USA > Iowa > Shelby County > Biographical history of Shelby and Audubon counties, Iowa. Containing portraits of all the presidents of the United States from Washington to Harrison, with accompanying biographies of each; portraits and biographies of the governors of the state; engravings of prominent citizens in Shelby and Audubon counties, with personal histories of many of the early settlers and leading families. A concise history of the counties, and the cities and townships > Part 64
USA > Iowa > Audubon County > Biographical history of Shelby and Audubon counties, Iowa. Containing portraits of all the presidents of the United States from Washington to Harrison, with accompanying biographies of each; portraits and biographies of the governors of the state; engravings of prominent citizens in Shelby and Audubon counties, with personal histories of many of the early settlers and leading families. A concise history of the counties, and the cities and townships > Part 64
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passed on toward the setting sun, in search of homes and happiness.
A few brave sons of toil had the hardi- hood to face the privations incident to front- ier life, and come on in advance of railroads, high culture and fancy styles! They brought no better title to the lands they claimed than that they were numbered among American citizens, which had already come to mean much to him who sought to build for himself a home with naught save hard days' work. " They came, they saw, they conquered," and soon the ear of civilized life caught the in- spiration and wended its way on to this goodly country, where men at once grew healthy and wealthy. The settlers multiplied; the soil prodneed far more than these first settlers could consume, and it was not long before capitalists saw money could be no better ex- pended than in giving an outlet for the annu- ally increasing crops, by the construction of systems of railroads. So it may be said that southwestern Iowa is marked by two special eras-one the first settlement and the other the advent of the railroads. It is the pur- pose of this work to trace out the historic events from the date of the first settlers, on
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HISTORY OF AUDUBON COUNTY.
down through the railroad era, noticing the advancement on all hands, from the first step to the present day-in brief, to survey the original, primitive wilderness, and the same domain after having been transformed into a garden spot, assuring the reader the contrast is, indeed, marked. The first thing to be ยท taken into account is how this section of Iowa was left, when given over to man by the kind- ness of a wise Creator. We now come to speak of the
GEOLOGY, TOPOGRAPHY AND GENERAL FEATURES.
The Post-tertiary formations everywhere occupy the surface, burying completely from view the older geological formations. The drift deposits are bnt imperfectly known, appearing only here and there at frequent in- tervals from beneath the more recent bluff formations. The drift, however, is so deeply covered by the bluff deposits that it has no influence in modifying the soil, even in the valleys. The soil could not be more fertile, except so rendered by artificial means. Ce- reals and corn are peculiarly adapted to the soil of this region, whose fineness and depth afford a very thorough under drainage and at the same time it is retentive of sufficient moisture, even in unusually dry seasons, to insure at least a medium erop.
From the summit of the great " divide," in the northern part of the county, a maguifi- cent panorama of the surrounding country is commanded. In the west, southwest and south the eye seans the distant horizon which is bounded by a lofty prairie barrier, envel- oped in the uncertain shimmering haze of a summer day, and seeming like a vast rim bounding the further outline of an immense shallow basin, whose middle portion is occu- pied by gracefully undulating prairie swells which rise and fall, one beyond the other, until distance blends the whole mass into
lines of light and shadow. When one com- mands a view like the above, outstretched over a radius of thirty or forty miles, embrac- ing a region, every acre of which is the finest arable land in the world, for the first time he gains an intelligent impression and a just ap- preciation of the grandeur of these undulating, treeless plains. The county is fairly esti- mated to contain 1,600 acres of timber. Hamlin's Grove and the forest near the vil- lage of Exira are the largest in extent of sur- face. Along the larger streamns, narrow belts of timber ocenr at intervals, and upon the n pland slopes, considerable areas are occupied by growths of burr and red oak.
The general surface is quite rolling, yet it is seldom injured for agrienltural purposes by " washing." It is entirely free from ponds or sloughs. The East Nishinabotna River rises in Carroll County, and flows southward through Audubon County, making a wide valley of unsurpassed fertility, that rises in gentle slopes from the bed of the stream to the upland prairies, which stretch away in graceful swells. The valleys of the smaller streams present the same features, while the high prairie land between these streams is, indeed, beautiful. The soil in the valley is a dark loam, mixed with a productive sand, while the " divides " are composed of a bluff deposit. Besides the East Nishnabotna River, which is the main stream of the county, may be mentioned its branches-David's Creek, Troublesome Creek, Crooked Creek, Buek Creek, Little Indian Creek, in the southern and eastern part of the county, and the " East Branch" of West Nishnabotna River, In- dian Creek, Bull Run and Blue Grass Creek, all of which are in the western part of An- dubon Connty and flow toward the sonth and west, into Shelby County. Every township is drained with running water of the best and purest quality.
HISTORY OF AUDUBON COUNTY.
639
CHAPTER II.
EARLY SETTLEMENT AND ORGANIZATION.
ARLY in 1851 five men, named Nathan - iel Hamlin, James Ilamlin, Samuel Ogden, William Powell and David Ed- gerton, left Mahaska County, Iowa, to seek homes in the western part of the State. Hav- ing heard of the trouble among the Mormons at Council Bluffs they first made that an ob- jective point, but upon their arrival were not pleased with the appearance of the country; hence they made an extended tour up the Missouri River, prospecting in several of the western counties of the State; but still being unable to find a desirable location they turned their faces eastward again, and came as far back as what is now known as Troublesome Creek, in Audubon County, at a point a few miles above its junction with the East Nish- nabotna River, where they remained several days, quite well pleased with the country. They followed the stream up to seetion 35, township 78, range 35, west, and there camped for the night. The following morn- ing (the latter part of the month of March, 1851), Nathaniel Hamlin staked off his pres- ent valuable farm, through which Trouble- some Creek meanders. The first stake driven for this purpose was the first blow toward the actual settlement of Audubon County. Mr. Hamlin resolved here to make his home -his fortune-and here to remain the re- mainder of his days. There was not a white settler within twenty miles of the place; he hastened home and made preparations for
moving. He took his oldest daugliter, ten years of age, and left his family behind; and with a moustrons Pennsylvania wagon, drawn by seven yoke of cattle, and a breaking plow and aecouterments, lie started for his new home among the wolves and deer which then ran in packs and herds of seores and fifties. The spring was forward for this latitude. In March the new grass had grown several inchies, and a large herd of deer, alinost as tame as sheep, grazed on the bottom lands where now stands the district school-house. On the 6th day of May Mr. Hamlin and his daughter reached their destination, accompa- nied by a young man named John Hoggard and his sister Elizabeth Ann, who took a claim a half mile north of Hamlin's; also Arthur Decker, who elaimed a tract in Big Grove, near the place where Louisville was afterward platted. Upon entering the county the pioneer party had to halt on account of high water of the Middle River. Logs were eut and a bridge constructed, over which they crossed. This was beyond question the first bridge ever built by a white man in this sec- tion of the country. Notwithstanding the year 1851 was the rainiest (up to the middle of June) ever known in the State, Mr. Ham- lin set abont the erection of a rude half- hewed log cabin, and when this was aecon- plished started his breaking team, consisting of seven yoke of oxen, and began to turn a twenty-four inch furrow with a rod plow, the
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HISTORY OF AUDUBON COUNTY.
first soil ever overturned for agricultural pur- poses within Audubon County. By July 1 he had sneceeded in breaking forty-two aeres, all of which was planted to " sod corn." Seven aeres of this virgin soil was sowed to buckwheat among the corn, besides a large amount of turnips-three crops, all planted on the same land. Cultivation was unnec- essary, as weeds never flourish on newly broken land. So when autumn came Mr. Hamlin eut up the sod corn, and carried it from the field, then ent his buckwheat, which proved a very excellent crop, both as to quantity and to quality. Then, after the gathering-in of two bountiful harvests from the same field, he pulled an abundant crop of the finest turnips ever grown in Iowa. The potatoes which grew underneath the sod turned that year were so pressed down by the heavy covering of sod that when they were ready to dig it was found that they were excellent in quality and size, but were all flattened, presenting a very curious sight. May and June were extremely wet, so that the streams were away ont of their natural banks. It was for this reason that the Uni- ted States surveyors, who at that time were running the township lines, named one of the worst streams Troublesome Creek.
The prairie-breaking season having ended, and his crop being planted, the pioneer Ham- lin yoked his teams, and started back for the remainder of his family. Preparations were speedily made upon his return, and soon the huge " prairie schooner " received its cargo and passengers, and with prow directed toward the setting sun, hove into port on the 13th day of September, and the weary found home and comfort. The season had been very favorable, and a bountiful erop was in waiting to bless the first husbandman's labors. The following year (1852) brought with it its blessings. The mail route from Fort
Des Moines was established through to Coun- cil Bluff's by the way of " Hamlin's Grove," thus turning all the Pike's Peak and Pacific coast travel to the very door-yard of the first settler in Andnbon County. The mail sery- ice soon established a postoffice at Mr. Ham- lin's place, making him postmaster. His first commission was from Zael Taylor, Presi- dent of the United States. He served until after the election of Abraham Lincoln. Mueh connected with the early settlement of the county will be found in the biographical sketches of pioneers, especially of " Natty" Hamlin, as he is so commonly called.
From the most reliable source we herewith publish a list of names of those who settled within the limits of the county prior to 1861, without regard to their location; each name will be of interest to some one: N. Hamlin, J. S. Johnson, Ruben Carpenter, William Carpenter, J. M. Donald, James Donald, W. H. H. Bowen, George Cannon, M. Sharff, Mark Ileath, Milton Heath, A. Heath, Miles Beers, P'. I. Whitted, Samuel lockman, James Poor, Avery Belcher. Lyman Jordan, R. A. Oliphant, Hiram Beek, Joseph Kirk, I. Hal- lock, Sr., N. Wiggins, George Sharp, L. B. Montgomery, Charles Wiggins, Bradley Beers, D. Barlow, Daniel Crane, John Crane, J. W. Dodge, B. G. Dodge, Samuel Smith, D. L. Anderson, B. Milliman, A. B. Honston, Rich- ard Gault, Edson Herrick, Erbane Herriek, A. J. Leflingwell, HI. F. Leffingwell, William Leflingwell, Curtis Herrick, Charles Chapin, Frank Burnham, HI. J. Green, William Hol- craft, William Walker, I. V. D. Lewis, T. S. Lewis, R. M. Lewis, W. F. Ballard, Dr. S. M. Ballard, J. M. Hubbard, Lon Arnold, Jona- than Decker, I. S. Thomas, R. C. Meek, L. Early, A. Cooper, J. R. Thacker, Frank Hobbs, Lyman Bush, J. Hammer, William Norton, John S. Jenkins, Wallace Pearl, Josh. Pearl, William Tringle, Alvan Herrick
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HISTORY OF AUDUBON COUNTY.
J. A. Hallock, I. P. Hallock, Jr., Samnel Johnson, B. Sylvester, Palmer Rodgers, Henry Kinkade, John Williams, Oliver Smith, David Beers, William Stone, George Colder, John Colder, James Howlett, Samnel Ilowlett, William Howlett, William Nelson, Charles Van Garder, Colbert Strahl, J. S. Jobs, Will- iam Pangburn, George Dunbar, John Beers, William Wiggins, Samuel Smith (English Smith), Washington Bartlett, Lee Bartlett, John Patterson, R. S. IIallock, Thomas Rodg- ers, Benjamin Iliatt, William Hardy, G. N. Jones, J. M. Donald, David Edgerton, Jacob Sifford, Norman Areher, Ace Workman, Peter Barlow, "Judge" Benediet, Z. A. Phelps, James Pixley, John McConnell, Coit Herriek, Henry Myers, Charles Kemp, Thomas Rowland, J. C. Brown, Jolm Van Houghton, "Tip" Herrick, E. Herrick, J. D. IIerrick, Orleans Jones, Thomas Hire, John Mont- gomery, Levi Montgomery, George Mont- gomery, William Thompson, Ralph Eddy, E. Birge, James Birge, S. H. Perry, William Bush, W. P. Hamlin, Samuel Hopkins, John Countryman, Chaney Ward, Ruben Kenyon, Messrs. Wilkins, Perkins and Kemp, Steven Deborde, William Powell, S. L. Day, AAlvin Decker, A. M. Graves, O. Outtout, Thomas Truman, James Mounts and Robert Stans- berry. This makes a total of 126 actual set- tlers, who were old enough to east a vote, living in Andubon County prior to the Re- bellion.
The first men to settle in the north part of the county were men named Gage and Wilkinson, who settled on section 36, township 79, range 34, west, in what is now Greeley Township. Their settlement dates from the spring of 1852. The next to try his lot in the unde- veloped wilds of the county was Joseph Will- iams, who located on the northeast quarter of section 1, township 81, range 34, west. This was in 1859; he remained about two years,
during which time he and the family almost starved. He then moved to Oregon Territory.
FIRST EVENTS.
The first actual settler in Audubon County was Nathaniel Hamlin, who first came to the county in March, 1851, staked ont his elaim, returned to eastern Iowa and brought one daughter baek with him in April. The en- tire family eame September 10, 1851.
The first deed placed on record in Audubon County was a conveyance of thirty-five aeres of land by Samnel B. Hopkins to John S. Jenkins, for the consideration of $100. This land was a part of the southeast quarter of scetion 17, township 78, range 35, west. This instrument, it seems from the record of deeds "A," was given August 16, 1854, and ae- knowledged before V. M. Conrad, a justice of the peace. It was filed for record May 22, 1855, but was not actually placed on record until August 8, 1855. This delay was not occasioned by the press of business, but simply neglect.
The first village platted within the county was Dayton, the same being exeented July 9, 1855.
The first birth was that of a child born to Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Decker, some time early in December, 1851. The mother died in childbirth, and was the first one to die in Audubon County of which there is any record. It will be remembered that nothing could be obtained in way of lumber, furni- ture, etc., at that date in these parts, and so when this pioneer woman's death was an- nonneed, the three or four men outside of the Deeker household met together and planned for a coffin and the burial of the un- fortunate woman. Finally Nathaniel Ham- lin, James Kinkade and John S. Jenkins made a coffin (such as it was) out of bass wood puncheon, which they split from a green
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HISTORY OF AUDUBON COUNTY.
tree they felled, and in this rude box they placed the deceased. They also served as the funeral cortege and pall-bearers, carrying the rough slab-like casket to a point just north of the place where Daniel Miller's house now stands; liere it was deposited in the earth; but many years ago its resting place was mo. lested by the sharp plowshare. Mr. Decker left the county soon after his companion's death-hence the uncared for grave of the first person who died within the county.
The first birth of a child who now lives in the county was that of Mrs. Martha Jane (Hamlin) Calp. She was born September 6. 1852, and was the second person born in the county.
The first marriage in Audubon County was that of George L. Kellogg to Susannah Kingon, April 16, 1856, Urbane Herrick officiating.
The first log house was raised by N. Ham- lin, the first settler, in the early spring of 1851, on section 35, township 78, and range 35, west. It was sixteen feet square.
The first frame house was built by John Countryman and afterward sold to D. Glass- gow.
The first frame barn was raised for B. Milliman, July, 1857.
The first mill in the county was the one erected by Green, Chapin and Hobbs, at Louisville, in the summer of 1856; it was a combined flour and saw mill, operated by steam-power.
The first Fourth of July celebration was held in 1856, on one of the highest elevations of ground in the county, and at a point about two miles northwest of N. Hamlin's residence. It was the beginning of the Buchanan-Fremont presidential campaign, and a liberty-pole was erected from which floated the "Stars and Stripes."
The Hag hung there for some time after-
ward and was seen at great distances by the emigrants, who slowly wended their way westward. It may here be stated that there were but few Fremont men in these parts- all voted for James Buchanan and good old Democracy. This pioneer celebration was not a grand affair, yet it showed a disposition to keep in remembrance the day of National Independence. The only music upon this occasion was that furnished by Mrs. Dr. Tres- cott with her old-fashioned melodeon. Anvils were fired, but the speeches were " short and sweet." Ilowever, a good time was had by all, as a barbecue was held, consisting of roasted animals and game, such as the new county then abounded in.
The first county fair was held on section 15, township 78, range 35, in 1859, and one of the laughable features was the putting of a yoke of oxen in harness belonging to a span of horses present. The ox team was then " trotted " about the ring, which was but an imaginary track.
The first newspaper was issued in Deeem- ber, 1860, and called the Audubon County Pioneer. (See P'ress Chapter.)
The first school-house was n log building erected in 1857 by N. Hamlin and D. M. Harris, who furnished the only scholars for the pioneer school-nine pupils was the largest enrollment ! Miss Ellen Northgrave, who became the wife of Albert Wakefield, was the first to teach; she received $16 per month. This was not a free-school, but the private enterprise of Messrs. Hamlin and Harris.
The first religious services in the county were conducted in the Hamlin Grove log school-house, by the Methodist people, abont 1858.
The first church edifice was the Congrega- tional church at Exira, built in 1870.
The first postoffice was established in 1852 at the residence of N. Hamlin, who was the
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HISTORY OF AUDUBON COUNTY.
first postmaster. IIc held the same nine years, until the Republican party came into power and President Abraham Lincoln re- mnoved him for party reasons, it is said. The stages at that time left Des Moines and Council Bluffs cach Monday morning and met at " Uncle Natty Hamlin's " on Wednesday of each week.
The first man to work at the blacksmithing business was (aside from Mr. Hamlin, who at that day was master of all trades as a mat- ter of necessity !) Charles Marsh, who in company with Hamlin run a blacksmith shop in 1855-'56. They mined their own coal in Guthrie County, at Bear Grove. Their principal business was sharpening plowshares for the newcomers.
The first shoemaker was John S. Johnson, who came in 1856.
The first regular harness-maker was D. E. Soar, who located at Exira in 1870.
The first goods were sold by N. Hamlin, who hauled the stock, from time to time, from Council Bluffs and Des Moines. His children (now married folks) will remember the times, as they used to count on getting a liberal supply of candy and sweetmeats upon the arrival of a new stock of goods !
Soon after this Mr. Hamlin, in company with H. Beck, opened a general store at the newly laid out town of " Audubon City "-now defunct.
Among the earliest attorneys were D M. HIarris (county judge) and D. S. Andrews.
The first court was held by Judge Sears at Hamlin's log school-house, in November, 1855. The jury had to retire to the grove, elose to the school-house, and there decide the ease, according to " law and evidence," of course. The grand jury of that first term of court found only one true bill, and that was against Thomas S. Lewis for the illegal sale of liquor-prohibition even at an early day! 41
The officers of this conrt were: E. H. Sears, Judge; B. M. IFiatt, Sheriff ; John W. Beers, Clerk. The following served as the first petit jurors: G. W. Taylor, Mark Heath, Hiram Perkins, James H. Donnell, William Walker, William Carpenter, George Wire, Ruben Kingon, B. Milliman, Robert Stansberry, James Mounts.
The grand jury was as follows: David L. Anderson (foreman), Charles E. Marsh, W. II. H. Bowen, J. L. Frost, John Countryman, Ed. Gingerly, Jolin Crane, John Seifford, Allen McDonnell, J. S. Johnson, N. Ilamlin, J. S. Kirk, Richard M. Lewis.
The first civil action was against a Meth- odist preacher, against whom judgment was obtained. The title of the case was " Blanchet S. Shacklett rs. Richard C. Meek."
The first election in Andubon County, after its real organization, was held April 7, 1855, at Ilamlin's school-house.
ORGANIZATION.
Audubon County was organized by order of Judge Benedict, then of Cass County, in the spring of 1855, the first election being ordered and held April 2, of that year. Its name is derived from the eminent naturalist, John James Audubon, who died the year in which this county was organized. Originally it was a part of Keokuk County, but in 1851 was organized as a separate county, and had, in addition to its present domain, the tier of townships to the eastward, now being a part of Guthrie County. In 1853 Audubon was attached to Cass County as one civil town- ship. After its real organization, in 1855, it still remained as one township until, by pe- tition to the board of supervisors (consisting of one member, as the law provided for one from each civil township), it was subdivided into three townships, June 3, 1862. These townships were named Audubon, Exira and
644
HISTORY OF AUDUBON COUNTY.
Oakfield. In 1873, at the April session of the board of supervisors, five more eivil town- ships were created, viz .: Donglas, Greeley. Hamilton, Leroy and Viola. October 20, 1874, Cameron was created; September 7, 1874, Melville was created; September 6, 1875, Sharon was created; June 5, 1876, Lin- coln was created. The above sub-divisions constitute the present twelve civil townships of Audubon County, and eaeli is a regular con- gressional square township, being numbered and described as follows: Audubon com- prises township 78, range 34; Cameron, township 81, range 35; Douglas, township 80, range 36; Exira, township 78, range 35; Greeley, township 79, range 34; Ilamlin,
township 79, range 35; Leroy, township 80, range 35; Lincoln, township 81, range 36; Melville, township 80, range 34; Oak- field, township 78, range 36; Sharon, town- ship 79, range 36; Viola, township 81, range 34.
As now constituted, Andubon County is in the third tier of counties from the Mis- souri River, and the fourth from the south- ern line of the State. It contains an arca of about 446 square miles, and is bounded on the north by Carroll County, on the east by Guthrie County, on the south by Cass County, and on the west by Shelby County. It is within townships 78, 79, 80 and 81, and in ranges 34, 35 and 36, west of the fifth P. M.
HISTORY OF AUDUBON COUNTY.
645
CHAPTER III.
COUNTY GOVERNMENT.
UDUBON County, which was estab- lished in 1851, attached to Cass County as one civil township in 1853, was finally organized a separate county in 1855. In May, 1855, the court of the judicial dis- trict in which Cass County was situated ap- pointed three gentlemen as a committee to locate a county seat for the newly made county of Andubon. This committee con- sisted of T. N. Johnson, of Adair County; T. Bryan, of Guthrie County, and C. E. Wood- ard of Cass County. The two last named qualified, and on June 20, the same year, made their report, which was approved, as having established the county seat on the northwest quarter of section 22, township 78, range 35, and named such site " Day- ton." The first sale of lots was effected No- vember 22, D. M. Harris being county judge at the time. The first town lot was sold to J. L. Frost for 50 cents. The sale was ad- journed until June, 1856, when eighty-five lots were sold at prices ranging from $1.50 to $9 each.
The first government of the county was under the old county judge system-the one- man power. The management of connty affairs thns being left in the hands of a single officer, it became his duty to locate roads, levy taxes, build bridges, court-houses, jails, etc., and was amenable to no one except on the day of election! Notwithstanding this almost unlimited power and authority and
the large amount of public money left at his disposal, we do not find that the trust was frequently betrayed. During the whole time such office existed in Iowa there were but two or three cases wherein the judge ever de- faulted. It is a remarkable fact that as a rule the county judges always were held in high esteem by the people and usually kept in such office for a long term of years.
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