USA > Iowa > Jackson County > Annals of Jackson county, Iowa, Vol 1-6 > Part 3
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If the reader will now follow me on a trip to Clayton county, I will relate my first experience where rifle and revolver were brought to the front. I was a guest of the Waples House, Dubaque, where I found a large number of land seekers from the eastern stores and among them I found two men that were in accord with me. They too wanted timber land, on . of them was miy broth- er-in-law, W'm. Koons, the other, J. D.
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Moody. of New York state. I was_ scarcely 21 years of age. Hondy and Kcons wer- by several years my senior. vr. Moody being somewhat of an ex- pert and of the darry kind naturally became our Moses But before we start- ed Ar prepared ourselves with maps, which showed the vacant lands of Clay county. We also applied to one, H. W. Sanford, a land speculator, who owned several hundred acres in that county that he held for sale, on which he gave us prices and also letters to parties who would show us the lands.
It was Monday morning when our party started northward from Dubuque ou foot through a newly, fallen snow about six inches deep. Our road lay through a very sparcely settled part of the country. It was therefore necessary to enquire ahead where dinner could be obtained, aud was told there was a small settlement 15 miles ahead where was a blacksmith shop hard by the road where we could be accommodated. It was about 12 o'clock when we arrived at the blacksmith shop, which consisted of a shed facing the south about 10x12 constructed of poles set in the ground interwoven with a tall specie of weeds that were plentiful in that cour try along streams, the nearby house was similarly constructed and also very. small in size. We fonud the blacksmith, a good fellow with a large lamily of about six children ages about 14 and down. They were just eating their dinner, which cousist- ed of parched corn, of which they seemed to have an abundant supply, which was prepared in a large pan by the smith useing his forge to make the necessary heat. We did not order din- ner that day, but got directions from the smith to last us to the next station, which was called the Floyd settlement, 15 miles distant.
We left the blacksmith shop about I o'clock p. m., and arrived at the Floyd settlement about 8 o'clock, here we found a hotel with good accommoda-
tions." Here was a small village consist- ing of hotel, church, store and school house, about S or 10 private houses. Altogether it was a sort of homely place and was situated on the thoroughfare that led to MeGregor landing on the Mississippi river.
We left the hotel in the morning in quest of one of the parties Mr. Sanford had referred us, who we found about $ miles north. Here we spent the re- mainder of the day in looking at lands belonging to the said Sanford, with one, Owen Rooney, as our guide, who also entertained ns the fol owing night. Mr. Rooney was rather above the average iu intelligence and know how to make shifts, being one of the first settlers, and lived in a first class cabin, built ont of round lops, about 16x20 feet with a large fire.place in one end. It was all in one room. Besides the other things in the room there were about 400 bushels of shelled corn in sacks, which was stacked along two of the walls up to the ceiling, or rather where the ceiling should have been. This stockade served an excel- leut purpose to shut out the cold, which at this time would easily reach zero His house stood in a group of bur-oak trees, which at a distance resembled ap- ple trees. Mr. Rooney, our host, to- gether with our party, after our days work, of looking over Mr. Sauford's land, was through with, we returned to the cabin for grub and lodging. Here close to the house on one of the trees, was three-quarters of a very fine looking beef, hung up among the limbs about five feet from the ground, froze solid .. And a part of this was soon brought in to be used for the evening meal. Mr. Rooney, armed with an ax, climbed the tree and vigorously plied his ax and made chips of considerable size which flow in every direction until enough, was down for both supper and breakfast. . \ frontier feast was soon ready to which our whole party did ample justice. Bur I now began to .wonder what of the
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night. From all appearances, there was hardly sleeping room enough for the family, but here our host found no dif- ficulty at all, he began to pull down enough of; the sacked corn to make a good foundation for a bed, before a huge fire-place well suppl ed with wood for the night, on this we passed the night very comfortably having our overcoats and a pair of buffalo robes to complete the outfit. Next morning we again started out to see more of Mr. Santord's land which lay about two miles east. Mr. Rooney again accompanied us as guide.
When we came to the land which lay along side of a public highway, we stopped while Mr. Rooney pointed out the land that we were looking after About 80 rods to the right we saw a house, and presently we saw a man start from the house on the run, with a gun in his hand, coming towards us, shouting at the top of his voice, not to cross that road as he would shoot the first mau that set foot on his claim, as soon as he came to the edge of his claim and not over a rod from where our par- ty stood, Mr. Rooney asked him why he wanted to shoot, to which he replied. You have brought these men to jump my claim, but Mr. Rooney protested and gave him the lie. At this he became still more boisterous and began to raise his riflo, keeping his eye on Mr. Rooney. At this juncture our little Moses and Mr. Coons stepped to the front, revolvers in hand and Mr. Moody said to the mad man, put down your gun and hear me a minute, you big fool, you might shoot down one of our party, but you must be a bigger fool than I think you are if you can't see that you would be the next man to drop. This little speech seemed to bring the man to his senses. And now Rooney again came to the front and addressed the man thus. Mr. Varner, (for that was the maus name), you can't help but see that you now easily becomo our prisoner, now therefore lay down your gun, and I will show you a letter
from Mr. Sanford of Dubuque, deserib- ing the lands which these gentlemen are now looking after, and you will easily see that these meu are not after your lapsed claim at all. He then handed him the letter and after reading its contents he said yes that it was all right, and I will now join your party and assist you as I am pretty well acquainted with Mr. Sanford's lands, And so ended our sight seeing in Clay county. The writ- er had one more such experience in Jones county later oa, which terminated very nearly in the same way. There was nobody shot. Our York State Moody being still with us. Here our whole party entered some government lands. And here we parted company with Mr. Moody, who returned to his casteru laome. I have not seeu or heard of him since. The reader will in my next communication find me among my old friends in and aroung Zwingle.
Some of Jackson County's Earl- iest Temples of Learning.
It has been our desire to write an ar- ticle on the first school houses in the several Jackson county townships, and have written several letters asking for informatim. As after many days we have received only one answer, we have concludet that the people are not able to learn the history of their own section, or are indifferent as to whether it is made a matter of record for the benefit of those in the future, who would know something of the early days of this country. Such matter grows more val- nable as sime passes. .
From the fiftieth anniversary souviner of the Sentinel, we lean that the first school Lease in Magnoketa township, was built on the east side of what is now Main street, Maquoketa, on Jand belong- ing to J. B. Goodenow. It was half dug- out and half log with a sod roof. A man paved Richard Steen taught the first term of school in that primative af- fair in IS11. From this beginning has
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grown several : district schools in the township, and the splendid high school building and the three fine ward school buildings in the city of Maquoketa.
From a letter received from Mr. John Applegate, postmaster and general mer- chant, of Fulton, we learn that the first school taught in Farmors Creek town ship was in a private house one mile west of the present town of Fulton, and that the first school house built was on the n. w. of the n e. of section 23. Mr. Applegate did not state in what year it . jump. The first teacher I went to was built or of what material. It was probably in the carly forties and of the log cabin variety, as most of the first buildings were in Jackson county when first settled.
The first school house in Monmouth township was built in 1841. It was built just south of the presents limits of Bald- win, a few rods west of the bank of Bear Creek, not far from where Joshua Beers, who came here in 1836, lived. In early days this was called the "Shake . by the name of Ramsey, who seemed to Rag" school house. It was constructed of logs and in it was held the first clec- tion Monmouth township held.
As near as I can possibly find out the first school taught in what is now South Fork township, was taught by the wife of Daniel Finton in their log dwelling house, that then stood on what was lat- er known as the T. K. Nickerson place, and near the three large! cottonwood trees that now stand on the south side of the Maquoketa and Anamoza road and west of where Glahn now lives.
The first school house built in the township was built at Buckhorn in about 1843, and stood some twenty rods east of Pumpkin Run, on the rocky hill, south of the road ten rods and about as many feet west of the section quarter line.
I know more about that old school house than any of the rest, for there I put in two or three terms having our young ideas leart to shoot. We learned more about shooting with a sling at the
end of the old log blacksmith shop and shooting the rapids in Pumpkin Run. This school house was built of logs from the Maquoketa timber aud chinked with clay. When it was first built it was warmed in winter by a fire place in the east end. Along the west end and along the north side were slab benches and board desks. . The schollars sat in a- row around the side of the building and figured out two and two makes four, and that a pop gun makes everybody
school to in this house was Miss Aman- da Summers, now Mrs. Henry Little. That was in 1860, I think. She taught a good school, considering the number of devils she had to contend with. A woman could keep better order in those days than a man, if she had the nerve to quell the big girls, for there was some little gallantry among the big boys, but a man tescher had to have his track well sandel. We had one'mnan teacher
lack the required amount of grit, had probably Been brought up on butter- milk. The big boys would put him out of the house and hold the fort and he had to give up the school. The board hired Havey Givillan to finish the term. "Gee Whiz," lightning strock there. I re- member it hit me. The first day Har- vey taught he was several fect from where I sat and had his back to me, seemingly lost in an exercise. I raised up and laned over the desk to drop a paper wat down an urchan's back, when something lit onto my back and my heels hit the ceiling. It was all done and overwith so quick that I never knew how it happened and don't now. But I can give evidence that though there were a good inny big boys and some of them twenty years old, they never trist many monkey tricks on Har- vey Gilligan. He always seemed to me to be a bundle of verves, a bag of sand and a streak of lightning dong up in a sack full of eye boles. Yours truly,
PARMER BUCKHORN.
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William Ellis was born in Slate creek settlement, P. Inski county, Virginia, Sept. S, 1794, and went with his father and family to Franklin county, Ken- tucky, about 1800. During the second war with England, he with his brother, John, enlisted in a regiment of Kentucky rifles and fought with Jackson at New Orleans. Soon after that decisive vic- tory for the American troops, news reached this country that a new treaty of peace between the two nations had been concluded and the American Vol- teers were disbanded and made their way home as best they could.
The Kentuckians went up the Mississ- ippi and Ohio rivers by boat, leaving the latter river at the nearest point to their homes and traveling on foot the balance of the journey. The Ellis brothers were with quite a company of Kentuckiaus, who went from the same locality, and when their party left the boat John Ellis who had been ailing for some time, was unable from weakness to travel but slowly, and the other members being anxious to get home again pushed on and left William and John, promising to send help to them. Their progress was very slow as John was getting weaker all the time and William feared that he would never get him home alive. One day while John's fever was high and William thought him delirous, he stopped and gazed for a long time in the direc- tion in which they were traveling, fin- ally a smile lit up his face and turning to William he said, I won't have to walk much farther, I see old Bally coming. William strained his eyes in following the gaze of his brother but could see nothing and thought that John's mind War wandering, but John rallied his feelings and pushed onward and in a few hours met some of their people and sure enough they had brought old Bally, a horse that William had left at home, and John was able to reach home alive, but only lived a short time.
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William got married and went to Put-
tuna county, Indiana, and in the early forties removed to Iowa and settled on a piece of land west of Fulton, Jackson conuty. Iowa, in section 28, Farmers Creek township, where he followed his trade of gnn maker for many years at his home near the bluff's on the north fork of of the Maquoketa. There was au abundance of game in the locality and Uncle Billy, as he was called, spent a great deal of his time with his pack of hounds in the forest hunting deer, wild- cat and other game I remember hear- ing him say that he had kill 62 wild-cats. He was famous as a gun maker and his silver mounted rifles with birds-eye maple stocks a ways commanded a good price. There were few men of his time that could shoot with truer aim thau Uucle Billy.
I was thrilled when a boy by hearing ing him tell of the hot reception that was given Lord Packeuham's veteraus at New Orleans on the Sth day of Jan- uary, 1814, by the Kentucky Rifles, in which himself and brother, John, took an active part, witnessing as I often have the wonderful marksmanship of Uncle William and my own father, and realizing that it was probably a fair sample of what all the Kentuckians could do, I could form a pretty good idea of the carnage among the red coats when they charged the works behind which stood the stalwart Kentuckians with their deadly rifles, awaiting as or- dered,until they could see the whites of the eyes of the enemy before firing, Men who could pick the eye out of a squirrel from the top of the tallest tree, could hardly miss a target such as a Britisher would make at close quarters.
Uncle William lived on his little farm working at his trade part of the time, farming a little, and hunting game and becs for pastime as well as profit until 1858, when he was stricken with paral- ysis, and was confined to his bed I think for eight years before death released hàm from his sufferings. He left a large
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family of grown up children, all of whom Ithink, but one, have passed away, but there are quite a number o grandchildren and great-grandchildren iving in this loc lity.
Business Men of Maquoketa in 1857
In writing of early days and recalling men and incidents of the past, I have thot it might be of interest to the remaining pioneers of Maquoketa and vicinity to be reminded of those who were promi- neo' in business and the professions in Maquoketa 48 or 50 years ago. In 1857 the principal business blocks were the Uuiou, and Excelsior Blocks. At that time Maquoketa was quite a business center, and had great expectations thru the contemplated railroad and navigable river running through the town.
Joseph McCloy and Fred S. Dunham were engaged in general merchandise business, on the northwes, corner of Piatt and Main Sts.
D. W. Graves was an attorney, office third story Union block.
Shollenberger & Gebert, or later Shattuck, Gebert & Co., were in general merchandise at No. + Union block.
Dimmitt & McGregor, wholesale and retail dealers in groceries, etc., special reference to Sumson's flour No. 5 Excelsior block.
W. S. Beiden had a drug stock in No. 3. Union block, and Dr. J. H. Allen was asso- clated with him.
S. F. Brown and D. H. Chase were architects and bullders at that time. Cha e bad a shop on West Platt street.
J. Hollister, M. D., had an office in the Ex- celsior block.
D.A.Fletcher was an attorney and counselor at law, could be found in No. 3, Excelsior clock, third story, afterward associated with Chas. Rich.
Dr. George Murray was a practicing physi- clan, office at his residence on West Platt St.
Dr. G. S. Martin, Botanic physician and sur- geon, office In residence three doors north of brick church.
W P. Montgomery was an attorney at law and fire Insurance agent, office up stairs In U'nton block.
J. Berry, attorney and land agent, office over Mitchell's store.
J. W. Jenkins, attorney, alsoover Mitchell's store.
S. D. & T. Lyman run a general store on the east side of North Main street.
E. Baldwin & Co., had a hardware store at No. 2. Union block.
A Feliows had a drug and book store at No. 2, Excelsior block.
Matthews & Reeve had a general store. in- cluding hardware, and sold hardwood build- Ing lumber for Sartwell & Son.
Jonas Clark had a bank on the southeast corner of Main and Platt streets.
S. Parker sold plano-fortes and melodyons.
John Elfrick made boots and shoes, on West - Platt street.
J. P. Eddie was a hustling real estate inan. Thomas Wright & Co. had a woolen mill on North Main street.
P. Bricker was a tailor with office at his res- idence. near the woolen factory.
Catlin & Co .. had a hardware store at No. 4. Excelsior block.
Taubman & Mole, merchant tailors, were on South Main street.
Thomas & Shed conducted the New York Store at No. 1, Excelsior block.
The Decker House was conducted by G. Brainard, Jate of New York.
R. B. Clancy had a grocery and provision store opposite the Decker House.
M. Murphy was making ambrotypes at his Daguerrean galley for 50 cents.
Il. C. Jewell was making melanotypes, am- brotypes and ambrographs.
P. Mitchell was conducting the Pioneer store, selling almost everything, on the porth- east corner of Main and Platt Streets.
J. A. Bryan was selling watches, clocks, etc. at No. 3. Excelsior block.
Dr. George Stanley was the first Homopath- els to come to our town, hisoffic , was on South Main street.
Drs. George and Mrs. S. J. Moyers, Hygio Therapeutic physicians and surgeons, had their office in their residence on Prospect street.
Farr & Brown were in the grocery business on West Platt street.
R. S. Williams was a brick and stone mason. Edward Sterling had pine lumber and shin- gles to to sell or trade for country produce.
The Chicago, Jowa & Nebraska rail- road was running trains to Ames Creek, 17 miles west of Clinton, made the trip every day from Clinton to Ames Creek and return, one hour and forty minutes each way.
In 1857, petitions were circulated for a vote by the county to take the county seat from Bellevue to Fulton, and a court house was actually built in Ful- ton, and that flourishing town was beat out of the county seat by treachery. it
was claimed that Fulton was the most central town in the county, was high and dry, that the north fork of the Ma- quoketa river passed within one-quarter mile of its plat. That it was three-quar- ters of a mile from the finest body of timber in Iowa, that around it was the most densly populated and fertil land in the county. That while the town was only a year and a half old, it had a pop- ulation of 200 inhabitants, and that in an average distance of 112 miles there were ten mills in operation. The Fulton people also claimed that within three-fourths of a mile were a number of good stone quarries, and buildings could be built 20 per cent cheaper here than any place else in the county . They said good durable water could be got by digging from 10 to 20 feet, and that the houses were all frame and of more re- spectable dimensions than could be found elsewhere in a town of its age. That there was a flouring mill, a Meth- odist church, and a potter shop in con- templation, that they had a common school house, two stores, two wagon shops, two blacksmith shops, one tin shop, one grocery and one steam turn- ing lathe and was about to have a public house.
Governor J. W.Grimes, General Ralph. P. Lowo and Henry O'Connor were stumping the state for Lowe for Gover- ner. John McGregor of Maquoketa was nominated by the democrats for District Senator for Jackson and Jones counties, and Bradley of Andrew and Mi !! san of Otter Creek for representatives. Capt. Marsh of VanBuren town ship and Geo. McDowell of Lamotte were after the re- publican nomination for the office of representative.
There were other business and pro- fessional men in Maquoketa in 1857, be- .sides those named above. Charles M. Dunbar was a young lawyer and Dr. P. HI. Griffin was a popular physician. But I believe ' I have named fully as many business and professional men as there
are in our town today. I am not sure whether Dr. Holt was here in 1857, but know that he was in 1859. Probably some of the readers will recal! others who were engaged in business here in 1859.
Of those prominent in business here in 1857, Col. J. W. Jenkins and Cap- tains Gebbert and Belden, and Major-J. H. Alleu gained fame in the great civil war. Henry Jewell was a miember of Co. B, 26th Iowa, and I think died in the service.
Zwingle In 1846.
Having been en a ramble of three week's duration, most of the time out- side of Jackson county, I now return to my first love where I spent my first night in Iowa. Here I am right among my old friends, of childhood aud youth. Here for a distance of five or six miles, north and south, aud as many east and west, lived the first setlers who came here from Pennsylvania, from the neigh- borhood of Adamsburg, Wilkinsburg and Pittsburg. If I am somewhat tedi- ous in my narative, I trust the reader will bear with me, for this is to me a sa- cred spot.
Daniel Court was the first settler at the present Zwingle in 1846. Albert Court, his brother, came two or three years later, also settling near Zwingle. these two being the first in, gave it the name of the Court neighborhood and made it a sort of nucleus around which to gather. Dan Court being a man of push, soon hewed out for himself a com- fortable home and was among the most prominent citizens, and was twice elect- ed representative of Dubuque county in the stato legislature. His family con- sisted of four children, three girls and one son. The eldest, Elizabeth, was married to Rev. D. Bowman in 1565, both of whoin are still living. The see- ond daughter, Emeline, married W. C. Simpson about the year 1856, and aro
both now living, and next, Sarah, mar- ried Abe Erwin, this couple are also liv- -- also dead ..
ing. The son, Albert, was married to . Kate Foster, the youngest, Mary M., was married to Jchu Bowman, brother of Rev. F. B. But in looking the field over now I find scarcely any of the orig. inal house holders remaining and for the most part it is the third generation that now occupy the stage of the old stock of settlers. The Rev. F. Bow- man is perhaps the oldest now living. It was in the spring of 1855 that he preached my fathers funeral, as also that of my father-in-law, Philip Sauer, whose death oconrred three weeks be- fore that of my father on May 5, 1855.
It is worthy of note that the same Rev. F. Bowman of 30 years ago was already installed pastor of the German Reformed church at Zwingle and is today still at his post, doing the work of a pastor for over 50 years to the same congregation. This is without doubt the longest con- tinuous pastorate that the writer has any knowledge of in this section.
James Simpson, Jr., came in 1852 and settled three miles west of Zwingle, his father, with his family, came in 1854. His son, Washington, had preceeded his father three years, coming in 1851. The remainder of Sr James Simpson's family . consisted of Wm. C., who afterwards married Miss Emeline Court about 1856, Hiram, I think eulisted among the first in about 1861 or '02 and contracted dis- ease while he was in the army and died soon after returning home. But I can not be sure of the correctness of this statement. Of the Simpson boys only two are now living, Rush, who recently had a farm near Buckhorn, and who al- so recently made the writer a short visit. I had not seen him for over 30 years. The girls in the Simpson family were: Amanda, who married one, Job Miller, both have been dead a good many years ; Mary Ann. married Geo. Scholian, and she is also dead ; two more girls, Har- Hette and Martha, the youngest, I have
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