USA > Iowa > Chickasaw County > History of Chickasaw and Howard Counties, Iowa > Part 13
USA > Iowa > Howard County > History of Chickasaw and Howard Counties, Iowa > Part 13
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47
"Some of the benevolent people of the State early conceived the idea of establishing a Home for such of the children of! de-
114
HISTORY OF IOWA.
ceased soldiers as might be left in destitute circumstances. This idea first took form in in 1863, and in the following year a Home was opened at Farmington, Van Buren County, in a building leased for that purpose, and which soon became filled to its utmost capacity. The institution received liberal donations from the gen- eral public, and also from the soldiers in the field. In 1865 it be- came necessary to provide increased accommodations for the large number of children who were seeking the benefits of its care. This was done by establishing a branch at Cedar Falls, in Black Hawk County, and by securing, during the same year, for the use of the parent Home, Camp Kinsman, near the city of Davenport. This property was soon afterward donated to the institution by act of Congress.
"In 1866, in pursuance of a law enacted for that purpose, the Soldiers' Orphans' Home (which then contained about four hun- dred and fifty inmates) became a State institution, and thereafter the sums necessary for its support were appropriated from the State Treasury. A second branch was established at Glenwood, Mills county. Convenient tracts were secured and valuable im- provements made at the different points. Schools were also estab- lished and employments provided for such of the children as were of suitable age. In all ways the provision made for these wards of the State has been such as to challenge the approval of every benevolent mind. The number of children who have been in- mates of the Home from its foundation to the present time is con- siderably more than two thousand.
"At the beginning of the war, the population of Iowa included about one hundred and fifty thousand men, presumably liable to render military service. The State raised, for general service, thirty-nine regiments of infantry, nine regiments of cavalry, and four companies of artillery, composed of three years ' men; one regiment of infantry, composed of three months' men; and four regiments and one battallion of infantry composed of one hundred days' men. The original enlistments in these various organiza- tions, including seventeen hundred and twenty-seven men raised by draft, numbered a little more than sixty-nine thousand. The re-enlistments; including upward of seven thousand veterans, numbered very nearly eight thousand. The enlistments in the regular army and navy, and organizations of other States, will, if added, raise the total to upward of eighty thousand. The number of men who, under special enlistments, and as militia, took part at different times in the operations on the exposed borders of the State, was probably as many as five thousand.
"Iowa paid no bounty on account of the men she placed in the field. In some instances, toward the close of the war, bounty to a comparatively small amount was paid by cities and towns. On only one occasion-that of the call of July 18, 1864-was a draft made in Iowa. This did not occur on account of her proper liabil-
115
HISTORY OF IOWA.
ty, as established by previous rulings of the War Department, to supply men under that call, but grew out of the great necessity that there existed for raising men. The Government insisted on temporarily setting aside, in part, the former rule of settlements, and enforcing a draft in all cases where sub-districts in any of the States should be found deficient in their supply of men. In no instance was Iowa, as a whole, found to be indebted to the General Government for men, on a settlement of her quota accounts."
It is to be said to the honor and credit of Iowa, that while many of the loyal States, older and larger in population and wealth, in- curred heavy State debts for the purpose of fulfilling their obli- tions to the General Government, Iowa, while she was foremost in duty, while she promptly discharged all her obligations to her sister States and the Union, found herself at the close of the war without any material addition to her pecuniary liabilities incurred before the war commenced. Upon final settlement. after the res- toration of peace, her claims upon the Federal Government were found to be fully equal to the amount of her bonds issued and sold during the war to provide the means for raising and equipping troops sent into the field, and to meet the inevitable demands upon her treasury in consequence of the war.
STATEMENT showing the number of men furnished and casualities in Iowa regiments during the War of the Rebellion.
REGIMENTS.
Number of
Total Cas-
ualities.
Killed or
died of
Wounds.
Died of
Disease.
1st Battery
149
124
10
51
2d Battery
123
62
2
29
3d Battery
142
79
4
33
4th Battery.
152
17
1st Cavalry
1478
543
54
187
2d Cavalry
1394
602
65
191
3d Cavalry
1360
770
77
224
4th Cavalry
1227
590
48
186
5th Cavalry.
1245
452
43
127
6th Cavalry
1125
193
21
59
7th Cavalry.
562
402
40
92
8th Cavalry
1234
274
33
91
9th Cavalry.
1178
258
15
162
Sioux City Cavalry.
93
7
.
...
Co. A, 11th Penn. Cavalry
87
5
1
4
1st Infantry
959
165
17
7
2d Infantry.
1247
758
72
107
3d Infantry
1074
749
80
99
2d and 3d Inf. Consolidated
1184
973
108
237
4th Infantry
1037
699
88
90
5th Infantry
1013
855
132
124
6th Infantry
7th Infantry
1138
885
129
135
9
28
18
5
. Men
116
HISTORY OF IOWA.
REGIMENTS.
Number of
Total Cas-
ualties
Killed er died of
Wounds.
Died of
Disease.
8th Infantry
1027
761
93
137
9th Infantry
1090
973
133
208.
10th Infantry
1027
739
91
134
11th Infantry
1022
610
79
148
12th Infantry
989
852
99
182
13th Infantry
840
526
50
122
14th Infantry
14th Inf. Res. Batt
1196
1029
130
194
15th Infantry
918
819
89
217
17th Infantry
950
614
61
97
18th Infantry
875
449
33
109
19th Infantry
985
562
86
91
20th Infantry
925
359
13
130
21st Infantry
980
531
66
157
22d Infantry
1108
634
105
126
23d Infantry
961
570
69
196
24th Infantry
959
761
111
197
25th Infantry
995
564
61
199
26th Infantry
940
530
21
162
28th Infantry
956
696
76
180
29th Infantry
978
646
63
233
31st Infantry
977
540
27
261
32d Infantry.
925
589
89
203
33d Infantry
985
580
62
196
34th Infantry
953
561
6
228
34th Consolidated
984
510
42
182
35th Infantry
986
619
59
226
37th Infantry
914
503
3
141
38th Infantry
910
431
1
310
39th Infantry.
933
406
54
119
40th Infantry
900
361
15
179
41st Infantry.
294
17
2
44th Infantry.
867
15
.
14
45th Infantry.
912
22
1
17
46th Infantry
892
28
1
23
47th Infantry
884
47
45
48th Infantry
346
4
4
1st African Infantry
903
383
5
331
Totals
56,364
30,394
3,139| 8,695
36
248
30th Infantry
919
562
69
204
27th Infantry
1005
511
72
5
13
36th Infantry
981
768
62
243
16th Infantry
11
.
--
A : .
Men
History of Chickasaw County.
CHAPTER I.
..
INTRODUCTION ; CONTRASTS OF THEN AND Now ; GEOGRAPHY ; TOPOGRAPHY ; GEOLOGY ; PRINCIPAL PRODUCTIONS, AND RE- SOURCES ; RAILROAD FACILITIES.
INTRODUCTORY.
Lessening each year, under the relentless hand of death, the lit- tle band of hardy pioneers, who first broke the way for civilization and planted the broad marks of progress on the virgin prairie of Chickasaw County, are fast passing away, and before they have all been gathered to their rest let us hasten and gather from their lips the tales of bygone days, when hardy pioneers, both men and wo- men, leaving the friendly shelter of the old home, pushed out into the domain of the wild beast and his scarce less wild brother the savage, and there essayed to carve them out a new home.
Their bent forms, their furrowed brows and hoary hair, tell of the fierce battle with trial and hardship-the fight for life with penury and want, but the bright eye, the firm glance, tell that they conquered, as only a noble band of heroes could conquer, and they seem spared to sanctify the homes that they have founded in this domain of nature. Their deeds deserve a place in history, that will long survive the monuments of marble that must soon mark the place where they will be at rest. Let us then gather the de- tails from them before they go, that we may honor them as we should. And here let us draw
THE CONTRAST
between the then and now. Although settled at a comparatively
1
120
HISTORY OF CHICKASAW COUNTY.
late date this parallel seems startling, those who have lived quiet- ly upon their farms, which they settled when they first came, can hardly realize the change, having seen it grow up so gradually. But like the years of man the country has been growing steadily on. Thirty-five years ago these now productive acres, these rich grazing lands and fertile farms, were lying an almost unbroken wilderness, the hunting ground and often the battle ground of the red Indian. 3-
The soil was rich and productive, but what sterling nerve and determination was required to make it a suitable habitation for man,and to reclaim to the uses of civilization its virgin soil, verily, to turn the back on the older homes of our race and carve out a new one on the bosom of the praries was no light task. No roads laid out or opened, and the settler was often compelled to go thirty or forty miles to mill, and happy was he if he had grist to grind at . that.
Agricultural and domestic implements were scarce and crude, and hard manual labor replaced them to a great extent. Contrast the difference between the rude appliances of those early days, O, ye pioneers ! with the manifold labor-saving implements of to-day, both in housekeeping and husbandry. The harvester with the scythe the threshing machine with the flail-the sewing machine with its more humble sister the sewing needle, and so on, through all the long list, and then you can mark the change.
Contrast the rude log school house, which served its multiform purpose of school, church, court-house and often the only public building within the radius of a day's journey, with the more pre- tentious churches, school-houses and county buildings of the pres- ent day.
In those early days, "that tried men's souls," or at least their nerve and back bone, no handy market was there, for the farm produce, nor convenient store where he could purchase all his needs called for, but a long journey over a dreary road, often ex- tending to 75 or 100 miles before he could reach a place advanced enough to boast of a buyer and seller of produce and merchandise, and his only conveyance the slow plodding oxen, or scarce more expeditious farm horse. Now the iron horse snorts almost at the very door, and towns and villages dot these boundless prairies, bringing in their train all conveniences of civilized life, and even
:
.7
121
HISTORY OF CHICKASAW COUNTY.
all the luxuries of the olden home he left in the bye gone days. But let us to the facts.
The following facts as to the location, physical features, soil and drainage, and resources of Chickasaw County, are mainly taken from Andreas' State Atlas of Iowa, and are believed to be as accu- rate as are obtainable. They are supplemented with additional facts, wherever it is possible to procure reliable data and infor- mation :
Chickasaw is the third county west of the Mississippi River in the second tier from the north line of the State. It contains an area of 504 square miles, or 322,560 acres
The surface of the country is generally gently undulating, and in some places very nearly level. Very little rolling land is found within its limits, and this is confined principally to a narrow strip of the southwestern township, in the vicinity of Cedar River. The natural drainage of this surface is remarkably good, as the county is traversed by no less than seven streams of considerable size, all flowing in a southeasterly direction, and almost parallel to each other, which, with their numerous small affluents, drain nearly every section in the county. The current in these streams is uni- formly quite rapid, but the nature of the rock underlying the en- tire county has prevented them from eroding deep channels.
The numerous streams supply the county with numerous water powers, which are being improved as the agricultural resources of the county are developed and require their use. It has so far been . chiefly employed for milling purposes, as other manufacturing en- terprises have not been inaugurated to any great extent.
The streams are also generally skirted with timber, of which, however, the county has not an abundant supply. There is enough to supply the ordinary needs of the county since the railroads have brought pine lumber within reach, as it is more economical both for building and fencing than native lumber. The timber is tolerably well distributed, and since the settlement of the county has diminished the ravages of fire it is growing rapidly in groves upon the prairies. The largest body of timber lies along the Cedar River in the southwest part of the county.
The county is almost entirely underlaid with strata of rock which geologists ascribe to the Hamilton group of the Devonian Age. It is an argillacious limestone. or highly calcareous shales alternating with bands of limestone. The following measurements
-
122
HISTORY OF CHICKASAW COUNTY.
of the different strata at a quarry near Bradford, on Cedar River, will indicate the general character of the rock formation :
Light-gray, fine grained limestone. 9 inches.
Dark-gray, thick shaly limestone 7 feet.
Buff-gray crystalline limestone. 5 inches.
Hard, dark-gray shaly limestone 8 inches.
Hard dark-gray limestone 7 inches.
Unexposed.
2 feet.
Light, buff-gray limestone
1 ft. 8 in.
The limestone exposed at this quarry is of medium purity, and quite hard. So for as observed, it is almost destitute of fossil. It is well exposed only along the banks of Cedar River. Elsewhere over the county the comparatively level surface of deep drift, and the shallow channels of the streams are causes which prevent its frequent exposure.
Materials suitable for the manufacture of brick may be found in nearly every township.
In an early day a large portion of the land in this county was considered rather too wet to be of the highest value for cultivation. The wet land was not found in the form of low marshes, difficult of drainage, for there were none of these, but was as frequent upon the highest prairies as elsewhere. This peculiarity has very rap- ยท idly disappeared within the last few years, as indeed it could scarcely fail to do with the excellent natural drainage already de- scribed. It was doubtless caused in part by the comparatively slight depressions made by the water course, but the principal cause is probably to be found in the nature of the soil and subsoil. The soil is a deep, rich black loam, abundantly supplied with vegetable mold from the decay of the wild grasses which grew pro- fusely upon its surface. The subsoil is a deep bed of the drift de- posite consisting of earth near the surface, and beneath this min- gled clay, sand and gravel. Its texture was not so suitable for ad- mitting the percolation of water through it from the surface as the light porous subsoil of other sections, and the limestone rock does not come near enough the surface to supply the under drainage afforded to still other sections. The luxuriant growth of grass and tough sward which it formed tended to retard the drying of the soil by evaporation. An undue proportion of water was retained
1
.-.
-
.
123
HISTORY OF CHICKASAW COUNTY.
near the surface by these causes. Cultivation in places and the pasturage of the intervening prairies, have tended to equalize the conditions and the wet character of the soil began to disappear without artificial drainage. Indeed, it is now satisfactorily de- monstrated that cultivation alone is capable of effecting a com- plete cure ; that the soil, although in an early day appearing to be of rather a sluggish quality, not so easily or readily subdued . as that of some other sections, becomes in the course of a few years, as lively and as well adapted to the plow as any other, and that it is rich and productive, possessing qualities of strength and dura- bility found wanting in soils that were more easily subdued from a state of nature, and which also wear out more easily. The sta- tistics published in another part of this work, show that in rela- tive productiveness for the amount of land in cultivation, Chicka- saw county takes rank among the foremost counties of the State of Iowa.
The principal grain products of the county are wheat, corn, oats, and barley. Wheat takes the lead slightly, followed very closely by corn, and to a somewhat less degree by oats. The soil seems to be nearly equally well adapted to all these grains, the relative profit to be derived from them, chiefly govern the extent of culti- vation. Stock raising is an important branch of its industries, as both native and tame grasses thrive luxuriantly, and, indeed, cattle raising is by many deemed more remunerative than exten- sive grain growing. The county is therefore admirably suited for mixed or diversified farming, and is not devoted to one class of crops, or to grain growing or stock raising to the exclusion or det- riment of the other branch, but most of its farmers cultivate the several kinds of grain and grass and raise small herds of cattle, thereby securing the rotation in crops and other conditions most highly advantageous and favorable a reliable productiveness, and have every year some surplus that will bring a good price in the market, whether any particular product be up or down.
The mineral resources of the county are comparatively slight, being limited to a few quarries, of building stone. Her agricultu- ral resources are remarkably good, as we have already described, and must constitute the foundation of her future prosperity. There are excellent resources for manufacturing purposes, in her abundant water powers. These have been already improved to
124
HISTORY OF CHICKASAW COUNTY.
considerable extent for flouring mills, but with her rich agricultu- ral resources and demand for machinery, ought to be made to pro- pel a large amount of machinery employed in the manufacture of agricultural implements and woolen goods, which will doubtless be done in time.
The railroad facilities of the county are good. It is traveled. from east to west by the Iowa and Dakota division of the Chicago,. Milwaukee and St. Paul railway, with stations at New Hampton,. Lawler and Chickasaw, affording ready access to the best wheat market of the northwest-Milwaukee. The Cedar Falls and Min- nesota branch of the Illinois Central railroad traverses the south- west corner, with an important station at Nashua. Both of these roads furnish ready communication with the principal pine lum- ber districts.
We would add, however, that the capability of the county for' grazing purposes, is largely turning the attention of the farming community in that direction, with marked success, as is instanced by an improved financial condition of all classes.
.
Already a large number of creameries dot these fertile prairies, and foreshadow a new era in the prosperity of the county. The population is largely made up of the emigrants from the over- crowded European countries, principally from Ireland, Germany and Scandinavia, with many from the older states of our own country, but all blend harmoniously in working for the present, and future good of this their adopted home.
1
125
HISTORY OF CHICKASAW COUNUY.
.
CHAPTER II.
ORGANIZATION; ORIGINAL ORDER FOR THE SAME; FIRST OFFICERS; EARLY RECORDS; DIVISION INTO TOWNSHIPS; COUNTY ELECTIONS; COUNTY OFFICIALS; VOTES ON FEDERAL STATE, AND COUNTY OFFICERS, ETC.
The first attempt at organizing the county of Chickasaw was made in 1853, the following, which relates thereto, being the first entry in the records of the county judge:
"The county of Chickasaw embraces towns 94, 95, 96 and 97, ranges 11, 12, 13 and 14, west of the fifth principal meridian; and by order of the county judge of Fayette county, state of Iowa, the same was on the 30th day of June, A. D. 1853, ordered organized. John Bird, organizing sheriff in the election held on the 13th day of August, 1853"
The following is a copy of the original notice to the organizing sheriff, marked, filed December 31st, 1854, in the office of the county judge of Chickasaw county, by J. Lyon county judge:
"STATE OF IOWA, ? FAYETTE COUNTY.
John Bird-Sir: Bv virtue of power vested in me by the cold of Iowa, I have this day appointed you organizing sheriff for the organization of Chickasaw county. You are hereby required to post up at least five written notices in said county, that on the first Monday in August there will be an election held at the house of A. E. Haskel in the town of Bradford, for the purpose of organizing said county and electing county officers as follows. to-wit:
126
HISTORY OF CHICKASAW COUNTY.
"County judge, district clerk, recorder, and treasurer, school fund commissioner, prosecuting attorney, sheriff, coroner, and county surveyor.
"And also one justice of the peace, one constable, three township trustees and town clerk. And make due returns to me of the same at my office in West Union.
"The above mentioned notices to be posted up at least. ten days prior to the election.
"THOMAS WOODLE, "County Judge."
"June 30th, 1853.
The election was held as so ordered, and so far as can be defi- nitely ascertained, G. R. Rowley was elected county judge; Wil- liam Tucker, school fund commissioner; but for reasons satisfac- tory, no doubt, to himself, this result was not in accordance with the wishes of the organizing sheriff, Bird, who it would seem, consequently withheld all returns on his warrant, and ordered a new election, which took place April 3d, 1854, at which the organ- ization of the county was duly effected.
The only record showing this election is the bond of John Campbell as treasurer and recorder signed by G. R. Rowley and James S. Frazee as bondsmen, and filed in the office of James Lyon, county judge, April 12th, 1854. The bond was in the sum of five thousand dollars. Tradition has it that S. C. Goddard resigned as clerk of the districts court, and his place was filled by J. A. J. Bird. To the filing of the finding of the commissioners, locating the county seat at Bradford, under date of August 14th. 1554, we find Bird's signature attached. An entry bearing date September 5th, 1853, records a session of county court held that day, Judge James Lyon presiding, at which no business was tran- sacted, and the court adjourned. This is signed by S. C. Goddard as clerk.
The county of Chickasaw, as appears from the above, was organ- ized April 3d, 1854, when the following officers were elected: James Lyon, county-judge; John Campbell, recorder and treasurer; S. C. Goddard, district clerk; D. A. Babcock, prosecuting attorney; Andrew Sample, sheriff; Oscar Cooley, surveyor; Dr. S. C. Haynes, coroner.
At this election the whole county was treated as one precinct, under the name of Bradford. The following is a concise account of the subsequent township organization:
. ..
127
HISTORY OF CHICKASAW COUNTY.
At the March term of the county court, 1855, it was or- dered that the county of Chickasaw constitute five election dis- tricts, viz: 1. That town 94-14 and 13 be called Bradford district. 2. That town 95-14 and 13 be called Chickasaw district. 3. That town 96-14 and 13 be called Brink district. 4. That town 96 and one-half of 97-11 and 12, be called Obispo district. 5. That towns 94 and 95-11 and 12 be called Yankee district.
At the March term of the county court, 1856, township 96, range 14, and the south half of 97-14, were set off as a new township under the name of Deerfield, and organized at the ensuing election.
At the same term, township 94, range 13, was set off, and at the ensuing election organized under the name of Richland.
At the same term an order was made to organize township 96-13 and the south half of 97-13, under name of Washington, and the township proceeded to organize; but the organization was pro- nounced irregular, and it was attached to Deerfield.
At the April term, 1857, township 95-12 was ordered organized under the name of New Hampton; also 96-13 and the south half of 97-13, under the name of Washington; also 94-11 and 12 under the name Fredericksburg. At this term the west half of 94-12 was attached to Richland, and 95-11 was organized under the name of Stephen.
At the July term, 1857, township 95-13 was ordered organized under the name of Dayton.
At the March term, 1858, 96-12 and the south half of 97-12, were ordered organized under the name of Jacksonville, and at the same time 96-11 and the south half of 97-11, were ordered organ- ized under the name of Utica.
In 1859, 94-12 was ordered organized under the name of Dresden. Subsequently, the east tier of sections of Dresden was detached and placed in Fredericksburg township, but these have been since replaced, except the southeast of section 12 and the northeast of 13.
A part of Dayton township has been taken from it and placed in New Hampton township, wiz: the east half of northeast, and the northeast half of the southeast of section 12.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.