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 22
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campaign that the stockade and fort were built, both of which stood until a few years ago, reminders of the sad past. Most of the settlers sought refuge at Sioux City, where all was Indian excitement. A few went East, and from all who left only six settlers re- turned. Carlton Corbett, who was thien county treasurer, returned in the autumn to collect taxes, as required by law. The commander had notified him that he would be protected at the garrison, and that he and his family could find shelter at the Fort. The census of 1863 shows there were but ten males and five females within the county. During the winters of 1862-'63 the only whites in this county were (with the exception of the sol- diers) Carlton Corbett and wife, James A. Brown and family, Orange Wight, of Pilot Rock, and Robert Perry, of the same place.
A TERRIBLE EXPERIENCE.
The following reminiscence of the early times in Cherokee were written by A. E. Parkhurst, wife of Lemuel Parkhurst, a pio- neer, and published in the Cedar Rapids papers and also in the Walker, Iowa, paper, during the severe winter of 1880-'81:
"The present winter with its furious storms brings forcibly to mind a winter spent in Cherokee, on the Little Sioux River, about a quarter of a century ago, the winter of 1856-'57-just such terrible storms, mer- cury way down below zero for the space of three months, and snow banks interminable; no communication from the world from which we had seemingly banished ourselves, and with anxions forebodings whether we should ever again hear from our loved New England homes. Our little settlement consisted of five cabins, containing five females, nine males and seven children. The cabins were a inile apart. It was seldom we saw each other, and not a sign of life could we see, as
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HISTORY OF CHEROKEE COUNTY.
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we looked from our cabin homes, on all the broad expanse of prairie (and bluff save now and then a wolf), not even the friendly smoke of a chimney to give us greeting. Often the soliloqny of Alexander Selkirk would obtrude upon our mind, every line of which was fraught with a significance heartfelt and real. There were no settlers on the prairies which- ever way we would turn, for sixty or seventy miles, and but a few straggling cabins up and down the river. Our isolated position can easily be imagined, rendered doubly so by the winter's severity, and to complete our desolation, abont the first of February we were surprised by a large band of Sionx In- dians. They entered onr liouses, and before we became aware of their purpose had man- aged to appropriate a number of guns; they then began their savage work. They killed cattle and fired into the cabins, which we dis- tinctly heard one evening, thongh two miles distant. The following evening while watch- ing and listening, as usual, it being too dark to distinguish objects, we heard the unmis- takable jargon of Indians approaching. My feelings may be realized in some degree as I took my youngest child in my arms, and, seating myself with my other two, awaited their entrance. My husband, meantime, had hidden his shot gun and loaded his rifle, ready for whatever might occur. Two stalwart In- dians, frighttully painted, soon appeared with wild gesticulations, striking their tomahawks into the sleepers as well as in the cabin floor. This was kept np for an hour or more, then a scalping knife was produced and flonrished over our heads. One of them then espied the rifle, which was partly concealed, and re- quested my husband to get it for him; refus- ing to comply, he stepped across the room, took it and handed it over to another Indian. I now expected they would kill my family and take me a prisoner, the idea of which
was more terrible than deatlı. Accordingly I secured a razor and made up my mind to take my own life, rather than go with them. I begged them not to kill any of us, and told them I would get supper, and I made coffee and placed bread and meat before them, but it was sometime before they would condescend to notice my efforts, which, however, they finally did. Eating seemed to have a salutary effect, for they grew very friendly, smoked and passed it to us. I took the pipe without a particle of fastidiousness, thankful for this sign of peace. They then shook hands and left our cabin; in a few days they proceeded up the river, and grew worse in their treat- ment of the settlers all the way, and upon reaching Spirit Lake they killed the whole settlement (between thirty and forty people), except four females, whom they took as cap- tives; two of them they killed, not being able to endure the hardships of the march, and the following summer the other two were rescned by the State of Minnesota."
PIONEER JAMES A. BROWN'S EXPERIENCE.
On their way back up the Little Sionx River, after having been disarmed by the whites at Smithland, the band of Indians, consisting of abont forty, including seventeen warriors, visited all the houses of the Chero- kee settlement, committing different depreda- tions, and on the way north they stopped at James A. Brown's residence. In addition to the Brown family, members of George W. Lebourveau's family were also present. The Indian sqnad filed into the house and took Brown's rifle away from him and mnade him believe they wanted somne hay. He motioned them to the hay-stack, indicating that they were welcome to all they needed; but two of them insisted on his accompanying them to the stack. So he followed them, one of the dusky warriors having the rifle jnst stolen
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HISTORY OF CHEROKEE COUNTY.
from Brown. Upon getting to the hay-stack, which was quite a distance from the house, they wanted him to mount the stack with them, which he did-he by that time having become quite passive! One Indian was armed with the gun, and the other, at the extreme end of the stack, picked up a four-tined pitch- fork and made several ugly threats, by way of violent false motions, toward Mr. Brown. His first thought was to jump and run, and then he felt certain that was to be only a fatal leap as the rifle ball would doubtless pierce his form, should he attempt an escape. There he stood between two savage warriors, each armed and himself helpless. By this time he believed they intended foul play and imagined those at the cabin had probably killed the family, dear to his heart. But he displayed no signs of fear, and when again and again the Indian who held the fork would start toward him and then recede, he kept his eyes on their every movement, hoping to ward off or dodge the blow, if finally the fork should be thrust in his breast. The two In- dians kept up a constant conversation, one to the other, and seemed to have the angry and murderons spirit only found in the savage Sioux Indian. They finally motioned him to 21
get down from the stack. He supposed his time had then come; he became somewhat resigned to his fate, throwing himself into the care of an all-wise Providence, hoping for the best. But the Indians seemed to ad- mire his coolness or bravery and allowed him to go unharmed. They then went to his stables and killed an ox and attempted to take a horse, but the animal was of an ugly, ill temper and charged on them, trying to kick and trample them down. "Lo" evi- dently thought the animal too vicious for them to manage and accordingly left the stable.
Upon going to the cabin with them, Mr. Brown found all quiet-the squaws and bucks enjoying, the fire and snooping about in search of powder, shot and caps. They soon left the premises, harming no one. Beyond question two factors in the case saved the massacre of the Brown household-one the fact that the
Indians felt their numbers too small to at- tempt to kill any of the settlers, for fear they themselves would, in turn, all be killed, and again the kindness tendered them at the cabin hearth-stone; the calm bravery exhibited by Brown at the stack seemed to be duly appre- ciated by the Indians.
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HISTORY OF CHEROKEE COUNTY.
ORGANIZATION.
CHAPTER V.
CREATION AND ORGANIZATION OF THE COUNTY. HE third General Assembly, which con- vened at Iowa City (then the capital of the State of Iowa), December 2, 1851, devoted much of its time to the creation of new counties. About fifty counties were set off at that time, in the north and northwest- ern portion of the commonwealth of Iowa.
Cherokee was established at this session of the Legislature. Its boundaries were minutely described and defined, and an organization was authorized as soon as the proper time should come. Who first suggested the name "Cherokee" is not now fully established, but that it was named after the famous southern Indian tribe, the Cherokees, there is no ques- tion. In the spring or summer of 1853 it was attached to Woodbury, then known as Wahkaw (Indian) County, for judical pur- poses. At that date the laws of Iowa pro- vided that any organized county might petition the county judge of the nearest organized county, aud be attached thereto as a civil township for judicial purposes. Hence it was that the domain now known as Chero- kee County was attached to Woodbury. In 1857, however, a sufficient population being
found as regular residents of what was then styled Cherokee Civil Township, it was regu- larly organized into a county by itself.
The first election was held some time during the month of August, 1857, at the log house of pioneer George W. Lebourveau. At that election the following officers were elected: A. P. Thayer, County Judge; Carl- ton Corbett, Prosecuting Attorney; George W. Lebonrveau, Treasurer and Recorder; Samuel W. Hayward, Sheriff; Benjamin Saw- tell, District Clerk; George Killem, Surveyor.
Every voter in the newly made county was present, and everything passed off fair and quietly, it being pretty much one-sided, all voting for what seemed the best interests of the county. The number of votes cast was nineteen.
There were levied taxes as follows: For county purposes, six mills; for State pur- poses, one and one-half mills; for schools, two mills; for roads, three mills. The number of acres of land then entered was 46,178, valued at $92,356. Number of town lots (Old Cherokee plat), 371, valued at 83,710. The personal property was assessed at $1,754. The total value of all property was $97,-
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HISTORY OF CHEROKEE COUNTY.
820, from which a total tax of $1,222 was raised.
Among those who cast a vote at this first election in Cherokee County were George W. Banister, Carlton Corbett, George W. Lebour- vean. S. Parkhurst, Robert Hammond, Ben- jamin Holbrook, A. P. Thayer, Samnel W. Hayward, George Killem, George Webber. James Holden, B. Sawtell, John Moore, Alfred Moore, Charles Moore, J. T. Lane, Martin Burns, I. N. W. Mahaffy, Martin Allison and Jacob Miller. The remainder are not omitted because of intention, but be- cause the few men left at this date to tell the story cannot recall their naines. There were possibly two or three more.
THE COUNTY SEAT.
Soon after the organization of the connty there were three men appointed by the court as commissioners to locate a county seat for the new county. One was selected from Sac City, one from Woodbury County, and G. W. F. Sherwin, of Cherokee. This commission decided to establishi the seat of justice at what was then the platted village of Chero- kee, located on sections 22 and 23 of town- ship 92, range 40, known now as the plat of Old Cherokee.
At the general election hield in October, 1861, the proposition of levying a six-mill court-house tax was submitted to the voters of the county, and the result was: For court- house tax, seven votes; against court-house tax, three votes. So, by a majority of fonr votes the said tax was levied upon the prop- erty of Cherokee County. It is found by the connty records that at the January, 1863, session of the Board of Supervisors, the con- tract was then let to Jacob H. Cornell, to erect a court-house as contemplated by the above six-mill levy. The building was to be thirty feet square, and two stories high, the
contract price being fixed at $1,900. O. S. Wight was the chairman of the Board of Supervisors at the time this contract was let. This did not include the foundation. It is found by the saine record (Minute Book "A") that this contract was let at the same session to Robert Perry, for $150. The same was to be set in a trench two feet deep and two feet wide, filled with loose stones, upon which was erected a two-foot stone wall, pointed "in workmanlike manner."
Thus it was that the seat of justice of Cherokee County was first established. In the autumn of 1864 the plastering was fin- islied and part of the building ready for ocen- pancy by the county officials, who had for several years held their respective offices within" their own private buildings, which was anything but pleasant to both officers and their constituents.
The construction of the railroad to Chero- kee County in 1870 marked a new era and necessitated numerous changes, as all busi- ness gravitates toward the pathway of the iron steed! At the general election, held in October, 1871, the proposition was made of removing the court-house and re-locating the county seat in New Cherokee, platted, by reason of the railroad, at a point something more than a mile southwest of the original plat. The vote stood 291 majority for the removal and re-location at the new town, on the line of the Dubuque & Sioux City Rail- road. From a vote of 366 there were but seventy-six votes against the proposed re- moval. Butwhoever saw that number of men think alike on any question-especially where their financial interests were at stake!
The following January, 1872, a committee was selected by the Board of Supervisors to move and repair the court-house. In April, 1871, the jail had been built on lots pur- chased in the new town, and the court-house
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HISTORY OF CHEROKEE COUNTY.
was to be removed to the saine location and at the point where it now stands. The com- mittee just mentioned consisted of D. J. Hays, James Henderson and Carlton Cor- bett. There has never been a county-seat contest of the animated kind that most Iowa counties have had, hence less bad blood.
ORGANIZATION OF TOWNSHIPS.
From the organization of the connty up to 1865 all was included in one civil township, but by an act of the Board of County Super- visors, at their October session of that year, the territory was divided into two equal civil townships, the north half of the county still retaining the name of Cherokee, while the southern half was named Pilot on account of the largest rock (known as Pilot Rock) in Iowa, which is found in this portion of Chero- kee County, the same having served as a land-mark to the first settlers in going and coming across the broad prairies. This town- ship comprises all of congressional township 91-40, at present, but originally the south half of the county.
Amherst Township was created by act of Board of Supervisors, September 5, 1870, comprising township 92-42. This sub-di- vision is located on the western border of the county and the second from the north line, being south of Marcus, west of Sheridan and north of Tilden townships.
Afton Township was created by act of Board of Supervisors, September 6, 1869, and comprises congressional township 92-39. It is on the eastern line of the county, south of Spring, north of Pitcher, and east of Chero- kee townships.
Cedar Township was constituted Septen- ber 6, 1869, comprising all of congressional township 93-40. It is situated in the north- ern tier of townships, the second from the eastern line of the county.
Diamond Township, constituted Septem- ber 7, 1871, is all of congressional township 90-39. It is the southeastern township of the county, south of Pitcher and east of Silver townships. It originally belonged to Silver Township.
Grand Meadow Township was formed January 10, 1877. Its territory is congres- sional township 90-42, sitnated in the ex- treme southwestern portion of the county, with Willow Township on the east and Til- den north of it.
Liberty Township, situated on the north line of the county east of Marcus and west of Cedar townships, with Sheridan on the south, was created by the Board of Supervis- ors, June 9, 1870. Originally it belonged to Cedar Towaship, but now is confined to town- ship 93-41.
Marcus Township, formed by Board of Supervisors, act of September 7, 1874, is sit- uated in the northwestern corner of the county, west of Liberty and north from Am- herst townships, comprising all of congres- sional township 93-42. It originally be- longed to Liberty Township.
Pitcher Township, originally belonging to Pilot Township, was detached by act of Board of Supervisors, September 6, 1869. Its former name was Fairview, but later changed to Pitcher. Its location is on the east line of the county, south of Afton and north from Diamond townships, with Pilot on the west- ern border. As now constituted it comprises all of congressional township 91-39.
Rock Township formerly belonged to the territory of Tilden Township, but at the June session of the Board of Supervisors congressional township 91-41 was detached and named Rock. It is located south of Sheridan, east of Tilden and north of Willow townships.
Sheridan Township, situated south of Lib-
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HISTORY OF CHEROKEE COUNTY.
erty, east of Cherokee, north of Rock and east from Amherst townships, was formerly a part of Cherokee Township, but sub-divided and namned by act of Board of Supervisors, June 9, 1870. As now constituted it com- prises all of congressional township 92-41.
Silver Township, originally a part of Wil- low, was detached and formed into a separate civil township, by act of Supervisors, Sep- tember 5, 1870, and now comprises congres- sional township 90-40, situated on the south- ern border of the county, west of Diamond and east from Willow townships, with Pilot on the north.
Spring Township, as now constituted, was formed in 1868. Before that year it had been embraced in Cherokee Township. Its
territory is now congressional township 93-39. It is the northeast township in Cherokee County, with Cedar west and Afton sonth of it.
Tilden Township is on the western border of the county and the second tier from the south line. It was once embraced in Pilot Township, but June 9, 1870, set off and styled Tilden Township and comprises all of congressional township 91-42.
Willow Township, formerly comprising congressional township 90-42 and 90-41 (so created October, 1866), was made a separate civil township Jannary 10, 1877, by entting off township 90-42 and calling that portion Grand Meadow. Willow is on the south line of the county and south of Rock Township.
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HISTORY OF CHEROKEE COUNTY.
COUNTY GOVERNMENT
CHAPTER VI.
COUNTY COURT.
HEN Cherokee County was organized, in 1857, the local government was, vested in what was termed the County Conrt, which consisted of a county judge, a clerk and a sheriff. The connty judge had supreme and sole jurisdiction in all matters which could not properly be brought before the District Court, and which to-day is vested in the Board of County Supervisors, and was, therefore, to a great degree, supreme ruler of his twenty four mile square domain! His office was the most important one in the gift of the people of the county.
The official history of this connty is quite clear, except for the first year or two, which exception was caused by not having suitable books to record the official action in, and they were of necessity kept on sheets of paper, some of which were lost before they had been properly transcribed intoregular record books. But suffice to say, nothing of any considerable importance was thus lost or destroyed.
On the 1st of November, 1858, G. W. F. Sherwin, County Judge, ordered suitable books of record wherein were properly re- corded each official act, and from which the
data for this chapter have been mostly com- piled. At the general election of 1858, the following officers were elected: G. W. F. Sher- win, County Judge; B. W. Sawtell, District Clerk; G. W. Banister, Sheriff; G. Coonley, School Superintendent.
At this election there were nineteen votes cast. On the 22d of November, Mr. Lebour- veau resigned from the combined office of treasurer and recorder, and Lemnel Park- horst was appointed to fill the vacancy thus made. On the 6th of December, 1858, H. D. Betts was appointed swamp land agent, and a contract was made with him to select and plat the swamp lands for two cents per acre. In accordance with this contract Mr. Betts selected and platted 26,400 acres as swamp land, receiving therefor the sum of $528. The general land office at Washington, Dis- trict of Columbia, however, cut down this claim and only patented 2,780 acres from the large amount selected by Mr. Betts.
The year 1859 witnessed numerous changes; in the office of school superintendent, George Coonley resigned March 19, and on July 22 the vacancy was filled by George S. Killem, who soon resigned, and October 20 O. S.
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HISTORY OF CHEROKEE COUNTY.
Wight was appointed to fill the place. In May, 1859, the people voted, at the house of Silas B. Parkhurst, upon the question of levy- ing a seven-mill tax to construct a bridge across the Little Sionx River. The vote stood fourteen for and one against the ineasure.
The bridge-the first of Cherokee County -was built by R. M. Blain, at the contract price of $1,600, and was completed in No- vember of that year. It spanned the river at or near what pioneers knew as the Old Ford, and now within the limits of Old Cherokee. There being no saw-mill in rea- sonable distance, the plank and stringers for the structure were worked out by a whip- saw by the workmen. To accommodate the traveling public, while this bridge was being constructed, a ferry franchise was granted to Albert Phipps for a term of three years. In this license it was stipulated that he should not exceed the following charges: Span of horses and wagon, 50 cents; extra teams, 10 cents; man and horse, 20 cents; foot passen- ger, 10 cents; cattle per head, 3 cents. Date of license, May 30, 1859.
On the 14th of November, 1859. Judge Sherwin granted the first marriage license in the county to Carlton Corbett and Rosabella Cummings, who were married the 20th of the same month, and are still residents of the county.
In his official statement with the treasurer and recorder, the county judge found, October 10, 1859, that there had been paid into the county, as fees, from all sources, the large(?) sum of $33.55! The taxes for 1857 were, however, 8743. At the general election of 1859, twenty votes were polled. [See official vote.]
The county lost an efficient officer when IIis Honor Judge Sherwin resigned his seat, his office then being filled by the clerk of the District Courts, B. W. Sawtell. On the 16th
of November, that year, in the general set- tlement of the accounts with the various county officers, it was found that the clerk was allowed 838 for his services during the past year; the treasurer and recorder, $69; the sheriff, 82.50. " Halcyon days, those!"
In 1860 there were only eleven votes cast for the various connty officers. July 2, 1860, the funds on hand were: State fund, $7.79; county fund. 8103.36; school fund, $111.78; road fund, $130.51; bridge fund, $1.28.
BOARD OF SUPERVISORS.
During the winter of 1859-'60 an act was passed by the General Assembly, which was approved by the Governor of Iowa, changing the mode of legal government, and creating the Board of Supervisors of the county. This board took charge and had the power for- merly vested in the County Court system, except the issuance of marriage licenses, pro- bate matters and civil cases at law. The County Court still held its session and con- tinned to do so until 1869, when it was abolished by law; but little of interest trans- pired, as the time was all spent in routine business.
The Board of Supervisors consisted (nnder the law) of one member from each civil town- ship in the county. The first session of such body convened in this county Jannary 7, 1861, and as the county only contained one township, the " board " consisted of one mem- ber-Albert Phipps; however, there was no great amount of business and Mr. Phipps bore his honors lightly, and the board was characterized by a complete spirit of unanim- ity seldom witnessed since that day! Botlı the January and February sessions of the board had but little to attend to, other than to approve or reject the bonds offered by the several officials elected the fall before.
It may here be stated that on January 1,
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HISTORY OF CHEROKEE COUNTY.
1861, the county treasurer had $557 on hand. The year 1862 but little business was trans- acted by the supervisors. At the fall elec- tion only sixteen votes were cast. There were two supervisors elected, the regular one and one " at large," the board the following year, 1863, being composed of O. S. Wight and J. A. Brown. January, 1863, they made a contract with one Jacob H. Cornell to erect the court-house for $1,900, to be com- pleted November of that year.
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