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 26
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Scattering. 3 1866 -- A. B. Cramer. 591
John Perkins 350 1868-J. De Long. 926
E. M. Clark 473
1870 -- J. De Long 979
Henry Lown 431
ELECTION OF VOTES CAST.
1872 -- Thomas Wallace 1,390
A. M. Cooper. 753
1874-James L. Brown. 1,106
D. N. Holmes. 800
1876-James L. Brown
2,188
Carl M. Stafford. .1,105
1878 -- James L. Brown. 1,388
C. M. Stafford. 686
1880-James L. Brown
2,723
Walrod .. 926
Lew. Norton. 370
1882-Thomas C. Beard. 2,624
Scattering.
9
1884-Thomas C. Beard. 2,847
C. M. Stafford. 1,651
1886-Thomas C. Beard.
2,457
W. D. Hakes. 1,427
1888-J. R. Eckroth.
2,364
A. T. Irwin. 1,982
SHERIFFS.
Robert Stafford was the first sheriff of Page County, he being one of the organizers of the county. In 1853 William Robbins was elected, and served until 1858, when Jacob Loy was elected.
ELECTION OF VOTES CAST.
1858-Jacob Loy.
1859 -- Jacob Butler 337
William Robbins 274
E. W. Butler 95
1861-B. B. Hutton.
302
John Perkins 252
William Robbins 101
1863-B. B. Hutton 405
John Perkins. 269
1865-George W. Burns 419
N. C. Reidnor. 266
1867-George W. Burns 590 N. J. Calhoun 442
1869 -- J. J. Round.
722
1871 -- Isaac Damewood 967
Scattering
4
1873 -- Isaac Damewood.
1,165
R. U. McClanahan 861
1875-Isaac Damewood. 1,468
N. J. Calhoun 31
1877 -- Isaac Damewood. 1,477
J. H. Gillihan. 553
P. Hamaker. 287
1879-M. C. Johnson
1,423
H. S. Alexander
960
J. H. Abbott
302
278
HISTORY OF PAGE COUNTY.
VOTES CAST.
ELECTION OF VOTES CAST.
1881-M. C. Johnson 1,236
J. C. Brown. 369
W. D. Hardy 86
1883-M. C. Johnson
2,308
W. L. Malony
1,272
1885-D. H. Skinner. .2,062 Robert M. Rawlings 1,898
1887-D. H. Skinner.
.2,106
Robert M. Rawlings. 1,405
1889 -- D. H. Skinner
.2,187
William H. Harris 1,004
CORONERS.
Nothing positive can be now had from the records as to who the first coroners were, but from 1859 the records show as follows:
ELECTION OF VOTES CAST.
1859-A. Scott. 350
William Cunning.
269
Nathan Haskins. 74
1861-J. C. McCandlis 392
1863-J. C. McCandlis. 387
Thomas Beach. 257
1865-John Kinkade. 420
H. Davison. 263
1867-J. W. Scott. 661 William Cunning. 354
1869 -- Frank E. Norton 711
1871 -- A. J. Adams 951 Scattering. 4
1873 -- P. W. Lewellin 1,118
Scattering .. 4
1875-Thomas Evans 1,399
Scattering
6
1877-J. I. Bagnall 1,465
J. C. Holmes. 557
J. B. Laughlin 38
1879-Thomas Evans 1,846
Dr. E. Eckerson 606
1881-
1883-Thomas Evans. 2,196
N. C. Reidnor. 1,268
1885-Thomas Evans 2,521 A. M. Collier. .1,322
1887-S. R. Millen .2,097
H. L. Stillwell 124
1889-S. R. Millen. 2,077
W. H. Pittman 1,257
SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENT.
At first this office was attended to by the school fund commissioner, as follows:
ELECTION OF
1850-'52-Philip Boulware.
1852-'54-A. H. Farrens.
1854-'58-B. B. Hutton.
Then come the superintendents proper :--
ELECTION OF
VOTES CAST.
1858-B. B. Hutton. 309
A. H. Farrens. 203
1859 -- J. L. Anderson. 3:39
E. A. L- 292
. J. M. Young. 83
1861-J. H. Maughlin Scattering 02
374
1863-J. A. Wood. 395
J. H. Wilson 282
1865-J. A. Wood 445
1867 -- J. A. Wood. 608
L. Cramer 2
1869-Elijah Miller 734
1871-Elijah Miller 987
Scattering. 70
1873-H. Morton. 1,014
J. A. Wood. 992
1875-Elijah Miller 1,337
H. Morton. 486
1877-Elijah Miller 1,439
F. W. Chase 556
T. J. Garnette 326
1879-S. E. Wilson. .1,621
Mrs. N. C. Harper 1,038
1881-S. E. Wilson 1,214
E. Miller. 58
1883-S. E. Wilson. 2,001
Miss Mary A. Welty. .1,540
1885-Lottie E. Granger. 2,407
William M. Croan. 1,488
1887 -- Lottie Granger.
2,082
Martin Wilftey. .1,361
1889-Lottie E. Granger 1,888
H. Woten 1,442
SURVEYORS.
Elijah Miller was elected in 1854 and served until 1862. The returns show as follows:
ELECTION OF VOTES CAST.
1859-Elijah Miller. 392
Andrew Petty. 307
1860-J. W. McKinly (never qualified). 433
R. F. Connor 341
1861 -- John Cross 396
Lewis Wilder 53
R. F. Connor 29
1853 -- John Cross
383
A. H. East 246
279
HISTORY OF PAGE COUNTY.
ELECTION OF VOTES CAST.
1865-Elijah Miller 445 1867-T. J. Garnett. 665
Scattering. 2
1869-William R. Collicotte. 721
1871-William R. Collicotte. 956
1873-J. W. McKinly 1,088 Scattering 42 1875-L. A. Russell. 1,356
Scattering.
7
1877-Julius Carlson 1,491
R. F. Connor 580
L. A. Russell. 4
1879-J. A. Carlson 1,861
R. F. Connor 598
1981-J. A. Carlson 1,269
George Blanchard. 327
1883-Julius Carlson. 2,310
Scattering. 4
1835-C. W. Spraegur. 2,564
R. F. Connor. 1,305
1887-J. R. Carlson. .2,101
Scattering. 3
1889-I. N. G. Hartford. .2,178
COUNTY ATTORNEY.
By an act of the General Assembly passed in the session of 1885-'86 the office of county attorney was created-the same to be elected by the people, same as other county officers.
The first election for such position was held in the autumn of 1886.
ELECTION OF VOTES CAST.
1886-T. R. Stockton 1,947
T. R. Willis. .1,891
DRAINAGE COMMISSIONERS.
This office was in existence from an early day until 1869, when, the country having become well developed, there was but little use for it. Some of the matters which had been attended to (regarding swamp lands, etc.) by the " Drainage Commissioner," has since been cared for by the Board of County Supervisors. The drainage commissioners were elected as follows:
ELECTION OF VOTES CAST.
1859-John Buckingham 332
Thomas H. East 325
1861-John Buckingham 407
1862-Albert Heald. 364
J. Swinton .. . 234
NOTE .- The record does not show that another commissioner was elected, the office having outgrown its usefulness.
For other political matters we refer the reader to the chapter on " County Govern- ment."
6
23
280
HISTORY OF PAGE COUNTY.
EDUCATIONAL,
CHAPTER X.
PPORTUNITIES for gaining a good education were not good when I was a boy," our fathers may talk about; but to those of us who live in this" the high noonday of the nineteenth century, can never hide behind this pretext for not being well informed by having a common school and business education.
While vast has been the inprovement in the educational affairs of Page County, since the first terms of school were taught in the little and dingy old log school-houses-away back in the '40s and '50s-it must not be,sup- posed that while the pioneers who first set- tled the county, turning the prairie sod and grubbing out the underbrush from the forests, they for once became so far absorbed in their work that they forgot the schooling of their children. As soon as a sufficient num- ber of children could be found residing in any given locality, the school-room, such as it was, made its appearance,-rnde at first and not at all furnished, still in pretty good keep- ing with the pioneers' residences.
Pioneer school-houses were usually built of logs and warmed in winter time by big fire- places. Slanting shelves for desks, with slab
benches for seats were provided. These strong but terrible rough and hard seats were inade of various heights, to suit the " big scholars " as well as the smaller urchins. This was brought about simply by sawing off the ends of the legs, which were driven into the slab and wedged like a milk-stool! Sometimes, dur- ing the first years, greased paper took the place of glass for windows. The text-books used then would not be tolerated at present. Among these were " Webster's Speller," Daboll's arithmetic, Murray's grammar and McGuffey's readers. Copy books, outline maps, globes, charts, etc., were unthought of in the cominon schools anywhere. " Spare the rod and spoil the child" was thoroughly believed in, and many a flogging was given the boys and girls wlio attended school in Page County, before the great civil war, which period seemed to mark a new and bet- ter era in almost all departments of life- especially in the West.
To show the fact that money was scarce at an early day, and that every farthing's worth of public funds was accounted for, it is only necessary to subjoin a few items from the record kept by the School Fund Commis-
281
HISTORY OF PAGE COUNTY.
sioner (an office existing prior to the county- superintendent system). The book is still well preserved and cost " ten shillings;" its cover was paste-board, and its quality of paper and the ruling about like our cheap blotting paper of to-day. In order to use all the paper therein contained, the officer com- inenced his record, in very poor penmanship, (executed in " soft-maple ink ") on the inside surface of the first cover of the book. The book had the ordinary blank fly-leaf, which was closely written over on both sides. This pioneer school record proves several things,- among others, that the county's first school fund commissioner was an exceedingly honest officer; every sheet of paper and blank report furnished him was strictly receipted for, etc., even giving the name of the boy or man to to whom he gave it and to whom it was sent. The first supplies were credited up in the fol- lowing exact wording (mark the orthography, student of to-day):
" August fifteen one thousand & 52 re- ceived 3 sheats of notes of convayinces rapt round other notes and cealed so as to be obleged to be torn to smash to Seperate the remainder of the whole role"
" August twentieth time, 1850 and two received three Slieats of notes having six (6) notes on eachlı Sheat making 18 notes in all"
He described the eighit school districts, which Page County was then divided into, on the fly-leaves of his second book to save pa- per, commencing the book by indexing on the first cover. Among other odd descriptions, he recorded district number five as follows:
" Destrict five is bounded on the south by the northi line of destrict four; on the east by the middle prong of the Nodawa river; on the west by the west prong of the Nodawa river; on the north by aline comencing at the fish trap ford on the middle prong of the Nodawa river."
The above is not given to make light of a poor education, but to show the improvement made in public records from the time record was spelled " reckord" down to the present day. This book also shows that the total school money for the eight school districts (then spelled " destrict") for the year ending March, 1852, was only sixteen dollars and seventy-one cents. No wonder they were saving of paper in those early times!
The following will serve to slow, in fig- ures, what advancement educational matters have made since 1864 to the present date,- dividing at 1872:
1864.
1872.
1889.
District Township. .
13
16
11
Independent "
1
4
45
Sub-districts
45
96
83
Ungraded Schools ..
51
89
126
Graded Rooms.
3
1
41
Male Teachers
27
67
74
Female
45
69
235
Wages of Males. . .. $25
$33
$38
=
Females ..
$16
$26
$33
Pupils enrolled.
1,881
2,750
5,675
Cost per pupil per month. $ .96
$1 80
$1 83
Frame School-houses
24
83
124
Brick
2
1
8
Log
66
8
Total
=
34
84
132
Value of
$16,000
$70,000
$148,142
TOWNSHIP SCHOOL REPORT FOR 1889.
DISTRICTS.
PUPILS
Amity
8
193
Buchanan
7
216
Colfax
6
145
Douglas
9
154
East River
8
220
Fremont
9
302
Morton
8
197
Nebraska
3
104
Pierce
7
134
Tarkio
9
252
Valley
9
272
Grant
9
918
Harlan
6
442
Washington
6
253
Nodaway
14
1,120
Lincoln
6
312
Total .
83
5,675
..
282
HISTORY OF PAGE COUNTY.
During 1889 the average cost per pupil per month was $1.72.
The average wages paid male teachers was $37 per month. Average wages paid female teachers was $33 per montlı.
On January 1, 1890, Page County contained 134 school-houses, or an average of over eight buildings to each congressional township.
The present condition of public schools in Page County bespeaks well for the intel- ligence of the population. Clarinda, the county seat, has for many years been noted for the best grade of schools in southwestern Iowa, while the country schools have ranked well up with any of the State ..
.UND
283
HISTORY OF PAGE COUNTY.
AGRICULTURE AND STOCK.
CHAPTER XI.
AGRICULTURE.
AGE COUNTY is acknowledged as be- ing in the front rank, and in many ways the best and most prosperous agricult- ural county of the great State of Iowa. Its people are wide-awake, and keep pace with the progressive march of civilization, of happi- ness, industry and culture. Its future possi- bilities may be set high among the cluster of its hundred sisters,-a star of pride to the : Hawkeye" State. The early pioneers did not come loaded with wealth, and, in fact, few had more than enough to barely get settled on their land; but they came with that which in those days was equal to it,-training, and were not ashamed to work. In connection with industrious habits, they had energy and determination to win success. The country being new and undeveloped there was no alternative but that success, if achieved at all, must be wrought from the soil, which was their only wealtlı and hope. In spite of all the obstacles and inconveniences to be en- countered, success attended their efforts, and the transformation from the primitive to the present comfortable condition of things was accomplished. Nor is the end yet reached, for the county still has a mine of agricult- ural wealth, which as the years shall come
and go will become of more and more value.
The following comparative statistics have been collected, and will serve to show in a measure the advancement which Page County has made: In 1859 the total number of bush- els of corn produced was 352,400, as against 2,239,043 bushels harvested in 1874. Total bushels of wheat raised in 1859 was 44,326, as against 3,671,027 in 1874. In 1874 there were apple-bearing trees to the amount of 18,525, which produced 15,128 bushels as against 119,440 trees, bearing 113,406 bnsh- els of apples. It is found that in 1885 Page County raised 118,059 acres of Indian corn, which produced 4,740,000 busliels. The same season the State reports show that she harvested 21,480 acres of spring wheat, which yielded 247,480 bushels; oats, 19,146 acres, producing 394,878 bushels.
From the census reports compiled in 1885 we find the following array of suggested facts:
Total population
20,938
American born.
18,604
Foreign
2,334
Average size of farms (acres)
128
Acres improved lands
258,840
Cultivated lands. 164,409
Orchard products (value of). $55,694
284
HISTORY OF PAGE COUNTY.
Value of animals sold $1,019,419
Number of milch cows
8,934
All other cattle.
20,553
Hogs raised for market 53,559
Tons of timothy hay
26,140
wild-grass “
15,840
Bushels of potatoes
106,383
Pounds of tobacco
5,592
Rods of hedge
537,486
STOCK-RAISING.
In the earlier history of Page County, and in fact the whole West, the land was almost wholly devoted to the cultivation and produc- tion of the cereals commnon to this latitude. The time was when agriculture was pursued to the almost entire exclusion of all else. But to-day this is all reversed. A revolution has swept over all Iowa and the West in general, since the late civil war, which has had its effect upon business, settlement and cominerce in such a manner as has brought the State forward among the ranks of its sister States, with a rapidity unequaled in the history of the past. Iowa to-day ranks foremost antong the forty States of the Union. Of course this progress cannot be attributed to any one pro- duction or brauch of industry, but inore to the natural resources and wealth of soil, which daine nature has been so profuse in bestow- ing, together with that of stock-raising. Page County, lying in the very best portion of the State and best fitted of any of the western counties for the growth of live-stock, has improved her golden opportunities, and hence grown wealthy by it.
It has all the natural advantages of an abundance of pure, running water and excel- lent grazing lands, while the soil is unsur- passed for the production of corn, the staple annual product: thus she has attained her pros- perity. The region of the famous Nodaway and Nishnabottna valleys has justly achieved a wide and merited reputation as a stock-pro- ducing country. The farmers are alinost
solely confined to corn, stock and fruit grow- ing.
The following figures, taken from official and authentic reports, will show the advance- ment made in stock-growing in this county, and furnish a key to her material prosperity :
The value of all live-stock assessed in 1850 was $18,783; in 1860 it reached $207,540; in 1870 the amnouut was $913,440. In 1880, it had reached $1,724,960.
On Jaunary 1, 1885, there were 29,404 head of cattle and 11,586 head of horses iu the county; also 75,480 hogs, of which nuin- ber 53,401 were ready for slaughter.
From the newspaper files of the local press, at the county seat, the following items have been taken, under dates indicated:
February 4, 1874: Moses Thompson de- livered1, 600 head of hogs to a firm from Mon- mouth, Illinois, this week, which will bring him in return over $25,000. He has made even larger deals than this the present season.
December 3, 1870: We suppose that there inust be about 10,000 hogs in Page County which the farmers are holding for better prices, and we hope they may go np.
November 28, 1872: Page County is at the front; we have more substantial stock- feeders than any other county. In the west- ern part of the county Mr. Rankin leads them all,-he is likely the most extensive feeder iu Iowa. He is now engaged in feeding 1,000 head of Texas steers and over 200 head of native cattle. These 1,200 head are being fed on corn grown on Mr. Rankin's farılı, which this year has produced 70,000 bushels of corn. We have not learned the exact figures, but it is safe to say that there are now being fed over 12,000 head of cattle in Page County. This should encourage our farmers, who will receive 30 cents a bushel for coru instead of the shipping value of 15 cents.
285
HISTORY OF PAGE COUNTY.
December 12, 1872: A. P. West, the owl- ner of the preminin farms in Page County, is now feeding over 300 head of cattle, which he says he is bound to inake the largest ever shipped from this part of Iowa.
September 11, 1873: At the fair held at Red Oak, Page County, as is always the case, was the banner county; W. H. Widney took the sweepstakes preminin on the best bull, while D. H. Payton walked off with the pre- mium for the best stallion, as well as for the best mare and colt by her side.
November, 1880: George E. Martin, one of our leading stock inen, brought into this county 6,000 sheep, and lias disposed of all but 1,400,-which he will keep himself.
THE AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY.
The Page County Agricultural Society was organized in the spring of 1859, George Rib- ble being elected president, and Samuel H. Kridelbaugh, M. D., served as secretary. At the first meeting of the society, held at the court-house at Clarinda, the third Saturday in June, the date of holding the first annual fair was fixed for the 14th and 15th days of October.
The first exhibition was held one-half mile north of Clarinda, on land belonging to Messrs. James A. Jackson and Henry Farrens. The first day of the fair was unfavorable, being rainy, but the next day came on fine, warm and clear; men, women and children, with their stock, wares and produce, came pouring in early from all parts of the county, until almost everybody wondered at the vast mnul- titude of people who lived in their own county. The exhibit was large and creditable for that early day. The grain and vegetable display surpassed that of stock. The exhibit furnished by the pioneer women was complete in all its departments. The amount of money
received by the society on that first occasion was as follows:
Gate money. $13 50
Received as membership. 52 00
Received from the State. . 52 00
Total receipts. $117 50
At the regular meeting of the society, held at Clarinda November 1, 1859, the following officers were elected for the next year:
James G. Laughlin, President; A. Heald, Vice-President; C. B. Shoemaker, Secretary ; George Ribble, Treasurer; I. Van Arsdol, J. P. West, H. Litzenburg, James A. Reed, James Black, Elisha Thomas, William But- ler, Sebastian Fruits, James Martin, R. Brat- tin, Directors.
At that meeting Messrs. N. L. Van Sandt, A. Loranz and J. C. McCandliss were ap- pointed a committee to select and locate grounds, with a view to their purchase by the society.
At a subsequent ineeting Mr. Van Sandt, on behalf of the committee, reported as fol- lows, in substance: " Your committee ap- pointed to select permanent grounds, after a thorough examination of various points have selected the grounds occupied in part by the last fair; embracing all that parcel of ground lying east of the county road, on the south by the line of said tract until it strikes the south branch, thence down to the intersection with the north, thence up that to its intersec- tion with the road at the northwest corner of the lot; supposed to contain about ten acres of land. Of the above, nine acres belong to Mr. Jackson, and one to Mr. Farrens. They propose to give a perpetual lease of the above grounds to the society, reserving the simple right of pasturing the same with sheep and cattle."
The report of the committee was accepted and steps taken to prepare the grounds for the second annual fair, which was held Sep-
286
HISTORY OF PAGE COUNTY.
tember 20, 21 and 22, of 1860. This exhi- bition proved a success. The following were the receipts:
Received as membership. .$114 00
Received as gate money 25 00
Total. $139 00
The society that year received $122 from the State fund, which, added to the above receipts, left them, after paying all expenses, $4.25.
The annual exhibition of 1861, owing to bad weather and the exciting times occa- sioned by the civil war, was not a complete success. In fact, from that date until the war closed, in 1865, the Page County Agri- cultural Society, like most other public en- terprises, struggled hard for an existence, and very great credit is due to Dr. N. L. Van Sandt for the interest taken in behalf of the organization during those dark years that tried men's souls - and pocket-books, as well!
In 1865 it became necessary to find new quarters, and consequently the board of direct- ors appointed Dr. Van Sandt a committee to locate and purchase grounds for the society. Hence it was that the grounds now occupied by the society, at least twenty acres of it, was bought and the annual exhibition of 1865 was held thereon.
It was during that year that the society was reorganized under proper and legal arti- cles of incorporation. This corporation was styled the " Page County Agricultural (Stock) Society,"-its object being set forth as "for the encouragement of scientific and practical agriculture, horticulture, stock-growing, the mechanical arts and domestic manufacture by means of public lectures, fairs and the dis- tribntion of standard agricultural publica- tions."
It was understood and stipulated that no
stock could be sold to or held by persons not living in Page County. The officers of the newly incorporated society, beginning March 7, 1865, were as follows:
David Abott, President; C. G. Hinman, James G. Langhlin and N. L. Van Sandt, Vice- Presidents; N. B. Moore, Secretary; Theo- dore T. Pendergraft, Corresponding Secretary ; James A. Jackson, Treasurer; S. H. Kridel- bangh, Librarian; William Butler, John R. Knox, T. H. Mckinnon, Samuel Nixon, G. H. Rumbaugh, J. C. McCandliss, H. N. Cramer, A. Loranz and J. P. West, Direct- ors; David Abott, J. R. Moreledge and N. L. Van Sandt, Financial Committee.
Through the efforts of Dr. Van Sandt, N. B. Moore, William Butler and others, about two years later (1867), the grounds were fenced and suitable buildings erected. These grounds are beautifully situated and now in- clnde twenty-six acres, all surrounded with fine shade trees-something unusual for fair grounds, which too frequently have a good " speed ring" more in view than comfort for those who exhibit stock, grain and mannfact- ured articles. The grounds contain a half- mile race course-sixty feet wide-said to be second to none in southern Iowa.
In 1880 the society was already in a con- dition not to be burdensome to the stock- holders and people. In speaking of the 1880 fair, the Clarinda Herald, of September 15, remarked editorially :
"The corn on exhibition was as fine as we have ever seen. Many excellent sam- ples of wheat were to be seen-as fine in quality as can be found in any No. 1 corn county.
"Among the many exhibits of fruit should be mentioned that shown by Mr. Cooper and Dr. Van Sandt, who have taken great care and devoted much time to horticulture.
" The cattle show was worthy of the coun-
287
HISTORY OF PAGE COUNTY.
ty, and did great credit to the men who have given so much attention to stock-rais- ing. Among this display was a thorough- bred bull, seven years old, weighing 2,500 pounds. N. B. Moore had a bull weighing 2,000 pounds, and Isaac Van Arsdol had a three-year-old thoroughbred bull weighing 2,200 pounds.
"No county in Iowa can show better stock and more of it than does Page, this present year.
" The show of horses of various ages and strains of stock was never better. Thirty- nine entries of draught horses were made. There was also a goodly exhibit of road- sters."
The attendance at that fair was very large and there were nearly 1,000 different entries made. Good judges estimated the number of people on the grounds at 8,000. Below is given the receipts of the association upon that occasion:
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