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IVO ( Hamilton Co. Lee
.
1 THE NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY
ASTAR LAMOK AME TILDEN FOUNDATIONE R
IVO ( Hamilton Co) Lee
....
HISTORY OF
HAMILTON COUNTY IOWA
By J. W. LEE
ILLUSTRATED
Volume 1
-
1912 THE S. J. CLARKE PUBLISHING COMPANY CHICAGO
4
PUBLIC LIBRARY 99251B
TIL. .... I. R
1941 L
Editor's Preface
This volume brings the General History of Hamilton County down to the beginning of the Twentieth Century and no attempt has been made to make a systematic record of events occurring later than the above date. It presents the first serious attempt at compiling and publishing a History of Hamilton County that has ever been made. Chapters three to ten inclusive are the work of F. Q. Lee, deceased. They were written in 1890 and 1891 and are presented, prac- tically, as they were prepared by him and in the preparation of these chapters. Mr. Lee was always glad to acknowledge valuable assistance from Isaiah Doane. Chapter twenty-eight entitled "The Mills of the County." was prepared by Mrs. Effie Mckinley Kantor.
Chapter twenty-nine entitled "The Kendall Young Library" was prepared by E. D. Burgess.
Articles on Church History have been contributed by Chas. Biernatzki, Capt. Frank E. Landers, Dr. W. R. Homan, Rev. M. L. Melick, H. A. Maxon and Prof. F. C. Runkle.
The editor desires to acknowledge great assistance from the files of the Ham- ilton Freeman, of which an almost complete set is in existence and from the writ- ings of J. H. Stephenson, Isaiah Doane, W. L. Clark, S. B. Rosencrans and Chas. Aldrich which have appeared in the press of the county from time to time. He also desires to express gratitude for the kindly interest taken in the work by Capt. Frank E. Landers and for the immense fund of information he has always so promptly and willingly supplied. He is also grateful for the kindness of E. S. Boudenot, in making certain drawings to illustrate the work.
J. W. LEE.
CONTENTS
CHAPTER I
GEOLOGICAL
LOCATION AND TOPOGRAPHY-OUR SOIL AND ITS ORIGIN-ECONOMIC PRODUCTS -GEOLOGICAL INVESTIGATION-W. L. CLARK'S ESTIMATE OF OUR MINERAL WEALTH-WATER SUPPLIES-THE BOONE RIVER- THE WEBSTER CITY RESERVOIR -POWER POSSIBILITIES-FISH AND CLAMS-TIMBER-ARTESIAN WELLS-MC- I MURRAY'S REPORT
CHAPTER II
OUR TITLE
ABSTRACT OF TITLE TO HAMILTON COUNTY-INDIAN RIGHTS-THE NEUTRAL STRIP -CESSION OF 1842-TIENRY LOT'S TROUBLE WITH THE INDIANS-THE LOT MONUMENT-REPULSE OF GOVERNMENT SURVEYORS BY INDIANS-HENRY LOT'S REVENGE-A PIONEER INQUEST I7
CHAPTER III
THE FIRST SETTLERS
THE ARRIVAL OF PRESTON BELL-SETTLERS IN 1850-SETTLERS IN 1851-SETTLERS IN 1852-HOW "JAS" CAUGHT A DEER-THE FIRST STORE-OTHER SETTLERS IN 1852 -- THE FIRST MILL-AAN ECCENTRIC CHARACTER-A PIONEER PRAYER MEET- ING-ARRIVALS IN 1853-CLAIM JUMPERS-THE FIRST LAND ENTRY-SLOUGHI- ING DOWN-PIONEER HOSPITALITY-ARRIVALS IN 1854-DAVE BEACH WALKS TO DES MOINES-THE FIRST BRIDGE-THE ARRIVAL OF W. J. SILVERS-STORY OF MR. SILVERS TRIP TO HAMILTON COUNTY-SILVERS FINDS HIS HOME-AN EARLY DISASTER-ARRIVAL OF THE WILLSONS-MRS. WILLSON'S STORY-OTHER 55 SET- TLERS-HOMER AS A PIONEER CITY-THE SECOND STORE-ARRIVAL OF BENJ. MILLARD -- FIRST SETTLEMENT ON SKUNK RIVER 20
vi
CONTENTS
CHAPTER IV
EARLY EVENTS CHIEFLY OF A POLITICAL NATURE
THE FIRST ELECTION-ORGANIZING WEBSTER COUNTY-TAXATION WITHOUT REPRE- SENTATION-THIE FIRST COUNTY OFFICERS-THE COUNTY SEAT-THE STATE ROAD -THE SECOND ELECTION-GRANVILLE BURKLEY-THE BUILDING OF HOMER-NEW CASTLE-A MILD WINTER-PRAIRIE VS. TIMBER FARMS-A STATE ELECTION-THE FIRST SCHOOLS-PROBIBITION SUSTAINED-A CONTEST OVER COUNTY JUDGE-C. C. CARPENTER VISITS NEW CASTLE-TIMBER STEALING-ANOTHER "WILSE BREWER" STORY-SOME NEW TOWNS-TIJE THIRD SCHOOL HOUSE-THE HOTEL SIGN-MOV- ING THE COUNTY SEAT-BALLOT BOX STUFFING-THE MOON HOUSE-THE "OLD WILLSON HOUSE -HON. W. C. WILLSON-RAILROAD BOND ELECTION-A ILARD WINTER-PORK AND HOMINY-HAMILTON COUNTY ORGANIZED-CHOOSING THE XIME-THE FIRST HAMILTON COUNTY ELECTION-WEBSTER CITY IN 1857. . . 49
CHAPTER V
THE SPIRIT LAKE MASSACRE
THE MASSACRE-THE RELIEF EXPEDITION-COMPANY "C"ORGANIZED-LIEUT, JOHN N. MAXWELL'S STORY-INK-PA-DU-TAII, THE OUTLAW-DEPREDATIONS IN CLAY COUNTY-INDIANS AT THE GARDINER HOME-THE INDIANS AT THE MATTOCK HOME-THE HOWE FAMILY MURDERED-AT THE MARBLE CABIN-TIIE MAS- SACRE DISCOVERED-TRIALS OF THIE PRISONERS-THE INDIANS AT SPRINGFIELD- THIE FLIGHT OF THE FUGITIVES-RECOLLECTIONS OF F. R. MASON-DEATH OF CAPTAIN JOHNSON-THE GREAT INDIAN SCARE-THE FRONTIER GUARD. 69
CHAPTER VI
JUST BEFORE THE WAR-EVENTS OCCURRING IN 57-58-59 AND '60
FOUNDING OF THE FREEMAN-THE FIRST FOURTH OF JULY CELEBRATION-COUNTER- FEITERS-ANOTHER PAPER TOWN- COUNTY ELECTION-AN ELECTION CONTEST- A COUNTY FAIR IN 57-AN EARLY TRAGEDY-RIVER LAND GRANT-WILD CAT MONEY-HORSE THIEVES-RAILROAD EXCITEMENT-THE TOWN OF HAWLEY- BUILDING THE FIRST BRIDGE-ARRIVAL OF JACOB SKINNER-CAARPENTER VS. DUN- COMBE-THE FIRST HAY SCALES-AN ATTEMPT TO INCORPORATE-RESCINDING THE RAILROAD BONDS-THE WET SEASON OF 58-WADING THE SLOUGHS-THE FIRST BREWERY-PROMINENT MEN ARRIVE-THE RIVER STEAMER REACHES FORT DODGE-THE SWAMP LAND FUND-AN ATTEMPT TO GET A NEW COURT HOUSE- ANN INDIGNATION MEETING-JUDGE MAXWELL-MORE RAILROAD TALK-PIONEER POLITICS-A COUNTY ELECTION-A NEW SCHOOL HOUSE-POLITICS IN 1860- STATISTICS-THREE NEW BRIDGES. 03
vii
CONTENTS
CHAPTER VII
THE CIVIL WAR-LOCAL EVENTS OCCURRING DURING THE GREAT STRUGGLE
THE FIRST MAN TO ENLIST-COMPANY F ORGANIZED-ROSTER OF CO. F-POLITICS DURING TIIE WAR-GROVE TOWNSHIP CREATED-THE COUNTY OFFERS BOUNTIES- BOUNTIES INCREASED-TRAGEDY AT FISH TRAP FORD-CO "A" 32ND INFANTRY- SWAMP LANDS-CLERK J. M. JONES RESIGNS-TIIE FREEMAN RESUMES PUB- LICATION-D. D. MIRACLE ARRIVES-HORSE THIEF EXCITEMENT-TIIE CIRCUS COMES TO TOWN-THIE SHEEP INDUSTRY-DRAFTING SOLDIERS-STATE MILITIA- TIFE FIRST TEACIIERS INSTITUTE-SOLDIERS AS GUESTS-THE FIRST CEMETERY AS- SOCIATION-A DRAFT AVOIDED-THIE ASSASSINATION OF LINCOLN -- A TRAGEDY AMONG THE SOLDIERS-THE SORGHUM AGE. 115
CHAPTER VIII
JUST AFTER THE WAR-EVENTS BETWEEN THE CLOSE OF THE WAR AND THE ARRIVAL OF THE FIRST RAILROAD
JIOMER REVIVES-B. F. DERR COMMENCES BUSINESS-HOOK'S POINT-THIE NEW YORK COLONY-ILLINOIS CENTRAL RAILROAD REACHES ACKLEY-MOB LAW-THIE POTTER HOUSE-THE DECLINE OF THE SHEEP INDUSTRY-GRACELAND CEMETERY -COUNTY ELECTION IN '65-A COURTHOUSE AT LAST-A BUSINESS DIRECTORY IN 1866-J. D. HUNTER TAKES CHARGE OF THE FREEMAN-A SEVERE WINTER -- A WET SPRING-A MARKET REPORT IN 1867-COUNTY ELECTION IN 1867-TOWN- SHIP OF BLAIRSBURG CREATED BASEBALL IN THE SIXTIES-THE FIRST BANK IS ESTABLISHED-A GRASSHOPPER SCARE-A PIONEER CAMP MEETING-JUDGE CHASE FOR CONGRESS-A COUNTY FAIR GROUND ESTABLISHED. I33
CHAPTER IX
THE FIRST RAILROAD-THE ARRIVAL OF THE "IRON HORSE" AND ATTENDING EVENTS
THE RAILROAD IS COMING-THE LOCATION OF A DEPOT-TIIE RAILROAD ARRIVES- A TOUGH CROWD A DRUNKEN RIOT-A JAIL NEEDED-THIE FIRST BRICK RESI- DENCE-THE FIRST BRICK BUSINESS HOUSE-THE COMMERCIAL BLOCK-SOME NEW MILLS-JUDGE ROSE -- WILLSON TOWN-A FREE RIDE TO FORT DODGE-THE MURDER OF JOIIN ROSS-OTIIER TRAGEDIES-TIIE SWAMP FUND MORE NEW BRIDGES- ELECTION OF 1869-COUNTY STATISTICS-THE TIHRD CHURCH-A PIONEER PAR- SON-THE SECOND BANK ORGANIZED -THE FIRST GRAIN ELEVATOR-NEW BUILD- INGS- THE NEW SUPERVISOR SYSTEM-A CONTEST FOR REPRESENTATIVE-A CON- TEST FOR SHERIFF-STARTING THIE "INDEX -THIE LIQUOR INTERESTS WIN-A SAD STORY-PROSPECTS OF ANOTHER RAILROAD. .147
viii
CONTENTS
CHAPTER X
THE NEW COURTHOUSE-PRINCIPAL EVENTS OCCURRING .DURING THE "SEVENTIES"
THIE GRANGE-THE ANTI-MONOPOLY CAMPAIGN-A STARTLING ACCIDENT-THE UNI- VERSALIST SOCIETY ORGANIZED -- THE FREEMAN CILANGES HANDS-THE ARGUS ESTABLISHED-THE CAMPAIGN OF 74-ELECTING A SITERIFF-RAISING FUNDS. FOR A NEW COURTHOUSE-THE NEW COURTHOUSE-SEEKING BIDS FOR THE NEW COURTHOUSE-SELLING THE SWAMP LAND-THE CONTRACT AWARDED-THE WORK COMMENCED-LAYING THE CORNER STONE-COMPLETING THE BUILDING- THE CEREMONY OF DEDICATION-THE WILLIAMS STANDARD STARTED-GRASS- HOPPERS AGAIN-MORE RAILROAD PROSPECTS-THE TOWN OF CALLANAN-THE CALLANAN HERALD-TWO MURDERS-ANOTHER VOTE ON THE RAILROAD T.\\- TIIE ADVERTISER STARTED-HOG CHOLERA-NEW BRIDGES-THE COUNTY POOR FARM-THE CHEESE FACTORY-THE FIRST MEMORIAL SERVICE-A SOLDIERS REUNION-THE WELBERG TRAGEDY-THE TOLEDO & NORTHWESTERN RAILWAY . 167
CHAPTER XI
REMINISCENCES OF PIONEER LIFE
PIONEER LIFE BY PETER LYON-CHRISTMAS IN 1857-A PIONEER CANDY PULL -. 1 PIONEER LAW SUIT, BY E. G. WHALEY-EARLY LIFE IN WEBSTER-PIONEER COURTSIIIP-TILE FIRST SCHOOLHOUSE -- THE FIRST CILARIYARI, BY A. ILASWELL- HOW JOIIN KEARNS HAULED FLOUR FROM VINTON TO WEBSTER CITY, BY J. V. KEARNS-FISH TRAP FORD- THE LAST ELK, BY ISAIAH DOANE-WEBSTER CITY'S FIRST QUARTER CENTURY, BY S. B. ROSENCRANS-A ROMANTIC WEDDING TRIP. BY
187 MRS. II. II. KITTS.
CHAPTER XII
POLITICAL HISTORY
POLITICAL CONDITIONS IN ISSO-CAMPAIGN OF 18SI-KAMRAR AND ALDRICH-D. C. CILASE TAKES A SHOT AT ALDRICH-"RECK YOUR OWN READ"-"THE FUSILLADE - PROHIBITION-THIE ARGUS IN POLITICS -- PRAY FOR CLERK OF THE SUPREME COURT -CAMPAIGN OF 1883-GEO. W. BELL STARTS THE GRAPHIC-TIJE PROHIBITORY LAW-CAMPAIGN OF 1884-DEMOCRATS DIVIDE THE SPOILS-CAMPAIGN OF 1885 -WESLEY MARTIN HONORED-THE OFFENSIVE PARTISAN DOCTRINE REACTS -- ALDRICH BOLTS-THE CAMPAIGN OF 1887-THE CAMPAIGN OF 18SS-D. C. CHASE IN THE LEGISLATURE-THE CAMPAIGNS OF 1890. 1891 AND 1893-CILASE FOR STATE SENATOR-PARTY REGULARITY-M. H. BRINTON AS \ LEGISLATOR-C.AMI- PAIGN OF 1804-TWO DAILY PAPERS-THE JOURNAL FOUNDED-KAMRAR FOR GOVERNOR-THE CAMPAIGN OF 1895-POLITICS IN '96-POLITICS IN 1897- EVENTS IN 18OS-THE FREEMAN AND TRIBUNE CONSOLIDATE-TWO IMPORTANT REFORMS . 205
ix
CONTENTS
CHAPTER XIII
CITY POLITICS
WEBSTER CITY INCORPORATED-NO PARTY POLITICS ALLOWED-A CITY OF THE SEC- OND CLASS-TIHE WATERWORKS-SOLDIERS HOME PROSPECTS-J. D. RISTE ELECTED COUNCILMAN-MOVING THE POSTOFFICE-THIE MARKET SQUARE-ELEC- TRIC LIGHTS-CITY POLITICS-A BLOW AT THE CITY SCALES-ELECTRIC LIGHT PLANT COMPLETED-THE FIRST NATIONAL MOVES-TIIE POSTOFFICE MOVED AT LAST-TIIE CLARK-YOUNG CONTEST CONTRACTION NOT ALLOWED THE 5000 MARK REACHED THE CITY SCALES FIGHT-THE FIFTHI WARD .. 233
CHAPTER XIV
RIVER LAND TROUBLES
THE DES MOINES RIVER LAND GRANT-THE RIVER LAND COMPANY-THE RESOLUTION OF 1861-AN INDIGNATION MEETING-UNITED STATES VS. THE NAVIGATION CO. -THE INDEMNITY BILL. 249
CHAPTER XV
A CHAPTER OF TRAGEDY
SUICIDES AND ACCIDENTAL DEATIIS-THE MURDER OF JAMES RICHARDSON-TIIE BASKET TRIAL-TIIE SUSPECTED MURDER OF MRS. DULIN-ATTEMPTED BANK ROBBERY 261
CHAPTER XVI
MILITARY HISTORY
IJOW THE SOLDIERS WERE ASSIGNED MILITARY RECORDS OF HAMILTON COUNTY SOLDIERS-TIIOSE WIIO DIED IN SERVICE-TIIOSE WIIE HELD OFFICE-CIVIL WAR VETERANS WIIO RESIDE IN HAMILTON COUNTY-CIVIL WAR SOLDIERS BURIED IN HAMILTON COUNTY 273
CHAPTER XVII SPANISH-AMERICAN WAR
COMPANY C ORGANIZED COMPANY C PREPARES FOR WAR-COMPANY C CALLED OUT -THE RESERVE COMPANY-COMPANY C MUSTERED INTO U. S. SERVICE-RECRUIT- ING SERVICE-SICKNESS IN CAMP-THE COMPANY MUSTERED OUT-COMPANY C REORGANIZED .297
CONTENTS
CHAPTER XVII
THE TOWNSHIPS-HOW AND WHEN ORGANIZED
FREMONT TOWNSHIP-CASS TOWNSHIP- BLAIRSBURG TOWNSHIP-WILLIAMS TOWN- SIIIP-ROSE GROVE TOWNSHIP-LIBERTY TOWNSIHIP-INDEPENDENCE TOWNSHIP -FREEDOM TOWNSHIP-BOONE TOWNSHIP-WEBSTER TOWNSHIP-HAMILTON TOWNSHIP-LYON TOWNSHIP-JEWELL JUNCTION-LINCOLN TOWNSINP-ELLS- WORTH-SCOTT TOWNSHIP-ELLSWORTHI TOWNSHIP-CLEAR LAKE TOWNSHIP- MARION TOWNSHIP-STRATFORD. 305
CHAPTER XIX
HAMILTON COUNTY ATTEMPTS TO GET MORE RAILROADS.
.. 327
CHAPTER XX
THE ROSENCRANS PARK
A HEALTH RESORT-THE FIRST PARK OPENING-THE SECOND PARK OPEN DAY- JUDGE DONNE'S ADDRESS-THIE END OF THE PARK. 331
CHAPTER XXI
INVENTIONS, MANUFACTURING, WHOLESALE AND RETAIL TRADE
INVENTIONS-MANUFACTURING-THE TILE FACTORY-LITCHFIELD MANUFACTURING COMPANY-WHOLESALE GROCERY-TIIE SHOE FACTORY-THE CANNING FACTORY -WEBSTER CITY HOT WATER HEATING COMPANY-MARTIN TELEPHONE COM- PANY-SIEVE FACTORY-RETARDER FACTORY-BOTTLING WORKS-GENERAL CON- TRACTORS-MOCA SINE FACTORY-AMERICAN STOCK FOOD COMPANY-NEFF HANDLEBAR COMPANY-BROWN SPRING ICE SKATE COMPANY-QUEEN MANU- FACTURING COMPANY-CEMENT PIPE AND TILE COMPANY-RETAIL TRADE- BUSINESS DIRECTORY IN 1869-DIRECTORY IN 1881-DIRECTORY IN 1896 --- DIRECTORY IN 1904. 339
CHAPTER XXII
THE BENCH AND BAR
JUDGE M'FARLAND-OTHER EARLY JUDGES AND LAWYERS-A FAMOUS CASE- PIONEER JUSTICE PRACTICE-REPORT OF THE FIRST GRAND JURY-OUR LAWYERS IN 1867-HAMILTON COUNTY JUDGES-DANIEL DARROW CHASE-DAVID D. MIR- ACLE-NORMAN B. HYATT-MODERN TRIALS AND LAWYERS-THE DEPARTED- WM. R. DANIELS, JACOB SKINNER, F. Q. LEE, G. B. PRAY, H. G. CULP. 355
xi
CONTENTS
CHAPTER XXIII
THE MEDICAL PROFESSION
THIE FIRST DOCTOR-PIONEER PRACTICE-DOCTORS OF TODAY-DENTISTRY. 371
CHAPTER XXIV
THE NEWSPAPERS
THE FREEMAN-THE INDEX-THE ARGUS-THE ADVERTISER- THE WILLIAMS STANDARD-THE CALLANAN HIERALD- THIE CALLANAN REGISTER-THE JEWELL REVIEW-THE STRATFORD REGISTER-TILE WEEKLY REVIEW-THE JEWELL RECORD -THE GRAPHIC-THIE WEBSTER CITY TRIBUNE-THE WILLIAMS HERALD-TIIE WILLIAMS REPORTER-THE WILLIAMS REVIEW-TIFE WEBSTER CITY HERALD- STRATFORD COURIER-TIIE GRAPHIC-HERALD-THE STANHOPE NEWS-THE JOUR- NAL-THE STANHOPE MAIL-THE JEWELL CLIPPER-THE WILLIAMS WASP-TIIE HORNET-THE ELLSWORTH CHRONICLE-ELLSWORTHI NEWS. 375
CHAPTER XXV
BANKS AND BANKING. ... .. 381
CHAPTER XXVI
THE CHURCHES
SOME CHURCH STATISTICS-THE METHODISTS-THE UNIVERSALISTS-THE GERMAN LUTHERAN CHURCH-TIIE UNITED BRETIIREN-CHRISTIAN SCIENCE-CONGREGA- TIONAL CHURCH-TIFE FIRST BAPTIST CHURCHI-ST. THOMAS AQUINAS CATIIOLIC CHURCH-THE ENGLISH LUTHERAN CHURCH-THIE CHRISTIAN CHURCHI-NOR- WEGIAN LUTHERAN CHURCH.
389
CHAPTER XXVII
IN MEMORIAM .413
CHAPTER XXVIII
THE MILLS OF THE COUNTY
BRUCE MILL-BELL'S MILL-GROSECLOSE MILL-BONE'S MILL-TUNNEL MILL- CHIASE MILL-TURBINE MILL-ILARRIS MILL-THE STEAM MILL-THIE MODEL MILLS-THIE TEN EYCK MILLS. .423
xii
CONTENTS CHAPTER XXIX
PUBLIC BENEFACTORS
KENDALL YOUNG LIBRARY-DESCRIPTION OF THE BUILDING-LIFE OF KENDALL YOUNG-MERCY HOSPITAL. 435
CHAPTER XXX
THE SCHOOLS
THE SUPERINTENDENTS-SUPERINTENDENT SKINNER'S REPORT-THE FIRST HIGHI SCIIOOL-SUPERINTENDENT JOHNSON'S REPORT-THE NEW HIGH SCHOOL BUILD- ING-THE FIRST COMMENCEMENT. .443
CHAPTER XXXI
AGRICULTURAL DEVELOPMENTS . . . . . . . . 449
History of Hamilton County
CHAPTER I
GEOLOGICAL
LOCATION AND TOPOGRAPHY-OUR SOIL AND ITS ORIGIN-ECONOMIC PRODUCTS -GEOLOGICAL INVESTIGATION-W. L. CLARK'S ESTIMATE OF OUR MINERAL WEALTH-WATER SUPPLIES- THE BOONE RIVER-THE WEBSTER CITY RESERVOIR -POWER POSSIBILITIES-FISH AND CLAMS-TIMBER-ARTESIAN WELLS-MC- MURRAY'S REPORT.
LOCATION AND TOPOGRAPHY
Hamilton county is located very near the centre of the state of Iowa. Its present limits were established by an act of the legislature in 1850 and it was then named Risley, in honor of a Colonel Risley, who was killed in the Mexican war.
The county is twenty-four miles square and embraces, according to govern- ment survey, the congressional townships, 86, 87, 88, and 89 north, in ranges, 23, 24, 25, and 26 west of the 5th principal meridian.
It is bounded on the north by Wright county, on the east by Hardin county, on the south by Story and Boone counties, and on the west by Webster county.
The topography as a whole, presents a comparatively level plain with a gentle slope to the south, which will average perhaps from one to two feet per mile. This level plain is broken by the Boone river which extends from north to south through the western tier of townships and by a range of small morainic hills which extend from the southwest corner of the county eastward through Marion, Clear Lake and Ellsworth townships until near Jewell the direction changes to the northward, through Lyon, Liberty and Williams townships. These hills are very interesting to the student of geology. They are curious both in individual ap- pearance and arrangement. Sometimes there will be a single hill, quite regular in shape resembling an Indian mound. Sometimes they are in groups, and again they are found in a continuous range. These hills were not caused by the action of wind and water but were caused by forces that affected the whole topography. Mr. Thomas H. McBride in his report of the geological survey of Hamilton county gives the following description of their origin :
"Such hills or knolls, are thought to represent the modified remnants of an ancient moraine, a glacial deposit left here at some time in the history of the world, not very long gone by, when the great mass of snow and ice which
1
2
HISTORY OF HAMILTON COUNTY
still persists about the north pole of our world came very much further south, even here to Iowa, a vast glacier, pushing and spreading by its own weight along the ground, leveling the hills, filling the valleys, so long as it moved, and finally leaving these scattered piles of drift and debris where its margin rested, and the glacier along its southern border, checked its southeast advance, shortened it, diminished it, caused it to recede even farther and farther north until it paused at last only as a great snow cap to the planet, covering Greenland and other icy lands, generally away north of the Arctic circle even as we see it this day.
"Wright and Hamilton counties are just within the limits of the old glacier's furthest eastward spread or push. Traces of similar topography extend almost to Ackley along the line of the Illinois Central and almost to Hampton along the Great Western Railway, but the high hills of Dows, and those about Iowa Lake are the most striking evidences of the glacier's pause, while points near Hampton and Ackley may fix for us the very furthest reach of glacial action. The hills referred to, mark perhaps a second limit when the glacier, once melted quite away, came down again, only once more to meet with check, once more dissolve away, and this time disappear for good."
OUR SOIL AND ITS ORIGIN
The surface of the earth throughout Hamilton County is composed of what geologists call "Wisconsin Drift." It is a sort of clay more or less intermixed with pebbles and the later formation is of a light yellowish color. When this yellow clay has been exposed to the weather and is mixed with decayed vegeta- tion, it becomes black and forms the richest and most fertile soil. The Wisconsin Drift varies in depth from five or six feet to 100 feet, the average depth being perhaps about 50 feet.
If the student who is interested in the study of this formation will go to the high bluff which flanks Boone river on the south just north of Lawn Hill addi- tion to Webster City, he will find a vertical exposure some 85 fect in thickness. This shows about 70 feet of Grey Wisconsin drift, 12 feet of yellow Wisconsin drift, and about 3 feet of black soil.
It is thought that the river at this point cuts clear through the Wisconsin drift formation and that the exposure here furnished is one of the best to be found in the county, though there are of course many others along the course of the Boone river. The surface of this formation in Hamilton county, while, on the whole almost level, was filled with small depressions from a fraction of an acre to 20 acres in extent. These depressions filled with water and formed sloughs or swamps and in pioneer days, there was hardly a quarter section of prairie land in the entire county that did not have within its borders, several of these sloughs. These sloughs were not confined to the lower lands but were found at all eleva- tions, some even on top of the Morainic hills which range through the county. These swamps, though looked upon with extreme aversion by early settlers, were in fact storchouses of agricultural wealth for when they were once thoroughly drained, they became the richest and most productive land to be found.
The soil of Hamilton county is very uniform in character and is usually de- scribed as "black loam." This black loam is from three to five feet in depth and when thoroughly drained and cultivated, is of most astonishing productiveness.
3
HISTORY OF HAMILTON COUNTY
The soil along the river and over the Morain hills is of a sandier nature, lighter in color and not so rich as the heavier prairie soil but even this lighter soil has its advantages, for it warms up earlier in the spring and is easier to cultivate.
ECONOMIC PRODUCTS
The economic products of a geological nature are limestone, fire clay, sand and gravel and coal, and there is at least one exposed stratum of very good sand- stone, though a quarry has never been developed.
Before the universal adoption of cement as building material, large quantities of limestone were quarried for foundation purposes. There was a quarry at Bell Mill, one on the old Snell farm in Webster township and several in and about Webster City.
In the pioneer days, lime was manufactured, and this industry was carried on to considerable extent by both Ulis Briggs and Jacob Paine. In the earliest pioneer days "mud brick" were manufactured from a sort of river silt deposited along the Boone river and this same river silt when mixed with stronger clay or shale shipped from Lehigh is now made into the best quality of brick and tile.
There are fine deposits of shale and fire clay along the Boone river but lack of cheap transportation facilities has prevented the development of any extensive pits.
Coal of good quality and in large quantities has been found along the Boone river between Webster City and the Des Moines river; indeed it is quite well settled that the whole southwest one-fourth of the county is underlaid with coal. In earlier days, mines were developed and the coal consumed within the county was nearly all mined at home. J. N. Bell is credited with having first discovered coal in Hamilton county. When a small boy, while digging along the river bank he came across a bright glistening material which his youthful imagination pictured as gold. It turned out to be sulphur deposits in a vein of coal. And so the dis- covery was made and the first coal mine was opened near Bell Mill. Later, quite a number of mines were developed, among which might be mentioned the Brockschink and Silvers mines, the Chaflin mines and the Stockdale mines. Coal of good quality was mined here for years and transported by wagon or sled to the home of the user or to market at Webster City and hauling coal was the usual occupation of the teamster during the winter months. At times the demand for coal was so great that teamsters arriving at the mines before daylight in the morning might have to wait the greater part of the day before their turn came to have their wagons filled. With the building of the Northwestern and Crooked Creek railroads, the coal mining industry in Hamilton county began to decline and now comparatively little coal is mined in the county.
GEOLOGICAL INVESTIGATION
Hamilton has been, since its first discovery, so rich in agricultural advantages that little attention has been paid to its mineral wealth. A geologist by the name of David D. Owen passed up the Des Moines river and made some slight observa- tions in Hamilton county prior to 1852, but about all that he recorded, was that Hamilton county was "the Beautiful Prairie."
4
HISTORY OF HAMILTON COUNTY
Dr. Chas. A. White visited the county about 1869 and noted the Morain Hills and the coal deposits.
Mr. Warren Upton studied our Morainic deposits in 1880. Aside from these observations, little attention had been paid to the geology of the county until the survey made by Mr. Thos. McBride in 1909.
It is known however that shortly after the time of the Des Moines River land grant, the Des Moines Navigation and R. R. Company sent scientific men out to investigate the natural resources of the land they expected to acquire from the state, and that the reports of these men were such as caused the company to insert a mineral reserve clause in many of its deeds to Hamilton county land.
In 1885, Will L. Clark who was at that time writing for the Freeman made some inquiry into "Our Mineral Wealth" and wrote an article which is here reproduced :
W. L. CLARK'S ESTIMATE OF OUR MINERAL WEALTH
HIER VAST COAL AND CLAY FIELDS, WITH STRONG INDICATIONS OF RICHER DEPOSITS, IN THIE WAY OF COPPER, LEAD AND PORCELAIN
By the developments already made, together with the observations taken in numerous geological and mineralogical surveys, there is every indication that the past ages have made a rocky frame work, the inner cells of which contain an accumulation of untold wealth, which at no distant day will fill human hands and enrich the coffers of those who possess and develop these rich mines. This is not an idle speculation or fanciful dream, but rather the rational conclusion deduced from the critical and scientific investigations made by those thoroughly acquainted with such subjects, who have made this particular location a special study for more than thirty years. Away back, as early as 1854-5, the Des Moines River Land and Navigation company employed experts, operating in various depart- ments of natural science, to prospect and survey the Des Moines valley for the purpose of ascertaining the value of their lands, both as to its topographical and subterranean formation. This research was all conducted by practical as well as scientific men, who reduced every observation bearing on the subject to records, charts and plats, which are now intact. This company also spared no expense to procure and carefully preserve all valuable specimens of mineral ore curiosities, some of which have proven to be "missing links" as it were, to a pre-historic people, who have been lost and forgotten within the folds of a mysterious wind- ing sheet, the true texture of which will ever remain an uncertainty to the present inhabitants of the earth. The River Land Company had in their corps of topo- graphical engineers, Mr. Huitt Ross, still a resident of this county, who is today in the possession of more valuable knowledge concerning the mineral deposits of Hamilton county than any one now known to us. Through a reliable source we learn that there is a certain tract in which may be seen positive and well defined traces of a mineral deposit, in which lead and copper ore are to be found in quantities sufficiently large to pay for mining. Specimens of copper ore, taken from this locality, were sent to eastern cities and there tested by competent as- sayers who pronounced it a large per cent copper. There were also found chunks of lead ore, which assayed 60%. One acquainted with geological formations can
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