USA > Iowa > Chickasaw County > History of Chickasaw and Howard Counties, Iowa > Part 25
USA > Iowa > Howard County > History of Chickasaw and Howard Counties, Iowa > Part 25
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H. S. Blackett, building and stock
Loss. $10,500
Insurance, $4,500 1,700
G. Miller, stock.
4,000
P. O'Reilly, two buildings, stables, corn cribs, etc., with household furniture ...
9;000
2,500
Sebarger & Broky, building
1,500
O. G. Gershow, building.
600
Jno. McNevin, loss covered by insur- ance.
Orson Ober, partial loss of household goods.
A. Bechtel, building, stock, etc.
1,800
. 800
A. P. Johnson, boots and shoes, and millinery
1,100
800
Patrick Lewis, two buildings,
600
700
400
O. C. Steen, building and loss on goods Jas. McKone, building.
500
300
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HISTORY OF CHICKASAW COUNTY.
Jas. Curran, moving stock.
200
200
M. Martin. building and stock.
1,800
1,400
Total. ·
$32,300
$12,600
PAPERS.
During the year 1870 Bryan J. Castle founded a newspaper called The Lawler Gazette, which had an existence of about a year, when it was sold out and the outfit of the office removed from the town. On the 9th of April, 1875, The Chickasaw County Times made its first appearance, a five column quarto, owned and edited by Frank M. Haislet, now owner of the New Hampton Tribune. It met with considerable success, and on the 12th of April, the following year, Mr. Haislet was bought out by the Kean Bros. (Mathew and Patrick), who carried it on for two years and a half, when it passed into the hands of Messrs. Cooney & Konzen, who changed its name to The Lawler Times, and they having essayed to make it a paying investment without success disposed of it; after lying still for some time the material was removed to Waucoma.
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HISTORY OF CHICKASAW COUNTY.
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CHAPTER XII.
TOWNSHIP HISTORY; LOCATION AND EARLY SETTLEMENTS OF DAY- TON, WASHINGTON, CHICKASAW, RICHLAND, DEERFIELD, JACK- SON, UTICA AND DRESDEN TOWNSHIPS; GENERAL REMARKS; LITTLE BROWN CHURCH AT BRADFORD.
CHICKASAW TOWNSHIP,
consists of that part of the county, known as 95 north, 14 west, and contains thirty-six sections of fine fertile land, and is well watered by the west branch of the Wapsie River; and by the Little Cedar and its affluents. Next to Bradford, this is the best timbered por- tion of the county, quite heavy belts of trees lining the streams on each side. The principal business of the inhabitants being grazing and raising the necessary fodder to feed their stock, a mixed state of farming that pays well, to judge from the fine farms and farm houses, that so plentifully dot its beautiful prairies.
In making up the history of this town, we are much indebted to William Tucker, now a resident of Washington, D. C., but formerly one of the oldest and most influential citizens of this section. His letter to us, detailing the events of his early advent in Chick- asaw county, gives as much history of the town, as can be procur-
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HISTORY OF CHICKASAW COUNTY.
ed, and hence we freely quoted from it, although much of it may be a repetition of some things mentioned elsewhere, but it would break the thread of his .narrative, and spoil a good story well told.
"In November, 1853," relates Mr. Tucker, "I left .West Union, on horseback, to go to Bradford, this was early in the month. A Mrs. Finch lived at the farthest point west, about twelve miles from West Union, between that place and the Cedar river, and kept folks going to and from those points which were over forty miles apart.
I arrived there in the evening and staid all night, intending to make an early start in the morning. But when I arose, I found the ground, covered with snow, which had fallen during the night. I was advised not to venture, so I returned to West Union, for two days, when I started to try again, and foun ! on my arrival at Mrs. Finch's that no teams had come from the west, nor gone in that direction, since the snow had fallen. I hesitated, somewhat, about starting, but as it was clear as well as cold, I made the venture as I was on horseback, after getting my bearings. When about half way, I met Mr. Merritt, with two yoke of oxen, who had come through from Bradford; he told me to follow his back track and I would beall right, that he had cut the ice in the streams so I could get through; this was good news for me.
"The monotony of the journey was only broken, occasionally, by the sight of droves of deer passing from grove to grove, and a few elk in the distance. I had some difficulty in crossing the Wapsies as it had frozen after Mr. Merritt had crossed, but not enough to bear my horse up. Night overtook me, however, before I got to Bradford, and seeing a light, off to my right, that looked near by I left the trail and steered for it, but found it much further than I anticipated. About 9 o'clock, after some plunging in snow-drifts- tired and hungry-I struck the cabin from which the light ema- nated. Here I found William and Joel Bartlett, brothers, each with a family of children, occupying the cabin. Joel had, that day, buried his wife. They were living on section twenty-six, town 95, 14. This was my first night in Chickasaw township. After partaking of cornbread, milk, and venison, I slept soundly till morning. They told me that there were ten families living in T. 95, R. 14, viz: their own; Mr. Watson and Mr. Blunt on section . twenty-nine; Joseph Lee, and.L. D. Hoisington and father on sec- tion eleven, the latter being a little deranged, spent most of his time
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HISTORY OF CHICKASAW COUNTY.
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under a large oak tree, by himself. One day he came up missing and the whole country turned out to search for him; the hunt extended for miles and for several days, but never got any trace of him. Some years afterwards, some bones were found, near the Wapsie, in Bremer county, which were supposed to have been his. The younger Hoisington went to Kansas afterwards. M. Jarrad and Samuel Monroe lived on section twenty-two. The former left for Minnesota, in a few years, and Monroe went to Nebraska but returned, and now lives at Bassett. James Frazee, was on section five, living in wagons and building a place for shelter as fast as they could; he was afterwards the first county treasurer and re- corder. (This is evidently a slip of the memory as John Campbell, occupied that position, according to the records .- ED) Mr. Kountz lived in the woods on section thirty.
"Next morning I went to Bradford, and learned there, that,there were about fifteen families in the township, besides a small num- ber of young men, and others who had no families with them.
"Among these was one H. K. Johnson, acting justice of the peace at the town of Bradford and the one who administered the first oath in the county, (legal, not profane.) (The story is told elsewhere, in the history of Bradford township and we will not repeat it here .- ED.)
"Andy Sample went that winter to get a stock of groceries, to open a store," continues Mr. Tucker, when he returned; and I saw them unload his sled, I asked him where his groceries were; he said: "In the barrels." "That looks like whiskey," I said; "yes;" was the reply. . When I got ready to buy, I studied what would sell best and quickest and pay the most profit; and concluded it was whiskey and bought a barrel; then I studied again and thought of whiskey, and kept on thinking and buying until I had purchased five barrels of the stuff, and I guess I was about right. G. R. Rowley, was one of the prominent men of that town, and one of the freest and most open-hearted men I have ever met- ready to divide his last meal with any one-his house was open for all. He had a number of boarders, young men seeking their fortunes in the mighty west, and it was a lively place. In 1857 he went to Iowa City, to attend the Republican convention; a resolution was offered, before the meeting, that the motto of the party be "liberty or death," and he immediately amended it by
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HISTORY OF CHICKASAW COUNTY.
proposing as a substitute, that it be; "Root hog or die."
Among his boarders were E. R. Gillett, our first Republican representative; M. F. Gillett, the now noted Greenbacker of Bremer county, and others.
"At the first election in the county, there were about fifty votes polled; and a barrel of whiskey with the head knocked out, and a quart dipper to drink out of stood by the polls. It sometimes took two men to hold up the voter long enough for him to cast his ballot. I remember, distinctly, one man that was elected justice of the peace, being held up in that condition while he voted; (we have improved some on that since, for at the last election in Chickasaw township, the only man on the ground that was drunk, was elected justice of the peace, to spite the amendment folks.)
"Hon. James S. Wilson, of Dubuque, was the first district judge. The first time he came to hold court, he drove his ponies up to a log cabin prepared for the purpose, and without getting out of his buggy, told the sheriff to open court; which was accordingly done, and court was held under the canopy of Heaven, like the Vehme- gericht, of old. "Mr. Clerk," said he, "are there any cases on the docket." "No sir," was the reply; "make a record, and Mr. Sheriff adjourn the court;" was the judges answer; which was done, and off he drove. If the lawyers had stayed away from this section, this might be the case now, in all probability.
"James Lyon, of Crane Creek, a trapper, was our first county judge. The first time he came to Bradford to hold court; he walked over from his home. I think I see him now, as he came into the village, he was remarkably clean and starched up, his blue denim overalls, which he wore for pants, had been washed until they had shrunk half way to his knees. We, however, thought ourselves equal to the emergency. In the course of the evening we made up a purse to buy him a new pair of pants, but when it was mentioned to him in the morning; he disdained the offer with scorn, with remarks about being bribed.
"The winter of 1853-4, was a very severe one, but at one time during the season it sets in and thawed, the rain melting the snow of which there was plenty, all off. As we had been corralled all winter by the cold and snow, we concluded to go coon hunting. We divided into parties, three in each, Andy Sample, Cal Goddard and myself in one, and James Rowley, Doc. Haynes, and another, in the other. We each took a wagon and team, feed and provis-
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HISTORY OF CHICKASAW COUNTY.
ions. Our company crossed the Wapsie 2 o'clock P. M., fording the stream, took a lunch-baited the team, and started for coon. It was then warm, but in less than two hours we were driven back by a severe storm and heavy fall of snow. We consulted what to do, and concluded to remain where we were, and save ourselves as best we could, rather than risk freezing to death, by trying to move from the grove. We cut down a number of young white oaks, with the leaves on, and made a good windbreak. Behind this we moved our wagon and team, and building a rousing fire, and made the best of it, till morning. About 9 o'clock, next day we decided to get back home, if we could, the wind blowing hard; we crossed on the ice, with team, at the same place we had forded the afternoon before, and got home before night, all safe, and not even frosted. The other party were not so lucky, as frozen toes, fingers and noses testified, and which they nursed tenderly the balance of the winter. The Dr. and I amused ourselves the rest of the season, breaking and training a young elk, to work in a sleigh. We took a trip to Cedar Falls with him, about forty miles away, and on our return, a dog ran out from Barrett's house, at Janesville, and barked at our quadruped, who became unmanagable and took after the dog, who run and jumped the fence into the yard; the elk followed him and left us hanging on the fence, in a dilapidated condition.
"Mr Brink was our first postmaster; the conditions on which the office was granted, was that we should carry our own mails from Cedar Falls for the proceeds of the office; (no Star Routes then,) in no case was the government to pay anything. Howard, Floyd, Mitchell and Chickasaw counties got their mail at Brad- ford. I made seven trips that winter, for mail, to Cedar Falls, forty miles and back, at my own expense, four days to a trip, through the snow; and found that no mail had come through from Dubuque, three times out of the seven.
"Work on the saw mill at the town of Chickasaw was com- menced, and the town surveyed, platted and commenced in 1854. The plank and other lumber had to be hauled from Auburn, through the sloughs, bridges being represented by an unknown quantity.
"The first school was taught by Miss Jane Billings, in a house
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HISTORY OF CHICKASAW COUNTY.
I built myself; she taught two terms, and I paid her, before we were organized for school purposes.
"Among the first pastors were Elder Lash, a member of the United Brethren, and Elder Prentiss, a free will Baptist minister, these did most excellent service. There was also a close com- munion Baptist, whose name I have forgotten, who came down from Charles City; he was a good one and most eloquent and always had full congregations until a job was put up on him, in the following manner. There was an Irish protestant family in the vicinity; they were very devoted, always at meeting. They had a child born, and when the minister had finished preaching a most eloquent sermon, these people were induced to walk up to him with the babe in arms, and ask the minister if he would "please to christen" it for her. The sensation is easier imagined than described; the minister went home with me to dinner, but did not mentioned it or ever came back again.
"I was the first merchant and the first notary public, there be- ing no officer, for some time after I went to live there, to take acknowledgement of deeds or to administer oaths. I had several applications to marry couples, but I had to send them to West Union.
"Mr. Gaddis, was the first regular carpenter, Cal. Goddard, the first regular shingle maker. Messrs. Albertson, Waite and Bald- win, built the first grist mill, and Mr. Garling house, the first steam saw mill; these both 1855.
During the winter of 1853-4, a Mr. Clawson, who was at the head of a colony at St. Ansgar came down the Cedar, with a lot of men on snowshoes and with hand sleds, to get flour and provis- ions to keep his people from starving." The above, which is copied almost verbatim from Mr. Tucker's letter, covers most of the ground, but little can be added, but we will endeavor to give that little, gathered from a multitude of sources.
According to tradition the first settlers in the township were Abram Cagley, Russell Baldwin, Jerome Watson, and Messrs. Hines, Keesley, Hoffman and Bishop, but the exact date of their location, or the order of it, cannot be stated with the accuracy that is desirable, but the weight of evidence seems to point to the years 1853 and 4.
We have the best of evidence for the statement, that the first
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HISTORY OF CHICKASAW COUNTY.
child born within the limits of the township, was H. Bartlett, whose advent in 1855, was an event to be remembered by the few scattered settlers.
Ionia is now the most important place in the township, but the time was, before the laying of the railroad, that Chickasaw town was one of the most flourishing in the county; but its "glory hath departed," and now, Ionia carries the pre-eminence, and contains a population of 350 souls, supporting two churches, a fine public public school, two hotels, etc.
An old settler reports, that, the country was so healthy that for several years after laying out the cemetery, there were no deaths, but a man, a stranger whose name never was known, was picked up near the banks of the Wapsie, in a dying condition. He was tended with the greatest sympathy, but he died and thus started the grave yard.
The township was organized in 1855, according to an order of the court, issued during the March term of that year.
Bassett, a thriving village, lying on the line of the railroad, about four miles west of Chickasaw or Ionia, is also within this township, and is quite a business point.
DAYTON TOWNSHIP.
For many of the following facts concerning Dayton township, we are indebted to an article prepared for the Chickasaw County Historical Society, by L. J. Young, and published in the New Hampton Courier of March 18th, 1881. The township of Dayton comprises the territory in the congressional township of 95 north of range 13 west. The surface is somewhat rolling, but no portion of it is hilly. The west fork of the Wapsipinicon river enters the township near the corner of sections 7 and 18, and runs in a southwesterly direction through sections 18, 19, 20, 29 and 32. The middle fork enters near the line between sections 4 and 5, and runs nearly south through sections 4, 9, 16, 21, 28 and 33. These streams abounded in beaver, otter, mink and muskrat, at an early date. Timber in this township is plentiful and generally evenly distributed; it is principally jack oak, burr oak and hickory. There are no stone quarries, but boulders convertible into build- ing stone, or for walling wells and cellars, by blasting or drilling and splitting, are found on the prairies, and at the heads of sloughs. The soil is generally a rich loam, with clay subsoil. Good water
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HISTORY OF CHICKASAW COUNTY.
is generally obtainable by digging to a depth of from ten to sixteen feet. The township is especially well adapted to stock-raising and dairying, industries which are constantly receiving increasingly profitable attention.
The first appearance of settlement in Dayton township was made by a land speculator, in the shape of an entry of a valuable tract of timber, some time during the month of May, 1853, it hav- ing been Mr. Young's opinion that "greedy speculators" were largely responsible for retarding the township's actual settlement and growth.
The first settlers to come into the township were William Mil- likan, an Irishman, and - Smith, of Illinois. They pitched their tent on the east half of section 23. William Millikan pre- empted the northeast quarter and Smith the southeast quarter in September, 1854. During the same month William Millikan erected a "one-side roofed shanty" near Spring creek, on the land he pre-empted. This place was known by hunters for miles around who frequented the Wapsies for game, during the winter of 1854-5, as the "Hunters' Home." Many times has its worthy host sup- plied the wants of fifteen or twenty hunters, travelers or land spec- ulators in a single night. Smith disposed of his claim to a land speculator in the fall or beginning of the winter of 1854. "The same winter," says the article from which we quote, "our honest and worthy host of the 'Hunters' Home' was shamefully wronged from the legal possession of his homestead. The facts, related to me by him, were as follows: During the fall, Millikan received intel ligence that his son lay sick at Dubuque, and was not likely to recover, and wished to see him. He left all his household goods in his house and went to Dubuque. While he was gone a land speculator with two bribed witnesses, made oath that Mr. Millikan had left the country, and did not intend to return, and entered the land. Mr. Millikan, being a raw Irishman, and knowing nothing about the laws of our country, made no disturbance about it on his return."
The first effort at tilling the soil was begun May 19th, 1855, on the southeast quarter of section 1, by J. D. Colt, Esq., of New York. He raised an excellent crop of corn the same season, on the newly turned soil. Mr. Colt's prospects for making a first-class farm were very flattering, when his hopes were blighted. He
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HISTORY OF CHICKASAW COUNTY.
erected a good log house, and began to think himself comfortably situated-as comfortable as a bachelor generally makes himself; for Mr. Colt was at that time a bachelor-when, in November, William Haslam, of Illinois, put in an appearance with a title to the same land from the government-Haslam's title bearing date nineteen days previous to Colt's. The latter gave Haslam permis- sion to occupy the house, but retained possession of all the im- provements till the first of March, 1856, when he gave full posses- sion upon being informed that Haslam's title would hold good. Haslam paid Colt a reasonable price for the improvements, and the matter was amicably adjusted to the satisfaction of both parties.
D. A. Jackson, of Pennsylvania, entered about 270 acres on the. 2lst of May, 1855. In June he commenced breaking and building a house and stable on section 11. Mr. Jackson, being an eastern man, began farming in true eastern style.
During the spring of this year, Benjamin Bailey, of Ohio, and father of Judge Lorenzo Bailey, settled on section 34. - Ker- shaw and - Negus settled on section 28, made some improve- ments, sold in the autumn and left. J. B. Cotant, of Ohio, settled on section 3, in July of the same year. Eli Darst, of Illinois, came in June of this year, and made some improvements on sec- tion 17. In July, E. B. Hewit settled on section 1. William S. Morley came during the year, and settled on section 10. Rev. C. M. Webster came in the fall of 1855, and settled on section 4, and in the summer of 1856 he opened quite an extensive farm. Mr. Webster was elected county surveyor in August, 1856, and was ap- pointed by the postmaster general as postmaster of the Beaver City postoffice, which was located at his place of residence. This postoffice was subsequently relocated in Utica township. During the fall of 1855 Z. H. Morton, of Wisconsin, settled on section 14; James Clark settled on section 9. Settlers came in rapidly for a short time in 1856.
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Dayton township was organized April 6, 1857. D. A. Jackson was the organizing constable. The first election was held at Mr. Jackson's house on the day just named. The "house" was "called to order" by appointing Eli Darst chairman, and E. R. Gillett secretary. A ballot was then taken for judges of election, resulting in the choice of C. M. Webster, William S. Morley and Wesley Swayze. D. A. Jackson and L. J. Young were chosen clerks o
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HISTORY OF CHICKASAW COUNTY.
election. The board of electors were sworn to perform their duties according to law, by Rev. S. M. Prentiss, a justice of the peace of Richland township. The following officers were elected: C. M. Webster, Eli Darst and Wesley Swayze, trustees, Levi. J. Young, clerk; E. R. Gillett, W. S. Morley, Justices of the peace; E. B. Miller, William Haslam, constables; Z. H. Morton, road supervis- or. The whole number of ballots cast was twenty-three. W. S. Morley and E. B. Hewit were opposing candidates for justice of the peace, and received a tie vote. W. S. Morley was declared elected by lot.
WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP.
The territory comprised . within the congressional township of ninety-six, and the south half of ninety-seven, north, range thirteen, west, is known as Washington. The surface is gently undulating, rather than rolling prairie, but is of a rich, black loam, that proclaims this to be one of the best townships in the county for fine farm land. Like the balance of the county it is well watered. the east fork of the Wapsipinicon river having its source in the northern part, and flowing in a southeasterly course throughout it. The "Little Wapsie" also enters the township at the northwest corner of section 7, flows also in a southeasterly direction, watering sections 7, 18, 20, 29, 32, and 33. These streams abound with fish, and the traditional stories that are told of the amounts of otter, mink, and muskrats that inhabited their waters, in early days, are almost incredible.
The timber in this township is not so plentiful as in some others, and what there is is composed principally of jack oak, burr oak,and hickory. There is no building stone within its bounderies, except the massive boulders, relics of a mineral age, which are convert- able into excellent material to lay up foundation walls, or walling up wells. These are found scattered all over its surface, and are specimens of granitic formation; but by blasting and splitting they are soon reduced and shaped to the purposes of man. Ac- cording to tradition, Samuel W. Byers was the first settler within its limits, but even this is disputed by some, and when "doctors disagree, who can tell?" The same fortune seems to attend to Washington that does to the others in the county; little, if any,
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HISTORY OF CHICKASAW COUNTY.
settlement until 1855, then quite an immigration, so much so, that at the March term of the court, 1856, the order was granted for its organization as a separate township, but for some irregularity in the proceedings said organization was set aside, and the township was attached to that of Deerfield until April, 1859, when it was once more attempted to conclude the organization, and this time with success. North Washington is the only village in the town- ship, and is situated on the southwest quarter of section twenty, on the banks of the Little Wapsie, and contains a postoffice and store, a saloon, a fine Catholic church, and the usual blacksmith shop; the inhabitants are mostly German, or of that extraction.
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