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PIONEERS
OF
MARION CODSTY,
CONSISTINQ OF A
General History of the County
FSOM ITS EARLY SETTIiEMENT TO THE PRESENT DATE. ALSO, THE QEO-
ORAPHY AND HISTORY OF EACH TOWNSHIP, INCLUDING BRIEF
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES OF SOME OF THE MORE PROMINENT
EARLY SETTLERS IN EACH, TOGETHER WITH NUMEROUS
INCIDENTS ILLUSTRATIVE OF PIONEER LIFE MORE
THAN TWENTY-FIVE YEARS AGO.
(By WJ£. Jl. QOJfJTEL.
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DES MOINES, IOWA:
REPUBLICAN BTEAM PRINTING HOUSE.
1872.
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DEDICATION.
To the following persons, who have kindly furnished me the
means for its pablication, this, his first effort as a historian, is
respectfully dedicated by their humble servant, the Author.
JOHN 0. DONNEL, THOS. FORSTTHE,
JAS. M. CATHCART, B. G. b6wEN,
A. G. YOUNG, . D. T. DURHAM,
A. B. MILLER.
PREFACE.
In presenting this work to the public, it appears to me tha£
an apology is indispensable, and I make it in the form of a
preface.
It is now upwards of four years since I first entered upon
the laborious but pleasant task of collecting the materials that
compose this book. It was then my design to compile brief
biographical sketches of the earliest settlers, together with
complete accounts of their pioneer experience ; but as I pro-
ceeded with the work, materials of a more general historical
character, fraught with interests that demanded attention, ac-
cumulated upon my hands, swelling the volume far beyond the
limits I had first marked out for it. So, beyond giving a his-
tory of the pioneers of Marion connty, I have given a history
of the county itself, and retain the title originally intended
for it.
If in some instances I have erred in date or statement, or
have omitted any circumstances worthy of mention, the reader
vdll please to bear in mind that in sifting and selecting from a
large mass of matter collected from various sources, the lia-
bility to err is unquestionable. Notwithstanding the great
diflSculty of avoiding mistakes, I have carefully endeavored to
do 80, and it is to be hoped that few or none of importance
have found their way into these pages.
I have aiso carefully endeavored to avoid making any state-
ment prejudicial to any person, or oflTensive to any political
partizan, deeming such matter not only undesirable, but un-
called for in an impartial history. This work has nothing to do
6 * Preface.
with the partizan politics of the country, and may be safely
relied upon as a source of useful information and entertainment
to all parties. In short, I have tried to make a book well worth
being made a keepsake in every family in Marion county.
In conclusion, I return my sincere thanks to the many good
friends who so kindly welcomed me to their homes, and aided
me with such historical facts as they had in their possession.
I hope to merit their continued kindness and good will.
WM. M. DONNEL.
INTRODUCTION.
Marion county originally belonged to a large tract of country
ceded to the United States by the Sac and Fox Indians, at a
treaty held at Agency, in the autumn of 1842. At that treaty
the entire tribe was as^mbled, and Keokuk was their spokes-
man. Among other stipulations it was agreed that the new
purchase should be vacated by the Indians as far west as the
red rocks on the Des Moines river, on the first day ot May,
1843, and the remainder by the tenth of October, 1845. The
line to distinguish the United States from Indian Territory,
that crossed the river a short distance above the present site of
Ued Eock village, was run by Geo. W. Harrison, U. S. sur-
veyor, in the autumn of '48. In running this line, the distance
from the Missouri state line to the monument he erected over
the red sand-stone bluffs, north of the river, was found to be
just 69 miles.
Marion is in the third tier of counties from the south line of
the State, the fifth from the east line, the seventh from the
north line, and the sixth from the west line. Its center is
about 52 miles north of the south line of the State, 108 west
of the Mississippi river, 150 from the north line of the State,
and about the same distance east of the Missouri river, calcu-
lating these distances in a straight direction. It is in the 4l8t
degree of north latitude, and 16 degrees west of Washington.
It is nearly on the same latitude with Sandusky City, Ohio,
Hartford and New Haven, Connecticut, Providence and
Newport, Ehode Island, Madrid, in Spain, [Rome and Naples,
7
8 Introduction.
in Italy, Constantinople, in Turkey, and Salt Lake City, in
Utah.
Marion county is bounded on the north by Jasper county,
on the east by Mahaska, on the south by Monroe and Lucas,
and on the west by Warren. It is in an exact square of 24
miles, and therefore embraces an area of 676 square miles or
sections, equal to 368,690 acres, at least seven eights of which is
rich, tillable land. And this area is occupied by a population
that averages a little more than 42 persons to the square mile.
The principle streams that run through the county are the
Des Moines and Skunk rivers, much the larger of which ie the
Des Moines. This stream rises in thef southern part of Min-
nesota, runs nearly south till it reaches the capital of Iowa,
where it takes a direct southeast course, till it empties into the
Mississippi at Keokuk. It enters Marion county at section 7,
township 77, and range 21, being near the northwest corner,
and leaves it in section 13, township 75, range 18. In the sec-
tion of this stream that forms the boundary line between Red
Rock and Union townships, it once made a large curve to the
southwest, forming a long peninsula with a narrow neck. In
1847 this curve was so dammed with ice and drift-wood that
the water was forced to cut a new channel across the neck,
leaving the old one a mere bayou. This place is known as
"The Cut-off." The Des Moines is navigable for small
steamboats as far as the capital, during freshets.
Skunk river crosses the northeast corner of the county, en-
tering it in section 5, township 77, range 18, and leaves it in
section 24, same township and range. The Indian name for
it was Chicauqua by which it was also known by the old set-
tlers of the lower counties through which it runs. The term
Chicauqua is said to signify anything of a strong odor, and is
supposed to have been applied to this stream on account of the
great quantity of wild onions that grew about its head waters.
In accordance with this supposition, (which is probably true,)
Introduction. 9
•
and also in order to give the little etream a more practical
name than Skunk, a bill was introduced daring the session of
the State legislature of 1809 and 1870 enacting that it shonld
be called Chicanqua, which however failed to pass. It is an
exceedingly crooked stream, with a deep, narrow channel and
abrupt banks, which give it a treacherous look daring high
w^ater.
White Breast, the third stream of any importance, enters
the county in section 18, township 79, range 21, runs in a
northeasterly direction,^ and empties into the Des Moines in
section 10, township 76, range 19. The Indian name for this
stream was Waupo-ca-ca, the name of an Indian chief, some
account of whom is given in the history of Polk township.
There are numerous smaller streams that I shall take occa-
sion to notice in my township histories.
All streams of any considerable size, are widely margined
by timber mostly of an excellent quality. Walnut, cotton-
wood, soft and hard maple, hackberry, elm and ash, are abund-
ant on the bottom lands. Oak is the prevailing timber on the
up-lands. Between these strips of timber are the high undu-
lating prairies, on which innumerable small streams or feeders
take their rise, flowing each way into the larger creeks, and
they to the rivers. On the most elevated portions of these
prairies, lasting water of an excellent quality may be found
from fifteen to twenty-five feet below the surface. The soil is
a black mould of vegetable formation, from eighteen inches to
three feet deep. There are also many small prairies along the
streams, the black soil of which is four or five feet deep.
The only railroad completed through the county is the
Des Moines Valley. Its line is through the northeast comer,
making Bella and Otley points in this county, and Monroe just
within the Umits of Jasper. Either of these points does a
large amount of shipping.
Three other roads are in prospect, one of which, the Albia,
10 Introduction.
Knoxville and Des Moines, is partly graded east of Knoxville,
and will undoubtedly be completed within a reasonable time.
The Muscatine Western will make Pella a point, and is now
graded to Monroe, Jasper county — will probably make the
village of Eed Eock a point; all of which will secure to Marion
county abundant commercial intercourse with all parts of the
United States, as its agriculture and resources demand.
PAET I.
GENERAL HISTORY OF THE COUNTY.
CHAPTER I.
Dragoons — Tradmg Soyses — Indian Payments^ and Sow
Made — Incidents — Character of the Traders.
Soon after the purchase of 1842, or about that time, a
garrison of United States dragoons was quartered at
Ft Des Moines, between and at the junction of the Des Moines
and Coon rivers, for the purpose of guarding the Sac and
Fox Indians, the late proprietors of the lands, against
the warlike encroachment of the Sioux, who had
long been known as their most implacable foes; and also to
prevent the settlement of those lands by the whites previous to
the first day of May, 1843, and the eleventh day of October,
1845, agreeable to the stipulations of the treaty made at
Agency, in the autumn of 1842. There was also a garrison at
Agency, whose duty was to guard the agency and prevent im-
migrants from crossing the line before the first of May, as
above stated.
But it is evident that no extraordinary vigilance was exercised
by the garrison to enforce this restriction. Many crossed the line,
either with or without their knowledge ; but with the understand-
ing on the part of the immigrants themselves, that they would be
subject to arrest and seizure of their property by the dragoons,
small squads of whom were scouting here and there over the
11
12 Pioneers of Marion County.
country. Those whc> thus found their way into the forbidden
territory, could do nothing toward making a permanent settle-
ment, except to fix upon some locality that suited their fancy,
and be ready t6 establish a claim upon it at the proper time.
They dared not erect a house; and in some cases, it was found
advisable to secrete their wagons and such other property as
was likely to betray their intentions to become settlers.
Little wfes known of the country previous to its actual occu-
pation in 1843. Some hunters and trappers had passed through
it, from whom reports were received of its beautiful prairies,
luxuriant vegetation and rich soil. A few trading houses had
been established at different times and places, mostly along
the Des Moines river, on a trail most frequently traversed by
the Indians, between Des Moines and Hard Fish, an Indian
town located where Eddyville now is, and Agency.
The remains of one of these houses is still visible, near the
eastern border of the county, in what is now Lake Prairie
Township. It was, perhaps, the first house occupied by white
people within the bounds of the county. Another, kuown as
the " Phelps' Trading House," stood some where near the same
locality. The proprietor, William Phelps, previously kept
the same kind of an establishment at Farmington, Van Buren
county, and moved up when his Indian customers receded be-
fore the advance of civilization. At a somewhat later date
others were established at and in the neighborhood of the pres-
ent site of Red Rock. One of these, by a person named
Shaw, stood on the opposite side of the river from the village,
and another a short distance above it, was kept by John Jor-
dan. At the last named place was once the scene of a dread-
ful Indian tragedy, the details of which will be given in another
part of this work. About a mile and a half above Red Rock,
was another trading house kept by Turner, and north of town
about the same distance was yet another, known as the firm of
Gaddis & Nye. Some others, who still live in the county,
General History of the Comity. 13
tra^d much with both the Indians and whites after tibe settle-
ments commenced, among whom are G. D. Bedell, of the vil-
lage, and G. H. Miksell, of the the town of Red Rock. Indeed,
so far as we can learn, only the three first mentioned estabHsK-
ments existed previously to the date of settlement.
The houses were generally mere shanties designed for tem-
porary occupation. That of Gaddis and Nye was but a shelter
niade of poles, and roofed with bark or brush. The chief
business of the proprietors, especially of those of the earliest
date, was with the Indians, exchanging whisky, tobacco, pipes,
guns, powder and lead, blankets and a few. cheap dry goods,
for furs, deer skins and such other products of the hunting
grounds as were ot any commercial value. After their cus-
tomers began to receive their yearly payments, old Mexican
dollars came into circulation, and many of them very aptly
found their way into the pockets of the traders. About eighty-
four thousand dollars constituted a payment, and one custom
was to distribute this sum among the numerous families of the
tribes, each head receiving an amount proportioned to the
number of his family. But the Indians sometimes adopted a
different mode of payment, called *' Chief payments," making
their chief the recipient and treasurer. This made him a sort
of financial agent for his tribe, and, therefore, to some extent,
responsible for individual debts frequently contracted with the
traders in anticipation of the payments. In most cases such
debts were promptly paid, the savages manifesting an honesty
in such transactions that seemed in strange contrast with their
usually treacherous characters.
On occasion of one of these payments a contest arose
between the Indians as to how it should be made. Keokuk,
chief of the Sacs, was in favor of an individual payment, con-
trary to the wishes of other chiefs and their followers. As pay
day approached the contest grew so hot that an appeal to arms
seemed probable; and when it came, the ho^le parties mus-
14 Pioneers of Marion County.
tered their forces and even rode up in line of battle. But just
then, through some agency or other, seen or unseen, the fight
was postponed indefinitely. A compromise was effected, and
a chief payment decided upon.
This e^nt took place at Ft. Des Moines, but at precisely
what date we are not advised, though it must have been in
1844 or 1845. We have the account from an individual who
went there to collect money due him for produce and otiber
articles he had sold the Indians on credit. But for some cause
he failed to get any, and other traders also lost heavily.
In those days traders were required to obtain a license for
their business, though the requirement was not compulsory.
Those who chose to do so could sell to the Indians on credit,
and when pay-day came, presented their claims to the agent
and drew. But those who failed to fortify themselves with this
legal authority had to run the risk of being swindled by abscond-
ing debtors, or having their claims repudiated altogether.
l^^ot unfrequently these unsophisticated savages, not having
the shrewdness to detect a cheat, or to understand the proper
value of an article^ in trade, were made the victims of gross
impositions by unscrupulous traders. A little incident that
occurred near Red Rock will illustrate this : An Indian
traded his blanket for a melon, promising to bring the article
within a given time. It was a good one, and apparently
made the most of his scanty wardrobe. But he had eaten the
melon, and thought it was good enough to be worth the blanket
that he did not feel so much the need of then, and true to his
promise, paid it over at the time stipulated.
Another incident permit me to relate, illustrative of the
reckless improvidence of a race of people that must conse-
quently ere long, degenerate to a mere remnant, in contrast
with the wicked shrewdness that seeks to victimize them for
the sake of gain: On occasion of one of these chief payments
—the last one piBrhaps — an individual living near Fort Des-
t
Oeneral History of the County. 16
moines, who had had extensive intercourse with the Indians,
knew their character and spoke their language, conceived a
plan to get some of their money on terms that some might call
a fair exchange.
On the day following the payment, he sent a polite invita-
tion to the chief and his five braves to come and dine with
him. He had made ample preparations for the feast, and
among other articles acceptable to the Indian palate, was a
good supply of whisky. At the proper time his guests ap-
peared, and were most flatteringly received and entertained.
After dinner, when the hearts of his victims had become soft-
ened, to a consistency of great liberality, he invited them to
an examination of his ponies. Thereupon half a dozen hand-
somely equipped animals were brough tfrom the stable and
paraded before the admiring guests. The next act in the
performance was to invite the chief to accept the finest one
of the number as a present, which the grateful sovereign
readily did. It is said to be a custom among Indians on
receiving a present, to return something of supposed propor-
tionate value. Agreeable to this custom, and, perhaps, actu-
ated by an overwhelming sense of gratitude, the chief im-
mediately placed in the hands of his host a box containing
one thousand dolla/re m gold, which he had just received from
the Government, in behalf of his tribe, for their lands. Then
another pony was presented to one of the braves, which was
in like manner acknowledged. Then another, and another,
till each of the five braves were supplied with a pony, and
their white brethren — ^the traders — had six thousand dollars of
their hard cash.
We are not informed whether the matter terminated thus,
or whether the embezzlement was discovered to the tribe, and
the l^unworthy chief tried and punished, as he should have
been. If not, it was no fault of the tribe, who were usually
not slow to bring judgment upon offenders.
16 Pioneers of Marion CovMy.
Most of the trading houses were abandoned soon after the
Indians left the country, which was upwards of a year after
settlement commenced. What became of all the traders can
only be conjectured. Jordon went to California, but returned
and is now supposed to be in Missouri. Shaw died at Eed
Bock, many years ago; Gaddis and Nye expressed their inten-
tion of following the Indians, and tlie last known of them they
were descending the Dee Moines in a canoe, and it is possible
that their success in trade induced a majority of those who
left the country about that time to follow their old customers.
In speaking of the character of these traders, perhaps all
that we ought to say might be said in palliation of the trutii:
Isolation from the surroundings and restraints of civilization
was by no means calculated to improve their morals. If, in
some respects they resembled the savages, the fact must be
attributed to association. Y^ in one particular they were as
wholly distinct from the savj^es as other men ; they had a
specific object in life, a business upon which was founded an-
ticipations of pecuniary advancement. !N^ot scrupulous as to
the means, so the end might be attained, they adopted a
calling condemned by the better sentiment of all mankind,
as degrading and tending to evil results. Away from the
restraints of law and the benificent effects of reformatory
agitations, they were free to indulge their cupidity in de-
bauching the simple savages with adulterated whisky, and
cheating them in trade. We might here particularize, but
there is no need of it. We have made th^se statements as
matters of history that, perhaps, some to whom they apply,
might be willing to forget. The traders have had their day,
and their victims are no more. *
* NoTB.— The statements made In the above paragraph are not Intended to ap-
ply to aU persons who traded with the Indians, bat to the majority of those
whose only business was that of traders. There are some good citizens still
living in the county, who dealt more or less with the natives, but not exclu-
sively as traders.
General HUfory of the Ommty. 17
CHAPTER 11.
The Indiana — Lcmgudge of the Sace and Faxes --Brief
Sketches of their History — Black Hawk Beheaded —
Installation of Keokuk as Chief— India/a Tragedy near
Red Rock.
Enough has been written upon the manners and custojns of
that somewhat mysterious race of people, the Indians, so that
we shall not introduce the subject here, except as it occurs in
the reminiscences related from time to time. Indian life is so
uniform that what relates to one tribe is mainly applicable to
the whole nation, for the similarity of comple3don, language
and habits of the numerous tribes lead us to belieye they be-
long to the same nationality as much as did the twelve tribes
of Israel. It is true that there are some differences, but these
are not materially distinct, and may he attributed to differ-
ences of climate and country. Various causes may have
divided the nation into so many tribes, but the naost probable
cause was the same that operates to divide civilized nations in^
to clans and communities— oonfiicting interests and quarrels —
since which they have maintained the separation under sepa-
rate leaders. Most of the tribes are noted for their warlike
propensity, and if their history could be written, it might show
a succession of wars as full of romanee and adventure as those
of the ancient Greeks and Eomans. From this cause some
tribes, once powerful and nuuch dreaded, were reduced to mere
remnants or totally extinguished. We venture to say that if
it had not been for these divisions into tribes, and the failure of
some of their most noted chiefs to unite many of them against
a common enemy, our success in subduing them would have
been far more diflBcult
2
18 Pioneers of Marion CovMy.
The Sacfl and Foxes who occupied the country included in
the purchase of 1842, were enough alike in all general re-
spects to constitute but one tribe. We are told that they occu-
pied the same districts, hunted upon the same hunting grounds,
intermarried, and spoke the same language, with but slight
difference, no more, probably, than what occurs between east-
ern and western people in their use of English.
As a matter of some curiosity, as well as useful instruction,
we here give the translation of a few words of Indian, as
spoken by these tribes, as nearly as English letters can be
made to convey the somewhat diflScult articulation :
Horse, nack-a-tock-a-shaw; hog, cocasho; ox or cow, nan-
noos; Desmoines river, koasauqua sepe; White Breast river,
waupeka sepe; Skunk river, shecauqua sepe;* e-noch-eno-
qua, to-day I am going; Ku-che-pen-oach-ne-och-e-pe-i-ale,
come a long distance; war, necanty; one, nacote; two, nish;
three, ness; four, neaue; five, neoUen; six, cautwassick;
seven, nawhick; eight, swaussick; nine, sank; ten, mataus or
sweech; twenty, nishwaupetuck; thirty, nessswaupetuck;
forty, neaueswaupetuck; fifty, shi-cau-e-coUah; sixty, ness-
swassick-ete-swaup-etock; one hundred, naquetauk; one thou-
sand, mataus-naquetauk.
The history of these tribes may be traced back to a period as
early as 1767, the year in which Black Hawk was born. They
then occupied the country now known as the state of Wiscon-
sin. At an early age this celebrated warrior. Black Hawk, by
his prowess and skill in war against the Osages, between
whom and the Sacs and Foxes a long standing grudge had ex-
isted, raised himself to some eminence as a leader and gave
these tribes a notoriety in military history.
^ This word, we are told by good authority, does not apply exclusively to
Mhvmk^ but means anything that has a strong or offensive smell. The head
watcurs of Bknnfe: river wereonoe noted /or the vast qnantities of wUd onions
that grew there.. Hence Chicago Is the same word a little differently spelled
iimd pronaijineed^
Oeneral History of the Gov/nty. 19
From the time that the government came into possession of
the north-western territory, by purchase from the Spanish gov-
ernment, these Indians did not seem favorable to the change,
and conceived a dislike to the new proprietors. The treaty of
1804, was not calculated to remove this prejudice, inasmuch as
it was made without the general authority of the Indians.
Soon after this treaty, the whites began to erect forts and
trading posts along the Mississippi in the disputed territory,
which caused a war that continued, with occasional intermis-
sions or truces, brought about by renewed treaties, till the cap-
ture of Black Hawk, in 1833.
This renowned warrior spent a pleasant captivity in trav
eling through the eastern part of the United States, at the ex-
pense of the government, during which time he visited
Washington, and had an interview with President Jackson,
After having seen much of the magnitude of the government
against which he had been from time to time long and vigor-
ously contending for what he conceived to be the just rights of
his people, and had thereby an opportunity to judge of its
power, he with his son and one or two of his braves who had
accompanied him, returned to the west, and was released at
Ft. Armstrong — now Rock Island — and immediately retired to
private life, from which he no more emerged in hostile array
against the whites. His death occurred in 1839, near Fair-
field, Jefferson county. Soon after his death his head was
severed from his body and coveyed to St. Louis. The object
of this mutilation history does not state, but we may conjec-
ture that it was either to preserve it in spirits or obtain from it a
bust or painted likeness of the great chief. We have reason
to suppose that the govemmei\t had no cognizance of an act
80 unlike her wonted treatment of fallen foes. Our informant
thinks that the head may be at St. Louis to this day. But
this is not so very probable, for when the Indians discovered
this mutilation of the body of their venerated chief, they
20 Pioneers of Marion Cofmty.
threatened serioas troable, which nothing could avert but the
return of the head ; accordingly it, or some other head, woe
returned, but it is not likely that the Indians could have been
easily deceived in the identity of a face they had so long been
familiar with. At all events they became pacified.
After the capture of Black Hawk, and the treaty that fol-
lowed, Keokuk was made chief of both the Sacs and Foxes.
This chief, little less renowned than Black Hawk for bravery
and cunning in war, was yet quite a contrast to the latter in
person, and in his relations with the whites. Black Hawk was
a person of small stature, while Keokuk was a portly Indian,
weighing, probably, over two bnndred pounds. Whilst Black
Hawk was pursuing bis hostile attempts to check the en-
croachments of the whites, Keokuk remained either neutral
or friendly to the latter. In this he had many adherents,
which prevented Black Hawk from Ininging a much larger
force into the field, as a strong partizan leader he had desired
to do. For this reason, and in order to insure permanent
peace with the Indians, the government, through its agents,
obtained the appointment of Keokuk to the chieftainship of
both tribes.
We have on file a number of sketches illustrative of the
character and customs of these people, that occurred during
their residence in this county, after its first settlement, but
which, for want of room in this chapter, we shall reserve for
the miscellaneous department of the work.
We shall, however, take occasion here to relate an event
that transpired near Red Rock, early in the fall of 1844, and
which, on account of its horrible details, is still fresh to the
memory of those who witnessed it, or lived in the neighbor-
hood at the time.
It is said to have been an occasional custom with the Indi-
ans (or at least with those who were thus disposed) to take
criminal liberties with such squaws as should happen to be
Qeneral History of the Oovmiy. 31
found abroad, unattended by any other person. Any squaw
thus found alone was presumed to be not virtuous, and was
therefore subject to the liceotions attacks of any bad man
who, under these circumstances, was not subject to punish-
ment for the crime. The assault was called ^ feast.
On the occasion of which we speak, a Winnebago brave
and his vrite, a likely young squaw, of the Sac or Fox' tribes,
had come down the Des Moines river on a trading exjjedition,
and were camped near Jordan's trading house that stood, as
we stated in the preceding chapter, on tibe south side of the
river, some distance above the ferry landing. About this
time two Indians, named Wan-pep-cah-cah and Pac-a-tuke,
chanced to be prowling in the neighborhood, and discovered
the lady alone in the woods. They thereupon deemed her a
fit subject for a " feast," but she escaped and returned to
camp. Toward evening of that day, or the next, these Indi-
ans were at Red Rock, from which they could observe the
movements of their intended victim at the camp. At about
dark they made their appearance at the trading house and
attacked the squaw again, as she was preparing to light the
camp fire, when she took refuge in the house. Her husband,
who was absent at the time, on his return asked her why she
bad not lighted the fire. She then told him how she had been
followed and persecuted by the two bad Indians, who were
still without, intending to camp on the ground. Hearing this,
Jordan permitted the brave and his wife to remain in-doors
that night.
But the Winnebago was not content to merely escape, for
the time being, the unwelcome presence of those " sods of
Baliel " — his honor had been compromised in that of his wife.
He was deeply incensed, and nothing but a bloody revenge
could heal the wound. With this feeling he rose and an-
nounced his purpose to go out and kill them. On accosting
them angry words followed, and they both assaulted him,
22 Pioneers of Marion County.
probably not knowing that he was armed. He resisted the
assault with his hunting knife. Wan-pep<3ah-cah received
eleven mortal stabs, and Pac-a-tuke, one across the abdomen,
letting out his bowels, which he caught and supported with
his hands as they fell, and as he sank to the ground in an ago-
nizing death.
This took place about nine o'clock at night. None but the
actors witnessed the deed, but the strokes of the knife were
distinctly heard within, and the scene next morning was such
as to warrant the truth of the above narration.
Next morning several white men collected at the scene of
the tragedy, and sent a report of it to a chief named Pasha-
paho,* who, with his party of about three hundred, had been
down the day before, but returned and camped on what is now
called Stortz's Island, two or three miles above Red Rock.
Pashapaho, on hearing the news, immediately sent one of his
braves down with peremptory orders to kill the murderer.
Apparently no thought was entertained of giving him a trial
for his life, nor even inquiring as to how far he might have
been justified in the commission of the deed. The order was
to kill him.
The Winnebago remained at the place, apparently trusting
in the justification of the act to shield him from the punishment
of a common murderer, or else desirous of seeing what action
would be taken in his case. But when he saw Pashapaho's
agent approaching, he comprehended at a glance his intended
doom, and made an attempt to escape. But too late. The
fleet-footed Fox was too near him when the flight began, and
after a chase of only about one hundred and fifty yards, he was *
overtaken, and by the assistance of another Indian, who had
just come into the action, apparently as a sort of reinforcement,
was overpowered, led back to the house, and his legs bound
together above the knees.
^Stabbing chief.
Oeneral History of the County. 23
The inquiry now was, what they meant to do with him. The
reply was that they would kill him. Against this the white
men who were present did not feel called upon to interfere,
either by command or persuasion, nor, so far as we ha^'e been
able to learn, by representing the facts of the case to the Indians.
They only protested against the execution being performed
there, and insisted that the prisoner should be taken to his own
country for that purpose. But this protest was not heeded ;
the Indian who had come to carry out the orders of his chief,
walked into the house, seized a hatchet that belonged to the
place, andy as he stepped out again by his victim, who was
seated near the door, struck him a heavy blow across the back
of the neck, burying the edge of the weapon in the bone. The
stroke felled him, but did not render him insensible nor even
speechless ; and, as it was not followed immediately by others,
as though it was the purpose of his executioner to prolong his
agony, he partly rose upon his hands and pleadingly said:
** Strike me again, friends." Then th^'other Indian who stood
by, actuated either by a sense of pity or an eager desire to see
the bloody work go on, said to the executioner in a tone as
threatening as his words : '' Kill that Indian or I'll kill you!"
In another moment the head of the prostrate victim was nearly
severed from the body. This done the Indians went their way,
leaving the bodies where they nad fallen, either not caring
what disposition was made of them, or else taking it for granted
that the whites would see to their burial. Messrs. Jordan,
Bedell and a few others, when they saw that the savages would
have nothing to do in the matter, proceeded to make some
arrangements for the interment. Whilst this was going on,
the poor woman who had witnessed the last act of the tragedy,
the murder of her husband, with what feelings we are not
suflBciently advised to describe, performed with her own hands
the last sad rites it was the custom of her people to bestow
upon the dead in preparation for the funeral. Having pro-
34 Pioneers of Marion Gowniy.
cured some red paint commonly used by Indians to decorate
their faces, she painted their cheeks, eye-lids and lips very
nicely and carefully, and then made an impression of her open
hand on each cheek. This service she performed with equal
care upon each, foe as wdl as friend. The three bodies were
put into one grave near where the upper ford now is. Since
then they have been washed away with the bank that has caved
in more cr less with the annual freshets, and what remains of this
most tragic event may now be scattered and deeply embedded
in the sands at the bottom of the Des Moines. The woman,
who was the innocent cause of the affair, went to Ked Bock.
Hearing that the Indians intended to murder her also, she took
refuge in the house of Robert D. Russell, where she remained
secreted for upwards of a month. By this time the Indians had
so far learned the facts of the case that she was finally deemed
innocent, and was permitted to come forth and go west with
her friends.*
The settlement of Marion county was begun at a period of
some financial depression.f The monetary crash of 1837 was
still felt, and those who came early were by no means rich.
They were literally poor men, seeking homes and independence
that could not be acquired in a country where real estate was
beyond the reach of the day laborer. An opportunity was now
granted to those who would brave the privations of frontier life
to possess themselves of an estate that might, if rightly im-
proved, insure independence and even wealth.
*Anotlier version otthis story is to tbe effect that two drunken Indians mur-
dered the son of a prophet, and, after being arrested, were tried and sentenced
to death, the oldest squaw of the tribe being selected to execute tbe sentence
with a tomahawk. Also that the Indians were so much incensed at the traders
for supplying the murderers with whisky, that they sat twenty days in council
discussing thepropriety of punishing them, but were Anally pacuGtedby tbone
who could speatc their language. But the loregoing details being Urom an eye-
witness to the last act of the trdgedy, may be de. med correct.
tThe *' tightness " ol money mauers at ttiat period may be conceived by the
fiust that property, compared to present prices, was remarkably cheap. Twenty-
five or thirty dollars would buy a good yoke of cattle, and torty-flve would buy
ber one horse.
Omeral History of the County. SS
CHAPTER IIL
e
JPoverty — Settlements — Mashing off Claims — Primiti/ve
Houses cmd their Furniture — First Crop — Grating Com
for Meal — Hominy — Samp.
During the first year (1843) about seventy families from
various parts of the east and south, settled in the jcounty.
These immigrants mostly came m companies, — families
acquainted or connected, — and settled in neighborhoods that
eventually formed the nucleus of what were called ** settle-
ments,'' These settlements were mostly designated by names
derived from some leading member thereof, or from their
locality, such as the English settlement, the Tong settlement,
the Bufflngton settlement, the White Breast settlement, and
the Red Rock settlement. The first division of the county
into election precincts, to be hereafter described, seems to have
been intended to accommodate these settlements, and will
show their localities. These settlements were not only the
result I'f the social tendency of mankind to drift into commu-
nities, but in a country so wild, and where mutual dependence
npon each other was so much felt, wisdom demanded such
combinations. In time these settlements were so expanded
by additions as to unite with others, and thereby lost their dis"
tinction, but some of them are still known by their old names.
But these settlements were not always so compact as cir-
cumstances seemed to require. Settlers were disposed to suit
themselves with a location, though it might be at a remote dis-
tance from neighbors, and families within two or three miles of
each other were neighbors. Occasionally a lonely cabin was
to be met with so far from any other as to be apparently out of
nmge of any settlement.
26 Pioneers of Mwrion County,
The first business of a settler on reaching the place where
he intended to settle, was to select his claim and mark it off
as nearly as he could without a compass. This was done by
stepping and staking or blazing the lines as he went. The
absence of section lines rendered it necessary to take the sun
at noon and at evening as a guide by which to run these claim
lines. So many steps each way counted three hundred and
twenty acres, more or less, the legal area of a claim It may
be readily supposed that these lines were far from correct, but
they answered all necessary claim purposes, for it was under-
stood among the settlers that when the lands came to be sur-
veyed and entered, all inequalities should be righted. Thus,
if a surveyed line should happen to run between adjoining
claims, cutting off more or less of the one or the other, the
fraction was to be added to whichever lot required equalizing,
yet without robbing the one from which it was taken, for an
equal amount would be added to it in some other place.
The next important business of a settler was to build a house.
Till this was done some had to camp on the ground or live in
their wagons, perhaps the only shelter they had known for sev-
eral weeks, so that the prospect of a house of some kind that
could be called a home, produced a thrill of pleasure that could
hardly be comprehended by those who have never suffered the
same privation. To the home-loving unadventurous female,
this thought must be specially applicable.
But such a home I The poor settler has neither the means
nor the help to erect a palace. So far from it, the best he can
do, in most instances, is to fix up the cheapest thing imaginable
that could be called a house. Some of the most primitive con-
structions of the kind were half-faced, or, as they were some-
times called, " cat-faced " sheds or " wickeups," the Indian term
for house or tent. But a claim cabin was a little more in the
shape of a human habitation, made of roaud logs light enough
for two or three men to lay up; about fourteen feet square, per-
Oeneral History of the Coimty. 37
haps a little larger or smaller, roofed with bark or clapboards,
and floored with puncheons (logs split into slabs), or earth. For
a fire place, a wall of stone and earth — frequently the latter
only when stone was not convenient — was made in the best
practicable shape for the purpose, in an opening in one end of
the building, extending outward, and planked on the outside by
batts oi wood notched together to stay it. Frequently a fire-
place of this kind was made so capacious as to occupy nearly
the whole width of the house. In cold weather, when much
fuel was needed to keep the tempefature of such a room above
the freezing point, large logs were piled up in the yawning
space. To protect the crumbling back wall against the effects
of fire, two " back logs" were placed against it, one upon the
other. Sometimes these back logs were so large as to require
horse power to draw them into the house, the horse entering at
one door and going out at the other, leaving the log where it
could be rolled into the fire-place. For a chimney any contriv-
ance that would conduct the smoke upwards, would do. Some
were made of sods plastered inside with clay, others — the^more
common perhaps — were the kind we occasionally see in use
now, clay and sticks, or ^*cat in clav," as they were sometimes
called. For doors and windows, the most simple contrivances
that would serve the purposes were brought into requisition.
The door was not always immediately provided with a shutter,
in which case a quilt or some other cloth might be spared to
hang over it. As soon as convenient, however, some boards
were split and put together for a shutter, hung upon wooden
hinges, and held shut by a wooden pin inserted in an auger
hole. As substitutes for window glass, greased paper pasted
over sticks crossed in the shape of a sash, was sometimes used*
It admitted the light and excluded the air, nearly equal to a
glass window, but of course, lacked the transparency.
In regard to the furniture of such a house, our inventory
must necessarily be as brief as our description of its architecture,
88 Pioneers of Marion County,
anlees in such instances where the settlers may have brought
with them their old household snpply, which, owing to the dis-
tance most of them had come, was very seldom. It may be
readily understood by the reader that whatever articles could
be made to substitute tables and chairs, were used for
fhem. A table could be as easily made as a door shutter, and
<rf the same kind of material. Indeed we have heard of in-
stances of the door shutter being taken down and used
for a table, and re-hanged again after meals. Benches and
stools supplied the place of (Aiairs. But perhaps the most impor-
tant of the few domestic comforts that could be crowded into
so small a space, was a bedstead or two. Any family who
had been bred to the customs and conveniences of civilization
oould hardly accommodate themselves to the simple mode of
repoAe in use among the savages, that of stretching them
selves upon the earth. Something softer than the bosom of
mother earth, and a little more elevating, was deemed indis-
pensable, if it could be obtained. Therefore the nearest ap-
proach to a real bedstead, that could be extemporised in a
hurry imd with the fewest tools, was done in this wise : A
forked stake was driven into the ground at a proper distance
dii^nally from a corner of the room, upon which poles,
reaching from each wall, were laid. The wall ends of the
poles may have rested in the openings between the logs or
been driven into auger holes. Bark or boards were made to
substitute cords. Upon this cheap article of furniture the
pains-taking housewife could spread her bedding so as to hide
every bit of its deformity; then hang up some sheets behind
it, and thus give the sleeping comer of the homely habitation
a tasty and wide-awake appearance. It was generally called * ^
Ae '* prairie bedstead," Mid by some, the " prairie rascal,'* . J
though for what reason the latter term was applied to it does
not appear, for it is difficult to conceive of anything more
honest in construction or use.
Oeneral History of the Cknmty. 29
Few of these houses yet remam as monuments of the past.
The writer has seen two or three foundation logs of one of
the first, where it stood. Their appearance is quite antiqua*
nan, rotten and sunken into the earth, but still bearing some
marks of their ancient use. One or two cabins of a somewhat
later date, still stand, or did a year since, on the premises of
J. M. Brous, an old settler in Perry township. They are in
tolerable preservation, considering their age. But a majority
of those old cabins have passed away, as well as some of their
builders and original occupants; not, however, without first
serving the purposes of stables, sheds, cribs, &c., till at last
too frail for even these uses, they have been reduced to fuel,
and their ashes returned to the earth that first produced the
living tree.
The next important duty of the settler was to prepare some
ground and plant what he could at that advanced season for
cropping. This was generally done in the edge of the timber,
where most of the very earliest settlers located. Here the sod
was easily broken, not requiring the heavy teams and plows
needed to break the prairie sod. Perhaps we might safely
add, as another reason for first settling in and about the tim-
ber, convenience to fuel and building timber. It may be sup-
posed that the timber afforded some protection against those
terrible conflagrations that occasionally swept across the prai-
ries. Though they often passed through the groves, it was
not with the same destructive force. By these fires much of
the young timber was killed from time to time, and the for-
ests kept thin and shrubless. Since these fires have been
kept out, our timber lands have become thickly set vrith a new
growth.
The first year's farming generally consisted of a " truck
patch " planted in corn, potatoes, turnips, &c. But one man
in the county planted any considerable crop of " sod com,"
and this was Jas. Price, of Summit township. He broke nine
acres of prairie the first year, where he still lives, and from it
80 Pioneers Ipf Ma/tion County.
produced considerable more com than he needed for his own
consumption. But generally, the first year's crop fell far short
of supplying even the most rigid economy of food. Most of
the settlers had brought with them such provisions as were
indispensable to frugal living for some time, such as flour or
meal, bacon, and coffee or tea. But these supplies, unlike
the poor widow's barrel of meal and cruise of oil, were not
inexhaustible. A long winter must come and go before
another crop could be raised. At times game was plentiful, and
the skillful huntsman could supply his table with venison.
When corn could be obtained, the absence or inconvenience
of mills for grinding it, lorced the necessity of grating it on
an implement made by punching small holes through a piece
of tin or sheet-iron and fastening it on a board in a concave
shape, with the rough side out. Upon this implement the ear
was rubbed to produce meal. But grating could not be done
when the corn becomes so dry as to shell off when rubbed.
Some even used a coffee mill for grinding com. But a very
common substitute for bread was hominy, a palatable and
wholesome diet, made by boiling com in weak lye till the hull
or bran peals off, after which it was well washed to cleanse it
of the lye, then boiled again to soften it, when it was ready
for use as occasion required, by frj ing and seasoning it to. suit
the taste. Another mode of preparing hominy was by pest-
ling. A mortar was made by buming a bowl-shaped cavity
in the even end of an upright block of wood. After thoroughly
clearing it of the charcoal, the com could be put in, hot
water teemed upon it, and subjected to a severe pesteling by
a club of sufficient length and thickness, in the larger end of
which was inserted an iron wedge banded to keep it there.
The hot water would soften the corn and loosen the hull, and
the pestle v;ould crush it.
Another preparation of com diet, called " samp," was made
by cracking the kemels in a tan-bark mill, then boiling it like
rice.
Oeneral History of tks Ooimty. 81
CHAPTER IV.
Going to Mill — TaUy^s Ford — Origim, of Roads — First
Roads Located — Retwming from Mill,
But when breadstuffs were needed, they had to be obtained
from the '' Old Purchase," and hauled, mostly by ox teams, a
distance of from sixty to eighty miles; some had to go even
as far as Burlington to get a supply of wheat and corn and
have it milled. Wheat could be had at fifty cents per bushel ;
cheap enough compared with present prices, but dear enough
then considering the scarcity of money, the inferiority of the
grain and the distance it had to be hauled. Owing to the
want of proper means of threshing and cleaning it, wheat was
more or less mixed with foreign substances, such as dirt, smut
and oats. The price of corn was from fifty to seventy-five
iients per bushel. It was mostly bought in the ear, and shelled
by the purchaser before taking it to mill. Those mills '^sually
resorted to were at Brighton, Washington county, and at Keo-
eanqua and Bonaparte, Van Buren county.
But the difficulties to be encountered in reaching these dis-
tant places, were not the least among the tribulations endured
by the pioneers during the first two years of settlement. The
slow mo Je of travel by ox teams was fiiade still slower by the
almost total absence of roads and bridges, and such a thing as
a ferry was hardly even dreamed of. In dry weather, common
sloughs and creeks offered little impediment to the teamsters ;
but during floods and the breaking up of winter, proved ex-
ceedingly troublesome and dangerous. To get " stuck " in
some niucky slough, and thus be delayed for an hour or more,
was no uncommon circumstance. Often a raging stream would
blockade the way, seeming to threaten swift destruction to
whoever would attempt to ford it.
82 Pioneers of Marion Coun4y^
To those living south of the Des Moines, Tally's ford was
the usual place of crossing that river. This ford was at what
is now Bellfontaine, a little east of the county line. During
low water, no diflSculty was experienced in fording ; but when
it was too deep for this, the means for getting over were cer-
tainly trying to any wayfaring man. The only ferry boat was
a small canoe. Wagons had to be unloaded and taken to
pieces, and both they and their loads shipped in small cargoes
at a voyage, till all were over; then the teams had to be un-
harnessed or unyoked and made to swim, the horses being led
by the halter at the side of the canoe, and the oxen by the
horns. Mrs. Tally has been known to lead an ox by the horns
whilst her husband managed the canoe. Sometimes they were
permitted to take their own course in swimming.
An " old settler," to whose " sketches " we are indebted for
these statements, speaks thus eulogistically of the disinterested
generosity of Mr. and Mrs. Tally, who kept the ferry :
"In this work the early settl.rs were much indebted to the
kind assistance of Mr. and Mrs. Tally, who labored faithfully
lor their accommodation, usually without adequate compensa-
tion, and frequently without any whatever, very generously
refusing^any reward for their timely aid;" and also acknowl-
edges, for himself and others, " a debt of gratitude for favors
bestowed in times of real necessity; " for the good Samaritan
oflSces of this worthy couple were not confined to the ferry: in
cases of sickness, or want in other respects, they were neigh-
bors to all within their reach. It is therefore due to them that
their names should be preserved to memory, as among the
benefactors of mankind in a sphere not less important because
limited to a locality. Their present residence is in Decatur
county.
With regard to roads, as we have said, there was nothing of
the kind worthy the name. Indian trails were common, but
they were unfit to travel on with vehicles. They are described
General History of. the County. 2Si
asi mere paths, about two feet wide, all that was reqtured to
ac^commodate the single-file manner of Indian travelling. EL
ding, or walking in companies, it seems to have ever b6e^ a
national cni^om with them to follow each other singly.
An interesting theory respecting the origin of the routes now
pnrsned by many of our public highways, is given in a speech
made by Thomas Benton, many years ago. It possesses a
spice of romance, which, however, does not render it a whit less
probable. Indeed, the truth of it is practically demonstrated
in many instances. He says the buffaloes were the first road
engineers, and the paths trodden by them were, as a matter of
convenience, followed by the Indians, and lastly by the whites,
with such improvements and changes as were toand i^ecossary
for civilized modi3S of travel. It is but reasonable to suppose
that those monster beasts, the buffaloes, would iuBtinctively
choose the most practicable routes and fords in their migrations
from one pasture to another. Then the Indians, following^
possessed of about as much enterprise as their predecessc^rSi
tibe buffaloes, made no improvements, and were finally driven
from the track by those who would.
Among the many roads in this county known to be only
Indian trails at the period of which we are writing, is one from
Red Rock to Knoxville, and those traversing the bottoms on
either side of the river above and below Red Rock. Under the
cliffs south of the river, above town, this trail was so narrow
^ as to barely permit the passage of a horseman between the
bayou and the rocky wall. Would it be a great stretch of the
imagination to suppose that these paths were made and trodden
4
by thouBands of buffaloes passing and repassing between pas-
tures, long before the Indians came to drive them frcm their
haunts ? If *so. Red Rock must have been their fording place
hundreds, if not more than a thousand years ago. So, perhaps,
were the other fords that have since been in use. The imagi-
nation might here paint a wild scene: Standing upon the abrupt
3
(
V
\
\
34 Pioneers of Marion Comity.
bank of the river at Eed Rock, on some sultry summer day
i^heA the air is still, and the clear, shallow water moves slowly
down the sand-margined channel, our ears catch a low, rum-
bling sound like that of distant thunder, only continuous, and
each moment growing more distinct, mingled with the lowings
of the herd. Suddenly a grand panorama bursts upon our as-
tonished vision. Emerging from the thick forest, crowding
each other as though driven by fright, or impelled by heat and
thirst, comes the immense multitude, and without a moment's
halt in their peculiar rolling gait, down they plunge over the
worn sandy bank into the river, where they assuage their thirst,
and lash the waters about them as a protection against annoy-
ing insects. Then the advance passes on as the rear presses
it, and it soon disappears. Thus for hours they continue to
move ; and if we grow weary of what may at length become a
monotonous scene, we may exchange it for another equally if
not more imposing, by stepping out upon the open prairie, a
few miles northward, where we find it almost covered by the
vast herd, who have sought it as a pasture after having ex-
hausted some other range.
Whilst speaking of roads, it may be deemed proper, though
at the risk of being considered tedious, to state that the first
county road that we have any record ol as being legally Estab-
lished, was established in 184:5, and is thus described in the pe-
tition asking for it : ^' To commence at the house of Samuel
Nicholson, thence running in a northerly direction so as to
strike John Conrey's claim near the south-west corner of it,
thence by the nearest and best route to Knoxville." Viewers,
John T. Pierce, Eeuben S. Lowry, and Garret W. Clark ; sur-
veyor, Isaac B. Power. The next one was petitioned for in
January, 1846, and is describe^ to run " from McPherson's, by
way of Durham's ford, to Knoxville;" and the next related to
the " re-location of a territorial road where, it crosses the lake in
Lake Prairie; thence to the termination of it." About the same
Oeneral History of the Gownty. 3
year the road from Bed Rock, via Burch's mill, to Knoxville
was established. The want of technicality in the descriptions
of these roads was owing to the fact that the country had not
yet been sectionized, which was not done till 1846-7, and then
only so far as the west line of that part of the purchase open to
settlernent in 1843, as described in the introductory; therefore
the ]X)ints named in the descriptions were the best known of
any that could be named. Several more road transactions fol-
lowed these, but they are not of sufficient interest to record
here. ' It was not until a much later period than this chapter
is mainly intended to treat of, that road matters began to be
looked after with any considerable interest. Wext in impor-
tance to the possession of a homestead was a good and conven-
ient way to pass to and from it; and its importance became
greater as the country increased in population, villages and
cities sprang into being, and the lands around them began to
be fenced into farms.
At the time of which we are speaking, when the early set-
tlers were compelled to make those long and difficult trips to
mill, a portion of the way to be traversed was on the prairie,
between Oskaloosa and Blue Point, a stretch of about forty miles,
where there was not a house. During the summer, when
grass was plentiful, the passage of this comparative desert
could be made without muuh difficulty, by traveling till night,
then camping out and feeding the teams on the range; but in
-winter, an attempt to cross it, without sufficient time to do so by
daylight, was attended with no little danger. The road was too
obscure to be safely followed at night, and there was no object
in the dim horizon to guide the traveler in any certain direction.
Though the utmost economy of time was necessary for per-
sons going 80 far to mill, and who had families at home to feed,
they were compelled to time their travel so as to stay a night at
either of the points above named going or coming.
When the goal was at last reached, after a week or more of
\ I
\
36 jPioneer9 of Mcmon County,
toilsKHne travel^ att^ided by more or leae expoBiirey the de*
tails of some of which we propose to give in other chapters, and
tibe poo(r man was impatient to be soon on his return with the
needed staff of life,, he was often shocked with the information
that his torn woald come in a week. Then he must look aboiit
for some means to save expenses, and he was lackj who could
find employment at whatever he could do by the day or by the
job- Then, when his turn came, he had to be on hanA to lxJ.t
his flour, as in those 'days the bolting machine was not an
attached part of the other mill machinery. This done, the
anxious soul was ready to endare the trials of a return trip, his
heart more or less concerned about the affairs of home ; and as
this feeling increased, the miles seemed to grow longer, and
the journey proportionately tedious.
These milling trips often occupied from three weeks to more
than a month each, and were attended with an expense, one
way or another, that rendered the cost of breadstuff extremely
high. If made in the winter, when more or less grain feed was
required for the team, the load would be found so considerably
reduced on reaching home, that the cost of what was left, ad-
ding other expenses, could be safely estimated atfrom thr^e to
five dollars per bushel. And these trips could not always be
made at the most favorable season for traveling. In spring
and summer so much time could hardly be spared from other
necessary labor; yet, for a large family, it was almost impos-
sible to avoid making three or four trips during the year.
General Hietary of the Ccnmty, fe7
An Unpropittotis Season — Primitive Mode of (Jlcaning
Wheat-Dirty Bread ^Wolves and other Beasts of Prey —
Failure of Crops— Better Times in Prospect — Erection
of First Mill in the Cotmty.
The winter of 1843-4 was one of great severity and length,
followed by a late ppring. The Des Moines river remained
closed till the middle ot April; then, about the last of May,
heavy rains began and continued till the middle of Jnly, so
that what could be planted was bnt indifferently cultivated.
Finally came a keen September frost that cut short what was
already much curtailed by late planting and poor cultivation.
Some wheat had been sown, but it not only yielded poorly, but
was mc^e or less effected by rust and smut; and, owing to the
rude manner of threshing atid cleaning it, it became com-
pounded with a grit not pleasant to masticate and hard to
digest.
As the time may come when the simple modes of threshing
and cleaning wheat in use by the pioneers, for the want of bet-
ter means, may be forgotten, it may be well to preserve a de-
scription of them here. I'ossibly it may never be needed as a
recipe, but may some day be regarded as an interesting scrap
of history. The plan was, to clean off a spot of ground of a
necessary circumference, and, if the earth was dry, dampen
it and beat it so as to render it somewhat compact ; then un-
bind and spread the sheaves in a circle, so that the heads
would be uppermost, leaving room in the centre to be occur
pied by the person urtiose business it is to stir and turn the
straw in the process of threshing. Then bring upcffi it as many
ox^i or horse& as could conveniently ^^ swing around the cir-
/
38 Pioneers of Marion County.
cle," and keep them thus moving till the wheat was well trod-
den ont. After (Several *' floorings," or layers, were threshed
the straw was carefully raked off, and the wheat shoveled
into a heap to be cleaned. This was sometimes done by wav-
ing a sheet up and down to fan out the chaff as the grain was
dropped before it; but this trouble was frequently ob^-iated by
the strong winds of autumn, when all that was needed was the
■ necessary exposure to permit the chaff to blow away.
By such imperfect modes of preparing the grain for flour-
ing, it is not surprising that a considerable amount of black soil
got mixed with it, that unavoidably went into the bread. This,
with the addition of smut, often rendered it so dark as to have
less the appearance of bread than of mud; yet upon such diet
the people were compelled to subsist or do without; and it may
be a matter of wonder that this wholesale consumption of dirt
did not result in an epidemic.
It may be worthy of record here that in those days the wheat
crop was much more subject to rust than it is now. The reason
of this we will not venture to give, but leave it to those whose
experience and observation much better qualifies them todo so.
Among other things calculated to annoy and distress the
pioneers, was the prevalence of wild animals of prey, the most
numerous and troublesome of which was the wolf. While it
was true in a figurative sense, that it required much care and
exertion to " keep the wolf from the door," it was almost as
true in a literal sense. There were two species of these
animals, — the large, black, timber wolf, and the smaller gray
wolf that usually inhabited the prairie. At first it was next to
impossible for a settler to keep small stock of any kind that
would serve as prey for these ravenous beasts. Sheep were
not deemed safe property till years later, when their enemies
were supposed to be nearly exterminated. Large numbers
of wolves were destroyed during the first two or three years
of settlement, — as many as fifty in a day, in a regular wolf
Oeneral History of the County. , 39
hunt. When they were hungry, which was not uncommon,
particularly during the v;inter, they were too indiscreet lor their
own safety, and would often approach within easy shot of a
dwelling. At certain seasons their wild, plaintive yelping
would be heard in all directions, at all hours of the night,
creating an intense excitement among the dogs, whose barking
and howling added much to the dismal melody. It has been
found by experiment that but one of the canine species, the
hound, has both the fleetness and courage to cope with the
wolf. Attempts were often made to take them with the com-
mon cur; but this animal generally proved himself totally
unreliable for such service. So long as wolf would run, cur
w^ould follow; but wolf, being apparently acquainted with the
character of his pursuer, would either turn and place himself
in a combative attitude, or else act upon the principle that "dis-
cretion is the better part of valor," and throw himselt upon his
back in token of surrender, which strategical performance
would so win upon the generous nature of Mr. Our that peace
was instantly made. Not unfrequently dogs and wolves have
been seen playing together like pups. But the hound was
never known to recognize a flag of truce; his baying, when
npon the scent, that sounds like music to the sportsman's ear,
Beems to say " no quarter 1" and the terrified wolf understands it
Smaller animals, such as panthers, lynxes, wild-cats, cata-
mounts and polecats, were also sufficiently numerous to be
troublesome. Of these, as well as of the wolf, none remain
except an occasional straggler in the wildest sections of the
county, where they may still find a hiding-place. We must
except the polecat, who has a strong proclivity for domesticat-
ing himself wherever there is a chicken-roost, much to the
abhorrence of many farmer's wives, who claim special if not
exclusive proprietorship of the feathered stock on the premises.
We think it hardlv fair to conclude this list of tronbles with-
out mentioning one more that might seem too insignificant to
40 Pioneers of Marion County.
I '
be noticed. But small aad contemptible as the mosquito is,
it always succeeds in attracting attention, And often very
feelingly. This was particularly the fact during the early
times of which we are writing, when they came up in such
pe^tiferoas swarms, demanding blood in the most imperative
tone?, that at times neither man nor beast could labor or rest
comfortably^ except under the protection of smoke. Pers- ns
have been driven from the field by their unmerciful charges.
But since the country has become thickly settled, and many of
the ponds and water-courses that bred them drained, or dried
up by cultivation, these little tormentors have been greatly
diminished in numbers.
The partial failure of the crop of the summer of 1844, com-
pelled many to resort to the Old Purchase for another year's
supply of provisions, A few fortunate ones may have grown
enough and some to spare, but the supply came far short of
the demand. This discouraging circumstance, together with
others abready but briefly described, was calculated to drive
the struggling pioneers from their purpose; but, so far as we
know, but few abandoned their new homes to return to their
old ones. With all their hardships and discouragements the
country possessed attractions that fixed their choice, and a for-
tunate choice it eventually proved to be.
But as though Providence had repented of the burden He
had imposed upon the* people, and was now seeking to make
\amend8, a more prosperous state of things began with the
winter of 1844-5. It was one of such unusual mildness that
the ground was but little frozen at any time, and plowing could
have been done in January. Then came an early spring, and
grass enough in April for grazing. That season an abundant
crop rewarded the labors of the husbandman. There was no
more dependence on the Old Purchase for grain, though it wa9
still necessary to resort to those distant mills to get it ground. '
In due time, however, this trouble was also shortened by
lihe erection of flouring mills in Mahaska, and at length in our
1 ^
Omeral History of the Goimty. 41
I
owii county. About the year 1844, Duncan's mill, on Skunk
river, north of Oskaloosa, came into operation, and ^as for
several years the most convenient flouring mill. Afterwards
Warren's, on the same stream, north of Pella, shortened the
distance materially. Then in 1844 Andrew Foster built a saw
mill on English creek, in what is now Olay township, to whiqh
be atlerwardH added an apparatus for grinding com, and this
proved to be a great convenience in that department of brei^i-
etuff. To throw a sack of com on a horse, take it to mill and get
hom^ again with the meal, all in one day, was the beginning
of a comparatively happy period in the history of thatsettlement.
About the same time, or probably at a little earlier date, a
Mr. Babcock erected a " corn-cracker," near the present site I
of Bussing's mill. It was afterward moved to Coalport.
There was also one on Cedar creek, built and owned by H.
Haymaker ; and in 1844 or 1845, L. J. Burch erected one.on
White Breast, that still stands and is used occasionary.
Many others, both for sawing and grinding, were erected in
various parts of the county, at later dates. But the most of
them were radely constmcted, designed to relieve the press-
ing demands of their neighborhoods. Being water mills they
could not be ran at all seasons; so, when better accommoda-
tions could be afforded, they were abondoned, and some of
them are now in ruins. Of these we shall speak more defi-
nitely hereafter.
Now, with an increased population and an adequate supply
of home productions and machinery, the people of Marion
county began to deem themselves suflSciently self-sustaining
to support an independent municipality. To this end they
applied to the territorial government for a distinct county organ-
ization and a name, which were granted in the yepr 1846.
This event marks an epoch in its history, at which we must
close this chapter for the purpose of noticing other important
events of an earlier date, after which we shall refer to it again
with as complete an account as we have been able to obtain.
V
. -s.
42 ' Pioneers of Marion Coimty.
CHAPTER VI.
Claim Law^ a/nd^ Club Law.
The manner of taking claims having been described in an-
other place, we now proceed to a description of the government
adopted by the settlers, mainly intended for the regulation of
their claim interests, as soon as circumstances rendered such
government necessary.
As we have stated, most of the settlers were poor men, who
had sought the country for the purpose of advancing their pe-
cuniary interests, prompted by the liberal advantage offered by
the general government, which was a claim interest in a cer-
tain amount of the public lands till these lands should be sub-
ject to sale. In this they saw an opening that seemed to prom-
ise admission into comparative independence, if not actual
wealth ; and for the most of them, we are happy to say, this
hope has been, to a greater or less extent, realized. Their sac*
rifices and labors have been rewarded; they are wealthy; the
proprietors of the soil they acquired with so much hardship,
they now rest from their labors, with all the comforts and many
of the luxuries of life at their command. Though more than
twenty -five years have passed away since some of them estab-
lished their homes in this then trackless wilderness, and those
who were in the summer of life then, are now in the autumn
of decline, the scenes of their early trials are still fresh to their
memories, and they love to " fight their battles over again," in
the secure retreat of their own happy homes.
As above, stated, an act of congress granted to each settler
the privilege of locating upon and claiming three himdred and
twenty acres of land until the time of the sale, when he could
enter and secure a permanent title to the same. This claim right
General History of the Cownty. 48
was regalated by what was called the *' claim law," that had its
origin in a large meeting of citizens at Locust Grove, Jefferson
county, and was legalized by the territorial legislature of
1839.
The provisions of this law were briefly these: Any person
twenty-one years old, or any other person at the head of a
family, could possess him or herself of three hundred and
twenty acres of land belonging to the governmenty and not
legally claimed or occupied by any other person or persons.
This could be claimed in one or two tracts, as suited the interest
or convenience of the claimant. Said claims had to be defined
by well blazed or well staked lines, as it might happen to be,
in the timber or on the prairie, said lines not to cross or conflict
with those of other claims. Then the claimant was required
to build a house on the land, live in it, and cultivate a certain
amount yearly, as evidence of his intention to become a per-
manent settler thereon. In case he should absent himself from
it six months at any one time, it was forfeited, and subject to
be "jumped," that is, any other person legally entitled to a
claim, conld take possession of and hold it as though it had
never beeh claimed. But, unlike the present homestead right,
claims were transferable at any time, and many who found
themselves unable to buy of the government, sold to individ-
uals, sometimes for enough to enter other tracts, and thus
secured a permanent title to some portion of Uncle Sam's
dominions.
!N^otwithstanding this apparently just and comprehensive
mode of regulating these affairs, difficulties often occurred
between settlers in relation to their claims. With no other title
than that obtained by mere possession, it did not always appear
so clear and unquestionable as to secure the holder in undisturbed
possession thereof. In a community where all are in eager
pursuit of the same object — the acquisition of property — ^it is
not uncommon to find a few not thoroughly governed by a sense
44 Pioneers of Marion C&unty,
of hone^y. / So, in a commanlty remote from the influence of
law and order, rogues were not disposed to be less roguish.
There were no convenient courts of justice, through whoee ^
influence men could be restrained from intruding upon each
other's rights. The nearest one at that early day was in Wash-
ington county, about seventy-five miles distant. Thus isolated
from comparative civilization, it is not strange that quarrels
often occurred between the settlers that sometimes threatened
serious results.
This state of things called for some kind of law, and each
settlement of any considerable number found it necessary to
adopt certain rules and regulations for its government in all
affairs pertaining to claims. At first they were intended to
regulate such differences as might arise between the claimants
only, but were afterwards deemed a necessary protection against
the encroachments of speculators and a monied class of set-
tlers. These " by-laws," as they were called, embodied the
purest " squatter sovereignty " principle. That of each settle-
ment differed more or less, according to circumstances, but in
all the object was the same. Under them the settlers were
organized into ** clubs," duly officered and obligated to serve on
all necessary occasions.
As a matter of historical curiosity let us here introduce a
verhatvm copy of a set of these by-laws. It is of somewhat
later date than most oi tbem, but contains the substance of
what has just been sai4 of tHem generally. Having lain in
obscurity for more than twenty years, they now come fw^h
with the color of intiquity, and, as a relic of old times, deserve
a i^ace more enduring than the yellow, hall-worn sheets of old-
{iet8hi<med writing paper fk)m which we copy them : .
" BY-LAWS.
^ At a meeting held at the house of Jesse Johnson, in Perry
township, Mmion county, State of Iowa, on Saturday, the Iddi
\
^ General Hutary of the Oaumty. , 46
day of A]^^8t, 1848, Peter Brans wag called to the ehair, and
James M. Brans was appdnted secretarj. The object of the
meeting bemg stated, the meeting then proceeded to adopt the
lblk>wing preamble and resolntkms:
^ Whbrsas, It has become a custom in the western states,
as soon as the Indian tide to the public l^ids has been extin<»
gnished by the general government, for the citizens of the
XJnitM States to settle upon and improve said lands, and here-
tofore the imp-ovement and claim of the settler, to the extent
of three hundred and twenty acres, has been respected by both
the citizens and laws of Iowa, f
" Beaolved. That we will protect all citizens upon the pubHc
lands, in the peaceable possession of their claims, to the extent
of •three hundred and twenty acres, for two years after the land
sales, and longer, if necessary.
" ReBoVoed^ That if any person or persons shall enter the
claim of any settler, that he or they shall immediately deed it
back again to said settler, and wait three years without interest.
" Besolved^ That if he refuses to comply with the above
requisitions, he shall be subject to such punishment as the
settlers shall choose to inflict
" Heaolved^ That we will remove any person or persons who
may enter the claim of any settler and settle upon it, peace-
ably if we can, forcibly if we must, even if their removal
should lead to bloodshead, being compelled to do so for our
own common safety, that we may not be driven by ruthless
speculators from our firesides and our homes.
^' Hesolvedj That a committee of live be appointed to settle
all differences that may arise."
Here follow the names of this important committee, and a
resolution appointing a captain. Then a concluding resolu-
tion, ordering the publication of these proceedings in certain
newspapers favorable to the cause.
The next meeting (the only one we have any record of besides
/
46 Pioneef*8 of Marion County.
the above) came off at the same place, on the 9th of September
of the same year, at which the following additional resolations
were adopted:
^^JSesolvedy That each settler that applies first shall have
his or her name registered, and if any two claims should con-
flict, then it shall be the duty of the second settler for the same
piece of land to call the committee together and have the
matter settled; and each settler that expects the benefit of
these resolutions, must have his or her claim registered by the
20th of the present month.
*******
" Resolved^ That it shall be the duty of each settler to sign
these by-laws, and he that refuses to do so, cannot, and shal
not be protected by us.
" Resolved^ That any settler who may have signed these
by-laws, and refuses to render service when called upon by
the proper officers, and without a reasonable ex«?u8e, shall be
fined the sum of ten dollars, to be divided among those that
may have rendered the service necessary."
A lieutenant and ensign were elected at the conclusion of
this meeting, but their duties are not prescribed.
Appended to this venerable document are the names of
thirty-five settlers. Two more who, though their hearts were
in the cause, were omitted, for prudential reasons that may not
appear on the face of the instrument, when it is known that
they held the civil offices of justice of the peace and constable.
Such a company of strong, resolute men, united in a com-
mon cause, to which they were the more attached because it
affected their home interests, might seem sufficient to strike
terror to the heart of any lonely speculator who might have
strayed into the settlement and made choice of some valuable
tract claimed by one of the number.
Without doubt, the intent of the claim law was to secure to
actual settlers the lands in small portions, so as to facilitate the
General Hiitory of the Cavrnty. 4/1
rapid settlement and improvement of the C(»untry, thereby
mcreaeing its wealth and strength, a result slowly reached
through the impediments of speculation. Yet there was no
law forbidding speculation in these lands, nor even the enter-
ing 'of claims belonging to actual settlers without due compen-
sation to the owners ; and to supply this want these by-laws
were instituted. Though the settlers were admitted to the first
choice, some regulations were necessary to secure them in their
possession alter they were subject to entry. Though conducted^
very much upon the mob principle, their intent was legal so
far as it went to enforce the intent of the law. Going beyond
this, they were very mobs without any legal authority. But
as an adxiliary to the enforcement of the law itself, these by-
laws must be regarded as the best thing that could have been
gotten up. Indeed, they were but the natural result of the
then state of things. They placed the law in the hands of
who were directly interested in its enforcement, without which
we have reason to suppose that it might have been nearly a
dead letter upon the statute book.
When the lands came into market, and speculators and other
buyers made their appearance, the settlers naturally became
suspicious of their motives, and these suspicions were founded
on some practical reasons. Many of the settlers had made
improvements on their claims, and valued them accordingly.
In case they were not prepared to enter them, they did not
wish to part with them tor less than what they deemed them
worth. Yet these claims were subject to entry, and as there
was no law forcing the purchaser to pay more than the $1.25
per acre he paid to the government, it depended upon his mag-
nanimity whether he would pay more or not. Some men cannot
afford to be magnanimous without the authority of law. They
cling to the letter of it so long as it suits their convenience;
and it did not suit the convenience of some of these specula-
tors to pay twice for the same property. The little cabin that
45 Pioneers of Marion County.
constituted the poor settlers home, and the ground on which
he had cultivated a few crops of com and vegetables, and the
fence that enclosed them, were of much greater value in the
estimation of the occupant, than of him who might have been,
already the possessor of large landed estates, and who could
easily secure other tracts equally as good, and unoccupied a lit-
tle farther west. If he ente. ed the land regardless of the set-
tler^s rights, and refused to pay him what was deemed a just
compensation for his labor, or indeed anything, tbe only reme-
dy was the club law; and, as intimated in some of the resolu-
tions just quoted, it was somewhat dangerous to disregard its
authority. An insfance of this will be the subject of another
chapter.
As it appears in one or two resolutions, differences between
settlers relative to claims, were settled by arbitration. All de-
cisions by such a court were considered final. There was no
other, neither above nor below it, to appeal to. In case either
of the contending parties should refuse to submit to the deci-
sion of the arbitrators, and continued to make himself trouble-
some about the matter, his case was submitted to Judge Lynch,
where it was apt to end. Any claim holder not a member of a
club, was not entitled to the benefits thereof ; and, further —
though perhaps not a universal rule,-any such pet son positively
refusing to subscribe to, or comply with, the rules and regu-
lations of a settlement, as set forth in its by-laws, thereby indi-
cating an opposition to them, was subject to a S].>ecie8 of ostra-
cism diflScnlt to endure in any country, much less in a new and
sparsely settled district, where the conveniences of social in-
tercourse were occasionally felt to be indispensable. Against
such an offender " non-intercourse " was declared, which with-
held from him all aid and comfort, either in sickness or in
health. Such a punishment was apt to be severely felt, and,
sooner or later, would bring the rebellious individual to terms.
But strict fidelity to the facts of history will not permit us
d^eneral History of the Cotmty. 49
to say that the spirit of monopoly was confined entirely to
speculators. Many settlers were not content with the amount
of land the law entitled them to, but made pretended claims
to so large a portion of the territory that^ in some instances, it
was diflScult for a buyer to find an unclaimed lot. Of course
such claims were without improvements, but the pretended
claimants, by representing themselves as the real owners
thereof, would frequently impose upon some unwary buyer, or,
by threats, extort from him sums, varying in proportion to the
supposed vahie of the claim, or whatever sum could be ob-
tained. For an instance of this, part of the land on which
the author resides was once a pretended claim, for which the
present owner was compelled to pay a small sum, he having
entered it after learning by due inquiry that it was unoccupied.
In this case, the club followed him and another individual
named Brown, who was charged with a similar offense, as far
as Oskaloosa. Brown stubbornly refused to comply with their
demands, and went his way, whilst J. C. Donnel, who had
offended to the amount of eighty acres, satisfied the claimants,
for the time being, with a note of hand for thirty-five dollars,
the half of which was afterwards paid upon compromise of the
parties. Judgment had been rendered for the whole by J. D.
Bedell, justice of the peace, at Bed Bock, but rather than carry
the case to the district court, each agreed to divide the differ-
ence, and pay his own cost.
We mention this case somewhat particularly, because it was
about the last demonstration made by the club, which soon
after mutually abandoned its organization, as a thing no longer
needed in the eastern part of the county. This was in 1848.
f
I:
'/■. -■ ■
50 Pioneers of Marion Ootrnty.
OHAPTEE yn.
The Majors' Wat.
But perhaps the most notable event connected with claim
troubles, occurred just previous to the date mentioned at the
close of the labt chapter, and as such deserves a full account,
under the above title, by which it has ever since been known-
Some time during the year 1844, a family by the name of
Majors emigrated from the State of Illinois, and settled in the
western part of what is now Mahaska county, and formed what
was known as the " Majors' Settlement."
This family consisted of five brothers, two sisters, and their
mother, a widow. One of the sisters was also a widow, and
had two sons eligible to secure claims. In all, there were
ten persons, each of whom claimed three hundred and twenty
acres of land, amounting in the aggregate to Ave sections.
Having secured their claims, they were among the first to or-
ganize a club in that settlement, and adopt rules and regula-
tions for the government and protection of claimants. But in
1847, when the land^sales opened, one of the brothers, Jacob
H. Majors, who seems to have acted as agent for the family,
entered all their claims; after wbiSh, having abundance of
means at his disposal, he proceeded to enter some timbered
claims, belonging to John Gillaspy, Jacob Miller, and Peter
Parsons, His plea was that he did not know they were claims;
but, after being informed that they were, he still evaded mak-
ing restitution according to the rules of the club.
When the report of these transactions spread abroad, it crea
ted no little excitement among the settlers, based upon fears for
the fate of all their claims. That the Majors w^re a wealthy
family, seemed now unquestionable; and, if not checked in
\ •
\
I
Oeneral History of the Cov/nty. 61
/ »
tbeir strides toTv^rd a land monopoly, they might continue them,
to the ruin of many settlers; and their example might embol-
den others to do the same, and thus neutralize the real purpose
of the, claim law.
In yiew of this alarming state of things, the clubs convened,
and passed resolutions denouncing the conduct of Jacob Majors,
and decided upon a concerted movement to force him to deed
back the claims above mentioned, should he refuse, after being
duly admonished to do so. It was supposed he had many
friends, who might back him in a refusal, and show som^e hos-
tility in his defense; and this was the cause of the general upris-
ing of the settlers in behalf of their rights. The central com-
mittee sent word to the various clubs, requesting them to meet
at the residence of Jacob H. Majors, for the purpose of indu-
cing him to make the required settlement.
At the time specified for this meeting, the exact date of which
we have not been able to obtain,* a large number of people
collected there, and remained all day, awaiting the return of
Majors, who was at Oskaloosa, attending the county commis-
sioners' court, as a member of that body. A message had been
sent him, desiring his presence for the purpose above stated ; and
it was supposed he would make his appearance in the evening.
Daring the day the crowd was increased by fresh arrivals
and no little excitement prevailed on learning that the oflfender
was absent, and that doubts were entertained of his return that
night, and of his willingness to comply with the demand
for settlement. In order to induce him to come home, he was
informed that if he did not appear before sunrise the next morn-
ing, his property would be destroyed. When night came with-
out bringing the incorrigible Majors, after having sent the above
threatening notification, it was evident that something rtiore
than gentle coercion would be necessary to bring him to terms^
At night some of the company went home, but most of them
retnained, and camped on the ground, to see what would be the
\
62 JPioneera of Marion County.
\
result; though we are informed that it was not the design of
most of them to executei the threat. And it is quite probable
that Majors also regarded it as a mere threat, believing that no
one would dare to render himself liable to punishment^ for a
crime of such a grave character, and he therefore resolved to
risk it.
But early in the morning the log stable was discovered to be
in flames ; and soon after, the com cribs and other granaries,
all of which were consumed, with their contents. There was
no live stock in the stable, but a number of hogs were either
burned, or killed by the more excitable members of the mobj
who were not disposed to make idle threats.
Majors, now hearing that his property was being destroyed,
sent a promise that he would deed the land back to the claim-
ants ; and under this promise the settlers dispersed to their homes.
But in a few days, Mr. M. having reconsidered his promise,
not only failed to fulfill it. but had warrants issued for the arrest
of some of the more prominent leaders of the mob. Peter
Parsons was arrested and taken to Oskaloosa, and the report
went abroad that he was in jail there, and that the sheriff ot
Mahaska county was in pursuit of about fifty others, against
whom indictments had been tiled, amon'g whom were Geo.
Gillaspy and John B. Hamilton.
All this was calculated to arouse the indignation of the
people to a degree that rendered it unsafe for Majors to remain
at home, and he found it prudent to keep out of the way of the
settlers as much as possible. Hereupon the settlers called an-
other meeting, to rendezvous at Durham's Ford, and from
thence to go to Oskaloosa, release the prisoners,*and punish
Majors. It was late on Saturday when the summons came.
^ Next morning a large number collected at Knoxville, armed
^nd equipped, and resolved to stand by the settlers' rights
at all hazards. A flag was prepared, showing the " stars and
stripes," and mscribed in large letters, '' Settlers' Rights."
Gener<iL History of the County. 6S
This company reached the neighborhood of Durham's Ford
that day, and remained there until the next, some camping
out, and some putting up at houses in the neighborhood. Here
large accessions were expected, which came in that evening
and the next morning, from both counties, some on horseback,
and some in wagons, swelling the number to about five hun-
dred. When all were together, and organized in a kind of
military order, with arms, flags, fie, and drum, they presented
a somewhat formidable appearance. To render it still more
so, and. to make an impression that would be the more likely
to secure the object of the expedition without serious difficulty,
the horsemen were drilled as cavalry, by a Mr. Mulkey, who
had seen some ser\'ice in the Mexican war.
Thus the army marched into Oskaloosa, reaching that place
at about the time the prisoner was to be tried. The arms
were deposited in the wagons, under guard, and infantry and
cavalry formed in the public square. When this formidable
demonstration was observed, and its object made known, the
farial of Parsons was indefinitely postponed, and he was released
with':»ut bail, though he had not been confined in jail, as was
at first reported.
I. C. Curtis, more recently a citizen of Pella, as spokesman
for the settlers, stated the object of the visitation, and was
answered by a Mr. Harbour, of Oskaloosa, on behalf of the
authorities. Then followed other speeches and replies, that
consumed the afternoon, and tended, and probably were
intended, to kill time, and thus give excitement a chance to
cool, rather* than to effect any definite compromise.
During all this time Majors was there, but invisible to those
who most desired to see him. But in the evening he again
promised to comply with the demands of the settlers, and next
morning redeemed his promise by furnishing deeds to those
persons whose land lie had entered. Whereupon the army
disbanded, and returned home.
This, then, was regarded as a treaty of peace — a final con-
/
54
Pioneets of Marion Coimty.
elusion of the war. It was all that had been contended for.
But Majors was not satisfied with such a conclusion. He was
in a rage, considering himself a persecuted man, and the fire
of revenge thus kindled in his breast rendered him rash, and
regardless of consequences. A mob had foUowed him, de-
stroyed his property, and forced him to surrender. The law
was, therefore, evidently in his favor, and to the law he would
appeal. Though the offense of Majors was such as to demand
redress, and his persistent refusal to grant it voluntarily, ren-
dered compulsion the only means tliat could be employed for
that purpose, yet, as a means unauthorized by civil law, the
uprising could hardly be dignified by a better term than moh /
but we are not prepared to say that in all cases a stigma should
attach to the term ; and reason will back us up in the conclu-
sion that, in the absence of any civil law to right a flagrant
wrong, mob law is right.
Not long after this. Majors made preparations to bring the
matter into court, but such was the unpopularity of his course,
that it was found almost impossible to secure the arrest of per-
sons indicted. Just previous to this, John M. Jones, who was,
politically, on the winning side, was beaten in an election for
sheriff of Mahaska county, solely because he was a friend of
Majors. The officer who was authorized to make the arrests
was kind enough, whenever he conveniently could, to notify
the intended prisoners when he should call for them, and con-
sequently, when he did call, they were often absent, and their
whereabouts unknown.
Majors was repeatedly advised not to appear against them,,
but he persisted in so doing, and thereby subjected himself to
the accumulated wrath of his enemies. He having added in-
sult to insult, they were now determined to punish him at all
events. For this purpose a select compiuiy was sent in search
of him, with orders to seize him wherever he could be found,
and convey him to Knoxville. Majors, conscious of his dan-
General History of the Qyunty. 55
ger, did Dot remain at his home, .but frequently stayed at Dr.
Buyer's, a few miles south-west of Oskaloosa. To this place
the detachment went, but not finding him there, they contin-
ued the search till they discovered him in Hallowell's saw
mill, near the mouth of Cedar creek, a little south of Bellefon-
taine. He was at work in the mill, sawing his own lumber,
and it was observed that he kept a gun near him, and carried
it with him as ofteti as he had occasion to leave the mill, if
only for a moment. Thus it was evident that great caution
was requisite to effect bis capture without serious consequen-
ces. To this end the men secreted themselves near by, and
sent one of their number, who was an entire stranger to him,
to decoy him out, if possible, or throw him off his guard, till
the others could steal in and seize him. The plan proved
quite successful. Majors was soon engaged in conversation
with his visitor, who had come to inquire after estray horses,
in thfe meantime getting between the former and his gun,
without exciting any suspicion.
Now was the crisis ! Ere the victim was aware of the pres-
ence of another person, he felt himself seiaied by strong hands,
and carried out of the mill. As speedily as possible they
placed him upon a horse, tied him on, and then set out for
Knoxville. On their arrival there another select committee
took charge of the prisoner. They were blacked, so that their
identity could not be easily ascertained; and to this day, but
few of those known to the circumstance can give their names.
Perhaps for prudential reasons, this is kept a profound secret,
for Majors still lives in Missouri, and might yet be disposed to
avenge the insult he was then made to suffer.
By this committee he was taken about a mile north of town,
at, or near the present site of the county fair grounds, where a
preparation of tar and feathers was in waiting. Here they
stripped him of all his clothing, and applied a coating of the
tar and feathers to his naked body. Over this they drew his
(
56 Pioneera of Marion County,
clothing, and then completed the job by adding another coat-
ing of the same materials, giving to the wearer a very portly
appearance. He was then permitted to go his way, with the
admonition never to repeat the offense for which he had been
thus Heverely punished.
Instead of taking a more private route homeward, to avoid
being seen in his ridiculous plight, he passed directly^ through
Knoxville, and took the most public road thence to his place.
It was sometime during the night when he reached home, and
in order to avoid frightening his family unnecessarily, he stopped
at some distance from the house and called to them; and when
he had thus aroused them he informed them of his condition.
Sometime afterwards Majors made another attempt at prose-
cutiop, but was unable to bring his case into court for the rea-
son that the court house was guarded at about the time set for
trial, and every one, lawyers and witnesses, known to be for the
prosecution, were egged away when they attempted to«enter.
Thus foiled again, he abandoned the case finally.
Not long after this the tamily sold their possessions and
moved away.
Since the above was written, the following additional account
^.ppeared in a communication to the Yoter :
" After receiving the generous coat of tar and feathers. Ma-
jors was indefatigable in his efforts to prosecute and convict
the leaders in the various raids against him. The state of
feeling, as exhibited in the late proceedings in the vicinity of
Knoxville, affording but little prospect of success in Marion
county, he resorted to the courts of Mahaska, where he fancied
a more favorable tone of public sentiment existed. After a
number of failures, he finally succeeded in obtaining bills of
indictment against a number of individuals who bad been dis-
turbers ot his peace during the claim difficulties.
" A young man named Bush w^s among those indicted.
Bush had incautiously allowed himself to be arrested, against a
Qmieral History of the County. 5,7
well understood arrangement, and entered into bonds to appear
at the term of court then next ensuing at Oskaloosa. Notwith-
standing this violation of the rules by Bush, his friends re-
solved to stand by him, as they were solemnly pledsjed to aid
and assist their friends in every emergency growing out of
their diflSculties.
" Accordingly they arranged matters for the approaching
trial. One of their number, who very strongly resembled
JBush in personal appearance, was chosen to represent him dur-
ing the tri^ of the case. This was a bold step, but they
ventm'ed upon it.
" At the sitting of the court. Bush and his substitute were
surrounded by their friends. When the case was called, the
pretended Bush responded, took his seat in the criminal box,
and plead "not gailty"to the indictment; -but when, in the
progress of the soit, it became necessary to identify iiie crimi-
nal at the bar as the real offending Bush, the similarity be-
tween the two individuals became at first embarrassing, and
then inexplicable, and caused no little delay in the proceedings,
and the court finally lost its temper, and dismissed the case.
The ruse was a success, and the case was literally laughed out
of court, to the utter confusion of Majors and his attorney^
who were unprepared for this sharp practice.
" At this unlooked-for failure when everything had promised
success, Majors became mortified, chagrined and discouraged)
and gave up in despair. He made no further efforts to proses
cute the matter, b^ing convinced of the impossiblity of pmcun-
iflg a conviction in a community where the hajid of eveiy man
was arrayed against him. He soon after ' left the country for
his country's good.' Finding kindred spirits in Missouri, be
Bonght a home among them, where he still resides.
" It is by no means certain that tbe court, bar, or spectators
of the trial, ever became aware of this ruse. It w^ known only
to the initiated. B."
68 Pione&n of Marion Covnty,
OHAPTERVIII.
t
First Eleotion-^First Political Gonventwn — Name Pro-
posed for the Cov/rvt/y — Organizing Act.
At the time of its first settlement, the territory now embraced
by Marion comity belonged to, and was under the judicial*
jurisdiction of, Washington county, together with the counties
of Mahaska, Keokuk, Warren, and all other territory west of it,
80 far as the purchase extended. Washington was then the
• most western organized county in the same belt now included
in the above named counties, and was, therefore, necessarily
their seat of justice, and the authority fh)m whence they
/ derived such temporary organizations as were needed for elec-
tion and judicial purposes.
In 1843, several election precincts were organized by au.
thority of Washington county, extending through these sparsely
settled districts, and one of them (perhaps the most western)
included a large portion of Marion. This was called " Lake
Precinct," and the election came off on Lake Prairie, on the
first Monday in October, 1843. In 1844, three or four precincts
were established in the county, and another election was held
on the first Monday in April of that year. This was on the
occasion of the organization of Mahaska county, and Stephen
Druilard, who lived on White Breast Prairie, was elected as
one of the county commissioners for that county, of which Ma-
rion was made an attached part, as it had been to Washington.
At that election each precinct also elected two justices of the
peace, and two constables, to serve until the August election of
that year, the names of whom we have not been able to obtain.
The last elections held in connection with Mahaska county,
were in April and August, 1845.
» f
. OeneraZ History of the Goimty. 59
In the spring of 1845, a movement wae^ made to secure a
separate county organization. A meeting, or convention, com-
posed of a few of th© more prominent citizens of the county,
interested in the movement, was held at the house of Nathan
!3a6s, on Lake Prairie.* The following named persons were
present: Lysandir W. Babbit, George Gillaspy, Reuben
Matthews, Homer Matthews, David T. Durham, Nathan Bass,
Joseph Druilard, John Williams, Levi Bainbridge, Isaac N.
Crum, Simon Druilard, John "W. Alley, and a few others. The
meeting was organized by the appointment of Simon Druilard,
chairman, John W. Alley, secretary.
One object of the meeting was to propose a name for the
county, and another was to recommend some person to act as
organizing sheriff, subject to appointment by the legislature;
also to choose some of ^the candidates for county offices, to be
voted for at the first election to be held for that purpose, the
time of which was designated by the organizing act, a com-
plete copy of which will be given in this chapter. But perhaps
the most important object of the meeting was to influence a
river lobation for a county seat. The residences of most of the
above named citizens were along the river and in its neighbor-
hood, and consequently their interests had much to do with
whatever influence they could lawfully exercise to secure its
location on the river. Red Rock was once an aspirant for the
honor of being the seat of justice, and contended for it on the
ground of its location on the river, by the navigation of which
she. would have the advantage of commercial communication
^ The cabin at which this meeting was held, stood on the north bank of the
Dee Moines river, in the north-west comer of section 19, township 76, range 18,
now Lake Prairie township. It has long since disappeared, and repeated
freshets have washed away the bank for several rods Inland from, where It
stood- Mr. Van Lent, a Hollander, now owns the land then claimed by Mr.
Bass. We are thus particnlar, because it may interest the reader to be able to
find upon the map, or know when he passes It, a place rendered in some degree
memorable by the seene of the first political movement in the county looking
to Its distinct organization.
60 Pioneers of Marion County.
snperior to any inland location^ This argument might have
secured her the place, but for the overwhelming fact that the
town plat was occasionally found to be below high water mark.
Evidences of floods that covered the place to the depth of
several feet, at some remote period, are still visible upon the
bark of the trees. In the spring of 1849 th#town was nearly
covered, and again in 1851 it was subjected to an overflow that
forced the inhabitants to leave it.
This object of the meeting was opposed by the inhabitants
of other pgu*ts of the county, who derisively gave it the name
of " Cornstalk Convention." Perhaps this was partly sug-
gested by the fact of immense crops of corn being produced on
tl^ rich bottom prairies along the river.
After the meeting was organized, several names were pro-
posed for the new county. The presideut offered Nebraska; L.
"W. Babbit, Pulaski; Reuben Matthews, Center; after which
Mr. Bainbridge spoke at some length on the fitness of names,
denouncing the too common custom of honoring foreigners and
noted Indian chiefs, by giving their names to our states, coun-
ties, and towns, and concluded by proposing Marion, the name
of. a distinguished patriot of the War of Independence, as the
most suitable one that could be chosen. The proposition was
seconded, and adopted by a unanimous vote.
A vote was then taken on the choice of a candidate for or-
ganizing sheriff'', and the choice fell upon Joseph Druilard.
Immediately after the convention, petitions were circulated
and sent to the legislature, proposing tiie name of the county
as chosen by the convention. By private letter, also, directed
to S. B. Shelledy, representative from Mahaska,* George Gil-
laspy was recommended for sheriff; but, for some reason, that
^During that session Mr. SheUedy introduced a biUfor the partial organiza-
tion of two tiers of counties, designating their boundaries, and applying their
names. Four of these counties, W^ebster, Story, Madison and Warren, still
retain the names then given them.
Oeneral Sisiory of the County, 61
body disregarded the applicationg of the people for the ap-
pointment of either of the above named candidates, and ap-
pointed William Edmondson, the then sheriff of Mahaska
county, to the post of organizing sheriff of Marion.
Having obtained the above facts by much labor and research,
revising and correcting from time to time, as additional infor-
mation rendered it necessary so to do, in order to Arrive at the
correct and connected datails, we here introduce —
''AiN ACT.
"to organize the county of mabion.*
Section 1. Be U enacted by the Council and House of
Representatives of the Territory of lowa^ That the follow- '
ing shall constitute and be the boundary of a new county, to
be called Marion; to- wit: Begioning at the north-west comer
of Mahaska county, and ruonirig west on the township line
dividing townships seventy-seven and seventy-eight, north, to
the north-west corner of township seventy-seven, north of range
twenty-one west, thence south to the south-west corner of town-
ship seventy-four, north of range twenty-one west, thence east
*Th6 foUowing is an extract from tbe Joarnal of the coancU of the seventh
general assembly, dated May 5, 1844, giving the proceedings of that body npon
this act, Just previous to its passage:
** Mr. Selby, from the committee or the judiciary, to which was referred, No.
61, H. R. file, A bill to organize the county of Marion, reported the same back
to the council, with amendments, to which the council agreed.
"On motion of Mr. CJoop, the 18th rule was suspended, and the bill was read
a third time.
" A motion was made by Mr. Hempstead, that * Marion ' be stricken out, and
the word ' Polk' Inserted, which passed in the negative.
•* Yeas 4— nays 8.
*' The yeas and nays being demanded,
"Those who voted In the affirmative were— Messrs. Abbe, Hempstead, Sum*
mers, and Mr. President.
"Those who voted in the negative were— Messrs. Bradley, Brattaln, Bi:ierly, '
Coop, Lefler, Selby, Stephenson and Thompson.
" The bill was then ptssed, and its title agreed to.
" Ordered^ that the secretary acquaint the house of representatives there-
with.
62
Fiorieera of Marion County.
along the township linie dividing townships seventy-three and
seventy-four north, to the south-west corner of Mahaska county,
thence north along the range line dividing ranges sixteen and
seventeen, to the place of beginning.
" Section 2. That the county of Marion be, and the same
is, hereby organized from and after the first Monday in August
next, and the inhabitants of said county shall be entitled to the
same privileges to which, by law, the inhabitants of other
organized counties of this territory are entitled.
" Section 3. That for the purpose of organizing said
county, it is hereby made the duty of the clerk of the district
court of said county, and in case there should be no such clerk
appointed and qualified, or for any cause said office should
become vacant on or before the first Monday in August
next, then it shall be the duty of the the sheriff of Ma-
haska county to. proceed immediately after the first Monday in
August, to order a special election in said county, for the pur-
pose of electing three county commissioners, one judge of pro-
bate, one county treasurer, one clerk of the board of county
commissioners, one county surveyor, one county assessor, one
sheriff, one coroner, one county recorder, and such number
of justices of the peace and constables as may be directed
by the officer ordering the same, he having due regard for the
convenience of the people, which special election shall be on
the first Monday in September next; and that the officer
ordering said election shall appoint as many places of election
in said county as the convenience of the people may require,
and shall appoint three judges of election for each place of
holding in said county, and issue certificates of their appoint-
ment ; and the officer ordering said election shall give at least
ten days notice of the time and place of holding said election,
by three advertisements, which shall be posted up at three of
the most public places in the neighborhood, where each of the
polls shall be opened,
^ ^ , ' . •■ i ^
\
I
'I
' General Sittory of the Oonmty. 63
" Section 4. That the oflBlcer ordering said election (afore-
Baid) shall receive and canvass the polls, and grant certificates
to the persons elected to fill the several ofBces mentioned in
this act; the ofiicer ordering each of said elections shall dis-
charge the duties of a clerk of the board of county commis-
sioners, until there shall be one elected and qualified for said
county.
'' Section 6. Said election shall, in all cases not provided
for in this act, be cjonducted according to the laws of this terri-
tory regulating general elections.
" Section 6. The officers elected under the provisions of
this act shall hold their offices until the next general election,
and until their successors are elected and qualified.
" Section 7. The officer ordering the election in said county
shall return all the books and papers which may come into his
hand by virtue of this act, to the clerk of the board- of county '
commissioners of said county forthwith, after said clerk shall
be eliected and qualified.
" Section 8. That it shall be the duty of the sheriff of
Mahaska county to perform the duties required by this act,
until the first Monday in September next, and until a sheriff
shall be elected and qualified for said county of Marion, and
the said sheriff shall be allowed the same fees for services ren-
dered by him under the provisions of this act, that are allowed
for similar services performed by the sheriff in similar cases.
" Section 9. That the clerk of the district court of said
county of Marion may be appointed by the judge of said dis-
trict, and qualified at any time after the passage of this act,
but he shall not enter upon the duties of said office prior to
the first day of August next.
" I^BOTioN 10. That all actions at law in the district court
for the county of Mahaska, commenced prior to the organiza-
tion of the said county of Marion, where the parties, or either
of them, reside in the county of Marion, shall be prosecuted to
if
L
^ . Pioneer^ of Marion Cownty.
judgment or decree, as fully and effectually as if this act had
not passed.
" Section 11. That it shall be the duty of all justices of
the peace residing within said county, to return all books and
papers in their hands, appertaining to said office, to the next
nearest justice of the peace which may be elected and quali-
fied for said county, under the provisions of this act, and all
suits at law which may be in the hands of such justice of the
peace, and unfinished, shall be completed or prosecuted to
final judgment, by the justice of the peace to whom such busi-
ness or papers may have been returned.
" Section 12. That the county assessor elected under the
provisions of this act for said county, shall assess the said
county in the same manner, and be under the same obligations
and liabilities, as now is, or may hereafter be, provided by law,
in relation to the county assessor.
" Section 13. That Ezra M. Jones, of Van Buren county,
Joseph Robinson, of Scott county, and James Montgomery, of
Wapello county, be, and they are, hereby appointed commis.
sioners to locate and establish the seat of justice of Marion
county. Said commissioners, or a majority of them, shall
meet at the house of Wilson Stanley,* in said county, on the
second Monday in August next, or at such other time in the
month of August next as may be agreed upon by them, in pur-
suance of their duties under this act.
Section 14. Said commissioners shall first take and sub-
scribe to the following oath, or affirmation ; to-wit: 'We do
solemnly swear (or affirm) that we have no interest, either di-
rectly, or indirectly, in the location of the county seat of Ma-
rion county, and that we will laithfully and impartially exam-
ine the situation of said county, taking into consideratiori the
future as well as the present population of said county, and
*T1i6 residence of Wilson Stanley ^as x>n Lake Prairie. Ezra Jones failed to
meet the other commissioners.
General History of the Cotmty. 65
that we will take into consideration the best interests of the
whole people of the county, and that we will not be influenced
by any fee or reward, or any promise thereof; which oath
shall be administered by the clerk of the district court, or by
some justice of the peace of said county of Marion, and the
ofBcer administering the same shall certify and file the same
in the office of the clerk of the board of county commissioners
of said county, whose duty it shall be to record the same.
^^ Section 15. Said commissioners, when met and qualified
under the provisions of this act, shall proceed to locate the
seat of justice of said county ; and, as soon as they have come
to a determination, they shall commit to yi^riting the place so
selected, with a particular description thereof, signed by the
commissioners, in which such seat of justice is located, whose
duty it shall be to record the same, and forever keep it on file
in his office, and the place thus designated shall be the seat of
justice of said county.
'^ Section 16. Said commissioners shall receive the sum of
two dollars per day, while necessarily employed in the duties
assigned to them by this act, and two dollars for each twenty
miles travel in going and returning, to be paid out of the first
funds arising from the sale of lots in said seat ot justice.
" Section 17. The county of Marion shall form a part of the
second judicial district, and it «hall be the duty of the judge of
sail district to hold one term of said court in the same, on the
twelfth Monday after the first Monday dn March, in each year.
Section 18. This act to take effect and be in force, from
and after its passage.
"(Signed.) '* JAMBS M. MOEGAN,
^^Speaher of the House of Rej^s.
" S. C. HASTINGS,
''President of the GounoU.
"Approved June 10, 1845.
"John Chambers, Oovemor.^^
5
I
/
t I
66 Pioneers of Marion' Oomity.
f .
OHAPTEK IX.
County Officers — JFirst /Session of Commissioners^ Court
— First Business Transacted/ — Changing the Name of the
, County Seat — The Rose Ann McGregor Case,
The oflScers chosen at the first election (the first Monday of
\ September, 1846), were the following :
Conrad Walters, William Welch, David Durham, County
Commissioners*
Sanford Doud, Commissioners* Clerk,
'Francis A. P:irker, Probate Judge.
r James Walters, Sheriff.
, David T. Durham, Treasurer.
Reuben Lowry, Recorder.
Isaac B. Power, Surveyor.
Green T. Clark, Assessor.
Wellington Nossaman, Coroner*
About two hundred votes were polled at this election, and
a I ■■ -■ ■■! I I '- ■ — ■ - —I - . ■'■■■■ ■ ■.■■■■ — ^ ■!■■■ I— ■■■■■-^, -I, ■■_—,i ■■ ■,__-■■. ■.■■■■.■
* The electiQn at which these officers were chosen was a wpedaX election, and
£heir terms of office expired at the August election in 1846. Then, by an old act
of the territorial code, regulating ihe terms of county commissioners, the one
receiving the highest number of yotes served three years, the next highest two,
and the lowest one. At the regular election (at the date above mentioned),
Samuel Tibbett received the highest number of votes, David Durham the next,
and Hugh Qlenn the lowest. By authority of an act of the state legislature in
1846-7, the county was required to be divided into commissioners' districts,
which was accordingly done at the April term, 1847. All that part of the county
north of the river was made to constitute one district, and, in 1867, Thomas Pol-
lock was elected therein to take the place of Hugh Qlenn. AU that part of the
county south of the river and east of the line between ranges nineteen and
twenty constituted the second district ; and all south of the river and west of
said line, constituted the third. Martin Neel was elected commissioner from
the second, in 1848, and Miles Jordon from the third, in 1849, as will appear in a
list of county officers in another place. At the same date all of Warren county,
which then belonged to Marion, was declared '* Warren Precinct," and aU the
territory west of Warren, also belonging to Marion, was called " Black Oak Pre-
cinct.*'
I
Gen&f^al Sistory of the O&mity. \ 67
the probable population of the county was about twelve hun-
dred. ^
For some reason, Sanford Doud, elected as county coinmis.
sioners' clerk, failed to appear and be qualified in due time,
and Lysander W. Babbitt was appointed in his stead, at the
first meeting of the board, which was on the 12th of Septem-
ber, 1845. The records, in Mr. B.'s hand, from which we ob-
tained the matter for a large portion of this chapter, are still to
be seen in the oflBce of the probate judge, in a good state of
preservation.
At the date above mentioned, the commissioners met at
Knoxville for business. That place had just been selected by
the commissioners appointed in the act given in the preceding
chapter, as the seat of justice for Marion county. The house in
which the first session was held is described as a "claim pen,*'
made of linn poles, about twelve by sixteen feet square,
chincked and daubed in the usual manner of enclosmg such
buildings, covered with " clapboards," and a square hole cut
in the side wall for a window, that could boast of neither sash
nor glass. This ca'^in stood in what is now block thirty-three,
in the east part of the city.
As a matter of historical record, we here introduce a verha-
tim copy of the first entry made upon the minute book of this
court. The first meeting of the first commissioners' court was,
certainly, a sufficiently important event in the history of the
county, all circumstances considered, to be distinctly remem-
bered, and the tone of the preamble seems to have emanated
from a due appreciation of this fact :
" Be it remembered^ That on the 12th day of September,
A. D. 184:5, Conrad Walters, David Darham, and William
Welch, county commissioners, duly elected and qualified within
and for the county of Marion, in the territory of Iowa, met
at Knoxville, the seat of justice for said county, for the purpose
of holdine: a called session of the countv com niissi oners' court
of said county."
68 Pioneers of Mario7i County.
The court was then opened by L. C. Oonrey, deputy sheriff,
and the only important business transacted related to the
county seat. The two commissioners who had made the loca-
-tion presented their report, which was received and placed
upon file. It was dated August 25th, and designated the north-
west quarter of section seven, township seventy-five, range
nineteen,* as the most suitable place for the seat of justice tor
Marion county. This was on a high, level prairie or plateau,
about one mile south of the exact center of the county, and in
the near neighborhood of excellent timber, so that no better
location for the convenience of the people then, and for all time
to come could have been selected. For those living north of
the Des Moines river it may be deemed more or less inconve-
nient to reach it at certain seasons of the year, when that
stream is an obstruction to travel; but this difficulty could not
have been overcome by any other location ; it was one that
could not be removed, but might be materially modified by ferries
and bridges.*
Within the last few years, some of the citizens north of the
river have spoken favorably of dividing the county and erect-
ing a new one from the strip of territory lying between Des
Moines and Skunk rivers, consisting of parts of Mahaska, Jas-
per, and Marion counties, thus obviating the necessity of
crossing either of those streams to reach their county seat.
But it appears evident that the ex})ense of organizing a new
county of such a narrow, irregular shape, and maintaining its
government at, necessarily, the same cost of larger counties,
would be much greater than that required to build a substan^
tial bridge at each of two or three convenient places across the
Des Moines and Skunk ; or, if bridge building is found to be
impracticable, let a portion of the business requiring the at-
tendance of the people living there, at the county seat, be
*Thoagh the coantry had not yel been sectionlzed, the locaUty above de-
scribed coald be easUy ascertained by its nearness to the north-west comer of
the township lying only one mile soath of that point.
General History of the County. 69
*
transacted at some giv.en point north of the river. This is a
digression from the tru€^ line of our history, but, in our opinion,
Dot less important. We deprecate a division of the county as
tending to no beneficial results.
The locating commissionerH suggested the name of Knox-
ville for the county seat, in honor of the memory of General
Knox, a distinguished leader in the war for independence, and
the authorities of Enoxville afterwards complimented the com-
missioners by naming two of the principal streets crossing east
and west, Montgomery and Kobinson.
The name of Knoxville proved generally satisfactory to all
concerned except to one individual — L. W. Babbitt — who
seems to have had a preference for odd or uncommon names/
Some time after, when he kept the post office there, he thought
the liability of mistaking Knoxville, Iowa, for some other
place of the same name — ^for instance, the one in Tennessee —
in the posting of mail matter, would justify him in obtaining
a change of the name. So, having business in Iowa City on
the occasion of the first session of the state legislature, in the
winter of 1846-7, he there took the opportunity, on his own
responsibility, to solicit an act of that body legalizing the
change. Having drafted a bill to that effect, he presented it,
and had the satisfaction of seeing it adopted. On his return
home, he first stated to D. T. Durham, who attended to the
post office and clerkship during his absence, that such was the
fact — that Knoxville was no more Knoxville, but Osceola. But
so soon as this unauthorized transaction was publicly known,
the people were much displeased thereat, and not in the least
disposed to pocket the joke. As speedily as possible, a petition
was extensively circulated and signed, asking for the repeal ot
this change, and sent to Iowa City by the hand of James Wil-
Jes, who delivered it to Hon. Simeon Reynolds, representative
from Marion. Mr. R, in response thereto, dratted and pre-
sented a bill to repeal the name of Osceola, but, by an over-
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70 Pioneers of Marion County.
sight, (which was also the fault of thp petition), failed to reinsert
the name of Knoxville. The act passed ; but now, a worse joke
was apparent, from the fact that the repeal of the last name
did not restore the former, and, therefore, Knoxville was neither
Knoxville nor Osceola. But, after the joke had run a brief
season, the matter was readjusted, J^nd Knoxville was herself
again.
At the seconS se^ion of the board of county commissioners,
which was on the second Monday of October, a subject of
peculiar interest was brought up, by an order which is said to
have been originated by the noted Bab .itt, whose exploits have
sotne how rendered him a prominent personage in this history.
Said order required that all blacks or mulattos residing in the
county should appear before some justice of the peace attd
give bonds for their good behavior, or be expelled from the
county. This order was, in accordance with an act of the ter-
rkorial legislature, entitled " An Act to regulate blacks and
itiulattos," dated June 21, 1839. But, in order to a more com-
prehensive introduction to the subject, we here insert clauses <5t
said act bearing more directly upon the case in hand :
" Section 1. Be it enacted^ dho., That from and after the
first day of April next, no black or mulatto shall be permitted
to settle or reside in this territory, unless he or she shall pro-
duce a fair certificate from some court within the United States
of his or her actual freedom, which certificate shall be attested
by the clerk of said court, and the seal thereof annexed thereto
by the said court, and give bond, with good and sufficient secu-
rity, to be approved of by the board of county commissioners
of the proper county in which such person of color may reside,
payable to the United States, in the penal sum of five hundred
dollars. * * * * -it ^
"Section 2. If any negro or mulatto, coming into this
territory as aforesaid, shall fail to comply with the provisions
of the first section of this act, it shall be and is hereby made
,(
General History of the. County. 71
the duty of the county commissioners in any county whjere
such negro or mulatto may be found, to summon him, her, or
them to appear before some justice of the peace to show cause
why he, ,she, or they shall not comply with the provisions of
this act * » * 4f ^f ^f * • *
And if such negro or mulatto shall still fail to give the bond «
and security required by the first section of this act, *
* * * it shall be the duty of the county
commissioners of such county to hire out such negro or mulatto
.for six months, for the best price in cash that can be' had.
The proceeds of such hiring shall be paid into the county
treasury of the proper county, for the use of such negro or
mulatto, in such manner as shall be directed by the board of
county commissioners aforesaid."
A history of the case may now be in order, and may not*
prove wholly uninteresting, even to those personally acquainted
with the facts. It was known that there was a negro (or, *
rather, a negress) in the county, else such an order would have
been regarded as an idle formality.*
Some time in 1844: or 1845, a man named Thomas McGregor
came frpm Illinois to what is now the northeast corner of Indi-
ana township, and called upon Mr. George Henry, a settler in
that neighborhood, and asked his assistance in selecting a
claim. Mr. Henry readily gave him the required assistance,
atler which McGregor asked tlie privilege of moving into the
house with him till he could get a cabin fixed up on his claim.
Mr. Henry, being desirous of accommodating those who were
to become his neighbors, and, inasmuch as the family of Mr.
McGregor wits small, consisting of only the man and his wife,
he readily assented to that arrangement also. But when the
guests arrived, the astonishment of Mr. Henry may, possibly,
be imagined, when he first beheld in Mrs. McGregor a full-
blooded African, about as dark as the darkest of the race,
"possessmg all the charms that could be summed up in a figure
r
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73 Pioneers of Marion Govm,ty. ,
of ample proportions, and featares of combined brilliancy and
prominence. As a matter of course after this discovery, he
lost no time in reconsidering his promise. He was not dis-
posed to encourage further " domoatic relations " with this
interesting pair, and honestly signified to Mac that his mind
had undergone a change on the subject. So the latter, with
bis lovely s))0U8e, was compelled to seek some other shelter.
Not finding a house, they camped out, as they had previously
done, until their cabin was built. But the nature of their
relationship was such that they were not permitted to long
enjoy it in peace. It was taken for granted that they were
living in violation of a statute of the territory forbidding mat-
rimonial connection between blacks and whites, and, for this
offense, were arrested and brought before Justice Levi Bain-
'bridge, on Lake prairie, and tried. Not being very well
pleased with the rulings of this court, they took a change of
*ven/ae^ and their case was turned over to Justice Mike Morris,
who happened to be present. After giving it a hearing, Mike
referred the matter to the* Mahaska county grand iury — this
being previous to the organization of Marion — where it ended,
the jury not finding a true bill against the offenders.
But the end was not yet. This was only a brief truce in
the tribulations of this unfortunate couple. As we have seen,
the lady was deemed an offender against another statute, and
that statute made it the duty of the county commissioners to
take action in the premises ; hence the order noticed on
another page. But, lor some reason, Mrs. McGregor did not
heed the threatening mandate; she was either not aware of
its existence, or determined to risk the consequeiftes of disre-
garding it But another soon followed, of a more specific
character^ to the effect that Rose Ann McGregor should
appear and give the required bonds, on or before the 29th of
January, or "J^ sold to the highest bidder.^^ But even this
failed to bring the stubborn Eose/ Ann to terms. The fearftil
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General History > of the County, 73
penalty of non-compliance therewith, though it may have
cansed the culprit to tremble in anticipation, moved her not
otherwise. It was, therefore, found necessary to bring into
action the practical force of law, and the sheriff was armed
with authority to bring Eose Ann bodily to the seat of justice.
Armed with this authority, and attended by his deputy, Dr
L. 0. Conrey, the two proceeded to the residence of the Mc-
Gregors. Apparently, this visitation had been expected by
the wary Bose Ann ; tor, when the officers reached the house
they found the doors barred, and their application for admit-
tance pointedly refused. Not wishing to perpetrate any vio-
lence in the execution of their duty (^.nd, perhaps, actuated by
a sense of caution, for Bose Ann was reported to be the
possessor of a gun, a good marksmafi, and, to quote the words
of our informant^ " some in a bear fight "), they resorted to a
little stragetical compromise, by which the beseiged promised
to go to town the next morning. But the officers, having no
faith in this promise, retired a few rods from the house and
secreted themselves behind a shock of com fodder, to watch
the movements of their intended prisoner, and seize her if a
favorable opportunity presented. Presently they saw her
emerge ftom the house, with gun in hand, and survey the
premises with a cautious glance. Seeing no danger, she
retamed within doors, where she left the gun, and immediately
reappeared, going to the woodpile for fuel. Now was the
best opportunity to nab her. The two men started at their
utmost speed, intending, if possible, to get between her and
the house; but "the race is not always to* the swift." Bose
Ann soon discovered them, and so far outran them that she
had time to bar the door before they reached it. Here now
was a crisis that required prompt decision, activity, and nerve;
sach a thing as being out-generaled by a nigger could not be
thoQght of. Parley was out of the question; and what sort of
a report should they make on returning to Ejnoxville without
, /
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74: Pioneers of Marion County.
I
their prisoner? Their reputation was at stake, and rather
than risk it they would risk - their lives. So Walters ordered
the Doctor to make a battering-ram of an old sled tongue that
happened to be lying near at hand, and batter in the door.
The order was immediately obeyed, and as the door swung
back, Walters bounded into the room and caught the deter-
mined Rose Ann in the act of raising the hammer of her gun.
The Doctor followed, and seized the weapon just in time to
save his own life, for it was already aimed at him with the
evident intention of firing. Having disarmed the prisoner,
she had no other choice but to surrender unconditionally. The
doctor then fired off the gun, the report of which indicated a
heavy charge, very probably intended for the use she attempted
to make of it.
The battle now over, and the victory so fortunately won, the
victors immediately set out on their return to headquarters
with the prisoner. It was growing late in the evening, and
some haste was necessary to reach town before dark; so, in
order to make better speed, and, perhaps, also prompted by a
feeling of generosity, the Doctor mounted Bose Ann on his
horse, he going before, leading the way in the narrow Indian
trail that, as we have heretofore stated, was then about the
only kind of a road in the country.
As it happened, the sheriff had business in another direc-
tion, and accompanied them only part of the way; conse-
quently, the deputy was left in sole charge of the prisoner.
Having been so completely conquered, and afterwards so
kindly treated to a means of conveyance, it was not supposed
that she would become treacherous or troublesome on the way.
But Rose Ann was not to be won by any such evidences of
kindness, so long as she was subjected to the humiliating con-
dition of a prisoner for no fault except race and color. She
was disposed to take advantage of her captors' confidence, and
she did. A short time after the sheriff left them, — the Doctor
'(
/
General History of the Cownty. 75
walking a few steps in advance, — Kose Ann suddenly turned
about and dashed homeward on a full gallop, to the astonish-
ment and mortification of her captor, who looked after her a
moment without any decisive purpose what to do about it.
But he concluded to pursue her at all events, and did so as
rapidly as he was able. On the way he found his pill bags
which he was then in the habit of carrying with him, being in
the practice of medicine; they had bounded off in the extraor-
dinary flight of the captive. After a mile or two of pursuit,
the Doctor became weary, and turned in for the night at the
residence of John Welch.
Next day Rose Ann made her appearance at court with the
required bond, duly signed by herself, with Thomas McGregor
(her husband) and Amos Strickland as sureties.
Thus ended this troublesome case. One of the actors in the
jiay (which we may properly style a farce), in relating the in-
cidents of the capture, says that he felt quite conscientious in
the performance of his duty, believing, as the great apostle did
when persecuting the church, that he was doing God's service.
But the persecuted pair did not remain long in the neighbor-
hood. It was supposed by some that McGregor's interest in
his ebony spouse was of a pecuniary character, and that his
intention was to take her to Missouri for sale; yet, this wad not
apparent in his attempt to settle with her in a free state.
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70 Pioneera of Marion Cov/aUf,
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CHAPTEE X.
County Revenue — WarranU — Stationery — Fir%t Oowniy
Seal — Buying the County Seat — Building Court Hovsea
— The First Court House — Precincting the County —
Road Districts — First Juries — First District Court —
Boa/rdvng Houses — Sleeping in the Court Room — A
Sketch of Judge Williams.*
Isaac B. Powers, county surveyor, platted part of the town
of Knoxville* shortly after it was located, aod Claiborn Hall
laid out the remainder in the winter of 184:6-7. George Gil-
laspy was appointed auctioneer to sell lots, and the first sale
came off' on the 21st of October, 1845, and the second in April,
1846. In those days, as has been heretofore stated, money
was far from being plentiful; besides the prospect of specula-
tion in town property in that wild, open country, far away from
any important outlet or means of communication, was not en-
couraging, so that few investments were made.
The proceeds of these sales were immediately absorbed by
the expenses of location, survey, and sales, and also for the
erection of a court house, the need of which was now being
keenly felt, as we shall further notice in due time.f
Besides the sale of these lots there was no other source of
revenue till about the clobe of 1846, or during the winter of
1846-7, when the first taxes were collected. Previous to the
organization, the county had been assessed by authority of
* Since the above was written, we have been informed of the death of Jtidge
WiUiams, near Fort Scott, Kansas, aged 69 y ears.
t Owing to the want of suitable offices, the county officers kept their books
and performed their official work at their dwellings and boarding-houses.
Oeneral History of the County. 77
•
Mahaska,^ ai^d the legislature had aatliorized the oflScers of that
connty to collect the taxes of this assessment after the separa-
tion, which the citizens of Marion persistently and successfully
refused to pay. There was then but little real estate taxable,
and when the taxes were collected at the date mentioned above
they amounted to the small sum of three hundred dollars !
At about this time the finances of the county were found to
be in a deplorably epabarrassed condition. Debts had rapidly
accumulated from the date of its organization. Three elections
had. been held during this time, the expenses of which were
paid in warrants, till these promises to pay had so far outfig-
ured the revenue that they dwindled away to the meagre sum of
thirty-seven and one-half cents to the dollar. In these the county
oflScers were paid, if paid at all, with the slight hope that they
would eventually be redeemed at their full face. The salary of
officers then being nearly the same as now, there could be little
to prompt aspirants for places aside from the mere honor per-
taining thereto. Indeed, to such a strait had money matters
come, that the officers were compelled to purchase their needed
stationery on credit, at exhorbitant prices, and become person-
ally responsible for the payment of the same. The board of com-
missioners found it necessary to send to Oskaloosa for one quire
of foolscap, a bundle of quills, — steel pens had not come in use
then, — and a bottle of ink; but before they could (»btain them
these officers were compelled to become personally responsible
or the debt, which could not have been seriously burdensome
even at a period of financial depression. Many of these war-
rants were sold to shavers to pay these debts. Those who
bought these warrants made a profitable investment of their
money, paying thirty-seven and a-half to forty cents per dollar,
* This assessment was made in the spriDg of 1845, as the law then directed.
Green T. Clark, who had been elected county assessor, not having any official
work to do, went away on business, and did not return in time to serve In the
next asssessment. George Gillaspy, who had previously applied for the office,
was then appointed by the commissioners; and assessed the county in the
■Prtng of 184«,
/
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78 jPi&neera of Marion County.
receiving six per centum on their full face, till the county
redeemed them at par.
An official seal was also needed by the board of commission-
ers, ^nd there being no means of obtaining one specially made
for the purpose, they legalized one out of the eagle side of a
twenty-five cent United States silver coin. With a stick and
mallet an impression could be made of the bird of liberty,
which mark served as a token of the official authority of that
court. The first seal of the probate court was the eagle side of
a five cent coin.
The land on which the county seat was located was occu-
pied as a claim by L. C. Conrey. There were no improve-
ments on it, except the cabin that was required to hold it; but
so soon as the location was made, Mr. C. surrendered his title
gratuitously for the benefit of the county; but it necessarily
yet remained the property of the government. It was sup-
posed that enough funds could be SjL>ared from the revenue
arising from the sale of lots to enter it as soon as it should be
subject to entry; but such was the all-prevailing poverty of
both town and county that two hundred dollars could not be
raised for that purpose. At the January session in 1847, the
commissioners appointed Thomas Pollock an agent to borrow
the money; but owing either to its scarcity or the want of
confidence in the financial stability of the county, he failed to
obtain it. In this emergency a Rev. Mr. Gibson came to the
rescue with a land ^warrant, which he offered to apply on time;
but owing to some obstruction, of the nature of which the ati-
thor is not informed, the warrant could not be used. At
length, however. Dr. Weir, a resident of Fairfield, where the
land was subject to entry, entered it on time, and thus ended
the strife, securing to Marion county, in due time, a clear title
to her shire town.
By the organizing act Marion county was added to the sec-
ond judicial district, and the first term of the district court for
\
General History of the Gawnty. ^ 79
t
the county was fixed for March, the following year. But the
county was yet without any kind of a court house, except the
cabin in which the commissioners met, described in another
place. So at their session in January, 1846, that body inau-
gurated a movement toward the erection of a temple of justice.
To this end they authorized their clerk to receive proposals
for a building twenty four by thirty feet square, two stories
high, fo be completed on or before the 20th of May following.
The lowest bidder was Lewis M. Pearce, who proposed to do
the job for four hundred and fifty dollars. His bid was
accepted on the 29th of the month, and he immediately com-
menced the work. The heavy frame timbers had to be culled
from the forest, and the lumber to be sawed, and all the mate-
rials conveyed, much of them from a distance of several miles,
to the building-ground. All this labor occupied much
more time and money than was stipulated in the contract, and
the building was not completed till some time in autumn,
and at a cost to the county of a little more than six hundred
dollars.*
This comparatively temporary structure remained in use as
a court house till 1858, when it was relieved from public ser-
vice by the new one. Since that time it has been variously
occupied; part of the time the upper story being used as a
printing oflSce, from which the "Democratic Standard" was
issued, and part of the time as a private dwelling. In J'une,
1864, it was sold at auction by order of the board of supervi-
sors, and was purchased by A. B. Miller for nine hundred and
twenty-eight dollars, and is still his property. It still stands
♦Mr. Pearce*s contract was only for the wood-work, and the cost of the buUd-
ing In excess of his bid was for plastering and finishing, which was not com-
pleted till some time in 1848. This correction was made upon information
rec^ved since the above was written.
The lumber for this court house was sawed by Andrew Foster, at his miU
near the mouth of English creek, nine miles from Knoxville. Mr. Pearce took
tlie framing timber from his claim on Walnut creek, east of Athlca, and about
eight miles from Knoxville.
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80 Pioneers of Marion , Coi^niy.
where it was first erected, opposite the north-west corner of the
square, and part of the lower story is at present occupied by
B. F. Williams as a marble factory, and another part by
Bufus Eldredge, produce dealer. The upper story is occupied
by a family.
The new court house was built by Steven Woodruff, at a
cost to the county of nineteen thousand dollars. It is a sub-
stantial two-story brick building, seventy by forty-eight feet,
with an entry door at each end, and a hall about ten feet wide
extending between each. This hall is flanked on either side
by a tier of rooms appropriated to the various county offices.
Two broad stairways, and a narrow one from the clerk's office,
lead to the upper story or court room, a large apartment, well
lighted, L^d furnished with seats enough to accommodate four
hundred persons. This house stands in the center of a well
enclosed square, and is surrounded by a fine growth of young
cotton woods.
On the 13th of March, 1846, the first district court convened.
Joseph Williams, district judge, made his appearance at the
time specified for holding court, but, as we have said, there
was no place worthy the name of court house in which to hold
it. The commissioners, however, had made such temporary
preparations for the occasion as circumstances permitted.
There was a hewed log house in the neighborhood, about six-
teen 'by eighteen feet square, owned by Dr. Conrey, that
offered the best if not the only prospect for a court room. This
the commissioners purchased, and employed George W. Har-
rison to move to the west side of the square, near where Rea-
ver's grocery now stands, and fit up for the purpose. In far-
ther preparation for this important event, jurors had to be se-
lected. To do this in the order prescribed by law, it was nec-
essary to district the county into voting precincts, and select
from each the number of jurors in proportion to its numb^ of
electors supposed or known to be mentally qualified to perform
N
General History of the Gownty, 81
tie service of jurors. On the second day of March these pre-
cincts were described and named as follows. For the sake^ of
convpnience we abbreviate from the original record, and also
place the name before the description: —
Lake Precinct. — Town. 77, and all of 75 and 76, range 18,
north of the Des Moines river; election at the house of Samuel
Peters. Judgjea — Samuel Peters, Asa Koons, and Jacob C.
Brown.
This, it will be observed, included what is now Lake Prairie
township.
Eed Rock, — Town. 77, and all of 76, range 19, north of the
river, and all of 77, range 20, east of the old Indian boundary
Hue. and north of the river; election at Robert D. Russell's.
Judges — James Chestnut, Claiborn Hail, and Reuben Mat-
thews.
This included all of the present township of Summit, part
of Polk, and about one tier of sections off the east side^of Red
Rock.
Gopher Prairie. — All west of the old Indian boundary line
and north of the river ; election at Asa Hughs's. Judges —
Alfred Vertrice, Asa Hughs, and Joshua Lindsey.
This included the remainder of Red Rock township, and all
of Perry.
Pleasant Grove, — All of Marion county, and the attached
portion thereof south of the river and north and west of- White
Breast creek ; election at Wm. Glenn's. Jvdges — Wm. M.
Foung, John P. Glenn, and Wm. Glenn.
This included the present townships of Union, Swan, and
Pleasant Grove, parts of Polk, Knoxville, and Franklin, the
north-west corner of Dallas, and all of Warren county lying
between the above named streams.
Knoxville. — Town. 75, range 19, and all of 76, range 19,
south of the river, and east and south of White Breast creek,
and all of 75 and 76, range 20, east of the old Indian boun-
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82 Pioneers of Marion ' Coim^.
dary line; election at the- place of holding 4i8trict conrt
JvdgeB — Lawson G. Terry, Landon Burch^ and Moses Long.
This included the larger portion of Knoxviile township and
the south-east comer of Polk.
Engli9hr''K}\ of the county and attached portions thereof
west of the old Indian boundary line, and south and east of
White Breast creek; election at Wm. Tibbett's. Judges —
Wm. Tibbet, Elisha B. Eyan and Samuel Nicholson.
Tnis included what is now the south-west and some of the
west part of Knoxviile township, the larger portions of Wash-
ington and Dallas, and part of Warren county.
Mound Grove — Town. 74, range 19, and all of 74, range 20,
east of the old Indian boundary line; election at Alexander
May's. Judges — Alexander May, John T. Pierce and Jere*
miah GuUion.
This embraced all of what is now Indiana township, and
abput one and a half tiers of sections off the east side of Wash-
ington.
Cedar — ^Town. 74, range 18, and all of 75, range 18, south of
the river; election at Jasper Koons's. Judges — Joseph Clark,
David T. Durham and Francis A. Barker. ,
This embraced all of Liberty township, and all of Clay
except what belongs to town. 76, range 18.*
These precincts continued in use until the population ren-
dered smaller divisions necessary, when township organiza-
tions were substituted from time to time, with numerous
changes, till they finally assumed the geographical phase
shown by the large and beautiful map of the county, gotten up
by Messrs. Shir wood and Pyle, in 1866. These township
*It is apparent that this point was entirely overlooked by the commissioners
and not assigned to any precinct. It is the north-west corner of Clay.
We have been particular in these descriptions, to enable the reader, by the
help of the map, to find the localities of these precincts, and get an idea of the
civil geography of the county at that date. We hope the details will not be
deemed too tedious to be interesting.
General History of the Cmmiy. 83
organizations will be detailed at some length, in the order of
date, in another part of this book.
During the following month (April 14) the county was also
divided into road districts, and a supervisor appointed for each
Several of the precincts described above were each constituted
a road district, numbered as follows:
No. 1. Town. 77, range 18, and all of 76, range 18, north
of a line running west of the south-east comer of section 12
Supervisor^ Samuel Peter.
*No, 2. All of town. 76, range 18, south of a line running
west from the south-east corner of section 12, and north of the
river; and all of town. 75, range 18, north of the river. /Super-
visor ^ Wm. Welch.
No. 3. Ked Kock precinct; Supervisor^ Claiborn Hall.
No. 4. Gopher Prairie precinct; Supervisor^ Joshua Lind-
sey.
No. 5. Pleasant Grove precinct; Supervisor^ Wm. M.
Young.
No. 6. Knoxville precinct; Supervisor^ Lewis M. Pierce.
No. 7. English precinct; Supervisor^ Wm. Tibbet.
No. 8. Eound Grove precinct; Supervisor^ David Sweem.
No. 9. All of towns. 76 and 76, range 18, south of the river;
Supervisor^ John Wise,
No. 10. Town. 74, range 18; Supervisor^ Hugh Glenn.
As has already been noticed, few legally established roads
then existed, and comparatively little work of the kind was
required to be done, which may account for the size of the dis-
tricts.
The following are the names of the grand and petit jurors
impaneled for the first term of the district court, March 13th,
1846. We have taken pains to ascertain, so far as possible,
who of the number still live, and who are dead, with dates and
places, which we append to the list:
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84 FioneeTB of Maricyix County.
GBAIO) JFBOES.
1. Stanford Doud, foreman^ lives in Van Buren county.
2. John B. Hamilton ; lives in Texas.
3. Asa Koons; died at Lis residence in Clay, in 1847.
4. Wilson Stanley; lives near Denver.
5. Samuel Buffington ; moved to Mahaska county.
6. Ed. Billops; went to California in 1849.
7. Joseph S. West; lives in Summit.
8. Osee Mathews ; went to Idaho io 1867, and now lives in
Ohio.
9. James Chestnut; died on his return from California in
1850.
10. Andrew Storts; lives in Union township.
11. John P. Glenn ; dead.
12. Conrad Walters; died in Knoxville, July 28, 1870, aged
77 years.
13. Alexander May; lives in Indiana township.
14. Thomas Gregory; died in Clay in 1849.
15. Benajah Williams ; died in Mahaska county.
PETIT JUROES.
1. Jacob C, Brown; lives in Monroe, Jasper county.
» 2. Nathan Bass; died on his way to California in 1849.
3. Granville Hendrix; unknown.
4. George Gillaspy; lives in Ottumwa.
6. Claiborn Hall; lives near Athens, Illinois.
6. Alfred Vertrice; went to California.
7. John Whitlatch; lives in Indiana township.
8. Wm. Buffington; lives in Mahaska county.
9. Wm. Glenn; dead.
10. Elijah Wilcot; dead.
11. Eeuben S. Lowry ; killed in Kansas by a falling tree.
12. David Sweem ; died in Indiana township in 1867.
I General History of the County. 86
This court convened at the time and place already men-
tioned, Judge Joseph Williams presiding ; also attended by
the following named persons as attorneys: Edward H. Thomas,
prosecuting attorney ; John W. Alley, Bissell, a young
lawyer, who was afterwards engaged in mercantile business in
Liberty ville, Jefferson county, where he died in 1851; Thomas
Baker, of Oskaloosa, Calkin, Gray, Peters,
Henry Temple, and E. G. Stanfield. The latter was prosecut-
ing attorney at the second term, and is still a resident of/
Knoxville.
This term lasted but three days, during which all the cases
on the very limited docket were disposed of, the history of
which would hardly prove of sufficient interest to repay a peru-
sal. From the brief records, however, we quote — "United
States vs. Henry Hall." This was the first case tried, being
one ot an assault and battery, appealed from a justice of the
peace. The case was dismissed, and the defendant discharged.
The second case reads — " United States vs. F. M. Olipton ;
• recognized t5 keep the peace, and discharged on paying costs,
amounting to seventeen dollars aod fourteen and three quar-
ters cents." There was also tried an appeal trom the Mahaska
county district court, a civil case, "Edward H. Thomas vs.
the Board of Commissioners of Mahaska county." This was
the same Thomas who attended as prosecuting attorney
Having sued for attorney's fees, and, Mahaska county being
a party, he could hardly expect justice from a jury of that
court, and appealed his case to t'aat of Marion, by whom he
was awarded judgment for three hundred and twenty-five
dollars.
As there were no jury rooms attached to the temporary
building used as a court house, the jurors were compelled to
make the best shift that circumstances allowed. The grand
jury retired to the residence of Dr. Conrey, a small linn log
cabin, that was also open as a boarding house; whilst the petit
86 IHaneers of Marien County .
yxtj held their consultations in the open air, at a convenient
distance from the court hoase, each jory being attended by a
bailiff.
I As may be supposed, attendants at conrt were subjected to
soflie inconyeniences, consequent to the la^ck of boarding accom-
modations. Besides the boarding house kept bj Dr. Conrey,
Aere was another place of entertainment at the south east
eom^ of the square, dignified with the name of tavern, kept
by L. M. Pierce. L. W. Babbitt also owned a house in town
to which, in due time, he made an addition for the accommo-
dation of boarders. Yet, in these limited quarters, beds could
not be sopplied for all of even the smallest number required to
compose a district court, which could not have been less than
thirty persons, not counting plaintiffs and defendants, with
their array of attorneys and witnesses. So many as could be
fed at tables and lodged in comfortable beds were thus cared
for, much to their satisfaction, though the fare was not epi-
curian to the last degree, n >r even sumptuous. Bnt, for the
surplus number, the only shift was to take what* is termed in
steamboat travel, steerage, or deck passage, by bringing their
own beds and victuals with them; they made the court house
floor their camping ground, where they could enjoy the rough
fare quite independent of the restraints of hotel life as it then
existed in Knoxville.
In those days men were not disposed to complain of the
ymvations incident to frontier life. Experience had taught
them to regard such as an unavoidable state of things, and
gave them no choice but to accept of them as cheerfully ae
though there was nothing lacking. The evenings were passed
with a cheerfulness and hilarity peculiar to frontier life, where
there is, usually, comparative freedom from the conventioDal
restraints of older and more fashionable society. Pecuniarily^
and consequently socially, men were nearly upon an equality.
Ignorance was no bar to the social circle, though there was
I OeiMfral Ristbry of the County. 87 <
then, as there always has been, and always will be, a material
difference in the mental attainments of the accepted members
of society. Only the morally debased recei\red no encourage ^
ment to participate in the interchange of jest and merriment
that constituted mucl I of* ilie entertainment of the company.
Men could play pranks upon each other, fire volleys of sarcastic
wit at each other, and jestingly make each other the subjects
of ridicule, without causing an open rupture. Then they could
change the programme to stories, anecdotes, and songs, and
thus restore all equinimify of feeling that might have been
lost in the rough but not offensive badinage that had been,
exchanged. If these social entertainments were made more or
less lively by the enlivening influence of a spirit called by the
Indians shooti-apjyo (fire-water, alias whisky), it must be
remembered that popular sentiment had not yet voted the cus-
tom of indulging in the ardent a crime. Whisky could be
easily obtained, was comp'^ratively ohe^ip, and was more
generally used,* notwithstanding which, beastly drunkenness
was not regarded with favor.
Thus, these men could partake of a supper of cold corn-
dodgers and meat with, perhaps, the addition of baked beans,
or a tart made of some kind of wild fruit, and then, after a
time spent in social confab, stretch themselves upon their straw
cots on the ground floor of the little court room, and compose
themselves to sleep with the happy contentedness unsurpassed,
if even equalled, by that obtained from the sumptuous fare of
a first-class hotel.
In the presence of Judge Williams at one or the other of the
boarding-houses, these pastimes were, if possible, less irksome
to the company. With an inexhaustible fund of wit, humor,
and music, he was at no loss for means of amusement, and
*Th<iagh the above statement may be mainly true, Jadge Williams was heard
to remark, much to the credit of those who attended the first district conrt, that
U was the first court he had ever held where whisky had not preceded him.
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88 Pioneers of Marion County.
took much delight hi affording it. A8 the Judge was a some-
what noted character, more particularly for eccentricity than
for legal attainments — though, we believe, he had the reputa-
tion of being a good judge — we deem it proper to close this
chapter with a brief sketch of him.
With regard to his history we know but little, either previous
to the time at which we are writing, or since. At that time
he was about fifty years of age, and had worn the ermine
many years. In a territorial act fixing the terms of the district
courts, approved January, 1839, we find his name as appointee
over what was then called the second district, composed of the
counties of Louisa, Muscatine, Cedar, Johnson, and Slaughter.
He was a person of remarkable good conversational powers,
and delighted in telling anecdotes. His musical talent was
much above the average, both for vocal and instrumental.
Often, after delivering a temperance lecture,* full of eloquence,
and interspersed with humorous passages, he would sing a
favorite song called "Little Billy Neal," with an effect seldom
surpassed, calling up an applause of such hearty, boisterous
delight as has seldom greeted a star actor. He was master of
most musica.1 instruments, but for drawing tunes out of that
sweetest toned of all, " the fiddle and the bow," he was partic-
ularly distinguished in this attainment. In addition to his
vocal talent as a singer, he possessed that wierd, mysterious
power of using his voice as a ventriloquist, and could imitate
the cry of various kinds of animals so correctly that the unini-
tiated could not fail being deceived. He would sometimes
imitate the S()ualling of a belligerent cat to the great alarm
and mystification of the ladies, who could neither discover the
brawlers nor learn from whence the noise came.
At this point we beg leave to introduce a couple of anec-
dotes bearing upon his notoriety as a musician :
* Jadge Williams leotared on temperance at Oskaloosa darins; the first session
of coart tbere, and was the first person that organized a temperance society in
the frontier counties.
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Oeneral History of the Couiity, 89
Many years ago, on the occasion of a convention at lowft
City, in the interests of a proposed railroad from Muscatine to
that place, Judge "Williams and Le Grand Bjington ^ere in
violent opposition to each other upon some points of which we
are not informed, nor does it matter, so far as the interest of this
8ketch is concerned. Atlker the convention, a young amateur
in the art of drawing produced a caricature representing Joe
Williams seated astride an enormous bull playing a clarionet.
The bull was on the railroad, with tail erect and head down,
pawiiig up the dirt, and prepared so combat the further prog-
ress of a locomotive which was close upon him, upon ^hieh
was Le Gratid Byington as engineer, and from the whistle of
which ascended the word?, "Music hath charms, but cannot
soothe a locomotive."
On another occasion, being that of an election of supreme
judge and United States senator by the state senate, Judge
Williams was before the democratic caucus for the judgeship,
and George W. Jones (sometimes called Nancy Jones, ^and
known as a dancing master), for the senate. Their competitors
of the same party were S. 0. Hastings, formerly president of
the territorial council, for the judgeship, and Hon. T. "Wilson
for the senate. The last named gentlemen were at Iowa City
just previous to the time of election, laboring earnestly with
the members of the senate to secure their choice. But at the
caucus, which came off during the night preceding the day of
election, it v:as decided to elect Williams and Jones.
The following additional particulars of this incident are from
a letter of Mr. Babbitt, published in the Annals of Iowa for
Oct., 1870. " After the adjournment of the caucus, all hands were
invited by Jones, Dodge, Williams, and other successful candi-
dates, to partake of an oyster supper and free whiskey, at a
saloon near by, which invitation was pretty generally accepted,
and at which the defeated candidates partook pretty freely of
the last refreshment named. About twelve o'clock the party
90 Pioneers of Marion County.
broke up, and the members retired to their rooms. The
defeated candidates, Wilsou and Hastings, roomed in adjoin-
ing rooms to the one occupied bj me, and were very much
excited over their defeat ; so much so, that they walked from
room to room, bewailing their fate, and declaring that they had
been repudiated by the democracy. When they came into my
room, I attempted to console them, telling them that they were
not repudiated, bnt that other democrats had more friends in
the caucus than they, whereupon Wilson exclaimed : 'If I had
been beaten by a high-minded, honorable man, 1 could have
stood it without a murmur; bnt to be defeated by a dancing-
master, ruins my reputation forever.' To this speech Hastings
responded as follows: ' Wilson, you have been defeated by a
high-minded, honorable man — a gentleman — a dancing-master
— I congratulate you; but for me there is no consolation, for, by
G-d, the fiddler beat me.' "
But we hardly dare to close this chapter without relating an
instance of his peculiar power as a ventriloquist. It occurred
during the first term of the district court at Knoxville. Most
of those attending court then boarded at Babbitt's ; and it so
happened that one night the little boarding house was so full
that it was barely possible for all to find sleeping room. The
Judge, with lawyers Kuapp, Wright, and Olney, were supplied
with beds in the lower story, whilst the jurors and numerous
other attendants found room to stretch themselves on the loose
upper floor, using blankets, coats, and whatever else they had
provitled for beds. When, after much ado, they had all got
settled down for a nap, they were suddenly startled by the ter-
riffic squalling of what appesrd to be a couple of tom-cats in
mortal combat in the room. Instantly all hands were up and
in search of the supposed disturbers; but no cats could be
found, and the surprised boarders returned to their beds with-
out any very satisfactory cwijectures as to the whereabouts of
the nocturnal brawlers. But they had hardly composed them-
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General Htetc^ of the County. 91
solves again for rest, when the loud and boisterous growling
and snapping of a couple of belligerent bull-dogs, apparently
in their very midst, brought them all up standing. And then
followed an uproar such as language could convey but an indis-
tinct idea of — the dogs maintaining the combat wirh mingled
growling, barking, and whining, and the men endeavoring
with all the noise they could make, to oust them from the room.
How they came to be there was a wonder, indeed: but the evi-
dence of their presence was too unmistakable to admit of a
doubt, even in the total darkness. Presently the fight ceased,
and with that the general uproar abated. Then came a solu-
tbn of the mystery. Tlie Judge and lawyers could no longer
restrain their merriment at the expense of the frightened and
mystified lodgers up stairs, but let it come in a gush of laughter
that quickly reminded some of the company that the Judge
was a ventriloquist, and bad undoubtedly just played them
one of his mysterious tricks. But so far from being offended
at it, they took a sensible view of its ludicrouaness, and aU
joined heartily in the laugh.
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92 IHoneera of Maarion GounPy,
CHAPTEE XI.
List of County Commissionera-^Prohate Jvdyes — County
Judges — County Supervisors and County Treasurers —
The Stanfield Defalcation — Rohbery of the Treasury im,
1867.
Before closing the political history of our county, it would
be pr9per to give a list of some of the officers who were
elected subsequently to the first whose names have already
been given.
It was stated that when the term of the first board of county
" commissioners had expired, the terms of the succeeding mem-
bers were regulated by the comparative number of votes polled
for each at the election by which they were chosen. As three
were required to constitute the board, it was enacted that the
one who received the highest number of votes at the regular
election in August, 1846, should serve three years, the next
highest two, and the lowest one, so that a new member would
be elected yearly. After the county was divided into commis-
sioners' districts, as has been described, a member was elected
from one or another of these districts yearly, so that no district
elected a commissioner oftener than once in three years, thus
keeping a quorum of two experienced members constantly in
ofiice. I
At the first re^nilar election, Hugh Glenn and Samuel Tib-
bett were elected to fill the places of Conrad "Walters and Wm.
"Welch, David Durham holding over another year.
August, 184:7, Thomas Pollock in place of Mr. Durham.
August, 1848, Martin Neel, in place of Hugh Glenn.
August, 1849, Miles Jordan in place of Thomas Pollock. '
August, 1850, James M. Brous, iu place of Samuel Tibbett.
i
Genial History of the County, 93
•
la 1851 the commissioner systeiii was abolished and substi-
tuted by the office of county judge, as .will be further noticed
after we have given a list of probate judges, as follows :
September, 1845, (special election), Francis A. Barker.
August, 1847, Claiborn Hall.
August, 1849, Thomas Collins.
August, 1850, Warren D. Everett.
In 1851 the offices of probate judge and county commis-
sioners were abolished by an act of the legislature, and both
jnerged into that of county judge, and the following is a list
from that to the present date :
Joseph Brobst, elected August, 1851; re-elected in 1853.
F. M. Frush, elected August, 1855; re elected in 1857, and
held the office till January 1, 1861.
Wm. B. Young, elected October, 1861 ; re-elected October,
1863, and held the office till January, 1866.
Joseph Brobst, elected October, 1865; re elected October,
1867, and held the office till January, 1869, when the office was
repealed* and substituted b^ that of circuit judge.
By an act of the legislature, the office of county supervisor
was created to assume the duties previously performed by the
county judge. One member elected from each township con-
stituted >\ board of supervisors The first board was elected on
the second Tuesday of October, 1860, and held their first ses-
sion on the first Monday of January following.
John B. Hamilton was then clerk of the district court, and,
by virtue of his office, was also clerk of the board of supervi-
sors.
The first business of the board was to regulate the terms of
its members, so that half the number should be limited to one
year, and the other half to two years; but as there were fifteen
members, the odd number was placed in the list of short terms.
/ ;
*By tbls act Jadge Brobst was appointed ex officio auditor tiU January 1^ 1870.
94 Pioneers of Marion County.
The clerk prepared the ballots, and the members drew as
follows:
NAMES. TOWNSHIPS. TBBM.
Joseph Brobst Knoxville 2 yeart.
Wm. P. Cowman. . . Perry 1 year.
D. r. Smith Franklin 1 year.
H. E. Clingman Dallas 1 year.
Wm. Blain Union 2 years.
Geo. W. Martin .... Polk 2 years.
Daniel Sherwood. . .Indiana 2 years.
John F. Baldwin . . . Summit 1 yefff.
Edwin Baker Red Eock 2 years.
Joseph Clark Clay 1 yean
J. B. Davis Liberty 2 years.
E. F. Grafe Lake Prairie ^years.
Bromfield Long Washington 1 year.
J. A. Logan Swan 1 year,
J. Thornburg Pleasant Grove ^ 1 year.
The following is a list of county treasurers from the organi-
zation of the county till the present date, — 1870:
David T. Durhom, elected September, 1845; re-elected
Angnst, 1846, and served till August, 1847. Isaac Walters,
from Angnst, 1847, to 1849, and re-elected from that until
1851. Claiborn Hall, 1852 and 1853. David Stanfield, 1854,
1865, 185t], and 1857. William Ellis, 1858, 1859, 1860, and
1861. A. It. Vierson, 1862 and 1863. Emery F. Sporry,
1864 and 1865; during which term Edwin Baker served as
deputy. William T. Cunningham, 1866 and 1867. Edwin
Baker, 1868, 1869, 1870 and 1871.
During this period the treasury suffered twice from robbery j
the first time by defalcation at the close of Stanficld's second
term; and the second time by burglary, during the second.
Oeneral Hutory of the Ccmn^ty, 95
year of Ganningham's term. The history of the first is briefly
as follows:
At the August election, in 184:7, Mr. Stanfleld being a can-
didate for a third term, was defeated, and his successor (as the
caatoin then was) entered upon the discharge of the duties of
his oflBice as soon as the result of the election was known; and
on settling up the aifairs of the office a default of $4,546.20
was discovered. So soon as the discovery was made he was
arrested,* and an indictment was found against him at the
September term of the district court. Upon this, judgment
was rendered against him and his securities for the amount.
Of this amount, his assignee, C. G. Brobst, paid into the
treasury in cash, notes, and judgment $2,206.93, leaving a
balance of $2,339.27 due the county.
Mr, Stanfield seemed profoundly ignorant of the manner in
which the loss occurred, and persistently denied his participa*
tion in it; and as the affair was, to some extent, a mystery,
many persons doubted his guilt, and some even believed him
entirely innocent. It was for some time a subject of a severe
partlzad warfare of words, in which the Journal and Standard
participated vigorously, firing weekly volleys of hot shot into
each other's camp, without, however, gaining any apparent
advantage for either side
In October of the same year, Mr. Stanfield moved to Kan-
sas, where, late in the fall, or during the winter, he was fol-
lowed and visited by Doctor Patterson and James Walters, who
on their return reported that they had found him living in
almost extreme poverty, apparently confirming the truth of his
plea of innocence. In consequence of these facts, no attempt
was made to prosecute the case further; and, in 1867, in
response to a petition of a majority of the citizens of the
county, the board of supervisors released the bondsmen of
•Since the publication of the above statement we have been reliably informed
that Mr. Stanfield was not arrested.
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96 Pionee^B of Marion 'County,
David Stanfield from their liability, thus finally ending the
trouble. \
The second robbery was one of much greater magnitude, and
proved a total loss. It occurred on Saturday night of February
9th, 1867, or very early on the following morning, but was not
discovered till about 8 o'clock, when it produced a sensation
•quite unusual for the time and place.
It was known that the treasury contained a large sum, a'nd
it was at first supposed that it had all been taken, and exciting
stories of the robbery, — the manner in which it was cfifected^
and the magnitude of the loss,— were verbally repoi ted through
the county before the facts were fully ascertained. For a de-
tailed accouut of the affair, we quote the following from the
Marion County HepMican, o{ Fehrnary 12, 1867: /
"On Saturday night last, the office of the county treasurer,
at the court house, in this place, was entered and robbed of all
the money in it, which amounted to over forty thousand dol-
lars. The burglars, in the first place, broke into Mr. Reed's
blacksmith shop and helped themselves to all the tools they
required- They entered the treasurer's office through a win-
dow that was very insecurely fastened. By the side of the
door of the vault they removed a few bricks, which enabled
them, with the aid of a cold chisel, to reach the bolt and drive
it back, thus opening the door. The safe iu the vault was pur-
chased, during the last year, for sixteen hundred dollars. The
burglars broke the knob oft the door of the safe, cut into the
lock, opened the door, and took the funds. The most that
was taken belonged to the school fund of the county. Mr.
Dan Smick, of Knovville, loses over $1,600, which he had
placed there for safety. A portion of the funds was owned by
the State.
"The robbery tvas discovered about 8 o'clock Sunday naorn-
ing, and caused a great deal of excitement among our citizens
all day long, hundreds visiting the court house. Prompt action
Oeneral History of the County. 97
was taken to find the robbers. Different persons were sent out
to spread the news and place oflScers of the law on the watch .
As it was impossible for the scoundrels to take the benefit of
the railroad until yesterday, we trust they may be speedily
overhauled, and the stolen funds recovered.
"The board of supervisors was called together yesterday.''
The following additional particulars we quote from the same
article:
"The knob was first knocked off, then a portion of the
chilled iron under it cut out Heavy blows were next struck
exactly in the right place to loosen the bolts or break the fas-
tenings, so heavy as to break the steel facing of the sledge
used. Both of these operations, which we have imperfectly
described, had the effect to loosen the bolts. Chisels were
then used to pry opei\ the door, which, unfortunately, was
accomplished. The burglar, or burglars, seemed to know just
what was requisite to do in order to accomplish their object.
The one who made the safe could not have gone to work more
scientifically, or with a better understanding of what was neces-
sary to bo done.
After a more critical examination of the amount taken, the
losses of the various funds were found to be as follows:
School fund $20,000 00
State fund 3,600 83
County fund 2,100 50
Bridge fund 3,300 48
Poor house fund 2,276 74
Insane fund 1,193 26
Making a total of $32,471 81
As some circumstances connected with the robbery seemed,
in the opinion of a majority of the board, to indicate the Treas-
urer's connec ion with it, they ordered his arrest, employed an
attorney for the county, and sent to New York for a detective
7
98 ^ Pioneers . of Marion County.
to examine the safe, and make such discoveries as might lead
to the arrest of the robbers,
A preliminary examinatioD of Mr. Cunningham's case came
off daring this called session of the board ; and, as some of
the evidence seemed to lead to his conviction, his case was left
tor the investigation of the grand jury for the March teim of
the district court.
In the mean time, some parties had employed a young man
who claimed to have been an army detective, to ferret the mat-
ter out. Actuated by a hope of the large reward, he secured
the arrest of a man named William D'Armond, who had been
a 'citizen of Knoxville for a short time, and had moved to
county soon after the robbery. Mr. D'Armond was brought
to Knoxville and then sent to the Oskaloosa jail for a few
weeks, to await his trial. The trial was had before Justice
Kenedy, in Knoxville, and occupied about two days. M. V.
Bennett was for the State, and J. B. Atherton for the defense,
by both of whom the case was warmly contested; but the trial
resulted in the acquittal of D'Armond.
A bill was found against Mr. Cunningham at the March
term, whereupon he took a change of venue to Monroe county.
Here, however, the State failed to get its witnesses at the time
set for trial and the case was discontinued. After this, the
board employed attorneys to investigate the* matter, and sue on
the bonds for whatever amount they supposed they could sus-
tain an action upon. But, after investigating, they came to the
conclusion that the evidence against Mr. C. was not sufficient
to justify an attempt at prosecution. So the case was finally
dismissed.
The great loss sustained by the county in this affair, to-
gether with the expenses of employing detectives, attorneys,
the purchase of a new safe, &c., proved quite embarrassing
for a time. It was at first thought advisable to issue bonds
and obtain a loan for the benefit of those funds that were in the
vt
Generckl History of ^he County.
99
most pressing demand, particularly the school and' bridge. But
this was not done. "Warrants were given on claims on which
the county paid interest, and many of these were bought by
speculators at a profitable discount. In due time, however, by
strict economy, and promptness in the payment of taxes, the
finances of the county so far improved as to bring her warrants
to par before three years, and the whole machinery is now in
as flourishing condition as it was before the robbery.
Our limits will hardly permit a full list of all the county offi-
cers who were elected and served from 1845 to the present
date; nor do we deem such a list of much historical import-
ance in a work more especially designed to record the early
history of the county. Hence, we have named the incumbents
of such offices an seemed to be of leading importance in the
transaction of county affairs. We therefore proceed with the
more legitimate thread of our narrative.
100 ' Pioneers of Marion County,
CHAPTER XIL
A Legal Mistake — Brief Sketch of Lysander W. Babbitt —
First Post Office at Knoxville — " Lake Prairie " P. 6^.-7-
Inoonvenienoe of Mail Facilities — A Historical Incident
— Sectioning the Laads — First Land Entered — Des
Moines Biver Land — Fowler Lands.
At the second term of the district court, a circumstance
occurred, slightly embarrassing to the few criminal prosecu-
tions that came before it through the findings of the grand jury,
which occurred in this wise : It was the business of the com-
missioners to select the jurors, and, after the proper number
was drawn by the sheriff, it was the duty of the clerk to certify
to the list. In this instance L. W. Babbitt, who, we should
have stated, was appointed clerk of the district court by the
judge, at the first term, instead of designating that office in his
signature to the certificate of jurors, signed himself " Ex-officio
Clerk of the Board of County Commissioners." This was
right so far is it went, but in consequence of not adding " Clerk
of the District Court," it was decided by that court that such a
signature amounted to no legal signature at all; that the jurors
were not legally drawn ; that they were not jurors, and that
their doings were null and void. So, all the indictments made
out by that jury were, to use a phrase common in legal pro-
ceedings, quashed. It is, however, due to Mr. B. to state that
the error was not intentional. Owing to the fact that no
attempt was made to secure new indictments, it is safe to judge
that the cases were of no vital importance.
As the career of Mr. Babbitt, connected with the early his-
tory of Marion county, may appear somewhat conspicuous, and
a6 his name may not be mentioned in any future part of this
\
General History of the County, 101
work, we here take 'occasion to give what little we know rela-
tive to his history.*
He was born in the State of New York about 1810, came to
Iowa at an early day, and was a citizen of Burlington in 1840^
where he worked at the business of gunsmith, and also held
some office. In 184:2, he, with two others, went to the head
waters of the Des Moines river on a trapping expedition,
where they remained during the winter. On their return in
the spririg, as they were descending the river ih a canoe, they
were robbed of most of their furs by the Indians. On the
first of May, 1843, they landed at what is now Coal port,
where Babbitt remained long enough to take a claim, embrac-
ing the present site of the village and the bluffs below it, con-
taining inexhaustible beds of coal.
Having secured his claim, Mr. B. repaired to Burlington for
his wife, and was surprised to find her in mourning for him^
and preparing to sell his property, with the view of returning
to her former home. The report had reached her some time
previously that he had been murdered by the Indians, and
his failing to return within a reasonable time seemed to
confirm this report beyond a doubt. He concluded, however,
not to stop the sale of the property, but took the matter
into his own hands, and soon after moved to his claim.
Here he fitted up a* temporary shop, where he employed him-
self in repairing guns, sharpening plow-shears, and doing other
jobs in the smith trade, till he was called to the clerkships
already mentioned.
He is described as a person of small stature, active move-
ments, prepossessing manners, quick apprehension, and reten-
tive memory. He was, evidently, ambitious of political promo-
tion, for which his energy and talents fitted him, and carried
*We wrote to Mr. B. for Information on this point, bat failing to obtain an
answer, we are dependent on other sources for these meagre and perhaps in ao
carate accounts*
I
!
102 Pioneers of Marion County,
him, to some Extent. During his official term at Knoxville be
began the study of law, and so far mastered the rudiments of
that profession, that he was admitted to the bar in 1847.
During his residence nere h6 twice represented Marion, and
several other counties, in thfe State legislature. Iii 1846 he
was appoitited the first postmaster at Knoxville, and his com-
mission authorized him t6 give out a contract for carrying the
mail to Osjjaloosa and back 6nce a week,* but it was not till
some time in June of that year that the first mail arrived, and
the office was o])ened at Babbitt's housfe. He held the office
till 1849, when he was succeeded by James M. Walters. In
18^3 he left the county, having received the appointment of
register of land office at Council Bluffs, under President Pierce,
and is at present editor of the Oouficil Bluffs Bugle, Since
his residence there he has several titnes represented P6tfawat-
tamie county in the state legislature.
Some time previous to th^6 establishment of a post office' at
Knoxville, one had been established on Lake Prairie, and
called by that name. Augustus Blair received a commission
ds postmaster here, but failing to qualify, David* T. Durham
circulated a petition asking for the appointment of Wilson
Stanley. This was after the establishment of the post route
between Oskaloosa and Knoxville, passing this office. In due
tiihe Mr. S. received his commission, and retained it till he
sold to the Hollanders and moved to Eed Eock, iti 1847, when
A. B. Miller took charge of the office till it was moved to
Pella, during the winter of 1847-8.
In relation to offices established in other parts of the county,
see history of the townships.
Previous to the establishment of these offices, mail facilities
were so inconvenient that the people of Marion county were
♦David Durham took this contract, extendlhg from July 1st, 1816, to July Ist*
1850— foar years. He commenced In June, and made two trips during that
month gratuitously, as the department did not commence paying tiU July.
I
J
General History of the County. 103
eomparatively isolated from the rent of the world. The near-
est post office was at Oskaloosa, a distance of from fifteen to
thirty miles^ whioh precluded all thought of regular or frequent
pon-espondence by mail. Only the most urgent necessity
mdaoed a settler to suffer the delay and expense of going to and
returning from the post office, though the difficulty was some-
times slightly obriated by the chance of sending by persons
passing and repassing to mill, or on some other business.
Odierwise, no matter how desirous the recent immigrant
might be to soften the loneliness of his condition in a wilder-
ness so remote from the friends and scenes of his nativity, to
hear from them at regular intervals, even once a month, the
distsmce to the post office was found to be nearly, if not quite,
an insurmountable obstacle thereto. Therefore, the establish-
ment of means of regular mail communication within the
cotmty was regarded as next in importance to that of conven-
ient milling privileges. It was like opening a prison door
temporarily closed against intercourse with the outside world;
and, after being so deprived, no pe<^le had better cause to
appreciate this one great blessing of a civil government.
At the convention which came off at Iowa City in 1846, on
the occasion of the formation of the first state constitution,
preparatory to our admission into the Union as a state, John
Oonrey, of Knoxville, was our chosen delegate^ representing
besMes Marion, the counties of Jasper, Iowa, Poweshiek, War-
ren, Folk, Mid all the territory attached to them within the
bounds of the purchase. No convention had been held for
the purpose of nominating candidates to be elected to this
office, bat tbev were chosen by the common consent of the
leading members of the opposing parties. Rev. James L.
Warren, also of Marion, was chosen by the whigs. During
ttie jBanvass, I. 0. Curtis, also a whig in that time, not seaming
favorably disposed towards the choice of his party, announced
himself as a candidate, and succeeded in obtaining a few votes.
104 Pioneeh of Marion County.
by which Warren was defeated, Odnrey being elected by a
majority of about ten. After thie, Curtis became identified
with the democratic party. We record this as a historical
incident that it seems hardly proper to omit, and not intending
it to be prejudicial to the reputation of Mr. Curtis, who is now
a citizen of a distant state. .
We now proceed to a brief record of the sectionizing and
sale of the public lands in the county. We regret that our
information on these subjects is comparatively limited, for
we would take pleasure in giving the amount surveyed from ,
time to time, and the amount entered the first vear after the
sales commenced. The county was sectionized by ranges.
Range 18, and the north half of 19, was sectionized during
the winter of 1846-7, and the remainder of the county at
different dates. The south half of the county was assigned to
the Fairfield land district, and the north half to that of Iowa
City. The first land offered for sale was that first surveyed
and the first entered in this tract, and consequently the first in
the county was section 29, town 74 (Liberty township), range
18, by Josiah Brobst, in May, 1847. The claimants were not
generally prepared to enter their lands as fast as they came
into market, and it was not till some time in 1848 that any
considerable amount was taken up; and it was at this critical
period that the greatest antagonism existed between the
claimants and buyers, some accounts of which have been
given. But soon after these troubles subsided, and the fer-
tility of the soil and the beauty of the country became known
to some extent, and local conveniences were established, popu-
lation poured in, and the lands were rapidly taken up. But
the greatest increase of population ty immigration was between
the years 1850 and 1855, after which little choice land
remained in possession of the government. In 1860 there
was none.
At the present time, some small tracts contiguous to the Des
1
General History of the County. 106
Moines rivet are owned by the state, being remnants of what
was donated by the government to be expended in improving
the navigation of that stream. A brief history of this ill-fated
enterprise may not be out of place here : —
By an act of congress, dated August 8th, 1846, every alter-
nate section ot the public lands on each side of the Des
Moines river, within five miles of it (except the sixteen of any
township coming within the tract), was granted to the state for
the purposes above stated. This grant was all made within
the bounds of the new purchase, and extended west as far as
Fort Des Moines, which was deemed to be at the head of
navigation.
A survey of this river had been made by Samuel R. Curtis
and others, and slack-water navigation by dams and locks, on
the principle of those used in canals, was thought practicable
to facilitate the floating of steamboats when otherwise the
water would be too shallow for that purpose during the dry
seasons; and the enterprise was not only regarded practicable,
but profitable as a means of commerce in reaching the pro-
ductions of the Des Moines valley, whose fertility betokened
an abundance in due time, and also of reaching the coal that
was known to exist in the banks and in the vicinity of that
stream, and the beautiful red building-stone near Bed Eock.
In the winter of 1846-7 the legislature took charge of the
grant, and fixed the minimum price of the lands at two dollars
per acre, except what was already pre-empted, and made so
much of it as was included in Marion county subject to pre-
emption in the spring of 1848, which was some time previous
to that fixed for public sale. But this law not meeting with
general approval, or failing to effect its desired purpose, was
repealed at the next session (1848-9), and the price reduced to
its original standard.
In 1848 the first board of public works was elected, consist-
ing of a president, secretary and treasurer, who had the
\
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I
106 Pioneers of Ma/rion County.
t
superiiitendence of the proposed undertaking. The members
of the board were: Hugh W. Sample, president; Charles
Oorkery, secretary; and Paul Bratten, treasurer. They
appointed Col. Samuel R. Curtis, engineer, who made a survey
of the river, and located points for the several dams. During
the year following a new board was elected, consisting of Col.
Wm. Patterson, president. Col. Jesse Williams, secretary, and
George Gillaspy, treasurer; and they appointed Gny Wells, of
Keokuk, engineer, in 1 850. In 1851-2 the legislature repealed
the act enabling the election of a board, and authorized the
governor to appoint a commissioner and register instead. In
Jwicordance with this law. Gen. V. P. Van Antwerp was
appointed commissioner, and George Gillaspy, register; but
Mr. Gillaspy declined serving, and Paul C. Jeffries \vas
appointed. In 1853-4 these offices were made elective by the
people, and Josiah H. Banny was elected commissioner, and
George Gillaspy, register. Two years later, Edwin Manning
was elected commissioner, and Wm. Drake, register; and at
the close of their term, the whole thing was turned over to the
care and keeping of a New York company. But, as the enter-
prise was finally abandoned, after much of the grant had been
squandered in the pretended erection of locks and dams at
various points, what remained went back to the state, and was
appropriated to the building of a portion of the Des Moines
Valley Railroad. Only one dam was located in Marion county,
at> Rousseau, where a large quantity of rock was blasted in
prej>arifttion for its (erection ; and the excavation in the cliff, on
the south side ol the river, and the loose boulders thrown from
it, will long remain a mark of a project wild enough in its
conception, but better calculated to put money into the pockets
of certain individuals.
From the first, many settlers had little confidence in the
enterprise; and, as the lands appropriated were mostly tim-
bered, and without any resident agents to look after them, the
Oeneral History of the County. 107
timber was, in numerous instances, freely used for fencing and
building purposes, thus more directly serving the purpose that
nature originally designed it for. Little, if any of these lands
now remain unclaimed by individuals.
One or two instances of extensive land monoj>olie8 seem
worthy of mention in this connection.
At an early day, William D. Ewing entered several thousand
acres. of land in the state, a portioh of which was located in
this county, principally on the dividing ridge between Des
Moines and Skunk rivers. Some of this is now occupied by
his immediate heirs.'
Another was that of the Fowler heirs (some thirty-six in
number). It was, for some time, a subject of litigation in
court, and was finally settled in 1866 or 1867. We quote a
brief history of the case from the Iowa Voter j of December
10,1868:
" About the close of the war with Mexico, one Joseph Fow-
ler, of New Orleans, bought one bunded and seventy-five land
warrants, or claims for warrants, for very small sums, from
our soldiers as they were on their way home. The entries
under these warrants were made by Samuel Fowler, of
Missouri, in trust for Joseph Fowler, about the 29th of
December, 1848; and the lands lie in Marion, Monroe,
and Lucas counties. It seems that Mr. Fowler was
among the first to enter in this region, and had his choice. He
selected mostly timbered land, and got it as nearly in a body
as might be. The lands so entered in this county are in Wash-
ington and Indiana townships. These one hundred and
seventy-five quarter-sections made a very considerable monop-
oly, and retarded the settlement of the country very much.
After the entries were made, Joseph Fowler died ; and Samuel
Fowler deeded the land to his heirs, of whom there are many.
We believe there has befen some dispute connected with trans-
fers of these lands, on account of an apparent or supposed
108 Pione^8 of Ma/rion County,
dower interest of Mrs. Fowler in them. The timber lands
have been robbed considerable by settlers around them, who
found no opportunity for purchasing. The greater portion of
the Fowler land in this county has now been sold to settlers."
Since thg above account was published, we have been
informed that the object of Joseph Fowler in entering this large
tract was purely, or in part, benevolent. Having a large
number of poor rebtions living in Maryland, he conceived and
adopted this plan to secure them homes in the west, where
they might have a chance to better their circumstances. At
the time of his death he was on his way, by sea, to gather
them up to transfer them to their new homes.
General History of the County, 109
CHAPTER XIII.
History of the Press in Marion County — Pella Gazette —
Knoxville Journal — Democratic Standard — Pella, Week-
llad — Marion County Repvhlican — Pella Blade — Ma/rion
County Democrat-- Pella Gazette — Iowa Voter — Cop-
perhead,
Between the years 1847 and 1855, the population of the
county was greatly increased by immigration from all parts of
the east and south, and a large majority of those who had es-
tablished permanent homes within her limits were men and
women of intelligence and enterprise, if not of great wealth.
Farms were made on every prairie, and almost every grove
sounded with the stroke of the ax. Here and there the neat
frame dwelling was beginning to take the place of the rude log
cabin, and yearly expanding fields* of corn and wheat, and nu-
merous orchards of all stages of growth, from the lately planted
scion, to the young fruit brearer, all betokened the husband-
man's thrift, and promised him ultimate wealth. Villages
were laid out in all parts of the county, and many of the most
needed manufactories were established in and about them, with
merchandise to exchange for the products of the soil. Saw
and grist mills were sufficiently numerous to be comparatively
conveuient to the inhabitants of all parts of the county; and
these were yearly increasing in number and enlarging in
edacity, as the increasing demands of the county seemed to
require. Even at that early period a railroad and river naviga-
tion (one or both) were confidently expected. The Des Moines
Valley Road, though yet distant, both in time and space, was
talked of as a fixed fact, the arrival of which would be the
beginning of a new era in the history of the county, as an
110 IHoneers of Marian County.
$ venue of trade and means of speedy correspondence with the
east. How completely this hope has been realized within the
last few years, the people know better than we can express it.
And we must not omit to notice that, from the earliest period of
our county history, the important matter of education wa^ not
neglected. In the midst of the toils, difficulties and inconve-
niences of pioneer life, school districts were organized in every
settlement of a sufficient number of children, a claim-pen, (if
one could be had), used for a school house, or a cabin hastily
erected for the purpose, and a teacher selected from the more
capable members of the community. With such houses, such
teachers, and such books as the country could afford, schools
were maintained till greater conveniences came along with all
the other advantages that are the natural result of growth in
population and wealth.
But, so late as 1854 and 1855, one of th6 great levers of
commerce and general intelligence was lacking in Marion
county. In the midst of all these evidences of advancement
tbe need of a local newspaper must have been felt. This
need was, in a measure, supplied by the publication of the
Pella Gazette^ early in 1855,
Early in the autumn of 1854, Edwin H. Grant, a practical
printer, came from the east to Pella, and entered into co-part-
nershi^i with Henry P. Scholte, for the purpose of publishing
a weekly newspaper in that town. They immediately set
about making the necessary preparations. A press and type
were purchased, a building suitable for a newspaper office
erected, and a list of subscribers obtained. At length, after a
delay of several months after the enterprise was first announced
to the public, the first number of the Pella Gazette^ the first
newspaper printed in the county, appeared under date of Feb-
ruary 1, 1855; and it was, just at that time, the most western
paper published in Iowa before reaching the Missouri river.
General History of the Cawrvty. Ill
The Des Moines Star^ published at Fort Des Moines, had sus-
pended operations just previously.
The Oazette was a large sheet, seven columns to the page,
beautifully printed from new type, of a size rather smaller than
is generally used for a country paper. The leading editorial
was a lengthy article by Mr. Scholte, consisting mostjy of a
brief history of the Holland Colony. In an article headed
'' Defining our Position," Mr. Grant said:
"It is not our intention to remain silent upon the great
political questions of the day. But we wish it to be distinctly
understood that we do not intend to give a blind credence to
the machinations of any of the parties now dominant. VTe
shall boldly avow our sentiments respecting any of the great
movements of the age, regardless of political bias. Whenever
we can consistently approve of any acts performed by either
party, which seem to us to be calculated to benefit our State,
or the great national confederacy, we shall cordially lend our
influence to sustain and promote such measures."
In his '^ Address to the Public," in the same issue, the same
writer added:
" The difliculties and expense which have attended us in
reaching this position can hardly be appreciated by any one
unacquainted with the business, and with the diflBculties inci-
dent to a new country."
Like most pioneers, the Gazette began with a small list of
subscribers, and but few of these paid in advance. Evidently,
but few persons wished to risk their money in an enterprise
of this kind till they could be assured of its success. Notwith-
standing this, the paper held its own for several years, grad-
ually increasing its patronage along with its* more recent com-
petitors. Mr. Grant continued his connection with the Ga-
zette till some time in 1857 or 1858, after which the paper was
suspended for some length of time. In the summer or fall of
1859 it was resuscitated by S. M. Hammond, published by him
V
114 Pioneers of Marion County,
Barker^ by which transaction the Repvhlican was finally dis-
continned.
In the winter of '64-5 Mr. C. S. Wilson, since connected
with the Winterset Madiaonian^ purchased the plress and type
belonging to the Democratic Standard^ moved them to Pella,
and on the 3d of Feb., '65, commenced the publication of the
Pella Blade.
Mr. Wilson was a radical Republican, and a writer of rather
more than ordinary genius. In the local department he made
the paper especially attractive by his peculiar style. In his
salutatory he says :
"Acting, up to the time of the beginning of the rebellion
with the Democratic party, I have, since that time, had a
heritage in none ; but, believing that upon the success of the
Republican (or Union) party, and the triumph of their princi-
plos, depend the rescue of the country from the hand of trea-
son, and its existence among the family of nations, I have
acted politically with that party. The Blade will continue the
advocacy of these principles, at the same time its columns will
not fail to condemn whatever it judges to be incompatible with
the public interest or the national honor.
" In the local department particular attention will be given
to the spread of such intelligence concerning our city and
county as will be of benefit to them.
" It will be my aim to make this journal acceptable as a
family newspaper, and, to this end, the latest news, poetry,
tales, agricultural affxiirs, and items of all kind will find a place
in its columns. Believing that nothing tends more to the
development of a county than a wide-awake newspaper, I shall
endeavor to avoid the Rip Van Winkle style as much as pos-
sible."
As a sample of Mr. Wilson's wide-awake style, we are over-
tempted to copy the following from the local department of bis
firrit number of the Blade:
.1
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\
w
1 \ ,
General History of the County. 115
" OuB Draft Correspondent. — We have secured the ser-
vices of one of the ablest writers of the age, at a salary of
$25,000 per annum, to go West and correspond for the Blade , \
fix)in the Draft Regions. He will report weekly everything of
interest that occurs among the numerous class of pilgrims who
have so nobly taken their lives in their hands and — ^run away. 1
If a rattlesnake should be so uncourteous as to take a nip at the
heel of one of these devoted pilgrims; if a grizzley should
chance to indulge in a breakfast of pilgram ham, or a Pen
Perce fancy to a collation of draft steak, he will duly report.
He has also another mission. We are somewhat related to the ,
Digger Indians, and it will be the business of our correspond-
ent to take steps to prevent any of the valient pilgrims from
marrying into the nation of Diggers, as we are careful of our
blood, and do not want to have it polluted by such interming-
ling."
After publishing the Blade for about a year, Mr. Wilson sold
tlie press and type to Melick, who took them to Waterloo, Black
Hawk county, and printed the Waterloo Courier,
Soon after this the Blade was renewed by R. Crosby, who
shortly afterwards associated with him Jas. H. Betzer. In
December, 1867, Crosby sold his interest in the concern to H.
Ct. Curtis, and December, 1869, Curtis sold to A. T. Betzer.
At this date the paper became a semi-weekly, in the firm of
Betzer Brothers, and continues so to the present.
The Marion County Democrat (Knoxville) was first issued
September 19th, 1865, by J. L. McCormack, from a press
and type he obtained in Missouri. In his salutatory he said :
. " It is the intention to make this sheet a welcome visitor to
the fireside of every household; to give instruction, to afford
pleasure and enjoyment in the perusal of its columns, and, if
possible, to bring about a little better understanding in the
minds of the people as to their true duties of neighborly citi-
zenshio."
\ '
116
Pioneers of Marioii County.
After promising a fair share of its space to agricaltufal and
mercantile interests, and also to the entertainment of the lovers
of literature, he adds :
" In politics this paper will support the principles, and stand
by the organization of the Democratic party. It acknowledges
allegiance to n^ne other, and will pay fealty to the behests of
its regular organization alone.
" Believing that the safety of our republican institutions re-
quires a return to the principles of the party that established
the Union, we shall labor for the overthrow of the party now in
power, and insist upon a return to the condition of things that
existed before traitors endeavored to destroy the Government."
The Democrat is a large, well-conducted journal, and com-
mands a liberal share of public patronage.
In March, 1867, another paper was started in Pella, called
the Pella Gazette, It was printed in the Holland language,
devoted to the interests of the Tiepublican party, and edited by
G. Yan Ginkle. After running about eighteen months it was
discontinued, and the press was purchased by Snow & Huber,
a mercantil firm in Pella, who issued a monthly journal for the
purpose of advertising their business.
In March, 1869, Messrs. Sperry and Baker, formerly of the
Guthrie County Vidette^ exchanged printing oflGices with W.
G. Cambridge, of the Marion County Repuhlioan; and on the
20th of June issued the first number of the Iowa Voter j at
Knoxville. In his salutatory the editor says:
" The Iowa Voter will be a radically Republican newspaper,
working as best it may to lurthtr the cause of Republicanism
and the welfare and progress of all advocating impartial suf-
frage for the whole nation, and striving always to be a prompt
and reliable medium ol general and local news — in short, a live
Republican newspaper.
The Voter has a large circulation, enjoys a large share of
public patronage, and has rendered itself worthy the reputation
of a good local journal.
* '
Chneral History of the County. 117
Oq the 8th of January, 1868, a newspaper called " Qqpper-
head " made its appearance in Pella, under the proprietorship
of Bennett, McCully and Gamble. Owing to the novelty of it6
title, and the peculiar notoriety of one of its editors (Bennett)
as a radical Democratic politician, its advent caused some sen-
sation in political circles. The name was evidently chosen to
offset the stigma intended to be fixed upon tho Democratic
parly by the Republicans, when they gave it the name of a
most poisonous reptile.
In his address " To the Public" the editor says in his well-
known radical style:
" Our chief aim will be to make it a first-class Democratic
paper, devoted to the interests of the great Democratic party
and the masses of devoted, industrious, honest men who sup-
port the Government, uphold its laws, and stand by its written
Constitution, as expounded by the supreme judiciary of the land."
Only eleven numbers of the paper were published in Pella.
In the last week in March it was moved to Ottumwa, Wapello
coanty, where it is still published by McCully and Evans,
McCully remaining at Pella to attend to the interests of the
firm in this countv.
During its publication in Pella it and the Blade waged a
violent personal warfare, in which the moral character of the
combatants was subjected to a rigid scrutiny. When the
Copperhead took its departure for Ottumwa, the Blade came
out with a roughly executed but amusing caricature of the
event, representing a huge serpent borne partly on a hearse
and pattly on men's shoulders, followed by several mourners.
In the spring of 1870 the proprietors of the Blade^ Demo-
erat^ and Voter entered into a written agreement pledging them-
selves to the advance payment system on subscription, to begin
on the first of June. At first this was thought to be a rather
hazardous policy where the credit system had so long been
the practice. But the new rule, though rigidly adhered to, has
proved quite as successful as the publishers could have desired.
N
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118 Fioneers of Marion County,
CHAPTER XIV
Iowa Central University — Marion County Agricultural
Society — County Poor House.
AmoDg the public institutions that have been established in
Marion county within the past few years, as evidence of htr
prosperity and enteirprise, the three important ones mentioned
above may be deemed worthy of special notice. And we
regret our inability, owing to the lack of sufficient information,
to give a more detailed history of them.
In the spring or summer of 1853, a society was organized by
the Baptist Church, at Pella, looking to the establishment and
endowment of a school there, to be called the Iowa Central
University. The following are the names of the officers :
Faculty.
Eev. Elihu Gunn, Rev. E. H. Scarff, Prof. A. N. Currier,
Miss S. J. Stoddard, Miss Marse.
Directors.
President, E. Gunn ; Yice President, E. M. Scarff;
Treasurer, Henry P. Scholte.
Besides these there were about thirty trustees chosen.
From their address, delivered at the fouith annual nfbetin ^.
we quote the reasons set forth for the location of this instit.:
tion at Pella:
*'The denomination, wherever its will has been expresses
upon the subject, has always demanded a central location.
Another location, provisionally made, was almost universally
rejected in the state convention, and mainly on the ground
General History of the County, 119
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that it was sectional in its location. And with the best rea-
son. When almost all the other denominational schools were
located on or near the line of the Mississippi river, why should
we not take possession of the magnificent field left open to us
in the central part of the State?
"Pella is situated within thirty miles of the geographical cen-
tre of the State, in the immediate vicinity of the Des Moines
river — ^the great channel of inland communication, and the^
centre of the commerce and manufactures of the State for all
time; near, also, to the point where several of the great railroad
lines which intersect the State are to converge, and in the very^
heart of the great coal field of the State, the richest, perhaps,
in the world, and in one of the most beautiful and healthy por-
tions of this or any other country.
"Combioing all these advantages, it is yet far enough
removed from any great centre of trade and commerce to have
all the advantages of a quiet country location. Of the advan-
tages of a country over a city location for a college, one of the
most respected of the living fathers of our denomination, and
one ot the most experienced in such matters, in a recent pro-
duction on the subject, wrote as follows:
" 'Instead of farmers and other persons from the villages or
country sending their sons to a great commercial city, into the
vortex of commercial speculation, political excitement, fashion,
frivolity and dissipation in every form, those families who desire,
to preserve their sons from the contamination of city inter-
course will send them to a college situated in a rural village."
"Such a village is Pella; quiet and retired, it is yet populous
enough to secure all the advantages of good society, and near
enough to the great thoroughfares of travel to be at all times
easy of access. It is also noted for the quiet and orderly hab-
its of its people, as well as for their moral and religious char-
acter. To such a place parents can send their children with
every assurance that their habits and morals will be safe."
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120 Pion6er% of Marion Countij^
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Large endowments were -secnrecj; and, in 1856, a beautiful
and commodious brick building was erected in the south-west
part of the city, on ground donated for the purpose by Rev.
Henry P. Scholte. It was, however, not completed till some
tim^ in 1857, and was first opened for the reception of pupils
on the Ist of September of that year.
The building stands in the center of a beautiful park. The
dimensions are 50 by 70 feet, three stories hi^h, with a base-
ment besides; contains fourteen rooms, including a large chap-
el, a library and a museum, and is capable of comfortably
l^ccommodating three hundred pupils. Its entire cost was
between $15,000 and $18,000.
In 1857, the report of the trustees annoimced the reception
of an endowment of $50,000, in scholarships of $100 each, and
the prospect of another large endowment soon to follow. The
school has been well patronized with attendance and donations,
and is in a flourishing condition.
In 1856 the agricultural interests of the county seemed to
demand an organized plan for its encouragement, and to facili-
tate the dissemination of such intelligence as might be useful
in the various departments of the business. The only one cal-
culated to effect the end desired, was to organize a society,
appoint a time and place for a general meeting of the farmers,
and award premiums for the best samples ot live stock, grain,
fruits, &c.
So the Marion County Agricultural Society was organized
during the year above mentioned, and the first fair was held
on the public square in Knoxville, in October. Only a few
animals were^exhibited, and, consequently, but few premiums
were awarded. For the want of any other room for the pur-
pose, the old court room was used as a floral hall.
The next exhibition, in Sept. of the year following, was held
on the common, a little west of town, where tables were set in
General Uistory of the County, 121 \
the open air for the display of vegetables, small* mechanical
and artistic products.
These means of exhibition being totally inadequate to the
iacreasing wants of the society, a joint stock company was
formed in 1858, who purchased a beautiful plat of ground one
mile north of town, and put it in suflBcient repair for the use of
the society that autumn.
Eight acres of the ground belonged to Drury Overton, and
two to Thomas Clark, and were deacribed as the north-east
quarter of the north-east quarter of the north-east quarter of
section (1) one, town (76) seventy-five, range (20) twenty. ^
The ground is beautiful and gently inclined southward, in a
natural grove well shaded, enclosed by a high board fence, pro-
vided with a commodious hall, pens and stalls for the use of
stock, and a good well of water.
The first fair was held in it in 1858. In June, 1870, it was
deeded to the society. The fair in September of this year
was well attended, and the finance of the society reported to
be in a good condition.
Doriog the last few years, previous to the robbery, the
treasury was constantly subjected to heavy drafts upon the
poor fund. From some cause or other the number of paupers
seemed to have increased, and the expense of their support
began to be looked upon as burdensomely heavy, particularly
in the case of those who were invalids under the care of physi-
cians. Some retrenchment in this department was deemed
advisable, even at a considerable cost to start with.
Though it was known that many of those who were cared
for at public expense, were worthy subjects thereof, it was yet
supposed that not a few would prefer to make some effort to
earn their own support than submit to the humiliating condi-
tion of becoming inmates of a poor house.
So, in 1865, a movement was made by the board of super-
visors, looking toward the purchase of a farm and the erection
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122 Pioneers of Ifarion Cownty,
of a house to become the home of 8u6h helpless persons in the
county as were otherwise homeless and friendless. A com-
mittee was appointed to select a location and contract for its
pmxjhase, and in due time reported in favor of the west half
of the north-west quarter, and the north-east quarter of the
north-west quarter of section 14; and the west half of the south-
west quarter of the north-west quarter of section 10, 120 acres,
all in town 75, range 20, belonging to Elisha Elliot, and
situated about twd and a half miles south-west of the city ot
Knoxville. Cost $1,200.
The purchase of this land was made on the 15th of Dec,
1865; and in the spring and summer following, the whole of
it was fenced and forty acres broke, part of it planted in corn
and wheat, all at a cost of about $800.
The contract for building the house was let to the lowest
bidder, and was awarded to Jacob Kichards, in July, 1866, at
$4,450. It is a large three story frame building, the basement
story being fitted for a kitchen. The second and third are
each traversed by a hall between two rows of rooms. Stables
and other out buildings were added to the place some time
after.
The contracts for overseer and physician were arwarded to
John Robinson and Dr. Wetherell, under whose care the
county poor were comfortably provided for in their new home.
The experiment proved quite a success. The number of
paupers were greatly reduced, and the support of the remain-
der so systematized as to make it much less expensive.
I
PART II.
TOWNSHIP HISTORIES.
CHAPTER I.
Preliminary Remarks — Clay — Its Geography and Early
History — First Birth^ David Durham — Francis A.
Barker^ Thomas Young ^ O. O. Harsin — ^eak Diet — A
Little Adventure.
Having concluded what may be termed a general history of
the county, we shall now proceed with a history of each town-
ship separately, in which we shall feel more at liberty to
insert events of a local character relating to pioneer life,
together with the memoirs and adventures of a few of the most
prominent settlers that first located in each township. Our ob-^
ject in doing this is not merely to preserve a record of the diffi-
culties and hardships that attended the early settlement of our
now wealthy and prosperous county, but also to preserve the
names of those who dared and suffered, to open the way to the
blessings we now enjoy, and who, therefore, as much deserve
honorable mention in local history as do those whose deeds
have embalmed them in the pages of national history. It is
true, as we have already said, that their chief object was to se-
cure their own pecuniary independence, and this object has, in
most cases, been fully attained. Thus far they have their
123
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121 Pioneers of Ma/rion County.
reward ; but it must not be forgotten that, in their toilsome
efforts to accomplish this, they have conferred a gre^t benefit
upon community at large; and for this we deem them entitled
to the grateful memory of the people. The number of these
old pioneers is now few, in comparison to what it was twenty
years ago, and is so constantly diminishing that in a few years
more they will have become even less than a remnant. Many
have emigrated farther west; others are scattered in different
parts of the State; whilst many more have gone to the repose
of the grave, both in the county and abroad. Should they be
forgotten when nothing more is needed to preserve their mem-
ory for the instruction of future generations than this?
No regular township organizations were effected till the
November term of the Commissioners' Court, in 1846. As
we have already shown, the county was divided up into pi e-
cincts for election and judicial purposes. For these precincts
twenty justices and constables were elected at the first regular
election, September 5th, 1845. At that election the rule
required that the twenty persons receiving the largest number
ot votes of all the numerous candidates voted for, should be
declared elected. This rule was necessary because there were
no conventions held previous to election, for the purpose of
making an organized choice of candidates, each elector choosing
his own candidate on the day of election. We regret to say
that we have been able to obtain the names of only a few of
these oflBcers.
CLA.T.
This is a border township, occupying the center of the east
side of the county, and numbers all of town. 75, range 18, lying
south of the Des Moines river, and also that portion of town.
76, same range, on the south side of the river.
The only considerable streams that course through it are
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Township tiistories. ' 125
English creek on the north, and Cedar, through the south-east
comer. The township is well supplied with timber and coal.*
The name of Clay was given it in honor of the celebrated
statesman Henry Clay, by his political friends, there being a
large majority of them in the township when it was organized.
It is bounded on the north by Lake Prairie, with the Des
Moines river as its northern boundary line; on the east by
Mahaska county, on the south by Liberty township, and on the
west by Knoxville and Polk.
Since its organization it has undergone several changes in
its northern boundary. In '48 all of town. 75 north of the river
was added to it by authority of the county commissioners, and
on the 2d of October of the same year, in answer to a petition ,
of Samuel Martin and others, it was " ordered that all of town.
76, range 18, south of the Des Moines river, be added to Clay
township." And again, in 1850, that part of Clay included in
town. 75, north of the river, was detached from Clay and reat-
tached to Lake Prairie. This left both these townships in their
present shape.
Previous to the date of its organization, (Nov. 16, 1846,)
Clay belonged to what was called Cedar precinct. (See chap-
ter 10.) At the first election in that precinct, Benajah Wil-
liams and Sennet Eamey f were elected Justices of the Peace,
and Elias Williams, Constable, within the bounds of what is
now Clay. When the township was organized, the place for
holding elections was appointed to be at the house of Jasper "
Koons. At the first township election held there, John K.
*A8an Item of interest to geologists, we call attention to the existence of a
bed of Joint clay, about one and a half miles above Durham's Ford, and Just
above a ledge of limestone, on the south bank of the Des Moines. Some years
ago Dr. Williams, now of Pleasantville, dug six feet through this deposit, and
found it so completely filled with sea sheUs as to form almost its entire sub-
stance. Some of them he was enabled to remove whole, and found them to
exactly resemble marine shells he had in his possession, gathered by him near
Moro Castle, Cuba.
fMr. Bamey failed to qualify and therefore did not serve.
1 >
126 ♦ Pioneer's of Marion County.
Whaley and Garret G. Harsin were elected Justices, and Da
vid T. Durhim, Clerk.
The first election of which there is any record preserved,
came off at the house of Jasper Koons, April 2d 1848. About
20 votes were cast, and the following officers, elected: John
Randall, Justice; Thomas Gregory, Andrew C. Sharp and
Elias Moore, Trustees; D. T. Durham, Clerk; Jasper Koons,
Treasurer, and Francis A. Barker, Inspector.
Those who settled in the township in 1843, were, Andrew
Foster, t Thomas Kirtan, Matthew Euple, David Durham,
John Linpod and Benajah Williams. Those who came in '44,
were, G. G. Harsin, John Harsin, Thomas Gregory, David
Giishwa, A. C. Sharp, F. A. Barker, Thomas Tong, Sarah
Clark, S. B. Zane, John Wise and Jasper Koons. The last
named person had settled in what is now Lake Prairie during
the year before. Andrew Foster and Thos. Gregory both died
of . small-pox in the summer of 1819.
Andrew Foster was the first person that built a house in the
township. This was in section 33, town. 76, range 18, being
near the river on some prairie. At this '' raising " no teams or
wagons were at hand to haul the logs to the ground, so it
became necessary to cut them small so that they could be car-
ried a distance of a quarter of a mile by the few men who
had volunteered to assist at putting up the house.
This house was some time afterward occupied as a school
. house, and David T. Durham taught the first school in it,
being the first in the township. About a dozen pupils attended
this school from about five families residing within reach.
Among other enterprises begun at an early date was the
plantirjg of an orchard on a claim owned by Benajah Williams,
by Mr. W. The farm is now owned by Geo. Harrin. The
trees are mostly in a thrifty condition and good bearers.
+ David T. Durham, Andrew Foster and Clark entered the county In the
Bummer or faU of M2, in quest of location, and extended their tour as far as the
point of timber where Monroe, Jasper county, now is.
Township Histories. 127
One among the few first settlors who are stilli residents of
the township, is Matthew Ruple. He lives in section 14. In
hiy family occurred the birth of the first white child in the
county. This was Frances Ruple, bom July 23, 1843; she
still lives in the township, and is now Mrs. Albert Spore.
But most distinguished among those who settled in the
township in '43, was David Durham, a brief sketch of whom
may be in order here:
Mr. D. was bom in Belfast, Maine, July 7th, 1792, and
immigrated to Ohio in 1828. He started on the 3d of Sep-
tember, and reached Dovertown, Morgan county, Ohio, on the .
10th of October, where he located, and opened a farm. But,
after being engaged in this business four or five years, he went
to the salt works on the Muskingum river, and engaged as
a laborer to Sennet Eamey, who, a year or two later, appointed
him superintendent of his saltworks. After serving in this
capacity for some time, he purchased an establishment and
went into the salt business on his own account. But owing to
the plentifulness of the commodity, together with limited means
of shipping it down the Muskingum in scows and canoes, and
transportation by land in wagons, the business proved unprofit-
able, and he failed to meet all the payments on the property.
This was in 1836, when money matters became close and pre-
carious. Abandoning the saltworks he then employed himself
tor one season in transporting flour and salt to and from Zanes-
ville by flat boats and scows. Early in '37 he moved to Zanes-
ville, where he engaged in various occupations, till the autumn
of that year, when he moved to McClain county, Blinois. But
not being able to settle there as he desired, with a large fam-
ily, he moved again in the spring following, and stopped in
what is now Jefferson county, Iowa. Here his companion,
Ifancy Durham, who had shared his varied fortune for more
than twenty years, died, April 13, 1839. After about five
years' residence in Jefferson county^ Mr. Durham moved to
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128 Pioneers of MiX/vion County.
Clay township, where he took and occupied a claim till he
secured a title from the government in 1847.
During his residence here, Mr. Durham was elected a mem-
ber of the Board of CountyCommi88ioners,as stated in another
place, and carried the first mail between Oskaloosa and
Knoxville. After a long and somewhat eventful life, attended
with many conflicts with fickle fortune, having at last eecured
a competence and a resting place for himself and children, he
departed this life, March 15, 1866, aged about seventy years.
Mr. Durham was much respected for his noble traits of
character, being of an amiable disposition, kind and obliging
to all who had occasion to apply to him for help, in time of
need. His departure was, therefore, lamented by a numerous
circle of friends and acquaintances, but not as those who
mourn without hope.
The next person whose experience as a pioneer, deserves
particular notice, was Francis A. Barker. He was born near
Poughkeepsie, Dutchess county, Virginia, April 2d, 1798. In
his nineteenth year he went to West Virginia, where he
engaged in teaching for about two years. In 1820 he went to
Morgan county, Ohio, where he married in 1827, and here,
after being variously engaged in business, he failed, and surren-
dered all his possessions for the benefit of his creditors, and,
with a large family, came to Iowa, without a dollar with which
to begin the world anew.
Thus poorly armed against the privations inseparable from
frontier life, he was even less prepared for the afflictionsv that
fell upon him through sickness and death.
It was late in October, 1844, when he reached the locality
that he immediately chose for a home. This was section 14,
Clay township, on the south side of the Des Moines river.
Having obtained a house in the neighborhood in which to shel-
ter his family for a short time, he set about improving his
claim, but, in consequence of sickness among his children, it
^.v
Tcv^nM^p Histories. 129
was not till two years latey that he got a house of his own
ready^ for occupation. ^
During this period the sickness in his family resulted in the
death of two of his children, a son and a daughter.. It was at
such a time as this that the troubles incident to comparative
isolation from society and the conveniences of a more popu-
lous settlement were most severely felt. The only neighbors
within convenient call was the family of Matthew Euple, half
a mile distant; the nearest post office and store were at Oska-
loosa, fifteen miles distant. Even lumber was so scarce that
it was found difficult to procure enough fit to make a coffin,
and, for want of help, the burying clothes for the dead children
were made up by the bereaved mother and sisters.
It was in November, 1844, that Mr. Barker went on his first
milling trip to Brighton, Van Buren county. Leaving a lim-
ited supply of provisions at home, it was necessary to make
the trip as speedily as possible. The Des Moines was then
fordable at Tally's where he crossed it; but a cold rain came
down in such quantities as to flood the creeks and sloughs to a
dangerous depth. In undertaking to ford a large slough below
Wah's point, the cattle were unable to ascend the abrupt bank
with the w'agon, and in their struggles to do so, one of them
was thrown down so as to be in imminent danger of drowning.
To extricate the animal as speedily as need be, Mr. B. was
compelled to get into the water waist deep. After much effort
he succeeded in disengaging them from the wagon, when they
immediately landed. But as the wind was blowing a freezing
gale and not a sign of shelter short of five miles distant, our
hero felt that something must be done to save himself, and the
only thing that could be done to that end was to keep moving.
So he put the oxen before him, and, with whip in hand, forced
them into a rapid trot, he following them closely, which abated
not till a house was reached. This run of five miles kept him
9
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Fioneera of Marior^ County, ■
freezing, for the weather was so cold tiiat his wet clofli-
itifieued aboat hie limbs.
waB cow late in the day, and nothing could be doae' to-
mOTing the wagon till mornlDg. So Mr. Barker remaiDed
night, and nest morning hiB host accompanied him out to
cene of his adventare, and assisted him to haul the wagon
if the slongh, from which the water had fallen eo much as
nder the nndertaking less difficult than it would otherwise
been.
iter mnch delay in obtaining his needed supply of wheat
;om, which he had to buy, and in getting it ground, Mr.
er set out for home, which he reached after aboat a
ih's absence.
r. i^arher relates that on making another milling pilgrim-
n the autum of '45, he attempted the passage of the large
ie below Oskaloosa, during the night, but got bewildered,
lezt morning fonnd himself several miles out of the way.
'46 Mr. Barker was elected probate jndge of Marion
ty, and re-elected to the same office in '47. In '63, owing
e and failing health, he disposed of the estate that he had
mulated by years of toil and many hardships, and passed
remainder of his ' days in qniet retirement in the city of
Kville.*
le neighborhood or settlement still remembered by most
B early settlers of Clay township as " the Tong settlement,"
located in the southeastern part of the township. Nothing
istorical interest relating to this settlement is remeraberedj
pt what relates to the individnal from whom it derived, its
).
lomas Tong was born near the Potomac river, in Virginia,
e latter part of 1780, emigrated to what is now Adams
y, Ohio, (then the frontier) at an early day; from thenco
iirke county, in the same state ; thence to Elk county,
died at hia residence tbere, Jan. 17, 1STI, aged 78 jean.
* I
Toionship Histories.
181
Indiana; thence to Yan Buren county, Iowa, and from thence
to Marion county, in the spring of 45, with two sons and two
sons-in-law, forming the settlement as above stated. He died
in the winter of '50, aged 70.
Mr. Tong was what might be justly termed a frontiersman,
having spent most of his long life on the frontiers of Ohio,
Indiana and Iowa. He was skilled in all the arts of frontier
life, pertaining to hunting, fishing and trapping. But, not-
) withstanding this comparatively rough education, he was in all
respects a gentleman, upright and generous in all his inter-
course with his fellows, and a warm friend to all with whom he
had occasion to entertain friendly relations, and a Christain.
Mr. Garret G. Harsin, who is still a resident of this town-
ship, and now quite advanced in years, was bom in Kentucky,
in 1790. He first moved to Illinois at an early day, from
thence to Henry county, Iowa, in 1839, and to his present
place of residence, in the spring of 1844. On leaving the
settlement the family carefully laid in provisions enough to
last them till the middle of the summer. But, on reaching
their destination, they were so beset by other immigrants, who
were not so provident, and who were compelled to borrow or
suffer, that their supply soon ran short. Indeed it was twice'
exhausted, and the family lived for some time on wheat boiled^
in milk. At this time Mr. H. was improving his claim, and
once, when making rails, his noonday lunch consisted of only
one green cucumber, without salt. On such diet he toiled on
day after day, with failing strength, till he was finally able to
make only sixteen rails per day. This was during the absence
of his team, and one or two of his sons for another supply of
provisions. Of Mr. Harsin's five sons, Geo. W. lives in Clay,
James and Martin V. in Union township, John the oldest, near
Sioux City, and Garret in Oregon.
John WJse, a native of Virgipia, still lives in the township.
He moved to his present place of residence in 1843, and made
J^ioneere of Mari&n County.
provement. Bnt some jeare afterwards one of those
ive calamities that often reduce the most afBneut to
a fire, destroyed his dwelling, and all his houBehold
. Mr. Wise enjoys the reputation of being worthy the
wears. On coming to the country he bronght sufficient
h bim to enter his claim, and kept the money through
ard times that prevailed, till be paid it for his land.
!e adventure may be worth relating in concluding this
In March, 1845, Jasper Eoons and wife, crossed to
b side of the Des Moines river on the ice, going on a
d left Eliza J. Dnrham, then quite a young woman,
' Mrs. T>. J). Miller, in the care of his house and two
lildren, on the south side of English. Expecting to
oon, the parents did not leave Miss D. and the little
well provided for as would have been required in case
g absence. Bnt on the third day of their absence the
n to break up on the river, rendering it impossible for
US to return. So early one morning Mr. K. came to
r, opposite Durban's and called over to inform Mr. D,
nprovided and isolated situation of Eliza and the chil-
d requested that some one should look after tbem till
Id be able to get home. Father Durban took a pony
needed to the rescue immediately. He found English
ap and not very safe to ford; but the case was one of
icy, and he made no delay. He found the sufferers
provisions or fire, and during the night previous, though
tber was quite cool, they bad had no fire.
ow to remedy the difficulty was tlie most difficult part
rhe pony would not be likely to bear two grown per-
safety over such a flood, to say nothing of the addition
wo children to the cargo, and he had not been so well
to the business as to make one or more voyages through
iold flood without a pilot, or at least without some ho-
I
t
I Township Histories. 138
mantf^ incentive, though it was quite possible that he was as
Qnselfish as any brute of his kind.
But it is said that *' where ever there is a will there is a
way," out of almost any strait. Though there may be many
exceptftns to the truth of this proverb, it is true in a majority
of cases, and it was in this. Eliza thought of the bed-cord,
and proceeded to change it from its appropriate use to that of
a tow line for pony. Being prepared for the adventure she
tied one end of the cord to the halter. Mr. D. then took the
children up and made the crossing, his sister paying out as
they went. She then tugged away at the tow line, and Foster
ui^ed, till the unwilling vessel was compelled to launch again,
and Miss O. soon joined the others in safety.
During the memorable flood of 185X, Mr. Durham and his
family took refuge in their ferry boat, as it was moored along
the side of the house where they remained till a place could be
provided for them on dry land.
To get out of fire was no uncommon circumstance in those
early days, and perscms have been known to go several miles
to get a supply. Matehes were not convenient, and it was not
every house that could be provided with them.
neere of Marten County.
CHAPTER IL
Titmued — Wild Beea — Trapping >Fofee»
— Himting Stray Horaes— Indian Treat-
\>8toffic6 and J^oatmasier — Small-pox.
wo or three years after the township was
^as qnite plentifal, aud the settlers had little
ippIjiDg tbemselres with an abandaoce of
were aiBO so plentiful that it requierd but
ODB ordinarily ekilled in the art of bee-hunt-
illed with the delicious sweetness cnlled
"wild flowers, hy those proverbially iodns-
id, as there were none to claim exclnBire
lae hunting grounds, the finder of a bee-tree
ted owner of it by right of discovery.*
)ther parts of the country, wolves were a
the settlers. Many of these animals were
I ways, but they were so numerous that no
1 was observed for some time. One of the
lat fell a prey to these ravenons beasts,
aggravating to go nnrevenged ; so he imme-
trap near the carcass of the hog, so that, in
I it, the wolves would be compelled to pass
istrament, and would be almost snre to
ud instantly find it securely held hy a pair
captured, the culprit would submit to his
IS that might, in the case of almost any ani-
, excite a feeling of pity in the executioner,
trprising fact that this usually bloodthirsty
that the women wonld
%^^
Township Histories. 135
and often dangerously combative toimal, when caught in a
trap, and finding itself completely in the power of its captor,
will offer no more resistance than a cur, and will humbly sub-
mit to any treatment] Thus quite a number of these m s-
chievous creatures were destroyed.
An instance is related showing the strength and power of
endurance of the wolf. It was in the case of a large black wolf
who inadvertently put his foot between the jaws of a heavy
steel trap, and found it impossible to get rid of the incum-
brance. But, by a violent effort, he broke the fastening by
which it was supposed the trap was secured. There was a
heavy block also attached to the chain, but the resolute animal
took trap and block with him, going by a route not very
smooth or even. He was tracked by the trail, and found two
mile3 from where he was caught, still persevering in his efforts
to escape.
A somewhat amusing story may be in order here illustrative
of the daring character of at least one wolf, if not of the tribe
generally. It happened on a cpld day in winter, as Messrs.
Ose Mathews and Wm. Beckwith were, with wagon and team,
crossing a small prairie in the vicinity of English creek.
Observing a wolf seated near the middle of the prairie, appa-
rently watching their approach with a coolness quite unnatural
to this species of the canine race, they concluded to get as near
to him as possible in order to discover what was meant by such
unaccountable tameness.
Having cautiously driven to within a lew rods of him, they
halted, quite surprised at the steady, defiant look that appar-
ently gleamed from his wolfish eyes, and showed yet more
unmistakably threatening in the snarling, up-turned lip, display-
ing a set of dangerous looking teeth. As it happened, the adven-
turers had no gun, else master wolf would have been speed-
ily pqnished for his audacity. Still they determined to give
him a sample of their courage at close quarters, provided the
-f
n
4
I
. 136 Pioneers of 'Marion County, '
r«ckles8 creatctre perBisted in thud challetiging them to the
combat. For this purpose they unhitehed the team and armed
^ themselves, one with a single tree and the other with a neck
yoke, and, with all the caution that the critical situation
demanded, marched upon the enemy. To their increased sur-
prise the latter still sat unmoved, and the nearer they got to
him the more savage he looked* At length one of the men
got within striking distance of the ferocious monster, and was
just about "to deal him a death blow with the neck yoke, when
the glassy look of his eyes betrayed the fact that he ^v^as
already as deadas he could be, and frozen as hard as a horn.
The cause of his death was not apparent, but it was probable
that some person had seated him in this attitude for some one
else to shoot at
At an early date the want of enclosures in which to sepure
their animals, compelled the settlers to turn them out upon the
range for pasturage. To prevent horses thus turned loose from
meandering too far away, they were sometimes hobbled with
ropes. But even this precaution did not always prevent them
from straying sq far as to give their owners no little trouble to
find them. In such a vast range full of little valleys, ravineSt
groves and large forests, the difficulty of such a search may be
easily imagined. Mr. D. T. Durham thus relates an instance
of his experience in huntijDg stray horses:
" Having in the fall of 1844, gone to Ft. Des Moines, at the
time of the annual Indian payment, in company with Joseph
Clark, we lost our homes whilst there. After hunting for them
one or two days, we concluded they might have returned home.
W"e therefore came home on foot, but our horses were not there.
So I procured another horse, and returned to look after them.
On the way up I called' early in the morning, at Jordan's
trading house on the river opposite Bed Hock, to make inqui-
ries about the trail up the south side of the river, as I had
never traveled it. Here they informed me that there was an
■w— \
I ' V
' Towns/iijp histories. 1^7
Indian aboat to take the trail, and advised m^ to go with him
so that I might have the benefit of his knowledge of it.
" Our preparations were soon made, and my Indian gnide
mounted his p(Hiy, ladened with two small kegs of ^^biskj, one
on each side of his saddle, and a large bladder fall in his hand,
led. the way. As we rode along he partook of the contents of
the bladder occasionally, bat not enough to intoxicate.
''Whilst passing over the undulating prairies, in what was
^called the " Three Kiver Country," my guide rode forward at a
rapid gait, telling me as he started, that he would wait for me
beyond the hill. So I rode along leisurely and, on rounding
the point of a grove I came in sight of him. He bad dis-
mounted at some Indian graves, and was standing with his
head bowed, talking to himself, or perhaps to the spirit of his
departed friends. After remaining in that posture a short time,
he raised up, took his bladder and poured some of the whisky
on the head of one of the graves. Then he would converse a '
little and pour again. Whilst this was going on I rode up, and
would have stopped, but he motioned to me to pass on. I
obeyed ; and when he overtook me, I asked him the meaning
of his conduct at the graves, and if those buried there were his
friends. He was not much disposed to be communicative on
the subject, but, by pointing to the graves,, then to himeelfi
then putting two of his fingers in his mouth, he gave me to
understand that they were brothers or near relations. \;
" My guide kept tolerably sober till towards night, when we
occasionally met other Indians, whom ke treated, and dranis
freely himself at every meeting. So, by the time we came
within sight of the fort, he had became apparently quite indif-
ferent as to whether he went anv farther or not, and I left him
' alone in his glory.' "
Next day*Mr. D. found his horses in the hands of a party of
Indians, a few miles below the fort. The legs of some of the
animals were severely gaulded by the ropes with which they
N
V
Pioneers of Ma/rion Cowniy.
3 hobbled, and the Indians were endeATOring to cure them
with some snccess. , Tliey readily gave them up.
he first post office that was eetabliBhed in this township
at Durham's Ford in the latter part of the winter, or early
he spring of 1849, Ohas. H. Durham, P. M. In 1850 it
moved farther south, to eectioD 4, township 75, and the
e changed to " English Settlement," John H. Whaley, P.
In 1852 the office was again Removed to section 18, with
luel Bretenridge as P. M., where it still remains under the
lagement of Macklan Copeland. Pola post office, section
:own. 76, was established in 1854, with Joseph Clark as P.
D. T. Durham, present incumbent, appointed in 1856.
y muls east and west between Pella and Knoxvilte.
1 the summer of 1849 the township was visited by the
[1 pox that prevailed to such an extent as caused quite a
c among the people. This was partly owing to its unex-
ed appearance, many being eirposed to it ere they were '
re of its presence. About sixty cases of it, and of that mild
known as the varioloid occurred, and much snfienDg was
irienced by the afflicted in consequence of lack of atten-
So prevalent was the fear of contracting the disease that
mberof cases proved fatal. Otherwise the township ht^
1 known to be generally healthy, more especially since it
been well settled and the most of its surface reduced to
vatlon.
Dpnlation of Clay by the Dnited States census of 1870:
ve 1843
Township Histories. 139
CHAPTER ni.
Lake Prairie Township — Its Geography and Early Hisiori/
— jSFa/mes of jvrsi Settlers — Wellington N'ossaman — Stump
Mill — Pottery — Col. Alley — Shooting Affray — TJie Math-
ewses — First Birth — Wm. Welch — KeoTcuhy Iowa — An
Adventure.
Lake Prairie township consists of township 77, range 18,
and all of townships 75 and 76, range IS, north of the Des
Moines river. It is bounded on the north by Jasper county,
on the east by Mahaska county, on the south by Clay township,
with the Ues Moines river as its boundary line, and on the
west by Polk and Summit.
The principal streams that run through it are Skunk rivej^
and Thunder creek. Skunk river runs through the northeast
comer of the township, entering at section.six, and after persuing
a meandering course, leaves it at about thirteen. This stream is
very crooked, and the numerous ponds and bayous that have
been caused by the changes of its channel, making reservoirs
of stagnant water, has rendered the neighborhood somewhat
noted for ague. Thunder creek rises in Summit, runs through
the north half of Lake Prairie, and empties into Skunk on the
east line of the county. There are several smaller streams not
named on the map, from which we obtain much ot our infor-
mation about the geography of the township.
This township is well timbered along the larger streams,
and the land there is more or less hilly, but beautifully undu-
lating on the upland prairies.
No extensive coal mines have been opened.
Lake Prairie was originally what was called Lake Precinct,
but in January, '46, the north half of it (township 77, range 18)
/
140
IHoneera qf Ma/ti(m County.
was declared a township and called Jefferson, and the place of
holding election was at the house of Richard Everwine. , At
the same time the south half was called Lake, with the place
of election at Wilson Stanley's on Lake Prairie. [For an
account of such changes as took place in its southern boundary,
see history of Clay.] But by a special act of the State Legis-
lature, during the winter of '47-8, both of these townships were
constituted one township and called Lake Prairie. This name
was taken from the long lake extending two miles below
Amsterdam, between which and the river lies an extensive and
beautiful prairie.* This lake, judging from its size and
appearance, was at some remote period, the channel of the river,
and extended so as to 'intersect with it at each end; but since,
by the accumulation of ice or other drift at the upper end, the
water was forced to cut a new channel, a large part of the old
one has been gradually filling up by the washings of freshets
and the eath that has been brought down from the uplands by
rains, through successive ages, and forest tree are now growing
over the abandoned channel.
Most prominent among those who first settled in this town-
shipi are Wellington and Levi Nossaman, William and John
Welsh, Wilson Stanley^ George Grillaspy, Green T. Clark,
Thomas Tuttle, John B. and Robert Hamilton, James L. War-
ren, Asa and Jasper Koons, John Gillaspy, John and William
George, William Cayton, Ose Mathews, (who afterwards set-
tled in Red Rock,) William Bainbridge and Jacob C. Brown.
We have been able to obtain biographical sketches of a few of
■■I 1 1
*0n this prairie were once a ooaplo of bMtaiiftil Bprings tbat were resorted
to by the Indians of the viUage near by, and attracted the attention of the settlers
by their peculiar appearance and character. They were from ten to fifteen foet
wide, and one of them of unknown depth, filled with a tenr light sediment,
through which no solid bottom could be reached by sounding with the longest
poles. The water would rise and fall, and Arom the subterranean depths would
occasionally come % sound resemblin g thander. The Indians called it Thunder
prtng.
i
I ' . ^
Township Histories. 141
these which will now be given, together with their experiences
ia pioneer life.
Wellington Kossaman was born in Monroe county, Va., in
1817. At the age of two years was taken by his parents to
Pike county, Ky. ; in '32 moved to Marion county, Ind. ; in '42
came to Jefferson county, Iowa; was married on the 17th of
March; came to this county in April, '43, and made a claim in
the south part of the township.
Here Mr. N. li^'ed in a pole shanty, roofed with bark, that
had been hastily put up for a temporary shelter, till a better
building could be provided on his claim and .a patch of corn
planted. During this time Mrs. W. and Levi Nossaman were
the only women in the settlement.
In the fall of '±3, John B. Hamilton built the first house
proper, a round log cabin, intended for something more than
temporary use; and Mr. Noseaman built the next one imme-
diately afterwards.
At this early date the difficulty of obtaining breadstuifs
induced Mr. N., in connection with Wm. Welch, to put up
what they called a stump mill, to grind corn. It was con-
structed to run by horse power, and when in motion the entire
mill turned on a pivot under the burrs. It was capable of
grinding about one bushel of corn per hour, and supplied quite
a demand in the settlement. During the same year ('46) and
at the same place they also established a horse-power saw-mill,
and manufactured the first lumber in the county north of the
river. In addition to these temporary, though valuable enter-
prises, they erected a pottery there, and manufactured some
pretty good ware. The remains of the pottery are still visible
four miles south of Pella. In after years Mr. Nossaman, in
connection with Joseph Porter, built the first steam saw-mill in
Pella, which was also the first machinery in the county run by
steam. His lime kiln, four miles south of Pella, was, perhaps,
the first permanent establishment of the kind in the county.
I
142 Pioneers of Marion County.
£[e also kept a store there, on his farm, known in the neigh-
borhood as " the one-horse store." During the flood of '51 he
erected a temporary grist mill, that was run by a band from an
armed upright shaft, and ground eight bushels of com per day.
This mill was run day and night for six weeks, to supply the
demand till the flood abated. In '68 Mr. N. purchased the
Franklin House, in Fella, and kept hotel and a mercantile
establishment in it at the same time, for about two years.
Previous to the organization of the county, Mr. ^N^ossaman
attended court at Oskaloosa, where he assisted to build the first
court house of Mahaska county, and was one of the first grand
•
jurors of that county court. In '46 he was elected to the oflSce
of coroner of this county, and, by virtue of that office, acted as
high sheriff during the absence of the sheriff elect. In '46 or
'47 he was appointed deputy assessor, and was the first person
that assessed the Holland colony.
The first justice elected in Lake Prairie was William Bain-
bridge, and Wellington Nossaman was the first constable.
The first election came off on Lake Prairie, at the house of
Mr. Bainbridge, about half a mile above the crossing now
known as Durham's ford or ferry, near the locality of an In-
dian village called Keokuk's town, consisting of forty or fifty
huts.
The first lawyer resident in the county was John W". Alley,
more commonly known as Colonel Alley. Of his history pre-
vious to his settlement on Lake Prairie, we have been able to
obtain no particulars. He immigrated from Indiana, and set-
tled at the place above mentioned at an early date, after which
he moved to Red Bock and from thence to Afton, Union
county, where he died.
His reputation as an attorney was so good that he was con-
stantly employed, and scarcely a case came upon trial in the
Des Moines valley, within the bounds of the county, that the
Colonel was not employed to pettifog for one side or the other
Township Histories. 143
and such was his popnlarity that it was supposed that whdever
was lockj enough to secure his services was pretty sure of suc-
cess in spite of justice. But, like many engaged in the pro-
fession, he was not scrupulous as to the means of winning a
case, especially if the case chanced to be a difficult one, which
was veiy frequent. At such times he would flatter the justice
by language like this: ^^Now, in addressing a gentleman of
your discernment and intelligence, it is scarcely necessary to
remind you," etc., and then pioceed to quote the law of some
other State provided he could find none among *our own stat-
utes that could be construed favorably to his client. It is rela-
ted that one of the justices' dockets contained the record of
the decision of a case in something like this style: " I have
examined this case pro and con. Colonel Alley knows all
about it, and says it is so and so, and I believe it is," and ren-
dered his decision accordingly. Apparently the Colonel
had been giving the justice some private counsel.
During his residence in this township the Colonel had some
trouble with the Koonses in relation to a claim at the lower
end of White Breast prairie, and was fired upon and slightly
wounded in the arm, one night, as he was on his way home.
Having ascertained the person of his intended assassin, he
ambushed himself near the disputed claim, and awaited the
appearance of Jasper Koons, who was hauling rails. When
his intended victim hove in sight and was within easy range,
the Colonel fired and the bullet knocked the ox whip off the
fellow's shoulder. Soon after this a compromise was effected,
and Koons surrendered the claim on the receipt of a stipulated
sum.
A few more instances might be related in which the Colonel
was more or less concerned, but, as they transpired in Eed
Rock, they will more properly appear in the history of that
township.
Among those mentioned in the list of early settlers, who
144 Pioneers of Marion Vouniy.
took claims on the first of May, '48, was Ose Matthews and
bis families, consisting of Drs. Beuben and Homer Matthews,
Simpson B., Warren, and Ose, Jr., together with George Reyn-
olds and Ray Alfrey, sons-inJaw.
Ose Matthews, Sr., was bom in Msssachnsetts, March 14,
1784; n^ved to Troy, N. Y^ — date not remembwed — where
he resided several years; thence to Lake connty, Ohio, in 1817;
thence to White Pigeon Prairie in '37 ; thence to Iowa, and
stopped below Old Agency in '42; thence to Lake Prairie in
'48, and settlcfd there at the time above stated. In '46 or '47
they sold out to the Hollanders, and Mr. Matthew8«ettled again
a short distance above Red Rock village, in what is now Union
township. After living here about a year he went to Red
Book village, where he lived with his soil Simpson several
years, till the latter went west, when he made his home with
•his son-in-law, George Reynolds, in Summit township, till he
died, Dec. 20, 1865.
The most important event connected with this family during
thwr residence on Lake Prairie, was the birth of a daughter to
Mr. and Mrs. Alfrey, Jan. 18, '44, being the first white chiW
bom in the county north of the Des Moines river. She was
called Amanda Lenora. She is now married, and lives in
Des Moines.
What further relates to the Matthews and Alfreys will be
found in the history of Red Rock.
Among those whose names are more or less identified with
the early history of Marion county is William Welch, at pres-
ent a citizen of Pella. As such, his biography deserves a
place among these pages.
Mr. Welch was born in the little villiage of Huntsville, on
the Yadkin river, N. C, Jan. 1st., 1800, being a little more
than seventy-two years of age at this present writing. Went
to Wilkes county, same State — date not mentioned — and from
thence to Richmond, Indiana, in 1827 ; thence to Macbon-
\
^ J
Township Bistoriea. . 146
augli, Illinois, in '31; from thence, in consequence of the
breaking out of the Black Hawk war, he, together with many
other settlers, went further south, leaving their claimsi and
some other property for whoever might succeed them. Then,
in '86, Mr. W, immigrated to Iowa, and settled at what is now
Bonaparte, Yan Buren county. At that time the territory was
under the political jurisdiction of Wisconsin, and was known,
only by that name. Here Mr. W. (being a potter by trad^),
erected the first pottery in the territory, the slight remains 6f
which may still be seen in that locality. At one time during
his residence there he was also employed as recorder, and was
compelled to find his own stationery, which, owing to its
exhorbitant price and diflSculty of obtaining it from a distance,
together with his own extreme poverty, he finally supplied
himself with it at considerable sacrifice. Then it was after
much delay and diflBculty that he obtained only a part o^ his
fees for this service.
In 1844, Mr. Welch came to Lake Prairie^ and settled in the
timber, about four miles south of the present site of Pella.
Here in connection with Mr. Nossaman, as already stated in
this chapter, he erected a pottery and a mill in the locality
In 1845, Mr. W. was elected to the office of County Commis-
sioner, in which office he served one year. See chapter IX.
During the first year of settlement, parties of Indians were
frequently seen passing and repassing along their long fre-
s quented route up and down the Des Moines valley, visiting the
trading houses and returning to their villages. These villages
were little better than mere camps, consisting ot huts and tents
built without any regularity for streets or alleys, each family
putting up their portable dwelling on whatever locality best
suited^their taste or convenience. Hunting and fishing were
the principal occupations of the inhabitants of these villages;
and should game become scarce in the neighborhood of a
village, the people could easily gather up their houses and load
10
k.^ij..i. - /
i /
\
\
146 PioneerB of Motion Ccmtty. ,
them, ^ith all their baggage on ponies, and dogs and women,
and move to some more plentiful locality, leaving no traces of
the deserted town, except a few stakes and poles that had made
the scanty frame work of their huts.
Only one village was known to be located in the connty,
which was the one already mentioned in this chapter, called
Keokuk's town. It was on Lake Prairfe, near Durham's ford.
Whether it was at any time the residence of the renowned
chief is not known, for the place was abandoned soon after the
whites began to settle in the neighborhood. But it is quite
probable that he had some thing to do with its location, and
possibly made it his head-quarters. The remains of this village
wiere noticeable some time after it was taken away.*
Notwithstanding the generally friendly disposition manifested
by the Indians toward the earlier settlers, it is apparent that
they harbored a feeling of jealousy toward those who had come
into the territory previous to the time stipulated in the treaty.
Yet, restrained perhaps by fear of punishment, they made no
demonstrations calculated to lead to an open rupture. The
only instance of the kind, showing a resentment that their
savage natures prompted them to gratify, had they dared do so,
occurred as follows:
On or about the 7th of April, 1843, Green T. Clark, Robert
Hamilton and Henry McPherson, with two or three others, all
of whom had come into the neighborhood of Lake Prairie in
search of a location, were encamped otL the river near where
the Curtis farm now is. They had been prospecting through
the country, and on this occasion the company was divided,
* Daring the residence of the Indians at this «yiniage, Ithe chief Appanoose
was there at one time; and the wife of Dr. Ober, a settler, and a lady of mnch
refinement, desiring to have a conversation with the " big Ingin/^ opened it by
asking him what disease Wappalo died of. Appanoose conld speak some plain
English, but not being acquainted with the technical teterms of polite society, he
promptly answered her in language that meant " diarrhea," bat that brought a
blush to the fedr cheek of the lady, and Indisposed her to continue the conver-
sation.
- !. A.
TovmMp Histories. 147
and the three above named persons went up the river whilst
the others went in an opposite direction. Having wended their
way some distance through the heavily timbered and compara-
tively trackless wilderness of the Des Moines bottom, in the
direction of Hed Rock, the approach of night warned them
that it would be prudent to return to camp as speedily as
possible.
But after they had begun to retrace their steps a party of
Indians confronted them in the same narrow trail. Fearing
some possible mischief from the savages, they changed front
and commenced a retreat, though not by flight, keeping up
Indian file order, thinking to avoid contact with them. But as
they were descending a slight declivity, at the bottom of which
was a pond of water, around which the path led, one of the
Indians, who was about a hundred and fifty yards behind and
a little above them, fired at them, aiid the bullet passed in
such close proximity to their heads as to not only be very dis-
tinctly heard, but felt by the disturbance of the air, and struck
in the water in front of them. Turning to see from whence
the firing had come, they saw one of the savages running from
the rank as though in pursuit of something, and then suddenly
stop and search vrith apparent carefulness among the grass for,
the game he made believe he had killed. Evidently the villain
had fired upon them for the purpose of killing or frightening
them ; and then, to avoid suspicion and escape the punishment
he knew he deserved for the act, he performed the game farce
with the cleverness of a professional actor. But our adven-
turers had neither the time nor disposition just then, to bring
the culprit to account for his conduct. To avoid any further
attentions from such cowardly assassins, required some haste
and vigilence, and they soon succeeded, returning safely to
camp that night.
.n
148 * Pioneers of Marion County,
\
CHAPTER IV.
Lake Prairie continued — George Gillaspy^ — James L, War-
reU'-^India/n Worship — 8ho7't of Provisions — Tribute to
the memory of Dr. Warren.
Among those who came to the county before the memorable
First of May, was the no less distinguished personage, than
' George Gillaspy, and we proceed to open this chapter with a
brief sketch of his history.
Mr. Gillaspy was born in Shelby county, Kentucky, July 15,
1814. At the age of 13 years his father moved to Johnson
county, Indiana, where he remained about five years, and then
returned to Kentucky. From thence he came to Iowa in 1840,
and settled in Louisa county, and from thence to Marion county
in the spring of 1843, stopping in the timber near Lake
Prairie on the evening of the 24th of April. That night he
took his wagon to pieces and covered it in different places to
prevent the dragoons from discovering it, in which case it
would have been subject to seizure and himself to expulsion
from the territory.
As midnight ushered in the long desired first of May, Mr.
G. marked out his claim, as did many others who had made
selections and been awaiting the time to establish them legally.
After securing his claim Mr. G. boarded for some time at
Wellington Nossaman's, making rails lor twenty-five or thirty
cents per hundred. In the spring of '46 he was appointed
assessor, and in August of the same year succeeded James
•
Walters as sheriff,* and was re-elected to the same office in '48.
*When Mr. G. was canvassiDg the county as candidate for sheriff, he carried h Is
horee feed with him m a sack. We note this simple fact merely in contrast wltti
his late tours through the state as a candidate for governor.
. ■ /
Tovmshi]^ Histories. , 149
i
In '49 ho was elected to the office of treasurer of the boar^ of
public works. On the 7th of October, '49, he moved to Ottum-
wa and took charge of the state land office. In '60 was re-
elected to that post, and in '52 was appointed by Gov. He^p- •
stead register of the state land office. In '53 (the legislature
having made the incumbent of that office elective by the people)
he was elected to fill it two years. At the end of this term he
commenced mercantile business in Ottumwa, but two years
later sold out and engaged in land speculation with considera-
ble success. In '56 he was elected a delegate to the constitu-
tional convention that came off during the year following. In
the fall of '57 he was the nominee for lieutenant governor on
the same ticket^ with Hon. Benj. M. Samuels; and in '69
headed the democratic ticket as candidate for governor. |
Mr. Gillaspy still lives in Ottumwa, engaged in buying and*
selling cattle and hogs, and in packing pork in Chicago. In
person he is a somewhat remarkable man, being of almost
giant proportions.
. Not less distinguished, nor less favorably remembered
among those who settled in this township at a very early date,
was Dr. James L*. Warren, who died at his residence near
Peoria, Mahaska county, Jan. 18, 1870, aged 69 years. He
was born in Green county, Tenn., July 1st, 18Q1; immigrated
to Iowa and settled in Lee county in 1841. He made his first
(daim in what is now Mahaska county, where he cut some lo^s
and employed a man to put them up in the shape of a cabin;
but he afterwards abandoned the idea of settling there, and
made a claim about three miles south-east of -where Pella now
is, where he succeeded in planting about twenty acres of corn
and wheat in the spring following.
Those who came up at the same time and helped to found a
settlement were John B. Hamilton, Eobert Hamilton, Henry
Miller, Green T. Claxk and Henry McPherson. On their way
lip the dragoons refused to let them pass Libertyville with
/
I
150 Pioneers of Marion County.
their wagons, so they packed on horses what provisions they
thought would last them till after the first of May, and pro-
ceeded. Approaching an Indian village near the present loca-
tion of Oskaloosa, the Doctor, * who had some practical
knowledge of military tactics, called a halt, and suggested that
they march through the town in military order. This was
agreed to by all except an old man named McPherson, who
thought such a maneuver would be regarded by the Indians as
a challenge to fight. Being excused from service the old man
itade a wide circuit to the north of town, still keeping in view,
in order to witness the result, whilst the remainder obeyed the
command to "forward march." On entering the place they
found the inhabitants engaged in worship, in' consequence of
which they paid little or no attention to this mock military
demonstration. The men were collected in a large tent, seated
in, a circle, singing in a monotonous, drawling tone to the
equally musical rattle of beans in gourds, that ihey shook up
and down, as an accompaniment to their voices. The door of
the tent was closed against intruders, but Robert Hamilton,
having an ungovernable curiosity to witness the perf^mance,
raised the tent wall near the ground and peeped under. Not
one of the solemn- fticed worshipers took the least notice of this
breach of good manners; nor did they for an instant seem to
permit their attention to be diverted from their devotions ; but
an old squaw, who seemed to be standing guard mthoiit,
noticed the intruder, and indignantly ordered him away. Not
being instantly obeyed, she took hold of Robert, gave him a
violent pull, and uttered the word "Manitou" (God), as mi
explanation of the sacredness and privacy of the place and
performance, at which he deemed it advisable to desist. Soon
after leaving town our heroes were rejoined by McPherson,
who was rejoiced to find them all safe and unhurt.
On the 26th of April they reached the present location of
Pella, and contemplated making claims there; but, owing
\ ,
Totpmfiip Histories. 151
I
to its distance from timber, they thought it very probable that
it would be many years ere much improvement could be made
th^^ and the land become valuable. So they made choice of
the timber about three miles to the southeast
But ere the time came for them to get their wagons, and the
remainder of their provisions, what they had brought with
them began to come short As soon as possible Green B*
Olark was sent for the wagons, and some of the others resorted
to hunting as a means of economizing the scanty remainder of
breadstuffs. But the bread finally quite gave out, and hunt-
ing, even in those early days, was not so reliable a means of
supporting the demand for food as some might suppose. It is
said that game was plentiful, which was generally true, but,
like fishing, the taking of it depended upon skill and good
luck. An instance is related of an old settler named Cunning-
ham^ who still lived in Mahaska county, who, by hunting,
maintained a half starved existence for eight or ten days, on
his claim near Oskaloosa, not daring to leave it lest it should
be "jumped.'' Our settlers now found it necessary to use
energy and skill or starve. Hunger already incited them to do
their best Robert Hamilton shouldered his rifle and went in
search of a turkey, or anything else he could find that would do
to eat, whilst Henry Miller went in search of a bee-tree. Both
were successful; and, what added much to their good fortune,
their wagons came the next day, bringing . breadstuflfe and
other conveniences.
Dr. Warren was among the first ministers of the M. E.
Church who preached in the county, and organized the first
class west of Libertyville. He was licensed as a local
preacher in 1828; ordained deacon at Oskaloosa in 1852, and
was ordained an elder by Bishop Ames in 1863. He also
commenced the practice ot medicine in 1831, which he con-
tinued till a short time before his death. In this he was very
successful during his residence in this county, especially in the
1^2
Pioneers of Mdri&jfi Ooimty.
management of the miasmatic diseases, to whi«;h the early set-
tlers were subject, and his field of practice often extended from
Ostaloosa to " Tool's Point," now Monroe, Jasper county, and
over a large territory north and south of this route. Over this
wide field he ministered both in spiritual and temporal things.
He was a man universally loved and respected by all who
knew him. Many instances illustrative of his charitable
nature, and many acts of kindness performed by him, have
been related to us, and are well remembered by many who
have, shared the privations of pioneer life with him. His
departure was made joyful by the hope of eternal life.
Green T. Clark and Robert Hamilton still live in the town-
ship. The latter is at present ar citizen of Pella, whilst his
brother, John B., lives in Kansas, whence he emigrated in
1862.
I * \
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t «
I
Township JSistories. 168
CHAPTER V.
Lake Prairie Continued — Thomas Tuttle — The Buffing-
tons — A sad ^Accident — Jacob B. Brown — First Relig-
ions Societies — First Orchard,
The first settler in the neighborhood of Pella was Thomas
Tattle, whose present residence is in Vandalia, Jasper
county. He first came to the State in 1838, and settled in Jef-
ferson county the year following. In 184:3 he came to this
county, arriving there on the 13th of May. Not having any
children and no other help, Mrs. T. helped him to build a cabin
in the edge of the nearest timber north of the present site of*
Pella. Soon after this they made a claim of part of the town
plat of Pella, and put up a claim pen on what is now " Gar-
den Square." This cabin remained there, and was for a por-
tion of the time occupied several years after the city had
grown up around it.
When this lonely pair took up their residence in the county
they were not aware of the existence of another family of
white people within twenty miles of them. After being here
a month or so it was found necessary to replenish their stock
of breadstuff ere it should run too low; so it was decided to
go to Fort Madison for a supply, Mrs. T. to accompany her
husband or to stay at home as she chose. She chose the lat-
ter, and for nine days and nigiits wbs the sole occupant of the
little cabin, except a big cat,* seeing no human beings except
Indians, as they passed and re-passed, and occasionally came
in without first announcing their presence or uttering any kind
of salutation.
*Thi8cat was still living within the last few years; a remarkable instance of
feline longevity.
-•M.^ ._>,.__.,
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154 Pioneers of Ma/rion Comity.
In August following, four families nam^ Buffington settled
three miles north of Tuttle's, forming what was soon after
styled " The BuflSngton Settlement," and for a year these fam-
ilies were their nearest neighbors. The names of those who
headed these families were William, James, Samuel and
Abram.
A painful accident occurred in the family of James Buffing-
ton just previous to reaching their new home. Their youngest
were a pair of twin boys, about six months old. On the way it
was discovered that one of them was missing from the wagon.
Search being made, it could nowhere be found, and the anxious
parent prosecuted the search along the trail they had come for
two or three miles, and at last found the infant barely alive?
with one of its thighs crushed and flattened by the passage of
a wagon wheel. It had, probably, been so stunned by falling
from the wagon that it was unable to utter any cry. So £ar as
they were aware, there was no surgeon within a hundred miles;
so they bound up the limb and dressed it to the best of their
ability. It was, however, too badly mangled to be saved, and
eventually came off at the hip joint; but, strangely enough^ the
child recovered.
The next family that settled in the neighborhood of Pella
was that of Jacob O. Brown, He was a native 'of North
Carolina, and became a pioneer at an early period in life.
First nioved to Tennessee, and from thence to Illinois, in 1830>
"vdiere, with his family, and but a half dollar in money, he
began the battle of life in the wilderness, and became inured
to the privations of frontier life before he came to Iowa. In
May, 1844, he settled near where Pella now is, where he
remained till '47, when he sold his claim to the Hollanders,
and moved to Summit. He now lives in Monroe, Jasper Co.
James Duese also settled near Pella, in 1845. , He after-
wards moved to Summit, but is now living in Minnesota.
N
, Township Histories. 155
The Methodists and Baptists were the first religious denomi-
nations that organized societies in Lake Prairie township.
The first Methodist class was formed at John B. Hamilton's,
and the first Baptist church was organized at Aaron Foulk's
by Kev. Moses J. Post, and the place of holding service was
at Kossaman's school house, four miles south of Pella. The
first persons that received the ordinance of baptism, by immer-
sion, in this township, and in the county, were Sarah Nossa-
man and Emily Barker, administered by the Rev. M. J, Post.
The first Baptist preacher that was licensed to preach the gos-
pel in this township, and also the first in the county, was Rev,
G. C. Curtis.
The first apple orchards planted in this township were by
Gre^n T. Clark and John B. Hamilton, in the spring of '47,
in sections 36 and 25, town. 76. The trees, (about fifty in all),
were brought from Blinois. Most of them are still alive, and
bearers, and some of the more thrifty ones measure a foot in
diameter.
\
156 Pioneer^ of Ma/rion County.
CHAPTER YI.
Lake Prairie continued — The Holland Golony*^Organiza'
tion in Holland — Voyage — Sojourn at St. Louis — Select-
ing the Location — Early Life in Pella — First Township
Officers — Church Organization — First Hotel^ Post OffijCe^
School^ etc. — Amsterdam — Leersdam — Death of Henrg P.
Scholte. •
A large majority of the inhabitants of Lake Prairie are
Hollanders, and we now proceed to give what little we have
been able to obtain relating to their history as a colony. We
had hoped to make this narrative something better than a mere
sketch, but, owing to the difficulty of enlisting the aid of those
who had it in their power to furnish us with details,, we have
been compelled to content ourself with what we have, and
request the reader to do the same.*
It has been claimed by some that the religious intolerance
exercised by the Established Church of the Netherlands,
towards the Reformed Church, was the principal cause that led
to the emigration of so large a body of people at one time,
but though this may have been one among the reasons origi-
nally assigned, it was not the principal reason. The crowded
state of the population in the old country, demanded a wider
field in which the middle and lower classes might bettor their
worldly circumstances, and this may be relied upon as the
main reason.
Prominent among those who ft)ok an active and leading part
in the organization of this enterprise, was Henry P. Scholte.
*It is to the kindness of Mr. A. G. Betten, who furnished me with some verbal
statements, and to some xnannsoript from the pen of the late Henry P. Soholte,
loaned me by his son, that I am Indebted for the leading facts contained in this
chapter.
. \/'-
Township HiBtories, 157
As a leader of the colony, his life was so identified with it,
that we may very conveniently blend a sketch of it in con-
\ nection with this narrative.
Mr. Scholte was bom in' Amsterdam, Holland, in 1805, and
early in life conceived the idea of entering the naval academy
and becoming an oflScer in the navy. But, his mother bejing
much opposed to this plan, he abandoned it. But, being of an
active temperament, and averse to idleness, he learned the
carpenter's "trade, and made some advancement in drawing.
When about 17 years of age his father died, which circum
stance called his attention to the subject of religion, and his
interest in this subject eventually ripened into a desire to
preach the gospel. With a view to prepare himself for this
occupation, he began the study of the languages, and made so
much progress in this department that he was prepared to
enter the seminary at Amsterdam in 1821. In 1824: he passed
through the literary examination at the University of Leyden,
and began the study of theology at that institution. During a
powerful religious revival in Holland, in 1826, in which two
converted Israelites took an active part, he became acquainte(J
with numerous leading Christians of various denominations
from England, France, Germany and the Netherlands, who
were on a visit to Holland, and became so powerfully con-
vinced of the narrowness of sectarianism that he abandoned it,
regarding even church organizations of secondary importance.
He was, therefore, quoting his own words, " prevented from
clothing his faith in the straight-jacket of ecclesiastical form-
alism."
In 1830 a rebellion broke out in Belgium ; Mr. S. enlisted
as a soldier to help put it down. In 1832 he returned to Leyden,
passed through the theologiqal examination at the University,
and was licensed to preach. In the same year he was exam-
ined in the synod of Holland, and in the beginning of 1833 was
installed as minister of the Gospel in the National Reform
Church establishment. '^
•. I ' .-
158 jPioneers of Marion Comity.
Here, however, he began to experience trouble resulting
from his refusal to submit to the established forms and doc-
trines that he found had produced a spiritual degeneracy in
the church. His decided opposition to a sectarianism that
amounted almost to bigotry, brought down upon him the
enmity of the national clergy ; and this, in 1835, resulted in a
separation. Mr. S. and a few other ministers, followed by a
large number of lay members, withdrew from the National
Church, and became a separate and independent organization.
But they were not permitted to remain so undisturbed*
Instigated by the Synod of Holland, the government com-
menced and for some time carried on a series of persecutions
against the rebels, consisting of fines and imprisonments,
basing the legality of these acts upon a law of Napoleon for-
bidding the assembling together of more than twenty persons
tor religious services.
But these persecutions, instead of putting down the rebel-
lion, only increased the number of its adherents, till finally
the government became weary of so unprofitable an under-
taking, and soon after the accession of William H. to the throne
persecution ceased entirely.
In his ministerial labors Mr. Scholte became acquainted
with the middle and poorer classes of the country, and had
ample opportunities to observe the disparity in the social con-
ditions of the various classes, the result of pecuniary circum-
stances — ^how difficult it was for the poor, and even those of
small means, to support themselves and their families, to say
nothing of attaining to that social position that merit should
entitle them. In the kindness of heart he began to think
about contriving some plan by which relief could be rendered.
But he could think of none that could be, successfully carried
out within the narrow and crowded limita of the Netherlands;
so it occurred to him that immigration to some new country
would be the only practicable means of attaining the end
/
I
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Township Sistories. ^ 15&
desired. In this view he associated himself with another min-
ister of some eminence and ability, and together tiiey made
diligent ^orts to inform themselves in relaticoi to the natural,
social and political conditions of varioas coantriee th at might
become an asylnm for the po(»r and oppressed.
But previous to directing public attention to the subject, they
wrote a letter to their Minister of Colonies, askipg for vessels
and a free passage to the island of Java; imd for permission to
make free settlement there; but as the government did not
seem disposed to permit such a settlement to be made in her
East Indian possessions, they turned their attention to America.
Amon> other portions of this continent at first favorably
thought of, was Texas. But after obtaining all the information
that could be gathered, relating to its geography ana climate,
it was decided to be too warm. Missoiri was also had in view,
but the existence of slavery there forbade its choice as a loca-
tion. Finally Iowa, then the youngest sister in the family of
states, was chosen as the land of refuge.
Nothing more now remained but to enlist the interests of a
sufficient number of others to form a colony self-sustaining in
its corporation. The first meeting for this purpose was held in
Leersdam, July, 1846; the second at Utrecht in December of
the same year. At the latter meeting an organization was
effected, Henry P. Scholte being elected President, A. J.
Betten, Vice President, and Isaac Overcamp, Secretary. A
board or committee was also appointed, whose duties were to
receive members on certain conditions; regulate the supplies of
provisions; and arrange for means of transportation. This
board consisted of G. H. Overcamp, G. F. Cecaque, John
Reedfelt, and A. "Wigny. One among the conditions on which
an individual could become a member of the association, w^s
that he must be a sober, industrious, moral person. It was not
strictly required that he should be religious, but that he should
not be an atheist or an infidel, and should entertain a proper
.1
/
\
160 Pione$r8 of Marion Cotmty.
r
respect for the religious opinions of the majority. Eoman
CatholiciS were also entirely excluded from becoming members
of the association. Another important condition was that all.
members who could command the means should take charge of
/one or more worthy persons or families who desired to go, but
were too poor to pay their own way.
By the spring following (1847) the members of the associa-
tion numbered about 1300, and between 700 and 800 were
prepared to go. Four sail vessels were chartered to carry them
to Baltimore, and in the early part of April three of them
sailed from Rotterdam, and one from Amsterdam. It took
about fifty days, more or less, to make the passage, arriving at
Baltimore in the early part of June, where they were soon
joined by Mr. Scholte, who, with his family, had came by
steamer. During the voyage nine deaths and three births
occurred.
Their conveyances from thence as far as Pittsburgh, were
canal boats and rail cars, and from Pittsbui^h to St Louis
they came by steamers, * where tliey arrived in July. Here
they were received by E. F. Grafe, a German, who had been
for some time a resident of St. Louis, and had been apprised
of their coming out here. It was necessary that they should
sojourn for a few weeks to make certain preparations for the
remaining portion of the journey, and for final settlement. A
temporary shelter was prepared for their accommodation a little
without the city limits, where they remained till the latter part
of August.
Now, like the children of Israel, on their approach to the
promised land, they found it advisable to send forward spies to
spy out the land. To this duty were appointed Henry P.
Scholte, Isaac Overcamp and John Eeedfeldt. They were not
in any sense of the term spies, their object being to seek out
a suitable location for the colony somewhere within the limits
of Iowa, the State they had chosen as the land of their adop
'I
/
Township Histories. 161
tiou, and that with not only the full conseut, but with the best
wishes of the natives.
On reaching Fairfield the committee met with Rev. M. J.
Post, whose duties as a minister of the Gospel, and also as a
mail carrier, had taken him through the frontier as far as Fort
Des Moines, and made him acquainted with many of the set-
tlers along the Des Moines River. Mr. Post recommended
the beautiful prairie lying between the Des Moines and Skunk
rivers in Marion couaty as a suitable location for a colony, ^d
piloted the commissioners to the place. They were very much
pleased with it, and immediately set about making such pre-
liminary arrangements as they could make, necessary to a per-
manent settlement. Mr. Scholte, as treasurer and agent of the
colonists, purchased the claims ot such of the settlers as resided
within the limits of the two townships designed to be appro-
priated to the use of the colony, together with such live stock
and farming utensils as were deemed indispensable to farming.
On their return to St. Louis a company of mechanics were
sent forward with tools and means for procuring materials to
j?ut up temporary shelters for the accommodation of the main
body of the immigrants, on their arrival. One large shed was
erected near what is now the western limit of the city of Pella,
in which a large number of families took shelter till they could
improvise such other accommodations as they could for their
better comfort, individually. Many of the famillies took up
their abode in the cabins recently occupied by those who had
sold their claims and moved away; while others built them-
selves honses of the tough sod of the prairie, roofed with the
long grass that grew abundantly in the sloughs. In order to
afford as much room as possible within these necessarily small
structures, a cellar-like excavation was first made in the earth,
around which was built a sod wall of two or three feet in height,
over which was spread the grass roof on a light frame of sticks.
11
\t
V
162 Pioneers of Marion CovMy.
In somei instances the walls were even less than two feet high
and the roof reached nearly to the ground.
These ciirious looking huts were scattered promiscuously-
over and around where Pella now stands, the owners having^
temporarily settled down at such places as suited their own
convenience, giving the town an irregularity and cmdenes8
singular to behold in a civilized and Christian land. Mr.
Seholte occupied the cabin built by Thomas Tuttle as a claim
pen^that stood for several years in what is now Garden Square,
(see Chapter V), till his more substantial and comparatively
princely residence was completed.
In such houses as we have described, some of the Hollanders
passed two winters. Though sufficiently close and deep to
keep out the cold, it may be supposed that they were not
entirely proof against the damp of a wet season. The grass
roofs would leak, the walls would crumble, and the water woi^Jd
rise up through the floors and make it necessary to bail out or
move. I am told that one family, on getting up in the morn-
ing, found their room half full of water.
And another annoyance connected with these earthy habita-*
tions was the prevalence of snakes. Attracted by the heat, or
by the smell of food, they would creep into the walls and roofs,
and sometimes fall inside. Not unfrequently one of these
sneaking, hateful representatives of Satan, regardless of conse-
quences, would drop himself down the sod chimney into the fire-
place, and (as happened in a few instances) into the soup that
was being cooked to make the most, if not the only article of
food few the meal. Snakes are not numerous in Holland, and
were, of course, not much admired, even as an article of food,
by the newly imported natives of that country; and it is, there-
fore, not surprising if such an addition to the ingredients of
the soup aroused a feeling of disgust not calculated to sharpen
the appetite.
We may here relate an anecdote connected with sod house
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Township Histories. 163
life in the colony, which, though not a snake story, will be
found of equally startling interest. One night some cattle
happened to be grazing in the neighborhood of one of these
houses, and it also happened that, as the grazing was not
abundant, one of the oxen went prospecting about tor somcr
thing better. Seeing the house he evidently mistook it for a
small haystack, and " went for it." Finding the coarse, dry
grass not so very good, he got upon it with his fore feet in
search of better feed, when the weak structure gave way
beneath his weight, and let him plunge headlong into the
regions below. The family were asleep till the crash came
and awakened them to a bewildered consciousness of some
awful calamity befalling them, and their exclamations of fright
added terror to the already terrified beast, and he made his exit
by the door with all practicable speed, probably resolving, ox
fashion, for ever more to keep clear of such haystacks. Fortu-
nately no one was hurt, and no serious damage was done,
except to the house.
Soon after the settlement of the colony it was found neces-
sary to organize some kind of government for judicial pur-
poses, in accordance with the State and general government.
jJBut few of the Hollanders could speak or understand English,
and it was therefore indispensable that at least a majority of the
township oflBcers should be chosen from among them. So to
enable them to do so, the General Assembly was appealed to,
who passed a special act organizing the township of Lake
Prairie, and enabling the colonists to elect their own officers,
so soon as they should take the oath of allegiance, indicating
their intention of becoming citizens of the United States.
Immediately following this, L. W. Babbitt, clerk of the Dis-
trict Court, administered the required oath, and on the day
specified for an election, the following officers were chosen:
Robert Hamilton, A. J. Betton, and P. Weller, Trustees;
G.T.Clark and H. P. Scholte, Justices; James Muntingh,
/
I.
164: Pioneers of Mariooi County.
Clerk; and Levi Nossaman, one of the Constables, the other
not being remembered. The assessing was done by W. Nossa-
man, then acting as deputy Sheriff.
Pella was originally surveyed by Stanford Doud, in 1848,
from the 8th to the 15th of May inclusive, on the north half
of section 10^ and on the south half of the south half of sec-
tion 3, township 76, range 19. It was re-surveyed in 1849,
by demons, when the plat was greatly enlarged to
accommodate an addition of several hundred that arrived that
summer and autumn. The name of Pella was suggested by
Mr. Scholte, from the signification of the term in the Hebrew,
a dty of refuge^ and was the name of a small town in Pales-
tine.
The Church, though retaining the confession of faith of the
Reformed Church of Holland, was organized as the Christian
Church of Pella, and admitted persons of all other orthodox
denominations to communion with them. It is still, however,
known as the Reformed Church, and has a numerous mem-
bership.
The first house of entertainment in Pella was kept by Mrs.
Post, widow of M. J. Post, who had died April 2d, 1848.
The first postoffice was the one that was originally established
on Lake Prairie, and moved to Pella in 1848, and Henry P.
Scholte installed as P. M The first persons who sold goods
in Pella were Walters & Smink, in a small building about a
mile west of where the center of the town now is. As long
as this was the only mercantile house there was no competition
in tra.de, and the proprietors were often complained of —
perhaps justly, — for selling goods at too high figures. When
spoken to on the subject, Mr. Walters would reply, " Go to my
neighbor." Soon after this E. F. Grafe opened an establish-
ment near where Keahle's dreg store now is; and then Mr.
Walters was not so ready to recommend his "neighbor" to
aggrieved customers.
Township Histories. 165
Amsterdam, situated on the Des Moines river, on and near
the npper end of Lake Prairie, was laid out by Stanford Doud,
by order of H. P. Scholte, from May 15th to the 30th, on
section 20, township 76, range 18. The place improved but
little, and has no postofBce. Brick and lime are manufactured
in its vicinity.
Leersdam was laid out by Kline, Vandemyer & Co., in
1860, on section 23. It exists only in name. H. 'W. Dyer,
surveyor.
After having witnessed the growth and prosperity of the
colony, the successful termination of an enterprise that had
been dear to the leader from the time it was conceived, the
great object of his life seemed to have been fulfilled. After a
short illness that seemed to be the culmination of a chronic
indisposition, Mr. Scholte departed this life on the 25th of
August, 1868.
Population by the U. S. Census of 1870:
Native 3066
Foreign 1892
Total 4958
f '
166 ^ Pioneers of Marion Gotmty,
CHAPTER YII.
I^ed Rock Township — lis Geography and Early History —
John D> Bedell — Red Rock Village — The ilood of '51.
Eed Eock township consists of all of town. 77, range 20,
north of the Des Moines river. It is bounded on the north bv
Jasper county; on the east by Summit; on the south by Union,
with the Des Moines river as its boundary line ; and on the
west by Perry. Most of the township is well timbered, though
in the northern part, approaching the upland prairie, the timber
scatters into separate groves, that margin the small streams.
The principal streams that course through it, running south-
ward, are Calhoun and Miksell's^ creeks, each large enough
to afford saw mill water power three or four months of the
year. Coal exists in many places, but has not been so exten-
sively mined as in some other parts of the county, fuel being
abundant and coal market rather distant.
Red Rock township, as first organized, January 6th, '47,
included, besides its present territory, all of town. 77, range 19
(Summit) ; all of of town. 76, range 19, north of the river (now
a part of Polk) and all of town. 77^ range 20, south of the river
(now belonging to Union). The place of holding elections was
at the house of Benjamin Bowman. Only a part of the terri-
tory that is now known as Summit; all of Polk north of the
river; and so much of the present township of Red Rock as
lies east of what was known as the "old Indian boundary line,"
a short distance west of the present site of Red Rock village,
first belonged to what was called "Red Rock precinct;" and
the remainder of the township, lying on the west side of said
*MikBen's creek is oaUed "Spor's timber" on the map.
Township JETistories,
167
line, including all of the present township of Perry, belonged
to "Gopher Prairie" precinct.
On the 8th of Jannary, 1850, the township was extended so
as to include sections 1, 2, 3, 4, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 21,
22, 23, 24 of town. 76, range. 20. This took the remainder of
the present township of Union, and one tier of sections now
•belonging to Knoxville; but by the organization of Union* and
Summit in '60 and '52 the township was reduced to its present
size and shape.
We have been unable to obtain a full list of the officers
elected in this township, both before and after its township
organization ; but we have the name of Eobert D. Russell as
justice of the peace, and John Tollman as constable, as early
as '45. John D. Bedell was first iustice after its organiza-
tion.
With Mr. Bedell's settlement in Red Rock begins the history
of the township and village; and we shall therefore introduce
the history by a brief sketch of his life up to the time of its
location :
Mr. B. was born in Bath county, Kentucky, September 25th,
1817; from whence he emigrated to Montgomery county, Mis-
souri, in the fall of '28; from thence to Clark county, same
State, in the fall of '30, and from thence to Van Buren county,
Iowa, in the fall of '42, and made a claim near the present site
of Farmington, and erected a cabin. Two weeks after making
this claim he sold it and returned to Missouri. But early in
the spring of '48 he returned to Iowa, and at lowaville met and
formed the acquaintance of a Frenchman named Lewis Leplant,
who could converse in the Indian language, with whom he
formed a sort of co-partnership in an expedition into the new
purchase in quest of a location for a settlement.
He then went to Agency, and applied to Captain Allen, who
had command of the post there, for permission to pass the line.
But the captain refused, adding that he had no authority to
168
Pioneers of Marion County,
grant such a privilege, but that he could take it at his pwn risk,
only being careful to avoid discovery by the dragoons who
sometimes amused themselves by persecuting whites who
could show no legal authority for their presence in the terri-
tory.
Mr. B. and his companion thereupon concluded to risk the
dangers of the adventure, and, being lightly equipped, they set
out on foot. This was in March, and during the journey up
the Des Moines valley, following an Indian trail, a heavy snow
fell, covering the earth to the depth of nearly three feet, and
rendering their progress slow and tc»ilsome. After several days
travel, attended with no little hardship, the last one of their
journey up closed as they reached Miksell's creek, near where
the bridge crosses it about half a mile east of the village of Red
Rock.
It was already dark when they reached this place, and here
they concluded to make the best preparations they could for
spending the night. Having cleared away the brush and
snow, they were in the act of kindling a fire, when Leplant
discovered a light about in the direction of the bluff that
encloses the village. Though greatly fatigued and chilled,
they deemed it best to reach this light, hoping to find more
companionship and a better shelter.
On reaching it they found a party of Indians on their way to
Hardfish, (so named from the well known chief) where was a
trading post, but who had been compelled by the deep snow to
stop there. But the suffering condition of the two travelers
rendered them less choice of companions and accommodations
than they might have been under other circumstances, and
eagerly asked for shelter, and their request was readily granted.
After partaking of the no way sumptuous fare of their dusky
entertainers, they retired to the wickeup, rolled themselves in
their own blankets, and enjoyed a comparatively refreshing
sleep.
Township Histories, 169
Next morning, before the Indians resumed their journey, the
chief of the party piloted their guests to the river, for then the
town plat of Red Rock was covered by a heavy growth of tim-
ber, so that the stream was not visible from the camp.
On taking what may be deemed an off-hand survey of the
locality, Mr. Bedell thought the beautiful flat, partly walled up
as it was by hills, would make a good sight for a trading house
and a town. So he immediately decided to locate there so
soon as it should be practicable to do so, and in order to effect
a sort of preliminary establishment of his claim, he " blazed"
a tree that stood on the bank of the river a short distance below
where his store now is, and from thence blazed a line north-
ward, taking in not only the whole town plat, but a considerable
tract of land besides.
This done, he and Leplant returned to Missouri for provis-
ions. These they brought on horseback, arriving about the last
of April, 1843. On the first of May a house was built. It
was a light pole cabin, fourteen feet square, covered with bark,
and stood about twenty steps from the river bank, near where
stands the old frame building built and formerly owned by
James Harp. Their only assistant at the raising was John
Jordan, who, as we have heretofore stated, kept a trading
house on the other side of the river, and they finished the build-
ing ready tor occupation by three o'clock in the afternoon.
About two weeks after this Mr. Bedel, in company with John
Jordan, went tc» Keokuk and purchased a keel boat and loaded
it at Alexander with about ten tuns of such merchandise as
was needed to stock a frontier trading house, and hired it
pushed up the Des Moines to their settlement.
The first ])erson that succeeded Mr. Bedel as a settler there,
was Amos Shaw. He built a cabin in which he also traded
till he died, some time in 1845 or '46. In the spring of 1844,
Ray Alfrey and wife moved in and occupied the cabin of Mr.
Bedel, he boarding with them. During their residence here of
170 Pioneers of Marion County.
two or three years, a feeling of jealousy on the part of Mrs.
Alfrey, in consequence of the inconstancy of her husband,
resulted in the first divorcie case in the county. The case was
successfully conducted by J. W. Alley. Mr. Alfrey bad left
the country at about the time the Indians did, and returned to
find himself a "grass widower," when he soon disappeared the
second time, and his whereabouts is not known.
Mr. Bedel kept trading house for two years, and also culti-
vated about ten acres of corn on the present site of the village,
having previously deadened the timber. In August, 1845, he
got it surveyed into town lots, and called it Eed Eock, from the
near locality of the lofty clifiB of red sand stone.* The
Indian name for the place was sic-ella-musk-a chees, (red stone.)
But as stone was not deemed a proper term by those who were
accustomed to apply rock to every thing of the kind from the
size of a pebble to a boulder, the new town was called Eed
Eock.
Those who became citizens of the place immediately after it
had thus assumed its existence as a village, were James Harp
and E. BL. Baker. Mr Harp built the first cabin after the town
was laid out. It stood a few rods from the river bank, and
contained two rooms, one of which was occupied by E. H.
Baker as a store room, and the other by Mr. H. himself, as a
sort of " bachelor's hall." Baker remained here till he went to
Burlington; from thence he moved to Prairie City; and is at
present at Colfax station, in Jasper county. A more extended
*Tliese stones are of the consistency capable of being drpssed into any sbape,
and will harden after being exposed to the air, This proves it to be valuable as
ornamental building stone; and, but for the lack of means of transportation, it
would undoubtedly become an article of considerable trade.
Many years ago the writer saw the fleshless head and large horns of a deer
suspended between some stunted oedarsnearly half way down the perpendlc>
ular wall. The animal .had evidently plunged over the height to escape the
pursuing hunter, or may have been pushed over the precipice by another ani-
mal. There, beyond the reach of man or beast, the unfortunate animal had
died, rotted and fallen into the river, leaving the head to tell, without a date
the story of the fearfhl plunge.
Township Sistories. 171
notice of this eccentric character will be given in another
place.
Robert D. Russell, who was the first justice in the township?
Uved a short distance above the town plat, both before and
after it was surveyed. He was also postmaster for a short time
previous to that event, after which James Harp was appointed,
with Dr. Reuben Matthe>vs and G. N. Crum as his bondsmen.
Rev. M. J. Post, an early citizen of Pella, now deceased, carried
the first mail to this office, Irom Fairfield, by way of Agency,
Ottumwa, Eddyville; and from here to Fort Des Moines,
making the trip once a week.
The first physician resident of Red Rock was Reuben
Matthews, and 0. M. Gilky and J. W. McCuUy were the
next.
Iq '47 and '48 many additions were made to the population
of the village, and several frame and respectable log houses
were built, giving it a thriving appearance. Indeed, the pros-
pect seemed favorable ior its ultimate expansion into the pro-
portions of a city. Situated on a stream already navigable for
steamboats during high water, with the promise of being ren-
dered constantly so by the addition of dams and locks, and
surrounded by a rich farming country, rapidly increasing in
population, the citizens of Red Rock could justly anticipate a
prosperous future for their youns: city. In view of these natu-
ral advantages over any more inland locality, some effort was
made to get the county seat there; but all hope of success van-
ished with the sweeping flood of '51. This memorable event
occurred in June, a season unusual for such freshets, and the
people were not prepared for it. It had been raining for some
time and the water was high, but few expected the overflow
that took place during the night, when the people were uncon-
..scious of it till the alarm was given. Finding the lower rooms
of their houses deluged, and the water perceptibly growing
deeper and deeper, the excitement grew almost to a panic.
172
Pioneers of Marion County.
There was a general moving up stairs by all who had such
apartments to escape to, and confused cries for help came from
all quarters; and all the canoes and skiffs that could be brought
into service were manned for the rescue.
At this time Simpson B. Matthews lived in a hewed log
house, on the south side of the river, about half a mile above
town. During the night he was awakened by the sound of
rushing water in the vicinity, and hearing what appeared to be
cries of alarm, he quickly bounded out of bed, and to his
increased surprise and alarm found the water several inches
deep on the floor. Informing his wife what was taking place
he left the house and waded some distance down the river, to
where he hoped to make himself heard by the town people.
Here he mounted a pile of drift wood and called loudly for
help ; but such was the alarm and confusion in town that for a
long time his efforts to attract attention were unavailing.
Having at length succeeded, and obtained promise of help, he
returned to the house; and, by the way, found the water so
increased in depth that he reached it with some risk of his life.
After some delay, that in consequence of the perilous situation
of the family seemed an age to them, they were released.
Just opposite the town, and close upon the bank of the river
stood a house occupied by a iamily named Hall. One of the
children belonging to this family was seriously ill, and on the
day preceding the night of the flood Mrs. Chestnut, who still
lives in Eed Rock, went over to pass the night with the afflicted.
This was a doleful night in their experience. The family were
compelled to take an upper room, whilst the water rose rapidly
in the lower, nearly filling it. The child lay panting in the
agony of a near appi'oaching death, and was hourly, if not
momentarily, expected to expire. The heart-aching sadness-
produced by this solemn scene was rendered more intense by
the surrounding desolation without, the roar of the flood and
cries for help, distinctly heard from across the river. In addi-
Township Uistoriea. 173
tion to these causes of distress, another incident within doors
was calculated to excite apprehensions for the safety of the
hous^ The water had risen to such a depth in the lower story
as to float up the bedstead lately occupied by the dying child,
which, being tossed up and down by the undulations of the
swelling flood, struck against the upper floor with a heavy
thumping noise, peculiarly startling; and no one could restrain
a fear that the flood might reach a depth sufficient to float the
building, or throw it down. Of course a sleepless night was
passed, and when the more than welcome day at last dawned
help came, and they were all taken over the river. The sick
one was taken to a house near the sugar grove, north-east of
town, where it died soon after. Next day the abandoned house
fell.
During that night and the day following, most of the people
got out of town and prepared themselves for a temporary
stay on the bluffs. "With as much of their clothing as they
could secure undamaged by muddy water, and as was indis-
pensible to camp life, they spread their tents and proceeded to
make themselves as comfortable as circumstances would per-
mit, thinking that in a few days at most the water would abate
enough to permit them to return to their houses. But a few
days passed, and a few more, and yet the dry land did not
appear.
In the meantime many persons suflTered considerable loss in
the destruction of property. Hogs and cattle were drowned,
fences swept away, cornflelds, lately planted, were ruined by
the washing current, or covered by the debris of the flood.
At length, at the end of about two weeks, the water went
down, and there was apparent safety in returning to the town,
and soon the camp was gladly deserted. But the deposit of
mud in the houses rendered them unfit for occupation till they
were cleaned out, which occupied considerable time and labor,
and when this was done, and the citizens had fairly got settled
1
\
174 PioneeTB of Marion County.
indoors again, the relentless flood made a second raid upon the
devoted city, forcing them to take refuge on the bluff for nearly
^nother fortnight. ,
This second exile proved to be more distressing than the
first. The weather was inclement, damp and chilly, and pro-
visions scarce. Grist mills were inconvenient at best, and now
beyond reach on account of the flooded condition of the streams.
There was corn in the country, but how could it be rendered fit
for use ? Some relief* however, was found in a temporary
mill owned by David B. Worth, who then lived about two
miles north of town on MikselPs creek. This mill consisted
of a pair of small burrs, turned by hand. To this mill, unable
as it was to supply the demand, came people from all the sur-
rounding country, with grists of corn varying in size from
bushels to a peck, some begging the privilege of grinding a
peck, or even a smaller amount, to supply the urgent demands
of hunger. Coftee mills were also used to convert corn into
meal, and when the grain could not be ground it was made
into hominy.
But an end to these trials came at last. The water subsided
and returned to its proper channel, and people returned to their
homes and occupations, to recover, so far as possible, the dam-
ages they had sustained by loss of property and time. As has
been stated, the corn that had been planted on the bottom
lands was washed out or covered by mud. It was now appar-
ently too late in the season to replant; yet there was need to
do something in that direction, or suffer the total loss of a crop
more indispensable than any other in the country. It was even
so late as the fourth of July when some of this replanting was
done; yet the remainder of the season was favorable to its
growth in a soil already unsurpassed in fertility, and now pos-
sibly rendered more so by the sedimentary deposits of the flood,
that the corn grew and matured with surprising rapidity, and
well rewarded the faith and labor of the planter.
Tovmship Histories. 176
But there was a damage wrought by this flood that was irre-
parable to the village of Red Eock, to-wit: its reputation as a
Bate and therefore suitable place of business. All hope of
obtaining the seat of justice was swept away. And who cared
to purchase property subject, even at remote periods, to such
destructive inundations ?
Yet for a time one hope sustained the place, which was the
promised slack-water navigation. But this soon vanished, and
gave place to that of railroad connection, that was entertained
for several years with some apparent certainty, and finally
expired with the location of the Des Moines Valley Eoad up
the prairie. This was the last hope.
V
176 Pioneers of Marion County,
CHAPTER YIII.
Med Mock Township and Village^ continued — Drunken
Squaws — Pray or Treat — Schoolmaster in a Fix — A
Justices Bet — An Indian Voter — A Female Justice —
'• Old Blank^'^ and how he Lost his Nose — Stealing Honey
— Nearly a Fight — Shooting — A Narrow Escape from
Hanging — A Black Joke,
It is due to ourself to say that what has just been said, as
well as what shall be said hereafter, relating to the history of
Red Rock village, is not intended to be prejudicial to the
• interests of that place. For our own part we entertain the
kindest feelings and best wishes for the people. We simply
intend to be true to history, so far as we have been able to
obtain it; and if the " o'er true tale" reflects no glory upon its
subject, the fault is no more ours than was the calamity we
endeavored to give an account of in the preceding chapter.
To quote a phrase frequently used, we cannot afford to '^ spoil
a good story for relation's sake."
From first to last Red Rock possessed a notoriety not
enjoyed by any other village in the county. Situated on a
much frequented Indian trail, and at the border of the United
States territory, it early became a place of resoit for the
savages for the purpose of trading and obtaining whisky at
the trading houses. It is said that even the squaws would
some times come, obtain a supply of the bainful beverage, and
then lay about in a state of beastly intoxication, their infants
(those that had them) crying with starvation. In pity for
these suffering innocents, the sober squaws would feed them
with the soft pulp scraped from the inside of elm or linwood
bark, which they would devour with evident relish Some of
. ' . I. ■ • ,
/
Township Bistoriea. 177
these squaws appeared to be desperate tinder the influence of
liquor, and were tied to the fences to prevent them from run-
ning over the river bank.
The place also became the frequent rendezvous of the
rougher portion of the settlers, and others whose character
classed them with adventurers and desperadoes; and as a
natural result of such a fusion of spirits, inspired more or less
by the ardent, fights were of frequent occurrence. It is a fact-
worthy of note that Red Rock, though a comparative small
place, has been the scene of several assassinations, shooting
and stabbing affrays, and lawless carousals, the details of
which are not pertinent to this history. But for the sake of
more fully illustrating the moral status of her society at an
early date, we may relate a few anecdotes.
It is not to be supposed that the place was wholly destitute.
of moral influences. A few professors of religion lived there
and in the neighborhood, but their examples in righteous
living were either in a measure wanting on their part or
wholly disregarded by others.
On the occasion of religious services held in the village, by
an itinerant Methodist preacher, on his first round, it was a
question among the few brethren of the place who of them he
would be likely to call upon to pray in closing the meeting.
As the preacher was not personally acquainted with any of
them, there was no certainty to whom the request might be
directed; and, as praying was an exercise so little practised by
them, no one really desired a call to such a performance pub-
licly. Here, then, was a hazzard— something to bet on. So,
just before meeting, some of the brethren and others took coun-
sel together, and agreed that whoever should be called upon t6
pray, in case of failure to do so, should ^ay a gallon of whisky.
But fortunately for all, the preacher did his own praying,
thereby relieving some trembling brother from the conflicting
11
178 Pioneers of Marion Cov/nty.
emotions resulting from the danger of being compelled to make
an awkward, spiritless prayer, or pay the liquor.
Daniel Hiskey, now a citizen of Monroe, Jasper county,
taught the first school in Red Eock village, being in the Winter
of 1845-6. The school house was a small log cabin near the
river, and the number of scholars that attended was about
twenty from the village and surrounding country.
As it happened, Mr. D. was a temperance man — a teetoteler
— and about the only one in the community; and in such a
community it was not likely that he could enjoy his peculiar
notions undisturbed. It was determined, on the first favorable
occasion, to punish him for the heresy, or force him to recant.
So on the day before New Year he was invited to furnish two
gallons of whisky, and sugar to sweaten it, as a New Tear's
treat to the school. This he pointedly refused to do. But
early next day he saw that it was the purpose of others than
his " big scholars " to force him to a compliance, should he
still refuse. Two or three young men came in in the morning
who had not been there before, and took their places as scholars.
But no demonstrations were made till noon, when they repeated
the demand already made, which he as pointedly refused to
obey. Whereupon they attempted to seize him, intending as
they said, to " duck " him if he did not give up. But Mr.
Hiskey defiantly told them he would die first, and fled. But
there were others waiting to assist in the performance, and some
of these joined in the chase. There was a solid bridge of ice
on the river, and to this the pursued made his way with all his
speed, followed, at various distances, by quite a number of
noisy young men and boys. After an amusing chase up the
river, the game was overtaken and conveyed to a hole that had
been cut in the ice for that or some other purpose, and again
informed with apparent sincerity that if he did not treat he
should go under. But, though the prospect of a dip in the
cold current at that particular season, attended with some risk
I
Township Histories, 179
of being swept beneath the ice and eaten up by mud-turtles
and fish, was calculated to shake the resolution of any than a
truly brave heart, the heart of Mr. Hiskey failed not. Find
ing it impossible to frighten him into a compliance by threats
alone, they concluded to reduce the quantity of whisky and
sugar one-half, and try again. But in vain. The obstioate
teetoteler said " not a drop." At last, after some time spent in
fruitless efforts to bring him to something like a compromise,
if not a full concession, his persecutors became fully convinced
that his obstinacy was sustained by an unconquerable princi
pie. He was released and continued his school unmolested
thereafter.
As may be readily supposed, whether party spirit ran high
or low in local politics, an election could hardly be conducted
without more or less flowing of that other spirit called ardent.
It was calculated to create an interest among those who were
not much otherwise concerned about the civil government of
the township, an(f induce them to attend the election and per
form their duty as citizens endowed with the privilege of vot
ing.
An amusing instance of this came off at the first election held
at Eed Kock in the spring of '44. The polls was at Robert
D. Eussell's, and he was the candidate for justice. Many
people were present from all parts of the precinct, and the
voting was pretty lively, not a few of the voters receiving a
drink of whiskey apparently in exchange for their tickets,
which they handed through the open window of the cabin. An
Indian that happened to be present noticed this proceeding,
and thought it would be a nice plan for him to get a drink. So
he presented himself before one of the persons who distribu-
ted the tickets, with the request delivered in his best English:
" Me paper, me vote, get drink whis." His request was readily
granted, and forthwith he proceeded to vote. Amused at his
boldness in attempting to do so, and aware of his motive, those
f ■ ' ' ■ ,1
) . 1
I ,
180 Fioneere of Marion County.
who had charge of the ballots took his ticket and handed him a
small drink. Pleased with his success thus far, be thought the
plan worth repeating, and applied for another paper. It was
given him, either a ticket or some other paper that answered
the same purpose with him, and again he voted with like suc-
cess. Thus encouraged he continued to vote at intervals all
day, till he got as much of the election as he could carry. Of
course the tickets he handed in counted nothing for anybody
but himself.
In those days petty lawsuits were of common occurrence,
mostly connected with disputes about claims. Arbitration was
the only means of settling these disputes previous to the elec-
tion of any justice, and was sometimes resorted to afterwards ;
but eventually judgment was put in the hands of men duly
authorized by law to render it. We have upon record no
instances of claim suits worth mentioning, in addition to what
has already been related. 'Squire Eussell's court was fre-
quently resorted to for a just settlement of %ese disputes, —
though his administrations were not always the result of a clear
head and an intelligent, unbiased mind. It is said that he was
sometimes quite at a loss how to decide some cases of a com-
plicated character, and admitted the better judgment of his
wife by applying to her for an opinion, which frequently settled
the case. On one occasion Mrs. Russell displayed her ability
to administer justice in a summary manner. A claim case was
on hand, and one of the parties entered the court room drunk,
and manifested some disposition to quarrel with the mistress of
the house, when she settled his case by knocking him down
with a chair. The justice now looked up from his docket, and
seeing the prostrate disturber of the peace, uttered, in his pecu-
liar, low, gro ^ling tone, this sage advice, " By , Dick, let
the old woman alone."
Among the rougher class of settlers who frequented Eed
Rock during its early history, the most notorious were William
I
1
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\
> J
\
I
Township Histories. ISl
Blankenship, (more familiarly called " Old Blank,") and the
WilliamseB. Old Blank was a brother-in-law to the Wil-
liam ses. Of hi$ history, previous to coming to Marion
county, we know but little, except that he emigrated from
Illinois to the present site of Burlington, at a very early day,
and made a claim there. After getting into some difficulty
with the settlers there, and fighting his way through, as was
his custom, he came as far west as Fairfield and settled again.
Here, in a claim quarrel, he met with rather more than his
match. Having offered to fight his opponent a regular fisticuff
pitched battle for the claim, stipulating that whichever should
be the victor in the fight, should be the winner of the property,
the challenge was accepted. Old Blank had been successful
in so many contests that he scarcely expected to fail in this
one. But there are few men of such superior calibre, men-
tally or physically, that do not, at one time or another, meet
with some one a little better than themselves. In this case
our bully got to be the under dog in the fight, but would not
surrender till he had reason to consider himself .thoroughly
whipped, when he cried enough. And enough it was, for
when Blank got up, bleeding profusely, it was discovered that
a considerable slice had been taken from the side of his sharp,
thin nose. Instead of resenting the indignity he thus suffered
in the disfiguration of his face, he merely said to his opponent ^
" the claim is yours, sir," and went his way.
Mr. B. then came to Marion county and settled a short dis-
tance below Red Rock, where he lived till about '49 or '50,
when he went to California.
As he was a somewhat noted person in his semi-desperado
character, a few sketches of his transactions in the neighbor-
hood of Red Rock, may be proper here. ^
Shortly after his settlement on the Des Moines, and during
the period of hard times experienced by most of the early set-
tlers, Old Blank's family were reduced to the extreme pinch-
182 FioneeTB of Marion County.
ipgs of poverty, beinpj for some time without anything in the
character of breadstuffs, or, indeed, of any other kind of food
except slippery elm bark cut fine and fried with a little grease
Qf some kind.
After he had secured his claim, and had acquired some prop*
erty in the way of live stock, his hogs would stray away and
get across the river during a low stage of water. When winter
approached, and the owner needed to look after the wandering
swine and get them home, if the river happened to be swollen
he did not trouble himself to wait till it went down to a forda-
ble depth, or even to get a boat to cross in, but deliberately
stripped himself, tied his clothes on his head to keep them dry,
and swam over. When over and dressed he would run bare-
footed through the woods till he had found and collected all the
bogs he clain(ied ownership of, and then, with much effort,
would force them to swira-
]Petween Blank and a family named Johnson a feud existed,
originating from^the latter suing the former on an account of
^bout sixteen dollars. Blank refused to pay this sum, and his
horse was levied upon, after which he ''ponied" up and threat--
ened revenge* So one morning Johnson found his bee hives
robbed, his grindstoiie spoiled, and other property damaged.
Naturally suspecting Blank to be the perpetrator of this mis-
chief, he decided to have him arrested on suspicion. Accord-
ingly John W. Mikesell, who was then a constable, was sent for
him. Mr. M., in order to mak^ sure of his intended prisoner,
made bis visitation before daylight next mornings and found,
besides Blank himself, his brother-in-law, James M. Williams,
(more frequently known as "Mat") in bed. The constable took
an offered seat and entered into conversation upon topics for-
eign to that of his visit, in order to elude suspicion of its pbject.
At length he asked Blank what made the chair bottom so
sticky, and remarked that it felt and tasted like honey. Blank,
evidently thinking that the chair might have got smeared with
Township Hittories. 183
soiqe of the stolen sweetness, answered that he and Mat had
cut s splendid bee tree only night before last. This was bring-
ing matters to a crisis, and Mr. Miksell replied that it taBtc4J
very much like Johnson's honey; and also, inasmuch as ht
(Blank) was accused of having Btolen it, he had come, dnlj
armed by authority of law, to conduct him before a justice, tc
answer to the charge. The culprit agreed to this, and prom-
ised to appear, as specified; bnt gave due notice that should
Johnson appear against him he would kill him; and such wae
the fear inspired by his threats that Johnson let the matter go
by default, and Blank was acquitted.
On the occasion of a claim quarrel between Blank and this
same Mat they mutually agreed to tight it out iu the same
manner in which onr hero had lost a part of his nose, Mat first
giving the challenge. Like professed duelists, they appointed
the time and place for the combat, and invited two disinterested
persons to be present and see fair play. We have not the date
at which this interesting event was to transpire, but the place
designated was across the river, opposite Bed Eock, and the
persons invited to witness it were Tom and Sol Morgan, a
couple of gentlemen belonging to the same class of roughs.
The day on which the fight was to come off happened to be
very cold, and a fire was made in a log heap on the intended
battle ground. The river was frozen over hard enough for the
parties to cross on the ice. At the appointed time they met
equipped for the fight, that is, stripped nearly naked, their hair
shaved, their sides greased, and then- long finger nails pep-
pered. In this ridiculous plight they stood arouud the burning
log heap that was scarcely sufficient to shield their hare bodies
from the frosty breeze. Apparently one was afraid to begin,
and the other dare'not, and no amount of "sicking" on the part of
their friends could elicit more than sundry growls from the
naked bull dogs. At length the temperature of their blood
went 80 far blow fighting heat that the whole affair was merged
/
184 Pioneera of Marion County.
into a compromise in which Blank promised to pay a stipulated
sum for the disputed property. Then, like the fools they were
they put on their clothes and went home, having played a most
amusing farce at their own expense for the entertainment of
their friends.
By some who had the best of reasons for it, Blank was
believed to be a dangerous man. One or two performances of
his were suflBcient to prove such an opinion well founded, and
we will relate them : A claim dispute arose between him and
Elihu Alley, when the latter owned the saw mill on the river
above Red Rock. One day Alley was alone at the mill making
some repairs on the dam, wheh some noise on the bank
attracted his attention, at which he looked up and saw Blank
taking deliberate aim at him with his rifle. At that moment a
third person came in sight when the assassin postponed the
shooting and walked away without speaking. On being spoken
to about this affair soon afterwards he boldly stated that if Mr.
Alley had not looked up when he did, an instant later would
have been his last.
At another time, when Mr. Alley with his son Cyrus, and a
man named Evelyne, with whom he was in partnership, were
at work in the mill at night, they were several times fired upon
from the opposite side of the river, some of the bullets striking
so near them as to render it unsafe to remain.
It was well known that Blank was the perpetrator of this
deed, yet such was the fear of him by those most interested
in securing his arrest that he was not molested. And when
he took his departure for California the county deemed itself
happily rid of a troublesome fellow.
But whilst on the way across the plains Blank's propensity
for shooting was exercised to an extent that came very near
ridding the world of him altogether. Getting into a quarrel
with a man about some cattle. Blank used his revolver with
deadly effect, killing the man instantly. He was immediately
J
Township Histories, 185
t
arrested, tried, and sentenced to be hung, and even a wagon
tongue was elevated on which to execute the sentence. Here,
however, it was unfortunately thought proper to put him into
the hands of the Utah authorities for trial. This was accord-
ingly done, and he escaped justice altogether, aided, it is sup-
posed, by the power of money. He is now reported to be the
wealthy owner of real estate in California.
An amusing anecdote is still occasionally related of an indi-
vidual named Charley Hamlin, who, though not a settler,
was a frequent lounger about Eed Eock, drawn there as many
others were, by the social intercourse inspired by the love of
liquor. Charley had formerly been a candidate for the terri-
torial legislature, and had come very nearly being elected.
This to him was a matter worth boasting of, and when under
the influence of whisky he was disposed to make a show of
his vanity by bragging over his narrow defeat. But one day
he was made tho subject of a joke, by which his vanity was
considerably mortified for the time being. Having imbibed
pretty freely, he laid down to sleep, when some one smeared
the palms of his hands and his fingers with blacking — then
tickled his face with a straw. This would bring the blackened
palms in contact with the face with a slap and a rub that
imparted to it a portion of the coloring. The operation was
continued till the whole physiognomy of the sleeper was
changed from the ruddiness imparted by strong drink to a
beautiful glossy black. On waking his attention was called to
the change, and he repaired to a looking-glass to see for him-
self. Here, utterly ignorant of the cause, the surprised old
toper thus addressed himself: "Why, Charley Hamlin, you
came within two votes of going to the legislature, and now
here you are in Red Rock, a nigger."
186 Pioneers of Ma/rion Comity,
CHAPTER IX.
Red Rock Township continiced — Names of some of the
Early Settlers — John H, MikeselVs Indian Dress^ Decora-
tions^ (&G — Kishrke-hosh — Kis partiality for Clean Vic-
tuals — His Politeness — Feeding the Indians — Scooti!
Besides those already mentioned in connection with the his-
tory of Eed Eock village, we note the names of John H.
Mikesell, Joel and David B. Worth, James Scott, Israel Nich-
ols, William Williams with his sons, John, George, Joshua
and James M. ; John W. and Eliha Alley, Olaiborn Hall, S.
B. Matthews, Nathan Tallman and Druillard Shoemaker, as a
few of the early settlers in the township. Only a few of them
are still residents of the comity, and we shall gi^'e such notice
of them, individaally, as we have been able to obtain.
John H. Mikesell was born in Franklin county, Va., June
£Yth, 1802. In 1804 his parents moved to Montgomery county,
Ohio, and in '25 to Franklin county, Ind., where they resided
three years, and then returned to Montgomery county, Ohio.
From thence Mr, M. moved to St. Joe county, Ind., in '35, and
from thence to Iowa in '42, landing in the territory on the 18th
of October, and took a winter lease at the forks of Skunk river,
about ten miles from Brighton, Van Buren county, paying for
it by building a cabin on the land.
That winter was one of considerable severity, on account of
the great depth of snow, and the family lived mostly on " hog
and hominy," together with the milk of one cow that, with her
calf, shared the little cabin with them during the coldest
weather.
On the 28th of April, '43, Mr. Mikesell and two of his old
est boys, set out for the " New Purchase," intending to make
I
Township Histories. 187
p claim and prepare a place for the family, previous to moving.
But their progress was interrupted by high waters, so that they
did not reach their destination till about the 7th or 8th of May.
This was in section 26, about a mile north-east of the present
site of Ked Rock village. Here he selected a claim, and then
returned for the renxainder of the family, leaving the boys and
a man named Thomas Martin, who had come with them, to
hold the claim and build a house.
No great amount of labor was required to build such a house.
It consisted of light logs or poles put up in the shape of a shed,
with an open front and a bark roof sloped but one way. By
some this temporary sort of structure was called a cat-faced or
half-faced camp, or by the Indian term, wicJcewp. This house
stood a^ the foot of the hill on which stands the more commo-
dious brick dwelling erected by Mr. M. many years after.
On the 29th of the month he arrived with the family and
took possession of their new home, and occupied the shanty
most of the summer, or till another log cabin containing two
rooms, was built on the site of the present house.
During the first two years of Mr. Mikesell's pioneer life he
was engaged principijly in trading with the Indians. Since
then he has resided constantly on his farm, or till soon after
the death of his wife, which occured very suddenly on the
night of the 23d of March, 1869, after which he went to the
village.
Through the intercourse of trade Mr. Mikesell became quite
intimate with the Indians, and from him we have a number of
incidents illustrating the character of this peculiar people, their
manners, customs, etc.
The rude life led by these savages is, perhaps, already so
well known that any additional description of it might be con-
sidered superfluous m a local history; yet we venture to insert
a few items that seem sufficiently interesting for preservation
even here.
188 PioneeTB of Marion Covmty.
The dress of these people — particularly of the men — was
about as scant during* summer as decency would admit of, con'
sisting of a breech cloth about the middle and a pair of mocca-
sins on their feet. In cold weather they added leggings, a
shirt, and a blanket. Ornaments, consisting of beads and rings,
were quite popular with the men, and especially with the chiefs
and others who could afford them*. Some of the chiefs had
their ears quite covered with rings, and sometimes are suspended
to the nose. Profuse quantities of. various colored beads were
strung about their necks, some strans descending quite low on
the breast. Their moccasins were also frequently decorated
with these gewgaws. They were supposed to denote the rank
of the wearer — ^the more rings and beads the bigger Indian.
They had also a feminine fancy for feathers and paint, and
would — though only on special occasions— decorate their top-
knots with long feathers plucked from the tail or wing of fowls,
and smear their faces with lines of red and black painty giving
them at once a most hideous and comical aspect. From this
brief description the reader may draW, in his imagination, a
full fledged warrior chief.
Unlike their white sisters, the squaws were not so much
given to those decorations; but their bodies were at all times
better covered than those of their masters. But even this was
scant enough for female apparel, consisting mostly of a piece
of blue cloth bound about the waist, descending to a little
below the knees, and something like a sacque or shirt to cover
the chest. They seldom had any covering for their heads-
And even of this cheap and simple wardrobe they did not often
have a change, unless they happened to be the wives or daugh-
ters of a chief or other wealthy brave.
As lor their children, both sexes were permitted to go totally
naked, with the exception of moccasins and leggins to protect
them ffcom snakes, till they were old enough for decency to
dema: .^e bi!»© kiJ^d of covering for them.
\
f
Township Ilistories,
189
The boys were, each supplied with a bow and arrow so soon
as they were old enough to learn the use of it, and that became
the principal part of his education. They were apt scholars,
and young as they were, their expertness in marksmanship was
a matter of wonder to those unskilled in the art. On one oc9a-
sion a party of Indians were camped near Red Eock, and it
was amusing to witness those naked young ones, bow and
arrow in hand, wading about in the river, searching for fish
and turtles. On discovering the game they were almost sure
to put ^n arrow into it, notwithstanding the well known diffi-^
culty of hittinfij a mark under water.
In diet the Indians were about as crude as they were in dress,
and by no means fastidious as to cleanliness, except in rare
cases where intercourse with the whites had begotten in them
some regard in this respect. An anecdote of the noted chief
George Washington Kish-ke-kosh, will illustrate this state-
ment :
Kish was a sub chief, and had accompanied Black Hawk as
one of his suit of braves during the tour of that renowned
chief through the east as prisoner of war. With his leader he
had been hospitably entertained at hotels and other places, and
had conceived a high appreciation for the sumptuous and
cleanly looking fare that was set before them. How he was
enabled, after such an experience, to return with a good stom-
ache to the frugal diet and indifterent cooking of his own peo-
ple, we are left to conjecture. At all events he retained his
partiality for clean victuals, and was even over fastidious in
this respect, as the following instance will show:
One night he, with his company of three or four braves,
slept at the hc»use of a white man with whom he was on
very friendly terms, and were to remain for breakfast. Kish had
an eye on the preparations for this meal, and observed one
neglect that his tender stomach rebelled against. The lady of
the house — perhaps she did it intentionally, for sh^,, ^not
a
■ I
-J
>hA
l^
4 1
M
190 Pione&i'B of Marion County,
willing entertainer of h^r savage guests — neglected to wash
her hands before making up the bread. Kish thought he
would rather do without his breakfast than eat after such cook-
ing, and privately signified as much to his followers, where-
upon they mounted their ponies and left, much to the relief of
their hostess. Arriving at Joel Worth's, almost a mile and a
half from where they had lodged, they got breakfast and
related the circumstance.
Yet these people, though generally accustomed to the poorest
fare, were not averse to the best that could be provided, and
made themselves gluttons whenever they could get enough of
it. Like the wolf, they seemed capable of enduring a long
fast, and then of gorging themselves to very stupidity at a
sumptuous feast.
On one occasion this same George Washington Kish-ke-kosh
and his suit, consisting of several prominent personages of the
tribe, being then encamped on Skunk river, came over to Mr.
Mikesell on a friendly visit, and he treated them to a feast.
Besides Kish and his wife, this party consisted of his
mother; Wykoma, son of Wappelo, and his two wives;* Masha
Wapetine and his wife, and all their children. The old woman,
on being asked by Mrs. M., how old she was, replied: "Mack-
ware-renaak-we-kauk," (maybe a hundred); and indeed, her
bowed form and.hidiously shriveled features would justify the
belief that she was even that old. Kish's wife was a person
of ladylike appearance, and so were the two pretty young
wives of Wykoma, though they were somewhat under medium
size, and were also sisters. They were all dressed in a rather
more than usually becoming style, perhaps out of respect for
their host and his family.
♦Poligamy was not an uncommon practice among these people. It Is related
that the chief, Pasishamone, during the encampment of his tribe near Bed
Rock, married a second wife to supply the place of the other, who was disabled
by a snake bite.
i
T&WTiahip Hietoriea. 11
Mr. Mikesell, knowing something of the voracious appeti
of hia viBitorB, had made ample preparationB for them.
When ths tahle waB sarroaaded, XiBh, who had learned soi
good manners as well aa acquired a taste for cleanlioesB, esBay.
to perform the etiqnette of the occasion before eating anythii
himself. "With an amusingly awkward imitation of what
had seen done among the whites, he passed the various dish
to the others, showing the ladies special attention, and help
them to a part of everything on the table with much appare
disinterested consideration.
But when Kish came to help himself hiB politeness assum
the Indian phase altogether. He ate like a hungry person wi
a bottomless stomach, taking in everything in his reach, wil
out regard to what should come first or last in the course
dessert, so he liked the taste of it. At length, after havi]
drank five or six cups of coffee, and eaten a proportion!
amount of Bolid foods, his energy in the gastilary exerci
began to slacken. Seeing this, Mr. Mikesell approached h
and, with apparent concern for his want of appetite, sa
' Why, Kish, do eat your dinner I Have another cup of cofi
and eat something." In his reply to this urgent appeal, Kis
Indian politeness was again dominant. Loaning back on ]
seat, he lazily shook his head, drew his finger across his thn
under his chin, to indicate how full he was ; and then, in furtl
explanation of bis satisfied condition, he opened his capacio
mouth and thrust his finger down bis throat as far as he dar
as much as to say ha could almost touch the victuals,
cdurse the others had each eaten a like proportion, making I
most of what they did not get every day.
Another story of Indian gluttony deserves relating, thon
it occurred several years later than the period this history
intended to treat of.
A party of them numbering about fifteen or twenty m
made their appearance in Eed Rock, stating that they \
192 PioneetB of Marion County,
been for some time camped on Skunk river, were out of pro-
visions, in a state of starvation, and signified their intention of
remaining a while in town to be gratuitously fed by the
people. This was a contingency unlooked for, and by no
means pleasant to contemplate, as nobody liked to take the
dirty, unmannerly creatures into their houses. However, as
they were not to be put off without more trouble than the
people cared to risk, something had to be done for their
accommodation. So they concluded to engage some one to
supply them with one meal per day each, at fifteen cents per-
meal, and put the money into the hands of the Indians to pay
their own fare. Mr. David B. Worth, who then kept a hotel
in town, took upon himself the task oi supplying the required
food. And a task it was soon found to be. Mrs. W., not
being acquainted with the surfeiting propensity of these
human-shaped animals, furnished the table with the usual
quantity and variety for common boarders, at the first meal.
At the proper signal the long table was closely surrounded by
the swarthy crowd, who fell to like famishing wild beasts
and in an astonishingly short time, to the consternation and
. amazement of the hostess, swept the board of everything but
the dishes. It was replenished again, and then again for the
third time, before full satisfaction was attained; and this was
when they were so full that they appeared in danger of
choking, and would stroke their hands over their necks and
breasts as if to press down the rising gorge. Then they
would all move lazily away and stretch themselves in some
sunny place, where they would remain almost motionless till
the shades of evening would admonish them to seek shelter
for the night.
This was repeated three or four days, every morning the
Indians being on hand with appetites as keen as ever for the
stipulated breakfast. Among other things they had a good
relish for coffee, and of this they drank, at each meal, the
I
i
K ^.i-'^
Township Sistories,
193
three fillings of the largest kind of a boiler used for the pur-
pose of making coffee at a hoteL
They used very little ceremony at the table, every fellow
helping himself to what he liked best. One of them observ-
ing a glass dish containing some kind of fruit sauce, took a
taste of it on the point of his knife. Finding it quite to his
liking, he reached over, grasped the dish, emptied the whole
of its contents upon his own plate, and then gobbled it up as
any one might have done a dish of soup.
But to their credit we must say there was one redeeming
circumstance connected with the affair: they all paid up
promptly at the conclusion of each meal, the leader not per-
mitting one of ttem to leave the table till each had paid his
fifteen cents, not a cent more nor less.
In spite of this, however, the expense of feeding such a pack
of wolves was deemed too unprofitable to be made a business
of, and after two or three days' trial was abandoned. The
Indians were very much displeased at their dismissal, but went
their way without giving any trouble.
We can scarcely afford to close this chapter without giving
one more anecdote, which, though rather foreign to the main
subject, shows the simplicity of the Indians, and the disposition
of some of the whites to annoy them :
As we have seen, companies of them were in the habit of
stopping at Mikesell's, where they would sometimes remain
for a day or two, trading, drinking, feasting, or whatever else
their lazy habits prompted them to do. At one time one of
these wandering parties, composed of two or three families,
were camped near the house and cooking a large kettle of soup
for supper. One of the Mikesell boys, who entertained no
special friendship for these visitors, conceived the idea of per-
petrating a joke on them by seasoning their soup. So, unob-
served by them, he deposited in the kettle a large handful of
pulverized red pepper, and stirred it well in. When the time
12
/
' r".
■ - m
••• - M
l''T
~" --lit' il ' ■
194 Pioneers of Ma/rion Cownty.
came to eat the soap was ladled oat into wooden bowls and
distributed around. The first fellow that swallowed a mouthful
of it rolled up his eyes, opened his mouth, and began to pant
with evident agony; but not experiencing any relief from this,
he suddenly jumped up, ran some distance, threw himself on
the ground, crying "scooti! scootil scooti!" that is "fire I fire!
fire!" at the highest key. The same symptoms were soon
experienced by several more, who performed the same kind of
antics, rolling and tumbling about in the most frantic manner;
and the camp was filled with the alarm of fire. So soon as
they had suflSciently recovered from the paroxysm to give an
intelligible reason for it, they said the soup was poisoned, and
their children would starve; but they were soon assured that
the soup was only peppered, and materials were supplied them
for another mess, that proved all right, after being cautiously
tasted of previously to being eaten.
Township HutQries. 195
CHAPTEE X.
Red Mock Township continued — ConJUct About a Stolen
Saddle — Oornhative Squaws — A Skirmish.
It is well known by those acquainted with the Indians that
they were not generally noted for honesty, and that one of their
prevailing vices was theft. This vice, however, was principally
confined to the poorer classes, and was not only refrained from,
but strongly condemned by the chiefs. These big Indians were
mostly too wealthy to render it necessary for them to steal ;
besides, they had too high a regard for their dignified position
in life to stoop to an act so unworthy.
On one occasion Mr. Mikesell traded with an Indian for a
saddle.* He had been engaged with them most of the night,
and towards morning put the saddle under his bed and laid
down to get some sleep, telling his wife to take notice whether
the Indians, who were still prowling about, would take any
thing from the house. Just about daylight he heard the saddle
dragged from under the bed, and immediately got up to follow
it. On going to the door he saw three Indians, each of them
with a pony, one of whom had the saddle which he was just in
the act of putting on the animal. Now, if he meant to recover it,
there was no time to spare for deciding what might be the best plan
* An Indian saddle was a very simple contrivance. The ftont was a wooden
fork so carved out as to fit weU astride the horse's back, and from each prong of
this fork was fixed a flat strip of wood of safficient length, extending backwards
along the side of the ridge. Then to the back ends of these strips was attached
another of suflQlcient breadth, extending over and across the ridge edgewise, or
with a sufficient slant to iorm the back part of the saddle. Over this frame was
drawn a covering of raw hide, stretched and sewed so tightly with deer sinews
that it kept its shape firmly. Then other skins conld be added to render them
soft and easy both for horse and rider. It was the business of the squaws to
make these saddles.
196
Pioneers of Marion County.
to take for that purpose; but Mr. M. ran hastily down to where
theiy were, and peremptorily demanded the property. But the
thief had seen his approach, and had mounted his pony before
his pursuer reached him, and had already started away when Mr.
M.had just time to catch a firm hold upon the pony's tail. Seeing
this apparently futile attempt to detain him, the rider yelled a
laugh of ridicule and defiance, and lashed the animal into a
plunging gallop. The scene was both exciting and amusing. Up,
up the hill they went, where the road now ascends it in front of
the house, with a plunge that showed that the little animal felt
the weight of his appendage in the rear, but lashed to a speed
that rendered it difficult for the latter to keep step, even with
the long quick strides he made, his feet flying up and down
with a most comical nimbleness. It was his intention to pull
the pony against a tree close by, which they had to pass, and
thus unhorse both rider and saddle; but the speed was too
great to give him any time for his strategem, and his hold
broke.
■
Provoked at this failure, he returned to where the other
Indians were, who seemed much amused at the scene. Taking
hold of the best one of their ponies, he put it in a rail pen,
and forbade them to touch it till he got his saddle.
Though much angered at this summary proceeding, they
made no resistance, but went away threatening vengeance.
Fully expecting their return soon, Mr. M. remained near. He
was not disappointed, for not an hour had elapsed ere he saw
five mounted Indians coming at a galloping speed ; and as
they approached they raised the war song, singing in a not
unmusical intonation, " te-o-ho, te-o-ho, ne-ne-y-tosse-ah, te-o-
ho," (I'm a big brave, with te-o-ho for a chorus), and rode up
to where the pony was and dismounted without apparently
noticing the presence of their enemy.
But Mr. M. was on the ground as soon as they were, and
aware of their intention, was the first to get hold of the pony's
Township Histories. 197
halter. One of the Indians, however, got hold of it nearly at
the same time, and a " tussle " ensued. He was a big, stout
fellow, and had thrown off his blanket in preparation for the
contest:; but it happened that Mr. M. had a slight advantage
of ground, being on the slope a little above his antagonist. In
the struggle to wrest the halter from the grip of the Indian he
gave him a push that sent him down hill, turning a complete
somersault backwards. Mr. M. then took up an ox whip that
happened to be lying near him, and threatened to thrash the
first one who would attempt to lay hold, of the animal again.
Singular as it may seem, these people were more afraid of a
whip than of a deadly weapon, and would receive a sound
thrashing without making any more resistance than a school
boy, whilst the flourishing of a knife, gun or tomahawk would
bring out their combatativeness at once. In this case the
threat of a whipping had the desired effect, and the " ne-ne-y-
tasse-ah " all " pococheed " and left " shnok-a-man " in posses-
sion of the "nack-a-tock-a-shaw."
But they had not quite given up the hope of recovering the
pony. They next went and laid the matter before their chief,
Masha Wapatine, who immediately became personally respon-
sible for the payment of five dollars for the saddle. The pony,
was then given up, and Mr. M. got his money at the next pay-
ment.
On another occasion a slight unpleasantness arose between
Mr. Mikesell and the Indians in relation to the unwarrantable
purloining of some potatoes. The story as related by Mr. M. is
in substance as follows:
Pasishamone and his band of about 300 men, women and
cliildren encamped on the creek near the ford, and entered into
a contract with Mr. M. for provisions to the amount of about
$600, consisting of potatoes, turnips, corn and five head of fat
hogs, dressed. On applying for this contract Pasishamone
brought a written recommendation from Mr. Beach, the Indian
198 Pioneers of Marion County,
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I
agent at Fort Des Moines, to the effect that the Indians were in
needy circumfltancee, that Pasishamone was an honorable chief,
and would be likely to pay for what he got. This recommenda-
tion was good enough, but in the opinion of Mr. M. it did not
altogether answer the purpose; he wanted an order from the
agent the better to secure his pay, Pasishamone thereupon
went to the agent, but whether he had understood Mikesell or
not is not known, for instead of the required order he brought
back the same kind of a recommendation. Though not satis-
fied with this, Mikesell concluded to close the contract, which
was set forth in writing and signed by the chief and thirty of
his braves, each making '* his x mark " near the written name.
This done the squaws immediately comnaenced carrying
away the stuff, in which were engaged twenty-five or thirty
ponies, going and coming, early and late. Mr. M. had dug his
potatoes and pulled his turnips, and had pitted up what he had
not disposed of in the contract. But the squaws, after having
carried away their stipulated amount of potatoes, (three hun-
dred bushels,) and most of the turnips, commenced taking
from the pits, unknown to the owner, pretending to be engaged
with the turnips.
But so soon as he discovered the theft he determined to pun-
ish them for it. Watching his opportunity, he saw several
squaws fill their blankets with potatoes and tie them op ready
to carry away. Calling the boys to his assistance, they seized
upon the potatoes, carried them to the house, emptied them
into the cellar, and threw the blankets into a loft ovwhead.
The squaws followed with angry protestations against such an
unlooked-for proceeding, and, when they reached the house,
demanded their blankets. M. told them they could not have
them till they paid for the potatoes they had stolen. This
increased their wrath to a fighting degree, and two of the
squaws, large, stout, looking ones, a contact with whom
might have resulted in the discomfiture of any single-handed
:t/ . >.r - x-^
Township Histories. 199
' .. 'J ■
-cm
combatant, bared their large, brawny arms and told him they
meant to whip him. Indeed, so earnest were their demonstra-
tions, that our hero fully expected an encounter, but knew it I
would not be advisable to retreat, no matter how it might ter-
minate, 80 he stood his ground and exchanged threats with
them, telling them what a dreadful beating they might expect
if they made the attempt. Finally some of the weaker squaws
who seemed to be backing their champions, withdrew, seeing
which the viragoes also gave up the contest, and all went '
away.
In a short time, however, they returned with the chief, who
instituted i^n inquiry into the aflGgiir. Having learned the facts "JJ :;
of the case, Pasishamone made them a speech in which he }|.
eulogized the kindness of Mr. M. in trusting them for fooji
when they had not the ready means to pay for it; reminded
them of having trusted th^ir plunder in his hands on a former x
occasioti, and received it again without the loss of even a stran
of beads; and concluded by shftming them for being so : '
ungrateful as to steal from a man who had treated fthem with
so much kindness. The speech must have been one of con-
siderable pathetic eloquence, for the culprits, notwithstanding
the reputed stolidity of these people, actually wept tears of
sorrow.
A compromise was then made, and they received their blank-
ets; but Mr. Mikesell never received any pay for his produce.
When pay-day came he went to Fort Dea Moines and presented
the copy of the written contract; but this proved to be worth-
less, and he lost the entire amount.
Another instance of petty thieving by the Indians may be
yrorth relating: \
A couple of aetders named James Scott and Israel Mchols
took a claim where the fju'm now is thj^ was recently owned ^^i
by Thomas Simpson, but perhaps better known as the present
location ^f the brick school house in sub-district No. 8, Sum-
a' <;
r
,;r,v -Aft.
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t
2do > Pioneers of Marion County.
*
mit township. These men had entered into a co-partnership in
in the ownership and improvement of the claim, and had
eriected a sort of temporary house to live in, much after the
fashionof all "claim pens;" and as they were bachelors they
had. also provided a limited supply of furniture and cooking
utensils — no more than was regarded as indispensable to that
prosaic kind of living, known as "keeping bach." At the risk
of transcending the limits of a plain history, we may imagine
that these young men were enjoying themselves to the utmost
that their isolated condition and comparative freedom from
domestic care enlitled them to, working, hunting, cooking and
eating by turns, as taste or inclination dictated. But one day
their happiness was disturbed by an unexpected visitation. On
conaing to the cabin for their noon-day meal they were sur-
prised to find neither pot, kettle nor skillet, in which to cook it.
But it was easy to conjecture who had perpetrated the robbery;
and unmistakable evidence in the case appeared in the discov-
ery of a naked young Indian, apparently about six or seven
years old, who had been left at the house either intentionally
or by mistake. Here was a state of things not pleasant to
contemplate. To get another pot and skillet was possible,
though attended with some trouble and expense; but what to
do Xvith the wild young Fox, for whom they had no conceivable
use, was a question hard to answer. The little fellow seemed
greatly excited, and was disposed to run away, but they man-
aged to soothe his fears enough to keep him with them.
Though they 'questioned him as to whom he belonged, for
want of sufficient knowledge of English he could give thena no
definite account of the party.
They, however, decided to follow the robbers and, if possible,
recover their property. But is was first necessary to dispose
of their captive, whom they did not wish to carry with them
in a hasty pursuit. For this purpose they took him to Mr.
MikeselPs and tied him to a tree, thinking his detention might
Towmhip Histories. ' 2 C
bring some of hia friends to his relief, and thereby secure
restoration of the stolen articles, provided they failed to g(
them o^erwise. Haviag secured hiot thus, they left him unde
the care of Mrs. M., and proceeded to follow the trail of th
ladians. But toward night the little fellow became so reatleet
and called so loudly for hia parents, and wept so bitterly, tha
Mrs. M., contrary to the injunctiona of hia captors, release
him. ^o pereuHsion of hera conld induce him to remaii
He made her understand, through what acquaintance ahe hai
with the language, that he had never slept a night away froc
his mother and grand-mother. He knew where his home waE
and wanted to go. The plea was too much for the heart of
woman, and she let him go. We are not informed whethe
he reached the camp that night or not, though it is quite prob
able that his Indian instinct helped him through the difficulty
Messrs. Scott and Nichols found the Indiana camped oi
Calhoan creek. They had fires built and were cooking thei
eoppers, when the yonng men unceremoniously entered thi
camp and attempted to take the atolen veasels that happene<
to be in nse just then. Of course the act was resisted by th'
savages, who snatched blazing sticks from the fires and aseailei
the intruders, punching them with the torch-like weapons til
they were glad to get away without having accomplished thi
object of the expedition. In the malee Scott received a sever
blow on the side of the head that atunned him for a short time
Early next day the attack was renewed with re-enlorcemenb
bat with no better success. This time the Indians had recours
to tomahawks instead of fire-brands, seeing which the hoy
fled with such speed that their pursuers were unable to ovei
take them. Wbereupwn the latter returned to camp lor thei
ponies, on which they renewed the chase, though after a dela]
sufficient to give the fugitives time to get over the line. Ni
• one was hurt, and the only loss was a good overcoat by Hiran]
202 Pion^a of Ma/rion Coimiy.
Mikesell, of v?hich some warrior was very probably the
gainer.
Enraged at this uafortonatQ result, Scott and Nichols deter-
mined to get np an e}^edition to punish the obstinate rascals.
Several men volanteered, and all went armed for any emergency.
But the enemy had wit enough to anticipate some such a
denouement, and con^dering "discretion the better part of
valor," had evacuated the camp in timQ to make good their
escape.
Scott and Nichols afterwards moved to Jasper county, where
they opened a trading house. On the occasion of the death of
Poweshiek, some of the friends of that chi^f applied to the
traders for whisky to be used in the funeral ceremony, and
obtained a few gallon^ of the cheap stufi in exchange for a
pony.
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Township Shtories.
CHAPTER XI.
Hed Mock Tovmship Contisiued — Moving the Indiam
Bewildered — Kisk-ke-koah Inatitutea a Reform — M-
ing Paaiahamone — Fast Tra/oeling — A Meligious Fet
— Meligious Services at a Death Med — Funeral—
Burnt Offering of Whisky,
In '45, as was stated in the introdactory to this work, t
Indian title to the western part of the " New Parchasi
became extinct, and this was the year in which most of tht
moved away, Beeking new homes and hunting grounds bejo
the limits of civilization. Bat we have only two inBtan(
connected with this event worth lelating, for which we (
indebted to Mr. Mikesell, who assisted in the removal,
The first relates to the moving of Kish-ke-kosh aiid 1
hand, consisting of about twenty mounted braves, and a wag
load of goods, snch as blankets, saddles, heads, and the limit
variety of household fomiture in nse among the Indiai
These had been left in the care of Mr. H. dnring the eamm<
not being specially needed then, and somewhat inconvenient
carry about on the frequent removals that these unsettled pt
pie were in the habit of making.
At that time the main body of the tribe nuder the commai
of Kish was located on Skunk river, in Jasper county, and
this place the property was to be taken. With a yoke of oxi
they succeeded in getting as far as the point of timber whe
Monroe now is, on the first day.
It being late in autumn, a heavy enow fell that night, ai
the Indians not being veiy well clad for the season dispos
themselves upon the ground as dose together as they cot
get, under blankets and skins, to keep warm. In this w
, 204: / Pioneers of Ma/riQn County.
they slept soundly, and did not appear to suflfer "any inconven-
ience from cold. On opening out next morning a perfect cloud
of steam rose from the nest, suggesting the almost certainty of
colds, resulting from the sudden transition from perspiring heat
to frosty air; but these hardy creatures, accustomed to the
exposures of their wild life, did not appear to be affected by it
in the least.
Two unfortunate circumstances threatened to interrupt their
further progress that day. Early in the morning it was discov-
ered that the cattle had got loosed from the wagon to which
they had been fastened, and had disappeared. Mr. M. imme-
diately set out upon their trail, which the still falling snow had
not entirely covered, but did not find them till he reached hotoe.
On returning he found the Indians at a loss as to what direc-
tion to go in resuming the journey. The bewilderment of an
Indian is truly said to be an uncommon circumstance; but in
this instance the cloudy weather and newly fallen snow,
obscuring all trails, rendered the right direction quite uncer-
tain. They were all more or less in a state of anxiety about
the matter, and Kish, who, perhaps, felt the principal burden
of responsibility resting upon himself, went out alone in search
of the hidden pathway. After being some time absent he
returned with a favorable report, and the journey was resumed
in time to reach the town that night.
It is well known that among these people, as well as among
all uncivilized races, the women are in a manner the slaves of
the other sex. They are made to do all the drudgery of the
camp; cultivate the corn; bring in the game after the hunter
has had the sport of slaughtering it, no matter how far away it
may be, (he being either too lazy, or deeming it beneath his
dignity to bear the burden) ; procure the fuel to cook it Mdth ;
catch the ponies for their masters to ride; pack up their tents
and household goods when preparing to move, and set them up
again when they relocate, &c., &c.
Township Iliatoriea.
On the way and at the camp Mr. Mikeaell had an o|
tnnity to witoeas some of this kind of tyraany, and toot
eion to lecture the chief on the injnatice of it. Kish, w
good sense that he manifested in relation to such things,
ted the force of the argctment. He bad seen it pra(
demonstrated among the whites, and had reason to ti
wonld du as well among the Indians. He regarded
false pride that kept the men from doing a fair share
work that iell to the squaws, and they ought not fo be aa
of it. He would instJtate a retbrm in this matter amo
own people; and he did set about it at once, ordering tl
to work, and set the example by taking hold himself.
But it is not likely that this reformation was ever cart
to any great extent. The natarally lazy habits
men, together with their long standing belief that hnnti
war were the chief duties that nature had assigned tc
would tend to make such a change in their dogieetic li:
difiScult.
Poor Kish! Had he been treated aa kindly as he de
to be, and enconraged to a greater intimacy with the '
his great, honest heart might have made him the examj
leader of other reforms that would have resulted in the
zation and happiness of at least a portion of his race.
coming in contact with white men whose intercourse wi
was principally mercenary, he was shown but few exam
christian cisjlization worth imitating.
At the time referred to by Pasishaipone in his speeh
squaws, mentioned in the preceding chapter, he had t(
with the party over whom he held immediate commar
left the most of their goods in the care of Mr. Mikesell
summer, whilst they occupied a temporary camp on
river, in what is now Jasper county. In the meantime '.
amone, with his suite of braves, had gone to Old Agent
visit.
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206 Pioneei^s of Marion County.
After Bpending the summer on Skunk, huntins^, fishing and
raising a little corn, the band moved to Four Mile creek, four
miles below Fort Des Moines, where they took up their winter
(quarters, and awaited the arrival of their chief and goods. So,
on his way up'Pasishamone called on Mr. Mikesell for assistance
in moving them. For this purpose he took two wagons, one
drawn by an ox and the other by a horse team, and got as far
as Timber creek the first day, and camped near where Mr.
Prunty now lives.
Here our informant witnessed a feat of speed and power of
endurance on foot, that we think would be hard to surpass by
any of the boasted pedestrians of the present day, who walk
for a wager. Just at sundown, when the movers were prepar-
ing their supper, a strange Indian entered the camp and asked
for food and permission to rest there for the night, saying that
he was very tired and hungry. His request being granted, he
sat down by the fire to await his supper, and in reply to Mr.
M.'s inquiries, stated that he was on his way to the Fort to get
the dragoons to help recover some stolen horses; that he had
started from a place ten miles below Brighton that morning,
distance about seventy-five or eighty miles. He was asked
how he had managed to travel so far in one day, and only
answered that in the morning he would show how it was done.
In due time the weary footman was supplied with corn and
meat, of which he ate like a hungry Indian, ravenously and
abundantly, till sleep gradually overcame him, and he sank
back upon the ground and remained motionless as a log till
morning. Then, no sooner was he awake than astir, with
limbs not the least stifiened by the previous day's exercise, and
ready to renew the journey. When ready to start he told Mr.
M. that he might now see how it was done, and immediately
set off on a run, making long, easy strides, which speed he
kept up with no apparent variation till out of sight, and per-
haps, till he reached the Fort. He was afterwards heard from,
TowTiship Sistories. 207
that he was quite siicceasfal in his mission, as he andoabtedlj
deserved to bo.
At the close of the second day the party reached their des-
tination, and camped on the east side of the creek, some distance
from the village. Soon after dark a great noise was heard in
the village. It someirhat resembled singing, interspersed with
shoats and other load voices, making a commingling of sonnds
strange and weird-like. And this uproar continued with very
little intermission till morning.
Mr. M. was mnch sarprtaed at this, and early ia the evening
signified to the chief his intention to go over and see what wae
the matter, Eut Paaish, who had just arrived from the scene
of the mysterions noise, shook his head gravely, and added,
" White man better not go — Indian drank — hurt white man."
This explanation satisfied " white man" for the time being.
He thought it quite (trobable that the whole village was on a
grand spree, and it would not be advisable for him to get in
their way. But he noticed that Fasishamone and his braves
were astir all night, going and coming at all hours, without
showing any signs of drunkenness, bat rather demeaning them-
selves with more than usual sobriety.
All this lent a doubt as to the truth of Pasishamone's Btat&
ment, and tended to deepen mystery. So in the morning oui
informant endeavored to risk an attempt to solve it at all events.
Seeing the chief come over from the village, and stealthily pnl
a couple of wooden bowls under his blanket, with which he
immediately set out on his return, Mr. K. concluded to foUovi
him unobserved. On reaching the village he saw a long
wickenp, which appeared to be the place of meeting, from tht
number of persons about it and going in and out Seeing nc
evidences of drunkenness or carousal, he ventured to the dooi
of the hut to see what was going on within. In the centre wai
a row of kettles hung over a fire, and in each kettle was con
soup and a piece of meat, some of the pieces consisting of thi
, 208 Pione&rs of Marion Cowniy.
f ribs and back-borne of what proved to be a couple of fat dogs.
The animals had been skinned except the heads and feet, and
these had been scalded or singed to remove the hair, and then
nicely roasted or baked to a beautiful brown, emitting a savory
odor. They occupied a wooden bowl at each end of the row of
kettles, and were reserved for the old men, who regarded them
as the choice part of the feast.
The food now seemed to be ready and in waiting for those
who were to partake of it ; but the preparatory ceremony
which seemed to be of a "religious character, was not yet quite
completed. Around on each side of the wickeup were seated
rows of men, singing a jargon that sounded like some of the
senseless fal-da-ral that serves as the chorus of a comic song,
most of the time keeping their eyes turned upward with a de-
^ vout expression. At length the singing ceased, and an old
man rose to his feet^ and in a low, solemn tone, made what
appeared to be a prayer. No sooner was it concluded than
every Indian \^as on his feet, having their bowls in readiness,
and began an indiscriminate dipping into the soup and dog,
and to feast like men who had been undergoing a fast.
This was evidently a thanksgiving feast, made partly as a
sacrifice to the Great Spirit, in whom all unchristianized
Indians entertain a crude belief, and partly as a feast of welcome
to their chief, who had been some time absent from his people.
The slaughtering and dressing of the dogs and other prepara-
tions were performed during the night, attended by the noise
that was heard. During the ceremony no one seemed to notice
the presence of the white man, but after it was all over Pasish-
amone approached Mr. M. with an apology for having lied to
him the evening before:
"White man no like dog. Tell white man Indian drunk;
he stay away." .
Before closing this chapter we shall take occasion to relate an
incident to show further that these people were far from being
ToiOTiski^ Histories. 20!
devoid of a religious Bentiment ; that they believed iu the pree
ence, power and mercy of God, and in the immortality of th<
sodI, though their ideas about these matters were not according
to tbe revealed Word.
The incident relates to the death of a child belonging to om
of Keokuk's braves. The child bad been severely scalded, an<
the party stopped at Mikeselt's to nurse it; but it was evtden
that it was even then in a dying condition, and the Indian
made preparations to hold such religions services over it a
they supposed would secure its happy admission into the spiri
land. For this purpose they set np a large tent at the foot o
tbe hill, near the house, in the center of which they placed th<
little sufferer, on a bed. Seeing there was no hope of iti
recovery, and that it must soon die, Keokuk and a number o
his braves seated themselves on the ground in a circle abou
the death bed, where they performed with appropriati
solemnity a series of religious exercises till the cliild died
These exercises seemed to be ])rineipally ainging and prayei
The singing was somewhat monotonous in tone, and a constan
repetition of certain words or notes like "la, ha, ha, la, la, ha,'
and was accompanied byt he rattling of a gourd ol beans ove
the head of the child by one appointed to that duty. This wa
said to have been intended to soothe the spirit in its exit fron
the body, and waft it happily away. When the singing ceasec
the worshipers bowed themselves forward, their heads betweei
their knees, covering their faces with their hands, and thm
remained for some minutes in silent prayer, audible only in ai
occasional sigh or groan ; but the rattling was continued witbou
intermission. At the proper time the chief would resume thi
chant, and ihe others would rise to a sitting posture and join ii
it. Thus they continued to do for several hours, with grea
earnestness and patience, and until the spirit of the little on<
had taken its departure. So intent were they in their devo
tioue that they appeared to take no notice of visitors, several o
12
210 Pioneers of Mcmon County.
wliom came to the door of the tent to witness the strange per-
formance.
Who will say that such sincerity, such faith, thongli unat-
tended by the light of Christianity, will no£ be rewarded by
Him who knows the heart, and who, we have reason to believe,
will make due allowance for the errors of unavoidable igno-
rance?
After the child was dead immediate preparations were made
for the funeral. It was the intention of the friends of the
deceased to dispose of the body after the singular custom fre-
quently practiced by the people in the burial of their dead,
that is by tying it in the top of a tree. Observing that this
was their intention, Mr. Mikesell interfered, and finally induced
them to put it in the ground. He told them that the crows and
buzzards would find it, and it would eventually fall down and
its bones would get scattered. So they concluded to take his
advice and give it a white people's burial. For this purpose
Mr. David Worth, who lived in the neighborhood, furnished a
coffin, and the few toys that belonged to the little fellow were
put in with him, and lie was buried a short distance north of
the house where Mr. M.'s orchard now is.
When all that remained of his child was hid away from him
the grief stiicken father gave vent to the sorrow of his lieart
in a prayer of faith that might well become a Christian in
behalf of a living child. Though uttered in the Indian lan-
guage, it was well enough understood by our informant to war-
rant him in giving at least the substance. He asked the Great
Spirit to take good care of the little one. He was very sorry
to give him up, " but," said he. " you, God, know best, and I
know he'll be happy with you."
It was the custom of the Indians to regard such articles of \
food and drink as they were particularly fond of themselves as
worthy articles to sacrifice to the Great Spirit, and to ofler to
the spirits of their departed friends, * Whisky, in spite of the
Totcnship Siatoriea. 211
baneful effects its nse had npon them, was regarded as a very
acceptable offeHng.*
Ou one occasion the noted chief Keokufe obtained a quart of
whisky from Mr. Hikesell, expressly to make an offering of it
to the Great Spirit, and a treat to the bouIb of some of his
friends who bad been very fond of the beverage daring their
life-time. Having received the liquor in s bottle, he sat down
by the 6re and mnmbled a prayer, which may have been a
formal dedication of it to the sacred purpose intended, and an
invitation to the Great Spirit to accept the offering. Pretend-
ing to liave received a favorable answer, he poured a quantity
of the whistty into the fire and the blue blaze flashed up the
chimney. He then asked the Great Spirit if he might treat
some of his spirit friends. Permission being granted, he
turned out about enough for a dram, naming the person for
whota it was intended; then another, and another, till the
whole qnart of bad spirits was consumed in a succession of
blue blazes, and a pretty large company of good spirits had
each enjoyed a drink.
To some readers this story may seem highly improbable,
and even blasphemous, but when we take into account the
fact that these ignorant creatures, like some of their m(»«
enlightened white brothers, regai-ded whisky as one of God's
blessiogs, they deemed it their duty to make burut offerings of
it, as the Israelites of old did of their cattle. Tobacco, much
valued by the Indians, was frequently offered in the same way.
* Tba roDdnesi of Ibe ladlans for Btrong drinks vhb bo DQlversal, and tn some
Ingtani'es eo luUitiKe, bb to lead to tbe beUef Ihat It waa more oalurol than
aO(|iilred. Such was the Intensity of their appetite far ttifa Btimnlant Lbat Iher
woaid BacrlQee almOBt any tblng to obtala U. We Klve an iDStance:
Ad Indian oarnHtuMUceseiraaiid begged foradriabol wtilsky. EesBldir
taecoold getone mora drink he woald.be wlUlnglo die. Mr. M. tbougbE be
would test Itie eiiicerlty o[ this atatemeni, and told t'ie sufibrlng applicant tbal
be wonid give lilm adrlnklr be would letblni hnng bim. With tbe utmost
coolne-H the poor fellow agreed to the proposition, and a rope was looped on bla
neck, and panned over a Joist ready for the execuilon. He Ihen received big
Uquor, drank It witb great satlsraotlon, and closed hlB eyes In conBdenl eipeo-
tatlon of dying. Mr. M then pulled on tbe rope till (be poor wretcb was uearly
cboked; still be showed no opposition to tbe painful process, and when let
down and sntBclently recovered toBpeak. expressed surprise that tbe bargain
bad nob been tnlly carried out on tbe partor Ihe hangman, lie said he sup-
posed It was the last drlnb of whlshy he should need In this world.
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212 Pioneers of Marion County.
CHAPTEK XII.
Hed Rock Township oontinv^ — Olaiborn Sail — JElioB
Prunty — An Adventure — A Difficulty Overcome — A
Milling Trip — Killing Wolves — Another Indian Thanks-
giving.
Among the very earliest permanent settlers in this township
was Claiborn Hall, still remembered as a somewhat prominent
personage in political and religious circles, being an active and
efficient member of the democratic party, the editor and pro-
prietor of the first paper issued in the county in support of that
party, and a minister of the Gospel in the Christian denomi-
nation.
Mr. Hall was born in Virginia in 1819; moved with his
parents to Boone county. Mo., in '29 ; and in the autumn of tiie
same year moved to Menard county, 111., where his parents
still reside. In the spring of '43 he came to Iowa and settled
four miles north of the present site of Red Rock village. Hav-
ing secured his claim, Mr. Hall cleared about thirteen acres,
and got it planted about the 31st of May. After harvesting
this crop he sowed the ground in wheat in the fall, having
brought the seed from Illinois, and harvested from it a remark-
ably heavy yield in the summer following. A load of this
wheat he got floured at Keosauqua, distant about a hundred
miles.
In the spring of '45 he returned to Illinois and secured the
co-partnership of Miss Susan T. Duncan, a former acquain-
tance, with whom he immediately repaired to his western
home, and converted his "bachelor's hall" into a country resi-
dence; and, it may be equally important' to state that during his
Township Histories. 213
residence here he organized and snpenntended the first Sabbath
school in the northern part of the county.
In '46 he waa elected county surveyor, held the office one
year and then encceeded to that of probate judge, which he
held two years. In '49 he was elected sheriff, moved to Knox-
ville and held that office two years. In November, '60, his
wife died, whereupon he put Mb official bnsinesa into the hands
of his deputy, Isaac H. "Walters, and went to Illinois, where he
spent the winter at the residence of his father. In the spring
he returned and resumed the duties of his office; and at the
expiration of the term was elected to the triple office of recorder,
collector and treasurer; held it two years, and then voluntarily
retired from the field as an office seeker.
Some time during the term of his last named office he formed
a co-partnership with L. D. Jackson, (now deceased), in the
mercantile business, and purchased an old stock of goods from
L. W. Babbitt, to begin with. This businesB he continued
only two years, when he sold out, purchased a farm near Knox-
ville, to which he retired with his second wife, whom be had
married shortly before.
But again, in '$6, he brought himself into pnblic notice by
becoming the editor and proprietor of the first Democratic
newspaper published in the county. Being a warm politician,
and somewhat enthnsiastic in the interests of his party, he
purchased the press and type for a paper to be devoted to the
support and dissemination of its principles in Marion coun^,
and in June of the year above mentioned, the " Democratic
Standard " made its appearance. But being entirely without
experience in this line of business, he succeeded but poorly,
and atler a short time disposed of the concern to a company.
Soon after his retirement from the publishing business Mr.
Hall was elected to the office of county superintendent of
Echools for two years, and with the close of this term he finally
retired from the political arena as an office seeker, and has
/
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214 Pioneers of Marion County.
since divided bis time and talents as a farmer and a minister of
the gospel In '64 he returned to Illinois for permanent resi-
dence, where, in December of that year, his second wife died.
The next person that succeeded Mr. Hall as a settler in the
same neighborhood, was Elias Prunty. He was bom in Scott
Oa, Ky., in 1809, moved to Morgui Co., 111., in the fall erf '83,
and in the fall of '43 to Eed Bock township, three miles north of
the village.
On reaching the residence of Thomas Tuttle, where Fella
now stands, Mr. Prunty began his search for a claim, and con.
tinned it in the direction of the river till they reached Eed
Bock village, then consisting of one or two small cabins.
Here they found Olaibom Hall, who was camped on his claim,
and proceeded at once to secure a location in the immediate
neighborhood, and put up a cabin.
Mr. Prunty's family consisted of his wife and four children,
and his stock of domestic animals were two horses and two
cows that he brought with him. But, like most of the early
settlers, he was without a supply ot provisions for the winter;
and was obliged to repair to the Old Purchase for such articles
of consumption as were indispensable to life. He obtained his
supply of com and meat from Bound Grove, Jeflferson county,
and to this pdace he made four trips during that first winter,
leaving his family exposed to whatever inconveniences might
be incidental to their entire separation from neighbors, and to
the annoying visits of the Indians, who made them a call every
few days. They were, however, kindly treated by Mrs. Prunty
and th^ children, and manifested no disposition to be uncivil in
return.
On these trips Mr. P. went prepaved to " camp out," for
there were but few cabins on the trail he had to follow, mi he
reached the Old Purchase. On one occasicm, having camped
n Cedar creek, he awoke in the morning under a covering of
snow ten inches thick. On getting up he found the weather
Townskip Hiatoriea. S
estremely cold, tlie fire eitinguiehed, and his horses apparen
nearlj frozen. After feeding bis team he hastily kindled a i
and prepared a drink of warm coffne, then renewed his jonri
with what speed he conld make throogh the deep, nnbroli
snow, inteiuling to reach home that day. Bat when witi
three miles of the place, night overtook him and he founc
extremely difficult, if not quite impossible, to keep in the ri^
direction, to say nothing of tbllowing the obscnre, anow-oovei
path that was his only dependence for a road. But bei
much chilled, and comparatively anxious to reach borne,
drove on until he was compelled to admit the unpleasant a
picion that he was lost. At length, not knowing exactly
what direction he was traveling, he quite despaired of reachi
home that night, and proceeded to split up bis wagon bed
fueL Pretty soon he heard the barking of a dog, and, imn
diately setting out in direction of the sound, soon found bims
at home once more. The dog had beard the noise, and gf
the signal that probably saved bis master's life.
In the spring Mr. Prnnty found it necessary to get a tei
suitable for breaking prairie, and traded bis horses for oxi
Still he had no plow, and what was worse, had no money
buy one with. A breaking team would be of little use witbi
that indispenGable tool; and the difficulty had to be overco:
in some way. The only thing of considerable value that coi
be spared, was a feather-bed; and this Mr. P. sold lo Adf
Goal, (many years since a resident of Monroe, Jasper count
got the cash, went to Ffurfield, purchased the plow, commenc
breaking the sod in April, and succeeded in breaking, plant!
in oom, and fencing thirty acres that season.
In Jane, after getting the ground fenced, Mr. Prunty,
company with Joel Worth, made one of those long, laboric
and adventurous, but not less indispensable milling exj>editi(
that seemed inseparable from pioneer life at that early peri'
They had to go eight miles south of Brighton to get com, pi
; ' ■
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216 Pioneers of Marion Cotmty.
ing twenty-five cents per bushel for twenty-seven bushels in
the ear. This they had to shell, which delayed them several
days at that place; and when they reached Cedar creek they
found it bank full, and fording impossible. Here they remained
a week awaiting the abatement of the flood, or for a chance to
get ferried over, and at length obtained canoe transportation in
the manner described in the fourth chapter of this work. For
this service they paid the ferryman two bushels of meal after
they could get it ground.
Being disappointed in getting any grinding done at the mill
to which they first intended to go, they went down Skunk river
some distance, to another called Sugar Creek Mill, Here they
encountered another raging stream called Lick Bun. It was
narrow, but seemed almost too threatening to ford. But the
attempt could not well be avoided ; so in they plunged, and
succeeded in getting through with no greater loss than a slight
damage to one sack of corn by getting it wet.
After two days longer delay they obtained their meal and
started on their return trip. To add to their discomfort, it had
rained almost incessantly from the time of leaving homo, was
still raining, and the roads were in an almost impassable con-
dition. Their progress was therefore slow and exceedingly
toilsome; and at length their cattle finally failed, six miles
below Oskaloosa, rendering it impossible to get further without
help. Help could not be obtained short of home, a distance of
at least thirty-five miles; but Mr. Prunty concluded to try and
get there that day on foot. He traveled as rapidly as he could
but night overtook him when he was yet four miles from home,
exhausted with weariness and want of food, not having had
anything to eat that day. Mr. P., however still thought he
could reach home, and trudged on as well as the darkness and
his exhausted condition would permit. But at length he lost
the trail, and commenced wandering about in search of it, and
became completely bewildered. Thus he continued to do till
Tovmah'^ Sistoriea. 211
he felt over the abrupt bank of a small creek. This UnpleaBant
ititermption completely dieconraged him from farther efforts to
find the way home that night. So he gathered ap a bed oJ
gr^e, upon which he Btretched himself to rest, and, notwith-
staodiiig the loneliaess of his exhausted situation, in a country
infested with wolves and other wild animals, and bis necessar
nly auxiuus state of mind, bis over-exhaasted physical energies
gave way to repose, and he slept soundly till day-light. On
rousing up and looking about, he recognized his locality, foand
himself only two miles from home, and was soon there,. aftei
an absence of just twenty-one days.
So soon as possible Thomas Black was sent with a yoke ot
cattle to the assif tance of Worth, and the provisions were finally
got home without any further serious difficulty, though it was
fomd that some of the meal was materially damaged by the
dampness and heat of the weather.
During the absence of Mr. Worth on this- occasion his
family became rednced to short rations in the way of food;
and the rain and flooded state of the streams rendered commn-
nication with the neighbors difficult. The nearest neighbore
to the Worths was a German family named Metz, living a
short distance across a narrow stream. This stream wa£
■ sometimes filled to overflowing, rendering it dangerous if not
quite impossible for the ladies of either house to pass (ind
re-pass, no matter how urgent the need; and borrowing, if it
ever was excusable, wis then. The pouring rain would
extinguish the fire on the ground hearth during the night, and
there was no such a thing as a friction match about the house
to re-light it with. And what was worse than this, Mrs,
Worth had neither bread nor meal, and between her and her
neighbor was the impassable gulf. She, however, could com-
municate a knowledge of her needs; then the two women
would wade in on each side of the stream so far as they dared,
and Mrs. Metz would throw a loaf bread or a fire-brand into
the extended apron of her neighbor.
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818 Pioneere of Mourtofh Comity.
Mr. Priinty relates an instance of wolf-killing that may
serve to illustrate what we have already said of tiie great
number and boldness of these animals. An ox belonging to
James Harp died and the carcass was left within easy gun-
shot of a claim pen belonging to one of the Harps. Mr. P.
was then invited to participate in the sport of shooting the
wolves that came in large numbers to feed upon it. A bee-
tree had just been found, and the sportsmen sat up all night
eating honey and firing upon the wolves, a large number of
which they killed by partially random shooting by star light.
The slaughter had been fearful, for morning light revealed
the ground strewn with the dead and wounded, though the
number of the living did not seem to have been diminished,
«
as they continued to swarm about the bait night after night,
heedless of the danger.
But we may not conclude this chapter before relating
another Indian thanksgiving feast, as witnessed by Mr. Prunty.
The event took place in the autumn of 1844, at a place near
Red Rock village, and on the line between the United States
and the Indian Territory, as designated- by an inscription on a
board fastened to a post. Some fifty warriors had collected at
the place, under the leadership of Kish-ke-kosh, and partici-
pated in the ceremonies. A couple of long logs had been
placed together and a flr^T was burning between them, over
which was the carcass of a dog fastened to a stick by which it
was rolled from one end of the fire to the other till it was well
singed and roasted, and was swollen to a rotundity that made it
rather an unpalatable looking object.
During the roasting process, the warriors sat in a circle
around an upright pole midway up which were fastened bears'
claws, birds' claws, dogs' feet, and bunches of tobacco; and on
the top birds' wings and beaks; and all were slowly burning
by the aid of some combustible material. They seemed to be
engaged in a sort of conference meeting around this singular
Township Histories.
Bacrificial altar, each brave riBiDg, one at a time, and apei
a few words with the solemnity pecnliar to a religions exe
And their appearance was not less remarkable than theii
formances; each one wore a string of bear and eagle i
aFotmd their necks, aud had polecat skins tied about
kneea.
So soon as these exercises vrere finished, they partook o
dog, and then retired, probably for the purpose of hold
dance ; for such gala days were osually closed with thii
formance, the braves alone participating in it. The danci
perfcffroed in a circle, each performer following the othei
half bent attitude, keeping step to the lap of aome ki
instrament by one who occupied the centre, and singing i
of chome. The step was not rapid, nor intended to be i
cal> bat they were alternate as in walking, uniform i
military marching, and each foot was bronght down 'n
force that Bounded upon the beaten earth like the strokf
sledge. The performance was not altogether unpleasant.
In addition to being a thanksgiving occasion, it was a p
ration day for a two or three months' hunt, and the sacr
were to propitiate the favor of the Monaton, that he might
them success.
Several years later Mr. 1 'rarity moved to near Van(
Jasper county, where he resides at this present writing.
220 / Pioneers of Ma/rion County.
CHAPTER XIII.
Red Rock Township Continued — Joel jB. Worth — A Critir-
oal Situation — Sickness and Loss — A Tough Joke —
David Worth — A Prairie Fire — James A. Chestnut.
Joel A, Worth and Thomas Black were the the first persons
who succeeded Mr. Prunty in the settlement of the northern
part of the township. Mr. W. was born in Ky., Aug. 17, 1817,
emigrated to 111. in '29, and from thence to Fairfield, Iowa, in
Nov. '43, in company with Thomas Black, and their families.
Here winter overtook them, and they were compelled to
secure quarters for their families till spring. Having provided
com and fuel, they set out for the " New Purchase" in search
of a permanent location. At the close of a cold day in Decem-
ber they got as far as where Pella now is, and being unable to
reach a more sheltered place, they put up a sort of cat-facedf
tent to windward of a scanty grove that grew near where the
Central University now stands, and prepared to pass the night
there. But a serious difficulty interfered with an important
part of this preparation, which was to kindle a fire. Every-
thing was damp, the wind was blowing a strong, cold blast,
and our wayfarers were in imminent danger of perishing unless
they could get something warm for the " inner man." They
had one box of matches, but these seemed to have been either
worthless at the start or had become damaged, and they were
not aware of it till at this critical moment. One after another
they refused to ignite, till nearly the entire box was exhausted,
and all hope of obtaining the life sustaining heat was as nearly
extinguished. At length only two matches remained, and upon
these seemed to depend their weal or woe. Fortunately, or it
may be providentially, to their great joy, these two matches
^'^m^
Ttnonship Histories.
221
happened to possess the vitality requisite for the crisis. With
the utmost care a fire was started, and a warm supper restored
the adventurers to comparative courage and comfort.
Next day they reached their destination and took up their
quarters with Mr. Prunty till claims could be selected and
houses built. The claim selected by Mr. W. proved to be in
section 1, town. 77, range 20, on which, on the 14:th of Feb., he
put up a cabin, and on the 19th of March had the pleasure of
introducing his family to their new home.
That spring, by joining teams with Black and Prunty, Mr.
Worth got fitlteen acres of his land broken. From this, not-
withstanding the lateness of the growing season, he succeeded
in raising a pretty fair crop of sod corn, and that without any
fencing, there being then little or no stock in the country to
trespass upon the ci ops.
During his early pioneer life here Mr. Worth suffered sortie
adversities that may be worth relating. Soon after returning
from the milling trip related in the preceding chapter, he fell
sick of a fever, brought on by severe exposure, from which he
did not fully recover for four months. Then early in the
spriflg following ('45) one of his oxen died, leaving him without
any kind of a team by the aid of which to replenish his store
of provisions, that threatened soon to be exhausted. Being
entirely without means he could neither purchase another ox
nor the necessary supply of food. This was a trying situation,
and the only way to get out of it was to sell the remaining ox
for what he could get, and invest the money in provisions.
This he did, getting eleven dollars for the animal, and with
Allen Tice, to whom he had sold it, went to Illinois and
returned with three barrels of flour and one of salt. This sup-
plied them till the corn became fit for use; and Mr. W. was
enabled to get another team in time for another season's crop-
ping.
An anecdote may not be out of place here. It occurred at a
/
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222 Pioneers of Marion County.
time when provisions were very scarce, especially meat, as
most of the game had been killed or driven away, by the
Indians. Mr. Worth had been out hunting, and returned with
what appeared to be the hind quarter of a small deer. The
meat looked tempting to Mrs. W., who had a genuine fondness
for venison, and she was eager to have a mess of it so soon
as it could be cooked; so she took immediate charge of it,
and owing to the want of grease to fry it with, put the whole
into a large pot to boil, and hastened the process with a good
hot fire.
After blubbering away at a lively rate for about an hour or
more, the good lady thought it about time the tender young
deer was done, and proceeded to test it by prodding it with a fork.
But, to her surprise, the meat seemed about as tough, if not a
little tougher, than when it was put there. Impatient at this,
she rushed the fire, and kept the pot in a foaming temperature
tor some time longer. Then again she prodded the ham, and
was not only surprised but puzzled to find it even tougher Hian
ever, so tongh, indeed, that it fairly resisted the sharp points of
the fork. She declared she had never seen nor heard of the
like before, but was determined to boil it down if such a tfting
could be done. But it was evident that the longer it was boiled
the further it was from being done, till finally it became as
black and hard as a piece of old sole-leather. It was truly a
curious kind of venison, and Mrs. W. was at her wit's end as
to what farther disposition to make of it. At this her husband
could no longer restrain his merriment. What was the matter?
Why, her young venison was a piece of a big old catamoust,
all muscle, that contracted and became harder by contact with
heat. It was a tough joke, and it may be supposed that the cook
appreciated it no more than she did the venison.
During the year following, (1845), Mr. Worth moved into
Jasper county, just across the line, where he still lives in the
enjoyment of a comfortable competence as the reward of his
early trials in pioneer experience.
I
Toionship Hiatories, 233
Daring the antiimn of the same year that Joel Worth settled
in this township, he was followed by his brother David, who
kad been to the country on a prospecting tour in the month of
Angust previous.
On his way up the last time, Mr. W. had an opportunity to
witness one of those grand, and sometimes learful conflagra-
tions that were so common before the prairies were sufficiently
settled to interpose any obstruction to the sweeping march of
the devouring element. He had camped, with his family, a
short distance from a house in the vicinity of Black Oak GroVe,
Mahaska county. Sometime during the night they were
awakened by a suffocating cloud of smoke, and an alarm of fire ;
and had barely time to get the wagons moved to a bare spot of
ground adjoining the house, and secure the tent, before the
whole prairie was swept by a long column of fire, producing a
night scene at once grand and terrific. Stables and fences were
^ith difficulty saved, and fighting fire was the order for the
remainder of the night.
As they neared their destination, they were met by Thomas
Black, who had been on the alert for their appearance, and had
seen the wagons five or six miles distant on the prairie, where
there were then no groves or improvements to obstruct the view.
They were gladly welcomed. To those who were citizens of
the country at that early date, having been a year, or at least a
few months, separated from the society they had been all their
lives accustomed to, the arrival of a new comer, especially if he
happened to be a relation or acquaintance, was an event of no
no small importance, and the greeting was comparatively joy-
ful. Mr. W. located on section two, which was bounded on the
west by the United Sates boundary line. He has been nearly
ever since a citizen of the county, and now lives on section
eight.
Among other early citizens of Red Rock, still well remem-
bered by most of the old settlers, was James A. Chestnut
224 Piofheers of Marion County.
whose name, it may be remembered, appears in the list of first
grand jurors, ^e was bom in Ireland, February 1, 1803;
came to America with his parents at the age of two years,
landing at New York. From thence he came to Indiana ; from
thence to Iowa in '41, and settled in Van Buren,county, where
he remained for a short time; then moved to Mahaska county
and took a claim precisely where Oskaloosa now is. But, not
foreseeing the value this land would ultimately attain to, and,
Ifke many others, thinking the lands along the river would
alwa.ys be worth much more than the high prairie, he sold this
claim, and settled at the head of White Breast Prairie, where
the old Ewing farm now is.
After a short residence here he went to Lee county, where
he remained a year; then returned and settled in Ked Rock
village in '48. In the spring following he went to California
where he remained nearly two years. On his way home he
contracted the cholera at New Orleans, and died at Natchez.
Mr. Chestnut was known as a worthy citizen, and for some
time a class leader in the M. E. Church. His widow remained
at Red Rock till very recently, when she went to Missouri with
one of her sons.
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Township Bistories.
225
CHAPTER XIY.
Bed Rock Township Contimced — Stealing on Indian Credit
— A Search Warrant — Mock Trial of a Horse Thief—
Lynchiny Horse Thieves.
We have spoken of tjj^e thieving propensity of the Indians;
bnt truth will not permit us to say that they were the only
class of people given to this vice during the early settlement of
the country. We are informed that much of it was done by
the whites on Indian credit. In those days the settlers along the
river permitted their hogs to run at large, much as they do now,
each owner depending upon a certain ear mark whereby to
distinguish his own from his neighbor's swine. But these
marks did not always prove the ownership of the animal, par-
ticularly after it had " fallen among thieves." All that was
needed to destroy this evidence was to cut off the ears, or even
the head, and secrete them. Not unfrequently these ears were
found in possession of the Indians, un oubtedly furnished them
by the real thieves in order to direct suspicion from themselves
and fix it upon the " reds." Or, as the latter were in the habit of
buying their meat of the whites, they would sometimes thus
come into possession of a dressed hog, minus the ears; and
on being asked about it, any answer they might give was no
certain proof, pro or con. Thus it was a difficult matter either
to prove the property or convict the thief.
At one time two brothers named Bell, living in the nighbor-
hood of Red Eock village, were strongly suspected of being the
perpetrators of numerous thefts of live stock and other kinds of
property. Tet, thus far, no proof sufficient to convict them
could be found, and they were permitted to go unmolested by
law.
14
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226 Pioneers of Ma/rion County.
Among snch articles as disappeared so mysteriously as to
lead to the belief that they had been stplen, were two or three
fat hogs belonging to 'Squire Kussell, that he had in a pen^
near his house, intending them for his own use. Of course the
'Squire was justly enraged at being thus robbed of such val-
uable property, and determined to make an immediate eflfort to
recover it. To this end he issued a search warrant, put it in
the hands of the constable, and then, in company with another
person, mafa'ng a party of three, wentio help serve it.
To the Bells they went; but no signs of the pork, alive or
dead, could be found around the premises ; so it was determined
to search the inside of the cabin, though much against the pro-
testations of the occupants. Still nothing: of the article was
visible till, at the suggestion of the anxious 'Squire, a pile of
corn in a corner of the room was pulled down, disclosing the
hairless, headless, and disemboweled corpses of three hogs. Of
course the 'Squire was sure they were his; but in the absence
of all proof marks, he could not identify them sufficiently to
take lawful possession of them. It was necessary to find the
heads and ears first, and, though the prospect of doing so mast
have been rather slender, the party proceeded to make a
thorough examination of the grounds within a reasonable dis-
tance from the house. Presently their attention was attracked
by a number ot» crows, a short distance in the grove, that
appeared to be discussing some subject of peculiar interest to
themselves, flying up and down and caw-caw-cawing in an
excited manner. Thither the searchers went, hoping to find
the heads to be the subjects of this crow demonstration, but
in this they were disappointed. Instead of the heads they
found the hide of an ox, the marks of which proved it to have
been once worn by an animal belonging to a Mr. Flanders, and
that had been mysteriously missing for some time.
After some further search all hope of finding the heads was
abandoned, and the 'Squire was compelled to leave his pork
t_
I
Tovmahvp Sieiort^.
where he fonnil it The ox hide was taken to town and
upon a shed at the 'Sqnire*B, till it could be claimed bj
owner. Snt that night it disappeared again, and was ]
tnore found.
An occaeional instance of horse-stealing also occurrec
country then being so thinly Bettled as to render the chi
of escape much better than in older and more populatei
tricts. But, once captured, the thief had a fair chance of 1
subjected to punishment under the rulings of Judge Ljnc
On one occasion an individual wbo was suspected of t
engaged io this business, was captured and conveyed to'S
^Rnsselt's for trial. The trial was to come off at night, i
was known to all parties, ezcept the prisoner, that it wou
s sham, merely intended to frighten him and run him <
the country.
So, when the case was called, a Mr. Martin appeared ft
prosecntion and John Cameron for the detense. But, di
the progress of the trial, Cameron assumed to have little
of clearing his client, and privately advised him to get
if ha possibly could. But thii prospect of doing so se'
extremely hazardous, for several of the spectators were a
with rifles, and appeared to be watching the prisoner cl(
His counsel, however, kindly interfered in his behalf, ai
was permitted, on some pretense, to leave the court room
few minutes, attended by Cameron himself and several o
guard. No sooner were they out than Cameron whisper
T)im to mn for his life and never be seen in the country a
The poor fellow, whether guilty or innocent, took his law
advice, and, without stopping to say good bye to any one, i
off toward the brush with all the speed tliat the darkness i
admit of. And to hasten him, several shots were fired
him, accompanied by the yells of the guard apparently i
pursuit
Agreeable to the advice of his lawyer, he was never
228 Fioneera of Marion County.
seen iti the country. A day or two after, an Indian exhibited
a wallet he had found in the timber, that proved to have
belonged to the fugitive. It contained a letter addressed to
him by some enamored damsel who was, perhaps, blissfully
ignorant of his character and calling. Unfortunately for a
more romantic conclusion of this story, the letter was lost, and
both its contents and the name of the writer have been for-
gotten.
Another of these rascals did not fare quite so well. He was
captured by Ray Alfrey, on the stolen horse, taken to town,
tried, severely whipped and driven from the country. And
another instance was that of a fellow named Sutton, who, after
being tried, convicted and whipped, had the audacity to return
and steal another horse. He was taken a second time and
lynched; but even this failed to cure him. He stole yet
another horse and was making off with it when overtaken and
shot dead.
Mention has been made of the Williams family, who were
early settlers in the neighborhood of Ked Eock village, and
were frequenters of the place, "hale friends well met" with
those who were fond of liquor and the diversions common to a
semi-desperado sort of life. Particularly was this the case with
Mat, whose fisticuff duel with " Old Blank " is related in
another place. We close this chapter with another little inci-
dent in which Mat took an active part.
A man named Henry Lott, living near town, lost a bell,
which was afterwards found by the elder Williams. Whether
truly or not, some of the younger Williamses were informed that
Lott had accused their father of stealing the bell. This enraged
the boys desperately, -and they immediately resolved to have
revenge. Being well fired up with bad whisky, Mat and John
made k night raid upon Red Rock and the surrounding coun-
try in search of Lott, determined to give him a summary
*' cleaning out." One of the actors in the drama stated that
Tovmahip Histories. 2J
they did not wait for a quiet admittance into any house, b
kicked upon every door they came to.
At length they found the object of their search in bed
Colonel Alley's; and, without waiting for parley or ezplan
tion, they pulled him out of bed and out of the houee, whe
they subjected him to some rough treatment for a short tim
Lott all the time pleading not guilty, and offering to go wi
them to town and satisfy them as to the truth of his plea,
R. R. Watts, a justice of the peace, who happened to '
Lett's bed fellow at the time, beiug unable to command i
peace, determined to secure the arrest of the WilliamBes, went
Knoxville next day, where he obtained a warrant and sent t
sheriff to arrest them. At the June seBsion of the Distri
Court, 1816, John and Mat were brought up for trial on
charge of asBaulL In John's case the evidence sgfunst hi
did not prove snfficient, and he was discharged, and Mat w
remanded for trial before Landon J. Eurch, justice of the peac
where he was found guilty and fined.
230 Pioneers of Marion County.
i
CHAPTER XT.
Red Rock Township Continued — The History of a Couple
of Claim Battles.
Prominent among the numerous claim troubles that arose
between the settlers of Red Rock, was one in which the noted
Ool. Alley and a person named Shoemake, were the principal
actors. This difficulty assumed almost the preparations of a
riot, and came very near resulting in bloodshed.
The claim that become the subject of dispute, is the land
now owned by Mr. Talbot, one of the proprietors of the Otley
mill, and the claim cabin stood on the knoll, about where Mr.
T.'s house now stands, a short distance northeast of town.
Each of the contestants claimed to have a just title to the property
and both were so determined to maintain their rights that for a
time nothing like a compromise could be even hoped for. And,
as if, to aggravate the difficulty, and bring matters to a crisis,
the Colonel, on the alert for an opportunity to take advantage
of his enemy, one day found Shoemake absent, took a team
and wagon, moved his household goods to another place and
took possession of the house. But, knowing that he could not
retain it alone, he called to his aid a number of his friends,
armed for an emergency and supplied with whisky. Thus
equipped, they turned the cabin into a fortress and awaited an
attack from Shoemake, who they knew would come well sup-
ported. For this they had not long to wait, for Shoemake, on
• discovering what had taken place, was greatly enraged, and lost
no time in collecting a squad of his friends with the avowed
intention of ousting the usurper. They readily came to his aid
to the number of about fifty. In the meantime the Colonel's
r '\ M , •• /
V
Township Ifistories. . 231
V
forces were swelled by reinforcements to about the same num-
ber, though they did not all take shelter in the fort.
A regular battle was now imminent The opposing forces
were near enough to each other to make a lively and interest-
ing thing of it, and each was apparently determined to carry
his point at all hazards. But the time was principally occu-
pied with a combat of words, at times so hot that, apparently,
any overt act would have been the signal for an appeal to arms.
Tet, happily, not a gun was fired, and at length a better state
of things triumphed. A xjompromise was offered by some of
the more peacably disposed of the Shoemake party, and the
Colonel sent for to consult. The result was that, rather than
risk the hazardous plan of fighting it out, he gave Shoenxake
f 176.00 for the claim, and retained possession of it. Thus ended
what, to all appearances, came very near being a bloody affair.
One more instance of the kind may here be related, though
we have been informed since the above was written that it
occurred some time previously thereto, and should have so
appeared in this history. We find it difficult, if not quite
impossible, to arrange every incident in the exact order of its
date, and therefore ask the reader's indulgence.
In 1846 a claim on the north bank of the river, a short dist-
ance below town, was owned by two brothers by the name of
Wilson, who had put a house on it, and cleared and fenced a
few acres of ground. But, as their residence was distant from
the claim, (see history of Summit,) they were not constantly
there, and were some times absent for several days; and this
led some persons to regard the claim as justly forfeited, and
subject to be "jumped." Thereupon a man named Sigler,
newly arrived, and on the lookout for a place, pounced upon it.
The Wilsons, not wishing to eject him in the summary manner
usually done in such cases, concluded to try the civil process
of law, and applied to Colonel Alley for help. But this wily
limb of the law refused to undertake the case without a retain-
u«
232 > Pioneers of Marion Covm,ty.
ing fee of ten dollars, saying that Sigler would undoubtedly
apply to him on the same business, and he would not consider
himself bound to any one without a fee in advance. So the
Wilson brothers paid him the ten dollars, and suit was entered.
The first business was to send the constable (John Babcock)
for Sigler. Not finding him at the claim pen, the officer went
over the river to a certain place where it was understood he,
(Sigler,) made his home occasionally. Here he (Babcock,)
met a stranger of whom he inquiied the whereabouts of Sigler,
and the stranger informed him that Sigler was to be found at
another house in the neighborhood. But upon inquiring at the
place designated, the constable discovered that he had been
deceived; and on returning to the place where he had seen the
stranger he further discovered that the stranger was Sigler
himself, and that, surmising the officer's business, had put him
on a false trail till he could get safely out of the way.
Sigler was not seen in that neighborhood again, but the
Wilson brothers having been put to some trouble and expense
on his account, determined that they would not pay another
lawyer's fee in a like case, but would take the usual means of
ejecting an intruder.
An opportunity to carry out this determination occurred soon
after. One day, being informed that an old man named
Cannon was in the house with the apparent purpose of holding
the claim, the young men immediately repaired to the place
with the intention of driving him out, should he refuse to go
voluntarily. But, in consequence of the intruder's age, they
thought it would be scarcely proper to lay violent hands upon
him ; so, after repeatedly ordering him to go, he persistently
refusing, they moved his things out, and then put out the fire.
The weather was quite cool, and Mr. Cannon, not having any
means of renewing the fire, was compelled to seek shelter else-
where. The Wilsons then closed the door, fastened it with a
padlock, and went home.
I •
f
Township Histories. 233
Next morning, wniht on the way to the claim, accompanied
by David Ray, who was to assist them in some work they were
going to do on the premises that day, they met three men,
Wm. Cannon, a son of the old man, James Chestnut and
Andrew Stortz, who rather abruptly informed them that the
old man was in the house again, and that they meant to keep
him there. This bit of intelligence roused the ire of the boys,
and they instantly replied that they would oust him, even at
the risk of their lives. The other party then made some
attempt to drive them back, and in so doing Stortz made some
demonstrations toward Scott, (the elder of the Wilson brothers,)
with a club. But Scott being armed with an ax, stood his
ground so threateningly that the Cannon party deemed it unsafe
to make any further attenopts, and left our heroes to go their
way.
But it was now found to be advisable to obtain some help.
They had ample reason to believe that the Cannon party would
be reenforced to some extent; so Freeman Wilson immediately
returned to invite a few of their friends to help them meet the
enaergency. About fourteen men responded to the call, and
in a body, marched to the scene of action, where they met the
enemy, seven in number. Scott thereupon proceeded to again
remove the household goods without being resisted. After this
was done a tin pan was found to be misring, but was v^y soon
discovered in the possession of the notorious Dick Billops, who
was seated upon it, on the verge of, and with his back toward,
the steep bank of the river, giving utterence to some lofty phrases
inspired by the presence of a well-known spirit to which he
was most slavishly addicted. At this moment J. H. Mikesell,
a member of the Cannon party, observing Dick's proximity
to the bank, rushed upon him, and with the words, " don't say
any thing, Dick," sent him a backward somersault into the
river. Dick came up in a rage, and seized a rifle from the
I
(
1
234 Pioneerg of Mwrton Covmiy.
hands of James Price, and would have fired opon Mikesell,
but for the interference of others.
This circumstance now seemed to be regarded as the signal
for a general action, and something of a muss followed. Clubs
and pistols were drawn ; one man was badly gouged and
another so severely punched in the side that he did not recover
from the effects thereof for some time.
It now being evident that the Wilsons could not be driven
from their purpose, the Cannonites withdrew. After their
departure Scott, in acknowledgment of the services of his
friends, told them to go up to Bussell's and get something to
drink, whilst he, with his brother George and Mordecai Teams,
remained on guard at the house till there should be no longer
any danger of a renewal of the attack, for that day at least It
was, however, proposed by some of the leaders of the Cannon
party, that if the Wilsons would remain upon and work the
claim they should not be disturbed, which they agreed to do.
About a year afterwards they sold the claim.
The above are related as the most important of numerous
instances of claim difficulties, the narration of which would
swell the number of these pages beyond the proper limits of a
local history. We may only add that disturbances in relation
to the rights of property were almost an every day occurrence,
giving rise to arbitrations and law-suits almost without end,
and to bitterness and enmity between neighbors that only time
and a more settled state of things could obliterate. It was not
till some time after the land sales, when most of the settlers
had secured titles to their lands, and others who had been una-
ble to do so had sold their claims and moved away, that peace
was restored, with amity and good fellowship between the set-
tlers.
Township Htstarisg.
CHAPTER XVI.
Jied Hock Township Continued — First PreaoAers — Po
the Missionary — His Adventure at Red Rode — Poor
cess with the Indians — Anecdotes of Spurloek — 1
District School in the North Part of the Township.
Among the firet regnlarly autborized tniniBters of the Gc
who first preached within the limits of Red Rock towni
were Johnson, of the M. E. chnrcb, and M. J. Post, of
Baptist; both in '44 and '45. Mr. Johnson's regnlar app
meot was at the bouse of Joel Worth.
Another preacher, named Pardo, also came to Red Roc
an early date, and claimed to have been sent by the goi
ment as a missionary to the Indians. On his arrival he a
the white people of Red Rock village if they desired preacl
Being answered in the affirmative, and that they were <
anxious for the gospel, he made an appointment, and pre]
tions were immediately made for the occasion. Seats were
down, and a large goods box provided for a stand.
After having gone through with the ordinary prelimin
for preaching, the Rev. Mr. Pardo monnted his box and b<
his disconrse, waxing warmer and louder as he preached,
suddenly, and to him most nnexpectedly, in the midst of
of his most eloquent flights, do#n came the box, preacher
all, causing quite a sensation among the congregation. Tl
ing it merely an accident, be remounted the box and resu
bis discourse; but only got fairly going again when the
dent was repeated. This was too much for poor Pardo.
coDcladed that where snch an accident could happen twic
close snccession, it mnst have had help, and was not
anxious of his success thero as a miuiater of the Gospel.
336 Pioneers of Ma/rion County.
He thereupon concluded to leave the people of Red Rock to
their own destruction, apd turn his attention to the real object
of his mission — ^the Indians. But here it appears that he was
destined to meet with little more encouragement than he re-
ceived irom the whites. When preaching to a party ol them
at the Phelps trading house, on Lake Prairie, relating the
story of the cross, and exhorting his hearers to repentance, one
of them interrupted by asking who killed the son of God, white
man or Indian. '* White man,'' said Pardo, who could not very
properly avoid answering the question. " Then let white man
repent,'' rejoined the Indian ; ** If God had sent his son to the
Indians they would not have killed him."
At another time he was preaching to Keokuk's band, telling
them that if they would repent of their sins and believe in God,
when they died they should go to a land flowing with milk and
honey. Keokuk, who entertained so little confidence in the
promise that he was disposed to make it a subject of ridicule,
replied that for his part he didn't like milk or honey, but if he,
Pardo, would take him to a place where corn and whisky
were plenty, he would go.
We know not if Mr. Pardo continued his missionary labc^
in opposition to these discouraging evidences of unbelief; bat if
he did he must have been endowed with a full share of apos-
tolic faith.
An anecdote of the notorious Spurlock is related as having
transpired at Red Rock in the winter of '44 and '46. Spur-
lock, it may be remembered, claimed to be a preacher of the
M. E. Church, and in spite of frequent expulsions and imposi-
tions of silence continued to preach occasionally. The princi-
pal charges against him were: his reputation as a maker and
vendor of bad money, a charge all but substantiated ; and a
weakness for whisky. With a certain class he was said to be
quite popular as a preacher. When he wished to preach he
would obtain a jug of whisky, and this would scarcely fail to
)
«...-.
Tovmehip Bistoriea. 23T
secure for him a crowd of hearerB of Mb particalar cla^s, who
liked his preaching for the sake of his liquor. At the time
referred to Spnrlock wbb croBsing the river at Red Kock, mov-
ing west, when his wagon wheels cat through the ice eo that
he could get no further without help ; so he applied to the citi-
zens of the place, and a few volunteered. After the vehicle
had been placed upon safe ground once more, the owner pro-
ceeded to manifest bis thanks for their kindness by bringing
forth his jug. None were disposed to slight the offer, and he
concluded the performance by a hearty drink. Then, having
restored the vessel to its place in the wagon, he turned to his
helpers, and with much apparent eincerity, told them if they
would find him a house for the purpose he would preach to
them that night. They answered that they would, and Mr, J.
' D. Bedell kindly opened his cabin for the occasion. The nov-
elty of the circumstance drew quite a number together, and the
Bev. Mr. Spurlock entertained them with a well-timed dis
course, in the course of which he took occasion to reply to
some iusinuations that had been made about bis counterfeiting.
"Without denying it he said: 'It is true that I make my own
money, and I am not ashamed to acknowledge it. So far from
that, if some of you will come to my wagon in the morning, I
will show you the tools that I do it with."
This was fair, and uttered in such a plausable manner thai
some two or three persons, who believed confidently in the olc
fellow's reputation as a bogus manufacturer, thought they
might have their curiosity gratified by a sight of the moulds
and, possibly, get an explanation of the process ot using them
"We have no right to say exactly what motive prompted this
desire for knowledge. It may have been a good one. So
early next morning they waited upon Mr. Spnrlock at hii
camp, and reminded him of his promise. And he proceedet
immediately to fulfill it. Going to the back part of his ooverec
wagon, ho took out an ax, a maul and some iron wedges
t
238 Pioneers of Marian County.
"Here, gentlemen," said he, "are the tools I make my money
with. I'm not ashamed nor afraid to let you see them.'*
Thereupon the curiosity seekers vanished, rather ashamed of
their folly in supposing that the wily old rogue would be so
indiscreet as to initiate them into the mysteries of a business
scarcely safe for him to follow secretly.
Spurlock was a person of remarkably tender sensibilities in
relation to some things, that made him amusingly eccentric
An instance is related of him that occurred during his resi-
dence at a place called Brim's Point, Wapello county. He
was the owner of a favorite cat, an animal that, for some cause
or other, he was much attached to. But it came to pass that
said cat died — died a natural death notwithstanding the seven
lives reputed to belong to the species — causing its bereaved
master almost inconsolable grief. In token of his love for the
departed, he provided her a coffin, gave her a decent burial,
and marked the place with a mound. To an acquaintance who
chanced to stop at his house a short time after the funeral, he
told with grief-choking utterance and swimming eyes, the story
of his bereavement. He then took his visitor to the grave,
and there, with the agony of one bereft of an only child
beloved, he wept and related the history and virtues of the
departed pussy.
Rev. Jas. L. Warren, whose history has already been given,
was also among the pioneer preachers in this part of the
county.
The first Sunday School, we may repeat, was conducted by
Claibom Hall, and the first district school in the northern part
of the township, by Margaret Brown, (now Mrs. Pendray,) in
51, and in what is now district No. 5.
' J
Township Histories.
CHAPTER XVII.
Bed Rook Township Concluded — Saw and louring Mii
— A J'alae Alarm — School Souses, Etc. — Census,
AmoDg the more important enterprises established in Ri
Rock village and in the neighborhood, were foar saw and o
flouring mills. The first was a saw mill, bnilt by Osee M
thews, junior, in 1846, on Hikesell's creek, aboat three-fourt
of a mile north-east of town. The next was by Daniel Hiskf
iD '48 and '49, on the same stream, about two miles north
town. In '54 two more were erected near town, to run '
steam. The one on the east side of town was bnilt and own
by "Wilson Stanley; that on the west side by J. D. Bedel.
Only one of these milla— thatof Mr. Bedel— ia still etai
ing. * A few remain s of those on HikeselPs creek are still visibi
but of the Stanley mill, which was of a rather temporary ct
straction, nothing remains.
Tiie flouring mill, built by S. B. Matthews, in '54, stood
the northwest quarter of town. It was owned and run by 1
M. till it was bought by Talbott and Setzer, who moved it
Otley, Summit township, in the fall of '69.
An anecdote is related in connection with the erection oft
mill at Red Rock. It was at about the time it was finisht
and preparations were being made to start it. The momii
was calm, clear and frosty, and all sounds were conveyed thronj
the air with comparative distinctness; when the settlers 1
miles around were suddenly startled by a terrific and prolong
scream that seemed to fill all the space, and reverberated J
away. Then it would cease- in a sort of die-away wail, till
would seem to recover breath, then peal forth in anoth
24(0 Pioneers of Marion County.
unearthly scream, or succession of short, violent yells, totally
unlike anything that had ever been heard in that region,
A young man, an odd genius, named Joe Copher, who hap-
pened to be in the timber, some distance from home, hunting
horses, when he heard the frightful voice ran home with all
his speed and reported a panther or some other wild beast in
the forest. So, as soon as the report could be circulated
throughout the neighborhood, a number of men got together,
mounted, armed and equipped, some carrying horns for blow-
ing signals, and attended by a retinue of dogs to assist in the
hunt.
For most of the day they scoured the timber in search of the
game; but were unable to discover anything capable of giving
forth such a voice; and it was not till toward evening that they
returned home enlighteued as to the cause, and feeling as
though they had been badly '' sniped."
At the same time another squad of persons imagined the
mysterious voice to be of a heavenly origin. They had heard
of the Millerite prediction of the end of the world, and supposed
that this might be a preliminary blast from Gabriel's trumpet.
Having collected together to take counsel on the all important
subject, they felt that they were hardly prepared for such an
emergency, and thought the only thing that could be done pre-
paratory thereto, on such short notice, was to pray. So,
strange as it may seem, they invited a rampant old sinner —
one who had probably never even thought of such a thing
before, to lead in the solemn exercise. There was apparently
no time to be lost, so the old fellow began ; but hardly had he
got through with the short preface to his prayer, when the glo-
rious tidings reached them that it was only Simp. Matthews'
mill whittle. Simp, had fired up for the first time, and was
trying his whistle under a strong pressure of steam. Of course
the praying was indefinitely postponed, and the meeting
adjourned sine die.
\
Toionahip Histories. 241
Apropos to the foregoing we are tempted to relate an auecdotf
that transpired in the neighborhood of Eed Kock at an earlj
date. One of the BettJers who happened to be hnnting on th«
Des Moinee bottom, not far from the river, was soqirised at as
nnnsnal noise. He stood still and listened for a few minutes,
■when the strange sound grew loader and louder every instant,
ae tbotigh the monster was coming rapidly through the forest.
from down the river. Its breathing resembled the labored
respiration of a wind broken horse, only much louder and mort
boisterous, and seemed to be well nigh exhausted by a long
run. Our hero liBtened till he thought the creature, by th(
rapidly increasing distinctness of its breathing, and the sounc
of its footsteps, was coming directly toward him. His fears
thus excited, he could readil; imagine that it was in pursuit o
him; and so he thought it would not he advisable to remair
there an instant longer. With the same reasoning that taugh
Falstaff that " discretion was the better part of valor," he fled
making his way home as rapidly as he could get through th(
trackless woods. Now and then he would bait a little to listei
for his pursuer, whose terrible blowing seemed to indicate thai
itwas gaininguponhim; butmncbtohis relief, after gaining
the upland timber, fatigued and excited, the breathing of th«
mighty beast indicated that it must have taken another direc
tion. The sound was more distant, and rather past the poini
where the flight commenced.
He therefore pursued his way homeward more leisurely, anc
there related the adventure much to the surprise of the folks,
who were as ignorant as himself of the character of the ani-
mal. However it was not long after that they were enlight
ened. It was about, if not quite, the first attempt at steam
boat navigation of the Des Moines, and a little stem-wheelei
was slowly making her way against the strong current of tha
stream daring a freshet.
15
342 , Pioneers of Marion Goim^/.
These incidents were related to us as facts, though it may
be supposed that they were more or less exaggerated. But^
when the fact is known that some of the early settlers had
never heard a steam whistle, nor seen a steamboat, nor were
even advised of the existence of such wonders in their neigh-
borhood, their mystification, if not actual alarm, is not to be
wondered at. The story is, at least, not without a foundation
in fact.
The first regular school house in Ked Eock village, was built
in 1854 or 1855, but was burned soon after. Since then the
citizens have put up a large two-story building for the purpose
and the schools are well attended. The place also contains
several other good buildings, among which is a substantial
brick church erected by the Methodists, in 1856 or '67. Two
dry goods and one or two grocery stores receive the trade of a
large extent of the surrounding country, on both sides of the
river. Bed Eock must ever remain a permanent crossing
place. During low water the fording is easy and safe, and at
all other times a good ferry boat is ready to acconamodate
travelers.
The population of Eed Eock township by the II. S. census
of 1870, is as follows :
Native 1308.
Foreign 26
Total 1834.
1
Totonahip Histories.
248
CHAPTEE XVIII.
Summit — Geography and JSistory — Names of First Settlers
— James Price — The Wilsons and Others — A Conflict
with Indiam^ — A Veteran Coffee Mill — A ^^ Settlers
Eights " Dificuliy — Mrst P, O. — First Sunday School —
Pay School — OUey.
This township is technically known as town. 77, range 19,
and is bounded on the north by Jasper county, on the east by
Lake Prairie, on the south by Polk, and on the west by Red
Rock. The larger portion of it, consisting of the north and
east, is pr^rie, being the dividmg ridge between the? Des
Moines and Skunk, commonly known as the "Divide." The
largest body of timber is in the southeast quarter of the town-
ship. There are no large streams in this township. The
numerous small creeks take their rise on the " divide," and
flow each way into the Des Moines and Skunk.
The coal fields of Summit are quite extensive. The princi-
pal ones now worked are along a small stream in sections 21
and 28, about a mile south of Otley. The first mine was dis-
covered and opened by John A. Scott, in 1849; and this was
the only one that was worked for several years. The next
opening was made by Wm. Fisher, some time in '61 or '62,
since which time numerous openings have been made in this
locality by Fisher, Durose, Price, Barnes, and others. The
veins of coal average from four to seven feet in thickness, and
is of a good quality. Much of that mined by Mr. Durose has
been shipped at Otley for Des Moines and other localities
west.
Summit was originally a pw^ of Red Rock, till April 6th,
1854, when, in response to a petition of numerous citizens, it
I
■I I
f '"-■ '
■ ' \^,
\
h
I
■ ' \
2M: Pioneers of Marion County.
was declared by the county judge a separate township. The
name first proposed and filed in the court record was Harrison;
but Summit being the choice of a number of settlers from
Summit county, Ohio, it was so named.
The first election was held soon after the township was
organized, at the house of Jacob 0. Brown, and the following
are the names of the oflBcers elected: John Kibble and A. F.
McConnell, justices of the peace; Geo. Eeynolds, I. N.
Crum, and Ira Kelsey, trustees; Abram B. Scott, clerk; Ira
Kelsey, assessor; and A. Donnel and P. P. Harp, con-
stables.
Some changes were effected in the civil geography of this
township, which, though they were the result of partizan wire-
working, and occurred at a comparatively recent date, we shall
take the liberty of sketching briefly. In 1862, in response to a
petition of a portion of its citizens, the township was enlarged
by the addition of that portion of Polk (town. 76, range 19)
lying north of the river. This change not being agreeable to
the Eepublicans of the township, they petitioned the board of
supervisors to have the above mentioned territory, locally
known as the " White Breast Settlement," re-attached to Polk,
which was accordingly done at the September session, 1864.
But, owing to the neglect of the clerk, John B. Hamilton, to
transmit to the board of trustees an official report of the change,
much embarrassment and partizan feeling resulted at the elec-
tion that fall in relation to the admission of the vote of that
district. A hot dispute was carried on for some time that very
nearly resulted in personal violence. But the difficulty was
finally settled by the admission of the challenged votes.
Soon after this the Democrats again petitioned for the attach-
ment of the disputed territory, which act was received by the
opposite party as an acknowledgment that it was not a part
of the township at the time of the election. The petition was
granted, and White Breast was now indisputably a paiH;of
1
Township Eiatorief. S
Summit; aod so it remained till 1867, when the board t
again asked to retam it to Polk, where it still belongs.
Prominent among those who settled in the township at
earliest date, are James Price, the Wilsons, David and Al
Tice, and Andrew Metz. Among those who came later, w(
Joseph S, "West, the Harps, I. IS. Cram, James Dueese, S.
Roberts, Alex. S. Donnei, and Allen Lanehead. Most of th
are still residents of the township. Others who took claims
a very earl j date, bat did not become permanent settlers, will
inoidently mentioned as we proceed. Most of the first sett!
located in and along the edge of the timber, and it was not
'45 that the divide began to be permanently occupied,
James Price was bom in Clark connty, Ohio, September
1817, emigrated to Cass county, Michigan, at the age of tl
teen, and from thence to Burlington, Iowa, in 18 — . Fi
there, early in the spring of '43, in company with Jpnatl
Donnel, he came into this county, and selected a claim wh
he still lives. The first cabin they built was a few rods be
the coal n^ine owned by S, S. Roberts. Some slight rems
of this pioneer building are still visible. This house he ot
pied with bis family on the 22d of Jane.
That spring Mr. Price broke nine acres of prairie on
claim, planted it with com, and realized from it a surplus of i
hundred bushels, which he sold for fifty cents per bushel,
the following season he obtained some seed wheat from F
field, and obtained from it a fair crop. During the first si
mer he went to Burlington to mill, and in the winter tu
nearest mill on Skunk. On the occasion of his winter trip
had to ferry his load over that river in a canoe. On his reti
from a trip to Fairfield, it rained much of the time, then tan
eo cold that his clothing was frozen stiff on his body. On
other occasion, returning in company with Ray and 8ain
Wilson, from a milling expedition to Skank, a heavy sn
atorm obstracted the way so mnchthatitwas necessary to m;
246 Pioneers qf Marion Cownty.
frequent halts till one or another should go forward in search
of the path and break the' drifts.
Besides the nine acres he broke for himself, Mr. Price broke
some for two or three of his neighbors, among whom were
Samuel Martin, David Fritz, and Wm. Adams, who made
claims in what is now section twenty, but remained in the set-
tlement a short time. The unfortunate career of Sam Martin
may still be remembered by most of the old settlers. Having
stolen a horse at Council Bluffs, he returned to Eed Rock, was
followed there, arrested and lynched by whipping; after which
he descended the river in a canoe belonging to A. B. Donnel,
and is now supposed to be in Idaho.
Humphrey Blakeway also came up with Mr. Price, and made
a claim of land now owned by John Kibble, in sections 2T and
84. The same was also claimed by David Ray, w'ho had built
a house on it to hold it. In consequence of this some trouble
aro^e between the claimants, that was finally settled by Ray
buying the claim of Blakeway.
Another temporary settler, named Wm. Hodge, overtook
Mr. P. on the way up, and made a claim on land now owned
by S. S. Roberts, section 28, and another on section 17. Hodge
remained in the country but a short time. He was atraid of
Indians, and a contact with them was the cause of his speedy
departure from the country. Being in company with Jonathan
D<mnel on a bee-hunting expedition, they were visited by a
party of Indians, who, seeing some barrels they (the hunters)
had in the wagon to put honey in, supposed they contained
whisky, and began to beg for some of it. On being rgftised
they took hold of Mr. D. in a rough though friendly manner,
intending to over-persuade him to comply with thdr vrish.
This, to Hodge, looked like fight, and he took up an ax to
defend hie companion ; seeing which the Indians drew their
knives and made a rush at him, whereupon he fled, to the ^at
Township IRatories. ' 247
amnBement of the savages, and never returned to see how his
companion fared alone in their hands.
The Wilson family, consisting of four sons, two daughters,
David Ray and their mother, took claims and settled in sections
33 and 34, June, 1843. They were natives of Neve Jersey,
which state they left in 1836, and came to Indiana, and from
(hence to Burlington in 1840. On the third day of their jour-
ney from Indiana, October 24th, John, the father of the fam-
Hy, died, aged 56 years.
Since their settlement here, two of the sons, one of the
daughters, and the mother have died. Samuel died September
28th, 1844, and was, so far as is known, the first white person
that died in the township, and his reiinains were the first depos-
ited in the burying ground on the farm of James Price,
George* died June 16th, 1855, and on the 22 of January, 1870,
the mother, Ruth Wilson, died, aged 82 years.
During the first two years of their settlement here, the Wil-
sons, in company with others, were subjected to some Severe
privations and inconveniences in the matter of subsi^nce. For
some time corn was necessarily the only kind of breadstuff
that could be procured. As we have before stated, the mills
for grinding were so distant that they could not be applied to
for a supply at any time, so that necessity, " the mother of in-
vention," called into requisitioti such temporary substitutes for
mills as could be manufactured at home, and as we have
already described as in common use at that early period.
In this emergency, however; the Wilsons were fortunately
blessed ih tlie possession of a strong, old iron coffee inill, that
they had brought from the east. This mill was firmly fastened
to the wall, and, on one occasion, was kept in almost constant
service for more than two weeks, doiilg its work slowly enough
to discipline the patience of the young milleress, (how Mrs. W.
♦George WUson settled In Polk directly after their arrival In theooantry.
I
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248 Pioneers of Marion County.
B. Keeler,) but producing a good article of meal, fine enough to
be successfully sifted through a fine hair seive, that the family
had also thoughtfully provided themselves with on leaving their
pastern home.
This venerable mill now belongs to Freeman Wilson, and is
still in the service, not as a corn-cracker, but legitimately as a
coffee mill. We are informed by the owner that it has had
the honor of pulverizing more than $400 worth of coffee, be"
sides the corn, since it has been the property of the family.
They esteem it as a worthy keepsake.
David Eay settled in the township, in the same neighborhood
and at the same date with the Wilsons, to whom he was rela-
ted by marriage. He now lives in Eed Rock township.
Joseph S. West, who was the first person that held the office
of justice of the peace, within the present limits of Summit,
and whose name appears among the first grand jurors in
the county, was a native of Mason county, Kentucjky, where he
was born in 1810, and from whence he immigrated to Iowa in
1844. On his arrival here he purchased a claim in the south-
ern part of the township, from Gadis and Nye, the two traders
mentioned in the first chapter of this history, where he has con-
stantly resided ever since.
Charles Harp was a native of Tennessee, from whence he
immigrated to Illinois, and from thence to Iowa in 1844, and
settled on section 21, in this township. He was the head of a
numerous family, the most of whom are still residents of the
township. He died in the winter of 1847, and his widow sur-
vived him, and occupied the homestead, till in the winter of
1870, when she died.
Isaac N. Crum was a native of Illinois, from which State he
moved to Iowa and settle^ in Summit in '45, where he opened
the farm he still owns, but resides in Otley, engaged in the
merchantile business.
David and Allen Tice moved from Illinois and settled where
Township Siatoriea.
249
David still lives, near the western line of the township, arriving
there on the 18th of May, 1843, and lived in a tent till a house
was built. They did little or no farming that season, but ship-
ped their provisions from Illinois, except such wild game as
they could take fit for meat. In the spring following they
planted three acres of com, and sold some of it in the fall for
$1.50 per bushel. They were among those who made early
provisions for fruit, v In 1845 they shipped from Illinois about
fifty apple trees, that they planted that spring, in a piece of
grubby, unfenced land. The trees are all still living, except
two, and are good bearers. ^-
Andrew Metz was a native of Germany, immigrated to and
settled in the west side of the township in 1844:, and died in
18—.
Alexander B. Donnel was born in Pennsylvania, March 20,
1806, and immigrated to Ohio in 1818, and from thence to Iowa
in 1844. In '45 he purchased land in company with S. S.
Roberts, with whom he had been associated in business for
several years. In '49 he, in company with many others, started
for California, and died npar Fort Kearney, in June. Other
members of the family, some of them still living in the town-
ship, settled here in 1848, and the mother died early in the
spring of '56, aged about 80 years.
Soon after the settlement of this family here, a report got
abroad that they intended to enter a number of claims in the
neighborhood, and this brought the club together to enforce
mutual protection in case such was the design. But upon vis-
iting the residence of the supposed intruders in a body, and
with such warlike threats as were thought necessary to frighten
them into compliance with the rules supposed to be indispensa-
ble to '* settlers' rights," yet without avail, it was discovered
that it was not the intention to interfere with the just title of
any claimant. Failing to bring the enemy to any more defi-
nite terms, the club adjourned, and this was about the last
demonstration of the kind made by them.
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250 Pioneers of Mwr%on Comity.
A somewhat amusing instance of claim jumping may be
related liere. Just previous to the event related above, Andrew
Donnel had made a claim and hauled some logs to the ground
preparatory to the erection of a house thereon. But, after a
few days absence on some other business, he returned to the
place and found, to his astonishment, and, we presume, some-
what to his grief, that the house was already built and occupied
by Mr. John A. Scott, who still owns and occupies the land.
Mr. D. preferring not to disturb the intruder, made another
claim in the neighborhood, which proved to be far superior to
the first in value.
The first postoffice in Sunamit township was called " Divide,"
and John A. Scott was commissioned P. M. in '47. But, as
Mr. S. did not serve, the office was immediately discontinued,
and he carried the mail to Red Rock for several years. At
first, not having any regular mail bag, he took the small
amount of matter directed to that pla6e tied up in a handker-
chief.
In the summer of '57 a post office was established on section
16, called Newark, Wm. H. Anderson P. M. Some years after
this it was shifted into the hands of various persons, and finally
got settled at Otley, where its name was changed to that of
the village, Geo. M. Hammond, P. M. I. N. Crum is the
present incumbent. Daily mails.
The first day school was taught by Abram B. Scott, in the
southern part of the township. Watson, better remem-
bered as "the one-armed Watson," afterwards taught in a
small cabin on the divide. In the same cabin the first Sunday
School was organized and conducted by Andrew Donnel and
others, in the summer of '49, and preaching was had there on
irregular occasions. *
In the latter part of September, '67, Columbus Long, John
F. Baldwin, and G. W. Johnson, employed J. B. Caruthers,
county surveyor, to survey a town on land owned by them, on
TmunsMp Stetories. 251
sectioDS 15* and 22, being on the Des Moinea Talley Bailroad,
at a station previously located by CoL Otley, engineer of thie
road, and called it Otley, in honor of that gentleman.
The first goods sold were by I.N. Cram, who still continoes
in the business there, and is also P. M. There are now five
stores in the place, three good church buildings, and a proper
tionate nnmber of dwellings and shops. Being situated on the
railroad it is necessarily a point of considerable shipping by
farmers and merchants sontb of the river.
Population of Summit by the U. S, census of '70:
Native 1,262
Total I,i8t
•In Jnly, 'iS. a town was UM oltt on the west halt of BeoUon IS. and called bj
the pret«iitloni name or American City. It was aorrefed by Stanford Dood It
tbe Interest of James D. Pataata, S. S. Mansram, I.N. Onm, ood OeolseF
Hendry. ITottilns bnt ttie etakes ever lndloaC«d tbe exlsteuoe of a town tbera
Xhe land Is now owned by J. F. Baldwin,
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263 IHoneers of McM^ion County,
CHAPTEK XIX.
Polk — Geography and Early History — " White Brea^i'^ —
Death of White Breast — Names of Early Settlers — First
Schools — First Preaching — First Saw Mill — Bickard JR.
Watts — John Baboock — Destitution — Bouseau a/nd Coal-
port,
On the 4th of July, 1848, town. 76., range 19, was declared
a township to be known as Polk, thus dating the beginning of
its municipal history on the seventy-second anniversary of our
national independence. The place of holding elections was
appointed to be at the house of Warren D. Everett.* The
formation of this township took that part of Red Eock in town.
76, range 19, lying north of the Des Moines river.
The formation of this township was in opposition to a
remonstrance of Josiah BuUington, and others; so, on the 3d
of October, of the same year, in response to a petition of
Jeremiah Shepperd and others, the whole of the township was
attached to Knoxville. But it appears that the court shortly
afterwards, in defining the boundaries of the township recog-
nized the legal existence of Polk by describing it as all of
town. 76, range 19, except the two southern tiers of sections,
and all of town. 76, range 20. But on the 8th of January,
1860, town. 76, range 20 was struck oflF, thus limiting the town-
ship to four tiers of sections, which is as it now exists.
Polk is bounded on the north by Summit, on the east by
Lake Prairie and Clay, on the south by Knoxville, and on the
* At the first election— the date of which we have been unable to obtain^
about 40 votes were cast ; Warren D. Everett and Lowery were chosen
Justices, and Andrew HopUns, clerk. The names of the other officers are not
remembered.
\
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Township Histories. 353
west by Union. The Des Moines and White Breast rivers run
through, the &st from north-west to south-east, and the latter
from south-west to north-east. The township being mostly
within the margins of these streams, is timbered and uneven
in surface; but the bottom lands are level, and are noted for
their great depth and fertility of soil. White Breast prairie,
north of the river, and bordering its bank, is a beautiful strip
of farming land, highly adapted to the culture of corn. And
here many of the first settlers took claims, by which the place
was known as the " White Breast Settlement."
The Indian name for White Breast was Waupa-Cauki, and
was said by them to have originated by the circumstance of a
bear having been killed near the creek having a white spot
upon its breast. But at what period this event transpired
tradition does not state. At an early date in the history of the
settlement of this part of the county, there lived here an
Indian chief also named White Breast. He is remembered by
some of the early settlers as a large man, coarse-featured, and
badly pock-marked. He was somewhat noted as a warrior,
and loved to recount his military exploits against the Sioux; and
once after their removal to the west, whilst engaged in this
favorite pastime, surrounded by a small but appreciating audi-
ence, his life and his glory suddenly ceased forever. Some one,
probably actuated by a love of sport, or by a malicious motive,
informed a white man of a sort of desperado character, who
h append to be present, that White Breast was plotting mis-
chief against him. Without stopping to question or investi-
gate the truth of this statement, the enraged man instantly
dashed upon the chief, knocked him down and leaped upon
his breast with both feet, causing his instant death.
The names of those who settled within the present limits of
Polk at the earliest date are the Stevison family, George, James,
Andrew and their father; Edward, George and Rachael Billaps;
George Wilson, Mikel S. Morris, (who served as the first jus-
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264 Pioneers of Marion County.
tice of the peace within the present limits of the township
before its oi^imization; !]^chard B. Watts, Alexander Oaton,
ICardica Yearns, and Andrew Stortz. These all settled on the
north side of tUe river in 1843, except Watts, who settled near
where Coalport now is. John Babcock, Warren D., Frank
and John Everett, Andrew, George and William Karr, and
Bobert Ethrington settled in the township at later dates from
'45 to '47. Bat few of these still live in the connty, Andrew
Stevison being the only one of the first named still living near
where he first settled. Bobert Ethrington lives in Summit
The first school was taught by an Englishman, whose name
our informant could not remember, in a small log house built
for that purpose, near the creek, at the head of White Breast
prairie, in '48 or '49. John Everett next taught in the same
house. This little log school house also served the purpose of
a church occasionally, where Warren D. Everett, Baptist, and
John Demoss, United Brethren, preadied in it. T|ie flood of
'61, a never-to-be-forgotten event, as we have already seen,
swept the house away; and not far from where it stood, but
above high water mark, now stands a well-finished frame build-
ing large enough for any ordinary use in a country district.
W. D. Everett, Jas. Karr and Mike Morris erected the first
saw mill in '60, being a temporary affair, driven by horse-power.
It stood near the south bank of the river.
Bichard B. Watts was a native of Ohio, wliere he was bom
in 1816, moved to Indiana in '20; to Illinois in '30; to Jeffer-
son county, Iowa, in '42, and from thence to Marion county in
the spring of '43, and settled near the present site of Coalport.
During his early residence here he and his family suffered some
of the privations common to the times. During one winter they
were dependent upon the services of a coffee mill tor their
daily bread, and with it they ground ten bushels of buckwheat
that season.
John Babcock was also a native of Ohio. W"hen he settled
A
Township Histories. 255
here his family consisted of a wife and seven children, mostly
girls. He was a Mormon in faith, and his wife was a member
of that church. At one time daring a period of about six
weeks, his family was reduced to the verge of starvation, sub*
sisting almost entirely on nettles boiled for greens. On rare
occasions they obtained a piece of com bread from Mike Mor-
ris. This kind of diet produced a change in their complexions
from a natural to a dark, greenish hue, suggestive of poor
health.
There were two villages laid out in this township, but they
were never improved to any extent. The first is Eouseau, on
the south banik of' the river, in section 9. It was located by
Wm. Kent, and surveyed by James Eouseau, April 25, 1860,
and named for him. Here a preteiided effort was once made
to erect a dam and lock in the great visionaiy enterprise of
improving the navigation of the Des Moines river.
Coalport is located in section 14, at the point of a large
bend in the river, on the south side. It was laid out by Wm.
Welch, May 11, '57, and so named on account of the vast
quantity and superior quality of coal in its vicinity. No post
office was ever established in either place, and they still remain
mere hamlets.
The population of Polk township by the XJ. S. census, was:
Native 794
Foreign 85
Total 879
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256 ' Pioneers qf Marion Cotmty.
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CHAPTER XX
Knoxville — Geography and Early History — Names of First
Settlers — John M, Jones — Wooden Bowls — An India^n
Visitation — John Conrey — Eight with Wolves— JOandon J.
Burch — A Bough Experience in Pioneer Life.
At a called session of the commissioners' court, in Novem-
ber, 1846, it was ordered that town. 76, and all of 76, lying
south of the Des Moines river, both of range 19; also towns. 75
and 76, range 20, be declared a township, to be known as
Knoxville township. This included, besides all of the present
township, all of Polk on the south side of the river, all of
Union up to the south line of 77, and all of the present town-
ship of Pleasant Grove, included in town 76, range 20. Elec-
tions to be held at the county seat.*
At the organization of Polk in '48, and of Union in '50, tte
township was reduced to its present size. It is a large town-
ship, embracing mostly upland timber and prairie, of about
equal area. The only considerable streams running through
it are White Breast, English and Cedar. The first runs
through the east and north-east part of the township, the sec-
ond through the south-east, and the latter rises in the north
part, runs northward to the Des Moines.
Abundant evidences of coal are to be seen in the banks of
these streams, and also along the smaller creeks in the imme-
diate vicinity of Knoxville City. Several productive veins
have already been opened, principally eastward of town ; and
according to the report of a geological survey, recently made,
the city stands over an extensive coal field of from three to
' — - ■ I ■» .--■—■■■.■■-——I ..i-ii ■ ■■■I. i-_i.ii ,1. ■■- II , _ ^.,l,^,p I I ^— ^^— — I umi j0 ^mwm,ti\ —
*We have been unable to fludany record of the first election held In and for
this township.
' 1
Township Bistoriee, 267
five yeins to be reached at various depths. Fire and pottei^'s
clay also exist in the township.
Among those who settled in this township at an early date,
(besides those mentioned in the general history of the county,)
we note the names of the Jones family, John, Sen., John, Jun.
I6aac, George and William; Elias Fuller, L. 0. and John
(Jonrey, Tyler Overton, J. R. Welch, Conrad Walters, R. S.
Lowry, John Essex, M. Willcut, Michael Livingston, Lossen
G. Terry, Christopher Cox, Smith Hanton, Lauden J. and
William Burch.
1 John M. Jones (now owner of the Knoxville woolen factory,)
was a native of Ohio, and one among the first white men that
^ame to the county, ^eing an employee of the American Fur
Company, in that capacity he traveled over most of the state
in the summer and fall of 1842, and first msde a claim on
White Breast, Here he spent the winter in a camp, during
which time he made three trips veith team to Meel^s mil!, at
Keosauqua, for breadstuff, traveling a portion of the distance
on the ice of the Des Moines.
Soon after settlements were permitted, the elder Jones, with
the rest of the family, moved in. Mr. Jones, Sen., was a tur-
ner by trade. Having brought his tools with him, they at once
put up a temporary lathe, and proceeded to manufacture bowls
from slabs split from the tronks of walnut trees. This ware,
John, Jun,, loaded into his wagon, hauled them to the old set^
tlement, and peddled them out for corn, at from 26 to 75 cents
apiece. A load of bowls would thus secure him a load of com,
and this he would get ground at Meek's, and return with meal
enough to subsist upon for some time. Mr, J. says that some
of the stumps of the trees that furnished the materials for
these bowls are still visible.
They were frequently visited by the Indians during the
early period of their settlement here. On one occasion the
savages made the visit something of a visitatioi). The men
16
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268 Pioneers of Marion Covjnty.
were all out on a hunting expedition, leaving the mother and
only sister in charge of the house, when a squad of about two
hundred dusky warriors came in in single file, unannounced,
and totally regardless of the fears of the two defenseless
women, filling the little cabin to its utmost capacity. They
immediately began searching for plunder, laying hands upon
whatever they thought fit to eat. Among other things prized
by them as an article of food, were a couple of pigs in a pen
near the house, intended for breeders. The Indians thought
6ne of them would make an excellent mess of soup, and,
regardless of the protestations of the women, and their loud
calls for the men, who they hoped might be within hearing,
murdered the male swine, a shoat of sufficient age and size ta
possess much of the peculiar odor common to his species,
threw it across the back of a pony and vanished.
This was a loss not easily replaced in those days, for hogs
were scarce and money ditto. The expense of bringing such
stock from a distance made the loss at least $25.
John Conrey, uncle of L. 0. Conrey, settled where he still
resides, a few miles south of Knoxville city, March 20, 1845,
having made his claim and erected his cabin the fall previous.
During the first year his nearest neighbors were from three to
four miles distant, and his nearest convenience for breadstuff's
was Bonaparte, Yan Buren county.
Mr. 0. relates an adventure that occurred in the spring^
following, of which Elisha Wilcutt, one of his neighbors, was
the principal hero. He and Mr. Conrey had started on a hunt-
ing expedition ; and after having traveled together two or three
miles without seeing any game, they separated, hoping thereby
to meet with better success. A few minutes after Mr. Wilcntt
was surprised by five large timber wolves that came rushing-
down a hill, nearly abreast with each other, and met him in:
the most threatening manner. One large, black fellow seemed
to be the leader of the gang, and fell a victim to the contents of
Mr. W.'s rifle* But now having nothing to rely upon for further
protection but his dogs and hunting knife, he felt the extreme
\ '
Toionshi^ Hutoriea. 259
danger of his situation, and called loudly tor help. Mr. Con.
rey heard the report of the gun, and knew by the freightened
cry of his comrade, that he was in trouble, and hastened to his
relief. But, on reaching the scene of action he found Mr.
Wilcutt, with the help of his dogs, the victor, having dispatched
two more of the wolves, the remaining two having instinctively
adopted the theory that discretion is the better part of valor
and fled- The adventurers named the little creek near by
Wolf Eun, and it has been known by that name ever since.
Landan J. Burch, a prominent old settler in the northern
part of this township, and still a well-known resident there,
was born in Virginia in 1801. He became an orphan early
in life, and was subjected to many hardships and adventures
during a long career of changes of place and occupation, till
he finally located here in 1844. In relation to his adventurous
experience as a pioneer, we will let him speak for himself,
quoting from an elaborate paper submitted by him to the ''Old
Settler's Association" of this county:
" I and my brother William shouldered a parcel of provis-
ions, a coffee pot, an axe and a gun, and left Winchester some
time in January. We traveled up the Des Moines valley to
White Breast creek, and there took the claim where I now live
for myself, and my brother took that whereon John Fry now
lives. We stayed here eight or ten days, made some little im-
provement, lived in camp and suffered a great deal from cold.
During one day of the time it snowed, after which the weather
became warm enough for the bees to come out, but still cool
enough for some of them to become so chilled that they could
not fly far. Then we went bee-huoting. Instead of looking
up into the trees we traced up the hives by the fallen bees;
and by this means we found several swarms, some of them
quite rich.
" Then we had plenty of honey, but our bread and coffee
soon gave out, and we went to an Indian trader a': Eed Rock,.
t.i
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260 Pioneers of Marion County.
(or where the town now stands,) and got a supply of coffee^
meal, and a little whisky. Bat the snow was so deep, and IJie
weather otherwise so bad, that we conid not go on with onr
improvements; so we conclnded to go home and move onr
families np at the earliest practicable time.
^' A thaw commenced abont the time we started which was
about the last of January, and continued till the ice broke <m
the river, and we began to prepare for moving. We had now
been several years in Iowa, encountering all the difficulties at-
tending upon a newly settled country, and I had spent what
money I had brought from Kentucky. Besides improving
several lots in Winchester, I had built a small boat on the !Des
Moines river, with which I had carried lumber from Pass-
more's mill, on Lick creek, to Ottumwa, to build the first fnune
house there, and took my pay in trade.
" Oq the first of March we loaded our plunder on the boat,
at the mouth of Lick Creek, and started up the river. A man
named Miles Wilkenson took passage with us, intending to
take a look at the country, and join with me jn building a mill,
provided Jie liked the situation.
, Soon after we got on the way the weathw became cold and
stormy, and as our boat was an open one, and our children
small, we had to camp on shore every night for the sake of
fire. Besides, Wilkinson had the as^ue, and was not able to
work the boat more than half the time. In this way we got
along very slowly, and were twenty-one days getting to our
claims. But here we were at last, with our wives and lit4le
ones, five children each. Not a neighbor's (Jog could we hear
bark, nor a chicken crow. Wilkinson spent two days in pros-
pecting between where Knoxville now stands and the Des
Moines river, and came to the conclusion that the country
would never be settled enough to justify the building of a mill,
that the toll from all the custom we would get would hardly
feed a few pigs. So he went back and built a mill somewhere
in the southern part of Wapello county.
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Township ^[istorie^' 261
♦*A8 for Bill aad me, we were located, and if we. had no
kind neighbors to hold friendly conv^satton with, we had
frequent opportunities to listen to the howling of wolves. Yet
we were not quite deJ:)titute of neighbors. The Joneses had
settled in the timber west of Knoxville; Elias Fuller had m^de
ft settlement on White Breast, and Wm. McOord had located
between there and Red Rock, and he was my nearest neighbor.
Two bachelors living on the river, named Johnson, I also
becanae acquainted with.
" As soon as we got into a shelter brother Bill took my boat
and went to work on the river, carrying flonr from Meek'g Mill,
(Bonaparte) to the garrison on 'Ooon river, where Des Moines
City now is. The riveor was high, and my brother worked hard
to make even small wages. At the same time I worked about
home, planted three or four acres of corn, fixed up my smith
tools, did some little jobs in that line for my distant neighbors,
and also for the Indians, repairing their guns, etc., for which
they paid me punctually, with one exception. The children
also traded with.* the Indians in little trinkets, and thereby ,
obtained quite a friendly understanding with them. Both the
children and I acquired a knowledge of their language very
rapidly; but they left too soon to enable us to become perfect
in it, or to make it useful to us.
"The creek was full nearly all summer, and as I had a patch
of corn on each side of it, I had to cross pretty often in a little,
unwieldly canoe. On one of these trips I came very near losing
two of my children.
**This was the summer of '44, during the latter part of
which my brother Bill moved to his own claim, and we lived
about three-fourths of a mile apart. In August our families
all got sick, I being the only well one. We had got our stock
up from Van Buren county, during the summer, and when
sickness came the care and labor that fell upon my unaided
shoulders were enough to have employed three men. Our
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262
Fioneers of Marion County,
eldest daughter died after a lingering illness of about three
months. She died from the want of medical aid and ivttention,
when there was not a soul present except I and my sick family.
My wife was unable to turn herself in bed ; and as for me,
trouble and the loss of sleep had so nearly worn me out that I
scarcely knew anything. But for the fact that I was in good
health, we must have all perished.
"When I saw that my daughter was dying I went out every
few minutes and blew a little tin trumpet as loudly as I could,
hoping to attract the attention of some one who might be
within hearing. As it happened, a young man named Moyer,
was crossing the prairie at day dawn, and hearing the blast,
surmised it to be a note of alarm or distress, and came to the
house. , He and my brother laid out the corpse, and then went
abroad among our scattered neighbors, who came in and assisted
us to bury our child in a tolerably decent manner.
"Having failed, on account of sickness, to make atrip
the fall, our provisions gave out. We had plenty of milk, but
no bread. During sickness and after, I had to beat com in a
mortar and sift it for bread; and now this process had to be
kept up until the ice broke out of the river in the spring fol-
lowing. Then I made a voyage to the old neighborhood for a
cargo of bread stuft*. I shall never forget the rejoicing of the
children on our return. Little ones that could scarcely utter
their words plainly, would cry out, "we'll have plenty o'. bread
now, mother."
" On reaching Eddyville, during one of these trips, we fell
in with one of the agents of the contractor, named Scott, who
was there after corn for the garrison at Ft. Des Moines, and
who prevailed on us to ship a load to that place, offering a
high price. There was no available means of transporting
it by land just then, for the roads were so bad that a team
could not draw much more than would feed it for the trip.
" So we agreed to turn back. The weather was good to
Township Histories. 263
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start with, and if it so continued we calculated to make the
trip in eight or nine days. It was important to get provisions
enough to last us for that length of time. But, after insisting
very hard, all the meat we could get were a cor^ple of small '
thin sides of bacon. We had plenty of tea, and could have
supplied ourselves with plenty of molasses, but could procure / 5?f^;
only one small jug to hold it. Meal we had none to start with,
but supposed that when we should reach the horse mill, (or
rather ox mill,) just above where Coalport now is, we could get
a supply. But here we could get only about three quarts.
We could have got some of our cargo ground, but didn't,
thinking we could surely get a supply at Eed Rock. But we
were again disappointed, for the only eatable thing we could
get there was a peck of very small potatoes, and what whisky
we wanted.
** Here the weather turned cold, and the wind blew so strong
against us that we had to lay by. It grew so cold that the
water froze on our poles, making them so slippery and heavy
that we could not use them. And to add to our troubles, our
small potatoes, the only substitute we had for bread, froze and
became utterly worthless. We, however, made the best we
could of them by trading them to the Indians for maple sugar.
And they, in turn, made the best of them by thawing them
and drinking the juice with much relish.
" Having at last reached the Fort and delivered our load, we
started on our return voyage with nothing to eat, hoping to
reach Eed Rock before we should suffer much. At that time
there was but one settlement between the Fort and Red Rock,
on what is now called Butcher's Prairie. By the time we
reached this point the vidnd blew so hard up stream that we |^jl
could make little or na progress, though one hand went on
shore with a rope to pull while the others paddled on board.
" The situation was by no means promising, and we were
compelled to land and wait for fair weather. So I went to the / ! f i§ir|
1^"* rtt'.,
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264 Pioneers of Marion County.
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house to see if I could get something to eat. It \«^as occupied
by a man and his wife, whose natae I have forgotten. The
man was a sorlj fellow. No dry joke that I could pass in
stating my ca^e, could make him smile, and he looked suspi-
ciously at me and talked as though he thought the whole world
was composed of robbers, and that I had come to impose upon
him. In reply to my request for something to eat, he gruffly
said he had nothing for himself. But the woman wore a differ-
ent countenance, and from her pleased expression I was able
to glean a hope. And not only her words but her worka soon
confirmed it. She said we were suffering and must be fed.
So she went out and killed the only chicken she had, and with
taat and some flour, butter and milk, she provided us a fiill
meal, cooked. I carried it to the boat, and, after our feast,
when I returned the vessels, she would receive only the mod-
erate sum of fifty cents. She was truly a sister of charity.
Blessed be her memory.
'*Next morning the weather was quite calm, and we finished
our voyage without any further difficulty.
" Some time in the spring or summer of 1845, 1 commenced
building a mill, and in about twenty months began to grind.
It was a poor thing. I could not make more than sixteen or
eighteen bushels of meal per day, but every bushel of toll wa&
worth 50 cents, and, as many settlers had came into the ueigh-
borhood, I got all the grinding I could do. My custom
extended twelve or fifteen miles around; and after thi? there
was no scarcity of bread."
Tovmahip JEKetories. 265
CPAPTER XXL
Knoxville Township ContmueA — Conrad Walters — IBirst
Church Organization — First Preaching — Sleepy Hearer
— First School Teacher — KnoxvUle — First Steam, Scm
Mill — A Scene in the Early History of Knoxville City —
John Shearer — A Pioneer School — A Critical Situation —
Another — Tyler Overton.
Mach respected, and still well rememb^*ed among early
settlers, was the late Conrad Walters, whose name is alsa on
record in another place as a member of the first Board of Com-
missioners for the connty. Mr. Walters was a native ot Penn-
sylvania, where he was born in 1794, from which State he
came to Ohio in 1814, and learned the art of printing in Wil-
mington, Clinton county. After various removals he finally
came to Mt. Pleasant, Iowa, in 1839, and from there to this
connty in October, 1844, and settled six miles south-east of Knox-
ville. Here he remained till a few years previous to his death,
at which time, July 28, 1870, he resided in the city of Knox-
ville. His age was 77 years.
The first religious society that was organized in this town-
ship, was by Rev. Mr. Neur, of the M. E . Church, in 1844 or
1845, and the first regular house of worship was erected in
Knoxville City, in 1850 or 1851, during the pastoral charge oi
Rev. A. W. JohnscHi, of th^ same denomination. Eev. Mr.
Keur is remembered as among the first, (if not quite the first)
minister that broke the bread of life in the then wilderness of
Knoxville township. An anecdote is related of him in con-
nection with one of his first diaiCoorsQS here. Having become
acquainted with a young man named Willis, who was at work
for John Conrey, and who was also a member of his church,
266 Pioneers of Marion Oowniy.
Mr. Neur sent an appointment by him to preach at Mr. Oon-
rey's cabin, on a certain night. When the time came the
congregation consisted of Mr. Conrey, his wife and five chil-
dren and Brother Willis. During the sermon the latter, per-
haps overcome by fatigue, fell asleep and soon began to mani-
fest his condition by some loud snoring. Observing this the
preacher raised his voice a key higher, but in a kindly tone,
said, " wake up. Brother Willis, I'll soon be through." This
roused the sleeper, and the preacher went on with his sermon
as though nothing out of the way had happened.
The first day school taught in this township, was by F. ^
Monahan, in 1846, in what is now the north-west quarter of
the city of Knoxville. School averaged twenty-five scholars.
Mr. Monahan was a native of Ohio, from which State he immi-
grated to this State in 1844, and to this county in 1846, and
settled on White Breast creek.
The history of the city of Knoxville, it being the county
seat, has already been related in connection with the general
history of the county, and we scarcely need transcend the limits
of this work by noting its progress and present wealth. Suffice
it to say that it is a place of average proportions and popula-
tion for an inland city; and, being situated in a healthy locality,
and in the midst of a rich agricultural and mineral region, its
advantages are inferior to few other inland towns, and will soon
be made superior to many by the addition of one or two impor-
tant railroad connections. Knoxville is now supplied with
several kinds of manufacturing establishments, a lumber yjud,
numerous churches, two newspapers and a large city school,
all of which attest the enterprise, moral status and intelligence
of the people.
In contrast with the above we note one or two incidents that
may be well remembered by many citizens:
In the fall of 1864, Geo. Calvin and Ira Curtis purchased a
six horse power steam engine, in Washington county, brought
Township Btatories. 267
it to Knoxville and put up the first circular saw mill in what is
now the south side of town. When the mill got into operation
it proved to be quite a curiosity to the people, crowds of whom
came to see it work. Now all the modern improvements that
have been attached to this powerful agent for the operation of
almost every kind of machinery, scarcely calls forth the wonder
of an individual.
In 1850, a Mr. Henry kept a hotel near the northwest comer
of the square, and during a session of the district court, the
small house was crowded. One night a peddler came to lodge
• there, and for want of room took up his lodging in the bar-
room, which place was presided over by one Eph Henby.
During the night two persons named Walters and Dunham,
feeling funny with liquor, pulled the peddler out of his cot by
the legs, and dragged him into the kitchen. In this operation
the prostrate but struggling itinerant merchant kicked one of
his assailants in the breast, which was the signal for fight
The uproar now became so intense that e^ery lodger in the
house was roused, and the fighting propensity of a large pugi-
listic individual, named Kaufman, was stirred up. He coolly
got up, dressed himself and went down stairs, declaring his
intention to put a stop to the fuss or whip somebody. Finding
Dunham he went about his mission at once and gave that dis-
turber a good thrashing. At this moment Henby, the bar-
keeper, anxious to restore order, but afraid of getting into the
muss, thrust his head down the stairway and called out a com-
mand to keep the peace. As a reward for this unlucky inter-
ference, Walters hurled a boot at Henby, that struck him in
the face with such violence as to cause blood to flow pretty
freely. For this breach of good manners, Kaufman, the peace-
maker, deemed it his duty to thrash Walters also, by which
peace was finally restored. Early next morning the parties
atoned for their fun by going to a justice's office and paying a
fine. Such scenes are now remembered as things of the past.
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268 Pioneers of Marion County.
I As this qhapter would be a short one, if ende4 here, we may
venture to add a few miseellapeous items that may not be
wholly without interest to some who remember them.
No old settler in Knoxville township is better remembered
than John Shearer, He fii'st c^une to Liberty in '46, where he
remained only about tJiree months, then moved to his present
locality, a little east of Knoxville city.
Mr. Shearer shook with the ague during most of the first year
of his pioneer life; was unable to labor, but by teaching
school and trading in claims, lie was enabled to live and save
enough to buy the eighty acres of laad he now lives on. Mr.
Shearer's school teaching was the real pioneer kind. He was em*
piloyed by subscription, two ddlars per scholar for three months,
and " boarded round." The school house was a little cabin origi-
nally built and used as a stable, by John R. WeJch. It was
supplied with a bark floor, but was neither chunked nor daubed.
Babbits were numerous in the surrounding brush, and so tam^
that some of them would frequently come into the house during
school hours, to the great amusement of the twelve young ideas
Mr. S. was trying to teach how to shoot. Once scholars and
teacher took a hplf holiday, and employed the time in ferreting
out and capturing a weaple that had taken a homestead ^^ut
the timbers of the old cabin. At times, when the weather wse
warm, and there was no excitement to keep the scholars
awake, some of the younger opes would stretch themselves on
the narrow benches and go to sleep. Occasionally one would
fall €^, which circumstance would keep the ottiers awake for a
time.
The teacher was also a good hunter and employed much of
his leisure time hunting for the benefit of his subscribsrs.
During one short expedition he secured venison enough to last
them two weeks.
Just previous to the flood of 1851, KeUon Butchw built a
com mill on a small tributary of White Breast, which was
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Township HistorieB.
269
resorted to from quite a distance, find the grain accumulated so
rrfpidly that there Wad not enough room for it in the small
mill house, and the proprietor had to stow away at least a
hundred bushels of it in his eabin near by. One night the
flood came so rapidly that there was no time titoe to save the
com, nor even any of the household property, and the family
could only think- of saving themselves. Escape to the uplands
was impossible, and they had to climb to the loft. This was
almost floorless, only two or three naitow boards being laid
across the joists. On these Mr. and Mrs. Butcher, their five
children, and Mr. Shearer, who happened to be there, perched
themselves as best they could and passed the remainder of the
night in a painful state of apprehension for their safety, as
they listened to the roar of the rising flood and felt the frail
building tremble. But for one providential circumstance they
would have in all probability found a watery grave. A great
log came down and lodged in silch a position just above the
cabin as to protect it from a large amount of heavy drift-wood
that must otherwise have swept it from its foundation. When
the welcome daylight dawned, the besieged could more fully
realize their perilous situation and be thankful for the preser-
vation of their lives and for the relief that came by friendly
neighbors. As may be supposed the com was totally rained.
In those days com was not so plentiful but that a small
amout was deemed worth raising. In this connection we may
relate an anecdote of one Billy Williams, who got himself into
an embarrassing situation in consequence of his efforts to pre-
vent a bushel of the valuable grain from going to waste. A
wagon load of it had passed near his house and by some
means a quantity of it was dropped along the road. Billy
happened along soon afterwards and thought he had better
gather it up for his own use than let it quite go to loss. But
not having any basket or bag to put it in, he was for a monient
uncertain how he should manage it. Bnt presently an original
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270 Pioneers of Marion County.
idea came to his aid. He could make a bag of his pants.
Being in an unfrequented place, he had no expectation of
being discovered in the execution of this new idea, so he took
off his pants, tied the lower ends of the legs and stuffed them
as full as they would button with the ears of corn. Now
being ready to bear away his prize, he looked up the road and
saw two women coming toward him. They were ovidently
coming to his house. Mortified as he was, he shouldered his
load and rushed for a haystack that stood within calling dis-
tance of his dwelling. Here he took shelter, and as no time
was to be lost, he called energetically for Jemima, his wife.
" What do you want? " queried the latter, a little surprised
if not alarmed at the earnestness of his tone.
" Bring my other pants," came the answer.
" Tour tother pants! " returned the puzzled Jemima. " What
you want with 'em out there ? "
" Bring 'em along, and be 'quick about it! " cried the impa-
tient Billy.
Of course she flew to obey the command, tearing that Billy
might somehow be in a bad fix, but was happy to find his case
no worse than it was. Billy got dressed as soon as he could
and went to the house, hoping he had escaped the notice of
the visitors, who were now there. But somehow the joke soon
got abroad without the aid of Billy or his wife either.
Tyler Overton, who still resides where he originally settled,
in the southern part of the township, arrived there on the 28th
of May, 1843, in company with Henry Miller, each carrying a
load of provisions on their backs from the Welch sett 
