USA > Iowa > Story County > A history of Story county, Iowa: Carefully compiled, from the earliest settlement to the present, March 1, 1887. > Part 1
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COLUMBIA LIBRARIES OFFSITE CU09544771
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Columbia University in the City of Hem Dork
THE LIBRARIES
Bequest of Frederic Bancroft 1860-1945
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STORY COUNTY COURT HOUSE.
A HISTORY
-OF -
STORY COUNTY,
IOWA.
Carefully Compiled, from the Earliest Settlement to the Present.
MARCH 1, 1887.
BY WILLIAM G. ALLEN, NEVADA, IOWA.
DES MOINES: IOWA PRINTING COMPANY. 1887.
976St 16 Al 54
50511F
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v
. 1959
505111503
BVT
INTRODUCTORY.
This history of Story County, Iowa, is based on a pretty thorough knowledge of the county and the people, and may be relied on in the main. Many years ago the writer hereof was acquainted with nearly all the first settlers of our county, and has seen much of its features. By the assistance of many of these first settlers, scattered over the county, I am enabled to give such circumstances and items as occurred from time to time, connected with the official records of the county and Col. John Scott's historical address made on July 4, 1876, at Nevada. This address is one of special interest to the citizens of Story County ; the most valuable Fourth of July ad- dress ever made in our county.
The grumblers of hard times now should surely profit by reading up the early history of Story County and learn what hard times mean. All citizens of their respective counties should be interested in a history of their county-an account of affairs at home-if they have any interest in knowing the particulars and hardships of the past compared with our prosperous present. This history will tell you what you know-what you don't know, and what you ought to know.
Very Truly,
NEVADA, IOWA, March 1, 1887.
WM. G. ALLEN.
-
HISTORY OF STORY COUNTY, IOWA.
BY W. G. ALLEN.
LETTER FROM JOHN RANDOLPH GOODIN, OF OHIO, JANUARY 30, 1857. [For the Advocate.]
"Mr. Editor: Happy-thrice happy-am I to make the acquaint- ance of the Story County Advocate. A little over one year ago, I went to Nevada, and at that time there were but eight or ten log cabins to mark the spot where your now prosperous village stands. When I left there this past spring, some three hundred intelligent and enterprising inhabitants were present to interpret the mystery of its prosperity and progress. Few counties, indeed, can boast of a faster people, and but few justly boast of a richer soil. Its set- tlement would have been, no doubt, more rapid, had its peculiar advantages been sooner made known. Situated as it is, in the geographical center of the State, with a sufficiency of excellent timber and rich, rolling prairie, it would be passing strange, indeed, did it not receive a consideration equal to the advantages presented. As the capitol question is again agitated, and Ft. De Moine begins to lay the wires, it would be well for you to urge your claims-for claims you have-for a central location. This vexed question ought to be settled, in my mind, on the equitable principle of ' popular sovereignty' -- regardless of past 'compromises' and 'compacts.' Then send out the Advocate as the representative of Story County, .and let the masses know that the "Injins " have long since left your regions, and in their stead remain as intelligent and go-a-head- ative whites as ever graced the soil of the 'Hawkeye,' or any other State. While the farmer in this county expends a life of toil and vexation in opening up a farm which seldom benefits him, but sometimes his posterity ; the Iowa farmer, with less expense, less toil in the short space of three or four years by proper industry, may be the owner of a well cultivated farm-clear of roots and stumps-and, in the language of somebody, ‘be a monarch of (nearly) all he surveys.' I have no doubt, from what has already transpired, that my wildest conjectures and anticipations in regard to the future of Story County will, ere long, be realized. It is said, that 'Westward the star of Empire takes its way,' and I am inclined to believe that the emigration to the west next spring will be very great; yet Kansas will, doubtless, receive a share. There is
6
HISTORY OF STORY COUNTY, IOWA.
nought to prevent Story from becoming one of the most populous, as it is now one of the best counties in the State of Iowa. The railroad once completed, people will begin to ascertain and realize the importance of ' pitching their tents' within her borders, as she will then be thrown open to the gaze of the traveling populace, who will, at a glance, perceive the ' wealth that is in her,' heretofore un- known but to a few. The emigration from this section to Iowa, will not, I apprehend, be as great the coming season as during the last. They seem to be alarmed at the shrieks of those puny ones who went west expecting to find a country where " summer would last all the year," but who now seem fully determined to seek out a home in some fair region where they. will not have to 'bide the peltings of such pitiless storms,'-but let such go. "Tis the hardy sons of toil you want to develop the resources of your beautiful county and State; and not the timid who are continually complain- ing of either heat or cold. But I must close. J. R. G.
"KENTON, OHIO, January 30, '57."
ITEMS FROM STORY COUNTY ADVOCATE OF MARCH 11, 1857.
" Resigned .- Dr. Allen Bell has resigned the office of constable of Nevada township. The county judge has appointed Nelson Hockley in his place.
"Resigned .- Mr. R. J. Zenor has resigned the office of justice of the peace for Franklin township.
" Married-January 25th, by Rev. Ira H. Rees, Mr. John. B. Phipps and Miss Martha J. Chandler.
"March 4th, by Elias Pocock, Esq., Mr. H. C. Wakefield to Miss Lovinna M. Garbison.
"March 8th, by E. G. Day, Esq., Mr. Francis M. Newton to Miss Margaret Mullen.
"At Kenosha, Wis., Mr. Frederick Reichauer, of Story county, to Miss Augusta Randeau, of Hanover Kingdom, Germany.
"Hon. S. G. Winchester, delegate to the Constitutional Conven- tion for this district, has favored us with several days proceedings of the convention. The work of constitution making is progress- ing as rapidly as possible. Mr. Winchester is a worker.
"Several new mills (flouring mills) are being erected in this county.
"New Township-Collins township, in the southeast corner of the county, has been organized.
"A Hog Story .- At New Philadelphia, Story County, we learn that three hogs lived from the first hard storm this winter ('56-7) until February 24th in a hay stack, a space of about seven weeks, with nothing to eat except hay. When discovered two were alive and are now doing well, the other is missing-supposed to have been eaten by the others. The above appears almost incredible, but we learn it from a gentleman of undoubted veracity.
"February 17, 1858, was the coldest of the season; mercury twenty degrees below zero."
7
HISTORY OF STORY COUNTY, IOWA.
FOR THE STORY COUNTY ADVOCATE, FEBRUARY 17, 1857.
"In accordance with certain resolutions passed by the citizens of Story county assembled en masse at the court house, in Nevada, January 30, 1858, the citizens of Franklin township, Story County, Iowa, met at the residence of J. H. Keigley, February 6, 1858, for the purpose of organizing a protective committee to prevent the sacri- fice of property at sheriff and constable sales.
" The house was brought to order by calling Wm. McMichael to the chair, and appointing Philip Bechtel secretary. The following resolutions were unanimously adopted:
"1. Resolved, That whereas the scarcity of money and the pressure of the times, that we severally and mutually bind ourselves together to assist in pre- venting the sacrifice of our property at sheriff's or constable's sales, notwith- standing we are all willing to pay our debts as soon as possible.
"2. Resolved, That we have appointed a committee of three, whose duty it shall be to appraise property when executed within this township at a fair aver- age value. The appraisers are Solomon Young, Wm. McCoy and John H. Keigley. And we, the undersigned, pledge ourselves that property shall not sell at less than two-thirds of its appraised value.
"3. Resolved, Furthermore, that when property is executed that so many of us as can will attend the sale, and see that it shall not sell for less than two- thirds of its appraised value.
"4. Resolved, That the proceedings of this meeting be published in the Story County Advocate.
"Meeting adjourned.
"PHILIP BECHTEL, Secretary."
"WM. MCMICHAEL, Chairman.
[The following explanations of the cause of the above proceed- ings were published soon after:]
"The Iowa State Journal is right in conjecturing that the citi- zens of Story have been 'slightly annoyed' by the legal executioner. When a farm worth in ordinary times $1,200, sells at forced sale for $60 or $70,-when a good yoke of oxen worth $70 sells at from $5 to $15 per yoke -- and a good two-horse wagon worth $75 brings only $15 or $20, and other property in the same ratio-is it not time to begin to be 'annoyed' Mr. Journal? Yet these have all occurred here, owing to the absence of money and an appraisement law. Our citizens are an honest, industrious and law-abiding people, and are anxious to pay their debts, but owing to the entire absence of a · home market, and want of means or channel to ship produce abroad, thus having no foreign market, they are unable to do so. They have waited for the present General Assembly to enact some law for their relief, yet nothing has been done, or is likely to be, it is feared, by that body until all debtors' property is sacrificed and their debts still unpaid. It was supposed that immediate action would be taken upon this all important topic, as it was absolutely demanded, regardless of what foreign creditors might think of it or us, by the Legislature; as they have done nothing, and believing it useless to wait longer upon their action, a large portion of the cit- izens concluded to take the only other course left them to get relief.
8
HISTORY OF STORY COUNTY, IOWA.
How this move will work remains to be seen. On our part we trust there will be no occasion to transgress the statute or any other law, for mob rule is, at best, a short-lived remedy-though the step taken by our citizens should not be so classed, as it is nothing more or less than self-protection, which is in accordance with all laws. We would urge upon the Legislature the necessity of immediate action, so that all may know what course to pursue in the premises."
(For such a law as above demanded, many citizens of Story county petitioned; and it was urged by Hon. J. L. Dana, then our repre- sentative in the House, and it was not long thereafter until the appraisement law was passed.)
THE FOLLOWING LETTER WAS WRITTEN AT DES MOINES BY HON. J. L. DANA WHILE A MEMBER OF THE IOWA LEGISLATURE, 1857-8.
" DES MOINES, February 15, 1858.
" Dear Thrall: It may not be uninteresting to some of our friends to hear that the law providing for the foreclosure of mort- gages by publication and sale has been repealed by the action of the General Assembly at its present session. There has always been some doubt concerning sales made in accordance with what is un- derstood to be the provisions of the Code, as to whether property so sold was subject to redemption as property is which is sold by virtue of an execution. The best judges entertain various opinions concerning the matter. I think the people of Iowa will say that by repealing a law that has done so much harm, and but little good, the Legislature has done a wise act. J. L. DANA."
FROM THE ADVOCATE OF FEBRUARY 17, 1858, WE COPY THE FOL- LOWING:
" House, February 5, 1858 .- Mr. Dana introduced an act regula- ting judgments and executions. Laid on table and ordered printed. "House, February 6th .- Mr. Dana introduced an act to appoint commissioners to locate the Asylum for the Deaf and Dumb in Hardin county. Read twice and referred to the committee on charitable institutions.
" House, February 6th .- Mr. Dana presented a petition of one hundred and thirty-six citizens of Story county for an appraise- ment law. Also a petition of citizens of Story county for a more strict prohibitory law."
LOCATION OF THE COUNTY SEAT AT NEVADA.
The Legislature of the State of Iowa appointed three commis- sioners for the purpose of locating the county seat for Story County. Joseph M. Thrift, of Boone County, Johnson Edgar, of Jasper County and Thomas Mitchell, of Polk County, were the locating commissioners appointed. After a pretty thorough exam-
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HISTORY OF STORY COUNTY, IOWA.
ination of a number of localities, they decided on the location which Nevada now is occupying ; the ez nw4, and the w2 ned section 7, township 83, range 22. Jenkins W. Morris entered the land July 1, 1853, showing entry four days after the location was made. The location was made June 27, 1853, because Mr. Thos. Mitchell, (one of the commissioners), was not present on account of sickness in his family. Messrs. Thrift and Edgar made the location, and Mr. Thrift named the town-"Nevada." It was a favorite name called after the "Sierra Nevada" range of mountains in California. It is said Mr. Thrift was so attached to the name "Sierra Nevada," he named a daughter of his "Sierra Nevada."
Judge E. C. Evans, who was then the county Judge arranged with Mr. Morris for the land, in payment of which the judge gave a deed in behalf of the county for one-third the lots and blocks, when the one hundred and sixty acres were laid off regularly. As a matter of course Jenkins W. Morris had to first deed to the county, then the other arrangements followed.
Soon after this location was made, say within two months after, Nevada was regularly surveyed by Mr .- Barnard, surveyor of Polk County.
Prior to the location the following election took place:
At the first election held in the county, April 4, 1853, the following county officers were elected: Evan C. Evans, County Judge; for Recorder, John Zenor; for Clerk, Franklin Thompson; for Sher- iff, Eli Deal; Surveyor, Otho French; Coroner, Shadrick Worral; School Fund Commissioner, John H. Kiegley.
The votes were canvassed by the first Board of Canvasser for the county, Samuel B. McCall, County Judge, of Boone County, Adolphus Prouty and James Corben, assisting Justices of the Peace of Story County. There were then two precincts-"Indian" and "Story." Sixty-three votes were cast April 4, 1853, for County Judge. The Board counted the votes April 9, 1853. Immedi- ately after these county officers elect were sworn in, the county set up "House-keeping" for itself.
You will see by our Official and Business directory for 1857, on page 18, (the first directory of nearly the same kind appeared in February, 1857,) that we were nearly all Land Agents, Attorneys at Law, Doctors, Merchants, etc., etc. Well, when we could not sell land or town lots to strangers, we would try each other so as to keep up the boom.
Well, in the Advocate of February, 1857, I find this war-like news: "Two two-horse wagon loads of muskets passed through this place," (Nevada), "last week bound for Ft. Dodge. This looks decidedly war-like. They will assist, no doubt, in keeping the In- dians in check if necessary." We old settlers well recollect the In- dian scare we had in 1857, at the time of the Spirit Lake massacre. Some of the citizens of Story County left their homes and came to Nevada for protection and safety; but the scare was soon over, and they returned in peace to their respective honies. This was about
10
HISTORY OF STORY COUNTY, IOWA.
March or April, 1857, we "old ones" came near seeing the elephant, or thought we did. Who of us have forgotten the trials brought upon us in part by that extraordinary winter of 1856-57. The old settlers cannot forget it.
We notice that the "Agricultural Society, the Board of Directors of the County Society, are (were) requested to meet at the office of the President on Tuesday next, at 2 o'clock, P. M. Important busi- ness demands attention." I also find under the head of "Announce- ments," the following: "The Rev. Mr. Noe will preach at the resi- dence of John H. Keigly, on Skunk River, Saturday, August 29; at 2 o'clock, P. M .; and on the following Sabbath at 11 A. M., and 3 p. M." There had been preaching, however, in Nevada and else- where in the county a number of years prior to 1857; for I was at a meeting in December, 1854, held at Mr. Geo. Dye's house, who then resided on section 24, township 83 north, range 22 west-and still that was not the first.
EARLY BOUNDARY OF STORY COUNTY:
"It was a part of Benton County in 1837, and even later. Es- tablished and boundaries defined, January 13, 1846. Attached to the county of Benton four days later, for election, revenue and ju- dicial purposes; and the same day to the county of Polk for the same purposes. Attached to the county of Boone, January, 22, 1853. See Acts of the Seventh Legislative Assembly, chapters 82, 96 and 101: Fourth General Assembly, chapter 12.
Named in honor of the eminent jurist, Joseph Story, for a third of a century Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States. Story County completed her organization by electing her county officers April 4, 1853, under an Act of the General Assem- bly approved January, 1853. The boundary of the county, as it now exists, was fixed January 13, 1846. So it is, now, 1887, forty- one years old.
The following is clipped from the Story County Advocate of August 26, (1857). which would seem to show the fears some had those days of the Indians north and northwest of us :
"ST. PAUL, August 9, (1857,)-Little Crow and his band of one hundred and twenty warriors have returned from their expedition in search of Ink-pa-du-tah, having found his camp and dispatched four of the murderers. He brought the scalps of the slain to the Superintendent of the lower Sioux Agency.
A band of fifteen or sixteen Chippewas are plundering settlers about fifty miles north of this place." "St. Louis, August 15, (1857) -Advices from Fort Kearney state that a party of nineteen drovers in charge of upwards of 800 cattle, arrived; destination, Utah. The expedition was attacked twenty-seven miles above the Fort on the first instant by one hundred and fifty Cheyennes; all the cattle and twenty mules run off, one man killed, another severely
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HISTORY OF STORY COUNTY, IOWA.
wounded-three Indians slain. Col. Sumner started in pursuit." These outrages occurred as a result of the Spirit Lake massacre which was in the March prior. When we read of Mrs. Marble's, Mrs. Noble's, Miss Gardner's and Mrs. Thatcher's extreme suffer- ings, and which commenced at Spirit Lake, it is enough to arouse the feelings of every one who possesses a spark of humanity. There were a few who reached Story County after very severe ex- posures and sufferings, who made their escape almost miraculously from this massacre.
Mrs. Marble's account was published in the Washington Union, of July 30, (1857), and then copied by the Story County Advocate, August 26, 1857, as follows :
"Statement of Mrs. Marble. Application at the Department for Indemnity for loss of property .- Mrs. Marble who, with others, was recently made a prisoner by a party of Sioux Indians, had an interview with the Commissioner of Indian Affairs yesterday morn- ing. In her application for indemnity for property destroyed by the Indians, she states that on the thirteenth of March last a party of Sioux Indians numbering about seventy, of whom thirty were war- riors belonging to Ink-pa-du-tah's band in amity with the United States, came to her residence, on the west side of Spirit Lake, killed her husband and destroyed and carried away property amounting, in the aggregate, to $2,229, of which $700 was gold coin.
After having murdered her husband and buried his body in the snow, they claimed as their prisoners Mrs. Noble, Miss Gardner, Mrs. Thatcher and herself and compelled them to carry heavy bur- dens and plod their weary way with their feet entirely naked,- through snow to the depths of two, three and four feet, occasion- ally crossing rivers, where they were forced to wade, where oftimes the water would nearly immerse their persons, and compel them to ward off the drifting ice with their feeble hands to keep it from bruising their shivering bodies. In this manner they were driven be- fore the savages for the space of ten weeks, during which time the squaws were allowed to abuse them in the most cruel manner, striking them with clubs, axes, etc., and their sufferings were of such a character that language is inadequate to the task of a truth- full description. After suffering these hardships and privations she was rescued by a party of Sac-Qui-Pale Indians, to whom the Agent Flandrau paid $1,090 for her ransom. Some two weeks be- fore her release Mrs. Thatcher was thrown into the Big Sioux river. Upon attempting to get out, rifle balls were fired into her body until she expired. Her husband, prior to his murder, held a pre-emption claim for one hundred and sixty acres of land, on which he had settled; and Mrs. Marble believes she is entitled to appropriate remuneration to the amount of $200 in lieu of this claim which she was forced to abandon. She adds that she has not recovered any portion of the property which she has specified, and has not herself, nor through others, sought to obtain revenge on the Indians.".
12
HISTORY OF STORY COUNTY, IOWA.
In this narrative, Mrs. Marble does not say what became of Mrs. Noble or Miss Gardner; the above occurrence is only one of many occurrences of "man's inhumanity to man."
The Hamilton County supervisors have appropriated $300 for a tablet of polished brass to commemorate the heroism of. citizens of that and Webster County who went to the rescue of the settlers, at Spirit Lake in March, 1857, when Ink-pa-du-tah's Sioux band massacred twenty-seven whites .- Story City Review.
January 29, 1887.
POPULATION AND STATISTICS FOR STORY COUNTY,
AT DIFFERENT DATES-1852 To 1887 INCLUSIVE.
Population-1840, entire population for Iowa was 43,112; Foreign born, 2,983.
Population-1852, for Story county, was 214, of whom 100 were females. There were then 43 voters.
Population-1855 was 1,568 persons. Taxes. $3,990.30.
Population-1856 was 2,868, of whom 1,308 were females; were five to a square mile; 640 voters.
Population-1864 were 5,000 persons. Taxes, $29,145.49.
In 1864 lands valued at $1,155,669; lots, $42,227; personal, $215,- 351; total, $1,413,247.
In 1865 to 1870 increase in population was 97 per cent; nearly doubling.
Population-1867 was 6,888; females; 3,398; 1,302 voters.
Population-1870 to 1875, increase in population was 14.2 per cent; least per cent noted.
Population-1875 to 1880, increase in population was 27 per cent. In 1880, number farms, 2,218 ; families, 3,125 ; dwellings, 3,066. Population-1880, population born in United States, 13,923; were 29 to a square mile.
Population-1875, Story county, 13,311; taxes, $97,683.06; 2,574 voters.
In 1876 lands valued at $2,709,375 ; lots, $189,104; personal, $655,444; total, $3,551,923.
Population-1880, 16,906 persons; 9 colored; 8,131 were females. In 1886 valuation of lands, $3,259,935; lots, $434,659; personal, $972,047; total valuation, $4,666,641.
LEVY FOR 1886-TAXES.
County levy.
$ 18,444.87
State . . . .
11,527.69
County. school 4,611.05 Bond.
4,611.05
Bridge 9,222.10
Poor
6,916.57
(
1
13
HISTORY OF STORY COUNTY, IOWA.
Road
7,823.36
School house
4,475.80
Teachers' fund
37,683.44
Contingent
12,439.79
Corporation
3,520.90
Library
298.82
Drainage
674.16
Side walk
228.44
Poll
1,923.50
Dog
881.00
Highway to school house
580.91
Grand total.
$ 125,863.45 This levy is for collection in '1887.
THE STORY COUNTY ADVOCATE OF AUGUST 26, 1857, HAS THE FOL- LOWING ITEM FOR OUR ATTENTION.
" AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY."
" The board of directors of the county society are requested to meet at the office of the President, on Tuesday next at 2 o'clock P. M. Important business demands attention."
We therefore are informed we had an organization of this kind as early as August, 1857. I think the organization was first made 1856, or early in 1857, but never secured fair grounds until May 7,1869.
NEVADA DIRECTORY FOR 1857.
COUNTY OFFICERS FOR 1857.
E. C. Evans, County Judge.
(Geo .. A. Kellogg elected Judge August 3, '57.)
Wm. Lockridge, Treasurer and Recorder, elected August 3, 1857. Wm. Thompson, Clerk.
Geo. Child, Sheriff.
R. H. Mitchell, County Surveyor.
J. W. Cessna, Coroner.
J. J. Bell, School Fund Commissioner.
T. E. Alderman and I. T. Evans tied, each receiving 203 votes for Drainage Commissioner, at April election of 1856.
Jas. S. Frazier, Prosecuting Attorney.
Isaac Romane, County Assessor, elected April, 1857.
ATTORNEYS-AT-LAW AND LAND AGENTS.
Geo. A. Kellogg, Attorney and Land Agent.
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HISTORY OF STORY COUNTY, IOWA.
J. L. Dana, Attorney and Land Agent.
Jas. S. Frazier, Attorney and Land Agent.
John Scott, Attorney and Land Agent.
C. D. Berry, General Land Agent. SURVEYORS.
R. H. Mitchell, Surveyor.
W. G. Allen, Surveyor.
D. J. Norris, Surveyor.
DRUGGISTS.
V. V. Adamson & Bro., Druggists.
DRY GOODS AND GROCERIES.
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