USA > Iowa > Page County > Biographical history of Page 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 of Page County, with personal histories of many of the early settlers and leading families; and a concise history of the county, the cities, and the townships > Part 22
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And thus he soon will perish, to be remem- bered only as a historic name, unless rescued from liis semi-civilized state by an omnipo- tent power, through the sympathy of Chris- tian love.
HISTORY OF PAGE COUNTY.
243
EARLY SETTLEMENT.
CHAPTER IV.
O the reader of local history no chapter is of more universal interest than that which refers to the first actual settle- ment. Especially is this true of those who have experienced some of the privations and endured the hardships coincident with the first beginnings in a new country. The pioneer reads slowly and critically each line and paragraph, and every word, almost, re- calls memories of the dead past, which for a whole generation have been buried among a host of recollections, which now rise up be- fore him like a strangely commingled dream. The old associations, the deeds and trials, while settlers were yet far apart; and the wolves howling about the little log cabin, sending a chill to his heart; and the wind driving the rifting snow through the crevices -all now rise vividly before him. Often it is with pleasure that he recalls these recollec- tions, viewing with satisfaction the thought that he lived to see a wealthy land dotted with school-houses and churches, villages and cities.
But again, it will be with sadness that the part is re-viewed by the pioneer. His quick-
ened thought will bring np the dark and painful side of early days. How a wife, whose virtues, bravery and simplicity will always be remembered, or a child prattling in innocence, was being called from earth to the eternal home, laid away under the cold cruel sod, in solemn quietude, by the rough yet tender hand of hardy pioneers. Time had partially allayed the sting, but the wound is now uncovered by the allusion to days gone by, and the cases are not a few when a tear of bitter sadness will course down the fur- rowed check in honor of the memory of those who have long since departed.
It should be remembered by the reader, that it is no easy task to undertake to de- scribe the first settlement of a county which was settled almost a half century ago,-to locate men; to spell their names correctly; to follow and trace out these pioneers in all the part they took in laying the foundation and organizing so goodly a county as the one of which we now write. If errors occur, they innst be overlooked. If omissions are found, remember we have used the most authentic data to be had, leaving ont none through
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HISTORY OF PAGE COUNTY.
intention. In the main we believe the sub- joined account of the first comers to Page County will be found correct.
The reader will now please strip himself of every present conception of things-do away with his likes, dislikes and prejudices, and imagine for the time being that yon lived in 1843, prior to which time Page County be- longed to the Indians.
In the early settlement of Page County can be traced those who left their homes in Pennsylvania, Ohio, Virginia, Kentucky, In- diana, Tennessee, North Carolina, Illinois, Missouri and New York, for the purpose of making homes for themselves and their pos- terity here on the boundless prairies of south- western Iowa. Here we inay follow the course of the hardy woodman of the " Buck- eye" or the "Hoosier" State on his way West to " grow up with the country," trust- ing only to his strong arın and willing heart to work out his ambition of a home for him- self and wife, and a competence for his chil- dren.
Again we may see the pride of Kentucky blood, or the vainglorying of the Virginian F. F. V., only to be modified in its advent from the crucible of democracy when servi- tude was eliminated from the solution.
We shall find little of the distinctive New England characteristics, which haye contrib- uted so many men and women to other por- tions of our State and the West in general, but we shall find many an industrious native of Germany and the British Isles.
As previously stated, prior to 1843, the soil of Page County was owned and occupied by the Indian race who sang their songs and danced and hunted over its virgin surface, and caught fish from its beautiful streams unmno- lested by the firm advance of the whites, who were then rapidly pushing the red man toward the setting sun. An occasional trapper, per-
haps. found his way into the wilds of this section of Iowa, only to be repelled and driven back to his home on the frontier, though it may have been scarcely less rude than the wigwam of the Indian. The hour had come, however, when a new civilization was to ad- vance its flag here and to make these lands, then wild and uncultivated, blossom as the rose of beauty and cultivation.
However, white men inhabited Page County as early as 1840. During the year 1841 came the first actual white settler, George W. Far- rens, who came from Jackson County, Mis- souri, in the spring of that year. He was soon joined by his two brothers, Henry and David D. They erected a log house and inade the ordinary pioneer improvements on what afterward proved to be section 27, township 67, range 36, in what is now Buchanan Town- ship. At the time these brothers settled they were all single men having comparatively no means other than hopeful hearts and willing hands, they there commenced the develop- ment of what has come to be known as one of the banner counties of all the fair domains of Iowa. The location where they stopped has always been known as the Three Forks Settlement, being near the junction of the East and West Nodaway rivers and Buchanan Creek. Here they resided one year, having only their redskin brothers, the wolf, the panther and the wild elk for neighbors. The next year, however, others began to come in and seek out homes in this goodly land. It was in the fall of 1841 that William Hardee came to the county and located lands in section 1 of Buchanan Township. He went back to Missouri, near St. Joe, and remained that winter-1841-'42, and in the spring of 1842 he moved to his new home and has lived there until the present time-March 1, 1890, a period of forty-eight years. The reason ascribed by this pioneer for knowing that
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HISTORY OF PAGE COUNTY.
this settlement was as stated by above date, is that he purchased corn of the Farrens' family, which they raised the year prior. So Farrens must have arrived in 1841 and Har- dee in 1842, as a permanent settler.
In the spring of 1842 also caine George and David Brock, Thomas Johnson, Williamson Campbell, all settling in Buchanan Township. Abont the same date came Pleasant Wilson, who died in 1844, his being the second deatlı in the county-the first among the settlers. Lieutenant Buchanan was drowned in this county as early as 1833.
It would be of interest to those of the present generation, could they go back to the condition of affairs when George W. Farrens first came to this county in 1841. Conld we have seen the sublimity of this great and fer- tile region, where but few, even of the red men, were there living! Could we but imagine what were the thoughts entertained by that pioneer, as he recalled the home he had left in his native State, and then com- pare it with these rolling prairies, waving with naught but the luxuriant grass, the fine unhacked forests, through which coursed the pretty meandering streams! The sound of the ax and the crash of the falling timber spoke of new life and a new era. To the new comer this wild region was indeed a feast to the eye and every babbling brook was music as sweet as the merry voice of children at play.
The principal settlers for the first few years were as follows-none are intentionally omnitted :
1841-George W. Farrens, David Farrens, Henry Farrens, who settled on section 27, township 67, range 36 west.
1842-George Brock, David Brock, Malin Brock, William Hardee, G. W. Hardee, Thomas Johnson, Williamson Campbell, Rob- ert Wilson, all men of families.
1843-Jesialı Thompson, Moses Thomp- son (now both dead), and Jesse Majors, set- tled a few miles sonth of Clarinda; Larkin Thompson (deceased now) settled the same year as did Robert V. Stafford and Charles Gas- ton. These all located in what is now East River Township.
1844-Came Jeremiah Teeters, Gid Dough- erty.
1845-During this year came quite a number, among others Joseph Buckingham and his two sons, John and Joshua; also John Daily and Aaron Vice, who settled in Nebraska Township.
Jacob Fruits, " Boss " Fruits, Frederick Gamble, Pike Davidson, settled east of Brad- dyville, and was soon followed by Wayne Davidson, William Shearer, Sr., William Shearer, Jr., Jacob Bottomnfelt, John and Robert Snodgrass, Daniel and John Duncan, John Griffy and Thomas Nixon.
1846-Elisha Thomas removed to the county from Ohio, locating where Hawley- ville now stands. The same year came S. F. Snider, afterward county judge, who settled on Snake Creek, near its confluence with the East Tarkio. Also William Lavering, who settled in Lincoln Township, where he re- mained until 1868 and moved to Kansas.
In 1847 came John Ross, settling in Ne- braska Township, remaining until 1851, when he moved to Montgomery County and was afterward killed by the Indians in Kansas.
Early in 1850 Captain R. F. Conner moved to Page County from Maryville, Missouri, and bought the Stonebraker Mill property. He was elected county judge in 1851.
From this date on settlers began to come in inore rapidly, and something concerning their location and general whereabouts will be found in the " Early Settlement" division of the township histories of the various townships in which they at first located.
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HISTORY OF PAGE COUNTY.
It will be observed that in Page County, as elsewhere, the first men to settle were men of small financial means and that all took claims in the timbers and along the streams. Most of them believed (until taught in ex- perience's dear school) that the prairie lands were " cold," poorer soil, and that they were taking the cream of the country by taking timber lands. This accounts for the first set- tlers all locating on the east side of the county.
ORIGINAL ENTRIES.
The following are the names of citizens who made the original entries at the land office in Council Bluffs during the year 1853:
Joshua Aiken, George Baker, John Bucking- ham, Henry Beaver, John A. Bussy, William Burge, Abraham Collier, Jefferson Cassady, James Campbell, Goolman Davidson, John Dodson, Samuel Davidson, Wayne Davidson, Sebastian Fruits, H. D. Farrens, Thomas Flem- ing, John Goldsmith, William Graves, Charles B. Hamilton, Thomas M. Houston, Erastus W. Hull, Abijah Hamton, Eli B. Johnson, Edmond W. Jones, B. Kenyon, Lee Hendrix, William Levering, George Martin, Thomas Nixon, Mary Nixon, Samuel Nixon, William Parker, Ann Reed, Thomas Roach, Robert Snodgrass, C. B. Short, William W. Scarlett, William Sparks, Robert W. Stafford.
EARLY TIMES.
" When the first settlers came, the Indians had not abandoned all title to this territory, but by the time the great body of emigrants had arrived within the limits of the county, in 1846, 1847 and 1848, they were nearly all gone, although they were to be seen oc- casionally even for a few years later, when re- turning to visit for a short time their former happy hunting grounds. Quite a number would come back on hunting and trapping expeditions, even as late as 1852, during
which time they would camp near the pioneer mill in great numbers and remain weeks at a time."
The agricultural implements of Page County pioneers were much in contrast with those of the present time. The only plows they had at first were what they styled " bull-plows," which implement did good service. The mould-boards were generally of wood, but in some cases they were part wood and part . iron. The pioneer who had one of the latter description was looked upon as somewhat of an aristocrat and " puttin' on a lieap of style," as others termed it. But these old-fashioned wooden plows had their place and they must be awarded the honor of stirring up the vir- gin soil of Page County, where now all of the latest improvements in farm machinery are to be seen in operation on almost every quarter section of land, within the limits of what has long since come to be known as one of Iowa's best " banner " connties.
Again it was quite a time after the first settlement before there was a single stove in the county. Rude fire-places were constructed in the end of the humble log-cabin home, the same serving for warmth, cooking and ventilation.
The first cabins were indeed rude affairs- not just such as were built a little later on in the history of the settlement. The latter ones required some union of forces to " raise " them. The first structures were but little in advance, in style of architecture, to those put up by the Indians. As soon as enongh men could be got together for a " cabin raising " then log cabins, in fact, came into style. Many a pioneer can remember how that some of the happiest days of their younger lives were spent in the rude, yet very healthy cabins.
A window-sash provided with glass was a rarity prior to 1850, and gave evidence of
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HISTORY OF PAGE COUNTY.
wealth and aristocracy, which but very few could support, -for thesc articles cost cash, and the first settlers had but little of this particu- lar commodity. The more common form of a window was an opening, which space was covered by a greased paper, which adınitted a little light. These home-made windows, together with openings between the logs, where chinking had been left out, provided light and proper ventilation.
The doors were fastened by the old-time wooden latch, the string of which was always hanging without; for it should be here re- corded that western pioneers were full of hospitality, and entertained visitors to the best of their ability.
Somehow the log cabin lias always had an affectionate spot on the heart of the American people, even away back from good old New England days.
It stands down in the pasture now, that cabin rude and old.
Its roof is fast decaying, and its logs are thick with mold;
Down in the pasture, near a spring, whose never ceas- ing flow
Still ripples down its pebbled bed, with murmur soft and low.
'Good-bye, old house;" no storied halls upon the clas- sic Rhine
Have done more for the ages past than you for me and mine;
You filled your place, and that full well, and they have done no more.
No men more brave nor girls more fair than issued from your door.
That the younger generation may get a correct idea of all that " father and mother " liad to go through, it may be well in this connection to quote the following, as written by an old settler:
There were round logs notched together at the corners, ribbed with poles aud covered with boards split from a tree. A puncheon floor was then laid down, a hole cut out in the end, and a stick chimney run up. A 21
clapboard door is made, a window is opened by cutting out a hole in the side or end, about two feet square, and it is furnished sometimes witli a board and sometimes with glass. The cabin was then " chinked" and " daubed " with mud made from the top soil.
The house is now ready to go into. The household and kitchen furniture is adjusted, and life on the frontier is then begun in carnest.
The one-legged bedstead, now alinost en- tirely forgotten, was made by cutting a stick the proper length, boring holes at one end one and a-half inches in diameter, at right angles, and the same-sized holes correspond- ing with these in the logs of the cabin the length and breadth desired for the bed, in which are inserted poles. Upon these poles are laid clapboards, or bark is interwoven consecutively from pole to pole. Upon this primitive structure the bed is laid.
The convenience of a cook stove was not thought of then, but instead, the cooking was done by the faithful housewife in pots, ket- tles and skillets, on or about the big fire- place, and very frequently over and around, too, the distended pedal extremities of the legal sovereigns of the household, while the latter were indulging in the luxury of a cob pipe, and discussing the probable results of a contemplated elk hunt.
In recording the historic events of Page County's pioneers, it would be incomplete without some mention of the faithful house- wife. The winds and the wolves might howl without the lonely cabin, but within there burned the pure bright flaine of a woman's love. There was something of poetry and romance to the mau who felled the first forest trees, plowed the first soil and erected the first buildings. While the work was hard, yet there was a charm about the new country that inade the hardy pioneer quite happy. But to the busy housewife there seemed to be no end to toil, and care and sacrifice. The three meals were to be had, and tlie prattling children all to be cared for.
248
HISTORY OF PAGE COUNTY.
At that time the woods abounded in wild fruit-grapes, plums, crabapples and berries. It took the place for many years of cultivated fruits. Now one sees but little of the wild fruits, except, perhaps, occasionally crab- apples, wild cherry, blackberry and straw- berry, but civilization has ruined their qual- ity, for by some reason the delicious taste of early days has gone-or else our tastes have changed !
So scarce was money in Page County at an early day, that it is told for the truth that it was hard for the pioneers to get money enough together to pay the 25 cents which it then took to get a letter from out the postoffice. In the early '40s, a young man left his home in some one of the Eastern or Middle States, and came to this part of Iowa for the purpose of making for himself a home, with the view of soon bringing a fair young bride to " enjoy the hardships" with him. Before coming West the young inan and his sweetheart pledged one to the other that come what would-come weal, come woe-nothing but death could their affections sever. After he had been in Page County some months he received word through one of the settlers, who had been to Savannah, Missouri, the nearest postoffice, that a letter there awaited him, on which the usual postage, 25 cents, was due. How to get said letter was no easily solved problem! The prevailing currency of the day was wolf-scalps and coon-skins, but they were only good to exchange for goods- no cash was ever paid. But with young love burning in his heart, the young pioneer con- cluded to try and make the rich soil of Page County pay the debt; so he set about plant- ing watermelons, thinking that they might be the key by which he could unlock the treasured epistle from his " deary" in the far- off East. About July 15, he plucked a load of fine ripe meions and started for Savannah.
Upon arriving there he found he could not easily sell for cash-even at any price. But finally he was forced to sell the entire load to the county officials, who had money when merchants had none! He found that two big letters (love letters of course) were there, cal- ling for 50 big cents. So he sold his entire load of melons-sweet and delicious though they were-for 50 cents, and immediately got his mail. It may be stated that a few years later on his fondest hopes were realized and he was enabled to replant his fair eastern flower in his pioneer home in Page County. They were able to sit by their own bright fireside in years after, and recount the hard- ships by which they were brought together as man and wife.
To one looking back over the financial situation of those early days, it is hard to understand how, now in the very midst of luxury and good markets, the present popu- lation can so periodically talk of "hard times," low prices, and in fact do a general grumbling business. The secret, however, is in the fact that men then had to live with- in their means.
In the early settlement of the county a great many of the cabin homes were used as stopping places for the weary travelers, and when this was the case the house was packed to its utmost. When bed-time drew near, the first family would usually retire in the back part of the house, and so continue filling up by families until the limit was reached. The younger and single inen slept in their wagons. In the morning those nearest the door arose first, and went outside to dress. Meals were served on the hind end of the wagons, and consisted of corn bread, but- termilk and fat pork; occasionally coffee would wash down the "johnny-cake" and warm up the stranger.
At times game was plenty, and all sorts of
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HISTORY OF PAGE COUNTY.
wild animals were to be seen and heard, by day and by night. Deer .trooped over the boundless prairie in droves ranging from twelve to twenty. Elk and wild turkeys also abounded, and prairie chickens without num- ber. Bears were freqnent. Music of the nat- ural order was not wanting, and each night was the tired pioneer lulled to sleep by the screeching of panthers and howling of wolves.
One of the peculiar things connected with the life of the early settlers was that strange and indescribable loneliness. The solitude seemed almost to oppress them. Months would pass without seeing the face of a stranger; no human face to look upon, or being to talk to, save the members of their own household. Even the ringing echo of the axe, as its strokes resounded through the dense forests along the streams, seemed like a funeral knell.
THE FIRST DECADE.
The first ten years after Page County was settled and claimed by the white race, it was beyond a doubt a lonesome heritage. All that can be known of this period positively must be drawn part from illy-kept mnemo- randums, the writing of which has long since turned to a rust color and scarcely readable, and from traditions handed down from " the old folks " to their sons and danghters now living on or near the old homestead place, originally entered by those whose tongues have long years ago been silenced in death.
The county was yet unorganized, and there
is not a single page of record of any kind to be found of the history of the county during that period, although an interesting history it would have made liad it been preserved. There are a few very early settlers yet here, but their memories liave been impaired by the inists and frosts of thirty-five years. Historically speaking, those earlier years were the most important years of Page County, for it was then that the foundation and corner-stone of all the county's history and present prosperity were laid.
Yet those years were not fraught with numerous stirring and remarkable events. It was, however, a time of self-reliance, and brave, persevering toil; of privations cheer- fully endured, through faith in a good time coming. The pioneers had no caste; all were equal (financially); they faced the same liard- ships, and were, as a great common rule, each other's friend, both as related to joy and sor- row.
New-comers were ever welcome to this fair domain, and ready hands assisted in rearing the log houses for those of less skill and ex- perience. None stood on ceremony, but all took duty upon their own shoulders and per- formed it cheerfully and well. Was a set- tler's cabin blown down or burned, no sooner was it known than here come the far and near neighbors to assist in giving shelter and rebuilding. These people were a law-abiding people, but woe came upon him who came among them to violate law and cause dis- order!
of
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HISTORY OF PAGE COUNTY.
#THE BEGINNING.
CHAPTER V.
ORGANIZATION OF THE COUNTY.
HE first act toward establishing a sub- division of the territory now embraced in Page County, was when Warren Reed, under the direction of the Surveyor- General of Missouri, surveyed out township 67, range 39, in the month of December, 1845.
In the settlement of Iowa, the Territorial Legislature began by organizing counties along the Mississippi River. As each new county was formed it was made to include, under legal jurisdiction, all the country bordering west of it, and required to grant to the occidental settlers election rights and an equal share in county government with those who properly lived within the geo- graphical limit of the county. This state of things existed only until the territory west became settled sufficient to form separate or- ganizations of their own; and finally, at the first session of the Iowa Legislature, after the Indians had sold out, the newly acquired territory, including all of northwestern Iowa, was laid off into counties, provisions being made for their respective organizations when
the proper time should come, and these were severally named by said Legislature. Hence this county was created in 1847.
The Third General Assembly convened at Iowa City, December 2, 1850, and adjourned February 5, 1851. During that session there were forty-two counties represented and be- fore that body adjourned about fifty counties more were created and named, the same being approved by Stephen Hempstead, January 15, 1851.
It was named in honor of a brave and gal- lant young officer of the United States army, who was killed at the battle of Palo Alto in the Mexican war. William Hudson, who had been appointed organizing Sheriff by the Third General Assembly, formally organized the county in 1851. At the time of organ- izing the county, there were but two civil townships-Buchanan, running up the " di- vide " between East River and Buchanan Creek, and Nodaway included the remainder of the domain known as Page County. It appears from the following, copied from the Iowa State Reports, that the first officers ap- pointed failed to do their duty in organizing
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