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 32
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92 | Part 93 | Part 94 | Part 95 | Part 96 | Part 97 | Part 98 | Part 99 | Part 100 | Part 101 | Part 102
THE SECOND TRAGEDY.
While the above was fresh in the minds of the people, another terrible blow saddened the town of Shenandoah. About nine P. M. the
following Saturday evening, female voices screaming " Murder, murder, help!" came from the house of a man named Gallup, near the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy depot. Frank J. Pine, accompanied by his clerk, named Ballard, Will Reining, and a commer- cial man named Patterson, at once ran to the house. Before arriving they learned that Frank Gallup and his younger brother, both intoxicated, had been beating their old father. Frank met the men at the gate, and, shoving Patterson to one side, grabbed Pine (against whom he held a grudge), by the shoulder and shot him through the heart. The others fled and gave aların; the militia company was called out, and old man Gallup said Frank had left the house, but it was soon learned lie was there; the fire-bell was rang and people assembled. Patterson led the way, borrow- ing a revolver. David Campbell, unarmed, accompanied them. Frank Gallup sprung from the porch with two large revolvers, seizing Campbell by the throat and shot him through the neck, when he fell to the ground : the shot did not prove fatal, however.
The next man shot was Burt Rice, a mem- ber of the militia company, who was just about to fire at Gallup. Rice expired in a few minutes. Patterson jumped from the cellar and fired at the same instant that Frank shot. The latter wounded W. H. Winfrys in the leg. A young man-a member of the militia, named Fletcher, shot Frank Gallup: the ball passed through his body and broke his arm. He fell dead in his tracks. So great was the hatred against Gallup that his body was dragged through the strcet to the engine house, where it was left until morning, half naked. There was a great excitement created, and over a hundred came from Red Oak and half of Clarinda accompanied Sheriff Skinner to the scene of the tragedy. There was much that was deplorable in connection with the
329
HISTORY OF PAGE COUNTY.
whole affair, and which may as well not be made part of historic record. Suffice it to say, the fiend of the first case left the place, and as a result of the last scene, three men-Pine, Fletcher and Rice-were killed and two others wounded.
THE GRASSHOPPERS.
On Sunday, June 13, 1875, the grasshop- pers trespassed on Page County soil, and it was feared that a genuine plagne had been visited upon the people and that all crops would be destroyed. They entered tlie do- inain of the county from the south and worked in a nortlierly direction ; they cleaned ont several corn fields and did mnuch damage to gardens, and some to grain fields. At Clarinda it was a sight fit to frighten a timid person, especially if unacquainted with the workings of the "little cusses." They were so thick in the heavens that they actually darkened the sky, even with the blazing of the noon-day sun. They remained until the following Tuesday, wlien they bid an affec- tionate farewell for a more northern latitude.
OLD SETTLERS' REUNIONS.
No regularly sustained old settlers' reunion association is kept up in Page County. There have been several meetings, and a few very pleasant, successful gatherings. Of one held in 1873, the Page County Democrat had the following to say:
On Saturday last was the day that had been selected for the reunion of the old set- tlers of Page County. The town at an early liour was full of our citizens, both old and new settlers. Many old citizens who had not met for years came together and greeted one another with right hearty good cheer. The procession was formed at eleven o'clock, and moved to the grove east of town. About this time it commenced to rain, and many were
kept at home. However, a large crowd were assembled in the grove, and all had a splendid time, the old pioneers saying they had seen too many storms in Iowa to be frightened away from "God's first temples" by a little thunder-shower. The meeting was called to order by our whole-souled old pioneer, George Ribble, who was one of Page County's first settlers, and one who is always foremost in advancing any good and public enterprise.
After music by the band, Rev. Thomas Stockton, a gentleman who helped to beat down the grass of both Page and Taylor counties, and withal a man whom all love and respect, implored a blessing from an All- wise Being upon the meeting. After this the Rev. S. Farlow was introduced, and spoke at length, giving a history of the trials and pri- vations of the early settlement, and we think he was the right man in the right place. His remarks were timely and appropriate, and why should they not be? for all that time he was a young minister, and instead of yellow- legged chickens appearing before him, he was well satisfied with "corn-dodger " and preach- ing Christ to the hardy pioneers. For this Mr. Farlow deserves great credit, and the thanks of all the old settlers are due him for his energy and perseverance in filling his ap- pointments. After a piece of music by the band, Dr. J. L. Barrett, an old and respected citizen of our town, was introduced and spoke in his inimitable way, giving an account of the early settlers of this and adjoining coun- ties. He came down to a late day and eulo- gized onr glorious county as it deserves. The Doctor's speech was well received, and all gave him praise for well-doing.
Colonel Hepburn was next introduced, and responded to the toast, "Page County ladies -past, present and future." He was fol- lowed by L. Lingenfelter, of Fremont County, who spoke at length.
MEMBERSHIP OF RELIGIOUS AND SECRET SOCIE-
TIES.
CHURCHES.
SOCIETIES. MEMBERSHIP.
Methodist Episcopal
1,604
Free Methodist ... . .
27
160
Wesleyan Methodist
·
50
330
HISTORY OF PAGE COUNTY.
Presbyterian.
546
SECRET SOCIETIES. SOCIETIES. MEMBERSHIP.
United Presbyterian
11
200
Reformed Presbyt'n
200
Masonic.
Blue Lodge. Chapter .... Commandery
4 224
Congregationalist.
2
148
Baptist
6
195
Odd Fellows.
6 273
Christian.
3
140
Knights of Pythias.
2
135
Latter-Day Saints
1
110
Ancient Order
5
132
Adventist.
2
74
Grand Army.
5
242
Evangelical Lutherans.
4
295
Knights of Labor
1
46
Salvation Army
1
20
Catholic.
2
70
Sons of Veterans.
4
152
United Brethren
2
75
Church of God.
1
20
Total in county
28
1,248
Total in county
26
3,907
Modern Woodmen
1
44
HISTORY OF PAGE COUNTY.
331
CITY OF CLARINDA.
CHAPTER XVIII.
LARINDA, the seat of justice of Page County, was designated in name as the county seat by the Legislature, whichi organized the county in 1851. The three men constituting this locating commission; elsewhere mentioned, first determined on the location and then pre-empted the land from the general Government, through the land office at Council Bluffs, and caused it to be surveyed into lots. This was done under the direction of William L. Burge, Prosecuting Attorney and ex officio County Judge. Elijah Miller was the surveyor; John Snodderly, Sr., and Benjamin Dodson, chiairmen, with Robert Stafford as their axeman. The act of the General Assembly of Iowa, appointing the above commissioners, was approved De- cember 22, 1852, and the town was platted in the month of May, 1853. It is located on the north west quarter of section 31, town- ship 69 north, and range 36 west. Fortune- ately, Clarinda, being laid out by county authority, there has never been the usual amount of "pulling and hauling" over plats and locations. The same beautiful public square upon which now stands the pride of
the cotinty-the temple of justice-was the site of the little old conrt-house, and the business of the city clusters about this block, set apart for court-house purposes. Hence, here at Clarinda we find no "old town," "new town," or "railroad town," as in so many Iowa counties.
The exact date at which Clarinda was platted is not known, but it was in May, 1853, while the plat as then executed was not placed on record, for some unknown reason, until December 7, 1857.
The next platting was February 23, 1858 when what is known in record language as " Ribble's addition " was made by pioneer George Ribble. For further details concern- ing additional plats, etc., see "City and Vil- lage Plats " elsewhere in this publication.
ORIGIN OF NAME " CLARINDA."
It has always been the aim of the author to establish the origin of the names of places and things about which he writes; and while there is no public record now in existence, showing the origin of naming the county seat of Page County, "Clarinda," yet by
332
HISTORY OF PAGE COUNTY.
diligent research, the fact has nevertheless been established, that the member of the General Assembly of Iowa, Rev. Carl Meant, who represented this district in the Legislature when the county was organized, was induced to suggest the name for the count seat to be located as "Clarinda," in honor of a niece of Alexander M. Tice (now deceased), a pioneer of the county. Her name was Clarinda Buck, and she was the daughter of John Buck, of Nodaway County, Missouri. She was a charm- ing young lady of twenty-two summers, and one whom all admired for her beauty of per- son and character. Later on she married and removed to Portland, Oregon, where she died about twenty-five years ago.
BEAUTY OF ITS LOCATION.
It is quite natural that the old residents of a town or city should come to believe it a most beautiful spot. The parent who does not see beauty in the nature of his or her offspring is unworthy the name of parent! But after removing all these associations, by reason of which Clarinda people think they have a beautiful city, still there remains the picture painted in the long-ago ages, when nature furrowed out the meanderings of the bab- bling brooks and made, by her artistic de- signs, the hills and the valleys, the forest and the broad expanse of the prairie. True there are hundreds of spots in Page County which surpass the natural scenery about Clarinda; but we come now to speak of the combination found in the co workings of nature and man. The former laid the foundations, while man has reared the massive structures in which the commerce of the city is transacted. Where a third of a century ago waved the tall grass in graceful swells and the rippling murmur of the sparkling and unchecked waters of the Nodaway River, flowing hard by, now stands the great and ever pointing
index hands of civilized and Christian life- the church spire and the school-house dome. Where less than fifty years ago, the Sac and Fox Indian tribes held their war dance, one sees hundreds of bright-eyed school children, gam boling about a magnificent school building in youthful glee. On the self-same spot that but a few short decades ago, the savage na- tives in their superstition, worshiped the Great Spirit, or his visible attributes-the sun, the moon, the wind, or the peaceful flowing river, to-day we find hundreds of de- vout and intelligent men and women, wor- shiping the true and living God, within the walls of beautiful temples built by a civil- ized race. Here and there, throughout the city, the church spires point to the blue vault above, and just beneath them swings a ponderous bell, the tongues cf which tell the stranger of a religious people. Again, in the very heart of this busy mart, towers up one of the most substantial and unique court- house structures to be found in all Iowa.
Another feature of beauty which adorns the capital of Page County is its great number of magnificent shade trees, including ever- greens of the rarest varieties, some trans- planted from soil in the South, while yet others were once mere saplings, found grow- ing on the stony altitudes of the Rocky Mountains, and brought here long before there was a mile of railroad built west of the Missouri River. Scarcely a street in the limits of the fair city but what is made more charming by the giant branches of maple, elm, locust, pine, spruce, mountain ash and cedar trees, planted away back in the early '50's, by such thoughtful pioneers as Dr. J. L. Barrett, who was the first to set out shade trees in the place. So great was this gentleman's passion for evergreen trees that at an early day persons away East, who did not know his given name, would not unfre-
333
HISTORY OF PAGE COUNTY.
quently address letters to The Evergreen Doctor, Clarinda, Iowa.
It matters not from what position one views Clarinda the trite saying, "God made the country, inan the city," ever and anon seems to repeat itself. Whether one drives along the well paved streets and views the many elegant residences nestled in among the trees and surrounded by an evergreen- sward carpeting, or whether they stroll about the busy market streets, in siglit of 300 market teams, hitched around the public square; or whether one proceeds toward the spacious and well proportioned hospital for the insane, a State institution, which is situated abont a mile to the north of the city, the same feeling comes over one. Even the care and respect shown to departed friends, who rest beneath the surface of Hazelwood cein- etery, bespeak of the culture, refinement and Christianity of the populace. Iowa has numerous beautifully situated towns and cities, and Clarinda may justly be classed among the prettiest, and from its many slight elevations one can get a glimpse of rural scenes, which in mid summer or early autum- time is, indeed, a feast to the eye. Looking in any direction, one's eye rests upon broad acres of finely cultivated farm lands, with all the best improvements. The panorama pre- sents the heavily loaded apple orchard, with its ripening fruit; the vast corn fields; the waving grain; the natural and artificial forest tree, the branches and foliage of which half hide the lazy-like motion of scores of neatly painted windmills, and which silently draw froni the earth water for man and beast. The scene is charming, but now we must go back to the business center and record things con- nected with the
EARLY HISTORY.
The first act toward starting a town at the point where now the bustling city stands was
the sale of town lots in September, 1853. The lot upon which Hawley's Opera House llow stands was bought for $15, while the common price for other than corner locations was $2 and $3 per lot. Considerable many lots were sold to Isaac Hulbert, for .means with which the county judge could make good the Government pre-emption fee at the land office; for it will be remembered that the county owned the town site by right of entry.
Many people of to-day wonder how it came about that the locating commissioners fixed on this section of Page County as the proper point at which to locate the seat of justice. The act which governed tliem in this, read, "as near the geographical center of the county as may be, having due regard to the present as well as the future population of said county." At the time of the location the population of the county was almost en- tirely confined to the eastern portion of the county. There were those living in the county then, as there are to-day, who though, and predicted the time would come when it would be inconvenient for those in the west- ern part to come so far to the county seat; but a majority argued (with honest convic- tions) that the then barren waste lying to the westward never could and never would be settled. These honest inortals were indeed mistaken, as the "barren waste" between Clarinda and Shenandoah is to-day one of Iowa's finest farming districts.
The first little "shanty" that was on the town plat was brought from the Neff farm, south of town, by Mr. Hulbert. It liad been used as a school-honse, in which Rev. Samuel Farlow's wife taught one terin of school. This rude structure was removed to the west side of the public square, and used for the accommodation of the first term of District Court held in the new county seat. This
334
HISTORY OF PAGE COUNTY.
was in September, 1853. The building men- tioned was 12 x 14 feet, neither plastered nor ceiled. The judge's stand was constructed after the manner of those employed for speakers' stands at a grove picnic.
The second building was a log house erected by Clark Brown, on the north side of the square, and used as a store.
The third building was a "round log building, scutched down," as the old settlers termed it. That is to say, round logs were used, and hewn down after they had been placed in the building. This structure stood on the site of the present Odd Fellows' block, and was used in 1855 for a hotel by George Ribble, and called the Clarinda Hotel.
At this time William L. Burge was acting County Judge, and lived in a small log house where the residence of J. H. Powers was afterward built.
A postoffice was established in 1854; Judge Snider was postmaster.
Early in the summer of 1854 Camp & Conn commenced selling from a very limited stock of general merchandise, kept in the old court-house shanty, before spoken of.
The same season the old "cottonwood school-house" was built, and in it Elijah Miller taught the first school held on the plat:
Late that fall Gordon & Townsend sent a wagon-load of goods into town. Judge S. F. Snider and family were the only inhab- itants of the village, and in September, 1854, James Shambaugh bought the goods of Gor- don & Townsend, and opened a store on the north side of the public square.
In 1855 J. H. Polsley commenced selling goods on the south side; and in the fall of that year J. H. Powers, who had been here during the summer, returned and bought Mr. Shambaugh out.
About the same time Rogers & Hinchman,
of Savannah, Missouri, started a store on the northwest corner of the square, and were later on succeeded by T. R. Hinchman.
The first physician to locate at Clarinda was Dr. J. L. Barrett. who came from Indi- ana originally, in 1855, and is still practicing his profession, his practice extending over a period of thirty five years. His sketch ap- pears elsewhere. Dr. Samuel Kridelbaugh came that year.
J. J. Barwick, the first resident attorney, located here in 1854. Dr. A. H. East was the next attorney to become a member of the Page County bar. He was also a successful physician.
In the fall of 1855 a term of school was taught in the "old cottonwood" by J. H. Wilson.
In the spring of 1856 Dr. J. H. Conine established an office, and later on opened a drug store.
During the summer of 1856 Kridelbangh & Douglas started a drug business, in which N. C. Ridenour, afterward prominent through his newspaper (the Democrat), was a clerk. Dr. Kridelbauglı was appointed postmaster. He held the office for a time, as did he the drug store, in a "dug-out," south from the present Page County Bank site. In 1857 D. C. Ribble purchased Douglas' interest with Dr. Kridelbaugh.
The same year, 1857, John R. Morledge (afterward Colonel in the Union army) estab- lished himself in the law business, which he followed many years.
In these early days time hung heavily and dragged on slowly, only an occasional stran- ger's face to be seen. To live was the pio- neer's idea; speculation was not rife at that date, as now; fortunes were made by hard work. The whistle of the long-billed snipe was music to the ear of Page County's pio- neers; it was free, and well it was, for no
335
HISTORY OF PAGE COUNTY.
money they had could go for luxury, unless that luxury might be a 25-cent letter postage or a gallon of good whisky, the price being the same amount as letter postage in 1855!
FIRST EVENTS (BUSINESS).
The first goods were sold by Camp & Conn, in 1854.
The first school was tanght by Elijah Mil- ler, in the "old cottonwood," during 1854.
The first blacksmith's shop was opened in 1854 or 1855, by Ray Hardesty, who located on the west side of the public square. He was an expert, and the glow of his forge was to be seen by day and by night. It was here that his brawny armns forged from iron freighted from St. Joseph, Missouri, the first breaking-plow in Page County which was good for anything. It was a fifteen-inch rod plow, and could be drawn by three horses. The plow was designed and partly made by its owner, Isaac Van Arsdol. This was a new departure from the old ox breakers, and soon the rod breaker became popular.
The first to work at wagon repairing was John Allen, who came about 1854 or 1855.
Among the first harness-makers here or in the county was Alexander Scott, in 1860.
The first shoemaker who understood the trade was Columbus Bridges, who came in 1855. The pioneer drug store was that opened by Dr. Conine, in the spring of 1856.
The first hotel was the combined log and frame house known as the Clarinda Hotel. It was run for hotel purposes in 1855, and was conducted by George Ribble.
The first doctor was J. L. Barrett, M. D., who came in June, 1855.
The firstattorney (regular) wasJ. J. Barwick. The first railroad train rolled into Clarinda from Villisca in November, 1871.
The first grain warehouse was erected in 1871, by Butler & Crooks.
The first agricultural implements sold in a regular way was in 1863, by William Butler, who freighted "Manny's" combined reaper and mower from Des Moines, and sold many of them at $280.
The pioneer photographer was a young man who was reared here, named Owens. Traveling artists preceded him.
The first to engage in the livery business was Lem. Davison.
The first exclusive boot and shoe store was run by Beeman & Caldwell, early in the " seventies."
The first exclusive clothing house was that of "Val" Graff.
The first exclusive hard ware stock was owned by Al. Collins, in the days of the Rebellion.
The first to deal in a regular inillinery stock were the Smith Sisters, in 1865-'66.
The pioneer dentist was probably Dr. San- born, at the close of the war.
The first brick block erected in Clarinda was the one built in 1866 by Butler, Thomp- son & Co., and is a part of the block now used by Gaff's clothing house.
The first to deal in lumber (soft wood) was Osgood & Kimball, about 1870.
Pottery was burned by Kridelbaugh Bros. in 1859.
The first church was the Methodist Epis- copal, erected in 1856.
Thefirstschool-house was builtoflogsin 1854.
The first death on the plat was Milton Guthrie, who died in 1856, of fever. Infants had been buried on the plat prior to that, but had lived off the plat.
As to the first sermon preached, there seems a difference of opinion; some claimn Rev. Samuel Farlow (Methodist), while others claim "Uncle Jimmy" Stockton, a Cumber- land Presbyterian clergyman, to have been the first. Judge Stockton thinks his father was first.
336
HISTORY OF PAGE COUNTY.
POSTOFFICE HISTORY.
The Clarinda people for the first year or so had no postoffice, but depended upon the Nodaway office, kept at Boulware's Mill, but in 1854,-under President Pierce,-all office was established here, with County Judge S. F. Snider as postmaster, who was shortly suc- ceeded by John and J. B. S. Polsley re- spectively. In 1856 Dr. Kridelbaugh was appointed, and held his office, at first in a sort of " dug-out," a side-hill basement, covered with boards and earth, which was located near the alley running in the rear of the present Clarinda Bank building. It was not high enougli to allow a tall person to enter clear in to the rear of it.
Kridelbaugh was succeeded by John Has- kins, and he in turn by A. R. Anderson, who was afterward a major in the civil war, and later a member of Congress. He resigned to enter the Union army, and his deputy, Thomas Evans, received the appointment, serving from 1861 to 1866, when Vice President Andrew Johnson appointed Samuel J. Thompson, who was dubbed " Andy," who held the po- sition until 1869, when President Grant ap- pointed Frank L. Cramer, who was also express agent, and it is said could not make his funds come out satisfactory to all con- cerned; so his bondsmen, Dr. N. L. Van Sandt and Isaac Van Arsdal lost heavily by lim. Van Sandt then took the office and conducted it, with the aid of his son, until about 1875, when A. Loranz received the appointment and held the office until his death, in 1881. John Miller succeeded him and served during the Garfield-Arthur ad- ministration. Upon. the election of President Cleveland (Democratic) he resigned, and New- ton C. Ridenour received the office April 18, 1885, and held the same until Benjamin Harrison (Republican) was elected President, and then lie was succeeded by Henry Loranz,
the present postmaster, who took the office May 1, 1889.
The Clarinda office was made a money-order office in 1867. The first order was issued September 19, 1867, to Howard Tucker, at Keokuk, Iowa, and was sent by J. H. Conine of Clarinda. Up to December 10, 1889, the Clarinda office had issued 43,861 money or- ders, and 9,075 postal notes.
INCORPORATION.
In 1866 the citizens of Clarinda concluded they had reached a point in their growthi when they ought to become an incorporated place. So, on October 10, 1866, a petition was presented the county judge, his honor Jolın R. Morledge, signed by the proper number of freeholders; whereupon the judge granted the prayer and established the " Town of Clarinda," under authority of the State laws.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.