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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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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