USA > Iowa > Poweshiek County > Grinnell > Early history of Grinnell, Iowa, 1854-1874 : compiled from the files of the Grinnell Herald of Jan., Feb., and March, 1874 > Part 1
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Gc 977.702 G88e 1997186
M. L.
REYNOLDS HISTORICAL GENEALOGY COLLECTION
ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY 3 1833 00878 2648 ヨ
F
Early History
Grinnell, lowa
1854-1874
Compiled from the Files of the Grinnell Herald of Jan., Fcb. and March, 1874 .
Published by Ray & Frisbie 29
August, 1916 78 7256 8
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1997186
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* F 627 .PO6 G86 Early history of Grinnell, Iowa 1354- 1874. Compiled from the
files of the Grinnell Herald of Jan. , Fob. , and March, 1874. Published by Bay & Frisbie, 1916. 3-65 0.
62947
5 cib
Reid May 8-1978
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PREFACE
We have compiled this history from the files of The Grinnell Herald of 1874. There may be some slight inaccuracies in the history; but we believe it is as correct as any history can be. It was written when the town was but twenty years old, and when such men as Hon. J. B. Grinnell, E. S. Bartlett, Col. S. F. Cooper, Rev. S. L. Herrick, and many others of the pioneers were still living and knew of the things written about. It is probable that these men were consulted and that some of them had the opportunity of revising the articles as they appeared. We present it to our friends, feeling that the history of those days should be preserved in our libraries, where all may have access to the records of the pioneers of Grinnell.
RAY & FRISBIE.
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CHAPTER I. The First Visit By Hon. J. B. Grinnell-Companions -Lattimer's and Gardner's Grove -First Land Entered.
The origin, incidents in growth, and characters as- sociated with a town have a peculiar interest to the dwellers therein. Posterity will have a deep interest in any facts with which the fathers were in associa- tion. After a lapse of 20 years it is fit that facts related to persons, and the founding of their homes, should become a matter of record. That is what we purpose to furnish, leaving the material and the oc- casion for criticism to others, when the actors shall have passed away and they are judged by deeds which made history.
The location of Grinnell arose from a trivial inci- dent. Henry Farnham, Esq., the builder of the Rock Island railroad and brother of Mrs. Parks, of this town, the now retired and distinguished citizen of New Haven, Conn., met near Geneseo, Ill., on the railroad, not then completed to Rock Island, in 1853 J. B. Grinnell, then a Congregational minister of New York City, suffering from a throat trouble, who was returning from the state of Missouri, where he had been looking up a location for self -and friends. Mr. Farnham asserted that as a home for Eastern people Missouri did not compare with Iowa, and that schools and churches would not flourish with slavery. He said he should soon reach the Mississippi river with his road and should build on to the Missouri river with rapidity, engineers then being engaged in a survey west of Davenport. It was his purpose to encourage Eastern men and capital to come on the line of the road, confident that Iowa was to be the garden of the West. Any aid which his exploring party could give was proffered. Peter A. Dey, Esq., now an esteemed citizen of Iowa City, and General
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G. M. Dodge, late member of congress, of Council Bluffs, were in charge, and Theodore Bacon, just out of college, son of Rev. Dr. Bacon, of New Haven, carried the flag. It was suggested that Bacon keep Grinnell informed as to the line, the country, etc., by frequent letters, and where stations would naturally be made.
This Bacon did. most intelligently, and after having passed from river to river, rendered his observations thus: "I am confirmed in my first impressions that you choose at once a location on township 80, range 16 west, near what is known as Lattimer's Grove, it being the best prairie I have seen-well watered: 400 feet above the Mississippi river, on the summit and on the natural line of a north and south rail- road, should one be built." All of which has been confirmed and it is not generally known that water falling on the cast end of the Rock Island depot grade runs into the lowa river and that on the west end into the Skunk. Bacon received a compen- sation of a few hundred dollars, in land, for his let- ters, and settled in Rochester, New York, marrying the daughter of Judge Selden, the eminent jurist, in which city he now resides with good repute as a lawyer. The following incident may have abruptly terminated his engineering: While the party was out surveying on the "slope," in mid-winter, night found them miles from their camp, and young Bacon, bent on a near cut to camp, struck out alone. The cold was intense, and the adventurer's non-arrival awakened fear that he was lost and might perish. Search was made and not until the next day was he found miles out of the way. Mr. Dey says: "I saw him in the distance, just moving with a cane and badly frozen fect, and calling to him, he was so over- come that he fell as if struck by a bullet. We bore him to our camp as rescued from the grave." Weeks clansed before he could move about, and having gone out from home against the protest of his family the romance was so far dispelled that he hegan a laconic epistle, as to his adventures, thus: "Dear father, I have seen the elephant with the kiver off." The sur-
veying was ended, but not the correspondent's advice as to location, which no time was lost in following.
Mr. Grinnell was in communication with Thomas Holyoke, M. D., of Searsport, Me., Homer Hamlin, of Wellington, O., and Henry M. Hamilton, of Hudson, O., and they met by appointment at Iowa City, so- leeting Mr. A. J. Cassiday as their surveyor. Ham- ilon returned cast, and the party of four, Grinnell as driver, set out for Lattimer's Grove, which was reached by noon of the second day-only a single cabin then being erected between Manatt's and Latti- mer's, a distance of 18 miles .- All was bustle at the Lattimer stage house, then a cabin, which has given way to a fine farm house. After dinner the party proposed to engage quarters for the night, and settle bills when returning; but mine host thought it a good time to pay up then as he "had seen many folks proposing to pay when they came back, who never came." Lattimer enjoys the incident as told, to this day. The-bill was only a quarter cach, and for good reasons which follow, the party did not return.
Going northeast four miles the surveyor's red flag waved where the Rock Island depot now stands-on a summit level and narrow watershed, from which water flows eastward into the Iowa river and west- ward into the Skunk.
The beauty of the country equaled Bacon's de- scription and it was never doubted by the party that on that spot there would be a railroad depot. But what northward? The tops of a few trees could be seen in the distance, and the driver said he was to go there-the surveyor protesting that there was no tim- ber and that it was too late to get back that night. Sugar Creek was the only impediment, which the horses leaped across when taken from the carriage. Reaching Bear Creek, there was found an Indian wigwam just left by the hunters, and the engineer was confronted by a fine grove of timber. The set- ting sun and a cold night admonished the party not to farry and to seek the nearest shelter for the night. From a grove at the right-known as Evans', now as Gardner's Grove-a smoke issued. Overtaken by
night long hours were passed in winding among trees, crossing the creek and reaching the cabin light. That was the home of Evans, who was away, and had left his wife with only the company of Asenath, a young daughter of Mr. Terrode. One and another, and still another, went in to get permission to spend the night, to be refused; and when told it was dark and cold and there was no other way, the lady re- lented, saying, "you can't all be mean, come in!" The party were most happy over the conquest, and as there was but one room, the gentler sex went out while their guests retired for the night and blew out the light, giving no chance for a protest against the ladies "taking the floor," as they were compelled to. The next day, the party divided, some looking for timber and going to Des Moines, Grinnell returning with the team, and entering in a single day, at Iowa City, some 6,000 acres-the best land by field notes and the nearest to the school section. What is now the Blakely farm was the next purchase, because a good tract of timber could be secured .- On this tract was a small log cabin, now being removed, which was the only building then visible from the present site of Grinnell.
G. H. Norris, of Illinois, entered the north 1/2 of section 17, now West Grinnell, costing $400, which he sold for about $10,000, and Downey, of Iowa City, an- ticipating the founding of the town, asked a large sum for his entries of land near the favored spot, which he received. In anticipation of the railroad, private offers of $30 per acre were left for the school sec- tion, but under an old pre-emption law and appraisal it was secured for about $1.50 per acre, the county fixing the price. The four quarters had been slept upon and small improvements begun by Grinnell, on the northwest quarter-the present town site; by Hamilton, on the southwest quarter; by Amos Bixby, on the southeast; Dr. Holyoke, on the northeast, and sales were made to the above parties. Mr. Hamlin took 80 acres of the Downey purchase, where he re- sided, joining the town.
Here ends the chapter of purchase, preparatory to building and settlement.
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CHAPTER II.
The First Cabin At Sugar Creek-First Sawmill-The First Horse-Arrival of First Ladies -The Long Home-The First Store-Snake Bites.
The house of Perry Matteson, Esq., near the grove where he now resides, was the rendezvous of the pioneer party until the erection of the first house- shelter, which was located in the grove near Sugar Creek. This dwelling deserves to be particularly noticed-an artist and an engineer, Mr. C. W. Irish, of Iowa City, having drawn it in correct outline, which is still preserved, as the home of the real spirits of an embryo town, preparatory to their re- moval to the noted house on the prairie called the "long home," which will be hereafter noticed.
This first cabin was built of dead logs which, Ham- lin chopped, Hamilton drew with oxen and Dr. Hol- yoke as chief architect hewed into place; Griswold drawing the lumber for covering from a water-mill east of Brooklyn. Its dimensions were about 14 by 16 feet and served as cook-room, dining-room, land- office, hotel and sleeping room for ten or twelve persons, supported in tiers by pins which were driven into the logs and covered by painfully gaunt straw
beds.
Amos
Bixby,
Esq., and Sumner
Bixby
from Maine,
Lawrence, from Milan, O.,
and A. F. Gillett, late of Western Reserve
College were soon added to the company. The next necessity was lumber, and a horse saw-mill was secured, which was set near by, on the land now owned by Henry Day .- This rude mill sawed out near 100,000 feet of lumber owned by Mr. McDaniels. Mr. Grinnell was at this time acting commissary, and at Burlington, Ia., bought the first bill of goods ever brought to the town, of Hon. W. F. Colbaugh, now president of the Union National Bank of Chicago, having been introduced by Geo. F. Magoun, now pres- ident of Iowa college. The full and heavy load was wagoned home by the purchaser and welcomed with a shout. It consisted of sugar, coffee, saleratus,
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crackers, cheese, and a choice assortment of fruits and delicacies. The truth of history requires the admission that several kinds of tobacco figured con- spicuously, which the natives in seeming agony often inquired for, and the thought was indulged that the old settlers might be innocently propitiated, they being quite suspicious of the Yankees.
A store-room was extemporized with rough boards under the eaves of the cabin, and Lawrence, who was a graduated merchant, took charge. Hungry swine, cattle and roving dogs were an annoyance, frequently unroofing the store in attempts at appeasing their hunger; but Lawrence would give them credit, vora- cious as they were, for never disturbing even a paper or plug of tobacco.
About this time there was an amusing episode in the purchase of the first horse brought into service, which must not be omitted in this narration. Grin- nell and Hamilton made the trade near Montezuma .- The steed in question was high-spirited and attrac- tive, and while negotiations were pending amid the boasts of the owner and the common inquiries and banter of the other party, a swarming family ap- peared in seemingly unsophisticated and real protest against the sale; the wife of the owner predicting a breaking up of the farming, and even shedding tears in screaming remonstrance. The trade was consum- mated, the gold paid-it was plenty then-and the horse was brought to camp as a fine purchase; and in proof of his real value to the cavilers the tears of the family were given in evidence; when lo! a wide and ingenious strap on the neck halter artfully con- cealed an ineipient "pole-cvil." The best treatment did not avail to save the animal, that soon became offensive and worthless; it having by ingenuity and fraud been disposed of to the verdant purchasers at a large price, giving frequent occasion for a derisive rally when other trades were made, by the inquiry: "What did the children say, and did the old lady cry ?"
The beautiful spring of 1854 was now opening and the cabin was daily more and more crowded and Mr.
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Lawrence became restive under the joint, self-im- posed duties of cook, hotel clerk and merchant. La- dies, it was reported, would soon be on the way and lend their presence to break the monotony. Mr. Grin- nell, as commissary, was at Iowa City and met two cheerful married ladies all the way from Maine, each with a toddling boy, anxious to meet or follow west- ward their lords. They could not again be coaxed into the crowded stages after one day's experience, and having prepared a message to their respective husbands who were to meet them, a ride in a single buggy, rather a market wagon, innocent of paint and unburdened with springs, was proposed and accepted and preferred to waiting for days among strangers. Thereupon ladies, babies, baskets, et cetera, were soon under way, drawn by the before mentioned horse, not yet in his decline, and in good time the husbands, Dr. Holyoke and Amos Bixby, were sur- prised at the arrival, and the extempore bachelors offered their warmest congratulations to the "family men," while the escort recounted the growth of the adaptive faculty of his passengers; their delight with the flowers on the way, and that the good nature of the cherub boys was the happy augury of a cheerful new community. This introduces Willie Holyoke, who was the youngest early, resident of Grinnell and now flourishing in manhood. Harry Bixby, his play- mate, having by disease sadly fallen in early youth, sleeps by the mountains of Colorado where his es- teemed parents now reside.
Daily arrivals, close quarters and the plans for spring made an early shelter on the projected town site a necessity, and the combined artistic genius of the over-crowded family developed into a plan for a rude, cheap, temporary building, which was shingle- less, oval-roofed, and bore a striking resemblance, save as to paint and ornament, to a canal boat. It was long enough to be sectionized into kitchen, store- room and eating-room, and the corners were assigned for apartments to families which were curtained off from the miscellaneous crowd. It was of sufficient width for two tiers of bipeds in repose, leaving a
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narrow passage between, through which the landlord would pass after fresh arrivals to count his guests laid away for the night, to make provision for break- fast. The height of one of the new occupants led him to pause and make a closer examination, whether to count for one or two. Incident to the erection of this widely known edifice it is remembered that Mr. Oak- ley drew up the first load of lumber on the prairie and was directed to leave it near the flag. The wind of the night previous had blown it down and after a day's search for the town, in despair of finding it, deposited his load near the present residence of Col. Cooper, nearly a mile from the point designated. This historic structure stood on what is now Broad street, between the present residences of Stillman Needham and 'Squire Bartlett. A more serviceable building has not found a chronicler since the days of Romulus, it having been used for a place of worship, the drafting of important legal documents and con- stitutions, a shelter for penniless and rich adventur- ers, a hospital, a dispensary, and when the gaping, sun-dried lumber made it unfit for human habitation it was displaced piece-meal until only one end re- mained, which was used as the pioneer blacksmith shop. Near this locality the first well was dug, and to the glad surprise of the settlers water was found at the depth of twelve feet in plentiful supply, which marked those as false prophets who admitted the richness of soil and beauty of conformation, but in- sisted that on account of our elevation there would be a dearth of water. Time has proven that no prairie locality is more favored in this regard.
Next to the rude building which was at once a free home for all comers and a hive, a store was projected and this was built in a single week, being 16 by 24 feet with a sleeping room above, and after two years of service it was honored with a dignified removal and is now a part of the "all oak" frame and pleasant residence of Robert Haines, Esq. Grinnell was the original owner, Geo. W. Chambers the carpenter, and Anor Scott, from Elyria, O., the merchant-the identi- cal' gentleman with whom and lady, time has dealt so
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kindly, continuing them in extensive trade to the present day. This store, accommodated to the needs of the times, was used as town exchange, lodge-house, and place for debate and religious service during the summer of 1854. The Sabbath morning service is associated with a novel incident. Cautious eastern friends gave an earnest warning to be on our guard against rattlesnakes, and if a bottle of unusual size in the trunk was exposed, medicated or not, it was apologized for "that in case of a snake bite whiskey was a sure remedy;" but the only feared reptile of the kind that occasioned remark, was one first dis- covered by the minister of the day just before ser- vice, in front of the extemporized church, coiled in apparent security. It was the hot season, when the snake is blind, and teasing it and studying its nature was quite safe, and indulged in for some time, when the wag of the occasion suggested that it be dis- patched at once, and that he could not see what that had to do with preaching, and it was replied that it might furnish a good illustration. It proved that the speaker drew largely and at length on the episode of the morning; declared that all the captives of Satan in his presence were as blind as the snake he had slain; that the chief tempter that had held so many for thousands of years in his coils was less open in his warfare than the rattlesnake which magnani- monsly rattles in warning before darting its fangs.
Venomous snakes were seldom seen, and it is not known that any townsman has ever had occasion to imbibe whiskey as a prescription to counteract snake poison. Similia similibus curantur.
CHAPTER III.
The First Houses-Breaking the Sod-The First Fourth of July-The First Marriage -- Other Early Settlers-First Post- office-The Lost Bank Draft.
The beautiful historic June of 1854 with its balmy air and new carpet of flowers, stimulated all who purposed to stay and could get land enough, to lay
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the foundations for at least a temporary dwelling. Dr. Holyoke built what was then deemed rather ex- travagantly, in the use of white walnut finishing lumber, and his was the first real home; which is now a tenant house moved back from his present modern and tasteful residence. Amos Bixby, Esq., built less pretentiously, just in the rear of the pres- ent fine residence of Col. Cooper, and it was from this dwelling that the first person was borne out to the burial-Capt. Heald and his lady the aged pa- rents of Mrs. Sumner Bixby, passing away the first winter. That house is now used as a shed on the lot of S. F. Pruyn. Homer Hamlin built where his fam- ily now reside what was deemed for several years "quite a house;" only. faint traces of the original now remain. Mr. Carlton, who was the shingle- maker, built on the present site of the Dr. Sears house, and the shell is now near the alley and used as a horse-barn.
Several contracts for breaking prairie had been made, and the knights of the lash skilled in the driv- ing of oxen-4 yoke being regarded a full team-at- tracted eastern visitors by their loud whip cracking and boisterous vocabulary. Then from two to three acres was a day's work, and one A. H. Sherman, just above the present college campus would set his plow, whip his team into a trot which they would hold for one-half a mile, never failing to break a good furrow, calling forth a remark from the curious observers that the Devon team was as fleet as horses and that their driver was as long-winded as an Indian.
The Ith of July was near, and all concurred in the opinion that we should improve the occasion to be- come acquainted with the denizens of the groves. The report of the few settlers here had caused enter- prising and sagacious adventurers like the Gilmores, Bacons, Reeds, the professors of Iowa college and several worthy superannuated ministers to take up all the land in the neighborhood, yet the grove men were shy; prophets of evil, and for the speculators their lips were laden with mild curses. By reason of sloughs and small streams locomotion was difficult
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and uncertain, and a large celebration seemed almost impossible; but the want of a school district, custom- ers for the "new store" and something to break the monotony, led every one to strike out as a committee. A fine bell had been presented to the town by Mr. Grinnell, and this got into the flaming handbill, with the welcome to a free dinner. Confectionery was brought from Chicago without regard to cost, and people from the cabins in Blue Point, by Sugar Creek, Rock Creck, the Skunk and on the prairies came with roast pigs and chickens, pies and cakes equal to the appetite of the multitude .- Roads were not then made, but on the bright morning processions with music and banners came, as they were guided to the town by the sound of the chiming bell, and the waving flag, duly striped and starred. A. F. Gillett, who really chopped the timber for the grove house- read the Declaration of "76," Dr. Sanford, then of Montezuma, was the orator of the day, who surfeited the people with compliments and innocently despoiled our proud "mountain bird" which annually is brought from its eyrie to be plucked in adornment of flowery rhetoric on the "glorious Fourth." After toasts, which were read from a wagon, and responses,- some declined, being too full for utterance-it was a curious question from what States the assembly came. Native Americanism then was popular, and a never-to-be-forgotten incident must here be related which will illustrate the spirit of the times. A roll call of states revealed the fact that more than 20 were represented, also Canada, England and Scot- land. Ireland was called, and there being no re- sponse it was called again and again; thereupon an ardent American answered, "There is not an Irish- man within ten miles of here;" upon which a still more ardent politician and Methodist brother jumped up and clapped his hands, shouting: "Bless the Lord! Bless the Lord!" which, with ludicrous ges- ticulation, so convulsed the crowd that good order was, not again restored.
Sundry new characters about this time appear and mingle in council, who have been conspicuous in the
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history of the town. Among the number were Dea. Win. N. Ford, from Massachusetts,-whose most es- timable lady lost her life by an accident, returning from church-S. N. Bartlett, Esq., from Bath, N. H., James Harris, deceased, father of Dr. E. H. Harris and John Harris, and W. S. Leisure, now postmaster, from Van Buren county, Iowa, and John Bailey, com- ing with their families later, having secured land.
The young married men were few. Of the number were E. S. Bartlett and Michael Stevens, from New Hampshire, John B. Woodward, of Illinois, deceased, a soldier in the late rebellion, Homer G. Fuller, brother of S. K. Fuller, from New York, S. G. Page, from Ohio, and Henry Hill, who led to the hymenian altar Miss Harris, daughter of the late James Harris, setting the first matrimonial example which has since found so many imitators.
L. C. Phelps, our present Mayor, who had previous- ly spied out the land, came about these days from Kenosha, Wis., representing a family of eight per- sons, and took shelter in the "long home." The children, June, Matt, Loll and Lank-not all the most classic abbreviations-hieing away then in timid art- lessness, was not strictly an augury of their present unabashed character-taking public position at home and abroad as vocal and instrumental performers; one practising a profession with lawyer-like audac- ity and another schooled in the arts of mercantile suavity.
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