USA > Iowa > Chickasaw County > History of Chickasaw and Howard counties, Iowa, Volume I > Part 1
USA > Iowa > Howard County > History of Chickasaw and Howard counties, Iowa, Volume I > Part 1
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Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43
NYPL RESEARCH LIBRARIES
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1. Chickasaw County, Ia - Hist, 2
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IVO ( Chickasaw (.) Fairhaith
Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2008 with funding from Microsoft Corporation
http://www.archive.org/details/historyofchickas01fair
R. H. FAIRBAIRN
Was a resident of Chickasaw County and represented the Fourth Iowa District in Congress in 1883-84. Died March 2, 1914.
HISTORY OF
Chickasaw and Howard Counties, Iowa
By ROBERT HERD FAIRBAIRN
ILLUSTRATED
VOLUME I
CHICAGO THE S. J. CLARKE PUBLISHING COMPANY 1919 TE
THE NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY 260945B
TLII' I 'NDATONS R 1943 L
1.
CONTENTS
PART ONE CHICKASAW AND HOWARD COUNTIES
CHAPTER I
INTRODUCTION
PREVIOUS GEOLOGICAL WORK-PHYSIOGRAPHY-TOPOGRAPHY-DRAINAGE-STRAITI- GRAPHY -- SYNOPSIS-DEVONIAN SYSTEM-GENERAL DEVONIAN SECTION-PLIES- TOCENE SYSTEM-KANSAN STAGE-IOWAN STAGE-SOILS-ECONOMIC PRODUCTS -WATER SUPPLIES-WATER POWERS-SUMMARY 19
CHAPTER II
GEOLOGY OF HOWARD COUNTY
INTRODUCTION-LOCATION AND AREA-PREVIOUS GEOLOGICAL WORK-PHYSIOGRAPHY -TOPOGRAPHY-DRAINAGE-STRATIGRAPHY-GENERAL DESCRIPTION-ORDOVI- CIAN SYSTEM-GALENA-TRENTON-MAQUOKETA OR HUDSON RIVER-DEVONIAN SYSTEM- GENERAL DESCRIPTION-PLEISTOCENE SYSTEM-KANSAN STAGE- IOWAN STAGE-ALLUVIUM-THICKNESS OF THE PLEISTOCENE DEPOSIT-SOILS- UNCONFORMITIES-ECONOMIC PRODUCTS-QUARRY STONE-CLAYS-LIME- WATER POWERS-SUMMARY 39
CHAPTER III
THE FIRST INHABITANTS
THE MOUND BUILDERS-DESCRIPTION OF THEIR RELICS-EARLY INVESTIGATORS- MOUND BUILDERS' DISTRICTS-WHO WERE THEY ?- THE INDIANS-DISTRIBUTION OF INDIAN GROUPS AT THE BEGINNING OF THE SIXTEENTH CENTURY-THE IOWA -THE SAC AND FOX-BLACK HAWK AND KEOKUK-OTHER SAC AND FOX CHIEFS -POTAWATOMI - WINNEBAGO - PRINCIPAL TRIBES OF THE SANTEE SIOUX - MDEWAKANTON-SISSETON-WAHPEKUTE-WAHPETON 73
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CONTENTS
CHAPTER IV
THE PERIOD OF PREPARATION
THE SEEN AND THE UNSEEN-EARLY EXPLORATIONS IN AMERICA-STRENGTHENING SPANISH CLAIMS-WORK OF THE ENGLISH-FRENCH EXPLORATIONS-MAR- QUETTE AND JOLIET-LA SALLE'S EXPEDITIONS-SETTLEMENT OF LOUISIANA- CONFLICTING INTERESTS-FRENCH AND INDIAN WAR-CLARK'S CONQUEST OF THE NORTHWEST-NAVIGATION OF THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER-THE LOUISIANA PUR- CHASE-TREATY OF PARIS-EXPLORING THE NEW PURCHASE-ACQUISITION OF THE INDIAN LANDS-TREATY OF 1804-THE NEUTRAL GROUND TREATY OF 1830 -TREATY OF 1832-TREATY OF 1842-TREATY OF TRAVERSE DES SIOUX .... .91
CHAPTER V
PROGRESSIVE STEPS IN ORGANIZATION OF IOWA AS A STATE
FIRST UNDER JURISDICTION OF UNITED STATES IN 1804-INCLUDED IN TERRITORY OF ILLINOIS IN 1807-IN TERRITORY OF MISSOURI, IN 1812-LEFT A "POLITICAL ORPHAN," IN 1821-IN THE TERRITORY OF MICHIGAN, IN 1834-IN THE TERRI- TORY OF WISCONSIN, IN 1836-ORGANIZED AS IOWA TERRITORY, IN 1838-FIRST TERRITORIAL LEGISLATURE-FIRST SEAT OF GOVERNMENT-BOUNDARY TROUBLES- ORGANIZED AS A STATE IN 1846. ..
PART TWO CHICKASAW COUNTY
CHAPTER I
POLITICAL HISTORY-ELECTION RETURNS
AGITATION REGARDING ADMISSION OF FREE AND SLAVE STATES-IOWA BECAME A STATE AT OPPORTUNE TIME-WAS NOT INVOLVED IN THE CONTROVERSY-FIRST VOTE IN PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION, 1848-FIRST STATE ELECTORAL VOTE TO CASS- IOWA CONTRIBUTED TO DEATH BLOW OF WHIGS, IN 1852-THEN ELECTED WHIG GOVERNOR IN 1854-FOR FREMONT IN 1856-FOR LINCOLN IN 1860, AND ALL REPUBLICAN CANDIDATES UNTIL 1912-VOTE OF STATE AND COUNTY IN ALL ELECTIONS SINCE ORGANIZATION .123
CHAPTER II COUNTY ORGANIZATION
CHICKASAW BOUNDARIES ESTABLISHED-FIRST ATTEMPT TO EFFECT ORGANIZATION A FAILURE-ORGANIZING SHERIFF SETS ASIDE ELECTION RESULT-ANOTHER
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CONTENTS
ELECTION DATE-SECOND ORGANIZING EFFORT SUCCESSFUL-NAMES OF FIRST COUNTY OFFICIALS-TOWNSHIPS ESTABLISHED-COUNTY SEAT LOCATED-BRAD- FORD THE FAVORED PLACE. . 143
CHAPTER III
COUNTY SEAT CONTESTS
FIRST COUNTY SEAT AT BRADFORD-PROPOSAL TO REMOVE TO GEOGRAPHICAL CENTER OF COUNTY-NEW HAMPTON THE PLACE-PETITION FOR ELECTION ON QUESTION OF REMOVAL-ELECTION FIGURES DISPUTED-NEW HAMPTON LOSES IN THE COUNT-AN INDIGNATION MEETING-LOCATED IN NEW HAMPTON BY LEGISLA- TIVE ACT-THEN FOREST CITY COMES WITH A CLAIM-PETITION FOR ANOTHER ELECTION GRANTED-ANOTHER DISPUTED ELECTION-DECIDED IN FAVOR OF FOR- EST CITY-HURRIED REMOVAL TO THAT PLACE-PROTESTS OF THE EXCITED POPU- LACE-RESULTING IN SOME PERSONAL ENCOUNTERS "BATTLE OF BAILEY'S LANE"-DECISION OF HIGHER COURT RETURNS COUNTY SEAT TO NEW HAMP- TON 149
CHAPTER IV
COUNTY GOVERNMENT
FIRST SESSION OF COUNTY COURT-THE COUNTY JUDGE THE SUPREME AUTHORITY- ORDER DEFINING THE COUNTY BOUNDARIES-NUMEROUS ROAD PETITIONS- FINANCIAL EXHIBIT, 1856-BOARD OF SUPERVISORS ASSUME CONTROL OF COUNTY AFFAIRS-NASIIUA BRIDGE THE SUBJECT OF MUCH DISCUSSION-FINALLY COM- PLETED-COURTHOUSE BUILT-PETITION FOR COUNTY JAIL REFUSED --- COURT- HOUSES BUILT-FINANCIAL STATEMENT, 1873 -- COMPARISON WITH STATEMENT OF 1916. 16I
CHAPTER V
OFFICIAL REGISTER OF DISTRICT AND COUNTY
OFFICIALS WHO SERVED DURING FIRST THIRTY-FIVE YEARS-CHICKASAW IN FOURTH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT-FIRST REPRESENTATIVE IN CONGRESS, 1863 TO '65- DISTRICT JUDGES-REPRESENTATIVES IN LEGISLATURE-STATE SENATORS- COUNTY JUDGES-DISTRICT COURT CLERKS-COUNTY TREASURERS-COUNTY AUDITORS-COUNTY RECORDERS-CORONERS-SHERIFFS-SCHOOL SUPERINTEND- ENTS-BOARDS OF SUPERVISORS-PRESENT COUNTY OFFICIALS. 177
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CONTENTS
CHAPTER VI
STATE MILITARY HISTORY-CIVIL WAR
EVENTS PRECEDING THE CIVIL WAR-CULMINATION OF THE CONTROVERSY REGARDING SLAVERY-GROWING AGGRESSION OF SLAVE POWER-COMPROMISES INEFFECTUAL- SOUTHERN THREATS TO DISSOLVE THE UNION IN THE EVENT OF DEFEAT- TRAITORS IN BUCHANAN'S CABINET PREPARE FOR THAT EVENT-LINCOLN'S ELECTION FOL- LOWED BY SECESSION OF SOUTHERN STATES-SOUTHERN CONFEDERACY ESTAB- LISHED-LINCOLN INAUGURATED-FALL OF FORT SUMTER-CALL FOR VOLUNTEERS TO SUPPRESS REBELLION-IOWA'S READY RESPONSE-LIST OF REGIMENTS FUR- NISHED BRILLIANT RECORD OF SERVICE RENDERED IN WAR FOR THE UNION . . 187
CHAPTER VII
MILITARY HISTORY OF CHICKASAW COUNTY
EARLY MANIFESTATION OF PATRIOTIC SPIRIT-FIRST COMPANY ORGANIZED-A FARE- WELL GREETING-DEPARTURE FOR REGIMENT CAMP-ROSTER OF THE COMPANY- FIRST EXPERIENCE AS SOLDIERS-OTHER ENLISTMENTS IN THE COUNTY-NUM- BER OF VOLUNTEERS DURING THE WAR- LATER MILITARY RECORD-THE SELEC- TIVE CONSCRIPTION METHOD-FIRST CALL FOR SERVICE IN WAR WITH GER- MANY. 199
CHAPTER VIII BOARD OF SUPERVISORS' WAR RECORD
PATRIOTIC SPIRIT EARLY MANIFESTED-LIBERAL APPROPRIATION FOR VOLUNTEERS- - WIVES AND DEPENDENTS PROVIDED FOR-SIO FOR VOLUNTEER OUTFIT, $3 MONTHLY PAY-FEAR OF COUNTY BANKRUPTCY CAUSES CONCERN-MOVE FOR MODIFICATION OF ORDER-MUCH DISCUSSION AS TO HOW TO PRESERVE THE IN- TENT OF ORIGINAL ORDER AND MEET THE FINANCIAL CONDITIONS-FINALLY ADJUSTED-NOTES FOR UNPAID BALANCE AT CLOSE. OF. THE WAR-AMOUNT OF NOTES, $11,432.56-A CREDITABLE RECORD. 205
CHAPTER IX TOWNSHIP HISTORY-BRADFORD TOWNSHIP
ORIGIN OF THE TOWNSHIP SYSTEM-BRADFORD FIRST IN CHICKASAW COUNTY-OTHER DIVISIONS MADE-INCIDENTS OF BRADFORD'S EARLY HISTORY-INDIAN TRADING POST-UNSUCCESSFUL ATTEMPT TO CIVILIZE THE INDIANS-GOVERNMENT RESER- VATION A FAILURE-EARLY WHITE SETTLERS-HISTORY OF OLD BRADFORD ACAD- EMY-"THE LITTLE BROWN CHURCH"; ORIGIN AND HISTORY OF THE SONG- PIONEER ENTERPRISES-PRESENT OFFICERS-POPULATION-FINANCIAL STATE- MENT. 215
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CONTENTS
CHAPTER X
TOWNSHIP HISTORY-CONTINUED
JACKSONVILLE-UTICA
JACKSONVILLE ORGANIZED, 1858-POPULATION-BOUNDARIES ESTABLISHED-A SUR- FACE SURVEY- EARLY SETTLERS OF DIFFERENT NATIONALITIES-CHARACTERIS- TICS-PIONEERS OF FOREIGN BIRTH-BUILDINGS AND BUSINESS ENTERPRISES- AGRICULTURAL RESOURCES-POPULATION IN 1915-PRESENT TOWNSHIP OFFICERS -TRUSTEES' FINANCIAL STATEMENT, 1916. UTICA TOWNSHIP-ORGANIZED 1858 -PHYSICAL FEATURES-FIRST WHITE SETTLERS-NORWEGIANS AND OTHER NATIONALITIES-RISE AND FLIGHT OF LITTLE TURKEY-SAUDE, THE ONLY VIL- LAGE-PROSPECTS OF PERMANENCY-TOWNSHIP POPULATION, 1915-PRESENT TOWNSHIP OFFICERS-TRUSTEES' FINANCIAL STATEMENT, 1916. . 237
CHAPTER XI TOWNSHIP HISTORY-CONTINUED
DAYTON-STAPLETON-DRESDEN
DAYTON TOWNSHIP ORGANIZED, 1859-FIRST ELECTION OF TOWNSHIP OFFICERS- GENERAL FEATURES OF TOWNSHIP SURFACE AND SOIL-EARLY SETTLEMENTS- OPERATIONS OF LAND SPECULATORS-FIRST POSTOFFICE-POPULATION IN 1915 -PRESENT TOWNSHIP OFFICERS-FINANCIAL STATEMENT, 1916-STAPLETON TOWNSHIP ORGANIZED, 1857-EARLY SETTLEMENTS-FIRST POSTOFFICE-LOCA- TION OF RAILROAD, 1869-LAWLER MADE STATION-BECOMES IMPORTANT SHIP- PING POINT-TOWNSHIP POPULATION, 1915-TOWNSHIP OFFICERS, 1917- FINANCIAL STATEMENT, 1916-DRESDEN TOWNSHIP ORGANIZED, 1859-PHYSICAL FEATURES-AGRICULTURAL RESOURCES-POPULATION, 1915-TOWNSHIP OFFI- ( .. CERS, 1917-TRUSTEES' FINANCIAL STATEMENT, 1916. . .249
CHAPTER XII TOWNSHIP HISTORY-CONTINUED
NEW HAMPTON-RICHLAND-FREDERICKSBURG
NEW HAMPTON ORGANIZED, 1857-FIRST ELECTION OF TOWNSHIP OFFICERS-SOME OF THE EARLY SETTLERS-HANDICAPPED BY LAND SPECULATORS-INCIDENTS OF EARLY TIMES-FINANCIAL STATEMENT. RICHLAND-FIRST SETTLERS-PENNSYL- VANIA AND OHIO COLONIES-POPULATION-PRESENT OFFICIALS-FINANCIAL " STATEMENT. FREDERICKSBURG-NAMED AFTER FIRST PERMANENT SETTLER- - PRESENT POPULATION-PRESENT OFFICIALS-FINANCIAL STATEMENT ..... .257
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CONTENTS CHAPTER XIII
TOWNSHIP HISTORY-CONTINUED
CHICKASAW-DEERFIELD-WASHINGTON
CHICKASAW TOWNSHIP ESTABLISHED AT COUNTY ORGANIZATION, 1855-LARGELY TIMBER LAND-CHICKASAW TOWN PLATTED, 1854-FIRST SAW AND GRIST MILL IN COUNTY-FAILURE TO SECURE RAILROAD BLIGHTS TOWN PROSPECTS, BUT STILL REMAINS PLACE OF HISTORIC INTEREST-TOWNSHIP POPULATION, 1915-PRES- ENT OFFICERS-TRUSTEES' FINANCIAL STATEMENT-DEERFIELD TOWNSHIP OR- GANIZED, 1856-FIRST TOWNSHIP OFFICERS-EARLY SETTLERS-TRADITION OF INDIAN MASSACRE-POPULATION, 1915-TOWNSHIP OFFICERS, 1917-TRUSTEES STATEMENT, 1916-WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP-TROUBLE ABOUT ORGANIZATION- QUESTION ABOUT LEGALITY OF VOTE, AND OTHER DISPUTES, MARK THE TOWN- SHIP'S EARLY HISTORY-FIRST SETTLERS-AGRICULTURAL ADVANTAGES-GENERAL FEATURES-POPULATION, 1915-TOWNSHIP OFFICERS, 1917-FINANCIAL STATE- MENT, 1916. 267
CHAPTER XIV
CITIES, TOWNS AND VILLAGES
NEW HAMPTON THE GEOGRAPHICAL CENTER-FIRST SETTLERS-TOWN INCORPORATED -FIRST OFFICIALS-PUBLIC UTILITIES-PUBLIC LIBRARY-THE CEMETERIES- CITY OF NASHUA-FIRST SETTLERS-THE CHURCHES-PUBLIC LIBRARY-LAW- LER'S EARLY MISFORTUNES-SERIES OF FIRE VISITATIONS-BUSINESS ENTER- PRISES-CHURCHES AND SCHOOLS-FREDERICKSBURG-A NOTED MUSICAL ORGAN- IZATION-THE PIONEER SCHOOLMASTER-LIST OF EARLY SCHOOL PRINCIPALS- THE CHURCHES 279
CHAPTER XV
THE PRESS-LAW AND MEDICAL PROFESSIONS
THE PIONEER NEWSPAPER MAN-RIVALRY BETWEEN BRADFORD AND JACKSONVILLE TO ISSUE FIRST NEWSPAPER-MAN FROM MISSOURI WINS-FIRST PAPER IN JACK- SONVILLE-NEW HAMPTON COURIER ONE OF THE SIX STARTED TO CONTINUE -- LIST OF DEFUNCT NEWSPAPER VENTURES-CHICKASAW COUNTY BAR-FIRST ATTORNEYS-THE PRESENT BAR-THE MEDICAL PROFESSION-OLD-TIME DOCTORS COMPARED WITH THE PRESENT-SOME OF THOSE WHO CAME FIRST-LIST OF REGISTERED PHYSICIANS IN COUNTY 307
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CONTENTS
CHAPTER XVI
SCHOOLS AND CHURCHES, CHICKASAW COUNTY
FIRST SCHOOL IN COUNTY, 1852-THE EARLY SCHOOLHOUSES AND EQUIPMENT- QUALIFICATIONS OF TEACHERS-THE SCHOOLMASTER OF OLDEN TIME-COURSE OF STUDY LIMITED TO THREE "R'S"- REVIEW OF OLD RECORDS OF COUNTY SUPER- INTENDENTS-FIRST MOVEMENT TOWARD GRADED SCHOOL SYSTEM-SALARY OF TEACHERS IN 1880-PRESENT CONDITION OF CHICKASAW COUNTY SCHOOLS- CONSOLIDATED SCHOOL DISTRICTS-STATISTICAL REPORT-THE CHURCHIES OF NEW HAMPTON AND IN COUNTY.
317
CHAPTER XVII
BANKS AND RAILROADS OF CHICKASAW COUNTY
HEALTHY BANK DEPOSITS INDICATIVE OF THRIFT AND ECONOMY-SIGNIFICANT SHOWING OF BANK DEPOSITS IN COUNTY-STATEMENT AND CONDITION OF NEW HAMPTON BANKS-NASHUA-LAWLER-IONIA-ALTA VISTA-BEFORE THE RAIL- ROAD CAME-THE STAGE-COACH PERIOD-FIRST RAILROAD IN COUNTY-NASHUA THE FIRST RAILWAY STATION-COMPLETION OF EAST AND WEST LINE-FOL- LOWED BY NORTH AND SOUTH LINE THROUGH THE COUNTY-SHIPPING FACILI- TIES AFFORDED ALL PARTS OF COUNTY. .341
CHAPTER XVIII FRATERNAL AND PATRIOTIC ORDERS
THE MASONIC FRATERNITY-SOMETHING OF ITS ORIGIN AND IIISTORY-INTRODUCED IN IOWA IN 1840-FIRST LODGE ORGANIZED IN CHICKASAW COUNTY-BRADFORD LODGE AT NASHUA-ORGANIZATION OF NEW HAMPTON LODGE-FREDERICKSBURG LODGE, 1875-THE INDEPENDENT ORDER OF ODD FELLOWS-ORIGIN AND HISTORY -FIRST LODGE IN UNITED STATES AT BALTIMORE, 1819-NEW HAMPTON LODGE ESTABLISHED, 1899-OTHER LODGES IN COUNTY-THE GRAND ARMY OF THE REPUBLIC-HOW AND BY WHOM IT WAS ORGANIZED-ITS PHENOMENAL GROWTII -ITS GRADUAL AND INEVITABLE DECLINE-FIRST POSTS ORGANIZED IN IOWA- POSTS IN CHICKASAW COUNTY-THE WOMAN'S RELIEF CORPS-AN AUXILIARY OF THIE GRAND ARMY-ORGANIZATIONS IN COUNTY 347
CHAPTER XIX MISCELLANEOUS MATTER
STATE HIGHWAY COMMISSION-REPORT OF WORK ON ROAD IMPROVEMENT IN CHICK- ASAW COUNTY-EXPENDITURES FOR ROADS AND BRIDGES-EARLY MARRIAGES IN CHICKASAW COUNTY-CENSUS OF COUNTY, 1915-CLASSIFIED BY SEX AND AGE- CHANGES IN POPULATION IN COUNTY, SINCE 1852-IN NEW HAMPTON,
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CONTENTS
SINCE 1885-POSTOFFICES IN CHICKASAW COUNTY-AGRICULTURAL STATISTICS, 1915-LIVE STOCK AND DOMESTIC ANIMALS-PRODUCTIONS-ASSESSMENT AND TAXATION, 1905 AND 1915. 355
PART THREE HOWARD COUNTY
CHAPTER I
EARLY SETTLEMENT
FIRST TRAVELERS ON IOWA SOIL-FIRST SETTLEMENT IN STATE OF IOWA-OPENING OF BLACK HAWK PURCHASE-FIRST COUNTIES-FIRST SETTLEMENTS IN HOWARD COUNTY-FIRST BIRTHS, MARRIAGES, MILLS, ETC .- POPULATION STATISTICS- PIONEER LIFE AND CUSTOMS-HOUSE RAISING CABIN FURNISHINGS-SWAP- PING WORK-LIGHTS-SUPPLIES AND CLOTHES-AMUSEMENTS. 365
CHAPTER II
HOWARD COUNTY GOVERNMENT
IOWA BEFORE ORGANIZATION AS TERRITORY-TERRITORY OF IOWA-STATEHOOD-THE ORGANIC ACT-FIRST ELECTION OF HOWARD COUNTY-THE COUNTY COURT- CHANGE OF GOVERNMENT-BOARD OF SUPERVISORS-TREASURER'S FIRST RE- PORTS-A ROBBERY-COURTHOUSE FIRE-COUNTY SEATS AND COURTHOUSES- JAIL-POOR FARM-ROSTER OF COUNTY OFFICIALS. 375
CHAPTER III HOWARD COUNTY TOWNSHIPS
ORIGIN OF TOWNSHIP GOVERNMENT-IOWA TOWNSHIPS-FIRST HOWARD COUNTY TOWNSHIPS-VERNON SPRINGS TOWNSHIP-FOREST CITY TOWNSHIP-OLD TOWN OF LIME SPRINGS-SARATOGA TOWNSHIP-PARIS TOWNSHIP-AFTON TOWNSHIP -HOWARD TOWNSHIP-JAMESTOWN TOWNSHIP-HOWARD CENTER TOWNSHIP- ALBION TOWNSIIIP-NEW OREGON TOWNSHIP-VILLAGE OF NEW OREGON-CHES- TER AND OAKDALE TOWNSHIPS. 393
CHAPTER IV MILITARY HISTORY OF HOWARD COUNTY
THE SLAVERY QUESTION-BEGINNING OF SECESSION-FORT SUMTER-FALL OF FORT SUMTER-PROCLAMATION-SENTIMENT IN IOWA-RESPONSE IN HOWARD COUNTY
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CONTENTS
-ROSTER-THIRD IOWA INFANTRY-SEVENTH IOWA INFANTRY-NINTH IOWA INFANTRY-TWELFTH IOWA INFANTRY-THIRTEENTH IOWA INFANTRY-TWEN- TY-FIRST IOWA INFANTRY-THIRTY-EIGHTH IOWA INFANTRY-FORTY-SIXTH INFANTRY-SIXTH IOWA CAVALRY-THIRD IOWA BATTERY-THE SPIRIT OF 405 1917.
CHAPTER V HOWARD COUNTY TOWNS
EARLY WESTERN TOWNS AND THEIR CHARACTER-CRESCO-FIRST MERCHANTS- INCORPORATION - MAYORS - PUBLIC IMPROVEMENTS - PUBLIC LIBRARY - ST. JOSEPH'S MERCY HOSPITAL-LODGES-LIME SPRING-CHESTER-PROTIVIN- ELMA-RICEVILLE
415
CHAPTER VI
EDUCATIONAL PROGRESS
THE NEWSPAPERS
THE BEGINNING-SCHOOLS IN IOWA-FIRST HOWARD COUNTY SCHOOLS-STATISTICS -COUNTY SUPERINTENDENTS-THE NEWSPAPERS-ORIGIN-FIRST PAPERS IN THE UNITED STATES-FIRST HOWARD COUNTY NEWSPAPER-THE PLAIN DEALER -THE HOWARD COUNTY TIMES-OTHER COUNTY PAPERS-DEFUNCT PAPERS. 429
CHAPTER VII
HOWARD COUNTY BANKS
ORIGIN OF MODERN BANKING-IOWA BANKING LAWS-CRESCO BANKS-LIME SPRING BANKS-CHESTER BANKS-ELMA BANKS-PROTIVIN BANK .. ..... 439
CHAPTER VIII
MEDICAL AND LEGAL PROFESSIONS
ORIGIN OF MEDICAL PRACTICE AND THERAPEUTICS-HOME REMEDIES-THE PIONEER DOCTOR - EARLY HOWARD COUNTY DOCTORS - PRESENT PHYSICIANS - THE BENCH AND BAR-TERRITORIAL COURTS-COURTS AND JUDGES-THE EARLY HOWARD COUNTY BAR-THE PRESENT DOCKET. 447
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CONTENTS CHAPTER IX
RELIGIOUS DENOMINATIONS
METHODIST-CONGREGATIONAL-CATHOLIC-BAPTIST-EPISCOPAL-GERMAN LUTH - ERAN-NORWEGIAN EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN-PRESBYTERIAN-CHURCH OF
CHRIST SCIENTIST-FREE METHODIST-EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN. ..... 455
CHAPTER X
MISCELLANEOUS
('ENSUS REPORT-AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY-OLD SETTLERS' SOCIETY-DRIVING PARK ASSOCIATION-RAILROADS-THE KYTE AFFAIR .
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PART ONE
CHICKASAW AND HOWARD COUNTIES
Vol. I -- 2
Chickasaw and Howard Counties
HISTORICAL
CHAPTER I
INTRODUCTION
PREVIOUS GEOLOGICAL WORK-PHYSIOGRAPHY-TOPOGRAPHY-DRAINAGE-STRATI- GRAPHY-SYNOPSIS-DEVONIAN SYSTEM-GENERAL DEVONIAN SECTION-PLEIS- TOCENE SYSTEM-KANSAN STAGE-IOWAN STAGE-SOILS-ECONOMIC PRODUCTS -WATER SUPPLIES-WATER POWERS-SUMMARY.
GEOLOGIC AND GEOGRAPHIC RELATIONS-AREA
Chickasaw County, one of the altogether too few geographical divisions which bear a name derived from the speech of the aboriginal inhabitants, is located in the northeastern part of the state. Howard County separates it from Minne -. sota, Winneshiek and Fayette bound it on the east, Bremer on the south and Floyd on the west. With respect to its indurated rocks, Chickasaw is wholly included within the Devonian area; so far as concerns its surficial deposits, it lies within the area occupied by Iowan drift. Its eastern boundary is located only a few miles west of the eastern edge of the Iowan plain, and as a result of its position our county embraces some of the sandy ridges, loess covered uplands and other marginal topographic characteristics of the Iowan area. There is only the width of two counties separating Chickasaw from the deep valley and the steep, rocky, picturesque bluffs of the Mississippi River; and much less space intervenes between our county and the driftless area with its streams ,flowing in deep gorges, the whole surface profoundly trenched and carved by erosion so as to expose rock sections scores or even hundreds of feet in height almost everywhere. To one not personally familiar with the facts, the contrast between the driftless area and the county we are considering is almost incon- ceivable; for Chickasaw County is an area of practically no rock exposures, it is a level plain, uneroded, in most of its area very imperfectly drained so far as being provided with natural trenches for carrying off storm water is con- cerned. The area of Chickasaw County is approximately five hundred square miles.
PREVIOUS GEOLOGICAL WORK
The geologists of a generation ago gave very scant attention to the drift. or to any of the numerous problems connected with the surficial deposits. From the standpoint and attitude of that day these subjects were all negligible quan-
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CHICKASAW AND HOWARD COUNTIES
tities which seemed scarcely to fall within the scope of geological science. For it must be remembered that geology was then confined almost exclusively to an investigation of the indurated rocks, of the sedimentary rocks chiefly-such as limestones, sandstones and shales-together with their fossil and mineralog- ical contents. With most of the prominent geological workers of the time there seemed but one sure way to win geological renown, and that was to describe new fossil species. When, therefore, it is borne in mind that more than nine- tenths of Chickasaw County is simply a great prairie plain presenting nothing for investigation but such commonplace things as rich black soils and erratic crystalline bowlders, that exposures of native rocks are very few, and none of commanding interest from the point of view of the elder geologist, it will not seem strange that this county is scarcely mentioned in our geological litera- ture. It was with reference to an area in northeastern Iowa, of which Chickasaw County is a typical part, that our pioneer geologist, Dr. David Dale Owen, wrote in his report to the commissioner of the general land office, in 1848: "The geologist who undertakes to investigate the vast prairie country of the Mississippi Valley must be provided with no common share of patience and perseverance. He must be content to travel for half a day together without seeing aught but a rich, black soil, covered, as far as the eye can reach, even down to the very edge of the small streams, with a thick and high growth of prairie grass, with perhaps a faint outline of timber cutting the distant horizon. He must be prepared to wade swamps, to ford streams waist deep, or, in times of freshets, to plunge in and breast the current. He must not shrink beneath a broiling sun, even without a bush to cast a faint shadow over an occasional resting-place. He must think himself fortunate if he can reach, at night, a few scattered oaks to plenish his fire, and boil his camp kettle; and he may consider it a special instance of good luck if, in return, he can catch a glimpse of a rock exposure once or twice a day. He may travel for days together without lighting on any object more interesting than the hillock of the prairie dog, or the broad lair of the bison."1
The conditions under which the work of D. D. Owen was done have long since disappeared. The aspect of the country has been greatly changed. Groves, everywhere, within the limits of the horizon, break up the wideness and monotony of the sea-like expanses of level prairie, fringes of planted trees afford grateful shade by every wayside, while improved roads and well constructed bridges relieve the traveler almost wholly from the necessity of wading marshes or fording streams. Many of the marshes, by well planned drainage, have indeed been transformed into fruitful fields. But amid all the transformations which have taken place since Owen worked and wrote, the scarcity of rock exposures remains practically unchanged. In Hall's report on the geology of Iowa there is the barest reference to Chickasaw County, and that relates altogether to the drainage and surface characteristics.2 White's report 3 does not even mention
1 The quotation is copied from Owen's Geol. Sur. of Wis., Iowa and Minn., p. 79; Philadelphia, 1852. The wording is but slightly different in the original report to the Com- missioner of the Land Office, pp. 36 and 37; Washington, 1848.
2 Rept. on the Geol. Surv. of the State of Iowa, by James Hall and J. D. Whitney ; Vol. I, Part I, p. 306, 1858.
3 Rept. on the Geol. Surv. of the State of Iowa, by Charles A. White, M. D .; Vols. I and II, Des Moines, 1870.
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CHICKASAW AND HOWARD COUNTIES
our county in any way. As a matter of fact, however, the serious limitations of time under which he worked prevented his visiting any of the prairie counties in northeastern Iowa. In McGee's "Pleistocene History of Northeastern Iowa." + there are references to the topography and other surficial phenomena of Chick- asaw County. In no official publication, however, has there heretofore been any discussion of the interesting though numerically limited rock exposures which the county affords.
PHYSIOGRAPHY
TOPOGRAPHY
The topography of Chickasaw County shows few striking features of any kind. In general the surface is a plain modified by only a small amount of relief. With the exception of some small areas in the western part of Bradford and Chickasaw townships, the whole county is covered with the Iowan drift, which remains unaltered and uneroded, precisely as it was left at the time of the withdrawal of the Iowan glaciers. In places the Iowan drift mantle was thick enough to disguise the pre-Iowan topography and develop the typical, gently undulating Iowan plain. In places the latest drift was too thin to do more than slightly modify the older, erosional topography. An unusual number of streams traverse the county-the general trend being from northwest to southeast-and divide the surface into a corresponding number of long, 'narrow inter-stream areas. The streams follow broad, shallow troughs in the surface, in places two, three, or four miles in width. The narrow divides between the broad valleys vary in topographic types from areas of pronounced hills and swells and minor irregularities, to upland plains diversified by only low, flat, long- sweeping undulations. The typical Iowan plain is exemplified in the northern part of the northern townships, Deerfield, Washington, Jacksonville and Utica. New Hampton is located in the center of such a plain, and the same type of plain surrounds Ionia, stretching away to the horizon in nearly every direction. The gently undulating plain, developed by the constructive and moulding effects of glacial ice, and not by erosion, is the predominant type of topography throughout the county. There are a number of areas, especially in the eastern part of the county, so level that drainage is still very imperfect, and crops suffer accord- ingly when seasons are more than usually wet.
The hilly, rolling tracts are never very extensive, but they are met with ยท more or less frequently in every part of the county. Such tracts have no definite boundaries, for, in very short distances sometimes, they fade out and blend into the characteristic Iowan plain. One of these belts of rolling country occurs two or three miles south and southeast of New Hampton. For a mile and a half east of Fredericksburg there is a low, level plain, and this is fol- lowed by an upland area broken into rounded hills which, in some instances, rise sixty feet above the intervening depressions. From such a station as the
4 The Pleistocene History of Northeastern Iowa, by W. J. McGee ; Eleventh Ann. Rept. of the U. S. Geol. Surv .; Washington, 1891.
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CHICKASAW AND HOWARD COUNTIES
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