USA > Iowa > Union County > Biographical and historical record of Ringgold and Union counties, Iowa, vol. 2 > Part 37
USA > Iowa > Ringgold County > Biographical and historical record of Ringgold and Union counties, Iowa, vol. 2 > Part 37
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HISTORY OF UNION COUNT).
a crop which would supply food not only to them, but also to the remnant of their num- ber who were to follow.
In conformity with this decision, they crossed the Chariton River some thirty miles east of where the city of Chariton now stands, and traveled through Lucas into Decatur County, where, at Garden Grove, they left a part of their number to carry out the pro- gramme decided upon, the larger portion continuing their journey until they arrived in this county, June 17, 1816.
Their camping ground was the elevated plateau east of Grand River in Jones Town- ship, on the spot where I. K. White's resi- dence now stands. The view from this point was magnificent, the season delightful; nature had put on her most beautiful garments and seemed to smile a welcome to the weary, heart-sick travelers.
Looking for out toward the ennest, perose the valley of Grand River with its fringe of graceful trees along its banks, to the undn- lating prairies beyond decked with flowers of every hue, it is not strange that they broke forth into songs of joy and gratitude that the Red Sea and the Desert were passed-their pursuers were far away-and the Promised Land almost in view. They gave their camp- ing ground the name of Mt. Pisgah, and temporarily located there in accordance with their previous decision, making immediate arrangements to clear land and plant such crops as would mature early and supply their necessities. About 3,000, including those who were sick and feeble, formed the colony at Pisgah, the remainder of the caravan journeying westward, locating at various points between here and their last stopping place in lowa, which they named Kanesville (now Council Bluff's).
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posed to be industrions, were kind to each other. and sought to alleviate the hardships and sufferings of such of their number as were in a worse condition than others, by all the means in their power.
During the summer of 1846, when it was not definitely settled whether they should move forward in the fall or not, no cabins were built, but the emigrants lived in their wagons as best they could, and the hardships they had undergone, having left the fruitful seeds of disease among them, the present lack of proper shelter, provision and food resulted in over 300 of their number being buried during the first six months of their stay at Pisgah.
Word was finally given to prepare winter quarters, which was obeyed with alacrity, and and hundreds of little cabins sprang up within a circuit of two or three miles, the settlements being made on sections 30 and 31 New Hope, and 5, 6, 7, 8, 16, 17, 18, 19 and 30, in Joncs Township, also on sections 12 and 13 in Union. They here continued to reside until the year 1852, when the last of their number left for Utalı.
During their stay, so far as known, they were peaceable and quiet ; whatever difficulties they had being settled by reference to the church, subject to the approval of their ruling bishop, whose judgment was final. In the carly part of their sojourn, this officer, whose name was Huntingdon, departed this life, and was buried in their cemetery at Pisgah, being succeeded by one Coleman Boran, president.
Polygamy was not practiced by them while here, and dissolute characters. of which only a few were to be found in their company, were held in as much disgrace as the same persons would be in any community to-day.
They built two log churches and held reg- The Pisgah colony was composed largely of illiterate persons, but there were also many who, though clad 'in the garb of poverty, ; showed by grace and manners that they had ular services; there being no mills they first built small horse mills for cracking corn. but soon erected a log water-mill on Grand River, the burrs being made from common bowklers; scen better days. As a rule they were dis- ! such as are occasionally found in the county.
EARLY AND CIVIL. HISTORY.
and known as " nigger-heads." These stones were rudely dressed, bat answered a good purpose in preparing food for a large number of people; they were about two and one-half fect in diameter and two feet thick. The cemetery of this settlement is situated on the northwest quarter of seetion S, and numerous graves may yet be seen within the enclosure.
In the spring of 1852 the remnant of the Mormons left, and Mt. Pisgah was occu- pied by Gentiles; their cabins stood for many years, but one by one were torn down by the settlers and put to various uses, and nothing now remains to mark the spot where once they stood.
Much as we may condemn the Mormons in some of their acts, it is impossible not to admire the firmness and constancy with which they held their faith, choosing to suffer hunger, thirst, disease and death itself, rather than sacrifice their conscientious though mis- taken opinions to any out ide infinence what- soever.
INDIANS.
In common with all parts of our country, this county was once the home of the Indian; and the fertile fields and smiling meadows of to-day were his chosen hunting grounds, from time immemorial.
IIere he chased the deer, buffalo and elk; here had blazed his wigwam fire; here he had wooed his dusky mate. had made his home and reared his children: and as moons waved and waned, nature paid for him her last trib- nte of respeet, and he passed to happier hunt- ing grounds, in the great unknown spirit land.
It is not probable that there ever was a very large tribe of Indians located here; per- haps 500 would fally cover their number; they consisted chiefly of Pottawatomies, with a few roving bands of Saes and Foxes. Omahas and Pawnees.
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At the time the first settlers cante to this country, the Pottawatomies, under the lead-
ership of their chief, John Green, roamed from grove to grove, and from stream to stream, hunting and fishing, as was cus- tomary among them. Their principal camp- ing ground was on Twelve-Mile Creek, where they could often be seen sitting by their wigwam fires, or enjoying the sports and recreations which they sometimes en- gaged in. Near here was also their burying place, and the mounds which mark the last resting place of some of the tribe may still be seen, bearing silent testimony to the fact that another race of people, once inhabiting this county, have passed away. Another fa- vorite camping place was a small grove of tim- ber in Douglas Township, about one mile west of the present site of Creston, on section 3. The timber lands along Platte and Grand rivers and Twelve-Mile Creek, were all fre- quented by them in the pursuit of game; failing to secure which they had recourse to begging, at which they were very successful, the squaws partienlarly by their importunities obtaining such supplies as were needed by themselves and their indolent lords, and by these means they managed to eke out a plen- tiful though precarious living. There seems to have been the utmost good feeling between the settlers and their dusky neighbors-some of whom, in exceptional cases, worked for set- tlers on their farms, dressed in the garb of civilization, and were orderly and well-be- haved in their deportment. They laid 20 claims to the lands here, their title having been purchased by the Government about the year 1840.
EARLY SETTLERS.
The first permanent settlers in Union County were Norman Nun and Joseph B. Nun, with their families, who, emigrating from Putnam County, Indiana, came here in February, 1550, having previously spent two years in Madison County. It is supposed that the fact that one of the highways of Cali- fornia travel (which commenced in 1:19) was
HISTORY OF UNION COUNTY.
through this county, decided them to settle here on the line of emigration, where an honest penny could be turned in furnishing supplies, and a fair patronage be secared by Norman Nun, who was by trade a black- smith.
They were possessed of some means, had several yoke of oxen, two or three wagons, and a limited outfit of household goods. A numerous family of children were a part of the fortune of the elder Nun; six boys and three girls, with himself and wife, constitut- ing a household almost patriarchal in char- acter.
About the time of their arrival James HI. Stark and family came from Mahaska County, and the three families, looking about for a location, decided to purchase claims from the Mormons at Pisgah, who at this time were leaving for the West. This being done ar- rangements were at once made for permanent improvements.
A blacksmith-shop being erected, a cabin of one room was put in order, and the new settlers were prepared to furnish entertain- ment for man or beast, and they had not long to wait before their accommodations were stretched to their ntmost capacity. The im- mense tide of overland California travel set in carly in the spring of 1850, and continued until Angust of that year. Corn, oats and provisions were in great demand, and supplies were often hauled many miles. So crowded were the rooms of the hostelry that it was often unable to give shelter for a night to parties traveling on horseback, or to those who were zick and unable to sleep exposed to the elements. Early and late the blacksmith's fire was burning, and he was mending the broken wagons and setting shoes on horses for the California travelers. A golden har- vest fell into the settlers' laps this year; and it is said that the blacksmith Nun, at the end of the season, was compelled to make a strong box to safely keep the $2,500 in gold which he had accumulated.
May 23, 1850. witnessed the arrival of W. M. Lock and family, who, starting from Quincy, Illinois, with three teams of oxen and horses, traveled westward, until, on reach- ing the Pisgah settlement. he concluded to stop, and following the footsteps of others, he bought a Mormon cabin, and commenced liv- ing in the same. These cabins, perhaps, de- serve a passing notice. They were about sixteen feet square, built of poles or small trees, the roof being covered with rived clapboards, while outside the whole was a covering of sods to exclude the cold. The floors were made of puncheons, and the doors of rived clapboards fastened with pins, and closed by a latch with an old-fashioned latch- string, which, among pioneers, always hangs out, inviting the stranger to enter. The roofs were low, and a tall man could not stand creet in them, yet even these homes and this kind of life had its bright spots.
In August following was born the first white child (except Mormon) in the county. to Mr. and Mrs. Lock, a son, Charles; he was a bright, intelligent boy, and grew to be a lad of promise, but died in 1861, at eleven years of age.
The new settlers this year planted such crops as they could, and were blessed with a bountiful harvest. Their nearest neighbors west were at Johnson's settlement, forty-two miles distant; north, twenty-five miles to Winterset, then a little village of two or three houses; on the cast, Rising Sau was twenty- eight miles; anl McDonald's, in Missouri. the nearest settlement south, was forty-tive miles away. Their supplies were, at this time, hauled 200 miles, from Keokuk; their nearest postoffice was Winterset, twenty-five miles, or Rising Sun, twenty-eight miles dis- fant.
Wheat flour was a luxury seldom enjoyed. and even ground corn was considered a deli- cacy; the ordinary fare being "hog and hominy "-often without the hog-with an abundance of game and a generous supply of
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EARLY AND CIVIL HISTORY.
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wild fruit. A bee tree occasionally supplied the sweets of the household, and in times of sickness, the roots and herbs of the country were the remedies relied on to effect a eure.
Occasionally, an ontward-bound California emigrant. becoming sick or disgusted, would turn about and return to bis former home, in which case his store of supplies was eagerly bought by the settlers, who, for a time, would revel in the luxury of flour biscuit and pure coffee sweetened with sugar.
In September of this year (1550) Benjamin Lamb and family, consisting of himself, wife eleven children and three nephews-in all sixteen persons-came into the county, and located on section 26, Pleasant Township, where he made a claim, and built the sides of a log-cabin to hold the same. Well pleased, but not altogether satisfied, as soon as the claim was secured, he traveled west with his family to Kanesville (now Council Bluffs), where he arrived December 1, 1850, and stopping for a few days to rest his teams he traveled south as far as St. Joseph, Missouri, where he remained until about February 1, 1851, when he concluded to return to his claim in Union County, which he accordingly did, and reached there February 10. A heavy snow, which fell the night following their arrival, rendered the condition of the family anything but comfortable, but a roof being at once put on the house, they moved into it, well pleased to find themselves at home.
Though their cabin was neither large nor elegant, and was finished with a clipboard roof and a puncheon floor, for years it was known far and pear as a stopping place, and it was no micommon thing for fifteen or twenty travelers to lodge with his family of sixteen persons in a single night. Crowded for room though they might be, no one was turned away. and it is related on one occa- sion, when an extra large number of guests were to be accommodated, that they com- ienced to lie down on the floor at the side of
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the room farthest from the door, and so continued until there was only room for the last man to find a resting place by shutting the door and occupying the space so secured. Early in the year 1851 Henry Lamb, I. P. Lamb and Alexander Poe settled in the town- ship, and in April of the same year Samuel and William MeKutcheon and families, num- bering seven persons, came to Mr. Lamb's, and made their home with him during the summer. While stopping there one of the MeKutchcon family was taken with the small- pox and died; some of the Lamb family also contracted the disease, but by careful treat- ment and good nursing recovered.
It is stated by Mrs. Lamb that for six weeks in the summer of 1851, they lived entirely on hominy and venison, and for the small chil- dren, who could not eat hominy, bread was made from meal ground in a coffee-mill; all the sweetening the family had was wild honey, of which there was a bountiful sup- ply, and for two years the only meat in the settlement was game, principally deer and wild turkeys, which were very plentiful, four or five deer being often brought in at night by one hunter as the result of one day's sport.
With no saw-mills, stores or other accesso- ries of civilized life at hand, the few settlers were obliged to depend almost entirely on their individual resources, as the following incident will illustrate: Late in the sunmer of 1850 a young man from Andrew County, Missouri, who was visiting friends at Winter- set, contracted a malarial fever which brought him nearly to death's door. After a time he became convalescent, and, much against the wishes of his friends, mountel his horse and started homeward, but on arriving at Pisgah he was again taken violently ill and died there. There being no cabinet-makers or saw-milis in the settlement, what to do for a coffin was the question. Search was made among all the cabins for long roof clapboards. butt none of sufficient length could be found; a second search for puncheons was then made
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HISTORY OF UNION COUNTY.
with no greater success, and as a last resort William Lock, J. Il. Stark and some of the Mormons went into Grand River bottoms and hewed green cottonwood boards, from which they made the coffin, and gave the stranger a decent burial.
The land in Union County was first offered for sale at Fairfield, on November 9, 1850, and the first entry was made by Henry Peters, July 12, 1851, who entered a portion of sec- tion 30, township 72, range 28, which had been surveyed in 1849, by John Hooper.
In September, 1850, a petition was for- warded to the Postmaster-General, asking that a postoffice might be established at l'is- gah, and in January, 1.851. the request was complied with, and Mr. William Lock duly appointed postmaster, but no service was rendered natil the spring following, when one A. E. Holbrook, a government sub con- tractor. performed the journey once a week, traveling on horseback, the route being from Chariton to Pisgth. It was often the case that not a single letter or paper was contained in the Pisgah saek, and the first year's salary of Postmaster Loek amounted to less than $7. About the same time another mail route was established from Centerville to Pisgah, which also rendered weekly service, the contractor being William Henderson.
This spring (1851) was also remarkable for an increased immigration to the Califor- nia gold fields. and the almost incredible number of 2, 000 teams were counted which passed by the Pisgah settlement in six weeks, ali bound for the new El Doralo; large herds of young cattle and sheep were also driven through, generally, however, bankrupting their owners by reason of the expense of feed- ing and losing large numbers in morasses and slonghs. In the month of March, 1831, a fine-looking gentleman rode up to the door of the Pisgah Hotel, of which William Lock was landlord, and engaged feed for 450 young cattle and accommodations for eloven herders who had charge of the drove, for one night.
Jis bill amounted to $87.50, gold, and dur- ing the next day's drive twenty-seven head of cattle were left to die, mired in one slough in Adair County.
As a net result of this westward travel, our new settlers made money, mine host Loek clearing 8500, gold, in four months, the larder of his cabin proving far more remuner- ative than the Government office which he held by appointment of President Fillmore.
NEW HOPE TOWNSHIP.
This township is situated in the northeast corner of Union County, adjoining Clarke County on the east and Madison County on the north, and is on the great divide or water- shed between the Mississippi and Missouri rivers. In many parts of the township a stone can be thrown either into a stream which flows into the Mississippi, or into one of the tributaries of the " Big Muddy." In the Government survey it is number 73, range 28, and contains 22,896 acres of land.
It, is watered by Grand River, which runs through the southwestern part of the town- ship, and with its tributaries furnishes a never failing supply of water for stock and mechanical purposes. In the vicinity of Grand River and Wolf Creek are numerous fine groves of natural growth, some of which are large enough for saw-logs and hewing purposes, while there is also a fine, thrifty growth of young timber, which, in a few years, will be the most valuable land in the township. The general features of New Hope are not altogether unlike those of the other townships in the county. its surface being somewhat nudulating, which, without being rough or broken, is yet sufficiently rolling to ensure perfect drainage even in the most un- favorable seasons.
The first settlement in this township was made by a portion of the Mormon emigrants, who tarried in the county from the year 1846 to 1552, a few of theirnumber having settled within the present limits of New Hope, on
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EARLY AND CIVIL HISTORY.
what is now section 31, and from a fancied resemblance to the sacred hill at Jerusalem, npon which the temple was built, it was called Mount Moriah.
These emigrants built a few temporary shanties, cleared a small piece of land, which they cultivated until 1852, when the last com- pany left the county and followed their breth- ren to the Mecca of their pilgrimage -- Salt Lake.
On the 9th of June, 1853, A. J. McCal- lock located on the site of the Mormon settle- ment and commenced improvements. In the same year Peter Dose, the Comers and Aaron Barker settled in the township, and the year following William and Henry Groesbeck, J. S. Lorimer, G. S. Smith, Willis Ball and a number of others here east in their lot, and constituted what was then considered a thickly settled neighborhood.
In the fall of 1855 HI. Jeter was appointed postinaster of New Hope postoffice, a weekly mail being established at that time through the township; it lying on the mail route be- tween St. Joseph, Missouri, and Winterset, Iowa. Mr. Jeter was succeeded in office by II. Skinner, who held the position several years, the office being finally discontinued.
The first mill erected in the township was a steam saw-mill, with a set of corn burrs at- tached, owned by William Groesbeck, and was built on his home farm in 1857. In this mill was sawed much of the timber used in the improvements of the township.
DODGE TOWNSHIP.
In the carly organization of the county, several Congressional townships were united for school and election purposes. This was the case with the present towns of Dodge and New Hope, numbered respectively 73, 29, and 73, 28, which were first organized under the 1 name of Dodge, March 15, 1856, New Hope being set off in 1858.
In 1554 two families moved into Dodge Township and located, and they were the nuclens for the future settlement. At that 1
time the pioneers went to Warren County to inill, and, lacking grain, their supply was brought from Greenbush, near ludianola; and such supply of corn as they needed was obtained generally on Hoosier Prairie, Madi- son County. After a few years it became unnecessary to go outside of Union County; these beautiful prairies were so improved that an ample supply was raised for home con- sumption, and generally a handsome surplus for market.
Some of the carly settlers, believing that "he who plants a tree is a public benefactor," procured a supply of fruit trees and gave somne attention to their cultivation, and for twenty years they have had an abundant sup- ply of fruit both for themselves and their neighbors.
A majority of the first settlers, however, were so engrossed with the eares of opening and improving new farms that they did not attend to the matter of fruit as they might have done, and the wonder is that there is so good a showing of orchards in the county as there is to-day. Ordinary foresight and care will ensure a handsome return to any man who will plant ont a good selection of fruit trees.
Dodge has a good soil and it is productive as the season makes it. From the earliest cultivation to the present time, there has been nothing like a failure in the corn crop, and generally a bountiful yield rewards the farmer for his toil.
Garden vegetables do very well. Small grain sometimes yields well, but is not a sure crop, and not as desirable to raise as corn. Grand River runs through the northeastern part of Dodge Township, and along its meandering course may be seen many beanti- ful locations of well-to-do farmers, whosc labors have proved eminently successful. The river leaves Dodge on section 21, running thence into New Hope.
LINCOLN TOWNSHIP.
R. M. Thompson was the first settler in this
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HISTORY OF UNION COUNTY.
township, coming here from Monroe County, lowa, in 1833, and built a cabin in a beautiful grove at the head of a tributary of Three- Mile Creek, on section 25. The year following he was joined by Henry Rose, James Thomp- son, Benjamin Thompson, J. M. Thompson, William Peck, Peter Rouser, W. B. Lewis and Hamilton Wheeler. In 1855 the follow- ing additions to their number were made: Isaac Crist, W. M. Wiekham, S. L. Emerson and B. D. Bilbo. Wilson Peck improved a farm of eighty acres, on section 26, where he resided for several years. Ilis cabin was the resting place of many a weary traveler, who may have pleasant recollections of the frugal hospitality which abounded around his hearth- stone, for "Old Billy " came here before the era of patent cook-stoves.
In the winter of 1858-'7 the first death oc- curred in the community: Peter Rouser was the one taken from our midst; and in the fall of 1857, Isaac Crist followed his brother pio- neer over the silent river. J. P. and S. L. Emerson constructed a rude coffin of rough boards, and conveyed him to his resting place in the old cemetery, near Afton, where they two alone performed the last sad offices of clergyman, friends and mourners. In 1857 J. P. Emerson built the first frame house in Lincoln Township, upon section 12, where now is the county poor farm.
In 1858-'60 nothing noteworthy occurred except the organization of the township for school and general purposes, in 1800. At the instigation of S. L. Emerson, a petition was circulated, praying for an organization of the township for general purposes, which was signed by all, though afterward dissented from by members who lived in the north part of the township, who circulated a petition praying for the organization of Lincoln Town- ship as a Congressional township, thereby Jeaving out part of those who had signed the first petition, whereupon a dispute arose which narrowly escaped a permanent separa- tion: the difficulty arose from a mistaken idea
that S. L. Emerson wished to be elected coun- ty supervisor, but on receiving his assurance that sneh was not the case, good feeling was restored. and in the organization of the town- ship, which occurred on the 6th day of No- vember, 1860, the following officers were duly elected : County Supervisor, C. G. Roberto (received eight votes); Justice of the Peace, S. L. Emerson (received seven votes); Assessor, W. M. Wickham(received eleven votes) ; Town- ship Trustees, R. D. Bilbo, Joseph Thompson and R. A. Abbott ; Road Supervisor, R. M. Thompson; Constables, J. M. Thompson and Jacob MeKnight ; Township Clerk, William Peck; Township School Board, President, S. L. Emerson; Treasurer, Reuben Abbott; Sec- retary, William Peck.
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