History of Mills County, Iowa, containing a history of the county, its cities, towns, etc., Part 1

Author: Iowa Historical Company (Des Moines) pbl
Publication date: 1881
Publisher: Des Moines, State historical company
Number of Pages: 748


USA > Iowa > Mills County > History of Mills County, Iowa, containing a history of the county, its cities, towns, etc. > Part 1


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Pills County , Iowa History IVO


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http://www.archive.org/details/historyofmillsco00iowa


HISTORY


OF


MILLS COUNTY, IOWA


CONTAINING


A HISTORY OF THE COUNTY, ITS CITIES, TOWNS, ETC.


A BIOGRAPHICAL DIRECTORY OF MANY OF ITS LEADING CITIZENS, WAR RECORD OF ITS VOLUNTEERS IN THE LATE REBELLION, GENERAL AND LOCAL STATISTICS, PORTRAITS OF EARLY SETTLERS AND PROMI- NENT MEN, HISTORY OF IOWA AND THE NORTHWEST, MAP OF MILLS COUNTY, CONSTITUTION OF THE STATE OF IOWA, REMINISCENCES, MISCELLANEOUS MATTERS, ETC.


ILLUSTRATED.


DES MOINES: STATE HISTORICAL COMPANY. 1881.


THE NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY 95196 ASTOR, LENOX AND TILDEN FOUNDATIONS. 1898.


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PREFACE.


There is no proper place in history for the element of fiction. In the correct delineation of a landscape the artist judiciously employs both lights and shades; so the historian must need contrast the true and the false, that the eternal beauty and symmetry of truth appear, but draw upon the imagination, he may never. As in the landscape, the true out- line of objects is obscured in the shadows, requiring the full blaze of day to bring them into proper view, so history brings out the facts partially obscured in the haze of tradition-itself never history.


The history of the growth of any branch of knowledge has a double interest; that which comes to it from the knowledge itself, and that which comes from its relations to the history of the operation of the human mind. Men think under the limitations of their times; they reason on such material as they have; they form their estimate of changes from the facts immediately known to them. What Matthew Arnold has written of man's thoughts as he floats adown the "River of Time," is most true. Says he:


" As is the world on the banks,


So is the mind of man. Only the track where he sails He wots of: only the thoughts Raised by the objects he passes, are his."


Impressions thus received the mind will modify and work upon, trans- mitting the products to other minds in shapes that often seem new, strange and arbitrary, but which yet result from processes familiar to our experi- ence, and to be found at work in our own individual consciousness. And this is the necessity that renders history, as entirely distinct from tradition, imperative. Here the province of the historian begins. It is imperative on him that he record facts as they are, freed from the gloss given them by verbal transmissions.


We know the present status of Mills county; know that it ranks among the first in political influence, and is not a whit behind in the intelligence of its people and its jealous regard for education; know that its material resources are practically unlimited, and the promise for its future ever brightening. Now, to clearly understand this happy present, its glories and its greatness, its opportunities and its wonders, it is our duty to look back to their sources. We shall find that the seeds which have so aus- piciously born fruit in this present generation, were sown by men tried and true; men who deserve to be remembered, not merely as historic names, but as men in whose broad breasts beat the noblest hearts, and within whose rustic homes were to be found the very bone and sinew of


iv


PREFACE.


this western world; men whose sterling worth and integrity have contrib- uted very largely to its present high position.


The whole history of this county is one of surpassing interest, and the more it is studied the clearer does it become that underlying its records are certain truths which afford a clew to the causes that have contributed so powerfully to bring it to its present marked prominence. They will be found identical with those which have influenced the history of the nations during many centuries. Albeit, they do not possess that far-reach- ing influence which groups the centuries into eras, yet to those immedi- ately interested they are not a whit less tragical. To narrate these facts is the objects of these pages; with what success this has been done we do not presume to say. It has been our aim to learn and present the truth without favor or prejudice.


It has heretofore been possible for the scholar, with leisure and a com- prehensive library, to trace out the written history of his county by patient research among voluminous government documents and dusty records, sometimes old and scarce; but these sources of information and the time to study them are not at the command of most of those who are intelli- gently interested in local history, and there are many unpublished facts to be rescued from the failing memories of the oldest residents, who would soon have carried their information with them to the grave; and others to be obtained from the citizens best informed in regard to the various pres- ent interests and institutions of the county which should be treated of in giving its history. This service of research and record, which very few could have undertaken for themselves, the publishers of this work have performed; while a few unimportant mistakes may, perhaps, be found in such a multitude of details, in spite of the care exercised in the produc- tion of the volume, they still confidently present this result of many weeks labor, as a true and orderly narration of all the events in the history of the county which were of sufficient interest and value to merit such a record.


Authenticity is always difficult in history; much passes for history which is mere anecdote, and that domain is always doubtful. Other facts, again, come to us through the prejudices and colours of personal narra- tion. Great care has therefore been necessary to prevent publishing misconceptions as history. There has been admitted no statement of fact without ample authority, and mentioned not even the slightest incident without the support of creditable testimony. Attention is called to one feature considered of special value-the introduction of the original rec- ords for all transactions directly affecting the interests of the county. Concerning the first records aud the facts they teach, little or nothing need be said. Of this period in the county's history there have been explored for evidence every known early document, and where not muti-


V


PREFACE.


lated they have been presented in full. If among the pages devoted to early settlers and settlements, the sentences seem short and broken, and the method of treatment faulty, it should be borne in mind that the nature of the data renders any other method of presentment impossible. Accu- racy, rather than finish, has been the object held steadily in view.


In the preparation of this volume the oldest residents and others have cheerfully volunteered their services in the undertaking, adding largely to the value of the results obtained. Special thanks are due to the following named persons, who have not only aided us by placing at our disposition much valuable matter, but have themselves devoted much time to search- ing records, and afforded every opportunity in their power to perfect the chronological sequence and accuracy of the data used: County Auditor, S. C. Osborn; County Recorder, M. H. Byers; Seth Dean, Surveyor; A. D. French, Treasurer; J. E. Robinson, Clerk; William Aiton, Deputy Recorder and abstractor; A. J. Hight, Deputy Auditor; William Kemp- ton, Esq., Hale, Stone & Proudfit, a firm of legal gentlemen; Miss M. Maude Archibald, county superintendent of schools; William H. Taft Mrs. J. W. Coolidge, Mr. Charles Croney, of The Glenwood Opinion; Mr. Sherman, of The fournal; and to The Hastings Plaindealer, Mills County Chronicle, Mills County Republican, Pacific function Gazette, for numerous favors and notices. Throughout the county are many impossible to name here, who have freely given what of history they had. The clergy and other church officers, and those of civic associations, have been universally obliging in placing at our command the needed statistics of their several societies.


Under the sway of cause and effect, historic events cannot stand alone, -- thev form an unbroken chain. The history of so limited a territory as a county in Iowa has its roots not only in remote times, but in distant lands, and cannot be justly written out without consulting the influence of such a foreign element; nor can such a county history be understood in all its relations, without a historic review of at least the state of which the county is a part; hence, we feel that in giving such an outline we have been more faithful to the main purpose of the work, while we have added an element of independent interest and value. We little doubt that this book will be a welcome one to the inhabitants of the county, for all take a just pride in whatever calls to mind the scenes and incidents of other days. It is presented in the assurance that the work done will meet with the heartiest approval of our readers; and if, through that commendation, it awakens an earnest spirit of enterprise and emulation among the younger citizens of the county, it will be a source of just pleasure and con- gratulation to


THE PUBLISHERS.


CONTENTS.


Page.


THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY


19


Geographical Position. 19


Early Explorations. 20


Discovery of the Ohio. 32


English Explorations


ment ... and Settle-


34


American Settlements. 59


Division of the Northwest Territory 65


Tecumseh, and the war of 1812 ....


69


Black Hawk, and the Black Hawk War ...


73


The Agricultural College and Farm 186


The State University. 187


State Historical Society 193


The Penitentiary 194


Additional Penitentiary. 195


Iowa Hospital for the Insane. 195


Iowa College for the Blind. . 197


Institution for the Deaf and Dumb 199 Soldiers' Orphans' Homes. 199


State Normal School .. 201


Asylum for Feeble Minded Children 201


The Reform School. 202


Fish Hatching Establishment 203


The Public Lands. 204


The Public Schools. 218


Political Record 223


War Record. 229


Infantry. 233


Cavalry


244


Artillery.


247


Miscellaneous.


248


Casualties among Officers of Iowa


Regiments during the War .... 250


Casualties among Enlisted Men of Iowa Regiments during the War 252 Number of Troops Furnished by the State of Iowa, etc .. 254


Population of Iowa. 255


Illinois. 257


Indiana 259


Iowa. 260


Michigan 263


Wisconsin. 264


Minnesota.


266


Nebraska. 267


Constitution of the United States and its Amendments ... 269


Vote for Governor, 1879, and Presi- dent, 1876. 283


Vote for Congressmen, 1876. 283


Practical Rules for every day Use 284


U. S. Government Land Measure. 287


Surveyor's Measure. 288


Page


The Black Hawk War. .


157


Indian Purchases, Reserves and


Treaties.


159


Spanish Grants. 163


The Half-breed Tract. 164


Early Settlements. . 166


Territorial History 173


The Boundary Question. 177


State Organization 181


Present Condition of the Northwest 79


88


First French Occupation


Genius of La Salle.


Early Settlements.


94


The "Compact of 1787"


95


99


Physical Features of Prairie States Progress of Development. 101


MATERIAL RESOURCES OF THE STATE 102


Coal is King. 103


The Religion and Morals.


106


Education. .. 107


THE STATE OF IOWA. 109


Geographical Situation


109


Topography .. 109


Drainage System. 110


Rivers.


111


Lakes.


118


Springs 119 Origin of the Prairies. 120


Geology 120 The Azoic System 121


Lower Silurian System. 122


Upper Silurian System. 123


Devonian System .. 123


Carboniferous System 124


Sub-carboniferous System 124


The Coal-measure Group. 127


Cretaceous System. 129


Peat. 130


Gypsum. 131


Minor Deposits of Sulphate of Lime 135 Sulphate of Strontia. 136


Sulphate of Baryta .. 137


Sulphate of Magnesia. 137


Climatology. 137


THE HISTORY OF THE STATE OF IOWA 139 Discovery and Occupation 139


The Original Owners 147


Pike's Expedition.


151


Indian Wars. 152


Growth and Progress. 185


THE EARLY HISTORY OF ILLINOIS ... Early Discoveries. 88 91 92


CONTENTS.


Page.


How to keep Accounts 288


Names of the States of the Union, and


their significations. 290


Population of United States. 291 Population of Fifty Principal Cities 291 Population of Principal Countries of the World .. 292


ABSTRACT OF IOWA STATE LAWS.


293


Bills of Exchange and Notes. 293


Interest


293


Descent.


Wills and Estates.


294


Taxes. .


295


Jurisdiction of Courts. 297


Limitation of Actions 297


Jurors. .


297


Capital Punishment. 298


Married Women ...


298


Exemptions from Execution. 298


Estrays.


299


Wolf Scalps. 300


Marks and Brands. 300


Damages from Trespass. 300


Fences.


300


Intoxicating Liquors. 317


Suggestions to


those


Purchasing


Books by Subscription.


319


Statistics of Agriculture


of


Iowa


(Census of 1875)


320


Constitution of Iowa. 3


HISTORY OF MILLS COUNTY.


Introduction 321


Name and Position 323


Drainage and Surface Character 324


Soil. 327


Streams 329


Lakes.


331


Climate


332


Geology 334


Loess. 335


Drift. 336


Cretaceous .. 338


Coal Measures. 338


Mineral Resources 340


Natural History


341


Avidæ. 342


Notes . 351


Plantæ. 359


General Flora .. 362


Medicinal Plants. 363


Reptilia ..


365


Ophidia. 365 366


Batrachia


368


Fresh Water Mollusks 368


Land Mollusks. 369


Mammalia 370


Rocky Mt. Locust. 373


Indian Affairs. 376


County Organization


380


Officials, Bonds of. 381


Court Records of. 383


The District Courts 384


Judge Sears' Charge to the Grand Jury 390


An Incident of the District Court ... 393


Judicial Districts and Judges 395


First Circuit Court. .


396


Records of ..


397


First Land Entries.


400


Documents, concerning. 401


Some Early Legal Documents 402


Early Mortgages. 403


Quit Claim. 404


Curious Documents. 405


First Real Estate Mortgage. 406


First Warrantee Deed. 407


First Chattel Mortgage. 408


Qualification Certificate. 408


Estray Affidavit. . 409


Scalp Bounty Certificate. 409


First Will .. 409


First Marriage License. 411


Other Early Marriages. 412


County Finances. . 412


Report of Commissioner 413


Census for 1856. . . 415


Assessment for 1880.


417


The Poor Farm.


418


Documents concerning 419


The Jail


420


Documents concerning 422


The Watkins Ditch. . 423


Documents concerning. 423


The Court House.


424


Fair Associations. 424


Mills County Agricultural Society. 426 Agricultural and Mechanical Asso- ciation. . 427


Council Bluffs Medical Society


428


The Early Ferries.


429


vii


Page


Landlord and Tenant. 304


Weights and Measures .. 305


Definitions of Commercial Terms. 305


Notes.


Orders.


306


Receipts.


306


Bills of Purchase. 306


Confession of Judgment. 306


Articles of Agreement. 307


Bills of Sale.


308


Notice to Quit. 309


Form of Will. 309


Codicil 310


Satisfaction of Mortgage. 310


Forms of Mortgage. 311


Form of Lease. 312


Form of Note. 313


Chattel Mortgage.


314


Warranty Deed. 314


Quit Claim Deed. 315


Bond for Deed. 315


Charitable, Scientific and Religious Associations. 316


Mechanic's Liens 301


Roads and Bridges. 302


Adoption of Children.


303


Surveyors and Surveys


303


Support of Poor.


303


293


306


Mollusca.


viii


CONTENTS.


Page.


Documents concerning 430


Railroads. .. 432


(., B. & St. J. R. R. 433


C., B. & Q. R. R.


438


Nebraska City & Sidney R. R. 440


Hastings & Avoca R. R. 440


Statistics. . . 441


Swamp Land Troubles. 442


Railroad Grant (U. S.).


442


Railroad Grant (State).


443


Petition in Suit for. 446


St. Bonefatzins. 547


Evangelical Lutheran. 547


M. E. Church (Rawles) 547


M. E. Church (White Cloud). 547


Elm Grove Church. 548


Criminal History. 548


The Lawn Boys. 549


Murder of Kretzinger. 549


Killing of King and Palmer 555


557


Cities and Towns 558


Glen wood. 558


Schools 560


Churches.


561


Civic Societies. 563


Asylum.


565


Corporations.


Business Interests 579


Malvern. 579


Civic Societies 580


Corporations


582


Churches


583


Schools.


584


Emerson 585


Civic Societies


586


Churches.


586


Silver City


587


Township Boundaries


502


To the Present.


507


Early Settlers and Settlements


511


The Mormons. 512


Their Exodus. 513


In the County 514


Settlements of. 515


The year 1847. 516


The year 1848. 517


The year 1849. 518


The year 1850. 519 The year 1851. 520


The year 1852 522


The year 1853. 523


The year 1854. 523


The years following 524


The County Press. 525


The First Paper. 526


The First Poem. 527


Glenwood Opinion 530


Hastings Plaindealer. 531


Mills County Chronicle. 531


Mills County Republican 531


Mills County Journal 532


Pacific Junction Gazette. 532


History of Education. 533


Statistics of. 539


Temperance. .


540


Religious History. 542


The First Church 545


United Brethren. 545


M. P. Church.


546


Latter Day Saints.


546


Fairview M. E. Church.


547


Supreme Court Decision. 447


Compromise. 460


Second Suit. 462


Supreme Court Decision. 464


Supreme Court U. S. 465


Political History. 465


First Votes. . 466


Election of 1856 467


Missouri Compromise.


468


Statistics ...


469


Official Vote of 1880. 479


Mills County in the General As- sembly .. 480


Mills County in the Camp and on the Field ..


481


President's Proclamation 482


Affairs at Home. .


483


The Fourth Infantry.


484


The Fifteenth Infantry 488


The Twenty-ninth Infantry 192


The Forty-sixth Infantry 496


The Fourth Cavalry 497


The Eifth Cavalry 498


The Eighth Cavalry 500


Artillery Companies.


General History 500


502


The Pioneer (poem).


505


Societies


588


Hastings 588


Churches. 589


East Plattsmouth 590


Henderson .. 590


Pacific Junction . 590


Pacific City


590


Biographical Sketches 592


Center Township. 594


Rawles Township.


603


Lyons Township.


620


Silver Creek Township. 628


Malvern Township. 631


St. Mary's Township 643


White Cloud Township 646


Platteville Township 656


Oak Township. 665


Glenwood Township 671


Ingraham Township 691


Deer Creek Township 699


Anderson Township. 701


706


. Indian Creek Township Errata 723


Page.


The Creech-Johnson Case. .


Churches. 588


THE CONSTITUTION OF IOWA.


We, the people of the state of Iowa, grateful to the Supreme Being for the blessings hitherto enjoyed, and feeling our dependence on Him for a continuation of those blessings, do ordain and establish a free and inde- pendent government, by the name of the state of Iowa, the boundaries whereof shall be as follows:


Beginning in the middle of the main channel of the Mississippi river, at a point due east of the middle of the mouth of the main channel of the Des Moines river; thence up the middle of the main channel of the said Des Moines river, to a point on said river where the northern boun- dary line of the state of Missouri-as established by the constitution of that state, adopted June 12, 1820-crosses the said middle of the main channel of the said Des Moines river; thence westwardly along the said northern boundary line of the state of Missouri, as established at the time aforesaid, until an extension of said line intersects the middle of the main channel of the Missouri river; thence up the middle of the main channel of the said Missouri river to a point opposite the middle of the main channel of the Big Sioux river, according to Nicollett's map; thence up the main channel of the said Big Sioux river, according to the said map, until it is intersected by the parallel of forty-three degress and thirty minutes, north latitude; thence east along said parallel of forty-three degrees and thirty minutes, until said parallel intersects the middle of the main channel of the Mississippi river: thence down the middle of the main channel of the said Mississippi river to the place of beginning.


ARTICLE I .- BILL OF RIGHTS.


SECTION 1. All men are, by nature, free and equal, and have certain inalienable rights, among which are those of enjoying and defending life and liberty, acquiring, possessing and protecting property, and pursuing and obtaining safety and happiness.


SEC. 2. All political power is inherent in the people. Government is instituted for the protection, security and benefit of the people, and they have the right, at all times, to alter or reform the same, whenever the public good may require it.


Sec. 3. The general assembly shall make no law respecting an estab- lishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; nor shall any person be compelled to attend any place of worship, pay tithes, taxes or other rates, for building or repairing place of worship, or the maintenance of any minister or ministry.


SEC. 4. No religious test shall be required as a qualification for any office of public trust, and no person shall be deprived of any of his rights, privileges or capacities, or disqualified from the performance of any of his public or private duties, or rendered incompetent to give evidence in any court of law or equity, in consequence of his opinions on the subject of religion; and any party to any judicial proceeding shall have the right to use as a witness, or take the testimony of, any other person, not disqualified on account of interest, who may be cognizant of any fact material to the case; and parties to suits may be witnesses, as provided by law.


SEC. 5. Any citizen of this state, who may hereafter be engaged, either directly or indirectly, in a duel, either as principal or accessory before the fact, shall forever be disqualified from holding any office under the constitution and laws of this state.


4


CONSTITUTION OF IOWA.


SEC. 6. All laws of a general nature shall have a uniform operation; the general assembly shall not grant to any citizen or class of citizens, privileges or immunities, which upon the same terms shall not equally belong to all citizens.


SEC. 7. Every person may speak, write and publish his sentiments on all subjects, being responsible for the abuse of that right. No law shall be passed to restrain or abridge the liberty of speech, or of the press. In all prosecutions or indictments for libel, the truth may be given in evidence to the jury, and if it appear to the jury that the matter charged as libelous was true, and was published with good motives and for justifiable ends, the party shall be acquitted.


SEC. S. The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses papers and effects, against unreasonable seizures and searches, shall not be violated: and no warrant shall issue but on probable cause, supported by oath or affirmation, particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons and things to be seized.


SEC. 9. The right of trial by jury shall remain inviolate: but the gen- eral assembly may authorize trial by a jury of a less number than twelve men in inferior courts; but no person shall be deprived of life, liberty or property, without due process of law.


SEC. 10. In all criminal prosecutions, and in cases involving the life or liberty of an individual, the accused shall have a right to a speedy and public trial by an impartial jury; to be informed of the accusation against him; to have a copy of the same when demanded; to be confronted with the witness against him; to have compulsory process for his witnesses; and to have the assistance of counsel.


SE.c 11. All offences less than felony, and in which the punishment does not exceed a fine of one hundred dollars, or imprisonment for thirty days, shall be tried summarily before a justice of the peace, or other offi- cer authorized by law, on information under oath, without indictment or the intervention of a grand jury, saving to the defendant the right of appeal; and no person shall be held to answer for any higher criminal offence, unless on presentment or indictment by a grand jury, except in cases aris- ing in the army or navy, or in the militia, when in actual service in time of war or public danger.


SEC. 12. No person shall, after acquittal, be tried for the same offence. All persons shall, before conviction, be bailable by sufficient sureties, except for capital offenses, where the proof is evident or the presumption great.


SEC. 13. The writ of habeas corpus shall not be suspended or refused, when application is made as required by law, unless in case of rebellion or invasion the public safety may require it.


SEC. 14. The military shall be subordinate to the civil power. No standing army shall be kept up by the state in time of peace; and in time of war, no appropriation for a standing army shall be for a longer time than two years.


SEC. 15. No soldier shall, in time of peace, be quartered in any house without the consent of the owner, nor in time of war, except in the man- ner prescribed by law.


SEC. 16. Treason against the state shall consist only in levying war against it, adhering to its enemies, or giving them aid and comfort. No person shall be convicted of treason, unless on the evidence of two wit- nesses to the same overt act, or confession in open court.


SEC. 17. Excessive bail shall not be required; excessive fines shall not be imposed, and cruel and unusual punishment shall not be inflicted.


5


CONSTITUTION OF IOWA.


SEC. 18. Private property shall not be taken for public use without just compensation first being made, or secured to be made, to the owner thereof, as soon as the damages shall be assessed by a jury, who shall not take into consideration any advantages that may result to said owner on account of the improvement for which it is taken.


SEC. 19. No person shall be imprisoned for debt in any civil action on mesne or final process, unless in case of fraud; and no person shall be imprisoned for a military fine in time of peace.




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