USA > Iowa > Cedar County > A topical history of Cedar County, Iowa, Volume I > Part 1
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Gc 977.701 C32a v.1 1236871
M. L.
GENEALOGY COLLECTION
ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY 3 1833 01081 0445
Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2018
https://archive.org/details/topicalhistoryof01aurn
A TOPICAL HISTORY
OF
3
CEDAR COUNTY,
IOWA
Edited By C. RAY AURNER, M. A.
VOLUME I
CHICAGO THE S. J. CLARKE PUBLISHING CO.
1910
PREFACE
1236871
A recent lament has been heard in reference to the fact that certain portions of pioneer history of Indian Warfare cannot now be written since those who were participants in those events of the long ago made no record that has been preserved or seemed to consider the events of the time of importance enough to make mention of them in any permanent form.
For this reason those who attempt to find authority for this phase of American history will look in vain for the sources.
Recently it was suggested that the points of interest in the campaign of Abraham Lincoln in the Black Hawk war be marked in some suitable way. This only emphasizes the tendency of the times to take more interest in fixing the points in local history while those yet living can verify the facts as they appear. This will leave in some form a distinct feature of the community.
Pride in one's own province is not a distinguishing characteristic of the mov- ing population that settled this portion of the United States. Only enough remain to furnish a suggestion of the former early settlers and they are the ones who must furnish the data for all the unmarked or unrecorded material that one may rightfully use in an attempt to write on any topic.
A visitor to New England is constantly reminded of the events in his country's. history that took place in that vicinity. He cannot escape the sight of monument, inscription, or relic, and he is led to inquire why these should be in this part of the United States and so few in comparison in his own environment. Many things that should have been recorded and those concerned been the better able to relate or preserve for future relating are now passed beyond recall. Future generations. will never continue a custom for which no incentive is furnished. That should be the aim in all attempts in writing history-to furnish some inducement to the. generations following to produce a better citizenship, a better method of doing things, that those who come after may endeavor to rise higher in the attempt. to reach ideals.
It is not expected that every item of importance can be gathered into a small volume by any one in a brief time, but a grouping of events topically, that will . give a fair account of the times in which they occurred, will be the measure of
5
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HISTORY OF CEDAR COUNTY
sincere effort. The first aim is truth, the second the place where the truth is found so far as it can be located.
The history of a county may lead one far astray in the search for the begin- ning of things and the temptation to follow these suggestions to the end has been very great. The limit, however, must be placed somewhere and all would not agree on the point. It ought to be safe enough to stop with matters that have to do with the development of the county directly and its relation to its neighboring territory.
Cedar county citizens were interested in the preservation of all that goes to assist in the preparation of such a volume as early as 1868. At that time the members of the Board of Supervisors and other citizens met in the clerk's office in the court house for the purpose of organizing, in some way, to forward his- torical facts to the state department at Des Moines. This was the object of the meeting as stated by Lawrie Tatum, one of the leaders in the movement. He emphasized the fact of the necessity of such action if the history was ever made possible. John S. Tuthill was the chairman of this meeting and Wm. Elliott the secretary. Resolutions offered by Lawrie Tatum were adopted in the fol- lowing form: Resolved, That there be at least one person appointed for each township to collect and collate all the facts and circumstances attending the settlement, rise, and progress of his township, and forward the same to Judge Tuthill by January Ist if possible.
According to this the members of the committee so appointed were: Center, W. H. Tuthill; Pioneer, A. B. Oakley; Fremont, J. C. Batdorf ; Dayton, J. P. Ferguson; Massillon, H. B. Potter; Springfield, Thomas Shearer; Red Oak, W. A. Rigby; Cass, Robert Gower; Inland, Hiram Frank; Farmington, Frank Butterfield ; Sugar Creek, James H. Leech ; Rochester, John Baker; Iowa, Lawrie Tatum; Springdale, Wm. S. Chase; Linn, John Dance; Gower, R. E. Campbell.
Ten years after this the first attempt to put the collected account in book form was undertaken. No authority is given for the conclusion, but one may judge that the material put into the letters from "Antiquary," published in the "Post" came largely from this source. The information particularly desired at that time was concerning the very first settlers ; when and from where they came ; progress and prosperity of the township; religious interests; church organiza- tions, and denominations; incidents in the lives of persons best known and biographical matter.
If such a plan had been carried to a conclusion, and if such a conclusion had been continued the township history would have been easy to compile into a complete history of the county. The records do not show what became of this movement. If no record had been made of the past events, if no one had made any effort to put in print or manuscript the sayings or doings of the men who once could tell of things it would be impossible to compile the chapters of this book. Hence it is with due acknowledgment to all those who have done these things that this preliminary word is written.
The sources of the history published in 1878 are still available with the ex- ception of the pioneers who were then living and they were of the greatest value. What they left must still be retained and effort has been made to do so. The county records are all in their places. One may read on a fly leaf of one this
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HISTORY OF CEDAR COUNTY
memorandum : "Reuben Hallett of Mount Carroll, Carroll county, Illinois, perused this book in the month of April, 1878, for the purpose of compiling a history of Cedar county."
The "Cedar County Post," published in 1872 and '73, was found in the search for sources and this paper contains the substance of the old history of 1878. There are in the years it was published, twelve or more papers, written by "R. L. R." on the "Outlines of the History of Cedar County." "R. L. R." was a student in Cornell college at this time and afterwards taught school at Mechanicsville. At one time he edited a paper in Grundy Center and had some warm skirmishes editorially with Daniel Kerr, member of Congress from the fifth district, in after years. The full name of the young man was, or is, Richard L. Rowe, now of Vancouver, B. C. He did some excellent work in connection with the advice of Judge Tuthill and others of that time. It is well to call any work of this kind, "Outlines," for there is material enough available to make a library, had one the leisure and capital to collect it.
Another source of the former compilation was found in Durant, in the form of a brochure written by a teacher of the time, Mr. Fisher. It is quite evident that the material in the little pamphlet was arranged for the 1878 history and being a little too complete for the work was put in this form to preserve it-a very sensible thing to do. The citizens of Durant who happen to have a copy of this do preserve it now very carefully.
Judge Tuthill was a contributor to the Post over the non de plume "Anti- quary." He was a constant student of historical events and one of the prime movers in an attempt to organize a society for historical study in 1868, when Lawrie Tatum suggested it. J. A. Berry and assistants edited the history men- tioned and H. F. Kett published the work. C. L. Longley was editor of the Advertiser at that time, and M. R. Jackson of the Conservative. Both these men were influential and sympathetic supporters of the movement.
The publishers of this first history, The Western Publishing Company, had previously done the same service for Brown and Henry counties, Illinois.
That certain surmises in the foregoing may be correct is fairly well established in the letter quoted below which came just at the time the final sections were being placed together. The reply is to one which had been started early in June and being returned a second attempt was made to reach Mr. Rowe.
VANCOUVER, B. C., Aug. 13, 1910.
DEAR SIR: Replying to your letter of July 5 I will say I am the person who wrote the "Outlines of the History of Cedar County" about forty or forty- one years ago. * When I wrote many of the old pioneers were still living: Washington Rigby, Andrew and Charles Crawford (Charles is still living about three miles south of Tipton, Cedar's oldest settler) ; Judge Wm. H. Tuthill, who made a specialty of Cedar reminiscences, and his collection cannot be excelled ; Judge S. A. Bissell, with a marvelous memory; Wm. Knott ("Bill" Knott) ; William. Baker; Henry Hardman, and others now nearly all gone. I was brought up in Cedar from childhood, and wrote largely from personal knowledge, assisted by my mother, who was a Crawford, and knew all of the early pioneers and much of their doings.
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HISTORY OF CEDAR COUNTY
The "Cedar County Post" was founded by Murrow and James, and its early files went into the hands of "The Advertiser," I think. C. L. Longley might know about this. Jesse James was county clerk or auditor for a number of terms, and if living can doubtless tell about the files containing these sketches. I kept no data after the story was done.
The old files of the early board of county, or territorial commissioners, county probably, who held sessions in Tipton in the forties, in the form of record books were in the office of the county clerk or recorder (county auditor-Ed.) largely in the handwriting of Wm. K. Whittlesey, clerk. Many records about roads and other early acts for public improvements were found therein.
Most of the living records are gone-in the form of men and women who could then recall the facts, and you will have to depend largely upon the recorded data you can locate.
Very truly yours, RICHARD L. ROWE.
With the "News-Advertiser," Vancouver, B. C.
All the sources mentioned in the foregoing reply had been covered long before the letter reached the author of it and the reply received. It is a source of satisfaction, however, to find Mr. Rowe, in order to bring to light all the authorities quoted.
Finally the editor must express his appreciation to all those who have fur- nished information or data as referred to throughout the volume in a general way and so far as possible in specific instances. To the staff of advisers who were selected by the publisher special thanks are due for the suggestions of cer- tain sources of information. To Judge Treichler and Hon. J. T. Moffit in their own profession, and public matters, Sherman Yates for the use of the continuous files of the Advertiser, Mrs. McClure for approval of the first section, and to Mr. Boyd for being willing to do anything his time would allow.
The editor of the first volume has nothing to do with the second and can claim no authority over it.
C. RAY AURNER.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
SECTION I.
Pioneer History
II
SECTION II.
County Organization and Government.
53
SECTION III.
Towns and Townships.
. IOI
SECTION IV.
Educational
SECTION V.
Church and Its Organizations
184
SECTION VI.
Industrial Affairs
SECTION VII.
Transportation
SECTION VIII.
Judicial Matters
SECTION IX.
Military History
SECTION X.
John Brown in Cedar County
. . 410
SECTION XI.
The Press and Literary Organizations.
SECTION XII.
Fraternal Organizations
.474
The County in the State and Nation
486
SECTION XIV.
The Professions
. 492
SECTION XV.
Miscellaneous
ยท 499
Reference
513
155
.236
267
30I
.328
452
SECTION XIII.
C. R. AURNER
HISTORY OF CEDAR COUNTY
SECTION I.
PIONEER HISTORY.
At a meeting of the "Old Settlers Association" in Tipton, June 10, 1910, the secretary reported twenty-seven deaths during the year since the last meet- ing. At this meeting those who came in 1836 to this county were asked to stand. Only two arose, and from personal reports obtainable only six are now living who came in that early time. Personal interviews in this chapter of accounts secured from those able to give correct facts will reveal who these six are. The roll was also called on dates up to 1850. Very few survivors of these early days are now found in this county, they are fast passing and many, very many, inter- esting facts must be omitted because no one is now living who could have fur- nished them. Many points of interest in this county that have events of value associated with them cannot now be exactly located because the character of the surroundings has been so changed or distinguishing marks removed. If errors creep into pioneer accounts they are due to crossed memories or lack of opportunity to verify the historical data by actual record which was not made at the proper time. The earliest settler was not concerned with keeping any record of the present, as he knew it, for us at this date to reproduce as history. He had enough to do then to keep himself and his family supplied with the bare food and clothing necessary for existence and while happy enough and possessed of a keen appreciation of his situation, willing and more than anxious to better his condition he was alive to the future only in a material and physical sense at first. This does not mean that he had no thought for elevation of mind, or morals, but that he was after a home, independence of fortune, freedom politi- cally, and comforts for his family which must be carved out of a wild country. He was willing to give his life, his very blood, if need be, to carry out this plan. This one purpose possessed him and if he was not concerned with keeping records on paper or in marking spots of historical interest so that they could be identified by posterity, we at this date must forgive him and do the best we can to put facts into form for preservation. We must draw from every possible source for this chapter and shall be indebted to many for assistance. It may not be true that people are more selfish or thoughtless than in these pioneer days, but they cer-
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HISTORY OF CEDAR COUNTY
tainly are less social. They fail to respond to calls of a personal nature in the same way, due doubtless to the great demand on time for the multitude of duties that now come to each individual if he fulfills his daily round of occupations. Then the social and charitable element in the character came to its highest degree of expression and what belonged to one became in distress or need the property of all. One has written something as follows concerning the early days: "They were void of hypocrisy themselves and they despised it in others. They hated cowardice and shams of every kind, and above all things falsehood and decep- tion. The stranger, so long as honest and trustworthy, was made welcome as one of the household. To tender pay for service of this kind was offensive to the possessor. If one fell sick and needed care and attention it was immediately at hand. Such service was cheerfully rendered and the needs of a new country made skilful nurses of housewives. A neighborhood was a social unit and what was the interest of one became the interest of all. When work needed a force of men, they united the men of the community and no one needed to make a second request. In a sense all felt the need and could not enjoy his good fortune unless shared by his neighbor.
The experiences of some of the first-comers were very similar to those of the early founders of the English colonies. Coming here in the autumn no oppor- tunity was given for planting or growing anything before winter came on. Hay for the stock could be harvested anywhere, fuel was found along the streams and material for a dwelling could be procured in a short time, such dwelling as the pioneer was accustomed to construct or had seen constructed in the state from which he came. His ancestors had taught him this, had taught him inde- pendence of action under trying circumstances and he felt no fear in his new surroundings. The experiences of these early people were similar, yet they had their individual trials and some of them were peculiar to the times in which they lived, while others were only the result of a disposition to carve a new way in a wild country almost single handed. Such original experiences told by individ- uals now living are hard to procure, but many things in this chapter are first hand, coming fresh from the ones who were participants in these events. Such stirring scenes as they are able to picture make present surroundings seem tame in com- parison and romance could not produce situations, tragic or comic, to compare with the realistic tales of the pioneer. The resources of the family were em- ployed to the fullest extent, each one having his own duty and while none escaped the labors assigned him, all were happy in the undertaking. Depending for life on the immediate territory in which they lived, every means was employed to make economic use of nature's supply. The friendly Indian, indeed a friend, the game of wood and stream procured at the risk of life, often was the sole dependence of the lonely forerunner of the present prosperous people of this county and state. If the hungry child of this date were given for his dinner the plain food the pioneer mother had to give, he would wonder what had put it into the mind of the housekeeper to return to the custom of his great-grandfather. Let these people tell their own stories in their own way, for they are the only ones entitled to a hearing in this matter.
The portion of the state now known as Cedar county is just within the limits of the Black-Hawk purchase. General Winfield Scott made the treaty on behalf
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HISTORY OF CEDAR COUNTY
of the United States on the present site of the City of Davenport, Sept. 13, 1832. By this treaty the government secured title to six million acres of land, the bounds of which are a line running from the east side of Davis county northeast to a point on the Cedar river near the northeast corner of Johnson county, then north- west to the lands of the Winnebagoes, then east to the Mississippi near Mc- Gregor.1 "It was then a land untouched by civilization-a land possessing all the charms of primitive wildness, in winter a soliture of snow-covered and storm-swept plains, but in summer a paradise with every enticement for the adventurer or homeseeker. There is a beauty that can be seen at one step in a country's development but never afterward. It is part of the compensation of the pioneer to see and live among the unchanged loveliness of nature. The groves stand where God put them and the streams run where his finger marked the way. No fences mark the metes and bounds of one man's dominion and where another may not go. The beholder may realize the full meaning of the words, 'All are yours and ye are God's.'
"What a new land is to be for years to come is determined by the character of the pioneer settler. The land is his to make of it what he will, physically, intellectually, morally."2
"The territory now constituting the states of Iowa, Wisconsin and Minne- sota, was by Congress organized as Wisconsin territory and Henry Dodge ap- pointed governor in July, 1836. The first session of the Assembly of Wisconsin territory divided the Black Hawk purchase into Dubuque and Des Moines counties. The second session of that Assembly, which was held at Burlington, divided Dubuque county into Dubuque, Clayton, Fayette, Delaware, Jackson, Linn, Benton, Clinton and Cedar counties.3
"Such was the political birth of this region. Thus the first steps were taken toward political freedom and separate existence as to local authority in the county of Cedar, territory of Wisconsin. But while the first governing body of commissioners were in session, the county passed from the jurisdiction of Wis- consin territory to that of the territory of Iowa, for the Congressional Act whereby Iowa became an independent territory went into effect July 4, 1838. The last order of the commissioners before passing from the Wisconsin juris- diction reads as follows: "Issued a writ to bring before this body Orrin Lewis and child, which was committed to the county sheriff."4
When Rochester was named as the county seat there were not to exceed one hundred fifty inhabitants in the borders of the county and they were scattered throughout the whole of it. The earliest and heaviest settlements were in Sugar Creek township in Rochester and Pioneer Grove in the northwestern part of the county. The one post-office was called Rock Creek, and afterwards Rochester. Naturally as immigration increased the people began to discuss the more central location of the county seat. The first aggressive movement toward that end was made in 1839 by a petition from the people to the legislature then in session at Burlington asking its re-location.5 But more of this in another chapter.
The old frame court house in which the court of '41 was held may interest us for a time. There, of course, court was held in all dignity ; there the wander- ing lecturer and the occasional preacher came; there moot legislatures and school exhibitions and dances were held. There Soper and Gleason, captured for horse-
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HISTORY OF CEDAR COUNTY
stealing, were confined over night instead of in the jail. Whatever may have been the reason for this, it made their seizure easy and certain when they were wanted by the regulators. There on the removal of an outbuilding, Hawley and Daniels were burned in effigy for no other reason than that they came from Oberlin and which made it certain that they were abolitionists.6
"The time of awakening of large expectations was the coming of the Lyons Iowa Central Railroad. The soil of Iowa was then unbroken, unmarred or un- blest, as you please, by any railroad cut or fill. The valleys had not been exalted nor the hills made low to make a way for Nahum's Chariots. The advance of this project beyond the talking stage was signalized by the appearance of the graders with shovels, wheelbarrows and teams, in the early summer of 1853. Imagine the interest and wonder in the mind of the writer and the rest of the boys as week after week the peaceful army continued and results began to show. The nearest actual invasion of Tipton was made by a heavy fill just east of the present school campus, where a large embankment was raised, an embankment now being pulled away by cartloads to fill depressions in the building lots in the corporation. But when expectations were at the highest and hope the brightest, and the cars most clearly seen in the near future by those who had never seen them in reality, work abruptly ceased, the army of workers vanished and the whole project had failed as 'the best laid schemes of mice and men gang aft agley.' All there was to show for the thought, labor and money expended were worse than useless instances of grading between Lyons and the Wapsie river and between that and Tipton and beyond toward Iowa City." 7
The boys of the town were in a measure compensated for their disappoint- ment in not seeing actual cars by having a very available skating pond furnished them by the water which accumulated against the embankment previously men- tioned. A few summers after this pond was formed Mustoe Chambers was drowned in it. Then a passage through the bank was hurriedly cut for a way for the water to escape and our cherished pond disappeared. The presence of such a near-by skating pond will be appreciated by the boy who searches for such a place in the vicinity of Tipton today.8
"The history of any county is involved largely in the history and biography of its leading men and women. Let us note the history of some to whom our county is indebted. Prominent among its pioneers stands the name of Henry Hardman. He was the first Justice of the Peace and was such for a long time to the sati's- faction of the people. He was among the first jurors. His pioneer home became the place for elections, court, religious, school and social gatherings. There the Rev. Barton H. Cartwright held service. The writer was a member of the family as a district school teacher "boarding 'round," and there heard him tell of feed- ing a whole camp meeting when pork was twenty-five cents a pound. He lived to see the full-blown flower of the county's affluence and his country's greatness. It is in my heart to speak of Mary Hardman and other pioneer wives upon whom the labor of open-handed hospitality fell without whom neither church nor state could have been established in the wilderness. Too little has been said of the pioneer women and justice can never be measured to them at this late day.
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