the county seat.

In 1873, it voted its ninety-one votes,
solid, for Panora.

In 1873, it cast its ninety-one votes, solid,
against the proposition to establish a county
high school at Menlo.

In 1874, it cast fifty-three votes for the
establishment of the county high school at
Panora and nine against it. It cast sixty-
one votes against the transfer of the swamp
land fund and none for the proposition.

In 1875, it gave five votes for the propo-
tion to build a courthouse in Guthrie Center
and fifty-five against it. It gave five votes
for the transfer of the swamp land fund and
fifty-five against it.

In 1877, it gave sixty-three votes for the
erection of the high school building in
Panora and sixty-one for the transfer of the
swamp land fund for that purpose.

In 1880, it gave fifty-six votes for the
purchase of a poor farm and twenty-six
against the proposition.

At a special election May 8, 1882, on
the proposition to bond the county in the
sum of twenty-five thousand dollars, to re-
build the courthouse in Guthrie Center, it
gave the eighty votes cast, solid, against
the proposition.

At the special election June 27, 1882, on
the prohibitory amendment to the state con-

stitution, it cast sixty-five votes for the
amendment and forty-nine against it. Ma-
jority for the amendment, sixteen.

At the election in October, 1881, on the
proposition for the building of a jail in Guth-
rie Center, Richland voted five for the propo-
sition and sixty-four against it.

At a special election in June, 1886, on the
proposition to build a jail in Guthrie Center,
one vote was cast in Richland for the prop-
osition and fifty-six against it.

TOPOGRAPHICAL.

This township, in its native state, was a
vast meadow. Standing on the plateau
forming the southwestern portion of the
township, the eye sweeps over a stretch of
gentle but beautiful undulations extending
to the North Coon timber. There is no
waste, broken land in the township. In its
native state there were some marshy sloughs
and many ponds, but all admitted of easy
drainage by the ditcher's tools, and now
these miry sloughs and ponds, eyesores in
the past, are superseded by beautiful
meadows of cultivated grasses; their great
productiveness amply rewarding their own- .
ers for the labor and expense of their im-
provement. The soil of Richland township
is of superior fertility.

ROADS.,

The first road laid out in Richland town-
ship was the state road, then known as the
Panora and Boone Rapids state road, which
was designed to open a thoroughfare be-
tween Panora and Boonesboro, the two
towns then being the county seats of their
respective counties. This road entering the
township near the southwest corner of sec-
tion 33, ran in an almost due northeasterly
course across sections 33, 27, 23. and 13,
leaving the township near the southeast cor-
ner of section 12 ; Boone Rapids was a ford-
ing place of the Des Moines river, near the

154

PAST AND PRESENT OF

present town of Madrid. On this old road
a line of stages once ran for a brief day.
The building of the Chicago & Northwest-
ern west from Boonesboro, however, soon
ended their usefulness and the stage line,
like the road, went into "innocuous desue-
tude."'

The second road laid out in the township
was the Winterset and Jefferson state road,
now commonly known as the Jefferson and
Panora road, now one of the best-worked
roads in the county. It follows, as now do
all existing roads in the township, the land
lines.

Richland is graced with straight roads.
Running east and west there is a straight
road on every section line. Running from
north to south three roads cross the town-
ship, each one and one-half miles apart, with
roads on the east and west lines of the town-
ship. This arrangement is peculiar but not
altogether inconvenient. The Winterset and
Jefferson state road entered Guthrie county
at the old but now unknown town of Penns-
burg, a town once laid out on section 34,
Penn township, and ran from thence via
the Pierson mill (afterwards Tam's) on
Middle Coon ; thence on the north side of
the Middle Coon diagonally to Panora.
From Panora to \\'interset there are but
few traces of it left.

WATER.

In the early settlement of the township,
it was too profusely watered for the conve-
nience or comfort of the new settlers. Its
ponds and sloughs doubtless for a time re-
pelled emigration. The streams and pon^js
in time of long drouth went dry, springs
were not numerous, but a drill used some
four years ago in the time of a drouth, at
a deplli of about one hundred feet, on the
Morse farm, struck a flowing fountain and
now there are ele\en tine Bowing-wells in
the township, situated on the farms of
Messrs. Baltosser. Eaton, Shi])ley, Morse.

Deardorff, Yale, Fiscel, Eastwood and Price,
lying mostly in the southwestern part of the
township. These furnish a grand perennial
flow of pure water and afford most con-
venient supplies to their fortunate possessor's.
Water in wells is obtained at moderate
depth.

RAILROADS.

In 1872, the Des Moines & Northwestern
line was projected to run from Des Moines
to Sioux City, via Adel. Panora, and north-
westwardly, through Cass, Dodge and High-
land townships. A large amount of tax was
voted in its aid and worked out in con-
structing a grade from Adel to Panora —
those towns being anxious for its construc-
tion to save their county seat advantages.
But when the tax was worked out operations
stopped and for some years the unfinished
road-bed monumented the repetition of an
ancient folly — beginning to build but not
being able to finish. The graded bed rested
and wasted until 1878, when the project was
revived. The objective point being changed
and the line of the road being planned
through Richland township. In the fall of
1879, a five per cent, tax was voted in Rich-
land to aid its construction and, in the winter
of 1880-81. the line was so far completed
that cars were run to Panora. Wcjrk
progressed slowh' in building the road north-
ward. The line was not definitely located
through Richland township until the begin-
ning of May, 1881. As late as the last of
June, that year, the Chicago. Milwaukee
& St. Paul and the Narrow Gauge were in
a muddle about the crossing at Herndon.
Work on the Narrow Gauge was tiien
pushed more vigorously and the narrow
track-way soon began to inspire new life
and business activities, by bringing daily
mails and railroad market adxantages to the
citizens of Richland, so bringfine: them into
direct relation with the great trade centers
of the countrv.

GUTHRIE COUNTY, IOWA.

155

THE CHICAGO, MILWAUKEE & ST. PAUL.

In the month of September, 1880, a corps
of raih-oad surveyors, quietly and un-
heralded, working a survey westward,
entered Richland township from the east ;
no one seemed to know their starting or ob-
jective points. The}' made a careful survey
through the township ; hax'ing their own
complete camp outfit, they troubled no one.
On Saturday, October 9, 1880, in company
with J. H. Rea, we visited their camp on the
Bartholomew farm, in Dodge to\ynship, was
introduced to the chief engineer and after
some conversation, finding that we could
give him desirable information regarding
the country west from Willow creek through
Guthrie, Audubon and Shelby counties, he
showed us the plats and profiles he was mak-
ing of his work, and we saw that the coi^ps
was sent out by a party that meant the con-
struction of the road, and so reported in
the Guthrian of the following week.

In the following May this line was defi-
nitely located through this county, and work
was begun in the construction of the im-
portant road. Its builders asked no sub-
sidies and sought no aid. They were able
to build and the road was pushed rapidly
to completion. In the last days of July,

1 88 1, the track was laid to Perry, but did
not run through Richland until November,

1882. Its comiDletion gave Richland the ad-
vantage of two through railroad lines, and
freed the productions of the farmers of Rich-
land from the necessity of suffering taxation
to build up the business interests and pros-
perity of market places outside of their own
surroundings, and secured them market ad-
vantages equal to the best in western Iowa.

MINING.

Some prospecting has been done but, so
far as we know, no paying veins of coal have
yet been discovered within the township.
Extensive veins are worked in Dallas and

Greene counties near Richland township, and
will add largely to its wealth and business

advantag'es.

HONORS.

Citizens of Richland have filled important
county offices. In 1873, W. F. Cardell was
elected representative; in 1877, H. L. Miller
was elected a member of the board of super-
visors and re-elected in 1880; G. J. Boyd
was elected coroner in 1873; in 1887, I- R-
Shipley was elected representative and re-
elected the present year.

POSTOFFICES.

The first postoffice in the township was es-
tablished in 1872, G. \\\ Miller, postmaster,
and was located at the northeast corner of
section 22 and was named Advance. In
1882, it was removed to Herndon. The
township now enjoys daily mail advantages
at Herndon, Jamaica and Yale, the latter
place being in the edge of Cass township.

BIRTHS, DEATHS.

The first birth in the township was that
of a daughter in the family of George Ham-
ilton, occurring in 1856.

The first person to die was Jacob Heater,
son of Jackson and Mary C. Heater, his
death occurring March 8, 1863. He was
buried at Rippey.

SCHOOLS.

The first school in Richland township
was taught by D. Farnsworth, in 1857.
The first schoolhouse was built in 1866.
The district township was divided into nine
sub-districts of equal size and the fall of
1878 witnessed the completion of the full
complement of schoolhouses, the one being
erected in district No. 8. The township is
now well supplied with good schools. It is
vet sub-divided in nine districts, but has ten

156

PAST AND PRESENT OF ,

schoolhouses — the Herndon district having
two. Shade trees are set out at about nine
of the schoolhouses. District No. i sustains
a graded school. Eleven teachers are em-
ployed in the township. Last year three
male and fifteen female teachers were em-
ployed at an average compensation of thirty-
three dollars per month. The enrollment of
■school population now numbers one hundred
and ninety-four males and one hundred and
seventy-five females, total, three hundred
and sixty-nine. The value of the school-
liouses is reported at three thousand seven
hundred and fifty dollars, the lowest in
value one hundred dollars, and the highest,
one thousand two hundred dollars. Rich-
land township is well caring for its youth.
We shall give church matters and towns in
another article.

TOWNS AND CHURCHES.

Prior to the construction of the Des
Moines & Northwestern Railroad, Rich-
land township was destitute of town ad-
vantages. Perry, nine miles from its east-
ern, and Jefferson, eleven miles from its
northern line, were its nearest town mar-
Icets. A small general store had been run
for some time west of the center of the
township, but with the nearest railroad sta-
tion, thirteen miles from its location, there
was not much hope of its becoming a very
Tjrisk business center, and the citizens of
Richland were anxious to secure a railroad
through their township, and gladly voted
aid to the first line promised. The condi-
tions of the proposition on which they voted
aid recpiired the establishment of a depot
within the township. The final location of
the line of the Chicago, Milwaukee & St.
Paul line through the township assured a
railroad crossing within the township, and
that crossing indicated a proper site for a
town. The two railroad companies got into
a wrangle about the location of the crossing
•on account of the heavy grade on the Chi-

cago, Milwaukee & St. Paul line, at the
point where it would be compelled to cross
the Narrow Gauge line, if that road would
be built on a straight line through the town-
ship. The Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul
by strategy, first gained possession by put-
ting men to work on its line, and dictated
to the Narrow Gauge in the matter of the
crossing, compelling it to make an eastward-
ly curve in its line. The wrangle prevented
the union of the companies on one town site,
and as a result, two different towns were laid
out, one by the Narrow Gauge interest, near
or at the crossing, the other by the Chicago,
Milwaukee & St. Paul Company, some two
miles east of the crossing. This division of
interests in building -two towns so near to-
gether precluded harmonious efforts to pro-
mote the fullest possible development of
either town, or surrounding country. The
Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul refused to
furnish any depot accommodations or ad-
vantages whatever to the town at the cross-
ing, until in the nineteenth general assembly,
February, 1884, Hon. J. A. Lyons succeeded
in obtaining the enactment of a law requir-
ing railroad companies to furnish depot fa-
cilities at crossings, and the Narrow Gauge
depot, at Herndon, was moved to the cross-
ing, good platforms were constructed, and
the two roads were brought into more har-
monious relation.

HERNDON.

Herndon was laid put on land purchased
by Polk and Hubble, of Des Moines, of H.
C. Booth, being a plat of sixty acres, in the
northwest quarter of section 9, so that the
town is one mile from the north, and two
miles from the west line of the township.
It was surveyed by T. E. House, in Decem-
ber, 1 88 1. Its streets cross at right angles
— the original plat contained twenty-eight
blocks, sub-divided into two hundred and
twenty lots ; the residence lots are sixty-six
bv one hundred and thirtv-two feet, business

GUTHRIE COUNTY, IOWA.

157

lots twenty-two by one hundred and thirty-
two feet. On account of the deflection of
the Hne of the Narrow Gauge hne from the
street Hues, there are a number of fractional
lots along that railroad line. The plat of
the town w^as filed for record, February 6,
1882. Lots were put on market, Shipley
Brothers soon erected a frame building,
which they occupied as a store-room and
residence. Others followed, and Herndon
became one of the railroad, towns of the
county.

VANNESS OR JAMAICA.

This town was laid out by the Chicago,
Milwaukee & St. Paul Railroad Company,
on land purchased of John S. Ellis, and was
platted on the northeast quarter of section
II. The survey was made by one of the
railroad company's corps of civil engineers,
and the plat was filed February 21, 1882,
fifteen days subsequent to the filing of the
plat of Herndon, so that both towns had
an almost even start. On the plat the place
was named Vanness, but there being another
town by that name in the state, the name w^as
soon changed to Jamaica, by which name it
will most likely be permanently known. It
was laid out in blocks of irregular form and
size — the lots along the railroad are frac-
tional. The business lots are twenty-five by
one hundred and forty-two feet, the resi-
dence lots fifty by one hundred and forty-
two. It occupies a fine natural site, and is a
very pleasant village. J. J. Ouiggins was the
pioneer business man, erecting the first build-
ing, a two-story frame, and opening the first
stock of goods. Its original plat was divided
into eight blocks, which were sub-divided
into one hundred and tw^enty lots. It now
has a graded school kept in a neat frame
building of two rooms, Prof. Lewxllen,
principal, and Mrs. Densmore, assistant
teacher, both excellent instructors.

CHURCHES.

The Methodist Episcopal society has a
neat and pleasant frame church building in
which there is regular preaching and a good
Sabbath school.

The United Brethren are now^ buildingf
a neat and well arranged church building.
We visited the structure last Friday, found
the painter at work on the inside, neatly
finishing it in grain of ash and oak. It is
to be dedicated on Sabbath, December 29th,
by Rev. G. W. Miller, of Carlisle.

Jamaica is one of the pleasant thriving
new towns of Guthrie county, in a beautiful
native prairie expanse, now filled with de-
lightful farm homes.

The McAllister coal bank is about one
mile and a half in a direct line from the
village. Coal will most likely be discovered
at some not distant day nearer the village.
It is clearly within the natural gas belt, as
it is but two miles from Herndon and five
from Dawson, at both of which places
natural gas has been found and is now put
to practical use. The town has fine stores,
is a good business point, is in the midst of
a fine country, has tasteful dwellings and
an orderly society and must and will im-
prove. Recently a flow of water has been
struck in an artesian well near the village.
Its site is undulating, dry, sightly and
healthful.

HERNDON AGAIN.

Through the aid of N. J. Sawyer, we have
a list of the business firms of booming
Flerndon. a village not long ago noted for
its boom and a place that will yet most likely
boom into a thrifty prospering town.

NATURAL GAS.

This important fluid fuel now coming into
such large use in different parts of the coun-
tv was discovered near Herndon in the

158

PAST AND PRESENT OF

summer of 1887. F. M. Gardener, seek-
ing a larger supply of water in a well with
a common well auger, at a depth of some
seventy feet, struck a force that made a
strange ebullition in the water of the well.
It was soon discovered that it would burn.
H. C. Booth, about a quarter of a mile north-
west of Hemdon, in boring a well struck the
same fluid. Piping was obtained and the
gas was conveyed into his house and put to
practical use. Other discoveries of gas were
soon made on the town plat and the gas
boom struck Herndon. Lands were bought
by syndicates that were formed, new addi-
tions to the town were laid out until the
town plat was made to cover about four
hundred acres, many buildings were erected,
including a fine new hotel building, and a
block of fix'e store rooms when, for some
reason, the land and town companies seem
to ha\'e become unwilling to invest in deep
borings that were absolute essentials to a
discovery of gas in such quantities as would
assure sufficient supplies for manufacturing
purposes, and the boom speedily collapsed.
We believe there is gas at Herndon in large
quantities, but it will cost money to get
down to the fountains ; but whene\'er they
are reached Herndon will boom as it has
never yet boomed, and will become a city.
It now has the necessary railroad facilities,
being at the junction of two important lines.
Gas is now used in a residence for heating
purposes, in the lumber office of Lee &
Jamison, and in the farm residence of P.
Lieber, about one mile northwest of Hern-
don, for heating purposes. At Dawson,
seven miles east of Herndon, a large brick
and tile plant is being erected to be run by
the use of natural gas as a fuel. During the
Herndon boom, a large amount of grading
was done on the streets of the town which
is a permanent and valuable improvement.

THE TRAX.SFER.

The Narrow Gauge rijad has an arrange-

ment with the Chicago, Milwaukee & St.
Paul road for shipping produce it hauls to
eastern markets^ This necessitates the re-
loading of all stuff hauled on the Narrow
Gauge into the wider cars of the Chicago,
Milwaukee & St. Paul road, side tracks and
an elevated trackway ha\'e been built for the
accommodation of this large business which
gives steady employment to seven men.

The Independent district supports two ex-
cellent schools, one in the town taught by
Miss Gertie Mattick, and one in the country
taught by E. C. McBride, an excellent teach-
er. Both are doing good work.

The ]\Iethodist Episcopal church is the
only religious organization in the village,
Rev. Bently is pastor, the society is connect-
ed with the Jamaica circuit, church services
are held in an audience room in the Com-
mercial block, which by the Ladies" Aid
Society, has been neatly furnished with
organ, stand, chairs, and electric oil lamps.
Rev. Mr. Rice. Christian, and Rev. Mallon,
Lutheran, are resident ministers of the
village.

In a former chapter we stated that there
were no coal mines in Richland township.
One, however, has recently been opened on
land owned by Mr. McAllister, in the north-
east quarter of section i, from w'hich a large
quantity of coal is being taken.

UNION TOWNSHIP.

This division of the county of Guthrie is
a full congressional township, and contains
thirty-six square miles or twenty-three thou-
sand and forty acres. It is on the western
line of the county, in the second tier of
townships from the north, and is known as
township 80, range 33. It is bounded on
the north by Orange township, on the east
by Seely, on the south by Bear Grove, and
on the west by Audubon county. Although
not mountainous or rocky, yet it is consider-
ably rough, especially along the banks of
the streams, and this feature has largelv

SAW MILL OF C. S. ALDRICH IN 1890

GUTHRIE COUNTY, IOWA.

i6i

militated against its settlement; but a close
observer will see that this is now being done
away with, as it is demonstrated that some
of the most productive farms in the county
lie within its limits, and it will rapidly fill
up in a few years. The south fork of the
Raccoon river enters this township on the
north line of section 4, and meandering
along with pellucid waters through that and
sections 3, 10, 11 and 12, drains and fer-
tilizes the northeastern part of the township,
while several considerable affluents do the
same for the other parts. The township
possesses much desirable land, and except
a lack of railroad facilities, has many in-
ducements to farmers seeking a home. It
has timber sufficient for practical use, while
groves are being planted wherever the home-
stead is pitched, as shade and protection
from storms and for prospective fuel.

EARLY SETTLEMENT.

The first settler in the township was
Luther Frost, who at first settled here on
section 13 in 1854. After residing here for
some little time he moved to Seely town-
ship, and later to Thompson, and in 1884
to Nebraska.

John Frost was the second to make a
settlement on section 13, in the year 1854.

Moses Drake was the third who settled
in this township, coming here in 1856, and
breaking the land and erecting a log cabin,
settled down to the hard life of a pioneer.

R. J. Patterson located upon section i, in
the spring of 1856, where he remained one
year, removing thence to Panora. He
then engaged in the grocery business in
Guthrie Center. When he came to this
township with his family, they lived in a
tent during the day and slept in the wagon
at night, a species of gypsy life, sadly at
variance with what they had been ac-
customed to. In this way they lived for
some six weeks, when they moved into a
house which they had in the meantime built.
9

While on their journey from Panora to
their place, Mrs. Patterson was continually
on the watch for the residence of Isaac
Parrish, who had sold them the land, and
^vho did not live very far off. Anxiety and
fatigue caused the hours to roll by on leaden
wings, and she was about to give up looking
for it, when suddenly coming to the top of
a hill she caught sight of a small building,
and turning to her husband, in joy, said, "O,
there's the hen-house, anyway! I presume
we will soon see the house." "Yes, cer-
tainly," was the reply of the more worldly-
wise, although provoking husband. Soon
they drove up to the cabin, and found what
she took for a fowl house was the residence
of the gentleman they were looking for.
The family of Mr. Patterson saw very hard
times through that fearful winter of
1856-57, and in the spring moved to Panora,
as above mentioned.

Elijah Birge settled in the southwestern
part of the township during the year 1858,
the pioneer of that section of Union.

HISTORIC CRUMBS.

The first log cabin was erected in Union
township by John Frost early in 1854.

The first frame house was built by Peter
Luckinbill, on his advent here in 1857, ^^^
in which he died.

The first land was broken by Luther
Frost, in the spring of 1854, and on this
the first crop was raised.

The first birth was that of Peter, the son
of John Frost, which occurred in May,

1855-

The first marriage on record in L'nion

township was that which united the destinies

of Charles Birge and Miss Eliza Dixon, in

1857.

The pioneer school was a subscription

one, taught by Miss Philena Jordan, in a

log cabin put up for the purpose by the

patrons of the school. This was opened

in June, 1858.

1 62

PAST AND PRESENT, OF

ORGANIC.

CEMETERY.

In 1 86 1 a township was set off from that
of Bear Grove, and called Union; this then
comprised all of township 80, range 33, and
the west half of township 80, range 32.
The first entry upon the books of the town-
ship clerk is as follows: "Union township
trustees met March 13, 1862, and ordered
notices posted in five conspicuous places no-
tifying electors to meet at the Iver's school-
house, at ten o'clock, on the 22d of March,
1862, for the purpose of electing three sub-
directors to organize a board of directors of
said township for school purposes." This
is signed by William Ivers, as township
clerk. About this time a great dispute arose
between the newly-formed township of See-
ly and Union, in regard to the indebtedness
of the latter. It was determined to submit
the question to arbitration, and Union town-
ship appointed J. A. Pierce and Seeley B.
F. Whistler, as a committee to determine
the same. On th6 2d of March, 1877, these
gentlemen made a report settling the matter,
they having agreed that the township of
Seely should assume one-third of the in-
debtedness, which was seven hundred and
sixteen dollars. Thus this little breeze was
amicably arranged.

EDUCATIONAL.

The pioneer school of Union township
was taught by Miss Philena Jordan, in the
summer of 1858. This was previous to the
formation of any school district, so the
citizens interested clubbed together and
erected a log building for a schoolhouse, and
supported the school by subscription. The
school was opened in June, and some twelve
scholars were enrolled.

In 1859, the township was made a sub-
district of the center district township, and
in i860, a schoolhouse was erected in which
Miss Jordan continued to teach, as before,
onlv at the expense of the district.

Union township cemetery was laid out by
A. McClaran, the county surveyor, on the
23d of April, 1880, and is located upon sec-
tion 15. The first interment was that of a
child of C. B. True.

VICTORY TOWNSHIP.

The subdivision of Guthrie county, which
bears the name of Victory, is technically
known as township 80, range 3 1 , west of the
fifth principal meridian. It contains an area
of thirty-six square miles, or twenty-three
thousand and forty acres. It is bounded on
the north by Dodge, on the east by Cass, on
the south by Valley, and on the west by
Seely townships. The middle fork of the
Raccoon river traverses this township, run-
ning through the central portion. Entering
on section 5, it pursues a meandering course
southeasterly, through sections 4, 9, 14, 15,
16, 23 and 24, leaving on section 25. The
Brushy, also flowing through the south-
western part of the township, waters the soil
of sections 19, 20, 28, 29, and 33, through
which it passes. These main streams, with
numerous small affluents, supply a full
amount of water for all agricultural and
stock purposes.

Along the course of the Middle "Coon"
there is found a considerable supply of tim-
ber, consisting of the usual varieties of
deciduous trees found in this latitude. In
this the woodman's ax has seemed to make,
at times, sad havoc with this natural supply
of fuel, but other trees sprang up, rapidly
assuming good proportions, as if in defiance
of man's attempt at extermination.

The surface is, for the most part, of gently
rolling prairie, but in the neighborhood of
the streams it becomes sometimes abrupt and
hilly, although not to the extent of entirely
destroying their value for agricultural pur-
poses.

GUTHRIE COUNTY, IOWA.

163

The soil is of the dark, sandy loam, pe-
culiar to the lands overlain by the drift for-
mation, and is noted for being the best in
the world for the growth of corn. Warm,
quick and easily tilled, this seems to be the
home of "Mondamin," as the Indian calls
the corn, and that great cereal is largely
cultivated in this locality.

The population is mixed, but the Amer-
ican is the predominant race, and all are of
the most enterprising, thrifty character.

EARLY SETTLEMENT.

Peter Vandevanter was the pioneer set-
tler of Victory township, according to the
most authentic accounts. He located upon
section 2-^, in the spring of 185 1, -having
come here from Indiana. He was a native
of Guernsey county, Ohio, and was an odd,
peculiar kind of individual, very fond of fun
and all kinds of jokes. He resided here until
the day of his death, which took place in
the winter of 1858, when he was buried on
section 22. His wife removed to Grand
Round Valley, Oregon. Mr. Vandevanter
had five children, but all of them have re-
moved from the county. His youngest son,
John, accidentally shot himself while hunt-
ing, shortly after removing to Oregon, in
1869.

Israel Vandevanter evidently settled in
this township in 1851 or 1852, but the year
is not settled beyond doubt.

Another of the early settlers was John
Vandevanter, who was born in Guernsey
county, Ohio, on the 9th of March, 1819.
He was the son of Cornelius and Sarah
(Hestewood) Vandevanter. In early life
his parents took him with them to Vermil-
ion county, Illinois, where the father died.
John came to Victory township, in this coun-
ty, and located upon section 23, but in the
following December, removed to section 22.
He was a carpenter as well as a farmer, and
followed the double trade for some years.
He was a married man, having been united

in matrimony May 7, 1846, with Miss
Emily, daughter of Joseph and Sarah
(Myers) Frazier, by whom he had one child,
Peter. John Vandevanter died at his resi-
dence on section 22, on the 13th of May,
1883. His widow was born in Vermilion
county, Illinois, April 10, 1828, and came
to Jackson township, Guthrie county, in
July, 1853. Her mother died August 13,
1871 ; her father, November 5, 1874.
Peter, the son of John and Emily Vandevan-
ter, was married December 7, 1 871, to Miss
Julia A., daughter of Abram and Mary J.
(Younger) Straight, and they have been
blessed with five children, Mary E., Ma-
halia J.. Marinda E., John W. and Peoria
Viola.'

Thomas Mofiitt located upon section 4, in
May, 1852, with his family. He was elected
to fill the position of county judge in 1863,
and assumed the judicial ermine with the
beginning of the year 1864, and served two
years. He was born in Ross county, Ohio,
August 12, 1 80 1, and is the son of Joshua
and Sarah (Ward) Moffitt. He was mar-
ried in the place of his birth on the i6th
of December, 1824, to Miss Elizabeth Day,
a daughter of Thomas and Mar}^ (Fleury)
Day, by whom he had ten children : Albert
died in infancy; Orlando; Adeline; Alonzo
died in 1850; Caroline; Minerva; Angeline
died in i860; Sarah E. ; and Myron T. Mr.
Mofiitt moved to Hancock county,
Ohio, in the fall of 1830, where he remained
until 1852, when he came to Guthrie county,
and in May of that year settled upon section
4, in Victory township. He has held many
ofiices of honor and trust since coming here.

Peter H. Bryan, a son-in-law of Thomas
Mofiitt, came with that gentleman in May,
1852, and settled upon a part of section 14.
He was a native of the Keystone state, but
resided for some time in the same place as
the Mofiitts, where he was married to Miss
Caroline Mofiitt, in March, 1852. He was
a deep student and quite reserved, although
not morose nor taciturn, but of quite warm

164

PAST AND PRESENT OF

feelings. He and his family are now resi-
dents of Morris county, Kansas, whither he
emigrated in the fah of 1883. He had four
children, Thomas M., William O., John and
Mary E.

Horatio and Ozaias Shaw, two brothers,
were the next settlers here, locating upon
section 15, in the fall of 1852. They were
natives of Ohio, but came here from Indiana,
where they had been living. Horatio died at
his home in Victory, in the spring of 1864,
and was buried in Moffitt's grove cemetery.
His wife resided in Oregon, in 1886, but one
of his sons is still here, living in Panora, an-
other one in Atlantic.

John and Jacob Van Order, two brothers
from South Bend, Indiana, settled in Vic-
tory township, in 1852, on section 22.

Luther, Abram, William and David
Straight were the next to come to this local-
ity in search of a home. This was in the
spring of 1853. These parties came here
from Marshall county, Illinois, although na-
tives of New York state. Luther settled
upon section 27, where he followed farming
until the day of his death. He was united
in wedlock with Miss Elizabeth Lot, in New
York, before he left that state, and had seven
children. He was a frank, generous man,
who was considered a most excellent "yarn
spinner" by his friends. His wife died in the
spring of 1873, and both are buried in Guth-
rie Center cemetery. William remained here
about two years, when he moved to Kicka-
poo, Kansas, but afterward went to Sandy
Point, on the Missouri river, where he now
resides. Abram settled on section 28, where
he remained until 1858, when he went into
the grocery business in Guthrie Center. In
later years he started for Oregon, but died
while on his way to that land of promise.
David remained about seven years, when
he removed to Sandy Point with his brother,
where he has since died, leaving a wife and
six children.

Henry Moffitt was a settler of the year

of 1855, locating on section 3 in the fall of
that year. He was a native of Hancock
county, Ohio. He was married to Miss
Mary Davis, in Ross county, Ohio, by whom
he had eight children. King Robert B.,
Emma R., Henry, Emmett, Aledoras, Theo-
dore, and two who died in infanc3\ Mr.
Moffitt died in 1858, and is buried in Mof-
fitt's Grove cemetery. His widow after-
ward moved to Carroll county, where she
died. One of his sons, K. R. B., is a resi-
dent of Grant township, this county.

John Clark made a settlement in Victory
township in July, 1853, but in October of
the same year removed to Dodge, where he
died in 1875.

Samuel Cummins made a settlement on
section 3, in the fall of 1853. He was a
native of Ohio, from which state he came
here. He did not enter his land here, but in
1856, moved to Highland township and
acquired a title to a farm there. Sometime
during the war he removed to Oregon.

Samuel McClaran was the next pioneer
in this township, settling in October, 1853.
He was a native of Ohio, where he was born
in 1805. After his marriage to Miss Mary-
Cline he remained in Holmes county, in his
native state until he removed to Owen
countv, Indiana, where he engfagfed in
farming. He came to this county in June,
1853, stopping for a short time' in Panora,.
when he came here, locating on section 10.
On the 1 8th of August, 1858, he died, and
on the 1 6th of January, 1880, his widow
followed him.

Peter H. McClaran was born in May,
1846, in Owen county, Indiana, his parents,
being Samuel and Mary (Cline) McClaran.
His parents moved to Panora in June. 1853.
where they remained until August of the-
same year, when they moved to Victory
tow-nship, settling on section 10. In 1870,.
Peter was married to Miss Sarah M. Truax,
a (laughter of James and Jane (Carson)
Truax. They have had three children.

GUTHRIE COUNTY, IOWA.

165

Laura May, born in August, 1873, died in
June, 1875 ; Daisy and Clarence.

Elijah Carrick, one of the settlers of 1854,
was born in Darke county, Ohio, on the loth
of May, 1 810, and is the son of Heniy and
Eleanor (Shreves) Carrick. In 1832 he re-
moved to St. Joseph county, Indiana, where
he was married, on the 24th of July, 1834,
to Miss Nancy Ireland, by whom he had
seven children, Margaret, Martha, Edgar,
Clarinda, Albert, William T. and Francis
M. On the 7th of August, 1854, he came to
this township, taking up a claim on section
23. His wife died here in the spring of
1855, and in his loneliness he was again
married on the 2d of May, 1861, to Miss
Isabel Shanks Peterson. This latter union
has been blessed with four children, Marion
B., Jane, Catherine and Clarinda. This old
settler is still a resident of the old home-
stead.

Robert T. Chambers settled upon a por-
tion of section 2, in Victory township, on
the 2d of October, 1854, and settled down
to the hard life of a pioneer. He was a na-
tive of New Jersey, having been born in
Monmouth county, that state, on the i6th
of June, 1816. He is the son of Job and
Mary J. (Thomas) Chambers. In 1837 his
parents removed to Clay county, Indiana,
where they both died. The subject of this
sketch was married in his native place to
Miss Lydia A. Hulse, in October, 1836, and
their union has been blessed with ten chil-
dren. Job, Amy J., Mary E., Rhoda A.,
Harriet S., Edward, Robert P., Hannah A.,
Nancy and Eliza. He removed to Indiana
at the same time as his parents, and came
to Guthrie county as above stated. His wife
died April 13, 1881.

Robert and Jonathan Reynolds were the
next settlers, coming here in September,
^^55- Jonathan, the elder, was born on the
loth of July, 1819, in Blunt county, Ten-
nessee, and is the son of Thomas L. and
Nancy Reynolds. His parents moved to
Lawrence county, Indiana, in 1826, and en-

gaged in farming. His father died here
in 1830, and the widow, with her children,
moved to this county, settling in Jackson
township, on the 13th of November, 1854.
On the 1st of September, 1855, Jonathan,
leaving the parental roof, came to this town-
ship, locating upon section 5, where he still
resides. His wife was Mary J., a daughter
of James and Christina Dalzell, and they
have had five children, Albinus, James,
Samuel, Thomas and Cora Edith. James
and Samuel are both dead. His brother
Robert was born in Lawrence county, In-
diana, on the 1st of February, 1828. When
he came to Victory township, on the ist
of September, 1855, he located on section 6.
His mother accompanied him hither, and
lived with him until the day of her death,
which deplorable event occurred April 28,
1863. Robert was married in Indiana, to
Miss Leaner Hoopingarner, on the i6th of
March, 1849, and they have three children,
Simpson, Elizabeth C, and Charles H.

James Dalzell made a settlement on section
21 in the fall of 1855. He was a native of
County Monahan, Ireland, where he was
born on the 9th of September, 181 1. He
came to America in 1840, staying for some
time near New York city. From there he
removed to New Jersey, and then to Cambria
county, Pennsylvania, and, after several
other stoppages on his western way, arrived
in Guthrie county as above stated. He died
here on the 23d of August, 1877, and his
wife became a resident of Dodge township.
His son, Samuel, lives on the old homestead
in this township.

George M. Rich, one of Victory town-
ship's most prominent men, settled here, on
section 34, in the spring of 1856, where he
still resides. George M. Rich was born in
Monongahela county. West Virginia, and
came to Guthrie county iii the spring of
1856, and located on section 34, Victory
township. He was born in December, 1831,
and when quite young, his parents having
died, he was taken to raise by a man by the

i66

PAST AND PRESENT OF

name of Andrew Anderson, of \Vaynesburg,r?7
Greene county, Pennsylvania. He remained
there about three years, when he moved with
Mr. Anderson to Bureau countv, IlHnois.
After remaining about one month in that
place, Mr. Rich went to Marshall county,
where he was married in 1853, to Miss Mary
J. Straight, a daughter of Luther and Eliza-
beth (Lott) Straight. They have had eleven
children. His place is called the Gospel
Ridge Farm.

In October, 1856, Jacob Dubbs removed
his family to this township and located upon
section 13. Jacob Dubbs was born January
12, 1 819, in Darmstadt, Germany, being the
son of Conrad and Elizabeth (Scheats)
Dubbs. His father died in Germany, De-
cember 22, 1833. Jacob emigrated to the
United States in 1840, landing in New York,
from which place he went to Philadelphia,
Pennsylvania, where he remained until 1841,
when he went to Stark county, Ohio. He
afterward went to Carroll county, Ohio,
where he worked at cabinet-making. He was
married there, November 9, 1842, to Miss
Elizabeth Carrothers, daughter of Thomas
and Mary (Snodgrass) Carrothers. They
have one child, John A.

Among the arrivals of 1857 was that of T.
P. Reed, one of the most