USA > Iowa > Story County > A history of Story county, Iowa: Carefully compiled, from the earliest settlement to the present, March 1, 1887. > Part 2
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T. J. Adamson & Geo. Child.
J. H. Talbot.
Wm. Margason (Story City.)
O. D. Russell, Dry Goods and Hardware.
Bell, Aldredge & Co., Dry Goods and Groceries.
W. W. Moore, Dry Goods, &c., &c.
Frazier & Cessna, Dealers in Furniture.
CHURCHES AND CIVICS ..
M. E. Church meetings-services by J. F. Hestwood, Pastor. Presbyterian, new school; services by B. F. Stewart, Pastor.
CIVIC SOCIETIES.
Central Iowa Lodge No. 104, I. O. O. F .; meetings every week.
Nevada Lodge, U. D. of A. F. & A. M .; meets at Masonic Hall.
Nevada Star Lodge of I. O. G. T .; meets weekly.
HARDWARE DEALERS, ETC.
Alderman & Rhodes, Hardware, Stoves, etc.
Smith & Harrison, Boots and Shoes.
Smith & Westlake, Shingles and Lath.
Geo. McDonald, Carpenter and Builder.
John Scott, Lands for Sale.
John Scott, Money to Loan.
E. C. Evans, Timber Lands for Sale.
CONCERT.
The Nevada brass and string bands will give a musical entertain- ment on the evening of Tuesday, February 22d, (Washington's birthday), at the Cumberland Presbyterian church. Chants and glees will be performed by amateurs. An address on the character of Washington, from a member of the band may be expected. Single tickets, 15 cents; double tickets, 25 cents. Family tickets at re- duced rates. Doors open at 6 o'clock; music at 6} precisely. Feb- ruary 9, 1859.
The following letter was written for the Story County Aegis about twenty years ago. The Aegis was published at Nevada by
15
HISTORY OF STORY COUNTY, IOWA.
John M. Brainard, who is now editor of the Boone Standard. The writer hereof was well posted as to soil, locations, timber and im- provements of Story County:
" NEVADA, IOWA, 1866.
" Mr. Brainard: While it seems to be the rage among certain of your correspondents to deal in giddy slang and personal hits, I beg leave not to imitate, but will try and say something in regard to the enterprise of our county. We have a large quantity of prairie lands unimproved-good, rich and beautiful. We can in- vite the agriculturist and grazier to a critical examination of the soil of our county. To such at least as are practical grain, grass and stock growers, we fear not to submit to a candid decision. Our prairies in certain localities are wavy and undulating-at others they are flat rosinweed lands-as desirable perhaps as any in Iowa for tame pastures and meadows. The timber is pretty well dis- tributed over the county, excepting the north part of it, and in this part, thus destitute of timber, is some of the most beautiful prairie, and which may yet be had (1866) at from $2.50 to $7 per acre, de- pending on location and quality. Stock water generally well sup- plied. The climate is exceedingly pleasant during the summer; but like other prairie countries we are subject to some very ugly storms in winter; the good health during the entire year cannot, however, be well surpassed any where.
" The Chicago & Northwestern Railroad passes almost directly through the center of the county from east to west, and is a road doing an immense quantity of business. Another railroad'is pro- posed to pass from Des Moines, the capital of Iowa, in a north or northeasterly course through Story County, intersecting the Chicago & Northwestern Railway, (the Cedar Rapids & Nebraska) at Ames or some other point in the county ...
" But few, if any, of our towns are improving as fast as the country. Nice frame houses and new farms are dotting our prai- ries; and, indeed, many parts of the county are farms and houses placed so closely together as to form heavy neighborhoods. These neighborhoods surround a nice, convenient and comfortable school- house or church, or both. We can with pride boast of our numer- ous and pretty school-houses all over, or nearly all over, the county which afford an excellent advantage to pupils of each district for educating the mind and the morals. We will soon have in practi- cal operation in this county the Iowa State Agricultural College, a building sufficiently large and commodious to compare with many of the fine buildings of the United States.
" Nevada, the county seat, is within a very short distance of the geographical center of the county, on the Cedar Rapids & North- western Railroad, (now the C. & N. W.), and is thirteen years old, containing about 1,000 inhabitants. It is situated mostly on a dry, rolling prairie on West Indian Creek, and is a remarkably healthy location. It has two church buildings, (Cumberland Presbyterian and New School Presbyterian) already built. The Cumberland church was the first built in Nevada, and probably the first in the
16
HISTORY OF STORY COUNTY, IOWA.
county. It was in this church building that the first union meet- ing of the county was held. It was held in May, 1861, and the meeting was made up of all political parties. The writer hereof called the meeting in order to test the feelings more definitely of the cit- izens of our county on the 'state of affairs.' The' 'startling' news reached us of the Rebs firing on ' the Star of the West,' and then upon 'Ft. Sumpter.' As might be expected, excitement ran high. The meeting was large, harmonious and patriotic. I will now re- turn to the further history of Nevada. The M. E. society is build- ing a $4,000 or $5,000 church. In connection with this there is about to be built a good flouring mill. It may cost when built from $5,000 to $7,000. A bonus of $2,000 is offered to the party who may comply with the offer. ¿ Nevada has as good schools, per- haps, as we have any where in Central Iowa. Its citizens have a regard for quiet and order within its limits. Lager beer and whisky are 'few and far between.'
"Iowa Center is a village of considerable business. It has two mills, and is in the midst of an excellent country, and is surrounded by good settlements. It is situated mainly on the west fourth of section 10, township 82, range 22, near the east bank of East Indian Creek, seven or eight miles southeast of Nevada. Cambridge is in the center of section 21, township 82, range 23, and' on the south- west bank of Skunk River, and is a point of considerable business. It contains a mill, and is surrounded by a good section of country, and good settlements. Situated on the road leading from Nevada to Des Moines-about nine or ten miles southwesterly from Nevada.
"Ames is a brisk village situated near the Agricultural College farm, and in the fork of Skunk River and Squaw Creek, and on the Chicago & Northwestern Railway, eight miles west of Nevada by rail. It has two church buildings, Congregational and Methodist, and an enterprising people. It is about to have a steam saw mill erected by Messrs. Scott & Stevens. The settlements around this place are growing, but are much divided by the large streams dur- ing high waters.
" New Philadelphia is one and one-half miles west of the College farm. New Philadelphia is situated in a good vicinity of land and surrounded by good settlements. North of town a short distance is a steam saw mill owned or controlled by a Mr. Burger, who seems to be doing a good business. The Chicago & Northwestern Railroad runs near the north end of town.
[Since the above was written (twenty years ago), Ontario, on the Chicago & Northwestern Railroad, immediately north of and ad- joining to New Philadelphia, has been laid out in town lots, and a good building for a depot has been erected. It is now (1886) a place of considerable trade, and is surrounded by an excellent coun- try and good settlements. Population about 200.]
"Colo is a station on the above named railroad, seven miles east of Nevada. It has a young and thriving settlement around it-as much so, perhaps, as any other point in the county. The prairie around it is beautifully undulating.
17
HISTORY OF STORY COUNTY, IOWA.
" Story City (original name, 'Fairview') and Palestine, each has some nice lands around, and energetic people to improve them. The county, though young, has an intelligent and enterprising population. The county contains probably about 6,000 persons. The geographical center of the State is believed to be within the limits of Story County-near Nevada. To the emigrant we would invite special attention. W. G. A."
COMMENTS. O
Since the above was written, twenty years have passed, and sur- prising improvements have been made within that time. This will be more fully explained hereafter or elsewhere in the history of the county, for it will be brought down to the present, 1887.
THE WAR DANCE BY INDIANS, 1856.
About six months prior to the Spirit Lake massacre we had the South Public Square, (now a beautiful City Park), full of Indians; but they were friendly. They were Pottawattamie and Musquaka Indians and were camping near the old ford of the West Indian Creek, on the east side, a short distance southwest from where the cemetery is now situated. There were probably one hundred and fifty or two hundred of them, big and little, squaws and all. Well, some of the citizens of Nevada raised a sum of money, by collec- tion, for, the Indians if they would give us a "war dance." They agreed to do so; so in the afternoon of the day, (in September, I think,) they assembled on the square named, equipped for the occa- sion in full Indian style, painted and tattooed for the dance. With some kind of a wild and unnatural sound of "tum, tum, tum," in the ring, they began their performance, squaws as well as "Injins'' with a hideous noise and contortions of the face and body, jump- ing and squatting, wheeling round and round and chanting their "war song" as they would prance around the ring, which was, per- haps one hundred feet in circumference.
They surely looked frightful, or would have looked so had they meant "war." But they did not mean war. In about six months, from then, other Indians did mean war, as shown by their cruelty and, massacre of our people in the Spirit Lake horror, which is noticed elsewhere.
Well, this war dance on the square lasted one or two hours. . During this time the little "Injins" six to eight years old, with bow and arrow, would shoot and knock a five cent piece, set in a split stick, nearly every time, a distance of fifteen to eighteen feet. The five cent pieces then were not large as some we now have. When the money was hit or knocked out of the stick it was given to the little Injin as his reward for sharp shooting.
After the dance was over, and some begging done by the squaws, they returned to their camp, and on the following day they left us. 2
18
HISTORY OF STORY COUNTY, IOWA.
But we retain three Injins in our county-West Injin, East Injin and Big Injin. They are creeks only and not Creeks of the Indian Tribe.
CENTENNIAL ORATION
DELIVERED JULY 4, 1876 AT NEVADA, IOWA, BY COL. JOHN SCOTT BE- · ING AN HISTORICAL SKETCH OF STORY COUNTY, PREPARED IN PURSUANCE OF THE PROCLAMATION OF THE PRESIDENT, AND IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE RECOMMENDATION OF THE GOVERNOR OF THE STATE.
On the thirteenth day of May, 1673, Marquette and Joliet, two French missionaries, set out front their mission, St. Ignatius, in the Huron Wilderness, on the daring enterprise of exploring the coun- try west of the Great Lakes. They came by way of Green Bay, as- cended the Fox river of Wisconsin, were shown by the Indians the portage between the Fox and Wisconsin Rivers and descending the latter they reached the Mississippi, and were the first white men to look upon what is now the State of Iowa. About ten years there- after, La Salle, also a Frenchman, descended the Mississippi, and took possession of the country in the name of the King of France. He named the country Louisiana, in honor of Louis XIV, his King. This included the whole valley of the Mississippi, from the Alle- ghany to the Rocky Mountains.
On the third day of November, 1762, a secret treaty was signed between France and Spain, by which the latter acquired that part of Louisiana which lies west of the Mississippi, and that part on the east of the great river came into the possession of the English, This river continued to be the western boundary of the English possessions in America until by the treaty of peace which acknowl- edged our Independence in 1783, it became a boundary of the United States. Thus, we see, that in 1776, one hundred years ago, the land we possess was a part of the Spanish Dominion.
On the twenty-first day of March, 1801, the treaty of Madrid was signed, which transferred Louisiana to France ; and on the thirtieth day of April, 1803, it was deeded to the United States for the sum of fifteen millions of dollars, thus extending our territory to the Gulf and to the Pacific Ocean.
During this period of one hundred and thirty years, and for thirty years thereafter, this beautiful land was the home or hunt- ing grounds of roving Indians, and the scene of many a bloody bat- tle between contending tribes. The first occupancy by the whites seems to have been that of Julien Dubuque, with a party of lead miners, who settled for mining purposes in.1788 on the site of the city that bears his name, where he continued until his death in 1810. There were also locations taken early in this century at Montrose, and opposite to Prairie du Chien, and Indian traders fixed them- selves at various points. Fort Madison was occupied by some troops about this time.
19
HISTORY OF STORY COUNTY, IOWA.
But on the first of June, 1833, about fifty miles in width, west of the Mississippi was thrown open for settlement, being then known as the Black Hawk purchase, and was soon largely occu- pied. A further cession was made in September, 1836, which ex- tinguished the Indian title as far as the western end of Johnson, Washington and Jefferson counties, and an agency was established near where Agency City now stands. At this time the Indian chiefs Keokuk, Wapello and Appanoose had their villages near the site of Ottumwa. In 1837 and 1842 other cessions were made, and on May 1, 1843, the west line of settlement was established near Red Rock, and a Fort was built at the mouth of the Raccoon Fork of the Des Moines. In the autumn of 1845 and the spring of 1846, the Indians removed to their reservation in Kansas, and the land we now hold was open to occupancy.
It appears that the Starry Banner was just raised over the territory of which this was a part on the twentieth day of December, 1803, at the city of New Orleans. October 1, 1804, a division was made by which all of Louisiana north of the thirty-third parallel was placed under the authority of the officers of the Indiana Territory, but bearing the name of the District of Louisiana. On the fourth of July, 1805, seventy-one years ago this day, it was organized into a territory, under the same name, with a territorial government, which it retained till 1812. June 4, 1812, it was reorganized and this portion was called the territory of Missouri. From June, 1834, to July 4, 1836, it was a part of the territory of Michigan, and at the latter date it became a part of the territory of Wisconsin, which continued two years; and on the fourth day of July, 1838, it was con- stituted the TERRITORY of IOWA-only thirty-eight years ago to- day. As a State, Iowa was formerly recognized, under her present boundaries, on the twenty-eighth day of December, 1846, as the twenty-ninth in National Union.
POLITICAL HISTORY.
The County of Story was probably described by name and boundary in an act of the Second General Assembly, which met at Iowa City in 1848-9, and we find it assigned to various Districts from and after that time. Among the items of interest in her po- litical history it may be stated that with scarcely a settler within her borders in 1850, associated with eight other counties, she was represented in the Senate by P. M. Cassady, of Polk county, and in the House by L. W. Babbitt, of Marion, and E. R. Guiberson, of Madison.
Her representatives in the succeeding General Assemblies were as follows :
In the 4th, A. Y. Hull of Polk, in the Senate; and by Dr. Rice of Boone, and J. C. Goodson of Guthrie, in the House.
In the 5th, by J. C. Gordan of Polk, in the Senate; by S. B. McCall of Boone, in the House.
In the 6th, by Aaron Brown of Fayette, in the Senate; by W. C. Wilson of Hamilton, in the House.
20
HISTORY OF STORY COUNTY, IOWA.
In the 7th, by Aaron Brown in the Senate; by John L. Dana of Story, in the House.
In the 8th, by John Scott of Story, in the Senate; by S. E. Rosencrans of Hamilton, in the House.
In the 9th, by E. B. Potter of Story, in the Senate; by T. C. McCall of Story, in the House.
In the 10th and 11th, by H. C. Henderson of Marshall, in the Senate; by Geo. M. Maxwell, in the House.
In the 12th, by I. J. Mitchell in the Senate; by James Hawthorn in the House.
At this time John Scott of Story, was President of the Senate.
In the 13th, by I. J. Mitchell in the senate; by W. K. Wood in the House.
In the 14th, by G. M. Maxwell in the Senate; by W. K. Wood in the House.
In the 15th, by G. M. Maxwell in the Senate; by L. Q. Hoggatt in the House.
In the 16th, by W. H. Gallup in the Senate; by Milton Evans in the House.
Her successive Representatives in the Congress have been Lin- coln Clarke, of Dubuque, in 1851-3; John P. Cook, of Davenport, in 1853-5; James Thorington, of Davenport, in 1855-7; Timothy Davis of Elkader, in 1857-9; William Vandever of Dubuque, in 1858-63; A. W. Hubbard of Sioux City, in 1863-9; C. Pomeroy of Fort Dodge, in 1869-71; J. Orr of Boone, in 1871-5; Addison Oli- ver of Onawa, in 1875-6.
Story county completed her organization by electing her county officers, April 4, 1853, under an act of the General Assembly, approved January 12, 1853. At the first election there were two precincts, Indian and Story. The first comprising the settlement on Indian Creek and the other those of Skunk river. Whole number of votes cast at the first election was sixty-four, twenty-seven in Indian, and thirty-seven in Story. One pecularity of this election is that each of the precincts voted all their ballots the same way, consequently all the candidates receiving the votes of the Story precinct were elected by about ten majority. The following is a list of candidates and votes for samne :
For county Judge,
Surveyor,
E. C. Evans, Adolphus Prouty,
87 Franklin Thompson, 19
26 Otho French, 31
For Recorder, John Zenor,
Coroner,
64 Shadrick Worrell, 35
For Clerk,
School fund Commissioner,
E. H. Billings,
24
David Ned, 23
36
John Keigley, 32
The above votes were canvassed
Franklin Thompson, Sheriff, I. N. Alderman,
Eli Deal,
27 by Samuel B. McCall, county 37| Judge of Boone county ; Adolphus
1
21
HISTORY OF STORY COUNTY, IOWA.
Prouty and James Corben, assist- County Judge, ing justices of the peace of their E. C. Evans, 198 respective townships. The next J. P. Robinson, 12 election was held in August of J. H. McLain, 40
the same year-precincts the Recorder and Treasurer,
same-at which election the fol- lowing persons received the votes: Sheriff,
John J. Zenor,
32 Sheriff,
David Wilkinson,
24 Geo. W. Child, 72
S. M. Cory,
5 J. J. Zenor, 78
Surveyor,
S. H. Dye,
52
Otho French,
41
R. H. Robinson,
16
F. Thompson,
14 Surveyor,
D. J. Norris, 150
Coroner, R. H. Robinson,
29
E. H. French, 85
Drainage Commissioner, Adolphus Prouty,
31
R. Hackley, 69
J. C. Lovell,
2
J. N. Robinson, 3
B. Broughard, 15
C. Wood,
2
Wm. Wood,
3
Isaac Hague,
7
J. Griffith, April 7, 1856.
12
Clerk,
School fund Commissioner,
E. G. Day, 357
T. E. Alderman, 59
Stephen O'Brien,
Wm. Alderman,
S. S. Webb, 160
For prohibitory stock law, 119 Against, 82
At this election, Union town- ship held her first election.
Adolphus Prouty,
36
Aug. 4, 1856.
E. C. Evans,
66 Clerk,
Clerk,
Wm. Thompson, 206
Austin Prouty,
58
E. G. Day, 148
Nathaniel Jennings,
51
E. B. Fenn, 78
Prosecuting Attorney, Eli H. French, Wm. L. Burge,
62
J. S. Frazier, 220
J. L. Dana, 86
Surveyor.
E. H. French,
29
For convention, 128
At the election in August, 1855
Against, 56
At the next election April 6,
there were 235 votes cast.
J. C. Moss, 128
Adolphus Prouty, 77
Isaac Romain, 30
Coroner,
School fund Commissioner, Stephen P. O'Brien, 46
April, 1854 is the date of the next election. The number of precincts having been increased to five, Franklin, Washington, In- dian Creek, Nevada and Lafay- ette. Only one county office was. filled at this election.
Wm. Bennett, 6
43 School Fund Commissioners, John J. Bell, 234
The next election was held Aug. 7, 1854, at which there were one hundred and nine votes cast as follows :
County Judge,
Prosecuting Attorney,
1
E. H. French, 109
22
HISTORY OF STORY COUNTY, IOWA.
1857, Collins township was or- ganized, vote as follows :
County Assessor, W. G. Allen, Isaac Romain,
Drainage Commissioner, I. T Evans, T. E. Alderman,
Coroner,
W. G. Buswell,
J. W. Cessna,
Aug. 3, 1857, the next
tion was held as follows:
G. A. Kellogg,
County Judge,
E. B. Fenn,
244 Geo. A. Kellogg, 364
Recorder and Treasurer,
E. C. Evans, 376
Wm. Lockridge,
37 Treasurer and Recorder,
Ed Schoonover,
278 Sam S. Statler, 369
Sheriff, Geo. Child,
356
T. J. Ross, 379
W. B. Sweeney,
H. B. Young, 367
Geo. Child,
384
D. J. Norris,
269 County Superintendent,
For stock law,
431 W. A. Wier,
396
Against, 115 Ira H. Rees, 375
At the election in April, 1858, Coroner,
New Albany township, appears W. E. McKnight, 368
on record. The office of Superin-
F. W. Rhoads, 375
tendent of common schools, being
Drainage Commissioner,
provided for, the following vote was had :
T. E. Alderman, 255
O. Sheldahl,
389
Geo. M. Maxwell, 331
A. G. Shaw,
289 Surveyor,
Oct. 12, 1858.
D. J. Norris, 313
Clerk,
R. H. Mitchell, 369
S. S. Webb,
339
Stock law, 401
D. P. Ballard,
319
Against,
155
For the following items, given in the order in which they were published, I am indebted to the files of the
STORY COUNTY ADVOCATE.
The first number of this paper, printed and published every Thursday by R. R. THRALL, which I am able to obtain, is of date January 29, 1857, and is No. 4 of that paper. In the first column I find that the Nevada Lyceum meets every Monday evening at the Court House, E. C. Evans, President; J. W. Davidson, Secretary.
Heretofore the election of county officers had turned largely upon local and personal considerations, 152 but they had been gradually tend- 193 ing toward the party issued, and by October, 1859 they had be- 203 come sharply defined. Hitherto 203 the Democrats had carried the day, but this year, for the first time, the 197 Republicans were successful, after 215 a close contest.
elec- This election resulted as fol- lows :
Surveyor, R. H Mitchell,
310
297 Sheriff,
23
HISTORY OF STORY COUNTY, IOWA.
Also that Nevada Star Lodge of I. O. of Good Templars meets every Tuesday evening in Nevada Hall, W. E. Aldredge, W. C. T., and J. W. Davidson, W. S. Also that Geo. A. Kellogg, J. L. Dana, John Scott, J. S. Frazier, R. H. Mitchell, Wm. Lockridge, Chas. D. Berry and W. G. Allen, beside other avocations, offered their ser- vices as Land Agents. Also that Drs. A. Wiley, V. V. Adamson and J. W. Davidson, having permanently located in Nevada, re- spectfully tender their professional services as Physicians and Sur- geons.
In the same number is noted that E. G. Day is appointed a Jus- tice of the Peace, vice, W. E. Aldredge, resigned, that Melvin Swift "has got his goods out of the meshes of the law, and is going to sell them off cheap;" that Webster County has been divided, and a new county called Hamilton has been erected; that the second Quar- terly Meeting on the Nevada Mission will commence on Saturday, Jaunary 31st, and that Rev. J. F. Hestwood "requests the friends of the place to show themselves true-hearted to the cause of religion by assisting to feed and entertain the brethern from a distance.
By an article descriptive of Story county we learn, among many other things, that there are six townships in the county, to-wit: Nevada, Indian Creek, Washington, Union, Lafayette, and Franklin; that Nevada is thirty miles from Des Moines, and one hundred and fifteen miles from Iowa City, the nearest railway station; that a good Court House has been erected; that no less than fifteen grist and saw mills have been built in various parts of the county; that Nevada boasts of many neat and substantial buildings "mostly erected after the steam saw mill was erected, in the fall of 1858; that arrangements are being made for putting up from seventy-five to a hundred buildings the next summer; that Iowa Center, Cam- bridge and New Philadelphia are thriving places; that Prairie City, Fairview, Albany, New Bloomington and Defiance have been more recently laid out and are mostly in the future; (which we now see was a mistake, for even at that early day several of them were al- ready in the past;) and that many expect the Central Iowa Air Line Railroad will be built to this place in four or five years.
From the advertising columns it is seen that M. Swift, E. Schoonover, Moore & Bell, Aldredge & Prouty, Adamson & David- son, J. H. Talbott, Alderman & Rhodes, and T. E. Alderman are each doing a thriving business in various lines of trade. The latter announces in large capitals that there is "Great Excitement at the Cheap Cash. Store," and that "all the earth, and the rest of man- kind are invited to come to the far-famed emporium of fashion," &c., &c., at the N. E. corner of Court House Square.
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