USA > Iowa > Buchanan County > History of Buchanan County, Iowa, with illustrations and biographical sketches > Part 21
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I then lived on the north side of the railroad, in the house now owned and occupied by Heman Morse, and which I built. It was a warm summer afternoon, very near sunset, that I was out in search of my cow; for 1 was then my own master, servant, chore boy, and man of all work, from helping my wife to wash on a Monday morning to milking my cow, sawing and splitting my wood, feeding my pig, and looking after things generally. I had on a broad-brimmed palm-leaf hat, a good honest shirt and a pair of blue overalls, warranted not to fade in color, and like Washington's buckskin breeches, not to rip in the seat. My feet were guiltless of shoes and stockings, and I was striding off with the ease of a man untroubled with corns. While thus engaged I noticed a handsome barouche approaching, drawn by two fine bay horses, and occupied by an elegantly dressed gentleman and lady. When the carriage came up with me the gentleman said:
"Can you direct me to the county judge? "
"Oh, yes sir; I can," I answered, "I am the county judge."
" You the county judge !" exclaimed the gentleman in a tone of sur- prise, and exchanging comical and rather astonished glances with his female companion.
"Yes, sir," said I, "I am the man, according to the record."
"Well," said he, "my name is Griffith. I am a teacher of elocution, and wish to procure the court-house for a series of lectures. Can I have it ?"
"Of course vou can," I replied, "and I presume you will have a suc- cessful course."
It was soon arranged, and Mr. Griffith proved a very excellent elo- cutionist, and was the first man who ever made me really appreciate the power of good reading. In fact, I have always given him the preference of any elocutionist I have heard. Before he left he was satisfied that blue-jeans and bare feet did not absolutely preclude some knowledge of literature, and some acquaintance with books. But the comical figure I cut on the prairie, among the hazel bushes, and in my primitive costume, has always made me laugh whenever it has came into my mind. The Griffiths doubtless thought they had reached the outer-posts of civilization.
Another similar, but more annoying occurrence, happened the sum- mer before, when I was living in what had been Wilkinson's carriage- shop, and which then stood about where the Tabor & Tabor drug store is now located. I had been over the river to bring up my eow, in the same identical costume I have described, and as I had waded through the romantic and picturesque Wapsipinieon, I had taken an evening bath suitable for a warm day; but the blue overalls were de- eidedly bedraggled, and elung to my limbs with a tenacity not very flattering to proportions that I never considered "A glass of fashion, and a mould of form." Desirous of changing my wet habiliments for dry ones, I bolted unceremoniously into the only apartment we had for kitehen, parlor and reception room, and there I was astounded to find an elegantly dressed lady, who was making her first call upon my wife. I own I did then wish for shoes and stockings, and consigned the sticky, wet, clinging overalls to a place which has a reputation for excessive heat. But there was no help for it. I was very politely in- troduced by my wife to our visitor, and she, being a real lady, con- trolled her risibles, made only mental comments on the staturesque ap- pearance of my limbs, comprehended the situation fully, and having a fund of wit and soeiability, soon placed me as entirely at my ease as if I had been elothed in the purple and fine linen so noted in the days of King Solomon. Perhaps it will not be too impudent for me to add that I see the lady who then called on us now in this audience, and many a hearty laugh have we had over our first introduction.
Such were the incidents of these old pioneer days, incidents full of interest with the present improved state of things, Every man and every woman was alive then, all working with their own hands, and no one feeling dispirited or degraded thereby. Every winter morning when I went to my office I used to see the district attorney out-o'-doors, axe in hand, cutting up wood for his stove, and taking it from a pile where it lay sled length. Lawyers, merchants, doctors and ministers
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HISTORY OF BUCHANAN COUNTY, IOWA.
not only had each a stalwart pair of hands, but they used them, and honest labor was respectable everywhere. But I cannot dwell longer on the old scenes, which, however, have been more impressed upon me than the rest of you, because I sojourned away from you for many years, and have at length returned, as I hope, to spend the remainder of my days among you.
I miss many old faces that would be with us were they alive. Judge Roszell, my predecessor as county judge and my frequent competitor in political contests, has gone to his long home. Never were we other- wise than friends, and after our first canvass of the county, during a political campaign and each evening a political discussion, I think we each had a greater respect for the other than ever before. I honor his memory and mourn his loss. The Rev. Mr. Boggs is another who comes vividly before me. Theologically we differed greatly, but our personal friendship was never for a moment disturbed; and it is a pleasing recollection with me that on one occasion, when his health would not allow him to walk to the polls, he yet rode to them in order to give me his vote. Samuel Parker, an old and honored citizen, has recently left us, and so has Mr. Sparling, both carrying with them our tender memories and filling us with sorrow at their loss. Among those, too, who were formerly my tried and true friends, I must speak of Mr. S. B. Curtis, whose native good sense, strict integrity, and sterling qualities would have done honor to any station in life.
But I must draw my desultory and disconnected remarks to a close, and as hardly ever a man reaches the age of sixty without thinking himself competent to give advice, I intend, old settlers, to exemplify this fact. Yes, my friends, we are old, and even at the longest we can maintain our hold on life but a short time. Let us then, by cheerful- ness, neatness and good temper, by a cultivation of youthful feelings, by a constant interest in public affairs, by a love for progress and im- provement, by resolutely banishing fault-finding and querulousness, by abstaining from unreasonable laudations of the times when we were young, and by duly appreciating all that is now better and more per- fect than in former days-let us, I say, by these means, and by being amiable both in our families and in public, endeavor to be happy our- selves and to contribute to the happiness of those around us. Let us keep our intellectual faculties bright by using them. Let us remember that books are a great comfort for the aged and those deprived of gen- eral conversation. Let us, one and all, be prepared for death. Let us be so assured in our own minds in relation to that inevitable debt that we shall be as ready to meet it now as to-morrow-at this moment as at any future time. "So live," as I will quote in conclus- ion what has been quoted before, but which will bear repetition,
"So live, that when thy summons comes to join The innumerable caravan which moves To that mysterious realm, where each shall take His chamber in the silent halls of death, Thou go not, like the quarry slave at night. Scourged to his dungeon, but sustained and soothed By an unfaltering trust, approach thy grave, Like one who wraps the drapery of his couch About him and lies down to pleasant dreams.
MR. PERCIVAL'S ADDRESS.
The remarks made by the Rev. Mr. Percival at this meeting of the Old Settlers' association were substantially as follows:
PIONEERS OF BUCHANAN COUNTY :- My friend, the president of your society, has introduced me as the "county historian." It is not a title that I am ashamed of, and yet I am almost sorry that he has ap- plied it to me on this occasion, for, above all things, I should have liked to avoid the suspicion that I came here with an axe to grind. At the same time I may as well confess that, in a certain sense, the suspicion would do me no injustice. It is not an entirely disinterested motive that brought me here. It would not have been that, if I had come merely to have a good time-to enjoy the pleasant excitement of ming- ling in a crowd-to gratify a natural curiosity to see, with my own eyes, of what stuff the yeomanry of old Buchanan is composed-to avail my- self of the rare opportunity of listening to the eloquence of your county orators. All this was, in part, the attraction that brought me here. But if I confess that my principal motive in coming was apparently more sordid than that that I had an eye to business, even more than to pleasure-that I hoped to gather inspiration from what I should sce and bear on this occasion, that would render the task I have undertaken (that of writing the history of your noble county) easier for myself, and more satisfactory to those who may honor the work with their patron-
age, in short, if I own up, f.tirly and squarely, that I did come here "with an axe to grind." I trust you will judge me as leniently as the demerits of the case will permit.
As I have been sitting here, listening to the graphic sketches which the various speakers have given of early times in this county, and cast- ing my eye over this assembly composed so largely of men and women who were actors in the scenes described, I have realized, as I never did before, how noble it is to be a pioneer- to take the lead in the great work of transforming a wilderness to a fertile and cultivated land, and to assist in laying the foundations of a new empire. I feel a sort of envy of these fortunate men, and a sort of humiliation when I remember that I was never a pioneer anywhere, or in anything. It is true that my parents were among the early settlers in central New York in "old Oneida," which has sometimes been called the Empire county of the Empire State; and if I had remained there until the present time, I might perhaps have been admitted to the old settlers' associa- tion of that county (should one still exist there) because I once lived in a log cabin, helped to roll and burn log heaps, and planted and hoed corn among the stumps.
But I was born too late to be considered a pioneer in my native county, and I left it too soon to become an old resident in it; and were I to return now, I should perhaps be looked upon only as a deserter. Since leaving it, I have lived in four States; but they were all settled before 1 came, and, although I have been an old man in three of them, I was never an old resident in any. Nearly ten years ago I became a resident of your county and of this goodly town. Had I re- mained here from that time to the present, I should now have, accord- ing to your terms of admission, but about ten years more to stay before I might enjoy the coveted honor of being enrolled in an old settlers. society. But, alas, my nomadic habits had become too strongly fixed; and so, after a two years' stay, f folded my tent like the Arabs, and as quietly stole away! And now, although I should remain with you for the remainder of my days, there is little probability that I should live long enough to be reckoned as one of your "old settlers."
Since, therefore, this boon is denied me, I must content myself with the best substitute that lies within my reach. Since the fates deny that I shall ever be a pioneer myseif, I will do what I can to perpetuate the memory of them and of their noble achievements, Though I cannot be remembered as an old settler, I will try to be remembered as the old settlers' historian.
I deem myself fortunate in finding such an organization as this in ex- istence here. It is a pledge beforehand, of public interest in the work I have undertaken; and it will simplify and lighten my labor, by giving me more ready access to the materials I need.
The county is fortunate in having such an organization within its borders. It will do more than to furnish an annual festival, that shall serve as the source of great social enjoyment to its members and their friends; though that, of itself, would be no unworthy object. But, what is far better, it will keep alive the old, healthful, vigorous pio- neer spirit, and an honest county pride, both in yourselves and in your children, which will prove, the sure promoter of material, social and moral improvement.
And finally, my friends, you are, as a society, fortunate and worthy of congratulation on more accounts than I have now time to enumerate, but especially on these-that you have so goodly a heritage as this fair land to transmit to those who are so soon to come after you-that you have, within your own membership, so goodly a number with ready wit and ready tongue to instruct and entertain you when you come to. gether on occasions like this-and last, but not least, that you have a president capable, energetic and public spirited; magnetic in imparting his enthusiasm to others; skilful in arranging a bill of fare for an in- tellectual festival, and well knowing when it is best tas in the present instance) to observe that ancient rule, so often violated, viz., to reserve the poorest wine until the close of the feast.
COUNTY AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY-FIRST ORGANIZATION.
The following "call" appeared in the Quasqueton Guardian of February 25, 1858:
To the farmers of Buchanan county, and all others interested in the formation of a county agricultural society:
We, the undersigned, in view of the importance, as well as benefits, derived from a properly organized and well regulated agricultural soci- ety, would invite all persons who are willing to cooperate in such an organization, and aid in sustaining the same when organized, to meet
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HISTORY OF BUCHANAN COUNTY, IOWA.
at Morse's hall, in Independence, on Saturday, March 20, 1858, at 10 o'clock, A. M., to perfect such an organization,
February 18, 1858.
.
David W. Gould,
E. B. Older,
R. Campbell,
S. J. W. Tabor,
Charles Crane,
C. W. Wilson,
L. B. Mellish,
Thomas Sherwood,
S. S. McClure,
WV. D. Fisher,
C. F. Leavitt,
A. J. Bowley,
J. H. Campbell,
William Miller,
H. S. Chase,
John Burns,
P. A. Older,
G. P. Hayslip,
B. S. Rider,
G. R. Smith,
C. W. Sellis,
Charles E. Kent,
S. W. Cook,
J. Rich,
L. Keys,
F. M. Lewis,
D. S. Lee,
D. S. Davis,
S. V. Thompson,
E. J. Pratt,
E. A. Alexander,
S. W. Hardin,
J. M. Benthall,
B. F. Clark, -
T. A. Jernegan,
James C. Henry,
E. W. Whitney,
M. N. Timson,
G. C. Jordan,
George P. Martin,
A. O. Davis.
Pursuant to the above call, a meeting was held at the court house on Saturday, March 20th, for the purpose set forth in the call for the meeting, viz: The organization of a county agricultural society. At 11 o'clock A. M., the meeting was called to order by choosing Dr. H. S. Chase, as chairman, and L. W. Hart, secretary.
A committee of five was then appointed by the chair for the purpose of drafting a constitution for such a so- ciety. The committee consisted of L. W. Cook, D. S. Lee, M. Harter, H. S. Chase, Samuel Braden, and John Merrill. The meeting then adjourned until I o'clock of the same day, and at the same place, to hear the re- port of the committee. At 1 o'clock the committee reported the following constitution :
ARTICLE I .- The name of the society shall be the Buchanan county Agricultural society.
ARTICLE II .- The object of the society shall be the promotion of agriculture and the mechanic arts.
ARTICLE 111 .- The officers of this society shall be, a president, three vice-presidents, a secretary, a treasurer, and five directors, all of whom shall constitute an executive committee, with such other officers as shall be appointed by the society.
ARTICLE IV .- The secretary shall keep a record of the proceedings of the society and of the executive committee, and make report thereof at the annual meeting, or when requested by the society.
ARTICLE V .- The treasurer shall keep all moneys belonging to the society, and pay out the same on a warrant of the president, counter- signed by the secretary; and make an annual report to the society of the finances thereof.
ARTICLE VI .- The executive committee shall superintend and direct the affairs of the society, from one meeting to another, and perform such other duties as the by-laws shall direct.
ARTICLE VII .- The officers of this society shall hereafter be elected at the annual meeting, by ballot, and shall hold office one year, and until their successors shall be elected.
ARTICLE VIII. - The annual meeting of said society shall be held on the first Tuesday in January of each year.
ARTICLE IX .- Any citizen of the county may become a member of this society upon the payment of one dollar into the treasury annually, and having his name registered by the secretary.
ARTICLE X. - The society shall have power to adopt such by-laws as may be deemed necessary to carry out the object of this constitution, and to change the constitution and by-laws at any annual meeting of the society.
This report was received and the committee was dis- charged.
A motion was then made and carried unanimously, to adopt the constitution as reported,
The following persons were then appointed a commit- tee to report names for officers of the society : W. O. Smith, O. H. P. Roszell, D. S. Lee, William Logan, H. H. Hunt, who, after a short session, reported the follow- ing persons to hold the various offices of the society, to- wit: H. S. Chase, president; Abiathas Richardson, Da- vid Merrill and Newman Curtis, vice-presidents ; L. W. Hart, secretary ; O. H. P. Roszell, treasurer; John Smy- zer, William Logan, Rufus Conable, William Elliot and Charles Hoover, directors.
The report was received and the committee discharged. The motion to adopt the report was then put, and car- ried without dissent. The following persons were then appointed a committee to draft by-laws for the society, to-wit: J. B. Thomas, S. S. Allen, Charles Kinckerbocker, who were to make report at the next meeting. W. O. Smith, D. S. Lee, and C. S. Leavitt, were appointed a committee to enquire into and report what should be done by this society to entitle it to share in the agricul- tural fund. The secretary was instructed to notify ab- sent officers of their election, by mail, or otherwise. A motion was then carried to publish the proceedings of the meeting in the Independence Civilian, and the Quas- queton Guardian. The society then adjourned to meet on the second Saturday in June, at 11 o'clock A. M., at which time the several committees are to report.
With this brief account of the organization of the first agricultural society, we pass at once to a description of its first fair, held in October of the same year.
FIRST AGRICULTURAL FAIR.
From the columns of the Guardian of October 21, 1858, we condense an account of the "first fair." The weather of the first day, October 13th, was cold, blustering and somewhat stormy, and the entries and attendance of that day was limited. The "fickle goddess," who, since that time, has "poured cold water" on many a similar enterprise, smiled propitiously on the second day, and the influx of both entries and visitors was characteristic of Buchanan outpourings of that early time.
The different committees were generally prompt and attentive to their duties, making their awards impartially, and to general satisfaction. It was the opinion of the writer in the Guardian, that though several fine horses were exhibited, the display was inferior to what the county was capable of making. In cattle there were thirty-two entries, some of them very fine, so that even thus early one of Buchanan's specialties was fore- shadowed. In sheep there was but one entry, a fine me- rino buck and ewe, belonging to Mr. C. H. Jakway, of Buffalo township; the man who once offered a pail of fine butter in Independence, for four cents per pound, without finding a purchaser. The display of swine was quite creditable; Mr. Martin exhibiting the finest speci- men of the Suffolk variety-the other exhibitors show- ing crosses of that stock.
The display of poultry was not large, but the varieties exhibited were fine. L. W. Cook showed a brace of Chittagong fowls; which we mention in the interests of science, fearing the name might become extinct as we suspect the family has.
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HISTORY OF BUCHANAN COUNTY, IOWA.
In fruits and vegetables the exhibit was pronounced excellent; but, in looking over the list, we are com- pelled to notice a very remarkable omission -not a single specimen of fruit being mentioned; unless the "large and splendid looking sweet potatoes," displayed by Mr. E. B. Older, and Mr. Romig's radish-two feet and seven inches in length and twelve inches in circumfer- ence, were thought by the committee worthy to be re- garded as standard bearers, if not "standard fruits" of Buchanan county soil. Mr. Romig also exhibited sam- ples of white and yellow seed corn which had produced seventy-five to eighty bushels per acre for him that year. Some of the Chinese sugar-eane syrup presented was pronounced equal to the best golden syrup then in mar- ket. Mr. Lathrop's and Mr. Reed's were especially fine. In butter the entries seemed alike superior. Only one sample of cheese was entered and that of excellent qual- ity, made by Mrs. James Brooks.
THE PLOWING AND RIDING MATCH.
Passing over the notices of other departments, which will sufficiently appear in the list of premiums which we copy entire, a few words in regard to the plowing and riding matches will suffice, with the list. to perpetuate the memory of an event, which, at the time of its occur- rence, was regarded by all classes of the population as one of special interest. Not a household in the county, it is safe to say, was not pleasantly and profitably stirred from the dull monotony of ever recurring toils.
THE RIDING MATCH.
The great point of interest in the entire exhibition, at least to the more youthful portion of the visitors. was the riding match which came off at the race-course, which then occupied the grounds of the west side school building. About ten o'clock of the second day a tide of men, women, and children, in wagons and on foot, began to pour over the bridge towards the place of exhibition. The plowing match had but a feeble attrac- tion, except to the few. Farmers' wives and sons could see plowing on their own broad acres at home; while the element of novelty drew a large proportion of those not personally interested in the awards, irresistably to the race-course.
The entries for the riding contest were Mrs. Edge- comb, Miss Freeman, Misses Clara and Mary Kipp, Miss Clark and Miss Coleman. It was the opinion of the judges, as well as of the spectators, that the horses were generally inferior, while the riding was uniformly good. Mrs. Edgecomb and daughter were awarded the first and second prizes, Miss Freeman, of Byron township, taking the third.
The exhibition closed with an excellent address de- livered in the grove on the west side, by C. A. L. Roszell, and the reading of the premiums by Colonel Thomas. Mr. Roszell's address will be found in another part of this chapter. The Quasqueton band was in attendance, and enlivened the exhibition with their excellent music. As a primary one, the exhibition was exceedingly credita- ble. When it is remembered that Buchanan was then in its adolescence. wanting a full decade of its legal ma-
jority, the following list of premiums will demonstrate the fact that, though the county was but a robust youth, its first farmers were already in the full tide of successful experiment.
LIST OF PREMIUMS,
awarded at the first exhibition of the Buchanan coun- ty agricultural society, held at Independence, October 13 and 14, 1868:
Horses .- Best stallion, five years old or upwards, D. S. Lee, $5.00 ; second best, H. S. Chase, $3.00; best stallion, three years old and less than five, C. B. Jakwav, $3.00; second best, H. H. Lathrop. $2.00; best breeding mare, E. Miller, $2.00; best four-year-old do., J. Hunt- ington, $2.00; best sucking colt, S. B. Brooks. $1.00; best trotting horse, H. Edgecomb, $2.00; best pair matched geldings, A. F. Wil- liams, $3.00; best yearling colt, F. Pingiee, $2.00; matched carriage team, W. B. Kipp, $2.00; breeding mares, D. S. Lee, $4.00; single buggy horse, J. Boone, $2.00; three-year-old mules, C. Hoover, $2.00. Two-year-old do., J. Smyser, $1.50; three-year-old mare, F. Hatha- way, $1.oo; two-year-old stallion, S. F. Searle, $1.50.
Cattle-Best yoke of oxen, five years old and upward, S. Sherwood, $2,00; best yoke of steers, four years old, F. S. Loy, $1.50; best full- blood short-horned Durham bull, two years old and upwards, D Mer- rill, $3.00; best full-blood Devon cow, D. Merrill, $2.00; best do. Dur- ham do., D. Robertson, $3.00; best cow, native or crossed, S. B. Curtis, $2.00; best yearling heifer, Edward Cobb, $1.50; best calf, John Car- penter. $1.00; two years old Devon bull, J. Carpenter, $1.00; two year old heifer, D. Merrill, $1.00; full-blooded Devon calf, the same, 50 cents; four years old grade Devon bull, O. Cobb, 50 cents; second best Durham bull, three years old, D. Robertson, $1. 50.
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