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EARLY SETTLEMENT AND GROWTH OF WESTERN IOWA
Gc 977.7 T56e 1687943
REYNOLDS HISTORICAL GENEALOGY COLLECTION
U ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY 3 1833 01080 9462
REMINISCENCES BY REV. JOHN TODD
Most Respectfully John Podido
EARLY SETTLEMENT AND 5 GROWTH OF WESTERN IOWA
OR
REMINISCENCES
BY REV. JOHN TODD OF TABOR, IOWA
DES MOINES THE HISTORICAL DEPARTMENT OF IOWA
1906
COPYRIGHT, 1906
REPUBLICAN PRINTING CO. CEDAR RAPIDS, IOWA
1687943
PREFACE
T HE writer of the following pages was enjoy- ing the well-earned leisure of his closing years, when some who had heard by the fire- side and in social gathering his vivid recollections of early days, suggested that he should put his reminiscences into more permanent form.
Consequently the material herewith presented appeared in "The Tabor Beacon," the weekly paper of his home town, in 1891. This naturally led to verification, corrections and additions, which added much to the value of the work. The re- vision was carefully made by my father and the following is the result. He corresponded with some publishing houses to learn the cost of publi- cation, but hesitated, partly from characteristic modesty, I believe, to undertake the work.
After his death in 1894, his children thought to publish the work with a sketch of his life, but hitherto a favorable opportunity has not presented itself.
Very little change has been made in the manu- script since it left the hands of the author. Some of the original chapters have been combined so that the whole number has been considerably re- duced. The order has not been changed and only a few repetitions have been omitted.
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Reminiscences
These Reminiscences derive their special value from several facts. They are the experiences and observations of one, who, by his varied occupation of pioneer, teacher and pastor, was brought into in- timate relations with many in all walks of life, and one who uniformly gained their respect and con- fidence. By his education and wide reading he added to his own personal experiences and was enabled to correctly discriminate and value the facts coming to his knowledge from others. His acquaintance extended over forty years and spread over all of western Iowa, and parts of adjacent states. These years were years of rapid growth in a naturally rich country, and glimpses of the extent of improvement come to us very forcibly as we read some of the early incidents and contrast them with present conditions.
Moreover, this development was at an event- ful period of our nation, the time of the Anti- Slavery Struggle, including " the Kansas troubles " and the Civil War. No other town outside of Kansas had more to do with the " Free-state struggle " than did Tabor, Iowa. Its location also made it a prominent station on the " Underground Railroad," and consequently a special object of suspicion and hatred to all pro-slavery men in Mis- souri and the vicinity. Incidents connected with these subjects will doubtless wake the widest in- terest.
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Preface
The term " Reminiscences " in our title is used advisedly. They are strictly records of events recalled with rarely any reflections thereon.
The frequency of personal names which natur- ally grew out of its first publication in a local paper, may seem to some undesirable, but to others this very fact will present an added charm. It will be a satisfaction to know that such a relative or friend participated in such or such an incident, which now possesses historic value.
The mythical tendency is strong in the early stages of a country as well as in primitive con- ditions of society. Certain incidents and charac- ters become distorted by imperfections of memory and of statement, till both the good and the bad are greatly exaggerated. He, therefore, who gives a clear and "unvarnished tale " renders a sub- stantial contribution to history and to truth, which is of value to everyone.
J. E. T.
Vermilion, S. D., April 27, 1905
CONTENTS
Preface . . 5
Biographical Sketch . 13
Synopsis of Rev. Todd's Life 45
I .- Preliminaries
51
II .- Finding a location in a new country. Ride on the river-St. Louis to Percival-A location found. . 54 III .- Return to Ohio. A thousand miles on horseback- A Sabbath at Pisgah-Journey resumed . 67
IV .- Interim and removal to Iowa. Visit to the East- Journey to Iowa . 80
V .- Getting into the work. Preparing the home-The school-house-The river flood-Ague-Moving to higher ground-Early church services. . 85 .
VI .- Incidents by the way. The first grave-Worth half a dollar-Old Queen-New accessions-Incidents of 1854-Incidents of '55-6. 100
VII .- The Kansas struggle. Causes of the strife-Atroci- ties-Gen. Jim Lane-Freestate men-Death of Leang Hitchcock-Battle of Hickory Point-Law- rence attacked-Col. Eldridge's party. .
VIII .- The opening of the Under-ground Railroad. The first passengers through Tabor-Nuckoll's slaves from Nebraska City. . 134
108
IX .- Later business of the U. G. R. R. Fugitives from Indian Territory-The rescue-Another case- Kidnapped and rescued. . 145
X .- John Brown's Preparations. Col. Forbes-Stay in Iowa-Invasion of Missouri-Thanks to Almighty God-Conference with Taborites-His last visit to Tabor. . .
154
XI .- Seeking the stray sheep. Magnolia - Olmstead- Dennison-Ida Grove-Smithland-Sioux City- Return through Nebraska-Second trip. . . . 162 XII .- Amity or College Springs. Offshoot of Knox Col- lege-Rev. A. V. House-Results. . 169
XIII .- Evangelistic and temperance work. Meetings at Glenwood-Magnolia-Percival-Tabor-Whiskey and temperance. . 174
XIV .- APPENDIX .- Indians in Iowa. In Fremont county -- General sketch-Dakotas-Winnebagoes-Iowas -Illinois-Incidents in Pennsylvania-Sacs and Foxes-Pottowattamies-Wabonsa and his grave. 179 Index. . 199
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH OF REV. JOHN TODD, OF TABOR, IOWA,
BY HIS ELDEST SON, PROF. J. E. TODD
Ancestry and Early Life
John Todd, the second son and fifth child of Capt. James Todd and Sally Ainsworth Todd, was born November 10, 1818, in West Hanover, Dauphin county, Pennsylvania.
His father, named James, was son of James the son of James, who came from the north of Ireland and founded the family on the then frontier of Pennsylvania, which later went west to Ohio and Illinois. His father, Hugh, soon joined him, and also a brother who, becoming dissatisfied, moved on to Kentucky, and is supposed to be the ancestor of the numerous family of that State and Missouri.
The race was frugal, thrifty, and religious. The Presbyterian stone church in which the family wor- shiped was standing in 1870, though it had been deserted for several years and was much dilapi- dated.
Every generation has been well represented in the ministry of the Presbyterian and Congrega- tional churches.
His father, James Todd, was universally re-
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Reminiscences
spected, was captain of a company of infantry in the defense of Baltimore in 1814. Though of moderate education he had a sincere love for knowledge and withal a readiness to welcome new ideas-in short, was ready to render sympathetic assistance to all reasonable reforms. He was one of the first to banish whiskey from the harvest field, and to espouse the anti-slavery cause. Though a staunch supporter of the Presbyterian church he early recognized the force of the New School views. He, therefore, became interested in the principles of the colony and college just start- ing at Oberlin, Ohio. In September, 1835, he sent his son John there, who pursued his studies eagerly, receiving the degree of A. B. in 1841, and finishing the theological course in 1844. Most of the time he had the companionship of his younger brother, David, who was two years be- hind him. He was there in the early, exciting days of frontier life, self support, the beginning of co- education, anti-slavery agitation, and of revolts against hyper-Calvinism. Nothing could have pro- moted more the cultivation of clear, independent thinking, combined with most unselfish and cour- ageous devotion to truth and to liberty, both civil and religious. In a paper which he was invited to read at the Jubilee of Oberlin in 1883, on "The Early Home Missionary," he testifies: "With- out at all disparaging the wholesome influence of
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Rev. John Todd
godly parents, I may truly say that whatever of aid I have been able to render in the cause of the Master, I owe, under God, to Oberlin."
From a journal which he kept in 1892-94 it appears how deeply he drank of the Oberlin spirit of those days, and how consecrated was the heart with which he taught and preached during vaca- tions at North Amherst and New Baltimore in those years.
After graduating from theology he became pas- tor of the Congregational church at Clarksfield, Ohio, a small country town in an adjoining county. He was ordained August 15, 1844, and Septem- ber roth following he was wedded to one whose affections he had won in college days, belonging to the class of '43, Miss Martha Atkins, A. B., ninth daughter of Judge Q. F. Atkins, of Cleveland, Ohio.
Endowed with excellent physique, a thorough education, a beautiful voice, a devoted spirit, fully sympathizing in the convictions and unselfish aims of her husband, she should be credited with a full share of his successes. The hardships of pioneer life, the sacrifices for church and college, the bur- dens of a family of seven children, six attaining maturity, most of whom were given a college edu- cation, the peculiar burdens of a pastor's wife, which she patiently and bravely bore, need only to be mentioned to indicate how great and grand
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Reminiscences
was the work she wrought in her forty-four years of married life. Afflicted with epilepsy for several years before her death, she fell asleep July 20, 1888.
Near Oberlin lived a young farmer, George B. Gaston, who with true missionary spirit had sough _ and obtained a commission under the Ameri an Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions among the Pawnee Indians in what is now Nance county, Nebraska. Four years' work among them acquainted him with the wonderful natural re- sources of the Middle West, and with a Christian statesman's prophetic vision he saw something of the future possibilities of the region. Forced by his wife's ill health to return home to Ohio, he became more acquainted with the early history of Oberlin, and drinking deeply of the consecrated spirit of its early founders, he conceived the plan of planting a similar colony and college on virgin land in the Missouri Valley.
Meanwhile, his sister Elvira and her husband, Mr. Lester W. Platt, who had been with him among the Pawnees, had located on the broad, fer- tile plain of the Missouri River near where the little town of Percival, Iowa, now stands. I know not the links in the chain of events which led Deacon George B. Gaston to choose and persuade Rev. John Todd to join him in his enterprise as pastor and educated leader of the colony. But
17
Rev. John Todd
I do know that their mutual admiration and friend- ship were strong and unbroken to the end. This strong bond was born of their being largely com- plements of one another in temperament and edu- cation, and was nourished by their common inter- est in Christian education and the kingdom of God.
Pioneer Work
Of the long journey to Iowa in 1848 with Dea- con Hall, the choice of location and the return to Ohio, the moving to Iowa, the difficulties of the first location, the founding of Tabor, Iowa, with many other events for many years, little need be said here. They are fully treated in the Reminis- cences.
It will be more in place briefly to speak of them, if at all, from a more external and later point of view, and for this quotations have been quite freely taken from remarks made by different friends who spoke at the memorial exercises attending his funeral.
The choice of the location near Percival was most natural. To those inexperienced in the great differences between different years in the interior, and much impressed by the nearness of the " Great American Desert " of those days, what could have been more wise than to choose the fertile bottom lands by the great Missouri, which they thought
2
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Reminiscences
would ever be their main channel of communica- tion with the rest of the world? The floods of the following seasons were a damper on their en- thusiasm in more ways than one.
The choice of Tabor, though relieving their im- mediate need, withdrew the colony from lines of traffic and made the place more difficult of access. This, in time, became a great drawback to the purpose of the colony, though it may have at first promoted it.
As a pioneer he was naturally well equipped. His first experience was at Oberlin. The training there stimulated and perfected frugality, courage, endurance, and resourcefulness. The simple life was taught as a Christian duty, and the artificial and conventional, though not scorned, were put in the back-ground. Hardship and privation were expected, and were not avoided, but were rather rejoiced in as adding to the zest of life. He was a pioneer of pioneers, coming earlier than most. The nearest store was twenty miles away, and the nearest grist mill further. Hulled corn was long the main diet. Wheat bread was for months a rare article. Houses were sometimes built without shingles, boards, or nails.
After the home at Tabor was temporarily broken by the death of his wife, he again spent a few months on a homestead with his unmarried daugh- ter, near Drakola, Kingsbury county, South
19
Rev. John Todd
Dakota, in the summer of 1889. As an example of his venturesomeness, ingenuity, and persever- ance, he dug and walled a well about 12 feet deep without help.
Trained upon a farm in early life and paid but meagerly by his parishioners at first, like Paul he labored with his own hands for his support. He cultivated for many years several acres of ground, kept cattle and horses, kept a timber lot from which he got his own fuel. His faithful part- ner shared with him in these labors and cares. Early rising was a rule of the family. Habits of ease or indolence were not permitted to grow. Economy, industry, and frugality were early in- stilled in all the children.
His Ministry
As a preacher he was successful above many. This is attested by his having in his thirty-eight years of active service but two charges,-first at Clarksfield, six years, which place he left regretted by all, to go with the new colony to Iowa. The Civil Bend or Gaston church virtually followed their pastor to Tabor, where he was the active pastor for more than thirty years. His brief work as a chaplain was with some of his Tabor men, and was only very temporary. His preach- ing was like that of many others trained under President Finney. It was conversational rather
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Reminiscences
than oratorical, though it not infrequently rose to such heights of earnestness as to become truly eloquent. His vocabulary was large, but the words were mainly simple and well-chosen, not ornate. His style was logical rather than rhetorical, was argumentative rather than positive, concrete rather than abstract. His appeal was to the reason and intelligent conviction rather than to preference or to feeling. Even in deep solemnity, over-excite- ment and rash decision were carefully guarded against, as also the allowing of noble purposes to fade away in mere sentiment. Mere enthusi- asm and extravagant statements were so lacking in his own language and manner that some demon- strative and over-sanguine people overlooked the constant fire of zealous purpose, which was an unfailing inspiration to him. Nor was he without that elevation of feeling which enabled him to rise equal to a special occasion. Impassioned lan- guage when used by him meant more than from many. His voice was not strong nor rich, but was usually clear and agreeably modulated. At one time in the later 60's it failed so that he rested for about a year.
His custom at first was to speak from a brief, or skeleton, the introduction being somewhat care- fully written out. He later became convinced that speaking extempore was not the best way for him, and so adopted the plan of writing out his dis-
2I
Rev. John Todd
courses fully and reading them. I think he was influenced to do this by the desire to close the morning service promptly for the Sunday school which followed. He could cover his subject in shorter time and more effectively by writing in full. He left scores of " skeletons " each upon one- fourth of a sheet of letter paper folded once. The written sermons are usually on packet size, written on both sides of the leaf, and neatly bound. All are written in a clear, distinct hand almost as plain as printing. On each is written the places and dates at which it was preached.
As a pastor he was faithful. He called regu- larly and impartially, except to be more with those who needed encouragement. He did not overlook the young and the children; they were taken into the church early. Yet he never baptized infants. Those who wished to have their children baptized he provided for by engaging others to do it.
Rev. G. G. Rice, long the pastor at Council Bluffs, thus spoke of him:
" His presence in the family, his presence in the sick room was always felt to be a benediction, and everywhere that he was known families loved to have him come, felt it a privilege, and our own children looked for his coming as they did for a near relative. There was a familiarity; he won their hearts."
Dr. R. R. Hanley, former pastor of the Tabor
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Reminiscences
Baptist church, said: "So far as Father Todd's ministry was concerned, I learned to regard espe- cially the just judgment that he exercised, the wise and politic course that he took in the conduct of the church of which he was pastor, so that mingling many characters from different nationalities he was able to mold and influence them, to make them united in heart and purpose, and to work in the up- building of the institution of education as well as in the upbuilding of the church."
Rev. J. K. Nutting, of Glenwood, testified of his influence among his brother ministers in asso- ciation meetings : " I remember Brother Todd as being a helpful member everywhere, the wise coun- sellor, the trusted leader, yet as having such re- markable simplicity of character and humility that he never seemed to be putting himself at the head at all. There are some persons that are born to lead and will draw you by their art, i. e., they mean to lead, and there are others who are so quiet about their leadership, that you hardly think of them as being leaders until you look back and see so many things suggested by them, and so they do not at- tract the attention they deserve as leaders until the time is past, and we look back upon their work. It was something so with Brother Todd. His was the headship of Christian work. I think that is exactly delineated in the words of the Saviour,
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Rev. John Todd
' He that is greatest among you shall be servant of all.'
" I have several times been with him on councils, and I never knew Brother Todd to give an unwise sentiment or advice, never knew him to be for- ward for Congregationalism rather than for Chris- tianity.'
Some considered him too severe in rebuking evil, but most were convinced, I think, that he did it from a sense of duty and with the kindest of inten- tions. He considered himself an unfaithful friend if he did not do it. If he became convinced that he had gone too far, he was very ready to acknowl- edge it.
He preached a consistent and practical religion. Being sincere, he believed in practicing what he preached, and expected all others to do the same, so far as they were convinced.
Some perhaps thought him conservative because of his conscientiousness, but he was one who was ready to welcome any new measure which prom- ised better things.
He adapted himself to new customs more easily than many, because he had perfect self-control, and when he was once convinced that anything was right and best he promptly and persistently adopted it heartily.
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Reminiscences
His Anti-Slavery Work
His opposition to slavery, which had been planted deep in his heart, not only manifested itself in anti-slavery speech and discussion in col- lege days and in his early ministry, but led him to sustain a monthly prayer meeting which, from its being observed by many Oberlin men, was called the Concert of Prayer for the Enslaved. It was sustained regularly at Tabor till slavery was abolished in 1863. John Brown sometimes was present and once expressed his conviction that he had never yet remembered "those in bonds as bound with them."
The Reminiscences reveal his interest in and personal assistance to the " Underground Rail- road."
We find him organizing a county anti-slavery society in his first field at Clarksfield. So also in Fremont county, Iowa, a convention was called on the subject in 1854.
His interest in the Kansas struggle is manifest in his Reminiscences. That was a time when Tabor saw and heard more of war, perhaps, than during the Civil War. At any rate, such events then seemed greater from their freshness, and more was seen of the leading men in the contest.
At one time Tabor citizens were on the point of helping a band of emigrants to make their way
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Rev. John Todd
into the territory of Kansas in spite of " Border Ruffian " opposition. The pastor got spurs, new saddle, girths, and other equipment, ready to do his part, but the necessity passed away.
His War Record
Though earnestly and eloquently advocating the support of the government in the Civil War, he did not feel called to take part personally till in 1864, in the supreme effort to bring the war to a close, when the " Hundred Days Men " were called out. He was then first selected by the 29th Iowa Infantry as chaplain, but another had a pref- erence with some of the leading officers, so he was later commissioned chaplain of the 46th Iowa Infantry, and served in western Tennessee.
One who was a member of the regiment and from Tabor testified: "We know that his life in the army was not like the life in the army. It was just as pure in the camp as it was in his own home. His words were just as earnest, just as clean when he talked to the soldiers around the camp fire as when he spoke from the sacred desk here in Tabor. He knew the men.
" Father Todd not only preached every Sunday, but we had a prayer meeting on Wednesday even- ing, too. There was one of those little earthworks where we used to go and hold prayer meeting. Father Todd was there always. * One
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Reminiscences
of the most earnest prayers I ever heard from mortal lips I heard from him. It was beside the cot of a poor, ignorant colored man, who had just been taken from slavery, and the musket put in his hands, and who was mortally wounded. He was one chaplain who was earnest, constant in sea- son and out of season, doing his duty no matter where it was."
His Missionary Work
Besides being a pastor he was much of the time a missionary. We need not repeat the details given in the Reminiscences. It should, however, be said that he states in his address at the Oberlin Jubilee in 1883 that he never held a commission under the American Home Missionary Society. Oberlin men were not acceptable to that Society because of a prejudice against Oberlin ideas and customs on one side and impatience with pro-slavery conserva- tism on the other. He received, however, small sums from the American Missionary Association, which was organized for work among the negroes, but for a time encroached on the work of both the Home and Foreign Missionary Societies for rea- sons just mentioned. This was for three or four years at the beginning of the colony. He covered in a monthly circuit an area about 100 by 40 miles, and services were held at eight or ten places.
It is a notable fact that this was done before
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Rev. John Todd
the Methodists, who are deservedly famous for being at the forefront in religious work, had sent any one into that region.
The region at that time was filled with Mor- mons, lately driven out from Illinois, who were lingering about Kanesville (Council Bluffs) before going on to Salt Lake. After their departure- though several settlements remained-emigrants largely from the South filled the region. These were for slavery, and familiar with liquor. It was with these unfriendly classes that he had much to do. Yet in many places his labors were blessed with conversions and the starting of vigorous churches.
His charitable and catholic spirit enabled him frequently to join readily with the Methodists when they came and with other denominations in conducting revival services, usually to the mutual satisfaction of all. Later, it will be noticed from his Reminiscences, he was asked by eastern churches to take a more extended religious exploring tour, which greatly advanced the cause of religion by bringing out many new settlers who had not before committed themselves, and by their being brought into communication with one another, and re-estab- lished as active Christians.
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