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 25
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These Normals have always been well attended and admirably conducted by superior instructors. It is owing to this fact, with others, that the grade of teachers in this connty is what we find it to-day-high in point of excellence. The teachers go forth from their training school, and profiting by what they have learned from the experience of others, they are better fitted to do good service in their own school-room.
In conclusion, it may be added that the schools of our country have wonderfully im- proved since our fathers and mothiers were school children. While the old log school- room, with its puncheon floor and rougli slabs for seats, and the back-log brightly burn- ing in the fire-place, afforded much for the pen of the poet, we are only too glad to be educated in a milder manner. The easy school desks and seats, the light, warm and airy school-house of to-day, are a decided im - provement. The poet may sing of the vine and the brook, and our fathers may tell of the fearful floggings they had in the Eastern and Middle States ; of the teacher " boarding around," and schools paid for by subscrip- tion, but give us the inodern Iowa public- school system, wherein boys and girls are managed by intellect and not by brute force, and where all may be educated by a public fund.
274
HISTORY OF CHEROKEE COUNTY.
AGRICULTURAL.
CHAPTER X.
AGRICULTURE AND STOCK-RAISING. HEROKEE COUNTY is acknowledged by all men well versed in such matters, as being among the best and most pros- perous agricultural counties in Northwestern Iowa. Its people keep wide awake and are ever apace with the progressive marcli of civilization, happiness, industry and culture. Its future possibilities may be set high among the rich cluster of its almost 100 sisters-a star of pride to the noble State. The early pioneers did not come loaded with money, and in fact few had more than enough to pay for the land they bought, and some were not so fortunate even as that; but they came with that which in those days was nearly equal to it-training in agricultural parsnits, and were not ashamed to do hard work. In connection with industrious habits they had energy and determination to win success. The county was new and there was no other alternative but that success must be wrought from the soil, which was their only wealth and hope. In spite of all these ob- stacles and inconveniences to be encountered, success attended their efforts, and the trans- formation from the primitive to the present
comfortable condition of things was accom- plislied. Nor is the end yet reached, for the county still has a mine of agricultural wealth yet undeveloped, which as the years roll on must inevitably grow more and more valuable.
Early in this county's history wheat was the main crop grown; but at this date (1889) it has partly given way to the more paying branches of corn and stock-growing. With the introduction of stock, corn has advanced and is now almost connted king in agri- culture in this section.
To give a better idea of the county's agri- cultural growth, it may be wise to look over the official comparative statistics of the county as given below:
In 1866 there were 67,882 acres of land assessed in the county, which was put in at an assessed valuation of $141,485; personal property valned at $8,798. Total assessed valnation, $151,908.
The same year there were reported 203 head of cattle, valued at $3,798; horses, 41 head, valned at $2,880; mules and asses, 6, valued at $580; swine over six months of age, 8, valned at $74.
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HISTORY OF CHEROKEE COUNTY.
Ten years later (1876) we find that there were 354,680 acres of land, valued at $1,- 413,242; cattle, 3,262, assessed at $36,777; horses, 2,425, assessed at $105,371; mules and asses, 141, assessed at $7,010; sheep, 261, assessed at $294. Making a grand total of all property, personal and real estate, of $1,653,511.
· In 1880 there were 10,110 cattle, assessed at $95,660; 3,960 horses, at $108,017; mules and asses, 182, at $5,488; sheep, 3,330, at $3,801. Total, $316,134, aside from lands.
In 1885 there were 363,977 acres of lands, assessed at $2,553,854; cattle, 14,982 head, at 8212,077; horses, 6,912, assessed at $246,- 108; mules, 370 head, at $12,775; sheep, 2,169, assessed at §2,202. Total value, $3,291,243.
ASSESSED VALUATION IN 1889.
Amount.
Assessed Val.
Acres of land .
361,815
$2,635,059
Number of horses
9,550
235,820
Number of cattle.
30,893
187,436
Number of sheep.
723
540
Total assessed valnation . $3,248,677
Mark the contrast between the valuation only twenty-three years ago and the present, the former being only $151,908, as against the latter, $3,248,677.
It must be borne in mind that the assessed value is but one-third the real value, so by multiplying by three the real value is ob- tained.
STOCK-RAISING.
As has been stated heretofore in this chap- ter, a few years ago this region, and in fact the whole great West, was almost wholly de- voted to the cultivation and production of the cereals common to this latitude. The time was when agriculture was pursued to almost entire exclusion of all else. But to- day this lias all changed. A revolution has
swept over Iowa and the West since the war, which has had its effect upon business, set- tlement and commerce in such a manner as lias brought the State forward among the ranks of its sister States with rapidity un- equaled in the history of the past. Iowa to- day occupies a position among the foremost of States, of which hier citizens may well be proud. Of course this progress cannot be attributed to any one production or branch of industry, but more to the natural resources and wealth of soil which Dame Nature lias been so profuse in bestowing, together with that of stock-growing. All parts of this State are well suited to raising fine stock, but none more so and with less real outlay than Cherokee County. It has all the advantages of an abundance of pure water and excellent grazing lands, while the soil is unsurpassed for the production of corn. As will be seen by a reference to tlie assessed valuation of the county, the stock business has wonderfully increased during the past two decades, and is to-day the paying and vital industry of the county. Other lands and other climes can produce wheat cheaper than we can, but no country can excel or compete successfully with Iowa on corn and stock.
In 1866, at the close of the civil war, there were only 203 head of cattle, valued at $3,798; 41 head of horses, valued at $2,880. In 1876, ten years later, there were 3,262 head of cattle, valued at $36,777; 2,245 horses, valued at $105,371. In 1886 there were 14,982 cattle, valued at $212,077; 6,912 horses, valued at $246,108. At this date, 1889, the county lias 30,893 head of cattle, valued at $187,436, and 9,550 head of horses, valued at $235,820. The reader should re- member these valuations are only assessed values, which are about one-third actual worth. The corn and stock have come to be the wealth of this county.
276
HISTORY OF CHEROKEE COUNTY.
FARM STATISTICS IN 1885.
Average size of farms (acres), 165. Acres improved lands, 203,420. Acres in cultivation, 175,390. Acres of unimproved land, 152,419. Acres in pasturage, 28,980. Rods of hedge growing, 66,594. Farms operated by owners, 1,270. Acres of Irish potatoes, 832. Bushels of Irish potatoes, 55,764. Acres of corn raised, 73,400. Bushels of corn raised, 2,214,619. Acres of wheat raised, 40,040. Bushels of wheat raised, 470,826. Pounds of tobacco raised, 390. Acres of oats raised, 31,480. Bushels of oats raised, 844,680. Acres of planted timber, 2,860. Acres of native timber, 1,583. Acre of timothy harvested, 5,896. Bushels of flax seed harvested, 260,419.
The above table of products grown in 1885 is indeed remarkable; when one con- templates and carefully compares the figures, which tell no idle tale, but each means just what it says, this array of facts, for a county so newly developed, is a record of which to be proud. The average of Indian corn alone covers one-fifth the entire area of the county; think you, who came from old New Eng- land's stony hillside, or you, who came from
the forests and stump country of Ohio, of a corn-field covering the face of over three full congressional townships-73,400 acres!
Again, think of the hardy pioneers who planted more acres of (what have grown to be) towering trees than the first hand of cre- ation planted in native groves!
THE COUNTY FAIR.
For varions causes the products of this county have not been exhibited at annual county fairs. An attempt was, however, made at this, which was very gratifying and successful, and should have been annually repeated, as nothing else so stimulates and invigorates the agricultural and business in- terests of a county as does well-managed ex- hibits continuonsly kept up.
In 1873 the importance of such exhibits was felt by the progressive citizens, who formed themselves into a stock company, which purchased twenty acres of land just west from the city of Cherokee, and made fair improvements, including a race track. Upon these and other grounds, at another location, there were four annual fairs held. But not enough interest was manifested to insure a financial success, so the enterprise finally dropped and no exhibit has since been made.
277
HISTORY OF CHEROKEE COUNTY.
RAILROADS,
of
CHAPTER XI.
HERE is no internal improvement that has done so much to develop the country as its railroads. The printing press, the railroad and the telegraph wire, combined, certainly move the world as Archimedes little dreamed it could be moved. Up to within a few years new countries were required to be opened up by the hardy pioneers, and their agricultural and mineral resources developed before the capitalists would invest their money in the construction of railways.
Now railroads are built first and the peo- ple follow. Cherokee County was fortunate enough to have her railroads built in advance of the settlement, but her vast, almost limit- less, agricultural resources had to be quite well developed and the first comers to the county had to live as best they could, during the early and later Indian troubles and through the long and bloody Civil War which lasted from April, 1861, to April, 1865. They were shint out and completely isolated from the outside world, until the Dubuque & Sionx City Railroad Company built a line now known and operated by the Illinois Cen- tral Company.
LAND GRANTS.
It was early realized that withont railroads the public lands in the Northwest-an ein- 23
pire in extent, of inexhanstible fertility, rich in undeveloped resources-would continne comparatively valueless and long remain nn- settled. To insure the construction of rail- roads and at the same time harmonize their cost with the benefits conferred, on principles of justice to the public interest, was a prob- lem to which the attention of Congress was earnestly directed. The whole theory of our system of government forbade their constrnc- tion by the United States from appropriations made out of the National treasury, while it was evident that without Government assist- ance of some sort the railroads could not be built for a great term of years, if ever. Influ- enced by these considerations, Congress finally settled upon a plan of granting one-half the lands, being the odd numbered sections, within certain specified limits, to aid in the construction of designated lines of railroad, and on donbling the price of the remaining lands, thus giving aid to the roads during the time they miglit well be expected to be non-paying, and at the same time protecting the public interest.
The first grant made to the State of Iowa to aid in the construction of railroads was approved May 15, 1856. One of the lines was designated to run from the city of Du-
278
HISTORY OF CHEROKEE COUNTY.
bnqne across the State to a point near Sioux City. The lands thus granted were conferred on the Dubuque & Pacific Railroad Com- pany, but finally fell to the corporation known as the Dubuque & Sioux City Company. So much of this land as was included in the grant on account of the construction of the line from Iowa Falls west to Sioux City, was transferred to the Iowa Falls & Sioux City Railroad Company, by contract executed by and between that company and the Dubuque & Sioux City Company, January 7, 1868, and legalized and confirmed by the Legislature of the State April 7 the same year.
To the people of Cherokee County a rail- road seemed a much needed blessing. The above survey ran through the county from east to west and really proved, when it did come, to be the making of the county. But the pioneer mnst yet be tried still longer- he inst still go to Sioux City, sixty miles for his mail, his groceries and his milling. The railroad so much spoken of, but on account of the dark war cloud which hovered over the nation from 1861 to 1865 was so long de- layed, began to be looked upon as a gigan- tic farce and a myth to the settlers, who were still cut off from Eastern markets, in fact were a small republic by themselves. Scarcely an emigrant ever thought of Chero- kee (it being considerably north of the east and west stage route across the State), and the few who still remained here were at times tempted and frequently planned to leave the county. In 1863 the Homestead Act passed by the General Government once more shot a ray oflight and hope into the pioneers hearts, but then came the fearful Indian massacre at New Ulm, Minnesota, near the Iowa line; this sent a thrill of horror to every heart and seemed to fix the final destiny of the little band of settlers in Cherokee County. The blood-stained visions of Spirit Lake haunted
the old settler, and a fear that the indescribable horrors of an Indian war were about to break upon them paralyzed the shattered remnants of a once prosperous colony.
However, the Indian troubles ended with the hanging of thirty-eight Sioux Indians at Mankato, in the fall of 1863; the Civil War closed, leaving a free and purified country, after April, 1865. Business again looked up, money sought new channels for investments, in railroads as well as general improvement, throughout the great Northwest. From this date on, the railroad problem soon material- ized into the plans that finally built the road from Iowa Falls to Sioux City. During the year 1869 work on the railroad proceeded with vigor, making bnsy times; during that year the connty's population increased to 459, and the withdrawal of her lands from cash entry put an effectual cheek to specnla- tion-the curse of all new countries. The railroad left the original town plat of Chero- kee a mile to the east, which put a stop to that village, while the newly platted town of New Cherokee grew with amazing rapidity, and brought to it an influx of frontier busi- ness men and a few professional men. In the autumn of 1869 the road from the Sionx City end was completed to Meriden (tlien called Hazzard), where it remained until the following April. The spring of 1870 was one of mmusual activity; emigrants flocked in by the hundreds, so that in June the popula- tion, according to the census reports, was 1,937, and by the last of December could not have been less than 3,000. During the suni- iner of 1870 the railroad from the Iowa Falls end connected with the line from the west, when the county had a continuous line, giving botlı an eastern and western market outlet.
The completion of this railway, which was soon leased for a term of ninety-nine years
279
HISTORY OF CHEROKEE COUNTY.
to the Illinois Central Company, gave new life to Cherokee County. Within the connty there were a depot and market place estab- lished at Cherokee, Aurelia, Marcus and Meriden. Each of these stopping points being surrounded by a magnificent scope of land, exactly adapted to general farming and stock-growing, the county could not well avoid soon taking high rank among the other counties of the State. Bnt communities, like individuals, never cease aspiring and wanting more. And to those who seek aright, blessings are seldom denied. Seeing the goodly benefits derived from a railroad east and west, the enterprising citizens of Cherokee County conceived the idea of a road running north and sonth. The Illinois Cen- tral Company were also looking about for new feeders and extensions to their main line. These two facts finally culminated in the or- ganization of the
CHEROKEE & DAKOTA RAILWAY,
which line was projected in 1886-'87 from Onawa, Iowa, to Sionx Falls, Dakota. The Illinois Central Company, however, had to be labored with long and persistently to be per- snaded that Cherokee was the most advanta- geous point from which to start this branch road-Fort Dodge, Storin Lake and Le Mars all offering the company great inducements.
A number of the live and enterprising business men of Cherokee, among whom N. T. Burroughs was prominent and foremost, worked early and late for the success of this enterprise.
Concerning the building of this line, the- Cherokee Times of July 27, 1887, had the following to say in its editorial:
" Something over a quarter of a century ago the first settlements were made in Chero- kee County, since which time the county has been coming to the front ranks-though
slowly at times-as a rich and productive section. During all this time she has been making history and has been laying a sub- stantial foundation for that prosperity whichi is now abont to come upon us. The years of 1869 and 1870 marked the advent of the road known as the Illinois Central. From that time to the present the people have seen other counties in the same portion of Iowa profit by cross roads, and why Cherokee County has been thus long left out in the cold, with so beautiful and productive a sec- tion around her, is no little mystery. But that the time has come that Cherokee County is to be, yon might say, the great yards of the Illinois Central line, is beyond a reason- able doubt. The capital of the county is bound to be the center of the western system of the Illinois Central line. The benefits accruing to the county we cannot now fully estimate, nor can we tell what good things the future may have in store; to the future we leave it. According to announcement, sealed bids for building the extension from Cherokee to Onawa were handed to Superin- tendent Gillease, at the Washington House at 3 p. M. last Thursday, and at about 5 P. M. the contracts were awarded to Harrington Bros., for building to Correctionville, twenty- three miles, and to Mitchell Vincent, from Onawa to Correctionville, a distance of thirty- six miles. Work was promptly commenced south of the town (Cherokee) on the Pingrey farm, Monday last. It is also certain that work has also begun on the Onawa end of the ronte. The trains are daily bringing in ties and sun- dry supplies-seventy car-loads having al- ready arrived at this point. The contracts call for all grading to be finished within sixty days, after which track laying will be speedily pushed forward. It is therefore probable that the company will do what they first in - tended to do, by getting their branch contpleted
280
HISTORY OF CHEROKEE COUNTY.
in time to remove the present crops from out the great Sioux Valley. The contracts for the Sioux Falls line are to be let to-day."
The road down the valley leaves the main line where it curves to the east. It crosses the Little Sioux on the Lambert farm. It was soon determined that two stations would be sufficient between Cherokee City and Cor- rectionville. These were named Quimby and Washta, the former in honor of an Illinois Central Railway official of Chicago, and the latter after the postoffice years before estab- lished near the site of the station, the name Washta meaning in Indian dialect, "Good."
Quimby was accordingly located ten miles south of Cherokee, in the beautiful valley of the Little Sioux River.
Five miles to the south of Quimby, Washta was platted, and is now one of the thriving towns of the county. Both this place and Quimby draw a large trade, and while their grain and stock business is very large, yet these markets do not seem to decrease the former trade of Cherokee. It makes the latter more of a jobbing point, and less of a staple retail point.
Going north from Cherokee, along the Sioux Falls branch, a station was located in this county called Larrabee, named in honor of Governor Larrabee. This village is about eight miles to the north of Cherokee, and affords a good point from which farm prod- ucts can be shipped. At this date a flour- ' ishing little town is springing up.
KGW
HISTORY OT CHEROKEE COUNTY.
281
ATHE BAR. B.
CHAPTER XII.
MONG the many interesting topics for the chapters of a county history, none are read with more interest by the pro- fessional men than that of the bar. In re- viewing the history of the bar it must be borne in mind that as the prosperity and well-being of every community depends upon the clear and wise interpretation as well as the judicious framing of its laws, therefore it follows that a record of the members of the bar forms no unimportant part of the county's record. Upon a few principles of natural justice is erected the whole super- structure of civil law tending to meet the desires and requirements of the masses. The business of the lawyer is not to make laws for the people, but rather to apply them to the affairs of every-day life. But the inter- ests of men are greatly diversified, and where so many interests and counter-interests are to be protected and adjusted, to the attorney and the courts are presented many interest- ing as well as complex problems.
Change is everywhere. The laws of yes- terday do not meet the wants or necessities of to-day, for the former relations do not ex- ist. New and satisfactory laws inust needs
be enacted and established. The discoveries in the arts and sciences, the invention of novel contrivances for saving labor, the en- largement of all industrial pursuits, and the increase and development of commerce, are without precedence, and the science of law must keep pace with them all; nay, it must even forecast the event, and so frame suclı laws as will most adequately subserve the wants and provide for the necessities of these new conditions. Hence, the lawyer is the man of to-day. The exigencies he must en- counter are those peculiar to his own time. As has so often been said, liis capital is his ability and pure individuality.
It is no fancy picture drawn upon the can- vas by the brush of imagination, but the truth, that law to some extent has lost its former authority, and it is only the shade of that which is of itself great. Hence, new duties and a firmer courage is imposed upon the bar and courts of to-day. Every lawyer is a debtor, in a sense, to his profession. If worthy it gives him an honorable calling. "The lawyer should love and prize his pro- fession. He should value its past renown and cherish the memory of great men whose
282
HISTORY OF CHEROKEE COUNTY.
gigantic shadows walk by us still. He should love it for its intrinsic worth and innate truth of the fundamental truths which adorn it."
The bar of Cherokee County has numbered among its members many who have been an honor to their profession, to the county and State in which they have practiced.
THE BAR OF THE PAST.
Among those who have been resident law- yers and practiced before conrts of Cherokee County, and who have either died, quit prac- tice or moved away, are now recalled the following:
The first representative of the legal pro- fession in Cherokee County was Il. C. Kel- logg, who located at Cherokee when it was yet a mere hamlet, in 1869. He first settled in Old Cherokee. He formed a partnership with Charles II. Lewis. They both came from Buchanan County, Iowa. Mr. Lewis was elected to the office of district attorney, and subsequently to that of district judge, and now resides at Sionx City. He is a son- in-law of Mr. Kellogg, with whom he was a partner for four years.
Mr. Kellogg was admitted to the bar in Vermont in 1846 and was of the best legal talent in this part of lowa. He retired from the profession to farm life in 1886. See his personal sketch on another page of this book.
Judge Lewis, his partner, was admitted to the bar in Buchanan County, Iowa, in 1868, and has made a steady and enviable progress in his profession. The above firm were the pio- neer law expounders of Cherokee County, and, perhaps, the strongest firm who ever practiced here.
Lewis Elsifer soon established himself in the practice of law at Cherokee, but not liking pioneer life left and is now in Pennsylvania.
We come now to speak of one of the bar's honored dead, Eugene Cowles, who came to
Cherokee in the spring of 1870, and at once entered practice. He was an exceptional inan in many ways, and a bright legal mind. He built up an excellent business and had the es- teem of all. He died in 1880, very suddenly. His sketch appears in another part of this book.
In 1871 cames Charles Goldsbury from Massachusetts, and opened up a land, loan and law office. He has never pushed the le- gal part of his buisness, but is a member of the Cherokee County Bar. His business is now mostly loans and collections.
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