USA > Iowa > Cedar County > A topical history of Cedar County, Iowa, Volume I > Part 4
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THE MOFFET HOMESTEAD
THE HUMPHREY HOME, 1845
39
HISTORY OF CEDAR COUNTY
into the first house erected in the town of "Louden," as then spelled. Mr. Heiner met with a misfortune in this first load since he broke his brand new wagon.26
"In July, 1845, the Cedar County surveyor, Thos. Gracey (the first teacher in the Tipton schools), desiring to go to Philadelphia to study medicine, appointed me his deputy. The next year I was elected surveyor, serving in that office until 1851. The land was being rapidly settled at that time and it gave me plenty of work. The average farm then was a quarter section, as now, the entries being made at Dubuque.
"The center of Cedar County is a few rods north of the present Northwestern depot. There have been many discussions of the question of the traces of the buffalo in this vicinity, with a strong opinion against such affirmation, but I am sure the evidence is in favor of the existence of the native animal. That he once roamed over these prairies is very well shown by the remains found during my work as a surveyor. I often found skulls and chips of the animal in Cedar County, and still further during a government contract I undertook in Franklin and Butler Counties in 1851, a herd of twelve of the animals passed over the territory covered by my work. Elk were also very plentiful in this section, where there was no disturbing element, there being no house then in either county or habitation between Iowa Falls and Cedar Falls."26a
At a meeting of the old settlers of Red Oak township in 1870, the latter part of December, at the home of John Goodrich, the early comers to that township were assembled to recount their early experiences. That group may be recorded here, since they are the ones who first made the township a place for future comforts : · Robert Dallas, John Ferguson and wife, John Chappell and sister, John Safley and wife, James Safley and wife, George Safley and wife, Washington Rigby and wife, Samuel Yule and wife, John W. Brown and wife, William Coutts and wife, Elza Carl and wife, William Dallas, Gordon Dallas and wife, James Cousins and wife, B. J. Rodgers and wife, Cyrus Rickard and wife, Ezra Good- rich and wife. Of these Washington Rigby came first in 1836. Most of the group came before 1841. At least three of this number, all women, are living at this date.
Here they related their own experiences, some of their hardships and some of the amusing things during their pioneer days. Mr. Rigby related the wedding tour of himself and bride, they being the first couple from the county to seek a marriage license, and had to go to Muscatine to secure it.
Mr. Goodrich being anxious to raise a little money and having some pork to dispose of, determined to take it to Iowa City, the best market he then knew, At that time Iowa City was a village of a few stores, but in the opinion of its inhabi- tants of some importance, for they had then begun to figure for the location of the capital of the territory.
Mr. Goodrich, not having any team of his own, hired Mr. John Safley to carry his load of pork to market. On their arrival in the market they found pork worth $1.25 per hundred and no cash at that figure-only goods in exchange and no groceries-some kinds of dry goods only. Mr. Goodrich finally concluded to take the value of the load in Kentucky jeans at a dollar and a quarter per yard, and Mr. Safley took his pay for driving the load to market in powder and shot ; so having
40
HISTORY OF CEDAR COUNTY
no money to pay for lodging they came home in the night from Iowa City to Red Oak, their home.
All these people were prosperous farmers when this reunion was held and the old times of trial were long forgotten in the comforts of the present. It was stated at that time, that all their means put together would not amount to three hundred dollars when they first came to Red Oak.27
At another gathering of the same nature in November, 1871, at the home of William Coutts, other events were described and some of the former meeting repeated. The first dwelling in this part of the county was built by John Jones on the William Aldrich place. Mr. W. A. Rigby had gone to Red Oak to build a cabin two months before, but through a personal injury could not do so, and when Mr. Jonas Oaks came to occupy the house he had not succeeded in erecting they were all forced to occupy the one built by Mr. Jones. The snow was six inches deep and the family of Solomon Knott had already been given shelter in this log cabin, only sixteen feet square, and as yet unchinked. To add the new family made twenty-one men, women and children in this small space for a period of eight days until another house could be procured. The Oaks family moved into Red Oak township and this was the first cabin built there. They occupied it in No- vember, 1836. At this time Linn County was attached to Cedar for judicial pur- poses, and W. A. Rigby held a commission from Governor Lucas of Iowa terri- tory as justice of the peace. Hence when John Safley wished to be married in the spring of 1838, he was called upon to officiate at the ceremony. At this meeting it was stated that of the settlers at the land sales at Dubuque in 1840 more than half of those present from this county .then and still in the county were in Red Oak township. A good Scotch coffee mill at John Ferguson's furnished all the meal for the breadstuffs of several families for months. The corn was dried in a skillet during the day and in the evening the men took turns in grinding it for breakfast. It was at this juncture of affairs that the mill referred to elsewhere was built for that neighborhood.28
At this meeting the first steps were taken to organize a County Old Settlers' Association and a committee was appointed to secure action in the matter. On Friday, the fourteenth of June, 1872, the old settlers of the county met at the court house for the purpose of organizing the present association, which recently held its meeting for 1910. William Baker was the chairman of this first meeting, and Wm. H. Tuthill, its secretary. The call was for those who came to the county prior to 1841, and under this call some twenty-five or more assembled. All of these mentioned then as old settlers, and named in the report, are gone from the scenes here. Some of them at that time had passed their four score years. The daughter of one of them died in July, 1910, at the age of eighty-seven-Mrs. Bunker. This meeting was continued in September of the same year and a perma- nent organization perfected, a constitution was adopted and an address given by Mr. Wm. H. Tuthill. Henry Hardman of Rochester Township was the first president and to him Judge Tuthill presented the cane with the following words : "It is made from a native cedar, cut from the banks of the river that gave name to the county and skillfully fashioned and mounted, with its appropriate inscrip- tion, is intended to be the badge of your office, to be preserved with jealous care and transmitted from President to President successively as long as our associa-
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SOUTH CEDAR STREET, TIPTON, JULY 4, 1866
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HISTORY OF CEDAR COUNTY
tion continues to exist." Col. Hardman then responded in a suitable and happy speech, acknowledging the official badge and the honor conferred. An executive committee for the ensuing year was appointed, which included the names of John Culbertson, W. A. Rigby, W. M. Knott, Henry D. Brown and J. S. Tuthill. The committee to provide for a speaker the coming year was composed of Samuel Yule, John Safley and William Baker. On this day they partook of refreshments at the old hotel, the Fleming House, a picture of which may be seen in this volume. 29
At the Old Settlers' meeting in 1883 Mr. E. E. Cook of Davenport addressed them in words commemorative of the early days, and he refers to his father's life in the county among the pioneers. Mr. Cook is still living in Davenport.
"I will not say much personal to myself, but I must tell you, old friends, and friends of my father and mother, that I have never prized an hour more highly than this one, and I have never undertaken a duty so gladly. My father came to this place where Tipton now flourishes before there was any town here. That was in the year 1840, and he left here in 1851. He was often here until 1872, the time of his death. He had no stronger social attachment than his love for "Old Cedar" and his pioneer friends. No days of his life were so happy as these he spent among you. Although he has been dead now eleven years, gray-haired men who were with him here in the early days often talk with me about him, and their mutual friendship. It is only a few months ago that a very old man spoke to me on the streets of Tipton and asked me if I was a son of John P. Cook, and when I answered in the affirmative, he said, 'I want to shake hands with you for your father's sake.' Nothing ever touched me more deeply than that. It was a strong illustration of the friendship that exists among those who together shared the hardships and triumphs of pioneer life. It was an evidence of the regard in which my father was held by those among whom he passed the days of his early manhood. He was worthy of that regard, and the fact that the old settler friends of this county always had so strong a friendship for him is a most precious tribute to his memory. Because I am among the old friends of my father and mother, and because I have that respect and veneration for you which the children of pioneers owe to those who have prepared for them so fair a home, I feel that it is, indeed, a privilege to address you."30
It was about this time in the history of the county that the pioneers began to drop off like ripe fruit, and the death list grows rapidly. They had fulfilled their mission, had done their duty and of right passed on.
On June II, 1884, the year following the address quoted from above, the Hon. Robert G. Cousins, member of Congress from the fifth Iowa district for many years since, and now a resident of Tipton, spoke to the old settlers, giving in review the scenes of the early days and comparing the good times of Cedar County pioneers with the present day and the great advantage in owning and occupying the land of Cedar County, giving due credit to the pioneer for honorable record made thus far in its history. His closing words were in reference to the fifteen members who had gone to sleep since the meeting a year before.31
At the Old Settlers' meeting in '89 Mr. James Burnside, who built the first or second cabin in Cedar County, told the following story: "He crossed the Missis- sippi in June, 1834, and on the sixteenth of that month took his claim on the Will- iam Ochiltree place by laying the foundations of a log cabin. Going back next
44
HISTORY OF CEDAR COUNTY
day for something to eat, he soon came again with his wife and family, three hired men, three yoke of oxen and the 'prairie schooner.' This was before the cabin was finished, of course, and only a small circle of prairie grass had been cut about the wagon. Mrs. Burnside was bending over the tub washing when looking up she beheld two impassive Indians standing with guns on their shoulders at the edge of the untrodden grass. She ran shrieking to where the men were cutting hay half a mile distant, and the Indians ran in the opposite direction. Responding to the cries of his wife, Mr. Burnside hastened in her direction. About midway of the distance he met his wife still screaming "Indians!" "Where is the baby?" said Mr. Burnside, as he came panting on the scene. "Good Lord," exclaimed his wife, "I never thought of the baby." At which reply he left her to her fate and ran on only to find the ten months' old child safe in its clapboard cradle in the wagon."32
Mrs. McClure, who came to Tipton in 1841 and is now the one who has the longest residence, became the president of the Old Settlers' Association in 1905, being the first woman to hold that position.
When the barn on the farm of Alex. Buchanan, Sr., in Linn township was built it was necessary to remove an old landmark. This was the old Mason house built in 1847. It was on the old stage line from -Mount Vernon to Davenport, and it was in its day used as a stopping place for travelers. It was once a well known house, and many a weary and lonesome traveler found comfort under its roof. The days of its usefulness had passed and it was removed in the natural course of events to make room for advancement. The brick are found in the foundation of the barn now standing.
The carpenters found the house well preserved. The same "hand shaved" shingles were on the roof as put there in 1847-fifty years before-and the roof leaked very little. The oak rafters and studding were as sound as the day they were put there. The inside work was all of black walnut and in its time the old house must have been one of the best.33
The name of Charles Swetland is remembered by the older residents of the county so well that the present generation should keep some account of events with which he was connected.
On Christmas day, 1890, the house on the hill east of Tipton about a mile, burned to the ground. This was known as the Coutts house then, but it was built about 1859 by Chas. Swetland, and was a landmark for miles around. Then it was called the finest residence in the county. Made in the old way of building, there was no sham there, all was good and true stuff. Heavy timbers sawed in the mill at Rochester, four by six timbers when two by six now are considered un- necessary. Such a house, in form of material used, now stands between this spot and Tipton, formerly the home of Colonel Powell, now of Perry Moffett, where the great stone step is load enough for a derrick. Here the cellar beams are an example of the early structure burned to the ground as mentioned on Christmas day.34
Uncle Aaron and Aunt Bathsheba Gruwell, as nearly everybody called them, were married sixty-nine years on the 6th of July, 1906. Think of it-married sixty- nine years and both of their minds still remarkably bright and their bodies free
OPTON, JA = LANA-
OLD STONE WILL
THE "OLD STONE MILL"
47
HISTORY OF CEDAR COUNTY
from disease, except the usual infirmities of extreme old age. This statement of facts was given by them on their sixty-ninth wedding day.
Aaron Gruwell was born in Stark County, Ohio, June 8, 1817. Bathsheba Slater was born in Ulster County, New York, January 21, 1816. He being in his ninetieth and she in her ninety-first year. Their parents were Friends and Bathsheba was a member of that church. Their parents were pioneer settlers of Ohio ; his oldest sister, Elizabeth, being the first white child born in Marlborough Township, Stark County.
Aaron Gruwell and Bathsheba Slater were married at Marlborough, Ohio, July 6, 1837. Four sons and two daughters were born to them, namely: Isaac New- ton, Hannah, Brinton T., Alice, Timothy and Abram Clark.
Brinton T. and Timothy were soldiers in the Civil War-the latter giving his life for his country. Two sons and one daughter still live to bless and cheer their aged parents.
Uncle Aaron and Aunt Bathsheba with their five oldest children moved to Cedar County, Iowa, in October, 1854. They settled on a farm and have lived in the neighborhood of West Branch ever since. Their youngest son was born two years after they came to Iowa.
Here as pioneers they helped to make this country the beautiful and fruitful garden it is today and by their example and others like them have inculcated a spirit of industry, frugality and morality that will be a blessing to its people for very many years after this dear old couple have passed over to the other side. He has also been a useful public citizen, having served many years as justice of the peace and trustee of Gower township.
They made their home with their youngest son, A. C. Gruwell, and his wife. It is a home on one of Iowa's many ideal farms and is only a half mile north of West Branch on a pretty elevated site that overlooks most of the town and the valley in which it is located. Here they rested from their life's work, calmly and serenely "waiting the Master's call." Uncle Aaron once said he had this thought to give: "Sixty-nine years ago when I was young and she was young we walked and talked and gathered flowers together. But now we are old, the tale is told and it will be told that this is our sixty-ninth wedding day."35
Golden weddings are not of such common occurrence that they become monot- onous by mentioning many of them. Alonzo Shaw and wife celebrated their fiftieth anniversary in 1899. They were married in Tipton in 1849 and at the time of this anniversary not one of the guests at the wedding of '49 was living. They spent all their married lives in this vicinity.
One of the pioneers of Linn township, Alexander Moffit, who came there when the name "Lynn" included much more than now (1840), settled on the farm he now occupies in 1859. A recent account of their golden wedding belongs in this connection.
Mr. and Mrs. Moffit have always made Cedar County their home. The farm on which they now reside having been purchased by Mr. Moffit just before their marriage, and was occupied by the newly wedded couple as soon as arrangements could be made the next year for possession. Mr. Moffit was born in Ireland in 1829 and came to Cedar County in 1840. He takes an active part in the old set- tlers' meetings and is now among the few of the old members. He has served as
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HISTORY OF CEDAR COUNTY
a member of the Board of Supervisors of this county ; and represented the county in the legislature in the Sixteenth General Assembly.
July 21, 1905, occurred the fiftieth wedding anniversary of the pioneer couple, Rev. John Y. and Rev. Mary J. Hoover, of West Branch. More than one hun- dred guests did honor to the occasion. This worthy couple came to this vicinity in 1854 by wagon from Ohio, that source of supply for some hundreds of homes in Cedar County. They were married by the Friends' ceremony in a building located on what is now the southwest corner of Main and Downey Streets. They battled for existence on a farm near West Branch. He became a minister of the Society of Friends in 1864 and his wife a few years later. They traveled as evangelists from ocean to ocean, worked for the church in Canada and New Eng- land, spent two years among the whites in the mountains of North Carolina, Virginia and Tennessee, for years in the work, never receiving any salary for preaching, but freely and gladly gave the service for spreading the gospel message. Agreeable with requests and fortunately for this record the couple once more stood and renewed their vows of fifty years before. The Friends' ceremony fol- lowed. "In the presence of the Lord and before this assembly, I, John Y. Hoover, take Mary Jay to be my wife, promising by divine assistance to be unto her a loving and faithful husband until death shall separate us." Then she said: "In like manner, I, Mary Jay, take John Y. Hoover to be my husband, promising by divine assistance to be unto him a loving and faithful wife until death shall sepa- rate us."36
A reunion of the Negus family was held in the park or picnic grounds near Rochester bridge in September, 1898, and at this time some interesting pioneer accounts were given. About eighty were present at this time to honor the Negus family, who came to Springdale in 1846. In this year Shedlock Negus sent his family from Ohio to Iowa while he followed driving a flock of sheep of some size not mentioned, but a large number. It was not uncommon then to drive great droves of sheep from Ohio and Michigan. The Negus family settled first near Muscatine, but on account of sickness were compelled to move on from that place and settled this time near the present site of the village of Springdale. In the fall of 1847 they hauled logs with oxen and built a cabin, the ruins of which were still standing at the time of this reunion on the farm owned by Beackan Negus, Jr. They lived here ten years during the time their daughter taught the first school in this part of the county. It was through the influence of Shedlock Negus that the first road was laid from Davenport to Iowa City, and he helped to plough the furrow clear through which marked its location. Israel Negus came to Iowa in 1852, while John Negus and wife at the age of eighty drove verland from Ohio in 1860. In these days temperance was the topic of interest ì many parts of this county and a lecturer by the name of Leland came out from Boston. He delivered the first lecture of this kind here while being entertained at the house of Wm. Negus.37
Of the earliest settlers who came to this county the names following may be listed, as coming at the dates gives. The township may not be exact since when these came there were no township lines to locate the names. This may be con- fusing and it is not a matter of vital importance if the neighborhood is under- stood.
.This Inderline made the 17, day of May ise the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and for T five Letweegy William Hiasson and Delila His wife of Cedar County y Jowa Townshipe) Sterritory of 200 of the fost fast and "George Billman'of county, Townskype), and foundony aforward of the second part. Winebelly that the said parties of the first hand for and in consideration of the sum of one fiundred Dotfans lawful money of the United States ofamerica Whereis havre , well and truly frage by the said farlig of the second part at and before The enserving and delivery herey thereeligt whenerg dha de faire by acknowledge , and there of to acquil and forever discharge The said party of the decont pand, bis fiers, Excenters en administrations. By These faktenals have granted, bangained sold, altered enfeeffet waard and confirmed and by these Redento de gaard, banquier deff, affien), engeoff, release and confining iva to the cand party. of the second part and to his heirs and afsigns. Aff that certain That of david Situate in Towa Selonship) Gedas County Grey the south East fourty of the south to dound Gast quarter of section 10, thirty two in Townships Me Eighty 8. of range West of the de principal meridian), containing fourty acres. And the said tiffany Maccose for himself Bis heins , Excentuals, and administrators , dest covenant, presseise) quand and agree to and with the said George Willman his hand and a joigne, By frost &Presents ... That he he said William Nawor and his heirs, the said abare mentioned and described mark of faires) hereby wanted'and released, ante the saint George Biffmade his heirs and afsignes; against how the sand Withere'llaxon and his freins, and against all and every effet persoon and perdues, whomsower lawfully claiming or to claim the dome or any part on parcel there of half and will Warrant grad for ever defend by these presents Den Withers whereof the said partito lo these procurado hade hinti mate det Bare hands wild deals dated the day and grace first aberes watthere
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stented and delivered is the presence ofno
Arelived the day of The deTionterritory of dowa { If Bent purentered that enthe seventeenth the above writers Jordenture ofany . Ceda teursity} from the above named forge day of thay Afire Genuine 1845 before on williams flech one of Bill mani the same game hundrafe prislives of the Beauty of the said County, Ty personally came The above. dollars in Gold on Silver money gained William INaGers and Deliler his wifeand acknowledged The it being the considerations moms teve Indenture Jo bo their det and Died and desired that the same mentioned in full might berecorded as auch ! The said Delite bring by me in due forme.
William (mange) Della Maxim)
William Arfecha
·atilorje.
of law, examined separate and apart from he said hus board and the full William masson enterito of the atres Deed being by me first made Airewas To be thrown Delilah upon such Examination at a faresaid, declared that she did only fanily and of her own free will and accord, seal and as her act and Dad deliver The vaid Bud without any concion or compulsion of his said hard band . On Jealiment whenof i have funundo set my hand and deal, The dug and year oflove willest Hluch
FACSIMILE OF DEED GIVEN IN 1848 BY WILLIAM MAXSON
51
HISTORY OF CEDAR COUNTY
1836.
Andrew Crawford and daughter to Center Township. David Walton and family to Farmington Township. George McCoy to Rochester Township. Stephen Toney to Rochester Township. Ben and John Halliday to Sugar Creek Township. Samuel Hulic to Sugar Creek Township.
Harvey Hatton to Rochester Township. C. C. Dodge to Pioneer Township. Alanson Pope to Pioneer Township. Peter Crampton to Pioneer Township. Robert G. Roberts and family to Iowa Township. Aaron Porter and family to Rochester Township. James Posten and family to Springfield Township. William Baker to Rochester Township. Joseph Olds to Center Township. John Jones to Center Township. John Barr to Center Township. Richard C. Knott to Rochester Township. John Roper to Rochester Township. Solomon Knott to Center Township. Reuben Long to Cass Township. W. A. Rigby to Red Oak Township. James and John Burnside to Rochester Township. James and Ira Leverich to Rochester Township. Rev. Martin Baker to Rochester Township. John Scott to Rochester Township. William M. Knott to Center Township. Robert Miller to Center Township. Joshua King to Center Township. James and Jesse Potts to Rochester Township. Elisha Edwards to Rochester Township. James W. Tallman to Rochester Township.
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