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 67
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The farmers and graziers here have given much attention to grove plant- ing for purposes of shelter, and the care bestowed on native woods in ad- dition will have the effect of making lumber a staple here.
Undulating prairie would be pro. nounced the chief characteristic of the surface, but the groves and streams diversify the scene immensely. The courses of some of the streams are marked occasionally by broken land, which cannot easily be brought under tillage; but otherwise every variety of territory, mounds, lowlands and prairie, round the lakes, by the rivers, indeed, everywhere, with the excep- tion mentioned, will serve the best purposes of the farmer.
The valleys are not so deep in this county anywhere, but that the groves within their limits are visible to the traveler on the uplands ; but some val- leys are much deeper than others. The succession of forest, river and prairie have a most pleasing effect.
The soil varies in different parts of the county, but it is not bad in any place. Some localities have a pecul- iarly rich, deep, black loam, and every- where crops, from fair to good, can be
obtained with moderate care. Stock raising must become one of the favor- ite pursuits here, and farmers are im- proving their breeds of cattle and horses. Sheep and hogs have com- manded much attention, and they give very considerable profit where the business of the farm goes on side by side with their care.
Skunk river and Indian creek have become celebrated for fine quarries of sandstone and limestone, of much value for building materials. The supply of material for making quick- lime is unlimited. The agricultural college at Ames was built from the quarries on Skunk river. In the north of the county, a reddish limestone is found, quite peculiar in appearance. This exposure is not far from Indian creek, its head waters being four miles distant. This county lies within the coal beds of Iowa, but up to this time there has not been enough found to justify mining operations. Good clay can be found in large quantities, and bricks are extensively manufactured. Good sand is obtainable in the beds of some of the streams. Peat is found in some parts of the county, but such fuel is not likely to be in demand where timber is so largely cultivated and plentiful.
There are two railroads running through this county, the Chicago and Northwestern and the Des Moines and Minnesota; the latter, narrrow-gauge, running from Ames to Des Moines, and the former traversing the center of the county, east and west, so that there is no settlement further than fifteen miles from an eligible shipping point. The two roads will, it is likely, extend their lines laterally when the centers of population and settlement render it desirable.
The first white settler came here in 1848, but there was no considerable addition until 1851, after which time growth became continuous, and in 1853, organization became possible, and the county seat was located at a point which was named Nevada, not because it resembled the sierras, nor because it was thought to be aurifer- ous, but because one of the commis- sioners had been in California, and had passed across the country in which the Sierra Nevada is a God-placed landmark, which millions have gazed upon with awe.
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TUTTLE'S HISTORY OF IOWA.
The first court house was built in ; much attention is given to stock rais- ing and dairy produce.
1856, and was burned down seven years later, but has been replaced by an edifice much too small for the busi- ness transacted at this point.
NEVADA is an incorporated city, with a population of twelve hundred persons, and it is the seat of justice for Story county. The Chicago and North- western railroad has a good station here, and the amount of business transacted shows the prosperity of the farming district by which the county seat is surrounded. The grove which borders West Indian creek is one of the most noticeable features of Ne- vada, and the comfort of the citizens is increased, as much as their love of the beautiful is gratified, by its prom- inence.
The first settlement of Nevada com- menced in the year 1853, and one family was all the population until nearly twelve months afterward. Two years later there was a population of four hundred, and the prairie was dotted with smiling farms, while many substantial buildings graced the town. Then there was a lull until the Chicago and Northwestern came here in 1864, and the impetus of that event still con- tinues. There is a very good graded school, well taught, and, as usual, where that is the case, well attended.
AMES is a thriving town on the same line of road, and an excellent supping station, about nine miles west of Ne- vada. The Des Moines and Minnesota line was completed to this point in 1874. The town was laid out in 1865, and it is the site of the state agricultural college ; the fine building of that institution be- ing the greatest ornament of the locality. The country_ is fine and the position beautiful. Two railroad lines from such a point, the one leading to the state capital and thence everywhere, the other offering facilities for travel and traffic to all parts of the union, cannot fail to build up here a vast city in which education will become sub- sidiary to a substantial prosperity and high moral tone.
CoLo was laid out in the year 1867, on the line, and as a shipping station, on the Chicago and Northwestern Rail- road. A considerable local trade is transacted here, and the growth of the village promises to be rapid. The sur- rounding agricultural land is cut up into very prosperous farms, on which
ONTARIO is another station town on the Chicago and Northwestern Rail- road, but in the west of the county. This town was laid out in 1868, and an excellent shipping trade is done. The farmers in this locality ship a fair average of live stock, and the local trade is large, considering the youth of the village. School accommodation is limited, but efforts are continuous toward improvement.
IOWA CENTER is a village which as- sumes to be in the middle of the state. It is seven miles from Nevada, in In- dian Creek township, and was laid out in 1854, but for want of an outlet, is still in its infancy.
CAMBRIDGE is nine miles from Ne- vada, on the Des Moines road, on the west bank of the river Skunk, twenty- two miles from the capital of the state. The village will become a town when there are local facilities for shipment and trade.
Tama County is in the center of Iowa, north and south, and fifth from the Mississippi river, having an area of seven hundred and twenty square miles. The streams vary the aspect of the county, which would other- wise be undulatory and gently rolling in all parts. There are bluff's along the Iowa river in the northwest and in the southeast, which rise precipitously in some places two hundred feet. Low bluffs are numerous west of Salt creek, and south of Iowa river; some are found also in the north and the west of the county.
The bluffs first named may be ter- raced for some purposes of cultivation in years to come, but for the present, the farmer will leave them alone and the vigneron is not here in his best foam. The smaller bluffs or hills are all capable of cultivation, and in many cases they have been chosen as parts of extensive farms. The soil is not so deep nor so rich as in the valley hot- toms, but they are good in both respects and cattle prosper on them.
Along the principal streams there are valleys or bottom lands which stretch in some places two miles across, narrowing in others to less than a quarter of a mile, where ob- stacles of some kind prevented the erosion of the strata. In some spots
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these bottoms are marshy, but, as a | bottom lands. On the bluffs there is rule, they are capable of very high cultivation.
The undulating surface of the re- mainder of the county gives good drainage and a soil which becomes very fine under cultivation, and gives very good crops.
The most considerable stream is the Iowa river, which affords a river fron- tage on each side to thirty-five miles of country in its evolutions, traversing the county in a southeasterly course. Four-fitths of the county are drained by this river and its confluents, and there are many mills upon the several streams, but not a tithe of the availa- bie sites have been improved. Rich- land creek flowing from the south, travels nearly three-fourths of the way across the county before falling into the Iowa river. Beaver and Ravine creeks are from the south also. Salt, Otter, Deer, and Sugar creeks, are large streams which come from the north to feed the Iowa. Wolf creek flows across the north of the county, from west to east, winding a great deal in its course, and leaving this county before it joins the Cedar river.
Other streams, numerous, and in some cases large, which are fed by springs, empty into the creeks and rivers already particularized, and af- ford supplies of water always availa- ble, except in the depth of winter, for domestic use, and for stock purposes. The currents of these streams are not sluggish in any case, although the county is not mountainous. The de- pendence of the settler is customarily on wells, which give excellent water at twelve feet in some instances, and seldom more than thirty feet in depth.
Timber is plentiful and well dis- tributed in Tama county, but the southern townships are specially fa- vored with abundance. Some of the bluffs are perfect forests, one large body of wood extends from near To- ledo over nearly ten square miles to the western line of the county. Other groves of large extent, hut inferior to the forest just mentioned, are found on the Wolf and elsewhere. The na- tive timber alone is estimated to ex- ceed seventy-five thousand acres, and the groves which have been planted aggregate largely.
The soil is good and various, being specially fertile on the prairies and
more clay and less alluvium. All kinds of grain and corn are produced in this county, but wheat and corn are staples. Corn is raised in quan- tity for hogs aud cattle, and shecp are extensively raised here. Fruit trees are usually prolific, and all the cus- tomary crops in Iowa do well.
This county has an abundance of building stone, as well as much that can be used in making quick lime. In the vicinity of Orford and Indian Vil- lage there are extensive and valuable quarries of Oolitic limestone which will take a very high finish, and can be quarried easily in almost any shape.
The finest Carrara marble hardly ex- cels this stone in appearance, and in durability it is of a very high staud- ard. The variety of shades in this stone gives it special fitness for some works, and the quantity available is so large that every taste can be gratified. The demand for shipment is not very great at present, but eventually this quarry will bring much wealth into Tama county. There are boulders found in this county, but the presence of such visitors here is an intrusion which disarranges the theories of the learned, and they had better be classed under the title which Lord Palmers- ton bestowed upon dirt: "something in the wrong place."
The first settlement recorded in this county occurred in the year 1848, and after that time there were many en- tries of land. The first family settled in the township of Indian Village in 1849, and in 1853, the first separate or- ganization of the county took place, the county seat being located at To- ledo.
Some of the Musquake Indians who were living near the western limits of Tama county before settlement com- menced, and who were afterwards re- moved with the other red men to the reservation in Kansas, subsequently came back, and having acquired rights to lands, have remained to culti- vate and improve a little more than four hundred acres. The general gov- ernment at first discouraged such ac- tion, but the poor fellows have been, and are good citizens, therefore, it is to be hoped that they will be allowed to continue on the beautiful spot where | once they were monarchs of the soil.
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TUTTLE'S HISTORY OF IOWA.
They should, at least, be permitted the | conducted, and the other marks of same rights and privileges as other progress keep pace with this. colonists.
The press of this county takes a very high position, some of the newspapers published in Toledo being well known and valued all over this continent. The next item in the successful ad- ministration of the affairs of a county or of a state, if not first of all, is the augmentation of facilities for traffic and travel by means of railroads. The Chicago and Northwestern goes through the southern portion of Tama county, connecting with Toledo indi- rectly through Traer, whence the To- ledo and Northwestern is operated by the same company, and close connec- tions are the rule. The Pacific di- vision of the Burlington, Cedar Rap- ids and Minnesota railroad makes its terminus at Traer, and in that respect the whole county is largely benefited.
TOLEDO is a city in high repute, beautifully placed on high rolling ground in the center of delightful country, well occupied and highly cultivated. The railroads have al- ready been named in connection with Toledo. There are excellent graded schools, admirable newspapers, beau- tiful churches, and every facility for the shipment of farm produce via the Chicago and Northwestern railroad. The town is incorporated and an ex- cellent business is done here.
The court house cost $25,000, and is very handsome. Nearly the whole of the cost was borne for the county by the citizens of Toledo, and the struc- ture is an elegant addition to the archi- tecture of a rich growing city.
TAMA CITY contains about fifteen hundred inhabitants, and is located on the line of the Chicago and North- western railroad, thereby securing the best facilities for shipment. The Iowa river runs by the town half a mile from the business quarter, which is on high bottom land commanding an extensive prospect of fine territory with rich farming lands in abundance. The valley lands are very fine here, and the groves within easy reach are very valuable.
This town was laid out in 1862, when the railroad was nearly finished the name then being Iuka, but that appellation was abandoned in favor of Tama City. There is a very hand- some school building here, very well
The Tama Hydraulic Company is one of the boldest movements of the kind attempted in this state, and it is being proved highly successful. The com- pany securing a fair elevation by go- ing about four miles from Tama City, commenced by damming the river Iowa, and then having constructed an aqueduct, carried the water from their reservoir to manufactories which are operated by this constant and truly magnificent power. The work is yet new, but the advantage is being felt in the city, and surrounding country, and the example of Tama City will without doubt be very profitably fol- lowed.
TRAER has been mentioned in deal- ing with the railroad facilities of the county. There are two lines connect- ed with this town, the Chicago and Northwestern, and the Burlington, Cedar Rapids and Minnesota, which has here the terminus of its Pacific di- vision. The value of the surrounding country which is rich, fertile and well improved is much enhanced by the facilities for shipment afforded at Traer. The population is not large, but a heavy shipping trade is trans- acted here, and also a good local trade.
OXFORD is best known'in connec- tion with its very fine quarries of Oolitic limestone, and without doubt that feature had something to do with the location of a railroad station at this point. Large quantities of lime are manufactured here for shipment. The town is in the valley of Iowa river, seven miles west of Tama City, and surrounded by very fertile land.
CHELSEA lies twelve miles east of Tama City, and is a railroad station at which large shipments are effected. The town was laid out in the year 1864, and buildings were commenced immediately. The town is beautifully located, and a good local trade is done here.
Taylor County is third in the south- ern tier, and contains five hundred and thirty-six square miles. Undulating and rolling prairie constitute the bulk of this territory; but of course the streams and their valleys with attend- ent woodlands, make a beautiful di- versity in the surface. There are no large rivers here, but a number of
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SKETCHES OF COUNTIES.
small streams succeed in draining and irrigating the county so completely that there is no swamp to be found, and no aridity anywhere. The Platte river, the East Nodaway, and the East. Middle and West One Hundred and Two, are called rivers, but they are really small bodies of water in the southeast, the northwest and the cen- ter respectively; still with their afflu- ents, these streams drain the county well. The streams divide the county with wondrous regularity, and they afford many valuable mill powers which can be turned to good account, when the banks of the streams are im- proved. There have been some mills located.
The name of One Hundred and Two was given to the river because some surveyors who were aligning a road from the Missouri river, struck the oddly named stream at just one hun- dred and two miles from the starting point. There are other explanations offered, but they are not worthy of re- capitulation.
Woodlands are somewhat scarce in Taylor county, although some of the principal streams are well wooded. The sonthern section of the county has the best share, Honey creek hav- ing by far the largest body in any one place. There are heavy bodies of wood on the Platte, and along the West One Hundred and Two; and also bordering the East Nodaway. The exclusion of destructive fires from the settled districts will allow much wood to grow up in districts now de- nuded, and of course plantations will be proceeded with; but notwithstand- ing, it will be necessary to eke out supplies in this respect with much economy, if population increases rap- idly in Taylor county.
There are cottonwood trees now here which were only planted six years since, and are now nine inches in diameter, and although this wood is not first class, it is so rapid in growth that it soon makes a serviceable grove, where shelter is an object. As fuel, the wood is useful.
Prairie fires used to sweep over this area every year, hence the scarcity of wood now apparent; but in every di- rection there are indications of young natural plantations coming rapidly on to make forests for the rising genera- tion of farmers, graziers and stock
raisers. The bottom lands in the val- leys are usually very dry, as the con- figuration sends every drop of mois- ture into the running stream, and the land gradually ascends until it reaches the crown of the " divide," where a plain of greater or less extent contin- ues until the descent to the next stream begins. About one hundred feet from the level of the stream is the altitude commonly reached by the uplands. This arrangement secures first class drainage, and provides good farming lands for the husbandmen.
The soil belongs to the drift forma- tion, with from one to two feet of veg- etable mould, resting on a loose sub- soil, and that on clay, which holds water until it is wanted in superlative- ly dry seasons. This peculiarity of arrangement is of great importance to the farmer and stock raiser who can depend on needful supplies when oth- er producers are destroyed by drought. Live stock forms one of the chief arti- cles of shipment from Taylor county at present, but every kind of crop known in Iowa can be raised in this county, and farmers, as a class, prosper.
On the East Nodaway river are many exposures of coal, and some banks have been opened, one vein he- ing just fifteen inches thick, enough to pay for working in this primitive way, but not profitable for more ex- pensive mining. The quality is good and the coal is in good demand, but before the deposit can be worked ad- vantageously, better finds must be made. It is very likely that deep mining will reach the lower measures in this county, and if so, the supply would be practically inexhaustible. The process of reaching the lower measures at this point will prove ex- pensive, but even in that respect the scientist cannot be quite certain.
There are four quarries for building stone opened on the east branch of One Hundred and Two river, and in some other river banks similar forma- tions have appeared. The limestone found is valuable for building pur- poses, and has been largely used al- ready. Excellent quick lime can be made from this quarry. Blue lime- stone has been found on the East Nod- away, hut some parts of the county have no stone except the drift deposit occasionally. Bricks can be made of good quality from some deposits.
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TUTTLE'S HISTORY OF IOWA.
The white settlement in Taylor county dates from about the year 1844, but the date is problematical, and there were but few families there before 1851, when a permanent organization was effected, and the county seat lo- cated at Bedford in the following year. Most of the early settlers were south- erners, who believed they were in Missouri, and were addicted to the peculiar institution as far as circum- stances would permit.
The railroads have been kind to Taylor county. The Creston branch of the Burlington and Missouri rail- road, which is operated by the Chica- go, Burlington and Quincy railroad company, traverses the center of the county, with several stations very con- veniently situated, and the northwest of the county lias facilities offered for shipment at different points just be- yond the county line.
The common schools are in good condition here, and much improve- ment has been effected during the last few years in their management; so much so that the teachers are now persons of exceptionally good stand- ing as a rule. Two years since there were eight graded schools and eighty- six not graded, in the county.
BEDFORD is the seat of administra- tion for Taylor county, and is a town beautifully situated on a second bot- tom rising from the west side of East One Hundred and Two river. The drainage of the site is naturally per- fect, and the town is near to good water, fine quarries, and extensive groves. The country around Bedford is very fertile, well settled, and pros- perous in every respect. The country around the county seat forms an am- phitheatre, which allows of some very beautiful residences being located in commanding situations, with exquisite effect on the scene visible from the town. Bedford was first built upon in 1852; but it was not until four years after that time that the town became West Grand river waters the south- west and south of the county, being assisted therein by Middle and hy West Platte. The numerous tributa- ries of these streams render them of much volume at some seasons of the year, but of the mills which were erect- ed on the Grand river, many were dis- continued in consequence of the sup- plies failing to run the works during of much note. At that date, 1856, there were about four hundred people in the town, many having come from the east to settle. The advice of Horace Greeley, to "go west, and grow up with the town," has been largely and beneficially followed in innumerable instances. A substantial school house was built here in 1868, and the educa- tional arrangements are, as nearly as la large part of every year. Even at
possible, complete. The school will seat four hundred pupils, and the edi- fice is an ornament as well as of great utility to the town. There are flour- ing mills, saw mills, and a woolen mill established here, and other industries are slowly aggregating to this center.
There are some few places of im- portance among the villages and postal stations, whose names are appended : Conway, Lennox, Mormontown, Siam, Buchanan, Dan, Gravity, Platteville and Holt.
Union County stands eighth from the Mississippi, fourth from the Mis- souri, and second from the southern boundary of Iowa, containing an ag- gregate of four hundred and thirty- two square miles. The great water- shed, or " divide," crosses the north- east angle of this county, sending the waters on one side to the Mississippi, and on the other to the Missouri. The highest point is between Grand river and Platte river, which is nearly eight hundred feet above the river level at Burlington, and nearly thirteen hun- dred above the sea.
There are considerable varieties of surface and of level, but the general features are high, gently rolling, well drained prairie with numerous groves dotting the scene, and much improv- ing the landscape. The lowest point in Union county is the Grand river bed, which shows a fall of three hun- dred feet from Highland.
Grand river is the largest stream in the county, which is well drained and watered. The Grand runs through the county on a southeasterly course. Its main tributaries are, on the east Four Mile and Seven Mile creeks, and on the west Three Mile and Twelve Mile creeks. There was a Mormon settle- ment at Mount Pisgah, and the dis- tances of these creeks from their cen- ter, became the settled names by which they are yet distinguished.
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