USA > Iowa > An illustrated history of the state of Iowa, being a complete civil, political, and military history of the state, from its first exploration down to 1875; > Part 43
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AUBURN is a village of some import -. ance, being one of the oldest settle- ments in the county, and in 1856 the place most thought of by the early col- onists. It stands north of West Union about six miles, and was the seat of the first manufacturing enterprise ever un- dertaken in this part of Iowa. The town, which is now its populous and wealthy neighbor, had then little pros- pect of eminence. To this point farm-
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ers brought nearly all their wheat to | we have already spoken. The village be made into flour, as for some time is in Dover township, at the confluence of the north and south forks of the river, where a very large manufactur- ing interest can be built up. There are about three hundred inhabitants. "Auburn, loveliest village of the plain," contained the only flouring mill. West Union settlers came to this village to trade, and to all appearances a very prosperous future lay before the place, MAYNARD sprang up when the Bur- lington, Cedar Rapids and Minnesota Railroad was built. The village is in Harlan township, and has already a population of three hundred. but the Deserted Village concerning which the poet Goldsmith sung so melodiously, is at this time just as well to do as Auburn, Iowa, which numbers only about three hundred and DELWEIN ranks with the village last named, having been created by the railroad, and it already outstrips May- nard in population, with a business which must largely extend. fifty inhabitants, although it began as early. There is some retailing bus- iness done here, but a place which cannot offer facilities for shipment to agriculturists cannot, in this country, hope for a large measure of success.
ELGIN stands in Pleasant Valley township, on the banks of the Turkey river, and was among the first locali- ties in which permanent settlements were made. The river affords very many mill sites and other considera- ble water powers which must some day cause large works to he located here; but the opportunities thus af- forded have not commanded much at- tention hitherto. Some manufacturing is done, but the amount is inconsidera- ble when compared with the forces which nature has here offered to the hand of man. The wealth presented is barely made to contribute a tithe of its possibilities to the neighborhood. The line of the Burlington, Cedar Rapids and Minnesota Railroad passes this thriving little village, and there- fore the population of three hundred, which now gives a promise of husi- ness to Elgin, will grow into thousands before many years have passed. Some manufacturing is already entered upon and there is a little business transacted among the farming community which dots the prairie and the fertile valleys near at hand.
BRUSH CREEK is in Fairfield town- ship, and is already a business town or village of some note, having a popula- tion of five hundred. There is a news- paper published here which circulates mainly among the agriculturists lo- cated in the beautiful country lying near the creek of the same name. The town grows and will advance more rapidly when better facilities for ship- ment afford an adequate outlet to its stock and grain.
ELDORADO flourishes on the Turkey river, a stream of whose importance
There are numerous post offices scattered through the county, to which metropolitan and other newspapers carry the items of interest which move the greater world outside, and to which the settlers look for messages from family circles broken by their absence. As a refresher to the minds of any such beyond Iowa who may
desire to resume correspondences which have lapsed, we append the list of these aids to civilization : Wilson's Grove, Bethel, Wadena, Waucoma, Ot- sego, Oran, Mill, Lima, Scott Ceuter, Putnam, Seaton, Illyrie, Lco, Old Mission, Richfield, Brush Creek and Eden.
Floyd County is the fourth county in northern Iowa, west of the Missis- sippi river, and it contains five hun- dred and four square miles. The snr- face of this county has comparatively slight depressions, and is not in any part considerably broken. The rivers and streams, albeit they are occasion- ally defined by lines of bluffs, which are mostly ledges of limestone, but not very high, have not cut their devi- ous ways into the rocky beds over which they flow to the great rivers. The valleys of the several streams are sometimes extensive, but never very deep. They are, in some cases, ab- ruptly defined on one side, and on the other rising by gentle slopes to the up- lands, into which they seem to melt away. This mixed character in the scenery may be found on a wide area of country, the abrupt formation lying sometimes on one side of the river val- leys and sometimes on the other, and again, in some instances, there are ledges on both sides, the latter appear- ance being, however, seldom found.
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The country has no very striking scenery, but that fact is counterbal- anced for practical minds by the wide adaptability of all parts of Floyd connty to agricultural pursuits. Un- dulations never very considerable, and extending far, make the prairie lands appear almost flat, but, in reality, there is enough of rise and fall to secure adequate drainage. On the east side of Cedar river there are extensive tracts of brush land which inclose groves of young oak and poplar. West of that river, prairie is the predomina- ting characteristic, without trees or brush, the country, for miles, being naked except where the provident set- tlers have made some approach toward shelter for their cattle.
The general elevation of the county is about five hundred feet above the Mississippi level at McGregor, which altitude is seven hundred feet above the surface of the sea. The inclina- tion of the land is toward the south- east. Measurements have been taken along the several railway lines which show that the highest point on the sev- eral works is near the county line, he- tween Charles City and Nashua, just four hundred and ninety-two feet above the Mississippi at Dubuque. Marble Rock station, in the Shellrock valley. has fifty feet less elevation, while Floyd station, west of the Cedar, has an ele- vation of five hundred and fifteen feet, aud the village of Rock Grove is nearly thirty feet above that altitude. North of that point still greater heights are reached, until the topmost point in the county is attained between Flood creek and Rock creek -six hundred and thirty-eight feet above low water mark at Dubuque. This general statement suffices to show that there is inclina- tion enough for drainage.
The uniformity of descent accounts for the general direction of the streams traversing this county. The undula- tions are slight, but drainage is well nigh perfect. The air is free from moisture in an exceptionable degree, and the soil is very clear of marsh and morass, suitable everywhere for farms.
The drift formation in this area of country contains a very large quantity of earth finely pulverized, over a stony deposit not so decp as may be found elsewhere. Clay and gravel of the same era or near thereto are compara- tively thin, and far below the surface
of the soil, consequently the surface water percolates to the layers which deny further descent, and thus drains off toward the water courses far or near, or finding access to the limestone rock, reappears in clear and delightful springs.
The rock formation in Floyd coun- ty comes near the surface, but it is so well coated with productive soil that the farmer has no reason to complain of this peculiarity. Light gray lime- stone, very brittle, is found here in some places. Carbonate of magnesia gives in some localities a tougher char- acter to the limestone, and a color somewhat darker, inclining to yellow- ish gray. The different varieties in- termingle and good building stone can be readily obtained, while materi- als suited to the manufacture of quick lime can be procured in abundance.
The river system, with the subordi- nate streams which drain and water this county, deserve more detailed mention, and that notice we will en- deavor to supply. Cedar river, Little Cedar, Shellrock river and Flood creek are the principal streams, but their tributaries are many of them very important. With the exception of Flood creek all the streams named flow in lines, devious of course, but nearly parallel from northeast to south- east of the county, affording first class drainage to a large area. Cedar river is of large volume, taking rank as the second in the river system of the inte- rior of Iowa. The width may be roughly stated on the average as sixty yards, and the bed of the stream in this county constitutes a series of rap- ids of incalculable value for water power, which will some day make this locality a perfect nest of manufac- tories. The descent of the water and its velocity may he imagined and fig- ured cut from the simple fact that, in a distance of sixty-five miles without any cataract or very deep descent, in one spot it falls two hundred and sev- enty-one feet. When towns and cities spring up to house the swarms of in- dustrious men and women that will be employed along the Cedar, the numer- ous springs of pure cold water which burst from the rocky ledges along its sides will be of immense value for drinking purposes. The river itself may become foul, as is too often the case with those streams upon which
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mills and factories congregate, but towns of large size will find enough of the pure element in those gushing streams to preserve a large population from drouth, if due precautions are used to avoid waste.
The Little Cedar, crossing the north- east of this region, is somewhat like the larger stream of the same name, but interior in volume and desceut. It affords many water powers which will be improved with advantage after the best sites on the Cedar have been taken up by capitalists and an indus- trious population. Shellrock river is of great value to Floyd county, as it affords therein a water course of near- ly thirty miles, with admirable mill sites, such as all Iowa does not sur- pass. Numerous springs feed the riv- er, and the stream itself is always clear and pure. Flowing from the wost, Lime creek is the main tributary of the Shellrock. Coldwater creek comes in from the same direction, fur- ther south. Flood drains a considera- ble area between Shellrock river and the Cedar. We have avoided particu- larizing the minor tributaries of these several streams, being obliged to ob- serve brevity, but they discharge an important function in this county. Well water can be obtained by sink- ing from fifteen to thirty feet any- where along the line of the principal streams, and the springs that have been mentioned as pertaining to cer- tain localities, are generally observa- ble throughout the county.
Well wooded country can be found along the Cedar river, and some valu- able tracts on the Shellrock and Little Cedar, while the other streams have occasional belts and groves. For all ordinary purposes there is timber enough and to spare. The railroads bring pine lumber from a distance, and the convenience it affords for building causes it to be used in very considera- ble quantity. It is also much in de- mand for fencing, but osage orange hedges will eventually supply that want. Coal can also be procured from neighboring counties, and that fact causes the wood consumption for fuel to be slight by comparison with what otherwise would be inevitable, hence the spontaneous growth in well protected country, added to occasional planting, may be accepted as guaran- ties that the area of wooded country
will not materially diminish. Build- ings of wood will soon cease to be erected by prosperous settlers, seeing that there are inexhaustible quarries of good stone available, and that brick of prime quality can be manufactured, either of which materials will give more comfortable homes for winter or summer. Quicklime can be made in any quantity at very little cost, and sand is everywhere available.
Cereals and grasses in abundance, springing from a soil of unbounded fertility tell the story of this county's prosperity. Men and cattle alike thrive in Floyd county. Oats, the lex- icographer Johnson said, " were the food of horses in England, and of men in Scotland; " and Boswell, stung by the sarcasm which deteriorated his na- tiveland replied : " But did you ever see such men and such horses?" Floyd county does not feed its men on oats, but it produces oats among its other crops in great profusion, and so excel- lent is the adaptation of the country to the multiplication of stock that thoroughbred cattle and blooded stock of the very highest recommendation, long since became a specialty among breeders here. The returns so far have been commensurate with the enter- prise displayed, and there is a large probability that a much larger invest- ment of capital will be made in that line. Fruits have not hitherto been very extensively cultivated, but so far as the venture has been made, growers have been successful. Apples and plums have been raised somewhat largely, and the small fruits come to very great perfection.
Pulmonary diseases, the curse of some portions of this continent, are almost unknown in Floyd county, but of course that fact may be accounted for in part by the exceptional vigor of the young and pushing population customarily found in newly settled countries. The invalid . class of men and women who feel themselves speci- ally called to set their houses in order, have no temptation to wander away into the wilderness, and to face need- less hardships, still there is some vir- tue in the climate of Floyd county, which is healthgiving and clear of mi- asma, a natural consequence of the configuration of the country.
There are two lines of railroad com- pleted through the county ; of these the
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McGregor and Sioux City passes east and west, and the other, the Cedar Falls and Minnesota passes up the Ce- dar valley on the east side of the river, which is crossed by the line at Charles City. Besides these the Burlington, Cedar Rapids and Minnesota railroad traverses Shellrock valley. There are stations on the various lines at Charles City, Floyd, Rudd, Nora, Springs, Marble Rock and Rockford. Some of these places have two stations each. Bonds were several times voted for and carried by large majorities in this county to assist the railroad compa- nies, the stock thus approved amount- ing in the aggregate to $260,000, but of the whole amount only $5,000 was actually issued, and of that sum all but $1,600 was afterwards returned to Floyd county and cancelled, a result beyond doubt satisfactory to the tax payers, seeing that there is no newly settled county in any state in the north- west better supplied with first class railroad accommodations.
Schools have been well provided for by the community, but not at a rate as economical as that which procured facilities for travel and traffic. Fifty thousand dollars per year, and some- times considerably more, has been ex- pended by Floyd county in maintain- ing public schools, all incidental ex- penses being considered. There are nearly one hundred schools which are valued at $100,000, and the permanent school aggregate nearly $30,000. The school edifices throughout the county are creditable to the state of Iowa, and the administration is generally good.
Near Charles City are the grounds and offices of the county agricultural association, which has expended $6,- 000 in making improvements of vari- ous kinds on the site embracing thirty acres. Charles City gave two-thirds of that arca, and the society has held a fair ever since 1859, the year of its or- ganization, except one year, in the fall of which local circumstances caused the customary exhibition to be sus- pended.
The first white settler came into Floyd county in 1850, and made his selection on the site of Winnebago vil- lage, in the valley of Cedar river, thir- ty miles from the nearest white man's habitation. When an application was made at the land office the settler was told that his selection was clean out of
the world, but he took it notwithstand- ing, and has had no cause to regret his bargain. Organization was effected four years later and Charles City was chosen as the seat of government, but numerous petitions for removal have been received and upon one of these a vote having been taken resulted in a decision that the geographical center should be made the location. The vote has not been carried into effect and perhaps never will be.
CHARLES CITY was laid out by the first settler in the county in the sum- mer of 1853. In the following spring a log cabin was erected, and soon af- terwards a saw mill was commenced. St. Charles was at first the name be- stowed upon the town, but subsequent events have denuded the settlement of its saintship and it is now known as Charles City, located in the township of St. Charles. The sins of great cities are seldom compatible with sanctity, but there has been nothing special in the wickedeess of this place. Indus- tries of various kinds have been estab- lished with good results, and since 1855, the growth of the town has been considerable.
Both sides of Cedar river are occu pied by Charles City, but the preponder- ance of buildings is on the east. The two sides of the place are joined by a very substantial bridge. Many beauti- . ful groves are seen in almost all direc- tions, and the wooded banks of the ever winding river unite with these features to make the site very beauti- ful. The streets are well graded and drained, but the desire of the original platters to follow the sinuosities of the river, have taken from the city the Dutch virtue of strict uniformity. Most of the business houses are on the east side of the river, commencing at the end of the bridge which divides do- mesticity from the bustle of trade and commerce. There are some very fine residences on the east side, and the buildings of the merchants are general- ly substantial. Two lines of railroad have depots in this city, and there are elevators and warehouses sufficient for any probable rush of business at each of their stations. The Illinois Central has rather more accommodations to offer to shippers of grain than the Iowa division of the Milwaukee and St. Paul railroad which operates the McGregor and Sioux City road.
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Charles City being the natural and commercial center of a very admira- ble farming country, does an immense shipping business, not only in grain, but in all the products of an agricul- tural community. It is claimed by some that this is the best grain market in northern Iowa, but without being quite so enthusiastic Charles City must be admitted to the front rank among the grain centers in that area. The wat- er powers near this location are excel- lent, and some of them have been im- proved, hut much remains to be done. There is one large flouring mill here dependent on water power, and anoth- er which has steam for its motor. The fall of the river near this spot is very great and the stream running over a limestone bed offers unsurpassed fa- cilities for constructing a substantial dam, or dams in different places, all of which must help to build up the city. Of course the future will see very great changes in this regard, as every available area will be taken up.
The city was incorporated in 1869, and it is an independent school dis- trict, maintaining its educational es- tablishments in a very liberal spirit. There are two school buildings, one on each side of the river, and the manner in which they are conducted is cred- itable to all concerned. Both build- ings are of stone; that on the east side being the largest, its cost when fur- nished completely being $14,000. Since that time many modern im- provements have been added. The schools are graded in four depart- ments, the high school being located on the east side. There has never been a difficulty in procuring for this com- pound establishment all the support that its high efficiency requires, and that fact must not be without its weight in determining the status of the popu- lation. Many of those who are fore- most in zeal for the cause of education find their chief incentive in the knowl- edge of their own shortcomings in that respect. The world has seen many examples of that kind. One ex- ample is well known. The father of the great president, Abraham Lincoln, could barely write his own name, and did even that as a mere effort of ignor- ant imitation, like the Chinese tailor putting a patch on a new garment, be- ing utterly unable to name the letters which he formed in the effort; yet no | of a graded school, and that establish-
man could be more anxious than he, to obtain for his boy the best advant- ages within the reach of his means and location, and it is probable that his often expressed anxiety on that head, united to the loving enthusiasm of his mother, for the boy whom she was to leave so early, were the deter- mining causes which placed the young boatman, rail splitter and farm laborer upon the track, which ended in his most fortunate occupancy of the White House, in the time of this country's greatest emergency.
There are several newspapers pub- lished in Charles City, and they are as a rule well conducted; but following our invariable practice, we leave the fourth estate to speak for itself, con- scious that native modesty will not in- terfere to prevent the exaltation of true merit.
FLOYD is a very handsome little town about six miles above Charles City, on the banks of the same river. At this point the first bridge ever constructed over the Cedar river was built, but the original construction was carried away by the floods in 1858, three years after the town was first laid out. The town stands on the west side of Cedar river; but the Illinois Central Railroad depot is on the east side of the river, with substantial approaches for all kinds of traffic. The Milwaukee and St. Paul road have their station south of the town. On all sides there is good farm- ing land well occupied by a thriving and industrious population fully up to the average of such communities in any part of the state, consequently the future of Floyd as an agricultural center is assured. The local trade is considerable, and increasing, a large amount of shipping being done at the stations enumerated. Like every town located on the banks of the Cedar, Floyd enjoys the advantages present and prospective, of first class water powers, many of which are partially improved ; a first class flouring mill is located near the town, and a large quantity of flour figures in the daily shipments. Good timber is conve- nient and abundant, and stone of the best quality can be procured from quarries which are much thought of in the surrounding country. A beau- tiful stone building which cost $10,- 000, has been erected for the purposes
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ment is a justifiable source of pride to | waukee and St. Paul Railroad, on rich the citizens, as its management is of a very high order.
ROCKFORD is on the west bank of Shellrock river and is very pretty, matching well with the scenery where the river just named is fed by the in- flow of Lime creek. This town was laid out in 1856, upon the site which the whole state could not surpass. Limetone fit for burning or for build- ing can be procured in abundance; the supply of clay suitable for brick making is ample, and the groves and belts of timber which literally cover the country save on a few fertile areas of prairie, leave nothing to be desired in that respect. An excellent flouring mill has been built and is doing a large business, on the Shellrock, and that river has many powers yet waiting the advent of intelligent capitalists to em- ploy endless labor.
The Burlington, Cedar Rapids and Minnesota Railroad has a station at Rockford, where a fair business is be- ing transacted, which places the town only second in importance to Charles City. The population of Rockford is rapidly on the increase, affording a home market not unimportant to the gardener, and the shipping facilities are ample. A very handsome edifice of stone has been provided for school ac- commodation, and it is well conduct- ed. There is one newspaper published in this town.
NORA SPRINGS is a town situated in the west of the county, in the town- ship of Rock Grove, on the east bank of Shellrock river, surrounded by well timbered land. Many years ago this was a flourishing town, a large flour- ing mill having been built on the Shellrock bank; but since that time railroad facilities have somewhat changed the site of the best business locations, and given a great impetus to the growth of the settlement. There are two stations here, built by the Mil- waukee and St. Paul, and by the Bur- lington, Cedar Rapids and Minnesota roads, and the natural consequence of such advantages is found in the very substantial advancement of Nora Springs. The town has one very handsome little newspaper.
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