USA > Iowa > Madison County > History and business directory of Madison County, Iowa > Part 3
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Dr. J. H. Gaff was the first physician who settled in the county. He was a gentleman of a high order of intellect and an accomplished and well read physician. He was called to his heavenly home several years ago. His son, Francis M., who died about a year ago near Denver City, was the first boy born in Madison county.
Doctor L. M. Tidrick came in the fall of 1850. He has practiced medicine longer than any other man in the county. Although his health has been somewhat impaired by his long and severe practice, he is still engaged in the practice of medicine in this county. Always being a great student in his profession, he is a well read and thoroughly posted physician. He is a graduate of some Eastern school of medicine and has attended several courses of scientific medical lectures held by the Medical Faculty in St. Louis, Philadelphia, and other cities. He has always been identified with the public interests of this county and was for a number of years Treasurer and Recorder of the county. He is, in all respects, a number one citizen.
Many of these early settlers are still residents of the county, living monuments of the permanent character of the inhabitants of this county, having remained from the first settlement, on their choice, and made good comfortables homes for themselves and their families, living in quiet contentment and in peace with all mankind.
William Gentry was one of the first County Commissioners and he settled on the farm now owned by Amos De Cou, located one-half mile east of town.
Enos Berger was the first settler in Winterset, and he built the first house. It was located on the lot now occupied by the residence of J. .J. Hutchings, Esq. This house still remains on the lot, in the rear of Hutchings' large two-story house. It is now covered with side-boards,
37
ADVERTISEMENTS.
J. S. McCAUGHAN. Attorney and Counselor-at-Law. And Real Estate Agent, WINTERSET, Madison County, IOWA.
Will give prompt and careful attention to all business entrusted to his care in Madison and adjoining Counties.
W. R. SHRIVER, Carriage & Wagon Maker, WHEELWRIGHT, CT. AVENUE, EAST OF SQUARE.
WORK constantly on hand or made to order.
REPAIRING done on short notice.
ANDERSON & BREWER, Blacksmiths,
Near MONUMENTAL Square,
WINTERSET, - - IOWA.
All kinds of BLACKSMITHING and SHOEING done. SATISFACTION GIVEN.
PRICES, REASONABLE.
THE GREAT WESTERN TELEGRAPH Is located by the CHEPULTEPEC MILL,
And Daniel can furnish Lumber on short notice, in town or county ; can furnish house and barn frames, from sills to sheeting, on the most reasonable terms.
TRY HIM.
All orders left at the Mill or at the Post-office, at Winterset, will be promptly filled. D. DANIEL.
38
HISTORY.
and used for a wood-shed. Of this house we shall have occasion to speak again, for it bears a very conspicuous place in the history of this county. Berger afterwards settled on the west half of the town plat of Winterset, and built the house where V. Hawkins now resides. He is now a resident of Rock Bluffs, Nebraska. Mr. Berger was Recorder from 1853 to 1855, and he was a whole-souled, hard-working, and persevering man: He was also the first Postmaster of Winterset. A little anecdote is related of him, which we give as it was told us, as near as may be: In those early days there was no bank or safe place for the deposit of money, and at one time Berger had more of the county funds than he could conveniently carry in his pocket, so he placed it in his wife's blue stocking, and stowed it away under the bed. A neighbor observing how he kept the money, remarked to him that perhaps that was rather a loose way to keep the county funds. Berger replied, "Tut, tut, man, there is no vault in America safer than my wife's stocking."
Another anecdote is also related of Berger. At the time the town of Winterset was being located, the surveyors wanted a flag to sight by in marking off the town plat. They asked Berger if he could supply them with a flag of some red material, so they could see it across the location. Berger began to look around, but goods of so flashy a kind were scarce in those early days. However, he was not to be discomfitted, when a county seat was coming so close to the door of his cabin, so he stepped aside and tore off a piece of his red flannel shirt, and stuck it on the sighting pole ; let all then, who enjoy the straight streets and square lots of Winterset, remember that they are greatly indebted for them to Berger's red under-garment.
Henry McKinzie settled on the farm on Hoosier Prairie, now owned by our fellow townsmen, W. W. McKnight, and he held the office of county commissioner at the second election of the county.
N. S. Allcock settled on the north side of Clanton Creek, where he now resides. He held the office of county commissioner, at the second election of the county's organization. He is in every sense a very worthy man, a gentleman and a christian.
ALF. D. JONES.
In the early history of this county, perhaps no man has borne so con- spicuous a part as Alf. D. Jones. Of him it may be said he "run the whole machinery of county affairs." He settled on the " Narrows," four miles east of Winterset, on the Fort Des Moines road, where the road enters the timber, and where John Orman now resides. Here he erected two log-houses ; one he used for a dwelling, the other he used
39
ADVERTISEMENTS.
V. WAINWRIGHT, Attorney-at- Law,
AND REAL ESTATE AGENT, SOUTH SIDE PUBLIC SQUARE, WINTERSET, IOWA.
Will buy and sell Real Estate on commission, make conveyances and attend to all business usually transacted by an Attorney or Real Estate Agent. Has now for sale, Farms, Prairie and Timber Lands in all parts of the country.
SHANNON & BURNETT,
PROPRIETORS
EATING HOUSE
AND
BAKERY , West side Public Square, Winterset, Iowa.
THE VERY BEST OF FRESH BREAD
Kept constantly on hand. Hot Coffee, Cakes, Ples, Boiled Hams, and WARM MEALS At all hours. When you want anything in their line. give them a call.
J. W. JACOBS, Carpenter and Joiner,
WINTERSET, IOWA.
He is ready at all times to do any work in his line that may be desired. Sat- isfaction guaranteed.
40
HISTORY.
for a store house. This was the first store, and he was the first merchant in Madison County. The first post-office was also kept here, and it was called Mt. Pelier. Mr. Jones was the Postmaster. A. Snyder, a brother to Samuel and Hardety Snyder, was the mail carrier, and carried the mail semi-occasionally from the soldiers garrison, at the Raccoon Forks, now the capital of the state.
When the county seat was located and surveyed, Mr. Jones moved his store and family to Winterset. He was the first lawyer in and first prosecuting attorney of the county. He was the first county surveyor, and he surveyed the town of Winterset at the time the county seat was located. And he, together with E. Bilderback, the organizing sheriff, organized Madison county. Jones was the Deputy, and did the work. Perhaps a brief sketch of his life would not be inappropriate here. He was originally a plasterer by trade. Educated himself at the Marrietta and Farmers' College, O. Emigrated to the West, where he has held nearly every office within the gift of the people, from school Director to Speaker of the House of Representatives ; studied and practiced law ; was the M. W. G. Master of the I. O. O. F. of his state, and was elected Grand Representative to the Grand Lodge of the United States. He was a practical surveyor and civil engineer, and in the early days of the new settlements of the West, was familiarly known as the "Pio- neer Land Hunter and Town Builder." He is now a successful retired merchant and land speculator, and resides at Omaha, Neb., in a mag- nificent mansion, and is said to be worth not less than one hundred thousand dollars.
JOHN A. PITZER
Is one of the carly and prominent settlers of Madison county. He came in 1849, and during that year he surveyed and laid out into sections the north half of the county. Enoch Eastman surveyed, at the same time, the south half. Mr. Pitzer, soon afterwards, started a store in Winterset, and he was the first merchant that ever sold goods in Winterset. He is to-day one of the most prominent merchants of the place, and he has continued in the same business ever since he first commenced, with the exception of the time during which he was paymaster in the army. He is one of our most honorable and sub- stantial citizens; a man in whose integrity the people of the county have placed the most implicit confidence, and they bestowed upon him the highest office within the county in 1851, and upon the expira- tion 'of his term of office in 1855, they re-elected him, and again in 1857. He proved himself worthy in all respects, of the trust bestowed on him. It is related of him that during the hard times of 1855 and
41
ADVERTISEMENTS.
JNO. LEONARD, ATTORNEY-AT-LAW
Solicitor in Chancery, Real Estate & Collecting Agent, WINTERSET, IOWA.
Will attend promptly to all business entrusted to his care, in Madison and other conn- ties in Western Iowa. Refers to the President, Cashier and Directore of the National Bank of Winterset, and to the business men and firms of the city generally.
SAMUEL SNYDER, GROCER,
keeps constantly on hand and for sale, GROCERIES OF ALL KINDS,
Coffee, Sugar, Tea, Butter, Eggs, Vinegar, Molasses, Spices, &c. He will be found a few doors east of south-east corner of
PUBLIC SQUARE.
J. S. WHITE,
Manufacturer and Dealer in
BOOTS, SHOES,
And Findings, SOUTH SIDE OF PUBLIC SQUARE.
All kinds of BOOTS AND SHOES MADE TO ORDER
On the shortest notice.
The Leather and Work I will Warrant
As recommended, if not, the money will be returned. I will keep a good assortment of
LEATHER AND FINDINGS.
Mending done with neatness and dispatch.
42
HISTORY.
1856, that he gave away to destitute families over five hundred sacks of flour, and that he trusted almost the entire people of the county, who were destitute, for provisions, groceries and the necessaries of life. As times improved and the people became able, a large portion of them came forward and paid the Judge for what he had trusted them. But the Judge has laid out in this way many thousands of dollars which have never been returned to him. There is no man in the county more honored and respected-especially by the old settlers -than is Judge Pitzer to-day. No man in the county has made so many substantial improvements and done so much for the building-up of the county, as Judge Pitzer. All honor to the Judge! May he live long to enjoy the good he has done !
JOHN EVANS was the first preacher in the county. He was of the denomination known as the Hardshell Baptist, and he used to preach at John Butler's place, now known as James' Farm, and at other private residences. In the fall of 1849, two Methodist ministers used to come up from Fort Des Moines, as often as once in two weeks, and would preach at the house of Amos Case and Claiborn Pitzer.
EARLY INCIDENTS AND REMINISCENCES.
In 1850 and 1851, and even later, "new comers" came into the county so fast, that provender was often very scarce, and it was very difficult for many, especially those who came too late to cut hay, to obtain provender sufficient to keep the stock which they had brought with them alive over winter, and their cattle were only kept alive by driving them daily into the bottoms along the streams, and cutting down small trees for them to browse on. The trees were mostly linn and elm, and the cattle subsisted on the buds and twigs.
In the early days of the county, the settlers had to go a long distance to mill ; often as far as Oskaloosa and Ottumwa, and they sometimes went to St. Joseph, Mo., to get their groceries and necessaries.
They were often without meal, (flour was out of the question) to make bread with, and they often subsisted for weeks at a time on grated corn and potatoes. They would often, however, manufacture a " sort of meal ". in this wise : They would dig a hole in the top of a stump of a tree, which answered very well for a mortar; and they made a pestal by fastening an iron wedge to the end of a stick. With this machine, they would pound boiled corn and make meal. They ground buckwheat in coffee mills ; and many a tempting " flap-jack " made from flour thus ground, has been eaten with relish, and hunger was well appeased. As late as 1850 flour would bring in Winterset as high as eight and ten dollars per hundred weight, and could seldom
43
ADVERTISEMENTS.
S. G. RUBY,
Attorney & Counselor-at-Law WINTERSET, IOWA.
Will practice in the State Courts of South- Western Iowa, and U. S. Courts.
JOSEPH GARLINGER, DEALER IN
LIVE STOCK!
WINTERSET, IOWA.
Buys and Sells on Commission, Horses, Mules, Steers, Cows, HOGS AND SHEEP.
P rsons having stock to sell, or who may wish to buy live st ck of any kind, will do well to call on
JOSEPH GARLINGER.
THE FAMILY GROCERY,
On the North Side of the Square, H. L. HATCH, Proprietor.
The very best articles of FAMILY GROCERIES are constantly kept for sale, at the lowest living rates.
Yankee Notions, Boots and Shoes, Hats and Caps, Queensware, Wooden Ware, and all articles usually kept in a First-Class Grocery Store. Produce Bought and Sold.
44
HISTORY.
be had at that ; and wheat was always reserved for "company, " or for great occasions.
If bread was dear, meat was cheap. The early settlers always had plenty of the choicest meats-enough to make the most fastidious epicure smack his lips with delight. There were plenty of deer, turkeys, and all the various wild game common to this country. One old settler informed us that in the winter of 1853, he purchased three two-horse wagon loads of hams, jerked, or Indian smoked, for two and a half cents per pound.
In 1848 and 1849, the great California emigration passed through the county. Corn sold readily at that time at two dollars per bushel. It is said that Claiborn Pitzer and others were frequently known to stand at their corn cribs and measure out coru all day to California emigrants at these figures. Those were golden days for our farmers. One bushel of corn would buy two calico dresses for " the goode wife," and a frock for the baby, to boot ; for calico was only eight and twelve and a half cents per yard at that time.
In the early days of the county the merchants used to have their goods hauled from Burlington and Keokuk by ox teams, for which they paid teamsters only from $1,50 to $2,00 per cwt. P. M. Boyles hauled the first goods that ever came to Madison county, from Keokuk, for A. D. Jones. No roads were worked or bridges built at that early day, and the poor oxen had to swim creeks and have a hard time of it, generally.
Before the california emigration commenced, money was very scarce so much so that it became a general saying that the Old Oxen was the sole circulating medium.
The old settlers endured all their privations heroically, and never complained. They knew they had a good country, and waited with patience the better day, which by diligence and perseverance on their part must surely come. They always " put the best foot forward ;" and so patient and cheerful were the people, that the casual observer passing through the country, could not observe by their actions, but that they were blessed with all the comforts and necessaries that could be desired. An early settler illustrates this by a little incident which he relates with great glee : A mail carrier who was returning from his first trip west, complained that at the station where he had stopped to get his meals, they had treated him niggardly, and remarked with much feel- ing they had grated corn for the "Dutchman to eat ;" he being a German, was impressed with the belief that they would not treat any one so but a foreigner. But it was the best they could do, even at a public house.
45
ADVERTISEMENTS.
R. B. CARTER'S GALLERY!
R. B. CARTER.
Would respectfully Inform his many friends and the public generally, that he has refitted his
Photographic Rooms,
Over I. L. Tidrick's Drug Store, and multiplied his facilities for taking first- class pictures.
THE CABINET PICTURE,
Which has become the pride of the East, can be secured at the Gallery in all its beauty.
LIFE-SIZE PHOTOGRAPHS TAKEN, And Old Pictures Copied and Enlarged to any Size desired.
SQUARE AND OVAL FRAMES, with Display Mats, for family groups, furnished in great variety, and at the lowest rates.
JACOB BARTHOLOMEW, BLACKSMITH! !
Near Southeast Corner of Public Square,
WINTERSET, IOWA.
All kinds of BLACKSMITHING and SHOEING done. Satisfaction given. Prices reasonable.
MORRIS SCHROEDER, BEER BREWERY ! One Mile East of WINTERSET, On the Stage Road to Des Moines.
46
HISTORY.
THE GREAT SNAKE HUNT.
Previous to the organization of the county, the county was full of rat- tlesnakes, rendering life precarious. They were especially a great source of anxiety to the woman folks. The rattle of the snake was of- ten heard on every hand, sometimes causing the strongest nerves to fear. And men would sometimes wear leggings as a safety against the snakes. A farmer named Mckinsey, who lived on the farm on Hoo- sier Prairie now owned by W. W. McKnight, used to remark that he had rattlesnakes enough on his farm to fence it, and then have enough left to make a respectable snake hunt. One day Irwin Baum and Wm. Combs thought they would go down to North River, near where they reside, on a "little frolic", and see how many rattlesnakes they could kill. The result of their " frolic," was ninety slayed rattlesnakes in one hour and a half's time. Geo. Guye once killed thirty-five rattlesnakes, which were rolled up together, like a round ball.
The settlers deeming that some vigorous measures should be resorted to, to rid the county of the venomous reptiles, called a meeting for the purpose of adopting some measure for that purpose. After due consid- eration, it was consided necessary to form a company and wage a war of extermination upon the reptiles ; so a company was duly formed, each member to pay two bushels of corn as a fee or bonus. The company was divided equally, Middle River making the dividing line, beyond which neither party were to hunt the " varmints ;" and the victorious party was to take all the corn as a "reward of merit." Captains were duly elected, who made choice of their comrades for their snakish bravery and perseverance. The parties were instructed to go forth with a steady and determined purpose to obtain the desired victory, and rid the county of the enemy of progress. The result of the hunt was to be made known ou the 4th day of July, 1849. Preparations had also been made for a Grand Barbecue and 4th of July Celebration, on that day, at Guye's Grove; where the whole county assembled to hear there- sult, and to enjoy the first Fourth of July Celebration ever held in Mad- ison county. While dinner was preparing, the rattles were counted, and they numbered three thousand seven hundred and fifty ; and it was said to be a poor year for rattlesnakes, too !
The speakers and orators, at this celebration, were Lysander W. Babbitt, who was at that time the Democratic candidate for Represen- tative of this part of the State, and Dr. Baugh, his opponent, an inde- pendent candidate who resided on Middle River, in the then unorgan- ized county of Warren, together with Alfred D. Jones. Mr. Jones was also the reader of the Declaration of Independence.
47
ADVERTISEMENTS.
GOULD & HOWELL, BLACKSMITHS,
Wagon & Carriage Makers, MANUFACTURERS OF
AGRICULTURAL IMPLEMENTS,
PLOWS, &c., AND DEALERS IN AGRICULTURAL MACHINERY, FARMING IMPLEMENTS, REAPERS AND MOWERS, AND GENERAL AGENTS FOR THE
CANTON CLIPPER,
DES MOINES PLOWS, PARLOR CULTIVATOR,
(The best in use,)
SCHUTLER WAGON, AND KIRBY REAPER,
We manufacture all kinds of
SHOVEL PLOWS.
Plow-pointing, laying and polishing done better than the best. We keep constantly on hand
SINGLE· TREES AND CLEVISES,
All kinds of work done with neatness and dispatch, on the shortest notice. Call and examine our Cultivators.
PLOWS OF ALL KINDS,
REAPERS, WAGONS, &c., &c.
GOULD & HOWELL.
South of Stone & Sturman's Hardware Store,
Winterset, - Iowa.
48
HISTORY.
Among the volunteer toasts given was one something like the following, offered by Alfred D. Jones :
" To the Captain and Company of the victorious Snaking Party- May their names be handed down to the future generations of Madison, for their snakish bravery and for compelling their opponents this day to acknowledge the corn. "
This celebration was a gay day to the people of Madison county. All were cheerful and happy. They danced, sang and cheered, and mirth and jollity were unrestrained. At the close of that gala day, the happy people returned to their quiet and pleasant homes well contented that they had obtained so great a victory over their wily foe. Thus ended the great "Snake Hunt. " Since that eventful Spring snakes are scarce in Madison county.
The corn was to be delivered at Casebiers' mill, for the relief of a poor widow woman residing in that neighborhood. But history records that the committee appointed, got into a muss while under the influ- ence of "sod-corn, " and quarrelled, and the subject was never afterwards broached.
THE GOLD EXCITEMENT.
In the summer of 1858 small particles of gold were discovered in some of the black sand on our streams. As usual, the discovery of gold produced great excitement, and wild and extravagant stories soon spread abroad of the rich beds and mines that had been discovered in Madison county. John Taylor and others found a few small particles of dust and left them on exhibition at the banking house of A. West & Co. Rev. Thos. Evans found on his farm a lump worth ninety cents ; and a report circulated far and near that one man had found a two hundred dollar lump near the Union county line. A steamboat arrived at Des Moines, carrying quite a number of gold hunters who came to seek their fortunes in this new Eldorado. Fred. Somers, an eminent jeweler of Winterset at that time, advertised that he had established an " Assay Office, " and that he was fully prepared to assay, smelt, or examine specimens of gold, &c. But the gold " diggins " soon played out, and we are sorry to add that nobody was the richer for it. Fine particles of gold dust, however, were found; and it can be found at any time along our streams, but not in quantities sufficient to pay for the trouble.
FIRST MARRIAGES.
The first marriages in the county were as follows :
License No. 1, was issued to David S. Smith and Jane Cason, April 17, 1849, by one George W. Mcclellan, Clerk Dist. Court, M. C. Iowa.
49
ADVERTISEMENTS.
GO TO THE NEW DRUG STORE!
WEST SIDE OF PUBLIC SQUARE,
Next door to Dabney Brothers, where you will find a full and complete assortment of
PURE DRUGS, Comprising everything kept in a
FIRST-CLASS DRUG STORE ! PAINTS, OILS, DYE STUFFS, PATENT MEDICINES, COAL OILS, PERFUMERY, FANCY ARTICLES, TOILET SOAPS, HAIR, AND
CLOTH BRUSHES.
Having had a long experience in the Drug trade, and as my
STOCK is FRESH and PURE,
I feel warranted in saying to the trade that when in want of
PURE DRUGS,
Then it will be to their interest to call at the New Drug Store.
W. W. YEATES.
4
50
HISTORY.
-(Mem.) It is very natural that an official should get "M. C." mixed in with his first official acts ; for all men who run for office aspire to this.
The certificate in this case shows that the ceremony was performed on the 19th of April, 1849, by Seth Adamson, J. P. Also that the blushing bride was of tender years-viz : 15.
License No. 2, showeth that the tender heart of Sarah Evans was made harder than iron, by virtue of its uniting with Casteel- christened Meshack. This terrible deed was enacted by another J. P. of those days-Joshua C. Casebier, on the 13th day of August, 1849.
License No. 3-Lewis Baum to Barbara Wolverton, by Alfred Rice -another J. P.
The record shows up to this date that, between J. P's and Ministers, the former were in the ascendant.
THE FIRST ENTRIES OF LAND MADE IN MADISON COUNTY.
Below we give the names of those who first entered land in the several townships of the county, together with the description of the lands and their date of entry.
Ohio Township-John Hinkle and George D. Hartman were the first to enter land in Ohio Township. Hinkle entered the S. E. qr. of the S. W. qr. of sec. 27, and Hartman entered the N. E. qr. of the S. E. qr. of sec. 23. They both entered the same day, Nov. 8, 1850.
Scott Township-David Fleener entered the N. W. qr. of the N. E. qr. of sec. 3, Nov. 8, 1850.
Lincoln Township-Elijah Perkins entered the south half of the N. W. qr. of the north half of the S. W. qr. of section 13.
Grand River Township-A. J. Hasty entered the N. E. qr. of the S. E. qr. of the S. W. qr. of section 8, November 9, 1852; and on the same day J. C. Barker entered the S. W. qr. of section 9 and the N. E. qr. of section 27 ; and L. B. Barker entered the N. W. qr. of the N. E. qr. and the S. E. qr. of the N. E. qr. of section 17, also, on the same day.
Webster Township-F. Howard entered . the north half of the N. W. qr. of section 16, July 8, 1850.
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