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 27
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" With this announcement we place onr- selves in the public crucible and bid our read- ers a happy greeting."
In December, 1876, the Times was sold to Ainsworth & Walworth, who conducted it about a year and then sold back to Buchanan, who with a Democratic neighbor on one side and a " Greenbacker " on the other, had an enlarged field to display his pugnacity in. However, Buchanan held his own and flour- ished like a " green bay tree;" he built a fine brick block for his office, the same stood op- posite the Washington House, where now stands the Opera Honse, and cost $4,000. In 1881 the old hand-press was discarded. a new Campbell power press purchased and the pa- per enlarged to a nine-column folio. At this date the Times had grown into circulation of 1,200.
In January, 1885, the Times was sold to R. L. Rowe, Mr. Buchanan permanently re- tiring, after having been at the wheel for fourteen years. He then was managing edi- tor of the Davenport Gazette a year or so and finally located at Sionx Falls, where he is now engaged in real-estate business. As above
stated, from Buchanan's control the paper passed into the hands of R. L. Rowe, who soon effected the purchase of a journal pub- lished at Cherokee, known as the Enterprise, as it had been clear for some time that four papers were a useless burden to the people of Cherokee. It was then determined that each of the two parties-Republican and Demo- cratic-needed but one organ, and this step was taken to bring that abont. - When this change was made, the Times made some im- provements in its plant and removed to the Times Block, opposite the Washington House.
In April, 1887 (for political reasons), a joint-stock company was formed, that pur- chased the Times office and placed Lew. W. Raber, of Fort Dodge, as its editor, Messrs. Meservey, Wakefield and others being associ- ated in the company. Prior to this, however, there were other changes in the paper, by which R. L. Rowe took Burt Furgason in as partner, and in the spring of 1886 changed from a weekly to a seini-weekly paper, which change did not continue very long. D. W. McNeal edited the paper from June, 1887, to January, 1888.
The company underwent some few changes, and in the re-organization Thomas McCulla, an attorney and the present city mayor, was placed in editorial charge, he owning largely in the concern. He is a graduate of the State University at Iowa City, and condnets a live journal, keeping up the reputation of "old reliable " for the Times, which is one of North- ern Iowa's oldest journals.
On the seventeenth birthday of the TIMES its editor spoke as follows: " With this issue of the TIMES it passes its seventeenth mile- stone in the highway of existence. It is now seventeen years since the Cherokee TIMES first appeared. For a number of years it held the even tenor of its way, under the steady hand of Robert Buchanan. Of late
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years its ownership has been somewhat varied, but at the same time it has pursued its on- ward course and seen its co-temporaries after two or three years' figlit cease to exist. The history of papers in this conuty shows that no one paper has ever attained one-fourth the age of the TIMES. For seventeen years it has been the champion of the Republican party, fighting for its principles and for its nominees. It has been the stay of the party through seventeen campaigns. When the Greenback theories monopolized the Demo- cratic party, when fusion was the order of the day and each through its organ made on- slaught upon the Republican party, this pa- per never wavered in its allegiance, but was found in the front rank battling the theory of other powers. It has justly earned the title of THE OLD RELIABLE TIMES. For what it has done in the past and promises to do in future, we ask all good loyal Republicans to rally 'round the paper-come and see us in the new office, next week."
The Leader .- The first number of the Cherokee Leader came forth Wednesday, April 25, 1872. It was a neatly printed seven-column paper. I+ was edited by L. B. Raymond, who also conducted a paper in ()'Brien County, and at one time owned and conducted a half dozen papers in Northwest- ern Iowa. It was at a time when there were numerous " fat takes " in local journalism- the publication of State laws, tax lists and other legal notices which were richly paid for at a rate fixed by law. Raymond was known as the 'Newspaper King." In July, 1873, the Leader was sold to C. W. Ainsworth, of Indiana.
A man named Shepard, who was associated with Raymond on the Leader, did not love the town and its people. He and the editor of the Times were not married to each other by any means, as can be seen by a farewell shot given him by the latter journal: 24
" Shepard, the retiring luminary of the Leader, whose brilliant corruscations and scintillating adumbrations have dazzled the wondering nations with his glare, feels bad at Cherokee, the 'dear damn'd town,' and to give it a whole ell with an h to it, shoots from behind the new management of that paper, doubtless what he considered a 'sock doliger' into the Times. In tears, we bid adieu to the young man with the big shirt front. May his shadow never grow less, and his shanks never fail him."
In the month of October, 1873, the Leader was sold to Eli Johnson and H. C. Kellogg, who conducted it for a time, when Kellogg retired and H. Luge became associated with Johnson. From these men the paper passed into the hands of E. K. Walbridge, who changed the name to the Independent, and espoused Democracy as its creed. In 1878 part of the concern was sold to the Free Press and the plant paper was removed to Holland, Grundy County, Iowa.
OTHER CHEROKEE PAPERS.
Early in 1877 P. McCormack established the Free Press as a Greenback Labor organ, a six-column quarto, which proved quite an accession to journalism in Cherokee County. In 1878 McCormack sold an interest to Eli Johnson. This paper now had a walk-a-way; for the Greenback party elected their ticket of county officials and thus the Free Press became the official organ, for the time; but a disagreement arose between the proprietors of the paper by reason of which Mr. MeCor- mack retired, his place having been filled by H. Luge, who had been with Johnson on the Leader. In 1880 Mr. McCormack estab- lished the Reporter and poured hot shot into the Free Press, the owner of which paper found business unprofitable, hence they sold their plant to Robert Johnson, a boy who set
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his first type in the Times office, and who was a warm personal friend of Mr. Buchanan. This young man soon associated himself with Will P. Goldie, when the " boys " gave the people of Cherokee a good, clean sheet. The Reporter was short lived, only lasting about nine months, spasmodically.
Early in 1882 a third paper was inflicted upon the confiding public; this was known as the Courier, edited by Jerome Rose. The Tinnes never once mentioned its existence, but the Courier sought battle with its neigh- bor, but fonght alone. In 1883 the paper, which finally merged into the Times, was bought by F. P. Beslin (the blind editor), who changed the name to the Enterprise. A stock company, made up largely from farmers, had purchased the Free Press plant from Johnson & Goldie and placed J. R. Soverign as its editor. Financial embarrass- ment cansed the latter to retire from journal- istic labors, when the concern was sold to a man named Wilson, from Audubon, who raised the Republican flag, but the past flexi- ble principles and record seemed to stamp the journal with the mark of fate, and after a few months' trial the proprietor locked the office and gave the key to those who held claims on it.
Jerome Rose utilized the material a few weeks by printing a paper called the Cyclone, which, it is said, was all its name indicated. The good will and list was finally sold to the Times, while the material was moved to Worthington, Minnesota.
The Weekly Cherokeeun was established December 15, 1885, by W. P. Goldie, as a six-column quarto. Mr. Goldie, being a practical newspaper man and printer and one who has been a resident of the county many years, is capable and does conduct a good local sheet. In December, 1888, he pur- chased a paper published at Cherokee by J.
C. Jones, known as the Democrat. The two papers were consolidated and have since gone under the heading of the Cherokeean-Demo- crat. The politics of this journal is inde- pendent-democratic. While W. P. Goldie is the editor, the paper is controlled by what is termned the Democratic Publishing Company. The subscription price of this paper is fixed at $1 per annum; its size and form is still that of a six-column quarto, and is printed on a Washington hand-press.
The Aurelia Sentinel is a well edited weekly journal published at Aurelia, Chero- kee Connty, Iowa. Its owner and editor, A. L. Belew, began his operation at this point in the month of March, 1881. In politics the Sentinel is Republican, while locally it strives to work each week for the good and upbuilding of the country adjacent to its home. In size and form this is a five-col- nmn quarto. Subscription price, 81.50 per year. Before the Sentinel was established Aurelia had two other papers at different times in its history. The first paper was one printed at Storm Lake, but edited at home. This did not last long. The new and enter- prising town minst needs have a paper of its own, so George L. Bailey, a practical news- paper man and printer of many years' expe- rience, was induced to establish the Clincher, which he afterward named the Aurelia In- dependent, which, after a time, was succeeded by the Sentinel, with Mr. Belew as editor and proprietor.
The Quimby Herald .- This live local sheet was established at Quimby in 1889, Volume I., No. 1, bearing the date of April 19, 1889. It is independent in politics. In form and size it is a six-column folio, which is to be enlarged August 1, 1889, to a seven- column paper. Its editor and proprietor is an old and experienced newspaper man and also a thorough printer, named G. L. Bailey,
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who founded the first journal at Aurelia, the Clincher; also the first paper at Washita, known as the Herald. His file at Quimby shows that he is a worker and is ever on the alert for news items-especially those of a local character. The people of the new town and its surrounding country give the Herald a good support, both in their adver- tising and subscription patronage. The price of this journal is within the reach of all- $1.00 per annum.
The Washta Independent was established at Washta in June, 1889, by A. J. Smith. It succeeded the Herald published by G. L. Bailey, who operated that journal from Sep- tember 26, 1888, until April 19, 1889, and then removed to Quimby. The Indepen- dent is a seven-column folio, printed in a very neat and workmanlike manner. Its columns are well filled each week with choice local and editorial items, showing the capabilities of Mr. Smith in successfully conducting a live local sheet, of which the good people of Washta need not be ashamed. The large advertising patronage proves that he works for the best interests of the town and county. The subscription rates for the Independent are $1.25 per annum in advance.
The Marcus News was established in Au- gust, 1882, by J. A. Parks. It was founded as a Republican paper and has always kept close to the platform of that political party -never tossing about among Democracy, . Mugwumps and Republicans, but always square and firm on party issues. When first launched on the sea of journalism the outfit could all have been purchased for less than $200. Mr. Parks continued at the lielm
until his death in April, 1883, when an at- torney, Benjamin Radcliffe, took possession and run it for one year. It was then sold to Frank Lewis, a practical man in the busi- ness; he operated a short time and sold to Charles Button & Son, who did not seem to grow rich from working the plant and finally sold back to Mr. Lewis, who still conducts the News in a popular and paying manner. His paper stands out from among the hundreds of Iowa journals as one full of original, pointed and pithy editorial paragraphs. Working for the interest of his community, he always has a large patronage, and while his outspoken manner makes now and then an enemy, yet he is appreciated highly by the mass of people, from whom he now has a paying subscription list of about 900 names, each paying (or agreeing to pay) $1.50 per annum for his paper. The farmers in this section of the county are a reading, thinking class, and appreciate good, newsy papers. At first the News appeared as a six-column quarto, but in 1886 it was changed to its present form and size, that of an eight-col- uinn folio, which is neatly printed on the best press in Cherokee County-an improved Prouty power press. Marcus may well feel a pride in her local paper.
The Meriden Ledger was the name of a small sheet published at Meriden in 1882, by D. S. Ring, who only conducted it a year and then removed to Sioux City, Iowa.
The Meriden Journal, published a year by Harry Leistenberger and then suspended as a non-paying institution, completes the list of Cherokee County journals.
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ITEMS OF INTEREST.
CHAPTER XVI.
MORE magnificent spectacle is seldom seen than the burning prairies at au- tumn time, when the vast, almost limitless sea of amber- tinted grass is burning continuously for twenty miles or more, fan- ned and pressed speedily forward by a high wind. The scene at night time, in October, when no moon appears, indeed is grand and beggars man's best efforts at trying to picture with a pen. It appears like a vast army mowing down solid columns of an enemy -- the rank-grown weeds ignite and explode, causing a crackling sound not unlike that of musketry on a field of strife. The Inrid light from the leaping tongues of fire cast a tinted reflection back on the dark sky which no painter can hope to produce. But while the burning prairies has had its charms and been sung by poets, yet to the early pioneer its romantic scene was somewhat darkened by the annual loss of much valuable property. An army on parade at a grand encampment review looks beautiful, but the active service -the result -- the field of carnage, gives no pleasure. So it must be said of the prairie fires of Northwestern Iowa, which perhaps originated by some homesteader burning a " fire guard " around his little home, of a
calm antumnal night, when all nature seemed at rest. But before the work of home pro- teetion was accomplished, not unfrequently the gentle breeze grew to a steady wind, which rapidly increased with its velocity, carrying now and then a burning spear of grass to some remote part of the prairie land, until before an hour had elapsed a dozen or twenty separate fires had been kindled, and before the morning dawn appeared the irrepressible flames had wronght dire calamity over a whole county, and perhaps, with a high wind, was still proudly marching on over the territory of another. The midnight seene was one of surpassing beauty and sublime grandeur, but the burned district presented a sad picture at the dawn. At sunset a little settlement were feeding their stock, the happy home made merry by the innocent shouts of children, romping about the cabin or " claim shanty." At sunrise, the following morning, there might have been seen a half dozen desolate homes. The tall, rank frost-killed grass had been turned, as if by magic wand, into black- ened ashes, and the house of the homesteader had been consumed with all of its contents. valuable to him. A score of half-clad chil- dren were left out in a merciless sea of prairie .
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ashes. The sun obscured and the chilling atmosphere foretold the snow storm sure to come. The grain and hay the industrious settler had secured by the hardest toil, had all been reduced to ashes and smouldering embers, the smoke from which might liave been seen for many miles, over an expanse of prairie, the surface of which was barren and black. Many of the earlier settlers lost their hay and grain, while some mourned not alone the loss of hard-earned accumulations, but also the loss of dear ones from out the home circle, who had been taken nnawares, by a sudden change of wind, perhaps, and had no time to escape nntil their clothing caught fire. There is not a county in Western or Central Iowa but what can furnish facts for a chapter of prairie fires which would chill one's blood at the terrible recital of havoc from 1856 to 1875.
In glancing over the files of the Cherokee Times, the author gleaned the following, written as a local item in the fall of 1870: " We learn the family referred to in the last issue of this paper was that of Mr. Weaver, of Afton Township. They came to the county in the early spring time. and it is said were in very destitute circumstances. On last Wednesday the house, which was a sod one, took fire, and in the space of half an hour was totally consumed. Mr. Weaver was ab- sent at the time, and the family were dressed in the worst clothes belonging to them. An eye witness informed us that it was a pitiful sight to see a mother and six small children gather around the smoking embers of their home-humble though it was-houseless, penniless and almost naked, upon the wide prairie, and their little all a smouldering heap of ruins. Some of the good Samaritans turned out Sunday and put up a shelter for them, and we are happy in the statement that $90 were raised for their immediate relief."
Ou October, 4, 1871, a prairie fire swept over the western part of Cherokee and eastern portion of Plymonth counties. Its origin was in township 91-43, and the south wind that prevailed drove it through into Plymouth. The wind then changed and blew a fearful gale from the west, sweeping fire for a con- tinnous stretch of fifteen miles toward Cher- okee City. It brushed over Tilden, Amherst and Liberty townships in about an hour's time, demolishing exposed property in lively style. Fifty tons of hay were quickly trans- formed to ashes, for Messrs. Briggs, Peavey, Chapman and West. A small dwelling stored full of wheat was consumed; seventy-five tous of hay were consumed in Amherst Township, belonging to Messrs. Pierce, Russell, Peck, Wrought and Walters; the latter also lost 200 bushels of wheat. Mr. Bowman, of Liberty, lost his hay, grain, stables -- all but his resi- dence. Several railroad bridges on the Illinois Central were destroyed, and passenger trains delayed a day or two in consequence. The total loss was placed at $5,000.
The same season a still more calamitous fire visited Cherokee County than the one above mentioned. This occurred in Willow Township. Seventeen persons were left with - out shelter and many of them even destitute of clothing. Joseph McCoun, who had a large family of his own, besides visiting friends, shared in that misfortune. The house after taking fire was all consumned in an amaz- ingly short time, so that the inmates had little time to save themselves. What few articles were tossed from the burning house were soon sought out and devonred by the flames. So that with the exception of the scant cloth- ing which they had on, every thing was de- stroyed.
Again two houses were destroyed in Afton Township. The owners were away from home at the time, working to earn a little money to
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further their improvements. In one case a lady school teacher saw the fire rapidly ap- proaching the school-house, and she, together with her pupils, hastened to a plowed field, where they were walled in by the flames until 5 o'clock.
SEVERE STORMS.
The great thunder storm of Angust, 1871, was perhaps the severest, in many particu- lars, ever known in the history of Cherokee. There seemed to be a convention of storms that fated night and as if Cherokee was chosen the spot of re-union. For hours the heavens were lighted up with an incessant glare of fiery streams of lightning, bathing their forked tongues in the torrents of rain that dashed like the maddened surgings of a hundred Niagaras. The red gleams danced in hellish fury, as if a thousand and one Vesu- vinses liad entrenched themselves in the great bulwarks above and their incandescent waves were being tortured by ten thousand Plutos within. The continuous roll of thunder was indeed terrific to hear. Jupiter, the forger of thunderbolts, must have been delighted at the deafening carnival shot from his bold right hand, and to witness the fierce wrestle for the most appalling crash! The wind blew with fearful hurricane speed, adding to the terror of the scene, and the frightful com- mingling of the mnaddened elements. The people of the village felt general aların; build- ings rocked as would toy houses at the spat of the wind. Smith's law office was swept from its foundation. Z. P. Herrick's house was struck by lightning, the stove broken by the electric flash, while the walls of the build- ing were badly demoralized, yet fortunately no member of the household was injured. Many buildings were torn from solid founda- tions; ont buildings were swept away and lumber strewn hither and thither over the town plat.
HAIL STORM OF 1872.
The mnost terrific hail storm that ever de- vastated Cherokee Connty occurred about 6 o'clock P. M., Thursday, June 14, 1872. Huge black clouds rolled along in vast majestic columns from the southwest, covering the heavens with a scowl. The grim-faced clonds at first gave vent to their wrath in a volume of rain, but seemed only to grow more furi- ous with time. Rain was soon succeeded by liail and chunks of ice of such dimension that if described would appear like one of Sin! bad's sailor tales. Hail fell from the far-off heavens, measuring fully two inches in diame- ter. The windows on the windward side of all houses, and in some cases the sash, were demolished. At Archer's lumber yard, in Cherokee, the wind played fierce havoc, car- rying heavy boards a great distance. A Mr. Wilburn of Pilot Township, was caught out with a team and was knocked senseless while his team ran madly over the prairie. A young man named Boles, who was herding cattle, was overtaken by the storm and severely injured. He was stupefied, so that upon reaching home he was unable to get about for several days. Some farmers lost hogs, cattle and even liorses; but the great damage was found to have been done to the growing crops, corn being battered out of sight and wheat badly broken down. The same storm of wind, hail and rain passed through O'Brien County, to the north.
KILLED BY LIGHTNING.
July 13, 1872, in and around the village of Cherokee, was an unusually hot day. The thermometer mounted up beyond 100 degrees in the shade, and as a result, about 4 o'clock P. M. two extremely vivid flashes of lightning, a few moments apart, shot across the heavens, followed by tremendous claps of thunder. A moment or two later the aların was given
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that a man liad been struck by the subtle fluid and was dying, and amid the falling rain and awful thunder with its cause, the terrific lightning, there might have been seen a crowd around the poor, unfortunate victim, who was the son of one of Cherokee County's very first settlers. His name was M. T. Holbrook, and he had been in the village to purchase a new reaper, with which to secure his rapidly ripen- ing harvest. He was walking in front of George W. Lebourveau's stable, the instant the bolt struck him. He wore a chip hat, a pair of canvas pants and cow-hide boots. The shock struck him in the back, making a deep flesh wound, a portion of the electric current passing beneath his chin and the remainder running earthward through the conductors furnished by his limbs, escaping from his heels, where holes appeared as though a bul- let liad struck him. He was at once moved to a house near at hand, but his pulse soon ceased to show indications of recovery and within an hour he was conveyed to his own farm home, a mile east of Cherokee, to sadden a dear young wife and three prattling children. At the time of his death he was but thirty- three years of age, having come to the county first when only sixteen years old. Being a Freemason, that order took charge of the burial services, which were conducted by Rev. W. F. Rose.
During the month of September, 1872, a fearful hail-storm and wind devastated the lower part of Cherokee County. This storm came very late in the year for one of its character, and did much damage. Tops were blown from stacks, in many cases more than 100 yards. The sides of stacks exposed to the storm were blown out and threslied to pieces by the pelting hail-stones. Young groves were severely injured. Windows were smashed to atoms, and live-stock in the fields on the open prairie lands were considerably
injured. E. B. Bailey was caught out on the prairie, and had to lie down upon his face, while the violence of the wind blew the back of his shirt from off his body. Having played sad havoc in Silver Township, the storm followed up the Maple Valley, amusing itself at untopping grain stacks, breaking trees and windows, killing chickens, etc. In Pitcher Township it struck a party of thresh- ers, who, not realizing the danger approach- ing them, kept on working until the horses were thrown into a panic. The affrighted animals broke from the track, tearing the gearings of the power and machine so as to burst the upper concave of the separator. The cylinder in rapid motion, leaping from its bearings, grazed the head of the man who was feeding the machine, and buried itself in the ground several inches deep. The whole separator was shorn of belts and pulleys, and presented one of the worst machine wrecks ever seen.
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