USA > Iowa > Chickasaw County > Historical and reminiscences of Chickasaw County, Iowa > Part 9
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the Picket family. This feeling left good fallow ground for trouble, and in one of their interviews it ripened into a personal encounter, and Weller became the fleeing and Hawse the pursuing party. In the melee Weller was hit on the head, which assault was destined to figure in the courts, in after years, in a suit against Hawse for alleged injuries to the person and mind of Weller, he claiming that it much impaired his mental and physical powers. It remained in the court of this county for a time, was taken by change of venue to Howard county, and was eventually decided in favor of Hawse. Perhaps Weller was not quarrel- some by nature, but he was certainly unfor- tunate in his encounters, and when he came out second best with a Bradford party, the victor was presented with an immense leather belt, which was delivered with much eclat, including public speeches and song. Having let all his plowing on one of his farms to William Shoemaker, he agree- ing to plow all that had been plowed, when it was about finished, he put in an appearance, and the question of payment was suggested by the workman. At this he was coolly informed that the slough had once been
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plowed, although no attempt had been made to cultivate it for years, and that there would be no payment until that was plowed. The outraged workman then said, "Then I will take it out of your hide." The process commenced, but in a short time Weller appeared to think this too expensive, and promised payment if released. As soon as released he started for town, calling back, "I will go and have you arrested for this." Quickly came the retort, "Then I will take that out of your hide too," and he commenced to execute his threat. In time there was a feeling that the matter had gone far enough, and on promise to pay and not prosecute, he was again released. Going at once to the office of Dr. Mixer for personal repairs, he was sewed, patched, and sponged, into reasonable shape, and when the job was done he put his hand in his pocket and asked the doctor what was to pay. At this the doctor, in his most genial way, said, "Nothing, nothing at all, I am amply paid to know that you got your deserts once." Weller was subsequently elected to Congress over Thomas Updegraph, an ex- congressman, by an overwhelming major- ity. At the next term he was again a candi-
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date against W. E. Fuller, of West Union, and was as badly beaten as was his oponent the term before. He was a candidate against Aaron Kimball, of Howard county, the dis- trict being Chickasaw, Bremer and Howard counties, for State Senator, and carried Bremer and Chickasaw counties by one hun- dred and twenty-five majority each, but Kim- ball carried Howard by a much larger vote
than both of these and was elected. He also served as Justice of the Peace for Bradford township. Probably as a specimen of the genus homo, he has not a counterpart in the world, and would put to shame the school- master in Goldsmith's deserted village,
"For, e'en though vanquishe'd, he could argue still; While words of learned length and thundering sound Amazed the gazing rusties ranged around, And still they gazed, and still the wonder grew, That one small head could carry all he knew."
Yet he has considerable native ability, and in following out his crotchets, he has delved among a class of authors whose works are seldom found on the shelves of scholars. If he could have had a good balance wheel, he would have reached a much higher point than he is now likely to attain.
As I was the only professional man of any kind within many miles of New Hampton, I
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had calls, some of which were appalling, but arising to the emergency, I soon found myself getting quite a practice as a physician, den- tist, and surgeon. Borrowing a turnkey that was originally made for extracting colt's teeth, and attaching a smaller hook, I was prepared for business, and as there was power enough in the instrument to extract a white oak stump, whenever I hooked on, the tooth had to come, and many a victim that came to my office with the toothache, left nursing a lacerated jaw. George Arnold, of Utica township, came and said he had two teeth he wanted extracted, remarking that every one that had tried had failed. I hitched on, and if you ever heard the deep- sounding bay of the bloodhound when he sighted his game, you have a faint idea of the sound that followed; but the tooth came out, and so did a splinter of the bone to which it was attached. About six weeks afterward I met him on the prairie between his house and New Oregon, with a shawl over his head. On accosting him he said that I had hurt him so that he had been up to have a doctor draw his other tooth, and then pathetically added, "The darned fool pulled out more of the jaw bone than you
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did." I was called up early on the morning of the fourth of July, and found Jenny Brand, a buxom Scotch lass, who wanted some teeth extracted. Seating her in the front door and taking her head between my knees, I pulled out three double teeth, and no sound was nttered until the last was out, when she jumped up and said, "Now, brother, I can go to the dance, can't I?" This family moved to Oregon, and Jenny is the mother of a large family of Scotch-Americans, if I may be pardoned for using the term, for Scotchmen who become citizens are so thor- oughly Americanized that you seldom hear of the prefix. In surgery I had quite a prac- tice. I recall one day's work. We had erected a pole swing, and Abner Jackson was showing how high he could swing, and slip- ping, shot off on the prairie. Striking on his hands, both wrists were dislocated, and his hands and arms looked like grindstone cranks. On examination I found that both wrists were dislocated, the carpal bones where they articulated with the ulna and radius, and where they articulated with the
metacarpal bones. I reduced them with great skill, but failed to fully replace the cuneiform bone on the left wrist, and it left
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a small bunch. Just as I had finished this job. I was called to go out three miles to dress a wound on Emanuel Watham, an ox having stuck his horn under his lip, it coming out just under his eye. Here I made a mistake, for I commenced to sew at the top of the wound and, when I came to the dividing line on the lip it did not come out even, and when he got well there was a little notch on the line of his lip, but otherwise it got well all right. On my road home I met a messenger urging me to make haste, as M. C. Roboy's little girl had fallen off the fence and broken her collar bone. This was the last call I received that day, it not being a very good day for surgery. It taught me a lesson of caution, however, for when William Wilkins slid off of a hay- stack, followed by a hay-knife, which struck with the edge across his nose, as he looked up to see what had become of it, nearly sev- ering it from his face, I took the first stitch at the top, for I did not want to mar his looks by sewing it on crooked. It grew on all right, but the scar that it left looks like
a string of yarn laying across his nose. My surgical outfit consisted of a jack knife, a three-cornered glover's needle, a roweling
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needle, and a pair of bullet moulds for for- ceps. My pharmaceutical outfit was more elaborate. I had "Culver's Physic," a root that grew upon the prairie that possessed. in its effects, many of the properties of blue mass, salts and castor oil, for cathartics; boneset, salt and water, and mustard, for emetics, and nettles for a counterirritant. Then there was pennyroyal, catnip, horse mint and peppermint for teas for children. I also was presented with a bag of saffron to be used on very young children, and in case of measles, but the fair doner did not tell me where, in case of measles, I was to get the other articles of hard cider and its accompanying ingredient, to make the pre- scription full as a New England Orthodox remedy. A syring was improvised by insert- ing a hollow elder into the neck of a bladder, and while we did not, like Sancho Panza, "give clysters of salt, snow-water and sand," we found a very good remedy in soap suds and milk. As an antifebrile, we used slippery elm, and it also made a very soothing poul- tice. There was one remedy that we used as a general alterative, and in case where there was an unsatisfactory diagnosis, and that was a tea made of the ashes and coal
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left when burning prairie grass and weeds, and it became very popular, especially when colored with burned sugar, and the doses ordered dropped out with great care. Some cynic may call this charlatnaism, in thus prac- ticing upon the credulity of my patients, but they all got well, and I have the feeling that I shall long remain unharmed, if I wait for some regular practitioner, who is without like sin, to cast the first stone. We had none of the modern anticeptics, but in lieu of carbolic acid, sublimate, etc., we used powdered charcoal. Not having anes thetics, we substituted it with "grin and bear it," and it did very well, so far as the operator was concerned. Medicating madens, waiting upon matrons, reducing dislocations and set- ting broken bones, binding up wounds and pulling teeth, and administering to many unknown ills, I had a practice that would have been the envy of a young physician, but somehow there was a feeling that my services were often called for, for the reason that I made no charges.
Think not that there were no other calls in other lines, in a new country life, for often have I been called and tried to comfort mourning ones, by a few last words over the
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graves of loved ones. Some of these are the saddest in memory, yet they had a silver sheen behind the dark cloud. Sad, that I was called upon to witness the proof that man is mortal, and that hearts were called to bleed as the last sad rites over their loved ones are performed, yet bright in the hope and trust that the young flower or matured fruit has been transplanted to a more con- genial clime on the other side. Coming from an eastern home, bringing forth her first born after months of loneliness, home- sickness and privation, and then, just as the little one had filled the mothers heart, to have it taken from her and buried on the bleak prairie, is an experience that many a young mother has been called to pass through in her western home.
It was related that at the funeral of Noel Gates, a man past seventy, there being no one to conduct religious service, and feeling that it would be barbarous to bury him with- out something more than just covering him with the cold earth, it was suggested that a hymn be sung. Under this suggestion some one started the old funeral hymn:
"Sister, thou wast mild and lovely,
Gentle as the summer breeze,"
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But the ludicrousness of the words, when taken in connection with the old man whom they were burying, was too much for their dignity, and voice after voice was silenced with suppressed mirth, and there was a fading out of every voice at the end of the second line. This appeared to be a favorite hymn, perhaps the only one that memory recalled, and was sung as the funeral service at the burial of old Mrs. Bellows, William Everingham and N. R. Johnston constitut- ing the choir. Everingham insists that there were others that attempted to sing, but that he and Johnston were the only ones that held out to the end. Thus we see that there was a struggling after civilized forms under difficulties.
A trip to McGregor's Landing, which was our nearest market, took from five to six days, and with bottomless sloughs, streams unbridged and hills ungraded, small loads were a necessity, and with wheat at forty cents a bushel, and dressed pork at one and one-half to two dollars per hundred, the greatest economy was necessary to pay expenses, if hotels were patronized, and farmers were obliged to sleep under wagons and carry their provisions with them, if they saved anything.
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That there should be a longing for a rail- road was but natural. Every straw was caught at and every suggestion nourished, that gave the slighest hope of securing one. A railroad grade had been commenced at North McGregor, on a survey running up Bloody Run, that had been made by a com- pany whose leading spirit was Jack Thomp- son, of Clermont. This company was known as the McGregor, St. Peters and Missouri River Railroad Company, and Judge Bailey of this county and Judge Call of Kossuth county were elected directors. Deacon Clinton was imported from Wisconsin to assist in soliciting aid for this company, as he had been very successful in Wisconsin, in this line of work, and to give him prestage he was elected one of the directors.
A series of meetings were held along the proposed line, and donations of land solicited, with the avowed purpose of using them as a basis of credit, to aid in the construction of the road. The wily Deacon was an expert in showing the great advantage that would accrue to the farmer, even if they donated one-half of their lands. That the want was pressing, and that he aroused enthusiasm, was evidenced by his success, and many
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tracts of land were deeded to the company. Notable among the donors was David Ed- wards of New Hampton, he giving three eighties, being nearly one-half of his posses- sions. As might have been expected, these donations were absorbed without any per- ceptable advance in building the road. For this campaign, Judge Bailey had prepared a speech, and the "boys" found out that on the slightest provocation, it could be called out, and many a time have I listened to his roarings, and the applause that was sure to follow, was certain to increase its volume.
In one of his climaxes, in showing the exhilerating effect the advent of the road would have on the farmer, he likened it to the feelings of an old batchelor after he had tasted of the sweets of married life, and his description was vivid, as he declared, "his boots flew, his suspender buttons were jerked off, his coat stripped, and he had a crimea in his head." Travelers were pointed to the location of the depots on this proposed line, at Calmar and West Union. New Hampton and Fredericksburg, Bradford and Charles City, Chickasaw and Jacksonville, and so on along the whole line. In time this company became insolvent and sold out to the Mc- Gregor and Sioux City company.
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. The second term of court held in New Hampton, was held in the second story of the old school house, which stood one block south of the Opera House. Judge Murdock, who was then District Judge, rode to the county on a spotted pony. At the hotel, the Judge amplified upon the speed of his pony, and some of the boys thought that they would test the speed of the pony and not let the owner know that they had had him out. Just about the time they had the pony ready for the race, the Judge was listening to an argument being made on a writ of error, by J. O. Crosby. Crosby had reached his third point in his argument. and had extended his right arm upward to its full length, and was pointing with his index finger, and was say- ing, "Now your Honor. in the third place," just then the Judge happened to look out of the window, and seeing the boys about to start his pony in the race, yelled out. "Mr. Sheriff, adjourn court for five minutes," and rushed to the platform at the head of the outside stairs, where he could have a good view of the race. When the race was com- pleted, the Judge ordered the Sheriff to open · court, remarking, "The little cuss got beat," It was at this term that I had my first
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criminal suit. defending M. C. Roby for an action of assault and battery. I succeeded better than in my first civil case, for I secured his acquital, but I never was quite · sure that the acquital was as fully in accord with justice as was my first civil case where I was beaten.
There was a coterie of Yankee settlers on the east side of Stapleton township, who had been raised under circumstances and with surroundings that left an impression upon them that they were better adapted to serve as county officers, than to open up farms as pioneers, and in order to accomplish this, they began to toy with the south part of the county, which had been in control of the county offices. It was soon found that they could no longer be relied upon to co-operate with their former co-workers, but the south was becoming relatively weaker, by reason of the increasing immigration into the north part of the county, encouraged this break, and in the fall of IS5S, attempted to extend it, by nominating Pat Galigan for Sheriff. The north nominated Pat Tierney, of Utica, for his competitor. While Pat Galigan did not strengthen the southern ticket, he was elected over his opponent, by ten votes. This
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was a result that has often been repeated in county elections, for he was affiliated to "Irish Ridge," and whoever gets hold of that string, pulls a full line of votes running through Stapleton and on up to Howard county. The newly elected Sheriff did notdo much of the business himself, but appointed a southern man his deputy. who did most of the business. Pat wore the honors with dignity, introducing the Sheriff's Cockade, for the first time in the history of the county. The south found that they had reckoned without their host, when they de- manded services that would tell against his former associates, and he remained faithful to his former allegiance, and the little coterie that hoped to gain so much by his election. never reaped the reward they had planned.
At the division of Obispo township, in 1858, Hugh Johnston was appointed organizing constable, of the east half, thus forming a new township by the name of Utica, and not understanding the forms of procedure, requested me to bring over the papers and assist him, which I promised to do. I was detained in my office, and it was between nine and ten o'clock in the evening before I could get away. I then started on foot for
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the place of holding the election, fourteen miles distant. When near Plumb Creek, I found that my short cut through the hazel brush had nearly exhausted me, and I laid down and unfolding my shawl and spreading it over me, was soon fast asleep. I must have slept some time. for when I awoke, the snow was two inches deep over me, and I found that I was cold and stiff and could hardly walk, and I was hardly warm when I reached Jacksonville, about four o'clock in the morning. After getting some coffee, the walk was resumed to Johnston's, where I arrived in time to open the polls.
Speaking of cold, in those days, after I was able to own a horse, I always took the pre- caution to take candles and matches, so that, if overtaken by a blizzard and forced to camp out, I could turn my sleigh over and keep from freezing by burning the candles under the sleigh. Subsequently I made the discovery that by taking my dog into the sleigh and covering him with the robe, his breath and body would soon warm me, and by this means I have been saved much suf- fering. The precaution was always taken to take along paper and pencil and handker- chiefs, so that if a storm forced the releasing
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of the horse, to be able to tie a message to the horse, telling where I could be found. thus having it act as a guide to a rescuing party.
Soon after A. J. Felt was elected Justice of the Peace for Bradford township, there was a suit brought before him that tested his fealty to one of the cardinal principles of his party. He was at this time, an ardent democrat, and a strong defender of the Dred Scott decision, which had just been handed down, in which the court, declared that "a negro had no rights that a white man was bound to respect," and was ever ready with an argument, claiming that the principle was right. A negro living in Bradford had his watch stolen, and a suit of replevin was brought before Felt, by the negro, claiming possession of the watch, but the defendant declared he had bought it and would not give it up. On the trial, D. A. Babcock appeared for the defense, and moved to dismiss the case, on the ground that the plaintiff was a negro, and that the Supreme Court of the United States had decided that he had no rights that a white man was bound to respect. This was a home thrust, but the court was equal to the occasion, and turning
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to the attorney, said, " Look here Dave, that may be good politics, but Dred Scott decision or no Dred Scott decision, this nigger is going to have his watch." Whereupon, Dave said, "I don't see the use of proceeding further. for this case is decided, so you can give the nigger the watch."
One-half mile north of the center of the county, at New Hampton, being just north of where the M. & St. Paul depot now is, J. D. Colt had built a log house, he having entered the land and received a duplicate from the United States, for the same. After his house was built, it was found that there was a previous entry upon this land and Colt found that he had no right to the premises. The Government allowed him to change his entry to an eighty cornering this on the northwest. He subsequently bought the corner where his house stood. Just north of Colt's was the log house of William Haslam. These were the only houses in that direction until we reached the houses of John S. Marr and Tilden S. Rice who lived on land adjoining what is now Devon. Northeast one mile, was Jesse T. Hays, and just beyond was the old "Brink House," on the banks of the Wapsie. East
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of this about a mile, was John and Jacob Vanauken and R. H. Coe, and north of this settlement was the log house of I. P. Hartley, being the only one until near Jacksonville. One mile east was the log house of Denizen Calkins, and further east on the banks of the Wapsie. lived " Wapsie " Gardner, with his eleven children. No other settlement in that direction, for six miles. The only houses south for six miles were those of John Johnson and Wesley Swayzee who lived three miles south. West one mile and a half was the home of Don A. Jackson, and one-half south of him was Zalmuna Morton. One mile west of Jacksons was William S. Morley who had been elected Justice of the Peace and figured as a democratic politician, and long after that party was organized gave himself credentials as a representative from that township and was an aspirant for legis- lative honors. but was beaten in the nomin- ating convention by C. W. Mitchell of Utica. D. A. Jackson was the first and only County Assessor, and in assessing the county, only made one mistake in the description of real estate, in the whole county, and in this, shingled a part of one forty and left an equal amount unassessed. This was a remarkable
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record, probably not equaled in the state While there was not much of the Pyrotecnic in his nature, there was a persistent working that accomplished more than many that appeared to do much more. My familiarity with his assessment was through the making of the tax books from his work. As a hunter, he was only exceeded by one man in the county, William Everingham. of Utica.
On section twenty-six, Dayton township. lived Levi Young. When I first saw him he was trying to make a living by farming, but as he had been a printer he did not make a brilliant success. He bought out the old office of the Chickasaw County Republican. and in company with W. E. Beach started the New Hampton Courier. When Beach leased his interest to J. A. Sawin, he con- tinued to be a partner, and when Sawin sold out to G. M. Reynolds he still continued to be a partner, but subsequently sold his inter- est to Reynolds. He was a man of a little less than medium height, and when setting type his body always vibrated towards the case at the picking up of each type. Several times has he allowed his name to appear as a candidate for office when he knew that defeat was certain, so intense was his Repub-
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licanism that he was willing to be thus sacrificed for the good of his party. Living a little south of him was E. R. Gillett, who was the first Representative from Chickasaw County. He was a New Hampton man in the county seat fight, and through his efforts a legislative committee was appointed to locate the county seat. and probably had an idea as to what the results were to be before he named the committee. He did not remain in the county but a short time, and on the breaking out of the rebellion he entered the service of the government, and I met him at Memphis during the war.
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