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GC 977.70. St 76b 1143124
M. L
GENEALOGY COLLECTION
ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY 3 1833 00878 0873
Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2010 with funding from Allen County Public Library Genealogy Center
http://www.archive.org/details/biographicalhistsc00chic
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IGRAPHICAL
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MEMOIRS
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STORY COUNTY, IOWA.
COMPRISING
A Condensed History of the State, a number of Biographies of Distinguished Citizens of the same, a Descriptive History of the County named herein, and numerous selected Biographical Sketches of the Citizens of such County.
HILLUSTRATED .*
CHICAGO THE GOODSPEED PUBLISHING CO. 1890.
PRESS OF JOHN MORRIS COMPANY, CHICAGO.
1143124
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PREFACE.
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HE method by which this book was prepared is the only successful plan yet devised for the preservation of local history and biography throughout the United States, and the number of volumes distributed seems fabulous, Over one million copies have been sold in the United States in the last fifteen years at prices ranging from $10 to $25 per copy, aggregating a total valuation of fully $15,000,000. Many of these works are purely bio- graphical, containing no history whatever; others are genealogical, extending back to the origin of the family on this continent. Whatever may be the objection to the method of preparation, whatever fault may exist in the celerity of compil- ation and publication, the enormous circulation and the wonderful and endur- ing popularity of the works, as shown in their steady sale at high prices, prove that the end justifies the means. The books are clearly a magnificent product of this great inventive and progressive age. The millions of biographies pub- lished and thus perpetually preserved will prove of the greatest value to the future in the investigation of family descent and in the entailment of estates.
The Publishers have few if any excuses to offer in handing this fine volume to their patrons, for whom alone it was prepared. It is a work of permanent worth, carefully compiled from the most valuable material to be found, critically read and revised, and in mechanical make-up will challenge comparison with the most improved products of the art of book-making. Every biography was submitted by mail, and nearly all were promptly corrected and returned by the subjects. Much of the history was prepared by home talent and is accurate and valuable. The promises contained in the prospectus used by our agents on the canvass have been exceeded in almost every detail; a candid comparison is solicited.
Chapters XII, XIII and XIV were written by Col. John Scott, of Nevada, who needs no introduction to the people of Story County. The article on the Agricultural College was con- tributed by Prof. J. C. Hainer. The remainder of the history of Story County was prepared by Rev. B. A. Konkle, a young historian of fine ability and indomitable energy and persever- ance. The condensed State history was compiled by Weston A. Goodspeed from original sources, from official State documents and from former histories of Iowa. Thanking our patrons and friends for their liberal assistance, we respectfully tender them this beautiful volume.
CHICAGO, August, 1890.
THE PUBLISHERS.
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Sende - 35.00
CONTENTS.
HISTORY OF IOWA.
CHAPTER I.
Boundary and Area of the State-Its Rivers and the Sub- ject of Drainage-The Surface Soil-Character of the Valleys and Uplands-The Lakes and Canses of Their Formation-The Geological Strata-Their Description, Thickness and Economic Value-The Minerals and the Fossils-The Coal-Peat, Gypsum, Celestine, Ba- ryta, Epsomite, etc. 9-92
CHAPTER II.
The Period of Exploration and Discovery-The Labors of the French Jesuits-Their Pacitic Policy toward the Indians-Discovery of the Mississippi River-The Claims of Spain-English Domination-The Bubble of John Law-The French Population of Louisiana -Indian Wars-Rival Claims to the Soil-Cession Treaties and Peace-The Country Passes to the Unit- ed States-Formation of the Territory of Iowa, etc.23-32
CHAPTER III.
Expeditions and Indian Cession Treaties-Pike's Expe- dilion-The Indians of lowa-Their Principal Villages and Battles-The Black Hawk Purchase-Keokuk's Reserve-First Individual Grant-A List of all In- dian Treaties Affecting lowa Soil-The Spanish Grant to Dubuque-The Claim of Chotean-The Girard Tract and the Honori Tract-The Half-Breed Lands -Controversies over the Rival Claims .33 46
CHAPTER IV.
The Louisiana Purchase Taken Possession of by the United States-District of Louisiana-Iowa a part of the Territories of Illinois, Missouri, Michigan and Wisconsin-The First Officers to Govern The Terri- tory-Iowa Territory Formed-Its Legislature and Laws-Location of the Seat of Government-Public Buildings-Settlement of the Missouri Bonndary Question, etc. 47-51
CHAPTER V.
Era of Settlement-Dubuque and His Party of Miners- The Settlements of Honori and of Giard-English
Pioneers Throughout the Territory-Efforts of Mr. Longworthy-Code of Laws for the Government of the Dubuque Miners-Forcible Removal of the Du- buque Settlers-The Lead Mines-Settlement of the Black Hawk Purchase-The First of Many Things- Pioneers at the Bluffs 52-59
CHAPTER VI.
Organization of the State-Proceedings of the Constitu- tional Conventions -Elections and Seating of the First State Officers-Meeting of the First General Assembly-Construction of Public Buildings-Change of Localion of the Seat of Government .... ... .60-63 . ..
CHAPTER VII.
Miscellaneous Matter-Population of the State by Dec- ades-Members of the First, Second and Third Con- stitutional Conventions-Gubernatorial Vote of the State from 1846 to 1887-Electoral Vote Since 1848- Vote on the Prohibitory Law and the Prohibitory Amendment-Territorial and State Officers from 1838 to 1890-Full Catalogue of Congressmen-Stock -Statistics-Coal Output-Land Grants, etc ........ 64-73
CHAPTER VIII.
Religions Denominations of the State-The Spanish and the French Catholics-Movements of the Protestant Denominations-The Organization into Church Groups-First Mass in lowa-First Church-The Young Men's Christian Association-Number of Con- gregations-Wealth, Character, Membership and Standing of the Various Denominalions Represented in lowa-Religions Educational Institutions-Crimi- nal Statistics .74-78
CHAPTER IX.
The Public School System of the Stale-First Schools Taught in Different Portions of Iowa-A Summary of the Development of the School Laws-Origin of the Educational Funds-Valuable Comparative Sta- tisties-The Amount of the School Fund for the Several Counties-Other Important Matter. ........ 79-84
CONTENTS.
CHAPTER X.
The Past Proven by the State of Iowa in the War of the Rebellion-Response to the First Call for Vol- unteers-Work Done by the State Officers to Facil- itate the Enlistment of Troops-The Protection of IIer Own Border a Necessity-Engagements in Which Iowa Troops Participated-Sanitary Work Done by the State-Soldiers' Orphans' Home-Bonnty and Drafts-Number of Volunteers Furnished. ....... 85-89
CHAPTER XI.
Biographical Sketches of the Governors of Iowa Terri- tory and the State of lowa, Giving an Account of Their Ancestral Origin, Their Early Training, Their Entrance into That Public Life upon Which They Reflected the Highest Renown, and the Great Acts Which Have Been Instrumental in Building up One of the Noblest in the Sisterhood of States-State Institutions of Prominence-Their Rise and Progress -University and Colleges-Institutes for the Afflicted -Penitentiary-Sundry Societies 90-99
STORY COUNTY.
CHAPTER XII.
Naming the County-The Pioneers-Their Peculiar Ex- periences-Early Titles-Game, etc .- Names of Early Settlers-Pioneer Mills-Grist, Flour and Saw-Mills -Timber and Tree Planting-Merchants of Earlier Days-Drainage-Reminiscences of Interest-Mail Fa- cilities -Pioneer Customs - Indians - Storms - First Things-Nevada 101-134
CHAPTER XIII.
Public Administration-Forms of Government-County Organization-Early Laws-Important Transactions -Elections-Township Formation-Roster of Ofli- vials of Public Service-County Property and Re- sources-Burning of the Court-House-Present Build- ing-Bridges and Highways-Natural Wealth Con- sidered-Agricultural College Bonds .135-146
CHAPTER XIV.
Matters of Legal Note-Personnel of Numerons Officials -Early Grand Juries-Proceedings-Array of Talent -Their Personal Characteristics and Peculiarities- The County Bar-Noted Trials-The Lowel Tragedy -History of the Case-Other Homicides, etc .- The John J. Bell Defalcation-County Scat Trial. . . . . 147-159
CHAPTER XV.
Military Affairs-Story County in Earlier Days of War- like Action-Mexican War Volunteers-Events Pre- ceding the Presidential Campaign of 1860- War lesues Defined-The Question of Slavery-An Agi- tated Subject-Fall of Sumter-Companies Organized -Character of Troops-Recruiting-Drafts-History of Affairs Hereabouts from 1861 to 1865 - Closing Year of the War 160-177
CHAPTER XVI.
General Miscellany-Development of Story County-Dne Largely to the Presence of Railroads - Important Meetings-The First Railroad-Projected Routes- Assistance Rendered, etc .- Financial Presentation- Taxation and Valnation-Bonds and Funds-Popnla- tion-The Connty's General Physical Condition-Pro- ductive Capacity-Industries-Sources of Wealth- Political Status-Election Returns-Sundry Societies - Professional Circles - Literary Activity - Varied Contributors and Contributions 178-190
CHAPTER XVII.
A Sketch of Story County's Towns, Villages and Post- offices-Early Commercial Centers-Defunct Towns- Nevada-Its Interesting Growth and Development- From the Beginning until the Present-First Build- ings-Early Arrivals-Industrial Advancement-In- corporation-Historical Review-An Ontline of Story City's Upbuilding - Iowa Centre -Ontario - Cam- bridge-Ames-Its Reputation-Present Interests- Colo-Sheldahl-Kelley-Collins-Zearing-Huxley- Maxwell-Other Places of Local Importance-Gen- cral Commercial Interests .191-226
CHAPTER XVIII.
Education and Learning-Story County's School Facil- ities-Activity in the establishment of Educational Centers-Financial Provision-Early Records-Pio- neer Accommodations-Teachers' Institute-Growth of the Public School System -Private Schools - Schools of the County at Present-Influence on Her General Welfare .227-237
CHAPTER XIX.
A Sketch of the lowa Agricultural College-Its Origin -Features of the Act of Creation-First Board of Trustees-Location of the Farm-Important Matters not Generally Known-Trials Through Which the Institution has Successfully Passed-National Aid- The Land-Leasing System-The Buildings-Organi- zation of the College-Inaugural Exercises-The Old Faculty-Student Manual Labor-The Rankin Defal- cation-Later Buildings and Improvements-Progress in Instruction-The Funds-The Presidents-Attend- ance and Results-The Experiment Station ...... .238-258
CONTENTS.
CHAPTER XX.
Religions Development of Story County-The Churches of the Pioneers and Their Manner, Time and Places of Worship-The Record of the Leading Congrega- tions in Different Portions of the County-Many Items of Interest Connected with the Local Organ- izations .259-273
CHAPTER XXI.
Location and Boundary of the County-Elevation and the Subject of Drainage-The Groves and the Prairies- The Soil and Local Minerals-Springs and Natural Gas-Stock and Poultry Productions-Evidences of the Existence of Coal-Thickness of the Drift ... 274-276
BIOGRAPHICAL .276
PORTRAITS.
D. A. Bigelow.
Between 120 and 123 Joseph A. Fitehpatrick Between 324 and 327 Between 360 and 363
William Loekridge
Between 170 and 173 Jay A. King.
Elwood Furnas. .
Between 252 and 255 IIon. Thomas C. MeCall.
Between 372 and 375
Frank M. Baldwin
Between 282 and 285 Col. John Scott. Between 414 and 417
J. W. Maxwell, between 204 and 205,
Hon. George M. Maxwell, between 382 and 383.
History of Jowa.
CHAPTER I.
BOUNDARY AND AREA OF THE STATE-ITS RIVERS AND THE SUBJECT OF DRAINAGE-THE SURFACE SOIL-CHARACTER OF THE VALLEYS AND UPLANDS-THE LAKES AND CAUSES OF THEIR FORMATION-THE GEOLOGICAL
STRATA-THEIR DESCRIPTION, THICKNESS AND ECONOMIC VALUE-THE MINERALS AND THE
FOSSILS-THE COAL-PEAT, GYPSUM, CELESTINE, BARYTA, EPSOMITE, ETC.
" The earth, Though in comparison of heav'n so small- Nor glist'ring, may of solid good contain More plenty than the sun, that barren shines."
HE State of Iowa has an outline figure nearly ap- proaching that of a rec- tangular parallelogram, the northern and southern boundaries being nearly due east and west lines, and its eastern and western boundaries determined by southerly flowing rivers. The northern boundary is upon the parallel of forty-three degrees thirty minutes, and the south- ern is approximately upon that of forty degrees and thirty-six minutes. The distance from the northern to the southern boundary, exclud- ing the small prominent angle at the southeast corner, is a little more than 200 miles. Owing to the irregularity of the river boundaries, however, the number of square miles does not
reach that of the multiple of these numbers; but according to a report of the Secretary of the Treasury to the United States Senate, March 12, 1863, the State of Iowa contains 35,228,200 acres, or 55,044 square miles. When it is understood that all this vast extent of surface, except that which is occupied by rivers, lakes and peat beds of the northern counties, is susceptible of the highest cultivation, some idea may be formed of the immense agricult- ural resources of the State. Iowa is nearly as large as England, and twice as large as Scot- land; but when the relative area of surface which may be made to yield to the wants of man is considered, those countries of the Old World will bear no comparison with Iowa.
A clear idea of the great uniformity of the surface of the State may be obtained from a statement of the general slopes in feet per mile, from point to point, in straight lines across it:
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محمأحد
HISTORY OF IOWA.
From the northeast corner to the southeast corner of the State. 1 foot 1 inch per mile. From the northeast corner to Spirit Lake. . . 5 feet 5 inches per mile. From the northwest corner to Spirit Lake. . . 5 feet o inches per mile. From the northwest corner to the southwest
corner of the State. 2 feet o inches per mile.
From the southwest corner to the highest ridge between the two great rivers (in Ringgold County).
4 feet 1 inch per mile.
From the dividing ridge in the southeast corner of the State. .5 feet 7 inches per mile. From the highest point in the State (near
Spirit Lake) to the lowest point in the
State (at the mouth of Des Moines River). 4 feet 0 inches per mile.
It will be seen, therefore, that there is a good degree of propriety in regarding the entire State as a part of a great plain, the low- est point of which within its borders, the southeast corner of the State, is only 444 feet above the level of the sea. The average height of the whole State above the level of the sea is not far from 800 feet, although it is more than 1,000 miles inland from the nearest sea coast. These statements are, of course, to be under- stood as applying to the surface of the State as a whole. When its surface feature in detail is considered, there is found a great diversity of surface by the formation of valleys out of the general level, which have been evolved by the action of streams during the unnumbered years of the terrace epoch.
It is in the northeastern part of the State that the river valleys are deepest; consequently the country there has the greatest diversity of surface, and its physical features are most strongly marked.
The drift and bluff deposits are both so thick in Iowa that its streams not only rise upon their surface, but they also reach considerable depth into these deposits alone, in some cases to a depth of nearly 200 feet from the general prairie level.
The majority of streams that constitute the western system of Iowa drainage run either along the whole or a part of their course, upon that peculiar deposit known as bluff deposit. Their banks are often, even of the small
streams, from five to ten feet in height, quite perpendicular, so that they make the streams almost everywhere unfordable, and a great im- pediment to travel across the open country where there are no bridges.
The material of this deposit is of a slightly yellowish ash color, except where darkened by decaying vegetation, very fine and silicious, but not sandy, not very cohesive, and not at all plastic. It forms excellent soil, and does not break or crack in drying, except limy concre- tions, which are generally distributed through- out the mass, in shape and size resembling peb- bles ; not a stone or a pebble can be found in the whole deposit. The peculiar properties of this deposit are that it will stand securely with a precipitous front 200 feet high, and yet is easily excavated with a spade. Wells dug in it require only to be walled to a point just above the water line. Yet, compact as it is, it is very porous, so that water which falls on its surface does not remain, but percolates through it; neither does it accumulate within its mass, as it does upon the surface of and within the drift and the stratified formations.
The bluff deposit is known to occupy a region through which the Missouri runs almost cen- trally, and measures, as far as is known, more than 200 miles in length and nearly 100 miles in width. The thickest part yet known in Iowa is in Fremont County, where it reaches 200 feet. The boundaries of this deposit in Iowa are nearly as follows: Commencing at the south- east corner of Fremont County, follow up the water-shed between the East Nishnabotany and the West Tarkio Rivers to the southern boundary of Cass County ; thence to the center of Audubon County ; thence to Tip Top Station, on the Chicago & Northwestern Railway ; thence by a broad curve westward to the northwest corner of Plymouth County.
Chariton and Grand Rivers bothi rise and
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HISTORY OF IOWA.
run, for the first twenty-five miles of their courses, upon the drift deposit alone. The first strata that are exposed by the deepening valleys of both streams belong to the upper coal meas- ures, and they both continue upon the same for- mation until they make their exit from the State (the former in Appanoose County, the latter in Ringgold County), near the boundary of which they have passed nearly or quite through the whole of that formation to the middle coal measure. Their valleys gradually deepen from their upper portions downward, so that within fifteen or twenty miles they have reached a depth of nearly 150 feet below the general level of the adjacent high land. A considerable breadth of woodland occupies the bottoms and valley sides along a great part of their length; but their upper branches and tributaries are mostly prairie streams.
Platte River belongs mainly to Missouri. Its upper branches pass through Ringgold County, and, with the west fork of the Grand River, drain a large region of country. Here the drift deposit reaches its maximum thickness on an east and west line across the State, and the valleys are eroded in some instances to a depth of 200 feet, apparently, through this deposit alone.
The term "drift deposit" applies to the soil and subsoil of the greater part of the State, and in it alone many of the wells are dug and forests take root. It rests upon the stratified rocks. It is composed of clay, sand, gravel, and boulders, promiscuously intermixed, with- out stratification, varying in character in differ- ent parts of the State.
One Hundred and Two River is repre- sented in Taylor County, the valleys of which have the same general character of those just described. The country around and between the east and west forks of this stream is almost entirely prairie.
Nodaway River is represented by east, middle and west branches. The two former rise in Adair County, the latter in Cass County. They have the general character of drift valleys, and with beautiful undulating and sloping sides. The banks and the adjacent narrow flood plains are almost everywhere composed of a rich, deep, dark loam.
Nishnabotany River is represented by east and west branches, the former having its source in Anderson County, the latter in Shelby County. Both these branches, from their source to their confluence-and also the main stream, from thence to the point where it enters the great flood plain of the Missouri-run through a region the surface of which is occupied by the bluff deposit. The West Nishnabotany is probably without any valuable mill sites. In the western part of Cass County, the East Nish- nabotany loses its indentity by becoming ab- ruptly divided up into five or six different creeks. The valleys of the two branches, and the intervening upland, possess remarkable fertility.
Boyer River enters the flood plain of the Missouri, and nearly its entire course runs through the region occupied by the bluff deposit, and has cut its valley entirely through it along most of its passage. The only rocks exposed are the upper coal measures, near Reed's mill, in Harrison County.
The east and middle branches of Soldier River have their source in Crawford County, and the west branch in Ida County. The whole course of this river is through the bluff deposit. It has no exposure of strata along its course. Little Sioux River includes both the main and west branches of that stream, together with the Maple, which is one of its branches. The west branch and the Maple are so similar to the Sol- dier River that they need no separate descrip- tion. The main stream has its boundary near the northern boundary of the State, and runs most of
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HISTORY OF IOWA.
its course upon drift deposit alone, entering the region of the bluff deposit in the southern part of Cherokee County. The two principal upper branches, near their source in Dickinson and Osceola Counties, are small prairie creeks, with indistinct valleys. On entering Clay County the valley deepens, and at their confluence has a depth of 100 feet, which still further increases until along the boundary line between Clay and Buena Vista Counties it reaches a depth of 200 feet.
Floyd River rises upon the drift in O'Brien County, and flowing southward enters the re- gion of the bluff deposit a little north of the center of Plymouth County. Almost from its source to its mouth it is a prairie stream, with slightly sloping valley sides, which blend grad- ually with the uplands.
Rock River passes through Lyon and Sioux Counties. It was evidently so named from the fact that considerable exposures of the red Sioux quartzite occurs along the main branches of the stream in Minnesota, a few miles north of the State boundary.
Big Sioux River Valley from the northwest corner of the State to its mouth, possesses much the same character as do all the streams of the surface deposits. At Sioux Falls, a few miles above the northwest corner of the State, the stream meets with remarkable obstructions from the presence of Sioux quartzite, which outcrops directly across the stream, and causes a fall of about sixty feet within a distance of half a mile, producing a series of cascades. For the first twenty-five miles above its mouth the valley is very broad, with a broad flat flood plain, with gentle slopes occasionally showing indistinctly defined terraces. These terraces and valley bottoms constitute some of the finest agricult- ural land of the region.
Missouri River is one of the muddiest streams on the globe, and its waters are known to be
very turbid far toward its source. The chief peculiarity of this river is its broad flood plains, and its adjacent bluff deposits. Much the greater part of the flood plain of this river is upon the Iowa side, and continuous from the south boundary line of the State to Sioux City, a distance of more than 100 miles in length, varying from three to five miles in width. This alluvial plain is estimated to contain more than half a million acres of land within the State, upward of 400,000 of which are now tillable.
Des Moines River has its source in Minne- sota, but it enters Iowa before it has attained any size, and it flows almost centrally through it from northwest to southeast, emptying into the Mississippi at the extreme southeastern corner of the State. It drains a greater area than any river within the State. The upper portion of it is divided into two branches known as the east and west forks. These unite in Humboldt County. The valleys of these branches above their confluence are drift-val- leys, except a few small exposures of subcar- boniferous limestone about five miles above their confluence. These exposures produce several small mill sites. The valleys vary from a few hundred yards to half a mile in width, and are the finest of agricultural lands.
The principal tributaries of the Des Moines are upon the western side. These are the Rac- coon and the three rivers, viz .: South, Middle and North Rivers. The three latter have their source in the region occupied by the upper coal-measure limestone formation, flow east- ward over the middle coal measures, and enter the valley of the Des Moines upon the lower coal measures. These streams, especially South and Middle Rivers, are frequently bordered by high, rocky cliffs. Raccoon River has its source upon the heavy surface deposits of the middle region of Western Iowa. The valley of the Des Moines and its branches are destined
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