USA > Iowa > Cherokee County > Biographical history of Cherokoe County, Iowa : Containing portraits of all the presidents of the United States from Washington to Harrison, with accompanying biographies of each ; a condensed history of Iowa, with portraits and biographies of the governors of the state ; engravings of prominent citizens in Cherokee County, with personal histories of many of the early settlers and leading families. A concise history of the county, the cities, and townships > Part 21
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After having satisfied themselves as to the quality of soil, the abundance of pure water and timber lands in the county, they spent a couple of days tramping over the territory, and then went toward Correctionville again. During this time they subsisted on a plain,
healthy, though not very pleasing diet, the same consisting of corn-meal and cold water baked in a "Dutch oven"-a heavy iron frying-pan tightly covered, and surrounded with embers. The corn-dodgers thus made were hard, one pioneer says "harder than Pharaoh's heart!" Indeed this was no sum- mer pleasure trip, yet not without its pleasing aspect, as young manhood was then in the veins of those we now interview as aged pioneers.
At Correctionville they met a part of their colony, under the leadership of Dr. Dwight Russell, who now saw Iowa in reality and not in pretty tints with which his maps liad been embellished! Yet it looked beautiful, garbed as the wild prairies were at that sea- son witlı its royal robe of grass, bedecked with many a rare collection of sweetly per- fumed wild flowers. Reality, romance and beauty were here strangely blended, which blending charmed the New England colony.
The portion of the colony spoken of had been six weeks en route, and landed during the first days of May, 1856. Corbett then piloted the colony back up the valley to the "promised land," liaving sent word to Park- hurst to that effect. On their way up a deer was shot, which gave all a good taste of fresh mneat, seasoned with a wild flavor. They pitched tents on the east side of the Little Sioux River, within a grove, near the present location of the Martin Harrington farm. They plowed and put in two acres of corn, which yielded a fair crop considering the ad- vanced stage of the season.
Owing to the fact that Congress had granted large tracts of land across Iowa to aid in building four railway lines from river to river, the land office at Sioux City had been ordered closed until the railroad com- panies could select their lands, after whichi it would open again to settlers. The time
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ordered by law gave tlie Milford Colony just twenty days in which to select their lands, which were pre-empted. No time was lost in securing surveyors to help the settlers in making choice selections for themselves. The lands thus claimed gave each member of the company abont 100 acres.
While the above will serve well to show the origin of the colony that led to the first settlement in this county, it may be well in this connection to speak also briefly of the incidents connected with the overland trip made by the colony itself in coming from "the wild New England shore" to a wilder Iowa prairie land.
For the subjoined facts, we are indebted to pioneer George W. Lebourvean, who was among the band:
" During the winter of 1855-'56 there was formed, at Milford, Massachusetts, a com- pany called the Milford Western Emigra- tion Society. The object of this company was to take up land and make a settlement together. There were fifty-four members. There was also a joint-stock company formed, each member of which was to pay $100, for the purpose of buying teams and making im- provements.
" In the month of February, 1856, L. Park- hurst and C. Corbett were sent as advance agents. On the 14th day of April part of the company left Milford; among the num- ber were Dr. Dwight Russell, General Agent; George Kay, Treasurer; and George W. Le- bourveau, Albert Phipps, Asa Slayton, Ben- jamin Sawtell, Lycander Sawtell, Albert Si- monds, Samuel Wheeler, Robert Hamond, Albert Haynes, James A. Brown, wife and children-George, Clara and Thomas; James Hamond, wife and children - James and Mary.
" Our route was to Albany, New York, and through New York to Ohio, thence on to
Chicago, Illinois. We stopped one day in that muddy city, built on the lake marshes, where if one stepped off the walk he would go out of sight. From Chicago we came to Dunleath (now East Dubuque). Just at that point commenced pioneer experience, as liere the railroad ended as it touched the waters of the Mississippi River.
" We remained at Dubuque two days, bought flour, horses, harness and wagon, after which we commenced wading in Iowa mud. At this point, however, Messrs. Brown, Hamond and their families took passage on a boat and went to St. Louis and from there up to Coun- cil Bluffs, where they remained until the com- ing autumn.
" We were sometimes in mud, sometimes in water, but seldom found on dry ground! There were no bridges at that early date, worthy of mention; some days we would travel twenty-five miles, but usually much less distance. We met all kinds of people as we continued our journey westward. The third night out from Dubuque was the first time we ever met a man from Hooppole Township, Posey County, Indiana! We inquired how much corn he raised there, and he replied, ' A right smart; sold a heap and had a power left!'
" We were a nice looking set of men, with our boiled shirts, plug hats and fine spun clothing. I brought an umbrella along with me and the first rainstorm I used it in the wind took it from my hands and up it went! I have not been stuck on such things since!
" When we got as far as Eldora, court was in session. We stopped a day to rest and at- tend an Iowa court, and it will go without saying, we were well paid for the time it took. In the East we had been accustomed to see a portly man with gray hair for a judge; here it was different, you know! Upon entering the court- room, I looked around to
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see the judge and at last saw a young man away from the others in the room with his feet on a small table. The attorneys (?) like- wise had their feet higher than their heads, were all smoking old pipes, and I think each one had his pants tucked into liis boot legs! Yet I did not blame them, as I saw the dirt and mud upon the floor was several inches deep!
" From Eldora we journeyed on westward until we came to Skunk Grove, Hamilton County, now called Rose Grove. We traveled five miles in a drenching rain storm, in mud a foot and more deep-some places tliere seemed to be no bottom; one wagon got fast in a ' slew,' the bottom of which no man ever fathomed, even unto this day! Leaving the wagon there over night, we all remained in a shanty 10 x 12 feet. We met Robert Perry, ' Gus' Kirchner and Henry Brockshienk, who told us about the Little Sioux River. Our next stopping place was Webster City; from this place George Kay sent a letter back East, dated ' four miles beyond Sundown and seven beyond the knowledge of God!' We left Albert Phipps, Slayton and Haynes with one team and a portion of our goods. They remained there until some time in June. The balance of the company came on with our goods to Fort Dodge, where we put up at the largest hotel in the place-a double log struc- ture, more noted for solidity than for extreme beauty! It was kept by a German named Shaifner. There were two rows of beds made on the floor, with scant room to go between. There was a man there with some money with which to enter land and he wanted a room by himself and the landlord told him, 'Yah, you gits him.' The beds were then all full, and he took him to one corner. 'There your room.' But the stranger guest said . No, I have considerable money by me.' ' Money! how much you gots?' He told
him $500, whereupon the landlord said: ' Oh, every pody gots more money as that-throw him down here any vare, no pody steals him, but if you gots a bottle of whisky, look out for him, for some one steals liim before morn- ing!' I will remark the last statement proved true, as was revealed by the early morning light!
"At Fort Dodge we met our first serious experience in crossing an unbridged and angry stream, a half mile wide. We hired a ferry- man to take us over. His ferry consisted of a cottonwood log .dug-out,' sharpened at" one end and left rounding at the other, pro- pelled by the ferryman with a paddle. Our wagons were taken apart and carried over, a piece at a time. Our horses had to swim by the side of the 'dng-out.' All were safely landed on the western shore of the Des Moines River, except four men. We tlien got a duck- ing. George Kay insisted on standing up, and when we got out about thirty feet from shore he got frightened and leaned over toward one side, causing us all to be overturned. Out we went into twenty feet of water! Kay and the ferryman hung to the 'dug-out' and got to shore. We then made Kay lie flat down in the boat, which had enoughi water inside to weiglit it down, and in that way he went over alone. It should be recorded of friend Kay that he was ever afterward afraid to even wade a prairie slough!
"At Twin Lakes, our next stopping place, we caught some very fine fish, and from that point we passed on to 'Hell's Slough' and ' Purgatory,' which were rightly named by some experienced pioneer. It was in 'Hell's Slough' our horses got down, and all hands had to get out in mnd and water up to our arm-pits, and fasten a rope of about 200 feet in length to the end of the tongue, which gave our teams a eliance to draw from hard ground. At this memorable place friend
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George Kay had a great time again. He would not ride into the swamp with us, but paced up and down the slough for two miles to find a place to cross, but finally had to come back and have one of the party come over and lead him across.
"The following day we got to Sac City, a place large on maps, but in fact ouly one honse complete, and the second in course of erection. Here we divided up, a part of us stopping at Judge Crisse's, and a part at Austin's. The former pioneer still lives on the saine lot he lived on at that time-thirty- three years ago!
"The day following we got to Ida Grove, where there was one house, owned by Judge Moorhead, who was judge, treasurer and re- corder; it may as well be said he principally composed the government of that county. There were some otlier county officials, but were all hired by him to fill these honorable positions!
" The next day brought us to Correction-
ville, where we stopped three days, our fare consisting of corn bread, baked very hard, with coffee without milk or sugar-pretty tongh diet for old Yankees! We were granted the privilege of sleeping on the floor. Here we met advance agent Carlton Corbett, who had just come from the Little Sioux River, and wanted us to go back and see the ' goodly heritage.' Accordingly, we started out with three horses, our tents and cooking utensils strapped to them. After coming seven miles we shot a deer, and stopped for a square meal. The next day we landed in Cherokee -May 11, 1856. Fishi were very plentiful, and while looking about here we almost wholly lived on them But alas for poor Kay, he could not eat fish without salt! While the boys were cooking them, he would go out by the tent's side and pull his vest around him to see how much he had lost in flesh, then go back to the tent and sit with his hands to his face. This he repeated three or four times during the cooking of each meal!"
W
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HISTORY OF CHEROKEE COUNTY.
FIRST EVENTS ..
CHAPTER III.
HE first settlement of the county was made during the spring and summer of 1856, by Robert Perry, of Clayton County, Iowa, the Milford Einigration Com- pany, and the colony in Pilot Township, headed by G. W. Banister.
The first deed granted for land in the connty was filed for record (according to the transcript from Woodbury County) August 5, 1856, the description of said land being the southwest quarter of the southeast quar- ter of section 28, township 91, range 40. It was conveyed by Robert Perry, in considera- tion of $100 " in hand paid " by William R. Henry, George A. Jackson and H. C. Camp- bell, of Woodbury County, Iowa.
The first real-estate mortgage made was that of Michael Pendergrast, in consideration of $300, on township 91, range 41, to one Augustus Kirwan. The instrument was re- corded December 28, 1857.
The first house ever erected in the county was that built by the " Milford Colony," in the summer of 1856. It was of logs and was 12 x 20 feet, one and a half stories high.
The first saw-mill was built in 1865 by a Mr. Twiford.
The first flour-mill (aside from coffee mills)
was first operated in the fall of 1870, by Mr. Bliss.
The first election was held in the month of Angust, 1857, at George W. Lebourveau's log house at Old Cherokee.
The first postoffice was established at the log house of Benjamin Halbrooks, on section 26 of what is now Cherokee Township. It dated from some time in the autmmnn of 1857. Mails were carried once each week- without fail! The mails were carried by a footman, who waded the streams with his precious burden. The old Iowa Falls and Sioux City stage line ran through Correc- tionville, away to the south of Cherokee, hence the mail route here was the one running from Spirit Lake to Sioux City. Before the post- office had been secured here in Cherokee County, mails were a scarce article and indeed highly prized-no one thought of " kicking " even though the mail should happen to be six or eight weeks late! It is related by pio- neer Carlton Corbett that in March, 1857, before Mr. Halbrook had been appointed post- master, that he (Corbett) went to Sioux City, via Correctionville, to get the mail belonging to the Milford Colony. The hard, long-to-be- remembered winter of 1856-'57 had left its
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HISTORY OF CHEROKEE COUNTY.
impress on the whole surface of the country, as the drifted snows had crusted hard enough to enable him to walk over them, quite readily. He returned with mail matter for the colony and it was the first they had seen for about six months, which was a long period for these people to be shut off from all communication with their old New England and Ohio homes.
The first marriage in the county was that of Mr. Carlton Corbett and Miss Rosabella Cummings, in the autumn of 1859.
The first birth within Cherokee County was Ida M. Brown, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. James A. Brown. She was born January 28, 1858. She is now the wife of Henry Hubbard, of Hazelton, South Dakota.
The first death to occur in the county was that of a Mr. Davis, who was frozen in Jan- uary, 1857.
The next death was that of Elizabeth Jane, daugliter of Mr. and Mrs. Lemuel Parkhurst, which occurred August 5, 1859. Her sister Annie died two weeks later.
The first general store of merchandise was kept within the old block-honse at the stock- ade built for protection against the Indians in 1862-'63.
The first furrow of ground plowed in the county was on section 26-92-40, below where the mill now stands. The team was oxen and tlie land thus broken was used by the colony.
The first Fourth of July celebration within Cherokee County was held in 1858, on Ben- jamin Halbrook's land. County Judge G. W. F. Sherwin was the orator. A basket picnic was had in the hay barn, and a pig was roasted.
At the celebration of 1861, the first year of the Civil War, George Killem made a speech, under a new wagon bridge, where the celebration was held. During his speech he referred to the South trying to destroy the Union, and remarked in his loyal zeal that
they might tear down this bridge a hundred times and yet loyal hands will re-build it a hundred and one times.
The first frame house erected was built as his residence, by G. W. F. Sherwin, on sec- tion 24-92-40, in 1858. The material was brought by wagon from Sioux City, Iowa.
The first county fair was held in 1872.
The first law firm of the county was Kel- logg & Lewis.
The first Democratic County Convention was held in a corn-field in 1858, during the month of June. The members of this pioneer con- vention were: Silas Parkhurst, Lemuel Park- hurst, Benjamin Holbrook and Robert Perry.
The first kiln of brick burned in the county was that owned by George Filer and made in 1867, on land near the present trotting park. They were excellent in quality.
The first brick house in Cherokee County was the school-house erected in 1867; it stood in the old village, and, after being used as a resi- dence awhile, was blown down in June, 1881.
The first term of school was taught in 1858, by Mrs. Lemuel Parkhurst, now of Linn County, Iowa. The amount paid her, in advance, was $55. The same was sent from the home " colony " in Milford, Massachu- setts, and was her wages for a three-months' term, which was taught in their own log honse. Mrs. Parkhurst who gave the writer these facts, says the names of her pupils were: Adeline, Luther, John and Henry Phipps; George, Clara and Thomas Brown, William Haynes, Mellen Holbrook and her own three children. She remarks that one familiar school song they had was one, the chorus of which was:
"Our lands they are broad enough, don't be alarmed ! For Uncle Sam is rich enough, he'll give us all a farm."
The pioneer bridge of the county was the one spanning the Litttle Sioux River, built by R. M. Blain, in 1859 at a cost of $1,600.
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HISTORY OT CHEROKEE COUNTY.
INDIAN TROUBLES.
CHAPTER IV.
B Y a treaty made between the United States and the Sioux Indians, July 15, 1815, almost three-quarters of a century ago, this tribe was duly considered at peace with the whites. Their treaty made at Port- age des Sioux of Minnesota and Upper Iowa, by William Clark and Ninan Edwards, In- dian Commissioners, was merely a treaty of peace and friendship on the part of these In- dians toward the United States Government at the termination of the War of 1812.
We now come to speak of the Great Spirit Lake Massacre of 1857, which, even after thirty years, sends a thrill of terror through one's veins. Its history is too well known and recorded in various Iowa historical works to be enlarged upon here, only so far as the causes which, indirectly, lead to it and to the immediate effect it had upon the settle- ment of Cherokee County. After carefully studying these causes, it must be said that the imprudence and bad faith of our white race brought on that series of depredations and inhuman outrages which finally culmi- nated in the Spirit Lake trouble, causing data for one of the bloodiest chapters in the history of Indian ferocity. If the whites at no other time broke faith with the treaty made
to the Indians in July, 1815, in this one instance they did. Not as a Government, by any means, but personally was this too true. While there is more of poetry and romance regarding the truly noble and hon- orable conduet of Lo! the poor Indian than of real truth, yet it must be admitted that even a civilized, Christian people have from time to time acted in bad faith and virtually forfeited all protection and rights under their various treaties of peace.
Some time during the month of February, 1857, a hunting party of Sioux Indians passed down the Little Sioux River. They made a short but quite friendly stop at the Cherokee settlement and then proceeded to Smithiland, in Woodbury County. Here the whites de- manded of the Indians where they were jour- neying and insisted on knowing something concerning their business before allowing them to go by. The Siouxs replied that they were going down to shake hands with the Omahas; at this the whites made the Indians give up their guns-which is to the savage what virtue is to a woman-the last thing she will compromise. Their surrendering of arms enraged the Indian band, who turned up stream breathing vengeance upon the
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HISTORY OF CHEROKEE COUNTY.
whites. £ White men stole their guns and now white men must make" restitution, which would only be satisfied in the sacrifice of human blood. Consequently they entered every cabin home, insulting the helpless in- mates and taking what guns they possessed. Arriving at Cherokee, furious with passion for the wrongs they had sustained, they acted in a brutal manner. What arms they had picked up before arriving at this point were directed against the settlers to frighten them into giving up more and also to suffer any indignity that an uncivilized race might con- ceive of. Cattle were stolen and scanty pro- visions seized and devoured by them, standing the while with cocked guns to enforce any command. They remained feasting for three days, seeming to debate whether to murder the whole settlement or not. These were the longest days and nights ever experienced by the " colony!"
On the third evening pioneers Parkhurst and Lebourveau returned from Sac City. The Indians, suspicious that the Smithland peo- ple might be on their trail, were anxious to know where these men came from, but the cunning of the white man played on the In- dian's fears-they would not tell them, so, apprehensive of danger, they set off in the early morning, up the river. When far enough away to feel safe, they became un- governable and murderous. In O'Brien County they entered homes, which were very far apart, and there they destroyed property, took guns, and in several cases ravished women in the most revolting and fiendish manner. They grew more blood thirsty until the terri- ble climax was reached at Spirit Lake, Iowa, where about forty were killed and four inno- cent women (including Miss Abie Gardner, who was then a frail girl of but fourteen summers) taken captives. Some of the four captured were inhumanly treated and died on
the march, while Miss Gardner and another lady were rescued by the State of Minnesota a few months later.
For this terrible outrage the people of Smithland were directly responsible and eter- nally accountable .* When the sickening tale of the Spirit Lake Massacre reached the ears of the Cherokee settlement, every heart was bruised and saddened. Parties from Sinith- land advised the Milford Colony to leave, and in a few days not a settler was left, some go- ing to Ashland, some to Onawa, and some to Smithland. Soon as the place was deserted the people of Smithland-be it said to their shame and everlasting disgrace-visited their houses at Cherokee, plundering what was left, including flour and provisions, as well as opening up boxes of household goods, which the latter settlers had never unpacked since their arrival from New England. Matters now looked gloomy, indeed; word having gone to their Eastern home that the entire colony had been ruthlessly slaughtered, Dr. Russell's Society of Milford, Massachusetts, became disorganized. The people here were disheartened, and the bright visions that fancy had woven were torn by cruel realities. How- ever, in May of that year most of them re- turned and put in a considerable crop.
In the summer of 1861 there were again indications of hostilities from the Indians on the frontier, and a company of Home Guards was organized, with George W. Lebourveau commissioned as Lientenant in command. The company was armed by the State, and two scouts employed, named Purcell. These pre- cautions doubtless put the Indians on the
* It should here be stated that the Indians were by no means blameless, for they plundered the settle- ment, killed stock and did many things to exasperate the whites. This is one of the unsettled questions; the people of Cherokee very generally placed the greatest blame on the whites at Smithland, while the early set- tlers there show they acted only in self-defense against the Indians.
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HISTORY OF CHEROKEE COUNTY.
alert and quieted their movements for the time being.
In August of 1861 an incident of quite an exciting nature occurred. Scouts had been employed in various sections, to learn, if possible, and report any Indian movements. Two of these scouts, Samnel and Andrew Purcell, were staying over night at George W. Lebonrveau's; at a late hour they were awakened, and discovered two Indians making off with a span of horses, one animal the property of Lebonrveau and the other belong- ing to Andrew Purcell. They at once gave chase, each firing a shot. Andrew's aim proved fatal, and thus was killed the first horse thief of this county! However, they succeeded in getting to the Indian camp with one of the horses. The Indian soon after expired. This is the only instance of human life taking in the county, except a boy murder in Grand Meadow Township. Matters went on gently and peacefully for a number of years. These pioneers were a little world by themselves, being sixty miles from Sioux City and rail- roads only built on paper; they endured great hardships, but bore ail with courage, hoping for better days to dawn. But in the summer of 1862 the Indian massacre at New Ulm with a general Indian war in Minnesota gave another alarm and a set-back to the growth of Cherokee County. For some time the Indi- ans had been troublesome along the frontier. Companies had been organized, and troops sent to different points to guard the settle- ments. A number of volunteers, under Cap- tain Millard, of Sioux City, were placed at Cherokee, while others were at Spirit Lake. When news of the New Ulm massacre reached the Cherokee people, Captain Millard advised the settlement to leave, as he felt unable to give protection to them. His advice was taken, and thus a second time Cherokee County was depopulated. It was during this
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