USA > Iowa > Chickasaw County > History of Chickasaw and Howard Counties, Iowa > Part 30
USA > Iowa > Howard County > History of Chickasaw and Howard Counties, Iowa > Part 30
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1856.
J. S. Sturgis, in Paris; Wm. Conery, Jno. F. Thayer, W. A. and Calvin F. Webster, Henry A. Cook, Laban Hassett, and Lawrence Long, in Howard Center; and Darius and Smith Seeley in the same.
One of the first locations, chosen by the pioneers and. a favorite one for many years, was at "Oregon Grove," as it was called, now known as New Oregon and Vernon Springs; here in the fine timber on the Turkey river, the early settler pitched his tent, rearing his humble log cabin and breaking the sod put in his little crop; here he first essayed to wring from the reluctant earth the living for himself and family, which was his only ambi- tion; not knowing that he was planting the germs of the civiliza- tion that has borne such grand fruit in these later days. Although but thirty years have elapsed since the plough first broke the grassy covering of mother earth in the county, since the first cabin was erected within its boundaries; it has grown with a mighty growth in spite of many adverse circumstances, until it has be- came a garden spot; teeming with rich and fertile farms.
Of its natural resources and present status it may be said, that there is no swamp or waste lands in the county, and over 90 per cent. of the lands are improved, that is to say, the land is broken up and some cheap buildings built for present use until money enough is made out of the land to build better ones; occasionally the old temporary buildings are torn down and good farm houses and barns built in their stead; but as a rule the first buildings erected on a farm have not been improved upon. Groves have been planted and native timber generally taken care of, so that there is plenty of timber for all time to come, provided it is not wantonly destroyed and wasted. There is an abundance of good pure water to be had wherever wanted by digging for it. It is found at an average of about twenty feet from the surface.
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HISTORY OF HOWARD COUNTY.
The surface of the county is undulating, not bluffy, affording excellent drainage. The pure running water in the numerous streams, with an absence of swamps and stagnant sloughs, renders the atmosphere salubrious at all seasons. Malarious diseases, and that scourge of some of the Eastern and Southern States, the fever and ague, are seldom if ever known.
THE FINANCES
of the county are in a very healthy condition indeed, the total indebtedness being only $5,600, which is bonded and drawing interest at 6 per cent. There is no floating debt and no probabil- ities that the future expenditures necessary to run the county will ever exceed the present low levy. Taxes are not burdensome and are growing lighter every year.
Howard county is not situated away out on the frontier. It is the third county west from the Mississippi river in the northern tier of counties, and has a population of 10,837. as shown by the census taken last June. Cresco, the county seat has a population of 1,875. The Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railway passes through the northeastern and northern portions of the county, and two more lines are being surveyed and grade stakes set through the western part of the county now, both of which will probably be built during the coming season.
The reason for the present depression in the price of land, is not because the land is poor in quality, but because so many of the farmers have, to quote Beecher, "tried to carry all their eggs in one · basket,"to-wit: raised nothing but wheat.
Still good'improved land is worth from twenty to thirty dollars per acre.
THE SOIL
is a dark, deep sandy loam, no alkali, with a lime stone and clay subsoil, and is very productive of all kinds of crops, especially the different varieties of grasses. Kentucky blue grass can be grown plentifully with ease. Kentucky herself cannot compete with our prairies in the production of the famous forage plant. In fact blue grass and white clover are taking the place of the native grasses wherever the land is pastured to any extent. Timothy and clover are a sure and immense crop; in short, there is no end to the capa- bilities of this soil for all this class of products. Corn, oats, barley, and flax, are always sure crops and yield largely. All kinds ofroot
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HISTORY OF HOWARD COUNTY.
crops do well and yield enormously. Nearly all kinds of fruits are grown successfully. Wheat has always been a sure and profit- able crop until within a few years. In 1876 our people experienc- ed their first set back in wheat raising; the wheat was struck with the rust and we had less than half a crop. In 1877 we had a good wheat crop, the yield was enormous. In 1878 the wheat crop promised a greater yield than the crop of 1877, but it was destroyed just before maturity by heavy rains and exceedingly hot weather; it was literally cooked by the hot sun and vapor, from the wet ground. In 1879 and 1880 the wheat crop failed entirely. As a rule. . the people in this section of Iowa with the people of southeastern Minnesota have made wheat raising a specialty, perhaps seven out of every ten of the farmers have raised nothing else but wheat, in many cases they did not raise enough corn, oats, and hay to feed their horses through the winter and would have to buy feed for them. They never raised any vegetables or garden stuff and did not keep any cattle, hogs or sheep.
THE CLIMATE
is healthful and invigorating. The summers are very warm; the winters are very cold. Yet neither of these seasons is ordinarily oppressive. for the hot days of summer are usually followed by cool, clear nights, and the winters are particularly distinguished for a dry, pure and invigorating atmosphere. Cyclones, hurri- canes, whirlwinds and water spouts have never been known in this section. The formation of the face of the country is such, that storms of this class are either broken up or turned aside long before they reach us. The terrible "blizzards" that used to sweep over the country every winter when the country was new have lost their dangerous element. The fences and numerous groves planted on the different farmis break their force, so that now it is not any more uncomfortable or dangerous to travel through the country here during the winter than in any of the Eastern States.
THE PUBLIC OR FREE SCHOOL SYSTEM
of Iowa is noted for being the best of any in the United States, and the schools in Howard county are of the best, and the high school of Cresco is not surpassed in the State.
SOCIETY AND CHURCH PRIVILEGES
will compare favorably with any and surpass many sections of the East where there is the same population in town and country.
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HISTORY OF HOWARD COUNTY.
Nearly all denominations are represented in the towns, and churches are built at convenient distances through the county.
The people as a rule are intelligent, well informed, industrious temperate and law abiding citizens.
Contrast the first feeble attempts at settlement, with the above, and then if you can, say that the future of Howard county does not seem grand. If in the brief years that have elapsed since the foot of the first white man trod this virgin land, so much improve- ment has been made, may we not look for much more in the years to come.
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But everything has its beginning, and the settlement of the county was, of course, no exception to the rule. We are told that in 1853, the first saw mill was erected, near what is now the town of Vernon Springs, on the Turkey river; it was in the grove, and built and owned by Oren Sprague. This was a great convenience to those who shortly came into the country. And for many years lumber was hauled from it to all parts of the country. In the summer and fall of 1854, however, another saw mill was erected by W. Harlow, about one and a half miles from the present site of New Oregon; and in February, 1856, another was erected on the Cedar river, in Jamestown, by a company, of whom James D. Cut- ting, D. P. Bradford, John Moffett and Lyman Southard were members. The first grist mill was erected in Foreston about 1854, and in the summer of 1855, the second was built at Vernon Springs, on the Turkey river.
The first store ever opened for business, within the limits of the county, was at Vernon Springs. Here, in the year 1854, Henry Milder, put up a building, and opened a store, where was kept the usual miscellaneous stock of the early merchants. This store was known for many years, far and wide, as the "blue store," from the color with which its owner saw fit to decorate its front. Here, to the "store" came all the pioneers, to buy their groceries, etc., and sit around the store in winter and exchange opinions on politics, crop prospects, local gossip, etc, as the manner of such is yet to this day.
Miss Harriett Cole, has the honor of being the first to teach a school in Howard county. In 1854 it was first opened in a little log cabin, and she was installed as the first teacher, and her fitness for the position is testified to, by many of her pupils, and by the
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HISTORY OF HOWARD COUNTY.
fact that she has continued to wield the ferule for so many years.
The pioneer church was one organized at the town of New Oregon, in 1856, under the pastorate of Rev. John W. Windsor, to whose energy and perservence it owes its inception and origin. It was of the Congregational denomination, and still existed when the town of Cresco came into being, when finding that many of its members were moving to that city, the church was transferred there also, and preserves its existance with an unbroken chain from the earliest church unto the present time. In later years many other church organizations have sprung into being, which are men- tioned elsewhere.
In 1854 a postoffice was established at "Oregon Grove", which was the first in the county. Hiram Johnson was the first post- master, acting as such for a short time; as before his commis- sion could reach him in those days of slow mail facilities, he re- moved from the county and state; going to Carmonia, Fillmore county, Minnesota, where he resided a few short years and then emigrated to California, where he died. S. M. Cole was then com- missioned as postmaster, being the first that was legally and truly such. The office was at his house in New Oregon township about three miles from where Cresco now stands. This office he held until 1857, when J. S. Lawver succeeded him and moved the post- office to village of New Oregon.
In regard to who was the first child born in the county, there seems to be some dispute, but out of all the contradictory reports we have gathered, the fact seems to be that Lucy Thurber should enjoy that pre-eminence. This may be an error, but the weight of evidence seems to point that way.
The first male child born in the county was Jacob Harlow, whose advent occurred in October, 1854. A son of Jacob Kramer's was born April 1855, and C. S. Thurber, jr., came into being August 27, 1855. We have been very particular to give these dates, as the question seems to have been discussed and disputed, and we have taken pains to give the facts as they really occurred.
The first record of any marriage in the county, relates, that on February 21, 1856, Edmund Gillett led to the hymenal altar, Miss Helen Barber.
Among the early arrivals in the new settlement, at New Oregon, then the most important village in the county, we find the names of several of the legal fraternity; among them M. V. Burdick,
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HISTORY OF HOWARD COUNTY.
who later sat upon the judicial bench, D. E. Mills, and W. R. Mead, the latter now and for many years the editor of the "Plain- dealer," later came, a gentleman by the name of Gilchrist, of whom old settlers tell a good story, which will bear repitition.
It was at a meeting of the district court, Judge Samuel Mur- dock, presiding. Some cause or other had given rise to a feeling of illwill between Gilchrist and Murdock, and it was continually cropping out, through all the case, which was being tried. Every point raised by Gilchrist in the interest of his client, was overruled. by the bench; every question decided against him until his patience was worn out. Throwing himself into an imposing attitude, with head thrown back and arms folded majestically across his chest, when the last point was gone, he exclaimed: "My God, what shall we do now?" The answer came from Judge Mur- dock in the cutting, sarcastic tone he knows so well how to use: "Why, my advice would be to hire an attorney." The situation can easier be imagined than described. The roar that greeted the judge's answer, together with the sarcasm of the reply, crushed Mr. Gilchrist, and for many years he endeavored to get even with the learned jurist, but never could recover the ground lost, and finally left the place.
The first term of the district court was held at Vernon Springs, in June, 1857, Samuel Murdock being the judge, and was held in a hall rented for the purpose. At this term of the court the first. naturalization papers were issued in the county to one Joseph Schafer, an alien, who desired to become a citizen of the United States.
The pioneer hotel was one kept by S. M. Cole, familiarly known throughout the county as "Matt Cole," and was the stopping place for all those who moved through New Oregon, and for M. O. Walker's stage line, of which latter Mr. Cole was the agent.
The first newspaper started was the Howard county Sentinel, established in the town of New Oregon, February 18, 1858, J. Howard Field being the editor. A fuller history of this paper will be found further on.
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HISTORY OF HOWARD COUNTY.
CHAPTER II.
ORGANIZATION; RECORDS; PROCEEDINGS OF THE COUNTY BOARDS; BURNING OF THE COURT HOUSE; THE FLYING KYTE; TAX LEVYS; TREASURERS REPORTS; RESOLUTIONS, ETC.
The first mention we find of the county, of Howard, viewed from a judicial point of view, is the following from the records of Chickasaw county, to which it appears to have been attached: March term, Chickasaw county court, 1855:
"Ordered, that Howard county be divided into two election · districts, dividing the same into an eastern and a western district, from a line drawn north and south through the center of the « county. And that an election be held on the first Monday of April, to elect two justices of the peace and two constables in each precinct. Election to be held at the house of W. S. Pettibone, in the western district, and at the house of Geo. Schofield, in the eastern district."
The election was held in accordance with the above, and we have been so fortunate as to procure a copy of the original poll book, as returned for the western district, which we copy verbatim, - as it is quite a curiosity in its way :
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HISTORY OF HOWARD COUNTY.
POLL BOOK OF HOWARD COUNTY, IOWA:
1. John Geer.
2. A. Pooler.
3. Wm. S. Pettibone.
4. A. S. Butters.
5. Wm. P. Hough.
6. James Hall. TALLY LIST.
For Justices of Peace-
6 votes. Wm. S. Pettibone. John Harlow 6 votes.
For Constables- A. S. Butters 6 votes.
John Brown 6 votes.
At an election at the house of W.S. Pettibone, in Howard town- ship, Howard county, state of Iowa, on the 2d day of April, A. D. 1855, there were six ballots cast, as follows:
Justices of the Peace-
Wm. S. Pettibone 6 votes.
John Harlow 6 votes.
Constables-
A. S. Butters 6 votes.
John Brown. 6 votes.
A true return,
- A. POOLER, W. S. PETTIBONE,
- Judges of- the Election. A. S. BUTTERS.
Attest: WM. P. HOUGH, Clerks of Election.
JAS. HALL.
The following is also an exact copy of the original petition, presented to Judge Lyon, of Chickasaw, at the July term of the county court, of Chickasaw county, 1855, which explains itself: "To the honorable county judge of Chickasaw county:
The undersigned legal voters of Howard county respectfully ask your Honor to take the necessary steps to effect the organization. of said Howard county at the coming August election:
And your petitioners will ever pray :
· John Odeen, James W. Snider,
James Mahood, George Duffy;
Nye Cushing.
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HISTORY OF HOWARD COUNTY.
We are given to understand that there was considerable opposi- tion to the organization of the county at this time, but the thing was skillfully handled, the petition presented and the order of the court issued, granting the same before any one, from whom the opposition might be expected, was aware. On the record book of the county judge we find the following, in regard to the matter:
"A petition was presented to me on the 17th day of July, 1855, for organizing Howard county.
"Ordered, that the same be granted and an election be held at the houses of W. S. Pettibone and G. W. Schofield, in said county, to elect a county judge; sheriff; recorder and treasurer; prosecuting attorney; coroner; surveyor; school fund commis- sioner, and a district clerk, and that Edmund Gillett be organi- zating sheriff to call the election on the first Monday of August, 1855. JAS. LYON, county judge."
The election was held in accordance with the order, as above, and the officers chosen were:
County judge-James G. Upton.
Clerk-Edmund Gillett.
Recorder and treasurer-Wm. Woodward.
Sheriff-John Harlow.
Prosecuting attorney-M. V. Burdick.
The first entry we find upon the record of the new county judge, bears the date of September 15, 1855, and is an order of the court to pay D. B. Cook & Co., of Chicago, $126.00 for books and stationery for the use of the county.
As the clerk could not write very well while holding his book or paper on his knee, the court also ordered that a desk be purchased for his use at an expense of thirty dollars.
The first regularly laid out road evidently dates from the year 1857, as we find it recorded that John C. Miles be paid for survey- ing road number one. A state road was also built through the southern part of the county during the same year. Before this the roads were more properly trails than surveyed and built roads, winding through the prairies and groves in zig-zags that lengthened the distance considerably. Sometimes marked and oftener not.
At the June term of the county court, 1857, it was ordered that hereafter the jury should be seated, and that twelve chairs be ordered for their accommodation.
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HISTORY OF HOWARD COUNTY.
The following proclamation was placed upon the records of the court during the July term, 1857:
STATE OF IOWA, - County of Howard.
In pursuance of the code of Iowa, and at the request of a portion of the people of said county, an election is hereby ordered to be held in the several townships in said county of Howard, on the third day of August, A. D. 1857, at the places where the last April elections were held, to vote upon the question, whether the said county of Howard should take $150,000 of the stock of the Northwestern railroad company, and issue bonds in payment therefore, bearing interest at the rate of ten per cent. per annum, the principal sum to be paid in twenty years. And that a tax be levied upon the taxable property of said county forthe payment of principal and interest. The said railroad company to pay the interest on said bonds, until said road .is in operation to the east line of said county of Howard. Said bonds to be issued when said road shall be in operation to Decorah, Winnesheik county, and permanently located to the west line of Howard county.
The form of the vote shall be: "For the Railroad Stock." "Against the Railroad Stock."
Every affirmative vote shall be considered for the proposition entire.
In testimony, whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of said county, this first day of July, A. D. 1857.
[SEAL.]
JAMES G. UPTON, County judge.
The court evidently desired the greatest light on the subject, as we find that a bill was presented and allowed at the August term, 1857, for $2.90 to pay for candles. And at the same term the judge ordered the purchase of a safe for the county records, to be purchased of Chislet, Buckley & Co., of Dubuque,, to cost 320 dollars.
.Again during the October term of court, 1857, we are called on to lament the enervating effects of law, as the sheriff is ordered to purchase a stove and pipe.
There were in 1859 five townships regularly organized in the county, viz: Vernon Springs, Jamestown, Osborne, Howard Center, and Iowa. In 1858 New Oregon, Forest City, and Howard were
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HISTORY OF HOWARD COUNTY.
added to the list. This is according to the only record that survives the fire that destroyed the Court House in December, 1876.
The judge at the October term of court, 1858, fixed the follow- ing as the rate of tax:
County tax, five mills on the dollar; state tax, one and a half mill; road tax, one and a half mill; school tax, one and a half mill.
The bounties on wolf and wild cat scalps are quite numerous during this year: at every term of court many being paid.
The county seat was moved, by order of the county judge, from Howard Center to a point midway between the towns of New Oregon and Vernon Springs, where the court house was built in February, 1859, as will be more fully detailed elsewhere.
At the February term of court, 1860, a petition was received, ' signed by J. W. Baird and others, asking that the name of Osborne township be changed to Albion. By an order of the court, dated March 5, 1860, the prayer was granted and the name accordingly changed to the one it has borne ever since.
Under date of August 4, 1860, we find recorded that a license was issued to Cook's circus, that it might exhibit at New Oregon; this is the first that ever made its appearance within the- limits of the county, and hence is a matter of record.
September 1, 1860, the first sale of delinquent taxes, those for 1857-8 and 9, occurred, and is entered in the judge's record, as slimly attended.
The tax levy, ordered by the county court for 1860, places it at: County tax, five mills on the dollar; state tax, one and a half mill, and school tax, one and a half mill.
In 1861, the mode of government for the county was changed and instead of the county judge, being, ex-officio, the ruler of the matters of government, the power was lodged in a board of super- visors, composed of one member from each organized township. January 7th, 1861, the first board met and was composed of the following gentlemen:
J. W. Barrel, of Albion; G. W. Ostrander, of Howard; T. R. Perry, of Howard Centre; T. Griffin, of Paris; S. W. Seeley, of Jamestown; J. H. Boggess, of Afton; S. Radford, of Chester; M. Niles, of Iowa river; C. M. Munson, of New Oregon; W. Strother,
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HISTORY OF HOWARD COUNTY.
of Vernon Springs; C. A. Salmon, of Saratoga; S. L. Cary, of Forest City. At the first meeting of the board, the following reso- lution was adopted:
"Resolved, By the board of supervisors of Howard county, that having examined the contract entered into, by and between Darius Seeley, county judge, and the Northern Iowa Railroad company, for the conditional conveyance of the swamp lands of said county, to aid in the construction of such road, that the said contract hereby meets and has our entire approval.
"Also, Resolved, That a suitable person be sent to the meeting of the bondholders, meeting in Milwaukee, of the Milwaukee and Mississippi railroad, and also a meeting of the directors of the Northern Iowa railroad, January 18, 1861, to look after the inter- ests of the county."
At the February meeting of the board, the committee, appointed to examine the books of the county judge, reported, that, they found the books in such inextricable confusion, that it was impos- sible to audit them, or make anything out of them. And they, also, found that the records of the county, as kept by the county recorder, during the year 1856, were upon loose, unbound paper, and many of them liable to be easily lost to the great detriment of the interests of the people.
June session of the board of supervisors J. H. St. John was ap- pointed to fill the vacancy, caused by the removal from the county, of S. W. Seeley, late member of the board from Jamestown town- ship.
The mighty march of civilization, moves onward hand in hand with crime; the clerk is instructed to purchase two pair shackles and three pair of hand cuffs for the use of the sheriff's office. This at the June session, 1861.
At the same time, the board made the rate, for the tax levy of 1861 as follows:
For county tax, four mills on the dollar; state tax, one and one- half mills; school tax, one mill and for bridge fund three-fourths of a mill.
In January, 1862, we find, that, owing to the prospective wealth of the county looming up so large, the county treasurer was unable to write with a common steel pen, and the honorable board of supervisors pass a resolution to purchase a gold one, to be the
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HISTORY OF HOWARD COUNTY.
property of the county, and to be placed in the custody of the treasurer, but without his giving any additional bonds.
At the session of the board of supervisors, held in June, 1862, a petition of the citizens of Iowa river township was granted chang- ing the name of said township to Oakdale.
The following will show the status of the finances of the county in 1862, being the report of the treasurer, delivered June 1st, of that year:
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